Posts
Having built another blog already (this one), it seemed there was an opportunity to create a second one. It is to be found here mypcplug
It is there for personal use to be shared by those who know me or have reason to raise issues away from the main forum of pchelpers. Welcome to the blog (2)!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
News:Skype crash: Software bug and server overloads blamed
Server overloads and a bug in Skype for Windows caused the two-day outage for the net phone firm.
Details of what caused the service to be unusable for millions of users prior to Christmas have been posted on the firm's blog.
The two events combined to create a cascade of problems that managed to knock out much of the network underpinning the phone service.
Skype is assessing how its network is built to stop the problem recurring.
more here
Details of what caused the service to be unusable for millions of users prior to Christmas have been posted on the firm's blog.
The two events combined to create a cascade of problems that managed to knock out much of the network underpinning the phone service.
Skype is assessing how its network is built to stop the problem recurring.
more here
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
News:Earth project aims to 'simulate everything'
By Gareth Morgan Technology reporter
It could be one of the most ambitious computer projects ever conceived.
An international group of scientists are aiming to create a simulator that can replicate everything happening on Earth - from global weather patterns and the spread of diseases to international financial transactions or congestion on Milton Keynes' roads.
Nicknamed the Living Earth Simulator (LES), the project aims to advance the scientific understanding of what is taking place on the planet, encapsulating the human actions that shape societies and the environmental forces that define the physical world.
more here
It could be one of the most ambitious computer projects ever conceived.
An international group of scientists are aiming to create a simulator that can replicate everything happening on Earth - from global weather patterns and the spread of diseases to international financial transactions or congestion on Milton Keynes' roads.
Nicknamed the Living Earth Simulator (LES), the project aims to advance the scientific understanding of what is taking place on the planet, encapsulating the human actions that shape societies and the environmental forces that define the physical world.
more here
News:Web attack takes Anonymous activists offline
The notorious message board 4Chan has been taken offline by an overwhelming web attack.
Thanks to the attack, the discussion boards of the site have been hard to reach or offline for almost 24 hours.
The attack might be retaliation for similar attacks that some 4Chan members, as part of the Anonymous group, mounted in support of Wikileaks.
It is not yet clear who is carrying out the attacks and no-one has come forward to claim responsibility.
more here
Thanks to the attack, the discussion boards of the site have been hard to reach or offline for almost 24 hours.
The attack might be retaliation for similar attacks that some 4Chan members, as part of the Anonymous group, mounted in support of Wikileaks.
It is not yet clear who is carrying out the attacks and no-one has come forward to claim responsibility.
more here
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
News:Call for help for self-employed
Self-employed people need more help if they are to expand their businesses and employ others, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
The FSB in Scotland said one-to-one support was needed if they were to make a dent in unemployment figures.
Three of Scotland's main business organisations have sent out New Year messages aimed at politicians going into the Holyrood election next May.
more here
The FSB in Scotland said one-to-one support was needed if they were to make a dent in unemployment figures.
Three of Scotland's main business organisations have sent out New Year messages aimed at politicians going into the Holyrood election next May.
more here
Monday, December 27, 2010
News:Trowbridge driver lost for three days
A Wiltshire grandfather spent three days trying to find his way home from Gatwick Airport after becoming disorientated in snowy conditions.
Moroccan-born Mohammed Bellazrak's family reported him missing after he failed to return to Trowbridge after dropping his wife off for a flight.
Police in Oxfordshire eventually flagged down the 72-year-old after his car triggered a camera in Oxford.
They found he had spent from 23 - 25 December driving, trying to get back.
Analysis from number-plate recognition systems showed he had driven around various towns in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire and on the M4.
Mr Bellazrak had no mobile phone with him, and he told newspaper reporters that his sat-nav was not working.more here
Moroccan-born Mohammed Bellazrak's family reported him missing after he failed to return to Trowbridge after dropping his wife off for a flight.
Police in Oxfordshire eventually flagged down the 72-year-old after his car triggered a camera in Oxford.
They found he had spent from 23 - 25 December driving, trying to get back.
Analysis from number-plate recognition systems showed he had driven around various towns in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire and on the M4.
Mr Bellazrak had no mobile phone with him, and he told newspaper reporters that his sat-nav was not working.more here
Sunday, December 26, 2010
News:Toyota pays $10m to fatal Lexus crash family
Toyota has paid $10m (£6.5m) to the family of four people killed in a runaway Lexus car in the US in 2009.
The amount, agreed in September but kept confidential, was released by a lawyer for the dealership that lent the Lexus to the family.
Toyota, which did not admit or deny liability in the settlement, said in a statement it was disappointed the amount had been made public.
The crash triggered a series of recalls involving millions of Toyota models.more here
The amount, agreed in September but kept confidential, was released by a lawyer for the dealership that lent the Lexus to the family.
Toyota, which did not admit or deny liability in the settlement, said in a statement it was disappointed the amount had been made public.
The crash triggered a series of recalls involving millions of Toyota models.more here
Saturday, December 25, 2010
News:Ka-Sat net-dedicated spacecraft ready for launch
25 December 2010 Last updated at 17:31 GMT
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News
Europe is about to get a second satellite dedicated to delivering broadband internet connections.
The six-tonne Ka-Sat will be launched atop a Proton rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan in a flight expected to last nine hours and 12 minutes.
The Eutelsat-operated spacecraft will concentrate its services on customers in the so-called "not-spots" of Europe.
It is estimated that tens of millions of households in these areas cannot get a decent terrestrial connection.
