Thursday, February 28, 2013

Chris Brown Says He's 'Different' Now, Embraced By Elton John At Oscar Party

'I'm forgiven ... but, yes, I worked hard for it,' Brown says of his reconciliation with Rihanna.
By Gil Kaufman


Elton John and Chris Brown
Photo: Michael Kovac/ Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702726/chris-brown-elton-john.jhtml

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Overseas Hackers Have Been Snatching More Than 1TB of Data Per Day

According to a report obtained by The Verge, analysts from Florida-based Internet security firm Cymru have uncovered a massive foreign hacking enterprise that has somehow managed to steal more than a terabyte of data per day. Confirmed international targets include military and academic facilities in addition to a major search engine, among others. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/rRaQ0jORPrY/overseas-hackers-have-been-snatching-more-than-1tb-of-data-per-day

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How common is 'sexting' among urban minority youth?

How common is 'sexting' among urban minority youth? [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 28-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Bill Schappert
bschappert@liebertpub.com
914-740-2100
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, February 28, 2013Sexting, the use of technology to send or receive sexually explicit messages, photos, or videos, is a relatively new trend and, in many cases, has legal implications. As many as 25-50% of young people may participate in sexting. A close-up look at the sexting practices of a group of urban ethnic minority youths is presented in an article in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available online on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

In fact, sexting is relatively common among ethnic minority youth, according to Melissa Fleschler Peskin, PhD and coauthors, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health. They calculated the prevalence of sexting based on data collected from more than 1,000 tenth graders from a large urban school district. They reported that 20% of students reported sending a nude or semi-nude picture or video or a sexual text messageany one of these considered a "sext"and more than 30% reported receiving a sext.

Additional, sexts were often shared with unintended recipients, and one-third of the youths reported sharing or receiving sexts that were meant to be private.

"In the relatively new discipline of cyberpsychology, we seek to explore the many challenges of current behavior that social networking potentiates. Certainly, such research enables us to better prepare for the behavioral changes that advances in Internet technology will continue to bring," says Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCIA, Editor-in-Chief of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, from the Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, CA.

###

About the Journal

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking is a peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with Open Access options and in print that explores the psychological and social issues surrounding the Internet and interactive technologies, plus cybertherapy and rehabilitation. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Games for Health Journal, Telemedicine and e-Health, and Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


How common is 'sexting' among urban minority youth? [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 28-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Bill Schappert
bschappert@liebertpub.com
914-740-2100
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, February 28, 2013Sexting, the use of technology to send or receive sexually explicit messages, photos, or videos, is a relatively new trend and, in many cases, has legal implications. As many as 25-50% of young people may participate in sexting. A close-up look at the sexting practices of a group of urban ethnic minority youths is presented in an article in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available online on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

In fact, sexting is relatively common among ethnic minority youth, according to Melissa Fleschler Peskin, PhD and coauthors, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health. They calculated the prevalence of sexting based on data collected from more than 1,000 tenth graders from a large urban school district. They reported that 20% of students reported sending a nude or semi-nude picture or video or a sexual text messageany one of these considered a "sext"and more than 30% reported receiving a sext.

Additional, sexts were often shared with unintended recipients, and one-third of the youths reported sharing or receiving sexts that were meant to be private.

"In the relatively new discipline of cyberpsychology, we seek to explore the many challenges of current behavior that social networking potentiates. Certainly, such research enables us to better prepare for the behavioral changes that advances in Internet technology will continue to bring," says Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCIA, Editor-in-Chief of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, from the Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, CA.

###

About the Journal

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking is a peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with Open Access options and in print that explores the psychological and social issues surrounding the Internet and interactive technologies, plus cybertherapy and rehabilitation. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Games for Health Journal, Telemedicine and e-Health, and Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-02/mali-hci022813.php

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Samsung ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T (XE700T1C-A01US)


The Samsung ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T traces its roots back to the Samsung Series 7 Slate (700T1A), one of the earliest slate PCs in the iPad-inspired wave of tablets with laptop components. This new version adopts the ATIV SmartPC name, and adds a docking keyboard for laptop functionality, but the detachable tablet has all the traits of its predecessor, with Intel Core i5 processing, Windows 8, and a healthy collection of features.

Design
The ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T is a Windows 8 tablet with a design in the same group of devices as the Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro or the Acer Iconia W700-6465, packing laptop components into a detachable tablet. This stands in contrast to cheaper Atom-powered tablets like the HP Envy X2 (11-g012nr), which offer a laptop-like form factor, but a limited 32-bit version of Windows 8 with less processing power overall.

Unlike other docking tablets, the ATIV SmartPC has no secondary battery in the docking keyboard, meaning that using the keyboard will not lengthen the usable life of the tablet. Despite the lack of a second battery, the keyboard is weighted to alleviate some of the balance issues seen in dockable tablet designs, and it also boasts a full-size chiclet keyboard and touchpad. With the tablet docked, you'll be able to work on the ATIV Smart PC as easily as on a regular laptop.

The tablet alone measures 0.5 by 11.6 by 7.2 inches (HWD) and weighs a reasonable 1.9 pounds. Add the docking keyboard and the thickness doubles to a full inch, and adds more than a pound and a half of weight (for a total weight of 3.5 pounds). The 11.6-inch screen has 10-finger touch support and compatibility with Samsung's included S-Pen digital stylus. It sports a 1,920-by-1,080 resolution similar to the Sony VAIO Duo 11 (D11213CX). It also has backlighting, with up to 400-nit brightness for visibility and use in direct light or out in sunlight. Two built-in speakers offer stereo sound, but the sound they produce is thin and wimpy. For the most part, you'll want to use the tablet with headphones.

Features
The ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T may not offer the selection of ports and connections you'd expect on a full-fledged laptop, but it's par for the course for detachable tablets. It's equipped with one full-size USB 3.0 port, a headset jack, a microSD card slot, and micro HDMI port. For network connectivity, the internal 802.11n Wi-Fi should do the trick without a hiccup. Bluetooth 4.0 is available for pairing peripherals wirelessly, and WiDi (Wireless DIsplay) lets you stream HD video to any TV through a WiDi adapter, like the Belkin ScreenCast. On the docking keyboard, you'll find two additional USB ports (of the 2.0 variety), bringing the total number of accessible ports to three.

The tablet features front- and back-facing cameras, with a 2.0 megapixel webcam in front for Skype or similar video chat, and a 5.0 megapixel camera in back for snapping photos or shooting video. A 128GB solid-state drive (SSD) provides speedy performance, with 60GB free for storage.

