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Published by New York Daily News With unanimous Democratic support and a dozen Republican votes, the Respect for Marriage Act passed the Senate and will soon land on President Joe Biden’s desk, virtuously affirming that the United States will protect same-sex unions. That this is happening just 26 years after the bill’s nasty twin, the Defense of Marriage Act, passed both houses by veto-proof majorities — and a Democratic president signed it into law — is a testament to the power of a movement to change minds. Many have marveled over the speed with which marriage between two men or two women, once broadly considered a serious… Read More View the full article

Published by City AM By Adam Bloodworth Harun Tulunay lost his job when he was first diagnosed with HIV because he wasn’t aware he was legally protected in the workplace, and stigma around his condition meant it wasn’t easy to speak with his HR department. He is one of many Londoners who has been treated unfairly despite people living with HIV being protected by workplace law under the Disability Act. It is estimated that there is over 107,000 people living with HIV in the UK today, but this World AIDS Day, new data from the Terrence Higgins Trust reveals that 31% of people living with HIV have experienced stigma … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dua Lipa thinks the World Cup offers a “really unique opportunity to hold Qatar to account”. The ‘Cold Heart’ hitmaker was unhappy when rumours spread she was set to perform at the opening ceremony for the soccer tournament because the event “really goes against [her] beliefs” due to the Gulf state’s human rights policies. She told Variety: “The World Cup is a really unique opportunity to hold Qatar to account. “They made pledges on human rights when they signed the deal for the World Cup that have not been satisfactorily met on migrant workers’ rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights and freedom of expression — what kind of message does it send if these pledges mean nothing? “I really have nothing against Qatar, and I hope one day I will get the chance to go there. “But I didn’t like being amongst speculation that I was going to perform for something that really goes against my beliefs.” This isn’t the first time the ‘Levitating’ singer has explained why she wouldn’t want to be associated with this year’s tournament. She wrote on Instagram: “There is currently a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the world cup in Qatar. I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform. “I will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup.” Sir Rod Stewart previously admitted he had rejected a huge pay-day to perform in the country, insisting it “wasn’t right” to go. He said: “I was actually offered a lot of money, over $1 million, to play there 15 months ago. I turned it down. It’s not right to go. And the Iranians should be out too for supplying arms. Tell you what, supporters have got to watch out, haven’t they?” View the full article

Published by AlterNet Right-wing pastor and Oasis Granger founder Lucas Miles appeared on the propaganda network Real America’s Voice on Wednesday and proclaimed that students are infiltrating religious institutions of higher education to join the clergy and brainwash Christians into atheism. Miles: Bible college student enter Bible college as a um, you know, passionate believer and then leave an atheist. And that’s hap – and then go and get a job at a pulpit someplace in America pastoring a church even though themselves, they don’t believe in God. This is happening all the time, and this is one of the things that … Read More View the full article

Published by DPA Mexico fans cheer in the stands prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium. Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa FIFA is investigating the conduct of Mexico fans following the country’s World Cup elimination, with the Mexican football federation saying on Thursday its supporters had been accused of homophobic chants. Mexico went out in the group stage on Wednesday despite beating Saudi Arabia. “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Mexican Football Federation due to chants by Mexican supporters during the Saudi Arabia v. Mexico FIFA World Cup match played on 30 November,” said the FIFA statement, which did not specify the offence. FIFA had already launched an investigation over the same chants after Mexico’s first World Cup match against Poland. According to Mexican media, the federation is now threatened with a more severe punishment. FIFA also said on Thursday that it had charged the Tunisian Football Association after an individual invaded the pitch during Wednesday’s game with France. Tunisia also bowed out of the competition despite a victory. Mexico fans cheer in the stands prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium. Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa View the full article

