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News with a difference promised by Al Jazeera in US avatar

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:28:01 -0400

WASHINGTON - Al Jazeera's new American channel coming in summer hopes to be different with lesser focus on celebrities or other tabloid fodder found on U.S. television news. Al Jazeera America hopes to stand out with a diet heavy on "fact-based, in-depth, long-format news." According to Ehab Al Shihabi, executive director of international operations for Al Jazeera Media Network, Al Jazeera ...

Batteries hold key to wearable device revolution

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:26:28 -0400

Reuters © Sleiman Itani (L), co-founder and chief executive of Atheer, and Hosain Rahman, co-founder and chief executive of Jawbone, speak at the wearing computing panel during Reuters Global Technology Summit in San Francisco, June 17, 2013. REUTERS/Stephen ...

Yes Futurama Is Really Cancelled

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:57:36 -0400

Futurama through seven seasons-and 14 years of cancelations, syndicated success, direct-to-DVD resurrection, provisional renewal and, finally, a new lease on life at Comedy Central. That lease expires this summer, after the show’s eighth and (most recent) final season. When Adweek caught up with Cohen, he suggested we make a chat about Futurama an annual tradition "because ...

Yahoo reveals U.S. government requests for user data

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:56:53 -0400

Web pioneer says it received more than 12,000 requests in the past six months for user information, most of which were related to criminal investigations such as fraud and ...

Sprint sues Dish Clearwire as key deadline looms

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:53:05 -0400

By Jonathan Stempel and Sruthi Ramakrishnan (Reuters) - Sprint Nextel Corp on Monday said it has sued Dish Network Corp to block its tender offer for Clearwire Corp, on the eve of a key deadline in a takeover battle that also includes Japanese ...

PRESS DIGEST - Hong Kong - June 18

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:48:51 -0400

HONG KONG, June 18 | Mon Jun 17, 2013 9:48pm EDT HONG KONG, June 18 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Hong Kong newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST -- JP Morgan Chase expects to achieve annual revenue growth of more than 10 percent from its Asia-Pacific business over the coming ...

UPDATE 1-Third Point raises Sony stake presses for entertainment spin-off

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:04:13 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 9:04pm EDT TOKYO, June 18 (Reuters) - New York-based hedge fund company Third Point said it had raised its stake in Japan's Sony Corp and asked for an opportunity to present its proposal to Sony's board for a partial spin-off of the company's entertainment unit. The move comes after Third Point, a $13 billion hedge fund founded by billionaire investor Daniel Loeb, ...

Obama says will meet oversight board about NSA surveillance

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:45:42 -0400

U.S. President Barack Obama glances at Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (R) during a news conference with European Union officials at the G8 summit in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 17, ...

Sale of Springer Science to BC Partners still option -sources

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:47:11 -0400

By Alexander Hbner FRANKFURT (Reuters) - A direct sale of German publisher Springer Science+Business Media SPSBM.UL to BC Partners is still an option, even after Springer's owners said last week their focus was on a stock exchange listing, ...

WRAPUP 3-Snowden rejects suggestions he is a spy for China

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:33:24 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 7:33pm EDT * Snowden hits back against critics, criticizes Obama * He questions whether he can get fair trial in U.S. * Shrugs off Cheney criticism, calls it an 'honor' * Obama reiterates trade-off between security and privacy By Laura MacInnis and John Whitesides WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) - Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who exposed ...

Jay Zs million-album Samsung sale unlikely to count for charts

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:58:10 -0400

By Eric Kelsey LOS ANGELES, June 17 | Mon Jun 17, 2013 6:58pm EDT LOS ANGELES, June 17 (Reuters) - Rapper Jay Z's upcoming studio album will go to a million users of Samsung smartphones three days before its official release in a promotional deal, but the distribution is unlikely to count toward official sales figures, an industry expert said on Monday. Jay Z, 43, announced on ...

UPDATE 1-Republican senators seek border compromise for U.S. immigration bill

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:40:54 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 6:40pm EDT * Will compromise be enough to satisfy conservatives? * Could include high-tech methods to secure border * Amendment may be offered this week (Adds Corker quotes, more details) By Richard Cowan and Caren Bohan WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) - A small group of Republican senators worked Monday on a possible border security compromise that would make a sweeping ...

Googles low-cost Chromebooks coming to 6600 more stores

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:38:58 -0400

(Credit: Google) While Google hasn't done a lot of promotion around its Chromebooks, there's no doubt that the company is still working on bringing the low-cost laptops to more people around the world. The tech ...

