IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 4 January
04-01-2008
by Sylvia Leatham
Ireland gets poor privacy rating | U2 go 3D
The Irish Times reports that DSG International has warned that profits would miss expectations by as much as STG50 million following weaker-than-expected Christmas trade. Read more on this story on ENN.
The paper also says that Ireland has been given a privacy red card for "systemic failure to uphold safeguards", according to a survey by Privacy International. The London-based watchdog said that on a scale of one to five, Ireland scored 2.5, due almost entirely to its poor record on data retention and flimsy government leadership. This is the second year in a row Ireland has retained such a dismal score, only half a mark above being classified as an "extensive surveillance society".
The same paper says that chipmaker RedMere Technology will be the only Irish company to exhibit at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week. In its second year as an exhibitor, RedMere will showcase its MagnifEye embedded cable product, which is designed to connect high-definition devices such as televisions, game consoles and video cameras using cheaper, thinner cabling.
The paper also notes that thousands of collection points for waste batteries will be established by autumn to fulfil an EU requirement to curtail excess levels of hazardous materials. Minister for the Environment John Gormley on Thursday published draft regulations to implement the EU Directive on Waste Batteries. The directive will apply to all batteries placed on the market from 26 September 2008. It will require producers to be responsible for the financing of the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of used batteries. Consumers will also be entitled to leave batteries back to the shop where they purchased them.
The Irish Independent reports that Paddy Power is looking to the European Commission to overturn a decision by the German Federal States to impose a ban on internet gaming. The bookmaker faces a serious loss in online revenue following the adoption by the 16 federal states of the online gaming ban.
The paper also notes that rock band U2 are planning to take a technological leap with what has been hailed as a unique cinematic event. 'U2 3D', the first live action movie shot in digital 3D, will be screened in a number of digital 3D cinemas from 22 February. Nine high-tech digital 3D cameras, advanced digital 3D imagery and surround sound were used to capture the onstage performance during the band's concert in Buenos Aires.
The Irish Examiner says that rural internet users may be set to benefit from the opening up of part of the country's under-used radio spectrum. Communications regulator ComReg has released part of the spectrum to be used as an alternative to costly and labour-intensive fibre-optic cables. The section of the spectrum, between 71-76GHz and 81-86GHz frequency bands, was tested last year and proved to have a "very high capacity" for transmitting information. ComReg has said the tests suggest that this radio band can provide a similar service to fibre-optic cables.
The paper also says that detailed information on thousands of medicines and health products is now online. The Irish Medicines Board has launched a new website, www.imb.ie. The site will benefit anyone interested in regulation of medicines and the safety, legality, licensing and availability of healthcare products and about 500,000 medical devices in use throughout Europe. Site users can also report suspected adverse reactions and quality defects relating to medicines and medical devices online.
The Wall Street Journal reports that new rules in China aim to restrict the broadcast of internet videos to sites run by the state. The regulations stipulate that online videos can be broadcast or streamed only by state-owned or State-controlled companies. That means video sites could face the same treatment as television broadcasters and newspapers, which also are controlled by the State.
The paper also reports that more than 90 plaintiffs are suing IBM, alleging it discharged toxic chemicals and caused birth defects and other health problems for residents in and around Endicott, New York, where the company was founded. The suit revolves around an Endicott manufacturing plant IBM operated from 1924 until 2002. The suit says the company used industrial solvents there through the years and "wrongfully, wantonly and recklessly" discharged them, contaminating local air, soil and groundwater.
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