T-Mobile Leads Bids for Airwaves
WASHINGTON - The wireless provider can now strengthen its services
in Los Angeles and other major cities. By Jim Puzzanghera.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8Z...Io30G2B0HsHC0Et
Farmers' Hopes Sprout as Brazil Bets on Biodiesel
PORTO NACIONAL, Brazil - The country mandates use of the renewable
fuel, with an eye toward helping small growers. By Marla
Dickerson.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8Z...Io30G2B0HsHD0Eu
Tribune Defends Its Ownership of The Times
The chairman of Tribune Co. defended his stewardship of the Los
Angeles Times, telling community leaders that the Chicago-based
media company had made substantial improvements at the paper over
the last six years. By James Rainey and Thomas S. Mulligan.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8Z...Io30G2B0HsHE0Ev
Toronto scene: Stars and substance
At the Toronto International Film Festival, it was hard to get
into an elevator without bumping into an actor. L.A. is supposed
to be the nexus of the showbiz universe, but the festival, which
ended Saturday, is a serious marketplace where Oscar hopes begin,
much-hyped films take a critical beating and big movie buying
decisions are made. By Patrick Goldstein.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8Z...Io30G2B0HsHI0Ez
Full Version: Business News
Common Ground Common Sense > National & International News > Daily National and International News > National News Archive
News Corp plans MySpace in China The Financial Times
Rupert Murdoch said on Tuesday that his wife, Wendy Deng, was working with senior News Corp executives to help bring the company’s popular MySpace social networking site to China. “We have to make MySpace a very Chinese site,” Mr Murdoch said at a media conference organised by Goldman Sachs. “I have sent my wife across there because she understands the language.” Mr Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp, bought MySpace last year as part of his strategy for the digital age. MySpace has become one of the most popular sites on the internet because of the ease with which people can communicate and share text, pictures and video. He said his wife, Ms Deng, who is not an officer of the company, was currently in China with senior News Corp executives trying to find a way for MySpace to enter the Chinese market without running up against political obstacles and the “heavy weather” that internet groups Google and Yahoo have encountered. Mr Murdoch said MySpace in China was likely to have local partners, who would own around 50 per cent. This would ensure the content was more suitable for a Chinese audience, and Mr Murdoch also said it would mean his local partners could deal with complaints. Mr Murdoch has been trying to expand his media group in the Chinese mainland, but admitted last year he was hitting a brick wall with the authorities over foreign media groups’ control. The Chinese authorities continue to restrict the free exchange of information and access to news, despite rapid liberalisation of the economy. There is widespread internet use, and the spread of broadband connections is increasingly rapidly. MySpace is adding around 1.5m new users globally every week and recently surpassed 100m registered users. It recently launched in the UK and is planning other European expansion. Mr Murdoch, who beat rival Viacom in buying the site last year, said one of the biggest challenges MySpace faced was technical, with the company having to cope with buying enough servers to keep up with its sharp increases in traffic.
By Aline van Duyn and Joshua Chaffin in New York
Rupert Murdoch said on Tuesday that his wife, Wendy Deng, was working with senior News Corp executives to help bring the company’s popular MySpace social networking site to China. “We have to make MySpace a very Chinese site,” Mr Murdoch said at a media conference organised by Goldman Sachs. “I have sent my wife across there because she understands the language.” Mr Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp, bought MySpace last year as part of his strategy for the digital age. MySpace has become one of the most popular sites on the internet because of the ease with which people can communicate and share text, pictures and video. He said his wife, Ms Deng, who is not an officer of the company, was currently in China with senior News Corp executives trying to find a way for MySpace to enter the Chinese market without running up against political obstacles and the “heavy weather” that internet groups Google and Yahoo have encountered. Mr Murdoch said MySpace in China was likely to have local partners, who would own around 50 per cent. This would ensure the content was more suitable for a Chinese audience, and Mr Murdoch also said it would mean his local partners could deal with complaints. Mr Murdoch has been trying to expand his media group in the Chinese mainland, but admitted last year he was hitting a brick wall with the authorities over foreign media groups’ control. The Chinese authorities continue to restrict the free exchange of information and access to news, despite rapid liberalisation of the economy. There is widespread internet use, and the spread of broadband connections is increasingly rapidly. MySpace is adding around 1.5m new users globally every week and recently surpassed 100m registered users. It recently launched in the UK and is planning other European expansion. Mr Murdoch, who beat rival Viacom in buying the site last year, said one of the biggest challenges MySpace faced was technical, with the company having to cope with buying enough servers to keep up with its sharp increases in traffic.
