Nelson Mandela possesses lung infection.

Nelson Mandela's current hospitalization is because of a lung infection, specialists said Tuesday.

Doctors that were treating Mandela and he was responding to treatment, a statement from President Jacob Zuma's office said.

Mandela, 94, was now hospitalized over the weekend in a Pretoria hospital but the nature of his ailment had not been released.

Tuesday's statement said he'd a recurrence of the long gona previous lung infection.

Mandela has not appeared in public places since the 2010 Entire world Cup hosted by Southern region Africa. The former president receives round-the-clock care after abdominal surgery this season and an acute respiratory infection in 2011.

Despite his uncommon appearances, Mandela retains his popularity and it is considered a hero of democracy in the nation.

Just last 30 days, South Africa launched the latest batch of banknotes which has a picture of a smiling Mandela within the front.

The now new 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand banknotes all feature pictures on the global icon.

The polls close at Facebook .

Facebook closed its polls soon after noon PT on 10, marking the end of its voting technique with little fanfare.

"The Facebook Site Governance vote has become closed, " reads the status update on Facebook's website governance page says. "Thank you on your participation. We will be announcing the final results and the next steps about the governance process shortly, thus check back soon.

While Facebook hasn't technically called it yet, a glance at the Facebook app tallying votes demonstrates only 589, 141 ballots were cast. Facebook said it required 300 million votes to generate the users' decisions keep.

Secretive X-37B space plane ready for subsequent flight.

An Atlas V rocket carrying the unmanned craft, which appears like a miniature space taxi, has gotten clearance to get a planned liftoff tomorrow only after 10 a. m. PT from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in California.

If the previous two trips into space usually are any indication, don't expect the X-37B into the future home anytime soon -- or to the U. S. Air Force to state much about what the vessel is as much as. Is it spying? May it eventually carry tools? Is there extra cash lying around in the Pentagon for joy flights? Maybe it's a mental operations ploy to wreck havoc on government types in Beijing or even Tehran or Pyongyang! The speculation has risen to satisfy the near silence.

Usually the one detail of any substance the Air Force and X-37B creator Boeing have shared is the previous X-37B trips into space made and on and with. The first, which broken in December 2010, survived 224 days, and the second, which ended last August, endured for 469 days to weeks, or a year and four months.

North Korea expands launch window for rocket after technical problems.

North Korea has extended the date for the controversial long-range rocket launch by 1 week after finding technical problems in the engine, state media noted Monday.

The planned launch which is now widely condemned by other countries like the usa and South Korea, which they say that is cover regarding testing ballistic missile technological innovation. The North insists the launch is targeted at putting a scientific satellite in the orbit.

When the plan was announced on December 1, North Korean regime said it intended to handle the launch between December 10 and 22. But on Saturday, the state-run Korean Main News Agency (KCNA) said the launch will be delayed.

In a completely new article Monday, KCNA reported that professionals and technicians had "found technical deficiency from the first-stage control engine module on the rocket, " citing a spokesman for that KCST[Korean Committee of Space Technology].

As the outcome, they have decided to hold the launch period until December 29, the agency said.

The problem mentioned that the news report suggests the solution will not be "a quick fix, " said Jon Ahn on the Aerospace Engineering Department from Sejong University in Southerly Korea.

Analysts have cited many possible reasons for Pyongyang's decision to handle an unprecedented second launch this season, after a failed attempt in April, including significant anniversaries related to the reclusive state's taking over dynasty.

Previous attempts by the North in 2006 and 2009 also didn't achieve their stated objective of putting a satellite in the orbit and provoked international condemnation.

Snakes set loss at Chinese university .

 

Students at the university in the the southern part of Chinese city of Guangzhou got  scare last week, after dozens of snakes visits the campus.

The Guangzhou Daily described on Monday that  the animal command experts had caught around 40 live snakes on Saturday after most of the reptiles were spotted writhing alongside a road in Guangzhou University City.

Around 60 snakes have been also found dead, nearly all squashed by cars.

"On my way to the library I saw a green snake lying on the roadside in the sun, was about 50 cm long, " the newspaper quoted one student as writing with Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter.
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An official at Sunshine Yat-Sen University contacted by CNN confirmed that snakes were being found but said they did not know any details.

