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@connda an off topic and unsubstaniated trolling meme has been removed. You next if thats repeated. The topic is: Hamas Sinks to New Lows with Hostage Body Swap

As Germany heads toward a crucial general election, political leaders are avoiding difficult conversations about defence spending, the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the future of European security. Instead, they have shifted the focus to the struggling economy and migration, a move that has bolstered support for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland while keeping voters in the dark about the country’s looming financial and security challenges. Friedrich Merz, the leader of the conservative CDU/CSU, has sidestepped the issue of massive borrowing for defence, as many of his supporters oppose increasing national debt. Meanwhile, Social Democratic (SPD) Chancellor Olaf Scholz has avoided discussing the possibility of sending German troops to Ukraine as part of a European security force, should a ceasefire be reached. With segments of his political base being anti-militarist or sympathetic to Russia, Scholz has been reluctant to address the topic. Following an emergency European summit on Ukraine in Paris, Scholz dismissed speculation about deploying troops as “highly inappropriate.” Neither of these key contenders for leadership is willing to confront voters with the stark reality of Germany’s security vulnerabilities, especially as Donald Trump pushes for a rapid deal with Vladimir Putin—one that seems to favour Moscow’s interests. A deal of this nature could lead to a significant reduction in the U.S. military presence in Europe, leaving Germany dangerously exposed. “Nobody wants to get caught speaking the truth before the election,” says Jan Techau, a former defence ministry speechwriter and director of Europe at the Eurasia Group. “In the worst-case scenario, if Trump pulls off this deal with Putin and carves up Europe into spheres of influence, Germany is very exposed.” Unlike France and the UK, Germany lacks its own nuclear deterrent. Its military has been significantly weakened over the past three decades due to underfunding, making it difficult even to equip a brigade of 5,000 troops for NATO’s deterrence force in Lithuania. Scholz initially responded to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 by announcing a Zeitenwende, or turning point, and creating a €100 billion fund for defence. However, he has not effectively convinced the German public that the country must abandon its postwar reluctance toward military engagement. Military and intelligence officials warn that Russia could be ready to attack a NATO country by 2030. However, at the current pace of military rebuilding, experts predict it could take decades for Germany to restore its armed forces to a capable state. Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff of the German Council on Foreign Relations observes, “Even the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has not created a sense of urgency in Germany – a sense that time to rebuild the military is not infinite.” The Kiel Institute for the World Economy has estimated that, at the current rate of procurement, it would take nearly a century to restore the army’s artillery howitzer numbers to their 2004 levels. Once the €100 billion special fund is depleted at the end of 2027, Germany will face an annual €30 billion shortfall just to maintain NATO’s current target of 2% of GDP for defence spending. Achieving the likely new target of 3% or more—expected to be set by allied leaders in June—would require almost double that amount. If Trump withdraws U.S. forces from Europe, the financial burden will rise even further. Merz has pledged that if elected, he will begin by cutting inefficient welfare spending and implementing tax cuts to stimulate economic growth before considering additional borrowing. He has hinted at the possibility of reforming Germany’s strict constitutional “debt brake” to allow for greater fiscal flexibility, including potential joint borrowing with European partners for defence investments. He has also criticized Scholz’s lack of leadership in the EU and committed to mending strained relations with France and Poland, collaborating more closely with the UK, and taking a stronger role in supporting Ukraine. Unlike Scholz, he has backed supplying Ukraine with Taurus medium-range missiles capable of striking targets inside Russia, provided there is consensus among European allies. A close parliamentary colleague describes Merz as a committed pro-European and Atlanticist who understands that Germany will need to act swiftly to bolster its defences. However, significant hurdles remain. It is uncertain whether he will have the political capital to secure the extensive borrowing required for defence investment while also addressing Germany’s crumbling infrastructure. Reforming the debt brake would require a parliamentary super-majority, and his potential SPD coalition partners may resist aggressive cuts to welfare spending in favor of military investment. By failing to prepare the public for the difficult financial choices ahead, Merz risks setting himself up for major political struggles in the near future. When the time comes to make tough decisions on public spending and borrowing, he may find that the real battle has only just begun. Based on a report by The Guardian 2025-02-22

The Parole Board has overruled opposition from the Justice Secretary and re-released Shah Rahman, a convicted terrorist who plotted to bomb the London Stock Exchange. Rahman, who was one of four British extremists inspired by al Qaeda, had pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism in 2012. At the time of his arrest, a handwritten target list was discovered at the home of one of the conspirators. The list contained the names and addresses of then-London mayor Boris Johnson, two rabbis, the US embassy, and the stock exchange. The planned attacks were thwarted before specific dates could be set, thanks to undercover anti-terror police. Rahman was subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison with an additional five years on extended licence. He was first released in 2017 under the automatic release provisions of his sentence. However, he was recalled to prison in March 2022 after authorities discovered he had a secret bank account, breaching the conditions of his release. This led to a further eight-month prison term. Since his recall, the Parole Board has conducted two reviews of his case. The first, in February 2023, concluded that he should remain incarcerated. However, following a hearing on January 24 this year, the board decided that Rahman’s continued imprisonment was “no longer necessary for the protection of the public.” In its summary of the decision, the Parole Board stated: “The panel determined that there were no heightened concerns of an extremist risk and that Mr Rahman met the legal test for release.” The board cited his participation in psychological sessions designed to address his breach of licence and to help him gain a better understanding of his faith. The report further noted that Rahman had claimed he was radicalized by events in Iraq and Afghanistan, admitting that he lacked a proper understanding of Islam and had been influenced by extremists. Although there were initial concerns about the people he associated with upon his return to prison, the board noted that he had not been subject to security attention and that no concerns had been recorded since October 2024. Despite opposition from a representative of Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the board concluded that Rahman could be managed in the community under a strict supervision plan. This includes around 30 licence conditions, extensive monitoring, and measures deemed “robust enough” to mitigate any potential risk. Under the conditions of his release, Rahman must reside at a designated address, submit to enhanced supervision including curfews and GPS tagging, and comply with police searches under measures designed to manage extremist offenders. However, the decision to free him has raised questions about the balance between public safety and rehabilitation, as well as the effectiveness of the parole system in handling high-risk individuals. Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2025-02-22

