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TV Network CBS Eyes Streaming Live NFL Football Games

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TV Network CBS Eyes Streaming Live NFL Football Games

At a conference this week public TV network CBS again mentioned the possibility of the NFL offering games on its streaming service CBS All Access.

Joe Ianniello, CBS COO said, “The math from where we sit, is pretty exciting. There’s definitely upside value. The $6 seems to be the right price point without it, and we’ll see where it goes if we can obtain it.”

CBS claims it will be a “win-win”. The consumer, the NFL and CBS will all have an upside in the deal. These announcements were made at Nomura’s Media & Telecom Conference.

Clearly, the deal between the NFL and CBS is moving slowly as CBS CEO Leslie Moonves announced five months prior his goal to use CBS All Access to host NFL games. Although negotiations are in process, it will be unlikely that fans see this season’s games on CBS All Access. Thus far only Yahoo Inc. has agreed to terms with the NFL to stream a single game, the league’s annual visit to London.

As Walt Disney and Viacom suffered over the last week, media stocks suffered noticeably. Ianniello assured consumers on Thursday that despite the nature of the stock market, CBS cannot lose with their CBS All Access as its network will certainly not be left out of cable bundles. He stated, “Any successful new tier, new package, we’re going to be part of it.”

It turns out CBS All Access is more lucrative than when traditionally televised. The network only receives a $2 fee for each sub while the streaming device receives $5.99 per sub. In addition, ads can’t be skipped on All Access and a CBS makes money on a CPM basis.

In order to keep the whole CBS package only available through CBS, Ianniello has purposefully spread the content around and not focused it in one area.

According Ianniello, CBS All Access isn’t hurting for subscribers as it outnumbers, SlingTV, the streaming service offered by Dish Network. Defending Netflix from being called a monopoly, he said that CBS makes much more money from licensing content internationally than to Netflix.

Once Advocating Transparency, Etsy Joins In Use Of Secret Irish Companies To Hide Information

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Once Advocating Transparency, Etsy Joins In Use Of Secret Irish Companies To Hide Information

Etsy Inc., the popular marketplace for artisan goods, is making moves to ensure its offshore tax cutting set-up remains a secret. The Brooklyn, New York based company recently took advantage of some laws in Ireland by designating their Irish subsidiary as an unlimited liability company, a tactic often used by big internet companies.

The company that once claimed to be a forerunner for business transparency has now successfully found a loophole allowing them to keep basic financial information private from the public eye.

With this transition, Etsy joins a long list of companies including LinkedIn Corp. and Google Inc. that are able to shroud the shift of their profits to tax-free locations such as Isle of Man or Bermuda.

To take advantage of this loophole offered in Ireland, Etsy simply rerouted a majority of its revenue through its Irish subsidiary. The company announced that any users outside of the US would enter into the terms of agreement not with the parent company but with Etsy Ireland.

Nondisclosure is the primary objective that companies such as Etsy and Google Inc. are achieving when making the move to an unlimited liability company. Under this new moniker, these companies don’t have to publically disclose financial information such as income statements or balance sheets.

With the number of companies taking advantage of this scheme increasing at an alarming rate, 18 percent since 2009, consumers should start asking themselves why companies feel the need to conceal such information.

In an e-mailed statement, Etsy justified their change in tax structure by citing the “increasing amount of revenue and intellectual property outside of the US.” The company stated, “After careful consideration and consultation, we have evolved our tax structure to accurately account for the value of that property. We pay taxes at the local rate and make all required filings in the jurisdictions in which we operate.”

Right now, Ireland’s laws provide a sort of tax shelter for these companies allowing them to keep their tax information private. This activity usually involves moving revenue to offshore, tax-free locations. Ireland announced that the laws allowing this tax shelter would gradually be abolished. In the meantime, Etsy and similar companies are enjoying the benefits of greater privacy and lower taxes while their consumers are kept in the dark.

Single Lawnmower Found To Have Caused Massive Oregon Wildfire

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Single Lawnmower Found To Have Caused Massive Oregon Wildfire

On Thursday, fire commanders said that the $22 million Oregon wildfire was started by a single lawnmower and the culprit may find himself on the hook for millions of U.S. dollars.

The July 30 Stouts Creek fire started on the outer edges of Umpqua National Forest, which lies to the east of Canyonville. According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, the fire, which was 63 percent contained by Thursday, has already consumed about 23,841 acres, posing a serious threat to 158 homes.

According to the agency, complete suppression is not anticipated until Aug. 22nd or later.

On Thursday, investigators associated the wildfire with a human cause saying it was “related to an individual mowing grass” during prohibited hours.

The Forestry Department said, “Because of the violation, the individual may be liable for fire suppression costs and damages resulting from the fire.”

The fire will be a costly affair as there are more than 1,500 firefighters from three Canadian provinces and 23 states tackling the raging fire with 21 bulldozers, 46 engines, 30 water tenders and 10 helicopters. The bill currently stands at $22.4 million, and is expected to rise.

Deputy Incident Commander Russ Lane said, “Despite the success we’ve had, this is still a big fire with a lot of life and potential in it.”

According to officials from the fire department said that there was an approximate 45 miles of fire hose designed to deliver water to the fire personnel on the line. In total, there are 1900 men and women fighting to contain the fire which broke out near Milo, the small community lying approximately 14 miles southeast of Roseburg.

The Stouts Fire was Oregon’s largest at an approximated 24,000 acres and that most of the fire’s most recent intensification came from burnout activities to leave the fire without fuel.

Hillary Clinton Turns Over Email Servers That Reveal She Was Reading A Book On How To Delete Emails

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Hillary Rodham Clinton abided by the requests of Justice Department to access her severs — by turning over a chunk of junk.

Barbara Wells, an attorney representing Platte River Networks said that the much-sought-after server turned in by Clinton “was blank.”Wells was speaking on behalf of the Denver based computer company that maintained the server for Clinton.

Speaking to Washington Post, Wells said, “The information had been migrated over to a different server for purposes of transition.” She added, “To my knowledge, the data on the old server is not available now on any servers or devices in Platte River Networks’ control.”

Addressing the Washington Post, computer professionals said that by eliminating the content, Clinton made it complicated, but not impossible to retrieve her mails.

A reliable federal law-enforcement officer informed the Post, “If you delete a large file and then write over it with a smaller file, then you may be able to ¬retrieve the data that was not written over.” Explaining the technicalities, the experts said, “If somebody uses software program to scrub the hard drive clean, that’s problematic.”

However, another specialist said the FBI agents have successfully captured data in cases where the suspects thought it was not retrievable.

According to Clinton, she gave the state department access to her office emails and then cleaned her server.

Clinton wiped off about 30,000 individual emails but was keen to back-up the official ones on thumb drives that were part of the package turned over to the authorities.

Complying with an order of the federal court, advocates for a couple of Clinton’s top aides, Cheryl Mills and Huma Abedin, promised a judge on Wednesday that the aides will not get rid of any of their formal emails.

On Thursday, Clinton’s campaign said there is nothing to be retrieved from her server. In a statement, the campaign said, “As David Kendall [Clinton’s lawyer] said in March, we do not believe any e-mails from her time as secretary exist on the server.”

The Denver-based computer firm, Platte River said it began working for Clinton after she left office, in June 2013, to secure, manage and upgrade her email server.

According to the company spokesperson, Andy Boian, the company moved the server from her home in New York and had it housed at a New Jersey data center.

