Obama: Gov't, business responsible for US future

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Government has a responsibility to make the U.S. the best place in the world to do business, but companies have a responsibility to invest in the nation's future by keeping jobs here, hiring American workers and paying decent wages, President Barack Obama says.

Obama devoted his weekly radio and Internet message Saturday to ideas from his State of the Union address, specifically a plan to put the U.S. on a more competitive footing globally by spending scarce dollars on innovation, education and the nation's infrastructure.

"In today's global, competitive economy, the best jobs and newest industries will take root in countries with the most skilled workers, the strongest commitment to research and technology and the fastest ways to move people, goods and information," the president said, previewing a speech he is giving to the influential U.S. Chamber of Commerce early next week.

Underscoring his points, Obama referenced his visit this week to Penn State University, where researchers are designing more energy-efficient buildings. He also spoke about next Thursday's trip to Marquette, Mich., a place the White House says illustrates how increased Internet access can help businesses grow. Obama has called for expanding high-speed, wireless Internet access to 98 percent of Americans within five years.

EDL protest attracts European far-right activists

English Defence League protests are attracting an increasing number of young people.
Photograph: KeystoneUSA-Zuma/Rex Features

Extreme-right activists from across Europe will join thousands of English supporters Defense League tomorrow for the biggest rally in 20 months history of the group. Police expect about 7,000 protesters will be at Luton, Bedfordshire the city where the EDL began in spring 2009, fall amid evidence of the growing influence of the youth group.
The organization has staged more than 30 protests since it was formed, many of which were marred by Islamophobia, racism and violence.
This rally will see more than more than 25 buses to transport members to Luton from across the UK, with thousands more activists due to their way to by car or train. One activist said EDL 800 far-right supporters was meeting at Kings Cross station in north London before departure.
UK-based members will be joined by activists from recently formed copycat "defense leagues" in Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands - and the more established fans of extreme-right groups from France, Germany and Denmark. 

Egypt gas pipeline attacked

Unknown attackers have blown up a pipeline that runs through El-Arish area in northern Sinai region of Egypt and supplies gas to Jordan and Israel, according to the present state of Egyptian television.

The Jordanian route that runs from El-Arish to Aqaba to Amman and then damaged by an explosion Saturday.

But it has been reported that the pipeline running to Ashkelon in Israel is not affected.

The explosive material was placed in or adjacent to the checkpoint of the gas supply. There were no immediate reports of casualties as a result of the explosion.

"Saboteurs took advantage of the security situation and blew up the pipeline," a correspondent reported state television, saying there was a big explosion.

State television quoted an official as saying that "the situation is very dangerous and explosions were continued from one place to another" along the pipeline.

"It's a major terrorist operation," a state television reporter said.

Palin: America out of step with Reagan's values

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) -- America is on a "road to ruin" because of misguided policies in Washington and needs to get back in step with the values of Ronald Reagan, Sarah Palin said at an event honoring the former president's legacy.

The 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee delivered a stinging critique of Washington during her speech Friday, part of the national celebration marking the centennial of Reagan's birth on Feb. 6.

Revisiting themes familiar from her 2008 campaign, she said the nation was being shackled by high debt and taxes, dense government regulation and rising spending, often for programs that don't work. She said a rush toward green energy was overlooking the nation's oil and natural gas reserves, a choice that will cost jobs and drive up pump prices.

She blamed Washington leaders - an apparent reference to the Obama administration - for doing "everything in their power to stymie responsible domestic drilling."

"This is dangerous. This is insane," she said. "This is not the road to national greatness, it is the road to ruin."

Report: Hackers penetrated Nasdaq computer network

NEW YORK (AP) -- The computer network that runs the Nasdaq Stock Market has been penetrated by hackers multiple times during the past year, according to a newspaper report.

The Wall Street Journal reported on its website late Friday that federal investigators are trying to identify the perpetrators and their motive.

People familiar with the investigation say the exchange's trading platform, the system which executes trades, was not compromised, according to the report.

A person involved in the Nasdaq investigation told the newspaper that so far the perpetrators "appear to have just been looking around."

Nasdaq officials declined to comment.

Possible motives include financial gain, theft of trade secrets or a national security threat designed to damage the exchange, the newspaper said.

The Secret Service initiated the probe involving New York-based Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. last year. The FBI is also investigating the breach and White House officials have been informed.

Investigators have not yet been able to track the cyber break-ins to any specific individual or country, but people with knowledge of the case told the newspaper some evidence points to Russia. However, they point out that hackers could be just using Russia as a conduit.

In 1999, a group of hackers calling itself "United Loan Gunmen" infiltrated the computer that runs the websites for Nasdaq and the American Stock Exchange.

The hackers left a taunting message and also claimed to have briefly created for itself an e-mail account on Nasdaq's computer system, suggesting a broader breach in security. But at the time, Nasdaq officials said there was no evidence they manipulated financial data.