Ka-Sat will provide homes with speeds generally up to 10Mbps.
more here
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News
Europe is about to get a second satellite dedicated to delivering broadband internet connections.
The six-tonne Ka-Sat will be launched atop a Proton rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan in a flight expected to last nine hours and 12 minutes.
The Eutelsat-operated spacecraft will concentrate its services on customers in the so-called "not-spots" of Europe.
It is estimated that tens of millions of households in these areas cannot get a decent terrestrial connection.
Ka-Sat will provide homes with speeds generally up to 10Mbps.
more here
News:Coded American Civil War message in bottle deciphered
A message in a bottle delivered to a Confederate general during the American Civil War has been deciphered, 147 years after it was written.
In the encrypted message, a commander tells Gen John Pemberton that no reinforcements are available to help him defend Vicksburg, Mississippi.
"You can expect no help from this side of the river," says the message, which was deciphered by codebreakers.
The text is dated 4 July 1863 - the day Vicksburg fell to Union forces.
The small bottle was given to the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, by a former Confederate soldier in 1896.
Earlier this year the museum's collections manager, Catherine Wright, decided to investigate the wrapped note it contained.
more here
In the encrypted message, a commander tells Gen John Pemberton that no reinforcements are available to help him defend Vicksburg, Mississippi.
"You can expect no help from this side of the river," says the message, which was deciphered by codebreakers.
The text is dated 4 July 1863 - the day Vicksburg fell to Union forces.
The small bottle was given to the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, by a former Confederate soldier in 1896.
Earlier this year the museum's collections manager, Catherine Wright, decided to investigate the wrapped note it contained.
more here
Friday, December 24, 2010
News:Haiti mobs lynch voodoo priests over cholera fears
Voodoo priests in Haiti are being lynched by mobs who blame them for spreading cholera, the country's government has said.
At least 45 people have been lynched in recent weeks as Haiti continues to be ravaged by a cholera epidemic.
Haiti's communications minister has made an appeal for the lynchings to end and called for a campaign to ensure people understand how cholera spreads.
More than 2,500 Haitians have died from the water-borne disease since October.
more here
At least 45 people have been lynched in recent weeks as Haiti continues to be ravaged by a cholera epidemic.
Haiti's communications minister has made an appeal for the lynchings to end and called for a campaign to ensure people understand how cholera spreads.
More than 2,500 Haitians have died from the water-borne disease since October.
more here
Thursday, December 23, 2010
News:US attacks North Korea 'sacred war' threats
The US has denounced North Korea for threatening a "sacred war" against the South, whose military has been holding live-fire drills near the border.
The state department's Philip Crowley told the BBC there was no justification for Pyongyang's "belligerent words".
In a day of rising tension, Seoul and Pyongyang traded strong rhetoric, with the South warning of a "powerful response" to any attack from the North.
A month ago, the North fired on a Southern island, killing four people.
Thursday's speech by Armed Forces Minister Kim Yong-chun marks the strongest statement from Pyongyang since the attack on Yeonpyeong island.
Analysts believe the hard-line stance might be timed to coincide with the 19th anniversary of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il taking control of the armed forces, which will be marked on Friday.
more here
The state department's Philip Crowley told the BBC there was no justification for Pyongyang's "belligerent words".
In a day of rising tension, Seoul and Pyongyang traded strong rhetoric, with the South warning of a "powerful response" to any attack from the North.
A month ago, the North fired on a Southern island, killing four people.
Thursday's speech by Armed Forces Minister Kim Yong-chun marks the strongest statement from Pyongyang since the attack on Yeonpyeong island.
Analysts believe the hard-line stance might be timed to coincide with the 19th anniversary of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il taking control of the armed forces, which will be marked on Friday.
more here
News:A secret journey to take Serbian nuclear fuel to safety
By Gordon Corera Security correspondent, BBC News
IAEA's John Kelly on the dangers of transporting nuclear fuel rods
A shipment of nuclear fuel has arrived in Russia after a top-secret international operation to remove it from Serbia, where it was feared terrorists could seize it to make a nuclear or dirty bomb.
In the dead of night, armed men in balaclavas surround a long convoy of trucks in the woods just outside Belgrade. Radios crackle as they prepare for a long journey.
Their mission is to escort a dangerous cargo, the kind terrorists would dearly like to get their hands on.
more here
IAEA's John Kelly on the dangers of transporting nuclear fuel rods
A shipment of nuclear fuel has arrived in Russia after a top-secret international operation to remove it from Serbia, where it was feared terrorists could seize it to make a nuclear or dirty bomb.
In the dead of night, armed men in balaclavas surround a long convoy of trucks in the woods just outside Belgrade. Radios crackle as they prepare for a long journey.
Their mission is to escort a dangerous cargo, the kind terrorists would dearly like to get their hands on.
more here
Skype slowly recovers from global blackout
23 December 2010 Last updated at 18:13 GMT
The free internet phone service Skype is slowly coming back online after an outage that affected millions of people around the globe.
The firm's engineers are still working to fix the problem, which first started at around 2030 GMT on 22 December.
Skype said the fault had been caused by a "software issue" on critical parts of its network.
At 1800GMT on 23 December, the firm said it was handling 16.5 million phone calls, 80% of its normal traffic.
"We take outages like this really seriously and apologise for the inconvenience," Skype chief Tony Bates told BBC News.
more here
The free internet phone service Skype is slowly coming back online after an outage that affected millions of people around the globe.
The firm's engineers are still working to fix the problem, which first started at around 2030 GMT on 22 December.
