LIEGE, Belgium ? The body of a woman has been found in the garage of a grenade-lobbing gunman, bringing to four the number of people killed in an attack in the city of Liege, officials said Wednesday.
Liege Prosecutor Daniele Reynders said the body of a woman in her forties was discovered during a search of Nordine Amrani's property, and that she was killed before the murderous spree at Liege's main square which also left 123 people injured.
"It was a cleaning lady. This is how she met him yesterday morning," Reynders said. "She dies, shot with a bullet in the head."
Reynders said Amrani, 33 years old, died in Tuesday's attack in an apparent suicide, and he was found with a number of grenades still on him.
"What killed him was a shot in the middle of his forehead," she said.
Two male teenage students, 15 and 17 years old, also died in the attack, while an 18-month-old toddler died Tuesday evening in hospital, Liege police said. Several people remain in intensive care.
A 75-year-old woman who had initially been counted among the dead was taken off the list, even though she stands virtually no chance of recovering from her injuries, said Catherine Delcourt, a spokeswoman for the Liege governor.
Beyond the dead and injured, Reynders said some 40 people had to be treated for psychological trauma.
It remained unclear what motivated the attack. Reynders said that after searches of Amrani's house terrorism could be excluded as the driving force.
Amrani, who had spent time in jail for offenses involving guns and drugs, had been called in for questioning by police in a sexual abuse case.
Officials said he left his Liege home with a backpack, armed with hand grenades, a revolver and an FAL assault rifle.
He walked alone to a busy downtown square, then got onto a platform that gave him an ideal view of the area below, which was bedecked with a huge Christmas tree and crowded with shoppers.
From there, he lobbed three hand grenades toward a nearby bus shelter, which serves 1,800 buses a day ? the explosions sending shards of glass from the shelter across a wide area. He then opened fire upon the crowd.
As soon as the shooting began, hundreds fled the square as well as a nearby Christmas market. Video from the scene showed the crowds, including a large group of children, surging through the city center to seek cover, some still carrying shopping bags.
NEW YORK (Reuters) ? Stocks rose on Friday with growth-related shares leading the way as investors focused on a brighter U.S. economic outlook.
A stronger euro and retreating euro zone bond yields also helped investor confidence. Benchmark Italian bond yields held below 7 percent, and Spanish yields also fell. Still, worries persisted over possible sovereign credit downgrades to the euro zone members.
"It is becoming increasingly apparent the (U.S.) economic recovery is becoming self-sustaining," said Jeffrey Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James Financial in St. Petersburg, Florida.
"I think we're going to see reallocation (into growth sectors) when it becomes apparent the U.S. is not dipping into another recession."
The materials sector (.GSPM) was among the top S&P performers, up 1.7 percent. The energy group (.GSPE) was up 1.2 percent as U.S. oil futures added 0.5 percent.
Copper prices added 2.1 percent. Gold rallied about 2 percent but was still on course for a weekly loss.
The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) put on 86.28 points, or 0.73 percent, at 11,955.09. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) was up 13.78 points, or 1.13 percent, at 1,229.53. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) jumped 41.46 points, or 1.63 percent, at 2,582.47.
Online game maker Zynga Inc (ZNGA.O) was expected to rise in its Nasdaq debut after pricing its initial public offering at $10 per share, the top end of its range. Shares are expected to begin trading around 11 a.m. EST <1600 GMT>.
U.S. consumer prices were flat in November as Americans paid less for cars and gasoline, while the 12-month inflation reading fell for the second straight month, which could give the Federal Reserve more room to help a still-weak economy.
Jim Paulsen, chief investment officer at Wells Capital Management in Minneapolis, said subdued inflation will be a long-term positive as consumers benefit from contained prices.
"That's one of the reasons you're seeing better consumer (confidence) of late," he said.
Research In Motion Ltd (RIM.TO)(RIMM.O) posted a sharp drop in profit on Thursday, offered a dismal outlook for BlackBerry shipments during the holidays and delayed an overhaul of its smartphones. The U.S.-traded stock dropped 11 percent to $13.47.
