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DC5m United States japan in english 18 articles, created at 2016-10-19 05:16
1 Report: South Korea turned down U. S. Japan fighter jet proposal South Korea turned down a U. S. proposal to allow Japanese fighter jets to fly in South (1.02/2) Korean airspace in September for a joint drill. 2016-10-18 13:35 2KB www.upi.com
2 IOC may move some Tokyo 2020 Olympic events to South Korea (1.02/2) Japanese media report canoeing and rowing may move in response to soaring costs despite promise of a ‘compact’ games 2016-10-18 07:49 5KB www.theguardian.com
3 Uncapped Ospreys duo Sam Davies and Rory Thornton named in Wales squad
(0.01/2) Uncapped Ospreys pair Sam Davies and Rory Thornton have been named in a 36- man Wales squad for next month's Tests against Australia, Argentina, Japan and Sou... 2016-10-18 08:44 3KB www.dailymail.co.uk
4 Japan coast guard says Chinese vessels seen near Senkaku Islands Japan's coast guard said Chinese vessels trespassed into territorial waters for the 30th time in 2016. 2016-10-18 15:24 1KB www.upi.com
5 Tesla, Panasonic eye solar energy collaboration American electric car maker Tesla Motors Incorporated and Japanese appliance company Panasonic are expanding their business collaboration as they consider working on a solar battery production in the United States. 2016-10-18 15:13 870Bytes www.digitaljournal.com
6 Sheriff’s Office searches for missing Thurston County woman Christine Wagner was seen leaving her Thurston County home on Oct. 10 in her 2004 Toyota Matrix, with license number EWO1994. Her destination is unknown, and her phone has been turned off. She left her purse with all of its contents at home. 2016-10-18 14:26 1KB www.thenewstribune.com
7 Yoko Ono unveils her first permanent US art installation Yoko Ono, whose last recorded song with John Lennon was inspired by Chicago, unveiled here Tuesday the final piece of her first permanent US art installation... 2016-10-18 14:22 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk
8 IN THE KNOW: Best, worst airports in Asia 10 best airports in Asia for 2016 1. Changi International Airport, Singapore 2. Seoul- Incheon International Airport, South Korea 3. Tokyo-Haneda International Airport, Japan 4. Taipei 2016-10-19 00:00 1KB newsinfo.inquirer.net 9 Sandigan allows JV Ejercito to join Duterte’s Japan trip The Sandiganbayan has allowed Sen. JV Ejercito to join President Duterte in his state visit to Japan from Oct. 25 to 27. 2016-10-19 00:00 2KB newsinfo.inquirer.net
10 Robot babies from Japan raise questions about how parents bond with AI Driven by a declining population, a trend for developing robotic babies has emerged in Japan as a means of encouraging couples to become "parents. " 2016-10-18 13:44 6KB www.upi.com
11 The world's best resorts, airlines, islands and cities are revealed in prestigious travel awards (and the No1 hotel is in IRELAND) Conde Nast Traveler's Readers Awards voted the Ballyfin hotel in Co. Laois in Ireland as the top hotel in the world. Virgin Hotels Chicago won in the US and Mandarin Oriental Tokyo was top in Asia. 2016-10-18 13:01 4KB www.dailymail.co.uk
12 Director Scorsese among Japan's prestigious art prize honourees TOKYO, Oct 18 (Reuters) - American film director Martin Scorsese and Latvian musician Gidon Kremer were among five international artists honoured at Japan's... 2016-10-18 11:47 1KB www.dailymail.co.uk
13 Reports: Top North Korea diplomat to meet with U. S. officials in Malaysia North Korea's top diplomat for U. S. affairs may be traveling to Malaysia to meet with U. S. officials, according to multiple Japanese press reports. 2016-10-18 11:26 2KB www.upi.com
14 ‘King Cobra’ Review: James Franco Dives Deep Into Gay Porn and Murder “King Cobra” is as in-your-face explicit a gay movie as has ever been made with recognizable male actors, including producer James Franco, who predictably takes the lion’s share of the most physical sex scenes, and Christian Slater. Corrigan rises to fame online, which... 2016-10-18 11:15 5KB www.sfgate.com
15 Soo Locks gates to be controlled remotely The project will enable staffers to open and close the gates remotely from the Soo Locks control center at Sault Ste. Marie. 2016-10-18 08:17 1KB rssfeeds.freep.com
16 Robot can now sweat it out at gym A university in Japan has discovered a novel way to keep its robot cool as it works out - by making it sweat. 2016-10-18 08:12 859Bytes www.timeslive.co.za 17 The Hot Producer Behind Japan's Body-Swapping Blockbuster Genki Kawamura, who is gearing up for a major presence at the Tokyo International Film Festival, opens up about his smash hit 'Your Name,' why he loves "weak" characters and how his Midas touch also is a curse. 2016-10-18 08:00 4KB feedproxy.google.com
18 Apple iPhone 4 handset could be obsolete by November The phone will no longer be supported by the Cupertino-based tech firm after this month, claims Japanese website Macotakara. The site has a good record of reporting early Apple news. 2016-10-18 07:35 2KB www.dailymail.co.uk Articles
DC5m United States japan in english 18 articles, created at 2016-10-19 05:16
1 /18 Report: South Korea turned down U. S. Japan fighter jet proposal (1.02/2) SEOUL, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- South Korea turned down a U. S. proposal to allow Japanese fighter jets to fly in South Korean airspace in September.
