RadioRob

Published by Reuters DUBAI (Reuters) -Clashes between protesters and security forces persisted across Iran on Tuesday, with social media videos showing tanks being transported to Kurdish areas, which have been a focal point of the crackdown on protests over Mahsa Amini’s death in custody. Protests calling for the fall of the clerical establishment have swept Iran since Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, died on Sept. 16 while being detained by the morality police in Tehran for “inappropriate attire”. While observers do not believe the unrest, now in its fourth week, is close to toppling the government, the protests mark one of the boldest challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution, with reports of strikes spreading to the vital energy sector. The authorities are waging a deadly crackdown. Videos on social media showed trucks moving dark green tanks to Kurdish areas, raising the stakes in the revolt. Reuters could not verify the video footage. Tensions have been especially high in Kurdish regions, given Amini’s ethnic background. Human rights groups say Iran’s Kurdish minority of more than 10 million has long been oppressed – a charge the Islamic Republic denies. The Hengaw human rights group reported “intense conflict” on Tuesday between protesters and security forces in three cities in Kurdistan province – Sanandaj, Baneh and Saqez, where Amini was buried last month. Protesters in Saqez set fire to a statue of local members of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps, Hengaw said. In video footage shared on the widely followed Twitter account group Tavsir1500 from Sanandaj, shooting could be heard and women screaming. Reuters could not independently verify the footage from Hengaw or Tasvir1500. At least 185 people, including 19 minors, have been killed, hundreds injured and thousands have been arrested by the security forces, according to rights groups. The government says more than 20 members of the security forces have been killed. Iranian authorities have said they will investigate civilian deaths. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network said security forces had killed at least 30 protesters, injured another 825, and arrested more than 2,000 in the predominantly Kurdish regions. Reuters could not independently verify the report. The Iranian authorities have blamed the violence on an array of enemies including armed Iranian Kurdish dissidents, with the Revolutionary Guards attacking their bases in neighbouring Iraq a number of times during the latest unrest. Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi reiterated accusations that Iranian Kurdish dissident groups were supporting the protests and said security forces would “neutralize the desperate anti-revolutionary effort”. ENERGY SECTOR Unrest continued elsewhere overnight after demonstrations spread into Iran’s vital energy sector, according to videos on social media which Reuters could not confirm. Energy installations in southwestern Iran were hit by strikes for a second day on Tuesday, with workers protesting at the Abadan oil refinery, Kangan and the Bushehr petrochemical plant, according to the widely followed Tavsir1500 Twitter account. Videos posted on the account showed a few dozen workers chanting “Death to the dictator”, referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A regional official said on Tuesday the workers at the Assaluye plant were angered by a dispute over wages and were not protesting over Amini’s death. Governor Ali Hashemi said some Iranians had tried to hijack the workers’ protests by chanting anti-government slogans, according to Iran’s Young Journalists Club News Telegram account. It was a combination of mass protests and strikes by oil workers and bazaar merchants that helped to propel the Shi’ite clergy to power in the Iranian revolution four decades ago. Dozens of universities are also currently on strike, with students playing a pivotal role in the protests. Meanwhile, in the city of Fuladshahr in the central province of Isfahan, protesters set fire to the office of a prayer leader, according to a video posted by Tavsir1500. The authorities’ crackdown on protesters has prompted some Western states to draw up more sanctions on Iran, stoking diplomatic tensions at a time when talks to revive Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers are at a standstill. France’s foreign minister said on Tuesday five of its nationals were being held in Iran and the European Union had agreed the technical aspects to impose sanctions on Tehran, which would come into force next week. France lashed out at Iran on Oct. 6 accusing it of “dictatorial practices” and taking its citizens hostage after a video was aired in which a French couple appeared to confess to spying. (Reporting by John Irish in Paris and Dubai newsroom: Writing by Michael Georgy/Tom Perry; Editing by Gareth Jones and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega JoJo Siwa and new girlfriend Avery Cyrus celebrated their newfound romance at the happiest place on earth! On Tuesday, October, 4, the couple were seen enjoying the Halloween festivities at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., alongside a few friends and the Dance Mom star’s mother, Jessalynn Siwa. mega “They were laughing and seemed really happy,” an eyewitness exclusively told OK! about Siwa and Cyrus’ outing. “They were with a big group but seemed to be attentive to each other.” JOJO SIWA SHINES BRIGHT AT RED CARPET EVENT AFTER CANDACE CAMERON BURE DRAMA: PHOTOS As OK! previously reported, the duo went TikTok official on Monday, September 12, after the Dancing with the Stars alum shared a video of the two smooching in a photo booth alongside the caption, “Happiest girl.” “Avery doesn’t know I’m posting this, but I’m so proud of her for learning this,” Siwa shared in an additional clip of the two learning a dance routine together. “I have to share so you can see her CUTEST HAPPY FACE!!! That SMILE.” mega The newfound love comes mere months after the child star officially called it quits with Kylie Prew, who she was dating on and off since early 2021. JOJO SIWA BREAKS SILENCE ON BACKLASH FROM CONTROVERSIAL ‘LESBIAN’ COMMENT Prew confirmed the breakup news during an Instagram live in August. mega “I don’t like drama and it makes me really, really anxious and so I don’t really wanna talk about it for a while. It’s OK, it’s not deep, I promise. Everything’s fine,” she insisted of the secret split. “Not everything has to be messy and gross because it’s not and I just want to clear the air.” “We’re both safe and happy and healthy and that’s all that matters. There doesn’t need to be drama because that just gives everyone unwanted anxiety,” the influencer said. The Nickelodeon alum also chimed in on the situation, noting she still thinks Prew is “awesome.” “She’s having the time of her life, I’m having the time of my life I was very happy that it can be, because that’s all I wanted,” Siwa later said of her ex. “But I’m really happy that I remember all the fun times, all the good times, and nothing bad happened, it just is the definition of a cheesy saying of ‘right person, wrong time’ and I hate cheesy sayings, but they’re true. Everything’s good. I’m good.” View the full article

