Displaying posts published in

January 2025

WORLD NEWS Comments turned off

Islamic Republic of Iran: Two girls arrested for dancing could face ‘years in prison or death penalty’ Robert Spencer

By on January 27th, 2025

https://jihadwatch.org/2025/01/islamic-republic-of-iran-two-girls-arrested-for-dancing-could-face-years-in-prison-or-death-penalty?utm_source=rss&utm_

The Ayatollah Khomeini said it: “Allah did not create man so that he could have fun. The aim of creation was for mankind to be put to the test through hardship and prayer. An Islamic regime must be serious in every field. There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious.”

“Teenage girls arrested by Tehran over viral video of them dancing on Iranian war memorial could now face ‘years in prison or the death penalty,’” by Tom Midlane, Daily Mail, January 25, 2025:

Two young women were detained by police in Iran for posting a video of themselves dancing.

The viral Instagram post features the two girls, who appear to be teenagers, purportedly dancing at the Monument to the Unknown Martyrs of the Sacred Defence war memorial in Tehran.

The monument was built by Italian architect Marcello D’Olivo and honours those killed in the Iran-Iraq War that raged between 1980 and 1982.

Both of the women are wearing jeans, with one wearing a knitted jumper and the other a blue top covered by a cardigan.

Iranian authorities have said the girls’ outfits were ‘inappropriate’ and both girls have had their Instagram accounts blocked, according to Iran International.

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IMMIGRATION Comments turned off

White House: Colombia ‘Has Agreed to All of President Trump’s Terms’ Matt Margolis

By on January 27th, 2025

https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/01/26/white-house-colombia-has-agreed-to-all-of-president-trumps-terms-n4936389

The government of Colombia has officially caved to President Trump, according to the White House.

“The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement recieved by Pj media. “Based on this agreement, the fully drafted IEEPA tariffs and sanctions will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement. The visa sanctions issued by the State Department, and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection, will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”

Leavitt added, “Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again. President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States.”

This is a tremendous victory for President Trump. After Colombia unexpectedly refused to accept U.S. military flights carrying deported illegal immigrants over the weekend, President Donald Trump responded with epic force. 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized Colombia’s socialist president, Gustavo Petro, accusing him of jeopardizing U.S. national security. In retaliation, Trump announced immediate measures, including tariffs on Colombian imports, visa bans for officials and their families, enhanced cargo inspections, and financial sanctions. Petro quickly reversed course, offering his presidential plane to assist in repatriating the deportees, signaling a victory for Trump’s tough stance.

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MEDICINE AND HEALTH Comments turned off

Leor Sapir Gender Medicine on the Ropes From the courtroom to the ballot box, the trans movement has taken some hits.

By on January 27th, 2025

https://www.city-journal.org/article/gender-medicine-trans-movement-donald-trump-election

The left-wing gender insanity being pushed on our children is an act of child abuse,” Donald Trump declared in a 2024 campaign video. “On Day One,” Trump vowed, he would sign an “executive order instructing every federal agency to cease all programs that promote the concept of sex and gender transition at any age.” He would also ask Congress to ban child sex-change procedures, prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars “to promote or pay for these procedures” in adults, “support the creation of a private right of action for victims to sue doctors who have unforgivably performed these procedures on minor children.” He pledged to unleash the Department of Justice to “investigate Big Pharma and the big hospital networks to determine whether they have deliberately covered up horrific long-term side effects of sex transitions in order to get rich at the expense of vulnerable patients.”

Demonstrating how even gender ideology’s critics have been conditioned to use its language, Trump said that he would ask Congress to pass a bill declaring that there are only “two genders,” which are “assigned at birth.” Presumably, he meant two sexes, which are determined at conception and recognized at or before birth.

