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Published by Reuters By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -A criminal complaint charging former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo with a misdemeanor sex offense has been filed in a court in Albany, the state’s capital, a spokesman for the New York state courts said on Thursday. “As this is a sex crime, a redacted complaint will be available shortly,” the spokesman, Lucian Chalfen, said in an emailed statement. Representatives for Cuomo, 63, who resigned from office over two months ago under mounting legal pressures and demands for his ouster from President Joe Biden and others, were not immediately available for comment. A copy of the complaint posted online by WNBC-TV in New York said Cuomo engaged in the misdemeanor offense of “forcible touching” on Dec. 7, 2020, at the governor’s Executive Mansion by placing “his hand under the blouse shirt of the victim … and onto her intimate body part.” The complaint goes on to say that Cuomo fondled the woman’s breast “for purposes of degrading and gratifying his sexual desires,” but the name of the woman has been redacted. The week prior to his resignation, Brittany Commisso filed a criminal report with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office alleging that the then-governor of groped her breast at the Executive Mansion in Albany late last year. The New York Post said Cuomo was expected to be arrested next week and charged with a misdemeanor in the alleged groping of a former aide. It said the anticipated charge resulted from a probe by Albany County District Attorney David Soares, citing a source briefed on the matter. Soares’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cuomo resigned as governor in August after over 10 years in office, following a probe https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-york-governor-cuomo-resigns-after-sexual-harassment-findings-2021-08-10 that found he had sexually harassed 11 women. New York Attorney General Letitia James said a five-month independent investigation concluded that Cuomo had engaged in conduct that violated federal and state laws. “The criminal charges brought today against Mr. Cuomo for forcible touching further validate the findings in our report,” James said in a statement on Thursday. The former Democratic governor has long denied wrongdoing, though he has said he accepted “full responsibility” for what he called ill-conceived attempts to be affectionate or humorous. Cuomo’s resignation capped a months-long downfall, derailing the political career of a man once considered a possible U.S. presidential contender, and whose daily briefings early in the COVID-19 pandemic raised his national profile. Cuomo’s resignation spared him from possible removal from office through impeachment proceedings in the state legislature, which appeared likely even though that body is dominated by fellow Democrats. The independent investigation found that Cuomo groped, kissed or made improperly suggestive comments to women, including current and former government workers, and retaliated against at least one woman who accused him of sexual misconduct. Like his father Mario Cuomo, Andrew Cuomo was elected to three four-year terms as governor. He was hailed as a national leader last year at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic after delivering daily news conferences as his state became the U.S. epicenter of the public health crisis. (Reporting by Jonathen Stempel; additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; editing by Tim Ahmann, Aurora Ellis and Marguerita Choy) View the full article

Shots from a modeling session for Mugler appeared on Instagram and it’s a batch of Lourdes Leon revealing modeling pics making a statement. She is pushing her own limits and getting attention for her power and physicality her own way. Maybe. Lourdes Leon Revealing Modeling Pics on Towleroad Josh Cavallo Comes Out. The Aussie is The World’s Only Out Gay Male Pro Footballer (Ok, ‘Gay Pro-Soccer Player’); ‘Living A Double Life Is Exhausting’ More On Jan 5th, Bannon is in Trump’s War Room At A Luxury Hotel Where, He Takes A Call From The President, And The Two Decide To ‘Blow It Up’. More U.S. Congress puts Big Oil in the hot seat in climate deception probe More Biden announces $1.75 trillion US spending deal ahead of Europe trip More Democrats offer mixed messages as Biden presses domestic agenda More Over 600,000 homes without power in eastern US due to storm More Alan Cumming: Hollywood saved my life More Jonas Brothers land Netflix comedy show More Art group seeks to ‘destroy’ Warhol work by mixing with 999 copies More Courtroom Bombshell! Elizabeth Holmes Scammed Betsy DeVos Into Investing $100 Million In Theranos More U.S. issues first passport with ‘X’ gender marker More Load More View the full article

Published by TDPel Media Josh Cavallo, an Australian professional footballer who plays as a left back and central midfielder for Adelaide United, has come out as homosexual, making him the world’s only known gay male top-flight player. In an emotional video uploaded on Adelaide United’s social media, the 21-year-old said, “I’m a footballer and I’m gay.” “I just want to play football and be treated fairly.” Cavallo is the first active gay professional footballer in Australia’s top division, declaring that he is no longer “ashamed” of his sexuality. He added: “I’m tired of trying to perform at the best of your ability a… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Investigators are examining whether a group of powerful Trump backers used a Washington (AFP) – A “war room” set up in a luxury Washington hotel by advisors of president Donald Trump has become the focus of the congressional investigation into the violent January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Trump strategist Steve Bannon and legal consultants Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman worked in suites at the Willard InterContinental across the street from the White House in the days surrounding the attack, in which Trump supporters stormed Congress to halt certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential election victory. They and others are suspected of maintaining communications between the White House and groups involved in so-called “Stop the Steal” protests, according to a congressional resolution holding Bannon in contempt last week. Bannon, who rejected a subpoena to testify in the January 6 investigation, was cited for his “role in constructing and participating in the ‘stop the steal’ public relations effort that motivated the attack.” That included, the resolution said, “his participation in the events of that day from a ‘war room'” at the Willard. Longtime hub for powerbrokers First established in 1847, the elegant Willard has long been a hub for high society, political powerbrokers and visiting dignitaries in the US capital, especially those visiting the White House. The term “lobbyist” gained currency in Washington, where people hung out in the Willard’s lobby seeking to influence US presidents and other politicians. Earlier this year independent investigator Seth Abramson, on his website “Proof,” documented that dozens of people involved in trying to reverse Biden’s November 2020 election victory over Trump were at the hotel in the run up to January 6. They included Trump advocates like political tactician Roger Stone, one-time spokesman Jason Miller, campaign advisor Boris Epshteyn, and former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik. The House special committee probing the January 6 insurrection is examining whether people close to the White House, including potentially Trump himself, instigated the attack on the Capitol, which shut down for several hours the joint session meant to confirm Biden as election winner. The Willard operation has also come into focus because of the explosive new book, “Peril,” an account of the last weeks of the Trump presidency by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. They document how Eastman fashioned an extraordinary legal strategy for Trump to have vice president Mike Pence block Biden’s confirmation in Congress on grounds of alleged election fraud. (There has been no evidence to support significant fraud claims.) ‘Point of attack’ On January 5 Trump told supporters that Pence had agreed to block Biden’s certification the next day. But according to Woodward and Costa, in an evening meeting Pence rejected the pressure. After that meeting Trump made at least one call to the Willard operation. “After it doesn’t go well for