Iran finds Reuters guilty of propaganda about female ninjas

A jury in Tehran has found the news agency Reuters "guilty of propagating against the Islamic Republic and disseminating false information to disturb public opinion" for running a story titled, "Thousands of female Ninjas train as Iran's assassins."

The story was run in March 2012. Reuters subsequently corrected the story, after the martial arts club where the video was filmed made a complaint, and the news agency apologized for the error. The story's headline was then corrected to read "Three thousand women Ninjas train in Iran".... read more and watch video of ninjas.

Video: RT interviews Kristinn Hrafnsson, spokesman for WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks spokesman, Kristinn Hrafnsson, says the US naming Julian Assange and WikiLeaks as an enemy of the state, will see him treated as a terrorist if extradited there.

Kristinn Hrafnsson attended the UN General Assembly, and was available for questioning in the US, after Julian Assange spoke to the assembly via satellite video link.

On September 26, WikiLeaks released an official internal document from the US Military that refers to Assange and WikiLeaks as the "enemy". The document is from an internal investigation in the US Air Force, released under the Freedom of Information Act. The document adds to the large store of proof of the persecution of Assange and WikiLeaks by the United States government... read more and watch interview.

Russian city cancels 'Jesus Christ Superstar' over complaints

The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, has been touring the world since it first premiered 42 years ago. Now, due to a controversial new religious offense law, it has been banned in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

Jesus Christ Superstar is a non-religious retelling of the Gospels from the perspective of Judas, in rock-opera form. The famous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical has been performed in almost every Christian country, and was made into a top-grossing movie.

However, the appearance of the show in Rostov-on-Don has been cancelled due to complaints from Orthodox Christians, who say the production is in breach of the new religious offense law... read more and watch extract from the rock opera.

Tornado hits Gandia, Spain fairgrounds injuring 35 (Videos)

Fortunately the fairgrounds were closed to the public at the time the tornado hit, but 35 workers were injured in the storm. More flooding and heavy rains were experienced in other areas of Spain.

The tornado struck the fairgrounds in Gandia, in the Valencian Community of Spain, knocking down a Ferris wheel and damaging several other rides... read more and watch videos.

Russian researchers plan public GMO study on rats

Following the conclusion of the recent study in France on the effects of GMO food on rats, Russia suspended imports of GMO products. Now they are planning their own, more public, study into the effects of feeding GMOs to rats.

Digital Journal recently reported on the trial by scientists from France's Caen University, where they tested the effects of GMO food on rats over a lifetime period of two years. Results showed mammary tumors and organ damage to the rats after they were fed a diet of genetically modified (GM) NK603 maize produced by American chemical giant Monsanto.

After the report was published in Food and Chemical Toxicology, Russia immediately suspended imports of GMO products pending further investigation into GMOs.... read more.

Typhoon Jelawat injures 65 as it heads for Japanese coast

Typhoon Jelawat battered the southern Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures on Saturday, injuring dozens of people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

According to Japan's national weather agency, violent winds of up to 234 kilometers per hour have injured at least 65 people. Reportedly over 331,000 households suffered power outages.

The video above shows that the strong winds have flipped cars, and overturned a four-ton truck in Okinawa's Naha City, which has blocked a main road and caused traffic chaos... read more and watch video.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon caught in radio prank

Quebec's 'The Masked Avengers' played a prank on Ban, while at the UN General Assembly, introducing themselves as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Montreal comedy duo Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel, who call themselves "The Masked Avengers", claim that it took them less than an hour, and approximately a dozen phone calls, to get through to the UN Secretary-General at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.... read more.

Judge throws Occupy Chicago arrests out of the court

92 Occupy protesters were arrested in Grant Park in Chicago last October. A Cook County judge has dismissed the charges against them.

Associate Judge Thomas M. Donnelly dismissed the charges, ruling that the city's overnight park curfew violated the protesters First Amendment rights and was being enforced selectively... read more.

'Yes on 37' new advert — Your child & Monsanto's 'Pesticide Corn'

The 'Yes to 37' campaign has produced another advertising video, which asks whether your children are eating Monsanto's 'Pesticide Corn'.

A new research study recently raised questions about the health risks of Monsanto's genetically engineered corn.

Due to this research, the Yes on 37 campaign have released a new ad on Friday, which highlights the fact that California children may be eating Monsanto's new GMO sweet corn, without their parents actually knowing it... read more and watch ad.