The General Medical Council (GMC) has confirmed that doctors who transition gender are issued new registrations, effectively wiping their past disciplinary records from public access. This revelation has sparked widespread concerns over transparency and accountability in the medical profession. The case of Sandie Peggie, a nurse currently in a legal battle with NHS Fife, has further intensified these concerns. Peggie alleges she was harassed after raising objections to sharing a women’s changing room with Dr. Beth Upton, a transgender doctor who was born male. She argues that NHS Fife prioritized Dr. Upton’s rights over her own right to single-sex facilities. While this case continues, the GMC’s approach to handling gender transitions among doctors has drawn sharp criticism. A GMC spokesperson confirmed that when a doctor transitions, their previous public-facing record is not linked to their new registration. “If a doctor had received a historical sanction [i.e. a suspension that is no longer in place] prior to transitioning, this information would not be available on their new public-facing record on the medical register,” the spokesperson stated. Dr. Upton is among 62 doctors who have been issued new GMC numbers post-transition, making it impossible for patients to trace their previous identities and any related disciplinary actions. A retired anaesthetist who contacted The Telegraph voiced concerns about this practice, emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust in medical professionals. “Because the GMC has an even more important role than it did a couple of decades ago—recording and marking the careers of doctors—people need to be confident about the identities of doctors,” the whistleblower said. A GMC number serves as a unique identifier throughout a doctor’s career, appearing on official documents such as training records, appraisals, and prescriptions. However, in cases where doctors transition, not only is their GMC number changed, but their prior record remains unlinked to their new identity in the publicly accessible database. Adding to the controversy, the GMC’s own guidelines do not require doctors to provide evidence of gender transition. This means that female patients who specifically request a female doctor have no means of verifying whether their doctor was biologically male. Furthermore, any past disciplinary measures, such as suspensions or formal warnings, do not carry over to the new public record, leading to concerns that a doctor with a history of professional misconduct could evade public scrutiny simply by transitioning. “There are extremely serious implications for the GMC issuing new numbers—essentially new identities—to 62 doctors,” said Helen Joyce, the director of advocacy at Sex Matters, a gender-critical human rights organization. The GMC maintains that internally, all records remain linked, ensuring that no doctor struck off the register can reapply under a new gender identity. However, critics argue that an upheld suspension, which would normally be visible for years, is effectively hidden from public view post-transition. The GMC has refused to disclose whether any of the 62 doctors who received new registrations had previously been subject to disciplinary action. “Owing to the complexities around information relating to doctors who have transitioned, we would need to carry out a Freedom of Information access request for details of any doctors who had ‘fitness to practise’ sanctions recorded on their pre-transition public-facing medical register entry,” a GMC spokesperson stated. Legal experts have also condemned the GMC’s policy. Sarah Vine, a KC at Doughty Street Chambers, argues that this approach is legally unsound. “There is a strong public interest in knowing a doctor’s disciplinary history. It’s very hard to argue that a doctor’s privacy is something that can override that legitimate purpose. It looks like a wholesale misreading of the application of human rights, domestic equality law and the Gender Recognition Act,” she said. Vine further asserts that under data protection law, publicly available disciplinary records cannot be erased simply because a doctor changes their gender identity. “What the GMC either fail to understand or are ignoring is that under data protection law, if a doctor’s suspensions are publicly available because there is a legitimate reason to provide that information to the public—which there clearly is in this context—that cannot be displaced simply because a doctor has asserted a particular gender identity and does not want to be known under the identity that aligns with their sex,” she explained. The case of Dr. Upton further highlights the wider issue. In Peggie’s ongoing tribunal, she claims she was harassed by being required to share a changing room with Dr. Upton, a claim disputed by both the doctor and the health board. Despite the ongoing tribunal, NHS Fife has now launched a misconduct hearing against Peggie for allegedly misgendering Dr. Upton. GMC records can sometimes be updated—for instance, to reflect a name change after marriage or divorce—but a doctor’s GMC number traditionally remains the same throughout their career. The practice of issuing entirely new numbers to doctors who transition is what critics say undermines accountability. Dr. Louise Irvine, co-chair of the Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender (CAN-SG), argues that the GMC is failing in its duty to ensure transparency. “When you look up ‘Dr Beth Upton’ and you don’t see any reference to the doctor’s professional life or records before the change of identity and GMC number, including previous name, then you have a problem with accountability and transparency. That should be the public purpose of the GMC. They shouldn’t be obscuring past information,” she said. Indeed, Dr. Upton’s previous registration was “relinquished” in April 2023, but there is no mention of this on the current record. Dr. Irvine emphasizes that the GMC’s stance forces patients to rely on healthcare providers for accurate information about their doctor’s biological sex—an unreliable solution, as demonstrated by the ongoing tribunal in Fife. “Gender is irrelevant in this context; for many women, it’s sex that matters when it comes to healthcare provision, especially for intimate care. Patients need to be able to find this information when they want it,” she stated. The retired anaesthetist who contacted The Telegraph warned of the long-term implications of the GMC’s policy. “The GMC oversees the accumulation of data and information over the course of your career, so it feels wrong that that data should be missing or appearing under a different name and number,” she said. “I worry about that aspect of it.” Based on a report by The Daily Telegraph 2025-02-22

