Zits by Jeremy Scott and Jim Borgman
Queen Consort Camilla may reconsider using the traditional ivory sceptre at her and King Charles's Coronation on May 6 in order to appease "elephant-loving" Prince William, who is a passionate advocate for conservation. The ceremony has already been altered to appeal to a more modern audience, with the service time shortened by an hour and the Queen Consort declining to wear the Koh-i-Noor diamond to avoid offence over colonialism.
Tune into the Royal Family Snapchat Show, every Monday exclusively on SnapchatLink
Camilla will instead wear Queen Mary's crown, which has been recrafted especially for her, rather than having a new crown commissioned, in another nod to Charles's environmental efforts.
However, according to Private Eye the ivory sceptre, which has been used by every Queen Consort since 1685, will be conspicuous in its absence.
The publication also claims that the veto on the sceptre came from the "elephant-loving" William, a fierce critic of the ivory trade.
Last August, William applauded the decision of a US court to convict Ugandan Moazu Kromah for five years for conspiracy to traffic millions of dollars' worth of elephant ivory and rhino horn.
Some have hit back at the so-called "virtue signalling", claiming the use of a 330-year-old sceptre housed safely in the Tower of London, cannot be considered equal to killing elephants and selling the ivory for profit.
Formed of three sections of ivory, the sceptre was designed by goldsmith Sir Robert Vyner for Mary of Modena, the Queen Consort of King James II.
At the top of the three-foot artefact is a dove which represents the Holy Spirit.
READ MORE: King Charles meets Chancellor Scholz as he prepares to give speech
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's eviction from their UK residence has the support of almost 50 percent of Americans polled.
King Charles asked the couple to vacate their home in Frogmore Cottage, which sits on the grounds of Windsor Castle, ahead of his Coronation on May 6.
The eviction process started a day after Harry released his tell-all memoir, Spare, which further strained relations between the Sussexes and the royal household.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace has described the magazine report as "inaccurate".
During the Coronation, Camilla will also be handed a gold sceptre with a cross atop, a symbol of the sovereign's good governance and temporal power.
When she first married then-Prince Charles in 2005, Camilla initially said she would use the title Princess Consort when Charles became King, acknowledging the public's difficult feelings over her new role following the death of Princess Diana.
Her popularity began to rise over the years as she interacted more with the British public and showed her unflinching support for her husband, leading Queen Elizabeth last year to announce that Camilla would be given the title Queen Consort after all.
Rhiannon Mills commented on the change in title: "The Queen clearly wanted to use this opportunity to thank Camilla who over the past 17 years has rolled her sleeves up, embraced the sometimes less glamorous royal engagements and in Her Majesty's eyes shown herself to be a worthy future consort, in the mould of Prince Philip and the Queen Mother."
Royal author Penny Junor said: "The problem with Camilla was that she was involved with the Prince of Wales and was what Diana famously called the third person in the marriage.
"When she then married him, she was out and about and people met her. They realised that actually, she wasn't this ghastly woman, a rottweiler, she was actually very nice.
"She's funny, she's warm, she's friendly, she's self-deprecating, she's interested in other people."
Since the fiery derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals through New Palestine, Ohio in February, more train accidents have made the news. But Federal Railroad Administration data show that derailments occur regularly, at a steady rate of about 1,250 per year over the past decade.
While many cause expensive damage to trains and tracks – USA TODAY found more than 500 incidents since 2013 with total damages of $1 million or more – a small portion of derailments lead to evacuations, deaths, injuries or the release of hazardous materials.
Since 2013, among more than 12,500 derailments, a USA TODAY analysis found:
Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.
Reuters
KTVQ Billings, MT
The Canadian Press- 23 people were killed in seven incidents
- 1,237 were injured in 161 incidents
- 18,595 people had to evacuate the area in 70 incidents
- 335 train cars leaked hazardous materials in 136 derailments
Aroyal expert has warned that lawyers would "go for the underbelly" if Prince Harry was cross-examined in High Court over claims made against the Mail on Sunday. Ingrid Seward, Editor in Chief at Majesty Magazine, told The Royal Beat: "Can you see Harry being cross-examined in the High Court? I think he would find that extremely difficult... because they will really go for the underbelly."
Dailymotion
The Associated PressDickie Arbiter, former press secretary to King Charles, added: "Harry is very good at reading off script... is he any good at ad-libbing? My guess is I think probably not".
Harry made an unexpected trip to London this week for a High Court hearing against Associated Newspapers Limited, who have had a case brought against them by Harry and other celebrities for privacy breaches.
Despite visiting the UK, it has been reported that Harry will not be meeting with his father, King Charles, or brother Prince William following a series of claims made in his recent memoir, Spare.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle worked a total of one hour a week, or 52 hours a year, at their Archewell Foundation in 2021, a new taxing filing shows.
The couple will inevitably face questions over what they have been doing with their time, given that they have made the humanitarian charity their priority since moving stateside.
