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Genocide Conviction Overturned for Guatemalan Leader

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:21:56 -0500

(Image Source: Al Jazeera)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

Just a week and a half after he was convicted, Guatemala’s highest court overthrew the genocide conviction and prison sentence of former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt.

Rios Montt was originally found guilty on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity during the 80s.

A three-panel tribunal convicted him of ordering the deaths of 1,771 people of the Ixil Maya ethnic group during his time in office. (Via Al Jazeera)

The latest decision will reset the court proceedings back to April 19, when Rios Montt was temporarily left without legal defense.

His lawyer was briefly expelled after accusing the presiding judge of bias against him. The BBC reports those few hours without legal representation set the case back. (Via BBC)

Rios Montt will return to house arrest-- which he was on before the case against him started back in January.

For human rights groups, this decision is seen as a major blow in a trial that many say is testing the Guatemalan justice system. (Via euronews)

“... it is uncertain how the trial court can hit the reset button to get back to a point in mid-April. What is clear is that the Constitutional Court has just thrown up formidable obstacles to justice and accountability for a harrowing period in Guatemala’s recent history.” (Via Amnesty International)

Rios Montt took charge of Guatemala’s military junta back in the 80s. During this time, the country’s military committed massacres and rapes that eventually forced the displacement of the Maya-Ixil ethnic group. (Via YouTube / laverdadlibre)

If his conviction stuck, Rios Montt would have been the first former head of state to face genocide charges in a court within his own country. But now, all the testimonies and witness statements will have to be delivered again, as well as concluding statements from both sides.

Is China's Housing Bubble About to Pop?

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:30:10 -0500

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(Image source: CBS)

BY JIM FLINK

Is the bubble about to pop? The cost of housing in China has become the country’s number one economic headache. And for now, it appears the Chinese government has no concrete answers for how to fix the high-rising issue. How bad is it? Take a look.

“This is what 2.27 million dollars buys you right now in Shanghai. Three bedrooms across 195 meters or a little over 2000 square feet ... it has a great view of the financial district...” (Via CNN)

For the better part of a decade, prices in so-called Tier One Chinese cities — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou – have been exploding. Forbes notes:

“Of the 70 major Chinese cities tracked by NBS, 67 saw home prices increase in April compared to March, with the highest growth rate at 2.1% … rising prices led the government to issue a guideline to tighten its grip on the real estate sector, raising taxes by as much as 20% for transactions.”

And unlike in the U.S., China measures its GDP not by what is bought or consumed, but in what is built. That puts an ever-growing pressure on the state to continue building.

Even if the buildings go unused. Outside the Tier 1 cities, entire blocks of skyscrapers lie vacant. They’ve been dubbed China’s ghost cities — a phenomenon recently detailed by CBS’s 60 Minutes.

Year-over-year prices are up 6%, 8% and more. One Wall Street Journal analyst notes, when it comes to solutions, governmental policy talk has been cheap.

“I think in both the case of Shanghai and Guangzhou, they said we will implement them but they didn’t put a time frame around when that would happen. My expectation, our view is that this is going to change very soon.”

Some analysts liken the housing problem to that in Japan during the late 1980’s. They suggest China would do well to address the situation before the bubble does long-term or even permanent damage to the entire economy.

Business Insider suggests: “A good start would be to introduce a property tax, imposed annually, that is based on the market value of a home. That would reduce speculation, discourage owners from holding empty flats and provide a fresh source of funding for cash-strapped local governments.”

News.com.au reports, China is building an average of 12 to 24 new cities each year.

Chinese Cyber Hackers at it Again, Says U.S.

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:36:38 -0500

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(Image Source: Flickr / evaryont)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

After three months of relative silence, Chinese hackers are allegedly back in action. New information from American officials and the private security company Mandiant charges China’s Unit 61389 with resuming attacks on U.S. targets.

In the past, the hackers working for a cyberunit in China’s Liberation Army have been identified in both industry reports and in the Pentagon’s own reports. (Via The Economist)

They’re accused of illegally accessing government property in the past five years — all from this facility in Shanghai. And despite calls for China’s new leadership to crack down on the hackers, reportedly, they’re back in business. (Via BBC)

According to The New York Times, the unit is already working at 60 to 70 percent of its former capacity.

The long-term concern for the U.S. “is that China may be trying to establish a new set of rules for Internet commerce, with more censorship and fewer penalties for the theft of intellectual property.”

China has expressed desire to address cyber crime, hoping the U.S. would work with the country.

But it has also accused the U.S. government of cyber crimes. According to CNN, there’s a major difference between why the countries are utilizing hacking. (Via WABC)

“The allegation is that China or either the Chinese government officials or private individuals are hacking to steal corporate data in addition to help tiny state companies in particular get ahead.”

And this cyber unit has a particularly long history in the hacking business.

The hackers are thought to have been responsible for a 2009 attack on the Coca-Cola Company.
In 2011, an attack on RSA, a maker of data security products used by American government agencies and defense contractors. That info was used to hack into Lockheed Martin’s computer system.
And let’s not forget about this past February... Unit 61389 was allegedly responsible for stealing product blueprints, manufacturing plans, clinical trial results, pricing documents, negotiation strategies and other information from more than 100 of Mandiant’s clients.

The cyber attacks are expected to be a major focus when President Obama’s national security adviser visits China for talks in July.

Rare Squabble for China, North Korea Over Fishing Boat

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:59 -0500

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(Image source: Al Jazeera)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

A captured fishing vessel is driving a wedge between two longtime allies — China and North Korea.

Chinese citizen Yu Xuejun wrote on his microblog May 6 that a fishing vessel he owned — and its crew – had been captured by armed North Koreans in Chinese waters. (Via The Guardian)

The boat was operating out of the Chinese port city of Dalian. Chinese fishing vessels are occasionally boarded by North Koreans, and typically a ransom is paid to avoid trouble. (Via Google Earth)

But this ransom was apparently especially high. 600,000 yuan — close to $100,000 U.S. The boat’s owner says he’d rather find a diplomatic solution.

And Chinese Foreign Minister Hong Lei was the government official tasked with negotiating. In a press briefing this week he remained courteous toward North Korea, but did say "We have … stated to North Korea that it should ensure the legitimate rights of Chinese ship personnel." (Via YouTube / timesnowonline)

China hasn’t grappled with North Korea over sea territory the way it has with other neighbors. Island nations like Japan, Taiwan have sparred with China over where to draw borders at sea, occasionally employing water cannons. (Via Al Jazeera)

China’s friendship is especially key for North Korea right now — as the hermit nation has drawn international anger over a series of test missile launches. (Via Sky News)

North Korea’s government has not commented on the captured boat publicly.

Top Headlines: Tornadoes Sweep Across Midwest

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:29:39 -0500

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(Image source: KFOR)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s a look at your top news headlines from Newsy. A series of dangerous storms and tornadoes swept across the Midwest late Sunday.

Oklahoma was the hardest hit, with tornadoes killing one person and injuring 21 others. Kansas and Iowa were also affected by storms causing widespread damage. More severe weather is expected Monday. (Via KOFR)

Maps released by the National Weather Service show areas at risk of those storms — including Oklahoma, parts of Kansas and much of Missouri.

And the winner of this weekend’s Powerball lottery still hasn’t come forward to claim some $370 million in winnings. This much we know: the ticket was bought at a Publix supermarket in Zephyrhills, Florida. (Via WTLV)

The odds were 175 million to one for the jackpot, but there were some pretty hefty consolation prizes as well. $2 million tickets were sold in New York and South Carolina. (Via USA Today)

And a small fishing vessel is at the center of an international dispute between longtime allies, China and North Korea. A Chinese citizen says armed North Koreans captured his boat and crew in Chinese waters. (Via The Guardian)

He claims the captors demanded a ransom of 600,000 yuan. Instead, he’s alerted the Chinese government, which has called on North Korea publicly to return the crew. It all means a rare rift for two longtime friendly nations. (Via The Telegraph)

And that friendship has been especially valuable for North Korea, as the hermit country has drawn international criticism over the past few months for a series of test missile launches. It conducted yet another Monday. (Via Sky News)

That’s the nation’s sixth test in three days — though tensions between North and South Korea have been eased since peaking a few weeks ago. Stay with us for more throughout the day. I’m Zach Toombs for Newsy, highlighting your top news headlines, making you smarter, faster.

Afghan Parliament Blocks Landmark Women's Rights Bill

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:12:59 -0500

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(Image source: Wikimedia Commons / The White House)

BY CHARESSE JAMES

Less than 15 minutes after a landmark women’s rights bill was introduced, the Afghan parliament halted all debate on the bill aimed at making violence against women permanently punishable.

“Conservative lawmakers blocked a law aimed at protecting women’s freedoms. Opponents say parts of the bill violate Islamic principle … The law has been in effect since 2009 by presidential decree, but it has never passed in parliament.” (Via CBC)

The bill would have solidified the presidential decree banning violence against women, child marriages and the practice of selling women to settle disputes. As it currently stands, that decree could be scrapped by any incoming president, but it would be much more difficult to reverse if it were passed by parliament. (Via NPR)

The temporarily nixed bill took the 2009 decree a few steps forward — too far forward, if you ask the more conservative members of parliament.

“Strongest opposition came from MPs who said the law was against the Islamic Sharia code … The decision to bring it to parliament split women activists, with some fearing it could take them backwards.” (Via BBC)

The Elimination of Violence Against Women Law, or EVAL, contains a few items that had members crying “anti-Islam” — provisions such as:

--using public funding to create domestic abuse shelters

--reducing the legally permitted number of wives from four to two

--permanently making 16 the legal marrying age for women

--increasing prison sentences for crimes committed against women

--charging men for rapes committed within a marriage

--not charging unmarried victims of rape and sexual assault with adultery

Since the Taliban was toppled 12 years ago, Afghan women have made notable strides, including gaining the rights to attend school and to enter the workforce. But there are fears that with the withdrawal of NATO forces, the status of women could decline.

Al Jazeera points out without safety measures such as the ones proposed in the bill, women are still too afraid to use the freedoms now granted to them. Al Jazeera quotes the head of parliament's women's commission, who said: (Via KFXA)

“Today, the parliamentarians who oppose women’s development, women’s rights and the success of women ... made their voices loud and clear ... 2014 is coming, change is coming, and the future of women in this country is uncertain. A new president will come and if he doesn’t take women’s rights seriously he can change the decree.”

According to Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, the 244-member assembly will look at the bill again at a later date, but he did not specify when.

Ban Ki-Moon, S. Korea Condemn N. Korea Missile Test

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:32:01 -0500

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(Image Source: UN / Rick Bajornas)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

North Korea fired the fourth short-range test missile in two days Sunday — this time into the Sea of Japan.

This comes after Pyongyang fired three test missiles from its east coast. However, neither those nor the missile fired Sunday are anything for the West to be worried about. (Via BBC)

“This is the kind of weapon that pretty much every nation possesses and pretty much every nation tests. Of course, since this is North Korea it is going to raise some hackles.” (Via Sky News)

However, the North’s actions could be a source of red flags for its southern counterpart and a cause of growing tensions between the two nations.

Especially as discussions over the countries’ joint industrial complex at Kaesong are seemingly stagnant. While the South is offering talks, the North reportedly continues to criticize those request. (Via RT)

Not to mention the firm disapproval from North Korea over joint naval exercises between the U.S. and South Korea. (Via Press TV)

And now, according to South Korea’s semiofficial news agency, Yonhap — since the fourth missile test, South Korea is more actively pushing dialog with Pyongyang, condemning its most recent provocations.

And while speaking during a visit to Russia Sunday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has also called on the communist country to cease the test fire. Saying:

Ban Ki-Moon: “It’s time for them to return to the dialogue, reduce the tensions and address whatever grievances, complaints or concerns they may have.” (Via Al Jazeera)

Although the North continues to provoke, it is notable that frictions have lessened since the end of April. Next step is to hopefully get the North and South to the negotiation table.

Ivory Coast Massacre Suspect Arrested

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:20:33 -0500

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(Image Source: Rumeurs d’Abidjan)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

Officials in Ivory Coast have reportedly arrested a military leader believed to be behind one of the worst post-election massacres in 2011.

“Amade Oueremi fought alongside forces backing then president, Alassane Ouattara in post-election violence in 2011, since then his men have been illegally occupying a national park.” (Via Al Jazeera)

Oueremi has been a known supporter of Alassane Ouattara since 2000 when he began hoarding weapons and ammunition. Ouattara was elected Ivorian president in 2011, however, after the election Ouattara’s opponent and former president… (Via Flickr / Hugo Passarello Luna)

Laurent Gbagbo — refused to acknowledge his loss, sparking a bloody civil war. Gbagbo is currently awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court, accused of crimes against humanity which include mass killings. (Via Wikimedia Commons / Voice of America )

According to the BBC, some reports say Oueremi turned himself in. Human rights groups criticized the government for not being more proactive in the arrest.

It is not yet clear if Oueremi has been charged but he and his men are said to be responsible for the mass murders of Gbagbo supporters. (Via Rumeurs d’Abidjan)

Most notably, the Duekoue massacre at the end of March. It is estimated up to 800 people were murdered and 30,000 fled and are now displaced — afraid to go back.

“Theses people are citizens, Ivorians, they must go back to their villages… Most of them voted for Gbagbo, the beaten president. They fear reprisals if they return to their villages and they say killings are still happening.” (Via France 24)

Since the post-election violence began three years ago, an estimated 3,000 people have been killed.

Top Headlines: 50 Injured in Va. Hikers Parade

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:50:11 -0500

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(Image source: WHAS)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s your top news headlines from Newsy.

A small mountain town in Virginia near the Tennessee and Kentucky borders witnessed a gruesome scene unfold Saturday. During the annual Trail Days Festival... (Via Google Earth)

...an elderly driver plowed his car into a group of marchers. More than 50 people suffered injuries both severe and superficial. Twelve to 15 victims were taken to hospitals. No fatalities have been reported. (Via WHAS)

In Washington, President Obama will reportedly deliver a key address on national security Thursday — speaking about bringing drone policy and the situation at Guantanamo Bay in line with the vision he once promised. (Via Flickr / The White House)

The Washington Post reports the president will make the speech from the National Defense University. The Post notes, although Obama promised to close Gitmo’s prison, it “still holds 166 prisoners, more than half of whom are now on a hunger strike to protest conditions.” (Via The Washington Post)

And The $590 million nationwide Powerball jackpot found a match for all numbers pulled in Florida on Saturday. The winner hasn’t claimed his or her prize yet, but if the lump sum of the winnings is requested... (Via WTLV / USA Today)

...that would cash out to $377 million, before taxes that is. There were also $1 million winners throughout other parts of the country. Odds of winning the jackpot were about 1 in 175.2 million. (Via NBC)

In sports, the Indiana Pacers knocked off the New York Knicks in game six of their playoff series Saturday. Twenty-five points from Lance Stephenson pushed the Pacers to a 106-99 win. They’ll face the Heat in the Eastern Finals. (Via ESPN)

Stay with us for more throughout the day. I’m Zach Toombs for Newsy, highlighting your top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

Pakistani Political Leader Gunned Down in Karachi

Sat, 18 May 2013 20:36:09 -0500

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(Image source: BBC)

BY COLLIN RUANE

The senior vice president of a major political party in Pakistan, led by Imran Khan, was shot dead Saturday outside her home in Karachi. The BBC points out the death comes at a time when political tensions are rising.

“The killing of Zahra Shahid Hussain … comes just before a partial rerun in the city of last Saturday’s general election — following complaints by Mr. Khan’s party of widespread rigging and intimidation.”

The Guardian notes Hussain was “a senior female member of Imran Khan's Movement for Justice party … An eyewitness said that she handed the attackers her belongings, but was then shot.”

But a motive for the killing is still unknown. Al Jazeera reports three gunmen attacked the political leader in what colleagues call a “security failure.”

The Frontier Post reports Hussain was hit by two bullets and died of her injuries while being transported to the hospital.

Hussain was 60 years old. The suspected attackers remain on the loose as this story continues to develop.

Meteoroid Strikes Moon in Largest Explosion NASA's Recorded

Sat, 18 May 2013 19:19:35 -0500

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(Image source: NASA)

BY A.J. FEATHER

A meteoroid smashed into the face of the moon Friday at 56,000 mph, creating an explosion the naked eye could see all the way from Earth and a 65-foot-wide crater. (Via YouTube / ScienceAtNASA)

“ ... a telescope monitoring the moon has captured a rare sight — a meteoroid crashing into the lunar surface. It’s the largest explosion that NASA has recorded since it began monitoring meteoroid strikes.” (Via Al Jazeera)

The explosion didn’t involve any kind of combustion, though, because that would require oxygen. Instead, CNN writes the flash of light came from the “glowing molten rock at the impact site.”

According to The Atlantic, NASA has monitored these explosions on the moon since 2005, and this impact “was nearly ten times as bright as any other previously recorded impact.”

And while this is the brightest impact, it’s definitely not the first.

NASA writes, “ … the Moon is airless and exposed. ‘Lunar meteors’ crash into the ground with fair frequency. Since the monitoring program began in 2005, NASA’s lunar impact team has detected more than 300 strikes.”

NASA says the boulder was 1 foot wide and weighed 88 pounds. But the chances of rocks that size hitting Earth at that speed are unlikely because they don’t make it past the earth’s atmosphere.

First Saudi Woman Summits Mt. Everest

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:51:14 -0500

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(Image Source: BBC)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

A Saudi woman made history at the top of the world this week — by not only becoming the first woman from her country to attempt the climb but also being the youngest Arab to make it to the top of Mount Everest.

“Raha Moharrak… She’s part of an expedition team called ‘Arabs with Altitude.’ It also includes the first person from Qatar and the first Palestinian to complete the feat.” (Via Al Jazeera)

But still, 25-year-old Moharrak was the only woman. Her team members expressed their happiness for her accomplishment on Twitter.

Writing:

“My friend Raha just became the first Saudi woman to summit Everest!!...Congrats!!!

And:

“The first ever Saudi woman to attempt Everest has reached the top!! Bravo Raha Moharrak. We salute you.”

Currently living in Dubai, Moharrak is a university graduate. However, she still comes from a conservative Muslim family in a country where women’s rights are limited. And because of that — the BBC reports she had to overcome many obstacles to reach her goal.

Her teammates wrote — convincing Moharrak’s family to allow her to climb “was as great a challenge as the mountain itself” — although they now fully support her.

And about her history-making climb Moharrak said, “I really don’t care about being the first…So long as it inspires someone else to be second.” (Via Facebook / Raha Moharrak)

The “Arabs with Altitude” team is trying to raise $1 million to go toward education projects in Nepal.

New Suspects Identified in Case of Missing British Girl

Sat, 18 May 2013 08:30:00 -0500

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(Image source: Sky News)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

Authorities say there are more than 20 new suspects in the case of a British girl who has been missing since 2007.

Madeleine McCann was almost 4 years old when she disappeared during a family vacation in Portugal six years ago. (Via CNN)

Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, reportedly left Madeleine, her sister and brother at their vacation apartment on the ground floor while they went to dinner nearby. (Via STV)

That initial investigation by authorities in Portugal was widely criticized. It ended just a year after the then-toddler went missing without any sign of her.

Fox News reports police first suspected McCann’s parents, Kate and Gerry, but the couple was cleared in 2008 after the attorney general concluded there was nothing linking them to her disappearance.

The latest leads in the case come after Scotland Yard opened a review in 2011 with help from authorities in Portugal. The McCann’s have campaigned endlessly to find out what happened to their daughter.

