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The Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol has renewed calls for federal domestic terrorism statutes akin to existing laws targeting foreign terrorist groups such as ISIS and al Qaeda. Similar demands were made in the aftermath of Robert Bowers’s anti-Semitic attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018. At the time, some legal experts argued that it was a moral imperative to label domestic violent extremists as terrorists equal to Islamist extremists. Following the 2019 mass shooting perpetrated by Patrick Crusius at an El Paso Walmart, several law enforcement officers also sought a federal domestic terrorism rule. Such calls for enhanced legal authority may seem understandable when viewed in the context of the aftermath of senseless, tragic attacks. However, U.S. laws treat foreign perpetrators of violent extremism and domestic perpetrators differently for good reason — namely, protections granted to U.S. citizens under the Constitution make aspects of foreign terrorism laws unworkable … [Read more...] about We cannot let fear create a new PATRIOT Act for Americans

Military officials said on Sunday that the U.S. and South Korea will scale back their annual joint drills this month, citing a combination of the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing diplomatic overtures to North Korea. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement the nine-day exercises will begin Monday and that it has accounted for factors like the pandemic and denuclearization negotiations with Pyongyang, The Associated Press reported . The drills will predominantly be in tabletop and simulation form rather than field training. A South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff officer told the AP this year’s drills will “minimize” the number of troops actively involved, citing the pandemic. The officer added that the two nations have instead staged field exercises throughout the year rather than holding larger annual drills. ADVERTISEMENT An outbreak led to the cancellation of the spring exercises in 2020 after several years of lower-key exercises amid U.S. diplomatic … [Read more...] about US, South Korea scaling back military drills

LONDON - The European Union should shake off its ill will and build a good relationship with Britain as sovereign equals, Britain's top EU adviser David Frost said on Sunday, promising to stand up for the country's interests. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph , Frost again defended Britain's unilateral move to smooth post-Brexit trade between Britain and Northern Ireland, over which the EU has promised to launch legal action for breaching the terms of the Brexit deal. Since Britain left the EU last year, relations between the two have soured, with both sides accusing the other of acting in bad faith in relation to part of their trade agreement that covers goods movements to Northern Ireland. Frost, who led Britain's negotiations to secure a trade deal with the bloc, was appointed as a minister and Prime Minister Boris Johnson's main point man for future ties with the EU earlier this year and looks set to take a firmer approach. "I hope they will shake off any remaining ill will … [Read more...] about Shake Off Your Ill Will, Britain Tells EU over Post-Brexit Trade

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - The National Bank of Cambodia, the country’s central bank, is aiming to reduce the country’s dependence on the U.S. dollar with the introduction of digital currencies and the phasing out of small-denomination U.S. currency – $1, $2 and $5 bills – in favor of the local currency, the riel. Cambodia has run a dual-currency system since United Nations peacekeepers arrived to oversee elections in 1993, bringing with them U.S. dollars, which circulated in tandem with riel, providing much-needed currency stability amid postwar reconstruction. National Bank of Cambodia Governor Chea Chanto said in September that demand for the riel had increased an average of 16% a year for two decades, with annual economic growth rates of 7.8%, adding that fewer U.S. dollars in circulation would give the central bank greater control over the economy. “I firmly believe all ministries, institutions, companies, enterprises and those who actively participate in the process of … [Read more...] about Cambodia Aims to Reduce Dependency on US Dollar

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — It’s a crime that’s become so prevalent in the Twin Cities that police now have specific advice to help people to stay safe. Carjackings have skyrocketed since last summer. There have been 51 so far this year in Minneapolis, but the issue extends well beyond the city’s borders. READ MORE: 1 Injured In Uptown Shooting Monday evening, police said a driver in St. Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood had a sense she was being followed by a gray Volvo SUV. When she got to the intersection of Mt. Curve Boulevard and Eleanor Avenue, she was rear-ended. Like most people, she got out of her car to assess the damage. That’s when police said a passenger in the SUV that hit her got out holding a gun, demanded money, and eventually stole her car. The scheme is called “bump and rob” according to Richfield Police, who put on a guide Wednesday on how to avoid possible carjackings and react if you’re in the middle of one . If someone feels they might be targeted in a … [Read more...] about With Carjackings On The Rise, Here’s How To Avoid Becoming A Victim