Prosecutors drop charges in Duke case

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Duke lacrosse rape case finally collapsed Wednesday, with North Carolina’s top prosecutor saying the three athletes were railroaded by a district attorney who ignored increasingly flimsy evidence in a "tragic rush to accuse."
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Duke lacrosse rape case finally collapsed Wednesday, with North Carolina’s top prosecutor saying the three athletes were railroaded by a district attorney who ignored increasingly flimsy evidence in a "tragic rush to accuse."

Lees verder: Prosecutors drop charges in Duke case

Water is found in extrasolar planet’s air

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., April 11 (UPI) — U.S. astronomers have, for the first time, identified water in the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet.

The identification was accomplished using Hubble Space Telescope measurements and theoretical models developed by Lowell Observatory astronomer Travis Barman. He found strong evidence for water absorption in the atmosphere of transiting planet HD209458b.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., April 11 (UPI) — U.S. astronomers have, for the first time, identified water in the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet.

The identification was accomplished using Hubble Space Telescope measurements and theoretical models developed by Lowell Observatory astronomer Travis Barman. He found strong evidence for water absorption in the atmosphere of transiting planet HD209458b.

Lees verder: Water is found in extrasolar planet’s air

IAF jets forced to buzz US airliner

The Israeli Air Force came very close Wednesday afternoon to intercepting and destroying a civilian airliner that had failed to make contact with Air Traffic Control and comply with international regulations as it approached the country’s airspace.

Four fighter jets – two F-15s and a pair of F-16s – buzzed a Continental Airlines flight that had originated in Newark and was carrying some 250 passengers once it came within eight kilometers of Israel, after the pilot failed to contact Ben-Gurion Airport upon his approach in line with international regulations.

The Israeli Air Force came very close Wednesday afternoon to intercepting and destroying a civilian airliner that had failed to make contact with Air Traffic Control and comply with international regulations as it approached the country’s airspace.

Four fighter jets – two F-15s and a pair of F-16s – buzzed a Continental Airlines flight that had originated in Newark and was carrying some 250 passengers once it came within eight kilometers of Israel, after the pilot failed to contact Ben-Gurion Airport upon his approach in line with international regulations.

Lees verder: IAF jets forced to buzz US airliner

Collapsing colonies: Are GM Crops Killing Bees?

A mysterious decimation of bee populations has German beekeepers worried, while a similar phenomenon in the United States is gradually assuming catastrophic proportions. The consequences for agriculture and the economy could be enormous.

 

Is the mysterous decimation of bee populations in the US and Germany a result of GM crops?

Zoom
DDP

Is the mysterous decimation of bee populations in the US and Germany a result of GM crops?

Walter Haefeker is a man who is used to painting grim scenarios. He sits on the board of directors of the German Beekeepers Association (DBIB) and is vice president of the European Professional Beekeepers Association. And because griping is part of a lobbyist’s trade, it is practically his professional duty to warn that "the very existence of beekeeping is at stake."

A mysterious decimation of bee populations has German beekeepers worried, while a similar phenomenon in the United States is gradually assuming catastrophic proportions. The consequences for agriculture and the economy could be enormous.

 

Is the mysterous decimation of bee populations in the US and Germany a result of GM crops?

Zoom
DDP

Is the mysterous decimation of bee populations in the US and Germany a result of GM crops?

Walter Haefeker is a man who is used to painting grim scenarios. He sits on the board of directors of the German Beekeepers Association (DBIB) and is vice president of the European Professional Beekeepers Association. And because griping is part of a lobbyist’s trade, it is practically his professional duty to warn that "the very existence of beekeeping is at stake."

Lees verder: Collapsing colonies: Are GM Crops Killing Bees?

Taal kan weens syfers ‘verdwyn’

Volledige artikel hier. 

Hoe raak die jongste demografiese tendense Afrikaanse skole en universiteite? Hierop het prof. Flip Smit, demograaf en oudrektor van die Universiteit van Pretoria, in ’n lesing in Bloemfontein ’n paar antwoorde verskaf.

Vooraf ’n paar syfers. Ons huidige bevolking van 47,3 miljoen sal vanweë die afname in die geboortekoers, meer sterftes aan vigs en vigsverwante siektes en veroudering stadig toeneem en teen 2021 sowat 51 miljoen beloop.

