The first call for preparatory EU projects in the field of sport attracted massive requests for funding from all over Europe. 18 projects were selected, dealing with health, education, disabilities and gender equality. The European Commission received a total of 207 applications in response to the first call for proposalsexternal for 'preparatory actions in the field of sport,' launched last spring. The total sum requested amounted to nearly €44 million, but just €4 million of funding was available. Meanwhile, 77 of the proposals were ineligible, according to the Commission. Maroš Šefčovič, the EU commissioner in charge of sports, said that the huge interest in the first call "clearly demonstrates the need for support for transnational sport projects in the EU" and proved that the "expectations of sport stakeholders are high".
The European Commission received a total of 207 applications in response to the first call for proposalsexternal for 'preparatory actions in the field of sport,' launched last spring.
The total sum requested amounted to nearly €44 million, but just €4 million of funding was available. Meanwhile, 77 of the proposals were ineligible, according to the Commission.
Maroš Šefčovič, the EU commissioner in charge of sports, said that the huge interest in the first call "clearly demonstrates the need for support for transnational sport projects in the EU" and proved that the "expectations of sport stakeholders are high".
A Dutch statistician has cast doubt on the doping conviction of German speed skater Claudia Pechstein. 'As long as the biomedical passport is upheld, one in twenty athletes will find themselves unjustly convicted' Claudia Pechstein was Germany's most successful female Olympic speed skater ever, winning five Olympic gold medals. Her career ended in disgrace on November 25 however, when The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the ultimate sporting authority, upheld an earlier ruling by the International Skating Union (ISU) banning the 37-year old from competing for two years. The conviction cited abnormalities in her blood profile found in February 2009 when the skater competed at the world all-round speed skating championships in Hamar, Norway. Pechstein has always denied any wrongdoing.
Claudia Pechstein was Germany's most successful female Olympic speed skater ever, winning five Olympic gold medals. Her career ended in disgrace on November 25 however, when The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the ultimate sporting authority, upheld an earlier ruling by the International Skating Union (ISU) banning the 37-year old from competing for two years. The conviction cited abnormalities in her blood profile found in February 2009 when the skater competed at the world all-round speed skating championships in Hamar, Norway. Pechstein has always denied any wrongdoing.
A spacecraft designed to rocket wealthy tourists into space as early as 2011 was unveiled Monday in what backers of the venture hope will signal a new era in aviation history. The long-awaited glimpse of SpaceShipTwo marks the first public appearance of a commercial passenger spacecraft. The project is bankrolled by Virgin Galactic founder, British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, who partnered with famed aviation designer Burt Rutan, the brains behind the venture. "We want this program to be a whole new beginning in a commercial era of space travel," Branson said. He is hopeful that they can begin the flights sometime in 2011, only after a series of rigorous safety tests. Branson said he, his family and Rutan would be the first people to make the trip to space aboard the craft.
The long-awaited glimpse of SpaceShipTwo marks the first public appearance of a commercial passenger spacecraft. The project is bankrolled by Virgin Galactic founder, British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, who partnered with famed aviation designer Burt Rutan, the brains behind the venture.
"We want this program to be a whole new beginning in a commercial era of space travel," Branson said.
He is hopeful that they can begin the flights sometime in 2011, only after a series of rigorous safety tests. Branson said he, his family and Rutan would be the first people to make the trip to space aboard the craft.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has decided to close down its UFO reporting service, saying that it is an "inappropriate use of defence resources". The Ministry has closed down the voicemail and email addresses formerly available for reporting sightings. The MoD's page, How to report a UFO sighting, was modified last week to reflect the changes. A statement was issued, saying: The MOD has no opinion on the existence or otherwise of extra-terrestrial life. However, in over fifty years, no UFO report has revealed any evidence of a potential threat to the United Kingdom. The MOD has no specific capability for identifying the nature of such sightings. There is no defence benefit in such investigation and it would be an inappropriate use of defence resources.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has decided to close down its UFO reporting service, saying that it is an "inappropriate use of defence resources". The Ministry has closed down the voicemail and email addresses formerly available for reporting sightings.
The MoD's page, How to report a UFO sighting, was modified last week to reflect the changes. A statement was issued, saying:
The MOD has no opinion on the existence or otherwise of extra-terrestrial life. However, in over fifty years, no UFO report has revealed any evidence of a potential threat to the United Kingdom. The MOD has no specific capability for identifying the nature of such sightings. There is no defence benefit in such investigation and it would be an inappropriate use of defence resources.
I heard someone say that the fascination with extra-terrestrial life is by and large confined to anglo-saxon cultures. Is that right ? keep to the Fen Causeway
In recent years the first Monday of December has become the busiest day for online shopping, with consumers scouting for the best deals over the weekend before making their decision on the Monday. Between the hours of 1pm and 2pm alone, Brits spent a combined total of £33 million, a year-on-year increase of 21 per cent, with 1.43pm the peak minute with £1.4 million spent.
Between the hours of 1pm and 2pm alone, Brits spent a combined total of £33 million, a year-on-year increase of 21 per cent, with 1.43pm the peak minute with £1.4 million spent.
His underground tomb, in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, is now suffering from the wear and tear caused by tens of thousands of sweaty visitors who each year make a pilgrimage to the underground chamber where he once lay sheathed in the solid gold death-mask that has become his trademark.
Strange brown spots, apparently mould, have appeared on the walls of Tutankhamun's burial chamber. Its elaborate murals, which tell the story of his journey into the after-life, are now covered in dust and have begun to peel in places. The king's wooden coffin is losing flakes of gilded paint and may also be in the early stages of decay.
If you're concerned about Google retaining your personal data, then you must be doing something you shouldn't be doing. At least that's the word from Google CEO Eric Schmidt. "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place," Schmidt tells CNBC, sparking howls of incredulity from the likes of Gawker. But the bigger news may be that Schmidt has actually admitted there are cases where the search giant is forced to release your personal data.
If you're concerned about Google retaining your personal data, then you must be doing something you shouldn't be doing. At least that's the word from Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
"If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place," Schmidt tells CNBC, sparking howls of incredulity from the likes of Gawker.
But the bigger news may be that Schmidt has actually admitted there are cases where the search giant is forced to release your personal data.
