YES MA'AM

Military to ease restrictions on women in combat

women.marines.afp

The US military on Thursday will ease some restrictions on women in combat, opening up thousands of jobs that had been off-limits to female soldiers, defense officials said.

ROBOT WARFARE

Poll: Voters back Obama as commander-in-chief

Obama via AFP

President Barack Obama has overwhelming support from voters for his use of drones and his planned troop drawdown in Afghanistan, a poll found Wednesday.

DIGITAL ARMS RACE

‘Tribler’ software makes Internet piracy impossible to stop

A skeleton wearing a pirate hat. Photo: Flickr user Uncle Catherine.

Internet piracy has been a hot topic recently, but it’s about to heat up even more thanks to a piece of software that is literally the content industry's worst nightmare.

OVER THE COUNTER

Suit seeks to make ‘morning-after pill’ available to girls

highschoolgirls.shutterstock

Reproductive rights advocates on Wednesday asked a federal judge in Brooklyn to make the “morning-after pill” immediately available to girls of all ages without a prescription.

SPREAD THE LIGHT

Chris Hedges: Occupy’s ‘Black Bloc’ is ‘serving’ the 1 percent

Pulitzer-winning journalist Chris Hedges, appearing on Russia Today. Screengrab via Russia Today.

After criticizing the tactics of some “Occupy” protesters, journalist Chris Hedges castigated what he sees as a “cancer” on the movement: the so-called “Black Bloc.”

MAKING IT UP

Hannity: Bin Laden would be alive if Obama ‘had his way’

Fox News' Sean Hannity. Screenshot via Fox News.

A day after proclaiming America’s end if President Barack Obama is re-elected, Sean Hannity added to his pile of animosity Tuesday with a claim detached from reality.

Science

New advance in gene therapy for blindness

WASHINGTON — US scientists on Wednesday reported a new advance in using gene therapy to…

Study on mice shows fasting weakens cancer

WASHINGTON — Early research on mice with cancer shows that fasting may weaken tumors and…

Tech News

Windows 8 preview set for February 29

SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft on Wednesday revealed plans to unveil a test version of its…

Nokia cuts 4,000 jobs in fight for smartphone market

World-leading mobile phone maker Nokia will cut 4,000 jobs at itssmartphone manufacturing facilities in Finland, Hungary and Mexico by…

Media

Celebrities settle phone hacking claims

LONDON — Former footballer Paul Gascoigne and comic actor Steve Coogan were among high-profile British…

Washington Post offering buyout to news staff

WASHINGTON — The Washington Post announced a voluntary buyout for some newsroom staff on Wednesday,…

World

Maldives’ ex-president awaits arrest

The ex-president of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed, who claims he was forced from office in a coup, said he expected…

Chinese, Russian arms fuel Darfur abuse: Amnesty

KHARTOUM — Chinese-made bullets and aircraft bought from Russia are used to commit rights violations in Sudan’s Darfur under an…

Spy chief unveils new Romanian government

BUCHAREST — Romania’s incoming prime minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu rang the changes at the economy and finance ministries Wednesday when…

Canada’s use of torture data sparks outcry

OTTAWA — Human rights groups and opposition leaders in Canada were in uproar after the nation’s public safety minister this…

U.S. News

Pakistan ‘Al-Qaeda chief’ killed by US drone

US missiles on Thursday killed Al-Qaeda’s chief in Pakistan, one of the Americans’ main targets…

New York hotel maids to be given ‘panic buttons’

NEW YORK — Large New York hotels plan to equip their housekeepers and staff with…

Judge dismisses suit accusing SeaWorld of enslaving whales

(Reuters) – A federal judge on Wednesday threw out an animal rights group’s lawsuit accusing…

U.S. plays down cuts to diplomatic mission in Iraq

WASHINGTON — The United States played down Wednesday plans to reduce its diplomatic footprint in…

Washington State lawmakers approve same sex marriage bill

The Washington House of Representatives on Wednesday joined the state Senate in passing legislation to…