Ed Miliband: a googly for tax avoiders | Editorial
In his own mind, Ed Miliband is pretty clear about how he would like to distinguish the Labour party he leads from the Labour party that went before. He aims to be readier than Blair and Brown to challenge the powerful in general, and the economically mighty in particular.
Over three years, we’ve seen flashes of both halves of that – in, for example, his determination to take Wapping to task over phone hacking, and in his conference speech on predatory capitalism, which initially left pundits scratching their heads, but looked smart [...]
Chicago board approves largest school closing
By Mary Wisniewski
CHICAGO |
Wed May 22, 2013 7:36pm EDT
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Chicago Board of Education voted on Wednesday to close 50 schools – including about 10 percent of all elementary schools – in the largest mass school closing in the nation.
The closings in mainly Hispanic and African-American neighborhoods have drawn protests by parents and teachers union leaders who say the closures will expose children to greater gang violence in a city that recorded 506 murders in 2012.
The [...]
Amnesty condemns abuse ‘inaction’
22 May 2013
Last updated at 19:25 ET
More than 70,000 people have died over the last two years in Syria, according to the UN
Amnesty International has accused governments of using state sovereignty as an “excuse” for failing to intervene in emergencies such as in Syria.
In its annual report, the human rights group also blames world leaders for prioritising immigration control over the rights of people.
The study documents torture in at least 112 countries.
It also criticises the UN for what it describes as its [...]
CUP: Tim Flock, Maurice Petty Lead 2014 Hall Class
The NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2014 was selected Wednesday afternoon, with Tim Flock, Maurice Petty, Dale Jarrett, Jack Ingram and Fireball Roberts joining the 20 members inducted from 2010-13.
A voting panel of 54 media members, track operators, retired racers and others active in the sport selected the five from a list of 25 nominees.
TIM FLOCK — A two-time series champion of the NASCAR premier series, Flock was one of the sport’s first dominant drivers.
Flock had 39 victories in only 187 starts. His victory total still ranks 18th on [...]
FDA panel says Merck’s sleep drug safe, effective at lower dose
By Toni Clarke
WASHINGTON |
Wed May 22, 2013 6:57pm EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Merck Co’s experimental insomnia drug was safe and effective at the lower of two doses studied, a panel of medical experts said on Wednesday, increasing the chance it will be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The advisory panel was convened to help the FDA decide whether to approve the drug, suvorexant, which would be the first in a new class of sedatives designed to help people fall asleep and stay as [...]
Obama nominee vows to work with Congress to fund transportation
By Doug Palmer
WASHINGTON |
Wed May 22, 2013 6:57pm EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s choice to be transportation secretary promised on Wednesday to work with Congress to figure out how to fund U.S. transportation needs during a time of tight budgets and faced lingering Republican anger over recent air traffic controller furloughs.
“One of my goals would be to pull together a wide variety of stakeholders, both within the government and outside the government, to squarely ad [...]
The Norway spruce genome sequenced
Related images(click to enlarge)
Swedish scientists have mapped the gene sequence of Norway spruce (the Christmas tree) — a species with huge economic and ecological importance — and that is the largest genome to have ever been mapped. The genome is complex and seven times larger than that of humans. The results have been published in the journal Nature.
In addition to its scientific interest this new knowledge has immense importance to the forestry industry in many countries.
This major research project has been led by U [...]
HP CEO talks Android, not Windows 8
HP SlateBook tablet: CEO Meg Whitman talked specifically about HP’s new Android products — not Windows 8 — during the company’s earnings call.
(Credit:
Hewlett-Packard)
Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman had a lot more to say about the company’s new Android products than she did about Windows 8 during HP’s second-quarter earnings conference call.
Whitman’s remarks hinted at HP’s newfound affinity for new operating systems, which includes
Android of course.
“Using multiple operating [...]
Rare plant in danger from logging at Boy Scout camp in California
Erik Verduzco / For The Center for Investigative
Biologist Andrea Edwards inspects the native and protected Dudley’s lousewort flower growing along the trails at Camp Pico Blanco in Big Sur on May 13.
Expulsion from the Boy Scouts of America is a dishonor few Scouts endure. But that was the punishment imposed on Kim Kuska, a self-taught naturalist and former biology teacher who had been with the organization for more than 50 years.
His crime: an obsession with the rare, and unfortunately named, Dudley’s lousewort.
Since the 1970s, [...]
Achebe returns home for burial
22 May 2013
Last updated at 19:12 ET
Chinua Achebe is to be buried in his hometown of Ogidi
The body of renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe has been flown to his home country from the US for his funeral.
He died in Boston in March at the age of 82 following a brief illness.
Relatives and officials were at Enugu airport in southern Nigeria as Mr Achebe’s coffin was lowered from the plane.
Mr Achebe is widely regarded as the founding father of African literature in English.
His 1958 debut novel, Things Fall Apart, [...]
Wasps star Wade wins awards double
Wasps wing Christian Wade has landed a unique double at the Rugby Players’ Association awards.
Wade, 22, was named both the Players’ Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year after a superb season.
He scored 18 tries in 26 appearances and finished level with Wasps team-mate Tom Varndell as the Premiership’s joint leading try-scorer with 12.
Jonny Wilkinson is the only other player to have won both RPA awards – but he did so in different years.
Wilkinson won the young player trophy [...]
Senate committee advances drug compounding bill
By Jessica Dye
NEW YORK |
Wed May 22, 2013 6:58pm EDT
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation that would increase federal oversight for companies that compound and sell sterile drugs across state lines.
The proposed legislation was introduced in response to a meningitis outbreak last fall that killed more than 50 people and sickened more than 700. The outbreak was traced to contamination found in steroid injections made by the New England Compounding Ce [...]