Private schools axe 'crude' Sats tests

Growing numbers of private schools are scrapping “crude” Sats tests amid claims they damage children’s education, it has emerged.

Less than a fifth of independent preparatory schools now voluntarily stage exams in the three-Rs for 11-year-olds – half the number in the late-90s.

David Hanson, chief executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools, said the tests – compulsory in the state sector – were increasingly seen as a “minority sport” among private headmasters.

He also criticised the “obsession” with literacy and numeracy in state schools, claiming that a national drive to improve standards in the basics was actually damaging pupils’ education, particularly among boys.

The comments come amid continuing concerns over Sats tests in reading, writing and mathematics taken by around 600,000 children at the end of primary education.

Teaching unions have called for the exams to be scrapped altogether amid claims schools are forced to “drill” pupils to climb official Government league tables.

Three years ago, a science exam was axed and in 2011 ministers agreed to shelve the writing test because of concerns over inconsistent marking.

In its place, the Government is now proposing to introduce a new toughened up literacy test, covering spelling, punctuation, grammar, handwriting and vocabulary.

But Mr Hanson said many fee-paying schools had already decided to ditch the exams because of concerns they narrow the curriculum and present a misleading picture of pupil standards.

Speaking before IAPS’s annual conference in Manchester next week, he said: “We are opposed to league tables – we think they are counterproductive and corrosive – and the vast majority of our schools don’t do Sats test.

“We don’t do the tests because we think they’re unhelpful, they’re crude and there are far more useful assessment tools to track pupils’ progress. It is a now a minority sport for our schools.”

Sats are compulsory in around 17,000 state primary schools in England but remain voluntary in the private sector.

According to IAPS, almost half of its 600 members opted to run them in the mid-90s when they were first introduced.

The exams were traditionally used to benchmark school performance against local state schools and as an assessment tool for teachers, it was claimed.

But Mr Hanson said that the proportion had now been cut to less than 20 per cent because of concerns that they take up a disproportionate amount of school time and focus too much on English and maths at the expense of other disciplines.

National Sats results published on Thursday showed that 20,000 boys left primary school this summer with the reading ability of a seven-year-old or worse. This compared with around 10,400 girls.

Mr Hanson claimed that boys were being let down by the “relentless” focus on literacy and numeracy in the state system, with the effect that around half the school day was now taken up with the subjects.

“We have a situation where teachers are forced to spend the entire morning obsessing with literacy and numeracy to the detriment of the rest of the curriculum,” he said.

“Counter intuitively, that has not helped. If it is a relentless grad-grinding experience then not surprisingly boys are going to be put off. They don’t respond to a mechanistic approach.

“You have to engage boys in stuff that’s interesting for them – be that through football or music – and then choose reading material that takes their interests further, rather than following a mechanistic strategy.”

He added: “Strangely, in our [independent] schools, we probably spend less time on literacy and numeracy then in a maintained primary school but much more time in arts, language development, sport and music, which creates a more joyful experience and has a positive impact on reading, writing and number work.”

A Department for Education spokesman said: "Externally marked tests drive up standards in our schools and provide valuable information for parents. The OECD has also repeatedly highlighted that externally marked tests are a common feature of the world's best education systems.

"We want every child, regardless of their background, to achieve to their potential - and it is clear that externally marked tests in primary school play a vital role in achieving that aim."

Original source here

English GCSE grading legal challenge begins

Local authorities, teaching unions and schools have begun a legal challenge against Ofqual's refusal to re-grade GCSE English papers in England. 

They have written formally to exams regulator Ofqual, and exam boards AQA and Edexcel, threatening to seek a judicial review.

Thousands of pupils scored lower-than-expected results when grade boundaries were raised mid-way through the year.

Ofqual held an inquiry into the problems but has stood by the grading.

However, teachers and heads have complained that pupils who sat the papers in January got higher grades than those who sat them in June.

The pre-action letter, signed by six teaching associations or unions, 113 schools and 36 councils from across England is the first step of the alliance's legal challenge over the issue and sets out the case.

It says the administration of the results contravenes "the cardinal principle of good administration that all persons who are in a similar position should be treated similarly".

It adds that the decision is "conspicuously unfair and/or an abuse of power, breaching (without justification) the legitimate expectations" of students who sat the examinations.

It is being sent to the boards and the regulator and gives them seven days to respond.

It adds: "It is inconceivable that two cohorts of students enrolled for the same course in the same academic year, who have undertaken the same work and invested the same effort, and who will be competing in future for the same opportunities, should be subjected to such radically different standards of assessment and award."

And it argues that schools and students relied on the published January grade boundaries in making their preparations for the June exam.

Because no specific, focused warnings of significant grade boundary changes were made, schools and students were denied the opportunity to change their preparation for the key examination.

Ofqual held a short inquiry into the problems but found the exam boards had acted properly and stood by the results for all those who sat the exam, despite the discrepancies.

Publishing the report at the end of August, Ofqual chief executive Glenys Stacey said: "The issue is not the June, but the January boundaries. Again, examiners used their best judgement in setting these boundaries, but they had less data and information to work with."

English GCSE is one of the core subjects, and most students require a C grade to move on to the next stage of their education.

'Bureaucratic bungling'

The move comes after Welsh exam board, WJEC, re-graded thousands of English GCSE papers. Some 2,300 pupils received better results.

Brian Lightman, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "This legal challenge is essentially about fairness. Young people only have one chance at a good education and it is absolutely wrong that 16-year-olds this year are ending up paying for mistakes made by adults who should know better. This is about putting right the errors that were made by Ofqual and the awarding bodies in this year's exams."

Russell Hobby, General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), said: "The statistics are opaque but the moral issue is simple: a group of young people have been made to pay a devastating price for the mistakes of others. This must be rectified swiftly."

Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock, said: "Our young people are paying for the bureaucratic bungling of others.

"Students performing at exactly the same level in January and June have been given different results - some have passed through the gateway into their next level of education or training, while others have had the door slammed shut in their faces."

Shadow Education Secretary said: "Labour supports teachers, parents and pupils who are demanding exams are marked fairly. But they shouldn't have to resort to the courts.

"Michael Gove looks increasingly isolated and out of touch. He has sacrificed thousands of young people's futures who just want the chance to continue studying."

