This is the VOA Special English Technology Report, from voaspecialenglish.com | http The World Health Organization has added to the debate over the risk of brain cancer from mobile phone use. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer recently listed the signals from wireless devices as “possibly carcinogenic.” This finding puts cell phones in the same risk group as the pesticide DDT — but also in the same group as coffee. A group of thirty-one scientists from fourteen countries made the finding. The announcement came at the end of a meeting at the agency’s headquarters in Lyon, France. The concern is that extended contact with radiofrequency electromagnetic fields may increase a user’s risk for glioma. Glioma is the most common form of brain cancer.The scientists spent a week examining existing research. Dr. Jonathan Samet from the University of Southern California led the group. He says the finding that there could be some risk means scientists need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer. The statement noted that the number of mobile phone users is large and growing, especially among young adults and children. Mobile phone subscriptions are estimated at five billion worldwide. The scientists called for more research into long-term, heavy use of mobile phones. They also suggested taking measures to reduce exposure to the signals, like hands‐free devices or texting.Camilla Rees from an American group called Electromagnetic Health …

Ask any city trader, such as a hedge fund manager or invest banker and they will tell you that communication plays a massive role in their job. It is vital for them to have open channels of communication with others and be connected to the latest business information. This information tends to come from a great deal of sources, including mediums such as press releases, business statements, cable news channels and many more. There is however an ever-increasing demand for information to be supplied and received faster and more readily. The social media platform Twitter is now a tool that is being used by many traders to keep up with business knowledge according to the National Australia Bank (NAB).

Twitter, which is known as a micro-blogging site, allows users to update their profiles with posts of a maximum 160 characters. What this means is that posts have to be to the point and not include small talk, which according to Trevor Keen of the City Trading Union in NY “is exactly the kind of information traders want”. Users within a certain niche, such as the alpha wire sector, can follow other Twitter members who they want to receive updates from, and can themselves be followed. The financial sector operates in a global market these days and people need to be able to stay in touch with lots of different people who are in different countries and different time zones. This is made possible via Twitter, which allows various information and media outlets to communicate and feed off each other, often supplying information as it develops and without bias.

There have been some groups that have frowned upon the use of Twitter as they say it has potential to be a portal for insider trading as messages can be sent privately. Although supporters such as this cable ties business are quick to point out that this was always possible via email and the real power comes from the ability to alert hundreds of thousands of people publically, which of course can be monitored for underhanded dealings if necessary