Sunday, April 28, 2013

Lawmakers introduce tough NKorea sanctions bill

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the House are proposing to step up sanctions against North Korea by punishing companies, banks and governments that do prohibited business with it.

The bill crafted by leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and introduced Friday is modeled on sanctions in force against Iran.

Congressional staffers say it's intended not only to improve enforcement of existing sanctions, but also to expand them.

The measure reflects growing concern over North Korea's nuclear weapon and missile development, and frustration over the failure of U.S. policy to stop it.

The bill was introduced by Reps. Ed Royce, R-Calif., and Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. Its prospects for becoming law are uncertain.

The draft bill does not name any particular entities but potentially could impact companies and banks in China through which the North conducts most of its business.

The draft gives the president authority to sanction governments for illicit dealings with North Korea but also authority to waive the bill's provisions on a case-by-case basis on national security grounds.

The legislation could irk Beijing at a time when the Obama administration seeks greater Chinese cooperation in pressuring Pyongyang to end war threats and honor past commitments on denuclearization.

Beijing signed up for the toughest U.N. sanctions yet on North Korea in response to a nuclear test in February.

But Royce has called for tougher unilateral steps, as the U.S. government did in 2005 against a Macau-based bank because it held about $25 million in North Korean funds. That measure had a significant impact, but proved complicated to undo when nuclear negotiations with North Korea finally got back on track.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lawmakers-introduce-tough-nkorea-sanctions-bill-195938368.html

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Tom Campanaro Inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame

webTom Campanaro, the CEO of Total Gym?, has been inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame.

The National Fitness Hall of Fame & Museum was founded in 2004, with the purpose of recognizing top industry professionals who have dedicated at least 25 years of their careers to helping others become healthy. Among the most notable inductees include Joseph Pilates, Arnold Schwarzenegger and the late Joe Weider.

Campanaro has been involved in the health and fitness industry since 1964, first as a bodybuilder and then as the co-founder of the Total Gym? Company. He and his business partners Dale McMurray, Doug Marino and Larry Westfall developed the Total Gym incline bodyweight trainer in 1974.

In 1996, Campanaro?s partnership with American Telecast catapulted Total Gym into the spotlight ? its infomercial became the longest running broadcast infomercial in history. Total Gym now has commercial partners in 23 countries, and can be found in thousands of homes, rehab centers and fitness facilities worldwide.

Tom Campanaro spoke with Club Solutions about his induction into the National Fitness Hall of Fame, his long career in the health and fitness industry and Total Gym?s transition into health clubs.

CS: How does it feel to be inducted in the Fitness Hall of Fame?

TC: It is a blessing from above to have your product and passion recognized.

CS: Tell me how you got involved with the fitness industry. ?

TC: I have been an avid exerciser since I was 12 years old. If it [were] not for my weight lifting at 16, I would not have survived a critical motorcycle accident. This spurred my interest in bodybuilding, which led to my career in the fitness industry.

CS: How did Total Gym get its start? ?

TC: In 1974 a friend and I saw a very cool incline plane device and it sparked an idea ? the idea of training using your own bodyweight. That?s how Total Gym started. As a past bodybuilder it was a ?no brainer? to me, but the market did not fully buy into the concept of bodyweight training until the mid 1990s.

CS: How did the partnership with American Telecast come about? How did you know this would be a good marketing strategy?

TC: At the time (from 1974 to 1996), we had over 20 years in the physical rehabilitation and athletic training market so we knew the success of our product and knew that if we could tell our story, show our concept and share the great results from customers like Olympic athletes Jackie Joiner Kersey and Chuck Norris, Herm Schneider of the Chicago White socks and many more, Total Gym would be a great success.

We recognized the potential reach of TV, and more specifically, infomercials, so we licensed the Total Gym brand in the direct response and retail markets to American Telecast Products, LLC, in 1996. Now 17 years on TV, it is the longest-running and most successful program ever.

CS: After the partnership with American Telecast especially, Total Gym began gaining traction in health clubs. What did you think of Total Gym?s switch to the gym market?

TC: We didn?t switch to the gym market ? we added it to our portfolio of already existing rehabilitation and consumer fitness.

I?ve been working in the fitness industry since the mid-60s, and as a trainer back then, I knew the Total Gym concept would not fit into the culture of the ?gym scene,? but would be ideal as an at-home piece of fitness equipment. When we discovered a large number of our units were being purchased by physical therapists because of Total Gym?s ability to allow for partial weight-bearing or ?unloaded? training for their patients, we realized we had another market in the physical therapy and wellness industry.

It wasn?t until the late ?90s, with the explosion of both personal training and group fitness that we recognized an opportunity to enter into the gym market. That?s when we developed and launched GRAVITY. This rounded out our approach where we now service customers in all areas of their life ? medical rehabilitation, home fitness and wellness and in a health club or training studio.

CS: The Total Gym GRAVITY program teaches personal trainers how to use Total Gym in a small group setting. What?s unique about the program?

