Saturday, 22 December 2012
NRA: Put armed security in schools
National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre on Friday said armed guards would have made a difference in Newtown.
World Briefing | Middle East: Israel: Soldiers Wound 5 Palestinians in Gaza
Israeli troops patrolling the border with the Gaza Strip on Friday shot and wounded five Palestinians who were in an area on the Gaza side which Israel deems off limits.
Farm to landfill: How food is wasted
As Christmas approaches, families stock up with food. But food waste in industrialized countries is nearly as high as food production in sub-Saharan Africa. Find out how.
Russians warm to the EU
Russians have a more positive view of the EU and its primary goals than six months ago. A DW Trend report shows citizens of the Russian Federation looking to the west.
World Briefing | Europe: British Doctor Stripped of License Over Death of Iraqi
A British doctor was stripped of his medical license for misconduct and dishonesty over the death of an Iraqi man who was beaten and killed while in the custody of British troops.
World Briefing | The Americas: Costa Rican Ban on In Vitro Fertilization Is Struck Down
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that a ban on in vitro fertilization violated the reproductive freedom of infertile couples
Court: OK to fire 'irresistible' worker
Can a boss fire an employee he finds attractive because he and his wife, fairly or not, see her as a threat to their marriage?
Critican presupuesto para delegaciones
Diputados de PRI y PAN reprocharon al Secretario de Finanzas del DF la asignación de presupuesto a las delegaciones, el cual califican como castigo.
Ben Ali’s Possessions to Be Auctioned in Tunisia
Cars, jewelry, carpets and other assets that once belonged to the deposed president of Tunisia, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, will be auctioned at a monthlong sale and exhibition.
Dangerous Abscesses Add to Tainted Drug’s Threat
The contaminated drug that caused a nationwide meningitis outbreak has created a second, growing wave of serious spinal infections.
Wave of looting spreads in Argentina
Two people were killed in Argentina on Friday as looters broke into supermarkets in several cities, stirring memories of the country's devastating economic crisis 11 years ago.
Almost 1.7 Million Cloud-Related Jobs Went Unfilled in 2012: Estimate
Demand for "cloud-ready" IT workers will grow by 26% annually through 2015, with as many as 7 million new cloud-related jobs to be available worldwide by that time, says a new IDC report sponsored by Microsoft. However, IT hiring managers report that there were 1.7 million open cloud-related positions that opened up over the past year that went unfilled. The problem was a lack the training and certification among jobseekers, they say.
Cold snap to hit Florida citrus; freeze warning issued
MIAMI (Reuters) - U.S. government forecasters have issued a freeze warning for parts of Florida's key citrus-growing region as a cold front threatens to carry icy temperatures into the Sunshine State this weekend.
Executed prisoners are still main source for organ transplants in China
In China, executed prisoners have been the main source of organs for transplants for decades. However, the authorities want to phase this out by 2015 and build up a national donation scheme.
Ejecutan a 10 en Guerrero en 24 horas
Diez personas fueron ejecutadas en menos de 24 horas en Guerrero, nueve de ellas en Acapulco, informaron autoridades de seguridad federal y estatal.
VIDEO: Fungus threatens French canal trees
Over 42,000 trees along a picturesque 17th Century French canal may have to be chopped down due to the spread of an infectious fungus.
Perchlorate in Drinking Water Raises Health Concerns
Dear EarthTalk : What is “perchlorate” in our drinking water supply, and why is it controversial? --David Sparrow, Chico, Calif.
[More]
[More]
Crops lead the field for commodities
Black tea showed biggest price rise since January as bad weather in key regions triggered a strong rally across most of the agricultural commodities
Siemens to axe 1,100 jobs in Germany
Fossil power generation business most affected by cuts which are part of a cost-cutting drive aimed at closing a profitability gap with competitors
Former Anglo Irish Bank chairman in Dublin court over new fraud charges
Seán FitzPatrick accused of making false or misleading statements to Anglo Irish Bank's auditors over five years
One of the bankers blamed for almost bankrupting Ireland has appeared in court to face 12 new fraud charges.
Seán FitzPatrick, the former chairman of the now nationalised Anglo Irish bank, was accused in Dublin's district court on Friday of making false, misleading or deceptive statements relating to loans of almost €300m (£244m).
The court heard that FitzPatrick made the statements to Anglo Irish's auditors, Ernst&Young, between 2002 and 2007 by under-declaring the loans to the value of €284.9m. It is alleged these loans were for Fitzpatrick or those connected with him.
Dressed in a dark suit, blue shirt and red tie, the bank's former chairman took his place in the dock to face 12 charges relating to financial irregularities at the institution.
Detective Inspector Ray Kavanagh gave details of FitzPatrick's arrest by arrangement at the Bridewell gardai station at 9.04am. He said the 64-year-old made no reply after caution to the charges, which allege he made false or misleading statements to Anglo Irish Bank's auditors over five years.
It as the third time the high-profile banker has been arrested. He was previously charged with 16 counts related to the banks collapse, including providing unlawful financial assistance to 16 individuals to enable them to buy shares in Anglo Irish. FitzPatrick has been released on bail until 1 March. He was told there were no objections to bail provided certain conditions were met including that he continue to reside at his current address.
FitzPatrick and Anglo Irish's other directors have become hate figures in Ireland. During the republic's overheated property boom they were running a bank that became the major lender to speculators. So far the Irish taxpayer has paid more than €30bn to bail out the now nationalised bank, renamed the Irish Banking Resolution Corporation.
FitzPatrick is the highest-profile banker to be charged in connection with Ireland's financial meltdown.
One of the bankers blamed for almost bankrupting Ireland has appeared in court to face 12 new fraud charges.
Seán FitzPatrick, the former chairman of the now nationalised Anglo Irish bank, was accused in Dublin's district court on Friday of making false, misleading or deceptive statements relating to loans of almost €300m (£244m).
The court heard that FitzPatrick made the statements to Anglo Irish's auditors, Ernst&Young, between 2002 and 2007 by under-declaring the loans to the value of €284.9m. It is alleged these loans were for Fitzpatrick or those connected with him.
Dressed in a dark suit, blue shirt and red tie, the bank's former chairman took his place in the dock to face 12 charges relating to financial irregularities at the institution.
Detective Inspector Ray Kavanagh gave details of FitzPatrick's arrest by arrangement at the Bridewell gardai station at 9.04am. He said the 64-year-old made no reply after caution to the charges, which allege he made false or misleading statements to Anglo Irish Bank's auditors over five years.
It as the third time the high-profile banker has been arrested. He was previously charged with 16 counts related to the banks collapse, including providing unlawful financial assistance to 16 individuals to enable them to buy shares in Anglo Irish. FitzPatrick has been released on bail until 1 March. He was told there were no objections to bail provided certain conditions were met including that he continue to reside at his current address.
FitzPatrick and Anglo Irish's other directors have become hate figures in Ireland. During the republic's overheated property boom they were running a bank that became the major lender to speculators. So far the Irish taxpayer has paid more than €30bn to bail out the now nationalised bank, renamed the Irish Banking Resolution Corporation.
FitzPatrick is the highest-profile banker to be charged in connection with Ireland's financial meltdown.
‘New gas reservoirs discovered in Balochistan’
Islamabad: Pakistan’s petroleum ministry on Friday announced that the new gas reservoirs were discovered from Dera Bugti, a district of Pakistan’s Balochistan province. According to the ministry, the gas reservoirs were discovered from a Zinc block in Dera Bugti. The reservoirs are estimated upto 1.06 trillion cubic feet. “The reservoirs are discovered by Oil [...]
Ecuador top banker's fake degree
The governor of the Ecuadorean Central Bank, Pedro Delgado, resigns after admitting that he lied about finishing a degree in economics.
Eli Lilly settles bribery charges
The US pharmaceutical company has agreed to pay $30m to settle charges that it engaged in a scheme to bribe foreign officials
$1,200 a Pound, Truffles Suffer in the Heat
Black Périgords are becoming scarcer and more expensive, and some scientists say it is because of the effects of global warming on the fungus’s Mediterranean habitat.
I.M.F. Says Europe Has Made Progress in Addressing Crisis
But the fund warned that member countries would have to follow through on their commitments to end uncertainty about the euro’s future.
French psychiatrist convicted of manslaughter for failing to recognise danger of patient
A French psychiatrist was convicted of manslaughter for failing to recognise the potential danger of one of her patients, who went on to murder an elderly man with an axe.
Corn price tumbles to five-month low
Investors bet on a production rebound next year, but analysts say price drop could be shortlived, as inventories are still critically low
Humpbacks and Orcas: Surprise Whale Sightings in Norway
Amateur photographer Espen Bergersen's career took a serendipitous turn when he spotted an unusual winter appearance of whales near his hometown in northern Norway. His spectacular images, marked by eerie polar light, were made possible by the changing migratory patterns of fish.
If the TSA's 'natural hair patdown' practice is not racial profiling, what is? | Imara Jones
The idea of African Americans' hair as terrorist threat is absurd, but apparently our unruly locks strike fear into white America
What does America's Transportation Security Agency (TSA) believe that black people are holding in our hair before we board planes?
I was forced to ask myself this question just days ago when two TSA agents halted the security line at Los Angeles International Airport to search my shoulder-length curls for weapons of war. As the country moves into the busy holiday travel season, countless more black and brown Americans with natural hair will be forced to query the same.
Over the past year, "natural hair pat downs" have taken place with greater reported frequency. The fact that they occur at all underscores that America's post-racial future still has roots in its racist past.
With a twice-elected black man as the country's chief executive, how could the TSA get it so wrong?
In the case of people of color v the TSA, it's man v the machine, apparently. "I have to do what the machine says," declared one of the TSA agents as he pointed wanly to the full-body scanner behind me. "When the machine can't read through your hair, we have to search it."
The machine to which he was referring is the $170,000 per unit x-rays devices that can penetrate clothes and certain types of body tissue in order to highlight hidden weapons and objects. The scanners were so effective, in fact, that they raised privacy concerns in the US regarding nudity, which the TSA was forced to address. Citing health concerns, the European Commission effectively banned their use in the European Union just months ago.
Still, these machines, which have cost the US government almost $150m, reveal almost everything – except what might be hidden in black hair. By the results of the TSA scanners, kinky black hair barely registers as human tissue. The unknowing nature of our heads gives the TSA license to violate our bodies.
I wasn't the first to have a TSA agent search my hair – and I won't be the last. Actor Gabrielle Union and pop star Solange Knowles – Beyonce's sister – have both experienced it. Since I posted my patdown on Twitter,
professors, executives, and even aides to members of Congress have all told me their TSA stories. Most far worse than mine. One declared, "I thought it was just me." Clearly, it's not.
Both mainstream and niche media outlets have reported on this phenomenon, which has mushroomed in the last 12 months. Type in "natural hair patdowns" in any search engine and you can spend the better part of an afternoon reading testimonials and watching video of black people's encounters with the TSA.
In response to complaints of its citizens, the response is silence. The TSA failed to answer a request by me for comment on the issue.
The fact that "natural hair patdowns" have reached a fever pitch recently, four years after the machines were introduced, suggests that there's something else at work. The machines didn't just stop working on black hair all at once. The problem may not lie with machines, but with the men and women running the TSA. It wouldn't be the first time.
Hastily put together after 9/11, the TSA has struggled with charges of racial bias from the beginning. Many Arab-American groups filed formal complaints of racial profiling by the TSA in the immediate years after the attack. Civil liberties group, such as the ACLU, reported receiving up to 1,000 complaints a month about invasive TSA searches. Just last year, TSA agents in Boston cited their colleagues for zeroing in on people of color.
A key part of the TSA's response to 9/11 seems to be the identification of certain groups as the "other", followed by a systematic targeting of that group for physical scrutiny. The "otherization" of black people by the TSA is nothing new in America.
Classifying black physical characteristics as alien and subhuman was essential to European rationalization of the brutality meted out to people of African descent during slavery. Torture and sexual assault were all excused because of the "otherness" of the black body. But slavery was only a precursor to the violence directed against blacks during the years after Emancipation and Reconstruction.
Once blacks gained freedom, whites in the South became obsessed with new ways to control the black body. The largest homegrown terrorist organization of its day – the Klu Klux Klan – emerged to create a climate a fear among African Americans through the public mutilation of black bodies. The goal was to spur mass migration of blacks out of the South and to intimidate those who remained into political, as well as economic, subservience. It worked. Formerly pro-slavery whites regained political control of the South by using these tactics.
TSA actions connect directly with this past. At precisely the time when people of color in America have greater political authority than ever, the TSA – along with the New York Police Department through "stop-and-frisk" harassment, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and local law enforcement agencies – have targeted black and brown bodies for intrusive and demeaning treatment.
Of the 700,000 New Yorkers detained under "stop-and-frisk" in 2011 alone, eight out of ten were black or Latino. INS deportations of undocumented men and women reached a high of 400,000 last year. Nine out of ten of those expelled from the US were from four countries in Latin America. As online racial justice resource Colorlines reports, 25% of those sent back home had US citizens as children. Control of black and brown bodies has become a new dividing line in America.