They said the discovery of three girls who went missing nearly a decade ago in Ohio had given them new hope in finding Madeleine.

And they told Sky News they are encouraged by the recent progress in their own case.

“I get the feeling that now they are really just getting their teeth into it … we certainly feel from the information we’ve been given that they’re making excellent progress.”

Scotland Yard has reportedly not asked Portuguese police to make any arrests.

S. Korea: N. Korea Fired Short Range Missiles

Sat, 18 May 2013 08:00:00 -0500

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(Image Source: Sky News)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

North Korea reportedly fired three short-range guided test missiles Saturday.

This news comes from South Korea’s defense ministry. The launch was off the country’s east coast and traveled in a northeasterly direction — away from South Korean waters. (Via CBS)

This is the first North Korean missile test since March but an analyst for Sky News says this isn’t necessarily something to be worried about.

“This is the kind of weapon that pretty much every nation possesses and pretty much every nation tests. Of course since this is North Korea it is going to raise some hackles.”

And as tensions have begun to ease between the hermit county and it’s southern counterpart the question is why test the missiles now? Al Jazeera reports “this has been a week where North Korea has sharpened its rhetoric once again…”

“…both because of the latest interplay between the North and South over the joint industrial complex at Kaesong. The south offering talks saying that they wanted to repatriate some of the raw materials and finished products.”

The north criticized the south over those requests. And the naval exercises jointly by the U.S. and South Korea that began earlier this month were also highly criticized by Pyongyang. (Via Yonhap)

Foreign ministers from G8 nations condemned North Korea’s actions in “the strongest possible terms” in April… (Via RTE)

…but CNN points out the south will likely not strongly condemn this most recent test, as the government is working to get northern leaders to the negotiating table.

Top Headlines: 5 Severely Injured After Trains Collide

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:07:39 -0500

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(Image source: WCVB)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s your top news headlines from Newsy.

Sixty people have been transported to hospitals, five of them severely injured, after two commuter trains collided in Connecticut, near Bridgeport Friday evening. No fatalities were reported as of Saturday morning. (Via WCVB)

An Amtrak train heading from New Haven to Manhattan collided with a metro car a little after 6 p.m. Both trains were carrying upwards of 700 people. Amtrak service between Boston and New York has been suspended. (Via KABC)

Turning to the far east, North Korea launched three short-range guided test missiles off its east coast Saturday. That’s according to South Korea’s defense ministry. Two missiles were set off in the morning. (Via Sky News)

They were followed by another that afternoon. This is the first North Korean missile test since March, when especially high tensions led the U.S. to bulk up its own missile defense in the Pacific. (Via CNN)

France has become the 14th nation to approve gay marriage. The nation’s lawmakers cleared a challenge from its right wing party Friday, allowing French President Francois Hollande to sign the measure into law. (Via euronews)

The BBC notes this has been at the top of Hollande’s agenda since he and his Socialist Party were swept into office about a year ago. The first weddings for gay couples could be held in 10 days.

And Sidney Crosby lifted his Pittsburgh Penguins to a playoff win Friday on the back of a hat trick — with three goals scored in little more than one period. The Penguins now lead the series against the Senators 2 games to none. (Via ESPN)

Stay with us for more throughout the day. I’m Zach Toombs for Newsy, highlighting your top headlines making you smarter, faster.

Toronto Mayor Fights Crack-Smoking Video Accusations

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:13:00 -0500

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(Image source: Toronto Star)

BY KERRY LEARY

Toronto’s mayor is attempting to fend off reports that say a video exists that allegedly shows Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine.

“There's a cell phone video that allegedly shows the mayor smoking a crack pipe and using expletives … the video being reportedly shopped around by a group of Somali men involved in the drug trade.”

(Via MSNBC)

“The paper also admits it has no way to verify the authenticity of the video.”

(Via Global Toronto)

The Toronto Star reports two of its reporters have viewed the 90-second video three times.

“The video, which appears to be real, shows Mayor Rob Ford in a room, his shirt open, lolling back in his chair, and appears to be smoking a crack pipe.”

The story originally surfaced on Gawker. An attorney hired by Ford said Thursday’s publication of details related to the video were “false and defamatory.” Gawker’s John Cook recounts,

“Rob Ford, Toronto's conservative mayor, is a wild lunatic … One reason for this is that he smokes crack cocaine. I know this because I watched him do it, on a videotape. He was... hiiiiigh. It's for sale if you've got six figures.”

Cook allegedly traveled to Toronto to see the video first hand and claims it is indeed Mayor Ford. CBC News has footage of a press conference about the video.

Reporter: “What does this do to the city's reputation?”

Councilor: “Well, it certainly isn't helpful, and whether you can blame the mayor or not blame the mayor depends on whether the story is true, and I don't know that, and I don't know that any of you do.”

So, what’s next? Can Ford sue for libel? The Torontoist reports, Canada is a very friendly jurisdiction to libel plaintiffs... all one would have to do is prove the that the defaming comment was made.

“The defaming party, however, then has defenses against the tort. The most common defence against a defamation claim is that the statement is true: if you can prove the ‘defaming’ statement is the truth, that is an absolute and total defence against a defamation claim.”

Ford’s chief of staff has yet to comment on the video.

It's Complicated: Arming Syria and U.S.-Russia Relations

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:15:00 -0500

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(Image source: World Tribune)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

Russia won’t confirm it sent sophisticated weapons to Syria, but did go so far as to say it didn’t break international rules.

American officials reportedly say Russia has sent anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria. These types of weapons are equipped with an advanced radar that makes them more effective — compared to the previous missiles Russia has provided. (Via Sky News)

According to The New York Times, these weapons are... “... a formidable weapon to counter any effort by international forces to reinforce Syrian opposition fighters by imposing a naval embargo, establishing a no-fly zone or carrying out limited airstrikes.”

The Soviet Union and then Russia has supplied a large proportion of Syria’s military over the years. (Via International Institute for Strategic Studies)

Take a look at these figures... Nearly 5,000 tanks, 2,500 self-propelled or towed artillery units, 295,000 active personnel... all from Russia and that’s just some of it. (Via Wikimedia Commons / Voice of America)

And Russia doesn’t seem to have any problem admitting these arms sales. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argues the country has every right to do so. (Via Wikimedia Commons / Pete Souza)

According to the BBC, there are two main reasons Russia has continued to provide Syria with this type of support, both of which deal with power.

· First, if President Bashar al-Assad is pushed out of power, radical Islamists could take his place. Russia fears this would threaten its national security.

· The other concern is if Assad goes so will Russia’s influence over Syria.

Both are seen as negative outcomes for Russia.

The recent delivery of weapons is interesting considering the U.S. and Russia are allies, but Syria and the U.S. are not.

In fact, this comes as Russia and the U.S. are working toward forming an international conference focused on ending the conflict in Syria that’s killed at least 70,000 people. (Via ABC)

Despite that cooperation, the relationship between Russia and the U.S. has looked rocky in the news lately.

Just recently, American CIA agent Ryan Fogle was arrested in Moscow for allegedly working undercover to recruit an an officer of the Russian Secret Service. (Via WTTG)

The U.S. has also questioned what the Russian government might have known about the Tsarnaev brothers’ activity before the Boston Marathon bombings. Investigators are currently searching to see if Tamerlan was radicalized when he visited Russia in 2012. (Via FBI)

The international conference to deal with the Syrian conflict is currently set for June. Representatives of the Assad government and the Syrian opposition are expected to be in attendance.

$1M in Chopard Jewels 'Stolen' at Cannes Film Festival

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:33:00 -0500

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(Image source: BBC)

BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN

One of the biggest draws at the Cannes International Film Festival are the stars and all that bling they wear, much of which is borrowed. (Picture courtesy Wikimedia Commons / Georges Biard)

Which makes the latest headline an interesting one for the famed annual film festival:

VIA ABC: “A major jewelry heist at the Cannes film festival. More than a million dollars of jewels have been stolen from a hotel.”

French police say the jewels were taken from a security box in the room of a Chopard employee.

Obviously not the best news for the Swiss luxury jeweller, since designers use the festival’s red carpet as a showcase for their pieces. (Via YouTube / fashiontv)

Chopard, in fact, has been one of the festival’s sponsors for more than 15 years.

The company even designed the award presented for best film.

There aren’t many more details about the reported $1 million theft, and Chopard isn’t commenting. But for perspective, the BBC’s Hugh Schofield points out while the value sounds like a lot...

VIA BBC: “One set of earrings or one watch can easily be worth more than $1 million, so it might not be that much.”

No word on whether police have any suspects.

Smuggling KFC Chicken Strips Into the Gaza Strip

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:22:00 -0500

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(Image source: Facebook / Al-Yamamah)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

Israel’s restrictions on imports have sparked a number of smuggling operations that included weaponry, luxury cars, cell phones, tablets and — Kentucky Fried Chicken.

A 31-year-old entrepreneur started a delivery company called Al-Yamama — Arabic for “pigeon” — a few years ago and has been smuggling KFC chicken strips into the Gaza Strip from Egypt ever since.

(via New York Daily News)

The smuggling was brought most recently on by tight Israeli restrictions on imports into Gaza which date back to 2006 when Hamas took control inside the Palestinian territory.

According to The Christian Science Monitor, the closest KFC is 35 miles away. But the tunnels aren’t necessarily for quicker — or cheaper — delivery.

“So the way around it is to pay 30 bucks to a delivery company near the Egypt border to cover transportation and smuggling costs, and three hours later, you get your bucket of chicken!”

(via KDAF)

Transporting the not-so-fast food is quite a feat. The New York Times reports Yamama has delivered around 100 meals in just the past few weeks.

For each order, the money is wired to the KFC, where an Egyptian taxi driver picks it up and hands it off to a pair of boys who smuggle it through a tunnel. They then push the food on a cart and hand it off to another cab driver on the other side of the border who drives it to Gaza City where it is sorted out and delivered to customers by a team of motorcyclists.

And since it takes several hours, the food is almost always cold, but customers have said they don’t care — it’s still delicious.

Are Syrian Rebels Making Western Intervention Tougher?

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:39:00 -0500

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(Image source: TIME / Umar Farouk Battalion)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Syria’s two-year civil war has displaced 5 million people from their homes and killed an estimated 80,000. And that’s made the calls for foreign intervention louder and more frequent than ever before.

DAVID CAMERON: “Syria’s history is being written in the blood of her people, and it is happening on our watch.” (Via BBC)

That intervention from the U.S. and United Kingdom would come in support of rebels fighting Bashar al Assad’s regime. His government has strong ties with Iran and with Hezbollah, two groups America isn’t eager to ally with. (Via CBS)

But Syria’s many rebel factions aren’t making that decision to step into the conflict any easier for Western nations. For one, a United Nations recently said it had evidence of a chemical attack conducted by rebels.

That’s something President Obama has said would cross a red line — if it was conducted by the Syrian government. (Via Flickr / The White House)

Then Tuesday, TIME magazine landed an exclusive interview with rebel fighter Khalid al Hamad — a veritable poster child for those who claim rebels are responsible for just as many atrocities as the Assad regime.

A video, which Hamad confirmed as genuine, shows the rebel cutting out the organs of a government soldier who lays dead at his feet. Hamad then takes a lung and bites into it on camera. (Via YouTube / syriantruth5)

Hamad told TIME he found footage of the soldier assaulting two naked women on a cell phone in the dead man’s jacket, which infuriated him. But, like in much of Syria, ethnic tensions are at play as well. Hamad, a Sunni Muslim, detests Alawite Muslims, a minority denomination to which Assad and members of his government belong.

Apparently, this isn’t Hamad’s first time on camera. Human Rights Watch says this video appears to show him loading missiles. Hamad serves as a commander for the Independent Omar al-Farouq Brigade. (Via YouTube / Nader Husseini)

It’s unclear whether that group operates as part of Free Syrian Army coalition. Members of that more mainstream rebel group have called for Hamad to be arrested for his mutilation of the government soldier’s corpse.

Japanese Mayor Defends WWII Prostitution

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:29:00 -0500

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(Image source: Wikimedia Commons / aska27)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

Japanese ministers are trying to distance themselves from the mayor of Osaka after comments he made Monday regarding an issue that dates back to World War II.

During that war, Japanese women were coerced to become prostitutes or “comfort women” for soldiers. (Via Wikimedia Commons / Jjok)

Mayor Toru Hashimoto said this system was necessary to give Japanese troops who risked their lives in battle a chance “to rest.” He argues that there is no evidence these women were forced into service by way of threats or assaults. (Via NHK)

Hashimoto’s comments have brought criticism from other Japanese government members.

The Japanese Administrative Reform Minister called the system a human rights violation against women. Other ministers couldn’t understand how someone in Hashimoto’s power could make such remarks. (Via News 24)

The BBC reports nearly 200,000 women from nations like China, the Philippines, and Taiwan were reportedly forced to become sex slaves. In 1993, Japan apologized for the “immeasurable pain and suffering” the system caused these women.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. Hashimoto’s comments come just a month after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe enraged China and South Korea for comments he made when he was questioned about past Japanese imperialism.

Japan had apologized in 1995 for using aggression against China and Korea during World War II. But Abe was quoted in April saying aggression is hard to define, and questioned what constituted as invasion. (Via WLUK and Bloomberg)

Hashimoto is the co-founder of the nationalist Japanese Restoration Party, a right wing nationalist party dedicated to re-establishing Japanese dominance in the world. It has only a small presence in parliament.

Russia: American CIA Agent Tried to Recruit Russian

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:36:03 -0500

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(Image source: RT / FSB)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

Russia’s counterintelligence agency has detained an American CIA agent in Moscow for allegedly trying to recruit an officer of the Russian Secret Service.

“The agent was reportedly working undercover at the U.S. embassy in Moscow… His name is Ryan Christopher Fogle and he was detained by Russia’s Secret Federal Services, kind of like our FBI.” (Via WTTG)

Fogle was reportedly pretending to be a career diplomat during his attempted recruitment. RT reports Russian officials found a few red flags in the process of detaining him.

Including “special technical equipment... a large sum of money and means to change the person’s appearance.” They also found a letter that gave instructions and promised the would-be-recruit $100,000 just for an interview and a salary of up to a $1 million.

After being detained, Fogle was then handed back over to the U.S. embassy by the Federal Security Service. (Via Sky News)

U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation Michael McFaul has yet to give any comments in reference to espionage allegations against his subordinate.

However, when ask to confirm or deny the allegations on Twitter he simply replied. “No.”

But by tomorrow he will have to come up with answers as the Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned him to do so.

Man Drives to Hospital Holding Severed Arm

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:14:00 -0500

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(Image source: Courier Mail)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

Most people shouldn’t drive without two hands on the wheel, but after a scary accident while cleaning a machine, one man didn’t have a choice.

Thirty-seven-year-old Tibor A. was cleaning a piece of machinery used to sort rubble at a recycling plant in Hungary Sunday when it cut his right arm off just below the elbow.

But he reportedly didn’t spend much time panicking. In fact, the UK’s Metro news says he picked his arm out of the machine, wrapped it up, hopped in the car and headed to the hospital about nine miles away...

Even stopping at all red lights and even doing a pretty decent parking job.

But after that impressive drive, doctors said the procedure to help Tibor was too complicated. So they sent him to another hospital in Vienna. Don’t worry, he was airlifted this time.

Fortunately, when he arrived, surgeons were able to reattach Tibor’s arm, but say it will take some time to determine if he will regain the use of his arm.

(via Courier Mail)

Doctors say the reason he didn’t bleed to death during the commute was because he was in shock.

(via Daily Mail)

And, of course — a big question here — authorities are reportedly investigating why Tibor didn’t receive any help from colleagues.

Bangladesh Army Ends Search for Survivors in Factory

Mon, 13 May 2013 21:30:25 -0500

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(Image Source: The Guardian / Rehman Asad)

BY SOLE MALDONADO AYUSO

There seemed to be hope in Bangladesh when a young woman was found alive after spending 17 days under rubble of the Rana Plaza factory. But the country’s army announced Monday they will conclude their search for more bodies the following day.

The death toll reached 1,127 and the army said there is no longer any hope of finding additional survivors. The last body was recovered Sunday. (Via BBC)

The New York Times reports the Bangladeshi army’s announcement comes the same day several of the biggest textile companies operating in the country signed a plan to improve the wages and working conditions of apparel workers.

Those companies include H&M, C&A, Calvin Klein, Primark and Inditex, the parent company of Zara.

According to Business Insider, many companies have been dealing with safety issues and poor conditions in their factories for several months, but have refused to adopt the necessary improvements.

Businessweek reports Bangladeshi inspectors found “700 garment factories ‘faulty in terms of workplace safety’ after inspecting 2,400 units” since February.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Walmart is one of the largest customers in the country, but has not signed the agreement. The company said “it will continue to work with industry groups, suppliers and the Bangladesh government ‘to come to an appropriate resolution on this matter and develop broad-based solutions.’”

The Rana Plaza tragedy has brought the debate about textile worker conditions in Bangladesh to the forefront.

Thousands of workers have begun protesting for better safety in Bangladeshi factories. The government approved an amendment allowing workers to gather under trade unions without permission from factory owners. (Via The Guardian)

The factory collapse is being called one of the worst tragedies in the garment industry. The Guardian reports Bangladesh’s high court has seized the assets of the Rana Plaza owner to pay the workers’ salaries.

Obama Calls Focus on Benghazi 'Political Circus'

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:21:54 -0500

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(Image source: The New York Times / Doug Mills)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

What was meant as a chance for U.S. and British leaders to publicly discuss the crisis in Syria instead produced some strong words from President Obama about the Benghazi consulate attack — and what his critics have been saying.

OBAMA: “The whole issue of talking points, frankly, throughout this process has been a sideshow … Nobody understood exactly what was taking place during the course of those first few days.” (Via NBC)

The Benghazi consulate attack last September claimed the lives of four Americans. Critics accuse the Obama administration of disguising the planned attack as a spontaneous protest to limit political consequences. (Via Al Jazeera)

A series of State Department talking points about the consulate attack were made public Friday.

The White House says those talking points were given to Congressional committees months ago, and that changes made to them in the days after the attacks were purely stylistic. (Via TPM)

Many Republicans disagree.

JOHN MCCAIN: “I would call it a cover up in the extent there was willful removal of information, which was obvious.” (Via ABC)

The news conference where the president made his remarks came just after a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron about the deteriorating situation in Syria. Speaking to press, Cameron urged action in the region. (Via The New York Times)

CAMERON: “80,000 dead. Five million people forced from their homes. Syria’s history is being written in the blood of her people, and it is happening on our watch.” (Via BBC)

Cameron traveled to Russia to meet with leader Vladimir Putin a few days earlier. Russia is one of the Syrian government’s last major allies, but Cameron says he was “heartened” by his talks with Putin. (Via Euronews)

Specifically, Western leaders have asked Russia to help transition Bashar al Assad’s regime out of Syria. The nation’s civil war has been waged since March 2011, when rebels took up arms against Syria’s government. (Via CBS)

China's Ai Weiwei Films Ethnic Violence in Beijing

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:29:00 -0500

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(Image source: Sky News / Ai Weiwei)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

A quiet restaurant patio in Beijing gave way to a violent street brawl involving deep ethnic tensions Sunday. And it was all caught on camera.

The fight reportedly broke out after Tibetan vendors were blocked from selling jewelry. These types of ethnic clashes are rarely reported in Chinese media. Also notable was the man behind the camera: (Via Sky News)

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, one of the most prominent domestic protesters of China’s authoritarian government. (Ai Weiwei / "Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn")

He helped build the “Bird’s Nest” stadium that hosted the 2008 Olympics.

