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Published by AFP Mpox causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions Geneva (AFP) – The World Health Organization declared that mpox no longer constitutes a global health emergency on Thursday, almost exactly a year after the disease formerly known as monkeypox started spreading globally. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the decision was prompted by sharply falling case numbers worldwide, but emphasised that the disease remains a threat, particularly in areas of Africa where it has long been endemic. The announcement comes a week after the UN agency also declared that Covid-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), its highest level of alarm. “However, as with Covid-19, that does not mean that the work is over,” Tedros told an online press conference. “While the emergencies of mpox and Covid-19 are both over, the threat of resurgent waves remains for both. Both viruses continue to circulate and both continue to kill,” he added. Though some countries in Central and West Africa have suffered local outbreaks for decades, in May last year mpox cases started emerging in Europe, North America then elsewhere, mostly among men who have sex with men. The WHO declared mpox was a PHEIC in July. The number of people infected with the disease — which causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions — has consistently fallen since. More than 87,000 cases and 140 deaths have been reported from 111 countries during the global outbreak, according to a WHO count. The countries with the most cases during the global outbreak have been the United States, Brazil, Spain, France, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and the UK, according to the count. ‘Steady progress’ Almost 90 percent fewer cases were recorded over the last three months compared to the previous three-month period, Tedros said. “We now see steady progress in controlling the outbreak based on the lessons of HIV and working closely with the most affected communities,” Tedros said. Because the global cases were overwhelmingly among men who have sex with men, there were fears that discrimination would mar the response to the outbreak. “While stigma has been a driving concern in managing this epidemic and continues to hamper access to care for mpox, the feared backlash against the most affected communities has largely not materialised,” Tedros said. “For that, we are thankful.” For non-endemic countries, infections spread by travellers represent an ongoing threat, Tedros said, calling on countries to maintain surveillance of the disease and access to tests and vaccines. People who have untreated HIV are at particular risk of severe forms of mpox, he added. “While we welcome the downward trend of mpox cases globally, the virus continues to affect communities in all regions, including in Africa, where transmission is still not well understood,” Tedros said. Mpox continues in Africa The monkeypox virus — which causes mpox disease — was first discovered in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. Until a year ago, its spread among humans had been mainly limited to certain West and Central African nations, where local outbreaks are thought to be caused by the virus jumping over to humans from small animals. Rosamund Lewis, the WHO’s technical lead on monkeypox, said these countries “were dealing with mpox long before this outbreak began and will continue dealing with it for some time to come”. WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan said he was “shocked” that little international funding had been donated for the fight against mpox in the African countries where it is endemic. “Maybe it’s an issue of the continued prejudices that exist in this world,” he said. The virus is transmitted through close contact with infected humans or animals, as well as via materials such as contaminated sheets. After the emergency status was lifted for Covid and mpox, there is now just one WHO-declared PHEIC — for poliovirus, which was declared in May 2014. View the full article

Published by The Kansas City Star KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Council is aiming to make the city a “safe haven” for those seeking gender-affirming health care. A new resolution passed out of committee unanimously to cheers from dozens of supporters gathered in council chambers Wednesday morning. It will go to the full council next. The resolution, sponsored by Mayor Quinton Lucas and council members Andrea Bough and Eric Bunch, would instruct city personnel not to participate in the enforcement of several laws and an emergency order targeting transgender people in Missouri. Kansas City has become a battleground of sorts for… Read More View the full article