In addition to the standard preinstalled software you'll find on most Windows 8 laptops and tablets?Microsoft Office starter 2010 and Skype, but also Evernote, Netflix, and Amazon Kindle Reader?you'll also get a 30-day trial of Norton Internet Security and Online Backup, the touch-friendly Fresh Paint, Music Maker Jam, Jamie Oliver's Recipes, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and Plants vs. Zombies. Samsung also offers several proprietary apps, many carried over from the Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab products, such as S Note and Mini S Note, S Camera, S Gallery, S Player, and the Samsung Signature Store. Samsung also offers a customer service app, and covers the ATIV SMart PC Pro 700T with a one-year warranty on parts and labor.

Performance
Samsung ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T (XE700T1C-A01US) The ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T has the potent combination of a dual-core Intel Core i5-3317U paired with 4GB of RAM, with an added performance boost from the 128GB SSD. This resulted in performance that's on par with mainstream ultrabooks. The ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T's PCMark 7 score of 4,471 points is in line with the Acer W500 (4,496 points), though it does fall slightly behind the Microsoft Surface Pro (4,768 points) and the Sony Duo 11 (4,648 points). The difference is stark, however, when compared to the Atom-powered tablets like the HP Envy X2, which scored only 1,429 points. In Cinebench, the performance was again nearly identical to other Core i5-equipped systems, with a score of 2.38 points.

Samsung ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T (XE700T1C-A01US)

Likewise, the ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T made quick work of our multimedia tests, completing the Handbrake video test in 1 minute 30 seconds?falling neatly between the Acer W500 (1:43) and Sony Duo 11 (1:25). It also finished Photoshop in a respectable 6 minutes 20 seconds. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 won't get you very far with games like Skyrim, but the included Plants vs. Zombies should run just fine, and you could probably run Team Fortress 2 or Civilization V on it without much difficulty.

The ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T lasted 5 hours 12 minutes our battery rundown test, and convertible laptops, like the Microsoft Surface Pro and Acer Iconia W700-6465, produced slightly better scores (5:28 and 6:34, respectively). Smaller tablets usually last longer, like the HP Envy X2 (7:08 alone, 12:34 with the secondary battery) thanks to the use of small low-powered Atom processors designed for netbooks and tablets.

In terms of performance and battery-life, the Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T is similar to our current Editors' Choice, the Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro, though the Surface Pro stays our top pick for its innovative design. As a follow-up to the Series 7 Slate (700T1A), the ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T is more than capable, replacing a desktop dock with a laptop-style docking keyboard that lets you take your productivity on the road, and offering a combination of performance and battery life that's hard to ignore.

BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS:

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Samsung ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T (XE700T1C-A01US) with several other products side by side.

More laptop reviews:
??? Samsung ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T (XE700T1C-A01US)
??? Dell Latitude 6430u
??? HP EliteBook 2170p
??? Asus Zenbook Prime Touch UX31A-BHI5T
??? Toshiba Satellite C875-S7340
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/PpMDmSXgyaE/0,2817,2416024,00.asp

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Nick Lachey swaps boy band for fatherhood in lullaby album

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer Nick Lachey, a member of U.S. group 98 Degrees, has swapped his boy band heartthrob status to embrace fatherhood in a new album of lullabies dedicated to his baby son.

On the cover of "A Father's Lullaby," Lachey, 39, is pictured cuddling his son Camden, who was born in September 2012.

"When I first learned that I was going to be a father, I was inspired to create a special tribute to my son," Lachey said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Creating this album allowed me to further connect with Camden while also sharing the experience with families who are on a similar journey of welcoming a new life into their world," he added.

The 12-track album, released in partnership with toy brand Fisher-Price, includes four original songs by the singer, such as title track "Father's Lullaby" and "Sleepy Eyes."

"A Father's Lullaby" will be available to download on iTunes and Amazon from March 13, and in stores in April.

Camden is the first child for Lachey and wife Vanessa, who married in July 2011. Lachey was previously married to singer Jessica Simpson from 2002 until their divorce in 2005.

Lachey rose to fame in the 1990s with his brother Drew and members Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timmons in boy band 98 Degrees, who were known for top 40 pop chart hits including "True to Your Heart" and "Thank God I Found You."

The band went on a hiatus in 2002 and Lachey married Simpson. The couple appeared in their own MTV reality series "Newlyweds."

Lachey, who recorded two solo albums during the band's hiatus, reunited with his band mates last year and 98 Degrees announced a new album and tour.

Their upcoming fourth studio record "2.0" is set to be released in May. The band will be joining fellow 1990s boy bands New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men on a North American summer tour.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Patricia Reaney and Eric Walsh)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nick-lachey-swaps-boy-band-fatherhood-lullaby-album-210905275.html

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Director, Communications #159-13 - Job Listing - American Public ...

Position Summary:

The Director will be responsible for developing, integrating and executing strategic communications for American Public Media including Minnesota Public Radio, both internally and externally. The Director is responsible for supervising communications staff, serving as the key spokesperson and media contact, issues and crisis management and day-to-day operations. The Director will develop and execute innovative marketing communication strategies that generate earned media to enhance the awareness and reputation of the company leveraging internal, and as needed external resources. The Director functions in a complex structure, collaborating with numerous externally facing groups for consistent messaging. The Director will lead, manage and support communications staff.

Position Responsibility:

Communications
? Create deep relationships with media and drive high visibility for APM, APM national programs and MPR regional services.
? Develop and implement strategic communications plans for APM, Regional Services as well as an internal communications plan.
? Oversee the organization?s public relations activities including the development of all print and digital publicity materials.
? Serve as the company spokesperson as needed.
? Oversee crisis/issues communication activities.
? Develop and maintain positive relationships with news media.
? Remain current on media trends; leverage digital and social media on the organization?s behalf ? internally and externally.
? Champion and train staff organization-wide to using social media for engagement.
? Work with senior leaders to develop communications systems and protocols to present an accurate picture to the various audiences served and the plans that support the company?s strategic goals.
? Serve as key liaison on organization-wide messages for external communications.
? Ensure adherence to established communication guidelines for all programs and services.
? Manage the Communication budget.
? Manage and mentor staff of two-three communication/publicity managers.

General Leadership Functions
? Create strong relationships with internal partners, working with senior management, producers, development, underwriting, research, community engagement, public affairs & government relations, human resources and other key constituents.
? Hire, supervise, train and manage develop staff through coaching, mentorship, performance meetings and on-going feedback. Foster a creative and productive work environment.
? Create development opportunities and individualized development plans for staff and training to enhance skills and foster growth.
? Work closely with content leads to execute goals and objectives of corporate business plans.
? Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

? Bachelor?s degree in Communications, Journalism or Business.
? 10+ years experience and expertise performing public relations and experience in communications and strategic planning.
? Management experience - must demonstrate an ability to teach, inspire and lead staff.
? Experience managing budgets and meeting financial goals and key business objectives.
? Demonstrated experience in digital earned and social media.

