RadioRob

Published by Reuters DOHA (Reuters) – A U.S. journalist said he was briefly detained on Monday when he tried to enter a World Cup stadium in Qatar while wearing a rainbow shirt in support of the LGBTQ community in a country where same-sex relations are illegal. Grant Wahl, a former Sports Illustrated journalist who now has his own website, said World Cup security denied him entry to the United States’ opener against Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and asked him to take his shirt off. He said his phone was taken away when he tweeted about the incident. “I’m OK, but that was an unnecessary ordeal,” Wahl wrote on Twitter. He said a security commander later approached him, apologized and allowed him into the venue. He also later received an apology from a representative of FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, he said. Reuters has contacted FIFA for comment. Seven European World Cup countries earlier on Monday ditched plans for their respective captains to wear OneLove armbands after FIFA threatened to issue yellow cards to any player wearing the multi-coloured armband, which was introduced to support diversity and inclusion. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Angus MacSwan) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Danielle Broadway and Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Superstar singer and songwriter Taylor Swift won all six trophies she was contending for on Sunday at the American Music Awards, including the night’s top prize: artist of the year. The new AMA accolades lifted Swift’s lifetime total to 40, breaking her own record for most wins at the world’s largest fan-voted awards ceremony. The “Anti-Hero” singer, wearing a sparkling gold jumpsuit, said fan support in recent years had encouraged her to write more music, which made her happier. “I have the fans to thank essentially for my happiness,” Swift said to a cheering crowd at the ceremony in Los Angeles. “I cannot express how unbelievable it is to me that I still do this and that you still care,” she added. The 32-year-old released four original albums and two re-recordings in the past three years, more than her entire output of the previous decade. Songs from her most recent album, “Midnights,” took all top 10 spots on the Billboard singles chart after its October debut. In her multiple acceptance speeches on Sunday, Swift did not mention the glitches that disrupted Ticketmaster’s sales for her upcoming tour last week, prompting the company to apologize to her late on Friday. Other honors for Swift on Sunday included favorite pop album, country album and video for her re-recording of 2012 record “Red.” The singer has been remaking albums from her past because of a dispute with her former record label. For artist of the year, Swift triumphed over formidable names including Beyonce, Harry Styles, The Weeknd, Drake, Adele and Bad Bunny, who had gone into the night with a leading eight nominations. The Puerto Rican rapper and singer received two awards, for favorite male Latin artist and favorite Latin album for “Un Verano Sin Ti.” Pop singer Pink opened the AMAs show dancing and singing on roller skates to her upbeat song “Never Gonna Not Dance Again.” Later in the ceremony, she performed “Hopelessly Devoted to You” in a tribute to Olivia Newton-John, the “Grease” singer who died in August. Musician Lionel Richie, known for “All Night Long” and other 1980s hits, was celebrated with the AMA’s icon award. Stevie Wonder and Charlie Puth performed a medley of Richie songs on dueling pianos. Dove Cameron, a former Disney Channel actress who reached the Billboard charts this year with the pop single “Boyfriend,” was named best new artist. Comedian and host Wayne Brady rapped in his monologue at the start of the show. “Ain’t nobody getting slapped tonight,” Brady joked, referencing Will Smith’s infamous attack on Chris Rock at the Oscars. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway in Los Angeles;Additional reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Stephen Coates, Robert Birsel and Gerry Doyle) View the full article

Published by Raw Story Former FBI counter-intelligence official, Frank Figliuzzi, cited reports that someone matching the suspected shooter’s name, age, and hometown as the Club Q shooting called in a bomb threat. It prompted Figliuzzi to ask how the shooter was allowed access to guns. “Even the complainant may have been his mother and the target of the threat may have been his mother’s home,” he explained. “If that comes out to be accurate and confirmed, of course, it will raise questions of why this individual was permitted to possess a weapon. And the larger question of what criteria should forbid or preclude som… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story Author Dan Savage had advice for the LGBTQ community following the mass shooting in Colorado. “Several patrons of a gay and lesbian nightclub in Colorado Springs are being hailed as heroes, as details unfold about a mass shooting that happened minutes before midnight Saturday at Club Q and left five people dead and 25 bystanders injured, according to authorities,” The Gazette reported. “Authorities would not release names of victims or of the good Samaritans, calling the