Zhang Liang, through the South China Institute involving Endangered Animals, identified the particular snakes as chequered keelbacks, a common species in the community, and said they weren't poisonous.

"This kind of snake likes sunshine. It's timid and is not going to hurt people, " he said.

If they found a snake, he said that learners should call the city's untamed animal protection bureau and never poke or try to help catch it.

Zhang said he suspected for now that the snakes had been set loss deliberately. Most of the taken snakes had bite marks on the bodies, suggesting they were being kept in a restricted space.

The snake invasion had not been a signifier of a great earthquake or other natural disaster, he cautioned, after students described the incident for apocalyptic sign.

Apple and Google are teaming approximately to bid $500M for Kodak patents.

In business, your enemy today could be your friend tomorrow, if both of you can work out a mutually beneficial deal. In line with this specific, Google and Apple — supposedly arch-rivals inside mobile operating system field — are teaming approximately to secure a big patent account that Kodak is setting available.

Kodak which is filing for bankruptcy.Kodak had been hoping to fetch at the very least $2. 6 billion from its patent auction, although it did not get the sufficient bids during its first require proposals. What had been interesting to remember was that rival companies were being trying to come together so as to bring down the asking cost of Kodak.

Kodak puts the price of its portfolio higher. But if companies were to come together, then they will use a better negotiating position, which will now bring the price down.

Now Google and Apple are reported to have combined their efforts in order to make a $500 million bid for the patent portfolio. There is for now no official confirmation from either firm, although sources have actually documented conflicting news. sources reported that Google and also Apple are each forming their own consortiums to rival each other’s estimates. But now, a different group of sources cited by Bloomberg say both the Internet and tech giants are teaming up.


The patent business is a lucrative one, with firms having the ability to get hefty licensing fees from competitors applying their technologies. Kodak is hoping it could possibly get enough cash to make it get by its financial difficulties, while Google and Apple wants to use these imaging technologies of their devices and license these out there to competitors. As such, keeping the price just possible would be in the top interest of both.

Companies have discovered from their past mistake connected with over-bidding on patents, such as the $4. 5 billion acquisition of Nortel Networks’ patents by way of group led by Apple and also Microsoft.

L. A. P. D. Apologizes Regarding Leak Of the Notorious B. I. G. Autopsy.

Some days ago friends, fans and family of the late Christopher Wallace, the Brooklyn MC known as The Notorious B. I. G., had to relive his murder of some fifteen years ago. Thanks to a leaked autopsy record, gruesome details of how this rapper was killed became community knowledge.

According to several reviews, a security hold on the documents was lifted last week and an administrative error that bring about the documents hitting the world wide web.

“Our detectives personally spoke with all the Wallace family (Friday) night, and apologized for not notifying them ahead of the release” said Captain Billy Hayes, the head on the Robbery/Homicide Division. “Obviously this has been one of the challenging case for us to unravel. We hope that witnesses or people with information will come forward and provides us the clues we must solve this case. ”

Nonetheless, a lawyer for the Notorious B. I. G does not see the logic to produce this information public or how it will help solve the case.

“What legitimate lead may be stimulated by releasing an autopsy of which says Mr. Wallace was chance. When almost everyone knows that,  Perry Sanders Jr. told  Los Angeles times. “Why can’t they release some of the many of the clues they have? ”

Barcelona's Lionel Messi now breaks Gerd Muller's goalscoring report with Real Betis brace.

Lionel Messi set an archive for goals scored in a season as unbeaten La Liga leaders Barcelona stayed six points away from chasing Atletico Madrid with some sort of nervy 2-1 win at Genuine Betis.

The Argentine World Player with the Year netted his 85th along with 86th goals of 2012 within an entertaining game at the Benito Villamarin in Seville to overhaul the last best of 85 set simply by German Gerd Mueller in 1972.

Messi's uses overshadowed those of Atletico striker Radamel Falcao, who earlier put bottom side Deportivo Coruna towards sword with a five-goal haul in the crushing 6-0 home wins.

