Japan: Anti-nuclear citizens groups targeted in massive cyber-attack
Anti-nuclear citizens groups around Japan were left reeling from a blizzard of e-mail traffic--more than 2.53 million messages--that had all the hallmarks of a coordinated cyber-attack.
At least 33 groups were targeted in the campaign carried out from mid-September to early November.
Experts said there was little doubt that a computer program developed exclusively for the purpose was used in the attack. It ranks as Japan’s first cyber-attack to target specific citizens groups. ...
Asahi
Guatemala: How to take kids from a Guatemala dump and turn them into photographers
GUATEMALA CITY–Surrounded by 40 acres of toxic garbage in the middle of Central America’s largest and most dangerous landfill isn’t exactly where most people gain inspiration. However, for former Reuters photojournalist Nancy McGirr, the smell of burning plastic, combined with the sight of cardboard houses and gardens of sewage, is where Fotokids first began.
Originally called “Out of the Dump,” the project was founded in 1991 with the aim of using photography to break the cycle of poverty.
“I first went to the dump to photograph a story for an Australian magazine,” says McGirr. “There were 3,500 people living, working and scavenging for food. and 1,500 of them were kids who followed me wanting to see through my camera lens. The thought occurred to me: If they had the camera, what would they see through that lens?”
Armed with three cheap, plastic cameras, the first group of six students aged 5-12 began their enrollment process: taking photos of everything and censuring nothing. The students, who all lived in Guatemala City’s sprawling garbage dump, took pictures of whatever fell beneath their lens: drugs, violence, death. ...
Tico Times
Wales: Campaigners call for stars like Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones to help foot bill to repair graves of Wales’ greatest war heroes
The Victoria Cross Trust believe it could cost less than £60,000 to restore the final resting places of the nation’s bravest and have called for financial help to achieve this
Campaigners have called on a celebrity like Tom Jones or Shirley Bassey to help restore the graves of VC winners in Wales.
The Victoria Cross Trust said it could cost as little as £60,000 to restore the final resting places of the nation’s bravest – who are at the forefront of everyone’s minds today on Remembrance Sunday.
“I’m sure there must be more than one person like Tom Jones who can afford to say to us, ‘Here is £60,000 make sure every single Welshman in Wales gets done,’” VCT founder Gary Stapleton said ...
Wales Online
Malaysia: A money-spinner in our backyard
Malaysia has many herbs and plants just waiting to be discovered for an industry that can generate jobs for researchers and the rural folks alike.
PHARMACIST Phang Nyie Lin knew he was on the brink of an exciting innovation in herbal development when his brother-in-law, who was diagnosed with liver hepatitis, was cured of his ailment a month after taking an unknown herb from India.
He was excited to discover that the herb, scientifically known as Phyllanthus Niruri, can be found here in Malaysia and is a popular traditional medicine among the Malays. ...
He highlights that there are more than 2,000 forest species in Malaysia with identified medicinal value and many more undiscovered herbs and plants. Sadly, though, 65% of the raw herbs used here are imported. “We need to start sourcing local raw herbs, which can generate jobs for the rural folks, especially in herb planting. And once the herbal products get accredited, it will create other jobs such as researchers and marketers.” ...
The Star
Bangladesh: Aduri to get land, new house soon
The family of 11-year-old Aduri, who survived brutal torture by employer in Dhaka, is going to get a piece of land and a new house, thanks to the initiative of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Benjir Ahmed.
Patuakhali Superintendent of Police Rafiqul Hasan Goni visited Aduri at her home at Katurataluk village in Joinkathi union under Patuakhali Sadar upazila on Thursday and informed her family of the matter.
“The DMP commissioner expressed his desire to give a piece of land and a new house for Aduri and we are looking for the land at her village,” said Md Monirul Islam, OC of Patuakhali Police Station. ...
The Daily Star
Canada: Rob Ford poll shows ‘Ford Nation’ resilient amid scandals
Toronto mayor Rob Ford’s approval rating has apparently held steady despite a scandal-plagued week involving admissions of crack cocaine use, public intoxication and the release of a video of the mayor swearing violence against an unknown party.
Forum Research pollster Lorne Bozinoff told CBC News Network on Saturday that Ford still enjoys a 44 per cent approval rating. Even so, the vast majority of people still want him to step down. About two-thirds of those polled said they want him to resign or seek rehab.
Bozinoff has said the approval ratings appear to show that Torontonians are able to separate the mayor’s performance on the job from his private life. ...
CBC
Romania: First Pop-Up Urban Lifestyle Centre, housed in shipping containers, opens in Bucharest’s Old Town
The first open air museum for street art has opened in Bucharest’s Old Town and is located in an unusual space.
The Pop-Up Center is made of shipping containers, which makes it the third in the world using this structure. ...
Romania Insider
