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Number of Moles on Right Arm Predicts Skin Cancer Risk

Kathryn R. Bown
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Number of Moles on Right Arm Predicts Skin Cancer Risk

According to a recent research, having more than 11 moles on the right arm indicates a higher-than-average risk of skin cancer or melanoma.

Counting moles on the right arm was found to be a good indicator of total moles on the body. More than 100 indicates five times the normal risk.

The study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, used data from 3,000 twins in the UK.

Doctors could use the findings to identify those most at risk, it said.

Melanoma develops from abnormal moles, so the risk of being diagnosed with the disease is linked to the number of moles a patient has.

Researchers from King’s College London studied a large group of female twins over a period of 8 years, collecting information on skin type, freckles and moles on their bodies.Mole and skin cancer risk

After repeating the exercise on a smaller group of around 400 men and women with melanoma, they came up with a quick and easy way to assess the risk of skin cancer.

Females with more than 7 moles on their right arm had nine times the risk of having more than 50 on their whole body.

Those with more than 11 on their right arm were more likely to have more than 100 on their body in total, meaning they were at a higher risk of developing a melanoma.

The findings could help doctors to identify those with an increased risk of developing a melanoma.

Israeli Soldier Killed in Beersheva Bus Station Attack

Roy Siemens
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Israeli Soldier Killed in Beersheva Bus Station Attack

A Palestinian attacker armed with a gun and a knife has killed an Israeli soldier and wounded other ten people in a bus station in the southern Israeli city of Beersheva.

Israeli police said the attacker was killed.

Eight Israelis have died in attacks by lone Palestinians this month. More than 40 Palestinians, including several attackers, have been killed.

The upsurge began amid tensions at a flashpoint holy site in East Jerusalem.

Israeli authorities have imposed tighter restrictions in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and there have been clashes with Palestinian protesters.

Israel has begun erecting a16ft high concrete barrier between the Palestinian district of Jabal Mukaber in East Jerusalem and the neighboring Jewish Armon Hanatziv.Beersheva bus station attack

Israeli officials in Jerusalem insisted the wall was a temporary measure in an area “where there is a history of rock and Molotov cocktail throwing at Jewish homes and vehicles”.

Secretary of State John Kerry is to meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and, separately, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, this week in a bid to help restore calm.

The attack on the Central Bus Station in Beersheva came on Sunday evening, October 18.

Initial reports said there had been a second attacker, who was critically wounded, but he is now believed to be an Eritrean migrant.

The city’s Soroka Hospital said it was treating 10 shooting victims – two who arrived in a critical condition, two with serious wounds and the rest with moderate to light wounds.

Among the injured, all said to be in their 20s, were at least four police officers.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military removed Jewish worshippers it said had illegally entered a religious site in the occupied West Bank.

Thirty Israelis arrived at Joseph’s Tomb in the city of Nablus and were assaulted by Palestinians before being handed over to Israeli forces by Palestinian police, reports say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFs_JGo8yrk

Eduardo Cunha: Brazil’s Speaker Accused of Corruption

Diane A. Wade
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Eduardo Cunha: Brazil’s Speaker Accused of Corruption

The speaker of Brazil’s lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, is being accused of keeping millions of dollars in foreign bank accounts, Brazilian prosecutors say.

According to prosecutors, the money was obtained illegally and not declared.

Eduardo Cunha denies the charges and says he is being unfairly targeted by the Prosecutor’s Office.

He has been leading calls for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, but he is now facing calls from other parties to step down.Eduardo Cunha corruption

As speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Eduardo Cunha holds the power to allow impeachment proceedings against Dilma Rousseff.

The main opposition parties made public a demand last week for Eduardo Cunha to resign.

A request for his resignation had already come from government supporters in Congress.

Eduardo Cunha is being investigated for alleged corruption in a kick-back scheme at the state run oil company, Petrobras.

Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled on October 15 that the Prosecutor’s Office was allowed to investigate allegations of corruption against Eduardo Cunha.

Prosecutors said on October 16 that Eduardo Cunha hid millions of dollars in Swiss accounts opened in his wife’s and his children’s names.

“There is sufficient proof that the foreign bank accounts were not declared and that at least in relation to Eduardo Cunha the money was obtained illegally,” said a Prosecutor’s Office statement.

A Brazilian audit court ruled earlier this month that President Dilma Rousseff broke the law in managing last year’s budget.

Dilma Rousseff was accused of borrowing money illegally from state banks to make up for budget shortfalls.

Government supporters say calls for an impeachment less than a year after Dilma Rousseff was re-elected are tantamount to a coup attempt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enk1umWPtLI

North Korea Rejects Barack Obama’s Offer for Nuclear Negotiations

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Rejects Barack Obama’s Offer for Nuclear Negotiations

North Korea has declined President Barack Obama’s offer for nuclear negotiations, Reuters reported.

Barack Obama made the statement during a joint news conference with South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Friday, October 16.

The next day, the North Korean Foreign Ministry declined the opportunity to open negotiations, but it again demanded a peace treaty in place of the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War.Barack Obama offer for North Korea rejected

The ministry said in a statement: “No issue in which the countries concerned, including the U.S., are interested can be settled unless a peace treaty is concluded before anything else.

