Tiny chip that powers itself from radio waves
Dutch scientists have developed a tiny sensor powered by the radio waves it uses to communicate information.
Such sensors could help advance the nascent Internet of Things industry, researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology said.
Increasingly tiny chips that measure temperature, light, and air pollution are being deployed around cities and in smart homes and offices.
One the biggest hurdles is to make these sensors battery-free.
"We don't want hundreds of these sensors around our homes if we have to go around swapping the batteries all the time," said lead researcher Prof Peter Baltus.
The sensor developed by his team measures temperature but similar sensors that measure light, movement and humidity could also be developed, he told the BBC.
The sensor measures just 2 sq mm and weighs 1.6mg.
The sensor contains an antenna that captures energy from a wireless router. It stores the energy and, once there is enough, is able to measure the temperature and send a signal to the router.
Currently the chip has a tiny range - just 2.5cm but the researchers are confident that this can be extended to 1m.
"Theoretically it can work up to 5m," said Prof Baltus.
The sensor can operate beneath a layer of paint, plastic or concrete - making it ideal for incorporation into buildings.
It is also cheap and, according to Prof Baltus, the cost of an individual chip would be around 20 cents.
According to Gartner, the Internet of Things market is set to explode. It predicts that cities will have 1.6 billion connected things, smart buildings, 518 million and homes, one billion, in 2016.
Source-BBC
Europe agrees response to cyber-attacks
Technology firms and those running critical services will have to report cyber-breaches, under new rules proposed by MEPs.
The rules will also establish minimum standards of cybersecurity for banks, energy and water firms.
It is the first time Europe has created EU-wide rules on cybersecurity.
It comes in the wake of concerns that key infrastructure, such as airports or power stations, could be targeted by hackers.
The proposed laws - agreed by MEPs and ministers from the 28 EU countries - will also apply to some tech firms. The details of this have yet to be worked out but the rules are likely to include online marketplaces, such as eBay and Amazon, and search engines such as Google.
The Network and Information Security directive is an attempt to deal with the emerging threat of cyber-attacks.
Currently there is no common approach in Europe to digital network breaches, whether they are the result of human error, technical failures or malicious attacks.
The European Agency for Network and Information Security (Enisa) estimates that such breaches result in annual losses in the range of €260bn to €340bn (£188bn to £246bn).
Under the new rules, member states would have to co-operate more on cybersecurity, exchanging information about breaches, offering best practice and assisting member states in securing their infrastructures.
MEP Vicky Ford, who chaired the final round of talks, said that it was "a hugely complex piece of legislation".
"We have set up a network which will enable experts from each of the 28 countries in the EU to share and develop best practice in network security, whilst not compromising any individual member state's own national security measures."
The deal still needs approval from the European Parliament and national governments. The vote is expected to take place in the spring, after which member states would have around two years to put the measures in place.
Source-BBC
Snapchat suffers major worldwide outages after problems with posts loading
Snapchat users around the world are reporting problems with the service.
In a tweet, the social media company says it's team "is aware of the problem and working on a fix" but doesn't say when the issue will be sorted out.
Many users say they're having problems with pages loading, signing in or out and sending videos, although others say their app is working fine.
The problems seem to have started on Tuesday morning and are still continuing in some areas.
The website Down Detector, which tracks website outages, shows more than 4,000 people were reporting issues at around 12pm UK time although that figure has dropped.
Source-BBC
US agent jailed over bitcoin theft
A former US Secret Service agent has been jailed for six years for stealing electronic currency while investigating the Silk Road online marketplace, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Shaun Bridges took $820,000 (£546,000) in bitcoin after accessing Silk Road.
He admitted money laundering and obstruction charges in August.
US District Judge Richard Seeborg said Bridges' behaviour was a "shocking and reprehensible abandonment of his public duty".
Passing sentence on Monday, the judge said "This, to me, is an extremely serious crime consisting of the betrayal of public trust by a federal law enforcement agent," the AP reported.
