One day after fatal shooting, Freeport security guard shot dead

Markus Makur , The Jakarta Post , Timika | Sun, 07/12/2009 12:53 PM | National

Just one day after the shooting of an Australian working at Freepor-McMoran mine in Mimika, Papua, a Freeport security guard, identified as Markus Rattealo, was shot dead while he was in the car together with police officers on Sunday morning.

Accoding to a police source, unidentified assailants sprayed bullets against a vehicle carrying the police’s mobile brigades and anti-terror personnel as well as Freeport security guards at Mile 51 in Kuala Kencara district, near the site where Australian Drew Nicholas Grant was shot dead on Saturday.

National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Sulistyo Ishak confirmed the incident and said that the police had deployed reinforcement team consisting personnel from Timika Police office, Papua provincial police force and the National Police.

“After the incident, our anti-terror team Densus 88 had a gun battle with the unknown gunmen,” Ishak was quoted by Antara news agency as syaing.

On Saturday, Drew Nicholas Grant died after a shot was fired at a vehicle at Mile 53 in Kuala Kencana district. He was taken to Tembagapura Hospital, but died due to the wound.

Papua police chief Insp. Gen. Bagus Ekodanto said Saturday that a gun in the Papua shooting that killed Nicholas Grant is usually used by police and military officers.

Police found three cartridge cases and projectiles from the crime scene, he said.

Download newest PCMAV 2.0b build 3

For newest PCMAV 2.0b build 3 please click PCMAV.biz PCMedia AntiVirus below

author:pcmav

Mirror 1 ziddu :

PCMAV 2.0a valkyrie build 4

Download PCMAV 2.0a build 4

Author: pcmav

27 Apr

PCMAV 2.0a valkyrie build 4 please click PCMAV.biz PCMedia AntiVirus below

PCMAV 2.0a build 4

For newest PCMAV 2.0a build 4 please click PCMAV.biz PCMedia AntiVirus below

Mirror 1 ziddu :

Update Build4 hadir dengan penambahan 10 pengenal varian virus baru. Bagi Anda pengguna PCMAV 2.0a sangat disarankan segera melakukan update, agar PCMAV Anda dapat mengenali dan membasmi virus lebih banyak lagi. Dan untuk mendapatkan dan menggunakan update PCMAV ini, Anda cukup menjalankan PCMAV Cleaner (PCMAV-CLN.exe), tentunya komputer harus dalam keadaan aktif terhubung ke Internet (non-proxy). Fitur Automatic Updates dari PCMAV akan secara otomatis men-download dan meng-update database dari PCMAV.

Namun bagi Anda yang ingin mendapatkan file update tersebut secara manual, Anda bisa men-download file-nya melalui beberapa alamat ini: SendSpace.com, ZippyShare.com (mirror), atau Badongo.com (mirror). Letakkan file hasil download tersebut (update.vdb) ke dalam folder \vdb. Jika sebelumnya telah terdapat file update yang lama, Anda cukup menimpanya. Pastikan sekali lagi, bahwa nama file update adalah update.vdb, jika berbeda, cukup ubah namanya. Dan nanti saat Anda kembali menjalankan PCMAV, ia sudah dalam keadaan kondisi ter-update.

Pesan virus Susanti.

Susanti. Virus yang berkedok sebagai sebuah program ramalan ini dibuat menggunakan Visual Basic dengan ukuran file sekitar 2.015KB yang di-pack menggunakan UPX. Icon yang digunakan adalah icon berbentuk hati. Saat aktif, ia akan menampilkan pesan pada browser default. Pada komputer terinfeksi akan terdapat beberapa file induk dan pendukung pada direktori sistem Windows diantaranya dengan nama SERVICES.EXE, SRVSCNT.EXE, LSASS.EXE, Susanti.EXE, Kisahku, Memori 2 Desember 2002.htm, dan LadyKiller.BMP yang disembunyikan dengan menggunakan attribut hidden.

