Russian government approves harsh anti-tobacco ban for 2015

Russia has finally caught up with the rest of the world, and smokers now have a couple of years to give up the habit, before harsh anti-smoking legislation comes into effect during 2015.

Should this legislation pass, smoking will be prohibited in any public place, including restaurants and cafes.

Many efforts have been made in the past to impose smoking bans, without success. However, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has been persistent in pushing for this legislation. Addressing ministers after the discussion, he said, “This is a big problem and we are too careless about it.” .... read more and watch video.

UK police tasered blind stroke victim

A 61-year-old, blind, two-time stroke victim in northern England, was tasered and then handcuffed by police, who mistook his white stick for a samurai sword.

Colin Farmer, a retired architect, has suffered two strokes, the most recent requiring two months in hospital in March. He has limited vision and uses a white stick to make his way along. He was walking down a street in Chorley, Lancashire on Friday evening when he was accosted by the police.

Farmer told reporters, “I heard this male voice shouting and bawling at me from behind and I became frightened because I thought I was about to be mugged.” ... read more.

Video: MUTE — The visualization of an economic rape

Yiannis Biliris has created a short documentary which, with very few words, gives a clear picture of the current economic crisis in Greece. The video shows us that Greece's economic rape is turning into a social one.

Biliris was born in Athens, Greece in May 1980.

At a young age he began experimentation in filming and on graduating, attended a film-editing school. He has worked for several TV stations, editing live news and feature stories.... read more and watch short and very moving documentary.

Students take to streets in protests throughout Spain

Amidst ongoing protests throughout Spain, thousands of students took to the streets in Madrid on Wednesday, angry at proposed education cuts which they say leaves them with "no future."

While thousands marched in Madrid as part of a three day action, according to local police, a further 3,000 rallied in the streets of Barcelona and thousands more protested in Valencia and other major Spanish cities.

Many of the students wore green T-shirts, as worn by the Marea Verde Mijas group, reported in Digital Journal in July this year... read more and watch video.

No news from Greece as journalists rally prior to general strike

A news blackout was experienced on Wednesday as journalists walked off the job for 24 hours, just one day before the general strike in Greece.

There were no newspapers, the TV and radio stations halted news broadcasts, as hundreds of journalists, technicians and staff from television and radio stations and daily newspapers rallied with other professionals in the center of Athens on Wednesday.

The journalists carried anti-austerity banners and slogans saying, for example, “We want jobs, no more unemployment. We can’t live on starvation wages in the 21st century.”

At the same time, lawyers, pharmacists and doctors staged a similar peaceful protest in front of the Finance Ministry in Athens.... read more and watch video.

Interview with a man who witnessed Lincoln's shooting (video)

A game show, "I've Got a Secret" aired on CBS from 1952 until the mid-70's. In one episode, a gentleman appeared on the show who witnessed the shooting of Abraham Lincoln.

The definition of the secrets revealed on the show was rather broad, but generally they were supposed to be humorous, unusual or astounding.

This episode of the show was filmed back in February 1956, and in the case of Samuel J. Seymore, "astounding" is probably the best description... read more and watch the show.

Ca Right to Know calls for criminal investigation of 'No on 37''

In the latest in a line of misrepresentations and possible fraud, California Right to Know is calling for a criminal investigation of "No on 37" for misuse of the FDA Seal and a fabricated FDA quote, all in opposition to the labeling of GMOs.

Proposition 37 would require labeling of genetically engineered food in California. The opposition to Prop 37 is spending a whopping $35 million to discredit it. And they are doing this using misrepresentations and possibly even fraud.

Letters were sent to the US Department of Justice on Thursday by the California Right to Know "Yes on 37" campaign, requesting a criminal investigation into the "No on 37" campaign. The reason for this? "No on 37" affixed the FDA's seal to one of the campaign's mailers... read more.