Mouse hunt delays flight by five hours

OSLO: Norwegian Air Shuttle, already plagued by costly flight delays on its long-haul routes, was forced to delay a flight to New York by five hours on Tuesday because of a hunt for a mouse in the cockpit.

"The pilots discovered a mouse on flight deck," spokeswoman Charlotte Holmbergh said on Wednesday. "We had to make sure that no cables or wires had been chewed.

"This does not happen very often, but it does happen from time to time.”

Norwegian became the only European budget carrier last year to fly long-haul routes, but a string of technical troubles with its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners delayed many of its flights, leaving passengers stranded at airports from Bangkok to Florida.

The airline has since improved its reliability, but it runs its Dreamliners 18 hours a day, five to six hours more than traditional carriers, so even small delays can cause significant schedule disruptions.

"At least the mouse was caught," Holmbergh added. (Reuters)

Zombies take over London for Halloween

LONDON: In a dark alley in northwest London, a small group of people desperately searched for water. But it was too late -- the zombies spotted them, and they ran for their lives.

After a blood-pumping chase through a deserted industrial area, they managed to shake off the howling horde dressed in tattered clothes, and  paused to catch their breath at a bus stop.

Laughing and sweating, the survivors congratulated themselves on a game well played.

It was Halloween, and this was a "street game" that allows horror-seekers to play out their favourite apocalyptic scenes from the movies.

The event in London was inspired by Danny Boyle's zombie film "28 Days Later", which is set in the British capital after a deadly virus sweeps across the country.

The action takes place as night falls, on quiet streets in a futuristic London dystopia where a corrupt elite has taken control of the city's remaining food and water.

"Our players are members of a resistance that is breaking into that city to steal water," said James Wheale of Slingshot, the games company behind the "2.8 Hours Later" event.

On the mission, the players encounter dozens of zombies on street corners and in empty buildings, dressed in rags, their faces pale and covered with blood.

The living dead have spent hours being made up and learned their howls and staggers during intensive training.

"We're looking for people who can chase someone, scare them, good vocalisation, lots of noises, lots of good movements," said their teacher Alex Noble, or the "Zombiboss".

Being a zombie is "quite empowering, when you get the make-up on you, it's like a mask and it allows you to go a bit crazy for a few hours", said the 27-year-old former soldier.



- 'Stronger than the movies' -

To play the game, a group of four players was given a basic map to help guide them to the water and they advanced slowly and carefully, alert to the smallest movements.

They reached a parking lot where an informant was to give them more detailed directions, but then some zombies blocked their path.

They reacted strategically, three of them shouting to distract the monsters while the fourth got to the informant. Information in hand, they all ran off, pursued by zombies.

"It was really good. It was not like anything I've done before," said Melissa Hartley, 20, after two hours of hide-and-seek and cat and mouse chases around the game's site.

"We never knew what to expect, where the zombies were going to be. It depends on your actions," she said, adding that the experience was "definitely stronger than the movies".

Hartley made it to the exit, but others were not so lucky and got caught by the zombies.

"I got infected because I slipped and then they just jumped on over me," said Omar Raza, 29.

Such street games are becoming increasingly popular, cashing in on the current fashion for zombie movies, games and books -- and giving players an exhilarating experience.

"Being able to take over a public part of the city and for people to run wild in the streets as if they were children again is incredibly liberating," said Wheale. (AFP)

Circus tiger kills 8-yr-old girl

Circus tiger kills 8-yr-old girl

Pékin, Chine: An eight-year-old Chinese girl was killed by a circus tiger after she slipped into an enclosed "animal training site", state media said.

The girl died of her injuries in hospital following the attack at Leheledu Amusement Park in the southwestern city of Chongqing, Xinhua reported, citing the park.

She was visiting the circus on Friday night with her relatives when she was attacked, the news agency added.

"A spokesman from the park said they have reached (an) initial agreement on settling the incident with the victim's family and vowed to beef up security measures," it said.

The incident comes after a zookeeper was killed by a tiger while cleaning out his cage in the financial hub Shanghai last December. AFP

Washington D.C votes to legalize marijuana

Washington D.C votes to legalize marijuana

LOS ANGELES: Voters in the US capital backed legalizing marijuana Tuesday, in a symbolic victory for campaigners aiming to build on two states' 2012 decision to allow weed for recreational purposes.

Washington DC approved the measure by 64 percent in favor and 29 percent against, according to partial results posted online, in a move adding the nation's capital to Colorado and Washington state in legalizing pot.

Florida meanwhile appeared to have failed to approve a measure allowing marijuana for medical purposes. Some 57 percent voted in favor, less than the 60 percent required for the the proposal to pass, partial results showed.

Oregon and Alaska were also voting on marijuana-related proposals, but polls closed later in the western US states, so results were still awaited.

"The DC loss is unsurprising, but disappointing," said Kevin Sabet, an opponent of legalizing pot in Oregon, where it was also on the ballot.

"And the fight isn't over. We will be working to ensure that marijuana is not commercialized in DC," he told AFP, as results from nationwide referenda continued to pour in.

It is still against federal law to consume, sell and possess cannabis, but some 20 states have either partially or fully decriminalized it.

In 2012 Colorado and Washington, both western US states, voted to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. Colorado rapidly became a pioneer for the retail commercialization of pot sales along the lines regulating tobacco sales.

Mike Elliott, head of the Colorado-based Marijuana Industry Group, hailed the Washington DC result.

"More and and more people are realizing that it makes sense to choose licensed, regulated, and taxed marijuana businesses over the drug cartels," he told AFP.

"Colorado is showing the rest of the world that reforming marijuana laws can enhance safety, the economy, and our basic civil liberties," he added.

