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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

Published by The Sacramento Bee SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Four months after suspending its baseball program, UC Davis announced Friday that the team’s head coach was resigning after an investigation revealed young players had for years been subjected to hazing rituals that included binge drinking, strippers and jokes about gay sex. “Head Coach Matt Vaughn failed to take appropriate steps to address a concern brought to his attention about possible hazing involving the baseball team in 2018,” the university said in a prepared statement. The announcement came five weeks after UC Davis allowed the baseball program to resume practici… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English T.J. Osborne debated not taking his boyfriend to the CMA Awards. The 36-year-old musician – who came out as gay in February – shared a kiss with his partner Abi Ventura when The Brothers Osborne were announced as winners of Vocal Duo of the Year at Wednesday’s (10.11.21) ceremony in Nashville, but he admitted he had been unsure whether to invite his partner along as he didn’t want to “make anyone uncomfortable”. But although some of his “fears” had “sneaked up” about public perception, T.J. ultimately felt it would set a good example to take Abi with him. He said: “I was like, ‘I hope this doesn’t make anyone uncomfortable, but this is how I feel.’ I love this person, and I want to be open in every way. “Hopefully [it can] show people that they also don’t need to hide or alter themselves in any way.” And the country star admitted his boyfriend also had reservations. He said: “He was probably more nervous than anybody and he probably felt incredibly uncomfortable… “He’s very, very sweet. He’s my boyfriend, [and] he is a cutie.” Despite his reservations, T.J. admitted he ultimately felt “so accepted and loved by my peers” at the event. When Brothers Osborne took to the stage to perform ‘Younger Me’, T.J. admitted to the audience he had never expected to be accepted in the country world because of his sexuality. He said: “For many years I would watch this show, year after year, and I always thought how incredible it’d be and I’d dream of being here on this stage. “And there were so many things that were so many hurdles for me. And I always truthfully felt like it would never be possible because of my sexuality to be here. “And I just wish, I wish, my younger me could see me now.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Britney Spears is a free woman and is ready to give the world more chart topping hits! Following Los Angeles County Judge Brenda Penny’s termination of the 13-year-long conservatorship a source close to Britney told TMZ that the pop icon has said she is ready to get into the studio and make new music. Insiders revealed to the outlet that the “Toxic” singer has a strong desire to get back to crafting songs — though for obvious reasons, it isn’t currently her number 1 priority — but that first, she has to gather a team of producers and writers. mega CAROL BURNETT SEEKS HELP FROM BRITNEY SPEARS’ FORMER CO-CONSERVATOR JODI MONTGOMERY IN HANDLING GUARDIANSHIP OF GRANDSON Although the superstar is ready to get back to singing, she reportedly has no plans to get back on stage for live shows even though she is itching to get back into the dance studio. As OK! previously reported, on Friday, November 12, Britney’s conservatorship officially ended more than a decade after it was first enacted by former conservator, her father Jamie Spears. mega “The court finds and determines that the conservatorship of the person and the estate is no longer required,” Judge Penny stated in court via People, “Therefore, effective today, the conservatorship of the person and estate of Britney Jean Spears… is hereby terminated.” BRITNEY SPEARS’ MOM LYNNE DEMANDS $650,000 FROM POP STAR’S ESTATE, HOURS BEFORE BEING ACCUSED OF SPEARHEADING THE CONSERVATORSHIP: REPORT During Friday’s hearing, Britney’s attorney Mathew Rosengart told the court — “I don’t want to bury the lede — we believe the conservatorship as a practical matter should end today.” mega “The time has come today to end the conservatorship. Mr. Spears in prior counsel in a 180 degree reversal was insisting upon termination on that day,” the lawyer explained. “Our position was that termination was appropriate.” Rosengart — who the “Gimme More” singer hired to handle her case this summer — concluded on the status of the conservatorship saying they have already “engaged in an orderly transfer of power.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Child’s play? Hardly! These celeb kids have already amassed massive fortunes. Prince George: $3 Billion & Princess Charlotte: $5 Billion mega The royal family, rich? You don’t say! The Cambridge kids each stand to inherit decades of accumulated fortunes, from cash to property to finery. (George reportedly has a $250k antiques collection with his name on it.) But while the 8-year-old, third in line to the throne, is most likely to ascend to monarch status, it’s cheeky Charlotte, 6, who takes the cake. (Louis, 3, is worth a modest $125 million.) Due to organically inheriting the “Kate Middleton effect” — the monetary impact of style-icon status — she’s the wealthiest tot in the world. So much for middle children missing out! Blue Ivy Carter: $1 Billion Mega At 9 years old, Blue Ivy’s accolades — including a Grammy, NAACP award and BET award for a songwriting credit on mom Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl” — are already on track to outpace those of Knowles and mega-mogul dad Jay-Z. And so is her wealth: With whispers that she rakes in $120,000 a month for collaborating with her ’rents, Carter has put her embarrassment of riches on full display, from flaunting designer dresses and bags, to strutting the red carpet in stylist-selected gowns, to sitting courtside at NBA games. There’s a new Queen B in town! HALSEY DEBUTS FIRST PHOTO OF NEWBORN SON ENDER RIDLEY’S FACE: ‘THE BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT THERE IS’ Stormi Webster: $900 million Mega Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott’s tyke hasn’t exactly worked hard during her three years of life — but that hasn’t kept her net worth from inching up exponentially every day she’s been alive. Thanks to her reality star mom’s fame and makeup empire, Stormi already boasts a millionaire’s closet, with 17 pairs of spendy shoes, a Hermès Birkin bag and a $15,000 preschool backpack. Unfortunately, she’ll soon have a little sibling to share it with! North West: $130 Million mega Sitting front row at fashion week, flying private, cruising on yachts, riding her rare Friesian horse around the family ranch, singing at dad Kanye West’s Sunday service — these are but a glimpse of the everyday perks enjoyed by Kim Kardashian’s firstborn. But in addition to her parents’ $2.1 billion net worth, 8-year-old North is also said to have her own cash balance — in a $10 million checking account! Exactly how many child-size Yeezys can that buy? Emme Muniz: $100 Million Mega Jennifer Lopez’s 13-year-old daughter with ex Marc Anthony has already followed in mom’s pipe-belting and performing footsteps, having joined J.Lo onstage with her own gold microphone at 2020’s Super Bowl halftime show. But she’s also worth Lopez-level cash: Just peek at her private jets, designer duds and luxurious vacays to exclusive locales like Monaco and The Hamptons. Jenny may be from the block, but Emme (and twin brother Max) are more comfortable on a yacht! PRINCESS BEATRICE WELCOMES FIRST CHILD, A BABY GIRL, WITH HUSBAND EDOARDO MAPELLI MOZZI: ROYAL FAMILY IS ‘DELIGHTED WITH THE NEWS’ Harper Beckham: $85 Million mega David Beckham has admitted that he “can’t say no” to 10-year-old Harper, his youngest child and only daughter with wife Victoria Beckham. “I think I only said no to her once,” he continued, “and her bottom lip started shivering, and I said, ‘Never again.’” Chances are, little Harper stands to inherit a big chunk of mom and dad’s combined net worth of $900 million. She’s already accustomed to the high life, with luxe vacations on ski slopes and to island resorts, and even celebrated a birthday at Buckingham Palace. It pays to be daddy’s girl! View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English YouTube will remove its “dislike” button on all videos. The video sharing platform has taken away the ability to leave a dislike on a video in order to try and protect creators from “dislike bombing” – in which innocent videos are disliked en masse by trolls – and to reduce “stress and embarrassment” caused by a video getting more dislikes than likes. The change has not been fully rolled out yet, and some creators are worried the move could be harmful to the site, as people won’t be able to dislike videos that are clickbait or are genuinely problematic. Chris Burton told BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat: “You want to immediately know how good the video is, before you watch it. A lot of the time, you can’t trust the title or thumbnail. If you see a tutorial video and it’s got almost all dislikes, you know it’s not going to help you.” The 27-year-old content creator agreed it would “get rid of the bullying aspect” of dislike bombing, but added: “I don’t think that’s the way 99 percent of people use the dislike button. “It already auto-blocks a lot of hateful comments which is fantastic. It holds them for review, and they don’t go live unless I manually click them.” Fellow YouTube star Kenzo Jae also spoke about the change, and said he was keen to see dislikes gone from videos. He also told Newsbeat: “You might put your heart and soul into something and then it doesn’t come out the way you want it to with likes or dislikes – that can be disheartening. “On my Instagram account I’ve taken all likes off and it’s really helped with not caring about the amount of people liking it.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Ridley Scott had a “very good marriage” working with Lady Gaga on ‘House of Gucci’. The 83-year-old filmmaker was very impressed by the ‘Poker Face’ singer’s work ethic and thinks the 35-year-old star – who plays Patrizia Reggiani – has made a much better transition to working in movies than other people with her musical background have. He told Deadline: “I mean, I work like a f****** demon, but she and I were really very good for each other because she keeps up. She’s on everything. “It became more and more enjoyable because, singers can be a bit fragile. This is a big movie, and some singers have not made that transition. They make it in music, they do it quite well. “I’m not going to name singers, but when a singer goes onto film, they can evaporate. Somehow, they haven’t got the presence. Not her. She’s right there, and she knows the camera. She’s used to that, from being a