News Round-Up: January 3, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Actor and fitness model Lony Pizarro (above) proves not every shirtless pic happens at the beach or in a bathroom :)

• Looks like actress Ellen Page and gf Emm Portner heard some wedding bells recently. #Congrats

• Kenneth-in-the-212's "Wrestle Wednesdays" are plenty reason to get through the week ;)

• The ISIS executioner who beheaded gay men has been captured in Iraq

• Eric Trump, attempting to retake the mantle of "Dumbest Trump," accused out talk show host Ellen DeGeneres of being a part of the "Deep State" conspiracy. You know, that "Deep State" thing about elected government officials - which Ellen is not...?

• A gay couple in Houston was kicked out of their Uber at 4AM by their driver after exchanging a sweet kiss.

• It's no wonder the guys over at NewNowNext are suddenly rugby fans. Who knew sports could be so much fun?

Video: Drone Footage Of "Mother Of All Bombs"

Silent video footage, shot by a drone during the dropping of the "mother of all bombs" yesterday in Afghanistan by the U.S., shows the massive impact and range of the GBU-43/B.

According to reports, no civilians were hurt in the bombing - only a base used to launch attacks and a "tunnels complex" were destroyed, along with 36 ISIS militants.

The bomb, the largest non-nuclear in the U.S. arsenal, is dropped via Air Force planes and detonated before hitting ground which results in an enormous blast radius.

Watch below.

(source)

U.S. Drops Largest Non-Nuclear Bomb In Afghanistan

From CNN:

The US military has dropped an enormous bomb in Afghanistan, according to four US military officials with direct knowledge of the mission.

A GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed the "mother of all bombs," was dropped at 7:32 pm local time Thursday, the sources said. A MOAB is a 21,600-pound, GPS-guided munition that is America's most powerful non-nuclear bomb.

The bomb was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft, stationed in Afghanistan and operated by Air Force Special Operations Command, Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump told CNN.

Officials said the target was an ISIS cave and tunnel complex and personnel in the Achin district of the Nangarhar province.

"The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously and in order to defeat the group we must deny them operational space, which we did," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said later Thursday. The strike "targeted a system of tunnels and cave that ISIS fighters use to move around freely."

The military is currently assessing the damage. Gen. John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, signed off on the use of the bomb, according to the sources. The authority to deploy the weapon was granted to Nicholson by the commander of US Central Command, Gen. Joseph Votel, Stump said.

This is the first time a MOAB has been used in the battlefield, according to the US officials. This munition was developed during the Iraq War.

Big. Literally! For 1st time US used most powerful non-nuclear bomb, 21,000 lb MOAB, targeting #ISIS in #Afghanistan https://t.co/RfDtxiXvIS

— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) April 13, 2017

Campaign Spot Depicts ISIS/Russia Celebration In Aftermath Of Possible Trump Win

With Millennials and college students in mind, The Democratic Coalition Against Trump drops this dramatic new campaign spot.

Via press release:

The video uses Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA” to attack Trump for the support he has received from America’s enemies and is designed to engage with Millennials and college students. With almost 40% of them declaring their support for 3rd party candidates and only 31% currently supporting Secretary Clinton – a far cry from the 60% who voted for Obama in 2012.

“The fact that Trump has received support from Vladimir Putin, neo-Nazi leaders and North Korea is incredibly telling. These are not individuals who want to make America great again,” said Nate Lerner, Executive Director to the Democratic Coalition Against Trump and a millennial. “Further, ISIS continues to use Trump in their recruiting videos, which means a Trump victory will be good for them as well. Clearly they don’t fear Trump as much as he thinks.”

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Orlando Shooter Called 911, Pledged Allegiance To Leader Of ISIS

MSNBC is reporting that Omar Mateen, the gunman who opened fire at a gay nightclub in Florida, had called 911 moments before to pledge allegiance to the leader of ISIS.

Mateen appeared to be a follower of ISIS propaganda and referenced the Tsarnaev brothers, who carried out the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, at the scene, sources said.

But as investigators try to determine the radicalization that apparently motivated Mateen to attack the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, his family believes he was pushed over the edge by pure hate against the LGBT community.