TC: Total Gym GRAVITY programming has been generating excitement and increased member retention and revenue in commercial facilities around the world. With Total Gym GRAVITY classes, fitness and wellness professionals can offer individual, multi-client and Pilates sessions incorporating the versatility of exercise disciplines available with the Total Gym.

Some of our customers have reported that by implementing GRAVITY programs in their facilities, they?ve increased their revenue by an extra $6,800 a month. That comes down to the simple fact that working out on Total Gym is fun, effective and can be tailored to multiple member demographics.

CS: Where do you want Total Gym to go as far as fitness clubs are concerned?

TC: Our mission is ?helping millions of people get healthier!? Our goal is to further that mission by creating products and services that make functional training solutions available to every type of fitness club in the world.

As the industry is moving towards a more functional approach to working out, we see opportunity to address the functional training concept on the gym floor.

?

By Rachel Zabonick

Source: http://clubsolutionsmagazine.com/2013/04/tom-campanaro-inducted-into-the-national-fitness-hall-of-fame/

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As It Focuses On Content ID And Monetization, ZEFR Signs UMG, Sony Music, Ultra Music, And NASCAR

zefrIt?s been about nine months since Movieclips rebranded as ZEFR to provide content ID and monetization tools to publishers distributing or claiming their content on YouTube. Today, the startup is announcing its first big customers, signing up big-name music labels like UMG, Sony Music, and Ultra Music, as well as NASCAR.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/OQLVFOWXD80/

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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The Weekly Roundup for 04.08.2013

The Weekly Roundup for 12032012

You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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

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Fold Egg Whites Into Batter Like a Pro

Fold Egg Whites Into Batter Like a Pro Many recipes for fluffy treats like souffl?, mousse, and angel food cake ask you to fold egg whites or whipped cream into a batter, but don't begin to tell you how. If your batter folding skills aren't up to snuff, Emma Christensen at The Kitchn put together a great tutorial.

Doing this properly will take some practice, but basically you need to use a large, flexible spatula to slice the egg whites or whipped cream down the middle, scoop and fold one half over the other and into the batter, turn the bowl 90 degrees, and repeat. The key is to go slow, and not to overdo it. It's time to stop once you no longer see liquid batter dripping off of the spatula. Fold too much, and you'll deflate the batter and ruin the fluffiness of the finished product.

For some photos, videos, and a full walkthrough of the process, be sure to check out the source link.

How to Fold Egg Whites or Whipped Cream Into a Batter | The Kitchn

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/d_fATaLUZ1A/fold-egg-whites-into-batter-like-a-pro

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Monday, April 15, 2013

Haynes: Blazers G Elliot Williams Grieves Loss Of Mother To Cancer ...

Portland Trail Blazers guard Elliot Williams discusses losing his mother to caner.

Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com writes that Portland Trail Blazers guard Elliot Williams is grieving the loss of his mother to a battle with cancer.

"It was tough," he said. "That's my mom. But I had to look at it a different way: She's in a better place now. She's not suffering anymore. I know she's not suffering. I got a chance to talk to her before she passed away and I let her know how I felt. I'm just so glad she's not suffering anymore."

...

"My mom was a fighter so I'm going to keep fighting," Williams said. "I had similar instances where I've been hurt, but I'm going to keep fighting because I know that's what she wants me to do. That's what she did and I got that fight from my mom. I'm going to keep fighting. I'm going to push through."

Williams, 23, has not yet played this season after undergoing season-ending surgery on a torn Achilles back in September.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Source: http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/4/13/4222768/haynes-blazers-g-elliot-williams-grieves-loss-of-mother-to-cancer

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Tesla gains legal ground in New York dealer fight

Tesla Model S

Tesla Motors gained a legal victory in its continuing efforts to expand sales across the US now that New York Supreme Court Justice Raymond J. Elliott III decided that local dealers will not be allowed to cite the Franchised Dealer Act as a reason to sue competitors, Automotive News reports.

Tesla has been embroiled in a legal tussle in the Empire State (and others) since last October, when New York dealers sued Tesla in an effort to get the California-based company to shutter the state's company-owned stores. Tesla operates three stores and two service centers in New York.

Tesla has long argued that it should be allowed to operate its own stores because of the different nature of cars like its Model S and the fact that servicing those vehicles is simply different than working on conventional vehicles. Traditional laws dictate that car sellers be franchises that are independent from automakers.

Tesla chief Elon Musk was in Texas this week lobbying for a law that would allow electric vehicle companies to sell their cars directly to the public. He hinted Tesla could build a factory in Texas, the state with the second-highest number of publicly accessible charging stations to (after California), at some point in the future.

Source: http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/13/tesla-gains-legal-ground-in-new-york-dealer-fight/

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Sunday, April 14, 2013

New Subway Car Design Proposals Aim To Minimize Stranger Danger

It might be time for new subway cars, and the New York Transit Authority wants to do it right. So they sent a group of researchers into the subways to stare at straphangers over three weeks and make everyone super uncomfortable. Plus gather data or whatever. More »
    


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/KG4PR9j_c7s/new-subway-car-design-proposals-aim-to-minimize-stranger-danger

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Reconnecting With Friends

I feel your pain. Due to health issues and relationship changes, I have lost touch with my main group of friends, and feel isolated.