Trump, he calls in to the Willard War room…. He’s coordinating this effort to speak for Pence,” Costa said Monday on MSNBC. Who Trump spoke to and what was said are not known. The January 6 committee is seeking phone records on communications related to what took place, and to interview others who were at the Willard. Bannon is a key figure because, according to “Peril,” in December he encouraged Trump to use the unsupported claims of voter fraud to stop certification on January 6. In a podcast on January 5, Bannon predicted the next day would be momentous, successfully blocking Biden’s presidency. “It’s all converging and now we are on the point of attack,” he told listeners. “We’re on the cusp of victory…. All hell is going to break loose tomorrow.” No secret The Willard operation was not secret. “We had a war room at the Willard Hotel, kind of coordinating all of the communications,” Eastman told Denver radio talk show host Peter Boyles in May. Abramson also documents a key meeting at another hotel nearby, the president’s own Trump International, where on the night before the attack Trump’s sons, Giuliani, several top advisors and Republican officials gathered. But Woodward told MSNBC on Monday that the communications involving the White House and the Willard operation on January 5 were central to what happened the next day. “Bannon and Trump realized that this is the point that they have to blow it up, and that’s exactly what they did,” he said. View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress on Thursday will open a year’s worth of investigations into whether Big Oil deceived Americans about its role in climate change, with Democratic lawmakers planning to grill the chiefs of four oil companies and two lobby groups. Environmental groups and their congressional allies hope the hearing evokes the Big Tobacco hearings of the 1990s, which began a shift in public opinion about that industry. Energy industry representatives plan to focus on their current support of climate action. “The narrative is, in my view, simple: they know they lied and they continue to deceive,” Representative Ro Khanna, chair of the environment subcommittee on the Environment, told Reuters in an interview. “And if we can establish that I think it will be a Big Tobacco moment for Big Oil.” Khanna will lead the hearings along with Representative Carolyn Maloney, chair of the Oversight and Reform Committee. It will be the first time that executives of the top oil majors – ExxonMobil, Shell Oil, BP America and Chevron – and the heads of the American Petroleum Institute and Chamber of Commerce will answer questions about climate change in Congress under oath. Representative James Comer, top Republican on the committee, will say the panel should be addressing inflation and high energy prices which he believes are caused by policies of President Joe Biden’s administration, according to written testimony that contained no mention of climate change. Republicans invited Neal Crabtree, a worker who lost his job after Biden canceled the Keystone XL oil pipeline, to testify to the panel. This summer, the United Nations released a report warning that unless immediate, rapid and large-scale action is taken to reduce emissions, the average global temperature is likely to reach or cross the 1.5-degree Celsius (2.7 degrees F) warming threshold within 20 years. BP America’s CEO David Lawler and Shell Oil’s CEO Gretchen Watkins plan to talk about their recognition that climate change was a problem in the 1990s and about their current efforts to adapt their business models to add more renewable energy and lower emissions, according to prepared testimony. Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods will say that the company “responded accordingly” when the “scientific community’s understanding of climate change developed” and that oil and gas will still be needed to meet growing global energy demand. And the energy interests are also likely to say that more time is needed for a transition to cleaner energy. Suzanne Clark, the president and CEO of the Chamber, will tell lawmakers that one of President Joe Biden’s top climate aides, John Kerry, said this year that half of the emissions cuts needed to get to net zero will come from technologies that are not developed yet, according to her written testimony. (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici and Timothy Gardner; Editing by David Gregorio) View the full article

Published by AFP US President Joe Biden is presenting Democrats with a $1.75 trillion social spending plan that he is confident will break weeks of wrangling Washington (AFP) – US President Joe Biden announced Thursday a revised $1.75 trillion social spending plan that he is confident Democrats will support, ending weeks of wrangling and delivering a political victory hours before he departs for twin summits in Europe. Biden failed in his original goal of securing a vote in Congress, where Democrats hold a razor-thin majority, before going to Rome for meetings with Pope Francis and G20 leaders, then a UN climate summit in Glasgow. Instead, his dramatic last-minute intervention will present Democrats with a deal too good to refuse, senior aides believe. Putting the full prestige of his presidency on the line, Biden will unveil the framework agreement to Democratic leaders, then address the American people from the White House, before heading to the airport to board Air Force One. The White House said Biden will lay out a compromise outline of legislation pouring $1.75 trillion into education, childcare, clean energy and other social services. This is much less than the original $3.5 trillion price tag Biden and left-leaning Democrats wanted. However, this would still represent a major win a year after Biden, 78, defeated Donald Trump with a promise to heal America’s “soul.” Weeks of Democratic feuding over both the details and costs have threatened to sink the bill, along with a second initiative meant to invest an additional $1.2 trillion in America’s crumbling infrastructure. Biden is now sure he has Congress ready to accept his deal, although the timing of a vote remains up to the Democratic speaker, Nancy Pelosi. “The president believes this framework will earn the support of all 50 Democratic senators and pass the House,” a senior White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Seeking to make history An official said the two bills Biden wants will “make historic investments” and that the White House is “confident” in getting Democrats to unite. Biden was set to meet with Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives in private, before returning to the White House for a speech at 11:30 am (1530 GMT). He will depart for Rome shortly after. Biden will “speak to the American people about the path forward for his economic agenda and the next steps to getting it done,” another White House official said. The Democrats enjoy a rare period of controlling both houses of Congress and the presidency. However, the margins are so tight — with only a one vote advantage in the Senate and a handful in the House — that enacting major legislation has proved far harder than supporters hoped. Biden has been repeatedly frustrated as just two moderate Democrats in the Senate held up his social spending ambitions, while left-leaning Democrats in the House blocked the infrastructure bill. Responding to criticism that the pending deal has been watered down too far, a White House official said Biden’s framework will still “make historic investments in the United States.” This will be “the most transformative investment in children and caregiving in generations, the largest effort to combat climate change in history, and historic tax cut for tens of millions of middle class families, and the biggest expansion of affordable health care in a decade,” an official said. View the full article

