News
Apple Testing Larger Screens
By Johnathan Heng
Posted 23rd July 2013
Ever wondered why handheld technology is growing smaller and smaller? Apple is reversing this process and looking into producing larger screens for their IPad and IPhone range to better suit their customers needs. Larger screen sizes means more space to play games and enjoy HD movies to a fuller extent. Apple are testing and exploring the concept of larger touchscreens, which may soon alter our way of handling hand held devices.
US Fighter Jets Spark Environmentalists Outrage
By Rachael Gates
Posted 23rd July 2013
Environmentalists have voiced their anger after two U.S fighter jets dropped four unarmed bombs 164 ft from the worlds largest network of coral structure, The Great Barrier Reef, which covers more than 1800 miles along Australia’s Northeast coast.
The bombs were dropped as the planes had to make an emergency landing due to low fuel, but were unable to make the landing while still carrying those bombs on board. Spokesman for the 7th Fleet, Commander William Marks states that the emergency plan was made in consultation with Australian officials and that there is minimal environmental impact upon a reef itself.
The jets had intended on dropping the bombs in a bombing range on Townshed Island but had to abort the mission because of reported civilian boats within the designated area, according to Commander William Marks.
Australian Senate and Greens party’s spokeswoman of The Great Barrier Reef described the situation as “outrageous”, “Have we gone completely mad?” she told ABC. “Is this how we look after our World Heritage area now? Letting a foreign power drop bombs on it?”
Environmentalist and anti-war activist, Graeme Dunstan said the mishap proves the U.S military could not be trusted to protect the environment.
The U.S Navy and Marines Corps are working with Australian authorities to investigate the incident. But as it stands at the moment, there is no evident significant danger to the reef.
Headmistress missing after free lunch kills 23 students
By Alisha Buaya
Posted 23rd July 2013
It’s been a week since a school in Bihar state of northern India distributed free lunches to its students causing the death of 23 students. The headmistress of the school and her husband remain missing.
According to police superintendent Sunjeet Kumar, a team of officers has assembled to investigate and track down the principal, Meena Kumari
There has since been a heavier police presence in the village, particularly around the principal’s home to ensure her safety when she resurfaces or is taken in for questioning.
Harmeet Shah Singh and Tom Watkins from CNN have reported that authorities have recorded statements from 40 witnesses, including child survivors of the July 16 food poisoning.
Police say that Pesticides have been found in the food and oil used in the school lunch that sickened 25 others on July 16 in northern India’s Bihar state.
Forensic scientists found monocrotophos, an organophosphorus compound used as an insecticide, “in the samples of oil from the container, food remains on the platter and mixture of rice with vegetables in an aluminum utensil,” Assistant Director General Ravinder Kumar told reporters in Patna.
Monocrotophos, which is used for agricultural purposes, is toxic to humans.
The cook, Manju Devi, was hospitalized after eating the food she prepared, doctors said.
Devi told police that the headmistress did not heed her warning that the mustard oil used to prepare lunch looked and smelled bad. Instead, the headmistress insisted she continue preparing the meal, officials said.
Divers Narrowly Escape Becoming Whale Dinner
By Rachel Hillier
Posted 23rd July 2013
Two California sardine divers were almost swallowed whole recently by a couple of humpback whales. The whales were trying to scoop up as many fish as they could in a vertical leap for the surface. The incident caught on tape shows the whales in the background at the beginning of the video. The two men were leisurely floating on the surface just before almost being eaten alive. The video cuts to the rush of fish in the ocean to show the activity that the whales were after. The cameraman and the other diver shown on the boat laugh off the incident and no one was injured.
Humpback whales usually weigh around 40 tons and could have easily crushed or injured either of the divers. Experts say it was all to do with ‘luck’ as their only safety equipment was a towline, which could be in breach of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The fish cause a stir in the water just before the synchronization of the two whales but not enough time for the divers to swim away. One of the divers, Stamback, (who is second closest to the whale) said it seemed as though the whales intentionally avoided him and the other diver. Although it made an astounding video and the two seem to be laughing, they rushed towards the boat straight after the incident.