Published by Hong Kong Free Press Sign-ups for the upcoming Gay Games in Hong Kong are currently more than 90 per cent below target, organisers have said, adding that the city’s Covid-19 rules had previously hampered publicity efforts. However, a source familiar with the matter told HKFP that they believed leadership changes may also be impacting organisation efforts. “The pandemic related travel restrictions for Hong Kong made it very difficult for us to plan our promotional activities, so we lost valuable time last year where we could not promote aggressively,” the organisers told HKFP. They said they had achieved “close to … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Charlize Theron has threatened to “f*** up” anyone who criticises drag queens. The 47-year-old actress, whose adopted child Jackson, 11, was born male but identifies as female, issued the warning while appearing at the ‘Drag isn’t Dangerous’ telethon, designed to oppose laws attempting to block children from viewing cross-dressing performances. She said: “We love you queens! We’re in your corner, and we’ve got you, and I will f*** anybody up who is, like, trying to f*** with anything with you guys. “In all seriousness, there are so many things that are hurting and really, killing our kids right, and we all know what I’m talking about right now… if you’ve ever seen a drag queen lip sync for her life, it only makes you happier, it only makes you love more. It makes you a better person.” Referencing a popular drag move, Charlize – who also has seven-year-old daughter August– went on: “F***, if I could do a death drop right now I would, but I would probably like, break my hip.” The ‘Prometheus’ star also appealed for viewers to back “all the great organisations that are out there” helping “all of this nonsense” go away “like it should” and branded attempts to stop children watching drag acts part of a set of “incredibly stupid policies”. Charlize was joined at the ‘Drag isn’t Dangerous’ event by drag acts including Bob the Drag Queen, Divina De Campo and Jinkx Monsoon, as well as a raft of celebrities such as Elizabeth Banks, Margaret Cho, Whitney Cummings, Marcia Gay Harden, Melissa McCarthy, Kelly Osbourne, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman and Ali Wong. Anti-drag bills have been introduced in at least 15 US states, from Tennessee to Kentucky, Texas and Missouri, with Tennessee defining “adult cabaret” as “adult-oriented” performances”. Charlize previously revealed Jackson first declared she was “not a boy” when she was just three years old. She told DailyMail.com about Jackson identifying as female: “Yes, I thought she was a boy, too. “Until she looked at me when she was three years old and said, ‘I am not a boy!’ “So there you go! I have two beautiful daughters who, just like any parent, I want to protect and I want to see thrive.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Big yikes! JoJo Siwa revealed she unfortunately called her dad while getting down in dirty in the sheets! “It’s my third night with this partner. Things are escalating, it’s really fun, I’m happy, I’m having the time of my life,” the 19-year-old said in a new podcast interview. “Cut to the next day, my dad comes up to me and he’s like, ‘You guys had fun last night.’ My parents are very supportive. And I have a lot of my dad in me, I’m very comfortable with my parents – but not that comfortable,” she continued. “He goes, ‘Oh, I heard.’ But we were not loud. Our rooms are far apart. I can scream and you wouldn’t hear me. So I’m like, ‘What?’ and he was like, ‘Last night you called me!’” mega 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! Candace Cameron Bure’s Biggest Controversies: Bigotry Accusations, Snubs & More John Stamos ‘Devastated’ By Broken ‘Full House’ Family After Cast Has Been Plagued By Scandal & Tragedy JoJo Siwa Under Fire For Making Fans Believe She Was Pregnant: ‘So Disgusting & Disrespectful’ The blonde beauty’s dad picked up the phone, but after five seconds, “I realized that you were having s** and I hung up the phone so fast,” he recalled. Co-host Maddie Wiener couldn’t help but giggle at the interesting scenario. “He thinks you’re in trouble, he picks up the call and he’s like, ‘She’s drowning!’ Oh my god!” she said as Siwa interjected, exclaiming: “Well, she kinda is!” “So now I have a rule that no matter what, phones are put to the side because I butt dialed my dad,” she quipped. “Before anything happens, where’s your phone? ‘Cause if things start heating up, we put them to the side.” In January 2021, the TV personality, who recently teased she’s seeing someone new after her split from Avery Cyrus, came out as gay, and she couldn’t be happier. mega “I still don’t know what I am. It’s like, I want to figure it out. And I have this joke. Her name is Kylie. And so I say that I’m Ky-sexual,” she said of not labeling her sexuality. “But like, I don’t know, bisexual, pansexual, queer, lesbian, gay, straight. I always just say gay because it just kind of covers it or queer because I think the keyword is cool.” “I like queer,” she added. “Technically I would say that I am pansexual because that’s how I have always been my whole life is just like, my human is my human.” View the full article

