Emergency and security personnel are seen through a heavy fog about 100 meters (328 feet) from the site of a plane crash near Almaty on Tuesday.
By Dmitry Solovyov and Mariya Gordeyeva, Reuters
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- A passenger plane crashed near Kazakhstan's commercial capital of Almaty on Tuesday, news agencies quoted SCAT airline as saying.
Twenty-two people were killed in the crash, Yuri Ilyin, deputy head of the emergencies department in Almaty, told Reuters from the scene of the crash near the village of Kyzyl Tu.
The plane had been en route from the city of Kokshetau in northern Kazakhstan to Almaty in the southeast of the country when it crashed near the village of Kyzyl Tu, Interfax news agency said.
Almaty and the surrounding area were veiled in thick fog on Tuesday.
SCAT is based in Kazakhstan and operates extensive domestic services and some international flights.
It was the second plane crash in the Central Asian country and former Soviet republic in just a over a month.
On December 25, a military transport airplane crashed in bad weather near the southern Kazakh city of Shymkent, killing all 27 people on board.
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
PARIS (Reuters) - France has asked its citizens to leave northern Nigeria and areas around the capital Abuja after threats due to its military intervention in Mali, a diplomatic source said on Monday.
Islamist militants have vowed to target French interests following its two-week-old military offensive in Mali against militants allied to al Qaeda.
The diplomatic source said the threat of kidnappings coupled with Nigeria's support for France's action in Mali had raised the risks for French nationals.
France has about 2,000 citizens living in Nigeria, of which 335 live in or around Abuja.
French oil major Total has moved its staff from Abuja following the kidnapping of a French national in a remote northern town close to the Niger border last month, Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie said on Friday.
It was the first time in recent history that a company has said it had evacuated foreigners from Nigeria's capital due to security concerns. The diplomatic source said Total had asked 40 employees to leave Abuja.
Nigerian Islamist group Ansaru said it kidnapped the French national and threatened to continue to target the French because of the country's military action in Mali and its ban on the Islamic veil. Ansaru also claimed responsibility for an attack on a military convoy taking troops from Nigeria to Mali last week in Kogi state, south of the capital Abuja.
The group's full name is Jama'atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan, which roughly translates as "Vanguards for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa".
Ansaru is thought to have loose ties to Islamist sect Boko Haram, which killed hundreds last year in an insurgency focused mostly on Nigerian security forces, religious targets and politicians, rather than foreigners.
Explaining the French advice to leave northern Nigeria, the diplomatic source said: "It's down to a culmination of factors that this decision was taken: the threat of kidnappings on certain people, the French hostages, the commitment of Nigeria on Mali as well as the threats from Boko Haram."
The past few years haven't been easy for Mindy McCready; the country singer has dealt with drug addiction and jail, plus a protracted custody battle over her son with Billy McKnight. But Jan. 13, the day her boyfriend David Wilson died of a gunshot wound, was likely her lowest point in recent memory, as she told NBC's Andrea Canning on TODAY Tuesday.
"I have never gone through anything this painful," she said in an interview at her home in Little Rock, Ark. "He didn't just touch my heart, he touched my soul. He was my soulmate."
Wilson, a 34-year-old record producer, was initially rushed to the hospital earlier in January after suffering reportedly self-inflicted gunshot wound that did not immediately kill him. McCready was with him after the shooting. "I just started screaming, calling 911," she said. "I lay down next to him and just just pleaded with him not to die."
"He was responding," she added, saying he was only making "sounds," not words.
The investigation as to the cause of death remains open, and there are no suspects in the case (including McCready), Cleburne County Sheriff's Department said. Tests that will determine whether it was suicide or murder are due back in a few weeks.
But there remain lingering questions. McCready denied that Wilson, the father of her other son Zane, was having an affair, and explained that the bullet wasn't found until the next day because "it was in the dog's mouth."?
And when asked directly whether she shot Wilson, she was adamant: "Oh, my God, no. He was my life. We were each others' life."
Where to start? Fujifilm has announced 9 new FinePix camera models by our counting, including six bridge models (the S6800 and S4800 series), the JX680 point-and-shoot, the F900EXR compact with WiFi and .05-second autofocus, and more basic F850EXR compact. The S6800, S6700 and S6600 are 16-megapixel bridge shooters with 30x, 28x and 26x zooms respectively, boasting OIS sensor stabilization, 12,800 max ISO, 1.0 second startup, 0.3 second autofocus, 10fps high-speed shooting at full resolution (max 10 frames) and 1080i 60fps HD video, with prices topping out at $250. The 16-megapixel FinePix S4800, S4700 and S4600 have the same 30x, 28x and 26x zoom levels and sensor shift image stabilisation along with auto scene recognition, a 1.3 second startup time, 0.3 second autofocus, 720P, 30 fps video with mini-HDMI output and a max price of $230.
For lovers of smaller form factors, the $100 JX680 point-and-shoot has a 16-megapixel senor, 5x Fujinon optical zoom, "creative" filters like soft focus, a 3.0-inch, 230k-dot LCD screen, max 3200 ISO and 720P video with editing. In compact land, the $300 FinePix F850EXR sports a 20x optical zoom, CMOS-shift image stabilisation, a 16-megapixel EXR-CMOS sensor, 3.0-inch 920k-dot LCD, 9 fps continuous shooting (max 5 frames), 1.1 second startup time, Eye-Fi card compatibility and 1080P 60fps video. Finally, the $400 FinePix F900EXR matches all those specs while adding WiFi image transfer capabilitiy, faster 11 fps continuous shooting (5 frames max) and claimed "world's fastest" 0.05 second autofocus speed. Got all that? All the new models will arrive in March 2013, so feel free to check the PR and video after the break if you want more. We're going to take a nap.
FUJIFILM ANNOUNCES TWO NEW LONG ZOOM S-SERIES ALL-IN-ONE BRIDGE CAMERAS THAT GIVE CONSUMERS GREAT IMAGES AND PERFORMANCE
New S-Series cameras feature long zoom, fast autofocus speeds and high resolution imaging for advancing photography consumers
Valhalla, N.Y., January 30, 2013 - FUJIFILM North America Corporation announces its newest S-Series all-in-one bridge cameras, well-known for their precision FUJINON lenses and simple, compact designs. The new cameras feature improved sensors, advanced processing power and amazing lenses to give consumers a great choice of long zoom, yet easy to use digital cameras.
The two new S-Series models - the S6800 and S4800 each boast a powerful Optical Image Stabilization system for excellent blur reduction, and genuine FUJINON long zoom lenses with 30x optical zoom.
Powerful Optical Zoom and Optical Image Stabilization The FinePix S-Series cameras both offer 30x zoom (24-720mm) with a wide range of focal lengths for maximum versatility. They also each use a superb FUJINON lens that consists of 17 elements in 12 groups, and combines aspherical and ED elements that help to reduce aberrations and promote a superior level of image quality. Each of the new bridge cameras are also capable of a Super Macro mode for users to get as close as 0.78" from a subject for great close-up shots.
"The new FinePix S-Series long zoom bridge cameras give consumers a powerful all-in-one compact design camera that is easy to use and delivers high resolution image quality that photography enthusiasts will enjoy" said David Troy, director of marketing, Digital Cameras, Electronic Imaging Division, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. "These full-featured cameras give users speedy performance, ease of use and the ability to capture beautiful images at amazing distances - perfect for capturing those exciting family images."
Fast Autofocus and Quick Response Times The S6800 has an impressive 16MP 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor that captures excellent quality, low noise shots at sensitivities as high as ISO 12800. With autofocus speeds of 0.3 seconds*1, start-up times of 1.0 seconds*1, a 0.5 seconds*1 interval between shots and a continuous shooting speed of 8fps (max 10 frames at full resolution)*1, users can feel confident about capturing fast-action shots. And with its ultra-high-speed shooting of up to 60fps (max 60 frames, image size 1280 × 960) *1 and up to 120fps (max 60 frames, image size 640 × 480)*1, the S6800 lets users capture the action in slow-motion for advanced photography.
The S4800 uses a 16MP 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor that captures sharp quality, low noise shots and has autofocus speeds of 0.3 seconds*3 and a start-up time of 1.3 seconds*3 for quick action shooting at a great value.
Easy to Use Both S-Series cameras have an easy to use Mode Dial for shooting selection, a bright 3.0" LCD screen (460k-dot S6800 and 230K-dot S4800) for easy viewing and image framing and the S6800 adds a dual zoom control for speed and precision zooming..
Full HD movie 1080i/60fps with Stereo Sound The FinePix S6800 makes movie recording as easy as taking pictures using the dedicated movie button to start recording instantly. The high resolution, 1080i movie capture at 60fps with stereo sound and slow-motion capture at 480fps*2 is superb when played back on HDTV screens, and users can even take still photos during video recording. The S6800 also adds a number of in-camera movie editing features including "movie trimming" and "movie join."
The FinePix S4800 also shoots in 720p at 30fps in 16:9 format to let users share memories with friends and family on the big screen using the mini HDMI connector*4. What's more, with the clever Video Scene Recognition feature and a dedicated Video Recording button, you can leave the camcorder at home, and capture some great spur-of-the-moment footage!
FinePix S6800 key features: o. FUJINON Super zoom Lens (24mm wide-angle to 720mm telephoto lens, f/3.1 to 5.9) o. 16MP 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor o Autofocus speed of up to 0.3 seconds o Continuous shooting; 8fps (10frames, full resolution), 60fps 60 frames, image size 1280×960) ,120 fps (60 frames, image size 640×480) o Start-up time of 1.0 second o Shooting interval time of 0.5 seconds o. Optical Image Stabilization (Sensor Shift) o. Full HD movie 1080i/60 fps with stereo sound and slow-motion capture at 480fps o. Bright 3.0-inch LCD screen ( 460K-dot) o. Manual exposure control(P/S/A/M modes) o. Super Macro to 0.78" o. Dual zoom control o. Instant zoom and Zoom Bracketing o. 4×AA alkaline batteries with an approximately 320 shot battery life o. Available in black, white, and red
FinePix S4800 key features: o. FUJINON Super zoom lens (24mm wide-angle to 720mm telephoto lens, f/3.1 to 5.9) o. 16MP 1/2.3" CCD sensor o. Optical Image Stabilization (Sensor Shift) o. Scene Recognition Auto with 6 pre-set scenes o. Autofocus in 0.3 seconds*1 o. HD Movie 720P/30fps with Video Scene Recognition o. 3" LCD monitor (230k dots) o. Manual exposure control (P/S/A/M modes) o. Instant Zoom o. Mini HDMI output o. 4×AA alkaline batteries with an approx. 320 shot battery life o. Available in Black
*1 FUJIFILM research based on CIPA guidelines and conducted in "High Performance" mode *2 High Speed Movie can be recorded at the following speeds and sizes: 480fps (320 x 120 pixels), 240fps (320 x 240 pixels), 120fps (640 x 480 pixels) *3 FUJIFILM research based on CIPA standards *4 HDMI cable not included
Pricing and Availability The FinePix S-Series will be available March 2013 at the price of $249.95 (S6800) and $229.95 (S4800). Both models will be available in black, and the S6800 will also be available in White and Red.
For complete specs, please go to: https://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/digital_cameras/showcase/index.html
About Fujifilm FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation consists of five operating divisions and one subsidiary company. The Imaging Division sells consumer and commercial photographic products and services including film, one-time-use cameras, online photo services and fulfillment, digital printing equipment and service. The Electronic Imaging Division markets consumer digital cameras. The Motion Picture Division provides motion picture archival film, and the Graphic Systems Division supplies products and services to the printing industry. The Optical Devices Division provides binoculars, and optical lenses for closed circuit television, videography, cinematography, broadcast and industrial markets. FUJIFILM Canada Inc. markets a range of Fujifilm products and services. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmusa.com/northamerica, or go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm via RSS, subscribe at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.
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FUJIFILM DEBUTS NEW SLIM AND FEATURE-PACKED FINEPIX JX680 DIGITAL CAMERA
Valhalla, N.Y., January 30, 2013 - FUJIFILM North America Corporation today announced the introduction of the FinePix JX680, a slim digital camera with a FUJINON 5x optical zoom lens (26-130mm*1) that is thin enough to fit in your jeans or purse to take wherever you go. It has the perfect combination of advanced features and ease of use, offering Digital Image Stabilization to help eliminate blurry images, and an Advanced Filter function for added creative expression. Additionally, its 16MP CCD sensor ensures that the highest image quality is captured every time and can be easily viewed on its bright 3.0" LCD screen.