The good news is that we live in 2012, not 1912, or 1812. The person leading the US, Barack Obama, represents the best that the country can be. In order to fulfil this promise, America will have to rely on him to help turn back its remaining ugly tendencies. Action on the TSA policy of searching black hair would be a great place to start.
What does America's Transportation Security Agency (TSA) believe that black people are holding in our hair before we board planes?
I was forced to ask myself this question just days ago when two TSA agents halted the security line at Los Angeles International Airport to search my shoulder-length curls for weapons of war. As the country moves into the busy holiday travel season, countless more black and brown Americans with natural hair will be forced to query the same.
Over the past year, "natural hair pat downs" have taken place with greater reported frequency. The fact that they occur at all underscores that America's post-racial future still has roots in its racist past.
With a twice-elected black man as the country's chief executive, how could the TSA get it so wrong?
In the case of people of color v the TSA, it's man v the machine, apparently. "I have to do what the machine says," declared one of the TSA agents as he pointed wanly to the full-body scanner behind me. "When the machine can't read through your hair, we have to search it."
The machine to which he was referring is the $170,000 per unit x-rays devices that can penetrate clothes and certain types of body tissue in order to highlight hidden weapons and objects. The scanners were so effective, in fact, that they raised privacy concerns in the US regarding nudity, which the TSA was forced to address. Citing health concerns, the European Commission effectively banned their use in the European Union just months ago.
Still, these machines, which have cost the US government almost $150m, reveal almost everything – except what might be hidden in black hair. By the results of the TSA scanners, kinky black hair barely registers as human tissue. The unknowing nature of our heads gives the TSA license to violate our bodies.
I wasn't the first to have a TSA agent search my hair – and I won't be the last. Actor Gabrielle Union and pop star Solange Knowles – Beyonce's sister – have both experienced it. Since I posted my patdown on Twitter,
professors, executives, and even aides to members of Congress have all told me their TSA stories. Most far worse than mine. One declared, "I thought it was just me." Clearly, it's not.
Both mainstream and niche media outlets have reported on this phenomenon, which has mushroomed in the last 12 months. Type in "natural hair patdowns" in any search engine and you can spend the better part of an afternoon reading testimonials and watching video of black people's encounters with the TSA.
In response to complaints of its citizens, the response is silence. The TSA failed to answer a request by me for comment on the issue.
The fact that "natural hair patdowns" have reached a fever pitch recently, four years after the machines were introduced, suggests that there's something else at work. The machines didn't just stop working on black hair all at once. The problem may not lie with machines, but with the men and women running the TSA. It wouldn't be the first time.
Hastily put together after 9/11, the TSA has struggled with charges of racial bias from the beginning. Many Arab-American groups filed formal complaints of racial profiling by the TSA in the immediate years after the attack. Civil liberties group, such as the ACLU, reported receiving up to 1,000 complaints a month about invasive TSA searches. Just last year, TSA agents in Boston cited their colleagues for zeroing in on people of color.
A key part of the TSA's response to 9/11 seems to be the identification of certain groups as the "other", followed by a systematic targeting of that group for physical scrutiny. The "otherization" of black people by the TSA is nothing new in America.
Classifying black physical characteristics as alien and subhuman was essential to European rationalization of the brutality meted out to people of African descent during slavery. Torture and sexual assault were all excused because of the "otherness" of the black body. But slavery was only a precursor to the violence directed against blacks during the years after Emancipation and Reconstruction.
Once blacks gained freedom, whites in the South became obsessed with new ways to control the black body. The largest homegrown terrorist organization of its day – the Klu Klux Klan – emerged to create a climate a fear among African Americans through the public mutilation of black bodies. The goal was to spur mass migration of blacks out of the South and to intimidate those who remained into political, as well as economic, subservience. It worked. Formerly pro-slavery whites regained political control of the South by using these tactics.
TSA actions connect directly with this past. At precisely the time when people of color in America have greater political authority than ever, the TSA – along with the New York Police Department through "stop-and-frisk" harassment, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and local law enforcement agencies – have targeted black and brown bodies for intrusive and demeaning treatment.
Of the 700,000 New Yorkers detained under "stop-and-frisk" in 2011 alone, eight out of ten were black or Latino. INS deportations of undocumented men and women reached a high of 400,000 last year. Nine out of ten of those expelled from the US were from four countries in Latin America. As online racial justice resource Colorlines reports, 25% of those sent back home had US citizens as children. Control of black and brown bodies has become a new dividing line in America.
The good news is that we live in 2012, not 1912, or 1812. The person leading the US, Barack Obama, represents the best that the country can be. In order to fulfil this promise, America will have to rely on him to help turn back its remaining ugly tendencies. Action on the TSA policy of searching black hair would be a great place to start.
Reasignan 25 mil millones de pesos para 2013
23 mil millones de pesos fueron reasignados por los legisladores y 2 mil millones de pesos son participables a los estados y se ubicaron conforme a fórmulas
[Article] A New Boson with a Mass of 125 GeV Observed with the CMS Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider
The CMS detector team describes their experiment and observation of decay products from a standard model Higgs boson, allowing its mass to be determined.
Author: The CMS Collaboration
Author: The CMS Collaboration
Facebook tests $1 fee for stranger to message your inbox
A pair of updates to Facebook's messaging feature is sure to ignite controversy over the holidays. While the improved filtering Facebook has implemented will be welcomed, an experiment allowing strangers to pay $1 to give their message high priority will likely cause serious unrest.
Two arrests as 'plebgate' investigation continues
David Cameron says treatment of Andrew Mitchell, who resigned as Tory chief whip in October, was disturbing
Scotland Yard detectives investigating the "plebgate" saga made a second arrest on Thursday of a man on suspicion of encouraging or assisting the commission of an act of misconduct in public office.
The 23-year-old man was detained in connection with claims by a police officer to have witnessed a row in September between Andrew Mitchell, then the Conservative chief whip, and police officers at the gates of Downing Street.
The claims were made in an email seemingly from the officer to his local Conservative MP, John Randall, who is also the deputy chief whip.
The Met, which has named the investigation Operation Alice, said both arrests had led to search warrants being executed at the homes of the 23-year-old on Wednesday, who lives in north London, and the home of the police officer, who the force said is aged 52.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Officers investigating the circumstances surrounding a police officer's claim to have witnessed an incident in Downing Street in September 2012 have arrested a man on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable offence on or around 14 December 2012."
Mitchell was forced to resign as chief whip in October after an official police log claimed that he described armed officers as "fucking plebs" after they declined to allow him to wheel his bike through the Downing Street security gates on the evening of 19 September. The claims, which were repeated in the email sent to Randall, have been strenuously denied by Mitchell.
David Cameron voiced concerns about "disturbing" developments in the treatment of Mitchell, who made what appeared to be a friendly visit yesterday to police in his Sutton Coldfield constituency. Speaking in Afghanistan during a pre-Christmas visit to British troops, Cameron told Sky News: "We must let this proper police investigation, which is supervised by the Independent Police Complaints [Commission]– we must let them do their work, let them get to the truth. But it is very disturbing what happened, and I want them to get to the truth."
When asked whether Mitchell could return to a senior post in government, Cameron said: "One step at a time. Let's get to the truth about what happened. But I think it has been an extraordinary development, frankly, to find a police officer apparently posing as a member of the public, pretending to have been outside Downing Street at the time and then trying to blacken the name of a Cabinet minister."
Earlier yesterday the London mayor, Boris Johnson, told LBC 97.3 radio: "Clearly, there's a serious question to answer by the member of the diplomatic protection squad, the officer concerned, who is alleged to have sent a fallacious email. That's got to be sorted out."
The Police Federation, which said some of its members had "stoked up" media interest in the affair, pledged to apologise to Mitchell if it emerges that he was wrongly accused of calling armed officers "fucking plebs".
Paul McKeever, the chairman of the Police Federation who distanced himself from the actions of some of the federation's local branches, told Radio 4's PM programme: "I understand those who say the federation stoked up some of the media attention in relation to Andrew Mitchell. I think we can all say we could have done things better. If he has been done a calumny in relation to what happened, I will be one of the first in the queue to apologise."
His remarks came after Lord Baker of Dorking, a former Conservative home secretary, expressed concerns about the conduct of the federation. On the BBC's Daily Politics programme, he said: "The police must be above politics in our country. The Police Federation decided to become a lobbying, an extremely aggressive lobbying body, determined to get a minister – a cabinet minister – because they were very opposed to what the home secretary is doing looking into their pay, pensions and early retirement."
Friends of Mitchell believe the federation in his constituency acted inappropriately in calling for his resignation after a meeting in October. Ken Mackaill, chairman of the West Mercia police federation, who attended the meeting with Mitchell, called on him to resign afterwards on the grounds he had refused to outline what he had said.
But Channel 4 broadcast a recording of the meeting made by a Conservative press officer in which Mitchell admitted having sworn at the officers in Downing Street. He denied calling them plebs.
There were signs of growing support for Mitchell among Tory MPs. Charles Walker, a popular backbencher, spoke up in support of him at a meeting of the 1922 committee on Wednesday.
Some Tory MPs have criticised Sir Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, for deciding that the email to Randall was unreliable because it was inconsistent with the CCTV footage. But he declined to comment on the police log, which contained similar information, on the grounds that it was a matter for the police.
The prime minister offered support for Heywood. He told Sky: "In terms of the Downing Street investigation, which I take full responsibility for, it would be quite wrong to try and pin the blame on somebody else.
"We judged the email was unreliable, so it did not affect my judgment about Andrew Mitchell's future."
A Major Gun Company Became An Industry Pariah After It Made Its Guns Safer
In the wake of a massacre at a Connecticut elementary school last week, the Harvard Business Review reports business leaders need to step up to stop gun violence.
But when a gun company executive tried to curb gun violence in 2000, he was basically blackballed by the NRA, the article pointed out.
An article from The New York Times in 2001 outlines the actions taken by former Smith & Wesson CEO Ed Shultz:
Last March, in an attempt to defuse lawsuits the company was facing from at least 29 municipalities that held handgun manufacturers responsible for violent crimes, Mr. Shultz entered into an agreement with the federal government. He said that Smith & Wesson would include locks on its handguns, research and implement ''smart-gun'' technology that would only allow the owner of a gun to operate it and improve the way retailers sold its products.
The NRA was beyond furious. It questioned his experience. Its members were told "that Smith & Wesson "became the first gun maker to run up the white flag of surrender and duck behind the Clinton-Gore lines."The result was "a boycott by the National Rifle Association" that "made Smith & Wesson an industry outcast," the Times reported in 2006. Shultz left the gun maker by September.
It's unknown whether the NRA would continue to take such a hard-line stance more than a decade later, and shortly after the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. The organization's public statement Tuesday left the impression that the NRA is open to more restrictions on firearms, closing with: "The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again."
Effect of Ethanol on Differential Protein Production and Expression of Potential Virulence Functions in the Opportunistic Pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii
by Chika C. Nwugo, Brock A. Arivett, Daniel L. Zimbler, Jennifer A. Gaddy, Ashley M. Richards, Luis A. Actis
Acinetobacter baumannii persists in the medical environment and causes severe human nosocomial infections. Previous studies showed that low-level ethanol exposure increases the virulence of A. baumannii ATCC 17978. To better understand the mechanisms involved in this response, 2-D gel electrophoresis combined with mass spectrometry was used to investigate differential protein production in bacteria cultured in the presence or absence of ethanol. This approach showed that the presence of ethanol significantly induces and represses the production of 22 and 12 proteins, respectively. Although over 25% of the ethanol-induced proteins were stress-response related, the overall bacterial viability was uncompromised when cultured under these conditions. Production of proteins involved in lipid and carbohydrate anabolism was increased in the presence of ethanol, a response that correlates with increased carbohydrate biofilm content, enhanced biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces and decrease bacterial motility on semi-solid surfaces. The presence of ethanol also induced the acidification of bacterial cultures and the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a ubiquitous plant hormone that signals bacterial stress-tolerance and promotes plant-bacteria interactions. These responses could be responsible for the significantly enhanced virulence of A. baumannii ATCC 17978 cells cultured in the presence of ethanol when tested with the Galleria mellonella experimental infection model. Taken together, these observations provide new insights into the effect of ethanol in bacterial virulence. This alcohol predisposes the human host to infections by A. baumannii and could favor the survival and adaptation of this pathogen to medical settings and adverse host environments.
Acinetobacter baumannii persists in the medical environment and causes severe human nosocomial infections. Previous studies showed that low-level ethanol exposure increases the virulence of A. baumannii ATCC 17978. To better understand the mechanisms involved in this response, 2-D gel electrophoresis combined with mass spectrometry was used to investigate differential protein production in bacteria cultured in the presence or absence of ethanol. This approach showed that the presence of ethanol significantly induces and represses the production of 22 and 12 proteins, respectively. Although over 25% of the ethanol-induced proteins were stress-response related, the overall bacterial viability was uncompromised when cultured under these conditions. Production of proteins involved in lipid and carbohydrate anabolism was increased in the presence of ethanol, a response that correlates with increased carbohydrate biofilm content, enhanced biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces and decrease bacterial motility on semi-solid surfaces. The presence of ethanol also induced the acidification of bacterial cultures and the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a ubiquitous plant hormone that signals bacterial stress-tolerance and promotes plant-bacteria interactions. These responses could be responsible for the significantly enhanced virulence of A. baumannii ATCC 17978 cells cultured in the presence of ethanol when tested with the Galleria mellonella experimental infection model. Taken together, these observations provide new insights into the effect of ethanol in bacterial virulence. This alcohol predisposes the human host to infections by A. baumannii and could favor the survival and adaptation of this pathogen to medical settings and adverse host environments.
