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Florida man convicted for raping, killing 8-year-old, murdering her grandma asks SCOTUS to block execution– www.foxnews.com

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

Florida man convicted for raping, killing 8-year-old, murdering her grandma asks SCOTUS to block execution– www.foxnews.com
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A Florida death row inmate convicted of raping and killing an eight-year-old girl and murdering her grandmother is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to halt his execution.

Edward James, 63, was convicted in the 1993 rape and murder of Toni Neuner, 8, and the murder of Betty Dick, 58, in Seminole County. He pleaded guilty to the murders and charges of child abuse and kidnapping, and pleaded no contest to other charges he said he could not remember.

James’ execution by lethal injection is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Florida State Prison in the city of Starke. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed James’ death warrant last month.

Supreme Court won’t stop Louisiana’s first nitrogen gas execution for Buddhist inmate’s religious rights – Courthouse News Service

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

Supreme Court won’t stop Louisiana’s first nitrogen gas execution for Buddhist inmate’s religious rights – Courthouse News Service
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Louisiana can move forward with its first nitrogen gas execution, a divided Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday, clearing the way for the state to end its 15-year execution pause.

In an apparent 5-4 decision, the justices refused to block Jessie Hoffman’s nitrogen hypoxia execution scheduled for Tuesday evening. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, both Barack Obama appointees, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Joe Biden appointee, would have granted the application.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Donald Trump appointee, dissented, stating that the court disregarded whether Hoffman’s religious rights would be violated by his method of execution.

Entire Families Wiped Out as Israel Resumes Genocidal Assault on Gaza – Common Dreams

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

Entire Families Wiped Out as Israel Resumes Genocidal Assault on Gaza – Common Dreams
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Once again, entire families are being wiped out by Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip after U.S. President Donald Trumpreportedly gave the green light for the key American ally to resume its assault on the Palestinian enclave.

Israel unilaterally abrogated the crumbling eight-week cease-fire early Tuesday, unleashing a wave of ferocious strikes on the already flattened Gaza Strip, killing at least 404 people—including 174 children, 89 women, and 32 elders—and wounding at least 562 others, with the death toll expected to rise, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

U.S. could block Canadian attempts to buy new fighter jets to replace F-35s, warn analysts – Ottawa Citizen

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

U.S. could block Canadian attempts to buy new fighter jets to replace F-35s, warn analysts – Ottawa Citizen
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As Canada looks to potentially find another fighter jet to replace the American F-35, it could run into problems with the U.S. vetoing any of its new choices, defence analysts warn.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has ordered a review of the country’s F-35 purchase in the wake of an increasingly hostile United States and threats by President Donald Trump to damage Canada’s economy.

Concerns mount over Cook Islands’ ‘national security’ amid China’s influence – RNZ

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

Concerns mount over Cook Islands’ ‘national security’ amid China’s influence – RNZ
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Concerns over China’s growing influence in the Pacific, including in the Cook Islands following recent agreements between the two countries, have prompted calls from the Opposition for greater transparency and assurances regarding national security.

The concerns of Leader of the Opposition Tina Browne follow warnings from New Zealand’s intelligence chief about China’s growing influence in the Pacific.

According to Reuters, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS) director-general Andrew Hampton, in a speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs in Wellington earlier this month, said China’s strategy of blending economic and security cooperation in the Pacific could lead to foreign interference and espionage threats.

Trump Urged to Designate Nigeria as a ‘Concern’ for Christian Persecution – Decision Magazine

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

Trump Urged to Designate Nigeria as a ‘Concern’ for Christian Persecution – Decision Magazine
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he House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa passed a resolution urging President Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, presented House Resolution 220, which expresses “the need to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern,” during a committee hearing on the matter March 12. A CPC is a country designated on a special watch list of countries where citizens face “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.”

In the hearing, Smith explained the history of Nigeria’s inclusion and removal in the CPC.