Shares of Adobe Systems Inc (ADBE.O) jumped 7.3 percent to $28.37 after results from the maker of Photoshop and Acrobat software beat Wall Street projections.
Data this week suggested a strengthening U.S. economic recovery, giving further support to equities.
Jobless claims fell to a 3-1/2-year low last week and factory activity in parts of the U.S. Northeast picked up in December, data showed Thursday.
(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
NASA eyes power in Tropical Storm Washi, warnings in the PhilippinesPublic release date: 15-Dec-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Rob Gutro Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov 443-858-1779 NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA's TRMM satellite measured heavy rainfall and powerful towering thunderstorms as Tropical Depression 27W intensified into Tropical Storm Washi today. Now, warnings are up in areas of the Philippines as Washi heads in that direction.
Now that Tropical Depression 27W strengthened into a tropical storm, it has been given two names: Washi and Sendong. Tropical cyclones within each ocean basin are named in six year lists, but some countries will also assign their own names to a storm, so following a storm can get a little confusing. Low pressure areas that form into a depression are given a number and Washi's was 27W, for the twenty-seventh tropical depression in the western North Pacific this season. Once it strengthens into a tropical storm it gets a name.
Tropical Storm Washi, or Sendong as it is known in the Philippines has residents there on guard as it continues to strengthen upon its approach.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Weather Forecasting Section, Weather Division is responsible for forecasts of tropical cyclones affecting the Philippines. PAGASA noted in a bulletin today, December 15 at 5 p.m. local time (0900 UTC or 4 a.m. EST): "Tropical Storm 27W (called "Sendong" in the Philippines) is expected to make landfall over Surigao del Sur early tomorrow (Friday) afternoon and by Saturday afternoon, at 220 km East Northeast of Puerto Princesa City. By Sunday afternoon, it will be at 260 km West Northwest of Puerto Princesa City."
As a result of Washi's (Sendong) approach, PAGASA has posted warning signals. Signal One is in effect for Mindanao and Visayas. Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island of the Philippines. It is one of the three island groups in the country, the others being Luzon and the Visayas.
Included in the warning in Mindanao is the province of Surigao Del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao Del, Sur and Dinagat Province, Agusan Provinces and Misamis Oriental. Included in the warning in Visayas are the provinces of Eastern Samar and Western Samar, Leyte Provinces, Camotes Island, and Bohol. Heavy rains and gusty winds are expected. Rainfall may cause flooding and mudslides.
On Dec. 15 at 0900 UTC, Tropical Storm Washi had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/65 kmh). It was about 140 nautical miles (161 miles/259 km) west of Palau near 7.7 North and 131.5 East. It was moving quickly to the west at 20 knots (23 mph/37 kmh).
When the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over Washi early today, Dec. 15 at 0205 UTC (Dec. 14 at 9:05 a.m. EST) a "hot towering" thunderstorm was seen in the southwestern quadrant of the storm topping 10 miles (16 kilometers) high. Research done at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. has shown that tropical cyclones are likely to intensify within six hours of a "hot tower" being spotted in a tropical cyclone.
Multispectral satellite imagery showed the banding of thunderstorms wrapping into the center of circulation - another indication that the storm is strengthening. The storm is strengthening because the wind shear is light (only 10 knots/11 mph/18 kmh) and the sea surface temperatures are very warm at about 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 Celsius) which is about 8F warmer than the minimum temperature needed to maintain a tropical cyclone.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Washi to make landfall on Friday, Dec. 16 and then re-emerge over water in the Sulu Sea. In the meantime, residents of Minandao and Visayas need to prepare for Washi's arrival.
###
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
NASA eyes power in Tropical Storm Washi, warnings in the PhilippinesPublic release date: 15-Dec-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Rob Gutro Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov 443-858-1779 NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA's TRMM satellite measured heavy rainfall and powerful towering thunderstorms as Tropical Depression 27W intensified into Tropical Storm Washi today. Now, warnings are up in areas of the Philippines as Washi heads in that direction.