Published by AFP The US Supreme Court's ruling could allow Rodney Reed's case to be reopened — or pave the way for his execution by lethal injection Washington (AFP) – The US Supreme Court heard an appeal Tuesday from a Texas man on death row who maintains his innocence and whose case has drawn the attention of celebrities, lawmakers and millions of Americans. The court did not address the merits of Rodney Reed’s case, but debated a narrow technical issue, relating to delays in criminal proceedings. Its decision, expected before June 30, will however have a direct impact on the future of the 54-year-old Texan by authorizing the reopening of his case or, on the contrary, his execution by lethal injection. Reed, an African-American man, was convicted by an all-white jury in 1998 of the rape and murder of Stacey Stites, a 19-year-old white woman. Traces of his sperm were found on the victim’s body, but Reed insists he is innocent of the 1996 murder and that he and Stites had a secret consensual relationship. Reed’s supporters believe that evidence gathered after the trial points to another suspect, Stites’s fiance Jimmy Fennell, a disgraced police officer who later served a 10-year prison sentence for a kidnapping and rape committed while on duty. A fellow inmate says Fennell confessed to him that he had killed Stites because she was sleeping with a Black man. Fennell has denied any involvement in Stites’s murder, but police initially considered him a suspect. Texas prosecutors claimed during Reed’s trial that he had sexually assaulted several other women before Stites’s murder. His execution was stayed just five days before it was to be carried out in 2019 following a campaign that included reality star Kim Kardashian, the singers Rihanna and Beyonce, and Texas lawmakers including Republican Senator Ted Cruz. Two petitions seeking to halt Reed’s execution that circulated on the internet drew more than 3.5 million signatures. DNA testing of murder weapon To prove his innocence, Reed asked the Texas authorities in 2014 to conduct new DNA analysis on the murder weapon, a belt that was used to strangle Stites. His appeals for DNA testing were repeatedly denied by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, so Reed turned to the federal courts. But they refused to intervene on the grounds the request came too late, after the two-year window allowed to challenge a state court ruling in federal court had closed. The question before the Supreme Court is, when does the window open? At the hearing, judges appointed by Democrats seemed to be leaning in his favor. “Isn’t that the simplest thing just to say (that) the person isn’t harmed until the state process has come to an end and we know for a fact what the state judgment is?” asked justice Elena Kagan. Conservative justices, who regularly denounce the delaying tactics of death row inmates, did not show their preference. Judge Samuel Alito merely noted the issue is “case specific and really quite narrow.” Supporters of Reed gathered in front of the Supreme Court with a large banner proclaiming “Rodney Reed is innocent!” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News More than half of LGBTQ youth who came out before they were teenagers “seriously considered suicide” in the past year, new data released Monday shows. The data — released ahead of the 34th annual National Coming Out Day on Tuesday — analyzed the correlation between the age at which LGBTQ people in the U.S. decide to share their sexual orientation with others and the risk of suicide. National Coming Out Day is a day when the LGBTQ community highlights the power of visibility in the fight for equality. Researchers with The Trevor Project found that 56% of youth who came out before the age of 13 … Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Ahead of National Coming Out Day on Tuesday, Madonna has sparked a debate amongst her 1.6 million TikTok followers about her sexual preference. With her latest social media antics, the pop star toyed with whether she is gay. “If I miss, I’m Gay,” she waged with words that appeared on the screen as she attempted to toss a pair of pink underwear into the trash. After she seemingly missed her mark on purpose, the newly pink-coiffed Madonna said, “Oh well.” The Sunday TikTok post comes on the heels of the 64-year-old “Vogue” singer being spotted locking lips with Dominican rapper Tokischa. The 26-… Read More View the full article

Published by The Mercury News Elon Musk doesn’t seem to believe he played any role in alienating his 18-year-old transgender daughter, who made the legal move this year to no longer be related to her controversial billionaire father “in any way, shape or form.” Instead, the Tesla CEO told the Financial Times in an interview published Friday that his child’s decision to distance herself from him was caused by “neo-Marxists” at educational institutions, Page Six reported. Musk didn’t specify what institutions had worked their influence on his daughter, but he said, “It’s full-on communism and a general sentiment that if you’… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Emily Ratajkowski appears to have come out as bisexual on TikTok. The model, 31, responded to a video on Monday (10.10.22) that asked those who “identify as bisexual” if they “own a green velvet couch”. Emily, who has filed for divorce from her estranged husband Sebastian Bear-McClard, then showed off her green velvet couch. It prompted fans to fill the comments section of her post with congratulations for “coming out” as being attracted to men and women, with many declaring: “Yet another win for the ladies.” Emily’s apparent admission to being bisexual comes as celebrities including Madonna and Shay Mitchell appeared to admit they were part of the LGBT+ community ahead of ‘National Coming Out Day’ on October 11th. It comes amid rumours she is dating Brad Pitt, 58, after the pair were reported to be “spending a lot of time” in each other’s company. A source told People: “Friends aren’t sure if it’s serious. They don’t appear to be ‘dating’ formally.” It emerged in September Emily had officially filed for divorce from her 41-year-old ex-husband Sebastian amid allegations he cheated on her. She lodged a filing to end their four-year marriage at Manhattan’s Supreme Court, after the couple first split in July amidst reports film producer Sebastian, with whom Emily shares 19-month-old son Sylvester Apollo Bear, was a “serial” cheat. A source close to the model confirmed the split to People in July and said Emily was focused on parenting. The insider was quoted saying: “They split recently. It was Em’s decision. She is doing OK. “She is strong and