The prolific Colombian who is known as 'the tiger' and coveted by most of Europe's richest clubs, took his tally for that season to 16 in 15 complements as Atletico restored a five-point advantage over city rivals Real This town.
Jose Mourinho's Real side was required to twice come from behind in order to scrape a 3-2 win on Real Valladolid on Saturday which in turn closed the gap to Atletico, who they beat 2-0 at the Bernabeu last weekend, to a couple of points overnight.

 Atletico who responded by romping to a 12th win in 15 outings this term against a promoted Depor side vulnerable to dropping straight back to the next division.

Barca have won all their games this very season apart coming from a 2-2 draw at home with Real in October and Messi's double wear them 43 points, with Atletico upon 37 and Real on 34.


Messi equalled Mueller's record when he found the ball in a central position from the 16th minute and left the actual Betis defence standing before delivering an angled shot (below) across goal in to the bottom right corner.
Andres Iniesta's clever high heel set Messi up to ranking again nine minutes later which has a sweeping strike from a similar position just into the penalty area that flew in to the same corner of the aim.

Ruben Castro pulled a goal back for that home side in the 39th minute setting the stage for a difficult second half for that visitors.

Messi came close to some sort of hat-trick just over five moments from time when he spun in the community and Betis goalkeeper Adrian switched his shot onto a submit before Jordi Alba struck the rebound from the top off the crossbar.

The defeat was tough so on Betis, who beat Real 1-0 at your home last month and gave Barca one of their toughest workouts so far shock as to which deserved at least a spot.

Rick Ross Cancels shows Over Death Threats From the Gangster Disciples.

Rick Ross has cancelled 2 of his shows in Greensboro and Charlotte on Friday and Saturday after receiving death threats from the gang named the Gangster Disciples. Meek Work, Wale and Machine Gun Kelly were also set to for a show at the high profile shows, though a show set pertaining to Sunday evening (December 9, 2012) with Nashville remains on schedule.

Local news outlet WCNC say the cancellation relates to threats from the Gangster Disciples team, who have a beef with Rick Ross. They put out a video warning the rapper to stay out of Charlotte, with the Live Nation complying and offering refunds for your show. Paul Scott, a minister from Durham who's also a hip hop correspondent, said, "I think fans should now be concerned. I think the parents should now be concerned because you never realize. Hip hop does not represent the true street. The commercial Hip Hop that will Rick Ross promotes represents Retaining wall Street and Wall Street cares nothing about losing human life if they will make a dollar or two. " Dean Cole, a friend of Ross as well as Assistant Programming Director for Electric power 98 Radio, said he didn't assume that fans would have had anything to worry about and that one day Ross plus the Disciples would work out the problems. Charlotte-Mecklenburgh Police released a statement on Wednesday (before the cancellation) declaring officers would remain vigilant to make certain to utmost safety.

Opposition Rejects Morsi's Planned Referendum.

Egypt's opposition National Salvation Front has announced that it won't participate in a December 15 referendum over a disputed draft constitution. Earlier, President Mohamed Morsi has revoked a part of a controversial decree giving him sweeping powers but insisted the referendum on the new document would go forward as planned.

The leader Egypt's Journalists Union, Sameh Ashour, told reporters on Sunday that National Salvation Front leaders has state that they will not participate in the constitutional referendum due to take place next Saturday.

He says that the National Salvation Front categorically refuses to indulge in the December 15 referendum and definately will not give its blessing to any vote that will inevitably cause more divisions and civil strife.

Ashour went on to blast President Morsi along with the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group for their decision to go ahead with this constitutional referendum.

He says that this National Salvation Front insists that what they calls repression, despotism along with the hijacking of the state by the new president and his (Muslim Brotherhood) group is triggering the economic woes of most Egyptian families.

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Earlier Sunday, Egyptian Air Force jets overflew center of Cairo at low altitude, since the country's political crisis continued  unabated. A some few hundred anti-Morsi protesters were clustered at both Tahrir Square and near the presidential palace.

Calls by the opposition for any protest march to the presidential palace did not appear to spur a main outpouring of demonstrators Sunday. Nonetheless, opposition leaders are calling for any million-man demonstration on Tuesday.