Excessive rain in Málaga province, Spain causes flooding (Video)

As the autumn rainy season begins in Málaga province, heavy rains are being experienced, causing flooding, evacuations and at least one death.

The rain is causing havoc in Málaga province, southern Spain, with one fatality, a woman who died in El Puente, Alora, while a group of 12 people, including the victim's husband, had to be rescued in the town.

Around 9,000 people have had to be evacuated from their homes in several towns in the province and a red alert has been activated in Málaga and Almería.... read more.

UK recognizes that Assange cannot be extradited to Sweden

Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño met with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague during the UN General Assembly. Patiño says that Britain now recognizes that due to Assange's asylum status with Ecuador, he cannot be extradited to Sweden.

Patiño and Hague met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Thursday. A summary of the talks held between the two officials is that Patiño says he has received written confirmation from Britain that the country recognizes the validity of its 1880 extradition treaty with Ecuador. Under this agreement a person, like Assange, who has been granted political asylum in Ecuador, cannot be extradited to a third country... read more.

Video: Occupy Wall Street — One year on

Between September 15 and 17, Occupy Wall Street celebrated its first year anniversary in several actions in lower Manhattan.

The three days covering the anniversary were broken up into a day of education, a day of celebration and a day of liberation.

Occupy Wall Street participants used their first anniversary to show that they are still active, organizing actions every day all across the city. Those in attendance made it clear that their movement is far from over... read more and watch documentary.

Spanish magazine El Jueves publishes satiric Islamic cartoon

The satirical Spanish magazine, El Jueves, has published a magazine cover, showing a line up of men in Islamic outfits as a parody of recent controversial cartoons. The text of the cover reads, "But how do they know which one is Muhammad?"

According to Islam, it is an offense to portray an image of the Prophet. However, the Barcelona-based magazine's editor, Mayte Quílez, told the Huffington Post, that the caricature “does not intend to portray Muhammad. It's a parody of the situation we are experiencing. … If you can’t depict Muhammad, how do you know it is him in the cartoons?” ... read more.

Video: Julian Assange addresses the UN General Assembly

Assange, founder of WikiLeaks addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday evening, in an event called "Strengthening Human Rights."

Assange spoke directly via a video link from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been holed up since June this year, firstly seeking and finally receiving political asylum from that country.

The "Strengthening Human Rights" event was hosted by Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño, and this event gave Assange a platform to draw attention to his case and the importance of revealing the truth.... read more and watch video.

Athens protesters throw firebombs, police shoot tear gas (Video)

Protests have erupted into rage in Athens on Wednesday, as Greece shuts down with a 24-hour general strike over austerity measures.

As reported on Digital Journal, Greece is shutting down with a general strike on Wednesday. The 24-hour strike will involve both private sector and public sector workers, protesting against the latest round of Troika imposed austerity measures.... read more.

After GMO rat study: Russia suspends imports, France investigates

Following the recent rat study on NK603 GMO corn, Russia has suspended imports of Monsanto corn, while France continues investigations into the possible dangers of GMOs to human health.

On Tuesday this week, Russia suspended the import and use of Monsanto's genetically engineered corn, following the scientific study released on September 19 on rats fed with this corn, which caused serious health problems, including tumors and organ failure... read more.

Madrid protests: Indignados intend to return to the plaza today

After thousands protested in the Plaza de Neptune in Madrid on Tuesday, around 100 meters from the Congress building, police became violent and eventually cleared the square.

The indignados were calling for new elections and carrying banners with the slogan "No", referring to the austerity measures being taken by the Spanish government.

Protesters are saying that a government chosen by the people that, once it reaches power, does not keep it's promises, has no legitimacy. They say that winning an election does not give the government the right to act as it wants, betraying the voters who have elected it. They demand new elections and a new government.... read more and watch video.

Police attack 'Occupy Congress' protest in Madrid (Video)

A rally was held on Wednesday with thousands of Spanish indignados surrounding the Congress building in Madrid, in an action dubbed "Occupy Congress."

The indignados were calling for new elections and carrying banners with the clear slogan "No", referring to the austerity measures being taken by the Spanish government.

Protesters are saying that a government chosen by the people that, once it reaches power, does not keep it's promises, has no legitimacy. They say that winning an election does not give the government the right to act as it wants, betraying the voters who have elected it... read more and watch video.

Assange to address UN live on RT on Wednesday on human rights

A high-level talk on the legal and ethical legitimacy of diplomatic asylum will be held at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday. Julian Assange will be addressing permanent representatives to the UN General Assembly.

