Murder Enshrined
When the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe vs Wade, asserting that abortion was not a “right” but a matter that could be regulated at the state level, much of the world was shocked. This was particularly true in France where there is very little opposition to the practice. Despite there being no real threat of that changing, activists seized on the US ruling to invigorate their supporters, beginning a campaign that has culminated in abortion being listed as a right in the constitution of France. Only 72 Members of Parliament and Senators, out of over 850 elected representatives in both houses, voted against it.
Who’s Making What?
Western Intelligence has long contended that North Korea is supplying munitions to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. The remnants of downed missiles confirm this. They also bring to light other interesting details. Some reports allege over 80% of the components inside are linked to American or European companies. This illustrates one of the primary shortfalls of sanctions: enforcement. Many of the components are generic and commonly available to any online shopper. Unlike more sophisticated parts, vetting every purchase is not possible.
Freedom at Any Price
Since the rise of Boko Haram, kidnapping for ransom has become alarmingly common in Nigeria. So much so, that paying for the release of captives was actually made illegal in an attempt to de-incentivize the practice. However, a recent episode may have diminished the government’s resolve on this point. Well over 100 students were kidnapped from their school and held captive for over two weeks. They reported deplorable conditions and frantic forced marches to stay ahead of authorities. Thankfully, they have been returned. The government denies having paid ransom but that narrative has been disputed by some of the victims as well as anonymous sources who allege a delivery of unmarked black bags to the region. The initial demand was for the equivalent of $767,000.
“Allah Socks”
Call it a miscalculation on the part of popular Malaysian chain KK Supermart. Despite a majority of citizens practicing Islam, the association with feet proved a bridge too far. The offensive items were pulled from shelves immediately, complete with a public apology and even a lawsuit against the supplier. None of this was enough to stem retribution. Multiple storefronts have been burned.
Making Dr. Frankenstein Blush
Scientists in Portugal have been experimenting on mouse embryos. It is known that certain proteins affect what early, and identical, cells eventually develop into. To study the impact on the spinal cord one of the protein receptors was blocked during development. Academic pretensions aside it was a “let’s see what happens” moment. The results were appalling. The mouse grew six legs and no genitals. Other organs also developed outside the body. Despite claims that advancing knowledge will eventually yield benefits it would be comforting if such abominations existed in the realm of fiction rather than cutting edge laboratories.
Free Bird
Temporarily. After breaking out of a zoo an ostrich spent an afternoon running through the busy streets of South Korea. He obeyed no traffic regulations, alternately alarming or delighting a multitude of witnesses who had ample opportunity to capture photos and videos. At length he was snared with a net and returned home safely. While it would be tempting to label the escape a “bird-brained” idea, it made for a very memorable day on the town.
Sri Lanka Recovering?
It’s hard to say. Readers may remember the country spiraled completely out of control in 2022. Top leaders fled and were arrested, the economy shrank nearly 8%, and inflation soared over 70%. Many of the destructive policies that led to the collapse have been overturned but the country has yet to return to economic growth. Prices remain high and, as in many other places around the world, people have begun adapting to the reality rather than expecting this to change. The Sri Lankan government seems to take this view and is mandating minimum wage be increased by 40%. While statistically shocking, the new minimum is equivalent to only $54 a month.
Defining Extremism
Britain has released new criteria for defining “extreme” viewpoints as, “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, that aims to: 1) negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or 2) undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or 3) intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2).” Under the new rule groups can be officially labeled as extremist and barred from lobbying public officials or receiving funding. Receiving the label does not constitute a crime but is expected to serve as a check on popularity and influence. While instigated by an outburst of pro-Palestinian and Hamas demonstrations, the new definition is nebulous enough to have created real concerns of misapplication and abuse.
Increased Transmission
Sexually transmitted diseases (now typically labeled “infections” under the acronym STI) have been on the rise. Syphilis is of particular concern in the US with infections up over 20% in 2022. Congenital Syphilis (the kind babies are born with) has increased over 180% in the last five years according to the CDC. The equivalent institution in Europe reports a rise in infections across the board with syphilis at 34%, chlamydia 16%, and gonorrhea 48%. As with the recent monkey pox outbreak, the majority of syphilis cases are among men who have sex with men. This also holds true for HIV, of which the WHO estimated 1-1.7 million new cases for the same period worldwide.
FGM Gambia
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a cultural practice of varying prevalence in many Islamic and African countries. It is nearly universal on the east coast of Africa, such as in Somalia, but is prevalent in many other regions. In Gambia, on the west coast, it is thought that about 75% of women have endured it. This is despite the practice having been illegal since 2015. Enforcement is almost nonexistent and the vast majority of the legislature has recently voted to advance efforts to repeal the law altogether.
What is it? Almost too horrible to describe. Despite being characterized as “circumcision,” there is really no comparison. External aspects of the female anatomy are removed and the orifice is surgically closed as far as possible. Those who have undergone the procedure report tremendous pain in the consummation of marriage and childbirth. The small percentage of parents who try to shield their children from the heinous practice often find it has been carried out against their will after a visit to grandparents or relatives.