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

? High level communicator; strong communication, presentation and writing skills.
? Demonstrate expertise in a variety of communication concepts, practices and procedures in traditional as well as digital and social media
? Proven ability to maximize earned media opportunities for the benefit of the company.
? Able to rely on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
? Possess a strong portfolio of media contacts, proven track record of ability to build media relationships on a national level.
? Ability to be persistent, persuasive and function in an ambiguous environment.
? Financial skills and ability to prepare budgets and manage expenses.
? Leadership and personnel skills and ability to recruit, develop and motivate staff and develop high performing teams as well as proficiency in working in a cross-functional environment.
? Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
? Business acumen with knowledge of how businesses work, both externally and internally.
? Understanding of key business drivers, financials, organizational structures and systems, how to align areas of responsibility to achieve goals.
? Flexible has ability to easily adapt to change.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

? Combined 15 years Communications experience at the national program level

Reporting To This Position:

? Up to three communications staff

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

? Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
? May require some travel (nationally) and occasional evening and weekend work.
? Physical Demands:
o Required to move about in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time
o Required to move about in the community
o Frequent use of hands for data entry/keystrokes and simple grasping.
? Working Conditions:
o Moderate noise level
o Occasional exposure to prevalent weather conditions.

Source: http://americanpublicmedia.iapplicants.com/ViewJob-410037.html

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Pediatricians Urged To Treat Ear Infections More Cautiously

Giancario Gemignani-Hernandez, 2, of Pittsburgh, has his ear examined by Dr. Alejandro Hoberman.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Giancario Gemignani-Hernandez, 2, of Pittsburgh, has his ear examined by Dr. Alejandro Hoberman.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Hoping to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, the American Academy of Pediatrics Monday issued new guidelines for how doctors should diagnose and treat ear infections.

Every year, millions of parents take their children to the pediatrician for ear infections, and most of them end up going home with antibiotics. In fact, ear infections are one of the most common reasons kids see doctors and the leading reason kids get antibiotics.

"Parents, if their child is up all night screaming and tugging the ear, they want something to make the child feel better," says Richard Rosenfeld of the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, who helped write the new guidelines.

But about 70 percent of children get better on their own within two or three days, and about 80 percent are better within a week to 10 days, he says.

And he says there are some real downsides to using antibiotics when they're not necessary: They can cause upset stomachs, allergic reactions and other problems. And they can contribute to the development of superbugs ? infections that are getting harder and harder to cure.

"The bacteria that do survive the antibiotic get tough and next time you get an ear infection or any other type of infection they're harder to manage," Rosenfeld says.

The first thing the new guidelines say is: Make sure the child really has an ear infection.

"There are dozens of reasons an ear can hurt," Rosenfeld says. "In this guideline we say, 'Listen, if you're not sure of the diagnosis, don't even think about giving an antibiotic. Please, don't even think about it.' "

The only way to know for sure is to take a close look at the ear drum and see if it is clearly bulging.

"If it's pushed outwards ? looks like it wants to pop ? that is a very, very accurate sign of an ear infection," Rosenfeld says.

But even kids who really do have ear infections don't necessarily need antibiotics. The guidelines say doctors have the option of just watching kids who don't have intense pain, a high fever or other symptoms of a severe infection.

"You don't have to freak out as a parent. [Ear infections] tend to go away on their own quite often with just some pain medicine," Rosenfeld says.

But there are some kids who definitely should get antibiotics, such as those ages 6 months to 2 years who have infections in both ears or any child who has severe symptoms, such as severe pain for several days and a fever of at least 102.2 degrees. Any child who has a ruptured ear drum should also get antibiotics, according to the guidelines.

"If you have a severe infection, no point discussing it further. Those children are going to get antibiotics. And the reason is they'll get the most benefit," Rosenfeld says.

Other experts praised the guidelines. But some worry they might make some doctors a little too hesitant to use antibiotics.

"When the diagnosis is correct, then antibiotic treatment is never wrong," says Beth Wald of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison. "Kids tend to recover more often and they recover more quickly if they're treated appropriately with antibiotics."

That's especially important for working parents, Wald notes.

"We live in a society where there is so much pressure for both parents to be working outside the home and it's just complicated when our child is sick. Besides which, there's always parental anxiety and concern when their child is sick," she says.

Rosenfeld stresses that doctors are free to figure out the best way to treat each child. In many cases, they can give parents a "safety net" or "wait-and-see" prescription and say:

"Hold on to this antibiotic. Give some pain medicine the first day or two. And if they're not better after two days, then we do want you to let us know and start the antibiotic," Rosenfeld says. "But if they are better, just throw it out and they'll do fine.'"

The new guidelines also recommend ways parents can protect their kids from ear infections in the first place, such as by breast feeding and keeping them away from cigarette smoke.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/02/25/172588359/pediatricians-urged-to-treat-ear-infections-more-cautiously?ft=1&f=1007

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Nokia Siemens Networks aims for No.2 slot in U.S. market

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Nokia-Siemens Networks is mounting an expansion drive in North America where the world's third-largest telecom equipment maker believes a spate of deal-making among mobile carriers will play out in its favor.

Chief Executive Rajeev Suri said deals by Japan's Softbank to buy 70 percent of Sprint Nextel Corp for $20 billion, and Deutsche Telekom's purchase of MetroPCS was an opportunity for NSN to grab new U.S. business.

"It's a long game. We have gotten from number 5 to number 3 in past few years, and now we will go target number 2," Suri said in an interview at Mobile World Congress.

NSN may soon see its ownership change because a 6-year old shareholder pact between partners Nokia and Siemens expires on April 1.

The German group is eager to exit but Nokia's priority is its handset business so it is unlikely to buy out Siemens.

Suri said it was not likely that Siemens and Nokia would reach a decision on the shareholder pact at its expiry date, but said the issue had no impact on the business.

"You have to ask them what they want to do," he said.

Nokia and Siemens declined to comment.

RECOVERY MODE

The company is much healthier than it was a year ago after a restructuring which included a cull of staff from 75,000 to 58,000 and sale of non-core assets. Operating and gross margins rose last year, and NSN actually contributed to co-parent Nokia's cash flow instead of being a drain.