Published by The Sacramento Bee California may be a Democratic stronghold, but it has also become a hotbed of right-wing, white supremacist and antisemitic activity, according to a new report from the Anti-Defamation League. The ADL report, which looks at incidents in 2021 and 2022, found significant increases in white supremacist and antisemitic incidents, including collaboration between the two groups. Among the extremist organizations continuing to operate openly in the Golden State are the Proud Boys and the Rise Above Movement, a white supremacist group based in Southern California. “The state is home to the country’s h… Read More View the full article

Published by Grazia USA Just as she sings in the song “ALIEN SUPERSTAR,” Queen Bey is a “mastermind in haute couture.” Beyoncé kicked off her highly anticipated Renaissance World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden on Wednesday. She belted out favorite hit tracks and was decked out in the most surrealist and club-ready fashions from the industry’s top designers, courtesy of stylist Shiona Turini. The record-breaking Grammy winner began the night wearing a custom Alexander McQueen gunmetal bodysuit with silver bugle beads and “crystal anatomical embroidery,” according to the brand. The silhouette featured strong shoulders and s… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Actor Elliot Page feels “joy” thanks to gender-affirming care — and just in time for summer. “Dysphoria used to be especially rife in the summer,” the 36-year-old transgender actor wrote on Instagram, along with a shirtless photo that proudly displayed scars from his chest masculinization surgery. Prior to undergoing his treatment, Page said he spent his summers wearing layers and being “oh so sweaty — constantly looking down, readjusting my oversized T.” Now, “it feels so f—ing good soaking in the sun.” “I never thought I could experience this, the joy I feel in my body,” Page added. “I am so… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Actress Charlize Theron threatened that she would “f— up” any anti-drag critic, RadarOnlne.com has learned. She issued the fiery warning at the “Drag Isn’t Dangerous” telethon event. Prerecorded messages and live performances from celebrities and members of the drag community were put on display as the event aimed to drum up awareness for legislation that attacked the art of drag, performers, and consumers. mega As the mother of a transgender child, Theron didn’t hold back when she was given the spotlight to address the anti-drag legislation and critics. Theron put the energy being poured into the anti-drag laws into perspective by calling out other severe issues plaguing communities in the country. The actress said that children faced a greater danger from gun violence than drag queens. mega ‘Scrawny’ Charlize Theron Wasting Away From Strict Diet & Torturous Exercise Regimen Charlize Theron Demanded Protection On Set Of ‘Mad Max Fury Road,’ Didn’t ‘Feel Safe’ Around Tom Hardy Kylie Jenner Responds After Charlize Theron Pokes Fun at Her Makeup Skills “We love you, queens!” Theron told the crowd. “We’re in your corner, and we’ve got you. And I will f— anybody up who is, like, trying to f— with anything with you guys.” After Theron joked about going after those who targeted drag queens, the Mad Max star shifted her speech to a more somber tone as she addressed bigger issues. 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 “In all seriousness, there are so many things that are hurting and, really, killing our kids, right, and we all know what I’m talking about right now,” Theron continued. “If you’ve ever seen a drag queen lip sync for her life, it only makes you happier, it only makes you love more. It makes you a better person,” Theron said. In the tense moment, Theron tried to add a bit of laughter by joking about her inability to do a popular drag performance move. “F—, if I could do a death drop right now I would, but I would probably like, break my hip,” the actress teased. mega The outspoken ally ended her speech by asking attendees and viewers to “support all the great organizations that are out there helping all of this nonsense going away like it should, all of these incredibly stupid policies.” Theron’s message came four years after she revealed that her child was transgender. “Yes, I thought she was a boy, too,” the actress told the Daily Mail in 2019. “Until she looked at me when she was three years old and said, ‘I am not a boy!” “So there you go! I have two beautiful daughters who, just like any parent, I want to protect and I want to see thrive,” the proud mother added. View the full article

