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Published by OK Magazine mega Andy Cohen is being called out by pal Kelly Ripa for sending her a NSFW photo — at work! Recalling the hilarious situation on the Wednesday, May 31, episode of her podcast, “Let’s Talk Off Camera,” featuring Cohen as a guest, Ripa revealed: “So, my work iPad is open and I’m sitting here reading through my notes and [“Live” Executive Producer Michael Gelman] is over my shoulder trying to show me something.” mega “And suddenly a completely erect penis pops up,” the Live With Kelly and Mark host remembered. “Let’s call him Bobby,” continued the 52-year-old. “It just says, ‘Bobby’s c**k,’ and it’s, like, a text from Andy Cohen, ‘Bobby’s c**k.’” Offering more background information on the incident, the Bravo boss explained he was planning to have a “sex romp” with a straight, Boston-based couple — which ultimately led to him receiving a photos of “Bobby’s” manhood. The Watch What Happens Live host revealed he never sealed the deal on the threesome, news Ripa was pleased to hear. “Mark and I get very nervous with this stuff on your behalf,” Ripa admitted to her pal. “I’m constantly convinced that it’s going to be a couple of serial killers.” The 52-year-old continued: “I’ve had this discussion with you many times, where I’m so afraid for your life.” Ryan Seacrest Jokes He ‘Got Out’ in the ‘Nick of Time’ After Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos’ Rough Start as Cohosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Humiliate Their Kids on-Air by Pretending to French Kiss: ‘It Disgusts Them’ Ryan Seacrest ‘Confident’ He Can Host His Own Talk Show After Exiting ‘Live!’: Source mega Ripa and Cohen’s frank conversation included The Daddy Diaries author’s admission about how his life has changed since becoming a single dad to son Benjamin, 4, and daughter Lucy, 1. “I miss sleeping and I miss walking around naked and I miss being the only one in my house. And did I say freedom? I do miss the freedom,” Cohen told Ripa, making it clear that he doesn’t “question” his decision to have children “for a second.” Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! “I often think to myself, ‘Well, what would I be doing if I didn’t have kids?’ And I think, ‘Well, I would be masturbating and getting high,’” he quipped. “I still masturbate and get high plenty with kids.” Cohen concluded: “So maybe I’m not missing that much.” Page Six reported on Ripa and Cohen’s NSFW conversation. View the full article

Published by GB News Eddie Izzard has confirmed her name change to “Suzy” but doesn’t mind she, her, he or him and will remain Eddie in public. Izzard has used she/her pronouns since 2020, although she admits she “doesn’t mind” when people say he/him. The aspiring MP previously said people can choose which name they wish to address her by. In a post on social media, the comedian explained that “no one can really get it wrong” as she cleared up her preferred name and pronouns months after formally announcing the change. She has been openly trans since 1985 and in 2020 announced she wanted to be “based in girl mode … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lady Gaga uses make-up as a “self-care” mechanism. The 36-year-old pop star is known for having sported a range of diverse looks and costumes throughout her career and explained that her earliest memories of fashion come from her mother, who made her realise that looking “glamorous” could benefit her mental health. She told Grazia magazine: “My earliest memories of make-up centre on my mother. Watching her transform and get ready for work was so special, I watched her become this superhuman being. ” My mother used to say to me, ‘Take care of yourself. You have to look glamorous. It’s not all about how you look – I’ve worn a lot of make-up before and still felt awful on the inside. “But for me, make-up is self-care; sometimes it really lifts my spirits and it has helped me with my mental health a lot throughout my life.” The ‘Bad Romance’ hitmaker has now launched her HausLabs brand in the UK and the US-born superstar went on to add how much she has enjoyed bringing the line to Britain because of her admiration for the country’s beauty culture. She added: “I’m known for wearing make-up, I’m known for being expressive. Well, now I don’t just wear make-up, I make make-up. I’m part of the process in a big way.’ “I love the UK and it’s no secret that I love the fashion. People talk about Paris and Milan, but British fashion has influenced me the most throughout my career, there’s this relationship between fashion, art and beauty that’s subversive and interesting, particularly when it comes to women’s gender performance – it’s unique. “I’ve come to the UK with music and performances, but this year I’m coming with make-up.” View the full article

Published by Raw Story Glamour UK’s latest Pride issue has marked a historic milestone by featuring a pregnant transgender man on its cover, a move aiming to spotlight the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. The individual, Logan Brown, 27, breaks barriers and challenges the traditional perceptions of pregnancy. Brown is the first pregnant trans man ever to grace the cover of the esteemed magazine. “I am a transgender pregnant man and I do exist, so no matter what anybody says, I literally am living proof,” Brown told Glamour. His personal journey, as detailed in the issue, offers a unique perspective o… Read More View the full article

