Watch Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi 'will not vote

Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi 'will not vote


Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party was forced to disband under new election laws
Burma's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will refuse to vote in the general election on 7 November.

Her lawyer, Nyan Win, said that although her name was on a voters' list, she would not take part in a poll organised by the military.

Ms Suu Kyi's party won a landslide victory in the last election in 1990 but the junta annulled the result, and kept her in near continuous detention.

The poll is seen by many as a sham that will just cement the military's power.

Continue reading the main story
Related stories

Bitter divide in Burma's opposition
Indifferent mood greets Burma polls
US diplomat in Burma poll warning
Some 25% of seats are guaranteed under the new constitution for the military, which means unelected military officers will sit in parliament.

The government has also founded its own political party - the Union Solidarity and Development Party - headed by the incumbent prime minister.

Legal moves
Ms Sui Kyi is currently under house arrest and was at first excluded from the electoral roll; about 2,000 other activists are also still detained.

Her National League for Democracy (NLD) had already decided to disband to avoid having to expel Ms Suu Kyi and other detainees under strict electoral laws.

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote

She has no party to vote for even if she is allowed to vote”

Nyan Win
Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer
Our South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says her decision not to vote may further encourage other NLD supporters to follow her lead, come election day.

That in turn will infuriate the current military leadership, she says.

"The NLD will not compete so she (Suu Kyi) said she has no party to vote for even if she is allowed to vote. As the NLD is not participating in the election, she will not vote," said Nyan Win.

He said Ms Suu Kyi had also pointed out that any grant to her of the right to vote would contravene the junta's own laws which prohibit detainees from taking part in the polls.

Her advice to followers also not to vote has been criticised by the state-controlled press.

Ms Suu Kyi's house arrest is due to expire on 13 November and she expects to be released "according to the law", Nyan Win said.

"If she is not released it is like a violation," he said.

Many Western nations and the UN are critical of Burma's poor human rights record and refusal to hand over power to Ms Suu Kyi's party in 1990.
Coppied by http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11529919

Watch Security Council gets new members

Security Council gets new members

The Security Council will include countries that have been fighting to revamp the UN's most powerful body [AFP]
India, South Africa and Germany have all won two-year terms that will put them on the UN's Security Council at the same time as Brazil and Nigeria, important players in Latin America and Africa.

The three nations from Asia, Africa and Europe will give next year's council a unique membership of global powers and important emerging countries that have been campaigning for a revamp of the UN's most powerful body.

Colombia and Portugal were also elected in Tuesday's secret ballot.

For the first time, the Security Council will include countries that are seeking permanent seats and have been fighting to reform the body responsible for international peace and security so that it reflects the world in the 21st century.

Japan, which leaves the council at the end of the year, was also campaigning for a permanent seat.

The big loser was Canada, another major economic power which was in a three-way race for two Western bloc seats. It dropped out after Germany won in the first round by a single vote and Portugal was ahead by 35 votes in the second round.

Emerging powers

Ten of the Security Council's 15 seats are filled by regional groups for two-year stretches, with five elected each year. The other five seats are occupied by the council's veto-wielding permanent members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the US.

"It is important to note that some of the countries that are coming on are some of the most important emerging powers," Mark Lyall Grant, Britain's UN ambassador, said after the election.

"We think that all of them will bring their own unique advantages and make this a very strong security council for the next two years."

The council, also for the first time, will include major regional powers - China and India in Asia, South Africa and Nigeria in Africa, and Brazil and Mexico in Latin America.

The outgoing non-permanent members of the council are Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda, whose terms end on December 31.

The five members elected last year - Bosnia, Brazil, Gabon, Lebanon and Nigeria - will remain on the council until the end of 2011.

Canada's loss

Lawrence Cannon, Canada's foreign minister, said that he did not think the vote was a repudiation of the country's foreign policy, though others in Canada disagreed and blamed Stephen Harper, the prime minister.

Cannon said a statement by Michael Ignatieff, the opposition Liberal Party leader, "indicating that Canada did not deserve a seat ... was used as an issue" by Germany and Portugal "to prevent Canada from acceding to the Security Council".

