Tuesday, April 25, 2006

A senior Russian air force commander has claimed that new, upgraded Tu-160 bomber aircraft were unchallenged by US air defense systems when they penetrated a radar zone near the Canadian coast in US territory during an April training exercise, reports the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Commander of Russia’s long-range strategic bombers, Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said that the bombers successfully carried out four mock Tu-95MS cruise missile launches, 200 mock bombings, and 53 mock sorties during the exercise. The RIA Novosti reported that the United States Air Force is currently investigating how the Tu-160’s escaped detection.

Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said, “They were unable to detect the planes either with radars or visually.”

Khvorov denies any link of the tests to the current US-Iranian tension, saying, “Of course, our exercises did not have anything to do with the situation in Iran, but their organization indirectly echoed in that region.”

The Tupolev Tu-160 is a strategic bomber introduced in 1987. It resembles the North American B-1B Lancer, but is larger and faster, being powered by four NK-32 afterburning turbofans, the largest in any combat aircraft. It is not considered to be a stealth aircraft due to its exposed engine inlets and broad wing gloves.

According to Khvorov over the course of this year, two additional Tu-160s will be commissioned for the long-range strategic bomber fleet with the numerous upgrades, including the ability to launch cruise missiles, aviation bombs, and satellite communication.

Saturday, April 23, 2005

Leading VoIP provider Vonage negotiated access to the Qwest Communications emergency calling infrastructure, allowing Vonage customers in 14 states the ability to connect directly to emergency dispatchers by dialing 911.

With the exception of Rhode Island, VoIP’s 911 callers were delivered to the administrative offices of a public-safety answering point, instead of connecting directly to a standard 911 dispatcher. The resulting time delay was a consequence of the phone provider’s refusal to give VoIP providers access to the 911 infrastructure. Vonage Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Citron in a recent letter to Qwest Chairman and CEO Richard Notebaert, wrote “I applaud you [Qwest] for your willingness to put the health and safety of Americans before short-term competitive considerations.”

“With the access that Qwest has agreed to provide, Vonage will be able to route emergency service calls placed by its customers directly to public-safety operators, which will help save lives and safeguard property” Citron said.

Verizon agreed to begin a trial in New York City soon, and BellSouth also started “making some movement” on the issue, according to Vonage.

Vonage claims “that SBC has agreed to begin discussions on working cooperatively to improve 911 offerings available to customers using VoIP.” Vonage attorney William Wilhelm, in a letter to the FCC, “noted its concern that SBC has already provided 911 interconnection access to its unregulated VoIP affiliate.”

Thursday, July 31, 2008

From the middle of July, Sony Corporation refreshed their senior laptop brand VAIO from “Video Audio Integrated Operation” to “Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer”. According to Sony Taiwan Limited, this refreshment is an attempt to relocate the laptop consuming market for business and entertainment factors.

In the “VAIO Experience 2008” press conference in Europe, Sony promoted their new product series for different populations including BZ for business, FW for home entertainment, Z for ultra-slim, and SR for complex applications.

Different with past series, Sony added “Clear Bright” screening technology for high-definition display, and “full-carbon production” features. BD-burning and Intel Centrino 2 processing technologies will be featured in all the new models. For security issue, Sony also embedded fingerprint system to prevent personal data to be stolen. Continued from TZ series, innovative designs including “Green Power Button”, “Situational Switch” are also added in newly-launched series.

“Due to consuming market differences, Sony only promoted BZ series in Europe and America but not included Asia. Although the TICA Show in Taipei will be different, functionality will be the greatest issue when a consumers choose a notebook [computer] before buying.” addressed by executives from Sony Taiwan Limited, during the “VAIO Experience 2008” press conference in Taiwan.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Final polls show the African National Congress holding a commanding lead going into Wednesday’s general election.

File:JacobZuma.jpg

A Plus 94 poll of 7000 voters showed the ruling ANC with 60% support, with the Democratic Alliance and Congress of the People neck-in-neck on 16% and 15% respectively.

An Ipsos Markinor poll of 3,531 voters showed the ANC with 64.7%, Democratic Alliance with 10.8%, and Congress of the People with 8.9%. 4.2% were undecided, while 3.9% refused to state a preference.

Meanwhile, the main political parties have held their final rallies. Former President Nelson Mandela appeared at the ANC’s final pre-election rally in Johannesburg to support presidential candidate Jacob Zuma. Mandela said that the ANC’s main task was to eradicate poverty and build a better life for all.

“The ANC has the historical responsibility to lead our nation and help build a united non-racial society,” he said.

Zuma promised to fight crime, boost public spending, and invest in infrastructure. He also said that there would be no room for corruption in his government, and that that ANC would not use its majority to subvert the constitution.

“Our track record speaks for itself. We use our majority responsibly and in an inclusive manner. In 15 years that [the ANC] has been in power, it has never used its electoral mandate to change the constitution,” he said.

The ANC is hoping to repeat its success in the 2004 elections and win a two-thirds majority, enabling it to change the constitution at will.

Supporters of the rival Congress of the People, which split from the ANC last year, held their rally in Limpopo province.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, held its rally in Cape Town. Opposition leader Helen Zille reminded her supporters of past allegations of corruption and racketeering against Zuma, and warned that his election would turn South Africa into a “failed state”.

“In 10 years time people will look back and everyone will know the DA was telling the truth from the start,” she said.

400 representatives will be elected by proportional representation in Wednesday’s poll, half from national and half from provincial lists. Forty parties are contesting the elections, and 23 million South Africans are registered to vote.

Sunday, April 24, 2005