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Published by BANG Showbiz English Malcolm McDowell feels disconnected from Hollywood. The 78-year-old actor – who was raised in Liverpool, England, and now lives in Santa Barbara, California – has confessed to feeling detached from the “Hollywood scene”. He shared: “I’m not part of the Hollywood scene. Actually, Hollywood people still think I live in England.” Malcolm admits that his own approach to movie-making doesn’t chime with the culture of Hollywood. He told The Independent: “They are not making the kind of movies I liked and was in. How many Marvel movies do you want to see?” Malcolm remains a huge fan of Liverpool Football Club and he’s still an avid follower of the soccer team, even though he lives thousands of miles away. The actor – who has kids Lilly, 40, Charlie, 38, Beckett, 17, Finnian, 14, and Seamus, 12 – said: “I don’t miss it at all because I see every game. They’re all shown live in California. “Once I got so excited I screamed out loud, and my neighbours knocked on my door they were so worried. And I can tell you the houses aren’t exactly close together. It then turned out they know Liverpool’s American owners, and we’re all coming back to watch Liverpool vs Spurs later in the season. I will be bringing my 12-year-old.” Meanwhile, Malcolm previously admitted he can barely remember any of his on-screen roles. The veteran star has appeared in around 300 productions during his career, but he doesn’t have many vivid memories of his performances. He said: “People stop me and say: ‘Oh, we loved you in blah-blah’ and I say: ‘Sorry, that wasn’t me.’ And then they’ll show me on their phone or show me the DVD cover and sure enough, there I am. And I have no memory of doing it at all.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Tuesday will hear arguments in a long-running lawsuit over whether Congress can obtain former President Donald Trump’s tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service. Trump was the first president in 40 years not to release his tax returns as he aimed to keep secret the details of his wealth and activities of his family company, the Trump Organization. The dispute lingers on some 10 months after he left office. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden in Washington will hold a court hearing in the case at 2 p.m. ET (1900 GMT). Trump’s lawyers have asked McFadden to dismiss the case, which dates back to 2019, saying the House Ways and Means Committee made an illegitimate request to see the tax returns. Democratic Representative Richard Neal, the committee’s chairman, has said it requested Trump’s tax returns to examine how the IRS audits presidents and to consider new legislation. In an Oct. 26 court filing, Trump’s lawyers called that rationale a pretext for wanting to search for information that will embarrass Trump. “No one believes that Chairman Neal requested President Trump’s tax returns so he can study legislation about IRS audits. No one,” Trump’s lawyers said. The case has moved slowly in the courts, partly because the U.S. Justice Department reversed positions. In July, six months after President Joe Biden took office, it released a memo saying the House panel had offered “sufficient reasons” for requesting the material. In 2019, under Trump, it said the request for his taxes by the committee was based on a “disingenuous” objective aimed at exposing them to the public. The U.S. Supreme Court last year ruled against Trump in an unrelated case about whether a Manhattan prosecutor could see his tax returns as part of a criminal investigation against his business. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller) View the full article

Published by NJ.com In his new book, Chris Christie describes the bout with COVID he had in 2020 while he was helping to prepare President Donald Trump for his debates with Joe Biden. After returning from Washington following one such session, he writes, he decided to self-quarantine in his summer home in Bay Head to minimize the risk of catching COVID and perhaps passing it on to the president. But the former governor was soon hit by the symptoms of the virus. He felt well enough to drive himself to Morristown Medical Center, where he was immediately put in the Intensive Care Unit. Christie writes of pondering t… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Michael Erman and Emma Farge (Reuters) – Pfizer Inc said on Tuesday it will allow generic manufacturers to supply its experimental antiviral COVID-19 pill to 95 low- and middle-income countries through a licensing agreement with international public health group Medicines Patent Pool (MPP). The voluntary licensing agreement between Pfizer and the MPP will allow the United Nations-backed group to grant sub-licenses to qualified generic drug manufacturers to make their own versions of PF-07321332. Pfizer will sell the pills it manufactures under the brand name Paxlovid. Pfizer, which also makes one of the mostly widely used COVID-19 vaccines, has said the pill cut the chance of hospitalization or death for adults at risk of severe disease by 89% in its clinical trial. The drug will be used in combination with ritonavir, an HIV drug that is already available generically. Pfizer’s licensing deal follows a similar arrangement by rival Merck & Co for generic manufacturing of its COVID-19 treatment. The deals are unusual arrangements that acknowledge the dire need for effective treatments as well as the pressure drugmakers are under to make their life saving drugs accessible at very low costs. “We are extremely pleased to have another weapon in our armoury to protect people from the ravages of COVID-19,” Charles Gore, Executive Director of the Medicines Patent Pool, said in an interview. Gore said he hoped the generic version of Pfizer’s drug will be available within months. The 95 countries in the license agreement cover around 53% of the world’s population and include all low- and lower-middle-income countries and some upper-middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. They also include countries that have transitioned from lower-middle to upper-middle-income status in the past five years, Pfizer and the MPP said. “We believe oral antiviral treatments can play a vital role in reducing the severity of COVID-19 infections… We must work to ensure that all people – regardless of where they live or their circumstances – have access to these breakthroughs,” Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla said in a statement. Pfizer will waive royalties on sales in low-income countries. It will also waive them in the other countries covered by the agreement as long as COVID-19 remains classified as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization. Pfizer’s version of the drug will be in high demand. The company has said it expects to manufacture 180,000 treatment courses by the end of next month and at least 50 million courses by the end of 2022. Even so, the drugmaker could be stretched trying to supply 47% of the world’s population. A Pfizer executive said last week the market for the drug might be up to 150 million people and that many countries might also be interested in buying doses for their strategic reserves. Pfizer has said it will sell the supply it produces using a tiered pricing approach based on the income level of each country. In the United States, it expects to price its treatment close to where Merck has priced its drug at around $700 a course. Merck has license agreements for it COVID-19 pill, molnupiravir, in over 100 countries. Still, some international health officials said even that is not enough for the medicine to reach many in low- and middle-income countries in large enough numbers. (This story corrects to fix typo in lead paragraph) (Reporting by Michael Erman and Emma Farge; Editing by David Gregorio) View the full article

Google launches pets as part of it’s Arts & Culture free app that you likely still have from the launch of finding your face in museums. Miss Frida tried it out and there’s only one hilarious fail. Published by BANG Showbiz English Google has launched a new tool which matches pets to their “art doubles”. Pet Portraits – which uses machine learning to match someone’s furry friend with their doppelganger from collections in institutions around the world – has been added to the tech giant’s Arts & Culture App for both iOS and Android. Michelle Luo – Product Manager, Google Arts & Culture – explained in a blog post: “When you take a photo in Pet Portraits, our trained computer vision algorithm recognises where your pet is, crops the image and puts them where they belong: front and centre. “Once that is done, a machine learning algorithm matches your pet’s photo with over tens of thousands of artworks from our partners’ outstanding collections to find the ones that look most similar. “Now it’s time for them to enter the spotlight: Share your pet’s #PetPortraits as a single still image or select multiple images to animate together as a GIF slideshow.” The feature also allows people to tap on the result to learn more about the stories and artists behind each piece of art. Luo added: “Pet Portraits [is] a way for your dog, cat, fish, bird, reptile, horse, or rabbit to discover their very own art doubles among tens of thousands of works from partner institutions around the world. “Your animal companion could be matched with ancient Egyptian figurines, vibrant Mexican street art, serene Chinese watercolours, and more.” View the full article

