Russian newspaper Izvestiareports [Google translation] that the organizers behind the Skolkovo technology park near Moscow are currently in talks with a number of high-profile companies including Apple, Google, and Facebook about locating research and development facilities in the area. Skolkovo has already landed agreements with Microsoft, IBM, General Electric, Cisco, and others, with the project’s backers envisioning the region becoming Russia’s version of Silicon Valley bolstered by dozens of major corporations.
According to the report, Apple officials in Moscow declined to comment on the claims, but Skolkovo executive Roman Romanovsky indicated that the two sides have expressed interest in negotiating about possibilities. No deal appears to be imminent, although Romanovsky hopes that the talks will eventually lead to an agreement.
Apple is in the process of opening up its first major international research and development center in Israel, looking to leverage its own expertise and that of Anobit, an Israeli flash memory company acquired by Apple earlier this year, to spur new innovations.
Russian forensics firm ElcomSoft earlier this week announced that it has discovered a way to easily access iCloud backups of iOS devices, incorporating the functionality into its Elcomsoft Phone Password Breaker software. While the Apple ID and password must be known in order to access the iCloud data, once that information has been obtained the software makes it easy for investigators to download full iCloud backups and then follow incremental backups in near real-time to track a device’s use without the knowledge of the user.
ElcomSoft researchers analyzed the communication protocol connecting iPhone users with Apple iCloud, and were able to emulate the correct commands in order to retrieve the content of iOS users’ iCloud storage. It’s important to note that, unlike offline backups that may come encrypted and must be broken into (a time-consuming operation), data retrieved from iCloud is received in plain, unencrypted form . The 5GB of storage space can be retrieved in reasonable time, while receiving incremental updates is even faster.
Obtaining a user’s Apple ID password may not always be trivial, but ElcomSoft tools can also be used to capture that information from offline backups stored in iTunes. And of course if the user disables iCloud syncing on its device or changes the Apple ID password, remote access is lost.
ElcomSoft has been at the forefront of development of password-cracking tools, last year incorporating a tool to bypass hardware encryption included in iOS 4. Such tools are increasingly being used by law enforcement to aid their investigations as smartphones become increasingly common and collect a growing amount of information about users and their activity.
ElcomSoft offers several levels of its software, with the most powerful versions restricted to certain governmental agencies, including law enforcement, intelligence services, and other qualified forensic organizations.
Eye puffiness is something that most people have experienced in their lives. It can be caused by a variety of things. Among the most common are stress, a lack of sleep, excessive alcohol consumption, allergies and a long cry. Many folks place cool cucumber slices or tea bags onto their eyes to combat the swelling. I tend to prefer using one of the following methods instead:
Gel Mask
One of my favorite ways to reduce inflammation around the eyes is with a gel mask. Granted, wearing one may make you look like a female Musketeer but it is effective. I typically store my gel mask in the refrigerator. I have, however, put it into the freezer for use on those days when I am looking like something found at the bottom of someone’s shoes. You can generally purchase a gel mask for $ 5 to $ 10 depending on the retailer.
Dandelion Root Tea
Based on my experience, drinking a few cups of dandelion root tea can go a long way in reducing eye puffiness that is caused by water retention. I like drinking the dandelion tea better than I do taking diuretics because it is natural and tastes good too. You just brew it like you would any other cup of tea. A box of dandelion tea bags will tend to cost you $ 5. After you drink the tea, you may want to put the used tea bags into the refrigerator for a few minutes. Once the bags get cold, take them back out and place them onto your eyes for a bit more soothing.
Sea Breeze Astringent
Applying cotton pads that have been soaked in astringent sometimes helps to reduce under eye swelling. I like to use Sea Breeze astringent but I know of others who prefer to use Witch Hazel. I tend to favor the Sea Breeze because it is what I grew up using. It sells online for roughly $ 8 a bottle.
Eye Cream Massage
I have found that gently massaging the swollen areas around my eyes with an herbal based eye cream also tends to help minimize puffiness. I prefer eye creams that contain grapefruit oil and Vitamin E. Sometimes I will make my own creams using a blend of essential oils. Other times I’ll just break down and buy a jar of readymade eye cream for around $ 25. If you want to make your own, you’ll need an $ 8 bottle of grapefruit oil, an $ 8 bottle of Vitamin E oil and a $ 10 jar of cream base.
Killeen Gonzalez’s parents were licensed cosmetologists. They owned and operated a full service beauty salon.
Mrs. Killeen Gonzalez has over 25 years experience in marketing, PR, advertising, sales, promotions and special events planning. She spent many years working in the hospitality, travel and tourism industry… View profile
CAMP DAVID, Md. (AP) — Drawn together in this serene mountain outpost, leaders of the major industrialized nations are prodding Germany to balance its push for European fiscal austerity with doses of stimulus spending to avoid an economic calamity that could reverberate worldwide.
