ICC criticized for criminal warrant issue
The fallout from a recent action by the International Criminal Court continues. Recently the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the nation’s former Defense Minister accusing the two men of hate crimes. The court claims the current and former Israeli officials are guilty of various crimes including humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The warrant means any nation under ICC must comply and arrest the men if they are in their country. This includes several nations in Europe. The governments of the Netherlands and Ireland have already agreed to arrest the men if they have the opportunity. The European Union foreign policy chief says all nations under the ICC’s jurisdiction are obligated to comply. France, Germany and the United Kingdom are also under ICC jurisdiction. Criticism of the arrest warrant was swift, with critics calling the decision biased and antisemitic. The National Security Advisor for President-Elect Donald Trump says the U.S. will give a strong response to the Anti-Semitic bias of the ICC and the U.N. in January. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized the arrest warrants saying they have done everything to protect citizens in Gaza and target only terrorists.
Colorado state settles with Christian graphic designer
Officials in the state of Colorado have agreed to pay a judgement in favor of a Christian graphic designer. Alliance Defending Freedom is reporting their client Lorie Smith has won her case. The graphic artist based in Colorado sued after state officials persecuted her for denying service to a same sex couple. The couple requested her services to create a wedding website, which Smith declined. Citing her Christian faith, Smith said later being fined by the state of Colorado was an injustice. The case was later appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The nation’s highest court agreed with Smith. The court ruled 6-3 in her favor; one justice who wrote the majority opinion following the case said the First Amendment gives citizens here in the U.S. the right to think and speak as they wish, not just those the government finds worthy. Alliance Defending Freedom celebrated the judgement. ADF president Kristen Waggoner said in part in a statement, “No government has the right to silence individuals for expressing these ideas or to punish those who decline to express different views." The state will pay a total of 1.5 million dollars in legal fees and a settlement to Ms. Smith for violating her First Amendment rights.
Students protest trans student on team; face persecution
Another group of high school female students are taking a stand following a controversial decision. Students on the volleyball team at Clarkstown High School in New York are protesting a male student being allowed to play on the team. The school officials claim the student in trans identifying and was allowed onto the team without the knowledge of the other students. Members of the team and their parents protested the decision recently at a school board meeting. Several of the students quit or refused to play in protest of the decision. Similar cases are happening across the U.S. with several students and schools being punished for refusing to play against trans students. Supporters believe these student athletes should be allowed to play with the gender of their choice. Critics point out there is a clear biological advantage between male and female athletes. Some have also pointed out that these students are using the opportunity to take advantage and dominate a sport where they previously had not qualified in the male equivalent of the same competitive sport.
SNBC Health report: the continued health benefits of walking
According to reports health experts are continuing to praise the healthy benefits of walking. This exercise, according to experts continues to show long term benefits to the body in a number of ways. Walking according to the U.S. surgeon general should be done as an activity every week at least two and a half hours. Walking lowers the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, dementia, and depression. It helps improve blood sugar levels, bone health, lose weight and sleep better. Walking is also considered a low impact exercise which promotes joint health and strengthens the lungs and heart. The average American walks three to four thousand steps per day. Experts are encouraging people to walk at least 150 minutes per week. This can break down to a little as a 10-minute walk three times a day, five days a week. Outdoor walking is recommended, but you can also walk on treadmills and indoor walking areas to achieve this goal.