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Published by Reuters BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese citizens lashed out online against billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk’s space ambitions on Monday after China complained that its space station was forced to take evasive action to avoid collision with satellites launched by Musk’s Starlink programme. The satellites from Starlink Internet Services, a division of Musk’s SpaceX aerospace company, had two “close encounters” with the Chinese space station on July 1 and Oct. 21, according to a document submitted by China earlier this month to the U.N.’s space agency. “For safety reasons, the China Space Station implemented preventive collision avoidance control,” China said in a document published on the website of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The complaints have not been independently verified. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a post on China’s Twitter-like Weibo microblogging platform on Monday, one user said Starlink’s satellites were “just a pile of space junk”, while another described them as “American space warfare weapons”. With nearly 30,000 satellites and other debris believed to be orbiting the planet, scientists have urged governments to share data to reduce the risk of catastrophic space collisions. SpaceX alone has deployed nearly 1,900 satellites to serve its Starlink broadband network, and is planning more. “The risks of Starlink are being gradually exposed, the whole human race will pay for their business activities,” a user posting under the name Chen Haiying said on Weibo. U.S. space agency NASA was forced to abruptly call off a spacewalk at the end of November, citing risks posed by space debris. Musk tweeted in response that some Starlink satellite orbits had been adjusted to reduce the possibility of collisions. China began constructing the space station in April with the launch of Tianhe, the largest of its three modules. The station is expected to be completed by the end of 2022 after four crewed missions. Musk has become a well-known figure in China, though Tesla’s electric-vehicle business has come under growing scrutiny from regulators, especially after a customer climbed on top of a Tesla car at the Shanghai auto show in April to protest against poor customer service. (Reporting by Liangping Gao and David Stanway; Editing by Bernadette Baum) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, seemed more relaxed than usual in the annual holiday card they shared on December 11. In it, the royal couple and their three children, Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3, can be seen smiling for the camera as typically PDA-shy William and Kate casually rest their hands on each other’s knees. The color-coordinated crew rock bright blues and earthy khakis in the sweet snap, taken during a private family trip to Jordan. A typically buttoned-up William is even wearing shorts! Vacation clearly looks good on them — and OK! can reveal they’re already planning another group getaway, this time to the United States! News of the upcoming trip comes on the heels of William’s recent announcement that the Earthshot Prize (awarded to five winners for environmentalism, a cause close to the 39-year-old’s heart) will be held stateside in 2022. MEGA Now, an insider says Queen Elizabeth II has secretly ordered William and Kate to take some time off to enjoy themselves while overseas. “The planning was done mostly behind closed doors,” spills the insider, noting that it was “orchestrated” by Her Majesty. As OK! previously reported, the 95-year-old monarch wants William to replace her when she steps down from the throne, instead of his father, Prince Charles, 73. “She feels Williams’ a better fit for taking over than Charles,” says the insider. The getaway will give William and Kate, 39, a chance to get some well-deserved downtime with the kids before William takes on more responsibility at home. KATE MIDDLETON HAS BEEN ‘REALLY, REALLY UPSET’ OVER ESTRANGED RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRINCE HARRY & MEGHAN MARKLE, SPILLS SOURCE “It’s set to be a relaxed trip without all the pomp and formality of a royal tour,” explains the insider. “William and Kate are planning to have a lot of fun.” A stop in New York City is at the top of their to-do list. “William and Kate are keeping the specific details hush-hush, but there are whispers they’ll lease a townhouse overlooking Central Park,” dishes the insider. “They prefer the idea of doing that over staying in a hotel, which would be less private.” MEGA While there are sure to be dinners with elected officials, the insider says the pair — who last visited NYC seven years ago — want to check out The Metropolitan Museum of Art and a zoo for the children. “The kids adore animals,” says the insider, “and Williams and Kate want to make sure they enjoy themselves.” BILLION DOLLAR BABIES! SEE HOW MUCH PRINCE GEORGE, PRINCESS CHARLOTTE, NORTH WEST & MORE CELEBRITY KIDS ARE SET TO INHERIT Then they’ll hit the West Coast. “The plan is to stay at a rented mansion in the Beverly Hills area, which will be gated and protected by armed guards,” says the insider, adding the Cambridges will be traveling with their own security team. The pair, who wed in 2011, have carved out special time for date nights too. “Kate’s a wonderful cook,” notes the insider, “and she can’t wait to sample the cuisine at a couple of fine restaurants.” There will be the opportunity for a candlelit dinner or two at home as well. “They’ve hired an in-house chef, and they’ll also try to make time for a movie night with the kids.” One thing that’s not on the agenda yet is a visit with William’s estranged brother, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle. Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, have been busy settling into their new life in Montecito, Calif., with son Archie, 2, and daughter Lilibet, 7 months. The brothers haven’t seen each other in person since July when they reunited at a memorial for their late mother, Princess Diana. “The relationship between William and Harry has hardly improved since the Sussexes left England,” confides the insider. “They don’t talk much.” MEGA While nothing is set in stone, the insider says Harry and Meghan have yet to invite Kate and WIlliam to their estate, adding that the duo are territorial of their star-studded neighborhood. “Harry and Megan constantly rub shoulders with the likes of Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry and are frequent guests of Ellen DeGeneres‘, and they wouldn’t want William and Kate to steal their thunder.” Kiddos George and Charlotte are said to be upset and tearful over Harry’s snub. “They really wanted to see their cousin Archie and meet Lilibet,” shares the insider. “William and Kate have tried to explain it in simple terms — and a reunion could still happen — but they don’t want the children to pin their hopes on it.” At the end of the day, William and Kate won’t let anything put a damper on their dream getaway. Adds the insider: “The Cambridges are focused on making sure it’s an epic adventure for the whole family.” View the full article

Published by AFP National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci promised more Covid testing available to Americans in January Washington (AFP) – Top US pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci on Sunday acknowledged a Covid “testing problem” as the Omicron strain overwhelms the nation, and he vowed to make more tests available to Americans next month. “One of the problems is that that’s not going to be totally available to everyone until we get to January, and there are still some issues now of people having trouble getting tested,” Fauci told ABC talk show “This Week.” “But we’re addressing the testing problem,” he added, saying it should be corrected “very soon.” Covid cases have skyrocketed across the United States in recent weeks as the highly infectious Omicron variant became the dominant strain, overwhelming hospitals and Covid testing sites as Americans rushed to get tested for holiday travel. Authorities have recorded an average of over 175,000 new daily cases over the recent period, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Omicron has forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights in the United States as crews called in sick or had to quarantine after exposure to the virus and airlines scrambled to rebook frustrated passengers who had hoped to spend Christmas with their families. Fauci said the administration was ramping up in order to cope. “The president’s multi-part component of the response is to make sure that we have adequate backup for hospitals with military personnel, doctors, nurses and other health care providers, making sure that there’s enough PPE (personal protective equipment) and that if needed, there’s enough ventilators in the national strategic stockpile,” he said. The White House adviser also stressed that Omicron was “extraordinarily contagious.” At the same time, Fauci noted that recent studies in South Africa and Britain indicate that Omicron was less likely to lead to hospitalization than the previous strains of the virus and that the duration of hospital stays and oxygen needs for patients were lower. But Fauci also warned that Omicron’s apparent lower severity is likely to be neutralized by how fast it is spreading. “The issue that we don’t want to get complacent about… is that when you have such a high volume of new infections, it might override a real diminution in severity,” Fauci said. On Tuesday, the White House announced its new Covid response plan, which includes additional aid to hospitals and ramping up vaccination and testing, but no new restrictions ahead of the end-of-year holidays. View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) -South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a veteran of the struggle against white minority rule, died on Sunday aged 90. Following are reactions to his death. PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA “The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nation’s farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa. “Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead.” THABO MAKGOBA, ARCHBISHOP OF CAPE TOWN “Desmond Tutu’s legacy is moral strength, moral courage and clarity. He felt with the people. In public and alone, he cried because he felt people’s pain. And he laughed – no, not just laughed, he cackled with delight when he shared their joy.” NELSON MANDELA FOUNDATION “His contributions to struggles against injustice, locally and globally, are matched only by the depth of his thinking about the making of liberator futures for human societies. He was an extraordinary human being. A thinker. A leader. A shepherd.” VATICAN TELEGRAM “His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu… Mindful of his service to the gospel through the promotion of racial equality and reconciliation in his native South Africa, his Holiness commends his soul to the loving mercy of Almighty God.” FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA “Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a mentor, a friend and a moral compass for me and so many others. A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere. “He never lost his impish sense of humour and willingness to find humanity in his adversaries, and Michelle and I will miss him dearly.” UK’S QUEEN ELIZABETH “I am joined by the whole Royal Family in being deeply saddened by the news of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a man who tirelessly championed human rights in South Africa and across the world. I remember with fondness my meetings with him and his great warmth and humour. “Archbishop Tutu’s loss will be felt by the people of South Africa, and by so many people in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and across the Commonwealth, where he was held in such high affection and esteem.” UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu – a towering global figure for peace & justice, voice of the voiceless & inspiration to people everywhere. “We will continue to draw strength from his humanity, passion & resolve to fight for a better world for all.” FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER “No words better exemplify his ministry than the three he contributed to a work of art at The Carter Center: Love, freedom and compassion.” JOHN STEENHUISEN, LEADER OF SOUTH AFRICAN OPPOSITION PARTY THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE “A true South African giant has left us today, but his spirit will live on … in our continued effort to build a united, successful, non-racial South Africa for all … When we lost our way, he was the moral compass that brought us back.” EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF JOSEP BORRELL “Desmond Tutu did a lot of good for the world. His legacy of resistance to apartheid and to inequalities lives on in today’s South Africa and for all humankind.” ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY JUSTIN WELBY “Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a prophet and priest, a man of words and action – one who embodied the hope and joy that were the foundations of his life.” THE DALAI LAMA, TIBET’S SPIRITUAL LEADER “The friendship and the spiritual bond between us was something we cherished. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was entirely dedicated to serving his brothers and sisters for the greater common good.” BERNICE KING, DAUGHTER OF MARTIN LUTHER KING “I’m saddened to learn of the death of global sage, human rights leader, and powerful pilgrim on earth … We are better because he was here.” WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES “His contagious sense of humour and laughter has helped to resolve many critical situations in South Africa’s political and church life. He was able to break almost any deadlock. He shared with us the laughter and grace of God many a time.” UK PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON “He was a critical figure in the fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa – and will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humour.” UK DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DOMINIC RAAB “His adage, ‘Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument’, has never felt more apt.” MEXICAN PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR “One of his sayings is terse, but forceful and true: ‘If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.'” BASIM NAEEM, SENIOR OFFICIAL WITH PALESTINIAN ISLAMIST MILITANT GROUP HAMAS “Our Palestinian people lost a strong supporter of their march towards freedom and independence. Father Desmond Tutu spent his entire life struggling against racism and defending human rights and especially on the Palestinian land.” WASEL ABU YOUSSEF, MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANISATION “Father Desmond Tutu was one of the biggest supporters of the Palestinian cause. He had always advocated the rights of the Palestinians to gain their freedom and rejected Israeli occupation and apartheid.” UNAIDS, THE JOINT UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME ON HIV/AIDS “He was a powerful voice in the fight against AIDS, combating denial, demanding access to treatment for all, calling out against discrimination of people living with HIV, and championing the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, women, and children. His work on HIV and tuberculosis prevention and treatment changed global paradigms and saved many lives.” (Reporting by South Africa bureau; Additional reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Editing by David Goodman, John Stonestreet and Hugh Lawson) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nqobile Dludla and James Macharia Chege JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and veteran of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid who was revered as his nation’s conscience by both Black and white, died on Sunday aged 90. Tutu won the Nobel prize in 1984 Key dates in the life of South African cleric and activist Desmond Tutu in recognition of his non-violent opposition to white minority rule. A decade later, he witnessed the end of that regime and chaired a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, set up to unearth atrocities committed under it. Ever outspoken, he preached against the tyranny of the white minority. After apartheid ended, he called the Black political elite to account with as much feistiness as he had the Afrikaners, but his enduring spirit of reconciliation in a divided nation always shone through, and tributes https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/reaction-death-south-africas-desmond-tutu-2021-12-26 to him poured in from around the world on Sunday. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described Tutu in a televised address as “one of our nation’s finest patriots” adding, “our nation’s loss is indeed a global bereavement.” U.S. President Joe Biden said Tutu followed his spiritual calling to create a better, freer, and more equal world. “His legacy transcends borders and will echo throughout the ages.” “Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a mentor, a friend and a moral compass for me and so many others,” former President Barack Obama said. “He never lost his impish sense of humour and willingness to find humanity in his adversaries.” Bill Clinton called Tutu’s life “a gift.” TWO NOBELS ON ONE STREET Born near Johannesburg, Tutu spent most of his later life in Cape Town and led numerous marches and campaigns to end apartheid from St George’s Cathedral’s front steps. Tutu died “peacefully” on Sunday morning in a Cape Town nursing home, a representative of his Archbishop Desmond Tutu IP Trust said. He will lie in state at St George’s on Friday before his funeral service there on Saturday, it said. Looking frail and in a wheelchair, he was last seen in public in October at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town – a one-time safe haven for anti-apartheid activists – for a service marking his 90th birthday. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 1990s and was later hospitalised several times to treat infections associated with treatment for it. In his final years he also regretted that his dream of a “Rainbow Nation” https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africas-tutu-anti-apartheid-hero-who-never-stopped-fighting-rainbow-nation-2021-12-26 had yet to come true, and often fell out with erstwhile allies at the ruling African National Congress party over their failures to address the poverty and inequalities that they promised to eradicate. Just five feet five inches (1.68 metres) tall and with an infectious giggle, Tutu travelled tirelessly through the 1980s to become the face of the anti-apartheid movement abroad while many of the leaders of the then rebel ANC, including future President Nelson Mandela, were behind bars. Long-time friends, Tutu and Mandela lived for a time on the same street in the South African township of Soweto, making Vilakazi Street the only one in the world to have been home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners. “His most characteristic quality is his readiness to take unpopular positions without fear,” Mandela once said of Tutu. “Such independence of mind is vital to a thriving democracy.” ‘A PROPHET AND A PRIEST’ Having officially retired from public life on his 79th birthday Tutu – who once said of himself: “I wish I could shut up, but I can’t, and I won’t” – continued to speak out on a range of moral issues. John Steenhuisen, leader of opposition party The Democratic Alliance, said Tutu’s spirit would live on “in our continued effort to build a united, successful, non-racial South Africa for all.” In 2008, Tutu accused the West of complicity in Palestinian suffering by remaining silent. In 2013, he declared his support for gay rights, saying he would never “worship a God who is homophobic.” Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby on Sunday hailed Tutu as “a prophet and priest” while Pope Francis offered heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. In a letter to Tutu’s daughter Reverend Mpho Tutu, Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, said the world had “lost a great man, who lived a truly meaningful life.” “We are better because he was here,” said Martin Luther King’s daughter Bernice. (Additional reporting by Wendell Roelf and Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Writing by James Macharia Chege;Editing by Kirsten Donovan, John Stonestreet and Richard Chang) View the full article

Key West is an ideal destination to go balls out on your next vacation. Photo courtesy Equator Resort.It’s not hard to sell prospective gay travelers on Key West’s gorgeous weather and vibrant LGBTQ+ community, but when it comes to the island’s clothing-optional culture, many folks are quick to decide it’s not for them. I should know. I used to be one of those people. I’d never been even a little curious about a clothing-optional vacation (in fact, I was fully swimming with a shirt on well into my 30s), but when I arrived for my first ever visit to Key West, it was nothing like I imagined … or feared. If you’ve ever been curious about what it’s like to trade your swimsuit for your birthday suit, we’ve got 10 reasons why Key West is the perfect place to give clothing-optional a try on your next vacation. Sponsored Post We appreciate Key West as a Towleroad sponsor. Without their support we would not be able to bring the site to you. We think most of our readership will really enjoy Key West. So, if warmer weather travel is in your future, consider it. 1. You’re In Control The most important thing for first-timers to keep in mind is that “clothing-optional” does not mean “nudity-mandatory.” In most Key West clothing-optional spaces, you’ll encounter folks in all states of undress. Sure, some folks are wearing their bathing suit in the pool. They’re typically the minority, but they’re no less welcome. “Just remember, it’s optional,” said Anthony Sibilly-Juarez, general manager of the Equator Resort, one of Key West’s clothing optional guesthouses. “The clothing-optional aspect is not something that is required. It’s not what you’re fearing it is. You’re going to have a good time, you’re going to relax. If you choose to lose your clothes, great, if you don’t, great, too.” Is it a sexually-charged atmosphere? Sure. But not much more than most gay spaces. No matter anyone’s motivations, there’s room for all comers. “It becomes a sanctuary where you feel safe, you are among like-minded people,” Sibilly-Juarez said. “Whether you’re more of a nudist, and you enjoy the freedom of it, or the more sexual component to it, there’s lots of factors that play into it.” 2. You’ll Fit Right in A major concern for a lot of guys considering a clothing-optional vacation is what everyone else there will look like. Of course, every trip will feature its own rotating cast of fellow travelers, but it’s fair to expect you will be surrounded by people whom you do and do not want to have sex with, as well as people who do and do not want to have sex with you. Sort of like anywhere else. On my trips to the island, I’ve met men ages 18-80, hairy and smooth, twinks, bears, otters and every zoo creature in between. If there’s one kind of person not welcome in the Key West “One Human Family,” it’s the judgmental. 