KABUL ? Less than 18 months before all foreign combat troops are to leave Afghanistan, there are still billions of U.S. tax dollars at risk of being wasted ? or worse, funneled to insurgents and terrorists ? if the American government doesn?t do more to ensure reconstruction money is spent properly, according to a quarterly report from the top government watchdog agency in Afghanistan.
?There appears to be a growing gap between the policy objectives of Washington and the reality of achieving them in Afghanistan, especially when the government must hire and oversee contractors to perform its mission,? said Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko in a letter introducing the report.
The report reiterated that some U.S. contract money is going to insurgents and terrorists.
The inspector general recommended 43 companies and individuals be suspended or blocked from receiving government contracts because of ties to insurgents or terrorists but the Army rejected each suggestion, the report said.
?I am deeply troubled that the U.S. military can pursue, attack, and even kill terrorists and their supporters, but that some in the U.S. government believe we cannot prevent these same people from receiving a government contract,? Sopko said in his introduction letter. ?I feel such a position is not only legally wrong, it is contrary to good public policy and contrary to our national security goals in Afghanistan.?
Army spokesman Matthew Bourke said, ?Quite simply, the Army Procurement Fraud Branch did receive and review the 43 recommendations late last year, but the report did not include enough supporting evidence to initiate suspension and debarment under Federal Acquisition Regulations.?
In addition, the inspector general?s office announced it has launched an initiative to examine how money is spent on installation of the final turbine at the Kajaki Dam project. The turbine would provide power to perpetually electricity-starved Kandahar, the cradle of the Taliban and a strategic city for Afghanistan.
The effort to install a third turbine on the key hydroelectricity producer in the volatile province of Helmand has been in the works almost since the outset of the war in 2001 and is still not complete, despite the U.S. spending tens of millions of dollars on the project. It is often pointed to as one of the signature failures of America?s aid program in Afghanistan.
Earlier this year, the U.S. abruptly dropped plans for the U.S. Agency for International Development to complete the work, deciding instead to give $75 million directly to Afghanistan?s national utility to finish the project.
?SIGAR?s prior work has raised concerns about the readiness of the Afghan government to handle direct assistance, which is why we remain concerned about the prospects of success at Kajaki,? Sopko said in his letter.
In a prepared statement, a USAID official said the Afghan national utility, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), has proved effective in managing its assets, pointing to a 67 percent increase in payment collection from 2010 to 2012.
?USAID conducted a rigorous financial management assessment of the organization and determined that DABS has the ability to effectively manage the Kajaki Dam project,? Gordon Weynand, acting assistant to the administrator in the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs, said in an emailed response to Stripes questions.
Among other findings highlighted in the report:
--?The Defense Department is moving forward with a $771.8 million purchase of aircraft the Afghan National Army cannot operate or maintain.
--?USAID?s main stabilization program has suffered from repeated delays and is failing to meet critical contract objectives.
--?Fuel destined for the U.S. military was illegally held at the border with Uzbekistan because of a dispute with the Afghan Ministry of Finance.
The inspector general?s office also announced the launch of the ?SIGAR High-Risk List,? which ?will call attention to programs, projects, and practices in Afghanistan that SIGAR finds especially vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse.?
LONDON (Reuters) - Expectations that the Federal Reserve will reaffirm its commitment to keeping U.S. interest rates near zero left kept the dollar at a five-week low on Monday, while concerns about China's stuttering economy pressured commodity markets.
The Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England meet this week. All are expected to repeat or refine their "forward guidance" that borrowing costs will remain extraordinarily low as long as growth is sub-par and inflation poses no threat.
The Fed will be most closely scrutinized, having signaled plans to begin phasing out its ultra accommodative policy this year. Most economists are eyeing a September start but markets have scaled back views of any aggressive changes.
The dollar, which shed 1.2 percent last week for its third straight weekly loss, remained under pressure at 81.540 by mid-morning in Europe, having earlier hit a one-month low against the yen.
"The dollar faces a lot of key event risk in the week ahead with the release of the U.S. Q2 GDP report and the latest FOMC policy meeting on Wednesday, followed by the release of the U.S. employment report for July on Friday," said Lee Hardman, currency strategist at Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi.
Wall Street was expected to open lower with falls of between 0.15-0.25 percent seen for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average <.dji>.
European share markets remained buoyant though as two more giant merger deals, this time in the media and pharmaceuticals sectors, added to a flurry of M&A activity in recent weeks.
The FTSEurofirst 300 <.fteu3> index of top European shares was up 0.4 percent at 1,212 points by 0745 GMT, with London, Frankfurt and Paris 0.4-0.5 percent higher.
DELICATE CHINA
Commodities markets were mostly softer, with both oil and copper at or near three-week lows. Concerns about demand weighed on crude, while nervousness ahead of Chinese manufacturing data on Thursday hit copper.
With investors bracing for another round of disappointing economic news from the world's No. 2 economy Asian markets had been generally weaker.<.miapj0000pus/>
Japan's Nikkei dropped 3.3 percent to hit a four-week low as those jitters were compounded by a stronger yen, which is negative for the country's exporters, and concerns that plans to increase the country's sales tax - Japan's most significant fiscal reform in years - could be watered down.
"A sense of caution is looming in the market, especially because investors are worried about a slowdown in the Chinese economy. And when they see a risk in Asia, they tend to buy the yen, and the Japanese market is hit by that," said Kyoya Okazawa, head of global equities at BNP Paribas.
On Wall Street, investors may use the uncertainty over central bank stimulus to cash in recent gains. With just three trading days left, the S&P 500 is set to post its best month since October 2011. The Nasdaq's advance makes July so far the best month in a year and a half. <.n/>
In debt markets, German Bund futures edged back into negative territory in thin trade and euro zone periphery bonds eased, but investors refrained from placing big bets before this week's monetary policy decisions and data.
Summertime is now in full swing, and it's also a period of transition within the mobile world. With the exception of a brand-new smartphone that wields a 41-megapixel shooter, our buyer's guide hasn't changed much since the last installment, but that's not to suggest the market is stagnant. On the contrary, high-profile smartphones such as the next iPhone, the Moto X and the successor to the Galaxy Note II are in the pipeline, and there are even rumors swirling of a larger BlackBerry. Likewise, two of the world's premiere smartphones -- the HTC One and the Galaxy S 4 -- are now available with stock Android directly from Google, which brings the added promise of timely software updates.
Mobile carriers are changing the game too, thanks in large part to the T-Mobile Jump program, which allows customers to upgrade their smartphone every six months. AT&T Next and Verizon Edge will soon provide similar (albeit more expensive) offerings, with upgrade eligibility that comes once per year. Even Sprint is doing its part with Unlimited, My Way, which promises unlimited data for life. Whether you're looking to purchase a new handset right away, or you're simply evaluating your options, Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide is the definitive resource for finding the very best smartphones on the market today. We'll be here when you're ready.
PUBLISHED: 02:48 EST, 26 July 2013 | UPDATED: 11:32 EST, 26 July 2013
5.30pm (CLOSE): Concerns about industrial reforms in China overshadowed optimism on the home front today as blue-chip shares took a slide.
The FTSE 100 Index fell 33.2 points to 6554.8 points as traders were spooked by China's need to unveil a mimi-stimulus package aimed at boosting its faltering economy.
The dip, which came after weakness on Asian markets overnight, built on a 33-point drop in the top-flight on Thursday.
Results: BSkyB shares fell today despite a 6 per cent rise in full-year profits, as investors booked profits.
Hefty falls for top-tier heavyweights including Rolls-Royce, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and BSkyB also weighed on the index.
On the currency markets, the pound was flat against the dollar and the euro, at 1.54 US dollars and 1.16 euros at the close in London.
?
In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down more than 100 points in early trading, with sub-par earnings announcements - including losses for online retailer Amazon - weighing on sentiment, as well as nerves over China.
Leaders in the world's second-biggest economy are driving through painful reforms in an attempt to reduce its reliance on investment and trade and shift it towards a more consumer-focused economy.
In London, the top flight has paused for breath this week after a run of strong gains, despite figures yesterday showing the UK economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the second quarter.
Shares in BSkyB fell by more than 3 per cent despite the broadcaster revealing a 6 per cent rise in full-year profits to ?1.26billion and a 12 per cent jump in the number of products its customers take.
While the update was in line with market expectations, it prompted investors to book profits following a 24 per cent rise in the company's share price over the past year. The stock was down 28p to 822p.
Rolls-Royce was also a big faller in the top tier, slipping 3 per cent or 40p to 1200p after a downgrade by Deutsche Bank following first-half results published on Thursday.
The brokerage flagged rising costs and poor cash flow as it cut its stance from sell to hold, wiping out most of yesterday's hefty gains by the stock.
Shares in RBS were also under pressure ahead of next week's first-half results as a management overhaul and increasing political interference saw investors book profits after a decent run.
The largely-nationalised bank is expected to make an announcement soon on who will replace respected boss Stephen Hester, after he was ousted by Chancellor George Osborne. Its shares were 10.1p weaker at 328p.
But publishing group Pearson, whose operations range from the Financial Times to school textbooks in the United States, was the FTSE 100's top riser after its half-year results beat expectations.
The group, which also co-owns publisher Penguin Random House, saw its shares rise 6% despite posting underlying profits of ?137million, down 26 per cent.
Its shares rose 77p to 1329p as Pearson said it is making good progress with shifting its focus to emerging economies and digital sales.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers were Pearson, up 77p to 1329p, Capita up 25.5p to 1022p, Standard Chartered climbing 20p to 1502p and Vedanta Resources ahead 13p at 1180p.
The biggest FTSE 100 fallers were Persimmon down 46p to 1219p, BSkyB off 28p at 822p, Rolls-Royce down 40p to 1200p and Royal Bank of Scotland down 10.1p to 328p.
3:00pm: London shares remain in negative territory this afternoon 30 minutes after the open on Wall Street as concerns over Chinese economic growth persist and weighed on optimism about domestic economic growth.
Leaders in the world's second-biggest economy are driving through painful reforms in an attempt to reduce China's reliance on investment and trade and shift it towards a more consumer-focused economy.
The Footsie is 0.4 per cent lower at 6,561.4 while in the US the Dow Jones Industrial Average is lower by 0.32 per cent, or 52.99 points, at 15,502.62.
Upbeat: BG Group today posted above-forecast second quarter profits
That was despite the fact consumer sentiment rose to its highest level in six years, with the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final reading on the overall index climbing to 85.1 in July from 84.1 in June.
?
12:15: Blue-chip shares were under pressure today as profit-taking and concerns about industrial reforms in China outweighed economic advances on the home front.
Spooked by China's need to unveil a mini-stimulus package aimed at boosting its faltering economy, the FTSE 100 Index followed weakness on Asian markets by dipping 15.4 points to 6572.5.
Hefty falls for top tier heavyweights including Rolls-Royce, Royal Bank of Scotland and British Sky Broadcasting also weighed on the index, adding to a 33 point fall by the FTSE 100 yesterday.
Leaders in the world's second-biggest economy are driving through painful reforms in an attempt to reduce China's reliance on investment and trade and shift it towards a more consumer-focused economy.
The top flight has paused for breath this week after a run of strong gains, despite figures yesterday showing the UK economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the second quarter.
Rolls-Royce was the top tier's biggest laggard, falling 4 per cent or 52.5p to 1187.5p after a downgrade by Deutsche Bank following first-half results published yesterday.
The brokerage flagged rising costs and poor cash flow as it cut its stance from sell to hold, wiping out most of yesterday's hefty gains by the stock.
Shares in RBS were also under pressure ahead of next week's first-half results as a management overhaul and increasing political interference saw investors book profits after a decent run.
The largely-nationalised bank is expected to make an announcement soon on who will replace respected boss Stephen Hester, after he was ousted by Chancellor George Osborne. Its shares were 9.35p weaker at 328.75p.
But publishing group Pearson, whose operations range from the Financial Times to school textbooks in the United States, was the FTSE 100's top riser after its half-year results beat expectations.
The group, which also co-owns publisher Penguin Random House, saw its shares rise 7 per cent despite posting underlying profits of ?137 million, down 26 per cent.
Its shares rose 91.5p to 1343.5p as Pearson said it is making good progress with shifting its focus to emerging economies and digital sales.
European shares also edged lower today, dented by an underperforming German DAX market which had already unsettled some investors this week with profit warnings from some of its leading companies.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index, which had risen to its highest level in nearly two months this week, fell by 0.1 per cent to 1,208.28 points in mid-session trading.