By Aline van Duyn and Joshua Chaffin in New York
Blue Cross Moves to Quell Furor
Blue Cross of California said Tuesday that it would change some of
its procedures for canceling individual health insurance policies,
after allegations that it illegally dumped sick policyholders to
avoid expensive claims. By Lisa Girion.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8c...Io30G2B0HsWs0EE
Home Price Appreciation Slackens
For the first time since the latest housing boom started six years
ago, home price appreciation for each of the six Southern
California counties has fallen to single-digit levels or worse,
data released Tuesday showed. By Annette Haddad.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8c...Io30G2B0HsWt0EF
'White' into 'Black'
"White Oleander" sold millions. Now Janet Fitch goes darker yet
with "Paint It Black." By August Brown.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8c...Io30G2B0HsWw0EI
Unsettling Skid Row
All legal settlements are imperfect, even to the parties that
agree to them. But the city's proposed settlement with the
American Civil Liberties Union over how the police can enforce the
law on skid row gives away too much and brings the city too little
in return.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8c...Io30G2B0HsW40EB
Blue Cross of California said Tuesday that it would change some of
its procedures for canceling individual health insurance policies,
after allegations that it illegally dumped sick policyholders to
avoid expensive claims. By Lisa Girion.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8c...Io30G2B0HsWs0EE
Home Price Appreciation Slackens
For the first time since the latest housing boom started six years
ago, home price appreciation for each of the six Southern
California counties has fallen to single-digit levels or worse,
data released Tuesday showed. By Annette Haddad.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8c...Io30G2B0HsWt0EF
'White' into 'Black'
"White Oleander" sold millions. Now Janet Fitch goes darker yet
with "Paint It Black." By August Brown.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8c...Io30G2B0HsWw0EI
Unsettling Skid Row
All legal settlements are imperfect, even to the parties that
agree to them. But the city's proposed settlement with the
American Civil Liberties Union over how the police can enforce the
law on skid row gives away too much and brings the city too little
in return.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8c...Io30G2B0HsW40EB
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools...ess/5360394.stm
New signs of cooling US economy
US producer prices rose by just 0.1% last month as the amount spent by businesses on energy moderated after recent sharp price rises.
Wholesale energy prices rose just 0.3% in August, following July's 1.3% jump, while gasoline prices fell 2.2%.
Separate data published on Tuesday showed a 6% fall in house construction.
Experts believe these figures, on top of recent data showing a small fall in consumer inflation, will persuade the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates.
Rate decision
The interest rate setting body meets on Wednesday with most experts believing it will keep rates at 5.25% for the second meeting in a row.
The Fed is worried about containing inflationary pressures. However, it is also keen to avoid pushing the cooling housing market into a downturn.
It does make it much more likely that they [The Federal Reserve] will stay paused thereafter if the housing sector is this weak
Greg Anderson, ABN Amro
The 0.1% rise in producer prices was lower than analysts' expectations of a 0.2% increase, and once energy and food costs are stripped out, core prices actually fell 0.4%.
Following July's 0.3% fall in core producer prices, this marked the first back-to-back monthly decline since 2003.
The fall in new home starts was larger than expected and follows recent monthly drops in sales of both new and previously owned homes.
Analysts said the decline may signal that the previously buoyant housing market has come back down to earth as two years of successive rate rises - which only came to an end last month - have stretched individual and family budgets.
"It's shockingly weak housing data," Greg Anderson, a senior currency strategist at investment bank ABN Amro, said of the latest figures.
"We knew the Fed was going to pause on Wednesday. It does make it much more likely that they will stay paused thereafter if the housing sector is this weak."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/5360394.stm
Published: 2006/09/19 15:02:08 GMT
© BBC MMVI
New signs of cooling US economy
US producer prices rose by just 0.1% last month as the amount spent by businesses on energy moderated after recent sharp price rises.
Wholesale energy prices rose just 0.3% in August, following July's 1.3% jump, while gasoline prices fell 2.2%.
Separate data published on Tuesday showed a 6% fall in house construction.
Experts believe these figures, on top of recent data showing a small fall in consumer inflation, will persuade the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates.
Rate decision
The interest rate setting body meets on Wednesday with most experts believing it will keep rates at 5.25% for the second meeting in a row.
The Fed is worried about containing inflationary pressures. However, it is also keen to avoid pushing the cooling housing market into a downturn.
It does make it much more likely that they [The Federal Reserve] will stay paused thereafter if the housing sector is this weak
Greg Anderson, ABN Amro
The 0.1% rise in producer prices was lower than analysts' expectations of a 0.2% increase, and once energy and food costs are stripped out, core prices actually fell 0.4%.
Following July's 0.3% fall in core producer prices, this marked the first back-to-back monthly decline since 2003.
The fall in new home starts was larger than expected and follows recent monthly drops in sales of both new and previously owned homes.
Analysts said the decline may signal that the previously buoyant housing market has come back down to earth as two years of successive rate rises - which only came to an end last month - have stretched individual and family budgets.
"It's shockingly weak housing data," Greg Anderson, a senior currency strategist at investment bank ABN Amro, said of the latest figures.
"We knew the Fed was going to pause on Wednesday. It does make it much more likely that they will stay paused thereafter if the housing sector is this weak."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/5360394.stm
Published: 2006/09/19 15:02:08 GMT
© BBC MMVI
HP Spied on More Than Phone Calls
What Hewlett-Packard Co. Chief Executive Mark Hurd knew - and when
- was called into question Wednesday as details emerged that the
company's spying included far more than prying into confidential
phone records. By James S. Granelli, Kim Christensen and Jim
Puzzanghera.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8h...Io30G2B0Hsiq0Er
Swinging '60s, Anyone?
Fashion Week started in London with more talk about the models
than the clothes they were wearing. Debate is raging over whether
reed-thin models should be banned from the runways (as they were
in Madrid last week) because they might encourage eating
disorders. By Booth Moore.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8h...Io30G2B0Hsix0Ey
What Hewlett-Packard Co. Chief Executive Mark Hurd knew - and when
- was called into question Wednesday as details emerged that the
company's spying included far more than prying into confidential
phone records. By James S. Granelli, Kim Christensen and Jim
Puzzanghera.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8h...Io30G2B0Hsiq0Er
Swinging '60s, Anyone?
Fashion Week started in London with more talk about the models
than the clothes they were wearing. Debate is raging over whether
reed-thin models should be banned from the runways (as they were
in Madrid last week) because they might encourage eating
disorders. By Booth Moore.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8h...Io30G2B0Hsix0Ey
Boeing secures US border contract BBC News
Boeing has won a US government contract to develop security equipment for monitoring the 7,500 miles of borders the US has with Mexico and Canada.
Key issue
America has been spending vast sums on securing its borders since the 11 September attacks five years ago. More than one million people illegally enter the US each year - primarily from Mexico - and reducing this number has become a key political issue.
The Boeing project involves partnerships with companies including Unisys. It will include tracking sensors and communications equipment allowing border patrol staff to keep a closer watch on the borders. The system will work together with cameras, developed by an Israeli company, which can spot people from 14 kilometres away.
Boeing has won a US government contract to develop security equipment for monitoring the 7,500 miles of borders the US has with Mexico and Canada.
About one million people enter the US illegally each year
Sensors and cameras are among the equipment to be developed by the firm to detect illegal entry into the US. Industry experts estimate the three-year Department of Homeland Security contract is worth $2.1bn to Boeing. Boeing's tender includes plans for 300 radar towers along the borders.Key issue
America has been spending vast sums on securing its borders since the 11 September attacks five years ago. More than one million people illegally enter the US each year - primarily from Mexico - and reducing this number has become a key political issue.
Time Warner to sell AOL France to Neuf Cegetel International Herald Tribune
Time Warner said Thursday that it had agreed to sell AOL France's Internet access business to Neuf Cegetel, a French telecommunications network operator, for about $365 million in cash. Under the agreement, Neuf Cegetel will acquire AOL's Internet access business in France, including its 500,000 broadband customers. The French company will also acquire its ASME operation, which manages AOL France's customer service operations. The sale is part of AOL's efforts to shed its Internet-access business as it focuses on gaining more advertising revenue from its free Web sites. Also this week, Time Warner said that it had reached an all-cash deal to sell AOL Germany's Internet access business to Telecom Italia for about $870 million. Time Warner has said that it wants to shed AOL's British access business as well. Starting in 2007, AOL will provide the content and manage online advertising sales for all of Neuf Cegetel's Internet portals. AOL and Neuf Cegetel will share advertising and other revenue from the sites. The French version of AOL will continue to operate. Together, the two companies' sites attract about 9 million unique visitors per month, according to Time Warner. At the end of 2006, AOL customers will have access to Neuf Cegetel services like DSL TV and Wi-Fi phone service. The French company said that it would focus on converting AOL dial-up subscribers to broadband. As part of the deal, Neuf Cegetel committed to hire up to 140 AOL France employees - among the 5,000 jobs, or a quarter of AOL's global work force, that the company has said it may cut as part of the restructuring to draw more advertising. Neuf Cegetel said that the agreement would help it reach its goal of 2 million broadband subscribers a year ahead of time. For Time Warner, the deal strengthens its position as a content and advertising provider in Europe.
