Minecraft awarded GameCity videogame arts prize

Minecraft was the winner of the new arts award for computer games. The prize was announced ate the finale of the GameCIty videogame culture festival in Nottingham, England. The title is based of the work of an independent Swedish company, Mahjong. Players have to build objects out of blocks in an open environment.  The game was selected out of many other big name publishers, such as. Electronic Arts’ Portal 2 developed by Valve, and Microsoft llomilo. Markus Persson, the founder of Mojong said “it’s a great honor to be compared to those games, winning this award helps us to try to make Minecraft the best game it can be.”  It has been stated that nearly four million people have already bought the title on line; despite the fact it is still in a beta.  The formal release it scheduled for next month. “ it just wasn’t like anything else, it felt like it had the expanding life of its own. It had an organic nature, “ one of the judges, Ed Hall told BBC. “ It’s simplistic and addictive, and there’s an element of beauty in what you are doing.”

-Amelia Hernigle

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15509330

Girls Switched at Birth Win Compensation

On December of 1998, Irina and Anya were born 15 minutes apart in the same hospital in Russia. A Judge has delivered the verdict in a courtroom on Monday October 31. They have found out about the mix-up after former husband of Yulia Belyaeva, refused to pay maintenance saying the child he was raising wasn't his so they decided to run a DNA test. The test showed that neither of them were the natural parents and that the hospital has make a huge mistake. Both of the Russian families were given 100,000 dollars in compensation. Yulia said she was just getting used to the size of the award. 

"It is the largest amount of compensation one can hope to get in Russia, but I haven't got my head around how I am going to spend it yet," she said.

One of the options that the families are thinking of is buying new houses close to each other, or to purchase a property for them to live together. The only problem is that one family is strict Muslim, while the other is Christian.       

More Chaos in Turkey

The past few weeks have been devastating for the country of Turkey. Last Sunday, October 22nd, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 ravaged south-eastern Turkey. The death toll of the earthquake is over five hundred, and it also left more than 1,600 people injured. Those numbers are expected to rise as rescue teams try and locate survivors in the rubble of buildings. Not only did aftershocks rock the region after the earthquakes, but events such as prisoners rioting made the event more chaotic. 

After the tragic events caused by the earthquake, a suicide bomber attacked the headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development government party. This attack killed three people, and injured around twenty.  The headquarters, in the eastern town of Bingol, was most likely targeted by Kurdish rebels. These revolutionaries, who have not yet claimed responsibility for the attack, are a group which fights for the independence of Kurdish people in Turkey. These rebels are known as the PKK, or the Kurdistan Workers' Party. Their fight for freedom was caused by the lack of an official Kurdistan when Middle Eastern countries were officially created many years ago. 

Hopefully, the country of Turkey will be able to recover after these devastating events. Currently, it looks as if the danger caused by the earthquake and other events will slowly level out and become more calm.

-Nate

Sources:

• http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/29/world/europe/turkey-attack/index.html?hpt=ieu_c2
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/8852432/Turkey-earthquake-death-toll-passes-500.html
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15440505
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/report-explosion-in-turkey-wounds-several-in-mainly-kurdish-city/2011/10/29/gIQA34mxRM_story.html
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15506528

Dublin on emergency footing as floods cause chaos

On October 24, 2011 in Dublin, Ireland a heavy rain of long duration led to major roads, houses and the city’s main shopping centers to go under water.  An off duty Irish police officer is missing in County Wick low, which is close to where a river broke its banks.  The Public Transportation came to a screeching halt. In one part of the city an inflatable boat was used to rescue stranded motorist.  There was a three-hour delay on some of the more major routes out of the city. The Dublin dart train service was suspended. The heavy rain also hit the travelers along the east coast of Ireland with the Belfest-to Dublin Enterprise service being cancelled. Both of the rivers running into Dublin overflowed, the dodder and the Camac. Authorities said further problems could be caused by an unusually high tied, which was expected on Monday night. The Irish weather service, has issued a severe weather warning for large areas of Ulster and east Leinster.