Daftar tambahan virus hingga PCMAV 2.0a Update Build4:
Advertiser
Apong.C
Autoit.CX
Autoit.CY
Autoit.CZ
Autoit.DA
Autoit.DB
Autoit.DC
Autoit.DD
Autoit.DE
Autoit.DF
Autoit.DG
Autorunme.E
BlackMoron
Cfgencoded
Cfgencoded.inf
Ctfloader
Ctfloader.inf
Dungcoi.E
Foldres.B
Gen.FFE-Alchemy
Gen.FFE-Alchemy.txt
Gen.VBWG-Cute.B
Gokilcoi.vbs
Gokilcoi.vbs.inf
Knight
Knight.inf
Malingsi.E
Matroji
Microln
Perwira
Perwira.bat
Perwira.txt
Raider.vbs.G.inf
Recycler-Fatalz
SlowButSure.vbs.F
SlowButSure.vbs.F.inf
Susanti
Susanti.exe
Susanti.htm

Download PCMAV 2.0a build 2

For newest PCMAV 2.0a build 2

For newest PCMAV 2.0a build 2 please click PCMAV.biz PCMedia AntiVirus below

Mirror 1 ziddu :

Perwira: PCMAV 2.0a Update Build2

Perwira: PCMAV 2.0a Update Build2

Author: pcmav

Update Build2 hadir dengan penambahan 8 pengenal varian virus baru. Bagi Anda pengguna PCMAV 2.0a sangat disarankan segera melakukan update, agar PCMAV Anda dapat mengenali dan membasmi virus lebih banyak lagi. Dan untuk mendapatkan dan menggunakan update PCMAV ini, Anda cukup menjalankan PCMAV Cleaner (PCMAV-CLN.exe), tentunya komputer harus dalam keadaan aktif terhubung ke Internet (non-proxy). Fitur Automatic Updates dari PCMAV akan secara otomatis men-download dan meng-update database dari PCMAV.

Namun bagi Anda yang ingin mendapatkan file update tersebut secara manual, Anda bisa men-download file-nya melalui beberapa alamat ini: SendSpace.com, ZippyShare.com (mirror), atau Badongo.com (mirror). Letakkan file hasil download tersebut (update.vdb) ke dalam folder \vdb. Jika sebelumnya telah terdapat file update yang lama, Anda cukup menimpanya. Pastikan sekali lagi, bahwa nama file update adalah update.vdb, jika berbeda, cukup ubah namanya. Dan nanti saat Anda kembali menjalankan PCMAV, ia sudah dalam keadaan kondisi ter-update.

Perwira. Virus berukuran sekitar 205KB ini sebenarnya dibuat menggunakan file batch dan di-compile menggunakan Quick Batch File Compiler. Dalam aksinya, ia banyak melakukan manipulasi terhadap registry, seperti menonaktifkan Task Manager, Control Panel, Folder Options, Regedit, dan masih banyak lagi yang lainnya. Ia pun berusaha untuk menonaktifkan antivirus yang terpasang pada komputer korban. Pada komputer terinfeksi akan terdapat sebuah file pesan pada direktori Windows dengan nama jadikan_aku_polisi.txt.

Daftar tambahan virus hingga PCMAV 2.0a Update Build2:
Autoit.CX
Autoit.CY
Autoit.CZ
Autoit.DA
Autoit.DB
Autoit.DC
Autorunme.E
Ctfloader
Ctfloader.inf
Dungcoi.E
Gen.FFE-Alchemy
Gen.FFE-Alchemy.txt
Matroji
Perwira
Perwira.bat
Perwira.txt
Raider.vbs.G.inf
SlowButSure.vbs.F
SlowButSure.vbs.F.inf

24 dead in Bandung military plane crash Fokker

24 dead in Bandung military plane crash

The Associated Press , Bandung | Mon, 04/06/2009 6:48 PM | National

During heavy rains on Monday a military plane carrying 24 people crashed into an airport hangar and burst into flames, killing everyone on board, an air force spokesman said.

Fire trucks and ambulances rushed to the scene, pulling bodies from the debris. Emergency workers carried charred parts of the downed Fokker 27 from the smoking hangar.

