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Mayor gunned down, 24 others killed across Iraq
Full Story HereBaghdad (CNN) -- The mayor of the Iraqi city of Falluja was shot to death while bombings there, in Baghdad and in another city killed 24 more people Wednesday, police reported. -
Typhoon Haiyan survivors struggle to make sense of shattered world
Full Story HereAid is still slow in coming to Guiuan, the first town hit, where most buildings have been destroyed -
Typhoon Haiyan: No medicine, little aid at Tacloban clinic
Full Story HereThe cries of the suffering carried through a small, cramped one-story clinic in typhoon-ravaged Tacloban where the medicine was all but gone Thursday, but the number of wounded in the hard-hit Philippine city continued to grow -
Syrian Army Captures Suburb South of Damascus
Full Story HereSyrian troops captured a contested suburb of Damascus on Wednesday as the government forged ahead with a punishing military offensive that already has taken four other opposition strongholds south of the capital, state media said. -
Officials say 4 Marines killed in accident at Camp Pendleton
Full StoryFour U.S. Marines were killed Wednesday during a range maintenance operation at Camp Pendleton in California, the base said in a press release. -
Jonathan Martin could spark NFL cultural changeJarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports
Full Story HereThat was the punch line from an email received recently, some of the not-always-friendly reader feedback that presents intrigue. -
Despite Obamacare fix, fight rages on in Congress
Full Story Here
After hearing serious concerns from both Democrats and Republicans over the fact that millions of Americans are being dropped from insurance plans that no longer meet Obamacare standards, President Obama on Thursday offered a contrite apology and an administrative solution to the issue. -
Philippines government defends typhoon response
Full Story HereBEIJING -- Under fire for what critics say is the slow pace of its typhoon relief effort, the Philippine government Friday defended its handling of what might be the worst natural disaster in recent history. -
Death toll rises to 3,621 as more bodies turn up in the Philippines
Full Story HereAs cadaver crews collected more bodies off of streets and from underneath rubble in the Philippines Friday, the national disaster agency raised the death toll in the wake Typhoon Haiyan to 3,621. -
China to ease one-child policy, abolish labor camps, report says
After months of hints, China announced Friday it will relax its decades-long one-child policy and abolish labor camps in an effort to improve human rights, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Officials had said earlier both controversial policies were under review, but that did not diminish the force of Friday's announcement. -
Ravaged by Typhoon, Philippines Faces Threat of Serious Diseases
Full Story Here
The aftermath of the Philippines typhoon is now threatening the country with outbreaks of debilitating and potentially fatal diseases, including some thought to have been nearly eradicated, because of a collapse in sanitation, shortages of fresh water and the inability of emergency health teams to respond quickly in the week since the storm struck, medical officials said tues -
CDC: E-cigarettes, hookahs popular among middle and high-schoolers
Full Story HereThe electronic cigarette consists of a battery on the bottom and a bottom-coiled tank on top. Electronic cigarettes are growing in popularity, but concern still lingers nationwide about their safety. e-Cig culture includes "vaping" meet-ups and an array of build-your-own products.A report released by the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that more middle- and high-school students are embracing the emerging alternatives to smoking tobacco-based cigarettes. -
A man of contrasts, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford leads his 'nation' in controversy
Though he champions the overtaxed little guy, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford grew up with wealth and political advantage under a family fortune made in the industrial tagging and labeling business, founded by his rags-to-riches father who was also a provincial parliament member. -
Typhoon Haiyan: World Bank offers $500M loan to Philippines as aid logjams persist
Full Story HereAs government officials and aid workers struggled to reach communities devastated by Typhoon Haiyan 11 days ago, the World Bank has offered the Philippines a $500-million emergency loan to help it construct buildings able to withstand high winds and severe flooding. -