Published by Reuters By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The threat environment in the United States will remain heightened in coming months, with lone offenders and groups motivated by a range of ideologies posing a danger, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Wednesday. Threat actors could exploit several upcoming events to justify or commit acts of violence, including certifications related to the midterm elections, the holiday season and associated large gatherings and the marking of two years since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, the DHS said in a bulletin. Wednesday’s bulletin, called the “National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin”, was issued to provide the public with information about the threat landscape facing country and how to stay safe. “Our homeland continues to face a heightened threat environment – as we have seen, tragically, in recent acts of targeted violence – and is driven by violent extremists seeking to further a political or social goal or act on a grievance,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. The threat assessment follows the recent Thanksgiving holiday in a week overshadowed by gun violence with two deadly shootings – one where an attacker opened fire in an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, killing five people; and the other wherein a Walmart employee gunned down six coworkers and turned the gun on himself in Chesapeake, Virginia. It was the seventh such advisory issued by DHS since January 2021, when officials turned fresh attention to domestic threats after supporters of then-President Donald Trump had attacked the U.S. Capitol. “Targets of potential violence include public gatherings, faith-based institutions, the LGBTQI+ community, schools, racial and religious minorities, government facilities and personnel, U.S. critical infrastructure, the media, and perceived ideological opponents,” the department said in the bulletin. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Sandra Maler) View the full article

Published by DPA Better late than never: Fantasy fans have been waiting three decades for a sequel to the cult classic "Willow". Disney+ is now bringing back Warwick Davis in the title role for a revival as a series. And yet one key "Willow" star is missing. Lucasfilm Ltd./Disney+/dpa When the fantasy film “Willow” was released in 1988, it was not the box-office hit its makers had hoped to be. This was despite the fact that the story about a small-sized hero who rescues the magical baby Elora from the evil queen and experiences all kinds of adventures along the way was penned by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas. It was only in the following years that “Willow”, starring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley, became a great success on video – as a VHS tape to buy or rent from the video store – and went on to become a cult film. Now, 34 years later, the story is being continued as a TV series. British actor Warwick Davis (52), known from the “Star Wars” films and the “Harry Potter” series, once again takes on the title role. “It’s a dream come true in a sense, not only for me, but obviously for fans who have been shouting at me in the street,” he told dpa. “Not rude things, polite things, saying, ‘all right, when are we going to see a sequel to Willow? We love that movie. I grew up watching it!'” After George Lucas was sceptical about a sequel, there came a lucky coincidence. “Willow” director Ron Howard and Davis, who played a supporting role, worked together again on the film “Solo – A Star Wars Story”. Davis: “I was there kind of playing weasel with long hair, looking very much like an older version of Willow.” Howard introduced him to screenwriter Jonathan Kasdan, who is a big “Willow” fan. “Between the three of us, I just chatted about, you know, making more Willow and I would tell them how popular I felt the film was amongst fans, how many fans there were all over the world,” Davis said. So the three – Howard, Davis and Kasdan, began to put the sequel together. With the support of the influential “Star Wars” producer Kathleen Kennedy, the project finally landed at the streaming service Disney+ – with Kasdan as showrunner, Howard as producer and the good will of Lucas. The eight-part series continues the Willow story some 20 years later. Although all evil should have been defeated with the death of Queen Bavmorda, dark visions plague Willow. One day, a group of youngsters knock on his door in need of his support… Not much more will be divulged here, because the first episode of “Willow” already has a surprise in store. From the cast of the original film, Warwick Davis is joined by Joanne Whalley as Sorsha and Kevin Pollack as Rool. Val Kilmer, who lost his voice after a serious bout with throat cancer, does not take part. “We were extremely sorry not to have him (Val Kilmer) involved physically with the project,” Davis said. Tony Revolori (“Grand Budapest Hotel”), Erin Kellyman (also “Solo – A Star Wars Story”) and Christian Slater (“Mr. Robot”) are the best-known faces of the very diverse cast. The TV series is dark in places and maybe a bit frightening for younger viewers. Visually, it cannot keep up with the charm of the cinema film, while the plot – with its nasty monsters, a dark vision, a planned forced wedding and a secret lesbian love story – can feel confusing and overloaded with so many characters at the beginning. But this is remedied when the aged Willow appears for the first time. “There’s a fundamental emotional feeling of seeing Warwick Davis back in his cloak and costume that’s just so powerfu,” the 43-year-old Kasdan, who grew up in the film industry as the son of Hollywood veteran Lawrence Kasdan (“Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back”), told dpa. Nostalgia is an important factor, he adds. “It brings you back to something you feel you’ve lost that you can’t help but feel you’ve lost if you’re a grownup. And that is really palpable in the show, in the culture right now. It’s something that you can’t deny.” He’s hoping to thrill the many “Willow” fans from back then, but he’s wary: “There’s also a burden on something like this to move it forward and to be as exciting and interesting as possible in a landscape where there’s a lot of places you can go for fantasy. And we tried to do that.” Whether Kasdan, Davis and Co. have succeeded will be shown in the coming weeks. A new “Willow” episode will be streamed every Wednesday. View the full article

