REPORT: Iran Accidentally Shot Down Ukrainian Jetliner, Killing 176 People

The Ukrainian jetliner that crashed over Iran on Tuesday, killing 176 people, likely was struck by an anti-aircraft missile system, according to multiple reports.

Newsweek cites a Pentagon official, a senior U.S. intelligence official and an Iraqi intelligence official: “The aircraft is believed to have been struck by a Russia-built Tor-M1 surface-to-air missile system, known to NATO as Gauntlet, the three officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, told Newsweek. One Pentagon and one U.S senior intelligence official told Newsweek that the Pentagon’s assessment is that the incident was accidental. Iran’s anti-aircraft were likely active following the country’s missile attack, which came in response to the U.S. killing last week of Revolutionary Guard Quds Force commander Major General Qassem Soleimani, sources said.”

The Washington Post reported earlier Thursday that Ukrainian investigators are looking into whether the crash was caused by a missile attack: “The preliminary Iranian investigation cited witness accounts that the plane was burning and noted that the Ukraine International Airlines jet was turning back toward Tehran’s airport because of a ‘problem’ when it went down Wednesday. Ukrainian investigators said they were also looking into engine failure or a terrorist attack as possible causes of the crash. Several independent aviation experts have noted that, based on video and the wide debris field, it appeared that the Boeing 737 800 was breaking apart in the air.”

Asked what he thinks caused the crash, President Donald Trump said Thursday, “Somebody could have a mistake on the other side. It was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood, and somebody could have made a mistake.”

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REPORT: Iran Accidentally Shot Down Ukrainian Jetliner, Killing 176 People

Brazilian Judge Orders Netflix to Stop Streaming Gay Jesus Special

Suspending airing of the episode would be beneficial “not only for the Christian community, but for the mostly Christian Brazilian society,” the judge ruled.

www.advocate.com/world/2020/1/09/brazilian-judge-orders-netflix-stop-streaming-gay-jesus-special

Judge orders Google to hand over Jussie Smollett’s emails and other data

A judge has signed a search warrant demanding Google hand over emails, private messages and location data belonging to actor and singer Jussie Smollett.

Smollett, 37, claimed to have been the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime last January when he was attacked by two men in Chicago.

His story began to unravel when police, after spending hours investigating and viewing CCTV footage, found zero evidence to back up his claims. They believe he staged the whole incident for publicity.

This view was reinforced when two Nigerian bodybuilder brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, claimed the actor had paid them $3,500 to help stage the attack.

Related: WATCH: Damning new footage of Jussie Smollett from night of alleged attack

In February, Smollett was charged with making a false felony report. However, the charges were sensationally dropped by Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx last March. Smollett was instead ordered to pay $130,000 to compensate for police time.

The dropping of the charges infuriated police and other authorities in Chicago. Afterward, Cook County Judge Michael Toomin appointed Special Prosecutor Dan Webb to look further into the case to determine why the charges had been dropped.

Chicago Tribune says it has now seen two search warrants, submitted by Webb and signed off by Toomin on 6 December, demanding Google hands over data relating to Smollett. The warrants request 12 months of data from between November 2018-November 2019.

Related: Lee Daniels says he’s “beyond embarrassed” for ever believing Jussie Smollett

It is unknown if Google has complied with the request. It declined to comment to the Chicago Tribune, saying it could not respond on matters relating to law enforcement requests.

In the warrants signed by Toomin, there is a request that Google does not disclose it has been asked to hand over the data, as it “may jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation.”

Smollett has always maintained he did not stage the attack and is innocent of any crime.

However, any hopes he may have had that he might enjoy a return to Empire – the TV show which dropped him when he was charged with making a false felony report – were dashed this week.

In December, showrunner Brett Mahoney told TV Line there had been discussions to bring Smollett back to the show for the sixth and final season. He said it would be “weird” not to have Smollett included, but said nothing had been agreed.