Marijuana was just one subject being voted on, along with everything from abortion to gay marriage and GMOs to bear-baiting, in state and local referendums held in the sidelines of the US midterm elections.

Same-sex marriage, which is also in the process of being legalized by many US states, was put to a referendum in Arizona, which amended its constitution to outlaw it five years ago.

Another burning question: the minimum wage. Fixed at $7.25 by federal law, it was the subject of votes in five states (Arkansas, Alaska, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota) and some 20 towns and cities.

Another hot button issue, abortion, was on the ballot in Colorado, North Dakota and Tennessee.

Firearms measures were voted on in Alabama, Missouri and Washington state, where there were two opposing ballots: one making it tougher to buy a gun by imposing background checks, and the other seeking to ban exactly that measure.

Eight towns and cities voted on anti-fracking proposals. The extraction of oil and gas from shale via hydraulic fracturing has boosted US oil production, but critics fear its impact on the environment.

Several towns and cities voted on measures against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Referendums in the western US states of Oregon and Colorado sought to make it mandatory to label food containing GMOs.

On a lighter note, in California a measure proposed in San Francisco and Berkeley would impose a tax of one cent per centiliter on sugary beverages, in a bid to combat obesity and other health problems.

Voters in Alaska were consulted on a proposal to ban mining activity if it endangers wild salmon.

Also aiming to protect animals, the East Coast state of Maine was asked to ban bear-baiting, and in particular the use of cold pizza and donuts as lures. - AFP

Meet Nod. Beautiful, touchless interaction.

Meet Nod.
Beautiful, touchless interaction.

Nod seamlessly transforms your movements into commands. It brings the world around you to life, as you control everything from your laptop to your living room lights with a wave of your hand. Just like magic.

Designed to go exactly everywhere.

Because it works with the ever-expanding number of smart devices and objects around us, you can use Nod everywhere: in your home, at the office, and anywhere in between. Nod simply and easily integrates with all your stuff, wherever you go – provided, of course, that you bring your hands with you.

Tap, type, glide.

Whether you’re leading a presentation, working with a team, or just surfing, Nod gives you complete control over all your display devices, from your computer to your smart TV. Swipe between slides, search for new shows, play with photos, or type notes without setting a finger on your device.

Turning up the heat

never felt so cool.

You’ll never have to leave the comfort of your blanket on a chilly day. Simply turn your hand to dial in the perfect temperature on your smart thermostat – just a cozy little example of how Nod is helping to bring your home to life.

Just press play.

Whether you’re out for a run or across a crowded dance floor, Nod gives you control over your audio. Shuffle, play, and turn up your favorite songs without touching your phone or messing with a remote.

Let there be light. 

And color.

With Nod and smart lighting, you can adjust the brightness and color of any room. Set the mood without spoiling the moment or new add accents to your space. Who knows, it might just help you see your surroundings in a whole new light.

It slices and dices.

Whether you’re slicing fruit on your tablet or storming an enemy base on your console, Nod helps you feel the game in a way no controller can match. Move and manipulate objects in three dimensions and enjoy a more physical, immersive experience no matter what you play.

And that's just the beginning.

                                                 

Get your hands on Nod.

The future of gesture control. 

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Android software co-creator quits Google

SAN FRANCISCO: Google has confirmed that an executive behind leading mobile device software Android is leaving the company to create an incubator for hardware startups.

Andy Rubin became a Google executive in 2005 when the Internet titan bought Android Inc., which was then a small startup that Rubin co-founded two years earlier.

Rubin led the Android team at Google until last year, by which time Android was the most widely used smartphone operating system in the world.

Rubin switched to managing the robotics team at Google.

"I want to wish Andy all the best with what's next," Google chief executive Larry Page said in a statement emailed to AFP.

"With Android he created something truly remarkable—with a billion plus happy users. Thank you." (AFP)

Find hidden gems with new apps

TORONTO: News apps are helping users share information about sights and hidden gems in cities and countries around the globe so other people can benefit from their knowledge.

Findery, a free app for iPhone and Android available worldwide, lets people view trivia and stories about favorite locations, whether it's a building, beach, or a landmark like the Eiffel Tower.

"We want to help bring curiosity, adventure and exploration into daily life,” said Caterina Fake, founder and chief executive officer of Findery, based in San Francisco.

When users open the app they can read notes and inside tips or view photos and videos by others about nearby locations, which can be viewed on a map.

“I was standing in front of a building I pass a thousand times and found out that Ann Rice wrote 'Interview with a Vampire' there,” Fake said of the vampire novel by the American author.

The app includes copious notes about cities like New York and San Francisco and information about countries around the globe.

“We want to ground people in the place they’re standing and where they are, which technology has the tendency to take us away from,” Fake said.

Findery and other apps aim to enhance the travel experience.

Wikipedia recently re-introduced a feature called Nearby on its free iOS and Android apps that shows people entries about nearby places, landmarks, historical events and monuments.

“It’s a great thing to do when wandering through a new city, and it’s the number one thing people asked us for," said Katherine Maher, chief communications officer of the San Francisco-based Wikimedia Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging the free distribution of educational material.

HistoryPin, free for iOS, Android and Windows phone, allows people to explore history through photos geo-tagged on a map. Users can also overlay historic photos over the present view with the app’s augmented reality view.

People wanting to discover hidden culinary locations can use apps such as  Find. Eat. Drink, for iPhone, and Chefs Feed for iPhone and Android. Foodies profile their favorite restaurants on the apps.

Craig Palli, chief strategy officer of Boston-based mobile app marketing firm Fiksu, says Findery is likely to strike a chord with consumers, but its long-term staying power will depend on people contributing notes.

“It will need to hit critical mass. If they can hit scale, I think it’s an excellent premise,” he said. - REUTERS