Congress questions Sony on hacked PlayStation network

A congressional subcommittee has sent a letter to Sony Corp. seeking information about a security attack on PlayStation’s online network by hackers last week.

Addressed to Sony Chairman Kazuo Hirai, the letter requested answers to a detailed list of questions regarding the breach, which exposed the personal information and possibly credit card data of 77 million customer accounts.

The letter, written by the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trading, addresses a number of security concerns, including when the breach occurred, how much data was stolen and why Sony waited a week before it notified customers.

The letter demanded specifics on the kind of information the hackers stole and assurances that no credit card data was swiped.

“Given the amount and nature of the personal information known to have been taken, the potential harm that could be caused if credit card information was also taken would be quite significant,” the letter said.

The subcommittee set a May 6 deadline for a reply.

Sony’s admission has drawn a firestorm of anger from customers and lawmakers alike. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) on Wednesday compared the breach to thieves playing the video game Grand Theft Auto with highly sensitive personal information.

The PlayStation network has been down for almost two weeks and it’s unclear when the service will be fully revived.

Sony could not immediately be reached for comment.

Romney blames high prices on insufficient supply

Mitt Romney pulled out his own credit card and spent $38.52 today to fill up the Ford Escape owned by aide Will Ritter, before he blamed high gasoline prices on the country's inability to generate a sufficient supply of energy.

The prospective Republican presidential contender said the Obama administration's reliance on creating green technologies and renewable energy supplies is commendable, but it has also caused price increases because of the expectation that supply of existing fuels will not increase.

He called for more oil drilling and natural gas pipelines, as well as coal production.

"The reason you're seeing these high prices is because of the extraordinary growth in demand globally and the inability of this nation to create sufficient supply," Romney told reporters as he visited Hillsborough Gas & Repair before a GOP candidate forum in New Hampshire.

"It's a supply-and-demand imbalance, and if we're going to get prices down, we're going to have to finally address our sources of energy," he added. "Instead of trying to find a scapegoat, as I watched the president (say) the other day, 'We're gonna investigate and see who's gouging,' well, that's always a good thing to do; there's nothing wrong with finding out who the gougers are, but that's not the reason for gasoline prices at the level we're seeing. The reason for these prices is because we have not kept our supply in line with our demand."

Tony Chedid has owned the station for seven years, and he said his profit margin has fallen as prices have risen because credit card fees are consuming a bigger portion of the sale.

He said he is now making about 3 cents per gallon.

"It's a misconception," said Chedid. "People think the prices are high, we're making a killing. Really, the ideal price for us would be something like $2 a gallon."

While Obama has called for an end to oil and gas industry subsidies in light of record energy corporation profits, Romney avoided a direct answer when asked whether he favors or opposes the idea.

The former Massachusetts governor said he favors tax reform for both individuals and corporations, including lower rates for both but also a reexamination of deductions and exemptions.

Yet he added: "As to the specifics of that industry, I haven't looked at it in sufficient depth."

Libya: Misrata shipments 'to be blocked'

Libya says it will not allow any more sea deliveries to the besieged city of Misrata, and that aid agencies should preferably use land routes instead.

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim also said rebels in the city would be given four days to lay down their arms in return for an amnesty.

If they continued to fight they would face "total fire" he said.

His comments came after Nato said forces loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi had been trying to lay mines off Misrata.

Mr Ibrahim said he knew nothing of any mine-laying.

Misrata, the only significant rebel holding in the west of the country, has been under siege from pro-Gaddafi forces for several weeks.

They have recently retreated from the city centre, but rebels say pro-Gaddafi forces have continued to bombard civilian areas from a distance.

Rebels said several government tanks had tried to re-enter the city on Friday.

The BBC's Ian Pannell reports from the Libyan capital, Tripoli, that despite claims that loyalist forces are now in control of almost all of Misrata, it seems that the government is on the back foot, under pressure from Nato and desperate to reverse recent losses.

'Spirited fight'

Mr Ibrahim said the government had proved that rebels had received shipments of weapons to Misrata from the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

"We will not allow weapons and supplies to come through the sea port to the rebels," he said.

Libyan state TV announced: "Any attempt to enter the port will be attacked, regardless of the justifications."

Human rights groups say more than 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting in Misrata and many more have been wounded.

The port is a lifeline for rebels and citizens in the city, allowing them to receive supplies of food and medicine, and enabling the evacuation of the wounded and of stranded migrant workers.

Earlier, Nato's director of operations in Libya, Brig Rob Weighill, said the alliance had intercepted pro-Gaddafi forces trying to lay mines about 2-3km out from Misrata's port.

He said the mining showed Col Gaddafi's "complete disregard for international law and his willingness to attack humanitarian delivery efforts".

Crews were disposing of the mines, he added.

Brig Weighill added that rebels in Misrata had made advances in recent days.

"The rebels have expanded their perimeter significantly over the past week. To suggest they are winning would be overly optimistic," he said. "They are putting up a very spirited fight."

'Vigorous protests'

Nato is enforcing a UN resolution to protect civilians in Libya amid a two-month revolt inspired by other uprisings in the Arab world.

In the past week fighting has escalated on Libya's western border, spilling over into Tunisia.

The border post of Zintan has changed hands repeatedly, and Libyan military vehicles were seen in the town of Dahiba on the Tunisian side of the border on Friday.

Tunisia has condemned the incursion of forces from Libya and summoned the Tunisian ambassador to express its "most vigorous protests".

Thousands of people have fled across Libya's borders to escape the violence of recent weeks.

