Новости за 16.12.2015

Other honorees in the film category included "The Big Short," ''Bridge of Spies," ''Inside Out," ''The Martian," ''Room" and "Straight Outta Compton." AFI also recognized 10 television programs as the best of the year, including "The Americans," ''Better Call Saul," ''Black-ish," ''Empire," ''Fargo," ''Game of Thrones," ''Homeland," ''Master of None," ''Mr. Robot" and "UnREAL."

One Japanese university has banned the use of watches when taking its entrance exam. Kyoto University recently announced that students taking its entrance exam will not be allowed to wear watches of any kind while taking the test, a move the university feels is necessary in order to prevent cheating. According to The Wall Street

Netflix is working on a way to reduce the amount of data you use while you’re binge-watching your favorite show. In the works for four years, the company has created new bandwidth-saving technology that will allow customers to get better-looking streams while using 20% less bandwidth. That means you’ll use less data when you’re streaming

NEW YORK (AP) — Critics are praising J.J. Abrams' "The Force Awakens" as a return to form for the "Star Wars" franchise, albeit one that replays many of the saga's familiar story lines. Despite the prerelease hype, it won't save the world, not even Hollywood, but it seamlessly balances cozy favorites __ Harrison Ford, ladies and gentlemen __ and new kinetic wows along with some of the niceties that went missing as the series grew into a phenomenon, most crucially a scale and a sensibility that is rooted in the human. Читать дальше...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Don't expect to see much relief from rising costs for workplace health coverage under a federal budget deal that postpones a widely feared tax on generous insurance plans, experts say. Just a few months ago top economic adviser Jason Furman warned that repeal or delay would have "serious negative consequences" for the health care system. The tax is indexed to general inflation, which rises more slowly than health insurance premiums, so over time it would affect a growing share of health plans. Читать дальше...

In June 2014, Comcast turned the routers of many of its residential customers into public Wi-Fi hotspots. The company’s Arris Touchstone Telephony Wireless Gateway Modems began broadcasting a Wi-Fi connection identified by “xfinitywifi”. This happened automatically, without Comcast customers’ consent, though Internet service subscribers with this modem/router combination could opt out. Initially, Comcast had 50,000

The Food and Drug Administration must lay out guidelines for mandatory labeling of genetically engineered salmon and interstate commerce of the fish will not be allowed without guidelines in place, according to a provision inserted in Congress’ new omnibus spending bill. “Consumers have a right to know whether they are buying Washington’s world-class salmon or Frankenfish engineered in a lab,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. This photo courtesy of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. shows a size comparison... Читать дальше...

The Fed's move Wednesday to lift its key rate by a quarter-point to a range of 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent ends an extraordinary seven-year period of near-zero rates that began at the depths of the 2008 financial crisis. [...] rates on some other loans, like credit cards and home equity credit lines, will likely rise, though probably only slightly as long as the Fed's rate hikes remain modest. An updated economic forecast released with the policy statement showed that 14 of the 17 Fed officials foresee four or fewer rate hikes in 2016. Читать дальше...

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Amtrak says a power outage east of Penn Station in New York City is causing delays of one to two hours in the busy Northeast corridor. The railroad blames a problem with the overhead power system. No additional details are available. Amtrak is using diesel engines for limited operation Wednesday between Penn Station and New Rochelle, New York. Amtrak says engineers are working to restore power.

The Fed did not raise rates but hinted at a rate increase at the December meeting: "In determining whether it will be appropriate to raise the target range at its next meeting, the Committee will assess progress--both realized and expected--toward its objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation." The Fed is more confident inflation will reach its 2 percent target: "Inflation is expected to rise to 2 percent over the medium term as the transitory effects of declines in energy and import... Читать дальше...

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks moved slightly higher after the Federal Reserve made its long-expected move to raise interest rates. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 102 points, or 0.6 percent, at 17,625 as of 2:15 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, shortly after the Fed announced that it was increasing its benchmark short-term interest rate for the first time in nearly a decade.