focused on her son. She loves being a mum.” Neither Emily nor Sebastian have not yet commented publicly on the state of their relationship. They married at a New York court on February 23, 2018, with Emily confirming the news with the Instagram post: “Sooo, I have a surprise, I got married today.” She later said she only took “30 seconds” to decide she wanted to marry the ‘Uncut Gems’ producer. In October 2020, the pair announced they were expecting their first child together, but Emily declared it was “something a woman does by herself, inside her body, no matter what her circumstances may be”. She added: “Despite having a loving partner and many female friends ready to share the gritty details of their pregnancies, I am ultimately alone with my body in this experience. “There is no one to feel it with me – the sharp muscular aches in my lower abdomen that come out of nowhere while I’m watching a movie or the painful heaviness of my breasts that now greets me first thing every morning. “My husband has no physical symptoms in ‘our’ pregnancy – another reminder of how different a woman and man’s experience of life can be.” View the full article

Published by The Kansas City Star With a new crop of hard-right Republicans expected to join the Missouri Senate, some Democrats are worried that the upper chamber’s priorities will swing more to the right in the next legislative session. Conservative wish list items such as bans on transgender student athletes and legislation that targets school curriculum have failed to pass in previous years amid infighting among Republicans. But Senate Democrats say those policies could have enough momentum in the coming years with more hard-right members joining the upper chamber. “I’m at a loss, frankly, of what to do — I wish Missourian… Read More View the full article

Published by PopCrush Janet Jackson posted a rare photo with her niece Paris Jackson on Friday, Oct. 7. The photo was snapped at a party during Paris Fashion Week in France. “So good catching up w/ my beautiful niece @parisjackson,” Janet captioned the post. Paris replied with a black heart in the comments. Paris, who is the daughter of Janet’s late brother Michael Jackson, has become a notable figure in her own right through modeling and music. However, she’s kept her relationship with her famous family private, and this photo marks the first time Paris and Janet have been publicly seen together since Michael’s me… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet By Alex Henderson In the past, billionaire venture capitalist and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel was described by many pundits as a libertarian. But in the 2022 midterms, the far-right U.S. Senate candidates he has been promoting — from “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance in Ohio to Blake Masters in Arizona — are decidedly MAGA, pushing a severe social conservatism that is far removed from libertarianism. Steve Bannon, host of the “War Room” podcast and former White House chief strategist in the Trump Administration, has praised the 54-year-old Thiel for trying to make Congress as MAGA as possi… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost Do people who use OnlyFans have significantly different sexual attitudes compared to the general population? New research published in the Archives of Sexual Behaviors suggests that is not the case. The new findings indicate that OnlyFans users and nonusers have similar attitudes regarding things like casual sex and the importance of birth control. OnlyFans allows users to subscribe to different content creators in order to access exclusive content. This content can include everything from photos and videos to personal messages and behind-the-scenes looks. The platform has become increasingly … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Chris Gallagher and Sarah N. Lynch (Reuters) -Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four other defendants linked to the far-right group are on trial for charges of seditious conspiracy and other felonies arising from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by then-President Donald Trump’s supporters. Here is a look at the defendants and the charges they face. STEWART RHODES Rhodes, 57, of Granbury, Texas, is a former U.S. Army paratrooper turned Yale University-educated lawyer. He is the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers, which U.S. officials have described as an anti-government group. Rhodes says it is a non-partisan group whose members, including current and former military, police and emergency service personnel, have pledged to uphold the Constitution. Rhodes and his co-defendants are accused of conspiring to stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power in a failed bid to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s victory over Trump in the 2020 election. Rhodes and the other defendants face the rarely prosecuted charge of seditious conspiracy, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and defined as attempting “to overthrow, put down or to destroy by force the government of the United States.” He and the other defendants also face charges that include obstruction of an official proceeding and tampering with documents. Rhodes and the others have pleaded not guilty. According to the indictment, Rhodes began encouraging his Oath Keepers followers in November 2020 to “oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power.” Trump has made false claims that the election was stolen from him through widespread voting fraud. Rhodes set up a chat on the encrypted messaging app Signal in which members planned to go to the Capitol on Jan. 6, when Congress was scheduled to certify Biden’s victory, according to the indictment. Rhodes spent thousands of dollars on firearms and related equipment before and after Jan. 6, the indictment stated. He entered restricted Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, directed Oath Keepers members by text and telephone on what positions to take up around the building, and continued plotting with co-conspirators after the attack, according to the indictment. His attorneys have said he will take the stand and testify in his own defense later in the trial. THOMAS CALDWELL Caldwell, 68, of Berryville, Virginia, helped coordinate preparation for what the Oath Keepers called quick reaction force, or QRF, teams, which were ready to rapidly transport weapons into Washington from just outside the city to support operations around the Capitol, according to the indictment. The indictment said Caldwell, a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander who once worked for the FBI, took a reconnaissance trip into Washington in November 2020, chose a hotel in suburban Arlington, Virginia, as the quick reaction force’s base of operations, and mapped routes to the Capitol from the hotel. During the Jan. 6 attack, Caldwell joined with others in pushing past barricades and climbing stairs to