Original source here

Nearly 400 Teachers have been Fired in D.C Since 2009

WASHINGTON — Tough new teacher evaluations led to a strike this month in Chicago, but in the District of Columbia, such evaluations are "business as usual."

Comprehensive teacher evaluations that take into account student performance are a central part of President Barack Obama's education policy and of the national school reform movement. They also were a major point of contention in the seven-day long Chicago teachers' strike, which ended Tuesday.

In Washington, evaluations based in part on standardized tests have been used since 2009 to rate teacher performance, putting the city at the forefront of major school systems that are working to reform their personnel practices. All told, nearly 400 teachers have lost their jobs since the new evaluations were put into place.

The latest round of firings occurred last month, when 98 Washington teachers lost their jobs after a rigorous evaluation system found they weren't up to snuff. The firings attracted no national media attention and little outcry locally. In fact, the president of the teachers union praised the school system for softening some of the evaluation criteria.

"It was a goal of mine to get to a point where this is business as usual," schools chancellor Kaya Henderson said. "Any well-functioning organization fires people for performance, and that's going to be a regular occurrence. Every high-performing organization also recognizes and rewards the highest achievers, and that's now a regular occurrence."

Henderson and other reform advocates say the new emphasis on teacher performance has markedly improved the quality of teaching in the district. But critics say the constant turnover has created an atmosphere of instability that drives away good teachers and doesn't help students. They point to federal testing data that shows at best modest improvement in recent years.

"We have gone from a system where almost no one was terminated, no matter how bad, to the other extreme, where good teachers as well as bad are terminated," said Mary Levy, an attorney and a longtime analyst of city education policy. "The latter is probably more damaging due to the stress and demoralization it causes."

Washington was uniquely positioned to lead the charge on firing low-performing teachers. An act of Congress in the 1990s permitted the district to tie evaluations to test scores, but it wasn't until then-Mayor Adrian Fenty took control of the school system in 2007 and installed Michelle Rhee as chancellor that school officials began to exercise that option.

Rhee fired nearly 1,000 teachers in her 3 years as chancellor, and some of the firings provoked legal challenges. She was known for inflammatory statements, including a magazine interview in which she said she laid off teachers "who had hit children, who had had sex with children." She later clarified that two of the fired teachers had been accused of sexual misconduct.

The 2010 mayoral election was seen by many as a referendum on Rhee, and Vincent Gray defeated Fenty in the Democratic primary with strong backing from the teachers union. Rhee stepped down shortly thereafter.

Gray pledged to continue Rhee's reforms with a more conciliatory, inclusive approach, and he appointed her deputy, Henderson, as chancellor.

Nathan Saunders, president of the Washington Teachers' Union, said the discussions about teacher quality have been more respectful under Gray and Henderson. That's one reason he's working to change the system from within, rather than pushing to scrap it entirely. Starting this school year, test scores only account for 35 percent of a teacher's evaluation, down from 50 percent under the previous model.

But ask Saunders whether the teacher evaluations have improved schools, and his answer is unequivocal: "No."

"Could we have achieved the meager improvements that we've achieved with less stress and less money on the taxpayers? I argue that the answer is yes," Saunders said.

The district still lags far behind the national average on the "Nation's Report Card" from the Education Department. Between 2009 and 2011, with the new teacher standards in place, average fourth-grade reading scores were down slightly and eighth-grade reading scores were unchanged. Math scores were up slightly in both grades.

Reform advocates point to consistent improvement on the district's own standardized tests since the mayoral takeover in 2007.

"The district has historically had a low standard for instruction," said Tim Daly of the New Teacher Project, a reform advocacy group founded by Rhee before coming to Washington and where Henderson also worked. "I think they have many years ahead of them of steady improvement. ... We won't really know how far they've come until they hit the 5- and 10-year mark" of the evaluation program.

Following the district's lead, Houston and New Haven, Conn., have also started firing teachers because of poor evaluations, and Memphis teachers chose an evaluation system modeled after the district's. At least half the states are incorporating test scores into teacher evaluations. But no other school system has fired so many poorly rated teachers.

Rhee, who now heads a nonprofit advocacy group, said it's not surprising the practice has gained acceptance.

"I think everyone agrees – including educators – that a teacher failing to perform well, even when given extra time and support, really should be working in another profession," the former chancellor said in a statement.

In addition to firing teachers who perform poorly, the district has moved aggressively to reward the best teachers. Those who get top evaluations can get pay raises more quickly and receive up to $25,000 a year in bonuses. That means a teacher can earn a $131,000 annual salary, one of the highest in the nation for a public school instructor, after nine years on the job.

The system is also placing more emphasis on professional development. The union is training teachers on how to improve their evaluation scores, and Saunders said teachers, by and large, have learned how to adapt to the new criteria.

But many teachers aren't sticking around long enough to enjoy the higher salaries. The district has one of the highest teacher turnover rates in the nation. Half of new teachers leave the system after 2 years, according to Levy's analysis, compared with about one-third nationwide. Levy recently began examining individual schools and found two-year turnover rates as high as 94 percent at one elementary school and 66 percent at a high school.

Even some teachers who score highly under the system are wary of it. Diane Terrell, 62, a pre-kindergarten teacher who's been in the system for nearly 40 years, has been rated "highly effective" each year the system has been in place, but has turned down the bonus money because it would force her to give up certain rights if she were laid off.

"I should not have to give up anything in order to receive something if I have proved myself highly qualified. Why should I?" Terrell said. Although she's fared well under the evaluation system, she doesn't measure herself by it, saying it provokes "fear and frustration" in her and her colleagues.

"I feel that I'm a quality teacher," she said, "because I'm here to serve the children."

Original source here

Fewer Kids Living In Violent Homes, Study Finds

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department says the number of children living in violent households fell by 68 percent over an 18-year period.

The department's Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that in 2010, about 2.8 million children lived in households where at least one member age 12 or older was the victim of a nonfatal violent crime. That represents 3.9 percent of children living in U.S. households.

In 1993, an estimated 8.7 million children, or 12.6 percent of all children, lived in such households.

The report says that the decline corresponds with the well-known drop in violent victimization among the entire population during the same period.

The report also finds that violent crime was twice as prevalent in households with children compared with childless households in 2010.

Original source here

Thousands of boys 'at least four years behind in reading'

More than 20,000 boys left primary school this summer with the reading skills of a seven-year-old or worse, according to official figures.

