Barbados Breaks with Queen to Become a Republic, Declares Rihanna a National Hero
The Caribbean island of Barbados has officially removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and formally become a parliamentary republic, according to NBC News. A ceremony commemorating the occasion took place just after midnight Tuesday morning – exactly 55 years ago since the country gained independence from Britain. “It is a monumental step,” said …
IOC Introduces “Groundbreaking” New Framework for Transgender Athletes
The International Olympic Committee has unveiled a new framework for transgender and intersex athletes, according to NBC News. The policy change comes after years of discussion among more than 250 athletes and organizations, and centers around 10 principles: inclusion, prevention of harm, non-discrimination, fairness, no presumption of advantage, evidence-based approach, primacy of health and bodily …
Kyle Rittenhouse Acquitted on All Counts
Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, who fatally shot two people and injured a third during protests last August in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was acquitted of all charges today, according to CNN. After approximately 26 hours of deliberation, the jury found that Rittenhouse had acted reasonably amid the unrest that followed the shooting of Black resident Jacob Blake by …
Britney Spears Officially Freed From Conservatorship
The conservatorship over Britney Spears’s life and finances has now officially come to an end. On Friday, Judge Brenda Penny terminated the legal arrangement entered into nearly 14 years ago, according to The New York Times. Spears took to social media to celebrate “the best day” of her life and thank her supporters. “She was …
Mark Ruffalo Featured in ‘Electile Dysfunction’ Parody Ad
Mark Ruffalo has teamed up with actors Jake Johnson of FOX’s “New Girl” and Johnathan Scott of the HGTV show “Property Brothers” to promote the Freedom to Vote Act in a spoof on TV infomercials about erectile dysfunction, according to Deadline. The public interest organization RepresentUs is sponsoring the digital ad. “Trouble maintaining a strong …
NASA Delays Moon Landing Until 2025
NASA has announced that no astronauts will be traveling to the Moon in 2024 as originally planned. The agency now aims to send a crew, including a woman and a person of color, in 2025, according to Gizmodo. NASA blames both Congress and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for the delay, and says its timeline depends …
Astroworld Festival Turns Deadly
Rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival, which was set to take place in Houston over the weekend, turned deadly on Friday night when a stampede broke out in the crowd. The surge killed eight people and left more than 300 injured, according to CNN. Scott, a Houston native, first launched the festival in 2018. This year’s …
NBA to Investigate Phoenix Suns Owner for Claims of Racism and Misogyny
The National Basketball Association is investigating Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver for allegations of racism, misogyny, and sexual harassment, according to CBS Sports. He has been accused of using the “N-word” at least several times and of circulating bikini-clad photos of his wife while making lewd comments about her performing oral sex on him. Many …
Youngkin’s Win in Virginia Could Have National Implications
Republican and onetime private equity executive Glenn Youngkin won Virginia’s gubernatorial race over former Governor Terry McAuliffe on Tuesday, possibly signifying a momentum shift in favor of Republicans ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, according to Vox. Youngkin is the first Republican candidate to win statewide in the last 12 years, according to the Associated …
‘Squid Game’ Spawns Cryptocurrency Scam
Scammers have run off with some $3.3 million after a cryptocurrency inspired by the popular Netflix series “Squid Game” collapsed yesterday morning, according to Gizmodo. The SQUID coin peaked at about $2,861 before diving to $0 around 5:40 a.m. ET on Monday – less than one week after it launched. CoinMarketCap had previously issued an …