A post template

No image available
/ 11 May 2006

Some MP3 players as noisy as a Formula One car

Several portable MP3 players can be as loud as a Formula One car causing irreparable damage to your hearing, the German Forum of Good Hearing (FGH) warned quoting a recent British study. The FGH said the study found that 39% of 18 to 24-year olds spent at least one hour per day listening to music via headphones with a volume of up to 105 decibels.

No image available
/ 11 May 2006

Baidu launches Chinese Wikipedia

China’s biggest internet search engine has launched an online encyclopedia modelled on the US-based website Wikipedia, which is blocked by Beijing. Entries on Baidupedia, the new service from Nasdaq-listed <i>Baidu.com</i> launched last month, are however censored by the Chinese government.

No image available
/ 11 May 2006

Thailand launches radio show for dogs

Inspired by a United States radio show for pets, a Thai dog lover has launched a round-the-clock online music radio programme for canines, a report said on Thursday. <i>DogRadioThailand.com</i>, which made its debut on Wednesday, offers both vocal and instrumental music for dogs, the English-daily <i>Bangkok Post</i> said.

No image available
/ 11 May 2006

You say you’re Christian …

"For some time now I have been thinking, how one can justify the undeniable contradictions that exist in the international arena — which are being constantly debated, specially in political forums and among university students. Many questions remain unanswered," writes Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

No image available
/ 11 May 2006

From complainant to accused

For some, the long-term significance of the case has little to do with the law and much to do with the prospects of an ambitious politician who wishes to be president of the republic. Historians and political scientists can be left to analyse whether it was this trial or other reasons that finally sunk the Zuma battleship or resurrected his prospects.

No image available
/ 11 May 2006

Divisive and difficult

A total of 174 pages, prompting 174 000 opinions. Monday’s judgement in the <i>State v Jacob Zuma</i> has been like the trial itself: divisive and difficult. The not-guilty verdict is one we respect; the reasoning in the judgement is thorough and well-researched, if conservative.

No image available
/ 11 May 2006

US rejects calls for Guantánamo closure

The United States state department on Thursday rejected British Attorney General Lord Goldsmith’s calls for the Guantánamo Bay detention camp to be closed down. Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said Washington would ”like nothing better than to close down Guantánamo”, but that it could not be done at present.

No image available
/ 11 May 2006

Aspirin, red wine may combat hearing loss

Aspirin, red wine and green vegetables, already famous for helping the heart, may also delay the onset of age-related deafness and reduce hearing loss caused by powerful antibiotics and loud noise, suggests the New Scientist. Indirect evidence for this comes from research into the effect of antioxidants on hair cells, the delicate hairs of the inner ear that are essential for hearing.