OCCUPY OAKLAND

Over 200 protesters arrested in Oakland

Occupy Oakland protester arrested via AFP

Police fired tear gas and arrested more than 200 people and four people were injured as anti-Wall Street protesters tried but failed to take over downtown buildings, including City Hall, in Oakland, California.

PRIORITIES

Pennsylvania General Assembly names 2012 ‘the year of the Bible’

Gutenberg Bible at New York Public Library by Kevin Eng

The Pennsylvania General Assembly this week passed a non-binding resolution that declares 2012 as “the year of the Bible.”

WELCOME TO MEDIEVAL TIMES

NC GOP lawmaker calls for public hangings, including for abortion providers

A picture of a noose. Image via AFP.

A Republican lawmaker from North Carolina is seeking a return to the days of public hanging, according to WRAL-TV.

LIBERTY?

Ron Paul seeks to unmask YouTube user

Ron Paul at a NBC Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, Public Citizen and the American Civil Liberties Union have told a federal district court that Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) should not be able to unmask an anonymous YouTube user who uploaded an offensive video attacking Jon Huntsman.

OCCUPY DC

Protesters strip down for Washington gala

Washington artist David Varrow at Occupy DC via AFP

Protesters from Occupy DC, facing a clampdown on their encampment on Monday, stripped down for a topless street party outside a black-tie gala for Washington’s biggest movers and shakers.

'RELIGIOUS FREEDOM'

Lawmaker pushes to ban same sex ceremonies in military

Same sex marriage photo by Nikolai Alekseev

In the response to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) introduced legislation this week that would prohibit marriage or marriage-like ceremonies on military installations for same sex couples.

Science

Snowy owls soar south from Arctic in rare mass migration

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) – Bird enthusiasts are reporting rising numbers of snowy owls from the Arctic winging…

Berkeley energy lab plans big expansion

OAKLAND, Calif (Reuters) – The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory said it will expand beyond its…

Tech News

‘Anonymous’ attacks Mexico’s government websites to protest copyright law

The shadowy online hackers group Anonymous blocked access to the websites of the Mexican Senate…

Apple CEO insists, ‘We care about every worker’

WASHINGTON — Apple chief executive Tim Cook has responded to media reports alleging harsh working…

Media

Twitter users stage blackout to protest censorship policy

Users of the microblogging platform Twitter staged a worldwide blackout Friday to protest the company’s…

Murdoch staff arrested, office searched in probe

Detectives on Saturday searched the offices of Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun and arrested four journalists and a policeman in a…

World

Arabs suspend observer mission, Syria deaths spike

The Arab League suspended its controversial observer mission in Syria on Saturday as the bloodshed in a crackdown on anti-regime…

U.S. military reaches further into Asia

The United States is forging ahead with plans to expand its military power in Asia, with the Philippines and other allies welcoming troops…

Sanctions take their toll on ordinary Iranians

A raft of Western economic sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme are increasingly stifling the lives of ordinary Iranians, hit by rising…

London mulls Rio-style Jesus statue for Olympics

London may erect a replica of Rio de Janeiro’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue to mark the passage of the…

U.S. News

Yemen’s Saleh arrives in New York for treatment

Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is due to step down next month, arrived Saturday…

Supporters dream, but establishment dreads Gingrich win

His supporters make thousands of campaign calls and blanketFlorida with signs as they dream of Newt Gingrich in…

Obama calls for bipartisan cooperation in Congress

US President Barack Obama called Saturday for Democrats and Republicans to cooperate in Congress, saying they should put aside…

White House, big banks close to foreclosure fraud settlement

The White House, state attorney generals, and the nation’s big banks are reportedly close to…

Accused Utah school bomb plotter said inspired by Columbine

ROY, Utah (Reuters) – One of two Utah teenagers accused of plotting to set off…