California jury says Samsung, Apple both infringed smartphone patents
from each other
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A California jury determined Friday that Samsung infringed Apple smartphone patents and awarded $120 million in damages.
The panel delivered its verdict in federal court San Jose in the latest lawsuit involving the two tech giants. It also ruled that Apple infringed Samsung patents and awarded $158,000 in damages.
Apple Inc. had sought $2.2 billion after accusing Samsung Electronics Co. of infringing five of its patents covering functions such as slide-to-lock, universal searching, quick linking, automatic word correction and background syncing.
Samsung had sought $6 million after arguing Apple that had infringed two of its smartphone patents related to camera use and video transmission.
The verdict marked the latest intellectual property battle between the world’s top two smartphone makers. Apple and Samsung have sued each other in courts and trade offices around the world.
Landslide in Afghanistan kills 350, hundreds more missing
KABUL, Afghanistan — A landslide triggered by heavy rain buried large sections of a remote northeastern Afghan village on Friday, killing at least 350 people and leaving more than 2,000 missing. Villagers looked on helplessly and the governor appealed for shovels to help dig through the mass of mud that flattened every home in its path.
The mountainous area in Badakhshan province has experienced days of heavy rain and flooding, and the side of a cliff collapsed onto the village of Hobo Barik around midday. Landslides and avalanches are frequent in Afghanistan, but Friday’s was one of the deadliest.
Gov. Shah Waliullah Adeeb said more than 2,000 people were missing after the landslide buried some 300 homes — about a third of all the houses in the area.
N. Ireland police get extra
48 hours to interrogate Gerry Adams over 1972 IRA killing
BELFAST, Northern Ireland — Northern Ireland police were granted an extra 48 hours Friday to interrogate Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams about the 1972 IRA killing of a Belfast widow, infuriating his Irish nationalist party and raising questions about the stability of the province’s Catholic-Protestant government.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed in a statement its detectives received permission at a closed-door hearing with a judge to detain Adams for up to two more days.
Had the request been refused, authorities would have been required to charge Adams or release him Friday night, two days after his arrest in the abduction, slaying and secret burial of Jean McConville, a mother of 10. The new deadline is Sunday night, although this too could be extended with judicial permission.
American hospitalized
with Middle East virus
after return from Saudi Arabia; first case in US
NEW YORK — Health officials on Friday confirmed the first case of an American infected with a mysterious virus that has sickened hundreds in the Middle East.
The man fell ill after flying to the U.S. late last week from Saudi Arabia where he was a health care worker.
He is hospitalized in good condition in northwest Indiana with Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Indiana health officials, who are investigating the case.
The virus is not highly contagious and this case “represents a very low risk to the broader, general public,” Dr. Anne Schuchat told reporters during a CDC briefing.
The federal agency plans to track down passengers he may have been in close contact with during his travels; it was not clear how many may have been exposed to the virus.
Dead whale washes ashore
on Atlantic City beach,
gets tagged with graffiti
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A dead Minke whale that washed ashore in New Jersey suffered some further indignity: someone tagged it with graffiti.
The whale, which was roughly 12 to 15 feet long, was discovered Thursday morning below Atlantic City’s Central Pier.
Police tell The Press of Atlantic City the purple markings are not gang-related and appear to be Greek letters.
The letters appeared to be Tau Epsilon Phi, a fraternity that has chapters at several area schools, followed by what looked like “94.”
Spokesman Jesse Cohen says while it has not been confirmed that Tau Epsilon Phi members were involved, the fraternity considers it a “reprehensible act” contrary to its teachings and is cooperating with authorities.
By wire sources
