Dawn McKenzie Killed by 13 year old boy because she confiscated his Xbox

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy killed his carer by stabbing her ten times in a frenzied attack after he was grounded and banned from playing on his Xbox.

The teenager, who cannot be named, was originally accused of murdering Dawn McKenzie, 34, a former nursery worker, but prosecutors accepted a guilty plea to the lesser charge of culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that in the days leading up to the killing, the boy’s Xbox, mobile phone and laptop taken away from him.

Psychiatrists who examined him said he was unable to control his behaviour at the time.

Mrs McKenzie was stabbed ten times to the head and body.

The fatal blow severed a major blood vessel and caused her to bleed to death.

The court heard the nature of some of her injuries revealed that she had fought for her life. Read More

The boy, who was just 13 at the time, stabbed Mrs McKenzie in Hamilton on 24 June, 2011.

4.5 Magnitude Earthquake BANDA SEA - 23rd June 2012

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake has struck the BANDA SEA at a depth of 51.1 km (31.8 miles), the quake hit at 03:29:36 UTC Saturday 23rd June 2012
The epicenter was 224 km (139 miles) ESE from Ambon, Moluccas, Indonesia
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

Jerry Sandusky guilty of Penn State sex abuse

Former US college football coach Jerry Sandusky has been found guilty of 45 out of 48 counts of child sex abuse.

Sandusky, 68, denied 48 counts of abusing 10 boys over 15 years. He is expected to appeal but could spend the rest of his life in prison.

The jury reached its verdict at the end of its second day of deliberations.

His arrest in November caused a scandal at Penn State University, Pennsylvania, that saw the president and legendary football coach Joe Paterno both fired.

The jury found the former coach not guilty of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with Victim 2 and indecent assault of Victims 5 and 6.

After the verdict, Sandusky's bail was revoked and he was taken into custody in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Read More

Paraguay: President Removed Amid Coup Claims

Paraguay's Congress has removed President Fernando Lugo from office after a rapid impeachment trial - which he said was tantamount to a coup but pledged to accept.

Mr Lugo was found guilty of mishandling armed clashes over a land eviction in which 17 police and peasant farmers were killed last week.

In line with Paraguay's constitution, he was quickly replaced by Vice President Federico Franco, a fierce opponent of the president. The centrist Liberal Party politician was sworn in on Friday evening.

Mr Lugo, a former Roman Catholic bishop who quit the Church to run for president on a social reform program, said: "Although the law's been twisted like a fragile branch in the wind, I accept Congress' decision." Read More

Child Slavery 'Shame': Indian Govt Slated

Human rights campaigners claim the Indian government is not doing nearly enough to stamp out child slavery despite a number of raids by the authorities in recent months.

They say too many youngsters are being coerced to work in factories across the country - although there are supposedly strict laws in place against child labour.

The last decade has seen huge growth in India's economy and many nefarious businessmen are taking children from poor parts of the country - like Bihar and Utta Pradesh - to the big cities to work in terrible conditions for little or more usually no money.

Charity workers say the children are either kidnapped, or their parents are promised cash for their work.

It is estimated millions of children are working illegally and against their will in India.

They are often forced to graft in the building or clothing industries and are frequently exposed to hazardous working conditions. Read More

3.1 Magnitude Earthquake UTAH - 23rd June 2012

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake has struck UTAH at a depth of 4.8 km (3 miles), the quake hit at 02:26:03 UTC Saturday 23rd June 2012
The epicenter was 13 km (8 miles) SSE of Washington, Utah
No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE - 23rd June 2012

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck the SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the quake hit at 01:18:58 UTC Saturday 23rd June 2012
The epicenter was 1196 km (743 miles) Southwest of Jamestown, Saint Helena
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

Jerry Sandusky found guilty on 45 of 48 counts related to sexual abuse of boys

Israel and Gaza exchange rocket and air strikes; 6 dead, others wounded

Three Palestinians were reported injured following an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip late Friday night. The IAF conducted a second strike on Beit Lahiya. No injuries were reported there.

