St. John Paul II's 'miracle’ woman in Poland

Floribeth Mora Diaz, whose recovery from a serious brain condition was declared by the Vatican as a miracle attributed to the Polish Pope, has begun a seven-week tour of Poland.

Floribeth Mora Diaz (L) of Costa Rica signs visitors' book at family hme of John Paul II in Wadowice on 4 May: photo - PAP / Stanislaw Rozpędzik

Accompanied by her husband and two sons, Floribeth Mora Diaz from Costa Rica is visiting forty towns and localities, including the Pope’s birthplace of Wadowice, the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki near Kraków and Warsaw.

The 'miracle' led to the canonization of John Paul II on 27 April.

Fifty year-old Floribeth Mora Diaz says she prayed for the pope’s intercession from her hospital bed on the day of John Paul II's beatification, the first step to sainthood, three years ago.

"I am grateful for God whose greatness changed my life and I want to bring the message about Him to the entire world," she told the Catholic Informational Agency, adding that contacts with the media is the most effective way of carrying the message of hope and faith.

Her husband Edwin said that they are now on a ‘mission’ from God to bear witness to the miracle.

Recalling her recovery, Floribeth Mora Diar said: "I had the left side of my body paralysed and I could not move. I was then examined by many doctors and neurologists who confirmed that my brain had no damage and that my cerebral arteries were free of the clot".

She is planning to write a book this year describing her experience, which is to be published simultaneously in Spanish, Italian and Polish. (mk/pg)

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St. John Paul II's 'miracle’ woman in Poland

Floribeth Mora Diaz, whose recovery from a serious brain condition was declared by the Vatican as a miracle attributed to the Polish Pope, has begun a seven-week tour of Poland.

Floribeth Mora Diaz (L) of Costa Rica signs visitors' book at family hme of John Paul II in Wadowice on 4 May: photo - PAP / Stanislaw Rozpędzik

Accompanied by her husband and two sons, Floribeth Mora Diaz from Costa Rica is visiting forty towns and localities, including the Pope’s birthplace of Wadowice, the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki near Kraków and Warsaw.

The 'miracle' led to the canonization of John Paul II on 27 April.

Fifty year-old Floribeth Mora Diaz says she prayed for the pope’s intercession from her hospital bed on the day of John Paul II's beatification, the first step to sainthood, three years ago.

"I am grateful for God whose greatness changed my life and I want to bring the message about Him to the entire world," she told the Catholic Informational Agency, adding that contacts with the media is the most effective way of carrying the message of hope and faith.

Her husband Edwin said that they are now on a ‘mission’ from God to bear witness to the miracle.

Recalling her recovery, Floribeth Mora Diar said: "I had the left side of my body paralysed and I could not move. I was then examined by many doctors and neurologists who confirmed that my brain had no damage and that my cerebral arteries were free of the clot".

She is planning to write a book this year describing her experience, which is to be published simultaneously in Spanish, Italian and Polish. (mk/pg)

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36 die on Polish roads over May Day holidays

Thirty six died as a result of accidents on Polish roads over the extended May holiday from Wednesday to Sunday, with less accidents but more deaths than at the same time last year.

Accident on the S8 road near Kowiesy, central Poland. Three prople died in the pile-up. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Michalowski

There were 369 accidents and 457 people sustained injuries, while 1539 drivers were arrested for drink-driving.

In 2013 there were 325 accidents over the five-day break, but three more fatalities than this year.

Police spokesperson Iwona Kuc told the Polish Press Agency that typical causes for accidents continue to be speeding, failure to give way, errors in overtaking and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Cyclist deaths rise

Meanwhile, statistics released by Poland's police force have revealed that although the annual number of accidents is falling (there were about 36,000 in 2013 compared with over 40,000 in 2011), this is not the case with crashes involving cyclists.

In 2013 there were 4723 road accidents that involved cyclists (70 more than in 2011), yet in 64 percent of cases the cyclists themselves were not at fault.

A report released by the European Commission in March found that Poland has the second deadliest roads throughout the EU, and only Romania had a higher proportion of fatalities in 2013. (nh) 

36 die on Polish roads over May Day holidays

Thirty six died as a result of accidents on Polish roads over the extended May holiday from Wednesday to Sunday, with less accidents but more deaths than at the same time last year.