Skype said the fault had been caused by a "software issue" on critical parts of its network.
At 1800GMT on 23 December, the firm said it was handling 16.5 million phone calls, 80% of its normal traffic.
"We take outages like this really seriously and apologise for the inconvenience," Skype chief Tony Bates told BBC News.
more here
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Invisibility cloak
Years ago I found out that some objects can be made completely invisible. At the time I was working at the stage 2 chemistry lab at the Central Institute of Technology (Heretaunga Campus) in room A402.
After investigating it, I learned that the solution of ferric chloride in the beaker had exactly the same refractive index as the glass rod standing in it. The effect was that the part in the liquid could not be seen at all!
So in case you are interested in this effect, maybe you can re-create it with a little time and care! Note: The approximate date of this experience was 1974/75.
Postscript: A claim was made recently concerning a real life invisibility cloak. If you would like to know more please go to more here
After investigating it, I learned that the solution of ferric chloride in the beaker had exactly the same refractive index as the glass rod standing in it. The effect was that the part in the liquid could not be seen at all!
So in case you are interested in this effect, maybe you can re-create it with a little time and care! Note: The approximate date of this experience was 1974/75.
Postscript: A claim was made recently concerning a real life invisibility cloak. If you would like to know more please go to more here
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Internet rules to get go ahead by US regulators
By Maggie Shiels Technology reporter, BBC News, Silicon Valley
The rules have been criticised for setting different standards for fixed line broadband and mobile operators.
Officials said the regulations are "the first time the Commission has adopted enforceable rules" to govern the web.
Tuesday's vote is the culmination of five years of fighting over how best to ensure the free flow of information in all its forms over the internet.
more here
Controversial new rules affecting the running of the internet are expected to be approved by US regulators today.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on a principle known as net neutrality; a tenet that ensures all web traffic is treated equally.The rules have been criticised for setting different standards for fixed line broadband and mobile operators.
Officials said the regulations are "the first time the Commission has adopted enforceable rules" to govern the web.
Tuesday's vote is the culmination of five years of fighting over how best to ensure the free flow of information in all its forms over the internet.
more here
Sunday, December 19, 2010
News:Bolivia charges 39 over alleged plot to kill Morales
Bolivian prosecutors have charged 39 people over an alleged plot to assassinate President Evo Morales and launch an armed rebellion last year.
They include opposition politicians and a former general who captured the guerrilla leader Che Guevara in 1967.
The alleged plot was uncovered in April 2009, when Bolivan police killed three suspected European mercenaries in the eastern city of Santa Cruz.
The accused have denied the charges, calling them politically motivated.
Most are already under arrest, but 17 are now living outside Bolivia.
The most prominent politician charged is Branco Marinkovic, a business leader and former head of the opposition Civic Committee of Santa Cruz, who is in exile in the US.
Among the former senior military officers charged is the retired General Gary Prado, who led the unit that captured and killed the Argentine-born guerrilla leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara. more here
They include opposition politicians and a former general who captured the guerrilla leader Che Guevara in 1967.
The alleged plot was uncovered in April 2009, when Bolivan police killed three suspected European mercenaries in the eastern city of Santa Cruz.
The accused have denied the charges, calling them politically motivated.
Most are already under arrest, but 17 are now living outside Bolivia.
The most prominent politician charged is Branco Marinkovic, a business leader and former head of the opposition Civic Committee of Santa Cruz, who is in exile in the US.
Among the former senior military officers charged is the retired General Gary Prado, who led the unit that captured and killed the Argentine-born guerrilla leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara. more here
News:Guatemala moves against Mexican Zetas drug gang
19 December 2010 Last updated at 21:48 GMT
Guatemala has given the army special powers to reclaim control of the northern province of Alta Verapaz, which officials say has been overtaken by Mexican drug traffickers.
The move allows troops to hold suspects and conduct searches without warrants.
Security forces are looking for members of the Zetas drug gang, which has been expanding its operations from Mexico.
All cars entering and leaving the provincial capital, Coban, were being inspected.
The special powers will remain in place for at least 30 days, government spokesman Ronaldo Robles says. Source here
Guatemala has given the army special powers to reclaim control of the northern province of Alta Verapaz, which officials say has been overtaken by Mexican drug traffickers.
The move allows troops to hold suspects and conduct searches without warrants.
Security forces are looking for members of the Zetas drug gang, which has been expanding its operations from Mexico.
All cars entering and leaving the provincial capital, Coban, were being inspected.
The special powers will remain in place for at least 30 days, government spokesman Ronaldo Robles says. Source here
News:EU could turn to 'crowd sourcing' in cyber crime fight
By Brian Wheeler Political reporter, BBC News
Cyber crime The public could help track down criminals operating in cyber space
Millions of internet users across the EU could be encouraged to join the fight against cyber crime if a ground breaking experiment in "crowd sourcing" goes ahead.
The director of Europol told peers he wants to get net users directly involved in catching cyber crime gangs.
Rob Wainwright briefed a Lords EU sub-committee on plans for a European cyber crime centre.
He said the extent of the problem was often underestimated in the EU.
And criminal gangs were becoming more sophisticated in their use of technology, which was spreading into the world of "offline" crime such as drug and people trafficking and VAT fraud, which netted criminals in the EU 100bn euros (£85bn) last year alone.more here
Cyber crime The public could help track down criminals operating in cyber space
Millions of internet users across the EU could be encouraged to join the fight against cyber crime if a ground breaking experiment in "crowd sourcing" goes ahead.
The director of Europol told peers he wants to get net users directly involved in catching cyber crime gangs.