Netflix Inks a Deal with DreamWorks for Exclusive Content

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:38:37 -0400

Turbo: F.A.S.T. (based on this summer's movie of the same name about a racing snail). The deal goosed the streaming service's stock considerably, sending it up 7.1 percent as of this ...

Retailmenot files for IPO of up to $230 mln

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:38:24 -0400

June 17 | Mon Jun 17, 2013 6:38pm EDT June 17 (Reuters) - Online coupon company Retailmenot Inc filed with U.S. regulators on Monday for an initial public offering of common stock of up to $230 million. Retailmenot, which connects consumers and retailers, offers digital coupons from over 60,000 retailers and brands. The company, which listed Google Inc, Yahoo Inc and Facebook Inc as ...

UPDATE 1-Kabel Deutschland confirms preliminary offer from Liberty Global

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:25:31 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 6:25pm EDT June 17 (Reuters) - Kabel Deutschland - Germany's biggest cable operator - confirmed on Monday that they have received a preliminary approach from U.S. media group Liberty Global Plc after a British newspaper reported that the company had put forward a 7.5-billion-euro bid for the company. Kabel Deutschland did not provide any details of the proposal. A spokesman ...

UPDATE 2-Montreal mayor arrested in latest Canadian scandal

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:55:56 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 5:55pm EDT (Adds premier calling on mayor to resign, Applebaum declining to comment) By David Ljunggren and Julie Gordon June 17 (Reuters) - Montreal's new mayor, who pledged to stamp out corruption when he took office in November after his predecessor resigned under a cloud, was arrested and charged with fraud on Monday in the latest blow to the reputation of Canada's ...

UPDATE 4-Big investor urges Smithfield breakup over buyout

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:47:46 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 5:47pm EDT * Starboard: Selling pieces could net $44-$55/shr * Says looks to engage in talks with interested parties * Smithfield shares gain 0.9 percent By Martinne Geller June 17 (Reuters) - Starboard Value LP revealed a major stake in Smithfield Foods Inc on Monday and urged the world's largest pork producer to explore a breakup rather than a planned $4.7 billion takeover ...

Video app Squrl pumps up content with redesign

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:35:40 -0400

The video-discovery app that scours the Internet improves its search and adds private messaging. The next step is getting official with content ...

Viacom Finishes Major Upfront Biz

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:35:14 -0400

Viacom has inked the last of its major upfront deals, pulling in increases of between 2 and 7 percent-two among clients who opted to increase volume 10 percent or more; seven among buyers who opted to remain flat. It's the third year running that ad sales head Jeff Lucas has gone for volume over pricing, and the result is that he and his team negotiate concurrently with the ...

Fitch Publishes Telecom Cable Company Handbook

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:32:56 -0400

Fitch: Spanish Floor Clause Ruling May Reduce Excess Spread A recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling could cause lenders to stop applying floor clauses that set minimum interest rates in mortgage contracts, and so reduce excess spread in Spanish RMBS transactions, Fitch Ratings says. The presence of interest rate floors in mortgage contracts has bolstered excess spread during the recent period of ...

Netflix boosts original programing with DreamWorks deal

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:59:53 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:59pm EDT (Reuters) - Video streaming service Netflix Inc is beefing up its original programing menu through a multi-year deal with DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc, the maker of movies such as Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda. DreamWorks said the deal, which involves 300 hours of new programing, is a cornerstone of a major initiative to expand its television production and ...

U.S. security expert says surveillance cameras can be hacked

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:58:40 -0400

By Jim FinkleBOSTON (Reuters) - A U.S. security expert says he has identified ways to remotely attack high-end surveillance cameras used by industrial plants, prisons, banks and the military, something that potentially would allow hackers to spy on facilities or gain access to sensitive computer networks.Craig Heffner, a former software developer with the National Security Administration who now ...

WRAPUP 2-Snowden hits back against critics of NSA leaks

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:52:13 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:52pm EDT * Cites 'litany of lies' by U.S. officials * Snowden questions whether he can get fair trial in U.S. * Urges Obama to roll back surveillance programs By Deborah Charles and Laura MacInnis WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) - The former National Security Agency contractor who revealed the U.S. government's top-secret monitoring of Americans' phone and ...

