Latest news with #Colombia-born
New Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Holgado could be Harimau Malaya's secret weapon, says critic
KUALA LUMPUR: The potential inclusion of Colombia-based striker Rodrigo Holgado in the national team could be a game-changer for Harimau Malaya in their Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam in Bukit Jalil on June 10. Malaysia has lacked a reliable goalscorer in recent years and has often had to rely on naturalised midfielders such as Paulo Josue, Sergio Aguero and Romel Morales, who have been converted into strikers. Brazil-born Josue has scored eight goals in 25 matches since 2023, Argentina-born Aguero has netted three in 17 matches since 2022, while Colombia-born Morales has two goals from nine appearances since making his debut this year. Holgado, 29, boasts a solid track record with América de Cali, having scored 17 goals in 44 appearances since joining the Colombian side in 2024, credentials that could make him a perfect fit for Malaysia. Football critic Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim believes the national team must do everything necessary to secure qualification for the Asian Cup, including strengthening its forward line. "I've read about this new candidate (Holgado) for the national team. I'm not sure if it's confirmed that he'll play for Malaysia, but it seems the team management is working hard to bolster the squad for the Asian Cup qualifiers," said Zulakbal. "We still don't have a credible natural striker. We've had to convert midfielders to lead the attack but I still feel we need an out-and-out striker. "We have to qualify for the Asian Cup and I can see the management is leaving no stone unturned to make it happen. "For me, it's an acceptable move. We must qualify at any cost. Our football is not perfect but the priority now is qualification." Zulakbal, who holds an AFC Professional Coaching Diploma, added that integrating Holgado into the squad quickly and effectively will be crucial. And if everything falls into place, the Argentina-born forward could be Malaysia's secret weapon against Vietnam. "He's based in Colombia, so there's the challenge of a long flight, adapting to the team, the weather, football culture and the national training system — it won't be easy," said Zulakbal. "Now it's up to the national team management to speed up his acclimatisation. I believe we have the right experts to help him settle in smoothly. "If everything goes well, we might have a surprise package in Holgado. Vietnam probably doesn't know much about him."
CairoScene
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Vinyl Souk Throws Two-Year Anniversary With Bordello A Parigi Showcase
On May 17th, the Dubai-based platform will be celebrating its anniversary Bordellow A Parigi and a free production workshop May 11, 2025 Dubai's Vinyl Souk is celebrating its 2-year anniversary with a free music production workshop and a showcase with Amsterdam's famed label Bordello A Parigi on May 17th. Having initially started as a gathering for crate diggers and music enthusiasts, Vinyl Souk has now grown into a full-fledged community-based platform dedicated to revitalising analogue and vinyl culture in the UAE. Throughout the past two years, Vinyl Souk hosted over 24 events, 2 mini festivals, 10 workshops and eight film screenings, just to name a few. Kicking off the celebration, Vinyl Souk teamed up with Dubai's contemporary art platform, Jameel Arts Centre, to host a hands-on free music production workshop titled 'Portable Beats', led by Dubai-based Colombia-born DJ and music producer Leonardo Rojas, aka PHO, an official mentor from Teenage Engineering. During the workshop, PHO will guide participants through the basics of beat-making, sound design and production, using pocket-sized instruments and electronic devices called Pocket Operators. The workshop is designed to help both beginners and experienced artists enhance their technical skills and embrace a more spontaneous approach to making music. Vinyl Souk will also bring the iconic Dutch record label Bordello A Parigi for a debut showcase in Dubai. Taking place at Tandoor Tina in 25hours Hotel One Central, the party will feature a roster of italo-disco and house mavericks, such as Bordello Soundsystem, Amsterdam's Pawel Blot, Hani J and Tommy Outside. To secure your spots for both of Vinyl Souk's activations, head to the link in @vinylsoukdxb's Instagram.