Wells could not be reached on phone for information on whether the content was still retrievable. The time of wiping the server clean and migrating to a new server remains unclear.

One security specialist said a lot of questions remain unanswered. “They are saying they migrated that data somewhere. Where is the somewhere?” asked the security specialist, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of legal consequences from his bosses. “What happened to the data that was transferred, and is the new server following any of the regulations it’s supposed to?” he wondered.

The FBI is now investigating whether another copy is still in existence or was also destroyed. Of interest to investigators is Hillary’s request for the book ‘SEND: Why People Email So Badly And How To Do It Better’ by David Shipley. Chapter six of that book covers how to delete email such that it cannot be recovered.

ISIS Is Now Using Chemical Weapons Against Kurdish Forces In Iraq

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ISIS Is Now Using Chemical Weapons Against Kurdish Forces In Iraq

Reports citing anonymous U.S officials alleged that militants of the Islamic state used the poisonous mustard gas against Kurdish military forces in Iraq.

Speaking on Thursday night, U.S Central Command spokesperson, Air Force Col. Pat Ryder said, “We’re looking into the reports.”

Anonymous intelligence officials reported the accusations about the militants of the Islamic State, commonly referred to as ISIS or ISIL.

In an email, Alistair Baskey, the National Security Council spokesman, said “As in previous instances of alleged ISIL use of chemicals as weapons, we are aware of the reports and are seeking additional information.”

“We continue to monitor these reports closely, and would further stress that any use of chemicals or biological material as a weapon is completely inconsistent with international standards and norms regarding such capabilities,” he added.

The ISIL militias have been accused of using the hazardous chlorine gas in weaponry in the past.

Mustard gas is a dangerous substance that was widely used in the First World War, causing injuries to the lungs and the skin. The deadly agent can be distributed using rockets or artillery shells.

Signs indicate the militants’ potential source of mustard gas was Syria. President Bashar Assad’s regime admitted possessing mustard gas in 2013, when it decided to surrender its deadly chemical arsenal, the newspaper reported. It has since been linked to a number of gas attacks which include the use of chlorine and mustard gases.

The Kurds were the biggest victims of a huge 1988 chemical assault when the dictatorial regime of former Iraq president Saddam Hussein let loose its chemical weapons in Halabja town, killing thousands.

According to Aljazeera, German and United States officers have announced that they are looking to investigate findings that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants used the deadly mustard gas against Kurdish forces in Iraq.

Pay TV Service HBO Courts Children With Sesame Street Deal

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Pay TV Service HBO Courts Children With Sesame Street Deal

Sesame Street a long time stable of the free Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), will now be screened on premium cable network HBO, part of a push by the network to expand its audience.

The network has announced a five-year deal with the nonprofit educational group behind “Sesame Street” to carry new seasons of the long running, popular children’s show which means the next five seasons of “Sesame Street” will be shown exclusively on HBO and its streaming services HBO Now and HBO Go.

In a statement HBO said the partnership would allow Sesame Workshop to produce twice as much new content as previous seasons. The shows would be released for free to PBS stations nine months later.
Sesame Workshop would also produce a “Muppet” spinoff series and develop a new original educational series for children for HBO.

Netflix and Amazon will no longer be able to screen old episodes of “Sesame Street,” said Steve Youngwood, chief operating officer at the nonprofit Sesame Workshop.

Television industry experts say the Sesame Street deal could help HBO attract more subscribers as TV viewing continues to move online and at a time when Amazon and Netflix have been expanding their children’s TV programming. It also removes a key piece of children’s programming from the rival networks.

In 2011, Netflix started a section for children aged 12 and under, featuring TV shows and Disney Channel movies. DreamWorks has agreed to create 300 hours of original kids programs for Netflix.

BTIG Research analyst Rich Greenfield said Netflix is retaining subscribers by adding more children’s content, with HBO now following this strategy to keep subscribers interested in its online service. He said adding children’s programing also made it harder for families with children to cancel cable service.

“They have to expand the programming to make it stickier,” he said. “Otherwise it’s too easy when a show ends to disconnect for a few weeks,” he said.

Drone Racing Is Set To Be The Next Big eSport

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Drone Racing Is Set To Be The Next Big eSport

America looks set to have a new past-time that incorporates the fast-growing drone market and good old fashioned racing. Drone racing, a hot new eSport, uses First Person View (FPV) which sees contestants take a drone’s eye view in a race around a pre-defined course. Pilots wear FPV goggles that display a live feed from the drone’s camera, with speeds reaching up to 100 mph in some cases.

While once a hobby of drone enthusiasts, it has begun to transition from underground sensation to a highly publicized affair with the creation of the Drone Racing League (DRL). Looking to have its first public race later this year, the DRL is hoping to attract a mix of online gaming fans and technophiles.

Considering the fact that in 2014, viewership for the online game League of Legends was greater than Game 7 of the World Series and the final game of the NBA Championship, and you will realize the reasoning behind venture-capital firm RSE Ventures $1 million investment into the DRL. With a phenomenon like online gaming, part of the attraction for viewers is that nearly anyone can pick up the game and invest the time to have some degree of skill, and the same is true with FPV racing.

With the so-called “250 Class” of drones costing between $300 and $500 and reaching speeds of up to 70 mph, a DRL viewer could be operating a model similar to those used during a DRL race. Venues for upcoming DRL races will include abandoned factories and parking garages.

DRL founder Nick Horbaczewski described it as a “completely immersive experience,” and created the league after working as Chief Revenue Officer for Tough Mudder, an obstacle-racing event.

Horbaczewski expanded on what he believes the appeal of the DRL will be, “I felt drone racing could be a sport that resonated with people because it touches on the heritage of racing, but also brings in the benefits of new technology.” With online gaming packing venues like Madison Square Garden, the future for drone racing looks promising.

SEC Admits Its Powerless To Curb Stock Buyback Fraud

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has admitted it has no intention or ability to enforce rules designed to prevent manipulation of the market when companies buy back their own stocks according to its chair Mary Jo White.

White’s comments came in response to questions on stock buybacks raised by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., one of a growing band of politicians which includes presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton who are saying buybacks are cases of deliberate financial manipulation that keeps the rich wealthy and stagnates the financial situation of the working class.

Financial experts say stock buybacks are becoming a common practice through which corporations take profits, and instead of putting them back into the business buy shares of their own stock on the open market, building boosting demand and driving up the share price. Last year Companies bought back half a trillion dollars’ worth of their own shares.

The experts say share buy backs create short-term rewards for executives paid in stock options and stocks. The practice also makes corporations look good by limiting outstanding shares and raising reported ratio of earnings-per-share.

In responding to Sen Baldwin’s quiry White admitted the SEC did not collect data that would show if companies were breaching allowed buyback limits.

“Performing data analyses for issuer stock repurchases presents significant challenges,” White said “because detailed trading data regarding repurchases is not currently available.”

William Lazonick, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, said  “The companies have that information, but the SEC doesn’t collect it.”

In her written response to Baldwin, White said his query asking for a list of all investigations undertaken by the SEC into possible violations of buy back rules could not be provided because companies had the option of reporting fully or not, effectively giving them a do-not-go-to-jail-card because even if they did not comply with request for buyback data, they did not violate any rules.

“I wouldn’t have thought that she would put it that way, but she said it,” said Lazonick.