RT has exclusive rights to broadcast this event live. A panel discussion at the 67th General Assembly Debate on Wednesday will include Assange, as well as the Foreign Affairs Minister of Ecuador, Ricardo Patiño, and Legal Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, Baher Azmy... read more.

Video: Laughter Yoga — a unique concept in health & happiness

We've often heard that laughter is good for you. A doctor in Mumbai in India has come up with Laughter Yoga, a daily exercise which is good for your health and your soul.

The concept is the brainchild of Dr. Madan Kataria, a physician from Mumbai in India, who launched the first Laughter Club in a park on March 13, 1995.

Starting with just a few persons, the club has now become a worldwide phenomenon, with over 6,000 Social Laughter Clubs in around 60 countries worldwide... read more and watch video.

Synchronized toilet flushing in Zimbabwe to unblock sewers

In a case of get ready, get set, flush, home owners in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe have been asked to flush their toilets at a specific time.

The two main dams, supplying water to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city, have been drying up due to severe droughts in the southwestern part of the country. This has raised fears of worsening water shortages before the rainy season starts in November... read more.

Houston cop shoots double-amputee in wheelchair

In an incident outside of a group home in Houston, a police officer shot and killed a wheelchair bound, double-amputee after the man threatened his partner.

Unfortunately the object with which the man was threatening the officer's partner turned out to be a pen.

John Garcia is the owner of the home at 4309 Polk where Brian Claunch, a schizophrenic man in his 40's, has been living for the past 18 months with two other men... read more.

Video: Freak accident as car catches loose wires and flips

In one of those freak accidents that can just happen in a second, a car catches trolleybus electric leads in its bumper and completely flips.

In the Russian town of Vladimir, a parked car at an intersection caught the accident on its dashboard camera... read more and watch video.

Video: French 'Spiderman' climbs world's highest steel tower

Alain Robert, otherwise known as the French "Spiderman" has done it again. He has added yet another building to his record of climbing achievements, this time in China.

On Saturday, he scaled most of a 388-meter (1,280-foot) steel tower in central China.

Robert has climbed more than 100 structures without ropes or other safety equipment, setting a record for "most buildings climbed unassisted" according to Guinness World Records... read more and watch video.

'Project X Haren' causes mayhem in small Dutch town (video)

When inviting people to a birthday party on Facebook, it's a wise idea to keep the invitations private, as this small Dutch town suffered an onslaught of thousands of party goers on Friday night.

15-year-old Merthe Weusthuis posted a video invitation to her 16th birthday party on her Facebook page. However, she forgot to make the invite private, and her small town in the Netherlands was invaded by thousands of people on Friday... read more and watch videos.

Ecuador may transfer Assange to Sweden, under its protection

Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño said on Friday that Ecuador may ask Britain to transfer Julian Assange to Sweden for questioning, under its protection.

Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since June 19, when he applied for asylum in that country. He has since been granted diplomatic asylum in Ecuador, but cannot leave the embassy, as the UK will not grant him safe passage to leave the country. Britain still wishes to extradite him to Sweden for questioning on alleged sex charges, which Assange denies, and for which he has not been charged... read more.

Video: Telebriefing on animal feeding trial on GM corn & Roundup

The results of a two-year feeding trial were released yesterday, with details of tumors and mortality in rats, and a telebriefing conference was held which has now been released as an audio file.

As reported in Digital Journal yesterday, this is the first study of its kind, it is peer-reviewed, and was published in the American journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology.

The animal feeding trial was set up to study the lifetime effects of exposure to NK603 Roundup tolerant GM maize, and also to Roundup, the world's best-selling herbicide and weedkiller... read more and listen to telebriefing conference.

'No on 37' — False advertising on the radio, against GMO labeling

The "No on 37" campaign against labeling of GMO products has been advertising on the radio. This advertising is littered with falsehoods, and "Yes on 37" offer the facts.

Proposition 37 comes up for voting in California in November this year and is intended to make it mandatory to label products that contain GMOs or genetically modified products. The "No on 37" campaign is pushing big money from Monsanto and "Big Pesticide", in an attempt to stop this from happening.

This week the "No to 37" campaign is running radio adverts, which consist mainly of falsehoods. California Right to Know wish to point out these falsehoods, and tell consumers the truth.. read more.

Soldier gives birth in Afghanistan, didn't know she was pregnant

On Tuesday, a British servicewoman, who was apparently unaware of her pregnancy, gave birth to a son at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

Most women who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth, might find it hard to believe that the servicewoman was not aware of the fact that she was pregnant.

However, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said that a British servicewoman has given birth while serving in Afghanistan. According to the Daily Mail the woman, reported to be from Fiji, served as a gunner with the Royal Artillery, and had been deployed with the 17th Mechanized Brigade since March... read more.

Meet Kiara, the world's first liliger (video)

Kiara is a liliger cub - daughter of an African lion with a mother who is half tiger/half lion (liger) - born in late August in a zoo in Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia.

Looking rather like a lion cub, but with tiger stripes on her head, Kiara is completely cute. Initially Kiara had to be taken away from her mother, a liger named Zita, as she did not have sufficient milk to feed her... read more and watch videos.

Results of first animal feeding trial on GM maize & Roundup

This is the first study of its kind, it is peer-reviewed, and will be published in the American journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology. The results are not reassuring.

The first animal feeding trial, set up to study the lifetime effects of exposure to NK603 Roundup tolerant GM maize, and also to Roundup, the world's best-selling herbicide and weedkiller, has been completed... read more.

They are so good at recycling, Sweden actually imports garbage

That's right, you heard it. Sweden is just so good at recycling, it actually needs to import trash from other European countries to power its waste-to-energy program.

Public Radio International is reporting that around 20% of Sweden's district heating, along with electricity for roughly 250,000 Swedish homes, comes from the country's waste-to-energy program.

However, with households recycling most of their waste, only around 4% of it ends up in the landfills... read more.

Mass arrests as OWS celebrates 1 year anniversary (video)

Over 180 protesters were arrested and photographers abused as Occupy Wall Street took over the Financial District of New York yelling, 'Banks got bailed out, we got sold out.' 

On Monday, September 17, they celebrated the first anniversary of their struggle by attempting to take over the Financial District of New York.  Read more and watch videos.

Monsanto and Co push $5.5 million more against GMO labeling

Monsanto and 'Big Pesticide' are paying plenty to try and defeat Proposition 37, requiring the labeling of genetically engineered food in California.

Digital Journal reported in August that opponents to Proposition 37, for the labeling of foods with GMO content, had some very deep pockets. The very next day, Monsanto dropped another $4.2 million into the 'No to 37' pot.

Now, according to campaign finance disclosure records filed with the California Secretary of State, Monsanto has just paid in an additional $2.89 million in their fight against Proposition 37. This bring's Monsanto's total contribution against Proposition 37 to a grand $7.1 million... read more.

Police in Antwerp, Belgium arrest 120 in anti-US protest (video)

200 Muslim protesters gathered in the city center of Antwerp on Sunday, protesting against the US-made film 'The Innocence of Muslims.'

Digital Journal has reported on the various protests breaking out in outrage over the film in countries all over the Middle East, and now spreading to other areas... read more and watch video.

Japan 'forgot' to plan for Mt Fuji disaster

It seems with everything that has been happening in Japan, what with the Fukushima nuclear disaster, earthquakes and floods, nobody made any special disaster plans for Mt Fuji and a possible eruption.

Since the 9.0-magnitude earthquake in March 2011, there have been some 12,000 tremors in the Mt Fuji area, increasing the pressure to the mountain's magma chamber... read more.

Video: Public transport commercial with a difference

If you thought advertising public transport would be pretty difficult and boring, think again. A Danish company has come up with a solution. Midttrafik have released a commercial in the form of an epic movie trailer, all about their wonderful new buses... read more and watch ad.

Multiple arrests at Occupy Wall Street gathering (video)

As OWS members gathered on Saturday, ready for Monday's anniversary march in Wall Street, police swooped in and arrested 25 protesters.

Monday, September 17 will mark the one-year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Naturally, OWS members are getting ready to celebrate that anniversary on Monday, but the NYPD were apparently thinking otherwise... read more and watch videos.

Spaniards march against ‘authoritarian’ austerity (video)

Tens of thousands of Spaniards hit the streets in Madrid on Saturday against brutal cuts and tax hikes imposed by the Spanish government.

Spain’s ruling party, the PP (People’s Party or Partido Popular) has created a new wave of public anger, over unpopular cuts to the country's public sector services. On top of the brutal cuts, everyday living expenses like electricity, water, phone bills, clothing and haircuts all became more expensive at the start of the month after a hike in value-added tax... read more and watch video.

Anti-austerity demonstration in Portugal (video)

The streets of Portugal were filled with around 150,000 people on Saturday, rallying and protesting against a planned tax hike in the country.

Portugal's center-right government has recently announced a planned tax hike. Protesters made their opinions known in the streets of Lisbon and other cities of Portugal, chanting, "Out of here! IMF is hunger and misery!", and calling for the Portuguese government to resign.... read more and watch video.

Video: Whistleblowers — Are they an asset or a liability?

Being a whistleblower means different things, depending on whether you are an asset to the U.S. government, or an embarrassing liability.

In the video, RT's Kristine Frazao states that before the Obama administration, the Espionage Act of 1917 was used a total of three times, to convict and persecute individuals who had been accused of spying on the U.S., with the last incident being in the 1950's.

However, since Obama has been in power, in the last four years, the Espionage Act has been dredged up and dusted off, and has been used a total of six times... read more and watch video.

Video: Hula Burn 2012 — A hula-hoop extravaganza

What happens when you attach video cameras to a whole load of hula-hoops and then just let those ladies spin? In an amazing display, Hula Burn 2012 shows you.

It all started with a simple idea of duct-taping a Go-Pro to a hula-hoop. Then it grew as more "hoopers" got involved, in the Black Rock desert in Nevada.

They went in search of the best tracks, and the best "hoopers", a whole bevy of lovely young ladies, and made a video of Hula Burn 2012... read more and watch amazing video.

'Innocence of Muslims' protests spread further in Middle East

Protests and outrage are now spreading to Lebanon and Iran, and continue in Yemen and Egypt, over the film "Innocence of Muslims", released on YouTube, which insults the Prophet Mohammed.

Digital Journal has reported widely on the various protests arising from the "Innocence of Muslims" film, which insults the Prophet Mohammed.

After the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and 3 other members of staff in Benghazi, Libya, and attacks on the U.S. embassy in Cairo and Yemen, the outrage continues to spread... read more and watch video.

Guatemala volcano eruption forces evacuation of thousands

Around 33,000 people were evacuated in five communities in Guatemala's capital city on Wednesday due to Volcano of Fire eruption.

According to seismologists, the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) high volcano is billowing our lava and ash nearly 600 meters (2,000 feet) into the sky. They further say that explosions have been coming from the volcano.... read more.

Climate activists block Shell headquarters with ice pyramid

Activists from Climate Justice Collective built an icy pyramid at Shell's London headquarters on Tuesday, in protest over Arctic oil drilling.

There have been several protests about the drilling for oil in the Arctic over the last few months, so far, with no effect.

Shell's exploratory oil expedition off the Alaskan coast started this week, but was halted on Monday when sea ice was seen to be drifting towards the drilling vessel.

Fifteen activists from Climate Justice Collective decided to try and do something about the situation on Tuesday, by blockading the entrance to Shell's London headquarters with a pyramid of ice blocks... read more and watch video.

Video: Drunk falls on rail tracks, gets robbed, hit by train

The CCTV cameras caught a disturbing incident in a Stockholm underground station and police are now seeking a thief, who left a man for dead.

Early on Sunday morning, a middle-aged, drunk man staggers along the platform in the underground train station, and accidentally falls down on to the track.

A man witnesses this, and jumps down to the fallen man. At first, we think he is there to help... read more and watch CCTV footage.

Up to 261 workers killed in factory fires in Pakistan (video)

Two factories in Pakistan were gutted by fire on Tuesday, killing up to 261 people. Rescue work in Karachi and Lahore continues today.

One fire began in a garment factory on Tuesday evening in Pakistan's economic capital of Karachi.

The blaze continued through the night, trapping many employees in the buildings... read more.

1.5 million protesters demand Catalonian independence (video)

An estimated 1,500,000 people took to the streets of Barcelona yesterday, demanding independence for Catalonia, an autonomous Spanish region.

Waving red and yellow Catalan flags, the crowds chartered at least one train and more than a thousand coaches to travel to Barcelona from all over the Catalonia region. They are demanding that Spain give Catalonia independence, as the country faces crippling debt and austerity measures.

Rallying under the slogan "Catalonia, a new European state," protesters chanted "What do the crowds want? A new European state! What do the people want? An independent Catalonia!", and they effectively brought the city of Barcelona to a halt... read more and watch video.

Video: FDNY firefighter meets the man who saved his life on 9/11

Luke Rudkowski recently set up a meeting that he will remember for the rest of his life. The meeting was between a 9/11 hero and one of the many lives that he saved that day.

9/11 hero, William Rodriguez, was employed as a maintenance worker at the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York. He stayed in the building until the last moment, as he was the only one who had a key to allow the firefighters to access the building... read more and watch video.