Tornadoes rip through Midwest, killing 6 and devastating neighborhoods
Full Story HEREWashington, Illinois (CNN) -- Hundreds of thousands of people were without power and hundreds were without homes across the Midwest on Monday after powerful storms wreaked havoc in three states.The worst damage appeared to be in Illinois, where six people died. -
Top Syrian rebel commander Abdul Qadir al-Saleh dies
Full Story HereA top Syrian rebel commander has died of wounds he sustained in an air strike on a rebel-held air base in Aleppo province on Thursday, his group says. -
Indonesia recalls its ambassador
Full Story HEREIndonesia has recalled its ambassador to Australia amid fury in Jakarta over revelations that Australian spies tried to tap the phones of the Indonesian President and his wife. -
Ford says he didn't lie about crack use
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford would have admitted to smoking crack cocaine long before his eventual admission, he says. It's just that no one asked him the right question. -
Cigars, e-cigarettes, hookahs being used by more youth
Full Story hereCigarette use among middle school and high school students is on the decline, but public health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are concerned about other ways that tobacco and nicotine use is rising among kids. -
Typhoon Aid Reaches Remote Areas of Central Philippines
FULL STORY HEREInternational aid is starting to reach remote areas of the central Philippines, 10 days after the region was devastated by super Typhoon Haiyan. -
U.N. disaster chief stresses long-term needs for Philippines
FULL STORY HEREGUIUAN, Philippines (Reuters) - The head of U.N. disaster relief visited the heart of the Philippine disaster zone on Tuesday and stressed the need for long-term planning as well as emergency relief to ensure farmers and fishermen can resume their livelihoods -
Geneva Talks Put Iran’s Nuclear Program in the Spotlight: Q&A
FULL STORY HERENuclear negotiations between world powers and Iran are scheduled to resume on Nov. 20 amid controversy about the merits of the prospective deal and opposition from Israel. Here are questions and answers about the talks: -
Toronto Mayor Ford Stripped of Power Vows to Run Again
FULL STORY HEREFormer Washington Mayor Marion Barry was forced out of office when he was caught using cocaine, while former U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner stepped down after sending lewd photos of himself to women.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford? He’s not going anywhere, -
Iranian Embassy targeted in Beirut bombings; diplomat among dead
FULL STORY HEREBEIRUT -- A pair of explosions apparently targeting the Iranian Embassy rocked a southern Beirut neighborhood early Tuesday, leaving at least 20 dead, including an Iranian diplomat, and close to 100 injured, authorities said. -
Private consulting firm warned of glitches before healthcare.gov launch
FULL STORY HERE A newly disclosed report indicates that officials in the Obama administration and the Department of Health and Human Services received warnings from a private consultant group that the federal online healthcare enrollment site could potentially fail to function properly for the October 1 launch date. -
Syria peace conference likely in mid-December: UN
FULL STORY HEREUnited Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday he expected a long-delayed peace conference on Syria's bloody conflict will be held in "mid-December" with a specific date to be set next week, AFP reported. -
NSA Releases 1,000 Pages Of Newly Declassified Files
Full Story HereThe National Security Agency reported its own violations of surveillance rules to a U.S. intelligence court and promised additional safety measures to prevent similar missteps over and over again, according to more than 1,000 pages of newly declassified files about the federal government's controversial program of collecting every American's phone records during the past seven years. -
World powers, Iran in new attempt to reach nuclear deal
Full Story hereWorld powers aim to reach a preliminary deal to curb Iran's nuclear program in politically charged talks resuming in Geneva on Wednesday. -
Indonesia halts Australia co-operation amid spying row
Full Story Here
Indonesia has suspended co-ordinated military co-operation with Australia amid an ongoing row over reports Canberra spied on Jakarta officials. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the suspension included operations to stop people-smuggling, joint military exercises and intelligence exchange. -
