The speaks of silence

Days after a group of people dressed in clothing reminiscent of Nazi brownshirts drove a rented box truck displaying hateful messages down Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, a watchdog group is speaking out against the incident and says it has identified the hate group and two of its members. According to StopAntisemitism, an organization that works to expose people and groups that engage in antisemitic behavior, the group responsible for Saturday’s incident is the Goyim Defense League. The organization also named two people who were captured on video participating in the hateful rally: Jon Minadeo II and Robert Frank Wilson. “We are horrified that innocent bystanders in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, Jewish and otherwise, were subjected to such vile and atrocious hate,” Liora Rez, executive director of StopAntisemitism, told The Times on Monday. “When white supremacists like the Goyim Defense League are allowed to spread this type of vile bigotry … [Read more...] about Anti-hate group speaks out against antisemitic incident in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle broke down in tears today, while speaking about his daughter's suicide. The Commons speaker spoke movingly about his experience of suicide while introducing members of the band New Order at an event in Parliament about suicide and depression. The event marked the 42nd anniversary of the death of Ian Curtis, the singer of Joy Division, the band's earlier incarnation. "When it happens, you never get over it," Speaker Hoyle said. "For me personally the biggest shock ever was the death of my daughter Natalie in 2017. She was 28. I am still rocked to this day. I still cannot believe...that she's gone." Pausing briefly to hold back tears, he went on: "It was a relationship that was toxic, that still makes no sense. How somebody that has so much to offer, and so much to give - who was the perfect auntie to my grandchildren. It is without doubt the hardest, most difficult...something I don't like to talk about because it's so personal." "When it happens, you … [Read more...] about Speaker Lindsay Hoyle breaks down in tears while speaking about daughter’s suicide

In what could be a game-changing move for the struggling East Bengal, EPL giants Manchester United may end up taking ownership of one of the oldest football clubs in the country. IPL 2022 – FULL COVERAGE | SCHEDULE | RESULTS | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAP | POINTS TABLE BCCI President and former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is facilitating the deal, told the media that negotiations are on with the ‘Red Devils’ and a few others and a clear picture will emerge in about two weeks. East Bengal were also talking with Bangladesh-based conglomerate Bashundhara Group but it did not lead to any deal. Breaking the silence on the issue for the first time, Ganguly on Tuesday, said, “Yes we have spoken to them and others also. It will take 10-12 more days to know who will be the entity. Asked whether the European football giants are coming as an investor, the Indian cricket icon said: “No-no (they are coming) as an owner.” Ganguly however refused to delve further into … [Read more...] about East Bengal in Talks With Manchester United and Others for Ownership, Says Sourav Ganguly

They’re calling it the Queenmobile – a staggeringly expensive piece of kit (think two brand new BMWs) – splashed all over the newspapers because it has been ferrying the mobility-impaired monarch around the Chelsea Flower Show . The driving duties are performed by a chauffeur in the obligatory peaked cap. Of course they are. Usually this sort of story has about as much interest to me as the identity of Khloe Kardashian’s latest squeeze. But on this occasion, the pictures got lodged in my brain and started nagging until they produced a question: would someone tell me what’s wrong with a wheelchair ? Or a mobility scooter ? Normally, those of us with disabilities are loathe to pass comment on the choices made by others when it comes to getting around. With good reason. We feel we get enough judgement from the able-bodied. To actually prove to the government that we’re disabled in the first place requires clearing more fences than the winner of the Cheltenham … [Read more...] about Forget the ‘Queenmobile’ – why doesn’t Her Majesty just use a wheelchair?

This weekend, the Catholic Church made the news yet again over its views on abortion – this time concerning US House speaker Nancy Pelosi ’s ability to receive the sacrament of communion due to her pro-choice stance. While it’s no secret that the Catholic Church, and other churches, have been long-term vocal opponents of abortion , this move to block a sacrament from a politician is absolutely over the top. Religious organisations that involve themselves in politics in this way should lose their tax exempt status. Religious organisations are already not required to comply with rules that secular spaces must follow. For example, the Catholic Church has been blessed by the government with tax exemptions , as much as $3.5bn in government Covid-19 aid and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) bypassing . The requirements for these benefits are given to them under the condition of their religious organisation status. This status has responsibilities attached to … [Read more...] about If the Catholic Church can’t stay out of politics, it should start paying taxes

