MAI

متى و كيف بدأ استخدام البصمات كدليل جنائي ؟!
في حزيران ١٨٩٢ تم استدعاء الشرطة في إحدى قرى الأرجنتين بعد ما عثرت (فرانشيسكا روهاس) الأم ذات الـ ٢٧ عاماً على طفليها مقتولين داخل بيتها ،كانت جريمة بشعة ارتكبت في بلدة صغيرة ، لكن بسببها حصل تطور مذهل في علم الأدلة الجنائية.
قالت (فرانشيسكا) أنها كانت خارج البيت ولما رجعت وجدت الطفلين مقتولين ، وبسؤال الشرطة لها عما إذا كانت توجه الاتهام لشخص معين، قالت إنها تعرف القاتل و أنها رأته وقت وصولها .. و قد اتهمت صديق لها اسمه (بيدرو فلاسكوز).
قالت (فرانشيسكا) إن (فلاسكوز) هددها أكتر من مرة قبل ذلك إنه سيقتل أولادها لو بقيت مصممة على رفضها الزواج منه.
تم القبض على (فلاسكوز) و وجهت له تهمة القتل فأنكر، وقال أنه يعرف (فرانشيسكا) و لكن لا علاقة له بجريمة القتل .
لجأت الشرطة للحل الوحيد الذي كان سائداً في ذلك الوقت مع ضعف الأدلة و هو التعذيب إلى حد الإنهاك ،فيتعب ثم يعترف بالجريمة.
استخدمت الشرطة كل الطرق مع (فلاسكوز) من ضرب وتغطيس الوجه في المياه ولكنه بقي مُصراً على الإنكار برغم التعذيب الشديد. ما أدهش المحقق (إدواردو ألفاريز) المسؤول عن القضية .. لأنه لم يسبق لأي متهم أن أنكر بعد كل ذلك التعذيب.. و كان يمكن للبريءأن يعترف ليتخلص منه.
(ألفاريز) كان محققاً عبقرياً ، وقرر أن يزور مسرح الجريمة من جديد ، عله يجد دليلاً ما..
لم يترك (ألفاريز) مكاناً في البيت إلا وفتش فيه .. بحث في كل أرجائه.. لكن للأسف كانت النتيجة صادمة له ، و قرر أن يعود لمكتبه وقبل خروجه من باب البيت لمح شيئاً جعله يفكر خارج الصندوق.
لاحظ (ألفاريز) وجود بقعة دم تحمل بصمة أصابع على إطار باب البيت .. وقف أمامها وفكر: هل يمكن الاستفادة من هذا الدليل؟؟ و تذكر أنه سأل (فرانشيسكا) عما إذا كانت قد لمست أي من الجثتين أو بقع الدم في المكان؟؟ ، فكانت إجابتها: لا .
تأكد (ألفاريز) إن البصمة تخص القاتل، و لكن كيف سيتصرف ؟؟ ..لم يكن متوفراً أي تقنية لتظهير البصمات في نهاية القرن الـ ١٩ ، ولكنه قرر المبادرة وقام بخلع الجزء الذي يحتوي على بصمة الدم من الباب لمقارنتها ببصمات (فلاسكوز)!! ..
كانت فكرة ثورية بالمعنى الحرفي للكلمة.
كان (ألفاريز) مقتنع جداً أن الحل بين يديه ولكن التنفيذ؟؟!!
(خوان فوسيتتش) {والمرفقة صورته مع المقال}.. ضابط شرطة وصديق (ألفاريز) ومستشاره بالإضافة إلى كونه عالم أنثروبولوجيا (علم الإنسان) ، كان قد درس بصمات الأصابع بالإضافة لكتب (فرانسيس جالتون) صاحب الأبحاث في علم الوراثة وعلم الإنسان ،وقرر (فوسيتتش) أن يحلل البصمات!!
أخذ نسخة من بصمات (فلاسكوز) العشرة ولكن كان التركيز على بصمة واحدة لمقارنتها مع البصمة اللي على الباب ، و ابتكر (فوسيتتش) طريقة لتسهيل ترتيب بصمات الأصابع و هي طريقة مازالت تـُستخدم حتى اليوم .. هي طريقة (أنماط البصمات).
فالبصمات واحدة من ثلاثة أنماط :
(حلقات .. منحنيات .. دوامات)
و بالمقارنة اتضح إن بصمة (فلاسكوز) و البصمة على الباب من نفس النمط (منحني) .. و تابع (فوسيتتش) التدقيق في تفاصيل البصمات عن طريق عدسة مكبرة يقارن بين نقط وتفرعات البصمتين!! ،و توصل أخيراً إلى النتيجة : .. (فلاسكوز) بريء !!..
فلا تطابق بين البصمتين!!.
قامت الشرطة باحضار (فرانشيسكا روهاس) ثانية وفتحت تحقيقاً معها فأصرت على أقوالها الأولى واتهمت (فلاسكوز) ،فكان من الطبيعي أن يأخذ (ألفاريز) بصماتها ليقارن بينها وبين بصمة الباب.
بعد مقارنة بصمات (فرانشيسكا) بالبصمة الغامضة حصل التطابق :
(فرانشيسكا روهاس) هي اللي قتلت طفليها!!
لماذا ارتكبت جريمتها البشعة؟؟
ولماذا حاولت إلصاق التهمة بـ (فلاسكوز)؟؟
اعترفت أن (فلاسكوز) لم يكن صديقها الوحيد .. بل كان لديها صديق أخر وكانت تحبه بجنون و مستعدة لتنفيذ أي شيء ليبقى معها، ولما طلبت منه أن يتزوجها .. قال أن مشكلته الوحيدة معها هو وجود أطفالها .. فقررت أن تتخلص من الطفلين لتتزوجه!!!
قُدِّمت (فرانشيسكا روهاس) للمحاكمة بتهمة قتل طفليها وحُكم عليها بالسجن مدى الحياة.
وهكذا ... بسبب بصمة غير مقصودة من (فرانشيسكا) وذكاء (إدواردو ألفاريز) وعِلم (خوان فوسيتتش) حصل تحول ثوري وتاريخي في عالم مكافحة الجريمة