I don't have a magic way to solve it, just keep in mind that people aren't always blowing you off on purpose, they sometimes are just wrapped up in their own shit. They still like you, they just worry about themselves and don't realize you are being excluded/ignored.

But start with one friend, catch up with them. Then find out if anyone is having a party, as there you can connect with multiple people without having to contact them all. And don't feel like you can't hang out with your partnered friends, they may have someone they want to set you up with!

I have to force myself to go out, sometimes. It is always worth it, even if you only smile at one person. You still got out and interacted with someone.

Smile

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BlackBerry wants probe on reports of phone returns?

TORONTO ? BlackBerry plans to ask securities regulators in Canada and the United States to probe what it said is a "false and misleading" report that consumer return rates for its new Z10 smartphone have been high.

The Canadian company, which has pinned its turnaround hopes on its new BlackBerry 10 line of smartphones, went on the offensive on Friday after the report from little known Boston-based research and investment firm Detwiler Fenton sent its stock tumbling on Thursday.

BlackBerry said return rates for its flagship Z10 devices have been at, or below, its forecasts and in line with industry norms.

"To suggest otherwise is either a gross misreading of the data or a willful manipulation," Chief Executive Thorsten Heins said in a statement. "Such a conclusion is absolutely without basis and BlackBerry will not leave it unchallenged."

BlackBerry said Detwiler Fenton had so far refused to share its report or its methods. It said it would present a formal request for an investigation to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and to the Ontario Securities Commission, which is Canada's major securities regulator, over the next few days.

The OSC said it would review the matter once it receives a formal complaint.

"After the first 14 days, quality performance of the Z10 has been in line with similar devices we've launched," said Debra Lewis, a spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless.

Detwiler Fenton has not returned calls from Reuters seeking comment on its report or on the BlackBerry statement.

"We believe key retail partners have seen a significant increase in Z10 returns to the point where, in several cases, returns are now exceeding sales, a phenomenon we have never seen before," its report said. Detwiler Fenton gave no details on how it had gleaned this information.

While a number of brokerage firms have in recent weeks published reports saying Z10 sales in the U.S. market are slow, none of them have flagged any major concerns about returns.

BlackBerry is attempting to claw back market share lost to rivals such as Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy line of smartphones with its new line of devices, powered by the revamped BlackBerry 10 operating system.

The new Z10 touchscreen smartphone, the first of its new devices, hit store shelves earlier this year. And the Q10, with BlackBerry's famed physical keyboard, will go on sale in Canada and the United Kingdom before the end of April.

BlackBerry, which has changed its name from Research In Motion, has yet to prove to the market that its new devices can trigger a turnaround. The company expects to report break-even results in the current quarter, but a true picture will not emerge until later this year.

(Sinead Carew and Noel Randewich also contributed to this report.)

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653377/s/2aa816c5/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Ctechnology0Ctechnolog0Cblackberry0Ewants0Eprobe0Ereports0Ephone0Ereturns0E1C9329186/story01.htm

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Retail sales point to flagging economic momentum

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales contracted in March for the second time in three months and consumer confidence tumbled in April, a sign that tax hikes early this year have stolen momentum from the American economy.

Retail sales fell 0.4 percent in March, the Commerce Department said on Friday. That missed analysts' expectations of a flat reading.

The data supports the view that the U.S. economy continues to struggle and hasn't performed as well as analysts believed just a few weeks ago. Many analysts cut their growth forecasts for the first quarter.

"The payroll tax increase is hurting," said Ian Shepherdson, an economist at Pantheon Macroeconomic Advisors in White Plains, New York.

At the same time, a separate report showed wholesale prices fell sharply in March due to lower gasoline costs. That will come as a relief to consumers beset by high prices at the pump, and could help the U.S. Federal Reserve maintain its very accommodative monetary policy.

Readings for retail sales have been volatile so far this year, making it difficult to know whether the weakness in March was due to a tax hike that went into effect at the start of the year or to temporary factors related to the weather.

But in a sign that higher taxes may have bitten more into family budgets than previously thought, sales fell 0.2 percent in March when stripping out cars, gasoline and building materials. This core measure corresponds closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product.

The government also revised lower past core retail sales figures to show a 0.3 percent gain in February and flat sales in January.

"The miss in retail sales sends concerns about the impact of higher payroll taxes," Omer Esiner, a market analyst at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange.

Following the report, Barclays cut its estimate for first quarter growth to a 2.8 percent annual rate from a 3.2 percent rate.

Also weighing on the outlook for first quarter growth, U.S. business inventories rose less than expected in February, data from another Commerce Department report showed.

U.S. stocks declined on the weak retail sales data and as results from major banks failed to impress investors. Prices for U.S. Treasuries rose, while the dollar extended its declines against the yen.

Prior reports on retail sales had made consumers look surprisingly resilient despite tax increases that kicked in on January 1. A tax on payrolls climbed for all workers, while income tax rates rose for the nation's most wealthy.

Fiscal policy tightened further in March when the federal government began across-the-board spending cuts known in Washington as the "sequester," part of Washington's efforts to shrink the budget deficit.