WARNING: There is some coarse language featured.
Queen Legalizes Gay Marriage
By Caroline Simpson
Posted 23rd July 2013
Wednesday 17th of July will be a day to remember for the Gay, Lesbian and Trans-gender community across Britain as the Queen gave her stamp of approval for gay marriage. The bill which, cleared parliament on Tuesday, will allow couples to begin marriage as of 2014 in both civil union and religious ceremonies.
Gay Marriage has thus been approved in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, and Sweden. With parts of the United States and Mexico having passed the bill. Great Britain and Wales can now happily add themselves on that list.
David Cameron’s typically conservative party were heavily divided upon the bill and its passing. Debates and discussions became quiet heated over the debate in both the House of Commons and House of Lords.
Panda Birth Twins
By Stephanie Norman
Posted 23rd July 2013
Zoo staff delighted at arrival of Panda twins at Atlanta Zoo in Georgia on Monday.
15 year old giant Panda, Lun Lun, gave birth to twins on Monday following an hour and half long labor. Zoo staff new of the pregnancy after an ultrasound last month, however, they did not know Lun Lun was carrying twins until the second Panda was born just minutes after their sibling. The pair are the first Panda twins to be born in America in over 20 years. Despite their tiny size, the Pandas are reported to be in a healthy condition. Zoo staff are closely monitoring the pair in the early stages of their lives. As Lun Lun can only care for one Panda at a time the two are being alternated between the care of Lun Lun and the care of the Zoo staff who place them in an incubator. The two will not be revealed to the public until November when they are more developed. However, fans can check their progress and the mothers on Panda Cam, set up through the Zoo’s website.
To follow Chinese tradition, the Panda pair will not be named until 100 days after their birth.
Child Brides
By Sarah Webster
Posted 23rd July 2013
In July of this year a video was uploaded to YouTube by a young girl talking about her escape from her uncles home in Yemen and feelings of becoming a child bride at age 11. This video has spread light onto the practicing of child brides around the world.
Some cases in Australia that have been recorded are a young girl aged 14 from Victoria in 2010 but after she contacted Victoria’s department of Human Services, officers were sent to her home and parents were forced to surrender her passport to stop her leaving Australia. Two months later there was another case in Sydney with a 17 year old girl who contacted the Australian Federal police that see was going to be taken against her will to Lebanon to be marriage but she was put on the Airport Watch List so she could not leave to country.
In Australia as there are a few cases of girls getting marriage off overseas but there are more cases of girls being flown over to Australia with Prospective Marriage Visas by older men to whom they will be marriage against their will and for money with 200 in the last five years.
The worst country for child brides is Niger with 75% of girl’s marriage off before there 18th birthday. Statistics show that in developing countries one in three girls will probably be married off before their 18th birthday and one in nine will be married before their 15th birthday.
The youngest case being a young girl in Yemen aged 9 being married off for $750 to a man 20 years older then herself, the marriage was followed by abuse after her wedding night but this young girl managed to escape and filed for a divorce on grounds of abuse, being 10 and divorced.
There are laws that have been put in place in March 2013, This Act is called Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Act 2013 says that anyone that forces a child into a marriage including their parents can be jailed for up to seven years. Before this it was not a criminal act.
James Cameron being sued… again
By Laura Franklin
Posted 23rd July 2013
James Cameron is being sued again over the ideas behind the creation of the blockbuster film Avatar. British artist William Roger Dean is suing Cameron for $50 million for stealing ideas and images from his artwork and using it in the film. The suit was filed last month in New York and the artist is trying to gain more for the breached copyright laws. Dean tells the BBC that “in particular, his paintings of floating islands and huge graceful arches in the sky, painted over the course of 40 years, were copied by the director”.
Legal documents state that Dean claims Cameron “studied and referenced his art in preparation for the film”. The comparison made between Cameron’s shots and creations is uncanny of the resemblance of Dean’s artwork.
As well as the money Dean also wants to be given full account of the work and for posts online to state that the work was stolen. He also wishes to be a part of future Avatar projects including two sequels and the Avatar-themed Park at Walt Disney World.
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