3. You Can Let Loose Most visitors aren’t in Key West for a long time, but they are typically there for a good time, which makes it easy to let your guard — and swim trunks — down. “During one of my first conferences, someone asked me, “What do you do for a living?” Sibilly-Juarez said. “Well, I make sure the boys are naked, the porn is on and the liquor is flowing.” Who could ask for anything more? Because Key West is such a popular vacation destination, folks are already primed to party. It’s easy to strike up a conversation with a good-natured stranger when everyone’s leaving their worries (and clothes and inhibitions) at the door. 4. You May Surprise Yourself Just slipping out of your Speedo may be achievement enough, but that could just be the beginning. Sibilly-Juarez recalled one specific guest: 5. You’ve Got Options Not all clothing-optional experiences are alike, and even on the 2-by-4 mile island, three male-only, clothing-optional guesthouses offer visitors a variety of vibes. Equator, for example, boasts a collection of uniquely designed rooms, pools and jacuzzis in a sexy, secluded, grotto-like atmosphere. Every room has its own bathroom (versus guesthouses that offer a broader price range with shared bathrooms), and they don’t offer memberships from locals. It keeps the property peaceful and serene, though happy hour brings out guests to mix and mingle. Meanwhile, New Orleans House on Duval Street offers guests unparalleled access to Key West nightlife and the backyard bar scene at Bourbon Street Pub. Centrally-located near the gay bars and drag shows, it’s a great spot for the guest who loves the nightlife (and doesn’t mean a little extra late-night ambiance from the streets below). Then there’s Island House, which famously blends the best of bathhouses and resort amenities while attracting a steady stream of locals for a reliably lively party atmosphere. The dedicated “play space,” steamrooms and wild pool parties make it a more sex-forward environment. Clothes on or off, everyone’s welcome in Key West. Photo courtesy Island House.6. You Don’t Need Apps to Get Laid Let’s get real: For all the talk about how sex isn’t a necessary component of the clothing-optional experience, it’s certainly not hard to find either. “This is debauchery at its finest, but it’s five-star sleaze,” said Jeffrey Smead, general manager of Island House. At Island House, sex does spill over from the “red room” to the jacuzzi and steam rooms, but it’s just as easy to avoid if it’s not your thing. For those travelers who have replaced cruising with apps, Island House offers a radically refreshing way to connect. “For that new generation that isn’t used to hearing about a product like this, they kind of put it in a box, they say, ‘Oh, well, that’s a bathhouse, and I don’t go to bathhouses.’ It’s like why don’t you just take the label away, and give yourself permission to experience something new?” 7. You’ll Make Friends No, really. Not “friends” like the guy saved in your phone as “Brandon? (Eagle),” but actual friends. “No other environment introduces people so casually yet in a setting that is so outrageous,” Smead is quick to point out. “This is the place where the couple from Tulsa, Oklahoma meets the couple from Tampa meets the couple from Connecticut, and they end up going to dinner together on the fly. Then a couple of them end up going to Bourbon Street Pub for late night cocktails and then they inevitably will come back 3 a.m. to Island House and get some elevated bar fare here, then hot tub and jacuzzi time. That’s what this place does, you don’t plan your experience. You come here with a clean slate, you take your watch off your wrist, you put your cell phone down and you jump in headfirst into the experience.” I’ve seen this at work in my own travels around the island. In just three short trips, I’ve nurtured enough relationships with locals and fellow travelers to coordinate future travel together. It may not have been solely the nudity that led to our friendship, but the general sense of openness and community didn’t hurt. Captain Nick on the BluQ (before the trunks came off). 8. You’ll Take More Than Half Off at This Sail Clothing-optional Key West experiences aren’t limited to the guesthouses — or even dry land! The BluQ offers all-male, clothing-optional sails (as well as sunset sails open to all LGBTQ+ people). The trip includes a half day on Key West’s beautiful waters, snorkeling, enjoying drinks (the sails are BYOB) on a sandbar with a group of fellow travelers. Sure, sitting in the surf with a cold one is great, but you should try it while soaking up all the sun in those places it doesn’t usually shine. Group sizes range from less than 10 to about two dozen for larger groups. It’s a great way to meet travelers staying at different guesthouses. 9. You Can Experience a True Key West Party For those looking for an even deeper dive into the clothing-optional experience, there’s Bone Island Bare It All, a gathering of gay nudists that takes over all three, all-male, clothing-optional resorts, plus Alexander Guesthouse, which typically is open to LGBTQ+ guests of all genders. 10. You’ll See How Normal Naked Can Be The most surprising thing about the nudity in Key West is just how unsurprising it can feel in practice. In Key West, even the realtors are naked, just ask Paul Brooks. You might recognize him from his cheeky postcards displayed at Island House and Equator (and soon New Orleans House as well). On the front, he’s naked, a black bar with the text “LOOKING … ” covering all the best bits. On the back it says, “TO BUY OR SELL A HOME IN KEY WEST?” It’s a clever way to catch some eyeballs, but it’s also a tactic tailor made for the Key West crowd. “Being here, being in a very clothing-optional community definitely allows me to do that,” he said. “Otherwise, it would be very plain real estate marketing.” Key West’s queer community and welcoming “Come As You Are” spirit are two reasons it’s so open to clothing-optional experiences, but Brooks thinks there’s another element at play. “It’s the tropics,” he said. “You’re in endless sunshine, of course you want to get naked and sunbathe, who doesn’t?!” If you can no longer resist the urge to strip down in the Key West sunshine, explore more of our previous Key West Content and start planning your next gaycation to Key West today. View the full article

=Buck SlipQueen Misses Husband. Doesn’t miss opportunity to say she understands the pain of others experiencing loss, and slips a gift in her almost hilarious modeling of a response to a fabricated constituent claiming that Xmas joy is for kids. Says kids are just half the story and that Xmas, of course, plays to the children in all of us. WATCH, Listen. She does it better. — Editor [This post contains video, click to play] Published by Reuters By Estelle Shirbon LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth spoke of the loss of her husband Prince Philip on Sseaturday, remembering the “mischievous twinkle” in his eyes in an unusually personal Christmas message to the nation. The 95-year-old monarch said that while Christmas was a time of happiness for many, it could be hard for those who had lost loved ones, and this year especially she understood why, having lost Philip, 99, in April after 73 years of marriage. “His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation were all irrepressible,” she said in her traditional pre-recorded festive broadcast, paying tribute to “my beloved Philip”. “That mischievous enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him,” she said. The queen said she knew Philip would want his family to enjoy Christmas, and there would be joy for them despite the absence of his “familiar laugh”. She delivered her address seated at a desk on which stood a photograph of herself and Philip, standing arm-in-arm and smiling at each other. The photo was taken in 2007, when the couple were marking their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. For her broadcast, the queen wore a sapphire brooch that she wore on her honeymoon in 1947 and for the Diamond Wedding portrait. Photos of her and Philip at various stages of their lives appeared on the screen while she spoke. Elizabeth is spending Christmas at Windsor Castle, west of London, for the second year running, a break from royal tradition caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A palace source said this reflected a precautionary approach when the Omicron variant is spreading fast. Close family members were due to visit her, including her eldest son Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. She was not expected to make a public appearance. Usually, all the Windsors gather for Christmas at another one of her homes, the Sandringham estate in eastern England. Their walk to a nearby church for a Christmas service is a staple of the royal calendar. With Britain’s daily COVID infection numbers hitting records, the queen last week cancelled a pre-Christmas lunch with her family, also as a precaution. In her message, she also spoke of her upcoming Platinum Jubilee year, which starts in February and will mark her 70 years on the throne. She is the longest-reigning monarch in British history, having in 2015 overtaken her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. She said she hoped the jubilee would be a chance for people “to give thanks for the enormous changes of the last 70 years, social, scientific and cultural, and also to look ahead with confidence”. (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Barbara Lewis) Queen misses husband on Towleroad Johnny Depp To Grill James Franco Over Alleged Amber Heard Affair More U.S. airlines scrap hundreds of Christmas Day flights due to Omicron More NASA launches revolutionary space telescope to give glimpse of early universe More Americans proceed with holiday plans despite Omicron surge More James Franco’s accusers slam star over interview: ‘He continues to downplay survivors’ experiences’ More Trump asks Supreme Court to block release to Capitol riot probe More From Kabul to Kentucky: Afghans put down roots in refugee haven More Tom Holland: Playing Spider-Man is a ‘brotherhood’ More Olly Alexander eats mince pies every day More Jonathan Groff was amazed by the work ethic of Keanu Reeves during The Matrix Resurrections More US to lift travel ban on southern Africa: official More Load More View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA James Franco has been served with legal documents by Johnny Depp — who wants to grill the Pineapple Express actor about whether he slept with his former wife Amber Heard when she was still married. Page Six broke the story, Depp's lawyers had been trying to track down Franco for some time and will now be allowed to move forward with a deposition. MEGA The Pirates of the Caribbean actor is suing his ex-wife for defamation after she wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post. The title of the article was I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change. In the article, Heard wrote about her experience dealing with people's criticism of her after she came forward with abuse accusations. She never once mentioned Depp by name but it wasn't hard to figure out who she was talking about. The Viper Room Curse: Johnny's Ex-Business Partner Missing — What Does Depp Know? “Imagine a powerful man as a ship, like the Titanic. That ship is a huge enterprise. When it strikes an iceberg, there are a lot of people on board desperate to patch up holes — not because they believe in or even care about the ship, but because their own fates depend on the enterprise,” she wrote. Depp claims the article violated a non-disclosure clause that was included in their divorce settlement. MEGA Depp is also accusing Heard of fabricating the photos of her alleged injuries that were released around the time of their divorce. He claims she doctored the photos but Heard denies the accusations. The photos show the actress with two black eyes, a broken nose, and a busted lip. She was recently ordered to turn over her cell phones as part of the court battle. Johnny Depp's Old Bandmate Claims Ex-Wife Amber Heard 'F—ed His Career Over', Drove Him To Abuse Drugs Depp also believes Heard cheated on him with multiple other men. One of them is Franco. He wants to grill the actor about his theory under oath along with whether Franco saw injuries on Heard in the days after the alleged assault. Depp claims security footage from his apartment shows Franco and Heard in an elevator in May 2016. The footage was shot 24 hours after Heard claims Depp attacked her and gave her a black eye. Depp believes Franco will have answers on whether Heard ever mentioned a fight of if there were visible marks on her face/body. “I have denied Ms. Heard’s allegations vehemently since she first made them in May 2016 … when she walked into court to obtain a temporary restraining order with painted-on bruises that witnesses and surveillance footage show she did not possess each day of the preceding week. I will continue to deny them for the rest of my life. I never abused Ms. Heard or any other woman,” Depp wrote in his lawsuit. MEGA Heard's attorney claims Franco lived in the same building at the time and they were not having an affair. The trial is set to start on April 11, 2022. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Humeyra Pamuk and Joel Schectman WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. airlines canceled close to 900 flights on Saturday, the second straight day of massive cancellations as surging COVID-19 infections have sidelined some pilots and other crew members, upending plans for tens of thousands of holiday travelers over the Christmas weekend. More than 880 Christmas Day flights, including domestic flights and those into or out of the country, were canceled, up from 690 on Christmas Eve, according to a running tally on flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. Around 800 flights were delayed. The Christmas holidays are typically a peak time for air travel, but the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant has led to a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections, forcing airlines to cancel flights as pilots and crew need to be quarantined. United Airlines canceled 230 flights, a company spokesperson said. “The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation,” spokesperson Maddie King said. She added that the cancellations made up a small portion of United’s 4,000 average daily flights during the holiday season. “We are working hard to rebook as many people as possible and get them on their way for the holidays,” she said. FlightAware data showed that Delta Air Lines scrubbed 292 flights as of 11:23 a.m. EST (1623 GMT), while a spokesperson for American Airlines said the carrier had to call off 90 mainland flights. Globally, a total of more than 2,500 flights were called off on Saturday and some 4,200 others were delayed. “Our operation has been running smoothly, and unfortunately a number of COVID-related sick calls led us to make the difficult decision to pre-cancel some flights scheduled for today,” a spokesperson for American Airlines said. Not all airlines were affected equally. A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines said there were no issues to report with the carrier’s flights on Saturday. The Omicron variant was first detected in November and now accounts for nearly three-quarters of U.S. cases and as many as 90% in some areas, such as the Eastern Seaboard. The average number of new U.S. coronavirus cases has risen 45% to 179,000 per day over the past week, according to a Reuters tally. While recent research suggests Omicron produces milder illness and a lower rate of hospitalizations than previous variants of COVID-19, health officials have maintained a cautious note about the outlook. Ahead of the Christmas holiday, Americans scrambled for COVID-19 tests and many went ahead with their travel plans. U.S. officials have said that people who are fully vaccinated should feel comfortable proceeding with holiday travel. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Joel Schectman; Editing by Kieran Murray and Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Steve Gorman (Reuters) -NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, built to give the world its first glimpse of the universe as it existed when the earliest galaxies formed, was launched by rocket early Saturday from the northeastern coast of South America, opening a new era of astronomy. The revolutionary $9 billion infrared telescope https://graphics.reuters.com/SPACE-EXPLORATION/TELESCOPE/klvyknwbrvg, described by NASA as the premiere space-science observatory of the next decade, was carried aloft inside the cargo bay of an Ariane 5 rocket that blasted off at about 7:20 a.m. EST (1220 GMT) from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) launch base in French Guiana. The flawless Christmas Day launch, with a countdown conducted in French, was carried live on a joint NASA-ESA webcast. The liftoff capped a project decades in the making, coming to fruition after years of repeated delays and cost over-runs. “From a tropical rain forest to the edge of time itself, James Webb begins a voyage back to the birth of the universe,” a NASA commentator said as the two-stage launch vehicle, fitted with double solid-rocket boosters, roared off its launch pad into cloudy skies. After a 27-minute, hypersonic ride into space, the 14,000-pound instrument was released from the upper stage of the French-built rocket about 865 miles above the Earth, and should gradually unfurl to nearly the size of a tennis court over the next 13 days as it sails onward on its own. Live video captured by a camera mounted on the rocket’s upper stage showed the Webb gliding gently away after it was jettisoned, drawing cheers and applause from jubilant flight engineers in the mission control center. Flight controllers confirmed moments later, as the Webb’s solar-energy array was deployed, that its power supply was working. Coasting through space for two more weeks, the Webb telescope will reach its destination in solar orbit 1 million miles from Earth – about four times farther away than the moon. And Webb’s special orbital path will keep it in constant alignment with the Earth as the planet and telescope circle the sun in tandem. By comparison, Webb’s 30-year-old predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, orbits the Earth from 340 miles away, passing in and out of the planet’s shadow every 90 minutes. Named after the man who oversaw NASA through most of its formative decade of the 1960s, Webb is about 100 times more sensitive than Hubble and is expected to transform scientists’ understanding of the universe and our place in it. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, striking a spiritual tone as he addressed the launch webcast by video link, quoted the Bible and hailed the new telescope as a “time machine” that will “capture the light from the very beginning of the creation.” COSMOLOGICAL HISTORY LESSON Webb mainly will view the cosmos in the infrared spectrum, allowing it to peer through clouds of gas and dust where stars are being born, while Hubble has operated primarily at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths. The new telescope’s primary mirror – consisting of 18 hexagonal segments of gold-coated beryllium metal – also has a much bigger light-collecting area, enabling it to observe objects at greater distances, thus farther back into time, than Hubble or any other telescope. That, astronomers say, will bring into view a glimpse of the cosmos never previously seen – dating to just 100 million years after the Big Bang, the theoretical flashpoint that set in motion the expansion of the observable universe an estimated 13.8 billion years ago. Hubble’s view reached back to roughly 400 million years following the Big Bang, a period just after the very first galaxies – sprawling clusters of stars, gases and other interstellar matter – are believed to have taken shape. While Hubble caught glimmers of “toddler” galaxies, Webb will reveal those objects in greater detail while also capturing even fainter, earlier “infant” galaxies, astrophysicist Eric Smith, NASA’s Webb program scientist, told Reuters hours before the launch. Aside from examining the formation of the earliest stars and galaxies, astronomers are eager to study super-massive black holes believed to occupy the centers of distant galaxies. Webb’s instruments also make it ideal to search for evidence of potentially life-supporting atmospheres around scores of newly documented exoplanets – celestial bodies orbiting distant stars – and to observe worlds much closer to home, such as Mars and Saturn’s icy moon Titan. The telescope is an international collaboration led by NASA in partnership with the European and Canadian space agencies. Northrop Grumman Corp was the primary contractor. The Arianespace launch vehicle is part of the European contribution. “The world gave us this telescope, and we handed it back to the world today,” Gregory Robinson, Webb program director for NASA told reporters at a post-launch briefing. Webb was developed at a cost of $8.8 billion, with operational expenses projected to bring its total price tag https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nasa-telescope/northrop-ceo-grilled-by-u-s-lawmakers-over-space-telescope-idUSKBN1KG2US to about $9.66 billion, far higher than planned when NASA was previously aiming for a 2011 launch. Astronomical operation of the telescope, to be managed from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, is expected to begin in the summer of 2022, following about six months of alignment and calibration of Webb’s mirrors and instruments. It is then that NASA expects to release the initial batch of images captured by Webb. Webb is designed to last up to 10 years. (Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Barbara Lewis, Hugh Lawson and Nick Zieminski) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Maria Caspani and Jonathan Allen (Reuters) -Millions of Americans are pushing ahead with holidays that include cross-country flights, busy tourist attractions and indoor dining, even as the surge in COVID-19 infections fueled by the Omicron variant forces them to adapt some plans on the fly. Debbie Rodriguez said she thought “long and hard” about canceling this year’s family Christmas trip to New York City before opting last-minute on Thursday to travel from Houston. “We just decided we’re not going to live in fear,” said Rodriguez, 48, as she waited for luggage at New York’s LaGuardia airport with her husband and two children. Rodriguez said her fully vaccinated family had planned to see the Rockettes’ Christmas show before it was canceled due to the COVID outbreak, so they will instead check out landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. On Christmas Day, they will dine indoors at a restaurant in Harlem away from the crowds, then visit the Empire State Building, she said. COVID-19 infections have surged in the United States in recent days due to Omicron, which was first detected in November and now accounts for approximately 73% of cases across the country and as many as 90% of cases in some areas, such as the eastern Atlantic states. While Americans scramble for COVID-19 tests https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-testing-struggles-keep-up-with-omicron-2021-12-22 and weigh varying public health guidance about how to gather safely for a second Christmas marked by the pandemic, many showed they were willing to brave the latest surge in order to enjoy holiday traditions such as worshipping and eating out. The Transportation Security Administration on Wednesday screened 2,081,297 passengers through the nation’s airports, an increase of 144,000 over the number of travelers it screened pre-pandemic on the same date in 2019. In-person Christmas services will be held at all churches and parishes in the Archdiocese of New York, which includes more than 2.5 million Roman Catholics across 10 counties, communications director Joseph Zwilling said. There will be no new restrictions in place because of Omicron, but Zwilling said the Archdiocese would continue to require mask-wearing and social distancing as it has since last year. “The existing measures have been working,” he said. Two of Washington, D.C.’s Michelin-starred restaurants, Kinship and Metier, are fully reserved and have waitlists for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, said chef and owner Eric Ziebold. To-go orders have increased for Christmas Eve, but it is too early to say the same for New Year’s, he said. “Guests want to get through one holiday before they focus on the next, especially since new details about the Omicron variant are announced daily,” he said. ALTERED PLANS In the last seven days, the average number of new COVID cases has risen 37% to 165,000 per day, according to a Reuters tally https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/united-states. Deaths and hospitalizations, which can be lagging indicators, are relatively unchanged nationwide. Cases have risen 96% so far in December, while deaths are up 55% and hospitalizations have increased 28%. In anticipation of an even larger surge of cases requiring medical attention or hospitalization, the Centers for Disease Control late Thursday cut its recommended quarantine period https://www.reuters.com/world/us/cdc-cuts-quarantine-time-7-days-healthcare-workers-amid-omicron-surge-2021-12-23 for COVID-positive healthcare workers who are asymptomatic to seven days from 10. “As the healthcare community prepares for an anticipated surge in patients due to Omicron, CDC is updating our recommendations to reflect what we know about infection and exposure in the context of vaccination and booster doses,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Ohio all set one-day records for new cases this week, according to the Reuters tally. U.S. health officials have said people who are fully vaccinated should feel comfortable proceeding with holiday travel and family gatherings. They warned those who are unvaccinated are at higher risk of getting seriously ill or dying from the virus. “We