In the U.S. market, Suri said Softbank's arrival could work to NSN's advantage because NSN could capitalize on its strong supplier relationship with Softbank in Japan to win more contracts at Sprint and Clearwire, which Sprint is in the process of buying.

When operators merge, they often rationalize their network gear suppliers so as to cut costs, putting contracts in play.

At T-Mobile, NSN and Ericsson are the primary suppliers of mobile gear, while at MetroPCS it's Ericsson and Samsung.

"I think they will consolidate suppliers," said Suri, opening up an opportunity for NSN to displace Samsung.

GLOBAL TOP THREE

The group's renewed vigor in the United States - sales in North America rose 20 percent last year to 1.294 billion euros - could increase pressure on loss-making Alcatel-Lucent, the second-biggest network gear supplier in the U.S. market after Ericsson.

Suri is confident that NSN can cope with the fierce competition and stagnant spending by global telecom operators.

"I still believe the global market only has room for three long-term profitable companies that can thrive over the next few years," he said.

Few dispute that Ericsson and China's Huawei will be the top two, with NSN and Alcatel-Lucent vying for the third spot.

Suri said there might not be enough M&A to reduce the number of players and that some might just limp along not making money but still staying in the business.

"The strong are getting stronger and the weak are getting weaker," he said.

"Just look at LTE (4G) contracts being awarded in India, Russia, Japan, and elsewhere: the same players win."

Market research Dell'Oro said Ericsson earned $761.30 million in LTE radio access revenue in the fourth quarter, while NSN got $451.40 million. Huawei's share stood at $428.80 million, Alcatel-Lucent's $295.90 million, and Samsung's $132.10 million.

(Additional reporting by Arno Scheutze, Jens Hack, Ritsuko Ando. Editing by Jane Merriman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nokia-siemens-networks-aims-no-2-slot-u-182009953--finance.html

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Renesas announces big.LITTLE mobile processor with next-gen PowerVR Series6 graphics

Renesas announces bigLITTLE mobile processor with nextgen PowerVR Series6 graphics

If Samsung likes an open playing field, it'll not be best pleased by this latest announcement from Japanese chip maker Renesas. Uncannily named the "APE6", it directly copies the same big.LITTLE design of ARM cores found in Sammy's Exynos Octa. The are four Cortex-A15s paired with the same number of Cortex-A7s, allowing a phone or tablet to switch between the two quad-core configurations depending on its workload. Interestingly, whereas the Exynos Octa's GPU has been rumored to contain a last-gen PowerVR Series5 GPU similar to that found in the iPad and PS Vita, the APE6 will come with a more future proof Series6 "Rogue" design. We've already spent some time with this GPU and it'll be a good day when we can finally try it out in a finished device and stack it up against a rival bearing Samsung internals.

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Source: Imagination Technologies

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/S5f851jRNxI/

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Government objects to French firm's attempt to trademark 'rooibos'

?The department of trade and industry?together with the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, has raised its objection with the French Embassy in South Africa as?well?as with the European Commission Delegation in Pretoria. These engagements will be further intensified to seek an acceptable resolution to the matter,? the department said in a statement on Thursday.

The?Business Day?reported?earlier this month that the ?rooibos industry is fighting to protect its intellectual property after a French company applied to?register?a number of trademarks incorporating the terms ?South African Rooibos? and ?Rooibos? last year.

The report added?if?the company was?successful??it would own the exclusive rights to the names of any rooibos products sold in France, a key market in the European Union, which is the biggest export market for rooibos?.

In a response, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies on Thursday said, ?The [department]?stands ready to defend South Africa?s trade and intellectual property interests vigorously. However, the issues in this particular matter will require an urgent assessment of the legal options to strengthen protection of the Rooibos name in South Africa.

This is not the first time a?foreign?firm has attempted to capture the intellectual property associated with Rooibos. As in the 2005 case that took place in the United States, the [department] will support the local industry to protect our mutual trade and economic interests.?

Staple in SA

?As all South Africans know, Rooibos tea is made from the leaves of a unique shrub, indigenous only to South Africa. In addition, a number of Rooibos products in South Africa are already protected by South Africa?s domestic trademark legislation. The registration of such a trademark in France could have a significant negative impact on South Africa?s exports of Rooibos products to France, and the [department]?is co-operating with the local Rooibos industry to ensure that South Africa?s trade interests are not unfairly compromised,? the department said.

A staple tea in many homes in South Africa, the health benefits of rooibos, long part of South African cultural lore, are only beginning to be properly verified through rapidly growing scientific research,?reported the?Mail & Guardian?last year.

The tea, which is closer to a herbal infusion known as a tisane, has been linked to the prevention of certain types of cancer as well as heart disease. It grows in hardy bushes amid the Cape?s uniquely diverse fynbos floral kingdom.

Source: http://mg.co.za/article/2013-02-22-dti-objects-to-french-firms-attempt-to-trademark-rooibos

Source: http://www.tralac.org/2013/02/25/government-objects-to-french-firms-attempt-to-trademark-rooibos/

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Monday, February 25, 2013

PFT: Jets want Holmes to restructure deal

350x-1AP

Last year, the NFL stripped $36 million in cap space from the Redskins, who along with the Cowboys apparently took the term ?uncapped year? too literally in 2010.

In response, the Redskins employed half-measures to recover the cap dollars, filing a grievance under the labor deal that did nothing other than stir up a cockeyed collusion claim from the NFLPA.

This year, with half of the penalty due to hit the 2013 salary cap, the Redskins could be opting for a more complete assault on the league?s position.? Or at least threatening it.

According to Mark Maske and Mike Jones of the Washington Post, the Redskins are spreading the word in Indianapolis that they?re considering legal action aimed at delaying the start of free agency while litigation proceeds regarding the question of whether the Redskins? legal rights were violated.? The Redskins are telling agents that any contract talks will be delayed until the situation is resolved.

If the Redskins proceed, it would be a big deal.? And if they delay the start of free agency until their claims are resolved, it would be a huge deal.

We addressed the situation a couple of weeks ago, reporting that the Redskins were still upset about the situation but explaining that their options are limited.? They could bebluffing about going to court in order to get, for example, half of their cap money back (i.e., the $18 million that would apply to this year?s cap).? But the NFL could choose to call their bluff and go to court.

Either way, Daniel Snyder could be inching toward ground previously occupied by the late Al Davis:? Snyder could soon be suing his partners.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/25/report-jets-want-holmes-to-restructure/related/

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Egypt's Morsi calls for dialogue on elections

CAIRO (AP) ? Egypt's Islamist president has invited political forces to join him in a dialogue to find ways to ensure the "integrity and transparency" of upcoming parliamentary elections.