It is almost beyond comprehension that anyone could conceive of swapping the body of a murdered mother with that of an unknown Palestinian. Yet, on Thursday, the world watched in horror as Hamas handed over four coffins containing the remains of 85-year-old Oded Lifshitz, four-year-old Ariel Bibas, his infant brother Kfir, and their mother, Shiri. What should have been a moment of solemnity was instead turned into a grotesque spectacle, with throngs of Gazans celebrating as the tiny coffins of Ariel and Kfir came into view. As I witnessed these horrifying scenes, I thought that surely this must be a new low, even for Hamas. But history has shown that the terrorist group is always capable of descending further into depravity. By Thursday evening, the full extent of their cruelty became clear. The coffin meant to contain the remains of Shiri Bibas instead held the body of an unknown Gazan. Even in death, even as the family endured unfathomable grief, Hamas found a way to inflict more suffering—not just on the Bibas family, but on the entire Israeli nation, which has shared in their sorrow since October 7, 2023. The evil of Hamas is evident to anyone willing to see it. The atrocities of that day—when 1,200 Israelis were raped, tortured, and slaughtered, and 250 hostages were taken—made their barbarity indisputable. On Friday, the Israeli National Institute of Forensic Medicine confirmed the unimaginable: Ariel and Kfir Bibas had been “brutally murdered” in captivity in November 2023. What kind of mind could murder a toddler and a baby, and then use their corpses as bargaining chips? The level of malice required to not only commit these acts but to conceive of swapping a hostage’s body with that of a stranger is beyond belief. Yet, for Hamas, this was just another move in their campaign of psychological warfare. And yet, as these horrifying events unfolded, the so-called Free Palestine movement remained silent. The same groups that have taken to the streets in the name of “justice” failed to utter a single word of condemnation for the grotesque display of hate orchestrated by Hamas. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and their ideological allies had nothing to say about the revelry surrounding the bodies of murdered children. Their silence is not surprising, because hatred drives their worldview. When others see brutality, they see heroism. When others recoil in horror, they see a cause to champion. To any decent person, the sight of a crowd cheering at the sight of two tiny coffins is abhorrent. But to these extremists, it is a triumph. And when the world learned that the body of Shiri Bibas had been swapped, they likely admired the ingenuity of the deception rather than the agony it caused. For these people, hatred is their guiding force—specifically, hatred of Jews. There is no need to sugarcoat it with euphemisms. The protests are, and have always been, driven by antisemitism. The thousands who march under the banner of “Free Palestine” are, in reality, rallying for the deaths of Jews. Never forget that the PSC first sought permission to march at 2:50 p.m. on October 7, while the massacre was still unfolding. Never forget that their first protest took place on October 14, before a single Israeli soldier had entered Gaza. Their motivation has never been justice or peace—it has always been hate. Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2025-02-22

Actor George Clooney acknowledged in an interview Thursday that the media failed in its coverage of former President Joe Biden’s fitness to serve. Speaking with The New York Times’ Maureen Dowd, Clooney stated that Biden was irresponsible in concealing his "incapacities" and placed some of the blame on the press, saying, "the media, in many ways, dropped the ball." Reflecting on a moment in June when former President Barack Obama guided Biden offstage at a Los Angeles fundraiser, Clooney recalled seeing a noticeable decline. "I saw him for hours a year earlier at the Kennedy Center, and I saw someone much less sharp," he said. Dowd noted that the encounter left Clooney "gobsmacked." Despite his concerns, Clooney emphasized, "I’ve always liked Joe Biden, and I like him still." Clooney also addressed why former President Donald Trump won the election, attributing it in part to Biden’s messaging struggles. "The Biden administration was terrible at explaining that we’re a world economy, where we were actually doing better than all the other G7 countries. They were bad at telling the story because their messenger was not working at his best, to say the least," he said. Biden’s team has not responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. The longtime liberal actor has previously called for Biden to step aside, particularly after the president’s difficult debate performance against Trump. In a July guest essay for The New York Times, Clooney wrote, "It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate." Clooney specifically referenced the June 2024 fundraiser in Los Angeles and noted that his decision to speak out was independent. "People thought Obama was behind it, but Clooney said he did it despite being urged not to," Dowd explained. During the interview, Clooney also criticized Trump, expressing his concerns about the political landscape. "I believe that whole idea of the arc of history bending toward justice, and I know it doesn’t feel that way right now," he told Dowd. "I think there are always these pendulum swings. The first Trump election was, I believe, a result of eight years of a Black president." He continued with a sharp critique of Trump’s leadership, stating, "No rules count anymore. It’s like letting an infant walk across the 405 freeway in the middle of the afternoon." Based on a report by NYP 2025-02-22