Air force spokesman Bambang Sulistyo said none of the 24 aboard the aging turboprop -- which was filled with trainees returning from a parachuting exercise -- survived. There were no casualties on the ground, he added.

It was not clear what caused the crash, which occurred as the pilot was trying to land during a heavy storm just outside the city of Bandung. Witnesses told Antara state news agency that the plane appeared to be shaking before diving to the ground.

"There was a thundering sound," said Budi Wuraskito, director of operations at the airport.

"The plane blew apart inside the hangar, which had several airplanes and helicopters inside."

Six crew, an instructor and 17 special forces trainees had been onboard the 32-year-old aircraft, Sulistyo said.

The country's air force has long complained of being underfunded and handicapped by a recently lifted US ban on weapons sales. It has suffered a series of accidents, including a Casa 212 plane that crashed during an aerial surveillance mission last year, killing 18 people.

A series of commercial airline crashes in recent years has killed more than 120 people in Indonesia.

Nyepi

National

• 

  Sacred circle

  Wed, 03/25/2009 - 12:02 PM
  A group of Hindus walk to circle the Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta on Wednesdday as part of a ritual to celebrate the Nyepi Holiday.

S. American leaders join anti-Davos social forum The Associated Press , Belem, Brazil | Fri, 01/30/2009 9:23 AM South America's leading advocates

S. American leaders join anti-Davos social forum

The Associated Press , Belem, Brazil | Fri, 01/30/2009 9:23 AM

South America's leading advocates of socialism got a hero's welcome from 100,000 activists at the mouth of the Amazon River Thursday as they demanded an overhaul of global capitalism.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the time has come for the world's leftists to "leave the trenches," propose solutions and "launch a political ideological offensive everywhere."

Advocates for landless Brazilians in a sweltering gymnasium and roared in approval as Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa belted out the Cuban classic "Comandante Che Guevara," accompanied by a lone guitarist. Bolivia's Evo Morales and Paraguay's Fernando Lugo joined them on stage at the World Social Forum. But the loudest cheers were for Chavez.

"Chavez is fighting for people like me and his presence validates our movement," said 34-year-old Brazilian activist and singer Nicinha Durans, whose bright red shirt read "Hip Hop Militant."

Morales, Bolivia's first Indian president, also saluted the crowd at the annual protest against the World Economic Forum, where the rich and powerful gather at the Swiss ski resort of Davos each year.

"Before you are four presidents - four presidents who could not be here were it not for your fight," he said. "I see so many brothers and sisters here, from Latin America's social movements to European figures."

Later, more than 10,000 of the 100,000 activists in Belem for the forum packed a convention center, waving red flags and danced atop chairs to Brazilian music when the leaders plus Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva showed up to address the crowd.

"Latin America is changing and the hope is the north will change as well," declared Lugo, a former Roman Cathlic priest and follower of liberation theology. "We have seen the economic policies they said were so efficient fail."

A Brazilian Indian who identified himself only as Vander said he traveled for a full day by riverboat to reach the event so he could "be here to represent my people and their struggle."

Silva - a former union leader who has steered Brazil on a centrist course as president - decided to make his first social forum appearance in three years instead of going to Switzerland.

Some activists said they weren't angry at him for shunning the gathering in previous years, and predicted a warm welcome.

But Durans said others will protest against Silva because his administration has embraced many of the free-market economic policies he denounced before being elected president in 2003.

"He has let us down, and he won't be welcome here," Durans said.

download PCMAV 2.0 Valkyrie

PCMAV 2.0 Valkyrie

Author: pcmav

5 Mar

Memperingati ulang tahun PC Media ke-8 yang jatuh tepat di edisi terbaru 04/2009 yang telah terbit, majalah komputer terbesar dan terlaris di Indonesia ini memberikan edisi khusus 8th Anniversary Special & Collector’s Edition yang dihujani berbagai bonus menarik untuk para pembaca setianya. Di antaranya: DVD-9 double-layer berkapasitas 8 GB (pertama di Indonesia), koleksi lengkap 12 edisi digital PDF majalah PC Media 2008, kumpulan video demo aksi virus komputer 2007-2008, koleksi 5 album MP3 original (NAIF, KOIL, dsb), serta tidak ketinggalan yang begitu dinanti kehadirannya oleh masyarakat komputer di Indonesia, versi final dari PCMAV 2.0 Valkyrie. Apa saja yang baru di antivirus kebanggaan Indonesia ini?

