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Protesters in Hungary block roads, bridges in opposition to new law banning LGBTQ+ Pride events

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Several thousand protesters blocked major thoroughfares and three bridges in the center of Hungary’s capital on Tuesday in opposition to a recent law that effectively bans LGBTQ+ Pride events and restricts Hungarians’ right to assembly.

The demonstration was the second within a week since Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party used its two-thirds parliamentary majority last Tuesday to fast-track the law, seen by critics as the government’s latest crackdown on the rights of the country’s LGBTQ+ community.

Chanting “democracy” and “assembly is a fundamental right,” thousands of the demonstrators poured onto one of the city’s busiest roads, igniting colorful smoke bombs and blocking traffic. In the coming hours, they went on to blockade three of the city’s bridges spanning the Danube, facing lines of police blocking their path.

One of the demonstrators, 26-year-old Paula Antalfy, said she believed the government’s recent steps to ban certain public events were “yet another step in the direction of dismantling democracy.”

“I feel like love should be free, and who you love is not a decision in any way,” she said. “That we would not be able to gather like this, as we do now, and stand in our own streets, in our own city, is something I just can’t agree with.”

Hungary’s new law, which is reminiscent of similar restrictions against sexual minorities in Russia, amends rules on assembly to make it an offense to hold or attend events that violate Hungary’s contentious child protection legislation, which prohibits the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors under 18.

Authorities may now use facial recognition tools to identify individuals that attend prohibited events — such as the popular Budapest Pride which draws tens of thousands each year — and can issue fines for violators of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($546).

Hungary’s right-wing populist prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has in recent years taken aim at the country’s LGBTQ+ community, prohibiting same-sex adoption and — in a 2021 child protection law — banning any LGBTQ+ content including in television, films, advertisements and literature that is available to minors.

Orbán’s party plans to adopt a constitutional amendment in April that will codify the ban on public LGBTQ+ events. His government argues that its policies are designed to protect children from “sexual propaganda,” but critics view them as part of a broader effort to scapegoat sexual minorities and mobilize his conservative base.

Last week, a spokesperson for the United Nations’ human rights commission said that the recent law “results in arbitrary and discriminatory restrictions on the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and privacy.”

The statement drew attention to a part of the law which authorizes the government to use facial recognition technology to identify and fine participants of prohibited events, saying such tools “should never be deployed in a discriminatory manner through targeted surveillance of peaceful assemblies of LGBTIQ+ persons or other marginalized groups.”

Budapest Pride organizers, as well as Budapest’s mayor, have vowed to go ahead with the city’s Pride events, which are set to celebrate their 30th anniversary this summer. In response to the recent law, Pride organizers wrote: “This is not child protection, this is fascism.”

The organizer of Tuesday’s protest, independent lawmaker Ákos Hadházy, called on Hungarians to continue taking to the streets until the government repeals the law. He told the crowd the government’s measures to restrict the right of assembly and utilize surveillance tools against protesters was the start of “techno-fascism” in Hungary.

Benedek Lakos, a 27-year-old member of Budapest’s LGBTQ+ community who attended the Tuesday demonstration, said he has not previously been active in expressing his opinion about actions taken by Hungary’s government.

But the latest law, he said, had been “the last straw.”

“I feel now for a number of reasons that we have reached a level where, if there are no visible consequences for this (law) from the people, we can just start digging our own graves,” he said.



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What to Stream: ‘Andor,’ ‘Babygirl’ and new Wu Tang Clan music

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NEW YORK (AP) — The second season of the Star Wars series “Andor” and the streaming release of the Wu Tang Clan’s latest album are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Willie Nelson releases his 77th solo studio album, “Oh What A Beautiful World,” and the arrival of Nicole Kidman’s “Babygirl” on Max.

New movies to stream from April 21-27

– Halina Reijn’s “Babygirl” (streaming April 25 on Max) stars Nicole Kidman as a CEO who has an affair with a much younger male intern ( Harris Dickinson ). The A24 film, which earned Kidman a Golden Globe nomination, resurrects the steamy, campy atmosphere of erotic thrillers like “Basic Instinct” and “9 ½ Weeks” but tells it from a more female perspective. In my review, I wrote that the “ever-shifting gender and power dynamics make ‘Babygirl’ seldom predictable — even if the film is never quite as daring as it seems to thinks it is.”