a balcony in a restricted area on the west side of the Capitol building, according to the indictment. Caldwell has denied he was a member of the Oath Keepers, but prosecutors have said he has strong ties to the group. His wife is expected to take the stand later in the trial to assist with his defense. KELLY MEGGS Meggs, 53, of Dunnellon, Florida, was the head of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers and led a first group of members into the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to the indictment. Meggs and other Oath Keepers members, many wearing paramilitary clothing and patches with the Oath Keepers insignia, marched in an organized military fashion up the east steps of the Capitol and stormed through a heavy set of doors into the building alongside a mob, the indictment said. KENNETH HARRELSON Harrelson, 41, of Titusville, Florida, helped Meggs in organizing the Florida Oath Keepers and was part of the militia group that stormed into the Capitol building, according to the indictment. These members pushed forward as part of a mob that “assaulted law enforcement officers guarding the doors, threw objects and sprayed chemicals toward the officers and the doors, and pulled violently on the doors,” the indictment added. Harrelson and others later moved toward the House of Representatives chamber in search of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, but did not find her, it said. JESSICA WATKINS Watkins, 40, of Woodstock, Ohio, led the Ohio team of Oath Keepers at the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to the indictment. The Afghanistan war veteran charged into the building with other members and commanded those around her to push against a line of officers guarding the hallway to the Senate chamber, before retreating when officers used a chemical spray, the indictment says. Meggs, Harrelson and Watkins also face charges of destruction of government property due to damage done at the Capitol building, according to the indictment. Her attorney has told the jury that Watkins, a transgender woman, has always struggled to fit in and her actions that day are a reflection of that. PREVIOUS DEFENDANTS Three other Oath Keepers defendants – Joshua James, Brian Ulrich and William Todd Wilson – pleaded guilty this year to engaging in seditious conspiracy in connection with the attack. They are awaiting sentencing and could potentially be called as witnesses at the trial. Four other Oath Keeper defendants also charged with seditious conspiracy are due to go to trial in late November. (Reporting by Chris Gallagher and Sarah N. Lynch, editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Mike Scarcella WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday turned away a bid by gay-marriage opponents to block the public release of video of a watershed 2010 trial in California that overturned a voter-approved ban on gay nuptials in America’s most populous state. The justices declined to hear the appeal of a lower court’s 2021 ruling in favor of news media companies including public radio and TV broadcaster KQED and advocates of gay marriage who sought release of video of the proceedings made for the trial judge. Proponents of the 2008 ballot initiative, called Proposition 8, had argued the video should remain sealed based on the trial judge’s pledge at the time to keep it private. Christopher Dusseault, a lawyer who fought to unseal the video, said the Supreme Court’s order cleared the way “for public release of this important historical record.” “While the trial took place more than 12 years ago, the lessons that it teaches about equality and justice could not be more vital today,” added Dusseault, of the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. The two-week trial in federal court in San Francisco, presided over by U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, involved a lawsuit brought by two gay couples who challenged Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage in California, which passed with the support of 52% of voters. Walker ruled in 2010 that the state’s bar on same-sex marriage violated the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law. The Supreme Court in 2013 let Walker’s ruling stand, paving a way for same-sex couples to marry in California. The Supreme Court in June 2015 in a landmark ruling of its own legalized gay marriage nationwide, ruling along the same constitutional grounds as Walker. Walker recorded the 2010 trial for what he said would be a tool to help him write his ruling, stating that “it’s not going to be for purposes of public broadcasting or televising.” The recording has remained sealed since then though a written transcript of the trial long has been available. The Supreme Court in 2010 rejected a bid to allow the trial to be publicly broadcast, finding that such a step was not allowed under the San Francisco federal court’s rules. San Francisco-based KQED in 2017 asked a federal court to “unseal the tapes and permit them to be viewed by everyone.” It said in a legal filing that the tapes are of interest to “court-watchers, law students, scholars, historians, activists, concerned citizens and those interested in the transparent operation of the judicial branch.” A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2021 that the video recording of the trial could be released. Writing for the majority, Circuit Judge William Fletcher said Proposition 8 supporters had failed to show how they would be harmed by its disclosure. In dissent, Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta called the court’s order “another sad chapter in the story of how the judiciary has been willing to bend or break its own rules.” Charles Cooper, the conservative lawyer who pressed the effort to keep the video sealed, told the Supreme Court in seeking review of the 9th Circuit ruling that “the root question in this case is whether a federal judge’s binding promise, made to litigants in open court and on the record, is worthy of trust.” In a statement on Tuesday, Cooper called the Supreme Court’s order “sad and lamentable,” adding that the justices let stand “a decision deliberately reneging on a federal district court judge’s solemn and unequivocal promise in open court.” (Reporting by Mike Scarcella in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by The Detroit News Taylor Swift is a mad genius. If that is somehow not the case, she sure is doing a good job of fooling everyone. Swift is currently ramping up toward the release of her new album, “Midnights,” which is due out Oct. 21. For those dialed in, its hype cycle has been absolutely unhinged, full of enough mysteries, clues and fan theories to power their own internet. Is Swift gay? Many fans think “Midnights” will signal her coming out. Is it tied to her feud with Kim Kardashian? Well the fact that it’s coming out on Kardashian’s birthday can’t be a coincidence, can it? That’s just the top layer. Fans… Read More View the full article