Published by AFP Friday's bomb scare occurred six years after the December 14, 2012 slaughter that saw gunman Adam Lanza enter the school with an assault rifle and shoot dead 20 six- and seven-year-olds along with six teachers New York (AFP) – A US judge ruled Monday in favor of parents who sued conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for saying that the massacre at Sandy Hook elementary school was a hoax, a lawyer for the families said. Twenty-six children and teachers were shot dead at the school in Newton, Connecticut in December 2012 by 20-year-old gunman Adam Lanza, who then killed himself. Jones, a far-right broadcaster who runs the Infowars website, has claimed the mass shooting was staged as part of a government plot to take away Americans’ guns. He even said that the bereaved families were paid actors. In 2018, six families of victims filed a lawsuit against him, claiming that he had made millions of dollars from peddling a narrative he knew to be false. Connecticut judge Barbara Bellis held Jones liable by default after he refused to hand over documents, including financial records, requested by the court, US media reported. “Mr. Jones was given every opportunity to comply but when he chose instead to withhold evidence for more than two years the court was left with no choice but to rule as it did today,” Chris Mattei, who represents the plaintiffs, said in a statement. “While today’s ruling is a legal victory, the battle to shed light on how deeply Mr. Jones has harmed these families continues,” he added. A judge in Texas recently issued similar rulings in three defamation lawsuits brought by Sandy Hook families there. Juries in both states will now decide how much Jones, who has since acknowledged that the shooting was real, must pay the families. View the full article

=Buck SlipAll too well. How well did SNL leverage Swift having her step in on Pete Davidson’s satirical song roasting of SNL’s ‘3 Sad Virgins’, ostensibly part of writing team.— ‘Man Park’ is an instant classic you’ll replay. — And a Bee Gees Bonus, 1963 ‘Blowing in the Wind’ [This post contains video, click to play] Published by OK Magazine Jake Gyllenhaalhas been spotted for the first time since Taylor Swift’sbombshell song “All Too Well’ was released last week. Swift’s esteemed track — which has long been beloved by her fans as one her most emotional break-up songs — was released in its original 10-minute form as part of her re-recorded Red album drop on Friday, November 12. The music mogul, 31, also released a short film starring Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink to go along with the tune’s heartbreaking lyrics, which are widely believed to be based on her relationship with ex Gyllenhaal. MEGA Gyllenhall has since been seen at his first public appearance after making headlines over his role in allegedly inspiring the Swiftie anthem. TAYLOR SWIFT SAYS IT’S ‘REALLY NICE’ TO RELEASE ‘RED (TAYLOR’S VERSION)’ ‘AND NOT BE SAD’ & ‘NOT BE TAKING BREAKS IN BETWEEN INTERVIEWS TO CRY’ The 40-year-old actor was pictured at the Hamilton Behind The Camera Awards on Saturday, November 13 — just one day after Swift’s album drop sent her fans into a frenzy, and on the same day as her performance on Saturday Night Live. Getty Images for Los Angeles Confidential / Hamilton Behind the Camera The event — which seeks to honor filmmakers for the most renowned films of the year — was hosted by Insecure’s Yvonne Orji at the Avalon theatre in Hollywood, Calif. Gyllenhaal was in attendance for the ceremony to present for his Netflix film The Guilty, while his sister Maggie Gyllenhall was awarded with the breakthrough director award for her directorial debut on The Lost Daughter. Getty Images for Los Angeles Confidential / Hamilton Behind the Camera At the same time the Brokeback Mountain actor was dressed to the nines for the Hollywood event, social media users were buzzing online after Swift’s new release brought up old wounds regarding the former flames’ previous relationship. The songwriter dated Gyllenhaal back in 2010, and Swifties fans have long speculated that many of her tracks from the original Red record revolve around the Zodiac actor after their relationship reached a messy downfall. TAYLOR SWIFT REFLECTS ON OLD WOUNDS OF JAKE GYLLENHAAL ROMANCE IN NEW 10-MINUTE VERSION OF ‘ALL TOO WELL’ Fans have since been analyzing the lyrics to “All Too Well” and other tracks on the album to uncover more details about the pair’s former relationship, including theories that the Prisoners actor reportedly didn’t show up to her 21st birthday party while they were dating, and that their roughly 9-year age gap was the reason for the breakup. While she is the queen of dropping clues about her songs’ meanings for her fans to decode, the “Blank Space” singer has never explicitly confirmed who “All Too Well” is about. Swift has since moved on with lover and British Actor Joe Alwyn, 30, who she has been gushing over for roughly 5 years, while Gyllenhaal has been dating his 25-year-old girlfriend Jeanne Cadieu since 2018. The new album, Red (Taylor’s Version) is the second album Swift has re-recorded in order to reclaim her own music after the original records were sold without her knowledge. All Too Well Shirtless Pete Davidson on Towleroad Defense lawyer in Ahmaud Arbery murder trial tries to eject Jesse Jackson from court More Man-icures: How and why men are embracing nail varnish More Factbox-‘Don’t get brazen with me’: Who is the judge in the Rittenhouse murder trial? More Austria locks down unvaccinated as COVID cases surge across Europe More Trump adviser Bannon surrenders to FBI on Capitol riot probe charges More U.S. ex-congressman Beto O’Rourke to challenge Texas Governor Abbott More Judge dismisses charge against U.S. teen Rittenhouse for possessing rifle More TikTok Star Says She Shares Husband With Mother, Sister; Explains Benefits of Being Polyamorous Swingers; #Likes4PolyFam, America? More In Texas, ‘sanctuary cities’ pass their own anti-abortion laws More Jenna Johnson Spills JoJo Siwa’s Next ‘DWTS’ Performance Explores ‘Emotion’, Following Pop Star’s Split From Girlfriend More Trump reaches $375M deal to sell DC hotel – WSJ More Load More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jonathan Allen and Rich McKay (Reuters) -A lawyer for one of the three white men charged with murdering Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man, in their southern Georgia neighborhood failed in an attempt to have the judge remove civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson from the courtroom on Monday. The same lawyer, Kevin Gough, made a similarly unsuccessful attempt last week to get the court to prevent any more “Black pastors” attending the trial after Rev. Al Sharpton, another civil rights leader, was seen sitting with Arbery’s parents in the public gallery. After the jury was sent out, Gough stood and said he objected to what he called “an icon in the civil rights movement” sitting between Arbery’s parents. “How many pastors does the Arbery family have?” he said, referring to a similar objection he had made to Sharpton’s visit. “The seats in the public gallery of a courtroom are not like courtside seats at a Lakers game.” Gough said the presence of civil rights leaders might influence jurors hearing the high-profile case. Cell phone footage made by Gough’s client, William “Roddie” Bryan, of the fatal shooting of Arbery after he was chased through Satilla Shores on a Sunday afternoon in Feb. 2020 drew outrage. Prosecutors say Arbery was an avid jogger, and his killing was seen by some as another example of a Black man facing dangerous suspicion while doing some banal activity in public. Jackson quietly listened to Gough, holding the hands of Arbery’s father, Marcus Arbery Sr., and mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones. When Gough, who wore no face mask, complained that Jackson’s face mask was not covering his mouth and nose, Cooper-Jones reached and lifted Jackson’s mask back up. Judge Timothy Walmsley was audibly exasperated as he rejected the motion by Gough, saying the court’s ruling last week that he would not issue any blanket bans on who could enter a public courtroom would still stand. He said he was not aware that Jackson was