But his clashes with Chinese authorities have also landed him under house arrest and placed him under heavy surveillance. (Via CBS)

Ai captured the video Sunday while at dinner with his mother. Police refused to talk to reporters about injuries or arrests, but Ai says the fight broke out between Han and Tibetan vendors — two ethnic groups with a complex history of tensions. (Via BBC)

Chinese control of Tibet and increased Han immigration into the culturally-distinct region has spurred deep-seeded resentment toward China’s government for Tibetans, many of whom support a separate Tibetan state. (Via Al Jazeera)

In Beijing, where the fight broke out, Tibetans make up only four percent of the capital’s population of 20 million.

Pope Francis Canonizes 800 Saints, Stirs Up Controversy

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:49:19 -0500

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(Image source: L'Osservatore Romano)

BY ELIZABETH HAGEDORN

Pope Francis has only been pope for two months, but as of Sunday he’s proclaimed more saints than any of his predecessors — canonizing hundreds of Italians who were beheaded in the 15th century.

Tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square to watch the pope’s first canonization ceremony. Among the new saints are 813 Italians known as the “Martyrs of Otranto.” Ottoman Turkish invaders slaughtered them in 1480 for refusing to convert to Islam. (Via The Vatican, CBC)

The approval for sainthood actually came from Pope Benedict, who had stirred anger in the past for some controversial comments about Islam. Al Jazeera and the BBC report why some are interpreting the decision as anti-Islamic and how this could put a strain on the Vatican’s already fragile relationship with the Muslim world.

“It’s an attempt by the pope to remind the world that many Christians are still being persecuted for their religion. He didn’t name any names, he didn’t single out any particular states.”

“During his homily on Sunday, Pope Francis defended the decision to canonize the martyrs, but given the sensitivity of the issue, was this a good parting gift from Benedict XVI, or was it an unwelcome inheritance?”

The pope’s homily reportedly made no mention of Islam, and the Vatican later stressed the decision should be understood within its “historical context.” (Via CTV)

Pope Francis has made it clear he wants to salvage the church’s relationship with Islam. Days after his election, he called for improved dialogue between the two religions and raised eyebrows when he broke from tradition to include a Muslim woman in a foot-washing ritual. (Via CBS)

Pope Francis also bestowed the church’s highest honor on two Latin American women, including the first saint from Colombia.

Dramatic Video of Britain's Most Wanted Fugitive Captured

Sun, 12 May 2013 16:02:03 -0500

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(Image source: Policia Nacional M Interior)

BY CANDICE AVILES

One of Britain’s most wanted fugitives was captured Sunday, and the action was all caught on camera. Take a look.

With striking resemblances to a Hollywood action movie, police crawled on surrounding rooftops, swarmed Andrew Moran, rushed the area and after a short pursuit tied him up. (Via National Police Corps of Spain)

“Moran has been one of Britain’s top-10 most wanted people since October 2011, part of a gang which held up a royal mail van in Lancashire in 2005.” (Via Sky News)

In that robbery, Moran and others reportedly stole 25,000 pounds from the guards and assaulted an officer. Moran was arrested in 2007 for the brutal robbery. However, he fled from his trial in 2009 and left the country. (Via International Business Times)

Despite his absence, he was convicted. Thus began his four years on the run. He had several disguises and never stayed in one area too long. Police tracked him down in 2012, but he reportedly got away after ramming two police vehicles and speeding down the road the wrong way. (Via Channel 4 UK)

Authorities’ next attempt to capture him Sunday was a success. Moran was relaxing near the pool in a luxury villa in Spain’s Costa Blanca when he was caught off guard.

“At the hideaway in Spain where he was finally caught, police also discovered a cache of weapons, ammunition and mobile phones.” (Via BBC)

Moran will appear in court in Madrid on Monday and will then be extradited to Britain.

Once Exiled, Nawaz Sharif Again Takes Power in Pakistan

Sun, 12 May 2013 09:07:15 -0500

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(Image source: The New York Times / Tyler Hicks)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

In 1999, he was removed from power in a military coup, then exiled from his home country of Pakistan. But Sunday, Nawaz Sharif claimed victory in his path back to the role of prime minister.

Sharif’s Muslim League party scooped up at least 100 of the 272 parliamentary seats in the weekend’s elections — enough that the former prime minister should be able to form a majority in the government with the help of independents. (Via BBC)

The election is part of Pakistan’s first successful transition between two democratic governments in the nation’s 66-year history. Despite Taliban attacks targeting polling stations (Via The New York Times) ...

...Pakistan saw its largest voter turnout in decades — close to 60 percent. The incumbent Pakistan People’s Party lost many seats, perhaps in part because their secular status forced them to curb campaigning efforts under threat of the Taliban. (Via Al Jazeera)

For Sharif, this marks a major comeback. He was ousted by military leader Pervez Musharaf in 1999 and given a prison sentence. Striking a deal with Saudi Arabia, he spent time in exile there before returning in 2007. (Via YouTube / ImranKhanSheikRaseed, Flickr / U.S. Department of State)

Former cricket player Imran Khan was perhaps the favorite heading into the weekend’s election. The BBC reports his Movement of Justice party will likely win fewer than 40 seats in all.

Top Headlines: Police End New Jersey Hostage Situation

Sun, 12 May 2013 06:22:25 -0500

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(Image source: MSNBC)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s your top news headlines from Newsy.

Police in Trenton, New Jersey say a 36-hour hostage situation came to an end early Sunday. Three children were rescued sometime before 5 a.m. eastern time. It’s been reported the children’s father held them at gunpoint. (Via MSNBC)

Authorities refused to confirm whether a woman and child had already been killed in the home where the hostage situation played out. A news conference is set for 9 a.m. (Via USA Today)

In Pakistan, a man once ousted in a military coup, then exiled is now set to once again become the nation’s prime minister. Al Jazeera reports Nawaz Sharif declared victory Sunday, after a historically high voter turnout of about 60 percent.

This would mark the first successful democratic transition between two administrations in all of Pakistan’s 66-year history. The nation’s record-high voter turnout came despite Taliban attacks at several campaign headquarters. (Via The New York Times)

And Fox News reports IRS officials were aware of the service’s targeting of Tea Party groups as early as 2011. The IRS apologized Friday for its actions but blamed low-level employees and said top tier officials had no idea.

Earlier this week, the IRS admitted to unfairly targeting conservative political groups, auditing them in higher numbers than left-leaning counterparts and checking more often to see if they violated their tax-exempt status. (Via The Christian Science Monitor)

And in the NBA playoffs, the Indiana Pacers outpaced the New York Kicks, 82-71 Saturday night. That puts the Pacers up two games to one in the series, coasting on a 24-point performance from Roy Hibbert. (Via ESPN)

Stay with us for more throughout the day. I’m Zach Toombs for Newsy, highlighting your top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

Pickaxe Rampage in Italy Kills 1, Injures 4

Sat, 11 May 2013 19:05:20 -0500

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(Image source: Sky News)

BY CANDICE AVILES AND MICHELLE SCHUELKE

A man reportedly responsible for a deadly rampage in Italy is in custody. He allegedly killed at least one man and injured four others with a pickaxe.

The BBC reports 21-year-old Mada Kabobo, a Ghanaian immigrant, was responsible for the frenzy in Milan. He was in the the country illegally and is no stranger to police. He had previously been arrested for a variety of offenses including theft and robbery.

But what motivated Kabobo’s attack on Saturday is still unclear. One witness to the crime described the disturbing scene to Sky News.

“The attacker wildly swung the pickaxe, running down streets and ferociously striking passers-by, mainly on the head.” One man stuck on the head fell to the ground, and the attacker reportedly continued to hit him with the pickaxe.

As Kabobo was being arrested, he was uncooperative and continued saying he was hungry and had no home.

“Police blocked him with difficulty. He was in an evident state of marked psychological stress.”

Kabobo was put in jail while he is investigated for murder and two counts of attempted murder for the two people who were critically wounded. The force of the attacks reportedly broke the handle of the pickaxe. (Via Sky Italia)

The victim who died was a 40-year-old man who was on his way to a cafe. Out of the four injured, two were seriously injured and two had less-severe injuries.

Record Voter Turnout at Violence-Stricken Pakistan Elections

Sat, 11 May 2013 12:41:49 -0500

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Image Source: The New York Times

BY CHARESSE JAMES

Violence at polling stations haven’t stopped record voting turnout in Pakistan’s general elections Saturday.

“People are determined themselves to stand up to the Taliban and have their voices heard and come out and vote. … Every polling station has a queue outside it.” (Via CNN)

This isn’t just any election. Despite being the country’s 11th general election, the outgoing government is the first to have completed its five-year term. So this is Pakistan's first democratic transition in the country’s 66-year history.

“...a crucial moment in Pakistani history … Whoever forms the next government with face the urgent task of restoring economic growth, combating terrorist attacks from the Pakistan Taliban” (Via Financial Times)

In Pakistan’s short existence, the nation has undergone three military coups and has been ruled primarily by generals amid political turmoil. And the lack of military interference in this election has made it, as The New York Times calls it, a vibrant race.

“...this time the military has largely steered clear of getting involved in the election. There have been few allegations of manipulation by the military’s Inter Services-Intelligence Directorate, which in previous elections had bribed or intimidated candidates to obtain a result favorable to the military leadership.”

The country has been in the throes of election fever for the past several weeks. As the people elect members of the national parliament and four provincial assemblies, they will also choose between re-electing former president Asif Ali Zardari or two frontrunners for Prime Minister:

Nawaz Sharif: head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. He hopes to become prime minister for the third time after being ousted and exiled by the military in 1999, and losing the 2008 election after his return to Pakistan in 2007. (Via Telegraph)

And Imran Khan, a popular Pakistani cricket player and founder of the Movement for Justice Party, has appealed to a largely young, urban demographic disenchanted with politicians and corruption within the system. (Via NPR)

“In all, 85 million registered voters will cast their ballots. Approximately 40 million of them are expected to be first time voters. They will elect close to 1000 members of the National and Provincial assemblies.” (Via IBN Live)

Long lines were reported at some stations, with waits of at least three hours. Pakistanis hope their vote will usher in reform in a country battling corruption, a struggling economy, security threats and a failing infrastructure. But, in some cities, the election was marred by Taliban violence. (Via IndiaTV)

“Within hours of opening, violence was reported in several areas. In Karachi, at least 10 people have been killed and dozens injured … There were also attacks in the cities of Peshawar and Quetta. Fatalities have been reported.” (Via euronews)

The Taliban has waged a war in Pakistan for years, attempting to enforce Islamic Sharia law. Over the past month, members of the organization have reportedly killed more than 100 people in attacks meant to stop moderate and left-leaning politicians from campaigning. (Via RT)

Polls closed Saturday at 6 p.m. local time. According to The New York Times, aside from more traditional politicians, the long list of candidates included astrologers, transgendered people, former models and the first female candidates in the tribal belt along the Afghan border. More than half of the roughly 70,000 polling stations around the country were classified as ‘at risk of an attack’ by the Taliban.

Former Guatemala Leader Guilty of Genocide

Sat, 11 May 2013 09:28:04 -0500

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(Image source: Al Jazeera)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Three decades after the massacre of Guatemala’s Ixil people, the military leader who gave the order has been found guilty of genocide.

The courtroom erupted Saturday with calls of “Justice, justice,” as former General Efrain Rios Montt heard his verdict: guilty on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity — an 80-year prison sentence for the 83-year-old man. (Via Al Jazeera)

Rios Montt took charge of a military junta in the early 1980s — right at the peak of Guatemala’s civil war between the government and leftist groups. The country’s military labeled the Ixil people as guerilla fighters (Via YouTube / laverdadlibre) …

… leading to the deaths of almost 1,800 men, women and children. Members of the tribes, remnants of the Mayan civilization that once spanned Central America, claim the raping of women by government troops was especially widespread. (Via YouTube / Amnesty International)

Rios Montt and his supporters have claimed any decisions he made as the leader of those troops was in the heat of battle. But after hearing testimony from 100 witnesses over five weeks, a judge found the general guilty of war crimes. (Via The New York Times)

Rios Montt will begin serving his sentence immediately, but he’s expected to appeal the decision. A human rights group in the U.S. says in just 17 months, between 1982-83, more than 5 percent of all the Ixil people were killed.

Top Headlines: Violence Looms Over Pakistani Elections

Sat, 11 May 2013 06:55:50 -0500

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(Image source: Al Jazeera)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s a look at your top news headlines from Newsy.

Pakistan’s democratic election of a new prime minister has carried on, despite the ongoing threat of terror attacks. Saturday, two bombings in the port city Karachi killed 10 people and injured 37 others, says Al Jazeera.

If voting continues as scheduled and a new leader is chosen and appointed, it would mark the first time in Pakistan’s 65-year history that the country has successfully passed power from one campaign to the next publicly. (Via The Guardian)

Malcolm Shabazz is reportedly dead after a bar fight in Mexico. Twenty-eight-year-old Shabazz had taken up the cause of his grandfather Malcolm X, and met with a local activist leader earlier in the day. (Via USA Today)

NBC notes Shabazz had a turbulent childhood. After his grandfather was assassinated, Shabazz’s mother was indicted on attempts to kill Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who was rumored to have been involved in Malcolm X’s death.

And the Internal Revenue Service has apologized for singling out conservative political groups for audits — specifically groups with the words “Tea Party” right in their name. (Via CNN)

Congressional Republicans have jumped on the story, demanding transparency and apologies. Super PACs and other 501(c) political action groups receive tax exemptions through a number of tax code loopholes. (Via The New York Times)

And in sports, the Miami Heat topped the Chicago Bulls to go up 2-1 games in the teams’ playoff series. Heat star Lebron James was accused of faking an injury by Chicago’s coach in one play, but he posted a solid performance, putting up 20 points in all. (Via ESPN)

Stay with us for more throughout the day. I’m Zach Toombs for Newsy, highlighting your top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

Bangladesh Survivor Found 17 Days After Building Collapse

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:04:00 -0500

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(Image source: Anisur Rahman / The Daily Star)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

Reports out of Bangladesh say rescuers have found a woman alive in the rubble of a collapsed building — 17 days later.

Media outlets are calling the rescue miraculous, considering the building collapse was the worst the country’s ever seen — and the fact that she appeared nearly unscathed. A garment worker, Reshma clung to life in the basement, relying on food and water that lasted until two days ago. (Via Somoy TV)

This news comes after word the death toll had passed 1,000. More than 2,500 people were injured in the building that housed a garment factory. (Via BBC)

Al Jazeera reports more than 600 bodies have been returned to families so far. (Via Al Jazeera)

The collapse is now considered the worst disaster in the history of the garment industry. (Via Euronews)

The New York Times reports rescuers recently gave up any hope of finding more survivors. Just days earlier, crews began using heavy machinery to quickly clear debris from the site.

Before now, the last survivor was found at the end of April, but she was not as fortunate. Rescue workers spent hours trying to pull the woman out. But a fire broke out, complicating those efforts and eventually killing the woman. (Via The Guardian)

Xinhua reports more than 2,437 people have been pulled alive from the ruins. Twelve people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the collapse.

Top News Headlines: Bangladesh Collapse Survivor Found

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:23:00 -0500

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(Image source: BBC)

BY NATHAN BYRNE

Reports out of Bangladesh say rescuers have found a woman alive in the rubble of a collapsed building — 17 days later.

This news comes after word the death toll had passed 1,000. More than 2,500 people were injured in the building that housed a garment factory.

(Via BBC)

Al Jazeera reports more than 600 bodies have been returned to families.

(Via Al Jazeera)

The family of suspected Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro is speaking out against him. In an exclusive interview with CNN, his daughter — Angie Gregg — said, “he’s dead to me.”

Angie Gregg: “We don’t have monster in our blood.”

CNN reporter: “You never want to talk to your dad again?”

Angie Gregg: “I have no problem cutting him out of my life … (FLASH) I never want to see him again.”

The Cuyahoga County prosecutor says he’ll seek aggravated murder charges against Castro. He could face the death penalty.

(Via The Plain Dealer)

The U.S. government is cracking down on 3D-printed guns —

saying online sharing of the files used to make the guns might violate exporting restrictions. The State Department issued a letter to Defense Distributed — the nonprofit group sharing those files.

(Via WNYW)

In that letter, the State Department expressed concern the file-sharing may have violated international regulations designed to keep gun-making tools away from what The Verge called “blacklisted countries.”

According to CNET — Defense Distributed’s founder, Cody Wilson, complied and took down the blueprints. The files have been downloaded than 100,000 times in just a couple of days.

Finally, it’s about time we get a 3D smartphone, right? The Wall Street Journal is reporting Amazon plans to get into the smartphone game and do just that — citing sources who say, “Using retina-tracking technology, images on the smartphone would seem to float above the screen like a hologram and appear three-dimensional at all angles … ”

And in case seeing isn’t believing, wait until you hear this — Amazon is reportedly working on something called Project A, B, C and D, or the Alphabet Projects, which are rumored to include both smartphones and audio-streaming devices.

(Via Mashable)

Nazi-Themed Wagner Opera Canceled in Germany

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:57:00 -0500

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(Image source: Deutsche Oper am Rhein)

BY ELISA LOPEZ AGUADO

You wouldn’t expect an opera to cause psychological and physical stress to the audience, but Wagner’s “Tannhauser” opera has been canceled at the Düsseldorf Rhine Opera House in Germany after controversial scenes involving Nazis caused audience members to seek medical attention.

According to the BBC, the opera house tried to convince the director of the “Tannhauser” production, Burkhard Kosminski, to change the harrowing scenes, but he refused to do so for “artistic reasons.”

Some of the disturbing scenes showed death in gas chambers and people getting their heads shaved before being executed.

Opera composer Richard Wagner was a known anti-Semite. Hitler was one of his bigger fans. Kosminski said he aimed to address the composer’s values in this opera.

The “Tannhauser” opera theme focuses on the struggle between sacred and profane love and redemption through pure love, but Kosminski intended to depict it through the lens of the World War II massacre.

CBC reports the goddess of love, Venus, is depicted as a Nazi officer, and in one scene, as naked performers appear on stage in smoke-filled gas chambers, she orders the main character to murder them.

The Daily Mail notes community leaders have condemned the production. The head of Düsseldorf’s Jewish community calls it tasteless, saying “Survivors are likely to find the provocative handling of Nazi history in this Tannhaeuser production quite painful.” Israel’s ambassador to Germany said he was displeased, and angry critics told Kosminski his production was “a travesty of German culture.”

The Düsseldorf Rhine Opera House has confirmed the “Tannhauser” will only be performed as a concert for the remaining dates starting Thursday.

One of NYPD's Most-Wanted Fugitives Found in U.K.

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:48:00 -0500

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(Image source: WABC)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

One of America’s most-wanted fugitives who skipped bail nine years ago has been found living in a small town in England.

Forty-seven-year-old Sean Lopes was wanted for the attempted murder and kidnapping of his ex-girlfriend in 2004. Authorities say he confronted his ex with a gun and a knife before holding her hostage in New York.

(via WABC)

Lopes reportedly went missing after he was released on bail. The next year he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

(via BBC)

ITV reports police in England worked with U.S. authorities to track down and arrest Lopes.

“Police here eventually caught up with him in New Road, Chatham. They arrested him after a tipoff from somebody who had become suspicious about him.”

The Daily Mirror reports Lopes was leading a double life with a wife and two children for the last three years. And his neighbors never suspected a thing.

