Archive for December 18th, 2012

BUENOS AIRES—As mountaintops go, this one is for meditating. And the odd UFO sighting.

But now it is closing for a few days to avert a mass suicide by folks girding for the world’s end.

That doomsday is indeed upon us — with Christmas just around the corner, heaven forbid — is one gloomy interpretation of a Mayan India calendar.

To wit, December 21 marks the end of a 5,200-year cycle on the Mayan “Long Count” calendar. It’s a cause for celebration for many in Mexico and Central America, but spells doomsday for some believers.

In Argentina’s central Cordova province, fallout will be felt at a mountain called Uritorco, which was sacred for …Keep on reading: Argentina, fearing Maya-linked suicides, closes mountaintop
Source: Inquirer.net

SAN FRANCISCO—Instagram faced a backlash Tuesday after the Facebook-owned photo-sharing service rewrote its rules to give itself the right to sell users’ pictures for advertising without compensation.

Changes to the privacy policy and terms of service set to take effect January 16 include wording that allows people’s pictures be used by advertisers at Instagram or Facebook worldwide, royalty-free.

Twitter and Instagram forums were ablaze with debate regarding whether to delete accounts before the new rules kick in.

“Bye-bye Instagram,” tweeted Scott Ninness. “Who in their right mind will use a service that allows your images (to) be sold with …Keep on reading: Instagram ad shift creates online uproar
Source: Inquirer.net

NEW YORK—US stocks edged higher Tuesday amid signs Washington was making progress to avert the “fiscal cliff.”

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 37.32 points (0.28 percent) about an hour into trade.

The broad-market S&P 500 gained 5.75 points (0.40 percent) to 1,436.11, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite climbed 19.12 points (0.64 percent) at 3,029.73.

On Monday, US President Barack Obama and top Republican John Boehner made strides towards a deal to avert the year-end tax and spending crisis — the so-called fiscal cliff — that experts warn could spark a recession.

Obama and Boehner appeared to have reached a comprom…Keep on reading: US stocks open higher on ‘fiscal cliff’ hopes
Source: Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines—Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport early Wednesday from the United States following his third round stoppage of Mexican boxer Jorge Arce last Saturday night (Sunday morning here).

Donaire knocked Arce out cold with a patented left hook in the third round to keep his World Boxing Organization super bantamweight crown….Keep on reading: Donaire arrives in Manila
Source: Inquirer.net