"The FinePix JX680 offers consumers a stylish combination of powerful features and creative options all in a slim and affordable compact digital camera that fits in your pocket," said David Troy, director of marketing, Digital Cameras, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Electronic Imaging Division. "Everyday photographers will enjoy this easy-to-use camera with its exciting feature set that includes Digital Image Stabilization, HD movie capture, and large 3.0" LCD screen."
Slim Camera with 5x FUJINON Lens and Digital Image Stabilization Despite being ultra-compact (20mm*2), the FinePix JX680 camera offers a wide subject coverage with its 5x FUJINON optical zoom lens, from 26mm*1 (wide) to 130mm*1 (telephoto), resulting in an expanded range of shooting situations. To help with eliminating blurry images - especially at maximum zoom lengths - the JX680 camera employs Digital Image Stabilization to capture as crisp a photo as possible.
HD Capture with Fast Start Up With a 16MP CCD sensor, the FinePix JX680 camera can produce high-quality, low-noise images, even at sensitivities of up to ISO 3200*3. Stunning movies can be recorded at 720p, and still images with aspect ratios of 16:9 can also be achieved simultaneously. Movie recording can be started in an instant, thanks to the dedicated "Movie Recording Button," and for the creative type of user, the camera also includes a number of advanced movie-editing features.
Easy on the Eyes Viewing images on the FinePix JX680 is a pleasure with the smooth, easy-to-read vector fonts and the new high-resolution 3.0"/230K-dot LCD screen. Additionally, an Instant Zoom feature, which shows your composition area as well as the area outside your frame, and large buttons in a simple layout, help users concentrate on composing, without ever losing sight of the big picture. Another exciting change in this year's FinePix JX680 is that the battery now does not have to be removed for charging, as it can be connected via a USB cable to the power source.
Advanced Filters The FinePix JX680 also features new Advanced Filter options that let users enjoy a variety of photographic expressions. Choose from 6 creative patterns, including: o. Pop Color - great for boosting contrast and saturation o. Toy Camera - adds vignetting for a 70's retro look o. Miniature - blurred top and bottom sections for a tilt-and-shift effect o. Partial Color - selects one color and takes the rest of the shot in black and white. (choose from red, purple, yellow, green, blue and orange) o. Soft Focus - create a soft focus effect o. Cross Screen - adds starbursts around bright objects
FinePix JX680 key features: o. 5x FUJINON optical zoom (26-130mm*) with Digital Image Stabilization o. 16MP CCD sensor o. 26mm* wide-angle o. 3.0" LCD screen o. Creative Advanced Filters o. Individual shutter 3D o. Motion Panorama o. Easy to use GUI with large buttons o. 720p HD movie recording with dedicated "Movie Recording Button" o. Advanced video editing features o. Super slim and pocket-friendly (just 20mm*2) o. Battery charging via USB cable
*1 35mm format equivalent *2 At its thinnest point *3 ISO 3200 is effective in S mode
The FinePix JX680 will be available March 2013 at the price of $99.95 and will be available in black, and red.
For complete specs, please go to: https://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/digital_cameras/showcase/index.html
About Fujifilm FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation consists of five operating divisions and one subsidiary company. The Imaging Division sells consumer and commercial photographic products and services including film, one-time-use cameras, online photo services and fulfillment, digital printing equipment and service. The Electronic Imaging Division markets consumer digital cameras. The Motion Picture Division provides motion picture archival film, and the Graphic Systems Division supplies products and services to the printing industry. The Optical Devices Division provides binoculars, and optical lenses for closed circuit television, videography, cinematography, broadcast and industrial markets. FUJIFILM Canada Inc. markets a range of Fujifilm products and services. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmusa.com/northamerica, or go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm via RSS, subscribe at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.
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FUJIFILM LAUNCHES PREMIUM COMPACT ULTRA ZOOM WITH WORLD'S FASTEST AUTOFOCUS SPEED AND WI-FI(R)
Blazing fast F900EXR has AF of 0.05 seconds and allows users to wirelessly transfer beautiful, sharp pictures and movies to their smartphone or tablet for easy online uploading
Valhalla, N.Y., January 30, 2013 - FUJIFILM North America Corporation today announced the premium, compact long-zoom FinePix F900EXR digital camera that features a new Intelligent Hybrid AF system that focuses as fast as 0.05 seconds*1 by using a new Phase Detection AF system in its advanced EXR-CMOS II sensor. The F900EXR automatically switches between Phase Detection AF and Contrast Detection AF depending on the subject and scene, guaranteeing superb ease-of-use and fast, accurate autofocus no matter what the setting or shooting conditions.
The FinePix F900EXR also has an improved Wireless Image Transfer function that allows users to quickly and easily upload high resolution images and movies to their Apple or Android smartphone or tablet. The F900EXR continues the tradition of superior image quality that the F-Series is known for with its speed, bright lens, intuitive use and advanced features.
"The F900EXR delivers the impressive AF speed that consumers have been demanding, and with speeds as fast as 0.05 seconds, photography enthusiasts won't be disappointed," said David Troy, director of marketing, Digital Cameras, Electronic Imaging Division, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. "And after you've captured those amazing images, the F900EXR now allows you to share the images quickly and easily with its new Wi-Fi(R)-certified Wireless Image Transfer function."
The FinePix F900EXR features a 1/2" 16MP EXR-CMOS II sensor that delivers superior image quality and performance - especially in low light situations. The F900EXR also uses the bright and fast FUJINON 20x wide-angle long-zoom lens (25-500mm) that produces exceptional images, along with an Intelligent Digital Zoom feature that effectively doubles zoom capability and an ultra-clear 3.0" high contrast 920K-dot resolution LCD.
The FinePix F900EXR includes a new EXR Processor II that more than doubles the performance of the first-generation EXR Processor. With a super-fast startup time of 1.1seconds*2, an interval between shots of 0.5 seconds *2, and burst-mode rates of 11 frames/second *2 (max. 5 frames), the F950EXR offers fantastic response times that make it a joy to use and ensure you should never have to worry about missing that special shot again.
Improved Wireless Image Transfer Function The F900EXR's new wireless feature lets you transfer photos and movies*3 from the camera to smartphones, tablets and computers and then upload high-quality images to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter in seconds.