-Amelia Hernigle

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15439838

Turkey Earthquake

On Sunday, October 17, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2, has hit Turkey killing about 279 people and leaving 1300 people injured. Most of the People who were affected by the earthquake, were in the cities of Van and Ercis. In the city of Ercis, about 80 buildings have been collapsed. Daniel Sandford, says most of the buildings that have been collapsed, were mostly apartments with dozens of people missing at each site. In the larger cities, heavy equipment is being used to lift concrete. Some of the rescuers are complaining about the lack of adequate equipment. Five people have been rescued from a collapsed building after one of them called for help from his mobile phone. Thousands of people have no where to stay and are having to face below freezing temperatures at night with winter coming. Other people have been sleeping in tents in Van and in a sports stadium in Ercis. Survivors in other areas were complaining about not receiving enough help. Prime minister Erdogan thanked other countries for their offer of help, but said Turkey can fix the disaster on it's own.




-Edgar Juarez

German Satellite to Reenter Atmosphere

Debris from a German satellite that has reentered the atmosphere is expected to crash land in several different locations during the next several days. This is actually a very rare event, as objects coming back into the atmosphere usually disintegrate. However, the size, as well as the engineering which allowed the parts to be heat resistant, has allowed the fragments to fall back into the atmosphere. A gigantic total of 1.7 metric tons of debris is calculated to fall into the atmosphere. While the managing editor of space.com, Tariq Malik expects that there is no immediate threat, it's a very prominent possibility that the debris will cause damage. The satellite, which is called the ROSAT, was a relay for scientists so they could find sources of X-ray radiation in other areas of space.

This occurrence, is a terrifying example of how the way we act as humans can cause damage to our world. While there are more obvious examples such as global warming, situations like this show how occasions that we feel will help our society may end up harming it. All of the different structures we have created to try and increase our knowledge may end up destroying the society. Hopefully we as a society can end up putting our effort into helping our environment and surroundings.

-Nate

Sources:

• http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/german-satellite-expected-hit-earth-sunday-14794597
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/falling-german-satellite-may-crash-into-earth-this-weekend/2011/10/20/gIQAjWsjzL_story.html
• http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/22/world/germany-space-satellite/index.html?hpt=ieu_c1

RIP Dan Wheldon

On October 16^th 2011 the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died. He died because of “unservivable injuries” caused during a multi car crash at the Las Vegas Indy 300.  There were 32 cars traveling 220 miles per hour when Dan Wheldon number 77 was caught in a fiery 15-car pileup.  A large British flag was hung on the gate to show honor to Dan Wheldon.  Dan Wheldon died at age 33.  As the drivers slowly wound their way around the track the song Amazing Grace played.   It is said that Dan was in line to win $5 million but only if he captured the checkered flag at Sundays race. The Indianapolis motor Speedway Corporation President and CEO Jeff Belskus called Wheldon a “ great champion” and “ wonderful ambassador.” After Dan’s Second Indy 500 victory in May, Wheldon talked to CNN’s American Morning about the intensity of the racetrack. Weldon’s first win was in 2005. Dan said, “We’re doing speed in excess of 225 miles per hour. With this race, you never know what can happen. It’s about staying focused and you really don’t ever let off the power unless toy have to.” Wheldon was born in Emberton, England, lived in St. Petersburg, Florida. His father was a go-Kart racer and his mother was the timer at a local track. His wife and two young children survive Wheldon.

 -Amelia Hernigle


http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dan-wheldon-20111018,0,2787992.story

European Tourists Dead

On Friday, October 14, Officials say that seven European tourists have died in a plane crash. The dead included three Swedes, three French and a British tourist. Two french and two Botswana nationals survived the plane crash shortly after it took off. The crash happened at about 12:00 local time. Officials say that the cause of the crash is not yet known, but the pilot who died, was the most experienced with more than 12,000 hours of flying.

French Get Back Painting After WW1

An extremely famous painting that was stolen the German Army during World War 1, was returned to the government of France this last Thursday. The painting was confiscated in 1918 and was transported, along with many other paintings, to Belgium. The year after that, with the war over, the Belgium government finally decided to return all of the paintings to France. All of them showed up except for one, called "A Fisherman's Daughter" or "Mender of Nets". Almost a hundred years later, in 2010, French officials alerted Interpol that the painting might have been imported by a gallery in New York City. Hearing this, French officials went to this New York gallery and seized their painting. This work of art, by Jules Breton, is estimated to be worth over $150,000, making it of importance. ICE, the organization responsible for obtaining the painting, provided no details about how the painting reached the New York gallery or where it was for those ninety years since it was stolen. No futher details provided.