Millions of volunteers to benefit from free portable criminal records checks
A new service will be launched next year that will save time and cut the burden of bureaucracy that volunteers currently face, writes Lord Taylor of Holbeach
Suspicion of Collusion: Authorities Raid Deutsche Bank Again
Prosecutors in Frankfurt raided Deutsche Bank headquarters yet again this week. It marks the second time in a fortnight that the mighty German financial institution has received an unwanted visit from the police. This time the focus is on suspicions of witness collusion in connection with a scandal that could cost the bank as much as 1.5 billion euros.
Israeli air strike on media facilities 'violated laws of war'
Israeli air strikes on media facilities that killed two journalists during last month's Gaza offensive amounted to attacks on civilians that violated the laws of war, a leading human rights group has said.
First norovirus, now flu hits: officials warn
First norovirus, now flu - health officials warn a new wave of illness has struck as doctors are authorised to prescribe anti-viral medication.
Danske Bank chief sorry for crisis role
Eivind Kolding’s apology for the lender’s behaviour leading up to the financial crisis caps a period of controversy over its attempt to regain trust
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Plot to sterilize Muslims? Polio rumors spark killings
Many in the Pashtun belt of northwestern Pakistan are convinced the government’s anti-polio campaign is a ruse by the Americans to sterilize or spy on Muslims.
Turkey to fly troops to bases after deadly road convoy attacks
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey signed an agreement on Thursday to transport troops to and from their military bases by air after a string of fatal attacks on road convoys prompted it to rethink security their arrangements.
Benghazi report may hit Clinton legacy
The year 2012 was supposed to herald Hillary Clinton's swan song, a golden departure amid speculation that she might consider another run at the presidency in 2016.
Syrian Forces Lobbing More Scud Missiles at Rebels, U.S. Says
American officials, who have been monitoring Syrian military actions via aerial surveillance, said that was no indication that the missiles were armed with chemical weapons.
Angry with Instagram? These 'invisible' data brokers sell your privacy every day
The FTC this week joined a series of other agencies, groups, and elected officials now banging on the door of the nation's largest data collection firms, demanding to know just how much of U.S. consumers' lives are tracked by these firms.
FTC tightens privacy rules for child data protection
Application stores in the clear
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released the results of its two-year review into online child privacy rules and issued a host of amendments that will be backed up by the threat of large fines.…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released the results of its two-year review into online child privacy rules and issued a host of amendments that will be backed up by the threat of large fines.…
Now you can download your Twitter archive
Now you can download your Twitter archive:
Can't remember what you tweeted two ago about the Academy Awards? Or four years ago about the presidential election? If you want to take a trip down memory lane, you can: Twitter said it is introducing a feature that lets you download your Twitter archive.
Can't remember what you tweeted two ago about the Academy Awards? Or four years ago about the presidential election? If you want to take a trip down memory lane, you can: Twitter said it is introducing a feature that lets you download your Twitter archive.
After Sandy Hook, Senator calls for violent video game probe
Here we go again
Gun control remains a politically fraught issue in the US, even after such events as the December 14 mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, but one top lawmaker has proposed legislation that could lead to tighter restrictions on firearms – at least the imaginary kind.…
Gun control remains a politically fraught issue in the US, even after such events as the December 14 mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, but one top lawmaker has proposed legislation that could lead to tighter restrictions on firearms – at least the imaginary kind.…
Australian University to hand out 11,000 iPads
All students and staff to fondle slabs in ‘blended learning’ plan
Every new student at Australia’s University of Western Sydney (UWS) will be given an iPad next year.…
Every new student at Australia’s University of Western Sydney (UWS) will be given an iPad next year.…
Euro Commission abandons ACTA court request
No point in flogging the dead horse
ACTA is completely, finally, no-turning-back dead-and-buried in Europe, with the European Commission admitting that there is “no realistic chance” of the treaty being adopted in Europe.…
ACTA is completely, finally, no-turning-back dead-and-buried in Europe, with the European Commission admitting that there is “no realistic chance” of the treaty being adopted in Europe.…
Little spider makes big-spider-puppet CLONE of itself out of dirt
There are no strings attached
Meet the adroit arachnid that makes a decoy “spider” in its web to mislead predators – and jiggles the strands like a puppet master to make the miniature marionette move.…
Meet the adroit arachnid that makes a decoy “spider” in its web to mislead predators – and jiggles the strands like a puppet master to make the miniature marionette move.…
Firm pulls 3D gun-parts print plans
MakerBot, a 3D-printing firm, pulls a collection of blueprints for gun parts from its website in the wake of the Sandy Hook mass school shooting last week.
Facing Dengue Epidemic, India Turns to Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
An outbreak of dengue fever has parts of India mulling a controversial strategy: releasing hundreds of thousands of irradiated, sterilized male mosquitoes into urban areas, a technique that has shown itself to be highly effective but whose impact on the environment is mostly unknown.
Apple faces 'pinch-to-zoom' review
US patent officials have put Apple's "pinch-to-zoom" patent under review, according to documents filed by Samsung.
Oracle To Buy Eloqua For $23.50/Shr In $871 Million Deal
Oracle this morning said it has agreed to buy Eloqua, a Vienna, Virginia-based provider of cloud-based marketing automation and revenue performance management software, for $23.50 a share in cash, or $871 million net of Eloqua's cash. ELOQ closed Wednesday at $17.92 a share.
The Future of Transportation
Talk to auto executives, transportation professors and sustainability experts, and they’ll tell you these are what drivers can expect to see in the next 20 years.
Apple to Ship 12 Million iPad Mini Units in 2012
As many as 12 million iPad Mini units could be on store shelves by the end of the year as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) ramps up production following strong sales worldwide.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Perl programming language marks 25th birthday
Munging data since 1987
Perl, the open source programming language used by developers and sysadmins to automate any number of text-wrangling and data-management tasks, celebrates its 25th birthday on Tuesday.…
Perl, the open source programming language used by developers and sysadmins to automate any number of text-wrangling and data-management tasks, celebrates its 25th birthday on Tuesday.…
Mark Zuckerberg doesn't know how to use HTML5
Out-Facebooking Facebook... bitch!
Open ... and Shut Even as Facebook dumps HTML5 to embrace native app development, calling its early enthusiasm for HTML5 its "biggest mistake," Sencha, a leading provider of open-source web application frameworks and tools, has not only demonstrated real-world readiness of HTML5, but has actually built a Facebook app that performs better than Facebook's native apps.…
Open ... and Shut Even as Facebook dumps HTML5 to embrace native app development, calling its early enthusiasm for HTML5 its "biggest mistake," Sencha, a leading provider of open-source web application frameworks and tools, has not only demonstrated real-world readiness of HTML5, but has actually built a Facebook app that performs better than Facebook's native apps.…
Google given a month to wriggle out of Euro antitrust smackdown
Ad giant must persuade rivals it isn't cheating in search
Google must convince its rivals that it competes fairly in the web search market or else face sanctions for alleged "abuse of dominance", a European watchdog warned today. And the clock is ticking.…
Google must convince its rivals that it competes fairly in the web search market or else face sanctions for alleged "abuse of dominance", a European watchdog warned today. And the clock is ticking.…
Dell buying data-protection vendor Credant
Dell has made a deal to acquire data-protection vendor Credant Technologies and plans to add the company's technology to its enterprise IT security offerings. The companies did not disclose the terms of the deal. Credant, founded in 2001, is based in Addison, Texas, about 200 miles north of Dell's headquarters in Round Rock, Texas.
Penguin gives in to US Feds over ebooks
Publisher drops defiant stance, settles price-fixing case
Penguin has caved in to the US Justice Department, agreeing to a settlement over alleged price-setting of ebooks after holding out since April.…
Penguin has caved in to the US Justice Department, agreeing to a settlement over alleged price-setting of ebooks after holding out since April.…
Facebook and Instagram, The Sounds of Desperation
Instagram's PR disaster yesterday is a sign a growing consumer backlash against the use of their data or web content for advertising (Instagram backed down today). That's what makes me ask how long can they last as a business?
Bankrupt Kodak misses $2bn target, flogs imaging patents for $525m
Intellectual Ventures and RPX play hardball
Iconic camera-maker Eastman Kodak has reached an agreement to sell its portfolio of imaging patents for $525m.…
Iconic camera-maker Eastman Kodak has reached an agreement to sell its portfolio of imaging patents for $525m.…
Bankrupt Kodak gets $525m lifeline
Eastman Kodak sells its digital imaging patents to a consortium of investors, including Google and Apple, for $525m (£322m).
Did Instagram Back Away From the Ledge?
Instagram may have backed away from the ledge indicated by its new Terms of Service yesterday, but there’s been significant
Walmart vs Starbucks: A Tale of Two Successful Facebook Strategies
It's the problem plaguing every business that's trying social-media marketing: OK, you've got a company Facebook page. Now, how do you get customers to talk to you on it, or to care about what you post?
Why Did Apple Agree To Let Google Maps Back In The Tent?
Why shouldn't they? The App Store is full of alternative mapping apps already, many of which actually use Google Maps APIs, so omitting Google Maps would be hypocritical at best and anti-competitive behavior at worst.
'Earth-like planet' detected close to nearby star
Tau Ceti, one of our closest stars, could host an Earth-like planet, astronomers have said.
Chinese Gaining Ground as Foreign Language in Scandinavian Schools
Jan Björklund, Swedish minister of education, at the ministerial conference Horizon 2020 in Copenhagen, February 1, 2012. Björklund recently announced a radical upgrade for the status of the Chinese language in the Swedish educational system. (Jens Nørgaard Larsen/AFP/Getty Images)
The reason for Sweden’s decision, according to the Swedish Minister for Education, Jan Björklund, is China’s growing importance in the world economy. Björklund, speaking at a press conference on Dec. 3, argued that teaching the next generation of Swedes Mandarin Chinese will make Sweden more internationally competitive.
Since there is no national curriculum for Chinese in Sweden yet, the decision will not enter into force until 2014/2015, but in reality, Björklund believes it will take much longer for Chinese to reach the status of French, German, and Spanish. Sweden has very few competent teachers of Chinese today.
“My estimate is that it will take 10–15 years for Chinese to become broadly available in [Swedish] Schools,” Björklund said.
A major player in Swedish higher education in Chinese is the controversial Confucius Institute, which is funded by the communist regime in China and has been criticized for doing its bidding.
When asked if the Confucius Institute might play a role in training Swedish teachers, Björklund said, “We don’t object to outside sponsorship in education, but this [particular initiative] will be a part of the Swedish government’s teacher training.”
Sweden traditionally had French and German as the main foreign languages in schools, but English won prominence in the post-war era and today is mandatory, while French, German, and Spanish can be chosen as a second language during the latter part of primary education, from age 12 or 13. Schools are required to offer two of these three languages and to this exclusive group, Chinese is now added.
This is a very rare step in Swedish education; the last language to be upgraded like this was Spanish during the ’70s and ’80s.
Chinese is already offered in secondary education in Sweden and also at some primary schools. However, the number of schools offering it is still very small. In 2010/2011, only 62 primary school students and 900 secondary school students had Chinese in their final grades.
In Denmark and Norway, some secondary schools also offer Chinese, but it is still up to the individual school. None of the other two Scandinavian countries have yet gone as far as Sweden.
Gerard Doetjes, linguist and senior adviser at the Norwegian Centre for Foreign Languages in Education, said that Norway usually keeps an eye on Sweden, as a kind of reference for its policies in this area. Today, major cities like Bergen and Oslo offer Chinese in secondary school.
Doetjes said that trade with China is one of the reasons, but not the only one, for offering Chinese. Certain schools and students also get interested in Chinese from a genuine linguistic perspective. He said Norway would like to see greater diversity and offer languages like Portuguese, Arabic, and Polish, which are also relevant to Norway’s international business interests.
“Chinese is an important second language, but Russian, for instance, is not less important. We should provide a balanced variety of languages,” Doetjes said.
Denmark implemented a reform in 2005 in which secondary school students can choose non-European languages like Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, and Japanese on the same terms as German, Spanish, and French in some schools, according to René Bühlmann, adviser to the Danish Ministry of Education.
Insight: Swiss, facing EU tax pressure, ponder how to attract firms
GENEVA (Reuters) - "Happy Taxation" is a 2011 book by Pascal Broulis, finance minister of the Swiss canton of Vaud and celebrant of the low taxes that distinguish Switzerland. But as times get tougher, discontent about Swiss tax breaks is mounting.
