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JAKARTA, Indonesia (Funstylers) — Indonesian authorities believe two suicide bombers checked into the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta and carried out coordinated bombings Friday morning, killing at least six victims and wounding more than 50 others.
It is unclear what group is behind the attack on the Marriott and the adjacent Ritz-Carlton hotel, Indonesia’s National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso said at a news conference. He warned that the death toll could rise. In addition to their victims, the two bombers also died in the attacks.

Indonesian authorities have detained several witnesses and others for questioning, and have sent forensic evidence from the scene for testing, a spokesman for Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

“It’s all being studied now,” Dino Patti Djalal told CNN.

Yudhoyono warned that it is still too early to determine who was behind the attacks.
“This terrorist action is thought to be the work of a terrorist group, even though it is not certain whether this is the terrorism which we are familiar with up until now,” the recently reelected president said.

The bombings at the two luxury hotels — which are connected by an underground tunnel — happened shortly before 8 a.m. (9 p.m. Thursday ET) and went off 10 minutes apart, police officials said.
Five were killed at the Ritz-Carlton, and the other victim was killed at the Marriott, police spokesman Inspector General Nanan Soekarna said. A suspected suicide bomber died at each hotel as well, he said.
An unexploded bomb was found on the JW Marriott Hotel’s 18th floor where several suspects believed to be linked to the bombings were staying, Hendarso said.
It is unclear how they got around the “robust security” at the JW Marriott and the adjacent Ritz-Carlton Hotel, according to Allen Orlob, security chief for Marriott Hotels.

“We didn’t see any recent intelligence that there was an imminent threat in Jakarta,” Orlob told CNN. “As a matter of fact we were talking last night and said the situation in Jakarta seemed to have calmed down.”

The Marriott hotel in Jakarta was the site of a car bombing in August 2003 that killed 12 people.

Orlob said security remained high at the hotel.

“We kept it strong because we understood there’s always a prevailing threat here in Indonesia,” Orlob said.
Suspicion immediately fell on Jemaah Islamiyah, the Islamist terrorist network with ties to Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda terrorist network that was tied to the 2003 Marriott attack and the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed more than 200 people, mostly foreign tourists.
So far, there has been no claim of responsibility for the latest attack. Al Jazeera English reported that it was in touch with a JI member who denied any involvement in Friday’s hotel bombings.
The fatalities include New Zealand national Timothy David McKay, 60, according to Indonesia’s state-run Antara New Agency. McKay — the CEO of Holcim Indonesia, a cement company — was at the hotel for a meeting with fellow prominent business leaders, the Jakarta Post reported.

Indonesian media also reported that two directors of Freeport Indonesia, the largest copper and gold mining company in Indonesia, were wounded in the attacks on the two hotels.
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Super Talent has rolled out a new high capacity drive in the form of the 128GB Luxio Flash Drive. Measuring 77 x 21 x 10mm, the drive features a USB 2.0 connection interface, AES-256 hardware encryption and supports Windows ReadyBoost. Available in black, silver and wood grain, the Super Talent 128GB Luxio Flash Drive is expected to be launched later this month for $349 with a lifetime warranty.
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Israeli soldiers have described the use of “permissive” rules of engagement that cost civilian lives during the recent military campaign in Gaza.
The troops said they had been urged to fire on any building or person that seemed suspicious and said civilians were sometimes used as human shields.
Breaking the Silence, a campaign group made up of Israeli soldiers, gathered anonymous accounts from 26 soldiers.
Israel denies breaking the laws of war and dismissed the report as hearsay.
Breaking the Silence described most of the testimonies of soldiers who took part in Operation Cast Lead as “sober, regretful and shocked”.
Many of the testimonies are in line with claims made by human-rights organisations that Israeli military action in Gaza was indiscriminate and disproportionate.
According to testimonies from the 14 conscripts and 12 reserve soldiers:
• Rules of engagement were either unclear or encouraged soldiers to do their utmost to protect their own lives whether or not Palestinian civilians were harmed.
• Civilians were used as human shields, entering buildings ahead of soldiers
• Large swathes of homes and buildings were demolished. Accounts say that this was often done because the houses might be booby-trapped, or cover tunnels. Testimony mentioned a policy referred to as “the day after”, whereby areas near the border where razed to make future military operations easier
• Some of the troops had a generally aggressive, ill-disciplined attitude
• There was incidents of vandalism of property of Palestinians
• Soldiers fired at water tanks because they were bored, at a time of severe water shortages for Gazans
• White phosphorus was used in civilian areas in a way some soldiers saw as gratuitous and reckless
• Many of the soldiers said there had been very little direct engagement with Palestinian militants