Speaking in a television interview, Mohammed Morsi also rejected opposition charges that the elections he called for April were ill timed given the wave of unrest roiling the country.

"I see that the climate is very agreeable for an election," he said.

Morsi used the interview, recorded on Sunday but aired early Monday 5 ? hours behind schedule, to try and improve his standing nearly eight months into his four-year term.

He repeatedly declared that he was a "president for all Egyptians," claimed he had no quarrel with any of the nation's political forces and reasserted his respect and confidence in the military.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-morsi-calls-dialogue-elections-013943925.html

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Virtual GameBoy v3.7.5 for Android

EmuCR: Virtual GameBoyVirtual GameBoy v3.7.5 for Android is released. Virtual GameBoy is a program that emulates the Nintendo GameBoy handheld on your computer. It runs GameBoy, Super GameBoy, and GameBoy Color games on PCs, Macs, PocketPCs, Unix boxes, etc. VGB also helps debugging GameBoy software without using a costly development system.

VGB emulates GameBoy handheld game consoles and their accessories. It will run GameBoy, GameBoy Pocket, GameBoy Color, and Super GameBoy games on your Android phone or tablet. VGB also supports the Pocket Printer, GameGenie cheat codes, and more. Please notice that VGB will not play GameBoy Advance games: you will need VGBA for that.

VGB package itself does not contain any games. You should place your own game files onto the SD card before running VGB.

Please, do not run any software you do not own with VGB. The author cannot and will not tell you where to find free GameBoy games.


Virtual GameBoy v3.7.5 for Android Changelog:
* Optimized File Selector to show large directories faster and without crashing.
* Now showing more file information when there is no screenshot.
* Fixed alphabetical index in the File Selector.
* Added Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening to the Cheatopedia.
* Added Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX to the Cheatopedia.

EmuCR: Virtual GameBoy
EmuCR: Virtual GameBoy
EmuCR: Virtual GameBoy

Download: Virtual GameBoy v3.7.5 for Android
Source: Here

Source: http://www.emucr.com/2013/02/virtual-gameboy-v375-for-android.html

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Exclusive: Corporate victims of Chinese hackers speak out

By Anna Schecter
Rock Center

This article was originally published on Oct. 11 and was updated on Feb. 22, as more information became available.

UPDATE:?In a new report released this week, cyber-security firm, Mandiant, pinpointed exactly where some of the most sophisticated hackers in China are working ? in or around a building that serves as a Chinese military unit's headquarters on the outskirts of Shanghai.

This elite group of hackers has been dubbed the "Shanghai Group." They've struck 141 times since 2006 across all sectors of the U.S. economy.? This is the first time such a group has been tracked right to the doorstep of the People's Liberation Army.

Two major United States newspapers, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, reported earlier this year that their computer systems have been repeatedly targeted by hackers based in China for the past several months.

The New York Times said the attacks, which began in mid-September, were in response to a Times investigation of the relatives and family of China?s Premier Wen Jiabao. The Wall Street Journal simply stated that the infiltration was "for the apparent purpose of monitoring the newspaper's China coverage."

This is not the first time cyber-attacks originating from China have been in the national spotlight. According to current and former intelligence officials at the highest levels of government, the Chinese have playing dirty in the international spy game for years.

?This is stealing American wealth.? It's stealing American jobs.? It's stealing American competitive advantage,? General Michael Hayden, former head of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, said in an interview with NBC News.

Hayden?s comment was echoed by a?House Intelligence Committee report?released on October 8, 2012 warning that two Chinese telecommunications companies, Huawei and ZTE, could be funneling sensitive information back to Beijing, and cautioned American carriers to avoid doing business with them.

Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., told NBC News that the Chinese have targeted every sector of the American economy.

?Everything you can possibly imagine we have seen the Chinese make a concerted effort to steal that information and use it for their own economic advantage,? he said.

That includes blueprints for the next generation of auto parts, formulas for pesticides and pharmaceuticals, and other information that makes American companies competitive in the global marketplace.

Though the United States limits its espionage to national security interests, intelligence officials said, China has launched a well-organized campaign to steal American corporate secrets via the Internet.

?I know states steal secrets.?Our states steal secrets.?And we're actually pretty good at it.? But we self-limit.? We steal things that are valuable and useful for your security, for your liberty and for your safety,? Hayden said.

One of the first to find himself on the front lines of the economic cyber war with China at the corporate level was Brian Shields. He was a computer security specialist for Nortel, a giant Canadian telecommunications company.


A success story from the early Internet age, Nortel made cell phone and computer network equipment. At its height, the company employed 20,000 people in the U.S.

Shields said he first got wind of the Chinese in Nortel?s network in 2004.? An employee working in highly technical research and development saw some curious activity on a computer server.? His documents were being downloaded apparently by a senior executive named Brian McFadden, who worked in a completely different department.

Shields said McFadden had not downloaded anything.? Instead, someone had hacked into the computer network using McFadden?s stolen password. Shields said he discovered that seven passwords had been stolen, including that of then CEO Frank Dunn.

Though Shields could never determine who the individual hacker was, he was able to track the activity to servers in Shanghai and Hangzhou, China.

In total more than 1,400 documents were stolen including product designs and valuable customer information, according to Shields.

?They could know what companies we're buying, how much. They could know where we saw our future product. They could know where we saw our profitability,? he said.

After the attack, Shields said he watched his company steadily lose business, while a competitor, Huawei, began to grow.? Nortel went bankrupt in 2009, while Huawei has become one of the world?s premiere telecommunications companies. Shields said he believes Nortel went under as a result of spying by companies like Huawei.?

Most industry insiders say that Nortel was a victim of bad business decisions coupled with the burst of the Internet bubble.

A spokeswoman for Nortel said the company responded appropriately to the 2004 attacks and ?found no evidence of wide spread security issues.?

Huawei has denied stealing from Nortel or any other company. In a statement emailed to NBC News, the spokeswoman said the company has "the highest respect for the intellectual property of others."

In response to October 8th's House Intelligence Committee report, a Huawei spokesman said the accusations were based on rumors. The company defended its record as a member of the Fortune 500 list of the largest companies in the world.

?For the past 25 years, we have held an upstanding record?We have been emphasizing that Huawei is committed to cooperating transparently with any and all government agencies who wish to carry out an open and impartial dialogue about our company and the products and services that have made us successful internationally,? read a Huawei statement responding to the report.

Huawei has already sold equipment to a dozen small carriers in the U.S.

The Huawei spokesman said company is a ?partner to the U.S. high-tech industry? and ?helps create jobs in the U.S.?

