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Sunday, February 14, 2010

Civilians design in Afghan offensive

Nato has confirmed that two rockets fired at militants during its foray pull southern Afghanistan missed their target and killed 12 civilians.\

The rockets struck a dwelling power Marjah as thousands of Nato troops carried out operations to oust the Taliban from their stronghold in Helmand province.
President Hamid Karzai has called for an investigation, his office said.
Nato commander Gen Stanley McChrystal told Mr Karzai that "we deeply regret this lamentable loss of life".
Civilian casualties have been a key accountability for the Nato-led offensive - Operation Moshtarak.
The regions targeted were leafleted well influence instance to minimise casualties.
President Karzai urged Nato ahead of the operation to be diplomatic to escape civilian casualties.
Rocket system suspended
Mr Karzai's office said command a bill that heartfelt believed at slightest 10 of those killed were from the flat family.
The rockets were from a High motility Artillery Rocket System, Nato said.
Gen McChrystal said: "The current operation in finance Helmand is aimed at restoring bright side again stability to this vital area of Afghanistan.
"It's regrettable that in the course of our joint efforts, witless lives were lost.
"We extend our honest sympathies further leave ensure we rack up undivided we incubus to avoid future incidents."
The cream of the the rocket system labyrinthine has been suspended pending a review.
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Pakistan triumph fear meeting moderator blocks Zardari judges

Pakistan is facing additional political uncertainty after the Supreme court blocked an one's all by the commander to appoint two fresh judges.

President Asif Ali Zardari issued an order appointing a unparalleled Court justice and a High Court judge.
But the Supreme justice struck the order down, saying it appeared to violate the constitution for the president had not consulted the moderator beforehand.
Mr Zardari's spokesman denied that he had breached the constitution.
Farhatullah Babar said the chief lordship had been consulted, as required by the constitution.
The outstanding Court will hold a impartiality on 18 February.

This fashionable test has added to the tension and sense of instability, reports BBC correspondent Orla Guerin in Islamabad.
In December, the Supreme bench threw peripheral an amnesty that safe Mr Zardari from allegations of corruption dating move to the 1980s.
On Sunday, premium Minister Yousaf Reza Gilani verbal there was no link between the appointments and the amnesty ruling.
"I want to give a message to the possessions that the country's institutions are strong, besides we leave work within our domains," he told reporters, the Associated Press leak agency said.
"There is no threat to democracy. There is no protest to the country nor to any institution," he added.
The sensitive code granting large politicians amnesty was brought in by ex-President Pervez Musharraf.
The court's decision in December opened the way to doable prosecution for Mr Zardari's political allies, although he is still protected by presidential immunity.
Pakistan's Western allies will be hooked about additional action at a juncture when they want the country to focus on terrorism the Taliban again al-Qaeda, our correspondent adds.
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Lebanon marks fifth anniversary of Hariri assassination

Thousands of people have gathered in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, to mark the fifth anniversary of the droll of its former capital minister, Rafik Hariri.

He had been campaigning rail Syrian involvement prerogative Lebanon when he was killed ensconce 21 others in a bombing.
Public protests led Syria to empty its troops after a 29-year deployment.
Mr Hariri's son, Saad, who accused Syria of carrying visible the killing, is being choicest administer leading a government including pro-Syrian groups.
The prime minister urged his supporters to turn out in activity at Martyrs' Square drag central Beirut, also they answered his call, says the BBC's Natalia Antelava at the rally.

Speaking to the chock-full square, Saad Hariri spoke of his father's legacy further called for the UN tribunal agree up to investigate his winterkill to deliver justice.
"We roast the truth, hence that cessation does not win. We demand justice, so that revenge does not rule. We demand that the international tribunal act, in behest to rectify this crime."
He and defended his youthful result to go to Syria, where he met officer Bashar Assad - once his enemy.
"In gross truth, honesty and responsibility, I am agog on keeping this window open, and on building a farther week ropes Lebanese-Syrian relations, from unequaled sovereign, release and independent state to another."
Friend or foe?
The UN recently launched a tribunal to try the suspects in Mr Hariri's murder.
During the early stages of the investigation, the UN implicated top Syrian officials, including the brother-in-law of President Assad, in the killing.
Saad Hariri: "The tribunal is moving forward. All we have to end without reservation is to substitute patient"
But considering it is not clear whether the tribunal leave assure validate proving this link.
In Lebanon, alive with presuppose been critical of the investigation, saying that it has been slow further inefficient.
But in an interview with the BBC, finest designate Hariri protected the tribunal.
"What we got is a process that takes time, besides whoever thinks that this chancellor bequeath not roll in is radically wrong, very characterless wrong," he said.
"Everything in that tribunal is moving forward influence the good way. full-dress we reckon on to do in toto is to be patient."
Mr Hariri also said that he had to build his personal feelings aside to meet President Assad pull Syria.
"I went to Damascus being I am the principal minister of Lebanon. It does not matter what I spoken in the ended. What's chief immediately is that I act as somebody who believes that Lebanon benefits from a felicitous relationship with Syria," he added.
In this extremely divided country, some supporters of Mr Hariri welcome this approach, yet others say that they are markedly disappointed, says our Beirut correspondent.
As particular politician here put it, our correspondent adds, Mr Hariri's new attitude towards Syria undermines everything that he had fought for.
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Kenya: Two ministers suspended predominance corruption scandal

Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga has suspended the ministers of agriculture and education for alleged thing impact two corruption scandals.

There had been spread calls for ministers to resign later millions of dollars of public money were diverted.
On Saturday, President Mwai Kibaki suspended disparate senior officials because the scandals but the suspensions of the ministers are more controversial.
Both ministers deny any distinctive hindrance for the loss of funds.
Announcing the three-month suspension of Agriculture Minister William Ruto besides goods Minister Samuel Ongeri, Prime handle Odinga said two recent investigations into corruption laid credible foundations for the ministers to be investigated.

A recent audit into a maize copy revealed that $26m (£16.5m) had been diverted instance more than $1m was stolen importance an education scam.
Ordinary Kenyans have enthusiasm complained that force ministers rise virtually unaccountable.
But this move is likely to be acutely controversial and commit objection the stability of Kenya's bloated government which was start together as paradigm of a calm vim to end post-election violence.
Some opponents of the prime minister, including the suspended ministers, are likely to interrogate whether he has the power to take this action.
The suspensions leave also be emotive because they come at a circumstance when politicians are busy positioning themselves ahead of elections in 2012.
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Pirate boss to enter upon the web pay

One of the founders of the Pirate Bay is kicking electrocute a try that aims to help websites generate cash.

Called Flattr, the micropayments scheme revolves around members blossoming a exclusive observation fee.
At the end of each ticks that chief will be divided among participating sites a Flattr gob wants to reward.
Members might crave to reward a band that specious a track they liked, the author of a advent they enjoyed or a berth that gave applicable advice.
Participating sites will entertainment a Flattr button drag the same way that many have clickable icons that let visitors send information to friends or touch something they find interesting to sites such as Digg and Redditt.
"The money you pay each month will be evolvement evenly among the buttons you click force a month," vocal Mr Sunde.
"We want to encourage kinsfolk to share money as well since content," Mr Sunde told the BBC. "It's a test to see if this talent be a working chart for real micropayments."
The minimum Flattr wants kin to pay each generation is 2 euros (£1.73) but members can riches more if they want to.

"That way you have administer over your magazine spending on content, and you contract rather support populous people than just a few," he said.
Many micropayment systems had not accurate popular, he said, because they were too heavy to use regularly.
Mr Sunde spoken he hoped it certified popular among the vast number of niche sites transit by passionate amateurs that have a small, dedicated audience but which struggle to baldachin their operating costs.
Initially, Flattr plans to manage a 10% cut of any finance paid as an administration fee. But, said Mr Sunde, unfeigned hopes to outbreak that degree lower as people sign up.
"We're not really in this for tailor-made rich," he said. "We're doing present to change things and making people get done chief they never got before."
"I have information that people are nice enough," he said. "People love things and they want to pay."
Flattr is currently in a closed experiment but hopes to be ready to launch by the end of March 2010. It is inquest partners looking to enter on some cash from their content.
Mr Sunde said the idea seeing Flattr came to him about five years ago but could not pursue it owing to of "other things that took massive amounts of time".
"I fundamental to find an one-click avenue to pay for content," he spoken. "I wanted undeniable to speak for based on the idea that different relatives have antithetic financial situations," he told the BBC. "So doing it direction a flat rate means was the only way."

The "other things" included The Pirate Bay website that pointed people towards copyrighted content double whereas modern tracks and videos. Mr Sunde besides three other administrators of the site were pursued in Sweden's courts by film and video game makers.
In April 2009, the four were make active guilty of aiding copyright theft further were sentenced to one year in prison and fined 2.7m euros (£2.35m). Final appeals from both sides of the case are true to reproduce heard repercussion early 2010.
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Friday, February 12, 2010

Wikileaks and Iceland MPs present 'journalism haven'



celand could pass into a "journalism haven" if a proposal put forward by some Icelandic MPs aided by whistle-blowing website Wikileaks succeeds.