White did however provide a list of  a number of enforcement actions by the SEC against stock market manipulation, including “pump and dump” schemes, through which companies make  false statements to boost their stock prices.  

In an issued  media statement Sen. Baldwin said, “While I am concerned that the SEC lacks the tools to properly evaluate this issue, I am also disappointed that the SEC’s official response does so little to even acknowledge the stock buyback phenomenon we are seeing in financial markets.”

In 2014 companies spent $553 billion to buy back shares. and over recent years business giants like General Motors, Apple, McDonald’s, Microsoft and Pfizer,  have taken part in buy back share operations. Also in 2014 returning profits to shareholders accounted for 95 percent of all earning. A Roosevelt Institute study shows under 10 percent of company earnings are reinvested.

Earlier this year, Sen Baldwin attempted to pass legislation required the SEC to investigate share buy backs but this was blocked by the Republican majority  in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Bernie Sanders in an op-ed in the Boston Globe wrote “We must demand an end to stock buybacks.”and  Hillary Clinton has vowed to increase disclosure by forcing companies to deliver buyback information.

Lazonick said “More disclosure might start a discussion about what manipulation is, but we’re way beyond that. Why not recognize that this is manipulation, and say this is something we shouldn’t allow?”

NSA Grant To Secure Internet Of Things Raises Suspicious Eyebrows

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The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has received a $229,000 one year grant from the National Security Agency (NSA) to develop security for a “safer” Internet of Things (IoT).

Although the official reason for the grant from the often controversial U.S. Intelligence agency is to create a lightweight and secure architecture for IoT systems such as smart meters and inter-enabled cars, security experts believe there may be a more sinister reason. They say given the NSA’s history of intercepting the supply chain of routers to plant backdoor security bugs, one could suspect the grant to UAH may be more for wanting to learn how to breach IoT devices rather than secure them.

Experts say that up to now little thought has been given to security of loT systems at the design phase, giving rise to security breaches from weak crypto and authentication systems, as well as almost obvious built-in web console flaws. This has resulting in, among other things, cars being remotely hacked and home routers being left vulnerable.

UAH’s computer science department faculty member Dr Etzkorn said experts in automotive systems and embedded systems will work together on the project, hopefully resulting in security applications for cloud-based systems as well. He said the research phase of the project will bring together multiple disciplines from the electrical and computing department and the computer science department, giving expertise in embedded systems, cyber security, hardware-software co-design, automotive systems and secure processing.

“With the Internet of Things, one expects various ‘things’ – that is, embedded systems – to connect to the cloud. We are examining security methodologies that can apply both at the embedded systems level and the cloud level,” said Etzkorn

Two graduate student researchers will assist Etzkorn along with three full time faculty from UAH’s electrical and computer engineering department, and two faculty members from its computer science department.

The project will begin next month and run through to the summer of 2016.

Deutsche Bank Hit By Yet Another Scandal, This Time Involving Carbon Credits

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Prosecutors in Frankfurt have indicted one former and seven current workers of notoriously corrupt financial institution Deutsche Bank for participating in a conspiracy aimed at evading tax. Deutsche Bank’s latest scam to come to light was in its carbon emission trading business and took place about five years ago.

Prosecutors did not expressly mention Deutsche Bank on Thursday, but reliable sources familiar with the scandal recognized it as the organization involved. The bank’s head offices in Frankfurt were invaded by approximately 500 police officers and tax inspectors in 2012, associated with inquiries into the carbon trading industry.

Prosecutors in Frankfurt have examined more than twenty former and current employees at the bank, Germany’s largest, including co-CEO Juergen Fitschen and retired finance head Stefan Krause, who had endorsed the lender’s declarations of tax.

In a statement, Deutsche Bank said, “Our investigation into the C02 (carbon trading) situation is continuing. We are cooperating with authorities.”

The carbon market of European Union was severely affected by so-called carousel business in 2009 and 2010, when buyers imported emissions certifications in one EU nation without properly paying value-added tax (VAT) and sold them to one another, adding VAT to the value and creating tax reimbursements when no tax had actually been paid.

More than 14 people have been sentenced to jail in three nations so far for their participation in carbon trading scandals. Europol, the European police agency, has approximated such an offense has cost taxpayers money amounting to more than €5-billion in lost income since 2008.

Prosecutors in Frankfurt said in May they were closely examining 26 former or current staff at Deutsche Bank – five for money laundering, 17 on suspicion of tax elusion and four for obstruction of fairness and justice.

During the inquiry, the bank paid back €220-million for refunds wrongly claimed in the issue.

On Thursday, the prosecutors mentioned that those implicated in the 865-page condemnation included business executives and a member of the bank’s tax section.

The ages of the suspects range from as low as 33 to a 64-year-old retiree. All except the retired old man have been temporarily dismissed from their formal duties, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s’ office said.

None of the suspects were identified by name. It is currently up to a judge to take charge of the criminal case, based on the accusations of the prosecutor.

Apple’s Airdrop App Being Used For Smartphone Sex Crimes

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Apple’s Airdrop App Being Used For Smartphone Sex Crimes

Perverts have taken to using Apple Inc.’s Airdrop feature to flash themselves on unsuspecting victims’ smartphones. British police report they are investigating several cases where rail commuters received indecent images on their phones as they traveled to and from work on busy commuter trains.

Gill Murray, of the British Transport Police (BTP), said that while cyberflashing was new it was still a crime and she urged victims to report all incidents to police.

One victim, Ms Crighton-Smith, told police she was cyber flashed while travelling to work on a train in south London.

“I had Airdrop switched on because I had been using it previously to send photos to another iPhone user – and a picture appeared on the screen of a man’s penis, which I was quite shocked by. So, I declined the image, instinctively, and another image appeared, at which point I realized someone nearby must be sending them, and that concerned me. I felt violated, it was a very unpleasant thing to have forced upon my screen,” she said

Airdrop is an app specific to Apple’s Mac and iOS devices. It uses wi-fi and Bluetooth to transfer items to other devices like iPhones. The app has default settings for “contacts only” but settings can be changed to “everyone”, meaning anyone in range can send to users of the app.

“I was also worried about who else might have been a recipient, it might have been a child, someone more vulnerable than me. My name on Airdrop says Lorraine so they knew they were sending it to a woman. The images were of a sexual nature and it was distressing.”

Ms Crighton-Smith immediately used the same phone she had been flashed on to call the British Transport Police as she was worried about the perpetrator’s motives.

“What’s the next stage from sending a naked photograph to a stranger, what happens next, was he getting any sort of gratification from it?” she asked.

Although investigating the incidents Supt Gill Murray said because Ms Crighton-Smith had not “accepted” the penis photos, police had no technological evidence to work on.

Supt Murray said the police had dealt with similar cases involving Bluetooth but the Airdrops incidents are “new to us”.

“Receiving an indecent image from someone you don’t know must be very distressing and something we would take very serious — our advice would be to remain calm, retain the image and report the matter to police as soon as possible,” she said.

“We have a dedicated Cyber Crime Unit who can analyse mobile phones and track data transfers back to suspects’ devices. By linking this to physical evidence, such as CCTV footage or witness statements, we can catch offenders and bring them to justice through the courts.”

Cybersecurity consultant Ken Munro of Pentest Partners said “This means that typically in a train carriage, or tube carriage, you can see other devices.That’s what’s happened in this particular case, someone has enabled everyone and then hasn’t then set it back. As a result anyone within wi-fi or Bluetooth range can send something to you that’s quite horrible.”

