New York News Streaming

Bits: Can Facebook Build a Better Passport?

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:05:24 +0000

Facebook said that it will let users bring information from their profiles onto other sites. It is also reviving the possibility of a universal logon, an idea tried unsuccessfully years ago by Microsoft.

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Microsoft Appeals $1.4 Billion EU Antitrust Fine

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:05:09 +0000

Microsoft said it has appealed a $1.39 billion fine imposed in February by the European Commission for the company?s failure to comply with a 2004 antitrust order.

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Burmese Junta Seizes Aid and Blocks Foreigners

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:05:40 +0000

The refusal to allow doctors and disaster relief experts to enter in large numbers contributed to the growing concern that starvation and epidemic diseases could end up killing people on the same scale as the cyclone.

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Spam Is Migrating to the Cellphone

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:05:07 +0000

If you thought spam on your computer was a bother, brace yourself for round two: spammers want to find you on your cellphone.

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Growing Perfume Market in China Is Mostly About the Brand

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:05:16 +0000

The importance of brand in sales raises the question of the market?s future stability as sales of perfume, a product that has few cultural roots in China, have recently risen exponentially.

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VITO FOSSELLA FACES QUESTIONS AFTER ADMITTING AFFAIR & SECRET CHILD

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:05:07 +0000

Embattled and embarrassed by the confession he fathered a child from an extramarital affair, New York Rep. Vito Fossella is facing public calls to resign. Secluded with his family Friday, he had to grapple with the prospect of lingering fallout from the scandal, including questions about whether taxpayer money was used in pursuit of the romance. The Republican lawmaker indicated Thursday he planned to stay in Congress for months to come, but there were signs he could be out much sooner: House Minority Leader John Boehner said he expected Fossella to make a decision this weekend. Fossella’s personal life came apart at the seams after police stopped him for running a red light last week and charged him with drunken driving. The arrest led to revelations of an affair with a former Air Force officer and the 3-year-old daughter he fathered with her. Political consultant Mike Paul, a former aide to Republicans including former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and New York Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, said the pressure will be intense for Fossella to make some decision by Monday. “This weekend for him is a lot of soul-searching,” said Paul, adding that the decision was complicated by the fact he was trying to save his family as well as his career. The Staten Island Advance, the paper that speaks directly to the bulk of Fossella’s constituents, declared Friday that he “is finished” and must resign immediately. The New York Post declared it’s “time to go.” But go where? Back to the home he shares with his wife and three children on Staten Island? Or back to his other child and her mother in Virginia? If Fossella tries to hang on - as many lawmakers have done in recent scandals - he will have some rocky times ahead. - He could face a mandatory five days in jail if convicted of the drunken driving charge against him. - His wife will be under scrutiny, with questions about whether she knew he had a child with another woman, and whether she plans to stand by his side. - The congressman may face further scrutiny over whether he mixed business with pleasure with the New York Daily News reporting that the other woman, Laura Fay, socialized with Fossella while the two were on congressional junkets to Europe. Fossella’s spokeswoman said Friday that he was in Staten Island with his family, and provided no further details. If Fossella did step down, and the resignation took effect before July 1, New York Gov. David Paterson, a Democrat, would have the option of calling a special election to fill the seat for the rest of the year. That would force the financially strugging House GOP campaign committee to plow a large amount of money into an extra election in New York City, one of the most expensive places in the nation to campaign. If Fossella made his resignation effective after July 1, then there would be no special election, the seat would be empty for the remainder of the year, and the normal primary and general election process would take place. Fossella’s district includes all of Staten Island and a chunk of Brooklyn. For decades, it has been reliably conservative, dominated by Catholic voters who sent Catholics to Congress. Democrats, however, have been chipping away at such seats across the state, and even before the scandal, were expected to intensify their efforts to oust Fossella this time around. Yet there are plenty of recent examples of lawmakers who didn’t leave Congress after a scandal. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has stayed on after being linked to a D.C. prostitution ring; Larry Craig, R-Idaho, remains in Congress after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct resulting from a sex sting in a Minneapolis airport bathroom; and Democrat William Jefferson has pleaded not guilty in a bribery investigation and continues to represent his Louisiana district.

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OBAMA PICKS UP 9 SUPERDELEGATES

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:05:04 +0000

Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton’s once-imposing lead among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign. Obama picked up the backing of nine superdelegates, including Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who had been a Clinton supporter. In addition, the American Federation of Government Employees announced its support for Obama. The union claims about 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments. Obama, who won a convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and lost Indiana narrowly on Tuesday, has been steadily gaining strength in the days since. Clinton also gained a superdelegate. The developments left the former first lady with 271.5 superdelegates, to 271 for Obama. Little more than four months ago, on the eve of the primary season, she held a lead of 169-63. Superdelegates are party leaders who attend the convention delegates by virtue of their positions, and are not selected in primaries and caucuses. In addition to Payne, Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, two members of the Democratic National Committee from California and a party official in South Carolina announced they were supporting Obama. Superdelegates from New Mexico and Virginia also joined the migration. So, too, John Gage, president of the AFGE. “Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama’s campaign,” he said in a statement. “The election is over, everybody knows that. Obama has won,” said Vernon Watkins, one of the two Californians. “After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Barack Obama can best bring about the change that our country so desperately wants and needs,” said Payne, who in a statement said that Clinton is a good friend and he still holds her in high regard. Payne is one of at least 10 superdelegates who have switched allegiances from Clinton to Obama. None have publicly switched the other way. In the overall race for the nomination, Obama leads with 1,859.5 delegates, to 1,697 for Clinton. Obama is just 165.5 delegates short of the 2,025 delegates needed to win it. Clinton’s new supporter was Rep. Chris Carney, D-Pa. His congressional district voted overwhelmingly for the former first lady in the Pennsylvania primary on April 22. Both Obama and Clinton have courted superdelegates in recent days in private meetings at party headquarters not far from the Capitol. Despite Watkins’ assessment, Clinton has shown no signs she is ready to quit the race. She is heavily favored to win Tuesday’s primary in West Virginia, and is in the midst of a two-day swing through several other states with upcoming elections.

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VENUE NEWS: Nobu Announces Downtown Hotel-Condo Development

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:05:04 +0000

Yet another downtown development was announced today—the Nobu Hospitality Group (that would be the company formed by the partners of Nobu restaurants) and real estate development, investment, and management firm Swig Equities are planning to construct a hotel and residential property. In the financial district, at 45 Broad Street, Nobu Hotel and Residences will be a 65-story building with 128 guest rooms, 77 luxury condos, and, of course, a Nobu restaurant.

Also in the plans for the project are 13,000 square feet of retail space on the ground and second floors as well as a 13,000-square-foot health club and spa with an indoor swimming pool and outdoor terrace. Executing the design for the interior is David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group, which is also responsible for the designs of Nobu and Nobu 57; architectural firm Moed de Armas & Shannon will handle the design of the all-glass exterior.

Currently, Nobu Hotel and Residences is projected to be complete by 2010.

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Thank Goodness, Dublin Keeps Its Guinness Plant

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:05:49 +0000

Ending speculation that it would shut the 250-year-old St. James?s Gate brewery, the owner of Guinness stout said it was committed to continuing operations at the site because of its iconic status.

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On Flooded Burmese Coast, the Smell of Rot and Death

admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:05:48 +0000

Six days after a cyclone, it is clear the damage is great and that little aid has made it to villagers along the sea south of Yangon.

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