World News

Ghost town: Google captures deserted aftermath of Fukushima disaster

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:02:00 +0000

The scene is wrenching: houses flattened by the earthquake and now abandoned for fear of radiation; rows of empty shutters on a street that once hosted Namie's annual autumn festival; ships and debris that still dot a landscape laid bare by the 50-foot waves that destroyed its coastline more than two years ago.

Namie's 21,000 residents are still in government-mandated exile, scattered throughout Fukushima and across Japan. They are allowed brief visits no more than once a month to check on their homes. Another 90,000 people remain unable to return to their homes in the exclusion zone. Experts and government officials have said that some of the most heavily contaminated areas in the exclusion zone might be uninhabitable for years, or even decades.

Invited by Mayor Tamotsu Baba to document the town's deserted streets, Google began mapping Namie earlier this month. It used a car fitted with a camera that captures a 360-degree view of its journey.

Google has mapped other parts of Japan's tsunami zone, but the scenes released Wednesday were the first from within the exclusion zone.

"Many of the displaced townspeople have asked to see the current state of their city, and there are surely many people around the world who want a better sense of how the nuclear incident affected communities," Baba said in a blog post on Google.

Mr Baba, as well as Namie's town hall operations, remains evacuated in Nihonmatsu, a city about 30 kilometers inland. "Ever since the March disaster, the rest of the world has been moving forward, and many places in Japan have started recovering," he said. "But in Namiemachi, time stands still."

Oscar Pistorius to consider World Championships

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:59:00 +0000

Oscar Pistorius might consider competing at this year's World Athletics Championships in Moscow, his agent has told Associated Press.

The 26-year-old athlete, who has run at both the Olympics and Paralympics, is charged with murdering his girlfriend but will be allowed totravel abroad after challenging his bail terms.

"If he is up for it and qualifies, the World Championships will definitely be on the radar," Peet van Zyl told AP.

The event will be held in August.

Pistorius is charged with the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot and killed at his home in Pretoria.

He denies murdering the 29-year-old, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

"He's going to be the one that determines running and training,'' his agent added.

"It's his call. He's the one under all the pressure for the court case and grieving for Reeva.''

Pistorius must meet certain conditions to be allowed to travel abroad. They include providing an itinerary of his plans at least a week before he is due to leave the country.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the body responsible for the World Championships.

It also governs the Diamond League meetings held throughout the year, of which some include Paralympic events.

Pistorius was one of the star attractions at the 2012 Olympics in London, becoming the first amputee to compete at an Olympics by taking part in both the 400m and 4x100m.

The South African then won gold medals in the T44 400m and T42-46 4x100m at the Paralympics, as well as silver in the T44 200m.

The International Paralympic Committee told BBC Sport it would discuss the matter of Pistorius competing again following the Easter break.

Why a female Secret Service leader matters

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:57:00 +0000

President Obama on Tuesday named the first woman to lead the Secret Service. Julia Pierson, a 30-year veteran of the agency and current chief of staff to retiring director Mark Sullivan, will be appointed to the position, which does not require Senate confirmation.

The news would garner little more than a few “that’s great for women” nods, if it weren’t for the agency’s recent past. Last year, the Secret Service became embroiled in a highly embarrassing scandal after several agents brought prostitutes to their hotel rooms while preparing for the president’s visit to Cartagena, Colombia. In its aftermath, the reported “wheels up, rings off” motto became fodder for stories about in the agency. The Secret Service is frequently described now with the modifiers “macho” or “male dominated.”

As a result, Pierson’s appointment will be seen by many — fairly or not — as an attempt to correct such a culture. Of course, some will say that her gender shouldn’t matter at all. What matters will be her record at modernizing the agency’s infrastructure and, of course, protecting the president, his family and other leaders.

I agree that should surely matter most. But here’s the thing: Her gender does make a difference.

I’m not saying I think it’s why she got the job. Although some agents have questionedPierson’s in-the-trenches experience, this is the person the president has chosen to run the organization protecting his family — I highly doubt he would make a token pick of someone not eminently qualified for the job. I’m also not saying that putting a woman at the top of the agency is the only way to change a reportedly boy’s-club culture. There are surely plenty of ethical, integrity-driven male leaders who could transform the agency equally well.