Published by Fenland Citizen FILM REVIEW: SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDERVERSE (PG), SEEN AT THE LIGHT CINEMA, WISBECH VOICE CAST: Shameik Moore (Miles Morales), Hailee Steinfield (Gwen Stacey), Oscar Isaac (Miguel O’Hara), Jake Johnson (Peter B.Parker) RUNNING TIME: 2 hours. 20 minutes DIRECTORS: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson Hands up, this wasn’t a film I was particularly excited about seeing. My son Alfie is a huge Marvel fan, and although I’ve enjoyed watching nearly all those cinematic universe blockbusters with him over the last few years, I really didn’t believe an animated/CGI film was my bag. … Read More View the full article

Published by Global Voices Sex workers from OTRAS lead a march in Spain celebrating LGTBIQ workers’ rights. Image credit: OTRAS, used with permission. Throughout the world, being a sex worker is often equated with being vulnerable, but today sex workers are building movements to strengthen their rights, making steady progress that can be recognised today, International Sex Workers’ Day. In Latin America, 14 countries have made sex work legal while criminalizing the management and organizing of sex work, while others have made local laws that criminalize sex work. But even in countries where it is legalized, labor rights… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA Transgender Caitlyn Jenner has been speaking her mind nonstop about fellow trans athletes competing in competitions in hopes it will help her political ambitions, RadarOnline.com has learned. Sources close to the situation revealed that Caitlyn, who failed spectacularly in her 2021 run for California governor, has an ulterior motive for speaking out on the hot-button issue. MEGA “Caitlyn may not have succeeded in the governor’s race, but she hasn’t given up on a career in politics,” said the insider. “She knows this is a winning issue with conservatives and she has consistently put herself out there as the conservative voice of reason on trans matters. She’s trying to capitalize again.” MEGA Earlier this month, Caitlyn publicly criticized a trans teen who finished 2nd in a California track and field competition. Athena Ryan, a transgender woman, won the silver prize in a varsity girls’ event at the North Coast Meet of Champions of California finals. Caitlyn Jenner’s Beloved Mom Esther Passes Away At 96 Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner Piling on Weight by Overeating: Sources Conservative Caitlyn Jenner Accuses ‘Trans’ Community Of ‘Destroying The Family Unit’ MEGA Caitlyn took issue with Athena being named the winner and kicking out another athlete named Adeline Johnson. “As ‘somewhat’ of a track star myself and a trans person, THIS IS WRONG!!! HELP ME PUSH BACK!” Caitlyn wrote. “And FYA trans ppl you are being used by the radical gender ideology cult as political pawns. That’s all you are to them,” she added. MEGA The month prior, Caitlyn attacked trans influencer, Dylan Mulvaney. He called her “fringe” and “not good” for the LGBT movement. “I have never spoken to her, nor will I,” Jenner told The New York Post. “I try to be, for the LGBT community, the adult in the room. She is not. She is bouncing around all over the place. I have nothing in common with her,” he said.“The fringe is the worst thing that can happen to the trans community and the media only wants to report on that because of the sensationalization of it and honestly that’s got to stop.” Last year, Caitlyn called out Dylan after the influencer tried to “normalize the bulge” for trans women. “Dylan …congrats you’re trans with a penis,” Caitlyn tweeted. Sources say Caitlyn hopes her appearances on Fox News and other conservative networks will increase her chances if she decided to run again. View the full article

Published by AFP Elon Musk pegged an anti-transgender video atop his Twitter page after saying on the platform that while some of it might be 'rude' it is allowed on the platform San Francisco (AFP) – Twitter’s head of trust and safety on Friday confirmed she had quit the company, her departure coming after owner Elon Musk endorsed an anti-transgender video shared on the platform. “I know there’s been a lot of speculation regarding what happened,” read a post on Ella Irwin’s Twitter account late Friday, a day after her resignation was reported in US media. “I did resign but this has been a once in a lifetime experience,” she added, without revealing any reason for suddenly leaving her job at Twitter. Irwin is the second head of trust and safety to quit Twitter since eccentric billionaire Musk bought the platform and reduced content moderation to essentially permit anything allowed by law. Since taking over Twitter in late October, Musk has repeatedly courted controversy, sacking most of its staff, readmitting banned accounts to the platform, suspending journalists and charging for previously free services. Musk said during a CNBC interview in May that he will continue to tweet his unfiltered thoughts even if it hurts his businesses. “I don’t care,” the billionaire said when asked what he thought of his controversial tweets making it harder to sell ads on Twitter or hurting the share price of Tesla, his electric vehicle manufacturing business. “I’ll say what I want to say and if the consequence of that is losing money, so be it.” Irwin’s departure came as Twitter was under pressure by backers of an anti-transgender video called “What Is A Woman” who claimed Twitter went back on a deal to distribute the content free on the platform. Backers of the video contended the video was being suppressed at Twitter for not using people’s chosen pronouns when it came to gender identification. Musk said in a Twitter exchange with the conservative outlet behind the video that people had made a mistake and the video, while possibly “rude,” was not against the law. A post for the video reading “Every parent should watch this” was pegged to the top of Musk’s Twitter account as of late Friday. At least one other high level Twitter executive left after the incident, according to US media reports. The controversy comes just weeks before respected media and advertising executive Linda Yaccarino is to replace Musk as Twitter’s chief executive. Moves made by Musk have spooked advertisers, many of whom left the platform due to concerns over their products being associated with troubling content. Since Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion, its value has plummeted with the return of far-right figures and loss of trust by users. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) – Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Friday signed a bill that bans transgender healthcare including puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors, making Texas the largest of the 20 states to have outlawed gender-affirming care. Republican lawmakers across the country have promoted similar bills, saying they mistrust the consensus among major medical associations that endorse gender-affirming care as needed and even life-saving for trans youth after extensive evaluation. Texas, the second most-populous U.S. state, has an estimated 29,800 transgender youth aged 13 to 17, according to the Williams Institute of UCLA. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have pledged to fight the law in court, as they have similar legislation in other states. “They (Texas lawmakers) are hellbent on joining the growing roster of states determined to jeopardize the health and lives of transgender youth, in direct opposition to the overwhelming body of scientific and medical evidence,” the ACLU said in a statement when the bill passed the legislature. The Texas law creates exceptions for minors who began treatment before June 1 or for those who attended 12 or more sessions of mental health counseling or psychotherapy for at least six months. But those patients “shall wean off the prescription drug over a period of time,” the law says. Backers of such laws say government must intervene against the wishes of parents and doctors because they fear it will cause irreparable harm and say children are incapable of acceding to such decisions. Groups including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics oppose the legislation. Republicans introduced more than 500 bills affecting LGBTQ people in 2023, with more than 50 passing, according to the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ rights group. Those numbers are up from 315 bills introduced and 29 passed in 2022. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) View the full article

Published by AlterNet The Target company’s capitulation to homophobes and transphobes is a testament to the dangers of relying on corporations to uphold social justice. Just days before the start of June, celebrated around the country and world as “Pride month,” Target corporation decided that proudly allying with the LGBTQIA+ community by selling Pride-themed merchandise was not worth the alienation of bigots. Facing rightwing violence and what it called “volatile circumstances,” the company pulled some of its rainbow-festooned products and moved pride-related displays to the back of stores in some locations. This… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story Business magnate Elon Musk has recently stirred controversy by sharing anti-trans content on his Twitter account. Known for his outspoken and often divisive social media presence, Musk’s posts have sparked heated debates and backlash from groups advocating for transgender rights. Musk came under fire from conservatives after Twitter reduced the distribution of a conservative film produced by The Daily Wire “that urges intolerance of trans people and opposes medical intervention for trans children,” according to Business Insider. The film by The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh had its visibility cut af… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A federal judge has ruled that Tennessee’s law restricting drag performances in public or where children were present was unconstitutional, striking a blow to efforts in U.S. states to regulate LGBTQ conduct. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in February had signed the bill passed by the state’s assembly that aimed to restrict drag performances, putting the state at the forefront of a Republican-led effort to limit drag in at least 15 states in recent months. U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker, an appointee of former Republican President Donald Trump, ruled late on Friday that the law was “both unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad.” The First Amendment to the Constitution commands that laws infringing on freedom of speech must be narrow and well defined, Parker said in the 70-page ruling. “Simply put, no majority of the Supreme Court has held that sexually explicit — but not obscene — speech receives less protection than political, artistic, or scientific speech,” Parker said in the ruling. Under the law, offenders could face fines and up to a year in prison and repeat offenders could have faced prison sentences of up to six years. Ahead of the 2024 elections, Republican lawmakers across the country have introduced more than 500 bills this year regulating the conduct of gay and transgender people, ranging from what can be taught in schools to bathroom use and medical care. At least 48 of those have passed, according to the Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group. Parker had temporarily blocked the law on March 31, just before it was set to go into effect, siding with Friends of George’s, a Memphis-based LGBTQ theater group that filed suit against the state. GLAAD, an LGBTQ advocacy group, praised Parker’s decision. “This ruling is a turning point and we will not go back,” GLAAD said in a release. “Every anti-LGBTQ elected official is on notice that these baseless laws will not stand and that our constitutional freedom of speech and expression protects everyone and propels our culture forward,” the group said. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Additional reporting by Eric Beech and Jonathan Allen; Editing by Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by DPA Participants of the Riga Pride parade with a huge rainbow flag through the city center. Alexander Welscher/dpa Thousands of people celebrated Pride on the streets of Riga on Saturday, only partially disrupted by isolated counter-protests. The mostly young participants of the “Riga Pride” parade waved rainbow flags and held signs demanding more tolerance and equal rights for lesbian, gay, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. The two-hour street parade with the slogan “We are all Latvia” was the highlight of the Riga Pride festival, which runs over several weeks. Being queer is often still taboo in the Baltic country, where same-sex marriage is not yet legal. The parade’s organizers estimated the number of participants at over 5,000. The colourful march through Riga’s city centre was secured by numerous police officers. Unlike at previous events, there were no notable incidents. “This was the most spectacular march Riga has seen so far,” co-organizer Kaspars Zalitis told Latvian radio. “Latvian society has become much more open and inclusive.” In this year’s Rainbow Europe ranking by the organization ILGA Europe, Latvia landed in 37th place. The legal status for LGBTQ people within the European Union was thus only worse for queer people in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. The Latvian LGBTQ community hopes that the recent election of Edgars Rinkēvičs as president will result in progress and more acceptance amongst society. Rinkēvičs came out as gay in 2014, but just like many of Latvia’s other top politicians, did not attend Saturday’s parade. Participants of the Riga Pride parade with a huge rainbow flag through the city center. Alexander Welscher/dpa View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Taylor Swift kicked off her first of three shows in Chicago on Friday, delivering a special speech for her LGBTQ fans. In a touching show of allyship and support for the “incredible individuals who are living authentically and beautifully,” the pop superstar — who’s currently in the middle of her sold-out “The Eras Tour” — took some time to celebrate Pride Month, telling LGBTQ Swifties that “this is a safe space for you.” “First things first, Happy Pride Month, everyone,” the singer said, referring to her LGBTQ fans as “the most stunning, beautiful, brilliant crowds of people who are living th… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Chick-fil-A is an American fast food brand beloved for its fried chicken sandwiches and milkshakes Washington (AFP) – The “Lord’s chicken” no more: US fast food chain Chick-fil-A — beloved among Americans for its sandwiches, nuggets and milkshakes — found itself on the receiving end of right-wing ire this week, accused of succumbing to “woke” ideology. After conservative customers realized the company employs a “diversity, equity and inclusion” representative, it has joined the ranks of other seemingly innocuous brands now facing calls for boycotts, such as mega supermarket Target and Bud Light beer. Until recently, conservatives had seen the restaurant as one of their own, with its website explaining that its locations are closed on Sundays so the Baptist founder “and his employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they choose.” And in 2012, it was progressives who spurned Chick-fil-A’s offerings for supporting anti-gay marriage efforts. But the tables have turned, as right-wing influencers complain on social media about a statement from its vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion who says the company is committed “to ensuring mutual respect, understanding and dignity everywhere we do business.” Though that position has already been filled for a few years, angry social media commentators seem to have only just noticed this week. “Disappointing. Et tu Chick-fil-A?” asked former Trump-era Justice Department official Jeff Clark on Twitter, quoting Julius Caesar’s realization in Latin that his friend Brutus was among his killers. And contributor to conservative organization Turning Point USA, Morgonn McMichael, accused the chain in a viral video of deciding to “bow down to the woke lords.” “Chick-fil-A you are no longer the Lord’s chicken. You’re actually the woke chicken, and I’m really upset about it as a Christian woman,” she says. McMichael and her friend then complain about having to visit a rival chain instead — even though they do not seem as enthused about the fried poultry options at the new place. McMichael later claimed the video “was only about 30 percent serious.” ‘Toxic’ Chick-fil-A is only the latest US company to take center stage in the “culture wars” — the often sudden and intense controversies over issues like LGBTQ rights, guns and education, many of which involve everyday aspects of American life. Giant supermarket chain Target last week announced it would remove some LGBTQ pride merchandise from its shelves after receiving intense backlash from conservative media personalities — and even facing threats against employees. The company had launched a line of items marking June’s LGBTQ Pride Month, including rainbow-adorned T-shirts, party decorations and cooking supplies. Earlier this