A compilation of brief news reports for Sunday, March 14, 2010.

According to what archaeologists have stated, 51 decapitated skeletons that were discovered in a burial pit in Dorset, England in June 2009, after excavations took place there, belonged to Vikings and are approximately a thousand years old. On closer inspection, analysis of the teeth on ten of the male bodies found that the individuals came from a country with a climate colder than that of the United Kingdom, most likely the Scandinavian region of Europe. Archaeologists from Oxford, Oxfordshire think that the Viking people were possibly given an execution by Anglo-Saxons, who came from a local area, between the years of approximately 910 AD to approximately 1030 AD, according to radiocarbon dating.

David Score, who is the manager of the Oxford Archaeology project, stated: "To find out that the young men executed were Vikings is a thrilling development. Any mass grave is a relatively rare find, but to find one on this scale, from this period of history, is extremely unusual."

Sunday, March 14, 2010

The Chinese embassy in Cameroon said earlier that a fishing boat was hijacked off the coast of Cameroon. Seven Chinese fishermen were kidnapped in the incident, which happened on Friday, and a group called the "Africa Marine Commando" claimed responsibility, according to an embassy official.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Australia won the men's field hockey World Cup for the first time in 24 years, defeating Germany 2-1. Luke Doerner scored the winning penalty only eleven minutes before the match ended. Edward Ockenden of Australia had earlier scored in the sixth minute and Moritz Furste of Germany drew level in the 46th minute.

Germany, the two-time defending champions, had beaten Australia in the final of both the previous Hockey World Cups by one goal. The Germans would have become the first team to win the World Cup three times in a row had they been victorious.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

A suicide bomber has killed at least thirteen people in Swat valley, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for this attack. The attack occurred at a security checkpoint in the city of Saidu Sharif.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

According to the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), the city's taxi cab drivers overcharged their riders by more than US$8.3 million over the past two years, by setting their meters to illegally high settings.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

A Nigerian airplane crashed in the city of Port Harcourt yesterday, resulting in several minor injuries.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

The Illinois House of Representatives voted this Thursday to lift some penalties for teenagers who engage in sexting. While minors are still prohibited from sending nude photos of other minors taken on cell phones, they will no longer be required to register as sex offenders. Instead, they could be punished with court-ordered supervision or community service. 

Saturday, March 13, 2010

A United States appeals court ruling upheld the expulsion of former New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate from the New York State Senate in a ruling on Friday. Monserrate had been found guilty in October of misdemeanor assault, in the criminal trial involving an alleged attack on his girlfriend Karla Giraldo. A U.S. federal judge had previously upheld the expulsion, in a ruling issued in February.

Monserrate was expelled from the New York State Senate on February 9 by a majority vote of his fellow senators. The result of the vote was 53 to 8 in favor of expulsion.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

The Japanese Coast Guard has arrested an anti-whaling activist of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for "vessel invasion" after he boarded a Japanese whaling ship last month in the Southern Ocean.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

The Pakistan Navy has announced the firing of test missiles from ships, submarines, and aircraft during operations in the Arabian Sea.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Fearing fresh protests from Palestinians, Israeli forces have moved to close the West Bank for 48 hours, preventing Palestinians from entering.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

A Spanish aid worker kidnapped in Mauritania last year has been released, according to the Spanish government. Alicia Gamez, 39, was abducted on 29 November along with two other Spanish aid workers—both men—who are still being held. A North African branch of al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. Spain's Deputy Prime Minister, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega said in a press conference on Wednesday that Gamez was "safe and sound" and on her way to Barcelona.

According to Fernández de la Vega, no ransom had been paid for Gamez's release; she stated that it was a result of work done by Spain's diplomats and intelligence services. She also expressed thanks for the "collaboration given by other countries". She said that the Spanish government would continue efforts to see the release of the other aid workers, Roque Pascual and Albert Vilalta, who are reported to be "healthy, nervous and eager to be released soon".

Saturday, March 13, 2010

A magnitude 6.9 aftershock earthquake struck Chile on Thursday, just 21 minutes before the country's new president, Sebastián Piñera, was due to be sworn in. The temblor comes several days after a heavy 8.8 magnitude earthquake shook the country, the strongest one in almost half a century.

Friday, March 12, 2010

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday that he will recuse himself from the investigations involving incumbent Governor David Paterson. The probe involves two separate incidents. The first one regards Paterson's handling of a domestic violence allegation that was directed at one of Governor Paterson's top aides, David Johnson. The case became public when The New York Times reported in February that Paterson had "influenced" the alleged victim in the case to drop her allegation. There were also reports that the State Police had engaged in witness tampering. The other incident involves whether or not the New York Governor unethically received several tickets to the World Series.

Friday, March 12, 2010

According to a leaked United Nations report, up to one-half of all food aid to Somalia from the World Food Programme (WFP) is diverted to local contractors and militants.

Friday, March 12, 2010

According to police, at least 45 people in Lahore, Pakistan were killed earlier on Friday after multiple suicide bombings. Over a hundred others were injured.

Friday, March 12, 2010

A list was published by Brazil of the items on which import tariffs would be placed, which includes more than 100 different American products, worth nearly $600 million. Cotton products would face the highest penalty, with the tariff increasing from 6% to 100%. Other American products will be included in the sanctions as well, although the tariff increase will not be as significant.

According to a Brazilian official, a wide range of products was chosen, in order to "maximize pressure." The tariffs will go into effect in 30 days, unless the two countries can reach an agreement before then.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Sweden after the Swedish Parliament voted to describe Turkey's killings of Armenians in World War I as "genocide".

Beauty of NWFP Pakistan 16 Jan 2010 Ph0t0Gr@Phy by Mun@WAR

Facebook is a common outlet for people all over the world to communicate, and be heard. However when people do things that are disgraceful, and tasteless I think an orginization has the duty to address these tastless acts. Can you believe theres a FB Page named " Fuck The Troops". They have over 3000 friends you can see them here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=6294631819#!/group.php?v=wall&gid=6294631819 THEN you have a page pettioning the removal of "Fuck The Troops" they have over 30,000 friends you can fi......nd them here:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=280399278819&v=info  Apparently the pettition to get "Fuck The Troops removed worked, and the page was removed, but they were right back up in a few days.

One posted stated: Chris Enders Good to see we're back up and running! Fuck censorship and fuck the troops! Should some of these members be investigated?