APA YANG BARU?
a. IMPROVED! Implementasi modul baru untuk manajemen operasi memory
dan pencarian file yang begitu cepat dan stabil.

b. NEW! IntelligentScan (iScan) engine for ClamAV untuk meningkatkan
akselerasi pendeteksian ketika engine ClamAV digunakan.
Pada PCMAV generasi 1.x banyak dikeluhkan mengenai betapa lambatnya
PCMAV ketika digabung dengan engine ClamAV. Untuk itulah kami
melakukan riset mendalam untuk mengembangkan sebuah engine tambahan,
yang diharapkan secara signifikan dapat meningkatkan performa PCMAV
ketika digabung dengan engine ClamAV. Hasilnya, terciptalah iScan
for ClamAV yang secara meyakinkan mampu meningkatkan performa scan
PCMAV+ClamAV hingga 40% lebih cepat. Buktikan sendiri!

c. NEW! RealTime Protector (RTP) for Vista dan Windows 7. PCMAV RTP
merupakan satu-satunya antivirus produksi Indonesia yang dapat berjalan
lancar dan stabil di Windows Vista. Khusus untuk Windows 7, walau cukup
berjalan lancar, RTP masih bersifat eksperimental mengingat Windows 7
sendiri yang masih berstatus Beta.

d. NEW! Virus Quarantine (karantina) untuk mengisolasi file-file yang
dicurigai bervirus ke tempat yang aman dan terlindungi sebelum
diambil tindakan lebih lanjut, seperti penghapusan maupun perbaikan
file. Jika ternyata file tersebut tidak berbahaya (false alarm),
maka dapat dikembalikan ke lokasi awal di mana file tersebut berasal.
Klik angka pada info Quarantined untuk masuk ke menu karantina. Folder
dan file “\quarantine\quarantine.dat” secara otomatis akan terbentuk
ketika PCMAV dijalankan untuk pertama kalinya di harddisk.

e. NEW! Virus Submit yang terintegrasi di menu Virus Quarantine.
Jika pada PCMAV generasi 1.x ditemukan file yang dicurigai (suspected)
maka Anda harus mengirimkan contoh file tersebut secara manual melalui
e-mail dengan sebelumnya dilakukan kompresi yang terpassword. Kini
keribetan tersebut tidak ada lagi. Fitur Virus Submit hadir untuk
mempermudah pengiriman otomatis file-file yang dikarantina ke PC Media.
Tinggal pilih file yang dimaksud di menu Virus Quarantine, lalu pilih
Submit. File yang berhasil dikirim akan dianalisa dan sesegera mungkin
dibuatkan update antivirus-nya berdasarkan skala prioritas.

f. NEW! PC Media Updates Manager untuk update online otomatis, baik
untuk file database virus PCMAV (update.vdb) maupun ClamAV
(main.cvd & daily.cvd).

g. IMPROVED! Integrasi awal PCMAV Cleaner & RTP. Proses awal PCMAV
Cleaner kini lebih cepat karena tidak lagi memeriksa memory/sistem
start-up Windows ketika RTP telah aktif. Dan untuk lebih menghemat
penggunaan memory, kini PCMAV Cleaner & RTP mampu menggunakan
memory bersama untuk database virus.

h. IMPROVED! Fitur scan melalui klik-kanan pada Explorer (/REGSHELL).
Bukan hanya file, kini folder juga dapat dilakukan scan dengan klik-kanan.

i. NEW! Fresh-Look dengan tampilan baru yang lebih simpel, cerdas,
informatif, dan tentunya menyenangkan.

