US to send ambassador to Myanmar, upgrading ties (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday the United States will send an ambassador to Myanmar for the first time in two decades, restoring full diplomatic relations now that the long-isolated country has released hundreds of political prisoners and made other reforms.

Clinton's announcement that the two countries will exchange ambassadors came on a day of celebration in the streets of Myanmar after President Thein Sein issued pardons and freed 651 detainees, including some of its most famous political inmates.

President Barack Obama, in a statement, described the pardons as "a substantial step forward for democratic reform."

The U.S. decision follows a landmark visit by Clinton to the repressive country in December as a way to deepen engagement and encourage more openness there, although Washington will be maintaining hard-hitting economic and political sanctions for the time being. As it looks to step up U.S. involvement across the Asia-Pacific region, the Obama administration has shifted from Washington's long-standing policy of isolating Myanmar's military government because of its poor human rights record.

"As I said last December, the United States will meet action with action. Based on the steps taken so far, we will now begin," Clinton said at the State Department.

The highest-level U.S. diplomat based in Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been a charge d'affaires rather than an ambassador. Washington downgraded its representation in 1990, when opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party swept elections but was barred from power by the military.

Myanmar's own diplomatic representation in Washington is also currently a step below the level of ambassador.

But Clinton cautioned that it's a lengthy process ? any candidate for ambassador requires Senate confirmation ? and would depend on continued progress toward reform.

Clinton said the U.S. would identify further steps it could take to support reforms but gave no specifics. Among the other recent moves she commended by the government was its reaching a cease-fire with the Karen National Union, a long-running ethnic insurgency.

The U.S. sanctions against Myanmar heavily restrict trade, investment and foreign aid. Officials have previously said that lifting sanctions would require consolidation of reforms that have already taken place.

During a visit to Asia in November, Obama commended "flickers of progress" in Myanmar, which staged fresh elections in 2010 and then ended decades of direct military rule.

"Today, that light burns a bit brighter, as prisoners are reunited with their families and people can see a democratic path forward," Obama said.

The Myanmar government is still dominated by its army, but it has freed Suu Kyi and begun a dialogue with her, and it has eased restrictions on media and trade unions.

Clinton said having an ambassador would help the U.S. to deepen its ties with Myanmar's people and government and support "the historic and promising steps that are unfolding."

Clinton urged Myanmar to release its remaining political prisoners and make their release unconditional, address concerns of ethnic minority groups and hold free and fair by-elections that Suu Kyi's party will compete in April 1.

She said she would call Suu Kyi and Thein Sein this weekend "to underscore our commitment to walk together with them on the path of reform."

Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, supported Friday's move. He has been prominent voice in Congress on Myanmar whose support would be key to any effort to lift sanctions. The senator is due to visit Myanmar next week.

"While the Thein Sein government will need to do more to explain the military relationship with North Korea and hold free and fair elections, it appears entirely appropriate that the United States would consider restoration of more formal diplomatic ties," McConnell said in a statement.

___

Associated Press writer Erica Werner contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120113/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_myanmar

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White House concerned over online piracy bills

(AP) ? The Obama administration raised concerns Saturday about efforts in Congress that it said would undermine "the dynamic, innovative global Internet," urging lawmakers to approve measures this year that balance the need to fight piracy and counterfeiting against an open Internet.

White House officials said in a blog post that it would not support pending legislation that "reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk" or undermines the global Internet, cautioning the measure could discourage innovation and startup businesses.

"Any effort to combat online piracy must guard against the risk of online censorship of lawful activity and must not inhibit innovation by our dynamic businesses large and small," the White House said.

The administration was responding to measures that would allow the Justice Department to target offshore websites ? through Internet service providers ? that offer illegal copies of music, movies and television shows online. The Senate is expected to consider similar legislation later this month.

Tech companies such as Google, Facebook, Yahoo and others have questioned the legislation, warning in a Nov. 15 letter that it would force new liabilities and mandates on law-abiding technology companies and require them to monitor websites. "We are concerned that these measures pose a serious risk to our industry's continued track record of innovation and job-creation, as well as to our nation's cybersecurity," the letter stated.

The White House said in the blog posted Saturday that it would work with Congress on legislation to help battle piracy and counterfeiting while defending free expression, privacy, security and innovation in the Internet.

The post was signed by Victoria Espinel, the intellectual property enforcement coordinator at the Office of Management and Budget; Aneesh Chopra, the nation's chief technology officer; and Howard Schmidt, an Obama adviser on cybersecurity.

___

Online:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/14/obama-administration-responds-we-pe...

___

Follow Ken Thomas on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AP_Ken_Thomas

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-14-Online%20Piracy/id-76574b237b844f7b83b3a93f61434176

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Dish to shut more Blockbuster stores than planned (Reuters)

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) ? Dish Network Corp will be closing more U.S. Blockbuster stores across than it had originally planned, and will turn the remaining outlets partly into Dish customer-service points, Chief Executive Joe Clayton told Reuters.

