Posted:
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday intervened as a political crisis in Ukraine turned deadly, calling President Viktor Yanukovych and saying he should withdraw government forces who stormed a protest camp.Vice President Biden called Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych today to express grave concern regarding the crisis on the streets of Kiev.He called on President Yanukovych to pull back government forces and to exercise maximum restraint, a White House statement said.US officials had watched with alarm as television pictures showed flames engulfing a camp manned by opposition protesters in central Kiev after government forces moved in on the bloodiest day in the standoff so far, which saw at least 12 people killed.The White House said Biden made clear in the telephone call that Washington condemned violence by any side but that the government bears special responsibility to de-escalate the situation.The vice president further underscored the urgency of immediate dialogue with opposition leaders to address protesters' legitimate grievances and to put forward serious proposals for political reform.The United States is committed to supporting efforts to promote a peaceful resolution to the crisis that reflects the will and aspirations of the Ukrainian people.Biden has repeatedly reached out to Yanukovych and opposition leaders in an effort to help bring an end to the political crisis.Tuesday's violence marked the first such outburst since mid-January in the Ukrainian capital, which has been wracked by anti-government demonstrations since Yanukovych in November rejected a European Union pact in favor of closer ties with historical master Russia.
 |
|
Posted:
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday he was deeply disturbed by findings of grave human rights violations in North Korea from a UN-mandated inquiry, saying he hoped the report would raise international awareness.The detailed and wide-ranging report, compiled by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on North Korea, offers a searing indictment of Pyongyangs rights record, detailing murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence.Ban remains seriously concerned about human rights and the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), a statement said, using the countrys formal name.As such, he is deeply disturbed by the findings of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the DPRK.Ban noted that the inquiry commission, established by the Human Rights Council was independent of the United Nations, and he said he hopes the report will contribute to raising international awareness about grave violations of those values in the DPRK.He also urged North Korean authorities to engage with the international community to improve human rights and the living conditions of its people.North Korea refused to cooperate with the commission, claiming its evidence was fabricated by hostile forces.The COI panel said its leaders should be brought before an international court for a litany of crimes against humanity -- a recommendation that many observers suggested was wishful thinking.Any substantive action on the part of the world community would require the participation of the Norths key ally China, which has made clear it opposes any move to refer the Pyongyang leadership to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
 |
|
Posted:
ANKARA (AFP) - Turkey's president, Abdullah Gul, said Tuesday he had signed into force a controversial law voted in by the government that would tighten controls over web use.Gul said on his Twitter feed he promulgated the law -- which the opposition and rights groups say infringes on citizens' freedoms -- after the government assured him it would soften parts of it through later amendments.I am aware of the problems mainly on two points.... These concerns will be taken into account in the new law, he said.An opposition lawmaker earlier confirmed the planned amendments to aspects of the bill concerning some powers of Turkey's telecommunications authority.The steps are positive but not enough, Akif Hamzacebi of the Republican People's Party (CHP) was quoted as saying by NTV television.Under the bill, the Telecommunications Communications Presidency (TIB) can demand that Internet providers block pages deemed insulting or considered an invasion of privacy.But the government is now proposing that the TIB will have to inform a judge about any decision to block a web page, according to the Hurriyet newspaper.The judge would then have to issue a ruling within 48 hours or the TIB move would be deemed invalid.The Internet bill has sparked outrage both at home and abroad and fuelled concerns over the state of democracy in the EU-hopeful country under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.The legislation came on top of moves to curb the judiciary and a government purge of police and prosecutors in the face of corruption probe that has targeted close Erdogan allies.Erdogan has vehemently denied accusations of online censorship, and said Tuesday the proposed Internet curbs were aimed at countering blackmail and threats.The Internet will not be censored, freedoms will not limited, Erdogan told his lawmakers from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in parliament.He said the number of Internet subscribers in predominantly Muslim Turkey had swelled to 34 million from 20,000 since the AKP came to power in 2002.Defenders of the law say the new restrictions protect individual rights while critics argue they amount to nothing more than a fresh assault on freedom of expression and an attempt to stifle dissent.
 |
|
Posted:
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Punjab Minister for Population Welfare Beguma Zakia Shahnawaz assured full support for bringing reforms in legislation related to child marriage.Addressing a seminar here on Tuesday, Beguma Zakia Shahnawaz said child marriage is one of the most wide-spread human right’s violations worldwide and girls are being affected more as compared to boys.More than 60 million girls around the world were married under the age of 18 in 2013.Pakistan shares a major portion in the early marriage as 42 percent of girls married under the age of 18 years across the globe were from Pakistan. The practice of child girl’s marriage is more common in the rural areas as compared to the urban areas.Begum Zakia Shahnawaz discussed that Chief Minister Punjab is very much focussed for the betterment and development of youth and women of Punjab. She also shared the efforts of Punjab government for making legislative reforms in the provincial assembly.She briefed about some of the features of new bill being tabled in the assembly and shared that minimum age of girl is also proposed as18 in the new bill and to ensure and validate the right age the possessions of CNIC is being recommended as mandatory at the time of marriage for both parties.Other speakers including MNA Jamshed Ahmad Dasti, Punjab Minister Atta Muhammad Manika, MPA Farah Manzoor Rind, MPA Farzana Mir andMPA Nasar Ullah Zarai also expressed their concerns over the issue and urged the federal provincial governments to amend child marriage laws.
 |
|
Posted:
BEIJING (Web Desk) - President Mamnoon Hussain arrived here Tuesday evening on a three-day state visit as the guest of Chinese President Xi Jinping.At the Beijing Capital International Airport, red carpet was rolled out to welcome the distinguished guest and his entourage. President Mamnoon was greeted at the airport by Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Guo Ping Cheng.A small Chinese girl presented a bouquet to him.Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Masood Khalid, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong, and senior Chinese government and Pakistan Embassy officials were also present on the occasion.The President’s entourage included Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah.A contingent of People’s Liberation Army presented the salute to President Mamnoon Hussain, as he came out from his plane.Chinese President Xi will formally welcome President Mamnoon Hussain in a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. It will be followed by bilateral talks between the two leaders and signing of various agreements.President Xi will also host a banquet for his Pakistani counterpart and the delegation.Ambassador Masood Khalid said that this was President Mamnoon Hussain’s first state visit since he took office last year, and he was also the first foreign head of state, received by China since the country’s Spring Festival.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Deijiang will also meet him.The visit would prove instrumental in further cementing the already close and cordial ties between Pakistan and China, said Ambassador Khalid, adding that the two countries highly valued their time-tested friendship.Chinese Foreign Office Spokeswomen Hua Chunying in a briefing termed the development of friendship and cooperation with Pakistan a high priority in China’s diplomacy.She said China was ready to work with Pakistan to ensure the success of President Mamnoon Hussain’s visit, in a bid to push for new progress in bilateral relations.
