Deep-sea sharks show surprising buoyancy
Many sharks reign atop their local food chain, but scientists thought the sleek hunters still had to bother with an unbefitting task: fighting their natural tendency to sink. Unlike other fish, which inflate air bladders to adjust their buoyancy on the fly, sharks rely on a skeleton of cartilage and a liver filled with lighter-than-water oil to help beat gravity’s pull. Even with the weight savings, scientists believed that sharks were either negatively or neutrally buoyant—tending to sink or stay in the same spot when they stopped swimming. Now, researchers have found that at least two species of deep-sea sharks have a small amount of positive buoyancy, the team reports this month in PLOS ONE. Scientists attached monitors to five bluntnose sixgill sharks (Hexanchus griseus, pictured) and a prickly shark (Echinorhinus cookei) to measure the animals’ depth, swimming speed, and acceleration. When the sharks beat their tails, the instruments registered a signature jolt. Researchers found that these spikes in acceleration appeared more frequently when sharks descended, indicating that swimming down was harder than swimming up. The team also found that the sharks could climb for minutes on end with almost no tail beating, a gliding behavior researchers believe is best explained by positive buoyancy. This propensity to rise could be an adaptation that allows the sharks to sneak up on prey from below, the team writes, or merely a way to allow muscles to relax after a day spent hunting for meals in colder, deeper water.
Opener Gautam Gambhir’s back-to-back 90s against Australia and Sri Lanka have not only helped India’s cause, but have given steel to an otherwise wobbly line-up. However, in the next ODI against Australia on Sunday he could be seen warming the benches as per Team India’s rotation policy.After his disastrous Test tour Down Under, Gambhir came back into his own in the ongoing tri-nation CB Series.Overcoming his shortcomings against extreme swing and pace, which were exposed time and again as India were whitewashed by the hosts in recently concluded Test series, the Delhi Dasher back to form guiding his side to a credible victory over the number one team with his 92 runs on last Sunday.Gambhir stamped his authority against Sri Lanka with a critical 91 in Tuesday’s tie to turn his fortunes as only he can. With 188 runs at a healthy average of over 60 in three innings so far, the opener has risen to the Aussie test emerging as India’s premier in-form batsman.However, with the men in blue determined on their rotation policy with the openers, Gambhir might well be forced to warm the benches in the upcoming Brisbane ODI.Skipper M.S. Dhoni recently said, “The interest of the team comes first. This is the time when we can do that. Gauti has scored runs. We also want Viru and Sachin to score runs so that the best XI can play the finals.”No doubt, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar’s return to top form would strengthen India’s chances of sealing a final spot. But the repeated failures of the big guns combined with the flop show from young Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma have only highlighted Gambhir’s value to reigning world champions.advertisementThe team management, however, seems willing to compromise on their best XI considering the long term goals.”These youngsters will be there for 2015 World Cup. We may not be there. It is important for them to experience conditions,” Dhoni insisted.It is indeed a catch 22 situation for Team India down under. While it is critical that one keeps an eye on the bigger picture, the team would have to guard against hampering the in-form Gambhir’s rhythm by reducing to the sidelines. After all, he has given ample evidence of why he would be key to India’s hopes of a second CB Series triumph.
