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Stop the politicization of doping in sports: An open letter to the IOC and WADA on the McLaren Report

Rick Sterling
The Duran
Tue, 28 Mar 2017 10:37 UTC
WADA
© lapresse
Dear WADA President Sir Craig Reedie and Executive Committee,

Dear IOC President Thomas Bach and Executive Committee,

I hope you will persevere and overcome the differences and disagreements between WADA and the International Olympic Committee and Russia. Many people around the world were displeased with the controversy last summer. The contentious situation and mutual accusations distracted from the Rio Olympics, reduced attendance and appeared to undermine the goals of the Olympic Charter against national discrimination.

We are at a point where things could get better or worse. Russian President Putin has said that while they do not accept the accusation of 'state sponsored doping', they acknowledge doping violations which need to be prevented in future through coordination with WADA. Some WADA officials have responded favourably. Yet there are countervailing efforts. The U.S. Congress recently held a hearing to further politicise the situation. Meanwhile the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations has opposed proposals for independent testing and aggressively criticised the IOC.
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Info

Frenchman injured by knife-wielding attacker in Shanghai, consulate issues warning


RT
Fri, 31 Mar 2017 10:46 UTC
wounded French national in China
© sina.com.cn
A French national was "violently" assaulted by a knife-wielding attacker in Shanghai, France's consulate has said. The attack comes days after a Chinese man was shot dead by police in Paris, sparking riots among France's Chinese community.

Following the stabbing, the Consulate General of France in Shanghai issued a warning on Friday, urging nationals in the city to be vigilant.

"The French Embassy in China calls the French community to the utmost vigilance.

The embassy and consulates-general are in constant contact with the Chinese authorities to remind that the security of French nationals in China is a priority," the Consulate statement reads.
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Fire

22 killed, up to 70 injured in Pakistan mosque explosion


RT
Fri, 31 Mar 2017 10:39 UTC
People gathering at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Parachinar, on March 31, 2017
© Liu Tian / www.globallookpress.com People gathering at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Parachinar, on March 31, 2017.
At least 22 people were reportedly killed after an explosion targeted a mosque in northwestern Pakistan. Dozens were injured in the blast, which has been claimed by the Taliban.

The attack took place in the city of Parachinar as people gathered for Friday prayers near the women's entrance of a Shiite mosque in the central bazaar, according to Reuters.

Local official Ikramullah Khan said at least 22 people were killed and 70 others injured.

A medical source cited by AFP put the number of injured at 57, including women and children.
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Handcuffs

Italian police thwart suspected jihadist plot to blow up landmark Venice bridge


RT
Thu, 30 Mar 2017 09:33 UTC
Venice bridge
© Manuel Silvestri / Reuters
Three suspected Islamic State supporters planning an attack on a top tourist attraction in Venice were arrested by Italian police on Thursday, following an extensive investigation that foiled a plot to blow up the city's famous Rialto Bridge.

Wiretaps from the investigation revealed the suspected jihadist cell also celebrated the Westminster attack in London last week.

Police discovered "disturbing and worrying" information which showed the men had undergone "religious radicalization" and were studying how to build explosives, carry out knife attacks and were undergoing physical training exercises, Reuters reports.

"There was a lot of talk about unconditional support to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). It wasn't just theory and dogma," Venice's chief prosecutor Adelchi d'Ippolito said, as reported by Il Gazzettino. The men also discussed going to Syria to join jihadist groups.
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Laptop

Qatar Airways offers free laptops on US flights to circumvent electronics ban


RT
Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:38 UTC
Qatar Airways laptop
© Qatar Airways / Flickr
In response to the US ban on electronic devices inside passenger cabins of planes from the Middle East, Qatar Airways has announced a new service which will offer its clients a free laptop for the duration of their flight to the United States.

"Qatar Airways has announced a unique solution to the recently imposed Electronics Ban by offering passengers a laptop loan service that takes their award-winning five-star reputation to new heights," Qatar airways said Thursday.

Last week, the US government banned tablets, laptops or any communication gadgets larger than a smartphone from being brought into the passenger cabin of planes on specific flights.
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Stormtrooper

Insane corruption: DEA stole $3.2 billion in cash from innocent people in only a decade

Justin Gardner
Free Thought Project
Thu, 30 Mar 2017 00:00 UTC
Gang of Thieves: DEA
A bombshell report from the Inspector General (IG) at the Department of Justice has exposed the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the colossal thieves they are. According to the report, DEA seized more than $4 billion in cash from people since 2007, but $3.2 billion of the seizures were never connected to any criminal charges. That figure does not even include the seizure of cars and electronics.

This thievery is possible through the insidious practice of civil asset forfeiture (CAF), where law enforcement can seize cash and property on the mere suspicion of being involved in criminal activity. Originally developed in the 1980s to go after organized crime, CAF has mushroomed into a source of revenue for cops across the country - from local to state to federal - in what's become known as Policing for Profit.

