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Published by Reuters By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favor of the FBI in a case concerning discrimination claims by three Muslim men from California who accused the agency of conducting illegal surveillance on them after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The court unanimously overturned a lower court’s 2019 ruling that said a federal law regulating government surveillance called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) trumped the state secrets privilege – a legal defense based on national security interests – that the government asserted. The ruling means the case returns to lower courts for further litigation, with the claims made by the plaintiffs not yet dismissed. The Supreme Court faulted the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ analysis, with Justice Samuel Alito writing that the FISA provision in question “does not displace the state secrets privilege.” The lawsuit accused the FBI of infiltrating mainstream mosques in Southern California and targeting Muslim Americans for surveillance because of their religion. It accused the FBI of engaging in religious discrimination in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment by targeting Muslims, as well as violating the Fourth Amendment prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures. The plaintiffs are: Eritrean-born U.S. citizen Yassir Fazaga, an imam at the Orange County Islamic Foundation in Mission Viejo; native-born U.S. citizen Ali Uddin Malik, who attended the Islamic Center of Irvine; and Yasser Abdel Rahim, a U.S. permanent resident from Egypt who also attended the Islamic Center of Irvine. They are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and others. The lawsuit focused upon a 14-month period in 2006 and 2007 when the FBI paid an informant named Craig Monteilh to gather information on Muslims as part of a post-Sept. 11 counterterrorism investigation. Monteilh met with Muslims in southern California, adopted a Muslim name and said he wanted to convert to Islam, according to court papers. Monteilh also recorded conversations and conducted surveillance, according to court papers. The arrangement unraveled when Monteilh started making statements about wanting to take violent action. Community members reported him to the local police and obtained a restraining order against him, according to court papers. A federal judge in 2012 dismissed the claims against the FBI, determining that they were barred under the state secrets privilege. The judge did permit claims accusing some individual FBI agents of violating the surveillance law. The 9th Circuit ruled that the religious claims should instead be analyzed under a section of the FISA law that lets judges review the legality of surveillance. The 9th Circuit also allowed the unlawful search claims, not at issue before the Supreme Court, to move forward. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he will not sign a bill passed Friday banning transgender student-athletes from competing in sports aligned with their gender identity. House Bill 11 passed both chambers of the Utah legislature in the last hours of the 2022 legislative session after a last-minute amendment left LGBTQ rights activists “blindsided” and “devastated.” “HB11 has been amended to become a total ban on transgender youth in school sports,” Equality Utah said in a statement Friday afternoon. Cox, a Republican, told reporters after the vote that he was shocked with the last-minute revisions, a… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA Civilians learn to use AK47 rifles in a cinema at the Lviv Film Center. Pau Venteo/EUROPA PRESS/dpa More than 100,000 volunteers have signed up to join Kiev’s territorial defence force since the invasion by Russia, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar says, according to a report from the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (UNIAN). The figure could not be independently verified. Malyar added that the volunteer units would not be demobilized at the end of the war, but incorporated instead into the Ukrainian defence forces. Civilians learn to use AK47 rifles in a cinema at the Lviv Film Center. Pau Venteo/EUROPA PRESS/dpa View the full article

Published by Reuters (Refiles to fix typo in additional reporting credits) By Ted Hesson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -More than a thousand large trucks, recreational vehicles and cars are gathering on the outskirts of Washington as part of a protest against COVID-19 restrictions that threatens to roll on the U.S. capital in the coming days. The so-called “People’s Convoy,” which originated in California and has drawn participants from around the country, is calling for an end to all pandemic-related restrictions. It was inspired by demonstrations last month that paralyzed Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. The convoy’s message has been undercut in recent weeks as major U.S. cities have rolled back mask mandates and other measures against COVID-19, which has led to more than 950,000 deaths in the United States but has been mitigated with vaccines and therapeutics. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, signaled in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday that the country was entering a new, more controlled phase of the pandemic without business lockdowns or school closures. Still, more than 100 18-wheeler trucks amassed with other vehicles on Friday evening at the Hagerstown Speedway, a racetrack about 80 miles (129 km) from downtown Washington, according to Reuters witnesses. Drivers continued to stream into the parking lot on Saturday morning, one witness said. A website for the protest said they did not plan to enter “D.C. proper” and social media posts suggested they could remain at the racetrack on Saturday. But one participant who described himself as the lead trucker told a cheering crowd at the racetrack on Friday night that he would drive his truck into the heart of the American capital. “D.C., the government, whomever, can claim that they have all this opposition for us waiting in D.C.,” the man said. “But that flag on the back of my truck will go down to Constitution Avenue between the White House and the Washington Monument.” A little more than a year ago, supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attack that left five people dead and more than 100 police officers injured. U.S. federal law enforcement agencies have been coordinating with state and local authorities for weeks in preparation for the possible arrival of the convoy, said one U.S. official who requested anonymity to discuss internal operations. A Feb. 26 U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bulletin to law enforcement reviewed by Reuters said trucker convoys could hinder emergency responders depending on the size of the protest. The bulletin said federal law enforcement was not aware of any substantiated threats from domestic violent extremists, but that some extremists “probably will be drawn to the event and could engage in premeditated or opportunistic violence.” DHS said the possibility of an attack could be higher because COVID