Seven per cent of 11-year-old boys will be starting secondary education with ability levels no better than those expected of the average infant, it was revealed.

Despite a record rise in results this year, figures showed that boys were almost twice as likely as girls to fail basic reading tests.

In all, some 20,300 boys were at Level 2 or below in reading – the standard normally expected after just two years of compulsory schooling – compared with 10,400 girls.

The disclosure comes amid concerns that a lack of male role models at home and school may be turning boys off reading at a young age.

Earlier this year, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Literacy warned that large numbers of boys were failing to develop a love of reading during primary education because of a shortage of male teachers combined with an anti-book culture among many fathers.

It was claimed that schools failed to stock adventure and action novels by authors such as Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl and J.R.R Tolkien that are significantly more likely to appeal to boys at a young age.

But the Government and teachers’ leaders praised the overall rise in primary school results registered this summer compared with 2011.

The figures from the Department for Education chart standards in reading, writing and mathematics for 542,500 pupils at the end of primary school.

Overall, a quarter of 11-year-olds failed to reach the national standard – Level 4 – in the three disciplines combined.

It was a sharp drop on the 33 per cent failure rate recorded a year earlier.

Elizabeth Truss, the Education Minister, said pupils should be congratulated for their “hard work and achievements”.

But it emerged that the overall rise in standards was partly down to a decision to scrap a controversial writing exam this year.

In its place, the Government has relied on teachers’ own assessments of pupils' writing in the classroom over the academic year, resulting in a sharp hike in scores.

The Department for Education said the “evidence for a real increase in attainment in writing is less strong”.

"Some difference between test and teacher assessment results can be expected as the outcomes are measured in different ways,” said a spokesman.

Figures show that:

• 75 per cent of pupils hit national standards in all three disciplines, compared with just 67 per cent last year;

• 84 per cent gained good scores in maths exams, up from 80 per cent 12 months ago;

• In reading tests, 87 per cent of pupils hit the target, compared with 84 per cent a year earlier;

• Six per cent of pupils achieved Level 2 or below in reading, although numbers climbed to seven per cent among boys and stood at just four per cent for girls;

• Teachers’ assessments of pupils’ writing abilities showed 81 per cent had good skill levels – up from 75 per cent in the corresponding writing exam in 2011;

• More pupils scored higher Level 5 results – the standard normally expected in the first few years of secondary education – in reading, writing and maths.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: “The increased scores in writing, through the use of teacher assessment this year, have proven that it is a more accurate and fair way of assessing pupils’ ability. The NUT has long called for national curriculum tests at Key Stage 2 to be scrapped and replaced by teacher assessment which, when moderated well, is as robust an indicator of pupil achievement and progress as the current tests”.

Original source here

Facebook switches off facial recognition tool

LONDON —Facebook said it had switched off the facial-recognition tool that prompts users to “tag” photographs uploaded to its website following a privacy investigation.
The feature was identified by regulators as one of the main privacy threats posed by the social networking site.
Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), Billy Hawkes, said he was happy that the site had agreed to remove the tool in Europe by October 15. New users are already unable to access it.
Facebook said in a statement: In light of discussions with our regulator in Ireland, we have agreed to suspend the Tag Suggest feature in Europe..
Facebook was keen to encourage members to “tag” their friends in photographs because it ensures they are shared more widely, but it has been a controversial addition to the site.
Europe-versus-Facebook, an Austrian campaign group that has been fighting for clearer privacy policies on Facebook and already took its complaints to the DPC last year.
The group said on its website, welcomed Friday’s ruling. This was a very surprising decision of the Irish authority and it sounds like a big victory for users. It looks like we might soon be able to drop our first complaint.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini blames late transfers for poor start to season

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admits his side's stuttering start to the season could be partly down to leaving transfers until late in the summer window and trying to bed in new players too quickly.

Late arrival: Javi Garcia was one of a number of players to only
 arrive in the final days of the transfer window Photo: AFP

The defending champions are already four points behind Chelsea after three draws from their opening five games, including Sunday's 1-1 stalemate with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal were the better side for much of the match, although they needed an 82nd-minute equaliser from Laurent Koscielny to secure a point after Joleon Lescott's first-half header.

Defensive midfielder Javi Garcia played the full 90 minutes while winger Scott Sinclair also made the starting line-up, although he was replaced at half-time by another summer signing, Jack Rodwell.

All three players were signed in August, while Garcia, Sinclair and defender Maicon did not arrive at the club until the final day of the transfer window, which Mancini admits has presented a challenge.

The Italian said: "We had new players only in the last two or three days of the market, and maybe these players don't know their team-mates well and need time."

City dropped only two points at home last season, drawing with Sunderland in March, and Mancini knows they need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

He said: "The second year after winning a championship is always difficult and I hope we start to win in our next league game, because we need a win. But we need to improve if we are to do that."

Lescott admitts dropping points at home so early in the season is a blow but he believes City deserve credit for their effort against Arsenal.

He told the club's website: "We probably didn't get going as much as we'd like but we showed another side of our game is resilience and unfortunately for us we conceded late on.

"We didn't get in a rhythm for long enough. Arsenal made it hard for us at times and they're a good team, so it's not a negative result but we're used to winning at home and we're bitterly disappointed to concede."

The defender headed in David Silva's corner in the 40th minute for his first goal for City since February, but Koscielny's equaliser took the shine off for the England international.

Lescott said: "It's always nice to score goals and it would have been extra special to have won it 1-0 having scored and keeping our first clean sheet, but it wasn't to be."

The 30-year-old was back in the side after surprisingly being left on the bench for the Champions League defeat against Real Madrid last week, and he knows rotation comes with the territory.

"The gaffer made it clear that everyone's got a part to play this season, and it was the same last year," said Lescott. "It worked for us last year and we need to stay focused on the job, and that's to go into every game to win."