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Javier Reyes hopes redemption garners call-up: 'I will make my door to the f*cking UFC'
Javier Reyes hopes redemption garners call-up: 'I will make my door to the f*cking UFC' If the door is closed and locked, Javier Reyes will bust down the wall to get into the room. Currently the No. 1 pound-for-pound prospect according to Tapology's North American rankings, Reyes (20-4) has had over 50 fights total between amateur and professional. However, the letters U, F, and C have not appeared on his resume in sequential order. "I'm out here for redemption after the last fight in LFA," Reyes recently told MMA Junkie through a Spanish-language interpreter. "It didn't go my way. I made a mistake. I feel good and efficient after my last fight, five or six weeks ago. The fight was real short, like a minute. I feel like I didn't even take a punch or nothing. I'm in the best shape of my life, and I'm out for redemption and to show the world why I'm Tapology's No. 1." Reyes, 31, returns to LFA seeking redemption. The lone loss in his currently 10-1 stretch came under the LFA banner in an interim title fight vs. Lerryon Douglas in August. Reyes has picked up two consecutive wins in other promotions since then, fixated on not letting one loss define him. "I never care," Reyes said. "You see my career. Unlike a lot of fighters and manager, who protect the kids, and don't want to take fights, I fight the toughest guys who are there. I don't care who it is. I'm coming for everybody. If UFC doesn't open up the door, I'm going to make my own door. That's a way to make doors. I take all the tough people. I'll fight anybody. I'm one of the toughest guys out there. I'm going to prove that to everybody again on Friday night. I'm the toughest guy." There are a number of motivators for Reyes, but perhaps none more so than wanting Colombia-born representation in the UFC. While he finished his camp in Arizona with Javier Torres, Reyes mostly self-trains with a small team in Colombia – further proving his love for his country. "I spent most of the time with Colombia," Reyes said. "I put a lot of time in here as well. But I have my own little team over there and I want to tell everybody, anything is possible. A lot of these guys leave. But sometimes, I train in the park. We train here and there and can prove to the world that even in Colombia you can do everything from your own home as well." On Friday at LFA 208, Reyes headlines vs. Chris Mecate (10-2), a fighter who trains under Cub Swanson. Given the marquee placement and difficulty of opponent, Reyes sees this as an unofficial Dana White's Contender Series fight. The event takes place at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, Calif. and streams on UFC Fight Pass. "I'll say one thing. I'm not just a fighter," Reyes said. "I like finishing fights. Even if in my last fight in LFA I got finished, I came to finish. I don't come to fight for a decision. I come out to finish the person, to finish the toughest guy in front of me – anybody. That's how I'm going to make my door to the f*cking UFC. I come to finish. I come to fight. I don't want a decision. I come to prove I'm the best."
24-04-2025
- Politics
Pope Francis sought to make LGBTQ+ people more welcome, but church doctrine didn't change much
The papacy of Pope Francis ended with the same core doctrine for LGBTQ+ people that he inherited: The Catholic Church still rejected same-sex marriage and condemned any sexual relations between gay or lesbian partners as 'intrinsically disordered.' Yet unlike his predecessors, Francis incrementally conveyed through his actions, formal statements and occasional casual remarks that he wanted the church to be a more welcoming place for them. Among activists, there was frustration over the lack of a doctrinal breakthrough, but still there was gratitude this week for his unabashed warmth toward them. Francis, who died Monday, 'was a transformational leader who included LGBTQ people in historic ways,' said Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO of the U.S.-based advocacy group GLAAD, who met twice with the pope. 'His principles of empathetic listening, inclusion, and compassion are exactly what this divided world needs right now.' Many conservative Catholic leaders were wary of his LGBTQ+ outreach — and sometimes were angry and defiant, such as when he decided in 2023 to let priests bless same-sex couples. Africa's bishops united in refusing to implement the Vatican declaration, saying same-sex relationships were 'contrary to the will of God.' Individual bishops in Eastern Europe, Latin America and elsewhere also voiced opposition. The declaration restated traditional church teaching that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and woman. But it allowed priests to offer spontaneous blessings to same-sex couples seeking God's grace, provided such blessings aren't confused with the rites of a wedding. Frances later acknowledged the declaration had encountered resistance; he faulted opposing bishops for refusing to open a dialogue about it. 