To connect the F900EXR to a smartphone or tablet, users can download the free dedicated "FUJIFILM Camera Application" to their iPhone[TM] / iPad[TM] or Android[TM] smartphone or tablet device to transfer up to 30 pictures at a time from the F900EXR. The app also lets you download movies*3, expanding the range of options available for enjoying pictures taken with the camera.
With its Wi-Fi capability, the F900EXR allows users to back up photos on their home computer. Users simply install the free "FUJIFILM PC AutoSave" software onto their computer and select which folder they want the photos to back up to, and then by linking a Wi-Fi Router and the F900EXR, the camera will backup photos to the home computer.
Pictures stored on the F900EXR can be viewed and selected for download on large smartphone or tablet screens for a smooth viewing experience. No wireless LAN access point or complicated ID or password entry is required, and once pictures have been downloaded to the smartphone, it is simple to upload them to social networking sites.
Sharp, Clear 20x Lens The FinePix F900EXR camera uses the FUJINON 20x Super wide-angle optical zoom lens to produces crisp high resolution results throughout the focal range, from 25mm wide-angle to 500mm telephoto, along with a Macro Mode that allow sharp focusing down to 1.9" delivering the most brilliant detail possible.
Clear, Beautiful Display and Easy Controls for Enhanced Shooting Control The FinePix F900EXR has a bright, premium 3.0", 920K-dot LCD monitor with a Monitor Sunlight mode for enhanced viewing in bright sunlight and at wider viewing angels. The F900EXR also lets users assign frequently-used options to the new "E-fn" or extended function button for enhanced ease of use.
Full HD Video with Impressive Speed The F900EXR uses its EXR-CMOS II sensor to shoot video full HD at a smooth 60 frames per second with improved Phase Detection AF with superior color reproduction. Movie recording can be started with a single press of the dedicated "Movie Recording Button" and records high-quality sound using the built-in stereo microphone.
The Intelligent Hybrid AF system is active during movie recording for fast, precise focus. The camera also offers a Scene Recognition for movie recording feature that automatically adjusts camera settings for landscapes, close-ups, night landscapes, portraits, backlit portraits, and night portraits for high-quality, hassle-free results with a variety of subjects.
Fantastic Built-in Photographic Filters With its built-in photographic filters, users can now get even more creative with their photography. The F900EXR Advanced Filters include:
o. Pop Color - emphasizes contrast and color saturation o. Toy Camera - create shaded borders as if you were taking a photo on a toy camera o. Miniature - adds top and bottom blur for a diorama or miniature effect o. Dynamic Tone - create a fantasy effect by dynamically-modulated tonal reproduction o. Partial Color - retain one selected original color and change the rest of the photo to black and white o. High Key - enhance brightness and reduce contrast to lighten tonal reproduction o. Low Key - create uniformly dark tones with few areas of emphasized highlights o. Soft Focus - blur the focus of the image edges to create a softer effect
Within the FinePix F-Series, Fujifilm is also introducing the new FinePix F850EXR. The F850EXR features a 16MP ½-inch EXR CMOS Sensor and 20X manual zoom to offer tremendous versatility at a great value.
FinePix F900EXR key features list: o. 16MP ½-inch EXR-CMOS II sensor with Phase Detection and EXR Processor II o. 20x optical zoom (25-500mm*4) with CMOS-shift Image stabilization o. 3.0" LCD screen with wide viewing angle o. EXR-Auto (with auto optimization for 108 different scene permutations) o. Full manual controls o. Intelligent Hybrid AF (World's Fastest AF of 0.05 seconds*1) o. Start-up time of 1.1 seconds*2 o. Interval between shots of 0.5 seconds*2 o. RAW shooting (RAW, JPEG, RAW+JPEG image capture modes) o. Wireless Image Transfer to PC, tablets and smartphones o. 11 frames/second*2 (max 5 frames) continuous shooting (at full resolution) o. Advanced Filters o. Motion Panorama 360 o. Full HD 1080p Video (60fps) o. Available in black, and indigo blue o. 260 shots*4 per battery charge
FinePix F850EXR key features list: o. 16MP ½-inch EXR-CMOS sensor with EXR Processor II o. 20x optical zoom (25-500mm*4) with CMOS-shift Image stabilization o. 3" LCD screen o. EXR-Auto mode (with auto optimisation for 108 different scene permutations) o. Full manual controls o. Fast AF of up to 0.21 seconds*2 o. Start-up time of 1.1 seconds*2 o. Interval between shots of 0.5 seconds*2 o. 9.0 frames/second*2 (max 5 frames) continuous shooting (at full resolution) o. Advanced Filters o. Motion Panorama 360 o. Full HD 1080p Video (60fps) o. Eye-Fi Card Compatibility o. Available in black o. 250 shots*2 per battery charge
The FinePix F900EXR and F850EXR will be available in March 2013 for $399.95 and $299.95 respectively. For complete camera specifications, please go to: http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/.
*1 FUJIFILM research as of November 2012. Compared with other digital cameras, based on CIPA standards, and conducted in High Performance mode at the maximum wide-angle position with AF-area mode set to center position *2 FUJIFILM research based on CIPA standards *3 FUJIFILM Camera Application for iOS can save movie files up to 1280 x 720 *4 35mm format equivalent *5 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo is a certification mark of the Wi-Fi Alliance
Amid a largely partisan standoff on gun control, there are signs of bipartisan support on issues such as gun trafficking and expanding background checks for gun sales.
By David Grant,?Staff writer / January 30, 2013
Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D), who was seriously injured in a mass shooting that killed six people in Tucson, Ariz., two years ago, arrives on Capitol Hill for a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on gun violence on Wednesday. She is escorted by her husband, Mark Kelly (r.) a retired astronaut, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D) of Vermont, who chairs the panel, and the committee's ranking Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa (l.).
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
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If the Senate is going to pass legislation to prevent gun violence, the early returns are that elevating gun trafficking to a federal offense and expanded background checks for weapons sales are in ? but a ban on assault weapons and limits on magazine capacity are likely out.?
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The Senate Judiciary Committee assembled for the first Congressional gun control hearing. The first day of testimony between gun advocates and opponents was heated.
That?s the upshot of Wednesday?s hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where?Republicans argued against a proposed assault-weapons ban, while liberal lawmakers, largely avoiding the ban, focused instead on getting to "yes" on gun trafficking and background checks.