Seoul did not warm to the idea of aerial bombers of Japan's air self- defense force joining U. S. and South Korean aircraft for a joint drill, Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported Tuesday.
But neither were South Korea's F-15 fighter jets allowed to fly over Japanese airspace, while en route to a separate training mission in Alaska, according to the report.
In September the United States flew two B-1 bombers over South Korea in response to North Korea 's fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9.
The B-1B Lancers flew with U. S. F-16 and South Korean F-15 fighters over Osan Air Base as part of the U. S. plan of "extended deterrence" on the peninsula.
Prior to the drills, the United States had suggested Japan's forces be allowed to train alongside U. S. and South Korean pilots.
But a source who spoke to the Asahi on the condition of anonymity said as Seoul, Tokyo and Washington were seeking new sanctions in response to North Korea's fifth test, the United States proposed the fighter jets of the three countries "fly in formation. "
South Korea had said "it would be difficult to allow Japan's air self-defense force to fly in South Korea airspace due to national sentiment," according to the source.
Japan also holds restrictions against the deployment of foreign aircraft. The Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Japan only allows U. S. military aircraft in sovereign airspace.
In response to North Korea provocations, South Korea has been stepping up reviews of its missile defense systems, Yonhap reported Tuesday.
Seoul's defense ministry is expected to accelerate the development of a "three-axis system" that includes homegrown anti-missile systems, the Korean Air and Missile Defense, or KAMD; Kill Chain, a pre-emptive strike system; and Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation, or KMPR, a plan to target the North Korean leadership in the case of a strike.
Female Squads Fight Secret Camera Porn In South Korea dailycaller.com
2016-10-18 13:35 Elizabeth Shim www.upi.com
2 /18 IOC may move some Tokyo 2020 Olympic events to South Korea (1.02/2) The International Olympic Committee is considering moving the rowing and canoeing events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to South Korea in an attempt to cut soaring costs, according to Japanese media reports.
Depriving Japan of the events risks provoking a backlash from the Tokyo 2020 organisers, and would make a mockery of the city’s vow to hold a “compact” Games.
Kyodo News and the Asahi Shimbun on Tuesday cited unnamed sources as saying that the events could be held in the South Korean city of Chungju – one of the venues for the 2014 Asian Games – if organisers and Tokyo’s governor, Yuriko Koike, fail to agree on a site in Japan.
The option of moving the sports out of the country is reportedly being considered after a panel of experts Koike set up to review costs recently proposed moving the rowing and canoe sprint several hundred miles from the capital to a venue in north-east Japan, rather than building a new venue in Tokyo Bay.
The panel also suggested renovating existing venues in Tokyo for volleyball and swimming and scrapping plans to construct new stadia for the sports. It put the cost of hosting Tokyo 2020 at 3 trillion yen (£23bn), four times the original estimate and almost three times higher than London 2012.
Koike became Tokyo’s first female governor in July after promising to slash wasteful spending. But by targeting the Olympics as one area in which savings could be made, she risks alienating Games organisers and sports federations that have called for rowing, swimming and volleyball to be kept in Tokyo.
In a meeting with the IOC president, Thomas Bach, in Tokyo on Tuesday, Koike said the public supported her economy drive. “When I won the election two months ago, I swore to the public that the spending for the Olympics and Paralympics needed to be reviewed,” Koike said, according to Kyodo.
Koike said she would conclude her review of the three Olympic venues by the end of the month.
Bach refused to comment on “media rumours” about rowing’s possible switch to South Korea , but said the IOC was willing to work with Koike to reduce spiralling costs.
“The Tokyo metropolitan government will finalise its internal study, then we’ll discuss it with the other stakeholders ... and then I am confident that you will see a significant reduction in the cost compared to what we have seen so far from the press,” he told reporters.
The controversy over the rowing and canoe-kayak sprint competitions deepened on Tuesday after the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper claimed that the Tokyo metropolitan government had lied to the IOC about the cost of building permanent facilities for the events.
The paper said Tokyo government officials had dramatically understated construction costs in a report to the IOC, allegedly to ensure the sports would be held in the capital.
The Mainichi report quoted Tokyo government documents showing that building Sea Forest, a new rowing and canoeing facility in Tokyo Bay, would cost 25 billion yen. The estimate given to the IOC, however, was 9.8 billion yen.
“The IOC pointed out that our expenses were too high, so we gave them an unfounded figure,” the Mainichi quoted a senior Tokyo metropolitan government official as saying.
The total cost of building the Sea Forest venue, including surrounding parks and other “legacy” infrastructure, has been estimated at 49.1 billion yen. Government officials, however, said on Tuesday they should be able reduce that figure to 30 billion yen by shrinking the size of some facilities.
Olympic organisers and the International Rowing Federations are dismayed by the prospect of the event being held either in Naganuma Boat Park in Tome, Miyagi – one of three prefectures hit hard by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami – or in South Korea.