'Sometimes decisions are not accepted," he said in a TV interview. "But in most cases, when you don't accept a decision, it's because you don't understand.' 'This has happened with these last decisions about blessing everyone,' Francis added. 'The Lord blesses everyone.' The beneficiaries of Francis' welcoming attitude included a community of transgender women — many of them Latin American migrants who worked in Rome as prostitutes — who visited his weekly general audiences and were given VIP seats. 'Before, the church was closed to us. They didn't see us as normal people. They saw us as the devil,' said Colombia-born Andrea Paola Torres Lopez. 'Then Pope Francis arrived, and the doors of the church opened for us.' The pope's mixed legacy was epitomized by the Vatican's 2023 synod bringing together hundreds of bishops and lay people to discuss the church's future. The advance agenda mentioned LGBTQ+ issues; one of Francis' hand-picked delegates was the Rev. James Martin, a U.S.-based Jesuit and prominent advocate of greater LGBTQ+ inclusion. Yet in the final summary of the three-week synod, there was no mention of LGBTQ+ people — reflecting the influence of conservatives who opposed Francis' overtures to that community. During the synod, the pope met with a small delegation from the Maryland-based New Ways Ministry, which advocates on behalf of LGBTQ+ Catholics in the U.S. According to the group's executive director, Francis DeBernardo, the pope urged them never to lose hope — a message DeBernardo repeated after being disappointed by the synod's outcome. 'The Catholic LGBTQ+ community must take Pope Francis' message to heart,' he said. 'The report's shortcomings are an invitation to speak anew about their joys, their sorrows, and their faith. … Now is not a time to despair.' Another disappointment came in May 2024, when Francis apologized after Italian media quoted unnamed bishops saying he jokingly used the vulgar term 'faggotness' while speaking in Italian during a meeting. He had used the term in reaffirming the Vatican's ban on allowing gay men to enter seminaries and be ordained priests. This week, DeBernardo looked back at Francis' legacy mostly with appreciation, even while acknowledging disappointments. 'Francis was not only the first pope to use the word 'gay' when speaking about LGBTQ+ people, he was the first pope to speak lovingly and tenderly to them,' DeBernardo wrote. 'His kind words of welcome to this community, traditionally marginalized in the church, rang loudly around the globe.' It became clear early in Francis' papacy that he was going to articulate a gentler, more tolerant approach to LGBTQ+ people than any previous pope. The initial high-profile moment came in 2013 -– during the first airborne news conference of his pontificate — with his memorable 'Who am I to judge' comment when he was asked about a purportedly gay priest. Signals had come earlier. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, he had favored granting legal protections to same-sex couples. After becoming pope, he went on to minister repeatedly and publicly to the gay and transgender communities, steadily evolving his position. His abiding message: 'Everyone, everyone, everyone' — 'todos, todos, todos' — is loved by God and should be welcomed in the church. On some specific LGBTQ+ issues, Francis initially disappointed activists with his decisions, yet later softened or reversed them as part of highlighting his welcoming approach. Francis was criticized by the Catholic gay community for a 2021 decree from the Vatican's doctrine office saying the church cannot bless same-sex unions because 'God cannot bless sin.' But that stance was effectively repudiated by the 2023 declaration on blessings. Another reversal came that year in a Vatican statement saying it's permissible, under certain circumstances, for transgender people to be baptized and serve as godparents If it did not cause scandal or 'disorientation' among other Catholics, a transgender person 'may receive baptism under the same conditions as other faithful,' it said. Similarly, the document said trans adults, even if they had gender-transition surgery, could serve as godparents under certain conditions. That reversed an earlier outright ban. U.S. transgender-rights advocates welcomed Francis' inclusive tone, noting that some political and religious leaders were targeting trans people with discriminatory laws and policies. Another issue tackled by Francis pertained to laws in dozens of countries criminalizing homosexual activity. In 2008, the Vatican declined to sign a U.N. declaration calling for an end to such laws. But in a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, Francis assailed these laws as unjust and called for their elimination. 