Friday, February 8, 2008 The Nebraska Supreme Court has banned the use of the electric chair in the execution of murderers. The court found that the application violated the Nebraska constitution’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Since July 2002,…
FEMA accused of misusing trained disaster workers as public-relations workers
Monday, September 12, 2005 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is being criticized for misallocation of personnel in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. FEMA representatives said they requested volunteers from fire departments around the U.S., to handle its community relations…
Fire burns home of late singer Johnny Cash
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 A fast-moving fire engulfed the home of late singer Johnny Cash on Tuesday. The lake-side home, located in Hendersonville, Tennessee, was the home of the late singer and his wife, June Carter, from the late 1960s…
German polar bear Knut turns one year old
Thursday, December 6, 2007 Knut, Germany’s famous polar bear, turned one at the Berlin Zoo yesterday. For the celebration he had a healthy cake with fruits and vegetables, fish and rice on lettuce topped with a candle-shaped rolling pin. The…
Woman arrested after caught living in man’s closet
Saturday, May 31, 2008 In the town of Kasuya, Fukuoka, Japan, a 58-year-old woman was arrested after surveillance tape from inside an unnamed man’s home showed her living in his closet. According to police, Tatsuko Horikawa had been living in…
China court jails three anti-corruption activists
Friday, June 20, 2014 A court in Xinyu, China, has sentenced three anti-corruption activists to prison for causing public disturbance. Wei Zhongping and Liu Ping received a prison sentence of six-and-a-half years under charges of “using evil religion to sabotage…
With US mid-term elections fast approaching, three prominent Democrats announce retirement
Thursday, January 7, 2010 With this year’s November midterm elections fast approaching, three prominent United States Democrats announced their plans for retirement from public service on Wednesday. Powerful and influential—yet controversial for his alleged close ties to the financial sector…
Van Canto’s Stefan Schmidt on a capella metal, Wacken, Nightwish, piracy & more
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 “Five singers, one drummer. No guitars, no bass, no keyboards but nevertheless an unbelievable melodic metal experience.” That’s how the official website of van Canto describes the band. Hailing from Germany, van Canto are what is…
French workers use threats in compensation demand
Friday, July 17, 2009Following similar threats by workers at New Fabris and Nortel, workers at JLG in Tonneins, France, threatened to blow up several platform cranes. The JLG factory announced in April 2009 that it will fire 53 of its…
‘Outraged’ LaHood unveils plans to tackle fatigued U.S. air traffic controllers
Sunday, April 17, 2011 I don’t know when I’ve ever been madder. I’m outraged about this. United States officials have unveiled new plans which require air traffic controllers to have longer rest periods between shifts after a spate of controllers…