Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was sentenced to 12 years of house arrest for witness tampering and bribery after a trial revealed his attempts to influence witnesses who accused him of links to a paramilitary group. Judge Sandra Heredia also banned Uribe from holding public office for eight years and fined him approximately $776,000. Uribe, who has denied all wrongdoing, has stated he will appeal the verdict and the appeals court is expected to issue a ruling by early October. The historic case has significantly impacted the polarizing figure’s legacy, with supporters and opponents expressing strong sentiments regarding the ruling.
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Comer agrees to postpone Maxwell’s testimony to House on Epstein. That’s the headline, and it feels like a sigh of inevitability, doesn’t it? The immediate reaction is a sense of déjà vu, as if we’ve seen this particular movie before. The consensus seems to be that this delay wasn’t exactly a surprise. It’s perceived by many as a tactic, a way to buy time and hopefully make the whole situation fade from public consciousness. The unspoken assumption is that the powers that be are more interested in making this go away than uncovering the truth.
The fear is that the postponement is just a prelude to something more sinister.… Continue reading
Ukraine says it uncovers a major drone procurement corruption scheme, and that’s the headline. It’s a situation that makes you think, “Jail the corrupt, and keep the drones coming!” The sentiment is spot-on: democracies are built to expose and fight corruption. Inefficiencies like this are the reason why democratic systems, in theory, outperform dictatorships, or at least have the potential to. It’s a lesson learned, perhaps, from the examples of other countries where the rot has set in, like in Russia. There, money meant for essential things like body armor disappears, leaving soldiers vulnerable.
The focus of Ukraine on drone procurement is telling.… Continue reading
Office of Special Counsel says it’s opened Hatch Act probe of Jack Smith, and the immediate reaction is a mixture of disbelief and a bit of dark humor. It’s hard to ignore the irony, isn’t it? The same folks who arguably turned the Hatch Act into a punchline during the Trump administration are now turning their attention to a special counsel investigating the former president. It’s like a scene straight out of a political satire.
The core issue, of course, is the Hatch Act itself. This law is designed to keep federal employees from using their positions to influence elections. It’s about maintaining a sense of impartiality and preventing the government from being overtly partisan.… Continue reading
In a recent series of events, Ukraine’s Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) reported drone strikes on a Shahed storage airbase in Primorsko-Akhtarsk and the Elektropribor military plant in Penza, which produces equipment for Russia’s defense industry. These attacks were conducted as two people were killed in Kherson due to Russian shelling. Simultaneously, reports emerged of a drone strike on an industrial facility in Novokuibyshevsk, prompting internet restrictions and airport suspension in the Samara Oblast. The Ukrainian Air Force reported it had suppressed 45 out of 53 Russian drones overnight.
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Evyatar David’s family has authorized the distribution of a disturbing new video released by Hamas. The footage depicts David, under the apparent direction of his captors, digging what appears to be his own grave. The video’s release adds to the distress surrounding the ongoing hostage situation. The family’s decision reflects the complex challenges of dealing with such sensitive and emotionally charged circumstances.
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The House Oversight Committee has postponed Ghislaine Maxwell’s scheduled testimony until at least October, pending the Supreme Court’s decision regarding her conviction as a sex offender. The committee, led by Rep. James Comer, aims to gather information relevant to Jeffrey Epstein, including the 2007 non-prosecution agreement and the circumstances surrounding his death, to potentially inform legislation combating sex trafficking. Maxwell’s legal team is willing to engage with Congress but has stated she may invoke her Fifth Amendment rights. The deposition delay comes as Maxwell was recently moved to a minimum-security prison and as the Justice Department is considering which information to release.
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President Macron generated immediate controversy by advocating for the release of “all hostages,” comparing Israeli hostages held in Gaza to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Addressing a crowd, Macron emphasized the need to prioritize the release of hostages and a ceasefire, and confirmed this included both Israeli and Palestinian individuals. His response, which was met with applause, has been criticized by some as a distortion of the situation.
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NATO unleashes a new $10 billion “combat wallet” for Ukraine, a move that feels like a significant escalation, especially in the face of escalating attacks on Ukrainian civilians. The sheer amount of funding, seemingly designed to keep the flow of arms and support continuous, is a clear signal of the West’s resolve. I can’t help but think of the potential impact of such a massive influx of resources, especially if it includes long-range missiles, which could drastically alter the battlefield dynamics. This “combat wallet” concept, a clever piece of wording, paints a picture of a decisive response to the ongoing aggression.… Continue reading
Life in the City church in south Austin was vandalized on Friday, with someone spray-painting hateful messages and tearing down a Pride flag. According to the church, this is not the first incident of its kind, and it comes amid a backdrop of rising violence targeting LGBTQIA+ individuals and other marginalized communities. The church, a United Methodist congregation known for its progressive and inclusive stance, hosted a community event on Saturday to address the vandalism. Authorities have been contacted for more information regarding the incident.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood