Category: Guides

Court rules for Motorola and makes Apple pull iPads and iPhones in Germany

Linda Young – AHN News Writer

Mannheim, Germany (AHN) – A court ruling favoring Motorola Mobility has forced Apple to pull several of its iPad and iPhone models from its German online store.

Motorola had filed suit against Apple to enforce its patent injunction against its rival. In December, the court in Manheim, Germany issued a ruling saying that Apple had failed to license one of Motorola’s wireless intellectual properties.

The affected products include Apple’s iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, along with all 3G models of its iPad. However, its Apple’s newer iPhone 4S and its wi-fi-only iPad are not affected.

Apple says it will appeal the ruling. It claims that Motorola had repeatedly refused to license the applicable patent to Apple with reasonable terms and conditions. However, Motorola disagrees and says it has offered Apple reasonable licensing of the patent since 2007.

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Nancy Shevell, Mrs. Paul McCartney, resigns from MTA Board

Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter

NYC, NY, United States (AHN) – Nancy Shevell, otherwise known as Mrs. Paul McCartney, resigned from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board Wednesday.

Ms. Shevell was appointed to the MTA board in 2001 by former Gov. George Pataki. She is the third-longest serving current member and has remained as a holdover member since her term expired in 2010.

Ms. Shevell is the vice president of New England Motor Freight and her family’s stable and prosperous businesses.

Ms. Shevell did not give any explanation for her resignation, but her presence, and the loss of her high profile name, is a loss for the board.

Ms. Shevell did not speak to reporters about her decision to step down. She did however say at the meeting Wednesday, “I am very emotional and sad right now.”

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Nation’s Mayors Support Gay Marriage But Complain About Unemployment

Tom Ramstack – AHN News Legal Correspondent

DC, Washington, United States (AHN) – The U.S. Conference of Mayors wrapped up its winter meeting Friday in Washington, D.C., with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stepping into controversies on same sex marriage and education.

Emanuel joined about 80 other mayors from across the nation in endorsing laws to give legal recognition to same sex marriage, along with the tax breaks and other benefits spouses can share.

The mayors signed on to a statement that said, “Our cities derive great strength from their diversity and gay and lesbian families are a crucial part. Studies have shown what we know through our hands-on experience that cities that celebrate and cultivate diversity are the places where creativity and ideas thrive.”

Emanuel supported the Illinois Legislature’s effort last year to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples.

He said New York did “a good thing” last June when state lawmakers legalized gay marriage.

In separate comments Friday, Emanuel discussed his plan to turn Chicago’s community colleges into training institutions for the city’s employers.

Currently, Chicago’s City Colleges have a graduation rate of about 7 percent and job prospects for graduates that are “not as high,” Emanuel said.

His plan calls for each of the city’s seven community colleges to operate with specialties, such as health care, transportation, hospitality and manufacturing.

In addition, employers would be brought in to develop curricula that would train the students to become their employees.

“I want it to have economic value” to attend college, Emanuel said at the downtown Washington hotel where about 250 mayors were meeting.

Turning colleges into job training institutions is controversial among some academics, who say a well-rounded education requires liberal arts courses that include literature, history and the arts.

Nevertheless, job creation and recovery from the economic disaster of the Great Recession were dominant themes throughout the meeting this week.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors released a report that said the nation’s metropolitan areas will struggle for five more years to regain jobs lost during the recession that started in September 2008.

“The recovery is very uneven across U.S. regions, with the southeastern and southwestern metro [areas that] were the most affected by the housing bubble looking ahead to years of recovery,” the report says.

U.S. nonfarm payrolls will grow about 1.3 percent this year, which is unlikely to reduce the unemployment rate below 8 percent, according to a report by IHS Global Insight.

The report predicts the nation will regain nearly half the jobs lost during the Great Recession by the end of 2012.

The mayors used the economic report to try to prod Congress to approve legislation that would create more jobs.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, president of the Conference of Mayors, said “Congress has jumped ship” in its obligation to stimulate the economy and employment.

However, Villaraigosa acknowledged cities will have a hard time squeezing money out of Congress at a time the federal government is trying to reduce its deficit by cutting spending.

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State Department to deny permit for Canada-U.S. oil pipeline project

Windsor Genova – AHN News News Writer

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The U.S. State Department is reportedly denying a permit for the construction of Keystone XL, a 1,700-mile oil pipeline between Canada and the U.S. The news sent shares of TransCanada Corp., which will undertake the project, falling on Wednesday.

According to sources, the State Department will not issue the permit following the White House’s admission that it won’t meet the Feb. 21 deadline set by Congress to approve the pipeline that will transport Canadian bitumen to U.S. refineries in the Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile, 350.org, a group opposing the project, welcomed the news. Author, environmentalist and 350.org founder Bill McKibben said the denial of the Keystone XL permit is a victory for its opponents and a brave act of President Barack Obama.