 |
|
Posted:
TUNIS (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry made a brief, unannounced trip to Tunisia Tuesday to back the transition to democracy in the North African country that spawned the Arab Spring.His visit came amid troubled relations between the United States and longtime ally Egypt over the military overthrow of the Islamist government elected there in the aftermath of the 2011 uprisings that shook the Arab world.Tunisias agreement earlier this year on a consensus government and a new constitution three years after the ouster of veteran dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has been hailed as a model by Western governments uncomfortable about events in Egypt.Kerry met President Moncef Marzouki and caretaker Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa, who formed a cabinet of independents in January after a months-long political crisis ignited by the assassination of two secular politicians.We are very impressed by the steps that you have been taking, by the rational, thoughtful approach to the transition, Kerry told Marzouki.He congratulated Tunisia on its adoption last month of a new constitution that has been widely hailed as the most progressive in the region, calling it a big step, and said he looked forward to elections planned for later this year.Before boarding the plane for France, his next stop, Kerry said the visit was intended to show Tunisians that there are many, many countries and many people in the world who admire what people have been engaged in here.The top US diplomat often refers in his speeches to the Tunisian fruit vendor who set himself alight in protest at his countrys lack of democracy.The shocking self-immolation sparked the January 2011 revolution that toppled Ben Ali and ignited the Arab Spring uprisings across the region.What is unique, or at least striking in particular about Tunisia, is the willingness of opposing sides to reach out and show some inclusiveness and cooperation, a senior US official said, asking not to be named.Progress despite violence -Tunisias new leaders have grappled with a surge in Islamist unrest, which saw the murder of two opposition politicians, Chokri Belaid and leftist MP Mohamed Brahmi.That sparked a crisis between the governing Ennahda party, a moderate Islamist movement, and its secular opponents, from which the country is only now emerging with the adoption of the new constitution.Ennahda, which won Tunisias first free elections in October 2011, stepped down in January under a hard-won agreement to end the crisis. That allowed Jomaa to form a cabinet tasked with leading the country to fresh elections.Despite the political progress, Islamist violence remains a threat, and the new leaders must also deal with persistent social unrest.More than 1,000 protesters gathered Monday in the town of Jendouba to condemn the weekend killings of four people by suspected jihadists.Kerry hailed the Tunisian security forces success in arresting militants and breaking up Islamist cells in recent weeks, in operations he described as well planned and executed.State Department officials have also said Washington wants to work with the authorities to bring to justice those behind a 2012 attack on its embassy and the American school in Tunis, after suspended jail terms were given to 20 suspects last year.In our view theres more that could be done both in terms of arrests and prosecutions, a senior State Department official said.Washington has given some $400 million (292 million euros) in assistance to Tunis since 2011.Kerry was also to upgrade ties during his visit, announcing that they would launch a strategic dialogue, a high-level forum for regular talks.Washingtons relations with Tunis contrast with those with Cairo, where army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi tilted squarely towards Moscow in a visit last week.Asked by journalists what lessons Egypt could learn from Tunisia, Kerry said he was not going to advise General Sisi at a press conference, but would talk to the Egyptian authorities personally in the coming days or weeks as part of a continuing dialogue.Kerry left Tunis for Paris for a meeting Wednesday with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas as the US seeks to hammer out an agreed framework to guide negotiations with Israel towards a peace treaty.
 |
|
Posted:
VIENNA (AFP) - Nuclear talks between Iran and world powers moved into new territory Tuesday as negotiators embarked on what both sides predicted will be a long and difficult path towards a lasting deal.In a nutshell such an historic accord would let Iran retain its civilian nuclear programme, but on a modest scale and with enough oversight to make developing atomic weapons all but impossible.Success could lead to Tehran and Washington normalising relations after a 35-year chill and could even bear fruit in other areas, such as Syria. But failure might lead to conflict.The scheduled three-day meeting in Vienna between Iran, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany follows an interim deal struck in Geneva in November that they now want to transform into a permanent agreement.Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who Tuesday took to Twitter to denounce nuclear weapons, set a cautious tone Monday when he said this effort would go nowhere but that he was not against trying.Abbas Araqchi, a senior Iranian negotiator, told Iranian media in Vienna that a deal was a big task, and we have long and complicated negotiations ahead of us.It is probably as likely that we wont get an agreement as it is that we will, said one senior US administration official.But these negotiations are the best chance we have ever had.On Tuesday the seven parties held a brief plenary session before breaking off into bilateral meetings, including between the Iranian and US delegations, a senior US State Department official said.A spokesman for the world powers lead negotiator, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said the aim of this Vienna round was a workable framework to facilitate these negotiations.Iran has long been suspected of seeking atomic weapons, despite its denials, and the US and Israel -- assumed to have a large atomic arsenal itself -- have never ruled out military action.Band-aid solution -Under the November accord which took effect on January 20, Iran scaled back certain nuclear activities in exchange for minor sanctions relief and a promise of no new sanctions.The freeze only lasts until July 20 -- although it can be extended -- and experts say that success in Geneva came at the price of postponing the really difficult issues.Geneva really was a stop gap, a band-aid solution that didnt really heal the wounds, Siavush Randjbar-Daemi, Iran and Middle East lecturer at Manchester University, told AFP.Under the comprehensive solution that the parties aim to sew up by November, the six powers want Iran to scale back for a long-term duration its nuclear programme.This might include closing the underground Fordo facility, slashing the number of uranium centrifuges, cutting the stockpile of fissile material, altering a new reactor being built at Arak and tougher UN inspections.In exchange, all UN Security Council, US and EU sanctions on Iran -- which are costing it billions of dollars every week in lost oil revenues, wreaking havoc on the economy -- would be lifted.But whether Iran will play along remains to be seen. Before the talks, Tehran had set out a number of red lines, including a refusal to dismantle any facilities.Washingtons watching -Those in Vienna will be well aware that whatever they agree will need to be sold not only to other countries like Israel and the Sunni Gulf monarchies, but also back home.Obama has members of Congress breathing down his neck, threatening more sanctions and demanding -- with Israel -- a total dismantlement of Irans nuclear facilities.Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whose election in 2013 has helped thaw relations with the West, is on thin ice with hardliners seeking to turn Khamenei against him.The trouble is that both sides have hard men outside the negotiating room who have to be satisfied, Richard Dalton, the former British ambassador to Tehran now at think-tank Chatham House, told AFP.