Munro said Apple could help by making Airdrop return to the “contacts only” default setting if it had not been used for a specified amount of time.

Apple has declined to comment as of yet.

Self Driving Lawn Mower Cleared For Sale In The United States

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Self Driving Lawn Mower Cleared For Sale In The United States

While self driving cars are still some years off, America’s yard work is about to get a whole lot easier after U.S. regulators gave robot maker iRobot Corp clearance to make and sell a self driving robotic lawn mower.

Known for its Roomba robot vacuum cleaner, iRobot has created a robotic lawn mower that wirelessly connects with stakes placed in the ground operating as signal beacons. Like its Roomba vacuum robots, the mower cuts the lawn while staying within the beacon stakes.

Europe has enjoyed automated lawn mowers in recent years but in the U.S. competitors only offer hands-free mowers that need underground fences or other complicated safety setups.

But iRobot’s new stake system needed a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure transmissions between its machines and the stakes wouldn’t interfere with other electronics that use the same frequencies.

IRobot’s lawn mower beacons fell in the category of “fixed outdoor infrastructure” transmitting low-power radio signal without a licence, which the FCC usually prohibits.

The company’s waiver request was fought by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory who argued the lawn mowers would interfere with its telescopes. The FCC was unmoved, opting to waive the rules for iRobot because its beacon design will be safe with limitations imposed on signal strength, height and use in residential areas.

“The FCC’s assessment agrees with our analysis that the technology will not have a negative impact on radio astronomy,” said iRobot spokesman in a statement approving of the FCC’s ruling.

“The FCC’s decision will allow iRobot to continue exploring the viability of wideband, alongside other technologies, as part of a long-term product exploration effort in the lawn mowing category.”

NASA Just Successfully Tested The Engine That Will Put Us On Mars

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NASA Just Successfully Tested The Engine That Will Put Us On Mars

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), the first exploration class vehicle in almost 40 years, took a huge step forward Thursday afternoon after NASA successfully test fired the RS-25 rocket engine, which is slated to be the backbone of the next generation heavy rocket. The test was conducted at the Stennis Space Center, located in Hancock County, Mississippi, near the Mississippi–Louisiana border

The powerful engine, which burns liquid hydrogen, fired for 535 seconds – the exact amount of time it will take the fully completed SLS to reach orbit. It is the sixth of seven slated tests of the massive engine.

Four RS-25s will launch astronauts into orbit aboard the agency’s Orion spacecraft on missions to an asteroid placed in lunar orbit, and eventually to Mars.

The series of tests is evaluating the performance of a new engine controller – a unit that controls engine valve settings to produce efficient combustion, and communicates with the vehicle to accept throttle settings and send sensor data.

Here’s some pictures of the earth shaking action:

Screenshot from 2015-08-13 17:02:28

Screenshot from 2015-08-13 17:03:08

Screenshot from 2015-08-13 17:02:06

Listening To Music Found To Significantly Improve Recovery After Surgery

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British scientists established on Thursday that listening to music before, during and after surgery eases the pain of the patient, reduces anxiety and minimizes the need for painkilling drugs.

After evaluating results from around 7,000 patients, the researchers concluded that people undergoing surgery should even be given the opportunity to select the music they prefer to hear to capitalize on the benefit.

However, they were quick to warn that the music should not get in the way of the medical team’s communication during the surgery.

Catherine Meads from Brunel University, who co-headed the study said, “Music is a non-invasive, safe, cheap intervention that should be available to everyone undergoing surgery.”

The panel performed a meta-analysis of all available randomized attempts focusing on how music works, and compared the results to typical care or other non-drug intercessions such as relaxation and massage in making recovery effectual in adults after surgeries.

The outcomes, published in The Lancet journal, established that patients were considerably less nervous after operations and reported more contentment after listening to some music. They also asked for less pain-relieving drugs and reported less pain than the controls.

While the research established that listening to some music seemed effective at any time, the trend indicated that the outcomes were better if the patients listened to it before surgery.

Further, the research established that there was a larger reduction in pain when the patients were given the opportunity to choose their own music.

According to Martin Hirsch of Queen Mary University of London, who co-headed the study, “We have known since the time of Florence Nightingale that listening to music has a positive impact on patients during surgery, by making them feel calmer and reducing pain.” Explaining the background of the study, he added, “However, it’s taken pulling together all the small studies … into one robust meta-analysis to really prove it works.”

Paul Glasziou of Australia’s Bond University observed that the outcomes held an obvious message: “Music is a simple and cheap intervention,” read his comment in The Lancet. “A drug with similar effects might generate substantial marketing,” he added.

The panel now intends to make a follow-up pilot scheme that will introduce music at The Royal London Hospital for women having hysteroscopy and female patients having Caesarean sections.

Patients will be required to present their playlist on a gadget of their choosing to be linked to a pillow with integral speakers, and the scientific researchers will then evaluate the efficiency of introducing this in practice.

‘Cuba Is Owed Millions’ Fidel Castro Tells U.S.

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‘Cuba Is Owed Millions’ Fidel Castro Tells U.S.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro celebrated his 89th birthday Thursday by maintaining that the United States owes his country “many millions of dollars” following the imposition of a trade embargo 50 years ago.

Castro passed the message through an essay that was available in Cuban media, ahead of U.S. secretary of state John Kerry makes a historically significant visit to Cuba to re-establish the U.S. embassy as part of the country’s effort to restore diplomatic relations.

The trade ban that the United States imposed on socialist Cuba three years after Castro took over power from a U.S.-backed administration through the historic 1962 coup remains functional despite the adverse economic effects.

While President Barack Obama is optimistic that congress will lift the embargo, other top U.S. officials think it will take some time and is not a guaranteed part of the restoration efforts as it calls for congressional action.

Many republican legislators, who command both chambers of the legislative house, are opposed to the idea, maintaining that before the restoration of the relationship Cuba must make some democratic reforms and perk up its human rights record.  

In his essay, Castro said, “Cuba is owed compensation equivalent to damages, which total many millions of dollars, as our country has stated with irrefutable arguments and data in all of its speeches at the United Nations.”

Castro did not give any details on the exact amount of money he thought Washington owes Havana. The Americans, on the other hand, claim reparation for U.S.-owned property that was taken away when Castro ousted the U.S.-backed government.

Castro did not talk about Kerry’s visit to revive the American embassy, a move that comes eight months after Castro’s brother and successor Raul and Obama announced intentions to reinstate bilateral relations. It formally went into operation July 20.

Fidel Castro handed over power to his younger brother Raul in 2006, after poor health forced him to step down.

For many years, Fidel Castro has been a common contributor of articles to the communist party magazine Granma and related media. Thursday’s essay was his first writing since May 8th.

Speaking about his contribution, Castro said, “Writing is a way to be useful, if you keep in mind that we poor humans must be more and better educated in the face of the incredible ignorance that surrounds us all, except for researchers who use science to seek a satisfactory answer.”

Cubans are celebrating Castro’s 89th birthday with an extensive array of events.

ISIS Claims Responsibility For Baghdad Suicide Bomb That Killed Dozens

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ISIS Claims Responsibility For Baghdad Suicide Bomb That Killed Dozens

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that ripped through a farmer’s market early Thursday morning. The market was located in the predominantly Shiite Jameela district in Sadr City, which is part of Baghdad. Reports place the casualty numbers between 55 and 80 and those injured between 150 to 200. The bombing is the latest attack in Baghdad, where deadly incidents take place almost daily. Despite the routine violence, the death toll of today’s bombing is the highest in a single incident since 2007.