But amid a sea of criticism for President Obama' approach to gun regulation, there are already some signs of bipartisan cooperation, at least in the Senate. Whether any measures will be given a hearing in the GOP-controlled House, however, remains an open question because of little to no public appetite from House leadership to move gun legislation.
Sen. Charles Grassley (R) of Iowa, the committee?s top Republican, signaled he would be open to working with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D), the panel's chairman, to craft legislation on tougher penalties for weapons traffickers and for so-called straw purchases, where a legal gun purchaser obtains a weapon for those barred from gun ownership.
While Senator Leahy has introduced his own legislation on the subject, a separate but similar proposal from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) of New York garnered the support of Sen. Mark Kirk (R) of Illinois.?
On expanding background checks to cover not only licensed sales from gun dealers but the sizable chunk of gun sales from private sellers that do not require such checks, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) of New York said he was having ?productive conversations with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including a good number with high NRA ratings? in pursuit of a bill. Senator Schumer offered his hope that those conversations were ?close" to?legislative language.
At Wednesday's hearing, Leahy proposed marking up whatever legislation emerges next month, then taking it to the floor for a vote shortly thereafter.
While Democrats, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) of California and Sen. Al Franken (D) of Minnesota, openly backed a ban on the sale or transfer of certain high-powered weapons and limits on high-magazine capacity, many other key Democrats placed little to no emphasis on the subject.
Leahy, for example, discussed background checks and tougher gun trafficking penalties but left out any mention of a ban on assault weapons at the hearing.?
Sen. Marco Rubio listens during a news conference on a comprehensive immigration reform framework on Jan. 28 on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
Sen. Marco Rubio is having a moment. He?s a charismatic senator from a battleground state whose Cuban heritage and support for immigration reform are helping his party begin a new courtship with Hispanic voters. This much we know. But Rubio is exploiting an opportunity that goes beyond simply good timing and the right last name. He is getting the chance to be first at bat in a larger effort: the post-election audition for GOP leadership. Of all the would-be Republican stars?and the list is long and likely to grow?Rubio is getting a chance to show exactly what it looks like to move the party in a new direction.
Lots of conservatives are giving advice about how the Republican Party can evolve after the 2012 election. Paul Ryan, Bobby Jindal, Charles Krauthammer, and the National Review have all weighed in with a message of principle mixed with prudence. That?s just talk. Rubio has given his speech about party direction, too. But he's now getting a chance to demonstrate some important political skills beyond?speech-making that show whether he can actually help steer the new course, not just call for one. This is the first test of the New Year?s resolutions.
Senators?particularly freshman senators with no executive experience?don't get a lot of opportunities to show their skills in action.?In the sweepstakes to be a national Republican leader?and then possible presidential candidate?the advantage usually goes to the governors. They can take actions that show tangible results while distancing themselves from a deeply unpopular Washington. Chris Christie and Bobby Jindal are both taking this approach. Christie?s Boehner bashing and leadership in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy has helped drive the New Jersey governor?s approval ratings skyward.?
The most important political skill is midwifery. The leader who moves the Republican Party into a new era, where it is more attractive to middle-class voters, minorities, and younger voters, will need to communicate a vision as well as communicate back to the base how he is not selling out the party's core principles. In this effort, Rubio will get a crack at showing key presidential governing skills?the ability to nurse complex legislation by identifying common interests with Democrats while working with Republicans friends through a mixture of cajoling, flattery, and strong-arming.
Some might think Rubio?s moment isn?t a real test. The GOP needs to improve its image, and he?s got the background to do it. Sure, after the 2012 election, some conservative elites switched their position on immigration reforms?Sean Hannity setting the land-speed record?and that makes Rubio?s pitch easier. But maintenance of long-held truths in the face of the crowd?s push for ?progress? is among the highest of conservative attributes. And there are plenty of other influential voices and activists who think principles don't change just because the elections don?t go well. There is opposition from Erick Erickson at Red State, former House Judiciary Committee chairman Lamar Smith, and Rush Limbaugh. As Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association put it, playing off of the famous William F. Buckley line, ?On immigration, it?s time for conservatives to stand athwart Marco Rubio and yell, ?Stop!? ? And on Wednesday Sen. David Vitter told conservative radio show host Laura Ingraham that Rubio is "amazingly naive" and "nuts" for supporting the "ridiculous" bipartisan immigration reform proposal.
More broadly, there is skepticism even about the political imperative that underlies the new push. Rush Limbaugh argues that Hispanic votes can never be won because they are addicted to social welfare. Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania made a similar case recently. They have a point about the relationship of Hispanic voters to GOP philosophy. Rubio must convince that audience?and the activist viewpoint they represent?of the merits of his new approach that go beyond political expediency.
In this, Rubio?s task is a microcosm of the larger task all would-be national leaders are assigning themselves as the GOP tries to reverse the trend that has led to five popular-vote losses in the last six elections: How do you adapt without changing? That?s why Rubio?s conversation about immigration quickly morphs into his pitch for limited government.
Rubio is quick on his feet, and he'll need to be to manage two tough tasks: keeping his membership in the bipartisan ?Gang of Eight? that includes liberal Sens. Chuck Schumer and Robert Menendez while also keeping the promises he has been making on talk radio. When Sen. Barack Obama tried this during negotiations over a lobbying and ethics bill with John McCain, the effort collapsed. Whether it was because Sen. Obama couldn't buck his party leaders or because McCain simply didn't trust him, Obama was unable to pull off the same trick that Rubio is now trying.
Marco Rubio doesn?t have to succeed fully either. Or, more precisely, success for comprehensive immigration reform is not the same as success for Marco Rubio. Legislative accomplishment may burnish Rubio?s image with a broader electorate, but that?s not his only constituency. He?s building relationships with conservatives that will pay off down the road on a host of other issues. If he withdraws his support of the Senate effort as it goes forward?as Conn Carroll suggests he might?Rubio will show that new prudence doesn?t just mean caving. In the long grope for a new direction, avoiding the new wrong way may serve Rubio?s long-term political interests just fine.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday cast doubt on speculation she might run for the White House in 2016.
In an interview taped for National Public Radio, Clinton was asked what questions she needs to answer for herself as she decides whether to run for president.
"I'm not even posing those questions. I am really looking forward to stepping off the fast track that I've been on. I've been out of politics as Secretary of State. I don't see myself getting back into politics," she said, according to an excerpt of the interview.