situation complex and complicated.” Three local hospitals are treating victims of the attack. Savage posted a thread to Twit… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Ren Kurgis (left) and Jessie Pacheco pay their respects to victims of the mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs Colorado Springs (AFP) – As barman Michael Anderson cowered on the patio of a nightclub, hiding from the gunman who was killing his friends and colleagues, he was convinced he was going to die too. “I just felt alone, really alone and scared,” he said. “I didn’t even have my phone with me. I was afraid I wouldn’t even get to say goodbye to my mother.” Moments earlier he had been pouring drinks at Club Q, a long-established LGBTQ venue in Colorado Springs in the foothills of the US Rocky Mountains. Earlier there had been a drag show to mark the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and the music was pumping when he began hearing popping sounds. “I looked up and saw a shadow of a tall person holding a rifle. I saw the gun plainly… and then the shots continued… round after round after round. It was absolutely terrifying,” he told AFP. “I ducked down behind the bar. Glass was just flying everywhere around me, like there were just bullets breaking bottles and whatever else was back there.” Penned in and scared he was going to be targeted, Anderson crawled out to a patio where he and a co-worker wedged themselves between a wall and a booth, seeking any protection they could find. Inside, the gunman, later identified by police as 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, was shooting indiscriminately at clubbers in a rampage that would leave at least five dead at 18 wounded, some of them critically. And he wasn’t done yet. “I saw a gun come out from the patio door, the barrel of a gun sticking out,” Anderson said. “And that was the moment I was most terrified. Because I knew we were next. “He was gonna find us.” ‘They saved my life’ What happened next has left Anderson eternally grateful to the people he describes as heroes. Police say at least two individuals rushed at the shooter and overpowered him. When Anderson next looked up, he saw the gunman pinned to the floor. “There were some very brave people beating him and kicking him, stopping him from causing more damage,” he said. “I don’t know who did that. But I really would like to know because I’m very grateful. They saved my life last night.” The United States is no stranger to acts of horrific violence, but for Anderson and other members of the LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs, a city of around half a million people, the threat seemed somehow remote. “The community here is tight-knit,” he said. “Everyone knows each other. We’re a family, you know where we come together. “When I started at Club Q… my general manager told me: ‘you’re a part of our family. Now we’re here for you.’ “We always thought this could never happen here; never Colorado Springs, never Club Q. “But maybe that’s something we tell ourselves so we can go out and feel safe.” Anderson said he hopes the gunman will spend the rest of his life in prison, living with the full horror of his actions. And America, he said, needs to be kinder. Less than two weeks after an election in which several candidates amped up their anti-gay, anti-trans rhetoric in the rush for votes, politicians need to rethink their strategy, he said. “The people spewing that may think that it’s harmless, and it’s just part of their culture war, but their culture war has real consequences I’ve seen firsthand.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dove Cameron paid tribute to the victims of the Colorado Springs shooting as she accepted the New Artist of the Year accolade at the American Music Awards on Sunday (20.11.22). The 26-year-old star dedicated her win to “the queer community at large” before paying tribute to the people caught up in the tragedy at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado over the weekend, which saw at least five people killed and 18 others injured. Speaking on stage at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater, Dove – who identifies as queer – said: “I want to start by saying that every award that I ever win will always first and foremost be dedicated to the queer community at large. “You guys have carved out such a space for me to be myself and to write music about it and I’ve never felt safer or more loved or more supported and I hope I can give you some semblance of that same feeling in my music. “On the heels of the tragedy that happened at Club Q in Colorado Springs, I want to remind everyone how important queer visibility is and how important our community is.” The ‘Boyfriend’ singer then urged fans to donate to LGBTQ+ charities. She added: “And I want to direct your attention to organisations like GLAAD and the Trevor Project for what you can do right now.” Dove, who performed ‘Boyfriend’ at the ceremony earlier in the evening, concluded her speech with a message of support. She said: “I want to remind you that you are made absolutely right, and you are so loved and so held, and I want to thank you for supporting me, thank you for holding the space. I’m holding it for you, too. Thanks guys.” The ‘Descendants’ star had paid tribute to the queer community on the red carpet before the ceremony too. She told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: “I feel like I have to thank, definitely like the queer community for embracing me so wholeheartedly. “I mean everybody for really sticking with me.” View the full article