in the room until Gough made his motion. The judge said it was odd that Gough kept objecting to Black pastors showing up and that he was “done talking about it.” “At this point, I’m not exactly sure what you’re doing,” the judge said. “It’s almost as if you’re just trying to keep continuing this for purposes other than just bringing it to the court’s attention and I find that objectionable.” EMOTIONAL ‘OUTCRY’ Bryan, 52, is standing trial alongside father and son Gregory McMichael, 65, and Travis McMichael, 35, on charges of murder, assault and false imprisonment. They have pleaded not guilty, saying they were justified in chasing Arbery because they thought he may have committed some sort of crime. They do not dispute that the younger McMichael killed Arbery with a shotgun, but say this was self defense after Arbery turned toward him and reached for the raised weapon. Gough then said he wanted to move for a mistrial based on an emotional “outcry” by Arbery’s mother from the public gallery when a photograph of Arbery was shown to jurors on Monday. Several jurors looked over as she sobbed. Lawyers for the McMichaels joined the motion. The judge overruled it, reading from a legal precedent that said “emotions are neither unreasonable nor unexpected during murder trials.” Sharpton has said he will be joined by more than 100 Black pastors at the courthouse on Thursday. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York and Rich McKay in Atlanta, Editing by Ross Colvin, Nick Zieminski and Grant McCool) View the full article

Published by DPA Some men are gradually trying out nail varnish, as a relatively low risk experiment. picture alliance / dpa Gianni Versace made it clear years ago: The men wearing nail varnish are “nice and witty.” It was 1994 and Versace was explaining the business of fashion to a journalist after being asked who was walking around like ‘that.’ ‘That’ referred to male models on the Milan catwalk, clad in miniskirts over their trousers, embellished with bright red lips and sporting nail varnish. Thirty years later, it’s not every young man who is painting his nails. But some are. And they are often “nice and witty.” Designer Marc Jacobs said a few years ago that nail polish was the perfect finish for men who sought to achieve the perfect look. Some may think it silly to cover their nails with chemicals – while others say it is super sexy. Take Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo, known for painting his toenails. American rapper Lil Yachty has gone a step further, launching a nail polish line for men. However, the Negatives 001 man-icures collection is initially only available in shades of concrete grey, matte white and matte black. “I always thought painted fingernails were beautiful,” German actor Lars Eidinger told dpa. “It’s the level of exaltation I allow myself, so to speak.” He says putting on nail varnish is not a statement and does not indicate he wishes he was a woman. When it comes to choosing a colour, Eidinger says he usually opts for blue or black, with a classic red occasionally to shake things up. A look at the world of celebrities reveals further fans beyond Eidinger and Lil Yachty, from glam rocker Damiano David of the Italian band Maneskin, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, to queer rapper Lil Nas X, British pop singer Harry Styles, US actor Ansel Elgort and Brooklyn Beckham, oldest son of the football star David. Meanwhile Instagram offers thousands of posts under hashtags such as #guynails or #malepolishedtoes. Of course, there have been male celebrities in the past who wore varnish – think of David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Johnny Depp and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler. But their use was generally considered a quirk. “Right now, we see that male influencers have become more enthusiastic about decorative cosmetics,” says Birgit Huber, who works for a German consumer products association. More and more often, actors show up to red carpet events with their nails done, she says. Nail polish has also brightened up the Polished Man Challenge, a social media campaign seeking to raise awareness about sexual violence against children. On average one in five minors is a victim of sexual violence. To heighten awareness, participants paint one of their five fingernails. Chris Hemsworth, his brother Liam, Zac Efron and Shawn Mendes have all joined in. Surveys show people are noticing, says Huber. Men tell pollsters they see make-up and nail polish becoming increasingly trendy on Instagram. But that does not mean they will take to the nail polish themselves. Yes, they have seen it, but no, they would not feel confident using it, is a frequent response, she says. But for young boys who like the look of nail polish and may feel like trying it, few receive a positive response and instead are bullied or told off. Occasionally, though, fathers put on some nail polish out of solidarity with their sons. Overall, men wearing nail polish has its own distinct meaning, different to when women paint their nails, say observers. “Nail polish is a way for men to signal flexibility and openness to social change without seriously challenging the standards of masculinity on the street,” says male fashion expert Marco Nikolaj Rechenberg. Nail polish for men comes from the mostly straight punk, rock, grunge and skater worlds, rather than drag queen culture, says Rechenberg. “The motivation is not the suggestion of queerness or gender-bending, but, on the contrary, rather the emphasis of one’s own heterosexuality or masculinity by breaking the rules, which is perceived as courageous,” he says. Wearing nail varnish is a good way to do this, as it is a relatively low risk product, he says. Using nail varnish seems less feminine than other cosmetics, as it does not emphasize a feature in the way that lipstick and eye shadow do, says Rechenberg. Historically, nail polish has been less about attractiveness and more about social status, with wearers showing off the fact that they do not have to work with their hands. “Nail varnish is completely artificial,” Rechenberg points out. “People have red lips by nature, but not shiny nails.” A man paints his nails. Gregor Tholl/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa “I always thought painted fingernails were beautiful,” says German actor actor Lars Eidinger, here at the opening of a film festival in Berlin. Gregor Fischer/dpa View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nathan Layne and Lisa Shumaker KENOSHA, Wis. (Reuters) – While the spotlight has focused on U.S. teenager Kyle Rittenhouse and the three men he shot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the judge in the case has at times taken center stage in the murder trial. Throughout the two weeks of testimony, Kenosha County Judge Bruce Schroeder and the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger, have clashed. The two could go head-to-head again on Monday when closing arguments start. Each side will get 2-1/2 hours to address the jury. Schroeder’s instructions to the jury could also play a prominent role in the most high-profile civilian self-defense trial since George Zimmerman was acquitted in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager, in Florida in 2013. So who is the judge presiding over the Wisconsin case? LONG CAREER Schroeder, 75, received both his bachelor’s and law degree from Marquette University, a private Jesuit school in Milwaukee, according to media reports. He served as Kenosha County’s district attorney before going into private practice. In 1983, he was appointed to the court and is the longest-serving active judge in Wisconsin’s trial courts, according to the reports. He ran unopposed for office in 2020 for a six-year term. PATRIOTIC PERSONALITY The trial has provided some glimpses into his personality. On Veterans Day, he asked everyone to give a round of applause to those who served in the military. The judge then asked if anyone in the courtroom had served. Only one person indicated they had, a witness for the defense. At multiple times throughout the trial, the judge’s cell phone has sounded with the ringtone of “God Bless the USA.” As the court was preparing to break for lunch on Thursday, Schroeder joked about Asian food. “I hope the Asian food isn’t coming … isn’t on one of those boats from Long Beach Harbor,” Schroeder said, referring to the Port of Long Beach, a major gateway for U.S.