Weaver ants help flowers get the best pollinator

MOST flowers don't want pesky ants hanging around scaring away would-be pollinators. Not so the Singapore rhododendron - the first flower found to recruit ants to chase poor pollinators away. Francisco Gonzálvez at EEZA, the arid...

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29 bus drivers who will be repatriated will be paid: SMRT

SINGAPORE: Public transport operator SMRT said the 29 drivers who will be repatriated will be paid, before they leave the country. They will be given all salaries, all claims if any, and ex gratia bonuses on a pro-rated basis.In its statement on Saturday evening, SMRT said there are valuable lessons learnt from this incident which are being addressed by the management.SMRT said it needs...

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Watch the X-47B make its first catapult take-off

The X-47B gets ready for take-off in its first-ever catapult launch.(Credit:U.S. Navy photo)OK, so it was on dry land, not on an aircraft carrier. But first steps are first steps.On Thursday, the U.S. Navy carried out its first-ever steam catapult launch of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System -- see the video embedded below -- and was apparently quite happy with the way things turned out. Before...

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Photos: Kilauea Lava Reaches the Sea

Into the Sea Photograph by Hugh Gentry, ReutersA spectacular natural phenomenon was on display early this week as lava from a vent in Hawaii's Kilauea volcano flowed into...

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Obama: Don't Hold Middle-Class Tax Cuts Hostage

Dec 1, 2012 6:00am AP Photo/Charles DharapakPresident Obama is urging Congress to extend tax breaks for the middle class, saying it’s “unacceptable for some Republicans in Congress to hold middle class tax cuts hostage simply because they refuse to let tax rates go up on the wealthiest Americans.”With the clock ticking toward the so-called “fiscal cliff,” Obama asked...

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Friday Illusion: Mystery mirror reveals missing banana

Joanna Carver, reporter!--By use of this code snippet, I agree to the Brightcove Publisher T and Cfound at https://accounts.brightcove.com/en/terms-and-conditions/. -->There are no editing tricks involved and it's not CGI. In this video, filmed in one continuous shot, a banana vanishes before your eyes. Of course, the disappearance could be explained by some sleight of hand, but what's even more...

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WP says SMRT must address workers' grievances better

SINGAPORE: The Workers' Party said it is disappointed that it has taken a strike to bring to the forefront the bus drivers' grievances about their pay and living conditions.In a statement issued on Friday evening, the party said the strike signals a failure in the labour dispute settlement process within SMRT.It said while much attention this week has focused on the grievances of the bus...

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Name your own price for a THQ game bundle (PC)

Forget no-name indie games; the Humble THQ Bundle includes some top-rated mainstream titles.(Credit:Humble Bundle)Got plans this weekend? Cancel 'em.The Humble Bundle folks have put together what is arguably the best game bundle ever. It's called the Humble THQ Bundle, and it comes with six top-rated action/strategy games -- plus a seventh if you beat the average purchase price.I'm going to start...

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Pictures: Inside the World's Most Powerful Laser

Photograph courtesy Damien Jemison, LLNLLooking like a portal to a science fiction movie, preamplifiers line a corridor at the U.S. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF).Preamplifiers work by increasing the energy of laser beams—up to ten billion times—before these beams reach the facility's target chamber.The project's lasers are tackling "one of physics' grand...

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2 Towns Hint at Powerball Winners

The $587 million question on the identity of the winners in the historic Powerball jackpot is still a mystery, but residents in Missouri and Maryland say they already know who the two lucky winners are.Employees and customers at Marlboro Village Exxon in Upper Marlboro, Md., said a tall, black, bald man held the winning ticket purchased in Arizona, according to ABC News affiliate...

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Junk radio signals track all space debris in one go

Call it Junk FM. Rogue signals from your radio may help warn about space debris on a dangerous collision course with Earth. Stray FM signals from radios, bouncing back off space junk, could allow astronomers to track the whole population of space debris, suggest preliminary...

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S R Nathan Fellowship set up for foreign dignitaries' training

SINGAPORE: Starting next year, a new high-level fellowship honouring former Singapore President S R Nathan will see foreign officials, such as cabinet ministers, parliamentarians and mayors, coming to Singapore on customised training visits that meet their interests and needs.The S R Nathan Fellowship will be part of the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), which provides technical assistance...

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AT&T yet again the worst-rated carrier in U.S.

More bad news for AT&T.Consumer Reports has released its annual carrier ratings. And just as it had in the last two years, AT&T landed in last place, far behind the top major carrier in the company's roundup, Verizon Wireless.Verizon Wireless fared somewhat well in the study, earning relatively strong marks on voice and data. The only bright spot in AT&T's review was its 4G LTE network,...

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Caterpillar Fungus Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties

In the Tibetan mountains, a fungus attaches itself to a moth larva burrowed in the soil. It infects and slowly consumes its host from within, taking over its brain and making the young caterpillar move to a position from which the fungus can grow and spore again. Sounds like something out of science fiction, right? But for ailing Chinese consumers and nomadic Tibetan harvesters, the parasite...

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Two Winners in Record Powerball Jackpot

Winning tickets for the record Powerball jackpot worth more than $587 million were purchased in Arizona and Missouri.Missouri Lottery official Susan Goedde confirmed to ABC News this morning that one of the winning tickets was purchased in the state, but they would not announce which town until later this morning.Arizona lottery officials said they had no information on that...

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Infinity in the real world: Does space go on forever?