Whether this is her last word on the subject is unknown. She will face strong pressure from Democrats to join the field of contenders. Clinton will step down this week, following Senate confirmation Tuesday of Massachusetts Democratic Senator John Kerry as her successor.
Those close to Clinton are eager for her to announce a 2016 run, so much so that a group has already formed a new super PAC and registered with the Federal Election Commission on Friday, called "Ready for Hillary."
In 2008, she lost to President Barack Obama in a bitter Democratic primary campaign to be the party nominee for the White House.
Although Clinton, 65, did not categorically rule out another presidential run, in a separate NBC interview she said that she was healthy enough to wage a campaign.
"I have no doubt that I am healthy enough and my stamina is great enough and I'll be fully recovered to do whatever I choose to do," Clinton told "Andrea Mitchell Reports" in an interview that aired on Tuesday.
Clinton was hospitalized in December after doctors found a blood clot stemming from a concussion she suffered previously.
She intends to do more public speaking and writing, and work alongside her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and daughter Chelsea on "mutual foundation interests," she said in the NPR interview.
"I want to be involved in philanthropy, advocacy, working on issues - like women and girls - that I care deeply about," Clinton said.
(Reporting by Margaret Chadbourn; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., defied the odds in November when she won the closest senate race in the country, and now that she's arrived in Washington, she's defiant as ever. But now, instead of defying the pollsters, she's defying the Democratic caucus by taking divergent opinions on issues central to the President Obama's second term agenda, ranging from gun control to the environment.
Heitkamp, who says growing the economy is her top priority, is concerned that the president is changing his focus to issues like climate change and gun control.
"I think, you know the one thing that has gotten lost by everyone is one of the best ways that we can perform here is by getting people back to work, making sure that this economic recovery, slow as it is, gets amped up and moves forward," Heitkamp tells Politics Confidential. "It's one of the reasons why I've been such a big proponent of the Keystone Pipeline. There's a shovel ready, private sector jobs program, good paying jobs."
On the topic of gun control, Heitkamp does not hesitate when asked if she'll support an assault weapons ban; her answer is a definitive no.
"There's literally hundreds of thousands of guns already out there," says Heitkamp. "This isn't a solution to the problem, that's my first thing. And I think if you read the case, the Second Amendment case, you got some serious Second Amendment challenges in all of this, and my personal perspective is that you are ignoring what could actually work to prevent this from happening because you are following an agenda that you already had before this ever happened, instead of taking a look at this circumstance, these situations and how do we prevent this violence."
Heitkamp says mental health needs to be part of the conversation in finding solutions to gun violence.
?It's good early prevention, it's good early detection of people who could possibly be doing these things, and then getting intervention,? says Heitkamp. ?Take a look at what happened in Aurora, Colorado, when they called the mother, what did the mother say? ?Oh my son could never do this?, no she said ?You have the right person, I'm sorry'. Now there's a message.?
Heitkamp, who has already faced criticism from environmental groups, may also soon be targeted by an outside group built from the remains of the president's campaign and led by the president's 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina. The new group plans to put pressure on Republicans and Democrats who don't go along with the president's agenda.
"I would tell you as you talk about Jim Messina, the president lost North Dakota by almost 22 percentage points and I was still elected the United States senator and I was elected because I promised people I was going to be their voice not the voice for a political party, not the voice for a president who happens to be in the same political party that I am but I am the voice for the people of North Dakota," Heitkamp says. "I'll make my decisions based on what I believe is in the best interest of the people of North Dakota, the people of this country. And if in six years people don't agree that I made the right choices, I'll find something else to do."
To hear more about Heitkamp's fearless brand of politics, and to find out what she thinks about proving the otherwise infallible Nate Silver wrong on election night, check out this week's Politics Confidential.
Have you ever planned a vacation and remembered that you once saw a photo of a great dish on Facebook? If only you could remember who posted it and when.?A new service, Roam7, has launched that promises to reach deep into your social networks to pull that information for you. The service combs your friends? Facebook albums and assembles relevant photos into a page to help you figure out what?s worth doing on your holidays.?Beyond holidays, of course, is the delicious potential to stalk people.
The subject our most recent Doomer Fiction / disaster film review is "The Core" (2003).? Oddly enough, this is one I'd never seen before, which is unusual, since I'm a big movie buff.
Before I get too deeply into the meat of the review itself, let's just say that this flick reminded me of "Armageddon" [Blu-ray] (DVD version), but dealing with inner-space rather than outer-space.
The story begins with a strange cross-section of 30 or so people all inexplicably dropping dead within a radius of only a few city blocks from one another.
The government calls in leading scientists to advise, fearing that the deaths may have been the result of some new EMP weapon -- it turns out that all of the deceased individuals had pacemakers that suddenly stopped working.? Upon hearing from the experts that a weapon is unlikely to have been the cause, however, they lose interest in delving further into the mystery.? One of these scientists (played by Aaron Eckhart) is unhappy about leaving one side of the equal sign blank, though.? Soon after, a flock of pigeons goes nuts in London, randomly flying into stationary objects as well as people and causing a fair bit of damage and injuries (only the latest in a string of unusual bird activity), and this same scientist begins to realize that the strange events occurring are tied somehow to the Earth's magnetic field.? And he fervently hopes that the theory formulating in his mind is wrong.
Meanwhile, astronauts returning to Earth on a reentry vector are thrown way off-course, due to some sort of atmospheric interference and only narrowly avoiding a fiery crash into downtown Los Angeles.? This, coupled with auroras appearing over Washington, D.C. serve to bring the severity of the problem into stark contrast.?
It is, quite simply, the end of all life on Earth as a result of the core of the planet no longer spinning, the end result of which will be the loss of our EM field that protect us from solar radiation.
What follows is a very entertaining story involving an audacious plan (involving scientists, astronauts, and a hilarious computer hacker) to use experimental technology to burrow into the Earth's core and restart it spinning with a large nuclear detonation.
Some elements are more science-fiction than science and the computer hacking scenes are ludicrous, but the Geology/Earth Science stuff is spot-on.? In fact, one of the reviewers on Amazon is a teacher who mentioned showing it in their Earth Science classroom every term.? Most importantly, though, it passes the biggest test for a film: it makes for a really fun couple of hours.
CAIRO (AP) ? Egypt's main opposition coalition on Monday rejected the Islamist president's call for dialogue unless their conditions are met, a move that is likely to prolong the country's latest political crisis as violence that has left more than 50 people dead continued for a fifth day.