Time Warner said Thursday that it had agreed to sell AOL France's Internet access business to Neuf Cegetel, a French telecommunications network operator, for about $365 million in cash. Under the agreement, Neuf Cegetel will acquire AOL's Internet access business in France, including its 500,000 broadband customers. The French company will also acquire its ASME operation, which manages AOL France's customer service operations. The sale is part of AOL's efforts to shed its Internet-access business as it focuses on gaining more advertising revenue from its free Web sites. Also this week, Time Warner said that it had reached an all-cash deal to sell AOL Germany's Internet access business to Telecom Italia for about $870 million. Time Warner has said that it wants to shed AOL's British access business as well. Starting in 2007, AOL will provide the content and manage online advertising sales for all of Neuf Cegetel's Internet portals. AOL and Neuf Cegetel will share advertising and other revenue from the sites. The French version of AOL will continue to operate. Together, the two companies' sites attract about 9 million unique visitors per month, according to Time Warner. At the end of 2006, AOL customers will have access to Neuf Cegetel services like DSL TV and Wi-Fi phone service. The French company said that it would focus on converting AOL dial-up subscribers to broadband. As part of the deal, Neuf Cegetel committed to hire up to 140 AOL France employees - among the 5,000 jobs, or a quarter of AOL's global work force, that the company has said it may cut as part of the restructuring to draw more advertising. Neuf Cegetel said that the agreement would help it reach its goal of 2 million broadband subscribers a year ahead of time. For Time Warner, the deal strengthens its position as a content and advertising provider in Europe.
Wanted: Auto Fanatics - Serious Inquiries Only
A Rancho Dominguez warehouse contains 18 luxury and classic cars
and tricked-out stretch limousines seized by federal agents from
suspected drug dealers and white-collar criminals. Next week,
authorities plan to auction them off to the highest bidders - ones
with cash in hand and clean tax records. By Bob Pool.
http://latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hotcar...y?track=tottext
Blue Cross Faces Fine for Voiding Policy
In the first sanction of its kind, California's top HMO regulator
fined Blue Cross on Thursday for illegally canceling a woman's
medical policy because she did not disclose corrective surgery she
had 23 years earlier. The $200,000 penalty is the first in a
continuing probe of allegations that the insurer illegally dumped
sick patients. By Lisa Girion.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-revoke22...y?track=tottext
A Rancho Dominguez warehouse contains 18 luxury and classic cars
and tricked-out stretch limousines seized by federal agents from
suspected drug dealers and white-collar criminals. Next week,
authorities plan to auction them off to the highest bidders - ones
with cash in hand and clean tax records. By Bob Pool.
http://latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hotcar...y?track=tottext
Blue Cross Faces Fine for Voiding Policy
In the first sanction of its kind, California's top HMO regulator
fined Blue Cross on Thursday for illegally canceling a woman's
medical policy because she did not disclose corrective surgery she
had 23 years earlier. The $200,000 penalty is the first in a
continuing probe of allegations that the insurer illegally dumped
sick patients. By Lisa Girion.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-revoke22...y?track=tottext
Dunn resigns from HP, effective immediately MSNBC
CEO Hurd: 'sincerest apologies to those journalists who were investigated'
Dunn's full statement:
Dunn, who was not present at the press event, issued the following statement: "I have resigned today at the request of the board. The unauthorized disclosure of confidential information was a serious violation of our code of conduct. I followed the proper processes by seeking the assistance of HP security personnel. I did not select the people who conducted the investigation, which was undertaken after consultation with board members. I accepted the responsibility to identify the sources of those leaks, but I did not propose the specific methods of the investigation. I was a full subject of the investigation myself and my phone records were examined along with others. Unfortunately, the people HP relied upon to conduct this type of investigation let me and the company down. I continue to have the best interests of HP at heart and thus I have accepted the board's request to resign. I look forward to appearing before Congress next week to answer their questions and help the company put this unfortunate event behind it."
CEO Hurd: 'sincerest apologies to those journalists who were investigated'
HP Chairwoman Patricia Dunn resigns - Sept. 22: In the wake of a scandal involving the company's board of directors spying on members of the media, Hewlett-Packard Chairwoman Patricia Dunn has quit the company. CNBC's Scott Cohn reports
Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairwoman Patricia Dunn resigned Friday, effective immediately, in the wake of the company’s ill-fated investigation of boardroom media leaks. Announcing the resignation, HP Chief Executive Mark Hurd called the tactics used by the company’s outside investigators “very disturbing.” “I extend my sincerest apologies to those journalists who were investigated and to everyone who was impacted,” he said at his first news conference since the scandal erupted Sept. 6. Determined to protect confidential board discussions, HP hired investigators who impersonated board members, employees and journalists to obtain their phone records. The detectives also surveilled an HP director and concocted an e-mail sting to dupe a reporter an online technology site. HP had earlier said Dunn, who authorized the leaks investigation, would step down from the chair in January and be replaced by Hurd, but remain a member of the board. Hurd said he has succeeded Dunn as chairman and will retain his positions as president and CEO. In a statement, Dunn said the investigators had targeted her as well as other board members. "Unfortunately, the people HP relied upon to conduct this type of investigation let me and the company down," she said. "I continue to have the best interests of HP at heart and thus I have accepted the board's request to resign. HP stock rose slightly in extended-hours trading Friday. The news was announced after the close of regular trading. Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tom Perkins, who sparked the crisis when he resigned from the HP board in protest over the leak investigation, issued a statement indicating he was satisfied with the company's latest shake-up. "Mark Hurd has shown that he is the right man to take HP to new heights," Perkins said. "I support him, his vision for HP and I urge the HP family to give him their full support and confidence as he assumes the role of Chairman and CEO," he said. "I would like to thank Pattie Dunn for stepping aside, allowing Mark Hurd to lead and HP to move on." In recent days, Hurd has faced increased questions about what he knew of HP’s efforts to ferret out a boardroom leak. Hurd — nearly 18 months into the job — made his public statement as Wall Street worried whether the CEO would become ensnared in the scandal, which had already led to the resignation of two other directors and has spawned criminal investigations. California Attorney General Bill Lockyer and several federal agencies are investigating whether HP and its executives broke any laws in their crusade to find a media leak on the company’s board. Hurd so far isn’t among the group of HP insiders that Lockyer expects to charge, spokesman Tom Dresslar said Friday. But the attorney general is still examining Hurd’s role in the scandal. “We are not ruling anybody out in terms of criminal culpability, Dresslar said. A congressional panel also has scheduled a Sept. 28 hearing to grill HP’s leaders and lawyers about the company’s handling of the probe. Apparently spurred by Thursday’s developments, Hurd now plans to appear at the hearing being held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dunn and General Counsel Ann Baskins, who also played a central role in the spying program, previously accepted the panel’s invitation to appear.Dunn's full statement:
Dunn, who was not present at the press event, issued the following statement: "I have resigned today at the request of the board. The unauthorized disclosure of confidential information was a serious violation of our code of conduct. I followed the proper processes by seeking the assistance of HP security personnel. I did not select the people who conducted the investigation, which was undertaken after consultation with board members. I accepted the responsibility to identify the sources of those leaks, but I did not propose the specific methods of the investigation. I was a full subject of the investigation myself and my phone records were examined along with others. Unfortunately, the people HP relied upon to conduct this type of investigation let me and the company down. I continue to have the best interests of HP at heart and thus I have accepted the board's request to resign. I look forward to appearing before Congress next week to answer their questions and help the company put this unfortunate event behind it."