SENTIMENT TUMBLES

A separate report suggested the government's belt tightening was damaging consumer sentiment.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's preliminary reading on the overall index of consumer sentiment fell to 72.3 in April, the lowest since July 2012 and below economists' forecasts.

Over the entire year, Washington's austerity drive could subtract about 1.5 percentage points from economic growth this year, according to an estimate by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

"The worry is the full reaction to the expiration of the payroll tax cut and to the sequester budget cuts won't be evident until sometime this quarter," said Cary Leahey, a senior advisor at Decision Economics in New York.

Many economists have also noted the loss of economic momentum in many economic indicators for March could have been due to a warm winter, which may have led companies and consumers to pull forward spending.

Indicators from retail sales and hiring to factory manager confidence were much stronger in February, and a chilly March may have then dulled activity.

SUBDUED INFLATION

U.S. producer prices recorded their biggest drop in 10 months in March as the cost of gasoline tumbled, the Labor Department said in a separate report.

The seasonally adjusted producer price index fell 0.6 percent last month. Economists polled by Reuters had expected prices received by the nation's farms, factories and refineries to fall only 0.2 percent.

In the 12 months through March, wholesale prices were up 1.1 percent, the smallest rise since July. Prices had increased 1.7 percent in February.

The benign inflation environment could strengthen the argument for the Fed to keep monetary policy loose as it tries to steer the economy towards faster growth, despite divisions among policymakers over continued asset purchases.

Minutes of the Fed's March 19-20 meeting released on Wednesday showed the U.S. central bank was moving closer to ending its monthly $85 billion purchases of mortgage and Treasury bonds to keep rates low and spur faster job growth.

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Additional reporting by Lucia Mutikani in Washington; and by Nick Olivari, Ellen Freilich and Steven C. Johnson in New York; Editing by Neil Stempleman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/retail-sales-unexpectedly-fall-march-123244654--business.html

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Saturday, April 13, 2013

Verizon confirms 12-month Device Payment Plan for phones is launching April 21st

Verizon confirms Device Payment Plan coming April 21st, with a catch

Look: we know many on Verizon aren't happy that the carrier has revealed plans to lengthen its upgrade intervals right as smartphone update season is hitting full stride. However, there may be a consolation prize. As of April 21st, "some devices" in its smartphone range, not just the existing tablets, will qualify for a Device Payment Plan that spreads out the full costs over the course of a year, letting those who crave the latest mobile hardware (presumably, you) upgrade without either having to sign a contract or pay everything up front. Sounds like a very UnCarrier thing to do, doesn't it? Not quite, unfortunately. The carrier tells us that these payments sit on top of existing service plans, not inside them -- the base service rate won't go down in year two. T-Mobile will remain the better bargain for anyone constantly replacing handsets, then, but those on Verizon will at least have a degree of freedom.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/R0PFhai8UAY/

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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

New startup looks to kill off patent trolls

By Mark Lamport-Stokes AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 8 (Reuters) - Steve Stricker could certainly do with a bit of Masters payback after giving his good friend Tiger Woods a valuable putting lesson during last month's WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami. Helped by Stricker's advice, Woods went on to triumph by two shots over his fellow American at Doral, then won the Arnold Palmer Invitational on his next start to cement his status as a hot favourite for this week's Masters at Augusta National. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/startup-looks-kill-off-patent-trolls-220917141.html

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Monday, April 8, 2013

Tumblr for Android gets overhauled with new interface

Tumblr for Android gets overhauled with new interface

It looks like April is the month for major Android apps to get a visual overhaul. Following Twitter's refresh last week (and Facebook's decidedly more ambitious effort), Tumblr has today released its own app update that offers a whole new user interface. As you can see above, that includes some Path-esque expandable controls for creating various types of posts, as well as new post animations and a general appearance that's more consistent with Android's "Holo" theme. There's no indication yet of that new interface heading to iOS, which just got its own Tumblr update last month.

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Source: Google Play, Tumblr

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/08/tumblr-for-android-gets-overhauled-with-new-interface/

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China's Xi offers to reduce friction over hotspots

BOAO, China (AP) ? With pressure growing on Beijing to get North Korea to step back from its war-like footing, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that no one country should be allowed to upset world peace and added China would work to reduce tensions over regional hotspots.

In a speech to a regional business forum with political leaders from Australia to Zambia present, Xi did not offer any concrete plans for how to deal with China's neighbor, North Korea, which has elevated regional tensions through war-like rhetoric and missile deployments in recent weeks. Nor did Xi offer concessions to other neighbors locked in fraught disputes with Beijing over outlying islands: Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam.

It isn't clear whether Xi was taking a swipe at North Korea or at the United States, a frequent target of Chinese criticism, when he criticized unilateral acts that threaten stability.

"The international community should advocate the vision of comprehensive security and cooperative security, so as to turn the global village into a big stage for common development rather than an arena where gladiators fight each other. And no one should be allowed to throw the region, or even the whole world, into chaos for selfish gains," Xi said Sunday at the Boao Forum for Asia, a China-sponsored talk shop for the global elite.

