
The Israeli and Palestinian leaders were to open direct peace talks on Thursday after gathering at the White House for a moment of diplomatic theater on Wednesday night.
Child’s Ordeal Shows Risks of Psychosis Drugs for YoungPowerful drugs are given to young children despite a lack of study on how they affect development.
Feud With Palin in Background of Alaska UpsetSarah Palin reveled in the primary upset of Senator Lisa Murkowski, but tensions began well before.
Tabloid Hack Attack on Royals, and BeyondA London paper listened in on the private messages of the rich and famous, including Britain’s Prince Harry and Prince William.
Roddick Loses, and Foot Faults Take Center StageFor the second consecutive year, a popular highly ranked American player was ousted from the United States Open in a match marred by a foot-fault controversy.
In Somali Civil War, Both Sides Embrace PiratesAfter years of not getting sucked into the messy civil war on land, Somalia’s pirate gangs are taking sides — both sides.
Suicide Bombers in Pakistan Kill Dozens of ShiitesA blast touched off clashes between local police forces and mourners and protesters infuriated by the attack.
Maker of Botox Settles InquiryAllergan agreed to pay $600 million to settle charges that it illegally promoted and sold Botox for unapproved uses.
Hurricane Earl Nears Atlantic CoastOn the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the approaching storm caused many to flee, and others to head for the waves.
California Senate Debate Turns on EconomyA heated forum between Senator Barbara Boxer and her opponent, Carly Fiorina, in what might be their only debate.
Maryland Hostages Safe as Police Kill GunmanOfficials say a gunman with a history of protesting against the Discovery Channel was killed after a four-hour standoff at the company’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.
Fashion Diary: The Tribes of San FranciscoSan Francisco has historically been an also-ran in fashion, but members of its varied style tribes sport an off-hand cool manner.
Msnbc.com is a leader in breaking news and original journalism.
language: en-us
The Coast Guard is backing off its earlier report that an oil sheen about a mile long was spreading following a platform explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane Earl has weakened further but it's still a Category 3 storm with 115 mph winds bearing down on North Carolina's coast, the National Hurricane Center warned Thursday afternoon.
National Hurricane Center - Tropical cyclone - Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale - Meteorology - U.S. National Hurricane Center
Send your images and stories from breaking news scenes.
The Afghan president's brother confirms to NBC News that Kabul Bank funds were used to buy villas in Dubai but urges the U.S. to step in to prevent a financial panic.
Four more explosive devices tied to the suspect in the Discovery Channel standoff were found at a residence in Montgomery County, Md., authorities told NBC News on Thursday.
Discovery Channel - NBC - United States - Montgomery - Counties
Bethany Storro had just bought a pair of sunglasses and was celebrating a new job when a woman walked up to her with a cup and said: "Hey pretty girl, do you want to drink this?"
Stocks ended higher for the third consecutive session after reports on housing, manufacturing and jobs all indicated that the economy continues to grow.
Manufacturing - United States - Business - Investing - Stocks and Bonds
When the heiress was arrested in Las Vegas, she claimed the Chanel purse containing a bindle of cocaine wasn't hers, and a Twitpic she posted in July may be proof she's not telling the truth.
Israeli and Palestinian leaders opened direct peace talks under U.S. auspices on Thursday and agreed to meet every two weeks to try to forge a deal within a year.
Middle East - Israel - Palestinian people - Warfare and Conflict - Israel-Palestine
The first Army chaplain to be killed in action since Vietnam, died this week in Afghanistan, military officials said Thursday.
Afghanistan - Vietnam - Killed in action - Military - United States
Corals, big mammals and many tropical species could all go extinct in the not too distant future, predict scientists who are attempting to forecast the fate of today's animals by studying what happened to those in the distant past.
A new study suggests that at least one in seven home kitchens would flunk the kind of health inspection commonly administered to restaurants.
Two young goats that wandered onto the thin ledge of a railroad bridge and spent two days high above a highway were hungry but safe when they were plucked to safety with a towering cherry picker.
The plunge in interest rates has put the nation’s public and private pension funds badly underfunded, leaving pension fund managers with a giant hole to fill.
Pension - Business - Investing - Financial Services - Business and Economy
Linda Bruno called her Pennsylvania cat rescue the land of milk and tuna. It thrived for years as people sent pets they couldn't care for from hundreds of miles away — unaware it was a death camp for cats.
The transplant recipient made his first appearance on Thursday, about a week after he underwent a nearly 18-hour transplant procedure at a hospital.
Don't disconnect your printer just yet. While some tech-savvy passengers may be ready for it, experts say paperless boarding won’t be successful until it is both reliable and universal.
18-year-old Beatrice Capra, a wild-card entry ranked 371st, upset 18th-seeded Aravane Rezai of France 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 on Thursday to keep her Grand Slam debut on track.
Robert "Joe" Halderman admitted he demanded $2 million in hush money last fall to keep from revealing personal information about Letterman.
The exotic acai berry has been the superstar in the world of diet supplements. But the federal government is cracking down on false advertising claims and unlawful payment practices.
These days, you may leave your dentist's office with more than a toothbrush and dental floss in your bag. Thousands of dentists are offering patients health-care credit cards to cover the work that needs to be done, with seemingly hard-to-resist repayment terms. If you need care and don't have insurance to cover it or cash in hand, it's tempting to sign up.
Dentistry - Toothbrush - Dental floss - Health care - Insurance
In an atmosphere of tension between the federal government and Arizona, the Justice Department today dialed it up some more, filing a lawsuit against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio -- accusing him, the county, and his office with failing to cooperate with a civil rights investigation of his office.
Joe Arpaio - United States Department of Justice - Lawsuit - Civil and political rights - Sheriff
NYT: Ho-hum Oval Office? Arianna Huffington, Ann Coulter and top designers react to the makeover unveiled this week.
New York Times - Huffington Post - Politics - Ann Coulter - People
Grammy-winning rapper T.I. was arrested along with his wife on suspicion of possessing methamphetamines, five months after the hip-hop star finished a prison stint on weapons charges.
It seemed so reasonable at first—just a fee, no more than $40, for checking more than the standard two bags. But like a slowly expanding epidemic, the fees gradually started to creep. Here are the main fees to watch out for.
Business - Shopping - Recreation - Newsweek - Ratchet & Clank
Britain's government came under pressure Thursday amid allegations that a top prime ministerial aide was involved with a newspaper investigation into the royal family that involved illegally tapping cell phones.
Mobile phone - Newspaper - Government - Science and Technology - Cell Phones
Oh, Diana. Will you ever be allowed to rest in peace? Apparently not. On the 13th anniversary of the Princess of Wales’ death, a Chinese lingerie company launched a new line of ... wait for it ... “Diana underwear.”
It was a glass-half-full day for economic data on Thursday ... sort of.The upbeat news was tempered by worries about what Friday's unemployment report will say about the state of the labor market.
Labour economics - Jobless claims - United States - Work - Labor Movement
Montgomery County police department sources say the hostage-taker at the Discover Channel building had only starter guns that make noise but can't cause serious injury.
Hostage - Discovery Channel - NBC - Discovery - Maryland
The man who held three hostages at the Discovery Communications building in Maryland told NBC News in a brief telephone conversation that he had explosives.
Discovery Communications - Maryland - NBC - United States - Police
Fed chief Bernanke told a panel investigating the financial crisis Thursday that regulators must be ready to shut large institutions if they threaten to bring down the financial system.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon will deliver a major speech Thursday, and ahead of that he released video clips touting his priorities — yet none refer to his war on drug cartels.
CNN.com delivers up-to-the-minute news and information on the latest top stories, weather, entertainment, politics and more.
language: en-usEven as Hurricane Earl weakened Thursday afternoon, East Coast residents scrambled to ready themselves ahead of its arrival. Earl is now barely a Category 3.