“In December 2020, President Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern only to be reversed without justification by Secretary Blinken in November of 2021,” Smith said. “Religious leaders in Nigeria were outraged by Secretary Blinken’s decision.” He referred to Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, who challenged Nigeria’s removal and stated that Christian persecution is “more intense than ever.”

Nina Shea, senior fellow and director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, described the terror group responsible for most of the persecution in Nigeria.

The Supreme Court Has an Opportunity To Correct Its Kelo Eminent Domain Error – Reason

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

The Supreme Court Has an Opportunity To Correct Its Kelo Eminent Domain Error – Reason
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One of the U.S. Supreme Court may soon overturn one of its worst decisions in recent memory—a ruling that justified government stealing property from its owners to pass it to better-connected private parties. On Friday, the court will decide whether to consider a New York case that could upset the precedents set by Kelo v. New London, an eminent domain battle that prompted books, a movie, and state-level legal reforms. While Kelo was a loss for anybody who wants to set boundaries around government power, the court could take the opportunity this week to set things right with Bowers v. Oneida County Industrial Development Agency.

Azerbaijan and Israel strengthen ties with gas exploration deal– www.euronews.com

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

Azerbaijan and Israel strengthen ties with gas exploration deal– www.euronews.com
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Baku is expanding its energy strategy beyond Central Asia by solidifying its presence in Israel.

Azerbaijan is set to increase its involvement in Israel’s energy sector, following a visit by Azerbaijani officials to Jerusalem.

A delegation led by Mikayil Jabbarov, Azerbaijan’s minister of the economy, recently held talks in Israel to finalise a key gas exploration deal.

The Azerbaijan State Oil Company (SOCAR) was awarded exploration rights by Israel in 2023. However, progress in the exploration of natural gas off the Israeli coast has been delayed by the war in Gaza, which began in October 2023.

Vance to Lead G.O.P. Fund-Raising, an Apparent First for a Vice President – The New York Times

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

Vance to Lead G.O.P. Fund-Raising, an Apparent First for a Vice President – The New York Times
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Republicans named Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday to lead the party’s fund-raising operation as it gears up for the 2026 midterm elections, a posting that could also help him position himself for the 2028 Republican presidential primary race.

Mr. Vance will serve as the finance chair of the Republican National Committee, an unusual arrangement for a sitting vice president. In both national parties, the finance chair role has typically gone to a reliable party fund-raiser who has time on his or her hands, not someone with significant governing responsibilities.

The R.N.C. said that Mr. Vance would be the first sitting vice president to serve in that role. In a statement, President Trump praised Mr. Vance as someone who “knows how to fight and win tough races” and said he would do a “fantastic job.”

Australia’s ‘biggest defence export’ was meant for the US first, but Canada snuck past Trump – ABC News

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

Australia’s ‘biggest defence export’ was meant for the US first, but Canada snuck past Trump – ABC News
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For months, senior officials have been discussing exporting Australia’s world-leading radar technology JORN to the United States, but after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Canada saw an opportunity and leapt.

Overnight, new Canadian leader Mark Carney spoke to his counterpart, Anthony Albanese, then flew to his country’s Arctic territory of Nunavut to announce a $6.5 billion high-tech Australian military purchase.

“Today, I’m announcing that our government will be working with our long-standing defence and security partner Australia to build a new, long-range, over-the-horizon military radar system,” he said.

“[It] will enable Canada to detect and respond to both air and maritime threats over our Arctic both faster and from further away. It will most fundamentally keep all Canadians safe.”

Supreme Court Will Review Ban on LGBTQ ‘Conversion Therapy’ – MSN

pgnewser March 19, 2025 0

Supreme Court Will Review Ban on LGBTQ ‘Conversion Therapy’ – MSN
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The US Supreme Court agreed to consider whether scores of state and local governments are violating the Constitution by barring licensed counselors from trying to change a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

The justices said they will hear a challenge to Colorado’s ban on what critics call “conversion therapy.” A counselor says the 2019 law violates her free speech rights.