News Briefs

Spanish Video Game Causes Outrage

An online video game released by the conservative Popular Party of Spain has led to an uproar across the country. The game Rescue was part of the party's campaign for regional elections in Catalonia. It has since been removed from the party's website.

The game featured Alicia Sanchez-Camacho, president of the Popular Party branch in Catalonia, riding a white seagull over the region. Users would earn points by dropping bombs on aircraft containing illegal immigrants or displaying symbols of Catalan nationalism.

The Popular Party has said that the bomb targets were meant to be organized crime syndicates that take part in the trafficking of illegal immigrants.

The ruling Socialist Worker's Party has urged the Popular Party not to associate itself with xenophobic violence. Catalan parliament members have called the game unacceptable, as it generates hate and violence toward a group simply because it is different.

Film Festival Offers Reward For Help in Publicist Murder

On Tuesday, Hollywood publicist Ronnie Chasen, 64, was shot and murdered as she drove home after a movie premiere party. Police have reported that there are no suspects or leads.

Chasen was driving home from a party after the premiere of Burlesque, starring Christina Aquilera and Cher. On the way to her Los Angeles home, Chasen was shot several times in the chest while driving through Beverly Hills. Her car was found smashed against a lamppost.

Police have found no motives, as friends of Chasen say she had no enemies. The killing could have been a random carjacking or a targeted attack, according to police.

In response to Chasen's death, the Palm Springs Film Festival has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the killer. Publicist Michael Levine has also started a $25,000 fund for anyone who helps to convict the murderer.

Attempted Purse Snatching on North Campus

At 8:39 p.m. on Wednesday night, an attempted purse snatching was reported to University Police.

The incident occurred when a student was returning to her car after leaving Capen Hall. The victim was pushed to the ground in the Jacobs A parking lot as two suspects attempted to take a purse containing her laptop. The suspects fled when the victim resisted giving up her bag.

The suspects were described as two white males, both wearing dark clothing. One male was reportedly wearing jeans and a black sweatshirt. The other was wearing black sweatpants, black sneakers, and a black North Face fleece jacket. The suspects were last seen fleeing northeast from the Jacobs lot.

UPD issued a statement reminding members of the campus community to remember to walk with a group and be alert to their surroundings.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call UPD at 645-2222.