International Business Times

Colorado School Lockdown: Police Investigate Reports Of Gunman Near Thornton High School In Adams County

hkoplowitz — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:10:22 GMT

Thornton High School near Denver is under lockdown Friday afternoon as police investigate reports of a gunman near the campus on the last day of final exams.

Thornton Police Department Officer Matt Barnes said the first call about a gunman was received at 11:50 a.m. MDT (1:50 p.m. EDT), Fox 31 in Denver reported. A gunman has not been found as of this article’s publication.

Food Safety Problems Continue In China: Over 500 Students Ill After School Meal

Michelle FlorCruz — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:49:53 GMT

China’s food safety problems are continuing to dominate headlines. Amid new claims of cadmium-tainted rice in Guangzhou, reports from northwestern Qinghai province are saying that over 500 students have fallen ill after consuming biscuits and milk provided by their school.

Gun Control News: Pryor Condems Bloomberg's Use Of Friend's Death In New Attack Ad

l.matthews — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:30:14 GMT

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is not giving up on supporting the passage of a gun control bill. But it seems like he may have hit a very sensitive spot Friday in his latest attack ad on Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark.

In a new ad campaign by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a coalition co-founded by Bloomberg, Angela Bradford-Barnes, former chief financial officer for the Arkansas Democratic Party, said her friend was shot and killed and that Pryor’s vote left her “disappointed.” Pryor was one of four Democrats to vote against a bill that would have expanded background checks.

Adam Kokesh Decides To Stay In Jail, Refuses To Give Judge Phone Number And Address

Zoe Mintz — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:57:40 GMT

Libertarian radio show host Adam Kokesh, who was arrested on Saturday during a pro-marijuana legalization rally in Philadelphia, refused to give his phone number and address in U.S. District Court yesterday.

Undocumented African Immigrant In Spain Dies After Hospital Refuses Treatment

gooch7 — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:13:42 GMT

Spain’s treatment of its undocumented immigrant community has come under fire again following the death of a Senegalese man who was refused treatment at a hospital on the island of Majorca.

Alpha Pam, 28, who had lived on Majorca for eight years, perished from tuberculosis in late April after the Comarca de Inca Hospital repeatedly refused to treat him because he did not have a Spanish health card. Tuberculosis is a deadly, but easily treatable, disease.

Latin America’s Inequality Is Improving; The U.S.Is The Most Unequal Country In The West

Patricia Rey Mallén — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:05:45 GMT

Latin America has for a long time held the dubious honor of being the most unequal region in the world: the gap between rich and poor was the highest on the continent, affecting a whole host of factors ranging from economic growth rates to teenage pregnancy to crime.

Britain Vigilant Of Potential London Copycat Attacks After Woolwich Murder Of Drummer Lee Rigby

hkoplowitz — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:57:54 GMT

After Wednesday’s gruesome killing and near-beheading of a soldier in the Woolwich section of London, British authorities are preparing for the possibility of copycat attacks from extremist Muslims.

While there are no specific copycat attack threats, the U.K. is being vigilant about extremists being influenced by the Woolwich slaying, according to the Associated Press.

Pope Francis Asks Italian Bishops to Avoid ‘Careerism’ And Cut Down Excessive Number Of Dioceses

gooch7 — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:44:00 GMT

During an assembly in Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Thursday evening, Pope Francis asked the gathered bishops of Italy to heed to a new pastoral vision.

It was the first time that Francis met with all of the more than 250 Italian bishops.

Vatican Radio reported that following the evening’ ceremonies, the Argentine-born pope spoke directly to the bishops in a “profession of faith,” in which he warned that clergymen must not be distracted from their true calling.

Female Students In China Taking College-Entrance Exam Encouraged To Take Birth Control By Teachers

Michelle FlorCruz — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:16:13 GMT

China’s graduating high school students are bracing themselves for the grueling "gaokao" college entrance exam, a test that's notorious for driving students to do anything to get an advantage. For girls, that might mean taking charge of their menstrual cycle.

Flamenco: Spain’s Iconic Cultural Form Pays Tribute To Its Indian Origins

gooch7 — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:11:23 GMT

The Roma (or "Gypsies") of Spain have made significant cultural contributions to the Iberian peninsula, particularly with respect to music and dance. Indeed, the flamenco, an art form synonymous with Spanish culture, was a gift from these mysterious, nomadic people who migrated to Europe from northwestern India in the Middle Ages.

Now, Spain’s oldest and most prominent flamenco festival will return the favor – by visiting India next year.

Amazing Acrobatic Feat: How To Fit 31 Chinese Kids Into A Motorized Rickshaw

s.song — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:10:37 GMT

Kids in a village in Henan do not have a school bus -- probably because funds originally allotted for school buses were used for a braised peacock feast -- so to keep their children safe from traffic on the way to and from school, parents in the village have been taking turns driving a tiny motorized rickshaw.

2 Arrested After Pakistani Flight Bound For Manchester Diverted To London [PHOTO]

hkoplowitz — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:37:27 GMT

Two passengers on a Pakistan Airlines plane Friday that was escorted by U.K. fighter jets for an emergency landing at a London Airport have been arrested on charges related to the incident.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Embarks On Maiden Myanmar Trip To Deepen Economic Ties

Gayathri — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:50:16 GMT

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Myanmar on Friday -- the first state visit by a Japanese leader in 36 years to the country, which is emerging out of the shadows of a long military rule.

Aiming to counterbalance the economic impact of Japan’s strained ties with China over a set of disputed islands in the East China Sea, Abe's new administration has been reaching out to other Asian neighbors, including Myanmar.

