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China’s recent test of an anti-satellite weapon that pulverised an old weather satellite was a big mistake. The move makes a mockery of China’s long-standing opposition to such capabilities in the hands of other powers. More significantly, it threatens to undermine an uneasy moratorium on the development of space weapo... |
Worrying though this is, the US must not overreact. Rushing into a space weapons competition would not serve American strategic interests. But neither are sweeping controls on the military uses of space plausible or desirable. To develop an effective space policy, the US and its allies must bear several principles and ... |
First, the US increasingly uses space for military purposes, particularly for tactical war-fighting. Real-time data links and GPS-guided bombs are only the latest manifestations of this trend. The dependence on reconnaissance, targeting and communications satellites will surely grow. |
Second, although the US in particular has militarised space in such ways, space has yet to be weaponised. That is, hardly any weapons have been put into orbit or deployed to attack satellites. The Chinese test works against this generalisation, of course, but does not yet repudiate it. |
Third, those countries that rely on space systems cannot expect them to remain almost invulnerable. The nuclear powers already have ballistic missiles that have latent anti-satellite capabilities. The US, in particular, is also pursuing several ballistic missile defence programmes that also could be modified for anti-s... |
While regrettable, the Chinese anti-satellite test is a partially understandable step by a rising military power. China’s test was more blatant than America’s ongoing efforts in space but, if one can forgive the pun, it has not occurred in a vacuum. |
Fourth, other countries will gradually become more able to use space for offensive military purposes. In particular, they are likely to gain the capacity to find and target large mobile assets such as ships and big formations of ground forces. |
Basic technological and strategic realities support the argument for a moderate and flexible US military space policy. These realities also refute the extreme positions that have been espoused by prominent US policymakers in recent years. The late 1990s report of the Commission on Outer Space, for instance, warned of a... |
Most US satellites are not vulnerable to attack today nor are they likely to be in the years ahead. Thereafter, threats may often be handled through relatively passive measures and through redundant systems rather than an all-out space weapons competition. The Chinese anti-satellite test does put lower-altitude reconna... |
By racing to develop its own space weapons, the US would cause two unfortunate consequences. Militarily, it would legitimate a faster space arms race than is otherwise likely – something that can only hurt a country that nearly monopolises military space activities today. |
Second, it would reinforce the current prevalent image of a unilateralist US, impervious to the stated will of other countries (as reflected in the huge majority votes at the United Nations in favour of negotiating bans on space weaponry). |
For all its popularity, a wide-ranging ban on space weaponry is unjustified. Such an accord would be generally unverifiable and unable to reverse the simple fact that many ballistic missile defence systems can be transformed into anti-satellite weapons with relatively modest adjustments. |
So the right policy for the US in space remains hedging and going slow. Extreme solutions can be more rhetorically appealing. But they fail to address the technical and strategic realities of the day and should not be adopted. That said, a few more such Chinese tests and we may have little choice. |
Consumers look at Samsung Electronics' devices at its D'light Shop in Gangnam, Seoul. |
Apple and Google are discussing arbitration procedures that could mark the beginning of the end of their long-running war over smartphone patents but Samsung Electronics will not seek a compromise with Apple over their disputes, according to market analysts. |
Seoul-based industry analyst Thomas Kang said Thursday that the patent war will continue for the time being. |
"There is no way Samsung in the current situation will compromise like HTC did considering its market share and its optimistic expansion outlook going forward," Kang said. |
"As times go by, the situation becomes more and more unfavorable to Apple. Innovations are constantly happening in the mobile industry, and because of that, the innovations led by Apple have disappeared. The value of Apple's patents will lose luster as times go by." |
He also doubted there could be antitrust issues between the two technology giants because of the nature of the mobile market itself. |
"Unlike the telecommunications industry led by carriers, the mobile phone market is changing too fast. Samsung owns 65 percent of Korea's market but there are no legal issues of a monopoly as of yet. In the United States, Samsung has 32 percent and Apple 14 percent, and though the two countries' have different legal st... |
A smartphone duopoly led by Samsung and Apple has been widening over the past year. Analysts say that the volatile mobile market will threaten their dominance. |
"It is too late for Samsung and Apple to come to the negotiation table immediately, perhaps only in the long-term or near the end of next year," said HMC Securities analyst Kim Sang-pyo over the phone. |