Fed officials feel a tad more optimistic about the U.S. economy in 2016, a vote of confidence that the rate hike won't disrupt growth. Fed officials voted unanimously to raise the key federal funds rate — the interest banks charge each other overnight — to a range of 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent, up from near-zero for the first time since December 2008. The statement by the central bank acknowledged the drag from declines in energy prices and decline in inflation expectations, even though it still... Читать дальше...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California unveiled precedent-setting draft rules Wednesday that would slow the public's access to self-driving cars of the future until regulators are confident the technology is safe. The draft sets out the framework for how the state's Department of Motor Vehicles wants to move from the current small-scale testing of prototypes on roads and highways to giving consumers access to the fast-evolving technology. Silicon Valley giant Google has pushed hardest, already building... Читать дальше...

[...] maybe the Rams' fine rookie running back, Todd Gurley, too. Both are among perhaps a dozen strong contenders for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and with the Rams (5-8) and Buccaneers (6-7) not likely to find a way into the postseason, watching the kids seems the best attraction. The Bucs have a decent run defense, good enough to keep them in front in what could be the Rams final game representing St. Louis. Kansas City went down to the wire before holding off San Diego for anyone who followed... Читать дальше...

The Committee currently expects that, with gradual adjustments in the stance of monetary policy, economic activity will continue to expand at a moderate pace and labor market indicators will continue to strengthen. Given the economic outlook, and recognizing the time it takes for policy actions to affect future economic outcomes, the Committee decided to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 1/4 to 1/2 percent. In determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate... Читать дальше...

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — A Belfast judge has ruled that Northern Ireland's government should ease restrictions on abortion because the prevailing law denies women the right to end pregnancies caused by rape or incest. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which sued the government in hopes of forcing abortion reform, welcomed the judgment.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve policymakers have slightly lowered their projections for short-term interest rates over the next three years, a sign that policymakers may move slowly after their first rate increase in seven years.

The Navy said this month that it was taking steps to build the destroyer after announcing an initial procurement contract for an amphibious transport dock to be built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi. The Bath Iron Works completed seven days of sea trials this week on a Navy destroyer to be called the USS Zumwalt.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve raises key interest rate by quarter-point, ending 7 years of near-zero rates.

A consumer group is applauding California regulators for draft rules that require a licensed driver be behind the wheel once self-driving cars are ready for the public. Simpson expects the industry to push back on the draft rules, which are subject to public comment and will not be final for months. The DMV has struggled with how to know the technology is safe — before letting it move beyond the current testing of prototypes on public roads.

Investigators have arrived at a remote mountain area in east-central Arizona where a medical helicopter crashed, killing two of three crew members. An Arizona sheriff says the medical helicopter flight's paramedic was the sole survivor of a crash that killed two other crew members. An Air Force helicopter rescued the injured survivor from the crash site in rugged terrain about four hours after the crash and about two hours after the wreckage was first spotted by search aircraft. An Arizona sheriff... Читать дальше...

(AP) — When scientists discovered six years ago that aggressive Asian carp had made their way up the Mississippi River's tributaries toward the Chicago area, the Obama administration and alarmed state officials pledged swift action to head off an invasion they feared could devastate fishing and boating on the vital Great Lakes. [...] federal agencies have spent more than $300 million on stopgap measures, including placing electric barriers on one likely route, a shipping canal that leads to Lake Michigan. Читать дальше...

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A snow storm hitting the Dakotas for a second day Wednesday cut electricity to hundreds of homes and businesses, caused problems for motorists and prompted dozens of schools to delay or cancel classes. Electrical repair crews in central and southern North Dakota reduced outages from nearly 4,000 Tuesday to about 800 by Wednesday morning, but officials worried about winds gusting to 30 mph. There were no immediate reports of any major accidents, though the Highway Patrol said... Читать дальше...

WASHINGTON (AP) — New cars and trucks averaged a record 24.3 miles per gallon last year, but falling gas prices and America's rekindled love affair with SUVs could endanger future fuel economy gains. The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that fuel economy rose in 2014 by 0.2 mpg, from 24.1 mpg the year before, as the positive impact of technical improvements were nearly offset by resurgent consumer demand for larger vehicles. [...] automakers exceeded overall federal targets for cutting... Читать дальше...