Related: The cast and director of ‘Empire’ are fighting over whether to keep Jussie Smollett

However, this week, Fox Entertainment President Michael Thorn told TV Line: “We’re not going to bring Jussie back to the show.

“There were a number of factors that went into the decision to not bring him back. There were many points of view about if he should come back or if he shouldn’t.

“As hard as a decision as that was, for us — and when I say us I mean the network, the studio and the producers — it felt like it was in the best interests of the show and the cast.

“Our hope is that all of the controversy surrounding Jussie doesn’t overshadow the show, which we think is bigger than him,” he added.

www.queerty.com/judge-orders-google-hand-jussie-smolletts-emails-data-20200109?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Trump Wants to Know How Your ‘409K’S’ are Doing

Pivoting away from the Iran crisis and his pending impeachment trial, President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday morning about the stock market.

Politically, it might seem like a good move, except that Trump mistakenly referred to retirement accounts as “409K’s” instead of “401Ks.”

“STOCK MARKET AT ALL-TIME HIGH!” Trump wrote in all caps. “HOW ARE YOUR 409K’S DOING? 70%, 80%, 90% up? Only 50% up! What are you doing wrong?”

Trump followed up by taking credit for the lowering the cancer death rate:

“U.S. Cancer Death Rate Lowest In Recorded History! A lot of good news coming out of this Administration,” he wrote.

A few reactions from Twitter below.

The post Trump Wants to Know How Your ‘409K’S’ are Doing appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Trump Wants to Know How Your ‘409K’S’ are Doing, Takes Credit for Lowering Cancer Death Rate

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: January 9, 2020

HRC’S ELLEN KAHN WRITES ABOUT HER WEDDING — AND HOW 70,000+ HRC MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS HELPED PERSUADE HALLMARK TO REVERSE ITS DECISION TO REMOVE AN AD FEATURING A SAME-SEX COUPLE: “In my work at the Human Rights Campaign, I have seen our community attacked, belittled and yes, erased… But I’ve also seen our community and our allies jump into action to defend and support each other on issues big and small — from marching for equality in both freezing rain and sweltering heat, and testifying before Congress, to writing letters and showing up magnificently at the polls,” writes Kahn (@ellenbkahn), HRC Senior Director, Programs and Partnerships. Read the full op-ed from The Advocate. 

With our grassroots army behind us, @HRC went to the table with @Hallmark armed with an overwhelming mandate for them to do the right thing.

Thanks to you, they did. �� t.co/fax4hHHszn

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) January 8, 2020

THANKFUL THURSDAY — CONGRATS TO ACTIVIST GAVIN GRIMM (@GavinGrimmVA) ON HIS ELECTION TO ACLU’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Read more from The Advocate. 

I am honored to announce that I have been elected to the @ACLU Board of Directors for a one year term!! I am elated, and I will work hard to do this position justice. Thank you to the ACLU and to everyone who has supported me through my fight.

— Gavin Grimm (@GavinGrimmVA) January 3, 2020

NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS LAUNCH PILOT PROGRAM TO INCORPORATE LESSONS ON LGBTQ HISTORY INTO CURRICULUM: More from WCBS. 

68% OF OHIOANS BACK NON-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE: More from Cleveland.com. 

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

THE SOCIETY OF LGBTQ ENTERTAINMENT CRITICS ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR DORIAN AWARDS: More from The Advocate. 

“QUEER EYE” STAR TAN FRANCE (@tanfrance) WILL COMPETE IN “THE GREAT CELEBRITY BAKE OFF” TO AID CANCER ORG: More from Out Magazine. 

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS ACKNOWLEDGED PETITIONS FROM 230,000 PEOPLE ADVOCATING FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: More from The Advocate. 

NEW SURVEY SHOWS RISING SUPPORT FOR ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN HONG KONG: More from South China Morning Post. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

The New York Times reports on the final season of Schitt’s Creek and the show’s LGBTQ themes; Boston Spirit Magazine tells the stories of LGBTQ women organizers in Boston

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-january-9-2020?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed