Apple Tease for Annual Chinese New Year "Red Friday" One Day Deals

Apple Tease for Annual Chinese New Year "Red Friday" One Day Deals


Apple Tease for Annual Chinese New Year "Red Friday" One Day Deals

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 10:59 PM PST

Apple holds a yearly one-day sale in Asia to coincide with the Chinese New Year similar to its Black Friday sale in the US.  The discounted prices only apply to on-line sales in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand and not in its retail stores.

Why You're Not A Leader

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 10:56 PM PST

Everybody thinks they're a leader – most are far from it. The harsh reality is that we live in a world awash with wannabe leaders. As much as some don't want to admit it, not everyone can or should become a leader (my take on the born vs. made argument). Simply desiring to be a leader doesn't mean a person has the character, skill, and courage necessary to be a leader.

Deductible? Really? Most Taxpayers Flub Donation Reporting

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 08:14 PM PST

You can donate to charity in cash or in kind and either way claim a tax deduction. Many taxpayers prefer giving in kind since the deduction is based on the market value of the item. If the property is appreciated—say stock or real estate—you never have to pay tax on your gain. See Zuckerberg's Facebook Stock Donations. But you might be surprised to learn that most taxpayers fail to report their non-cash contributions correctly.

Relieved Russians return home after fleeing Syria violence

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 10:48 PM PST

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Dozens of Russians arrived home on Wednesday after fleeing Syria, relieved to be escaping the deprivation and horror of civil war but worried about an uncertain future back home.

Court hearing offers lifeline to French woman jailed in Mexico

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 11:04 PM PST

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's Supreme Court on Wednesday will review the case of a French woman serving a 60-year sentence for kidnapping, a conviction that has caused a long-running diplomatic spat with France.

Polls open in Jordan election boycotted by Islamists

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 11:06 PM PST

AMMAN (Reuters) - Polling stations opened on Wednesday in Jordanian elections boycotted by the Muslim Brotherhood, which says the electoral system is rigged in favor of tribal areas and against the large urban centers.

Relieved Russians return home after fleeing Syria violence

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 10:48 PM PST

A woman hugs her daughter, who was a passenger on a Russian Emergencies Ministry flight from Beirut, after her arrival in MoscowMOSCOW (Reuters) - Dozens of Russians arrived home on Wednesday after fleeing Syria, relieved to be escaping the deprivation and horror of civil war but worried about an uncertain future back home. "The Free Syrian Army is getting closer. We've been left without money, without light, without water," Natasha Yunis, who ran a beauty salon in her adopted home of Damascus after meeting her Syrian husband, said of rebel advances on the capital. "A bomb exploded near our house ... The children hid. Of course it was horrible," said Yunis, giving her age as about 60. ...


Court hearing offers lifeline to French woman jailed in Mexico

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 11:04 PM PST

Cassez of France walks with Mexican boyfriend Vallarta after their arrest by members of Mexico's Federal Investigative Agency's (AFI) on a ranch outskirts of Mexico CityyMEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's Supreme Court on Wednesday will review the case of a French woman serving a 60-year sentence for kidnapping, a conviction that has caused a long-running diplomatic spat with France. Florence Cassez, 38, was convicted in 2008 for participating in a kidnapping ring, but the legal process was riddled with irregularities, prompting criticism of Mexico's justice system and protests from France over her treatment. ...


North Nigeria violence kills dozens

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 11:13 PM PST

At least 23 killed in two separate attacks believed to be carried out by armed group Boko Haram.

Guess Who Just Defriended IRS Amnesty?

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 07:42 PM PST

The IRS has a tough job to do. One watchdog that helps it improve is the National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA), Nina Olson. Each year she releases a report to Congress identifying problems in administering our tax system that need fixing. Her 2012 report criticizes the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP), the partial amnesty deal that is an outgrowth of the IRS crackdown on offshore tax evasion. 

Thai magazine editor jailed for 10 years for insulting king

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 10:49 PM PST

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai magazine editor was jailed for 10 years on Wednesday for insulting the royal family under the country's draconian lese-majeste law.

Thai magazine editor jailed for 10 years for insulting king

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 10:49 PM PST

Somyot, editor of "Voice of the Oppressed" gestures as he arrives at the criminal court in BangkokBANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai magazine editor was jailed for 10 years on Wednesday for insulting the royal family under the country's draconian lese-majeste law. Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, editor of "Voice of the Oppressed", a magazine devoted to self-exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was found guilty of publishing articles in 2010 defaming King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The articles criticized the role of a fictional character meant to represent the king, public prosecutors said in a July 2011 report. Discussions about the role of the monarchy are forbidden. ...


Autodesk's Brilliant Consumer Strategy

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 10:14 PM PST

Autodesk is one of the granddaddies of the software industry. It has been around 30 years and achieved prominence by making computer-aided design [CAD] tools back in the day when the IBM PC ruled the desktop and set the standard for business technologies.

VIDEO: Kathryn Bigelow on Oscar snub

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 04:17 PM PST

Kathryn Bigelow admits the controversy surrounding her film Zero Dark Thirty may have been the reason she missed out on a nomination for best director.

VIDEO: World Economic Forum: What is Davos?

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 08:54 PM PST

As participants of the annual World Economic Forum gather in Davos, Simon Jack looks ahead at the agenda and asks whether the event can do any good.

Honduran Congress approves impeachment tool after Zelaya debacle

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 07:46 PM PST

Former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya attends a news conference after casting his vote during primary elections in TegucigalpaTegucigalpa (Reuters) - Honduras' Congress on Tuesday approved a measure that allows senior political officials including the president to be prosecuted and removed from office, lawmakers said. The impeachment mechanism is aimed at avoiding crises such as the one that erupted in the Central American country in 2009, when former President Manuel Zelaya was overthrown in a military coup. "Impeachment keeps us from falling into a terrible conflict like the one in 2009, whose consequences were devastating not only economically, but socially," said National Congress president Juan Hernandez. ...


VIDEO: Can GPS trackers save pigeon racing?

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 04:04 PM PST

Technological advances could reverse a decline and pigeon racers are already working with companies on introducing live GPS tracking to the sport.

US Afghan commander cleared of misconduct

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 10:08 PM PST

Pentagon clears General John Allen of wrongdoing over emails he sent to Florida socialite.

South African Centimillionaire Abe Krok Dies

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 09:44 PM PST

South African gambling tycoon and one of the country's richest men, Abe Krok, is dead.

Crowdfunding won't solve the Venture Capital Series A Crunch

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 09:39 PM PST

A lot has been written in recent weeks about the Series A crunch in venture capital. For the uninitiated, the Series A crunch is the widening gap between the number of angel/seed financings (growing) and the number of Series A financings, the second round of fundraising start-ups typically raise (not growing). According to Pitchbook, in 2008, the ratio of seed financings to Series A financings was 1.9:1. In 2012, that ratio stood at 3.3:1.

Sri Lanka extends police detention of suspects amid protests

Sri Lanka extends police detention of suspects amid protests


Sri Lanka extends police detention of suspects amid protests

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 12:52 PM PST

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka approved legislation on Tuesday allowing police to hold suspects for up to 48 hours without a warrant amid street protests accusing the government of acting to suppress dissent.

Kuwaiti police use stun grenades to disperse protesters

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 12:58 PM PST

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwaiti police used smoke and stun grenades to scatter hundreds of protesters outside the capital on Tuesday after they gathered to demand the dissolution of parliament and fresh elections, witnesses said.

Cuomo to Focus on Limiting Spending in New Budget

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 08:23 AM PST

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will not seek to raise taxes when he unveils his budget proposal on Tuesday, an administration official said.

Bank chief calls for further action

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 12:53 PM PST

Bank of England Governor Sir Mervyn King calls for further action to boost the UK's economy and suggests a review of the Bank's inflation targeting.

VIDEO: Colombia coffee growers look to future

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 09:20 AM PST

Colombia's National Federation of Coffee Growers say they hope to expand the land area used for coffee cultivation in the country by approximately 100,000 hectares during 2013.

After Win, Netanyahu Seeks Broad Coalition

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 12:56 PM PST

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party and his hard-line allies have won a narrow majority in parliamentary elections, raising the strong possibility that he will be forced to form a broad coalition.

A Knock at the Door: Days of Hiding

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 12:22 PM PST

Gunfire and a blaring alarm at a remote natural-gas facility in Algeria this past Wednesday signaled the start of an emergency that swelled into a deadly four-day siege by armed militants.

Algeria Victims Hailed From Around the World

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 06:30 AM PST

Of the 37 foreigners killed in the hostage crisis, several were from Scotland or Texas, six were from the Philippines, two were Romanian and one was French. The biggest group confirmed dead so far was Japanese.

Texan Killed in Algeria Had Intended to Retire

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 12:25 PM PST

The family of Victor Lovelady, one of the men killed in a terrorist attack at a gas plant in Algeria, said the oil contractor had planned to retire after the assignment where he lost his life.

Japanese Deaths in Algeria Intensify Military Debate

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 05:20 PM PST

The terrorist attack on an Algerian natural-gas site killed at least seven Japanese citizens and is intensifying calls to expand the country's defense and security capabilities.

Six Filipinos Among Hostages Slain in Algeria

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 03:22 AM PST

The Philippines government said six Filipinos were among the hostages killed in Algeria, highlighting the risks run by some of the country's huge diaspora of foreign workers.

Israeli exit polls show lead for Likud

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 12:17 PM PST

Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu's party is projected to win the largest bloc of seats, but fewer than expected.

Netanyahu setback in Israel poll

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 01:01 PM PST

Exit polls from Israel's election suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing alliance has lost ground to centre-left parties.

Questions for Clinton on Benghazi

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 11:26 AM PST

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will finally take questions from members of Congress on Wednesday about the deadly terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

Algeria attack alters terror landscape

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 11:51 AM PST

It was the most ambitious and the deadliest terror attack since the rampage by Pakistani militants through Mumbai five years ago. And it raises the alarming prospect that al Qaeda affiliates and other jihadist outfits could turn parts of northern and western Africa into no-go zones -- places too dangerous for Westerners to work, or even visit.

Potential questions facing Clinton in Benghazi hot seat

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 11:10 AM PST

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will finally take questions from members of Congress on Wednesday about the deadly terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

Algeria attack changes terror landscape in North Africa

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 11:39 AM PST

It was the most ambitious and the deadliest terror attack since the rampage by Pakistani militants through Mumbai five years ago. And it raises the alarming prospect that al Qaeda affiliates and other jihadist outfits could turn parts of northern and western Africa into no-go zones -- places too dangerous for Westerners to work, or even visit.

Shooting Reported at Lone Star College site

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 12:08 PM PST

After reports of a shooting and some injuries, the north Harris County campus of Lone Star College moved to evacuate its campus.

N.F.L. Lifts Suspension of Saints Coach Sean Payton

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 11:28 AM PST

The reinstatement of Sean Payton ends a tumultuous period for the franchise and New Orleans around the bounty scandal.

Venezuela's Chavez in therapy, eyes return: Bolivia's president

Posted: 22 Jan 2013 12:53 PM PST

LA PAZ/CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is undergoing physical therapy to hasten his return from Cuba after surgery there last month for the cancer jeopardizing his 14-year rule, Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Tuesday.