Published by Ultimate Classic Rock Rob Halford confirms that the recording is finished for Judas Priest‘s new album – except his vocals, that is. “It’s done except for me,” he tells UCR with a laugh. Guitarist “Richie [Faulkner] has been doing interviews like I have, and I’ve been reading it as it comes on my social media. Richie says, ‘Everything’s done except for Rob.’ It’s true, man. It’s true.” Even though it does not yet have a title or release date, the pending LP will serve as the follow-up to 2018’s Firepower. “My scratch vocals are on there, but I’ve got to do my parts,” Halford adds. “I can bang it out in a couple of … Read More View the full article

[This post contains video, click to play] Published by PopCrush Madonna has everyone hung up after seemingly coming out as gay on TikTok. On Sunday (Oct. 9), the pop icon posted a video of her participating in the TikTok trend where users throw an item into a bin or cup and if they miss, it means something surprising. The idea is to miss the target on purpose, thereby confessing something in the process. In the clip, Madonna holds up a pair of pink underwear before attempting to toss them into a garbage can. The words “If I miss, I’m gay” are emblazoned across the screen and, sure enough, she misses her throw. Madonna then throws her hands up in the air. W… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Chief Justice of Iran, attends a crisis meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Parliament, at the presidential office in Tehran. Mohammad Javad Ostad/Iranian Presidency/dpa Iran’s chief justice has for the first time proposed a dialogue with opponents of the country’s leadership as protests against the government continue. “Citizens or political groups should know that we have an ear for protests and criticism and are ready for dialogue,” Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei said on Monday. According to the Donya-e Eqtesad news portal, he conceded that Iran’s political system could also have “weaknesses and flaws” and said that “we are ready to listen to suggestions and also have no qualms about correcting any mistakes.” He went on to say, however, that peaceful protests must be distinguished from violent riots. Iran had so far spoken of a conspiracy by foreign countries and armed Iranian opposition groups in connection with the near month-long protests, and has started a crackdown. There were further protests on Monday. Tension on the streets and internet restrictions have paralysed large parts of the economy. Germany and several other western countries have called for sanctions against Iran’s leadership. Britain on Monday said it had imposed sanctions on Iran’s so-called morality police “in its entirety” as well as five political and security officials in Iran. The protests were set off by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly not adhering to Iran’s strict Islamic dress code. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Parisa Hafezi DUBAI (Reuters) -Iranian security forces intensified a crackdown on anti-government protests in several Kurdish cities on Monday, as demonstrations elsewhere in Iran spread into the country’s vital energy sector. Protests have swept Iran since Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old from Iran’s Kurdish region, died on Sept. 16 while being held for “inappropriate attire”, marking one of the boldest challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. While university students have played a pivotal role in the protests with dozens of universities on strike, unconfirmed reports on social media showed workers at Abadan and Kangan oil refineries and the Bushehr Petrochemical Project had joined in. Iran’s oil ministry was not immediately available to comment. A combination of mass protests and strikes by oil workers and Bazaar merchants helped to sweep the clergy to power in the Iranian revolution four decades ago. With U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran’s oil exports over the country’s nuclear programme, analyst Karim Sadjadpour said large and sustained strikes among energy workers could bring the Islamic Republic to its knees. “Iran is less dependent on oil as a percentage of GDP than they were in 1978, but energy exports are still the lifeblood of the economy,” said Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. China, Iran’s biggest oil customer, is one of the few countries that continues to do business with Iran despite sanctions. But an oil workers’ strike, experts say, could mean there would be no oil to export, legally or illegally. A video on Twitter showed dozens of workers had blocked the road to the Bushehr petrochemical plant, in Assaluyeh on Iran’s Gulf coast, chanting “Death to the Dictator”. FIERCE CRACKDOWN Unfazed by teargas, clubs, and, in many cases, live ammunition used by the security forces, according to rights groups, protesters across Iran have persist with demonstrators burning pictures of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling for the downfall of the clerical establishment. Tensions have been especially high between authorities and the Kurdish minority which human rights groups say has long been oppressed – a charge the Islamic Republic denies. Human rights group Hengaw reported a heavy presence of armed security forces in the Kurdish cities of Sanandaj, Saqez and Divandareh on Monday. It said at least five Kurdish residents were killed and over 150 injured in protests since Saturday. Videos shared on social media showed protests in dozens of cities across Iran early on Monday, with fierce clashes between protesters and riot police in cities and towns across Amini’s native Kurdistan province. The Iranian authorities have blamed the violence on an array of enemies including armed Iranian Kurdish dissidents, with the Revolutionary Guards attacking their bases in neighbouring Iraq a number of times during the latest unrest. Iran has a track record of putting down unrest among its more than 10 million Kurds, part of a Kurdish minority whose aspirations for autonomy have also led to conflicts with authorities in Turkey, Iraq and Syria. Heavy gunfire could be heard in several videos shared on Twitter by the activist 1500tasvir. A video showed several explosions creating blinding flashes in a neighbourhood of Sanandaj, the capital of the Kurdistan province. Activists said on social media that several people, including two teenagers, were killed by security forces in the province. Reuters could not verify the videos and posts. At least 185 people, including 19 minors, have been killed, hundreds injured and thousands have been arrested by security forces, according to rights groups. Blaming the protests on Iran’s foreign foes, authorities said “rioters” have killed at least 20 members of the security forces. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Tom Perry, William Maclean and David Evans) View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — As directed by by Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus, the revival of the 1969 musical “1776,” which opened last week at the Roundabout Theatre, is the latest entry in the current trend of blowing up the baked-in optimism of the American musical theater. These productions are not so much revivals as deconstructions. And, as with the case of this peculiar treatment of the much-loved Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence, they are open to the charge of bait and switch. The most valid response to that charge is, to my mind, radically … Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Scientists hope reef balls like these, in waters near Chula Vista, California, will ultimately help protect the coast from erosion made worse by climate change Chula Vista (United States) (AFP) – There are no pearls growing on the oyster reefs in San Diego Bay, but scientists hope they will yield an even more valuable treasure: protection against coastal erosion wrought by rising sea levels. Thousands of the tiny mollusks have begun growing on the artificial reefs dropped in the bay as part of a plan to mitigate damage in California’s far south. “We look at numerous different ways to help combat sea-level rise, and these reef balls are one of the tools in our toolbox to do that,” Eileen Maher, director of environmental conservation at the Port of San Diego, told AFP. The port implanted 360 structures last December, along a peninsula wedged between the salt marshes of Southern California and the Coronado peninsula — home to the naval air base that inspired “Top Gun.” These hemispheres weigh 300 pounds (135 kilograms) and look like huge thimbles. They are made from a mixture of cement, sand and crushed oyster shells — a crucial ingredient that attracts living oysters to make their home there. After 10 months in the water, the reefs are covered with a greenish silt, which hides thousands of still-microscopic oysters, says Maher. Eventually, the dozen scientists working on this pilot project hope to see the formation of real oyster reefs, which they believe will have a genuine impact on their local environment. Miniature filters The reefs are much more than a natural bulwark against tidal erosion; their bivalve occupants are all miniature filtration plants that are essential to the marine ecosystem. That’s because to capture the nutrients an oyster needs to survive, each one filters around 50 gallons (190 liters) of water every day, said Maher. “They help remove that turbidity out of the water and help clean the water, which will provide additional benefits to eelgrass, the submerged aquatic vegetation,” she said. “The more eelgrass sits in the bay, the less chance there is of the shoreline eroding, because it helps — any plant will help prevent shorelines from eroding.” And like the oysters, these long-filament seagrass beds will also provide a crucial food source for the 80 species of fish and 300 varieties of birds that make their home in the area. Flooding and erosion By 2050, sea levels around California are expected to have risen 20 centimeters (eight inches), according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study released early this year. This would drastically increase the frequency of flooding on the West Coast, which will also occur more often due to storms and heavy rainfall events exacerbated by human-caused climate change. And rising seas will worsen the erosion that threatens California’s coastline. Around San Diego, this future is already apparent. To the south, the streets of Imperial Beach are regularly flooded during high tides. An hour’s drive to the north, the rail line that carries the “Pacific Surfliner” has just been closed at San Clemente, where the rocks that support it are sinking because of erosion. In this context, “We have to make sure that we’re resilient,” said Jason Giffen, vice president of planning and environment for the Port of San Diego. The $1.3 million oyster reef project is being evaluated over five years. Similar schemes have been established in San Francisco and New York. The oyster barriers work only in areas of shallow water, Giffen said. Elsewhere, the port is exploring other solutions. In the northern part of the bay, small hollow reinforcements have been attached to the piers. They not only offer stability but provide refuge to algae, fish and shellfish, helping to bolster biodiversity. Currently, about 70 percent of the shoreline around San Diego Bay has some type of artificially contructed rock protection. “We can look at replacing in the long run that infrastructure with something that’s more biologically and environmentally sensitive and actually would be a value-add in terms of environmental quality,” said Giffen. View the full article

Published by AFP Harvey Weinstein is already serving a lengthy jail term in New York, and now faces further charges of sexual misconduct in Los Angeles Los Angeles (AFP) – Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein goes on trial in Los Angeles on Monday, where he faces charges in the city whose main industry he dominated for decades. The 70-year-old “Pulp Fiction” producer is already serving 23 years in jail in New York after being convicted there of a series of sex crimes. He now faces 11 more charges including sexual battery by restraint, forcible rape and forcible oral copulation against women in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles hotels between 2004 and 2013, in a trial expected to last two months. If convicted, Weinstein — who has pleaded not guilty to all counts — could be sentenced to 140 additional years behind bars. Jury selection was set to begin Monday in a downtown Los Angeles court. Widespread sexual abuse and harassment allegations against Weinstein exploded in October 2017, and his conviction in New York in 2020 was a landmark in the #MeToo movement. In June, he lost a bid to have that sex crimes conviction overturned. He has also been separately charged by British prosecutors with the 1996 indecent assault of a woman in London. In total, nearly 90 women, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek, have accused Weinstein of harassment or assault. He says that all his sexual encounters were consensual, and his lawyer told reporters that the Los Angeles accusations “stem from many years ago” and cannot “be substantiated or corroborated by any forensic evidence” or “credible witnesses.” The New York Film Festival this week will premiere “She Said,” a film about the 2017 newspaper investigation into Weinstein that sparked the demise of his movie empire. Before the allegations against him emerged, the producer and his brother Bob were Hollywood’s ultimate power players. They co-founded Miramax Films, a distribution company named after their mother Miriam and father Max, in 1979. It was sold to Disney in 1993. Their hits included 1998’s “Shakespeare in Love,” for which Weinstein shared a best picture Oscar. Over the years, Weinstein’s films received more than 300 Oscar nominations and 81 statuettes. View the full article