In his witness statement Harry said the royals, or the Institution as he referred to them, withheld information from him regarding the possibility of taking legal action against those who had invaded his privacy.
He wrote: "The Institution made it clear that we did not need to know anything about phone hacking and it was made clear to me that the Royal Family did not sit in the witness box because that could open up a can of worms."
Harry claimed he was "conditioned to accept" the Royal Family's rule of "never complain, never explain".
This was also printed in the witness statement that Harry submitted before his civil claim was brought to court.
READ MORE: Royal Family are 'British Kardashians' claims star in brutal takedown
He said: "The institution was without a doubt withholding information from me for a long time about NGN's phone hacking.
"That has only become clear in recent years as I have pursued my own claim with different legal advice and representation."
The publisher denies all claims made against them.
Do your own research using our tool.
If you do not see a search window below, you can find it here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hundreds of trains derail every year. Search our database to see how much damage they do.
One person has been killed and 28 others injured after the roof of a theatre in Illinois collapsed during a concert as a monster storm system including deadly tornadoes tore through the South and Midwest on Friday.
WTMJ Milwaukee, WI
WXYZ Detroit 7, MI
Daily MailAccording to media reports the collapse occurred at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere during a heavy metal concert. Belvidere is located about 70 miles (113km) northwest of Chicago.
According to Belvidere Fire Department chief Shawn Schadle, 260 people were at the concert venue when the roof collapsed.
He said first responders also rescued someone from an elevator and had to deal with downed power lines outside the theatre.
The Belvidere Police Department said that calls began coming from the theater at 7.48pm.
Death metal bands Morbid Angel, Revocation, and Skeletal Remains were on the bill at the venue, reported CBS News.
"Chaos. Absolute chaos," Belvidere police Chief Shane Woody was quoted as saying.
"Everybody tried to like leave the whole venue through the fire door," one witness was quoted as saying to NBC 5.
"It was a lot of chaos, so I looked around and saw people in the rubble, and tried to help as many people as possible."
According to initial assessments the damage was caused by a tornado.
In a statement Illinois governor JB Pritzker has said that his administration is closely monitoring the incident.
"My administration is closely monitoring the roof collapse at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere tonight," he wrote on Twitter.
"I’ve been in touch with officials for updates and to direct any available resources we can.
"As we learn more, please follow the guidance of all local authorities."
Additional reporting by agencies
Shopping for pickup trucks in today’s market often reveals steep sticker prices on new models. While used truck prices provide some relief, there’s the ever-present danger of picking the wrong truck and making a bad investment. To help prevent you from making a mistake, here’s a list of 10 used trucks to avoid.
From news to politics, travel to sport, culture to climate – The Independent has a host of free newsletters to suit your interests. To find the stories you want to read, and more, in your inbox, click here.
ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis left hospital to return to the Vatican on Saturday after being treated for bronchitis, making light of his illness by saying : "I wasn't frightened, I'm still alive."
Sky News
It is a sin that besets political commentary, and I was reminded of the late archbishop’s words when I read an article by Peter Kellner, the former president of YouGov, suggesting that the local elections in a month’s time would shed some light on the argument about whether Labour’s lead in the opinion polls is soft.
Yes and no. All they will do is provide more information about which to be uncertain.
I confess to being a sinner myself. In my end-of-year forecast in December, I predicted that Rishi Sunak would still be prime minister after the next general election. In my defence, however, I would say that this was not a confident prediction; it was more of a corrective to the prevailing assumption, which is that Keir Starmer is heading for a landslide victory.
As Lord Habgood suggested, uncertainty is hard to handle, but I think the range of likely outcomes is skewed away from Labour winning a majority. The most unlikely support for this proposition comes in the form of Jeremy Corbyn: his unexpected success in the 2017 election should stand as a terrible warning to his successor.
Corbyn has been cast into the outer darkness as a sacrificial offering for Starmer’s past sins of a different kind – and the latest indications are that, as always seemed likely, Corbyn will decide against standing as an independent in Islington North. But Starmer would be wise to heed the lessons of his predecessor’s history.
First, Labour had a disastrous showing in the local elections in May 2017, which was just a month before the general election. Far from pointing towards Labour’s startling recovery in support during the general election campaign, the local elections pointed in the opposite direction, suggesting that the Conservatives were 11 points ahead of Labour in national equivalent vote share. Kellner’s idea that next month’s local elections will clarify anything may be unfounded.
It wasn’t just the local elections that pointed the wrong way in 2017. There had been a by-election in Copeland in Cumbria in February, which Trudy Harrison won for the Conservatives – a rare by-election gain by the government party from the opposition. These “real votes in real ballot boxes” seemed to confirm the national opinion-poll picture: the Tories had been 10-15 points ahead ever since Theresa May became prime minister after the EU referendum. When she called the election, she was 20 points ahead.