performer on stage.” And Ridley thinks Gaga’s varied musical background has helped her as an actress. He continued: “Have you ever seen one of her shows? Well, you’d have to go to Las Vegas, but it’s like that. “And then there is the jazz show she does with Tony Bennett, who loves her like a dad. But this other show is from an entirely different universe, and the Las Vegas crowd flocks to see her. “So, she’s a multitalented, multifaceted producer, really, apart from being a performer. “My hat came off to her, because I could see she knows exactly what she’s doing. And I know exactly what I’m doing. It was a very good marriage. “She loved the fact we moved like lightning. We did the film in 42 days, and came in $5 million under budget.” Meanwhile, the director insisted ‘House of Gucci’ is a “satire”, not a thriller. He said: “I didn’t want to make it into a thriller drama because it’s not. I saw it more as a satire. Satires are frequently examples of the ‘like.’ This might be likened to Medici or Borgia. “So, suddenly I thought, you know what? This is a satirical view of a 20th century family that has gone into a self-destruct mode by…you want to put a simple word on it, but you can’t. I don’t think you can say it’s greed. I think from the Gucci point of view, they wanted to protect their name. “ View the full article

Published by Reuters VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Saturday thanked journalists for helping uncover the clerical sexual abuse scandals that the Roman Catholic Church initially tried to cover up. The pope praised what he called the “mission” of journalism and said it was vital for reporters to get out of their newsrooms and discover what was happening in the outside world to counter misinformation often found online. “(I) thank you for what you tell us about what is wrong in the Church, for helping us not to sweep it under the carpet, and for the voice you have given to the abuse victims,” the pope said. Francis was speaking at a ceremony to honour two veteran correspondents — Philip Pullella of Reuters and Valentina Alazraki of Mexico’s Noticieros Televisa — for their long careers spent covering the Vatican. The sexual abuse scandals hit the headlines in 2002, when U.S. daily The Boston Globe wrote a series of articles exposing a pattern of abuse of minors by clerics and a widespread culture of concealment within the Church. Since then, scandals have rocked the Church in myriad countries, most recently France where a major investigation found in October that French clerics had sexually abused more than 200,000 children over the past 70 years. Critics accused Francis of responding too slowly to the scandals after he became Pontiff in 2013 and of believing the word of his fellow clergy over that of the abuse victims. But in 2018 he tried to address past mistakes, publicly admitting he was wrong about a case in Chile and vowing that the Church would never again seek to cover up such wrongdoing. In 2019 he called for an “all-out battle” against a crime that should be “erased from the face of the earth”. Francis on Saturday said journalists had a mission “to explain the world, to make it less obscure, to make those who live in it less fear it”. To do that, he said reporters needed to “escape the tyranny” of always being online. “Not everything can be told through email, the phone, or a screen,” he said. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Frances Kerry) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -A Los Angeles judge on Friday ended the conservatorship that has controlled the life of pop star Britney Spears for 13 years. “Effective today, the conservatorship of the person and the estate of Britney Jean Spears is hereby terminated,” Judge Brenda Penny said after a hearing. She added that the current conservator would continue working to settle ongoing financial issues in the case. The 39-year-old “Piece of Me” singer had begged the court to terminate the legal arrangement that has governed her personal life and $60 million estate since 2008. She did not attend Friday’s hearing in Los Angeles. Fans outside erupted in cheers at the decision and broke into singing her hit “Stronger.” The conservatorship was set up and overseen by the singer’s father after she had a public breakdown and underwent treatment for undisclosed mental health issues. Since revealing years of private anguish in tearful testimony in June, Spears has received a groundswell of public support and hired a new lawyer who moved aggressively to end the restrictions. In June, she told the court she had been traumatized https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/britney-spears-gets-her-day-court-what-will-she-say-2021-06-23 and that she wanted her “life back” as soon as possible. None of those involved in the conservatorship on Friday had opposed the request to end it. A key question on Friday had been whether Judge Penny might require Spears to undergo a mental health evaluation, a step often taken before ending a conservatorship. She did not do so. Interest in the case was propelled in the past year by documentaries and the #FreeBritney movement of fans who questioned why the singer lived under restrictions while successfully touring around the world and earning millions of dollars. (Additional reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Cynthia Osterman and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kal Penn only needs “10 minutes” from Cardi B to officiate