From the Trenches World Report

The Stream – by Michael Brown

In 2016, same-sex “marriage” was legalized in Colombia. One year later, the courts have now recognized a polyamorous “family” of three men. And there is no slippery slope.

As reported by the Daily Mail:

Actor Victor Hugo Prada and his two partners, sports instructor John Alejandro Rodriguez and journalist Manuel Jose Bermudez, have signed legal papers with a solicitor in the city of Medellin, establishing them as a family unit with inheritance rights.
Continue reading “Three Men Get ‘Married’ in Colombia and There is No Slippery Slope”

RT

Australian warplanes will soon resume airstrikes against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) targets in Syria, according to the country’s defense chief. Operations were suspended earlier this week, after a US fighter jet shot down a Syrian warplane.

“It won’t be long before you start to see the operations again,” Australian Defense Force Chief Mark Binskin told reporters on Wednesday, as quoted by AP. The official did not elaborate on the exact date.
Continue reading “Australia to resume anti-ISIS airstrikes in Syria – defense chief”

RT

Venezuela has lashed out at the US for trying to forge a plan to address its political crisis, daring Washington to “send in the marines” and threatening to meet troops with a “crushing response.”

“The ‘contact group’ you’re proposing is completely useless and unnecessary,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said during a meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Cancun, Mexico, on Tuesday.   Continue reading “Venezuela dares US to ‘send in marines’ amid crisis, threatens ‘crushing response’”

Reuters – by Luke Baker

JERUSALEM, June 21 (Reuters) – Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, beginning a new U.S. effort to revive Middle East peace efforts.

Kushner, a 36-year-old real estate developer with little experience of international diplomacy and peace negotiations, arrived in Israel early on Wednesday and will spend barely 20 hours on the ground – he departs shortly after midnight.   Continue reading “Trump’s son-in-law Kushner begins peace push with Middle East talks”

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

At the request of 14^th District Attorney General Craig Northcott, TBI Special Agents are investigating the circumstances surrounding a Monday afternoon shooting that left two Coffee County deputies injured.

Preliminary information indicates the incident began just before 3:00 PM, when Coffee County Deputy Wade Bassett, 71, went into the holding cell on the third floor of the Coffee County Justice Center to take inmate Michael Eugene Bell (DOB 12/8/1979) back to the jail. Bell had been in court that day for a discussion date regarding kidnapping, domestic assault and multiple other charges he faced. As the deputy prepared to get Bell for transport, Bell attacked him, and the two engaged in a significant struggle. The inmate was able to gain control of the deputy’s weapon, and shot Deputy Bassett one time before fleeing down the stairs. When he got to the first floor, Bell shot Deputy Wendell Bowen, 56, on his way out the door.   Continue reading “TBI Special Agents Investigating Coffee County Shooting that Injured Two Deputies”

A niche group of political scientists may have uncovered what’s driving Donald Trump’s ascent. What they found has implications that go well beyond 2016.

Taub 2016- The rise of American authoritarianism

Fox 10

PHOENIX (AP) – The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that young immigrants granted deferred deportation status under a program started by former President Barack Obama are not eligible for lower in-state college tuition.

The ruling by a three-judge panel overturns a 2015 decision by a trial court judge that said deferred action recipients were considered legally present in the U.S. under federal immigration laws and therefore qualified for state benefits.   Continue reading “Arizona court overturns in-state tuition for DREAMers”

RT

The Bishop International Airport (FNT) in Flint, Michigan has been evacuated after a police officer was stabbed in the neck, local media report. The airport is closed until further notice.

All passengers are safe and have been evacuated, the airport said in a statement, urging flyers to check with their airlines for potential cancellations or delays.   Continue reading “Airport in Flint, Michigan evacuated after cop stabbed in the neck”

RT

On Wednesday, crude prices fell to their lowest level since November as growing US production is undermining supply cuts by OPEC and Russia.

Brent was trading 26 cents down at $45.76 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate dropped 20 cents to $43.31.   Continue reading “Oil prices sink to 7-mo lows on growing global oversupply”

Mail.com

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The trial of 11 men indicted in the case of 71 migrants who died in the back of a refrigerated truck in 2015 started in Hungary on Wednesday. Prosecutors have asked for life sentences for the four alleged human smugglers who are facing murder charges. The other defendants are facing shorter prison terms and expulsion from Hungary.

Migrants from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan were among those who suffocated in the back of a refrigerated truck with Hungarian license plates abandoned in the emergency lane of the A4 highway near Parndorf, Austria, near the Hungarian border, on Aug. 27, 2015.  Continue reading “Hungary: Trial starts in case of 71 migrants killed in truck”

Mail.com

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s prime minister and his government were ousted Wednesday in a no-confidence vote submitted by members of his own party. A total of 241 lawmakers approved the motion, more than the 233 votes required. The governing Social Democratic Party filed the motion to oust Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, saying that he had failed to implement the party’s political agenda.

Grindeanu, in office since January, had refused to resign and rejects the assessment of his performance. He claims powerful party leader Liviu Dragnea wants to replace him with a party loyalist. “This is a sad day for us. The premier did not perform,” Dragnea told lawmakers before the vote Wednesday. “It didn’t go badly, it went quite well, but that’s not enough.”   Continue reading “Romanian prime minister, gov’t ousted in no-confidence vote”

Mail.com

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium tightened security even more on Wednesday to counter fears that lone attackers could strike anywhere and at any time, a day after a failed bombing by a man shouting “Allahu akbar” at a Brussels train station put the nation on edge.

A soldier killed the attacker, who had tried to set off a powerful nail bomb that could have led to fatalities among the two dozen or so travelers checking train times on a public display board at Brussels Central Station on Tuesday, officials said.   Continue reading “Belgium tightens security after failed Brussels bombing”

New York Post – by Tina Moore, Larry Celona and Daniel Prendergast

A Brooklyn financier was found naked and dead in his tony Dumbo pad — after a gay bondage hookup went awry, police sources said Tuesday.

Neil Rodney Smith, 57, CEO of the investment firm Infraccess, was discovered lying on his back in bed with a wet towel stuffed in his mouth and a pillow over his face inside the apartment at 1 Main St. around 1:45 p.m. Monday, police sources said.   Continue reading “Financier found dead after gay bondage hookup went bad: cops”