The Miyagi option could also prove expensive, however. The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organising committee said turning the venue, which is 270 miles (440km) from Tokyo, into one capable of hosting the Olympics could exceed 35.1 billion yen.
“I would like to stress once again that the decision [to build a new canoeing venue in Tokyo] was made unanimously and based on thorough investigations,” Toshiaki Endo, a Tokyo 2020 executive board member, said earlier this month. “We have conducted careful examinations of all candidate rowing sites.
“As a result, all parties, including the IOC, the international federations, the national federations, Tokyo 2020 organising committee and the Tokyo metropolitan government came to the conclusion that Sea Forest Waterway was the most promising, and best suited to hosting rowing competitions.”
Japan’s sports minister, Hirokazu Matsuno, said on Tuesday that “venues for the Olympics should be located inside the host country”. Tokyo won the right to host the Games in 2013 by promising a compact Games with 28 of the 31 competition venues within a five-mile radius of the Olympic village. Its bid stated that only venues for shooting and modern pentathlon, and one football stadium, would be located outside the radius.
IOC says willing to discuss Tokyo 2020 costs, within limits cbs46.com
2016-10-18 07:49 Justin McCurry www.theguardian.com
3 /18 Uncapped Ospreys duo Sam Davies and Rory Thornton named in Wales squad (0.01/2) Uncapped Ospreys pair Sam Davies and Rory Thornton have been named in a 36-man Wales squad for next month's Tests against Australia, Argentina, Japan and South Africa. Davies has impressed consistently this season, and is seen in some quarters as a major fly-challenger to Dan Biggar. Three players - George North, Jamie Roberts and Taulupe Fatetau - have been picked as wildcards under the Welsh Rugby Union's new senior player selection policy for players plying their trade outside Wales. A maximum of three players can be chosen for any one campaign in a season, with Bath fly-half Rhys Priestland the highest prolfile absentee this time around among a list of seven currently captured by the new procedure. Bath number eight Faletau is currently injured, but could be available for the latter part of Wales' autumn series, while Toulon full-back Leigh Halfpenny is recalled 13 months after his last game for Wales, which resulted in him suffering a serious knee injury that ruled him out of last season's World Cup and Six Nations. The squad includes a further seven players who did not feature for Wales on their summer tour to New Zealand, including a return from injury of Cardiff Blues wing Alex Cuthbert and Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate. Skipper Sam Warburton, meanwhile, could make his return to action from a cheekbone injury when Cardiff Blues continue their European Challenge Cup campaign against French side Pau later this week. One issue that Wales head coach Rob Howley - he is in charge this season while Warren Gatland concentrates on heading up next summer's British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand - could be weakened resources for the Australia clash in Cardiff on November 5. As things currently stand, Premiership Rugby - the umbrella organisation for England's 12 Premiership clubs - will not release non-England players for Tests outside World Rugby's autumn window, with the Wallabies encounter falling outside that three-weekend slot. And that could impact on players like North, Roberts and Moriarty, who feature for Northampton, Harlequins and Gloucester, respectively. Reflecting on his squad, Howley said: " It is great to give the opportunity to players who are playing well for their clubs with the likes of Nicky Smith, Rhys Gill, Rory Thornton and Sam Davies coming into the squad. "In addition, it's great to be able to welcome back experienced players such as Dan Lydiate, Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny, who have missed out recently with injury, and that experience will be important this autumn. "Taulupe is still in his rehab process and has been working closely with Bath. We hope he will be available in the later part of the campaign, but his e xperience will be vitally important to have around the squad. "We know we have to start the campaign strong and have to replicate the accuracy and intensity our opponents will bring to Cardiff. "We need to build on what we did in New Zealand and take it up another level for that opening match against Australia. " The squad will meet up to begin preparations for the campaign next Monday.
Uncapped Ospreys duo Sam Davies and Rory Thornton named in Wales squad for autumn Tests dailymail.co.uk
2016-10-18 08:44 Press Association www.dailymail.co.uk
4 /18 Japan coast guard says Chinese vessels seen near Senkaku Islands TOKYO, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Japan's coast guard said Chinese vessels trespassed into territorial waters for the 30th time in 2016.
Tokyo stated four Chinese coast guard ships approached the disputed Senkaku Islands on Tuesday between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., near the islands of Uotsuri and Kuba.
The boats were seen again at around 10 a.m. near the island of Minako, where they lingered for about an hour-and-a-half, according to Tokyo.
Japan's coast guard is monitoring the seas in response to the presence of the boats near the islands that are also claimed by China and Taiwan.
Japan's foreign ministry protested the latest movements, and told Chinese diplomats in Tokyo that the Senkaku Islands are Japanese territory. In August, Chinese coast guard and fishing boats approached the Senkakus, maneuvers that were captured on video taken by Japan's coast guard.
The presence of Chinese fishing boats in South Korean waters has also sparked a diplomatic dispute between Seoul and Beijing.
But on Tuesday, Beijing's foreign ministry told reporters the Chinese government is in discussions with South Korea over the recent sinking of a South Korean patrol boat by a Chinese boat that was engaging in illegal fishing.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said order should be maintained among fishing vessels and maintained "bilaterally" after China canceled a joint crackdown on illegal fishing boats last Friday.