 |
|
Posted:
LAHORE (Dunya News) – At least eight persons including three brothers, two women and three children were found dead in a house E-Block of Johar Town on Tuesday.According to the preliminary police investigation report, Nazir, step brother of Shahid and Zahid, is the alleged culprit who committed suicide after killing other family members.Police investigators have found that he was a cancer patient and a chemical engineer. The report cites the use of ammonia gas, which was used to kill the eight residents.The initial investigation report says that Nazir, who was a cancer patient, rendered all other unconscious and then killed them with a hammer.Later the accused committed suicide by taking sleeping pills.Police also recovered murder weapon and sleeping pills with dead body of Nazir from the upper storey of the house.It is to mention here that eight members of the same family were found dead in a house in Johar Town.Police rushed to the scene after receiving the information of the incident and started investigation. Statements of the victims’ neighbours were also recorded.Two investigation teams headed by DIG Investigation were also constituted to probe the incident.Police said the evidences show that the incident occurred hours earlier.The tragic incident spread a wave of fear among the residents of the area.Talking to media, CCPO Lahore Shafique Gujjar said white coloured chemical was also found near all dead bodies.One of the deceased was a professor, another a contractor and the third one was a cancer patient.Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif had also taken notice of the incident and sought an urgent report.Dunya News has obtained photos of victim Zahid, his wife and daughter.
 |
|
Posted:
MADRID (AFP) - Fanatical players forking out money to get ahead in games such as Candy Crush Saga or Angry Birds are driving explosive growth in the multi-billion-dollar mobile gaming business.Once hooked on free-to-download smartphone and tablet games, millions of not-so-brilliant or simply impatient gamers are ready to pay cash to obtain extra moves or new lives, or to avoid time delays standing between them and the next level.It is a lucrative model for businesses such as Candy Crush developer King Digital Entertainment, which announced Tuesday it had filed a request for a US initial public offering worth up to $500 million (364 million euros) and an ensuing listing on the New York Stock Exchange.Indeed, the so-called freemium phenomenon pushed up spending on mobile games, most of it devoted to such in-app purchases, by more than 60 percent to $16.5 billion in 2013, according to research house IHS.Double-digit annual growth is anticipated in the next three to five years.The way the games are set up is that there is no real limit on how much someone will spend within a single game, said Jack Kent, British-based mobile analyst at IHS.You are encouraged to keep going back and spend more, he said in an interview ahead of the February 23-27 World Mobile Congress in Barcelona gathering industry players including top app developers.Each in-app purchase may cost from $1 to $60 for anything from a few extra moves in the wildly popular Candy Crush game to green Gem currency in the strategy game Clash of Clans, or even a combined pack of in-game advantages on other titles, Kent said.Though games account for about 40 percent of all mobile app downloads, they make up about 80 percent of the revenues, the analyst said.The size of the smartphone and tablet games market is now more than twice that of traditional handheld consoles, such as the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS, he estimated.Technology research group Gartner Inc. predicts overall mobile game revenue will surge from $13.2 billion in 2013 to $17 billion in 2014 and $22 billion in 2015.This month, the Vietnamese creator of smash-hit mobile game Flappy Bird, Nguyen Ha Dong, actually withdrew his app from sale saying its runaway success had ruined his simple life.In an interview with Forbes, he said the game, where the aim is to direct a flying bird between oncoming sets of pipes and which reportedly raked in about $50,000 a day, had become an addictive product.- The app hooks you -Such qualms are unlikely to spread widely.As developers try to cash in, there are now more than a million mobile gaming apps available, making it hard for individual games even to be noticed.Lawrence Lundy, analyst at Frost & Sullivan technology research house, said mobile messaging providers in Asia were now teaming up with developers to offer games directly to their users.Japanese mobile messaging company LINE or South Koreas KakaoTalk, for example, have effectively become games platforms, analysts said, allowing users to challenge their friends.They prove it can be done and you can make a lot of money from those sources, Lundy said.The mechanics of the in-app purchase are key, said Brian Blau, consumer technology analyst at Gartner.You either get the app for free or you pay a very low price. Then, the app hooks you, gets you interested, he said.Suddenly you find yourself unable to proceed.Perhaps you have to buy extra moves, or part with just $1 to avoid waiting, sometimes for a day at a time, before you can carry on playing.There is a certain amount of that addictive gambling type psychology about it but for the most part people just want to play the game. They like it, Blau said.People have traditionally paid $40-60 to buy a single video game, he said.The surprise is that developers have figured out a way for some users to get that kind of money out of mobile apps.The big money comes from the huge numbers of users, not from gouging individuals for large sums of money, Blau added.There is nothing tricky about it. The thing is that you want to play the game. There is a quality of the game that you like and that is what is causing you to do it. Are people impatient? Yes, I have to say that. Do they love playing games? The fact is, yes.
 |
|
Posted:
LONDON (Web Desk) - There was a simpler time, a time when potato snacks were shaped like smiley faces, leaving only an aftertaste of faint nostalgia and plastic.But those days are gone, now Birdseye are producing potato hashtags and potato @ symbols and calling them Mashtags.The addition of Mashtags to our food range is an exciting development for Birds Eye. Social media is all about conversation and we’re confident Mashtags will resonate across various groups of people, said Pete Johnson, senior brand manager at Birds Eye. Resonate. With an oven-baked potato product.He continues: We’re constantly looking for ways to innovate and inspire consumers and hope that Mashtags will get people talking around the table and help to make mealtimes more enjoyable.Billed as NEW and Tasty, Mashtags will be available in Asda, Sainsburys, Tesco and more from March.
 |
|
Posted:
KHARTOUM (AFP) - Rebels in Sudans Kordofan region are not interested in peace, Khartoums defence minister said Tuesday, adding to accusations hurled by the two sides during peace talks in Ethiopia.We hoped that the negotiations in Addis Ababa would be a road to peace in the two areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, Defence Minister Abdelrahim Mohammed Hussein told more than 1,000 uniformed troops who shouted back, Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) during a conference.But there are others who want something different, he said in Khartoum, without naming the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), ethnic rebels who have been fighting for almost three years in the two states.The war has displaced or otherwise affected more than one million people, according to the United Nations.Khartoum and the SPLM-N began their first peace talks in nearly a year last Thursday, under African Union mediation.We are keen for peace, said Hussein, but they didnt want peace and security in the two areas.He told members of the Popular Defence Force (PDF), a type of reserve unit used frequently to support the Sudan Armed Forces, that the military is ready to complete an offensive he announced last November to crush the insurgents.Despite that vow, an African diplomat told AFP last week that its the same stalemate in Kordofan and Blue Nile.In Addis Ababa on Monday the head of the rebel delegation, Yassir Arman, said negotiations were deadlocked as Khartoum wants to freeze this war without giving any solutions to the humanitarian situation and the political situation.The government denied talks had stalled but accused SPLM-N of raising issues unrelated to the two warzones of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.Hussein is wanted by the Hague-based International Criminal Court on 13 counts of alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Sudans Darfur region.