Investors Rush Into Bonds on Dim Outlook
Yields hit six-month lows on fears about a slowing economy. The
decline, which depresses mortgage rates, could aid the housing
market. By Tom Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4G0EW
Schwarzenegger Vetoes Fee on Cargo Containers
Siding with business and the shipping industry, Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have provided $500 million
a year to improve security, expand rail networks and reduce air
pollution at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. By Dan
Weikel.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4H0EX
India's Looming Talent Shortage
CHENNAI, India-The country may be churning out engineers by the
hundreds of thousands each year, but their qualifications are in
question. By Henry Chu.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4I0EY
Tribune's Future Not Easy to Read
As L.A. Times' owner weighs action to increase share value,
analysts say its broadcast holdings or smaller papers may end up
on the block. By James Rainey and Meg James.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4J0EZ
Regarding Media: Absentee Owners Skew the Coverage
Whatever the ultimate results of Thursday's extraordinary meeting
of the Tribune Co.'s directors in Chicago, it is clear that the
experiment in corporate ownership of high-quality American
newspapers is disintegrating. By Tim Rutten.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4O0Ee
Editorial: It's Hip To Be Green
Virgin CEO Sir Richard Branson brings rock-star status to the
global warming fight.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4P0Ef
Editorial: For-Profit Charity
Google takes an ambitious and flexible new approach to
philanthropy.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4Q0Eg
Yields hit six-month lows on fears about a slowing economy. The
decline, which depresses mortgage rates, could aid the housing
market. By Tom Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4G0EW
Schwarzenegger Vetoes Fee on Cargo Containers
Siding with business and the shipping industry, Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have provided $500 million
a year to improve security, expand rail networks and reduce air
pollution at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. By Dan
Weikel.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4H0EX
India's Looming Talent Shortage
CHENNAI, India-The country may be churning out engineers by the
hundreds of thousands each year, but their qualifications are in
question. By Henry Chu.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4I0EY
Tribune's Future Not Easy to Read
As L.A. Times' owner weighs action to increase share value,
analysts say its broadcast holdings or smaller papers may end up
on the block. By James Rainey and Meg James.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4J0EZ
Regarding Media: Absentee Owners Skew the Coverage
Whatever the ultimate results of Thursday's extraordinary meeting
of the Tribune Co.'s directors in Chicago, it is clear that the
experiment in corporate ownership of high-quality American
newspapers is disintegrating. By Tim Rutten.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4O0Ee
Editorial: It's Hip To Be Green
Virgin CEO Sir Richard Branson brings rock-star status to the
global warming fight.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4P0Ef
Editorial: For-Profit Charity
Google takes an ambitious and flexible new approach to
philanthropy.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8m...Io30G2B0Hs4Q0Eg
Once-Hot Markets Hammer Traders
Speculators in energy and housing are getting their comeuppance -
for the moment. By Tom Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs5E0E1
High-Tech, Lowbrow Talk Show Makes Itself at Home on the Web
Comic Tom Green, in a rebuilding phase, does a happily inane
yakfest from his living room. Still missing: advertisers. By Chris
Gaither.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs5F0E2
A Maserati - as Bait
Sellers, builders and agents are pulling out all the stops, and
perhaps a plasma TV. By Ann Brenoff.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs5M0EA
Tech Comes Home
Whole-house audio, remote-control cooking, carwash-style showers.
Some of the coolest custom-home gizmos are trickling into the
mainsteam as standard features. By Diane Wedner.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs5N0EB
Speculators in energy and housing are getting their comeuppance -
for the moment. By Tom Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs5E0E1
High-Tech, Lowbrow Talk Show Makes Itself at Home on the Web
Comic Tom Green, in a rebuilding phase, does a happily inane
yakfest from his living room. Still missing: advertisers. By Chris
Gaither.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs5F0E2
A Maserati - as Bait
Sellers, builders and agents are pulling out all the stops, and
perhaps a plasma TV. By Ann Brenoff.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs5M0EA
Tech Comes Home
Whole-house audio, remote-control cooking, carwash-style showers.