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly frustrated Donald Trump so much during ongoing peace negotiations with Russia that the former U.S. president nearly withdrew American military support for Ukraine, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. The friction between Trump and Zelensky escalated into a heated exchange that alarmed European allies, who fear the consequences of emboldening Russian President Vladimir Putin. “President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelensky,” National Security Advisor Mike Waltz stated during a White House press briefing. The relationship between the two leaders has been uneasy since Trump’s first impeachment in 2019, which stemmed from his efforts to condition U.S. military aid on Zelensky’s willingness to investigate Joe Biden’s son and his connections to a Ukrainian gas company. Now, as Trump attempts to implement his promise of a swift resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, he is finding it more difficult than expected. According to six administration officials, Zelensky made five key missteps over the past nine days that irritated Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Waltz. One official remarked that Zelensky “showed how not to do the ‘Art of the Deal’” when seeking Trump’s support. On February 12, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Zelensky in Kyiv to offer a proposal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral rights in exchange for de facto American protection. Trump later described Zelensky as “rude” for delaying the meeting because he had slept in. Two days later, at the Munich Security Conference, Vance and Rubio pressed Zelensky to approve the deal, only for him to respond that he lacked the authority to do so unilaterally without parliamentary approval. Then, on February 15, Zelensky publicly rejected the proposal at the conference, calling it “not in the interests of a sovereign Ukraine,” a stark contrast to his more optimistic remarks on social media the day before. The situation worsened on February 18 when Zelensky criticized peace talks held in Saudi Arabia between U.S. officials and Russian negotiators, saying Ukraine had been excluded. In response, an enraged Trump held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, where he falsely claimed Zelensky had started the war with Russia and had an approval rating of only four percent. The conflict escalated further on February 19 when Zelensky retaliated, accusing Trump of living in a “disinformation space.” Trump then fired back on Truth Social, mocking Zelensky as a “modestly successful comedian” turned “dictator without elections,” a pointed remark given Trump’s refusal to label Putin a dictator. Vance later expressed his frustration with Zelensky’s actions. “He’s attacking the only reason [Ukraine] exists, publicly, right now. And it’s disgraceful. And it’s not something that is going to move the president of the United States. In fact, it’s going to have the opposite effect,” he told *The National Pulse.* Three administration sources suggested that Vance’s comments were a veiled threat that Trump could withdraw support from Ukraine altogether. From the White House’s perspective, Zelensky had grown too accustomed to the unconditional backing of former President Biden, NATO allies, and positive media coverage. “Zelensky is an actor who committed a common mistake of theater kids: He started to think he’s the character he plays on TV,” said one White House official involved in the negotiations. “Yes, he has been brave and stood up to Russia. But he would be six feet under if it wasn’t for the millions we spent, and he needs to exit stage right with all the drama.” Another official remarked, “We created a monster with Zelensky. And these Trump-deranged Europeans who won’t send troops are giving him terrible advice.” A third added, “In the course of a week, Zelensky rebuffed President Trump’s treasury secretary, his secretary of state, and his vice president, all before moving on to personally insulting President Trump in the press. What did Zelensky think was going to happen?” Despite the animosity, Trump’s team is still negotiating with Zelensky, and a revised mineral-rights deal remains on the table as part of a potential peace agreement. However, the deal itself could prove highly controversial. Based on public and private statements, Trump’s administration appears poised to pressure Zelensky into conceding Crimea, parts of eastern Ukraine, and the Azov Coast in exchange for an end to hostilities. Critics have likened the U.S. insistence on claiming a share of Ukraine’s mineral wealth to a “mafia shakedown,” arguing that Ukraine would be forced to surrender land and resources while gaining little in return. “It’s a sh*t sandwich,” admitted one Trump administration official. “But Ukraine is going to have to eat it because [Trump] has made clear this is no longer our problem.” Based on a report by AXIOS 2025-02-22

American government laboratories are increasingly at risk of foreign espionage, with former Department of Energy (DOE) officials and national security experts warning lawmakers about a growing threat. During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, experts highlighted concerns over scientific research being exploited by foreign adversaries, particularly China, to advance military capabilities and technological development. Paul Dabbar, who served as the DOE undersecretary for science under President Trump, testified that researchers operating on behalf of the Chinese government have been stealing intellectual property from US labs. These stolen innovations include key advancements in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and semiconductors. “China puts tremendous pressure in appropriating this innovation and then manufacturing it,” Dabbar stated, emphasizing the scale of theft occurring at the 17 national laboratories overseen by the DOE. Anna Puglisi, a fellow at the Hoover Institution and a former national counterintelligence officer for East Asia, underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “It’s a lot of the technologies of the future — it’s AI, it’s biotech.” She also reflected on her decades of experience, noting, “In these 50 years, I have seen dramatic changes in how we interact with countries of concern like China.” Geraldine Richmond, who succeeded Dabbar as undersecretary for science, echoed these concerns, describing the evolving threat landscape. “I have seen them change, I have seen the threats become even stronger, and they are as much a concern to me as they were when I was undersecretary,” she said. Serving on the National Science Board under both Presidents Trump and Biden, Richmond has witnessed firsthand the mounting risks to US leadership in science and technology. One of the most alarming revelations from the hearing involved collaboration between US and Chinese researchers on nuclear weapons work. This comes despite past federal investigations uncovering China’s recruitment strategies, such as the Thousand Talents Program, which sought to repatriate scientific knowledge and innovations from American institutions. Dabbar called these joint nuclear efforts “astounding,” while lawmakers questioned how such collaboration could have been allowed. Further investigations have exposed ties between US and Chinese universities with connections to the People’s Liberation Army, raising concerns over compromised national security. Committee Chairman Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) condemned Beijing’s actions, stating, “Make no mistake. Beijing is actively exploiting weak security protocols, academic collaboration loopholes, and US grant programs to advance its military capabilities — all on American taxpayers’ dime.” Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a member of both the energy and intelligence committees, referenced bipartisan legislation that aimed to restrict researchers from China, Russia, and Iran from accessing US laboratories. While the bill passed the intelligence committee unanimously, it was never put to a full vote. Cotton vowed to reintroduce the measure, citing a pressing need for stronger restrictions. “There’s zero reciprocity on this issue,” he noted, referencing the lack of access US scientists have to Chinese research facilities. According to Cotton, approximately 8,000 Chinese and Russian scientists passed through DOE laboratories in the 2024 fiscal year, accounting for roughly 20% of all foreign visitors. Senator James Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed his skepticism about China’s openness to American scientists. “I have never met a person who has set foot in a Chinese lab,” he remarked. Based on a report by NYP 2025-02-22