"And from everything I see, it was motivated entirely by greed."
As a member of the US Secret Service, Bridges was part of a task force investigating the Silk Road marketplace, which was used by some to trade illegal items. It was closed in 2013 following raids by the FBI and other agencies
Having gained access to the online bazaar, Bridges stole the online currency and tried to pin it on a witness who was cooperating with the investigation, prompting Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht to take out hits on the witness' life, prosecutors said at Monday's hearing.
The judge said it was "inexcusable" for a federal agent to put a cooperating witness at risk in that way. Bridges told the judge before his sentencing that he had accepted responsibility for his crime and had not spent any of the money he took.
"I obviously have lost a lot, a very illustrious career," he said. His lawyer sought a three-year sentence, but the judge gave him a jail term of five years and 11 months, the AP reported.
Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in May after he was convicted over his operation of the website for nearly three years from 2011 until his 2013 arrest.
Prosecutors said he collected $18m in bitcoin through commissions on tens of thousands of drug sales while operating the site using the alias, "Dread Pirate Roberts," an apparent reference to a main character in "The Princess Bride," the 1987 comedy film based on a novel of the same name.
A Drug Enforcement Administration agent on the Silk Road task force, Carl Force, was charged separately with selling information about the investigation and pleaded guilty to extortion and other charges. He was sentenced to six years in prison in October.
Source-BBC
Russia hits targets in Syria from 'Mediterranean submarine'
Russia says it has for the first time hit targets in Syria with missiles launched from a submarine.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Kalibr cruise missiles from the Rostov-on-Don submarine were fired at so-called Islamic State (IS) militants, at two "terrorist positions" in Raqqa.
Russia began air strikes in Syria in September, saying this had been requested by President Bashar al-Assad.
A US-led coalition says Russia often targets moderate Syrian opposition.
The Kremlin denies the accusations.
It says it is hitting "all terrorists", but at least some of its air strikes have hit civilians and Western-backed rebels, according to Syrian activists.
"We used Kalibr cruise missiles from the Rostov-on-Don submarine from the Mediterranean Sea," Mr Shoigu said in televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
"We can say with complete confidence that fairly serious damage was done to weapons stores and a factory for preparing mines and, naturally, oil infrastructure," the defence minister added.
Raqqa, in northern Syria, is the self-proclaimed capital of the IS militant group.
Mr Shoigu also said that Russia had informed the US and Israel in advance about the missile strikes.
Neither country has publicly commented on the issue.
In October, Russia said it had fired 26 sea-based cruise missiles from warships in the Caspian Sea - about 1,500km (930 miles) away from targets in Syria.
The US-led coalition has been targeting IS militants in Syria since September 2014, and does not co-ordinate its raids with the authorities in Damascus.
Source-BBC
TCIG's MOH warns residents of Zika Virus
The Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services urges persons to take every precaution to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
While Chikungunya and Dengue are still sporadically occurring in our community, Zika virus, also a mosquito-borne disease which was first identified in Chile in February of last year, has since spread to Brazil, Columbia and the Caribbean.
Earlier in November 2015, the Caribbean Public Health Agency confirmed five cases of the Zika virus in a territory of the Caribbean Community. No cases of Zika have been detected in the TCI.
The disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, which bite mostly during the daytime. The same mosquito is also responsible for Dengue and Chikungunya.
The most common symptoms of Zika virus are mild and are: fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes (conjunctivitis).Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, pain behind the eyes, and vomiting.Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Zika.
If you suspect you have Zika, please see your health care provider!
To relieve fever and pain associated with the virus, it is recommended that persons drink lots of fluids and take pain relievers such as paracetamol. Aspirin, Advil, Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided .
In order to protect yourself from mosquito bites use insect repellents on exposed skin,when weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and use air conditioning or window/door screens to keep mosquitoes outside. If you are not able to protect yourself from mosquitoes in your home, sleep under a mosquito bed net.
