Posts - Americans

Crumbling Infrastructure In Boston Is Making Every New Project Massively Over Budget

News

Boston and Massachusetts are facing another public transport overspending drama with revelations that the MBTA Green Line extension project is likely to come in $2.5 billion over budget. The city is still reeling from the $14 billion overspend on its previous mega-project, the Big Dig, with the State still struggling to pay for its share of the project.

The Green Line project will take the line from its current home base at Cambridge’s Lechmere, north through neighboring city Somerville and was meant to be a what transport experts had described as a “tweak” to “an excellent century-old network,” providing improved access and opportunities for other transit development.

But the original estimate of $500 million has proven to be a fantasy with the project cost now expected to hit $3 billion, with the State of Massachusetts responsible for $1 billion of the total.

The news has come as somewhat of a shock to those responsible for footing the bill, but transportation experts said that historically it is on par with other Boston transport infrastructure miscalculations.

They cite the case of the much need renovation of the 1908 built Longfellow Bridge which connects Massachusetts capital and business center Boston to cerebral Cambridge, home to Harvard and other world renowned institutes of higher learning.
On a daily basis the bridge carries carrying 90,000 Red Line passengers, 28,000 vehicles along with pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers. Original estimates for the project were in the $60 million range but the successful bid amount came in at $225 million. Along with the under budget issue, the project slated for completion in November 2018, is already two years behind schedule.

The sister project to the Longfellow Bridge is the Anderson bridge renovation currently underway and “expected” to be finished in June 2016. The experts say original estimates for updating the 1915 built bridge were a “mere $28.8 million” but they advise no-one should bet on that sum being the final cost as they believe the project was more complicated engineering wise than had been expected, and because new “finishing touches” have been suggested for the project including an underpass for those on foot or bike.

Study Finds That Just Trace Amounts Of Monsanto’s Roundup Can Cause Severe Organ Damage

Health & Wellness

A new study has found that long-term exposure to even minute amounts of one of the most well known and easily accessible chemical weed killers – Roundup – could lead to serious kidney and liver problems.

The study backs a 2012 study that found rats given tiny amounts of Roundup in drinking water suffered kidney and liver damage.

The amount the new study by London’s King’s College refers to is thousands of times lower than what is permissible in U.S. drinking water.

Study senior author and head of King College’s Gene Expression and Therapy Group, Michael Antoniou, said the study is the first that looked into the effect of chronic, low exposure of Roundup on liver and kidney genes which suggests further potential health problems for humans and animals from the globally used weed killer.

“Given even very low levels of exposure, Roundup can potentially result in organ damage when it comes to liver and kidney function,” he said. “The severity we don’t know, but our data say there will be harm given enough time.”

According to estimates, sales and use of Roundup in the U.S. have skyrocketed by 250 times over the last four decades

There has been a growing amount of evidence that shows glyphosate, which is Roundup’s main ingredient, is toxic. Experts have suspected it might be the cause of a kidney disease epidemic in parts of Central American, India and Sri Lanka.

Glyphosate has also been at the center of the genetically modified food debate because many seeds from Roundups manufacturer Monsanto are engineered genetically to withstand the weedkiller. Environmental groups and health researchers and activists have called for a ban on the product or at least more strict regulations for glyphosate,

Last March the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer said it had determined glyphosate is probably cancer-causing.

Antoniou said the latest study had compared female rats and mice that had been part of a 2012 research group given Roundup to rats that had not been given the weedkiller and had found “big differences” in their genes.

Nichelle Harriott, of the Washington D.C.-based nonprofit group Beyond Pesticides, said based on the fact the study had “used very low dose levels in drinking water, as a country that uses a lot of glyphosate and it’s found widely across U.S. streams, this study should have some kind of public health influence.”

Monsanto has yet to comment on the King’s College study, but in the past has vigorously Roundup’s safety.

India Joins Elite Club Of Indigenous Rocket Engine Producers With Successful Satellite Launch

Entertainment News

India has once again demonstrated it is one of the heavy hitters in the fields of space exploration and communications with the successful launch of the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) D6 carrying the country’s most recent communications satellite, GSAT-6.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the launch took place Thursday night in Andhra Pradesh at the Sriharikota spaceport.

Experts say what is of particular interest to space watchers is that the launch and successful beginning of the communication satellites operations, is ISRO’s second success using all Indian made cryogenic stage engine and components. The first in January, 2014 – GSLV-D5 – saw India into join an elite group of nations ( Russia, U.S.A. China, Japan and France) that have used “homegrown complex cryogenic engine and stage components” .

The cryogenic engine system is vital for the launch of satellites that weigh over two tonnes and is more efficient than earlier conventional engines as it gives more thrust for every kilogram of propellant used. Previously India’s satellites were launched by European made Ariane launchers which according to ISRO are more expensive than the indigenous products.

The GSLV rocket engine works in three stages, the first fired with solid fuel, the second liquid fuel and the third the cryogenic engine.

The latest satellite’s expected mission life is nine years.

India has had three unsuccessful attempts at similar launches using Indian made equipment.

Mission Director R Umamaheswaran described the launch as a “Onam gift” saying the “naughty boy” (cryogenic stage) had become the “most adored boy of the ISRO”.

ISRO chairman Kiran Kumar said “We have demonstrated what happened in January 2014 was no fluke, it was a result of tremendous effort put in by the entire team for the indigenous cryogenic stage… various intricacies of cryogenic have been understood.”

Florida Declares State Of Emergency As Tropical Storm Erika Nears Landfall

Culture

10 years to the day after hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Erika neared the Florida coast.

The storm could hit the peninsula as early as Sunday morning according to the latest forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Scott made the declaration shortly after forecasters adjusted the trajectory of the storm earlier in the day to show that it’s forecast to go through the middle of the state.

Scott’s order states that Erika “poses a severe threat to the entire state.”

The order means the National Guard is now activated and gives authorities the ability to waive tolls and rules to facilitate movement of emergency services throughout the state.

It has been 10 full years since a hurricane hit the state. The most current forecasts show that Erika will continue to be a tropical storm when it makes landfall.

Erika has killed at least four people in Puerto Rico as of late Friday. Its currently moving at 17 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

Saudi Arabia Just Invaded Yemen And Oil Prices Are Spiking As A Result

Entertainment News

Saudi Arabian ground forces have advanced into northern Yemen in a forceful assault against Houthi Shia militia and forces loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh. The news was reported by military and tribal sources in the area of the invasion.

The development is notable as it is Saudi Arabia’s first ground offensive in Yemen since it launched a comprehensive military campaign in March targeting Houthi positions. Most attacks to date have been air strikes or rockets fired from across the border.

The fresh attack comes after Houthi militants recently stormed Saudi fortifications in the southern Saudi province of Jizan. Saudi Arabia has also been attacked on several occasions by Scud missiles fired by Houthi rebels, one of which killed a senior Saudi commander last month. The sources told the Anadolu News Agency that Saudi Arabian troops advanced into Saada province, crossing the Yemeni border.

“Saudi ground forces seized control of two areas in Saada province and intend to advance toward Houthi positions,” the sources confirmed.

When the Houthis overran capital Sanaa and other provinces last September Yemen descended into chaos. The uprising prompted Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies to launch a massive air campaign against the Shia group which seems to have reached a point of diminishing returns.

Pro-Hadi forces, which are backed by Saudi air power, have recently managed to retake Taiz and Aden from the Houthis.

The forceful military incursion underscores newly appointed Saudi King Salman’s resolve to assert his country’s influence in the region and his unwillingness to sit idly as his country is attacked by Houthi forces.