Investigators believe Lopes used his brother’s travel documents to evade capture.

Ex-Pakistani PM's Son Believed Kidnapped, Shot

Thu, 09 May 2013 08:53:00 -0500

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(Image source: Imaginator1982 / Wikimedia Commons)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

The search is on for the son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. He claims his son, Ali Haider was abducted during an election rally Thursday.

According to The Express Tribune, gunmen opened fire and then kidnapped Ali in the city of Multan. Police say Yousuf was actually the target, but the attackers went for his son instead when they couldn’t kill the ex-prime minister.

Ali was reportedly shot and witnesses say attackers dragged him into a car after that. Two others have died, including Ali’s personal secretary. Ali is a candidate for the Pakistan Peoples' Party, which hosted the political gathering. (Via Geo TV)

National Turk says no group has taken responsibility for the attack. However, Yousuf allegedly received death threats beforehand from a local Taliban group based in Pakistan.

This comes on the last day for campaigning before the election. And Pakistan has been plagued by numerous attacks over the last month.

The BBC reports dozens have been killed. The Pakistani Taliban say they are targeting certain parties like this one, the Awami National Party and the MQM because they are deemed to be too liberal.

Despite this, elections would mark the first time in Pakistan’s 65-year history a legislature completed its entire term — something NBC says would pave “the way for the possibility of a peaceful transition of power from one civilian government to the next.”

Elections are set for Saturday. However Ali’s older brother says the PPP will not hold elections in any constituency of Multan unless Ali is found and recovered by Thursday evening.

Dennis Rodman Asks Kim Jong Un to Release Ken Bae

Wed, 08 May 2013 18:32:58 -0500

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(Image source: Facebook / Remember Ken Bae)

BY ELISA LOPEZ AGUADO AND ELAINE STOCKDALE

“Friends for life” usually help each other out, don’t they? Well, ex-basketball star Dennis Rodman appears to think so. Rodman has asked friend and Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un to “do him a solid” and free Kenneth Bae.

Bae, a U.S. citizen, was arrested last November for allegedly conspiring to commit “hostile acts” against North Korea, including entering North Korea under a false identity. He was convicted last month and sentenced to 15 years in a labor camp. (Via Facebook / Remember Ken Bae)

According to The New York Times, Bae was leading a group of businessmen from China. Human rights activists and Bae’s sister say he had visited North Korea several times and was interested in helping orphans.

Rodman was apparently influenced in his decision by a Seattle Times op-ed piece which noted the bizarre friendship the star has with the leader, writing: “Dennis Rodman should ask pal Kim Jong Un to release Kenneth Bae.”

The former NBA star became aware of the article, tweeting Tuesday, “In direct response to your article … I'm calling on the Supreme Leader of North Korea or as I call him ‘Kim’, to do me a solid and cut Kenneth Bae loose.” (Via Twitter / @dennisrodman)

Rodman visited North Korea earlier this year and, much to the media’s surprise, partied with Kim Jong Un. Rodman now considers the leader a confidant and lifelong friend, despite tension between North Korea and the U.S.

“I understand what he’s doing, i don't condone that, i hate the fact that he’s doing that. But the fact is you know what, as a human being, he let his guard down, he did one thing to me, been a friend ... ” (Via ABC)

CNN reports that Rodman is not an official diplomat between North Korea and the United States, and confirmed the visit from the ex-NBA star wasn’t endorsed by the U.S. State Department.

Bae is the sixth American to be arrested in North Korea since 2009. Over the past several months, the North Korean government has made threats against the U.S. and reportedly tested a nuclear device back in February.

$50M Diamond Heist Followed by 30+ Arrests

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:48:00 -0500

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(Image source: USA Today)

BY KERRY LEARY

More than 30 arrests have been made in connection with one of the biggest diamond heists of all time. Armed robbers got away with $50 million in diamonds at the airport in Brussels, Belgium.

The rough and polished stones were being transported from Antwerp to Zurich, when professional thieves got away with the diamonds on the runway.

(Via NDTV)

The gang cut through perimeter fence near a building site and drove parallel to the busy runway in two cars.

“Suddenly, what looked like two police vehicles, one of them a Mercedes van, raced up to the aircraft, blue lights flashing. Eight armed men wearing police uniforms and balaclavas that hid their faces jumped out."

(Via The Los Angeles Times)

“They knew where to go — stopping a Swiss airline and holding three people at gunpoint — stealing bags of uncut diamonds that had been unloaded from a Brink security truck.”

(Via CNN)

“In just three minutes they grabbed the diamonds from the cargo hold. It took them only two more minutes to speed off ... It was a very quick hit and run. Very well organized.”

(Via ABC)

The heist happened last February — and after coordinated raids in France, Belgium and Switzerland — Belgian prosecutors have announced 31 people have been detained.

In the Geneva raids in particular — a businessman and a lawyer are said to be among those in custody.

(Via HLN)

They have not recovered all of the diamonds — but they did seize cash, diamonds and luxury cars. According to Belgian prosecutors, of the 31 arrests — one was in France, six in Switzerland — and the rest near Brussels.

7 Killed as Container Ship Hits Tower in Genoa

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:33:00 -0500

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(Image source: Sky News)

BY ELISA LOPEZ AGUADO

At least seven people died and still more are missing off the coast of Italy after a container ship crashed Tuesday night against a control tower.

The incident happened at around 11 p.m., but emergency services are still investigating the area looking for survivors. (Via Sky News)

The ship, called the Jolly Nero, hit the tower with its prow, or the most forward part of the ship.

NBC News reports the tower was hit during a shift change, so more people were in it than usual.

The 164-feet-tall control tower, similar to one in airports, toppled into the harbor. The BBC notes some of the victims were trapped in an elevator that fell into the dark water.

Weather conditions were perfect at the moment of the collision, and the cause of the accident remains uncertain.

But the head of the Genoa Port Authority, Luigi Merlo, told a local newspaper the Jolly Nero “should not have been where it was... It was too big for being in that position."

The Guardian reports on a theory laid out Wednesday which suggests two of the engines of the container ship jammed, rendering the Jolly Nero out of control.

Although it’s the first time an incident of this type is occurring in Italy’s busiest port, the crash has stirred up the debate questioning overall safety in Italian waters. It’s been just over a year since the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster that killed 32 people.

Report Ranks Best and Worst Countries for Moms

Tue, 07 May 2013 22:17:27 -0500

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(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY SOLE MALDONADO AYUSO

European countries, in particular those of Scandinavia, may be the best places in the world for expectant mothers, according to Save the Children’s annual ranking report.

The humanitarian organization released its yearly State of the World’s Mothers report Tuesday. The study ranks 168 countries by criteria including child mortality, maternal mortality, and the economic, education and political status of women.

The Daily Mail reports, political status is a factor “because when women have a voice in politics, issues important to mothers and children are more likely to surface on the national agenda.”

The 2013 report considers Finland the best place in the world to be a mother and the Republic of the Congo the worst. Save the Children’s media director said:

“If you are a mum in Finland ... You have great education, you have good chances of income, you’ve got a really low risk of dying in childbirth and very high chances of your child surviving." (Via Euronews)

In the Republic of Congo, and in many Sub-Saharan countries, the situation is just the opposite. Every year, 48,000 infants die the day they are born due to malnourishment, and many others don’t live beyond their first few months. (Via The Telegraph)

The Christian Science Monitor reports, besides malnutrition, income and access to medical care are also problems for mothers in those countries. Hospitals are often far away and many mothers lack the ability to pay for care.

According to Voice of America, there are cheap and simple interventions that could help lower the death rate for newborns in those countries: steroid injections for the mother, injectable antibiotics for the newborn, along with resuscitation devices.

Globally, child mortality rates are continuing to decrease, but there are still many parts of the world where the rate remains stubbornly high, including the United States.

“Shockingly over 11,000 American moms will lose their babies during that first day of life. That’s the highest rate of any industrialized country.” (Via Save The Children)

Babies born to low-income mothers are most at risk, and the U.S. has the highest rate of income inequality in the Western world.

Pentagon Accuses China of Cyber Attacks on U.S.

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:57:55 -0500

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(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY SCOTT MALONE

For the first time, the Pentagon is directly accusing the Chinese government of involvement in a series of cyber attacks on U.S. computers and defense contractors.

According to a new report from the Pentagon, some computer intrusions carried out by hackers in China “appear to be attributable directly to the Chinese government and military.” (Via WABC)

Chinese officials called these latest allegations groundless and “reflect the U.S. distrust of China.” (Via Press TV)

Chinese officials also say they would be open to a constructive dialogue with the U.S. about cybercrime, and both countries should combat it as a global threat, together. But one analyst told ABC these latest claims by the U.S. government could be the beginning of a serious conflict.

“These are the kind of things that, you know, 10 years from now we could say this was the beginning of something that led to a war between the U.S. and China. … These are the kinds of things that, again, accidents happen when tensions are high, and tensions are definitely building up.”

But the U.S. has pointed fingers at China’s government over alleged cyber attacks before.

Several months ago, U.S. cybersecurity firm Mandiant claimed to have tracked Chinese cyber hacking efforts to this government-owned building in Shanghai. The firm also alleged the hacking efforts were part of a secret division of China’s military. (Via CNN)

And in March, President Obama’s national security adviser Tom Donilon demanded Beijing recognize the problem, commit to cracking down on hackers in China and agree to help establish global standards for cyberspace. (Via The New York Times)

Again, Chinese officials did say they were open to a constructive talk with the U.S. about cybercrime. Beijing also claims they are the victims of cyber attacks based in the U.S.

Volcanic Eruption in Philippines Kills 5

Tue, 07 May 2013 07:56:47 -0500

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(Image source: Twitter / @pinkruffa15 )

BY COLLIN RUANE

A large volcano in the Philippines erupted early Tuesday morning killing at least five climbers and injuring as many as seven others who are reported in critical condition.

MATT O’DONNELL: “The group of about 20 mountaineers were caught by surprise when the volcano started spewing huge rocks and ash.” (Via WPVI)

According to the Philippine Star, the hikers were more than four hours into their climb when Mt. Mayon erupted. The dead include four Germans and a local climbing guide.

Locals are being warned to keep a six-kilometer radius around the volcano, but GMA News reports this eruption is only a “mild event.”

The latest eruption was more than three years ago, but the last notable volcanic activity happened nearly 30 years ago in 1984.

But the latest eruption still brought destruction to the area. Witnesses report volcanic rock as large as a living room crashing down near them. The climbers who were killed were stuck by those rocks. (Via Daily Express)

Unlike Mt. Mayon’s last eruption in 2009, evacuation orders are not expected in the area which many farmers call home.

According to CNN: “Mayon's slopes, like many volcanoes in the country, are home to thousands of farming communities who make use of the fertile soils provided by the volcanic activity despite the occasional risk of eruption.”

Mt. Mayon has erupted about 40 times since the 1600s. Extended volcanic activity is not expected in the area, although experts warn another eruption could come at a moment’s notice.

Top Headlines: USAF Abuse Prevention Officer Arrested

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:27:35 -0500

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(Image source: Wikimedia Commons / Arlington County PD)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s your top news headlines from Newsy.

The officer who leads the U.S. Air Force sexual prevention program was arrested for groping Monday. 41-year-old Lt. Col. Jeff Krusinski allegedly approached a woman in a Virginia parking lot after a few drinks. (Via NBC)

If the allegations prove true, it’s an embarrassing episode for both the lt. col. and the Pentagon, which has attempted to step up its sexual assault prevention efforts in recent years. Krusinski has been removed from his post for the time being. (Via Wikimedia Commons)

And the passengers of the limo fire that killed five women and the driver of that limo told differing accounts to press Monday. The driver, Orville Brown, says he mistook the passengers’ calls for him to pull over because of smoke as a request to smoke cigarettes. (Via KGO)

But Nelia Arellano, one of the surviving passengers, says Brown didn’t misunderstand — he just didn’t want to listen. The cause is still unknown. The women were celebrating the marriage of Neriza Fojas, who is among the dead. (Via USA Today)

And the U.S. has lobbed another suspicious glance toward Chinese cyber hacking. A new report from the Pentagon says computer crimes carried out by hackers in the country "appear to be attributable directly to the Chinese government and military." (Via NPR)

Months ago, U.S. cybersecurity firm Mandiant claimed to have traced Chinese cyber hacking back to this government facility in Shanghai. According to a new survey of U.S. businesses in China, 42 percent of them say the country’s cybercrime problem is getting worse. (Via CNN)

And also in the far east, China’s leadership has rebuked Israel for its airstrikes in Syria over the weekend. Israel’s President Benjamin Netanyahu is currently in China on a state visit. China’s government called on Israel to respect the sovereignty of foreign nations. (Via BBC)

Stay with us for more throughout the day. For Newsy, I’m Zach Toombs, highlighting your top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

Benghazi Whistleblower Contradicts White House Account

Mon, 06 May 2013 23:43:03 -0500

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(Image Source: Al Jazeera)

BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

Recently-released testimony from a former U.S. diplomat suggests the September 11, 2012 attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya could’ve been prevented if special operations teams had not been told to stand down.

Gregory Hicks, former deputy to the late U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, gave a private testimony to congressional investigators April 11. Excerpts from Hicks’ written account were released Monday and reveal new information on how the military responded the night of the attack. (Via CBS)

According to Hicks, a second team of Special Operations Forces were prepared to fly from Tripoli to Benghazi to help stave off the attacks. But the Special Forces officers were told they didn’t have the authority to go, and missed their flight. (Via Fox News)

This account from Hicks contradicts assertions made by the Obama administration that all possible resources were utilized.

Bloomberg cites a Pentagon timeline released in November that showed “less than three hours after the initial attack on the Benghazi mission, Panetta authorized the deployment of Marine Corps anti- terrorism teams to Benghazi and Tripoli from Rota, Spain, as well preparation of a Europe-based special operations team.”

Hicks added that he requested U.S. aircraft to fly over Benghazi in an attempt to deter attackers, but the U.S. did not seek permission to enter Libyan airspace. NBC reports U.S. military officials confirmed Hicks’ account late Monday.

A writer for The Daily Beast reports “It’s unlikely any outside military team could have arrived in Benghazi quickly enough to save Ambassador Chris Stevens or his colleague Sean Smith... But military backup may have made a difference at around five the following morning, when a second wave of attackers assaulted the CIA annex where embassy personnel had taken refuge.”

According to USA Today, Hicks will be one of three so-called State Department “whistleblowers” called to testify at a hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The hearing will explore why the State Department never activated the Foreign Emergency Support Team — a group that deals with crisis situations.

Former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti Dies

Mon, 06 May 2013 21:36:21 -0500

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(Image Source: euronews)

BY SOLE MALDONADO AYUSO

Seven-time Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti died in Rome Monday at the age of 94.

The Christian Democrat politician entered Italian Parliament in 1947 and was elected Prime Minister seven times between 1972 and 1992, becoming Italy’s most powerful post-war leader. (Via BBC)

According to The New York Times, Andreotti held important positions in the Italian government while the country “overcame wartime destruction and the threat of Stalinist totalitarianism, coped with staggering social problems and labor discontent, faced down terrorists, and struggled against organized crime.”

But for many, Andreotti will be remembered as the prime minister most often tied to the Mafia.

During the mid-1990s, Andreotti was accused of being a protector of the mafia in Rome. He was also accused of being involved with 1979 murder of journalist Mino Pecorelli who was investigating his relationship with the mafia. (Via YouTube)

The Guardian reports the judges involved in the investigation acquitted Andreotti but affirmed the former prime minister’s “concrete collaboration” with the mafia before 1980 that gave the crime bosses “a feeling of being protected at the highest level.”

The 1990s investigations ended the Christian Democratic Party and Andreotti’s own career, though Andreotti always maintained his innocence. The Italian Parliament held a moment of silence Monday to honor the influential politician. (Via euronews)

Andreotti will be buried in Rome on Tuesday.

Child Abuse Ad Has Hidden Message Aimed at Children

Mon, 06 May 2013 20:10:52 -0500

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(Image source: Anar Foundation)

BY ELAINE STOCKDALE

A Spanish organization has developed a one-of-a-kind advertisement in an attempt to reach out to victims of child abuse.

“A message exclusively for them hidden from adults eyes. ... We can determine which image will be seen by which person and this way we find an area only visible by children under 10.” (Via YouTube / Grey Spain)

The advertisement was made using lenticular printing, revealing two different images when you look at it from different angles. (Via Ad Week)

An adult looking at the ad see’s a child, with the warning message, “Sometimes, child abuse is only visible to the child suffering it.” But children looking at the ad see the same child with cuts and bruises on his face, along with a child abuse organization’s hotline number and the message, “If somebody hurts you, phone us and we’ll help you.” (Via Gadgets Magazine)

The group behind the ad, the Aid to Children and Adolescents at Risk Foundation, manages the hotline. It says the goal of the ad is to provide at-risk kids with the opportunity to speak up and report their abuse.

Reactions to the ad have generally been positive, praising the advertising company Grey Spain for the clever use of the new technology.

But Yahoo! reports some people wonder whether, by making a big deal out of the ad and how it works, “the ad campaign might be less effective, since everyone has now been let in on the secret.”

But a writer for Popular Photography says the story surrounding the ad could be more effective than the ad itself. “It's certainly done a lot to make people talk about the issue, and broadcast [the foundation]’s helpline far more widely than it might otherwise have been seen.”

In the U.S., a report by the Department of Health and Human Services showed very few cases of child abuse are exposed by the children themselves, with most discoveries coming from schools, police or agencies.

School With No Tests? Here's How the Kids Turned Out

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:09:44 -0500

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(Image Source: Behance)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

An elementary school with no homework or tests? Probably sounds like a dream for most kids, and it was one that came true in 1972 when Canada’s ALPHA Alternative School opened its doors.

ALPHA, an acronym for A Lot of Parents Hoping for an Alternative, bans just about everything a traditional school is all about. (Via ALPHA Alternative School)

With multi-age group classrooms and an emphasis on arts and imagination — the school provides a different way of learning. (Via Youtube / Stephen Cooper)

But what effect does such an environment have by the time those youngsters reach adulthood? Well, as apart of ALPHA’s 40-year anniversary, Michael Barker, a Toronto photographer, caught up with some members of the inaugural class.

He took the adult’s portraits and matched them up with pictures from their younger years — also getting interviews about what they are doing now. The goal? To get a “sense of the long-term effects of this radical experiment in cooperative education.” (Via Behance)

Their paths varied. Some are working in home improvement or on cars. Others write, work with computers, or became nurses. (Via Michael Barker)

A writer for the Daily Mail points out that however different their life paths are “many of them followed more right-side-of-the-brain routes.” Also claiming that Barker’s project “shows how an elementary education truly influences someone’s life-path.”

But how much of an influence does a more free-flowing school environment actually have? And if it’s a positive impact why don’t all schools follow the same model? ALPHA isn’t the only school to adopt the no homework model — Finland’s school system does the same.

And it “surprised the world by ranking No.1 out of about 80 countries for the highest scores on a standardized test evaluating education systems in 2000.” The U.S. usually falls between 15 and 25. (Via The Morning Mast)

But on the flip side, one study done at Indiana University showed that homework, for example, is actually helpful in improving standardized test scores...

…Especially in math and science. The author of that study claims that the quality of homework is much more beneficial than the quantity.

ALPHA is still going strong today. The school houses grades 3-6 but keeps it exclusive — admitting only about 80 students a year.