Published by Raw Story Although Florida’s legislature has typically acted as a rubber stamp for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of his nominees for the board of trustees at the New College of Florida was a bridge too far. Florida Politics reports that the Florida State Senate this week declined to confirm Eddie Speir to the board of trustees at the college after some members raised questions about his stated determination to preach the teachings of Jesus to students. During his confirmation hearings, this stance earned skepticism from State Sen. Tina Polsky, who is Jewish. “There are several, quite a few, other relig… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) The World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday that the global outbreak of monkeypox which initially baffled experts when the smallpox-related disease spread to more than 100 countries last year, is no longer an international emergency, after a dramatic drop in cases in recent months. Last July, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared monkeypox, also known as mpox, to be an “extraordinary” situation that qualified as a global crisis. In doing so, he overruled WHO’s expert committee, which didn’t recommend the emergency designation. Tedros said the novel way mpox was infecti… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP In February, Beyonce made history by becoming the most successful artist in the history of the Grammys Stockholm (AFP) – Ecstatic Beyonce fans sang and danced in feverish excitement in Stockholm Wednesday as the superstar kicked off her first solo tour in seven years with a futuristic spectacle featuring a lunar rover, an airborne horse and wall-to-wall rhinestones. Hours before the doors opened hundreds of people were thronging outside the stadium, including some who had travelled halfway around the world to catch the show, anxious to see the global music icon — one of the world’s best-selling artists. Once the concert was about to begin, the tens of thousands of fans in the 60,000-capacity Friends Arena — filled to the brim — erupted in cheers as their “queen” emerged on stage. “Just want to say: Y’all make me so happy,” Beyonce said as the concert began. “I see familiar faces, people that flew from very, very far to come see the first show tonight,” she told the audience at the outset of the three-hour space and science fiction themed show. The show features Beyonce performing atop a lunar vehicle, playing the role of a news anchor while dressed as a queen bee, and suspended above the crowd as she sits on a model horse completely covered in sparkling rhinestones. “This was another level. Amazing, I can’t wait for the rest of the tour,” Abdul Ibraimoh, a 33-year-old artist manager from London, told AFP after the show. “There was a lot of anticipation for what she was going to do, and yes I’m speechless, it was just incredible,” Shane Barkey, a 31-year-old radio host from Ireland, said. Beyonce, who has a record 32 Grammy awards; is in the top 10 biggest grossing female artists. She is also a fashion icon, with designers queueing up for her attention. Many of the fans in Stockholm sported cowboy hats and rhinestones, mimicking the look of the performer’s outfit in the ads announcing the 57-stop European and North American tour. Julie Vargas, who flew in from Houston, Texas — Beyonce’s hometown — confessed to having a “shrine” dedicated to the star at home. “I don’t want any spoilers, I wanted to be the first to see it and take the news back to H-town baby!” the 38-year-old surgical technologist told AFP as she waited in line in the early afternoon. ‘The queen’ The “Renaissance World Tour”, announced in February after being teased last autumn, is the star’s first solo tour since 2016. Tickets sold out so quickly for the opening show that tour organisers added a second concert at the same venue for Thursday. From there, she goes to Brussels this weekend. The tour, which continues until September, is expected to earn the international artist nearly $2.1 billion, according to business magazine Forbes. She is already a multi-millionaire. “We love Beyonce, she’s the queen, that’s why we are here of course,” 36-year-old artist Kasher Bloom from Riga told AFP. “Beyonce is the queen! Our mother, everything! I would do anything for her,” Jarra Jatta, a 21-year-old fan from Helsingborg in southern Sweden. In February, Beyonce made history by becoming the most successful artist in the history of the Grammys, surpassing the late classical conductor Georg Solti’s long-standing record of 31 lifetime trophies. But despite winning another four Grammys, fans were disappointed that she missed out on the award for album of the year for her seventh studio album, the house-tinged “Renaissance”. The 16-song 2022 album was an instant hit and earned wide praise for its deep ambition. Decades at the top Born Beyonce Giselle Knowles, the now-41-year-old has been in the