Published by The Sacramento Bee SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Four years after California began issuing nonbinary IDs, fewer than 16,000 people have asked the state for a little piece of plastic with their gender marked by an X rather than an F or M. The California Department of Motor Vehicles released the number in response to a California Public Records Act request from The Sacramento Bee. According to the DMV, 3,071 people aged 16 to 19 had nonbinary drivers licenses or state IDs this fall; 3,838 people 20 to 24; and 3,431 people 25 to 29. All told, just over 14,000 people under 40 received this designation. Seven people in their … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin can’t help but notice the election denial movement in Arizona is finally coming to an end, at least it is when it comes to the final certification this year’s statewide races. Writing Wednesday, she noted that there is a near-absence of “voter fraud” claims that came out of Republican losers. While the top candidate, Kari Lake, may never fully embrace her loss, the rest of the Republicans have been largely accepting that voters rejected them. As the Associated Press reported this week, Florida, Georgia and Virginia all set up “law enforcement” units tha… Read More View the full article

Published by Go Kompas.com JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Two Indonesian soldiers have been given a seven-month jail term for having gay sex, which is banned by the nation’s military as “inappropriate behavior”. The soldiers, who joined the army last year and were based on the country’s main island of Java, were also booted from the army, according to a military court ruling dated Nov. 9. While gay sex is barred in the military, it is legal for civilians in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation, except in conservative province Aceh. But there is widespread discrimination and some gay Indonesians have been arrested for lewd… Read More View the full article

Published by The San Diego Union-Tribune SAN DIEGO — For years, Mary Ann Horton’s work as a transgender advocate has included leading workshops where she advises employers on how to make workplaces more inclusive and accessible. In sharing the story of her own transition, people were always telling her they wanted to hear more. With the release of her debut memoir last month, “Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America,” they can. “Now that I’m retired, I have time to tell it properly,” she says. “‘Trailblazer’ is the story of my life becoming a trans woman.” The first chapter of her book was selecte… Read More View the full article

Published by Kyodo News A Japanese court on Wednesday dismissed damages sought by same-sex couples who claimed the government’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. In the suit at the Tokyo District Court, eight plaintiffs, including same-sex couples, sought 1 million yen ($7,200) per person after submitting marriage registration applications but were rejected in accordance with civil law provisions. It was the third ruling among similar lawsuits brought to district courts, with the previous two also rejecting demands for compensation but arriving at different outcomes over the constitutionality of the ban. … Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Ivanka Trump looked unbothered as ever when she headed off to Miami following her lavish family trip to the Middle East. At the same time that she once again took to the skies, her father, Donald Trump, dealt with criticism over the scandalous choice to dine with Kanye West and white nationalist Nick Fuentes, RadarOnline.com has learned. Ivanka dodged a bullet after deciding to step back from politics and not support her father’s 2024 White House campaign because the ex-president is now under fire for entertaining the rapper and the Holocaust denier. mega Ivanka, 41, was dressed in a chic yet comfortable travel look when she was spotted at the Miami International Airport on Tuesday morning. The businesswoman donned a clean makeup look, blue jeans, combat boots, and a camel-colored sweater as she made her way through the airport. The former first daughter look distressed over her father’s most recent scandal. Over Thanksgiving week, the disgraced ex-prez hosted Ye and Fuentes at his Mar-A-Lago estate for an intimate sit-down dinner. Ye had recently announced that he would also be throwing in his hat for the 2024 White House run. The meeting quickly caused backlash due to the rapper’s recent antisemitic statements, as well as Fuentes’ history of promoting white supremest ideals and openly denying the Holocaust. Attempting to walk back the invite, Trump released a statement days later in response to criticism. mega “This past week, Kanye West called me to have dinner at Mar-A-Lago,” Trump said on November 25 via his social media site Truth Social. “Shortly thereafter, he unexpectedly showed up with three of his friends, whom I knew nothing about.” Trump said that the dinner included “many members present on the back patio,” adding the meeting “was quick and uneventful.” While Ivanka wasn’t present for her father’s dinner with Ye, the former White House aid was not far from scandals during her Middle East tour. mega Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, were criticized after they were seen fraternizing with the Prime Minister of Qatar at a FIFA World Cup 2022 match. Ivanka and Jared spoke with the Qatar PM at length in the stadium’s exclusive corporate boxes. Qatar has been the subject of human rights violation debates in addition to controversy over the country’s open anti-LGBTQ policies and culture. View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega;@SIOHVAUGHNFUNCHESWADE/INSTAGRAM