As news of the invasion hit the wire, the benchmark WTI crude contract promptly shot above $45 a barrel, its highest level in days.

New Study Finds New York’s High Cigarette Taxes Lead To More Smuggling And Less Tax Revenue

News

The City of New York has, over the years, cracked down on the illegal tax evading cigarette market through a contingent of strict regulations. However, fraudulent sellers have found innovative ways of beating the system, costing the city billions, and as a new survey shows, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

The new research demonstrated that over 15 per cent of cigarettes sold in New York City are illegal, despite markings that indicate otherwise.

In the spring of 2014, New York University public health scholar Diana Silver conducted a research that involved investigators buying one pack of Marlboro Gold from 92 different licensed stores in the city of New York. The stores included retailers, subway station shops, street shops and transit shops, all randomly selected.

Investigators working with Silver did another round of purchases during the fall, after authorities imposed a minimum selling price for cigarettes. Overall, 830 cigarettes were bought either at or above the city’s minimum price.

When the cigarettes were later analyzed, the researchers were shocked to discover up to 15.1 per cent of the cigarettes bought either had counterfeit New York state stamps or had stamps from Virginia which had absolutely no minimum price and a paltry excise tax of $.30.

Researchers discovered that not only were the sellers getting their packs underpriced and without tax payments to the state and city officials, end consumers weren’t even reaping the benefits.

Silver said, “This is really the worst of it: Where prices are increasing for customers, taxes aren’t being paid, and probably, none of the income is being reported.”

Through setting up a minimum price for the smokes, city officials were targeting the illegal cigarette sales in the hope of permanently curbing them. However, as Silver found out, their sales actually increased.

Only 13.3 per cent of cigarettes purchased before the minimum price change were illegal. After the change, the figure went up to 16.9 per cent.

According to the research team, the results varied with the type of stores. While 21.2 per cent of cigarettes from independent retailers bore illegal stamps, only 7.1 per cent of chain store packs were illegally stamped.

Silver said, “There are a lot of extra hurdles around selling cigarettes and yet you’re still finding large numbers being sold illegally.”
Silver recommended the use of digital tax stamps which were more complex and almost impossible to forge.

New York loses up to $1 billion a year on cigarette tax evasion, despite having the nation’s highest price per pack. Traditional methods of stemming the sin tax evasion have not been forthcoming. New York City officials need to consider digital tax stamps as a far better way of curbing the vice or other ways of limiting smoking that don’t include financial penalties, which just increase smuggling.

Boeing Just Showed Off Its Futuristic Laser Based Anti-Drone Weapon

Finance

The U.S. Army and America’s law enforcement agencies are about to get a new laser weapon developed by Boeing which is designed specifically to target and disable drones.

Various drone incidents have involved near miss collisions, including those at U.S. airports as well as the many stories this summer of drone operators interfering with California firefighters’ efforts. Guidelines for civilian drone use have been issued by the FAA with commercial laws expected to be issued next month. Boeing’s new device will put an enforcement capability behind such regulations, as well as provide a key tool for forward deployed U.S. forces who increasingly see drones hovering around them.

Although no one has been killed in a drone accident as of yet, one of the fears is the eventual case of a weaponized drone in a terrorist attack. Such an attack could employ whatever cargo the assailant decided to attach including guns, explosives, and chemical weapons.

Other technologies and strategies have been tried to achieve the same effect as Boeing’s laser, but the new system has the advantage of unlimited ammunition, pinpoint accuracy, and the ability to disable a drone in two seconds using its two kilowatt laser.

The precision of the device enables it to target non-vital parts of an aircraft in cases where salvaging the drone’s cargo is desired. Boeing offered no specifics on the range of the device except to say it would be able to destroy any target that one could spot with binoculars.

While other laser systems are so large they require vehicle transport, this device is small enough for deployment by two soldiers in less than ten minutes.

Targeting is accomplished by the operator using an Xbox 360 controller up until target acquisition. At that point the system will enter an automatic target and track mode.

Unlike a projectile-based weapon system, Boeing stated that theirs would be a one-time purchase, requiring only electricity and basic maintenance in order to achieve a multi-year lifespan.

The device still has one or two years of development to go before it is on the market.

Rocket Crashing Into Chinese House Underscores How Crowded Space Is Becoming

Culture

Residents of a house in Ankang city, located in the Shaanxi province of China, were shocked Thursday morning after a falling rocket motor crashed through their roof.

The wreckage fell through the house at approximately 10:40am local time. A villager said he heard a big noise, which was loud enough to rattle nearby windows. The wreckage made a large hole in the house’s roof.

Local police confirmed the wreckage was part of a rocket motor from a morning Chinese space launch.

The rocket engine fell off China’s Yaogan-27 mission, which contained a remote sensing satellite sent into space on Thursday at 10:31 am. The launch occurred from Taiyuan launch site in adjacent Shanxi Province.

While an obvious oversight by the Chinese space agency, the accident highlights just how crowded space is becoming. Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Europe, Japan and the United States are now all launching rockets at a pace never before seen in human history.

This flurried launch activity puts residents of both Earth and space in danger.

Due to gravitational forces and how the Earth spins, very few places on Earth are suitable for sending cargo into orbit. As populations expand nearer to the sites that are suited for launches it effectively puts cities and villages down range from the dangerous flights, which are prone to failure or accidents. Thursday’s incident in Ankang is a prime example of this encroachment coming dangerously close to rocket launches.

Astronauts in space are also increasingly fearful of space debris from the increased number of launches. Just two weeks ago astronauts inhabiting the International Space Station were forced to take refuge in an escape capsule after debris from another Chinese rocket launch came dangerously close to their habitat. Debris that litters our planet stays in orbit for years or even indefinitely, posing severe collision risks to satellites and space stations that also circle our planet.

Thursday’s incident is a wakeup call that better coordination in space is needed to avoid casualties, regardless of the myriad of political agendas underpinning each country’s space programs. This rings particularly true for countries like China and India who have adopted a lax attitude around the long term implications of their rocket launches.

While Uber Thumbs Its Nose At The Law, Chinese Rivals Embrace Regulation As Competitive Advantage

Finance

Didi Kuaidi, China’s largest car hailing app, will now have to share driver information with a second municipal government in China. The taxi hailing service, just like American rival Uber, has been receiving a lot of backlash from the government and established monopolies .The increased data sharing, while clearly a burden, may actually be a competitive advantage.

By giving the government data, Didi Kuaidi may actually be putting itself squarely on the path of legalization while rival Uber would squarely be on the other side.

Didi Kuaidi announced they would be establishing a taxi driver information service with the municipal government of Zhuhai , Guangdong province. The service, the company said, would better assist the authorities in accessing industry data and services.

Through a joint statement between the company and the municipality, the two said the joint sharing of information would also enhance passenger security and make commuting easier.

The first platform of its kind between Didi Kuaidi and a municipality was launched on June 1st with Shanghai authorities. The system has enabled the two to freely share information about their services and the industry. In doing so, authorities would be able to crack down on illegal cabs that were operating without licenses while ensure Didi Kuaidi drivers remain untouched.

The establishment of the new service with Zhuhai came on the same day the Internet was awash with reports about a woman being robbed, assaulted and raped in the Sichuan capital, Chengdu, by the driver of san Francisco-based Uber.

Analysts, however, have expressed doubt that the new service would enhance the security of passengers hailing cabs using the app as the service will not extend to privately owned cars.

Cab hailing services have been receiving plenty of backlash by the Chinese government and established taxi monopolies, a majority of which are government backed. Furious drivers recently organized a go slow against the services and even attacked cars using the service, blaming them for the destruction of their businesses.

