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2013-04-21
Boston Mayor Hopes Feds 'Throw the Book' at Marathon Bombing Suspect

2013-04-19
Boston Police Closing In On Suspects

2013-04-15
2 Explosions At Boston Marathon. 2 Dead, Many Injured.

2013-01-03
The Press vs Citizens Rights and Privacy - Act 3

2012-12-30
CBS News - Year In Review 2012

Nature.com - 366 Days: 2012 In Review

The Guardian - 2012 In Review: An Interactive Guide To The Year That Was

TruTV - The Biggest Conspiracy Theories of 2012

Colbert Nation: 2012: A Look Back

FIP Year In Review(s?)

2012-12-25
Happy Holidays

2012-12-21
Welcome To A New Era!

2012-12-16
An Open Letter To United Health Care, Medcom, And The Medical Insurance Industry In General

2012-11-17
Whitehouse Petition To Remove "Under God" and "In God" From Currency And The Pledge.

2012-11-15
December 21, 2012

2012-11-11
If Hillary Clinton Ran For President, She Would Probably Be The Best-prepared Candidate In American History

2012-11-10
CIA Director David Petraeus Resigns After FBI Investigation Uncovers Affair With High-Profile Journalist

FIP Format Update

2012-11-07
Thank you for voting.

2012-11-06
Live Election Results

2012-09-30
FIP In Hiatus

2012-09-18
U.S.-Afghan Military Operations Suspended After Attacks

Iran Nuclear Chief Says IAEA Might Be Infiltrated By 'Terrorists And Saboteurs'

Romney Stands By Gaffe

2012-09-17
President Obama Says China Trade Practices Harm American Auto Parts Workers

Tolerating Hate - Muslim Protests Show Limits Of Free Speech

Hunt Launched After Halliburton Loses Radioactive Rod In Texas Desert

Commentary: China And Japan - A Dangerous Standoff Over Senkaku Islands

Japanese Firms Close Offices In China As Islands Dispute Escalates

U.S. To Install Second Early Warning Radar System In Japan



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Updated every 10 minutes.
US Chamber Of Commerce: Bollywood Is So Successful Without Strong Copyrights That It Will Fail Unless India Strengthens Its Copyrights
2013-06-19 07:11:38 (43 seconds ago) 
The US Chamber of Commerce, the giant lobbying organization who led the fight for SOPA/PIPA, is apparently so invested in "must have stronger copyright laws" that it doesn't even bother making sense any more. It's released a bizarre statement claiming that India needs stronger copyright laws, because Bollywood is so successful. Right upfront, it notes how successful things have been: Boasting the largest film industry in the world, the creative sector lies at the heart of the Indian culture and economy. As one of India’s largest employment sectors, an endless array of local professionals from technical, theatrical, and creative backgrounds are helping churn out 1,000 films in more than 20 languages annually. You'd think those are signs that copyright law was working (largest film industry in the world, largest employment sectors, over 1,000 films produced annually -- about double Hollywood) and that this would imply that whatever level of copyright there is in India -- which is supposed to be an incentive to creativity -- was doing a decent job. But, no, apparently it's all broken. The government, however, must improve national intellectual property (IP) laws and enforcement if it is going to seize on this opportunity and gain recognition in the global market and further empower local creators. Hmm. Wait, you just said that it's the world's largest film industry and an unqualified success. So, why does it need to improve those laws and enforcement? Specifically, Indian copyright law is unclear with the 2012 Copyright Act amendments further complicating and contradicting previous rule of law. Furthermore, the 2012 Act provides for broad exceptions that are incompatible with international norms. Also measuring relatively loware enforcement efforts, which are weak in application and don’t provide widely available civil and procedural remedies for copyright infringement. And, yet, this laxity incentivized the creation of nearly double the films that Hollywood produces. Perhaps -- and I'm just suggesting things here -- the "international norms" and the higher levels of enforcement are holding back the industries elsewhere. If anything, this report seems to suggest that other countries should move towards broad exceptions, since it appears to have been quite successful in India.

Furthermore, much of the paper seems to suggest that India needs to fix its copyright laws to embrace the international opportunity for its films -- but that (again) makes no sense. India's IP laws don't apply outside of India, so they have no impact on the international opportunities, which are governed by other IP laws. And, again, if the industry is doing great in India (with little enforcement and greater exceptions), doesn't this indicate that India should push for the same elsewhere to better embrace that international opportunity?

It's quite a world in which the US Chamber of Commerce seems to be arguing that an example of a success story should lead to that successful model emulating less successful markets. I don't know how much money the MPAA pays the US Chamber of Commerce for these kinds of pieces, but it's not getting its money's worth.

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The Messiah Will Be Tweeted
2013-06-19 07:11:32 (49 seconds ago) 

On a Sunday evening in early June, thousands of Hasidic men in long coats and black hats braved the heat to attend two outdoor anti-Internet asifas (or gatherings in Yiddish) organized by leaders of the ultra-Orthodox Satmar community of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, N.Y. Women were forbidden, but the real temptation for the men was already in their laps, where they covertly thumbed their smartphones.

 
Bomb blast, gunmen attack UN compound in Mogadishu
2013-06-19 07:11:10 (1 minutes ago) 
Al-Qaida-linked militants detonated at least one bomb blast and engaged in ongoing battles with security forces in an attempt to breach the main U.N. compound in Mogadishu, officials said Wednesday.    

 
'Days of our Lives:' Marlena hypnotizes Sami and Kristen plans Eric's demise
2013-06-19 07:10:45 (2 minutes ago) 
On yesterday's episode of "Days of our Lives," Hope grew concerned about slight differences in Sami's confessions when it came to her description of the weapon Detective Bernardi was carrying when she pumped a...
 
Purdue scientists have a jump on MERS coronavirus treatment going back to SARS
2013-06-19 07:10:45 (2 minutes ago) 
Researchers from the West Lafeyette, Indiana university have a "leg up" on developing a treatment for the new Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV, thanks to work they did on a related virus in the...
 
Can one million managers plug Africa's skills gap?
2013-06-19 07:10:17 (2 minutes ago) 
 
Santas and Burning Man and bridge climbing, oh my
2013-06-19 07:10:13 (2 minutes ago) 
The new book "Tales of the San Francisco Cacophony Society" illustrates the way much of digital-era culture jamming emerged from a few 1980s- and '90s-era out-of-the-box thinkers
 
Bomb blasts, gunmen attack UN office in Mogadishu
2013-06-19 07:10:07 (2 minutes ago) 
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Al-Qaida-linked militants detonated multiple bomb blasts and engaged in ongoing battles with...
Source: FindLaw: AP News
 
Emeraging markets contribution to world GDP set to grow to 70% by 2030
2013-06-19 07:10:04 (2 minutes ago) 

CEO of Citi - Middle East division spoke to LSE graduates about Dubai's increasing "global attractiveness to investors, corporations and talent."

Globalisation, urbanisation and digitisation are the key trends shaping the future of Dubai as it develops into a global city, according to Atiq ur Rehman, CEO Citi - Middle East division.

Speaking to an audience of over 100 graduating Executive MBA students and alumni at London Business School's 'Spring Celebration Event', Mr. Rehman discussed the international appeal of Dubai that is fuelling its competitiveness as a global city.

© 2013 CPI Financial. All rights reserved.

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Foreign direct investment in Arab world surges by 10% to $47.1b in 2012
2013-06-19 07:10:04 (2 minutes ago) 

Foreign direct investment, or FDI, into Arab world rose by nearly 10 per cent in 2012 led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to a latest report.

Last year, Arab countries attracted FDI worth $47.1 billion despite political uncertainty in some of them compared to $42.9 billion in the previous year, the Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corp said in its annual report, which covered 20 out of 22 Arab League.

The foreign investment inflow rose in 15 countries including Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen despite violence and unrest issue during the last three years.

Copyright © 2013 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved.

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Saudi Arabia IPO subscriptions decline 53% in 6 months
2013-06-19 07:10:04 (2 minutes ago) 

The subscriptions to IPOs (initial public offerings) in the Saudi stock market dropped drastically during the year, according to a recent economic study.

"The total amount of IPO subscriptions since the beginning of the year till June fell to SR 1.2 billion, accounting for 53 percent compared to SR 2.5 billion in the same period last year," the study published by Al-Eqtisadiah business daily said yesterday.

The study was made after the completion of the fourth IPO for the American International Group and Arab National Bank Cooperative Insurance Co. (AIGANB) early June.

Copyright: Arab News © 2013 All rights reserved.

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Booker Holds Commanding Lead for Senate
2013-06-19 07:01:06 (11 minutes ago) 
A new Rasmussen survey in New Jersey finds Cory Booker (D) running way ahead of Steve Lonegan (R) in a potential special U.S. Senate election match up, 50% to 33%.
 
Italian construction industry marks 'worst year ever'
2013-06-19 07:00:53 (11 minutes ago) 
Nearly half a million jobs lost since start of crisis

 
Alcohol management plan ruling 'raises issues' for discrimination law
2013-06-19 07:00:38 (12 minutes ago) 

High court dismissed claim by Indigenous Australian that plan violated anti-discrimination laws

Oliver Laughland

 
Most permanent secretaries don't have commercial or delivery skills
2013-06-19 07:00:38 (12 minutes ago) 

National Audit Office report shows drop in recruitment from private sector to senior civil service and high staff turnover

Less than a third of permanent secretaries have delivery and commercial skills, a report has found.

The National Audit office study into senior civil service capability revealed that just four out of 15 permanent secretaries had significant experience in a corporate or delivery environment.

The report also found a sharp decline in the number of new recruits entering the senior civil service from the private sector. In 2011-12, 72% of recruits came from within Whitehall whilst just 9% came from the private sector. This was compared to 10% in 2010-11 and 23% in 2003-04. More staff were recruited externally in specialist fields such as IT (52%) and finance (45%), but recruits were predominantly internal in areas such as project delivery (21%), policy (15%), law (6%) and tax (0%).

Head of the NAO, Amyas Morse, said progress on creating a more corporate approach would need to be "rapid" and involve all senior civil servants – not just those on corporate talent programmes.

Staff churn within the senior civil service was also high, with an average turnover rate of 16.9%. The Cabinet Office had the highest departmental turnover rate at 34%, followed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport with 34%. The report states that this high level of leadership churn led to "gaps in project oversight", and had contributed to failed projects such as the West Coast Mainline franchising competition.