restrictions have been a “key driver” of domestic extremist violence over the last two years. Federal officials would be unlikely to see violent plotting in online public platforms beforehand due to the use of encrypted apps and private forums, it said. Federal law enforcement is also cognizant of the need to respect the right to peaceful protest, the official said. On Friday evening, a woman from nearby Silver Spring, Maryland, who identified herself only as “Dorothy” said she opposed COVID-related restrictions and that the issue had caused divisions in her family and problems at work. “I think our medical choices are private and we should not be required to disclose them to participate in everyday activities,” she told Reuters. (Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington, and Leah Millis, Julio-Cesar Chavez and Stephanie Keith in Hagerstown, Maryland; Editing by Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Madonna went out on the town! She was seen in London on Saturday morning with her son Rocco Ritchie. The sighting comes as the war continues online where fans debate who should play the pop icon in her own biopic. The Vogue singer would suggest herself, but they may need to touch up a few spots if they plan on going that route. Mega Madonna and her son went out to a late dinner at Harry’s Bar in London’s Mayfair early Saturday morning just past midnight. The singer was cut her stylish figure wearing a black overcoat over her curve complimenting black turtleneck and shorts. She had black tights on underneath and a crimson red belt tying the whole outfit together. Ritchie wore a dark blue suit and black tie while sporting some brown dress shoes. The pop icon accessorized with a black bag that had white paint written over it reading “Lovable Rebel.” Though when fans zoomed in to get a better look at the bag, they also got a close up look at the 63-year-old’s vainy hand. Fans have criticized the senior pop singer for overusing filters on her Instagram. Some have commented saying she purposefully makes herself look like she’s still in her 30s on social media. Madonna Accused Of Photoshopping Round Rump, Queen Of Pop Slammed For Allegedly ‘Enhancing’ Butt Mega Madonna still looks amazing for her age – with the help of decades of alleged plastic surgery – but she rarely is seen out in public without hiding behind large dark frame glasses and full body outfits. She’s quick to show off her abs at her age online but dresses closer to a nun when out in public. Madonna Unamused & Bored While On A Ride With Her Young Lover Ahlamalik Williams At London Winter Wonderland The Grammy winner — full name Madonna Louise Ciccone — has been an icon in pop culture ever since her debut self-titled album back in 1983. In her near 40-year career she’s gone on to sing, dance, act and direct her way into almost every aspect of the entertainment industry. In 2016 Madonna became the highest grossing solo touring artist of all time grossing over $1.3 billion 1990 and then only following behind big band groups U2 and The Rolling Stones. Mega A highly rumored biopic of the pop star has been making the casting rounds in LA with fans listing their hopefuls. New Black Widow Florence Pugh, Mayor of Kingstown actress Emma Laird, and Euphoria stars Alexa Demie & Sydney Sweeney are all in the running. A first look came out of Evan Rachel Wood playing the singer during her Like a Virgin phase in the Weird Al biopic that is filming now. Madonna Hints Kanye West’s Girlfriend Julia Fox Will Star In Her Biopic After Pop Star & Actress ‘Went To Dinner’ To ‘Talk About Movie’ View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega This is one signature on the dotted line Flagg hoped he’d never have to sign. The star of BRAVO’s Million Dollar Listing, Josh Flagg, and his soon-to-be ex-husband Bobby Boyd each released their own statements on their respective Instagram accounts to announce their split from one another after being together for almost 6 years. Mega Flagg was the first to release his statement late last night. The BRAVO TV star wrote, “Bobby and I are divorcing – This might sound abrupt, but I felt I should be transparent from the top rather than bury the headline.” He continues, “This was not a rash or impulsive decision. [He and Boyd] have been very thoughtful before coming to this conclusion. The reality TV show host went on to clarify, “It was not the lack of love but rather the two of us growing in different directions and wanting very different things for ourselves.” He concludes having said, “I care deeply about Bobby and have nothing but love and respect for him … Thanks for the unwavering support.” Boyd released a much lengthier response an hour later where he goes into detail about what a rollercoaster life it was like being with the reality star. “The last 6 years of my life I wouldn’t change for the world. 6 years ago, I met and fell in love with my best friend.” He continues to say, “From the first date we were inseparable and took off at lightning speed. Josh and I had a whirlwind of a love story that I will forever be grateful for.” He then goes into the news of the breakup acknowledging, “it may seem sudden to most of you, but Josh and I have been spending the last couple of months figuring this out together. We wanted this to be private between us and not involve most of our friends and family.” He then claims that the two did everything in their power to make it work. Mega “Unfortunately, as we have learned, sometimes love isn’t enough,” Boyd explained. “I love Josh with all my heart and will always respect and admire him. I’m forever greatful to him for showing me that true love does exist.” He concludes his statement by reiterating that the two are going on their separate journeys and are ending their marriage with no ill will between the two. Mega The Million Dollar Listing star married Boyd in 2017 after dating for a year before. They got engaged in the summer of 2016 in Paris then wed in a Jewish ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel a year later. An explosive fight between the two aired on an episode of the reality show a week before their nuptials. The fight started after Flagg went to Boyd for support after a disagreement with fellow MDL star Josh Altman. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nandita Bose WASHINGTON (Reuters) – As the United States and Western allies grapple with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration is taking a unique approach to fighting a surge in Russian disinformation and propaganda. Unlike its European allies, the White House is not directly pushing the giant U.S.