source Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images President Donald Trump followed up on a week of bashing NATO allies on Twitter with an in-person tirade against Germany. He said Russia basically controls Germany because of German energy dependence on Moscow. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has backed a massive pipeline that would allow increased consumption of Russian energy. Russia’s main source of revenue is energy exports, and Europe is its main client. By funding Russia, Europe allows the exact kind of aggression from the Kremlin NATO was designed to stop. Germany’s military has serious readiness problems and Merkel has not prioritized fixing them. President Donald Trump followed up on a week of bashing NATO allies on Twitter with an in-person tirade against Germany’s planned energy cooperation with Russia. In a heated meeting in Brussels with the leaders of NATO, Trump claimed that Moscow now basically controls Berlin because of their … [Read more...] about Trump slams a weakened Germany as ‘controlled by Russia’ in blistering open to NATO summit
Main duty of a security guard
I was doing my duty, says Siti Kasim after release
KAJANG: Lawyer and activist Siti Kasim who was arrested yesterday for apparently "obstructing a civil servant from carrying out his or her duties" was freed more than 12 hours later after the magistrate's court here rejected a remand order application by police. Siti was arrested at 12.40am when she showed up at the Kajang district police headquarters to represent her client Anis Izzatty Ruslan, a 24-year-old woman who fled home allegedly to escape her abusive mother. In a rare event of the police and its detainee holding a joint press conference, Siti Kasim and Kajang police chief ACP Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof met reporters at the district police headquarters here at about 3pm. Ahmad Dzaffir said although Siti Kasim was freed as the remand order was rejected, investigations on her will continue and the findings will be submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further action. In responding to claims that police had acted beyond their boundaries in detaining Siti Kasim, he … [Read more...] about I was doing my duty, says Siti Kasim after release
News How a secret Russian airlift helps Syria’s Assad
MOSCOW/KIEV - In a corner of the departures area at Rostov airport in southern Russia, a group of about 130 men, many of them carrying overstuffed military-style rucksacks, lined up at four check-in desks beneath screens that showed no flight number or destination. When a Reuters reporter asked the men about their destination, one said: "We signed a piece of paper – we're not allowed to say anything. Any minute the boss will come and we'll get into trouble. "You too," he warned. The chartered Airbus A320 waiting on the tarmac for them had just flown in from the Syrian capital, Damascus, disgorging about 30 men with tanned faces into the largely deserted arrivals area. Most were in camouflage gear and khaki desert boots. Some were toting bags from the Damascus airport duty-free. The men were private Russian military contractors, the latest human cargo in a secretive airlift using civilian planes to ferry military support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his six-year fight … [Read more...] about News How a secret Russian airlift helps Syria’s Assad
The militarization of China’s People’s Armed Police
ChinaPeople’s Armed PoliceAnalysis Sweeping reforms aim at bringing a higher level of professionalism to country's counterterrorism force By Zi Yang March 25, 2018 10:22 AM (UTC+8) Share Tweet Linkedin Print Email Share 0 Comment 0 Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s potential coronation as president-for-life at the country’s recent National People’s Congress may have captured the world’s headlines, but a sweeping governmental reorganization may have an equally profound effect over China’s police in the coming years. As one pillar of China’s armed forces, the People’s Armed Police (PAP) is poised to take on a greater role in defending China’s national interests. On March 21, the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee made public a “Plan for Deepening Reform of Party and State Organs” in which considerable changes were announced for the PAP – with the intention of accelerating the Armed … [Read more...] about The militarization of China’s People’s Armed Police
Switzerland has a stunningly high rate of gun ownership — here’s why it doesn’t have mass shootings
caption Members of the Swiss federal army’s honor guard in October 2012. source REUTERS/Thomas Hodel Switzerland hasn’t had a mass shooting since 2001, when a man stormed the local parliament in Zug, killing 14 people and then himself. The country has about 2 million privately owned guns in a nation of 8.3 million people. In 2016, the country had 47 homicides with firearms. The country’s overall murder rate is near zero. The National Rifle Association often points to Switzerland to argue that more rules on gun ownership aren’t necessary. In 2016, the NRA said on its blog that the European country had one of the lowest murder rates in the world while still having millions of privately owned guns and a few hunting weapons that don’t even require a permit. But the Swiss have some specific rules and regulations for gun use. Business Insider took a look at the country’s past with guns to see why it has lower rates of gun violence … [Read more...] about Switzerland has a stunningly high rate of gun ownership — here’s why it doesn’t have mass shootings