The report says Israeli troops and the people who justify their actions are “slid[ing] together down the moral slippery slope”.
“This is an urgent call to Israeli society and its leaders to sober up and investigate anew the results of our actions,” Breaking the Silence says.
Israeli officials insist troops went to great lengths to protect civilians, that Hamas endangered non-combatants by firing from civilian areas and that homes and buildings were destroyed only when there was a specific military need to do so.
Israel said the purpose of the 22-day operation that ended on 18 January 2009 had been to end rocket fire from Gaza aimed at its southern towns.
Palestinian rights groups say about 1,400 Palestinians died during the operation. Thirteen Israelis died in the conflict, including 10 soldiers serving in Gaza.
According to the UN, the campaign damaged or destroyed more than 50,000 homes, 800 industrial properties, 200 schools, 39 mosques and two churches.
Investigations
Reacting to the report, Israeli military spokeswoman Lt Col Avital Leibovich said:
“The IDF regrets the fact that another human rights organisation has come out with a report based on anonymous and general testimony - without investigating their credibility.”
She dismissed the document as “hearsay and word of mouth”.
“The IDF expects every soldier to turn to the appropriate authorities with any allegation,” Lt Col Leibovich added. “This is even more important where the harm is to non-combatants. The IDF has uncompromising ethical values which continue to guide us in every mission.”
There have been several investigations into the conduct of Israel’s operation in Gaza, and both Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that runs the territory, have faced accusations of war crimes.
An internal investigations by the Israeli military said troops fought lawfully, although errors did take place, such as the deaths of 21 people in a house that had been wrongly targeted.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has requested more than $11m (£7m) in compensation from Israel for damage to UN property in Gaza. A limited UN inquiry blamed Israel in six out of nine attacks on UN facilities, resulting in casualties among civilians sheltering there.
Meanwhile, a fact-finding team commissioned by the Arab League concluded there was enough evidence to prosecute the Israeli military for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and that “the Israeli political leadership was also responsible for such crimes”.
It also said Palestinian militants were guilty of war crimes in their use of indiscriminate rocket attacks on civilians.
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Soccer comes back to Iraq

CNN’s Michael Ware takes us to the first home soccer game for Iraq since the game was banned in 2002.
Xclusive Video By Funstylers Dot Com
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If the design of Samsung’s HMX-U10 camcorder is a little too outré for your tastes, the company has two more traditionally-shaped offerings today. The Samsung SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 both conform to the standard palmcorder format, but actually they’re not quite as technically capable as the U10; each can record up to 720 x 480 resolution, rather than their upright sibling’s 1080p.

Still, you get a 65x “Intelli-Zoom” (52x optical zoom) and optical image stabilization, together with an HDMI output for direct connection to a TV or display. There’s also Schneider Optics and the same Intelli-Studio onboard editing suite as the U10, that boots up whenever you connect to a PC via USB. From there you can make basic tweaks and upload to YouTube.

The K40 has an SDHC card slot while the K45 has a 32GB SSD, good for up to 20hrs and 40 minutes of recording. Both can shoot 800 x 600 stills and do time-lapse recording, and will hit the market in August 2009. The Samsung SMX-K40 will be priced at $329.99 while the SMX-K45 will be $499.99.