Forensics: New tool predicts eye, hair and skin color from a DNA sample of an unidentified individual
New tool will be used when standard forensic profiling is not helpful

An international team has developed a novel tool to accurately predict eye, hair and skin color from human biological material -- even a small DNA sample -- left, for example, at a crime scene or obtained from archeological remains. This all-in-one pigmentation profile tool provides a physical description of the person in a way that has not previously been possible by generating all three pigment traits together using a freely available webtool.
An international team, led by scientists from the School of Science at IUPUI and Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, has developed a novel tool to accurately predict eye, hair and skin color from human biological material. The innovative high-probability and high-accuracy complete pigmentation profile webtool is available online without charge.
Credit: Walsh lab in School of Science at IUPUI
An international team, led by scientists from the School of Science at IUPUI and Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam in the Netherlands, has developed a novel tool to accurately predict eye, hair and skin color from human biological material -- even a small DNA sample -- left, for example, at a crime scene or obtained from archeological remains. This all-in-one pigmentation profile tool provides a physical description of the person in a way that has not previously been possible by generating all three pigment traits together using a freely available webtool.
The tool is designed to be used when standard forensic DNA profiling is not helpful because no reference DNA exists against which to compare the evidence sample.
The HIrisPlex-S DNA test system is capable of simultaneously predicting eye, hair and skin color phenotypes from DNA. Users, such as law enforcement officials or anthropologists, can enter relevant data using a laboratory DNA analysis tool, and the webtool will predict the pigment profile of the DNA donor.
"We have previously provided law enforcement and anthropologists with DNA tools for eye color and for combined eye and hair color, but skin color has been more difficult," said forensic geneticist Susan Walsh from IUPUI, who co-directed the study. "Importantly, we are directly predicting actual skin color divided into five subtypes -- very pale, pale, intermediate, dark and dark to black -- using DNA markers from the genes that determine an individual's skin coloration. This is not the same as identifying genetic ancestry. You might say it's more similar to specifying a paint color in a hardware store rather than denoting race or ethnicity.
"If anyone asks an eyewitness what they saw, the majority of time they mention hair color and skin color. What we are doing is using genetics to take an objective look at what they saw," Walsh said.
The innovative high-probability and high-accuracy complete pigmentation profile webtool is available online without charge.
The study, "HIrisPlex-S System for Eye, Hair and Skin Colour Prediction from DNA: Introduction and Forensic Developmental Validation," is published in the peer-reviewed journal Forensic Science International: Genetics.
"With our new HIrisPlex-S system, for the first time, forensic geneticists and genetic anthropologists are able to simultaneously generate eye, hair and skin color information from a DNA sample, including DNA of the low quality and quantity often found in forensic casework and anthropological studies," said Manfred Kayser of Erasmus MC, co-leader of the study.