Telegraph.co.uk

Casio watch links to iPhone

TOKYO —Casio Computer Co has released the GB-6900AA, a shock-resistant watch that can communicate with an iPhone 4S. This new G-SHOCK is a next-generation watch equipped with Bluetooth v4.0.
This new watch communicates with the iPhone to perform various functions such as notifying the wearer of incoming calls and enabling iPhone alarm and vibration functions from the watch button. In addition, the watch can automatically adjust itself to exact time according to different time zones by synchronizing itself to time data received from the iPhone.
The GB-6900AA is finished with other features and styling to represent its technological advancement, including a high-brightness LED backlight and a special “G” logo indicating compatibility with Bluetooth v4.0 technology. It comes in five different colors.
iPhone 4S Mobile Link Features
■  Notification of incoming calls via the watch
■  Finder function to enable iPhone alarm and vibration functions from the watch
■  Warning vibration when the watch loses its connection to the iPhone
■  Automatic time correction by synchronizing with time data received from the iPhone
■  Built-in tilt sensor to detect movement in the watch to automatically reconnect to the iPhone
Price: 18,000 yen

Digital SLR camera D600

TOKYO —Despite having the smallest and lightest body among Nikon FX-format cameras, the Nikon D600 offers advanced basic camera performance, and is equipped with a new FX-format CMOS image sensor with an effective pixel count of 24.3-million pixels and the same EXPEED 3 image-processing engine built into high-end Nikon D-SLRs (D4, D800, D800E) for superior definition and image quality.
The D600 is a new model added to the Nikon FX-format digital SLR lineup with a smaller size and lighter weight – approximately 141 (W) x 113 (H) x 82 (D) mm, 760 grams for excellent portability, yet offers the superior image quality and rendering performance, operation, and durability of high-end FX-format D-SLRs.
The D600 inherits a number of advanced features from its high-end cousins, including an optical viewfinder with frame coverage of 100%, a large and clear, 3.2-inch LCD monitor with a wide viewing angle for superior visibility, and the same dust- and water-resistance as the D800 and D800E.
What’s more, this single FX-format camera also offers support for the complete DX NIKKOR lens lineup for greater convenience with both still image shooting and movie recording. The D600 makes full use of its 24.3-million effective pixels with high-resolution, full-HD movie recording (1920 x 1080/30p). It is also equipped with the Multi-area mode Full-HD D-Movie function, which enables recording in either FX- or DX-based movie format for more creative imaging expression.
Price: Around 275,000 yen. On sale Sept 27.

British Government Faces Lawsuit Over Exam Results

LONDON — Soon after the proposal of a major education overhaul that could affect millions of students, a group composed of teachers’ unions, schools and local governments throughout England moved to take the government to court over its refusal to allow for the re-grading of some disputed G.C.S.E. exam results.


Their move on Friday came several days after Education Minister Michael Gove announced that the General Certificate of Secondary Education exams — currently taken by students throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland at age 16 — would be replaced by an English Baccalaureate. (Students in Scotland take a different set of exams at 16, known as Standards.)

The change, due to take effect in 2017, would do away with the current system, which encompasses a wide range of subjects, and in which students’ grades are based partly on course work completed at home and on modules completed over the course of the school year. It will be replaced with a system that focuses on traditional subjects like English, math and science, and in which grades depend on a single end-of-year exam.

Read More Here

That Wedding (That Boy, #2) by Jillian Dodd

The gorgeous engagement ring on my finger mimics my happiness.
I feel so sparkly, glittery, and full of promise, because I absolutely know he's that boy.
The boy I want to marry. My prince. My happily ever after.

But then our pastor starts asking lots of questions.
His parents say I haven’t dealt with my past.
I have horrible wedding disaster dreams.
I can’t find the perfect dress.
I have to manipulate him to get my way.
An old boyfriend asks me to run away with him.
My best friend says I'm going to ruin everything.
And forever starts to sound like a really long time.

Which totally freaks me out and makes me question everything I know.

Should best friends get married?
Will my past affect our relationship?
Are my horrible dreams a warning?
Will I ever find a dress?
Could his sexiness be clouding my judgment?
Am I going to ruin everything?
Or is it just a case of cold feet?

And then I have to decide. Am I willing to give up on true love forever, or am I going to listen to my heart and marry him?

Apple seeks more damages in wake of win against Samsung

NEW YORK —Apple is seeking more than $700 million in additional damages and interest while arch-rival Samsung wants a new trial in the wake of a verdict that saw the US technology giant awarded $1 billion.
In a massive US court victory, a California jury declared on August 24 that the South Korean electronics giant should pay Apple $1.049 billion in damages for illegally copying iPhone and iPad features for its flagship Galaxy S smartphones.
Apple said, it is requesting an amendment to the existing verdict and a total judgment of more than $707 million, noting that the amount it received did not adequately cover Samsung’s infringements on its patents.
Samsung therefore respectfully requests that the Court grant a new trial enabling adequate time and even-handed treatment of the parties. Apple and Samsung have been at loggerheads over dozens of patent lawsuits in 10 nations, accusing each other of copying technologies and designs.
While the US verdict was seen as victory for Apple, a Japanese court rejected its claim that Samsung stole its technology and also awarded legal costs to the South Korean firm.

Mauritius' gigantic water lily facing extinction

PORT LOUIS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The famous gigantic water lily of Mauritius is being eaten up by snails and facing extinction, according to an NGO.

The water lily basin is one of the main attractions of Pamplemousses botanical garden, a must for tourists to visit the Indian Ocean island country.

The basins have been invaded by Golden Apple snails suspected to be from South America, warned EPCO, an NGO for environmental conservation, warned in a statement obtained here on Monday.

The NGO also urged the authorities to make an immediate action plan to control the snails and avoid irreversible consequences.

Pamplemousses is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the southern hemisphere. It dates back to the period when France colonized Mauritius centuries ago, when the island was referred to as a French island.

Divorcing couple Adrienne Maloof and Paul Nassif selling mansion for $26 million

Hollywood divorces, we've got you all figured out. First comes the cordial separation announcement, then come the wild and bitter accusations as the divorce case gets going, and finally, the attempt to offload your shared multi-million-dollar home.

Steps two and three spilled into each other this week for estranged couple Adrienne Maloof, member of both the billionaire Maloof family and the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast, and her husband, plastic surgeon Paul Nasiff.

On Wednesday, the past several weeks of mudslinging continued when Maloof's lawyer claimed that Nassif had allegedly choked one of their three sons, threw another one in the corner after he misbehaved during bath time, and kicked the family dog after it had an accident in their home. Maloof ended up with custody of their three boys and a temporary restraining order against her ex.