upper echelons of pop music since her teenage years. She initially rose to fame as part of Destiny’s Child — whose smash hits included “Survivor” and “Say My Name” — before embarking on a wildly successful solo career. From setting the standard for the overnight album drop to delivering her earth-shattering “Homecoming” show at Coachella in 2018, Beyonce has long bucked the industry’s conventional wisdom. She is simultaneously one of music’s most private and most watched stars. Her paradigm-shifting 2016 album “Lemonade,” which emphasised Black womanhood against the backdrop of America’s heritage of slavery and culture of oppression, remains one of the most venerated musical projects in recent memory. Then she dropped the critically acclaimed song “Black Parade” in June 2020, amid nationwide protests ignited by the murder of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, at the hands of a white police officer. View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Todrick Hall has been slapped with a brand-new lawsuit accusing him of refusing to pay for furniture that was delivered to him in 2021, RadarOnline.com has learned. According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, a company called Showroom Interiors has filed a lawsuit against Rodrick for breach of contract. mega In the complaint, the company said Todrick entered into a written ‘Furniture Purchase’ agreement on May 20, 2021. Showroom Interiors said it provided furniture, artwork, accessories, and other home goods as requested by Todrick for a home in Sherman Oaks, California. Showroom Interiors said Todrick agreed to pay $196,748 in exchange for the furniture. The company said it delivered the furniture. mega ‘Big Brother’ Star Xavier Prather’s XXX Penis Pictures Leaked, Milwaukee Attorney Exposed! Todrick Hall Refused To Do Interviews After Losing ‘Big Brother,’ Threw A ‘Tantrum’ ‘Big Brother’ Star Mike Malin Accused Of Fraud By TV Producer In Bombshell Lawsuit However, it said Todrick breached the deal by failing to make the payment due on October 21, 2021. It said he once again breached the deal by missing the payment due in November. Eventually, Todrick paid $70k on the debt but Showroom said he still owes $126k on the bill. Todrick has yet to respond to the lawsuit. mega Back in March 2022, Todrick was sued by the landlord for his rental home in Sherman Oaks. The lawsuit accused Todrick of owing $60k in back rent. The suit said the ex-Celebrity Big Brother contestant had agreed to pay $30k per month in rent but was 60 days behind at the time the lawsuit was filed. The lawsuit shocked fans who believed Todrick had purchased the home in question. The dancer posted a YouTube video where he made it appear he bought the pad. “I have been wanting to buy a home for a very very long time, and this is a dream come true,” he said. Todrick did not respond to the lawsuit. In September, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Todrick to pay $102k to his ex-landlord. mega Todrick was last seen in the MTV series The Real Friends of WeHo. Todrick tried to defend the show from a boycott from the LGBTQ+ community. He said, The fact that our community is boycotting the show is a shame.” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News West Virginia University basketball coach Bob Huggins will not be fired despite using a homophobic slur during a radio interview but will take a $1 million cut to his salary. Huggins, 69, called Xavier basketball fans “Catholic f–s” on the radio Monday while speaking with Cincinnati, Ohio station 700 WLW. Rather than letting him go, West Virginia hit Huggins with a “significant suspension” and a $1 million pay cut, ESPN reported Wednesday. He’ll also have to undergo sensitivity training. Before taking the West Virginia job in 2007, Huggins coached at the University of Cincinnati for 16 years…. Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet A newly released poll taken by The Washington Post and KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation) supports the GOP’s recent aggressive attempts to pass anti-trans legislation across the country, Media Matters for America reports. Per MMFA, the poll does not contain particularly new information, as it was conducted in November 2022, “six months ago and well before this year’s legislative onslaught of over 450 bills targeting LGBTQ people.” Furthermore, the publication adds the survey serves as “political jet fuel for Republicans in state legislatures and Congress who are pushing measures restricti… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA (L-R) Raphael Gross, President of the German Historical Museum Foundation, Baerbel Bas, President of the German Bundestag and Fritz Backhaus, Director of Collections of the German Historical Museum Foundation stand during the handover of the first rainbow flag hoisted on the Reichstag building at the German Historical