The euro zone's blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index was up by 0.1 per cent at 2,743.79 points but Germany's DAX fared worse than rival markets as it fell 0.5 per cent to 8,259.54 points.
10:20:
Britain?s blue chip index is holding firm, supported by a crop of broadly in-line results from the likes of publisher Pearson, but is lacking a strong enough catalyst to re-test recent seven-week highs as concerns about Chinese economy persisted today.
The Footsie is trading 5.61 points higher at 6593.56.
Publishing group Pearson gained 5.3 per cent after confirming its full year outlook, while miner Anglo American added 0.6 per cent after posting a smaller than expected fall in profits and pledging steep cost cutting.
The FTSE's gains, though, were not enough to make up for a mixed performance in previous sessions, with the FTSE still on track to break a four-week long run of weekly gains after repeatedly failing to break through tough technical resistance around seven-week highs in the 6,660 area.
?The risk now is that momentum is flagging and that we fall to the base of the recent consolidation zone and that the ultimate break is lower ... A break below 6.540 and especially 6,515 would be bearish,? Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, said in a note.
Adding to the downside, BSkyB fell 1.4 per cent after the broadcaster announced a share buy-back size at the lower end of expectations. It forecast that the consumer environment will remain challenging and announced new investments which could dent next year's profit.
8:30:
The FTSE 100 is 11.50 points higher, or 0.17 per cent, at 6,599.45. It has opened 33.03 points higher, or 0.5 per cent, at 6,620.98, rising towards seven-week highs as it is cheered by a series of upbeat companies? results.
Shares in gas and oil producer BG Group rose by 2.4 per cent, offering the biggest single stock boost to the Footsie, as investors focused on the above-forecast second quarter profits and looked past the company's concerns about a regime change in Egypt.
Publisher Pearson and miner Anglo American also rallied after reporting results, up 3.9 and 2.7 per cent, respectively.
In the rest of Europe, fresh signs of increased mergers and acquisition activity pushed shares back up towards their highest level in nearly two-months, with some traders seeing more gradual gains on markets in the near-term.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was up by 0.5 per cent at 1,215.21, while the euro zone's blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index was up by 0.7 per cent at 2,758.91 points.
Andreas Clenow, hedge fund trader and principal of Zurich-based ACIES Asset Management, said he was putting on 'long' positions to bet on further gains for European equity markets.
?European equity markets may not be as strong as the U.S., but everything looks pretty healthy to me. Things are slowly moving up,? he said.
A team of scientists in Switzerland has managed to cram 11,011 electrodes onto a single two-millimeter-by-two-millimeter piece of silicon to create a microchip that works just like an actual brain. The best part about this so-called neuromorphic chips? They can feel.
Cooler weather helped firefighters make significant gains on Saturday against a massive wildfire in Southern California, as crews cut containment lines around nearly 50 percent of the blaze.
The so-called Mountain Fire has burned across more than 27,000 acres (11,000 hectares) of dry brush and timber and destroyed seven residences since it broke out on Monday. At least 5,600 residents remain under evacuation orders.
The more than 3,000 firefighters tackling the blaze on Saturday managed to expand containment lines to encircle 49 percent of the fire, up from 25 percent earlier in the day, said Carol Jandrall, fire information officer for the multiagency team battling the conflagration.
"It's been probably the best day so far," she said of the progress made on Saturday.
Higher humidity and clouds, which reduced sunlight on the burn area and tempered the intensity of the flames, helped firefighters cut more containment lines along the east and south flanks of the fire where it originated, Jandrall said.
Firefighters had hoped for rain, but little precipitation actually fell, she said. At the same time, the erratic winds that can propel a fire and had been feared as the weather changed also did not materialize, Jandrall said.
The flames have forced the evacuation of the town of Idyllwild, a community about a mile (1.6 km) above sea level known for its hiking trails, rock climbing, and arts and music scene, and also forced out residents from the nearby community of Fern Valley.
Residents of Idyllwild and Fern Valley have been out of their homes since evacuations were ordered on Wednesday.
A few hundred people have been allowed to return home in neighboring areas where the threat of flames has decreased, said Norma Bailey, a spokeswoman for the team combating the blaze.
The Mountain Fire is 90 miles (145 km) east of Los Angeles.
Conditions could improve on Sunday, Jandrall said.
"They are expecting a chance for more precipitation which would be great," she said.
Study highlights female cancer patients unhappy with insufficient fertility supportPublic release date: 22-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Amy Pullan a.l.pullan@sheffield.ac.uk 01-142-229-859 University of Sheffield
Young female cancer patients are unhappy about the way fertility preservation options are discussed with them by doctors before starting cancer treatment, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Sheffield and The Children's Hospital, Sheffield.
The pioneering study discovered that only 40 per cent of young female cancer patients were happy with the way their doctors discussed the options they had to preserve fertility, before undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy which can have a harmful effect on a patient's fertility.
Researchers conducted the ground breaking study by asking 290 young cancer patients attending support group conferences organised by the Teenager Cancer Trust in 2004 and 2011.
Their views were collected anonymously using Who wants to be a millionaire? style handsets to answer questions projected onto a big screen. All questions were answered by both male and female cancer patients aged between 13 and 22 years old who had been treated for a variety of cancers in UK hospitals.
Steph Hayter, 23, from Hampshire was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia age 19. She said: "Having a family has always been important to me so when the doctors told me the treatment would damage my fertility I was devastated.
"I knew I needed to start treatment quickly but it would have been nice to be given some choice in the matter or at least the chance to talk to a fertility expert.
"Neither was offered and I felt like I had lost all control. It was as if health professionals didn't think that it was a big deal because I was just a teenager; that made me feel silly for being so upset".
The findings, published in Pediatric Blood and Cancer, revealed that in 2004 just 38 per cent of young female patients recalled their doctor talking to them about fertility preservation opinions, such as egg freezing, before starting treatment. In 2011 this number grew significantly to 69 per cent; however a staggering 50 per cent of patients were unhappy about the discussion effectively the same as in 2004.
Dr Allan Pacey, a fertility expert from the University of Sheffield's Department of Human Metabolism, said: "Fertility issues are important for cancer patients because some chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments can lead to infertility. Whilst we have been banking sperm for cancer patients for over 30 years, we are only just able to start offering fertility preservation for females by banking eggs. However, unfortunately this is more complex to perform and is not a realistic option if cancer treatment cannot be delayed."