NASA launch of 29-satellite rocket is seen from Lehigh Valley
Full Story HereThe rocket that launched a record 29 satellites at once into orbit Tuesday night from Wallops Island, Va., was faintly visible from Allentown. -
Search for survivors ends at collapsed South African building site
Full Story HereRescue workers called off the search for survivors at a collapsed South African building site on Wednesday, believing there are no more trapped construction workers beneath the half-built shopping mall. -
Car bomb kills 10 Egyptian soldiers in Sinai
full story here Ten Egyptian soldiers were killed by a car bomb in the Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday, one of the deadliest attacks there since al Qaeda-inspired militants stepped up violence following the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi. -
French police name arrested Paris gun suspect
Full Story HereFrench authorities have named a man arrested on suspicion of carrying out recent gun attacks in Paris as Abdelhakim Dekhar. -
Charges dropped against girls in Florida cyberbullying case
Full Story Here Florida prosecutors dropped charges on Wednesday against two girls accused of stalking a 12-year-old classmate who killed herself after complaining she was bullied online for months, a police official said. -
U.S. drone kills senior militant in Pakistani seminary
Full Story HereA suspected U.S. drone strike on an Islamic seminary in Pakistan killed a senior member of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network early on Thursday, Pakistani and Afghan sources said. -
Beirut Bombs Strike at Iran as Assad’s Ally
Lebanon — A double bombing struck the Iranian Embassy compound in Beirut on Tuesday, in the deadliest assault on Iran’s interests since it emerged as the most forceful backer of the Syrian government against an armed insurgency. The frontal attack struck a symbol of the country’s powerful influence in Lebanon and neighboring Syria. -
Greenpeace Arctic 30: A shift in focus for campaigners
Full Story HereGreenpeace set out to protest about oil companies drilling in the Arctic Ocean, but now finds itself fighting to free a group of 30 from a Russian jail. What effect is the case having on the group's environmental aims? -
Toronto mayor Rob Ford loses more powers
Full Story HereThe Toronto city council has voted to strip Mayor Rob Ford of most of his authority, as the embattled city leader resists growing pressure to step down. -
China media: Aid to typhoon-hit Philippines
Full Story HereChinese media continue to defend the level of Beijing's aid to the typhoon-hit Philippines amid ongoing international media criticism. -
Kids Turning to E-cigarettes, Hookahs for Nicotine Fix
Full Story HereThe exciting news is that fewer kids are smoking than in previous years. It’s not a huge drop in children who are lighting up, but any reduction is an improvement. The not so good news is that more kids are turning to e-cigarettes, cigars and hookahs for their nicotine fix according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) analysis of the 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey. -
Royal Navy help Typhoon Haiyan survivors
Full Story HereRoyal Navy sailors have reached starving, homeless villagers still untouched by aid efforts two weeks after a "super" typhoon tore through the Philippines -
Breaking down the Iran nuclear deal
full story The White House late Saturday issued a detailed synopsis, or "fact sheet," of the six-month deal regarding Iran's nuclear program. -
3-decade gridlock broken: The nuclear deal with Iran in Geneva
Full Story HereThe diplomatic gridlock between Iran and the West seemed immovable for decades. But on Sunday, diplomats made history when Iran and six world powers came together on an agreement over Iran's nuclear program. -
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford misleads voters with five big fibs: Editorial
Full Story HereToronto Mayor Rob Ford is misleading voters by misrepresenting his record. He hasn’t saved $1 billion or cut debt and has no respect for taxpayers. -
Ukraine protests: Thousands march through capital
Full Story HereThousands of pro-Europe demonstrators are marching through the Ukrainian capital in protest at President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign an EU trade deal. -
New York passenger train derails, killing 4 and hindering Monday commutes
Full Stolry HereNew York (CNN) -- Even though the train was careening around a curve, Amanda Swanson felt the wreck in slow motion.