But having a woman lead the Secret Service will have an impact. It’s a historic choice that is getting plenty of attention, which should help to promote the number of women in the agency’s ranks. According to a story in the Washington Post from last April, roughly 90 percent of Secret Service agents are men, and about 75 percent of the agency’s entire workforce is male. Whether or not Pierson herself actually promotes more women, her position should help attract more to work there, creating a greater pool of female candidates for leadership roles. It should also remind women already in the agency that they, too, can reach for positions of power.

Now, I doubt Pierson will change the Secret Service’s so-called “male-dominated” culture overnight. The only way to do so is to insist on infallible ethical standards among the force and, as part of the current leadership, she may not be able to bust up agency norms the same way an outsider could. But over time, Pierson’s appointment should at least help to bring in more women-and more women as leaders — who will, if their numbers are big enough, put their own imprint on the culture.

Nelson Mandela 'responding positively' in hospital

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:55:00 +0000

Former South African President Nelson Mandela is "responding positively" to treatment for the recurrence of a lung infection, the presidency says.

A statement said the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader remained under treatment and observation.

Mr Mandela was admitted to hospital just before midnight, the office of President Jacob Zuma said earlier.

He spent 18 days in hospital in December undergoing treatment for a lung infection and gallstones.

The presidency has not identified the hospital where Mr Mandela is being treated.

In an update on his condition, the presidency statement thanked the media and the public "for their co-operation in respecting the privacy of Madiba [Mr Mandela] and his family".

Mr Mandela is regarded by many South Africans as the father of the nation for leading the struggle against apartheid.

He served as South Africa's first black president from 1994 to 1999. However, his health has caused concern for some time.

Earlier, a presidential spokesman told the BBC that Mr Mandela was conscious in hospital.

"I think we need to be clear that the doctors are attending to Madiba [Mr Mandela] on a continuous basis," spokesman Mac Maharaj said.

"They prefer to act on the side of caution, and the moment they felt there was a recurrence of the lung infection, they felt that it warranted immediate hospitalisation given his age and given his history."

Prayers urged

President Zuma urged people around the world to pray for the former leader.

"We appeal to the people of South Africa and the world to pray for our beloved Madiba and his family and to keep them in their thoughts. We have full confidence in the medical team and know that they will do everything possible to ensure recovery," President Zuma said in a statement.

The former president is often fondly referred to by his clan name, Madiba.

The governing African National Congress also called for prayers for Mr Mandela.

"During these trying times we wish President Mandela well and for his family to be strong," the ANC said in a statement.

"We are confident that the treatment will be successful as he is in professional and competent hands," it added.

It is the fourth time Mr Mandela has been admitted to hospital in just over two years.

He first contracted tuberculosis in the 1980s while detained on the windswept Robben Island where he served 18 of the 27 years he was imprisoned for sabotage.

His lungs are said to have been damaged when he worked in a prison quarry.

Despite his long imprisonment, Mr Mandela forgave his former enemies and as president urged South Africans of all races to work together and seek reconciliation.

In 1993 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The treatment Mr Mandela received in December 2012 was his longest spell in hospital since leaving prison in 1990.

Earlier this month he spent a night in hospital following a check-up.

Mr Mandela retired from public life in 2004 and has been rarely seen in public since.

His main home is in Qunu, a small rural village in Eastern Cape province, where he says he spent the happiest days of his childhood.

However, doctors said in December he should remain at his home in the Johannesburg neighbourhood of Houghton to be close to medical facilities.

At least 15 students killed in mortar attacks in Syrian capital

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:53:00 +0000

DAMASCUS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 university students were killed when multiple mortar shells hit the University of Damascus in central the Syrian capital Thursday, state media reported.

Two mortars slammed the cafeteria of the university's Faculty of Architecture Engineering, which is located in the central district of Bramikeh, the Sham FM radio said.

In the meantime, state-TV ran footage of the mortar-stricken faculty, showing scattered human remains tossed on ground with forensics and paramedics franticly removing them along with the injured students.

Pools of blood were seen mingled with students' pens and books as the dead bodies were thrown on the faculty's yard.

Meanwhile, witnesses told Xinhua that two other shells landed on a river near Four Seasons Hotel and the nearby Damarose Hotel in the capital, while another mortar shell hit a mosque in the upscale district of Malki in central Damascus. But no injuries have yet been reported.

Also, in the capital's district of Abbasyeen, three were wounded by a sniper nesting on a building rooftop, who, according to local media, is a member of the rebel Free Syrian Army.