When an innocent person's cash is stolen by DEA, that person must petition to get it back, meaning the burden of proof (and the burden of time and expense) is on the unlucky victim who never did anything wrong in the first place. In fact, "forfeiture proceedings start from the presumption of guilt."

Comment: Yet another corner of "law enforcement" that has been severely tainted by pathological people in positions of power.

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Newspaper

UK police note slight increase in Islamophobia following Westminster attack; monitoring group disagrees


RT
Thu, 30 Mar 2017 23:56 UTC
muslim vigil
© Stefan Wermuth / ReutersMuslims attend Friday prayers, east London
Hate crime against Muslims has increased in the wake of the terrorist attack in Westminster on March 22, according to the Metropolitan Police acting Commissioner for London. But Islamophobia monitoring group TellMAMA says it's seen no such evidence.

The Met suggested on Wednesday it had seen a "slight uplift" in Islamophobic attacks in the wake of the attack perpetrated by Muslim convert Khalid Massod.

"We began tracking [Islamophobic activity] straight away and we keep that tracking in progress as we speak today. We saw a slight uplift in what we call 'Islamophobic incidents' the day after the event, but small, and far smaller than we have seen in previous events," DC Craig Mackey told a London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee hearing.

He added that the quick response from the British Muslim community helped curb a bigger rise in hate crimes.

"I think the strength of all the faith leaders and the communities coming together and putting out a very strong message - that would've helped. People met within 24 hours of the incident, those messages went to Friday prayers and other gatherings that weekend and religious events, so I think that would've helped," Mckey said.

Comment: See also:

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Pistol

Deputy killed by fellow officers during birthday celebration gone awry

Claire Bernish
The Free Thought Project
Thu, 30 Mar 2017 23:48 UTC
Deputy Daniel Hendrix
Deputy Daniel Hendrix
As would be inevitable, epidemic-level police violence finally crossed the Thin Blue Line on Wednesday, when an off-duty Tennessee sheriff's deputy in the midst of his birthday celebration was shot and killed — by fellow cops.

Two off-duty female officers with the Chattanooga Police Department were celebrating with Hamilton County Deputy Daniel Hendrix, when he reportedly became distressed, pulled his weapon, and refused to follow commands from officers responding to the quickly deteriorating situation to drop his gun.

Although details remain murky, Chattanooga police officers fired several times, killing Hendrix mere hours after he turned 26 — unwittingly, and quite ironically, adding the name of a law enforcement officer to a shamefully lengthy list of police victims.

Media reports and statements from authorities did not make clear whether Hendrix actually pointed the firearm at the off-duty officers attending his birthday, or at Chattanooga officers summoned by dispatch — only that a gun had been drawn and he refused to relinquish control.
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USA

Police State: Mom manhandled and arrested for escorting her daughter to class

Matt Agorist
The Free Thought Project
Thu, 30 Mar 2017 23:42 UTC
cop block
In the land of the free, walking your child to a classroom is now grounds for police action. Fran Belisle, a mother of two, found this out the hard way at a school Arts Festival last week at which her daughter was performing in the school play, Annie.

"You can still see the bruises on my wrists," the Chesterfield mother said.

"The excessive force, the bruising on my wrists, the bruising on my arm, the fact there was not even a minute between the initial encounter with the Police Officer and cuffs going on," Belisle said.

The incident began when Belisle was attempting to escort her child to a classroom in which she would wait before the performance. However, police would not let her through — only her daughter.

"The police had set up a barricade in the hallway."

Belisle, 46, who is 4-feet 11 inches tall is not some criminal mastermind. In fact, she is an upstanding member of the community and comes from a family of law enforcement professionals. However, that is how this Air Force Officer of four years and United States Diplomat of six years was treated when she questioned the police 'roadblock' in the school hallway.
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Clipboard

North Carolina's transgender bathroom bill repealed


RT
Thu, 30 Mar 2017 23:36 UTC
gender neutral bathroom
© Jonathan Drake / ReutersThe replacement law has been criticized by LGBT activists.
A Senate committee voted Thursday to repeal a controversial bill that restricted which bathrooms transgender people could use in North Carolina.

House Bill 2 is set to be replaced in a compromise which activists criticized for using transgender people as a "bargaining chip."

Legislators voted on repealing House Bill 2, which has seen boycotts against the state, including concerts and sports events being cancelled over concerns for LGBT rights. The replacement bill was described as a compromise by Republican lawmakers Phil Berger and Tim Moore who reached a deal with Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.

"Compromise requires give and take from all sides, and we are pleased this proposal fully protects bathroom safety and privacy," Berger and Moore said in a statement, reported Reuters.
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