South Pacific Sandy Island 'proven not to exist'

 A South Pacific island, shown on marine charts and world maps as well as on Google Earth and Google Maps, does not exist, Australian scientists say.

The supposedly sizeable strip of land, named Sandy Island on Google maps, was positioned midway between Australia and French-governed New Caledonia.

But when scientists from the University of Sydney went to the area, they found only the blue ocean of the Coral Sea.

The phantom island has featured in publications for at least a decade.
Scientist Maria Seton, who was on the ship, said that the team was expecting land, not 1,400m (4,620ft) of deep ocean.

full story :  South Pacific Sandy Island 'proven not to exist'

Hobby Lobby files appeal in battle against ObamaCare contraception provisions

Hobby Lobby Stores has appealed a federal judge’s decision denying the craft supply chain’s request to not provide employees with insurance that covers morning-after and week-after birth control pills, as mandated by the ObamaCare law.


The Christian-owned company asked for relief in the face of fines they say could reach $1 million a day for not providing the coverage.

The appeal was filed Tuesday in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal judge in Oklahoma on Monday denied the owners’ request for a temporary injunction against the provisions of the Obama administration's health law.

full story : Hobby Lobby files appeal in battle against ObamaCare contraception provisions

Will change in state pot laws change how drug cartels do business?

 Pot-supporting crowds cheered on election night as Colorado and Washington State voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

Many expected Mexican drug cartels, who earn billions of dollars a year by smuggling marijuana into the United States, to be in a state of panic – but one expert said they will carry on just fine if pot is legalized.

“The cartel is going to likely adapt to that situation and move other types of drugs into those two particular states,” said Alex del Carmen, a professor of criminology at the University of Texas-Arlington. Del Carmen said if marijuana laws in the United States change, the cartels will adjust and likely concentrate on harder drugs, including cocaine and methamphetamine.

full story: Will change in state pot laws change how drug cartels do business?

Rockets go silent as Gaza-Israel cease-fire appears to hold

Near the Israel-Gaza border (CNN) -- As the cease-fire between Israel and Gaza continued to hold Thursday, Palestinian leaders gave heated speeches to a throng of jubilant Gazans on their "victory" over the "enemy."

Mohammed Hindi, the leader of Islamic Jihad, a party to the truce brokered in Egypt, called for more weapons to maintain resistance against Israel.

Supporters of Hamas, which controls Gaza, and supporters of its moderate rival Palestinian party, Fatah, gathered for a peaceful rally and speech near the parliament in Gaza City, which was hit this week in an airstrike. In a rare showing of unity, a chorus of yellow Fatah flags joined green Hamas banners flapping in the breeze alongside Palestinian flags.

full story :  Rockets go silent as Gaza-Israel cease-fire appears to hold