In May, Chinese police raided Uber’s offices in Chengdu and Guangzhou while in Beijing, authorities declared their private car hailing service illegal. Uber drivers were also targeted in a police sting operation in Hong Kong that led to numerous arrests and detentions.

This month, top cab hailing companies Did Kuaidi, Ucar, Yongche and Uber were compelled by the government to restructure how they operated to comply with national regulations.

Cab hailing services are facing increasing backlash in China and European countries like France and Germany. Through their services, traditional taxi monopolies have had their business eaten into while authorities are concerned over the security implications of such services. Heading into the future, more of such collaborations between the services and local governments will be necessary for their continued operations, something Uber may be lower than rivals to appreciate.

Deadly Border Clashes Between India And Pakistan Leave Nine Dead, Dozens Wounded

Entertainment News

Nine civilians were killed Friday in an exchange of fire between India and Pakistan along their disputed border. Both India and Pakistan have had numerous altercations over their borders, so much so that two wars resulted from the dispute. With their renewed tensions over border lines, concern is spreading over an increased loss of lives by both sides.

In Pakistan, six people were killed and 46 others wounded in the exchange while three were killed and eight others wounded in India.

Both sides proceeded to blame each other for the deaths and the breach of a peace agreement signed between the two in 2003.

Pakistan security officials said that Indian forces began “unprovoked firing” at them to about 3am local time, Friday, and proceeded to do so after morning.

Rakesh Kumar Sharma, from India’s Border Security Force, provided a different account. He said Pakistan was to blame for the “unprovoked mortar fire.”

A casualties come after a meeting between security officials from the two countries was called off on Sunday. Pakistani national security advisor Sartaj Aziz was scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval for two day talks in New Delhi, India. However, due to disagreements on whether the Kashmir border was to form part of the discussions, India objected to the visit by Aziz.

Since independence from British colonization in 1947, the two neighbors have fought three wars, two of which were inspired by the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

In November 2003, the two states agreed to bilateral peace talks and a cease fire over the India-controlled Kashmir. The peace accord has maintained peace between the two regions for over a decade, until recently.

Recent months have seen an increased hostility between the two nuclear armed neighbors, threatening to completely erase a decade of peaceful coexistence and mutual cooperation.

On Wednesday, Pakistan authorities announced they would be meeting with their neighbors for security discussions next month in New Delhi.

Peace and acceptance between India and Pakistan has been elusive. Since independence, the two countries have been squabbling and trading accusations constantly. The involvement of live fire, however, completely changes the scope of things, especially when innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire. Only through diplomatic means will the two countries find peace, a reality both parties seem increasingly unwilling to accept.

71 Dead Migrants Found In Austrian Truck Have Just Given Europe A Huge Wakeup Call On Immigration

Entertainment News

The world was shocked on Friday as it emerged that a total of 71 migrants, including three children, were found decomposing inside a stationary truck parked next to a highway in Vienna. The find draws attention to the weight of the immigration crisis Europe is currently facing as hundreds of thousands of refugees cross into the union monthly. The crisis is the largest the EU has seen since World War II.

A truck with Hungarian license plates was found abandoned beside the highway 31 miles east of the Vienna, Austria’s capital. Police reported finding the bodies of 71 refugees in the truck, decomposing from the heat.

According to the authorities, 60 of the deceased were men, eight were women and three were children aged 2, 3 and 8. The police reported finding a Syrian passport in the truck.

Burgenland, Austria police director Peter Doskozil said, “We must assume now that these are refugees. In concrete terms, it is possible this is a Syrian refugee group.”

Three suspected smugglers were arrested following the incident. Two were Bulgarian nationals, the other a Hungarian.

Einsenstadt state prosecutor Johann Fuchs said, “We are talking about human trafficking, homicide, even murder.”

The find has served as a wake-up call to the EU on the magnitude of the refugee crisis they are facing. As war and famine continue to ravage parts of the Middle East and Africa, immigrants are flooding dangerous roots to find peace in Europe, stretching the capacity of the European countries.

Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Miki-Leitner said, “This should be a wakeup call, a warning that we need to have a European solution quickly.”

So far, Austria and Germany have received the greatest weight of immigration as compared to their EU neighbors. Germany expects up to 800,000 immigrants by the end of this year. In Britain, year ending March 2015 figures put the number of immigrants at 330,000, more than three times Premier David Cameron’s estimation of 100,000.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin on Friday “We need a fair distribution of the refugees and asylum seekers whose applications are approved.”

Austrian chancellor Werner Faymann was more blunt, calling for the EU’s complete ending of projects in countries that did not accept the burden of refugees. He said, “The European Union doesn’t work if one says I don’t care about the problems of the other. We are a net contributor, so is Germany, and we contribute to projects where we don’t benefit either.”

The immigration crisis in Europe is the worst of its kind since World War II. War, famine, disease and pestilence have led many to seek better lives abroad for themselves and for their families. There is now intense pressure for the EU to quickly resolve the refugee crisis by sharing the burden before more immigrant lives are lost in the simple pursuit of a better life.

Pentagon Announces Partnership With Boeing, Apple, Harvard To Develop Advanced Electronic Fabrics

News

On Friday the Pentagon announced it is teaming up with Boeing, Apple, Harvard and other industry heavyweights to develop high-tech clothing and cameras that can be fitted to people or mounted onto the outside of vehicles.

The shockingly quick pace of development in wearable technology is driving the Pentagon to turn to the private sector rather than creating the technology itself from scratch, according to defense officials.

“I’ve been pushing the Pentagon to think outside our five-sided box and invest in innovation here in Silicon Valley and in tech communities across the country,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a statement delivered in California.

“Now we’re taking another step forward.”

The pentagon is specifically eyeing technology that can be woven into the clothing worn by soldiers. The longer term vision is to incorporate such materials, which will likely be printed, into the structure of ships and warplanes to monitor their structural integrity in real time.

Carter announced that the U.S. government will sponsor the project to develop these materials, which in total will amount to $171 million in investment. The pentagon is contributing $75 million while companies managed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory will contribute $90 million, with local governments chipping in the remainder.

The initiative, dubbed the FlexTech Alliance, will see 162 companies, universities and other groups participate to rapidly advance the Pentagon’s use of these materials in its operations.

The news comes after Carter visited California just four months ago to establish an outreach office in an effort to build ties with the tech community. Secretary Ash will visit the office on Friday.

One of the key deliverables in the plan is the creation of the Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Hub, headquartered in San Jose. That facility will be the seventh of nine such initiatives planned by the Obama administration to help kickstart the slowing U.S. manufacturing sector.

Buzz Aldrin, The Second Man To Walk On The Moon, Is Getting Serious About Colonizing Mars

News

The second man to land on the moon is teaming up with Florida Institute of Technology on a serious project to colonize Mars within 25 years. A Mars colonization would involve building giant space ships to ferry astronauts and ordinary citizens to the red planet that scientists say has shown signs of supporting life. But is 25 years too soon?

Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk the surface of the moon, took part in a signing on Thursday at the university, just a few miles away from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The signing ceremony marked a partnership with the Florida Institute of Technology to launch the Buzz Aldrin Space Institute this fall.

Aldrin, 85, would serve as the research professor of aeronautics and also as a senior faculty advisor to the institute. He is pushing for a human settlement on Mars by 2039, 70 years after his very own Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969.