Then… politics happened. Corbyn published a manifesto that promised lots of public spending (without going over the top as he did two years later), while May promised to take away your house if you got dementia. Corbyn came across as a kind uncle, surprising disengaged voters who had been told by people like me that he was dangerous, while May obviously disliked asking for votes, telling a nurse on TV there was no magic money tree. The result was that May lost her majority and Corbyn came within a handful of seats of a minority Labour government.
That is not to say that the opposite shift, in Sunak’s favour, is likely. But it is a vivid reminder that opinion polls, local election results and by-elections can mean little when voters start to focus on the choice at a general election.
A by-election is imminent in the Rutherglen constituency of Margaret Ferrier, the former SNP MP who broke coronavirus law. If Labour does well there, which is likely, this too will probably be over-interpreted as pointing to a landslide for Starmer in a general election.
Corbyn’s 2017 campaign is a reminder how quickly politics can turn, but Starmer should also avoid over-interpreting current indicators because the next general election is so far away. James Kanagasooriam, the data analyst who identified the potential for Tory gains in the “red wall” in 2019, recently looked at evidence other than voting intention polls. He found that they pointed towards a hung parliament, in which Starmer would probably be prime minister.
BuzzVideos
Bang ShowbizThe indicators he looked at were leader ratings, voter expectations (that is, who people think will win) and local election results.
Again, these are also subject to change on the Corbyn principle of “politics happening” as the general election approaches. Politics will undoubtedly happen in the 18 months to October next year, and only some of it is predictable, such as inflation falling and real wage growth resuming.
Starmer keeps telling his shadow cabinet that they must fight the next year and half as if they are five points behind, whatever the opinion polls say. That – and “prepare for a hung parliament” – are the right lessons to draw from Corbyn’s warning from history.
From news to politics, travel to sport, culture to climate – The Independent has a host of free newsletters to suit your interests. To find the stories you want to read, and more, in your inbox, click here.
Parts of the Bible that were confirmed by science
Like any other religious text in history, the Bible is open to interpretation and it's not confirmed by science to be factually accurate in every account. This, however, is not the case for every bit of text in the best-selling book of all time. In fact, some of these verses have been proven by science to be true.
Intrigued? Click through the following gallery and discover the parts of the Bible that have been confirmed by science.
Here is where you can buy the exact same sparkling eternity ring that the Princess of Wales wears.
- The Princess of Wales wears three beautiful rings on her finger.
- In addition to her iconic engagement ring, Catherine wears a wedding ring in Welsh gold and a diamond infinity ring.
- In other royal news, Camilla looks chic in bold head-to-toe blue outfit with timeless nod to Queen Elizabeth as she arrives in Berlin with King Charles.
While we may all covet Catherine, the Princess of Wales' impeccable style, it's not often that we can replicate her looks when it comes to her diamond accessories. The Princess has an assortment of high-end jewelry, and many of her pieces are part of the crown jewels and are rather unattainable for the average shopper.
However, the Princess does have some more inexpensive pieces, and this includes one of the three rings she wears on her wedding ring finger!
The Princess' eternity ring is made from white gold and diamonds and is from the British jewelry brand Annoushka. While the ring is hardly inexpensive and retails at $1,900 (£1,800), in comparison to the Princess' other pieces which are worth hundreds of thousands - if not millions - this is a comparatively cheaper piece.
Allvipp
Newsweek
Eclipse 18ct White Gold & Diamond Eternity Ring, (£1,800) $1,900 | Annoushka
A Royal favorite and timeless iconic style, the Eclipse Diamond Eternity Ring is made in 18kt white gold. Hand set with 0.23 ct sparkling white diamonds, this style of eternity band oozes everyday elegance and can be worn alone, alongside your engagement and wedding bands or styled within a stack. Designed with a high polish finish, the eternity band is an Annoushka classic that can be passed down through generations.
The Princess wears this eternity ring in a stacked style on her third finger. At the bottom of the stack is the Princess' yellow Welsh gold wedding ring that she received in 2011 when she married Prince William.
Sandwiched between the eternity ring and the yellow gold ring is Kate Middleton's engagement ring. This is perhaps one of the most iconic pieces of royal jewelry and was first selected by Princess Diana as her engagement ring to Prince Charles. When the late Princess of Wales died, this ring passed onto her son Prince William, who then used this ring to propose to Catherine in 2010 while on holiday in Africa.
Catherine is a known fan of the brand Annoushka and has several items from this jeweler. Kate Middleton's pearl earrings are from the brand and have become a signature part of the Princess' go-to style.
She has been spotted wearing the 18ct Gold and Diamond Baroque Pearl Earrings for some of the most special moments in her life, including the first official photographs of Prince George, and we've spotted Kate in these pearls even more frequently over the past few years.
You may also like: History's most important moments in photos
Pope Francis is expected to be discharged on Saturday from the Rome hospital where he is being treated for bronchitis, the Vatican has said. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the Francis’s recovery has been “normal” and he ate a pizza for dinner on Thursday.