'Being homosexual isn't a crime,' Francis said. Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some regions support laws that criminalize homosexuality or discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. But he attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds, and said bishops need to recognize the dignity of everyone. 'These bishops have to have a process of conversion,' he said, suggesting they should apply 'tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us.' Advocates of greater LGBTQ+ inclusion hailed Francis' comments. 'His historic statement should send a message to world leaders and millions of Catholics around the world: LGBTQ people deserve to live in a world without violence and condemnation, and more kindness and understanding,' said Ellis, the head of GLAAD. Praise also came from Martin, who was selected by Francis as a synod delegate. 'Few bishops or bishops' conferences have condemned the criminalizing laws that the pope rejected today,' he wrote of the AP interview. But Jamie Manson, a lesbian who headed the U.S.-based abortion-rights group Catholics for Choice, insisted declarations were not enough. 'LGBTQ people need more than nice-sounding words in a newspaper interview in order to be safe in the Catholic Church,' she wrote. 'We need doctrinal change.'
The Hill
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Pope Francis sought to make LGBTQ+ people more welcome, but church doctrine didn't change much
The papacy of Pope Francis ended with the same core doctrine for LGBTQ+ people that he inherited: The Catholic Church still rejected same-sex marriage and condemned any sexual relations between gay or lesbian partners as 'intrinsically disordered.' Yet unlike his predecessors, Francis incrementally conveyed through his actions, formal statements and occasional casual remarks that he wanted the church to be a more welcoming place for them. Frustrated activists, wary conservatives Among activists, there was frustration over the lack of a doctrinal breakthrough, but still there was gratitude this week for his unabashed warmth toward them. Francis, who died Monday, 'was a transformational leader who included LGBTQ people in historic ways,' said Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO of the U.S.-based advocacy group GLAAD, who met twice with the pope. 'His principles of empathetic listening, inclusion, and compassion are exactly what this divided world needs right now.' Many conservative Catholic leaders were wary of his LGBTQ+ outreach — and sometimes were angry and defiant, such as when he decided in 2023 to let priests bless same-sex couples. Africa's bishops united in refusing to implement the Vatican declaration, saying same-sex relationships were 'contrary to the will of God.' Individual bishops in Eastern Europe, Latin America and elsewhere also voiced opposition. The declaration restated traditional church teaching that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and woman. But it allowed priests to offer spontaneous blessings to same-sex couples seeking God's grace, provided such blessings aren't confused with the rites of a wedding. Frances later acknowledged the declaration had encountered resistance; he faulted opposing bishops for refusing to open a dialogue about it. 'Sometimes decisions are not accepted,' he said in a TV interview. 'But in most cases, when you don't accept a decision, it's because you don't understand.' 'This has happened with these last decisions about blessing everyone,' Francis added. 'The Lord blesses everyone.' The beneficiaries of Francis' welcoming attitude included a community of transgender women — many of them Latin American migrants who worked in Rome as prostitutes — who visited his weekly general audiences and were given VIP seats. 'Before, the church was closed to us. They didn't see us as normal people. They saw us as the devil,' said Colombia-born Andrea Paola Torres Lopez. 'Then Pope Francis arrived, and the doors of the church opened for us.' A 2023 synod reflects Francis' mixed legacy The pope's mixed legacy was epitomized by the Vatican's 2023 synod bringing together hundreds of bishops and lay people to discuss the church's future. The advance agenda mentioned LGBTQ+ issues; one of Francis' hand-picked delegates was the Rev. James Martin, a U.S.-based Jesuit and prominent advocate of greater LGBTQ+ inclusion. Yet in the final summary of the three-week synod, there was no mention of LGBTQ+ people — reflecting the influence of conservatives who opposed Francis' overtures to that community. During the synod, the pope met with a small delegation from the Maryland-based New Ways Ministry, which advocates on behalf of LGBTQ+ Catholics in the U.S. According to the group's executive director, Francis DeBernardo, the pope urged them never to lose hope — a message DeBernardo repeated after being disappointed by the synod's outcome. 