ISIS Video Appears To Threaten New York City

CNN is reporting that ISIS is circulating a video that suggest they are targeting New York.

CNN's Jim Sciutto reports that the video cannot be verified, but authorities are taking it seriously.

News Round-Up: November 16, 2015

Uzo Aduba as "Glinda The Good Witch" in The Wiz Live! (Photo: Scott Gilmore)

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Get your first look at the stars of The Wiz Live!

• Hacker group Anonymous declares war on ISIS following the terrorist attacks on Paris.

• 1,500 Mormons officially leave LDS Church after announcement of new policy that children of same-sex couples cannot be members of the faith until they reach the age of 18, leave their parents home and disavow the practice of same-sex relationships,

• Ireland's marriage equality law takes effect today. Marriages begin tomorrow after the normal mandatory 24 hour waiting period.

• Pastor Steven Anderson spent Sunday sermonizing that when you go to a rock concert in Paris - "somebody might get killed," because you're "worshipping death."

• 19 states say they will not accept Syrian refugees following Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris.

Politifact: When Obama Called ISIS "Contained," Was Referring To Geographically - True

Rhodes: When Obama called ISIL contained, he meant geographically in Iraq. True. https://t.co/NQfKoXxWVy pic.twitter.com/R8oQtTFxFE

— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) November 16, 2015

From Politifact:

ABC This Week host George Stephanopoulos presented White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes with a list of politicians criticizing Obama for his Nov. 12 remarks.

Rhodes said Obama was talking about a particular aspect of containment that in no way dismissed the possibility of terrorist attacks in the West.

"The president was responding very specifically to the geographic expansion of ISIL in Iraq and Syria," Rhodes said, using another acronym for the group. "A year ago, we saw them on the march in Iraq and Syria, taking more and more population centers. The fact is that we have been able to stop that geographic advance and take back significant amounts of territory in both northern Iraq and northern Syria. At the same time, that does not diminish the fact that there is a threat posed by ISIL, not just in those countries but in their aspirations to project power overseas."

Looking back at Obama’s interview where he made this comment, it is quite clear that it’s within a narrowly defined scope: ISIS’s territorial expansion in Iraq and Syria. He did not rule out the potential for a terrorist attack, and he also made it clear that the United States’ anti-ISIS efforts are a work in progress.

References or suggestions that Obama claimed ISIS no longer presents an active threat are incorrect.

Further, experts told us that Obama is right that ISIS hasn’t expanded in the region in recent months, though this doesn’t give a full picture of ISIS’s global reach.

Rhodes’ statement rates True.

Paris Terrorist Attack Updates

French authorities unsure whether other attackers are still on the loose, official tells CNN. https://t.co/OUnheWfqK3

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 14, 2015

Paris attacks casualties: 129 killed, 352 injured -- at least 99 seriously -- prosecutor says. https://t.co/SAWsdqqNED

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 14, 2015

FBI offices told to boost surveillance of terror suspects in the wake of #ParisAttacks. https://t.co/1bttLdeA1U pic.twitter.com/QsTEVJy9sy

— ABC News (@ABC) November 14, 2015

Breaking: #ISIS claims responsibility for #Paris attacks in online statement. What we know: https://t.co/iHozaZ87TT pic.twitter.com/h24KJfNDA2

— CNN (@CNN) November 14, 2015

Islamic State claims responsibility for Paris attacks that left 127 dead https://t.co/ACcs7BfVQb pic.twitter.com/DvGKMh27P0

— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) November 14, 2015

Islamic State group claims Paris attacks, says France at "top of the list of targets": https://t.co/WGAgZB3LPC

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 14, 2015

Watch the full statement from @POTUS on the attacks in Paris. https://t.co/yQThOvrdxZ

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 13, 2015

Tributes to Paris and France around the world from Dallas, to San Francisco, to Rio de Janeiro and Sydney. pic.twitter.com/n0rTy0SO9x

— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 14, 2015

LATEST: Number of dead could exceed 120 in 6 attacks, Paris prosecutor says. https://t.co/77XmTk7BA5 pic.twitter.com/VOlCpRWE6Z

— ABC News (@ABC) November 14, 2015

NYC lit up for Paris. #Pray4Paris pic.twitter.com/5u8hlqXEQw

— Pray For Paris (@Jolexomelia) November 14, 2015

French President Hollande Promises "Merciless" Response To Terrorist Attacks

From NBC News:

French President Francois Hollande vowed a “merciless” response to the deadliest attacks on the country’s soil since World War II as ISIS claimed responsibility Saturday for a coordinated assault on Paris.

