UK lawmakers urge tough new press rules

"More than 40 members of Britain’s ruling Conservative party have urged Prime Minister David Cameron to impose tough new press rules overseen by regulators outside the industry, in an open letter published in the Guardian on Friday. Senior members, including former foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind and former party chairmen Caroline Spelman and Lord Fowler were among those calling for Cameron to reject the industry’s recommendations for self-regulation." Continue reading

Continue ReadingUK lawmakers urge tough new press rules

Man arrested for posting image of burning poppy on Twitter

"Kent Police said in a statement that the man, from Aylesham, was detained last night on suspicion of making malicious telecommunications and that he was in custody awaiting interview. The force does not say whether the arrested man actually burned the poppy, or just posted the photo online. The arrest was met with incredulity on Twitter, where people mounted a fierce discussion over civil liberties." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMan arrested for posting image of burning poppy on Twitter

Federal “Compassion” at work: Sandy Victims Imprisoned in FEMA Camps

"Residents of a FEMA refugee center in Oceanport, New Jersey called 'Camp Freedom' complain that their living conditions resemble those of a prison camp. Not only are they been left exposed to the cold and deprived of promised amenities such as washing machines and hot showers, they have also been cut off from nearly all contact with the outside world. They are denied WiFi access, not allowed to use smart phones, and have been forbidden to take pictures of their surroundings. Up to 900 of the 5,200 Staten Island residents who applied for FEMA housing could be warehoused in the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility." Continue reading

Continue ReadingFederal “Compassion” at work: Sandy Victims Imprisoned in FEMA Camps

Tenn. techie denies being hacker in Romney tax returns case

"A couple of weeks later, the Secret Service, acting on a search warrant, smashed through his front door and spent the next 18 hours pulling laptops, hard drives and all manner of digital storage devices from his Franklin home. Now, almost two months since his home was searched, Brown has not been charged with a crime. Brown said he could not explain why the Secret Service is targeting him, but he noted that in 2009 the same agency came to his house looking for evidence tying him to the alleged theft of thousands of Social Security numbers held by an insurance company. He was never charged." Continue reading

Continue ReadingTenn. techie denies being hacker in Romney tax returns case

Australia scraps plan to filter Internet

"The centre-left Labor government had pushed since 2007 for a mandatory Internet filter to protect children, to be administered by service providers, despite criticism it was impractical and set a precedent for censorship. The idea was that the filter would block access to material such as rape, drug use, bestiality and child sex abuse. But Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the government had now reached an agreement with Internet providers that they would block 'the worst of the worst', adding that about 1,400 sites monitored by Interpol would be barred." Continue reading

Continue ReadingAustralia scraps plan to filter Internet

In Egypt streets, Islamists throw weight around

"Four months since Egypt elected veteran Muslim Brotherhood politician Mohamed Mursi as president, human rights activists say hardliners are trying to impose Islamist ways on society. Such actions have grabbed local headlines and fuelled the worst-case-scenario fears of moderates worried by the rise of Islamists who were tightly reined in by Hosni Mubarak but have emerged as a major force since he was swept from power. Christians say overall the atmosphere has become increasingly menacing as the presence of hostile Salafi Muslim hardliners in public life has grown more pronounced." Continue reading

Continue ReadingIn Egypt streets, Islamists throw weight around

Egypt police bust baby trafficking ring

"Egyptian police said on Sunday they had broken up a child trafficking ring that sold almost 300 babies for 570 dollars each or less. [..] The official said the network also performed caesarian operations on women who had left it too late for an abortion of an unwanted child in exchange for allowing the doctors to sell the babies, usually to couples who could not have their own children. Adoption is illegal in Egypt, which adheres to Islamic law in some family matters. Some couples have sought to bypass the ban; in 2009, an American couple received a two year jail sentence after a court convicted them of buying a child from an orphanage." Continue reading

Continue ReadingEgypt police bust baby trafficking ring

‘Creepy’ camera irks Platte City family

"Last Thursday he noticed the video camera mounted in a tree and trained on his daughter’s yard and windows. She and her father, Steve Nash, suspect the police wanted to catch him feeding cats that the city believes are feral, which they said has been an ongoing issue between him and the city. Nash said he earlier was charged with the city offense of feeding feral cats and was placed on probation. Nash said he addressed the Platte City Board of Aldermen recently, protesting what he called government bullying. A person in civilian clothes came and removed the camera without identifying himself." Continue reading

Continue Reading‘Creepy’ camera irks Platte City family

Christie administration files suit against 8 businesses accused of price gouging

"Governor Chris Christie, Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa, and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs today announced that the State has filed civil lawsuits against eight New Jersey businesses, accusing them of unlawful price gouging while consumers were in need of fuel, shelter, and other essentials during the Hurricane Sandy state of emergency. The defendants include seven gas stations and one hotel. Violations of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of up to $10,000 for the first offense and up to $20,000 for subsequent offenses." Continue reading

Continue ReadingChristie administration files suit against 8 businesses accused of price gouging

Bloomberg Strikes Again: NYC Bans Food Donations To The Homeless

"Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s food police have struck again! Outlawed are food donations to homeless shelters because the city can’t assess their salt, fat and fiber content, reports CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer. Glenn Richter arrived at a West Side synagogue on Monday to collect surplus bagels — fresh nutritious bagels — to donate to the poor. However, under a new edict from Bloomberg’s food police he can no longer donate the food to city homeless shelters." Continue reading

Continue ReadingBloomberg Strikes Again: NYC Bans Food Donations To The Homeless