Now that Tropical Depression 27W strengthened into a tropical storm, it has been given two names: Washi and Sendong. Tropical cyclones within each ocean basin are named in six year lists, but some countries will also assign their own names to a storm, so following a storm can get a little confusing. Low pressure areas that form into a depression are given a number and Washi's was 27W, for the twenty-seventh tropical depression in the western North Pacific this season. Once it strengthens into a tropical storm it gets a name.
Tropical Storm Washi, or Sendong as it is known in the Philippines has residents there on guard as it continues to strengthen upon its approach.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Weather Forecasting Section, Weather Division is responsible for forecasts of tropical cyclones affecting the Philippines. PAGASA noted in a bulletin today, December 15 at 5 p.m. local time (0900 UTC or 4 a.m. EST): "Tropical Storm 27W (called "Sendong" in the Philippines) is expected to make landfall over Surigao del Sur early tomorrow (Friday) afternoon and by Saturday afternoon, at 220 km East Northeast of Puerto Princesa City. By Sunday afternoon, it will be at 260 km West Northwest of Puerto Princesa City."
As a result of Washi's (Sendong) approach, PAGASA has posted warning signals. Signal One is in effect for Mindanao and Visayas. Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island of the Philippines. It is one of the three island groups in the country, the others being Luzon and the Visayas.
Included in the warning in Mindanao is the province of Surigao Del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao Del, Sur and Dinagat Province, Agusan Provinces and Misamis Oriental. Included in the warning in Visayas are the provinces of Eastern Samar and Western Samar, Leyte Provinces, Camotes Island, and Bohol. Heavy rains and gusty winds are expected. Rainfall may cause flooding and mudslides.
On Dec. 15 at 0900 UTC, Tropical Storm Washi had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/65 kmh). It was about 140 nautical miles (161 miles/259 km) west of Palau near 7.7 North and 131.5 East. It was moving quickly to the west at 20 knots (23 mph/37 kmh).
When the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over Washi early today, Dec. 15 at 0205 UTC (Dec. 14 at 9:05 a.m. EST) a "hot towering" thunderstorm was seen in the southwestern quadrant of the storm topping 10 miles (16 kilometers) high. Research done at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. has shown that tropical cyclones are likely to intensify within six hours of a "hot tower" being spotted in a tropical cyclone.
Multispectral satellite imagery showed the banding of thunderstorms wrapping into the center of circulation - another indication that the storm is strengthening. The storm is strengthening because the wind shear is light (only 10 knots/11 mph/18 kmh) and the sea surface temperatures are very warm at about 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 Celsius) which is about 8F warmer than the minimum temperature needed to maintain a tropical cyclone.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Washi to make landfall on Friday, Dec. 16 and then re-emerge over water in the Sulu Sea. In the meantime, residents of Minandao and Visayas need to prepare for Washi's arrival.
###
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
PARIS -- The leaders of Germany and France called Monday for a new European Union treaty to ensure that the region's debt crisis never happens again.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that they would prefer a treaty agreed by all 27 members of the European Union, but would also accept a treaty among just the 17 countries that use the euro.
The new treaty should include automatic sanctions for countries that violate rules meant to keep government deficits in check.
The meeting comes at the start of a crucial week for the eurozone, as it struggles to convince markets that it is able to solve its debt crisis.
? 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Wayne State receives NIH grant to study numerical processing in infants with FASDsPublic release date: 5-Dec-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie O'Connor julie.oconnor@wayne.edu 313-577-8845 Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research
DETROIT Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are one of the most common causes of birth defects worldwide and are particularly prevalent in some South African communities where heavy drinking during pregnancy is a major public health issue, particularly in the wine-growing areas of the Western Cape.
FASDs have long-term, significant effects on neurocognitive and behavioral development, including problems with attention, learning, memory and social skills. They can also cause heart defects, facial dysmorphic features, poor growth, and decreased muscle tone and coordination. A team of researchers led by Sandra W. Jacobson, Ph.D., and Joseph L. Jacobson, Ph.D., professors of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences in Wayne State University's School of Medicine recently received a $413,440 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health to conduct a new study designed to improve the diagnosis of FASDs. Improved diagnosis can lead to the development of better-targeted treatments for specific deficits found in children with these disorders.