ZTE?released a statement?saying that the company is China?s ?most transparent, independent, globally focused, publicly traded telecom company.?

Click here to read a full response from Huawei

In response to this story, China?s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei denied stealing from any corporations, adding that last year the Chinese helped international agencies address hundreds of cyber-attacks.?? He said the Mandiant report linking attacks to the Chinese military was ?unfounded? and ?unprofessional.?

?China is also a victim of cyber-attacks, and we take a firm stance on continuously playing an active role in international cooperation,? Hong Lei told NBC News.

But top American brass said they are exasperated by China?s efforts to portray themselves as victims. Hayden said it is time to hold China accountable.

?Don't treat me like a child.? We know what you're doing.? We have good evidence with regard to what you're doing.? And if you continue to do what you do actions will have consequences,? said Hayden.

Rogers advocated that the White House make Chinese cyber espionage the number one issue in bilateral relations with China.

?They do respond to embarrassment.? And we ought to embarrass them for being thieves of the research and development of the United States of America.?

Source: http://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/22/17058583-exclusive-corporate-victims-of-chinese-hackers-speak-out?lite

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Saturday, February 23, 2013

Philippines Takes New Aim At China

?

After a year of failed multilateralism and bilateral brinkmanship, the Philippines has abandoned hope of pressing China into a compromise on territorial disputes in the South China Sea. While Manila?s recent decision to submit its case for United Nations mediation ups the diplomatic ante, Beijing?s out-of-hand rejection of the move indicates tensions could rise before they wane.

After a year of diplomatic deadlock at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) under the chairmanship of Cambodia, one of China?s staunchest regional allies, few expect a swift and decisive multilateral resolution under Brunei?s more neutral leadership in 2013 considering the significant divisions that have opened inside the 10-member grouping.

Based on the proceedings and outcomes of regional summits and gatherings held last year, Manila has come to realize the extent to which China is willing to use its multiple levers of influence to thwart any efforts at forging a unified regional response to the maritime disputes. Beijing has consistently insisted that the disputes should be settled exclusively through bilateral mechanisms.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-210213.html

By Richard Javad?Heydarian
Asia Times

At the same time, the economic stakes driving the disputes are rising. The US Energy Information Administration?s (EIA) recently estimated that the South China Sea could hold as much as 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in proven and probable reserves. The EIA also projected significant undiscovered hydrocarbon deposits in the Spratly islands, specifically around the contested Reed Bank. [2]

If true, huge untapped oil and gas deposits within the Philippines? Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) would represent an economic boon. The Philippine economy is currently only 60% energy self-sufficient, with the 40% shortfall covered by oil and coal imports from neighboring and Middle Eastern countries. [3]


Yet China?s rising assertiveness and increasing willingness to challenge Japan and the United States ? both Philippine strategic allies ? indicates to some analysts that China has designs on securing that potential energy bonanza for its own economic and energy security. Chinese and Philippine vessels skirmished around Reed Bank in March 2011, signaling Beijing?s willingness to use limited coercion in disputes where energy resources are at stake.

China?s showdown with Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyu?islands in the East China Sea and its People?s Liberation Army?s (PLA) alleged role in recent cyber attacks against US targets [4] has by association stirred anxieties in the Philippines. Manila maintains strategic partnerships with both Tokyo and Washington, ties that President Benigno Aquino is bidding to deepen to close its yawning defense gap with China.

Aquino?s government has recently prodded the two powers to provide an extensive package of military aid, training and advanced hardware. The Philippines has effectively joined in a budding regional arms race through its pursuit, both through direct purchase and foreign military aid, of fighter jets, anti-ship missiles, patrol boats and naval helicopters to bolster its South China Sea claims.

Still, the Philippines has no intention of going head-to-head with its giant neighbor any time soon. Instead, Manila?s has adopted a two-pronged strategy that aims to deter further Chinese aggression by internationalizing the disputes through the United Nations while strengthening its defensive capabilities through deepened ties with powerful allies.

High stakes
While the Philippines has not been prone to the nationalistic outbursts seen in some neighboring countries, including China, Japan and Vietnam, Aquino?s administration increasingly views its territorial disputes through a lens of national pride, geostrategic interest and domestic calculation. After decades of negligence and strategic hibernation, Manila has awoken to the depth of its national interests in the South China Sea.

This recognition comes amid a discernable national mood swing. The Philippines is now among the world?s 10 fastest growing economies, with gross domestic product expected to grow by over 6% this year. Decades of political paralysis and endemic corruption have simultaneously galvanized civil society and youth groups, with many energized by Aquino?s promise of political change.

Faced with those fast rising popular expectations, Aquino?s government has astutely tapped into this grass roots dynamic. At the same time, a rising sense of national pride has put an even higher political and economic premium on securing the potential wealth of energy resources in the contested territories the Philippines claims in the South China Sea.

According to the most recent EIA report:

?The majority of current reserves exist in shallow water basins on the boundaries of the sea ? however, the Spratly?Island territory may contain significant deposits of undiscovered hydrocarbons?The US Geological Survey estimates anywhere between 0.8 and 5.4 (mean 2.5) billion barrels of oil and between 7.6 and 55.1 (mean 25.5) trillion cubic feet of natural gas in undiscovered resources. Evidence suggests that most of these resources are likely located in the contested Reed Bank at the northeast end of the Spratlys, which is claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.? [5]

The Philippines has sought to explore and develop hydrocarbon resources around the Reed Bank since first discovering natural gas there in 1976. The US-based Sterling Energy and UK-based Forum Energy won exploration concessions for the area from Manila in 2002 and 2005 respectively. [6] However, the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration bowed to Chinese pressure and suspended exploration concessions granted to foreign interests in the area. She opted instead for joint exploration with Beijing and Hanoi under the 2006 Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) in the disputed area.

By standing up to China in defense of sovereign claims, the Aquino government aims not only to boost its domestic popularity but also avoid criticism from millions of politically active and increasingly nationalistic netizens. His government?s policy stands in stark contrast with the Arroyo administration, which was widely viewed as subservient to China and tainted by corruption-ridden bilateral business deals.

Carrots and sticks
The Aquino administration has implemented a sometimes contradictory strategy by encouraging both a revitalized US military presence in the region while also attempting to appease China through diplomatic overtures. The strategy has been predicated on the assumption that a delicate combination of deterrence and diplomacy will neutralize Beijing?s expansive territorial claims.

