Eye spy: U.S. scientists develop eye-shaped camera

Posted on August 7th, 2008 in News, World by

Photo

“Currently when you take photos, the middle part of the picture is very clear but when you go to the edge, it is not so clear,” Huang said. “The curved technology will make the entire picture clear.”

 

 But the applications extend beyond taking better vacation photos.

 ”It really extends to all of the electronics that we use on humans. You want to have a curved surface to fit the human body. That is really the place it can be used,” he said.

 Huang said the device could be used to make better imaging equipment, such as curved sensors to monitor brain activity that follow the contours of the brain. It could even be used in the development of an artificial retina or a bionic eye.

 ”If you want to develop an eye to replace a human eye, certainly you want the shape to look like a human eye,” he said.

 ”Right now we’ve already got a camera working. It works very well with computers. It’s just how to connect the camera to the brain. That is the issue to be solved,” he said.

Miley Cyrus’ condom offer

Posted on August 2nd, 2008 in Entertainment, News, World by

Singer Miley Cyrus performs on NBC’s “Today” show in New York July 25, 2008. [Agencies]

Singer Miley Cyrus performs on NBC’s “Today” show in New York July 25, 2008. [Agencies]

 

Miley Cyrus, 15, has been offered $1 million to sign up as the new face of LifeStyles Condoms. The ‘Hannah Montana’ star - who has previously expressed her desire to wait until she is married before having sex - is considered the most “influential” teenager in modern society, according to LifeStyles Condoms Vice President Carol Carrozza.

Carla Bruni revealed she’d had 15 lovers

Posted on August 2nd, 2008 in News, World by

Carla Bruni revealed she’d had 15 lovers

Carla Bruni is now married to French President Nicolas Sarkozy - were the 15 lovers she had before him too many?

London - When Carla Bruni revealed that she’d had 15 lovers before she married Nicolas Sarkozy, there was a collective sharp intake of breath.

‘What a slut!’ gasped some people, tut-tutting away. While others, equally shocked, asked: ‘Only 15? That’s peanuts!’

National Handicraft Fair in Panama

Posted on August 1st, 2008 in News, World by

A Kuna Yala woman sells her molas work, which are an ancient Panamanian art form created from fabric and worn by the Kuna Yala people, during the annual national Handicraft Fair held at the ATLAPA Convention Center in Panama city, capital of Panama, July 30, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

A woman picks up a wooded parrot during the annual national Handicraft Fair held at the ATLAPA Convention Center in Panama city, capital of Panama, July 30, 2008. The fair opened here is held from Wednesday, July 30 through Sunday, August 3. (Xinhua Photo)

The annual national Handicraft Fair is held at the ATLAPA Convention Center in Panama city, capital of Panama, July 30, 2008. The fair opened here is held from Wednesday, July 30 through Sunday, August 3.

Johnson & Johnson wraps up buy of China’s Dabao

Posted on August 1st, 2008 in News, World by

Bottles of Johnson’s baby shampoo are on display in a store in New York in this file photo. (AP Photo)

Johnson & Johnson has bought top Chinese cosmetics firm Beijing Dabao, the firm said on Wednesday, wrapping up a deal estimated at more than $300 million and aimed at expanding the US giant’s shares in the Chinese market.

Johnson & Johnson, which vies with the likes of Unilever to sell cosmetics and healthcare products to a retail consumer market growing at double digits annually, won a bidding war with Avon and Unilever and will pay 2.3 billion yuan ($337 million) for Dabao.

The US firm did not disclose the financial terms for the completed acquisition on Wednesday.

China’s fragmented cosmetics and healthcare market hosts more than 3,500 distinct brands, local newspapers have reported.

But global consumer and healthcare product firms such as Procter & Gamble are nonetheless pondering acquisitions in China to shore up and expand market share, with rip-roaring economic growth creating a newly monied middle class.

Underscoring the market’s attraction, L’Oreal bought popular local brands Mini Nurse and Yue Sai in 2004.

Dabao, a firm owned by the Beijing Sanlu Factory, cranks out a variety of self-branded, herbal cosmetics from skin cream to hair products. It exports to more than 30 countries, including the United States and Japan, according to its Web site.

In 2006, the firm posted a meagre 41.7 million yuan ($6.1 million) of net profit on sales of 675.2 million.

McCain accuses Obama of playing politics with race

Posted on August 1st, 2008 in News, World by

Republican presidential candidate US Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) speaks at a town hall meeting at Reed High School on July 29, 2008 in Sparks, Nevada. Democrats Thursday accused a “desperate” John McCain of offering voters a paucity of hope, after the Republican invoked Britney Spears to damn Barack Obama as nothing more than a glitzy showman. (Agencies)

John McCain accused Barack Obama of playing politics with race on Thursday, raising the explosive issue after the first black candidate with a serious chance of winning the White House claimed Republicans will try to scare voters by saying he “doesn’t look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills.”

Six new white lion cubs debut in Britain

Posted on July 31st, 2008 in News, World by

In this undated handout image. Keepers unveil six white lion cubs, born to the UK’s only pride of the rare animals, at West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley,England, Monday, July 28, 2008. The cubs, born to two different mothers, take the number of white lions at West Midland Safari Park in Worcestershire to 19 - thought to be the world’s largest pride of pure-bred white lions in captivity. (Photo source: www.china.com.cn)

The cubs are playing. (Photo source: www.china.com.cn)

The cub are playing with the adult white lion.(Photo source: www.china.com.cn)

The cub are playing with the adult white lions.(Photo source: www.china.com.cn)

The cubs are playing.(Photo source: www.china.com.cn)

In this undated handout image. Keepers unveil six white lion cubs, born to the UK’s only pride of the rare animals, at West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley,England, Monday, July 28, 2008. The cubs, born to two different mothers, take the number of white lions at West Midland Safari Park in Worcestershire to 19 - thought to be the world’s largest pride of pure-bred white lions in captivity.

Olmert announces not to run in Kadima primary

Posted on July 31st, 2008 in News, World by

Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gives a speech during a graduation ceremony of the National Security College in Jerusalem July, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

JERUSALEM, July 30 (Xinhua) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday he has decided not to contend in the Kadima primary and would resign as soon as the new party leader was chosen, due to the criminal investigations embroiled him in recen tmonths.

Olmert made the announcement in a statement to the public from his official residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening.

Olmert began the unexpected address by saying that despite having been beset by investigations during his tenure, he has improved the situation in Israel and continues to believe that peace is the most important track for the country.

The prime minister said as long as he is in power, he would work toward this goal of peace.

“I am proud to be the prime minister of a country that investigates its prime ministers,” he said, adding that, “The prime minister is not above the law, but he is in no way below it.”

The primary election of the ruling Kadima party is set for Sept.17.