Morning Media Summary

Tech:

FBI Raids Apartment of Alleged King’s Speech Uploader:
“The FBI has raided the Los Angeles apartment of a Screen Actors Guild member the bureau believes was first to upload the Oscar-winning movie The King’s Speech as well as Black Swan, and other in-theater-only films to the Pirate Bay in January, according to interviews and sealed court records obtained by Wired.com.”

Sony faces global legal action over data theft; shares fall:

“Sony Corp could face legal action across the globe after it delayed disclosing a security breach of its popular PlayStation Network, infuriating gamers and sending the firm’s shares down nearly 5 percent in Tokyo Thursday.”

Global Warming / Environment / Energy:

Shell makes $8.78 billion profit in Q1:
“Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Europe’s largest oil company, Thursday reported booming profits of $8.78 billion in the first quarter, up 60 percent from a year ago thanks to higher oil prices, gains on asset sales and improving refining operations.”

Insurance / Gambling:

Iowa Gambling Bill Calls for Study on Internet Poker:
“While news about the crackdown on internet poker sites has been grabbing the headlines in the United States and around the world these past couple of weeks, the battle to introduce online gambling on a state level continues across the country. Recently, Iowa’s Senate passed a gambling bill, making available funds for the study into the regulation of online poker in the state.”

Health / Safety:

Number of 100-year-olds is boombing in US:
“Not too long ago, Lonny Fried’s achievement would have dropped jaws. TV and newspaper reporters would have showed up at her door. She would have been fussed over and given a big party.”

Economics:

Lawmaker Attempts to Hide From Angry Taxpayers:

“How much are legislators feeling the pressure of voting on a budget that raises taxes during an economic crisis?”

Bernanke: Fed Sees Slower Growth, Uptick in Inflation:

“In his first regular news conference, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank was continuing its stimulus policy because it was projecting slower growth in the economy with only a modest uptick in inflation.”

Legal:

FBI Raids Apartment of Alleged King’s Speech Uploader:
“The FBI has raided the Los Angeles apartment of a Screen Actors Guild member the bureau believes was first to upload the Oscar-winning movie The King’s Speech as well as Black Swan, and other in-theater-only films to the Pirate Bay in January, according to interviews and sealed court records obtained by Wired.com.”

Labor:

House votes to restrict unions:
“House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly last night to strip police officers, teachers, and other municipal employees of most of their rights to bargain over health care, saying the change would save millions of dollars for financially strapped cities and towns.”

Transportation/ Land Use:

Midwest bullet train network to cost $83.6 billion, study says:
“A Midwest network of bullet trains that could travel at 220 mph and higher would cost $83.6 billion, but the benefits would be far greater than those from a less expensive system of trains topping out at 150 mph, according to a study to be released on Thursday.”

Are China’s high-speed trains heading off the rails?:
“China’s expanding network of ultramodern high-speed trains has come under growing scrutiny here over costs and because of concerns that builders ignored safety standards in the quest to build faster trains in record time.”