Ambiguity aside, Xi's speech stands in contrast to more strident remarks he has made in recent months and marks an effort to strike an active, cooperative posture to calm regional tensions. This year's Boao meeting ? an annual event billed as Asia's version of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland ? is being watched for signs of whether Xi, installed in power five months ago, is ready to stake out new directions in a foreign policy that has been bullying toward some neighbors and passive on many international security issues.

The new Xi government is being especially challenged over North Korea. Pyongyang's ratcheting up of tensions in recent months ? from tests of a long-range missile and a nuclear device to threats of nuclear strikes ? have concerned South Korea and the United States, important economic partners for China which have looked to Beijing to rein in its longtime, if estranged communist ally.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia, whose economy has been booming due to Chinese demand, appealed to Beijing to use its leverage to get Pyongyang to climb down.

"All countries in the region share a deep interest in strategic stability. But the consequences of conflict are even more severe for us all. This is nowhere more clear than on the Korean Peninsula. There, any aggression is a threat to the interest of every country in the region. For this reason, I do welcome the growing cooperation of all regional governments to prevent conflict on the Korean Peninsula and to counter North Korean aggression," Gillard told the forum.

Outside of North Korea, expectations of any change in Chinese policy have been focused on Japan. Months of friction over East China Sea islands led to frosty political ties, tense cat-and-mouse games between their maritime forces and flagging trade between the world's second and third largest economies.

Xi didn't address any dispute by name but he promised a constructive approach to regional tensions.

"China will continue to properly handle differences and frictions with the relevant countries," Xi said in his speech. "On international and regional hotspot issues, China will continue to play a constructive role, adhere to peace and facilitating talks and make unremitting efforts to properly handle relevant issues through dialogue and negotiations."

Still, Xi did not present any compromise. He insisted that China would safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, language that makes it harder for Beijing to back away from territorial claims.

Xi also reminded countries that China represents a good business opportunity for neighbors and the world, saying over the next five years China's imports will reach $10 trillion while its companies plan to invest $500 billion overseas. "The more China develops, the more opportunities for development it brings the world and Asia," Xi said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chinas-xi-offers-reduce-friction-over-hotspots-063402120--finance.html

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South Africa to send troops to join U.N. mission in Congo

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa will send troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of a U.N. mission to neutralize armed groups in the conflict-torn east of the country, a South African military spokesman said on Sunday.

The deployment comes as South Africa is coming to grips with its worst military setback since the end of apartheid in 1994. Thirteen of its troops were killed last month in a shootout with rebels in the neighboring Central African Republic (CAR).

"The DRC deployment has nothing to do with the CAR. Neither did the CAR incident influence the decision to send the troops into the DRC. They are two different issues," Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga told Reuters.

The size and timing of the deployment will depend on the terms set by the United Nations, he added.

The Security Council unanimously adopted in late March a resolution establishing the so-called intervention brigade as part of the existing 20,000-strong U.N. force in Congo, known as MONUSCO.

It is the first time the United Nations has created such a unit within a traditional peacekeeping force.

Congo's army is fighting M23 rebels in a conflict that has dragged Congo's east back into war and displaced more than half a million people.

The 13 soldiers killed in the Central African Republic were buried at the weekend as questions swirled over whether they had been sent to protect the financial interests of President Jacob Zuma's ruling African National Congress.

Zuma last week defended his decision to send them, saying they had died fighting for Pretoria's foreign policy, not his party's investments.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; editing by Andrew Roche)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/south-africa-send-troops-join-u-n-mission-120837995.html

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PwC 2013 State of Profession Survey finds strong need to enhance ...

However, according to survey respondents, before internal audit reaches for new heights, it must keep pace and continue to evolve its focus. Internal audit must also significantly improve its performance or risk losing relevance as other internal risk functions become more vital contributors in the risk management area. In the Middle East nearly 80% of respondents indicated that their organizations do not have an Enterprise Risk Management framework, opening the door for internal audit to play a key role in embedding risk management in the Board agenda.

"Our survey shows that 80% of global and 60% of Middle East respondents believe threats are increasing, yet only 12% of global and 5% of Middle East respondents think their own organization manages risk extremely well," said Adnan Zaidi, Leader of PwC's ME Risk Assurance practice. "As risks increase, internal audit's coverage of risk and performance in emerging areas is critical, which provides internal audit with an ideal opportunity to demonstrate the value of the evolving profession. Internal audit must then aggressively increase its capabilities and add true value in risk areas most critical to the organization."

The study reveals that organizations have more work to do to align stakeholders' expectations and approach on coverage of critical risks, providing an opportunity for internal audit to deliver value outside of the traditional focus areas. Compared with management, board members are more likely to believe there are more risks and that they are growing faster, posing greater threats than there were a year ago.