Saudi Arabia Allows Sports for Girls' Schools

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:44:41 -0500

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(Image Source: The Inquisitr)

BY KERRY LEARY

In an historic shift, girls who attend private schools in Saudi Arabia are now allowed to compete in sports and physical activity — for the very first time.

“Women in Saudi Arabia are now officially allowed to practice sports... but only in private school. They are required to "dress modestly" and have appropriate equipment.”

(Via KWCH)

Dressing modestly means still wearing a full-coverage outfit while playing. This decision comes after the kingdom allowed two female athletes to compete in the 2012 London Olympics for the very first time.

“You remember watching those athletes running at the London Olympics was so symbolic, wasn’t it? That they were there to represent. They did not do very well in terms of medals and rankings but it was a symbolic victory.”

(Via The BBC)

Women in Saudi Arabia cannot marry, leave the country, go to school or open bank accounts without the permission from a male guardian. They also can’t run for public office without male consent. According to TIME, this may seem archaic and meaningless from the outside, but women in Saudi Arabia are beginning to experience "dizzying" changes.

CNN quotes a Saudi-women’s issues blogger who downplays the most recent decision, saying most private schools already have physical education programs — but it could test the waters for potential backlash from the rest of society.

The new ruling states private schools will provide equipment, coaching and appropriate areas to play and regulate sports. So, what’s next?

“Some observers believe that this is part of a larger decision that will soon affect public schools and universities which are very, as you know, gender separated.”

(Via KTTV)

This is just one step forward as the country grapples with women’s issues. In 2015, women will no longer need consent from their male counterparts to vote or run for office. That decision was revealed in September of last year.

Israeli, Palestinian Leaders Visit China Separately

Mon, 06 May 2013 10:11:17 -0500

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(Image Source: Haaretz / Ofer Vaknin)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders are in China today for talks with the country’s new leadership in what the BBC calls a sign of China's growing power and influence in the Middle East.

“This in some ways is symbolic of China's increased clout on the international stage. Although, it is worth pointing out that neither side has any plans to meet.”

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has been holding talks in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu will head to the capital late this week once Abbas leaves. [Video via Al Jazeera]

Chinese foreign ministry leaders have said they would help out if Israeli and Palestinian leaders want to arrange a meeting with each other, but CNN reports Israel’s priorities on this visit are economic, not political.

“Mr. Netanyahu wants to boost trade with China, which right now stands at about $8 billion a year between Israel and China. He is looking to raise that to about $10 billion in the next few years."

A professor at a Hebrew University in Jerusalem told Bloomberg “...Netanyahu may find it easier to sell China on Israel’s economy than persuade it to support harsher sanctions on Iran or tighten the screws on Syria.”

But the New York Times reports “Iran’s disputed nuclear program and the worsening violence in Syria” are two issues the leaders will likely touch on. Especially after the “Syrian government accused Israel of airstrikes near Damascus on Saturday, calling them an ‘act of war.’”

Talks might start off a bit tense. Israeli officials said the move was a strike on Iranian missiles headed for Lebanon but China issued a statement Monday criticizing the use of force.

Neo-Nazi Murder Trial Underway in Munich

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:44:11 -0500

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(Image source: Sky News)

BY COLLIN RUANE

A trial began Monday in Munich for the murders of nine Greek and Turkish immigrants and a police officer from 2000 to 2007.

38-year-old Beate Zschaepe is accused of being involved in the murders. She is also believed to have been a part of two bombings and 15 bank robberies. (Via Sky News)

Evidence in the unsolved murders was discovered in the apartment Zschaepe hid out in. She allegedly blew up the apartment before turning herself in. (Via Al Jazeera)

Zschaepe surrendered to police after her two accomplices died in an alleged suicide pact in 2011. According to euronews, they were able to defy the odds and go undetected by law enforcement after committing crimes well before the murders took place.

“The trio had been known to authorities during their teenage years … for their racist hate crimes and bomb making, but had managed to escape arrest and assume new identities.”

Zschaepe’s accomplices were the founders of National Socialist Underground, a neo-Nazi group which is accused of targeting immigrants for their ethnicities.

NPR adds victims’ relatives hope change, when it comes to racism, can come as a result of the trial.

And the issue of racism in Germany could be further magnified by the court’s choice of which journalists to allow into the courtroom during the trial. Those choices have arguably brought more media attention than the trial itself.

“[The court] caused an outcry in March after distributing press seats in a way that excluded media from Turkey and Greece — the countries of origin for nine of the 10 people that prosecutors said the group killed.” (Via Bloomberg)

Now critics are asking why it took so long to find a suspect in the first place. The BBC notes, law enforcement is on the offensive.

“Critics have accused authorities of turning a blind eye to the crimes of right-wing extremists … Officials deny this, saying mistakes occurred because the murders were spread across different regions, each with different police and security agencies.”

According to the Daily Mail, security is extremely tight as one of the most closely watched trials in decades is now underway in Munich.

Zschaepe is not accused of carrying out the murders. However, prosecutors believe she did assist in making decisions regarding the murders along with her accomplices.

U.N. Suspects Syrian Rebels Used Chemical Weapon

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:31:51 -0500

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(Image source: The New York Times / Tomas Munita)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Israel’s latest intervention in Syria was an effort to protect its own interests. But that — combined with new claims from the United Nations — might have opened the door for other Western action to aid the nation’s rebel fighters.

Airstrikes lit up the night sky in Damascus early Sunday. An Israeli bombing run targeted a weapons cache in the Syrian capital — weapons Israel says were headed for Hezbollah. Syria’s government claims 42 people were killed. (Via BBC)

David Sanger writes in The New York Times, U.S. British and French officials had weighed the option of American-led strikes in the days leading up to the Israeli attack. Now, hawkish U.S. lawmakers are calling Syrian air defenses into question.

JOHN MCCAIN: “The Israelis seem to be able to penetrate it fairly easily … We are capable of taking out their air on the ground with cruise missiles, cratering their runways..." (Via Fox News)

It’s been two years since a violent crackdown from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad led to rebels taking up arms against the government. The United Nations estimates 70,000 people have died in the civil war. And an official with the U.N... (Via Sky News)

...cited new evidence Monday that strongly indicates rebel forces, not the government, might have used the deadly nerve gas sarin. President Obama said last August the U.S. might intervene if Assad used chemical weapons on his own people. (Via Al Jazeera)

But the U.N. claim concerning rebel use of the agent throws a new factor into the crisis. A spokesman with the Free Syrian Army told media Monday rebels had neither the desire nor the capability to use chemical weapons.

At Least 14 Dead in Bangladesh Protests

Mon, 06 May 2013 07:30:31 -0500

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(Image source: RT)

BY COLLIN RUANE

At least 14 people have died in a massive protest in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka.

A radical Islamic group, known as Hefazat, is calling for strict anti-blasphemy laws in that country for anyone who defames Islam. (Via Sky News)

More specifically, the group is pinpointing bloggers who it believes are insulting the Muslim faith and the Prophet Mohammed. The BBC has more on what the group is asking for.

TRANSLATOR: “The main aim of this protest is to press our 13-point demand as directed by the holy Quran, and to demand punishment for Atheist bloggers.”

The most radical protesters are calling for the death penalty. During Sunday’s demonstration they chanted, “One point, One demand: Atheists must be hanged...” (Via RT)

Early estimates by police indicate as many as 150,000 to 200,000 protesters emerged to show support for the strict anti-blasphemy law.

According to Al Jazeera, the clash between protesters and at least 10,000 police officers led to the perfect firestorm — turning the capital city into a warzone.

REPORTER: “Setting fire to cars and buildings, security forces held little back. Turning the streets of Dhaka into a battleground.”

CNN further details the carnage in Dhaka, noting the fierce exchanges between law enforcement and demonstrators.

“Street battles went on for hours, with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas and the Islamists hurling crude explosives and chunks of brick. At least three bodies were left in the streets.”

Reports show more than 100 people have been injured as a result of the protest. Violence has now spread beyond the capital city. (Via Global Post)

Dhaka has enacted a ban on all public rallies for now. Leaders in Bangladesh are not expected to heed the wishes of protesters who have threatened to topple the government if their demands are not met.

Top Headlines: Bride-to-be Among Those Killed in Limo Fire

Mon, 06 May 2013 06:40:01 -0500

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(Image source: KGO)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s a look at your top news headlines from Newsy.

New details in the San Francisco limousine fire that claimed the lives of five women — one of them a bride-to-be heading to a bridal shower. She’s been identified as 31-year-old Neriza Fojas. The names of the other victims are not yet released.

The Los Angeles Times reports nine women were being taken across the San Mateo bridge over San Francisco Bay when they noticed smoke in the rear of the vehicle. Authorities say it could be days before they know the cause of the fire.

And Bangladesh has seen violent clashes Monday between police and protesters, who demand an anti-blasphemy law that would punish anyone defaming Islam — potentially with the death penalty. Al Jazeera says 10,000 troops have been dispatched.

The death toll in a Bangladeshi clothing factory continues to rise — the latest figure at more than 600. The head of the government inquiry says the building has been constructed with weak material and sub-standard steel rods. (Via BBC)

Back in the U.S., the family of Ricardo Portillo held a vigil Sunday to remember the soccer referee who died after allegedly being assaulted by a player in a rec league. And his daughter urged athletes to hold their tempers (Via CBS) —

— hoping to keep this sort of scenario from playing out elsewhere.

“They should think before they do something stupid. I just don’t want another family to suffer how we’ve been suffering.” (Via Fox News)

The 17-year-old who is accused of punching Portillo in the face is being held in juvenile detention on assault charges. Doctors say it was that injury that caused brain damage leading to his death.

Thousands Protest French President Hollande's First Year

Sun, 05 May 2013 19:10:14 -0500

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(Image source: Twitter / @LePG)

BY ELIZABETH HAGEDORN

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Paris Sunday to mark the one-year anniversary of Socialist French President Francois Hollande’s election.

A year ago, Bastille Square was filled with supporters celebrating Hollande’s victory over the incumbent, conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy. During the campaign, Hollande had called for balancing the budget and vowing to reverse the austerity measures implemented across Europe. (Via CBS)

Sunday, some 30,000 union members and left-wing detractors called out Hollande for turning his back on the Left. The BBC has more on why his former supporters feel shortchanged. (Via Al Jazeera)

“He promised to tackle unemployment, but it’s now at a record high: 10.6 percent. He promised to sort out the economy. There’s been zero growth.”

In a speech before the protestors, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the Left Front coalition candidate in last year’s presidential election, criticized Hollande for failing to make good on his promises for reform. (Via France 24)

In an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien, Mélenchon urged Hollande to “return to the left, where he was when he was elected.”

In response to the protests, France’s Socialist Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told TF1, “There is no austerity; that’s a propaganda invention.”

Hollande has critics on both sides. Gay-marriage opponents continue to protest throughout France in an effort to keep Hollande from signing the controversial measure backed by Parliament in April. (Via The Telegraph)

A recent poll shows Hollande is the most unpopular president in modern French history, with an approval rating of 24 percent.

What Is Cinco de Mayo?

Sun, 05 May 2013 18:22:41 -0500

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(Image source: The Cameron Team)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

If you’re heading out to stuff yourself with margaritas and chips and salsa to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, have fun. But do you actually know what you’re celebrating?

Jimmy Kimmel: “What does Cinco de Mayo celebrate?”

Interviewee: “Drinking.”

Jimmy Kimmel: “What does Cinco de Mayo celebrate?”

Interviewee: “Tacos.” (VIa Jimmy Kimmel Live)

Yeah — not quite. And a common mistake is the confusion that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. Nope. That’s wrong, too. (Via OB Rag)

So let's clear it up a bit. It’s probably not as exciting as that party you’ve got planned to celebrate, but we’ll take you for a little history lesson anyway.

May 5, 1861: Mexican president Benito Juárez admitted the country was too poor to pay off its debt to European nations. So French troops came to seize Mexico as compensation, and it was war. Mexico’s army was vastly outnumbered by the French, who were also better trained. However, what makes this day one of celebration was Mexico’s ability to withstand the French. (Via YouTube / PantelionFilms)

In the end, the city of Puebla was salvaged by Mexican troops. However, the French army ultimately won the war and took over Mexico City. But still …

“The battle is considered by many Mexican historians to be a turning point in securing the country's sovereignty.” (Via BBC)

With support from the United States, Mexico was eventually able to get its country back from the French. (Via Wikimedia Commons / Eric Shalov)

But you might actually be partying harder on the fifth of May than anyone else in Mexico — well, except for in Puebla. So why is it that so many Americans get more excited for the holiday than the country it originated in?

“The Cinco de Mayo spirit had spread to the United States … Americans in the midst of civil war were inspired by the Mexican victory and began celebrating the fifth of May with parades, dances, speeches, banquets and bullfights.” (Via History Channel)

So there you have it. Happy Cinco de Mayo to Mexico and America.

Massive Toxic Train Crash in Belgium Kills 2, Injures 14

Sun, 05 May 2013 16:02:57 -0500

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(Image Source: Sky News)

BY CANDICE AVILES

A massive toxic train crash in Belgium has left two people dead and at least 14 injured on Saturday.

“The train itself was on route from the Netherlands to Ghent’s seaport. It was carrying a variety of chemicals and toxic raw materials at the time with at least one of the 12 carriages carrying cyanide.” (Via CBC)

Around 2 a.m. the train somehow got derailed and three of the train’s cars set fire, triggering multiple explosions. The chemicals in the train created huge fire walls and billowing smoke clouds, which presented more dangers in the area. (Via RT)

“The train crashed near the village of Schellebelle. Evacuations were ordered over fears of poisoning linked to smoke coming from the wreckage.” (Via Sky News)

“It is believed that both people died after inhaling fumes. Police have evacuated over 300 people from nearby homes.” (Via Fox News)

While the cause of why the train derailed is still under investigation a local authority told the BBC the cleanup process is going according to plan.

“Everything is well organized, I think, and right now, there is no reason to increase the safety zone.”

Authorities are letting the fire burn out because they say it’s the best way to limit the spread of toxic chemicals. No word yet on how the 14 people were injured.

Israel Hits Syrian Capital, Targeting Weapons Cache

Sun, 05 May 2013 08:24:25 -0500

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(Image source: The New York Times)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Two days have held news of two separate attacks by Israeli forces on Syrian soil — both reportedly meant to stop the flow of Iranian weapons through Syria, and into Lebanon.

Early Sunday, Israel launched an attack on the outskirts of Syria’s capital, Damascus. Western intelligence officials have told media the target was a weapons cache. Syrian state television says it was a research facility. A media consultant in Damascus... (Via Al Jazeera)

…tells the BBC the blasts woke most of the city around 2 a.m.

“We are used to explosions and sounds of artillery but this one was really unreal. It was one of the louder explosions I’ve ever heard.”

Although details of Sunday’s attack remain unconfirmed by Israel, the nation’s government confirmed Saturday an attack earlier this week that targeted Iranian weapons — routed through Syria — to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah is a longtime ally of both Iran and Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad. (Via Google Earth)

The airstrike Saturday was carried by Israeli warplanes, hitting weapons that included advanced traditional missiles, but none of the chemical weapons the Syrian government is believed to be storing. (Via CNN)

Months ago, the U.N. estimated more than 70,000 people had died in Syria’s two-year civil war. Though Israel’s attacks on the government there have been in Israel’s interest — not in an effort to end the conflict or bring down the Assad regime. (Via Sky News)

Israel has bombed targets within Syria before this week’s strikes. A January bombing also took out weapons being sent to Hezbollah that Israel feared would be used against its own country.

Top Headlines: Israel Again Strikes at Weapons in Syria

Sun, 05 May 2013 06:31:25 -0500

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(Image source: BBC)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s your top news headlines from Newsy.

For the second consecutive day — news of an Israeli airstrike has come out of Syria. This time, a series of blasts in Damascus around 2 a.m. there woke much of the city. A Western intelligence official says... (Via BBC)

...the target was again a weapons shipment destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Syrian state television says it was a research facility in Syria’s capital. Israel itself is yet to confirm as of early Sunday. (Via Al Jazeera)

Early Saturday, Israeli officials did admit to hitting a weapons shipment in Syria sent from Iran into Lebanon. Neither Hezbollah nor Syria’s government have commented publicly on the latest attack. (Via CNN)

As The New York Times notes, the paramilitary wing of Hezbollah in Lebanon has proved an ally of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president who has sat in power during his nation’s bloody civil war. The U.N. estimated months ago at least 70,000 have died since the start of the conflict.

And KGO in San Francisco reports five dead in a limousine fire on the San Mateo Bridge. Details are scarce but authorities say five others in the limo survived, though they’re not sure how the fire started. Witnesses said passengers appeared trapped in the vehicle.

And in Utah, a youth soccer referee punched in the face after giving a player a yellow card is now dead. ABC reports what initially seemed like a minor injury, delivered by a 17-year-old player, still unnamed by authorities, put Richard Portillo in a coma...

…and Saturday evening it resulted in his death. A criminal investigation is ongoing, so doctors in Salt Lake City have withheld many details. Portillo was 46 years old and a referee in a recreational soccer league. (Via WAVY)

Stay with us for more throughout the day. I’m Zach Toombs for Newsy, highlighting your top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

Google Recognizes Palestine With Search Engine Label

Sat, 04 May 2013 20:54:11 -0500

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(Image source: Google)

BY JAKE GODIN

Google has made a seemingly small change to one of its home pages. Let’s see if you can spot the difference.

Here’s Google’s Palestinian home page earlier this year.

And here’s what the page looks like now.

Catch the difference? Houston’s KTRK has the answer.

“Internet giant Google has made a controversial decision to display Palestine as its own country. It changed the tag line on the home page from ‘Palestinian Territories’ to ‘Palestine.’”

Although it might seem like a simple logo change for Google, the Internet giant has drawn itself into a decades-long conflict about the status of Palestine.

In November, the United Nations upgraded Palestine to “nonmember observer status,” a move opposed by both the U.S. and Israel. Since then, what to call the territory has been a divisive issue. (Via The New York Times)

An adviser to the Palestinian president told BBC Google’s change was “ … a step in the right direction, a timely step and one that encourages others to join in and give the right definition and name for Palestine … ”

Although Palestinians might be happy with the change, Israel’s foreign ministry spokesman questioned the company’s motives. He told The Times of Israel: “Google is not a political or diplomatic entity, so they can call anything by any name … That said, of course, there can be many questions raised by this change, regarding Google’s policy and the meaning of all that.”

So why did Google decide to step into this muddy area of international politics? Well, to the company, it's just following standards.

CNET quotes a Google spokesperson saying “ … we are following the lead of the UN, Icann [the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers], ISO [International Organization for Standardization], and other international organizations.”

Google has previously been involved in international politics when it criticized China in 2010. It also provided phone numbers to Egyptian protesters without Internet access so they could make political tweets in 2011.

Israel Feared Syrian Weapons Shipment to Hezbollah

Sat, 04 May 2013 09:58:45 -0500

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(Image source: Al Jazeera)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Israel has confirmed it stepped into Syria’s ongoing civil war to protect its own interests this week. Reporters only know what governments are telling them at this point …

… but Israel says it dispatched bombers to hit a weapons shipment destined for the Hezbollah in Lebanon. This video comes from Syrian state television via CNN — unconfirmed, but possibly footage of the airstrike’s aftermath from afar.

Lebanon sits just to Israel’s north. The Israeli government believes the weapons were shipped from Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. And while they included no chemical weapons, Israeli officials have said advanced traditional weapons were in play. (Via BBC)

In January, Israel confirmed it carried out a similar attack meant to stop the flow of weapons from Syria into Lebanon, where it fears Hezbollah’s paramilitary wing would turn those weapons against Israel. (Via RT)

As The New York Times notes, Hezbollah has received financial backing from the Assad regime in Syria for years. Some rebel fighters in Syria even say Hezbollah militants are fighting alongside the government.

