Society's Child
The controversial video was published on February 1, but attracted little attention until going viral this week. It shows Artur Tsibikov, who calls himself the deputy high shaman of Russia, leading a group of supporters in a ritual animal sacrifice. The camels were slaughtered, and their meat was cooked before being laid out along with their pelts on a giant pyre, which was then burned. Drums could be heard during the ritual.
Tsibikov, also known by his shamanic name Zaarin, said the ritual that he and his group conducted was a very rare one, which required a very strong shaman to oversee it. The burnt animals were meant to bring strength to Russia and unify the people inhabiting it, especially the less numerous, like the Buryat people.
"For safety reasons we are temporarily suspending flight operations @DublinAirport due (to) the confirmed sighting of a drone over the airfield," the airport said via its official Twitter account, adding that passengers should contact their airlines for flight updates.
A pilot reported the drone sighting to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) -- which operates air traffic control at the airport -- at about 11.30 a.m. local time (6:30 a.m. ET), the airport said.
Less than an hour later, the airport said that flight operations had resumed and apologized for an inconvenience.
The group behind the protest is called the Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDRs) and has been involved in demonstrations against Spain's central government for months. The goal of Thursday's action is to 'paralyze everything,' as the group put it.
Comment: In further coverage of the protests we learn that clashes have spread to a metro station:
Scuffles broke out between the protesters and the law enforcement at the Plaza de Catalunya station. Footage from the scene showed police officers in riot gear confronting activists, trying and failing to evict the crowds from the transport hub. Further clashes occurred on the streets of Barcelona.One has to wonder if the relative success of the Yellow Vests movement hasn't in some way revitalized the push for pro-independence in Catalonia. See also:
In a matter of minutes, protesters overran turnstiles and flooded the station. Many were seen walking along the tracks, effectively stopping traffic there.
Activists, chanting pro-independence slogans and waving Catalan flags, amassed at the station and tried to force riot police out. Scuffles continued outside, with officers wielding batons to disperse the crowd.
- Catalonia's deposed President Puigdemont vows to continue struggle for independence
- Catalonia votes: Separatist parties secure absolute majority, Puigdemont to regain power

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo talks to reporters during a news conference at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston on Jan. 29, 2019.
The FBI also said it has opened an independent civil rights investigation into Jan. 28 raid that left a man and a woman who lived at the home dead and several police officers shot and injured. The agency's Houston office said the investigation is "into allegations that a search warrant obtained by Houston police officers was based on false, fabricated information."
Houston officials discovered in the aftermath of the raid that an affidavit for the warrant appears to have included "some material untruths or lies," the city's police chief said last week.
While the decision marks a victory for crime victims, the federal judge, Kenneth A. Marra, stopped short of overturning Epstein's plea deal, or issuing an order resolving the case. He instead gave federal prosecutors 15 days to confer with Epstein's victims and their attorneys to come up with a settlement. The victims did not seek money or damages as part of the suit.
It's not clear whether the victims, now in their late 20s and early 30s, can, as part of the settlement, demand that the government prosecute Epstein. But others are calling on the Justice Department to take a new look at the case in the wake of the judge's ruling.
A field representative for the Leadership Institute was allegedly physically assaulted on the campus of UC Berkeley on Tuesday morning while training members for Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
A witness captured the attack on video, which was then sent to TPUSA's founder and executive director, Charlie Kirk, who then posted it to Twitter. "Imagine if the attacker was wearing a MAGA hat," noted Kirk in his tweet.
Even by the flamboyant standards of West Hollywood, Mayor John Duran stands out. The openly gay mayor has joked about wearing gold underwear, launched a public forum on anal cancer called 'Booty Call to Action,' and was accused by a fellow councilman of swiping for casual sex on Grindr during council meetings.
While Duran has built a political career on cheekily expressing his sexuality, the lawsuits have piled up.
First the city paid $500,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit against Duran from his former deputy Ian Owens. Duran hired Owens as his deputy after meeting him through Grindr and having sex with him.
Now, more allegations of harassment have surfaced, from the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, a choir that Duran once chaired. Its members accused the mayor of unwanted groping and inappropriate comments. Several members alleged that Duran cornered and fondled them, before slipping away when they expressed shock.
The investigation filed charges against all the persons involved in the case of embezzling 2.5 bln rubles ($37.5 mln) from the Vostochny Bank, where the founder and managing partner of Baring Vostok investment fund Michael Calvey is the key defendant, a source in investigative agencies told TASS.
"The investigation charged all persons involved in the case were charged under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Fraud committed by an organized group or on an especially large scale). Philippe Delpal (investment partner for the financial industry sector at Baring Vostok - TASS) was the last who was charged."The source added that all the defendants were re-interrogated and none of them pleaded guilty. Philippe Delpal's lawyer, Barbara Knutova, confirmed that her client was charged and did not admit guilt.
Branson's "Venezuela Aid Live" concert "has nothing to do with the needs of the Venezuelan people, it has nothing to do with democracy, it has nothing to do with freedom, and it has nothing to do with aid," Waters declared in a video released on Tuesday.
Comment: Waters hits the bullseye on this one! See also: Sir Richard Branson feeds narrative to overthrow Maduro with Venezuelan-border PR stunt "Venezuela Aid Live"

This undated photo provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Office shows Yovahnis Roque. A police affidavit says the Southeast Texas man found naked and stained with blood told officers that he killed his 2-year-old daughter, who had been bludgeoned with a hammer. The affidavit says an officer's body camera captured 26-year-old Roque (RAHK) confessing in the death of his child in a home in Orange, near the Louisiana border.
An officer's body camera captured 26-year-old Yovahnis Roque confessing Tuesday in the death of his child at their home in Orange, near the Louisiana border, according to the police affidavit. Roque was arrested and charged with capital murder .
Roque lived with his mother at the house and it was she who found the girl's body and called police.
Officers found Roque "completely covered in blood" and discovered the girl's body in a closet, the affidavit says. Orange police Capt. Robert Enmon has described it as the most horrific crime he's dealt with in his 29-year career, calling it "the crime scene of nightmares."
Comment: It seems that with each passing horrific crimes are occurring ever more frequently:
- Father stabbed son to death saying he'd become psychopath like him - Released after only 4 years
- Horrifying footage of drugged up transgender axe attacker who claims 'demonic possession'
- Man stabbed in the face on London Underground train - Latest attack in city's crime epidemic
- Russian cannibal serial killer couple wife faces 15 years for role in murder of final victim - confessed to killing and eating at least 30 victims
- 12yo Russian 'cannibal' & her 22yo lover kill, dismember landlord out of 'hunger and curiosity' - unconfirmed reports [Update]
Comment: These drone appearances are becoming ever more pervasive...