Published by AFP US President Joe Biden, pictured at a campaign event in Arlington, Virginia on October 26, 2021, is keen to take some big wins with him to Europe Washington (AFP) – The White House and Democratic congressional leaders raced Wednesday to resolve lingering disputes on their giant social spending plan before President Joe Biden flies overseas — although several lawmakers signaled a deal by day’s end looked impossible. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote to colleagues that Biden’s domestic agenda was moving “closer to passing,” but a key centrist senator later dismissed a new tax on billionaires to help pay for the $1.5-$2 trillion package as a non-starter. Biden hopes to use passage of the Build Back Better Act as evidence of the United States leading the world on global warming and other issues as he heads to a G20 summit in Rome and United Nations climate gathering in Glasgow. The president was mulling a galvanizing visit to Capitol Hill later in the day and White House aides were assessing the situation “hour by hour,” his spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. But Pelosi, the top House Democrat, has given lawmakers until at least the end of Thursday to ready their final language on the historic bill targeting climate change, child care, pre-school education and health care. The mammoth package is crucial to another big win Biden had hoped to secure before jetting off to Rome — a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill to transform US roads, bridges and broadband access. The bills are linked because the Democratic left flank in the House is withholding its green light on the Senate-passed infrastructure legislation until progressives have seen a final text on Build Back Better, their top priority. 50-50 Senate Weeks of negotiations between the party’s left and center have yet to produce consensus even on the price tag of the social welfare package, let alone the provisions it should include or how to pay for it. Biden has no votes to spare in the 50-50 split Senate so any Democrat can tank any bill, throwing Biden’s domestic agenda into disarray. Biden met Tuesday evening with moderate senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin, both holdouts on Build Back Better who have spent weeks chiseling the original $3.5 trillion top line to somewhere nearer half that. There was no significant breakthrough, but a White House official said the trio “made progress on top of what has been accomplished in recent days” and the senators were in follow-up meetings Wednesday with Biden aides. “The speaker has said that 90 percent of the Build Back Better Act is done and we’re just waiting on the final agreement from the two senators, who haven’t agreed on everything yet and we need them,” Pramila Jayapal, leader of the 96-member Congressional Progressive Caucus, told MSNBC. House Leader Steny Hoyer, Pelosi’s deputy, echoed reassurances from Democratic Senate chief Chuck Schumer and the White House that a deal on the social spending package was close, but ruled out an infrastructure vote Wednesday. Democrats have yet to reach consensus on a slew of issues in the Build Back Better package, including taxes, paid family leave, prescription drug pricing and expanding health care coverage for the elderly and low-income Americans. ‘Not nailed down’ “There’s just huge pieces of this that are not nailed down. So each time I hear ‘Well, it’s almost done,’ I don’t know what the hell people are talking about,” Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley told NBC. In a last-second scramble to pay for Biden’s plans, Senate Democrats proposed a billionaires’ tax that would target roughly 700 tycoons with over $1 billion in assets or $100 million in income for three consecutive years. The collective fortune of America’s billionaires soared by 70 percent during the pandemic, according to the liberal-leaning Institute for Policy Studies, from almost $3 trillion in March 2020 to over $5 trillion by October 15 this year. Under the proposal, according to US media, billionaires would begin paying capital gains taxes of 23.8 percent on the appreciation in value of tradeable assets such as stocks and bonds, regardless of whether they are sold. The tax would bring in an estimated $300 billion, around a fifth of the expected compromise cost of Build Back Better. But the idea appeared dead on arrival as Sinema and Richie Neal, the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, indicated they were against it and Manchin explicitly dismissed it as divisive. There were signs of light, however, with tentative agreement among the Democrats, who control Congress and the White House, on a minimum 15 percent corporate tax on the profits of companies clearing more than $1 billion a year. Nearly 200 companies would be subject to the tax, another key revenue raiser that could generate as much as $400 billion, its backers say. Crucially, Manchin and Sinema are both on board. View the full article

Published by AFP A cyclist rides through rain in Brooklyn, New York on October 26, 2021 A powerful coastal storm knocked down trees and left more than 600,000 homes without power in the northeastern United States on Wednesday. The state of Massachusetts was the hardest hit, with 495,000 homes without power as of 9:00 am (1300 GMT), according to the poweroutage.us website. The National Weather Service called the situation dangerous and warned of hurricane-type gusts of wind and many uprooted trees. “Travel is not recommended,” said the NWS office in Boston. Rhode Island was also badly affected, with 96,000 homes without electricity. The NWS said the situation should improve toward the end of the day and that the storm “will move farther offshore tonight.” It drenched the New York region on Monday night and Tuesday before packing winds of almost 100 mph overnight into Wednesday as it headed north. The storm forced the closure of dozens of schools in New England and brought down power lines and branches, littering some roads with debris. In Barnstable, Massachusetts police rescued a woman from her car after a tree fell on it, local media reported. In the coastal town of Duxbury, south of Boston, the fire brigade said it responded to 90 calls in 12 hours due to the storm. Eastern US Storm: Previously on Towleroad Duran Duran Has New Music And You Are About To Enjoy it. It’s 2021. Seriously. Michael Goff October 20, 2021 Read More ‘Mayor Pete’ Trailer; Papa Pete Pwns Tucker; 4-Stars for Dr. Rachel Levine; JoJo Siwa’s Perfect 10s; Lynda Carter’s 8 Wonder-full Words: GOOD NEWS Brian Bell October 20, 2021 Read More Jennifer Hudson As Aretha Franklin in ‘Respect’ Gives All of Herself; Her Own Intense Traumas Gave Entree to Franklin’s: WATCH the GMA Medley Towleroad August 12, 2021 Read More Update: Isiah Brown’s sister hopes family ‘can get answers’ on police shooting of her brother; ‘We need to figure out why this keeps happening’ Brian Bell April 30, 2021 Read More Gay Volcanic Wedding; Lena Waithe; Ricky Martin; Special; Willow Smith; Marvel Pride; The Last of Us; Chelsea Manning: HOT LINKS Brian Bell April 28, 2021 Read More Gay Pilot Breaks With Navy After Homophobic Harassment; ‘I don’t feel part of the military anymore’ Brian Bell April 28, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Alan Cumming thinks Hollywood has saved his life. The 56-year-old actor was feeling suicidal before he landed the role of Boris Grishenko, a geeky computer programmer, in the James Bond film ‘GoldenEye’, and he looks back on his casting as a life-defining moment. Reflecting on the day he auditioned for the role, he explained: “It was one of the worst days of my life actually. I felt really, really, really low. I just now think, ‘Oh you poor little thing, you could’ve said I am feeling suicidal today.'” Alan now admits his life was transformed by his starring role in the 1995 film. The actor told ‘CBS Mornings’: “Hollywood saved me. “I have this sort of mantra, which is ‘Cancel, continue.’ When something bad happens I think, okay that happened, we can’t change that, let’s move on.” Alan previously admitted that he thought his career options were limited as a young performer on the Scottish theatre scene in the 1980s. He recalled: “I was told that things were not available to me because of my Scottishness. “America was never a thing. London was maybe a possibility. The idea that I would be doing what I’m doing now or have the opportunities that I have now, there was no one I knew who’d had that trajectory … those things didn’t happen to Scottish people.” Alan also doubts that his sexuality harms his career prospects. He explained: “The constant question I used to get was: ‘Do you think that coming out is bad for your career in Hollywood?’ It’s such a ridiculous question. “I don’t think people in Basingstoke or Idaho are not going to go and see a movie because someone in it is gay. I really don’t think they care.