Published by St. Louis Post-Dispatch There are a few political figures today more maligned by conservatives than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, mostly because she has been so effective. From her guidance of the Affordable Care Act through Congress more than a decade ago to her steady hand through the tumultuous Trump era, she built a legacy that history will treat far better than it will her detractors. But the 82-year-old Pelosi’s decision last week to step down as the House Democratic leader is the right one, handing off to a new generation during what is sure to be a confrontational reign by a slim Republican House majority. Whoe… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) Disney has reinstated former big name boss Bob Iger amid a period of financial woe for the company. Iger ran Disney for 15 years and oversaw some of the brand’s most successful deals including buyouts of Pixar, Marvel, home of Star Wars LucasFilm, and the formerly Murdoch-owned 21st Century Fox. His tenure saw Disney take over some of the world’s most beloved and well-known franchises and saw the company increase five times in value. On his return to the post of Chief Executive Officer Iger will replace Bob Chapek, who has been in the job for less than three years. Selena Gomez: former Disney … Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) Iran’s World Cup football team stayed silent as the national anthem was played before their opening World Cup match, declining to sing before the kick-off against England. During the week, their captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh had explained that the players would decide “collectively” whether or not to sing the anthem as a sign of support for the victims of the harshly repressed protests in their country. The players kept their faces totally impassive, while on the bench a member of the delegation sang. Iranian state television did not show the players lined up for the anthem before the match got … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story On Monday, The Guardian reported that former members of Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s controversial Christian organization, “People of Praise,” are demanding that she recuse herself from an upcoming case which could create further exemptions for businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people on religious grounds. “The former members are part of a network of ‘survivors’ of the controversial charismatic group who say Barrett’s ‘lifelong and continued’ membership in the People of Praise make her too biased to fairly adjudicate an upcoming case that will decide whether private business owners have … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments starting next month testing the Independent State Legislature Theory, which would allow states to create new election rules after votes have already been cast. Oral arguments will start in weeks in Moore v. Harper, whose proponents say state legislatures absolute power over congressional districting and presidential elections, but legal expert Paul Rosenzweig wrote for The Bulwark that conservatives should be highly skeptical of the fringe theory that’s gaining popularity among Donald Trump’s allies in the Republican Party. “No one seems seriously to … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Martyn Herman DOHA (Reuters) -The captains of England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark will not wear ‘OneLove’ armbands at the World Cup under pressure from FIFA, their associations said in a joint statement on Monday. FIFA has threatened to issue yellow cards to any player wearing the multi-coloured armband which was introduced to support diversity and inclusion. England captain Harry Kane spoke on Sunday of his desire to wear the armband in Monday’s Group B opener against Iran. “FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captai… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Kevin Mohatt COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) -Police in Colorado Springs on Monday were expected to release more details about the weekend shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub that killed five people and injured 25 more in what rights advocates suspect was a hate crime. Local authorities identified the suspect as Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, who was arrested last year after a nearly four-hour standoff with local sheriff’s deputies for allegedly making a bomb threat against his mother. Multiple firearms were found at the scene of the brief but deadly nightclub attack, according to police, who said Aldrich used a “long rifle” to shoot his victims. Further details could also emerge on Monday about patrons at Club Q in Colorado’s second-largest city who police said rushed the gunman and stopped the attack late Saturday. Police will hold a news briefing by noon local time (1900 GMT). Aldrich was known to law