Francis, 86, was admitted to Gemelli Polyclinic, where doctors said the pontiff was receiving antibiotics intravenously to treat his bronchitis, on Wednesday. A Vatican spokesman, citing hospital medical staff, provided the precise diagnosis on Thursday night.
Cover Video
TODAY
Global NewsThe hospital admission came four days before Palm Sunday – the start of Holy Week. Due to a chronic knee problem, Francis had already largely stopped celebrating Mass at major Catholic Church holy days but continued to preside at the ceremonies and deliver homilies.
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said on Friday that Francis may be able to preside over — but not celebrate — Holy Week ceremonies. “On the basis of the information I have, he’ll leave Gemelli tomorrow, so he’ll be able to preside over all the Holy Week rituals,” Italian news agency Adnkronos quoted the cardinal as saying.
It is unclear, though, if Francis, even when back at the Vatican, will be able to preside over or attend Holy Week observances. They include a stamina-taxing late night Way of the Cross procession marked by prayers on Good Friday at the Colosseum in Rome and Easter Mass on April 9, which is traditionally followed by a long papal speech delivered from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. During Wednesday’s hour-long public audience, Francis at times appeared visibly in pain when he moved about and was helped by aides.
Israeli police have shot and killed a man who they alleged tried to snatch an officer’s gun at an entrance to a Jerusalem holy site.
Authorities said officers had detained the man for questioning early on Saturday outside the sacred compound home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City — the third holiest shrine in Islam.
The compound, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, is also the most sacred site in Judaism.
Police said the man was 26-year-old Mohammed Alasibi from Hura, a Bedouin Arab village in southern Israel.
Palestinian worshippers at the entrance to the site on Saturday morning had a different account, saying police shot the man at least 10 times after he tried to prevent them from harassing a woman on her way to the compound.
Israeli Arab politicians identified Alasibi as a physician who had recently passed his exams and earned his MD in Romania. They condemned his killing and demanded that Israeli police release security camera footage of the incident.
“He was killed in cold blood after finishing his prayers,” said prominent Arab legislator Ahmad Tibi. “As with previous crimes committed by the police, we are accustomed to many false narratives.”
The incident raised fears of further violence during a time of heightened tensions at the flashpoint compound, which has been a focus for clashes in the past, particularly in times of turmoil in Israel and the West Bank.
This year, as violence surges in the occupied territory under the most right-wing government in Israeli history, fears of an escalation in Jerusalem have mounted with the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Israeli police have boosted their forces in the area as tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers from Jerusalem and the West Bank gather for prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Al Jazeera
WIONOn Friday, more than 200,000 Palestinians gathered for noon prayers at the compound, which passed peacefully.
Just after midnight on Saturday, police said Alasibi attacked one of the officers and grabbed his gun, managing to fire two bullets into the air as the officer struggled to restrain him.
Police described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack and said they shot and killed him in self-defence.
But Palestinian worshippers insisted the man was not a terrorist. Noureddine, a 17-year-old who lives in the neighbourhood and declined to give his last name for fear of reprisals, said he saw Alasibi confront police who had stopped a female worshipper on her way to the mosque.
He said some kind of disagreement broke out before he heard a dozen shots.
“Nothing could justify that many shots,” he added, pointing to chaotic footage he filmed that showed Palestinian vendors and worshippers screaming at the sound of bullets being fired in rapid succession. “They were all at close range.”
Noureddine said police tried to force Palestinian vendors and worshippers out of the area after the incident, beating him and others with batons. Israeli police briefly closed the site before reopening it for dawn prayers.
Confrontations at the hilltop compound have triggered wider violence in the region in the past. Clashes at the site in May 2021 helped fuel the outbreak of a bloody 11-day war between Israel and the Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers.
This year’s convergence of Ramadan with the Jewish holiday of Passover could increase the possibility of friction as the Old City hosts a large influx of pilgrims.
Early on Saturday, residents of the Old City shared videos of Israeli police entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to remove a banner belonging to the Islamic militant group Hamas hanging over the shrine that called worshippers to confront right-wing Jews planning to tour the compound on Sunday.
Settlers in the Old City, and devout Jewish Israelis, have visited the Temple Mount in rising numbers in recent years. Under a long-standing agreement known as the status quo, Jews are allowed to visit but not pray at the site. Any small perceived change to the status quo at the site can trigger violence.
For the past year, Israeli-Palestinian fighting has surged in the occupied West Bank. At least 86 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli or settler gunfire this year, according to an Associated Press tally. Palestinian attacks against Israelis have killed 15 people in the same period.
Israel says most of those killed have been militants, but stone-throwing youths protesting over police incursions and people not involved in the confrontations have also been killed.
Subscribe here for the latest news where you live
What is Catholic guilt, and do you suffer from it?
Despite the many scandals that have hit the Catholic Church, this Christian denomination remains the most popular in the world. Indeed, it is estimated that there are over 1.3 billion Catholics around the globe.