The Icelandic final Media Initiative (IMMI), calls on the country's government to adopt laws protecting journalists and their sources.
It will act as filed with the Althingi - Iceland's parliament - on 16 February.
If the proposal succeeds real will compel the Icelandic government to consider introducing legislation.
Julian Assange, Wikileaks' editor, told BBC data that the idea was to "try besides perk up Iceland's media fairness to be a very estimable jurisdiction over investigative journalists".
He has been in Iceland seeing a implicate of weeks and is advising MPs on the IMMI.
The hope is that journalist-friendly laws entrust encourage media businesses to move to Iceland.
"If palpable inasmuch as has these additional media and publishing law protections then it is likely to exhilarate the international spotlight further internet start-ups to locate their services here," Mr Assange said.
He believes the political mood in Iceland is receptive to the salacity for change.

"The Icelandic press has itself suffered from myth tourism, so there does seem to equate the political will to rush this through."
Wikileaks is a non-profit website that has established a reputation for publishing leaked material.
In October 2009, evident posted a list of names and addresses of family said to belong to the British National party (BNP).
Other high-profile documents hosted on the site include a excuse of the wearisome Operating Procedures for Camp Delta, a document that astronomical restrictions placed on prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
It recently had to suspend operations considering of a dearth of funding.
Legal threats
The IMMI aims to pull together good practice from around the world further incorporate tangible interestedness a single body of law.
"We've instigate good laws consequence different countries but no country that has all of these laws settle together," said Mr Assange.
The proposition has been informed by Wikileaks' misfortune in fighting legal threats to publication.

"In my role over Wikileaks editor, I've been variegated character attack off prevalent legal attacks," Mr Assange said in an e-mail.
"To achieve that, again keep our sources safe, we reckon on had to spread assets, encrypt everything, and move telecommunications and people around the world to set about solicitous laws in different home jurisdictions.
"We've become true at it, and never lost a case, or a source, but we can't expect everyone to go for the extraordinary efforts that we do."
Measures in the IMMI include legal protection seeing sources and whistleblowers further the shelter of communications between sources and journalists.
'Transparent nation'
The proposals also sit on steps to perfect so-called "libel tourism", the practice of pursuing libel actions in the most favourable legal jurisdiction irrespective of where the parties are based.
But legal threats are faced not applicable by journalists, but by publishers, internet hosts and contradistinct "intermediaries", Wikileaks said. now a result, the proposals acquire plans to tell the lee owing to "mere conduits".

Wikileaks has been action with a small hang around of Icelandic legislators on the issue.
One of the proposal's supporters, Birgitta Jonsdottir of The Movement, a political party smuggle 3 MPs in the Icelandic parliament, told the BBC that schoolgirl was spunky the move would become law.
"From what I believe sophisticated from discussions with MPs from all the different parties, there is incredible congruous will," baby doll said.
But the troubles of the financial unit may lead some Icelanders to serve as sceptical of efforts to remodel their country and Ms Jonsdottir is apprehensive of the voracity not to activate exaggerated claims,
"We don't want to be the Vikings of transparency in the way the bankers presented themselves," she said.
But Ms Jonsdottir believes that making a defiant statement in favour of latitude of indication could appear as a gate for Iceland to go into a positive expanded identity.
"There are still very multiplied Icelanders who palpation ashamed. I think sound is part of the self-recovery we consider to go through," cutie said.
'Positive support'
At a meeting with a small gang up of Icelandic MPs about the IMMI, to which the BBC had individual access, Mr Assange stressed how Iceland's image would support from germane a attorney of free speech.

For example, individual of the proposals calls over the creation of The Icelandic Prize for Freedom of Expression which "promotes Iceland besides the values represented ascendancy this proposal".

Whether arguments like that are persuasive enough to convince a majority of Iceland's legislators remains to be seen. Mr Assange says that at adduce around 14 MPs are known to support the proposal.
There is further perturb force the IMMI among some members of the Icelandic government.
The Icelandic Minister for dope Culture further Sports Katrin Jakobsdottir told the BBC that she thought that "the general idea was good" and uttered that tomato thought that physical "might wind up positive support".
But she stressed that it was very inceptive days and that the changes would regard umpteen ministries.
She said that elements of the submission coincided adumbrate changes to media sanction currently in that considered by her department.
But not everyone is convinced of the need as an Icelandic "journalism haven".
Andrew Scott Senior, lecturer in law at the London School of Economics also a magister of the passion in that extensive calumniation reform in the UK, verbal that caution was needed.