'The Catholic LGBTQ+ community must take Pope Francis' message to heart,' he said. 'The report's shortcomings are an invitation to speak anew about their joys, their sorrows, and their faith. … Now is not a time to despair.' Another disappointment came in May 2024, when Francis apologized after Italian media quoted unnamed bishops saying he jokingly used the vulgar term 'faggotness' while speaking in Italian during a meeting. He had used the term in reaffirming the Vatican's ban on allowing gay men to enter seminaries and be ordained priests. This week, DeBernardo looked back at Francis' legacy mostly with appreciation, even while acknowledging disappointments. 'Francis was not only the first pope to use the word 'gay' when speaking about LGBTQ+ people, he was the first pope to speak lovingly and tenderly to them,' DeBernardo wrote. 'His kind words of welcome to this community, traditionally marginalized in the church, rang loudly around the globe.' An early message — 'Who am I to judge?' It became clear early in Francis' papacy that he was going to articulate a gentler, more tolerant approach to LGBTQ+ people than any previous pope. The initial high-profile moment came in 2013 -– during the first airborne news conference of his pontificate — with his memorable 'Who am I to judge' comment when he was asked about a purportedly gay priest. Signals had come earlier. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, he had favored granting legal protections to same-sex couples. After becoming pope, he went on to minister repeatedly and publicly to the gay and transgender communities, steadily evolving his position. His abiding message: 'Everyone, everyone, everyone' — 'todos, todos, todos' — is loved by God and should be welcomed in the church. On some specific LGBTQ+ issues, Francis initially disappointed activists with his decisions, yet later softened or reversed them as part of highlighting his welcoming approach. Francis was criticized by the Catholic gay community for a 2021 decree from the Vatican's doctrine office saying the church cannot bless same-sex unions because 'God cannot bless sin.' But that stance was effectively repudiated by the 2023 declaration on blessings. Another reversal came that year in a Vatican statement saying it's permissible, under certain circumstances, for transgender people to be baptized and serve as godparents If it did not cause scandal or 'disorientation' among other Catholics, a transgender person 'may receive baptism under the same conditions as other faithful,' it said. Similarly, the document said trans adults, even if they had gender-transition surgery, could serve as godparents under certain conditions. That reversed an earlier outright ban. U.S. transgender-rights advocates welcomed Francis' inclusive tone, noting that some political and religious leaders were targeting trans people with discriminatory laws and policies. 'Being homosexual isn't a crime' Another issue tackled by Francis pertained to laws in dozens of countries criminalizing homosexual activity. In 2008, the Vatican declined to sign a U.N. declaration calling for an end to such laws. But in a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, Francis assailed these laws as unjust and called for their elimination. 'Being homosexual isn't a crime,' Francis said. Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some regions support laws that criminalize homosexuality or discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. But he attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds, and said bishops need to recognize the dignity of everyone. 'These bishops have to have a process of conversion,' he said, suggesting they should apply 'tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us.' Advocates of greater LGBTQ+ inclusion hailed Francis' comments. 'His historic statement should send a message to world leaders and millions of Catholics around the world: LGBTQ people deserve to live in a world without violence and condemnation, and more kindness and understanding,' said Ellis, the head of GLAAD. Praise also came from Martin, who was selected by Francis as a synod delegate. 'Few bishops or bishops' conferences have condemned the criminalizing laws that the pope rejected today,' he wrote of the AP interview. But Jamie Manson, a lesbian who headed the U.S.-based abortion-rights group Catholics for Choice, insisted declarations were not enough. 'LGBTQ people need more than nice-sounding words in a newspaper interview in order to be safe in the Catholic Church,' she wrote. 'We need doctrinal change.'