All seven passenger cars jumped the tracks. The windows of the coaches broke out. Then "gravel came flying up in our faces," said Swanson, 26. -
Ukrainian Protesters Control Landmark Plaza
Full Story hereKiev, Ukraine — Thousands of people milled about on Independence Square on Monday morning, as the Ukrainian government effectively ceded control of the landmark plaza to protesters demanding the resignation of President Viktor F. Yanukovich and a revival of accords that would draw the country closer to Europe. -
U-M Nurse In Philippines: No Power, Damage Is Everywhere After Typhoon Haiyan
Full Story HereIt’s been three weeks since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines and relief efforts continue. -
Four dead as Thai protesters force Yingluck Shinawatra to flee police compound
Full Story HereThailand’s embattled prime minister was forced to flee crowds of anti-government protestors on Sunday as clashes sparked by an opposition-backed “people’s coup” left four dead. -
Thailand protests: Teargas fired amid renewed clashes
Full Story HereThai authorities fired tear gas amid renewed skirmishes with anti-government protesters outside key government buildings. -
Key PISA test results for U.S. students
Full Story hereHere are highlights of the newly released 2012 scores from the Program of International Student Assessment, an exam given every three years to 15 year olds around the world in reading, math and science. In this administration of PISA, 65 countries and education systems participated. Connecticut, Florida, and Massachusetts each participated for the first time as international benchmarking systems and received separate scores. -
US calls on China to rescind air defense zone to avoid conflict with Japan
Full Story hereAhead of a trip to the East Asia region by United States Vice President Joe Biden, Washington has called on China to scrap its newly declared air defense identification zone on Monday, warning that Beijing is risking a potentially dangerous confrontation with Japan and its allies – particularly the U.S. This explicit request is for China to “rescind” threats against unannounced aircraft passing over a territory that covers almost all of the East China Sea -
Ukraine leader heads to China, leaving turmoil at home
Full Story here Embattled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich flew to China on Tuesday with his government facing uproar in parliament and turmoil on the streets over a decision to spurn closer ties with the European Union under pressure from Russia. -
Glasgow Helicopter Crash Search Ends
full story hereThe search and recovery operation at the site of the Glasgow helicopter crash has ended, with police confirming there were nine fatalities. All nine bodies have now been pulled from the rubble of the Clutha pub after a police helicopter smashed through the roof on Friday night. -
NTSB: New York train was going 82 mph in 30 mph zone before crash
Full Story HereNEW YORK — The Metro-North commuter train that derailed in the Bronx — killing four people and injuring dozens — was traveling at a "harrowing" 82 mph as it hit a curve where the limit was 30 mph, officials said Monday. -
Kentville council helping out after typhoon Haiyan
Full Story HereKentville will be donating $500 to the International Red Cross to help with Typhoon Haiyan relief work in the Philippines. -
Andy Rubin moves from building Android to building robots for Google
Full Story HereAmazon has just revealed its robot-powered drone delivery plans. Now Google is also coming out with its more subdued vision for a more practical robot-filled future. And the tech giant has just the right man to lead it forward in the person of Android’s own Andy Rubin. -
Biden Arrives in China Seeking Restraint Over New Air Zone
Full Story HereBEIJING — Shuttling from one feuding neighbor to the other, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. arrived here from Tokyo on Wednesday to appeal to China’s leaders to show restraint in policing a new air defense zone in the East China Sea that has ignited tensions with Japan. -
E-cigarettes: Should They Be Regulated as Cigarettes?
Full Story HereShould e-cigarettes be regulated as cigarettes?
I think so.
E-cigarettes are designed to look like cigarettes. They are labeled and marketed like cigarettes. They contain nicotine like cigarettes. They should be regulated like cigarettes. -
Engineer in fatal NY train wreck was falling asleep at controls, union official says
Full Story HereThe engineer operating a commuter train that derailed in New York City Sunday, killing four, caught himself nodding at the controls just before the fatal crash, a union official said Tuesday.