 |
|
Posted:
ROME (AFP) - Italy on Tuesday recalled its ambassador from India in protest over a new delay in court proceedings against two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in a case that has raised tensions.Ambassador Daniele Mancini will return to Italy immediately for consultations, the foreign ministry said in a statement, condemning a new and unacceptable delay by the Indian Supreme Court.The two marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who are staying at the Italian embassy in New Delhi, are accused of killing two Indian fishermen they mistook for pirates while guarding a cargo ship in 2012.Given the evident incapacity of the Indian judicial authorities to handle this case, Italy will continue and intensify action to defend its sovereign rights in line with international law, Foreign Minister Emma Bonino was quoted as saying.A first version of the statement had referred to Indias evident incapacity to handle the case, rather than accusing specifically the judiciary.Italys main aim remains trying to obtain the return of the two marines as quickly as possible, Bonino said.An Indian Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Tuesday was immediately postponed because prosecutors are still waiting for the Indian justice ministry to decide which law to try the case under.Attorney General Goolam Vahanvati has requested the pair be prosecuted under a maritime security law, which attracts a 10-year sentence.The matter was under the consideration of the law ministry and I need more time to work out a solution to the issue, Vahanvati told the court in New Delhi.The next hearing will be on February 24.This is too much. There is no justice in this case. We are faced with an ambiguous behaviour and a lack of trustworthiness on the part of the Indian authorities, said Mario Mauro, Italys defence minister.The decision to recall the ambassador is not only justified but inevitable and reflects the feelings of the Italian people, he said.Italian authorities have lobbied the European Union and the United Nations on the case, saying Latorre and Girone should be tried in Italy because it says the incident took place in international waters.India denies this, saying it happened in Indian waters.
 |
|
Posted:
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Pakistan has emphasized that Iranian forces have no authority to cross the borders in violation of the international law.Reacting to an Iranian statement that it can send forces into Pakistan to free five border guards abducted by militants‚ Foreign Office spokesperson said the two countries must respect each others borders.The spokesperson said Pakistan has already informed the Iranian authorities that Frontier Corps teams have intensively combed the entire region. However‚ it could not verify the entry or presence of these Iranian border guards on its territory.On Monday, Iran said that it would send forces into Pakistan to free five border guards said to have been kidnapped by militants if Islamabad did not take measures to secure their release.According to Iranian media reports, the guards were seized on February 6 in the Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchistan by militants who allegedly took them across the border to Pakistan.If Pakistan doesn’t take the needed steps to fight against the terrorist groups, we will send our forces into Pakistani soil. We will not wait for this country, Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli was quoted as telling the semi-official Mehr news agency.A Sunni insurgent Iranian group calling itself Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, according to a Twitter account purporting to belong to the group. The account s authenticity could not be immediately verified.The area where the kidnappings took place has a history of unrest, with the mainly Sunni Muslim population complaining of discrimination by Iran’s Shiite Muslim authorities, a charge Iran denies.Iranian security forces have also fought drug traffickers in the region that borders Pakistan and Afghanistan.The Iranian armed forces deputy chief of staff was quoted as telling the semi-official Fars news agency that Iran would show tough confrontation in this case.We will have no soft stand in this case and our neighboring country ... should account for its lack of action, Major General Hossein Hassani Sadi told reporters in Tehran on Monday, according to Fars English language website.Sadi said the guards were still alive, and underlined that political and military measures are underway to set them free, without elaborating.Interior Minister Rahmani-Fazli said an Iranian delegation would visit Pakistan on Monday to secure the guards’ release, state news agency ISNA reported.In October, 14 Iranian border guards were killed and three others captured in the same area in an attack that ISNA said was carried out by Jaish al-Adl.Sunni Muslim militant group Jundollah, which Iran says is linked to al Qaeda, has claimed a number of attacks and kidnappings since 2003, including a 2010 suicide bombing that killed dozens of people at a Shiite mosque.
 |
|
Posted:
CHICAGO (AFP) - In fact, feeling extremely lonely can increase an older persons chances of premature death by 14 percent, an impact nearly as strong as that of a disadvantaged socioeconomic status, according to John Cacioppo, psychology professor at the University of Chicago.He noted that a meta-analysis of several studies published in 2010 showed that social isolation had twice the impact on the risk of death as obesity.Cacioppo presented the findings Sunday at an annual conference in Chicago of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.The research carried out on a group of 20,000 people revealed adverse health effects of feeling alone, including sleep problems, high blood pressure, impaired immune cells and depression.Retiring to Florida to live in a warmer climate among strangers is not necessarily a good thing if it means you are disconnected from people who mean the most for you, Cacioppo said.Often, loneliness is accompanied by a sedentary lifestyle, which can significantly weaken ones health.Simple exercise such as walking regularly at a good pace cant just cut the risk of cardiovascular and Alzheimers disease by 50 percent -- it can also clearly slow down the normal aging process of an older persons brain, Kirk Erickson of the University of Pittsburgh told AFP.At the conference, the assistant professor of psychology presented new details of a study published in 2011 that involved 120 people aged 65 and older.- Older brain highly modifiable -With age, the brain shrinks, he said. Physical activity, however, helps improve its overall functioning and, in particular, increases the volume of the hippocampus by 2 percent, which reverses cerebral aging by one to two years and boosts mental capacities.For one, this research has demonstrated the brain remains highly modifiable late in adulthood, Erickson said.Even though the brain shrinks and declines tend to happen it does not seem to be as inevitable ... and exercise seems to be a great way to take advantage of this natural capacity for brain plasticity.Whats more, its apparently not necessary to do a lot of exercise to get that result -- a modest amount is all it takes, he said.However, he acknowledged, there is still a lot to learn. We dont really know very much about how much is exactly needed.Even though we have learned a lot I have to say we still have a long way to go, he added.But that being said, physical activity seems to be one of the most promising approaches for positively influencing brain health in late adulthood.According to the Pew Research Center, the baby boomer generation began to turn 65 on January 1, 2011, with 10,000 doing so each day until 2030, said Cacioppo.This has been called the silver tsunami, he said.Some see an aging population as inevitably one with greater dementia and poor health, as predicted 15 to 20 years ago, he added.But in fact we see a decline in disability rather than an increase in part because of medical advances and people starting to take better cares of themselves.Still, a sedentary lifestyle rather than one filled with physical activity is the norm in old age, he said.But we have new information about how to better age.