The next day, the couple looked to liquefy one of their biggest assets — their mansion in the posh Los Angeles gated enclave of Beverly Glen — when they put the 8-bedroom, 11-bathroom mansion on the market with a hefty price tag of $26 million. And what a mansion it is. The listing agency's website states that the French Chateau-style house, designed by architect Richard Landry, is set on two acres and includes luxurious features like a tennis court, media room, wine cellar, swimming pool, and both a pool house and a guest house.

According to Zillow.com, the couple purchased the home (which was built in 2000 and has been featured prominently in the reality show) for just under $13 million in 2004, so they stand to make a pretty penny if they get close to their asking price.

Microsoft will be fined over browser commitment: EU

AFP - US software giant Microsoft faces yet more heavy fines after it promised to offer clients a choice of web browser but has failed to do so, the EU's competition commissioner said Monday.

Microsoft apologised in July for a "technical error" as the EU launched a probe into why 28 million users of the Windows 7 operating system were unable to choose between the company's default Internet Explorer and other browsers.

It has not made the change so far and inevitably faces more fines -- to follow some of the heaviest EU penalties ever -- if it does not act soon, Commissioner Joaquin Almunia told AFP in an interview.

Microsoft committed in 2009 to provide Windows users in Europe a "choice screen" enabling them to pick an alternative web browser until 2014.

The screen, however, has been missing from an update to Windows 7 since February 2011 and the Commission has run out of patience after launching a formal probe in July.

"It is easier to make progress in our investigation if a company which has broken competition rules recognises the fact," Almunia said.

"The fault is there, it has been there for more than a year and it is clear that we need to react.

"It is not only the distortion of competition during this period which concerns us; it is very serious, from my point of view, that the remedies imposed on Microsoft have not been applied," he said.

The Commission planned "to act very firmly," he added.

The EU fined Microsoft 899 million euros ($1.2 billion) in 2008 for failing to comply with an order to share product information with rivals so that their software can work with Windows.

Increase in tourist arrivals in the Philippines

This predicted 18 percent increase in tourism is achievable according to Secretary Jimenez because of the promising growth noted in the first semester of this year. The country's new and catchy tourism slogan, "It's more fun in the Philippines" has been attributed to the DOT Secretary.

Department of Tourism data showed that the number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines during the first half of this year reached 2.14 million. This is up by 11.68% from last year's nearly 1.92 million tourist arrivals during the same period. The total number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines in 2011 was 3.917 million. Jimenez added that the peak season for tourist arrivals in the country is actually the second semester thus; it is highly likely that tourist arrivals for 2012 will hit 4.5 million.

So far, the largest number of tourist arrivals was recorded in January, totaling 411,064, which reflects a growth rate of 17.54 percent.

At the end of June, tourists from South Korea occupied the top spot on the country's list of tourist arrivals, the total number being 474,684. This represents 22.15% of foreign tourists from January to June 2012. The second largest number of foreign visitors was from the United States, totaling 354,259 tourist arrivals, equivalent to 16.53%. Japanese tourists accounted for 9.12% of the country's tourist arrivals (195,504 tourists), while Chinese tourists made up 7.03% or 150,749 tourists in total. Other countries that have contributed to tourist arrivals in the Philippines include Australia (92,648), Singapore (73,015), Canada (65,503), Hong Kong (57,790), and the United Kingdom (57, 181).

However, despite the increasing number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines, the numbers are still way below those of neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

In Malaysia, the Tourism Minister Dato Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen revealed that as of June 2012, Malaysia has received a total of 11,632,483 tourists, reflecting a growth of 2.4% compared to 2011. The bulk of tourist arrivals in Malaysia have come from the ASEAN region, accounting for 73.8% of the total foreign tourist arrivals.

The top ten countries that have contributed greatly to Malaysian tourism include: Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Brunei, India, Australia, Philippines, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Ironically, while Malaysia has not been identified by the DOT data as a major contributor to foreign tourist arrivals in the Philippines, the number of Philippine tourists visiting Malaysia has been on the rise every year. In fact, the Philippines has the highest growth rate of tourist arrivals in Malaysia (45.3%) followed by China (34.2%), Japan (32.5%), Indonesia (20.0%), India (6.9%), and the United Kingdom (5.9%).

Minister Ng Yen Yen has identified solid support from trade partners and the increased accessibility by air as the factors responsible for the growing appeal and increased tourist arrivals of Malaysia.

Tourist arrivals in Thailand have likewise increased this year. They have seen an 8.66% increase in international tourist arrivals for the period covering January to August 2012, the actual number being 14.3 million tourists. The Thai Tourism Department expects this momentum to be sustained throughout the rest of 2012.

Indonesia has also enjoyed a 7.75% increase in tourist arrivals during the first semester of 2012. Indonesia has received a total of 3.87 million tourists for the first six months of 2012, most of who come from Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, China, and Japan. There has also been a recorded increase in the number of tourists from Great Britain (4.5%), Germany (6.7%), and the United States (9.9%). This goes to show that despite the crisis experienced in the Western part of the world, citizens from these countries continue to travel. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu is certain that Indonesia will reach their goal of 8 million tourist arrivals for 2012.

A third of urban Europeans exposed to polluted air: EU

Nearly a third of Europe's urban population is exposed to air particles that breach European Union limits, an official report said Monday.

The figure more than triples if a UN health benchmark is used.

In 2010, 21 percent of residents of European towns and cities breathed air with concentrations of so-called PM10 fine particles that breached the most stringent daily EU limits, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said.

PM10 are particles that are 10 micrometres, or 10 millionths of a metre (0.0004 of an inch) across.

But more dangerous are PM2.5 particles, which are four times smaller and able to lodge deep into the lungs and even cross into the bloodstream.

On this score, around 30 percent of urban dwellers were exposed to PM2.5 levels that were above EU levels, which are based on an annual measure rather than a daily one, the EAA said.

By the yardstick of the higher air-quality standards set by the UN's World Health Organisation (WHO), 81 percent of urban residents were exposed to excessive levels of PM10 particles and 95 percent to excessive levels of PM 2.5, the EEA.

The particles are contained chiefly in vehicle exhaust gases in towns and cities, and industrialised regions of central and eastern Europe had the highest readings.

The good news is that emissions of "primary" PM10 and PM2.5 -- particles released directly into the air, as opposed to indirectly -- decreased by 15 percent between 2001 and 2010.

"European Union policy has reduced emissions of many pollutants over the last decade, but we can go further," said the EEA's executive director, Jacqueline McGlade.