Researchers also discovered that the majority of young male cancer patients (64 per cent) were broadly happy with what was discussed with them with roughly the same percentage recalling their doctors talking through fertility issues with them before their cancer treatment started.
Dr Dan Yeomanson, Consultant Pediatric Oncologist for Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This study highlights the need to discuss fertility issues with young patients, especially females, before treatment begins even if there are no options available for fertility preservation.
"Given the wealth of information that needs to be given before treatment begins, it is easy to see why fertility issues are sometimes not handled as well as they could be. While all oncologists aim to provide the best possible care to teenagers and young adults, this study has highlighted some important gaps which are clearly of key significance to patients."
The researchers suggest that collecting data in this way serves a bellwether providing an overview of practice across the UK and calls for a rethink of how fertility issues are discussed with young people diagnosed with cancer, both in terms of timing of discussions and their content. The authors intend to conduct the survey again in 2018 with the same age group to see if the situation has improved.
Simon Davies, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust said: "Young people have a fundamental right to be made aware of the fertility problems cancer treatments can cause. Fertility is something many young people won't even have considered yet and it is incredibly important that these issues are discussed and that all options are understood. Health professionals have a duty to give clear information about all the long term effects of treatments and hopefully this work will help keep this front of mind for those working with young people with cancer."
###
Notes for Editors
Teenage Cancer Trust: http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/
With nearly 25,000 of the brightest students from 117 countries coming to learn alongside 1,209 of the world's best academics, it is clear why the University of Sheffield is one of the UK's leading universities. Staff and students at Sheffield are committed to helping discover and understand the causes of things - and propose solutions that have the power to transform the world we live in.
A member of the Russell Group, the University of Sheffield has a reputation for world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines. The University of Sheffield has been named University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2011 for its exceptional performance in research, teaching, access and business performance. In addition, the University has won four Queen's Anniversary Prizes (1998, 2000, 2002, 2007), recognising the outstanding contribution by universities and colleges to the United Kingdom's intellectual, economic, cultural and social life.
One of the markers of a leading university is the quality of its alumni and Sheffield boasts five Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students. Its alumni have gone on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields.
Research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, Boots, AstraZeneca, GSK, Siemens, Yorkshire Water and many more household names, as well as UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.
The University has well-established partnerships with a number of universities and major corporations, both in the UK and abroad. The White Rose University Consortium (White Rose) a strategic partnership between 3 of the UK's leading research universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. Since its creation in 1997 White Rose has secured more than 100M into the Universities.
For further information, please visit: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk
For further information please contact:
Amy Pullan, Media Relations Officer
0114 222 9859
email a.l.pullan@sheffield.ac.uk
To read other news releases about the University of Sheffield, visit: http://www.shef.ac.uk/news
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Study highlights female cancer patients unhappy with insufficient fertility supportPublic release date: 22-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Amy Pullan a.l.pullan@sheffield.ac.uk 01-142-229-859 University of Sheffield
Young female cancer patients are unhappy about the way fertility preservation options are discussed with them by doctors before starting cancer treatment, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Sheffield and The Children's Hospital, Sheffield.
The pioneering study discovered that only 40 per cent of young female cancer patients were happy with the way their doctors discussed the options they had to preserve fertility, before undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy which can have a harmful effect on a patient's fertility.
Researchers conducted the ground breaking study by asking 290 young cancer patients attending support group conferences organised by the Teenager Cancer Trust in 2004 and 2011.
Their views were collected anonymously using Who wants to be a millionaire? style handsets to answer questions projected onto a big screen. All questions were answered by both male and female cancer patients aged between 13 and 22 years old who had been treated for a variety of cancers in UK hospitals.
Steph Hayter, 23, from Hampshire was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia age 19. She said: "Having a family has always been important to me so when the doctors told me the treatment would damage my fertility I was devastated.
"I knew I needed to start treatment quickly but it would have been nice to be given some choice in the matter or at least the chance to talk to a fertility expert.
"Neither was offered and I felt like I had lost all control. It was as if health professionals didn't think that it was a big deal because I was just a teenager; that made me feel silly for being so upset".
The findings, published in Pediatric Blood and Cancer, revealed that in 2004 just 38 per cent of young female patients recalled their doctor talking to them about fertility preservation opinions, such as egg freezing, before starting treatment. In 2011 this number grew significantly to 69 per cent; however a staggering 50 per cent of patients were unhappy about the discussion effectively the same as in 2004.
Dr Allan Pacey, a fertility expert from the University of Sheffield's Department of Human Metabolism, said: "Fertility issues are important for cancer patients because some chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments can lead to infertility. Whilst we have been banking sperm for cancer patients for over 30 years, we are only just able to start offering fertility preservation for females by banking eggs. However, unfortunately this is more complex to perform and is not a realistic option if cancer treatment cannot be delayed."
Researchers also discovered that the majority of young male cancer patients (64 per cent) were broadly happy with what was discussed with them with roughly the same percentage recalling their doctors talking through fertility issues with them before their cancer treatment started.
Dr Dan Yeomanson, Consultant Pediatric Oncologist for Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This study highlights the need to discuss fertility issues with young patients, especially females, before treatment begins even if there are no options available for fertility preservation.
"Given the wealth of information that needs to be given before treatment begins, it is easy to see why fertility issues are sometimes not handled as well as they could be. While all oncologists aim to provide the best possible care to teenagers and young adults, this study has highlighted some important gaps which are clearly of key significance to patients."
The researchers suggest that collecting data in this way serves a bellwether providing an overview of practice across the UK and calls for a rethink of how fertility issues are discussed with young people diagnosed with cancer, both in terms of timing of discussions and their content. The authors intend to conduct the survey again in 2018 with the same age group to see if the situation has improved.
Simon Davies, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust said: "Young people have a fundamental right to be made aware of the fertility problems cancer treatments can cause. Fertility is something many young people won't even have considered yet and it is incredibly important that these issues are discussed and that all options are understood. Health professionals have a duty to give clear information about all the long term effects of treatments and hopefully this work will help keep this front of mind for those working with young people with cancer."
###
Notes for Editors
Teenage Cancer Trust: http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/
With nearly 25,000 of the brightest students from 117 countries coming to learn alongside 1,209 of the world's best academics, it is clear why the University of Sheffield is one of the UK's leading universities. Staff and students at Sheffield are committed to helping discover and understand the causes of things - and propose solutions that have the power to transform the world we live in.