Satisfaction with pay has also fallen since 2009. A quarter of senior civil servants said their salary was reasonable compared to those in other organisations – down from 39% three years ago. Although women account for 37% of the senior civil service, the gender pay gap now stands at 5.3%; the highest since it was first recorded in 2001. The report also states that a fifth of senior civil servants are thinking of leaving within a year.

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union for senior civil servants, said that failure to address the issue of pay and reward would have "serious consequences" for delivering reforms.

The report also questioned the effectiveness of the 24 professional networks, which it said "vary dramatically" in terms of resources and engagement, and lack influence across departmental silos. It also said the shift of focus to professions would be a challenge to traditional hierarchical decision-making processes which are dominated by those with policy, rather than delivery, experience.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said that, although progress had been made on strengthening leadership, the civil service "must constantly evolve and keep striving to better itself".

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Public service reformCivil servicePublic sector careersHelen Crane
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House to consider cuts to food stamps
2013-06-19 07:00:20 (12 minutes ago) 
 
Brazil protesters flood Sao Paulo streets for 2nd night
2013-06-19 07:00:17 (12 minutes ago) 
Local governments try easing tension by rolling back transport fees, but sweeping protests have taken on a bigger meaning
 
Bribery trial of former Finmeccanica CEO opens
2013-06-19 07:00:15 (12 minutes ago) 
MILAN (AP) — The former head of Italian aerospace and defense giant Finmeccanica , accused by prosecutors of making bribery part of the company culture, went on trial Wednesday for his alleged role in the payment of bribes to secure a crucial 560 million euro ($670 million) helicopter contract in India.    

 
Agreement with Martorano was a deal with the devil, but was needed against James “Whitey” Bulger
2013-06-19 07:00:15 (12 minutes ago) 
By all accounts, it was a deal with the devil.    
 
Freddie Starr rebailed by police
2013-06-19 07:00:11 (12 minutes ago) 
Entertainer Freddie Starr is rebailed for another two months by officers investigating allegations of sexual offences.
 
Karzai suspends talks with US over Taliban move
2013-06-19 06:51:28 (21 minutes ago) 
The Afghan president on Wednesday suspended talks with the United States on a new security deal to protest the way his government was being left out of initial peace negotiations with the Taliban meant to find a way to end the nearly 12-year war.
 
I lack a particular set of skills
2013-06-19 06:51:18 (21 minutes ago) 
submitted by Krillin to funny
[link] [76 comments]
 
The Voice winner: Danielle Bradbery, star discovered, makes historic win (Video)
2013-06-19 06:50:48 (22 minutes ago) 
"The Voice" winner for season 4 made history Tuesday night being the youngest contestant to win the show. Blake Shelton had his third win last night as well when Danielle Bradbery, 16, was named "The Voice&quot...
 
June 25, 2013 DVD: 'CSI: NY - The Ninth and Final Season' with Gary Sinise (Photos)
2013-06-19 06:50:43 (22 minutes ago) 
The Big Apple never sleeps and neither do the criminals in CSI: NY - The Ninth Season. In this season CSI Mac Taylor and his team will face challenging cases that put their skill and strength to the ultimate test. From...
 
Arizona fire caused by human
2013-06-19 06:50:12 (22 minutes ago) 
The Arizona fire that has engulfed more than 5,000 acres was caused by a human, officials said.
 
UN chief warns of new peacekeeping threats
2013-06-19 06:50:05 (22 minutes ago) 
BEIJING (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday the world body's peacekeeping efforts face growing dangers...
Source: FindLaw: AP News
 
Afghanistan Suspends Security Talks with U.S.
2013-06-19 06:40:52 (31 minutes ago) 

Afghan President Karzai "suspended security talks with the U.S. to protest the American outreach to the Taliban -- jeopardizing plans to maintain a U.S. military presence beyond next year," the Wall Street Journal reports.

 
Italy ratifies convention on violence against women
2013-06-19 06:40:41 (32 minutes ago) 
Istanbul Convention passes with unanimous vote in Senate

 
Sayed Abdellatif breaks silence on detention row
2013-06-19 06:40:28 (32 minutes ago) 
 
Michael Hastings – journalists pay tribute to 'fearless' war correspondent
2013-06-19 06:40:28 (32 minutes ago) 

Reporter who was killed in a car accident on Tuesday had little time for 'spinmeisters' and an incredible instinct, say colleagues

Tributes have poured in for the award-winning journalist and war correspondent, Michael Hastings, who has died aged 33 in a car accident in Los Angeles.

Described by colleagues as "fearless" and "irascible", news of his death shook the American media establishment when it was announced late on Tuesday.

Hastings was best known for his devastating Rolling Stone cover profile of General Stanley McChrystal, then the commander of US-led forces in Afghanistan in 2010. Headlined The Runaway General, Hastings' piece brought McChrystal's career crashing down as it documented the military leader's candid criticisms of President Barack Obama.

"I never expected the McChrystal story to have the impact that it did," Hastings later said. "It forced me to try to top the reporting. I think we succeeded at that. And the fucking bar was high, right?"

The unvarnished report was characteristic of a journalist who refused to cosy up to Washington and had little patience for official "spinmeisters", his former colleagues said.

More recently, Hastings reported for the social news website BuzzFeed. Ben Smith, the site's editor-in-chief, announced his death shortly before 7pm in New York on Tuesday.

"We are shocked and devastated by the news that Michael Hastings is gone. Michael was a great, fearless journalist with an incredible instinct for the story, and a gift for finding ways to make his readers care about anything he covered, from wars to politicians," said Smith.

"He wrote stories that would otherwise have gone unwritten, and without him there are great stories that will go untold."

Hastings is survived by his wife, the writer Elise Jordan, and their corgi puppy, Bobby Sneakers.

"Great reporters exude a certain kind of electricity," said Rolling Stone managing editor Will Dana on Tuesday night. "The sense that there are stories burning inside them, and that there's no higher calling or greater way to live life than to be always relentlessly trying to find and tell those stories.

"I'm sad that I'll never get to publish all the great stories that he was going to write, and sad that he won't be stopping by my office for any more short visits which would stretch for two or three completely engrossing hours. He will be missed."

Hastings was a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, a magazine that afforded him free rein to pursue truth and expose hypocrisy in war-ravaged Afghanistan and Iraq. The conflicts impacted Hastings personally: in 2007, his then-fiancee, the aide worker Andi Parhamovich, was killed in an ambush in Baghdad.

The 26-year-old Hastings commemorated his tragically-curtailed relationship in the book, I Lost My Love in Baghdad: A Modern War Story.

On a sabbatical from war reporting, Hastings last year sought out the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for a judiciously-arranged interview when he was based at a friend's house in the Norfolk countryside. With two digital recorders on the coffee table, Hastings asked the world's most wanted whistleblower: "Are you fucked?"

Assange was not the only subject of Hastings' occasional intemperance. In an exchange with Hillary Clinton's aide, Philippe Reines, in September 2012, Hastings was asked: "Why do you bother to ask questions you've already decided you know the answers to?"

He replied: "Why don't you give answers that aren't bullshit for a change?"

The response prompted Reines to call Hastings an "unmitigated asshole" and add: "Now that we've gotten that out of our systems, have a good day. And by good day, I mean fuck off."

"Michael was angry. He was also loving, and thoughtful, and constructive, and brilliant, but he was angry about things that weren't right in the world," said the MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.

"He was angry with things that weren't right in the world, and with war, and with loss, and that drove his reporting and it made him fearless when he realised he had found something important that he could report."

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War reportingUnited StatesThe Rolling StonesStanley McChrystalUS militaryJosh Halliday
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Maine man pleads guilty to 1980s sex offenses
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A Corinna man has pleaded guilty to sex offenses against two young girls that occurred more than a quarter of a century ago.    
 
UK soldiers' families can sue over Iraq deaths
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
LONDON (AP) — Britain's highest court says the families of several soldiers killed or injured in Iraq can sue the government for failing to protect them.    

 
Bomb blasts, gunmen attack UN office in Mogadishu
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Al-Qaida-linked militants detonated multiple bomb blasts and engaged in ongoing battles with security forces in an attempt to breach the main U.N. compound in Mogadishu, officials said Wednesday.    

 
Russia: Faberge eggs symbol of power
2013-06-19 06:40:07 (32 minutes ago) 
Russia falls again for eggs once despised as tsar’s playthings
 
UN, US ask Filipinos not to leave Golan Heights
2013-06-19 06:40:04 (32 minutes ago) 
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- The United Nations and Washington have separately asked the Philippines not to withdraw its more than 300 Filipino peacekeepers from the Golan Heights, warning of "maximum volatility" in the region after a number of countries decided to pull out their peacekeeping forces amid escalating violence, the Philippines' top diplomat said Wednesday....
 
Indications: Stock futures higher, but jittery ahead of Fed
2013-06-19 06:31:02 (41 minutes ago) 
Stock futures are trading cautiously higher on Wednesday as markets await a monetary-policy decision from the FOMC and a following press conference from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.
 
Franz Ferdinand announce fall 2013 North American tour dates (Video)
2013-06-19 06:30:40 (42 minutes ago) 
On June 17 the indie rock band Franz Ferdinand announced headlining tour dates on their official Facebook page for the fall of 2013. The North American tour begins Oct. 4 in Houston, and ends Oct. 24 in Toronto, Ontario. You...
 
Tweets chat: Why Africa's a brighter light than the BRICs
2013-06-19 06:30:14 (42 minutes ago) 
 
Kate Spade Saturday doesn't infringe on Saturdays Surf: judge
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The women's clothier Kate Spade did not infringe upon the trademark of men's apparel company Saturdays...
Source: Thomson Reuters News & Insight
 
Ex-FTC chairman joins Davis Polk & Wardwell
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
(Reuters) - Jon Leibowitz is joining the U.S. law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell to work on antitrust and privacy matters four...
Source: Thomson Reuters News & Insight
 
Filipino troops asked to remain in Golan Heights
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
Wed, 2013-06-19 13:30

MANILA: The Philippines Wednesday said it would keep its peacekeepers in the Golan Heights until at least August, and may stay longer if the United Nations increased security there.
Foreign...