The rebels have increasingly resorted to mortar attacks against government institutions over the past months. Yet, those mortars seldom reached their targets and instead landed on residential buildings and other populated areas, causing casualties and spreading panic.

An average of eight mortars per day slammed several parts of Damascus, mainly the Umayyad Square where the state TV and the army's chief of command headquarters are located.

Arrest of Anti-Islamist Figures Is Ordered in Egypt

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:50:00 +0000

Khalil Hamra/Associated Press

An injured Muslim Brotherhood supporter was captured by opposing protesters during clashes on Friday in Cairo.

CAIRO — The public prosecutor on Monday ordered the arrest of five anti-Islamist political activists on charges of using social media to incite violence against the Muslim Brotherhood. The order stirred accusations of a vendetta by the group’s close ally, President Mohamed Morsi.

Egyptians are already on guard against the possibility that their first freely elected president may seek to become a new autocrat, and some said they feared that the arrest warrants might be the first clear example that Mr. Morsi’s government was using law enforcement as a political tool to punish his critics.

A search of the online comments by several defendants found no messages urging others to violence. Some, in fact, argued strongly against it.

But the arrests arose out of an attack by anti-Islamist activists on the Muslim Brotherhood’s headquarters in Cairo on Friday night. As many as a thousand of the group’s opponents arrived armed with sticks, knives and at least a few guns, and they seemed intent on burning down the headquarters.

A roughly equal number of Brotherhood supporters surrounded the building to defend it, many bused in for the night, and for a time the two sides clashed in the streets. Then an overwhelming force of riot police officers separated the two sides, using tear gas to drive back the attackers. By the end of the night several Brotherhood buses had been burned. Health officials reported more than 100 injuries, although it was impossible to confirm how many were on each side.

Afterward, Mr. Morsi sought to blame his political opponents for the attack and vowed action against those who had incited the violence. In a message on Twitter on Sunday, he castigated opposition leaders, accusing them of “providing a political cover for violence.”

“Whoever is found to be involved in promoting violence through the media will not escape punishment,” Mr. Morsi said in a short speech later on Sunday. He also said he was prepared “to impose exceptional measures to restore domestic order.”

Mr. Morsi’s political opponents have already denounced him since last fall for picking his own public prosecutor, Talaat Ibrahim, by using a presidential decree to circumvent Egyptian law under which a president cannot normally replace a public prosecutor. The appointment immediately raised questions about the potential political use of the post.

On Monday, Mr. Morsi’s critics said Mr. Ibrahim appeared to be following through on precisely the threat Mr. Morsi made just a day earlier. In a statement, the public prosecutor said the five defendants singled out for arrest had used Facebook and Twitter to urge others to “burn down the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood and to murder some of its members.”

A search Monday night of the defendants’ Facebook and Twitter accounts, however, found no such statements in the period leading up to the clashes on Friday night. Before the disturbance, one defendant, Alaa Abdel Fattah, argued against violence, but he suggested in an online commentary on Saturday that what he considered Mr. Morsi’s authoritarianism might make a violent response legitimate. But Mr. Abdel Fatah, a prominent activist previously imprisoned for months for challenging military rule, was writing as part of an abstract, intellectual discussion, after the fact.

The others named in the arrest warrant are the activists Ahmed Douma, Kareem al-Shaer, Hazem Abdel Azeem and Ahmed al-Sahafy.

In television interviews on Monday night, several defendants accused the public prosecutor of selectively targeting Mr. Morsi’s critics while ignoring testimony, videos and other evidence that Islamists had also used violence on their opponents that night as well as in street clashes over the last four months. One video posted on the Internet, in fact, captured footage of one of Mr. Morsi’s Islamist opponents beating Mr. Douma outside the headquarters earlier last week.

The prosecutor is either “literally blind” or “complicit,” Mr. Douma said in a television interview, contending that the prosecutor was “only following orders.”

In response, Mr. Morsi’s supporters argued that earlier in the week the prosecutor arrested three bodyguards of a Brotherhood leader, Khairat el-Shater, on charges of using violence against the opposition protesters.

Pakinam el-Sharkawy, a political adviser to Mr. Morsi, complained that the president’s critics had applied a “double standard.” The president did not prejudge this case and expected a fair trial, she said, but at the same time the law must distinguish between political expression and criminal violence. “Here,” Ms. Sharkawy said, “the law must have a just sword capable of protecting rights, freedoms and social peace.”