Julia Wandelt — the Polish woman who has long claimed to be Madeleine McCann — was cuffed and taken into custody on Feb. 19 after landing at a UK airport. Police nabbed the 23-year-old on suspicions of stalking and harassing the missing girl’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann. A day before the arrest, Wandelt, 23, posted an audio clip to social media of her apparent phone call to the family's residence. The nearly two-decade saga began in 2007 with 3-year-old Madeleine’s disappearance in Portugal. The true-crime story took a bizarre turn when, in 2023, Wandelt emerged, claiming to be the missing British girl. DNA tests later revealed she couldn't possibly be the same person — but that hasn't stopped her. On a newly launched Instagram page, she wrote: “I know the truth and I will never give up.” Based on a report by NYP 2025-02-22

A grand jury in Alabama has recommended that the Hanceville Police Department be “immediately abolished” following the indictment of multiple officers in connection with the death of Christopher Willingham, a 911 dispatcher. The Cullman County grand jury found evidence of “negligence, lack of procedure, general incompetence, and disregard for human life” among the officers, leading to widespread concerns over corruption within the department. At a press conference on Wednesday, Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker announced that Hanceville Police Chief Jason Marlin, along with officers Cody Alan Kelso, Drew Shelnut, Jason Wilbanks, and Eric Michael Kelso, had been indicted. Additionally, Eric Kelso’s wife, Donna Kelso, was charged as part of the case. All six individuals were arrested and later released on bond. According to the indictment, Donna Kelso allegedly distributed an unlawful controlled substance to Wilbanks and Cody Kelso, among others, with the assistance of her husband. Willingham’s body was discovered at the police department on August 23, and an autopsy revealed the presence of fentanyl, gabapentin, diazepam, amphetamine, carisoprodol, and methocarbamol in his system, as reported by the Cullman County Coroner’s Office. “With these indictments, these officers find themselves on the opposite end of the laws they were sworn to uphold,” Crocker stated. “Wearing a badge is a privilege and an honor that most law enforcement officers take seriously. A badge is not a license to corrupt the administration of justice, and when law enforcement officers abuse their power, they do damage to the public’s trust in law enforcement.” The grand jury’s report described a “rampant culture of corruption” within the Hanceville Police Department, which employs only nine officers, according to the latest data from the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The jury recommended that another local or state law enforcement agency take over policing responsibilities in Hanceville to ensure the safety of its residents. Hanceville Mayor Jimmy Sawyer assured the public that unethical officers would be held accountable. “It is unfortunate that the actions of a few have tarnished our city’s good name. Those entrusted with serving and protecting our community must be individuals of integrity and honor,” Sawyer said in a statement. He acknowledged that while most law enforcement officers are dedicated public servants, misconduct by even a few can damage public trust. “Such individuals must be held accountable without delay. We will uncover the truth, and justice will be served,” he added. As the case unfolds, the future of the Hanceville Police Department remains uncertain. The grand jury’s recommendation to dismantle the department underscores the severity of the allegations and the need for significant reform to restore public confidence in local law enforcement. Based on a report by The Hill 2025-02-22

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the U.S. on Thursday, February 20, former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss urged Elon Musk and his dedicated followers—whom she referred to as his “nerd army of Muskrats”—to take a closer look at what she called the “British deep state.” Truss, who holds the record as Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister after a tenure of less than 50 days, used her speech to launch a scathing critique of the UK, suggesting that the country is stuck in the past. “We want a Trump revolution in Britain, we want to flood the zone,” she told the American audience, praising both former U.S. President Donald Trump and Musk, the billionaire owner of X. Her remarks at CPAC followed similar claims she made during last year’s event, where she alleged that her attempts to introduce tax cuts had been deliberately undermined. At the time, she argued that her economic policies had been “sabotaged” by what she called “the administrative state and the deep state.” Truss’s speech underscored her continued belief that unelected forces within the UK government played a role in derailing her agenda. By appealing to Musk’s followers, she seemed to suggest that external scrutiny—perhaps even from figures outside Britain—was necessary to expose what she perceives as institutional resistance to reform. Based on a report by The Independent 2025-02-22

The U.S. State Department has decided not to participate in next week’s meeting of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Hangzhou, China, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move signals a step back from international climate discussions and could impact the country’s role in shaping the next influential IPCC reports. An absence from the meeting means the U.S. will not have a voice in determining the scope and focus of the IPCC’s upcoming reports, which are considered the most authoritative assessments of global climate science. This decision follows President Trump’s move to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement for the second time. The IPCC, which has been active since 1988, compiles scientific research and provides critical climate assessments to guide policymakers worldwide. Its seventh assessment report is expected to be finalized by 2029. The upcoming meeting in China, scheduled for February 24–28, will set the framework for these reports and discuss a special methodology report on carbon removal technology and carbon capture use and storage. In addition to the State Department’s withdrawal, NASA has also terminated the contract for its technical support unit, meaning it will not be traveling to China or assisting with the IPCC process moving forward. Officials from both agencies declined to comment on the decision. The absence of the U.S. delegation comes at a crucial moment, as IPCC reports have historically played a significant role in shaping global climate policies. The organization shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, and its 2018 report on limiting global warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels helped bolster international climate negotiations and spurred activism. While representatives from China, UN climate officials, and delegates from over 195 other member nations will still be in attendance, this move raises concerns that the U.S. may further reduce its involvement in international climate science efforts. During Trump’s first term, the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Agreement but continued to engage with the IPCC. This latest development suggests a deeper shift away from global climate collaboration. Based on a report by AXIOS 2025-02-22