Rob Wainwright briefed a Lords EU sub-committee on plans for a European cyber crime centre.
He said the extent of the problem was often underestimated in the EU.
And criminal gangs were becoming more sophisticated in their use of technology, which was spreading into the world of "offline" crime such as drug and people trafficking and VAT fraud, which netted criminals in the EU 100bn euros (£85bn) last year alone.more here
Saturday, December 18, 2010
News:Bank of America stops handling Wikileaks payments
18 December 2010 Last updated at 16:06 GMT
Bank of America has stopped handling payments for whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, joining several other major financial institutions.
It said it acted because "Wikileaks may be engaged in activities that are... inconsistent with our internal policies for processing payments".
In response, Wikileaks urged its supporters to stop doing business with the bank - one of the world's largest.
MasterCard, PayPal and other companies earlier cut off Wikileaks' payments.
The financial institutions acted after Wikileaks - together with several major media organisations - began publishing thousands of secret US diplomatic cables, causing tension between Washington and some of its allies.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was earlier this week freed on bail in the UK while facing extradition proceedings to Sweden over sexual assault allegations.
more here
Bank of America has stopped handling payments for whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, joining several other major financial institutions.
It said it acted because "Wikileaks may be engaged in activities that are... inconsistent with our internal policies for processing payments".
In response, Wikileaks urged its supporters to stop doing business with the bank - one of the world's largest.
MasterCard, PayPal and other companies earlier cut off Wikileaks' payments.
The financial institutions acted after Wikileaks - together with several major media organisations - began publishing thousands of secret US diplomatic cables, causing tension between Washington and some of its allies.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was earlier this week freed on bail in the UK while facing extradition proceedings to Sweden over sexual assault allegations.
more here
Friday, December 17, 2010
Article:The woman who cannot feel fear
Woman who cannot feel fear may help in treating PTSD
A woman who cannot feel afraid because of a missing structure in her brain could help scientists discover treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Research published in Current Biology showed the woman felt no fear in a variety of scary situations.
These included exposure to snakes and spiders, horror films and a "haunted house".
The woman feels other emotions but said as an adult, she had never felt afraid.
She is the first known case of someone who is unable to process fear.
more here
A woman who cannot feel afraid because of a missing structure in her brain could help scientists discover treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Research published in Current Biology showed the woman felt no fear in a variety of scary situations.
These included exposure to snakes and spiders, horror films and a "haunted house".
The woman feels other emotions but said as an adult, she had never felt afraid.
She is the first known case of someone who is unable to process fear.
more here
Thursday, December 16, 2010
News:Caste discrimination in the UK could be outlawed
Discrimination on the grounds of caste exists in the UK, research suggests.
The study, by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, found evidence of harassment in the workplace, in the provision of services and in education.
The government will now consider the evidence to determine whether there is a serious enough problem to impose a legal ban on caste discrimination.
The prejudice affects members of the mainly Hindu and Sikh communities.
A person's caste is their historic social standing and often refers to their forefathers' occupation. more here
The study, by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, found evidence of harassment in the workplace, in the provision of services and in education.
The government will now consider the evidence to determine whether there is a serious enough problem to impose a legal ban on caste discrimination.
The prejudice affects members of the mainly Hindu and Sikh communities.
A person's caste is their historic social standing and often refers to their forefathers' occupation. more here
News:Interpol warned of 'al-Qaeda plots' in US and Europe
Interpol has confirmed it has received information about possible attacks by al-Qaeda cells in the US and Europe.
The global police agency's office in Baghdad received information about the alleged threats on Wednesday.
Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani earlier told the Associated Press that militants had confessed suicide attacks were planned for the Christmas period.
The suicide bombing in the Swedish capital Stockholm last weekend was one of the alleged plots revealed, he said.
Officials say they are 98% sure the bomber was Iraq-born Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, who grew up in Sweden and was living in the UK.
Abdaly owned a car that exploded in Stockholm, shortly before the blast nearby which killed the bomber. Two people were also injured.
Officials believe the bomber intended to kill "as many people as possible", possibly at the central train station or a popular department store.
more here
The global police agency's office in Baghdad received information about the alleged threats on Wednesday.
Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani earlier told the Associated Press that militants had confessed suicide attacks were planned for the Christmas period.
The suicide bombing in the Swedish capital Stockholm last weekend was one of the alleged plots revealed, he said.
Officials say they are 98% sure the bomber was Iraq-born Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, who grew up in Sweden and was living in the UK.
Abdaly owned a car that exploded in Stockholm, shortly before the blast nearby which killed the bomber. Two people were also injured.
Officials believe the bomber intended to kill "as many people as possible", possibly at the central train station or a popular department store.
more here
News:Wikileaks founder Julian Assange awaits bail hearing
16 December 2010 Last updated at 05:39 GMT
Swedish authorities will be at the High Court on Thursday to try to block bail for Julian Assange, founder of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks.
The 39-year-old Australian was granted bail earlier this week on condition he provides sureties of £240,000.
But he has remained in Wandsworth Prison after Swedish prosecutors appealed against giving him bail.
Mr Assange is fighting extradition to Sweden where he faces sex allegations involving two women, which he denies.more here
Swedish authorities will be at the High Court on Thursday to try to block bail for Julian Assange, founder of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks.
The 39-year-old Australian was granted bail earlier this week on condition he provides sureties of £240,000.
But he has remained in Wandsworth Prison after Swedish prosecutors appealed against giving him bail.