– Gareth Evans, the Welsh filmmaker of “The Raid” franchise, returns with more brutal, choreographed mayhem in “Havoc” (Netflix, April 25), an action thriller starring Tom Hardy as a detective battling a criminal underworld. Jessie Mei Li, Timothy Olyphant, Forest Whitaker and Luis Guzmán co-star.

New music to stream from April 21-27

Wu-Tang Clan is forever, but their touring days are numbered. In June, the legendary hip-hop group will embark on a final tour titled the “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber.” Whether you’re planning on attending or not, there is no bad time to throw on one of their records. On Friday, April 25, Wu-Tang’s joint album with Mathematics, “Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman,” released earlier this month as a Record Store Day exclusive, will hit streaming platforms. Why not start there?

— Calling Willie Nelson prolific is about as revelatory as saying the sky is blue; it is self-evident. On Friday, he’ll release his 77th solo studio album, “Oh What A Beautiful World,” celebrating the work of songwriter Rodney Crowell. Nelson embodies many Crowell classics – like 1976’s “Banks Of The Old Bandera,” recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker and 1981’s “Shame On The Moon” for Bob Seger. Crowell and Nelson join forces on the song’s title cut. The album also arrives just five months after his 76th solo studio album, “Last Leaf on the Tree,” his first produced entirely by his son Micah. “He’s a real artist,” Nelson described his son to The Associated Press at the time. “He picked all the songs.”

Twangy punk band Rodeo Boys are experts in sugary, spirited hooks – from 2019’s debut “Cherry” to their 2023 Don Giovanni Records debut “Home Movies.” But the Lansing, Michigan, group’s 2025 album “Junior,” out Friday, that takes them to great new heights — a collection of sardonic, queer Americana, melodic songs for and by the heartland. The best description of the band is the one they wrote themselves: “Rodeo Boys is what happens when the Miller High Life gets legs and starts walking around on its own.” Yeehaw.

New television to stream from April 21-27

— The “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” prequel series “Andor” returns for its second and final season Tuesday on Disney+. Diego Luna stars as Rebel spy Cassian Andor and follows his radicalization against the Galactic Empire leading up to “Rogue One” and “Star Wars.” The first season of “Andor” was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding drama series and received praise from critics. It also stars Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Stellan Skarsgard, Fiona Shaw and Genevieve O’Reilly.

— Penn Badgley is closing out his chapter as the stalking serial killer Joe Goldberg –who is also disturbingly likeable but that’s for a therapy session– in Netflix’s “You.” Its fifth and final season debuts Thursday. While Season 4 took place in London with Joe working as a literature professor, he’s now returned to his hometown of New York. Joe is married to Kate Lockwood (played by Charlotte Ritchie) whom he met in season four — and they’re a New York power couple. Joe is happy with Kate and intends to stop killing people, but the guy is prone to building tangled webs of obsession that leave dead bodies in his wake. The new episodes also feature Madeline Brewer of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and Anna Camp.

— In Season 1 of Hulu’s “Vanderpump Villa,” Lisa Vanderpump oversaw a young staff at French chateau that both lived and worked together for the summer. For Season 2, she’s relocated to a castle in Italy and brought roughly half of the “Villa” staff with her. She’s also invited “Vanderpump” all-star, Stassi Schroeder to be a special VIP and to serve as her eyes and ears with the staff. Schroeder starred on “Vanderpump Rules” for eight seasons before she was fired for slurs and racial profiling in 2020. Schroeder has since written two best-selling books, launched a new podcast, got married and become a mother of two. She also has her own show for Hulu in the works. “Vanderpump Villa” premieres Thursday.

— When Brett Goldstein isn’t writing and acting in hit shows like “Ted Lasso” and “Shrinking,” he’s a busy stand-up comedian. Goldstein recently taped his first comedy special called “Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life” for Max. It premieres Saturday.

— Bravo has tapped some of its most famous single ladies from “The Real Housewives” to star in a new dating show called “Love Hotel.” Cameras follow Shannon Storms Beador (“The Real Housewives of Orange County”), Luann de Lesseps (“The Real Housewives of New York City”), and Gizelle Bryant and Ashley Darby (“The Real Housewives of Potomac”) as they stay at a hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico and meet eligible bachelors who are just visitors to the property, unless they get an official invite from one of the ladies to check in. Bravo superfan Joel Kim Booster hosts as their “Love Concierge.” “Love Hotel,” premiering Sunday on Bravo, streams next day on Peacock.