A fire on an oil and gas production platform in the Gulf of Mexico is out and there is no indication of an oil sheen, the Coast Guard said. There were no serious injuries.
An Ohio death row inmate who has repeatedly claimed his innocence was spared execution, after the state's governor Thursday noted "legitimate questions" about evidence used to convict the man.
Thad Allen, the government's point man on the oil disaster, said crews are expected to begin efforts Thursday to remove the blowout preventer on BP's ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico.
Direct peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians will start Thursday as President Barack Obama urged both sides to come up with a peaceful solution to the long running Mideast conflict.
State budgets are being squeezed by unprecedented amounts for the third year in a row as legislators are forced to close gaps of up to 50 percent of state spending.
Justice Department civil rights lawyers filed suit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona on Thursday after talks collapsed on a deal to provide federal investigators with requested documents.
God did not create the universe, world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking argues in a new book that aims to banish a divine creator from physics.
I come from a small-ish town in Oklahoma where we've never met a vegetable we couldn't fry and the only things more super-sized than our portions are the huge church complexes that alternate with fast-food restaurants along our roads.
Political discussions about Iran's nuclear aspirations were benched Thursday when the United States' and Iran's national basketball teams went head-to-head at the FIBA World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
The latest stories from the World section of the BBC News web site.
language: en-gbIsraeli and Palestinian leaders meet in Washington for the first direct peace talks in nearly two years and agree a framework for negotiations.
Explosion on Gulf of Mexico rigAn explosion rips through an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the blast in April that caused a huge oil spill.
Pakistan trio hit by ICC chargesThe three Pakistan cricketers accused of corruption - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir - have been charged, and provisionally suspended, by the International Cricket Council.
Strike 'kills Afghan civilians'Ten election campaign workers have been killed in an air strike by Nato-led forces in Afghanistan, Afghan officials say.
US East Coast on hurricane alertAreas along the US East Coast declare states of emergency as Hurricane Earl churns towards the region, forecast to brush land on Thursday night.
Tanker aground off north CanadaA tanker carrying 9m litres of diesel fuel runs aground in the Northwest Passage, off the coast of northern Canada.
German banker 'should be fired'The German central bank calls on the country's president to dismiss one of its board members over comments he made about immigration and Jews.
Manila in hostage coffin 'mix-up'The Philippines vows to probe claims that coffins of three of Hong Kong's eight victims of last week's hijacking in Manila were wrongly labelled.
Red Cross asks for more Pakistan fundsICRC increases its Pakistan floods appeal by $76m as it warns that only a fraction of humanitarian needs are being met.
Man held over Russia club blazePolice in Spain arrest a Russian man wanted for questioning about a fire at a Russian nightclub that killed more than 150 people in 2009.
Ecuador in migrant massacre rowHonduras accuses Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa of risking the life of a Honduran migrant who survived last month's Mexico massacre.
New York dims the lights to save birds from collisionA growing number of New York sky-scrapers switch off their lights at night to help reduce the number of migratory birds hitting the buildings.
More than 10,000 vehicles stuck in new China jamMore than 10,000 vehicles are stuck in a 120km (75-mile) traffic jam on China's Beijing to Tibet motorway.
Puzzles and crosswords 'may delay dementia'People who do puzzles and crosswords may stave off dementia longer but experience a more rapid decline once the disease sets in, a study suggests.
Canadian to command space stationThe Canadian Space Agency announces astronaut Chris Hadfield will become the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station in 2013.
Burger King is sold for $3.26bnBurger King is being sold to private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26bn (2.1bn), it has been announced.
Chile miners given first hot mealChilean miners trapped underground receive their first hot meal in 26 days, as Nasa experts arrive at the mine site.
Brazil arrests city's governmentBrazilian police arrest almost the entire city council in Dourados on suspicion of corruption, putting a judge in temporary control of the government.
SA to resume Zimbabwe expulsionsSouth Africa is to start expelling Zimbabweans again, from 31 December, the government announces.
DR Congo 'genocide' file delayedThe UN postpones the release of a draft report that accuses the Rwandan army of possible genocide in DR Congo till next month.
Independent Wilkie backs GillardOne of four key independent lawmakers endorses Australian PM Julia Gillard, leaving her just two seats short of the majority needed to form the next government.
Typhoon hits South Korean capitalThree people die as Seoul is hit by its strongest typhoon in 15 years, while storms continue to cause heavy rain and landslides in China.
EU critical of France over RomaThe European Commission criticises France over its expulsions of Roma (Gypsies) and requests more information about the crackdown.
Russia extends grain export banRussia will consider lifting its grain export ban only after the next year's harvest has been reaped, Vladimir Putin says.
Egypt spy chief poster campaignPosters promoting Egypt's intelligence chief appear on the streets of Cairo, amid growing speculation over who will succeed President Hosni Mubarak.
Obama hails US operation in IraqPresident Barack Obama hails the end of US combat operations in Iraq, saying the US has paid "a huge price" to "put Iraq's future in its people's hands".
Pakistan mourns as Lahore toll upThree days of mourning begins in Pakistan after bomb attacks on a Shia Muslim procession in Lahore city kill 31 people.
Afghan bank 'to avoid collapse'The head of Afghanistan's Central Bank tells the BBC he will not allow the country's biggest commercial bank to collapse.
School lottery 'failed in aim'A lottery system for school places in Brighton failed to give poorer children equal access to top schools, academics say.
Alcohol drinking 'continues fall'Alcohol consumption has fallen faster than ever, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association suggest.
Europe agrees finance watchdogsThe European Union agrees to reform financial supervision, with new agencies to oversee banks, insurers and financial markets.
Dell pulls out of battle for 3ParDell withdraws its bid for 3Par after rival Hewlett-Packard raises its offer for the data storage company to $2.1bn.
ECB ups eurozone growth forecastsThe European Central Bank raises its forecast for eurozone growth for this year and next year, and keeps interest rates on hold.
Live text - US Open day fourMaria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic are among the evening's draw on day four at the US Open, where Roger Federer and Caroline Wozniacki reach the third round.
Beckham eyes 11 September returnFormer England captain David Beckham hopes to play for the LA Galaxy against Columbus Crew on 11 September.
Queiroz gets six-month suspensionPortugal coach Carlos Queiroz is suspended for six months after it is ruled that he disrupted an anti-doping test ahead of the World Cup.
Zeta Jones reveals cancer angerCatherine Zeta Jones reveals she is "furious" that doctors failed to detect husband Michael Douglas' throat cancer earlier.
Bob Dylan art debuts in DenmarkSome of musician Bob Dylan's artwork, never seen before by the public, is to be displayed at Denmark's National Gallery.
Singer Sami urges Pakistan reliefBritish singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf, billed as "Islam's biggest rock star", is donating profits from his latest single to help flood victims in Pakistan.
Peru island makes gains from guanoAn island off Peru is making money from selling bird poo to use as organic fertiliser.
Typhoon hits South Korean capitalThree people die as Seoul is hit by its strongest typhoon in 15 years, while storms continue to cause heavy rain and landslides in China.
Israeli novelist on Middle East conflictThe Israeli novelist David Grossman on how the Middle East conflict tore his family apart.
Female circumcision widespead in EgyptA doctor in Egypt is being taken to court for carrying out an illegal operation to circumcise young girls following the death of a 13-year-old.
Handover marks 'new chapter' for IraqUS Vice-President Joe Biden has spoken at a ceremony marking the end of US combat operations in Iraq.
Samsung unveils rival to Apple's iPadSamsung has become the latest challenger to enter the tablet computer battle, unveiling its Galaxy Tab at the IFA conference in Berlin.
Cricketer's village react to scandalWhat do Mohammad Amir's family and home-village make of his alleged involvement in a cricket betting scam?