Press Release:

SAMSUNG ANNOUNCES NEW CAMCORDERS THAT PUT HD VIDEO RECORDING AND VIEWING IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

Ultra Compact HMX-U10 Camcorder takes full-HD Video and 10 MP Stills;

K-Series featuring the SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 offer near full-HD Upscaling and HDMI Connectivity

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. – July 14, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America Inc. today introduced new camcorders that make recording and viewing video in HD easy. The HMX-U10 is an ultra compact camcorder that records in full-HD and takes 10 mega-pixel still photos. It also allows users to easily share content online with its one-touch “upload” button to YouTubeTM. The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 record video in standard definition but then upscale the footage to near full-HD when viewing through an HDMI output (cable sold separately). These new models join Samsung’s second-half camcorder lineup for 2009, which includes the recently introduced SMX-C14 and SMX-C10.

“We want to make it easy for everyone, from the young family of four to the tech-savvy professional, to record and view HD footage,” said Reid Sullivan, senior vice president of Audio/Video and Digital Imaging Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “The addition of the HMX-U10 and the K-Series adds strength to an already impressive lineup of Samsung camcorders and offers a digital video recording solution for every consumer segment.”

HMX-U10

The HMX-U10 is the ideal solution for the consumer looking for ultimate portability and ease-of-use in an HD camcorder. The HMX-U10 offers full-HD video recording with 1920×1080 resolution. The HMX-U10’s 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor also gives consumers the ability to capture impressive 10 mega-pixel digital still images, all which can be reviewed on the camcorder’s clear, two-inch LCD screen. At 56mm x 103mm x 15.5mm, and weighing just 95g including the battery, the HMX-U10 is ultra-compact with an ergonomic design that breaks free of the traditional look and feel of pocket-sized camcorders. Its sleek frame is accentuated by a wave-design that angles the body of the camcorder at seven degrees, allowing users to grip the camcorder more comfortably, reducing any related stress on the wrist or arm. This same ergonomic design philosophy is also found in the SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 camcorders, which feature Samsung’s unique Active Angle Lens.

K-Series: SMX-K40 and SMX-K45

With the new K-Series, consumers can enjoy near full-HD quality video for the price of a standard definition camcorder. The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 record exceptional standard definition video at a resolution of 720×480, and then can be played back on an HDTV in near full-HD quality thanks to advanced upscaling technology and HDMI connectivity. With a built-in HDMI output on the camera and HDMI cable (sold separately), consumers connect the camcorder directly to their HDTV for near full-HD playback.

The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 also offer one of Samsung’s most powerful zoom lenses. Consumers have a 65x Intelli-Zoom at their fingertips which drastically enhances their ability to capture any moment they see no matter how far away they may be. Significantly more reliable than a standard digital zoom which negatively affects the quality of the image, Samsung’s new Intelli-Zoom allows users to go beyond the camcorder’s 52x optical zoom. The K-Series also features Samsung’s advanced Optical Image Stabilizer, ensuring that video will be shake-free, whether zoomed out or using the camcorder at it’s full 65x Intelli-Zoom. Furthermore, the camcorder’s world-class Schneider-KREUZNACH lens delivers the quality and performance needed to help capture the most impressive video possible.

The SMX-K45 offers an internal 32GB Solid State Drive (SSD), providing up to 20 hours and 40 minutes of recording time depending on the recording mode. Samsung’s renowned SSD technology offers a substantial advantage over the use of Hard Disk Drives (HDD) in a digital camcorder. SSD is more energy efficient, produces very low heat emission, and is faster and more durable than HDD because there are no moving parts. The SMX-K40 does not have internal storage and requires the use the of a SD/SDHC card.

Unique Features

The new HMX-U10 and K-Series follow in the footsteps of the newly introduced SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 and boast several unique features which differentiate them from the competition and make video recording even more enjoyable for consumers. Such features include Samsung’s built-in intelli-studio software, animated thumbnails, and a versatile charging system.

No longer do consumers need to worry about being near their home computer in order to edit or share their video. The HMX-U10 and the K-Series all feature Samsung’s play-edit-sharing program called intelli-studio. The camcorders’ built-in intelli-studio program allows consumers to turn any computer into a mobile studio, giving them the ability to edit and play their video without having to install supporting software. Sharing is also simplified using intelli-studio as the program takes the hassle out of uploading content to popular video-sharing Web sites. For example, a one-touch “upload” button, available directly on the HMX-U10, provides a direct connection to YouTube™, further reducing the number of steps needed to upload footage. In addition, the camcorders also allow basic on-camera editing, including the ability to split video files.