should all be concerned about Omicron, but not panicked,” President Joe Biden said in a Twitter post on Thursday, after outlining his latest steps to combat the virus earlier this week. Omicron’s rapid spread will also put a damper on New York’s iconic New Year’s Eve celebration for a second straight year. Mayor Bill de Blasio said attendance for the midnight ball drop in Times Square will be capped at 15,000 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-york-city-scale-down-new-years-eve-celebrations-times-square-2021-12-23, roughly a quarter of the typical pre-pandemic crowd size. In Manhattan’s Bryant Park on Thursday, bundled-up skaters circled the outdoor ice rink with views of the Empire State Building as carols and Christmas pop songs boomed from loudspeakers. At the rink’s edge, Reneé Rosenthal, a 51-year-old merchandising representative for Hallmark greetings cards, embraced a friend she has known since elementary school in New Jersey. Rosenthal said she booked the five-day trip with her husband and two teenaged children from their home in Houston in the summer, when everything seemed like it was getting back to normal. They had tickets for “The Nutcracker” at Lincoln Center, but the performance was canceled after too many dancers tested positive for COVID. They also had tickets to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but abandoned the idea when they saw the long line to show proof of vaccination. They switched their plans to include a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park and a sightseeing tour on an open-top double-decker bus. The skating and reunion with her old friend still worked out, however. “This is the only thing we had planned that we didn’t have to change,” Rosenthal said. (Reporting by Maria Caspani, Peter Szekely, Lisa Shumaker, Rich McKay, Julia Harte and Jonathan Allen; Writing by Julia Harte; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Daniel Wallis and Cynthia Osterman) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English James Franco’s sexual misconduct accusers have claimed he “continues to downplay” their experiences after he admitted it was “wrong” to sleep with his students. The 43-year-old actor was accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour by five women in a 2018 article, which resulted in two of the women – Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal – filing a lawsuit against him in 2019, for which they reached a $2,235,000 settlement earlier this year. The allegations stemmed from Franco’s acting school, Playhouse West Studio 4, which he opened in 2014 before it closed in 2017, where the five women were students. And in a recent interview addressing the allegations, Franco admitted he did sleep with some of his students but said that while he thought it was fine at the time because it was “consensual”, he now knows it was wrong. However, in a statement released by the attorneys who represent Sarah and Toni after the interview, the women accused Franco of being “blind about power dynamics”, as well as being “completely insensitive” about the “immense pain and suffering he put his victims through”. The statement read: “In addition to being blind about power dynamics, Franco is completely insensitive to, and still apparently does not care about, the immense pain and suffering he put his victims through with this sham of an acting school. “It is unbelievable that even after agreeing to a settlement he continues to downplay the survivors’ experiences and ignore their pain, despite acknowledging he had no business starting such a school in the first place. “This wasn’t a misunderstanding over a course name, it wasn’t the result of him being overworked — it was, and is, despicable conduct. “Nobody should confuse this interview with Franco taking accountability for his actions or expressing remorse over what happened. It is a transparent ducking of the real issues released just before a major holiday in hopes that he wouldn’t face any scrutiny over his response.” In Franco’s interview, the actor admitted he was wrong to sleep with his students, but insisted he didn’t start the school to “lure” women in. He said: “I’ll admit I did sleep with students. I didn’t sleep with anybody in [my ‘Sex Scenes’ class], but, over the course of my teaching, I did sleep with students and that was wrong. “But like I said, I, it’s not why I started the school and I, I didn’t, I wasn’t the person that selected the people to be in the class. So, it wasn’t a master plan on my part. But yes, there were certain instances where, you know what I was in a consensual thing with, with a student and I shouldn’t have been.” View the full article

Published by AFP Supporters of former president Donald Trump storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 Washington (AFP) – Former US president Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to block the release of White House records to a congressional committee investigating the January 6 assault on the Capitol by his supporters. Trump asked the nation’s highest court to stay a ruling this month by a federal appeals court which rejected his attempt to keep the documents and records secret. Trump, who has been accused of fomenting the assault on Congress, is seeking to exercise his privilege as a former president to keep White House records and communications that might relate to the attack under wraps. The appeals court agreed with a lower court this month that ruled President Joe Biden could waive executive privilege on the records so they could be handed over to the panel investigating the violence by Trump supporters. In a filing with the Supreme Court, Trump’s lawyers argued that “a former president has the right to assert executive privilege, even after his term of office.” They condemned the congressional records request as “strikingly broad” and accused the committee in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives of conducting an investigation of a “political foe.” “Congress may not rifle through the confidential, presidential papers of a former President to meet political objectives,” Trump’s lawyers said. “In an increasingly partisan political climate, such records requests will become the norm regardless of what party is in power,” they said. Trump’s lawyers defended executive privilege, saying it affects “the ability of presidents and their advisers to reliably make and receive full and frank advice, without concern that communications will be publicly released to meet a political objective.” The US Court of Appeals agreed to delay the release of the White House records until lawyers for the former Republican president could file their appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump’s lawyers asked the conservative-majority Supreme Court to schedule a hearing on whether the probe request is constitutional and to block release of the documents in the meantime. In response, the House select committee investigating the Capitol insurrection reportedly asked the Supreme Court to expedite consideration of Trump’s filing, with a House counsel writing to the justices that a delay “would inflict serious injury” on the committee and the public. Public interest In its ruling, the appeals court said “the right of a former president certainly enjoys no greater weight than that of the incumbent.” “In this case, President Biden, as the head of the Executive Branch, has specifically found that Congress has demonstrated a compelling need for these very documents and that disclosure is in the best interests of the nation,” the court said. The appeals court said the public interest was greater than Trump’s own in relation to the records, which are held by the National Archives. The records are being sought by the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attempt by hundreds of Trump supporters to block certification of Biden’s November 2020 election victory. Documents that Trump hopes to block include emails, phone records, briefing materials and other records. The more than 770 pages include records of his former chief of staff Mark Meadows, his former senior advisor Stephen Miller and his former deputy counsel Patrick Philbin. Trump has also sought to block the release of the White House Daily Diary — a record of his activities, trips, briefings and phone calls. Another trove of documents Trump does not want Congress to see includes memos to his former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, a handwritten note on the January 6 events and a draft text of his speech at the “Save America” rally, which preceded the attack. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Amira Karaoud and Mary Milliken BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Reuters) – After exhausting journeys that took them from Kabul to Qatar to European cities to U.S. military bases, Afghan families fleeing the Taliban alighted in Kentucky, in a small city well versed in receiving refugees. Bowling Green has welcomed waves of refugees over four decades, beginning with the Cambodians in the 1980s and then Bosnians in the 1990s, plus Iraqis, Burmese, Rwandese and Congolese and others, who have helped make the city of 72,000 a diverse and economically thriving place. Wazir Khan Zadran was a tribal leader who fought 20 years ago against the Haqqani network, a powerful faction within the Taliban. Although he more recently worked with a non-governmental organization, he knew the Taliban would come for him. Zadran said the Americans saved him and his family by picking them up in a Chinook helicopter in August and taking them to the Kabul airport. After a spell at a New Mexico military base, they were sent to Bowling Green and quickly realized they had lucked out in their new American lives. (See https://reut.rs/3H4tNjZ for a picture package on Zadran and other refugees) “We are so happy in Bowling Green,” said the 41-year-old father, who has secured a comfortable house and sent his children to school with the assistance of the local resettlement agency, the International Center, founded in 1981. “Also, the local community is helping us and introducing the culture to us,” Zadran added. His six children are learning songs in English, sending “Dear Santa” letters off, going to the library and lapping up ice cream at Baskin-Robbins. In the aftermath of rising anti-immigrant and refugee sentiment during the Trump administration, the United States government is now handling its biggest refugee evacuation since Vietnam. Of the nearly 75,000 expected to settle in America, Bowling Green will receive 350 Afghans in fiscal year 2022. There are plenty of jobs for new residents of Bowling Green, an agricultural and manufacturing hub, perhaps best known for the assembly plant that makes the coveted Corvette sports car. The Bosnians, who now number around 10,000 and own several companies, attest to the good job prospects when the Afghans’ expedited work permits arrive in coming months. “In 2000 when I came here, I arrived with a couple of suitcases and two infant children and my wife,” said Tahir Zukic, a Bosnian from Srebrenica who owns Taz Trucking, employing 100 people and 140 trucks. “It’s absolutely an amazing place to be, with a lot of opportunity and you can just do what you like to do.” For those who did not work with the Americans in Afghanistan, learning the language could be the toughest part of adapting to their new home, Zukic said. But they also must learn how America works, how to drive, how to get a credit card. And what to do when tornadoes approach. The twisters that tore through Kentucky this month jolted the Afghans’ sense of security. They were confounded by the 1 a.m. sirens that reminded them of Kabul and shocked by the uprooted trees, roofs ripped off houses and deaths in one neighborhood home to many immigrants. “We never saw a storm like this before in our life in Afghanistan, so we felt maybe we were going to another war,” Zadran said. “But God saved us.” ‘THIS IS MY PLACE’ Firas Majeed arrived in Bowling Green from Baghdad via Brooklyn, New York, in 2016. The Iraqi refugee came to visit a friend and decided “this is my place.” He now co-owns a grocery store stocked with Middle Eastern and European foods after working as a welder. “The quality of life is higher than in the big cities,” said Majeed, who appreciates the big skies and verdant farms around Bowling Green, strong job market, low rents and medical care. Majeed said the Afghans will get a lot