Two volunteers for an environmental NGO investigating industrial pollution and wetland destruction caused by Ni Hejin Industrial Park in Ningde were arrested for “suspected prostitution” by local police yesterday. Local police announced that the two were released this morning.

NGO staff received a text at 8 am this morning from one of the volunteers, a woman named Tian. The text said, “Please report
that we are safe. The police took us to the train station. Will be in touch.”

Xu, a male, volunteered at Ziran Daxue, and Tian was a volunteer for Tianjin Luling. Both companies are environmental NGOs.

Xu and Tian, were arrested yesterday around 5:30 pm in Ningde, Fujian and were charged with “suspected prostitution.” When NGO staff members called the local police to try to get the two volunteers released they asked how police knew the two were involved in prostitution. The police answered that “they just knew.”

“Before his arrest, Xu had been investigating Ningde’s Ni Hejin (Nickel Alloy) Industrial Park’s pollution and effect on the surrounding wetlands. The organization has been looking into this since early 2015, and we will continue our research,” said Zhu Qing, a representative of the environmental organization.

“On December 1, Xu and Tian took a trip to Fujian to find out the true conditions at the industrial park. On December 2, they figured out during their research that the factory had recorded Tian’s ID number. The next day they were arrested by police,” said Zhu.

Zhu said that Xu had been researching the pollution levels of Ningde’s nickel industry since May of this year, and has been classified as a “person of interest,” in the city. Therefore, Xu did not use his ID when checking into the hotel, the two used Tian’s instead and stayed in the same room.

“Xu has been researching this place for almost seven months. Before, he had rented an apartment in Ningde. He planned to follow up on earlier research but his landlord kicked him out because of ‘pressure,” said Zhu.

Xu was repeatedly blocked during his investigation. He and a local volunteer were once followed when driving around the city. They said it seemed like the car was trying to hit them. A drone given to the local volunteer from the organization as a gift was also confiscated.

BBC host Aaron Heslehurst advised Americans this week that they would have to “break” or “dismantle” the National Rifle Association (NRA) if they wanted the mass shootings in the United States to stop.

On Wednesday’s Morning Business Report, BBC presenter Adnan Nawaz pointed out that journalists still did not have all of the details about the shooting in San Bernardino.

“There have been more mass shootings in the United States this year than there have been days this year,” Nawaz noted. “We’re at about 330-odd days with 350+ mass shootings. And it’s becoming far too common as far as almost any sensible person including President Obama is concerned.”

Words of true wisdom!

While the fallout continues from yesterday’s shooting in San Bernardino that left at least 14 dead — the 355th mass shooting of the year — it was hard not to notice a dramatic turning point in the conversation around mass shooting yesterday. The sense in the past is that we in the media — social, Internet, and mainstream — shouldn’t be quick to politicize these tragic deaths, but the tide has begun to turn. We’re beginning to fight against this idea that we shouldn’t politicize something that can only be fixed through politics.

I've said it for years. Fuck giving me your prayers!

Now that Ted Cruz is gaining in the polls by drawing growing support from “very conservative” voters, the guy who has touted endorsements from anti-abortion extremists and asserted that the “overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats" is trying to "soften" his image, reports Niall Stanage

A seemingly angry George Zimmerman took to Twitter today to send out nude photos and the phone number of a woman he claims is his now ex-girlfriend. He said, “She cheated on me with a dirty Muslim.” He also provided her name and phone number.

Not only was he suspended from Twitter for sending out the photos, Jenny Kutner at Mic.com makes the case that he seems to have violated Florida law.

His lawyers must be damn proud, even though they have no soul or conscience

1: I own 4 and u dont see me on the god damn news. Thats responsible gun ownership. Ur opinion of "if u own a gun ur the problem" is WRONG. i know that 5 letter word that will cause u lose ur mind

2: Tell me to my face that I am the problem because i own guns. Anyone over 21 who owns a car is to blame for drunk driving. Same lunacy

3: strip the guns out of our military's hands. They have guns and r part of the problem. U have to put this logical fallacy to ALL citizens. No exception. Never another gun again to anyone

4: When I said he will change his tune heaven forbid his two kids are victims, he said he will teach his children how to deal with an active shooter. when I asked if they will pack heat, he told me: "Did i say they will have them in schools, NO. Quit putting words in my mouth to make ur opinion sound better to degrade mine. They will be taught how to deal with and active shooter. Thats what was said. Nothing more than that"

5: When I said I am glad I live overseas in a country that has gun control: "since ur"home" is so bad, renounce ur citizenship and never be considered an american again."

6: I mooch, and don't pay taxes living overseas. When i said I make less than 86K overseas and am American tax exempt but not Malaysian tax exempt, I was told: " Then if u fund another country's revenue, become thier citizen and stop tanking mine."