Dwyane Wade is standing by his decision to file a motion to officially change the name and gender of his transgender daughter, RadarOnline.com has confirmed, firing back at his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches‘ concerns in a new court filing. The NBA star declared it is “not about Siohvaughn or Dwyane or their prior marriage; it is about what Zaya wants and what is in her best interest,” according to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com. mega Her name would be legally changed from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade if approved. As we previously learned, Funches asked a judge to intervene in a new filing years after Zaya came out as transgender in 2019 at the age of 12. Siohvaughn expressed her fears that Wade is persuading her to proceed with the legal name and gender change for financial gain, noting that she wants Zaya to wait until she is 18 before she does it. mega Wade fired back, as first reported by The Blast on Tuesday, stating the legal change is about empowering “Zaya to live her truth, allowing Zaya to take on the milestones of being a young adult with confidence and joy, and to ensure that those moments are not clouded by the self-doubt that comes from checking a box or signing a name that does not reflect her identity.” The Miami Heat shooting guard said it would not only honor the individual she is but it also would allow Zaya to “live more comfortably and honesty in all aspects of her life-from simple introductions and food orders, to applying for a driver’s license and filling out college applications.” mega Wade highlighted that it’s for Zaya “regardless of whether it generates interest from the public,” adding, “Zaya should not be forced to put her life on hold while she waits for Siohvaughn to acknowledge and accept her truth.” Wade has been very outspoken about his support for his daughter’s gender identity, sharing her coming out story on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February 2020. RadarOnline.com can confirm both parties will have to wait until December 12 for an update, at which point a judge will decide if the case will proceed in California or be argued in Illinois. View the full article

Published by Tribune News Service In the summer and fall of 2022, “Bros” and “Fire Island” made inroads as high-profile gay rom-coms, queering the familiar genre. Now, arriving just in time for Christmas, we have “Spoiler Alert,” a heart-rending holiday weepie about two men in love, facing cancer together. Based on the memoir by TV journalist Michael Ausiello, “Spoiler Alert” tells the story of Ausiello’s marriage to Kit Cowan: how they fell in love and forged a partnership, with all the attendant struggles of a long-term relationship, and then walked together through Kit’s battle with a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer. “Th… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Xinghui Kok and Chen Lin SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Olivia Chiong and her wife feel like the Singapore government has made clear to them and their two children that they don’t belong in the city-state. So this week’s vote by Singapore’s parliament to decriminalise gay sex changed nothing about the family’s painful decision to leave rather than see their children denied schooling – because their legal status remains the same. Though Indonesia-born Chiong lived in Singapore for decades as a permanent resident, married a Singaporean citizen abroad and gave birth to their first child in Singapore, h… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Senate bill that would protect federal recognition of same-sex marriage secured enough votes to pass on Tuesday, in a measure taken up in response to worries the Supreme Court could overturn a 2015 decision that legalized it nationwide. (Reporting by Moira Warburton; Editing by Chris Reese) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Leo Woodall was shocked into “silence” when he learned about his ‘White Lotus’ sex scene. The 26-year-old actor stars as Essex boy Jack in the HBO comedy series set at a vacation resort and while viewers have been led to believe that the character of Quentin – played by ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star Tom Hollander, 55, – is his uncle, he was surprised to learn that that was not the case at all and the pair were actually due to film a sex scene together. He said: “Well,[I didn’t know], not right when I signed on, but it wasn’t too long after that. I’d been told I might have a rumble and tumble with a couple of characters, but I didn’t know who. When I was told that Tom Hollander was playing my uncle, I was already elated. Then the news dropped about that moment and I just had about ten seconds of silence, digesting it. Tom and I were both a bit nervous, but Mike White was very light about everything, especially on the day. “ The ‘Cherry’ star went on to add that there was an intimacy coordinator on set and joked that the day was “definitely a bonding moment” but he just wanted to “mentally prepare” for going into the “best job” on television. He told Vulture: “We were filming other things before, and he was like, “… Are you ready?” We had a really good intimacy coordinator, who took it seriously but also had fun with it. Definitely a bonding moment. The whole job was about mentally preparing to go into the best show in the world, so everything that came with it took some mental preparation. My first day of filming was actually that sexy scene with Haley. That was the introduction to this job. Quite rock and roll! “But [Tom] is a gentleman and a true professional. There was a moment where he gave me a real boost because I was feeling very overwhelmed early on. On our second shoot day, he just sort of figuratively put an arm around me and was supportive. I’ve got a lot of respect for that.” View the full article