 |
|
Posted:
NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indias Supreme Court spared three killers of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi from the hangmans noose, citing delays in the case 23 years after his assassination by a Tamil suicide bomber.The top court headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam handed the three lives in prison on the grounds that successive Indian presidents had taken 11 years to decide their pleas for mercy against execution.We implore the government to render advice in a reasonable amount of time for taking a decision on mercy pleas, Sathasivam told the court in announcing the judgment.A lawyer for the three men -- Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan, all known by single names -- hailed the judgment as humane, adding that they were now living in hope of one day being released from prison.There is hope that the convicts will walk out of jail. The remission will be decided by the state government of Tamil Nadu, Yug Chaudhary outside the court.It is time that the death penatlty is abolished in this country, he added.The decision comes after the Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment last month that places new restrictions on executing prisoners in the worlds biggest democracy.The top court then commuted the death sentences of 15 convicts, ruling that inordinate and inexplicable delays in carrying out a death sentence were grounds for commuting a sentence.The three at the centre of Tuesdays ruling were members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a Sri Lankan-based separatist movement, which was wiped out by Sri Lankan forces in 2009.The men were convicted of plotting the May 21, 1991 murder of Gandhi by a female suicide bomber, but their appeal to the president in 2000 for clemency was only rejected in 2011.The Chennai High Court in the countrys south then stayed their executions, pending another round of appeals from lawyers and state politicians who opposed their hanging.The lengthy delay contrasts sharply with the execution of Kashmiri Muslim separatist Mohammed Afzal Guru last year over a deadly raid on the Indian parliament in 2001 that left 10 people dead.Successive governments in India have long been wary of upsetting the large Tamil population in the south where the trios case has become a cause celebre.India had an eight-year unofficial moratorium on carrying out the death penalty from 2004 to 2012, with only three people executed in the last decade. The delays have led to a buildup of more than 400 prisoners on death row.- Murder seen as retaliation -Gandhi had become Indias youngest ever prime minister after his mother, former premier Indira Gandhi, was assassinated in October 1984. He ruled until losing an election five years later.His widow Sonia is the president of the ruling Congress party and his son Rahul is the frontman for the partys campaign in elections due by May.The shredded clothes and the shoes that Rajiv was wearing when he was killed while on an election tour in the south of the country remain on display in a museum in the Indian capital.Gandhis killing was seen as retaliation for a 1987 Indian government pact with the Sri Lankan government to disarm the guerrillas, who had been trained and armed by New Delhi in the early 1980s.After that pact, the LTTE fought Indian troops deployed to Sri Lanka by Rajiv Gandhis government to supervise the accord. India withdrew its troops after 32 months in which it lost 1,200 soldiers at the hands of the rebels.A relative of one of the killers, Perarivalan, reacted with joy to the news, saying for the full family it is an emotional moment.Perarivalan ... when you see him, he is a totally good human being, his aunt Nilaypapiya told NDTV in the southern city of Chennai.Amnesty International said Tuesdays decision piles pressure on the government to abolish the death penalty altogether.India must now do away with the death penalty -- a cruel, inconsistent and irreversible form of punishment that has no proven deterrent effect on crime, senior researcher Divya Iyer said in a statement.
 |
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Biden tells Yanukovych he must withdraw forces in Kiev
Sunday, 12 January 2014
The 5 Most Damning Revelations In The New Chris Christie Bridge Scandal Documents
On Friday, the New Jersey legislature released almost a thousand pages of internal emails and communications related to the controversial and unexpected lane closures at the George Washington Bridge last September. The massive document dump comes just two days after the Bergen Record published emails showing that Christie aides participated and orchestrated a plan to close down routes to the nation’s busiest bridge and snarl traffic in an apparent act of retribution against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey.
Christie held a press conference earlier this week to deny any involvement in the scandal and to announce the termination of one close aide and his decision to reprimand another. Several Christie appointees to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have also resigned.
The new documents reveal how Christie aides defended their inexplicable decision to study new traffic patterns on the George Washington Bridge without informing local officials or their New York counterparts, fended off questions from an exasperated Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, and then stayed quiet as the press investigated the reason for the changes. Below are the five most damning revelations:
Christie’s Port Authority chairman knew about the closings.
Though Christie insisted that David Samson, his chairman of the Port Authority, was not involved in the closings, the documents show that he was aware of the new traffic pattern before testing ended on Sep. 13.
In fact, Samson even wrote an angry email to New York Port Authority Official Patrick Foye, a Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) appointee, accusing him of leaking information to the press. “He’s playing in traffic, made a big mistake,” he wrote:
Christie officials knew that the new traffic patterns were causing massive congestion and raising safety concerns. Still, they continued the “study.”
Christie appointees Bill Baroni — the Deputy Director of the Port Authority — and David Wildstein — director of interstate capital projects — were told on the very first day of the study (Monday) that the new traffic patterns were causing massive delays in Fort Lee and impeding public safety. Fort Lee Police Department Chief called the new traffic pattern a “miserable failure.” Still, the officials kept the bridge lanes closed for three additional days:
Officials were also told that the tests were “very expensive and labor intensive”:
A PowerPoint presentation prepared after three days of snarled traffic, titled “EARLY assessment of the benefits of the trial.” The conclusion: “T.B.D.” (To be determined):
Officials also could not say how long the new traffic pattern was intended to last.
Port Authority officials blamed the traffic on the Mayor of Fort Lee.
On Sep. 12, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich wrote a personal letter to Baroni, “in hopes that a recent decision by the Port Authority will be reversed quietly, uneventfully and without political fanfare.” Sokolich remarks that the lane closures have “wreaked havoc upon our community,” “emergency vehicles are experiencing tremendous response time delays,” and complains that he had “received absolutely no notice of this decision” or “obtained any response to our multiple inquiries.” “[T]ry as we may to understand its rationale without the benefit of a response from the Port Authority, we are reaching the conclusion that there are punitive overtones associated with his initiative.”
He then reveals that Port Authority Police Officers had been advising local residents that the traffic was “the result of a decision that I, as the Mayor, recently made”:
Christie appointees lashed out at their New York counterparts for complaining about the study.