Jolie appeals for Pakistan supportActress and UNHCR goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie has issued an appeal for increased public support in providing help and relief for the millions of people who have been affected by the floods in Pakistan.
One-minute World NewsWatch the latest news summary from BBC World News. International news updated 24 hours a day.
In picturesHindus celebrate birth of Krishna at Janmashtami celebration
Poo powerHow Peru is converting bird droppings into energy
Bowled overHome village of Pakistani cricket star shocked at fixing allegations
'Lifeline service'BBC Burmese marks 70 years of broadcasting
Feeling the heatUnease spreads over Sarkozy's Roma expulsions
Hard work, soft handsImages of Ghanaian women making shea butter
Hero's welcome?Russia's returning spies will find it difficult to adjust
Investing, Saving and Personal Finance
language: en-usHere are 10 steps to prepare your home and valuables for the storm.
Stocks mounted an afternoon rally to close near the day's highs as investors awaited...
Where you rent is increasingly about what technology you use.
Hoenig: Let your winners run -- and cut your losses.
Like RIM before them, the firms face a new mandate.
Hough: Studies show firms that satisfy clients take care of shareholders, too.
Budget-strapped boards are charging more for building services.
The big question: Will an advanced degree lead to a bigger paycheck?
Despite increasing talk of ominous market indicators, stocks are more likely to rally.
Offset rising food prices with smart savings strategies.
Public money and private prisons sentence investors to portfolio worries.
A new Apple TV can deliver 99-cent rentals of TV shows over the Internet.
The upside of the gloom? Some valuable tax breaks.
Some 529 savings plans are cheaper, but they aren't perfect for every parent.
Consumers looking for a seasonal flu vaccination can get them early and cheap.
Tech news and business reports by CNET News. Focused oninformation technology, core topics include computers, hardware, software,networking, and Internet media..
language: en-usSpace agency hopes to send a spacecraft into the solar atmosphere by 2018.
IETF: AT&T's Net neutrality claim is 'misleading'A few days after AT&T said its push toward "paid prioritization" of network traffic is backed by technical standards, the Internet's primary standards body disagrees.
Here come 'Hurt Locker' file-sharing subpoenasFilm's producers subpoena Qwest Communications for Denver man's records, apparently overcoming legal challenges in their pursuit of alleged file sharers.
Google's Schmidt mocked in Times Square adsConsumer Watchdog produced two cartoony ads slamming Google CEO Eric Schmidt as part of an effort to build support for a "do not track" list.
Audit finds PG&E smart meters accurateHowever, the utility's customer service is faulty, according to an independent review of the controversial yet pioneering smart-meter program.
Facebook adds new remote log-out security featureFacebook users who log in from multiple devices will soon have a way to make sure they are only logged in on the computer they are currently using.
Acer comes back down to earth, Dell risesFastest-growing PC company of the last few years stumbles during the second quarter. Observers say it has to do with Acer's reliance on notebook sales as desktops gain.
More evidence that light at night ups cancer riskNew research out of the University of Haifa shows a clear link between light at night and cancer in mice, with the suppression of melatonin playing a key role.
Toshiba recalls 41,000 laptops for overheatingThe Consumer Product Safety Commission says 129 cases of Toshiba Satellite laptops melting from overheating have been reported, but no major injuries.
Apple's Ping seems half-baked at launchA scanty selection of artists to follow and missed opportunities to encourage user interaction are among the early problems.
Gadget makers show their stuff in Berlin (roundup)At the huge IFA consumer electronics show, the big names in tech show off their newest wares, including an Android-based tablet from Samsung and a cloud-based music service from Sony.
The mystery of the disappearing Facebook-Ping integrationOn Wednesday, Apple said users of its music social network could find friends via Facebook. But the feature has vanished, apparently over a tiff between the companies.
Survey: E-mail eats up your time offOutlook add-in maker Xobni finds Americans and Britons are having trouble getting away from the workplace because of the reach e-mail has into their lives.
Focus EV to use liquid thermal battery controlCar will take its battery pack temperature, then automatically cool or warm it to optimal temperature range before charging or engaging the battery.
Motor City getting in on electric feverCoulomb Technologies installs free public electric-charging station in downtown Detroit as part of ChargePoint America program to encourage EV adoption.
Nigerian scam tops list of decade's online consNotices of winning the lottery and requests from Russian women who want to know you better are also up there on Panda Security's ranking of decade's top Net swindles.
India wants local servers from RIM, Google, SkypeIndia plans to ask the three companies to set up local servers in the country so that security agencies can monitor customer communications.
All Apple newsA new streaming Apple TV arrives with Netflix as predicted, iOS 4.1 comes with HDR photography and GameCenter, and new iPod Nanos drop the iconic clickwheel.
Navteq tries to make GPS directions more 'human'Company creates a way to make GPS directions far more understandable to the average driver.
Road Trip Pic of the Week, 9/2: What is this?If you know what this is and where it's located, you could win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Week challenge.
Top Stories
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AP - The last ferry left for the mainland and coastal residents hunkered down at home as Hurricane Earl closed in with 115 mph winds Thursday on North Carolina's dangerously exposed Outer Banks, the first and potentially most destructive stop on the storm's projected journey up the Eastern Seaboard.
AP - An oil platform exploded and burned off the Louisiana coast Thursday, the second such disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in less than five months. This time, the Coast Guard said there was no leak, and no one was killed.
AP - In an early sign of promise, Israeli and Palestinian leaders pledged Thursday in a cordial first round of talks to keep meeting at regular intervals, aiming to nail down a framework for overcoming deep disputes and achieving lasting peace within a year.
AP - This year's back-to-school season isn't as big a bust for retailers as they feared — or as last year's — but it's not great either.
AP - It will go down as one of the most painful openings to a political debate in recent memory.
AP - Six recruiters were accused of luring 400 laborers from Thailand to the United States and forcing them to work, according to a federal indictment Thursday that the FBI called the largest human trafficking case ever charged in U.S. history.
LA police ID owner of trunk containing baby bodies (AP)
AP - Investigators have identified the owner of a trunk in which the mummified remains of two babies were found, bringing them a step closer to solving the intriguing international mystery.
AP - Did creation need a creator?
AP - Chris Brown is back to a familiar place — the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts.
AP - A year ago at the U.S. Open, American teenager Melanie Oudin told the world to "BELIEVE," with her sneakers and her play.
Reuters - An oil and gas platform operated by Mariner Energy burst into flames in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, but the crew of 13 escaped and there were no signs of an oil spill, the Coast Guard said.
Reuters - Hurricane Earl began to strafe North Carolina's barrier islands with dangerous winds and surf on Thursday as it spun parallel to the U.S. East Coast on a northward trek toward New England and Canada.
Reuters - Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to a series of direct talks on Thursday, seeking to forge the framework for a U.S.-backed peace deal within a year and end a conflict that has boiled for six decades.
Reuters - The White House stressed on Thursday that no second economic stimulus package is being considered as part of new measures under review by President Barack Obama's team.
Reuters - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will roll out more regulations on greenhouse gases and other pollution to help fight climate change, but they will not be as strong as action by Congress, a senior administration official said.
Justice Department sues Arizona sheriff in immigration probe (Reuters)
Reuters - The Justice Department on Thursday sued an Arizona sheriff for refusing to cooperate with its investigation into allegations he and his police force discriminate against Hispanics in his program to crack down on illegal immigrants.
Reuters - A last-minute change in the fall course schedule of Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren has fueled speculation the White House might soon nominate her to head the newly created U.S. consumer financial agency.
Pakistan gets IMF relief, tightens security (Reuters)
Reuters - The International Monetary Fund will give Pakistan $450 million in emergency flood aid, providing some relief for a government overwhelmed by the disaster and facing renewed militant violence.