At first, no one claimed responsibility for the attack, but shortly after, ISIS published a statement online saying it was responsible for the bloodshed. A local merchant told U.K.’s newspaper The Guardian that, “The explosion happened in the morning around 8:30 A.M. inside Jamila market. It was a big [refrigeration truck] full of tomatoes and the driver was shouting in the middle of the market that he had very cheap [produce]. So people came close to him and then he blew himself up.” Local authorities say the bombing was timed when the market was most crowded, with villagers stocking up on food for the weekend.

Residents of the community did their best to help the victims, transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals in ambulances or in personal cars. They also carried the dead from the incinerated market in trash bags. Firetrucks rushed to the scene and firefighters were watering the area long after the explosion took place.

ISIS currently has a hold on approximately one-third of Iraq. The militant fighters regard Shiite Muslims as “apostates” or those who have renounced “true Islam” and its principles. ISIS has vowed to attack Baghdad, but volunteer Shiite troops have been relatively successful in deterring significant attacks on Iraq’s capital. Despite the efforts of the Shiite people, attacks are becoming more common.

In July, ISIS attacked a popular market in the Diyala province killing more than 115 people. NPR’s Alice Fordham reports that, “After ISIS switched from being largely an insurgent movement to governing swaths of territory in Iraq, the number and size of car bombs in cities dwindled slightly. But in recent months there have been several so-called spectacular attacks including two in the province of Diyala, which killed dozens of people.”

A local Sadr City merchant feels that today’s bombing was the fault of government officials threatened by corruption reforms and demonstrations that are due to resume on Friday in Baghdad. The merchant, going by the name Ali, stated that, “Every time [Iraqi government officials] feel that there is a threat to their positions, we end up with a big explosion. I don’t see any difference between ISIS and them. The Iraqi politicians use people like ISIS to keep us quiet.”

The dean of Nahrain University in Baghdad, Dr. Ammar al-Fayadh, claimed that today’s attack did not really say much about violence patterns. He observed that, “Iraqis have gone through so much, to the level that they can’t measure anymore the scale of violence and whether the attacks are bigger or smaller than before. They have been exposed to all sorts of violence and terror and most of them are numb.”

U.S. Authorities Report First Case Of Drone Drug Trafficking

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U.S. Authorities Report First Case Of Drone Drug Trafficking

Two teenagers in California are facing up to 20 years jail time for what is the first U.S. drug seizure involving a drone along the U.S.- Mexico border. As authorities become aware of existing methods deployed by drug cartels to ferry illegal contraband, creativity and technology are paving the way for a new mode of drug transportation: Drone trafficking.

Brayan Valle, 19, and Jonathan Elias, 18, are both being charged with possession with intent to distribute 28 pounds of heroin. The drugs were ferried across the U.S. – Mexico border on top of a drone. The two admitted before a Californian court on Tuesday that they drove to an open field in Calexico, California from where they picked up the bag laced with the heroin that had been flown in.

Elias reported that he took over the operating of the drone once it had flown in from Mexico. Valle admitted to placing the drugs in the trunk of their car. The two are set to be sentenced on October 20th for possession with intent to distribute.

Authorities now say this is the first case involving the transportation of drugs across the notorious U.S. – Mexico border. However, it is not the first reported case of drugs being ferried through the flying devices. In January, Mexican officials seized a drone packed with methamphetamine that had crashed into a supermarket in Tijuana, close to the U.S. border.

Earlier this month, prison warders at an Ohio facility had a tough time controlling a yard fight that had been spurred by a drone ferrying marijuana, heroin and tobacco into the facility.

Laura Duffy, U.S. attorney in California said, “With border security tight, drug traffickers have thought of every conceivable method to move their drugs over, under and through the border. We have found their tunnels, their Cessnas, their jet skis, their pangas, and now we have found their drones.”

U.S. authorities have admitted knowledge of the emerging threat posed by drones in the ferrying of drugs. Drones are fast becoming popular and easily accessible to a majority of the public. The drones can fly for distances of up to five miles and can stay in the air for over an hour, making them a potential drug transportation vehicle.

In Mexico, the media has reported that drug cartels are now ordering customized drones that fly longer and carry heavier loads. While the seizure by American Border Patrol is the first of its kind, it remains to be seen just how long before more drones are seized carrying illicit drugs into the U.S.

Uber Drivers In Canada’s Biggest City Facing 198 Charges

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The city of Toronto in Canada has now legally charged over 99 UberX drivers in a stiff battle pitting city officials against the popular taxi hailing company. As the battle rages on, UberX could find operations in Canada’s most populous city troublesome, as it has in other cities around the world.

Up to August 7th, 198 charges have been leveled against 99 UberX drivers. The charges include being an owner of a limousine without a licence and failure to submit vehicles for approval.

These charges carry hefty fines between $500 and $5000, which is sure to give would-be drivers cause for concern.

Toronto officials have long maintained that Uber is a taxi business and deserves to be regulated as any other taxi business, echoing similar sentiments in Hong Kong, Paris and Brazil. In their reports, the officials declared that Uber was operating as a brokerage firm between road users without a licence potentially posing danger to road users and the city.

Uber officials have, in typical fashion, dismissed the call for regulation saying their company is only a technology company that links drivers to taxis.

In June, a Superior Court ruling said that Uber was not operating as a brokerage firm and therefore did not have to follow city rules. The ruling was not welcomed with much joy among the concerned parties.

iTaxiworkers, an industry lobby group, said in a statement through executive director Amarjeet Kaur Chabra, “This will continue to hurt the front line drivers and the taxi industry. We urge City Council to take immediate measures to ensure fairness for the 10,000 licensed taxi drivers of the City.”

Uber Canada general manager, Ian Black, in response, termed the decision “a great win for the 5,000 drivers who need this flexible earning opportunity to make a living, and the 300,000 riders who rely on them.”

The city of Toronto has not been too quick to cede ground to the ride-sharing company. According to city authorities, their bylaws are against individual drivers, not the company, and they can be enforced.

Through the charging of the 99 drivers, the city has stamped its authority on the matter. In addition, city Mayor John Terry called upon the change of the rules to allow the formation of a singular set of regulations to serve the whole taxi hailing industry.

The taxi industry has supported the city’s flagrant deviation from the superior court’s ruling and is now demanding that the police crackdown on errant UberX drivers.

Uber has been experiencing setbacks in its drive to expand, the company valued at over $40 billion dollars is currently banned in Nevada, Eugene (Oregon), Fukuoka (Japan) and Thailand. Partial bans have limited its operations in Southern Australia, Germany and the Netherlands. Toronto becomes the latest city to impose regulations on the application’s drivers, spelling trouble going forward for the company.

Jeb Bush Blames Rival Hillary Clinton For Rise Of ISIS

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Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is blaming Hillary Clinton for the rise of the Islamic State. Bush has gone on to claim that he would authorize military involvement in the form of U.S. forces acting as forward “spotters” to help in spotting ISIS targets for airstrikes. The attack on Clinton is aimed at exposing her weaknesses as former Secretary of State, but could just serve to open old wounds associated with Jeb’s last name.