Jailed football coach Barry Bennell may face further abuse charges Share on Facebook Read more Share on Messenger Topics Share on LinkedIn Reuse this content Share on Twitter news Share via Email Crewe Alexandra Share on Pinterest Crewe had initially hoped to keep the investigation relating to Everall as an in-house matter but when the Guardian contacted the club on Wednesday the chairman, John Bowler, instigated high-level talks with his colleagues and a statement was released. “You will appreciate that it is not appropriate for us to comment in detail at this time,” it said. “I can, however, confirm that all relevant and appropriate procedures have been followed.”On Thursday a Crewe spokesperson said: “The reason for this suspension relates to a safeguarding issue which is totally unconnected with his role at Crewe Alexandra.“The club also reaffirm that, as soon as it was made aware of the issue, it was dealt with immediately and the relevant and appropriate procedures were followed. It is not appropriate for the club to comment further.”Everall was previously an academy coach at Port Vale and left his position as joint manager at Whitchurch Alport, of the North West Counties League, to start working full-time for Crewe 14 months ago. He is well known within Crewe for his football work in the community and the charity game, the Everall Derby, he organises with his twin, Simon, a former Crewe trainee. His coaching qualifications include the FA advanced youth award and he is described as a popular figure at the club.However, the news of another possible investigation involving Crewe will be another blow to the club’s troubled reputation at a time when Dario Gradi, their director of football, has not returned to work since being suspended by the FA in December 2016.Gradi, who has been at Crewe since 1983, including 24 years and more than 1,200 games as manager, was ordered to stay away from football while the relevant authorities investigated his specific role in what the FA’s chairman, Greg Clarke, has described as the biggest crisis he can remember in the sport.Gradi, who has an MBE for his services to football, employed Barry Bennell, the youth-team coach who was sent to prison for 30 years in February for raping and molesting boys in the junior systems of Crewe and Manchester City. Bennell, described as an “industrial-scale child molester”, is waiting to hear whether the Crown Prosecution Service is to press more charges relating to some of the other complainants. As of January, at least 97 people – though possibly more now – had reported Bennell to the police on the back of the interview Andy Woodward gave to the Guardian in November 2016, detailing the years of abuse he suffered in the club’s youth system.What was never made clear was whether Gradi’s suspension related to anything that had happened at Crewe, or if it went back to claims that in his coaching days at Chelsea he visited the house of a 15-year-old youth-team player to “smooth over” a complaint of sexual assault against Eddie Heath, the chief scout who has been identified as a repeat offender in the 1970s.Clive Sheldon, the QC who is undertaking the FA-commissioned independent inquiry into football’s sexual-abuse scandal, announced last month that it was being delayed indefinitely, largely because of the possibility that Bennell could face another criminal trial. Manchester City and Chelsea have been holding their own inquiries but Crewe’s decision that one was not necessary at Gresty Road, having initially promised a full investigation, has attracted widespread condemnation from Bennell’s victims and dismayed the relevant authorities. Share on WhatsApp Crewe Alexandra have suspended their head of foundation because of a safeguarding issue that has led to the club notifying the Football Association.Carl Everall, who has been coaching in the club’s academy since 2013, is also understood to have been suspended from all football-related activities by the FA while the governing body conducts inquiries into allegations relating to his behaviour. “This is a safeguarding and police matter so therefore the FA is not in a position to comment,” an FA spokesman said.
These are the times of the finals:5.00pm AEST – Men’s 40’s v New Zealand6.00pm AEST – Men’s 35’s v South Africa7.00pm AEST – Senior Mixed v New Zealand8.00pm AEST – Men’s 30’s v England10.00pm AEST – Mixed Open v New ZealandStay tuned to the website for all the latest news and information on finals day of the 2011 World Cup.
SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 07: The Alabama Crimson Tide take the field prior to the CFP National Championship against the Clemson Tigers presented by AT&T at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)The Alabama football fan base lost another valued member this weekend. Al Jones, a former Air Force pilot and member of the historic Iron Bowl Perfect Attendance Club, has passed away at the age of 93.According to Saturday Down South, Jones was the final living member of the exclusive club. His streak was reportedly snapped this past year.The Iron Bowl between the Auburn and Alabama football teams has been an annual rivalry game since 1948. A group of fans who attended every single edition of the rivalry were known as the Iron Bowl Perfect Attendance Club.The group was formally recognized for their accomplishment by Alabama in 2014.Per his obituary, Jones leaves behind four children, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.Alabama fan Al Jones died at 93 on Thursday. Jones was a member of the Iron Bowl Perfect Attendance Club — he had gone to every Iron Bowl from 1948-2017.That’s 70 straight!https://t.co/dW5WCkIObt— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) June 30, 2019Jones attended the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama, earning a degree in mechanical engineering in 1950. He continued working with planes after the end of his time in the Air Force.Jones’ passing marks a very sad end to the month of June among Alabama fans. Earlier this month, 36-year-old Alabama superfan Walt Gary passed away.Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Jones’ family and loved ones.