According to S. Jacobson, infants as young as 5 months of age can look at a display of stimuli that involve simple numbers and mentally manipulate them. However, alcohol-exposed infants do not show the same ability to process this numerical information when shown the same stimuli.
"Infants exposed to heavy prenatal alcohol exposure do not exhibit the same response as non-exposed infants," said Jacobson. "In the newly funded study, we will use event-related potentials (ERP) that measure brain waves to examine the time course and specific components of information processing in alcohol-exposed and non-exposed infants. We then can specify which components of number processing are affected by fetal alcohol exposure."
The study will examine whether magnitude comparison, which is the ability to detect larger or smaller quantities, and/or error monitoring, which is an early precursor of executive function, are affected when the exposed infants perform a simple numerical discrimination task. The team's earlier research shows that alcohol-exposed infants do not perform well on this test. The ERP version of this test will help determine which aspects of numerical processing are likely impaired by the alcohol exposure.
This type of research on these two early-developing potential neurocognitive biobehavioral markers could improve understanding of what is impaired by studying specific aspects of central nervous system function that can be linked biologically to fetal alcohol exposure. This, in turn, can provide important information about the pathophysiology of FASDs and contribute to the development of improved treatments for the specific deficits of this disorder.
"Dr. S. Jacobson's research is addressing a critical research area that currently lacks specific diagnostic criteria and an understanding of the neural structures that underlie specific cognitive deficits due to repeated fetal alcohol exposure," said Hilary Ratner, Ph.D., vice president for research at Wayne State University. "She is a leader in the field of fetal alcohol research and this is another example of the high impact research Wayne State University faculty are engaged in."
###
Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research institutions in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Wayne State receives NIH grant to study numerical processing in infants with FASDsPublic release date: 5-Dec-2011 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie O'Connor julie.oconnor@wayne.edu 313-577-8845 Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research
DETROIT Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are one of the most common causes of birth defects worldwide and are particularly prevalent in some South African communities where heavy drinking during pregnancy is a major public health issue, particularly in the wine-growing areas of the Western Cape.
FASDs have long-term, significant effects on neurocognitive and behavioral development, including problems with attention, learning, memory and social skills. They can also cause heart defects, facial dysmorphic features, poor growth, and decreased muscle tone and coordination. A team of researchers led by Sandra W. Jacobson, Ph.D., and Joseph L. Jacobson, Ph.D., professors of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences in Wayne State University's School of Medicine recently received a $413,440 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health to conduct a new study designed to improve the diagnosis of FASDs. Improved diagnosis can lead to the development of better-targeted treatments for specific deficits found in children with these disorders.
According to S. Jacobson, infants as young as 5 months of age can look at a display of stimuli that involve simple numbers and mentally manipulate them. However, alcohol-exposed infants do not show the same ability to process this numerical information when shown the same stimuli.
"Infants exposed to heavy prenatal alcohol exposure do not exhibit the same response as non-exposed infants," said Jacobson. "In the newly funded study, we will use event-related potentials (ERP) that measure brain waves to examine the time course and specific components of information processing in alcohol-exposed and non-exposed infants. We then can specify which components of number processing are affected by fetal alcohol exposure."
The study will examine whether magnitude comparison, which is the ability to detect larger or smaller quantities, and/or error monitoring, which is an early precursor of executive function, are affected when the exposed infants perform a simple numerical discrimination task. The team's earlier research shows that alcohol-exposed infants do not perform well on this test. The ERP version of this test will help determine which aspects of numerical processing are likely impaired by the alcohol exposure.
This type of research on these two early-developing potential neurocognitive biobehavioral markers could improve understanding of what is impaired by studying specific aspects of central nervous system function that can be linked biologically to fetal alcohol exposure. This, in turn, can provide important information about the pathophysiology of FASDs and contribute to the development of improved treatments for the specific deficits of this disorder.