Engineer William Rockefeller "caught himself, but he caught himself too late," said Anthony Bottalico, leader of the rail employees union, relating what he said Rockefeller told him. -
NSA reportedly collects 5 billion cell phone location records a day
Full Story HereThe NSA collects nearly 5 billion records a day on the locations of cell phones overseas to create a huge database that stores information from hundreds of millions of devices, including those belonging to some Americans abroad, the Washington Post reported Wednesday -
Nationwide Strike By Fast Food Workers Set for ThursdayRead more: http://ktla.com/2013/12/04/nationwide-strike-by-fast-food-workers-set-for-thursday/#ixzz2mbYYi2Xp
Full Story HereOrganizers say fast food restaurant workers in 100 U.S. cities will walk off the job Thursday, as part of a continuing push to raise wages above $15 an hour in the industry and secure the right to unionize. -
2 million Facebook, Gmail and Twitter passwords stolen in massive hack
Full Stoty HereHackers have stolen usernames and passwords for nearly two million accounts at Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and others, according to a report released this week. -
Alleged Bullying Victim Sues School District
Full Story HereThe family of a West Deptford High School student is suing the school district after they say she was relentlessly bullied by classmates and no action was taken by officials. The victim, who is now 15, says the bullying began when she was in 6th grade at middle school and continued into high school. The girl says the bullying got so bad that she refused to start 10th grade last September. -
Dragon Promotions Helps Typhoon Haiyan Relief Through Tennis
Full Story HereOrlando, Florida- The city of Orlando is lending a hand to its faraway friends in the Philippines...through tennis. Players from all around Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa, are joining in the RealRealCool.com Typhoon Tennis Tournament this Saturday December 7th. -
Nelson Mandela: His impact on American activism, politics and pop culture
Full Story HereWord of Nelson Mandela's death spread quickly across the United States, bringing with it a mix of reverence and grief for a man who was born in South Africa but in the end belonged to the world. -
DoD Announces Plans To Destroy Syrian Chemical Weapons
Full Story HereThis operation comes as part of an agreement reached in September between Syria, Russia and the US to destroy Syria's stockpile by the middle of next year. -
Myanmar's President Asks Philippines for More Aid
Full Story HereMyanmar's president called Thursday for more investment and development assistance from the Philippines, saying his country needs help to catch up with the rest of Southeast Asia after emerging from nearly two decades of economic sanctions.
President Thein Sein's visit represents a milestone in relations with the Philippines, one of the harshest critics of Myanmar's former ruling junta. Thein Sein's elected government took office in 2011, ending a half-century of military rule. -
Ukraine: Riot Police Deploy Near Protesters As Deadline Looms
Full Story HEREUkraine's government has deployed riot police near Independence Square outside Kiev's city hall, which has been occupied by anti-government protesters for more than a week. Police had told the protesters they have until early this week to vacate the building. -
Thai PM Dissolves Parliament, Calls Elections
Full Story HereBANGKOK (AP) — Desperate to defuse Thailand's deepening political crisis, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the lower house of Parliament on Monday and called for early elections. But the moves did nothing to stem a growing tide of more than 150,000 protesters vowing to overthrow her in one of the nation's largest demonstrations in years. -
Tech giants call for controls on government surveillancehttp://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-tech-giants-call-for-controls-on-government-surveillance-20131209,0,4080105.story#ixzz2mzSAWn5Y
Full story HereEight major technology companies have joined forces to call for tighter controls on government surveillance, issuing an open letter Monday to President Barack Obama arguing for reforms in the way the U.S. snoops on people.
The companies, which include Google, Facebook and Twitter, said that while they sympathize with national security concerns, recent revelations make it clear that laws should be carefully tailored to balance them against individual rights. -
India's Top Court Declares Homosexuality Illegal
Full Story HerePronouncing its eagerly awaited verdict on homosexuality, the Supreme Court of India has criminalised consensual sex between two adults of the same gender. LGBT activists present in the court room broke down on hearing the verdict. Their relationships had earlier been legalised by the Delhi High Court.
Four years ago, India's High Court decriminalized such a relationship, in what was then hailed by gay rights groups as a landmark ruling. -
Handshake between Barack Obama and Raul Castro offers hope for US-Cuba ties
Full Story HereThe handshake between US president Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela's memorial service could provide an opening for an easing of ties between the Cold War foes, analysts say. -
Ukraine’s Path to Unrest
Full Story HereJust a few months ago, President Viktor F. Yanukovich seemed to be on track to signing a trade and political agreement with the European Union. A look back through crucial moments over the past year -
Couple, 4 kids lost in frigid Nevada mountains heated rocks in fire to survive
Full story hereA couple and four children who vanished in sub-zero conditions in the mountains of northern Nevada were found safe Tuesday and revealed they had heated rocks in a fire to keep warm, officials said.