Singer Grimes made a desperate public plea to her ex-partner, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, regarding their child’s medical emergency while he was on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) wielding a chainsaw alongside Argentina's Prime Minister, Javier Milei. Argentinian President @JMilei makes dramatic entrance at @CPAC with a Chainsaw, as he presents it to Elon Musk. Musk then waved the chainsaw in the air declaring “This is the Chainsaw for bureaucracy” as the crowd erupted in cheers. "Plz respond about our child's medical crisis. I am sorry to do this publicly but it is no longer acceptable to ignore this situation. This requires immediate attention," the Canadian musician wrote in her plea. She further stated that Musk did not need to contact her directly but could go through an intermediary instead. "If you don't want to talk to me can you please designate or hire someone who can so that we can move forward on solving this. This is urgent, Elon." Social media users quickly reacted, expressing concern over the situation and questioning why she had resorted to making the matter public. In response, Grimes explained that she had exhausted all private communication methods. "I'm not giving any details but he won't respond to texts, calls, or emails and has skipped every meeting, and our child will suffer lifelong impairment if he doesn't respond asap, so I need him to f***ing respond and if I have to apply public pressure then I guess that's where we are at." Despite her plea, Musk has not publicly acknowledged Grimes' message, though he has remained active on his platform, X, posting multiple times since her request. After deleting the post, a follower speculated that her tweet had been "shadowbanned" by X, to which she simply responded: "lol." Grimes has previously been at odds with Musk regarding their children, including a recent instance where she criticized him for bringing their son X into the public eye during an Oval Office press conference with Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Musk, who has emerged as a key adviser to Trump and a vocal advocate for reducing government spending, was set to meet with Milei, who was in Washington for CPAC. The meeting, which had been planned for weeks, was confirmed by an anonymous source, though no official public announcement had been made at the time. Milei, a self-proclaimed "anarcho-capitalist," has been praised by Musk for implementing drastic economic reforms in Argentina, including widespread government layoffs and halting public infrastructure projects in an attempt to stabilize the country’s struggling economy. He was also the first foreign leader to meet with Trump after his election victory and had been invited to his inauguration. Based on a report by Daily Mail 2025-02-22

CNN anchor Pamela Brown found herself at the center of controversy after claiming she knew nothing about Sam Brinton, the former Biden administration official charged with multiple counts of luggage theft. During a tense segment on Tuesday, Brown insisted, “I don’t know anything about that, I’ll be transparent,” after Representative Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., referenced Brinton while discussing nuclear security issues. “You talk about nuclear secrets, you had a person who was in charge of nuclear secrets, a man, who dressed up as a woman, would go into the airport and steal women’s luggage, was overseeing those nuclear secrets under the Biden administration and I never heard y’all say a peep about that,” Burchett told Brown. Brown quickly dismissed the comment, insisting she was unaware of the story. Burchett then urged her to “look up” Brinton’s background, highlighting what he viewed as the media’s failure to cover the case extensively. Critics noted that CNN had largely ignored Brinton’s legal troubles, publishing only a single online story in December 2022 titled “Top Energy Department official no longer employed after luggage theft accusations.” On-air coverage was minimal, with CNN’s Jeremy Diamond briefly mentioning the case on “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” During that segment, Diamond downplayed Brinton’s connection to the administration, stating, “Brinton was not a Biden appointee instead hired as a senior civil service official.” Fox News host Greg Gutfeld was among those who ridiculed Brown’s admission, calling it evidence of media bias. “If you’re a news anchor at CNN, I guess you overlooked anything that revealed the incompetence and sheer insanity of the Biden administration,” Gutfeld said. He added sarcastically, “It should be the new motto for CNN—‘We know nothing, but at least it’s transparent.’” CNN has yet to respond to questions about Brown’s comments or the network’s limited coverage of the Brinton case. Brinton’s legal troubles began in October 2022, when police charged them with stealing a suitcase worth $2,325 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. The following December, Las Vegas prosecutors charged Brinton with grand larceny after allegedly stealing a bag valued at $3,670 from Harry Reid International Airport. The suitcase contained $1,700 worth of jewelry, $850 in clothing, and $500 worth of makeup. At the time of the alleged Las Vegas theft, Brinton was on a taxpayer-funded trip to the Nevada National Security Site. Then, in February 2023, reports surfaced that a Tanzanian fashion designer, Asya Khamsin, had recognized articles of clothing Brinton was photographed wearing as pieces from her missing luggage, which had been lost in Washington, D.C., in 2018. Brinton was later arrested in connection with Khamsin’s claims but avoided jail time in all three cases. Instead of serving a sentence, Brinton entered an adult diversion program for the Minnesota charge, requiring them to complete a mental health evaluation, write an apology letter, return stolen property, and perform three days of community service. For the Las Vegas case, Brinton was ordered to pay $3,671 to the victim and $500 in additional fines. A judge handed down a 180-day suspended sentence, meaning Brinton would serve no jail time as long as they stayed out of trouble. In the Washington, D.C., case, Brinton reportedly reached a plea deal, avoiding a potential 20-year prison sentence. The Washington Free Beacon described the resolution as a “sweetheart deal” that allowed Brinton to plead guilty to petit larceny and escape incarceration. The debate over media coverage of Brinton’s case continues to fuel accusations of bias, with critics arguing that news outlets downplayed the story to protect the Biden administration. Meanwhile, Brown’s insistence that she knew nothing about the controversy has only added to the scrutiny surrounding CNN’s reporting choices. Based on a report by NYP 2025-02-22

