Six In The Morning

Supernova traced to collision of white dwarf stars

Two scientists studying a Type 1a supernova may have pinned down the cause of such massive stellar explosions, they report in the journal Nature.

By Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times January 14, 2012
Type 1a supernovae, exploding stars that can outshine entire galaxies, were instrumental to the Nobel Prize-winning discovery that a mysterious "dark energy" is fueling the expansion of the universe. But astronomers haven't been able to pin down what causes these massive stellar explosions. Now, after studying a Type 1a supernova in a nearby galaxy, two researchers say that they must be the result of a collision between two white dwarf stars. They made their case this week in the journal Nature. Pinning down the origins of these so-called standard candles, which can be used to help determine the brightness of other objects, may aid scientists in sharpening their understanding of the nature of dark energy.

Greek bankruptcy threat looms as debt restructuring talks break down
Athens warns of dire consequences for Greece and rest of Europe if deal with private-sector creditors is not reached soon

Helena Smith in Athens The Guardian, Saturday 14 January 2012
The unexpected breakdown of crucial talks between Greece and its private-sector creditors took the country a step closer to bankruptcy on Friday. Officials in Athens warned of dire consequences for "Greece and the Greek people, Europe and Europeans" if the long-overdue debt restructuring deal were not sealed soon. The breakdown was attributed to disagreement over interest payments on the new bonds.

Afghan boy suicide bombers tell how they are brainwashed into believing they will survive
Child suicide bombers say they were told by their handlers that the "bombs would not kill us, only the Americans would die".

By Ben Farmer, Kandahar
The mission was as simple as touching two wires together, the little boy was promised. The resulting blast would obliterate the American infidels – but God would spare him from the flame and shrapnel. Abdul Samat would be unharmed and free to run back to the men who had fitted his bomb vest. Blindfolded and rigged with his explosive payload, the boy, who was about 13, was driven to his target in the Afghan city of Kandahar, after being plucked from the streets of Quetta in neighbouring Pakistan. Minutes before he was due to execute the attack, however, Abdul realised the lies of his recruiters seeking to turn him into a human bomb.

Army holds fire in hope court will axe government


Ben Doherty January 14, 2012
MILITARY sources have ruled out an army-led coup in Pakistan but there is a growing sense in the country that an activist Supreme Court, hostile to the government, could bring down the civilian leadership. ''There will be no coup,'' a senior military officer told the Herald on condition of anonymity. ''The hype is there, but that kind of move will not happen now. Not now.''

Union threatens oil production shutdown in Nigeria
A major union threatened to stop the beating heart of Nigeria's economy - crude oil production - as part of a nationwide strike and protests gripping Africa's most populous nation.

Sapa-AP | 13 January, 2012 09:18
World oil prices climbed Thursday on the news. Nigeria is the fifth-largest oil exporter to the U.S., and a shutdown would force American refineries to replace 630,000 barrels per day of crude. The union's ability to enforce a shutdown, beginning Sunday, across the swamps of Nigeria's southern delta to its massive offshore oil fields, remains in question. But the threat of a strike caused jitters on global oil markets as traders worldwide worried about supply. Nigeria has been paralyzed by a strike that began Monday after President Goodluck Jonathan's government abandoned subsidies that kept gasoline prices low.

Iran has pay back in mind
Middle East

By Kaveh L Afrasiabi
Despite a strong pitch by Iran, the United Nations has failed to condemn the latest assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist, thus sending a bad signal about the UN's determination to fight global terrorism and to condemn all acts of terrorism even-handedly. Instead of a swift and decisive response to the letter by Iran's ambassador to the UN, Mohammad Khazaee, to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the 15 members of the UN Security Council and the president of the UN General Assembly, requesting the UN's condemnation of the terror of scientist Mostafa Rahimi Roshan and his driver in Tehran this week, the only reaction so far has been by Ban's spokesperson promising "to study" the request.