Monday, June 4, 2001		Latest in IT world

Japan PM’s e-mail magazine

POPULAR Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi last week launched a preview edition of an e-mail magazine, urging the public to subscribe to discover the real politician behind his trademark lion’s mane coiffure. "Many of you may know me only as a ‘maverick’ or as someone with a hair-style like a lion," Koizumi said in a preliminary issue on the Internet. "I hope you will find out the true nature of the Koizumi cabinet by reading this ‘Koizumi cabinet e-mail magazine’," the prime minister said in an statement entitled "Lion Heart — a message from the Koizumi Cabinet." Those wishing to subscribe to the magazine must register their e-mail address and will receive the Japanese-language weekly free of charge.

Malaysia considers ‘code of content’

Malaysia is considering an Internet "code of content" to make Web site operators accountable for what they publish and curb the posting of lies, false news and pornographic material, the official Bernama news agency said. "We are not amending or creating a new law, but we are looking at the code of content to be introduced soon," the agency said, quoting Chia Kwang Chye, parliamentary secretary for the Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry. He stressed that Malaysia had no intention of censoring the Internet. The government regulates the print and broadcast media with operating permits, which can be suspended or revoked if they carry undesirable reports and pictures. Chia said the Worldwide Web had become not only a source for pornography but also for spreading lies and false news to create strife in multi-racial Malaysia.

Singapore’s new beam

Hi-tech manufacturers may soon be able to use proton beams to chisel out miniscule components and circuits thanks to pioneering research from a Singapore institute. The proton beam is a stream of speeded up sub-atomic particles that scientists have been trying to narrow down for practical use over the past 25 years. The National University of Singapore Research Centre for Nuclear Microscopy, which officially opened this week, currently holds the record for the narrowest proton beam — which measures just 1,000th of the diameter of a human hair.

Nazi loot search on Web

Glasgow City Council said it was launching an online search for more than 200 works of art that might have been looted by the Nazis in an attempt to trace their history and find their former owners. The move by Scotland’s largest city is part of a British campaign to determine whether some artwork currently in Britain had been stolen from Jewish families in Europe by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. Images and descriptions of the 232 pictures and sketches, which include works by Picasso, Cezanne and Degas, will be posted on Britain’s National Museums website (www.nationalmuseums.org.uk), a Glasgow city council spokesman said.

— Reuters