MacGregor Campbell, consultant!--By use of this code snippet, I agree to the Brightcove Publisher T and Cfound at https://accounts.brightcove.com/en/terms-and-conditions/. -->It's an existential question most of us have probably pondered at some point: is space infinite? It's tricky to answer because there's not just one kind of infinity to consider. Even if the universe goes on forever, it may...

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Football: Scolari set to return as Brazil coach: reports

RIO DE JANEIRO: Felipe Scolari will be named for a second spell as coach of the Brazilian national side on Thursday, press reports said on Wednesday."The Brazil Football Federation has already chosen its new coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari will replace Mano Menezes," the GloboEsporte website said.An official announcement is expected on Thursday.Scolari, who previously coached Brazil to World...

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Yahoo's Marissa Mayer continues to keep plans close to the vest

Yahoo's Marissa Mayer.(Credit:James Martin/CNET)Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer last night spoke before an invite-only crowd at Fortune's Most Powerful Women event. And although she offered up some details during her interview, she sidestepped any opportunity to fully outline her company's plans.Not surprisingly, Mayer focused much of her discussion on mobile. The mobile market is growing rapidly, and shareholders...

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Pictures: Falcon Massacre Uncovered in India

Photograph courtesy Conservation IndiaA young boy can sell bundles of fresh Amur falcons (pictured) for less than five dollars. Still, when multiplied by the thousands of falcons hunters can catch in a day, the practice can be a considerable financial boon to these groups.Since discovering the extent of Amur hunting in Nagaland this fall, Conservation India has taken the issue to the local Indian...

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Susan Rice Made Allies, Enemies Before Benghazi

United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, on Capitol Hill this week answering questions about her role after the U.S. consulate attack in Benghazi, has become yet another player in the divide between the left and right, with her possible nomination as the next Secretary of State hanging in the balance.But who was Susan Rice before she told ABC's "This Week" and other Sunday morning...

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James Gleick's The Information wins top book prize

Tiffany O’Callaghan, CultureLab editorSome of the world’s most influential scientists shared a stage at the Royal Society in London last night, reading excerpts from their recent popular science books and debating whether the public understanding of science is waxing or waning. The occasion was the 2012 Royal Society Winton book prize, created 24 years ago to recognise works written for a non-specialist...

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Global private equity firms eyeing Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE : More global private equity firms have been setting up offices in Southeast Asia, and the funds raised in the region are expected to grow at an annual rate of 30 per cent over the next three years. Private equity investors are also likely to cast the spotlight on Singapore, Indonesia and China. Things are heating up in Singapore's private equity space. Singapore-based venture...

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With Wii U on store shelves, Nintendo preps Wii Mini for Dec. 7?

Nintendo might have another new console to offer up in the coming weeks.Best Buy Canada today is promoting on its homepage a newWii Mini. The company's homepage displays an image of a redesigned Wii, showing a matte black finish and red outline. A red Wii Remote sits alongside the console. Best Buy claims the console will launch on December 7.It appears that the ad was mistakenly placed on the Best...

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Space Pictures This Week: Space "Horse," Mars Rover, More

High Horse Photograph by Greg Parker, Your Shot The Horsehead Nebula rears its pretty head in a November 17 photograph submitted to National Geographic's Your Shot photo community.Taken...

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Record Powerball Jackpot to Grow Even Bigger

The jackpot for Wednesday's Powerball drawing now stands at $425 million -- the richest Powerball pot ever -- and it's likely to get even sweeter."Back in January, we moved Powerball from being a $1 game to $2," says Mary Neubauer, a spokeswoman for the Iowa lottery. "We thought at the time that this would mean bigger and faster-growing jackpots."It's proved true. The total,...

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Water-hating shoes repel (almost) any liquid

Joanna Carver, reporter!--By use of this code snippet, I agree to the Brightcove Publisher T and Cfound at https://accounts.brightcove.com/en/terms-and-conditions/. -->If you wear white sneakers outside, chances are they won't stay clean for long. But thanks to a new superhydrophobic coating that is claimed to completely repel water and heavy oils, your shoes should look like new for longer - and...

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Thailand lifts Internal Security Act in Bangkok

BANGKOK: The Thai government has lifted the Internal Security Act (ISA) invoked in some parts of the capital as the security situation returned to normalcy following an anti-government rally. Government spokesman Tosaporn Sereerak said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra signed the order on Monday. Initially, the ISA was invoked for nine days starting last Thursday in the Pranakorn, Dusit...

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Intel uses Facebook to out ultrabook Cyber Monday deals

Intel is showcasing "ultradeals on ultrabooks."(Credit:Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)Intel's ultrabook spec is getting some promotion on the company's Facebook page today.Intel has taken it upon itself to promote what it believes are the top Cyber Monday deals for ultrabooks. The company's listing includes a host of products from major vendors, including HP, Lenovo, and Dell.The chip maker offered...

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Distant Dwarf Planet Secrets Revealed

Orbiting at the frozen edges of our solar system, the mysterious dwarf planet Makemake is finally coming out of the shadows as astronomers get their best view yet of Pluto's little sibling. Discovered in 2005, Makemake—pronounced MAH-keh MAH-keh after a Polynesian creation god—is one of five Pluto-like objects that prompted a redefining of the term "planet" and the creation of a new group...

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President Obama Prepares for Cabinet Shuffle

Nov 26, 2012 6:45am Carolyn Kaster/AP PhotoAs President Obama prepares for his second term, preparations have begun for the traditional shuffling of the Cabinet.Top priority for the president: filling slots for those top officials heading — if not running — for the door: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner.To replace Clinton,...

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