year, it was iconic American beer Bud Light in the anti-woke spotlight, for partnering with a popular transgender social media influencer. Many social media users now say they’ve totally given up the brand, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, has vowed to never drink Bud Light again, loathe to support anything “woke” — a somewhat amorphous term used by conservatives to describe progressive cultural values. The slogan “Go woke, go broke” has circulated on social media to encourage such boycotts. “The goal is to make ‘pride’ toxic for brands,” conservative commentator Matt Walsh said on Twitter. “If they decide to shove this garbage in our face, they should know that they’ll pay a price. It won’t be worth whatever they think they’ll gain,” he added. “First Bud Light and now Target. Our campaign is making progress. Let’s keep it going. With the 2024 election campaign looming, the culture wars don’t seem poised to run out of steam any time soon, and their next targets may be just as unpredictable as their last. “If you would’ve told me a year ago that a meal of Chick-fil-A washed down by Bud Light would trigger the (conservatives) I would’ve asked what you were smoking,” independent journalist Aaron Rupar observed. View the full article

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer Drag queens Brittany Lynn and Morgan Wells read Giraffes Can’t Dance, a book promoting self-acceptance, to children in front of Independence Hall in a new Pride Month public service announcement encouraging LGBTQ+ travelers to book a trip to the city. Visit Philadelphia unveiled the 30-second clip on Friday. Starting next week, the ad will air on CBS stations in the Philly and New York markets for the rest of the month. The $250,000 Pride Month campaign comes two decades after city tourism officials first reached out to gay and lesbian travelers nationwide with the “Get your history straight a… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Elliot Page says he was told by an A-list actor: “I’m going to f*** you to make you realise you aren’t gay.” The 36-year-old ‘Juno’ star – formerly known as Ellen Page and who came out as homosexual in February 2014 before his gender transition in December 2020 – said the incident happened after he first publicly opened up about his sexuality. He revealed in his new memoir ‘Pageboy’ the incident with the unnamed actor happened at a party in Los Angeles in 2014, and he said that as well as telling him: “I’m going to f*** you to make you realise you aren’t gay”, the actor also said: “You aren’t gay. That doesn’t exist. You are just afraid of men.” Elliot included the story in a chapter of his book called ‘Famous A–hole at Party’, in which he only refers to the actor as an “acquaintance”. He added in the book that when he ran into the actor again at a gym a few days after the exchange, they insisted: “I don’t have a problem with gay people, I swear.” The actor said he told him: “I think you might.” Elliot added to People he “purposely” did not name the actor, who will “hear about this and know it’s him”. He said: “These moments that we often, like, don’t talk about or we’re supposed to just brush off, when actually it’s very awful.” Elliot also reveals in his book he had a secret relationship with a closeted female co-star, referred to as ‘Ryan’ in the autobiography, as well as an alleged romance with Kate Mara, 40, while she was dating Max Minghella, 37. Kate and Max split in 2014 after four years of dating and she is now married to actor Jamie Bell, 37, with whom she shares two children. Elliot said in the book: “This was right after I’d come out as gay and it was a time of exploration and also heartbreak. “I think my relationship, or whatever you want to call it with Kate, very much encapsulates a certain dynamic that I consistently found myself in, which was falling for people that – I think a lot of us do this – who aren’t fully available. And the sort of safety in that and the highs and the lows and the serotonin bump, and then it goes away.” View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) Thousands of Israelis joined Jerusalem’s Pride parade on Thursday, a high-security event in the conservative city where critics of LGBTQ rights held a counter-demonstration nearby. It’s the first time that the annual event is being held under the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His government includes multiple cabinet members who have expressed homophobic views in the past. Participants painted their faces, waved rainbow flags and carried balloons. The march in the conservative city is always tense and tightly secured by police, and has been wracked by violence in t… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The World Bank’s new president Ajay Banga on Friday asked the lender’s 16,000 staff to “double down” on development and climate efforts as he seeks to accelerate the bank’s evolution to tackle the most pressing global problems. On his first day in the job, the former Mastercard CEO told staff in a memo seen by Reuters that he would seek to recruit each of them to work towards his vision “to create a world free from poverty on a livable planet.” “Making good on our ambition will require us to evolve to maximize resources and write a new playbook, to think creatively, take informed risks and forge new partnerships with civil society and multilateral institutions,” Banga wrote. He also said the bank needed to become more efficient, slashing the approval time for financing projects, which can now take up to three years. “The process is overly elaborate and subject to multiple review mechanisms that not only cost valuable years but erode staff ambition,” he said, adding to a “trust