Assuming that these are not empty promises, Trump’s victory in November poses a serious threat to the gender medicine industry. That industry, however, was already on the defensive on the eve of the presidential election. Since 2021, 24 states have passed laws banning the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for youth who feel discomfort with their sex. An additional two—Arizona and New Hampshire—have prohibited the use of surgeries, but not hormones. A challenge to one of these laws, from Tennessee, is on the Supreme Court’s 2025 docket. The case, U.S. v. Skrmetti, will determine how states can regulate gender medicine—and, with its 6–3 conservative majority, the Court likely will rule in Tennessee’s favor.

Nearly two dozen de-transitioners—young men and (more often) women who were given drugs and surgeries, only to realize later that what they really needed was counseling and time to mature—are now suing their doctors and clinics for medical mistreatment. Though these lawsuits are tough to win, even a single multimillion-dollar verdict or out-of-court settlement could send malpractice insurance premiums soaring and create a chilling effect in states where “gender-affirming care” remains legal.

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NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

Trump and His New Frenemies, Abroad and at Home In an address to the World Economic Forum, President Trump criticized Europe’s regulatory and environmental policies, advocating for U.S.-led free-market capitalism to enhance Western prosperity. By Victor Davis Hanson

By on January 27th, 2025

https://amgreatness.com/2025/01/27/trump-and-his-new-frenemies-abroad-and-at-home/

President Trump recently gave a video talk to the World Economic Forum (WEF) assemblage in Davos.

He expressed fondness for Europe. He praised many for their attendance—and then tore into the evils of hyperregulation, high taxes, radical environmentalism, and the DEI/ESG commissariat of both the prior Biden administration and indeed the European Union.

One might have thought the attendees’ heads would have exploded when Trump referred to oil as “liquid gold.” And he topped that by referring to the venerated Green New Deal as the “Green New Scam.”

“I terminated the ridiculous and incredibly wasteful Green New Deal—I call it the ‘Green New Scam,’ withdrew from the one-sided Paris Climate Accord, and ended the insane and costly electric vehicle mandate.”

But then a strange thing happened.

The questions from international bankers and financiers that followed were not all that critical. In fact, one could characterize them as curious and carefully encouraging.

So, what prompts the polite European reception to such green and economic heresy?

A careful hearing of Trump’s entire speech would reveal it was not confrontational as much as aspirational. He was trying to envision a new European partnership—albeit one under American leadership.

“Under our leadership, America is back and open for business . . . So, you know I’m trying to be constructive because I love Europe. I love the countries of Europe.”

The U.S. economy has grown to nearly twice the size of the European Union’s since its inception more than two decades ago. Indeed, over 20 years, the gross domestic product of both was roughly comparable.

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WORLD NEWS Comments turned off

The Change at the Top of the International Criminal Court New president rejects South Africa’s claims that Israel is committing genocide. by Hugh Fitzgerald

By on January 27th, 2025

https://www.frontpagemag.com/the-change-at-the-top-of-the-international-criminal-court/

Nawaf Salam, who had been the president of the International Court of Justice, has just accepted the post of Prime Minister of Lebanon. When Salam headed the ICJ, the Court agreed to consider South Africa’s charge that Israel was committing “genocide” in Gaza. But one judge — Julia Sebutinde of Uganda, who has been Vice President of the ICJ since February 2024 — robustly rejected South Africa’s claims. And now that Salam has left his ICJ post, Judge Sebutinde becomes the president of the ICJ for the next three years. That may well result in a more just treatment of Israel by the Court. More on Judge Julia Sebutinde can be found here: “Pro-Israel judge poised to take over ICJ presidency,” Jewish News Syndicate, January 14, 2025:

Judge Julia Sebutinde is set to assume the presidency of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), marking another milestone in her groundbreaking career as well as a significant shift for the court.

The Ugandan jurist, who recently made headlines for her robust defence of Israel against South Africa’s genocide allegations, will take the helm following current President Nawaf Salam’s departure.

Salam has been appointed Prime Minister of his native Lebanon by new president Joseph Aoun, whose election, backed by the US and Saudi Arabia, represents a major blow to Iran and its proxy Hezbollah.