"Dr. S. Jacobson's research is addressing a critical research area that currently lacks specific diagnostic criteria and an understanding of the neural structures that underlie specific cognitive deficits due to repeated fetal alcohol exposure," said Hilary Ratner, Ph.D., vice president for research at Wayne State University. "She is a leader in the field of fetal alcohol research and this is another example of the high impact research Wayne State University faculty are engaged in."
###
Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research institutions in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
LOS ANGELES?? The doctor sentenced to four years in prison for causing Michael Jackson's death has filed a notice that he intends to appeal the conviction.
More Entertainment stories
Stars come out for 'New Year's Eve'
Everyone who's anyone is in this new movie. Plus: "Biggest Loser" crowns a winner; "The Help" hits DVD.
Year of the Hunk: Can Clooney, Pitt save Oscars?
Kardashians fire back at 'Teen Mom' Farrah
News anchor sorry for dashing kids? Santa dream
Reader: Conrad Murray won't serve enough time
Conrad Murray signed the notice that was filed in Los Angeles on Friday seeking all records and transcripts from the case. The filing does not indicate the basis on which Murray will argue to overturn his conviction or sentence.
Murray was sentenced Tuesday for his involuntary manslaughter conviction, but the term will be automatically cut in half.
Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor criticized Murray's conduct, calling him a disgrace to the medical profession.
Murray's challenge would be heard by a state appeals court in Los Angeles.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
COMMENTARY | Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has got a "big head." "Big head," which is something one "gets" or "is getting," is a colloquial phrase (not used as commonly as it once was) that doesn't refer to the actual size of a person's head (although in Gingrich's case, comedian Stephen Colbert often makes an exception) but to an over-inflated ego brought on by fortuitous circumstances or seemingly undeserved arrogance. Gingrich has taken a double-digit lead in the national presidential preference polls and is now telling anyone who'll listen that he will be the next Republican presidential nominee and the race will come down "Newt and Not-Newt." With confidence born of a few poll wins, the so-called historian is flat-out ignoring recent history's constant repetition of elevating and discarding GOP candidates. Simply put: Gingrich appears to have acquired a "big head," although it could be argued that he has had one for years.
"I would have thought originally it was going to be a 'Mitt and Not-Mitt'," Gingrich said, according to CNN . He was referring to early predictions of the GOP race. "It may turn out to be 'Newt and Not-Newt,' and that's a very different formula."
A different formula, he says, because he is far more conservative than Mitt Romney, the former GOP frontrunner, whom he characterized as a flip-flopper.
Romney trailed Gingrich by 21 points in the latest Rasmussen Reports poll, but it is a position the former governor of Massachusetts has become accustomed to, having fallen behind both Texas governor Rick Perry and Georgia businessman Herman Cain in the national polls before Gingrich's recent surge.
Forgetting that Romney has done fairly well in the eleven Republican presidential debates held thus far, Gingrich said that voters will go "Newt" simply because Republicans " need someone who can debate Obama."
He says that once nominated, he wants to do seven Lincoln-Douglas style debates with President Obama. If the president refuses, he vows to follow his campaign schedule, making speeches in the same towns and cities Obama visits, taking apart the president's speeches just after he delivers them. In the end, Gingrich says, Obama will acquiesce to the debates because of "pure ego."
"How can you be Columbia, Harvard Law, editor of the Law Review, best orator in the Democratic Party and be afraid of some guy who taught at West Georgia College? How is he going to look himself in the mirror and say I can't stand up to Newt? "
Nothing like a little projection to bolster one's confidence...
The next day, Gingrich made the following comments: "I'm going to be the nominee," the former House Speaker said, as reported by CNN . "It's very hard not to look at the recent polls and think that the odds are very high I'm going to be the nominee."
Rick Perry and Herman Cain may have both had the same thoughts when they jumped out ahead of Romney as well. But Perry, after several horrendous debate performances, and Cain, the target of several scandals regarding alleged sexual impropriety, saw their poll numbers dwindle after a brief period as the race leader.