Accident on the S8 road near Kowiesy, central Poland. Three prople died in the pile-up. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Michalowski

There were 369 accidents and 457 people sustained injuries, while 1539 drivers were arrested for drink-driving.

In 2013 there were 325 accidents over the five-day break, but three more fatalities than this year.

Police spokesperson Iwona Kuc told the Polish Press Agency that typical causes for accidents continue to be speeding, failure to give way, errors in overtaking and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Cyclist deaths rise

Meanwhile, statistics released by Poland's police force have revealed that although the annual number of accidents is falling (there were about 36,000 in 2013 compared with over 40,000 in 2011), this is not the case with crashes involving cyclists.

In 2013 there were 4723 road accidents that involved cyclists (70 more than in 2011), yet in 64 percent of cases the cyclists themselves were not at fault.

A report released by the European Commission in March found that Poland has the second deadliest roads throughout the EU, and only Romania had a higher proportion of fatalities in 2013. (nh) 

Pole wins 'German Pop Idol'

A 25-year-old Polish singer has won Germany's biggest talent-spotting show.

Photo: Facebook

Aneta Sablik. Photo: Facebook

Aneta Sablik from Bielsko-Biala, southern Poland, secured 57.9 percent of the public vote inDeutschland sucht den Superstar(Germany's looking for a Superstar).

The show, which is a part of the UK Pop Idol franchise, is screened by Germany's largest private TV station RTL, and it garnered about 3 million viewers per episode this year.

Despite only speaking basic German, Sablik advanced to the final without problems.

In the ultimate showdown, she wowed the crowds with renditions of Michael Jackson's 'Dirty Diana' and Beyonce's 'If I Were a Boy', finishing off with her own song 'The One.'

Besides winning half a million euros and a new car, the Polish siren has been given a one-album recording deal.

Aneta Sablik came to Germany in 2012 after music producer friend Kevin Zuber offered her some work as a vocalist.

She has worked part-time as a waitress, and she still harbours hopes of finishing her degree in Cultural Studies and Journalism in Krakow. (nh)

Source: TVP

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Pole wins 'German Pop Idol'

A 25-year-old Polish singer has won Germany's biggest talent-spotting show.

Photo: Facebook

Aneta Sablik. Photo: Facebook

Aneta Sablik from Bielsko-Biala, southern Poland, secured 57.9 percent of the public vote inDeutschland sucht den Superstar(Germany's looking for a Superstar).

The show, which is a part of the UK Pop Idol franchise, is screened by Germany's largest private TV station RTL, and it garnered about 3 million viewers per episode this year.

Despite only speaking basic German, Sablik advanced to the final without problems.

In the ultimate showdown, she wowed the crowds with renditions of Michael Jackson's 'Dirty Diana' and Beyonce's 'If I Were a Boy', finishing off with her own song 'The One.'

Besides winning half a million euros and a new car, the Polish siren has been given a one-album recording deal.

Aneta Sablik came to Germany in 2012 after music producer friend Kevin Zuber offered her some work as a vocalist.

She has worked part-time as a waitress, and she still harbours hopes of finishing her degree in Cultural Studies and Journalism in Krakow. (nh)

Source: TVP

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IBM deepens move into computer defense

SAN FRANCISCO: IBM on Monday moved deeper into defending business computers with a new service aimed at thwarting hackers before they do damage.

"The need for security to become part of our strategy has been natural," IBM vice president of security strategy Marc van Zadelhoff told AFP.

The century-old business technology titan made a priority of defending computer networks about two years ago, unifying resources from more than a dozen security firms it acquired.

IBM's computer security unit has been "growing like gangbusters," according to van Zadelhoff.

According to industry tracker IDC, IBM significantly outpaced overall computer protection company market growth and last year was the third largest seller of cyber defense software.

IBM on Monday ramped up its offerings with a Threat Protection System and a Critical Data Protection Program.

Introduction of the new cyber security weapons came with the release of IBM-funded Ponemon Institute studies showing that the number of hacker attacks is climbing along with the cost.

The average cost of a hack to a business has risen 15 percent to $6.2 million including lost revenue and productivity, according to Ponemon findings released by IBM.

The Critical Data Protection program uses an array of techniques to safeguard the data equivalent of a company's "crown jewels," according to van Zadelhoff.

IBM has tapped into intelligence about threats and hacker tactics from computer networks it cares for around the world.