UPDATE 1-Google settlement clears way for new Class C stock

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:43:05 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 1:43pm EDT * Google settles on eve of scheduled trial * Deal includes protections for common shareholders * Brin, Page agree to deal "tying their hands" By Tom Hals June 17 (Reuters) - Google Inc has settled a shareholder class action lawsuit that clears the way for the company to issue a new class of nonvoting stock, giving the company a currency for acquisitions that ...

Digg Reader launching June 26

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:32:51 -0400

(Credit: Digg) Digg will start rolling out its new RSS service next week with all users having access by June 26, the site announced ...

Bauer Launching Three New Titles

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:26:25 -0400

sorry state of newsstand sales , Bauer Publishing, the company behind single-copy staples like Woman’s World, In Touch and Life & Style Weekly, is launching three new newsstand magazines: women’s weekly Closer, tween title Girl’s World, and Celebrate with Woman’s World. All three are set to launch in the second half of the ...

Hell is Other People Anti-social media to keep you alone

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:25:57 -0400

(Credit: Video screenshot by Nic Healey/CNET Australia) Like most social media, Foursquare is designed to connect people, but what if you feel like being alone? Web ...

New apps aim to make buying a used car more transparent

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:51:22 -0400

By Natasha Baker(Reuters) - Americans looking to buy a used car can turn to two new smartphone apps that provide wholesale prices, which the app makers say can help them negotiate a better deal.The apps give the wholesale, or auction value, of a car when it scans the vehicle's identification number (VIN), which is found on the car's dashboard or driver side door."Dealers really ...

Miss Alabamas beautiful confusion about NSA surveillance

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:22:55 -0400

feel comfortable with the idea that government may be offering surveillance for own own good. Or do they? An answer given by Miss Alabama during the Miss USA pageant on Sunday night fully expressed how pretzel-ish the thinking has to be around our personal safety and ...

Skype launches video messaging to all users

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:22:52 -0400

launched on Monday to all Skype users . Those of you on Skype can record a video message to share with folks who aren't available. The message then pops up for your recipients after they log into Skype. Built directly into the Skype software, Video Messaging is accessible via Skype for Windows desktop, Skype ...

Nook tablet discounts extend beyond Fathers Day

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:20:13 -0400

(Credit: Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET) Father's Day is lasting a little bit longer than usual, at least in the land of Barnes & Noble. The retailer revealed on Monday that it's stretching its special Father's Day sales prices on the Nook HD and Nook ...

Cheap sitter Netflix lines up 300 hours of Dreamworks TV

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:19:22 -0400

(Credit: PRNewsFoto/Netflix Inc.) If you need a cheap sitter for almost two weeks straight, next year Netflix will oblige. After losing popular Nickelodeon content earlier this year, the Internet's top streaming service is set to bring 300 hours of original kids' television programming based on blockbuster DreamWorks Animation franchises to its streaming subscribers next year. ...

Facebook to unveil Instagram video on June 20 report says

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:19:18 -0400

reporting , citing a person who claims to have knowledge of its plans. Similar to Twitter's Vine, which allows users to post 6-second videos, Instagram's videos would be limited to 5 to 10 seconds. Vine has been growing rapidly, as users have found it to be a worthwhile alternative to tweeting or sharing pictures. Users are able to record several seconds of video, and then share it ...

Analysis European cloud computing firms see silver lining in PRISM scandal

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:17:09 -0400

By Leila Abboud and Paul SandlePARIS/LONDON (Reuters) - France has its "Sovereign Cloud" project while across the Rhine data firms have created the label "Cloud Services: Made in Germany", all trying to reassure big companies that their information is stored away from the prying eyes of U.S. spies.European firms believe revelations that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) ...

REFILE-UPDATE 1-Netflix looks for more original programming with DreamWorks deal

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:44:44 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 8:44am EDT * Deal is Netflix's largest for original programming * DreamWorks characters will be shown on TV as branded collection of shows * Deal has 300 hours of new programming June 17 (Reuters) - Video streaming service Netflix Inc will beef up its original programming menu through a new, multi-year deal with DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc, the maker of movies such as ...

Samsung mass producing speedier solid-state drives

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:28:13 -0400

(Credit: Samsung) Apple's new MacBook Air has adopted faster solid-state drives made by Samsung. But Apple won't be the only beneficiary. Samsung announced today that it has ...

Woolwich attack footage leads to Ofcom investigation of broadcasters

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:24:43 -0400

Mobile phone footage, shown on TV, of the attack in which Lee Rigby was killed led to 700 complaints to Ofcom. Photograph: Martin Godwin for the ...