-based tech and social media companies that control the flow of information to billions of people to take down disinformation or accounts that spread it, administration sources with direct knowledge of the matter say. U.S. officials are instead focusing on calling out pro-Russian media outlets for spreading disinformation, rapidly sharing intelligence about Russia’s military moves and propaganda, and exposing what it calls Moscow’s plans to stage “false flag” attacks designed to provoke sentiment against Ukraine. “We are proactively putting out information on the intelligence we have gathered, what we are seeing, debunking claims that are false, making sure our allies and partners have the right information,” one such source said. “The idea is to counter Russia’s narratives and make people understand that things being pushed to them is disinformation.” That is an extension of a strategy of releasing to the public U.S. intelligence information about the Russian military build up near Ukraine before the invasion. “Preempting what the Russians were doing and pointing things out and being bold in the way the administration revealed intelligence was very valuable,” said Brian Murphy, former head of the Department of Homeland Security’s intelligence branch, and now vice president for strategic operations at Logically, a firm that offers services to reduce the spread of disinformation. A White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson said the administration is “extremely careful” with what it declassifies but “there is value to the public” in exposing disinformation operations. Tech platforms like Alphabet’s YouTube, Twitter and Facebook have become virtual battlegrounds during the Russian invasion, as Kremlin-backed media publish information that often contradicts reporting from fact-based news outlets on the ground in Ukraine. Facebook owner Meta has blocked Russian state media outlets from users’ feeds in Europe, under pressure from EU officials. Twitter and other social media are being restricted in Russia, and the tech companies face further punitive measures there. Several tech giants are also restricting Russian state media from making profits from ads on their platforms, and Meta is demoting posts from Kremlin-related outlets. The Biden administration has identified outlets that are publishing information it believes to be Russian propaganda through accounts with millions of followers, but has not pressured tech companies to block or remove them. For example, conservative financial news website ZeroHedge, was named last month by U.S. intelligence as one such vehicle. The outlet is still tweeting information to over one million followers. The account doesn’t violate Twitter’s rules of service, the tech company says – and the White House is not pushing for a ban, sources say. That would raise questions about American press freedom, free speech issues and could start a fight with the tech giants that the administration does not want. The White House also views Russian disinformation differently, sources said, than for instance, the spread of vaccine misinformation, which was killing Americans and pushed Biden to fight social media companies, albeit briefly. In this instance, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI are working with the NSC to stop Moscow from peddling false narratives about Ukraine, the sources said. The State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) has been sharing information with U.S. agencies and foreign governments about Russian disinformation on social media, news outlets, and Russian proxy websites, a State Department official told Reuters. GEC has been in regular contact with social media companies, “who have updated the department on their actions to cease monetizing sanctioned Russian individuals on their platforms,” the official said. While GEC does not request the removal or labeling of content it shares its analyses with the platforms to identify and counter Russian disinformation. WORKING IN AMERICA, BUT NOT RUSSIA So far, the approach has been effective in the United States and Europe, experts say, but not in Russia where the Kremlin has tight control over the media. “Russian propaganda did not quite take off inside the United States in this instance…because of some of the work the Biden administration has been doing,” said Larissa Doroshenko, a researcher at Northeastern University. But, she added, “it wasn’t as effective in Russia obviously because of how thick the propaganda from the Kremlin is.” The situation highlights the asymmetric battle democratic governments face against autocracies in information wars. Beijing and the Kremlin regularly demand local news and social media companies censor information they consider critical of the government, or that runs contrary to the official point of view. Last month, the United States alleged Russia has been preparing to fabricate a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine by creating a very graphic propaganda video that would depict a fake attack by Ukraine against Russia. That video has not surfaced, because, U.S. officials believe, they pre-empted it. The Kremlin and pro-Moscow news outlets have accused Kiev on television and social media of carrying out bombings and other non-existent attacks and warned of an alleged attempt by Ukrainian saboteurs to blow up a chemical storage facility in eastern Ukraine. Russian reports accuse Ukraine of plotting a genocide against ethnic Russians and the United States of using proxy forces to plot a chemical attack – examples Biden called “outlandish and baseless claims” in a Feb. 22 speech. The proactive U.S. moves represent an advance from 2016 when officials in the Obama administration, some of whom now work for Biden, and U.S. intelligence agencies failed to identify and stop Russia from launching a disinformation campaign and interfering with the U.S. elections. Back then, Russian trolls used a large network of fake accounts to spread incendiary political content to millions of Americans, took advantage of existing divisions in American society and sowed doubt about the election process. (Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Additional reporting by Simon Lewis and Elizabeth Culliford, Editing by Heather Timmons and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by DPA Rescue workers carry a wounded person in front of a multi-storey residential building that was hit by a rocket during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. -/Official Facebook page of Ukrainian State Emergency Service/dpa From the war in Ukraine, to refugees arriving in neighbouring European countries, to global anti-Putin demonstrations, dpa International presents its Pictures of the Week. A Ukrainian soldier stands guard on a road in Kiev amid the Russian invasion of Ukrain. Diego Herrera/EUROPA PRESS/dpa Rescuers carry a wounded person on a stretcher near Kharkiv city hall as they respond to shelling by Russian troops. -/Ukrinform/dpa Ukrainian firefighters work at the crash site of a Ukraine military An-26 transport aircraft that was shot down by Russian forces during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. -/Planet Pix via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa A firefighter sits in the vicinity of a civilian building in Kiev after it was hit by a Russian rocket amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Diego Herrera/EUROPA PRESS/dpa A body lies next to a tank on the outskirts of Kharkiv on the third day of the Russian attacks on Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa Residents prepare Molotov cocktails to be sent to the frontlines amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa Ukrainian military equipment are seen destroyed during hostilities with the Russian army in Bucha. -/Ukrinform/dpa Ukrainian soldiers transport