“If the U.S. insists on its hostile policy, it will only see the DPRK’s limitless bolstering of nuclear deterrence and the growth of its revolutionary armed forces.”

Barack Obama and Park Geun-hye Friday reaffirmed the strength of their alliance.

Park Geun-hye called the US-South Korea relationship a “lynchpin of peace and stability” for Asia and the Korean Peninsula where tensions have been high in recent months.

Louis and Zelie Martin Canonization: St. Theresa of Lisieux’s Parents to Become Saints

James J. Williams
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Louis and Zelie Martin Canonization: St. Theresa of Lisieux’s Parents to Become Saints

The first ever canonization of a married couple will be conducted by Pope Francis in a ceremony in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday, October 18.

The French couple, Louis and Zelie Martin, who lived in the 19th Century, were the parents of the much venerated Saint Theresa of Lisieux.

Louis and Zelie Martin had nine children, four of whom died in infancy. The remaining five, all girls, became nuns.

The youngest daughter, Therese, died of tuberculosis aged 24 in 1897 and was canonized in 1925.Louis and Zelie Martin Canonization

Theresa of Lisieux is widely venerated for the simplicity of her spiritual life.

Her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, has inspired generations of modern Catholics.

In July, the Vatican’s Cardinal Angelo Amato, said the canonization gave testimony to the couple’s “extraordinary witness of conjugal and familial spirituality”.

It will be one of the highlights of the meeting of cardinals and bishops currently going on at the Vatican.

It is focusing on how the church can better minister to modern families, including gay Catholics in same-gender unions, couples who cohabit and those who divorce and remarry.

Egypt Elections 2015: Voters to Elect New Parliament

Diane A. Wade
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Egypt Elections 2015: Voters to Elect New Parliament

Egyptians are voting in the first round of long-delayed elections to choose a new parliament.

Today’s parliamentary elections are the first since the previous chamber was dissolved by a court ruling in 2012.

The authorities say the poll is the final step in a transition to democracy.

However, critics say most candidates are supporters of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and the new parliament is likely to strengthen his control.

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is a former general who led the 2013 military overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, following months of unrest.

Mohamed Morsi’s party, the Muslim Brotherhood, won about half the seats in the last parliament but is now banned and its leaders are in jail – some facing death sentences.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

However, many figures from Hosni Mubarak’s regime are on the ballot paper.

The election consists of two rounds of voting and results are not expected to be known until early December.

Voters are choosing 596 lawmakers for the lower house, the House of Representatives.

Security has been tightened across the country with at least 185,000 troops supporting police, Egyptian news agency Mena reported.

On October 17, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi made a televised appeal for Egyptians to vote.

“Line up in front of polling stations and plant with your votes the hope for a bright tomorrow for our new Egypt,” he said.

While the new parliament appears to have broad powers, it is not expected to challenge the president.

Analysts say turnout is expected to be low, with many Egyptians disillusioned with the democratic process.

Typhoon Koppu Hits Northern Philippines

Diane A. Wade
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Typhoon Koppu Hits Northern Philippines

Typhoon Koppu has hit the northern Philippines forcing thousands of people to leave their homes.

According to local reports, homes have been flattened and power lines toppled.

Typhoon Koppu made landfall near the town of Casiguran on the island of Luzon on Sunday morning, October 18.

It brought winds of close to 124mph and whipped up coastal surges 12ft high.

Three days of torrential rain has been predicted, triggering major flooding and possibly landslides.

Alexander Pama, head of the government’s main disaster agency, said 10,000 people had been displaced in north-eastern Luzon but no casualties had been reported so far.

“Initially, we are getting [reports that] many houses were destroyed, power lines toppled and trees blocking major roads,” he said.Typhoon Koppu Philippines

The eye of the storm was moving west at a speed of just 2mph.

“It has slowed almost to a crawl. We were hoping it would speed up and spare us sooner,” Alexander Pama added.

Flights and ferry services in the north have been cancelled and some bus services in mountain areas suspended due to the threat of landslides.

On October 16, President Benigno Aquino made a televised warning, the first time he had done so since Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed more than 6,300 people.

Typhoon Koppu, also known as Lando, is up to 400 miles across and producing winds of up to 155mph. It is slow moving, meaning it could bring intense rain over a long period of time.

Rain has also reached the capital Manila, though winds are not expected to be strong enough there to cause damage.

In his TV address, President Benigno Aquino urged the estimated six million people in the typhoon’s direct path to listen to government warnings and be ready to evacuate their homes if necessary.

He said aid agencies had already distributed emergency supplies to evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, the Philippine military in northern Luzon has been placed on alert for disaster operations.

Typhoon Koppu is not due to leave the Philippines until October 20, when it will be heading towards Taiwan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GagZahtN4y0

Guinea Elections 2015: Alpha Conde Re-Elected for Second Term

Diane A. Wade
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Guinea Elections 2015: Alpha Conde Re-Elected for Second Term

Alpha Conde has won a second term as Guinea’s president, the country’s election commission has announced, six days after polling ended.