Some of the coolest custom-home gizmos are trickling into the
mainsteam as standard features. By Diane Wedner.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs5N0EB
Honda Unveils 'Super-Clean' Diesel Engine
TOCHIGI, Japan - Honda Motor Co. says it has developed the first
diesel passenger car engine capable of meeting California's tough
2009 air-quality standards, one that produces almost none of the
emissions that have sullied the fuel's image. By John O'Dell.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs6J0Ee
'HP Way' Obsolete in Silicon Valley
SAN FRANCISCO - Hewlett-Packard Co. helped establish Silicon
Valley's culture of egalitarian idealism and fair dealing. But the
technology pioneer's corporate spying scandal has many in the
region questioning whether that culture is as gone as the slide
rules HP calculators replaced. By Charles Piller.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs6K0Ef
Search for an E. Coli Defense
Weapons of choice include antibodies, biomarkers and
early-detection kits. By Shari Roan.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs6S0En
TOCHIGI, Japan - Honda Motor Co. says it has developed the first
diesel passenger car engine capable of meeting California's tough
2009 air-quality standards, one that produces almost none of the
emissions that have sullied the fuel's image. By John O'Dell.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs6J0Ee
'HP Way' Obsolete in Silicon Valley
SAN FRANCISCO - Hewlett-Packard Co. helped establish Silicon
Valley's culture of egalitarian idealism and fair dealing. But the
technology pioneer's corporate spying scandal has many in the
region questioning whether that culture is as gone as the slide
rules HP calculators replaced. By Charles Piller.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs6K0Ef
Search for an E. Coli Defense
Weapons of choice include antibodies, biomarkers and
early-detection kits. By Shari Roan.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8n...Io30G2B0Hs6S0En
Tobacco firms sued over low tar BBC News
A lawsuit which accuses tobacco firms of duping smokers into thinking low tar or "light" cigarettes are less harmful has been given the go ahead in the US. Federal judge Jack Weinstein has ruled that the case can proceed as a class action, involving potentially tens of millions of plaintiffs. Experts estimate that if successful, the case could cost the tobacco industry up to $200bn. Defendants include Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds and British American Tobacco. They are joined by Lorillard Tobacco and Liggett Group. Low tar cigarettes were introduced in the 1970s.
'Disguise'
Spokesmen for Reynolds American, parent company of RJ Reynolds, and UK company British American Tobacco said each would now be appealing the judge's decision. The appeal is likely to last up to a year. Altria, parent of Philip Morris, declined to comment on the ruling until its lawyers could review the decision. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the tobacco companies in question reaped between $120bn to $200bn in extra sales through the deception that light cigarettes are less harmful than full strength versions. "They [the cigarette firms] understood that they were selling death," said attorney Michael Hausfeld. The question, he added, was "how to disguise it...They put on 'lights'." Defence attorneys had argued that the lawsuit relied on flawed data. They also said that without surveying each and every smoker in the lawsuit it would be impossible to determine their motives for buying light cigarettes. The link between smoking and lung cancer was first confirmed in 1954. British American Tobacco said that to date there have been 60 class actions cases against tobacco companies in the US and none have been successful.
A lawsuit which accuses tobacco firms of duping smokers into thinking low tar or "light" cigarettes are less harmful has been given the go ahead in the US. Federal judge Jack Weinstein has ruled that the case can proceed as a class action, involving potentially tens of millions of plaintiffs. Experts estimate that if successful, the case could cost the tobacco industry up to $200bn. Defendants include Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds and British American Tobacco. They are joined by Lorillard Tobacco and Liggett Group. Low tar cigarettes were introduced in the 1970s.
'Disguise'
Spokesmen for Reynolds American, parent company of RJ Reynolds, and UK company British American Tobacco said each would now be appealing the judge's decision. The appeal is likely to last up to a year. Altria, parent of Philip Morris, declined to comment on the ruling until its lawyers could review the decision. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the tobacco companies in question reaped between $120bn to $200bn in extra sales through the deception that light cigarettes are less harmful than full strength versions. "They [the cigarette firms] understood that they were selling death," said attorney Michael Hausfeld. The question, he added, was "how to disguise it...They put on 'lights'." Defence attorneys had argued that the lawsuit relied on flawed data. They also said that without surveying each and every smoker in the lawsuit it would be impossible to determine their motives for buying light cigarettes. The link between smoking and lung cancer was first confirmed in 1954. British American Tobacco said that to date there have been 60 class actions cases against tobacco companies in the US and none have been successful.
4Fuel Prices Continue Their Slide
Pump prices logged another week of steep declines around the
nation, the Energy Department said, as oil dipped below $60 a
barrel to the lowest level since March before rebounding slightly.
By Ronald D. White.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8q...Io30G2B0HtE20Ei
Suits Claim Excessive 401(k) Fees at 7 Firms
Seven of the nation's largest companies violated pension laws by
allowing their employees to be overcharged by the outside firms
running their 401(k) retirement plans, according to a series of
civil lawsuits. By Kathy M. Kristof.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8q...Io30G2B0HtE30Ej
Live Nation Wants to Cool Down Price for Hot Ticket
Live Nation's CEO says he wants to lower prices. But he'll have to
take on Ticketmaster to do so. By Charles Duhigg.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8q...Io30G2B0HtE40Ek
It's that time already?