Previous Next Next 1 of 5 Next Previous A Breakdown of All the Major Types of Car Racing It feels like just yesterday we were stumbling around Monterey, California, unable to process the number and range of classic cars in town for Monterey Car Week. Alas, it has a year, and that means its time for another round of automotive excess.To say it’s been a good year for the collector car market is an understatement. As evidence of surging values across most vehicle segments, eight-figure car sales are now becoming common at high-profile auctions. Traditional investors have become collectors and wealthy enthusiasts are shrugging off hundreds of thousands of dollars in year-over-year price hikes.This weekend, August 24-25, a number of exceedingly expensive vehicles are scheduled for auction at the various events. Five vehicles, in particular, are expected to fetch incredible figures. Here’s what you should look out for at Monterey Car Week 2018.1962 Ferrari 250 GTO$45,000,000-$60,000,000 6 Fastest Cars in the World Right Now Trailing the GTO’s estimated value considerably, but still thinning the pool of uber-rich collectors, is this 1963 Aston Martin DP215. The same year it was produced, the DP215 raced at Le Mans and clocked 198.6 mph down the Mulsanne straight. To this day, no other front-engined car has set a faster speed. Based in part on the recent $13.4 million sale price of the slower and more common Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato MP209, RM Sotheby’s estimates this DP215 will fetch at least $18,000,000 on the auction block.1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C$12,000,000-$14,000,000What did we say about pricey old Ferraris? This 1966 Ferrari is one of the rare competition-spec 275 GTB models and was has a solid racing history. In 1966, Pedro Rodriguez raced the car at Nassau. In ’67,’69, and ’70, Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team competed in the Daytona 24 Hours endurance race. Previous owners include Harley Cluxton, Dr. Ron Finger, Albert Obrist, and Bernie Ecclestone. A similar model sold last year for $14.5 million.1966 Ford GT40 MkII$9,000,000-$12,000,000 Editors’ Recommendations Previous Classic Ferraris always seem to top auction charts these days, but few ever reach the estimated value of this Ferrari 250 GTO. The third GTO build is known for its victory in the 1962 Italian GT Championship, driven by Edoardo Lualdi-Gabardi. The next two years saw this car win the Targa Florio with a new Series II GTO body by Scaglietti. RM Sotheby’s offers a conservative estimate of $45 million, but this model could fetch as much as $60 million if the right people are bidding.1963 Aston Martin DP215$18,000,000-$22,000,000 What It’s Like to Drive a NASCAR Race Car (and Where You Can Get Behind the Wheel) 1 of 5 1 of 5 Manned Flying Car Races Are Coming in 2020 Here’s one for us ‘Muricans. This 1966 Ford GT40 raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (driven by Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson) and tucked behind the Shelby American-entered Mk IIs to cross the finish line in third place. The 1966 win for Ford was a punishing blow to Ferrari and the first win by an American car company. In 2003, this car won a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance People’s Choice award. RM Sotheby’s estimates a sale price of somewhere between $9 and $12 million.1935 Duesenberg SSJ$10,000,000-plusIt may seem odd that the oldest car in this write-up could sell for the lowest price, but such is the nature of the collector car market. And still, an estimate of $10 million for this 1935 Duesenberg SSJ is nothing to sneeze at. This particular model was owned by Gary Cooper and was a twin to Clark Gable’s SSJ; both cars had La Grande Speedster coachwork and J-563 engines. Contributing factors to its value are its rarity, design, and prominent owner history, including D. Cameron Peck, Briggs Cunningham, and Miles Collier.Article originally published August 2, 2018. Last updated August 23, 2018, to include further details about Monterey Car Week. 5 of the Fastest Electric Cars in the World