Published by AFP The US Supreme Court heard the first immigration case of the current term Washington (AFP) – The US Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case brought by border state Texas challenging the federal government’s right to decide which undocumented migrants should be targeted for deportation. Defending the Biden’s administration’s policy, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said the federal government has to prioritize its efforts because it does not have the resources to pursue the 11 million undocumented “noncitizens” in the country. “This is not about reducing enforcement of the immigration laws, it’s about prioritizing limited resources to say go after Person A instead of Person B,” Prelogar said. After more than two hours of arguments, the nine justices on the conservative-majority court did not appear to fall clearly on one side or the other of the case, which also raises thorny questions of the legality of state challenges to federal policies. “It means that states can challenge the federal government on any policy with which they disagree,” Prelogar said. “Federal courts should not be transformed into open forums for each and every policy dispute between the states and the national government.” Texas filed suit after the Department of Homeland Security, in a September 2021 memo, instructed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to concentrate expulsion efforts on persons who “pose a threat to national security, public safety, and border security.” “We do not have the resources to apprehend and seek the removal of every one of these noncitizens,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. “Therefore, we need to exercise our discretion and determine whom to prioritize for immigration enforcement action.” Texas solicitor general Judd Stone said prioritizing expulsion of undocumented migrants to certain categories of persons would impose costs on the state, which shares a border with Mexico and is an entry point for hundreds of thousands of immigrants every year. “Texas suffers injuries, regardless of what it does, whether it detains, releases or paroles individuals because we have not only law enforcement costs, but social services costs and very serious threats of recidivism,” Stone said. ‘Zenith of federal power’ Elena Kagan, one of the three liberal justices on the court, appeared skeptical about the costs argument and the potential danger of limiting federal authority. “Immigration policy is supposed to be the zenith of federal power,” Kagan said. “And instead, we’re creating a system where a combination of states and courts can bring immigration policy to a dead halt. “We’re going to be in a situation where every administration is confronted by suits by states that can, you know, bring a policy to a dead halt, to a dead stop, by just showing a dollars worth of costs,” Kagan said. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked the Texas solicitor general what would happen if the court rules in favor of Texas, whose Republican governor has been sending busloads of immigrants to Democratic-ruled states. “If you prevail here, what will happen?” Kavanaugh said. “That’s a concern because I’m not sure much will change because they don’t have the resources to change.” The Biden administration’s move to target individuals considered a threat to national security or public safety for deportation represented a shift from the policy of the administration of former president Donald Trump, which called for the expulsion of “all removable aliens.” The Biden policy was immediately challenged by several Republican-led states as being too narrow and was blocked by a court in Texas. The Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling by the end of June. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Andrew Mills and Charlotte Bruneau DOHA (Reuters) -The United States triumphed on the pitch over longtime adversary Iran on Tuesday in a World Cup showdown overshadowed by protests raging in Iran and laced with decades of political tension between the two countries. The contest between the two nations, who severed ties more than 40 years ago, was held with increased security to prevent a flare-up over the unrest that has gripped Iran since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on Sept. 16. In a show of solidarity with protesters in Iran ahead of the match, the U.S. Soccer Federation temporarily displayed Iran’s national flag without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, leading Tehran to complain to FIFA. Qatar, which has strong ties with Washington and friendly relations with Tehran, has staked its reputation on delivering a smooth World Cup, beefing up security at Iran games and banning some items deemed inflammatory, like Iran’s pre-revolution flag. U.S.-Iranian tensions have worsened since 2018 when then-President Donald Trump abandoned Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers. Efforts to salvage the pact under President Joe Biden’s administration have stalled. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Romania, played down any link between the match and political tensions and said he hoped the game would “speak for itself”, adding that he would be watching and cheering on his country. In sporting terms, the 1-0 win for the United States means they progress to the knockout stage, while Iran are out of the competition. But for fans attending the first World Cup in the Middle East, or watching across the world, Iran’s domestic politics and its four decades of troubled relations with the United States formed the dominant backdrop to the sporting contest. Extra security personnel, some mounted on horseback, patrolled outside the stadium ahead of the match while guards at the perimeter made Iranians unfurl their flags before entering. Police were stationed throughout the stadium alongside regular security guards. Some carried batons. Early in the second half, a group of fans briefly held up letters spelling Mahsa Amini’s name, to applause from Iranian supporters around them. Security personnel took their signs but allowed them to remain in their seats. A Qatari official said before the match that authorities would ensure all matches were “safe and welcoming for all spectators”. Items that “could increase tensions and risk the safety of fans” would not be permitted at stadiums. Gulf Arab monarchies, including Qatar, do not tolerate domestic dissent and protests are rare in the region. “NOT MY TEAM” Ahead of the match, some fans outside Al Thumama Stadium sought to highlight the protests which authorities in Iran have tried for more than two months to quell. “Everybody should know about this. We don’t have voice in Iran,” said an Iranian living in the United States who gave his name only as Sam. He raised his shirt to show a T-shirt underneath with the protesters’ slogan: “Woman, Life, Freedom”. Speaking by phone from Tehran shortly before kick-off, 21-year-old Elham said she wanted the United States to win because victory for the national squad, known as Team Melli, would be a gift for Iranian authorities. “This is not my national team. It is not the Melli team, it is the mullahs’ team,” she said. Under pressure to publicly support protesters at home, the Iran team declined to sing the national anthem in their first game against England, which they lost 6-2. But they sang it ahead of their second match, a 2-0 victory over Wales, and again on Tuesday. The unrest in Iran poses one of the boldest challenges to the theocracy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The United States has imposed sanctions on Iranian officials over the crackdown on protesters. Washington and Tehran severed formal relations in 1980 after the revolution. When their soccer teams clashed in the 1998 World Cup, Iran emerged with a 2-1 victory. Steve Garcia, from Phoenix, Arizona, said the United States and Iran had their differences but could come together in sport. “I know there’s a lot of politics going on, but the way I look at it like – hey, we’re here to have a common bond, which is the sport of football, soccer,” he said. (Addional reporting by Maya Gebeily, Parisa Hafezi and Elwely Elwelly; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous and Dominic Evans; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Rosalba O’Brien) View the full article

Published by AFP New York mayor Eric Adams has made fighting violent crime the centerpiece of his work running America's largest city New York (AFP) – New York will start involuntarily hospitalizing mentally ill people who live in the street or on the subway, Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday in a new push to fight growing crime. “If severe mental illness is causing someone to be unsheltered and a danger to themselves, we have a moral obligation to help them get the treatment and care they need,” said Adams, a moderate Democrat and former police officer who is making the battle against violent crime the centerpiece of his work running America’s largest city. Next year the state legislature and executive branch will consider a bill allowing police, health care professionals and social workers to intervene and seek to hospitalize by force if necessary homeless people deemed to have psychiatric problems. “A common misunderstanding persists that we cannot provide involuntary assistance unless the person is violent, suicidal, or presenting a risk of imminent harm,” the mayor said. “This myth must be put to rest. Going forward, we will make every effort to assist those who are suffering from mental illness and whose illness is endangering them by preventing them from meeting their basic human needs,” he added. After taking office in January, Adams quickly pledged to remove the many homeless people who live in the city’s vast subway system. This came after a young Asian-American woman was pushed to her death in front of an oncoming train by a man with mental health issues who was known to police and hospital officials. New York City has an estimated 50,000 homeless people. Crime rose in New York in 2021 as the pandemic started to ease, and people’s sense of not being safe on the streets grew this year in some areas of the city after a number of shooting and stabbing deaths. A total of 391 people have been killed in New York as of November 27, compared to 440 in all of 2021, according to New York Police Department statistics that are updated weekly. View the full article

Published by AFP For Iranian fans watching the US-Iran game in the United States, there were mixed emotions Los Angeles (AFP) – It was — mostly — about the football for fans watching the Iran-USA game in the United States on Tuesday, a match played against the backdrop of soaring geopolitical tensions, which occasionally poked their way through the sport. Scores of supporters packed a restaurant in a part of Los Angeles known locally as “Tehrangeles” because of the large number of Iranians and Iranian-Americans in the area, cheering their way through a lively meet-up happening half a world away. Chants of “USA, USA” erupted periodically as the US men’s team dominated action on the pitch in Qatar, bagging their first win of the tournament by a score of 1-0 and securing a spot in the knock-out stage. For some Iranian-Americans, either outcome would have worked. “I support both,” said a woman who gave her name only as Shirin. Iran’s team have been under