Miah brothers jailed for grooming and sexually abusing girls in Leeds and Barrow-in-Furness. They gave their victims cigarettes, alcohol, food and even hair extensions in what prosecutors called a "classic grooming technique". Three brothers have been jailed after underage girls in Leeds and Barrow-in-Furness were sexually abused and raped over a number of years. The trio were convicted in October last year, with the abuse taking place between 1996 and 2010. Shaha Amran Miah, 49, known as Jai; Shaha Alman Miah, 47, known as Ali; and Shah Joman Miah, 38, known as Sarj all pleaded not guilty. Sarj has since admitted his crimes. However, the judge said it could be a cynical attempt for leniency and did not give him any credit. They were sentenced on Friday to the following: Shaha Amran Miah - life with a minimum term of 20 years and 338 days. Shaha Alman Miah - 10 years in prison and four years on licence. Shah Joman Miah - life with a minimum term of 21 years and 232 days. Preston Crown Court heard Sarj and Jai regularly sexually abused two children at a Leeds mosque over many years, beginning when the victims were seven. The three also preyed on vulnerable and underage girls at a flat above their family's takeaway in Barrow, Cumbria, between 2008 and 2010. They gave them cigarettes, alcohol, food and even hair extensions in what barrister Tim Evans KC called a "classic grooming technique". He said the brothers worked as a team and "created an environment in Barrow in which each of them could abuse young girls". Judge Unsworth KC said they had shattered the lives of their victims and hid in plain sight in the Cumbria town. Multiple schoolgirls in their uniforms were regularly seen at the takeaway, the judge said, with Jai acting ruthlessly to stop them going to the police. The court heard Sarj would take one of the girls to a hotel for sex about twice a month and became increasingly controlling - to the point she remains on medication and is terrified of seeing him in the street. A witness told Sky News the men abused their victims in a dingy room above the takeaway that "looked like a crackhouse" and had mattresses on the floor and sheets covering the windows. "They knew exactly how young they were," she said. "They didn't only have one girlfriend each... they had multiple." Shaha Amran Miah was found guilty of 16 sexual offences against three girls, including rape, as well as two charges of intimidation and one of kidnap. Shaha Alman Miah was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child. Shah Joman Miah was convicted of sexually abusing three children. There were nine counts of rape of a child among his 40 offences. Based on a report by Sky News 2025-02-22

Link not provided for the OP @bannork In factual areas such as news forums and current affairs topics member content that is claimed or portrayed as a fact should be supported by a link to a relevant reputable source. //closed//

Bickering and baiting troll posts contravening community standards have been removed