Countries such as Brazil, the Philippines, Mexico, the United States, and Italy are among the nations with the largest percentage of Catholics. Such a high number of believers has an impact on the emotional well-being of these people and those around them; both in a good and bad way. For instance, some concepts of Catholicism, such as the notion of sin, can trigger guilt in those who feel they are going against the Church and even God.
In this gallery, we delve into the concept of Catholic guilt. Click through to learn more.
John Wayne was as fierce and formidable off-screen as he was on, virulently and vocally leading the Hollywood charge against suspected communists and anyone he felt tarnished the sacred spirit of 'All-American' values. He famously turned down films from Steven Spielberg to Clint Eastwood because he did not agree with their tone or message. He absolutely hated two movies by one of his fellow titans of the Silver Screen. The Duke's fury over the classic western High Noon is well known but he was even more outraged by a subsequent war film.
Gary Cooper was one of the rare stars who made a spectacular transition from the silent movies into 'talkies' and ranked in the top ten of Hollywood's biggest stars for 23 consecutive years. He would also end up lining up against Wayne and his supporters in the raging battle that divided the entire industry and ended careers.
Of course, Hollywood is an industry and so in 1953 Wayne found himself on stage accepting the Best Actor Oscar on behalf of Cooper (who was filming abroad at the time) for a film that everyone in the auditorium and the industry knew he absolutely detested.
Wayne had famously turned the lead role of Will Kane in High Noon down. He believed the story of an honourable former marshal forced to stand alone against vicious outlaws after the cowardly townsfolk abandon him was a thinly veiled attack on Hollywood for failing to stand behind the many who were being accused of communist ties and blacklisted.
Wayne was a vocal supporter of blacklists and took pleasure and some credit later for High Noon writer (and former communist party member) Carl Foreman being charged and immigrating to Britain in 1952 after making the film.
The Duke called High Noon "the most un-American thing I've ever seen in my whole life," but showed grace by agreeing to accept Cooper's Oscar for him with a pointed but charming speech.
At that time Cooper had not publicly come out against blacklists and they were friends, but his stance would change through the 1950s, putting him on the opposite side of the battle from John Wayne.
He pursued morally ambiguous roles with tortured central characters in films like 1958's Man of the West, themes that were anathema to straight-laced, straight-shooting Wayne. In 1959, he formed his own production company and further explored characters seeking redemption.
One film, in particular, enraged Wayne, specifically because of his devotion to his idealised view of the US military.
DON'T MISS
'Outraged' John Wayne was restrained during Marlon Brando's Oscar win
John Wayne's wife almost shot him in jealous rage
John Wayne shot co-star in the back and was reminded of it in his will
In 1959's They Came to Cordura, Cooper played an army Major disgraced and charged with cowardice who must accompany a group of soldiers who will be honoured with the Congressional Medal of Honour for extreme valour. The film, however, questions their honour and merit and Wayne was horrified.
Wayne raged: "How they got Gary Cooper to do that one! To me, at least, it simply degrades the Medal of Honour. The whole story makes a mockery of America's highest award for valour. The whole premise of the story was wrong, illogical, because they don't pick the type of men the movie picked to win the award, and that can be proved by the very history of the award."
Cooper's own company, of course, had actually produced the film. However, there was no time for real animosity between the stars, because Cooper's life was about to abruptly and tragically end.
On May 13, 1961, the star died, aged just 60. Wayne joined the biggest names in Hollywood including James Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire when he attended the actor's funeral. So beloved was the star that when news had first spread about his battle with cancer, even Queen Elizabeth II had sent a personal telegram.
You may also like
Vladimir Putin is currently undergoing treatment for cancer and neurological issues from both Israeli and Chinese doctors, an analyst has alleged.
Political analyst Valery Solovey claims that the Kremlin leader has resorted to "very strong stimulants” amid significant weight loss.
His previous allegations about Putin’s poor health were denied.
The Russian president’s recent treatment has not improved his condition which has left him “very upset” and “absolutely depressed”, it has been reported.
Leading Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon told Solovey during an interview that the dictator had appeared "very unwell" at a meeting with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov earlier this month.
In footage, the camera appeared to limit time spent on pale Putin who was spotted gripping his desk.
"You should watch, if you see how the real Putin walks, you'll notice that his legs became more like matches," said Solovey.
He alleged that the president’s carers use cotton padding “to hide his scragginess”.
"He lost a lot of weight - but you can't do that with the legs. And his body double is distinguished by the angularity of his face.
BANG Showbiz
"That's related to his [the doppelgänger’s] kidney problems. Though, he is still healthier than the real president.
“When he makes public appearances [Putin] is ‘high on speed’ as young people put it - very strong stimulants".
His "eyes are shining, and the brain falls behind [his] tongue".
Solovey - who claims to have sources close to Putin - said Putin needed intense preparation to be fit for Chinese president Xi Jinping’s recent state visit to Russia.
"Doctors were preparing him for the meeting with Xi Jinping for two-or-three days,” claimed Solovey."
It was necessary to rest, to receive certain medications to be able to ‘last’ three-or-four hours of negotiations and to look convincing.