New riot threatens to break out in Gothenburg
Calls to meet and gather outside the Framtidsgymnasiet high school in Gotheburg on Wednesday have been spread on social media and have caused the school to close for the day.27 people were held on Tuesday at the nearby Plusgymnasiet school, after protesting against abusive images and comments about pupils at the school were published on Instagram.
Cases of winter vomiting bug reach 900,000 as dozens more hospitals are forced to close
Cases of norovirus have reached a five-year high as 1 in 50 hospital beds are 'closed' by the bug.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn fails to get judges to drop pimping charges
Court in northern France to proceed with sex offence inquiry against former IMF chief relating to prostitution ring
French judges have decided not to drop aggravated pimping charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn. His lawyer says the former International Monetary Fund chief will appeal.
The verdict on Wednesday came just over a week after Strauss-Kahn settled a separate civil case in New York with the hotel maid who accused him of attempted rape in May 2011, ending his presidential ambitions and career at the IMF.
While the New York settlement brought his US legal woes to an end, the decision by the court in Douai, in northern France, removed the prospect of a quick conclusion to the last sex offence inquiry he faces.
"Dominique Strauss-Kahn's defence team is certain that he will ultimately be cleared of these absurd accusations of pimping," lawyer Henri Leclerc said in a statement, adding that he planned to take the matter to France's supreme court.
Strauss-Kahn, once tipped to become president of France, is under fire over sex parties with prostitutes in the so-called Carlton Affair, named after a hotel in northern France at the centre of the inquiry.
Strauss-Kahn's lawyers have said he attended "libertine" gatherings but did not know some women present were paid.
His lawyers argue that consorting with prostitutes is not illegal and that investigators have no grounds for pursuing him on the grounds that his behaviour could be construed as pimping, which is illegal.
French judges have decided not to drop aggravated pimping charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn. His lawyer says the former International Monetary Fund chief will appeal.
The verdict on Wednesday came just over a week after Strauss-Kahn settled a separate civil case in New York with the hotel maid who accused him of attempted rape in May 2011, ending his presidential ambitions and career at the IMF.
While the New York settlement brought his US legal woes to an end, the decision by the court in Douai, in northern France, removed the prospect of a quick conclusion to the last sex offence inquiry he faces.
"Dominique Strauss-Kahn's defence team is certain that he will ultimately be cleared of these absurd accusations of pimping," lawyer Henri Leclerc said in a statement, adding that he planned to take the matter to France's supreme court.
Strauss-Kahn, once tipped to become president of France, is under fire over sex parties with prostitutes in the so-called Carlton Affair, named after a hotel in northern France at the centre of the inquiry.
Strauss-Kahn's lawyers have said he attended "libertine" gatherings but did not know some women present were paid.
His lawyers argue that consorting with prostitutes is not illegal and that investigators have no grounds for pursuing him on the grounds that his behaviour could be construed as pimping, which is illegal.
Japão pondera orçamento extraordinário
O Partido Liberal Democrata (PLD) do Japão, que venceu as legislativas de domingo, anunciou hoje que vai ponderar um orçamento extraordinário de pelo menos 10 biliões de ienes (89.560 milhões de euros)...
Rebeldes sírios alertam para perigo das armas químicas
O novo comandante dos rebeldes sírios, general Salim Idris, disse em entrevista à Associated Press que os seus homens vigiam as armas químicas do regime, mas não possuem para as apreender e guardar.
Clinton aceita recomendações de inquérito
A secretária de Estado norte-americana, Hillary Clinton, afirmou, na noite de terça-feira, aceitar "cada uma" das 29 recomendações efetuadas no âmbito de um inquérito sobre o ataque ao consulado em...
Remorseful Twitter and Facebook jokers less likely to face prosecution
Social media misuse guidelines to differentiate between silly offensive posts and those that involve credible threats
Drunken Twitter and Facebook users who post grossly offensive messages online may be less likely to face prosecution if they hit delete and express remorse after they sober up, Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, indicated.
Announcing guidelines for the prosecution of people who misuse social media (pdf), Starmer said he wanted to set a high threshold for prosecution in cases where people post "grossly offensive, obscene or false" messages and he urged "considerable caution" before bringing charges to avoid a chilling effect on free speech.
"If a message is taken down very swiftly and there is remorse then it may not be proportionate to have a criminal prosecution," said Starmer. "It is not a defence that you have sobered up but it is relevant that whatever the material was, it was taken down pretty quickly when the person realised it was inappropriate."
The Crown Prosecution Service is dealing with a rising caseload of allegations involving posts on Twitter and Facebook – about 60 in the last 18 months. It published a 14-page guide on prosecuting cases involving social media communications, partly to avoid a repeat of the so-called Twitter joke trial. A Doncaster accountant, Paul Chambers, was pursued through the criminal and appeal courts for more than two years for joking that he wanted to blow up Doncaster airport because it was closed by snow and he wanted to fly to see his new girlfriend.
The guidelines come into force on Wednesday and Starmer has drawn a clear distinction between grossly offensive, obscene or false posts and those that credibly threaten violence, harass or stalk and breach court orders such as anonymity for rape victims. He said the CPS would deal "robustly" with the latter categories of social media use which include trolling.
Starmer said the guidelines could leave it open to Lord McAlpine, who was libelled on Twitter when users wrongly indicated he was suspected of being a paedophile, to allege individuals had committed an offence by mounting a campaign of harassment against him.
Javed Khan, chief executive of Victim Support, said the new distinction between credible threats and offence was sorely needed. "Victims tell us sustained and vindictive targeting on social media can leave long-lasting emotional and psychological scars so we warmly welcome clarification on how prosecutors will deal with online threats or harassment."
Chambers' solicitor, David Allen Green, director of media at Preiskel and Co, welcomed the guidelines as "a step forward". "The real test will be in practice, especially the thresholds adopted by the police when making arrest decisions."
Starmer is acutely aware that the ever-increasing volume of communication on-line could result in the CPS being swamped by cases that allege posts are "grossly offensive, obscene or menacing or that are false and there is an intention to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another". He said: "There is a high threshold that must be met before criminal proceedings are brought and in many cases a prosecution is unlikely to be in the public interest." It means that for a writer to face prosecution a post must be shown to be either more than offensive, shocking or disturbing; more than satirical, iconoclastic or rude; or more than the expression of unpopular or unfashionable opinion about serious or trivial matters or banter or humour, even if distasteful or painful to those subjected to it.
Starmer stressed that the context of a message was important: "Banter, jokes and offensive comments are commonplace and often instantaneous. Communications intended for a few may reach millions."
Drunken Twitter and Facebook users who post grossly offensive messages online may be less likely to face prosecution if they hit delete and express remorse after they sober up, Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, indicated.
Announcing guidelines for the prosecution of people who misuse social media (pdf), Starmer said he wanted to set a high threshold for prosecution in cases where people post "grossly offensive, obscene or false" messages and he urged "considerable caution" before bringing charges to avoid a chilling effect on free speech.
"If a message is taken down very swiftly and there is remorse then it may not be proportionate to have a criminal prosecution," said Starmer. "It is not a defence that you have sobered up but it is relevant that whatever the material was, it was taken down pretty quickly when the person realised it was inappropriate."
The Crown Prosecution Service is dealing with a rising caseload of allegations involving posts on Twitter and Facebook – about 60 in the last 18 months. It published a 14-page guide on prosecuting cases involving social media communications, partly to avoid a repeat of the so-called Twitter joke trial. A Doncaster accountant, Paul Chambers, was pursued through the criminal and appeal courts for more than two years for joking that he wanted to blow up Doncaster airport because it was closed by snow and he wanted to fly to see his new girlfriend.
The guidelines come into force on Wednesday and Starmer has drawn a clear distinction between grossly offensive, obscene or false posts and those that credibly threaten violence, harass or stalk and breach court orders such as anonymity for rape victims. He said the CPS would deal "robustly" with the latter categories of social media use which include trolling.
Starmer said the guidelines could leave it open to Lord McAlpine, who was libelled on Twitter when users wrongly indicated he was suspected of being a paedophile, to allege individuals had committed an offence by mounting a campaign of harassment against him.
Javed Khan, chief executive of Victim Support, said the new distinction between credible threats and offence was sorely needed. "Victims tell us sustained and vindictive targeting on social media can leave long-lasting emotional and psychological scars so we warmly welcome clarification on how prosecutors will deal with online threats or harassment."
Chambers' solicitor, David Allen Green, director of media at Preiskel and Co, welcomed the guidelines as "a step forward". "The real test will be in practice, especially the thresholds adopted by the police when making arrest decisions."
Starmer is acutely aware that the ever-increasing volume of communication on-line could result in the CPS being swamped by cases that allege posts are "grossly offensive, obscene or menacing or that are false and there is an intention to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another". He said: "There is a high threshold that must be met before criminal proceedings are brought and in many cases a prosecution is unlikely to be in the public interest." It means that for a writer to face prosecution a post must be shown to be either more than offensive, shocking or disturbing; more than satirical, iconoclastic or rude; or more than the expression of unpopular or unfashionable opinion about serious or trivial matters or banter or humour, even if distasteful or painful to those subjected to it.
Starmer stressed that the context of a message was important: "Banter, jokes and offensive comments are commonplace and often instantaneous. Communications intended for a few may reach millions."
BBC criticised over Savile report
There was "chaos and confusion" at the BBC over a shelved report into sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile, but there was no cover-up, an inquiry finds.
Sudan races to stem yellow fever
Experts say the outbreak of yellow fever gripping Sudan is the worst the world has seen in at least 20 years.
Vietnam stops blogger from flying to US
Huynh Trong Hieu detained on his way to receive human rights award on behalf of father and sister, also prominent bloggers
Vietnamese authorities have stopped a blogger from flying to the US to pick up a human rights award on behalf of his father and sister, triggering criticism from the American embassy
Huynh Trong Hieu said on Wednesday that police detained him at Ho Chi Minh airport on Sunday night as he was checking in. They questioned him for two hours and took his passport, which had a valid American visa. He was then released.
"I was prepared for the fact that they would ban me from leaving the country as they had prevented many people who dared to promote democracy and human rights in Vietnam," Hieu said by telephone. "By banning those people from leaving the country, the government wants to give a warning to others that they have the authority to decide the fate of all its citizens."
Hieu was flying to the US to receive a Hellman-Hammett award from Human Rights Watch on behalf of his father Huynh Ngoc Tuan and sister Huynh Thuc Vy, who are both prominent bloggers. Each year the group gives cash grants to selected writers for their commitment to free expression in the face of government persecution. Hieu said he was travelling on behalf of his father and sister because they both knew they wouldn't be allowed to leave.
The US is seeking closer ties with Vietnam, in large part because it shares concerns with Hanoi over China's increasing assertiveness in south-east Asia. But it is vocal in its criticism of the country's human rights record, which most observers say is getting worse.
"We are troubled by the intervention of Vietnamese authorities to prevent Huynh Trong Hieu from travelling to the United States," the embassy said in a statement. "We urge the Vietnamese government to lift travel restrictions on Mr Hieu and take steps to allow his family and all Vietnamese to peacefully express their views without fear of retribution."
In a separate case in neighbouring Laos, which like Vietnam is under one-party Communist rule, the respected social activist Sombath Somphone disappeared on Saturday afternoon in the Lao capital, Vientiane. Friends said he had been taken in by police and they last saw him getting into his car to drive home from the development agency he founded.
The US also voiced concern about Sombath's disappearance. State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the US was urging the Lao government to make an effort to locate him.
Laos has an authoritarian government with little tolerance for dissent, but friends and associates said Sombath's work was not directly political.
An official who answered the phone at the government's press office in Vientiane said: "It's too early to give any information regarding the disappearance because there is not enough evidence to reach a conclusion." The official declined to give his name.
One of Sombath's colleagues in Vientiane said he had seen video showing the activist in police custody in Laos. It was not explained where the video footage came from or under what circumstances it was reviewed.
Sombath, 60, received the Ramon Magsaysay award for community leadership, one of Asia's top civil honours, in 2005. He was director until five months ago of the Participatory Development Training Centre, which he founded in 1996 to promote education and leadership skills.
A statement from Thai NGOs said they had sent a letter of concern to senior officials in Laos and embassies there.
Vietnamese authorities have stopped a blogger from flying to the US to pick up a human rights award on behalf of his father and sister, triggering criticism from the American embassy
Huynh Trong Hieu said on Wednesday that police detained him at Ho Chi Minh airport on Sunday night as he was checking in. They questioned him for two hours and took his passport, which had a valid American visa. He was then released.
"I was prepared for the fact that they would ban me from leaving the country as they had prevented many people who dared to promote democracy and human rights in Vietnam," Hieu said by telephone. "By banning those people from leaving the country, the government wants to give a warning to others that they have the authority to decide the fate of all its citizens."
Hieu was flying to the US to receive a Hellman-Hammett award from Human Rights Watch on behalf of his father Huynh Ngoc Tuan and sister Huynh Thuc Vy, who are both prominent bloggers. Each year the group gives cash grants to selected writers for their commitment to free expression in the face of government persecution. Hieu said he was travelling on behalf of his father and sister because they both knew they wouldn't be allowed to leave.
