Topic: Public Surveillance

Upset patient charged with using mercury as chemical weapon against hospital

Martin Kimber apparently had a billing dispute after receiving treatment at Albany Medical Center. According to court documents, he spread liquid mercury at the hospital on four occasions.

Mysterious booms shaking dishes, and nerves, in Wisconsin city

Residents of Clintonville, 40 miles west of Green Bay, have been kept awake this week by a flurry of underground booms. Engineers are looking for the source, but it may never be known.

Report: London no safer for all its CCTV cameras

Civil rights group Big Brother Watch has accused Britain of having an out-of-control surveillance culture that is doing little to improve public safety.

Technology 2012: Four tech trends to watch

Technological innovations lay at the heart of many of last year's biggest stories -- from citizen-recorded videos that fanned the flames of the Arab Spring to the social-media organized Occupy movement. So what new technologies – and unexpected uses of them – will change social habits and relationships this year? Here are four 2012 technology trends that are sure to play a role: 

Feds chasing fast-moving Hollywood arsonists

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has joined California fire investigators searching for arsonists torching cars at the height of arson season: New Year's. More cars burned Saturday morning.

Truly free elections in Russia could solve Putin's problem with protesters

If Putin allowed a truly free vote in March elections, he would likely not win a majority and be forced into a runoff. But he would almost certainly win that second round, fair and square – and fairness is what Russian protesters demand.

Avocado thief: No jail, but unusual sentence

Avocado thief ordered not to possess more than 10 avocados at a time. Theft of 1,000 pounds of avocados was not avocado thief's first heist.

India investigates Delhi High Court blast amid public frustration over security gaps

As the investigation into the Delhi High Court blasts begins, the fact that India's track record of terror attacks has not led to substantial changes in security deepens skepticism that this time will be different, locals say.

Delhi High Court bombing is latest in a string of major attacks

Today's Delhi High Court bombing killed at least 11 people. Many of the recent terror attacks in India remain unsolved due to what experts call a lack of human intelligence gathering.

London riots caught on CCTV camera: 'We will pursue you,' say police [VIDEO]

London riots have spread to several cities, featuring youths trying to obscure their faces so the ubiquitous CCTV cameras can't identify them easily. That won't work, say authorities who promise to track down rioters.

BlackBerry hacking - who might be doing it?

Blackberry data interceptions by several emerging countries have turned attention to how state spy agencies access electronic communications.

The thieves had it easy in Cairo art heist

The thieves who made off with van Gogh's 'Poppy Flowers' in a daytime Cairo art heist weren't met with alarms or guards. The head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities said Egypt would create a central security office.

Stolen Van Gogh still missing, Egypt deputy minister detained

Stolen Van Gogh painting 'Vase with Flowers,' worth $50 million, has not been seen since Saturday. The prosecutor general ordered the detention of Deputy Culture Minister Mohsen Shalaan and four of the museum's security guards while they are investigated on suspicion of neglect and professional delinquency.

Big Paris art heist: Works by Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse stolen

Paris art heist: Five paintings, including works by Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, were stolen overnight from a Paris museum by a lone masked thief.

Are video cameras hostile to liberty?

Many potential criminals, including Faisal Shahzad, the would-be Times Square bomber, have been thwarted with help from security cameras. But should privacy in public arenas be sacrificed for safety?

Discussion question: How can we improve our defenses against terrorists?

Warren Sapp will not face domestic battery charges

Prosecutors dropping criminal action against Warren Sapp because of inconsistencies between the victim's statements and evidence.

Janet Napolitano halts funding for virtual border fence

The virtual border fence was supposed to revolutionize US-Mexico border security. But delays and glitches led Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to freeze its funding Wednesday.

New York to fight terrorism with more street-corner cameras

Mayor Bloomberg moves to expand high-tech surveillance to midtown Manhattan. But civil liberties groups are concerned, and some security experts question its value.

To catch a thief, homeowners turn to YouTube

Homeowners are rigging their homes with cameras and posting footage of robberies on YouTube. Even police departments are turning to social media to help nab criminals.

Nuclear report on Iran finds cooperation. Problem for Obama?

He's set a September deadline after which sanctions might be toughened. But China and Russia might not join in if Tehran is showing progress.

Alleged Nazi Demjanjuk is cleared for deportation

A US appeals court denied a stay of deportation for the retired autoworker and alleged Nazi death camp guard who faces 29,000 counts of accessory to murder in Germany.