military equipment amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Diego Herrera/EUROPA PRESS/dpa A burnt-out car is seen on a street in Kharkiv after shelling by Russian troops. -/Ukrinform/dpa A nurse covers medical equipment for protection in Kramatorsk city hospital, amid the Russian invasion of Ukrain. Andriy Andriyenko/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Workers place sandbags in front of the window in Kramatorsk city hospital to protect against Russian attacks. Andriy Andriyenko/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Soldiers and volunteers fill sandbags to build barricades at Maidan square for protection against Russian attacks. Diego Herrera/EUROPA PRESS/dpa Civilians cross a destroyed bridge in Irpin. The Ukrainian front decided to shell the bridge as it is the direct way for the Russian convoy coming from Belarus to storm the capital. Diego Herrera/EUROPA PRESS/dpa A man walks in front of a destroyed bridge in Irpin. The Ukrainian front decided to shell the bridge as it is the direct way for the Russian convoy coming from Belarus to storm the capital. Diego Herrera/EUROPA PRESS/dpa People board a bus at a border crossing between Poland and Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands are fleeing from Ukraine to the neighbouring countries due to the Russian invasion. Alejandro Martínez Vélez/EUROPA PRESS/dpa Refugees from Ukraine look for suitable clothes provided by Polish citizens in the Polish border area after crossing from Shehyni in Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands are fleeing from Ukraine to the neighbouring countries due to the Russian invasion. Michael Kappeler/dpa A woman cries next to a girl from Ukraine at the Polish border area after crossing into Poland. Hundreds of thousands are fleeing from Ukraine to the neighbouring countries due to the Russian invasion. Michael Kappeler/dpa Pro-Ukrainian protestors hold placards during a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gina M Randazzo/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa A refugee from Ukraine waits for transportation at Przemysl station after crossing into Poland. Hundreds of thousands are fleeing from Ukraine to the neighbouring countries due to the Russian invasion. Bryan Smith/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Refugees arrive from Ukraine at the Przemysl train station. Hundreds of thousands are fleeing from Ukraine to the neighbouring countries due to the Russian invasion. Alejandro Martínez Vélez/EUROPA PRESS/dpa A mother and daughter kiss upon arrival from Ukraine at the Przemysl train station. Hundreds of thousands are fleeing from Ukraine to the neighbouring countries due to the Russian invasion. Alejandro Martínez Vélez/EUROPA PRESS/dpa People take part in a demonstration outside the Russian Embassy at Kensington Palace Gardens, to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Jonathan Brady/PA Wire/dpa People march in front of the Brandenburg Gate during a demonstration under the slogan “Stop the war! Peace for Ukraine and all Europe” against the Russian attack on Ukraine. Kay Nietfeld/dpa People hold placards and Ukrainian flags during g a demonstration to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Wenceslas Square in Prague. Øíhová Michaela/CTK/dpa People take part in a candle vigil to support Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Florian Wieser/APA/dpa People take part in an anti-war protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ana Fernandez/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen applauds as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses members of the European Parliament via video conference during an extraordinary plenary session of the European Parliament on the situation in Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Philippe Buissin/EU Parliament/dpa The Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in Geneva walk out of the hall during the screening of the pre-recorded speech of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva. Jean Marc Ferré/UN Photo/dpa Volunteers at the Klub Orla Bialego (White Eagle Club), sift through donations made by members of the public, prior to their aid convoy setting off to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. Aaron Chown/PA Wire/dpa A protester is seen with her face painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag during a demonstration at the Lumphini park against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa View the full article

Published by AFP Brittney Griner (L) of the US professional team the Phoenix Mercury has been identified as the American athlete being held in Moscow on drug charges Washington (AFP) – US basketball authorities said Saturday that an American star basketball player being held in Moscow on narcotics charges is two-time Olympic champion Brittney Griner. The arrest came as tensions between Moscow and the West have soared over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Federal Customs Service said in a statement that an inspection of hand luggage carried by a US citizen who arrived on a flight from New York in February “confirmed the presence of ‘vapes’ (and) a liquid with a specific smell”. It said an expert had determined that the liquid was the narcotic cannabis oil (hash oil). The statement did not identify the jailed woman but said she was “a member of the US National Basketball Association, a two-time Olympic basketball champion in the US team”. The customs service said the detained woman faces a potential jail term of five to 10 years. US basketball authorities made clear that the woman was all-star Griner. USA Basketball, the sport’s governing body in the US, said on Twitter that it was “aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittney Griner in Russia.” It added: “Brittney has always handled herself with the utmost professionalism during her long tenure with USA Basketball and her safety and well-being are our primary concerns.” Griner, who is 31, is a seven-time all-star center for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team issued a statement echoing the language of USA Basketball and adding, “We love and support Brittney, and at this time our main concern is her safety, physical and mental health, and her safe return home.” At 6-feet-9 (2.06 meters), she is the only woman in US college history to score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. Many WNBA athletes spend the American off-season playing in European leagues, including the Russian and Ukrainian leagues. View the full article