Mr Assange is fighting extradition to Sweden where he faces sex allegations involving two women, which he denies.more here
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Imperfection
This afternoon I was reminded of how far we all need to go before achieving perfection. As moderator of the pchelpers list, it is my job to look at postings which don't comply with its requirements. I have to make a decision regarding whether to allow or block suspect messages.
In this case Ekhart picked me up on an error of over quoting.
He was correct in doing so. I would have liked to produce a better result for list members, but wonder now how long perfection is going to take. Therefore on behalf of the list I apologize to everyone, especially to those who pick up such errors. All list and blog members are welcome to share the work and keep us alert to our better/best potential. Remembering that correction of error (even the result of age) helps keep us going the right way. Looking forward to one day having really perfect days!
In this case Ekhart picked me up on an error of over quoting.
He was correct in doing so. I would have liked to produce a better result for list members, but wonder now how long perfection is going to take. Therefore on behalf of the list I apologize to everyone, especially to those who pick up such errors. All list and blog members are welcome to share the work and keep us alert to our better/best potential. Remembering that correction of error (even the result of age) helps keep us going the right way. Looking forward to one day having really perfect days!
News:Kosovo rejects Hashim Thaci organ-trafficking claims
The Kosovo government has reacted angrily to a draft report alleging that serving leaders are responsible for crimes including organ-trafficking.
The Council of Europe report names Hashim Thaci - prime minister and wartime political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) - 27 times.
The human rights body's inquiry reinforces several aspects of a 2009 BBC report into similar allegations.
Kosovo's authorities have rejected the claims as "baseless and defamatory".
The draft report, which is due to be published on Thursday, is the result of a two-year investigation by the special rapporteur of the Council of Europe, Dick Marty.
The EU's police and justice mission in Kosovo (Eulex) said it would look carefully at its findings.
more here
The Council of Europe report names Hashim Thaci - prime minister and wartime political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) - 27 times.
The human rights body's inquiry reinforces several aspects of a 2009 BBC report into similar allegations.
Kosovo's authorities have rejected the claims as "baseless and defamatory".
The draft report, which is due to be published on Thursday, is the result of a two-year investigation by the special rapporteur of the Council of Europe, Dick Marty.
The EU's police and justice mission in Kosovo (Eulex) said it would look carefully at its findings.
more here
Monday, December 13, 2010
News:Dutch nursery abuse arrest prompts major inquiry
A 27-year-old man who worked in at least two nursery schools has been arrested in Amsterdam on suspicion of abusing 30 to 50 young children.
Robert M - as he was named by police - was detained last Tuesday and more than 50 parents were contacted on Sunday.
A spokeswoman for the Dutch public prosecution service described the case as "huge" and "unprecedented".
The suspect was identified after a two-year-old boy's picture was shown on Dutch TV as part of a US inquiry.
Police said he had also worked as a childminder in the Amsterdam area.
They said they were trying to establish whether other people were involved in the alleged abuse of young children up to the age of four.
The man's male partner, 37, has been detained on suspicion of possession of child pornography.
Another employee at a nursery where Robert M, originally from Latvia, worked is also being held.
more here
Robert M - as he was named by police - was detained last Tuesday and more than 50 parents were contacted on Sunday.
A spokeswoman for the Dutch public prosecution service described the case as "huge" and "unprecedented".
The suspect was identified after a two-year-old boy's picture was shown on Dutch TV as part of a US inquiry.
Police said he had also worked as a childminder in the Amsterdam area.
They said they were trying to establish whether other people were involved in the alleged abuse of young children up to the age of four.
The man's male partner, 37, has been detained on suspicion of possession of child pornography.
Another employee at a nursery where Robert M, originally from Latvia, worked is also being held.
more here
News:Chinese archaeologists unearth 2,400-year-old 'soup'
Chinese archaeologists have unearthed what they believe is a 2,400-year-old pot of soup, state media report.
The liquid and bones were in a sealed bronze cooking vessel dug up near the ancient capital of Xian - home to the country's famed terracotta warriors.
Tests are being carried out to identify the ingredients. An odourless liquid, believed to be wine, was also found.
The pots were discovered in a tomb being excavated to make way for an extension to the local airport.
"It's the first discovery of bone soup in Chinese archaeological history," the newspaper quoted Liu Daiyun of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology as saying.
"The discovery will play an important role in studying the eating habits and culture of the Warring States Period (475-221BC)."
The scientists said the tomb could have held the body of either a member of the land-owning class or a low-ranking military officer, the report said.more here
The liquid and bones were in a sealed bronze cooking vessel dug up near the ancient capital of Xian - home to the country's famed terracotta warriors.
Tests are being carried out to identify the ingredients. An odourless liquid, believed to be wine, was also found.
The pots were discovered in a tomb being excavated to make way for an extension to the local airport.
"It's the first discovery of bone soup in Chinese archaeological history," the newspaper quoted Liu Daiyun of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology as saying.
"The discovery will play an important role in studying the eating habits and culture of the Warring States Period (475-221BC)."
The scientists said the tomb could have held the body of either a member of the land-owning class or a low-ranking military officer, the report said.more here
Sunday, December 12, 2010
News:Stockholm blasts: Sweden probes 'terrorist attack'
Two explosions in Sweden's capital Stockholm are being investigated as a "crime of terror", officials say.
A car blew up in a busy shopping area on Saturday afternoon, followed moments later by a second explosion nearby.
Witnesses said a man found dead after the second blast had been carrying an explosive device. Two people were hurt.
Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt condemned the attacks as unacceptable in an open society with a functioning democracy that respects different cultures.