The six were found "in fairly good shape" after crews spent two nights searching for them, Pershing County police dispatcher Leslie Steward said. -
Ukraine Police Retreat, Protesters Dig In
Full Storyt HereKIEV, Ukraine—Antigovernment protesters used metal fencing, bags stuffed with snow and even a trip wire to reinforce their makeshift camps after an aborted attempt by authorities to evict them from Kiev's main square, as President Viktor Yanukovych gave little sign of capitulating. -
Syria urged to halt abductions
Full Story HereMajor international news organisations have sent a letter to the leadership of the armed opposition in Syria, calling for urgent action against rebel groups increasingly targeting journalists for kidnappings. -
US and UK suspend non-lethal aid for Syria rebels
The US and UK have suspended all "non-lethal" support for rebels in northern Syria, but not humanitarian aid.
A US spokesman said it was concerned about reports that Islamist rebels had seized bases belonging to the Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA). -
Journalists in Syria at great risk of being kidnapped
FULL STORY HEREThe kidnappings are believed to be by jihadist groups as well as government militias and gangs. The kidnappings are sometimes for ransom, but are often intend to intimidate journalists and disrupt independent journalism. -
Ukraine leader 'intends to sign' EU deal after protests
Full Story HereUkrainian President Viktor Yanukovych "intends to sign" the far-reaching trade and cooperation agreement with the EU that he rejected only last month, the European Union's foreign policy chief said Thursday after talks with the embattled leader -
Robert Levinson, American Missing In Iran, Was Working For CIA
Full Story HereWASHINGTON (AP) — In March 2007, retired FBI agent Robert Levinson flew to Kish Island, an Iranian resort awash with tourists, smugglers and organized crime figures. Days later, after an arranged meeting with an admitted killer, he checked out of his hotel, slipped into a taxi and vanished. For years, the U.S. has publicly described him as a private citizen who traveled to the tiny Persian Gulf island on private business. -
UN Inspectors Confirm Syria Chemical Attack
Full Story HereChemical weapons were probably used in four locations in Syria this year, in addition to the confirmed attack near Damascus in August that forced the government to abandon its secret chemical stockpile, U.N. inspectors have said. -
Texas teen Ethan Couch gets 10 years' probation for driving drunk, killing 4
Full Story Here To the families of the victims, Ethan Couch was a killer on the road, a drunken teenage driver who caused a crash that left four people dead.
To the defense, the youth is himself a victim -- of "affluenza," according to one psychologist -- the product of wealthy, privileged parents who never set limits for the boy. -
Newtown anniversary: Daily drumbeat of child homicides gets little notice
Full Story HereTo mourn the 20 children and six educators killed a year ago at Sandy Hook elementary, residents of the Connecticut suburb of Newtown will take a quiet action on Saturday: placing candles in windows to remember the lives lost. -
Better-looking teens more likely to graduate college, study findshttp://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-looks-teens-college-study-20131211,0,4286257.story#ixzz2nMPQoS5F
Full Story HEREWhat does it matter if you were cute in high school? More than you might think.
A new study undertaken by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Texas at Austin finds that teens rated as good-looking in high school got higher grades and were ultimately more likely to graduate college and get bigger paychecks as adults.
Well into adulthood, “people’s personal appearance has powerful effects on their life chances,” -
North Korea says leader's uncle was executed
Full Story Here
An uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been executed for trying to overthrow the government, the Korean Central News Agency reported early Friday.