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English The Jonas Brothers have landed a Netflix comedy special. The ‘Sucker’ hitmakers – siblings Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas – will be roasted by the likes of Pete Davidson, Niall Horan, Gabriel Iglesias, John Legend, Lilly Singh, and Jack Whitehall in ‘Jonas Brothers Family Roast’, while ‘Saturday Night Live’ star Kenan Thompson will serve as the host. In a video announcement, Nick said: “Hey we’re the Jonas Brothers and we have a very exciting announcement for you. Were doing a Jonas Brothers family roast. It’s a one-of-a-kind comedy special that celebrates the universal truth that no one can get under your skin quite like your family.” Kevin added: “You’ll see us like you’ve never seen us before through sketches, songs, games, and special guests.” Their message was repeatedly punctuated by Joe simply saying: “Roasted”. At the end of the video, Nick asked his brother: “You really don’t understand how the roasting thing works, do you?” His sibling responded: “Roasted” The hour-long special will premiere on 24 November. Over the summer, the group’s single, ‘Remember This’, was part of NBC’s coverage of the Olympic Games’ Closing Ceremony and they previously admitted it was an “honour” to be involved. Nick tweeted: “What an honor… Our performance of Remember This (NBC Olympics Edition) just aired as part of the Closing Ceremony on @NBC!! We are so proud of you “@TeamUSA [flex emoji] Let’s get it!! #TokyoOlympics (sic)” And he later added: “So special to be able to have our song as a part of the Olympics this year. Remember This (NBC Olympics Edition) is OUT NOW! (sic)” Joe tweeted: “Our Remember This (NBC Olympics Edition) performance just aired during the Closing Ceremony of #TokyoOlympics on @NBC!! “Getting to perform this song at the Olympics Closing Ceremony is quite the bucket list moment for me!! Remember This (NBC Olympics Edition) is OUT NOW (sic)” And Kevin Jonas watching the performance amid the closing ceremony was a moment he will “never forget”. He tweeted: “A moment I’ll never forget [mindblown emoji] Our Remember This (NBC Olympics Edition) performance just aired on @NBC during the #TokyoOlympics Closing Ceremony!! Wow!! (sic)” Jonas Brothers: Previously on Towleroad Jonas Brothers land Netflix comedy show Towleroad October 27, 2021 Read More ‘Chucky’ is Back… This Time With Young Gay Protagonist, Jake; It’s a Horror Cult-Classic Meets Burgeoning Gay Love on USA/SYFY TV Series Brian Bell October 17, 2021 Read More Tom Hardy on ‘Venom’ As LGBTQ Icon; Takei Rips Dean Cain’s Super Bi-Panic: Co-CEO Repeats At Netflix Trans Lives Don’t Matter As Much As Ratings; Brian Bell October 16, 2021 Read More Action Roundup: Gay James Bond Character; Venom’s ‘Coming Out Party;’ ‘Queer Family’ of ‘Marvel’s Eternals’ Brian Bell October 1, 2021 Read More Cassandra Peterson, Horror Icon Elvira, Comes Out, Reveals 19-Year Relationship in New Memoir Brian Bell September 22, 2021 Read More ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is The Gay Coming-Of-Age Tale For Everyone With an Inner (and Outer) Drag Queen Brian Bell August 25, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by AFP This image published by the art collective MSCHF shows a drawing by Andy Warhol of which it has made 999 copies in which to slip the original New York (AFP) – The New York art collective that brought us “Satan Shoes” with an apparent drop of human blood in the midsole is at it again, this time selling 1,000 copies of an Andy Warhol drawing at the same price, only one of which is the original. On a website called the Museum of Forgeries, the group known as MSCHF says it bought a 1954 ballpoint pen sketch by the pop art master called “Fairies”, which it says is worth $20,000, made 999 exact copies of it and mixed the original in with them. They were all put on sale Monday for $250 and sold out. MSCHF says the copies are an art work called “Possibly Real Copy Of ‘Fairies’ by Andy Warhol.” MSCHF has posted a video showing how the copies are made: a robotic arm with a pen makes the drawings, which are then put through an accelerated artificial aging process with light, heat, pressure and moisture. Then the Warhol Foundation seal and annotations in pencil are manually replicated, MSCHF member Kevin Wiesner said in an email to AFP. “I think if an art conservator were able to inspect every drawing side-by-side, they would eventually discover the original. However, this scenario is unlikely to occur,” he said. MSCHF says that in doing this it seeks to criticize the concepts of “authenticity” and “exclusivity” that dominate the art market. “Our goal is to ‘destroy’ the drawing by breaking down the chain of trust,” Wiesner said. The Warhol Foundation did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. MSCHF, a collective created in 2016 and based in Brooklyn, specializes in reappropriating works of art or commercial objects. Last spring it made the “Satan Shoe” in collaboration with rapper Lil Nas X. They released 666 pairs of black Nike Air Max 97s customized to feature a bronze pentagram, a Bible verse referring to Satan’s fall, and a drop of human blood mixed with red ink in the midsole. Nike sued on grounds of trademark infringement. MSCHF reached a deal with Nike under which it issued a voluntary recall for the sneakers. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Elizabeth Holmes is accused of giving false and misleading information to former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in an effort to dupe her into investing $100 million into the now-defunct company, Theranos. Holmes is currently facing trial for allegedly scamming investors and patients about her company’s blood-testing technology. According to DeVos’ family representative Lisa Peterson, who took the stand in Holmes ongoing criminal trial, the family initially planned to invest $50 million into Holmes’ company but decided to double the amount after meeting her. “She was inviting us to participate in this opportunity,” Peterson testified on Tuesday. “They were telling us that it worked. We re-lied on what they told us.” Peterson said she was first directed to look into Theranos after receiving an email from one of her bosses who included a cover story of Holmes. “This morning, I had one of the most interesting meetings I can recall with the woman profiled in the attached Fortune magazine article,” the email read. MEGA Peterson also claimed that Holmes convinced the family with the project, saying, “This was going to be a game-changer for health care.” Holmes also reportedly told the family that the blood-testing device produced by her company could be used in places such as military helicopters and refugee camps. She also reportedly said that they could run between 200 to 300 tests through the company’s machines using only a tiny amount of blood. Peterson was intrigued by the presentation and of what it could potentially bring to the health care industry. MEGA Jurors selected in Holmes’ trial were shown for the first time clips of the alleged criminal, who was trying to defend her company during interviews on television from 2015 and 2016. “This is what happens when you work to change things,” she told the interviewer on CNBC Mad Money in 2015. “First they think you’re crazy, then they fight you, and then all of a sudden you change the world.” During her appearance on theTODAY show in 2016, Holmes claimed, “anything that happens in this company is my responsibility.” As Radar previously reported, the alleged scammer and her former COO Sunny Balwani are currently being charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud. Both are facing 20 years in prison if found guilty. Prosecutors accuse the two of being aware of Theranos’ inability to produce “accurate and reliable results for certain blood tests.” “Holmes and Balwani used advertisements and solicitations to encourage and induce doctors and patients to use Theranos’ blood testing laboratory services, even though, according to the government, the defendants knew Theranos was not capable of consistently producing accurate and reliable results for certain blood tests.” MEGA View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday it had issued the first American passport with an “X” gender marker, designed to give non-binary, intersex and gender nonconforming people a marker other than male or female on their travel document, according to a statement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in June that the X marker would be offered as an option on passports, following other countries including Canada, Germany, Australia and India, which already offer a third gender on documents. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that the United States was moving toward adding the “X” gender marker as an option for those applying for U.S. passports or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Price did not say who the first “X” gender passport was issued to, but civil rights organization Lambda Legal said its client Dana Zzyym was the recipient. “I almost burst into tears when I opened the envelope, pulled out my new passport, and saw the ‘X’ stamped boldly under ‘sex,'” Zzyym, an intersex and non-binary U.S. Navy veteran, said in a statement on Wednesday. “It took six years, but to have an accurate passport, one that doesn’t force me to identify as male or female but recognizes I am neither, is liberating.” (Reporting by Simon Lewis; Additional reporting by Maria Caspani in New York; Editing by Mark Porter and Steve Orlofsky) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Estelle Shirbon LONDON (Reuters) -Lawyers for the United States launched a fresh attempt on Wednesday to have Julian Assange extradited from Britain, arguing that concerns about the WikiLeaks founder’s mental health should not prevent him from facing U.S. justice. The 50-year-old Australian is wanted in the United States on 18 criminal charges, including breaking a spying law, after WikiLeaks published thousands of secret U.S. files and diplomatic cables in 2010. The United States is appealing against a Jan. 4 ruling by a London District Judge that Assange should not be extradited because he would likely commit suicide in a U.S. prison. Lawyer James Lewis told the court the United States had addressed the District Judge’s concerns by making assurances to Britain regarding how Assange would be treated if extradited. These included that he would not be subject to a set of strict detention conditions known as Special Administrative Measures and would not be detained at a maximum security penitentiary in Florence, Colorado, known as ADX. The U.S. authorities had also assured Britain that they would consent to Assange serving in Australia any custodial sentence imposed by a U.S. court, Lewis said. Assange, who denies any wrongdoing, is being held at Belmarsh Prison. In the morning, the court was told he felt too unwell to appear via video link, but later in the day he did appear on the screen. Wearing a shirt, tie and mask, he was sitting at a table, holding his head in his hand. In a court document circulated to media, Assange’s lawyers rejected the U.S. assurances, saying he could be held in another maximum security facility under oppressive conditions that would drive him to suicide. They said Australia had given no indication it would consent to Assange being transferred there to serve a U.S. sentence, and he would be at high risk while awaiting a transfer. “On the evidence, Mr Assange will most likely be dead before it (the proposed transfer) can have any purchase,” they wrote. The appeal hearing is scheduled to last two days, with the judges expected to give their ruling at a later date. ‘FREE JULIAN ASSANGE’ Supporters of Assange gathered outside the court building from early on Wednesday, chanting “free Julian Assange”, before his father and Stella Moris, his partner and mother of his two children, arrived. Another subject of dispute in the appeal is whether the evidence of a psychiatric expert called by Assange’s defence team in the original extradition hearing was reliable. The U.S. lawyers argue the evidence should be dismissed because the expert initially failed to disclose that Moris was Assange’s partner and that the pair had children — information they said was highly relevant to the issue of his suicide risk. Assange’s lawyers said the District Judge had been right to take into account the expert’s evidence. WikiLeaks came to prominence when it published vast troves of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables which the United States says put lives in danger. Soon afterwards Sweden sought Assange’s extradition from Britain over allegations of sex crimes. He was ordered to be sent to Sweden in 2012, but instead fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in London and lived there for seven years. He was dragged out in April 2019 and jailed for breaching his British bail conditions, although the Swedish case against him had been dropped. The U.S. authorities then sought his extradition. Supporters see Assange as an anti-establishment hero victimised for exposing U.S. wrongdoing in Afghanistan and Iraq. U.S. prosecutors regard him as a reckless enemy of the state whose actions threatened the lives of agents named in the leaked material. (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Christina Fincher and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by Radar Online Alec Baldwin’s daughter Ireland is coming for Candace Owens after she made light of the tragic on-set shooting where the actor accidentally killed a crew member. The 26-year-old model tore into the 32-year-old conservative mouthpiece for her comments as Alec tries to recover from the incident that left Halyna Hutchins dead. “You are the most disgusting, hateful cancerous human being I’ve ever come across. Regardless of your foul opinions most of the time, the fact that you would disrespect the life of a woman who was accidentally and tragically killed… shame on you,” Ireland said. Her fiery response came after Owens’ tweet, “Alec Baldwin spent 4 years dedicated to painting Donald Trump and his supporters as evil murderers. What has happened for Alec would be an example of poetic justice if it weren’t for the actual innocent people that were murdered by him.” Ireland screenshotted the tweet and posted it on her Instagram Story. “Yup …I’m going to go ahead and take that Instagram break. I am ashamed to breathe the same air as this woman,” Alec’s daughter wrote. Earlier today, Ireland told her followers she’d be taking a break from social media following the tragic incident where her father accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. @halynahutchins/Instagram “Be a republican. Be unvaccinated. I don’t give a fu-k. There are plenty of republican values that I support and plenty of liberal ones that I support as well … But one fu-king thing I find myself doing is being respectful. But we aren’t debating masks and vaccines and abortions and trans rights here.” “A woman’s life was lost. Your tweets, lack of information, and ignorance are hurting people. You … don’t have a clue what you’re even talking about and you usually never do.” Ireland then urged anyone who disagreed with her to unfollow her. “Hit that unfollow button if you’re trying to defame my father and tweet such horrific statements about this tragic situation. It breaks my heart that people are so hatefully ignorant. As Radar previously reported, sources say Baldwin fled from New Mexico to the Hamptons. He is currently holed up inside his vacation home with his wife and children. “There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother, and deeply admired colleague of ours,” he said in his first statement following the incident. Alec Baldwin: Previously on Towleroad Alec Baldwin’s Daughter Ireland Rips ‘Cancerous’ Candace Owens As ‘Disgusting, Hateful’ Human Being After Shooting Remarks Towleroad October 27, 2021 Read More Alec Baldwin’s Prop Gun That Killed A Cinematographer Allegedly Used For ‘Target Practice’ With Real Bullets By Crew Members Off Set Towleroad October 24, 2021 Read More Factbox-Five facts about Alec Baldwin: More Background On This Story Towleroad October 22, 2021 Read More Alec Baldwin shoots prop gun on movie set, killing cinematographer Towleroad October 22, 2021 Read More SNL Calls the Election for Biden and Harris, Sends ‘Macho Man’ Trump Packing: WATCH Andy Towle November 8, 2020 Read More Alec Baldwin’s Trump and Jim Carey’s Biden Face Off In Second ‘And Praise Jesus Final’ Debate on SNL: WATCH Kyler Geoffroy October 25, 2020 Read More View the full article