New video games to play week of April 21-27

— Every year, the mystical Paintress paints a new number, and every person of that age dies. This year’s number is 33, so its up to the crew of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to try to stop her. It’s the debut title from French developer Sandfall Interactive, and it aspires to the storytelling, exploration and turn-based team combat of classic role-playing games like Final Fantasy and Persona. The graphics evoke the lush glamor of Belle Epoque Paris, while the voice cast features heavyweights like Charlie Cox (“Daredevil”) and Andy Serkis (“The Lord of the Rings”). It’s rare for a young studio to launch such an ambitious RPG series — and we’ll see if it pays off Thursday, April 24, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

Lou Kesten



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A Pentecostal church in South Africa holds mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous

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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A Pentecostal church in South Africa celebrated Easter Sunday with mass wedding ceremonies for around 3,000 people, with many of them entering into polygamous marriages.

The International Pentecost Holiness Church said mass weddings are part of its Easter festivities and the tradition of polygamy, which is observed in some African cultures, has been incorporated into the church.

Sunday’s ceremonies would see some men marry their sixth or seventh wives, church spokesperson Vusi Ndala said. Other grooms were set to marry multiple brides at one time, Ndala said.

“Polygamy is not only embraced but held in high regard” in the church, Ndala said.

A man with his wife and two of his brides walk, during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A man with his wife and two of his brides walk, during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A man with his wife and two of his brides walk, during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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Couples dance as they enter the church building during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church, in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Couples dance as they enter the church building during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church, in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Couples dance as they enter the church building during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church, in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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People queue during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

People queue during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

People queue during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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The International Pentecost Holiness Church was founded in South Africa in the early 1960s. It is an African-initiated church, meaning it was founded by Africans rather than foreign missionaries, and blends Pentecostal beliefs with local traditions.

The church has held mass weddings before, including in 2023 when around 400 couples or bridal parties tied the knot. It says this year’s event was its largest by far.

Ndala said the large number of people being married this year was because of “a large number of men marrying more than one wife at a go.”

In some cases, grooms brought their current wife or wives to be with them for their new marriage.

The weddings were held at the church’s headquarters, a huge, dome-shaped building in the town of Heidelberg, near Johannesburg, that can seat 60,000 people.

The congregants who were being married waited in long white tents set up in open fields next to the church building, where they were given bridal flowers, food packs and water. They then filed into the church building in long queues, the women wearing white bridal gowns and many of the men in matching white suits and red ties.

Polygamy is legal in South Africa if the union is registered as a customary marriage.

A man with his wife and two of his brides sits inside a marquee ahead of the mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A man with his wife and two of his brides sits inside a marquee ahead of the mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A man with his wife and two of his brides sits inside a marquee ahead of the mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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A groom in a wheelchair is assisted by a fellow member whilst his two brides walk in front, during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at The International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A groom in a wheelchair is assisted by a fellow member whilst his two brides walk in front, during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at The International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A groom in a wheelchair is assisted by a fellow member whilst his two brides walk in front, during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at The International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

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AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa



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Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite dog breed race for glory in the UK’s Corgi Derby

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LONDON (AP) — Some of the fastest canines on four very short legs have raced for glory in Scotland’s annual Corgi Derby.

The Musselburgh Racecourse Corgi Derby was first held in 2022 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. The late monarch was a devoted corgi fan who owned almost 30 of the breed over the decades, along with a few dorgis – a corgi-dachshund cross.

Four-year-old Juno beat a 16-strong field of dashing dogs dressed in bright sweaters over the 230-foot (70-meter) race on Saturday at the racecourse outside Edinburgh. She came from behind in the final stretch to beat last year’s winner, Rodney.

The winner and her owners, Alisdair Tew and Fran Brandon, were presented with a trophy and dog treats by tennis coach Judy Murray, mother of Scottish star Andy Murray.

Tew told the BBC that “we trained her for this last year but this year we just resorted to just letting her chasing things, particularly seagulls” on Edinburgh’s Portobello Beach.

“Juno is always ready for treats -– that is probably why she won,” he said.

Elizabeth’s love of corgis began in 1933 when her father, King George VI, brought home a Pembroke Welsh corgi they named Dookie

Corgis were often by Elizabeth’s side in the decades before her death in September 2022 — accompanying her on official tours, reportedly sleeping in their own room at Buckingham Palace and occasionally nipping the ankles of visitors or royal family members.

Three corgis even appeared alongside the queen as she climbed into James Bond’s waiting helicopter in the spoof video that opened the 2012 London Olympics.



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