Republican presidential candidate Bush on Tuesday attacked Clinton by critiquing her record as Secretary of State. While giving a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Bush openly stated that Clinton shares the blame for the rise of ISIS.

In his sharp attack, he said that both Clinton and President Obama supported an early withdrawal from Iraq, a move that ultimately led to the formation and spread of ISIS.

Bush said, “That premature withdrawal was the fatal error, creating the void that ISIS moved in to fill. Where was the secretary of state, Secretary of State Clinton, in all of this? Like the president himself, she had opposed the surge, then joined in claiming credit for its success, then stood by as that hard-won victory by American and allied forces was thrown away.”

Bush went after an area Clinton sees herself as having the most experience in: foreign policy. He continued the assault, “In all her record-setting travels, she stopped by Iraq exactly once.”

In attacking her directly, Bush set the pace for what could possibly be the second Bush-Clinton presidential clash in history, though he did it at the risk of shooting himself in the foot particularly with regard to his brother and father’s war records.

Former President George Bush, Jeb’s father, authorized the first invasion of Iraq in 1990. Jeb’s brother, George W. Bush authorized a similar invasion in 2003.

Mindful of old wounds, Jeb steered clear of the past and focused his speech on future action in Iraq. He said he would send more troops into Iraq to combat the rapid spread of the Islamic State. “Right now, we have around 3,500 soldiers and marines in Iraq, and more may well be needed. We do not need, and our friends do not ask for, a major commitment of American combat forces,” he said.

A Bush – Clinton presidential clash would be a titanic battle pitting one of the most powerful families in America against one of the most popular. In the previous encounter, the Clintons came out on top. In this new bout, Bush is showing his eagerness to draw first blood.

Tech Industry Lobbies Government For Help Ahead Of Key Meeting With China

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Tech Industry Lobbies Government For Help Ahead Of Key Meeting With China

American technology firms are lobbying President Obama to address China’s protectionist policies during his upcoming visit with Chinese president Xi Jinping. The American Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Information Industry Council were among 19 U.S. industry groups that contacted Obama in an August 11th letter stating that the manner in which China pursues its national security is adversely affecting the ability of U.S. tech firms to do business there.

China fears the effect that the ever increasing prevalence of U.S. technology there will have on its national security. The fear is said to originate from the 2013 leaks of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, which revealed the presence of backdoors in products from American tech firms. Apple and Google have since started encrypting data on their smartphones by default.

The news may illuminate an area where U.S. consumers agree with the concerns of the Chinese government. As the FBI continues to advocate for the placement of backdoors in consumer devices to allow state surveillance, the inevitable outcome of such a policy would be more incidents of criminal hacking into those same devices. By allowing encryption, the security of U.S. citizens in their personal effects that is guaranteed in the 4th Amendment, would also alleviate some of the concerns voiced by China.

China has in recent months specified what products can be used in critical businesses such as banking, in addition to its passage of a broad national security law in July that includes measures to tighten cybersecurity. On the U.S. side, Chinese businesses have also been restricted in their U.S. dealings for the very same fears regarding backdoors in technology products. The visit by Obama comes amid recent accusations of Chinese hacking efforts that breached the Office of Personnel Management, potentially affecting 18 million federal employees.

Swiss Watchmakers Finally Admit They’re Under Siege From Wearables

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Swiss Watchmakers Finally Admit They’re Under Siege From Wearables

Developments in technology are changing industries faster than ever before. One market trying to keep up with the pace is the traditional watch industry. An onslaught of new “wearables,” including the Apple Watch and an assortment of fitness trackers are slowly but surely reducing interest in traditional Swiss timepieces. The real estate on people’s wrists is now occupied by technology that does more than just tell the time. As a result, traditional watch makers must adapt or run the risk of becoming obsolete.

Fossil CEO Kosta Kartsotis recently stated that he believes, “technology and the whole idea of wearables . . . has taken some of the oxygen out of the Swiss business.” He does recognize, however, that the buzz generated by the wearable technology found in the Apple watch, FitBit and other gadgets can help the watch industry. Kartsotis acknowledged that, “The watch industry is a $65 billion industry, and if you look at the tech industry, it’s trillions of dollars in consumer spending a year. If just a small percentage of that would come into our category, it will change the industry.”

Kartsotis also pointed out that “[Fossil] also see[s] technology emerging as the latest trend in fashion, with the growing interest in wearable technology inspiring new entrants into the watch space.” He predicted wearables will give birth to a device category that looks like jewelry, such as bracelets, that do not sport the displays found on smartwatches.

Right now, it is unclear exactly what impact smartwatches and other wearables will have on the long term sales of analog watches. Some financial and tech analysts predict that consumers are presently interested in purchasing sensor-equipped devices that, in addition to telling time, track a person’s movement, calories burned and sleep. Last week, the market research firm NPD Group issued a report claiming that interest in the Apple Watch was somewhat to blame for the greatest slump in United States watch sales since 2008.

In response, Fossil is planning on entering the wearable race. It is developing three product categories surrounding the technology. It is developing a smartwatch with Google called the Android Wear that will launch this fall. Fossil also plans to develop wearable technology with jewelry designs. The final category is labeled by Kartsotis as “smarter watches.” He feels this category will have the greatest impact long-term at Fossil. These devices will incorporate the features of traditional analog watches with sensors that will track movement, sleep, etc.

Kotsis further predicts that in the near future, every Fossil watch will have some level of technology incorporated within.

Weak Chinese Economy Leads Motorola To Cut 3,500 Jobs

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Chinese electronics maker Lenovo is set to move forward with layoffs of 10 percent of white collar employees following disappointing sales of Motorola smartphones. Lenovo purchased Motorola from Google in 2014 for nearly $3 billion as part of its plan to become a leader in the smartphone market, but sales of Motorola handsets for the last quarter were down a whopping 31% from last year. Citing weak sales in both China and Brazil, Lenovo’s new priority will be to market its phones outside of China’s currently saturated market.

That move follows rival Chinese smartphone giants Xiaomi and Huawei taking a similar course. Growth in China’s smartphone market is expected to be slower than worldwide market growth for the first time this year, at 2.5% and 11.3%, respectively.

The planned job cuts will eliminate almost 3,200 employees and carry a cost of $600 million, but will eventually yield savings of $1.35 billion per year. The drop in Motorola sales resulted in profits being halved for the quarter, with shares of Lenovo falling nine percent on the news.

Lenovo is currently the world’s largest PC maker but as the global market for PCs declines, Lenovo is shifting its business to mobile devices in order to maintain profitability. The company plans to rival the top two phone manufacturers Samsung and Apple according to CEO Yang Yuanqing, “I still believe this acquisition was the right decision…Except Apple and Samsung there is no third strong player. I believe that will be Lenovo.” Lenovo was able to ship 16.2 million handsets for the quarter, in comparison with Samsung and Apple at 73.2 million and 47.5 million, respectively.

According to analysis by International Data Corporation, the biggest markets for growth in smartphone sales will be India, Indonesia, South Africa, and the Middle East so Lenovo will likely shift there. Beyond the shift in marketing outside of China, Lenovo’s strategy to take the place as the number three smartphone manufacturer is less clear as it faces intense competition from Samsung, HTC, LG, Xiaomi and Huawei.