 
Police: Paraplegic Castrated at Philly Facility
2013-06-19 06:30:02 (42 minutes ago) 
Police: Man arrested after castrating paraplegic in dispute at Philly assisted living home    

 
US Chamber Of Commerce: Bollywood Is So Successful Without Strong Copyrights That It Will Fail Unless India Strengthens Its Copyrights
2013-06-19 06:20:51 (52 minutes ago) 
The US Chamber of Commerce, the giant lobbying organization who led the fight for SOPA/PIPA, is apparently so invested in "must have stronger copyright laws" that it doesn't even bother making sense any more. It's released a bizarre statement claiming that India needs stronger copyright laws, because Bollywood is so successful. Right upfront, it notes how successful things have been: Boasting the largest film industry in the world, the creative sector lies at the heart of the Indian culture and economy. As one of India’s largest employment sectors, an endless array of local professionals from technical, theatrical, and creative backgrounds are helping churn out 1,000 films in more than 20 languages annually. You'd think those are signs that copyright law was working (largest film industry in the world, largest employment sectors, over 1,000 films produced annually -- about double Hollywood) and that this would imply that whatever level of copyright there is in India -- which is supposed to be an incentive to creativity -- was doing a decent job. But, no, apparently it's all broken. The government, however, must improve national intellectual property (IP) laws and enforcement if it is going to seize on this opportunity and gain recognition in the global market and further empower local creators. Hmm. Wait, you just said that it's the world's largest film industry and an unqualified success. So, why does it need to improve those laws and enforcement? Specifically, Indian copyright law is unclear with the 2012 Copyright Act amendments further complicating and contradicting previous rule of law. Furthermore, the 2012 Act provides for broad exceptions that are incompatible with international norms. Also measuring relatively loware enforcement efforts, which are weak in application and don’t provide widely available civil and procedural remedies for copyright infringement. And, yet, this laxity incentivized the creation of nearly double the films that Hollywood produces. Perhaps -- and I'm just suggesting things here -- the "international norms" and the higher levels of enforcement are holding back the industries elsewhere. If anything, this report seems to suggest that other countries should move towards broad exceptions, since it appears to have been quite successful in India.

Furthermore, much of the paper seems to suggest that India needs to fix its copyright laws to embrace the international opportunity for its films -- but that (again) makes no sense. India's IP laws don't apply outside of India, so they have no impact on the international opportunities, which are governed by other IP laws. And, again, if the industry is doing great in India (with little enforcement and greater exceptions), doesn't this indicate that India should push for the same elsewhere to better embrace that international opportunity?

It's quite a world in which the US Chamber of Commerce seems to be arguing that an example of a success story should lead to that successful model emulating less successful markets. I don't know how much money the MPAA pays the US Chamber of Commerce for these kinds of pieces, but it's not getting its money's worth.

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Italian high school seniors start graduation exam
2013-06-19 06:20:41 (52 minutes ago) 
Half a million students to write essays

 
Report tears into Labor asylum boats policies
2013-06-19 06:20:29 (52 minutes ago) 
 
Mervyn King outvoted on QE in his 194th and final MPC meeting
2013-06-19 06:20:28 (52 minutes ago) 

Minutes show outgoing Bank of England governor was denied parting wish for more money-boosting measures

Sir Mervyn King was denied his parting wish for more money-boosting measures this month after being outvoted in his final Bank of England rate-setting meeting.

Minutes of the monetary policy committee (MPC) confirmed that the governor bowed out with one last call for another £25bn of quantitative easing (QE), with colleagues Paul Fisher and David Miles joining him once more.

They believed the case to expand QE to £400bn remained "compelling" as recovery prospects were still only modest despite recent encouraging economic news, and warned about the risk of fresh turmoil in the eurozone, according to the minutes.

But they remained outvoted six to three as the majority of the MPC opted to keep QE on hold at £375bn, arguing that the recovery was already taking hold following "striking" surveys from the construction, manufacturing and services sectors for May.

The meeting was King's 194th and capped 16 years of rate-setting at the Bank as he prepares to hand over the reins to his successor Mark Carney on 1 July.

Bank of EnglandQuantitative easingMervyn KingEconomicsInterest rates
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HPV cancer cases on the rise
2013-06-19 06:20:13 (52 minutes ago) 
 
Man arrested at NH gun control rally
2013-06-19 06:20:08 (52 minutes ago) 
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Police in Concord, N.H., say they arrested a man who was creating a disturbance at a gun control rally outside the Statehouse.    

 
The troubling secrets of England’s mental hospitals
2013-06-19 06:20:06 (52 minutes ago) 
Troubling secrets of England’s mental hospitals
 
Home-buyers 'need 14 years to save'
2013-06-19 06:20:06 (52 minutes ago) 
The average single person in their twenties will now have to save for over 14 years before they can buy a home, says the housing charity Shelter.
 
Rafael Nadal seeded No. 5 at Wimbledon, faces tough path to final at grass-court slam
2013-06-19 07:11:35 (46 seconds ago) 
 
TIL Congressional Medal of Honor Winner Peter Lemon was high on marijuana when he single-handedly fought off two waves of Vietcong troops and dragged a wounded soldier to safety
2013-06-19 07:11:24 (57 seconds ago) 
submitted by notcontenttobequiet to todayilearned
[link] [175 comments]
 
June 25, 2013 DVD and Blu-ray: 'The Call' with Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin (Video)
2013-06-19 07:10:46 (2 minutes ago) 
From Brad Anderson, the director of The Machinist with Christian Bale, comes the psychological thriller The Call. From a screenplay by Richard D'Ovidio, it stars Academy Award winner Halle Berry, Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin, Morris...
 
Did Tracey Alley plagiarize the Mystara D&D campaign?
2013-06-19 07:10:45 (2 minutes ago) 
Way back on October 21, 2012, The Piazza user Havard pointed out something curious: Australian author Tracey Alley's Witchcraft Wars trilogy seemed to have a lot in common with the Basic Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, Mystara. By...
 
Home and garden: Top 5 tips for growing great tomatoes
2013-06-19 07:10:36 (2 minutes ago) 
Nothing says summer a juicy, vine-ripened tomato? Even though tomatoes are a home gardener's favorite and they are fairly easy to grow, they do have their little quirks. Here are a few tips for growing...
 
Miss Utah gets shot at redemption
2013-06-19 07:10:15 (2 minutes ago) 
Miss Utah gets a shot at redeeming her "education" flub. And what did her parents think when it happened?
 
Accused Cleveland kidnapper to appear at pre-trial hearing
2013-06-19 07:10:09 (2 minutes ago) 
CLEVELAND (Reuters) - A former Cleveland school-bus driver accused of holding three women captive in his home and torturing them for a decade is scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday.    
 
Bartoli withdraws from Eastbourne
2013-06-19 07:10:07 (2 minutes ago) 
EASTBOURNE, England (AP) — Marion Bartoli of France has withdrawn from the Eastbourne grass-court tournament with a viral...
Source: FindLaw: AP News
 
Wealth creation is faster in Middle East: HNWIs
2013-06-19 07:10:04 (2 minutes ago) 

A majority of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) in the Middle East believe wealth creation is faster today than in the past, more than any other region globally, according to the latest report by of Barclays Wealth Insights.

Over half (60%) of respondents in the Middle East agreed that wealth can be created faster today than in the past, in comparison to 43 per cent in Europe and 31 per cent in North America.

Copyright © 2013 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved.

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Abu Dhabi livestock and dairy show growth signs - official report
2013-06-19 07:10:04 (2 minutes ago) 

Abu Dhabi’s rising livestock and dairy industry, which is part of the agriculture sector has shown substantial business activity in the last year showing the strides made and in the sector which has huge potential to achieve food security.

Copyright © 2013 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved.

read more

 
Greek Government Back in Talks to End TV Crisis
2013-06-19 07:10:02 (2 minutes ago) 
Greek coalition parties back in talks to end TV crisis; state broadcaster remains off air    

 
Malloy Trails in Connecticut
2013-06-19 07:01:06 (11 minutes ago) 
A new Quinnipiac poll in Connecticut finds Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) beginning his reelection campaign as a slight underdog against Tom Foley (R), the man he beat three years ago.

Foley edges Malloy by three points, 43% to 40%.
 
Philly council holding hearing on fatal collapse
2013-06-19 07:00:53 (11 minutes ago) 
Philadelphia City Council is holding its first public hearing in the building collapse that killed six people and injured 13 others earlier this month.
 
Erdoğan's fall from grace in Turkey is pure Shakespearean tragedy | Fiachra Gibbons
2013-06-19 07:00:38 (12 minutes ago) 
 
Nigel Evans arrested on suspicion of three further counts of indecent assault
2013-06-19 07:00:38 (12 minutes ago) 

Deputy speaker is informed he faces additional allegations as he answers bail after initial arrest last month

Nigel Evans, the House of Commons deputy speaker already under arrest for alleged rape and sexual assault, has been arrested on suspicion of three further counts of indecent assault, it has emerged.

The MP for Ribble Valley, 55, answered bail following his initial arrests in May, and was informed that he faced the additional allegations.

A Lancashire Constabulary spokesman said: "A 55-year-old man from Pendleton in Lancashire has today answered his bail following his arrest in May on suspicion of rape and sexual assault.

"He has subsequently been further arrested on suspicion of three further offences of indecent assault. He will be interviewed about these allegations at a police station in Lancashire during the course of the day."

Evans was initially arrested in May following allegations that he raped one man and sexually assaulted another between 2009 and 2013 – accusations he said were "completely false".

A third person later gave a statement to Lancashire Constabulary claiming he too had been sexually assaulted.

After his arrest on 4 May Evans, 55, read a statement outside his Lancashire home vehemently denying the accusations against him after he was released on bail earlier this month.

The senior Tory spoke of his incredulity after being arrested over allegations by two men he had until then "regarded as friends".

Evans, who came out as gay in 2010, said he had just endured "the worst 24 hours of my life".

At the time of his arrest he said: "The allegations are completely false and I can't understand why they have been made, especially as I have continued to socialise with one [of the complainants] as recently as last week.

"I appreciate the way the police have handled this in such a sensitive manner, and I'd like to thank my colleagues, friends and members of the public who have expressed their support and – like me – a sense of incredulity at these events."

The Guardian disclosed last month that detectives were planning to interview a fourth alleged victim of Evans who claimed that he was intimately groped by the deputy speaker in a bar in the House of Commons.

The former parliamentary intern, 22, claims he was assaulted in the Sports and Social Club bar in December 2011 even though he had never spoken to the MP and was there with his parents. Detectives have contacted the alleged victim and asked for a formal statement.

The former intern said he had just finished a stint in the House of Commons and was in the bar with his parents – he was showing them around parliament and had stopped off for a drink – when the alleged incident occurred. Evans, it is claimed, stood with his back to the former intern and groped his bottom for around a minute.

A spokesman for Evans said about the alleged assault: "Mr Evans is unaware of the complaint and vigorously denies any wrongdoing."