his wedding. The ‘Designated Survivor’ star was delighted when the ‘WAP’ hitmaker recently offered to oversee his nuptials when he ties the knot with his partner Josh but he insisted nothing has been confirmed yet as the couple are still in the planning stages. Speaking on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’, Kal joked: “If we do have an Indian wedding, Indian weddings can be 10 days long, right? So I would imagine if she has time in her schedule, it’ll be the day she officiates and then nine days of aunties asking her about her lyrics.” But the former associate director of the White House Office of Public Liaison clarified Cardi wouldn’t be needed for the full 10 days. He added: “We need 10 minutes of her time.” Cardi reached out to Kal – who only recently came out as gay – after the 44-year-old star took to Twitter and explained spotting the ‘Up’ rapper on his flight to Los Angeles had influenced his dream. He tweeted: “Cardi B was on my flight to LA. I fell asleep and had a dream that she officiated our wedding on the plane and the three of us walked out of LAX holding hands.” Cardi replied: “First, why didn’t you say hi! Second, I’m licensed to do that sooo……..let me know.(sic)” Kal explained he didn’t want to be “disrespectful” and disturb his fellow passenger, but excitedly agreed to her wedding offer. He wrote: “You’re the best. Was gonna say hi but didn’t want to be disrespectful (your do not disturb light was on). But holy s*** let’s do it! We’re down if you’re down!(sic)” Cardi simply replied: “I’m down I’ll get my suit (sic)” The ‘Harold & Kumar’ star detailed his 11-year relationship with Josh in his new memoir, ‘You Can’t Be Serious’, but insisted he never made a conscious effort to conceal his sexuality, he was just aware that the important people in his life value their privacy. He said: “I’ve always been very public with everybody I’ve personally interacted with. Whether it’s somebody that I meet at a bar, if Josh and I are out or we’re talking to friends. “I’m really excited to share our relationship with readers. But Josh, my partner, my parents, and my brother, four people who I’m closest to in the family, are fairly quiet. “They don’t love attention and shy away from the limelight.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nathan Layne KENOSHA, Wis. (Reuters) – The judge in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse said on Friday he would instruct the jury they can consider the prosecution’s argument that the teenager provoked an encounter with one of two men he fatally shot during protests in Wisconsin last year. The ruling is a boost for prosecutors because it opens the door for them to argue that Rittenhouse was the aggressor, which would raise the bar for the teenager’s effort to convince the jury that he acted in self-defense. The decision comes after nearly two weeks of testimony that included considerable evidence supporting the teen’s argument that he fired after being attacked. Ahead of the trial, some legal experts told Reuters that prosecutors faced a formidable challenge https://www.reuters.com/world/us/prosecutors-face-tough-test-trial-us-teenage-protest-shooter-rittenhouse-2021-10-28 in bringing a successful prosecution. “Now it’s a fair fight,” said Patrick Cafferty, a criminal defense attorney in Wisconsin, referring to the lift the ruling would give the prosecution. “Without that instruction they would have zero chance.” Rittenhouse, 18, is charged in the killing of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020. The shootings took place during sometimes violent protests that followed the police shooting and wounding of a Black man, Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty. Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney James Kraus showed grainy drone video of the Rosenbaum shooting as he argued that Rittenhouse raised his AR-15-style rifle shortly before the encounter and pointed it at some people, including another man, Joshua Ziminski, who fired a gunshot in the air. “The simple argument is there’s plenty of evidence that the state has brought in that he raised his gun,” Kraus said. “We have evidence of provocation. Rittenhouse testified earlier this week that Ziminski pointed a gun at him as he approached the parking lot where the Rosenbaum shooting happened Kenosha County Judge Bruce Schroeder stepped down from the bench to watch the video on a TV with Rittenhouse standing close behind him leaning in and looking on. The judge agreed the issue should be up the jury to decide. “It’s the jury’s case and I think they should make the critical decisions,” Schroeder said. “My decision will be to submit the case to the jury with the provocation instruction and you can argue the strength or lack of strength of the evidence.” The shootings, which took place against a backdrop of days of rioting and arson, have divided the United States. Supporters of Rittenhouse saying he was justified in defending himself, while critics say he was a vigilante who illegally possessed a firearm and inserted himself into a violent situation. PROVOCATION Under Wisconsin law, if someone provokes a confrontation they are required to exhaust all other options before using deadly force in self-defense. So if the prosecution can argue Rittenhouse was the aggressor, it could raise the bar for the defense. But the defense can point to the evidence indicating that Rosenbaum was looking for trouble that night. Several witnesses told