Withings’ Pulse HR is a fitness tracker with a 20-day battery


After buying itself back from Nokia and releasing the Steel HR Sport under its own brand in September, Withings is releasing another updated wearable called the Pulse HR. A water-resistant fitness tracker that offers heart rate monitoring, the Pulse HR has connected GPS tracking and a 20-day battery life.

The tracker’s silicone wristband can be swapped with two other colors, and the OLED display can show real-time workout information like calories burned, daily activity goal progress, and smartphone notifications. It can also track sleep patterns, detect sleep duration, and wake up the user with vibration alarms at optimal times during the sleep cycle.

The Pulse HR is an updated version of the Pulse, Withings’ first activity tracker that launched in 2013. The original Pulse was actually not a band all, but a clip-on tracker the size of a matchbox that could be attached to a belt or pocket.


Though Withings has made some pretty stylish analog watch hybrids in the past, like the Activité Pop, the Pulse HR is aimed at people who prefer the look of traditional fitness trackers. It comes equipped with Withings’ own OS2, which is the same operating system included on the Steel and Steel HR.

Preorders begin today on Amazon and Withings.com for $129.95, and the smartwatch will be available December 5th. The other wristband color options like silver and red will be available in January 2019. At $129.95, it’s actually the same price as a Fitbit Alta HR (which looks strikingly similar), but the Pulse HR comes with connected GPS functionality, which the Fitbit doesn’t have.

Internet freedom continues to decline around the world, a new report says
Governments are reining in liberty for the eighth consecutive year, Freedom House reports
SHARE

Digital authoritarianism is on the rise, according to a new report from a group that monitors internet freedoms. Freedom House, a pro-democracy think tank, said today that governments are seeking more control over users’ data while also using laws nominally intended to address “fake news” to suppress dissent. It marked the eighth consecutive year that Freedom House found a decline in online freedoms around the world.
“The clear emergent theme in this report is the growing recognition that the internet, once seen as a liberating technology, is increasingly being used to disrupt democracies as opposed to destabilizing dictatorships,” said Mike Abramowitz, president of Freedom House, in a call with reporters. “Propaganda and disinformation are increasingly poisoning the digital sphere, and authoritarians and populists are using the fight against fake news as a pretext to jail prominent journalists and social media critics, often through laws that criminalize the spread of false information.”
In the United States, internet freedom declined in 2018 due to the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net neutrality rules. Other countries fared much worse — 17 out of 65 surveyed had adopted laws restricting online media. Of those, 13 prosecuted citizens for allegedly spreading false information. And more countries are accepting training and technology from China, which Freedom House describes as an effort to export a system of censorship and surveillance around the world.
“PROPAGANDA AND DISINFORMATION ARE INCREASINGLY POISONING THE DIGITAL SPHERE, AND AUTHORITARIANS AND POPULISTS ARE USING THE FIGHT AGAINST FAKE NEWS AS A PRETEXT TO JAIL PROMINENT JOURNALISTS.”
Of course, there are tradeoffs between freedom and security. The report is critical of Sri Lanka and India, which have periodically shut down or limited access to the internet in response to the outbreak of ethnic and religious conflict. In both cases, citizens were being murdered by mobs that had encountered misinformation spread through social media.
“Cutting off internet service is a draconian response, particularly at a time when citizens may need it the most, whether to dispel rumors, check in with loved ones, or avoid dangerous areas,” said Adrian Shahbaz, research director for technology and democracy. “While deliberately falsified content is a genuine problem, some governments are increasingly using ‘fake news’ as a pretense to consolidate their control over information and suppress dissent.”
The report also found:
• Governments in 18 countries increased state surveillance between June 2017 and now, with 15 considering new “data protection” laws, which can require companies to store user data locally and potentially make it easier for governments to access.
• Governments in 32 countries used paid commentators, bots, and trolls in an effort to manipulate online conversations. WhatsApp and other closed messaging apps are becoming more popular targets for manipulation, the authors write.
• There were bright spots. The authors credit Armenian citizens’ use of social media, communications apps, and live-streaming services for making possible a peaceful revolution earlier this year. And in Ethiopia, a new prime minster released bloggers and activists from prison and pledged to ease restrictions on online communication.