A member of the Russell Group, the University of Sheffield has a reputation for world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines. The University of Sheffield has been named University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2011 for its exceptional performance in research, teaching, access and business performance. In addition, the University has won four Queen's Anniversary Prizes (1998, 2000, 2002, 2007), recognising the outstanding contribution by universities and colleges to the United Kingdom's intellectual, economic, cultural and social life.
One of the markers of a leading university is the quality of its alumni and Sheffield boasts five Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students. Its alumni have gone on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields.
Research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, Boots, AstraZeneca, GSK, Siemens, Yorkshire Water and many more household names, as well as UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.
The University has well-established partnerships with a number of universities and major corporations, both in the UK and abroad. The White Rose University Consortium (White Rose) a strategic partnership between 3 of the UK's leading research universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. Since its creation in 1997 White Rose has secured more than 100M into the Universities.
For further information, please visit: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk
For further information please contact:
Amy Pullan, Media Relations Officer
0114 222 9859
email a.l.pullan@sheffield.ac.uk
To read other news releases about the University of Sheffield, visit: http://www.shef.ac.uk/news
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Lee Neale is just like many of us. He has an 8 year old daughter by the name of Lily and a good job as an aerospace designer in the U.K. Like most 8 year-olds, Lily asked to use her dad's Apple iPad from time to time and being a good Dad, Lee gave in. But one day, Lee tried to take out some money from his bank account and was stunned to find out that it had been frozen.Apparently, daughter Lily had blown quite a chunk of change on in-app purchases for popular App Store games like Campus Life, My Horse, Hay Day and Smurfs? Village. At one point, the 8-year old spent ?2000 ($3052 USD) covering 74 transactions in just 6 days. Overall, between March and July, Lily spent like a drunken sailor, ringing up a bill of ?4000 ($6100 USD) on coins, upgrades and jewels. It seems that she had learned her Dad's password from watching him enter it.
Lee, who had been working away from home, missed emails sent out by Apple alerting him to the purchases. After his bank account was frozen, he found himself at the point where he was contemplating selling his car and two motorbikes. At first, Apple refused to do anything about the purchases, saying that "all purchases made on the iTunes Store are final". But eventually Apple decided to refund the money, a move that according to Lee, "...really has saved my bacon".
The moral of the story is that no mater how young your kids are, they might know more than you think they do. If they've watched you install an app and type in your password, the whole process could be stored in their memory and we would suggest changing your password. Many kids that age might not grasp the concept of money and could easily be entranced by in-app promotions. And let's face it, you can't expect Apple to constantly refund in-app purchases.
Sony Xperia Z Ultra gets Hong Kong pricing, launches end July
The 6.4-inch Sony Xperia Z Ultra has been priced at US$799 for its Hong Kong launch text at the end of this month, which buys the 3G HSPA+ model (C6802/XL39h). The 4G LTE version (C6833) is also available on launch for $824, which puts the model at the very high end of the smartphone segment. Although not yet formally priced for the North American market, its Asian pricing is indicative of what it will cost when it launches this quarter.
The Xperia Z Ultra has taken the title of the world?s largest smartphone from Samsung, which briefly held the title with its Galaxy Mega 6.3. It is also being marketed as the ?world?s thinnest? full high-definition smartphone at 0.27-inches (6.5mm), making it a genuine contender in the ?phablet? segment that is currently dominated by Samsung?s Galaxy Note lineup. In addition to its Triluminos display, the Xperia Z Ultra is also able to support text input from lead pencil?s and regular pens.
It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC clocked at 2.2GHz, which incorporates an Adreno 330, while onboard storage is 16GB and can be expanded by a microSD card up to 64GB. The Ultra also incorporates an 8-megapixel camera with a mobile Exmor RS sensor and sound enhancements including Sony?s ClearAudio+ and Xlound tech. Like Sony?s other flagship devices for 2013, it is also water resistant. A US launch date is yet to be set, but it will hit the UK mid-September. [via Xperia Blog]
It can be complicated to market on the internet, especially when there is so much competition in your field. The secret to Website marketing simply put is to implement many techniques. This article will help you figure out how to put the business first.
Flashy websites may be attention grabbing, but they are also distracting. Once a visitor is at your site, you literally have 5 seconds to intrigue them and make them stay. If they have found nothing to hold their interest in that time, then they will leave your site to browse elsewhere.
Your website marketing strategy doesn?t have to be done on the Internet.
Developing a high-quality website is the first step to securing high ranking on search engines? results pages. Building a great website is the first essential step in web business. Once your website operates without glitches and looks great, you are ready to move forward with marketing.
Internet marketing needs to be taken seriously and research. Many of these people have advice columns or will also advise you for a fee. You should thoroughly research your endeavor before deciding it is something you can hold onto easily.Although it may take a while to gain momentum, the marketing will soon be well worth what you put into it.
To earn more cash you need additional subscribers. You can do a split test, where you try different versions of an ad on different groups, to see which ad is best. By looking at the number of people who subscribed to these two methods, you can determine which one was most effective.
You may be close to achieving a successful internet marketing campaign when you give up. Make sure everything is under control and planned out before you launch a website that sells your products. This can require a significant initial work investment. The effort you put in will pay off after awhile.
Having a squeeze page is a good way to grow a contact list. This encourages your site visitors to offer up their email address. To help get visitors to give their email offer a free item. This demonstrates to them that you understand the value of the information you?re asking for.
Advertise your company with popular websites. This investment can make a huge difference and get the name of advertising will help more people become aware of your site and help your business grow.
Give your customers a variety of specials to choose from at the check-out page. You could also send an email with a special promotion to previous customers. It can help you clear out inventory and bring more sales your way.
You possess the tools ready to be a successful internet marketer. You are perfectly capable of achieving your goals without help from software or any other get rich quick medium; all you need is yourself. Just work hard and choose your marketing yourself.
Put a signature link in all of your emails, even personal emails. A signature acts as a business card, so use this tool wisely by maximizing exposure. Giving the recipient a glimpse of your business may result in a new customer and another sale.
Make sure to implement social media to grow your customer base.Twitter allows you to engage on an informal basis with your audience.
It may seem overwhelming trying to decide what your business and website will offer. Start out broad and list interests and niches that are important to you. Pare down the list until you have your top pick. Before creating a website, find a niche that suits your business and personality. Creating a tangible goal will make it much easier to market your website.
