Society's ChildS


Pistol

New reality after Orlando attacks: Dogs, metal detectors and searches at public gatherings may be commonplace

Ben Sisario
The New York Times
Mon, 13 Jun 2016 18:12 UTC
Police officers and paramedics at Irving Plaza
© Louis Lanzano for The New York TimesPolice officers and paramedics at Irving Plaza, a Manhattan music hall, after a shooting during a rap concert on May 25.
For Dolly Parton's latest tour, the security procedures include not just the usual pat-downs and bag checks at the door, but also two dogs trained to sniff out bombs and firearms wherever the singer performs.

"There are certain artists," said Steve Martin, Ms. Parton's longtime agent, "who take security very seriously."

Precautions like these, once rare, are becoming more common as the concert business adjusts to a new reality in which the threat of violence must be met through heightened security screening.

After the weekend attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., additional security procedures like dogs and metal detectors are likely to become more common at events around the country, executives and artists' representatives say, making the experience of going to a concert more like waiting in line at the airport.
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Attention

No end in sight: At least 40 injured and 58 arrested in Paris anti-labor reform protests


RT
Tue, 14 Jun 2016 17:52 UTC
Injured French protester
© Alain Jocard / AFPPeople gather around to assist an injured protester lying on the ground during a demonstration against proposed labour reforms in Paris on June 14, 2016.
At least 40 people, including 29 officers, were injured as protesters against France's highly unpopular proposed labor law clashed with police in Paris. Police made 58 arrests and deployed tear gas and water cannons against the demonstrators.

Twenty-nine officers and 11 rioters have been injured during clashes in the heart of the French capital, police said.

Security forces deployed six water cannons to calm the demonstrators, at least 58 of whom were detained.
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Pistol

Active shooter barricaded in Amarillo, TX Walmart, may have hostages


RT
Tue, 14 Jun 2016 17:29 UTC
walmart shooting Amarillo TX
© Carlos Barria / Reuters
An active shooter situation is unfolding at a Walmart in Amarillo, Texas, local police say. The shooter is believed to have hostages, according to local reports.

The Amarillo Police Department has evacuated the west side of the store, according to KVII.

There have not been any confirmed gunshot victims inside the store, Amarillo PD said.
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Pistol

Active shooter, possible hostage situation at Walmart in Amarillo


KHOU
Tue, 14 Jun 2016 17:10 UTC
walmart shooter texas
© Google MapsWalmart Supercenter at 4215 Canyon Dr. in Amarillo, Texas
The City of Amarillo says police and fire crews are on the scene of a reported active shooter incident at a Walmart store on Interstate 27.

There are no confirmed reports of injuries, but there are reports of a hostage situation with an armed suspect still inside the store.

Police are asking people to stay clear of the area.
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TV

Turkish Islamic professor sparks outrage after saying people who don't pray are 'animals' on state TV


RT
Tue, 14 Jun 2016 15:47 UTC
Muslims praying
© Stoyan Nenov / Reuters
A Turkish Islamic professor has sparked a massive controversy by comparing people who do not pray to "animals." The comments aired on a Turkish state TV program celebrating the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"Let me put it straight, the verse of the Koran says... animals do not perform prayers and those who do not perform prayers are animals," Mustafa Askar, a professor at Ankara University's Faculty of Theology, said during a program celebrating a month of religious fasting for Ramadan on Turkey's state-run TRT television channel.

TRT television aired Askar's claims that human bodies were made for prayer over the weekend. "Human beings were created to be prayer ergonomic," he said.

Comment: Is this man's bigotry a symptom of the increasing pathological influence that Erdogan is exerting on his people, or was this broadcast a deliberate attempt by Erdogan to ponerize his citizens?

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Attention

Big surprize: American's trust in news media, Congress, organized religion and banks are at all-time low


Patriot Rising
Mon, 13 Jun 2016 05:24 UTC
media mistrust
Confidence in newspapers has hit an all time low in the latest Gallup survey, and TV news is also at a new low, the latest proof that Americans are losing faith in the media.

Gallup found that just 20 percent have confidence in newspapers, a 10-point drop in 10 years. TV news saw an identical 10-point drop, from 31 percent to 21 percent.

But it could be worse. Of all the institutions Gallup surveyed on, Congress is at the bottom, with just 9 percent having confidence in America's elected leaders, a finding that is clearly impacting the direction and tone of the 2016 elections.

Comment: Apparently most Americans are unaware that their trust in the military is misplaced - high-ranking US military officials have made it clear that the American military is now unraveling. For those around the globe who have been the unfortunate 'beneficiaries' of U.S. military might, this can't happen too soon!

