M.Mason

In a rush for holiday bargains on Black Friday, a temporary Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death in a New York store.

The New York Times reports that county police were called in at 3:30 for crowd control.

At 4:55, about 2000 shoppers couldn’t be held back any longer and they shattered the doors and pushed through the openings.

Jdimytai Damour, 34, was crushed and killed by the stampede.

CNN reports that the union that represents retail workers says that the death could have been prevented.

CNN also reports that the union is calling for an investigation to see that Damour’s family sees justice.

Posted by maso0193 at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNN reports that at the end of the terrorist attacks in India, the death toll stood at 183.

The New York Times reports that after the standoff ended at the Taj Mahal Palace & Hotel Tower ended the death toll was at 172. Officials were waiting for exact body counts.

CNN reports that R.R. Patil, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra state said that they thought the terrorists planned to kill 5,000 people.

The New York Times reports that in 2007, a report to Parliament suggested that the country’s shores were inadequately protected from infiltration from the sea.

Both articles suggest that tension between India and Pakistan is high.

Posted by maso0193 at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Police in Bangkok prepared for an anti-government protest on Monday that the demonstrators promised as their final showdown.

According to the International Herald Tribune, parliament is considering rewriting the constitution which has caused the demonstrators, who call themselves People’s Alliance for Democracy, to plan to block the gates of parliament.

According to CNN, the issue is no longer about rewriting the constitution, rather lawmakers will debate legislation related to an upcoming summit.

Area schools were closed and animals at a local zoo secured as police put up barricades.

Posted by maso0193 at 8:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A white supremacist Ku Klux Klan group was ordered to pay $2.5 million in damages to a 16-year-old boy who they mistakenly thought was an illegal Latino immigrant.

The teen was severely beaten in 2006 and the Klansmen served two years in prison.

Friday, an all-white jury found that the Imperial Klans of America and its founder wrongfully targeted Jordan Gruver.

The Southern Poverty Law Center represented Gruver and says that they plan to seize the grand wizard’s, Ron Edwards, property that serves as Klan headquarters.

The International Herald Tribune reports that Edwards plans to appeal the verdict.

CNN reports that the 2006 attack happened at the Meade County Fair in Brandenberg, Kentucky while the Klan was on a recruiting mission.

Posted by maso0193 at 6:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Gay marriage ban protests spanned across the country on Saturday, including in cities around Minnesota.

CNN reports that in lower Manhattan, protesters stood behind barricades and held signs.

In Los Angeles, demonstrators were met with counter-demonstrators.

The Star Tribune reports that demonstrations were held in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth.

Proposition 8, which overturned the May ruling of legalizing same-sex marriage, seems to have triggered the cross-country demonstrations.

Posted by maso0193 at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A newly constructed bridge collapsed Sunday morning in Indian Kashmir, sending at least two dozen people into the river.

CNN reports that at least 23 workers were feared dead while Yahoo News reports that five people were killed and 18 are missing.

Two people were found in the river, which is swollen from recent rain and snowfall.

Most of the dead and missing were workers involved in construction or local bridge users.

Yahoo News reports that the bridge was to open later this month and that construction related accidents are common in India.

Posted by maso0193 at 5:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Police have found that the man killed by his 8-year-old son had consulted a priest about whether his son should be allowed to learn to use firearms.

The boy shot and killed his father, Vincent Romero, 29 and his father’s co-worker and roommate, Timothy Romans, 39, inside their home.

According to CNN, Very Rev. John Paul Sauter said Romero wanted to teach his son to hunt, while the boy’s mother wanted him to stick with a BB gun.

The St. John’s Police Chief said that he didn’t think that the killings were spur of the moment and that something must have triggered the boy’s aggression.

CNN also reports that a psychological evaluation was ordered by a judge and that under Arizona law, anyone 8 and older can have charges filed.

According to MSNBC, most people in the community knew of the Romero family

Posted by maso0193 at 3:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

China proposed a $586 billion economic stimulus package on Sunday in an attempt to revive some of the economic slowdown.

China’s Cabinet approved a plan to invest in national infrastructure and social welfare by the end of 2010.

The New York Times reports that some of the money will go to constructing new railways, subways, airports and rebuilding communities devastated by an earthquake in southwest China in the spring of 2008.

CNN reports that beyond that, the money will be spent on health and education as well as low-cost housing.

The proposal was announced before President Hu Jintao’s trip to Washington for a global economy summit.

The New York Times reports that Hu Jinato spoke with President-elect Barack Obama over the phone on a range of issues, including the economy.

China plans to help stabilize the global economy by looking inward and keeping one of the largest economies on track.

Posted by maso0193 at 2:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The St. Paul newspaper The Pioneer Press received a small package on Saturday labeled “anthrax�.

The package contained a CD with a picture of Gen. Colin Powell was labeled "Anthrax Shock and Awe Terror". A white, sugar-like package taped to the top labeled "Anthrax" and "Biohazard."

Initial tests determined that the white powder enclosed was sugar.

On Wednesday, a California man was arrested on suspicion of sending hoax letters with “anthrax�.

The Star Tribune reports that he had sent over 100 letters to media outlets, while the Pioneer Press didn’t specify that it was only to media outlets but that letters were sent to over 120 envelopes.

Posted by maso0193 at 7:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

President Bush has been notably out of the limelight when it comes to the campaign trail.

CNN reports that he has no public event scheduled and will be at Camp David from Friday until Monday.

CNN also reports that the White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said he is focusing on other activities like the economy.

The Star Tribune reports that since President Bush endorsed Sen. McCain in March, they’ve only appeared together for a total of 12 minutes.

CNN reports that President Bush’s approval rating is at 28, while the Star Tribune reports his rating at 26.

Posted by maso0193 at 6:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Archeologists are digging up a 3000-year-old city just 20 miles outside of Jerusalem where they found a piece of what appears to be the oldest known Hebrew text.

The fortress is from 10th century B.C., which the New York Times considers “the most controversial period in the biblical archeology.�

This find could reshape the views people hold of the time that David ruled the Israelites.

The piece of pottery, says Professor Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, is known as an ostracon.

CNN reports that the piece of pottery is six square inches and has five lines of text, divided by black lines.

Posted by maso0193 at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)