Prison company’s website hacked LONDON (AP) — The website of an international prison contractor was defaced by hackers who on Friday replaced the company’s home page with a hip-hop homage devoted to former death row inmate Mumia Abu Jamal. ADVERTISING
Prison company’s website hacked
LONDON (AP) — The website of an international prison contractor was defaced by hackers who on Friday replaced the company’s home page with a hip-hop homage devoted to former death row inmate Mumia Abu Jamal.
Hackers allied to the loose-knit Anonymous movement claimed responsibility for vandalizing the site of Boca Raton, Florida-based GEO Group Inc., which manages some 60 custodial facilities in Europe, North America, Australia and South Africa.
Anonymous said in a statement posted to the stricken website that its hack was “part of our ongoing efforts to dismantle the prison industrial complex.”
Geo Group Inc. spokesman Pablo Paez said in an email to The Associated Press that no information on its staff or operations was accessed.
He said: “Our public website is hosted by an external offsite third-party vendor — therefore no such information was compromised.”
Earlier Friday, Anonymous claimed credit for defacing the website of a Dayton, Ohio-based chapter of Infragard, a public-private partnership for critical infrastructure protection sponsored by the FBI. The group’s site was replaced by a video of Coolio’s 1995 rap hit, “Gangsta’s Paradise.”
The FBI declined to comment on that attack.
Jackson doctor’s bail bid denied
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge who presided over the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor refused Friday to release him on bail, saying he would be a danger to any community where he might try to practice medicine.
Conrad Murray’s lawyer asked for his release pending appeal of his involuntary manslaughter conviction, but Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said he saw little chance that Murray would prevail in getting his case overturned.
Pastor made it clear that his view of Murray had not softened since he gave him a tongue-lashing and the maximum four-year sentence in the superstar’s death. He suggested Murray hurt his own chances for freedom in a documentary interview broadcast after the trial saying use of the powerful anesthetic propofol in the home was appropriate.
Jackson died in 2009 of an overdose of the drug that Murray administered in his bedroom as a treatment for insomnia. Expert witnesses testified they never heard of anyone administering the drug outside a hospital.
Edwards sex tape goes to shredder
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The sex tape of John Edwards and his mistress is headed to the shredder, but a long list of criminal charges still hangs over the former presidential candidate over the extramarital affair that ended his political career.
Rielle Hunter sued former Edwards aide Andrew Young and his wife in 2010 over the tape of “a personal and private nature” and other intimate items the couple said she left in a box of trash. Hunter lived with the Youngs while she was pregnant with Edwards’ baby, hiding out as the former North Carolina senator ran for the White House. Young, a longtime aide to Edwards, initially said he was the father.
Both sides claimed to be getting what they wanted from a legal settlement signed Thursday to end a two-year legal battle that has provided fees to at least 15 lawyers between the two sides.
The Youngs agreed to give up their claim of ownership to the tape and other property, which has been locked in the vault of a North Carolina courthouse for the last two years.
‘Act of Valor’ storms box office
NEW YORK (AP) — On Oscar weekend, the real-life action stars of “Act of Valor” bested Hollywood’s pretend heroes.
The Relativity Media action flick, starring real, active-duty U.S. Navy SEALs, topped the weekend box office, earning $24.7 million according to studio estimates Sunday. That was a strong opening for a unique film made in collaboration with the Navy, which sought to demonstrate the skill and bravery of the SEALs without Hollywood imitation.
“How often can you repeat the same heroes that are big stars pretending to be heroes?” said Kyle Davies, president of worldwide distribution for Relativity. “I think moviegoers are ready for a new, fresh experience.”
“Act of Valor” led another strong weekend at the box office, as it was up 24.4 percent over the corresponding weekend last year.