enforcement before the nightclub shooting. He was arrested in June 2021 after his mother reported to authorities that he had threatened to detonate a bomb and harm her with multiple weapons, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office in El Paso County, where Colorado Springs is located. Sheriff’s deputies evacuated about 10 nearby homes until Aldrich eventually surrendered. They found no explosives but Aldrich was booked into the county jail on two counts of “felony menacing” and three counts of “first-degree kidnapping,” the press release said. It was unclear when and how he was released. Leslie Bowman, 41, an account manager in Colorado Springs who rented out the room where Aldrich’s mother was living at the time of the 2021 bomb threat incident, said those charges against Aldrich had not been pursued. Bowman described Aldrich as a heavy-set man, more than six feet tall, who rarely smiled and had an imposing air. “When I heard it was him who did the shooting, I was surprised but not surprised at the same time – just knowing what he did before,” she told Reuters in a phone interview on Monday. Police said at least two people in Club Q subdued the gunman shortly after he burst in just before midnight on Saturday, preventing further carnage, but did identify them nor say whether they were shot or injured. One of the patrons grabbed a handgun from the shooter and pistol-whipped him with it, and was still on top of the suspect, pinning him down, when police arrived, Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers told The New York Times. “It was quite something. It happened quite quickly. This individual was totally disabled by 12:02. That had a lot to do with the intervention of these patrons,” Suthers told the Times. Suthers also said the shooting “has all the appearances of being a hate crime.” While U.S. President Joe Biden acknowledged no motive had been established, he noted in a statement that LGBTQ people have been “subjected to horrific hate violence in recent years.” The shooting was reminiscent of the 2016 Pulse club massacre when a gunman killed 49 people at the gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, before he was fatally shot by police. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser in an interview on CNN on Monday noted that the shooting took place on Transgender Remembrance Day and said he hoped Aldrich would give investigators answers. “He was taken alive and there will be a full investigation, and law enforcement authorities are going to be working to make sure to bring justice to honor the victims,” Weiser said. Club Q, a long-standing venue in a modest strip mall, was described by many as a safe haven for the LGBTQ community. One of the victims was identified as Daniel Aston, 28, a transgender man and bartender at the club who also performed in shows as a dancer, according to a Colorado Public Radio interview with his mother, Sabrina Aston. “He was the happiest he had ever been,” Sabrina Aston said. “He was thriving and having fun and having friends. It’s just unbelievable. He had so much more life to give to us and to all to his friends and to himself.” Anxiety within many LGBTQ communities in the United States has risen amid a divisive political climate and after a string of threats and violent incidents targeting LGBTQ people and events in recent months. “America’s toxic mix of bigotry and absurdly easy access to firearms means that such events are all too common,” said Kevin Jennings, chief executive of Lambda Legal, a gay rights group. Colorado has a grim history of mass violence, including the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School, a 2012 rampage inside a movie theater in a Denver suburb and a supermarket attack that killed 10 people last year. Colorado Springs suffered a mass shooting in 2015 when an anti-abortion gunman killed three people and injured nine at a Planned Parenthood facility. (Reporting by Kevin Mohatt in Colorado Springs, Rich McKay in Atlanta, Katharine Jackson in Washington, and Joseph Ax in New York; Writing by Daniel Trotta and Julia Harte; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Lincoln Feast and Mark Porter) View the full article

Published by Miami Herald MIAMI — In September, a debate over whether the Miami-Dade School Board should recognize October as LGBTQ history month again left board members facing a divided roomful of constituents. It was the latest strain in school board-parental relations. So, board member Lubby Navarro offered what she believed to be a timely reminder to the crowd. “We can never forget who our customers are. Our customers are our parents,” she said. “And we have to be driven to give parents what they’re asking us, this school system, for our children.” The comment drew a rebuke from the board’s student adviser, Andrea… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA DFB President Bernd Neuendorf gives a press conference. Christian Charisius/dpa German football federation (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf said football governing body FIFA’s decision to ban the multi-coloured One Love captain’s armband at the World Cup “was a threat.” Nations previously planning to wear the armband in Qatar in support of diversity and the LGBTQ community