1 dead after whale watching catamaran capsizes near Cape Town

One person has died and six are missing after a whale watching charter boat carrying around 43 people capsized near Hout Bay, Cape Town on Saturday afternoon.

The charter boat, a twin-hulled catamaran “Miroshga", was carrying around 41 people and two crew members on a whale watching tour at popular Duiker Island, around three kilometers from shore. The island is home to thousands of seals and is a popular sailing destination for tourists. The boat reportedly capsized at around 15:00 local time.

Most media is reporting one death and two people missing in the incident, and according to spokesperson Craig Lambinon of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), four had been confirmed dead, as reported by News 24.... read more.

'Global Noise' takes on the world against austerity (videos)

All over the world people were banging pots and pans and generally making themselves heard on Saturday, in the popular "Global Noise" movement against austerity.

People of the world are sick of governments bailing out the banks, while the people are forced to accept budget cuts, austerity measures, unemployment and hunger.

On Saturday all over the world people got involved in a global cacerolazo, or pot banging protest... read more and watch videos.

OWS Global Noise

Syrian flight from Moscow to Damascus intercepted by F16s (video)

Turkish F-16 fighter jets intercepted a civilian flight from Moscow to Damascus on Thursday. Now an amateur video made by passengers has been released, showing balaclava-clad Turkish soldiers entering the plane.

Digital Journal reported on the story on Thursday, where Turkey was claiming to have found munitions aboard the civilian airliner, which was traveling from Moscow to Damascus... read more and watch video.

Op-Ed: European Union wins Nobel Peace Prize with praise, shock & humor

The EU, a 27-nation organization, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its historic role in "uniting the continent" and its contributions “to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.''

As Europe continues to struggle with the current economic crisis, bail outs and people going hungry and without employment, the EU wins the Nobel Peace Prize 2012.

This has caused a heated debate and even, apparently, some laughter, over the validity of this prize.... read more.

'The Last Pictures' — Humanity's legacy to be sent into space

Since 1963, more than 800 spacecraft have been launched into geosynchronous orbit, forming a man-made ring of satellites around the Earth, and will now include "The Last Pictures" as mankind's legacy once life has disappeared from the planet.

An organization called Creative Time, unites creative artists and people, and has come up with a new project, called The Last Pictures, which they say will be a message from humanity to alien civilizations. They plan to record the history of the human race in pictures, and to then send this data into space for these future civilizations to view.... read more.

South African consumers win GM labelling victory

The African Centre for Biosafety reports that South African consumers have just won a hard-earned victory, regarding the labelling of genetically modified (GM) foods.

GM crops have been grown in South Africa since 1999. However most consumers are largely unaware that their staple food, maize (or corn), has been genetically modified. GM soya and cotton are also grown in South Africa, and a significant amount of foodstuffs on the supermarket shelves now contain GM components or ingredients... read more.  

Wellington, New Zealand renamed 'the Middle of Middle-earth'

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, was filmed throughout in New Zealand. To celebrate the world premiere of the film, Wellington will be changing its name and there will even be Hobbit coins to be spent.

New Zealand has a new campaign - to re-brand the country "100% Middle Earth" to attract tourists. Reportedly the city is planning to spend $900,000 to mark this premiere.

For three weeks before and after the premiere of the movie, Wellington will unofficially be called "The Middle of Middle-earth." ... read more

Video: Danny DeVito & friends — Do you have the 'Right to Know'?

Some of your favorite stars have gotten together to tell you that the "Right to Know" about your food, would explode your puny little head. No, seriously, they are voting "Yes on 37."

Food and Water Watch have sponsored the above new and entertaining "Yes on 37" video, starring Danny DeVito, Bill Maher, Dave Matthews, Jillian Michaels, Kristen Bauer van Straten, Emily Deschanel, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, John Cho, Michelle Michaela and KaDee Strickland... read more and watch video.

Mushroom clouds from shell explosions in Central Russia (video)

Two villages were evacuated on Tuesday following a series of huge explosions near a military testing ground at Donguzsky, 40 kms from Orenburg in Central Russia.

According to witnesses, and as shown in the amateur video above, a massive plume of smoke rose into the air shortly after the explosions. Residents in the area said that the blasts were so powerful, windows shook, dozens of kilometers away.

According to initial reports, a fire at the military facility's loading dock set off shells that were stored for disposal on a train.... read more and watch video.

Book release: ‘Cypherpunks: Freedom & the Future of the Internet'

Earlier this year, Julian Assange interviewed three "Cypherpunks" on "The World Tomorrow", his controversial talk show. Now, in cooperation with his three co-authors, he is publishing a book.

The 192-page book, written together with Jacob Appelbaum, Andy Müller-Maguhn and Jérémie Zimmermann, is based on the transcripts of the talk show, but also incorporates many ideas that remained behind the scenes.

The book covers what Cypherpunks believe to be the solution to the problems of privacy and freedom, especially on the Internet.... read more and watch interviews.