A state of emergency was declared and France deployed 1,500 troops after a near-simultaneous series of explosions and shootings brought the city to a horrified standstill overnight. The death toll rose to 127 and 200 other people were wounded, officials said.

Speaking early Saturday, Hollande pointed the finger at ISIS for orchestrating the “cowardly” attacks which he described as an “act of war committed by a terrorist army” and organized from abroad. He said France remained “unbreakable,” calling for “unity and courage.”

Hollande added: “We will work alongside our allies to fight this terrorist menace … France is strong and even if she is wounded she will get up always and nothing will hold her down, even if we are feeling the grief now … We will defend ourselves.”

News Round-Up: November 13, 2015

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Would you date someone who looked like your twin? A lot of people do.

• Jessa Duggar - sister of Josh Duggar - has shared with the world her first of what will undoubtedly be dozens of babies. And the child's name? Spurgeon. Yes, that's right - Spurgeon.

• According to Gallup polling, there are now approximately 486,000 same-sex marriages in the U.S., compared with approximately 390,000 four months ago.

• The Pentagon says it is reasonably certain that "Jihadi John" - who took part in the video executions on behalf of ISIS - was probably killed in a drone strike last night in Syria.

• If you hit it and won $15 million in the lottery, would you share with your homophobic parents who shunned you as a teen because you were gay?

• Congrats to Randy Report fave singer/songwriter Justin Utley on his very romantical proposal to bf Craig Neilson via flash mob in front of Lincoln Center. (p.s. Craig said "yes").

This is what true love looks like .... So humbled & blessed to be apart of this #justinlovescraig
Posted by Elizabeth Flynn on Saturday, November 7, 2015

Ben Carson Is Concerned US Hasn't Responded To ISIS - After Thousands Of Airstrikes Led By US

Ben Carson, who stepped in it last week saying homosexuality is a choice because folks in prison have sex, has opened his mouth and inserted foot once again.

Writing for WorldNetDaily, Carson bemoans the "fact" that President Obama has not "responded" to attacks by ISIS in the Middle East:

We need to be the leader and take serious action. I am extraordinarily concerned about the fact that we are not responding to the barbaric acts that are taking place, as there is a tremendous leadership void. A coalition will form if it has a leader.

Someone should inform the former neurosurgeon that Obama HAS already formed a multinational anti-ISIS coalition that has led to THOUSANDS of airstrikes against the terrorist group.

Bless his heart, but he just keeps talking about things he doesn't seem to know anything about.

President Obama Addresses USA On Request For Military Authorization Against ISIL

Speaking from the White House, and accompanied by Vice-President Biden, Secretary of State Kerry and Secretary of Defense Hagel, President Obama detailed his request to Congress asking for authorization of military force to address the threat of ISIL in the Middle East:

Obama made clear that the draft authorization sent to the legislators does not signal a new ground war for the United States in the Middle East.

"I do not believe this nation is benefited ... by being on a perpetual war footing," Obama said.

President Obama repeated often his respect for our armed forces and his resolve that ISIL will be defeated:

"Our coalition is on the offensive. ISIL is on the defensive and ISIL is going to lose."

"Our mission will succeed."

"As Commander in Chief, I will only send our troops into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary for our national security."

President Asks Congress To Authorize Military Force Against ISIS

President Obama has sent a request to Congress asking for authorization to utilize military force against ISIS and demonstrate to the world "our resolve to counter the threat."

From Time:

The president elected on a promise to end America’s wars is sending Congress a proposed joint resolution to authorize military force against the swift rise of Islamic State extremists, who are imposing violent rule across Iraq and Syria and have brazenly killed U.S. and allied hostages in brutal online propaganda videos.