The Speaker's office has previously released a statement saying that, while Evans will remain deputy speaker, he will not resume chairing duties while police investigations continue.

House of CommonsRajeev Syal
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

 
Chrysler agrees to recall of Jeeps at risk of fire
2013-06-19 07:00:20 (12 minutes ago) 
 
Korean chefs learn all about Maine lobster
2013-06-19 07:00:16 (12 minutes ago) 

PORTLAND, Maine — Four chefs from high-end hotels in South Korea are continuing their visit to Maine to learn about lobsters.

During their five-day visit that began Monday, the chefs are getting a hands-on education about Maine's signature seafood by going out on a lobster boat, touring processing plants and attending a lobster-cooking class and an industry meeting.

The program is a joint effort between the Maine Lobster Promotion Council and Calendar Islands Maine Lobster, with support from lobster dealers and processors.

 
Mass. welfare chief promises changes
2013-06-19 07:00:15 (12 minutes ago) 
BOSTON (AP) — The new director of the state agency that oversees welfare benefits has unveiled measures she says are aimed at preventing fraud and waste.    

 
Stoughton man convicted of killing rival in bed
2013-06-19 07:00:15 (12 minutes ago) 
DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) — A Stoughton man who fatally shot a rival through a window as the victim lay in bed has been convicted of second-degree murder.    

 
Teacher 'will not give evidence'
2013-06-19 07:00:11 (12 minutes ago) 
A teacher accused of abducting a schoolgirl to France will not give evidence in his defence, a jury is told.
 
TV's 'Futurama' Launches Final Episodes Tonight
2013-06-19 06:51:27 (21 minutes ago) 
The Lazarus-like animated sci-fi series' final 13 episodes run from tonight through Sept. 4.
 
Well: The 4-Minute Workout
2013-06-19 06:51:14 (21 minutes ago) 
A single, strenuous four-minute workout can effectively improve health and fitness as much as longer workouts can, researchers found. Download the “Well 4-Minute Workout” playlist for your workout.
 
10 questions with historical fiction author: Leah Scheier
2013-06-19 06:50:47 (22 minutes ago) 
Leah Scheier, author of "Secret Letters" answers 10 questions about her favorite time period in history, her favorite figures from history, and the age old question of coffee or tea.1. If you could go back in time...
 
Danielle Bradbery wins Season 4 of 'The Voice'
2013-06-19 06:50:42 (22 minutes ago) 
Danielle Bradbery was named "The Voice" on Tuesday night.The 16-year-old country singer beat out Team Usher's Michelle Chamuel to win Season 4 of the hit NBC singing competition, earning her a recording deal...
 
Agreement with Martorano was a deal with the devil, but was needed against James “Whitey” Bulger
2013-06-19 06:50:06 (22 minutes ago) 
By all accounts, it was a deal with the devil.    
 
UN says 45.2 million refugees and displaced people
2013-06-19 06:50:05 (22 minutes ago) 
GENEVA (AP) — The Syrian civil war contributed to pushing the numbers of refugees and those displaced by conflict within...
Source: FindLaw: AP News
 
Dissent Festers in States That Obama Avoids
2013-06-19 06:40:52 (31 minutes ago) 
President Obama's "near-complete absence from more than 25 percent of the states, from which he is politically estranged, is no surprise, in that it reflects routine cost-benefit calculations of the modern presidency. But in a country splintered by partisanship and race, it may also have consequences," the New York Times reports.

"America's 21st-century politics, as underscored by the immigration debate now embroiling Congress, increasingly pits the preferences of a dwindling, Republican-leaning white majority against those of expanding, Democratic-leaning Hispanic and black minorities. Even some sympathetic observers fault Mr. Obama for not doing all he could to pull disparate elements of society closer."
 
Video: Woman uses child to lift wallet in Kensington nail salon
2013-06-19 06:40:41 (32 minutes ago) 
 
Tim Brooke-Hunt to step down from the ABC in September
2013-06-19 06:40:28 (32 minutes ago) 
 
UNF, FSCJ score low in national teacher education ratings
2013-06-19 06:40:26 (32 minutes ago) 

Teacher education programs at two local colleges scored poorly in a new ratings report from a national teacher quality group.

read more

 
Man arrested at NH gun control rally
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Police in Concord, N.H., say they arrested a man who was creating a disturbance at a gun control rally outside the Statehouse.    
 
6,500 would lose health coverage under RI budget
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The proposed Rhode Island state budget would kick nearly 6,500 low-income people off the state's subsidized health insurance program.    

 
Stoughton man convicted of killing rival in bed
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) — A Stoughton man who fatally shot a rival through a window as the victim lay in bed has been convicted of second-degree murder.    

 
Top South Sudan officials sacked
2013-06-19 06:40:07 (32 minutes ago) 
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir sacks two high-ranking government ministers embroiled in a multi-million dollar financial scandal.
 
UN, US ask Filipinos not to leave Golan Heights
2013-06-19 06:40:03 (32 minutes ago) 
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- The United Nations and Washington have separately asked the Philippines not to withdraw its more than 300 Filipino peacekeepers from the Golan Heights, warning of "maximum volatility" in the region after a number of countries decided to pull out their peacekeeping forces amid escalating violence, the Philippines' top diplomat said Wednesday....
 
Little free libraries may turn up at last in Whitefish Bay
2013-06-19 06:30:59 (41 minutes ago) 
It’s not official yet, but Whitefish Bay plans to drop its objection to little free libraries and join the rest of the world in allowing the casual exchange of books on people’s front lawns.
 
Travel around the world this summer
2013-06-19 06:30:40 (42 minutes ago) 
Have you ever wanted to travel around the world? For many people, a trip around the world is a dream or a bucket list entry.You can travel around the world this summer without ever leaving home. Amazon...
 
Agreement with Martorano was a deal with the devil, but was needed against James “Whitey” Bulger
2013-06-19 06:30:07 (42 minutes ago) 
By all accounts, it was a deal with the devil.    
 
Panel says pay-for-delay ruling likely to create confusion
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
(Reuters) - When the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that payments made by brand-drug companies to generic rivals to keep...
Source: Thomson Reuters News & Insight
 
Study: Wiser medication use could cut health costs
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — If doctors and patients used prescription drugs more wisely, they could save the U.S. health care...
Source: FindLaw: AP News
 
UN, US ask Filipinos not to leave Golan Heights
2013-06-19 06:30:05 (42 minutes ago) 
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- The United Nations and Washington have separately asked the Philippines not to withdraw its more than 300 Filipino peacekeepers from the Golan Heights, warning of "maximum volatility" in the region after a number of countries decided to pull out their peacekeeping forces amid escalating violence, the Philippines' top diplomat said Wednesday....
 
Full Episode: Nightline 06/18: The Lil' Poopy Controversy
2013-06-19 06:30:02 (42 minutes ago) 
Lil Poopy; NBA, Inc.; Lazy Chinese Airport Employee    

 
Sen. Sherrod Brown says lawmakers who take farm subsidies would cut food stamps: PolitiFact Ohio
2013-06-19 06:20:47 (52 minutes ago) 
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, finds it disconcerting that some of the lawmakers who gladly take the government’s subsidies want to cut SNAP, or subsidies to people who need help buying groceries.
 
Almost Justice: With two killings, one suspect, police seek help
2013-06-19 06:20:41 (52 minutes ago) 
The story so far: Tyrek Taylor was detectives' best hope for solving the murder of Beau Zabel, the aspiring teacher from Minnesota killed in a robbery for his iPod. Now Taylor was dead, shot in cold blood just like Zabel.
 
Agriculture's impact on malaria
2013-06-19 06:20:29 (52 minutes ago) 
 
England v South Africa: Champions Trophy – live! | Simon Burnton
2013-06-19 06:20:28 (52 minutes ago) 

Over-by-over report: Can England secure a spot in the Champions Trophy final? Find out here

Simon Burnton

    

 
Ohio woman accuses 3 of holding her captive
2013-06-19 06:20:13 (52 minutes ago) 
 
Agreement with Martorano was a deal with the devil, but was needed against James “Whitey” Bulger
2013-06-19 06:20:08 (52 minutes ago) 
By all accounts, it was a deal with the devil.    
 
Swansea Bay's City of Culture hopes
2013-06-19 06:20:06 (52 minutes ago) 
Swansea Bay hopes to be in the running for the UK City of Culture 2017, with the shortlist of contenders expected to be announced.
 
Deputy Speaker Evans re-arrested
2013-06-19 06:20:06 (52 minutes ago) 
Commons Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans is arrested on suspicion of three counts of indecent assault.
 
Scoggins: Can MLB do anything to protect pitchers from danger?
2013-06-19 07:11:35 (46 seconds ago) 
Major League Baseball estimates that one in every 250,000 pitches results in a pitcher being hit in the head, but each one has the potential to be catastrophic.
 
A snake. Covered in ticks.
2013-06-19 07:11:24 (57 seconds ago) 
submitted by dinner-party to WTF
[link] [416 comments]
 
June 25, 2013 DVD & Blu-ray: 'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' with Steve Carell (Video)
2013-06-19 07:10:46 (2 minutes ago) 
From Emmy Award-winning director Don Scardino of NBC's 30 Rock comes the amazingly funny comedy film The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. Written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein and based on a story by Daley, Goldstein, Chad...
 
Miami Heat need overtime to defeat San Antonio Spurs and force a Game 7
2013-06-19 07:10:45 (2 minutes ago) 
In a series that has been about runs and blowouts the Miami Heat were truly pushed to the brink before finding a way to force a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. With their 103-100 victory over the San...
 
Interview with Peter Kirk: President, Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
2013-06-19 07:10:27 (2 minutes ago) 
The Atlantic League is the preeminent Independent baseball league in North America.It can lay claim to having over 600 players sign with Major League clubs over the course of its 15-year history.According to the Atlantic League website...
 
Pop song dubbed 'rapey' by critics
2013-06-19 07:10:15 (2 minutes ago) 
R&B artist Robin Thicke's controversial hit "Blurred Lines" has many critics saying the lyrics are promoting rape.
 
Agreement with Martorano was a deal with the devil, but was needed against James “Whitey” Bulger
2013-06-19 07:10:08 (2 minutes ago) 
By all accounts, it was a deal with the devil.    
 
Bribery trial of former Finmeccanica CEO opens
2013-06-19 07:10:07 (2 minutes ago) 
MILAN (AP) — The former head of Italian aerospace and defense giant Finmeccanica , accused by prosecutors of making bribery...
Source: FindLaw: AP News
 
Abu Dhabi launches wind farm in Seychelles
2013-06-19 07:10:04 (2 minutes ago) 

The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company or Masdar in association with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has launched a six-megawatt, eight-turbine wind farm in the Republic of Seychelles. The project was developed by Masdar and funded by ADFD.

