Step into the shadowy world of Espionage! SPY: The Secret World of Espionage Opens Saturday at The Franklin Institute

PHILADELPHIA, May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Franklin Institute's newest exhibition, SPY: The Secret World of Espionage opens to the public on Saturday, May 4, for a limited time.  Extraordinarily rare treasures drawn from world's leading intelligence agencies -- the CIA, the FBI, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), as well as the immense private collection of intelligence historian H. Keith Melton, will be unlocked and on exhibit – many for the first time ever - in the Mandell Center at The Franklin Institute through October 6.  PECO is the Presenting Sponsor of the SPY exhibition, which grants unprecedented access into the highly-secreted world of the CIA and features over 200 historical artifacts and authentic espionage-related gadgets, including the scripts and studio documents from the real life mission that inspired the Academy Award winning film, Argo. To coincide with the Philadelphia premiere of SPY: The Secret World of Espionage, Melton has just published S py Sites of Philadelphia, which takes readers through two and a half centuries of Espionage in the City of Brotherly Love. 

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100924/TFILOGO)

"Philadelphia has long been a hotbed of spy activity over the years, and even today our fascination with the mysterious world of espionage continues," said Dennis M. Wint, President  & CEO of The Franklin Institute. "The extensive collection of artifacts, documents, tools and interactive displays in SPY so vividly tell the intriguing and important tales of espionage that have shaped our world today."

Drawn from the recently de-classified collection of the CIA are objects ranging from a saddle used by a CIA team member in Afghanistan, following the attacks of 9/11 to the Cockpit of the A-12 Oxcart Spy Plane from 1962, one of only nine remaining in the world.  The exhibit also features highlights from the 10,000-plus personal artifact collection of H. Keith Melton, including the actual Ice Axe used to kill Leon Trotsky, one of the founders of the Russian revolution. Visitors to SPY will discover the real-life evolution of spy technology and experience life as a spy by navigating through an actual laser field, using voice altering technologies to conceal their voice and creating their very own spy disguise. 

Among the extraordinarily rare items are:

From the CIA Museum:

• Insectothopter, the world's first insect-sized unmanned aerial vehicle used to gather intelligence-from the air   
• Charlie the Catfish, one of two CIA Robotic Catfish, used to explore the use of unmanned underwater vehicles for aquatic missions
• Pigeon camera, a camera small and light enough to be carried by a pigeon
• Cockpit of the A-12 Oxcart Spy Plane, one of only nine remaining in the world
• An original Presidential Daily Brief Binder

From the collection of H. Keith Melton:

• Enigma Machine, a cipher machine used to develop nearly unbreakable codes by the German Army during WWII  which led to the development of the world's first super computer
• "Sleeping Beauty" motorized semi-submersible from WWII 
• Wel-Bike-a rapid deployment collapsible motorcycle used by Allied forces during WWII
• Picasso Lithograph of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, 1952
• Dead Drop Rat, used during the Cold War to hold a wad of money or roll of film

Hi-resolution exhibit and artifact images are available for download at: http://www.fi.edu/press/spy/ ?
User: press; Password: espionage

SPY: The Secret World of Espionage at The Franklin Institute
May 4, 2013 – October 6, 2013

TICKET INFORMATION
EXHIBIT HOURS

Sunday - Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
-Last admission 3:30 p.m.

Thursday – Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
-Last admission 7:00 p.m.

TICKET PRICES
Daytime Admissions

Adult: $28.00; Children ages 3-11: $19.00
Daytime tickets also include museum general admission.

Evening Admissions
Thursday - Saturday only | 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Adult: $18.00; Children ages 3-11: $13.00

Evening tickets include admission to SPY only.

Tickets are timed and dated, and advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended.  For more information on purchasing individual or discounted group tickets please call 215-448-1200 or visit www.fi.edu. 

BASE Entertainment (Producer) BASE develops, produces and manages intellectual properties generated for live entertainment stages in North America, Asia and Brazil. BASE's current production activity in Las Vegas includes the following:  Rock Of Ages at the Venetian,  Peepshow at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Jersey Boys at The Paris, Absinthe at Caesars Palace, Defending the Caveman and Million Dollar Quartet (opening February 2013), at Harrah's.  BASE also presented an exclusive holiday engagement of the all new Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Spectacular production at The Palazzo. Previous production activity in Las Vegas includes: Phantom at The Venetian, Wayne Brady - Making It Up at The Venetian, and Stomp Out Loud at Planet Hollywood.  In addition, BASE operates the Showroom and PH Live at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.  At Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, BASE programs both the Grand Theater, previously home to both The Lion King and Wicked, and the Sands Theater, where Jersey Boys is currently playing (in partnership with Dodger Properties and Showtime).  In Brazil, BASE, in partnership with Geo Eventos, recently produced Priscilla Queen of the Desert in Sao Paulo in March 2012.  Spy: The Secret World of Espionage represents the premiere museum quality exhibition developed and presented by BASE.  BASE Entertainment's headquarters are in New York, and its founders include industry veterans Brian Becker and Scott Zeiger.  For more information please visit www.BASEentertainment.com.