In a five-paragraph letter to lawmakers accompanying the three-page draft resolution provided to The Associated Press, Obama said the Islamic State “poses a threat to the people and stability of Iraq, Syria and the broader Middle East and to U.S. national security.”

“It threatens American personnel and facilities located in the region and is responsible for the deaths of U.S. citizens James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Abdul-Rahman Peter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller,” he said, listing the American hostages who died in IS custody. “If left unchecked, ISIL will pose a threat beyond the Middle East, including to the United States homeland.”

President Obama plans to address the nation today regarding his request at 3:30pm ET.

ISIS Militants Throw Man Off Roof And Stone Him For Allegedly Being Gay

Radio Free Europe is reporting that Islamic State militants on December 9 posted photographs online that appeared to show militants throwing a man off of a roof and then stoning him to death after one of the group’s Islamic courts ruled that he was a homosexual.

A statement accompanying the images said that an Islamic court ruled that the man had “practiced sodomy and must be thrown off the highest point” in the area and then stoned to death.

It said the court was in the Wilayet al-Furat -- referring to an area that stretches across the Syrian-Iraq frontier where the Euphrates River flows from Syria into Iraq at the Albu Kamal-Qaim border crossing.

The killing comes after IS militants in November stoned two men to death in Syria, claiming they were homosexuals.

(h/t JMG)

ISIS Reportedly Executes Two Gay Men By Stoning To Death

MSNBC is reporting that ISIS has apparently stoned to death two men alleged to be gay:

The Islamic State group stoned two men to death in Syria Tuesday after claiming they were gay, a monitor said, in the jihadist organisation's first executions for alleged homosexuality.

"The IS today stoned to death a man that it said was gay," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that the victim was around 20 years old. He was killed in Mayadeen in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, near the border with Iraq.

The Britain-based Observatory said IS claimed it found videos on his mobile phone showing him "practising indecent acts with males".

In a separate incident on Tuesday, an 18-year-old was also stoned to death in Deir Ezzor city after the group said he was gay, the Observatory said.

Activists on social media said that the dead men were opponents of IS and that the group had used the allegation as a pretext to kill them.

Another ISIS Beheading

Video released by ISIS shows apparent execution of British aid worker Alan Henning. http://t.co/GR1dlWidIu pic.twitter.com/3g4CGrKdLs

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 3, 2014

In the same video, ISIS threatens the life of an American aid worker. http://t.co/GR1dlWidIu

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 3, 2014

FBI Director Says US Has Identified Masked Man in ISIS Beheading Videos

The US believes it has identified masked man in beheading videos, FBI Director James Comey says: http://t.co/69v4i6fOkp

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 25, 2014

French Tourist Latest Victim of ISIS Beheading

BREAKING: French President Francois Hollande confirms killing of French hostage in Algeria.
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 24, 2014

A French tourist kidnapped in Algeria has been the victim of another beheading under guidance by ISIS.

The killing was apparently in retaliation for the French involvement in recent airstrikes against the terrorist group.

President Obama: We're Going To "Take This Fight To This Terrorist Group For The Security of the Country"

President Obama spoke to the nation today after a coalition of Arab allies joined the US in strategic airstrikes against ISIS in Syria last night.

The President's comments precede his trip to NYC where he will ask the United Nations General Assembly for more support in the anti-ISIS campaign.

From NBC News:

“America’s proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these nations on behalf of our common security,” the president said. “The strength of this coalition makes it clear to the world that this is not America’s fight alone.”

He reiterated that support for moderate opposition forces in Syria, who are fighting both ISIS and the regime of President Bashar Assad, is the “best counterweight” against the militants.

“The overall effort will take time,” Obama said. “There will be challenges ahead, but we’re going to do what’s necessary to take the fight to this terrorist group for the security of the country, the region and the entire world.”

Besides hitting ISIS targets, the United States, acting alone, struck training camps and other facilities belonging to a little-known network of seasoned al Qaeda veterans known as the Khorasan Group. Obama said that those strikes demonstrate to the world that “we will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists who threaten our people.”

He thanked the pilots who flew the missions “with the courage and professionalism that we’ve come to expect from the finest military that the world has ever known.”