Electric Car Wars Heating Up As Audi Announces Plans For Massive Battery Factory

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Electric Car Wars Heating Up As Audi Announces Plans For Massive Battery Factory

In what can only be described as another shot across the bow of American electric car startup Tesla Motors, German luxury vehicle maker Audi announced it will begin making electric car batteries. The company has partnered with LG Chem and Samsung SDI to develop batteries for its electric powered SUV vehicles, which will see it in direct competition with Tesla’s Model X SUV.

LG Chem and Samsung SDI, both South Korean companies, will provide the cell modules capable of giving the electrically powered SUV a range of greater than 310 miles per charge on the European testing cycle (a United States EPA rating would likely be about 240 miles). This compares well against other electric vehicles currently on the market. The Tesla Model P85D, for example, can cover just about 250 miles on a single charge. Less expensive cars barely cover about 93 miles per charge.

The two automotive battery cell suppliers were chosen due to their experience in the field. LG Chem was one of the pioneers in the growing industry of creating and manufacturing lithium-ion cells for plug-in vehicles. It has emerged as a top tier automotive battery cell supplier, and in 2009, won the competition to provide battery cells for the first Chevrolet Volt. Its current client list includes Renault, Daimler, General Motors, Audi, Ford, Smart, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Volvo and more. LG Chem’s success is built upon its expertise in materials and chemicals science.

Samsung is newer to the game but produces electric cars for sale in South Korea built upon the Renault Fluence ZE technology. It has worked with BMW and Volkswagen.

An Audi management board member, Dr. Bernd Martens, expressed the company’s vision that the partnership with LG Chem and Samsung SDI will create electric vehicles with greater performance. “Together with our South Korean development partners, [Audi is] bringing production of the latest battery-cell technology to the EU and strengthening European industry with this key technology. This will allow [Audi] to supply a technological solution that makes electric cars even more attractive for [its] customers.”

Professor Ulrich Hackenberg, another member of Audi’s management board, stressed that the “green” vehicles will continue to retain a sporty design. “With [the] first battery-electric Audi-SUV, [Audi is] combining an emission-free drive system with driving pleasure. [Audi] will optimally integrate the innovative cell modules developed with LG Chem and Samsung SDI into [Audi’s] vehicle architecture, thus achieving an attractive overall package of sportiness and range.”

To date, neither of the partners has revealed the financial details surrounding the deal but it appears likely to result in a large factory capable of producing the batteries in enough volume to make financial success. Tesla has begun work on just such a factory in the Nevada desert, targeting both the automotive and energy sectors.

Switzerland Becomes First Country To Lift Sanctions After Iran Nuclear Deal

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Switzerland Becomes First Country To Lift Sanctions After Iran Nuclear Deal

Switzerland became the first country to lift sanctions against Iran since the Iranian deal was reached with the United States, China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Germany. The deal, reached on July 14th, provides that the party countries will lift economic restrictions against Iran in exchange for Iran limiting its nuclear development. Although Switzerland had already suspended the sanctions against in Iran in January 2014, the neutral country officially lifted them today.

Switzerland’s decision terminates Iran’s requirement to report trade in Iranian petrochemical products. It also removes a ban on precious metal transactions with Iranian state bodies. Furthermore, the lifting of sanctions eliminates Iran’s obligation to report the transport of Iranian petroleum products and crude oil and it also eliminates the rules regarding insurance and reinsurance policies connected to such transactions. Switzerland’s move also includes raising the threshold dollar amounts that trigger licensing and reporting obligations related to currency transfers to and from Iranian nationals.

The Swiss government released a statement that, “This agreement opens up new political and economic prospects with Iran, including bilateral relations,” and illustrates Switzerland’s “support for the ongoing process to implement the nuclear agreement, and its confidence in the constructive intentions of the negotiating parties.” The government further stated that it would closely monitor Iran’s implementation of the nuclear deal and that, “Should implementation of the agreement fail, the [Swiss] Federal Council reserves the right to reintroduce the lifted measures.”

Other Western countries have yet to lift the sanctions against Iran as they wait to verify that it is complying with the deal. United States State Department spokesman Mark Toner reiterated that U.S. sanctions remain in place and still apply to any company or country that violates the terms of the sanctions. Toner told reporters that Switzerland did not inform the United States prior to its move to drop its sanctions before Iran acted in accordance with its promises to curb its nuclear program.

Government Eyes Indefinite Solitary Confinement For Chelsea Manning

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Convicted national security leaker Chelsea Manning is likely be placed in solitary confinement for an indefinite period of time for allegedly violating prison regulations by being in possession of a copy of Vanity Fair with Caitlyn Jenner on the front page and one tube of expired  toothpaste, among other personal items, her legal representative said Wednesday.

In 2013, the retired intelligence analyst, previously known by the name Bradley Manning, was charged with spying and other crimes for transferring about 700,000 confidential files while serving in Iraq. She is currently serving a 35-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth military prison, for revealing diplomatic cables, reams of war logs and a battlefield videotape to WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy website in 2010.

Her legal representative, Nancy Hollander, revealed that a hearing is set for Aug. 18 at the military prison in Fort Leavenworth for the transgender military private. The hearing, which will involve a three-person panel, will be closed, though Manning has requested that it be held in public.

Condemning the decision, Hollander said, “This is like prison disciplinary infractions in a civilian prison and there will be a hearing, but frankly it looks to me like harassment.”

By Wednesday, the military had not made any official comment.

The legal charges pressed against Manning include disrespect, medical mishandling of toothpaste, possession of proscribed property in the form of magazines and books while under governmental confinement, and unruly behavior for sweeping some food onto the floor.

All are connected to alleged incidents on July 2 and 9. The biggest punishment for such charges is indefinite private detention.

Addressing the nature of the charges, Hollander said, “It is not uncommon in prisons to have charges that to the rest of us seem to be absurd.” She added, “Prisons are very controlled environments and they try to keep them very controlled and sometimes in that control they really go too far and I think that this is going too far.”

Hollander is principally disturbed by the sad reality that her client’s reading material was confiscated, including a storybook addressing transgender issues, the book “I am Malala,” the U.S. Senate report on CIA persecution, the book “Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy — The Many Faces of Anonymous,” and a copy of Cosmopolitan magazine with a detailed interview with Manning.

“There is certainly no security risk, and that could impinge on her free speech rights and attempt to silence her,” Hollander said.

Mysterious ‘White Syndrome’ Is Killing The World’s Coral

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Mysterious ‘White Syndrome’ Is Killing The World’s Coral

In a mere five years, many coral reefs in the environs of Christmas Island have changed from lively ecosystems to ugly graveyards, thanks to a strange syndrome that researchers have absolutely no idea about, says Elizabeth Preston reporting for Hakai magazine.

The syndrome, which researchers refer to as “the white syndrome,” destroys the tissues of the coral reefs leaving a whitish skeleton of calcium carbonate behind. This phenomenon is quite different from the common coral bleaching, which also leaves the coral looking white, but does not directly destroy the corals.  

For some strange reason, the mysterious disease only affects one genus known as the Acropora – the corals that make up the backbone of almost all reefs in the pacific and Indian oceans. The exact manner in which the syndrome infects and spreads among the corals remains a tough puzzle for the scientists and researchers.

While scientific research has associated the mysterious disease with things such as parasitic worms, pathogenic microbes and the continually rising water temperatures, Preston explains that the term “white syndrome” is utilized as a catchall for the unknown factors that have a similar effect.

