February 2016 | US NEWS

Monday, February 22, 2016

How to Improve Touch ID on Apple


The Touch ID fingerprint reader on the iPhone and iPad is a great security feature. Except when it doesn’t work.
To make it work better, you’ll want to train the same finger several times as though it’s different fingers.
Just go into your device’s Settings menu and select Touch ID & Passcode. Use the Add a Fingerprint option three or four times, but use the same finger each time. Now iOS will know every millimeter of that print and you should get fewer “try again” errors when attempting to unlock your phone with it.

Uber driver suspected in Michigan shootings, six dead


A Michigan man who worked as an Uber driver was under arrest on Sunday in the fatal shooting of six people in Kalamazoo, as police investigated reports he may have driven customers of the car-hailing service the night of the rampage.
Prosecutors alleged that Jason Dalton, 45, opened fire, apparently at random, in parking lots outside an apartment building, a car dealership and at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Kalamazoo, about 150 miles (240 km) west of Detroit.
Two other people were wounded, including a teenage girl who was initially thought to have died.
Authorities could not confirm Dalton was working for Uber during the nearly five-hour shooting spree on Saturday evening. He was arrested without incident on Sunday while driving away from the parking lot of an area bar.
An Uber representative confirmed that Dalton was a company driver and had passed background checks. The representative referred questions about whether Dalton was working at the time of the shootings to police.
The victims "appear to be chosen at random, because they were available," Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Getting said. "They were shot multiple times, multiple - nine, 10, 11 shell casings at each of these scenes."
The carnage in Kalamazoo, a city of about 75,000 people, was the latest in a series of mass shootings that have elevated gun control as a campaign issue in the November U.S. presidential election.
The attack also prompted renewed interest in how Uber vets drivers, who use their personal vehicles to ferry customers at prices that are generally below those of established taxi companies. Critics say the company's vetting process is flawed because it never meets with potential drivers in person.
Uber says on its website that it has an "extensive" driver screening process that includes collecting detailed information from potential drivers and using the investigation service Checkr to vet them. Other websites and databases such at the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website are used as well.
WOOD-TV, a Grand Rapids station, quoted police as saying they were investigating reports Dalton dropped off Uber fares at a hotel and then killed four women and wounded a 14-year-old girl at the nearby Cracker Barrel. The teenager was in critical condition, Michigan State Police said.
In an emailed statement, Uber's chief security officer, Joe Sullivan, said the company was in contact with police to help with the investigation.
An Uber passenger, Matt Mellen, told CBS TV affiliate WWMT that he had tried to alert the company after a wild ride with Dalton about an hour before the first shooting was reported.
He said Dalton introduced himself using a different name from the one listed as a driver. He then sped through medians and across a lawn, and Mellen jumped out at a stop at about 4:30 p.m. (2130 GMT)
"He just kind of kept looking at me like, 'Don't you want to get to your friend's house?' and I'm like, 'I want to get there alive,'" said Mellen, a brewery worker.
His fiancée posted a Facebook account of the ride that said Dalton had sideswiped a car and run a stop sign. Mellen said he unsuccessfully tried to contact Uber about Dalton after talking to police.
Kalamazoo Police Chief Jeff Hadley told Reuters that investigators were still looking into reports of Dalton picking up Uber fares around the time of the shootings. He confirmed that a man did call police with a report of an erratic Uber driver and the report was relayed to patrol officers.
Hadley said it was not unusual for police to receive such reports and that he was not sure whether investigators had contacted the passenger who made the report.
An Uber spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment on Mellen's account.
Michigan State Police said the carnage began at about 5:30 p.m. ET (2230 GMT) with the report of a woman wounded outside an apartment building. At about 10 p.m., a father and son were killed at the car dealership.
Dalton allegedly opened fire outside the restaurant about 15 minutes later. The four slain women were identified as Mary Lou Nye, 62, of Baroda, Michigan; and Dorothy Brown, 74; Barbara Hawthorne, 68; and Mary Jo Nye, 60, all of Battle Creek, Michigan, state police said.
Earlier, authorities reported seven deaths. Hadley said he understood that the wounded teenage girl was initially believed to have died and was being prepped for organ harvesting when she grasped the hand of one of her parents.
Getting said Dalton was thought to have been in contact with more than one person via cellphone during the shooting spree. Hadley said authorities have contacted Dalton's wife, who is safe and cooperating with investigators.
Dalton is expected to be arraigned on Monday on charges of murder, assault and firearms violations, the prosecutor said. Getting said a semiautomatic pistol was found in Dalton's car. Police said he had no known criminal record.
The Detroit Free Press newspaper said neighbors described Dalton as a father of two who "loved guns" and who worked on cars and had a day job as an insurance salesman.
The Kalamazoo shootings come as Uber is facing a range of regulatory and safety issues. The company agreed last month to pay $28.5 million to settle federal litigation brought by customers who alleged the service misrepresented the quality of its safety practices and fees.