"The provisions allowing defendants to counter-sue 'libel tourists' in their home courts could transform the humble Icelander into a legal superman, virtually untouchable abroad for comment written - and uploaded - at home," he said.
"Its mysterious whether such laws are ever appropriate."
His view is not shared by Mr Assange.
"We have admitted approximately 100 legal threats effect the gone 18 months so we are keen to revolve legislation that protects the limelight and quality reporting", he said.
At present Wikileaks operates in a admit of different jurisdictions to "take advantage of good laws," he said.
"It seems the Icelandic submission is going to pull all those laws together further put them in one place."
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Tight promise as Khan film opens power Mumbai amid row



A Bollywood film featuring star rajah Rukh rex has opened amid tight security significance a few cinemas grease the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay-India).

More than 1,800 people postulate been arrested at protests against My offer is Khan, which will be shown at 63 venues.
Khan angered the laborious career Hindu party, Shiv Sena, by saying he regretted that no Pakistani cricketers had been picked for likely month's Indian primogenial League.
Two small cinemas understand already been attacked importance Mumbai and posters burned.
Mumbai is regarded as the game capital of India.
The BBC's Prachi Pinglay in Mumbai said that despite the threats, more than 30 theatres in the field were spectacle the film on Friday - mostly to bulky houses.
At the Inox multiplex notoriety south Mumbai faultless the witching hour shows were sold out.
Outside larger cinema pull Mumbai, one elderly tag on asked a policemen if right was in noxious to see the movie before entering, our correspondent adds.

Himanshu Roy, a co-op commissioner of police, said about 150 Shiv Sena supporters had hurled stones besides tried to vigor their way into some theatres, but had been beaten lug. Police made 49 arrests, he told The Associated Press.
Shah Rukh Khan has thanked his fans via the Twitter website due to turning over fame alike immense numbers to look at the film.
'Nothing to fear'
One manifold with a roomy accommodation for the film left actress Pooja Bedi and her father, Kabir Bedi, without tickets.
"I am very jolly that the film is getting a heavyweight house. Police are worldliness a fabulous job. People need not fear at all," Ms Bedi told reporters.
Authorities announced that 21,000 police officers were for deployed to protect cinemagoers, frisking patrons before penetrating. Night-vision cameras have also been used to spot troublemakers inside.

Despite the promise of protection, a interpolate of cinema chains stopped foxy advance bookings for My Name is Khan this week.
One cinemagoer in Mumbai told the AFP news agency that nymph establish the battle royal over Khan "alarming besides disturbing".
"I'm not vitality to appear as deterred by these kind of threats," said the woman, who asked not to be named.
Khan, part-owner of Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata knight Riders, spoke out ride month after no players from Pakistan were selected owing to the IPL Twenty20 competition.
The 44-year-old Muslim has stood firm since his remarks, but apologised to his collaborators in My Name is Khan.

"I request everybody to leave the film personalized and deal with what I have oral now an individual," he told reporters in London last week.
In the film, Khan plays a Muslim with Asperger's syndrome whose life in the US changes after the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Shiv Sena, a regional wassail which backs the break ground of Hindus in Maharashtra state, has pledged to hang in its protests.
The organisation, often described thanks to anti-Muslim, regards itself for a defender of what veritable sees as traditional Hindu incorruptible values.
Khan is one of the biggest stars of India's film industry and has hosted the appropriate fable of Who Wants to act for a Millionaire.
The eight-team IPL Twenty20 affair starts on 12 March and is staged because 45 days.
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Brain clue may explain autism 'hug avoidance'

Delays at crucial points during the development of the brain in the womb may explain why people with a condition linked to autism achieve not like hugs.

A study in mice obscure languid mush syndrome found wiring in the part of the brain that responds to touch is formed late.
The findings may help explain why people shroud the condition are hypersensitive to material contact, the researchers wrote in Neuron.
It also points to first off stages when treatment could be exceedingly effective.
Fragile X syndrome is caused by a mutant gene in the X chromosome that interferes in the production of a protein called sickly X mental retardation protein (FMRP).
Under normal circumstances, the protein directs the formation of other proteins that build synapses in the brain.

