Russia’s Film Distributor Censors Gay Scenes Out of Rocketman

Expand Musician Elton John and producer David Furnish, right, arrive for the UK Film Premiere of Rocketman at the Odeon Luxe in London, Monday, May 20, 2019. © AP Photo/Frank Augstein Rocketman – the Elton John biopic – opened this weekend to generally great reviews, but cinema-goers in Russia were only getting to see only part of the story. According to the film’s Russian distributor, cuts were made to the blockbuster film to scenes depicting gay sex and men kissing, in order to comply with Russian law. While shocking, it’s not terribly surprising that the homosexuality has been diluted…

Read complete article

~	Ukraine: Civilians killed and injured as attacks on power and rail systems intensify

~	EU Parliament condemns the reintroduction of Georgia's foreign agent bill

~	Uganda’s tax system isn’t bringing in enough revenue, but is targeting small business the answer?

~	Is the London mayoral race tightening? New poll shows Sadiq Khan leads Susan Hall by 13 points

~	Gum arabic from Africa’s acacia trees in the Sahel is used in hundreds of products: what’s worth knowing

~	Young middle-class Nigerians are desperate to leave the country: insights into why

~	Dan Poulter defects from Tories to Labour: inside the art of switching teams

~	Saudi Arabia: Halt Executions of Child Offenders

~	Togo: Elections against a backdrop of muzzling dissenting voices

~	An activist translates Minecraft, manga, and Harry Potter from Russian into the Chuvash language