the court Rosenbaum was making death threats and that he chased Rittenhouse and lunged for his gun before the teen fired. Rittenhouse himself testified that Rosenbaum, the first man he shot, threatened his life and grabbed the barrel of his gun. Cafferty said the prosecution may try to argue that by provoking Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse also raised the bar for self-defense in the subsequent shootings of Huber and Grosskreutz, who prosecutors will say were trying to disarm the teenager. Rittenhouse is charged with first-degree reckless homicide in the death of Rosenbaum, first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Huber and attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting of Grosskreutz, who was holding a handgun when he was shot in the arm. Rittenhouse faces life in prison if convicted on those counts. Earlier, Schroeder had ruled against the prosecution’s request to allow the jury to consider a lesser charge in the killing of Rosenbaum, but he said he would allow the inclusion of two lesser charges in the killing of Huber, who was shot after swinging a skateboard at Rittenhouse. He did not rule on a request for lesser charges regarding Grosskreutz. With Huber, Rittenhouse’s lawyers agreed to lesser charges as long as they did not include second-degree reckless homicide, because that charge does not require proof that the teen exhibited an “utter disregard” for human life. The defense wanted to retain that high hurdle for the prosecution, and the judge ruled in line with that wish. (Reporting By Nathan Layne; Editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – U.S. Justice Department said Friday that it has indicted Stephen Bannon on two counts of contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena issued by the House of Representatives Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill attack. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien) View the full article

Freddie Mercury The Final Act will be on BBC Published by BANG Showbiz English Freddie Mercury stopped taking the drugs that were keeping him alive two weeks before he passed away. The Queen frontman passed away from complications from AIDS in November 1991 aged 45 and his former personal assistant, Peter Freestone has told how he and friend Joe Fanelli cared for the ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ singer in his final days as he “slowly let go”. He said: “The only thing he would take would be painkillers, he slowly let go. “Joe called me at about 5.30am and Freddie had basically gone into a coma and we made Freddie sort of comfortable. You could see Freddie had moved a bit and then as we were changing his T-shirt we just looked and saw his chest had stopped moving.” And Anita Dobson, who is married to Queen guitarist Brian May, felt Freddie was preparing to die six months before he eventually passed away. She said: “I remember he said ‘When I can’t sing anymore darling, then I will die. I will drop dead’.” Before his diagnosis, Freddie had been worried about a mark on his hand but refused to take a call from his doctor with biopsy results. Speaking in upcoming documentary ‘Freddie Mercury: The Final Act’, Peter said: “We had all the excuses how he was in the bath, he was out, he was somewhere. He just did not want to talk to the doctor. So I have a very good idea he knew this was Kaposi sarcoma, which was one of the first indications of AIDS.” After being diagnosed with HIV in 1987, Freddie vowed to keep making music for as long as he could but was determined not to make his condition public. Brian recalled: “The first time we really knew was when we got together in Montreux. “Freddie just sat down and said ‘OK, you guys probably know what is going on with me. You know what I am dealing with. I don’t want to talk about it. “I don’t want to take any action apart from carrying on the way we are. I want to carry on making music for as long as f**king can. “We will not dwell on it and we will go on’. We all went ‘OK’ and that was it. There was a discussion about what we would say if we were questioned and we all agreed to deny it to protect Freddie. “We felt quite comfortable about that. When we were in the studio and the studio doors were closed we had fun. For Queen as a family it was fantastic. We were never closer. But then Freddie was suffering.” Freddie Mercury The Final Act on Towleroad U.S. Justice Department indicts Bannon for not complying with Jan. 6 subpoena More And Just Like Samantha, Kim Cattrall Gets Another Reboot Role As Queer-as-Folk’s Martini-Loving Southern Deb. SATC On Hold, Hopes. More Tom Ford: Cancel culture inhibits fashion More Auction House Sells $200 million+ On first Night of Fall Art Auctions, Led by a Basquiat Work At Peak of His Powers for $40 M More Ahmaud Arbery’s Murder Trial: Defendant’s Lawyer Doesn’t Want ‘Black Pastors’ At Hearing More Affirmative action opponents ask U.S. Supreme Court to take UNC, Harvard cases together More Apple’s iOS beta update will blur nude images on iMessages More Britney Spears & Sam Asghari Wear #FreeBritney T-Shirts Ahead Of Conservatorship Hearing More 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’ More U.S. appeals court pauses release of Trump documents to House riot probe More Rosario Dawson Was ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’ But At 5 Had To Learn She Was Not His Biological Daughter; Led Her to Adopt Older Child More Load More View the full article