It is even more critical for women who are pregnant to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
A link between mothers who had Zika virus in pregnancy and an increased incidence of microcephaly in infants born to them is currently being investigated. Microcephaly is a condition where the size of an infant's head is smaller than normal, because of slowed or incomplete brain development.
The Environmental Health Department has enhanced its vector control activities to reduce mosquito breeding sites in addition to stepping up fogging.
Members of the public are urged to eliminate breeding sites for mosquitoes by keeping your surroundings clean. Cover or turn over containers. Tightly cover drums and rain barrels as well as boats and wading pools. Get rid of or cover old tires. Properly dispose of all garbage and refuse. Clean rain gutters and make sure they are flowing properly. Inspect your home and yard weekly.
Call the Environmental Health Department at 649-338-2143 or 649-338-2145 to treat large bodies of stagnant water on or around your property.
The MOHAHS will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.
J. Cole Announces Compilation Album, Revenge of the Dreamers II
Over the weekend, J. Cole announced some big news for his fans: new music is arriving this week.
The rapper took to Twitter and post the cryptic phone number 1-888-88-DREAM FREE, which revealed that Cole and his Dreamville members -- Bas, Omen, Elite and Cozz -- are getting ready to release a sequel to their compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers.
The nine-track set is scheduled to arrive on December 11. The set currently is available for pre-order on iTunes and includes Bas’ “Night Job” featuring Cole.
In related news, Cole has received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album for 2014 Forest Hills Drive and Best Rap Performance for “Apparently.”
Source-ABC
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Welcome Baby Boy
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian celebrated the birth of their second child early Saturday morning (Dec. 5) in Los Angeles.
The reality star gave birth to a new baby boy about three weeks ahead of her due date. The couple confirmed to the Associated Press that Kardashian and the baby are doing well.
“Kim Kardashian and her husband, Kanye West, welcomed the arrival of their son this morning,” read a note on Kardashian's website. “Mother and son are doing well.”
On Friday evening, Kardashian posted an Instagram photo of her bare belly with the caption, "Ready whenever you are lol."
The couple hasn’t yet revealed the name of their new child, nor have they posted any photos of the baby on social media.
Kardashian and West, who married in May 2014, welcomed their first child, daughter North West, in June 2013.
Source-Billboard
Uefa president's lawyers to go to Cas over Fifa ban
Uefa president Michel Platini will find out this week whether his 90-day Fifa ban will be temporarily lifted.
Platini, 60, was suspended with Fifa president Sepp Blatter in October while corruption claims are investigated. They deny any wrongdoing.
His lawyers will attend a preliminary hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) on Tuesday.
Cas said a decision over Platini's ban appeal will be made by Friday, 11 December.
The former France midfielder wants to run for the Fifa leadership but is banned from any football-related activity.
Platini and Blatter have been suspended over allegations that a "disloyal payment" of £1.3m was made to Platini in 2011 for work he carried out for Fifa between 1998 and 2002.
If Platini wins his appeal, the Fifa electoral committee has said it would review his case, but there is no guarantee he would be able to stand in the election to replace Blatter.
Blatter has announced he will stand down, and Fifa's next president will be chosen at a special congress on 26 February 2016.
Source-BBC
Sri Lanka player fails drugs test and is sent home
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera has tested positive for a banned substance and has been sent home from their tour of New Zealand.
A statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said Perera failed a random test during the recent tour of Pakistan.
The 25-year-old, who will be replaced by Kaushal Silva in New Zealand, played five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches during the tour.
SLC says it will test his B sample in line with anti-doping regulations.
The governing body added it would "make every endeavour" to enable Perera to resume his career "at the earliest opportunity in compliance with the ICC regulations".
Silva, 29, joins the squad for two Tests, five one-day internationals and two T20 matches in New Zealand from December 10 to January 10.
Source-BBC