of support because everyone saw the images of the chaotic evacuation from Kabul. The Iraqis can teach them things, like how to get a driver’s license. Bowling Green is also a place that allows refugees to hold onto their identities while becoming Americans – offering a socially conservative environment to raise families and practice religions. At the Forest Park Baptist Church, Congolese refugees have breathed new life into the community. Worship services and Bible study are translated into Swahili and sometimes held in that language. “We love their gospel singing,” said church leader Mike Givens, and the church translates their songs so everyone hears the message. “Our community has changed, so if we do not seek or go after the immigrant population, our church will not survive,” added Givens. Back at the Zadran house, the children make quick progress with their new culture. The eldest, Zuleikha, teaches her siblings a song in English with the lyrics “What are you thankful for?” As they applaud their own performance, Zuleikha declares “Finished!” and flashes a wide grin. (Reporting by Amira Karaoud and Mary Milliken; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tom Holland has described playing Spider-Man as a “brotherhood”. The 25-year-old actor once again starred as Peter Parker and his web-slinging alter ego in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and he was joined by both Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, who who reprised their roles as the iconic Marvel superhero having played him in their own separate trilogies. Speaking to Marvel, Tom said: “It’s like a brotherhood.” His co-star Zendaya – who plays MJ in the big screen franchise – added: “It was so beautiful. [Tobey, Andrew, and Tom] care so deeply about the characters, and what their characters — what their journey had been as Spider-Man. “It was so beautiful to see all of you guys connect on that and be able to talk to each other about such a special experience that very few people have been able to don the suit. “It was great to see how much you guys all really cared and had each other’s back. It was really sweet.” Tom and Zendaya both described Tobey – who was last seen as Spider-Man in 2007 – as “so funny” and “so cool” on set. He said: “Man, he was so funny. He was really excited to be back. You could tell it really meant a lot to him. Him putting the suit on again. Us getting back together. It was awesome.” Tom admitted he was “stressed” the first day they all got together, and Zendaya admitted she was “nervous” for her real life boyfriend before the rehearsal. She joked: “Like dropping you off at kindergarten for the first day. Like, ‘I hope the other kids like him.’ And like, ‘I hope he doesn’t come back crying.’ “ Tom also had high praise for “the legend himself” Andrew, and he revealed how much it meant for his co-star to be back as Spider-Man after seven years. He added: “Andrew Garfield, the legend himself. He’s such a lovely guy. I think this film was his way of making peace with Spider-Man It was such a privilege to work with him. I know that it meant a lot to him.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Olly Alexander eats a mince pie every day in December. The Years & Years singer is a huge fan of the festive treat but refuses to tuck into them any time before the month of Christmas as he needs to find some way to “limit” himself from eating too many of the sweet treats. He said: “My only Christmas tradition is from the 1st of December I have a mince pie every day. Like, at least one. I really love mince pies so I have to limit myself but once December starts, I start eating them, That’s it.” The ‘King’ hitmaker has vowed to do better at keeping his diary next year. He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: “My New Year’s resolution is to… I keep a diary but I’m not very good at keeping up with it, so my new year’s resolution is to keep up with my diary.” Although he’s excited about his plans for 2022, Olly isn’t trying to “predict” too much of what might happen because the coronavirus pandemic means sudden changes could be brought about at any time. He said of 2022: “I’m bringing an album out, ‘Night Calls’, and I’m just happy to be doing it still and having the music out there. We’ve got the tour booked for the spring and fingers crossed that will go ahead. “What will be, will be, I’m trying not to predict anything any more because you don’t know what’s going to happen.” Meanwhile, the ‘It’s A Sin’ star revealed he is open to future acting roles, though it will be hard to beat the hit Channel 4 drama about the 1980s AIDS crisis, in which he starred as Ritchie Tozer. He said: “I don’t have any plans yet. “‘It’s A Sin’ was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I would love to do some more acting, but I feel like it’s gonna be so hard to beat ‘It’s A Sin’. “I don’t know. We will have to wait and see. I don’t have any plans yet.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Groff was impressed by Keanu Reeves’ work ethic on ‘The Matrix Resurrections’. The 36-year-old star features in the new sci-fi blockbuster as the villainous Agent Smith and explained how he was amazed by the effort Keanu put into a fight scene as he returns to the role of Thomas Anderson/Neo. Jonathan told The Hollywood Reporter: “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’ actor 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.” Groff’s role was played by Hugo Weaving in the original ‘Matrix’ trilogy and the actor revealed that he had his predecessor in his thoughts when preparing for the movie. He explained: “There’s a YouTube clip of Hugo Weaving every time he says, ‘Mr. Anderson!’ in the span of ‘The Matrix’ trilogy. So I watched this video clip a lot, and I played the movies in the background while I ate dinner. I always had Hugo in my mind.” View the full article

Published by AFP Travellers queue at a check-in counter at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on November 27, 2021, after several countries banned flights from South Africa Washington (AFP) – The United States will next week lift the travel ban imposed on several southern African nations when the Omicron variant of Covid was first detected, officials said Friday. Countries around the world restricted travel from southern Africa after the variant was detected in South Africa, which reported Omicron to the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 24. WHO and the United Nations spoke out against the travel bans, and officials in South Africa said they were being punished for identifying the strain and being transparent. “The restrictions gave us time to understand Omicron and we know our existing vaccines work against Omicron, esp boosted,” Kevin Munoz, the White House assistant press secretary, said on Twitter. He said the travel ban would be lifted on December 31. A senior White House official added that with Omicron present across the United States and globally, international travelers from the eight affected countries would not have a significant impact on US cases. “During the travel pause President Biden reduced the time for pre-departure testing to one day opposed to three days… travelers from these eight countries will be subject to these same strict protocols,” the official said. – Omicron across US – The ban applied to South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. Holiday festivities are expected to further drive up Covid cases in the United States where the heavily mutated Omicron variant is pushing some stretched hospitals — and exhausted health workers — to the brink. Omicron now accounts for more than 90 percent of all cases in some regions of the country. The seven-day average of new daily cases is about to pass the Delta peak seen in September, according to non-profit website Covid Act Now. Intensive care units are running at near-capacity in some states. US health authorities are banking on vaccinations to lower the number of severe Covid cases, and inoculation numbers have been strong all week. President Joe Biden this week also announced the purchase of 500 million rapid tests by the federal government. However, the additional tests are not expected to be available until January. Infection rates are soaring across South Africa as a result of the Omicron variant, but fewer people have died or required hospital treatment compared to previous waves of Covid, local health officials say. Omicron is known to be far more contagious than previous variants of Covid-19 but appears to cause a less severe illness than its predecessors. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA ‘Tis the season to find that special someone to cuddle up next to, but these celebs don’t need a mistletoe to show their love. Whether it’s couples who have been married for years or new flames who recently sparked up a romance, it’s safe to say love is certainly in the air for everyone from Zendaya and Tom Holland to Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson. Scroll through the photos below to see what couples will be cuddling up together for the holidays. Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker MEGA PDA lovers Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have been hot and heavy ever since they first made their relationship Instagram Official shortly after Valentine’s Day, though the lovebirds heavily hinted at their romance one month prior. The famous duo had been close pals and neighbors for years before taking their relationship to the next level. After sharing NSFW snaps together on social media and making out at any and all public events, Barker decided to take the next step with the KUWTK alum. Surrounded by roses and candles in the shape of a heart, the Blink-182 drummer popped the question to his brunette babe in October. It’s safe to say these two certainly don’t need a mistletoe or the clock to strike 12 on New Years to be locking lips this holiday season. Justin & Hailey Bieber MEGA Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin Bieber are also anything but shy when it comes to flaunting their love, with the model even admitting after the two wed in 2018: “We’ve literally never been more obsessed with each other.” Whether it be the Biebers expressing their love for each other on social media or the “Baby” crooner dedicating an entire album to his wife, these two sure know how to show the public what true love looks like. Kim Kardashian & Pete Davidson MEGA While these two may be an unlikely pair, it seems Kardashian and Davidson’s romance is in full bloom, with the SNL star even copping an invite to the infamous Kardashian-Jenner Christmas Eve extravaganza. The reality star, 41, and funnyman, 28, first hit it off when Kardashian was the guest host on SNL in October. Their relationship appeared to blossom from there, with the new flames being spotted out and about together multiple times. Machine Gun Kelly & Megan Fox MEGA Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly will definitely be bringing the heat this holiday season, as the Hollywood couple often offer fans a glimpse into their steamy love life. If their tongue touching photos at awards shows weren’t enough to leave people’s jaws on the floor, then the Jennifer’s Body star’s September post teasing her followers with intimate details of the couple’s sex life, certainly did the trick. “When I tell you that the table at this air bnb saw some things ,” Fox captioned a photo of herself posing in front of a table at their recent Airbnb. MGK and the actress have been going strong ever since they made their relationship official in the summer of 2020. The “twin flames” first met on set of the thriller Midnight in the Switchgrass, where Fox said she felt an instant spark. Chelsea Handler & Jo Koy Rich Polk/NBCUniversal Chelsea Handler made everyone believe in love this year, so it’s unlikely she’ll be spending the holidays away from her long-time-friend-turned-boyfriend. Speculation surrounding her and Jo Koy‘s relationship began circulating after the two were spotted together at a Dodgers game in the beginning of September. Shortly after, the blonde babe gushed she’s “finally in love, with the best kind of guy there is,” telling her followers: “There is hope for everyone! That kind of stuff.” By the end of September, the Chelsea Lately alum confirmed she and the funnyman were an item. Since changing the status of their relationship, Handler can’t stop flaunting her newfound love — and we’re loving it! Chrissy Teigen & John Legend MEGA It’s safe to say power couple Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are looking forward to spending the holidays with their adorable brood. The loved-up parents of Luna, 5, and Miles, 3, first met in 2007 when the Lip Synch Battle star played Legend’s love interest in his music video “Stereo.” Later on, they revealed that post-filming, the two went to his hotel room and ate In-N-Out and hooked up. The EGOT winner and model know how to keep their romance alive, as Legend often shares snaps of the duo enjoying date nights. And if the two couldn’t get anymore romantic, Legend has featured Teigen in several of his love ballad music videos. Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively MEGA Hollywood’s favorite couple Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are the perfect example of what true love looks like, as they know when to comically troll each other on social media or praise the other for their hard work and accomplishments. Though they often gush over each other on social media, they manage to keep their relationship on the down low. The good-looking couple was first linked in 2011 and secretly tied the knot the following year. And while they like to keep their private lives private, the Deadpool star couldn’t help but recently spill the tea about their sex life. While discussing the best parts about being married to the Gossip Girl alum that the public wouldn’t expect, Reynolds touched on Lively’s amazing baking skills. “I mean, it is an obvious perk,” the actor said of the mother of his children, before quipping: “Not complaining about that or the sex.” John Krasinski & Emily Blunt MEGA There may be a lot of high-profile romances, but nothing compares to John Krasinski and Emily Blunt‘s relationship. The power duo began dating in 2011, got engaged in August 2009 and tied the knot in Italy in the summer of 2010. Looking back on when the lovebirds first met, the 13 Hours star recalled: “It was one of those things where I wasn’t really looking for a relationship and I was thinking I’m going to take my time in L.A.,” the handsome hunk explained at the time. “Then I met her and I was so nervous. I was like, ‘Oh God, I think I’m going to fall in love with her.’ As I shook her hand I went, ‘I like you.’ It’s one of those things where as soon as you meet someone you kind of know.” As for the Devil Wears Prada actress, she lovingly admitted: “Meeting John really changed my life.” Zendaya & Tom Holland MEGA New power couple Zendaya and Holland have everybody talking. Ever since the two began filming Spider-Man: Homecoming, the actors have been inseparable. While an insider previously spilled the duo has “been super careful to keep it private and out of the public eye,” the young-and-in-love cuties made their relationship official over the summer when Holland wished his brunette beauty a happy birthday on Instagram. Despite the two being close for years, Zendaya still manages to leave the actor speechless. During the Spiderman: No Way Home premiere earlier this month, the Marvel actor got distracted mid interview after he realized his girlfriend arrived to the red carpet. “I think Zendaya just showed up,” the hunky actor excitedly exclaimed, as he heard the crowd roar. “That sounds like Zendaya just showed up.” Chris Hemsworth & Elsa Pataky MEGA Long-time Hollywood couple Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky have learned how to stay true to their relationship while being in the spotlight. TheThor star, 37, and his wife decided to move back to Byron Bay — the Australian actor’s homeland — in 2015 to live a more peaceful and laid-back lifestyle. Hemsworth and Pataky — who share three children — may keep their lives private, but the glimpses they offer fans is enough to let them know the couple is still happily in love. From sharing adorable photos of Pataky enjoying ice cream to her taking care of their children, Hemsworth will certainly be thankful for his stunning wife this holiday season. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Arriana McLymore and Maria Caspani NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. airlines canceled hundreds of flights on Christmas Eve amid a surge in COVID-19 infections driven by the Omicron variant but millions of wary Americans carried on with travel plans through a second pandemic-clouded winter holiday. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines both canceled dozens of Christmas Eve flights because of staff shortages amid the surge in infections. United Airlines canceled 177 flights and Delta canceled 150 flights, data from the website FlightAware showed as of 11:56 a.m. Eastern Time (1656 GMT). More than 2,100 flights globally were scrapped, with 527 cancellations within, into, or out of the United States, according to the site. The cancellations upended some plans but many Americans pushed ahead with holiday travel. Moses Jimenez, an accountant from Long Beach, Mississippi, flew to New York with his wife and three children, even though the latest torrent of coronavirus cases dashed their hopes to catch a performance of “Hamilton” or visit some museums. “Hamilton” was one of a dozen Broadway shows forced to cancel shows this week when cast and crew members tested positive for COVID-19. Museums were scratched from the family’s itinerary because many now require proof of vaccination and the two younger children are ineligible for the shot. Instead, Jimenez, 33, said his brood would make the most of roaming city streets and parks and seeing relatives and friends. On Christmas Day, they plan to enjoy a home-cooked meal, a family tradition, at their Airbnb lodging. “We just wanted to get out of the house, really, get the kids out to the city for Christmas,” Jimenez told Reuters on Thursday at New York’s LaGuardia airport. COVID-19 infections have surged in the United States due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant, which was first detected in November and now accounts for nearly three-quarters of U.S. cases and as many as 90% in such areas as the Eastern seaboard. The average number of new COVID-19 infections has risen 37% to 165,000 per day over the past week, according to a Reuters tally. As Omicron spreads, the Biden administration announced it would lift travel restrictions on eight southern African countries imposed last month after the variant was detected there. White House spokesman Kevin Munoz tweeted that the restrictions had bought America time “to understand Omicron” and “know our existing vaccines work.” SURGING INFECTIONS AND TRAVEL Daily totals of deaths and hospitalizations, considered lagging indicators, were little changed nationwide over the past seven days, but have jumped 55% and 28%, respectively over the course of December. Friday’s flight cancellations were prompted by a spike in Omicron cases which “had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation,” United said in a statement. The Transportation Security Administration on Thursday screened 2,187,792 passengers through U.S. airports, a decrease of about 364,000 over the number of travelers it screened pre-pandemic on the same date in 2019. While Americans scrambled for COVID-19 tests and weighed varying public health guidance – U.S. officials have said that people who are fully vaccinated should feel comfortable proceeding with holiday travel – many were determined to enjoy some semblance of celebrations and tradition. In-person Christmas services were planned at all churches and parishes in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, which includes more than 2.5 million worshipers across 10 counties and mask-wearing and social distancing measures will remain in effect, said spokesperson Joseph Zwilling. Omicron’s rapid spread will also put a damper on New York’s iconic New Year’s Eve celebration for a second straight year. Mayor Bill de Blasio said attendance for the midnight ball drop in Times Square will be capped at 15,000, roughly a quarter of the typical pre-pandemic crowd size. Many New York holiday visitors planned to limit themselves to much smaller gatherings. Madeleine Kennedy, a ski instructor from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, flew to New York on Thursday armed with a trove of COVID testing kits ahead of a scaled-down Christmas affair with family in the borough of Queens. “The second time around, I think the world is less shocked and I think we’re going to be able to plow through this,” Kennedy said. (Reporting by Arriana McLymore and Maria Caspani in New York; Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Writing by Steve Gorman and Raphael Satter; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Andrea Ricci and Howard Goller) View the full article

Published by DPA A sign with the inscription “Google” hangs in front of a training place of the company in Rennes. A Russian court has imposed large fines on Google and Facebook’s parent company Meta for allegedly refusing to delete “forbidden content.” Sebastian Gollnow/dpa A Russian court has imposed large fines on Google and Facebook’s parent company Meta for allegedly refusing to delete “forbidden content.” Google was ordered to pay 7.2 billion roubles (98 million dollars) and Meta, which also owns Instagram, nearly 2 billion roubles (27 million dollars). According to the court rulings cited by news agency Interfax on Friday, the amount of the fines was based for the first time on the annual turnover of the corporations in Russia. The US search giant Google said it wanted to study the ruling in detail before discussing further steps. Google and Facebook have already been fined several times in Russia, as have Twitter and TikTok. Russian authorities have been targeting social networks especially since the mass protests at the beginning of the year against the imprisonment of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny. They accuse the platforms of not consistently removing messages calling for unauthorized demonstrations, child pornography content or suicide calls. Internet activists criticize the actions as repression against a free internet in Russia. The deputy head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Anton Gorelkin, said that “very unpleasant measures” would be taken if fines did not help. The Facebook logo is displayed on a smartphone with a Meta Logo in the background. A Russian court has imposed large fines on Google and Facebook’s parent company Meta for allegedly refusing to delete “forbidden content.” Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sara Cheng and Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) -Two more Hong Kong universities removed on Friday public monuments to the 1989 Tiananmen protests in Beijing, following the dismantling of a sculpture commemorating victims of the crackdown at another university this week. The removals at Chinese University and Lingnan University in the global financial hub came as authorities have been clamping down under a national security law imposed by China. Human rights activists say the law is being used to suppress civil society, jail democracy campaigners and curb basic freedoms, but authorities say the security laws have restored stability after mass protests in 2019. Just before dawn, a 6.4-metre (20-foot) -tall bronze statue representing the “Goddess of Democracy” holding a flame aloft was removed from a public piazza at Chinese University. In a statement, the university said the “unauthorised statue” had been taken away following an “internal assessment”. The sculpture, which had stood on the campus for more than a decade, was modelled on a 10-metre (30-foot) white plaster and foam statue erected by students in Tiananmen Square to symbolise their resolve to pursue liberty and democracy in China under Communist party rule. A group of about two dozen students gathered to denounce the move by their university, handing out June 4 flyers as well as missing person posters of the democracy goddess with the words: “Have you seen her?” Another read, “Bring her back”. Others placed crystanthemums, a traditional Chinese symbol of mourning, lit candles on the site where the statue once stood, and played the song “Bloodstained Glory” to remember the hundreds, perhaps thousands killed in 1989. “I feel heartbroken and shocked,” said Felix Chow, a former Chinese University student and district councillor. “This statue represents the school environment