The 77-year-old won in the first round with about 58% of votes cast.

Main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, who has denounced the vote as fraudulent, won 31%. He has called for peaceful protests against the outcome.

EU observers said the vote was valid despite some logistical problems.

Candidates now have eight days to file complaints before the constitutional court validates the results.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

However, Cellou Dalein Diallo said in a statement he would not appeal to the court.

“I will invite the other candidates and all the citizens who are the real victims of this electoral hold-up to organize, conforming to the law, peaceful demonstrations to express our disapproval of this situation,” he said.

Cellou Dalein Diallo pulled out of the elections on October 14 alleging fraud.

The allegations included ballot boxes being stuffed and some 400 polling stations staying closed.

Figures released on October 16 showed a turnout of about 66% of Guinea’s six million registered voters.

It was Guinea’s second democratic presidential election since independence from France in 1958.

Clashes during the election campaign claimed several lives.

Alpha Conde became president in 2010 in Guinea’s first democratic election after decades of fighting authoritarian regimes, during which he was sent into exile and prison.

In that election, Alpha Conde defeated Cellou Dalein Diallo in a run-off.

Kweku Adoboli: UBS Trader Banned from Working in Financial Services

Clyde K. Valle
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Kweku Adoboli: UBS Trader Banned from Working in Financial Services

Convicted former UBS trader Kweku Adoboli has been formally banned from working in the financial services industry.

Kweku Adoboli, 35, was jailed for seven years in 2012 for fraud.

UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it had banned Kweku Adoboli, who was released from jail earlier this year.

His actions resulted in losses of £1.4 billion ($2.2 billion) for the Swiss bank, the FCA said.

UBS was fined £29.7 million ($47.5) for systems and control failures related to the unauthorized trading losses.Kweku Adoboli UBS trader ban

Kweku Adoboli said the ban marked the end of a difficult chapter in his life.

“I fully recognize the reasons for my prohibition and thank the FCA for their restraint. My hope now is to move forward in a positive way to help others learn from the mistakes I’ve made,” he said.

Kweku Adoboli’s lawyer said he wanted to repay his debt to society by using his own experience to explain how risk management controls might be avoided.

The rogue trader was arrested in September 2011 and was held in custody for nine months until his trial.

After serving almost half of his sentence for two counts of fraud, Kweku Adoboli was released from jail in June 2015.

During his trial at Southwark Crown Court, Kweku Adoboli told the jury that UBS staff were encouraged to take risks until they got “a slap on the back of the wrist” by senior managers.

Tracey McDermott of the FCA’s predecessor, the Financial Services Authority, said in 2012 that the bank’s faulty controls had allowed Kweku Adoboli’s losses to mount to what was the largest trading loss in the UK.

“UBS’s systems and controls were seriously defective,” she said.

“As a result, Adoboli, a relatively junior trader, was allowed to take vast and risky market positions, and UBS failed to manage the risks around that properly.”

He is facing deportation to his native Ghana after an immigration tribunal this week ruled that he should be removed from the UK.

According to the UK’s law, foreign nationals who have been sentenced to more than a year in jail should be considered for deportation.

Kweku Adoboli, the son of a UN diplomat who was educated at a Yorkshire boarding school, said he would appeal against the “heartbreaking” decision.

Taiwan Elections 2016: KMT Replaces Hung-Hsiu-chu as Presidential Candidate

Diane A. Wade
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Taiwan Elections 2016: KMT Replaces Hung-Hsiu-chu as Presidential Candidate

Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party has ditched Hung Hsiu-chu as its candidate for the island’s presidential election in January 2016.

At an emergency congress, party members voted overwhelmingly to drop Hung Hsiu-chu following a series of poor ratings in opinion polls.

Hung Hsiu-chu will be replaced by the KMT’s chairman, Eric Chu.

Before the decision, the two favorites for the presidential poll were, for the first time, both women.

Hung Hsiu-chu, the deputy parliament speaker, was the KMT’s first female candidate. The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate is Tsai Ing-wen, who lost in the presidential race in 2012.

Photo CNA
Photo CNA

Taiwan has never had a female president.

Hung Hsiu-chu’s approval ratings were lagging far behind those of Tsai Ing-wen – partly because she had lost support by advocating stronger ties with China at a time when some Taiwanese voters are wary about the island becoming too close to Beijing.

Eric Chu, the mayor of suburban New Taipei City who is considered a moderate on China, has more experience in governing, leading many party members to hope he will stand a better chance against Tsai Ing-wen, despite his late entry in the race.

The KMT suffered a crushing defeat in local elections in 2014.

Taiwan’s outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou resigned as party chairman after the poll, which was widely seen as a rejection of his push for close ties with Beijing.

Ahmed Mohamed Meets Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum

Nancy Clayson
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Ahmed Mohamed Meets Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum

Ahmed Mohamed, the 14-year-old Texas student who made headlines after being arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school, has met Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The boy and his family were received at a presidential compound in Sudan’s capital Khartoum on October 14, according to state-run radio.

Ahmed Mohamed was pulled out of class and handcuffed because a teacher mistook his clock for a bomb.