In the CEO's strongest comments since the satellite TV provider bought out the crumbling video-rental chain, Clayton said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week that all unprofitable stores will come under the knife.

Dish, which paid $320 million for Blockbuster, said last July it would keep 1,500 stores open and retain 15,000 employees, or about 90 percent of the outlets at the time.

"We are committed to keeping the profitable stores open that are generating positive cash flow, but there are ones that aren't going to make it," Clayton said in an interview. "We will close unprofitable stores. We will close additional stores."

Clayton would not give a time frame on the closings or say how many stores were currently unprofitable. Spokesman Marc Lumpkin said the closings will be on a "case by case" basis.

Clayton, who became CEO of Dish last year when billionaire Charlie Ergen stepped down to focus on Dish's wireless strategy as chairman, said the stores that stay open will sell Dish subscriptions and may one day provide customer support for its television customers.

"If a consumer has a problem, just bring your box in and we'll give you a new one so you don't have to stay at home and wait for an installation," he said.

Subscribers to Dish's Latino service may also be able to pay their TV bills in stores in metropolitan markets, he added.

Dish has tried to tap the Blockbuster brand by unveiling a new Internet streaming service and a program to rent DVDs by mail, in a bid to challenge Netflix Inc.

(Reporting By Liana B. Baker; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/enindustry/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120112/media_nm/us_ces_dish

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HBO says no political agenda behind Palin film

In this Sept. 5, 2011 photo, former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin addresses a Tea Partly Express Rally in Manchester, N.H. In a politically polarized country, the people behind HBO's upcoming movie on Sarah Palin's vice presidential campaign are being careful not to take one side or the other. The movie debuts March 10. It is based on John Heilemann and Mark Halperin's book about the 2008 presidential campaign, but focuses specifically on Palin. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

In this Sept. 5, 2011 photo, former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin addresses a Tea Partly Express Rally in Manchester, N.H. In a politically polarized country, the people behind HBO's upcoming movie on Sarah Palin's vice presidential campaign are being careful not to take one side or the other. The movie debuts March 10. It is based on John Heilemann and Mark Halperin's book about the 2008 presidential campaign, but focuses specifically on Palin. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

(AP) ? In a politically polarized country, the people behind HBO's upcoming movie on Sarah Palin's vice presidential campaign are being careful not to take one side or the other.

"There is no agenda here," Danny Strong, writer of the film "Game Change," said at a news conference Friday. Filmmakers said they sought historical accuracy.

The movie debuts March 10. It is based on John Heilemann and Mark Halperin's book about the 2008 presidential campaign, but focuses specifically on Palin. Director Jay Roach said he wrote a long letter to the former Alaska governor seeking an interview with her to help the film, "but I got a very quick email back from her attorney saying, 'I checked, she declined.'"

Roach and Strong were the team behind HBO's Emmy-winning "Recount" about the disputed 2000 presidential election.

"I don't think this movie is going to change people's minds one way or another," Strong said. "People are very polarized. It's not designed to change people's minds."

Actress Julianne Moore looks strikingly like Palin in her depiction. Asked what she thought of Palin after getting so close to the story, Moore said she had "profound respect" for the historical nature of the candidacy.

"There was a tremendous amount of pressure," Moore said. "That was what I was trying to capture, the pressure that she was under."

Actor Ed Harris portrays John McCain. Although the resemblance to his character isn't quite as sharp as Moore's, it's pretty close.

One unusual casting was Woody Harrelson, who plays McCain campaign strategist Steve Schmidt. The film's story is largely seen through Schmidt's eyes. Harrelson, who describes himself politically as "probably more an anarchist," said he met Schmidt and liked him.

"The concept of playing this guy who I think ideologically couldn't be any farther away from me felt like a real challenge," he said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-01-14-TV-Palin%20Film/id-9edfe86554d64cd3b96abc952c7e50b5

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Oil prices rise on Nigeria supply concerns (AP)

NEW YORK ? Oil prices are climbing Thursday as striking oil workers threaten to shut down production in Nigeria.

Nigeria is the fifth-largest oil exporter to the United States, and a shutdown would force American refineries to replace 630,000 barrels per day of crude. Nigerian workers, who have been protesting a removal of government fuel subsidies, plan to cut off oil production starting Sunday.

Benchmark crude jumped by $1.47 to $102.35 per barrel in New York. Brent crude rose by $2.32 to $114.38 per barrel in London.