One of the key issues in the ongoing dispute, besides claims of Samsung "slavishly copying" Apple products, has been possibility of antitrust law violations. Given the dominance of both firms, can a settlement be reached, and if so, wouldn't the alliance form a duopoly in the lucrative smartphone market? |
"It depends on how long the duopoly would last: if second-tier players like LG Electronics bring out a mega-hit next year and the market hierarchy shifts, Apple may hold its hands out to Samsung. Samsung will overwhelm Apple next year if things go according to its plan. A truce is likely in the long-term because they w... |
He said the Korean firm was preparing an additional $1 billion to spend in the legal war. It has increased its target shipment for mobile devices, especially its tablets from 15 million to 40 million for next year. The plan is to more aggressively tap into areas seen as Apple's territory. |
Despite both firms vocally bashing each other in public, the heart of the matter is purely business, as shown in the settlement between the iPhone maker and HTC. With the right terms, cross-licensing and settlements can happen. |
By next year, the rise of what one analyst here called the "dark horses" may rise up to force the two technology giants to settle and move forward. By then their alliance won't violate antitrust laws due to second-tier firms eating away at their market shares. The nature of the mobile market will not allow a monopoly. |
According to Hyundai Securities analyst Baek Jong-seok, the smartphone market will reach the early stages of saturation next year, and the competition will become fiercer and the competitiveness of latecomers will increase. |
"The 2013 smartphone business, while still a two-way race between Apple and Samsung Electronics, has a high possibility of a dark horse appearing," he said. "The competitiveness of LG Electronics and Huawei may be stressed due to the expansion of demand for low and mid-priced smartphones." |
He also estimated that next year's market will only grow 22 percent, compared to 76 percent this year. |
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Sun Microsystems Inc. introduced and began shipping a low-priced computer work station today that will compete directly with personal computers. It is in the price range of powerful personal computers and works twice as fast. |
Priced at $4,995 without a disk drive, or $6,695 with a hard disk, the Sparcstation SLT will be heavily discounted in volume purchases. At 12.5 millions of instructions per second, or MIP's, the new machine matches the performance of the Sparcstation 1 introduced in April 1989, but lacks that computer's internal disk a... |
The Sparcstation SLT is a product of a trend known as network computing in which powerful but inexpensive desktop machines share storage systems, known as file servers. This kind of computing has had a significant impact on traditional mainframe and minicomputer markets because it permits faster and less-expensive oper... |
Sun's Sparc design uses RISC, or reduced instruction set computing, which feeds operations by leaving many routine tasks to the software. |
''The battle today is on the desktop,'' said Scott McNealy, Sun's president and chief executive, at a news conference here today. He said Sun was already third in volume for desktop computing sales, behind the International Business Machines Corporation's personal computer and Apple Computer Inc.'s MacIntosh. The addit... |
The pricing of the SLC and its ability to use versions of popular programs like the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet and Wordperfect position the company to go head-to-head with I.B.M., Apple and the Compaq Computer Corporation for major office sales. Sun work stations which use the Unix software operating system developed by A... |
Another target is the X-terminal, which is used on networks that depend on a central computer or server for processing power, but provide a common user interface. These are typically priced around $3,000. |
Sun said it would offer the SLC when bought with Sun's 490 Sparcserver in quantities of 20 or more at a list price of $3,995, which could be discounted down to $3,000. |
''I think it's an X-terminal eliminator,'' said Peter Schleider, an analyst with Wessels, Arnold & Henderson in Minneapolis. ''An X-terminal is a dead end - this is an upgradeable product,'' he said. He said he believed the product would add tremendously to Sun's sales and that the cost of manufacturing was sufficientl... |
The SLC's circuitry is all packed on a single printed circuit board that mounts inside the monitor casing, so that there is no separate base. Integrating components this way makes the system easier to manufacture and to upgrade in the future, Sun said. The SLC uses chips made in a manufacturing process known as CMOS, a... |
Despite the reach into the office, Mr. McNealy said he expected the major market for the Sparcstation SLC to be software developers and engineers, who account for about 35 percent of Sun's current sales. |
Sun's stock fell $1.125, to 29.375, in over-the-counter trading today. |
People in Derbyshire are being urged to take five minutes to pass on safety advice about how to avoid scams and frauds. |
Take Five Week is a national campaign aiming to make people stop and think when they are asked for personal details. |
And on Tuesday officers are urging people to take five minutes to talk to five different people about how to keep themselves safe. |