"In many countries, air pollutant concentrations are still above the legal and recommended limits that are set to protect the health of European citizens. In fact, air pollution reduces human life expectancy by around two years in the most polluted cities and regions."

- AFP

Stars favor bold colors and sophistication for Emmy fashion

LOS ANGELES, California - At the first big red carpet event of the award season, stars donned bold colors and sophisticated designs in the sweltering heat at television's Emmy Awards on Sunday.

Bright yellow was a popular choice on the red carpet among the younger starlets and veteran actresses, including Julianne Moore (in full-length Christian Dior haute couture), "Homeland" star Claire Danes (in strapless, draped Lanvin), Leslie Mann (in yellow and white Naeem Khan), "Modern Family" Emmy winner Julie Bowen (in Monique Lhuillier), "New Girl" actress Hannah Simone (in asymmetric Pucci) and "Big Bang Theory's" Kaley Cuoco (in a strapless peplum Angel Sanchez).

"It would definitely get an award for bringing the dead back to life in its color," Bowen said of her dress backstage after winning the Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy. "It was bold for me, but it's a classic shape."

Hal Rubenstein, fashion director at InStyle magazine, praised the bold color choices and selected Julianne Moore's full-length yellow Dior couture gown as his favorite.

"On one hand, it recalls the best of Dior, and yet it was mixed through with all the modernity that (designer) Raf Simons brought to the house of Jil Sander and now will bring to the house of Dior," Rubenstein said.

Despite an unseasonably hot September day with temperatures hovering near 90 degrees, actresses managed to look cool in blue, white and grey gowns.

"New Girl" star and nominee Zooey Deschanel wore a pastel blue Reem Acra dress with a full tulle skirt, keeping her hair and makeup simple. Heidi Klum turned out in a turquoise Alexandre Vauthier gown and starlet Hayden Panettiere was attired in a teal and gold asymmetric Marchesa dress.

Pale gray was a hot color for fall, seen on "Revenge" star Emily VanCamp in J Mendel, "Homeland" actress Morena Baccarin in Basil Soda and "Veep" star Anna Chlumsky in Christian Siriano.

Siriano also dressed "Mad Men" bombshell Christina Hendricks in a pale grey-white strapless gown, echoed by 12-year-old "Mad Men" starlet Kiernan Shipka in a pale grey strapless Zac Posen. Lucy Liu shimmered in a fitted, metallic Versace strapless dress.

"The dresses were more influenced by the weather than the trends from the runway for fall. The clothes were actually very bright and sophisticated, there were a lot of ethereal colors and bright colors ... the colors were big, bright and happy," Rubenstein said. "I thought people looked good."

Fashion stylist and expert Sam Saboura was less impressed, saying he was "underwhelmed."

"I thought it was a little subdued. I wasn't blown away by anyone in particular, but key trends tonight were a lot of strapless and A-line dresses," Saboura told Reuters. "Last year we saw a lot of flared gowns hugging the body with mermaid tails, but the A-line was a little softer, a little more relaxed."

Deep red jewel tones also proved popular, with comedian Tina Fey leading a host of stars in a strapless Vivienne Westwood, echoed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Vera Wang, Jena Malone in burgundy J Mendel and "Big Bang Theory" nominee Mayim Bialik in a modest but glamorous Pamella Roland number.

Actress Nicole Kidman in an Antonio Berardi column sheath with blue sequined embellishments had fashionistas and fans split. Saboura said he felt the dress "did not do her justice," while Rubenstein said it was "clean and modern."

Floral prints added interest to the red carpet. Julianna Margulies wore a strapless floral baroque-style Giambattista Valli gown and Ginnifer Goodwin donned a white and red embellished Monique Lhuillier, a choice that Saboura called "interesting."

"There was a lot of sparkle and shine," Saboura said. "I thought it'd be more garish than glamorous, and I thought it was actually understated glamour tonight."

House at the End of the Street (2012)

House at the End of the Street is a 2012 horror-thriller film directed by Mark Tonderai and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Max Thieriot.

Synopsis: Seeking a fresh start, newly divorced Sarah (Elisabeth Shue) and her daughter Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence) find the house of their dreams in a small, upscale, rural town. But when startling and unexplainable events begin to happen, Sarah and Elissa learn the town is in the shadows of a chilling secret. Years earlier, in the house next door, a daughter named Carrie-Ann (Eva Lind) killed her parents (Krista Bridges and John Healey) in their beds, and disappeared—leaving only a brother, Ryan (Max Thieriot), as the sole survivor. The neighbors explain that Carrie-Ann ran into the woods after the double murder and, though her body was never found, it was believed she drowned in the nearby dam. Ryan now lives alone in the house; the neighborhood hates him because his house drives down their property values. They want to purchase his house and demolish it, but Ryan won't sell the house.

Weaver (Gil Bellows), a local police officer, appears to be Ryan's only supporter. Against the wishes of Elissa’s mother, Elissa and Ryan begin a relationship after he offers her a ride while she was walking home in a storm. He tells Elissa that he accidentally injured Carrie-Ann while they were swinging one day, giving her brain damage and making her extremely aggressive. For his safety, Ryan was sent away from home to take care of a sickly aunt and didn’t return home until after the murders. It is revealed to the viewer early in the film that Ryan has secretly been taking care of Carrie-Ann in a hidden room beneath a trap door in the laundry room. Carrie-Ann attacks him when he enters the room, and after sedating her, he tells her about Elissa and that he wants Carrie-Ann to leave Elissa alone. As the relationship between Ryan and Elissa progresses, Carrie-Ann escapes the room on two occasion and appears to attempt to attack Elissa. During the second escape attempt, Ryan accidentally kills Carrie-Ann while trying to hide her from some local students. In his grief, Ryan visits a diner where a Penn State student waitress (Jordan Hayes) attempts to comfort him.

While visiting Elissa’s battle of the bands at the local high school, several high school students vandalize Ryan’s car and then attack him. While defending himself, he breaks the ankle of one of the students (Nolan Gerard Funk) and then runs home. The remaining students announce they're going to burn his house down. Elissa drives Ryan's broken car home and stops the fire, but while inside finds Ryan's secret room. Opening the door, she is attacked by Carrie-Ann right as Ryan arrives home to stop the attack. At this moment, it is revealed to the viewer that the current Carrie-Ann is actually the Penn State student from the diner, being held captive and made to look like Carrie-Ann.