AFP - Israeli and Palestinian leaders launched their first direct negotiations in 20 months here Thursday, agreeing to meet every two weeks in a bid to settle core differences within a year.
AFP - Hurricane Earl bore down on a vast stretch of the US East Coast on Thursday, as tens of thousands of people fled North Carolina's barrier islands to avoid dangerous winds and surf.
Reuters.com is your source for breaking news, business, financial and investing news, including personal finance and stocks. Reuters is the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's media, financial institutions, businesses and individuals.
language: en-usNEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - An oil and gas platform operated by Mariner Energy burst into flames in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, but the crew of 13 escaped and there were no signs of an oil spill, the Coast Guard said.
HATTERAS ISLAND, North Carolina (Reuters) - Hurricane Earl began to strafe North Carolina's barrier islands with dangerous winds and surf on Thursday as it spun parallel to the U.S. East Coast on a northward trek toward New England and Canada.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to a series of direct talks on Thursday, seeking to forge the framework for a U.S.-backed peace deal within a year and end a conflict that has boiled for six decades.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House stressed on Thursday that no second economic stimulus package is being considered as part of new measures under review by President Barack Obama's team.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will roll out more regulations on greenhouse gases and other pollution to help fight climate change, but they will not be as strong as action by Congress, a senior administration official said.
WASHINGTON/PHOENIX (Reuters) - The Justice Department on Thursday sued an Arizona sheriff for refusing to cooperate with its investigation into allegations he and his police force discriminate against Hispanics in his program to crack down on illegal immigrants.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A last-minute change in the fall course schedule of Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren has fueled speculation the White House might soon nominate her to head the newly created U.S. consumer financial agency.
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund will give Pakistan $450 million in emergency flood aid, providing some relief for a government overwhelmed by the disaster and facing renewed militant violence.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Burger King Holdings Inc agreed to sell itself to investment firm 3G Capital for $3.26 billion, giving the No. 2 U.S. fast-food chain breathing room to fix its business and close the gap with leader McDonald's Corp.
MOSCOW/SARATOV, Russia (Reuters) - Russia abruptly signaled Thursday it would extend a grain export ban until late 2011 and ordered authorities to prevent speculators driving up food prices after the worst harvest in years.
![]() Los Angeles Times (blog) | Big surf as Hurricane Earl swirls along eastern seaboard, set to sweep through ... New York Daily News People play in strong ocean waves in Atlantic City, NJ, as Hurricane Earl heads toward the eastern coast. Hurricane Earl shown in a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite image. ... Hurricane Earl bears down on Outer Banks, following well-worn path Hurricane Earl downgraded to Category 3 as winds decrease to 115 mph Atlantic Beach hosts hurricane parties as Earl nears |

![]() Los Angeles Times (blog) | Big surf as Hurricane Earl swirls along eastern seaboard, set to sweep through ... New York Daily News People play in strong ocean waves in Atlantic City, NJ, as Hurricane Earl heads toward the eastern coast. Hurricane Earl shown in a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite image. ... Hurricane Earl bears down on Outer Banks, following well-worn path Hurricane Earl downgraded to Category 3 as winds decrease to 115 mph Atlantic Beach hosts hurricane parties as Earl nears |
![]() The Hindu | Offshore Oil Platform Explodes in Gulf of Mexico, But No Leak Found ABC News An explosion on an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico early today ignited a fire that caused workers to evacuate into the water, but the US Coast Guard said that all the workers survived and there are no oil leaks reported ... Oil platform explodes off La. coast; crew rescued Crude Oil Trades Near $75 After Blast on Mariner Energy Platform in US Second Gulf spill puts moratorium back in question |
![]() Telegraph.co.uk | Middle East talks begin with work plan Los Angeles Times Israeli and Palestinian leaders meet in Washington and agree on fortnightly talks to work toward a peace deal even as the issue of settlement construction in the West Bank threatens to derail the effort. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looks on ... PM, Abbas agree: Deal within a year Israelis, Palestinians to work out framework agreement Abbas vows to ensure security in Palestinian territory |
![]() Christian Science Monitor (blog) | Labor, business leaders differ on ways to fix economy MiamiHerald.com WASHINGTON — With the Labor Day weekend approaching, union leaders and US business interests expressed concerns Thursday about the fragility of the nation's economic recovery. They offered drastically different remedies for fixing ... AFL-CIO president to Sarah Palin: Change or be linked with McCarthyism AFL-CIO head has Carnahans, Skelton on his election list this fall Union 'mobilization' plans to blast GOP, stump for Democrats |
![]() Reuters | Feds sue Arizona sheriff in civil rights probe Houston Chronicle PHOENIX — The Justice Department sued the nation's self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff" on Thursday, calling Joe Arpaio's defiance of an investigation into his office's alleged discrimination against Hispanics "unprecedented. ... Joe Arpaio: Why is Obama administration suing an outspoken Arizona sheriff? Arizona Pols in the Hot Seat U.S. government sues Ariz. sheriff in civil rights probe |
![]() Reuters (press release) | RPT-Australia PM commits to tighter gambling rules Reuters MELBOURNE, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has committed to tighter regulation of the country's $10 billion slot-machine industry, if she succeeds in her bid to form a minority government after inconclusive elections last ... Labor closer to forming Australia's government It's potholes, not black holes Independent Lawmaker Supports Australian Leader |
![]() msnbc.com | White House: No second stimulus being considered Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House stressed on Thursday that no second economic stimulus package is being considered as part of new measures under review by President Barack Obama's team. Obama said on Monday he and his advisers are discussing ... White House considering major tax breaks for businesses, sources say White House: No "Big New Stimulus Plan" Coming Gibbs Defends Obama's Efforts to Help House Democrats |
![]() Reuters | Obama's Cleveland trip blends economic hopes with political realities Plain Dealer Washington -- Three weeks after coming to Ohio to promote remedies for the ailing economy, President Barack Obama will return on Wednesday, this time to Cleveland. The White House released few details of the upcoming trip, saying only that Obama will ... Obama to hold press conference next Friday Obama to hold news conference next week UDATE 1-Obama to hold press conference next Friday |
![]() AFP | Convicted killer spared death penalty CNN (CNN) -- An Ohio death row inmate who has repeatedly claimed his innocence was spared execution, after the state's governor Thursday noted "legitimate questions" about evidence used to convict the man. ... Strickland commutes death row inmate's sentence to life without parole Ohio governor overturns convicted killer's execution Ohio gov spares killer who claimed innocence |
![]() CBC.ca | Afghans pull money from troubled Kabul Bank Los Angeles Times Afghans on Thursday rushed to withdraw their savings from troubled Kabul Bank despite attempts by officials to reassure nervous depositors that their money was safe. ... Afghans Pull Money From Weakened Bank Kabul Bank Customers Crowd Branch Seeking Withdrawals as Managers Replaced Karzai, NATO at odds over another Afghan airstrike |
Read the front page stories of csmonitor.com.
language: en-USUS awards $330 million to two coalitions of states to develop standardized testing as part of its Race to the Top competition; tests to employ computers to measure students' skills.
The number of illegal immigrants in the US has declined by about 1 million since the start of the recession. A new study looks at the trend state by state. Here are the top five.
Gang representatives in Chicago held a press conference Thursday to explain why gangs cannot be held solely responsible for stopping street violence, which has escalated this summer.
Hurricane Earl is only the latest hurricane to put North Carolina in its path. The state has seen billions of dollars of damage since its founding.
Fox News has accepted an ad that takes on Fox’s parent company, News Corp. It could turn out to be a good public-relations move for the cable channel.
It may not always make sense to buy local. Consider what added value - or values - the local business offers, before making your decision.
An oil rig run belonging to Mariner Energy caught fire in the Gulf of Mexico Thursday. The Coast Guard has now refuted earlier reports of an oil sheen on the water.
