The Raw Story

A non-profit news blog, focused on providing independent journalism.

Friday, 24 October 2014

Astronomers catch monster sunspot that turns towards Earth

© NASA/SDOThe sun on Oct. 23 as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. The dark sunspot cluster in AR2192 is obvious in the HMI Intensitygram (left), which represents the sun's photosphere -- known, colloquially, as the solar 'surface' -- whereas the EUV images to the right (at wavelengths 171A -- top -- and 304A) show emissions from the multimillion degree solar corona (where coronal loops shine bright) and chromosphere Just as the US prepares...

Mayor who promised to "restore dignity and never embarrass the community" arrested on child porn charges

© State's Attorney General's OfficeWilson Longanecker, Jr. The former mayor of Sorrento, Louisiana faces 40 counts of possession of child pornography after he was unable to dispose of the material while police were raiding his home, reports.Wilson Longanecker, Jr. entered office promising to "restore dignity," saying that he would never do anything that would "embarrass this community."Less than a year after being elected, however, he stopped going...

Russell Brand admits to being 'open-minded' about U.S. government being behind 9/11 attacks

© Newsnight In an interview on BBC2, comedian/activist Russell Brand stated that he is "open-minded" to the idea that the U.S. government was behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks.During the interview with Newsnight's Evan Davis, Brand called the relationship between the families of former US president George Bush and the al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden "interesting," reports .Brand who is currently promoting his latest book, , was asked by Davis about...

Conman stole thousands from neighbor with dementia then faked a coma for two years to avoid trial

Let's pretend: Alan Knight in a 'coma' pictured with his wife Helen He claimed to be a quadriplegic so ill he would frequently slip into a coma.But when a judge saw video pictures of Alan Knight shopping in Tesco and driving across the Severn Bridge, he was unmasked as a callous fraudster.Knight stole £41,000 from an elderly neighbour then spent two years pretending to be too sick to stand trial.At Swansea Crown Court today, where the 47-year-old...

Canada will introduce 'preventative detention' and other restrictions on civil liberties in wake of Ottawa shootings

© Andrew Burton/Getty ImagesConstables guard the central rotunda of the Canadian Parliament one day after a deadly shooting The Canadian government indicated on Thursday that it intends to speed up proposals to toughen the country's anti-terror laws in the wake of the attack on parliament in Ottawa, including a measure that would allow "preventative detention".As the House of Commons opened to rapturous applause for the sergeant-at-arms, the ceremonial...

Gilad Atzmon: On cognitive partitioning

Acclaimed Israeli saxophonist Gilad Atzmon, author of , offers a theory of cognitive ability distribution to explain Zionism, Jewishness, anti-semitism, and identity politics generally. September 29, 2014 video by Joe Friendly[embedded conte...

Livestock animals sicker than ever, thanks to antibiotics

© Monty Rakusen/Getty Images It has long been understood that feeding animals antibiotics can create resistant bacteria - bacteria that can cause problems for human health. That's why the Food and Drug Administration has been concerned for decades over the practice of giving livestock subtherapeutic doses to promote growth. While the agency has yet to do much of anything to curb the problem, save for some voluntary regulations, new research suggests...

Solar flare alert as vast sunspot turns toward earth with possible solar storm brewing

The sun on Oct. 23 as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. The dark sunspot cluster in AR2192 is obvious in the HMI Intensitygram (left), which represents the sun's photosphere -- known, colloquially, as the solar 'surface' -- whereas the EUV images to the right (at wavelengths 171A -- top -- and 304A) show emissions from the multimillion degree solar corona (where coronal loops shine bright) and chromosphere. Just as the US prepares to watch...

Tiger attacks Australian tourist at animal park in Thailand

© Apichart Weerawong/APA juvenile tiger similar to this one attacked the Australian tourist, who insisted he didn’t want the animal killed. An Australian man is recovering in a Thai hospital after being mauled by a young male tiger in a special tourist enclosure at an animal park on the resort island of Phuket.Paul Goudie, from Werribee, near Melbourne, was attacked at the enclosure this week at the Tiger Kingdom tourist show after being given controlled...

