Mainstream News

Iran’s Rouhani urges end to meddling in private lives

"President-elect Hassan Rouhani called on Wednesday for the government and powerful clergy to end interference in the private lives of the Iranian people, free up Internet access and allow state media to be more open about Iran's problems. Rouhani's comments began to flesh out his message of moderation at home and better relations abroad that contributed to his surprise election victory last month. His election prompted a huge outpouring of support from Iranians hungry for change after eight years of domestic security crackdowns and international confrontation under hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIran’s Rouhani urges end to meddling in private lives

Diversion of Bolivian president’s plane enrages Latin American leaders

"Latin American leaders slammed European governments on Wednesday for diverting Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane on rumors it was carrying a wanted former U.S. spy agency contractor, and announced an emergency summit in a new diplomatic twist to the Edward Snowden saga. Heads of state in the 12-nation South American bloc Unasur denounced the 'unfriendly and unjustifiable acts.' 'Latin America demands an explanation,' tweeted Ecuadorean leader Rafael Correa. 'If what happened to Evo does not merit a Unasur summit, I don’t know what does.' The Bolivian government said it had filed a formal complaint with the United Nations." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDiversion of Bolivian president’s plane enrages Latin American leaders

Egyptian army detains ousted president Mohamed Morsi, rounds up Brotherhood leaders

"Morsi’s defence minister, armed forces chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, announced Morsi’s overthrow on state television on Wednesday, even as police began rounding up key Morsi aides and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Warrants have been issued for the arrest of a total of 300 Brotherhood officials, state media reported. US President Barack Obama said he was 'deeply concerned' over Morsi’s ouster and urged the army to refrain to 'arbitrary arrests' of Morsi and his supporters. In May, Washington approved $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt. That was now under review, said Obama, as he called for a swift return to democratic rule." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgyptian army detains ousted president Mohamed Morsi, rounds up Brotherhood leaders

Ouster of Egypt’s Morsi creates headache for the U.S.

"Time and again in recent months, Washington has failed to articulate a strong response to controversial moves by Morsi to consolidate power and his reluctance to introduce much-needed economic reforms, content to observe that democracy takes time. After days of unrest and only hours before Morsi was ousted, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Wednesday finally spoke out to criticize Morsi, saying he needed to do more to address the Egyptian people’s concerns. In a telling sign, she also refused to take issue with the military, or to say whether an army takeover would amount to a coup, repeatedly stressing that 'we don’t take sides, as you know.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOuster of Egypt’s Morsi creates headache for the U.S.

Chief Justice Roberts Is Awesome Power Behind FISA Court

"Chief justice of the U.S. is a pretty big job. You lead the Supreme Court conferences where cases are discussed and voted on. You preside over oral arguments. When in the majority, you decide who writes the opinion. You get a cool robe that you can decorate with gold stripes. Oh, and one more thing: You have exclusive, unaccountable, lifetime power to shape the surveillance state. The 11 FISA judges, chosen from throughout the federal bench for seven-year terms, are all appointed by the chief justice. In fact, every FISA judge currently serving was appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts, who will continue making such appointments until he retires or dies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChief Justice Roberts Is Awesome Power Behind FISA Court

NJ Supreme Court Rules State Can Seek Custody Of Child Without Evidence Of Abuse

"The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled this week that authorities can seek custody of a child, even where there’s no evidence of abuse or neglect. The case involved a divorced Camden County mother of 9-year-old twin girls. In 2007, she asked New Jersey’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency for help, claiming she was unable to care for the girls who had psychological and developmental disabilities and needed to be placed in residential care. 'You can turn to the Division for help, but it may come with a cost,' says Diana Autin, executive director of Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNJ Supreme Court Rules State Can Seek Custody Of Child Without Evidence Of Abuse

Teen Jailed For Facebook Comment Beaten Up Behind Bars

"The family of Justin Carter, the 19-year-old Texas gamer who made offensive Facebook comments that landed him in jail, is working with new urgency to get his $500,000 bail reduced because they say he's getting beat up behind bars. 'Without getting into the really nasty details, he's had concussions, black eyes, moved four times from base for his own protection,' says Carter's father, Jack. 'He's been put in solitary confinement, nude, for days on end because he's depressed. All of this is extremely traumatic to this kid. This is a horrible experience.' Carter has been in jail since his arrest in February." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTeen Jailed For Facebook Comment Beaten Up Behind Bars

U.S. Postal Service Logging All Mail for Law Enforcement

"Leslie James Pickering noticed something odd in his mail last September: a handwritten card, apparently delivered by mistake, with instructions for postal workers to pay special attention to the letters and packages sent to his home. Mr. Pickering was targeted by a longtime surveillance system called mail covers, a forerunner of a vastly more expansive effort, the Mail Isolation Control and Tracking program, in which Postal Service computers photograph the exterior of every piece of paper mail that is processed in the United States — about 160 billion pieces last year. It is not known how long the government saves the images." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Postal Service Logging All Mail for Law Enforcement

16-year-old student in Turkey turns bananas into plastic

"There’s nothing slippery about Elif Bilgin’s idea of using banana peels as a substitute for old-school petroleum-based plastics. The 16-year-old student from Istanbul spent two years perfecting a way to make a bioplastic out of discarded banana peels that could, in turn, be used for the electrical insulation of cables. In her research, Bilgin — who says 'science is my calling' — determined that if starch and cellulose from such food waste as mango skins can be used to make bioplastics, then banana peels ought to do the trick, too." Continue reading →

Continue Reading16-year-old student in Turkey turns bananas into plastic

UN agency tests long-lasting Ikea refugee shelter

"Ikea's philanthropist foundation has funded the project to the tune of $4 million, while a Sweden-based group called the Refugee Housing Unit has been working with the UN agency on the design. The prototypes, with their semi-hard plastic walls and roofs made from composite material and with room to house five people each, have cost $8,000 a piece, and UNHCR wants to wait for feedback from refugees before giving a green light to more wide-scale production. The new shelters have been guaranteed to last three years and will likely remain standing for longer than that. That is a big plus considering that refugees on average live in their UNHCR shelters for 12 years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUN agency tests long-lasting Ikea refugee shelter