His arrest was sharply criticized and the police declined to file charges.

Ahmed’s father, Mohamed Hassan al-Sufi, is a Sudanese immigrant to the United States and a former presidential candidate who ran against Omar al-Bashir in two elections.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

President Omar al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Darfur, which he denies.

Ahmed Mohamed said he was pleased to meet the president and vowed to return one day with a new invention, according to the radio broadcast.

The boy has also been invited to the White House by US President Barack Obama, who tweeted his support after the incident.

NASA scientists and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also praised Ahmed Mohamed’s initiative.

The police rejected a suggestion by Ahmed Mohamed’s family that he was detained because he was Muslim.

Ahmed Mohamed is due to meet President Barack Obama in Washington, after attending a Muslim gala on October 17.

On October 19, Ahmed Mohamed is expected to visit the White House for an evening of stargazing, as a special guest of the president.

Jamie Zimmerman Dies in Hawaii Aged 31

Lisa.Felice
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Jamie Zimmerman Dies in Hawaii Aged 31

ABC News doctor Jamie Zimmerman died while on vacation in Hawaii at the age of 31.

On Monday, October 12, Jamie’s mother, Jordan Zimmerman, confirmed her death in a Fecebook post.

Jordan Zimmerman wrote on Jamie’s Facebook page that she had “slipped on some rocks at the mouth of Lumahai River” on the island of Kauai and was swept out to sea.

“Life guards and paramedics rushed to rescue Jamie,” her mother continued, “but were not able to resuscitate her.”

Jamie Zimmerman researched stories for ABC’s medical unit and offered mediation sessions for news staff in New York, according to ABC News President James Goldston, who told staff of her death in a note on Thursday, October 15.

Photo YouTube
Photo YouTube

According to James Goldston’s note to staff, Jamie Zimmerman was attempting to cross the Lumahai River on Kauai’s north shore when she lost her footing and was swept out to sea.
Jordan Zimmerman wrote that her daughter’s accomplishments included helping Congolese refugees in Zambia, volunteering in a hospital in India, building classrooms in Uganda, and working with indigenous people on the Amazon in Peru. She also served as a United Nations Global Health representative in Haiti.

Jamie Zimmerman’s mother added: “My little girl was always trying to do too much.

“She wanted to write books and already had a literary agent. She just couldn’t stop taking on more. It’s as if she knew her time was limited and she was trying to fit it all in!”

Jordan Zimmerman said she hopes that Jamie’s life will inspire people to make the world a better place.

SeaWorld to Challenge Orca Breeding Ban

Nancy Clayson
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SeaWorld to Challenge Orca Breeding Ban

SeaWorld has announced it is planning to challenge a ruling banning the company from breeding captive killer whales.

The announcement comes a week after the California Coastal Commission backed a $100 million expansion of SeaWorld’s orca tanks in San Diego.

However, the enclosure improvements also outlined a series of restrictions, including a ban on breeding the whales.

SeaWorld said it would “pursue legal action” over the ruling.

Company President Joel Manby said: “The Coastal Commission went way beyond its jurisdiction and authority when it banned breeding by killer whales at SeaWorld.

“It simply defies common sense that a straightforward land-use permit approval would turn into a ban on animal husbandry practices – an area in which the Commissioners have no education, training or expertise.

“To say that this is a dubious decision with no legal basis is an understatement, which is why we must and will challenge the Commission’s decision.”SeaWorld orca breeding ban

SeaWorld has come under criticism since the release of 2013 documentary Blackfish, which suggests its treatment of captive orcas provokes violent behavior. The company’s stock price also has dropped over the past two years.

The company has called the documentary “false and misleading”.

Several celebrities have recently suggested they’re not happy with SeaWorld’s treatment of its animals.

Noaki Schwartz, a spokeswoman for the commission said it received more than 120,000 emails about the SeaWorld proposed expansion, mostly from people opposing the plans.

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), said the Coastal Commission hadn’t overstepped the mark with the ruling and that “SeaWorld is blowing smoke”.

SeaWorld, which plans to build two new tanks for viewing and research, said breeding is “a natural, fundamental and important part of an animal’s life and depriving a social animal of the right to reproduce is inhumane”.

The commission said it had not seen a legal complaint and could not comment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzQqiSILfoY

EU Refugee Crisis: Hungary Closes Border with Croatia

Diane A. Wade
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EU Refugee Crisis: Hungary Closes Border with Croatia

Slovenia is bracing for a refugee influx after Hungary shut its border with Croatia to try to stem the numbers arriving en route to Western Europe.

Refugees have already begun to arrive in Slovenia by bus from Croatia.

Hungary closed its Croatia frontier on October 16 and now says it will reintroduce controls on its Slovenia border.

Many of the refugees aim to continue north to Austria and Germany.

Nearly 600,000 refugees have reached the EU by sea so far this year, many travelling from Turkey to Greece.

However, more than 3,000 have perished trying to cross the Mediterranean. Many refugees are Syrians fleeing the civil conflict there.Hungary border fence

Hungary said it shut the border with Croatia after EU leaders failed to agree its plan to send a force to prevent migrants reaching Greece.