Patrick Lynch Published by Reuters New York City’s police union filed a lawsuit on Monday against a vaccine mandate for municipal workers ordered last week by Mayor Bill de Blasio. The mayor on Wednesday ordered all city employees to show proof of inoculation against COVID-19 or be placed on unpaid leave, drawing the union’s ire. The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York said on Twitter that it had filed a suit in the state Supreme Court. It asked the court for a temporary restraining order to halt the mandate while the suit remains pending. The union added on Twitter that there was “still no written, NYPD-specific policy guidance on how the mandate will be implemented.” The mayor set a deadline of 5 p.m. this coming Friday for employees to show proof of inoculation to a supervisor. Over 70% of all 160,000 New York City workers, including a similar percentage in the police department, have already received at least one dose, the mayor said. Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association representing the city’s 50,000 active and retired officers, said they should have the opportunity to choose whether to get the vaccine. De Blasio cited overtime and redeployments as contingency plans should a large contingent of those officers and other unvaccinated city workers refuse to comply with the mandate. Municipalities, school districts and other jurisdictions throughout the country are grappling with masking and vaccination requirements. The number of new COVID-19 cases has steadily declined in the United States since a surge caused by the Delta variant of the virus during the summer. De Blasio had said employees will no longer have the option to be regularly tested instead of getting the vaccine, but added the city will still grant medical and religious exemptions. New York City Police Union: Previously on Towleroad Vaccine requirements raised COVID-19 vaccination rates by 20 percentage points -White House Towleroad October 13, 2021 Read More Republican Govs Shell Game Pushes Regeneron Treatments, Maintains Fog Of Fear for Powerful COVID Vaccine Prevention JoNel Aleccia, Kaiser Health News August 26, 2021 Read More Possible HIV Treatment OK’d To expand Phase 1 Human Trials After Stopping HIV in Lab; Brian Bell August 18, 2021 Read More Moderna HIV Vaccine Phase 1 Human Trials to Start as Early as Next Week. Hope to Build on mRNA Learnings Brian Bell August 13, 2021 Read More San Francisco, New Orleans Put Bar and Gym Vaccine Mandates In Place to fight COVID Towleroad August 13, 2021 Read More FDA Authorizes Vaccine Boosters For 3% Organ Transplant (or Similar Weak Immune System; Moderna, Pfizer Only. J&J Fine Without Towleroad August 13, 2021 Read More View the full article

Texas Gov. Greg AbbottTexas Anti-Trans Sports Bill Signed Into Law Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 25, a heavily criticized bill, Monday prohibiting Texas trans students in K-12 schools from competing in school sports as their gender identity. Abbott’s signature will rewrite current policies held by the state’s school sports governing body, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) when the law goes into effect on Jan. 18, 2022. The UIL’s policy requires students to participate on teams that align with the gender designated on students’ birth certificates, but it also recognized birth certificates of students who legally changed their gender marker, giving trans students a path to gender-affirming athletic participation. HB 25 removes that path. The bill’s author, state Rep. Valoree Swanson, heralded the measure as a necessity to protect female participation in sports despite there being no evidence correlating trans athletic participation and diminished cisgender female achievement. It took three separate special sessions of state Congress, all called by Abbott, and circumventing the House Public Education Committee to bring the bill to a vote on the House floor. According to the Chicago Tribune, Rittenhouse faces two first-degree homicide charges and one charge of attempted first-degree reckless homicide after illegally open carrying an AR-15 and shooting three men during protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha. Rittenhouse pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self-defense. The term “victim” is usually prohibited in cases where defendants claim self-defense for its, as Schroeder put it, “loaded” connotation. But prosecutors argue that the terms Schroeder is allowing the defense team to use carry just as much weight. “The terms that I’m identifying here such as rioter, looter and arsonist are as loaded, if not more loaded, than the term victim,” said Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger. Despite allowing the terms use, Schroeder warned against Rittenhouse’s defense team using them outside of closing arguments and advised them that they could only be used then if evidence suggested the victims were involved in criminal activity during the protest. Texas Trans Previously on Towleroad Texas Trans Ban Is Law; Isiah Brown Sues for $24 Million; Twitter Suspends And Liz Cheney Busts Rep Jim Banks For Different Violations Brian Bell October 26, 2021 Read More Biden Recognizes National Coming Out Day, Condemns Against Anti-LGBTQ Bills and Again Calls For Passing Equality Act Brian Bell October 11, 2021 Read More First Transgender History Month Established in San Francisco; Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Memorialized Brian Bell September 1, 2021 Read More Virginia Transgender Man Sues Department of Corrections for Denial of Health Care; Top Surgery Denial Causing ‘Substantial Risk of Serious Harm’ Brian Bell August 27, 2021 Read More Tennessee Trans Bathroom Bill Alleged to Violate Title IX. Human Rights Campaign Sues on behalf of the the affected children. Brian Bell August 4, 2021 Read More West Virginia, Arkansas Laws That Restrict Trans Rights are Unconstitutional; and Courts Should Strike Down, says Justice Dept. Michael Goff June 19, 2021 Read More Photo courtesy of World Travel & Tourism Council/Creative Commons View the full article

Don Jr Goes Low. =Buck SlipDon Jr Goes Low Published by Radar Online Donald Trump Jr. is selling shirts mocking Alec Baldwin for accidentally shooting and killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust. According to Don Jr.’s Instagram and website, he is selling shirts that read “Guns don’t kill people, Alec Baldwin kills people” for $27.99. This is an insensitive reference to the tragedy that took place Thursday in which Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun on the set of his newest movie and ended up killing his crew member. MEGA The movie’s director, Joel Souza, was also hit when the weapon fired, and he is still receiving emergency care at a Santa Fe hospital, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department. This is just the latest stunt by Don Jr. regarding Baldwin and the tragedy that took place last week. Prior to making and selling shirts mocking the actor, Don Jr. started posting memes about the incident. In one that he posted to his social media, Homer Simpson is shown with a sign that reads: “Let’s all watch Alec Baldwin blame the gun.” In another, a picture of his father Donald Trump – who lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden – is standing behind a podium making finger guns with the caption: “Donald Trump, rehearsing for SNL skit where he plays Alec Baldwin.” This particular post is also accompanied by a comment from Don Jr. MEGA “For those who are out there doing the fake sanctimony about leaving Alec Baldwin alone let’s all remember that Alec Baldwin would be the first person pissing on everyone’s grave if the shoes were on the other foot,” Don Jr. said in the comments of his own post. “Screw him!” If you could not already tell, Don Jr. is still a bit upset at Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of his father on SNLleading up to and during the older Trump’s presidency. As Radar has been reporting, this is all happening only a few days after the tragedy took place in New Mexico last week. Baldwin is not only distraught over the accidental tragedy, but that he is even thinking about putting a pause to all of his current acting projects until he is able to properly grieve and process the incident. “There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother, and deeply admired colleague of ours,” Baldwin said in an official statement regarding the matter. “I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family.” MEGA Don Jr. Goes Low on Towleroad Julianna Margulies Plays Lesbian On ‘Morning Show’; ‘Can Understand Criticism’. Assures She Won’t Cross Race Line For Role. More Anne Heche Claims Her Brief Time Dating Ellen Made Her Cancel Culture ‘Patient Zero’. Um… Uh… More Sir Elton John still owns ‘most’ of his crazy spectacles More Wonder Woman’s 1st Trans Amazon; ‘Battlefield’s 1st Non-Binary Specialist; ‘Superman’ Colorist Quits Offended By New Motto. More Bitcoin becomes world’s 13th biggest currency More Rupert Everett sets cast for Lost and Found in Paris More U.N. warns world set for 2.7C rise on today’s emissions pledges More Sir Elton John is eager to spend more time with his family More Rising tide of leaks threatens to inundate with Facebook whistleblowers. More Tesla pulls its new Full Self-Driving beta due to software ‘issues’ More Climate scientists fear tipping points (maybe you should too) More Load More View the full article