Published by DPA Das Guggenheim-Museum in Bilbao gilt als avantgardistisches Meisterwerk. FMGB Guggenheim Bilbao Museoa, 2009/dpa-tmn The sun’s brilliance, which is caught on the titanium plate coverings, is reflected in gold and silver. The structures fan out imaginatively towards the sky. “The metallic flower” is what some call it. Or is it more reminiscent of a ship that has docked on the banks of the Nervión? The Guggenheim Museum of modern and contemporary Art plunges the visitor into a frenzy of starchitecture. Frank Gehry designed his avant-garde masterpiece for an invitational competition that marked the start of Bilbao’s extensive urban redevelopment. After four years of construction, the museum celebrated its opening in October 1997. On it 25th birthday, it remains the pride and joy, and landmark, of the old industrial metropolis. The building provided the initial impetus for tourism and brought about Bilbao’s transformation from a rough-and-grey image to an international visitor destination. The “Bilbao effect” has become a term for “cultural investment plus spectacular architecture, which is supposed to equal economic uplift for cities down on their luck.” From Lyon to Oslo “Gehry’s building put Bilbao on the map of culture vulture tourists in one fell swoop because it spread around the world as an iconic image – similar to the Sydney Opera House. The name Guggenheim also carried a lot of weight,” says Falk Jaeger, a Berlin-based architecture professor and critic. Many cities have long tried “to take advantage of the Bilbao effect with standout buildings by star architects, mostly museums, from Reykjavik to Graz, from Manchester to Valencia,” says Jaeger, who comes to the conclusion: “That rarely succeeds, or it fails miserably, as in the case of Lyon, where the Musée des Confluences by the architects Coop Himmelb(l)au is encamped on the banks of the Rhôn and is one thing, and one thing only: ugly.” On the other hand, Jaeger highlights the Norwegian capital Oslo as a continuously developing positive example: “Oslo was able to record a Bilbao effect with its opera house in 2008 (Snøhetta Architects), continuing in 2020 with the Deichmann Library (Lund Hagem Arkitekter), in 2021 with the spectacular Munch Museum (Estudio Herreros) and in 2022 with the National Museum (Schuwerk and Kleihues), with which Oslo’s harbourside became a string of impressive cultural buildings.” Sobering results It made sense that other cities in northern Spain wanted to build on the Bilbao effect simply because of their geographical proximity – with sometimes sobering results. In Oviedo, the intended upgrading by Santiago Calatrava’s luminous Congress Palace has sunk into darkness. The industrial city of Avilés, which adorned itself with a cultural centre designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, did not end up on the cultural map. But the futuristic architecture was and is too lifeless, the neighborhood of smoking chimneys too ugly, the cultural programme too provincial. In Santiago de Compostela, Peter Eisenman’s City of Culture of Galicia, whose scattered constructions sit like foreign bodies on a hill on the edge of the city, disfiguring the landscape, has become a symbol of an excessive waste of money. Even the locals hardly want to go there, unless students and researchers need to go to the library or the regional archives. The situation is different in the port city of Santander, where the Botín Cultural Centre has been setting innovative accents since 2017 and is well received by the locals – even if only as a destination for walks along the promenade. The work of the Italian architect Renzo Piano, who was supported by Spanish architect Luis Vidal, is modelled on a two-part breakwater, with one half on land and the other half suspended over the water on stilts. An art museum as art If you’re travelling to the Guggenheim in Bilbao, you should beware of misconceptions of it being an art mecca. The museum shows only a few permanent exhibits, including a “Bouquet of Carnations” by Jeff Koons on the terrace next to the water gardens and Richard Serra’s steel sculptures. At the same time, there are usually two or three temporary exhibitions of varying quality, which can be disappointing at times. Over the past 25 years, motorbikes, vintage cars and antique porcelain from China have been on display under the guise of art, alonside fantastic shows of works such as those by David Hockney. Architecture critic Jaeger takes issue with the fact that “the radiant building has shortcomings in the details and does not function well as a museum”. He considers the Serra gallery disproportionately “monstrous”, the pathways “strange”, and construction details “cruel to look at.” The expert may see this differently from most people, because basically it’s neither about minor details nor about what temporary exhibitions are on at any given moment. The most important thing is the overall effect. Gehry deliberately achieved the feat of elevating an art museum itself to the status of the most important exhibit: a mega-sculpture of angular and dynamically curved forms, symmetries and asymmetries, interlacings of limestone, glass and titanium. To this day, we can all bow deeply to this achievement. Spektakel-Architektur: «Metallische Blume» nennt der Volksmund das Guggenheim-Museum für moderne und zeitgenössische Kunst in Bilbao. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn Das Kunstzentrum Botín in Santander von Renzo Piano und Luis Vidal ist einer zweigeteilten Mole nachempfunden. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn Eines der wenigen dauerhaften Exponate im Guggenheim-Museum in Bilbao: das Kunstwerk «Tulips» von Jeff Koons. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn Das Kunstzentrum Botín in Santander wird gerne als Flaniermeile genutzt. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn Der Industriestadt Avilés konnte auch das Kulturzentrum des Brasilianers Oscar Niemeyer nicht zu Beliebtheit verhelfen. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn Symbol der Geldverschwendung: In Santiago de Compostela verschandelt die Kulturstadt Galicien von Peter Eisenman die Landschaft. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn Die eigenwillige Kulturstadt Galicien in Santiago de Compostela beherbergt eine Bibliothek und ein Regionalarchiv. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn Das von Frank O. Gehry erschaffene Guggenheim-Museum hat aus Bilbao ein attraktives Reiseziel gemacht. FMGB Guggenheim Bilbao Museoa, 2009/dpa-tmn View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kim Kardashian’s new podcast has shot to number one on Spotify. The reality star and trainee lawyer’s ‘Kim Kardashian’s The System: The Case of Kevin Keith’ launched on October 3 with two episodes, and it’s proved so popular, it’s overtaken the likes of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s ‘Archetypes’ and ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’. The first season of the true crime podcast explores a triple homicide, and Kim’s aim with the podcast is to show the “other side” of cases so often go unheard. In a recent interview, the SKIMS founder said: “I think storytelling is key. Sharing people’s stories that are not just on a rap sheet will help people get comfortable and understand where someone has come from. “Usually, you don’t hear the other side. Usually, you hear triple homicide, and you get scared, especially if they’re convicted. No one’s going to look into [that person’s case] enough to understand, well, there was no physical evidence linking him [to the crime].” On the outcome she hopes to get for Kevin, who was sentenced to death, she said: “The ultimate end goal would be for the governor to commute Kevin’s sentence. “But then I feel like an investigation has to happen, too, to figure out who really did this and get that person behind bars. And I have speculation [about who that person is].” The 41-year-old star has been celebrated for her criminal justice reform work in recent years and is determined to help as many people as possible. Asked how she started her campaigning, said previously: “I just saw something on social media that I didn’t feel like was fair, and I didn’t understand it. A woman that didn’t do anything violent, never had a ticket in her life, she answered the phone as a mule for a drug case and got the same sentence as Charles Manson. “When I saw that, I was like, ‘I don’t get it. How did this happen? Did she need a better attorney?’ I really didn’t know, so I educated myself about it. “I thought, ‘Okay, I can handle [pardoning] low-level drug offenses, that I can resonate with.’ “But if someone was killed—I didn’t know I could get behind it until I was brought to a women’s prison. Their stories were all very similar. They all committed a crime for their boyfriend, or for their husband. “I mean, I probably did some dumb s*** at some point and I was maybe just a few decisions off of being in a similar situation, any of us could be. “Once I saw how broken the system is, I couldn’t stop. I have to help as many people as I can. These people are thrown away and put in prison and no one cares. It’s so heartbreaking.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Amazon is adding thousands more electric vehicles to its European operations. The e-retail giant is investing more than £880 million to increase the amount of electric cars, vans and cargo bikes used in delivery routes across Europe in the next five years. In the UK, Amazon are looking to spend £300 million in order to have an expected 700 electric HGVs in the next three years. Currently, they have five in operation. They also intend to have 10,000 electric vans in the same period, representing a tripling of their present amount. In addition, the Jeff Bezos-founded company is looking to install charging points at their warehouses and delivery hubs that will allow vehicles to be charged in roughly two hours. They are also seeking to increase European cities with “micro mobility hubs” -which permit deliveries to carried out through cargo bike and walking – from 20 to 40. Their CEO, Andy Jassy said: “Deploying thousands of electric vans, long-haul trucks, and bikes will help us shift further away from traditional fossil fuels.” He added that getting Amazon to zero carbon emissions needs “substantial and sustained investment” and called the transport network “one of the most challenging areas” to reduce carbon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK government’s transport secretary supported the move. She said: “Significant investments like Amazon’s today will be vital to reducing emissions and meeting our net zero goals, while supporting growth at the same time.” Amazon debuted their e-cargo bikes scheme in London and introduced a team of staff who deliver packages on foot. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jamie Lee Curtis has accused Kanye West of “inciting violence”. The ‘Stronger’ rapper has sparked outrage with an anti-Semitic post on Twitter and though it has since been removed and he has been blocked from the platform, a string of stars have spoken up to condemn the Yeezy designer. Kanye tweeted over the weekend: “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE. “The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.(sic)” In response, the ‘Halloween Kills’ star posted: “The holiest day in Judaism was last week. Words matter. A threat to Jewish people ended once in a genocide. Your words hurt and incite violence. You are a father. Please stop.” Musician Jack Antonoff hit back with a simple insult. He posted: “kanye a little b****.” Former ‘The View’ co-host Meghan McCain branded Kanye “trash” and insisted anti-Semitism is “an existential threat to American life”. She posted on Instagram: “A reminder – antisemitic hate crimes are at their highest levels in America in decades. Antisemitic language, rhetoric and statements have become common place in American media, politics and pop culture. “It is now normal to hear casual antisemitic comments from sitting members of congress, media hosts, pop culture figures etc. – it is a cancer and it is everywhere. It is an existential threat to American life and our Jewish friends and family both in our country and outside of it. I have zero tolerance for this s***. Zero. “This is poison and yet another example why this man and his behavior are trash. Conservatives always claim to hate celebrity but jump and get excited like a teenage girl at a Harry Styles concert any time any of them show our side attention. ” It is pathetic, we are supposed to be anti celebrity and for the average working men and women – but I guess that went out the window years ago. “This man is no icon, he has no wisdom I care to hear. Do not look the other way from this statement – it is the public hatred of Judaism and Jews and full f****** stop there is NO place for this anywhere.” Michael Rapaport branded the rapper a “creep” and expressed his regret at defending Kanye when his ex-wife Kim Kardashian was dating Pete Davidson. He said in a video: “Kanye is designing the Yeezy Jewish Space Lasers. I’m up going Death Con 6 Million…I defended you, you dusty prick. You look dusty. “I was there. I defended you when Pistol Pete Davidson was sugard****** your wife. “But this is unacceptable, you creep.” Comic Sarah Silverman urged more people to speak out against the ‘Bound 2’ hitmaker. She tweeted: “Kanye threatened the Jews yesterday on twitter and it’s not even trending. Why do mostly only Jews speak up against Jewish hate? The silence is so loud.” Maria Shriver also called for more people to condemn Kanye. She posted: “We all need to get onto it. Those kind of threats and that kind of language need to be condemned by all sides and all faiths. We should never get over something like this. #KanyeWest (sic)” View the full article