The closure of Hungary’s border with Croatia comes just a month after it shut its frontier with Serbia, which was another transit route to Western Europe.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said border controls with Slovenia would be temporarily reinstated to safeguard Hungary from a “mass wave of unidentified, uncontrolled refugees”.

Hungary and Slovenia are both part of the passport-free Schengen zone, but Croatia is not.

Until October 16, 5,000 to 8,000 people were being allowed across Hungary every day, without registration, bound for Austria.

There are fears in Slovenia, a nation of some two million people, that the latest border closure will channel many more migrants through the country.

Extra police had been deployed to the border with Croatia, Slovene Interior Minister Vesna Gjorkos Znidar said.

However, Slovenia will keep accepting refugees as long as Austria and Germany’s borders remain open, she said.

Slovenia’s national security council is due to meet on October 17.

All passenger rail transport from Croatia has already been stopped.

Those arriving by road will be transferred to a migrant centre near the Austrian border after a registration procedure, AP quoted police spokeswoman Suzana Raus as saying.

The past month has seen some 3,000 refugees pass through Slovenia, Reuters news agency reported. Slovenia has said it was in a position to accommodate up to 8,000 refugees per day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg1v5Jl_X-k

Apple Ordered to Pay $234M to University of Wisconsin in Patent Infringement Case

Nancy Clayson
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Apple Ordered to Pay $234M to University of Wisconsin in Patent Infringement Case

Apple has been ordered to pay more than $234 million in damages to University of Wisconsin-Madison for patent infringement.

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the patent licensing arm of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the verdict was important to guard its inventions from unauthorized use.

The jury had earlier decided that Apple incorporated patented microchip technology into some iPhones and iPads without permission.

Apple said it would appeal and declined to comment further.

The jury set the amount – about $165 million less than the foundation had claimed – after about three hours of deliberations.Apple patent infringement case University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Madison computer sciences professor Gurindar Sohi, one of the inventors of the microchip technology – designed to boost the performance of computer processors – was in the federal court in Madison, Wisconsin, for the decision.

“For Dr. Sohi, I hope you felt that your invention was vindicated,” District Judge William Conley said.

Carl Gulbrandsen, managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, said: “This is a case where the hard work of our university researchers and the integrity of patenting and licensing discoveries has prevailed.

“The jury recognized the seminal computer processing work that took place on our campus.”

The patent infringement case relates to use of the technology in the iPhone 5s, 6 and 6 Plus – but an additional lawsuit making the same claim against Apple’s newest models, the 6S and 6S Plus, has also been filed.

In 2008, the University of Wisconsin sued Intel over the same patent. That case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

Apple’s annual revenue in 2014 was $182 billion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn9UkujrwHA

El Chapo Guzman Suffers Face and Leg Injuries in Recapture Bid

Diane A. Wade
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El Chapo Guzman Suffers Face and Leg Injuries in Recapture Bid

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman suffered face and leg injuries as he narrowly evaded a police operation to recapture him, Mexican officials have confirmed.

The operation happened in north-west Mexico in recent days but few details have been released.

El Chapo Guzman, aka Shorty, head of the Sinaloa cartel, escaped from a high-security prison in July through a specially dug tunnel.

His escape was an embarrassment for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The Mexican government said in a statement that efforts to recapture El Chapo Guzman had been focused in the north-west of the country, not far from Guzman’s native Sinaloa state.

“As a result of these actions, and to avoid his capture, in recent days, the fugitive engaged in a hasty retreat, which, according to the information received, caused him injuries to one leg and the face,” the statement said.El Chapo Guzman recapture Mexico

“It’s important to clarify that these injuries were not a product of a direct clash,” it added, without giving further details.

The statement added: “The security cabinet continues to conduct all actions that will allow the recapture of this criminal.”

Mexico has arrested several prison officials since El Chapo Guzman’s escape.

Investigators said El Chapo Guzman had inside help to flee through a tunnel that ran one mile from under a shower in his cell to outside the prison.

After his escape, El Chapo Guzman took to Twitter to taunt the police and insult President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The drug lord was first arrested in Guatemala in 1993 and spent nearly a decade in another maximum-security Mexican jail before escaping, reportedly in a laundry basket.

El Chapo Guzman was on the run for 13 years before being held again in 2014 after a series of high-profile arrests of associates and covert surveillance by the US authorities.

Saudi Arabia: ISIS Kills Five People at Shias Mourning in Saihat

Roy Siemens
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Saudi Arabia: ISIS Kills Five People at Shias Mourning in Saihat

At least 5 people have been killed and nine wounded in an attack on a Shia gathering hall in Saihat, eastern Saudi Arabia, the interior ministry says.

The killings, in Saihat in Eastern Province on October 16, come two days after the start of Ashura commemorations, a holy occasion for Shia Muslims.

A group claiming links to Islamic State (ISIS) said it carried out the attack.

The Saudi Arabian interior ministry said a gunman opened fire at random before police intervened and shot the attacker dead.