Museum. Annette Riedl/dpa About a year ago, a rainbow flag was hoisted at the German parliament for the first time, and now the flag is to be brought to a museum. Bundestag President Bärbel Bas presented the flag to the German Historical Museum in Berlin on Wednesday. “The first-ever raising of the rainbow flag on the German parliament building was an important moment for German history,” said museum director Raphael Gross. The flag with its colourful stripes was hoisted on a tower of the Reichstag building in July for Berlin’s Pride festival. Bas announced that the German Bundestag would continue to set an example in the fight against discrimination against queer people and for tolerance and respect. The term “queer” includes, for example, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. According to the statement, the Reichstag building will again fly the rainbow flag – both on May 17 for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia and on July 22 for the next Berlin Pride celebration. View the full article

Published by The Street By Daniel Kline Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger does not want to play Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ game or abide by his narrative. The Mouse House boss isn’t looking for a fight, but he’s also not walking away from one. Iger has made it very clear that his company was never looking to take on the governor, even when it objected to legislation that many of its employees found deplorable. DeSantis, however, has used Walt Disney’s (DIS) – Get Free Report public opposition to his so-called “don’t say gay” legislation, an objection raised by Iger’s predecessor Bob Chapek, as a way to make the company a foil… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega The bonds of the Kennedy family are being tested by President John F. Kennedy‘s lesbian granddaughter, Rose Schlossberg, who’s decided to have a baby with her spouse, RadarOnline.com has learned. Rose, 34, is Caroline Kennedy’s daughter — and a Jackie O look-alike — who caused a rift in Camelot last year when she wed female restauranteur Rory McAuliffe, 32, in California. Mega Now, sources say Rose is shaking things up again by deciding to undergo in vitro fertilization. “Rose and Rory are on the lookout for the perfect guy to serve as sperm donor,” revealed an insider. While 65-year-old Caroline, currently U.S. ambassador to Australia, is said to be thrilled to become a grandmother for the second time, others in the family are less than enthusiastic, said spies. Mega “Many of them are torn because they are devout Catholics,” noted the insider. “In fact, several of the relatives, including family matriarch Ethel Kennedy, refused to attend Rose’s wedding. “Now, there are even more family conflicts about bringing a baby into a same-sex marriage,” shared the source. Robert Kennedy Jr. Blames CIA for JFK Assassination CIA Files On JFK Assassination & Lee Harvey Oswald To Be Released In Spite Of Government’s Efforts To Conceal Them David Duchovny Reveals He ‘Got To Know’ JFK Jr. After Rooming With Him During 1975 School Field Trip: ‘We Were Pretty Good Friends’ But Rose and Rory are still excited about adding another member to the famous family. “Their hope is to have a baby boy, which the couple would name John after both Rose’s late uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., and grandfather,” claimed the insider. “Still, some of her stuffier relatives remain uncomfortable with her family dynamic.” Mega JFK’s granddaughter lives a notoriously private life with her wife after she shunned the family’s glamour, wealth, and privilege to stay out of the spotlight. Despite hailing from one of the most famous families in history, Rose has opted for a low profile — unlike her siblings, Jack Schlossberg, 30, and Tatiana Schlossberg, 33. 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 But it wasn’t always like that. Rose has dabbled in a movie career as an actress and writer but has gone missing in action in recent years while she focuses on her life with her wife and growing their own family. View the full article

Published by New York Daily News For her very first entry into rock ‘n’ roll music, Dolly Parton pulled out all the stops, thumbing through her rhinestone-studded Rolodex for collaborators. The 77-year-old country music icon, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year, announced the lineup for her upcoming album, “Rockstar.” Boasting a whopping 30-tracks, the opus is set to be released Nov. 17. The album will feature superstar collaborations on new versions of popular songs — many with the artists who originally made them hits. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunite for Parton’s take on their 1970 Beatles cl… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – A petit basset griffon Vendeen named Buddy Holly won best of show on Tuesday in the 147th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, beating out more than 3,000 dogs from 210 breeds and varieties to claim the most prestigious such U.S. prize. A six-year-old male from Palm Springs, California, Buddy Holly became the first of his breed to win. The dogs were bred to track hares in the Vendee department of western France. “I never thought PBGV would do this, Janice Hayes, the dog’s co-owner and handler, said after the show. “Buddy Holly is the epitome of the dog show.” Each breed produces a winner, representing the best of what artificial selection can create from the descendants of wolves. Breed winners are separated into seven groups to determine the best of show finalists: hound, toy, non-sporting, herding, sporting, working and terrier. Buddy Holly won the hound group. The prize for reserve best in show, or runner-up, went to the winner of the toy group, a Pekingese named Rummie, from breeder and owner David Fitzpatrick. Judges examine the dogs up close, placing their hands on the animal, then watch the handlers lead them around the floor, grading them on breed standards for appearance, temperament, size, coat and other characteristics. The show, which dates to 1877 and has become a mainstay annual television event, was held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the New York City borough of Queens, site of the U.S. Open tennis tournament. Traditionally held at Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan, the show was moved upstate to a smaller arena on the expansive grounds of Lyndhurst Mansion during the previous two years because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Laurie Chen BEIJING (Reuters) – Teresa Xu did not anticipate that five years after she was denied an egg-freezing treatment at a Beijing hospital for being unmarried, her subsequent lawsuit would be at the centre of a debate over reproductive rights in China. Xu, 35, first lodged the claim against the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in 2019, in a landmark case of a Chinese woman fighting for her reproductive rights. Under current guidelines, single women are barred from freezing their eggs, with assisted reproductive technologies only available to married women with fertility issues. But historically low birth rates have forced policymakers into a rethink, and there are signs that the winds are starting to turn in Xu’s favour. After China reported its first population drop in six decades amid record low birth and marriage rates, government political advisers proposed in March that single and unmarried women should have access to egg freezing and IVF treatment. In recent months, some provinces have extended childbirth benefits for unmarried women, and in the southwestern province of Sichuan province single women are increasingly undergoing IVF treatments in private clinics. “The time, geographical and social conditions are right – all that’s lacking is a favourable policy opening,” said Xu during an interview at a cafe near the Beijing court where the final hearing in her years-long legal battle took place on Tuesday. The verdict has not yet been announced. “The technology is not difficult, market demand is strong, and there is an enormous cost difference between going abroad to freeze your eggs and doing it domestically,” she said, adding that overseas costs are five to ten times more than the 20,000 to 30,000 yuan ($2,886 to $4,330) fee charged by Chinese private clinics. SOCIAL STIGMA Like many Chinese women, Xu spent her twenties and early thirties focused on career development, but was constantly reminded of women’s fertility decline with age. “I felt strongly torn because I don’t have the confidence to invest my energies into raising a child when I haven’t become the best version of myself,” she said. Despite being warned by her lawyers of a slim chance of success, Xu filed a lawsuit after being denied the treatment in November 2018. She says she is motivated by a desire to change deeply negative images of single mothers often found in Chinese film, television and literature that reflect long-held patriarchal beliefs about heteronormative family structures. Childbirth out of wedlock is relatively rare in China, partly due to pervasive social stigma and cases of local authorities punishing women through fines or denying the child legal registration to access social benefits such as schooling and healthcare. “Either they are victims or they are stigmatised in moral terms, for example they irresponsibly slept around while young and paid the consequences, and suffered all kinds of bullying and their child had psychological issues,” she said. “I think society should stop this stigma and recognise the diverse circumstances of single women, as well as their courage and independence.” Facing demographic headwinds, China further loosened family planning regulations in 2021, allowing married couples to have up to three children