With three new members in their midst, the Group of Eight leaders will take measure of themselves as they turn their attention Saturday to reconciling the need to quell European debt crises with the desire to increase demand for goods and spur job growth.
Facing economic and political pressures at home, President Barack Obama and leaders of Germany, France, Canada, Italy, Great Britain, Russia, and Japan were huddling in the casual setting of Camp David’s Laurel Lodge looking to build consensus even though a decisive plan of action seemed out of reach at this point.
The G-8 session here in this secure presidential compound nestled in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains sets the stage for a far more consequential European summit next week where eurozone members hope to come together on specific steps to fight rising debt while spurring a recovery.
Obama established the tone for the G-8 Friday after meeting with just-elected French President Francois Hollande, declaring that the aim of the summit is to promote both fiscal consolidation and a “strong growth agenda.”
“President Hollande and I agree that this is an issue of extraordinary importance not only to the people of Europe but also to the world economy,” Obama told reporters following the meeting.
In a hint of the pressures facing the leaders, Obama greeted German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Camp David Friday at dusk, asking her how she was. Merkel, facing resistance over her austerity push, merely shrugged.
“Well, you have a few things on your mind,” Obama said sympathetically.
A central economic topic, though hardly the only one confronting Europe, is the fate of Greece which is facing the most acute financial crisis of the eurozone and is set to hold elections June 17 to end political deadlock. At issue is whether Greece abandons the euro to escape austerity measures.
Hollande, speaking with Obama at his side Friday, said: “We share the same views, the fact that Greece must stay in the eurozone and that all of us must do what we can to that effect.”
Lowering expectations for the G-8, U.S. National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said: “The leaders I think will focus on specifics and specific concepts and ideas for growth and jobs. But I would also point out that the ultimate decisions on that would be decisions taken in the eurozone.”
Also on the agenda is energy as the world looks to the oil markets in advance of scheduled sanctions on Iranian oil exports. While oil prices have been falling, major oil importing countries, including the U.S., are keeping a wary eye on prices and keeping open the possibility of tapping their own oil reserves.
For Obama, Europe‘s fate is critical to his own political survival. An economic recession that spreads to the U.S. could damage an already slow recovery and boost the argument by his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, that the United States economy needs new leadership.
There is a get-acquainted aspect to the session as well. The Camp David gathering, the largest collection of foreign leaders ever at the presidential retreat, is the first G-8 meeting for Hollande, for Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. In what has been widely viewed as a snub, Russian President Vladimir Putin is skipping the G-8, sending Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in his place.
The meeting comes at a turning point in Europe, marked by elections in France and Greece that signaled defiance toward the fiscal austerity measures that Merkel has pushed for the most indebted eurozone countries. European countries are straining under high borrowing rates. The drastic cuts in spending and government layoffs were designed to address massive national debts but they have also caused short-term economic distress and joblessness.
On Friday, Spain’s central bank announced that the level of bad loans on the books of Spanish banks was at an 18-year high, fueling concerns about the financial sector in the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy.
The emphasis on economic growth has been welcomed by Obama, who has long argued that the stimulative steps he took in 2009 put the U.S. on the road to recovery.
“Europe is still in a difficult state,” Obama told donors in Seattle last week, “partly because they didn’t take some of the decisive steps that we took early on in this recession.”
To what degree the Europeans, and Merkel in particular, agree remains to be seen.
“With Hollande coming into play here, there is going to be a lot of pressure on Germany, not just from Hollande and Obama, but also some of the other countries — Italy and UK — some pressure for Germany to push more toward growth within Europe because they have to get them on board,” said Jeffrey Bergstrand, a former federal reserve economist and now an expert on international finance at the University of Notre Dame.
U.S. officials have been encouraged by recent discussions in Europe to ease up some belt-tightening so that spending cuts aren’t as deep or as swift and to increase spending on public works projects like roads and schools in weaker parts of Europe. They also point to Germany’s recent decision to negotiate higher public sector wages, a move they say could have a positive ripple effect on demand.
Merkel herself has made conciliatory gestures, saying in a television interview this week that she was open to helping stimulate the Greek economy provided Greece honored pledges to shrink its debt.
We’ve also got on the scoop on which hotel Mary Katrantzou stole a pen from, a photographers pics of PUBLIC Chicago and a Polaroid-esque Instagram camera in our weekly round-up of cool URLs.
When you think about going to your area zoo, odds are really good that children come to mind. Zoos are traditional entertainment for children, after all. So don’t you need to be a child — or have them — to want to go to the zoo? Aren’t zoos mostly for children?
