IN THE NEWS: WIKILEAKS

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) -- An Army private accused of leaking classified material to the anti-secrecy website Wikileaks will be back in a military courtroom for an arraignment later this month.

The arraignment for Pfc. Bradley Manning is set for Feb. 23 at Fort Meade in Maryland.

Manning faces a general court-martial on 22 counts, including aiding the enemy, which carries a possible life sentence.

At the arraignment, Manning can request a trial by military judge or jury. The jury would include at least five officers, and Manning can ask that at least one-third of the soldiers on the panel be enlisted.

Military prosecutors say Manning gave Wikileaks a trove of sensitive battlefield reports and diplomatic cables. Defense lawyers say Manning was a troubled soldier who shouldn't have had access to classified material.

IN THE NEWS: FACEBOOK EXTORTION THREAT

COAL CENTER, Pa. (AP) -- Police say a southwestern Pennsylvania university student may be the victim of an international extortion plot using the Facebook social networking site -- or just the target of an elaborate hoax.

Southwest Regional Police Chief John Hartman tells WPXI-TV that 22-year-old Daniel Plumley has gotten private messages through Facebook threatening to post a private video of Plumley online unless he wires $500 to a man in Morocco. Plumley tells police that the Facebook friend relaying the threats has claimed to be from London, England.

Plumley has told police that the private video in question was hacked from his computer.

Hartman says his department is continuing to investigate, but isn't even sure the threat is legitimate. The chief says he frequently gets reports of possible criminal activity on social networking sites.

ON THE WEB: PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY-ONLINE CONTEST

CYBERSPACE (AP) -- Ever dreamed of playing with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra? The winner of an online contest may get that chance.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra officials insist it's not "American Idol" meets Mozart. But its new video contest on YouTube does have at least one similarity: Voting by the public. Videos submitted by instrumental soloists will be up for anyone to watch.

The top four vote-getters will get a chance to audition for musical director and conductor Manfred Honeck. The winner -- if Honeck picks one at all -- gets $10,000 and a paid trip to perform with the orchestra at Heinz Hall this fall.

Online:

www.youtube.com/user/psoblogs

www.pittsburghsymphony.org/competition

ON THE WEB: NEW TRAVEL APP

PARIS (AP) -- It's time to travel, on Facebook's Timeline.

Wipolo has developed an app which allows users to share their travel experiences "on-the-go" with their friends.

It allows the user to organize trip details, create an itinerary and keep track of past trips.

Just like a Facebook profile, Wipolo gives you access to your own "travel dashboard." Members can view and access upcoming trips, consult the most visited cities and find their favorite travel buddies.

Wipolo is available on the web and the five major mobile platforms: iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone 7, Bada.

The company targets 1 million members by the end of 2012.

Online:

http://www.wipolo.com

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.