A smart way to enhance the content to your site and market your marketing strategy is to interview authorities within your niche. You either provide the interviews in audio or make videos and podcasts.
A good marketing tip for your site is to make video which shows how the product works. This is often a much more direct and unambiguous way to convince potential customers of the product?s value. Demonstrate the features of the product, as well as its benefits. Share your videos on YouTube and social networks.
Talk up how easy it is to buy the product, or how quickly it will provide results once they have it.
Make sure that you maximize the quality of third-party security with transactions. There are many trusted, impartial services. VeriSign, McAffee, etc.) that will safeguard both customer and vendor financial information. These services do charge, but they help keep everyone safe.
Your website?s look and perform in a professional manner. Test ads, concentrating on your links, links and your checkout system on a regular basis.
Descriptive language that talks about quick results is the key to any advertisement. Quick ship time, results, or ease of ordering are all good ways to see more success with the products and services you offer. This can speed up your downloads, help you have a more secure checkout and quicker order confirmations.
Try to place banners on your web site that are not have the appearance of being banners. Try to make them to look like clickable links to get more content. Most experienced Internet users ignore banners automatically, so be creative and entice them to.
When you design a banner ad, try to make it unique. So give your banner ad a more appealing look to entice more people to click it.
Blogging is a good way to increase the traffic to your website. It will attract the most visitors if you post new content fresh by posting on a reliable schedule.
HTML tags are very important for optimizing your website for search engines. HTML tags are one way that you can make note of what is important on your site, and the tags will highlight that information in bold. Search engines use HTML tags to rank your website, so it?s important to choose your HTML tags carefully. You need to be sure to put extra emphasis on the keywords that are very important to your business.
If you?re trying to gain more views on your website, and do better in search engine results, unique content. This is true for retailers that are competing to sell the same items as many other retailers online. You want to be unique and set yourself apart from the other sites, have a trusted employee write it or hire an article writer.
When you send out correspondence to members of your mailing list, be sure to personalize it. Customers and possible customers need something that isn?t impersonal. Consider this: don?t you dislike getting bulk mail from strangers? Use your customer?s name in the title of your email and always send out quality content instead of merely reminding people about your products.
Reward those people that are frequent buyers.It is crucial to always retain your customers, and the appearance of generosity is positive for your company.
Compiling glossaries of terms is a good way to show off your expertise. This can help your customers figure out what they need to know, making them more likely to visit your site again. Anyone who searches for the terms you define will be directed to your site, providing you with exposure and a reputation as an authority.
Make use of good quality graphics that your website. ?Before and after? photographs are a great way to promote products.
It?s just a fact of psychology that most people respect positions of authority. You can make use of that fact in your marketing. Of course, you can be this authority figure if you speak on your product in an informative, honest and compelling way. Make sure you are the President and CEO of your company.
One part of your Internet marketing strategy should be keeping tabs on your competition. There is much that you can learn by watching others. This will ensure that you do not repeat their mistakes.
Try to get notable and respected people within your industry to give testimonials or advice on your site. Never reprint another person?s words or ideas without first securing legal permission; otherwise, you run the risk of incurring legal wrath. Then, take these interviews and turn them into articles. After this, submit them using E-zine directories. The end results include increases in sales, traffic and even respect and credibility.
Finally, remember that you must stay focused and consistent in order to succeed in Web marketing. Take the time to educate yourself now and to become proficient in this method of advertising. Follow these tips so you can increase traffic and sales!
Usually you want to avoid mixing your business into your personal life. However, this is one of the few exceptions. Since there?s no pressure, it?s more of a hobby that makes money than a job. You should include your spouse in this activity, too.
Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, meets with reporters, taking questions on immigration, student loans, and GOP-led efforts to stop President Barack Obama's signature health care law, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 18, 2013. The House of Representatives passed measures last night to delay the individual and employer mandates of the Affordable Care Act, known popularly as "Obamacare." It's the 38th time the GOP majority has tried to eliminate, defund or scale back the program since Republicans took control of the House in January 2011. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, meets with reporters, taking questions on immigration, student loans, and GOP-led efforts to stop President Barack Obama's signature health care law, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 18, 2013. The House of Representatives passed measures last night to delay the individual and employer mandates of the Affordable Care Act, known popularly as "Obamacare." It's the 38th time the GOP majority has tried to eliminate, defund or scale back the program since Republicans took control of the House in January 2011. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? House Speaker John Boehner says Congress "ought to be judged on how many laws we repeal."
The Ohio Republican makes the comments on an interview aired Sunday on CBS "Face the Nation." He was responding to a question about how little Congress is doing these days.
Boehner says Congress "should not be judged by how many new laws we create."
He says the U.S. has "more laws than the administration could ever enforce."
Boehner says that view may be unpopular because this country has a divided government. Boehner says he and his allies in Congress are fighting for what they believe in. And he adds, "Sometimes the American people don't like this mess."
You're a musician, a media junkie, and an all-around family man/lady?in other words, you've got a lot to juggle. So here are some apps to easily squeeze into your life and take some of the pressure off. Go on, champ, you deserve it.
NICOLE Scherzinger sports a face of thunder as she leaves a London club in the small hours.
The US pop star cut a moody figure roaming the streets after partying with Miley Cyrus at Cirque Le Soir, exiting the venue around 4am.
Although the length of time Nicole spent at the club suggests she enjoyed herself, she looked anything but buzzing on her way back to her hotel.
Despite her stern expressions, the X Factor judge typically sizzled in a cutaway black frock and silky locks that survived hours inside a sweaty boozer.
She teamed her classy attire with a less classy pair of trainers, opting for comfort over style in the feet department.
Hot look ... Nicole Scherzinger
FameFlynet
Perhaps the cause of her gloomy mug is the loneliness she?s suffering in the aftermath of her split from Brit F1 ace Lewis Hamilton.
The LA-based beauty recently admitted she?s struggling to settle down in London now that her romance is over.
She said: ?I don?t have anyone here, I don?t have my family, I don?t even have any friends here. My publicist is my closest friend.
Face of thunder ... Nicole Scherzinger
?It gets lonely but I?m working all the time.
?You just make those sacrifices and they made me feel so at home last year. It is hard but you always make those sacrifices and it?s worth it.?
Last year she relied on Lewis and his family for companionship when she wanted to socialise away from The X Factor.