BEST OF THE WEB: Putin: World is being destroyed by U.S. and its satellites, who pass themselves off as 'the international community'

© AFP PHOTO / POOL / MICHAEL KLIMENTYEVRussian President Vladimir Putin (C) sits next to former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin (R) on October 24, 2014 during a meeting of members of the Valdai International Discussion Club in the Russian city of Sochi. The modern global and regional security system is seriously fragmented and deformed, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday."Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the existing...

Glimpses of the after-life: Life-changing near-death experiences

One man had a vision of his father sailing a canoe towards a huddle of loved-ones on a pier as he took his final breaths. Neurosurgeon Dr Eben Alexander was convinced out-of-body experiences were hallucinations - until he went into a coma himself and had what he now believes was a glimpse of heaven.In this second extract from his book The Map Of Heaven, Dr Alexander, who has taught at Harvard Medical School, reveals many others have also seen what...

Two-month-old baby boy injured by chimpanzee in Uganda

© Francis Mugerwa.Ms Rosemary Nyangoma nurses her son who was attacked by a chimpanzee last week. Doctors say his health has improved. The family of a two-month-old baby boy, who was injured by a chimpanzee in Hoima District last week, is demanding compensation from government.The victim's father, Mr Nyansio Byaruhanga, said his son sustained multiple injuries on his head and private parts. "Chimpanzees and other wild animals are supposed to be...

Moscow airport chiefs fired, staff arrested as investigation considers possibility of traffic control error in death of pro-Russian French oil company CEO

The general director and a deputy general director from Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport have resigned after the fatal crash that killed French oil giant Total's CEO earlier in the week, the airport's press service reported Thursday."In line with the tragic event that occurred [late Monday night on October 20], the following [individuals] have resigned: Vnukovo International Airport General Director Andrei Dyakov and Deputy General Director...

Psychopathic war criminals: Shocking video shows Ukranian forces executing three civilians and throwing them into a mass grave

This video was provided by NAF. They had captured a vehicle, belonging to Donbass National Guard battalion. The vehicle had a dashboard camera, where a recording of a massacre of civilians was found. In it you can see people in uniform waiting in the dark in a countryside by a makeshift grave. When the second car arrives, a banderite greeting is exchanged: "Glory to Ukraine!" - "Glory to heroes!" (This is also a code for telling your own from the...

Moscow airport chiefs fired, staff arrested as investigation considers possibility of traffic control error in death of pro-Rusian French oil company CEO

The general director and a deputy general director from Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport have resigned after the fatal crash that killed French oil giant Total's CEO earlier in the week, the airport's press service reported Thursday."In line with the tragic event that occurred [late Monday night on October 20], the following [individuals] have resigned: Vnukovo International Airport General Director Andrei Dyakov and Deputy General Director...

Pakistan to get full-member status of SCO next year

Source: Pak Observer Islamabad—Pakistan will get full-member status of SCO next year, said Sherali. S Jononov, Ambassador of Tajikistan while briefing mediamen on Thursday on the outcome of SCO Summit held on September 11 and 12 in Dushanbe.He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could not attend the Summit due to political situation at home. However, Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs attended it.He said...

Rare beaked whale found dead on Sunshine Coast, Queensland

© Sunshine Coast CouncilThe deep sea whales rarely come close to shore. Marine experts will examine a rare deep sea whale that has washed up on a Queensland beach.The five-and-a-half metre beaked whale was found dead this morning at Wurtulla on the Sunshine Coast.It was believed to have died of natural causes.It was at least the second beaked whale to wash up on the east coast of Australia this week, after one was found on Redhead Beach, south of...

BEST OF THE WEB: MH-17: The Untold Story (Documentary)

Three months after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was violently brought down from the skies over Ukraine, there are still no definitive answers to what caused the tragedy. Civil conflict in the area prevented international experts from conducting a full and thorough investigation. The wreckage should have been collected and scrupulously re-assembled to identify all the damage, but this standard investigative procedure was never carried out. Until...