RuPaul’s Drag Race tackles the art of the con this week.RuPaul’s Drag Race Back and DragCon Forth Somehow, RuPaul’s Drag Race is tricking me into recapping panels from DragCon. Not a satire of panels at DragCon. Not a send-up of con panels or wink-wink taking the piss out of the global Drag Race corporate machine. No, instead, on this week’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, we just get to … sit through two panels featuring Drag Race queens discussing men. There are jokes, sure, but no more than you would get at any decent panel. It’s not bad, but is it TV? Convention panels are deep dives for passionate fans, but there’s not a lot of sizzle, not a lot of flash. It’s usually a hastily erected stage in front of the world’s ugliest and most uncomfortable chairs in a nondescript hotel conference room. Who goes to a drag show to see a TEDTalk? What’s frustrating is that the perfect twist is right there. The worst part of any panel at any con is always when they open the floor to questions from the audience. Socially-stunted STANs line up and give long, meandering preambles to questions designed only to showcase their own creepy level of knowledge. Yeah, Bosco and Willow can write a joke. We know. But let’s see them react in real-time to questions from Ru, Michelle, eliminated queens, real Drag Con attendees, whatever. They’ve done DragCon challenges before, but those panels focused on drag skills, required a demo and included audience questions. (Plus, it gave us “proportionizing.”) This is closer to the conversations the gals used to have in a final-three podcast episode or RuPaul Tic Tac lunch. The queens give vulnerable, personal answers alongside some pre-written zingers. They’re good panels, but just panels nonetheless. RuPaul’s Drag Race queens get bombed with Hollywood hunks.The theme of the week is “menzeses.” I originally read this as “menses” and assumed this would be a challenge to put on a grade-school appropriate workshop about going through the change, first periods, our bodies, ourselves, etc. Sort of like a special Drag Queen story hour featuring “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” Doesn’t that sound like fun? Instead, both panels play out like a merciful episode of the fictitious podcast X, Y and Me from And Just Like That (with, thankfully, 100 percent less Che Diaz). That’s the tone. BombCyclone the Men — It’s Raining Queens Willow gains an early advantage by winning a mini-challenge that tasks the queens with photobombing some of Hollywood’s hottest men(zeses). The win gives her the opportunity to choose her own team, and she chooses wisely. She picks DeJa, Camden and Angeria, all strong competitors. It makes sense to avoid the increasingly toxic Daya Betty, the rambling Jasmine Kennedie and Jorgeous, who lacks confidence speaking. But what about Bosco? Did Willow want to avoid another group challenge paired with Bosco, or was she trying to stick one of her strongest competitors with all the deadweight? Whatever the strategy, it works. Willow’s group is easy, breezy on the panel. Willow’s second genius move is to delegate moderating to DeJa. This allows Willow to punctuate the conversation with quick quips and well-crafted answers. She speaks about her medical condition, feeling more confident in drag and lands punchline after punchline. DeJa still shines, as well. As moderator, she seamlessly transitions between segments and keeps the convo moving. Angeria and Camden are charming, but it’s clear Willow and DeJa are the standouts. Bosco is a star in this week’s RuPaul’s Drag Race. Lewk and Glisten Challenge Despite some shaky moments, the other team isn’t hard to watch. Bosco absolutely slays the role moderator, infusing a little twisted humor into her hosting. She makes every word count, while still steering the conversation. Her hilarious, effortless performance snags her this week’s win. Her teammate Daya also acquits herself nicely here. Daya’s standout moment is a cute anecdote about WWE, and I’m just glad to have some company in the Venn diagram of RuPaul’s Drag Race watchers and WWE fans. Clearly in her head, Jasmine makes some, as Tatianna would say, “choices.” First she chooses a lewk the judges HATE. They rip on it endlessly for making the young, vibrant queen look like an aged magician. That’s some pretty harsh criticism, but it’s not unwarranted. After weeks of being berated for talking too much, Jasmine is obviously trying to rein it in and share the stage (a key part of the challenge). Jorgeous stumbles over her words a bit and never seems to fully recover. She doesn’t totally wipeout, but the nerves are on full display. After a pleasing shoulder pad runway (more on the lewks in the rankings), Angeria and Camden are declared safe. The judges praise DeJa’s moderating ability and love her take on a Chanel suit with oversized shoulder pads, it’s just not enough to overcome Bosco’s slamdunk. Even though Michelle isn’t wowed with Bosco’s outfit (and even though I am outraged no one mentioned Jubilee from the X-Men even once), Bosco’s win is undeniable. Lipsync Got a Hold On Me That leaves Jasmine and Jorgeous in the bottom, and, honey, it is everything you expect. The dancing divas tear up the stage for Etta James’ “Something Got a Hold On Me.” They are both instantly clicked-in, nailing the lyrics, facials and timing. It’s also one of those lip syncs that feels more like a duet, and I love that. The whole thing is such a blast, Mama Ru decides to keep them both. That’s right! It’s a double-shantay. So, we’ve brought back two eliminated queens and skipped a week without eliminations. Is this RuPaul’s Drag Race or RuPaul’s Leisurely Drag Stroll? Let’s put the pedal to the metal here! Maybe business will pick up next week with Snatch Game. The teaser gives a lot away in terms of who is playing whom, and let’s just say there are a lot of picks that can go either way. I’ll toss some stray thoughts in the rankings below. Let us know who you think is pulling ahead before next week’s Snatch in the comments! Willow’s on top Willow‘s winning ways continue. I did find it odd that such a ridiculous mini-challenge would yield such a powerful reward. Did Willow really earn that privilege with a demonstrably better photo than the other girls? Really, Willow didn’t even need the leg-up. She was great in the panel, coming off casual while still delivering expert pre-written punchlines. It was surprising to see her so clearly misunderstand the assignment on the runway, though. Luckily, her excellent taste prevailed, shoulders be damned. The teaser for next week is meant to have us believe she’s going to struggle in Snatch Game as Drew Barrymore, but I think it might be a misdirect.It had to be a tough decision to put either Angeria or DeJa in the top this week. While Angie misses out on top marks this week, it was not for lack of trying. I’ve got no notes to improve her performance on the panel; she just didn’t make as big of an impression as her teammates. Her runway was also a stunner, head-to-toe houndstooth the house down. Next week, she tries her hand at *checks notes* … RuPaul’s Drag Race season one oddball Tammie Brown? Is this crazy … or is it so crazy, it just might werk?Do not sleep on Miss Bosco, mama. She is picking up steam at exactly the right time, and she has managed to work her unique point of view into every challenge. It’s unclear whom she’s portraying in next week’s Snatch Game, but it’s definitely a blonde. I actually really dug her iridescent undies under that jacket, but how you gonna go up there in a yellow raincoat, blue gloves, big sunglasses and not make a joke about a mall babe eating chilli fries?Was Lady Camden‘s Blake Lively/Shelton gaffe scripted? Or did she legit forget his name? Either way, it was the only notable part of her performance on the panel. The Nutcracker runway was cute, but she’s always teetering