is open. It’s a symbol of academic freedom … It makes people doubt whether the school can still ensure the space is free and people can speak freely,” he told Reuters. Unlike mainland China, where authorities ban any memorials or public commemoration of June 4, Hong Kong had previously been the only place on Chinese soil where such remembrances were permissible. For the past two years, however, police, citing COVID-19 risks, have banned an annual June 4 candlelight vigil that had regularly drawn tens of thousands of people. Also before dawn on Christmas Eve, Hong Kong’s Lingnan University took down a wall relief sculpture about the Tiananmen event that depicted the “Goddess of Democracy” and a row of tanks halting before a lone protester known as “tank man”; as well as victims shot by Chinese troops. When asked by Reuters whether Hong Kong or Chinese authorities had instructed all three universities to remove these Tiananmen monuments, the office of Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, said it had no comment. The sculptor of both works, Chen Weiming, told Reuters he would sue the universities if there was any damage to his works. In the main hall of the student union at Lingnan University, a towering red drawing of the Goddess of Democracy had also been covered over in grey paint. Students responded by pasting a sheet of paper with the word “shameful” on the effaced image, but it was quickly ripped off by security guards. In an email to Reuters, Lingnan University said that items that may pose “legal and safety risks” had been “cleared, or removed and stored appropriately”. When Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997, it was promised wide ranging autonomy and freedoms by China under a so-called “one country, two systems” arrangement. Earlier this week, the University of Hong Kong dismantled and removed an eight-metre (26-ft) -tall “pillar of shame” statue to victims of the Tiananmen crackdown. The disappearances of these symbolic monuments from three universities in quick succession mean that hardly any Tiananmen monuments remain to public view in Hong Kong. “Since the Chinese communists implemented the national security law in Hong Kong, they have eradicated the freedom of press, of assembly and the freedom of expression,” Chen, the artist, told Reuters. “They want to remove the real history of the brutal crackdown … they wouldn’t allow any different viewpoints to continue to exist in Hong Kong.” (Additional reporting by Jessie Pang, Joyce Zhou, James Pomfret and Edmond Ng; Writing by James Pomfret; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez) View the full article

Published by AFP Several hundred huddled under a grey sky in the Bethlehem's Manger Square to watch the Palestinian scouts and bagpipers parade Bethlehem (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – The rise of the Omicron variant heralded on Friday another pandemic-tinged Christmas for billions, with Santa’s arrival and longed-for family reunions overshadowed by the prospect of yet more Covid restrictions. Festive jokes about reindeer having “herd immunity” and millions isolating “Home Alone” may be wearing thin, but the emergence of the ultra-infectious Omicron variant means the pandemic is not going away anytime soon. For the second year, surging infections have complicated yuletide plans from Sydney to Seville. In Bethlehem — the Palestinian town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that Christians believe was Jesus’ birthplace — hoteliers have been disappointed. After a near-total lockdown last year, Israel has again closed its borders. Just several hundred huddled under a grey sky in the city’s Manger Square to watch the Palestinian scouts and bagpipers parade past. But this year, like last, midnight mass on Christmas Eve will be reserved for just a small circle of people by invitation only and celebrations on Friday were subdued. “It is a bit surreal,” American student Hudson Harder told AFP. “There is a selfish part where it’s like ‘Oh I get to see this place so empty’ but on the other hand you feel for the shops, all the money they are losing, it’s really quite tragic.” ‘Sliver of hope’ In Europe, governments are reimposing misery-inducing safety measures that are draining the fun from Christmas for many. The Netherlands is back in lockdown while Spain and Italy have made wearing masks compulsory outdoors. And with Britain hitting a record high number of Covid-19 infections again on Friday for a third day in a row, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested getting a vaccine booster shot as a Christmas gift for relatives. In France, the government urged people to get booster shots just three months after initial jabs, down from the current suggestion of five months as it sought to fight off the fast-spreading Omicron. Still, Christmas gatherings will be easier than a year ago in many other places around the world. Most Australians are allowed to travel interstate over the festive break for the first time in two years, with Sydney’s Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher saying that Christmas was “a ray of light” in dark times. Pope Francis is still scheduled to deliver the traditional Christmas Eve midnight mass from St Peter’s Basilica. Across the Atlantic, US First Lady Jill Biden took an unexpected guest to a children’s hospital in Washington: her husband Joe, who is the first sitting president to accompany their spouse for the traditional Christmas book-reading. The couple chatted with patients and doctors, showing one boy a photo of “Commander” — their new puppy — before settling into chairs beside a Christmas tree and reading a book inspired by the Disney movie “Frozen”. Biden and his wife plan to stay at the White House for Christmas — an uncommon practice for recent American presidents. The family normally rings in the New Year in the sunny US Virgin Islands but will instead go to their home in chilly Delaware, a few hours northeast of Washington. ‘Operation Present Drop’ Millions of Americans were on the move to see loved ones for Christmas, even as Covid infections surpass the peak of the previous wave and hospitals run out of beds. Thousands could face a grim holiday weekend, with major carrier United cancelling 120 flights because infection numbers had affected flight crews and other operations. But angst born from a seemingly interminable crisis, long testing queues, cancelled flights and close contact notifications was not going to prevent Santa from doing his rounds. The hirsute spreader of holiday cheer had reportedly been cleared for travel in Canada’s airspace after showing proof of vaccination and a pre-flight negative Covid test, Ottawa’s transport minister said. Santa’s flight crew — including reindeer Rudolph, whose “nose shone red and bright (but) made sure he had no Covid-19 symptoms before taking off” — had also been given the all clear. And Australian authorities said they were working round the clock to ensure “Operation Present Drop” goes smoothly. “Our air traffic controllers will be guiding Santa safely through Australian airspace,” said aviation safety authority Airservices. “He’s cleared to fly at 500 feet so he can skim the rooftops and deliver his presents quickly and quietly –- after all, his magical sleigh isn’t your average aircraft.” burs-des-bgs/ah/yad View the full article

Provincetown is lit and Magic Lights of Provincetown is a portfolio capturing the unique holiday and post holiday season in Provincetown. (Thanks to Dan McKean for great Holiday Market and Fireworks images… And to Chris Racine for shots of his work lighting Town Hall. The others are by Michael Goff) Provincetown is literally and metaphorically well lit. From lighthouses to Artists chasing the legendary reflected light for their work, to spotlights on performers, and many more. It’s another way to look at the town we love and suggests new facets to explore and understand it’s pull and hold on many of us. ‘First Light’ , Provincetown’s New Year celebration kicks off next week. Consider being part of it or having a different kind of experience in January of February. This post is sponsored by Provincetown Tourism. Provincetown is Lit. The Town Lights Its Streets, Stages and Skies To Celebrate the New Year; In Ptown, Love is Love, Light is Leitmotif; Both Help Make The Magic of An Off-season Visit 33 1. In early November each year there is a ceremonial lighting of the Monument to mark the first landing of the Pilgrims in Provincetown in 1620. That’s the start of the holiday lighting up of the town that runs through January. 2. As the days get colder and shorter on the Cape, residents and businesses creatively light the town, on and off Commercial Street, through until the end of January. 3. The lights set the tone for 4 cross-cultural holidays — each celebrating miracles of light in December. The Jews mark the miracle of lamp oil lasting eight days instead of one in a wrecked temple. Christians celebrate the old men who follow the light in the sky to witness the miracle of light born of a dark nasty manger. In December, of course we also mark the shortest day, the dark solstice but Provincetown hasn’t burned witches for years. (She always hosts the best Halloween parties, anyway.). Finally, rounding out the mystical quad is the local observance of Holly Folly an alternate spirituality that celebrates the sound of sunlight refracted through a giant Martini glass that miraculously didn’t empty day or night. All hail the patron saint of swizzle sticks, Trampolina. 3.5 Provincetown’s also got a massive light-up lobster-pot Christmas tree built each year with 60+ lobster traps ; And some of the town’s finest restaurants are open through the winter. On some nights, that experience is defined by the candle-light flickers you see walking by. The food is comfort cuisine, well prepared, and they’re waiting to serve up some comfort for you and whoever is lighting up your life at the moment. 4. Fast forward to modern day Provincetown, gay resort Mecca, and this tribe knows lighting from landscape to to get a just-right flattering bounced light, dimmers, and shadows that make stomachs look like abs. 5. Artists have sworn by the light in Provincetown, it’s said the specific properties of it are the result of reflecting off the water on three sides of the town. Bohemians and professionals have come seeking it for well over a century, making Provincetown America’s longest running artist colony. There are no reports of Thomas Kinkade, the painter of light, being here, but Charles Webster Hawthorne, who started the art colony in Provincetown, came to Cape Cod to teach painting en plein air. Galleries are open on Commercial and in the Whaler [Don’t miss the Members’ Open: Small Works Show at PAAM, the Art Museum] Provincetown is lit. Next Pg. 2–> View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Grindr has been fined £5.5 million for selling user data to advertisers. The location-based dating app – which is aimed at gay men – received the fine from the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, who claimed that sharing data without consent broke GDPR rules. Tobias Judin, head of the international department at the NDPA said in a statement: “Our conclusion is that Grindr has disclosed user data to third parties for behavioural advertisement without a legal basis. The Grind (sic) app is used to connect with other users in the LGBTQ+ community, and we are aware that many users choose not to use their full name or upload a picture of their face in order to be discrete. Nonetheless, their personal data and the fact that they were on Grindr was disclosed to an unknown number of third parties for marketing purposes, without giving the users accessible information or a genuine choice.” The Authority went on to claim that “thousands” of Grindr users have now had their data shared “unlawfully”, and explained that the gravitas of the situation justified the size of the fine. Judin added: “Thousands of users in Norway have had their personal data shared unlawfully for the commercial interests of Grindr, including GPS location and the fact that the users in question were on Grindr. Business models based on behavioural advertisement are common in the digital economy, and it is imperative that administrative fines for GDPR violations are dissuasive in order to foster compliance with the law.” Grindr now has three weeks to appeal the fine. View the full article