2016-10-18 15:24 Elizabeth Shim www.upi.com
5 /18 Tesla, Panasonic eye solar energy collaboration Panasonic, Tesla consider solar tie- up: Panasonic and US electric car maker Tesla have a... https://t.co/IT9Tc60FM1 Via @NGRGUARDIANNEWS
#Panasonic , #Tesla consider solar tie-up Read More: https://t.co/KWwvSsY7fh pic.twitter.com/8R9OZSIoiS
2016-10-18 15:13 www.digitaljournal.com
6 /18 Sheriff’s Office searches for missing Thurston County woman The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is asking for information about a missing woman, Christine Wagner, who was last seen on Oct. 10.
Wagner was seen leaving her Thurston County home in her 2004 Toyota Matrix, with license number EWO1994. Her destination is unknown, and her phone has been turned off. She left her purse with all of its contents at home. Wagner’s family is concerned about her safety due to previous attempts at self harm.
Anyone who sees Wagner is asked to call 911, or Detective Mitch King at 360-786-5517.
2016-10-18 14:26 By Amelia www.thenewstribune.com
7 /18 Yoko Ono unveils her first permanent US art installation Yoko Ono, whose last recorded song with John Lennon was inspired by Chicago, unveiled here Tuesday the final piece of her first permanent US art installation. The sculpture, which is on display at The Art Institute, is entitled "Mended Petal. " It is a tall representation of a stainless steel lotus blossom petal. A group of 12 similar petals, comprising a separate sculpture entitled "Skylanding," was unveiled Monday in Jackson Park, an expansive urban setting on Chicago's South Side and the future home of the Barack Obama presidential library. "I am very, very, very honored to be here today. I never expected something like this," Ono told guests Tuesday at the museum. Her sculptures were inspired by a Japanese garden built in Jackson Park in the 1930s, and a pavilion which was a gift from Japan during the 1893 World's Fair. Ono's 12 "Skylanding" petals were installed on the site of the pavilion, which burned down in 1946. Ono said she was moved by the history of Chicago maintaining the Japanese-themed park space, even as the United States was at war with her native country. "I very much appreciate the fact that Americans thought of including us," she said. The sculptures were symbolic of peace and reconciliation, which the museum said were familiar motifs in Ono's work. "She understands the significance of the (Jackson Park) site as this historical locus for Japan- US relations," said Janice Katz, a Japanese art curator at The Art Institute. "She was inspired by that history," she said. Chicago is an important place for Ono. She visited the city with Lennon in the 1970s. A subsequent song inspired by the trip -- "Walking on Thin Ice" - was the last one the couple recorded, said Robert Karr, the president of Project 120 Chicago, a parks revitalization initiative. Ono's Chicago sculptures are personal works that look to her own past, Karr said, and encourage the city to "create a new future. "
2016-10-18 14:22 Afp www.dailymail.co.uk
8 /18 IN THE KNOW: Best, worst airports in Asia 1. Changi International Airport, Singapore
2. Seoul-Incheon International Airport, South Korea
3. Tokyo-Haneda International Airport, Japan 4. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan
5. Osaka-Kansai International Airport, Japan
6. Hong Kong International Airport
7. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia
8. Tokyo-Narita International Airport, Japan
9. Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, India
10. New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, India
1. Tashkent International Airport, Uzbekistan
2. Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal
3. Peshawar Bacha Khan International Airport, Pakistan
4. Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan
5. Naia, Philippines
6. Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Pakistan
7. Chennai (Madras) International Airport, India
8. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China
9. Dhaka Shahjalal International Airport, Bangladesh
10. Siem Reap International Airport, Cambodia
2016-10-19 00:00 INQUIRER.net newsinfo.inquirer.net
9 /18 Sandigan allows JV Ejercito to join Duterte’s Japan trip The Sandiganbayan has allowed Sen. JV Ejercito to join President Duterte in his state visit to Japan from Oct. 25 to 27.
During a scheduled hearing yesterday, the antigraft court’s Fifth Division granted Ejercito’s urgent motion for travel, but told his camp to submit other requirements such as authorization by the Office of the Senate President and confirmation by the Office of the President. This marks the second time Ejercito was allowed to leave the country this month. Last weekend, he joined his wife, Maria Hyacinth, in Hong Kong as she processed her retirement benefits with Cathay Pacific. For this trip, he posted a travel bond of P60,000.
Ejercito told reporters in an interview that he was the only senator invited by the President to join the delegation, noting that he was one of the primary authors of the bill granting emergency powers to President Duterte to address the transportation crisis.
The senator added that the visit will “most likely” involve consultations with his Japanese counterparts regarding foreign funding for infrastructure projects.
“As we know, Japan is the biggest source of funds through the official development assistance. Maybe I was invited specifically for the transport crisis,” he said.
Although Ejercito said he wanted to pursue the creation of an efficient railway system, he clarified that delegates would just assist Mr. Duterte during consultations regarding the possible methods and options that could be taken.
2016-10-19 00:00 Vince F newsinfo.inquirer.net
10 /18 Robot babies from Japan raise questions about how parents bond with AI Driven by a declining population, a trend for developing robotic babies has emerged in Japan as a means of encouraging couples to become "parents. " The approaches taken vary widely and are driven by different philosophical approaches that also beg a number of questions, not least whether these robo-tots will achieve the aim of their creators.