"Audit committees and management expect more from internal audit, providing a huge opportunity for internal audit functions to be relevant contributors to protecting stakeholder value and the business from the most critical risks," said Andrew Garrett, Internal Audit Services Leader for PwC ME. "However, for internal audit functions to maximize their value to the organization, they must ensure alignment on multiple levels. There must be clear understanding and alignment of stakeholder expectations, alignment of internal audit focus on the highest risk areas, and alignment of internal audit capabilities to the needs of today and those emerging needs of tomorrow. Only then can internal audit contribute to the organization in a way that establishes relevance and value in the eyes of all key stakeholders."

Companies are raising the bar on performance to contend with the ever-changing risk landscape, but are not raising the bar on internal audit at the same pace, according to PwC's survey. In addition, stakeholders are requesting increased capabilities with internal audit's contribution in emerging risk areas such as large program assessment, new product introductions, capital project management and mergers and acquisitions.

"Those with the right plan, appropriate resources and capabilities that are aligned with what stakeholders expect, will be recognized for their contribution. They will see increased access within the organization, and more opportunities to demonstrate value. As a result, they will multiply the value internal audit delivers," said Firas Haddad, Director in PwC UAE Risk Assurance practice.

PwC's survey indicates that high performing internal audit functions have excelled in four important areas. They demonstrate significantly stronger foundational capabilities, coordinate with their organization's governance, risk and compliance activities, more effectively incorporate emerging risk into audit areas and partner with those they serve by providing proactive advice and actively engaging with management in organizational initiatives. To help reach these new heights, PwC outlines the key steps audit committees, management and chief audit executives can take to enhance the value internal audit can and should deliver to organizations:

Audit Committee: Ask More Questions
Most audit committees consider oversight of risk management to be a primary responsibility. However, they should ask if the internal audit's actions align with critical business risks and if internal audit has established a clear, strategic plan to raise capabilities and deliver value.

Management: Expect More
Management teams should require their organizations to have a strong enterprise-wide risk assessment process, enabling management, internal audit and the board to have a productive and transparent discussion about risk management. Management should expect internal audit to have the skills necessary to contribute value in key risk areas.

Chief Audit Executives: Deliver More
Chief audit executives should have a strategic vision that aligns to stakeholder expectations, including an investment strategy such as investing in the right resources. They must also be prepared to respond, or proactively engage, in conversations with the board and management about the internal audit's performance.

There are opportunities for internal audit to demonstrate a more valuable contribution, but to do so, not only must every stakeholder have a role in helping internal audit move in the right direction, but there must be a well-thought plan and well-charted course.

"Chief audit executives must get prepared, close performance gaps, and raise the bar on itself. Whether that is by increasing capabilities in new and emerging risk areas or delivering a greater level of service within those more traditional areas, the time is now for internal audit to take decisive action to strengthen their core performance and capabilities, resulting in value added contributions," continued Garrett.

Survey methodology

The survey covered 1,100 chief audit executives and more than 630 stakeholders, including CEOs, audit committee chairs, other board members and senior finance and risk managers, from 18 industries across 60 countries. 25 key organizations from 7 industries in four markets in the Middle East took part in the survey and contributed their views on today's critical risks, the role they expect internal audit to play in addressing them, and the performance of their enterprises' internal audit function.

Copies of the survey results will be available at the Institute of Internal Auditors UAE chapters' 14th Annual Regional Audit Conference to be held in Abu Dhabi on 15-17th April. PwC are key sponsors of this event at which they will be launching the 'I AM' - Internal Audit Matters campaign and will be available to discuss the survey.

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/pwc-2013-profession-survey-strong-enhance-336439

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Sunday, April 7, 2013

Cops: Gang abducted, raped Philadelphia college student

By Karen Araiza, NBC10.com

Philadelphia's La Salle University has offered counseling services to a student who reported being abducted and raped on Easter Sunday.

The school is also defending its decision not to notify students of the off-campus assault when it happened, saying administrators did not view it as an ongoing threat to their campus community.

"This case is still very active," said Captain John Darby, who heads up the Special Victims Unit (SVU) of the Philadelphia police department.

The attack happened about a mile away from the school. The 20-year-old woman told police she was walking on the 4800 block of 10th Street around 10 p.m.

She said a black van pulled up beside her and four men jumped out, grabbed her and forced her inside. Police are not revealing where the men took her, but the woman told detectives she was sexually assaulted several times before the attackers dropped her off in an unknown location and fled.

Police say the men are between the ages of 20 and 25. One had "MM" tattooed on his face.

"We here at SVU take these reports very seriously. We have a very good working relationship with the University and we're in constant communication with them," Darby said.

As news of the incident spread around campus, students like sophomore Karla Fernandez were concerned. "It couldv'e been anyone," she said.

Read more from NBC10.com

Some students complained that the school didn't notify them about the attack. Federal law requires universities to issue safety alerts and advisories when there are serious or ongoing threats to the student or staff. This specific case, did not fit those guidelines, according to the school.

"Based on what we know, (which we cannot detail) it was decided a safety alert/advisory was not required, as we believed there was no serious or ongoing threat to our students or employees as a result of the reported incident," said Jon Caroulis, La Salle's Director of Media Relations.

Four days later, the school sent out a Safety Reminder to students, notifying them of the attack and offering the following tips:

Refrain from walking alone, particularly at night, in off-campus areas.

