260 Arrested in Mass Protests in Hong Kong

Over 260 people were arrested in Hong Kong on Monday amid escalating clashes between pro-democracy student protesters and police. Some schools and universities across Hong Kong are closed today as demonstrations continue across the territory. Over 3,000 people have been arrested since the protests broke out in June.

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Brazilian Former President Lula Freed from Prison

Brazilian ex-President Lula gives speech after prison release
Thousands of supporters of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have gathered to see the former Brazilian president after he was released from prison.

Lula spoke at a metal workers union meeting near Sao Paulo on Saturday, and was greeted with applause and cheers by the crowd.… Read the rest

Hong Kong: Police Shoot Student Protester at Close Range

In Hong Kong, two people are in critical condition as anti-government protests escalated today. Police shot a student protester at close range. The shooting was captured in a video that has since gone viral. A pro-Beijing supporter was doused in flammable liquid and burned after an argument with protesters. Pro-democracy protesters have called for a

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Keystone Pipeline Spills 9,120 Barrels of Oil in Dakota Wetlands

A section of the Keystone Pipeline spilled half an Olympic swimming pool’s worth of sludgy oil into a North Dakota wetland on 29 October. Cleanup is underway, but ecologists say that residue from this type of oil spill could persist in the wetlands for a long time.

“There is big difference between conventional oil and … Read the rest

The War On Drugs Isn’t Over, According To The FBI

FBI data indicates that drug possession arrests are on the rise again, following a nine-year decline. Here are two facts that, when read side by side, might hurt your brain. A 2018 study found no correlation between legalizing marijuana and crime rates, with some states, like California, actually experiencing a decrease in crime. However, crime … Read the rest

Microsoft Japan Says Four-Day Work Week Experiment Led to a 40 Percent Increase in Productivity

This past August, all Microsoft Japan employees participated in the “Work-Life Choice Challenge Summer 2019,” during which they conducted all meetings in 30 minutes or less, replaced face-to-face conversations with virtual ones whenever possible, and—most importantly—didn’t work on five consecutive Fridays.

According to Bloomberg, the switch to a four-day work week resulted in a 40 … Read the rest