The US is seeking closer ties with Vietnam, in large part because it shares concerns with Hanoi over China's increasing assertiveness in south-east Asia. But it is vocal in its criticism of the country's human rights record, which most observers say is getting worse.
"We are troubled by the intervention of Vietnamese authorities to prevent Huynh Trong Hieu from travelling to the United States," the embassy said in a statement. "We urge the Vietnamese government to lift travel restrictions on Mr Hieu and take steps to allow his family and all Vietnamese to peacefully express their views without fear of retribution."
In a separate case in neighbouring Laos, which like Vietnam is under one-party Communist rule, the respected social activist Sombath Somphone disappeared on Saturday afternoon in the Lao capital, Vientiane. Friends said he had been taken in by police and they last saw him getting into his car to drive home from the development agency he founded.
The US also voiced concern about Sombath's disappearance. State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the US was urging the Lao government to make an effort to locate him.
Laos has an authoritarian government with little tolerance for dissent, but friends and associates said Sombath's work was not directly political.
An official who answered the phone at the government's press office in Vientiane said: "It's too early to give any information regarding the disappearance because there is not enough evidence to reach a conclusion." The official declined to give his name.
One of Sombath's colleagues in Vientiane said he had seen video showing the activist in police custody in Laos. It was not explained where the video footage came from or under what circumstances it was reviewed.
Sombath, 60, received the Ramon Magsaysay award for community leadership, one of Asia's top civil honours, in 2005. He was director until five months ago of the Participatory Development Training Centre, which he founded in 1996 to promote education and leadership skills.
A statement from Thai NGOs said they had sent a letter of concern to senior officials in Laos and embassies there.
Romeo Beckham is banned from Vogue magazine
The 10-year-old son of Victoria Beckham does not meet Vogue's health-initiative criteria.
Hillsborough inquest verdicts set to be quashed
High court to be asked to quash original accidental death verdicts after 96 football fans died at Hillsborough in 1989
The high court is being asked to quash the original accidental death inquest verdicts returned after 96 Liverpool football fans died in the crush at Hillsborough 23 years ago.
An application by the attorney general, Dominic Grieve, the government's chief law officer, will be considered by the lord chief justice, Lord Judge, and two other judges.
Some of the families of victims of the 1989 tragedy, who have campaigned to have the verdicts overturned, are due to attend the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London.
An application on behalf of some relatives was made requesting a videolink to a courtroom in Liverpool. Lord Judge agreed to their request and there will be a live videolink between the Royal Courts of Justice and a courtroom at Liverpool civil and family courts.
Grieve's legal move comes after a damning report into the disaster laid bare a coverup that attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.
He announced in October he would make an application to the high court for fresh inquests after beginning a review of the evidence.
The Liverpool supporters died at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium on 15 April 1989, where their team were to meet Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission announced on 12 December that it had begun consulting families on its provisional terms of reference for its investigation into the aftermath of the tragedy.
Steve Rotheram, the Liverpool Walton MP and one of a number of MPs planning to attend the proceedings, said in a statement: "The high court hearing is the day that the families have fought almost a quarter of a century for.
"The opportunity to quash the original inquest verdicts of accidental death seemed like an impossible task for 23 years. It is the moment they have waited over two decades for.
"My hope is that the overwhelming evidence that was uncovered in the Hillsborough Independent Panel report will be enough to emphatically prove that Hillsborough was not an accident.
"The wheels of justice turn slowly in Britain but they are beginning to gather momentum. This is just the beginning of a process that will see one of the greatest injustices in the last century put right and those really responsible for Hillsborough held to account."
The families may finally get the chance "to pick up the death certificates for their loved ones with an appropriate cause of death and move a little closer to achieving the ultimate goal of justice for the 96", he added.
China corruption exposed online
A sex tape led to the downfall of a Chinese official, thanks to a citizen journalist. CNN's Anna Coren reports.
Instagram riot: girl denies charges
The 17 year-old girl police took in for questioning on Tuesday on suspicion of publishing images and abusive comments about her fellow pupils at the Plusgymnasiet high school in Gothenburg says she has been falsely accused."I've been interrogated by the police, but I am falsely accused. I did not do this," the girl told tabloid expressen.se.
U.S. charges Chinese men in technology smuggling case
PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - Two Chinese men accused of trying to sneak sensitive technology with military applications out of the United States by posing as American businessmen have been charged with conspiracy and money laundering in a federal indictment unsealed on Tuesday.
Man charged with firing gun 54 times outside California mall ordered held without bail - @AP
Man charged with firing gun 54 times outside California mall ordered held without bail - @AP
Seventeen dead in Mexican prison break attempt: media
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Eleven inmates and seven guards were killed in a shootout during a prison break attempt in northern Mexico on Tuesday, local media reported, citing a statement from the security ministry in Durango state.
Tiny air pollutants kill thousands, cost billions in China
BEIJING (Reuters) - Microscopic pollutant particles in the air have killed some 8,600 people prematurely this year and cost $1 billion in economic losses in four Chinese cities, according to a study by Beijing University and Greenpeace.
Amid China tensions, Southeast Asia looks to India
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The dozens of vehicles that roared into northeast India this week on a rally from Indonesia symbolize deeper ties between the South Asian giant and Southeast Asia, but the dreadful roads along several parts of the 8,000 km (5,000 mile) journey also show how much remains to be done.
Japan whalers win activist ban
A US court orders conservation group Sea Shepherd to stay at least 500 yards away from Japan's whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean.
Obama 'could support' some gun restrictions
A spokesman for President Barack Obama has hinted the White House might be open to some forms of gun control in the wake of a school shooting in Connecticut. One possibility is reinstating an old ban on assault weapons.
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Mental health care
In the wake of last week's tragedy in Newtown, I have been asked a million questions about gun control. I've seen pictures of the weapon the killer used. I've heard stories about the number of bullets in the clip and the number of guns in his mother's home. I've even heard politicians argue that school officials should be armed with semiautomatic weapons.
European watchdogs examine Microsoft's services policies
Europe's top data privacy agency has launched a formal investigation into Microsoft's privacy policy. Microsoft confirmed on Tuesday that it had received a letter from the Article 29 Working Party that it would proceed with a probe. On October 26, the computer giant was notified of a preliminary investigation. The Article 29 Working Party (A29 WP) is made up of the data regulators from all European Union member states as well as the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS).
EPN designa a Beatriz Paredes embajadora de México en Brasil
La Cámara alta deberá ratificar esta designación por lo que la comunicación oficial del Ejecutivo -si se sigue el trámite habitual- será turnada a comisiones
President of Iraq suffers stroke
Jalal Talabani, the president of Iraq, is being treated in a Baghdad hospital after suffering a strike, injecting new uncertainty into the country's political future.
Rise in animal experiments at defence laboratory
Almost 10,000 experiments were conducted on animals, including monkeys and pigs, at the Porton Down military research base last year, it has been revealed.
Facebook rejects German demand to allow fake names
Facebook says it won't comply with a German privacy watchdog's demand to let users register with fake names. The data protection commissioner of Schleswig-Holstein state issued an order Monday requiring that the social networking site permits pseudonymous accounts.
Newtown residents unite on gun control
Several Newtown, Connecticut, residents decided to drop their usual family and work obligations Tuesday, get up at dawn and drive to Washington to meet with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Tony Blair: immigration has been good for Britain
Tony Blair has defended his immigration policies warning that people who come to Britain have played a positive role and they should not be made a "scapegoat for our problems".
Instagram Says It Now Has the Right to Sell Your Photos
Instagram said today that it has the perpetual right to sell users' photographs without payment or notification, a dramatic policy shift that quickly sparked a public outcry.
The new intellectual property policy, which takes effect on January 16, comes three months after Facebook completed its acquisition of the popular photo-sharing site. [More]
The new intellectual property policy, which takes effect on January 16, comes three months after Facebook completed its acquisition of the popular photo-sharing site. [More]
Cerberus to sell stake in US gunmaker
Private equity firm to sell stake in Freedom Group whose rifle is believed to have been used in Newtown massacre, after pressure from pension fund
Rapid spread of livestock virus
A disease that can lead to lambs and calves being born dead or deformed has spread to every county in England and Wales.
Invaders changing polar landscape
An invasive species has the potential to drastically alter Antarctic ecosystems that have been isolated for millions of years, research suggests.
Coal could catch oil in 10 years
The International Energy Agency says coal will catch oil as the world's leading energy source by 2022.
Polio workers killed in Pakistan
Six healthworkers who were part of a polio immunization drive have been shot dead inside 24 hours in Pakistan. The murders in Karachi and Peshawar have prompted authorities to suspend the polio campaign there.
Mental illness is rampant in Afghanistan
According to the American Medical Association, around 70 percent of the Afghan population suffers from psychological disorders. Mentally challenged people face discrimination and their families suffer.
Nearly half the public have less trust in BBC since Jimmy Savile scandal
Poll reveals sex abuse revelation by ITV and axing of Newsnight investigation provoked downgrade in broadcaster's status
Read the full report
Nearly half the public have less trust in the BBC since the Jimmy Savile scandal began, according to an opinion poll produced on behalf of MediaGuardian on the eve of the expected publication of Nick Pollard's inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the axing of a Newsnight investigation into the late presenter's activities.
Market research agency Conquest Research & Consultancy's survey, conducted 24-26 November, found that 49% of respondents trust the BBC less than they did before "recent events" – a reference to the later misidentification of Lord McAlpine by Newsnight as well as the grim sex abuse scandal revealed by rival broadcaster ITV.
Of these, 19% of the 300 surveyed say they trust the BBC "much less than before", while 30% trusted the corporation "slightly less than before" in the aftermath of a six week controversy that ultimately led to the departure of its short-lived director general George Entwistle in the wake of the McAlpine error.
David Penn, the managing director of Conquest Research warned that the fallout from the Savile/Newsnight debacle "could well produce a permanent downgrade in the BBC's status," although he added that what was propping the broadcaster up was a perception that it was a "national treasure" which meant it remained the most trusted media outlet in Britain.
A significant minority – 33% – also blamed the BBC for "Jimmy Savile's behaviour", even though there is also allegations that he carried out sexual abuse at Stoke Mandeveille hospital, Broadmoor hospital and Duncroft Approved School for Girls near Staines as well as other institutions with which he was associated.
Almost half – 48% – of respondents felt the Savile affair was "the worst crisis" in the BBC's history, agreeing with remarks made by veteran foreign editor John Simpson in late October. When asked if the BBC needs a radical overhaul, 62% of Britons said yes (28% strongly agreeing, 34% slightly agreeing).
But, perhaps most ominously for the publicly funded Corporation, over 54% agreed with the statement that the £145.50 a year licence fee is a waste of money and should be abolished (34% strongly agreed, 20% slightly agree). The current licence fee deal runs until 2017, but negotiations over the next phase will begin the year after next.
However, despite the damage done to public perceptions, Conquest Research found that the BBC remains by some distance the most trusted source of UK news with 39% of respondents choosing it as their most trusted, ahead of ITV (13%), Sky News (10%), the Guardian (8%) and the Daily Mail (6%).
The survey found that 46% of its respondents felt the BBC was still a vital institution, against 20% who thought it a waste of money; while 61% agreed with the statement that it would be a "disaster if Britain lost the BBC" (36% strongly agreeing, 25% slightly agreeing).
Overall, Conquest concluded from the survey that a background of goodwill remains for the BBC, but that this can easily be eroded. "The perception is that it has made genuine mistakes and is making efforts to sort them out in a transparent and self critical way, and that recent events in reality constitute more cock-up than conspiracy," said Penn.
Conquest conducted the survey with a sample of about 300 using its proprietory research methodology Metapohorix, an online survey tool that uses visualisation to answer questions, a method that aims to better capture people's emotional reaction to events rather than by giving yes/no or marks out of ten.
Read the full report
Nearly half the public have less trust in the BBC since the Jimmy Savile scandal began, according to an opinion poll produced on behalf of MediaGuardian on the eve of the expected publication of Nick Pollard's inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the axing of a Newsnight investigation into the late presenter's activities.
Market research agency Conquest Research & Consultancy's survey, conducted 24-26 November, found that 49% of respondents trust the BBC less than they did before "recent events" – a reference to the later misidentification of Lord McAlpine by Newsnight as well as the grim sex abuse scandal revealed by rival broadcaster ITV.
Of these, 19% of the 300 surveyed say they trust the BBC "much less than before", while 30% trusted the corporation "slightly less than before" in the aftermath of a six week controversy that ultimately led to the departure of its short-lived director general George Entwistle in the wake of the McAlpine error.
David Penn, the managing director of Conquest Research warned that the fallout from the Savile/Newsnight debacle "could well produce a permanent downgrade in the BBC's status," although he added that what was propping the broadcaster up was a perception that it was a "national treasure" which meant it remained the most trusted media outlet in Britain.