6.2 magnitude quake hits Guatemala City

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:49:00 +0000

A strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook Guatemala late on Monday, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage. The quake, which struck at at 5:02 pm (2302 GMT), had its epicenter 10 kilometers (six miles) east-southeast of the capital Guatemala City at a depth of 200 kilometers, the US Geological Survey reported. Yet despite the strong magnitude people in Guatemala City hardly felt the quake, witnesses said. Guatemala's Disaster Coordination Network, CONRED, issued a mid-level "Yellow Alert" warning, but none of their regional officers across the country reported victims or damage.
The earthquake was also felt in neighboring El Salvador, which also reported no damage or victims.
Central America, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to strong earthquakes.
Guatemala's deadliest earthquake was on February 4, 1976, when a magnitude 7.5 quake with an epicenter north-east of Guatemala City sent shockwaves that toppled walls and triggering landslides, killing more than 23,000 people, according to the USGS.

Russian, US defence secretaries discuss Afghan transition

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:47:00 +0000

Washington: The Russian Defence Minister, Sergey Shoygu, has called up his American counterpart Chuck Hagel during which the two leaders discussed the Afghan transition and several other issues, including the situation in Syria, Iran and North Korea, the Pentagon said.

"Hagel and Shoygu discussed the ongoing security transition in Afghanistan," the Pentagon Press Secretary, George Little, said in a statement after the phone call yesterday.

During the conversation, Hagel assured his Russian counterpart that the handover of security responsibilities is progressing as the capabilities of the Afghan National Security Forces continue to improve.

Hagel also said that the US would keep Russia and all concerned apprised throughout the process, Little said.

"Further, Hagel encouraged close bi-lateral cooperation on a variety of other issues of mutual concern, including on Syria, North Korea, and Iran," he said. Shoygu, during the phone call, expressed his desire to reconvene missile defence discussions with the United States at the deputy minister level.

"Hagel agreed and maintained that this is an important part of US-Russian relations. He assured Shoygu that these discussions would continue and be carried forward by Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Dr Jim Miller," Little said.

US jails China engineer for exporting trade secrets

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:45:00 +0000

A US court has sentenced a Chinese national to more than five years in prison for illegally exporting military trade secrets to China.

Liu Sixing, who formerly worked in US company L-3 Communications, was accused of taking information on US missile, rocket and drone technology to China.
He was convicted of exporting military information, possessing stolen trade secrets, and lying to the authorities.
Liu says he did not break the law, or intend to pass secrets to China.
Liu Sixing, who was also known as Steve Liu, worked in L-3 Communications' space and navigation unit in New Jersey from 2009-2010 as a senior engineer.
Prosecutors say he stole thousands of computer files in 2010, and took them to China on his personal computer, where he gave presentations about the technology he was working on to universities and conferences linked to the Chinese government.
Prosecutors say he transported the files, which included information on the performance and design of guidance systems for missiles, rockets and unmanned drones, in the hope that it would help him gain future employment in China.
Federal agents say they discovered the computer when Liu returned to Newark Liberty International Airport in November 2010. Liu was convicted in September 2012.
Technical military data covered by US export regulations cannot be taken out of the country without a license.
"Instead of the accolades he sought from China, Sixing Liu today received the appropriate reward for his threat to our national security: 70 months in prison," prosecutor Paul Fishman said.
Liu's lawyer, James Tunick, said that Liu had made "a terrible mistake" by having the files on his computer and taking them to China, but that "it didn't rise to the level of a criminal act."
"He never intended to harm anyone," he said.

Asylum seekers flown to Perth hospital after boat capsizes

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:44:00 +0000

Three asylum seekers injured when their boat capsized near Christmas Island have been flown to Perth for treatment.

They include a young boy, a 28-year-old woman who is eight months pregnant and a 36-year-old woman with head wounds.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Flying Doctor Service says they were in a critical condition when they arrived.
The young boy remains in a critical condition in Princess Margaret Hospital.
The two women are listed in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
They were among 95 people on a fishing boat which capsized after being hit by large waves off Christmas Island yesterday morning.
A young boy and a woman in her 30s drowned before they could be rescued.
Most of the asylum seekers were picked up by a customs ship, the Ocean Protector and transferred to the island.