"But Xi Jinping cannot be fooled.
"The thing is Chinese doctors participate in the treatment of the Russian president along with Israeli [medics].
"[These are] the two main countries which take part in terms of medicine.
"Israelis are involved mainly in the treatment of oncology, and the Chinese are dealing with neurology.
"So they have quite a good understanding of his condition."
Body expert Louise Mahler said Putin appeared "agitated" and was slouching, twitching his leg, clenching his fist and looking at the floor during the meeting while Xi Jinping appeared "settled and confident".
Ahead of Xi’s arrival in Moscow rumours circulated that Putin had used a body double on visits, including to Mariupol in occupied Ukraine.
The Russian president blames his gymnast lover Alina Kabaeva and her friends for leaking details of their lavish lifestyle, a Telegram channel General SVR claims.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nine months ago, President Joe Biden signed a sweeping bipartisan gun law, the most significant legislative response to gun violence in decades.
“Lives will be saved,” he said at the White House.
The law has already prevented some potentially dangerous people from owning guns. Yet since that signing last summer, the tally of mass shootings in the United States has only grown. Five dead at a nightclub in Colorado. Eleven killed at a dance hall in California. And just this past week, three 9-year-olds and three adults were shot and killed at an elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee.
A day after that school shooting, Biden’s tone was markedly less optimistic than it was the signing ceremony.
“What in God’s name are we doing?” he asked in a speech Tuesday, calling for a ban on so-called assault weapons like those that were used to kill at The Covenant School in Nashville. “There’s a moral price to pay for inaction.”
Biden and others had hailed last year's bipartisan gun bill — approved in the weeks after the shooting of 19 children and two adults at a school in Uvalde, Texas — as a new way forward.
Several months in, the law has had some success: Stepped-up FBI background checks have blocked gun sales for 119 buyers under the age of 21, prosecutions have increased for unlicensed gun sellers and new gun trafficking penalties have been charged in at least 30 cases around the country. Millions of new dollars have flowed into mental health services for children and schools.
But the persistence of mass shootings in the United States highlights the limits of congressional action. Because the law was a political compromise, it did not address many Democratic priorities for gun control, including universal background checks or the ban on “assault weapons” for which Biden repeatedly has called.
Now, in the wake of the Nashville shooting, Congress appears to have returned to a familiar impasse. One of the top Republican negotiators on the gun law, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, has said new compromise is unlikely. In the House, the new GOP majority favors fewer restrictions on guns, not more.
Asked Thursday about a way ahead, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said legislation alone cannot solve the gun violence problem. He said Americans need to think deeply about mental illness and other factors that drive people to act.
In contrast, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said Congress should “act with the fierce urgency of now.”
“Our classrooms have become killing fields," he said. “Is that acceptable in America?”
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the lead negotiator on the 2022 bill, says he thinks it represented a paradigm shift in how Congress considers gun legislation. But, he said, “I don’t think that will happen all at once.”
“This is sickening, but the opportunities for legislative change normally come after really terrible mass shootings,” said Murphy, who has been the lead Senate advocate for gun control since the 2012 mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. “I hate that, I wish that wasn’t how it works.”
President Joe Biden is not expected to attend the coronation of King Charles III, according to a source familiar with the planning, but is expected to send first lady Jill or Vice President Kamala Harris instead.
Guests, including world leaders, have already been emailed by Buckingham Palace to 'save the date' of the May ceremony.
But the American president will not be among them.
It means it is the second time that Biden will avoid a meeting with Charles. He is expected to visit Northern Ireland next month, leaving days before the new British monarch arrives to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that ended decades of violence.
British officials do not see a snub, and have said privately for months that no U.S. president has ever attended a British coronation.
'We think the representative will be the first lady or the vice president,' said a source familiar with the arrangements.
'For the Queen it was the Governor of California and the U.S. Army chief of staff.'
The Daily Telegraph newspaper, which was first to report the news, added that Dame Karen Pierce, the British ambassador to the US, and Buckingham Palace aides had held 'cordial and diplomatic' talks with the White House about the delegation.
Bang Showbiz
BangA White House official said only that a delegation will be announced in the coming weeks.
Charles became king on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September last year.
On May 6 he will be crowned at Westminster Abbey.
The ceremony reflects a thousand years of tradition and the service will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
However, Charles has overhauled some aspects, cutting its length from three hours to one hour and reducing the guest list from more than 8000, for his mother, to 2000.
Tensions were running high on both sides of the Capitol this past week.
Gisele Shaw, a transgender woman who competes for Impact Wrestling, accused WWE Hall of Famer Rick Steiner of "hateful phrases" at WrestleCon Friday.
WhatCulture
MSNBC
CNN MoneyShaw made the allegations in a statement posted to her Twitter account.
"I have been bullied all my life and have never stood up for myself because I’m scared that I would get beat up physically, mentally or emotionally. The bullies in my life have always silenced me, but that ends today!" Shaw said in a statement.