Gingrich suggests that the Republican national presidential preference polls indicate he will be the next nominee. The first-in-the-nation caucus kicks off in Iowa on January 3 and polls indicate Gingrich has the lead there as well. But Rep. Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry have both led in Iowa, so there's no guarantee that the caucus will swing Gingrich's way.
And Romney currently leads local polls in New Hampshire, the first-in-the-nation primary that will be held a week after the Iowa Caucus.
To put things into perspective, Perry led the national polls for six weeks, getting as high as a double-digit lead over Romney. Cain's campaign played leapfrog with the Romney camp for five weeks. Newt Gingrich has had the lead in the polls for three weeks. There are less than five weeks to go before the primary season begins in Iowa.
Plenty of time for Gingrich to drop back level to or behind Romney after he is put through the media wringer like Perry and Cain (and Bachmann, who only challenged Romney nationally but never led in the polls). And Gingrich has a lot of political baggage that Romney does not, such as a House of Representatives sanction for ethics violations while he was Speaker, not to mention being a notorious flip-flopper as well.
But Gingrich's hauteur is nothing new. He has referred to his fellow candidates on several occasions as immature in their debate performances, holding himself aloft as if he's never had disagreements with fellow Republicans (see aforementioned sanctions). Assuming that voters are too ignorant to see the similarity, he says he was never a lobbyist -- he has never registered as one -- while records indicate he was paid millions over the last decade to curry favor for various corporations and financial institutions, including Freddie Mac. He talks austerity programs and spending cuts in future budgets that will impact millions of individuals at or below the poverty level while going on million-dollar spending jaunts with his wife. He constantly refers to President Obama as the "food stamp president" as if Gingrich himself has never received assistance, even going so far as to refuse to work while married and in college, according to a PBS "Frontline" report. Instead, he received money from his mother's family for the duration.
Apparently hypocrisy and disingenuousness inflates egos -- or helps keep them inflated. So do high poll numbers. And Gingrich certainly has a swelled head. Now it remains to be seen if the Republican electorate will continue to support it.
For youtube videos, paste embed code directly in the text box
-
Members do not need to provide an address
-
Rate Article
1
2
3
4
5
Total votes: 0
Select Comment Validation Method Member Name/URL (Guest) FaceBook (Guest) Member Commenting:
Authenticate with Facebook before submitting
OR
Make your LabSpaces comments count. Start earning LabSpaces points by becoming a member! Learn more. Please verify that you are human:Register for LabSpaces Make your LabSpaces comments count. Start earning LabSpaces points by becoming a member! Learn more.
Please authenticate before trying to post a comment.
If you would like to remain anonymous, please enter a new name and link below
Smartphone makers are again under fire for another big potential privacy violation through their devices. This time, the software is called Carrier IQ. It?s installed on most smartphones at the behest of cellular carriers in the U.S. and it tracks a crazy amount of data.
Android device makers such as Samsung and HTC are primarily in the crosshairs over the Carrier IQ fallout, mostly because it?s not clear just what?s being done with all the information that the software collects, which includes things like keystrokes, text messages both sent and received, emails, information about to whom calls are made and from whom they?re received, data usage, and even when the phone is turned on and off. Carrier IQ and the companies using the data claim it?s to make cellular networks better, but the fact of the matter is that no one is clear on just how any of this data is being used, or where (if anywhere) it?s being sent.
Today, Apple released a statement claiming that it has used Carrier IQ in the past, but it doesn?t anymore ? for the most part. In a report from TechCrunch, Apple claims that it scrubbed out Carrier IQ when it rolled out the latest version of its iOS mobile platform, iOS 5, back in October with the release of the iPhone 4S. None of its devices carry the software at all now. Almost.
As Ars Technica reports, Apple said ?most of its devices? were Carrier IQ-free with the update to iOS 5, and upon further inquiry, Apple revealed that the iPhone 4 is the device that still has the software. Seeing as the iPhone 4 has been insanely popular this year, that still means the software is on millions of handsets.
