Latest news with #TheUnited
New York Times
31-03-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
U.A.E. Sentences Three People to Death for Killing an Israeli Rabbi
The United Arab Emirates on Monday sentenced three people to death for the abduction and killing of an Israeli Moldovan rabbi last November, a case that raised concerns about the safety of the country's small but growing Jewish community. The U.A.E.'s state news agency, WAM, reported that the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals' State Security Chamber decided on the death penalty for the 'premeditated murder with terrorist intention' of Rabbi Zvi Kogan. A fourth person was sentenced for aiding in the crime — in what way the government did not say — to a prison term, followed by deportation from the country. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison, but typically that means being released after 20 years or more. The authorities did not disclose the identities of those sentenced, but the U.A.E. Interior Ministry previously identified three people accused of murder as Olimboy Tohirovich and Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, both 28, and Azizbek Kamilovich, 33, all Uzbek nationals. State media released photos of them, blindfolded and shackled at the wrists and ankles, after their extradition from Turkey. 'The defendants had tracked and murdered the victim,' WAM said in its report on Monday. 'The evidence presented by the State Security Prosecution to the court included the defendants' detailed confessions to the crimes of murder and kidnapping, along with forensic reports, post-mortem examination findings, details of the instruments used in the crime and witness testimonies.' The report did not quote the authorities offering a motive for the murder of Rabbi Kogan, 28, or any further details about how he was kidnapped and later killed. The rabbi disappeared on Nov. 21 and was last reported seen in Dubai, the most populous of the nation's seven emirates, according to an Israeli official who spoke to The New York Times at the time. Israeli news outlets reported that his car had been found abandoned in Al Ain, a city in the adjacent emirate of Abu Dhabi, on the border with Oman. His body was found three days later. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel denounced the killing at the time as an 'antisemitic terrorist act.' Rabbi Kogan was a dual citizen of Israel and Moldova and had worked in the Emirates as part of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, a Hasidic branch of Orthodox Judaism that conducts Jewish outreach around the world. He also helped manage the Rimon kosher supermarket in Dubai's affluent Al Wasl Road neighborhood. This month, the supermarket announced that it was moving and would accept only delivery orders for the time being. The Israeli embassy and consulate in the Emirates did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the sentences. The kidnapping and killing of the rabbi rattled the small Jewish population of the Emirates; estimates of its number ranges from hundreds to a few thousand. More Israelis and Jews have made the Emirates their home since the country formally established ties with Israel in the 2020 Abraham Accords. Emirati authorities said on Monday that the capital sentences 'are automatically subject to appeal' to the criminal division of the Federal Supreme Court. Cases of capital punishment are rare in the Emirates, but executions are carried out promptly after defendants exhaust their appeals.
Forbes
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
United States Of Rugby Shows The Realities Of Rugby Union In The U.S.
The new series The United States of Rugby highlights the highs and lows of life during the second ... More season of Major League franchise the Chicago Hounds. At a time when sports docuseries are a dime a dozen, The United States of Rugby stands out by focusing on the human element of a sport that is on the cusp of breaking into mainstream American consciousness. The six-episode rugby documentary series available on Roku Sports Channel follows Major League Rugby club the Chicago Hounds during their second season (2024) in the competition. Along the way, viewers meet budding stars like rookie sensation Noah Brown and veteran winger Nate Augspurger. They also see the realities of life as an athlete in an emerging sports league: filled with bumps and bruises, limited pay, and lots of travel. According to the series director, Alex Donnelly, United States of Rugby is 'for people who are looking for the next big thing, and looking to get in at the beginning.' Peter Bernick got in at the beginning despite not being a rugby man. He joined the Hounds ownership team shortly after its inception, adding much-needed investment to the franchise. In a recent interview with the Rugby Pod, Bernick admitted that he got involved with the MLR club seeking a long-term return on investment. The documentary was Bernick's brainchild. After getting into the ownership group, alongside plenty of experienced rugby veterans, Bernick said he watched all the rugby documentaries he could find (of which there aren't many) and was left dissatisfied. Seeing the potential to grow the sport and captivate a major audience, he