Wit mense het die vervangingsvlak (2,1 geboortes per vrou) in 1990 bereik, die Asiërs in 1999. Die bruines sal dit teen 2010 en die swartes teen 2035 bereik. Die jaarlikse geboortes sal dus tussen 2001 en 2010 by wit mense daal van 72 380 tot 59 697, en by bruines van 84 281 tot 73 205.

Volledige artikel hier. 

Hoe raak die jongste demografiese tendense Afrikaanse skole en universiteite? Hierop het prof. Flip Smit, demograaf en oudrektor van die Universiteit van Pretoria, in ’n lesing in Bloemfontein ’n paar antwoorde verskaf.

Vooraf ’n paar syfers. Ons huidige bevolking van 47,3 miljoen sal vanweë die afname in die geboortekoers, meer sterftes aan vigs en vigsverwante siektes en veroudering stadig toeneem en teen 2021 sowat 51 miljoen beloop.

Wit mense het die vervangingsvlak (2,1 geboortes per vrou) in 1990 bereik, die Asiërs in 1999. Die bruines sal dit teen 2010 en die swartes teen 2035 bereik. Die jaarlikse geboortes sal dus tussen 2001 en 2010 by wit mense daal van 72 380 tot 59 697, en by bruines van 84 281 tot 73 205.

Lees verder: Taal kan weens syfers ‘verdwyn’

Zuma se belastingprobleem “opgelos”

Image

Jacob Zuma

Jabob Zuma se voorslepende probleem met die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens is in Durban “opgelos”, het die ANC-adjunk-president se prokureur gister, Woensdag 11 April,  gesê.

Volgens Zuma se prokureur, Michael Hulley, “is die saak opgelos”.

Hulley het verseg om verdere kommentaar te lewer.

Adrian Lackay, die woordvoerder van die Inkomstediens, wou nie onmiddellik kommentaar lewer nie.

Image

Jacob Zuma

Jabob Zuma se voorslepende probleem met die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens is in Durban “opgelos”, het die ANC-adjunk-president se prokureur gister, Woensdag 11 April,  gesê.

Volgens Zuma se prokureur, Michael Hulley, “is die saak opgelos”.

Hulley het verseg om verdere kommentaar te lewer.

Adrian Lackay, die woordvoerder van die Inkomstediens, wou nie onmiddellik kommentaar lewer nie.

Lees verder: Zuma se belastingprobleem “opgelos”

Oorlog en onrus benadeel nie groei in Afrika, meen IMF

Afrikalande sal vanjaar ’n skerp styging in groei ervaar, het die IMF Woensdag gesê, terwyl die organisasie steeds beklemtoon het dat gesonde ekonomiese bestuur ’n sleutel bly om die verbetering vol te hou.

Die Internasionale Monetêre Fonds het in ’n ondersoek na die wêreldekonomie die korttermynvooruitsigte vir Afrika as “baie positief” beskryf, wat ’n weerspieëling van stygende ru-oliepryse vir uitvoerders is, asook makro-ekonomiese stabiliteit, ’n sterk vraag na grondstowwe en skuldverligting.

’n Toename in groei tot 6,2 persent in 2007 vanaf 5,5 persent in 2006 word voorspel, totdat dit gaan terugsak tot 5,8 persent in 2008 vanweë moontlike stadiger momentum wêreldwyd.

Afrikalande sal vanjaar ’n skerp styging in groei ervaar, het die IMF Woensdag gesê, terwyl die organisasie steeds beklemtoon het dat gesonde ekonomiese bestuur ’n sleutel bly om die verbetering vol te hou.

Die Internasionale Monetêre Fonds het in ’n ondersoek na die wêreldekonomie die korttermynvooruitsigte vir Afrika as “baie positief” beskryf, wat ’n weerspieëling van stygende ru-oliepryse vir uitvoerders is, asook makro-ekonomiese stabiliteit, ’n sterk vraag na grondstowwe en skuldverligting.

’n Toename in groei tot 6,2 persent in 2007 vanaf 5,5 persent in 2006 word voorspel, totdat dit gaan terugsak tot 5,8 persent in 2008 vanweë moontlike stadiger momentum wêreldwyd.

