On Tuesday evening, a number of members of the Qatar ruling family were kidnapped in Iraq. At the time, the ruling family members were amongst a group of Qatari hunters. It is unknown how many […]
Month: December 2015
Land Clearance Fires In Indonesia Cost The Country More Than 2004 Tsunami
The forest fires that ravaged parts of Indonesia this year cost the country’s economy approximately $16 billion. According to the World Bank, the amount is more than two times what the country spent after a […]
Being A World Leader Leads To A Shorter Life Expectancy
While barring the chances of assassination and accidental death, world leaders still die earlier than a “normal” person of the same age and gender, according to new research finding published in the latest issue of […]
Law Professor Wants People Sent To Jail For Visiting A Website
With the ongoing fear about the ability of the Islamic State to recruit people within the United States using the internet, University of Chicago Law Professor Eric Posner believes that it should be a crime […]
Fisherman Who Survived 15 Months At Sea Being Sued By Shipmate’s Family For Cannibalism
The fisherman who, against all odds, survived for 14 months while drifting at sea is now being sued for $1 million by the family of his dead shipmate. The lawsuit claims that the surviving fisherman […]
Death Penalty Rates Plunge To The Lowest Records In Last 40 Years
Capital punishment rates are at their lowest levels since the 1970s. Even states that are very strong supporters of the death penalty, such as Texas, Missouri and Georgia have seen their capital punishment rates plummet […]
Facebook Changes ‘Real Name’ Policy After Widespread Criticism
Facebook will be changing its controversial “real names” policy. Many people opposed the naming rule, but Facebook faced particular backlash from transgender people and domestic violence victim support groups. Up to now, the social network […]
Chinese President Ironically Says Internet Users Should Be Free To Speak Their Minds
In a highly ironic statement, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that people should have the right to speak their minds on the internet. The statement came just two days after a prominent free speech activist […]
Venezuelan National Guard Chief To Be Charged For Drug Trafficking By U.S.
The head of the Venezuelan National Guard, Nestor Reverol, is set to be charged in the United States for drug trafficking. Reverol has been named in a sealed indictment in New York federal court as […]
Dating App Threatened Security Official With HIV If He Exposed Their Leaks
When it was discovered that Hzone, a dating application for HIV positive singles, was leaking the personal data of its users on the internet, one security researcher told the company that the story would be […]
Pot May Be Legal, But That Won’t Stop Companies From Axing Smokers
Although marijuana is becoming more accepted across the country, American employers are still coming down hard on workers who spark up on their own time. This includes many employers in states where marijuana has been […]
Valeant Stocks Surge After Drug Distribution Agreement With Walgreens
Shares for Valeant Pharmaceuticals skyrocketed after the company reached a deal to sell skin and eye medications through the Walgreens network at lower prices. The company will discount its dermatology and ophthalmology prescriptions by 10% […]
Man Just Arrested For VTech Cyber Hack Against Children
While it seems that cyber hacking stories make headlines on a daily basis, we do not often hear about the hacking of children’s data. Well, that is exactly what happened last month at the VTech […]
This Thai Man Is Facing Jail Time For Sarcastic Remark About King’s Dog
One factory worker in Thailand is facing up to 37 years in prison for insulting the country’s military rulers and making fun of the king’s dog. In Thailand, strict laws make it a crime to […]
EU Considering Controversial Law That Would Ban Teenagers From Social Media
The European Union is considering a new law that would make it illegal for any child under the age of 16 to use messaging services, such as Facebook and Snapchat, without the express consent of […]
Bomb Threat Forces Los Angeles School District To Cancel School
Early Tuesday morning, Los Angeles school officials abruptly canceled all classes and ordered more than 640,000 students to stay home. The announcement came after a potentially credible bomb threat was emailed to L.A.’s school board. […]
Amazon Pulls Hoverboards After Safety Concerns Become Public
Online retail giant Amazon has started removing some of the “hoverboards” from its website, citing fears about fires resulting from exploding batteries. The hoverboards do not actually hover, but rather they roll around on the […]
Yahoo Shareholder Wants To Turn Company Around, Starting With Firing CEO Mayer
Investment firm and notable Yahoo shareholder SpringOwl is calling for some pressing changes at the troubled company. Most notably, SpringOwl is calling for giving the axe to Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer. Over last weekend, the […]
Putin Introduces Law That Can Thumb Russia’s Nose At International Courts
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that enables Russian courts to overturn international court rulings on the country’s human rights abuses and financial misdealings. The law is aimed specifically at the Strasbourg-based European […]
Sure, India Signed Paris Climate Deal, But They’re Moving Full Steam Ahead On Coal
Just a few days after a number of countries – rich and poor – signed off on the Paris climate deal aimed at curbing carbon emissions, one of India’s senior government officials said that the […]
Dell Looking To Make A $5B Sell In Preparation For $67B Megadeal
Computer manufacturer Dell is trying to sell some of its assets so it can complete an impending purchase. The computer company is offerings its IT services company Perot Systems at a cost of around $5 […]
ISIS Issues Nazi-Like Order To Kill Babies With Disabilities
ISIS has issued an order that disabled children have to be killed as they are a “burden on the state”. The order is reminiscent of a Nazi era ruling. The claim comes in a report […]
PETA Sends Donated Furs To Keep Refugees Warm During Winter
The United Kingdom-based animal rights group PETA has sent a number of items to Syrian refugees, both in Syria and camped in France, to help them stay warm during the harsh winter months. The organization […]
Russian ‘Assad Tours’ Will Bring Citizens To The Frontline Of The War
Russians who want to see their country’s controversial military campaign in Syria up close and in person will soon have their chance. Russian tourist agency Megapolis is reportedly planning to sell personalized tours to Syria. […]
Chinese Submarine Simulated Missile Attack On USS Reagan
The Chinese have conducted a simulated cruise missile attack against the USS Reagan aircraft carrier during a close encounter that occurred several weeks ago. The targeting incident took place in the Sea of Japan in […]
Officials Are Beginning To Lose Faith In The Existence Of The Nazi Gold Train
Rumors that treasure hunters in Poland had found a Nazi train filled with gold and gems “buried” in a railway tunnel have been quashed by researchers. Earlier this year, it was claimed that a treasure […]
California’s Gas Leak Has Released Over 80,000 Tons Of Methane And It’s Still Going
In southern California, a two month long greenhouse gas leak continues. The outpouring of methane, a greenhouse emission 70 times stronger than carbon dioxide, has been oozing out of a natural gas storage site – […]
Philips Hue Turns The Light Off On Competition With Firmware Update
Philips Hue is forcing its customers to purchase the company’s own lightbulbs for its “smart” ambient lighting system. A recent firmware update that was put out by the manufacturer is preventing customers from using third […]
Apple Just Opened A Secret Lab For Developing New Screens
In northern Taiwan, Apple has opened a secretive new production laboratory that will be used to develop new innovative display technologies. The lab currently has at least 50 engineers and other workers, and it will […]
Having A Negative Outlook On Aging Can Actually Age People Faster
A new study has shown that people who believe that they are getting old age faster than those with a youthful mindset. Indeed, losing your memory and lessening your senses could very well become a […]