Новости за 07.12.2017

DEVICES for analysing DNA used to be big, clunky and not very good. Hundreds were required for the initial sequencing of the human genome, a project that started in the late 1990s and took over a decade to complete at a cost of at least $500m. Since then, sequencing a human genome has become a routine process; prices have fallen to below $1,000. Although the machines that do the job have got better and more compact, they still cost several hundred thousand dollars. Various groups are trying to make them smaller and cheaper. Читать дальше...

SHELLFISH thrive in waters rich in nutrients. These include the nitrogen used in fertiliser, which passes from the land into rivers and then into the sea. The shellfish grow, as do the profits of those who harvest them. The problem comes when discharges into the sea are tainted with more noxious material, such as bacteria that pose a threat to human health. Once the bugs are in the shellfish, they can be passed on to anyone who eats them.

Democracy in Zimbabwe

Thank you for finding a “sliver of hope” in the prospects for Zimbabwe (“Fall of the dictator”, November 18th). As Zimbabwean citizens and democracy campaigners, we are also permitting ourselves a moment of optimism. Where we differ from The Economist is in the imperative to hold an election based on the current timetable or at the earliest opportunity. There is more to having a free and fair election than holding a ballot.

Before an election in Zimbabwe can pass as free and fair... Читать дальше...

Shares of SecureWorks Inc. sank 4.2% toward a seven-month low in morning trade Thursday, after J.P. Morgan abandoned its bullish stance on the cybersecurity company for the first time, citing concerns over lingering sales transition and productivity issues. Analyst Sterling Auty downgraded the stock to neutral, after being at overweight since he started covering it in May 2016, a month after the IPO. He lowered his stock price target to $12, which was below the $14 IPO price for the first time, from $15. Читать дальше...

Die Jahresausstellung der Mitglieder des Salzburger Kunstvereins wurde in diesem Jahr am Tag vor Maria Empfängnis eröffnet.

Qatar agreed Thursday to buy 12 French-built fighter jets, part of a multi-billion-dollar raft of deals announced as President Emmanuel Macron visited the emirate, hit by the Gulf's worst political crisis in years.

Huawei has officially announced a new mid-range Android smartphone, the Nova 2s. The Huawei Nova 2S features thin bezels, an 18:9 display and a very competitive price tag. The Huawei Nova 2s is the successor to the Nova 2 and the Nova 2 Plus, both of which were released earlier this year. The Nova 2s features a metal and glass body giving it a premium look and feel. Despite having very thing top and bottom bezels, it still has a front-facing fingerprint scanner, while the power and volume buttons... Читать дальше...

Johannesburg - Ahead of the ruling African National Congress' 54th National Conference, in Gauteng from December 16 to 20, a proposal for the possible downgrading, or complete closure of the South African Embassy in Israel is to be discussed as part of the ANC’s future international policy.

For the third time, the National Tourist Rating looked at the tourist potential and popularity of the country’s regions and rolled out the 2017 list featuring the best ones.

University researchers have discovered several UK banking apps were wide open to hacking attack. The apps - used by HSBC, Natwest, Santander, Co-op, Allied Irish and several others - have since been mended.

Hibs forward Anthony Stokes insists he is only focused on his football as he opened up about the disciplinary issue that saw him dropped from the squad to face Hamilton last month.

"Choose Love" in central London is a peculiar kind of pop-up store where you purchase stuff but don't actually bring anything home.

The Browns have won just one game since Brown took over personnel decisions.

New survey shows how long you could stay in a country for around $700.

Every legend has his day, they say (we think). And Dec. 6, 2017 will be forever known as Andrea Pirlo's in New York City. Yes, friends, New York mayor Bill de Blasio dedicated 24 hours to our favourite midfield maestro/king of cool/whatever-the-heck-he-wants-to-be, who, playing for MLS' New York City FC, called quits on his glittering and indelible playing career last month. Of the honour, "L'Architetto" -- classy as always -- expressed his deepest gratitude via social media, saying: "I... Читать дальше...

Alex Brandon/AP Images

• A new CBS News poll found that 35% of Americans approved of the GOP tax bill, while 53% disapproved.
• Additionally, 76% of people thought the plan would benefit corporations while just 31% said it would help the middle class.
• The CBS poll is another data point in a growing pile of negative reviews for the tax bill.

The Republican tax bill just got hit with another doozy of a poll on Thursday, adding to the growing amount of data showing Americans don't like the bill. Читать дальше...

This is not the first time that the rowdy drinking hole has been subject to a public controversy following assaults.

Rich Pedroncelli/AP

• Contraceptives containing hormones have long been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
• A study has found that new hormonal contraception options (like low-hormone pills, IUDs, and vaginal rings) come with a similar level of risk. 
• Experts say the overall breast cancer risk is still very low.

Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

Contraceptives containing the hormones estrogen... Читать дальше...

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray defended his agency Thursday amid blistering criticism from President Donald Trump, saying, "There is no finer institution than the FBI." Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee as Democrats and Republicans clashed over the significance of Trump's attacks on the agency. In a storm of tweets last weekend, Trump called the nation's top law enforcement agency a biased institution whose reputation is "in Tatters — worst in History!" and urged Wray to "clean house.

Sorry for the question headline, but I don’t want to lead the witness

Over at FanGraphs, Jeff Sullivan is soliciting responses from fans about their teams’ front offices. I submitted a response, and I recommend you do the same, or at least give it some thought before peeking at the results.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting.

OK.

Will Leitch looked at the results of the FanGraphs poll and found that only five groups of fans called their front offices worse than average... Читать дальше...

A man who works in the medical community allegedly posed as a young boy on Instagram to solicit inappropriate photos from young girls in Michigan. The 37-year-old man, whose name is being withheld pending his arraignment on Thursday, was arrested after portraying himself as a young boy in a ruse to get several female students...

Nyon (dpa) - Die UEFA sieht trotz des Olympia-Ausschlusses von WM-Cheforganisator Witali Mutko derzeit keine Veranlassung für eine Intervention bei der FIFA. «Das Thema stand heute nicht auf der Tagesordnung», sagte UEFA-Präsident Aleksander Ceferin nach der Sitzung des Exekutivkomitees am Donnerstag in Nyon. Die Entwicklungen nach dem IOC-Urteil gegen Mutko vom Dienstag seien «noch zu frisch», um konkret Stellung zu beziehen.Mutko war wegen seiner Verstrickung in den russischen Doping-Skandal vom... Читать дальше...

Qualcomm chief executive Steve Mollenkopf on Thursday reaffirmed his opposition to a hostile takeover bid from computer chip rival Broadcom, saying the deal offers "no real path to value."

For any band member, life on tour can be chaotic, unpredictable and often filled with unexpected curve balls. For musician Tom Wilson, his unusual existence began long before he got behind the mic. He tackles his own back-story in the book “Beautiful Scars” and joined us in the studio this morning with the details.