j. BUG FIXED! Kesalahan deteksi (false alarm) heuristik pada beberapa
program dan script.

k. IMPROVED! Database virus utama (pcmav.vdb) kini dikeluarkan dari
modul utama dan bersama file update database virus (update.vdb)
diletakkan di folder “\vdb”

l. IMPROVED! Engine dan CVD tambahan ClamAV (0.9x) kini wajib
diletakkan di folder “\plugins\ClamAV”

m. IMPROVED! Ditambahkan database pengenal dan pembersih 54 virus
lokal/asing/varian baru yang dilaporkan menyebar di Indonesia. Total 2614
virus beserta variannya yang banyak beredar di Indonesia telah dikenal di
versi 2.0.0 ini oleh core engine PCMAV.

n. IMPROVED! Perubahan beberapa nama virus mengikuti varian baru yang
ditemukan.

o. IMPROVED! Perbaikan beberapa minor bug dan improvisasi kode internal
untuk memastikan bahwa PCMAV tetap dapat menjadi antivirus kebanggaan
Indonesia.

JANGAN SAMPAI KEHABISAN (LAGI):
Dapatkan segera the new PCMAV 2.0 Valkyrie yang telah disempurnakan hanya dari majalah PC Media 04/2009 yang telah terbit. Segera pesan dan dapatkan di kios/agen terdekat, jangan sampai kehabisan mengingat betapa spesialnya edisi ini.

Pertanyaan teknis harap disampaikan langsung ke redaksi PC Media melalui e-mail dengan sebelumnya Anda telah membaca dan memahami isi README.TXT. Dan kami akan berterimakasih jika Anda dapat meluangkan waktu untuk memberikan komentar sebatas penggunaan PCMAV 2.0 ini sebagai masukan dalam pengembangannya.

For newest PCMAV 2.0 Valkyrie please click PCMAV.biz PCMedia AntiVirus below

Miror 1 ziddu :

Miror 2 rapidhare:

Download PCMAV 1.93 Build 4

Author: pcmav

28 Feb

Miror 1 ziddu :

ShareThis

• 5 Comments
• Filed under: download, pcmav

Labunreke: PCMAV 1.93 Update Build4

Author: pcmav

27 Feb

Update Build4 hadir dengan penambahan 10 pengenal varian virus baru. Bagi Anda pengguna PCMAV 1.93 sangat disarankan segera melakukan update, agar PCMAV Anda dapat mengenali dan membasmi virus lebih banyak lagi. Jadi, total virus yang dapat dikenali hingga Build4 kali ini adalah sebanyak 42 virus.

Untuk mendapatkan dan menggunakan update PCMAV ini, pastikan terlebih dahulu PCMAV RealTime Protector tidak sedang aktif. Jika iya, Anda harus menutup aplikasi tersebut terlebih dahulu. Lalu Anda cukup menjalankan PCMAV Cleaner (PCMAV-CLN.exe), tentunya komputer harus dalam keadaan aktif terhubung ke Internet (non-proxy). Fitur GetUpdates dari PCMAV secara otomatis akan memberikan alamat internet yang aktif di mana Anda bisa men-download file update tersebut. Letakkan file hasil download tersebut (PCMAV.vdb) ke dalam folder di mana PCMAV berada. Jika sebelumnya telah terdapat file update yang lama, Anda cukup menimpanya. Pastikan sekali lagi, bahwa nama file update adalah PCMAV.vdb, jika berbeda, cukup ubah namanya. Dan nanti saat Anda kembali menjalankan PCMAV, ia sudah dalam keadaan kondisi ter-update.

Dr.Web antivirus

antivirus yang ga kalah hebatnya dengan yang lain,tanpa installation.. CURE your computer with the NEW CureIt! v5.0 and get rid of Rootkits Mass-mailing worms E-mail viruses Peer-to-peer viruses Internet worms File viruses Trojans Stealth viruses Polymorphic viruses Bodiless viruses Macro viruses MS Office viruses Malicious scripts Script viruses Spyware Spybots Password stealers Paid Dialers Adware Riskware Hacktools Backdoors Joke programs Rootkits Other malware More details Download now!!!