US rejected N.Korea peace treaty bid: State Dept


Washington (AFP) - The United States said Sunday it received a North Korean proposal to discuss a peace treaty for the Korean peninsula but rejected it when Pyongyang refused to consider reducing its nuclear arsenal.
State Department spokesman John Kirby disclosed the exchange when asked about a Wall Street Journal report that President Barack Obama's administration had secretly agreed to peace talks to formally end the Korean War of 1950 to 1953, days before Pyongyang carried out its latest nuclear test early this year.
That January 6 test -- the country's fourth after previous tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 -- brought an end to the exploratory contacts that took place at the United Nations, where US and North Korean diplomats can mingle informally in the absence of formal relations between their two countries, the Journal reported.
"‎To be clear, it was the North Koreans who proposed discussing a peace treaty," Kirby told reporters traveling with Secretary of State John Kerry in Amman, Jordan.
"We carefully considered their proposal, and made clear that denuclearization had to be part of any such discussion," he added.
"The North rejected our response. ‎Our response to the NK proposal was consistent with our long-standing focus on denuclearization.‎"
Citing unnamed US officials familiar with the matter, the Journal claimed the White House had dropped a long-standing condition to talks -- that North Korea first take steps to cut back its nuclear arsenal.
"Instead the US called for North Korea's atomic-weapons program to be simply part of the talks," the newspaper reported.
In response to the North's January nuclear test, which triggered global concern and condemnation, the UN Security Council agreed to roll out new measures to punish the reclusive Asian nation.
And on Thursday, Obama signed off on new measures passed by the US Congress that tighten sanctions on anyone importing goods or technology related to weapons of mass destruction into North Korea, or anyone who knowingly engaged in human rights abuses.
The measure also heaps additional financial pressure on the already-sanctioned regime of leader Kim Jong-Un, by aiming to cut down on money laundering and narcotics trafficking, two major illicit activities believed to be funneling millions of dollars into Kim's inner circle.

Indonesia sinks 27 foreign boats to stop illegal fishing


Jakarta (AFP) - Indonesia sank 27 impounded foreign boats on Monday, a minister said, as the world's largest archipelago nation stepped up a campaign against illegal fishing in its waters.
The empty vessels from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Myanmar were blown up or scuttled at five separate locations across the country, said Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.
The boats had been all caught fishing illegally in the archipelago of more than 17,000 islands. Four Indonesian boats were also sunk after they were caught fishing without proper documentation.
"The government is taking stronger and firmer action to enforce regulations to keep our waters safe," Pudjiastuti, a key figure in the campaign against illegal fishing, told journalists.
Indonesia has sunk foreign boats on several occasions since the government launched the drive to combat illegal fishing, with President Joko Widodo claiming the practice costs the country's economy billions of dollars annually.
However, the campaign has caused tensions with other countries in the region. China last year expressed concern after a Chinese boat was blown up.

Taylor Swift Donates $250,000 to Kesha After Court Ruling

Taylor Swift Donates $250,000 to Kesha After Court Ruling
Two days after a New York judge denied Kesha a court injunction that would have allowed her to record new music outside of her record label Sony Music, Taylor Swift has agreed to give the singer $250,000.
“In a show of support, Taylor Swift has donated $250,000 to Kesha to help with any of her financial needs during this trying time,” a spokesperson for Swift wrote in a statement.
Swift is the latest singer to show support for Kesha after the trial, with Lady Gaga, Lorde, Grimes,Lily Allen and Kelly Clarkson among those who have taken to Twitter to publicly back the singer.
“There are people all over the world who love you Kesha,” Gaga wrote. "And I can say truly I am in awe of your bravery.“
“Standing with Kesha through this traumatic, deeply unfair time,” added Lorde. “Send good vibes her way, everyone.”
Over the weekend, Demi Lovato wrote a series of tweets supporting Kesha and exemplifying women empowerment.
“#FreeKesha. This is only gonna make you stronger, you brave and beautiful girl,” Lovato wrote. “Prayers are with you. Frustrating to see women come forward with their past only to be shot down, not believed and disrespected for their bravery in taking action. Happens way too often. I’m ready for women to be taken just as seriously as men. Someone tell me why anyone would ever feel brave enough to come forward if they are most likely to be ignored or called a liar?”
Lovato also wrote that she was “ready for self-proclaimed feminists to start speaking out or taking action for women’s rights,” which some fans interpreted as a subtle dig at Swift. However, multiple sources connected to Swift tell Rolling Stone that there was no connection between Lovato’s tweets and the donation. “When Taylor saw the heartbreaking courtroom photos of Kesha, it was then that she knew she needed to do something,” a source close to Swift says.
On Friday, New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich sided with Dr. Luke and Sony at Kesha’s hearing, telling the singer's legal team, “You’re asking the court to decimate a contract that was heavily negotiated and typical for the industry." Kesha’s lawyer Mark Geragos asked for an injunction because, as he told the judge, the career of a pop star is often brief, and Kesha’s career could be "irreparably harmed” if she did not return to recording music.
“There has been no showing of irreparable harm. She’s being given opportunity to record,” Judge Kornreich said in denying the injunction. Kesha will have to record six more albums under Kemosabe Records, Dr. Luke’s Sony imprint, according to the New York Daily News.
“We are pleased with the Court’s decision from the bench fully denying Ms. Sebert’s motion for a preliminary injunction,” Christine Lepera, Dr. Luke’s attorney, told Rolling Stone Friday. “As the Court recognized, Ms. Sebert has always had the ability to proceed with her career if she so chooses. We remain confident that when all the facts are presented that Ms. Sebert’s allegations against Luke will be shown to be completely false and were asserted solely to extort money and gain contractual leverage.”
Geragos did not respond to a request for comment following the hearing.
In October 2014, Kesha sued Dr. Luke, accusing him of drugging, raping and abusing her a decade ago; Dr. Luke has denied all charges. The producer’s lawyers argued that Kesha made up the allegations as an attempt to nullify her contract with Dr. Luke and Sony. Judge Kornreich reserved to rule on a motion to dismiss the claims until Kesha's lawyers filed more evidence on the alleged abuse.