Hannes Harms Flat speaker: The thinnest speaker in the world

Technology is getting smaller with each day, so it’s no wonder to see speakers that come with reduced size as well.

Hannes Harms designed probably one of the first flat speakers in the world while reducing material, volume, and components thanks to flat electronics. This flat speaker is made from perforated sheet of acid-etched stainless steel, and it is only 0.5mm thick so it will look sleek next to your computer.

We have to mention that this speaker is so thin, so it can even fit in an envelope, and it can be assembled simply by bending. So far, we have no information regarding the sound power and sound quality, but we’ll keep an close eye on this speaker.

This flat speaker looks amazing, and it will save you some space on your table, and as for the availability, the prototype of this flat speaker was shown at RCA show in the UK, and so far, there’s no information regarding the release date or price.

Latest from LifeProof: Waterproof iPad Case.

iPad is one fragile device, so it’s no wonder to see all sorts of rugged cases for it, and speaking of which, if you’re looking for a case that can protect your iPad, today we might have a suitable model for you.

This case comes from LifeProof and it offers military-grade shock and impact protection and it is also waterproof up to 6.6 feet. As for your screen, it is sealed by watertight O-ring, and as for headphones, you can still use them but they are watertight sealed, along with other ports. We also have to mention that this case looks somewhat elegant and not so bulky like other rugged cases, so if visual appeal is your priority, this case might be perfect for you.

Clamcase Clambook: Turns your smartphone into a laptop.

Clamcase is famous for its iPad cases, but today Clamcase has something different for smartphone users, so let’s have a closer look at it.

As we know, there are all sorts of powerful smartphones on the market, and in fact, some of those smartphones have more power than laptops, so it’s no wonder to see a device like Clambook. Clambook looks like a standard laptop; it has 16:9 display, 3D Cinema Sound system, track pad, and a full keyboard with Android dedicated buttons. Although this device looks like laptop, it is useless unless you connect it to your smartphone using a MHL cable, and after you’ve connected your smartphone with Clambook, you can use it as a laptop.

We have to admit that Clambook looks rather interesting, but we still have concerns regarding compatibility with various smartphones. So far, there’s no information about pricing, and according to the Clamcase, we should see Clambook available for this holiday season.

ShaveTech: USB powered shaver.

We saw all sorts of USB devices in the past, and speaking of which, today we have an interesting USB device that we want to show you.

If you’re spending a lot of time in front of your computer, sometimes you might forget to shave yourself, but luckily for you, today we have a device called ShaveTech that might help you with that. Unlike standard shavers, ShaveTech is recharged via USB port, so you can use it wherever you want. This shaver is perfect because you don’t have to find a wall outlet or carry any additional cables and adapters in order to use it, so it is perfect if you’re travelling because you can connect it to your laptop in order to recharge it.

Asus TAICHI: Dual-screen notebook/tablet hybrid.

Finding a proper tablet that can work as a notebook isn’t an easy task, but luckily for you, today we have a device from Asus that can do that.

Asus TAICHI is a dual-screen notebook/tablet hybrid that runs on Microsoft’s Windows 8. There are two versions of this tablet available: 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch model, and both of these models are powered by Intel’s Ivy Bridge Core i7 processor. Both models have Super IPS+ Full HD LED-backlit displays on both sides of the lid with a touchscreen outside.

You can use Asus TAICHI as a multitouch tablet with stylus support while it is closed, but once you open it and reveal the QWERTY keyboard, you can use it as an Ultrabook. In addition to Core i7 processor, Asus TAICHI comes with 4GB of RAM, SSD storage, two cameras, and it also supports dual-band WiFi 802.11n connectivity.

Headline Sep24,2012/

''ARSENIC-NICKEL-BRICK 
DUST-FLOOR  POLISH !''

One fake prescription drugs ring was first exposed in November 2002, when customs staff at Stansted airport intercepted a package from Dubai containing 12,000 fake pills addressed to Haywood. Over the course of six months, this salesman from Leicester, who was later given six years jail sentence, arranged for around 500,000 fake pills to be smuggled through customs in packages with false labels such as ''Vitamin supplement for dogs'' and ''Calcium for Kids''.

The case was a triumph for this little known Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency =MHRA- the government body responsible for the safety of medicine.The MHRA is situated in Vauxhall, one block from MI6's Headquarters, the hi-tech building that looks like it ought to play host to International Rescue and its thunderbirds. By contrast, the MHRA is based in a glum 21 floor concrete and glass tower.

The man in charge of the Agency's investigation -an over 60 are currently active- and intelligence is Naeem Ahmed. His team of over 40 investigators, mostly police and customs officers, has a brief to stop counterfeiters from infiltrating the fake drugs into NHS supply chain. According to Nasim Ahmed, the counterfeits are becoming increasingly difficult to detect: ''I had some security experts from the pharmaceutical companies to take a look at two sample packs,and they said one pack was definitely fake. And it was not.

In 2007, fraudsters felt the sharp end of a nationwide MHRA operation, code named ''Rome'', in which five operational raids took place in Middlesex, Canterbury and Preston. It was the five culmination of a five month investigation into 51 Internet Sites.In one particular swoop the setting was a freshly rendered Thirties property with a high performance BMW outside. Supported by a van full of uniformed officers, the MHRA arrived with the milkman,and, an hour later emerged from the property with a haul that comprised 1,200 tablets of the stimulant ephedrine, only available via prescription in the UK, and a spray containing a banned substance as its active ingredient.

While pleased with its many successes Nasim Ahmed has a tough future ahead with many uphill battles. There are currently more than 2000 websites selling illegal drugs online. The Agency has noticed an alarming situation in the form of a shift from Bogus Lifestyle Drugs to Life Saving Ones, such as medicines used to fight Cancer. In 2004, counterfeit boxes Cialis, to treat impotence, and Reductil to treat obesity, were discovered. In 2005, these criminals began to target Lipitor, a best selling anti cholesterol drug, leading to 120,000 packs being withdrawn from sale.And only recently, investigators found dummy versions of Casodex, used to treat prostrate cancer, two lots of the blood thinner Plavix, and the anti schizophrenia drug. -Zyprexa. The value of the three drugs recalled was pound 6 Million.

In all, 40,000 fake packs of these drugs were seized in the UK alone, but about 30,000 packs apparently made it into the market, presumably to be consumed by sick patients or to sit unnoticed in chemists, hospitals and bathroom cabinets throughout the country.