McKibben said lobbyists for the project will still push American lawmakers to approve the project. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) plans to introduce a bill that will allow Congress to approve the $7 billion project.

Congress had given the State Department 60 days to decide on the project. The State Department, however, claimed that more time is needed to complete an environmental impact assessment on putting a pipeline in the sensitive Nebraska Aquifer, which is part of the proposed route of the pipeline.

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U.S. consumer borrowing rises in November

Linda Young – AHN News Writer

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Consumer borrowing in the United States rose in November by more than analysts had expected, fueled by purchases of cars and other items.

Spending rose by $20.4 billion to $2.48 trillion, which was the largest monthly increase since November 2001, according to the Federal Reserve.

That exceeded economists’ median estimate of $7 billion.

The data suggests that consumers are borrowing again, which could signal a recovery in the economy. Consumers had saved more and borrowed and spent less since 2007.

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Ailing Yahoo! names ex-PayPal boss Thompson new CEO

AHN News Staff

Mountainview, CA, United States (AHN) – Former PayPal boss Scott Thompson has been named as the new chief executive of Internet search engine giant Yahoo.

Thompson will replace Carol Bartz, who had been sacked by the group four months ago for failing to turn the firm around.

A company statement said that Thompson, along with its board, would focus on company’s core business and try to identify the best approach for company as well as for its shareholders.

“Scott brings to Yahoo a proven record of building on a solid foundation of existing assets and resources to reignite innovation and drive growth, precisely the formula we need at Yahoo,” chairman Roy Bostock said in a statement.

“His deep understanding of online businesses combined with his team-building and operational capabilities will restore the energy, focus, and momentum necessary to grow the core business and deliver increased value for our shareholders,” he added.

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U.N. agency says Bangladesh no longer a “high risk” piracy area

Saleem Samad – AHN News Correspondent

Dhaka, Bangladesh (AHN) – Bangladesh has been removed from a list of “high risk” piracy prone areas compiled by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), an anti-crime warning unit of International Chamber of Commerce. Bangladeshi authorities lobbied the IMB to remove itself, since the designation increased the cost of insurance to cargo ships destined for Chittagong in the Bay of Bengal.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Khurshed Alam confirmed to news on Sunday. Bangladesh wrote a protest letter on December 20.

In the protest letter, Bangladesh stated that incidents reported to the IMB were mostly “petty thefts” or “robbery” and under no circumstances constituted genuine “piracy” since they took place well within 200 nautical miles from the coast of Bangladesh. Most incidents were reported at Chittagong anchorages and approaches, says the IMB website.

The IMB portal has since changed the status from a “piracy warning” to “piracy and armed robbery warning.”

For two decades the IMB has labeled Bangladesh as a “high-risk” area for piracy. However, Bangladeshi officials say that according to the definitions of the crime provided for by international law, there has been not a single case of piracy in their territorial waters during that period.

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Somalia’s consultative meeting concludes in Garowe

Mohamed Hassan – AHN News Mohamed Shiil

Garowe, Somalia (AHN) – The second phase of the United Nations-sponsored consultative meeting on national unity concluded Saturday in Garowe, capital of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland.

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, Parliament Speaker Sharif Hassan and Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed met with representatives from Puntland, Galmudug and Sufi militia Ahlu Sunna Wal-jama’a to settle a bitter dispute over the 4.5 formula of power sharing in Somalia.

“The most disputed item was the 4.5 formula and at last we have resolved ” said Abdirahman Farole, president of Puntland, speaking at the closing ceremony.

The 4.5 formula sets aside seats in the the parliament, Four major clans receive the majority of the seats and other minority clans divide the rest of the seats.

“The meeting concludes successfully after Puntland accepted concessions and step down its disagreement over the formula,” he added.

The meeting also agreed to reduce from 500 to 225 the members of the Parliament. Their selection will be based on the 4.5 power sharing formula.

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed said the meeting ended with greater achievements.

“The outcome of the meeting need to be implemented as we agreed on during our consultations in Garowe,” Ahmed said.

The meeting coincided with dissension among parliamentarians on the status of the Speaker after 280 lawmakers voted for his dismissal.

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U.S. cautious in reaction to death, succession in North Korea

Tejinder Singh – AHN News Correspondent

Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – Officials across the U.S. government reacted with caution Monday to the weekend death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, instead collectively conveying America’s unwavering commitment to South Korea.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta spoke with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin about the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il in a 15-minute telephone call Monday morning, Pentagon press secretary George Little told journalists.