Given the close U.S. relationship with Israel, Friday morning’s airstrike has prompted all sorts of questions — especially from the media — as to whether American involvement is more likely. But President Barack Obama has been hesitant...

…to intercede in Syria’s two-year civil war, even as evidence of chemical weapons use piles up and the death toll climbs well above the former U.N. estimate of 70,000. On Friday, the president said this in Costa Rica. (Via Al Jazeera)

“I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria — American boots on the ground in Syria — would not only be good for America but would also be good for Syria.” (Via Sky News)

Neither Syria’s government nor Hezbollah have spoken out publicly on the attacks as of early Saturday.

Top Headlines: Israel Confirms Airstrike in Syria

Sat, 04 May 2013 06:50:09 -0500

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(Image source: BBC)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s your top news headlines from Newsy.

Israel has confirmed an airstrike within war torn Syria on a weapons shipment it says was destined for Hezbollah. In January, Israel carried out an attack on another cache of weapons it claimed was sent to Hezbollah by the Assad regime. (Via BBC)

This comes just as the U.S. is weighing its own options for Syria. Though the president said this Friday.

“I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria … would not only be good for America but would also be good for Syria.” (Via Sky News)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has ordered new security checks for foreign students entering the country. Officials say this process has been underway for weeks, but its timing is notable. Just in the past week... (Via CNN)

…authorities discovered one of the students who helped Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev dispose of evidence — Azamat Tazhayakov — should’ve been denied entrance into the country, as his visa had expired. (Via The New York Times)

And the NRA has a new president — James Porter II, whose father actually served in the same position in 1959 and 1960. Porter replaces David Keene in the voluntary, unpaid figurehead role. (Via Guns.com)

NRA members elected Porter at their convention Friday — at a crucial time in the debate over gun control. In a speech, he labeled that debate is a culture war and said “(You) here in this room are the fighters for freedom. We are the protectors...” (Via New York Daily News)

Stay with us for more throughout the day. I’m Zach Toombs for Newsy, highlighting your top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

U.S. Officials Say Israel Launched Airstrike Into Syria

Fri, 03 May 2013 22:12:25 -0500

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(Image source: Flickr / Israel Defense Forces)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

The decisions on whether and how the U.S. should intervene in the Syria crisis may have just gotten a lot more complicated. Friday night major media outlets began reporting the U.S.’ ally may have already begun to act.

“This is new tonight. We are confirming that a U.S. official says that Israeli warplanes did fire on Syria overnight.” (Via Fox News)

Details were scarce, and outlets were careful to qualify their reporting as coming from a handful of official sources, but it’s believed the Israeli Air Force fired missiles into Syria from neighboring airspace sometime Friday night.

“The Israelis are not publicly acknowledging it, at least not yet. But the Lebanese are saying … 16 Israeli warplanes flew in their airspace.” (Via CNN)

The news comes just over a week after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced the U.S. has evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria. Add in Israel’s reported airstrike and it looks like President Obama may have no choice but to intervene. (Via CNN)

“Is this a way of provoking the Americans to do something? I mean, what does Barack Obama now have before him as decision points when he comes and addresses the nation tomorrow?” (Via MSNBC)

Israeli officials have said they aren’t trying to pressure the U.S. into acting but have said they would strike any weapons deposits they believe are on track to be delivered to Hezbollah. (Via Haaretz)

Rat Meat Sold as Lamb in China

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:20:00 -0500

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(Image source: Gard Karlsen)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

Chinese police have discovered that unbeknownst to shoppers, markets have substituted mutton with rat, fox and mink meat.

In some areas of the country, rat meat is actually is a delicacy. But the issue lies in the misleading labels on the meat — letting shoppers believe they were actually eating something else. (Via YouTube / NewsInfo1000)

“More than 900 people across the country have now been arrested for selling either tainted or fake meat. A gang has been accused of selling fake mutton … according to reports, they made more than $1 million in sales.” (Via BBC)

As of now, it is not believed that any of the contaminated meat was exported out of the country. (Via Los Angeles Times)

Chinese state media are portraying this action as a national crackdown on public health safety. It has been a concern in the country over the years, most recently after an outbreak of the deadly bird flu virus.

“The virus is clearly spreading with dangerous mutations. If it begins to be transmitted through people instead of through birds, the outbreak would mushroom rapidly.” (Via ABC)

Twenty-seven people have died from the virus since late March. Researchers are still trying to figure out how this strain of flu spreads. (Via Sky News)

But that’s not the end of the stomach-turning scandals coming out of China. Earlier this year some 16,000 dead pigs were found floating in a water source in China’s most populated city. (Via The Telegraph)

China’s guidelines on food safety have been criticized in the past for being lax. However, China’s government has recently announced the implementation of stricter regulations and harsher punishments for those who sell tainted food products. (Via Bloomberg)

U.S. Military Refueling Plane Crashes in Kyrgystan

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:50:00 -0500

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(Image source: RIA Novosti)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

An American military refueling plane crashed into a mountainous area in Kyrgyzstan Friday.

There is no information about casualties yet, but according to the Kyrgyz Emergencies Ministry press office five people were on board. (Via ABC)

The plane disappeared off the radar near the Kyrgyz village of Chaldovar, close to the U.S. Air Force base at Manas in Kyrgyzstan. The U.S. uses this base to maintain its operations in Afghanistan. (Via BBC)

Earlier this week, a civilian 747 cargo plane crashed as it was taking off from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. Seven Americans were aboard, and all were killed. The cause of that crash remains under investigation. (Via YouTube / arkadortlu61 and NPR)

Teams of rescue workers have been able to reach the scene of the latest plane crash. Helicopters are also searching for survivors from the sky.

Bangladesh Building Collapse Death Toll Tops 500

Fri, 03 May 2013 08:30:00 -0500

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(Image source: Sky News)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

The death toll from the Bangladesh building collapse is continuing to rise. Officials now believe more than 500 people have died.

Scores of people are still unaccounted for. And while more than 2,400 have been rescued, the death toll makes this incident one of the deadliest structural failures of modern time. (Via The Guardian)

It remains unclear how many bodies are left within the ruins but there have been several arrests made in relation to the building collapse.

Most recently, police arrested an engineer, Abdur Razzaque Khan. The New York Times called this arrest somewhat of a surprise because Khan was originally seen as a hero for trying to prevent the disaster.

His advice had been requested a day before the collapse after cracks appeared in the structure. He ultimately decided the building had become dangerous and should be shut down for investigation. (Via BBC)

But the owner of the building said Khan only warned that this was a small problem, leading to Khan’s arrest. Nine people have been detained, including the building’s owner and other factory owners. (Via euronews)

But it’s the entire garment industry that’s receiving the most heat. The nine-story building contained five garment factories and thousands of workers, many of whom have since protested the unsafe working conditions in which they are subjected to. On Thursday the trade group that represents the garment industry said it was safe for employees to return to work in the area. (Via Al Jazeera)

CNN reports, besides the owners of the building, many are pointing fingers at Western retailers and clothing brands. Bangladeshi suppliers say those retailers put heavy pressure on prices, resulting in bad pay and harsh conditions for workers.

The Bangladeshi prime minister said her government is rapidly trying to fix the problems within the garment industry. The EU is also considering “appropriate action” to encourage improved working conditions in these factories.

Vatican Houses Two Popes for the First Time

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:37:06 -0500

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(Image Source: L'Osservatore Romano)

BY CANDICE AVILES

Two months after Benedict XVI’s historic resignation, history is being made again. The retired pope moved back into the Vatican — making it the first time two popes have lived under one roof.

Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation in February was a very public and emotional farewell for many onlookers. CBS reports the pope initially said his next steps were to “withdraw into prayer” and live “hidden from the world.”

“That lasted about as long as it took Pope Francis to unpack his bags and grab his own flight to meet the man known as Pope Emeritus Benedict the 16th.”

The Telegraph reports Benedict had been living in Castel Gandolfo at the summer papal residence outside of Rome. But the 86-year-old’s returned via helicopter to move into the former convent in the Vatican’s extensive gardens.

This surprising move has some concerned over whether Pope Francis will be influenced, consciously or not.

According to Express, Pope Francis has called on Benedict numerous times on various occasions. “Making clear he has no intentions of ignoring the fact that there’s another pope still very much alive and now living on the other side of the garden from the Vatican hotel where he lives.”

NBC notes another unique arrangement — Benedict will reside with his personal secretary. The secretary will also have responsibility over Pope Francis’s schedule.

The Vatican says upon his arrival, Pope Benedict greeted Pope Francis at the entrance of the monastery. The two men then prayed for a short time.

ECB Cuts Benchmark Interest Rate to Record Low

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:59:00 -0500

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(Image source: Monika Flueckiger / Flickr)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

The European Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate Thursday morning from 0.75 percent to a record low of half of one percent. Euronews reports the move was widely expected since the European economy has been plagued by slow growth and record unemployment.

“The lack of economic growth means consumers are spending less, so inflation has fallen sharply. That gives the ECB the leeway to cut rates as its primary focus is supposed to be keeping inflation in check.”

But an economist on the BBC points out interest rates are already very low, so the drop may not make much of a difference.

“What we really have to hear is whether the ECB, on top of a rate cut, comes up with targeted measures to ease the credit crunch in countries such as Spain and Greece.

The ECB is trying to address banks’ hesitation to lend. CNBC’s Steve Liesman put that credit crunch in context.

“It would be like if in North Carolina, everybody in the country paid 3 percent for their mortgage, but in North Carolina, 8 percent or 10 percent. Not to pick on my good friends of North Carolina.”

Bloomberg reports Mario Draghi, the head of the ECB, still has some options on the table to provide further aid to Europe’s flailing economy.

“He could issue long-term loans to businesses...He could do corporate bond purchases, sort of their version of quantitative easing, bond buying to help stimulate the economy. Or he could issue a forward looking statement further on interest rates.”

CNN Money says as growth concerns mount, “there have been signs that EU leaders may be prepared to ease up on the pace of austerity.”

But in a press conference following the announcement, Draghi insisted countries cannot unravel the progress they have made on cutting down their debt.

The Guardian summarizes his comments. “Draghi is arguing that countries cannot simply abandon their plans for deficit reduction and embark on a borrowing spree to fuel growth.”

Draghi’s statements made it clear the ECB remains accommodative and stands ready to implement non-standard measures of monetary easing if necessary.

U.S. Citizen Sentenced to 15 Years Hard Labor in N. Korea

Thu, 02 May 2013 07:49:00 -0500

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(Image source: Facebook)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

A North Korean court has sentenced an American citizen to 15 years of hard labor for reportedly trying to overthrow the government.

Kenneth Bae, as he is known in the United States, was arrested last November while he was visiting the country. (Via KCNA)

Bae was a tour operator based largely out of China and has made several trips to North Korea before. This particular trip was to Rason where he was detained by authorities and accused of hostile acts against the government. (Via WFTS)

This sentencing comes as tensions are high between U.S. and North Korea, after Pyongyang's third nuclear test and Kim Jong Un’s aggressive, ramped-up rhetoric. (Via CNN)

North Korea has arrested several Americans in the past, take for example journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. They were eventually released, though, after intervention from former President Bill Clinton. (Via Fox News)

But this is why Bae’s sentence is seen by many as a possible attempt to draw the U.S. into negotiations.

A BBC correspondent explains, “At the moment, North Korea is being offered talks on American terms - which include a commitment to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme. This is one way the regime can get a high-profile visitor to Pyongyang without any conditions at all.”

The exact nature of Bae’s crimes are still unknown. There is no official word about what actions the U.S. will take in response.

Missing Vietnam Veteran Exposed as a Hoax

Wed, 01 May 2013 22:27:37 -0500

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(Image source: Myth Merchant Films)

BY JONAS BRUUN

What appeared to be one of the most gripping war stories of all time is now reportedly revealed as a hoax. A man claiming to be a U.S. Vietnam veteran missing 44 years is instead believed to be a Vietnamese man who has impersonated the U.S. soldier for several decades.

The Daily Mail first reported the fraud after discovering classified documents suggesting the man claiming to be Sergeant John Hartley Robertson really is a 76-year-old Vietnamese citizen named Dang Than Ngoc.

The documents — deriving from a Defense Prisoner of War Missing Personnel Office memo — provide fingerprint analysis, DNA testing and a recorded admission by Ngoc several years ago — all pointing to mistaken identities. (Via Library of Congress)

According to the memo, the FBI made a final conclusion in 2009 — believing that the Vietnamese doppelganger made the claims to defraud the U.S. Government of money in military back-pay.

The hoax reports come just a day after media outlets around the globe jumped on the story of the astonishing discovery of Vietnam veteran Robertson — based on the newly released documentary “Unclaimed” by Emmy-winning director Michael Jorgensen.

The documentary claims Robertson was left behind in Vietnam after a mission in 1968 and shows how the soldier allegedly forgot his own birthday, how to speak English — even his own children’s names — after years of living in a Vietnamese jungle. (Via Myth Merchant Films)

Although it now appears that all of this was a lie, it was still enough to not only convince the documentary makers that he was telling the truth — he also won the full support of people who knew Sergeant Robertson.

The Toronto Star notes that Robertson’s sister has designated him as her brother, saying in the documentary:

“I was certain it was him in the video, but when I held his head in my hands and looked in his eyes, there was no question that was my brother.”

But with the contradictory government investigations, other sources are now also proclaiming their scepticism. One former Lieutenant Colonel of the Joint Prisoner of War Accounting Command in Vietnam told the Business Insider:

“There were at least half-a-dozen investigations into the case... This guy was a frequent flier at our office. It totally blows my mind that he's gotten this far. He forgot how to speak English and his kids’ names? Who falls for that?"

According to a CIA Officer, Ngoc’s fraud attempts can be traced back to the early 1980’s and were so well-known that he “became synonymous with con men impersonating US army veterans that are missing in action.” (Via The Independent)

So does this change the filmmakers’ view on their own work? Not exactly. A spokesman for the film refused the claims of a hoax, adding to The Telegraph:

“I can assure you that Michael performed due diligence in producing the film.”

Turkmenistan Censors Video of President Falling From Horse

Wed, 01 May 2013 21:58:06 -0500

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(Image source: Flickr/Josephescu)

BY LORA VLAEVA

If you had been living in Turkmenistan this week, you may never have known what happened to the country’s president on Sunday.

“Just after crossing the finish line in a race celebrating the country’s renowned desert horse race breed, the president fell off of his horse! The horse recovered quickly after the stumble.” (Via NBC)

The president remained still for several seconds before receiving help. But who knows whether the president would have gotten any sympathy, because thanks to censorship by the state-run media, few of his Turkmens have been allowed to see the video.

The President, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov (Ger-Ban-Gul Bert-mook-ham-yed-off), has a bit of a reputation as being — let’s say, image conscious. In 2010, cables released by Wikileaks showed U.S. diplomats describing him as “‘vain, suspicious, guarded, strict, very conservative,’ a ‘micro-manager’ and ‘a practised liar.’” (Via The Guardian)

And because all news outlets in the country are run by the government, criticism of Berdymukhamedov is virtually nonexistent.

Half and hour after the fall, the president waved to the audience, accepting his $11 million winner’s prize for winning the race. Berdymukhamedov said he would donate the money to support local horse breeding. (Via The Telegraph)

That’s exactly what the state-run media reported: the race and the donation, just not the fall.

“Turkmen state-controlled media pretended as though nothing had gone wrong, reporting only that Berdymukhamedov had won the race.” (Via Eurasianet)

The Daily Dot reports all available means were used to keep the video from getting out. Social media sites were shut down and the Internet was slowed to a crawl, all to control the president’s image.

Spectators — some of whom were forced to participate — were searched by police after the race, and cameras and phones were confiscated. Authorities are still looking into how the video got out.

FBI Releases Photos of Benghazi Suspects

Wed, 01 May 2013 20:53:44 -0500

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(Image source: ABC / FBI)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Almost eight months after the Benghazi consulate attack, the FBI has released photos of three persons of interest — though they’re not exactly high-res.

Federal authorities say these three men were on the grounds of the U.S. consulate in Libya when an attack killed four Americans, including ambassador Chris Stevens. This development comes just a day after the president said this at a news conference. (Via ABC)

“Our job with respect to Benghazi has been to find out exactly what happened, to make sure that U.S. embassies … are safe and secure and to bring those who carried it out to justice.” (Via Fox News)

Republican lawmakers, primarily Lindsey Graham and John McCain, have hounded the administration for what they see as a failure to protect the Americans in the Benghazi consulate. (Via The New York Times)

During that attack, the State Department could have scrambled a backup team hundreds of miles away and didn’t — saying there wasn’t enough certainty to make it worth risking more lives.

As Slate’s Dave Wiegel writes: “This is the disagreement: Whether you consider that decision tantamount to ‘leaving men to die.’”

The FBI has asked that anyone with information on the attack or the three individuals in that photo contact the bureau via email at BenghaziTips@ic.fbi.gov.

May Day Protests Held Across the World

Wed, 01 May 2013 20:52:19 -0500

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(Image source: Flickr/Sinn Fein)

BY LORA VLAEVA

Each year on May 1, also known as May Day, thousands of protests take place around the world in support of labor rights. This year was no exception — and comes at a particularly poignant time.

Among Eurozone nations, the unemployment rate reached an average of 12.1% in March — climbing for the 23rd consecutive month. Anger against austerity measures was the main concern of Wednesday’s protests... (Via Al Jazeera)

...starting in Greece, where a 24-hour anti-austerity protest took place just days after the government announced the layoff of 15,000 civil servants. A few thousand people also gathered in Athens, which led to the disruption of public transportation and health services. (Via BBC)

But four years into the Greek crisis, unions said the turnout was much more smaller than expected, meaning Greeks may have become resigned to their country’s situation.

In Spain, rallies were held in more than 80 cities, pushing for jobs in a country where youth unemployment stands at 57%. Unions reported more than 1 million people went on strike across the county — more than 50,000 in Madrid alone. (Via WPIX)

Thousands of people also marched in France, Germany and Turkey. CNN reports riot police intervened with water cannons and tear gas in order to stop a rally in Istanbul.

May Day protests were also organized in Asia, where people demanded better working conditions. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Bangladesh's capital Dhaka — just a week after the collapse of a factory complex.

“Many of the demonstrators were low-paid workers calling for better safety standards and urging capital punishment for the building’s owner. We now know at least 402 people were killed in last week’s disaster.” (Via Sky News)

May 1 is a national workers holiday in 80 countries. It has its roots in the Chicago Haymarket affair, a turning point in the U.S. labor movement — though the U.S. does not officially observe the holiday.

2 Killed in Dagestan Bombing

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:09:00 -0500

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(Image source: @Nur_Mag/Twitter)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

At least two people are dead and two others injured after an explosion in a market in the capital of the Russian republic Dagestan. CNN reports the attack is creating confusion and concern for police.

“This is not typical of of the attacks they have seen that have recently been targeting security force officers... there would have been a lot of additional people coming out on the streets, the stores open, coming out for the May Day Parade.”

There are conflicting reports on what caused the blast. CNN is reporting a suicide bomber blew himself up, while the International Business Times reports the Russian interior ministry said the bomb was planted in a steel pipe.

“Investigators were verifying witness reports that a package was tossed from a car driving past the entrance to the market shortly before the explosion.”

