Uncategorized

Gastric bypass surgery performed by remote control

Sunday, August 21, 2005 A robotic system at Stanford Medical Center was used to perform a laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery successfully with a theoretically similar rate of complications to that seen in standard operations. However, as there were only 10 people in the experimental group (and another 10 in the control group), this is not a statistically significant sample. If this surgical procedure is as successful in large-scale studies, it may lead the way for…

Continue reading

Uncategorized

LulzSec attacks Nintendo server

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Computer hacking group Lulz Security has attacked a server of one of the United States affiliates of Nintendo, a Japanese-based video gaming company. Nintendo themselves confirmed the news on Sunday, with a statement from the corporation reporting that the unit was illegally accessed “a few weeks ago”. Speaking on behalf of the corporation, Ken Toyoda had claimed that “[t]here were no third-party victims” but acknowledged “there was some kind of possible…

Continue reading

Uncategorized

Iranian International Master Dorsa Derakhshani discusses her chess career with Wikinews

Tuesday, April 14, 2020 In February 2017, the Iranian Chess Federation announced two teenage chess players, Dorsa Derakhshani and her younger brother Borna Derakhshani, were banned from representing the national team. The federation announced their decision although Dorsa Derakhshani had previously decided and informed the chess federation she did not wish to play for Iran. Dorsa Derakhshani is currently 21 years old and holds the International Master (IM) as well as Woman Grand Master (WGM)…

Continue reading

Uncategorized

Rachel Weisz wants Botox ban for actors

Tuesday, July 7, 2009 English actress Rachel Weisz thinks that Botox injections should be banned for all actors. The 39-year-old actress, best known for her roles in the Mummy movie franchise and for her Academy Award-winning portrayal in The Constant Gardener, feels facial Botox injections leave actors less able to convey emotion and that it harms the acting industry as much as steroids harm athletes. In an interview with UK’s Harper’s Bazaar, coming out next…

Continue reading

Uncategorized

Assange seeks asylum in Ecuadorian embassy

Friday, June 22, 2012 Julian Assange, founder of whistle blowing site Wikileaks, has spent a third night in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. He entered the embassy on Tuesday to claim asylum, breaking strict bail conditions, after losing an appeal in the British high courts over extradition to Sweden, where he faces questioning over allegations of sexual assault in 2010. Assange, 40, awaits a decision from diplomats on his asylum application. In a telephone interview…

Continue reading

Uncategorized

Automobile sales in the United States down sharply

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 Sales of automobiles in the United States fell as much as 35% in January, compared to the same month a year ago, as manufacturers reported their January sales. Ford Motor Company NYSE: F sales dropped 42% last month from the previous year. General Motors NYSE: GM reported a 49% decline. Chrysler was hardest hit among the domestically owned manufacturers with a plunge of 55%. The decline in sales has not been limited to just US…

Continue reading

Uncategorized

Australian Govt to lessen numbers of immigrants detained indefinitely

Wednesday, March 23, 2005 The Australian Government today announced terms of a new class of visa which is aimed at reducing the number of immigration detainees locked up indefinitely, after years of criticism by human rights watchdogs. The new Return Pending Bridging Visa allows for release of detainees held for over three years and who have exhausted all rights for appeal, but who cannot be removed from Australia. In the community they will be provided…

Continue reading

Uncategorized

Australian Parliament hears reply to Budget

Thursday, May 11, 2006 The Australian House of Representatives heard the traditional right-of-reply to the Budget released May 9, from the Australian Labor Party, led by Kim Beazley (Labor, Brand), plus Budget replies from minor parties in the Australian Senate. While the Budget is politically popular, having as one of its main features significant tax reform, Beazley focused on the omissions in the Budget, such as the failure to address a skills shortage. Contents 1…

Continue reading

Uncategorized

Andrea Muizelaar on fashion, anorexia, and life after ‘Top Model’

Monday, November 26, 2007 In the 18 months since Andrea Muizelaar was crowned winner of the reality TV series Canada’s Next Top Model, her life has been a complete whirlwind. From working in a dollar store in her hometown of Whitby, Ontario, to modeling haute couture in Toronto, she had reached her dream of becoming a true Top Model. But at what cost? Unknown to casual television viewers, Muizelaar had been enveloped in the eating…

Continue reading