His current proposal to colonize Mars would involve taking intermediary steps. First send astronauts to the planet’s two moons, Phobos and Deimos and stationing some at the larger of the two: Phobos. Then, unmanned “exploration modules”, robots basically, would be sent first into the red planet to assemble a base before astronauts followed behind.

His plan utilizes a concept called “Cycling Pathways to Occupy Mars” where missions would be constantly cycling between the two planets, Earth and Mars. Aldrin said he had a particular distaste for the word “one way” and would hope to see tours take up to 10 years.

He said, “The Pilgrims on the Mayflower came here to live and stay. They didn’t wait around Plymouth Rock for the return trip, and neither will people building up a population and a settlement.”

The retired astronaut, who has a doctorate in science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will be joining two other retired astronauts on the program: Former space fliers Sam Durrance and Winston Scott.

Aldrin said of his new mission, ‘I am proud of my time at NASA with the Gemini 12 and Apollo 11 programs but I hope to be remembered more for my contributions to the future.” He went on, “I’ve traded earthquakes and fires for hurricanes by coming to Florida.” He was referring to his previous celebrity pursuits that include appearances on the shows “Dancing With The Stars” and “Big Bang Theory.”

For space scientists, the red planet offers a glimpse of hope in the wake of climatic change that may see planet Earth uninhabitable in the next century. Through pushing for a space program to accelerate the colonization of Mars, scientists are ensuring we have a contingency plan in case efforts to save Earth do not pull through, and Buzz Aldrin wants to be in the very middle of it all.

Intel Announces Major Pivot To The Drone Industry By Taking $60 Million Stake In Chinese Drone Maker Yuneeq

Finance

Intel sent the technology world into a tailspin after announcing an investment of $60 million into a Chinese drone making company. Intel has expressed interest in growing its business beyond traditional PC processors and taking on more complex projects. In its latest move, the company is not only changing gears into new technology but also crossing borders into communist Chinese territory.

Intel’s venture capital arm announced the investment of $60 million in Yuneec, a Chinese drone making company. The company has operations in Hongkong and Shanghai.

In a video posted on Yuneec’s website, Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich confirmed the shift from traditional PC processor unit making. He said, “We’ve got drones on our road map that are going to truly change the world and revolutionise the drone industry.”

The executive further added, “At Intel we believe in a smart and connected world. And one of the best ways to bring that smart and connected world to everyone and everywhere has been drones.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the first investment for Intel in the drone market. The company has been on an investment spree with regard to the drone industry, having previously announced investments in American drone companies Airware and PrecisionHawk.

Yuneec was founded in 1999 in Hong Kong. It specializes in drones for aerial photography and is also a maker of the technology for electric powered planes. One of its more popular models, the Typhoon Q500, retails in the U.S. for $1,299. It can record images at 4K quality and slow motion videos at 1080p resolutions, 120 frames a second.

Chinese companies have crafted an edge for themselves and now dominate the drone market. This domination is attracting American investors keen to capitalize on the emerging market.

Chinese based DJI, based in Shenzhen, just opposite Hong Kong, is the market leader in civilian drone technology, owning over 70 per cent of the market, according to Frost and Sullivan. In May this year, the company got $75 million from Silicon Valley’s very own Accel Partners, raising their valuation to $8 billion.

The news from Intel comes as other tech companies have announced plans to join the drone industry. This week, Sony revealed a prototype drone it will release to the market by 2016. Amazon is set to launch a Prime Air drone delivery system in the next few years while Facebook announced its revolutionary Aquilla project that will see an unmanned aircraft similar in size to a commercial airliner, providing the internet to previously unconnected countries in the world from over 90,000 feet above.

Drones are fast becoming a major everyday part of this century. Through investment in these flying objects, the drone making companies hope to earn revenue from what will be a billion dollar industry in the coming years. For Intel the hope is that these will replace or at least compliment its once dominant chip business.

Associated Press Sues The FBI Over Planting A Fake News Story Which Carried Its Trademark

News

The Associated Press took legal action against the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday over the FBI’s failure to give public records connected to the creation of a fake news story the agency used to install surveillance software on a suspect’s PC.

AP worked with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press to file the proceedings in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

In question is a 2014 Freedom of Information appeal seeking files related to an incident where the FBI sent a web link of a bogus article to a 15-year-old boy alleged to have made bomb threats against a high school close to Olympia, Washington.

The web link made it possible for the FBI to infect the suspect’s PC with software that showed its location and Internet address.

AP has strongly objected to the trick, which was exposed last year in files acquired through a separate FOIA appeal made by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

In a 2014 letter to then-Attorney General Eric Holder, AP General Counsel Karen Kaiser said, “The FBI both misappropriated the trusted name of The Associated Press and created a situation where our credibility could have been undermined on a large scale.”

“It is improper and inconsistent with a free press for government personnel to masquerade as The Associated Press or any other news organization,” Kaiser stated. “The FBI may have intended this false story as a trap for only one person. However, the individual could easily have reposted this story to social networks, distributing to thousands of people, under our name, what was essentially a piece of government disinformation,” he added.

In a November opinion article in The New York Times, James Comey, the FBI Director, said that a covert FBI agent had also posed as an AP journalist, asking the suspect if he would be ready to review a draft publication about the attack threats.

Comey depicted the approach as “proper and appropriate” under Justice Department principles in place at that time. He said such a trick would likely need higher-level approvals currently than it did in 2007, but that it would still be legal “and, in a rare case, appropriate.”

In a conference with journalists the next month, Comey left open the probability that an agent might again impersonate journalist, though he said such an approach ought to be uncommon and “done cautiously with considerable supervision, if it’s going to be done.”

The revelations come at a time where increased government spying has negatively impacted American businesses. Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and IBM, all shown to have collaborated with the NSA in spying on international governments, have lodged numerous complaints about the practice negatively impacting their ability to do business in places like China and Germany, where the offenses took place.

Thanks to secret FISA courts, the companies are unable to protest the forced collaboration nor alert customers.

Cities Get High Tech In Fight Against People Who Don’t Stoop And Scoop

Finance

It is the bane of towns and cities across the globe: dog poop left on sidewalks and streets by careless and inconsiderate pooch owners. Municipalities have implemented a number of measures over the years in an effort to get owners to pick up after their dogs – with limited success.

However, now cities are getting serious by imposing harsher penalties for those who fail to clean up. They are even implementing cutting edge scientific methods in order to catch the careless owners.

In some cities, fines for not picking up dog poop are similar to the fines imposed for vandalism, running as high as $560 per incident. Such is the case of Tarragona, Spain, where it has become the most recent municipality to use poop DNA analysis in an effort to build a database of the 2,800 dogs registered with the town.

Undisposed of dog waste will be then be tested – after which a fine, including the cost of analysis, will be imposed upon offending dog owners.

Sometimes, just the word getting out about DNA analysis is enough to curb the problem and that’s clearly the intent with the DNA systems.

According to Tennessee company BioPet, more than 1,000 apartment complexes and gated communities are also using DNA analysis to track down dog owners. The company makes “PooPrints” DNA kits and they came on the market about four years ago. Next month, the company will introduce a district-wide program in the London, England borough of Barking and Dagenham, its first customer.

Other cities are taking a different approach by proposing to turn dog poop left on the streets into fertilizer. In New York City, “Sparky Power” was introduced to the city by Ron Gonen, the former head of recycling. The plan proposes to place poo digesters throughout the city’s parks for dog owners to place their pooch’s poop. The digester will then generate energy sufficient to run lamps and run park equipment.

The question remains, however, that if owners struggle to even pick up their dog’s poop, will they take the effort to find a poop digester? Clearly many cities are saying ‘No’ and opting for high technology and large fines.