"Our democracy functions well," he told a press conference. "Those who feel frustration or anger have the opportunity to express it without resorting to violence."
more here
A car blew up in a busy shopping area on Saturday afternoon, followed moments later by a second explosion nearby.
Witnesses said a man found dead after the second blast had been carrying an explosive device. Two people were hurt.
Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt condemned the attacks as unacceptable in an open society with a functioning democracy that respects different cultures.
"Our democracy functions well," he told a press conference. "Those who feel frustration or anger have the opportunity to express it without resorting to violence."
more here
Friday, December 10, 2010
News:'Diamond exoplanet' idea boosted by telescope find
By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News
A US-British team of astronomers has discovered the first planet with ultra-high concentrations of carbon.
The researchers say their discovery supports the idea there may be carbon-rich, rocky planets whose terrains are made up of diamonds or graphite.
"You might see land masses and mountains made up of diamonds," the lead researcher Dr Nikku Madhusudhan told BBC News.
The study in Nature journal raises new questions about how planets are formed.
more here
A US-British team of astronomers has discovered the first planet with ultra-high concentrations of carbon.
The researchers say their discovery supports the idea there may be carbon-rich, rocky planets whose terrains are made up of diamonds or graphite.
"You might see land masses and mountains made up of diamonds," the lead researcher Dr Nikku Madhusudhan told BBC News.
The study in Nature journal raises new questions about how planets are formed.
more here
Thursday, December 9, 2010
News:Amazon site unaffected by pro-Wikileaks attack
'Coldblood', a member of the group Anonymous, tells Jane Wakefield why he views its attacks on Visa and Mastercard as defence of Wikileaks.
Attempts by online activists to bring down online retailer Amazon's website appear to have failed.
The group Anonymous had pledged to to attack the site at 1600 GMT but the site seems to be functioning normally.
The site was targeted because it withdrew services from whistle-blowing website Wikileaks
The tool through which attacks are carried out against websites perceived to be anti-Wikileaks has now been downloaded more than 31,000 times.
Security experts warned people to avoid joining the voluntary botnet.
more here
Attempts by online activists to bring down online retailer Amazon's website appear to have failed.
The group Anonymous had pledged to to attack the site at 1600 GMT but the site seems to be functioning normally.
The site was targeted because it withdrew services from whistle-blowing website Wikileaks
The tool through which attacks are carried out against websites perceived to be anti-Wikileaks has now been downloaded more than 31,000 times.
Security experts warned people to avoid joining the voluntary botnet.
more here
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
News:Private firm launches space-taxi prototype
Published: 9:06AM Thursday December 09, 2010 Source: Reuters
A privately owned company put a spacecraft into orbit in a test flight that NASA hopes will eventually lead to cargo runs to the International Space Station after its space shuttles are retired next year.
The NASA-backed mission is intended to test a new system for delivering cargo - and eventually possibly crew - to the International Space Station.
more here
A privately owned company put a spacecraft into orbit in a test flight that NASA hopes will eventually lead to cargo runs to the International Space Station after its space shuttles are retired next year.
The NASA-backed mission is intended to test a new system for delivering cargo - and eventually possibly crew - to the International Space Station.
more here
News:Wikileaks defended by Anonymous hacktivists
Internet hacktivists have fired the latest salvo in the Wikileaks infowar.
A group called Anonymous has hit sites that have refused to do business with the controversial whistle-blowing site with a series of distributed denial-of-service attacks.
It mirrors similar attacks aimed at the Wikileaks site.
Targets include the Swiss bank that froze founder Julian Assange's assets and PayPal which has stopped processing donations to Wikileaks.
Anonymous is a loose-knit group of hacktivists, with links to the notorious message board 4chan.
more here
A group called Anonymous has hit sites that have refused to do business with the controversial whistle-blowing site with a series of distributed denial-of-service attacks.
It mirrors similar attacks aimed at the Wikileaks site.
Targets include the Swiss bank that froze founder Julian Assange's assets and PayPal which has stopped processing donations to Wikileaks.
Anonymous is a loose-knit group of hacktivists, with links to the notorious message board 4chan.
more here
News:Private space capsule launched
8 December 2010 Last updated at 15:46 GMT
A private US capsule that could soon be hauling cargo and even astronauts to the space station has launched on its first demonstration flight.
The Dragon ship launched from Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket at 1543GMT (1043 EST).
The capsule separated about 10 minutes after launch and has reached orbit, its manufacturer SpaceX said.
After completing several manoeuvres some 300km above Earth, the capsule will splash down in the Pacific.
Dragon and Falcon 9 are both products of California's SpaceX company.
The firm has a $1.6bn (£1bn) contract with the US space agency (Nasa) to provide 12 spacecraft with cargo capacity of at least 20 tonnes to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) through to 2016.
The initiative is part of a much wider American policy to place the carriage of freight and crew transport to the ISS in the hands of the private sector.
more here
A private US capsule that could soon be hauling cargo and even astronauts to the space station has launched on its first demonstration flight.
The Dragon ship launched from Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket at 1543GMT (1043 EST).
The capsule separated about 10 minutes after launch and has reached orbit, its manufacturer SpaceX said.
After completing several manoeuvres some 300km above Earth, the capsule will splash down in the Pacific.
Dragon and Falcon 9 are both products of California's SpaceX company.
The firm has a $1.6bn (£1bn) contract with the US space agency (Nasa) to provide 12 spacecraft with cargo capacity of at least 20 tonnes to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) through to 2016.
