Saudis May Use Alternate Execution Methods

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A staple in Saudi Arabia’s history for centuries may soon come to an end. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia may use different execution methods. One being discussed is using firing squads. There is currently a lack of swordsmen and most are unavailable in certain regions, so the Saudi Arabian princes should be free to use firing squads. 

Often, the swordsmen who were officially authorized to perform beheadings would show up to the beheadings late. There are very few authorized, and were so busy travelling to conduct executions and this would cause security confusion. Now the Saudi princes are ready to move on to modern technology methods.

Saudi Arabia is currently the only country in the world that still holds public beheadings. It is commonly the punishment for murder, rape, drug trafficking, armed robbery and more. Beheadings were treated as the proper Islamic method for execution under the Koran. They have found that killing by gunfire would not cause any religious violations under the Koran and it looks as if they will be moving into that direction. It is assumed that they will still be liberal in determining what crimes must be committed for a public execution.

For More Info: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/11/world/middleeast/saudis-consider-firing-squads-for-executions.html?ref=world

Arizona Couple Wins Lottery For The Second Time

Photo Credit: Worldnow.com

          

            It has been said that your chances of becoming the president of the United States, dating a supermodel, or being struck by lightning are better than winning the lottery. Well, imagine what your odds of winning the lottery twice. That is just what happened to one Arizona couple.

            Diane and Kerry Carmichael of Tempe both won the lottery within the last 10 years. Kerry won in 1995 and his wife, Diane, was happy that she got the winning ticket this time.  In 1995, they hit the 2.5 million dollar jackpot. This time around they added another million dollars by hitting the Powerball. She believes that this is not the last time that they will hit the jackpot.

                        “Good things come in threes. Two down, one to go.”

            The couple plays the lotto on a frequent basis. They use the same numbers on every ticket. This win couldn’t have come at a better time, as their $125,000 annuity from their previous win expires in 2014. The new Powerball game has increased players chances of winning and has created over 500 millionaires within the state. They still have a long way to go to catch up to record 7-time winner Richard Lustig. 

For More Info: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/09/diane-kerry-carmichael-second-lottery_n_2845381.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

Oscar Pistorius On Suicide Watch

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            A man that was once viewed as a hero and an inspiration now just a shell of what he once was. A close friend of Paralympic and Olympic sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, says that Pistorius has not been the same since the shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentines Day.

“He’s just like someone walking around in circles. He doesn’t know where he is going. I would say that, just by speaking to him, he is a broken man.”

            The friend, Mike Azzi,  then went on to say that he would go as far as to say that he is on the verge of suicide. An investigator on the case told Pistorius that he could go to jail for a very long time, to which he responded, “I’ll survive. I always win.” He admitted to the shooting of his girlfriend but said that it was an accident. He claims that he thought she was a burglar.

            In order to pay for his legal fees he is selling off his property. He is facing charges for premeditated murder. Azzi claims that Pistorius constantly mentions Reeva and asks his friends to pray for her and her family. Oscar Pistorius is not the icon that he once was.

For More Info: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/report-pistorius-verge-suicide-article-1.1284455#ixzz2NDleGoV4

Following UN Vote in New Sanctions, North Korea Vows to Nuke U.S.

Photo Credit: Mashable.com

As you may remember, North Korea recently tested nuclear weapons back in February, and the United Nations Security Council took action. To punish North Korea, the UN Security council unanimously voted to place tough sanctions on the country. The news didn’t settle well with North Korea.

A spokesman for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said that the North will exercise its right for "a preemptive nuclear attack to destroy the strongholds of the aggressors" because Washington is "set to light a fuse for a nuclear war” just moments before the vote. In Pyongyang, General Kang Pyo Yong stated that North Korea is ready to fire long-range nuclear missiles at Washington and will engulf it in a “sea of fire.”

The sanctions were drafted by the United States, along with North Korea’s closest ally, China. They send a strong message to Pyongyang that the international community condemns their nuclear tests, as well as ballistic missile tests and constantly violating Security Council resolutions. China’s UN Ambassador Li Baodong said

 “Adoption of the resolution itself is not enough.” 
“We want to see full implementation of the resolution." 
“The top priority now is to defuse the tensions, bring down heat, bring the situation back on the track of diplomacy, on negotiations”

Most of North Korea’s banks are believed to be located in China. The sanctions ban all countries from supplying public financial support for trade deals if the assistance could aid the countries nuclear or missile programs. It also requires countries to expel agents working for sanctioned North Korean companies as well as requires states to inspect cargo suspected to be related to nuclear activity on their territory. A new aviation measure was also applied which calls on states to deny aircraft permission to take off, land or fly over their territory if the cargo is suspected to be aboard.

For more info: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/furious_over_sanctions_nkorea_vows_uAyPB4nPH9ecuWb2yEhBlN/0