Mother of finance minister kidnapped in Nigeria.

The Nigeria's finance minister's mother has been kidnapped on Sunday, sparking a "massive manhunt" on her captors, officials said.

Mrs Kamene Okonjo, an academic in Nigeria and also the mother of Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, ended up being abducted from her home in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, a Financial Ministry statement said.

"At this aspect, it is difficult to say whether those behind this step are the same individuals who have made threats against the... minister not too long ago or other elements with inhospitable motives, " the statement explained.

Police spokesman Frank Mba explained to CNN that "the (IG of Police) has ordered an enormous manhunt for the perpetrators of the crime. "

"He directed the police  that this time that no stone will left unturned in efforts at solving the transgression, rescuing the victim and reuniting the woman safely with her family, " Mba said.

Okonjo-Iweala lost her bid in April to become the next president of the world Bank -- the first ever challenge for the U. S. nominee in this institution's history.

South Africa's Mandela spends Night in the Hospital.

Authorities in South Africa say former president Nelson Mandela spent the night time in a Pretoria hospital, where he was admitted  for some tests.

President Jacob Zuma visited Mandela on Sunday morning, and claimed the Nobel Peace Prize laureate was "comfortable, and in a good hand. "

An earlier statement from Zuma's office Saturday said the 94-year-old former leader was admitted for tests "consistent regarding his age. " The statement said that for now there are "no cause for alarm.

Meanwhile, South Africans are expressing concern for the iconic former leader. Fans gathered at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto Sunday to pray for Mandela.

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez announces of new cancer operation.

Venezuelan leader only got back on Friday from his last treatment.

In a TV address which Mr Chavez said it had been "absolutely essential" that he will received further treatment, adding that more malignant cells were being found.

The 58-year-old has received three cancer operations within Cuba since mid-2011, but few details have been released.

Speaking from this Miraflores presidential palace, Mr Chavez said that in case his health failed and a new election must be held, his supporters should vote for Vice-President Nicolas Maduro.

Correspondents says that this is the first time the president has named a successor.

"Unfortunately, during these exhaustive examinations they found some malignant cells inside the same area. It is utterly necessary, absolutely essential, that I have to undergo a new operative intervention, " he explained.

"With God's will, like on the previous occasions, we will emerge from this victorious. "

During his latest trip to Cuba, Mr Chavez was reportedly receiving "hyperbaric oxygenation" treatment, which can ease ailments caused by radiation treatment.

President Chavez who has spent many months having surgery and treatment with Cuba since his examination in July 2011.

last May, he declared himself free from cancer.

However, he has never granted much detail about any type of cancer he has, or his reason to chose to become treated in Cuba as an alternative to Venezuela, which has led the opposition to involve greater transparency.

Mr Chavez's recent trip to Cuba follows his re-election in October for a third term.

Nasa video camera captures 'fire-ball' over Texas.

Video footage of a "fire-ball" flashing in the sky over Texas was captured by a Nasa video camera.

The camera picked the flash from Nasa's Meteoroid Surroundings Office in New Mexico. It was reported to get been seen from as miles away as Houston and Louisiana.

Nasa believes which a meteor entered earth's atmosphere approximately Dallas and Houston. It's tracked fragments of the item which fell to Planet north of Houston.

Driving school for dogs in New Zealand.

A new charity in New Zealand is actually teaching rescued dogs the best way to drive a car.

The canine driving school is geared towards proving how intelligent the animals could be.

Monty the giant schnauzer is now among the novice drivers who find to control the brakes, gears and controls.

Italy PM Mario Monti announces decide to resign.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti claims he plans to decide after Silvio Berlusconi's PDL bash withdrew its support for the government.

Mr Monti, that heads a non-elected cabinet of technocrats, said he will try to pass some sort of budget and financial balance law before standing decrease.

Few hours earlier, the former Prime Minister Mr Berlusconi said he will run for office all over again next year.

He mentioned Mr Monti's austerity insurance policies had harmed Italy.

Mr Berlusconi's People associated with Freedom party withdrew its support through the government on Thursday.

