TGZ HIGHLIGHTS | A RUNDOWN OF SOME TRENDING STORIES

Popular BBC DJ Tim Westwood aged 64 faces sexual misconduct allegations after BBC 3 documentary detailing accounts by 7 black women

Three women have accused the renowned DJ Tim Westwood of “opportunistic” and predatory sexual behaviour, while four others allege they had been groped by him during events. These accusations of sexual misconduct were told through a BBC 3 documentary called ‘Tim Westwood: Abuse of Power’.

The earliest incident dates at 1992 and the latest dates to 2017. The BBC and The Guardian both gathered detailed accounts by the seven women concerning the incidents that took place with the former BBC Radio 1 DJ, who has denied all allegations.

To read about these stories, click HERE, and to watch the documentary, click HERE.

Meg The Stallion reveals Tory Lanez offered her 1 million dollars to keep quiet about shooting, details revealed in interview with Gayle king

The 27-year-old rapper Megan The Stallion revealed during an emotional interview on CBS Mornings on Monday the 25^th of April, that Tory Lanez offered her $1 million after he allegedly shot her.

She said, “He said, ‘I’m so sorry. Please don’t tell nobody. I’ll give y’all $1 million if y’all don’t say nothing.’ And I’m like, ‘What are you talking about? Why are you offering me money right now? Help me. And if you’re sorry, just help me.’”

This incident took place in July 2020, not long after the death of George Floyd in May 2020, which influenced the rapper’s thinking at the time, she says. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re all about to die.’ The George Floyd incident had just happened. The police are definitely very much shoot first, ask questions after.”

Megan The Stallion initially told police officers that she stepped on glass, but eventually told the truth to having been shot when she underwent surgery on her foot. She said, “I was lying to protect all of us. Sometimes I wish I really would’ve never said that.”

Tory Lanez is currently facing “two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. He’s also accused of having ‘personally inflicted great bodily injury’.”

The trial is set to begin on the 14^th of September 2022.

Brenda Edwards talks with Coleen of last moments with son Jamal Edwards upon return on Loose Women

The TV presenter Brenda Edwards has not appeared on the ITV programme Loose Women since the SBTV founder Jamal Edwards passed away at the age of 31 following a suspected heart attack on the 20^th of February 2022. She had taken time off to mourn the death of her son and now that it has been some time, says she “can’t wait” to return.

On Monday the 25^th of April, the 53-year-old TV presenter gave her first interview to Loose Women co-host Coleen Nolan, where she detailed her final moments with Jamal Edwards, as well as how she coped with the grief of losing her son.

She made a full return to work the following day on Tuesday, joining the rest of the panel for Loose Women – Coleen Nolan, Ruth Langsford, and Kelle Bryan.

Driverless bus trials to begin in Scotland

The UK’s first driverless busses will begin trials in Scotland during this week; road testing of the single-decker vehicle is underway for a 14-mile route between Edinburgh and Fife. This two-week trial will determine whether passengers will be able to come aboard later this summer or not.

A driver will still be on the bus as a back-up and for passenger safety, as well as to comply with UK legislation. This test follows the previous smaller trials of shuttle busses in London, Cambridge, and Birmingham.

The buses are fitted with sensor and control technology which allows them to run on pre-selected roads without the safety driver having to intervene or take control. The project’s manager, Louise Simpson, told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme, “For the moment there is a legal requirement to have somebody behind the wheel at all times, so we will definitely have a driver in the cab to monitor the system and be able to take over if needed, although that shouldn’t be the case. We will also have a second member of staff on board in the saloon with the passengers, offering reassurance and a more personal customer service experience for them.”

Viola Davies hits back stating, “Critics serve no purpose”, after the Michelle Obama portrayal in ‘The First Lady’ as critics took to the internet to comment on the over exaggeration of her mouth expressions

Viola Davis spoke about the criticism of her performance in ‘The First Lady’ during an interview with the BBC’s Today program, saying that critics “serve no purpose”. The Oscar winner portrayed Michelle Obama, the former first lady, in the film and was “mercilessly picked apart by fans and professional critics… viewers mostly took issue with the actress’ exaggerated pose and facial expressions”. A fan even called the portrayal “unnecessary and borderline insulting”.

The actress admitted that the criticism of her performance was “incredibly hurtful” and said, speaking of film and TV critics in general, “Critics absolutely serve no purpose. And I’m not saying that to be nasty either.”

She said, “They always feel like they’re telling you something that you don’t know. Somehow that you’re living a life that you’re surrounded by people who lie to you and ‘I’m going to be the person that leans in and tells you the truth’. So it gives them an opportunity to be cruel to you… But ultimately I feel like it is my job as a leader to make bold choices. Win or fail it is my duty to do that. People know how they walk, how they talk and how they hold their pearls, so it’s very difficult… Either you’re doing too much or not enough. How do you move on from the hurt, from failure? But you have to. Not everything is going to be an awards-worthy performance.”

Google launches inclusive language assistant

Google is launching an ‘inclusive language’ function designed to avoid the use of politically incorrect words. The tool will be a part of Google Docs and will give pop-up warnings to writers to avoid certain words and phrases that “may not be inclusive to all readers”.

Writers will be prompted to use a different word instead from a list of more acceptable replacements. A few examples include saying “landlord” to suggesting “property owner” or “proprietor” instead. Also, “mankind” to “humankind”, “policeman” to “police officers”, and “housewife” to “stay at home spouse”.

The pop-up message that will be shown as warning will read: “Inclusive warning. Some of these words may not be inclusive to all readers. Consider using different words.”

Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan that was convicted of sexually molesting a 15-year-old refuses to resign

The Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan had been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy and since then local Tories are urging him to resign as promised. He had stated this month that he was planning on resigning, and that his intention to appeal against his conviction had led him to “regrettably come to the conclusion that it is intolerable for constituents to go years without an MP who can amplify their voices in parliament”.

According to The Guardian, “MPs who want to resign have to write to the Treasury to begin the process. A date for a byelection can then be set. However, it is understood that no such letter has yet been received.” Imran Ahmad Khan’s office has also not responded to any inquiries about when he might submit his resignation letter.

This begs the question, why has he not been fired after such a serious charge that he was found guilty for?

Over 50 members of parliament are being investigated for sexual misconduct

A total of 56 MPs have been reported to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), according to the Sunday Times newspaper; they are facing allegations of sexual misconduct in Westminster.

There are around 70 complaints on the 56 alleged offenders, which include allegations such as sexual harassment to other serious wrongdoings.

This comes after a number of incidents such as the called for resignation of Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan after his conviction for sexual assault, and an unnamed Conservative MP being arrested last year on suspicion of rape.

These issues with the behaviours of the MPs come after the MeToo movement sparked many victims to come forward, leading a chain reaction.

Tinder Swindler Simon Leviev wanted by Spanish Authorities for using fake ID

Simon Leviev, aged 31, was the subject of the popular Netflix documentary earlier in 2022 where the conman’s deception was brought to light by three of his victims. After having served time in prison, it seems he may be back in Prison in Spain as it was reported that he was caught by the police using a fake driver’s licence under the name of Michael Bilton.

He had been driving an £80,000 Maserati on a Spanish beach “during a day out with a mystery woman” when the police checked his ID; it is reported by Metro that he was “recognised by a police officer who specialised in spotting falsified documents, after his appearance in the Netflix feature-length documentary”.

The police have reportedly now asked a court in the southern Spanish port city of Algeciras to reopen a criminal investigation into Simon Leviev, after finding him travelling on Michael Bilton’s ID. Initially, the Spanish police had responded to a call about a Maserati Levante stuck in the sand at a beach called Los Lances Sur.

NHS staff to pay £1000 per year for parking

The cost of parking at hospitals for the NHS staff has increased by £90 a year, according to multiple sources, one of which says that doctors, nurses, and other staff will now be paying around £1000 a year to park at work.

Paid parking had been suspended for NHS staff in England during the pandemic, but it has now been reinstated, whereas staff do not pay to park in Wales or Scotland.

The GMB National Officer, Rachel Harrison, said, “We think it’s an appalling decision. The timing of it is even more insulting, especially during the cost of living crisis. The Government has no understanding of what the NHS is facing. We’re two years through a pandemic which is not over. Staff are absolutely exhausted and this is just another thing to discourage them from staying in the NHS. We’re seeing an exodus.”

Nurse Iain Wilson, who pays £8 a day to park at a London hospital, said, “We are still working flat-out for patients day and night. It feels spiteful to be made to pay money to the car park landlords again – and if we don’t pay correctly, get repeated fines and court threats.”

Brits to receive fast track entry into Portugal despite BREXIT limitations on Brits entering EU countries

Portugal has announced that it will fast-track British travellers at border control despite Brexit limitations. Passport e-gate lanes will be available for British travellers at airports in Faro in the Algarve, Funchal in Madeira, Lisbon, and Porto, allowing arrivals to avoid long queues when entering the country.

Travellers will still need to have their passport stamped upon entering the country, but this means that they will not need to queue for manual passport checks, “as stipulated by the EU’s post-Brexit directive”.

The Queen gets her own Barbie doll

Released on the Queen’s 96^th birthday on Thursday last week, the new barbie doll is designed to “capture the Queen’s likeness”. This will be a part of the Barbie tribute collection, which the company says pays tribute to “visionary individuals with an outstanding impact and legacy”.

Queen Elizabeth II’s barbie doll is being released to commemorate her 70 years on the throne. “Dressed in an ivory gown with blue ribbon, the doll features details drawn from the monarch’s past. It wears a recreation of the tiara worn by the Queen on her wedding day, and pink and blue ribbons modelled after ones given to her by her father George VI and grandfather George V, the company says.”

Legal marriage age raised from 16 to 18, jail time is to be sentenced to those found conducting and aiding in underage marriages/weddings

The legal age of marriage and civil partnerships in England and Wales has been raised from 16 to 18; anyone found facilitating underage marriage can be jailed. This bill was introduced in June 2021 and was passed in parliament on Tuesday the 26^th of April 2022 without any opposition. It will receive Royal Assent later this week, meaning that it will become a law.

Until now, people aged 16 or 17 were able to get married with parental consent, however, that will now come to an end and also applied to religious or cultural marriage that are not registered with the couples’ local council.

The children themselves will not face any penalties under the new law, but the adults involved in the conduction or aidance of the underage marriage could face up to seven years in jail and a fine. Adults who take children abroad to get married could also face jail and fines, showing that there will be no exceptions.

Donald Trump and Piers Morgan have a sit down, one of the discussions being Harry and Meghan in which Mr Trump states their titles to be removed.

During a chat with Piers Morgan, the former president of the United States, Donald Trump, has called for the Queen to take away Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s title of their royal status for “disrespecting” the United Kingdom.

Mr Trump admitted that he is “not a fan” of the former actress, who is leading Prince Harry “around by his nose”. This interview aired on Tuesday the 26^th of April at 9pm on Sky News Australia’s Piers Morgan Uncensored.

Piers Morgan asked Mr Trump whether he would strip the couple of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles following their decision to “ditch royal duties” in favour of “a life of luxury in California”, to which Mr Trump stated simply, “I would”.