intense scrutiny in Qatar, their players watched for signs that they are — or are not — showing support for mass anti-government demonstrations back home, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in custody of the notorious morality police on September 16. Players opted not to sing their national anthem before Iran’s 6-2 defeat to England, in an apparent sign of support for the demonstrators at home, but did sing ahead of their 2-0 win against Wales. As the anthem struck up ahead of Tuesday’s kick-off, some Iranian fans in Los Angeles raised their middle fingers to the screen as players mouthed the words. Others were more reserved. “Honestly, considering the situation in Iran I found myself torn, so I felt good about the game either way honestly,” said Aubteen Maroufi, an Iranian-American in his 20s. In a bar in Washington DC, one Iranian-American who gave his name as Mike said he had mixed feelings about the game, but had been rooting for the United States. “I didn’t want it to give another joy to the Iranian government,” he said. “My heart is with the Iranian people, not with the government.” Iranian-American student Darius, 23, said Iran’s players were in a difficult position. “With all that what’s going on in the country, they’re playing for more than just themselves, more than just a team,” he told AFP. “They’re playing for the people back home.” US fans in Los Angeles, basking in victory as “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen reverberated over the restaurant’s sound system, said the game and the politics were separate. “I don’t think supporting the Iran players means you are supporting the regime. It’s two different things,” said supporter Max Spear. “I know some people used the game to show support to the revolution by booing the national anthem, but I don’t think this game is a West versus East thing.” There was some animosity, with one group of younger men wearing Iranian jerseys making rude gestures every time a US player appeared on screen — although whether this was because of diplomatic tensions or good old-fashioned footballing rivalry was difficult to tell. “We played hard,” said one of the men, kissing his jersey. One Iranian-American, who gave her name as Rachel, said she was firmly in the US camp. “I’ve been living here for so long, 30 years,” she told AFP. But asked about the politics of her adopted homeland meeting its biggest international foe in metaphorical battle, she demurred. “It’s a really complicated question, I don’t want to answer it,” she said. burs-hg/dw View the full article

Published by AlterNet Fox News propagandist Tucker Carlson, whose nightly show frequently has the largest reach of any on cable news, regularly attacks the LGBTQ community with fear-mongering and hate-filled segments about gay people, transgender people, “groomers” and the latest target: “drag queen story hours.” His senior executive producer, who oversees Carlson’s media empire at Fox News, is a married, out, gay man named Justin Wells, according to veteran journalist and SiriusXM Progress host Michelangelo Signorile, who is calling it “beyond horrific to think a gay man has helped to shape and widely disseminate … Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Fountains of lava upto 200 feet (60 meters) high are spewing from Mauna Loa in Hawaii Los Angeles (AFP) – Fountains of lava up to 200 feet (60 meters) high have been fired into the air from Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, geologists say, generating rivers of molten rock from the world’s largest active volcano. Four fissures have now opened up on the mammoth mountain, which burst into life on Sunday for the first time in almost 40 years. Vast clouds of steam and smoke were billowing into the sky from the volcano, which makes up half of Hawaii’s Big Island. “Estimates of the tallest fountain heights are between 100–200 feet” but most are much smaller, the United States Geological Survey said in an update Monday. “There is a visible gas plume from the erupting fissure fountains and lava flows, with the plume primarily being blown to the Northwest.” Geologists say there is currently no risk to people and property below the eruption. “The longest and largest lava flow is issuing from fissure three,” the USGS said Tuesday. “This lava flow crossed the Mauna Loa Weather Observatory Road… and the flow front was located approximately six miles (10 kilometers) from Saddle Road (the main road at the foot of the northern flank).” The lava fountain from the newest fissure was up to 33 feet high, the agency said. Everything is currently contained in the Northeast Rift Zone, the USGS said, but warned Mauna Loa is a dynamic volcano. “Additional fissures could open along the Northeast Rift Zone below the current location, and lava flows can continue to travel downslope.” Pressure has been building at Mauna Loa for years, the USGS said, and the eruption — which lit up the night sky — could be seen 45 miles (72 kilometers) away, in the west coast town of Kona. While lava is not presently a risk to populations, scientists have said winds could carry volcanic gas and fine ash downslope, as well as Pele’s Hair — fine strands of volcanic glass formed when lava skeins cool quickly in the air. Named after Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, the strands can be very sharp and pose potential danger to skin and eyes. ‘Long Mountain’ Authorities in Hawaii have not issued any evacuation orders, although the summit area and several roads in the region were closed, and two shelters have been opened as a precaution. The largest volcano on Earth by volume, Mauna Loa, whose name means “Long Mountain,” is larger than the rest of the Hawaiian islands combined. The volcano’s submarine flanks stretch for miles to an ocean floor that is in turn depressed by Mauna Loa’s great mass — making its summit some 11 miles above its base, according to the USGS. One of six active volcanoes on the Hawaiian islands, Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843. Its most recent eruption, in 1984, lasted 22 days and produced lava flows reached to within about four miles of Hilo. Kilauea, a volcano on the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa, erupted almost continuously between 1983 and 2019, and a minor eruption there has been ongoing for months. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Stewart Rhodes, founder of the right-wing Oath Keepers militia group, was found guilty on Tuesday of seditious conspiracy for last year’s attack on the U.S. Capitol in a failed bid to overturn then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss – an important victory for the Justice Department. The verdicts against Rhodes and four co-defendants, after three days of deliberations by the 12-member jury, came in the highest-profile trial so far to emerge from the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, with other high-profile trials due to begin next month. Rhodes, a Yale Law School-educated former Army paratrooper and disbarred attorney, was accused by prosecutors during an eight-week trial of fomenting a plot to use force to try to block Congress from certifying Democratic President Joe Biden’s election victory over Trump, a Republican. Rhodes was convicted on three counts and acquitted on two. One of his co-defendants, Kelly Meggs, was also found guilty of seditious conspiracy while the three others – Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins and Thomas Caldwell – were acquitted of that charge. All five defendants were convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding – the congressional certification of the election results – with mixed verdicts on a handful of other charges. The charges of seditious conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding each carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta presided over the trial. Rhodes, who wears an eye patch after accidentally shooting himself in the face with his own gun, is one of the most prominent defendants of the roughly 900 charged so far in connection with the attack. Meggs, who heads the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers, was the only defendant besides Rhodes in this trial who played a leadership role in the organization. Rhodes in 2009 founded the Oath Keepers, a militia group whose members include current and retired U.S. military personnel, law enforcement officers and first responders. Its members have showed up, often heavily armed, at protests and political events around the United States including the racial justice demonstrations following the murder of a Black man named George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer. ‘MIXED BAG’ Rhodes’ lawyer Ed Tarpley called the verdicts in the trial “a mixed bag.” “We are grateful for the not guilty verdicts received, we are disappointed in the guilty verdicts,” Tarpley told reporters outside court. “There was no evidence introduced to indicate there was a plan to attack the Capitol.” Prosecutors during the trial said Rhodes and his co-defendants planned to use force to prevent Congress from formally certifying Biden’s election victory. Meggs, Watkins and Harrelson all entered the Capitol clad in tactical gear. The defendants was were accused of creating a “quick reaction force” that prosecutors said positioned at a nearby Virginia hotel and was equipped with firearms that could be quickly transported into Washington if summoned. Fifty witnesses testified during the trial. Rhodes and two of his co-defendants testified in their own defense. They denied plotting any attack or seeking to block Congress from certifying the election results, though Watkins admitted to impeding police officers protecting the Capitol. Rhodes told the jury he had no plan to storm the Capitol and did not learn that some of his fellow Oath Keepers had breached the building until after the riot had ended. Prosecutors during cross-examination sought to paint Rhodes as a liar, showing him page after page of his inflammatory text messages, videos, photos and audio recordings. These included Rhodes lamenting about not bringing rifles to Washington on Jan. 6 and saying he could have hanged U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat reviled by the right, from a lamppost. Watkins, a transgender woman who fled the U.S. Army after being confronted with homophobic slurs, and Caldwell, a disabled U.S. Navy veteran, also chose to testify. Watkins admitted to having “criminal liability” for impeding police officers inside the Capitol and apologized. At the same time, Watkins denied having any plan to storm the building, describing being “swept up” just as enthusiastic shoppers behave on “Black Friday” when they rush into stores to purchase discount-price holiday gifts like TVs. Caldwell, who like Rhodes did not enter the Capitol building and never formally joined the Oath Keepers, tried to downplay some of the inflammatory texts he sent in connection with the attack. Caldwell said some of the lines were adapted from or inspired by movies such as “The Princess Bride” and cartoons such as Bugs Bunny. Four other Oath Keepers members charged with seditious conspiracy are due to go to trial in December. Members of another right-wing group called the Proud Boys, including its former chairman Enrique Tarrio, also are due to head to trial on seditious conspiracy charges in December. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Additional reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Scott Malone and Will Dunham) View the full article