"I was at an autograph signing event today at WrestleCon and while I was walking to my table, I hear someone yelling ‘you’re a man,’ you’re a dude,’ ‘you’re a piece of trash,’ You are filth,’ ‘get the f--- away from here.’ I kept my head down and kept walking as I did not want to acknowledge that hate.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"When I arrived ay my table, I spoke to another IMPACT Wrestling talent who was at the signing with me and mentioned the incident. It didn’t sit well with me and I wanted to know who was saying that because it’s unacceptable, so I decided to take a walk in that area and I hear that some person saying the same derogatory comments. I looked at the person and it was Rick Steiner saying those statements. I was shocked and could not believe that this was happening. To have someone saying those comments who a lot of people look up to and consider their hero was quite shocking and disheartening.
"I was in disbelief so I asked him. ‘excuse me?!’ He kept repeating those hateful phrases and started yelling at me in a public setting. It was inexcusable and unacceptable."
Shaw added there were two other "wrestling legends" who were sitting there and didn’t get involved in the confrontation
"Judging from that experience, it was more important for them to watch something wrong go down as supposed (sic) to standing up for someone who’s being bullied and doing what’s right.
"I am not writing this because I want sympathy. I am writing this because I am done being bullied to silence. Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility and I am standing up for myself and for other people who go through the exact same situation on a daily basis. I want everyone to know what kind of deplorable person Rick Steiner is and that this cannot be tolerated. This keeps happening because people let it slide and do not take any action. If you do business with these type of people then I will not to (sic) do business with you."
WrestleCon and Impact Wrestling both came out in support of Shaw.
WWE STAR ROMAN REIGNS MAY APPROACH HULK HOGAN TERRITORY WITH WRESTLEMANIA 39 WIN OVER CODY RHODES
"WrestleCon regrets the events that took place at yesterday’s convention and apologizes to Gisele Shaw," the organization tweeted. "We aim to promote a safe and inclusive environment for all LGBTQAI+ members of the wrestling community. The issue has been addressed, and we hope the remainder of the convention can be a positive experience for all."
Impact Wrestling added, "IMPACT Wrestling stands in full support of @GiseleShaw08 and the LGBTQ+ community. We are saddened by the incident Friday afternoon at Wrestlecon in Los Angeles and hope everyone can learn and be better from it.
"Thank you to the millions worldwide who have read Gisele's statement and showed full support for her. Particular thanks go to the organizing staff of Wrestlecon as well as the IMPACT roster and crew who all handled an ugly situation with the utmost professionalism."
WrestleCon and Impact Wrestling both came out in support of Shaw.
WWE STAR ROMAN REIGNS MAY APPROACH HULK HOGAN TERRITORY WITH WRESTLEMANIA 39 WIN OVER CODY RHODES
"WrestleCon regrets the events that took place at yesterday’s convention and apologizes to Gisele Shaw," the organization tweeted. "We aim to promote a safe and inclusive environment for all LGBTQAI+ members of the wrestling community. The issue has been addressed, and we hope the remainder of the convention can be a positive experience for all."
Impact Wrestling added, "IMPACT Wrestling stands in full support of @GiseleShaw08 and the LGBTQ+ community. We are saddened by the incident Friday afternoon at Wrestlecon in Los Angeles and hope everyone can learn and be better from it.
"Thank you to the millions worldwide who have read Gisele's statement and showed full support for her. Particular thanks go to the organizing staff of Wrestlecon as well as the IMPACT roster and crew who all handled an ugly situation with the utmost professionalism."
Steiner, whose real name is Robert Rechsteiner, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Shaw came out as transgender in 2022. She's been a mainstay on the independent wrestling circuit for several years.
Steiner, 62, is mostly known for his career in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the late 1980s and mid-to-late 1990s. He and his brother, Scott Steiner, were tag-team champions seven times. Their tag-team was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame last year.
Oscar winner Sarah Polley shared her daughter's April Fools' Day prank on Twitter on Saturday.
Awoman shared her disbelief after discovering that her grandparents, both in their nineties and with assets worth $1.5 million, were unable to secure a spot in a "midtier" retirement community, despite their willingness to give away their wealth in exchange for care until their passing.
Cait (@caitmolden) recently posted a TikTok video that has since gone viral in response to another TikToker statement that reads "The boomers' last gift to us is that all of their wealth is going to get burned up by end-of-life care"
Cait and she grew up thinking that upon her grandparent's death, who she says had "the cheese," she would get the "cheese" and become "extra cheese" herself.
Despite her initial assumptions, the reality may be that the entirety of her grandparents' wealth will be spent on their end-of-life care, leaving nothing left for inheritance as she previously expected.
Cait's grandparents, who are now in their 90s, were carefully selecting the retirement community they want to move to, dreaming about having features like a pool and meal delivery services to ensure their comfort.