-Asian trade experiencing congestion and delays. The comment prompted criticism from groups working for racial equity such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice. YES TO LOOTERS, NO TO VICTIMS Before the start of the trial, the judge ruled that the three men shot by Rittenhouse could be called looters and arsonists, if the evidence supported those descriptions, while banning the word victim to describe them, as he said was customary in his courtroom. He told prosecutors to call them “complaining witness” or “decedent”. “This is a long-held opinion of mine, which very few judges, I guess, share with me,” Schroeder said. ‘DON’T GET BRAZEN’ Rittenhouse testified in his own defense last week, saying he opened fire with his AR-15-style rifle to protect himself after being attacked. Twice during cross-examination, Schroeder asked the jury to leave the courtroom and then sharply admonished Binger for his line of questioning. The judge excoriated Binger for asking Rittenhouse about his decision to remain silent after his arrest, as was his right, and about a video recorded two weeks before the shootings in which the teen talked about shooting men he thought were shoplifting at a pharmacy. Schroeder had already ruled the video inadmissible. He erupted at Binger after the jury left the courtroom. “When you say you were acting in good faith, I don’t believe you,” the judge said to Binger. At one point, he barked at Binger: “Don’t get brazen with me!” The defense made a motion for a mistrial. The judge said he would consider the matter, but let the trial proceed. MORE CONFLICT The tensions resurfaced on Thursday when Binger argued against a defense attempt to present an updated report from use-of-force expert John Black, who took the witness stand to analyze video of the shootings. Binger said the report contained evidence the judge had already ruled could not be admitted. “Yesterday I was the target of your ire for disregarding your orders. Today the defense is disregarding your order,” Binger said, adding that “fundamental fairness” was the issue at stake. “If I’m being held to obey the court’s orders, I’m asking that the defense be held to that to.” Schroeder responded: “I was talking yesterday about the Constitution of the United States,” referring to Rittenhouse’s right to remain silent. “That’s not what we are talking about here today.” (Reporting by Nathan Layne; Writing by Lisa Shumaker; editing by Ross Colvin) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Francois Murphy VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria imposed a lockdown on people unvaccinated against the coronavirus on Monday as winter approaches and infections rise across Europe, with Germany considering tighter curbs and Britain expanding its booster programme to younger adults. Europe has again become the epicentre of the pandemic, prompting some countries to consider re-introducing restrictions in the run-up to Christmas and stirring debate over whether vaccines alone are enough to tame COVID-19. The disease spreads more easily in the winter months when people gather inside. Europe last week accounted for more than half of the 7-day average of infections globally and about half of latest deaths, according to a Reuters tally, the highest levels since April last year when the virus was at its initial peak in Italy. Governments and companies are worried the prolonged pandemic will derail a fragile economic recovery. Austria’s conservative-led government said that about two million people in the country of roughly nine million were now only allowed to leave their homes for a limited number of reasons like travelling to work or shopping for essentials. But there is widespread scepticism, including among conservatives and the police, about how the lockdown can be enforced – it will be hard to verify, for example, whether someone is on their way to work, which is allowed, or going to shop for non-essential items, which is not. “My aim is very clear: to get the unvaccinated to get vaccinated, not to lock up the unvaccinated,” Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg told ORF radio as he explained the lockdown, which was announced on Sunday. The aim is to counter a surge in infections to record levels fuelled by a full vaccination rate of only around 65% of the population, one of the lowest in western Europe. Pensioner Susanne Zwach said the lockdown would be “very, very difficult” to police. “It is definitely a way of introducing a requirement to get vaccinated through the back door,” she said as she waited in line for her booster shot. ‘STORM OF INFECTION’ Germany’s federal government and leaders of Germany’s 16 states are due to discuss new pandemic measures this week. Three German state health ministers urged parties negotiating to form a new government to prolong the states’ power to implement stricter measures such as lockdowns or school closures as the seven-day COVID incidence rate hit record highs. Chancellor Angela Merkel urged unvaccinated people to reconsider their decision in a video message on Saturday. “Difficult weeks lie ahead of us, and you can see that I am very worried,” Merkel said, speaking in her weekly video podcast. France, the Netherlands and many countries in Eastern Europe are also experiencing a surge in infections. Britain is to extend its COVID-19 booster vaccine rollout to people between 40 and 49, officials said on Monday, to boost waning immunity ahead of the colder winter months. Currently all people 50 and over, those who are clinically vulnerable and frontline health workers are eligible for boosters. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he saw no need to move to a “Plan B” of mask mandates and vaccine passes, even though he was cautious of rising infections in Europe. “We’re sticking with Plan A,” he said in a broadcast clip on Monday. “But what we certainly have got to recognise is there is a storm of infection out there in parts of Europe.” Back in Austria, scepticism about vaccines is encouraged by the far-right Freedom Party, the third-biggest in parliament, which is planning a protest against the government’s coronavirus policies on Saturday. Party head Herbert Kickl, 53, said in a Facebook posting he had tested positive for COVID-19. He has mild symptoms and no fever but will not be able to attend Saturday’s protest because of quarantine requirements. (Additonal reporting by Lisi Niesner in Vienna, Josephine Mason and Alistair Smout in London, Emilio Parodi in Milan and Victoria Waldersee and Maria Sheahan in Berlin; Writing by Nick Macfie, Editing by William Maclean and Philippa Fletcher) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jan Wolfe and Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Flanked by black-clad bodyguards and making ominous comments about President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump’s longtime adviser Steve Bannon surrendered to the FBI on Monday on criminal charges arising from his defiance of a congressional inquiry into the deadly Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot. “We’re taking down the Biden regime,” Bannon told a throng of journalists as he arrived at an FBI field office in the U.S. capital, as a demonstrator standing behind him held up a sign that read “Coup Plotter.” A federal grand jury on Friday indicted Bannon on one count of contempt of Congress for refusing to appear for a deposition before the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee investigating the events surrounding the Jan. 6 attack and a second contempt count for refusing to produce documents. Bannon, the first person to face criminal charges in the congressional investigation, is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court later on Monday before Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather. In comments aimed at his supporters, Bannon looked directly into a camera that was live-streaming on the social media website GETTR. “I want you guys to stay focused,” added Bannon, who wore a olive-green coat over black clothing and was accompanied by body guards dressed in black including black face masks. “… This is all noise.” Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000, the Justice Department said. Bannon is one of more than 30 people close to Trump who have been ordered by the House committee to testify about the run-up to Jan. 6, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a failed attempt to prevent formal congressional certification of Trump’s election loss to Biden. Trump has sought to stonewall the committee, which is scrutinizing his actions relating to the riot, and directed his former associates not to cooperate. In defying his subpoena, Bannon cited Trump’s insistence – already rejected by one judge – that he has a right to keep the requested material confidential under a legal doctrine called executive privilege https://www.reuters.com/world/us/can-trump-use-executive-privilege-block-jan-6-attack-probe-2021-09-09. House investigators hope the charges against Bannon will motivate other witnesses including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to testify. Bannon, a prominent figure in right-wing media circles, was an architect of Trump’s 2016 presidential victory and later served as White House chief strategist. The former Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker and Navy veteran has promoted right-wing causes and candidates in the United States and abroad. GETTR is a social media platform founded by Trump ally Jason Miller. During his comments, Bannon also touted his own podcast. PRIOR TRUMP PARDON Bannon separately was charged last year with defrauding donors to a private fund-raising effort to boost Trump’s pledge to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border. Trump pardoned Bannon before the case could go to trial. Trump said in a statement on Sunday: “This Country has perhaps never done to anyone what they have done to Steve Bannon and they are looking to do it to others, also.” Democrat Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a member of the Jan. 6 panel, said he believes Bannon’s indictment will sway others to drop their defiance. Schiff reiterated the select committee’s threat to pursue contempt charges against Meadows but said the panel wants to have the strongest possible case. The committee has said Bannon made public statements suggesting he knew in advance about “extreme events” that would occur on Jan. 6. Bannon said on a Jan. 5 podcast that “all hell is going to break loose tomorrow.” Before the Jan. 6 riot, Trump gave a speech to supporters rallying near the White House repeating his false claims that the election was stolen through widespread voting fraud and urging them to go to the Capitol and “fight like hell” to “stop the steal.” (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Jan Wolfe, additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Joseph Ax (Reuters) -Beto O’Rourke, the former U.S. congressman from Texas whose surprisingly close 2018 loss to Senator Ted Cruz made him a Democratic star, said on Monday he will challenge Republican Greg Abbott in next year’s race for governor of the state. O’Rourke has been seen as his party’s best option for the 2022 gubernatorial race even after his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination failed to garner much support amid a crowded field of candidates. No Democrat has won a statewide race in Texas, the second most populous U.S. state, in three decades, despite Democratic hopes that its diversifying population and rapidly growing urban centers will eventually transform it into a true swing state. O’Rourke is likely to face some political headwinds, as well. President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat, has seen his job approval ratings falter, while O’Rourke assumed a number of liberal positions on hot-button issues such as gun rights and immigration during his presidential campaign that could hurt him in a Texas race. Abbott, who is facing two Republican challengers for his party’s nomination in the race, has amassed an enormous campaign war chest, with more than $55 million as of June. As governor, Abbott has overseen a sharp turn to the right https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-governor-moves-state-sharply-right-ahead-2022-election-2021-10-13 in lockstep with the Republican-controlled legislature, including the nation’s most restrictive abortion law, new limits on voting rights, expanded gun rights and orders barring private companies and public school districts from taking COVID-19 mitigation measures. Democrats hope those moves will energize their base to vote out Abbott. O’Rourke has spent much of the past year criticizing the two-term governor for his handling of several crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a fierce winter storm that caused the state’s electric grid to fail and left hundreds of Texans dead. In an announcement video, O’Rourke blamed the state’s Republican-controlled government for mishandling the storm and argued that it was symptomatic of a larger issue. “Those in position of public trust have stopped listening to, serving and paying attention to and trusting the people of Texas,” O’Rourke said. In his run against the Republican Cruz, O’Rourke proved to be a formidable fundraiser and a tireless campaigner, visiting every one of the state’s more than 250 counties. He lost to Cruz by less than three percentage points. But O’Rourke has since taken on some political baggage, after carving out left-wing stances as part of the 2020 Democratic presidential contest. In particular, during a Democratic debate in 2019, he memorably defended his proposal to ban assault-style rifles by saying, “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15.” Abbott’s campaign had attacked O’Rourke as too liberal for Texas even before he announced his entry into the race. “The last thing Texans need is President Biden’s radical liberal agenda coming to Texas under the guise of Beto O’Rourke,” an Abbott campaign spokesperson, Mark Miner, said in a statement on Monday. The national political atmosphere could also pose a challenge for O’Rourke. Strong Republican performances in Virginia and New Jersey’s governor races this month suggest the party holds an early advantage ahead of next year’s elections. “Abbott is potentially vulnerable, but any Republican starts off a race in Texas with somewhere between an eight or 10-point advantage,” said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University in Houston. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Additional reporting by Brendan O’Brien; Editing by Will Dunham and Doina Chiacu) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nathan Layne KENOSHA, Wis. (Reuters) – A Wisconsin judge in the murder trial of Kyle Rittenhouse on Monday dismissed a misdemeanor charge against the teenager for illegally possessing the AR-15-style rifle he used to shoot three people, killing two, in what he says was self-defense. In dismissing the charge, Judge Bruce Schroeder said the law on possession was unclear. Rittenhouse was 17 at the time of the shootings. Prosecution and defense were due to deliver closing speeches later on Monday in Rittenhouse’s trial, offering to the jury vastly different conclusions about why the teenager opened fire during protests against the police shooting of a Black man last year and whether it was justified. The arguments are the lawyers’ last chance to influence a jury after nearly two weeks of testimony that included considerable evidence supporting Rittenhouse’s argument that he was attacked before he fired his rifle, killing two men and wounding a third. The jury will then begin deliberations and attempt to form a consensus on guilt or innocence in the most closely watched case involving a civilian’s right to self-defense since George Zimmerman was acquitted in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teenager, in 2013. Like Zimmerman, Rittenhouse has emerged as a divisive figure, viewed as heroic by some conservatives who favor expansive gun rights and as a symbol of an out-of-control American gun culture by many on the left. Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and with wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, in the city of Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020. The shootings took place during protests – marred by arson, rioting and looting – that followed the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, who was left paralyzed from the waist down. (Reporting by Nathan Layne; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Howard Goller) View the full article

BUCK SLIPWe said marriage equality wouldn’t ‘require’ changes, nothing about ‘inspiring’ more equal, consensual, honest polyamorous options.She shares that she shares husband on Tiktok. Good or bad, it all comes together — unfiltered media, desperate influencers, helicopter moms, in the generation genuinely exploring sexuality and gender such that the numbers self-identifying as having the L, the G, the B or the T are double previous generations. Plus, it’s the end of the world and they know it. Radar picked up from Page 6 which picked up from The Sun. So you decide if they’re joking or not –editor Published by Radar Online TikTok influencer Madi Brooks has garnered millions of views on the platform after dropping shocking statements regarding her and her family’s private life. Brooks, who resided in an undisclosed location in the U.S., revealed she, her mom, her husband, and her sister are all swingers. TikTok However, that isn’t the shocking part, the social media user alsoclaimed that she shares her mom with her husband twice a week. “Me and my mom are both swingers, and it’s great, you know why? Because when I’m not in the mood, I can just let my husband have her,” she told her followers on TikTok. “Yeah, I’m that kind of wife. I let my husband have her a couple of times a week.” As if that wasn’t already bizarre, Brooks then surprised her followers with another disturbing piece of information, confessing that she also allows her husband to “play” with her little sister. “You wanna know how I keep my man happy? I let him play with my little sister,” she admitted. Taylor Swift Fans Add Picture Of Jake Gyllenhaal On ‘Mean Girls’ Inspired Burn Book During Album Relaunch Listening Party Brooks also posted another video where her husband gave her a peck on the lips before leaving the house. She then asked her husband, “What about my sister?” He later then also kissed her sister, obeying her request. The TikTok-er wrote “swinger life” as a caption on the video. The clips have since caught massive attention from internet users. Each video reportedly drew almost seven million viewers with leaving many of them stunned by her telling. One user commented, “That’s enough TikTok for one year, I’m out!” Another TikTok account owner wondered how the idea between the family members came about, saying, “How did that conversation ever initiate?”