Free Republic

The prosecution has requested a sentence for Alexei Navalny in his latest criminal case: 20 years in the Russian version of the supermax prison, usually reserved for murderers with life sentences. The politician is accused under six articles of the Russian Criminal Code: establishing “an extremist community” (the Anti-Corruption Foundation) that was “infringing citizens’ rights” (calling for 2021 rallies), “inciting” and “financing” extremism (the ACF), “involving minors in dangerous acts”(rallies), and even “rehabilitating Nazism” (anti-Putin statements by his chief of staff). The court sessions are being held in the penal colony, with journalists not allowed to attend. Here’s Navalny’s final...

The Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue praised the Muslim period of Ramadan as 'important' to Christians in a message which contained no mention of Jesus Christ.VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — The Vatican has issued Ramadan greetings to Muslims, writing that the Islamic period of Ramadan is important also to “Christians.” In a message released March 24, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue addressed the Muslim world via a “congratulatory message” under the title “Christians and Muslims: promoters of love and friendship.” Dated March 3, the message was signed by the Dicastery’s prefect, Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J, and its secretary. “The...

After a year of hard fighting there are a rush of observers trying to make sense of the current balance of power in Ukraine. The focus in often on (often small) movements in the frontlines, casualties, or the performance of particular platforms and systems. Those things matter, but wars are not generally fought to take individual trenches or solely to inflict casualties. They are fought for strategic objectives. In this episode I dig into Russia's history of Empire, its modern strategic objectives, and try to assess whether or not the war in Ukraine represents a success or failure by Russia's...

The war in Ukraine is poised to become even more violent this year with a major Russian offensive expected and more advanced Western-made weapons pouring in to bolster Ukrainian forces. Along these lines, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg recently warned that the war has entered a "decisive phase." This new stage of the war could bring the fight to a territory vital to Russia's military capabilities in Ukraine and cherished by Russian President Vladimir Putin: Crimea. The Black Sea peninsula, which was invaded by Russian forces and illegally annexed by Putin in 2014, served as a launchpad for Russia's invasion last...

Is it a sin to buy a lottery ticket? What about making a bet at a casino – so long as it's a budgeted amount of money and made responsibly? How about dropping a sports bet? Is it a sin to gamble? Some people would argue there is nothing sinful about it. Recently, after posting on Facebook one of my editorials against the legalization of sports betting in the Tar Heel state, a woman said in the comments section: "I've never found any basis in the Bible to oppose gambling specifically, even though I have searched." Another woman wrote, "Nowhere...

The empirical evidence of an airborne Ebola Strain is overwhelming Hat Tip GWP - Patrick Sawyer was the American businessman, who contracted Ebola while working in Liberia, then collapsed after he got off a plane to Nigeria and died July 25. He was the first patient in Nigeria with the Ebola virus. The Nigerian authorities have refused to release the names of other passengers on the plane with Mr. Sawyer, or notify the media of their status.

[snip] Quote: "Second, how many of you picked up on what Phil said on tonight's radio show about the FOIA confirming Barry never had an American passport under the name of Barack Obama until hsi diplomatic passport issued as a US Senator? Do you understand and comprehendc the enormity of that announcement? Do you all realize what it means? I can tell you now that is one part of several pieces of good news we had the other day that I hinted at and could not reveal. That information confirms Barry had to renew an Indonesian passport to go to...

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