Copyright © 2013 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved.

read more

 
Blast hits military site near Syrian coastal city
2013-06-19 07:10:04 (2 minutes ago) 

A loud explosion has hit a military site in the Syrian port city of Latakia, according to State and opposition media, Aljazeera reported.

Explosion in the Mediterranean town, a government stronghold, have been rare throughout the Syrian conflict.

State television said that six people were wounded by a blast was caused by a technical fault at a weapons store at a military engineering base.

© 2013 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)

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US Chamber Of Commerce: Bollywood Is So Successful Without Strong Copyrights That It Will Fail Unless India Strengthens Its Copyrights
2013-06-19 07:01:06 (11 minutes ago) 
The US Chamber of Commerce, the giant lobbying organization who led the fight for SOPA/PIPA, is apparently so invested in "must have stronger copyright laws" that it doesn't even bother making sense any more. It's released a bizarre statement claiming that India needs stronger copyright laws, because Bollywood is so successful. Right upfront, it notes how successful things have been: Boasting the largest film industry in the world, the creative sector lies at the heart of the Indian culture and economy. As one of India’s largest employment sectors, an endless array of local professionals from technical, theatrical, and creative backgrounds are helping churn out 1,000 films in more than 20 languages annually. You'd think those are signs that copyright law was working (largest film industry in the world, largest employment sectors, over 1,000 films produced annually -- about double Hollywood) and that this would imply that whatever level of copyright there is in India -- which is supposed to be an incentive to creativity -- was doing a decent job. But, no, apparently it's all broken. The government, however, must improve national intellectual property (IP) laws and enforcement if it is going to seize on this opportunity and gain recognition in the global market and further empower local creators. Hmm. Wait, you just said that it's the world's largest film industry and an unqualified success. So, why does it need to improve those laws and enforcement? Specifically, Indian copyright law is unclear with the 2012 Copyright Act amendments further complicating and contradicting previous rule of law. Furthermore, the 2012 Act provides for broad exceptions that are incompatible with international norms. Also measuring relatively loware enforcement efforts, which are weak in application and don’t provide widely available civil and procedural remedies for copyright infringement. And, yet, this laxity incentivized the creation of nearly double the films that Hollywood produces. Perhaps -- and I'm just suggesting things here -- the "international norms" and the higher levels of enforcement are holding back the industries elsewhere. If anything, this report seems to suggest that other countries should move towards broad exceptions, since it appears to have been quite successful in India.

Furthermore, much of the paper seems to suggest that India needs to fix its copyright laws to embrace the international opportunity for its films -- but that (again) makes no sense. India's IP laws don't apply outside of India, so they have no impact on the international opportunities, which are governed by other IP laws. And, again, if the industry is doing great in India (with little enforcement and greater exceptions), doesn't this indicate that India should push for the same elsewhere to better embrace that international opportunity?

It's quite a world in which the US Chamber of Commerce seems to be arguing that an example of a success story should lead to that successful model emulating less successful markets. I don't know how much money the MPAA pays the US Chamber of Commerce for these kinds of pieces, but it's not getting its money's worth.

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story
    
 
Why Obama's Falling Approval Rating Matters
2013-06-19 07:01:06 (11 minutes ago) 
John Sides: "First, it matters for the 2014 election. A simple model of House election outcomes constructed by political scientist Gary Jacobson shows that the share of seats controlled by the president's party depends in part on presidential approval.... Obviously, other factors matter too. But a less popular president certainly provides headwinds for Democratic candidates."

"Second, it matters for the 2016 election. Of course, that's a long way away, and a lot can happen between now and then. But again, simple forecasting models show that, controlling for other factors, the incumbent party does better when the incumbent president is popular."

"Third, it matters for whether the President gets what he wants from Congress--with some caveats."
 
The Great Barrier Reef we stand to lose
2013-06-19 07:00:38 (12 minutes ago) 
 
Man of Steel marketing campaign seeks to align Superman with Jesus
2013-06-19 07:00:38 (12 minutes ago) 
 
Housing deposits require more than a decade's savings for first-time buyers
2013-06-19 07:00:37 (12 minutes ago) 

Rising rents and low wage growth mean young people face challenging choices before buying homes, says charity Shelter

Families and single people in England will need to save for more than a decade to raise a large enough deposit to buy a home of their own, as rising rents and low wage growth have "moved the goalposts" for first-time buyers, according to research commissioned by the housing charity Shelter.

A shortage of affordable homes means today's young people face life-changing choices between starting a family or buying a home, even if they worked hard and saved as much as they can each month, Shelter said.While couples in the north-east might be able to afford to buy after four-and-a-half years, it said singletons in London would have to commit to almost 30 years of saving to build up the deposit they needed for an average first-time buyer property.

Models prepared for Shelter by housing economist Fionnuala Earley using official figures showed that a couple earning average salaries who put aside a fifth of their income each month after living costs would take six-and-a-half years to afford a 20% deposit on the average £139,920 property bought by first-time buyers. Although mortgages are available for those with smaller deposits, this was the typical figure put down by first-time buyers in 2012.

Lower house prices meant the time taken to raise a 20% deposit was shorter in parts of the north of England - four-and-a-half years, where Shelter said would-be buyers needed to save for four-and-a-half years. In London, where the average first-time buyer property costs £278,417, couples need to save for 10.5 years, while singletons face a 30-year slog.

While couples faced the shortest wait before they could afford somewhere, once they had a child and took on associated costs of childcare, building up a deposit became difficult. Working on the basis of a fifth of discretionary income going into savings, the researchers showed a family could typically put by just £54 a month, against £290 for a couple with no children. As a result, even buying the same kind of first-time buyer property would take much longer. Across England, the average number of years saving was put at 11.8 years, while in London it reached 20.5 years. In other parts of the south-east it came in at 13 years.

Shelter's chief executive, Campbell Robb, said the figures revealed "the harsh realities that 'generation rent' is having to confront because of our shortage of affordable homes".He said: "Imagine a 28-year-old couple weighing up their options: they can save for a home now and put off starting a family until they're 35, or they can start a family now but accept they'll be renting until their child is a teenager.

"Meanwhile, single people face an added pressure to either find a partner or to live with their parents well into their 30s if they're ever to have a hope of saving enough for a deposit."

The government has made attempts to increase the availability of 95% loans, launching the Funding for Lending Scheme in summer 2012 and Help to Buy in April 2013. However, experts have warned that the latest scheme could stoke a housing bubble, which could put prices even further out of reach for many buyers.

First-time buyersHouse pricesPropertySavingsRenting propertyHilary Osborne
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

 
Traffic: Morning commute report for Wednesday
2013-06-19 07:00:20 (12 minutes ago) 
No major traffic issues are being reported on the interstates Wednesday morning. Here's how the roads look:
 
Litke: Spurs' collapse starts at the top with Pop
2013-06-19 07:00:16 (12 minutes ago) 
 
NH inn recognized for energy improvements
2013-06-19 07:00:15 (12 minutes ago) 
NORTH WOODSTOCK, N.H. (AP) — The Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery in New Hampshire has been honored for its energy efficiency efforts.    

 
VIDEO: Obama and Merkel hold news conference
2013-06-19 07:00:11 (12 minutes ago) 
US President Barack Obama and Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, are holding a news conference in Berlin.
 
McGraw Live: Sam Donaldson & Cat Neville
2013-06-19 07:00:02 (12 minutes ago) 
We team with McGraw Milhaven to bring you the hottest topics of the day, live. Watch now!
 
Lobster, a New Game Programming Language, Now Available As Open Source
2013-06-19 06:51:25 (21 minutes ago) 
Aardappel writes "Lobster is a new programming language targeting game programming specifically, building on top of OpenGL, SDL 2 and FreeType. The language looks superficially similar to Python, but is its own blend of fun features. It's open source (ZLIB license) and available on GitHub."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.



 
John Shinal's Tech Investor: Silicon Valley should fight for open Internet
2013-06-19 06:51:05 (21 minutes ago) 
If any segment of our American democratic society is capable of fighting for a truly open Internet, it is the leading Silicon Valley Internet companies, writes John Shinal.
 
Clearing skies and lower humidity today
2013-06-19 06:50:46 (22 minutes ago) 
High pressure will continue to build south and east from the Great Lakes today leading to clearing skies and lower humidity by this afternoon. Winds will be from the northwest at 5 to 10 mph by this afternoon.&nbsp...
 
'Days of our Lives:' Marlena hypnotizes Sami and Kristen plans Eric's demise
2013-06-19 06:50:42 (22 minutes ago) 
On yesterday's episode of "Days of our Lives," Hope grew concerned about slight differences in Sami's confessions when it came to her description of the weapon Detective Bernardi was carrying when she pumped a...
 
UN, US ask Filipinos not to leave Golan Heights
2013-06-19 06:50:05 (22 minutes ago) 
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The United Nations and Washington have separately asked the Philippines not to withdraw its more...
Source: FindLaw: AP News
 
5 Things to Know This Morning
2013-06-19 06:50:02 (22 minutes ago) 
5 Things to Know This Morning    

 
Spaghetti-eating driver in fatal crash
2013-06-19 06:40:51 (32 minutes ago) 
A German tourist crashed his car after being distracted as he was about to eat spaghetti, killing him and a Frenchman, a coroner has found.
 
Qatar World Cup: winter tournament under debate – video
2013-06-19 06:40:28 (32 minutes ago) 
 
Canberra mid-winter ball 2013 – in pictures
2013-06-19 06:40:28 (32 minutes ago) 
 
Brewery District envisions new life in historic area
2013-06-19 06:40:13 (32 minutes ago) 
 
Police: Paraplegic castrated at Philly facility
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A 41-year-old man is being held on $5 million bail after police say he castrated a paraplegic during a dispute at an assisted living facility in Philadelphia.    
 
UK Girl Guides drop reference to God in pledge
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
LONDON (AP) — Britain's Girl Guides have dropped a reference to God in their pledge.    
 
School board in allows dodgeball, similar games
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
WINDHAM, N.H. (AP) — Dodgeball is back in physical education classes in a New Hampshire school district.    

 
BoE votes 6-3 against stimulus move
2013-06-19 06:40:07 (32 minutes ago) 
The Bank of England governor was outvoted again at his final monetary policy committee meeting, with the body voting 6-3 against more stimulus measures.
 