To understand all of this it is worth exploring the reasons behind the need to promote population growth in Japan. The issue stems from the disproportionate number of older people. Predictions from the U. N. suggest that by 2050 there will be about double the number of people living in Japan in the 70-plus age range compared to those age 15 to 30. This is blamed on a number of factors, including so-called "parasite singles" , more unmarried women and a lack of immigration.
So, what are the different design approaches that are being taken to encourage more people to become parents? These have ranged from robots that mimic or represent the behavior of a baby through to robots that look much more lifelike. Engineers at Toyota recently launched Kirobo Mini , for example, as a means of promoting an emotional response in humans. The robot does not look like a baby, but instead models "vulnerable" baby-like behaviors including recognizing and responding to people in a high-pitched tone and being unstable in its movements.
At the other end of the spectrum is Yotaro, a robotic baby simulator that uses projection technology for its face so it can simulate emotions and expressions. The simulator also models reaction to touching, mood and even illness through an in-built runny nose.
Encouraging or off-putting?
Past evidence might suggest that giving couples robotic baby simulators would encourage population growth. Recent educational experiments with robotic babies and teenagers in the United States and Australia , for example, found that although robotic babies were tested as a means of deterring, teenage pregnancies actually increased among those groups that were allocated robotic babies compared to control groups.
However, it would be too simplistic to say that this might be the same result for all adopters of robotic babies. Ages and cultural differences would play a significant part in any outcome.
As well as aiming to promote a growth in population, researchers are also aiming to prepare young couples for the longer term needs of a child as it grows. Robots have been developed to represent children in a range of age groups, from "9-month-old" Noby to "2-year-old" toddlers such as CB2 (although the latter is the output of research exploring the development of a biometric body).
While much focus has been on what goes into a baby robot, there are potential emotional issues for "parents. " There have been a number of studies that have examined the relationship between humans and robots. Researchers have discovered a high degree of bonding can form between the two, a bond that is strengthened when the device is a social robot which may have a human-like appearance or portray human-like behaviors.
There are some interesting caveats to this rule of thumb, such as the "uncanny valley" identified by Mashiro Mori , which suggests there is a range of realistic human qualities that humans find repulsive rather than appealing .
At present, development is very much a one-way relationship; one in which the human projects human qualities onto the robot. But there are currently a number of projects underway to develop robots that make use of Artificial Intelligence techniques so that they can form their own relationships with humans.
This then leads to the ethical implications of using robots. Embracing a number of areas of research, robot ethics considers whether the use of a device within a particular field is acceptable and also whether the device itself is behaving ethically. When it comes to robot babies there are already a number of issues that are apparent. Should "parents" be allowed to choose the features of their robot, for example? How might parents be counselled when returning their robot baby? And will that baby be used again in the same form?
These problems may persist throughout the lifespan of the "child". If a point in time arrives when parents need to swap their robot baby for another due to defects or because they want an older "child", for example, how might the emotional attachment to the first "child" migrate to the replacement given that this really should be the evolution of the same "person"? In practical terms, this may be possible through software updates similar to updates to apps on smartphones today – or even transplanting components to allow the evolved "child" to retain characteristics and memories, similar to replacing a hard disk drive in a computer.
Even taking Asimov's "three laws" of robotics into account becomes problematic depending upon the interpretation of the laws. For example, the first law states that a robot should not harm a human being. What if harm can be considered as emotional or psychological? You could argue that a human may be emotionally harmed when bonding with a robot baby as a result of the robot's actions.
The use of social robots in general raises many issues, both ethical and technical. The problem of declining birthrates is, however, a real and growing problem in a number of nations. Robot babies may not directly prove to be a solution, but it may lead to research that offers better understanding and insight into the problem of birthrate decline.