According to Palestinian sources, the first airstrike targeted a motorcycle driving northwest of Gaza City.

The strike followed continuing rocket fire on Israel, with one rocket landing in an open field in the Sdot Negev Regional Council, another landing in the Hevel Eshkol Regional Council and a third on the outskirts of Ashkelon, all in the course of Friday evening. None of the rockets caused damage or injuries.

Earlier Friday, a Gaza terrorist was killed and a second injured as they prepared to fire rockets into Israel, the IDF Spokesman’s office said.

A Gaza health official, Ashraf Al Kedra, confirmed the death and injury.

Palestinian terrorists fired two rockets at Israel earlier in the day that caused no injuries, and 12 rockets the day before, the spokesman’s office said.

The latest escalation of rocket attacks from Gaza began Monday. Since then, more than 120 rockets and missiles have been fired into Israel. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza terrorist targets have since killed at least six Palestinians. more

Saudi Arabia plans to fund Syria rebel army through "Rebel HQ" inside Turkey

Saudi officials are preparing to pay the salaries of the Free Syria Army as a means of encouraging mass defections from the military and increasing pressure on the Assad regime, the Guardian has learned.

The move, which has been discussed between Riyadh and senior officials in the US and Arab world, is believed to be gaining momentum as a recent flush of weapons sent to rebel forces by Saudi Arabia and Qatar starts to make an impact on battlefields in Syria.

Officials in the Saudi capital embraced the idea when it was put to them by Arab officials in May, according to sources in three Arab states, around the same time that weapons started to flow across the southern Turkish border into the hands of Free Syria Army leaders.

Turkey has also allowed the establishment of a command centre in Istanbul which is co-ordinating supply lines in consultation with FSA leaders inside Syria. The centre is believed to be staffed by up to 22 people, most of them Syrian nationals.

The Guardian witnessed the transfer of weapons in early June near the Turkish frontier. Five men dressed in the style of Gulf Arabs arrived in a police station in the border village of Altima in Syria and finalised a transfer from the Turkish town of Reyhanli of around 50 boxes of rifles and ammunition, as well as a large shipment of medicines. more

REUTERS: TURKISH PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE SAYS "IT IS UNDERSTOOD" THAT SYRIA SHOT DOWN TURKISH JET FIGHTER

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION - 22nd June 2012

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck the BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION at a depth of 14.9 km (9.3 miles), the quake hit at 18:10:37 UTC Friday 22nd June 2012
The epicenter was 244 km (151 miles) ESE of Chichi-shima, Japan
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

U.S. concerned Israel may launch attacks on Syrian WMD sites

U.S. intelligence agencies are closely watching Israel’s military for signs it will conduct strikes on Syria’s stockpiles of chemical weapons, amid concerns the deadly nerve agents could fall under the control of Hezbollah or al Qaeda terrorists, U.S. officials said.

Syria’s arsenal remains vulnerable as the result of the internal conflict currently underway in Syria between government forces and opposition rebels, one official said.

“Everyone suspects Syria maintains an active chemical weapons program; and it would be dangerous not to plan accordingly,” the official said.

As for concerns the weapons will be captured or transferred, the official said: “Most countries that have CW stocks view it as a strategic, not tactical, tool—and strategic tools are usually pretty well protected and aren’t given away lightly.”

However, other U.S. officials said special operations forces are prepared to take action inside Syria in the event the regime falls and the country spirals further into chaos. The teams would seek to secure or destroy stockpiles of chemical arms to keep them from being taken over by terrorists. Hezbollah has been very active in Syria, and there are reports that al Qaeda terrorists have moved into Syria during the current crisis. more

Contradictions Over Turkey Jet Missing Near Syria

Turkey has lost a warplane over the Mediterranean, but its prime minister says he cannot confirm reports that Syria shot it down.