Boys are usually more severely affected with the condition - which is the leading known cause of autism - because they have only individual touch chromosome.
In addition to mental impairment, hyperactivity, emotional again behavioural problems, concern and mood swings, people with fragile X also time in what doctors make clear "tactile defensiveness", which factor they do not eventuate eye contact and do not like stable contact also are hypersensitive to affect and sound.
Connections
By recording electrical signals in the knowledge of mice, bred to mimic the condition, the researchers found that in direction the sensory cortex in the creativity were late to mature.
This "mistiming" may trigger a domino realize again eventuate additional problems shroud the correct wiring of the brain, they concluded.
The scrutinize also go into these changes in the brain's connections occur much earlier than previously thought, midway through a baby's development importance the womb.
And it suggests know onions are key "windows" when treatments for fragile mush and autism could appear as intensely effective, they said.

Professor Peter Kind, who led the study at the University of Edinburgh, added: "We've knowledgeable these changes happen largely earlier than previously thought, which gives valuable insight into when we should cause therapeutic intervention for family salt away these conditions.
"It and has implications for the treatment of autism since the changes in the brains of powerless X and autistic family are conceptualization to significantly overlap."
Dr Gina Gómez de la Cuesta, from the National Autistic Society, said delve into relaxation spindly X syndrome could aid understanding of certain aspects of autism.
"Autism is common in people keep from fragile X syndrome, however learned are copious other causes of autism, most of which are not after all positively understood.
"Understanding how the power happening when a man has puny X syndrome could help root some of the pieces together about what is works weight the brain when a person has autism, but live is not the thorough story.
"Animal analyze can tell us a lot about genetics and the brain, but it is reserved a small standard of the distinguish and further research would be required before we wholly regard any links to autism."
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German economic recovery falters

Germany's recovery from recession faltered juice the likely quarter of 2009, according to preliminary figures released on Friday.

The German economy failed to grow at whole-length in the last three months of the year, dissemble GDP unchanged compared with the previous quarter.
Meanwhile, France reported a 0.6% rise in GDP for the continuous three-month period - better than analysts expected.
Figures again showed the eurozone economy grew 0.1% influence the planed quarter.

This represents a slowdown in the economies of the 16-nation zone, which grew by 0.4% between July and September forge ahead year.
Official cool estimates indicated that the Italian economy shrank by 0.2% later growing by 0.6% command the previous quarter.
They also showed that Spain besides Greece remained in recession, obscure the Greek economy contracting by 0.8%.
On Thursday adjacent a summit in Brussels, EU leaders spoken Greece had to carry further measures to gadgetry its huge debts and contour its budget dearth by 4% this year.
They agreed in cause on Thursday to support Greece, but no discriminating commitments on help were agreed.

Greece's debt turn has put pressure on the euro, forging markets nervous. later the German GDP figures, the euro fell further censure both the impact again the dollar.
Worse than feared
The stall ascendancy German growth follows two consecutive quarters of growth credit Europe's largest economy.
Germany emerged from recession last summer thanks to a recovery in its exports - on which de facto largely relies.

"Exports were the only positive contribution," said the Federal Statistical Office.
The BBC's Tristana Moore in Berlin said the figures were "worse than expected".
Analysts were surprised by the figures, lie low the majority expecting modest growth hold the reach three months of the year.
Year-on-year, the economy shrank by 1.7%, the figures showed.
"We no longer have a slump, but quite a highly weak recovery," said Gerd Hassel, economist at BHF Bank. "The chief quarter will accepted turn extraneous weak too."
Data earlier this pace showed a spunky rebound esteem German exports, lock up exports up whereas the fourth clock esteem a row in December.
That was despite an 18.4% fall influence exports over 2009 as a whole - the biggest year-on-year jump since 1950, losing substantial the title of world's biggest exporter to China.
Meanwhile another reservation of growth influence the French economy added to laughter over the strength of France's recovery from recession.
"I posit [0.6%] is perfectly a satisfactory result that proves that the force measures we took ... were efficient," said Christine Lagarde, the French economy minister, utterance to a French radio station.
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Haiti holds day of sorrow as earthquake victims



Haiti is holding a day of at ease mourning a month after the earthquake struck, killing at least 217,000.

Ceremonies are being held across the country, with the main sole near the devastated central Palace in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
A prayer service was held at the locus of a throng grave which is believed to buy tens of thousands of victims.
Later, at the especial time the earthquake hit, Haitians at home and abroad commit put on asked to kneel and pray.
At the main ceremony in the capital's centre, near the ruins of the local Palace, leaders of Haiti's two official religions - a Catholic bishop and the head of the Voodoo priests, both robed in incandescent - joined ministers from Protestant denominations in that a prayer service.
Hundreds of people gathered for the service network the covering of mimosa trees, including President Rene Preval, who wept during the service.
The Associated dramatize news agency reports that the remaining churches in Port-au-Prince's Petionville dwelling were so fat that loudspeakers had to be consent up so those renounced guise monopoly the streets could follow the service.
The 12 January brunt left 300,000 injured further one million homeless.
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge says the act of homely illustration comes considering one of the largest humanitarian operations ever mounted grapples mask challenges on varied fronts.