Another boat

Australian authorities have gone to the aid of another asylum seeker boat off Christmas Island today.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority says it received a distress call from the boat on Sunday evening and two merchant vessels and a Navy ship responded.
Crew members from HMAS Bundaberg boarded the boat on Monday morning and found its engine had failed and there was little food or water on board.
The 105 passengers were transferred onto the Navy ship and taken to the island for health and security checks.
A total of 53 boats have be intercepted in Australian waters so far this year.

Fire threatens 107-year-old London museum

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:42:00 +0000

A fast-moving fire ripped through the roof of a 107-year-old museum and library in London, threatening an extensive collection of Chinese, African and Roman artifacts and relics.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze Monday at the Cuming Museum and Newington Library in Walworth in southeast London.
The roof of the four-story museum was engulfed in flames Monday afternoon, but the fire was under control by early evening, the Guardian reported.
Thirty people were evacuated from the building; no injuries were reported.
It's still unclear how the fire started.
The museum was founded in 1906 and houses a collection of Chinese ornaments, African tribal costumes and relics from London’s Roman period.

Italy's split vote threatens to revive financial crisis in Europe

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:39:00 +0000

Pier Luigi Bersani, Italy's centre-Left leader, admitted on Tuesday that his country faced "a dramatic situation" after a split vote that threatened prolonged instability and a revival of Europe's financial crisis.
As the inconclusive election result in the European Union's fourth largest economy sent markets tumbling, leaders across the Continent called for the quick formation of a "stable" government.
Guy Verhofstadt, a Belgian politician and member of the European Parliament, said stability was key "if we want to avoid a return to the worst of the eurozone crisis".
"It is a very difficult result for the EU as a whole," said Martin Schulz, the German Social Democrat president of the European Parliament. "What happens in Italy affects us all."
Bersani had been expected to win a working majority. Though he captured the lower house of parliament, his Democratic Party won only 123 seats in the Senate, nowhere near the absolute majority of 158 in the Senate required for a clear mandate.
"We are aware that we are in a dramatic situation, we are aware of the risks that Italy faces," said Bersani, in his first speech since the results of the election became known.
Still smarting from the humiliating and unexpected results, Bersani called on Beppe Grillo - a comedian and activist whose anti-establishment Five Star Movement won a quarter of the vote and the most votes of any single party - to participate in some form of coalition.
"Up until now they've said everyone should go home. Now they, too, are on the inside. Either they go home or they say what they want to do with the country," he said.
Grillo said that he had no intention of supporting either the Democratic Party or Silvio Berlusconi's centre-Right coalition. He dismissed the main parties as discredited political dinosaurs who had been swept aside by his movement and were headed for extinction.
"They won't be able to govern," he told reporters. "Whether I'm there or not, they won't be able govern."
Instead his movement, known by its Italian acronyms as M5S, will consider parliamentary legislation such as austerity measures and economic reforms on a case-by-case basis, raising the prospect of political instability for months and a possible fresh election. "The M5S is not allying with anyone, as it has always said," Grillo said on his website.
Bersani instead faced overtures from his nemesis, Berlusconi, to form a grand cross-party coalition, despite the insults and accusations that were flung by the two leaders during the campaign.
"Italy cannot be left ungoverned, we have to reflect," Berlusconi said when asked whether he was open to forming a pact with the centre-Left.
The fact that so many Italians voted once again for Berlusconi, despite his sex scandals, corruption trials and clownish reputation, left many people outside Italy aghast. His success was based on an innate sense of showmanship and promises to put money back into Italians' pockets.

China defends deal to build 1000 MW nuclear plant for Pakistan

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:37:00 +0000

BEIJING: Tacitly confirming reports of signing of an agreement with Pakistan to build a huge 1000 MW nuclear power plant, China today defended the deal saying that it confirmed to safeguards of the IAEA and rejected allegations that it has violated NSG norms.

"China has noted the relevant report", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a media briefing here today.

He was replying to a question on reports from Washington that Beijing has secretly entered a deal with Pakistan to construct the plant at Chashma in Punjab province.

On allegations that the deal violated the norms set by 46 member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which regulates the issues relating to nuclear proliferation and commerce, Hong said, "I want to point out that relevant cooperation between China and Pakistan does not violate relevant norms of the NSG".

In recent years China and Pakistan have had some cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear cooperation, he said.

All this cooperation is for peaceful use and this cooperation is in compliance with our respective international obligations and subject to the safeguards of the IAEA, Hong said.