"You didn't want to get involved in the Ukraine conflict militarily for obvious reasons," a reporter, addressing President Joe Biden , stated in a press conference in Tokyo on Monday. "Are you willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan, if it comes to that?" "Yes," said Biden. "That's the commitment we made," the president explained after the reporter expressed skepticism. "We agree with the 'one-China' policy; we've signed on to it and all the attendant agreements made from there. But the idea that—that it can be taken by force—just taken by force—is just not appropriate. It will dislocate the entire region and be another action similar to what happened in Ukraine. And so, it's a burden that's even stronger." A White House official, speaking anonymously to The Washington Post , then said there was no change in American policy, maintaining that the president had merely repeated a pledge, in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, to give Taiwan the military means to … [Read more...] about Biden’s Taiwan policy: overruled by China—and the White House | Opinion

Actress Rebel Wilson was photographed with an arm around Prince Harry this weekend. The star had mocked the royal's interview with Oprah Winfrey at the BAFTAs earlier this year... before revealing a mystery member of the royal family had vetted her joke. Wilson, star of Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids , uploaded a photograph to Instagram on Sunday showing her up close and personal with the prince with the caption "Team Harry!" The photograph was taken at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club in California where Harry's polo team Los Padres was playing in a fixture watched by Meghan Markle . Ahead of her hosting of the 75th BAFTA Film Awards in March, Wilson told BBC 's The One Show that though she was nervous about the ceremony, she at least had peace of mind that one key aspect of her set wouldn't cause offense. Speaking to show hosts, Lauren Laverne and Jermaine Jenas, Wilson explained she ran her royal jokes by a member of the family to see if they struck … [Read more...] about Rebel Wilson seen with Prince Harry after mocking royal’s Oprah interview

Donald Trump has suggested nuclear war is "more likely to happen than not" for the United States because of President Joe Biden . Writing on Truth Social, the former president said he never thought "in my wildest imagination" that the U.S. would be involved in a nuclear war. "Now, however, because of our leaders rhetoric and very poor choice of words, it is perhaps more likely to happen than not," Trump said. "Russia/Ukraine would NEVER have happened under a TRUMP Administration. Now there are fewer cards to play, but still very playable. China up next?" His comments follow Biden indicating the U.S. military would defend Taiwan if China, a major nuclear power, attacked the island—remarks the White House insisted were not a policy change—and as NATO indirectly helps Ukraine defend itself from Russia, which has the largest stockpile of nuclear warheads in the world. Trump made similar comments in an interview on Real America's Voice show Outside the Beltway, which … [Read more...] about Donald Trump suggests nuclear war “more likely to happen than not”

Former secretary of state Henry Kissinger has said Ukraine should accept giving up part of its territory to reach a peace deal with Russia, and end the now three-month-long war immediately. Talking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Monday, 98-year-old Kissinger said that failing to restart negotiations with Russia and continuing to antagonize Moscow could have disastrous consequences for Europe's stability in the long term. "Negotiations need to begin in the next two months before it creates upheavals and tensions that will not be easily overcome," he said. "Ideally, the dividing line should be a return to the status quo ante. Pursuing the war beyond that point would not be about the freedom of Ukraine, but a new war against Russia itself." Kissinger, who served under the administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford in the 1970s, warned against dragging on the war, and pressed for negotiations. The former secretary of state said Russia has … [Read more...] about Henry Kissinger: Ukraine should give up territory to Russia to reach peace

Thomas Markle is sharing a YouTube channel with a press photographer who checked out the house next door to Meghan Markle 's mother—even after his own past run-ins with the paparazzi. Karl Larsen took a widely circulated set of photographs of Meghan and Prince Harry at the polo on Saturday. He also runs a critical YouTube channel about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with his co-host—Meghan's father Thomas Markle. And Larsen visited the house next door to Meghan's mother Doria when it was up for sale, touring the backyard where he suggested he could hear children playing . Larsen told Newsweek he did not intend to suggest the children were the Sussex children, Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, and was only joking. However, the saga has echoes of Thomas Markle's own experiences with the paparazzi in the run-up to Meghan and Harry's royal wedding in 2018. The Duchess of Sussex told Oprah Winfrey in her March 2021 tell-all: "They moved into the apartment next … [Read more...] about Thomas Markle now hosting show with photographer who targets Meghan, Doria