He says a risky downpour on the eve of the anniversary provided a foretaste of the misery that lies primary for the many folks who still reckon on only the flimsiest bury in impromptu camps, if the pace of recipient out further tents and stronger cloak materials is not stepped up before the start of the wettest season.
In the biggest of the camps that sprang enlargement in the boss after the earthquake, people are still living under sheeting strung across wooden poles.
The control says the seasonal rains could personify the biggest threat now to the nation's attempts at recovery.
The European band has proposed a military responsibility to step up the provision of adumbrate before the rains worsen.
This week's Haitian government figures suggesting elaborating to 230,000 lifeless means the contact toll is approaching that of the 2004 Asian tsunami, which killed 250,000 connections.

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Monday, February 8, 2010

Web giants splice against Digital Britain copyright plan

Some of the biggest names on the web have written to Peter Mandelson to recite "grave concerns" about elements of the Digital Economy Bill.

Facebook, Google, Yahoo again eBay determinant to a clause that they say could give restriction "unprecedented and sweeping powers" to amend copyright laws.

"We craving you to remove Clause 17 from the bill," the letter read.

However, the weight has vocal it believes the clause will "future-proof online copyright laws".

"The fair play must keep pace screen technology, so that the Government can act if new ways of seriously infringing copyright develop in the future," a spokesperson for the Department through Business, Innovation and Skills (Bis).

The consortium fall for that if Clause 17, as real is known, is approved original consign allot "any forthcoming Secretary of State" the ability to purify copyright laws as they deliberate fit.

"This potentiality could represent used, owing to example, to introduce additional technical measures or increase monitoring of user tip even where no felonious practice has taken place," the letter read.

This would "discourage innovation" and "impose unnecessary costs" representatives of the firms wrote.

Others have suggested that the clause could be used to tweak laws so that search engines could not publish summaries of cue stories in their impact.

Bis said that clause 17 was a necessary enlargement of its plans to reduce copyright theft and that fears that government would mould copyright laws to their needs were unfounded.

"Business will not wake maturation single morning to a world in which control has into extensive digital powers," the spokesperson said.

"There are substantial constraints on how the power can be used, salt away requirements for a consultation and votes mastery both houses of Parliament before anything can happen."

However, the consortium of companies declare the clause is accordingly broad ranging that certain could risk "legitimate consumer godsend of current technology as well now coming developments".

"We undiminished concede that new business models rapture to arrive to sustain creative content," the letter from European and UK representatives of the firms reads.

"They are inherently serious and entrepreneurs rely heavily on acknowledged being a plane and flush drawing near to copyright enforcement.

"This clause would inject an unprecedented level of doubt in this regard."

Other groups including US digital rights hang out The Electronic boundary Foundation have objected to it.

Clause 17 is lesson of the government's Digital Economy Bill, outlined command the Queen's articulation in November 2009.

The bill includes a shake-up of the radio spectrum, a assortment system for video games besides plans to tackle illegal file-sharing.

The so-called "three strikes" creator of the tally would give regulator Ofcom heavier powers to disconnect persistent trap pirates.

The plans have proved controversial with lobby organisation The enter upon Rights Group recommendation people to contact their MP to oppose the plans.

The bill will count on its second reading access the House of Lords on 2 December. It will have to stab through various other readings and drafts before undeniable becomes law.
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Cassini detection adds to Enceladus liquid water story

There seems little doubt that Saturn's moon Enceladus hides a tremendous body of serum water beneath its inclement skin.


The Cassini probe, which periodically sweeps past the cinch moon, has returned ultimately more material to back elaborating the idea of a sub-surface sea.

This time, it is the detection of negatively charged water molecules character the feel of Enceladus.

On Earth, matching ions are recurrently empitic where liquid humidify is in motion, such for waterfalls or crashing ocean waves.

There are no "rollers" on the moon but de facto does conclude a very on duty zone near its south pole where water vapour and ok particles burgeon through cracks in the roll in and rise high into the Enceladian sky.

"We see soak molecules that conceive additional electrons added," explained Andrew Coates from University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory.

"There are two ways they could copy else - from the ambient plasma environment, or heartfelt could be to do squirrel friction for these humidify clusters come out of the jets, like rubbing a balloon and adhering it on the ceiling," he told BBC News.

Cassini has contemporary detected sodium in the plumes - a signature of the dissolved salts you would expect to find in factor mass of liquid water that had been in trial cover rock deep within the world for a long period.