In the latest clashes, riot police fired tear gas at rock-throwing protesters in central Cairo on Monday, and one protester died of gunshot wounds, health and security officials said.
The violence came a day after President Mohammed Morsi vowed a tough response to the eruption of political violence, calling a state of emergency and curfew in the hardest hit areas ? three cities along the Suez Canal and their surrounding provinces. The military has deployed in two of those cities, Port Said and Suez.
The opposition has painted the explosion of rioting as a backlash against attempts by Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood to monopolize power in Egypt ? and proof that Morsi has been incapable of achieving stability or achieving reforms.
Leaders of the main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, dismissed Morsi's invitation to a dialogue on resolving the crisis. At a press conference, the front's head Mohamed ElBaradei said the call was "without form and content."
ElBaradei said Morsi must first appoint a national unity government and name a commission to amend the disputed constitution that was ratified in a referendum last month before they can join a dialogue. He also wants Morsi to take legislative powers from the Islamist-dominated upper house of parliament, or the Shura Council, a usually toothless body elected early last year by less than 10 percent of Egypt's registered voters.
"We support any dialogue if it has a clear agenda that can shepherd the nation to the shores of safety," said ElBaradei, flanked by former Arab league chief Amr Moussa and leftist Hamdeen Sabahi.
Sabahi, who finished a close third in last year's presidential election, added conditions of his own. Morsi, he said, must state publicly his political responsibility for the violence that engulfed the country since Friday, his respect for peaceful protests and fire the attorney general he named late last year.
The violence erupted around Friday's two-year anniversary of the start of the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Protests that turned to clashes around the country on Friday left 11 dead, most of them in Suez.
The next day, riots exploded in Port Said after a court convicted and sentenced to death 21 defendants for a mass soccer riot in the city's main stadium a year ago. During the weekend, 44 people were killed in violence in the city.
Throughout the past five days, anger over Morsi's policies and the slow rate of change have helped fuel the protests and clashes.
Angry and at times screaming and wagging his finger, Morsi went on national TV Sunday night and declared a 30-day state of emergency in the provinces of Port Said, Ismailiya and Suez, which are named after their main cities. A nighttime curfew goes into effect in those areas Monday.
Morsi has struggled to address the country's daunting social and economic problems since taking power in June, and his state of emergency call sparked criticism from opponents who accused him of using the same methods as Mubarak.
A relative unknown until his Muslim Brotherhood nominated him to run for president last year, Morsi is widely criticized and ruthlessly ridiculed in the media for having offered no vision for the country's future after nearly 30 years of dictatorship under Mubarak and no coherent policy to tackle seemingly endless problems, from a free falling economy and deeply entrenched social injustices to surging crime and chaos on the streets.
The rejection of his offer for a dialogue is likely to lend more weight to ElBaradei and his colleagues in the Salvation Front at a time when protesters on the streets are increasingly showing their independence from politicians, voicing a wide range of non-political grievances.
Last week, the acclaimed Sundance Film Festival honored the top independent movies and players. Every year, its host, Park City, Utah, takes the best supporting role for the annual celeb-studded event.
Park City is topping all the travel lists (Forbes, Travel + Leisure, Ski Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler) lately surpassing destinations such as Aspen. Why? Accessibility, creativity, and activity!
Park City is a transformed old mining town with three ski resorts surrounding it. The quaintness of Park City?s Main Street is a thin veil for souvenirs and high-end retail. And don?t be deceived by the quaint fa?ade as the price tag for a vacation in and around this city is never bargain-priced. The four block historic strip is perfect for strolling or you can step into Robert Redford?s restaurant, Zoom, which offers some delicious local fare.
Accessibility
Nobody wants to spend the better part of a day traveling into a destination. Park City is more accessible than many of the top ski resort towns ? located only 45 minutes from The Salt Lake City airport. The international airport serves many airlines; Delta Air Lines has nonstop flights from more than 100 cities. Shuttles are a better choice than renting a car.
Hotels in Park Cityare numerous; from the big brand hotels to the local lodges.
Creativity
It has become a hub of culinary creativity with more than 100 restaurants and some truly inspired eateries.
If dining among celebrities in a beautiful mountain setting sounds appealing, you?ll want to check-in to the Waldorf-Astoria. Get a table at Slopes, a new restaurant deemed America?s hottest hotel restaurant in 2012 by Travel & Leisure.
The Waldorf-Astoria?s renowned bar and lounge, Powder Ice Lounge, features a 14-foot sculpted ice bar (it?s literally made of ice) and is one of the most popular photo-ops in the city.
Activity
Park City features three world-class resorts ? Deer Valley Resort, Canyons Resort and Park City Mountain Resort ? that offer three seasons of fun for everyone. (I say three because spring is a transitional season when the resorts close, the snow melts, and the preparations for the summer season are taking place.)
In the winter, the powder is abundant. Park City is home to the steep mountains where the US Ski Team trains attracting the world?s top snow sport enthusiasts, and a very chic and sophisticated crowd.
TheUtah Olympic Park near Park City was the site of the 2002 Bobsled, Luge and Ski Jumping competitions. Today, visitors are treated to a guided tour of the park, athlete training sessions, 70 mile-per-hour bobsled rides, zipline rides, Quicksilver alpine slide rides, Olympic museum, an interactive museum, freestyle aerial and ski jumping shows on Saturdays at noon and a variety of camps for all ages.
In the summer and fall, the resorts convert their lifts and runs into over 400 miles of trails for biking and hiking and endless activities. Deer Valley?s Mountain Biking School offers lessons for those looking to improve their skills or just a guide for some of the areas best trails.
Human Brain Project funded - 1 billion euros to map the human brainPublic release date: 28-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Katherine Barnes katherine.barnes@kcl.ac.uk 44-207-848-3076 King's College London
Project to link basic research with disease treatment
King's College London is part of an international consortium of scientists who have today been awarded a grant of over one billion euros, over ten years, to simulate 'everything we know about the human brain' in supercomputers.
The Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine at King's is a partner in the Human Brain Project (HBP), a venture that brings together dozens of groups of neuroscientists from many countries in Europe, alongside partners in the USA, Canada, Israel and China. Led by Henry Markram of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology at Lausanne, the aim is to simulate the human brain in a supercomputer, stimulating the development of neuromorphic computing and facilitating medical advances in brain disorders and treatments.