RT reports two young teenagers were killed as they tried to inspect the dangerous object. Two of their friends, also teenagers, were injured in the blast and were taken to the hospital.

An eyewitness said “The bomb went off a few meters away from my store...I saw two dead bodies lying on the ground. Only when the police came did we realize they were children of around 12 years old. They were the ones to open the box and be blown up."

A Russian news agency reports three more people were killed and two injured hours earlier in a nearby town. “Unidentified attackers pelted a police car with bullets. Police did not say whether it considered the attacks to be linked.”

(Via RIA Novosti)

Dagestan has been a hotbed of insurgency but has come under greater scrutiny from the West because of its connection to the Boston Marathon bombings. Suspected bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev visited the republic last year and his parents still reside there.

Venezuelan Parliament Fist-Fights Over Election

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:49:00 -0500

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(Image source: BBC)

BY ELISA LOPEZ AGUADO

A Venezuelan parliament meeting on Tuesday came to physical violence over discussions about the country's post-election powers. Twenty-two MPs were injured, 17 of them from the opposition party.

(Via BBC)

The atmosphere was already tense when the meeting started. A measure passed earlier that day denied opposition members the right to speak until they recognized Nicolas Maduro as the new elected president of Venezuela.

CNN Español reports even laptops and tables were thrown, and somebody hit a congressman over the head with a chair. No one sustained serious injuries.

Congressman Julio Borges was one of the most badly injured. He co-founded the main opposition party, Primero Justicia, with Enrique Capriles. (Via Yahoo!)

Shortly after the brawl, he appeared on a Globovision talk-show.

“Conscience can’t be tested. They can beat us again as they have just done, they could put us in jail, they could kill us, but we won’t sell out our principles.” (Via YouTube / Diario Panorama)

The April 14 election polls gave the victory to 50-year-old Maduro by a 1.5 percent margin, and opposition members contested those results.

Deutsche Welle reports 40-year-old Capriles alleged “that thousands of irregularities occurred and that the vote was stolen.”

According to NBC, “at least eight people have died in street protests and dozens have been arrested” since the election. The elected president fears the opposition might be planning a coup d’etat.

Spanish newspaper El Pais reports the head of parliament, who gained power under late president Hugo Chavez, announced “he will deduct the salary of those deputies that don’t recognize the results of the presidential elections.”

Both government and opposition parties are marching for May Day — a national holiday that celebrates the international labour movement — today, but they won’t meet at all. They have different routes in the capital, Caracas, to avoid contact.

Top News Headlines: Bangladesh Death Toll Passes 400

Wed, 01 May 2013 07:18:00 -0500

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(Image source: euronews)

BY NATHAN BYRNE

The death toll in the Bangladesh building collapse has passed 400. Officials say 150 are still missing — and 2,500 were injured.

Protesters marched in the streets of the capital, Dhaka, on May Day — or International Workers Day.

(Via BBC)

The thousands of marchers are demanding improved working conditions. The building that collapsed housed a garment factory.

(Via Al Jazeera)

In a news conference Tuesday, President Obama renewed his promise to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

The president made that same promise when he was elected in 2008. Talk of the renewed effort comes as nearly 100 prisoners there are on hunger strike.

(Via CBS)

Mr. Obama told reporters he’d “reengage with Congress” and make his case that keeping Gitmo open is “ … not something that’s in the best interests of the American people.”

(Via The Washington Post)

The morning-after pill will be available without a prescription to women ages 15 and older. The New York Times reports it’ll be on shelves, not behind the counter.

The emergency contraceptive — known as Plan B One-Step — is currently only available to women who are 17 and older. And they have to have a prescription.

(Via WRAZ)

A California woman is charged with attempted murder — accused of putting rubbing alcohol in bottles of orange juice at a San Jose-area Starbucks.

According to KNTV, police don’t know why 50-year-old Ramineh Behbehanian allegedly committed the crime. But they think she acted alone, and mixed the liquids somewhere other than in the store.

An unidentified customer said she spotted Bebehanian leaving the store quickly.

(Via KTVU)

“That customer also had the presence of mind to write down the car’s license plate number and help make that arrest.”

(Via CNN)

Thousands Watch New Dutch King's Coronation

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:47:09 -0500

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(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY SOLE MALDONADO AYUSO

An estimated 25,000 people turned out to watch Queen Beatrix, after 33 years as monarch, hand over the crown to the the new king of the Netherlands.

“A few moments ago I stepped out from the throne. I am happy and grateful to introduce you to your new king, King Willem-Alexander.” (Via The Guardian)

Forty-six-year-old King Willem-Alexander is the first Dutch king in 120 years. He has a history degree from Leiden University and served in the Dutch Royal Navy from 1985 to 1987. His appointment took place in Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). (Via BBC)

During his appointment speech, King Willem-Alexander acknowledged his country’s economic recession and high unemployment rates, saying: “I take the throne at a time when many people in the kingdom feel vulnerable and insecure... Vulnerable in their jobs or their health. Insecure about their income or their living environment.” (Via BusinessWeek)

Now in its third recession in recent years, the Netherlands has been trying to cut costs by adopting the austerity policies widely practiced throughout Europe. But somehow the monarchy has escaped the cuts.

According to the The Wall Street Journal, the monarchy costs the Dutch close to €40 million ($52 million) per year. And although annual surveys show the royal family is strongly supported by more than three quarters of the population, with half also backing trim’s to the monarchy’s budget.

Per Dutch tradition, King Willem-Alexander wasn’t officially crowned at the ceremony. Instead, the crown remained on a table next to him. (Via The Telegraph)

King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima are expected to lead a more “21st century” monarchy, which apparently means they won’t insist on being called “your majesty.”

Missing American Soldier Alive in Vietnam

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:55:00 -0500

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(Image source: Myth Merchant Films)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

An American soldier, said to have been missing for 44 years, has reportedly been found living in Vietnam.

The Toronto Star reports Army Sgt. John Hartley Robertson’s helicopter was shot down over Laos during a classified mission in 1968. He was listed as “killed in action,” but a new documentary by Michael Jorgensen claims the veteran was left behind in Vietnam.

The documentary, called “Unclaimed,” follows the story of another Vietnam vet who set out to prove Robertson was still alive.

It reveals the now 76-year-old’s story of how he had forgotten his own birthday, how to speak English — even his own children’s names over the years he spent in the country, but his wife and kids always thought he was still alive.

“For over 40 years he was believed to be dead.”

“It was an unsettling feeling. No one seemed to know what happened to him.”

Robertson claims he was captured by the North Vietnamese, tortured and accused of being a CIA spy. Eventually he was released and married the Vietnamese nurse who cared for him. Robertson says he then took the name of her late husband and started a family.

Jorgensen, who produced the film through a Canadian production company, also sheds a controversial light on the U.S. government, claiming it resisted Robertson’s return.

He says when he was approached to create the documentary, he was skeptical about the story. But when he ran into enough roadblocks from the U.S. military in making the film he began to believe. One government source reportedly told him, “It’s not that the Vietnamese won’t let him (Robertson) go; it’s that our government doesn’t want him.”

(via The Sun)

Robertson was brought back to the U.S. in 2010 to be fingerprinted. Now he is reportedly in Vietnam again and happy having fulfilled his dream of seeing his American family one more time before he dies.

Saudi Arabian Campaign Targets Domestic Abuse

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:33:37 -0500

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(Image source: King Khalid Foundation)

BY SOLE MALDONADO AYUSO & ELAINE STOCKDALE

For the first time, a campaign highlighting domestic violence against women has been launched in Saudi Arabia’s male-dominated society.

The advertisement shows a hijab-clad woman whose eyes are seen through the gap of a veil. One of the eyes: bruised and bloody. According to The Huffington Post, the advertisement reads, “Some things can’t be covered — fighting women’s abuse together.”

According to the International Business Times, the initiative for the campaign came about after the well-known case of Lama al-Ghamdi circled in the media. Five-year-old al-Ghamdi was reportedly raped, then beaten to death by her father.

The advertisement was released by the King Khalid Foundation as part of its “No More Abuse” campaign, through which it hopes to provide wives and children with legal protection.

On its website, the King Khalid Foundation released a statement that translates to: “The phenomenon of battered women in Saudi Arabia is much greater than is apparent on the surface ... We want to achieve justice for all women and children exposed to abuse in all parts of the Kingdom.”

NBC cites Saudi Princess Ameerah al-Taweel, who says: "The main issue when it comes to abused women in Saudi is lack of knowledge. Some women who accept being abused don't know their rights in Islam … they can report their case and they will be protected by the government … The first step for women to protect themselves is to not be afraid to speak up."

It’s worth noting the World Economic Forum’s 2012 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Saudi Arabia 131 out of 148 countries for gender parity. (Via New Europe)

Dutch Queen Steps Down, Makes Way for Son

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:36:03 -0500

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(Image source: Het Koninklijk Huis)

BY LORA VLAEVA

Dutch Queen Beatrix addressed her people in a final televised speech Monday before she abdicates her throne in favor of her eldest son, Willem-Alexander. She thanked the Dutch people for their support and urged them to welcome the nation’s new king.

“I am fulfilled foremost with feelings of deep gratitude. Without your heartwarming and encouraging signs of affection, the burdens would have weighed heavily. I'd really like to let you know at this time of goodbye that your allegiance has given me strength.” (Via Al Jazeera)

After a 33-year reign, Queen Beatrix, now 75 years old, will step down from the throne Tuesday on a symbolic national holiday: Queen’s Day. By doing so, she continues a family tradition, as her grandmother and mother also abdicated the throne before her.

The queen’s retirement was widely expected in the Netherlands. But CNN reports it’s still a big change in the country’s history, as Crown Prince Willem-Alexander will be the first king in more than 120 years.

Queen Beatrix, who enjoys high approval ratings, announced her abdication in January and said it was time for a new generation to step in.

But national media also speculated she’s stepping down to spend more time with her second son, Johan Friso, who suffered serious brain injuries after being caught in an avalanche last year. (Via KCRA)

Prince Willem-Alexander has since been preparing to take on the throne. In his first joint TV interview with his wife, Princess Máxima, he announced a more laid-back monarchy and committed to fulfilling his ceremonial duties.

“If the lawmaking process is democratic and constitutional, I will accept everything. I have no problem with that; that’s why I am king. And if my signature is needed, I will sign.” (Via BBC)

On Monday, Queen Beatrix hosted nobility while the city of Amsterdam prepared for the coronation. But there will be a notable absence Tuesday, as the princess's family does not plan to attend.

Originally from Argentina, Princess Máxima’s father, Jorge Zorreguieta, was a minister during the Argentine military dictatorship, which started in the 1970s. His presence could draw unwanted controversy to the crowning ceremony. The princess told Dutch broadcaster NOS:

"This is a constitutional event, when my husband becomes king and my father doesn't belong there, especially if there are issues. He remains my father, we still enjoy our private moments." (Via WMUR)

More than a million people are expected to attend the ceremony in Amsterdam on Tuesday, almost doubling the city’s population.

Afghan President Says CIA Paid Him Millions

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:26:26 -0500

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(Image source: Wikimedia Commons / Pete Souza)

BY SOLE MALDONADO AYUSO

While visiting Helsinki, Finland, on Monday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai confirmed his government had received monthly payments from the CIA over the last decade.

The BBC reports although Karzai said it was small amounts, tens of millions of dollars went in secret to the Afghan government. Money "was used for different purposes: operational, assistance to injured people, rental costs and other goals. This was efficient assistance and we appreciate it," Karzai said.

According to The Telegraph, the so-called “ghost money” was packed into suitcases, backpacks or plastic shopping bags and delivered every month to Afghanistan’s National Security Council.

The CIA has declined to comment on the issue, although The Wall Street Journal reports the U.S.’ relationship with Afghanistan goes further than the payments: The war in Afghanistan has been America’s longest-running foreign conflict and has cost the U.S. government billions of dollars. Moreover, the CIA works closely with the Afghan intelligence agency against Taliban groups.

According to The New York Times, the payments also allowed the CIA to maintain access to Karzai and his inner circle. Karzai wants to control Afghan militias the CIA created for the purpose of targeting Al-Qaeda.

The U.S. is not the only government that has paid Afghan officials. In 2010, Afghanistan acknowledged receiving money from Iran’s leadership. (Via The New York Times)

The Guardian reports the United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, has also paid the Afghan government, although not as much as the U.S. government did. Now some British officials wonder if Afghan officials might have taken advantage of the U.K.’s desire to reach a peace deal.

Analysts fear U.S. payments to the Afghan government might have encouraged corruption rather than political cooperation. (Via the )

As Bird Flu Spreads, Death Toll Rises in China

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:08:00 -0500

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(Image source: CNN / CCTV)

BY ELAINE STOCKDALE

China’s H7N9 bird flu virus continues to spread. Another Shanghai man died in the hospital Monday after 12 days of medical treatment were unsuccessful, bringing the virus’ death toll to 24 out of more than 100 infections, including the first outside of China’s mainland.

A 53-year-old businessman from Taiwan is now in intensive care after contracting the virus while traveling to the city of Suzhou via Shanghai. Local media reports he did not come into contact with poultry during his visit, raising new concerns about how the virus spreads. (Via NBC)

The World Health Organization has been trying to figure out how the virus is being contracted so easily compared to other similar strains, including H5N1.

“We really are at the beginning of our understanding of this virus, and right now we may just be seeing the most serious infections, and it may be possible that there are people who have mild infections.” (Via CNN)

During a brief trip to China, a spokesman for the World Health Organization described the H7N9 virus as complex and “one of the most lethal” of its kind. (Via Fox News)

China’s Premier Li Keqiang visited China’s national Disease Control and Prevention Center over the weekend, expressing concern over new developments.

“Premier Li Keqiang warned people to prepare for any new developments amid fears that H7N9, as it’s called, could mutate into a form easily transmissible by humans.” (Via BBC)

The Wall Street Journal reports Chinese health authorities are trying to determine if the virus could spread among humans. There might have already been person-to-person transmission reported in at least two cases in Shanghai involving families.

And with new cases popping up, researchers say it could be weeks before the first vaccine is ready.

Joseph Kim, president of Inovio, the company in initial stages of developing a vaccine, told U.S. News & World Report: “The fastest we’d be able to have a vaccine to test in animals for H7N9 would probably be 4–6 weeks from now … In a pandemic setting, you can potentially grow the vaccine and use them without human testing in emergency cases.”

A February report from China pegged 11 days as the median time from the onset of the virus to death.

Guinness Record Holder Dies While Zip Lining With Hair

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:32:07 -0500

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(Image source: BBC / Balai Sutradhar)

BY LORA VLAEVA

Indian stuntman and Guinness World Record holder Sailendra Nath Roy died Sunday trying to top one of his former stunts.

The 49-year-old man died from a heart attack in front of hundreds of people who gathered to watch his performance. He was trying to cross the Indian Teesta River with his hair tied to a 700-foot zip line at a 70-foot altitude. (Via YouTube / Media One)

IndiaTimes reports Roy had completed more than 50 percent of the journey when his hair got caught in the zip wire’s wheel, blocking him from moving.

The spectators initially failed to understand what was happening and continued clapping and cheering him on. He died struggling to free himself in front of a horrified crowd — which included his family.

Roy stayed motionless in the air for about 45 minutes before being brought down. (Via India Today)

“He crossed almost 40 percent of the total distance. That time only a Red Cross ambulance was present there at the site. When he was taken to the nearest hospital, [Roy] was declared ... dead.”

Roy has been in the spotlight before for his hair-raising feats. He pulled a train weighing more than 40 tons with his ponytail in 2012. He also swung from one building to another with his ponytail tied to a rope in 2007. (Via YouTube / NTDTV)

Roy held the Guinness World Record for covering the longest distance on a zip line while hanging by his hair. (Via YouTube / abpnewstv)

The New York Times notes other Indians with their names in the book include:

“Shakuntala Devi, who earned a place in the 1982 edition by correctly multiplying two 13-digit numbers in 28 seconds, and a 9-year-old from Karnataka who made the list in 2006 for being the youngest director of a professionally made feature length film.”

Before the stunt, Roy told his wife this would be his last performance. An autopsy is expected to be performed Monday.

Fight on Mt. Everest: Sherpas vs. Climbers

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:01:00 -0500

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(Image source: Sky News)

BY BRIAN BONDUS

What’s scarier than an angry sherpa? How about 100 angry sherpas. That’s what three European climbers faced on their way down Mount Everest when a group of Sherpas allegedly punched, kicked and threw rocks at the climbers.

The three experienced climbers were climbing the mountain for the 60th anniversary of the very first human climb and doing it without oxygen — or ropes — and that’s apparently when the altercation took place.

(Via The Sun)

Each side has accused the other of starting the fight. The climbers claim they were victims of an unprovoked attack, while the sherpas say they retaliated after the climbers crossed over ropes a guide was fixing — and kicked ice down — injuring a sherpa.

Now, the fight happened between camp two and three about 25,000 feet up the peak. Professional climber Ueli Steck, pictured here on the left, was accused of touching a rope. The head sherpa then ordered 17 Sherpas back to camp two, and the climbers followed.

(Via Daily Mail)

When they got back they were faced with 100 sherpas shouting death threats at them. The climbers were reportedly saved thanks to few other Western climbers acting as a buffer between the groups.

Professional climber Simone Moro was blogging the trip.

This was his fifth time climbing Mount Everest. In a statement he notes ice falling is a common occurrence in mountain climbing and no sherpa has come forward with an injury. He speculates ...

(Via EpicTV)

“The lead Sherpa was tired and cold and felt that his pride had been damaged as the three climbers were moving unroped and much faster to the side of him.”

Another climber, Jonathan Griffith, who was photographing the climb, believes the sherpa’s reaction stems from a far bigger problem than ropes getting tangled or ice falling.

"A far more deep-rooted and long-term problem, which is the way that Nepalis feel treated by Westerners on the mountain and this was an uprising against that.”

(Via Sky News)

Rock and Ice reports Ueli Steck suffered a large cut on his face and is getting a flight home to Switzerland.

The other two climbers remain at the base and reportedly may continue the climb. Local police, the Nepali Ministry of Tourism and the head of the Sherpa Association are all investigating the incident.

Syria's Prime Minister Survives 'Failed Assassination'

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:21:00 -0500

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(Image source: Euronews)

BY DAN KENNEDY

Syria’s Prime Minister survived a car bomb attack in central Damascus Monday in what is being called a “failed assassination attempt.”

Al Jazeera reports at least six people were killed and more than 20 wounded in the blast that happened at a busy intersection near a public garden and a school.

Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi survived the attack but his bodyguard is reportedly among those killed.

“As the convoy was driving past, an IED went off or there was a bomb in the car. Either way, it looked like an inside job... Inside job because they had to know what time the vehicle was passing or they actually got to the car itself.”

According to euronews, a Hezbollah-controlled TV station in Lebanon reported al-Halqi’s convoy was targeted in what is believed to be a suicide attack.

CNN reports the attack happened in Mezzeh along a highway that connects to a major Syrian air force base. It’s also close to President Bashar al-Assad’s palace.

“As your say this is a middle class area in the Western suburbs of Damascus. It’s under government control.”

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack but Good Morning America reports suspicion immediately turned to Islamic radicals fighting with Syrian rebels.

Prague Explosion Injures at Least 40

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:15:00 -0500

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(Image source: ITV)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

Up to 40 people are injured — four critically — after an explosion in Prague late Monday morning.