However, the couple broke up last month after five years because their hectic schedules left little time for love.
PTI????New Delhi?? Last Updated:?July 19, 2013 ?|?22:40 IST
British telecom major Vodafone, which is facing tax dispute of Rs 11,217 crore in India, on Friday said revenue in the country grew by over 13 per cent to Rs 9,933.42 crore (GBP 1,091 million) during first quarter ended June 30.
"In India service revenue was up over 13 per cent driven by a more stable pricing environment, an improved process of customer verification and continued strong data revenue growth," Vodafone said in a statement.
The India business pushed Vodafone's revenue growth in Asia, Middle East and Asia Pacific (AMAP) region.
"Growth was driven by a strong increase in India and robust performances in Vodacom, Egypt, Ghana and Qatar, partially offset by service revenue declines in Australia and New Zealand."
In India, the company saw increase in mobile internet usage by 29 per cent compared to its previous quarter due to increased number of data (internet) customers and increased usage per customer, particularly amongst 3G customers.
"At 30 June 2013, active data customers totalled 41.2 million, including approximately 3.7 million 3G subscribers," Vodafone said.
The group' service revenue including joint ventures declined by 2.5 per cent to Rs 92,281.51 crore (GBP 10,155 million) during the reported quarter from Rs 90,187.74 crore (GBP 9,904 million).
Can you believe 2013 is already half over? With E3 2013 in the rear view mirror, and the summer months halfway finished, it?s time for us, once again, to hand out the mid-year grades for the big three of the games industry. While the past few years have seen Nintendo as the constant bottom-dweller while Sony and Microsoft duke it out for the top spot, 2013 could see that finally change. Both Sony and Microsoft had their shares of blunders over the past six months, but Nintendo has done nothing but bolster its lineup for the future.
Just to reiterate, the grades found in this article are not based solely on sales, hype, critical or fan praise, or even the way the companies handled themselves in the public eye. Instead, these grades combine those factors and more to answer the simple question of which console maker made the strongest case that their platform was the platform to own and support during the first six months of 2013. Check out what conclusions we came to and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
There?s no denying it: this was a rough six months for Microsoft. After a strong past two years, everything that could go wrong did for the computing giant?s gaming division. The Xbox 360?s biggest exclusive of the year so far, Gears of War: Judgment, has been polarizing at best, but that pales in comparison to the debacle that surrounded the Xbox One announcement and the embarrassment Microsoft suffered at the hands of Sony at this year?s E3.
The announcement that the Xbox One would not only require Kinect, but also a daily internet ?check-in? was enough to make players upset, but it was ultimately the used game policy of the console and the unclear messaging from the executives that made the events surrounding the Xbox One the PR debacle that it was. Add to that the fact that the Xbox One will be priced at $100 more than the PlayStation 4, and that Sony took many a hard-hitting shot at Microsoft on gaming?s biggest stage, and Microsoft was left reeling for over a month.
Microsoft did redeem itself in the eyes of many shortly after E3, however. By announcing that it had scrapped its planned Xbox One used game policy, as well as the planned internet connectivity requirements, Microsoft made many fans happy. The price tag and the Kinect requirements remain, and recently released details of NSA cooperation (which were overblown, but still very well-publicized) still hurt the Xbox One?s chances this holiday season, but Microsoft made great strides to restore the faith of its user base.
Xbox Live has, once again, proven to be the most reliable online gaming service in the console realm, and while its Gold subscription service been put to shame as of late by the free games PlayStation Plus offers, Microsoft has attempted to rectify this through a free game program of its own. Unfortunately, while PlayStation Plus is giving its subscribers XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Saints Row: The Third, and Uncharted 3, Xbox Live Gold is giving its players Fable III and?several-year-old games like Assassin?s Creed II and Halo 3 as flagship entries into the program.
It wasn?t all terrible for Microsoft, however. While the year has proven to be fairly anemic for Xbox 360 in terms of exclusives, Xbox Live Arcade received one of the most charming digital releases of the year, the frenzied 2D platformer?BattleBlock Theater, and the acclaimed zombie survival title State of Decay. Microsoft also indicated that it was more interested in pushing digital sales through its phenomenal Xbox Live Ultimate Game Sales, which would be the next logical step for consoles as they attempt to compete with the extreme value that PC gaming can bring through sales from vendors like GOG.com and Steam.
Going forward, there are things to be excited about for Microsoft, and one of E3?s biggest titles was?Titanfall, an Xbox/PC exclusive. The Xbox One will also exclusively house Killer instinct, Dead Rising 3, Quantum Break, Sunset Overdrive, and Ryse: Son of Rome. Also, while Sony will be releasing its new entry in the Gran Turismo series on current-gen hardware, Microsoft has the opportunity to further pull away from the competition with?Forza Motorsport 5?releasing on Xbox One?s next-gen hardware. In addition, Microsoft teased a new Halo title, and the speculation that a Halo 2Anniversary could be in the works for that game?s 10th anniversary next year only adds to the excitement surrounding Xbox?s flagship franchise.
Sadly, all of these positive notes were not enough to salvage the first half of 2013 for Microsoft. The controversy surrounding Xbox One and the lack of major exclusive releases just proved to be too much to call the first six months of the year a success for the Xbox brand.
So far, Sony?s 2013 has been a story of one-upping Microsoft. Notably, its PlayStation Plus service continued to provide more value to its user with the paid service bringing more free games and exclusive sales than that of its competitor. With Sony?s recent expansion of the premium service to the Vita, the company has been able to provide top-notch value to both systems, something that looks like it could be industry-leading for a long time to come.
Sony announced its PlayStation 4 well ahead of Microsoft?s Xbox One, but it was its E3 presentation that really drove home its early victory. By not only hitting Microsoft where it hurt, but also by making the PlayStation 4 appear to be the console that was designed with the consumer in mind, Sony was able to deliver such a decisively powerful blow to Microsoft?s policies that Microsoft was forced to backpedal on many unpopular Xbox One policies.
The Vita, however, has primarily been playing catch-up by bringing past favorites from other platforms to the handheld. So far, the heavy hitters have been Jak & Daxter HD, Limbo, and Hotline Miami, but the list of newer games hasn?t been quite so robust. The punishing Soul Sacrifice is the headliner here, but players also had the chance to take the best baseball experience on the road through the very functional MLB 13: The Show.