Mark Robert Anderson is a professor in computing and information systems at Edge Hill University.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
2016-10-18 13:44 www.upi.com
11 /18 The world's best resorts, airlines, islands and cities are revealed in prestigious travel awards (and the No1 hotel is in IRELAND) If you're thinking about your next holiday already (and have a spare few thousand sitting in the bank) then the following destinations are likely to hit the spot. Conde Nast Traveler's Readers Awards have been released today and the list features a dizzying array of five-star hotels, exclusive island resorts and world-class airlines. From a luxury guest ranch in Wyoming to an exotic island in the Philippines, there is something on the list to impress even the most discerning of customers - but the best of all comes from Ireland in the form of the five-star Ballyfin hotel in Co. Laois. The 18th-century Ballyfin, at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, which was the honeymoon destination for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, has only 20 rooms on the 614 acre estate and it aims to be a relaxing haven for its guests. It came out on top in the Conde Nast Traveler Awards despite stiff competition from the likes of the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, India, at number four, the contemporary hotel Mathilda in Mexico City in third place and an ultramodern new Virgin Hotels Chicago by Richard Branson in sixth place. Incredibly, Ireland has no less than three hotels in the world's top ten, with Waterford Castle, in Co. Waterford placing at number seven and The Lodge at Ashford Castle in Co. Mayo coming in ninth place. Elsewhere across the world, Como The Treasury in Perth, Australia, came a close second to the Ballyfin, with people praising its innovative restaurant menu. Summer Lodge Country House Hotel in Dorset came fifth due to its quintessential English charm and the chic Hotel Il Pellicano in Tuscany rounded out the top ten. More than 300,000 readers of the luxury travel magazine cast votes for their favourite 7,394 hotels, 606 cities, 500 cruise ships and 236 islands which have now been published. In America, New York City still continues to reign supreme as a tourist destination after being voted as the best large US city, while the quaint South Carolina port city of Charleston with its cobbled streets and pastel antebellum houses was voted best small US city. In South America, the top hotel was awarded to the quirky Hotel Unique in São Paulo, Brazil. For those looking for bit more peace and quiet on their holidays though, the gong for the best island in the world went to Boracay in the Philippines. With its crystal clear blue waters, sandy shores and a phenomenal underwater river, the idyllic Palawan archipelago in southeast Asia easily claimed the top spot. With its similarly dazzling water and white sands in the Caribbean, the best beach resort went to the luxury, ocean-view hotel Le Sereno, St. Barths, the brainchild of famous Parisian designer Christian Liaigre. The top resort in the US looked a little different though, with the rustic The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, Saratoga, Wyoming chosen. The 30,000-acre working cattle ranch was the venue for Girls star Allison Williams' wedding to Van Veen back in the summer of 2015. Over on the African continent, there was a different kind of luxury on offer in the award for the best safari camp, which went to the Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in Sabi Sand, South Africa. Elsewhere, Singapore Airlines, with its lavish first class suites and shared bathrooms saw it crowned top airline in the world, and Virgin America won the prize for the US. Among visitors to Asia, there was no doubt that the top hotel on the continent was the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo. The luxury high-rise hotel, which occupies the top nine floors of the 34-storey Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, has outstanding views across the busy capital city. Meanwhile, in the cut-throat world of cruise lines, Disney's magical appeal meant it was voted best large cruise line. Crystal Cruises was ranked favourite middle-sized cruise line and Seabourn Cruise Line won the small category.
2016-10-18 13:01 Caroline Mcguire www.dailymail.co.uk
12 /18 Director Scorsese among Japan's prestigious art prize honourees TOKYO, Oct 18 (Reuters) - American film director Martin Scorsese and Latvian musician Gidon Kremer were among five international artists honoured at Japan's Praemium Imperiale awards on Tuesday, renowned prizes given annually by the Japan Art Association. Japan's Prince Hitachi presented the awards at a ceremony in Tokyo, while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared on screen to congratulate the 2016 laureates, who also included American photographer Cindy Sherman, French artist Annette Messager and Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha. The awards, founded in 1989, recognise individuals who have contributed to the development of international arts in the fields of sculpture, painting, music, theatre/film and architecture. Scorsese, director of films such as "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull", was honoured for his contribution to cinema. His latest film, "Silence", about the history of Christianity in Japan, is due out at the end of the year. Previous Praemium Imperiale winners include British sculptor Antony Gormley and late Iraqi- British architect Zaha Hadid. (Reporting by Reuters Television; Writing by Adela Suliman; Editing by Marie- Louise Gumuchian and Hugh Lawson)
2016-10-18 11:47 Reuters www.dailymail.co.uk
13 /18 Reports: Top North Korea diplomat to meet with U. S. officials in Malaysia SEOUL, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- North Korea 's top diplomat for U. S. affairs may be traveling to Malaysia to meet with U. S. officials, according to multiple Japanese press reports.
Han Song Ryol, who may have met with senior U. S. officials in Sweden in May, was seen at Beijing Capital International Airport, Japanese news service Kyodo News reported Tuesday.
Han ignored questions from a reporter representing Japanese television network NHK as he made his way to a vehicle that would take him to the North Korean embassy in Beijing.
Han is the director-general of the U. S. affairs department at North Korea's foreign ministry.
According to a source who spoke to Kyodo on the condition of anonymity, there is a possibility the North Korean diplomat was heading to Malaysia for an informal dialogue with U. S. officials.
The source could not name the U. S. officials, the report stated, but it is likely Han was to meet with officials or North Korea experts from the United States in a dialogue to be conducted in strict confidentiality.
NHK's source said it's likely Han will tell the U. S. delegation that Pyongyang intends to continue on the path of nuclear weapons development.
The trip is taking place at a time when North Korea has shown no interest in ending its nuclear weapons and missile development program.
On Saturday, North Korea fired a midrange Musudan missile that ended in failure, according to U. S. officials. The failed test earned Pyongyang a strong condemnation from the United Nations Security Council on Monday.
Direct meetings with U. S. officials and other contacts have been rare since Pyongyang conducted two nuclear tests and 22 ballistic missile launches in 2016.
But in September a private U. S. delegation from the Richardson Center for Global Engagement visited North Korea to discuss recovering U. S. soldier remains and flood aid, according to The New York Times .
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson heads the center.
