Six men sentenced to death for murder of LGBTQ activist and USAID employee in Bangladesh
Earlier this week six Bangladeshi men accused of belonging to an Islamist militant group were convicted and sentenced to death for their role in the killing of a prominent LGBTQ rights activist and his friend in 2016. After attacking a security guard, the six entered Mannan’s apartment, killing both men. The assassins, who were also armed with guns, escaped the building through a narrow alley, opening fire on police as they left. Mannan had previously started an LGBTQ magazine, Roopbaan, in 2014 — a radical act in a conservative Islamic-majority country where same-sex relations are illegal. Prosecutors claimed the six men who were convicted were members of Ansar al-Islam, a banned militant group that local news outlets have connected to Al-Qaeda.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 16:29 UTC
Chicago Pride Parade canceled for second year, organizers blame vaccine skeptics
The Chicago Pride Parade has been officially canceled for the second year in a row, with organizers saying they were “naïve” to think they could trust enough people to get vaccinated. Originally set to go ahead on Oct. 3, the Pride Parade will now take place on June 26, 2022, organizers told GoPride.com. “We’re going to believe that in June, 2022 we are living in a far safer world than now,” Tim Frye, coordinator of Chicago Pride, said. We must cancel the parade for the second year.”Frye noted that Pride was personal for him, saying he “came out after watching a Pride Parade. While the parade is officially canceled, Chicago Pride Fest organizers said that the 20th annual festival would be going ahead on Oct. 1 and 2.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 15:10 UTC
Saudi state media companies to start moving from Dubai to Riyadh
DUBAI (Reuters) – Dubai-based Saudi state-owned media companies will start moving staff this month to the capital Riyadh, sources said, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presses ahead with plans to remould the kingdom as a regional business hub. The move follows a Saudi government decision earlier this year to stop giving state contracts to companies and commercial institutions that base their Middle East headquarters in any other country in the region. MBC, Arabiya and Hadath are based in Dubai Media City, the United Arab Emirates’ media hub that hosts hundreds of media companies and most of their Middle East headquarters. Asharq News is based in Riyadh but has a large hub in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Asharq News, owned by Saudi Research and Marketing Group, said that since its inception Riyadh was the main hub for the network operations, with regional offices, including in Dubai.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 14:48 UTC
Q-Force: Twink actor Matt Rogers stands by "every single joke" in Netflix's queer comedy
MATT ROGERS: You know, the [writers’] room was predominantly queer, and like I said, the cast is predominately queer, the animators are predominantly queer. I also don’t really think other communities have to think about these things, you know what I mean? And I really think there’s a misunderstanding, in America, especially, about what camp really is. ROGERS: I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I don’t think people have to worry about murder in this film. So, the answer is no, I don’t live my life day-to-day being like, “Let me check the Co-Star app.” I really don’t care.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 14:36 UTC
Motor racing-Horner fears Mercedes could block Albon’s return to F1
“We’re working hard to get him (Albon) a seat,” Horner told Sky Sports television at the Dutch Grand Prix. That would be a great, great shame.”Horner explained that would be because of his links to Red Bull. Williams boss Jost Capito has worked closely with Red Bull in the past while head of Volkswagen Motorsport. Asked whether Albon might be released from his Red Bull contract, Horner said there was flexibility. De Vries has also been linked to Williams and Alfa but Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff said Albon was key to events.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 14:28 UTC
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is coming to an event space near you
Over 130 years since Vincent Van Gogh painted his last painting — now believed to be Tree Roots — the mercurial Dutchman’s extraordinary works and sensational life story continue to draw millions of visitors each year to Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience recently opened at D.C.’s Rhode Island Center and is among those competing exhibitions offering events in several cities at once. So if it seems that Van Gogh experiences are sprouting like sunflowers up and down the Eastern seaboard, it’s because they are, just without Van Gogh’s actual Sunflowers in attendance. Among this group, only the reproduction of his Starry Night Over the Rhone comes close to replicating the dancing light and movement that leap off a Van Gogh canvas. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience runs through January 2022 at the Rhode Island Center, 524 Rhode Island Ave. NE.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 14:25 UTC
Framingham's Panza Shoes, open since World War II, is planning to close for good
FRAMINGHAM — The sole remaining shoe store in downtown Framingham, which has been fitting and fixing shoes since World War II, is planning to close. In 2019, Downtown Framingham Inc. presented Panza Shoes with the first Community Cornerstone Award. Panza Shoes had to close for several weeks last spring due to the pandemic. But even after reopening, fewer people felt comfortable entering stores, Panza said. But it's the major selling point at Panza Shoes, with its focus on offering shoes for hard-to-fit feet and helping customers find their perfect size and width.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 12:56 UTC
Water activists in Michigan urge Canada to stop supporting Line 5
click to enlarge Lee DeVitoActivists held a demonstration Wednesday to demand Canada backs Michigan's efforts to close the Line 5 pipeline in the Great Lakes. Water activists are calling on Canadian officials to back Michigan's efforts to close the Line 5 dual pipelines , which have spilled more than a million gallons of oil into the Straits of Mackinac and surrounding waters.Gov. "Achieving this goal is what Canada agreed to when it ratified the Paris climate accord ," Simmons pointed out. "Allowing Line 5 to continue to operate, or to be replaced by a new oil tunnel, as Enbridge is proposing, is not consistent with that climate goal. Canadian officials have lobbied the U.S. to keep Line 5 open, but the Oil and Water Don't Mix Coalition urged them to instead focus on a national energy policy to protect the Great Lakes.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 12:33 UTC