As far as its PlayStation 3 is concerned, Sony had a strong first six months of 2013, as players were treated to Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, God of War: Ascension, MLB 13: The Show, and current ?Game of the Year? front-runner, The Last of Us. The sheer number of exclusives has made the PlayStation 3 tough to beat in 2013, but it?s the future hype that will help Sony stay on top this year.
On the PlayStation 3 side of things, players have Beyond: Two Souls, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix,Until Dawn, Gran Turismo 6, and Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD to look forward to, while Vita owners will have the chance to play Killzone: Mercenary and a portable version of Final Fantasy X and X-2HD. Obviously, the real excitement for the Sony faithful will come from the launch of the PlayStation 4, which will see Killzone: Shadows Fall, Knack, The Order: 1866, Driveclub (which will have a version of the game free for PlayStation Plus subscribers at launch),and Infamous: Second Son all hitting during the early months of the system.
The year is Sony?s to lose at this point, but so much will be riding on how the PlayStation 4 performs post-launch. If the pre-release hype is any indication, however, it seems as though Sony will be just fine approaching this holiday season. Combined with PlayStation Plus? benefits, as well as the strong exclusive lineup found on PlayStation 3, and it would seem as though the only missing link in Sony?s suite of success is the Vita, which just needs one or two more big releases each year. Hopefully, for both Sony and its fans, that will happen in 2014.
Ever since the middle of the Wii lifecycle, Nintendo has been on the outside looking in as Sony and Microsoft battled for the top spot in the industry. 2013, however, could potentially be the year that the legendary company sees a slight comeback.
While the Wii U struggled sales-wise, Nintendo showed fans that it is actively trying to provide players with new titles to play. So far this year, Nintendo has released?Lego City Undercover, Game & Wario, and New Super Luigi U for Wii U, but the real excitement for the platform is in the future, as, over the course of the next year or so, the Wii U will see the releases of Pikmin 3,?Mario Kart 8, Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, Sonic Lost World, The Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2, and the new Super Smash Bros. title.
While the future finally seems bright for the Wii U, the present belongs to Nintendo?s 3DS handheld. This year has seen the release of Fire Emblem: Awakening, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, Luigi?s Mansion: Dark Moon, Pok?mon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, and, of course, the highly addictive Animal Crossing: New Leaf. The future seems bright for the 3DS as well, with the latest entries in two of Nintendo?s most beloved franchises,?Pok?mon X/Y and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds,?both hitting in the next few months.
Unfortunately, at the end of the day, despite all of these new titles, Nintendo is still be running this race using outdated technology. The Wii U may be on par with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in terms of graphical prowess, but once the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 hit, it could be the Wii all over again, where any multiplatform games that appear on the the Nintendo system are gimped ports of the versions appearing on Sony and Microsoft?s more powerful consoles. Sadly for Nintendo, this may not even be the case, as many third-party publishers have already abandoned the Wii U ship. Of course, as many people point out in defense of Nintendo, not many bought the Wii U to play third-party games. It just would be nice for Nintendo if gamers could pick up the Wii U as an all-in-one gaming console.
Nintendo would also greatly benefit from bolstering its Virtual Console lineup a bit more, as the offerings, particularly on Wii U, are quite lackluster. The company has been steadily adding titles to the service since its underwhelming launch earlier this year (some even at the low temporary price of $0.30 to celebrate the Famicom?s 30th anniversary), but for fans to truly take note and start building that ultimate digital nostalgia library, more games need to be available on the service.
It?s also upsetting that Nintendo seems so stuck in the past with its policies, as it refuses to acknowledge the value that can come from allowing its IPs to be used in internet videos, as evident by its new YouTube and streaming policies. It even recently attempted to stop Evo from streaming?Super Smash Bros. in its tournament before quickly backpeddling on their statement. If Nintendo continues down this path, it could prove to be even more of an uphill battle than it already is for the company, as the alienation of its biggest supporters could eventually come back to bite.
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Public release date: 22-Jul-2013
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There?s no denying it: this was a rough six months for Microsoft. After a strong past two years, everything that could go wrong did for the computing giant?s gaming division. The Xbox 360?s biggest exclusive of the year so far, Gears of War: Judgment, has been polarizing at best, but that pales in comparison to the debacle that surrounded the Xbox One announcement and the embarrassment Microsoft suffered at the hands of Sony at this year?s E3.
It wasn?t all terrible for Microsoft, however. While the year has proven to be fairly anemic for Xbox 360 in terms of exclusives, Xbox Live Arcade received one of the most charming digital releases of the year, the frenzied 2D platformer?BattleBlock Theater, and the acclaimed zombie survival title State of Decay. Microsoft also indicated that it was more interested in pushing digital sales through its phenomenal Xbox Live Ultimate Game Sales, which would be the next logical step for consoles as they attempt to compete with the extreme value that PC gaming can bring through sales from vendors like GOG.com and Steam.
So far, Sony?s 2013 has been a story of one-upping Microsoft. Notably, its PlayStation Plus service continued to provide more value to its user with the paid service bringing more free games and exclusive sales than that of its competitor. With Sony?s recent expansion of the premium service to the Vita, the company has been able to provide top-notch value to both systems, something that looks like it could be industry-leading for a long time to come.
As far as its PlayStation 3 is concerned, Sony had a strong first six months of 2013, as players were treated to Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, God of War: Ascension, MLB 13: The Show, and current ?Game of the Year? front-runner, The Last of Us. The sheer number of exclusives has made the PlayStation 3 tough to beat in 2013, but it?s the future hype that will help Sony stay on top this year.
Ever since the middle of the Wii lifecycle, Nintendo has been on the outside looking in as Sony and Microsoft battled for the top spot in the industry. 2013, however, could potentially be the year that the legendary company sees a slight comeback.
Unfortunately, at the end of the day, despite all of these new titles, Nintendo is still be running this race using outdated technology. The Wii U may be on par with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in terms of graphical prowess, but once the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 hit, it could be the Wii all over again, where any multiplatform games that appear on the the Nintendo system are gimped ports of the versions appearing on Sony and Microsoft?s more powerful consoles. Sadly for Nintendo, this may not even be the case, as many third-party publishers have already abandoned the Wii U ship. Of course, as many people point out in defense of Nintendo, not many bought the Wii U to play third-party games. It just would be nice for Nintendo if gamers could pick up the Wii U as an all-in-one gaming console.