About the Franklin Institute 
Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in the field of science and technology learning, as well as a dynamic center of activity. Pennsylvania's most visited museum, it is dedicated to creating a passion for learning about science by offering access to hands-on science education. For more information, visit www.fi.edu.

SOURCE The Franklin Institute

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Two congressmen urge USTR designate China for trade secret theft

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two senior Democrats in the House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Obama administration to formally target China for the theft of U.S. trade secrets, a move they said could lead to duties on Chinese goods if U.S. concerns are not addressed.

"As evidence mounts that the Government of China actively engages in the cyber theft of the trade secrets of American businesses, we write to request that you consider designating China as a Priority Foreign Country under Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974," the lawmakers said.

The letter from Representatives Sander Levin and Charles Rangel urged the Trade Representative's office to take the action when it issues the annual report on intellectual property protection on April 30.

Their recommendation is the latest sign of congressional frustration with alleged widespread theft of U.S. company trade secrets by competitors in China through both cyber attacks and more conventional means of economic espionage.

"It looks very much as though the Chinese government is stealing our companies' trade secrets and passing them along to their SOEs (state-owned enterprises), and possibly other Chinese companies," Levin and Rangel, the top two Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, said in a letter to acting Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis.

"It is difficult enough for our companies to compete with the endless massive subsidies and other industrial policies of the Chinese government, but add trade secret theft into the mix and it is miraculous that our companies are able to compete at all," they added.

The White House last month rolled out a new strategy to tackle to trade-secret theft included greater use of existing U.S. trade tools, like the U.S. Trade Representative's annual report on countries with the worst records of protecting U.S. intellectual property rights.

USTR rarely designates any "priority foreign country" in that report. The category is reserved for those nations with the most onerous and egregious acts, policies or practices that threaten U.S. intellectual property and which have the greatest adverse impact on the United States.

Under the statute, USTR generally must initiate what is known as a "Special 301" investigation within 30 days of designating a priority foreign country, which could lead to the White House imposing import duties if U.S. concerns are not satisfactorily addressed, the lawmakers said.

"We have received the letter and are reviewing it," USTR spokeswoman Carol Guthrie said.

USTR also could file a case at the World Trade Organization if it determines that the priority foreign country is violating international trade rules.

(Reporting by Doug Palmer; Editing by Vicki Allen)

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Obama gives Secret Service its 1st female director

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Tuesday named veteran Secret Service agent Julia Pierson as the agency's first female director, signaling his desire to change the culture at the male-dominated service, which has been marred by scandal.

Pierson, who most recently served as the agency's chief of staff, will take over from Mark Sullivan, who announced his retirement last month. The agency faced intense criticism during Sullivan's tenure for a prostitution scandal during preparations for Obama's trip to Cartagena, Colombia, last year.

The incident raised questions within the agency — as well as at the White House and on Capitol Hill — about the culture, particularly during foreign travel. In addition to protecting the president, the Secret Service also investigates financial crimes.

"Over her 30 years of experience with the Secret Service, Julia has consistently exemplified the spirit and dedication the men and women of the service demonstrate every day," Obama said in a statement announcing Pierson's appointment, which does not require Senate confirmation.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano also praised Obama's "historic decision" to name Pierson as the service's first female director.

Pierson, 53, has held high-ranking posts throughout the Secret Service, including deputy assistant director of the office of protective operations and assistant director of human resources and training. She has served as chief of staff since 2008.

That same year, Pierson was awarded the Presidential Meritorious Executive Award for superior performance in management throughout her career.

She joined the Secret Service in 1983 as a special agent and previously worked as a police officer in Orlando, Fla.

"Julia is eminently qualified to lead the agency that not only safeguards Americans at major events and secures our financial system, but also protects our leaders and our first families, including my own," Obama said. "Julia has had an exemplary career, and I know these experiences will guide her as she takes on this new challenge to lead the impressive men and women of this important agency."

Thirteen Secret Service employees were caught up in last year's prostitution scandal. After a night of heavy partying in the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena, the employees brought women, including prostitutes, to the hotel where they were staying. The incident became public after one agent refused to pay a prostitute and the pair argued about payment in a hotel hallway.

Eight of the employees were forced out of the agency, three were cleared of serious misconduct and at least two have been fighting to get their jobs back.

The incident took place before Obama arrived in Colombia and the service said the president's safety was never compromised. But news of the scandal broke during his trip, overshadowing the summit and embarrassing the U.S. delegation.

Sullivan issued a new code of conduct that bans employees from drinking within 10 hours of starting a shift or bringing foreign nationals back to their hotel rooms.

Sullivan apologized for the incident last year during testimony before a Senate panel.

___

Associated Press writer Alicia Caldwell contributed to this report.

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Obama appoints first woman Secret Service director

Mar 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $3,787,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $2,859,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,154,500 4. Steve Stricker $1,820,000 5. Phil Mickelson $1,650,260 6. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 7. John Merrick $1,343,514 8. Dustin Johnson $1,330,507 9. Russell Henley $1,313,280 10. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 11. Keegan Bradley $1,274,593 12. Charles Howell III $1,256,373 13. Michael Thompson $1,254,669 14. Brian Gay $1,171,721 15. Justin Rose $1,155,550 16. Jason Day $1,115,565 17. Chris Kirk $1,097,053 18. ...

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