SURVIVAL COURSE

Michigan State University to offer ‘zombie survival’ class

A zombie preparing to kill a Michigan State University professor, as seen in a promotional video for a "zombie survival" class. Screenshot via YouTube.

Michigan State University has an interesting course on tap for the upcoming session: zombies, and lots of ‘em.

CHANGE IN THE WEATHER

Island nation of Kiribati plans mass relocation due to climate change

A serene beach in Kiribati, which may soon vanish beneath the waves due to rising ocean levels. Screenshot via YouTube.

Rising sea levels pose such a threat to the island nation of Kiribati that its leader said they want to purchase land in neighboring Fiji for a mass relocation of its citizens.

THE CHURCH OF LEGALIZATION

Pat Robertson: Marijuana ‘absolutely’ should be legalized

Pat Robertson comes out for marijuana legalization

Conservative televangelist Pat Robertson says he has become a “hero of the hippie culture” by calling for marijuana to be legalized.

FBI FILES

Christopher Hitchens targeted by FBI counterintelligence probe

hitchens.afp

A file kept by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Christopher Hitchens revealed that he was the target of an FBI foreign counterintelligence investigation.

TODDLERS AND HANDGUNS

Arizona House approves concealed guns in school zones

A young boy threateningly holds a toy gun. Photo: Shutterstock, all rights reserved.

Republicans in the Arizona House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday evening to repeal a law that bans the concealed carrying of guns within 1,000 feet of schools.

PRENATAL MISINFORMMATION

Arizona Senate approves lying to women to prevent abortions

Pregnant woman receives ultrasound/sonogram (Shutterstock)

The Arizona Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would allow doctors withhold information about prenatal problems if it could make the decision to have an abortion more likely.

Science

Marriage lifts survival chances for heart patients: study

WASHINGTON — Married adults are more than three times more likely to survive the critical…

Earth braces for biggest space storm in five years

A pair of steamy explosions on the Sun’s surface in recent days is sparking the…

Tech News

Apple unveils new iPad, Apple TV box

Apple unveiled a third-generation iPad enhanced with features aimed at keeping it on top of…

German Internet users cry foul over law requiring Google to pay news providers

Germany’s Internet community, gathered at the world’s biggest high-tech fair, was up in arms Thursday…

Media

Cuban sculptor uses tobacco to immortalize stars

Fidel Castro, Winston Churchill, Jack Nicholson, Groucho Marx and Arnold Schwarzenegger — meet the cast…

Jon Stewart laments ‘never-ending gobstopper’ GOP primary

On his show Wednesday night, Daily Show host Jon Stewart compared the Republican presidential primary…

World

China backs down on secret detentions

China has abandoned controversial plans to make it legal to “disappear” criminal suspects following a huge public outcry, in a…

Syrian deputy oil minister joins rebel ranks

Syria’s deputy oil minister resigned on Thursday, becoming the most senior official to join the rebel ranks, as Washington revealed…

Palestinians to submit 20 sites for UNESCO World Heritage listing

The Palestinians are poised to submit the names of 20 sites in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza for addition…

Iran’s Khamenei hails Obama caution on war

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday welcomed comments by US President Barack Obama damping down talk of war…

U.S. News

U.S. demands ‘actions’ from Iran in nuclear talks

WASHINGTON — The United States Wednesday rebuffed an Iranian warning that new nuclear talks would…

McCain ‘worried’ about Republican chances to beat Obama

WASHINGTON — Senior Republican Senator John McCain, who has endorsed Mitt Romney to challenge President…

Sen. Levin would ‘love’ Armed Forces Network to drop Limbaugh

Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday that the Armed…

U.S. weighs ‘non-lethal’ aid to Syria rebels

WASHINGTON — The United States is looking at delivering non-lethal aid to Syria’s rebels, Defense…

Colorado Supreme Court approves anti-abortion ‘personhood’ ballot initiative

The Colorado Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a proposed anti-abortion amendment to the state’s…