Luckily, in Apple?s case, Carrier IQ likely isn?t active on your iPhone 4. You have to opt-in to send diagnostic information to Apple in the device?s settings menu in order to enable Carrier IQ; by default, that setting should be switched to ?off.? The appropriate switch is in the Settings menu under ?About,? then under the ?Diagnostics and Usage? tab.
While Apple has removed Carrier IQ from devices running iOS 5, presumably it still exists on devices that haven?t made the upgrade (though, Apple has assured Ars Technica that it doesn?t read users? texts or emails). That?s a potential security hole that?s likely to draw additional scrutiny, and Minnesota Sen. Al Franken has already sent a letter to Carrier IQ demanding to know exactly what?s been done with all the information that?s been collected. Hopefully we?ll start to get some answers in the future, and see some tighter security on smartphones.
LONDON?? Britain is withdrawing some staff and dependents from its embassy in Tehran after it was stormed by Iranian protesters, some of whom tossed petrol bombs at the facility, the Foreign Office said Wednesday.
It declined to say how many people were being removed or give other details, but insisted that "ensuring the safety of our staff and their families is our immediate priority."
Some diplomatic work is ongoing, though the embassy is officially closed.
Video: Iranians storm British embassy, protest sanctions (on this page)
Only on msnbc.com
Patrolling 'smugglers' alley' by air along the Rio Grande
Clinton to get rare top-level peek at Myanmar
Researchers: Millions of printers open to hack attack
House approves new TSA rules for US military
Cain: '9-9-9, we're doing fine.'
Frank: Retirement a ?personal decision?
2nd revolution: Egyptians fight military
Hard-line protesters hauled down the Union Jack, set fire to an embassy vehicle and pelted buildings with petrol bombs on Tuesday in what apparently began as a state-approved show of anger over the latest Western sanctions to punish Iran for defiance over its nuclear program.
Iran's parliament approved a bill Sunday to downgrade relations with Britain, one of America's closest allies with diplomatic envoys in the Islamic Republic.
Story: Cameron: Iran faces 'serious consequences' for failing to protect British Embassy
The hours-long assault Tuesday on the British Embassy and a residential complex for staff ? in chaotic scenes reminiscent of the seizing of the U.S. Embassy in 1979 ? could push already frayed diplomatic ties toward the breaking point.
British Prime Minister David Cameron called Tuesday's attack "outrageous and indefensible" and said Iran's failure to defend the embassy and its staff was a disgrace and would have "serious consequences."
PhotoBlog: Iranian protesters break into British Embassy in Tehran
A Norwegian government official also said it had closed its embassy in Tehran due to security concerns.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hilde Steinfeld said the decision to close the embassy was taken late Tuesday, but that Norway's diplomatic staff have not been evacuated from the country.
Steinfeld would not go into greater detail Wednesday, but said the decision came "after security concerns" and "in context with the attack on the British Embassy."
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Curious how the Asus Transformer Prime handles gaming with its new Tegra 3 quad-core processor? Check out the video above, in which MSNBC?s Todd Kenreck shows it off running Luma Arcade?s upcoming Bladeslinger, Madfinger?s Shadowgun, Vector Unit?s Riptide GP, Glowball, and EA?s Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. He even demonstrates HDMI-out capability with a large HDTV and how the tablet works with Bluetooth and USB gaming controllers (demoed in video with PS3 controller). For serious gamers, this is definitely the tablet to get this holiday season. The Transformer Prime goes on sale on December 19th (Dec. 12th online) for $499 (32GB model).
This entry was posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:08 am and is filed under Android, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 15-Dec-2011
Share ] 
Make your LabSpaces comments count. Start earning LabSpaces points by becoming a member! Learn more. 
Smartphone makers are again under fire for another big potential privacy violation through their devices. This time, the software is called Carrier IQ. It?s installed on most smartphones at the behest of cellular carriers in the U.S. and it tracks a crazy amount of data.