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Venezuela inflation soars to record monthly high 6.1%; 35% annualized

"Last month's consumer price rises, up from 4.3 percent in April, took Venezuela's annualized inflation rate to a startling 35.2 percent, the highest in the Americas. A lack of hard currency has left businesses struggling to import key consumer products. Long queues at shops, and even scuffles, have become common as Venezuelans face shortages of basic goods from toilet paper to wheat flour. A devaluation of the bolivar currency in February, and heavy government spending throughout 2012 when Chavez won re-election, have exacerbated price pressures in Venezuela, which has for decades suffered high inflation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVenezuela inflation soars to record monthly high 6.1%; 35% annualized

Nicaragua, Venezuela willing to take in Edward Snowden

"The quest by NSA leaker Edward Snowden for a safe haven has taken a turn toward Latin America, with offers for asylum coming from the leftist presidents of Nicaragua and Venezuela. But there were no immediate signs that efforts were under way to bring him to either nation after Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua made their offers during separate speeches in their home countries Friday. The offers came one day after leftist South American leaders gathered to denounce the rerouting of Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane over Europe amid reports that the fugitive American was aboard." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNicaragua, Venezuela willing to take in Edward Snowden

Jimmy Carter: ‘A Cruel and Unusual Record’

"Recent legislation has made legal the president’s right to detain a person indefinitely on suspicion of affiliation with terrorist organizations or 'associated forces,' a broad, vague power that can be abused without meaningful oversight from the courts or Congress. In addition to American citizens’ being targeted for assassination or indefinite detention, recent laws have canceled the restraints in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to allow unprecedented violations of our rights to privacy through warrantless wiretapping and government mining of our electronic communications." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJimmy Carter: ‘A Cruel and Unusual Record’

This group of Houston gun owners celebrated Independence Day the best way possible

"The group? Come and Take it Houston – a group of gun owners that gather publicly to 'educate Texans on their right to openly carry shotguns and rifles in a safe manner.' Even in front of a police station. 'It’s Independence Day – where it all started,' said shotgun toting Jenn Kroll, to the Houston Chronicle. 'What better day to show our rights?' Can’t argue with that." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThis group of Houston gun owners celebrated Independence Day the best way possible

California police slammed with death threats after shooting Max the Rottweiler

"The social media fallout from the Sunday shooting has the Hawthorne Police Department scrambling to protect its officers and also tell another version of the story. Police released a new video of the shooting taken from a different angle. They believe this alternative perspective will prove to viewers that the officer’s actions were justified. Max the Rottweiler was shot four times on Sunday after lunging at officers who were handcuffing his owner, Leon Rosby. The original graphic cellphone recording of Max’s death went viral on YouTube, prompting a flood of threats against the officers and their families through telephone, email and Facebook." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia police slammed with death threats after shooting Max the Rottweiler

Police Commandeer Homes, Get Sued

"Henderson police arrested a family for refusing to let officers use their homes as lookouts for a domestic violence investigation of their neighbors, the family claims in court. The Mitchell family's claim includes Third Amendment violations, a rare claim in the United States. The Third Amendment prohibits quartering soldiers in citizens' homes in times of peace without the consent of the owner. Police took Anthony and Michael Mitchell to jail and booked them for obstructing an officer. They were jailed for at least nine hours before they bailed out, they say in the complaint." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Commandeer Homes, Get Sued

Clashes erupt as Islamists push back in Egypt

"Enraged Islamists pushed back Friday against the toppling of President Mohammed Morsi, as tens of thousands of his supporters took to the streets vowing to win his reinstatement and clashed with their opponents in violence that killed 30 and drove the divided nation toward an increasingly dangerous showdown. The clashes accelerated after the supreme leader of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood defiantly proclaimed that his followers would not give up street action until the return of the country's first freely elected president, swept out of power days earlier by the military. Morsi opponents called out the public to defend against the Brotherhood." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingClashes erupt as Islamists push back in Egypt

Egypt army opens fire on pro-Morsi protesters

"At least three supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi were killed by gunfire as a crowd of several hundred tried to march towards the military barracks in Cairo where he is believed to be held. Al Jazeera's Matthew Cassel, reporting from near the military barracks, said several dozen people were also injured by shotgun pellets fired by the army. Security forces were cordoning the Republican Guard barracks but it was not immediately clear who had opened fire. Also on Friday, Adly Mansour, the newly appointed interim head of state, dissolved parliament by decree, state television said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt army opens fire on pro-Morsi protesters

Most Victims of Military Sex Assault: Men

"The sexual assault epidemic plaguing the military is getting quite a bit of attention—but what's not getting much attention is the fact that 53% of all sexual assault cases last year involved male victims, the New York Times reports. 'It’s easy for some people to single out women and say there’s a small percentage of the force having this problem,' says one soldier who was raped by a superior. 'No one wants to admit this problem affects everyone.' Most attacks involve hazing or bullying, and have more to do with 'humiliation or torture,' a prosecutor explains." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMost Victims of Military Sex Assault: Men