A Washington-based news report had said two days ago that China has secretly signed the deal to construct a new power plant at Chashma.

China has so far aided and assisted Pakistan in constructing four power plants at Chashma.

Chashma I and II were stated to be 300 MW each and as per the previous plans the III and IV were stated to have 340 MW each.

While I and II were already commissioned, three and four were expected to be commissioned in 2016.

It is not clear whether the 1000 MW reactor would be a fifth one to be constructed there or the third reactor would be upgraded.

China argues that the new 1000 MW plant which it refers one Giga-watt reactor was "grandfathered" by a previous agreement that led to the construction and operation of earlier nuclear power plants at Chashma.

According to the US media report, the China-Pakistan agreement calls for the state-run China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to construct a 1,000-megawatt power plant at Chashma.

The Washington Free Beacon quoted unnamed state department official as saying the Chinese move would be in violation of its promise to the NSG.

Microsoft reveals Windows 8 prices

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Microsoft has unveiled the pricing for Windows 8, with details landing on retailers' websites today.

According to Amazon.com, a boxed upgrade to Windows 8 Pro will be $199.99 - but that's been discounted to $69.99, and £49.99 in the UK, until the end of January.

Microsoft previously revealed that a digital download version will also be available on 26 October for $49.99 and £25 in the UK. If you've bought a PC running Windows 7 or a boxed copy of the software since June, you'll be able to upgrade for £14.99.

Microsoft also unveiled a Windows 8 Pro Pack for $69.99 that upgrades the standard version of the OS to Pro, and includes Media Centre and DVD playback codecs.

There won't be a full retail version of the OS; anyone wishing to purchase that will have to buy the OEM edition, which is $99 for Windows 8 and $139 for Windows 8 Pro.

To see how Windows and Mac OS X pricing compares over the past decade, pick up this month's issue of PC Pro, on sale now.

Apple licenses Swiss clock for IOS 6

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:01:00 +0000

FRUIT THEMED Apple has licensed the image of the clock that it has been using on its Ipad since the release of IOS 6.

Apple has licensed the design of the clock from the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), where it has been in use for over 60 years. Both firms are happy with the terms of the deal, details of which are very light indeed and do not extend to things like what sort of money might have changed hands.

"The parties have negotiated an arrangement that enables Apple to use the SBB station clock under a licence agreement. The parties have agreed that the amount of the licensing fee and any further details of the licensing arrangement will remain confidential," says the SBB in its press release."The SBB station clock was designed for the company in 1944 by the engineer and designer Hans Hilfiker. It is a design icon that has obviously lost none of its appeal in the digital age. A special feature of the clockface is its striking red second hand in the shape of a railway guard's signalling disc. Even now it symbolises the innovation and reliability that are key qualities attributed to both SBB and Switzerland as a whole."

Earlier SBB had complained that Apple was using the distinctive clock face without its permission. We asked, but Apple had nothing else to add to the licensing announcement.

Simon Cowell vs. Demi Lovato: Who's Wiser on The X Factor?

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:53:00 +0000

For the 60 acts who were quickly sifted, sorted and settled until there were but 24 left, Simon Cowell summed up the night within the first five minutes of Wednesday'sThe X Factor episode: "It's the moment of truth."

And many truths were spoken indeed: After those remaining transitioned from boot camp into the judges' houses, Cowell, 53, and fellow judge Demi Lovato, 20, assigned to the groups and young adults categories, respectively, proved honesty is always the best policy. (Judges L.A. Reid and Britney Spears will mentor the 25-and-older and teen groups, respectively.)

Cowell's lesson of the night? People have to like you. A lot.

To Texas darlings Sister C, he warned, "There's probably a reason why you haven't been picked up by a label yet, and I think it comes down to personality." The formerAmerican Idol judge, joined in his Miami Beach, Fla., home by guest Marc Anthony, continued: "It's yours to win or lose right now."

Lovato carried a similar tune: If you want people to like you, watch the 'tude.

The freshly minted judge, seated next to guest mentor Nick Jonas in her L.A. home, told a teary-eyed (albeit paint art-adorned and skin-flaunting) CeCe Frey that she can win over more fans by toning it down.

"All of this emotion right now is what's opening you up," she said. "If you can put emotion into your performance and people can see how vulnerable you can get – that is what will set you apart."