just on the edge of costume. Next week, she’s brining William Shakespeare to Snatch Game, which is a huge swing that could either really pay off or completely tank her.This was Deja‘s best week. She was such an affable hostess, and she made sure she didn’t just manage the conversation, she contributed, too. Her Chanel-style suit was a great runway, and it addressed the brief better than anything else on stage. For Snatch, DeJa is taking a risk as rapper Lil Jon. It strikes me as the kind of character that could be one note (“YEAH! WHAT?!”) and quickly devolve into some season four Romper Room bullsh*t.Daya Betty has become so unlikable, she’s hard to watch. It feels like the other queens don’t even want to be around her, and, frankly, neither do I. Everything she did this week was … fine. It was fine. I just find myself rooting against her, because she’s harshing the vibe! In at least the third male character in next week’s Snatch, Daya is performing as Ozzy Osbourne. I’m predicting some sort of bat-biting, and maybe a quick change into Sharon.I’m not surprised to see Jasmine whiff this week, especially considering how so much of this season has been devoted to Jasmine’s struggles with group conversation. However, Jasmine also has the potential to turn a deficiency into a moment of Alyssa Edwards brilliance. (Remember her Southern accent in The Daytona Wind?) I’m giving her a slight edge over Jorgeous this week, because I think he has the potential to slay Snatch, even if it’s by sort of accident.Jorgeous gonna Jorgeous. We know what she’s good at, she knows what she’s good at, but when she is out of her comfort zone, she is not going to surprise you. She performed exactly as expected in the panel and exactly as expected in the outstanding lip sync. It’s not easy to tell whom Jorgeous is portraying next week, but I can’t see it going well for her. Being quick-witted and speaking confidently in character (or otherwise) are just not this queen’s strong suit. I fear Snatch will be her ultimate undoing.What did you think of last night’s episode? Catch up on our RuPaul’s Drag Race coverage. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Paris Jackson is spilling all about her stay at a behavior modification school where she claims doctors and psychiatrists handed out addictive medication “like candy.” Mega Jackson told LVR Magazine that she suffered from PTSD due to her experiences at boarding school. The daughter of late pop icon Michael Jackson went into great detail on how she would beg psychiatrists at the school to stop giving “behavior medications” to every student that showed a sense of disorder – among several other claims. Paris Jackson’s Rocker Boyfriend Cleans Up His Act To Save Her The 23-year-old attended a private school for three years after her father passed away before being sent to the Utah boarding school in question. She only spent three years at the correction facility but claims to be the most traumatizing thing to happen to her. Paris Jackson’s Med Fueled Meltdown! Singer Misses Tour Date Due To ‘Mystery Illness’ Mega Jackson accuses the “unconventional” school of lying to student’s parents so they “wouldn’t be alarmed when if their kids called to complain.” “If a kid decides to call their parents and say, ‘Please get me out of here,’ the center will likely hang up the phone and call the parents back to say, ‘Don’t listen to them, they are manipulating you, doing everything they can to get out of here.” The school allegedly would medicate the students without vetting the parents at all. “There should be a better vetting process [in everything] — before you medicate — or something even more dangerous, like selling a gun — you should vet them,” Jackson proclaimed. “It’s important in all kinds of situations. It could be as simple as a job, or as complicated as medicine or a weapon.” “Psychiatrists hand out addictive medication like candy without really vetting the patient,” she alleges. “There is no harm in vetting.” Mega Jackson didn’t clarify whether or not she herself was medicated but she claimed to be traumatized by what she DID experience within the walls of the school. She goes on to detail how the school avoided legal trouble, “There are a lot of things at play in those schools. They can shut down and reopen under a different name to avoid lawsuits, and it depends on how state laws work.” View the full article

Published by Reuters LONDON (Reuters) – Russia’s Foreign Ministry protested to the U.S. ambassador in Moscow on Saturday over remarks by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham advocating that President Vladimir Putin be assassinated. It said in a statement that failure to unambiguously condemn the remarks and take concrete measures “will have a further devastating effect on Russian-American relations”, already in tatters following Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan was summoned to the ministry to be told that Graham’s comment would be treated as a serious crime in Russia. “This is a public, terrorist appeal that is completely unacceptable,” the ministry said. Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, called on Twitter for someone in Russia to “take this guy out” – referring to Putin. White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday: “We are not advocating for killing the leader of a foreign country or regime change. That is not the policy of the United States.” (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin Liffey) View the full article

Published by Reuters LONDON (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Western sanctions on Russia were akin to a declaration of war and warned that any attempt to impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine would lead to catastrophic consequences for the world. Putin reiterated that his aims were to defend Russian- speaking communities through the “demilitarisation and de-Nazification” of the country so that Russia’s former Soviet neighbour became neutral and no longer threatened Russia. Ukraine and Western countries have dismissed this as a baseless pretext for the invasion he launched on Feb. 24 and have imposed a sweeping range of sanctions aimed at isolating Moscow. “These sanctions that are being imposed are akin to a declaration of war but thank God it has not come to that,” Putin said, speaking to a group of flight attendants at an Aeroflot training centre near Moscow. He said any attempt by another power to impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine would be considered by Russia to be a step into the military conflict. Such a step he said would have catastrophic consequences for Europe and the world. The NATO military alliance has rejected Kyiv’s request for a no-fly zone, on the grounds it would escalate the war beyond Ukraine into a far wider conflict, potentially pitting the United States against Russia. ‘GOING TO PLAN’ Asked about reports that Russian conscripts had been used in Ukraine, Putin said none had been involved and said the military operation was going to plan. “There is not one conscript and we don’t plan for there to be,” Putin said. “Our army will fulfil all the tasks. I don’t doubt that at all. Everything is going to plan.” That description was at odds with assessments from U.S. and British officials. British military intelligence said on Thursday that Russia’s advance on the Ukrainian capital had made little progress and encountered staunch resistance. Putin dismissed concerns that some sort of martial law or emergency situation could be declared in Russia. He said such a measure was imposed only when there was significant internal or external threat. “We don’t plan to introduce any kind of special regime on Russian territory – there is currently no need,” Putin said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the West was behaving like a bandit by cutting economic relations over the conflict in Ukraine but that Russia was far too big to be isolated as the world was much larger than just the United States and Europe. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Frances Kerry) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Elizabeth Culliford (Reuters) -Russia is blocking Meta Platforms Inc’s Facebook, the country’s communications regulator said on Friday, in response to what it said were restrictions on access to Russian media on the platform. The regulator, Roskomnadzor, said there had been 26 cases of discrimination against Russian media by Facebook since October 2020, including restrictions in recent days on state-backed channels like RT and the RIA news agency. The move is a major escalation in an ongoing confrontation between big tech companies and Russia, which has in recent years issued a slew of fines and hobbled services through slowdowns. The tensions have ramped up amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special operation.” Meta’s head of global affairs Nick Clegg said the company would continue to do everything it could to restore its services. “Soon millions of ordinary Russian will find themselves cut off from reliable information, deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silenced from speaking out,” he said, in a statement posted on Twitter. Last week, Moscow said it was partially limiting access to Facebook, a move the company said came after it refused a government request to stop the independent fact-checking of several Russian state media outlets. On Saturday, Twitter also said its service was being restricted for some Russian users. Major tech companies have faced pressure to respond to the Feb. 24 invasion, which has led to economic sanctions against Moscow by governments around the world. Russian state-run media has emerged as a key flashpoint between Moscow and social media platforms during the conflict. Meta this week said it had restricted access to RT and Sputnik across the European Union and was globally demoting content from Russian state-controlled outlets’ Facebook pages and Instagram accounts, as well as posts containing links to those outlets on Facebook. Russia has made several moves to crack down on foreign news media in recent days. It cut access to several news organizations’ websites, including the BBC, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty for spreading what it says is false information about its actions in Ukraine. Meta had about 7.5 million users on Facebook in Russia as of last year and 122.2 million users across its other services, including Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, according to estimates from Insider Intelligence. The leading Russia-based social network VK had 63 million users, the researcher estimated. Popular VPN apps have been downloaded more than 1.3 million times in Russia since its invasion of Ukraine began, according to data from researcher AppFigures, which described the figure as a major surge. Roskomnadzor said in its statement that Meta had restricted access to the accounts of state-backed news outlets in recent days, listing RT, Sputnik, the RIA news agency, the defense ministry’s Zvezda TV and websites gazeta.ru and lenta.ru. It said such restrictions violated the key principles of freedom of information and Russian internet users’ unimpeded access to Russian media. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sharon Bernstein (Reuters) – Texas has appealed a judge’s order that blocked the state from investigating the parents of a 16-year-old transgender girl for providing her with gender-affirming medical treatments that Governor Greg Abbott says are “child abuse.” The appeal notice, first posted online by the Austin American-Statesman newspaper, seeks to overturn a temporary restraining order issued on Wednesday by Travis County District Court Judge Amy Clark Meachum to halt the state’s probe of the family. Abbott last month directed the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to conduct such investigations, citing a non-binding legal opinion by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that concluded some medical treatments used to help transgender youth transition away from their birth gender could constitute child abuse. President Joe Biden on Wednesday denounced Abbott’s directive as a “cynical and dangerous campaign targeting transgender children and their parents.” Neither Paxton nor Abbott immediately responded to requests for comment from Reuters on Thursday. Paxton asked for an accelerated appeal from the state’s Third Court of Appeals. The adolescent involved was designated male at birth but identifies as female, and has taken puberty-delaying medications and hormone therapy as part of gender-affirming transitional medical care, according to the lawsuit brought by her parents. The teen’s mother is an employee of the DFPS, the same agency that has been ordered to investigate her. She was placed on leave after inquiring what the governor’s directive would mean for her family, according to the lawsuit, filed on the parents’ behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Lambda Legal. Meachum in her order on Wednesday found the family faces “imminent and ongoing deprivation of their constitutional rights, the potential loss of necessary medical care and the stigma attached to being the subject of an unfounded child abuse investigation.” The judge set a hearing for March 11 on a request for a broader injunction barring enforcement of Abbott’s order against any family in the state, though the appeal could halt that proceeding. The DFPS told Reuters on Tuesday that the agency has opened at least three child welfare inquiries subject to a Feb. 22 directive from Abbott ordering investigations of parents whose children undergo “sex change” procedures. Abbott, a Republican running this year for a third term in office, is named as a defendant in the court challenge, along with DFPS and its commissioner, Jaime Masters. (Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Aurora Ellis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) – A Kentucky jury on Thursday acquitted a white former detective of endangering neighbors of Breonna Taylor during a botched raid that killed the Black woman in her home, clearing law enforcement of all criminal liability in a case that rocked the United States in 2020. Detective Brett Hankison, 45, whose stray bullets hit a neighboring apartment in the city of Louisville during the execution of a “no knock” search warrant after midnight, was the only officer charged in the case, with