Detective Inspector Debbie King, who leads Derbyshire Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “Keeping yourself safe can seem like a daunting prospect – but by keeping a simple, memorable phrase in mind then the chances of becoming a victim are far lower. |
“Whenever you are asked - whether on the phone, via your computer or in person – remember ‘My money? My info? I don’t think so.’. |
“Fraudsters will often target the most vulnerable members of society and it is important that everyone helps spread the message about how to stay safe. |
A genuine bank or organisations will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, full password or to move money to another account. You should only give out your personal or financial details to use a service that you have given your consent to, that you trust and that you are expecting to be contacted by. |
Don’t be tricked into giving a fraudster access to your personal or financial details. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text. |
Always question uninvited approaches in case it’s a scam. Instead of engaging with the approach, contact the company directly using a known email or phone number. If you do call make sure you ring from another phone or wait for at least three minutes before ringing the new number, ensuring you hear the dialling tone, t... |
In the last three months of 2017 the most prevalent fraud types in Derbyshire were in line with the national picture and officers are working hard to support victims and bring criminals to justice. |
Computer update fraud: This is where a criminal will ring posing as a Microsoft engineer stating there is a problem with their device and try to get the victim to divulge their computer passwords, banking passwords and other sensitive data. The victim can then be locked out of their own device and their passwords used ... |
- Legitimate officials from large companies will never contact you over the phone in this manner. |
- Hang up the phone, do not give them any information and report the attempt to Action Fraud. |
Criminals posing as police officers: Criminals posing as police as officers have been contacting victims stating that they need help catching bank staff who are acting illegally. The victim is tasked with going into the bank, saying nothing about the plan to the bank staff and withdrawing a large sum of money, which th... |
- Police will never contact you to be part of an operation of this kind. |
- If you are contacted by someone purporting to be from the police, either the constabulary that deal with your area or another force, ask for their details then hang up the phone, use a different phone or ensure you hear the dialling tone before calling back on 101 and ask to speak to the force in question. |
Advance fee fraud: This type of fraud asks people to put a deposit down to secure an item, services or financial gains. The classic type of this kind of crime is known as a West African letter or 419 fraud. This is where a large sum of money is being held and a payment needs to be made to release the funds. In fact, th... |
- If you receive a letter or correspondence of this kind do not reply. |
- Do not click on any links in the scam email. |
- Do not reply to the email or contact the senders in any way. |
- If you have clicked on a link in the email, do not supply any information on the website that may open. |
- Do not open any attachments that arrive with the email. |
Online shopping and auction site payment fraud: This fraud sees those who are using online shopping sites moved away from using the legitimate payment methods, such as Paypal, and instead paying directly into bank accounts or by other means. |
- If you are purchasing items online never move away from the legitimate payment methods used by the sites you are using. |
- If you feel that a deal may be too good, or the price is far lower than the market level, reconsider your purchase. |
- Always look at the sellers past history and comments – while this is not fool proof it will give you a good idea about the trust in that seller. |
STONEHAM, Mass. – The funeral for figure skater Nancy Kerrigan's father was held on Thursday in Massachusetts. |
The former Olympian buried her face in a relative's back and appeared to weep as the flag-draped casket was carried into St. Patrick's Church in Stoneham, Mass. |
Family remembered 70-year-old Daniel Kerrigan as a dedicated father and grandfather with a great sense of humor. |
He died Sunday after what authorities say was a violent struggle with his son, Mark Kerrigan. Family members say he died of an unrelated heart attack. The 45-year-old Mark Kerrigan has pleaded not guilty to assault. Authorities are awaiting tests on the cause of his father's death. |
Nancy Kerrigan says in statement that her father was "my support ... behind me always." |
Click here for more from MyFoxBoston.com. |
Nanoom Christian Fellowship church in Westlake ministers to drug addicts, many of whom come from a Korean community that stigmatizes substance abuse. |
On Sundays, Nanoom Christian Fellowship opens its gates to visitors, but those who call this church their home are not allowed to leave unsupervised. |
Nanoom Christian Fellowship is a church that offers addicts free housing, food, counseling and fellowship in a drug-free environment. People from any ethnicity or religion are welcome, but it’s especially popular among Korean-Americans, who have some of the highest rates of addiction among Asian groups in the United St... |
The church can host about 50 people at once, a small number given the demand for its services. As the only Korean-American church that operates as a free rehab center in the city, Nanoom has over 300 people on a waitlist. |
