Woman who posted antisemitic conspiracies about Grenfell fire jailed

A woman who spread false antisemitic conspiracy theories on Facebook about the Grenfell Tower tragedy has been jailed for 11 months.

Tahra Ahmed, 51, said the 72 victims were “burnt alive in a Jewish sacrifice” in a video posted to social media just four days after the tragedy on 14 June 2017.

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Ahmed, who reportedly worked as a volunteer with victims of the fire, posted her false conspiracy theories “virulently” on Facebook, the court heard. On 18 June 2017, she posted a video on Facebook of the fire and described it as a “Jewish sacrifice”, the court heard.

snip

“They are very real and genuine, their pain and suffering is raw and deep and their disgusting neglect by authorities continues. Watch the footage of people trapped in the inferno with flames behind them. They were burnt alive in a Jewish sacrifice.”

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/feb/11/woman-who-posted-antisemitic-conspiracies-about-grenfell-fire-jailed

North Macedonia's President walks bullied 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome to school

The President of North Macedonia walked an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome to school after he heard she was being bullied.

President Stevo Pendarovski held Embla Ademi's hand as he walked her to her elementary school in the city of Gostivar on Monday.

Embla has experienced bullying at school due as a result of having Down syndrome -- a genetic condition that causes learning disabilities, health problems and distinctive facial characteristics -- a spokesperson for the President's office told CNN.

Pendarovski "talked to Embla's parents about the challenges she and her family face on a daily basis," and discussed solutions, his office said in a press release.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/north-macedonia-s-president-walks-bullied-11-year-old-girl-with-down-syndrome-to-school/ar-AATKfDs?cvid=77e830680dfc4d2a9de03ebf0e1e7ad8&ocid=winp1taskbar

Pakistan to get its first Catholic saint

Catholics in Pakistan have hailed “Servant of God” status for a man who died a hero in a suicide bombing.

Archbishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore announced on Monday that the Vatican has accepted Akash Bashir as a Servant of God, paving the way for the first saint from the Islamic country. The 20-year-old volunteer stopped a suicide bomber from entering St. John's Catholic Church in Youhanabad in Lahore in 2015.

The attacker — from a Taliban splinter group — detonated the bomb, killing himself and Bashir outside the church.

Bashir was one of at least 15 people who died in the attack that also left more than 70 wounded. In 2016, Lahore Archdiocese began the process to seek sainthood for Bashir.

https://www.ucanews.com/news/pakistan-to-get-its-first-catholic-saint/95993?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=UCAN+Podcast+05+Feb+2022+Saturday+(Copy++2)&cmid=08153d61-3d2b-4baa-9a20-353336dbcf74#

Raith Rovers sign David Goodwillie who was found to have raped a woman by Civil Court

For those who follow Scottish Soccer, David Goodwillie has been signed to a contract by the Raith Rovers.
David Goodwillie has denied he raped the woman. But a Civil Court Senior Judged found him to be a rapist.
There was never any criminal prosecution because they felt they couldn't get a conviction
The signing itself set off a firestorm among Raith Rover supporters.

Famed crime author and lifetime Rovers supporter Val McDermid said she was sickened by the decision to sign him and has broken off contact with, and support for the team.
The other, and possibly more prominent lifelong Rovers supporter, former PM Gordon Brown has also expressed displeasure with the decision
Tyler Rattray, the women's captain has resigned from the women's Rovers team and the women's Rovers team will not wear the Rovers jersey for the rest of the season (The women's Rovers team is the oldest affiliated women's team in Scotland)
Two club directors, the employability officer for the club's community foundation and shirt sponsor have all ended their association with the club
Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon condemned the decision.

In addition to the finding of Rape, in 2008, Goodwillie was fined £250 for punching a man in a Stirling nightclub, and four years later pleaded guilty to assaulting a man in Glasgow City Centre.