The initiative is part of a much wider American policy to place the carriage of freight and crew transport to the ISS in the hands of the private sector.
more here
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
News:Japan waits on Venus spacecraft
Japan's space agency (Jaxa) is working to establish the status of its Akatsuki mission to Venus.
The spacecraft fired its main engine just before midnight GMT on Monday in a manoeuvre designed to allow the planet's gravity to capture the probe.
Akatsuki then briefly lost contact with Earth as it moved behind the Venus.
Scientists said they would know later on Tuesday whether the operation to insert the satellite into the correct orbit had been successful or not.
Akatsuki was launched to the inner-world by an H-IIA rocket in May. Its goals include finding definitive evidence for lightning and for active volcanoes.
It will not be alone at Venus; the European Space Agency's Venus Express craft arrived at the planet in 2006. The pair are due to conduct joint observations.
Venus is almost identical in size to our planet, and is thought to have a similar composition. But there the resemblance ends.
Continue reading the main story
AKATSUKI ('DAWN') VENUS ORBITER
Akatsuki (Jaxa)
* Will study atmosphere and surface
* Size: 1.0m by 1.4m by 1.4m
* Mass at lift-off: About 500kg
* 5 cameras; 1 radio experiment
* Designed for 4.5-year life
* Will sit in 300km by 80,000km orbit
The thick Venusian atmosphere is opaque to instruments that operate at visible wavelengths and so the Japanese probe carries five cameras that are sensitive in the infrared and ultraviolet parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
more here
The spacecraft fired its main engine just before midnight GMT on Monday in a manoeuvre designed to allow the planet's gravity to capture the probe.
Akatsuki then briefly lost contact with Earth as it moved behind the Venus.
Scientists said they would know later on Tuesday whether the operation to insert the satellite into the correct orbit had been successful or not.
Akatsuki was launched to the inner-world by an H-IIA rocket in May. Its goals include finding definitive evidence for lightning and for active volcanoes.
It will not be alone at Venus; the European Space Agency's Venus Express craft arrived at the planet in 2006. The pair are due to conduct joint observations.
Venus is almost identical in size to our planet, and is thought to have a similar composition. But there the resemblance ends.
Continue reading the main story
AKATSUKI ('DAWN') VENUS ORBITER
Akatsuki (Jaxa)
* Will study atmosphere and surface
* Size: 1.0m by 1.4m by 1.4m
* Mass at lift-off: About 500kg
* 5 cameras; 1 radio experiment
* Designed for 4.5-year life
* Will sit in 300km by 80,000km orbit
The thick Venusian atmosphere is opaque to instruments that operate at visible wavelengths and so the Japanese probe carries five cameras that are sensitive in the infrared and ultraviolet parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
more here
Monday, December 6, 2010
News:List of facilities 'vital to US security' leaked
6 December 2010 Last updated at 03:01 GMT
By Jonathan Marcus BBC Diplomatic Correspondent
A long list of key facilities around the world that the US describes as vital to its national security has been released by Wikileaks.
The US State Department in February 2009 asked all US missions abroad to list all installations whose loss could critically affect US national security.
The list includes pipelines, communication and transport hubs.
Several UK sites are listed, including cable locations, satellite sites and BAE Systems plants.
This is probably the most controversial document yet from the Wikileaks organisation.
more here
By Jonathan Marcus BBC Diplomatic Correspondent
A long list of key facilities around the world that the US describes as vital to its national security has been released by Wikileaks.
The US State Department in February 2009 asked all US missions abroad to list all installations whose loss could critically affect US national security.
The list includes pipelines, communication and transport hubs.
Several UK sites are listed, including cable locations, satellite sites and BAE Systems plants.
This is probably the most controversial document yet from the Wikileaks organisation.
more here
Sunday, December 5, 2010
News:China leadership 'orchestrated Google hacking'
4 December 2010 Last updated at 23:40 GMT
Senior Chinese figures were behind the hacking of Google earlier this year which forced the search engine to quit the country, leaked US cables suggest.
One cable, released by whistle-blowing site Wikileaks, cites a "well-placed" contact as saying the action against Google was "100% political".
A politburo member is said to have been angered after Googling his name and finding critical comments online.
The cable says it is unclear whether China's top leaders were involved.
Other cables show Beijing has been "extremely concerned" about the use of high-resolution satellite imagery on Google's mapping software, Google Earth.
In January, Google said it had been subjected to a "sophisticated cyber attack originating from China" - it said the e-mail accounts of human rights activists were among those hacked.more here
Senior Chinese figures were behind the hacking of Google earlier this year which forced the search engine to quit the country, leaked US cables suggest.
One cable, released by whistle-blowing site Wikileaks, cites a "well-placed" contact as saying the action against Google was "100% political".
A politburo member is said to have been angered after Googling his name and finding critical comments online.
The cable says it is unclear whether China's top leaders were involved.
Other cables show Beijing has been "extremely concerned" about the use of high-resolution satellite imagery on Google's mapping software, Google Earth.
In January, Google said it had been subjected to a "sophisticated cyber attack originating from China" - it said the e-mail accounts of human rights activists were among those hacked.more here
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Russian man pleads not guilty to global spam scheme
4 December 2010
A Russian man accused of operating an e-mail spam business that at times accounted for one third of global spam has pleaded not guilty in a federal court in the US state of Wisconsin.
Oleg Nikolaenko is charged with running a global network of more than 500,000 virus-infected personal computers, in violation of a US anti-spam law.
Mr Nikolaenko asked to be allowed a form of house arrest, pending a trial.