Review Roundup - Brad Pitts World War Z

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:11:57 -0400

June 17 | Mon Jun 17, 2013 7:11am EDT June 17 (Reuters) - "World War Z" is one of the big box office releases this summer in which Brad Pitt plays a United Nations representative enlisted to help stop a zombie pandemic threatening to destroy mankind. The film was due to be released late last year but suffered setbacks amid reports that the budget had ballooned above $200 ...

RLPC-European borrowers look to refinance loans early

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 06:45:48 -0400

By Tessa Walsh LONDON, June 17 | Mon Jun 17, 2013 6:45am EDT LONDON, June 17 (Reuters) - Large European companies are bringing forward plans to refinance syndicated loans before the summer in a bid to lock in cheap rates as heightened capital markets volatility threatens to change borrower-friendly market dynamics and could even push loan pricing higher if it persists. Companies have ...

RPT-Fitch downgrades Virgin Media to B+ on acquisition by Liberty Global outlook stable

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:39:29 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 5:39am EDT June 17 (Reuters) - (The following statement was released by the rating agency) Fitch Ratings has downgraded Virgin Media Inc.'s (Virgin Media) Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'B+' from 'BB+'. The ratings have been removed from Rating Watch Negative (RWN) and the Outlook on the Long-term IDR is Stable. A full list of rating actions is ...

Samsung to launch faster Galaxy S4 smartphone

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:35:43 -0400

By Miyoung Kim SUWON, South Korea (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co (005930.KS) plans to sell a variation of its flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone that will transmit data at nearly twice the normal speed, the head of its mobile business said ...

Apple Up to 5000 Data Requests in 6 Months

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:58:26 -0400

Apple received over the last six months between 4,000 and 5,000 requests for customer data from U.S. law enforcement authorities relating to criminal investigations and national security matters, the company said on Monday. Microsoft and Facebook Inc published similar data last week after reaching a deal about disclosures with U.S. national security authorities. "We have asked the U.S. ...

Is cable holding back superfast broadband adoption on purpose

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:44:32 -0400

The cable industry says it is more than ready to compete with Google Fiber, but adds that consumers are nowhere near ready for gigabit speeds. Is it cable's pricing schemes that are holding back ...

Apple got up to 5000 U.S. data requests in six months

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:02:12 -0400

June 17 | Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:02am EDT June 17 (Reuters) - Apple received over the last six months between 4,000 and 5,000 requests for customer data from U.S. law enforcement authorities relating to criminal investigations and national security matters, the company said on Monday. Microsoft and Facebook Inc published similar data last week after reaching a deal about disclosures with ...

UPDATE 1-Eutelsat KKR said to place bids for SingTels Australia unit

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:12:37 -0400

Mon Jun 17, 2013 1:12am EDT * Auction pits strategic buyers against buyout firms * Deal would rank 3rd in Australia M&A this year * Other suitors include Blackstone, Carlyle, Inmarsat and SES By Stephen Aldred and Jackie Range HONG KONG/SYDNEY, June 17 (Reuters) - France's Eutelsat Communications SA and U.S. private equity firm KKR and Co are among the suitors to place first-round bids for ...

Turkey - Turkey fines TV stations in connection with protest coverage

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:31:35 -0400

The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Turkish state media regulator to reverse its decision to penalize four TV stations in connection with their coverage of the demonstrations that have occurred nationwide over the past two weeks.The state broadcast regulator, the High Council of Radio and Television (RTK), levied fines on Wednesday against the pro-opposition TV stations Ulusal ...

Asia Private Equity Weekly News June 17 2013

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:31:31 -0400

HONG KONG, June 17 | Sun Jun 16, 2013 10:31pm EDT HONG KONG, June 17 (Reuters) - News and developments in Asia private equity from Reuters News for the week ending June 14. JUNE 14 CERBERUS CAPITAL Management LP publicly questioned the management of Seibu Holdings, hoping to garner support for its plans to shake up the board of the Japanese railway and property group at a shareholders ...

Chris Cuomo Is About to Get Mad as Hell on CNN

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:24:58 -0400

So, your father is Mario Cuomo, your brother is Andrew Cuomo-why go into news and not politics? The biggest reason for it is the name you left out-it’s Matilda Cuomo. What mom teaches all of us is that it’s about helping other people. She does advocacy, she does teaching, she does cancer [serving on the board of multiple cancer advocacy organizations]. I was never looking to be ...