An independent expert and scientific evaluators from HealthCanada have concluded that blueberries picked just a stone’sthrow from the former Sydney Steel Coke Ovens are perfectly safeto eat. Dr. Beverly Hale, an eco-toxicologist from the University ofGuelph, compared berries from Blueberry Hill, a favourite pickingspot in Whitney Pier, with berries from North Sydney andsupermarket samples of Ontario and Quebec berries. All the berries were safe. None had worrisome levels of heavymetals or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), constituentsof coal and coke that are found in large quantities at the TarPonds and Coke Ovens. There were some differences among the samples, as would beexpected in any sampling program. The Whitney Pier berries hadtrace levels of selenium and zinc higher than those from NorthSydney and the supermarket, but the supermarket berries hadhigher trace levels of thallium. Trace levels of arsenic,vanadium, lead, copper, and molybdenum were similar in allsamples. No chromium was found. While more than 100 different PAHs are known to exist, extremelysensitive tests found minute quantities of only two, pyrene and flouranthene, in a single unwashed berry sample from WhitneyPier. The PAHs in that sample were near the limits of detection.No PAHs were detected in the washed sample from the same area. The Chemical Health Hazard Assessment Division of Health Canada’sBureau of Chemical Safety carried out a human health riskassessment of the laboratory results and found no risk to humanhealth in any of the berry samples. The risk assessors calculated that for even a potential healthrisk to occur, a person would have to eat almost five pounds ofblueberries per week, 52 weeks a year, for more than 70 years. “This is great news,” said Dr. Charl Badenhorst, district medicalofficer of Health for Cape Breton. “Together with the 2001Chronic Health Risk Assessment, the 2001 biological testing, andthe statistical analysis of soil samples, the blueberry studyprovides mounting support for our belief that Sydney is a safeplace to live.” “The studies confirm that soil is one of the least likelypathways for harmful exposure to chemicals in the environment,”said Dr. Badenhorst. David Darrow, CEO of the provincial agency that will clean up theTar Ponds and Coke Ovens, said the study serves as a reminder tokeep Sydney’s pollution problems in perspective. Copies of Dr. Hale’s complete report, and a brief summary of it,can be downloaded from the Tar Ponds website,http://gov.ns.ca/stpa/. The documents are stored in the Librarysection, under the subject, Blueberries. SYDNEY TAR PONDS AGENCY–Independent Expert Finds Whitney PierBlueberries Perfectly Safe
Mumbai: Viral Acharya ended his stint as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank on Tuesday, after last month’s surprise resignation where the outspoken academic chose to cut short his time in office. Forty-five-year old Acharya will be going back to teach at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Acharya was one of the youngest deputy governors in the Central bank’s history and was in charge of the critical monetary policy department which also made him a part of the rate-setting panel. Also Read – Thermal coal import may surpass 200 MT this fiscalA Mumbai boy who was born and grew up in the financial capital, Acharya will be most remembered for speaking his mind on protecting the autonomy of the RBI. His October 2018 speech, warning of the wrath of markets if the Government tramples on it, amid concerns including reports of Government eyeing the RBI’s excess reserves, was the rare occasion when a top official chose to go public with the RBI’s concerns. “Governments that do not respect Central banks independence will sooner or later incur the wrath of financial markets, ignite economic fires, and come to rue the day they undermined an important regulatory institution; their wiser counterparts who invest in Central bank independence will enjoy lower costs of borrowing, the love of international investors, and longer life spans,” he had said. Also Read – Food grain output seen at 140.57 mt in current fiscal on monsoon boostHis then-boss, Governor Urjit Patel resigned on December 10, triggering speculation about Acharya following the suit, which was denied. His work NPA problem wherein his work focused on getting the banks out of the legacy issues which is an ongoing work and a steadfast focus on inflation that earned him the sobriquet of being a policy hawk. Some experts, however, also question the department under him getting inflation projections wrong, which may have had delayed the growth-propping rate cuts. Acharya often resorted to poetry and the creative arts including Bollywood songs, to explain his state of mind on various subjects. The most memorable would definitely be finding refuge in Ernest Hemingway’s melancholic lines before going with the majority view of cutting the rates for the third time in the last meeting of the monetary policy committee he attended. Quoting Santiago the old fisherman in the novel, Acharya expressed his melancholy in voting with the majority: “It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes, you are ready.” Quoting Bollywood numbers in speeches was another favourite for Acharya, a passionate singer himself. In his last published speech, he praised S D Burman’s minimalistic approach to music in the film “Pyaasa” to drive home the concern around excess government borrowing crowding out the private sector.