The Justice Department said Thursday that Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona's Maricopa County is not cooperating in an investigation into whether his department has used racial profiling in sweeps to catch illegal immigrants.
These are the five most central issues that Israel and the Palestinian Authority need to address in the latest round of peace talks, which began Sept. 2.
Sept. 1 episode of Bravo's reality show, 'Top Chef', featured a space-food challenge from NASA. The winner, Angelo Sosa, will have his short rib dish flown into orbit.
Google Chrome turns 2 today – and Google is celebrating with the release of Chrome 6.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed today to meet again in two weeks. But Mr. Abbas has little support at home for the talks, even among allies.
The best hope for stability in Somalia may lie in African Union troops, but they can't take the offensive against the terrorist group Al Shabab.
Matt Leinart is a former first-round draft choice of the Arizona Cardinals. However, the former Heisman Trophy winner and his coach reportedly don't see eye-to-eye.
While Iraq combat operations are over, the 50,000 remaining US soldiers in Iraq are looking to cement their achievements by sending out small groups of advisers to help improve Iraqi Army performance.
When you hear about public employees who retire before 60 on full salaries, it's hard to work up sympathy for unions defending those pensions before state budget cutters. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka disagrees. What about CEO salaries, he asks?
Drug lords like La Barbie threaten Mexico's security with American-bought firearms, and finance their violent empires with American drug money.
Guest blogger Jason Stearns says that the Congolese government's rejection of recommendations made in a UN report on the possible genocide makes it less likely that crimes will be adequately addressed.
Before Mideast peace talks Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned the two sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that they have nothing to gain by waiting to tackle thorny issues.
A university seminar involving Palestinian, Israeli, and American students showed us that even passionate disagreement can be surmounted with a universal language of democratic moderation and mutuality.
Instead of extending the $75 billion tax cut for the wealthy, who will hide it under a mattress, shift the tax cut to benefit low- and middle-income wage earners, who will spend it.
Oil rig explosion reports are so far unclear about whether a Mariner Energy facility south of Vermillion Bay has caused an oil leak. The rig is in shallow water, and no injuries are confirmed.
Hurricane Earl path prompts tropical-storm or hurricane warnings from North Carolina to Hull, Mass. Earl, packing 140 m.p.h. winds, is slated to brush Cape Hatteras overnight.
In his new memoir, former British prime minister Tony Blair shares misgiving about the Iraq war – and catalogs his extensive struggles with then-finance minister Gordon Brown.
Low mortgage rates fell still more this week – to the lowest level ever in four decades of tracking. Also, the number of pending home sales posted a rise for the month of July.
Labor Day Weekend provides a great opportunity to recharge yourself and do some serious thinking. Here are tips on how to get the most benefit from the time.
The Bruce Wayne Batman is coming back – but the Dick Grayson Batman is staying put.
Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO president, predicts that Democrats will defy conventional wisdom and keep control of the Senate and House in November. But if Republicans take over even just the House, 'any chance of progress will be ended,' says the union leader.
In South Africa, 1.3 million striking public service workers refuse government offers, further disrupting schools and hospitals and posing long term economic problems.
Burger King buyout for $3.3 billion fuels speculation. Will more restaurants follow Burger King's lead?
The US and Iran set aside controversy over Iran’s nuclear program to play a World Basketball Championships match that featured NBA players including Hamed Haddadi of Iran.
The law of comparative advantage shows the benefit of trade between regions with extremely different resources - and the costs of protectionism.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka charged that if Republican political star Sarah Palin is not more careful in her choice of words, the political movement she has helped to create will be linked with 1950s McCarthyism.
Hurricane Earl path is expected to unleash wind gusts of 75 to 100 miles per hour. Utility crews are gearing up.
Some presidents had been college lecturers, deans, or academy presidents. But only one was a school teacher of young children. Hint: Think Texas.
Oil rig explosion was west of the site of the April explosion that caused the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The oil rig explosion was reported by a commercial helicopter flying over the area Thursday morning. All 13 people aboard the oil rig have been accounted for.
Parliament might create a minimum price for alcohol in the UK. Like 'sin taxes' in any country, this plan has obvious benefits, but hidden costs.
A starburst galaxy some 80 million light-years away from earth is unleashing a powerful wind of gas, researchers say.
When it’s too hot to cook, the Monitor’s language columnist considers how salads really are worth their salt.
A poem.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
language: en-GBGoogle is celebrating Chrome's second birthday by releasing a new stable version of its rapidly evolving browser, offering a slightly simpler user interface, an automatic form filler, and the ability to synchronize extensions and form data across machines.…
Semi biz starts to cool offWhile chip makers are not white-knuckled with fear as they were during the economic meltdown of late 2008 and early 2009, they were hoping that the recent boom in chip sales would hold for a couple of quarters — and it probably won't.…
Microsoft freshens retro code lock-down toolMicrosoft has released a new version of a software tool that developers and administrators can use to harden older applications against common vulnerabilities.…
Jobs moves to the heavens with Apple TVAnalysis With its Apple TV revamp announced Wednesday, Apple dipped its toes into the entertainment cloud — if you'll forgive a muddled metaphor. It's a tentative baby step, but expect more cloudy offerings from Cupertino if the experiment is a success.…
Free On-Demand Webcast - Virtualizing the Hard Stuff
Microsoft buffs Silverlight for HTML5 video contestMicrosoft has tried to justify its Silverlight media player in the age of HTML5.…
Twitter tightens grip on own firehoseTwitter is on a mission to regain control of its own firehose.…
Wikileaks founder blasts reopening of rape probeWikileaks founder Julian Assange has blasted Sweden's investigation into allegations against him for sexual misconduct after prosecutors reopened a probe into charges he raped a woman last month.…
Microsoft slings mud in VMware living roomVMworld Microsoft's assault on VMware knows no bounds.…
LaCie catches ultra-small USB Flash drive bugOrdinary USB Flash drives to darn big for you? LaCie's new MosKeyto protrudes a mere 6mm from the USB port it's connected to.…
Free On-Demand Webcast - Virtualizing the Hard Stuff
HyTrust takes auditing, monitoring to the cloudsVMworld Virtual security appliance maker HyTrust is revving up its wares with a new 2.1 release and positioning itself as the go-to partner for auditing and compliance for VMware's new vCloud Director.…
Dell throws in 3PAR towelDell has admitted defeat in its attempt to buy 3PAR.…
HMRC issues CD-rom alert to employersHM Revenue and Customs has warned employers who use its Employer CD-rom to update it immediately to avoid miscalculations.…
Toshiba touts 329 Folio Android tabletDo computer companies never learn from history? Clearly not, if Toshiba is anything to go by. Today, it launched its Android tablet, revealing the gadget is called Folio.…
US loses last chance for free wirelessAn audacious plan to provide free wireless internet access across the US has finally been killed off by the FCC, much to the delight of the cellular industry.…
AOL goes soul-searching with Google in 5-year dealAOL has signed a deal with Google to make it the sole provider for paid text-based search and contextual ads on the company's US websites for the next five years.…
Free On-Demand Webcast - Virtualizing the Hard Stuff
iTunes update plugs WebKit flawThe latest version of iTunes for Windows addresses 13 security vulnerabilities, as well as adding much-publicised social networking functionality.…
Boris bikes for tourists delayed till year endVisitors to London, and anyone else without a full account, will not be able to hire Boris bikes until the end of the year.…
HP bids $2.4bn for 3PARHP has raised its bid for 3PAR to $33 a share, around $2.4bn, beating a revised Dell offer made earlier today.…
Apple states tax take on UK iPod pricingApple has made it explicitly clear how much more its charging UK consumers for its kit than US-based buyers.…
Jobs takes swing at Google over Android activationsGoogle and Apple's bush war flared up again as Steve Jobs apparently cast aspersions over Android's activation numbers as he unveiled Apple's latest iPod and TV scrub-up yesterday.…
Apple inks Ping trademark deal with golf gear makerApple cleared the use of the word Ping with golf company PING before using the name for its new Web2.0 music look-up feature in iTunes.…
Free On-Demand Webcast - Virtualizing the Hard Stuff