The mysterious white syndrome was first noticed by scientists in 1998 around the Great Barrier Reef. It has since become common in the Red Sea and the Caribbean islands. According to Preston, the outbreak at Christmas Island is the very first occurrence of the disease in the Indian Ocean.

The latest analysis of the mysterious outbreak indicates its lethal and quick spread between 2008 and 2013. At some particular areas around the Christmas Island, the disease has destroyed about 96 percent of the local corals.

According to Preston, factors like ocean acidification and climate change pose a bigger threat to the organisms than the mysterious disease. However, that does not alter the hazardous nature of the mysterious white syndrome – nevertheless, stunningly delicate reefs protect both people and wildlife from danger.  

Scientists say the mysterious outbreak has hit epidemic levels, and they speculate if the coral may initially be weakened by contamination, which makes it more vulnerable to infection. Although researchers have not come across proof that the syndrome may affect other wildlife or humans, if the coral is totally destroyed, then all of the turtles, fish and different invertebrates that are dependent on it will soon be destroyed, too.

Twitter’s Live Streaming App Periscope Is Growing Like Crazy

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Just a little over three months since the launch of Periscope, Twitter’s live streaming app for smartphones, the company announced today that a stunning 10 million people have used Periscope, with what it termed “burgeoning usage” on a daily basis.

The app first launched with iPhone on March 26th and hit over one million downloads within the first 10 days of availability. When Periscope came to Android two months later it had surpassed one million downloads after only three weeks.

In short, the app is on fire and Twitter has produced, organically, another hit product. It now has Twitter, Vine, a six second video clip sharing app, and Periscope in its portfolio.

It isn’t just downloads, either. The company noted that time watched, “the metric we care about most,” has risen significantly since debuting four months ago. The company now sees over 40 years of video watched every single day, and has a mind blowing two million daily active users.

While it isn’t clear what the ratio of broadcasters to watchers is, it’s clear the company has a new hit product just in time for the fall season, where user growth surges.

Periscope said it wants users “to know and feel that they’re contributing to a growing ecosystem” and that it “is measuring itself in a way that aligns with the value of the community.” This is consistent with the company’s focus on, like Netflix, time spent viewing.

“If we were motivated to grow DAU, we’d be incentivized to invest in a host of conventional growth hacks, viral mechanics, and marketing to drive up downloads,” the company stated. “This direction doesn’t necessarily lead to a better product, or lead to success for Periscopers. We hold ourselves accountable to Time Watched as an organizational measure because it reflects the kernel of our product, and our core values.”

Founder Kayvon Beykpour said during the live broadcast that the company is eyeing a fast-forward button to allow users to skip ahead during replays, and that it’s working hard to fight spam.

Former President Jimmy Carter Diagnosed With Cancer

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Former President Jimmy Carter Diagnosed With Cancer

Former President Jimmy Carter announced late Wednesday that cancer in his liver has now spread to other parts of his body.

Carter, 90, had undergone surgery to remove a “small mass” from his liver earlier this month. He received a prognosis of a full recovery at the time but announced Wednesday that “Recent liver surgery revealed that I have cancer that now is in other parts of my body.”

Carter will now receive treatment for the illness at Emory University in Atlanta and will release more information next week.

It remains unclear the extent to which the disease has spread.

The popular ex-President’s announcement was immediately greeted by an outpouring of support on Twitter and other social media platforms.

UPDATED: Huge Explosion Rocks Chinese Port City Of Tianjin

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Updated (Aug. 13th): At least 44 people have now been reported killed by the massive blast that residents likened to a nuclear bomb. A further 520 people have now been confirmed as being taken to local hospitals. 12 firefighters have been confirmed as dead and 36 more remain unaccounted for. Firefighters rushed into the first fire and were caught in the follow-on explosion. The blast site is highly toxic as the materials that exploded were deadly chemicals used in industrial processes. Firefighters suspended battling the blaze early Thursday morning to assess just what chemicals had caught fire and how toxic they were. About 8,000 troops trained in anti-chemical warfare and 1,500 armed police joined the rescue and relief efforts Thursday afternoon.

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A massive explosion rattled the Chinese port city of Tianjin Wednesday night, killing at least seven people and injuring over 50, according to local media.

While the cause was not immediately disclosed, the explosion erupted at a container shipping port where combustible material was being held, according to reports from China’s state television broadcaster CCTV.

Xinhua news agency, another of the country’s state controlled media outlets, reported the explosion was at a warehouse containing “dangerous goods” in the Binhai New Area. It failed to identify precisely what such goods were.

A local hospital had received over 50 patients suffering from injuries caused by broken glass and debris from the explosion. Some were reported to be in serious condition.

Observers reported two distinct blasts, one of which triggered secondary explosions. The blast shattered windows, fish tanks and triggered local tremors, according to residents.

Firefighters from the Chinese Public Security Ministry reported that the first call for help was for a fire and that the explosion happened after they had arrived.

Badly damaged buildings and infrastructure led to four firefighters being injured and two remaining unaccounted for, according to a ministry spokesperson.

An investigation into the explosion is ongoing and casualties could likely climb higher as people are accounted for. Officials refused to speculate about the source of the explosion until the investigation had reached its conclusion.

Putin’s Arctic Adventures Hint At Falling Approval Rating At Home

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Russian president Vladimir Putin last week claimed exclusive rights to miles of territory in the Arctic leading many to think he is losing his mind and becoming increasingly erratic. After launching a strategically questionable invasion of Ukraine, which attracted crippling sanctions, Putin’s Arctic foray is likely one of his few options to remain popular at home by keeping Russians distracted from prevailing economic hardships. In addition to sanctions, the country’s economy has been hit hard by record low oil prices and a plunging currency.

Though the miles of bare ice have inherent value in the form of vast resources of fossil fuels, their exploitation could take decades to realize, leading many to ponder the reasonability of Putin’s move. According to analysts, there is none, only a desperate attempt at hiding his own inefficiencies and fallibility, a craft he is increasingly becoming compelled to resort to.

Putin’s options in Ukraine are limited to almost nil. His Ukrainian dream of seizing Novorossiya and building a bridge to Crimea are shattered thanks to staunch Ukrainian resistance and international condemnation. His other campaign of expanding territory into Ukraine is not only too costly in terms of currency but also in blood. It would most certainly also spark a new round of sanctions from the U.S. and EU, something his country’s citizens would vehemently oppose.

Putin is not only facing failure in Ukraine. His economic record can only be modestly described as being a terrible mess. Oil prices have dropped to less than $50 a barrel, massively impacting the country that depends on oil for half its budget. The growth of shale, renewables and liquefied natural gas, the three areas where Russia is weak and the emergence of Iran from years of sanctions back into the global oil markets look set to only make things worse for the Kremlin.

Russia is finding itself increasingly haunted by the ghosts of wars Putin started. According to analyst Anna Arutunyan from Moscow, “Putin’s return to the presidential seat heralded a rather sudden pivot towards a deep-seated domestic nationalism. Yet nationalism as a state policy and identity, initially implemented to shore up Kremlin power, now has the Kremlin itself trapped and threatened by forces that it initially nurtured, but can no longer fully control.”

The attempt at going north toward the Arctic Sea will put Russia under the direct fire from both the U.S. and Canada and could spell more sanctions for the struggling country. Parts of the Russian population are growing tired of Putin’s antics. Only time will tell how long his tyrannical rampage will prevail. In the meantime his country and its citizens continue to suffer with no end in sight.

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