Mainstream News

Poland bans genetically modified maize and potatoes

"Poland on Wednesday imposed new bans on the cultivation of certain genetically modified strains of maize and potatoes, a day after an EU required green light for GM crops took effect. The centre-right government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk imposed farming bans on German BASF’s Amflora strain of potato and US firm Monsanto’s MON 810 maize or corn, according to a government statement Wednesday. The ban on specific strains essentially uses a legal loophole to circumvent the EU’s acceptance of such products." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPoland bans genetically modified maize and potatoes

MontCo school suspends 6-year-old for pretend gunshot

"The 6-year-old, who attends Roscoe R. Nix Elementary School in Silver Spring, made a gun with his hands, pointed it at another student and said 'pow,' according to Robin Ficker, the boy's attorney. He was given a one-day suspension, with a conference on the matter planned for Jan. 2, the day students return to school from winter break. According to a letter sent by Assistant Principal Renee Garraway to the child's parents, this was not the first time something like this had happened. 'Your son ... was involved in a serious incident,' Garraway wrote. '[He] threatened to shoot a student. He was spoken to earlier today about a similar incident.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMontCo school suspends 6-year-old for pretend gunshot

Pharma firms paid East German state to test drugs on population

"Major Western pharmaceutical companies carried out tests of medications in the 1980s on patients in communist East Germany, in some cases without the subjects’ knowledge. A newspaper, which examined the documents, reported that more than 50 Western firms had contracts with East Germany’s Health Ministry to carry out a total of 165 medical tests between 1983 and 1989. In exchange, the communist authorities were paid up to 860,000 deutschmarks (around 430,000 euros today or $567,000), according to the report, at a time when East Germany was desperate for hard currency." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPharma firms paid East German state to test drugs on population

U.S. developed ‘tsunami bomb’ during World War II

"The tests were carried out in waters around New Caledonia and Auckland during the Second World War and showed that the weapon was feasible and a series of 10 large offshore blasts could potentially create a 33-foot tsunami capable of inundating a small city. The top secret operation, code-named 'Project Seal', tested the doomsday device as a possible rival to the nuclear bomb. About 3,700 bombs were exploded during the tests, first in New Caledonia and later at Whangaparaoa Peninsula, near Auckland. The plans came to light during research by a New Zealand author and film-maker, Ray Waru, who examined military files buried in the national archives." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. developed ‘tsunami bomb’ during World War II

City steakhouses suffer as Midwest drought sends meat prices soaring

"Beef was already in short supply — a victim of earlier droughts and rises in the costs of fuel and feed. During this year’s drought, ranchers reluctant to buy expensive grain feed brought young — and thin — cattle to market early, which will spur another shortage and could threaten fatter cuts of beef. At the famed Peter Luger Steakhouse in Brooklyn, the New York strip is already up 11 percent, to $46.95, said owner Amy Rubenstein. But nearly all restaurants are bracing for the worst. Peter Glazier, owner of Michael Jordan’s Steak House, said meat purveyors are warning of increases of up to 20 percent in the coming year." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCity steakhouses suffer as Midwest drought sends meat prices soaring

Why Buffalo wings will break your budget in 2013

"The Buffalo wing isn’t the only food item projected to jump in price next year, though it is one of the more dramatic upward shifts. Because of a drought that parched the Midwestern part of the country this past summer, nearly every food product tied to corn will see price increases in 2013. And overall, household food prices are expected to rise between 3 and 4 percent, according to projections from the 2012-2013 Food Price Outlook from the US Department of Agriculture. In addition to the corn itself, which had a weak crop as a result of the drought, prices will go up on proteins like beef and chicken, because livestock feed is primarily made of corn." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhy Buffalo wings will break your budget in 2013

Thousands of new laws take effect on New Year’s Day

"Starting Tuesday, California hunters better not get caught using their dog to chase a bear or bobcat. Kentuckians should think twice about releasing a feral hog, and New Yorkers can get slapped with a $1,000 fine for selling even electronic cigarettes to minors. While much attention has been paid to the federal legislation poised to kick in Jan. 1 – the automatic spending cuts and tax hikes collectively known as the 'fiscal cliff' – thousands of new state laws took effect more quietly at the start of 2013." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThousands of new laws take effect on New Year’s Day

Obtained ‘Compensation log’ illustrates human cost of Afghan war

"The killing of six members of a family, including a mother and her children, when a rocket overshot a target and hit the compound in which they were living are among the incidents in recent months for which the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has paid out compensation to Afghan civilians. The cases – contained in a log released by the MoD to the Guardian under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act – paint a picture of the ongoing human cost of the conflict ranging from many frequent payments for crop damage caused by operations through to more serious events involving civilians caught up in the war." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObtained ‘Compensation log’ illustrates human cost of Afghan war

Iowa implementing face recognition program to track sex offenders

"The Iowa Department of Public Safety has secured $110,000 in federal funds that will be used to implement a state-wide face recognition program that will start with tracking convicted sex criminals. Iowa isn’t the first location to look towards biometrics, but it will be a big step in the grand scheme of implementing intensive face recognition programs elsewhere if it indeed gets off the ground. The state isn’t likely to see much opposition when it comes to cracking down on criminals that prey on innocent children." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIowa implementing face recognition program to track sex offenders

Mo Farah held by US customs on suspicion of being a terrorist as he returned to family home for Christmas

"Farah, who won a 5,000m and 10,000m double at London 2012, was detained for questioning after the US border force saw he was born in Somalia. The 29 year-old came over to Britain with his English-born father as a child and is one of the most famous athletes in the world, but this did not stop judicious officials from grilling him at the border. Farah moved to Portland last year to work with his coach Alberto Salazar at Nike's HQ in the Pacific Northwest and was travelling back to spend Christmas with his wife and children. And even presenting his two gold medals to the officials did not help his cause." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMo Farah held by US customs on suspicion of being a terrorist as he returned to family home for Christmas