North Korean Dictator Kim Kong-Un Fires Heads Of Military, Says Country’s ‘Nuclear Deterrent’ Reason For Peace Deal

Entertainment News

North Korea’s supreme leader has surprisingly fired members of his ruling party’s military commission in a brazen response to heightened tensions between the North and South Koreas. Kim Jong Un’s dismissal of party officials has shown the leader’s increasing intolerance for inefficiency that leads to propaganda against his regime. Through firing the officials, Kim will be looking to entrench his rule and avert a similar military standoff between the two neighbors.

The dismissals took place during a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s (WPK) Central Military Commission. Reports of the dismissal were announced by North Korea’s Central News Agency (KCNA) though no details were given on where the meeting was held and when.

Through an English dispatch monitored in Seoul, the KCNA said the meeting “dismissed some members of the WPK Central Military Commission and appointed new ones and dealt with an organizational matter.”

The agency did not give reasons for the dismissal though analysts have speculated it could have something to do with the recent standoff between the North and South Korea. On Aug. 4th, a land mine exploded in the Demilitarized zone, maiming two South Korean soldiers.

Furious over the explosions, the South blamed the North for the explosions saying they planted them. However, North Korea insistently refuted the claims, categorically stating they did not place the mines in the zone.

The ensuing tirade of accusations prompted the South to resume anti-Kim Jong Un loudspeaker broadcasts at the border, a move they had not done in 11 years.

Infuriated by the anti-Pyongyang messages, on Aug. 20th, Kim fired artillery shells across the border, sparking a very rare exchange of fire power between the two states. On that very day, Kim ordered his military to position themselves for war as he took charge of the ruling party’s military commission.

According to the KCNA, “Kim Jong-un analyzed and reviewed the preparations for military operations made by the frontline units which had been in the state of war, and the work done in various fields in the areas where the semi-war state had been declared and how the north-south high-level urgent contact was made and appreciated them.”

Kim credited his country with the defending of peace in the Korean peninsula and proposed talks with their neighbor. The North offered a half hearted, very vague apology summarized in their expression of “regret” over the incident while still refusing they had anything to do with the land mines’ planting. The South stopped the propaganda broadcasts.

Kim later credited the peace to “tremendous military muscle with the nuclear deterrent for self-defense.” He later emphasized that it underscored “once again the need to channel top priority efforts into bolstering up the military capability for national defense.”

Kim Jong Un has earned a reputation for being a dictatorial leader with authoritarian tendencies. He has shown little tolerance for the criticism of his regime through cyber attacks on U.S.’s Sony Pictures, open threats of nuclear action against foreign states and most recently the standoff with the South. It is only a matter of time before the citizens of the North grow tired of his meaningless antics.

NASA Satellite Models Show Climate Change Is Raising Sea Levels Way Faster Than Anyone Thought

Culture

NASA scientists believe the worst case scenario predictions of sea level rises given to date have been vastly understated as a result of not taking into consideration the fast breakdown of glaciers and ice sheets.

They also say sea level rise is already happening but one question they have not yet been able to answer is how quickly will seas rise going forward.

The lead scientist for NASA’s Sea Level Change Team at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Steve Nerem, said the current sea warming and the associated water expansion accounts for one-third of global sea level increases, with the other two thirds happening as a result of melting Greenland ice sheets, mountain glaciers and Antarctica.

“When heat goes under the ocean, it expands just like mercury in a thermometer,” he said.

Nerem said NASA satellite data shows ocean mass is increasing with worldwide sea levels rising 0.07 inches per year.

Eric Rignot, a glaciologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said “Ice sheets are contributing to sea level rise sooner, and more than anticipated” because as the collapse of huge ice sheets have never been observed before there are no models of its effect.

A recent United Nation’s (UN) report predicted a sea level rise of 21 feet within the next 100 years if the rate of global warming did not abate.

But according to Rignot even that worst-case scenario may not capture the real risk as all predictions to date have only considered temperature changes at glacier surfaces and not the “rapid melting” that happens when glaciers calve, breaking up into the ocean.

Jet Propulsion Lab oceanographer Josh Willis added most glacier melting happens in deep, underwater ice canyons where sea level activity can not be observed or measured.

“Warmer water is saltier and therefore heavier. That means it sinks into the deeper layers of the ocean, and the contrast between this warm water and the undersea ice canyons contributes an unknown but substantial amount of sea level rise.” he said.

Hillary Clinton Compares Pro Life Presidential Candidates To ‘Terrorist Groups’

News

Hillary Clinton hasn’t been getting much press lately unless its about her ongoing email scandal. That changed Thursday evening as the Democratic presidential candidate equated Republican presidential candidates who are pro life to “terrorist groups.” Clinton made the comments in a Cleveland speech on Thursday.

Clinton attacked Republicans for being “dead wrong for 21st century America.” Clinton is often quite vocal about women’s rights but Thursday’s comments maked a departure from her usual talking points.

“Now, extreme views about women, we expect that from some of the terrorist groups, we expect that from people who don’t want to live in the modern world, but it’s a little hard to take from Republicans who want to be the president of the United States,” said Clinton. “Yet they espouse out of date, out of touch policies. They are dead wrong for 21st century America. We are going forward, we are not going back.”

“I would like these Republican candidates to look the mom in the eye who caught her breast cancer early because she was able to get a screening for cancer or the teenager who didn’t get pregnant because she has access to contraception. Or anyone who has ever been protected by an HIV test.”

Clinton drew a large audience of around 2,000 supporters for the speech at Case Western Reserve University

Jeb Bush tweeted that the analogy showed Clinton’s “priorities are totally wrong.”

Republicans quickly called on her to take back the remarks.

Allison Moore, press secretary for the Republican National Committee said that “For Hillary Clinton to equate her political opponents to terrorists is a new low for her flailing campaign. She should apologize immediately for her inflammatory rhetoric.”

Despite Clinton’s inability to garner Trump-like acclaim and avoid remarks which seem to divide, national polls still show she is the leading candidate across both parties. She leads the Democratic field with 45% support and tops all GOP candidates in a head to head match up.

Experts Baffled As To Why Rare African Penguin Population Has Declined By 90 Percent

Culture

Africa’s once ubiquitous penguins are now fast approaching extinction. The small flightless birds, which have attracted thousands of tourists every year, have scientists divided over what exactly is causing their dwindling numbers. Though efforts to conserve the species have been put in place, without getting to the bottom of what is really causing their deaths, conservationists may never truly save them.

African penguins are only found in South Africa’s coastal beaches and some parts of Namibia. In the 1930s, their population was put at 1 million. Fast forward to today and their population has been estimated at a meager 100,000, representing a drastic 90 per cent decrease.

So grave is the situation that in 2010, the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared Africa’s penguins endangered.

As conservation efforts were sought to protect the remaining penguins, focus was turned to what was actually causing the decline. Bird specialists and fisheries scientists were in agreement that the penguin decline began at around 2004 along with a shift in anchovies and sardines. The two fish species, which are the staple food for penguins, moved south into colder waters because of warming coastal waters, overfishing and natural fluctuations.

The migration of the fish has meant that penguins must swim further into the waters to get food, leaving them weakened. Many abandon their chicks and others end up at rehabilitation centers dedicated to saving the black and white birds.

In order to cut down on the fishing and save the penguins, the South African government in 2008 banned fishing in four key points that served as penguin sanctuaries. These are: Dassen and Robben Islands along the Atlantic and Bird Islands and St. Croix along the Indian Ocean.

Biologist claimed the ban on fishing would bolster penguin chicks’ survival rates by up to 18 per cent.