Download PCMAV 1.93 Build 3

Author: pcmav

22 Feb

Miror 1 ziddu :

• Filed under: download, pcmav

Dungcoi.D: PCMAV 1.93 Update Build3

Author: pcmav

22 Feb

Update Build3 hadir dengan penambahan 12 pengenal varian virus baru. Bagi Anda pengguna PCMAV 1.93 sangat disarankan segera melakukan update, agar PCMAV Anda dapat mengenali dan membasmi virus lebih banyak lagi. Jadi, total virus yang dapat dikenali hingga Build3 kali ini adalah sebanyak 32 virus.

Daftar tambahan virus hingga PCMAV 1.93 Update Build3:
Ahole
Ahole.inf
Aurel
Aurel.vbs.B
Autoit.CL
Autoit.CM
Autorunme.D
Dungcoi.D
Gerubug
Hidea
LoveStory.B
Nabe.A
Nabe.B
Nabe.C
Nginul.B
PisangBakar
PisangBakar.B
PisangBakar.bat
PisangBakar.txt
Recycler.Q
Recycler.Q.inf
Recycler.R
Recycler.S
Vfp
Vfp.bat
Vfp.inf
Vires.H
Vires.I
Wordhb
Xlove
Yeanqin
Yuyun.vbs.C

Download PCMAV 1.9 Complete

2 comments - Post a comment

Antivirus PCMAV 1.9 Release (Download)
a.Ditambahkan, database pengenal dan pembersih 95 virus lokal/asing/varian baru yang dilaporkan menyebar di Indonesia. Total 2254 virus beserta variannya yang banyak beredar di Indonesia telah dikenal di versi 1.9 ini oleh engine internal PCMAV.
b.Ditambahkan, cleaner khusus untuk virus Bungas.vbs.
c.Diperbaiki, kesalahan deteksi (false alarm) heuristik pada beberapa program dan script.
d.Diperbarui, perubahan beberapa nama virus mengikuti varian baru yang ditemukan.
e.Perbaikan beberapa minor bug dan improvisasi kode internal untuk memastikan bahwa PCMAV Cleaner & PCMAV RealTime Protector lebih dari sekadar antivirus biasa.
f. Baca aja Readmenya.

Here are the link where you can download it.

Warm, flowery welcome for Clinton

Abdul Khalik | Thu, 02/19/2009 8:55 AM | Headlines

Mending US ties: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (center) waves as she poses for photos with students from the elementary school where US President Barack Obama studied in his youth, upon her arrival at Halim airport in Jakarta on Wednesday. Clinton arrived in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, on a mission to start mending US ties with the Islamic world.

Local journalists held their breath as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton exited a room at the Indonesian Foreign Ministry with her Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda accompanying her.

Wearing a blue blouse, she looked fresh, and her smile never left her face despite the seven-hour nonstop flight from Tokyo.

“She looks more beautiful than on TV,” one female journalist said.

As she began to talk, all minds snapped to what she said.

“I bring greetings from President Obama, who has himself said and written about the importance of his time here as a young boy,” Clinton said. “It gave him an insight into not only this diverse and vibrant culture, but also the capacity for people with different backgrounds to live harmoniously together.”

While a group of protesters outside the US Embassy screamed out “Go home Hillary", her friendly gestures and sweet smile never faded during Wednesday's, putting a more humane face on the US.

A Foreign Ministry official said that as soon as she had arrived at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport in East Jakarta earlier in the afternoon, she shook hands with “almost everyone at the airport, down to the cleaning service staff”.

Among those who welcomed her at the airport were 44 children from Obama's former primary school, singing traditional folk songs and waving Indonesian and US flags. She smiled, stopped and talked to them.

But the merriest welcome she got was at the ASEAN Secretariat, where dozens of employees shouted “Hillary! Hillary!” from the moment she stepped in to meet with ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan.