"We can speculate until tomorrow, but I can't give you any definite response as to what the real issue was, but I can say that Michael Ignatieff's statements hurt us," Cannon said after the vote.

Joao Cravinho, Portugal's deputy foreign minister, said that his country was "fairly confident that in a second round we would win against either candidate.

"It turned out to be Canada, and I think that the fact that we are representative of a smaller and medium-size group of countries was, in the end, decisive."

Failed attempts

There is widespread support for revamping the Security Council but all previous attempts, starting in 1979, have failed because rivalries between countries and regions blocked agreement.

Hardeep Singh Puri, India's UN ambassador, said "naturally all of us will try and use the time that we have during this two-year tenure to also give our partners a sense of confidence and build trust so that they are comfortable with our membership of the Security Council on an extended basis".
Coppied by http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/10/2010101353420649114.html

Watches Top 10 Upcoming Technologies that can Change your Life

Top 10 Upcoming Technologies that can Change your Life

If you believe that technology has the potential to change your life and lifestyle. Then here is a list of 10 top and most potential upcoming technologies than can transform your life.

Hydrogen Economy: With the increasing hike in fuel prices the best alternative option for fossil fuel is to use hydrogen. This can be done by converting water into hydrogen which can be used as fuel for various purposes. Water is the only byproduct obtained as a result of combustion of hydrogen. But the major problem faced is the storage of hydrogen.
Therapeutic Cloning: The major concept behind cloning is to clone organs mainly for replacement purpose. The main benefit of organ cloning is that it will reduce the risk of rejection of replaced organ by the body. With the development of this technique damaged or cancerous organ can be easily replaced by diseased free cloned organ.
Desktop 3-D Printing: With the help of 3-D printing you don’t need to visit store for latest and upcoming gadget. You can easily select a design and generate the whole gadget on your desktop with 3-D printing. Your next step could be designing, posting them or even marketing your own designs. With the help of 3-D printing you will be able to design kitchenware, toys and other household decorative items.
Location Based Computing: In near future for getting information about any object you simply need to point your mobile phone to that object. And within seconds all the information will be in your cell phone. Along with servers with Internet addresses you will also find servers with geographic coordinators.
Moore’s Law Upheld: In the year 1965 Gordon Moore cofounder of Intel stated that “the available computer power can be expected to double every other year.” Since last 2 decades computer pundits and chip industry are smashing all the barriers in the way of fulfillment of the law.
Cheaper Solar Cells: Gradually the cost of photovoltaic or solar cell is decreasing. In less than a decade it is estimated that the cost of solar energy will be almost equivalent to cost of electricity. And solar cells will be become one of the standard feature in all the residential construction. In that case your house will power itself within 1/3rd of time.
Mobile Robot: With the invention of mobile robots you simply need to send your car to pick your parcel from the city center. The recent challenge faced by DARPA is to develop robot cars which can easily navigate through suburban traffic.
Pervasive Wireless Internet: This technology enables you to be online anywhere and anytime. Recently all mobile devices like WiMAX, 4G, 3G, etc, designed keeping in mind the future of pervasive wireless interne. With this technology you will be able to check your burglar alarm through your phone.
Stem Cell or Gene Therapy: There are many disease conditions which are related with your family history. Or you can say that it is in your genes. Scientists are working hard to change all the defective genes and trick to grow the cells correctly. In near future you might see that genetic diseases can be as easily curable like pneumonia.
Digital Libraries: Digitization of accumulated work will make it easier to find an answer of factual based question online immediately. Moreover there are various institutes which are providing their courses online.
Coppied by http://in.ygoy.com/2008/04/20/top-10-upcoming-technologies-that-can-change-your-life/

Watches Emma Stone Swings from Easy A to New Spider-Man

Emma Stone Swings from Easy A to New Spider-Man


What a wonderful web she’ll weave: Emma Stone has been cast as the female lead in the upcoming Spider-Man prequel, in a role that will give viewers a glimpse into the movie’s timeframe – she’ll play Gwen Stacy, the girlfriend Peter Parker had before Mary Jane Watson.