To compound the situation, the Rovers response, while... ahem... up front and...uhhhh... honest... has made the situation much worse:
"David is a proven goalscorer, and this will be his second stint with the club, having previously played for us on loan from Dundee United during season 2007-08,"
and
"As with all new signings, the club has carefully considered our position as a Community Club and we completely respect the differing views among fans and stakeholders, many of whom we have spoken to directly in the past 24 hours and are continuing to engage with."
and
"As David has previously played for Raith Rovers earlier in his career, we consider him to be part of Raith Rovers Football Club. The management team is familiar with David's career and background and -- in particular -- his footballing ability. That is our foremost consideration, and we believe that he will strengthen the Raith Rovers playing squad."
and
“While acknowledging the gravity of what happened 10 years ago, as a club we fully support and encourage rehabilitation, and many factors influenced our signing. But first and foremost, this was a football related decision.”

for articles with more detail:
https://www.espn.com/soccer/raith-rovers/story/4583976/scottish-club-raith-rovers-criticised-for-signing-convicted-rapist-david-goodwillie

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/feb/01/raith-rovers-womens-captain-resigns-amid-fury-over-david-goodwillie-signing

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/david-goodwillie-rape-court-raith-rovers-b2005795.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/gordon-brown-val-mcdermid-labour-fife-nicola-sturgeon-b2005331.html

The 19-year-old who turned down $5,000 from Elon Musk to stop tracking his private jet has gotten a

The 19-year-old who turned down $5,000 from Elon Musk to stop tracking his private jet has gotten a job offer out of the viral saga

The teen who went viral for tracking Elon Musk's private jet got a job offer out of the saga.

The New York Post said Jack Sweeney was offered work with Stratos Jet Charters.

Musk previously offered Sweeney $5,000 to shut down the account and has since blocked the teen.

The teen who went viral for tracking Elon Musk's private jet on Twitter has gotten a job offer out of that pursuit.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/the-19-year-old-who-turned-down-5-000-from-elon-musk-to-stop-tracking-his-private-jet-has-gotten-a-job-offer-out-of-the-viral-saga/ar-AATngPt?ocid=msedgntp

Dark Side of Japan's Porn Industry

Islanders 1980s dynasty star and Hall of Famer Clark Gillies dies at 67

Hall of Famer Clark Gillies, a stalwart on the New York Islanders' dynasty that won four straight Stanley Cup championships in the early 1980s, has died. He was 67.

The Islanders announced Gillies' death Friday night, with team president and general manager Lou Lamoriello saying "the entire Islanders community is devastated by the loss." The team did not say where Gillies died or provide a cause of death.

"He epitomized what it means to be a New York Islander," Lamoriello said. "The pride he felt wearing the Islanders sweater on the ice was evident by his willingness to do anything to win.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/33120161/islanders-1980s-dynasty-star-hall-famer-clark-gillies-dies-67

Trump's new attorney must have AG James (NY) worried

Trump has turned to New Jersey attorney, Alina Habba
A wise decision on his part given her vast array of experience as the former general counsel for a parking garage company

The Sad Price of Winning

Trump's new Manhattan bar: serving rip-off drinks and a side of narcissism

The bar, named 45 Wine and Whiskey, in a nod to Trump having served as the 45th president, promises handcrafted cocktails in “the most exclusive setting”. Opened in late November, it serves a range of president-themed drinks and is, according to the marketing material, a place to “relax and unwind”.

That may have been the intention, but a recent visit by the Guardian revealed that 45 Wine and Whiskey mainly serves as an ode to narcissism, or as a world record attempt to cram the most black-and-white photos of one man into quite a small space.

Behind the bar alone there are 15 gold-framed photos of Trump, whose penthouse apartment lurks 50 stories above. A giant picture of Trump sitting behind his presidential desk dominates the seating area.

snip

Given that 45 Wine and Whiskey replaces the “Trump bar” that previously occupied the same spot, it isn’t exactly a new venture. And much like its predecessor, 45 Wine and Whiskey boasts red velvet seating, marble tables and gold flourishes, in keeping with the rest of the building. The seating area scans out across the lobby, over to the famous gold-effect escalator that spewed Trump on to the political stage in 2015.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/12/trump-bar-manhattan-new-york-45-wine-and-whiskey