A significant minority – 33% – also blamed the BBC for "Jimmy Savile's behaviour", even though there is also allegations that he carried out sexual abuse at Stoke Mandeveille hospital, Broadmoor hospital and Duncroft Approved School for Girls near Staines as well as other institutions with which he was associated.
Almost half – 48% – of respondents felt the Savile affair was "the worst crisis" in the BBC's history, agreeing with remarks made by veteran foreign editor John Simpson in late October. When asked if the BBC needs a radical overhaul, 62% of Britons said yes (28% strongly agreeing, 34% slightly agreeing).
But, perhaps most ominously for the publicly funded Corporation, over 54% agreed with the statement that the £145.50 a year licence fee is a waste of money and should be abolished (34% strongly agreed, 20% slightly agree). The current licence fee deal runs until 2017, but negotiations over the next phase will begin the year after next.
However, despite the damage done to public perceptions, Conquest Research found that the BBC remains by some distance the most trusted source of UK news with 39% of respondents choosing it as their most trusted, ahead of ITV (13%), Sky News (10%), the Guardian (8%) and the Daily Mail (6%).
The survey found that 46% of its respondents felt the BBC was still a vital institution, against 20% who thought it a waste of money; while 61% agreed with the statement that it would be a "disaster if Britain lost the BBC" (36% strongly agreeing, 25% slightly agreeing).
Overall, Conquest concluded from the survey that a background of goodwill remains for the BBC, but that this can easily be eroded. "The perception is that it has made genuine mistakes and is making efforts to sort them out in a transparent and self critical way, and that recent events in reality constitute more cock-up than conspiracy," said Penn.
Conquest conducted the survey with a sample of about 300 using its proprietory research methodology Metapohorix, an online survey tool that uses visualisation to answer questions, a method that aims to better capture people's emotional reaction to events rather than by giving yes/no or marks out of ten.
Modelo transexual imita Michelle Obama
A quinta publicação da revista americana "Candy" apresenta uma modelo transsexual na pele da primeira dama dos EUA, Michelle Obama.
TSA (Finally) Studying Health Effects of Body Scanners
An anonymous reader writes "A 2011 ProPublica series found that the TSA had glossed over the small cancer risk posed by its X-ray body scanners at airports across the country. While countries in Europe have long prohibited the scanners, the TSA is just now getting around to studying the health effects." I'm not worried; the posters and recorded announcements at the airport say these scanners raise no health concerns
Samsung drops Europe Apple case
Samsung says it will drop its lawsuit seeking to ban the sale of some of Apple's products in Europe.
Amid scars of past conflict Spanish far right grows
Paul Mason finds Franco era wounds in danger of re-opening
How Arctic cyclones help warm up Europe
Santa better have hurricane insurance. Every year, there are thousands of cyclones in the Arctic, some with hurricane-force winds. Before satellites spotted these storms, sailors would return from the North with tales of massive squalls appearing out of nowhere, creating waves up to 36-feet (11-meters) high.
Twitter and Nielsen pair up for 'social TV' ratings
The new measurement, dubbed the "Nielsen Twitter TV Rating," seeks to tap into the stream of viewer commentary and armchair musings generated on "second screens" - the smartphones and tablets perched on Twitter users' laps while they watch, say, Monday Night Football or the latest episode of "Homeland" on their TVs.
Ukraine and Russia hit by extreme cold snap and heavy snow
Ukraine and Russia hit by an extreme cold snap and heavy snow.
Swiss fine freight groups for price cartel
Swiss competition authority Weko follows EU’s much heavier fines with punishment for Kühne + Nagel, Panalpina, Deutsche Bahn and Agility
Instagram Wants To Sell Users' Photos Without Notice
DavidGilbert99 writes "Many Instagram users have reacted angrily to a proposed change to the apps terms of service by owner Facebook, which would give the social network 'perpetual' rights to all photos on Instagram, allowing it to sell the photos to advertisers without notice — or payment to the user. The new policy will come into effect on 16 January, just four months after Facebook completed its $1bn acquisition of Instagram. It states that Facebook has a right to distribute any content posted on Instagram without paying the user royalties:" Also worth reading Declan McCullagh's take on it.
Exigen expertos parar criminalización de migrantes
Expertos más reconocidos en la materia firmaron una declaración conjunta en la que demandan a los países el cese de la criminalización de este sector
Spam virus hits Android video games
Security firms are issuing warnings about a virus that uses Android phones to send junk mail from phone to phone
How algae is becoming much more than pond scum
From renewable biofuels to wastewater treatment and green building applications, the slimy water plant is getting much more respect in cleantech.
Ireland to revamp abortion laws after woman's death
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Laws allowing limited access to abortion will be introduced in Ireland, the only EU member state that bans the procedure, following the death of a woman who was refused a termination, the government said on Tuesday.
Monday, 17 December 2012
Pediatricians call to keep thimerosal in vaccines
(Reuters Health) - A mercury-containing preservative rarely used in the United States should not be banned as an ingredient in vaccines, U.S. pediatricians said Monday, in a move that may be controversial.
Vegetables in Israel Carry Heavy Pesticide Residue
Are Israelis eating a mouthful of pesticides for breakfast?
If there's one food group that Israelis love, it's vegetables. In fact, all over the Middle East, vegetables are treated with love and presented at table in infinite artful ways. And people are picky about their produce, carefully inspecting each tomato and cucumber before consenting to buy.
But health hazards lurk on the well-loved produce. According to Haaretz, 11% of produce tested by the Israel Health Ministry showed unacceptably high levels of pesticide residues. Of over 5000 samples taken from 108 kinds of foods, 56% had traces of different pesticides.
If there's one food group that Israelis love, it's vegetables. In fact, all over the Middle East, vegetables are treated with love and presented at table in infinite artful ways. And people are picky about their produce, carefully inspecting each tomato and cucumber before consenting to buy.
But health hazards lurk on the well-loved produce. According to Haaretz, 11% of produce tested by the Israel Health Ministry showed unacceptably high levels of pesticide residues. Of over 5000 samples taken from 108 kinds of foods, 56% had traces of different pesticides.
European grains avoid frost damage so far: EU unit
PARIS (Reuters) - Winter cereal crops across continental Europe avoided frost damage during a freezing spell earlier this month and should be spared in the week ahead, the European Union's crop monitoring unit said on Monday.
The Maya face Dec. 21 with ancestral calm
Amid a worldwide frenzy of advertisers and new-agers preparing for a Maya apocalypse, one group is approaching Dec. 21 with calm and equanimity — the people whose ancestors supposedly made the prediction in the first place.
Leaking Barge Spilling Fuel Oil into New York City Waters
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A barge with a leaking cargo tank spilled fuel oil into a New York City waterway on Saturday, officials said.
The barge was carrying 112,000 gallons of No. [More]
The barge was carrying 112,000 gallons of No. [More]
The dopamine side(s) of depression
Depression is a disease with a difficult set of symptoms. Not only are the symptoms difficult to describe (how do you really describe anhedonia, before you know the word for it?), symptoms of depression manifest in different ways for different people. One person will eat more, sleep all the time, move slowly. Another will eat almost nothing, never sleep, and be irritable and nervous. They are both depressed. The only universal symptom is the feeling of...depression, and the need for successful treatment. Treatments which often take several weeks to work, are often ineffective, and which come with a host of side effects.So I was particularly intrigued when Nature published two papers this week looking at the role of dopamine in depressive-like behavior. What I particularly like is that these two papers have somewhat opposite results, due to different behavioral methods, something which I think highlights some of the problems associated with studying depression. Ed Yong covered both of the studies together fabulously over at Not Exactly Rocket Science , but I'd like to look at them both separately, to take a deeper look at each one, see what they've achieved, and what other questions they raise. So I will start with one today, and post the other tomorrow, looking at both sides of dopamine's potential role in depression. [More]
Hormones from Livestock Operations May Skew Fish Gender
Baby fish exposed to hormone-laden manure from Indiana farms were much more likely to be male than those raised in uncontaminated water, according to new research.
[More]
[More]
Farmers in Nepal Use Urine to Boost Crop Yields
SOTANG, Nepal – A two-day’s walk from the nearest road, over the hills and valleys below Mount Everest, farmer Budhiman Tamang loads a basket of cabbages to take to the weekly market. His cabbages are double the average local size, and since cabbages are sold by the kilo, they double his profit, too.
[More]
[More]
Polar drilling effort hits snag: Boffins' search for life put on ice
Ancient Antarctic lake won't get another drilling for at least a few days
The British boffinry team hunting for life under the Antarctic ice-sheet over ancient Lake Ellsworth have run into trouble.…
The British boffinry team hunting for life under the Antarctic ice-sheet over ancient Lake Ellsworth have run into trouble.…
Robotic Arm Controlled By Your Mind
Controlling a robotic anything with your mind is considered to be the stuff of science fiction novels, not academic research. University of Pittsburgh professor and neuroscientist Andrew Schwartz has been studying and publishing how the brain can control an external arm and hand since 2006.
Nasa to test 'sleep-inducing lights'
A lighting module that changes from blue to red is to be installed on the International Space Station to help regulate astronauts' sleeping patterns.
Samsung clashes with labor group over underage worker allegations in China
Samsung is facing accusations that the company deliberately tried to hide the employment of underage workers at a Chinese supplier, after a labor protection group said it found three girls under the age of 16 employed at the factory. On Friday, New York-based China Labor Watch said it had identified three underage workers at a factory operated by HTNS Shenzhen that assembles handsets for Samsung. The labor rights group, said it had checked the personal IDs of three workers, and also held discussions with them to verify their age.
Research In Motion Sends Invites For Jan. 30 BB10 Launch
Research In Motion this morning mailed out invitations to the media for a January 30 launch event in New York for the first devices based on the company's new BlackBerry 10 operating system software. The company is holding parallel events in Toronto, London, Paris, Johannesburg and Dubai. RIM had previously announced that
SSD prices continue to plunge
Since 2010, SSD (solid state drive) prices have plummeted 300 percent since 2010, this year reaching what researchers call the magic price point of $1-per-gigabyte of capacity. After dropping 20 percent in the second quarter of 2012 alone, SSD prices fell another 10 percent in the second half of the year, according to data from IHS iSupply.
Google to Microsoft: Up yours
Last week, to hear the press tell it, Google went on a rampage against Microsoft.
Top CEOs Share how Big Data Is Transforming Our Health, Wealth and Security
In his book Managing in the Next Society Peter Drucker explains the nature of transformation. The Industrial Revolution of the 1820s occurred 40 years after James Watt’s steam engine; and the railroad concept pioneered in 1829 became transformative in the 1860s, setting the stage for national expansion in America. We see this same time pattern in the growth of data of the past few decades where now, in 2012, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created every single day. In the simplest terms, the reason it’s now called big data is because of two new elements 1. no-SQL data utilizes parallel processing instead of sequenced processing, which dramatically escalates speed and 2. non-structured data includes blogs, emails, web logs and social media etc., which when added to traditional structured data dramatically escalates data volume.
Fake Apple Store In China
In the obscure southwestern town of Kunming, three Apple stores have cropped up. They're not as they seem.
Image problems mount in corporate Germany
Many big German companies have become embroiled in criminal investigations recently, suggesting a worsening of ethical standards in corporate Germany. But only ethics pay off in the end, business experts say.
US shale gas sparks a chemical revolution
Cheap feedstock created by the move into hydraulic fracturing has led to an expansion in ethylene projects to take advantage of the glut
Chemical boom hit by construction costs
Capital investment soars for ethane plants under development to take advantage of the US’s glut of cheap shale gas
Deep Earth tremors may foretell quakes
Tiny tremors, smaller than earthquakes, are shaking the Cascadia subduction zone deep beneath the Pacific Northwest.
VENEZUELA • Remède électoral pour Chávez
"Nous offrons à Chávez le meilleur médicament : l'Etat de
Tachira", a déclaré José Gregorio Vielma Mora, nouveau gouverneur de cet état,
l'un des
Tachira", a déclaré José Gregorio Vielma Mora, nouveau gouverneur de cet état,
l'un des
Venezuela vote triumph a "present" for sick Chavez
CARACAS (Reuters) - Hugo Chavez's supporters dedicated their dominant regional election win to the absent Venezuelan president and turned attention back on Monday to his fight to recover from cancer surgery in Cuba.
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Dutch script kiddie pwns 20,000 Twitter profiles
How much do you have in common with the other lusers?
A Dutch teenager successfully hijacked 20,000 Twitter profiles to post a message dissing their owners for being slack with security.…
A Dutch teenager successfully hijacked 20,000 Twitter profiles to post a message dissing their owners for being slack with security.…
The Little Known Spy Agency That Knows Your Flight Plans And Much More
This week, the Wall Street Journal had an in-depth report about how the National Counterterrorism Center won the intel jackpot, giving it the right to store and monitor almost any government database. The Journal highlights dissent within the government about the program; the former privacy czar for the Department of Homeland Security said that new rules being set for the seven-year-old NCTC constituted a "sea change" because, in the words of the WSJ, "whenever citizens interact with the government, the first question asked will be, are they a terrorist?"
