Tag: Queen Elizabeth II

  • Computer pioneer Alan Turing pardoned

    Computer pioneer Alan Turing pardoned

    Punished under British law for homosexuality in the 1950s, code breaker Turing has now been pardoned.

    Turing's work on artificial intelligence still informs the debate over whether machines can think, [AFP]
    Turing’s work on artificial intelligence still informs the debate over whether machines can think, [AFP]
    Queen Elizabeth II has pardoned  Alan Turing, the father of modern computing, who was convicted of “gross indecency” for being gay, 61 years after he poisoned himself.

    The Queen granted Turing, whose theories laid the foundation for the computer age and who broke the code which helped the Allies outfox the Nazis, an official pardon on Tuesday.

    Turing, whose work on artificial intelligence still informs the debate over whether machines can think, was punished by Britain in the 1950s, when homosexuality was still a criminal offence.

    “Turing was an exceptional man with a brilliant mind,” Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said in a prepared statement released on Tuesday.

    Describing Turing’s treatment as unjust, Grayling said the code breaker “deserves to be remembered and recognised for his fantastic contribution to the war effort and his legacy to science.”

    Turing’s contributions to science spanned several disciplines, but he is perhaps best remembered as the architect of the effort to crack the Enigma code, the cypher used by Nazi Germany to secure its military communications.

    Turing’s groundbreaking work, combined with the effort of cryptanalysts at Bletchley Park, near Oxford, and the capture of Nazi code books, gave the Allies the edge across half the globe, helping them defeat the Italians in the Mediterranean, beat back the Germans in Africa and escape enemy submarines in the Atlantic.

    Even before the war, Turing was formulating ideas that would underpin modern computing, ideas which matured into a fascination with artificial intelligence and the notion that machines would someday challenge the minds of man.

    When the war ended, Turing went to work programming some of the world’s first computers, drawing up  one of the earliest chess games,  among other initiatives.

    Turing made no secret of his sexuality, and being gay could easily lead to prosecution in post-war Britain.

    In 1952, Turing was convicted of “gross indecency” over his relationship with another man, and he was stripped of his security clearance, subjected to monitoring by British authorities, and forced to take estrogen to neutralise his sex drive – a process described by some as chemical castration.

    S. Barry Cooper, a University of Leeds mathematician who has written about Turing’s work, said future generations would struggle to understand the code breaker’s treatment.

    “You take one of your greatest scientists, and you invade his body with hormones,” he said in a telephone interview. “It was a national failure.”

    Turing committed suicide in 1954.

    Turing’s legacy was long obscured by secrecy.

    “Even his mother wasn’t allowed to know what he’d done,” Cooper said.

    Then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued an apology for Turing’s treatment in 2009, but campaigners kept pressing for
    a formal pardon.

     

    Source: Agencies

     

     

    You take one of your greatest scientists, and you invade his body with hormones. It was a national failure.S. Barry Cooper, University of Leeds mathematician, on Turing’s forced chemical castration
  • Queen praises Turkey partnership

    Queen praises Turkey partnership

    Queen praises Turkey partnership

    (UKPA) – 10 hours ago

    The Queen and president of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace
    The Queen and president of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace

    Anglo-Turkish relations have been praised by the Queen as a “very modern partnership” as she highlighted the two nations’ growing closeness.

    At a glittering Buckingham Palace state banquet in honour of Turkey’s visiting President Abdullah Gul, the Queen spoke of the shared histories of the two countries.

    Strong economic and tourism ties between the UK and the republic were another theme of her address to the statesman and some 170 guests who included David Cameron, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales.

    In response, Mr Gul paid tribute to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee milestone which will be celebrated next year.

    The Queen said: “It was another Queen Elizabeth who, in 1583, sent the first ambassador to what was then the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

    “We fought on the same side in the Crimean War, and then were adversaries during the First World War. In more recent times, we fought together in Korea and became close allies in Nato.

    “We have come through a great deal together to develop what is, today, a very modern partnership.”

    Britain is forging closer links with Turkey, a country that straddles both East and West and is seen as bridge to the Middle East.

    Its economy is booming, the UK is committed to increasing its trade with the nation and Mr Cameron’s Government is a strong supporter of Turkey’s push to become a member of the European Union.

    The Queen said that during her state visit to Turkey three years ago with Philip, “we found a vibrant, economically-dynamic democracy”, going on to say “it is good to see that our commercial relations are booming, and our most enterprising businesses are investing in each other’s countries”.

    via The Press Association: Queen praises Turkey partnership.

  • ‘Chatham House award symbol of Turkey’s resilience’

    ‘Chatham House award symbol of Turkey’s resilience’

    News Diplomacy

    ‘Chatham House award symbol of Turkey’s resilience’

    Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II presents the Chatham House Prize to Turkish President Abdullah Gül. President Abdullah Gül praised Turkey’s achievements in the past decade right after he received the prestigious Chatham House Award late on Tuesday, saying that the award he received honors the “resilience” of the Turkish nation.

    Queen Elizabeth II presented the award during a ceremony, praising the president’s “notable leadership” for improving international relations.

    “I accept this award with profound honor and humbleness on behalf of my beloved country and the people of Turkey,” President Gül said as he accepted the award. “Although I take personal pride in receiving it, the award presented to me tonight truly acknowledges the progress achieved by the Turkish nation in recent years despite many internal and external difficulties,” he added.

    Noting that the prize also honors the resilience and perseverance of a people who have never lost their aspiration for progress and hope in a better future, Gül said all witnessed “a silent revolution” in democratic, social and economic standards that is taking place in Turkey’s quest for full membership in the European Union.

    According to the president, the prize signifies the role played by Turkey in its multidimensional neighborhood and beyond, where the country nurtures peace, stability and welfare. Praising Turkey’s inspiring role in the Islamic world as a vibrant democracy and a flourishing free-market economy, Gül said the prize symbolizes the success of a hard-working people, whose “sweat was key to making Turkey the fastest growing economy among the OECD members this year,” the president stressed.

    Finally, Gül said, the award that he received thoroughly certifies, once again, the eternal friendship between Turkey and the United Kingdom, whose alliance and cooperation made a huge difference in history and are destined to offer even more promising prospects in the future. The queen, while presenting the Turkish president the award, said she was delighted to welcome the president and his spouse to London to receive this important award.

    “Mr. President, I remember with gratitude your very kind hospitality during my state visit to Turkey in 2008,” the queen said, adding that Gül had provided “notable leadership” and “international statesmanship” over many years. She offered her congratulations by presenting this award on behalf of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. The queen also praised Gül for his efforts to secure Turkey’s place in the 27-nation bloc and to improve the level of democracy and human rights in his country.

    11 November 2010, Thursday

    TODAY’S ZAMAN  İSTANBUL