Natural gas prices continued to drop as mild winter weather cuts into heating demand. Prices fell by another 4.4 cents to $2.73 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Meanwhile, U.S. gasoline prices rose by a penny to a national average of $3.38 per gallon.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/energy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120112/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_prices

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Iran to discuss nuclear arms charges

By msnbc staff and news services

Iran has agreed to discuss charges that it secretly worked on nuclear arms, The Associated Press, citing?unnamed diplomats, is reporting. The nation for years has said its nuclear activity was strictly for peaceful purposes.

The two diplomats told the AP?that nuclear arms?will be a main focus of talks set for Jan. 28, during a visit to Tehran by senior officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency.


No date has previously been mentioned for the trip. Thursday's comments by the diplomats were also the first word that Iran was ready talk about the allegations after stonewalling requests to do so for more than three years.

The diplomats spoke condition of anonymity because of confidentiality rules.

The discussion comes amid increasing tension between Iran and the West, particularly as the United States has stepped up pressure on other nations to reduce imports of Iran's oil.

Iran has threatened to disrupt Gulf oil trade by closing the Strait of Hormuz if an oil export ban is imposed.

Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that the European Union will delay an embargo on Iranian oil imports for six months to allow member countries to find alternative supplies.

Word of the talks also comes a?day after a motorcycle hitman blew up Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, a 32-year-old engineer, during the Tehran rush hour, the latest in a series of hits against?Iranian nuclear scientists.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday that those behind the killing of?Roshan?would be punished, the official Irna news agency reported.

"We will continue our path with strong will ... and certainly we will not neglect punishing those responsible for this act and those behind it," Khamenei was quoted as saying.

Iran blamed its arch-enemies, Israel and the United States, for a blast which killed the nuclear scientist in his car on Wednesday, insisting the incident would not change the country's nuclear course.

Sanctions on 3 companies
The State Department on Thursday slapped sanctions on three overseas based energy companies for dealing with Iran, including China's state-run Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp., which it said was the largest supplier of refined petroleum products to Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also imposed sanctions on Singapore's Kuo Oil Pte Ltd and FAL Oil Company Ltd, an independent energy trader based in the United Arab Emirates, the State Department said in a notice.

"Under the sanctions imposed today, all three companies are barred from receiving U.S. export licenses, U.S. Export Import Bank financing, and loans over $10 million from U.S. financial institutions," the State Department said.

"These sanctions apply only to the sanctioned companies, and not to their governments or countries."

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this article.

Related stories:

Is West waging 'covert war' against Iran?

US denies killing Iran nuclear scientist?

More from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/12/10141198-iran-to-discuss-nuclear-arms-claims

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Lenovo 55-inch Ice Cream Sandwich HDTV hands-on (video)

Is it a Google TV? Well, yes and no. Lenovo's just trotted out a spankin' new 55-inch flat panel at CES Unveiled and while it's got that special Mountain View magic within, it's of the Ice Cream Sandwich variety. That's right, the company's powered this set up with Android 4.0, slapped on its own skin and is prepping it for a Chinese launch later this spring. One of the company's reps treated us to a brief walkthrough of the next-gen TV, so hop on past the break to get a glimpse of the frozen delights loaded up inside.

Continue reading Lenovo 55-inch Ice Cream Sandwich HDTV hands-on (video)

Lenovo 55-inch Ice Cream Sandwich HDTV hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Most Parents Tell Kids About Test Results for Breast Cancer Genes (HealthDay)

MONDAY, Jan. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Most parents who have genetic tests for breast cancer risk share the findings with their children, a new study finds.

Researchers interviewed 253 parents who underwent genetic testing for mutations in two common breast cancer-related genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) that can be inherited. All the participants had children younger than age 25 at the time of the genetic test.

Twenty-nine percent of the parents were found to have a BRCA gene mutation associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, said Dr. Angela Bradbury, of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, and colleagues.

Most of the parents in the study shared their test results (positive or negative) with at least one of their children. Of the 505 children, 334 (66 percent) were informed about the findings of their parents' tests.

Parents were more likely to share their test results with older children, but results were shared with about half of children ages 10 to 13, and some children who were even younger.

The researchers also found that parents were more likely to tell their children about negative test results -- meaning no breast cancer-related mutation was found -- particularly if the child was a girl.

Most children were not distressed when told about their parents' test results, but they were more likely to be upset when a mutation was detected and when they were younger than age 10, according to the report published online Jan. 9 in the journal Cancer.

"We know that adolescence is a time when children establish many important health behaviors they continue in adulthood. An understanding about children's reactions to these communications may assist parents in their decisions about whether, or when, to share their genetic test results," Bradbury said in a journal news release.

"This could also help parents begin conversations with their children that can encourage them to adopt healthy behaviors but not cause them distress," she added.

More information

The American Association for Clinical Chemistry has more about BRCA1 and BRCA2 tests.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/health/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20120109/hl_hsn/mostparentstellkidsabouttestresultsforbreastcancergenes

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