Foye blasted Christie officials for closing done the lanes, sending a scathing e-mail in which he chronicled the “dangers created to the public interest.” Foye promptly reversed the decision to close the lanes:
As Foye continued to request public disclosure and communication about the traffic changes, Wildstein described him as a “piece of crap” in an email to Michael Drewniak, Christie’s chief spokesman. Drewniak also attacked Foye in November.
Christie appointees tried to squash press stories about the study.
After reporters from the Wall Street Journal, New York Daily News, the Star Ledger, and other outlets began sending press inquires about the lane closures in September and then again as the controversy heated up in November, Christie appointees repeatedly instructed the press team to keep quiet and avoid comment.
Baroni specifically told Foye to avoid any public discussion about the matter:
After one staff member asked, “Has any thought been given to writing an op-ed or providing a statement about the G.W.B. study?” “Or is the plan just to hunker down and grit our way through it?” Wildstein replied, “Yes and yes.” Christie appointees repeatedly instructed press aides not to respond to reporters’ questions.
Suicide Rate Among Young Veterans Has Tripled, Report Finds
At least 22 veterans commit suicide every day and young male veterans under the age of 30 are three times more likely to commit suicide when compared to civilian males in the same age bracket, according to a new briefing released Thursday by the Department of Veteran Affairs. The number of veteran suicides largely remained unchanged between 2009 to 2011, but the number of male veteran between the ages of 18 to 24 who committed suicide increased by a rate of 33 per 100,000 over the three year period.
Young veterans in the high risk age category had a suicide rate of 79.1 per 1,000, while other American males had a suicide rate of 25 per 1,000, as NBC News pointed out. The study found that overall, male 
veterans between the age of 18 to 24 and female veterans were most likely to commit suicide. About
70 percent of male veterans who committed suicide took their lives with firearms, while nearly 80 percent of female veterans died as a result of poison or firearms. What’s more, veteran suicides among those enrolled in the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) decreased by about 30 percent, but suicides among veteran non-enrollees soared by 60 percent.
Lead study author Dr. Janet Kemp, the VA’s National Mental Health Director for Suicide Prevention, suggested to the military paper Stars and Stripes that while the reasons for veteran suicides are unclear, soldiers have to deal with factors like readjusting to civilian life and dealing with both physical and mental combat injuries.
The study notes that the VHA has made significant strides to address mental health concerns and has decreased the rate of suicide among older veteran health care enrollees and those with mental health issues. But, those enrollees do not always receive adequate treatment. In some cases, patients with mental issues commit suicide while waiting for months to access help. And limited access to a mental health specialist is an issue that will likely still be a burden for future veterans: returning troops, 15 percent of whom suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, would still have to wait to see a specialist only after the VHA deals with its current backlog of 900,000 unprocessed medical claims.
Best Television Apps For Android
Posted: 12 Jan 2014 07:20 AM PST
In 1920’s JL braid had invented a device which changed the face of communication. Yes it’s Television ( TV). After 1928 lot of development came, many new gadgets came, got established and gone. Today in this 21st century the most used electronic gadget is smartphones. I am not going further deep into the evolution of smartphones my job is to point out some of the top TV apps for android devices. Nothing is available for free. Internet data is required for using these apps. You could watch your favorite serials, movies, and even channels using these apps.
I am going to list down the top TV apps on android phones.
 BBC Player
You may have heard about BBC ( British Broadcasting Corporation ) don’t misunderstand that this app is created by them. This app is exclusively for BBC channel lovers. By using this android app you could figure out what’s all happening around you and you need not to be worried about missed programs because he / she could watch it by typing the name of the program on the search box. This feature is only available for 6-7 days after the program release. Internet connection is required for running this app 3G or Wifi would do be the best. This is one of the best TV apps for android phones or tablets.
Vevo Videos
Vevo videos is yet another android TV app. This application was first launched for iPhone and later android version of the app was released. During the time of release there were lot of complaints about the app that it has high loading time and all. Sooner an update came and it fixed all the bugs now this app works flawlessly on android devices. With a single tap you could share the videos with your friends on social media’s like Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon etc. With this app you could watch all leading television channels. This app requires a good internet connection. 3g or Wifi would be the best bet.
Sky Go
Sky go is another android app which enables you to watch television programs on your 3 or 5 inch mobile. This gadget transforms your mobile into live TV and the video quality provided by this app is great. This was listed among the top live TV app by cnet. This app requires subscription for viewing, that cannot be considered as a negative point according to me. The website of this app has 6 different categories you could select your favorite category and watch your favorite channels and programs.
Crackle
Crackle is one of the best android TV app which enables you to watch your favorite channels and TV shows on your 3 or 5 inch mobile screen. It enables you to watch TV shows, movies and all other TV programs for free. The main advantage of this app is that it’s updated daily. Another main advantage of using this app is that it is available in all most all nations. This app requires a good internet connection. 3g or Wifi connection would be the best bet.
Conclusion
Hope you all loved reading my list of top tv apps for android. If you want to add more apps to this list please do mail me or use the contact us page of the blog. Please do share your feedback with us under the comment section of the blog.
|
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Google programmer a beginning salary of $ 500,000 'lost' - he already has a $ 3 million each year because
Thanks for all of its money , Google and Silicon Valley in the war for talent is a big winner .
Just the latest evidence of a large , successful enterprise is a story I heard from the founder of a start .
Its founding his own startup currently working at Google a " programmer " poach tried to tell us that .
$ 500,000 Salary: startup programmer had made a big offer .
"They blew us away , " said the founder .
Thank you for offering the programmer did early , but Google currently 3 million dollars per year in cash payments and restricted stock units were .
(Restricted stock units , or "RSUs," to get them to the programmer will not have to buy them as stocks that are good . )
$ 3 million each year , or even $ 500,000 per year , as well as an engineer for Silicon Valley 's compensation is above average . Scott Purcell admitted that they usually keep the software engineers that make a base salary of $ 165,000 . The average base salary is $ 128,000 for a Google engineer .
But besides our 3 million engineers are outliers . Twitter engineer , senior vice president , Christopher Fry , $ 10.3 million earned last year .
And the - of - the people it wants Google to get an industry-wide reputation .
This Google Android, Andy Rubin, by removing the top and still work on the robot , the company was able to manage to keep within , for example , is very impressive .
It 's a credit to CEO Larry Page . He really bright people, highly ambitious , large -scale problems to get to work in a place where Google has made . In 2011 he took over as Google CEO before the company for startups like Facebook and Twitter was losing a lot of people . Now , not so much .