. At the same time, a third follower added, “I don’t know how anybody could share, but it’s your life.” Chris Daughtry’s Daughter Was Once Arrested With Boyfriend Who Is Now In Police Custody Following Her Death Madi is reportedly working as a teacher and has many friends who are also swingers. The term swingers are used based on the culture involving polyamorous relationships. The couples or individuals who claim themselves in such a label are in an open relationship and allow their partners to sleep with other people. Shares Husband Polyamorous on Towleroad In Texas, ‘sanctuary cities’ pass their own anti-abortion laws More Jenna Johnson Spills JoJo Siwa’s Next ‘DWTS’ Performance Explores ‘Emotion’, Following Pop Star’s Split From Girlfriend More Trump reaches $375M deal to sell DC hotel – WSJ More Lady Gaga hails Britney Spears after conservatorship ruling More Taylor Lautner announces engagement to Tay Dome More U.S. bishops set to debate Biden’s eligibility for communion More Museum dedicated to nothing but bikinis gets Amy Winehouse two-piece More Taliban hold military parade with U.S.-made weapons in Kabul in show of strength More Waylon Smithers to find love in historic episode of The Simpsons More Probe finds hazing, excessive drinking among UC Davis baseball team; coach resigns More T.J. Osborne was unsure whether to take partner to CMA Awards More Load More View the full article

Published by AFP An anti-abortion demonstrator protests outside the US Supreme Court on November 1, 2021 in Washington, DC Houston (AFP) – While the US Supreme Court ponders a ruling on Texas’ controversial abortion law, some communities in this conservative state are deciding not to wait and are declaring themselves “sanctuary cities for the unborn.” Inspired by SB 8, the highly restrictive Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks and makes no exception for rape or incest, around forty local municipalities have passed measures effectively prohibiting the procedure on their territory. This week, Anson, a town of about 2,400 residents in central Texas, became the latest community to adopt such legislation, a move that made resident Mariah Mayo proud. “I stand here today for … the innocent unborn who are unable to have their voices heard,” Mayo, a local nurse, was quoted as saying by Liveaction.org, an anti-abortion organization. “I agree 100 percent with what my preacher said and I too want abortions to be outlawed. Let’s add this to our many reasons why we are proud to live here in the great city of Anson, Texas.” Laws restricting abortion have been passed in multiple Republican-led states over the years, but they have been struck down by the courts because they violated previous Supreme Court rulings that guarantee the right to an abortion until the fetus is viable outside the womb, typically around 22 to 24 weeks. The Texas “heartbeat law” differs from other efforts in that it attempts to insulate the state by giving members of the public the right to sue doctors who perform abortions — or anyone who helps facilitate them — once a heartbeat in the womb is detected. In recent years, the term “sanctuary cities” has been used to refer to Democratic communities that passed legislation to shield undocumented migrants from deportation or prosecution by the federal government under former president Donald Trump. Activist pastor The idea of creating abortion-free communities belongs to Mark Lee Dickson, a former Baptist pastor in his mid-thirties who comes from a Texas family of anti-abortion activists. Wearing a baseball cap that is usually turned backward, Dickson started his campaign in 2019 in the town of Waskom, a small community on the state border with Louisiana. Dickson managed to convince local officials that an abortion clinic in the neighboring state was planning to relocate to their town. Even though the clinic denied any such plans, Waskom’s five municipal council members, all of them men, unanimously passed legislation that effectively prohibited abortions in their community. Since then, Dickson has been crisscrossing Texas, persuading local municipalities to follow suit — with success. Dozens of communities have declared themselves abortion-free sanctuaries and about twenty other cities are considering the measure, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), one of the country’s leading human rights organizations. Similar efforts are underway in the states of Ohio and Michigan. “They are going to continue to do this until there is no access to abortion at all. That is their goal. Let’s be very clear about that,” said Blair Wallace, a policy and advocacy strategist with the ACLU of Texas. “They don’t want it to be ‘abortion is banned after six weeks.’ They want abortion to be overturned as a right, altogether and they will do that in every way that they know how.” Dickson, who now works at Texas Right to Life, an anti-abortion advocacy group, did not return AFP’s request for comment for this story. Deserts of care Dyana Limon-Mercado, executive director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, a local chapter of America’s flagship family planning organization, said that access to abortion was already severely restricted in many of those small, conservative communities, so the issue of such “sanctuary cities” is more symbolic than medical. “It’s a political fight. You’re trying to take access away (from) people who already don’t have access,” Limon-Mercado told AFP. However, the situation is different in Lubbock, a city of around 250,000 people in northern Texas, where ranches are interspersed with endless agricultural fields. This spring, Lubbock residents voted in a referendum to turn their city into an abortion-free sanctuary, in a victory for Dickson and his allies. “There were all these huge churches that were actively campaigning for this ordinance,” said the ACLU’s Wallace. “And that’s just something we really can’t combat. That’s really difficult to combat that.” As a result, Planned Parenthood had to stop performing abortions in their Lubbock clinic, which they had opened six months earlier after years of preparation. Thus, Lubbock has turned into what abortion rights activists call a medical desert, with the nearest abortion clinic almost a five-hour drive to the closest big urban center in Texas or a clinic in the state of New Mexico. “Texas is giant,” said Wallace. “So you have clusters of clinics and you have huge deserts of care.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Dancing With the Stars professional Jenna Johnson teases JoJo Siwa‘s next performance will be a dance that explores a new side of the pop star. Though the pair are currently contestants in the DWTS season 30 semifinals, they really need to bring the moves to keep their place as frontrunners in the dance show, and Johnson believes the way to do that will be through “tapping into something really personal” for The J Team actress. Mega “I feel like our word this week is emotion,” the pro dancer spilled to the eager crowd at L.A.’s Vulture Fest on Saturday, November 13. JOJO SIWA’S FANS RALLY BEHIND HER AMID SPLIT FROM KYLIE PREW, RELATIONSHIP WITH ‘DWTS’ PRO JENNA JOHNSON PARTIALLY TO BLAME “I don’t feel like we’ve seen necessarily that side [of JoJo],” Johnson continued. “I feel like you always get to see bubbly, fun, spunky, out there JoJo.” “We’re tapping into something really personal this week,” the pro partner gushed. “I’m really excited for everyone to see it.” The duo will be dancing to a piano version of Lewis Capaldi‘s “Before You Go”, and plan to “switch up” their usual roles. JOJO SIWA JUMPS FOR JOY AS SHE’S REUNITED WITH ‘DWTS’ PARTNER JENNA JOHNSON FOLLOWING SPLIT FROM KYLIE PREW: PHOTOS “This week I’ll be leading her a little bit. I’m definitely not as good as she is,” Johnson mentioned, referring to the fact that Siwa generally “leads” given she is the taller dance partner between the two of them. The 18-year-old songstress playfully chimed in, “No, I’m just not good at being the girl!” Mega This announcement about exploring the “Only Getting Better” singer’s vulnerability rather