The words of wisdom from veteran Cowell and newcomer Lovato were as abundant as the talent, so tell us:

Microsoft Points phased out in favor of cash in Windows 8

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:50:00 +0000

Microsoft has started to remove its Points payments system as the default way to pay for music downloads and movie rentals or purchases in Windows 8. The recent change affects the way Windows 8 users will pay for digital content in the operating system. Previously, in Windows 8 betas, Microsoft used its Points system for all Video purchases and rentals.

The controversial currency for Xbox Live and the Zune Marketplace has been widely used across the Xbox 360 to purchase Xbox Live Arcade games, gamertag pictures, and other downloadable content. The system means users have to purchase bundles of points that equate to 80 Microsoft Points for every $1. In our own testing in the final copy of Windows 8, we are now able to pay for music or purchase and rent movies in the Xbox Video store by using a credit card. You're still able to use Microsoft Points, but the store defaults to credit card transactions. A welcome change from the confusion of having to convert Microsoft Points to currency in order to assess the true cost of a rental or purchase.

We have reached out to Microsoft for comment on the change and we'll update you accordingly. Xbox 360 consoles appear to still be using the Microsoft Points system for now, but the change on the Windows 8 side will likely make its way to the Xbox with a dashboard update due later this month.

Google launches free SMS service on Gmail for India

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:46:00 +0000

Google has extended its free SMS chat service to India, whereby users can send text messages to mobile phones via Gmail Chat.

"You can send SMS messages to your contacts' mobile phones using Gmail Chat ... Google does not charge for using this service," according to information available with Google's website.

The SMS service is available in India and 51 other countries in Asia, Africa and North America.

The feature was activated for Indian users on October 10 and is available for regular Gmail users as well as those on Google Apps.

As per Google's website, this feature is available on all the mobile operators in the country.

The company said in order to send an SMS, users would have to add phone number to their contact list.

Responses to the SMSs would appear as replies in Gmail Chat and conversations will be stored in users' Chat history, like regular chats.

Google initially provides free SMS credit of 50 messages for each user. For every message sent, users' credit woud decrease by one. However, this credit would increase by five every time a user responds to the text message by sending a return message.

In case, the SMS credit limit slashes down to zero, one credit would increase automatically after 24 hours.

Google said users can also 'buy' SMS credit in case of shortage by sending a text message to their own phone and then by replying to that message.

The internet firm has also provided the facilities for those users do not wish to receive any messages on SMS from any Gmail user.

SpaceX Dragon docks at the International Space Station

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:22:00 +0000

A vehicle sent into space to deliver supplies has joined the International Space Station.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule docked early on Wednesday morning.
A special robotic arm was used to grab the capsule and bring it safely to the station.
The rocket lifted off from Florida on Monday carrying food, clothes and spare parts for six astronauts living there.
When it got into space, the capsule broke off from the rocket.
The capsule hasn't got anyone on it and will stay at the space station for two and a half weeks. Astronauts will take all the supplies off and then reload it with failed equipment and scientific experiments that can be sent back to NASA.
This is the first of 11 trips for the capsule to make sure the space station is fully stocked up.
The rocket was made by a private company, rather than NASA, making it the first commercial space cargo mission.

iPhone 5 to launch in India on Oct. 26 - report

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:18:00 +0000

One of the next major markets for Apple to launch the iPhone 5 is India, and a new report claims the latest iPhone will debut there on Oct. 26.
The date was published on Tuesday by BGR India, citing "multiple sources." Oct. 26 would be the last Friday of the month, and Apple usually debuts a new iPhone model on Fridays.

In addition, the iPhone 5 is also expected to have wider availability at launch than previous iPhone debuts in India. The iPhone 5 will also apparently be distributed by Apple directly, rather than through the company's carrier partners.

The iPhone 5 marks the quickest ever launch for an Apple product, becoming available in a total of 31 countries just two weeks after its release. Apple has said it will be available in more than 100 countries with 240 carriers by December, but declined to offer more specifics, particularly on major markets such as India and China.

The iPhone 5 is already available in Hong Kong where demand has been strong. One report this week claimed that mainland China is set to receive the iPhone 5 by December, and carrier China Unicom is said to already be clearing space in its inventory for Apple's latest handset.

Samsung to launch 'mini' Galaxy SIII

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:16:00 +0000

Samsung will launch a four-inch 'mini' Galaxy SIII in Germany tomorrow, the company has confirmed, as the South Korean brand seeks to compete with Apple's new iPhone 5.