deficit” among developing countries. Banga on Thursday met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who urged him to “get the most out of the bank’s balance sheet” and mobilize more private capital, the Treasury said. Yellen last year began pressing the World Bank and other multilateral lenders to revamp their business models and dramatically scale up lending resources to address climate change, pandemics, food security and other global crises. This would move the development lenders beyond the country-specific project loans they have pursued for decades, though she has demanded they maintain their core mission to reduce poverty. In his memo, which incorporated his statement to the World Bank Executive Board during an April 1 job interview, Banga said annual investments of trillions of dollars were needed to arrest the forces of climate change and fragility, while building up human capital and fighting inequality in health, education, and financial access. “We are at a critical moment in the arc of humanity and the planet. The World Bank Group is being asked to lead the way, to double down on development and climate efforts and to deliver even more impact and results,” he said. He added this would require “all shoulders to the wheel,” and all of the World Bank’s divisions working together to deliver solutions needed by the world. Banga, 63, was elected to a five-year term as World Bank president by the lender’s board of governors in May. Nominated by U.S. President Joe Biden, the Indian-born finance and development expert was the sole contender for the job. CLIMATE DEMANDS He takes over from David Malpass, who came under criticism last year after remarks that raised questions about his personal views on global warming despite doubling the bank’s climate finance during his tenure to $32 billion last year. Climate and development groups welcomed Banga and began presenting demands, including that the bank fully withdraw from financing fossil fuel projects and take stronger action to cancel the debts of poor countries. Kevin Gallagher, director of Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center, said Banga will first need to restore staff morale at the bank and quickly implement balance sheet reforms to squeeze more lending from existing resources. “On his watch, the world has to deliver on the sustainable development goals and a big tranche of the Paris climate commitments. There’s just no way he can do it without a capital increase and a major increase in resources.” (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by David Holmes and Hugh Lawson) View the full article

Published by AFP A bill making its way through the California state legislature would mandate that internet giants pay news agencies monthly 'journalism usage fees' based on viewing of stories via their platforms San Francisco (AFP) – A proposed law requiring internet giants to pay for news stories moved forward in California on Friday, despite Facebook owner Meta threatening to pull news from its platform if it passes. The California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA), which cleared the state assembly on Thursday and was in the hands of the state senate, would mandate that large online platforms pay a monthly “journalism usage fee” to news providers whose work appears on their services. The bill is designed to support local news organizations, which have been decimated in recent years as ad revenue bled away to Google and Facebook, both advertising behemoths. Meta spokesman Andy Stone on Friday told AFP that if the bill becomes law, Meta “will be forced to remove news from Facebook and Instagram rather than pay into a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies.” The bill has to make its way through the state senate and be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom to become law. The CJPA is like other legislative texts pending across the globe. In Australia, Facebook in 2021 briefly blocked news articles over a similar law and Google threatened to pull its search engine from the country before they made deals to pay several media groups. In the European Union, tech giants can be asked to pay a copyright fee to publishers for links posted in search results or feeds. “The CJPA is riddled with holes, the biggest of which is that the bill primarily funds national media outlets that spread misinformation,” said Chamber of Progress chief executive Adam Kovacevich. “It’s sad the Assembly is passing the buck to the Senate rather than fixing the bill’s problems.” The chamber is a trade group with a list of partners that includes Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta. A study posted by the chamber concluded that “disinformation outlets” including Fox News would benefit most from the California law. The bill defines online platforms as those having at least 50 million monthly active users in the United States; a billion monthly users worldwide, or be valued at more than $550 billion based on its stock price. Money for reporters? Fees paid would be based on the number of views and news providers would be required to spend it on journalism and support staff, according to the text of the bill. Stone noted that the wording of the bill means revenue from the law would not have to be spent on reporters covering news. The California state assembly website indicated the bill was sent to a senate committee responsible for scheduling debates and votes on legislation, with no indication of when it would go to a vote. “Meta’s threat to take down news is undemocratic and unbecoming,” trade group News Media Alliance said in a posted statement. “We have seen this in their playbook before.