than her trademark bubbly excitement comes only weeks following the pop star’s sudden split from her ex-girlfriend of nearly a year, Kylie Prew. As OK! previously reported, the Nickelodeon star opened up about the breakup on Paris Hilton‘s This Is Paris podcast. “I have yet to talk about this officially, publicly, but we broke up,” Siwa told the 40-year-old socialite. “But she is literally still my best friend. I talked to her yesterday, she just got a new puppy. She’s awesome. She’s having the time of her life, I’m having the time of my life.” She went on to say that she feels “lucky” that she didn’t lose toucher with Prew completely. “You know, even though relationships end, friendships don’t have to end.” “I was very happy that it can be, because that’s all I wanted,” she explained. “But I’m really happy that I remember all the fun times, all the good times, and nothing bad happened. It just is the definition of a cheesy saying of ‘right person, wrong time’ and I hate cheesy sayings but they’re true.” View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former President Donald Trump’s family hotel company has reached a deal to sell the rights to its Washington, D.C., hotel for $375 million, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter. Miami-based investment firm CGI Merchant Group is in contract to acquire the lease, the newspaper said. The Trump International Hotel is in a historic building a few blocks from the White House that the Trump Organization leases from the U.S. government. The hotel has been a popular gathering spot for Trump supporters and foreign dignitaries. The newspaper said CGI intends to remove the Trump name and has reached an agreement with Hilton Worldwide Holdings to have the property managed and branded by Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria group. The Trump organization, CGI Merchant and Hilton did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on Sunday. Last month, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform said newly obtained government documents raised “troubling” questions about the hotel. According to the Democratic-controlled committee, Trump reported that the hotel earned him more than $150 million during his time in office but actually lost more than $70 million. The committee found that the hotel received more than $3.7 million in payments from foreign governments – equal to more than 7,400 nights at the hotel, raising a potential conflict of interest. The hotel is in the city’s second-tallest structure, after the Washington Monument. The building previously housed the U.S. Post Office Department Headquarters. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lady Gaga “couldn’t be more happy” for Britney Spears after she won her conservatorship battle. The 35-year-old pop star has taken to social media to lavish praise on Britney after she was released from her 13-year conservatorship. Gaga wrote on Twitter: “I have loved @britneyspears her whole career. I looked up to her, admired her strength—she empowered so many people and still does. I couldn’t be more happy for you today. You never deserved what happened, Thank God 4 today [heart emoji] you’re a superstar and a super-human being [heart emojis] (sic)” Elsewhere, Iggy Azalea has also welcomed the news on the micro-blogging platform. The rap star wrote: “I don’t think there’s a person alive on this planet happier than Britney Spears today & the thought of that really makes me smile. (sic)” Britney herself heralded the “best day ever” after Judge Brenda Penny ended her conservatorship. The chart-topping pop star addressed the ruling on Instagram with a video of her fans popping confetti outside the courthouse in Los Angeles. Britney wrote alongside the video: “Good God I love my fans so much it’s crazy !!! I think I’m gonna cry the rest of the day !!!! Best day ever … praise the Lord … can I get an Amen ???? #FreedBritney (sic)” Mathew Rosengart, Britney’s attorney, also spoke about the court ruling shortly after it was announced. He told fans outside the courthouse: “What’s next for Britney – and this is the first time that this can be said for about a decade – is up to one person: Britney.” Judge Brenda Penny decided to end the conservatorship after 13 years, noting that it was “no longer required”. She said: “The conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears is no longer required.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Taylor Lautner is engaged to Tay Dome. The 29-year-old actor has taken to social media to announce his engagement to his girlfriend, posting some behind-the-scenes photos of the special moment on his Instagram account. Taylor captioned his post: “11.11.2021. And just like that, all of my wishes came true (sic)” In one of the snaps, Taylor – who is best known for starring in the ‘Twilight’ movies – and Tay are surrounded by candles as he gets down on his knee. In another photo, Tay is on her knees and is holding the actor’s face. Tay also posted one of the images on her own Instagram account. She captioned the sweet post: “my absolute best friend (sic)” Tay added: “I CANNOT WAIT TO SPEND FOREVER WITH YOU. (sic)” And in the comments, Taylor replied: “Got news for you, the feeling is mutual.” The Hollywood star – who proposed with a custom-designed oval cut diamond – actually popped the question on Thursday (11.11.21), according to People. The loved-up duo made their romance public in 2018, when they appeared together on social media in matching Halloween costumes. And over recent years, they’ve kept their followers up-to-date with their relationship, posting various behind-the-scenes photos and videos of them together. Earlier this year, Taylor took to social media to pay a sweet birthday tribute to his girlfriend. The actor – who played the part of Jacob Black in the ‘Twilight’ movies – posted a series of solo snaps of Tay on Instagram. He wrote on the photo-sharing platform in March: “Happy Birthday to this human from another planet. You are the most amazing soul I’ve ever had the honor of knowing. I strive to be more like you every day. This is going to be your best year yet and I can’t wait to experience it with you. Love, boy Tay. (sic)” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Gabriella Borter (Reuters) – U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops this week are expected to revisit whether President Joe Biden’s support for abortion rights should disqualify him from receiving communion, an issue that has deepened rifts in the church since the Democrat took office. At a Nov. 15-18 conference in Baltimore, the bishops are scheduled to vote on a document clarifying the meaning of Holy Communion, a sacrament central to the faith. A committee drafted the document after the bishops’ June conference, where they debated whether to take a position on the eligibility of prominent Catholics such as Biden – whose political actions they say contradict church teaching – to receive communion. Biden, the first Catholic president since John F. Kennedy, has said he personally opposes abortion but supports a woman’s right to choose. He has vowed to protect abortion rights in the face of increasingly restrictive laws enacted by states; last month, his administration called on the Supreme Court to block a Texas law that bans abortions after six weeks. The issue has divided the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and pitted more conservative Catholics against those who support the president’s views. Some 55% of Catholics believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, compared to 59% of the general population, according to a Pew Research survey conducted in April. The debate has sown further discord as the church struggles to retain a fractured membership. Nearly 20% of U.S. Catholics have left the church in the past two decades, according to a Gallup poll in March, as sexual abuse scandals involving predatory priests have emerged and members have increasingly disagreed on social issues. Biden met privately with Pope Francis at the Vatican last month and said afterward that the pope had told him he was a “good Catholic” who can receive communion. Prior to that meeting, Pope Francis, whose liberal theology has ruffled many conservative Catholics since his election in 2013, appeared to criticize U.S. bishops for dealing with the issue in a political rather than a pastoral way. “Communion is not a prize for the perfect. … Communion is a gift, the presence of Jesus and his Church,” the pope said, adding that bishops should use “compassion and tenderness” with Catholic politicians who support abortion rights. THE DOCUMENT At a virtual meeting in June, the bishops resolved to draft a document on the meaning of communion and debated how explicitly it should define who is eligible to receive the sacrament. During the debate, some conservative bishops argued that the conference had