2016-10-18 11:26 Elizabeth Shim www.upi.com
14 /18 ‘King Cobra’ Review: James Franco Dives Deep Into Gay Porn and Murder Movies don’t get much juicier, funnier, creepier, sadder, or smarter than writer-director Justin Kelly ‘s “King Cobra,” which dramatizes a real-life murder case set in the world of gay porn. Kelly’s work is outstanding, as he manages to control the most seemingly uncontrollable material while exploring many different facets of the case. “King Cobra” is as in-your-face explicit a gay movie as has ever been made with recognizable male actors, including producer James Franco , who predictably takes the lion’s share of the most physical sex scenes, and Christian Slater .
Kelly (“I Am Michael”) sets up two separate stories and cuts back and forth between them until they finally collide, with tragic results. We see young Sean Lockhart (Garrett Clayton, “The Fosters”) meet up with cultured, melancholy gay porn film producer Stephen (Slater), who immediately asks Lockhart, “Do you like Chopin?”
Kelly frames Lockhart at a distance in mirrors and door frames throughout “King Cobra,” which gets across how he is the object of desire both to Stephen and to himself. (Take note of the pitiful little crooked lamp shade next to Lockhart in one early shot where he is sprawled on a bed.) Stephen gives Lockhart the stage name Brent Corrigan and tells him, “It’s fun to play with who you are, don’t you think?”
See Video: Watch Christian Slater, Garrett Clayton in First Clip for James Franco's Porn Drama 'King Cobra'
Corrigan rises to fame online, which is shown to us in a sexily discreet montage that leaves a lot to the imagination; among those taking notice are Joe (Franco) and his younger lover Harlow ( Keegan Allen , “Pretty Little Liars”), who are doing their own lower-rent porn movies. Franco and Allen kiss and grope each other on screen with intense abandon in their sex scenes, and this intensity is both erotic and also an uneasy signal that their characters are too close to the emotional edge.
In the sequence where Brent turns the camera on Stephen and the older man admits to a lonely and repressed adolescence, Slater hits just the right pitiful note as he says, “Please just make me feel wanted” before coercing Brent into having sex with him. The sex here is emotionally charged and revealing because Stephen can’t see (or doesn’t want to see) how uncomfortable Brent is with this exchange, but the camera does capture what Brent is feeling, resulting in a rare sex scene that expresses what’s going on with the characters better than any dialogue could.
Also Read: James Franco's 'King Cobra' Director on Explicit Gay Sex Scenes: 'Actors Took Things Further Than the Script'
Kelly has lots of fun staging some bad porn acting in the Corrigan movies, but then he smoothly switches gears when Harlow gets upset and needs to stop a scene that Joe is shooting. We learn that Harlow was molested by his stepfather, and as Joe comforts him, Franco and Allen hit a very uncomfortable level of co-dependent emotion. Dread about what might happen next starts to steadily build as Corrigan tries to break away from Stephen, who has trademarked his stage name and has him under contract.
When Corrigan takes a business meeting with Joe and Harlow in a Japanese restaurant, Kelly wisely lets their initial talk play out in a long take where the camera steadily inches closer to them, an effective stylistic change that lets us know something is about to give or break. The scene where Harlow auditions for Stephen, which leads up to the killing, is very disturbing because Allen goes much farther with the physical and verbal sexual come-ons than you would expect in a mainstream movie.
Once we’re off-balance, Kelly films the stabbing death of Stephen in a super-controlled way that separates both characters into totally separate filmic spaces, a near-Hitchcockian montage where we never see the knife enter Stephen’s body but just hear its impact. Hitchcock famously advised to shoot a scene of love like a scene of murder and to shoot a scene of murder like a scene of love, and Kelly exactly catches that scary exchange and balance here.
Also Read: 'Docu-Fiction' Movie Confuses Tribeca Film Festival Audience - and That's the Point
It is made clear in the scenes that Brent shares with his flaky, loving mother ( Alicia Silverstone ) that he likes having sex on camera and only dislikes the exploitative situation that he is in with Stephen. In the sexy and amusing final scene, after a movie-long tease, Kelly finally lets Corrigan show us his most noted asset– complete with star tattoo–and this is so funny and suggestive because Clayton manages to look a lot like Corrigan but he also uncannily resembles his fellow Disney Channel alum Zac Efron in look and manner.
The surprising thing about “King Cobra” is that it winds up being a sex-positive movie that’s sympathetic to Corrigan while also poking some gentle, loving fun at him and committed to fully exploring the sadder fates of the three other men who came to their doom in his sunny presence.
Read original story ‘King Cobra’ Review: James Franco Dives Deep Into Gay Porn and Murder At TheWrap
2016-10-18 11:15 Dan Callahan www.sfgate.com
15 /18 15 /18 Soo Locks gates to be controlled remotely SAULT STE. MARIE -- A set of gates that helps control water flow out of Lake Superior is being automated.
The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded an $8 million contract for a project that will enable staffers to open and close the gates remotely from the Soo Locks control center at Sault Ste. Marie. Presently, they can be open and shut only by hand-cranking mechanical gears. The 16 gates cross the U. S.-Canadian border on the St. Marys River.
An 80-acre area of rapids just downstream is one of the Great Lakes’ most productive fish spawning areas.
Officials say the project will give the Corps more flexibility to operate the gates in ways that will improve conditions for fish.
Construction is scheduled to begin next spring and be finished in December 2018.
