Next Media Video: Dixon backs Pistorius’ version of events in murder trial

Next Media Video: Dixon backs Pistorius’ version of events in murder trial
Forensic expert challenges witnesses’ testimonies in Pistorius trial
Google acquires solar-powered drone-maker Titan Aerospace (VIDEO)
Radioactive water erronously pumped back into Fukushima power plant (VIDEO)

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 06:00 PM PDT

South African track star Oscar Pistorius' legal team yesterday summoned Roger Dixon, a forensic expert who challenged the state's case, to the witness box. Dixon conducted a set of tests to show that the Paralympian's version was probable and call into doubt the other witnesses' testimonies. — Reuters

Forensic expert challenges witnesses’ testimonies in Pistorius trial

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:51 PM PDT

Forensic expert Roger Dixon points at the door through which Reeva Steenkamp was shot, during the trial of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria April 15, 2014. — Reuters picJOHANNESBURG, April 16 — South African track star Oscar Pistorius can finally take a breather after his legal team yesterday summoned Roger Dixon, a forensic expert who challenged the state's case, to the witness box.

Dixon, who worked for the police's forensic department from 1994 to 2012, conducted a set of tests to show that the Paralympian's version was probable and call into doubt the other witnesses' testimonies.

To discredit the testimonies of the Stipps, who live about 72 metres away from Pistorius, the analyst presented a series of photos to the court, in which a man imitated someone walking on stumps. The photos showed that only half of the head would have been visible from outside. Also, Dixon said they would not have been able to see the inside of Pistorius' at night if the lights were off.

The sound tests carried out by Dixon were also played in the court, showing that the sounds of gunshots and a cricket bat smashing the door were highly similar. The Stipps earlier testified that they heard gunshots.

According to Dixon, the wounds on Steenkamp's right arm were caused by flying splinters, supporting the theory that the model was standing about 20cm from the door.

Dixon also studied three bruises on Steenkamp's back, which he said indicate she may have fallen against "a hard, blunt object", implying she hit the magazine rack after the gunshots.

Both the prosecution and the defence requested the case be postponed until May 5. — Reuters

Google acquires solar-powered drone-maker Titan Aerospace (VIDEO)

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:37 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO, April 16 ― Google has acquired solar-powered drone maker Titan Aerospace, the internet search giant's latest move in its project to beam internet access to remote parts of the world.

The acquisition comes weeks after Facebook announced plans for a similar project. The social networking company had previously been in talks to buy Titan Aerospace for US$60 million (RM195 million), according to an early March report in Techcrunch.

Google last year launched a small network of balloons designed to deliver Internet access over the Southern Hemisphere, dubbed Project Loon.

Facebook is working on its own fleet of drones, satellites and lasers to bring Internet connectivity to underdeveloped parts of the globe where Internet access is not yet widely available.

Last August New Mexico-based Titan unveiled its Solara 50 and 60 unmanned aircraft, the world's first atmospheric satellites powered by the sun with a mission range of more than 4 million kilometres.

An atmospheric satellite is a drone that can conduct many of the operations performed by an orbital satellite but is much cheaper and more versatile.

Google has acquired solar-powered drone maker Titan Aerospace, the latest move in its project to beam internet access to remote parts of the world. — File pic"Atmospheric satellites could help bring internet access to millions of people, and help solve other problems, including disaster relief and environmental damage like deforestation," Google said in an emailed statement confirming the Titan acquisition.

The Solara 50 and Solara 60 can be launched at night using power from internal battery banks.

When the sun rises, the solar panels covering the drones' wings and tails store enough energy to allow them ascend to a position of 65,000 feet above sea level and to stay aloft continuously for five years without ever having to land and refuel.

Despite its massive dimensions, the Solara 50 weighs only 350 pounds and can carry a payload of more than 70 pounds. It can travel at about 64 miles per hour. ― Reuters

Radioactive water erronously pumped back into Fukushima power plant (VIDEO)

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:31 PM PDT

FUKUSHIMA, April 16 — Over 200 tonnes of radioactive water was erroneously pumped into a basement area at the Fukushima Daiichi atomic power plant between April 10-13, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said yesterday.

After a partial meltdown in 2011, water has been continuously poured onto the reactor cores to cool them.

The water falls into basement levels and is then pumped out into specially constructed storage tanks.

People wearing protective suits and masks walk past storage tanks for radioactive water in the H4 area at the tsunami-crippled TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture, in this file picture taken November 7, 2013. — Reuters picBut the Tokyo Electric Power Company Plant says for unknown reasons, the pump flow was reversed between April 10 to 13, and the water was pumped back into a basement.

Hundreds of tons of radioactive water have leaked into the ocean since 2011, and radiation concentrations in regional groundwater and seawater are still currently above acceptable levels. — Reuters