But the judge ordered him held without bail, ruling he was a flight risk.more here
A Russian man accused of operating an e-mail spam business that at times accounted for one third of global spam has pleaded not guilty in a federal court in the US state of Wisconsin.
Oleg Nikolaenko is charged with running a global network of more than 500,000 virus-infected personal computers, in violation of a US anti-spam law.
Mr Nikolaenko asked to be allowed a form of house arrest, pending a trial.
But the judge ordered him held without bail, ruling he was a flight risk.more here
Friday, December 3, 2010
News:Bhopal: India wants compensation doubled
India is seeking to more than double to $1.1bn (£700m) the compensation paid by a US chemical company for the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster.
The attorney general's office has filed a case at the Supreme Court to increase the $470m settlement reached in 1989.
The petition coincides with the 26th anniversary of the disaster.
Thousands of people died after the leak from Union Carbide's plant in the Madhya Pradesh state capital.
In June, an Indian court finally convicted seven former managers at the plant, handing down minor fines and brief prison sentences.
But many victims and campaigners have felt justice has still not been served against Union Carbide.
Dow Chemicals, which bought Union Carbide in 1999, has said in the past that the $470m settlement was fair and final.
more here
The attorney general's office has filed a case at the Supreme Court to increase the $470m settlement reached in 1989.
The petition coincides with the 26th anniversary of the disaster.
Thousands of people died after the leak from Union Carbide's plant in the Madhya Pradesh state capital.
In June, an Indian court finally convicted seven former managers at the plant, handing down minor fines and brief prison sentences.
But many victims and campaigners have felt justice has still not been served against Union Carbide.
Dow Chemicals, which bought Union Carbide in 1999, has said in the past that the $470m settlement was fair and final.
more here
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
News:'Trillions' of Earths orbit red stars in older galaxies
1 December 2010 Last updated at 18:48 GMT
By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News
Astronomers say the Universe may contain three times the number of stars as is currently thought.
Their assessment is based on new observations showing other galaxies may have very different structures to our Milky Way galaxy.
The researchers tell the journal Nature that more stars probably means many more planets as well - perhaps "trillions" of Earth-like worlds.
The Yale University-led study used the Keck telescope in Hawaii.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
There are possibly trillions of Earths orbiting these stars”
End Quote Professor Pieter Van Dokkum Yale University
It found that galaxies older than ours contain 20 times more red dwarf stars than more recent ones.
Red dwarfs are smaller and dimmer than our own Sun; it is only recently that telescopes have been powerful enough to detect them.
According to Yale's Professor Pieter van Dokkum, who led the research, the discovery also increases the estimate for the number of planets in the Universe and therefore greatly increases the likelihood of life existing elsewhere in the cosmos.
"There are possibly trillions of Earths orbiting these stars," he said. "Red dwarfs are typically more than 10 billion years old and so have been around long enough for complex life to evolve on planets around them. It's one reason why people are interested in this type of star."
Spiral Galaxy and Elliptical Galaxy Two-thirds of the observable Universe consists of spiral galaxies (L) like our own Milky Way. The remainder is made up of older elliptical galaxies (R)
The findings also help to account for what astronomers describe as the "missing mass" in the Universe. more here
By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News
Astronomers say the Universe may contain three times the number of stars as is currently thought.
Their assessment is based on new observations showing other galaxies may have very different structures to our Milky Way galaxy.
The researchers tell the journal Nature that more stars probably means many more planets as well - perhaps "trillions" of Earth-like worlds.
The Yale University-led study used the Keck telescope in Hawaii.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
There are possibly trillions of Earths orbiting these stars”
End Quote Professor Pieter Van Dokkum Yale University
It found that galaxies older than ours contain 20 times more red dwarf stars than more recent ones.
Red dwarfs are smaller and dimmer than our own Sun; it is only recently that telescopes have been powerful enough to detect them.
According to Yale's Professor Pieter van Dokkum, who led the research, the discovery also increases the estimate for the number of planets in the Universe and therefore greatly increases the likelihood of life existing elsewhere in the cosmos.
"There are possibly trillions of Earths orbiting these stars," he said. "Red dwarfs are typically more than 10 billion years old and so have been around long enough for complex life to evolve on planets around them. It's one reason why people are interested in this type of star."
Spiral Galaxy and Elliptical Galaxy Two-thirds of the observable Universe consists of spiral galaxies (L) like our own Milky Way. The remainder is made up of older elliptical galaxies (R)
The findings also help to account for what astronomers describe as the "missing mass" in the Universe. more here
News:US soldier faces court martial over Afghan killings
1 December 2010 Last updated at 15:52 GMT
The first of 12 US soldiers accused of being part of a group that killed Afghan civilians for sport faces court martial on Wednesday.
Charges against Staff Sgt Robert Stevens include conspiracy to commit assault and battery, dereliction of duty and aggravated assault.
These relate to an incident in March where he is said to have shot at three Afghan men near an Army base.
Eleven others are charged in the affair, including five with murder.
Sgt Stevens faces up to 27 years in prison if convicted by the military hearing in Washington state, the Army said.more here
The first of 12 US soldiers accused of being part of a group that killed Afghan civilians for sport faces court martial on Wednesday.
Charges against Staff Sgt Robert Stevens include conspiracy to commit assault and battery, dereliction of duty and aggravated assault.
These relate to an incident in March where he is said to have shot at three Afghan men near an Army base.
Eleven others are charged in the affair, including five with murder.
Sgt Stevens faces up to 27 years in prison if convicted by the military hearing in Washington state, the Army said.more here
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