A statement through the office of President Giorgio Napolitano mentioned that Mr Monti "does not necessarily think it possible to remain his mandate and consequently clarified his intention to present his resignation".

If legislation for next year's budget may be passed "quickly", Mr Monti would likely immediately confirm his resignation, your statement said.

Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg markets $26. 2M in stock.

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg will be turning more of the woman's paper wealth into true wealth.

After the shut of market today, Facebook disclosed in a SEC filing that Sandberg sold available shares valued at greater than $26. 2 million.

The actual timing was good. She sold greater than 946, 588 shares at prices ranging from $27. 39 to $27. 90 -- a level that Facebook hasn't exchanged at since August. In fact, shares of Facebook are on a tear throughout recent weeks, as Wall Street has embraced their we're-all-about-mobile message and the most significant so-called lockups on insiders advertising their pre-IPO shares get passed. The stock, which usually rose 1. 9 percent today to close on $27. 49, has soared with regards to 40 percent since earlier November.

This is definitely not Sandberg's only stock sales, but it is her biggest to date. Most recently, she sold about $4. 2 million worth of shares.Shortly before that, she cashed in $7. several million worth.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshal denounces Israel.

Hamas politics leader Khaled Meshaal has told thousands of people marking the 25th anniversary in the Palestinian Islamist group's founding that it won't recognise Israel.

In a fiery talk during his first ever visit to Gaza, he said Palestinians wouldn't normally cede any part of these land.

Mr Meshaal's visit follows a ceasefire of which ended days of assault between Israel and Hamas last month.

Israel described Mr Meshaal's talks as such a hateful and extremist word.

A Government spokesman Mark Regev said Mr Meshaal's message "says no to peace and no to reconciliation, a information that says every Israeli man, woman and child can be a legitimate target".

"That type of extremism for now will never help, the opposite is legitimate, " he added.


Hamas taken away Fatah from Gaza simply by force in 2007 following winning elections there. Fatah governs regions of the West Bank.

North Korea looks set to be able to delay controversial rocket release.

North Korea, which planned to launch the rocket within December 10 and  22, is banned from carrying out any missile or nuclear related tests by Un resolutions imposed in 2006 and also 2009 after it performed nuclear tests.

The latest launch had been scheduled to happen around the first anniversary on the death of North Korea's ex- leader Kim Jong-il but would also provide coincided with December elections throughout Japan and South Korea.

The planned launch has been condemned by Japan and also South Korea, as well as the usa and Russia. China, the actual North's only major diplomatic friend, has expressed "deep concern" it might raise tensions on the actual Korean Peninsula.

The rocket was scheduled to pass between Korean Peninsula and China and taiwan, with a second stage splashing down from the Philippines before launching the actual satellite into orbit.

An earlier launch test ended in failure in April and mission was aborted only a few minutes into its journey.

Critics say that North Korea's rocket programme is aimed towards developing an ballistic missile competent at delivering a nuclear warhead.

Egyptian President Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has Annuls his Emergency Decree.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi now has annulled a decree he issued last month approving to give him sweeping emergency powers, in a push for him to defuse political tensions and deadly violence gripping the nation.

But a spokesman, late Saturday in Cairo, said a referendum on a controversial draft constitution will still go forward as planned December 15.

There's been no formal opposition reply to the decree annulment, and it also was not immediately apparent what impact the announcement should have on opposition groups who mounted protests from the capital.

The two issues -- the decree and the referendum -- are in the centre of anti-Morsi demonstrations which may have rocked the country for the past 2 or 3 weeks. An opposition umbrella connected with liberals, secularists and supporters on the former regime claim this draft constitution was forced through by President Morsi's Islamist backers, with out the opposition participation. They have demanded this referendum be canceled and also a new draft formulated having opposition input.

The latest developments were announced following day-long meetings between key Islamist backers on the president and delegates via opposition groups.

The November 22 decree and the draft constitution days after sparked violent protests within Cairo and elsewhere in the united kingdom. The president said previous this week that at the least seven people had been killed and hundreds of others injured in this demonstrations.

Egypt's military said Sunday it supports dialogue to settle political differences.
Some analysts said this move could signal the president may be willing to negotiate with the opposition.