Category: International

International, Religion, Society

U.S. Special Forces Return ISIS Plundered Relics To Iraq

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

AQMI_Flag.svgA small measure of relief can be found in the return of several historical artifacts stolen from the Iraqi and Syrian people after plundering by ISIS.

The world has reacted with outrage and suffered the loss of historical treasures and landmarks at the hands of ISIS which has prided itself to be cleansing the region of a cultural history at odds to what the terrorist network considers to be non-conforming to its ideals. We featured such incidents HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

The raid lends credence to evidence that ISIS is selling artifacts on the illicit antiquities market to raise funds for its operations.

Continue reading “U.S. Special Forces Return ISIS Plundered Relics To Iraq” →

Criminal law, International, Media, Religion, Society

“Life Is Short and Bitter”: Tennessee Terrorist Reportedly Posted Islamic Messages Before Deadly Rampage

2A98AE1D00000578-3164129-Smirking_Muhammad_Abdulazeez_24_pictured_has_been_identified_as_-a-5_1437092333393We have previously discussed the disconnect in some individuals, particularly ISIS recruits, who live relatively normal lives in the West only to become suddenly radicalized and violent as Islamic extremists. Chattanooga gunman Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez could be such a case, though police are still trying to confirm the motivation for the attacks. The attack has been labeled “domestic terrorism.” Abdulazeez, 24, murdered four Marines and wounded a police officer on Thursday in shootings at two military recruiting and training centers in Chattanooga, Tennessee. What is now known is that he posted a couple posts shortly before the attack discussing how Muslims should act in this short life and how they had to resist the corrupting influence of life around them in proving their faith.

Continue reading ““Life Is Short and Bitter”: Tennessee Terrorist Reportedly Posted Islamic Messages Before Deadly Rampage” →

Criminal law, International

Hong Kong Magistrate Finds Protester Guilty of Assaulting Police Officer With Her Breast

HongKongPoliceLogo.svgWe have seen police in the United States charge people with battery or assault over air kisses, bubbles, hugs, pillow fights, errant french fries, and even flatulence, snowballs, and raspberries. Now a court in Hong Kong convicted a 30-year-old named Ng Lai-ying of assaulting a police officer by hitting him with her breast during a protest in March.

Continue reading “Hong Kong Magistrate Finds Protester Guilty of Assaulting Police Officer With Her Breast” →

Bizarre, International, Religion, Science

Hindu Worshippers Rush To Wash Away Their Sins In River. . . And Crush 27 People To Death

800px-Godavari_river_at_Parnashala_BhadrachalamIndia has experienced another massive death count due to a stampeded at a religious festival. The latest tragedy occurred at a Hindu religious bathing festival on the bank of the Godavari River in the Andhra Pradesh state on July 14. It is a predictable (and avoidable) occurrence. Local police and government officials fail to take proper precautions and a massive group overwhelms organizers. In this case, as soon as access to the river was given, thousands stampeded to get to the water to wash away their sins. In doing so, they crushed 27 people (mainly women) to death and injured 40.

Continue reading “Hindu Worshippers Rush To Wash Away Their Sins In River. . . And Crush 27 People To Death” →

Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society

China Arrests Over 100 Lawyers and Activists In Latest Crackdown on Human Rights

225px-mao_zedongThe Chinese government is carrying out another infamous sweep of human rights lawyers and activists with over 100 people arrested nationwide. The authoritarian communist regime has offered preposterous excuses for the arrests but the message is clear: human rights will not be tolerated in the worker’s paradise that is China. Indeed, with pollution and corruption choking the life out of the public, the communist rulers still view human rights lawyers as the priority danger for the country.

Continue reading “China Arrests Over 100 Lawyers and Activists In Latest Crackdown on Human Rights” →

Bizarre, Environment, International, Politics, Society

China Unveils The Latest Crayon Color: Asbestos

270px-Crayones_ceraIt is now commonplace to read about Chinese products pulled from foreign markets for impurities or harmful chemicals due to the corruption and lack of consumer protections in that country. The most frightening such cases however involve products for children like the latest story involving the discovery of asbestos in crayons and toy crime lab kits. It appears that the first fun task in using Chinese crime lab kits is to locate the deadly carcinogen in your toy.

Continue reading “China Unveils The Latest Crayon Color: Asbestos” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Russia Shuts Down Popular Atheist Site For “Insulting The Feelings of the Faithful”

220px-philipandnikonWe have previously discussed the crackdown on free speech in Russia, including examples of quasi-blasphemy prosecutions by the country. While we often see such prosecutions in Muslim countries, there is a growing trend in the West against free speech, particularly when deemed anti-religious or insulting to particular groups. The unholy alliance of Vladimir Putin with the Russian Orthodox Church has accelerated this trend as shown in the move to shutdown a popular atheist social networking page of “There is no God” on VKontakte. The site’s 26,000 followers woke up to notice that the site was shutdown after a ruling from a count in the Muslim North Caucasus region of Chechnya under the control of strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, a key Putin ally.

Continue reading “Russia Shuts Down Popular Atheist Site For “Insulting The Feelings of the Faithful”” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Society

Australian Woman Posts Picture Of Car Parked Across Two Handicapped Spots . . . Abu Dhabi Court Convicts Her Of “Writing Bad Words”

1436817150041We have been discussing the intolerance shown by countries in the Middle East for free speech, particularly those Muslim countries applying the medieval Sharia law system. Abu Dhabi has again stepped forward to reaffirm its rejection of fundamental principles of free speech. Our Middle Eastern ally has jailed an Australian woman, Jodi Magi, 39, for merely posting a photo on Facebook of a car parked across two disabled parking spaces. She even blurred out the license plate (which most people would not do) in showing the rude conduct of some driver. The driver called police and Magi was arrested for on the truly moronic charge of “writing bad words on social media.” In bringing the charge, the prosecutors in Abu Dhabi confirmed that they are maintaining a faux legal system that recognizes neither basic rights nor basic logic.