Google Maps for iPhone violates European data protection law, German watchdog says
When users install Google Maps on their iPhone, the option to share location data with Google is switched on by default. By doing this, Google violates European data protection law, according to a German data protection watchdog. Google Maps for iPhone appeared in the App Store on Wednesday and was welcomed by many after Apple stumbled with its own maps application. Google Maps quickly became the most popular free app in the App Store.
Microsoft: IE mouse tracking vuln no big deal. Sort of...
Will fix it anyway. Probably...
Microsoft has dismissed allegations that Internet Explorer can allow attackers to track the position of the user's mouse cursor, arguing that the original report was self-serving and that the observed behavior does not represent a credible threat.…
Microsoft has dismissed allegations that Internet Explorer can allow attackers to track the position of the user's mouse cursor, arguing that the original report was self-serving and that the observed behavior does not represent a credible threat.…
Baltimore Issued Speed Camera Ticket To Motionless Car
SternisheFan sends this story from the Baltimore Sun: "The Baltimore City speed camera ticket alleged that the four-door Mazda wagon was going 38 miles per hour in a 25-mph zone — and that owner Daniel Doty owed $40 for the infraction. But the Mazda wasn't speeding. It wasn't even moving. The two photos printed on the citation as evidence of speeding show the car was idling at a red light with its brake lights illuminated. A three-second video clip also offered as evidence shows the car motionless, as traffic flows by on a cross street. Since the articles' publication, several lawmakers have called for changes to the state law that governs the way the city and other jurisdictions operate speed camera programs. Gov. Martin O'Malley said Tuesday that state law bars contractors from being paid based on the number of citations issued or paid —an approach used by Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County and elsewhere. 'The law says you're not supposed to charge by volume. I don't think we should charge by volume,' O'Malley said. "If any county is, they need to change their program.'"
Won't follow Apple Store rules? How 'bout an iTASER TREAT!
Don't tase Li, bro
Police in New Hampshire have defended the tasering of a 44-year-old woman by one of its officers after she refused to leave a local Apple Store.…
Police in New Hampshire have defended the tasering of a 44-year-old woman by one of its officers after she refused to leave a local Apple Store.…
McAfee warns of Project Blitzkrieg hack attack on US banks
No, not that McAfee, the other McAfee
Security firm McAfee warns that there is a credible threat of a coordinated Spring offensive against at least 30 US banks next year by Eastern European fraudsters.…
Security firm McAfee warns that there is a credible threat of a coordinated Spring offensive against at least 30 US banks next year by Eastern European fraudsters.…
Grinchy Google to shut down another batch of services
Calendar, Sync features fall prey to 'winter cleaning'
As part of its ongoing process of pruning and streamlining its engineering efforts, Google has decided to terminate yet another batch of unloved and little-used services, in what it's calling its "winter cleaning."…
As part of its ongoing process of pruning and streamlining its engineering efforts, Google has decided to terminate yet another batch of unloved and little-used services, in what it's calling its "winter cleaning."…
Wind, solar could provide 99.9% of ALL POWER by 2030
Even better: It could do so at the same cost as fossil fuels
A group of researchers has released a study that claims to shoot down the common perception that clean, renewable energy from wind and solar sources is all well and good, eco-wise, but that it's too uncertain, sporadic, and pricey for widespread use.…
A group of researchers has released a study that claims to shoot down the common perception that clean, renewable energy from wind and solar sources is all well and good, eco-wise, but that it's too uncertain, sporadic, and pricey for widespread use.…
All Roads Lead to Natural Gas-Fueled Cars and Trucks
RoyalDutchShell is changing lanes. While oil development will continue to dominate its portfolio, the energy developer is now making plans to invest heavily in liquefied natural gas, or LNG. Shell, and others, see the export of the super-cooled natural gas as a lucrative venture.
Apple Has Its iPad Cannibalization Timed Perfectly
Ever since the iPad Mini launched, Apple watchers wondered how long it would take for the Mini to cannibalize the iPad's sales. Not long, as various figures are showing.
Boys and Girls May Get Different Breast Milk
Mother's milk may be the first food, but it is not created equal. In humans and other mammals, researchers have found that milk composition changes depending on the infant's gender and on whether conditions are good or bad. Understanding those differences can give scientists insights into human evolution.
[More]
[More]
Reservoirs 'can affect rainfall'
Researchers say large man-made reservoirs can increase the intensity of rainfall and can affect the effectiveness of flood defences.
Leaked Report Confirms Human-Induced Climate Change
A rogue reviewer posted a draft this week of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 's next report, in a bid to promote climate change denial .
[More]
[More]
Sheep Help Scientists Fight Huntington s Disease
When University of Cambridge neurobiologist Jenny Morton began working with sheep five years ago, she anticipated docile, dull creatures. Instead she discovered that sheep are complex and curious. Morton, who studies neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, is helping evaluate sheep as new large animal models for human brain diseases.
Huntington's is a fatal, hereditary illness that causes a cascade of cell death in the brain's basal ganglia region. The idea to use sheep to study this disease arose in 1993 in New Zealand, a country where sheep outnumber humans seven to one. Researchers had already identified disorders shared by humans and sheep, but University of Auckland neuroscientist Richard Faull and geneticist Russell Snell had a more ambitious notion. They decided to develop a line of sheep carrying Huntington's, which is brought on by repeats within the gene IT15 , in the hopes of studying the condition's progression and developing a treatment. They accomplished their goal in 2006 after extensive efforts.
[More]
Huntington's is a fatal, hereditary illness that causes a cascade of cell death in the brain's basal ganglia region. The idea to use sheep to study this disease arose in 1993 in New Zealand, a country where sheep outnumber humans seven to one. Researchers had already identified disorders shared by humans and sheep, but University of Auckland neuroscientist Richard Faull and geneticist Russell Snell had a more ambitious notion. They decided to develop a line of sheep carrying Huntington's, which is brought on by repeats within the gene IT15 , in the hopes of studying the condition's progression and developing a treatment. They accomplished their goal in 2006 after extensive efforts.
[More]
California Planning Low-Carbon Oasis Where Cars Aren't King
By Braden Reddall and Rory Carroll
NEWARK, California (Reuters) - Vacant industrial land near salt marshes and a derelict rail bridge seem like an odd setting for the beginnings of a lifestyle revolution in scenic California, but planners in the San Francisco Bay suburb of Newark view it as just that.
With an eye on the state's new land-use laws to cut carbon output, Newark's city council just voted to convert 200 acres owned largely by chemical companies into a development that should set the trend for a state bent on decarbonizing its economy, the world's ninth largest.
The marshes could be turned over to birds, satisfying environmentalists, or paved over with single family homes, like most of the Bay Area.
Newark planners envision something different, which might satisfy both - or neither: 2,500 new homes, mostly townhouses and apartments, built within walking distance of stores and schools and connected by a new train to jobs across the Bay.
That trip would put commuters right in the heart of Silicon Valley, where 1950s suburbs with two-car-garage homes grew out of orchards to create a California dream that has endured decades.
California's success in reshaping that dream, leaving behind big convertibles cruising past strip malls, will determine its future. [More]
NEWARK, California (Reuters) - Vacant industrial land near salt marshes and a derelict rail bridge seem like an odd setting for the beginnings of a lifestyle revolution in scenic California, but planners in the San Francisco Bay suburb of Newark view it as just that.
With an eye on the state's new land-use laws to cut carbon output, Newark's city council just voted to convert 200 acres owned largely by chemical companies into a development that should set the trend for a state bent on decarbonizing its economy, the world's ninth largest.
The marshes could be turned over to birds, satisfying environmentalists, or paved over with single family homes, like most of the Bay Area.
Newark planners envision something different, which might satisfy both - or neither: 2,500 new homes, mostly townhouses and apartments, built within walking distance of stores and schools and connected by a new train to jobs across the Bay.
That trip would put commuters right in the heart of Silicon Valley, where 1950s suburbs with two-car-garage homes grew out of orchards to create a California dream that has endured decades.
California's success in reshaping that dream, leaving behind big convertibles cruising past strip malls, will determine its future. [More]
Japanese Operator in Most Frank Admission over Nuclear Disaster
By Aaron Sheldrick
TOKYO (Reuters) - The operator of a Japanese nuclear power plant that blew up after a tsunami last year said on Friday its lack of safety and bad habits were behind the world's worst nuclear accident in 25 years, its most forthright admission of culpability.
The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co, said it accepted the findings of a parliamentary inquiry into the Fukushima nuclear disaster that accused the company of "collusion" with industry regulators.
An earthquake on March 11 last year generated a tsunami that smashed into the nuclear plant on Japan's northeast coast and triggered equipment failures that led to meltdowns and the spewing of large amounts of radiation into the air and sea.
Takefumi Anegawa, the head of a company reform task force, told a news conference the report by a parliamentary committee contained "so many descriptions about the lack of a safety culture and our bad habits".
"We admit, we completely admit, that part of the parliamentary report," Anegawa, told a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan.
He was responding to a question on whether the company accepted the parliamentary committee's findings that the disaster was preventable and the result of "collusion" between the company and regulators.
Tepco President Naomi Hirose said several months ago he was baffled by criticism of the company, which until recently has denied it could have foreseen the scale the tsunami and earthquake that knocked out cooling and power at the plant, despite warnings from scientists.
The once well-respected utility, now under government control, has been widely castigated for its failure to prepare for the disaster, and lampooned for its inept response as the crisis unfolded.
In October, 18 months after the disaster, the company admitted for the first time it could have been avoided.
TRYING TO CHANGE
Anegawa, who has worked at the Fukushima plant, said there were some misunderstandings in the "technological part" of the report.
"But (for) most of the investigation of our organization culture, we admit that, and we will try to change," he said.
Anegawa was speaking at the news conference with outside monitors Tepco appointed two months ago to oversee its reforms.
Asked to give an example of a step Tepco had taken to improve since he was appointed, Dale Klein, a former chairman of the U.S. [More]
TOKYO (Reuters) - The operator of a Japanese nuclear power plant that blew up after a tsunami last year said on Friday its lack of safety and bad habits were behind the world's worst nuclear accident in 25 years, its most forthright admission of culpability.
The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co, said it accepted the findings of a parliamentary inquiry into the Fukushima nuclear disaster that accused the company of "collusion" with industry regulators.
An earthquake on March 11 last year generated a tsunami that smashed into the nuclear plant on Japan's northeast coast and triggered equipment failures that led to meltdowns and the spewing of large amounts of radiation into the air and sea.
Takefumi Anegawa, the head of a company reform task force, told a news conference the report by a parliamentary committee contained "so many descriptions about the lack of a safety culture and our bad habits".
"We admit, we completely admit, that part of the parliamentary report," Anegawa, told a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan.
He was responding to a question on whether the company accepted the parliamentary committee's findings that the disaster was preventable and the result of "collusion" between the company and regulators.
Tepco President Naomi Hirose said several months ago he was baffled by criticism of the company, which until recently has denied it could have foreseen the scale the tsunami and earthquake that knocked out cooling and power at the plant, despite warnings from scientists.
The once well-respected utility, now under government control, has been widely castigated for its failure to prepare for the disaster, and lampooned for its inept response as the crisis unfolded.
In October, 18 months after the disaster, the company admitted for the first time it could have been avoided.
TRYING TO CHANGE
Anegawa, who has worked at the Fukushima plant, said there were some misunderstandings in the "technological part" of the report.
"But (for) most of the investigation of our organization culture, we admit that, and we will try to change," he said.
Anegawa was speaking at the news conference with outside monitors Tepco appointed two months ago to oversee its reforms.
Asked to give an example of a step Tepco had taken to improve since he was appointed, Dale Klein, a former chairman of the U.S. [More]
Video catches huge asteroid buzzing Earth
A new video captures the giant asteroid 4179 Toutatis tumbling through space on its flyby of Earth earlier this week.
New Toxic Nocturnal Primate Species Discovered
The slow loris shouldn't be a difficult object of study. For one thing, it's slow--very slow (think sloth slow ). And these small primates, which are unique in possessing a toxic bite to ward off predators, are charismatic due in large part to their compelling, wide-eyed faces. But they are also nocturnal , and they tend to live in hard-to-reach places, such as the rainforests of Borneo. Which might be why until recently, scientists had lumped all the slow lorises ( Nycticebus ) into just two species. [More]
Don t Sweat It: Premenopausal Women, Reproductive State, and the Joy of Night Sweats
Hot flashes occur in a slightly higher frequency among menopausal women (32 versus 19%, Mold et al. 2002), which explains why research has tended to focus on them as a menopausal phenomenon. But night sweats occur at a more similar frequency in menopausal and premenopausal women (29 versus 22%, Mold et al. 2002). [More]
China plans over 300 dam projects worldwide
A new report by the NGO, International Rivers, takes an in-depth look at the role China is playing in building mega-dams worldwide. According to the report, Chinese companies are involved in 308 hydroelectric projects across 70 nations. While dams are often billed as "green energy," they can have massive ecological impacts on rivers, raise local conflict, and even expel significant levels of greenhouse gases when built in the tropics.
