Society's ChildS


Family

Adoption 'out of control' in the U.S. as families turn to internet to find homes for children


Sputnik News
Thu, 17 Sep 2015 14:19 UTC
kid child
© Flickr / Heather Katsoulis
Custody transfers of adopted children unregulated by US federal and state authorities are out of control as the government does not know how many are taking place, according to the report.

"This practice involves parents who turn to the internet or other unregulated networks to find a new home for their child," the report, released on Wednesday, stated. "Recent media reports found instances in which adopted children were placed in dangerous situations where they were harmed by the adults who received them."

The GAO noted that little is known about the prevalence of unregulated transfers.

Comment: This just goes to show how desperate many families have become. Though there is obviously a high risk associated with this practice, it's not like state authorities have proven themselves trustworthy advocates for children's rights. For more info, check out:

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Attention

Propaganda alert! Former British SAS soldier warns that ISIS could unleash the Black Plague

Rob Virtue
Express
Wed, 16 Sep 2015 18:19 UTC
ISIS plague
© GETTYIt would be a "huge problem" if ISIS got hold of a virus like the plague, say experts.
Chris Ryan said its widely known every superpower in the world is holding a range of deadly viruses including the plague, which a terror group such as ISIS could seize and unleash.

It would see thousands of victims become covered in huge weeping boils, before suffering a slow and painful death.

The bubonic plague has been taking hold across the west coast of America infecting people in six states and ISIS's thirst for shocking new ways to kill means an endemic is a real possibility.

As ISIS grows across the Middle East and links with other terror groups across the globe, Mr Ryan believes the nightmare scenario of Islamic extremists infecting people and launching a biological attack is closer than we think.
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Passport

Better off without it: More and more American expats renouncing citizenship to avoid taxes


RT
Mon, 14 Sep 2015 18:29 UTC
Image
© Mihail Mokrushin / RIA Novosti
More and more American expatriates are renouncing their citizenship as a result of the crackdown in foreign tax regulations. The number of US expats filing their incomes fell by 65 percent in the second quarter of 2015, according to the US Treasury Department.

"Many people have been getting caught up on their US tax filings and then renouncing," said Andrew Mitchel, an international tax lawyer who analyzes Treasury Department data, to CNBC.

The trend has accelerated since the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service began to enforce tax rules more aggressively for American expatriates. Under the existing law US citizens must file if they keep foreign accounts of more than $10,000 in total during the year.

Comment: For more information the new tax law instituted by the U.S., FATCA, and its effects on Americans living abroad, see:

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Arrow Up

So much for sanctions: Putin reports 26% increase in dairy production since food embargo


RT
Wed, 16 Sep 2015 18:22 UTC
Image
© Evgeny Biyatov / Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the import substitution in dairy, meat and fish production a success. The government allocated $4 billion to support domestic agriculture.

"We already have serious achievements. This year, we have seen an increase in the production of dairy, meat and fish products - by 26 percent, five percent and six percent respectively. Russia is ready for cooperation in import substitution with Kazakhstan and other countries from the Eurasian Economic Union," said Putin at the Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum.

President Putin said Russia has given top priority to import substitution. The government has formed a select list of investment projects aimed at increasing domestic production of agricultural goods; 255 billion rubles (some $4 billion) has been allocated.

European farmers have been hit hard by Russian counter-sanctions. For example, Brussels-based European farmers union Copa Cogeca, which includes about 60 agricultural organizations from all around the EU, estimates the losses triggered by the Russian food embargo at about €5.5 billion.

There has been a wave of protests from European farmers dissatisfied with milk products prices. Demand for milk in Europe has dramatically fallen since Russia, which used to be the largest buyer of EU butter and cheese, embargoed dairy products from the countries that backed anti-Russian sanctions.

Comment: The EU, in following the orders of its master the U.S.,has only hurt its own countries, industries, and people in following the U.S. witch-hunt against Putin and Russia. Maybe they should start acting for their own benefit, instead of for the U.S.

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Pocket Knife

Berlin police kill knife wielding, Iraqi 'extremist', one officer wounded


RT
Thu, 17 Sep 2015 16:15 UTC
german police
© Michael Dalder / Reuters
Police have killed a known Islamic extremist from Iraq, who was waving a knife in a Berlin street. He attacked a female officer, according to German prosecutors.

The man, who had a criminal record, was shot and killed by German police in Berlin on Thursday, AP reports. He was waving a knife on a street in Spandau. When the police arrived at the scene, he managed to seriously injure a female officer.

The incident happened at about 10 a.m. local time in western Berlin, when four police cars arrived at the scene where passers-by reported an "insane man with a knife."