Samsung’s animated thumbnail feature simplifies the way users search for video clips. Each video clip saved on the camcorder is represented by a small thumbnail on the LCD screen. When scrolling through one’s videos, each thumbnail will provide a short playback of the video file when highlighted by the user. The HMX-U10, and SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 also feature a versatile charging system. Users can either recharge the battery by connecting the camcorder to the supplied AC adapter or via USB while the camcorder is connected to a computer.
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Recently, gorgeous actress Asin was stalked by an unidentified man when she visited the beautiful country to attend an award function. The stalker has been following the actress ever-since she landed in Singapore and traced every movement of hers.

The man got so courageous with his moves that he tried to get closer to Asin, when she was in her hotel lobby. But thankfully, the hotel security guards instantly got into action and caught hold of the stalker, relieving Asin from any danger.

The stalker was then whisked away from the charming actress. These kind of unfortunate incidences are common with the celebrities, and their fans should understand what kind of mental trouble they cause to the stars by making such moves.
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SEOUL, Korea (AVING) — Samsung Electronics announced the launch of two professional LCD monitors ‘Syncmaster 80 Series(model: F2080/F2380)’ in Korea market. Supporting 178-degree viewing angle and 150,000:1 contrast ratio, it has an adjustable stand and 15mm-thick slim bezel with a non-reflective black color.

Suggested price is 378,000(KRW) for 20-inch and 457,000(KRW) for 23-inch model.
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In the storied history of Gotham City, the Wayne family has long been a staple of the economic and social landscape. While each member has drawn the curiosity of the city’s citizens, the clan’s most famous and revered members were Thomas and Martha Wayne. Although they were loved by the public for both their generosity and good works, their lives were ultimately cut short by an infamous act that would signal the loss of Gotham City’s innocence.

Thomas Wayne, son of Patrick Wayne and the heir to the vast Wayne family fortune, was not content to simply rest on his laurels and take advantage of the billions his relatives had made in industry and real estate. After attending medical school, Wayne became a surgeon and was heralded as one of the most gifted members of Gotham City Hospital. Also a noteworthy philanthropist, he was heavily involved with numerous Gotham charities. He took great pleasure in being able to use his family’s fortune and business contacts to benefit Gotham City and its inhabitants. Wayne did this through numerous gala events, fundraisers and benefits.

It was during one such benefit that Wayne met a young socialite named Martha Kane. Much like Wayne, Kane was also the heir to an immense fortune, the vast Kane chemical empire. At the time of their first meeting, Kane, like Wayne, was an active philanthropist. She was particularly interested in the plight of children in Gotham and around the world. The pair found a common bond in helping the less fortunate souls of Gotham City. Before long, they wed and ultimately had one son, Bruce.
But on the evening of June 26, what started as a light-hearted family outing to a Gotham cinema became the grisly scene of a murder that the entire populace of the city would not soon forget. Next, we’ll look at the crime, its culprit and its victims.
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This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn’t want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back — so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We’ll be handing out a new gadget every day to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we’ve got eight (8) LG enV3’s (in blue and maroon) for Verizon Wireless up for grabs. Read the rules below (no skimming — we’re omniscient and can tell when you’ve skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff!

Special thanks to LG for providing the gear!

The rules:
Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for “fixing” the world economy, that’d be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you’ll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you’ll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. Eight (8) winner will receive one (1) maroon or blue LG enV3 for Verizon Wireless. Approximate retail value is $299.99. (Color will be chosen randomly.)
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until Saturday, July 11th,
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Funstylers Latest Gadgets: Dubbed as the “King Cobra”, the Urweck UR-CC1 is the world’s first wristwatch with true retrograde linear displays. The time is displayed by two large cylinders: one for the jumping hours, the other, a retrograde cylinder for the minutes. Meanwhile, an ultra-light disk on the dial indicates the seconds, both digitally and linearly. The timepiece is available in either grey gold with titanium baseplate or black gold with titanium baseplate. Each models are limited to 25 pieces only.
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