Mainstream News

French Jews to sue Twitter over anti-Semitic tweets following German neo-Nazi ban

"Twitter, a day after saying it blocked a neo-Nazi group’s account in Germany in a global first, faced a new battle Friday in France where Jewish students are taking it to court to force it to remove anti-Semitic messages. The hashtag #unbonjuif — which in English means 'a good Jew' — has been one of the top trending words on French-language tweets and is often followed by offensive comments such as: 'A good Jew can pump up your tyre with his nose.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench Jews to sue Twitter over anti-Semitic tweets following German neo-Nazi ban

Kuwait plunges into political turmoil amid crackdown

"Kuwait plunged into political turmoil on Friday after the public prosecution ordered the detention of three former opposition MPs for three days with more arrests expected. The three were questioned for nine hours on accusations of undermining the status of Kuwait’s ruler before being taken into custody. The prosecutor also extended the detention for three more days of four opposition activists arrested during clashes between police and protesters following a huge rally. It is illegal under the constitution to criticise the emir who enjoys extensive authority and must be from the Al-Sabah ruling family, in power for over 250 years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKuwait plunges into political turmoil amid crackdown

Cubans ditch exit permits for international travel

"Cubans will no longer need an exit permit to travel abroad from January, the communist regime said on Tuesday, in a major overhaul of a half-century-old policy despised by the island’s citizens. The changes are the latest in a series of gradual reforms implemented in recent years by President Raul Castro, who took the helm from his ailing brother Fidel Castro in 2006. Cubans will no longer have to apply for a 'white card' to leave the island from January 14, and the period allowed for overseas stays will be extended from 11 to 24 months, according to decrees published in the official journal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCubans ditch exit permits for international travel

U.S. Jails More People Than Any Other Country

"The U.S. has the world’s highest incarceration rate, with Department of Justice data showing more than 2.2 million people are behind bars, equal to a city the size of Houston. With a rate of 730 people per 100,000, the U.S. jails a higher proportion of its citizens than any other country. The U.S. also leads the world in the number of prisons in operation at 4,575, more than four times the number of second- place Russia at 1,029. U.S. states spent $52 billion to construct and operate those prisons in 2011, more than quadruple the $12 billion spent in 1987, according to data from the Pew Center on the States." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Jails More People Than Any Other Country

‘Three Strikes of Injustice’

"The study showed that more than 4,000 inmates in California are serving life sentences for nonviolent offenses under the three-strikes law. Although judges have sentencing discretion in a very narrow band of three-strikes cases, the reality is that judges almost universally consider themselves bound under California law to impose a life sentence for a third felony offense, no matter how minor. We also learned that the law is disproportionately applied to minorities, the mentally ill and the poor." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Three Strikes of Injustice’

British couple who helped Kenyan village with cannabis profits jailed

"Michael Foster, 62, and Susan Cooper, 63, made hundreds of thousands of pounds from a sophisticated cannabis growing operation at their Lincolnshire farmhouse, which was only discovered when a police officer chasing a burglar recognised the distinctive smell. The couple paid for live-saving surgery for a villager near Mombasa, Kenya, purchased computers for an eye hospital, and paid for schooling for children, the court heard." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritish couple who helped Kenyan village with cannabis profits jailed

Medical Marijuana User Dies In Jail; Jailers Accused Him Of Faking Food Allergy

"Rose Saffioti was sure she was doing the right thing when she encouraged her son to turn himself over to police. An arrest warrant for Michael Saffioti had been issued after he missed a court date. But after one night in jail, he was dead. Now Snohomish County could face a lawsuit over a food allergy that may have been ignored. After eating oatmeal in jail, Michael couldn't breathe. Other inmates say Michael begged for help and was accused of faking it. The autopsy found his severe reaction to milk products contributed to his death." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMedical Marijuana User Dies In Jail; Jailers Accused Him Of Faking Food Allergy

Key evidence in Maricopa County Jail death suit of Deborah Braillard ‘destroyed’

"Deborah Braillard was an insulin dependent diabetic who was arrested on a minor drug charge when her car broke down on New Year’s Day 2005. During three agonizing days in custody at the Estrella Jail, she was deprived of insulin and denied medical care despite pleas from fellow detainees. By the time she was rushed to the hospital, Deborah Braillard had slipped into a diabetic coma. The ABC15 Investigators have obtained court records, documents and a judge’s ruling that show key evidence in the case of Deborah Braillard was lost, deleted or 'destroyed' by MCSO in an attempt to cover up the death of a Valley mother." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKey evidence in Maricopa County Jail death suit of Deborah Braillard ‘destroyed’

Beating of diabetic driver raises questions about N.J. State Police training

"He may have looked drunk or like he was on drugs, but doctors say these are classic symptoms of diabetic shock. Paramedics found Fried’s blood sugar was so low he could have suffered a coma, seized or died, according to State Police records. But two troopers took his erratic behavior for belligerence. They wrestled him down, hit him with a baton and arrested him, their reports said. The struggle was captured by a microphone on one of the troopers. On the tape, Fried can be heard screaming and telling troopers they are hurting his arm, while they yell at him to stop resisting." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBeating of diabetic driver raises questions about N.J. State Police training

Police Taser blind man after mistaking cane for samurai sword

"Police apologised on Wednesday after a blind man was tasered by an officer who mistook his white stick for a samurai sword. The incident happened in the market town of Chorley in Lancashire on Friday after police received reports of a man walking through the town carrying a sword. One policeman thought he had tracked down the offender and asked the blind man to stop. When he failed to do so, the officer stunned him with his Taser gun." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Taser blind man after mistaking cane for samurai sword