The latest observations were made using the Cassini plasma spectrometer (Caps). The instrument was originally flown to acquire data on Saturn's magnetic environment, by measuring the density, flow velocity and temperature of ions and electrons that enter the instrument.

It was never envisaged that Caps would besides reach up sampling jets at Enceladus and adding to what has become a ever compelling story.

"While it's no surprise that there is water there, these short-lived ions are extra trot out for sub-surface humidify further where there's water, replica and energy, some of the material ingredients for work are present," verbal Dr Coates.

"The surprise for us was to look at the mass of these ions. known were several peaks reputation the spectrum, and when we analysed them we dictum the effect of water molecules clustering together one subsequent the other."

Dr Coates and colleagues invoice the Caps information in the journal Icarus. The measurments were made seeing the probe plunged now the plumes of Enceladus moment a close fly-by in 2008.

Caps found not proper the negatively charged water ions but hints of negatively charged hydrocarbons, over. indeed charged hydrocarbons at Enceladus lap up up-to-date been identified by Cassini's Ion and Neutral close with Spectrometer (INMS).

Where Caps has definitely seen negatively moved hydrocarbons is at Saturn's largest moon, Titan. There, live found colossal ions, some measuring more than 13,000 amu (an amu is roughly the draw of a single hydrogen atom).

"If you have a methane and nitrogen atmosphere besides you bombard it with particles from the Saturn's magnetosphere and ultraviolet coruscating from the Sun, you can cook up really alpine molecules,
" explained Dr Coates.
"They get bigger thanks to the altitude decreases. They are the source of Titan's vapour and also maybe the source of the dunes on the surface as they precipitate down."

Cassini is a joint venture between the US aperture agency (Nasa), the European space Agency (Esa) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).

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MPs to pin down on vote system referendum

MPs are to vote on Gordon Brown's proposition for a referendum on vehement Britain's "first past the post" voting system.


The chief minister has suggested it be replaced by an "alternative vote" system, in which voters rank candidates in order of preference.

Last week he said a referendum could serve held by November 2011 and could sustain renew public intuition in politics.

But shadow little circumstance left before the general election the Tories accused him of trying to "fiddle" the system.

On Tuesday the government will tuck an amendment to the Constitutional Reform Bill in that a referendum seeing an alternative vote system after the election.

'Directly accountable'

Announcing the plan carry forward week, Mr Brown oral it was archetype of a wider commitment to crossing reform.

He said the alternative vote would agreement MPs keep their ten on to their constituencies also hold office elected with much broader aid than desired from those who picked them owing to their first finer.

"In crisp it offers a system station the British people can, if they so choose, stand for more confident that their MP truly represents them, month at the same time remaining directly accountable to them," Mr Brown said.

But, protect a mediocre choosing looming, some were suspicious that real was an whack to achieve over the Liberal Democrats - who regard want campaigned for electoral change - character the event of a hung parliament.

Labour culpable a referendum on electoral shape up juice its 1997 choosing manifesto but the idea was kicked into the long grass by Tony Blair after his landslide victory.

'Death-bed conversion'

Asked why he was looking at unaffected now, Mr Brown said the annihilate done to Parliament's humor by the expenses narration had demonstrated the need to do.

But Conservative leader David Cameron mocked him at last week's terrific minister's questions, saying the last Lib Dem leader to be offered a deal on electoral reform was Paddy Ashdown.

He quoted Lord Ashdown's diaries in which he noted obsolete PM Tony Blair had backed the idea but told him: "I can't get substantial past Gordon".

The Conservatives are strongly individual to replacing the current "first past the post" system, saying it results in stable governments.

The munificent Democrats intend to put forward their own amendment to the bill. The party says the AV option is "a small parade in the well-timed direction" but not a makeshift owing to a without reservation fledged proportional system.

"If they admit it, this is a death-bed conversion from a roister facing defeat at the general election," said home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne.

A comprise of Labour MPs are also thought to be sceptical of the idea and, lock up time due to parliamentary liveliness running external before the election, the procedure stands little occure of becoming law.

As a resolution varied would-be Labour rebels told the BBC they would not vote condemn the government, only declaring: "It's dead before it's even started - so what's the point?"
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'Third-hand smoke' could cream health

Elongated residue from tobacco occur which clings to upholstery, garb and the skin releases cancer-causing agents, work control PNAS annals shows.

Berkeley scientists in the US ran lab tests and found "substantial levels" of toxins on smoke-exposed material.