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Eiffel Tower

An open letter from European politicians on lifting sanctions against Russia


RT
Mon, 13 Jun 2016 13:14 UTC
Eiffel Tower
© Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters
The following is an open letter, sent to RT by Rachida Dati, a French politician and Member of the European Parliament, and undersigned by 12 European politicians, that explains why EU sanctions against Russia should be lifted.

In October 2014, a few months after EU sanctions had been decreed against Russia, we already thought that missing the Russian partner was a mistake both on the political (on the Syrian conflict) and the economical level (for our agriculture), and we would pay it dearly.

Today, more than two years after the implementation of these sanctions in reaction to the situation in Ukraine, the warning signals are still red.

In July 2014, the European sanctions were extended to personalities including some of the Russian intelligence, preventing them from getting a visa and travel to the European Union. Aleksandr Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service and Mikhail Fradkov, director of foreign intelligence services, are both concerned by the sanctions.

Let us recall that the United States has also imposed sanctions, mainly economic ones, to Russia, but that they never went as far as jeopardizing their security cooperation with the heads of the intelligence service. So, why are we putting so much efforts in this, at the expense of our own security?

Comment: These politicians are calling for a lifting of the Russian sanctions on the grounds that they pose an unnecessary security risk for European nations in their fight against Daesh and international terrorism. Indeed it's illogical to reject Russian intelligence and assistance if Europe's aim is to defeat groups such as Al-Qaeda and Daesh. But more to the point, if these politicians' real concern is the safety and integrity of their respective nations and peoples, then they must not only lift the sanctions but also reject the influence of the US and its attempts to divide Europe from its neighbor and natural ally, Russia.

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Newspaper

Despite NATO propaganda, Europeans see Daesh as top threat, not Russia


Sputnik
Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:01 UTC
Daesh flag
© REUTERS/ Ali Hashish
Despite NATO's consistent efforts to present Russia as the key threat to its European neighbors, the majority of Europeans singled out Daesh along with global climate change and global economic instability as the top challenges their countries face, a recent survey conducted by the Washington-based Pew Research Center shows.

The think tank talked to people in France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

"Looking across the 10 European countries surveyed, a median of 76 percent say that [Daesh] is a major threat to their country, with only two-in-ten saying that [the terrorist group] is either a minor threat (17 percent) or no threat at all (3 percent)," the Pew Research Center detailed.
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Eye 2

EURO 2016: A glimpse into our ponerized world

Martin Berger
New Eastern Outlook
Tue, 14 Jun 2016 11:26 UTC
Euro 2016 football soccer hooligans
There's little doubt that hooligans are not making a sport event any more interesting, in fact they shame all the fans of the national team they choose to fight for.

It is sad to note that the start of the 2016 UEFA European Championship has been marked with major clashes among soccer hooligans that has left a bitter taste in the mouth of all those who have been waiting for this sporting event.

Even before the start of EURO 2016 English soccer fans were demonstrating their imperial aspirations, starting a true riot in the French town of Marseille. According to media reports, British hooligans have not been simply fighting local Ultras, they were loudly mocking representatives of the local Muslim community, which resulted in a massive fist fight.

The aggressive actions of British hooligans before EURO 2016 were described in much detail by both The Guardian and The Independent. It's been reported that they chanting "ISIS, where are you?", singing insulting songs, and destroying private property of local residents. They've even assaulted a bus that was painted in the colors of the Russian flag.
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Dollar

Turkish man arrested for selling ornamental dagger pillaged from assassinated leader Gaddafi's home


RT
Mon, 13 Jun 2016 19:48 UTC
Muammar Gaddafi
© Ahmed Jadallah/RuetersFormer Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi
A man was arrested in Turkey for trying to sell an ornamental dagger that had been pillaged from the house of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

A Turkish businessman, identified only as AA, was detained along with two of his accomplices during a search in the Esenyurt district of Istanbul on Monday, reported the Anadolu Agency news agency.

The ivory dagger is beige and beset with a number of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds. It was stolen from one of Gaddafi's palaces during the NATO/CIA-backed invasion of 2011.
Gaddafi dagger
© Via twitter@metesohtaoglu
It is understood the man bought the dagger for $4.6 million in March and hoped to sell it to a Saudi businessman for $10 million.

However, the police organized a sting operation and the man unwittingly told them how much he was seeking and how the deal would play out.

"Your exchange office should pay our exchange office $10 million,"AA told the undercover police. "If the dagger is not authentic, then you can come and take your money from us."

Shortly afterwards, police learned that a deal was imminent between the businessmen and intervened. They secured the dagger while it was in transit to a hotel where the multi-million deal was to be finalized.

Comment: Behind the Headlines: NATO Slaughter - James and Joanne Moriarty expose the truth about what happened in Libya

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