Microsoft pulls Windows 10 October 2018 Update after reports of documents being deleted
A major bug has hit some Windows 10 users

Microsoft has stopped distributing its latest Windows 10 October 2018 Update. The software giant started rolling out the update during the company’s Surface event earlier this week, but some Windows 10 users immediately noticed their documents were being deleted. “We have paused the rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) for all users as we investigate isolated reports of users missing some files after updating,” says Microsoft on its support site for Windows Update.
Microsoft is now recommending that affected users contact the company directly, and if you’ve manually downloaded the October update then “please don’t install it and wait until new media is available.” Other Windows 10 users have been complaining that the Microsoft Edge browser and other store apps have been unable to connect to the internet after the October 2018 Update, and the update was even blocked on certain PCs due to Intel driver incompatibilities.
It’s not clear how many Windows 10 users are affected by the problem, but even if it’s a small percentage it’s still surprising this issue was never picked up during Microsoft’s vast testing of the October update. Millions of people help Microsoft test Windows 10, but the company has struggled with the quality of Windows updates recently. Microsoft delayed its Windows 10 April 2018 Update earlier this year over Blue Screen of Death issues, but those problems were picked up before the update reached regular consumers and businesses.
Microsoft was planning to push the latest October update out to all Windows 10 users next Tuesday, but that’s now likely to be put on hold while investigations continue into this major deletion problem.

Uber in talks to buy Dubai ride-hailing rival Careem: Bloomberg
(Reuters) - Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] is in talks to buy Dubai-based rival Careem Networks FZ for about $2 billion to $2.5 billion, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
No final decisions have been made, and the companies may decide against the transaction, according to Bloomberg.
Uber and Careem held preliminary talks in July to combine their Middle Eastern ride-hailing services, hoping to resolve a costly rivalry in the region, Bloomberg had previously reported.
Careem declined to comment and Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Uber, which is on track to go public next year, has been seeking new avenues of growth even as it battles intense competition in its core business of riding hailing.
The company has been building services such as food delivery and freight hauling, and, in April, acquired electric bike service JUMP Bikes to offer U.S. passengers an alternative to cars.
SoftBank (9984.T), which is the majority stakeholder in Uber, has opened up the possibility of combining Uber with other ride-hailing assets the Japanese group owns across Asia. SoftBank has stakes in Singapore-based Grab and India’s Ola.
At the time of the investment, SoftBank said it wants Uber to focus on growing in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Australia - not Asia, which has been among the most costly and competitive regions for the ride-hailing company, a source had told Reuters.

WhatsApp may finally get dark mode
By Tech DeskPublished: September 18, 2018
Messaging giant WhatsApp may introduce a new feature changing its display to suit nighttime users.
According to WABetaInfo, the Facebook-owned messaging service may launch a “dark mode” feature as an update, altering the user interface.
Twitter and YouTube recently introduced dark modes that create a display lessening the strain on a user’s eyes at night by putting up a darker background. It’s not exactly clear whether WhatsApp will introduce a black screen to serve the purpose or a dark screen. The former would save battery as well on an OLED display.
The app currently provides the users with an option to change the wallpaper and background of the chat but with limited customisation as the background changes for all chats and isn’t exactly programmed to reduce strain on a user’s eyes.