Three Indian Soldiers Killed In Encounter With Suspected Militants In Kashmir During Anti-Insurgency Operation

Gayathri — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:08:34 GMT

[UPDATE: The total number of soldiers killed is four, and not three as originally reported. A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was also among those killed, media reports said.]

Four soldiers of the Indian army were killed on Friday in an encounter with suspected militants in the Pulwama district of India-administered Kashmir, media reports said.

Interstate-5 Bridge In Washington State Collapses - No Deaths Reported, 2 Injured

jlazzaro — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:17:11 GMT

Part of the four-lane Interstate-5 highway bridge over a river in Washington state collapsed Thursday, sending vehicles and drivers plunging into the Skagit River, officials said.

As of 11 p.m. PDT, there were no fatalities, but two of three people rescued from the cold water were hospitalized for hypothermia, The Washington Post reported.

Critics Blast US Farm Subsidy Recipient Rep. Stephen Fincher For Backing Food Stamp Cuts

l.matthews — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:51:38 GMT

Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tenn., is refusing to respond to critics who accuse him of receiving millions of dollars in farm subsidies while supporting billions of dollars in cuts to food stamps.

China Quietly Revises Church Regulations Requiring Government-Approved Catholic Bishops

Michelle FlorCruz — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:42:16 GMT

The Chinese government has essentially pulled rank on the Vatican with its recent ruling that all bishops in the country need to be selected by a Chinese-run religious bureau. The new regulation regarding the election of bishops gives the government-backed Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China control over appointees and the ability to override decisions made by the Vatican.

Syrian Opposition Meets In Istanbul To Elect Leader Ahead Of Geneva Peace Talks Likely To Be Held In June

Gayathri — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:42:00 GMT

The Syrian opposition met in Istanbul on Thursday to elect a new leader and decide on a strategy ahead of an expected international peace conference in Geneva next month.

The coalition spokesman Khaled Saleh said the opposition supports “any conference that helps transition the situation into an elective government away from the dictatorship,” but would not go to Geneva without indications that President Bashar al-Assad will be shown the door, Reuters reported.

Boy Scouts Vote To Allow Gay Youth, Homosexual Adult Leaders Still Banned

casac8 — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:03:35 GMT

The Boy Scouts of America voted Thursday to re-open the group's doors to gay youth, but the ban on homosexual adult leaders still stands.

The vote was tallied from more than 1,400 members of the BSA's annual national council meeting in Grapevine, Texas, and it brings an end to a ban on gay participants in the Boy Scouts of America that has stood for 22 years.

IRS Scandal: Lois Lerner Pleads The Fifth; Issa Issues Subpoena

l.matthews — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:48:58 GMT

Lois Lerner, director of the IRS’ Exempt Organizations Division at the heart of the scandal involving the targeting of conservative groups, has invoked her Fifth Amendment rights.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Tuesday said Lerner’s lawyer has informed the committee that she will refuse to answer questions from lawmakers at a hearing Wednesday. In the meantime, committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has issued a subpoena for her to appear at the hearing.

Westboro Tornado Blame: Fred Phelps Jr. Of Westboro Baptist Church Blames Oklahoma Tornado On Gay NBA Player Jason Collins

Thomas Barrabi — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:13:37 GMT

A high-ranking member of the Westboro Baptist Church says Monday’s Oklahoma tornado occurred as a direct result of the state’s basketball team’s support for openly gay NBA player Jason Collins.

Osama Bin Laden Death Photos To Stay Classified; Appeals Court Rules Against Lawsuit For Release, Citing National Security

hkoplowitz — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:02:45 GMT

The Osama bin Laden death photos will be kept classified after a federal appeals court agreed with the U.S. government that showing the photos to the public could risk national security, the court ruled Tuesday

"It is undisputed that the government is withholding the images not to shield wrongdoing or avoid embarrassment, but rather to prevent the killing of Americans and violence against American interests," the three-judge panel overseeing the case in U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia wrote in their opinion.

Saudis Arrest Ten More Members Of Iranian ‘Spy Ring’

gooch7 — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:13:35 GMT

Saudi Arabian officials have arrested 10 more members of an alleged Iranian-linked spy ring, according to the interior ministry, following the detention of 18 other such ”spies” in March.

In the new batch of arrestees, eight are Saudis, and the other two originated in Turkey and Lebanon.

Most of the 18 arrested in March were also Saudi nationals, plus one Iranian and one Lebanese. (The Lebanese suspect has since been released).

Iran has denied it has engaged in any intelligence operations in the Saudi kingdom.

Guantanamo Bay Shuts Off Wi-Fi After Anonymous Threatens #OpGTMO Attack On Prison Camp

j.heller — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:29:17 GMT

The United States military has turned off Wi-Fi service and blocked access to social networks at Guantanamo Bay detention camp following threats from the hacktivist collective Anonymous. Army Lt. Col.

Philippines And Taiwan Agree On Probe Into Fishing Boat Shooting

Michelle FlorCruz — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:28:31 GMT

Taipei and Manila have arrived at an agreement, initiating an investigation that will look into the fatal shooting of Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-Cheng by the Philippine Coast Guard.

The May 9 attack on the Taiwanese fishing boat has triggered a wave of nationalism in Taiwan, and created increased tension between Taiwan and the Philippines. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou demanded an apology from Manila, saying the issue threatened economic relations. Ma also placed a hiring freeze on Filipino employees and told Taiwanese citizens to stop traveling to the tropical islands.