=Buck SlipIt Felt Sort of OK Until She Brought Up RaceJuliannna Margulies plays lesbian on the Morning Show with Jennifer Aniston and it sure seems like she has played or read ‘lesbian” in the past, but it’s like a shared memory of the amazing Kalista on that show on ‘Good Wife’. — ed Published by BANG Showbiz English Julianna Margulies “can understand” the criticism she’s received for playing a gay character in ‘The Morning Show’. The 55-year-old actress plays Laura, a gay reporter, in the hit TV series – and she understands why her casting has annoyed some people, when she herself is not gay. Julianna – who has a 13-year-old son called Kieran with her husband Keith Lieberthal – explained: “I understand 100 percent that I can’t play a different race, but I am an actress and I am supposed to embody another character. Whatever their sexuality is doesn’t matter to me, the same way watching a gay person play a straight person [wouldn’t]. “Are you telling me that because I’m a mother, I can never play a woman who has never had a child? Or if you’ve never been married that you can never play a married woman?” Julianna acknowledged that it’s a difficult issue to resolve to everyone’s satisfaction. She told ‘CBS Mornings’: “You have to be careful on where you’re drawing the line there. We’re actors. We’re supposed to embody a character, regardless of their sexuality. “When it comes to race and gender, that’s a whole different story and I 100 percent agree with that. That’s my stance on it.” The actress also revealed that she can relate to her on-screen character in certain ways. She said: “It could be my age now, maybe, but you get to a place in your life, and I think the same thing happened with Laura, where you go, ‘This is who I am. Take it or leave it. I am not interested in pretending. I have no skeletons in my closet. I’m not hiding. I’m telling the truth, and if you don’t like it, then you’re not in my orbit.'” Julianna Margulies Plays Lesbian on Towleroad Anne Heche Claims Her Brief Time Dating Ellen Made Her Cancel Culture ‘Patient Zero’. Um… Uh… More Sir Elton John still owns ‘most’ of his crazy spectacles More Wonder Woman’s 1st Trans Amazon; ‘Battlefield’s 1st Non-Binary Specialist; ‘Superman’ Colorist Quits Offended By New Motto. More Bitcoin becomes world’s 13th biggest currency More Rupert Everett sets cast for Lost and Found in Paris More U.N. warns world set for 2.7C rise on today’s emissions pledges More Sir Elton John is eager to spend more time with his family More Rising tide of leaks threatens to inundate with Facebook whistleblowers. More Tesla pulls its new Full Self-Driving beta due to software ‘issues’ More Climate scientists fear tipping points (maybe you should too) More Harry Styles Helps Fan Come Out; ‘When I Raise This Flag, You’re Officially Out;’ Star Did A Gender Reveal, Texting Advice At Previous Shows More Load More View the full article

=Buck SlipUhh, Speechless. There were a few other things going on — ed Published by BANG Showbiz English Anne Heche claims she was “patient zero in cancel culture”. The 52-year-old actress insisted she was “blacklisted” by Hollywood after going public with her romance with Ellen DeGeneres in 1997 and as a result she feels she was the first person to lose her career as a result of her public statements. She told the New York Post newspaper’s Page Six column: “This wasn’t a long-term love affair. This was a moment in my life when I was given the glory of being able to stand up for what I believe in and have since I was a kid.” Anne previously admitted she was advised not to take Ellen – who she split from in 2000 – to the premiere of her movie ‘Volcano’, and she’s reflected on the tough repercussions of her decision to defy the advice for the sake of “living in loving-kindness”. She claimed: “I didn’t do a studio picture for 10 years. I was fired from a $10 million picture deal and did not see the light of day in a studio picture.” The ’13 minutes’ actress – who has son Homer, 19, with ex-husband Coleman Laffoon and Atlas, 12, with former partner James Tupper – hailed Harrison Ford her “hero” for standing by her when it seemed her proposed role ‘Six Day, Seven Nights’ was about to be axed as a result of her relationship with Ellen. Recalling how the 79-year-old star called her at home one morning, she remembered: “He said, ‘Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn who you’re sleeping with. We have a romantic comedy to make. Let’s make it the best one that’s ever happened.’ “That is why Harrison Ford is my hero. To stand behind me at such a time when the force of what I was standing up for could have been toppled.” But despite claiming her relationship derailed her career, Anne is “proud” she helped to instigate change. She said: “Those repercussions that happened, are to me what has created a part of the change. I’m a part of it. It is a badge of honor.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John still owns “most” of his crazy spectacles. The 74-year-old music legend is known for his extensive hoard of rock-star shades, having amassed thousands of bonkers glasses in all shapes and sizes over the past five decades, and he still has many of the ones he’s worn on stage, including his famous oversized star-shaped lenses. However, he finds it impossible to pick a favourite. Asked if he could name his most-loved pair, the ‘I’m Still Standing’ hitmaker told LADbible: “Not really because I’ve got so many I can choose whatever mood I’m in. I’m you know I’m very lucky to have so much to choose from.” Asked: “How many do you have?”, Elton replied: “Oh god I’m not sure I mean it’s in the thousands. It has to be yeah but I’ve been collecting them ever since 1970 when I started wearing the stars and all the crazy glasses I still have most of them.” As well as his impressive glasses collection, Elton also owns more than 100,000 CDs. The ‘Rocket Man’ star is an avid record collector and though his collection is huge, none of it has been placed into storage so he can always access whatever it is he wants to listen to. He admitted previously: “I have over 120,000 CDs and 15,000 pieces of vinyl. They are stored in my home shelves so I can access whatever I want, whenever I want… I definitely prefer LPs.” Meanwhile, Elton revealed he is health-conscious these days after abusing drugs and alcohol in the past – and his post-gig feast is less rock and roll than you’d expect. The rock icon – who recently underwent hip replacement surgery – tends to opt for “a handful of almonds and a glass of water” instead of a calorific slice of pizza, which he’d really like to chow down on. He said: “It’s very hard to eat after gigs because it’s very bad to eat that late at night so I might have a handful of almonds and a glass of water which is really boring where I’d love to have a pizza.” Check out the full interview on LADbible’s YouTube channel here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs4yTNfOrho. View the full article

=Buck SlipAnd that new Superman motto is: Truth, Justice, and A Better WorldWonder Woman wisely skips the motto thing. BiaBia, DC Comics’ First Trans Amazon DC Comics’ push for LGBTQ visibility in its comic book universe continued with the debut of Bia, the first out trans woman to join Wonder Woman’s community of Amazons. Making her debut in this week’s first issue of “Nubia & The Amazons,” Bia is among five women who join the denizens of Themiscyra, the homeland of Wonder Woman and her fellow Amazons, after passing through the Well of Souls. The emotional introduction sees Bia choosing her name, as is custom, while crying and remarking on her struggles to live open without difficulty in her pre-Amazon life. Superman Colorist Quits When Motto Changes from the long-used, “Truth, Justice and the American Way,” to “Truth, Justice and a Better World” DC Comics Colorist Gabe Eltaeb quit their job after hearing company is changing the the iconic Superman motto to “Truth, Justice and a Better World”, possibly carrying a slightly less xenophobic message, and signaling we’re no longer in a Cold War with USSR with from the long-used “Truth, Justice and the American Way.” As Gayming Magazine reports, Eltaeb, who was working on the upcoming “Superman” comic where Jon Kent comes out as bisexual, let loose a tirade against the comics giant and the industry during a livestream with prominent names in the Comicsgate movement. Note: Comicsgate is a movement, not an isolated scandal, a real force in the comic book world that predates Pizzagate. The participants in both do share a similar love for conspiracies and paranoia, as well as fighting to cancel the folks they claim are cancelling them for… Well…They think you’ll call them racist for suggesting that making superheroes trans or