It also has a lot of the money power of Google , is a credit .
Update: On Twitter, former Googler Hunter Walk ( A VC ) Other startups warned: "Google by * worst way to recruit great for anyone with the money , then you 're left with Google you will have to do more . they do not want to keep . "
Friday, 10 January 2014
Tejari Pakistan UBL purchase and payment solutions 2 hands
United Bank Limited ( UBL) and Tejari Pakistan 's innovative supply chain management needs of corporate organizations that meet , 'Payment Solutions to offer to purchase is entered into an agreement .
UBL , offering a range of financial products and services, a leading financial institution , design and deployment of next-generation solutions specializes in the use of cutting edge technology .
Tejari Pakistan solutions to corporate organizations to meet receipting purchase offers leading software and services .
Tejari Pakistan sourcing procurement consultancy dedicated team of professionals is comprised of the country 's largest .
Therefore , in view of the end -to-end ' solutions for pay -shopping needs of the market , keeping the UBL and Tejari consumer purchasing policy enforcement ensures that a P2P 's application to have agreed to pool their respective expertise .
Speaking on the occasion , Mr. Aameer Karachiwalla, Chief Operating Officer , UBL , said : " The integration of technology in our system is very important for the development of the bank . Request therefore cost savings , reduce business cycle , and procurement costs and increased exposure to the stakeholders to ensure the utmost transparency , approval and payment process requires human intervention will play a major role in removing . "
Meanwhile , Murtaza Hashwani, Chairman and CEO - Zahdan Group commented : "Tejari , we will improve the organization's performance and profitability solutions, payment, and to help them merge into one end -to-end shopping in offering UBL is proud to partner with Tejari as industry best practices within these areas already " more than 60,000 worldwide supply chain professionals is met .
He UBL as our banking and public sector already successful oil and gas , telecommunications , hospitality, Pakistan 's leading companies have been implemented to demonstrate the true potential of this technology in Pakistan a strategic opportunity and added, " Retail " .
Request that their respective preapproved catalog and select items from the application of a policy to increase the purchase individually enables employees .
either . Where indicated , purchase requisitions as Auto Bid Item invited bids are posted
ION Audio’s Bluetooth Cassette Adapter
|
Posted: 09 Jan 2014 07:00 AM PST
Are you stuck in your house or your car with a stereo system that still sports a cassette tape deck? If you are, your pain is understandable. Yes, you should be thankful for a vehicle to drive, but does anyone even know how to use a cassette tape anymore? I can well remember past days of using a cassette tape with a Walkman, but that was close to 15 years ago. The world has changed a lot since then. A lot. So much so that I can’t even find a store that still sells cassette tapes, let alone still sells cassette tape players. (Not that I’d want to purchase them if I did find them – I’m just saying).
If you are still limited to a cassette tape player, there is some definite hope on the horizon for you…as long as you own a smartphone and/or a tablet. The geniuses at ION Audio have created a Bluetooth cassette tape adapter. This is most definitely good news for those with outdated stereo systems as it means you don’t have to replace your system to be able to enjoy the times.
Even Your Grandparents Can Use It Comfortably…
This adapter from ION Audio is ridiculously simple to use. As long as you can operate a tape deck, you’ll be jamming to modern tunes in no time at all. Once you insert the adapter, the Bluetooth turns on all by itself, and it also turns off all by itself once you remove it. All you have to do is connect your phone to the Bluetooth connection and that’s all there is to it. No annoying cords, no annoying setup, nothing but music. And that’s a wonderful sound.
You can visit ION Audio’s site here if you’d like to read more about the Bluetooth adapter. What do you think?
[Image via macrumors]
The post Check Out ION Audio’s Bluetooth Cassette Adapter appeared first on TechBeat.
|
|
Posted: 09 Jan 2014 06:00 AM PST
This plastic Russian Doll has been designed to monitor objects, creatures and people in your home and then nag you to death if it notices something wrong. A bit like a real mother then; but with an advertising slogan that reads “Mother knows everything”, it is perhaps slightly more disturbing!
Designed by Rafi Haladjian, the Russian Doll actually named Mother, connects to a series of sensors called cookies. These cookies measure motion and temperature and will alert you if it notices a change. So for example, if you keep medication in a particular cupboard and attach a cookie to that cupboard, it will alert you if you forget to take your medication at a set time because it will detect that the cupboard door has not been opened.
The company has programmed Mother so that the cookies can be used in 14 different ways to monitor your home. One of the uses is to attach a cookie to a door and it will alert you every time the door is opened. This could be particularly useful if you are away on holiday and want to monitor your home for intruders. You could also strap a cookie to a bottle of water and it will monitor how much fluid you drink during the day.
The cookies can be used for up to a year and then need to be replaced. It is possible to have 24 of the cookies connected to Mother at any one time, although at $99 per pack of four, these cookies certainly don’t come cheap.
As for Mother, it will blink to show that its connected to WiFi. Shipping will start between February and March, with Mother and four cookies costing $222.
Think though, do you really want to pay good money to be nagged?
[Image via Guim]
The post Wi-Fi Enabled Russian Doll Named Mother Will Take Care Of The Home appeared first on TechBeat.
|
|
Posted: 09 Jan 2014 05:00 AM PST
3D printing has opened up worlds to the average person – given he could afford a personal 3D printer. While it certainly cannot be called a household item yet, a 3D printer is not that hard to come by these days, and you can create practically anything from guns to little figurines of yourself to horse shoes. Heck, even Walmart and Asda are offering 3D printing services!
Of course, what is accessible to the individual is also available to commercial entities – perhaps even more so. In the case of 3D printing, big brand Mitsubishi is entering the arena by selling metal 3D printers in North America. You might not think much about this initially, but the metal 3D printer, dubbed Metal Laser Sintering Hybrid Milling Machine, LUMEX Avance-25, is not meant to be installed in one’s workshop. Instead, this beast is targeted at commercial grade applications.
For the tech gobbledygook:
I think it should come with the label “Do not try this at home!” (Still, wouldn’t it be awesome to have access to one of these babies any time you feel those creative manufacturing juices flowing?)
End of the day, though, how does this impact you and me? Better commercial manufacturing techniques means more efficiency, which hopefully translates to better access to items and cheaper price tags, too.
[Images via 3ders]
The post Mitsubishi Metal 3D Printers Are Coming Your Way appeared first on TechBeat.
|
|
Posted: 09 Jan 2014 04:00 AM PST
Netatmo has had substantial success with its clever home and garden Weather Station gadget. The product links wirelessly to an iPhone or Android device to enable you to receive numerous accurate readings on the current climate in your vicinity.