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month slammed Meta after executives said it would block news for Canadian Facebook and Instagram users in response to the proposed law there. The Canada law builds on Australia’s New Media Bargaining Code, which was a world first, aimed at making Google and Meta pay for news content on their platforms. View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — The onePULSE Foundation is scaling down plans for a museum and memorial as it tries to move past losing control of the former nightclub property. Deborah Bowie, executive director of the foundation, said the organization has narrowed down a few options for a future memorial and is currently working toward converting the 47,000-square-foot industrial building it owns in Orlando’s SoDo neighborhood into a new museum. “The reality is, if the organization is committed to being a change maker in the space — meaning connecting people in the conversation to lead to change and setting … Read More View the full article

Published by AFP The sun lines up between rows of skyscrapers in Manhattan on the evening of May 30, 2023 New York (AFP) – Snapping pictures with cell phones, hundreds of New Yorkers and tourists gathered in the streets to watch the sun set in perfect alignment between rows of the skyscrapers for which the city is famous. Right on schedule at 8:12 pm on Tuesday evening, the flaming orange ball could be seen perfectly framed by Manhattan’s canyons of tall buildings on streets running east-west, such as 42nd Street, which runs through Times Square. This spectacle happens four times a year for two days, about three to four weeks before and after the summer and winter solstices. It has come to be known as “Manhattanhenge” after Stonehenge, the ancient monument in southern England where the sun also lines up perfectly during the solstices — the moments when the sun appears to reach either its highest or lowest point in the sky. “It’s a beautiful event. And it’s some totally New York moment to do,” said Jeanette Wolfson, a 47-year-old science teacher from Long Island who came into the city to take pictures for her students. She said she would remind them that “it’s not the sun actually setting. It is the Earth rotating out of the light into the darkness.” The event lures photographers with fancy lenses and regular New Yorkers and tourists who do not hesitate to stand in the streets for a few minutes, blocking traffic. Patrick Batchelder, a 59-year-old photographer, said that what matters is sharing the special moment with others. “The picture itself is not so important, just being around the crowd and seeing something unique in New York City,” he said. The city’s American Museum of Natural History recommends viewing the phenomenon from 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd or 57th streets to take in how “the city is framing the sunset”, as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson puts it. The next time it happens will be on July 12. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Dating Raven-Symoné isn’t easy! During on the “Howie Mandel Does Stuff” podcast in late May, the 37-year-old revealed why she makes anyone she’s been romantically involved with sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement). “All of my relationships, especially — obviously — when I started dating, I had to get people to sign NDAs,” the actress, who is now married to Miranda Pearman-Maday, told Howie Mandel during their candid conversation. “It took me a while to wrap my head around it because it’s very impersonal, but someone in our position needs to do that.” mega The TV host then asked the star what made her decide to serve the papers in the first place. “Before the naughty times come,” she stated. “No, I’m serious — right before naughty time comes,” she added. “Welcome to being a celebrity in Hollywood nowadays. It’s true though nowadays, hashtags, real life, they change the dynamic of having an intimate relationship with somebody.” Candace Cameron Bure Spills She Felt ‘Pressured’ To Represent Conservatives On ‘The View’, Reveals She Still Suffers From ‘PTSD’ Raven-Symoné Believes She Was ‘Catfished’ When Joining ‘The View’ Anneliese Van Der Pol Claims ‘Racism’ Played a Part in Initial ‘That’s So Raven’ Casting The Disney Channel alum, who tied the knot in 2020, shared what it was like to ask Pearman-Maday to sign the legal documents. “We were in New York. We were in this outdoor French type of restaurant, and my mom had been bugging me,” she noted. “She was like, ‘You got to get it signed. I’m like, ‘She’s from the industry.’ And my mom was bugging me.” “I was really reluctant because I knew something was different about Miranda,” she added. Pearman-Maday immediately felt a spark the That’s So Raven alum, which is why she didn’t “understand” why she needed to fill out the paperwork in the first place. Ultimately, Pearman-Maday came around. “We both were like, ‘This takes away the genuineness of it all, but we also understood that we live in Hollywood.’ She knows who she is. So she did it,” she shared. @ravensymone/Instagram Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! These days, the singer is happier than ever with her lady. “Miranda, she talks differently,” she gushed. “She asks me questions like I’ve never been asked before but then has wonderful conversation to go with it after — no judgment. She has her own flaws that she’s allowing me to help her with and vice versa.” View the full article