US Chamber Of Commerce: Bollywood Is So Successful Without Strong Copyrights That It Will Fail Unless India Strengthens Its Copyrights
2013-06-19 06:31:27 (41 minutes ago) 
The US Chamber of Commerce, the giant lobbying organization who led the fight for SOPA/PIPA, is apparently so invested in "must have stronger copyright laws" that it doesn't even bother making sense any more. It's released a bizarre statement claiming that India needs stronger copyright laws, because Bollywood is so successful. Right upfront, it notes how successful things have been: Boasting the largest film industry in the world, the creative sector lies at the heart of the Indian culture and economy. As one of India’s largest employment sectors, an endless array of local professionals from technical, theatrical, and creative backgrounds are helping churn out 1,000 films in more than 20 languages annually. You'd think those are signs that copyright law was working (largest film industry in the world, largest employment sectors, over 1,000 films produced annually -- about double Hollywood) and that this would imply that whatever level of copyright there is in India -- which is supposed to be an incentive to creativity -- was doing a decent job. But, no, apparently it's all broken. The government, however, must improve national intellectual property (IP) laws and enforcement if it is going to seize on this opportunity and gain recognition in the global market and further empower local creators. Hmm. Wait, you just said that it's the world's largest film industry and an unqualified success. So, why does it need to improve those laws and enforcement? Specifically, Indian copyright law is unclear with the 2012 Copyright Act amendments further complicating and contradicting previous rule of law. Furthermore, the 2012 Act provides for broad exceptions that are incompatible with international norms. Also measuring relatively loware enforcement efforts, which are weak in application and don’t provide widely available civil and procedural remedies for copyright infringement. And, yet, this laxity incentivized the creation of nearly double the films that Hollywood produces. Perhaps -- and I'm just suggesting things here -- the "international norms" and the higher levels of enforcement are holding back the industries elsewhere. If anything, this report seems to suggest that other countries should move towards broad exceptions, since it appears to have been quite successful in India.

Furthermore, much of the paper seems to suggest that India needs to fix its copyright laws to embrace the international opportunity for its films -- but that (again) makes no sense. India's IP laws don't apply outside of India, so they have no impact on the international opportunities, which are governed by other IP laws. And, again, if the industry is doing great in India (with little enforcement and greater exceptions), doesn't this indicate that India should push for the same elsewhere to better embrace that international opportunity?

It's quite a world in which the US Chamber of Commerce seems to be arguing that an example of a success story should lead to that successful model emulating less successful markets. I don't know how much money the MPAA pays the US Chamber of Commerce for these kinds of pieces, but it's not getting its money's worth.

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story
    
 
Final sales available at eloquii by The Limited
2013-06-19 06:30:44 (42 minutes ago) 
There are amazing final sales available at eloquii by The Limited! eloquii by The Limited, a plus size retailer is closing for good and are offering farewell deals and steals for shoppers looking to score some great bargains.&nbsp...
 
Fox in jar: Animal makes desperate request from two men
2013-06-19 06:30:40 (42 minutes ago) 
Fox in jar: A wild fox made a desperate request from two men who were walking down a dirt road in Russia when it needed help getting its head out of a jar. UPI reports June 18 that a baby...
 
Senate immigration bill would boost economy, CBO says
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A White House-backed immigration bill moving through the U.S. Senate would cut federal budget...
Source: Thomson Reuters News & Insight
 
Mississippi leans on Google to crack down on illegal products
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mississippi's attorney general said on Tuesday he would subpoena documents from Google Inc as part of...
Source: Thomson Reuters News & Insight
 
UK soldiers' families can sue over Iraq deaths
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
LONDON (AP) — Britain's highest court says the families of several soldiers killed or injured in Iraq can sue the government...
Source: FindLaw: AP News
 
Full Episode: World News 6/18: Ending the Afghan War
2013-06-19 06:30:02 (42 minutes ago) 
Baggage handling nightmares; Chrysler recalls some older Jeeps.    
 
UK Soldiers' Families Can Sue Over Iraq Deaths
2013-06-19 06:30:02 (42 minutes ago) 
UK Supreme Court says families of soldiers killed in Iraq can sue government    
 
Pope launches appeal for refugees and their families
2013-06-19 06:20:41 (52 minutes ago) 
'Understanding, hospitality' crucial says Francis

 
Austrian cinema: a province shaped by past masters of pessimism
2013-06-19 06:20:29 (52 minutes ago) 
 
Michael Hastings – journalists pay tribute to 'fearless' war correspondent
2013-06-19 06:20:29 (52 minutes ago) 
 
Jun. 19: Nathanael Greene dies
2013-06-19 06:20:22 (52 minutes ago) 
Here’s what happened.When we think of a death that changed the course of history, Nathanael Greene doesn’t come to mind. But when he died from a heat stroke on June 19, 1786, that’s...
 
Maine releases details of proposed health plan
2013-06-19 06:20:08 (52 minutes ago) 
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The state has released some information about a proposed health insurance plan being put together by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and MaineHealth after a hospital group sued to make it public.    
 
Maine releases details of proposed health plan
2013-06-19 06:20:08 (52 minutes ago) 
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The state has released some information about a proposed health insurance plan being put together by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and MaineHealth after a hospital group sued to make it public.    

 
Dundee makes culture city shortlist
2013-06-19 06:20:06 (52 minutes ago) 
Dundee makes the shortlist for the UK City of Culture in 2017, but Aberdeen misses out.
 
US Chamber Of Commerce: Bollywood Is So Successful Without Strong Copyrights That It Will Fail Unless India Strengthens Its Copyrights
2013-06-19 06:11:40 (1 hours ago) 
The US Chamber of Commerce, the giant lobbying organization who led the fight for SOPA/PIPA, is apparently so invested in "must have stronger copyright laws" that it doesn't even bother making sense any more. It's released a bizarre statement claiming that India needs stronger copyright laws, because Bollywood is so successful. Right upfront, it notes how successful things have been: Boasting the largest film industry in the world, the creative sector lies at the heart of the Indian culture and economy. As one of India’s largest employment sectors, an endless array of local professionals from technical, theatrical, and creative backgrounds are helping churn out 1,000 films in more than 20 languages annually. You'd think those are signs that copyright law was working (largest film industry in the world, largest employment sectors, over 1,000 films produced annually -- about double Hollywood) and that this would imply that whatever level of copyright there is in India -- which is supposed to be an incentive to creativity -- was doing a decent job. But, no, apparently it's all broken. The government, however, must improve national intellectual property (IP) laws and enforcement if it is going to seize on this opportunity and gain recognition in the global market and further empower local creators. Hmm. Wait, you just said that it's the world's largest film industry and an unqualified success. So, why does it need to improve those laws and enforcement? Specifically, Indian copyright law is unclear with the 2012 Copyright Act amendments further complicating and contradicting previous rule of law. Furthermore, the 2012 Act provides for broad exceptions that are incompatible with international norms. Also measuring relatively loware enforcement efforts, which are weak in application and don’t provide widely available civil and procedural remedies for copyright infringement. And, yet, this laxity incentivized the creation of nearly double the films that Hollywood produces. Perhaps -- and I'm just suggesting things here -- the "international norms" and the higher levels of enforcement are holding back the industries elsewhere. If anything, this report seems to suggest that other countries should move towards broad exceptions, since it appears to have been quite successful in India.

Furthermore, much of the paper seems to suggest that India needs to fix its copyright laws to embrace the international opportunity for its films -- but that (again) makes no sense. India's IP laws don't apply outside of India, so they have no impact on the international opportunities, which are governed by other IP laws. And, again, if the industry is doing great in India (with little enforcement and greater exceptions), doesn't this indicate that India should push for the same elsewhere to better embrace that international opportunity?

It's quite a world in which the US Chamber of Commerce seems to be arguing that an example of a success story should lead to that successful model emulating less successful markets. I don't know how much money the MPAA pays the US Chamber of Commerce for these kinds of pieces, but it's not getting its money's worth.

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story
    
 
China Readying 1st Moon Rover for Launch This Year
2013-06-19 07:11:34 (47 seconds ago) 
The Chang'e 3 mission is slated to launch toward the end of 2013.
 
Obama calls U.S.-Taliban talks agreement 'important first step'
2013-06-19 07:11:10 (1 minutes ago) 
The two sides will meet in Doha, Qatar, as early as this week to discuss ending the violence in Afghanistan. Kabul will then send a delegation.

KABUL, Afghanistan — For more than a decade, the U.S. and the Taliban have met almost exclusively on the battlefield of America's longest war. In coming days, both sides said, they will sit down at a negotiating table to discuss ending the bloodshed in Afghanistan.    

 
Interview with Tara Lee Yoga
2013-06-19 07:10:46 (2 minutes ago) 
Tara Lee is a registered senior teacher with the Yoga Alliance UK and is recognized as one of the top 5 teachers in the UK. Actress and Producer of So You Think You Can Dance Cat...
 
Immigration reform should net positive economically without debt
2013-06-19 07:10:45 (2 minutes ago) 
Good news is that a story from The Hill this early evening reports that the Congressional Budget Office says immigration will reduce the deficit by $197 billion over 10 years.The cost is $262 billion and the return is $459...
 
Philippines to Destroy $6.4M of Ivory
2013-06-19 07:10:23 (2 minutes ago) 
Five tons of illegal ivory will be pulverized by the Philippines' government on June 21. The ivory will be be run over with steam rollers in a ceremony in Quezon City, Philippines and could become material for a memorial to poached pachyderms. Continue reading →
 
Send Lady Liberty back to France?
2013-06-19 07:10:15 (2 minutes ago) 
Campaign launched to deport the Statue of Liberty. CNN's Jeanne Moos says to call an immigration attorney.
 
Clearing skies, highs in lower 80s Wednesday
2013-06-19 07:10:07 (2 minutes ago) 
Pleasant weather is forecast to set in Wednesday into the weekend, with highs forecast in the lower 80s and clearing skies expected, according to the National Weather Service.    

 
Qatar introduces bonds for trading in its market
2013-06-19 07:10:04 (2 minutes ago) 

Qatar Exchange has announced the introduction of government bonds issued by the Qatar Central Bank for trading on the exchange, which will commence on 20 June 2013, in a step that supports the development of the financial market in the State of Qatar on the one hand and diversification of investment tools available for banks, institutions and investors on the other.

© 2013 CPI Financial. All rights reserved.

read more

 
Anti-Morsi 'rebellion' campaign gets target 15 million signatures
2013-06-19 07:10:04 (2 minutes ago) 

Tamarod has gathered more than 15 million petition signatures demanding President Mohamed Morsi’s resignation and calling for early presidential elections, a leader from the opposition campaign said on Tuesday.