General Motors bitchslaps Tesla with Range Anxiety™As US motor mammoth GM gears up for the launch of its plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt, it has applied to trademark the term "range anxiety" - meaning the fear suffered by battery-car owners regarding their ability to get home again after a given journey. Upstart battery car maker Tesla Motors has issued a panicky and unconvincing statement in response.…
Verbatim InSight 500GB external hard driveReview Verbatim's InSight external hard drive is an unusual-looking offering, but that odd wave-like curve at the front is home to the unit's status readout screen.…
StreetView passed by Kiwi copsPolice in New Zealand have bounced a complaint about Google's StreetView service back to the country's Privacy Commissioner.…
RFID patent pool prices up wirelessThe RFID Consortium has opened for business after five years of negotiations, providing a one-stop shop for all the patents needed to manufacture RFID tags and readers.…
Punters still puzzled by broadband adsIt will come as no surprise to regular readers that 90 per cent of UK consumers are confused by broadband advertising - we'd have to assume the missing ten per cent are marketing bods for ISPs.…
My Exchange conversionSysadmin blog Recently I had the opportunity to walk through complete installs of Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2010. Although I have used Exchange Server 2007 for the past two years, as with Vista, I prefer to pretend it never happened.…
Free On-Demand Webcast - Virtualizing the Hard Stuff
NASA seeks inflatable popup roof for camper vans on MarsNASA says it has selected finalists in an engineering competition to design an "inflatable loft", reminiscent of the extending roofs often fitted to camper vans, but in this case intended to deploy from the roof of a "hard-shell prototype habitat" for use by astronauts on the Moon or Mars.…
Hands on with Motorola's Milestone 2 and DefyVideo Tom Satchwell, Director of Marketing, Motorola Europe demonstrates the company's latest Android offerings, the Milestone 2 and the Defy.…
If HP gets 3PAR, does Donatelli get HP?Opinion 3Par has not issued a statement recommending HP's $2bn bid for the company, despite the ending of a three-day period for Dell to mount a counter-offer.…
Samsung specs up 7in Android tabletSamsung has posted the spec for its upcoming Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab. And Vodafone has announced availability.…
Nokia blows Ovi Files out of the skyNokia has pulled the plug on Ovi Files, its cloud-based storage system, and told users they've got a month before the the system gets wiped.…
Symantec and Snoop Dogg launch cybercrime rap contestSymantec has teamed up with rapper Snoop Dogg to launch a cybercrime rap contest.…
UK.gov fishes for ID ideasDirectgov has asked IT suppliers to come up with new thinking on identity verification.…
Free On-Demand Webcast - Virtualizing the Hard Stuff
How much aircraft fatigue is too much?Here’s another “How HPC saves your worthless hide” type of story - our pals at InsideHPC publicized a collaboration between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) that should increase air safety for people riding on planes and for the people standing around underneath them.…
Cyber-jihadists deface home of teddy bears' picnicGeographically mixed-up Algerian hackers made themselves look rather silly by defacing the website of an English stately home instead of Belvoir Fortress in Israel, their intended target.…
Dixons sales ain't all thatDSGi shares fell very slightly this morning after the company said trading had held steady in the three months ended 24 July.…
Boffins explain greatest ever free kickScientists have agreeably concluded that Roberto Carlos's 1997 free kick against France - a seemingly impossible blast into the back of the net from 115ft - was not the fluke some have claimed.…
Large companies ignore data centre advice - surveyLarge companies across the UK increasingly turn to independent consultants when they want advice on the design and specification of a data centre. Almost all of them then ignore some or all of that advice, according to research released today.…
D-Link DHP-306AV powerline Ethernet adaptorReview I use a couple of Devolo dLAN AVplus powerline Ethernet adaptors at home, to hook up my wired-only Sony Bravia connected telly to my router. They're great adaptors, but with a pass-through three-pin power socket, they're bulky. D-Link's latest adaptor, the DHP-306AV, offers a more compact alternative.…
MokaFive outs bare-metal PC hypervisorDisappointed with the ridiculously skinny PC coverage offered by the XenClient bare-metal hypervisor just announced by Citrix Systems? Annoyed that VMware took its Client Virtualization Platform, also a so-called type 1 hypervisor for PCs, out behind the barn and gave it the Old Yeller? Then MokaFive is cooking up something you might find useful.…
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New iPod crew: 'Phoney, futuristic, retro, doomed'Apple has revamped three quarters of its iPod line. Or, more accurately, it upgraded one quarter, redesigned another, took a step back in time with a third, and left the final, not-even-mentioned quarter alone.…
Microsoft locks down Windows Phone 7 codeWindows Phone 7 is finally finished.…
Feds crack phone clone scam that cost Sprint $15mFederal prosecutors have uncovered a scam that used tens of thousands of cloned cellphones to defraud Sprint out of $15m in lost long distance revenue.…
Red Hat in talks to buy JBoss cloud fluffer MakaraRed Hat is in talks to buy a JBoss cloud provisioning startup called Makara, according to a source familiar with the matter.…
SUSE Linux hitches ride on enemy hypervisorVMworld Strange bedfellows VMware and Novell have officially released SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for VMware, a version of Novell's open source OS that piggybacks on every copy of VMware's vSphere hypervisor.…
Free On-Demand Webcast - Virtualizing the Hard Stuff
Apple goes social with musical PingApple CEO Steve Jobs has unveiled the next two generations of iOS, updates that will bring multiplayer gaming and high-definition photography to iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches next week and wireless printing and media streaming in November.…
Cray and SGI push upgrades to latest supersSupercomputer makers Cray and Silicon Graphics have done years of engineering to get their respective XE6 and Altix UV 1000 massively parallel supercomputers to market. And now, despite research funding woes among governments, research institutions, and corporations, the two companies face the challenging task of convincing customers of their prior machines to upgrade to the new iron.…
VMware app dev platform gazes beyond SpringSource JavaVMworld VMware says that its Cloud Application Platform – a means of building and deploying applications that has grown up around the SpringSource Java framework – will eventually embrace other programming languages, including Ruby-on-Rails, PHP, and perhaps .NET.…
Microsoft releases FixIt for critical flaw in 100 appsMicrosoft has released a software tool that helps system administrators protect PCs against a critical class of vulnerabilities found in more than 100 applications from a variety of software makers.…
News for nerds, stuff that matters

devjj writes "For the past year or so I have been trying (and failing) to figure out a reasonable solution for bringing my large media library to my living room. All of my media lives on an Ubuntu server that sits on my network. It's been very reliable and it's fast enough for streaming purposes. My content is exposed via SMB. It's the living room side where I keep running into problems. I am currently using Windows 7 and XBMC, but the case is too big and noisy, I don't particularly care for Windows, and the whole thing just seems overkill. What I want is a device that can present a decent UI that the non-Slashdot crowd would be able to use, but that is still powerful enough to stream full-fidelity 1080p. I dream of a small box that can transcode video over a network, but that's probably a pipe dream. The new Apple TV would be great if it could connect to network shares. What say you, Slashdot? Is what I'm looking for possible, or should I just give in to the iTunes/Amazon/whatever juggernauts?"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Canon Develops 8 X 8 Inch Digital CMOS Sensordh003i writes "Canon has developed a 8 x 8 inch CMOS digital sensor. It will be able to capture an image with 1/100th the light intensity required by a DSLR and will be able to record video at 60 fps in lighting half the intensity of moonlight. There are already many excellent quality lenses designed to cover 8 x 10 inches, although Canon may develop some of their own designed specifically for their requirements."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Flash On Android Is 'Shockingly Bad'Hugh Pickens writes "Ryan Lawler writes on GigaOm that although many have touted the availability of Flash on Android devices as a competitive advantage over Apple's mobile devices, while trying to watch videos from ABC.com, Fox.com and Metacafe using Flash 10.1 on a Nexus One over a local Wi-Fi network connected to a 25-Mbps Verizon FiOS broadband connection, mobile expert Kevin Tofel found that videos were slow to load, if they loaded at all, leading to an overall very inconsistent experience while using his Android device for video. "While in theory Flash video might be a competitive advantage for Android users, in practice it's difficult to imagine anyone actually trying to watch non-optimized web video on an Android handset," writes Lawler. "All of which makes one believe that maybe Steve Jobs was right to eschew Flash in lieu of HTML5 on the iPhone and iPad.""