The actress, 21, was selected after reportedly displaying an instant connection to Andrew Garfield, 27, who will play Parker/Spider-Man. “The chemistry between Andrew and Emma was stunning and made Emma the clear choice,” says the director, Marc Webb.

The new Spider-Man movie will begin production in December and hit theaters in 3-D on July 3, 2012.

Although she’s known as a redhead, Stone will presumably be reverting to her natural hair color to play Stacy. “Much to my surprise, it was fun to find out that our choice for Gwen – Emma – is also a natural blonde,” says Webb.
coppied by http://www.101worldnews.com/2010/10/06/emma-stone-swings-from-easy-a-to-new-spider-man/

Watches Motorola sues Apple

Motorola sues Apple

Motorola has filed suit against Apple seeking to block iPhone and iPad sales in the latest mobile technology patent infringement action.

The smartphone maker has issued proceedings in the district courts of Illinois and Florida as well as the inevitable filing witht he US International Trade Commission. The company is alleging patent infringement on 18 seperate patents which cover all of Apple’s mobile products and even some Mac desktops.

The patents involve technology mostly relating to radio related technology from antenna design to 3G and 802.11 Wi-Fi. Also included is the proximity sensor which disables touch screen input when making a call and some key software techniques such as managing installed software applications.

“Motorola has innovated and patented throughout every cycle of the telecommunications industry evolution, from Motorola’s invention of the cell phone to its development of premier smartphone products,” said Motorolla IP boss Kirk Dailey.

“After Apple’s late entry into the telecommunications market, we engaged in lengthy negotiations, but Apple has refused to take a license. We had no choice but to file these complaints to halt Apple’s continued infringement.”
Coppied by http://www.101worldnews.com/2010/10/07/motorola-sues-apple/

Enjoy Lady Gaga “more powerful” than Nancy Pelosi

Lady Gaga “more powerful” than Nancy Pelosi


The annual list, released late Wednesday, places Winfrey third. The talk-show queen is worth $2.7 billion and earned $315 million in the past year, but beyond wealth Forbes takes into account executive position, creative influence and entrepreneurship.

No. 1 on the list is First Lady Michelle Obama. Forbes didn’t calculate her and her husband’s personal wealth or money earned in the last year, choosing instead to list in that category the country’s national budget, which is $3.5 trillion.

After Winfrey, Lady Gaga, at No. 7, is the next media person on the list. She earned $62 million in the past year and, according to Forbes, “single-handedly reinvigorated pop music and pop culture.”

Next in media, at No. 9, is Knowles, who earned $87 million and whose music is a favorite of Michelle Obama’s, according to Forbes.

Former “American Idol” judge DeGeneres is 10th on the list and earned $55 million. Forbes noted that she recently gave a $30,000 college scholarship to a gay teenager who challenged a high school policy against same-sex prom dates.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who would be in line for the presidency after Vice President Joe Biden, is 11th on the list. Like Michelle Obama, her “money” category consists of the national budget.
Coppied by http://www.101worldnews.com/2010/10/07/lady-gaga-more-powerful-than-nancy-pelosi/

Watch Chicago Marathon: Big Crowds

Chicago Marathon: Big Crowds


CHICAGO — Two defending champions will highlight the deepest field of elite runners to date when the 33rd Chicago Marathon begins on Sunday. The field includes Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova and Kenyan Sammy Wanjiru. Both won last year’s race.

Also expected to race are Steve Jones and Joan Benoit Samuelson, who were Chicago champions 25 years ago. Jones is making a recreational run while 52-year-old Benoit Samuelson is trying to qualify for a fifth straight U.S. Olympic trials in the marathon if she finishes in 2 hours, 46 minutes or lower.

Mayor Richard M. Daley says amateurs will swell the field to 45,000 people. “We’re really fortunate in America to have great business leaders, corporate leaders,” said Daley, who was accepted a $500,000 charitable donation for after-school fitness programs from Bank of America.

The bank also said it would honor runners who raise the largest sums for charity with an award named after Daley and his wife, Maggie. Race officials say marathon participants account for up to $10 million in annual charitable contributions.
Coppied by http://www.101worldnews.com/2010/10/10/chicago-marathon-big-crowds/