More from Zachary Hill
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UK police were too slow reacting to summer riots: Report
A new government report in the United Kingdom (UK) found police were too slow to respond to anti-immigrant riots that rattled the country over the summer. The report shows police underestimated the threat from the protests and the power of misinformation. In August, a 17-year-old killed three girls and injured eight others during an attack… -
CNN reports finding Syrian prisoner, fact-checker says source lied about identity
CNN is re-examining a recent report featuring a man described as a Syrian prisoner after a fact-checking group, Verify-Sy, claimed the man is actually a member of Syria’s air force intelligence, not a prisoner. In the original report, CNN’s chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward, and her crew, escorted by Syrian rebels, found the man hiding… -
Pennsylvania prison accused of abusing inmates by depriving them of basic rights
Prison staff in Pennsylvania allegedly waged a “campaign of mass torture,” according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Dec. 17. It alleges that guards outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County Prison, punished entire cell blocks after suspecting some inmates were smoking synthetic marijuana. The lawsuit says that top jail officials cut power and heat.… -
Judge rules Chauvin’s defense may examine George Floyd’s autopsy
A judge has ruled that the defense team for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin may examine George Floyd’s autopsy, heart tissue and fluids as part of Chauvin’s appeal. With a new defense team in place, Chauvin’s appeal seeks to test a new theory regarding Floyd’s cause of death. In 2021, a jury convicted Chauvin… -
Estonia on edge as Russian blimps fuel border provocations
Suspicious blimps have appeared near Narva, Estonia, a key border city on NATO’s eastern edge, raising concerns about Russian intentions. Estonian officials report these incidents have become frequent, occurring almost weekly. One blimp, first spotted in June on the Russian side of the border, bore the letter “Z,” a symbol widely associated with Russia’s invasion… -
Scientists discover plastic-eating insect with potential to combat pollution
Researchers in Kenya have identified a species of insect that could play a role in reducing global plastic pollution. The Kenyan lesser mealworm, the larval stage of the Alphitobius darkling beetle, has demonstrated the ability to consume and break down polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam. Polystyrene is notoriously difficult to recycle due to its durability… -
Trump’s incoming security adviser ready to get hackers to ‘knock it off’
Donald Trump’s incoming national security adviser said America needs to take a stronger stance on cyberattacks. Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., said he’s ready to get hackers to “knock it off” during an interview with CBS News on Sunday, Dec. 15. The comments follow a series of threats and cyberattacks on America’s digital infrastructure in recent… -
British navy struggles to stay afloat, only 2 destroyers operational
The British Royal Navy’s operational capacity has reached a historic low, with only two of its six advanced Type 45 destroyers available for deployment, according to the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense. The other four destroyers are undergoing extensive repairs and maintenance at Portsmouth. The decline leaves the fleet at its smallest operational size in over… -
7 tourists, including American, sickened after drinking at Fiji resort
Nearly a month after six tourists died from drinking tainted alcohol in the Southeast Asian nation of Laos, a similar incident is unfolding in the South Pacific island nation of Fiji that left seven tourists hospitalized. While no official cause has been determined for their illness, all seven became sick after drinking cocktails at a… -
Elon Musk wants to turn SpaceX headquarters into new Texas city
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is seeking to transform its industrial complex in southern Texas into a city. This week, the space exploration company submitted a letter to Cameron County officials, requesting an election to incorporate its Starbase facility. Located near the U.S.-Mexico border, Starbase serves as the primary testing and production site for SpaceX rockets. Musk… -
‘Woke’ Christmas ad? Google responds to criticism over nonbinary influencer
Google is responding to criticism over a new holiday shopping advertisement. The ad features Cyrus Veyssi, a nonbinary beauty influencer, promoting Google Shopping ahead of the holidays. While Google describes this ad as part of a broader advertising campaign, it is the choice of Veyssi as the featured influencer that sparked pushback from some conservatives… -
Gen Z will spend 112 complete days in 2024 on their phones: Report
A new report released this week from Gen Z research firm dcdx is showing how this generation’s attachment to phones is growing. In its fourth annual Gen Z Screen Time Report, dcdx issued a warning before presenting its findings. The disclaimer reads, “What you are about to see may shock you. It may make you… -
No FBI agents, but 26 informants: Media divided over latest Jan 6 report
Nearly four years after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a new Department of Justice watchdog report sheds light on the FBI’s involvement that day. The inspector general’s report reveals both the absence of undercover FBI agents and the presence of FBI informants. However, how this information is being reported varies widely depending on the political…