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
GameStop Pulls Medal of Honor From Military Basesdonniebaseball23 writes "EA's Medal of Honor reboot doesn't ship until October 12, but it's already seen a fair amount of controversy thanks to the publisher's decision to allow people to play as Taliban in multiplayer. The controversy just got escalated another notch, reports IndustryGamers, as the world's biggest games retailer GameStop has decided it won't sell the title at its stores located on US military bases. The new Medal of Honor won't be advertised at these stores either. GameStop noted that they came to this decision 'out of respect for our past and present men and women in uniform.'"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
DNA-Less 'Red Rain' Cells Reproduce At 121 Celdavojohn writes "A new paper up for prepublication from the controversial solid-state physicist Godfrey Louis claims that the cells Louis collected from a Keralan red rain incident divide and produce daughter cells at 121 degrees Celsius. While unusual, this is not unheard of as the paper recalls cells cultivated from hydrothermal vents are known to reproduce at 121 C as well. Of course, caution is exercised when dealing with the possible explanation surrounding the theory of panspermia but the MIT Technology Review says researchers 'examined the way these fluoresce when bombarded with light and say it is remarkably similar to various unexplained emission spectra seen in various parts of the galaxy. One such place is the Red Rectangle, a cloud of dust and gas around a young star in the Monocerous constellation.'"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
UN Telecom Chief Urges Blackberry Data Sharingcrimeandpunishment writes "The top man in telecommunications at the United Nations is weighing in on the Blackberry battle ... and he says share the data. The UN's telecom chief says governments have legitimate security concerns, and Research in Motion should give them access to its customer data. In an interview with the Associated Press, Hamadoun Toure said 'There is a need for cooperation between governments and the private sector on security issues.'"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
AMD Hates Laptop Stickers As Much As You Dopickens writes "David Pogue writes in the NY Times that when you buy a new Windows PC, it comes festooned with stickers on the palm rests: one for Windows, one for Skype, one for Intel, one for the laptop company, maybe an Energy Star sticker and so on. 'It's like buying a new, luxury car — and discovering that it comes with non-removable bumper stickers that promote the motor oil, the floor mat maker, the windshield-fluid company and the pine tree air freshener you have no intention of ever using,' writes Pogue. But the worst thing is that when you peel them off, they shred, leaving adhesive crud behind. 'When you've just spent big bucks on a laptop, should you really be obligated to spend the first 20 minutes trying to dissolve away the sticker goop with WD40?' But AMD has a solution. Starting next year, AMD will switch to new stickers that peel off easily, leaving no residue; after that, it's considering eliminating the sticker program altogether."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
New German Government ID Hacked By CCCwiedzmin writes "Public broadcaster ARD's show 'Plusminus' teamed up with the known hacker organization 'Chaos Computer Club' (CCC) to find out how secure the controversial new radio-frequency (RFID) chips were. The report shows how they used the basic new home scanners that will go along with the cards (for use with home computers to process the personal data for official government business) to demonstrate that scammers would have few problems extracting personal information. This includes two fingerprint scans and a new six-digit PIN meant to be used as a digital signature for official government business and beyond." That was quick. Earlier this year, CCC hackers demonstrated vulnerabilities in German airport IDs, too.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Cisco Planning To Acquire Skyperexjoec writes "Cisco is making a bid for Skype. The deal, if successful, would derail a planned initial public offering from Skype and redraw the battle lines in the lucrative market of video communications." The rumored price is $5B.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Another Gulf Oil Rig ExplodesA few readers have noted that another gulf oil rig has exploded. This one is off the coast of Lousiana. So far all the workers are accounted for, but they are in immersion suits waiting for rescue.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Open Source PS3 Jailbreak ReleasedtlhIngan writes "Despite all the lawsuits and injunctions by Sony to keep the PS3 Jailbreak out of modder's hands, it appears that a third party has made a clone. The best part is, it only requires a cheap (approximately $40) development board by Atmel, and the requisite software is open-source. Get the Atmel code from GitHub and apply a small patch which will enable backup play (the code by itself only lets you run unsigned code, the patch allows for BD backups). The code is GPLv3. It would be highly ironic if someone ported this to Linux USB Gadgets, then you could use a Linux device to jailbreak your PS3, to which Sony removed Linux functionality. An Android phone would be suitable."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Facebook Post Juror Gets Fined, Removed, Assigned Homeworkeldavojohn writes "A Michigan judge removed a juror after a Facebook comment and also fined her $250 and required her to write a five-page paper about the constitutional right to a fair trial. The juror was 'very sorry' and the judge chastised her, saying, 'You violated your oath. You had decided she was already guilty without hearing the other side.'"
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Ping Could Be Apple's Social Networking Backdoor?rsmiller510 writes "Could Apple's announcement about Ping, a music-based social network be Apple's social networking trojan horse? Facebook might want to be concerned." Of course it is. Update: 09/02 19:26 GMT by T : Jamie points out this post on Daring Fireball, according to which Steve Jobs blames the non-integration on "onerous terms" suggested by Facebook.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Samsung Shows Off Galaxy Tab, Android Allegiancecgriffin21 writes "Samsung is making no bones about it: Google Android is its future. And with the revealing of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the company is showing that it's all in when it comes to Android. At the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, Samsung finally pulled the curtain of the long rumored and teased Galaxy Tab, the electronics maker's touch-screen tablet and answer to the Apple iPad."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Woman Wins Libel Suit By Suing Wrong WebsiteAn anonymous reader writes "It appears that Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader Sarah Jones and her lawyer were so upset by a comment on the site TheDirty.com that they missed the 'y' at the end of the name. Instead, they sued the owner of TheDirt.com, whose owner didn't respond to the lawsuit. The end result was a judge awarding $11 million, in part because of the failure to respond. Now, both the owners of TheDirty.com and TheDirt.com are complaining that they're being wrongfully written about in the press — one for not having had any content about Sarah Jones but being told it needs to pay $11 million, and the other for having the content and having the press say it lost a lawsuit, even though no lawsuit was ever actually filed against it."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Top Stories
A phone-hacking scheme involving British royals and reporters working for one of Rupert Murdoch's tabloid newspapers went far beyond what was previously disclosed and prosecuted. The British Prime Minister's current media adviser is accused of having encouraged the hacking.
If it's September, it's football season — which also means it's time for millions of fantasy football drafts around the world to commence. Maximize your in-season points while dealing with the setbacks that are bound to occur by following our guide.
The video site's ever-evolving terms of service drive an observer mad in this arty clip by Carlo Zanni. No charge for the 1984 references.
This week’s big Apple announcement featured one big disappointment: Apple TV’s relative lack of, well, TV. Out of all of the hundreds of channels available on cable and satellite, only ABC and Fox agreed to offer their programs for rent on Apple TV. The fact that Steve Jobs is the largest single shareholder in, and on the board of, Disney — owner of ABC — perfectly illustrates this digital divide.
