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Polaris of Enlightenment

The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

The Nordic Times

The Nordic Times

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This article was published 2 years ago

https://nordictimes.com/world/protracted-trial-of-freedom-convoy-leaders-nears-end/

World

Protracted trial of Freedom Convoy leaders nears end

Published January 7, 2024 – By Editorial staff
Tamara Lich at a press conference in February 2022.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The trial of the founders of the Freedom Convoy in Canada was supposed to last only 16 days, but due to legal disputes and unprepared witnesses, among other things, the trial has been delayed. It is now coming to an end and is expected to be over in a few days.

The trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, the leaders of the Canadian Freedom Convoy, began last September. They are charged with crimes including vandalism, obstructing police, inciting vandalism and uttering threats in connection with the protests.

The trial was expected to last 16 days, but has been delayed due to a number of factors, including legal complications, technical delays, unavailability of witnesses, and problems with the handling of police evidence. Prosecutors have used video footage of the demonstrations to argue that Lich and Barber had control over the participants and encouraged them to stay in Ottawa. The defense, on the other hand, argues that the demonstrators were directed by the police, with instructions on where to move around the city.

The prosecution's case wrapped up before Christmas, and it is now time for the defense to present its side, Canada's CBC reports.

Banned from social media

The trial only resumed for one day on January 4 due to a lack of available court dates. However, the defense has said it needs a total of five more days, which means the trial is now coming to an end. So far, neither Barber nor Lich have testified, and there is no indication that they will.

Lich was banned from using social media as part of his bail conditions, but in December he was allowed to reactivate his account on X, formerly Twitter, after a 22-month hiatus.

– I have been hoping for quite some time to have my conditions varied and with the lack of evidence we have seen so far (and) the unexpected length of time the trial is taking, we felt it was a good time to have this specific condition reviewed, Lich said in a statement to True North in connection with the reactivation.

Once the trial is over, the judge will have up to six months to issue a verdict. A conviction for vandalism carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/world/idf-soldiers-testify-about-use-of-civilians-as-shields/

World

IDF soldiers testify about use of civilians as shields

The genocide in Gaza

Published November 11, 2025 – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Israeli soldiers have revealed in a British TV documentary the systematic use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in Gaza. Several confirm that official rules protecting civilian populations have been abandoned.

The documentary "Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel's War" aired on the British channel ITV on Monday evening. The soldiers testify about how the Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) code of conduct toward civilian populations has effectively ceased to apply in practice.

A tactic called the "mosquito protocol" within the IDF involved forcing Palestinian civilians to explore Hamas tunnel systems.

— You send the human shield underground. As he walks down the tunnel, he maps it all for you. He has an iPhone in his vest and as he walks it sends back GPS information, says Daniel, commander of a tank unit, according to The Guardian, continuing:

— The commanders saw how it works. And the practice spread like wildfire. After about a week, every company was operating its own mosquito.

Civilians killed

Several soldiers testify that basic military rules about when it is permissible to open fire have been abandoned. Captain Yotam Vilk says that the IDF's official guidelines are no longer being followed.

— No soldier ever mentions ‘means, intent, and ability’. It’s just: a suspicion of walking where it’s not allowed.

One soldier describes a man who was hanging laundry on his roof and whom an officer designated as a spotter.

— It’s not as if this man had binoculars or weapons. The closest military force was 600-700 metres away. So unless he had eagle eyes, how could he possibly be a spotter? And the tank fired a shell. The building half collapsed. And the result was many dead and wounded, the soldier says.

The IDF writes in a statement that the defense forces prohibit the use of civilians as human shields and that this prohibition has been emphasized throughout the war.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/candace-owens-podcast-tops-global-charts-following-statements-about-charlie-kirks-death/

World

Candace Owens podcast tops global charts following statements about Charlie Kirk’s death

Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Published November 9, 2025 – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Conservative commentator Candace Owens' podcast has been ranked number one globally after she made controversial statements about the murder of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. In a thank-you speech directed partly at her former employer The Daily Wire, she said: "Thank you for firing me."

Podcast ranking site Podscribe recently placed Owens' podcast "Candace" in first place in the "Downloads & Views Per Episode" category. Candace added that she achieved the top world ranking without spending a single dollar on advertising.

The ranking comes after Owens sparked an explosive debate with claims surrounding Charlie Kirk's death. Among other things, Owens has suggested that the pro-Israel lobby and even the U.S. federal government, partly through declaring a national day of remembrance for Kirk, have concealed the truth about the murder.
She has also criticized both the Trump administration and Turning Point USA for lack of transparency and handling of the death, and claimed that both Israel and financier Bill Ackman exerted pressure on Kirk before the murder.