Fishermen did not take kindly to the ban. Anchovies and sardines comprise the largest component by volume of South Africa’s fishing industry. In revenue, they are the second.

Mathematical modelers analyzing fish populations recently dismissed the idea that fishing was to blame for the penguins’ decline. Using fish population modeling methods as a reference point, the modelers said the fishing quotas only allowed for 10 per cent of the anchovy and sardines populations to be fished, leaving more than 90 percent available for the penguins.

The fisheries experts blame predators such as sharks, heat stress and nest flooding for the gradual penguin decline and not over fishing.

To determine the cause of the decline, an international panel of experts has been called to review the closure of fishing grounds and determine whether it has contributed to conserving the penguins. However, conservationists have warned against taking too long.

According to Birdlife South Africa conservation program manager, Ross Wanless, “There’s a lot at stake. We need to act now. “

Penguins are a rare beauty in Africa. Only found at the very southern tip of the continent, their presence has brought numerous tourists to the region. Should they go extinct, not only would a huge source of revenue be cut but South Africa’s coastline would never be the same again.

North Dakota Now Allows Drones To Record Video Of The Entire State And Fire ‘Non Lethal’ Weapons At Citizens

News

North Dakota has passed legislation that allows drones to be equipped with non-lethal weapons in a convoluted bill that was originally intended to require warrants for drone searches. Even more surprising, the original draft was also supposed to ban all weapons on police drones, according to Representative Rick Becker.

The bill now does precisely the opposite.

In the lead up to the bill’s vote, Bruce Burkett of the North Dakota Peace Officer’s Association was given the chance to amend HB 1328, limiting the prohibition to lethal weapons only. As a result, drones may now carry rubber bullets, sound cannons, Tasers, pepper spray, and tear gas.

Protests against the use of drones without a warrant resulted in the drafting of HB 1328, but Grand Forks County Sheriff Bob Rost believes he shouldn’t need a warrant in order to engage in surveillance. Rost stated he used drone surveillance in order to obtain warrants in the first place.

This attitude presumes the principle “If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear,” a scary logical fallacy often used by those that wish to spy. At the same time, the sheriff’s department also declined to give a full accounting of how many drone missions have been flown since 2012.

FAA records show that 401 missions were flown between 2012 and 2014, while the Grand Fork’s Sheriff’s Department curiously lists only 21 missions.

Proponents of the original bill’s intent requiring warrants for drone searches, describe the opposition as a result of North Dakota’s “drone lobby.” The North Dakota Department of Commerce (NDDOC) voiced opposition against the bill, characterizing the warrant requirement in the bill as “restricting development” of the drone industry in North Dakota.

In the midst of the state’s declining oil boom, North Dakota has become a big proponent for the drone industry, with an extensive drone program at North Dakota University and now the newly opened Grand Sky facility. Grand Sky is self-described as the “United States’ first commercial drone business and aviation park” where research and development, training, and flying of drones is to be conducted.

Sarah Nelson, a journalist in Bismarck, ND who follows the issue of police drone use, argues that the goal of law enforcement and industry advocates is the use of drones in a constant surveillance mode, similar to their overwatch role in U.S. conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the event a crime is committed, law enforcement would then go back for surveillance footage of the area of interest.

With past revelations of the extensive nature of NSA surveillance still on Americans’ minds, the next step may be 24/7 video surveillance from 10,000 feet.

Apple Just Captured 20% Of The Wearables Market In One Quarter And Competitors Are In Trouble

Finance

Due to staunch silence, many analysts and industry insiders have speculated that the Apple Watch, the iconic smartphone maker’s first wearable, has been something of a dud. A convoluted ordering process, reports of insufficient supplies and less than stellar consumer reviews have all pointed to an uncharacteristic miss by the Cupertino, California based company.

But that idea appears to be wide of the mark. In fact, according to new industry research, Apple is crushing it.

International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that between April and June of this year, Apple sold a whopping 3.6 million units of the Apple Watch.

That’s fully 20 percent of the wearables market.

Apple is second only to Fitbit, which sold 4.4-million much lower priced, and lower margin, units.

This should scare the pants of any company competing in the wearables market.

With the launch of Apple Watch, the company appears on track to do what it did in the smartphone and tablet industry – capture the high end of the market and, with it, the vast majority of the industry’s profits. This is bad news for Fitbit and the other gadget makers who hope to earn money from this industry.

“Anytime Apple enters a new market, not only does it draw attention to itself, but to the market as a whole,” says Ramon Llamas, who was the lead author of the report. “Its participation benefits multiple players and platforms within the wearables ecosystem, and ultimately drives total volumes higher. Apple also forces other vendors – especially those that have been part of this market for multiple quarters – to re-evaluate their products and experiences.”

Yet what Llamas doesn’t mention is the fact Apple sucks the profits out of entire industries. Others, like Google and Samsung, sell many more units but its Apple who takes the profits – up to 80 percent in the smartphone industry.

So while Apple’s entry can have a halo effect for companies like Google or Fitbit its likely that those companies will see precious little of the industry’s profits.

France On High Alert For 9/11 Style Attack After Hearing Increased Terrorist Chatter

Entertainment News

French intelligence officials have reported they are prepared for an imminent 9/11 style attack by radicalized terrorists. The new threat alert has caused panic in a country that’s still recovering from a foiled attempt to massacre dozens of people on a Paris bound train on Friday.

After frequent attacks in the country this year, France’s military and intelligence agencies reported Thursday that they are on alert for a 9/11 style terrorist attack aiming for mammoth fatalities.

Reports from the newspaper Le Canard Enchaine indicated there was widespread worry over “an upcoming 11 September à la Française where intelligence services are mere spectators.”

Authorities believe the latest attack will involve a passenger airline targeted by an anti-tank missile. According to the reports, airlines have been warned of an imminent attack but pilots do not know what precautions to take.

A majority of the drug infested suburbs in France are located near the main Paris airport of Roissy, raising alarm over the possible launching of a surface to air missile from one of the buildings.

The army has made attempts to win back control of these suburbs from what French officials call “a lot of alienated and angry fourth-generation immigrant kids.” With these groups of abandoned youth, “The prospect of radicalization is increasingly likely,” said the authorities.

Further complicating matters is the ease in which weapons smuggled from Libya are finding their way into Paris. Kalasnikov automatic rifles and anti-tank missiles could be easily accessed by radicals in France, according to local newspaper reports.

Combining the presence of radicalized youth and the ease of accessing crude military weapons and what emerges is a potent threat to the peace and stability of France.

The fresh alert comes barely days after a Moroccan gunman, Ayoub El-Khazzani, attempted to open fire on innocent civilians on a train bound to Paris from Amsterdam. Fortunately, Ayoub was overpowered by three Americans and a British businessman.

It later emerged that the gunman was carrying 270 rounds of ammunition and a full bottle of gasoline. He has since been arrested and arraigned in court.

France has seen itself increasingly become subject to numerous threats of terror in recent months. A new threat of such a magnitude as the 9/11 attack would completely shatter the country’s economy, society and security apparatus. Authorities remain on high alert, conscious of the consequences of a successful mass casualty attack.

Eco Friendly And Blood Free, Lab Grown Diamonds Are Starting To Crack The Diamond Cartel

Finance

Lab-produced diamonds are stealing significant market share from the $80 billion global diamond market as buyers look for lower prices for a virtually indistinguishable product.

Formerly reserved for industrial applications, the technology for producing “grown” diamonds has progressed to a degree that it now requires machine testing in order to differentiate the synthesized gems from those that are mined.