A woman we'll call Hannah, who asked that her real name not be used to protect her privacy, has lived at the church for more than a year, but during that time, she’s jumped the gates more than once. |
“[The church] is smack down in the middle of where people have already given their lives up to drugs. The pastor purposefully put this place right here, so we would have the temptation and be forced to face it,” she said, referring to the surrounding neighborhood of Westlake, which has long been associated with drug tr... |
Nanoom blends Christian beliefs with a traditional anti-drug program. Residents participate in Bible studies and attend prayer meetings, but they also need special permission to use cell phones and their incoming mail is pre-screened. Drug tests are carried out randomly about once a month, yet if anyone is caught with ... |
Pastor Young Han, founder of Nanoom, developed the program based on his own experience. A former cocaine addict, he went through numerous Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and rehab centers and even jail, all of which he said were useless in treating his addiction. |
In fact, he said, he went to several different rehab centers because many wouldn’t take him back when he relapsed. That’s why he believes that unconditional support is crucial and accepts anyone who returns, no matter how many times they attempt to leave. |
Han calls residents “inmates,” and he keeps them busy with church-like activities. With her days jam-packed with worship, prayer and Bible studies, Hannah said free time is sparse, but she likes it that way. Too much freedom can be dangerously tempting. |
“Having free time can be boring, and if you’re focused on what you want to get, like a drug, or thinking about leaving or something, you’re just stressing out,” said Geung Jung, a minister at Nanoom. |
Jung speaks from experience. Like all other staff members, he is a former addict and alumnus of the church’s drug abuse program. He spent 11 months as an inmate before he was hired full time in 2005. Since then, he’s been a leader and role model at Nanoom, using his own experience to guide others in their path to sobri... |
Paulina Hong, development director at the Asian American Drug Abuse Program, believes that having counselors who are familiar with the inmates’ cultural background plays a big role in whether a treatment program is successful or not. |
“Substance abuse treatment delves into big issues, issues that pertain to how you were raised and how you grew up. A lot of those things are informed by the culture that we grow up in, so having counselors and professors that are familiar with cultural background is very important,” she said. |
After 20 years at Nanoom, Han has witnessed how big of a role cultural upbringing plays in addiction. Korean immigrants come from a country where 97 percent of the people attain secondary education. The pressure to get into college is so common, it’s been referred to as a “fever.” In the U.S., too, Korean parents can p... |
According to Han, this battle between traditional Korean culture and the more liberal, American society is what drives many to seek drugs. |
While in college, Hannah said she went on a downward spiral that had her abusing Ecstasy and Xanax alone in her bedroom. When she graduated, she promised herself she would stop doing drugs, but her 9 to 5 warehouse job was so stressful, she sought an escape by getting high. |
Her parents were only vaguely aware of her drug problem. Hannah was too ashamed to share her distress and admit her failure to fit the “Asian standard.” Instead, she confided in her brother who, also born in America, understood her struggle and kept her secrets. |
Hannah’s drug abuse was revealed when she overdosed on Xanax and nearly died, she said. The next day, her family took her to Nanoom, where she’s been since April 2017. They visit every Sunday, when the church opens its door to friends and families, offering worship services in Korean and English. |
Hannah is one of the few whose parents visit frequently. According to Han, only about 20 percent of inmates’ parents are involved with Nanoom. Many others are embarrassed by the situation. |
The stigma of addiction causes many to hide their struggles. In some Asian-American communities, seeking help for substance abuse is viewed as an admission of weakness. |
Hannah said by surrendering herself to God and learning not to place so much pressure on herself, she has slowly regained strength, confidence and self-control, all vital in fighting off the temptation of drugs. |
Richard Franta, 57, Dalton Avenue, Deltona, died Saturday. Born in North Chicago, Ill., he moved to Deltona from Waukegan, Ill., in 1974. He was a purchasing agent for the U.S. Navy. Survivors: wife, Joan; sons, Chuck, John, Joe, all of Longwood, Steven, Tom, both of Deltona; daughter, Mary Lou Franta, Deltona; sisters... |
WASHINGTON – Congress sent President Bush (search) an $800 billion boost in the federal borrowing limit on Thursday, spotlighting how the budget has lurched out of control in recent years and how hard it will be to afford future initiatives. |
The House approved the measure by a near party-line 208-204 vote as White House and bipartisan congressional bargainers moved to the verge of agreement on a year-end spending package expected to total $388 billion. Negotiators said just a handful of issues remained unresolved, and a package might be ready for votes by ... |
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