1 hr. ago
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A suspended Catholic priest on a tiny Caribbean island is embracing calypso to make his voice heard on topics including Gaza and ***** ual abuse within the church.
Father Gerard Paul, who hails from Grenada, can no longer officiate masses, funerals, weddings or baptisms after repeatedly criticizing the church and clergy. But that hasn't stopped him from preaching via the lilting rhythms of calypso, an Afro-Caribbean music genre known for its witty lyrics and satirical social commentary.
"It's a kind of pulpit for me," Paul told The ***** ociated Press in a phone interview this week.
The 64-year-old priest made his debut this year at Spicemas, Grenada's biggest soca and calypso carnival. Like many annual carnivals across the Caribbean, it celebrates rebellion against enslavement. Paul sang his way into the finals and is scheduled to compete as "Father Paul" against 10 other singers this weekend, including "Killa B" and "Sour Serpent."
Paul joined the seminary 40 years ago and has been a priest for 32 years: "I was always concerned about the plight of the masses, so I saw the church as a vehicle for societal change."
#calypso #including #year
Father Gerard Paul, who hails from Grenada, can no longer officiate masses, funerals, weddings or baptisms after repeatedly criticizing the church and clergy. But that hasn't stopped him from preaching via the lilting rhythms of calypso, an Afro-Caribbean music genre known for its witty lyrics and satirical social commentary.
"It's a kind of pulpit for me," Paul told The ***** ociated Press in a phone interview this week.
The 64-year-old priest made his debut this year at Spicemas, Grenada's biggest soca and calypso carnival. Like many annual carnivals across the Caribbean, it celebrates rebellion against enslavement. Paul sang his way into the finals and is scheduled to compete as "Father Paul" against 10 other singers this weekend, including "Killa B" and "Sour Serpent."
Paul joined the seminary 40 years ago and has been a priest for 32 years: "I was always concerned about the plight of the masses, so I saw the church as a vehicle for societal change."
#calypso #including #year
5 hours ago
(By Oil & Gas 360) – This week underscored how quickly geopolitical uncertainty can reshape market sentiment, even as companies remain focused on long-term capital discipline. Oil prices strengthened on renewed uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict, while producers continued investing in natural gas, offshore development, and high-quality shale **** ets.
At the same time, mergers and acquisitions slowed, balance sheets strengthened, and executive leadership changes signaled the industry's continued focus on creating shareholder value through disciplined growth rather than aggressive expansion.
Brent crude climbed as uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict returned to the forefront. Goldman Sachs said Brent is likely to trade in an $80 to $90 per barrel range until markets receive clarity through either a U.S.–Iran agreement or a significant escalation. Meanwhile, reports indicated a proposed Strait of Hormuz agreement could give Iran greater control over inbound shipping traffic, adding another layer of uncertainty to global energy markets. ADNOC also issued a statement clarifying reports surrounding attacks on its facilities.
Why it matters:
Markets continue to trade on geopolitical expectations rather than purely on supply and demand. The future of Hormuz remains one of the most important variables influencing global oil prices.
U.S. upstream mergers and acquisitions declined sharply during the second quarter as commodity price volatility made buyers more cautious. Despite the slowdown, demand for high-quality Permian Basin **** ets remained strong. **** ex agreed to acquire U.S. tight oil and gas **** ets for $320 million, while bp expanded its natural gas portfolio by acquiring Woodside's stake in Trinidad's Calypso gas project.
#Iran #uncertainty #markets #surrounding
At the same time, mergers and acquisitions slowed, balance sheets strengthened, and executive leadership changes signaled the industry's continued focus on creating shareholder value through disciplined growth rather than aggressive expansion.
Brent crude climbed as uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict returned to the forefront. Goldman Sachs said Brent is likely to trade in an $80 to $90 per barrel range until markets receive clarity through either a U.S.–Iran agreement or a significant escalation. Meanwhile, reports indicated a proposed Strait of Hormuz agreement could give Iran greater control over inbound shipping traffic, adding another layer of uncertainty to global energy markets. ADNOC also issued a statement clarifying reports surrounding attacks on its facilities.
Why it matters:
Markets continue to trade on geopolitical expectations rather than purely on supply and demand. The future of Hormuz remains one of the most important variables influencing global oil prices.
U.S. upstream mergers and acquisitions declined sharply during the second quarter as commodity price volatility made buyers more cautious. Despite the slowdown, demand for high-quality Permian Basin **** ets remained strong. **** ex agreed to acquire U.S. tight oil and gas **** ets for $320 million, while bp expanded its natural gas portfolio by acquiring Woodside's stake in Trinidad's Calypso gas project.
#Iran #uncertainty #markets #surrounding
2 months ago
At last, Thailand's trans men and masc-of-center lesbians are getting their moment in the sun — or in this case, on the stage. The Tom Thailand 2026 will be the country's first-ever beauty pageant uplifting masc-of-center lesbians, transmasculine people, and trans men.
Organized and owned by Bunnada Thippibal, known in many ******* es as Phi Lek, the pageant isn't just about presentation or suits; contestants will be judged based on their confidence, character, and self-expression. The novel Tom Thailand 2026 pageant was announced on June 15 during a press conference by Calypso Cabaret, trans performance group, at the Asiatique The Riverfront in Bangkok, per TimeOut Thailand.
Though the country is known for its beauty pageants, many of which uplift trans women and kathoey, a pre-colonial transfeminine gender identity specific to Thailand, there has never been such an event focusing on "toms," or masc-of-center lesbians and transmascs. Because Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia to have never been colonized by European countries, it has preserved its rich history of gender variance. The goal of the show is to put toms and trans men in the public eye, and highlight their excellence.
Joining Phi Lek will be Wilailak Sirisakhon as pageant director, as well as masters for the contest Anant Semathong, also known as Mae Uan Return, Winit Bunchaisri, and Thachai Prathumwan, a musician known as Keng. The competition will be hosted by social media creator Mod X and actor Thanaphol Khiaoorn. The coaching team will include Patitthaya Khwantrakun, Sumonrat and Piyawan Chuentako.
Organized and owned by Bunnada Thippibal, known in many ******* es as Phi Lek, the pageant isn't just about presentation or suits; contestants will be judged based on their confidence, character, and self-expression. The novel Tom Thailand 2026 pageant was announced on June 15 during a press conference by Calypso Cabaret, trans performance group, at the Asiatique The Riverfront in Bangkok, per TimeOut Thailand.
Though the country is known for its beauty pageants, many of which uplift trans women and kathoey, a pre-colonial transfeminine gender identity specific to Thailand, there has never been such an event focusing on "toms," or masc-of-center lesbians and transmascs. Because Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia to have never been colonized by European countries, it has preserved its rich history of gender variance. The goal of the show is to put toms and trans men in the public eye, and highlight their excellence.
Joining Phi Lek will be Wilailak Sirisakhon as pageant director, as well as masters for the contest Anant Semathong, also known as Mae Uan Return, Winit Bunchaisri, and Thachai Prathumwan, a musician known as Keng. The competition will be hosted by social media creator Mod X and actor Thanaphol Khiaoorn. The coaching team will include Patitthaya Khwantrakun, Sumonrat and Piyawan Chuentako.