The process of production involves placement of a carbon seed inside a microwave chamber, which is then immersed in methane or other carbon-containing gas. Crystallization of carbon from the gas onto the seed takes place when heated in a process that takes up to 10 weeks.

Market leaders like De Beers don’t see the new phenomenon as a threat, and part of that might be to put their minds at ease. Currently lab diamonds only account for 360,000 carats per year compared to the roughly 146 million carats produced per year of natural diamonds but the gems are rapidly growing in popularity. De Beers, in a move to defend the cultivated image of natural diamonds, said that synthetic gems are more likely to compete with costume jewelry than with mined stones.

In July, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ruled that man-made diamonds must be called synthetic, lab-grown, or lab-created—not real, in what was seen by the natural diamond industry as a marketing victory.

But the trend is not going away, with estimates for the supply of lab-grown diamonds expected to grow to 2 million carats in 2018. At the Gem Lab in Rochester, New York, grown diamonds account for 5% of the stones sold and customers there can purchase a 1-carat grown diamond for $6,000 compared with a 1-carat natural diamond at around $10,000.

Singapore-based IIA Technologies, currently the largest producer of lab-grown diamonds, commented on consumer attraction to the new option, “We are creating a new industry. Consumers today really resonate with the idea of an eco-friendly and a conflict-free choice for diamonds. That’s been the sticking point.”

Only 45% of North American consumers between 18 and 35 say they would prefer a natural diamond, and although prevalence of conflict diamonds has gone down, it still comprises between 4 and 15% of diamond production.

The FDA Is Building The World’s First Bacteria Database To Trace Foodborne Illnesses Around The World

Health & Wellness

Recent developments in genetics are allowing health officials to quickly identify and stop the spread of foodborne pathogens that make people sick. The Federal Drug Administration (“FDA”) is currently building a network of labs equipped to map the DNA sequence of strains of Salmonella, Listeria and other foodborne pathogens found in sick individuals.

The DNA sequences are then uploaded into a national database. This database allows scientists to differentiate between pathogens, and it can also identify mutations within the same strains of pathogens.

The result: Stopping the spread of contaminated food products before they infect too many people.

In addition to the DNA sequencing of foodborne pathogens found in already sick patients, the FDA has begun to map the genomes of pathogens found during regular food plant inspections and adding those to the national database. Benefits of this process include the ability to quickly connect an outbreak with sick patients and the potential to identify and locate the source of an outbreak after a few, rather than several, patients fall ill. This shortens the time of getting the tainted food out of stores.

In previous attempts to stop outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, samples from sick patients were sent to both state and federal laboratories. Scientists ran tests to see if the various infections were caused by the same parasite. When enough matches were identified, the sick people were interviewed in the hopes of determining a common food that caused the outbreak. While this was an effective means of identifying the offending bug, it took precious time and meanwhile the contaminated food remained on store shelves.

The FDA became convinced the new DNA mapping and database system was much better than the old system during a 2014 outbreak of salmonella found in peanut butter manufactured by nSpired Natural Foods in Oregon. The FDA had just activated the network of labs conducting the genome sequencing.

The agency had also begun mapping the pathogens collected from routine inspections of food manufacturing plants. All of the “maps” were uploaded into the database – known as Genome Trakr. When people began reporting sickness, scientists searched TrakR and compared bugs. The DNA of pathogens found in two patients were “almost indistinguishable” from a strain of salmonella located in the TrakR database. The strain “belonged” to the nSpired Foods manufacturing plant and therefore officials were able to quickly remove the product from store shelves. As a result, only six individuals got sick.

Dr. David Lipman, director of the National Center for Biotechnology Information aptly describes the new detection methods by stating that, “You can catch things far earlier. It can be two cases. If you see a match, Bam! You’ve got ‘em.”

Although the FDA hope that factories will voluntarily submit samples of pathogens found during their own self-inspections, companies are hesitant to do so. They are simply afraid of turning over to the government possible incriminating evidence. The government is trying to best approach this issue.

Even without self-reporting ,it appears that the new methods are working, which ultimately means quicker identification of the problem food and less people getting sick.

Trump Spills Details On Economic Policies Including More Taxes On The Rich And Less On Businesses

News

Although Donald Trump has yet to reveal any real policies on anything other than immigration, the Republican party’s front-running presidential nominee gave reporters an insight into his economic vision for the U.S. which contained somewhat of a surprise – changing the tax code to raise taxes on the rich.

“I would change it. I would simplify it,” he said, zeroing in on hedge fund profits, that currently enjoy a lower tax rate than income tax.

“I would take carried interest out, and I would let people making hundreds of millions of dollars-a-year pay some tax, because right now they are paying very little tax and I think it’s outrageous,” he said. “I want to lower taxes for the middle class.”

When questioned on whether his proposed tax changes meant he would be prepared to raise his own tax rate, Trump answered with “That’s right. That’s right. I’m OK with it. You’ve seen my statements, I do very well, I don’t mind paying some taxes. The middle class is getting clobbered in this country. You know the middle class built this country, not the hedge fund guys, but I know people in hedge funds that pay almost nothing and it’s ridiculous, OK?”

Trump’s hedge fund taxing stance does not differ from that of his main rivals in the presidential nomination race, but he showed he was on his own about Congressional Republicans taking on President Obama on the issue of raising the debt ceiling.

“I would say that it’s worth the fight, because honestly there’s so much fat in Washington, that if you had the right people in there you could cut it and there would be no problem,” he said although agreeing that in reality the ceiling would be raised. “Short term, maybe it’s going to happen.”
Trump revealed he had held talks with Carl Icahn, a well known and influential U.S. businessman about corporate inversion, where companies re-incorporate overseas as a loophole to lower the cost of doing business when headquartered in the U.S..

“I just spoke to him, and he said, ‘such a big problem, corporate inversion.’ Where we have two-and-a-half trillion dollars sitting outside, can’t come in and now what’s happening is companies are leaving this country. You know it used to be you’d leave New York for Florida, or you leave New Jersey for Texas or something. It used to be state to state. Now it’s country for country. We have companies with thousands and thousands of jobs that are leaving this country to go out and get their money.” said Trump.

He added “Let the money come in, tax it at a much lower rate, and let the money come in. This is money that could be spent in this country, and they can’t get it in.”

Responding to questions about whether he was against American consumers enjoying cheaper products as a result of China devaluing its currency, which he has criticised, Trump responded with “No, what I’m against is when they devalue their currency and this has been a big thing with me for a long time. Not only that, Japan is doing the big devaluation now, so it’s impossible for our companies to compete.”

Continuing in the vein of revaluing and devaluing, Trump said he has upped his own value as a Presidential candidate. He said he sees his chances of becoming the next U.S. President as “Let’s say maybe 25 or 30 percent. If you’re conservative. I’m conservative”. Back in June he had rated his chances as “anywhere from 10 to 20 percent”.

J.D. Power Just Surveyed Drivers About In-Car Tech Use And The Results Are Shocking

Finance

While automakers are rushing to load cars with the latest in high tech gadgets, a new survey shows that car owners rarely, if ever, use the high end technology devices built inside their cars. The result is billions of dollars in lost technology investments for both the car manufacturer and the end users.

In a new report by J.D power titled 2015 Driver Interactive Vehicle Experience (DrIVE), surveyors were shocked to realize 20 per cent of car owners had never used 16 out of 33 (almost 50 per cent) of all technology features in their cars.

J.D. Power surveyed 4200 car owners in the first 90 days of purchasing and leasing a new car. The survey was conducted from April to June 2015. After the period, the users were probed on which car features they used.