Massachusetts plans rattlesnake colony on uninhabited island

Massachusetts plans rattlesnake colony on uninhabited island
BOSTON (AP) — A plan by the state to establish a colony of venomous timber rattlesnakes on an off-limits island in Massachusetts' largest body of water has some rattled by visions of dangerous serpents slithering through the surrounding woods, attacking hikers, fishermen and hunters.
Those are completely irrational fears based on the public's aversion to snakes, said Tom French of the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, who's directing the project at the 39-square mile Quabbin Reservoir and representing the state at a public meeting Tuesday to address the concerns.
French said he's received several emails and phone calls from worried residents who fear the snakes will escape the island.
"People are afraid that we're going to put snakes in a place of public use and that they are going to breed like rabbits and spread over the countryside and kill everybody," he said.
There are only about 200 of the endangered snakes indigenous to Massachusetts left in five scattered pockets from greater Boston to the Berkshires, French said. Loss of habitat and human-caused deaths means they could disappear altogether, which is why the Quabbin project is so critical.
The plan to establish the snakes on Mount Zion — at more than 1,400 acres, the largest island in the reservoir — has been in the works for several years. A handful of snakes will be raised at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island, and placed on the island in a couple more years when they are mature enough to survive in the wild.
The project has received the endorsement of Gov. Charlie Baker.
The public's concerns stem from the fact that rattlesnakes can swim and the island is connected to the mainland by a pair of narrow causeways, French said.
Bob Curley, an avid hiker, isn't opposed to the rattlesnake preservation effort; he just doesn't think the Quabbin is the place to do it. Even though Mount Zion of off limits to the public, he's concerned the state will use the snakes as an excuse to shut off public access to areas around the reservoir about 65 miles west of Boston.
"When the inevitable happens and there is an interplay between a hiker and a rattler, what's the repercussion?" said the Athol resident, who said his dog was bitten by a rattlesnake last summer. "Are the trails around the Quabbin going to be shut down?"
There is no plan to deny public access to the Quabbin, and concerns that snakes will leave the island and threaten humans are unfounded, French said.
Rattlesnakes are timid and only strike out when provoked. There have been no documented rattlesnake bite deaths in Massachusetts since colonial times, he said. He can't even recall an accidental bite in his 32 years with the state agency even though Massachusetts' rattlesnake populations live largely in public lands that get heavy foot traffic.
On Mount Zion, the snakes will be safe from human interference, have ideal places to hibernate and plenty of mice and chipmunks to eat.
"We want one place where the impact of people in not part of the equation," French said.
The state's message appears to be getting out.
Nancy Allen, chairwoman of the selectboard in Petersham, a town on the eastern shore of the reservoir, said she heard from fearful residents when the plan became public, but those fears died down once people educated themselves about the project.
"Once they started to look into the facts, people started to change their minds," she said.
Peter Mallett, a recreational fisherman who lives in New Salem, a town on the Quabbin's western shore, opposed the snake project at first, but changed his mind after digging deeper.
"People are just petrified of snakes," he said.
___
The public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mahar Regional High School in Orange.
___
Online: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife rattlesnake project, http://1.usa.gov/1RRfEKi

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