Assorted News

The US and Iran have released conflicting videos of the confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz two days ago. More to follow.

Slashdot reports that mobile phones may have built in projectors by the end of the year.

Indian automaker Tata Motors has released a $2,500 ultra-affordable car. Many Indian consumers who cannot afford American or Japanese cars may turn to this. Environmentalists have expressed concern over the vehicles' fuel economy.

The first man to scale Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, died today in New Zealand.

In a survey of industrialized nations, France ranked the lowest in preventable deaths, and the US the highest. Expect either awkward posturing on the part of those against universal health care, or the issue being completely ignored.

Turkey's Kurds are angry at their country's bombing in heavily Kurdish northern Iraq. Meanwhile Bush, in an attempt to gain the support of the strategic nation's leadership, is supporting its bid for admission into the European Union.

An attempted knife-stabbing assassination of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of the Maldives was thwarted by a boy scout acting on "instinct".

Reuters and the BBC report that switchgrass, a type of biofuel, is 94% more emission efficient than gasoline, and significantly better than corn.

Japan has announced that it will give 10 billion dollars over the next few years to developing nations to curb CO2 emissions. The archipelago-nation would be devastated if sea levels were to rise.

Two hostages held by the rebel FARC group in Colombia have returned two hostages that they have kept in the jungle for five years. The group promises to release the rest if the government cedes some land in the south for their cause. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has attempted to intervene, but the real player ended up being Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He coordinated the hostage release, and will no doubt take the credit.

A judge ruled today that San Francisco's local universal health care program can proceed.