North Carolina can be sued for excluding trans people from state health care plan
A federal appeals court ruled earlier this week that transgender state employees, and the transgender dependents of state employees, can sue North Carolina for insurance exclusions that prohibit the state’s employee health care plan from covering gender-affirming medical treatments. Six state employees filed suit against the state in 2019, accusing the North Carolina State Health Plan of discriminating against them or their children. That report noted that the cost of defending the state from lawsuits would far exceed the estimated cost of covering gender-affirming care, which would be approximately 0.011% to 0.027% of the state health care plan’s $3.2 billion in premiums. It was that report that prompted former State Treasurer Janet Cowell (D) to remove exclusions on gender-affirming care from the state employee plan in 2017. “We sued the State Health Plan and North Carolina officials for their blatant discrimination against transgender state employees and their dependents, who like our plaintiffs dedicate their time and talent to improve the wellbeing of the state and its residents, but are deprived of medically necessary and often life-saving health care services,” Gonzalez-Pagan added.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 12:09 UTC
Sullivan's Travels: Latest from the Natick Community Organic Farm
For information, visit https://natickservicecouncil.org/… The Bacon Free Library in South Natick has reopened to the public, with no reservation. Porchfest will take place in the following neighborhoods:Area 1 – Washington Street, Walnut Street, Harvard Street, Franklin Street, Florence Street, David DriveArea 2 – Grant Street, Wilson Street, Sheridan Street, Sherman Street, Avon Street, Garfield Street, Chester Street, Morse Street. Area 3 – Pond Street, Maple Street, Plain Street, Park Street, Western Avenue, Floral Avenue, Waban Street. All proceeds from the sale fund the Natick Garden Club, a group devoted to civic beautification and service in the Natick community. For information, visit https://www.flutiefoundation.org/… Mark your calendars for Natick Days on Sept. 11, and the annual Fall Town Meeting on Oct. 19.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 11:03 UTC
The Return of Bent (and DJ Lemz): Everything You Need To Know
DJ Lemz can still vividly recall the mood that night, in January of 2020. “There was a really good energy in the air. It just felt really electric — like everyone was there having a good time,” says the promoter behind Bent, the 9:30 Club’s quarterly LGBTQ party. “I got hit really hard with the pandemic, so getting support from the community really helped a lot,” Lemz says. Two months later, he announced the Shaw venue would become the new home for the monthly LGBTQ party, formerly at Wonderland.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 09:56 UTC
Album Review: 'If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power' by Halsey
With a production assist from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Halsey layers dark, industrial elements over her sound. Halsey would be the first to admit that the album’s angst and ferocity underscore some intense feelings she has had to work through. Halsey is already known for strong statements, and If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power has a solid claim to being her strongest one yet. If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is available to stream and purchase. Read More Music Reviews:‘Saturday Night, Sunday Morning’ by Jake Bugg‘Solar Power’ by Lorde‘Release Me 2’ by Barbra Streisand
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 09:45 UTC
Hudson police dispatcher one of five to earn leadership scholarship
HUDSON — After 19 years on the job, Hudson Police Department lead dispatcher Jody Blanchard still looks for ways to improve. She'll attend after being awarded the Massachusetts PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) Leadership Scholarship, one of just five dispatchers to receive the award. “It teaches mainly leadership skills — how to be a better leader and reinforcing all of the things we do,” said Blanchard, 44, of Northborough. She said, thanks to the scholarship, she will develop new skills to not only improve herself, but those with whom she works. “I enjoy being a leader here, I enjoy the job and I enjoy training new people,” said Blanchard.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 09:45 UTC
Cinderella review: A shoddy but satisfying twist on the classic tale
Writer/director Kay Cannon’s Cinderella (★★★☆☆) serves up an inspiring and strong female character to lead a messy but likable modern take on the fairytale. Although the Cinderella soundtrack consists mostly of pop covers, Cabello and Menzel each co-wrote an original song that they sing in character. This big-budget Cinderella is a shoddy but satisfying twist on the tale, one that would have benefited from a sharper, more unifying thematic structure. Or at least more scenes featuring Billy Porter as the Fab G, an updated twist on the Fairy Godmother character. Cinderella doesn’t quite know what to make of the Fab G when they first appear.
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 09:45 UTC
Hytera Signs USD 30 Million Contract with Shenzhen Metro Line 12 to Provide Integrated Communication Solutions
SHENZHEN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hytera, a global leading provider of Professional Mobile Radio (PMR) solutions, has signed a new contract worth USD 30 million to provide the entire integrated communication solutions with systems, equipment, terminals and services for Shenzhen Metro Line 12. The objective is to cover as wide an area as possible and also provide easy connections to other metro lines, railway stations and surrounding cities. At present, Hytera’s communication solutions for transportation have served more than 10 cities in China. As one of the local high-tech enterprises in Shenzhen, Hytera will make greater effort to contribute to Shenzhen's construction of metros, railways, transportation, airports and other city infrastructures. For more information about Hytera transportation solutions, please visit: https://bit.ly/2VcZ2ar
Source:MetroXpress
September 03, 2021 09:33 UTC