Later, a group calling itself Islamic State-Bahrain State said that one of its “soldiers” had attacked “a Shia infidel temple” with an automatic weapon.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

The group warned that “infidels will not be safe in the island of Mohammed”.

Correspondents say the name of the group appears to be a reference to the historic area of Bahrain, which once encompassed parts of what is now Saudi Arabia.

Other, smaller attacks against the Shia community in the east of Saudi Arabia were also reported on Friday evening.

The minority Shia community in Saudi Arabia is increasingly being targeted. Most live in the oil-rich east, and many complain of discrimination.

In May, ISIS said it had carried out a deadly bomb attack outside a Shia mosque in the city of Damman.

A week before, more than 20 people were killed in the village of al-Qadeeh when an ISIS suicide bomber struck during Friday prayers at a Shia mosque.

That attack was the first to be claimed by a Saudi branch of ISIS.

Hardline Sunnis regard Shia Muslims as heretics.

Saudi Arabia, which is part of a US-led coalition against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, has previously been threatened by ISIS.

The Saudis are also leading a coalition of Arab states in an air campaign against Shia rebels in Yemen.

In the Ashura commemorations, Shias mourn the death of Hussein, a venerated grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4R1Z7Wtl7w

Typhoon Koppu Heading to Philippines

Nancy Clayson
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Typhoon Koppu Heading to Philippines

The Philippines is preparing for Typhoon Koppu that is forecast to dump heavy rain and cause severe flooding when it arrives at the weekend.

On October 16, President Benigno Aquino warned people living in the path of Typhoon Koppu to be ready to evacuate.

In a TV address, Benigno Aquino said the storm could bring up to 12 hours’ torrential rain and cause severe flooding.

It was Benigno Aquino’s first such appeal since Typhoon Haiyan struck in 2013, leaving more than 6,000 people dead.

Typhoon Koppu is due to hit the northern island of Luzon early on October 17.Typhoon Koppy Philippines

Forecasters say it is packing winds of up to 115mph and is slow moving, meaning it could bring intense rain over a long period of time.

In his address, Benigno Aquino urged the estimated six million people in the typhoon’s direct path to listen to government warnings and be ready to evacuate their homes if necessary.

He said aid agencies had already distributed emergency supplies to evacuation centers.

The state weather service warned residents on the east coast of Luzon to be ready for possible storm surges of more than 6ft.

Meanwhile, the Philippine military in northern Luzon has been placed on alert for disaster operations.

Typhoon Koppu, also known as Lando, is not due to leave the Philippines until October 20, when it will be heading towards Taiwan.

In November 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan – the strongest storm ever recorded on land – swept into the Philippines, destroying entire towns and leaving more than 6,300 people dead and more than 1,000 missing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX8ng6dmIik

Lamar Odom Wakes from Coma after Three Days

Lisa.Felice
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Lamar Odom Wakes from Coma after Three Days

Lamar Odom has regained consciousness three days after he was found unresponsive inside a Nevada motel.

The former NBA star spoke and gave a thumbs-up greeting from his hospital bed on October 16, said JaNean Mercer, a spokeswoman for the Odom family said.

Lamar Odom, 35, had been on life support after being found on October 13 with blood coming from his nose and mouth.

The former Los Angeles Lakers star has long struggled with addiction.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

Police said that an employee of Love Ranch in Crystal, Nevada, told emergency services dispatchers that Lamar Odom had been taking cocaine and libido enhancers.

Motel employees said Lamar Odom had spent several days at the location.

Lamar Odom’s estranged wife, Khloe Kardashian, had been making medical decisions on his behalf.

The sportsman and Khloe Kardashian were married in 2009 in a ceremony that was taped for E! channel.

Although Khloe Kardashian filed for divorce in 2013, it had yet to be processed.

FIFA Corruption Scandal: Sepp Blatter Reveals He Had Gentleman’s Agreement with Michel Platini

Clyde K. Valle
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FIFA Corruption Scandal: Sepp Blatter Reveals He Had Gentleman’s Agreement with Michel Platini

Sepp Blatter has revealed he had a “gentleman’s agreement” with Michel Platini over the 2 million euro payment he made to the UEFA president in 2011.

The 79-year-old FIFA president faces a criminal investigation over the payment, made nine years after Michel Platini, 60, carried out consultation work for the Swiss.

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini deny any wrongdoing.

“It was a contract I had with Michel Platini, a gentleman’s agreement that was followed through on,” Sepp Blatter told Swiss broadcaster RROTV.

Soccer’s world governing body FIFA has imposed a 90-day suspension on Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini while corruption claims concerning the payment are investigated.Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter FIFA corruption scandal

Former France international captain and coach Michel Platini says the money was an unpaid additional salary due from the time he served as Sepp Blatter’s advisor between 1998 and 2002.

Following a UEFA meeting on October 15, the Football Association (FA) suspended its support for Michel Platini’s bid to become FIFA president “until the legal process has been concluded and the position is clear”.

UEFA issued a statement saying Micehl Platini should be given the opportunity “to clear his name” and urged the FIFA ethics committee to conclude its investigation by mid-November.

The FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place on February 26, 2016.