VANCOUVER – Street drugs in Vancouver are often not as advertised, according to new data from a drug-checking program.Initial results from the pilot project show that more than 60 per cent of the substances tested at two supervised consumption sites between November and April didn’t contain any of the drug that people had expected.The findings were particularly stark when people brought in what they thought was heroin, with 88 per cent of those samples testing positive for the illicit opioid fentanyl, said Dr. Ken Tupper with the B.C. Centre on Substance Use.“When people are buying these, particularly opioids, and they’re being told by their dealer that they’re getting heroin, they’re generally not,” he said. “In Vancouver, it seems like the heroin supply has very much been supplanted.”Many of the “heroin” samples were actually fentanyl cut with caffeine and a sugar substitute, Tupper said.The BC Coroners Service has said fentanyl was detected in about 83 per cent of the over 1,400 overdose deaths last year in the province.The drug-checking program was launched last November in a bid to stem the overdose rate. The centre used fentanyl test strips and a portable machine that examines small samples of illicit drugs for contaminants.The first six months of the program saw 1,714 samples tested and the B.C. Centre on Substance Use said in a release that 61 per cent of those samples did not contain the drug the user expected.Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine were tested 400 times, the centre said, and 89 per cent of those samples contained some of the expected drug. Five per cent of the stimulant samples tested positive for fentanyl.The drug-checking program is anonymous, Tupper said, so researchers haven’t been able to study if people changed their behaviour because of the test results.But he said the testing provides a kind of “consumer safety principle.”“There’s an accountability mechanism that comes into place with drug checking between a dealer and a consumer that just doesn’t exist otherwise,” he said.The drug-checking program is now offered at Insite in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and SafePoint, a supervised consumption site in Surrey. Plans are also in the works to provide the service in Nelson, in B.C.’s Interior starting this summer, Tupper said.Officials are working to find a way to offer the program outside of supervised consumption sites, he added.The B.C. coroner has said that 90 per cent of the 391 who fatally overdosed in the first three months of this year died indoors.“We know that the population at greatest risk is people using at home alone,” Tupper said. “So we’re hoping that this type of service might attract people who do perceive some risk and they might be inclined to come and get their drugs checked.”
Duchess of SussexCredit:Sussex Royal/Instagram The Duchess is 38 on Sunday and Harry posted a picture of his wife on Instagram to mark the occasion.”Wishing HRH The Duchess of Sussex a very Happy Birthday”, the post read, followed by a cake with candles emoji.The post, from the couple’s Sussex Royal account, continued: “Happy Birthday to my amazing wife. Thank you for joining me on this adventure – Love, H”.
7. Dance some hippity hopIreland’s first hip hop festival is on in Cork this weekend.8. Don your Cuban heelsThe Havana Cultural Festival takes place in Galway’s Latin Quarter this weekend, with music, dance, street entertainment, art and cultural events. Olé!9.You might be working……in which case you have no choice but to get off your arse.Don’t worry though, we’ve set up a support group. Your time will come.Have a hug:Working this bank holiday? Join our support group>7 ways you can destroy this evening’s BBQ> YouTube/David O’Doherty 5. Host a BBQYou might make a balls of it, but by god you’ll eat that half-raw chicken drumstick if it kills you! (It might actually kill you).Why not follow the example of these people?via Imgur6. Go fly a kiteThe Dublin Kite Festival takes place at North Bull Island in Clontarf this Sunday between 11am and 5pm.Could there be anything more delightful than a kite festival? We think not.Attendees are also promised a “kite ballet demonstration”. Intriguing. UPDATED 6.20pm1. The weatherOk, so it’s not perfect, but it could be much, much worse.According to Met Eireann it will start off a bit dodgy:Most of the country will be cloudy on Saturday… however some bright or sunny intervals are likely to appear in the southeast at times.But wait!Sunday will be bright and mainly dry over Leinster, much of Munster and east Ulster, with a mixture of cloudy periods and some sunny spells.And what about Monday?Bank Holiday Monday will be very mild with top temperatures of 17 to 20 C… Most places should be dry, with a mix of sunny spells and cloudier intervals.YES! YOU DANCER!2. You can lep around like an eejit at Forbidden FruitAAAHH FREAK OUT!Chic, Primal Scream, Kasabian, Neon Neon, Le Galaxie, Four Tet, Kevin McAleer… the whole gang will be there at IMMA in Dublin on Saturday and Sunday.You can buy day tickets or weekend tickets and dance your socks off. Chic are on the Late Late Show tonight in case you need help getting in the mood.3. Remember a legend at the Rory Gallagher festivalBallyshannon, Co. Donegal is the birthplace of guitar legend Rory Gallagher and every year the masses gather to remember him, dance in the streets, and generally act like shams.Wikimedia Commons4. Laugh your hole off at Cat LaughsDavid O’Doherty, Dylan Moran, Judah Friedlander, Kevin Bridges, Rich Hall and Tony Law will all be in Kilkenny this weekend as part of the line up for the 2013 Cat Laughs festival.If you decide to go at this late stage you might have to sleep in a bin, but it might be worth it.
