Saudi Arabian King Dies

King Abdullah Dies at 90

King Abdullah in 2007.
Via: Dylan Martinez

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died last Friday at age 90. Coming to throne at old age, the king was known as a cautious reformer, and a close ally with the United States. His successor, Crown Prince Salman, announced in a televised statement that the king died  and he had assumed the throne. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter of oil, is already in a struggle with Iran for regional dominance, and the king's death will certainly add more uncertainty for the country. Abdullah was one of the few tyrants left in the world, and he did not allow basic rights to citizens such as free speech or dissent. But, the king modernized the kingdom, giving women the right to vote, and establishing a Western-style University.  

Saudi Arabia is a top supplier of arms to rebels overthrowing the Syrian government, and is also a leading member of the U.S lead fight against ISIS. Salman, the king's half-brother, pledged to continue Abdullah's policies. President Obama traveled to Saudi Arabia Tuesday, giving his condolences and meeting the new king. Obama is boosting its alliance with the kingdom, and it is clear that Saudi Arabia will be a major ally in the fight against ISIS.  

Via: New York Times

 JV

Oldest Human Skull Found in Middle East

Oldest Human Skull Found in Middle East

Oldest Skull Found in Middle East

          Years and years of painstaking lab research and analysis have proved that this skull is in fact 55,000 years old.  Archaeologists found this skull seven years ago but just recently discovered the age .  The skull was found in a cave that was said to have closed about 30,000 years ago.  Due to the collapse of the cave the skull was able to be protected from conflicts that occurred outside of the cave.  The skull was specifically located in the Manot Cave of Western Galilee.  Then according to  Dr. Omry Barzilai of the antiques authority, the 55,000-year-old skull is "one of the most important discoveries in the study of human evolution."  The archaeologists also said they are working hard to find more and unearth past secrets.

Source:http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Oldest-human-skull-in-Middle-East-found-in-northern-Israel-389324

-CW

  

Pros teeing it up in Dubai

Tiger Woods teeing it off in Dubai

Dubai hosts the biggest and final championship of the European tour season. It consists of the best European tour players such as Rory Mcilroy, Sergio Garcia,  Henrik Stenson, and Justin Rose. First place receives 25 million us dollars out of the 8 million dollar total prize money. This past season Henrik Stenson won the Dubai Championship, but Rory Mcilroy won the season long race to Dubai. He won with all the pints he accumulated by winning and placing in the top 10 of most of the European tour tournaments. More than 55,000 people attended the the championship. Admission is free for all to see. Players such as Tiger Woods have played here in other professional golf tournaments. -MA

Inhumane Punishment for an Arabian Blogger

Inhumane Punishment for an Arabian Blogger

Raif Badaw , the innocent Saudi website creator and  blogger

Raif Badaw of Saudi Arabia is sentenced to 1,000 lashings after founding and creating a blog that was not pleasing to some Arabian clerics.  The blog criticized the clerics and offended many in the clergy.  So to teach him a lesson the country decided on a punishment of 50 lashes at a time until he reaches 1,000 lashings.  Saudi authorities say that he has already went through 50 lashings, but they wait to do the next 50 until he is fully healed.  By doing this they are making this innocent blogger suffer longer and endure more pain to fully teach him a lesson.  

All the people ask for is freedom for this innocent soul.

Many ask for the freedom of this blogger and ask for the suffering that he has to endure to stop at this instant.  It's inhumane for anyone to receive such a punishment and should be thought so as well.  Eight U.S. senators have expressed that if this continues then the broken friendship will continue to be so.  Nobody should have to go through this, so why should he?

Sources:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/01/20/us-senators-urge-saudi-arabia-to-halt-barbaric-flogging-blogger/

www.ibtimes.co.uk

ISIS Reaches a New Low

ISIS Throws Gay Man off Building 

Gay man faced his death due to ISIS. Via Twitter

Members of the Islamic state ISIS threw a man off a building yesterday in the Iraqi town of Mosul. Hundreds gathered around to witness the brutal murder of the man, whose body was left out splatted against the concrete for several hours. This was the latest of ISIS punishments against gay males, or males that are merely suspected of being gay. The Islamic State has repeatedly killed gays by stoning or throwing them off buildings. Gay man are being hunted down and killed like rats in Iraq, due to the fact that they are gay. This reveals the radical thinking in Islam, and how dangerous ISIS could be in the future. ISIS will continue to be a radical and dangerous enemy, and one who is capable of sickening actions. 

Via: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/19/isis-goes-medieval-on-gays.html
JV