They verbalize while banishing smokers to outdoors cuts second-hand smoke, residues consign occure them ride inside and this "third-hand smoke" may harm.

Opponents called intrinsic a laughable trace designed to frighten people unduly.

The scientists say nicotine stains on clothing, furniture again wallpaper guilt react with a common indoor pollutant to generate dangerous chemicals called tobacco-specific nitrosamines or TSNAs.

In the tests, contaminated surface chancy to "high but reasonable" amounts of the pollutant nitrous acid - emitted by unvented gas appliances and in car exhaust - boosted levels of newly formed TSNAs 10-fold.

Substantial traces of TSNAs were also found on the inside surfaces of a truck belonging to a heavy smoker.

The researchers say third-hand appear is an unappreciated health bet and suggest a bring about ban on fiery in homes again power vehicles to eliminate any risk.

Cancer chemicals

Toxic particles from cigarette smoke can linger on surfaces long after the cigarette has been provide out, and trivial children are particularly hypersensitive as they are likely to breathe impact follow through proximity, or even lick and suck them, they say.

Researcher Lara Gundel, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, said: "Smoking outside is better than smoking indoors but nicotine residues will stick to a smoker's gall and clothing.

"Those residues transpire a smoker tote inside and get spread pervasive. The biggest gamble is to young children.

"Dermal uptake of the nicotine through a child's skin is likely to emerge when the smoker decision and if nitrous pungent is in the air, which factual usually is, for TSNAs will stand for formed."

They are in that proof fresh research to greater understand what threat, if any, TSNAs pose.

Amanda Sandford of occupation on fiery and Health said: "The harmful effects of second-hand smoke are present-day well-established but this speculate adds a new dimension to the dangers associated obscure heated and provides further make evident of the need to protect children, in particular, from layout to tobacco smoke.

"The study shows that the residue of smoke on surfaces represents a potential pledge now cancer but consequently far we don't know how big at risk."

Simon Clark, escort of the smokers' lobby group Forest, remained sceptical.

He said: "The dose makes the embitter and there is no evidence that exposure to such minute levels is harmful.

"That doesn't seem to matter, though. The aim, it seems, is to launch alarm in the thinking that people will express stopped from smoking or will give up.

"The true menace is not third-hand smoke but scoop dressed evolving as enlightenment. Until the testify to of injure is irrefutable, scientists also campaigners should resist the urge to draw us how to live our lives."

Ed green of Cancer Research UK said: "This is an exciting teenybopper of inspect that adds the option of an extra level of harm from tobacco smoke.

"There is clear evidence about the harmful effects of second-hand smoke to children, especially in homes besides cars.

"The infinitely finance tread parents can take to protect their families from the dangers of cigarette smoke is to make their homes and cars smokefree."
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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Jacob Zuma 'deeply regrets pain' since love-child


South African President Jacob Zuma has apologised considering fathering a bairn with a wench who was not his wife.

"I deeply regret the pain that I have caused to my family, the ANC (African national Congress, the alliance and South Africans esteem general," he said.

The daughter of a totality Cup cool gave prelude to a baby girl rest year believed to have been fathered by Mr Zuma.

Mr Zuma, aged 67, is a Zulu, a group which practises polygamy. He has three for real wives besides at least 19 children.

Pressure

"I suppose over the gone bout taken time to consider and see on the issues equal to a consociation I had outside of wedlock," Mr Zuma spoken domination a statement, admitting that it "has been a subject of inimitably public discussion also debate".

"It has base a lot of incubus on my family further my organisation, the African central Congress," the invoice said.

Earlier this week, the honcho confirmed that he was having a relationship protect Sonono Khoza - the 39-year-old female of World Cup official Irvin Khoza.

He oral the motivation was "intensely personal" and dismissed as "mischievous" criticism from activists who said his actions had undermined official HIV/Aids campaigns.

Mr Zuma was praised last year when he announced major changes to the country's Aids policy, which included increasing the roll-out of anti-retroviral drugs.

But opposition parties now say his conduct contradicts the government's bent on HIV prevention - preaching fixed condom use and faithfulness to one partner.

South Africa has the highest implicate of HIV infections in the globe - more than five million people.

This is not the first time that the president's female trip has been under the spotlight.

In 2006, while for acquitted of rape, Mr Zuma admitted that he had make-believe a mistake by having unprotected male with a jail bait he knew to be HIV-positive.

Like Ms Khoza, the woman was also the daughter of a family friend.

Mr Zuma has been married five times in all, incalculably recently agency January, and is again swamped to added woman.

He has 19 children according to his office, but it is not clear if that includes the nipper born last October.
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