have backed down amid fears of sanctions from FIFA, a joint statement said on Monday. The seven European nations who had signed up to the One Love campaign, including England and Germany, had previously said they were prepared to pay fines, but now stressed: “FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play. “We cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play,” the statement added. Neuendorf told a news conference that the move was an “outrageous demonstration of power from FIFA,” while DFB director Oliver Bierhoff said he was worried about the last-minute decision. “Nothing was brought to us in the last few months,” he said, and added that Germany captain Manuel Neuer is “totally disappointed that he is not allowed to wear the armband.” FIFA says political messages are not allowed and stressed in a follow-up statement that it is “an inclusive organization that wants to put football to the benefit of society by supporting good and legitimate causes, but it has to be done within the framework of the competition regulations which are known to everyone.” The participating nations had informed the federation in September about their wish to wear the multi-coloured armband in Qatar as a sign for diversity amid criticism of the host country for its human rights conditions and treatment of the LGBTQ community. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar. The Dutch football association (KNVB) said: “The fact that FIFA wants to punish us on the pitch is unprecedented and goes against the spirit of the sport that unites millions.” Thomas Hitzlsperger, DFB ambassador for diversity, said on Twitter: “Infantino has even managed to force the teams not to wear the One Love armband. How pathetic?! How about rainbow laces?” FIFA announced on Monday that its “No Discrimination” campaign is to be brought forward from the planned quarter-finals stage so that “all 32 captains will have the opportunity to wear this armband” during the World Cup. German interior minister Nancy Faeser told broadcasters ZDF that FIFA’s decision was “disconcerting” while a spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said FIFA’s action was frustrating and a decision that “puts players in a very difficult position.” “On LGBT rights more broadly, clearly Qatar’s policies are not those of the UK Government and not ones we would endorse,” the spokesman said. The Football Supporters’ Association, the representative body for football fans in England and Wales, said they felt “betrayed.” “Never again should a World Cup be handed out solely on the basis of money and infrastructure. No country which falls short on LGBT+ rights, women’s rights, worker’s rights or any other universal human right should be given the honour of hosting a World Cup,” it said in a statement. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf (R) and DFB Director Oliver Bierhoff give a press conference. Christian Charisius/dpa DFB President Bernd Neuendorf (R) and DFB Director Oliver Bierhoff give a press conference. Christian Charisius/dpa View the full article

Published by The Spun By Hunter Hodies The United States is set to get its World Cup campaign underway on Monday afternoon. The U.S. will be taking on Wales as it plays its first World Cup game in eight years. It’s a matchup that will go a long way toward deciding who comes out of the group. A few hours before the match, Soccer reporter Grant Wahl, who’s covering the USMNT, was trying to enter the stadium but was stopped by security due to his shirt. For those unfamiliar, Wahl is wearing a soccer shirt with a rainbow theme, which is a symbol of the LGBTQ community. Soccer fans aren’t happy about this decision from … Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) is being highly criticized for her role in spreading anti-LGBTQ hate and lies after this weekend’s horrific anti-LGBTQ mass shooting in her home state of Colorado, which left dead five patrons of a nightclub that caters to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community, and another 25 injured. Without mentioning any details, including that this was apparently a targeted attack on the LGBTQ community, Sunday morning Congresswoman Boebert tweeted: “The news out of Colorado Springs is absolutely awful. This morning the victims & their families are in … Read More View the full article

Published by AFP A tribute in Colorado Springs — authorities say an attack on an LGBTQ nightclub had 'all the trappings of a hate crime' Colorado Springs (United States) (AFP) – The mayor of Colorado Springs said Monday that an attack by a lone gunman on an LGBTQ nightclub in the western US city that left five people dead and up to 30 injured had “the trappings of a hate crime.” Police have identified the suspect in the Saturday night shooting at Club Q as Anderson Lee Aldrich, but have not yet divulged a motive for the attack. The 22-year-old Aldrich, who was armed with a rifle and a handgun, was subdued by patrons at the club and taken into custody by police. “The motive is still under investigation,” Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers told NBC’s Today show. “But it certainly has the trappings of a hate crime.” GLAAD, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, noted that the shooting came on the eve