proposed producing a series that gave viewers a look behind the curtain, a la Drive to Survive. In Bernick's words, 'The reason we decided to do the show was to highlight the culture of the sport and more importantly the people who make it such a wonderful game. As such, the show takes the audience on a journey into the Hounds' locker room and houses, tackling the highs and lows of a compelling season. What could have been an awkward experience for players quickly became the norm. Speaking to me at a press event about the series, Augspurger said that the documentary crew 'became part of the team.' They traveled alongside the players, and by the end of the season, he admits they 'didn't even notice them.' In his first season during filming, Brown was a little apprehensive about being in front of the camera at first. It was his first time with a camera crew, and he admits he was 'anxious not to say stupid things.' However, he quickly became a star of the series as he raced to four tries in his inaugural season and earned his senior test debut for the USA Eagles against Spain. Moments like Brown's rise from obscurity to international player are exactly why Alex Donnelly agreed to direct the project. Not usually one for sports stories, Donnelly saw the opportunity to capture intimate conversations and help viewers fall in love with rugby, which he calls 'an incredibly American game' due to its strategy and physicality. Rugby has a global following of over 500 million fans and estimates suggest the U.S. has about 55 million fans. However, Major League Rugby, North America's domestic competition, remains nascent. Ahead of this season (its eighth), the league signed an improved broadcast deal with ESPN, but even that will struggle to elevate MLR to the level of the NHL or MLS. According to Donnelly, what people need to fall in love with the sport are heroes. This is why he chose to hone in on captivating personal storylines, like Noah's rise to the top of a sport that is yet to be fully embraced by the American public. What he found striking about the players he filmed was the conviction they have for the sport they love despite some of the conditions they continue to play in. They pour blood, sweat, and tears into a game that 'hasn't quite clicked yet' for most Americans but remains their dream. Both Augspurger and Brown said they hoped this series showed the special connections rugby players have and their commitment to the sport regardless of how much they get paid. Augspurger specifically noted that as more people in the country are exposed to the game, rugby will continue to get better, it will continue to professionalize and it will be a worthwhile endeavor for those who want to give it a try. The two biggest things holding the sport back right now are infrastructure and victories, or lack thereof. As Donnelly notes, 'We have an opportunity to send this sport to a stratospheric level, but we have to build the infrastructure.' While the Hounds play at SeatGeak Stadium, a 20,000-seater, most MLR stadiums are either not rugby-specific or lack the necessary capacity and amenities to be considered top-tier. The matchday experience, while fun for the average rugby fan, does not yet meet the expectations of the average American sports goer. Moreover, the USA Men's national team is ranked 15 in the world, with the women are slightly higher at 9. To push attendance higher and garner more interest MLR needs to deliver an amazing product and Americans need to win. As Brown said, 'Americans love winners, if you ain't first, you're last.' The Chicago Hounds play in green and white to connect with the Irish heritage of the city. The club ... More is off to a strong start in the 2025 season with 4 wins from 5 games. The Hounds are beginning to win. After a strong second season —captured by the series — the Hounds have begun this season winning four of their first five games. They are tied for third place in the standings and serious about contending for the title this season. As Augspurger said, 'The standard is to have a shot at a championship,' noting that on a personal level, he would also like to make the USA Eagles summer tour which includes a men's and women's doubleheader in Washington, D.C. against England and Fiji. Rugby remains a sleeping giant with huge potential and fantastic passion. It has many organizational flaws but if they can be corrected the sport could be catapulted to a new level. As Hounds owner Patrick Bernick says, 'The future for rugby in America is very bright. As evidenced by the awarding to the USA of the 2031 and 2033 Men's and Women's World Cups, the game at its highest levels is on the way to American shores. Just as importantly, the game is rapidly growing at the youth level and is the fastest growing team sport in America. We are excited to be a part of that growth.' Fans who tune into the United States of Rugby will see injuries, bruising tackles, comradery, player development, games with half-empty stands, and players who are desperate to ensure that they can play the sport they love for as long as possible. The series excellently explains a sport that is 'largely misunderstood in America' according to Bernick, but is poised to join the big leagues of American sports.