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ANTI-SEMITISM Comments turned off

Spencer Video: Antisemitism – History and Myth Why the ancient evil of antisemitism has returned — and how to counter it. by Glazov Gang

By on January 27th, 2025

ttps://www.frontpagemag.com/spencer-video-antisemitism-history-and-myth/

This new Glazov Gang episode features Robert Spencer, the director of Jihad Watch and a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. His latest book is Muhammad: A Critical Biography. Follow him on Twitter here.

Robert discusses Antisemitism: History and Myth, reflecting on Why the ancient evil of antisemitism has returned—and how to counter it.

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ISRAEL Comments turned off

Trump wants Jordan and Egypt to accept more Palestinian refugees and floats plan to ‘clean out’ Gaza

By on January 27th, 2025

https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-israel-bomb-gaza-hamas-war-023b36984c6116c128b5e47f117bba2a

President Donald Trump said he would like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they are accepting from the Gaza Strip, potentially moving out enough of the population to “just clean out” the war-torn area to create a virtual clean slate.

During a 20-minute question-and-answer session Saturday with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump also said he has ended his predecessor’s hold on sending 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. That lifts a pressure point meant to reduce civilian casualties during Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, which is now halted by a tenuous ceasefire.

“We released them today,” Trump said of the bombs. “They’ve been waiting for them for a long time.” Asked why he lifted the ban on those bombs, Trump responded, “Because they bought them.”

Aboard Air Force One Saturday, President Donald Trump said he wants Jordan and Egypt to accept more Palestinian refugees and floats a plan to ‘clean out’ Gaza and has spoken to Jordan’s King.

Trump has built his political career around being unapologetically pro-Israel. On his larger vision for Gaza, Trump said he had call earlier in the day with King Abdullah II of Jordan and would speak Sunday with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt.

“I’d like Egypt to take people, and I’d like Jordan to take people,” Trump said. “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, we just clean out that whole thing.”

Trump said he complimented Jordan for having successfully accepted Palestinian refugees and that he told the king, “I’d love for you to take on more, cause I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess. It’s a real mess.”

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NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

Art Of The Deal: Trading The Income Tax For Tariffs

By on January 27th, 2025

https://issuesinsights.com/2025/01/27/art-of-the-deal-trading-the-income-tax-for-tariffs/

While speaking Saturday in Las Vegas, President Donald Trump suggested, as he had during the 2024 campaign, replacing the federal income tax with tariffs on foreign imports. We don’t need to see an economic analysis to believe this is debate worth having. Of all the good Trump could do as president in the next four years, eliminating the federal income tax would be one of his greatest achievements.

“If the tariffs work out like I think, a thing like that could happen, if you want to know the truth,” he said.

Trump also reminded the fussbudgets and change-fearing conventionalists who will predict that without a federal income tax the country will fall into a decline that until the 16th Amendment was ratified in 1913, there was no federal income tax. That’s right, establishing a federal income tax required a change to the Constitution. The Supreme Court in 1895 struck down an effort in the year before to establish a national income tax. It was, said five justices, unconstitutional.

An income tax at any level is insidious. Internal taxes, Thomas Jefferson said, were an assault on liberty, which “covered our land with officers and opened our doors to their intrusions.”

“Jefferson would be horrified by the power of today’s IRS to break down our doors and seize our property, and he surely would have led a revolt on seeing the powers added to the IRS under Obamacare,” the Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards wrote nearly a full decade before the Biden administration and the Democrat Congress weaponized the IRS with a plan to add 87,000 new agents.

The federal income is an economic assassin. According to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Americans burned more than 7.9 billion of their hours last year complying with IRS filing and reporting requirements.