However, Manila may have failed to fully appreciate the significance of China?s rising tide of popular nationalism, territorial assertiveness, and aggressive naval expansionism. Contrary to Philippine expectations, neither rising economic interdependence between China and Southeast Asia nor China?s leadership transition from Hu Jintao?to Xi Jinping has calmed Beijing?s territorial assertiveness.

Manila also failed to anticipate China?s anxiety about growing military cooperation between the US and regional allies and strategic partners such as the Philippines. That cooperation and occasional tough talk from Washington on freedom of navigation issues in the South China Sea has indirectly emboldened the Philippines and Vietnam to push their claims vis-a-vis China.

Just days after former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton expressed her country?s opposition to any ?unilateral actions that would seek to undermine Japanese administration? of the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, the Philippines took its South China Sea claims against China to UN arbitration. In the previous month, Vietnam?s new Law of the Sea took effect, which, among other things, emphasized the primacy of international law in deciding territorial disputes.

The Philippines is well aware that China will refuse to submit its claim of ?indisputable sovereignty? to any international arbitration panel. Indeed, there is no guarantee that international arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) will result in a decisive resolution of the disputes.

In this sense, the Philippine decision to internationalize the dispute should be viewed as a move to exert further pressure on Beijing by emphasizing to the international community the perceived unilateral and provocative character of China?s territorial claims. That includes China?s controversial ?nine-dash line? map, which covers practically all features in the disputed waters.

In addition to a number of European parliamentarians, [7] top US officials such as the newly-installed Secretary of State John Kerry [8] have already expressed their support for the Philippines? decision to resolve the disputes through international law.

The other stick in Manila?s new strategy is a military build-up. In 2012, Aquino sought an additional US$1.8 billion in defense spending, primarily to refurbish the country?s armed forces through the acquisition of ten attack helicopters, two naval helicopters, two light aircraft, one frigate and air force protection equipment. [9] His government also extended the 1995 Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act, which promises 15 additional years of sustained investment in the country?s defense capabilities. [10]

In that direction, the Philippines is set to acquire 12 FA-50 fighter jets from Korea [11], three AW109 Power light twin helicopters [12], two anti-submarine choppers, [13] the US?s high endurance cutter USCGC Dallas?[14], and possibly Harpoon anti-ship missile systems for its flagship BRP?Del Pilar and BRP?Alcaraz vessels. [15]

F-50 Fighter (South Korea)
Japan and the US have also backed the Philippines? bid to develop a ?minimum deterrence? capability vis-a-vis China. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is now finalizing his country?s first major military aid package in recent history, with the Philippines set to be its biggest beneficiary. The Philippine Coast Guard is set to acquire from Japan next year 10 new 40-meter multi-role response vessels through a soft loan grant. [16]

In addition to tripling its military aid to the Philippines in 2012, the US has stepped up its military presence in the country through more rotational visits of its warships, nuclear submarines and military personnel ? a trend that is expected to rise in the coming years in light of the US?s announced ?pivot? towards Asia. [17]

As Brunei assumes the chairmanship of ASEAN, the Philippines? strategy is to use new sticks to convince China to take the carrot of a multilateral dispute-settlement mechanism, specifically the adoption of a legally-binding code of conduct for the South China Sea.

Judging by China?s defiant reaction to the Philippines? petition for UN arbitration in their disputes, there is a risk instead that Beijing views Manila?s new two-way strategy as more stick than carrot and responds with reciprocal hard measures.

Notes:
1. China insists again on bilateral talks on South China Sea dispute with PHL, GMA News, Feb 20
2. See here
3. See here
4. Chinese Army Unit Is Seen as Tied to Hacking Against US, New York Times, Feb 18
5. See here
6. Ibid.
7. EU solons back rules-based resolution to PH-China row, Journal Online, Feb 17
8. Kerry backs PH position to solve sea disputes under int?l law, Inquirer Global , Feb 14
9. See Philippine Defense Spending, GlobalSecurity.org
10. Aquino signs revised AFP Modernization Act, Philippine Star, December 11, 2012
11. Philippines to buy 12 fighter jets from South Korea, February 2, 2013
12. Philippines To Buy Three Naval Helicopters, Agence?France Presse, Dec 27, 2012
13. Military to buy 2 anti-submarine choppers, Philippine Star, November 19, 2012
14. 2nd warship?s arrival delayed, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dec 3
15. AFP Eyeing Anti-Ship Missiles, Manila Bulletin, Feb 18, 2013
16. Japan grants PH ?soft loan? for 10 patrol boats, Manila Standard, Feb 14, 2013
17. Philippines eyes greater US military presence, Agence?France Presse, Oct 10, 2012

Richard Javad?Heydarian is a foreign affairs analyst focusing on Iran and international security. He is the author of the upcoming book The Economics of the Arab Spring: How Globalization Failed the Arab World, Zed Books, 2013. He can be reached at jrheydarian@gmail.com.

****************************

MANILA, Philippines ? The United Nations is closely monitoring developments in the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China even as Manila reiterated assurances that its arbitration case against Beijing is ?a form of peaceful settlement of disputes, which should not be considered an unfriendly act.?

As this developed, the Philippines and Japan holds today their 2nd Dialogue on Maritime and Oceanic Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In a report to the DFA, Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Libran?Cabactulan told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during a meeting last Feb. 19 that the filing of the arbitration case ?will be an opportunity for China to assure the international community of its peaceful rise.?

Cabactulan?stressed that Manila?s action was consistent with the position of the UN General Assembly since 1982 when it adopted the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes. ?Our representation with the Secretary-General conveyed this basic Philippines position,? Cabactulan said.

Accompanying the ambassador in his meeting with Ban were UN Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs Patricia O?Brien and other senior UN officials.

Cabactulan?clarified that the case concerns China?s interpretation and application of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), specifically its nine-dash line claim which interferes with the lawful exercise by the Philippines of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The DFA said on Wednesday that Beijing?s rejection of the arbitration process initiated by the Philippines was ?expected? but that it would proceed with or without China, in accordance with Annex VII of UNCLOS, spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

China had earlier returned the notice of arbitration.

The Philippines shrugged off Beijing?s rejection of its arbitration initiative and picked Rudiger?Wolfrum?as one of the five members of the international arbitration panel. Wolfrum?is one of the 21 members of ITLOS.

?Even if one party does not join or participate in the process, the process will continue until a decision is made by the arbitral?tribunal,? the DFA said, citing UNCLOS provisions.

China lays claim to nearly the entire South China Sea and West Philippine Sea and East Sea. The area, delineated by a so-called nine-dash line, covers over 100 islets, atolls and reefs.