Jake Grider


Sources: 
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/13/us/french-painting-returned/index.html?iref=allsearch
http://edition.cnn.com/EUROPE/index.html

Attacks on German Railway Disrupt Traffic

On Wednesday, October twelfth, railway traffic in Germany was disrupted by fire bombs placed by the tracks. The rail company, Deutsche Bahn, is suspected to have become the target of terrorist extremists.The series of attacks was unsuccessful in killing civilians. The bombs that went off on Monday and Tuesday  both caused no causalities  and the two bombs that went off on Wednesday failed to properly explode. These attacks are several in a series of attacks on rail cars which has left over one hundred cars torched. This week's periods of attacks have caused over two thousand of the rail cars to be delayed.

A left wing terrorist group has claimed responsibility of these series of attacks. The group, called the Hekla Welcome Committee-Intiative for More Social Disruptions has claimed responsibility for these attacks. Before this week's events, this group had not been known by government officials. The group says that they hope to cause disruption, and most likely terror, through these attacks. However, while the group hopes to disrupt the actions of society, they claim that they are not aiming to hurt any civilians. They have also claimed that their reasons for attacking the trains is Germany's involvement in the war in Iraq. The police have sent out police patrols, as well as undercover officers to hope to prevent more attacks.

-Nate

Sources:

• http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/12/world/europe/germany-arson-attacks/index.html
• http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2011/10/12/arson_attacks_disrupt_german_train_system/

Michael Jackson's physician is on trial and a concert is held in his honor

          As Michael Jackson's physician stands trial for his death, he is honored all the way over in Cardiff, Wales. Michael Jackson's three children Prince ,Paris, and Blanket went onto the stage at the concert just to introduce a video appearance by Beyonce herself.

          Over 50,000 total people attended the concert along with every one of Michael's family members. Unfortunately one of the pre-scheduled performers, Jennifer Hudson did not make the concert.


          Before singer Smokey Robinson performed, he made comments suggesting that Michael Jackson would have loved this concert and consider it an honor. This created some controversy between Michael's family, but was soon resolved and forgooten about.


          A quote from Marlon Jackson herself at the concert. "The message today is have a graet time and remeber him as a positive person and all the different things that he stood for -- not just his music but the human side of him." 


Jake Grider

Two Babies get Mixed with Different Families by Accident

12 years ago, on December 1998, the truth was revealed between two families that the kids that they have been raising for twelve years, was never theirs. The truth has been let out after ex-husband of Yuliya, refused to pay maintenance for their daughter saying she looked nothing like him. When Yuliya went to court DNA tests also said that they were not the biological fathers of Irene. Police traced Irene's natural parents and found her living on the other side of town. Neither of the girls wanted to leave their homes. Yuliya thought back to when she gave birth. She remembered there was one other woman in labor. Twelve years ago the babies were given the wrong name tags and were given to the wrong parents. It had never occurred to Yuliya that Irene wasn't her biological daughter. She never believed doctors can make that big of a mistake.

Construction of Solar Bridge Begins

In central London, a bridge that spans across River Thames is getting an environmental upgrade. The structure, called Blackfriars Bridge, is going to be equipped with over 4,400 solar panels. It's expected that this new enhancement will be able to produce over 900,000 kilowatt hours of green electricity every year. This is also estimated to provide the half of the rail station's annual required electricity. This will also ultimately prevent over 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released in the air. It's a great use of the unused six thousand square meters of the tunnel's roof space.

The work being done on this structure will hopefully be able to show how older and environmentally harming apparatuses can be created into green devices. The bridge, which was created in 1886, also is estimated to create over 1000 tonnes of CO2 every year. Being able to prevent a majority of this by simply using unused space is a great environmental choice. While the panels will cost a large sum of eleven million dollars, it's estimated that the city will be able save over a quarter of a million dollars in electricity costs annually. This project shows that many countries and their officials are beginning to logically think greenly.

-Nate

Sources

• http://articles.sfgate.com/2008-04-21/opinion/17145996_1_solar-panels-solar-power-pacific-gas-and-electric
• http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-cetera/londons-solar-bridge-to-produce-900000-kwh-of-electricity-2011107/
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/04/solar-bridge-blackfriars-station
• http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/world/europe/solar-bridge-london-blackfriars/index.html?hpt=ieu_mid