When Yale University released a groundbreaking study linking Covid vaccines to severe physical changes, Lindy Ayers felt a mix of validation and relief. The 31-year-old Army veteran from Arkansas has been confined to a wheelchair since receiving her second Pfizer shot in 2021, part of the military’s vaccination mandate. For years, Ayers was told that her symptoms—extreme fatigue, sickness, and heart palpitations—were merely anxiety. Later, doctors suggested long Covid as the culprit. When she raised concerns that the vaccine might have caused her condition, she was dismissed and even labeled an antivaxxer. She is not alone. Thousands of Americans have shared similar experiences, and following the study’s release, many in the fields of healthcare, law, and the military have spoken up, saying they finally feel heard after years of being dismissed. Dr. Trevor Keyler, a 39-year-old biology professor from Minnesota who describes himself as "pro-vaccine" and "pro-science," has endured extreme tremors, fatigue, and partial blindness since receiving his Moderna vaccine. Previously active and outdoorsy, Dr. Keyler has been forced to cut his work hours and can no longer enjoy hikes with his wife and two children. For years, doctors attributed his condition to Covid itself or long Covid, denying any connection to the vaccine. The mRNA vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer have been credited with saving millions of lives worldwide, including an estimated three million in the U.S. However, experts suggest that the push to combat vaccine misinformation has inadvertently led to individuals with legitimate vaccine-related injuries being ignored and ostracized. Yale’s research identified a condition called "post-vaccination syndrome," in which patients exhibit unique biological changes. Common symptoms include brain fog, dizziness, tinnitus, and an inability to exercise without exhaustion. The study also found that, in some cases, the vaccine appears to reactivate the Epstein-Barr virus and disrupt immune systems in ways still being investigated. Some affected individuals have been found to carry high levels of coronavirus proteins in their blood long after receiving the vaccine, potentially keeping their bodies in a prolonged state of inflammation. Ayers believes she suffers from this syndrome. Before her vaccination in September 2021, she was in peak physical condition. Two months later, she required a wheelchair. Doctors dismissed her symptoms as anxiety and prescribed antidepressants, but her condition continued to deteriorate. Once able to run 10 miles and bike 20, she soon struggled with severe muscle tears, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). One day during an art class, she passed out. "I couldn't see. I couldn't hear. I've been in a wheelchair ever since," she recalled. For over a year, doctors assumed Ayers had long Covid due to persistently high spike protein levels. It wasn’t until 2023—two years after her vaccination—that doctors at the Veterans Affairs and Stanford University diagnosed her with chronic fatigue stemming from vaccine residuals. She also tested positive for reactivated Epstein-Barr, similar to findings in the Yale study. "Doctors told me there’s nothing else they can do for me and to just rest. They would say stuff like, ‘You could die in seven months, or you could live the rest of your life like this. We don’t know what’s going to happen to you. We don’t know what’s wrong with you.’” For eight months, Ayers was bedridden and unable to speak. Her husband, a Coast Guard veteran, had to take leave to care for her. "I get these crashes where if I try to take care of myself, my body shuts down and I'm in so much pain. I can't even lift my arms," she said. While she has seen slight improvements, she worries about being dismissed. "I'm not an anti-vaccine person. I think vaccines help people, but I think this specific vaccine hurt a lot of people. It'd be cool if more people understood that it can hurt people so that more doctors will research and they'll have a cure for what I'm going through." Erica Evers, a 42-year-old former legal compliance worker from Iowa, was hesitant to receive the Moderna vaccine but complied to keep her job and health insurance, which she relied on to treat her son’s chronic illness. "I had to choose between his life and my own. It’s not a choice when you’re a mother," she said. The day after her first dose, her right eye became blurry, leaving her unable to see directly in front of her. After her second dose, the condition worsened. A retinal specialist diagnosed her with a hemorrhage at the back of her eye, requiring monthly injections costing over $2,000 per dose. Around the same time, she developed tinnitus and hearing loss. MRI scans revealed brain swelling, but doctors dismissed any link to the vaccine. "I kept asking them if it was the vaccine, and the big hospitals kept saying, ‘No, absolutely not. The shots are safe and effective.’ They couldn’t diagnose what was happening to me," she said. Evers fears waking up one day unable to see her three sons. Though her condition has never been officially tied to the vaccine, she hopes the Yale study will help provide answers. Kameron Snowden, a 57-year-old service technician from Indiana, took the Covid vaccine in support of his wife, a healthcare worker. "I was never a skeptic. For the sake of my wife’s career, it was something I was willing to do," he explained. After his second dose, he noticed heightened senses. "Lights were brighter. I could hear things across the room that I normally couldn't hear. Everything was more vivid." Then came the "frequencies" in his ears, akin to fax machine noises. Doctors initially dismissed his concerns, but by 2023, he developed an irregular heartbeat, feeling as though he was having heart attacks. "I can't bend down and stand up without feeling like I'm losing a grip on consciousness. It literally feels like sometimes my brain is being starved of oxygen," he said. Snowden now avoids being home alone, fearful of a sudden medical crisis. "I just never know what’s going to happen. I’m scared to be left home alone. You just resign yourself to the fact that your days are numbered." Dr. Keyler faced a similar trajectory. A year after his Moderna shot, he was diagnosed with blood clots in his right kidney, followed by rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscle breakdown releases proteins that can damage the kidneys. He also developed cataracts, a condition usually linked to aging but sometimes associated with kidney damage. "I couldn't stand for more than 20 minutes at a time without being completely exhausted," he said. Eventually, he had to take partial leave from work. In his search for answers, he consulted Mayo Clinic specialists, who could not determine the root cause of his health issues, attributing them instead to post-Covid syndrome. However, Dr. Keyler is convinced his vaccine triggered his ailments. "In general, doctors need to believe what their patients are saying and when they don’t know, not come up with something completely wild out in left field. I was misdiagnosed with so many things along the way and some of them were pretty serious. I think they realize it now, but just how debilitating [the experience] can be… It was very difficult." Based on a report by Daily Mail 2025-02-21 Separate report also in NYT

The OP link is to a satire website. //Closed//

Off topic post making false claims has been removed. If you wish to discuss the topic it is: 4 Israeli men fined for causing chaos at hospital in Mae Hong Son

Based on a report by Truth Pole 2025-02-22

Another of your trolling posts removed @thaibeachlovers about time to add something to the topic other than flaming others posts.

UPDATE: Two bodies returned by Hamas identified as Bibas children, mother Shiri not among them The Israel Defense Forces said it had forensically identified the bodies of two Israeli hostage children returned by Hamas on Thursday – Kfir Bibas and his older brother, Ariel – but that the additional body they received is not that of their mother, Shiri Bibas. “No match was found for any other hostage. This is an anonymous, unidentified body,” the IDF said in a statement on social media. “This is a violation of utmost severity by the Hamas terrorist organization, which is obligated under the agreement to return four deceased hostages,” the IDF said. “We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all our hostages.” The identification of deceased hostages was conducted by Israel's National Institute of Forensic Medicine in collaboration with the Israel Police, the military said. The IDF said that “professional officials, based on the intelligence available to us and forensic findings from the identification process, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were brutally murdered by terrorists in captivity in November 2023.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/02/20/shiri-bibas-body-not-returned-israel/79352222007/

//Closed// There is a topic on this already running here.

@Chomper Higgot your repetitive snarky remarks about the Telegraph are getting tedious. It stops now or I will stop it for you. 17. ASEAN NOW news team collects news articles from various recognised and reputable news sources. The articles may be consolidated from different sources and rewritten with AI assistance These news items are shared in our forums for members to stay informed and engaged. Our dedicated news team puts in the effort to deliver quality content, and we ask for your respect in return. Any disrespectful comments about our news articles or the content itself, such as calling it "clickbait" or “slow news day”, and criticising grammatical errors, will not be tolerated and appropriate action will be taken. Please note that republished articles may contain errors or opinions that do not reflect the views of ASEAN NOW. If you'd like to help us, and you see an error with an article, then please use the report function so that we can attend to it promptly.