The DFA said the Philippines? vigorous effort to resolve the dispute through legal means has earned praises from a visiting United States congressional delegation.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said US Representative Jeff Miller, chairman of the US House Committee on Veterans? Affairs, lauded the Philippines for its ?patience in pursuing a peaceful and durable solution to the dispute and its measured approach in bringing the matter to arbitration.?

Del Rosario, in a statement, welcomed in return ?the correct posture taken by the US government with regard to the West Philippine Sea.?

The Philippines also expressed its appreciation for the firm commitment of the US to the Mutual Defense Treaty as well as its continuing assistance to Philippine efforts to build a minimum credible defense posture.

The other US lawmakers were Gus Bilirakis, Timothy Walz, Michael Michaud and Josiah Bonner.

Miller is a supporter of Philippine advocacies in the US Congress, particularly the SAVE Our Industries Act Bill.

The US lawmakers? visit provided an opportunity for Philippine officials to discuss the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Act and other issues concerning the welfare of Filipino veterans of World War II.

US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland earlier reiterated her country?s support for peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, including the use of arbitration or other international legal mechanisms.

Nuland made the statement in response to a query on whether a Philippine request for international arbitration went against other types of mediation efforts cited previously by the State Department.

Meanwhile, Assistant Foreign Secretary Gilberto Asuque?chairs the Philippine delegation to the 2nd Dialogue on Maritime and Oceanic Affairs with Japan. Henry Bensurto, DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Policy, is co-chairman.

Heading the Japanese delegation is Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Director-General for Southwest and Southeast Asian Affairs Kenji Kanasugi.

The Philippine delegation is also composed of representatives from the DFA, Department of National Defense, Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Industry Authority, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The Japanese delegation is composed of representatives from MOFA, Secretariat of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy of the Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Defense and the Coast Guard.

During the meeting, the two countries will discuss various areas of cooperation particularly in maritime safety, maritime security, anti-piracy measures, fisheries and marine scientific research.

The first dialogue on maritime cooperation between the Philippines and Japan was held in Tokyo on Sept. 9, 2011. It was headed by Asuque?and Bensurto.

************************************

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) ? Philippine and Japanese officials will meet in Manila Friday to discuss maritime cooperation and security, the Philippine foreign affairs department said today.

The Philippine delegation will be headed by Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Gilberto G.B. Asuque, while the Japanese delegation well be headed by Kenji Kanasugi, deputy director general at Japan?s foreign affairs ministry.

During the meeting, the two countries will discuss various areas of cooperation particularly in maritime safety, maritime security, anti-piracy measures, fisheries and marine scientific research.

Philippine and Japanese officials from the defense, foreign affairs and maritime departments will attend the dialogue.

This is the second time that the two countries is holding bilateral talks on maritime issues. The first dialogue on maritime cooperation between the Philippines and Japan was held in Tokyo in September 2011.

?

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Tags: anti-piracy measures, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, bilateral, China, Coast Guard, defense, Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Act, fisheries, foreign affairs, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Gilberto G.B. Asuque, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Gilberto Asuque, Japan, Japanese, Kenji Kanasugi, marine scientific research, maritime safety, maritime security, Ministry of Defense, mutual defense treaty, News, nine-dash line, oil EEZ, Philippines, Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, politics, Rudiger Wolfrum, Secretariat of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy of the Cabinet Secretariat, South China Sea, United Nations, West Philippine Sea

Source: http://johnib.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/philippines-takes-new-aim-at-china/

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PER JAMIE DUPREE: Pres Obama has notified Congress that US troops are in Mali, a...

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Report: NCAA backs out of Miami settlement talks

07:12 AM ET?02.22 | As if the NCAA hasn't done enough already to aggravate Miami, add this to the list: Last week, UM and the NCAA engaged in serious settlement talks, and several UM people expected a deal because president Mark Emmert seemed initially supportive. UM wanted a settlement and likely would have accepted modest scholarship reductions. But a source said the NCAA then informed UM there would be no deal and suggested to UM the enforcement staff and two key boards were against it because of concerns about "not deviating from the rules." Also, UM tried to convince the NCAA to not use the words "lack of institutional control" -- and was hopeful at one point it might be changed to the less serious "failure to monitor" -- but the NCAA wouldn't back down.

Miami Herald

Source: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/368922

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Texas tightens rules on troopers' aerial shooting

By Paul J. Weber
Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas ? Nearly four months after a Texas state trooper in a helicopter fired on a pickup truck speeding along the U.S.-Mexico border, killing two Guatemalan immigrants, state officials said Thursday that troopers are now forbidden from aerial shooting unless they're under fire.

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw announced the policy change while facing questions from lawmakers about the deadly high-speed pursuit near La Joya in October. The truck was mistakenly thought to be carrying a drug load, and DPS says a trooper opened fire to disable the vehicle because it was barreling toward a school zone.

McCraw continued to defend that shooting, even while rolling out new rules that would now forbid it.

"I'm convinced that now, from a helicopter platform, that we shouldn't shoot unless being shot at, or someone is being shot at," McCraw said.

According to the revised policy later released by DPS, "a firearms discharge from an aircraft is authorized only when an officer reasonably believes that the suspect has used or is about to use deadly force by use of a deadly weapon against the air crew, ground officers or innocent third parties."

A suspect driving aggressively or recklessly does not constitute use of a deadly weapon, the new policy states.

The American Civil Liberties Union quickly applauded the move.

"We are relieved that Texas is ending this extreme practice, which no other Southwestern border states have ever allowed," said Terri Burke, executive director of the ACLU of Texas. "We hope that this decision is a step, if only a small one, toward ending the culture of violence that pervades enforcement of border security in Texas."

Criminal prosecutors in Hidalgo County still are investigating the shooting, which caused the truck to crash into a ditch. Two illegal immigrants died, and a third was injured. Authorities said the wounded immigrants were among six hiding under a blanket in the truck's bed.

"I'm a firm believer they did exactly what they thought they needed to do," McCraw said Thursday.

The incident began with a chase after Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens spotted a red pickup near La Joya and the U.S.-Mexico border, about 250 miles south of San Antonio. The wardens requested help, and the DPS helicopter joined midway in the 14-mile, high-speed pursuit of what authorities said they believed was a "typical covered drug load."

In the days following the incident, civil rights groups and the Guatemalan government expressed concerns that DPS essentially was investigating itself because the Texas Rangers, who were leading the investigation, fall under the DPS umbrella. A week after the incident, McCraw said he had asked the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division to investigate and would turn over the Texas Rangers' report.

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Source: http://www.policeone.com/airborne-maritime/articles/6128054-Texas-tightens-rules-on-troopers-aerial-shooting/

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