"Traitor Jang Song Thaek Executed" blared the headline posted by the state-run news agency about the man who, until recently, had been regarded as the nation's second-most powerful figure. -
17-year-old Colo. school shooting victim remains in coma
Full Story HereA 17-year-old student at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo. remained in a coma Sunday evening, more than 48 hours after she was shot at point-blank range by a fellow student, 18-year-old Karl Pierson. -
Sandy Hook shooting, one year later: A solemn day for Newtown
Full Story Here Bells tolled 26 times to honor the children and educators killed one year ago in a shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School as local churches held memorial services Saturday and President Barack Obama observed a moment of silence.With snow falling and homes decorated with Christmas lights, Newtown looked every bit the classic New England town, with a coffee shop and general store doing steady business. But reminders of the grief were everywhere. -
Footage released of China Jade Rabbit moon landing
Full Story HereChinese state television had so far only shown a computer-generated image of its path as it approached the surface of the moon late on Saturday. -
Shooting at The Mall at Short Hills: Man, 30, dies after violent carjackingRead more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/shooting-jersey-mall-leaves-hospital-article-1.1548790#ixzz2ndyTnApM
Full Story HereA man who was shopping for the holidays was fatally shot in the head right in front of his wife during a violent carjacking in an upscale New Jersey mall parking deck on Sunday, according to reports. -
Judge's Word on NSA Program Won't Be the Last
Full Story Here
A federal judge made headlines Monday by declaring that the National Security Agency's bulk collection of millions of Americans' telephone records is likely unconstitutional. But even he realized his won't be the last word on the issue. -
Obama Meeting With Tech Chiefs Pushing Surveillance Limits (1)
Full Story HerePresident Barack Obama today will face a group of executives including Apple Inc. (AAPL:US)’s Tim Cook and Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO:US)’s Marissa Mayer whose companies are pushing the U.S. to curb broad government spying on communications.
The executives intend to press Obama to act on the changes to surveillance policies proposed in a letter sent to the president and lawmakers last week, according to a representative of one of the companies, who asked not to be identified because the meeting plans ar -
WHO AM I TO JUDGE?A radical Pope’s first year.
On most Wednesdays, the Pope gives a general audience, and this one was packed. It was a balmy October morning, and more than a hundred thousand pilgrims, tourists, and Romans had funnelled into St. Peter’s Square. It was the first of three large gatherings Pope Francis presided over that week for a celebration of the family during the Catholic Church’s “Year of Faith.” -
Attacks across Baghdad and northern Iraq kill 70
Full Story HereBaghdad (CNN) -- At least 70 people have been killed in another wave of the horrifying daily violence that is threatening to unravel Iraq, police officials around the country said.More than 40 were killed in Baghdad Monday, many of whom were on their way to the Shiite holy city of Karbala. Another 17 pilgrims in Mosul were also killed by militants. -
Russia, Ukraine sign $16b deal
Full Story HereMoscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin gave Ukraine's hard-pressed government strong financial assistance in the form of a $US15 billion loan ($16.8 billion) and a sharp cut in the price of natural gas on Tuesday, pre-empting European Union leaders.With their protest encampment in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, now in its fourth week, demonstrators demanded to know what terms President Viktor Yanukovych had agreed to during his one-day visit to the Kremlin to land the deal. Read more: http:/ -
Russia considers amnesty bill for Greenpeace activists
Full Story HereThe group known as the Arctic 30, which includes Australian man Colin Russell, is facing hooliganism charges after staging a protest on an Arctic oil rig in September.
The amnesty could free a number of other prisoners, including members of the band Pussy Riot.Greenpeace Australia spokesman James Lorenz explained the proceedings to Hannah Sinclair. -
Obama includes openly gay athletes in 2014 Olympic delegation
Full Story HereFormer Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will lead the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics next year in Sochi, Russia....