Travel in well-lit areas. Avoid shortcuts through driveways.

Report suspicious persons to Security and Safety or Philadelphia Police.

Be constantly aware of your surroundings at all times.

Use university shuttle and escort services.

"This is a very pro-active approach," said Capt. Darby. "They took this opportunity to remind folks of the steps that could be taken to minimize risk."

The latest crime statistics from La Salle are complete through the year 2011.

They show that on the main campus, a total of 4 sex assaults were reported in 2011, none in 2010 and two in 2009.

The bulk of student offenses are drinking and drug-related and most of that behavior goes on in the school's residence halls, according to the statistics.

The 10-year trend is down for drinking, and up for drug-related cases where students were disciplined.

La Salle University is located in the northwestern section of Philadelphia, on the edge of Germantown. According to the school website, the total student body is made up of over 7,300 students.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/2a656d69/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A40C0A60C176260A760Ecops0Egang0Eabducted0Eraped0Ephiladelphia0Ecollege0Estudent0Dlite/story01.htm

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Saturday, April 6, 2013

Yahoo Mail - Outlook 2007 - Iphone

This is a discussion on Yahoo Mail - Outlook 2007 - Iphone within the Sky Email and Portal Log-in forums, part of the Sky Broadband help and support category; Just wondering if I have this set up right ? I very rarely log into my mail using the Sky/Yahoo ...

Source: http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/sky-email-portal-log/52465-yahoo-mail-outlook-2007-iphone.html

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Friday, April 5, 2013

Tt eSports Competition Gaming Glove


When you're spending an hour or more focused on an intense PC game, your physical comfort becomes an important issue. Little things, like the feel of the mouse in your hand or the texture of a mousepad can become the very details that prevent you from getting in the zone, the distractions that cost you a match. So why buy a glove for your mouse hand? Perhaps you like your mousepad?like the Roccat Hiro?because it glides smoothly and offers more consistent sensor response, but hate the feel of the pebbled texture surface under your wrist. Or if your own pet peeves include wrist strain or sweaty palms, then you might want to consider the Tt eSports Competition Gaming Glove. Coming from the gaming division of ThermalTake, the Gaming Glove will only be worthwhile for a slim segment of the gaming community?but it will be a boon to those who need it.

Design
The Gaming Glove is a right-handed glove, designed to increase your overall comfort while mousing. It does this in two ways: First, the glove itself prevents any uncomfortable sweat build-up between your hand and the mouse. Second, the glove has some ergonomic features built in, providing not only short term comfort, but long term protection for your wrist.

The red and black glove has an unusual looking design. It's fingerless, but combines the first and second fingers into one. The result is that your fingers have no material between them when clicking and scrolling, preventing any sort of irritation. Also, between the second and third fingers and third and fourth fingers are two attached loops, which let you remove the glove quickly by pulling on them with your other hand.

The glove is made of several different materials?a red stretchable Lycra back, which provides a snug fit, but is also meant to allow hands large and small to fit into the glove. The fabric is also very thin, which helps keep things cool. On the palm side of the hand, the glove uses a matching red neoprene material, which cushions the hand. While this could get pretty warm, the fingerless design is augmented with perforated ventilation, so it's not much of an issue. Connecting the two sides are two types of black mesh; a light stretchy mesh between the fingers, and a heavier mesh around the wrist fabric providing structure and support.

Around the wrist of the glove is a black neoprene wrist strap with a Velcro enclosure, providing wrist support, much like a wrist brace. On the palm of the glove are two gel pads which both cushion the palm and provide further support to the hand when using a mouse.

Sizing on the glove is a little weird. Available for right-hand only, the glove is only available in one size. Tt eSports describes it thus "Circumference of the Hand is 22.86 cm (or 9 inches), suitable for most sizes." According to the tag inside the glove, that size is medium. On my own hand, the glove was snug, but not uncomfortably so, and it still lets my hand flex and move enough for all of my mousing and typing needs.

Performance
Though I went in with fairly low expectations, the gaming glove does do a few things right. For starters, the neoprene and Velcro wrist strap provides surprisingly good wrist support. The padded palm also makes it much more comfortable to rest your hand on your desk or mouse pad. Overall, my wrist did feel less overall fatigue after a long gaming session.

Though the goofy combined-finger design looks and feels strange at first, removing the fabric from between the first and second fingers does provide a bit more comfort when using the mouse. Unfortunately, this benefit is highlighted by the fact that the other separate fingers are a tad irritating?stitching irritates the skin, and the attached quick-removal loops exacerbate the problem. In the same vein, the tag for the gloves is attached just inside the wrist strap, and it tended to bunch and irritate my wrist.

The Tt eSports Gaming Glove initially struck me as one of those "competitive gaming" products that are more hype than substance, but after using it for a week and a half, I must admit, there is some benefit to be gained. If wrist strain or sweaty palms are concerns for you, then the Gaming Glove will help on both counts, and your win/loss ratio will likely improve because of it. On the other hand (pun not intended) unless you're noticeably uncomfortable mousing with your bare hand, it's not worth the money, or the hassling you'll get from the fashion police.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/rkCXKFv5caM/0,2817,2417478,00.asp

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New York politics: scared straight or ripe for reform?