Continue reading “Australian Woman Posts Picture Of Car Parked Across Two Handicapped Spots . . . Abu Dhabi Court Convicts Her Of “Writing Bad Words”” →

Criminal law, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

“Idols Will Have Their Heads Cut Off”: Jewish Extremists Reportedly Arrested In Burning Of Historic Church in Galilee

200px-FeedingMultitudes_Bernardo180px-Courtyard_of_the_Church_of_the_Multiplication_in_Tabgha_by_David_ShankboneIsraeli police have reportedly made arrests in the burning of the Church of the Multiplication, in Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee, is where Jesus multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish to feed 5,000 of his followers. The church houses the block of limestone that is venerated as the stone on which the meal created by Jesus was laid. The reported arrest of Jewish religious students reminds everyone that such destructive extremism is not confined to Islam. While the world condemns ISIS for destroying ancient churches and sites, these Jewish students have actively sought to put their own religion in the same disgraceful company. The fire was set on June 18 and destroyed much of the interior of the monastery and the roof. The attackers left graffiti scrawled in red Hebrew lettering on a wall outside the Roman Catholic church read, “Idols will have their heads cut off.”

Continue reading ““Idols Will Have Their Heads Cut Off”: Jewish Extremists Reportedly Arrested In Burning Of Historic Church in Galilee” →

Bizarre, Environment, International, Politics, Science, Society

Denmark Hits 116 Per Cent of Energy Needs With Wind Power . . . Australia Orders Halt To Wind Power Investments

220px-GreenMountainWindFarm_Fluvanna_2004European countries continue to put the rest of the world (including the United States) to shame in amazing reductions of their use of carbon footprints and the use of clean energy. Last week saw a particularly impressive achievement for Denmark which managed to produce 140 per cent of the country’s electricity needs. In the meantime, the vehemently anti-environmental Administration of Tony Abbott in Australia cracked down on wind power to prevent further investments by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Continue reading “Denmark Hits 116 Per Cent of Energy Needs With Wind Power . . . Australia Orders Halt To Wind Power Investments” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, International

Alleged Law Office Bomber Tells Court He Is Having Trouble Finding A Lawyer

guido-amsel-facebook-photoIt is sometimes difficult to find counsel for people for various reasons: limited means, specialized cases etc. Guido Amsel has a particularly difficult circumstance: he is accused for trying to blow up the last lawyers that he dealt with. The accused bomber told a court in Winnipeg that he cannot secure a lawyer after he was arrested for setting off an explosive device went off in a Winnipeg law firm, severely injuring 38-year-old Maria Mitousis. Mitousis represented his ex-wife.

Continue reading “Alleged Law Office Bomber Tells Court He Is Having Trouble Finding A Lawyer” →

Criminal law, International, Politics

Russian Soldiers Reportedly On Trial For Desertion For Allegedly Refusing To Deploy To The Ukraine

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

125px-flag_of_russiasvgScores of Russian Soldiers are facing trial for desertion after reportedly failing to “volunteer” for military action in The Ukraine.

Gazeta.ru states in a Saturday article that the defendant troops claim to have been pressured to volunteer after first receiving bribes and other benefits from soldiers in uniform, but lacking identifying insignia, to join the action on Ukrainian territory.

Continue reading “Russian Soldiers Reportedly On Trial For Desertion For Allegedly Refusing To Deploy To The Ukraine” →

Criminal law, International

Report: Norwegian Police Fired Just Two Shots in 2014

170px-Police_students,_Storberget_and_Gjengedal_patrolling114px-Badge_of_the_Norwegian_Police_Service.svgA couple years ago, we discussed how police in Iceland killed a man for the first time in history and compared that remarkable record to our own level of police shootings. This week we have another stark contrast out of Norway where police fired only two shots in 2014. They brandished firearms on just 42 occasions in 2014. Their highest rate was only 75 such incidents in 2005 and 2010.

Continue reading “Report: Norwegian Police Fired Just Two Shots in 2014” →

Free Speech, International, Society

Citizens in England Call For Speech Crackdown After A Man Walks By Parliament With ISIS Flag

2000There is an interesting story out of England that shows the rising expectations among people that speech is regulated to prevent unpopular expressions. A man was photographed walking past Parliament with a small child on his shoulders and waiving an Islamic State flag. What I saw was a demonstration of free speech that is a testament to Western values. What many in England saw was an outrageous failure of the police to arrest the man.

Continue reading “Citizens in England Call For Speech Crackdown After A Man Walks By Parliament With ISIS Flag” →

Animals, Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Environment, International

Australian Minister: Same-Sex Marriage Is Bad For The Cattle Industry

220px-Senator_Barnaby_Joyceblack-and-white-cow-3I thought that I had heard every argument against allowing same-sex couples to marry but leave it up to the Abbott Administration in Australia to come up with an especially whacked out rationale. Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce has announced that the country must preserve traditional marriage . . . for the cattle. Do it for the cattle.

Continue reading “Australian Minister: Same-Sex Marriage Is Bad For The Cattle Industry” →