Although they initially considered a more luxurious option, her grandparents ultimately chose a "mid-tier" retirement community for the middle-class bracket, where they felt the need to prove their financial worth by disclosing their $1.5 million in assets and even signing them over to the community.
"The retirement community was like, we don't care how long you're going to live, but we are going to take all of your money." Cait says, "Because no matter how long you're going to live for, it's going to cost your entire net worth."
Also read: 25 Popular Things Women Wear That Men Secretly Hate
"They had over a million dollars in assets that they were willing to give away in order to be taken care of until they die," she says about her grandparents, "And they didn't qualify."
Cait's grandparents also shared a story with her about an 80-year-old friend with dementia who had a similar amount of money as they did but was unable to qualify for the retirement community due to the high cost of her care.
15 Terrible Habits That Destroy Your Metabolism
In addition, Cait discovered that there are people who cannot afford to move into retirement communities, no matter how much money they have or no matter if they're "sitting on that $400,000 house that they bought in the 70s for ten grand."
As a result, some people are left with no choice but to spend their entire net wealth to meet the criteria for government-funded end-of-life care.
"Regardless of whether you have money or don't have money, it's all going to disappear," Cait asserts.
"Health care is going to take it, they're going to say I don't care how old you are, until you die, I'm taking every single cent you have."
Also read: 30 Things Men Should Wear to Drive Women WILD - (According to Women)
Julia Roberts has been every color under the sun, but first became America's Sweetheart with her red curls in "Pretty Woman" and "My Best Friend's Wedding."
cbc.ca
France 24
Cover MediaANew York City man is accused of abducting, beating and raping a woman inside a bus for hours after putting her in handcuffs and leg shackles, police say.
KameraOneIsaac Alexander, 30, allegedly forced the victim into his Staten Island mobile home on Monday morning before abusing her. He faces charges including kidnapping, rape, assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a weapon.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 5 New York, the suspect put the woman in handcuffs and leg shackles and covered her mouth while assaulting her.
The woman managed to escape nine hours later and walked to a police precinct blocks away from the location.
CRIME, EMPLOYEE SHORTAGES FORCE NYC TO RAMP UP SURVEILLANCE, SOME BUSINESSES TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS
The suspect was soon arrested and arraigned in court on Wednesday.
New York Police Department (NYPD) detectives also reportedly found "suspicious materials" including chemicals and a pipe bomb.
LEE ZELDIN ON RISING CRIME: NEW YORKERS ARE HITTING THEIR BREAKING POINT
Neighbors told FOX 5 New York that Alexander is a quiet and reserved man.
Authorities are still investigating the situation. The NYPD has not responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Whether it is in the lead or supporting roles, there are action movies throughout history that have showcased women kicking ass on the big screen.
Here are 25 badass women who elevated action films:
1.Danai Gurira as Okoye in the Black Panther franchise
Leader of the Dora Milaje, Okoye brings a unique personality to the screen. She offers laughs, emotional moments, and, most of all, passion while defending her people.
2.Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in Aliens
3.Zoe Saldaña as Gamora in The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise
4.Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shu Lien in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
5.Charlize Theron as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road
6.Halle Berry as Sofia in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Although she had limited screen time, Sofia was another awesome character in the Wick Universe. I loved her attack dogs, and I can't think of another character in movies that fought alongside a classic action character like John Wick and never for one moment didn't feel like they belonged. It was a tall order, but Sofia owned every moment she was on screen.
7.Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
8.Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity in the Matrix franchise
9.Uma Thurman as The Bride in the Kill Bill franchise
10.Rosa Salazar as Alita in Alita: Battle Angel
11.Viola Davis as Nanisca in The Woman King
I can hear the Wonder Woman theme in my head just writing this post. In this film specifically, I think Gadot is truly the greatest woman superhero to ever superhero. The No Man's Land battle scene is one of the better superhero moments...period.
13.Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow in the Marvel Universe
14.Zazie Beetz as Domino in Deadpool 2
She's lucky and very cinematic. Maybe the most ridiculous comic book character in Marvel was given great representation by Beetz, who brought plenty of personality to a character that never should have worked.
15.Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress in Birds of Prey
16.Rebecca Romijn as Mystique in the X-Men franchise
That's right. Villains count for this list. Short of meaningful dialogue, but Mystique in the original X-Men movies was the definition of an ass-kicker. Whenever she shows up, there are bound to be plenty of bodies flying across the room.
17.Antje Traue as Faora-Ul in Man of Steel
18.Amber Midthunder as Naru in Prey
19.Eva Green as Artemisia in 300: Rise of an Empire
20.Charlize Theron as Lorraine Broughton in Atomic Blonde
21.Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
22.Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark
23.Lashana Lynch as Nomi in No Time to Die
24.Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust in the Mission: Impossible franchise
The Mummy movies are a blast, and it's nice that Brenden Fraser is getting his flowers, but the heart of the movie wouldn't exist without Weisz as Evelyn. Not to mention, she ends up delivering some sweet fight scenes in the sequel.
PA Media
Коментари
Публикуване на коментар