By Edith Honan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - When Attorney Preet Bharara brought two corruption cases against New York state politicians this week, accusing some of selling their votes and another of trying to bribe his way onto the ballot, he challenged the political class to clean up the system.

Some political veterans worry any reforms are destined to fail, and that only a federal prosecutor like Bharara can crack down on crookedness.

Asked if this week's cases could be the straw that breaks the camel's back in the state capital Albany, former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was quick to respond: "No, this camel's very strong."

Over the last seven years, 31 New York state office holders have been convicted, censured, or otherwise accused of wrong-doing, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.

"There need to be enough cases made so that people realize the likelihood of being caught increases," Spitzer, also a former state attorney general whose political rise was tied to his challenges of Wall Street corruption, told Reuters. "And that at the end of the day is going to be what changes the system."

In 2006, Spitzer captured the governor's mansion in a landslide victory after campaigning that "Day One, Everything Changes." His aggressive efforts at reform were cut short two years later, when he resigned amid a prostitution scandal.

Citizens Union Executive Director Dick Dadey said there was a "crime wave of corruption" in Albany and in New York City but he is hopeful the cases will lead to reforms.

"I very much hope that this is the thread that is being pulled out of the sweater and will unravel everything," said Dadey, whose group has long pushed for more transparency.

Bharara, the chief federal prosecutor in Manhattan, brought charges against state Senator Malcolm Smith on Tuesday, accusing him of a plot to buy a spot on New York City's mayoral ballot. New York City Councilman Daniel Halloran was charged with accepting bribes to set up meetings between Smith and two Republican party leaders, who were also charged.

Lawyers for both men said they will fight the charges.

Two days later, Assemblyman Eric Stevenson was charged with accepting more than $22,000 in bribes in exchange for helping four businessmen establish a network of senior daycare centers in the Bronx. He too plans to fight the charges, his lawyer said.

"Federal prosecutors and federal agents are doing everything we can to proactively attack the corruption problem. And it's time for others to step up also," Bharara said.

Experts worry reformers will step back, not up.

"The state government really breeds a culture where it's all about the money," said Bill Mahoney of the New York Public Interest Research Project.

"Every single week in Albany there's a dozen fundraisers within a block of the state capitol, and as soon as legislators finish voting on a bill, they walk over to a fundraiser and get checks from the people who told them to vote a certain way on that," said Mahoney.

"A LACK OF WILL"

While Illinois and Louisiana may have the greater reputation for corruption, New York has its own colorful history, best exemplified by William "Boss" Tweed, who built a Democratic Party political machine in mid-19th Century New York City that held power until Republican Fiorello La Guardia was elected mayor in 1933.

The culture of Tweed's Tammany Hall machine persists. State lawmakers are now more likely to be ousted from office because of criminal or ethical issues than defeated in a general election, according to the New York Public Interest Research Group.

Advocates of reform also cite weak campaign finance laws and limitations on prosecutors as impediments. New York has the highest contribution limits of those states that set limits, for example allowing an individual donation per election cycle of almost $17,000 to a state senator.

This week, Citizens Union released a series of reform proposals including giving the state attorney general the power to pursue public corruption and election law violations, rather than leaving such enforcement to local law enforcement. The group also called for instituting nonpartisan elections in city races and passage of comprehensive campaign finance reform.

Bharara said corruption was to be expected given "a lack of transparency, a lack of self-disclosure, a lack of self policing, a lack of will, and a failure of leadership."

Governor Andrew Cuomo - the former state attorney general who came into office in 2011 on a reform platform - has said he intends to take up a campaign finance reform bill this year.

Cuomo won plaudits for an ethics reform bill passed in his first year, but was criticized for declining to wield his veto power after state lawmakers drew up self-serving electoral boundaries during the once-a-decade redistricting process.

This week's charges could encourage bold action from a shamed legislature said Larry Norden, deputy director at the Brennan Center. "Politically, I think this has the potential to have an impact in a way that previous scandals have not."

Still, reformers say that, without overwhelming pressure, lawmakers are unlikely to curb their own powers or to make it easier for investigators to monitor their activities.

For example, good government groups have long decried the existence of large pots of undefined money, set aside for infrastructure spending in the state or for local initiatives in New York City. In the cases brought this week, Halloran is said to have offered to redirect City Council member funds in exchange for money, while prosecutors say Smith boasted of money outside the budget that is "always around."

And yet, the existence of those funds creates enormous power for leaders who can dole them out.

Watchdog groups and political analysts also hope to empower state and local prosecutors to do more.

"In a well-functioning state, this would be done at the local level and not at the federal level," said Daniel Richman, a former federal prosecutor who worked under Giuliani and is now a law professor at Columbia University.

"I'm one of those who thinks that having overlapping jurisdictions, particularly for white-collar crimes, are a good thing," Richman said. "They lead to competition."

(Editing by Daniel Trotta and Tim Dobbyn)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/york-politics-scared-straight-ripe-reform-201358785.html

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