of color makes the stories boring. “I’m tired of this shit. I’m tired of them ruining these characters – they don’t have a right to do this,” Eltaeb began. Going on to say “fuck that”, referring to the motto change, calling it a “a bunch of fucking nonsense.” Eltaeb did note that he didn’t quit DC over Jon Kent’s bisexuality, though that’s something of a silly effort to split hairs while speaking from Comicsgate movement hat has been homophobic and transphobic for years. And in fact during that same livestream other participants told homophobic jokes about the Jon Kent character and other LGBTQ characters. Among those lovelies, “Graveyard Shift” creator Jon Malin equating LGBTQ people to pedophiles. A Bitter World in deed. Wonder Woman: Previously on Towleroad Wonder Woman’s 1st Trans Amazon; ‘Battlefield’s 1st Non-Binary Specialist; ‘Superman’ Colorist Quits Offended By New Motto. Brian Bell October 26, 2021 Read More Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane? No, It’s The First Bisexual Superman Towleroad October 11, 2021 Read More World of Batman Now Even More Queer; Longtime Robin Comes Out as Questioning in DC Comics Anthology Series Brian Bell August 11, 2021 Read More Pride Month Gay Comics Roundup: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Many Others Celebrate Their LGBTQ Characters, Creators Brian Bell June 16, 2021 Read More Brazil’s Largest Newspaper Publishes Massive ‘Avengers’ Gay Kiss in Defiance of Rio Mayor Andy Towle September 9, 2019 Read More Rio De Janeiro Authorities Ban ‘Avengers’ Comic Book Series Over Gay Kiss Andy Towle September 7, 2019 Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Bitcoin is now the 13th biggest country in the world after overtaking the Swiss Franc The digital cryptocurrency – which can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer network without the need of a central bank – experienced a surge this week, shooting up to $66,000 and according to experts, it shows no signs of stopping. Some analysts have predicted that with several more bitcoin ETFs expected to be approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the latter months of 2021 could be “parabolic” for the market of cryptocurrency. David Wachsman, CEO of emerging tech consultancy firm Wachsman, told The Independent newspaper: “The market cap of bitcoin has surpassed the trillion dollar mark, an element that indicates that the parabolic rise of bitcoin is continuing. “This could suggest a further consolidation over the next months with a number of additional bitcoin futures ETFs in the US due to be approved over the coming weeks.” He went on to claim that the concept of cryptocurrency is no longer the niche market it once was. He added: “While futures ETFs can be complex financial products for retail investors to leverage, there can be no doubt that the launches are a significant sign of how the asset class has gone mainstream. It is clear that crypto assets are no longer a niche market, with a broad range of participants including retail, institutions and corporates accelerating their involvement in the market.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Rupert Everett has cast Kit Clarke, John Malkovich and Kristin Scott Thomas in the autobiographical film ‘Lost and Found in Paris’. The 62-year-old star will explore the hedonism, seduction and intrigue of the French capital in the 1970s and is set to direct from his self-penned screenplay based on his own real-life experiences. Kit will star as Rupert’s younger self – an unruly teenager sent by his exasperated parents to live with a Parisian socialite family to learn French and grow up. The ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ star will also have a supporting role in his own movie. The flick follows Rupert as a 17-year-old art student in Paris in 1977. He is seduced into the hedonistic world of rival fashion designers Gary Saint Lazare (Everett) and Wim Waldemar (Malkovich) in the dying days of disco. Lost in an unforgettable era, Rupert has a sexual awakening and experiences a dark first love. Only when tragedy strikes does he realise that some loyalties don’t last forever. The film is being produced by Jeremy Thomas at Recorded Picture Company and is set to start production in spring 2022. The movie will also feature a soundtrack filled with some of the greatest hits from the disco and punk era. Everett said: “‘Lost and Found in Paris’ is a film about the rollercoaster of life, the exuberance and glamour of youth, seen through the lens of a life well-lived. “I went to Paris on an exchange trip in 1977. I was supposed to learn French. Instead I discovered fashion, disco, drugs, rent boys and finally – right at the edge of the abyss – myself.” Kristin added: “I’ve known Rupert since his incredible screen debut in ‘Another Country’, and his multifaceted talents and personal story makes ‘Lost and Found in Paris’ an unusual blend of comedy with true-life adventure.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nina Chestney LONDON (Reuters) – Current commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions put the planet on track for an average 2.7 degrees Celsius temperature rise this century, a United Nations report said on Tuesday, in another stark warning ahead of crunch climate talks https://www.reuters.com/business/cop. Governments will be in the spotlight at the COP26 conference next week to meet a deadline of this year to commit to more ambitious cut pledges, in what could be the last chance to put the world on track to limiting warming to below 2C above pre-industrial levels and ideally to 1.5C. As extreme weather events ranging from wildfires to floods have hit countries around the world, a U.N. report in August warned that global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions could breach 1.5C in the next two decades. But British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday it was “touch and go” whether the most important round of U.N. talks since the Paris Agreement in 2015 will secure the agreements needed to tackle climate change. And the U.N. World Meteorological Organization said ahead of the two-week event which begins in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday that greenhouse gas concentrations hit a record last year and the world is “way off track” in capping rising temperatures. The annual “emissions gap” report by the United Nations’ Environment Programme (UNEP), which measures the gap between anticipated emissions and those consistent with limiting the temperature rise this century as agreed in the Paris accord, said updated pledges only reduce forecast 2030 emissions by an additional 7.5%, compared to the previous commitments. If continued throughout this century, this would lead to warming of 2.7C, slightly less than the 3C UNEP forecast in its last report. A 30% cut is needed to limit warming to 2C and a 55% cut is needed to limit to 1.5C. It said current commitments to net zero could limit warming to around 2.2C by the end of the century, but 2030 pledges so far do not put major emitters on a clear path to this. WAKE-UP CALL Latest U.N. data shows 143 countries, accounting for around 57% of global emissions, have submitted new or updated emissions cut plans ahead of COP26 and their total emissions are estimated to be around 9% of 2010 levels by 2030 if implemented fully. But if all pledges by 192 countries under the Paris Agreement are taken together, an increase of around 16% in global emissions is expected by 2030 compared to 2010, which would lead to warming of around 2.7C. “This report is another thundering wake-up call. How many do we need? The emissions gap is the result of a leadership gap,” U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres told a press briefing. China and India, which are together responsible for around 30% of global emissions, have not yet made enhanced pledges. “The era of half measures and hollow promises must end. The time for closing the leadership gap must begin in Glasgow.” By 2030, to reach the 1.5C limit, annual greenhouse gas emissions need to fall by an extra 28 gigatonnes (Gt) of CO2 equivalent, or be halved from current levels of nearly 60 Gt, over and above what is promised in updated pledges and other 2030 commitments, the report said. For the 2C limit, an additional 13 Gt cut in annual emissions is needed by 2030. “We have eight years to make the plans, put in place the policies, implement them and ultimately deliver the cuts,” UNEP executive director Inger Andersen said. “The clock is ticking loudly.” (Reporting by Nina Chestney; Editing by Alexander Smith) View the full article