a duty to rebuke politicians such as Biden who they accuse of violating church teachings, and they called for a stricter standard for eligibility. Others cautioned against making the Eucharist a political weapon. Bishop Kevin Rhoades, chairman of the conference’s Committee on Doctrine, described the upcoming document at a roundtable discussion in September, saying it would remind Catholics of the importance of the sacrament. He did not say whether it would state who should be considered worthy of receiving communion. A draft of the document, published earlier this month by the Catholic newsletter The Pillar, does not mention Biden or any politician by name, but states that “people who exercise some form of public authority have a special responsibility to embody the church.” It says Catholics who live in a state of “mortal sin” without repentance should not receive communion, but does not say who should sit in judgment. In 2004, the conference published a statement that said individual bishops could decide whether to deny communion to Catholic politicians who supported abortion rights. A spokeswoman for the conference declined to comment on whether the draft published by The Pillar was the same one the bishops were scheduled to discuss and possibly amend this week. John Carr, co-director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University, said the draft published in The Pillar succeeds at delivering a broader message about the Eucharist to all Catholics, without attacking Biden or other politicians. If the bishops vote to approve that language, “I think the people who campaigned to deny communion to the president will be very disappointed,” said Carr. “Others will be relieved that they found a way to move beyond this division and diversion.” (Reporting by Gabriella Borter; Editing by Paul Thomasch and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by DPA A bikini once worn by Amy Winehouse is set to soon join many of the world’s most valuable items of swimwear in Germany’s so-called Bikini Art Museum. Julien‘s Auctions/BikiniARTmuseum/dpa Ten years after the death of Amy Winehouse, a bikini worn by the soul singer is set to join those of Marilyn Monroe, Scarlett Johansson and countless other celebrities in a south-west German town that calls itself the “capital of swimwear.” The Bikini Art Museum in Bad Rappenau is set to soon display a coral-coloured two-piece by Amy Winehouse after curators bought the bikini with striking metal rings at November 6 and 7 auctions in Beverly Hills for 1,250 dollars. “The Amy Winehouse bikini will be added to the BikiniArtMuseum’s largest collection of swimwear in the world,” said a spokesperson for the museum, noting that it would be on display in the first half of 2022. The English singer, known for soulful songs like “Back to Black” and “Rehab”, died in 2011 at the age of 27. More than 800 Winehouse mementos went under the hammer at a two-day auction earlier in November. The world’s first bikini museum, by its own account, is located between the cities of Frankfurt and Stuttgart, and displays some of the most valuable bikinis in the history of swimwear. Among the exhibits are the golden two-piece by bikini inventor Louis Reard and two bikinis worn by film stars Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot. Rather than trying to pull in readers of the Victoria’s Secret catalogue, the so-called Bikini Art Museum is trying to focus on the cultural history of swimwear and how designs have changed from 1870 to the present. Of around 1,200 exhibits spread over 1,500 square metres of exhibition space, the museum’s highlight is probably a collection of 12 of the original 16 two-piece models developed on July 5, 1946 by bikini inventor Louis Reard. Preempting the shock it would cause, the French designer named his explosive new design after Bikini Atoll, the Marshall Islands site where atomic bomb testing had taken place the same year. July 5 has since been named National Bikini Day. The museum’s curators say the story of the bikini is not just one of fashion trends and beach culture, but also of arrests, scandals and the gradual emancipation of women. Beyond modern swimwear, the museum also traces bathing culture back to the towel-and-string approach in the Middle Ages and to the bathing carts of the 18th century. In addition to a massive amount of swimwear, future visitors can expect to see multimedia exhibits, works of art and historical ads for bikinis. The Regensburg entrepreneur Alexander Ruscheinsky behind the museum has been researching the subject with his team of curators for more than five years. This bikini known as “The Golden Reard” is the most valuable bikini in the world, according to the Bikini Art Musuem in Germany, where it is on display. Uwe Anspach/dpa View the full article

Published by Reuters By Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban forces held a military parade in Kabul on Sunday using captured American-made armoured vehicles and Russian helicopters in a display that showed their ongoing transformation from an insurgent force to a regular standing army. The Taliban operated as insurgent fighters for two decades but have used the large stock of weapons and equipment left behind when the former Western-backed government collapsed in August to overhaul their forces. The parade was linked to the graduation of 250 freshly trained soldiers, defence ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khwarazmi said. The exercise involved dozens of U.S.-made M117 armoured security vehicles driving slowly up and down a major Kabul road with MI-17 helicopters patrolling overhead. Many soldiers carried American made-M4 assault rifles. Most of the weapons and equipment the Taliban forces are now using are those supplied by Washington to the American-backed government in Kabul in a bid to construct an Afghan national force capable of fighting the Taliban. Those forces melted away with the fleeing of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani from Afghanistan – leaving the Taliban to take over major military assets. Taliban officials have said that pilots, mechanics and other specialists from the former Afghan National Army would be integrated into a new force, which has also started wearing conventional military uniforms in place of the traditional Afghan clothing normally worn by their fighters. According to a report late last year by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (Sigar), the U.S. government transferred to the Afghan government more than $28 billion worth of defence articles and services, including weapons, ammunition, vehicles, night-vision devices, aircraft, and surveillance systems, from 2002 to 2017. Some of the aircraft were flown into neighbouring Central Asian Countries by fleeing Afghan forces, but the Taliban have inherited other aircraft. It remains unclear how many are operational. As the U.S. troops departed, they destroyed more than 70 aircraft, dozens of armoured vehicles and disabled air defences before flying out of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport following a chaotic evacuation operation. (Additional reporting by Kabul bureau; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Waylon Smithers will find love in a landmark episode of ‘The Simpsons’. The character – who is voiced by Harry Shearer – came out as gay in 2016 and an upcoming episode of the long-running animated sitcom will see him start a relationship with a new boyfriend, billionaire fashion mogul Michael De Graaf (voiced by Victor Garber). The new episode has been created by long-time ‘Simpsons’ writer Rob LaZebnik, whose son Johnny inspired him to write Smithers’ coming-out episode. The father-and-son duo have now teamed up to write an episode that puts Smithers on the path to romance. Rob told the New York Post newspaper: “To be able to work with Johnny on this was, like, such a dream and to be able to see how truly funny and talented he is was just, you know, super fun and rewarding.” Johnny added: “I know my dad is a comedy writer. I grew up with him – obviously, I know he’s a funny guy. “But actually getting to sit down and write jokes with him was so much fun. And there were some moments where I was like, ‘Dad, that’s disgusting – we can’t put that on television’, which I didn’t expect to be saying because I’m usually the disgusting one.” Meanwhile, Victor – who is openly gay – also feels proud to be part of a landmark TV moment. The 72-year-old star said: “I think it’s crucially important that these stories are acknowledged. I haven’t played a lot of gay characters, but every time I do it, it brings back certain feelings I had as young actor where I couldn’t be gay. “(The role is) a kind of a reminder of how much things have changed and also how I’ve evolved. In my journey to find self-acceptance, self-love, it’s a definite significant part of it.” View the full article