Archive for December, 2010
Riots in Athens and Rome
December 15th, 2010Athens. Via: Toronto Star: Protesters clashed with riot police across Athens on Wednesday, torching cars, hurling gasoline bombs and sending Christmas shoppers fleeing in panic during a general strike against the government’s latest austerity measures. Police fired tear gas and flash grenades as the violence escalated outside parliament and spread to other parts of the […]
New Intel Core VPro Processors Can Be Remotely Disabled Over 3G Networks, Even When an OS Is Not Running
December 15th, 2010Via: PC World: Intel on Wednesday said it would release in the first quarter next year Core VPro processors for business desktops and laptops that incorporate a host of new security and management features. The new chips will come in dual-core and quad-core variants, and will be based on the company’s upcoming Sandy Bridge architecture, […]
The Inhumane Conditions of Bradley Manning’s Detention
December 15th, 2010Via: Salon: From the beginning of his detention, Manning has been held in intensive solitary confinement. For 23 out of 24 hours every day — for seven straight months and counting — he sits completely alone in his cell. Even inside his cell, his activities are heavily restricted; he’s barred even from exercising and is […]
To Conquer Wind Power, China Writes the Rules
December 15th, 2010Via: New York Times: Judging by the din at its factory here one recent day, the Spanish company Gamesa may seem to be a thriving player in the Chinese wind energy industry it helped create. But Gamesa has learned the hard way, as other foreign manufacturers have, that competing for China’s lucrative business means playing […]
EPA Document Shows It Knowingly Allowed Pesticide That Kills Honey Bees
December 15th, 2010Via: Fast Company: The world honey bee population has plunged in recent years, worrying beekeepers and farmers who know how critical bee pollination is for many crops. A number of theories have popped up as to why the North American honey bee population has declined–electromagnetic radiation, malnutrition, and climate change have all been pinpointed. Now […]
U.S. Vulnerable to Rare Earth Shortages
December 15th, 2010Via: New York Times: The United States is too reliant on China for minerals crucial to new clean energy technologies, making the American economy vulnerable to shortages of materials needed for a range of green products — from compact fluorescent light bulbs to electric cars to giant wind turbines. So warns a detailed report to […]
Moody’s May Downgrade Spanish Credit Rating
December 15th, 2010Via: Bloomberg: Spain’s credit rating may be cut from Aa1, Moody’s Investors Service said, as the government prepares its final bond sale of the year tomorrow amid concern it may follow Greece and Ireland in seeking a bailout. Spain has to raise 170 billion euros ($226 billion) next year, while refinancing needs for its regions […]
Allegations of FBI Backdoors in OpenBSD
December 15th, 2010Via: IT World: Amidst startling accusations revealed by OpenBSD founder and lead developer Theo de Raadt today that 10 years ago the US Federal Bureau of Investigations paid developers to insert security holes into OpenBSD code, some confusion about the accusations has already emerged, with one named party strongly denying any involvement. According to a […]
Florida Gunman Killed Himself After Bizarre Incident at School Board Meeting
December 15th, 2010Update: Florida School Board Shooter Had Turbulent Life Via: AP: Born in Ocala, Fla., Duke graduated from high school in Tampa. Little is known about his early adult years — family members claimed he was in the Air Force for eight years, but that could not be confirmed. In the mid-1990s, Duke had drifted to […]
U.S. Appoints First Cyber Warfare General
December 15th, 2010Via: Guardian: The US military has appointed its first senior general to direct cyber warfare – despite fears that the move marks another stage in the militarisation of cyberspace. The newly promoted four-star general, Keith Alexander, takes charge of the Pentagon’s ambitious and controversial new Cyber Command, designed to conduct virtual combat across the world’s […]