Comment: All part of the bigger picture:

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Airplane

'Computer issues' ground all American Airlines planes at major US airports


RT.com
Thu, 17 Sep 2015 17:47 UTC
AA Airlines
© CNN Money
American Airlines has issued a ground stop for its entire fleet, citing computer issues at the hubs in Chicago, Dallas and Miami.

Airport computers are not allowing customers to check in, the airline confirmed. Passengers can still check in on their home computers or cell phones.

Thousands of passengers are currently stranded at Miami (MIA), Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) international airports.
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Brick Wall

London's Metropolitan Police in corruption probe over VIP pedophile network 'cover-up'


RT
Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:58 UTC
Image
© © Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

London's Metropolitan Police is under investigation over alleged corruption involving new historical child sex abuse claims. It comes a day after an "internal review" of a VIP pedophile ring inquiry seemed on the brink of collapse.

On Thursday, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) revealed it is looking at 12 new claims within the Met police relating to child sex offences involving former officers.

New claims suggest the Met suppressed evidence to protect elite pedophiles from being exposed and charged.
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Eye 1

Wrongful violent arrest of James Blake by NYPD blamed on Instagram snafu


RT
Thu, 17 Sep 2015 17:10 UTC
Image
© NYPD / Reuters
An Instagram photo of an Australian sunglasses designer was given to New York police following a credit card fraud incident. Strangely enough, that photo was the identification used in the recent violent body-slam arrest of pro-tennis star James Blake.

The whole sequence of events began when a delivery company, GoButler, was ripped off by a group that purchased $18,000 worth of items with fraudulent credit cards. GoButler officials gave the NYPD the Instagram photo of Sean Satha, who looks like Blake, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce.

"If you look at the photo ... it's a reasonable likeness to Mr. Blake," Chief Boyce told ABC News. "They look like twins."


Comment: A 'reasonable likeness' does not give police the right to physically assault somebody. And why do police feel the need to use violence to apprehend a suspect in a case involving fraudulent credit cards? The only thing that makes sense is the police are taught to use violence no matter if the situation warrants it or not.


Satha, however, was in Australia the entire time of the Blake incident, but his similarity to Blake was apparently what prompted an undercover police officer to body slam the tennis star in a controversial arrest.

Comment: See: Retired tennis pro James Blake tackled and handcuffed by abusive NYPD cop

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Gold Seal

REM singer Michael Stipe to Donald Trump: "Go f**k yourself" for using band's song in 'moronic charade of a campaign'

Heather Saul
The Independent
Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:04 UTC
Image
© Joel Ryan / PAMichael Stipe proved REM are back at the top of their game
The lead singer of R.E.M has a message for Donald Trump and other politicians using his music during campaign trails: "Go f**k yourself.

The band's 1987 song, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" was used to rouse the crowd at a Tea Party rally at the US Capitol on Wednesday as Trump emerged. After a slew of horrified tweets from fans, lead singer Michael Stipe reacted with fury that their music had been used via R.E.M bassist Mike Mill's Twitter feed.

Mills was more reluctant to blast Trump publicly for fear of giving him even more of a platform. "Personally, I think the Orange Clown will do anything for attention," he wrote in a separate tweet. "I hate giving it to him."

Comment: The singer was probably echoing the feelings of lots of people.

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Colosseum

UNESCO chief: ISIS trafficking of Syrian artifacts requires urgent countermeasures


RT
Wed, 16 Sep 2015 16:07 UTC
Palmyra
© forbes.net.uaThe monumental arch in the eastern section of Palmyra's colonnade, in danger of destruction by ISIS.
UNESCO's head says something should be done after satellite photos emerged showing illegal archeological digs in Syria where proceeds from precious finds go into the pockets of Islamic State extremists.

Syria's excavation sites are looted on an industrial scale and it's time to do something about it, said Irina Bokova during a press conference this Wednesday.

"Limiting the trafficking in cultural property is a top priority because it finances the actions of the extremists."Bokova said it would help if the European Union strengthened its legislation in relation to the importation of cultural property.

Temple of Bel
© www.dailymail.co.uk2000 year old Temple of BEL, reported blown up by ISIS according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
However after the conference was over, she mentioned to journalists that artworks from Syria not only head to Europe and the United States, but are trafficked globally.

According to the Association for the Protection of Syrian Archaeology (APSA), more than 900 monuments and archaeological sites have been looted, damaged or destroyed.

"The world expects from us to undertake decisive and uncompromising actions... to stop this source of funding for the extremists," warned Bokova.

Comment: Syrians are emptying their museums and national treasuries in order to transport artifacts to more secure havens as pre-emptive measures for their safety. What ISIS can't find, it can't destroy or use. At least that is the theory. However, it seems ISIS has its own conduit of intel and financial security... And, the other countries housing these valuable artifacts (Europe and the US), well, hmmm...was that always the plan?

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