2016-10-18 08:17 Associated Press rssfeeds.freep.com
16 /18 Robot can now sweat it out at gym Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that the deal between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko for their world heavyweight title fight "has been agreed", but the two camps were being "meticulous" in securing as many vacant belts for the December 10 bout as possible.
2016-10-18 08:12 ©The Daily www.timeslive.co.za
17 /18 The Hot Producer Behind Japan's Body-Swapping Blockbuster 5:00 AM PDT 10/18/2016 by
Gavin J. Blair
It's safe to say Genki Kawamura is Japan's hottest producer. Responsible for a string of hits including Mamoru Hosoda's The Boy and the Beast , Japan's 2015 box- office king, and the current smash Your Name , a teen body-swapping drama that is on course to gross $200 million, Kawamura, 37, is on quite a hot streak. He also will have a major presence at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival, with Boy and the Beast and Your Name screening alongside his latest release, the murder mystery Rage starring Ken Watanabe. As if that weren't enough, Kawamura is a successful author (he has written four novels). His 2012 debut novel, If Cats Disappeared From the World , has sold 1.3 million copies in Japan and was made into a film this year by the studio Toho, his employer. Kawamura, who says he has no desire to work in Hollywood (he calls his work "super domestic"), spoke with THR about redefining the traditional role of the producer in Japan, why he loves "weak" characters and how his Midas touch also is a curse.
What do you see as the major differences between the roles of producers in Japan and Hollywood?
Producers in Hollywood are basically independent and contract with studios for projects, but in Japan we're nearly all studio employees, myself included. Directors mostly work independently in Japan, so their risk and sense of urgency are much greater, but realizing truly unique projects is a challenge in Japan for producers who are employees. One of the major issues is the way directors' and producers' roles are so clearly defined and separated in Japan. In America you have people like J. J. Abrams who direct, produce and write scripts, and it's not a problem. In Japan I'm thought of as strange because I do a variety of things.
The films you have produced are so varied in genre and style. From your point of view, is there a common theme?
I guess I'm interested in the disappointing aspects of human nature. It really comes out when I'm writing novels. Cats ' theme is [about] how when people are facing death they really start to live. My second book, Million Dollar Man , was about people who are desperate to be rich, but as soon as they get money they become unhappy. Money is created by humans but ends up being stronger than them. My third book, April She Will — from the title of the Simon & Garfunkel song — is coming out in November and is about love. Those are the three main themes of my films, too, because no matter how clever people are, they can never really deal with those three. Humans have been battling with those three since the time of Socrates and Plato, and nobody has found the answer.
Your Name is a huge hit. Why do you think it has captivated audiences?
As of today, 10 million people have seen it. No non-Miyazaki anime has [become a blockbuster], so it's like Hayao Miyazaki versus the world. He's such a giant in the field and has influenced everybody, but it was something completely different that caught the imagination: Compared to Miyazaki, Your Name has an otaku [geek] sense. It made me realize that in the 40 years since Miyazaki started making films the world has been turning otaku.
Do you feel you have the Midas touch?
I don't think I do. People who have the Midas touch really know what they're doing to attract audiences — I'm always surprised when the films succeed. [ Your Name director] Makoto Shinkai's last anime only did $1.5 million, and we thought no matter how hard we tried we could only do a maximum of 10 times that, so the budget and marketing expenses for Your Name were kept pretty low. We never imagined we could do 100 times that.
This story first appeared in the Oct. 21 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
2016-10-18 08:00 Gavin J feedproxy.google.com
18 /18 Apple iPhone 4 handset could be obsolete by November Apple users still clinging onto their iPhone 4 handsets will soon find them officially out-of- date. That's according to new reports that the aging device will be added to Apple's official list of obsolete products on 31 October. Apple defines 'vintage' products as those that have not been manufactured for more than five years and less than seven years ago. The Cupertino tech firm considers anything that was discontinued more than seven years ago to be obsolete. Scroll down for video While the firm offers limited service repairs for vintage products, no such support is continued for obsolete products. 'Apple has discontinued all hardware service for obsolete products with no exceptions,' the company explains on its website . 'Service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products'. While Apple made versions of the iPhone 4 using CDMA technology officially obsolete last year, the new October deadline will include all iPhone 4 handsets, reports Japanese website Macotakara. The iPhone 4 was first released in 2010 and was succeeded by the iPhone 4S in 2011. Apple ceased making the iPhone 4 in 2013, after it achieved the milestone of being the firm's longest serving flagship handset, racking up 15 months in the top spot. The late 2010 13-inch MacBook Air, the third-generation AirPort Extreme and the mid 2009 AirPort Time Capsule Wi-Fi stations will also be added to Apple's 'obsolete' list at the end of October, reports Macotakara. While the report concentrates on Japan, any products added to Apple's official obsolete list are likely to suffer the same fate in other major markets, including the UK and US. The iPhone 4's rumoured obsolescence is unsurprising, given that the handset is more than six years old. As the firm continues to update its iOS software to work with its latest handsets, it isn't primarily designed to work with ageing hardware. The same is also true for other phone manufacturers. Apple has been contacted for comment. 2016-10-18 07:35 Libby Plummer www.dailymail.co.uk
Total 18 articles.
Created at 2016-10-19 05:16
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