of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors victims of transphobic attacks, and amid an uptick in hostility against the LGBTQ community in the United States. “You can draw a straight line from the false and vile rhetoric about LGBTQ people spread by extremists and amplified across social media, to the nearly 300 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this year, to the dozens of attacks on our community like this one,” GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. Colorado Representative Brianna Titone, an openly trans state legislator, also singled out anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. “When politicians and pundits keep perpetuating tropes, insults, and misinformation about the trans and LGBTQ+ community, this is a result,” Titone tweeted. The attack was the deadliest on the LGBTQ community in the United States since a mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in 2016 that claimed 49 lives. Colorado authorities said it had not yet been officially classified as a hate crime but first-degree murder charges were certain to be filed. Transgender rights were a hot-button issue in the United States leading up to midterm elections earlier this month, with Republicans putting forward a slew of legislative proposals to restrict them. Gunman overpowered Suthers, the mayor, said the gunman was overpowered in an “incredible act of heroism” by patrons of the club. “Two, but primarily one as I understand it, are able to take a handgun that he’s got in his possession, take it away from him and use that weapon, not by shooting it, but by hitting him and disabling him,” he said. “That act probably saved a lot of lives, there’s no question about that.” Colorado Springs police chief Adrian Vasquez said Monday that the attack, which occurred shortly before midnight on Saturday, left five people dead and up to 30 injured. “Injuries could range from being shot to maybe falling when trying to get out of the building,” Vasquez told CNN. He said the suspect, who was armed with an “AR-style” rifle and a handgun, was currently in hospital and has declined to speak to to investigators. Vasquez said police were scouring his social media to determine if “this was a bias-motivated crime.” He said he expected charges to be filed later Monday. The police chief also condemned what he called an “evil act” and pledged to do everything he can to make the community in Colorado Springs feel safe again. ‘Our safe space’ According to police, the suspect entered the club and immediately began shooting. Police arrived within four minutes of receiving a call about an active shooting. Bartender Michael Anderson praised the patrons who overpowered the gunman. “There were some very brave people beating him and kicking him, stopping him from causing more damage,” he said. “They saved my life last night.” Joshua Thurman was also in the club that night. “It was so scary,” Thurman told reporters. “There were bodies on the floor. There was shattered glass, broken cups, people crying. “It was supposed to be our safe space,” he said. “Where are we supposed to go?” President Joe Biden condemned the attack, slamming violence against the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender women of color. “We must drive out the inequities that contribute to violence against LGBTQI+ people. We cannot and must not tolerate hate,” he said. Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who in 2018 became the first openly gay man elected as a US state governor, called the shooting “horrific, sickening and devastating.” A man with the same name as Aldrich was arrested on June 18 last year after his mother said he had threatened her with a homemade bomb, according to a news release at the time from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Vasquez, the police chief, said the suspect’s mother was not cooperating with the authorities at this time. View the full article

Published by Raw Story The advocacy group Demand Justice, is asking that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito be investigated after a New York Times report that suggested he may have leaked the Hobby Lobby decision before the official ruling was revealed. “The Senate Judiciary Committee should immediately move to investigate the apparent leak by Justice Alito,” said Brian Fallon, the Demand Justice executive director, said The Guardian. “This bombshell report is the latest proof that the Republican justices on the court are little more than politicians in robes. It’s no wonder trust in the court has hit a record low. … Read More View the full article

Published by The Spun By Andrew Holleran The NFL World isn’t very happy with a Daily Beast report about Tom Brady’s charity efforts this week. According to a report from The Daily Beast, Brady’s charity has been given “paltry” amounts by the quarterback, though his other company, TB12, has been given “big.” “Tom Brady, the star quarterback, has given paltry amounts to his own charity, but the foundation gives big to his for-profit company,” they reported. News of the charity efforts have gone viral on social media, with plenty of fans weighing in. NFL fans have taken to social media to weigh in on the controversial… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) A massive march took place on the streets of downtown Santiago on Saturday with multicoloured flags claiming sexual diversity rights. The march comes just days after Chile’s congress officially recognised 16 November as National Diversity Day. The Senate approved the law, promoted by the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation. The LGBTQ+ collective has been marking the day since 2002, and now the project must be approved by President Gabriel Boric. According to the organisers, 100,000 people attended the XV edition of the ‘Santiago Parade, March for Equality’. They are calling on t… Read More View the full article