Lees verder: Oorlog en onrus benadeel nie groei in Afrika, meen IMF

US missile shield plan draws fire from SPD

Seen through American eyes, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Germany has become a much friendlier place than that ruled by Gerhard Schröder, her predecessor, who spearheaded Europe’s opposition to the Iraq war in 2002.

Yet a fresh attempt by the Social Democratic party, junior partner in her coalition, to revive some of Mr Schröder’s critical rhetoric shows the transformation is, at best, incomplete.

Kurt Beck, Mr Schröder’s successor as SPD chairman, launched the first salvo early last month when he told the Bild tabloid that US plans to create an anti-missile defence system with bases in Poland and the Czech Republic were a step back to the cold war.

Seen through American eyes, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Germany has become a much friendlier place than that ruled by Gerhard Schröder, her predecessor, who spearheaded Europe’s opposition to the Iraq war in 2002.

Yet a fresh attempt by the Social Democratic party, junior partner in her coalition, to revive some of Mr Schröder’s critical rhetoric shows the transformation is, at best, incomplete.

Kurt Beck, Mr Schröder’s successor as SPD chairman, launched the first salvo early last month when he told the Bild tabloid that US plans to create an anti-missile defence system with bases in Poland and the Czech Republic were a step back to the cold war.

Lees verder: US missile shield plan draws fire from SPD

US submarine forced to leave Persian Gulf

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- The damaged US nuclear submarine ‘Newport News’ which polluted the Persian Gulf waters with radioactive and chemical materials after it collided with a Japanese super tanker in Hormoz Strait was forced to leave the Persian Gulf following strong protests by Iranian officials.

Newport News, which accompanied USS Eisenhower, sustained heavy damages after it collided with the Japanese super tanker Mogamigava east of Hormoz Strait at 22:15 hours local time (18:45 GMT) on January 8, 2007, as a result of which its captain Mathew Vinegar was dismissed.

Following the collision and when the submarine was transferred to a port in Bahrain to undergo repair works, chemical and radioactive materials started leaking into the Persian Gulf waters.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- The damaged US nuclear submarine ‘Newport News’ which polluted the Persian Gulf waters with radioactive and chemical materials after it collided with a Japanese super tanker in Hormoz Strait was forced to leave the Persian Gulf following strong protests by Iranian officials.

Newport News, which accompanied USS Eisenhower, sustained heavy damages after it collided with the Japanese super tanker Mogamigava east of Hormoz Strait at 22:15 hours local time (18:45 GMT) on January 8, 2007, as a result of which its captain Mathew Vinegar was dismissed.

Following the collision and when the submarine was transferred to a port in Bahrain to undergo repair works, chemical and radioactive materials started leaking into the Persian Gulf waters.

Lees verder: US submarine forced to leave Persian Gulf

Experts bash Bush: Pullout won’t bring ‘enemy’ to U.S.

WASHINGTON – It’s become President Bush’s mantra, his main explanation for why he won’t withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq anytime soon.


President Bush meets with troops during a visit to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., Wednesday.
(GERALD HERBERT/Associated Press)

In speech after speech, in statement after statement, Bush insists that ”this is a war in which, if we were to leave before the job is done, the enemy would follow us here.”

The line, which Bush repeated Wednesday in a speech to troops at California’s Fort Irwin, suggests a chilling picture of warfare on America’s streets.

But is it true?

Military and diplomatic analysts say it isn’t. They accuse Bush of exaggerating the threat that enemy forces in Iraq pose to the U.S. mainland.

WASHINGTON – It’s become President Bush’s mantra, his main explanation for why he won’t withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq anytime soon.


President Bush meets with troops during a visit to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., Wednesday.
(GERALD HERBERT/Associated Press)

In speech after speech, in statement after statement, Bush insists that ”this is a war in which, if we were to leave before the job is done, the enemy would follow us here.”

The line, which Bush repeated Wednesday in a speech to troops at California’s Fort Irwin, suggests a chilling picture of warfare on America’s streets.

But is it true?

Military and diplomatic analysts say it isn’t. They accuse Bush of exaggerating the threat that enemy forces in Iraq pose to the U.S. mainland.

Lees verder: Experts bash Bush: Pullout won’t bring ‘enemy’ to U.S.