The top five features owners said they never used were: inbuilt vehicle concierges (43 per cent), mobile routers (38 per cent), automatic parking (35 per cent),heads up displays (33 per cent) and finally built in applications (32 per cent).

Car owners proceeded to detail 14 features they absolutely did not want in their vehicles. These were Google Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, in-vehicle voice texting and in-vehicle car concierges.

Interestingly, when narrowed down to millennials, the number of users who did not want connectivity and entertainment systems in their cars increased to 23 per cent.

Kristin Kolodge, executive director of driver interaction and human machine interface (HMI) research at J.D Power said of the results, “In many cases, owners simply prefer to use their smartphone or tablet because it meets their needs; they’re familiar with the device and it’s accurate. In-vehicle connectivity technology that’s not used results in millions of dollars of lost value for both consumers and the manufacturers.”

Vehicle owners overwhelmingly reported that they would much rather prefer it if they did not have all those fancy technology features in their new cars. They said they simply “did not find them useful.”

The surveyed individuals said the features they would most like to be included in their new cars were features that enhanced safety including: blind spot warning and detectors, health diagnostics and cruise control.

According to Kolodge, “The first 30 days are critical. That first-time experience with the technology is the make-it-or-break-it stage. Automakers need to get it right the first time, or owners will simply use their own mobile device instead of the in-vehicle technology.”

Billions of dollars are invested in advanced technology features every year for new cars. End users in turn, only use a handful of them. Car manufacturers in effect are faced with a diminishing returns situation: the more they put in, the less they are effective. Research such as J.D Power’s will be instrumental in figuring out the right tech for future generations of vehicles.

Palestinians Call First Congress in Two Decades As Major Leadership Change Takes Shape

Entertainment News

Palestinian political leaders have chosen September 15th and 16th as the days for their first assembly in nearly two decades after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared his resignation as leader.

The assembly of the Palestine National Council (PNC), a body representing those in the Palestinian areas and abroad, is to be held in Ramallah in the Israeli-controlled West Bank.

Speaking to AFP, senior Palestinian official Azzam al-Ahmad told, “It has been decided to ask the Palestine National Council to convene for a session on the upcoming 15th and 16th September in Ramallah.”

He added, “The council’s agenda includes electing a new executive committee for the (Palestine Liberation Organization).”

Ahmad stated the assembly would also talk about the deadlock in peace talks with Israel, among other topics.

Abbas’ associates say his recent deeds are part of endeavors to introduce new blood in the Palestinian administration.

Opponents, however, think that Abbas is planning to empower his associates and marginalize critics ahead of the 80-year-old’s ultimate retirement.

Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah party, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, remain intensely divided.

Separate, oblique communications are said to have taken place lately between Hamas and Israel on a long-term ceasefire.

Last week Abbas resigned as leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee in an effort to push for new elections for the summit body.

His resignation, along with many others from the 18-member commission, will only succeed with a meeting of the PNC.

Hamas belongs to neither the 740-member PNC, the top legislative body of the Palestinians, which has not met since 1996 nor the PLO.

Some analysts see principal Palestinian representative and Abbas associate Saeb Erekat as a possible heir to the veteran leader.

Before the resignations were declared last week, the executive commission elected Erekat as its secretary general.

For The Price Of An Earthly Funeral You Can Now Be Buried On The Moon

Finance

“Imagine an everlasting memorial where family and friends can commemorate their departed loved ones anytime and anywhere. Instead of looking down upon the earth in reminiscence, we can raise our eyes to the eternal wonders within the night sky, knowing that our loved ones are always with us. Elysium Space offers its awe-inspiring celestial services to provide a connective experience for families and friends, creating a new sacred space for remembrance and an eternal memorial for those we love. By looking into the infinite beauty of the night sky, we can remember the beauty of those who have touched our lives forever.”

These are the promises made by the San Francisco based company, Elysium Space. The company promotes three types of celestial memorial services for the families of deceased loved ones. The Shooting Star Memorial consists of sending a small bit of cremated ashes into Earth’s orbit, where it will then resemble a shooting star soaring across the night sky. The Milky Way Memorial promises to send a person’s remains into deep space to travel the galaxies forever. The recently promoted Lunar Memorial promises to send a person’s remains (less than ounce) to be buried on the moon.

In 1992, the remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry were shot into space. Since then, the remains of more than 450 people have been sent into orbit, most of them on “memorial spaceflights” with several other ash remains. Despite the hopes of family members to reach the moon, the majority of the vials carrying the remains has come back down to Earth or disintegrated upon reentry through Earth’s atmosphere.

In a press release published by Elysium, the company states that, “Families now have the historic opportunity to commemorate their departed loved ones every night through the everlasting splendor and soft illumination of the Earth’s closest companion: the Moon.” The company has partnered with “lunar logistics company” Astrobotic Technology in order to carry out the missions.

The process begins when Elysium sends a small ash capsule to families to place about one gram of ashes inside. The family then sends the capsule back to Elysium where it awaits a space launch.

The cost for Elysium’s moon burial services is $11,950 to send one gram of ashes to the Moon. However, the company is hosting a promotion where, “Early reservations for the Lunar Memorial service open at $9,950 for the first 50 participants.”

Since funerals in the United States generally cost between $7,000 and $10,000, it appears that the price for the Lunar Memorial Service may not be out of this world for some families.

Airline Ticket Prices Are The Lowest In Years Thanks To Cheap Oil And Better Airplanes

Finance

People have wondered when the dip in oil prices would result in lower airfares and it it seems like it’s happening right now. The airfare wars are back, at least to some extent, according to newsletter Airline Weekly, which reports that “this is the big break consumers have been waiting for in response to lower fuel prices.”

Although the break in airfares is welcome by fliers everywhere, it is nowhere like it was in the 1980s where airlines aggressively battled each other to attract customers – even if it meant taking huge losses.

In the ‘80s, airlines were focused on being the largest carrier of a particular route, and they would lower their fares in order to make that happen. It often meant losing money, and the practice was destructive to the industry. Today, airlines know better and the airfare wars are structured to cause less damage.

Despite offering somewhat lower fares, airlines still collect billions of dollars from fees for checked baggage and inflight services – amenities that were included in ticket prices back in the ‘80s.

Today, the price of oil is the least it has been in 6 ½ years. Therefore the airline industry is saving billions of dollars in fuel and thus able to offer lower fares to its customers without taking a hit on profits. Airlines have also added larger planes to their fleets and have filled more seats in existing planes.

The result of these changes is that there are 3.4% more seats than compared to a year ago. Airlines have had to lower fares in order to fill these seats.

Presently, travellers can find airfare as low as $150 roundtrip for flights between New York and Los Angeles. Roundtrip flights between Chicago and Boston can be found for $80 and roundtrip flights between San Francisco and Las Vegas are $67 on some carriers.

These low fares will likely not be found during holidays or busy times of the week such as Monday, Thursday and Friday. The lowest fares are often found on slow travel days such as Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The lowest fares continue to be offered by Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.

However, the largest airlines such as American Airlines are now matching the fares of their low cost competitors.
George Hobica, founder of the travel deal website AirfareWatchdog.com states that “[The bigger airlines] are trying to force [their low cost competitors] out of the market and they have the power to do this because they are making record profits.”

Prices are still greater than they were in 2011, 2012 and 2013, but fliers are happy with any reduction in the exorbitant fares of late. Since the small dip in airfare prices is nothing compared with the 31% savings airlines have saved in fuel costs since the beginning of 2015, travellers hope the decrease in ticket prices will continue.