Meanwhile, FIFA says it will investigate “very serious allegations” that a 6.7 million euro payment was made to it by Germany’s 2006 World Cup organizing committee.

The bid, led by former World Cup-winning captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer, edged out favorites South Africa in the July 2000 vote to win the hosting rights for the 2006 tournament.

FIFA said the allegations would be reviewed “as part of the independent internal investigation currently being conducted by FIFA under the direction of its legal director with the assistance of outside counsel”.

Germany’s Football Association is also investigating the payment, saying it had found no indication of wrongdoing in the overall bid process but that the payment “may potentially not have been used for the intended purpose”.

Largest African Elephant Killed by German Hunter in Zimbabwe

Nancy Clayson
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Largest African Elephant Killed by German Hunter in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s Conservation Task Force has criticized the killing of a “majestic” 60-year-old elephant by a German hunter, calling it “unethical”.

The unnamed hunter, who was pictured with the corpse, reported paid $60,000 for the legal hunt.

It comes months after American dentist Walter Palmer killed Cecil the lion.

There was international outrage after Cecil, a 13-year-old lion, was killed during another legal hunt in July, also in Zimbabwe.

Walter Palmer found out earlier this week that he will not face charges over the shooting.

The death of the elephant also took place during a hunt in Zimbabwe’s southern Gonarezhou National Park.Zimbabwe elephant killed by German hunter

The Zimbabwe Association of Safaris Operators (Zaso) said the elephant was the largest seen in Zimbabwe in 100 years. Its tusks, which were so large they almost touched the floor, weighed 120lbs.

Zaso chairman Emmanuel Fundira said the hunter should have thought twice before shooting.

Walter Palmer was vilified after being identified as the killer of Cecil the lion and he closed his dental practice in Minnesota temporarily after campaigners gathered outside.

Animal rights charities criticized the decision not to prosecute him.

Earlier this week, rangers at Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, where Cecil the lion was killed, discovered the carcasses of 26 elephants killed by cyanide poisoning.

Poachers are known to poison salt pans with the drug in order to steal the elephants’s tusks.

Randy and Evi Quaid Released from Vermont Jail

Sonia Pantiss
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Randy and Evi Quaid Released from Vermont Jail

Independence Day actor Randy Quaid and his wife Evi have been released from custody in Vermont, after a judge dismissed fugitive from justice charges against them.

Randy Quaid, 65, and his wife were taken into custody on October 9 by Vermont police while trying to enter the US from Canada.

They fled to Canada in 2010 after being charged with vandalism and squatting in a Santa Barbara property.

Randy and Evi Quaid denied the charges, claiming the property still belonged to them.

Judge Alison Arms had initially reduced bail for the couple from $500,000 each to $50,000, saying she could not find probable cause to support the vandalism accusations.

Photo AP
Photo AP

After a break, she decided to release them because of a discrepancy in dates in paperwork from California.

After they left the courthouse the Quaids said they will stay in Lincoln, Vermont, to care for Evi Quaid’s sick father and address the California charges.

“I never worried about being found guilty or any of that for any of these charges because I know the truth, and I know the facts are going to come out at some point, and today was a good sign of that,” Randy Quaid said.

Speaking outside court, Randy Quaid told reporters he spent his time in jail playing cribbage and Sudoko with three other older inmates.

Evi Quaid’s lawyer told the court that she had been threatened by another inmate who had left feces in her cell.

The Quaids were charged in 2010 with illegal occupation and vandalism of their former home in California. It was alleged the Quaids caused more than $5,000 in damages.

However, the couple claimed the Santa Barbara property still belonged to them.

Randy and Evi Quaid failed to appear in court and an arrest warrant for the couple was issued.

The couple headed to Canada where Randy Quaid requested refugee status, saying his life was in danger from Hollywood “star whackers”.

Evi Quaid, who has dual Canadian and US citizenship, told an immigration hearing how Randy had “known eight close friends murdered in odd, strange manners”, mentioning Heath Ledger and David Carradine.

Randy Quaid is best known for his roles in Brokeback Mountain, The Last Picture Show, Independence Day and National Lampoon’s Vacation, and for being the older brother of actor Dennis Quaid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfbuoH3giGU

John Stamos Charged with DUI after Beverly Hills Arrest

Sonia Pantiss
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John Stamos Charged with DUI after Beverly Hills Arrest

John Stamos has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, stemming for his June arrest in Beverly Hills.

The actor, best known for Full House and ER, is due to appear in court for a hearing on October 16.

John Stamos’ arrest in Los Angeles followed reports of him “allegedly behaving strangely and driving erratically”.

The 52-year-old actor, who is currently working on two TV shows, could face a maximum six-month jail sentence if convicted of the misdemeanor offence.

Any jail time could disrupt work on both his current TV series.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

New Fox series Grandfathered, which premiered last month, casts John Stamos in the central role of a middle-aged man who discovers he has a son and infant granddaughter he never knew about.

John Stamos also has a recurring role in Fuller House, the Netflix reboot of sitcom Full House, which is shooting in Hollywood and set to debut on the streaming service in 2016.

Neither Fox nor Netflix made any comment on how the shows might be affected.