Mr Ibrahim, the government spokesman, blamed rebels for unrest at the border crossing, and said Libya would respect Tunisian sovereignty.

Holmes settles with magazine

Katie Holmes has settled her lawsuit with the publishers of Star magazine over a cover story that insinuated she was a drug addict. The magazine published an apology yesterday to the actress on the cover and inside its May 9 issue. Holmes’s publicist, Ina Treciokas, said American Media Inc. gave a sizable donation to Dizzy Feet Foundation, an organization that brings dance to underprivileged children. Terms were not disclosed. Holmes had been seeking more than $50 million in damages. (AP)

Tweet Be the first to Tweet this!ShareThis Hilton boyfriend gets grabbed

A man tried to grab Paris Hilton’s boyfriend yesterday as the couple headed into a Los Angeles courthouse where the socialite was to testify against a man accused of an attempted break-in at her home. The incident outside the Superior Court building in Van Nuys was witnessed by a photographer and reporters who were interviewing the couple. The man appeared to get a hand on the neck of Hilton’s boyfriend, Cy Waits, but was immediately seized by a bodyguard and taken away. (AP)

Kate Hudson engaged

Kate Hudson is engaged to Matt Bellamy, lead singer of the British rock band Muse. No wedding date has been set by the couple, who are expecting their first child. (AP)

Judge rejects NFL owners' request for stay on lockout ruling

In another setback for NFL owners, the federal judge who ordered them to lift the lockout denied their request to push the pause button on her ruling.

The league wanted U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson to keep the lockout in place while it appealed her ruling, but Nelson wrote late Wednesday that the NFL "has not met its burden for a stay pending appeal, expedited or otherwise."

Nelson wrote: "In short, the world of 'chaos' the NFL claims it has been thrust into — essentially the 'free-market' system this nation otherwise willfully operates under — is not compelled by this court's order."

In her decision, she said that all lockout rules are over and that the league year must start immediately. Although she said no team is required to sign free agents, clubs must open their facilities and allow workouts.

The league will ask for a stay from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, where it is appealing Nelson's ruling, but it appears the NFL will have to resume football operations immediately — creating even more confusion on the eve of the draft.

Players had written to the judge to argue against a stay of her ruling, saying both they and the league would be harmed by a continuation of the lockout.

The league, meanwhile, said it wanted to keep the lockout in place until there was more clarity about how to proceed — and until the 8th Circuit could consider the Nelson ruling — thereby postponing free agency and other football matters.

"We are in a period of uncertainty and that is something you want to remove," Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday, before the request for a stay was denied. "It's one of the things I don't think is healthy for the players, the clubs and most importantly our fans. So the sooner we can get rid of that uncertainty, the better."

Miami Heat’s Udonis Haslem nearing return

The Heat’s co-captain and inspirational leader, Haslem practiced back-to-back days Tuesday and Wednesday for the first time since tearing a tendon in his left foot in November.

Coach Erik Spoelstra called the benchmark a significant step in Haslem’s recovery and said a meeting with the Heat’s coaches, training staff and Haslem is scheduled to discuss a potential return.

“We will have discussions in the next few days to evaluate very clearly where he is right now,” Spoelstra said.

The back-to-back practices were “probably the first real significant step of progress that he’s had. He hasn’t been able to do that until now.”

Haslem participated in a full-contact practice Tuesday and then went through the Heat’s entire shootaround Wednesday morning. Before Wednesday, Haslem was required to sit a day or two after practicing as a precautionary step.

Guard Dwyane Wade, who has returned from shoulder surgery in the past, said Haslem’s back-to-back practices were positive signs. Wade said Haslem looked “quick and efficient” both days.

“The huge thing for anyone coming off surgery, especially in U.D.’s case, is being able to go back-to-back after you do something like that to see how you feel the next day,” Wade said. “His body is going to tell him when he’s ready, and I think as a team we will all know exactly, so it’s been positive to see him practice [Tuesday] — go through a hard practice.”

Spoelstra cautioned that “we’re not quite there yet” for Haslem’s return. He was inactive Wednesday along with center Erick Dampier and rookie center Dexter Pittman.

“At least now there is some daylight at the end of the tunnel for some discussions about it,” Spoelstra said.

Spoelstra said Haslem’s return to practice has already boosted the team’s morale, but nothing would compare to the inspirational jolt of Haslem’s return for Game 1 of a potential series against the Celtics.

“I think it will be as loud as it has been in the Miami Heat arena,” Wade said.

Miller’s progress

Reserve Mike Miller hasn’t been a factor in the first-round playoff series, but that could change, Spoelstra said.

The coach said before Wednesday’s game that Miller practiced well Tuesday, a positive first step in returning to the rotation. Limited by an injured left thumb that could require surgery after the postseason, Miller did not play in Games 3 or 4 and only had logged six minutes of playing time in the first round before Wednesday.

“He is making some progress in terms of being able to deal with the thumb injury,” Spoelstra said. “He’s finally got a brace now that works and is giving him some comfort, so I’ll have to reevaluate that. I don’t know if that necessarily changes things [Wednesday night] but it’s making me think.”

Mandich tribute

Spoelstra offered some touching remarks from the Heat to Jim Mandich’s family before Wednesday’s game. Mandich, a former Dolphins player and broadcaster, died Tuesday.

“It is a sad day in South Florida, and our thoughts go out to the Mandich family. He was an icon here in South Florida for all of us that are Dolphins fans,” Spoelstra said. “We’re so used to his voice. It’s a sad day.”