wanton endangerment. Hankison could be heard sobbing behind his face mask as the verdict was read three times, one for each of the occupants of the neighboring apartment, according a Court TV reporter who was in the courtroom. Relatives of Taylor who were in the gallery also wept, the reporter said. The jury deliberated for about three hours after hearing closing arguments on Thursday at the conclusion of a one-week trial at Jefferson County Circuit Court. The death of Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was unarmed, was one in a trio of cases that fueled a summer of protests against racial injustice and police violence two years ago, when the country was reeling from the still-new coronavirus pandemic. The other cases resulted in guilty verdicts for the murders of two Black men in 2020: George Floyd in Minneapolis and Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia. Those convictions had offered a measure of justice after Black activists and victims have said their protests against racial violence were largely ignored before the advent of cellphone video. In this case, a grand jury cleared the two white officers who shot Taylor but charged Hankison for endangering neighbors in the adjacent apartment. A grand juror on the case later said Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron only presented the wanton endangerment charges against Hankison to the grand jury. That meant the only trial to result from her death hinged on whether a police officer was justified in firing his weapon upon hearing a barrage of gunfire. “Today’s decision adds to the frustration and anger of many over the inability to find more accountability for the tragic events of March 13, 2020,” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement. “I know that for many, justice has still not been achieved.” Police wanted to search the home in connection with a drug investigation in which Taylor’s ex-boyfriend was a suspect. After police broke down Taylor’s door, her new boyfriend, fearing a break-in and saying he did not hear police identify themselves, fired one shot from and handgun that wounded an officer. That officer and another returned fire, shooting 22 times. In tearful testimony on Wednesday, Hankison said he mistakenly believed his fellow officers were coming under heavy fire. He shot 10 times from outside the apartment. “I think it was absolutely the fact that he was doing his job as a police officer,” defense attorney Stew Mathews told reporters after the verdict, according to the Louisville Courier Journal. “The jury felt like, you go out and perform your duty and your brother officer gets shot, you’ve got a right to defend yourself.” Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, left without commenting, the Courier Journal said. Taylor’s family in 2020 won a $12 million wrongful death settlement from the city of Louisville. Taylor’s death at first drew little national attention but was thrust into prominence after a Minneapolis police officer killed Floyd by pinning a knee to his neck on May 25, 2020. Around then, video surfaced showing the February 2020 shooting death of Arbery after he was chased by three white men. Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering Floyd last year and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison. The three civilians charged in Arbery’s death were convicted of murder in a state trial last year. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Donna Bryson, Cynthia Osterman and Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol issued a subpoena on Thursday to Kimberly Guilfoyle, a U.S. television personality who is engaged to be married to Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of the former president. Guilfoyle, who worked on Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, abruptly ended an interview with the Select Committee on Feb. 25, criticizing House of Representatives members who were present. Her attorney issued a statement afterward saying Guilfoyle had agreed to meet only with attorneys for the Democratic-led House committee, not with members of Congress. As a result, the committee said it would issue a subpoena to compel Guilfoyle’s cooperation. The panel asked Guilfoyle to appear for a deposition on March 15. “Guilfoyle met with (former President) Donald Trump inside the White House, spoke at the rally that took place before the riot on January 6th, and apparently played a key role organizing and raising funds for that event,” Representative Bennie Thompson, committee chairman, said in a statement. In a statement, Guilfoyle’s attorney Joe Tacopina accused the committee of “an attempt to smear” Trump, his family and supporters. “She had done nothing wrong,” he said. The Select Committee is trying to establish the actions of Trump and associates before and during the assault on the Capitol by thousands of his supporters. The mobs attacked police, vandalized the building, and sent members of Congress and then-Vice President Mike Pence running for their lives as they gathered to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential election victory over Trump, a Republican. The Select Committee has so far interviewed more than 560 witnesses and issued more than 80 subpoenas as it probes the causes of the attack and the role played by Trump, who continues to push false claims that his election defeat by Biden was the result of fraud. Earlier on Thursday, the panel interviewed Judd Deere, a former White House spokesman who is now a Republican congressional aide. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Rami Ayyub, David Gregorio and Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge have joined the cast of M. Night Shyamalan’s new film ‘Knock at the Cabin’. The pair have boarded the cast and will feature alongside Dave Bautista, Rupert Grint and Nikki Amuka-Bird. Shyamalan will write, direct and produce the thriller for Universal Pictures although plot details are being kept under lock and key. The flick is set for release in February 2023 and is the latest movie from the acclaimed filmmaker – whose previous credits include ‘The Sixth Sense’, ‘After Earth’ and ‘Old’. Groff recently starred in ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ as the villainous Agent Smith and praised co-star Keanu Reeves for his work ethic on set. The 36-year-old star said: “All of the rumours are true about Keanu’s level of work ethic. He was there training and getting ready before all of us got there. “My first day in the training tent, Keanu was in his jiu-jitsu outfit doing kicks and punches. I mean, he really sets the bar for all of us in the training.” The ‘Mindhunter’ star continued: “It was so exciting to be doing such extraordinary fight choreography with the greatest action star of our time and someone that’s so devoted to their craft. “I really tried to take in every single moment of getting to be with Keanu and I learned so much from working with him. It’s an experience I’ll hold in my heart for the rest of my life. “There’s so much trust that’s involved in these fight scenes because you’re really hitting each other, but you’re not hurting each other. So it’s great abandon matched with great precision.” View the full article