Defensive technics go beyond maintaining watch-lists for known malicious codes to identifying when applications in networks act unusually and then pouncing to see whether hacker mischief is the cause.

“Traditional methods of prevention have often failed, leaving many to believe detection is the only way forward," IBM security systems general manager Brendan Hannigan said in a release.

"You must be able to prevent exploitations of known and unknown vulnerabilities.”

 

IBM deepens move into computer defense

SAN FRANCISCO: IBM on Monday moved deeper into defending business computers with a new service aimed at thwarting hackers before they do damage.

"The need for security to become part of our strategy has been natural," IBM vice president of security strategy Marc van Zadelhoff told AFP.

The century-old business technology titan made a priority of defending computer networks about two years ago, unifying resources from more than a dozen security firms it acquired.

IBM's computer security unit has been "growing like gangbusters," according to van Zadelhoff.

According to industry tracker IDC, IBM significantly outpaced overall computer protection company market growth and last year was the third largest seller of cyber defense software.

IBM on Monday ramped up its offerings with a Threat Protection System and a Critical Data Protection Program.

Introduction of the new cyber security weapons came with the release of IBM-funded Ponemon Institute studies showing that the number of hacker attacks is climbing along with the cost.

The average cost of a hack to a business has risen 15 percent to $6.2 million including lost revenue and productivity, according to Ponemon findings released by IBM.

The Critical Data Protection program uses an array of techniques to safeguard the data equivalent of a company's "crown jewels," according to van Zadelhoff.

IBM has tapped into intelligence about threats and hacker tactics from computer networks it cares for around the world.

Defensive technics go beyond maintaining watch-lists for known malicious codes to identifying when applications in networks act unusually and then pouncing to see whether hacker mischief is the cause.

“Traditional methods of prevention have often failed, leaving many to believe detection is the only way forward," IBM security systems general manager Brendan Hannigan said in a release.

"You must be able to prevent exploitations of known and unknown vulnerabilities.”

 

Pakistan forces kill 10 separatist militants in Baluchistan: report

QUETTA: Pakistani forces killed at least 10 separatist militants in the volatile province of Baluchistan on Monday, paramilitary officials said.

Baluch rebels have waged a decades-long insurgency in the remote, sparsely populated and mineral rich southwest province, bordering Iran.

The Frontier Corps, the main state security force in Baluchistan, said it launched an operation against militant hideouts in the mountainous Panjgur district on Monday morning.

"Ten militants were killed in heavy exchange of fire this morning," said Frontier Corps spokesman Wasay Khan. "Several militant hideouts were destroyed and three soldiers were also wounded."

It was impossible to verify official accounts as journalists and independent observers are not allowed to operate freely Baluchistan.The operation took place after Latif Johar, a member of the separatist Baloch Students Organisation (Azad), went on hunger strike 11 days ago to demand the release of the group´s chairman and more than 100 detained members.

In the past three years, bodies of hundreds of members of Baluch political parties, student groups and poets have been discovered across the province, and many more are still missing.Baluch activists say the bodies are evidence that the army is pursuing a systematic ´kill and dump´ campaign to crush the separatist movement - a charge the army has repeatedly denied.

Pakistan forces kill 10 separatist militants in Baluchistan: report

QUETTA: Pakistani forces killed at least 10 separatist militants in the volatile province of Baluchistan on Monday, paramilitary officials said.

Baluch rebels have waged a decades-long insurgency in the remote, sparsely populated and mineral rich southwest province, bordering Iran.

The Frontier Corps, the main state security force in Baluchistan, said it launched an operation against militant hideouts in the mountainous Panjgur district on Monday morning.

"Ten militants were killed in heavy exchange of fire this morning," said Frontier Corps spokesman Wasay Khan. "Several militant hideouts were destroyed and three soldiers were also wounded."

It was impossible to verify official accounts as journalists and independent observers are not allowed to operate freely Baluchistan.The operation took place after Latif Johar, a member of the separatist Baloch Students Organisation (Azad), went on hunger strike 11 days ago to demand the release of the group´s chairman and more than 100 detained members.

In the past three years, bodies of hundreds of members of Baluch political parties, student groups and poets have been discovered across the province, and many more are still missing.Baluch activists say the bodies are evidence that the army is pursuing a systematic ´kill and dump´ campaign to crush the separatist movement - a charge the army has repeatedly denied.