A hearing at LA’s Superior Court on October 16, could see a resolution to the case or the setting of a pre-trial hearing, which could mean any jail time for John Stamos is unlikely before the new year.

Beverly Hills police declined to identify the drug John Stamos had allegedly taken before his arrest, nor is it identified in the charging document.

John Stamos, who was taken to hospital at the time of the incident on June 12, checked into rehab following his arrest.

Donald Trump’s Campaign Received $3.8 Million in Unsolicited Donations

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump’s Campaign Received $3.8 Million in Unsolicited Donations

Donald Trump has received up to nearly $4 million in unsolicited campaign donations in the last three months.

Between July 1 and September 30, Donald Trump’s campaign received 73,942 unsolicited donations, pumping $3.8 million into the tycoon’s campaign coffers.

The average contribution was about $50, and 71% of the money came from donors giving less than $200.

Donald Trump contributed $100,779 to his campaign from July 1 to September 30, although he adds that he has spent $1,909,576 of his own money since launching the campaign in June.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

According to federal paperwork filed on October 15, Donald Trump’s campaign spent $4,035,076.35 between July 1 and September 30.

So far Donald Trump’s campaign has spent a total of $5,449,750. The campaign is spending money as quickly as it receives it, and the campaign reports having had $254,772 on hand as of September 30.

Donald Trump likes to point out that he has spent far less than many of his Republican rivals yet still managed to dominate early polls for several months.

Services Models for Excellent Cloud Hosting

Ricky Robinson
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Services Models for Excellent Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting has supported the development of industry standards for the last decade. In doing so, it’s become essential to keeping up with many industry developments in a number of different markets. The tools provided and low impact of cloud based solutions to company space budgets and technical support have ingratiated it to companies the world over. When looking to branch out your cloud based services or looking to adopt them for the first time into your company, it can be difficult to know what to look for. There are many host providers that claim to be in the top tier of the cloud industry, but what exactly puts them there? The honest answer is that the top tier for services you need may be completely different than what the market is currently advertising, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find what you’re looking for.

Understanding the Stack

 

If you’re perusing cloud based hosting for solutions that apply to your business, you may already know about the cloud computing stack and if not directly, it’s likely you’ve seen it or one of its components. The ‘stack’ refers to the general different types of cloud services and how they are implemented and utilized to accomplish different goals. The stack is usually referred to be one of four acronyms: SPI or Software, Platform, Infrastructure and then further broken down into SaaS, PaaS and Iaas (Software as a Service, Platform as a Service and Infrastructure as a Service). How these different stacks work is the key to which one you should be looking for when searching for top cloud hosting providers at a comparison engine like Cloud Kompare.

Software as a Service

 

Companies like Google, Facebook, WordPress and more are all examples of the SaaS model of cloud based computing. These recognizable brands all offer software that is available without installation or exactly system requirements, often launched through the browser and easy to access just about anywhere you have an internet connection. Software as a Service has become more popular as mobile phones have begun to rival desktop and laptop PCs in terms of computing power. Many SaaS providers have jumped on the mobile bandwagon, offering apps and options for access their software through mobile phone screens, which are connected even more often than PCs today. SaaS doesn’t make sense as a solution for every company, but companies where there’s a lot of interaction between partners and the public or where partners and employees are often out of the office on business can benefit from mobile access to applications that SaaS provides.

Platform as a Service

 

Platform as a service takes cloud computing in a new direction, offering an environment where developers and programmers can ply their skills online to develop services and applications for a company without the need of specialized tools and software of their own. There are many benefits to a PaaS stack including a reduction in cost because specialized tools and software aren’t required for developers to work in, and it allows for non-expert individuals to gain experience working with the tools, protocols and structures your company requires for the development of their applications. Tools like Operating Systems, Storage solutions and hosting can all be packaged in a PaaS stack, which allows for flexibility for accessing and working with tools even when outside the office.

 

Infrastructure as a Service

The third cloud computing stack is Infrastructure. IaaS may be considered two tier of cloud computing services because the idea behind this stack is to create a virtual machine with which companies, partners, employees and potentially even the public can interact. Like a virtual desktop or a virtual data center, IaaS focuses on creating an infrastructure that is stored completely in the cloud. This particular stack is a good failsafe when put into place because it offers support over multiple cloud servers and often comes with a downtime guarantee because if one server or center fails, others are able to distribute the load and keep your access and applicable stable. IaaS is a scalable solution for hosting a multitude of virtual environments, from technical support centers to virtual file sharing and teleconferencing and because it’s hosted in the cloud, access isn’t dependent on location

 

Cloud Computing as a Solution

 

Whatever stack of cloud computing works best for your company, this expansive and ultimately accessible service can be designed to fit into many different budgets, industries and scenarios. Because cloud computing encompasses a variety of different methodology where it comes to service solutions, it’s becoming an industry standard. When looking for the top cloud hosting providers, be sure you understand which stack will best suit your company or be prepared to look at a great many host providers before you find the one that will work best for the solutions you are looking to implement. While the process may be long, the cloud offers a wide variety of services and access and can be made to fit nearly anywhere.

 

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