Turkey's military earlier announced it had lost contact with the F4 jet while it was over the sea off the southeastern coast, near the Syrian border.

In his first public comments on the warplane's loss, Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan told reporters that he could not say whether the plane had crashed or been shot down.

He said he had no word on the fate of the two airmen.

The Turkish leader took a measured tone on the incident, which could potentially spark a new crisis between the prickly neighbouring countries.

"I am not saying it (the plane) was brought down at the point it fell," Mr Erdogan told a news conference.

"It is not possible to say this without knowing the exact facts."

Earlier reports said Syria had offered an apology over the crash, but Mr Erdogan said he had no firm information on that.

The prime minister also said Turkish ships and helicopters were searching for the airmen in cooperation with Syrian vessels. Read More

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Jefferson County Public Health has confirmed that a squirrel from the Idledale area has tested positive for bubonic plague, Colorado

Jefferson County Public Health has confirmed that a squirrel from the Idledale area has tested positive for bubonic plague.

Plague is a highly infectious bacterial disease carried by various types of wild rodents and is transmitted primarily by flea bites.

Squirrels, rodents, prairie dogs and other mammals, such as rabbits and cats are susceptible to plague because they carry fleas.

“The risk of residents contracting plague is extremely low,” said Jefferson County Public Health Director Dr. Mark Johnson. “We want people to be aware that summer marks the beginning of the plague season, and just a few simple precautions will further reduce that risk.

The best way to prevent plague is to control the presence of rodents and fleas in and around the home. In addition, people should avoid contact with any species of wild rodents, especially sick or dead rodents. Read More

Revised nuclear law stipulates aim to ensure Japanese national security

Legislation enacted by the Diet on June 20 to establish a new nuclear regulatory panel in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear meltdowns contains an appendix revising the Atomic Energy Basic Law to read that the new entity will aim to contribute to Japan's national security.

The revised law is raising concerns that adding a security guarantee runs counter to the principle of limiting the use of nuclear energy to peaceful purposes.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said at a news conference on June 21 that Japan remains committed to using nuclear power only for peaceful purposes and, abiding by the three non-nuclear principles, has no intention whatsoever to convert atomic power to military use.

The Atomic Energy Basic Law stipulates in Article 2 that research into and use of atomic power are restricted to peaceful purposes, championing democratic, independent and public disclosure principles. The appendix in question, however, alters Article 2 of the basic law, adding a sentence requiring the new regulatory body aim to contribute to national security. A similar revision has been made to the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law. Read More

Mutant bird flu would be airborne, scientists say

Here's what it takes to make a deadly virus transmissible through the air: as few as five genetic mutations, according to a new study.

This research, published in the journal Science, is the second of two controversial studies to finally be released that examines how the H5N1 bird flu virus can be genetically altered and transmitted in mammals. Publication of both studies had been delayed many months due to fears that the research could be misused and become a bio-security threat.

Although these particular engineered forms of H5N1 have not been found in nature, the virus has potential to mutate enough such that it could become airborne.

H5N1 influenza can be deadly to people, but in its natural forms it does not easily transfer between people through respiratory droplets, as far as scientists know. The World Health Organization has recorded 355 humans deaths from it out of 602 cases, although some research has questioned this high mortality rate.

The journals Science and Nature had agreed to postpone the publication of the two studies related to the genetically altered virus. Read More

Attack leaves 6 dead in Iraq, dozens wounded

Baghdad (CNN) -- A roadside bomb exploded in a busy outdoor market in northeastern Baghdad Friday morning leaving six people dead and 52 others wounded, police said.

The incident occurred in the al-Husseiniya neighborhood, a predominantly Shiite area.

Also, in a separate incident, gunmen opened fire at a police checkpoint near an outdoor market in a southwest Baghdad neighborhood leaving three police officers dead, police said. Source