Nikolas Rose, Professor of Sociology and Head of the Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine (SSHM) at King's, said: 'This tremendously exciting project, involving leading neuroscientists from across Europe, promises to transform our ability to understand the human brain and to link basic research with new understandings and treatments of diseases and disorders of the brain.
'It is very exciting for social scientists to be involved from the outset, helping embed responsible research and innovation into the project and exploring the social implications of the HBP as it progresses. We are greatly looking forward to the hard work over the next years to turn this idea into a reality.'
The Department at King's will receive around 0.5 million in the so called 'ramp-up phase' the first 30 months to develop a 'Foresight Laboratory' which will undertake a systematic foresight initiative, using a spectrum of research methods, to provide a series of visions of how the scientific and technological advancement understandings of the human brain achieved via the HBP may impact on our societies over the next 20 years and to feed these back into the work of the HBP.
SSHM is a partner in the Social and Ethical Division of the HBP which is led from the Pasteur Institute in Paris by Professor Jean-Pierre Changeux. The division will be allocated around 2.5 million over this ramp up period, spread across six work packages.
The HBP is one of the two 'Future and Emerging Technology Projects' selected by the European Commission from a shortlist of six projects. The Future and Emerging Technologies Flagship competition was launched in 2009 as a challenge to apply information and communication technologies to social problems.
###
CONTACT
Katherine Barnes
International PR Manager
King's College London
Tel: +44 207 848 3076
Email: Katherine.barnes@kcl.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
For further information about the Human Brain Project visit: http://www.humanbrainproject.eu/
For images and b-roll footage relating to the project visit: https://documents.epfl.ch/groups/h/hb/hbp-mediabox/www/
About King's College London (www.kcl.ac.uk) King's College London is one of the top 30 universities in the world (2012/13 QS international world rankings), and was The Sunday Times 'University of the Year 2010/11', and the fourth oldest in England. A research-led university based in the heart of London, King's has more than 24,000 students (of whom more than 10,000 are graduate students) from nearly 140 countries, and more than 6,100 employees. King's is in the second phase of a 1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.
King's has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise for British universities, 23 departments were ranked in the top quartile of British universities; over half of our academic staff work in departments that are in the top 10 per cent in the UK in their field and can thus be classed as world leading. The College is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of nearly 525 million (year ending 31 July 2011).
King's has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine, nursing and dentistry) and social sciences including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar.
[ | 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.
Human Brain Project funded - 1 billion euros to map the human brainPublic release date: 28-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Katherine Barnes katherine.barnes@kcl.ac.uk 44-207-848-3076 King's College London
Project to link basic research with disease treatment
King's College London is part of an international consortium of scientists who have today been awarded a grant of over one billion euros, over ten years, to simulate 'everything we know about the human brain' in supercomputers.
The Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine at King's is a partner in the Human Brain Project (HBP), a venture that brings together dozens of groups of neuroscientists from many countries in Europe, alongside partners in the USA, Canada, Israel and China. Led by Henry Markram of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology at Lausanne, the aim is to simulate the human brain in a supercomputer, stimulating the development of neuromorphic computing and facilitating medical advances in brain disorders and treatments.
Nikolas Rose, Professor of Sociology and Head of the Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine (SSHM) at King's, said: 'This tremendously exciting project, involving leading neuroscientists from across Europe, promises to transform our ability to understand the human brain and to link basic research with new understandings and treatments of diseases and disorders of the brain.
'It is very exciting for social scientists to be involved from the outset, helping embed responsible research and innovation into the project and exploring the social implications of the HBP as it progresses. We are greatly looking forward to the hard work over the next years to turn this idea into a reality.'
The Department at King's will receive around 0.5 million in the so called 'ramp-up phase' the first 30 months to develop a 'Foresight Laboratory' which will undertake a systematic foresight initiative, using a spectrum of research methods, to provide a series of visions of how the scientific and technological advancement understandings of the human brain achieved via the HBP may impact on our societies over the next 20 years and to feed these back into the work of the HBP.
SSHM is a partner in the Social and Ethical Division of the HBP which is led from the Pasteur Institute in Paris by Professor Jean-Pierre Changeux. The division will be allocated around 2.5 million over this ramp up period, spread across six work packages.
The HBP is one of the two 'Future and Emerging Technology Projects' selected by the European Commission from a shortlist of six projects. The Future and Emerging Technologies Flagship competition was launched in 2009 as a challenge to apply information and communication technologies to social problems.
###
CONTACT
Katherine Barnes
International PR Manager
King's College London
Tel: +44 207 848 3076
Email: Katherine.barnes@kcl.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
For further information about the Human Brain Project visit: http://www.humanbrainproject.eu/
For images and b-roll footage relating to the project visit: https://documents.epfl.ch/groups/h/hb/hbp-mediabox/www/
About King's College London (www.kcl.ac.uk) King's College London is one of the top 30 universities in the world (2012/13 QS international world rankings), and was The Sunday Times 'University of the Year 2010/11', and the fourth oldest in England. A research-led university based in the heart of London, King's has more than 24,000 students (of whom more than 10,000 are graduate students) from nearly 140 countries, and more than 6,100 employees. King's is in the second phase of a 1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.
King's has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise for British universities, 23 departments were ranked in the top quartile of British universities; over half of our academic staff work in departments that are in the top 10 per cent in the UK in their field and can thus be classed as world leading. The College is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of nearly 525 million (year ending 31 July 2011).
King's has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine, nursing and dentistry) and social sciences including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar.
[ | 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.
If the Nexus 4's recent scarcity has been making you want it even more, there's good news: it's now back on Google Play shelves. After a lengthy shortage resulted in a minor finger-pointing episode between Mountain View and manufacturer LG, the pair have starting restocking the popular quad-core, Android 4.2-pure device, on Play, well ahead of LG's February estimate. So far, it's only popped up in Germany, and there's no word yet on when they'll arrive elsewhere. Given the pent-up demand, however, you may want to grab one when it does.
Have you ever planned a vacation and remembered that you once saw a photo of a great dish on Facebook? If only you could remember who posted it and when.?A new service, 
.? Oddly enough, this is one I'd never seen before, which is unusual, since I'm a big movie buff.
Last week, the acclaimed Sundance Film Festival honored the top independent movies and players. Every year, its host, Park City, Utah, takes the best supporting role for the annual celeb-studded event.
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Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
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