Good Night and God Bless!

SAM Daily Times - the Voice of the Voiceless

World Twenty20 cricket: England humbled by India spinners

England fell to their lowest total and heaviest defeat as they lost by 90 runs to India in their final World Twenty20 group match in Colombo.
England had already qualified for the next stage, but their frailties against spin were again exposed as they were bowled out for 80 in 14.4 overs.

Harbhajan Singh (4-12) and Piyush Chawla (2-13) did the damage as seven wickets tumbled for 21 runs.
India had earlier posted 170-4, with Rohit Sharma blazing an unbeaten 55.
Both sides had already secured their place in the Super Eights, but that will be scant consolation to an England side that should be alarmed at the way they capitulated to India's spinners.

Singapore GP: Sebastian Vettel wins after Lewis Hamilton retires

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel cruised to victory in the Singapore GP after Lewis Hamilton's McLaren retired.
Hamilton headed Vettel from the start but a gearbox failure dealt a major blow to the Briton's world title hopes.


Fellow British driver Jenson Button took second in his McLaren from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who leads Vettel by 29 points in the standings.

Hamilton slips to fourth, 52 points off the lead with only 150 available, seven points behind Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen.


Read More Here

Liverpool 1 - 2 Man Utd

Robin van Persie's late penalty gave Manchester United victory over Liverpool on a poignant afternoon at Anfield.
On an occasion when the Hillsborough victims and families were remembered in moving scenes before kick-off, these two great rivals produced a typically competitive and contentious encounter.
Liverpool were reduced to 10 men when Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a first-half foul on United defender Jonny Evans - but it did not stop captain Steven Gerrard volleying them ahead seconds after the interval.

United, barely in the game for long periods, responded with a spectacular equaliser from Rafael Da Silva before Van Persie confirmed a fourth straight Premier League win nine minutes from time after Glen Johnson fouled Antonio Valencia.
It left Liverpool and new manager Brendan Rodgers without a league win in five attempts this season and in the Premier League's bottom three, once again rueing their lack of cutting edge.
Liverpool enjoyed spells of complete domination in territory and possession but failed to make it count, leaving United, who were without centre-back Nemanja Vidic, the opportunity to take full advantage for their first win at Anfield in six games.

- BBC.co.uk

Himalayas avalanche sweeps away climbers in Nepal

At least nine people have been killed and several are missing in Nepal after an avalanche hit climbers and guides at a camp on a Himalayan peak.

The bodies of a German and a Nepalese guide have been recovered from the slopes of Mount Manaslu, police say.

A further seven bodies have been sighted by rescue pilots. Spanish foreign ministry officials say one of the dead is a Spanish national.

The avalanche struck a base camp near the summit on Saturday, police said.

It is thought at least three other climbers are missing in the avalanche, but officials are trying to determine exactly how many people were in the climbing party.

At least five climbers were said by police officials to have survived and been rescued and flown to hospitals by rescue helicopters.

Four of the dead and three of the missing were French, the vice-president of the French mountain guides' union Christian Trommsdorff told the AFP news agency.

Two of those rescued were also French nationals, according to Mr Trommsdorff.

'Flood of snow'


Deteriorating weather conditions meant it was impossible to continue air searches of the mountain on Sunday, police official Basanta Bahadur Kuwar told the Associated Press.

The climbers were caught at 7,000m (22,960ft) as they were preparing to head toward the summit, which is 8,156m high.

"The avalanche hit camp three of the Manaslu peak... resulting in a flood of snow," said Laxmi Dhakal, head of the Nepalese home ministry's disaster response division.

Hundreds of foreign climbers head every year for the Himalayas in Nepal, which has eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest.

Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world, is considered one of the most dangerous, with dozens of deaths in recent years.

The autumn climbing season began this month.

-  BBC.co.uk

Swiss 'reject' full ban on smoking in public spaces

Smoking restrictions have been applied unevenly
across Swiss cantons 

Voters in Switzerland appear to have rejected a total ban on smoking in enclosed public places at a referendum.

Hotels, restaurants and bars are currently allowed to have rooms for smokers but critics say this harms the health of those who work in them.

Restrictions introduced two years ago were watered down after lobbying from the catering trade and tobacco firms.

With returns from nearly all 26 cantons counted, the full ban seemed to have been rejected convincingly.

Zurich newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung suggested voters had rejected the ban by nearly two-thirds.

In some cantons, more than 70% of voters rejected the ban, according to Geneva newspaper La Tribune de Geneve. Geneva itself bucked the trend by supporting the ban by 52% to 48%.

Geneva and seven other cantons have already imposed their own comprehensive bans on indoor smoking in places of employment while the remaining, smaller cantons have been less restrictive.


Measures 'extreme'
Jean-Charles Rielle, a doctor and member of the committee behind the proposal, told AFP news agency before the vote that they wanted to clear up the confusion.

"In the cantons where these laws [banning smoking rooms] are already in effect, we saw immediately... a 20% drop in hospitalisation due to cardiovascular incidents, heart attacks and these kinds of problems," he said.

However, Laurent Terlinchamp, president of Geneva's association of cafe owners, restaurateurs and hoteliers, said the proposed measures were extreme.

"In Geneva, where the law came in two years ago, we were told that a new clientele would start to come back to establishments," he said.

"But it's not the case today because profits are down 10% to 30% depending on the type of business."

La Tribune de Geneve suggests voters rejected a full ban because they did not want to force the smaller cantons into changing their local laws, and because of resentment at perceived state interference in people's lives.

-BBC.co.uk

'Meteors' sighted in skies across UK

People from across the UK have reported seeing bright objects in the night sky, thought to be meteors or "space junk"

Coastguards in Northern Ireland took calls from people who saw the objects from Coleraine on the north coast, to Strangford Lough in the south east.

The lights were seen as far north as Caithness in Scotland as well as in Wales and Norfolk in East Anglia.

Experts said the sightings could be satellite debris, burning up on entry to the atmosphere.

The lights have also been reported in the Midlands, parts of north-east England and in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Brian Guthrie in Grangemouth near Edinburgh, who watched the objects pass through the sky, said it appeared to be something "pretty large breaking up in the atmosphere".

"I've seen shooting stars and meteor showers before, but this was much larger and much more colourful."

Read More