Boston Globe
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
How a R.I. theater is bringing Nashville to the Ocean State, thanks to Taylor Swift's dad
'The experience of being at the Bluebird is a bucket-list experience for so many people,' Callahan said. 'It's major for us,' she added. 'It really is.' Advertisement Callahan spoke to the Globe about what the new program means for The United and how it all got started, thanks in part to Scott Swift, the entrepreneur also known as the father of Get Globe Rhode Island Food Club A weekly newsletter about food and dining in Rhode Island, by Globe Rhode Island reporter Alexa Gagosz. Enter Email Sign Up Q: What is Nashville North? Callahan: We consider it to be a groundbreaking initiative that's creating a cultural and musical pipeline between Nashville, Tennessee, and Westerly, R.I. This program is integrating world class musical experiences, educational opportunities, and economic development to our region through programming collaborations with the iconic Bluebird Cafe and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which is home to the So does that mean, essentially, Rhode Islanders can expect to see some Nashville talent coming up to The United? Yes. So the original inception for this idea came from the wonderful Scott Swift, who has been an instrumental part of The United from the very beginning. He was a Advertisement So his idea back last summer was to bring some of the singer-songwriters from the Bluebird Cafe to Westerly, and to Rhode Island. And he connected me directly with Erika Nichols, who's the Bluebird's chief operating officer and general manager. Erika has taken some of the work at the Bluebird and has deliberately put it in other places around the country and around the world. In fact, it's happening in London as we speak. And so the opportunity arose to be able to contemplate bringing some of that artistry of those singer-songwriters up to Westerly vis a vis The United and from there, the initiative grew. This will allow our region in New England to experience some of the magic of the Bluebird. Scott Swift is described as 'financial advisor and entrepreneur' but to be clear, we're talking about Taylor Swift's father, correct? That is correct. (laughs) Taylor, you know, she's of course a beloved member of our community but has deep ties to the Bluebird ... and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Her DNA is all over both of these communities in the most wonderful of ways. It was Scott that brought the idea to us directly, but you know, Taylor is obviously hugely impactful worldwide and I just feel like it's such a wonderful connective tissue to have the Westerly-to-Nashville connection in that regard. Does Taylor have any involvement in Nashville North? It's Scott that has the involvement. We, of course, would be thrilled for any connectivity to Taylor. But Scott is the Swift in question right now. (laughs) Performances are one part of it, but as this initiative continues, there will be be educational opportunities for Rhode Islanders? Advertisement The educational opportunities are actually happening in real time. We are a program participant in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Taylor Swift Education Center's Words and Music Program, which is an educational program to expose young people to what singer-songwriters are, and how to write a song. Students, over an eight-week period, are taught the basics of songwriting, not the music, but the lyrics. It starts with a free write, and from there, students are able to hone in on subjects and themes. They're taught about chorus and verse and hooks and what goes into creating the structure of a song. At the end of this period, their full lyrics, the songs in their entirety, are given to this stable of Nashville singer-songwriters that the Country Music Hall of Fame has formed and developed. And they take these lyrics and bring them to life in a fully realized song for these students. So this Words and Music program is currently being implemented as part of our United 'After School Arts' program, which is our free arts education program for middle school students. How does The United sees this as an economic development opportunity for the state and for Westerly? By bringing these nationally recognized artists into The United and expanding our programming, we're going to be driving tourism. We're going to be increasing foot traffic in downtown Westerly and in the region generally, and create new opportunities for local businesses. It's also, of course, underlining our town's identity and the region's identity as a cultural hub, attracting visitors who want to experience world class entertainment in an intimate setting [who] aren't necessarily, you know, going to get on a plane to Nashville. Advertisement This interview has been condensed and edited for length and clarity. The Boston Globe's weekly Ocean State Innovators column features a Q&A with Rhode Island innovators who are starting new businesses and nonprofits, conducting groundbreaking research, and reshaping the state's economy. Send tips and suggestions to reporter Alexa Gagosz at . Christopher Gavin can be reached at