“The secretary conveyed to Mr. Kim the strong commitment of the United States to peninsular stability and to our alliance,” he said. “He made it clear that the United States stands with Korea in this time of uncertainty.”

“Both men agreed that it was critical to remain prudent with respect to all matters related to our security posture there, and pledged to keep one another informed in the coming days,” read a statement from the Pentagon.

Panetta was briefed on Kim’s death immediately after word reached the outside world over the weekend, Little said.

“He has been closely monitoring the situation ever since,” Little said. “He has been in contact with senior officials here in the department.”

Little said there was “no truth” to rumors that Americans would be evacuated from South Korea as a caution. He also denied there would be any increase in force protection for U.S. forces in Korea or that any unusual military movements had been detected after the death of the North Korean dictator.

The press secretary said there had been no movement of the 36,000 U.S. service members stationed in South Korea.

On the announcement from North Korean officials that Kim’s son, Kim Jong Un, will take over the isolated country, Little said, “I wouldn’t comment on the particulars of succession at this stage.”

“Obviously, we are closely monitoring the succession process. The North Koreans are in a period of mourning at this point, and that being said, the military does exercise a prominent role in North Korea, but I wouldn’t want to speculate at this stage,” added the spokesman.

Defense department officials, along with their South Korean counterparts, believe that a North Korean missile test conducted earlier on Monday was pre-planned and not connected to Kim’s death, a senior Pentagon official said on background.

Later, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a joint press conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, said “We both share a common interest in a peaceful and stable transition in North Korea, as well as in ensuring regional peace and stability.”

The Japanese official echoed Clinton’s sentiments. “We share the recognition that it is important to make sure that the latest events would not negatively affect the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” added Gemba. Citing the situation in North Korea, Gemba said, “Secretary Clinton and I reaffirmed to continue to make frequent contact with each other.”

Former Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. John McCain, in a statement, said the world was “a better place now that Kim Jong-il is no longer in it.”

“For more than six decades, people in North Korea have been consigned to lives of dire poverty and cruel oppression under one of the most totalitarian regimes the world has ever known,” said, McCain. “I can only express satisfaction that the Dear Leader is joining the likes of Qaddafi, Bin Laden, Hitler, and Stalin in a warm corner of hell.”

Human rights activists called the death of Kim Jong Il an unprecedented opportunity for North Korea’s new leaders, including Kim Jong Un, to turn a new page on the human rights situation in the country and put an end to widespread and systematic violations.

“North Korea remains a closed country and access is therefore urgently needed for independent and neutral human rights monitors, in particular the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in North Korea and international humanitarian organizations,” said Souhayr Belhassen, president of the International Federation for Human Rights.

The International Coalition to Stop Crimes against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK) urged DPRK leaders to “immediately put an end to practices such as forced labor, forced abortion of returnees, torture or executions, close all kwan-li-so (political prisoners’ camps) and release all political prisoners and abductees.”

Benedict Rogers, East Asia team Leader at Christian Solidarity Worldwide, commented, “While there may be a period of uncertainty and instability in the days ahead, the international community should ensure that the severe human rights and humanitarian crisis in North Korea is placed firmly on the agenda alongside security and political concerns.”

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HHS gives states flexibility on health law’s ‘essential benefits’

United States (KaiserHealth) – States will be given wide latitude to decide what “essential benefits” insurers must offer in policies offered on new health exchanges come 2014, the Obama administration said Friday in a move that pushes off final federal rules on those benefits until sometime next year.

Instead of one national standard, states will be able to design benchmark plans based on one of four choices: The benefits offered in one of the three largest federal employee plans (by enrollment), one of the three largest plans offered to their state employees, one of the three largest small-business plans in the state or the plan offered by the largest HMO in the state.

Those benefits, which must be offered by insurers in most policies sold to individuals and small businesses, are one of the key flash points in the federal health law. Patient advocates have called for a broad national standard covering a wide range of treatments, while business groups say affordability must be a top consideration, even if it means a more limited package.

Because state employee plans and policies sold in the states can vary widely, the move means there will likely not be one national standard benefit package, but rather “benchmark” plans in each state. That gives states the flexibility they had called for, but also means coverage will vary.

Rather than issue a proposed regulation, the administration chose to advise the states through a “pre-rule bulletin,” which does not have the force of law. But neither can it be quashed by Congress, as could a rule. By putting out the choices as a form of guidance, the administration also does not have to provide definitive economic estimates of the proposal or determine its regulatory impact on small businesses.

“Now, no one can say they put out a rule that costs umpteen billion dollars, but they floated something to give states an idea of what to expect’,” said Robert Laszewski, a former insurance executive and head of the consulting firm Health Policy and Strategy Associates in Alexandria, VA.

– Provided by Kaiser Health News.

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