Tamarod had originally set a target of 15 million signatories to call on Morsi to step down.

© Copyright Egypt Independent. All rights reserved.

read more

 
Dubai hotels offer 30% discounts this summer
2013-06-19 07:10:04 (2 minutes ago) 

Hotels in Dubai have reduced room rates between 25 and 30 per cent to attract visitors during the slow summer season, according to industry experts.

“The summer months have traditionally attracted less tourists to the emirates compared to other months because of the hot weather,” says Christopher Hewett, senior consultant at TRI Hospitality Consulting.

© Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2013. All rights reserved.

read more

 
Begich Gets a Tough Challenger
2013-06-19 07:01:06 (11 minutes ago) 
Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell (R) formally announced that he will challenge Sen. Mark Begich (D) next year, Roll Call reports.

"His candidacy, which has been expected for some time, gives Republicans a top-tier opponent in one of the party's best pickup opportunities in the country."
 
Villaraigosa Expects to Run for Governor
2013-06-19 07:01:06 (11 minutes ago) 
Outgoing Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) told KPCC-FM that he's planning to run for California governor.

Said Villaraigosa: "You mentioned governor. Look, I believe in public service. I want to run for governor. In fact, I fully expect that I will. I'm going to tell you something, I will never have a job like this. This city has given me more than I could have ever hoped for."
 
Shimon Peres feted by celebrities and leaders on 90th birthday – video
2013-06-19 07:00:38 (12 minutes ago) 
 
Shimon Peres feted by celebrities and leaders on 90th birthday – video
2013-06-19 07:00:38 (12 minutes ago) 

Barbra Streisand, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton are among the guests at the 90th birthday of Israel's president, Shimon Peres


    

 
BlueAnt Q3 is a bargain at under $100
2013-06-19 07:00:31 (12 minutes ago) 
There is nothing worse than a Bluetooth headset that is cheaply made or doesn't work correctly.You'll have no such worries if you try a BlueAnt Q3 headset.It's solid, it's comfortable...
 
Gateway to dedicate Boone facility
2013-06-19 07:00:20 (12 minutes ago) 
Gateway Community and Technical College formally dedicates at 10 a.m. Thursday an existing instructional facility at its Boone campus as The Bank of Kentucky Classroom and Training Center.
 
Stoughton man convicted of killing rival in bed
2013-06-19 07:00:16 (12 minutes ago) 

 

DEDHAM -- A Stoughton man who fatally shot a rival through a window as the victim lay in bed has been convicted of second-degree murder.

Michael Blanchard was convicted Tuesday in Norfolk Superior Court of killing 21-year-old Stephen Erving at about 3:30 a.m. on March 16, 2010.

Prosecutors say the 24 -year-old Blanchard fired several rounds from a 9 mm pistol through Erving's first-floor bedroom window.

Authorities say the men knew each other and had a long-running feud.

 
School board in allows dodgeball, similar games
2013-06-19 07:00:15 (12 minutes ago) 
WINDHAM, N.H. (AP) — Dodgeball is back in physical education classes in a New Hampshire school district.    

 
MPs seek compromise on prison votes
2013-06-19 07:00:11 (12 minutes ago) 
Parliament will never back votes for all prisoners, so a compromise will have to be found to comply with EU law, says the chairman of the committee set up to decide on the issue.
 
US Chamber Of Commerce: Bollywood Is So Successful Without Strong Copyrights That It Will Fail Unless India Strengthens Its Copyrights
2013-06-19 06:51:31 (21 minutes ago) 
The US Chamber of Commerce, the giant lobbying organization who led the fight for SOPA/PIPA, is apparently so invested in "must have stronger copyright laws" that it doesn't even bother making sense any more. It's released a bizarre statement claiming that India needs stronger copyright laws, because Bollywood is so successful. Right upfront, it notes how successful things have been: Boasting the largest film industry in the world, the creative sector lies at the heart of the Indian culture and economy. As one of India’s largest employment sectors, an endless array of local professionals from technical, theatrical, and creative backgrounds are helping churn out 1,000 films in more than 20 languages annually. You'd think those are signs that copyright law was working (largest film industry in the world, largest employment sectors, over 1,000 films produced annually -- about double Hollywood) and that this would imply that whatever level of copyright there is in India -- which is supposed to be an incentive to creativity -- was doing a decent job. But, no, apparently it's all broken. The government, however, must improve national intellectual property (IP) laws and enforcement if it is going to seize on this opportunity and gain recognition in the global market and further empower local creators. Hmm. Wait, you just said that it's the world's largest film industry and an unqualified success. So, why does it need to improve those laws and enforcement? Specifically, Indian copyright law is unclear with the 2012 Copyright Act amendments further complicating and contradicting previous rule of law. Furthermore, the 2012 Act provides for broad exceptions that are incompatible with international norms. Also measuring relatively loware enforcement efforts, which are weak in application and don’t provide widely available civil and procedural remedies for copyright infringement. And, yet, this laxity incentivized the creation of nearly double the films that Hollywood produces. Perhaps -- and I'm just suggesting things here -- the "international norms" and the higher levels of enforcement are holding back the industries elsewhere. If anything, this report seems to suggest that other countries should move towards broad exceptions, since it appears to have been quite successful in India.

Furthermore, much of the paper seems to suggest that India needs to fix its copyright laws to embrace the international opportunity for its films -- but that (again) makes no sense. India's IP laws don't apply outside of India, so they have no impact on the international opportunities, which are governed by other IP laws. And, again, if the industry is doing great in India (with little enforcement and greater exceptions), doesn't this indicate that India should push for the same elsewhere to better embrace that international opportunity?

It's quite a world in which the US Chamber of Commerce seems to be arguing that an example of a success story should lead to that successful model emulating less successful markets. I don't know how much money the MPAA pays the US Chamber of Commerce for these kinds of pieces, but it's not getting its money's worth.

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story
    
 
Police: Paraplegic castrated at Philly facility
2013-06-19 06:51:23 (21 minutes ago) 
A 41-year-old man is being held on $5 million bail after police say he castrated a paraplegic during a dispute at an assisted living facility in Philadelphia.
 
The "Gang of 8" immigration reform plan must be rejected
2013-06-19 06:50:53 (21 minutes ago) 
As congress now considers the “Gang of 8” Immigration Reform bill, it is once again time to come face to face with the problem of illegal immigration, and to reiterate some overlooked truths, and to strip away the...
 
Could BOA have openings soon in the future?
2013-06-19 06:50:45 (22 minutes ago) 
Word has come about that Bank of America has forced employees to lie to home owners which in essence has caused many to lose their homes due to unnecessary foreclosures. This raises the question what is going to happen to...
 
UK minister vows action on bank review
2013-06-19 06:50:13 (22 minutes ago) 
 
Malaysia budget airport launch pushed to May 2014
2013-06-19 06:50:05 (22 minutes ago) 
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The opening of a new airport to accommodate budget carriers has been delayed until next year...
Source: FindLaw: AP News
 
US Chamber Of Commerce: Bollywood Is So Successful Without Strong Copyrights That It Will Fail Unless India Strengthens Its Copyrights
2013-06-19 06:40:52 (31 minutes ago) 
The US Chamber of Commerce, the giant lobbying organization who led the fight for SOPA/PIPA, is apparently so invested in "must have stronger copyright laws" that it doesn't even bother making sense any more. It's released a bizarre statement claiming that India needs stronger copyright laws, because Bollywood is so successful. Right upfront, it notes how successful things have been: Boasting the largest film industry in the world, the creative sector lies at the heart of the Indian culture and economy. As one of India’s largest employment sectors, an endless array of local professionals from technical, theatrical, and creative backgrounds are helping churn out 1,000 films in more than 20 languages annually. You'd think those are signs that copyright law was working (largest film industry in the world, largest employment sectors, over 1,000 films produced annually -- about double Hollywood) and that this would imply that whatever level of copyright there is in India -- which is supposed to be an incentive to creativity -- was doing a decent job. But, no, apparently it's all broken. The government, however, must improve national intellectual property (IP) laws and enforcement if it is going to seize on this opportunity and gain recognition in the global market and further empower local creators. Hmm. Wait, you just said that it's the world's largest film industry and an unqualified success. So, why does it need to improve those laws and enforcement? Specifically, Indian copyright law is unclear with the 2012 Copyright Act amendments further complicating and contradicting previous rule of law. Furthermore, the 2012 Act provides for broad exceptions that are incompatible with international norms. Also measuring relatively loware enforcement efforts, which are weak in application and don’t provide widely available civil and procedural remedies for copyright infringement. And, yet, this laxity incentivized the creation of nearly double the films that Hollywood produces. Perhaps -- and I'm just suggesting things here -- the "international norms" and the higher levels of enforcement are holding back the industries elsewhere. If anything, this report seems to suggest that other countries should move towards broad exceptions, since it appears to have been quite successful in India.

Furthermore, much of the paper seems to suggest that India needs to fix its copyright laws to embrace the international opportunity for its films -- but that (again) makes no sense. India's IP laws don't apply outside of India, so they have no impact on the international opportunities, which are governed by other IP laws. And, again, if the industry is doing great in India (with little enforcement and greater exceptions), doesn't this indicate that India should push for the same elsewhere to better embrace that international opportunity?

It's quite a world in which the US Chamber of Commerce seems to be arguing that an example of a success story should lead to that successful model emulating less successful markets. I don't know how much money the MPAA pays the US Chamber of Commerce for these kinds of pieces, but it's not getting its money's worth.

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story
    
 
Reception for Obama Is More Sober Than in 2008
2013-06-19 06:40:45 (32 minutes ago) 
The president’s arrival in Berlin is being greeted with far less fanfare than when he gave a speech as a candidate in 2008.
 
Britain's soft power is greater than Gangnam Style – so appreciate it | Dorian Lynskey
2013-06-19 06:40:28 (32 minutes ago) 
 
Britain's soft power is greater than Gangnam Style – so appreciate it | Dorian Lynskey
2013-06-19 06:40:28 (32 minutes ago) 

While Asian nations pour cash into promoting culture, the UK is slashing budgets. We shouldn't take our position for granted

Like good health, soft power is something you only really appreciate in its absence. Last year, the outgoing Chinese president, Hu Jintao, wrote an essay bemoaning his country's poor performance in the cultural arms race. "We must clearly see that international hostile forces are intensifying the strategic plot of westernising and dividing China, and ideological and cultural fields are the focal areas of their long-term infiltration," he wrote, somewhat dramatically, adding "the international culture of the west is strong while we are weak."