Published by DPA Our memory of events during lockdown is on a similar level to prison inmates, according to new reseach showing that many who stayed at home during the pandemic struggle to recall the timing of events. Fabian Strauch/dpa Stay at home, “meet” on Zoom, no travel beyond 5km, no pub or cinema or football or school, hospital treatments cancelled or put back, holidays out of the question, flatten the curve. For many people, after a couple of weeks of the Covid lockdown routine, days merged as a fugue of repetitiveness and lethargy clouded minds and memories. Life went on though, and with it some attenuated versions of what otherwise would be remembered as big news: the last-ditch hammering out of a Brexit deal between Britain and the European Union, the blocking for months of the Suez Canal by a stricken container ship, the mushroom cloud explosion at a fertiliser factory in Beirut, to list a few headline-grabbers. But it turns out people struggle to recall the timing of such events, going by a survey carried out by Daria Pawlak and Arash Sahraie of the University of Aberdeen, the findings from which were published in May in the medical journal PLOS One. The respondents’ recollection of the timing of events that occurred in 2021, the year before the survey was carried out, was “just as inaccurate as for events that occurred three to four years earlier” and resembled a level of recall for “those previously reported for prison inmates.” “Accurate recollection of event timing requires ‘anchoring’ life events, such as birthday celebrations and vacations, which were lacking during Covid-19 lockdowns,” said Pawlak and Sahraie. “In other words, many participants had difficulty recalling the timing of events coinciding with Covid-19 lockdowns,” the team said, describing the findings as echoing previous research that showed how “the social isolation resulting from Covid-19 lockdowns significantly impacted people’s activities and emotions.” “Prior research has shown that the pandemic triggered distortions in people’s perception of time,” they added. While the restrictions were justified by governments as a means of slowing the spread of Covid-19, “little attention was paid to the consequences that pandemic related restrictions might have on the psychological well-being of individuals,” the team wrote. Participants were asked to complete “standard evaluations” in the survey, covering categories “related to mental health, including levels of boredom, depression, and resilience,” with those who “made more errors in event timing” at the same time “more likely to show greater levels of depression, anxiety, and physical mental demands during the pandemic,” the researchers explained. View the full article

Published by Radar Online @KourtniFaber/TikTok; Mega Disney came under fire this week from conservative critics after a male employee donned a dress and makeup, RadarOnline.com has learned. The uproar first started when a Disneyland employee, identified only as Nick, was featured in a TikTok video during one family’s visit to the Anaheim, California amusement park. @kourtnifaber A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you’re fast asleep #disneyland #bibbidibobbidiboutique #corememory ♬ original sound – Kourtni “So, my name is Nick, I am one of the Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices,” the seemingly male employee, who was seen wearing blue and purple eyeshadow as well as a matching uniform dress, said. “I’m here to shop you around and make all your selections for the day,” the employee continued as he welcomed a young girl to the park’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Mega But while the TikTok video garnered more than seven million views, the clip also caused a backlash against Disney from a host of conservative critics who did not like that a seemingly male employee was wearing both makeup and a dress while working at the park. “A man in drag is not only bizarre and inappropriate but it takes guests out of the ‘show’ – the illusion is broken,” fumed one Twitter user. “Nothing matters but the agenda and your 4 yo is a pawn they are happy to mindflay.” Ex-‘General Hospital’ Star Ingo Rademacher Accuses Disney Of Refusing To Hand Over Internal Communications In Battle Over Vaccine Mandate Johnny Depp Set For ‘Pirates’ Return? Margot Robbie Reveals Disney Nixed Female-Led Spin-Off Megyn Kelly Blasts Disney For Letting ‘Wokesters’ Influence Decision To Close Splash Mountain Due To Ride’s Racial Undertones “What’s particularly interesting about this is how intentional it is. This is a dude with a mustache in a dress. Not a ‘trans’ person,” added conservative political commentator Dave Rubin. “Think how many real girls want that job at Disney and they gave it to him for a reason…” “This is disgusting and wrong,” tweeted Jenna Ellis, a lawyer who previously worked for former President Donald Trump. “I remember when the ‘Disney Look’ didn’t even let women wear certain nail polish colors. Now THIS?!” Mega Although Disney has not yet responded to the conservative backlash against their Anaheim amusement park, the company did announce last summer that – in an effort to encourage inclusivity – the “Fairy Godmother in Training” title would be ditched in favor of “Fair Godmother’s Apprentices.” The change was reportedly made to benefit Disneyland cast members who might not identify as female. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. Mega “This way, cast members that might not identify as female can still be part of the process to dress up and style the children without having to refer to themselves as a female Disney character,” Disney said in a statement in July 2022. The $160 billion entertainment corporation came under fire then, with many former Disney fans calling for boycotts of the company’s various amusement parks and movies. “May you never suffer the same destruction of your legacy that poor Walt has,” Red State editor Brandon Morse said at the time. View the full article