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ISRAEL Comments turned off

POSITIVE NEWS FROM ISRAEL FROM MICHAEL ORDMAN

By on January 27th, 2025

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com 

First: The return of more hostages to their families is the most joyful scene one could imagine. Behind these headlines, and in spite of ongoing hostilities, Israel’s research and development of technology and medicine that cure or alleviate want and suffering throughout the globe continues apace. The economy is strong and grows. Foreign workers return to productive farms and a sense of a peaceful future in a thriving democracy is more of a reality. Read Michael Ordman’s dazzling catalogue of positive news. rsk

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
 
Fast track for blocked blood vessel treatment.  (TY Atid-EDI) The US FDA has granted Fast Track Designation to Israel’s BioGenCell (see here previously) for the development of BGC101 – its lead candidate for treating severe Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia (CLTI).
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biogencell-receives-fda-fast-track-140000739.html
 
European approval for stroke therapy. Israel’s Brain.Q (see here previously) has received the CE-Mark for its BQ 2.0 system, designed to reduce disability following ischemic stroke, the number one cause of disability worldwide. Brain.Q is also enrolling in the EMAGINE II pivotal study to seek US-FDA clearance.
https://www.ourcrowd.com/startup-news/brain-q-achieves-ce-mark-for-its-breakthrough-therapy-for-reducing-disability-following-stroke-and-welcomes-stacey-pugh-as-chairman-of-the-board
 
Positive proof of concept for arthritis treatment. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Raphael announced positive proof-of-concept clinical study results of its HPC1 non-psychoactive cannabinoid-based formula developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. 12 adult participants reported lower pain levels and better sleep quality.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/raphael-pharmaceutical-announces-positive-proof-130000207.html
https://www.raphaelpharmaceutical.com/
 
Innovation in Cardiovascular Interventions. Israel recently held the 2024 conference on innovation in interventional cardiology (ICI) for the 29th year in Tel Aviv. Levron Medical won the $200,000 Jon de Haan Innovation award for its Cardio-Respiratory Physiological Assist  (CRPA) Treatment..
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-829448  https://icimed.org/
https://www.levron-medical.com/
 
Revolutionizing healthcare in the South. The new Mor Institute’s Be’er Sheva branch allows residents to get cancer screening, low-radiation CT scans, virtual colonoscopies, eye care services such as retina consultations and OCT exams, cardiac tests like Holter monitoring and vascular ultrasounds, bone density tests, and more.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-836357
 
Training for the best doctors. With medicine being so complicated, all major medical centers are establishing programs to help junior doctors improve the quality of treatment and research. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center has established its “Elite Residency and Training Center” for 100+ doctors learning a specialty annually.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-834346
 
 

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ISRAEL Comments turned off

The Crimes of Pallywood. By Victor Sharpe

By on January 27th, 2025

https://www.renewamerica.com/columns/sharpe/250123

Palestinian Arab terrorist manipulation of the media will persist as long as people continue to prefer myths rather than facts.

This phenomenon is not new, but it seems that even eight years after a documentary, which officially exposed it was launched, many people have still not even heard of Pallywood.

So what is Pallywood? It is a combination of “Palestinian propaganda” and “Hollywood fantasy.” It is an exposure of “media manipulation, distortion and outright fraud by the Palestinians and other Arabs, jihadists and Islamists, assigned to win the public relations war against embattled Israel.”

In 2005, Professor Richard Landes of Boston University produced an 18-minute online documentary video called Pallywood. In this documentary, he exposed an entire film industry, in which the stars are Palestinian terrorists and their supporters, the crew is mostly independent video journalists, and the fools are we.

Pallywood presented a “behind the scenes” glance of the carefully staged scenes of Palestinian Arabs allegedly attacked by Israeli forces, which are then presented on the news as “raw footage of the reality in the Gaza conflict.”

The phenomenon of Pallywood is widely and carefully planned. News broadcasts are eager to air raw footage of the Israeli – Palestinian conflict, and as a result they are being far too uncritical when examining the authenticity of the footage, and the airing of complete lies that give the audience the narrative the Hamas terrorists want you to see.

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