King and Cahow are both openly gay athletes. Gay rights groups have urged the Obama administration to use the delegation selection to make a point about Russia's treatment of gays and lesbians. -
Two Winning Tickets Sold for Massive Mega Millions JackpotRead more: Mega Millions Jackpot: 2 Winning Tickets Sold | TIME.com http://nation.time.com/2013/12/18/mega-millions-jackpot-won/#ixzz2npdPJHTi
Full Story HereTwo winners will share the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history after the Mega Millions draw on Tuesday.One winner bought a ticket at Jennifer’s Gift Shop in San Jose, California, the other at Gateway Newsstand in Atlanta. They will soon split a jackpot that could top $648 million according to a California Lottery spokesperson. -
Gaia space telescope's billion pixel camera to map Milky Way
Full Story HereWhat do you need to map a billion stars? A billion-pixel camera certainly helps.Scientists hope to glean more clues about the origin and evolution of the universe, and in particular our own galaxy, after a camera of this incredible scale -- fitted to the Gaia space telescope -- was launched Thursday.Gaia, which lifted off from French Guiana, has been tasked with mapping the Milky Way in greater detail than ever before. -
Superpedestrian debuts wheel that turns bikes into electric-hybrids
Full Story HereAssaf Biderman, founder of Cambridge-based startup Superpedestrian, discovered that in order to increase bicycle ridership, he had to literally reinvent the wheel.
With help from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's SENSEable CIty Lab, Biderman designed a wheel that snaps onto the back wheel of almost any bike — road, mountain or cruiser — to transform it into a more powerful, electric-hybrid bicycle. -
Target: 40 million credit, debit cards compromised
Full Story HereTarget Corp. said data from about 40 million credit and debit card accounts might have been stolen during the Thanksgiving weekend, in one of the largest credit card breaches at a U.S. retailer.
The Krebs on Security, a closely watched security industry blog that broke the news.
Target said the accounts, which might have been compromised between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15, affected customers making credit and debit card purchases at its U.S. stores. -
How do you know if you've made it in life?
Full Story Here<a href='In the first few decades after China's communist revolution, most families aspired to own the "three circles and a speaker" - a radio, a bicycle, a wrist watch and a sewing machine.Decades later, the list of Chinese must-haves is a lot more expensive. Chinese people are under pressure to buy their own apartment, a car, a smartphone, a DSLR camera and a laptop, for starters. Others strive for designer clothes and furniture too.' >Full Story Here</a>In the first few decades after China's communist revolution, most families aspired to own the "three circles and a speaker" - a radio, a bicycle, a wrist watch and a sewing machine.Decades later, the list of Chinese must-haves is a lot more expensive. Chinese people are under pressure to buy their own apartment, a car, a smartphone, a DSLR camera and a laptop, for starters. Others strive for designer clothes and furniture too. -
Recreational Marijuana Sales Begin In Colorado
Full Story HereThe world's first state-licensed marijuana retailers legally permitted to sell pot for purely recreational use to the general public open for business in Colorado with long lines of customers, marking a new chapter in America's drug culture. -
All 52 passengers rescued from ship trapped in Antarctic ice
Full Story HereAfter 10 days stranded far from home, all 52 passengers from a ship stuck in Antarctic ice have now been transferred by helicopter to an Australian icebreaker.
"It's 100% we're off! A huge thanks to all," tweeted Chris Turney, an Australian professor among the group of scientists, journalists and tourists marooned on the ship.
A helicopter from a nearby Chinese icebreaker ferried passengers Thursday to the Australian icebreaker, the Aurora Australis. -
Snapchat hack leaks 4.6m users’ details
Full Story HerePhoto-sharing site Snapchat has been hit by a cyber attack that reportedly exposed the usernames and phone numbers of 4.6 million users.
The data was posted on a website called SnapchatDB.info, which has since been suspended. The hackers censored the last two digits of the phone numbers "in order to minimise spam and abuse", but offered to disclose the uncensored database "under certain circumstances".
In a statement to tech news site TechCrunch, the hackers explained that their motivation behin -
Scenes from the 2013 DARPA Robotics Challenge
Full Story HereSeventeen teams from the United States, China, Japan, and Korea participated in the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s Robotics Challenge Trials at Florida’s Homestead-Miami Speedway from Dec. 20 to Dec. 21. -
Mighty winter storm 'Hercules' heads to Northeast
Full Story HereA major winter storm could complicate the first post-New Year's Day back to work and school for millions in New England and beyond.
The storm, predicted to affect the USA from the upper Midwest to the East Coast, is expected to bring the heaviest snow across southern New England on Thursday and early Friday.