Local authorities believe the explosion was caused by a gas leak. The windows of buildings 100 meters away were shattered in the blast — including part of the Czech Republic’s National Theater. (Via BBC)

The explosion happened in a crowded area of the city and some 220 people have reportedly been evacuated. According to RT, one building in the area contained the office of the International Air Transport Association and an art gallery.

The block was cordoned off as authorities continue to search for victims buried under the rubble — they do not know how many there may be. (Via Sky News)

ITV reports many apartments in the area have been “totally destroyed.” The prime minister of the Czech Republic called the incident a “tragedy.”

Just one day before this explosion was a similar occurrence in France when a suspected gas leak cause an explosion which triggered the collapse of an apartment building.

Three people died in that collapse and more than a dozen others were injured. (Via Daily Mail)

Meanwhile, emergency crews continue to go building-to-building looking for survivors in Prague.

Fire Breaks Out at Collapsed Bangladesh Building

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:49:37 -0500

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(Image source: The Daily Star)

BY SCOTT MALONE AND ELIZABETH HAGEDORN

More despair in Bangladesh: A fire broke out during rescue operations at the site of the collapsed clothing factory Sunday and killed the last known survivor.

Last week, an eight-story building housing several garment factories outside the capital of Dhaka caved in, leaving nearly 400 dead. Responders managed to pull out some 2,500 workers trapped in the rubble, but a fire broke out several days into the rescue mission and complicated their efforts. (Via Al Jazeera)

The BBC reports the fire started when rescue workers tried cutting through a steel rod to free a woman trapped in the wreckage, and sparks from the drilling tool hit piles of clothing.

The national fire chief told reporters the woman, believed to be the only remaining survivor in the debris, died in the fire.

The blaze came the same day authorities arrested the building owner for forcing his employees to work amid claims there were visible cracks in the building. (Via Sky News)

The head of the National Fire Service in Bangladesh told The New York Times the building’s foundation was substandard and its owner had three floors constructed without the required permits.

But substandard working conditions are well documented in Bangladesh. One official told Bloomberg roughly half the country’s clothing factories don’t meet legally required work-safety standards. That includes fire extinguishers and easily accessible exits.

The collapse, at least the third industrial accident in the country since November, has put the spotlight on Bangladesh’s $20-billion-a-year clothing industry, known for its poor working conditions and low wages. (Via the Guardian)

Two Dead in France After Apartment Building Collapses

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:11:00 -0500

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(Image Source: Sky News)

BY JASMINE BAILE Y

At least two people are dead and as many as 10 injured in France after an explosion caused part of an apartment building to collapse.

“What we do know is that this is being described by the emergency serves as a very powerful explosion…the blast actually shatter windows in other buildings nearby.” (Via CBC)

The building lies east of Paris in a residential area. The cause if the explosion is not yet known, but authorities believe it could have been caused by a gas leak. At least 100 rescue workers, firefighters and gas experts came to the scene. (Via Sky News)

The apartment building, built in the 1960s or 70s, housed about 12 separate apartments. Everyone has been evacuated.

The Guardian reports fire officials said there are still people caught under the rubble of the collapsed building. A spokesman said, “There are many victims… We have very little information on the state of the victims.” (Via The Guardian)

Earlier this month there was a gas leak explosion in a nearby town. Four people died in that blast, including a 4 year old — they were all from the same family. (Via MercuryNews)

Two Officers Shot as Italy Swears In New Leaders

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:05:57 -0500

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(Image source: WABC)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Two police officers were shot outside Italy’s prime minister’s office, less than a mile away from where the leaders of the nation’s new government were being sworn in on Sunday.

It was a chaotic scene in Rome, as details remain scarce in the shooting that wounded two officers — one shot in the neck, the other in the leg, but both still alive. A man not yet identified by police, dressed in a suit and tie, has been detained in the shooting. (Via Sky News)

Authorities haven’t released any details on the shooting. The violence played out as Italy was swearing in new leaders. After two months of political stalemate, 46-year-old Enrico Letta, set to become prime minister, will lead the government. (Via BBC)

That new government was formed through a partnership between the center-left Democratic Party leader and Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right party. Left wing President Giorgio Napolitano welcomed the new leadership Sunday. (Via The Telegraph)

Despite his opponents’ best efforts, the deal means a political resurgence for Berlusconi, the controversial former prime minister. One of his main allies, Angelino Alfano, will become deputy prime minister and interior minister in the new government.

Due in part to a huge protest vote, nationwide elections left Italy without a majority party and in political limbo since February. All the while, the nation has been trying to bounce back from its worst economic recession in decades. (Via Al Jazeera)

The new coalition was made possible when the former head of Letta’s party, Pier Luigi Bersani stepped aside — after weeks of refusing to strike a deal with Berlusconi and his center-right party. Letta says he’s hopeful but believes Italy’s political class has lost all credibility. (Via The Malta Independent)

Russia Reportedly Had Wiretap on Boston Bombing Suspect

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 06:52:00 -0500

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(Image source: The New York Times / Dmitry Kostyukov)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

New reports say the mother of one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects might have been discussing jihad with her son in 2011.

A U.S. official close to the investigation reportedly told CNN that Russia had intercepted communication between the mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaev, and someone else. They suspect she was speaking with her late son, 26-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

He was killed in a shootout with police just a few days after the tragic bombings in Boston. His younger brother, Dzhokhar is currently detained and undergoing medical treatment. As for their mother’s alleged conversation with Tamerlan, the source said the conversation was vague.

(via HLN)

“The source said Russia recently turned over the wiretap intercept to the FBI. The FBI did interview the mother in 2011 as part of the investigation into the older brother.”

The Tsarnaev family is originally from Chechnya — a region of Russia notoriously known for its terror and violence. According to PolicyMic, Chechnya-linked terror groups have been involved in at least a dozen attacks since 1999.

Russian officials suspected Tamerlan of having ties with extremist groups. But that case was closed after several months. His mother was reportedly added to a suspected terrorist watch list along with Tamerlan.

And Tamerlan’s record revealed he was a suspect in another massacre in 2011.

A triple homicide. Three men were found in an apartment with their throats slashed and their bodies covered in marijuana. Authorities never identified any suspects but believe two other men were involved.

After all of this, the question still remains if any red flags were missed by U.S. officials that could have given them a clearer indication Tsarnaev was a threat. New York Republican Rep. Peter King spoke out on Fox News.

“He did go to Russia for six months, which is an extended period of time and you would’ve thought that would’ve prompted the FBI to look back ... They investigate them, they clear them and then they go out and commit terrorist murders.”

But CBS correspondent and former FBI assistant director John Miller says these sorts of requests from foreign governments are “fairly routine.” They typically involve interviewing those close to suspects and in-depth searches through intelligence databases to see if the suspect had any connections with known terrorists.

The suspects’ mother is currently in Russia and reportedly wanted on felony charges of shoplifting and destruction of property in Massachusetts where the parents lived until last year.

Top Headlines: Italy Forms New Government

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 06:35:13 -0500

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(Image source: BBC)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s a look at your top headlines from Newsy.

After two months of political stalemate, Italy’s center-left faction, led by Enrico Letta, has formed a coalition government with Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right party. But the swearing in was marked by bloodshed for the new leaders (Via Sky News) ...

... as two police officers were shot at the prime minister’s office just a mile away under mysterious circumstances. The 46-year-old Letta met with President Giorgio Napolitano before being sworn in as the new prime minister. (Via The Telegraph)

And a story from the Los Angeles Times Sunday details the strange rivalry — between an Elvis impersonator and a Taekwondo instructor in Mississippi — that was at the center of a plot to poison the president with ricin.

Although that Elvis impersonator was initially the FBI’s main person of interest, martial arts instructor J. Everett Dutschke is now in jail as the main suspect in the case — accused by the former suspect of framing him. (Via CNN)

And at least nine people are dead after two bomb blasts at Pakistani campaign offices — just ahead of nationwide elections. The Taliban has quickly claimed responsibility for the attacks in an apparent effort to derail the elections. (Via Al Jazeera)

Since April 11, more than 50 people have been killed in bombings linked to upcoming elections on May 11. Sunday’s attack involved an IED planted just outside two separate campaign offices. (Via BBC)

And in sports, Kurt Busch made quite a few NASCAR drivers unhappy during Saturday night’s race in Richmond. USA Today says Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr. all voiced displeasure with driving they called reckless ahead of a ninth place finish for Busch.

Stay with us for more throughout the day. I’m Zach Toombs for Newsy, highlighting your top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

North Korea to Indict American Tour Guide

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:30:05 -0500

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(Image Source: Facebook / Remember Ken Bae)

BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

North Korea announced Saturday it plans to indict a Korean-American tour guide for “committing crimes” against the government.

North Korean officials arrested forty-four year old Kenneth Bae last November. (Via Facebook / Remember Ken Bae)

NPR reports Bae was traveling with five other tourists when they arrived at a North Korean special economic zone bordering China and Russia. Police searched the group’s belongings and found a computer and a hard drive.

North Korea officially announced Bae’s detention in December for committing “hostile acts” against the government.

In January, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson — a former ambassador to the United Nations — and Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt attempted to secure Bae’s release, but were unsuccessful. (Via The World)

Though it remains unclear as to why Bae was actually arrested, the Yonhap News Agency obtained information that one of the hard drives found with his group might have “contained sensitive information about North Korea.”

South Korean human rights advocates said Bae was interested in helping orphans in North Korea. They speculated Bae took pictures of orphans, something North Korean officials might have seen as a sort of anti-propaganda. (Via The Christian Post)

According to the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s government news agency, Bae “admitted that he committed crimes aimed to topple the DPRK [the North Korean government] with hostility toward it. His crimes were proved by evidence.”

Various sources report Bae’s alleged crime could carry a sentence of life in prison or even death, if he’s convicted.

Analysts suggest North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un could be using Bae as a bargaining chip to get a high-profile U.S. figure to visit and ask for his release. Former President Bill Clinton won the release of two journalists when he flew to Pyongyang in 2009, but the International Business Times reports “The U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, Robert King, said Pyongyang had so far made no request for an envoy to negotiate [Bae's] release.” (Via The Telegraph, International Business Times)

Bae’s conviction could also further exacerbate tensions between the U.S. and North Korea, which have been falling apart since the rogue state’s February nuclear test. The Korean Central News Agency said Bae will be tried before the North Korean Supreme Court but did not say when.

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta Reveals New Coalition

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:04:58 -0500

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(Image Source: Bloomberg / Alessia Pierdomenico)

BY JAKE GODIN

After two months of political stalemate and amid its worst recession since World War II, it seems like things might finally be looking up for the Italian government.

Italy’s newly designated prime minister Enrico Letta formed a grand coalition government Saturday, uniting the opposing left and right political parties under one banner. (Via BBC)

The Wall Street Journal reports Letta’s new cabinet contains several internationally known figures and “a record number of women and several 40-somethings—a rarity in a country where youth is usually a liability for leadership.”

Letta, a nephew to one of the top aides of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, appeared optimistic about the potential of the newly formed coalition.

“I believe that this list of ministers presents not only a government that I hope will be a solid and strongly determined team able to face the difficulties we have ahead of us but also a government, a team of cabinet members that have certain characteristics and skills.” (Via Al Jazeera)

President Giorgio Napolitano, who was re-elected to an unprecedented second term just last week and who charged Letta with creating the coalition, said: “It’s the only possible government at a time when Italy couldn’t afford to wait any longer.” (Via Sky News)

Not everyone agrees that the coalition is the best path for Italy’s politics though.

Ex-comic and leader of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, Beppe Grillo, will prove to be an obstacle for the new coalition after ruling out any possible cooperation with the more traditional political parties. (Via YouTube / RepubblicaTV)

The BBC reports President Napolitano hinted at his resignation if this new coalition government fails.

Gifts Given to President Obama in 2011 Valued at $240K

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:41:59 -0500

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(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons )

BY JAMAL ANDRESS

Riddle me this... What do a $7,000 golf bag, $50,000 mask and 2GB ipod shuffle all have in common?

According to a list released by the state department those are just three of the dozens of high end and low end items given to President Obama as gifts in 2011

The total price tag for all the gifts is an astounding $243,000:

$194K for President Obama
$21K to the first couple
$22K to Michelle Obama
$6K to Sasha and Malia (Via Yahoo!)

Most of the gifts came from foreign governments and were accepted for diplomatic reasons. The biggest gifts came from France, Brazil — and the tiny African country of Gabon.

The Atlantic reports Gabon’s president gave the President Obama a mask valued at more than $52 thousand. “Yes, you read that right. Gabon, the tiny West African nation with a population the size of Idaho's and a 2011 per-capita GDP of $16,000.”

But unfortunately for the President, he won’t be keeping any of these gifts,

The General Services Administration currently requires any gift valued at more than $350 be turned over to the government. So out of all gifts given to the President in 2011, he kept only one:

... the book “Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World,” by Jack Weatherford, given to him by the President of Mongolia.

The rest of the gifts were sent to the National Archives and Records Administration, aside from a few, like a $40 thousand photo print from Brazil, which is on loan to an unnamed museum. (Via CNN)

Some of the other gifts included a basketball signed by the Toronto Raptors, rare soccer jerseys and, for some reason, a suite of items based around the Polish role playing game The Witcher 2.

Tijuana and San Diego Hopeful for 2024 Olympics Bid

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:15:11 -0500

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(Image Source: International Olympic Committee)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

2024 is still pretty far away but it’s the year both Tijuana and San Diego have their sights set on. The two cities have submitted a joint proposal to host that year’s Summer Olympics.

U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Scott Blackmun said he’s speaking with 10 different cities about a possible the bid for the summer games, including this partnership, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. (Via KUSI)

The goal... to bring the Summer Olympics back to the U.S.

If you remember, the country hasn’t hosted the games since the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Rio De Janeiro beat Chicago for the 2016 Summer Games and the USOC opted not to bid for the 2020 or 2022 Olympics. (Via YouTube / Olympic)

Tijuana and San Diego have tried this partnership for the Olympics before, but according to San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, they “didn’t have the heft of the city.” (Via KNSD)

But Filner is serious this time around saying it would be an important step toward building a binational region. (Via U-T San Diego)

A writer for LA Weekly explains the joint bid is a relatively attractive option for several reasons.

With a population of 1.5 million Tijuana has become the LCD TV manufacturing capital of the world. And not only is it a part of the exploding interest in Baja’s culinary scene, but its arts and music communities are also grabbing the attention of people worldwide. (Via KSWB)

“San Diego-Tijuana games would have the advantages of electrifying America's growing Latino audience while also tapping into Latin American viewers. The downside? Remember those drug-cartel wars? They're not over.”

Moreover, The Los Angeles Times says this partnership raises several questions...

· Would the IOC grant the Olympics to two countries that have hosted the Games on their own?

· How would the border crossing for athletes and fans work?

But on the upside, “...the possibility of holding the swim events at Sea World would be intriguing, especially if you left Shamu in the water during the competition.”

Blackmun says he’s expecting the joint bid to be challenging. The U.S. Olympic Committee has until 2017 to make a decision for its choice city.

American Film Studios Clash With China Over New Tax

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 09:20:47 -0500

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(Image source: “Django Unchained” / The Weinstein Company)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

American film studios say a new tax levied by China is meant to cut into their profits — and limit the influence of U.S. film companies.

China is set to surpass the U.S. as the world’s largest movie market by 2020. And that’s part of the reason American studios are upset about this new policy, which seems to conflict with an agreement reached last year with China’s government. (Via Bloomberg)

That agreement would have taxed the gross profit made from ticket sales before divvying up the money between American studios and Chinese theaters. But The Wall Street Journal reports China is now taxing the money specifically destined for the U.S. companies.

Executives at 20th Century Fox tell the Journal they’ve refused to take a reduced payment of $23 million that last year’s “Life of Pi” made from its run in Chinese theaters. Instead, they demand the money they would have received under last year’s agreement.

But U.S. studios say this new move from the government-run China Film Group is about more than a few million dollars — they say it’s about an ongoing effort from China’s ruling Communist Party to limit American success in a growing market.

Censorship has been another major flashpoint between U.S. studios and the nation’s government. China Film Group pulled the controversial “Django Unchained” two weeks ago without saying why. Now, it’s returning, but with some edits made.

The recently-released Cloud Atlas marked the biggest Chinese contribution to a foreign film ever. But The New Yorker notes, although: “Chinese investors put more than ten million dollars into ‘Cloud Atlas’ ... censors required the removal of no less than thirty-eight minutes of the movie, mostly love scenes.”

For the time being and with a lack of clear rules, The Wall Street Journal says the tax rate American studios pay really just depends on the company’s ability to negotiate with China’s government.

Top Headlines: Spain Steps Back From Austerity Cuts

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 06:59:28 -0500

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(Image source: Bloomberg)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Here’s a look at your top news headlines from Newsy.

After violent clashes between police and protesters in Spain on Friday, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has rejected the austerity measures proposed by the European Union that would have meant deep cuts in Spain’s spending. (Via Bloomberg)

The New York Times reports Rajoy’s rejection is part of a trend away from the deep austerity that has characterized the European financial crisis. Unemployment in Southern Europe has now surpassed Great Depression levels.

And after United Kingdom intelligence services said last week they had confirmed the use of a chemical weapon in war torn Syria, U.S. President Barack Obama called it a game changer — but emphasized the need for more evidence. (Via Al Jazeera)

“What we have right now is an intelligence report ... knowing that potentially chemical weapons have been used inside of Syria doesn’t tell us when they were used, how they used...” (Via BBC)

The president has said previously the use of a chemical weapon Syria’s government would cross a “red line” for the U.S., possibly prompting intervention. Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel says he’s confident chemical weapons have been used. (Via CBS)

In New York, police say they think they’ve found landing gear from one of the aircrafts that crashed into the World Trade Center towers on 9/11. CNN reports the gear was found wedged between two buildings about three blocks away.

Stay with us for more throughout the day. I’m Zach Toombs for Newsy, highlighting your top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

Will Syria's Chemical Weapons Use Mean U.S. Action?

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:42:38 -0500

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(Image Source: Al Jazeera)

BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

The White House announced they now have evidence showing chemical weapons had been used in Syria’s civil war. But the discovery seems to be the very top of a nesting doll of information, with more questions arising on President Obama’s “red line” stance and a potential military response.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said Thursday intelligence points to the use of the chemical agent sarin: “We cannot confirm the origin of these weapons, but we do believe that any use of chemical weapons in Syria would very likely have originated with the Assad regime.” (Via The New York Times)

CNN reports evidence of chemical weapon usage was based on blood samples from those wounded in civil war clashes in Aleppo and Damascus.

But the recent intelligence came with “varying degrees of confidence” and the White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Friday more information must be gathered: “We need to be about the business of assembling a credible set of facts...” (Via Politico)

In August of last year, Obama said the use or transfer of chemical weapons would cross his “red line” and would provoke action from the United States. (Via International Business Times)

Carney added all options still remain on the table in terms of a U.S military response.

One NBC writer ponders such options like a no-fly zone in Syria or putting boots on the ground...

...but a writer for Bloomberg says there aren’t any good options: “...if it is proved to a certainty that Assad is trying to kill his people with chemical weapons, then Obama may have no choice but to act... allowing human beings to be murdered by a monstrous regime using the world’s most devilish weapons, when he has the power to stop it -- is not a moral option for a moral man.”

According to Al Jazeera, “ the Obama administration would likely move carefully, mindful of the lessons of the start of the Iraq war more than a decade ago.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron told the BBC he supported President Obama’s stance but said it appeared a war crime was being committed in Syria.

The United Nations estimated in February that more than 70,000 people had died since the conflict between the Syrian government and rebel forces began in 2011.