New Emphasis on Keeping the Weight Down for Older Women
Being too overweight is known to be detrimental to one's health. But for postmenopausal women, keeping the weight down, and not letting it come back up is just as critical. A new study From Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC found that gaining weight back AFTER an intentional weight loss is associated with negative long-term effects for cardio and metabolic (CM) risk factors for older women. This study puts a new emphasis on the importance of the hardest part of weight loss, keeping the weight down
Global Decline of Big, Old Trees Impacts Forest Ecosystems
Trees can live hundreds, even thousands of years. But the problem is that these trees aren’t making it to old age and according to a new study, big, old trees are in decline throughout the world which can have detrimental impacts to forest ecosystems. Old trees are crucial organisms for many ecosystems: they provide homes for animals, provide space for other plants to grow, and they produce seeds, leaves, and nuts that serve as food. They also store large amounts of carbon and continue to sequester it as they grow, said study co-author David Lindenmayer, a researcher at Australian National University.
Last Turbine Installed at World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm
Construction of the 125th and last turbine at the London Array Offshore Wind Farm has been completed, marking the end of major construction activities at the massive 630MW renewable energy site. Turbine installation began in January 2012 and has been completed by MPI Discovery, A2SEA's Sea Worker and Sea Jack. With all turbines in place and 55 connected and supplying power to the national grid, the wind farm is on track to be fully operational in Spring 2013. The wind farm has been generating energy since October 2012 when the first turbine began producing power.
Fisheries Commission Ignores Advice for Ending Overfishing
A five-day meeting on fisheries ended last week (6 December) amid complaints that big fishing nations have blocked efforts to curb tuna overfishing and ignored scientific advice. The accusations were made following the ninth regular session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which is the governing body for an international fisheries agreement that seeks to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish, such as tuna, in parts of the Pacific Ocean.
Lawsuit Targets $3 Billion in U.S. Funding for Fossil Fuel Project in Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the U.S. Export-Import Bank's nearly $3 billion in financing for a massive Australian fossil fuel facility in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Construction and operation of the liquefied natural gas facility will threaten sea turtles, dugongs and many other protected marine species, as well as the Great Barrier Reef itself.
Increasing Urban Populations May Lead to More Slums and Health Issues
The world's urban population is expected to grow by 2.6 billion people between 2011 and 2050, bringing the total number of urbanites to 6.3 billion, according to new research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online service. This urban expansion will be especially burdensome for developing countries, where 82 percent of the world's population currently lives, writes report author Grant Potter. Although the developing world is less urbanized than the industrial world in relative terms, developing countries are home to an estimated 1.54 billion more people.
Edison Mission prepares bankruptcy filing: source
(Reuters) - Edison Mission Energy, a power company that operates in more than a dozen U.S. states, is preparing a possible bankruptcy filing as it tries to restructure about $5 billion in debt, according to a source close to the matter.
Effects of Neonatal Overfeeding on Juvenile and Adult Feeding and Energy Expenditure in the Rat
by Aneta Stefanidis, Sarah J. Spencer
Overfeeding during perinatal life leads to an overweight phenotype that persists throughout the juvenile stage and into adulthood, however, the mechanim(s) underlying this effect are poorly understood. We hypothesized that obesity due to neonatal overfeeding is maintained by changes in energy expenditure and that these changes differ between males and females. We investigated feeding, physical activity, hormonal and metabolic alterations that occur in adult rats made obese by having been nursed in small litters (SL) compared with those from control litters (CL). There were no differences in absolute food intake between the groups, and juvenile and adult SL rats ate less chow per gram body weight than the CL did in the dark (active) phase. Juvenile, but not adult SL rats did have reduced whole body energy expenditure, but there were no differences between the groups by the time they reached adulthood. Adult SL females (but not males) had reduced brown adipose tissue (BAT) temperatures compared with CL in the first half of the dark phase. Our results indicate a persistent overweight phenotype in rats overfed as neonates is not associated with hyperphagia at any stage, but is reflected in reduced energy expenditure into the juvenile phase. The reduced dark phase BAT activity in adult SL females is not sufficient to reduce total energy expenditure at this stage of life and there is an apparently compensatory effect that prevents SL and CL from continuing to diverge in weight that appears between the juvenile and adult stages.
Overfeeding during perinatal life leads to an overweight phenotype that persists throughout the juvenile stage and into adulthood, however, the mechanim(s) underlying this effect are poorly understood. We hypothesized that obesity due to neonatal overfeeding is maintained by changes in energy expenditure and that these changes differ between males and females. We investigated feeding, physical activity, hormonal and metabolic alterations that occur in adult rats made obese by having been nursed in small litters (SL) compared with those from control litters (CL). There were no differences in absolute food intake between the groups, and juvenile and adult SL rats ate less chow per gram body weight than the CL did in the dark (active) phase. Juvenile, but not adult SL rats did have reduced whole body energy expenditure, but there were no differences between the groups by the time they reached adulthood. Adult SL females (but not males) had reduced brown adipose tissue (BAT) temperatures compared with CL in the first half of the dark phase. Our results indicate a persistent overweight phenotype in rats overfed as neonates is not associated with hyperphagia at any stage, but is reflected in reduced energy expenditure into the juvenile phase. The reduced dark phase BAT activity in adult SL females is not sufficient to reduce total energy expenditure at this stage of life and there is an apparently compensatory effect that prevents SL and CL from continuing to diverge in weight that appears between the juvenile and adult stages.
Quase meio milhão de cubanos vacinados contra a gripe
Cerca de 475 mil pessoas foram vacinadas contra a gripe sazonal em Cuba, no âmbito de uma campanha nacional de imunização, anunciou, esta sexta-feira, o ministro da Saúde.
Changing of the Guard: Chinese Opposition to Labor Camps Widens
Opponents of China’s “re-education through labor” system say new leadership could put an end to abuses at the labor camps, which confine perceived troublemakers without trial.
Family of slain border agent sues federal officials
PHOENIX (Reuters) - The parents of a slain U.S. Border Patrol agent have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in connection with the botched "Fast and Furious" federal sting operation that saw guns purchased in the United States slip to suspected criminals in Mexico.
The Saturday Profile: A Diver Sifts Through São Paulo’s Polluted Rivers
osé Leonídio Rosendo dos Santos has been diving into the polluted Tietê and Pinheiros rivers for more than 20 years, bringing to the surface a list of items that is eerie and bizarre.
Small boat sinks off Greek island, 20 migrants drown
Small boat sinks off Greek island, 20 migrants drown: ATHENS (Reuters) - A small boat carrying migrants hoping to get to Greece sank near the eastern island of Lesvos early on Saturday, drowning 20 people, Greek police said.
IHT Rendezvous: China Calls for 'No Delay' on Gun Controls in U.S.
China, which enforces a near-total ban on the private possession of firearms, has called for stricter gun controls in the United States. On the same day that a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six women at a school in Connecticut, a man in China stabbed 22 children and an 85-year-old woman. There were no fatalities in that attack, although some of the children reportedly had their ears and fingers cut off.
IHT Rendezvous: China Calls for 'No Delay' on Gun Controls in U.S.
China, which enforces a near-total ban on the private possession of firearms, has called for stricter gun controls in the United States. On the same day that a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six women at a school in Connecticut, a man in China stabbed 22 children and an 85-year-old woman. There were no fatalities in that attack, although some of the children reportedly had their ears and fingers cut off.
School league table overhaul to stop teachers 'cheating'
League tables for schools in England are to be radically changed after the exam watchdog found they were being "fiddled" by teachers
Artificial Intelligence Knows When People Are Tweeting About You
Social media marketer Salorix has upgraded its analytics product, Amplify, which is a machine learning program that focuses on social networks. The purpose of Amplify is simple: it searches social media for conversations related to your business. But the program goes beyond just looking for people talking about you. It looks for conversations that are relevant to the products and services you provide - giving you an opportunity to market your product.
Prince of Wales defends tax status
Prince of Wales defends tax status: Clarence House has defended the Prince of Wales' financial arrangements after antimonarchy campaigners accused the Duchy of Cornwall of using "a highly questionable interpretation" of its legal status to avoid corporation tax.
Justice Dept. Shelved Ideas to Improve Gun Background Checks
Justice Dept. Shelved Ideas to Improve Gun Background Checks: In 2011, the Justice Department proposed an expansion of the background-check system, but it remains unclear whether the Obama administration will take on the powerful gun-rights lobby.
Google Map App's Version of Anonymity Might Violate EU Privacy Laws
Ars Technica reports that Google's map application for iOS, however popular it might be with users, raises red flags with European regulators, who maintain that it by default does not sufficiently safeguard user privacy as required by EU privacy rules. Ars quotes Marit Hansen of Germany's Independent Centre for Privacy Protection on why: "Hansen's main gripe is that Google's use of 'anonymous' is misleading. 'All available information points to having linkable identifiers per user," she told Computerworld. Hansen added this would allow Google to track several location entries, thus leading to her assumption that Google's 'anonymous location data' would be considered 'personal data' under the European law."
Comet collapse leaves £50m bill for government to pick up
Comet collapse leaves £50m bill for government to pick up:
Deal agreed to cover unpaid tax and redundancy costs for electronic retailer's 6,600 staff who have been left jobless
The government will take a £50m hit from the collapse of Comet, in the form of unpaid tax and redundancy costs it has agreed to pay the 6,600 staff left jobless after the collapse of the electronics chain.
Administrators Deloitte will publish a report on Monday detailing the decline of the 236-branch chain, which collapsed under £200m of losses at the beginning of November. The report will show that Comet racked up more than £30m of losses in the five months leading up to administration, following a £95m loss in the year to April 2012.
The administrators have scrutinised company accounts from the past three years, but it is thought their report will not criticise the management team, led by former Dixons chief executive John Clare.
Deloitte has divided up over £80m of assets held by Comet between the chain's preferential creditors. Comet's backers, Hailey Acquisitions Limited (HAL), will receive almost £50m of the £145m they are owed. The group of US and British investors bought Comet for £2 from Kesa in November 2011, in a deal arranged by private equity firm OpCapita. The identity of the investors is a closely guarded secret, but it is thought that OpCapita was among them, alongside activist investor Elliott Advisors.
Staff will also get £2.1m of holiday and back pay they are owed in full. Trade suppliers, meanwhile, will receive some of what they are owed, under a scheme that means they still own the goods they have supplied if they are not paid for them. About 85% of suppliers have claimed so-called "retention of title", resulting in payments of about £40m from the administrators.
Unsecured creditors will, however, get nothing from the administration process. These include customers who have paid for goods that have not been delivered, landlords, and HM Revenue and Customs. The taxman is facing an unpaid bill of £26.2m in VAT and payroll taxes. On top of that, sources close to the administrators said the government has agreed to pay staff £24m of redundancy pay.
The administrators' report is expected to detail steps taken to turn the business around over the past six months, noting that although costs were coming down, sales were declining at a faster pace.
Comet found it increasingly difficult to get goods on credit following its sale in November 2011. The administrators noted that some credit insurers – who pay out to suppliers if a retailer goes bust – stopped offering cover on the chain from that point, while others demanded higher premiums. As a result, Comet needed increasingly more money simply to get goods in store ahead of the Christmas rush.
The government will take a £50m hit from the collapse of Comet, in the form of unpaid tax and redundancy costs it has agreed to pay the 6,600 staff left jobless after the collapse of the electronics chain.
Administrators Deloitte will publish a report on Monday detailing the decline of the 236-branch chain, which collapsed under £200m of losses at the beginning of November. The report will show that Comet racked up more than £30m of losses in the five months leading up to administration, following a £95m loss in the year to April 2012.
The administrators have scrutinised company accounts from the past three years, but it is thought their report will not criticise the management team, led by former Dixons chief executive John Clare.
Deloitte has divided up over £80m of assets held by Comet between the chain's preferential creditors. Comet's backers, Hailey Acquisitions Limited (HAL), will receive almost £50m of the £145m they are owed. The group of US and British investors bought Comet for £2 from Kesa in November 2011, in a deal arranged by private equity firm OpCapita. The identity of the investors is a closely guarded secret, but it is thought that OpCapita was among them, alongside activist investor Elliott Advisors.
Staff will also get £2.1m of holiday and back pay they are owed in full. Trade suppliers, meanwhile, will receive some of what they are owed, under a scheme that means they still own the goods they have supplied if they are not paid for them. About 85% of suppliers have claimed so-called "retention of title", resulting in payments of about £40m from the administrators.
Unsecured creditors will, however, get nothing from the administration process. These include customers who have paid for goods that have not been delivered, landlords, and HM Revenue and Customs. The taxman is facing an unpaid bill of £26.2m in VAT and payroll taxes. On top of that, sources close to the administrators said the government has agreed to pay staff £24m of redundancy pay.
The administrators' report is expected to detail steps taken to turn the business around over the past six months, noting that although costs were coming down, sales were declining at a faster pace.
Comet found it increasingly difficult to get goods on credit following its sale in November 2011. The administrators noted that some credit insurers – who pay out to suppliers if a retailer goes bust – stopped offering cover on the chain from that point, while others demanded higher premiums. As a result, Comet needed increasingly more money simply to get goods in store ahead of the Christmas rush.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)