BEST OF THE WEB: The Politics of the Ottawa Shooting

CCTV footage showing the shooter making his way towards Parliament Building in Ottawa Eric Draitser of StopImperialism.org appears on RT to discuss the Ottawa shooting and the political context in which it should be understood. Draitser explains that an investigation into the role of intelligence agencies in the event is critical to an understanding of how this event really happened. He also notes the convenient timing of the incident and how it...

Receiving gossip about others promotes self-reflection and growth

Gossip is pervasive in our society, and our penchant for gossip can be found in most of our everyday conversations. Why are individuals interested in hearing gossip about others' achievements and failures? Researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands studied the effect positive and negative gossip has on how the recipient evaluates him or herself. The study is published in .In spite of some positive consequences, gossip is typically...

The Trews: Who wins in the Ottawa killings?

[embedded content]Text of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's speech to Canadians after Ottawa shooting "For the second time this week, there has been a brutal and violent attack on our soil.Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Cpl. Cirillo was killed today, murdered in cold blood, as he provided a ceremonial honour guard at Canada's National War Memorial. That sacred place that pays tribute to those that gave their lives so that we could live in a free, democratic...

Elephant herd tramples farmer to death in India

© Jagdeep Rajput A 49-year-old farmer trampled to death by a herd of elephants in the Ragi field in Tagachikoppe village bordering Savanadurda forest area in Ramnagar on Friday morning.The deceased, Rajendra Nayak, along with two others, had gone to the field in the early hours was caught by the elephant herd.While Rajendra was trampled to death the two others managed to escape , Deputy Conservator of Forest (Ramnagar) , Ravishankar said.According...

Ancient city ruled by Genghis Khan's heirs discovered

© Dmitriy KubankinArchaeologists with the Saratov Regional Museum of Local Lore have uncovered part of the ancient city of Ukek, founded by the descendents of Genghis Khan. Remains of a 750-year-old city, founded by the descendents of Genghis Khan, have been unearthed along the Volga River in Russia.Among the discoveries are two Christian temples one of which has stone carvings and fine ceramics.The city's name was Ukek and it was founded just a...

Europe postpones next month's launch of first 'space plane'

A replica of the ESA's space plane IXV is on display during the presentation at the European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk, on September 9, 2014 Europe said Friday it was postponing the launch next month of its first-ever "space plane" to give scientists time to finetune the mission's flight plan.Dubbed the IXV, for Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, the plane had been scheduled for launch on November 18 by a Vega light rocket...

Ad campaign depicts African-American children in bulletproof vests

© Twitter/@Dreamdefenders A public-service ad campaign in Florida, which depicts African American children in bulletproof vests, is urging voter participation to encourage the election of candidates who support repeal of the state's stand-your-ground gun law.The "Vest or Vote" campaign, pushed by social justice organization The Dream Defenders, includes a billboard in Tallahassee, the state capital, and online ads that will appear on Facebook and...

David Cameron demands emergency talks after £1.7bn EU bill

© AFPBritish Prime Minister David Cameron gives a press conference on October 24, 2014 on the second day of a European Union summit at EU headquarters in Brussels EU finance ministers have agreed to emergency talks after British Prime Minister David Cameron challenged a demand from the EU for an extra £1.7 billion by December 1, because the UK economy has done better than other EU members since 1995.Cameron interrupted a meeting of EU leaders to...

The economy is a mess: Fifty percent of Americans make less than $28,000 a year

The Social Security Administration has just released wage statistics for 2013, and the numbers are startling. Last year, 50 percent of all American workers made less than $28,031, and 39 percent of all American workers made less than $20,000. If you worked a full-time job at $10 an hour all year long with two weeks off, you would make $20,000. So the fact that 39 percent of all workers made less than that amount is rather telling. This is more...
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