Hu's words can be found in a new report from the British Council, Influence and Attraction: Culture and the Race for Soft Power in the 21st Century, which uses Asia's obsession with extending to warn against British complacency. "The word 'soft' implies 'less effective' and 'less important'," the report suggests. "That is not the reality, and is certainly not how cultural relations are seen in the east."

Over the last few years, China has attempted to salve its soft power angst with hard cash, pouring money and manpower into the movie industry, the culture-promoting Confucius Institute and the foreign-language output of state broadcaster CCTV. At the same time, the austerity-fixated UK government has slashed funding for the British Council and World Service, abolished the UK Film Council, and generally shown little enthusiasm for the arts.

Last year, Monocle magazine's annual soft power survey placed Britain in the top spot, overtaking the US largely thanks to the Olympics and its opening ceremony, but the current government's lukewarm attitude does not bode well. As the foreign affairs committee reported last year, the "spending review 2010 may turn out to have had a very damaging effect on the [Foreign & Commonwealth Office's] ability to promote and safeguard UK interests overseas".

Soft power was defined by Harvard University's Joseph Nye in 1990 as "the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than through coercion", and culture is a key plank. The extent of its impact can be hard to measure but some benefits, at least, are indisputable. As well as being lucrative exports in their own right, thriving creative industries make a country more attractive to foreign tourists, students and investors, while oiling the wheels of trade and diplomacy.

In exceptional cases, soft power can rebrand a nation. Since the late 90s, a new wave of South Korean culture, called hallyu, has transformed the country's standing in Asia to such an extent that the foreign ministry talks of "hallyu diplomacy". Exported TV dramas such as Jumong, and K-pop hits such as Gangnam Style have done more for the country's soft power than any number of heavy-handed marketing campaigns. According to the New Yorker: "Hallyu has erased South Korea's regional reputation as a brutish emerging industrial nation where everything smelled of garlic and kimchi, and replaced it with images of prosperous, cosmopolitan life." Or consider tiny Jamaica, which, from Bob Marley to Usain Bolt, has been punching above its economic and military weight for decades.

Soft power is an unpredictable commodity that can't be bought in a hurry. China imposes a quota of 34 foreign movies a year but last year those imports outgrossed China's 893 homegrown productions, to the government's evident annoyance. Overseas consumers can't be blinded to a nation's flaws. When one of your most famous cultural exports, Ai Weiwei, is a tireless critic of the government, it's hard to pretend you're an artistic paradise, however much you spend.

Britain has long enjoyed the cultural reach that China craves, but it's taking its enviable position for granted. Perhaps when you're the land of Bond, the Bard and the Beatles, not to mention the English language, you're prone to assuming it will be ever thus, but it's not just austerity that threatens Britain's soft power. Many elements of Conservative dogma are antithetical to it: resistance to immigration and Europe; suspicion of the BBC and state funding in general; and contempt for any area of the arts on which you can't immediately slap a price tag.

The British Council report rightly argues for a "move from short-term transactional and instrumental thinking to long-term relationship building". And if we must play the price-tag game, economists point out that growing demand for popular culture from newly prosperous nations plays to Britain's strengths.

Measuring the worth of culture using purely utilitarian arithmetic is a tricky path. Art should be valued on its own merits as well as for its financial rewards. But the government need only look at the global success of the Olympics opening ceremony or The King's Speech, one of the last movies to receive UK Film Council funding, to appreciate what the right combination of long-term state investment and individual creativity can do for Britain's reputation abroad, for relatively piffling sums. That, surely, is a language that even the most fanatical budget hawks can understand.

Arts policyArts fundingChinaAsia PacificSouth KoreaGangnam StyleK-popPop and rockAi WeiweiUK Film CouncilDorian Lynskey
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

 
Cher credits luck for her lengthy career
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
 
Conn. poll shows support for new gun control law
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — While a new Quinnipiac (KWIHN'-uh-pee-ak) University Poll shows a majority of Connecticut voters support the state's new gun control law, there's doubt whether enough has been done to help prevent another mass school shooting like the one in Newtown.    

 
Malaysia budget airport launch pushed to May 2014
2013-06-19 06:40:10 (32 minutes ago) 
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The opening of a new airport to accommodate budget carriers has been delayed until next year because of design changes and other construction setbacks, Malaysia's airport operator says.    

 
Agreement with Martorano was a deal with the devil, but was needed against James “Whitey” Bulger
2013-06-19 06:40:09 (32 minutes ago) 
By all accounts, it was a deal with the devil.    
 
Four vie to be UK City of Culture
2013-06-19 06:40:07 (32 minutes ago) 
Dundee, Hull, Leicester and Swansea Bay make the shortlist to become the UK's second City of Culture in 2017.
 
Video: From the archives: Kennedy tours the Berlin Wall
2013-06-19 06:31:03 (41 minutes ago) 
In this video from 1963, President John F. Kennedy tours the Berlin Wall around the time of his "I am a Berliner" speech in West Berlin.
 
Shark attack at Surfside: Teen boy fights off shark
2013-06-19 06:30:42 (42 minutes ago) 
A shark attacked a teenage boy at Surfside on the Gulf Coast in Texas. The 15-year-old boy was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. According to a June 18 report by the Huffington Post, a shark warning has...
 
2013 Solheim Cup donates 15 percent of June sales to Colorado Firefghters (Photos)
2013-06-19 06:30:39 (42 minutes ago) 
In a press conference June 18, 2013 the Solheim Cup tournament director Becky Newell announced that the international golf tournament being held in August in Parker CO would donate 15 percent of June ticket sales to the Professional Firefighters...
 
N.Y. Scaffold Law necessary for worker safety: report
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
ALBANY, N.Y. (Reuters) - New York's controversial Scaffold Law, which imposes strict liability on employers when workers are...
Source: Thomson Reuters News & Insight
 
Q&A: Consumer product lawyer Levitt on GMOs and crop contamination
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
(Reuters) - U.S. wheat markets were roiled by reports in May that unauthorized genetically modified wheat developed by...
Source: Thomson Reuters News & Insight
 
UK Girl Guides drop reference to God in pledge
2013-06-19 06:30:06 (42 minutes ago) 
LONDON (AP) — Britain's Girl Guides have dropped a reference to God in their pledge. Gone is the reference to loving God,...
Source: FindLaw: AP News
 
Full Episode: Nightline 06/18: The Lil' Poopy Controversy
2013-06-19 06:30:02 (42 minutes ago) 
Lil Poopy; NBA, Inc.; Lazy Chinese Airport Employee    
 
UK Girl Guides Drop Reference to God in Pledge
2013-06-19 06:30:02 (42 minutes ago) 
Changing Times: UK Girl Guides remove reference to God in pledge    
 
Three missing in landslide at Italian marble quarry
2013-06-19 06:20:41 (52 minutes ago) 
Rescue operations ongoing

 
Eyewitness: Royal Ascot, Berkshire, UK
2013-06-19 06:20:29 (52 minutes ago) 
 
Families of soldiers killed in Iraq can bring claim against UK government
2013-06-19 06:20:28 (52 minutes ago) 

Soldiers abroad are protected by human rights law, says court in case of men killed when poorly armoured vehicles were bombed

Soldiers going into battle abroad are protected by human rights legislation, the supreme court has ruled in a landmark judgment.

The decision by the UK's highest court will have far-reaching implications for the way the Ministry of Defence (MoD) must care for troops and conduct future military campaigns.

Cases were brought by the families of three men killed in Iraq when their poorly armoured Snatch Land Rovers were destroyed by roadside bombs.

Lee Ellis, Phillip Hewett and Kirk Redpath died as a result of such attacks between 2005 and 2007.

Other claims were bought by the families of those killed and injured in a Challenger tank as a result of a friendly fire incident.

The supreme court considered several issues including:

• Whether British soldiers killed during military operations abroad were, at the time of their deaths, within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom for the purposes of article 1 of the European convention on human rights;

• Whether complaints of negligence are covered by the doctrine of combat immunity or whether it would fair, just and reasonable to impose a duty of care on the MoD in the circumstances of the case.

The individual claims brought by the families can now be brought to trial. The cases can be based on both negligence and human rights.

Jocelyn Cockburn, the solicitor who represented Susan Smith, the mother of Hewett, said: "It is fantastic that the supreme court has at last recognised that our armed forces are within the control and authority of UK authorities at all times and therefore within the UK's jurisdiction including when deployed abroad."

Outside the court, Smith said: "We have won at last. To be honest we didn't expect to. The MoD will now have to make sure our soldiers are safe abroad.

"What we have done now will make a lot of difference to people in the future. There will have to be protection in place.

"Phillip is dead. Nothing is going to bring him back. But there are other boys out there. We don't understand why the MoD didn't just admit they got it wrong years ago."

Philip Redpath, whose son Kirk died in Iraq, said: "The MoD and army have a duty of care to supply the right equipment. Without that, they could give a soldier a broomstick and that would be OK."

Cockburn, a solicitor with the law firm Hodges, Jones and Allen, added: "What has been established is that soldiers do have human rights and remain within the jurisdiction of the UK when abroad. Whether there has been a breach of those rights is a different question."

A decision at the European court of human rights in 2011 on the al-Skeini case, which concerned Iraqi civilians who died within areas under British military control, set a powerful precedent. If Iraqi civilians were deemed to have human rights and be under UK jurisdiction, lawyers for the soldiers' families argued, then the troops themselves should not be denied such legal protection.

MilitaryMinistry of DefenceBritish ArmyIraqMiddle East and North AfricaOwen Bowcott
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

 
Recipe cards from the past
2013-06-19 06:20:13 (52 minutes ago) 
 
10 Things to Know for Today
2013-06-19 06:20:08 (52 minutes ago) 
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:    

 
Maine man pleads guilty to 1980s sex offenses
2013-06-19 06:20:08 (52 minutes ago) 
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A Corinna man has pleaded guilty to sex offenses against two young girls that occurred more than a quarter of a century ago.    

 
Radcliffe's Cripple enchants critics
2013-06-19 06:20:06 (52 minutes ago) 
Daniel Radcliffe impresses reviewers with his "understated" performance as a disabled teenage orphan in Martin McDonagh's play The Cripple of Inishmaan.
 
Oil filter issue prompts United Airlines 787 flying from Denver to Tokyo to divert to Seattle
2013-06-19 06:11:38 (1 hours ago) 
 
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