Now though, the company has followed suit with a stylish tool that is more geared towards women, especially those who are obsessive about their appearance, more specifically their suntan. The new gadget could even be worn by those who are worried about the sun’s effect on their skin, as the device is quite stylish and wouldn’t look out of place in any fashion conscious persons wardrobe.
The Netatmo June smart bracelet comprises of a leather strap and a sensor in the shape of a gem that is able to track UV intensity. The sensor connects directly to an iPhone application that will display the information in real-time along with the total amount of exposure to the sun the user’s skin has encountered during that particular day. The June will also calculate the recommended maximum daily exposure depending upon the wearer’s skin type. By using this information it can notify the user when to protect their skin.
The bracelet has been fashioned by French jewellery designer Camile Toupet and will be made available in three finishes; gunmetal, gold and platinum. The June should be available in the second quarter of 2014. Perhaps marketed in the month of June?
The sensor part of the device can also be worn independently of the strap, like a brooch, and will retail for $99 (£60) in the States. Any official UK pricing has yet to be announced.
[Images via mediabistro & divasanddorks]
The post Netatmo June Smart Bracelet Helps Regulate Your Sun Tan appeared first on TechBeat.
|
|
Posted: 09 Jan 2014 03:00 AM PST
World War 2 has been over since 1945, but just because the battles are over, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still casualties. In fact, bombs, mines, and other weapons are still being found on a consistent basis across Europe. Recently, an employee who worked with a construction company unknowingly ran over an approximately 68 year old bomb at a garbage dump while operating a bulldozer. The bomb exploded on contact resulting in the death of the employee. 13 other individuals were also injured as a result of the explosion, and the explosion had a blast radius of around 400 yards that damaged buildings in the area. Authorities have yet to determine just what kind of bomb it was.
As it turns out, it is not that unusual of an occurrence to discover bombs and explosives – but it is fairly unusual to come upon explosives that have not been deactivated. Experts believe that there are thousands of bombs over Europe that have yet to be found, and are fully aware of the gravity of the situation. As National Geographic reports,
“Experts say the problem will get worse before it gets better. For decades, bombs turned up during postwar building projects, sometimes with deadly results. That’s why construction projects in Germany today often require a Kampfmittelfreiheitsbescheinigung, or a permit certifying that the area is bomb-free, before work begins. Consultants pore over aerial photos from U.S. and British army archives for signs of unexploded ordnance.”
It’s not at all uncommon for large groups of people to be evacuated from areas each year when explosives have been detected.
What do you think? Does it surprise you that World War 2 era bombs are still being found (and detonating) today? If nothing else, it’s a sobering thought. Hopefully this prompts those in power to focus more on finding and disabling the devices in the future.
[Image via Global Post]
The post Bomb From World War 2 Explodes, Killing 1 & Injuring Others appeared first on TechBeat.
|
|
Posted: 09 Jan 2014 02:00 AM PST
Ear splitting renditions of popular songs on karaoke could be a thing of the past if the drug developed by Professor Takao Hensch gives us the ability to learn perfect pitch as he says it does.
Professor Hensch works in molecular and cellular biology at Harvard University. He believed that the ability to sing or identify a specific musical note without any reference points is a learned ability. It would normally be aquired by humans in a “critical period” early on in childhood. Along with fellow scientists, he thought that if by the time you were seven years old you hadn’t been able to pick out or produce a note, then you wouldn’t have the skill as an adult.
However a new study, which Hensch has worked on, claims that a drug can give humans the ability to be pitch perfect, despite never having had the skill before. Using Valporate, which is normally used to treat epilepsy, the brain can return to a “juvenile state”, allowing it to learn skills that it would ordinarily be too old to start mastering.
In tests, Valporate was given to healthy young men who had no previous musical training. They were asked to complete a set of exercises over a period of two weeks, which would help them improve their pitch. At the same time another group were given the same tasks but instead of Valporate, were given a placebo.
The results showed that the group given Valporate had been able to learn to identify pitch”significantly better than those taking the placebo.”
Hensch was notably surprised at the results and said that there had been “no known reports of adults acquiring absolute pitch.”
The implications of this study are not limited to the learning of music but also other skills. Hensch suggests that learning a language is an obvious field where the drug could be applied.
At the moment, althought the study has been successful, more research needs to done on the neuroscience behind the drug. Hensch says there is a reason why humans have a “critical period” and there is a risk that we may erase the identity that we have as a result of how we were raised. It is vital to ensure that we don’t accidentally replace important parts of our personalities, especially not just so we can be better at karaoke!
[Image via Gizmodo]
The post The Pill To Make You Pitch Perfect appeared first on TechBeat.
|
|
Posted: 09 Jan 2014 01:00 AM PST
The United Arab Emirates has allegedly discovered 2 ‘security compromising components’ supplied by the US, in military satellites provided by the French. The UAE has reportedly threatened to cancel a 3.4 billion dirhams (£570m) deal to purchase 2 military satellites from France over claims that 2 US-supplied components compromise the security of the data transmitted between the satellite and the receiving ground station.
US based Defense news reported that while the US’ National Security Agency (NSA) has not been directly named in the matter, the incident recalls concerns over the spy agency’s supposedly extensive hacking activities.
The satellite deal is a long time coming as there was competition for more than a decade to get the agreement signed. The deal involves the supply of two high-resolution Pleiades-type Falcon Eye military observation satellites, as well as a ground station and training for 20 engineers, with delivery set for 2018. Airbus Defence and Space is supplying the Astrobus-based satellite platform, with Italian-French joint venture Thales Alenia Space, providing the observation and data transmission technology.
The UAE said it exposed two US-supplied components in the technology supplied by Thales Alenia, which provided a backdoor into the data transmitted by the satellite. The discovery was reported to the deputy supreme commander’s office back in September, according to the report. The UAE has asked France to change the components and has also “consulted” with Russian and Chinese firms, according to the report’s anonymous source in the UAE, although Russias or Chinas role is unclear in the matter. “If this issue is not resolved, the UAE is willing to scrap the whole deal,” Defense News’ source said. The incident could also be a ploy to help the UAE get a better deal on the Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter, according to an unnamed Paris-based defence specialist cited by Defense News.
The hacking activities of the NSA have reportedly included intercepting PC shipments and using an array of security vulnerabilities to install backdoors in commercial networking equipment.
[Image via blogs.houstonpress]
The post UAE Says US Backdoors Found In Spy Satellites appeared first on TechBeat.
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
