ThinSkull Blog

Chinese firm’s Canadian contracts raise security fears

AB — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:19:57 +0000

CBC News The former head of U.S. counter-espionage says the Harper government is putting North American security at risk by allowing a giant Chinese technology company to participate in major Canadian telecommunications projects. In an exclusive interview in Washington, Michelle…

Texas ‘executed an innocent man’, report claims

AB — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:17:11 +0000

BBC News The US state of Texas is likely to have executed an innocent man due to careless handling of the case, a report by US law students claims. Carlos de Luna was killed by lethal injection in 1989 for…

Quebec firms charged in scandal got federal stimulus funds

AB — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:00:28 +0000

CBC News Some of the public money set aside for Canada’s economic recovery has ended up in the hands of companies and individuals accused of taking part in an elaborate collusion scheme in Quebec. An investigation by The Canadian Press…

Castaway sues over rescue failure

AB — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:57:40 +0000

BBC News A Panamanian fisherman who survived 28 days adrift in the Pacific and watched two companions die is suing the owners of a cruise ship that sailed past. Adrian Vasquez has filed a lawsuit in Florida alleging negligence by…

Mask ban bill penalty doubled to 10 years

AB — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:33:14 +0000

CBC News MPs studying a bill that would make it illegal for rioters to cover their faces have doubled the proposed penalty to 10 years. Conservative MPs on the House justice committee changed the proposed law Thursday, sending the legislation…

US sheriff sued for ‘race profiling’

AB — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:29:34 +0000

BBC News The US Department of Justice has sued an Arizona sheriff accused of racially profiling Latinos, among other alleged civil rights violations. The lawsuit alleges sloppy police work and a disregard for minority rights by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe…

Inmates to pay more for room and board

AB — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:01:08 +0000

CBC News Inmates in Canada will pay more money for their room and board, and some offenders employed within institutions will no longer be paid, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said today. Toews also announced changes to the way inmates…

North Carolina approves gay union ban

AB — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:58:14 +0000

BBC News Initial results show North Carolina has approved a constitutional amendment effectively banning same-sex marriage or civil unions. State election officials said 61% had voted for the measure banning gay unions, and 39% opposed it. Recent polling had suggested…

US drug company in $1.6bn payout

AB — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:09:02 +0000

BBC News A US drug company has agreed to pay out $1.6bn (£1bn) after improperly marketing a mood-stabilising drug in a settlement thought to be the largest of its kind involving a single drug. Abbott Laboratories encouraged its sales teams…

Coleman estate case goes to trial

AB — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:58:52 +0000

BBC News A legal bid by the ex-wife of the late TV star Gary Coleman to take control of his estate has gone to trial in Utah. Shannon Price testified on Monday that although the two divorced in 2008, they…