JK Shin, head of Samsung Mobile Communications, announced the launch of the new device at a press conference in Seoul. He told reporters that the popularity of four-inch devices in Europe had inspired the new model.

"We'll be launching a 4-inch Galaxy S III on the 11th in Germany," he said. "There's a lot of demand for a four-inch screen device in Europe. Some call it an entry-level device, but we call it 'mini.'"

The latest Samsung offering will buck the trend among high-end Android devices, where products are usually four and a half inches or bigger.

The existing Galaxy SIII boasts a 4.8" screen and 2,100mAh battery and has helped Samsung power to record profits in the last three months. From July-September, the South Korean company is expected to make 8.1 trillion won (£4.5bn), nearly double the 4.25 trillion won recorded a year earlier. The Galaxy SIII was released at the end of May.

However, analysts have predicted that competitive product line-ups could be a risk for the company in the coming months.

Fossil reveals spider in mid-strike

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:53:00 +0000

A hundred million years ago, an amber flow spoiled a spider’s day: it had waited, possibly for hours, to ambush a wasp in its web, and just as it decided to strike, spider, wasp and web were all trapped forever.

The good news for us is that it’s turned up at a dig in Myanmar's Hukawng Valley, and here's what it looks like:

Caught in the attack. Source: Oregon State University

The Early Cretaceous fossil preserves – with stunning clarity – the juvenile spider about to make a meal of a parasitic wasp that was trapped in its web. As Oregon State University professor emeritus George Poinar Jr put it: "This was the wasp's worst nightmare, and it never ended. The wasp was watching the spider just as it was about to be attacked, when tree resin flowed over and captured both of them."

The findings, published in Historical Biology, represent the first time a spider attack has been found as a fossil. The spider is an orb weaver, Poinar said; relatives still exist today, although the kind in the amber is extinct. The wasp is a relative of species which today are parasites on both spiders and their eggs.

There are also fifteen unbroken strands of the spider’s web also preserved in the fossil, the researchers say. More at Oregon State University.

Facebook tests ‘want’ button to expand online shopping offering

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:51:00 +0000

Sydney: Social networking giant Facebook is apparently expanding it online shopping offering by testing a new feature that would allow users to create a ‘wish list’ of items they are ‘lusting after’.

Facebook announced that it has joined forces with seven retailers to test the platform, which allows users to ‘want’, ‘collect’, or ‘like’ a product.

If you ‘like’ something, then the item will show up in your Timeline, News.com.au reports.

“We are beginning a small test in which a few select businesses will be able to share information about their products through a feature called Collections,” a spokesperson for the firm said.

“Collections can be discovered in news feed, and people will be able to engage with these collections and share things they are interested in with their friends. People can click through and buy these items off of Facebook,” the spokesperson added.

Facebook said that its new Collections feature would gradually be offered to all its users in the US.

Some users will see the ‘want’ button as part of the test, while others will see a button inviting them to ‘collect’ an item or to ‘like’ an item, the firm said.

Porsche India restructures its dealer network

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:50:00 +0000

After announcing that it will set up its own dealer network in India, Porsche India has now appointed six official dealers. Work has already begun to start building state-of-the-art facilities by 2013. The retail operations have currently being started in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Kolkata and Mumbai. Sales and service requests will be handled from temporary facilities at all six dealerships until the new Porsche centres will be opened. A full complement of trained mobile technician team will also be made available for after sales support.

Along with the announcement of the new dealership network, Porsche also announced a new pricing structure for their entire model range in India. Prices for the Cayenne SUV start at Rs 61.4 lakh while the diesel variant is priced at Rs 68.3 lakh. The luxury sedan Panamera in its diesel avatar starts at Rs 99.0 lakh. 911 range starts at Rs 1.12 crore while the refreshed Boxster S will sell for Rs 80.24 lakh. All prices are ex-Maharashtra.

Obama acknowledges 'bumps in the road' after poor debate

noreply@blogger.com (news) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:48:00 +0000

(President Barack Obama…)

LOS ANGELES: President Barack Obama chided himself on Sunday for his weak debate performance against Republican Mitt Romney and reminded supporters at a California fundraiser that even his successful 2008 campaign had "bumps" in the road.

Speaking to a crowd of some 6,000 at a concert in Los Angeles, Obama complimented the slew of performers - including Jon Bon Jovi and Jennifer Hudson - who had performed earlier for the audience.