Unlike infectious disease and information, behavior change spreads faster through online networks that have many close connections instead of many distant ties. Redundancy is key, as people are more likely to engage in a behavior if they see many others doing it. "There has been a lot of theory about the difference between information and behavior spreading," said economic sociologist Damon Centola of MIT and author of the study published Sept. 3 in Science. "We've assumed that they are the same, but you can imagine that behavior is not really like that, that you need to be convinced."
A new batch of sharp Martian close-ups from NASA's HiRISE camera were released, and we've gathered some of the best in the gallery.
The atmosphere of a young exoplanet didn't fit any of our existing models for what gas giants should look like. But when astronomers added huge dust clouds, it was a perfect fit, perhaps revealing a larger truth about gas giants.
Magnetic minerals in 15-million-year-old rocks appear to preserve a moment when the magnetic north pole was rapidly on its way to becoming the south pole, and vice versa.
Development Seed is engineering tools to create custom maps that work in a wider variety of situations such as natural disasters and in the developing world.
A reinterpretation of the fossil record suggests a new answer to one of evolution's existential questions: whether global mass extinctions are just short-term diversions in life's preordained course, or send life careening down wholly new paths.
The official Twitter app for iPad is finally here, and star developer Loren Brichter has polished yet another gem. Twitter for iPad sports a really elegant interface that's significantly faster and more intuitive than competing Twitter clients we've tested (such as Twitterific and Tweetdeck).
Fujitsu's scanner is your new (albeit bulky) buddy if you want high-quality images. The sturdy document feeder gets pages in straight, so you get them out right.
Google is celebrating the second birthday of its Chrome web browser with the release of Chrome 6. Among the new features are an updated user interface, auto-fill for web forms, extension syncing, increased speed and numerous bug fixes.
People in Silicon Valley have focused on the set-top box as the lever to attack the cable industry. Cable boxes blow, but that's a losing battle. So why is Apple TV different? Because Steve Jobs has not just created a new set top box. He's actually created a whole new media ecosystem built around the mobile phone.
It looks like a motorcycle, it performs like a Lotus and it's racing around the world.
String theory has finally made a prediction that can be tested with experiments — but in a completely unexpected realm of physics: quantum entanglement.
Chemical analysis of the bones of an ancient Sudanese Nubians who lived nearly 2,000 years ago shows they were ingesting the antibiotic tetracycline on a regular basis — likely from a special brew of beer. The find is the strongest yet to support that antibiotics were previously discovered by humans before Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.
Samsung has announced the launch of a tablet that could become the first major Android-powered challenger to the Apple iPad.
The uncharacteristically snowy weather that hit Northern Europe and North America in the winter of 2009 to 2010 was caused by a rare combination of two separate weather oscillations in the Atlantic and Pacific, claim meteorologists.
Superman is a surly noob searching for reality in the digital age in J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis' update of the superhero's origin story. Who knew the Man of Steel would miss the musty Daily Planet more than the rest of us?
Two psychiatric experts think the way to treat troops returning home with PTSD: Have them undergo intensive psychotherapy while they're rolling on ecstasy.
Six weeks after landing men on the moon, Americans take another giant leap for mankind with the nation’s first cash-spewing, automated teller machine.
Video calls aren't for people to see you — they're for people to see what you see.
Blazing fast (four minutes and nine seconds!), streamlined and full of highlights, Cuisinart's PerfecTemp puts its kettle competition to shame.
A Q&A with Jeff Ma, the former leader of the infamous MIT Blackjack Team that took Vegas for millions in the mid-'90s. Now a successful entrepreneur and author, Ma talks about his love of fantasy sports, selling his company Citizen Sports to Yahoo (and why he didn't join them), and how young statgeeks can make their way in a sports industry dominated by traditionalists.
In 1983 Nintendo released the Famicon console. Now 26 years later we tear it apart to see what makes it tick.
There's a sign of hope for frustrated Google Apps users who feel left out of getting all the cool toys regular Google users get: Google is inviting select users this week to test out Apps with all the bells and whistles.
Want to start reading some science fiction, but aren't sure where to begin? This introductory sci-fi literature syllabus is just for you.
A furor has broken out among biologists over ant specialist E.O. Wilson's latest attack on a concept used to explain the origins of self-sacrifice in the dog-eat-dog world of evolution.
We know — the new Apple TV is really small, and cheap and easy-to-use. That's all good, but still not knocking our socks off despite being the ripest area for expansion by a company that has already firmly established itself on the computer, phone, portable media player and tablet. Here are five reasons Apple TV is still boring.
News from across the show-biz spectrum-TV, movies, music and celebrities
language: en-us
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has spawned a ray of sunshine.
Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson, wacky sitcom costars and real life husband and wife, welcomed a son Wednesday,...
Paris Hilton can continue to ignore the rumors, but she probably has to pay attention to the judge.
A Miami judge has sided with a film distributor that sued Hilton in 2008, ruling...
Review in a Hurry: Badass character actor Danny Trejo finally gets to topline an action movie courtesy of his pal Robert Rodriguez. And, to be kind, let's just say we find out why he's...
"Deuces" is aces for Chris Brown.
The embattled R&B singer is back on top of the singles charts for the first time since his 2009 assault arrest and subsequent flaying in the...
Just daysafter hanging out with her fellow DWTScast members, Bristol Palin is ready to get down.
The former first daughter of Alaska just joined her partner Mark Ballas at a...
Welcome, Victoria Beckham!
The former Spice Girl has finally joined Twitter.
"There have been so many people claiming to tweet as me I thought it was time for me to...
Let's just say Axl Rose isn't too welcome in this jungle.
Twenty minutes into their concert in Dublin last night, Guns N' Roses cut short their set after fans—and we...
Tiffany Derry had a feeling the producers of Top Chef were going to make big deal about the close relationship she developed with fellow cheftestant Ed Cotton.
What we all didn't...
Big things poppin' in probation land. And none of 'em good.
With news that T.I. was collared in Los Angeles last night on drug-possession charges, inquiring minds want to know if...
Check out this actress' situation!
She was snapped on the Canadian set of her new series rocking a barely-there cheerleading uniform that shows off her taut...
We woudn't have expected it any other way.
Our very own Chelsea Handler didn't miss a beat on Wednesday night's Chelsea Lately when she subtly dropped, albeit humorously, the...
Again, have to say, after the Round 3 results, we are just shocked! Seriously...beside ourselves.
Similar to the Kings competition, a little-known actress by the name of Kristen Stewart...
That sound you hear? That's the sound of an alibi unraveling.
Cast your minds back to, um, five whole days ago, when Paris Hilton was busted for cocaine possession. Her excuse? Those...
A momentous date such as this only comes along once in a lifetime (for those of you who skew more Steve Sanders than Andrea Zuckerman, it's 9/02/10. Rad, right?!).
And what better...
Kelly Osbourne is one busy girl these days.
Not only is she hosting E!'s new Fashion Police show, but last night, she got in touch with her feline side as she performed with the...
Turns out the Jersey Shore shenanigans don't stop at the state line.
Former show star Angelina Pivarnick smashed a microphone in the mouth of Snooki's not-quite-fiancé, Jeff...
Is Emily Procter having twins?
Before you ask her, here's what the CSI: Miami star tells us...
Along with the well wishes, Procter, 41,says many people have mistakenly...
She's more than just a bikini model, doncha know?
Bruce and Kris Jenner's daughter, Kendall Jenner, is proving she can do high fashion, too. The 14-year-old landed a gig in Lucca...
Near-tragedy on the set of Transformers 3.
An extra was hospitalized Wednesday evening after suffering a severe head injury during filming of a stunt that went awry.
According...
How's this for timing?
On the same dayAshton Kutcherlashed out against allegations he had been an unfaithful hubby, sexy photos of a bikini-clad Demi Moorequickly...
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