Poland arrests two over bombs at European Ikea stores

Adam K and Mikolaj G were finally arrested and charged on Wednesday in the Kujawsko Pomorskie region of north-western Poland for a series of bomb attacks at Ikea furniture stores in five countries across Europe, including France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Germany.  Hundreds of police officers in Poland and in the other countries worked on the investigation.  Ikea representatives also helped the police.  The bombers tried to get six million euros from Ikea by scaring people with booby-trapped alarm clocks and other devices, including kitchen equipment.   No one was killed, but two people were injured in Germany.  The attacks occurred over a five-month period beginning last May.  Adam K is a former manager who has worked for large corporations and is said to be fluent in four languages.  Mikolaj G has a police record for drug trafficking.  The two men sent payment demands to Ikea in different languages.  The police said that the bomb loads were getting stronger which was causing a more and more serious threat.  Time counted and they were very glad they caught them when they did. The men could face up to ten years in prison and have been charged with endangering the lives of others, extortion and racketeering.  

-Amelia Hernigle

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15228238

Amanda Knox wins Meredith Kercher murder appeal

In 2009, Meredith Kercher shared a cottage in Perugia, Italy, with her friend, Amanda Knox.  Meredith was murdered when she was staying with Amanda during a year of study abroad from Leeds University.

It is said that she was killed during a sex game that went wrong. Her throat was slit and she was sexually assaulted.  It was said that Amanda's DNA was on the handle of a kitchen knife. The knife was found in Amanda’s boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito's flat and believed to be the murder weapon.  It was also said that Meredith’s DNA was on the blade and Raffaele's DNA was on the clasp of Meredith's bra.

An independent review questioned those findings and raised concerns that proper procedures were not followed in evidence collecting or forensic testing.  It was argued that the evidence was possibly contaminated, especially since it was collected from the crime scene 46 days after the murder.

Today an eight-member jury cleared both defendants, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, of Meredith Kercher's murder after these doubts were raised about the procedures used to gather the DNA evidence.

Amanda, originally from Seattle, is expected to fly back to the US tomorrow.  Her family said she had "suffered for four years for a crime she did not commit".

- Amelia Hernigle

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15158163

Russian Police Officers Killed in Dagestan, Russia

                Two police officers in Dagestan, Russia were killed after a car loaded with explosives blew up. The officers were preforming a regular patrol, keeping an eye out for suspicious activity. The officers passed by a distrustful looking man sitting in a car. At the time they passed by, the man pulled a trigger on a remote detonator that exploded a nearby car.

                 The explosion left a crater five feet wide and six inches deep in the street. The police van was completely demolished and the officers died on the scene.

                  The town of Dagestan has been hit by these attacks several times. The local officials are beginning to believe that the Islamic militant group planning these attacks are responsible for the majority of the them. Police have yet to apprehend the assailants behind these vicious onslaughts.


C.B. Nate

Foreign tourists banned from coffee shops.

In the Netherlands, a drug traffic problem was being caused. On September 30, a ban is forced on some foreign tourists to stay away from cannabis-selling coffee shops in Masstricht, Netherlands. The only two foreign countries who were not band from the cannabis-selling coffee shops were tourists from Germany and Belgium because they are the most foreign costumers. Starting Saturday October 1st, anyone who does not hold a Dutch, German, or Belgium passport will be told to leave. Hi-tech security scanners have been set up to check passports and ID cards, and police will be carrying random checks.

- Edgar Juarez

German Company Creates CO2 Recycling Process

A Germany based company focused on renewable energy has been in the process of creating a process which takes carbon-dioxide from the atmosphere and creating it into new fuel. Their website shows a list of products ranging from Petroleum, to Methanol, to even wax! The company uses green energy (electricity created from wind turbines, solar panels, and water dams) to go through the process. It uses the hydrogen from water, while the oxygen is released back into the atmosphere, and mixes it with harvested CO2. Now by synthesizing the two materials, they are able to create different fuels and combustibles. While it may seem just as bad to use these fuels, their process uses only CO2 that had already been in the atmosphere. Not only does it not add additional Carbon Dioxide into the air, but it also allows us to not really on Middle Eastern countries for fuel.

This is one of the many advanced options that scientists are creating to counteract our environmental predicament. There are many great alternatives to automobiles that use fossil fuels, but the company's Chief Technology Officer Christain von Olshausen claims that some industries require the use of actual fuel. While their organization creates fuel, they counterbalance this by using renewable energy.  From hybrid cars to consumer solar energy, there are many more ways we can help heal our environment.


-Nate Kling
Sources:

• http://sunfire.minnemedia.net/
• http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/business/carbon-fuel-recyling/index.html?hpt=ieu_mid