after decades of enforcing the controversial single-child policy which ended in 2015. But same-sex couples remain barred from marriage and adoption, and surrogacy is illegal. Despite receiving some online abuse in recent days, Xu insists on the right of single women to have more childbirth options without having to rely on finding a husband. “I hope that all single women can achieve bodily autonomy and reproductive autonomy, and that everyone is allowed to have the space for making independent choices,” she said. (Reporting by Laurie Chen; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dolly Parton is “so excited” to be putting out her long-promised rock album. The country star, 77, vowed to make a rocky record after she was last year inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has now released a statement and full track listing for the release, due out 17 November. She said: “I’m so excited to finally present my first Rock and Roll album ‘Rockstar’. “I am very honoured and privileged to have worked with some of the greatest iconic singers and musicians of all time and to be able to sing all the iconic songs throughout the album was a joy beyond measure. “I hope everybody enjoys the album as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together!” Dolly’s announcement came with a 30-song track list, which showed artists including Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr had joined her on the album for a cover of The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’. Brandi Carlile and Pink will join the singer for a rendition of The Rolling Stones’ ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’, while Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow will be her guests on a song most popularised by Linda Ronstadt, ‘You’re no Good’. Other collaborators on the album include Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, Lizzo and Sasha Flute.Stevie Nicks, Chris Stapleton, Simon Le Bon, John Fogerty, Melissa Etheridge, Michael McDonald, Richie Sambora, Ronnie McDowell, the Jordanaires and Kid Rock. One contributor has died since recording a part for the album, Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, who sat in on the final track, ‘Free Bird’. The first single from the album, ‘World on Fire’ will be released on Thursday (11.05.23) night, following Parton’s live premiere of the tune at the end of the Academy of Country Music Awards, which she is co-hosting with Garth Brooks. Nine of the 30 songs on ‘Rockstar’ are originals, and the other 21 are covers of familiar material. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sia has secretly married her boyfriend Dan Bernard. The singer, 47, and her partner reportedly got hitched in a candlelit ceremony in Portofino, Italy, with only four guests to witness the nuptials, held under a gazebo decorated with flowers. It was captured in photos printed by The Sun and comes after Sia had kept her relationship with Dan quiet aside from sharing one picture of him on Instagram in October. The images showed her walking down the aisle at Villa Olivetta, a luxury residence owned by designers Dolce and Gabbana – and the same house where Kourtney Kardashian, 44, and rocker Travis Barker, 47, exchanged their vows in May 2022. Sia’s turbulent love life has included her marriage to filmmaker Erik Anders Lang, 42, from 2014 to 2016. She was also left devastated in 1997 when her boyfriend Dan Pontifex was killed in a car crash weeks after she moved to London to be with him. The singer – born Sia Kate Isobelle Furler – told the Sunday Times newspaper in 2007 about her grief, saying: “I was pretty f***** up after Dan died. I couldn’t really feel anything. “We were all devastated, so we got s***-faced on drugs and Special Brew. “Unfortunately, that bender lasted six years for me.” Sia also dated female singer J D Samson, 44, from 2008 to 2011, and is now a grandmother, after she adopted two teenagers in 2019 – one of whom welcomed twins the following year. She has admitted to being bisexual, telling the gay and lesbian site SameSame: “I’ve always dated boys and girls and anything in between. I don’t care what gender you are, it’s about people. I have always been, well, flexible is the word I would use.” View the full article

Published by Raw Story The Louisiana House on Tuesday advanced its own “Don’t Say Gay” bill, a measure that would ban teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity statewide in K-12 public schools, The Times-Picayune reports. HB466 passed 67-28 in a mostly party-line vote. The Times-Picayune’s Chris Granger reports that the measure “would ban school employees and presenters from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom ‘in a manner that deviates from state content standards or curricula’ or during extracurricular activities.” The bill would also ban school employees from dis… Read More View the full article