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Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria

Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution backing calls for Bashar Assad to step down, despite international outrage Saturday over a devastating bombardment of the city of Homs. Activists said more than 200 were killed in the overnight onslaught on restive neighborhoods in Homs, signaling a willingness by Assad to bring a new level of violence to stamp out an opposition that has grown increasingly bold. [ More ]

Ford posts biggest profits since 1998

Ford reported its best annual earnings since 1998 on Friday, making 2011 the second most profitable year in the company's 109-year history. But much of the profit was attributed to a non-cash gain, as it put a large tax credit from past losses on its balance sheet that will shield it from taxes in the future. Excluding that credit, the carmaker posted full-year and quarterly earnings that fell short of last year's profit as well as analysts' forecasts. [ More ]

Football coach Joe Paterno dies at 85

Paterno, a sainted figure at Penn State for almost half a century but scarred forever by the child sex abuse scandal that led to his stunning dismissal, died Sunday at age 85. His death came just 65 days after his son Scott said his father had been diagnosed with a treatable form of lung cancer. The cancer was found during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness. A few weeks later, Paterno broke his pelvis after a fall but did not need surgery. [ More ]

Mississippi halts pardons amid uproar

A Mississippi judge has blocked the release of 21 inmates granted reprieves by the outgoing governor, in a move that has sparked outrage in the state. In his final days in office as Republican Governor, Haley Barbour gave clemency to more than 200 people, including convicted murderers. But Mississippi's attorney general challenged the pardons, saying they may have violated the state constitution. Barbour says his intentions have been misunderstood. [ More ]

Mexico disbands port city's police force

A Mexican state plagued by drug violence has disbanded the entire police force in the major port city of Veracruz in an effort to stem corruption, with naval marines deployed in its place. The Veracruz state government said Wednesday's decision was part of an effort to root out police corruption and start from zero in the state's largest city. Gina Dominguez, the state spokeswoman, said 800 police officers and 300 administrative employees were laid-off. [ More ]

Last U.S. troops leave Iraq

Early Sunday, as the sun ascended to the winter sky, the very last American convoy made its way down the main highway that connects Iraq and Kuwait. The military called it its final "tactical road march." A series of 110 heavily armored, hulking trucks and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles carrying about 500 soldiers streamed slowly but steadily out of the combat zone. A few minutes before 8 a.m., the metal gate behind the last MRAP closed. [ More ]

STRANGE DAYS — Odd and Weird News

Workplace quip made Muslim a terror suspect, lawsuit alleges

QUEBEC, PQ (Globe and Mail) - A casual text message to work colleagues encouraging them to ”blow away” the competition at a trade show allegedly plunged a Muslim man into a terrorism probe. Telecommunications sales manager Saad Allami says the innocent message, aimed at pumping up his staff, has had devastating consequences on his life. [ More ]

Indonesian railway stringing concrete balls to deter roof riders

SOMEWHERE-IN0INDONESIA (CNN) - Indonesia's state railway, Kereta Api Indonesia, has begun stringing concrete balls over rail lines to prevent people from hitching free rides on top of its trains, according to local news reports. The devices are called Goal Bola-bola , or goal balls, as they resemble soccer goals with the grapefruit-sized concrete balls strung from chains. [ More ]

Ron Paul-haters caught planning to dress as KKK, pose as Paul supporters

SOUTH CAROLINA (The End Run) - Several rabidly anti-Ron Paul political activists have been caught planning another dirty trick against Ron Paul and his supporters, this time in South Carolina. The plot involved dressing up in hooded Ku Klux Klan (KKK) robes, posing as Ron Paul supporters (complete with Ron Paul signs), and “following Paul around South Carolina” making “sure to get photographed by the media.” [ More ]

Siri Tells Little Boy to 'Shut the fuck up,' Calls him 'ugly'

SOMEWHERE-IN-THEU.K. (NBC NEWS) - A demo unit for the iPhone 4S caught fire for telling 12-year-old Charlie Le Quesne to "Shut the fuck up, you ugly twit." Charlie reportedly asked Siri "How many people are there in the world?" and that was the answer he got back. The demo unit was unplugged and sent back to Apple for "diagnostic tests." [ More ]

Arrested man dies from eating cocaine hidden in brother’s butt

NORTH CHALESTON, South Carolina (WCIV) - A South Carolina man died within an hour after eating cocaine that was hidden in his brother’s rectum. The two brothers were taken into custody on allegations they had drugs in their car. While in the back of the police car, the older brother convinced the younger brother to eat cocaine, which he had hidden in his rectum. [ More ]

Netanyahu backs law to ban loudspeakers at mosques

SOMEWHERE-IN-ISRAEL (HAARETZ) - Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support for a law that would ban mosques from using loudspeaker systems to call people to prayer. The so-called Muezzin Law applies to all houses of worship but the practice is prevalent only in mosques. [ More ]

35% of men from rural Brazil have had sex with an animal, study finds
SOMEWHERE-IN-BRAZIL - (Daily Mail) - A new study has found that 35 per cent of men from rural Brazil have had sex with an animal. A total of 492 men took part in the study ranging in age from 18 to 80 years old. The species included cows, pigs and chickens, among other animals. [ More ]

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