Published by The Spun By Andrew Holleran The United States men’s national team is set to begin its 2022 World Cup on Monday afternoon. Ahead of their first match, the American team got a special phone call from the president. President Joe Biden phoned the United States men’s national team to give them a pregame talk, ahead of their first match against Wales on Monday. “The USMNT got a call from President Biden on the day before their first World Cup game,” B/R Football tweeted. The sports world is excited for the start of the 2022 Men’s World Cup. “I can struggle with all sorts of issues and problems with my count… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Andrew Mills and Maya Gebeily AL KHOR, Qatar (Reuters) -Qatar’s ruler opened the World Cup on Sunday with a call for people of all races and orientations to put aside their differences, speaking as the host nation faced a barrage of criticism over its treatment of foreign workers and LGBT rights. The Muslim Gulf nation is staking its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament and has denied accusations of abuse of workers and discrimination. Governing body FIFA hopes the spotlight will now turn to action on the pitch. Organisers have also denied allegations of bribery for winning the rights to host soccer’s biggest event. “People of all races, nationalities, beliefs and orientations will gather here in Qatar and around screens across the continents to share in the exciting moments,” Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said in a speech in a tent-shaped stadium. “How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together at the same time.” Sheikh Tamim arrived at the stadium flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, to a roaring crowd, and took their seats alongside other Arab leaders. A show then unfolded on the pitch, featuring three camels, American actor Morgan Freeman and a performance of a new tournament song called Dreamers featuring singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS, alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and the presidents of Egypt, Turkey and Algeria, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General, were among leaders at the stadium ahead of the first match between the hosts and Ecuador. Inside Al Bayt Stadium many seats were still vacant with gridlock on the expressway leading to the arena. Cheers went up as Qatar’s team appeared for their opening match. SOFT POWER The soccer tournament, the first held in the Middle East and the most expensive in its history, is a culmination of Qatar’s soft power push, after a 3-1/2 year boycott by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain that ended in 2021. The UAE, whose rapprochement with Doha has been slower than that of Riyadh and Cairo, sent its vice president who is also ruler of Dubai, where many World Cup fans have opted to stay. For the first time, a direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Doha landed in Qatar on Sunday despite the absence of formal bilateral ties, in a deal brokered by FIFA to carry both Palestinians and Israelis to the tournament. The Gulf state’s Deputy Prime Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah, in remarks on state media, said Qatar was reaping benefits of years of “hard work and sound planning”. Denmark’s and Germany’s team captains will wear One Love armbands as they prepare to compete in a conservative Muslim state where same-sex relations are illegal. Organisers say all are welcome, while warning against public affection. FANS Throngs of fans were already arriving in Qatar, but the main rush will be later this week. Daniel Oordt from the Netherlands, clad in orange, told Reuters there was a feeling of “constant pressure around you not to say the wrong thing or make the wrong move”, adding, “It’s not a fun atmosphere to have at a World Cup”. Argentina fan Julio Cesar though said he expected a great atmosphere. “We’ll drink before the match,” he added, after alcohol sales at stadiums were banned just days before the tournament. Visitors sipped beer at the FIFA Fan Festival in central Doha. Outside the city’s edges, hundreds of workers gathered in a sports arena in an industrial zone, without alcohol. They can watch matches there, priced out of the stadiums many toiled to build along with other infrastructure for the event. “Of course I didn’t buy a ticket. They’re expensive and I should use that money for other things – like sending it back home to my family,” Ghanaian national Kasim, a security guard who has worked in Qatar for four years, told Reuters. Crowd control will be key with some 1.2 million visitors expected – more than a third of Qatar’s population. Workers were putting final touches to Doha’s landscape, including draping a purple tarpaulin over an unfinished building near the stadium where the final will be held. At Lagoona Mall, residents were going about their business. “I came now because I don’t know how bad the traffic will be later this week,” said Egyptian woman Esraa, out grocery shopping. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Andrew MillsWriting by Ghaida Ghantous and Michael GeorgyAdditional reporting by Yesim Dikmen, Thomas Suen, Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber, Ilze Filks and Karolos Grohmann in Doha and Omar Fhamy and Mahmoud Mourad in CairoEditing by Kirsten Donovan, Alexander Smith and Frances Kerry) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Kevin Mohatt COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) -“Heroic” clubgoers fought and stopped a gunman shortly after he opened fire inside a LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, killing five people and injuring 18 others, police said on Sunday. Police identified the suspect as Anderson Lee Aldrich, a 22-year-old man, who was taken into custody minutes after the shooting broke out and was being treated for injuries after the attack at Club Q. Club Q, which describes itself as an adult-oriented gay and lesbian nightclub, called Saturday night’s events a “hate attack” in a statement on its Facebook page. Authorities said they were investigating whether the attack was motivated by hate. Two firearms were found at the scene, Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said at a press conference on Sunday morning, adding the suspect used a long rifle during the rampage. Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who is openly gay, commended the “brave individuals who blocked the gunman” in a statement released on Twitter in which he called the shooting “horrific, sickening, and devastating.” Police said the initial phone call came just before midnight about the shooting, and that the suspect was apprehended within minutes. Images of the scene after the shooting showed security and emergency vehicles with flashing blinkers parked on a street near the venue. By 4 a.m. local time (1100 GMT), police had taped off the area around the club, which is located in a strip mall on the outskirts of Colorado Springs. In 2016, a gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, before he was shot dead by police. At the time, it was the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history until a shooter killed 60 people at a music festival in Las Vegas in 2017. (Reporting by Kevin Mohatt in Colorado Springs, Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru and Maria Caspani in New York Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky, Frances Kerry and Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Late last night, A gunman opened fire on customers inside a gay bar in Colorado Springs, killing five and injuring 18. The police have confirmed the number dead and said the total injured is an estimate, and all are being treated at local hospitals. “Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community,” was how the LGBTQ nightclub described the shooting as a hate attack on it’s Facebook page (below). Last night’s scheduled event according to club q facebook page. Not motive, details on gay bar shooter yet Police officers on the scene did not share a motive, nor explanation when they spoke to reporters in the middle of the night They did say they would be there for hours, that the FBI was helping, and that the casualty numbers were subject to change as more was learned and reports compiled from area hospitals. Lt. Pamela Castro of the Colorado Springs Police Department was the first responder and released the information to multiple reporting. She confirming the shooting took place at a local gay bar/club, Q, located in the 3400 block of N. Academy Blvd. The Police Department in Colorado Springs has announced an 8am news conference about the shooting. (And immediately a seemingly official Republican was there with their coded language trying to tamp down outrage over this happening again, only in the United States.) Police said the first call came in at 11:57 on Saturday night, authorities responded to multiple 911 calls and located the suspect inside the bar. “They did locate one individual who we believe to be the suspect inside,” said Castro. “At this point in time, the suspect is being treated, but is in custody.” The suspect’s injuries are unclear. No officers were hurt. And there are no details of the specific actions of patrons during the shooting other than the post from the Club. Drag brunch had been scheduled for today.An explanation, motive, identification of the alleged shooter was not provided by police. “We will be here for many, many hours to come,” added Castro. Club Q put out a statement on social media, saying they are “devastated by the senseless attack on our community” and offered condolences to victims and their families. “We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack,” the post went on . Images screenshot from club q facebook page showing the full community served. View the full article