Bull fighting banned in Catalonia
The parliament of Catalonia, an autonomous region of Spain, today voted to outlaw bullfighting – an iconic sport in much of the country. The vote was held after animal rights activists, led by Spanish animal rights group Prou! (Spanish for "Enough!"), who claim the practice is "barbaric", collected 180,000 signatures to a ...
Gitmo challenges could endanger half of convictions
By Chisun Lee in ProPublicaDecisions on two legal challenges to the Guantanamo military commissions system, both expected this summer, could undo half the convictions won so far before the tribunals and disrupt a number of pending cases.The appeals of two 2008 convictions attack several core aspects of the young trial system....
Man disguised as Darth Vader robs bank
A man dressed as the Star Wars antagonist Darth Vader robbed a bank in Setauket, New York. The robber was dressed in a character themed mask and blue cape. Armed with a hand gun, the robber stole an undetermined amount of cash from the Chase bank branch.The robber entered the bank saying that he was robbing it. Customers...
'Misleading' Burger King advert banned in the United Kingdom
An advert by fast food restaurant Burger King has been banned from British television over claims that it is misleading. The campaign for the new TenderCrisp chicken burger received two complaints over the fact that the burger appears significantly larger on the advert than in real life.The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)...
A CLOSER LOOK: the questionable cost of America's spy games
By Stephen Engelberg, ProPublicaThere's nothing like a spy story to get the journalistic juices flowing. They have all the elements. High stakes. Betrayal. And, if you're lucky, sexual intrigue. The true import of spy stories is more difficult for readers to weigh. The facts are invariably spooned out by intelligence agencies...
2010 worst year for Afghanistan since US invasion
The Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM), an Afghan human-rights group, stated yesterday that 2010 was the worst year in terms of violence for the country since US-led troops occupied the country in 2001.The ARM says that civilian deaths have risen and that Taliban insurgents have not been defeated despite a surge in troops in ...
Gaza Strip aid ship departs Greece, diverts to Egypt
he Amalthea, renamed the Hope for its mission as an aid ship carrying goods bound for the Gaza Strip, departed the Greek port of Lavrio yesterday, but is reportedly diverting away from its original destination and now plans to dock at the Egyptian port of el-Arish.The ship was chartered by Gaddafi International Charity and...
Severe heat wave blankets northeastern US
The Northeastern region of the United States has been blanketed by a severe heat wave since Sunday, with temperatures predicted to reach over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit Tuesday.The US National Weather Service (NWS) issued warnings of severe heat for most of the East Coast as well as some inland states, which are predicted...
Blast at BP Texas refinery in 2005 foreshadowed Gulf disaster
by Ryan Knutson, ProPublicaThis story is part of an ongoing collaboration between ProPublica and FRONTLINE (PBS).TEXAS CITY, TEXAS -- Ever since the Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, David Senko has been tallying the similarities between what he calls "my blast" in 2005 and this new BP disaster.Anonymous...
Obama dismisses US military commander in Afghanistan
General Stanley McChrystal, the top military commander for the US army in Afghanistan, was dismissed by president Barack Obama Wednesday, over controversial comments he made in an interview with a magazine.McChrystal will be replaced by General David Petraeus. The move was made after McChrystal and the president held a...