The zoo’s attraction to children is undeniable, but adults should not be deterred and miss out from the many things zoos offer them.
What does your area zoo offer adults?
Education. Many zoos, like New York City’s Central Park Zoo (http://www.centralparkzoo.com/) and Bronx Zoo (http://www.bronxzoo.com/) are focused on teaching patrons of all ages about Nature and the Natural world. In the past twenty to thirty years in particular, zoos focus on re-creating accurate eco-systems, allowing patrons to see animals in as natural a context as possible. Zoos like Omaha, Nebraska’s Henry Doorly Zoo (http://www.omahazoo.com/), often create separate large exhibits featuring diverse wildlife from the same or similar ecosystems. Two of my favorites are Henry Doorly’s “Lied Jungle” and Central Park Zoo’s “Tropic Zone.”
Connection. Many zoo eco-system exhibits allow adults to walk very close to the animals-without glass barriers. There is nothing like watching conures soar over your head or fish swim inches from your feet in a lagoon. You may even find yourself pursued on your walkway by free range peafowl or a Victoria crowned pigeon. These close-up experiences of wildlife are truly magical and best appreciated by adults. Invite animals close up to you by touring exhibits with quiet voices, avoiding sudden movements and loud outbursts. You will make the animals more comfortable with your presence and encourage them to check you out.
Romance. There is something intrinsically romantic about the bonding you experience as you explore and discover together. Waterfalls offer seclusion and privacy for those moments you want to be close. Exhibits encouraging feeding, such as some ponds and aviaries, are also romantic hot spots — as long as you choose a less occupied spot! Many zoos also feature gourmet restaurants, allowing couples to snuggle over a candle-lit dinner.
Exercise. A trip to the zoo involves a lot of walking, much more than most people are inclined to do on a normal basis. We all know that walking is good for our. So go to the zoo and get healthy while you explore nature.
Fun. Zoos are fun places. Depending on the zoo, you may be treated to IMAX films, rides, safaris, animal shows, and beyond. The activity options are limitless!
So next time you are wondering what you want to do this weekend or on vacation, consider the area zoo! Whether it’s a big zoo like the Cincinnati Zoo (http://cincinnatizoo.org/) or a small zoo like the Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn, New York (http://www.prospectparkzoo.com/), there is something for everyone at the zoo — even and especially for adults!
Ron Paul’s bid for the GOP presidential nomination has entered a new, scaled back phase that may signal the practical end of his campaign. In a letter to his supporters, Paul explained the position of his campaign moving forward: “Our campaign will continue to work in the state convention process. We will continue to take leadership positions, win delegates, and carry a strong message to the Republican National Convention that Liberty is the way of the future. Moving forward, however, we will no longer spend resources campaigning in primaries in states that have not yet voted. Doing so with any hope of success would take many tens of millions of dollars we simply do not have.”
The letter is entirely consistent with Paul’s larger message of fiscal responsibility. Rather than continuing to spend the campaign funds provided by his supporters on contests that he doesn’t deem winnable, Paul is choosing to focus on continuing his campaign without the massive overhead of direct campaign spending. The chances of Paul actually winning the GOP nomination are as remote now as they were a few months ago.
The reality is that the GOP nomination is going to Mitt Romney and the Vice Presidential running mate that he selects. Paul’s role at this point will be to force an acknowledgement of his message by the GOP establishment, and perhaps from the Romney campaign as it tries to mount a challenge to President Barack Obama’s bid for re-election.
Ironically, it will probably not be until after the upcoming election that people start to understand exactly what Ron Paul was trying to tell them for the better part of the last year. By then it won’t really matter, of course, but Paul’s message may be even more important in 2013 than it is in 2012.
ATLANTA — The new $ 1.4 billion international terminal at the world’s busiest airport is set to open in Atlanta.
The sleek launching pad for millions of passengers is designed to help Atlanta grab a growing share of the lucrative market for global travelers.
The 1.2-million-square-foot terminal is opening Wednesday after years of planning.
The building’s wavy lines, expansive windows and eye-catching artwork offer a stark contrast to the boxy design of the rest of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Airport managers are already expecting an increase in international travelers over the next decade, and they hope the terminal will convince airlines to route even more of their overseas flights through the city.
___
May 16, 2012 09:31 AM EDT
Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
If you are one of those people who grew up not sure if you’d ever want kids, and now you find yourself married to the perfect spouse and thinking children might be in your not-so-distant future, you are not alone. If you are worried that having these kids will ruin your marriage, you are not alone, either. While it will take some work, and while it will certainly change your life, having a baby doesn’t have to ruin your marriage. You just have to get a little creative about how you think of spending time together, and you have to make the most of the time you have.
