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Source: Inttranews - Daily News Site for Linguists
/img_HbvT2udEk12EBxM85v85_0.jpgTokyo, Japan (Inquirer): According to Nikkei.net, it may not be long before the technology is ready. The Japanese government's Council for Science and Technology Policy has a five year roadmap (if I've translated it properly), meaning conversations in multiple languages could soon be possible. The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) predicts fully automated speech translators will be available by 2015. For more information, please visit: www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/08/26/japanese-boffins-invent-auto-translator

Source: Inttranews - Daily News Site for Linguists
/img_HbvT2udEk12EBxM85v85_0.jpgBaghdad, Iraq (UPI): U.S. military officials say they have arrested the alleged mastermind behind the 2006 Iraq kidnapping of journalist Jill Caroll. Salim Abdallah Ashur al-Shujayri, also known as Abu Uthman, was captured Aug. 11 by coalition forces in Baghdad. "He is believed to be the planner behind the kidnapping of American journalist Jill Carroll," a statement said, referring to The Christian Science Monitor reporter who was taken hostage at gunpoint Jan. 7, 2006, after her interpreter was killed. Carroll was released nearly three months later. For more information, please visit: www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/08/25/Alleged_Carroll_kidnapper_arrested/UPI-56391219686245/

Source: Inttranews - Daily News Site for Linguists
/img_HbvT2udEk12EBxM85v85_0.jpgCalgary, Canada (Times): The Department of Foreign Affairs is working to secure the release of an Alberta journalist taken hostage Saturday in Somalia, says the woman's Conservative MP, Bob Mills. Amanda Lindhout, 27, of Sylvan Lake, was abducted at gunpoint near the Somali capital of Mogadishu along with Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan, a Somali translator and their driver. For more information, please visit: www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=96bcb8a4-621d-4338-82c9-56ccd36bd56a&k=24543

Source: Inttranews - Daily News Site for Linguists
/img_HbvT2udEk12EBxM85v85_0.jpgMaryland, USA (Delmarva): According to court documents, Assistant Worcester County State's Attorney Pam Correa was used as a last-minute Spanish interpreter for Murillo, who speaks limited English, during his arrest and interrogation because no other court-appointed interpreters were available. Murillo's attorney, E. Scott Collins, filed a motion to disqualify the States Attorney's Office on the grounds that Correa unfairly stepped in to translate instead of an unbiased court employee. For more information, please visit: www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/NEWS01/808260338/-1/newsfront2

Source: Inttranews - Daily News Site for Linguists
/img_HbvT2udEk12EBxM85v85_0.jpgNottingham, UK (This is Nottingham): The family of a woman killed in a motorbike crash in India six years ago face paying thousands of pounds to find out exactly what happened. Dr Chapman said the situation faced by the family was not unique. "It is appalling. The family cannot afford to hire a lawyer" he said. "As it stands we are at a stalemate. I do not have the power to hire a lawyer in India. "A number of cases come back from abroad where we have to pay translation costs. A recent case cost over £4,000 to have it translated." For more information, please visit: www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Family-pay-loved-died/article-289011-detail/article.html

Source: Inttranews - Daily News Site for Linguists
/img_HbvT2udEk12EBxM85v85_0.jpgWashington, USA (Washington Times): In 2005, only 50 visas were issued to Iraqi and Afghan translators and interpreters combined, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency that oversees the process. The number increased to 500 visas per fiscal year for 2006 through 2008. Applicants had to work with the Defense Department or State Department to qualify. However, after Oct. 1, those numbers will be drastically reduced for Afghans. Legislation will cap visas for translators at 50 annually. For more information, please visit: www.washtimes.com/news/2008/aug/26/afghans-risk-lives-for-us-to-earn-visas/