She was welcomed like a heroine, complete with a flower garland given to her before entering the building. Clinton then shook hands with the employees.

Later in the evening, Clinton hosted a dinner with the country's civil society leaders.

­— JP/Abdul Khalik

Warm welcome

The Jakarta Post | Thu, 02/19/2009 11:34 AM | National

Warm welcome: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right) greets US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, shortly after her arrival at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday. During her first overseas visit as America’s top diplomat, Clinton is expected to revitalize US economic and development ties with Indonesia and Southeast Asia. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

Valentine's Day

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

For other uses, see Valentine's Day (disambiguation).

Valentine's Day
Traditional symbols of Valentine's Day include hearts, doves, Cupid and love notes. American postcard, circa 1900.
Also called	St. Valentine's Day
Observed by	Christian and Christian-influenced cultures
Type	Christian, cultural, multinational
Significance	Lovers express their feelings to each other
Date	February 14
Observances	Sending greeting cards and gifts, dating.

Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines". Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.^[1] The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and, in 1847, Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models. The popularity of Valentine cards in 19th century America was a harbinger of the future commercialization of holidays in the United States.^[2]

The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. The association estimates that, in the US, men spend on average twice as much money as women.^[3]

North Korea could test-fire missile this month

The Associated Press , Seoul | Fri, 02/13/2009 5:11 PM | World

North Korea's most advanced long-range missile is being assembled at a launch site for a possible test-firing later this month, a newspaper said Friday. The South responded by preparing "for all situations."

The Taepodong-2 missile has recently been moved to Musudan-ni site on the North's eastern seaboard, but has not yet been seen near the launch pad, South Korea's mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo reported.

"We assume that they are currently assembling the first and second-stage rockets," the newspaper quoted an unidentified South Korean government official as saying.

South Korean and American intelligence authorities believe that the North could test-fire the missile, potentially capable of reaching the western U.S., around Feb. 25, the first anniversary of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's inauguration, the paper said.

The National Intelligence Service, Seoul's top spy agency, said it could not confirm the report, citing the sensitivity of intelligence matters.

North Korea's saber-rattling has been interpreted as an attempt to grab President Barack Obama's attention, though his defense secretary, Robert Gates, has played down reports of possible North Korean missile launch preparations, noting Tuesday that Pyongyang's last such test in 2006 was a failure.

But Seoul and Washington have issued repeated warnings to North Korea over a possible launch, with South Korea's new Unification Minister Hyun In-taek telling lawmakers Friday that the North should not fire a missile.

Hyun, a key architect of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's hard-line policy on North Korea, said Seoul was "closely watching the movements of North Korean troops and making thorough preparations for all situations."

South Korea is pushing to establish a missile defense system to counter the threats posed by the North's missiles, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said at a parliamentary session.

On Thursday, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said a test launch would threaten stability on the Korean peninsula, isolate the North and trigger punitive measures, citing U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning the country's missile tests in 1998 and 2006.

Late last month, Pyongyang declared it would scrap peace accords with South Korea and warned of a war on the divided peninsula.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is scheduled to visit South Korea next week and will no doubt address the deteriorating ties on the peninsula. Also on the agenda will be stalled international disarmament talks on North Korea's nuclear programs.

While the reports of missile launches raise particular concern given North Korea's nuclear arsenal, Obama's top intelligence official said Thursday that North Korea probably would not use nuclear weapons against U.S. forces unless Pyongyang thought it was on the verge of "military defeat and risked an irretrievable loss of control." North Korea is not believed to have the technology to mount a nuclear weapon on a missile head.

National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair told lawmakers that North Korea probably views its nuclear arsenal more as a means of deterrence and a source of prestige and "coercive diplomacy" than as a military tool.

Ties between the Koreas have soured since the conservative Lee took office one year ago and broke with the two previous administrations' policy of providing unconditional aid to the North. Pyongyang has responded by cutting off ties, halting inter-Korean projects and restricting the number of South Koreans who can cross the border.

The rival states are still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.