Owens highlighted the ranking through several posts on X and also addressed it in the latest episode of her podcast. There, she spoke directly to her former employer, the news outlet The Daily Wire run by Jewish Zionist Ben Shapiro, where she was previously a host.

— Thank you for firing me, Owens said in the podcast, and continued: — But, and thank you for the publicity of the firing. Andrew Clavin, Christ is King. Thank you so much. You are a hero in my book. Tucker Carlson, I don't know, I feel like I should thank you because a lot happened because people thought that we were plotting behind the scenes and we never were.

Controversial background

Owens has previously been surrounded by controversies. She left the organization Turning Point USA in 2017, reportedly due to internal conflicts and reactions to her controversial comments.
In 2024, she was fired from The Daily Wire after statements she made about the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

In her thank-you speech, she also mentioned the Jewish leaders who criticized her and Australia, which recently banned her from visiting the country.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/tommy-robinson-acquitted-of-terrorism-charges-thanks-elon-musk/

World

Tommy Robinson acquitted of terrorism charges – thanks Elon Musk

Published November 5, 2025 – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

British anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson has been acquitted of charges under terrorism legislation after refusing to provide police with his phone's PIN code. The judge ruled that police had stopped him because of his political views. Robinson thanked billionaire Elon Musk, who paid for his legal defense.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was stopped by police in July 2024 while driving through border control at the Channel Tunnel terminal in southeastern England.

Prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates' Court in London that police became suspicious due to Robinson's demeanor, the fact that he was driving a high-value vehicle – a friend's silver Bentley – and was traveling to Benidorm in southern Spain with a ticket purchased the same day.

Police seized Robinson's phone and demanded that he provide the code to unlock it. However, he refused, citing that he is a journalist and that the phone contained protected material.

On Tuesday, Judge Sam Goozee ruled that it appeared police had arrested Robinson because of his political views, making the decision to stop him unlawful.

Thanks Elon Musk

— First of all, thank you, Elon Musk ... why has it taken an American businessman to fight for our justice here and our fight against terrorism charges for journalists?, Robinson said outside the court, according to Reuters.

Billionaire Elon Musk has repeatedly shared Robinson's posts on the platform X and recently appeared via video link at a London rally organized by Robinson that drew approximately 150,000 people. Before the trial, Robinson stated that Musk had paid for his legal defense.

— I'm so glad that judge has given such a powerful judgment now that says it how it was - I was targeted because of my political beliefs.

Tommy Robinson was sentenced last year to 18 months in prison for contempt of court. In 2018, he spread claims on social media about what Robinson described as a violent Syrian migrant. He was convicted of libel in 2021 and prohibited from repeating the allegations. Despite this, he released a new film in 2023 that was viewed 47 million times – which in turn led to the sentence.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/germany-sends-patriot-systems-ukraine-wants-more/

World

Germany sends Patriot systems – Ukraine wants more

The war in Ukraine

Published November 4, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing contracts for an additional 25 Patriot air defense systems. Each system costs approximately $1 billion.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Ukraine has received additional American-made Patriot air defense systems from Germany. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed this on Sunday.

The increasingly questioned and pressured president publicly thanked German Chancellor and former BlackRock executive Friedrich Merz for the delivery of new American air defense systems. The previous agreement between the countries has now been implemented, the president announced on Sunday.

"Our agreements have been fulfilled. More Patriots are now in Ukraine and being put into operation", he stated.

Ukraine has long demanded more advanced weapons from its Western allies, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and additional Patriot batteries. According to New York Times reporting in May, the country owned eight Patriot systems, but only six of these were operational.

"More systems needed"

Zelensky was clear that he wants even more weapon deliveries going forward.

"Of course, more systems are needed to protect key infrastructure sites and our cities across the entire territory of Ukraine, and we will continue working to obtain them – not only at the political level with states and leaders but also directly with manufacturers of all necessary air defense systems and missiles for them", the president continued.

Russia's Ministry of Defense claims to have destroyed approximately 40 Patriot launchers since 2023.

New contracts being prepared

US President Donald Trump has so far declined to deliver Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, but has instead urged NATO countries to purchase American weapons on Kiev's behalf. Moscow has consistently stated that no foreign support will change the battlefield situation in Ukraine's favor.

Last month, Zelensky said that Ukraine and the US are preparing a contract for 25 Patriot systems. He added that deliveries could take several years unless EU countries show "goodwill" by prioritizing Kiev or transferring systems they already own.

With a cost of approximately $1 billion per system, Ukraine hopes to finance the purchases through an EU loan backed by frozen Russian assets. Russia has, for its part, condemned all attempts to confiscate its assets as theft.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com