After Bedtime
Remember when you were a little kid and you used to complain about having to go to bed earlier than all of the adults? There was a reason your mom and dad made you go to sleep earlier than they did. They use the after-bedtime hours as adult time. This is the time for moms and dads to watch what they want on television, or to watch a movie not suitable for children. You might be exhausted when you put your kids to sleep, but enforcing a strict bedtime is good for the child and the parents. It gives the child a sense of routine, and a good night’s sleep, while it gives the parents some quality time together in the comfort of their own home.
Hire a Babysitter
Some parents may be wary of hiring a babysitter who is not a family member, but sometimes it is necessary if you ever want to get out of the house with just the two of you. Find someone you trust by asking a trusted neighbor or by consulting online babysitting and nanny searches. These internet babysitting profiles often run background checks and allow you to interview people before hiring them, which can put your mind at ease. Hiring a babysitter can really add up, though, from a cost standpoint. If hiring a babysitter is too expensive, see if you can trade off nights with the parents of your child’s friends. You take all the kids for a night one week, and then the next week, the other parents take their turn. This can be beneficial for everyone involved, because it allows you to spend less money while still being able to have someone you trust watch your kids, and your kids get to play with their friends every week.
Schedule Date Night
Those mommy calendars are no joke. When you have little kids running around, you need to schedule every minute of every day. Before kids, you probably had spontaneous date nights all of the time, but after kids, this can be much harder than it used to be. There is no shame in scheduling a date night. Put it on the calendar, and make sure everyone knows that you and your spouse are going out of town for a night, or maybe just dinner. It doesn’t matter what you do; what matters is that you do it alone.
Family Cuddle Time
While it’s definitely not the same as spending time alone, having quality family time every night is important for everyone. When you spend time with your kids, talking to them and sharing stories about your days and being excited about each others projects, this can foster a sense of companionship among the family. Even if you don’t feel like talking one day, pick a favorite movie or television show and cuddle up each other with a great blanket. You’ll feel great having spent quality time together with your family.
BEIJING (Reuters) – China‘s foreign direct investment inflows dropped 2.4 percent in the first four months of 2012 versus last year, the longest period of declining inflows since the depths of the global financial crisis and a sign of the external headwinds facing the economy.
The Commerce Ministry said on Tuesday that the country drew $ 37.9 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) between January and April, down from $ 38.8 billion attracted in the same period in 2011. April’s inflow alone was $ 8.4 billion, down from $ 8.5 billion a year ago.
“We believe the negative trend reflects concerns over China’s lower growth potential, lack of confidence in the global growth outlook, and poorer access to funding from deleveraging banks,” Dariusz Kowalczyk, senior economist and strategist at Credit Agricole-CIB in Hong Kong, said in a note to clients.
“It is worrying that despite very favorable base effects, foreign direct investment is continuing to shrink,” he said.
FDI is an important gauge of the health of external economy, to which China’s vast factory sector is oriented, but it is a small contributor to overall capital flows compared to exports, which were worth about $ 1.9 trillion in 2011.
A weaker-than-expected reading from economic data released last week raised investor concerns that a five-quarter long slide has not bottomed and more must be done to support growth.
China’s central bank said on Saturday it would cut the proportion of cash that banks must hold as reserves by 50 basis points, effective from May 18. It should free an estimated 400 billion yuan for lending to head-off the risk of a sudden slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy.
Economists in the latest Reuters poll see the annual rate of economic growth dipping to 7.9 percent between April and June, the first time it will have fallen below 8 percent since 2009, a level regarded by many investors as the minimum growth needed to ensure sufficient job creation.
China has been fine-tuning economic policy setting since the autumn of last year as the outlook for the global economy darkened, export growth sank and capital inflows – a core component of money supply – stalled.
Beijing has an official target for M2 money supply growth of 14 percent. Data last week showed that the annual rate of growth had slowed to 12.8 percent in April, implying that either capital inflows have to rise or local banks have to ramp up credit creation to meet the target.
China drew a record $ 116 billion in foreign direct investment in 2011. The Commerce Ministry aims to attract an average of $ 120 billion in each of the next four years.
(Reporting by Aileen Wang and Nick Edwards; Editing by Ramya Venugopal)
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Russian newspaper Izvestia reports [Google translation] that the organizers behind the Skolkovo technology park near Moscow are currently in talks with a number of high-profile companies including Apple, Google, and Facebook about locating research and development facilities in the area. Skolkovo has already landed agreements with Microsoft, IBM, General Electric, Cisco, and others, with the project’s backers envisioning the region becoming Russia’s version of Silicon Valley bolstered by dozens of major corporations.
Russian forensics firm ElcomSoft earlier this week 