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram Action on Disability within Ethnic Community’s (ADEC) ArtAbility program is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The 2014 exhibition, entitled ‘Transitional Spaces’, will take place in Melbourne’s premier arts precinct, Federation Sqaure, and will feature over 150 artworks. To help celebrate the 10th anniversary of this significant initiative, Ford Australia have donated a car to become the ADEC Art Car. “A project where the vehicle is turned into a work of art in its own right, adorned by a montage of beautiful art created in our workshops throughout the year,” said Christopher Lawrence, ADEC’s artistic and general coordinator. According to Mr Lawrence, the ArtAbility project was established for Victorian’s from culturally diverse backgrounds and living with a disability or experiencing mental health, giving them a platform to exhibit their art work.Over its 10 year history, the program has helped showcase the work and launch the careers of many artists.“ArtAbility aims to provide a unique platform for people marginalised by their ethnicity and disability to express their aspirations, emotions and artistic ability to the greater community, whilst exposing all involved to different cultures, traditions and journeys to Australia,” said Mr Lawrence. Entry to the exhibition is free of charge and the artworks will be on display and available for purchase in the Atrium of Federation Square from Wednesday 10 December until Saturday 20 December 2014.
One of the most important tertiary education schools of Athens, the University of Economics and Business, kept its doors closed on Wednesday.This comes as a result of the state it has been reduced to, with drug use and dealing a common situation within its halls and students having to do lessons within filthy classrooms.The faculty senate has repeatedly been asked for government intervention, to no avail, so they resorted to this extreme measure to save this significant educational establishment. A press statement released by the University pointed out these issues: “With a sense of responsibility and expressing the anxiety of the university community, and in order to defend the right to safety and hygienic conditions, the senate decided to symbolically suspend the operation of the undergraduate programs of the institution on Wednesday, in order to mobilise the state bodies responsible for the immediate and permanent removal of traffickers and drug users from the areas and streets adjacent to the University.”Students themselves have expressed their concerns and are trying to do whatever they can on order to protect their University, as they have started a petition that has so far gathered over 900 signatures. Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram
Les Japonaises, à nouveau championnes de l’espérance de vie en 2010Une étude montre que l’espérance de vie des femmes japonaises est restée la plus longue au monde en 2010. Chez les hommes, c’est à Hong Kong que l’espérance de vie est la plus importante.Pour la première fois en cinq ans, l’espérance de vie moyenne des femmes japonaises a affiché une très légère baisse. Elle est désormais de 86,4 ans, soit une diminution de 0,05 an, mais elle reste la plus longue au monde en 2010. Le record de longévité est donc toujours identique à celui qui avait été calculé en 2009, estimé à 86,44 ans selon le ministère japonais de la Santé, du Travail et du Bien-être.Devant cette légère baisse, le gouvernement japonais est néanmoins parvenu à trouver une explication : “Les fortes températures estivales de l’an dernier ont probablement entraîné une augmentation du nombre de décès résultant d’un coup de chaleur et de problèmes cardiaques” a confié un responsable du ministère à l’AFP. En effet, près de 1.718 personnes, dont 80% avaient plus de 65 ans, sont décédées des suites de la canicule en 2010.À lire aussiDe quoi meurent les centenaires ?D’après le classement international, la France arrive en troisième place de ce classement après le Japon et Hong Kong (85,9 ans) alors que les femmes françaises affichent une espérance de vie de 84,8 ans. Les Japonais, quatrième du classement Du côté des hommes, en revanche, c’est Hong Kong qui se trouve en tête du classement avec 80 ans d’espérance de vie. Hong Kong surclasse ainsi la Suisse (79,8 ans), Israël (79,7 ans) et le Japon. Mais le ministère nippon a tout de même noté que l’espérance de vie moyenne des hommes japonais a atteint un nouveau sommet, pour la cinquième année consécutive en 2010, s’élevant de 0,05 an, soit 79,64 ans aujourd’hui. C’est surtout l’alimentation saine et l’hygiène japonaise qui permet au pays de se classer en tête des classements, selon les spécialistes. Néanmoins, ces statistiques mettent en évidence un phénomène plus inquiétant. Au Japon, la population est vieillissante : près de 23% des habitants ont plus de 65 ans. Associé à un faible taux de natalité, ce vieillissement menace alors de causer de véritables troubles socio-démographiques, alors que la proportion de personnes âgées pourrait se rapprocher de 50% en 2050.Le 27 juillet 2011 à 18:31 • Maxime Lambert
Y a-t-il du réseau chez Free Mobile? Certains opérateurs doutent du bon fonctionnement du réseau Free Mobile. Selon eux, le réseau ne fonctionnerait pas correctement et rencontrerait des difficultés. Ils auraient dépêché des huissiers pour vérifier l’état des antennes-relais de Free.Selon les opérateurs concernés, mais dont on ignore le nom, les abonnés Free peuvent téléphoner, mais uniquement en empruntant le réseau Orange. Lancée par le Figaro, la nouvelle pour remettre en cause tout le système mis en place par Free.À lire aussiRéseau 4G de SFR : tout sur les forfaits, les lancements et les prixEn effet, l’accord d’itinérance signé avec Orange, n’est valable que si Free Mobile couvre 25% de la population. Or, selon les opérateurs, il semblerait que Free se comporte comme un simple opérateur de réseau mobile virtuel (MVNO). De son côté, Free affirme que le réseau fonctionne parfaitement. Le seuil de couverture minimal, fixé à 25%, a même été atteint au mois de décembre d’après l’Autorité de Régulation des Télécoms (ARCEP). Cette dernière a annoncé que “Free Mobile a respecté le taux de couverture mobile 3G”, qui devait être atteinte le 12 janvier au plus tard. Et Free l’a même dépassé, puisqu’en décembre, il couvrait plus de 27% du territoire. Donc, plus d’obstacles, pour l’ARCEP, Free peut “bénéficier, dès à présent, conformément aux termes des autorisations délivrées aux opérateurs mobiles 3G, de l’itinérance du réseau d’un mobile tiers”. Avec déjà 500.000 abonnés environ, et ce malgré une tendance légèrement ralentie, Free Mobile devrait atteindre le million d’abonnés avant la fin du mois.Selon une enquête du cabinet GfK, 78% des Français seraient intéressés par les offres Free et songeraient à y souscrire. En revanche, 39% préfèrent attendre quelques mois pour que d’autres testent Free Mobile avant eux et 22% indiquent ne pas vouloir changer d’opérateur. À moins qu’avec les huissiers, les Français se montrent plus frileux envers les offres Free.Mais, il est nécessaire de pouvoir connaître le fin de cette histoire avant de tirer des conclusions hâtives. En effet, cette annonce pourrait être une manœuvre de la concurrence. Ou alors, l’afflux de nouveaux clients a fortement affecté le réseau Free. Affaire à suivre… Le 17 janvier 2012 à 12:45 • Maxime Lambert