It used to be that December was the cruelest month for Oscar
contenders who jousted for critical and box office attention at
the end of the year. Now the battle begins in September, as more
and more Oscar hopefuls crowd the fall weekends. By Rachel
Abramowitz and John Horn.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8q...Io30G2B0HtE70En
Pump prices logged another week of steep declines around the
nation, the Energy Department said, as oil dipped below $60 a
barrel to the lowest level since March before rebounding slightly.
By Ronald D. White.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8q...Io30G2B0HtE20Ei
Suits Claim Excessive 401(k) Fees at 7 Firms
Seven of the nation's largest companies violated pension laws by
allowing their employees to be overcharged by the outside firms
running their 401(k) retirement plans, according to a series of
civil lawsuits. By Kathy M. Kristof.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8q...Io30G2B0HtE30Ej
Live Nation Wants to Cool Down Price for Hot Ticket
Live Nation's CEO says he wants to lower prices. But he'll have to
take on Ticketmaster to do so. By Charles Duhigg.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8q...Io30G2B0HtE40Ek
It's that time already?
It used to be that December was the cruelest month for Oscar
contenders who jousted for critical and box office attention at
the end of the year. Now the battle begins in September, as more
and more Oscar hopefuls crowd the fall weekends. By Rachel
Abramowitz and John Horn.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8q...Io30G2B0HtE70En
Switzerland rated world’s most competitive economy Business Day
Switzerland, home to companies such as Nestlé, UBS and Roche Holding, was ranked the most competitive economy by the World Economic Forum (WEF) yesterday in its annual rankings report. Switzerland jumped from fourth place last year, overtaking the US, Finland and Denmark, the Geneva-based WEF said in the study of 125 states published yesterday. The poll aims to examine the range of factors that can affect an economy’s business environment and development as it seeks to maintain economic growth. These include the level of judicial independence, protection of property rights, government favouritism in policy making and corruption. The US fell to sixth place as macroeconomic concerns eroded prospects for the world’s largest economy. Washington’s huge defence and homeland security spending commitments, plans to lower taxes further, and long-term potential costs of health care and pensions were creating worrisome fiscal strains. “With a low savings rate, record-high current account deficits and a worsening of the US net debtor position, there is a non-negligible risk to both the country’s overall competitiveness and — given the relative size of the US economy — the future of the global economy,” the report said. After the US, which topped last year’s index, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain made up the top 10. The WEF said Switzerland’s well-developed infrastructure, plentiful scientific research, intellectual property protection and sophisticated business culture helped launch it to the index’s leading position. As in Switzerland, it said high-ranking Nordic countries benefited from strong institutions and excellent education and training, but said they lagged behind in labour-market flexibility. Most European Union countries saw stable rankings over the past year, but Italy’s competitiveness ranking fell to 42nd, compared to 38th last year, because of macroeconomic and institutional weaknesses. Russia slipped nine places for a 62nd-place ranking this year, largely due to private sector misgivings about the independence of the country’s judiciary, according to the report based on surveys of more than 11000 business leaders worldwide. China’s ranking also fell — to 54 from last year’s 48. The report said China had a mixed performance this year as fast growth, low inflation and high savings rates were muted by banking weakness concerns, poor penetration rates for cellphone, computer and other technology companies, and low secondary and tertiary school enrolment rates. Fellow Asian powerhouse India gained two places to rank 43rd, with persistent poverty, weak health infrastructure and a large public sector deficit offsetting technological advances. Most African states remained in the lower ranks. But SA was at 45, down from 40, and Mauritius was at 55. With Reuters
By Andreas Britt
Thailand slips two spots in WEF poll Bangkok Post
Is the US Losing Its Competitive Edge? BusinessWeek
Financial Express - Mainichi Daily News - Kommersant - Daily News & Analysis - all 219 news articles »
Switzerland, home to companies such as Nestlé, UBS and Roche Holding, was ranked the most competitive economy by the World Economic Forum (WEF) yesterday in its annual rankings report. Switzerland jumped from fourth place last year, overtaking the US, Finland and Denmark, the Geneva-based WEF said in the study of 125 states published yesterday. The poll aims to examine the range of factors that can affect an economy’s business environment and development as it seeks to maintain economic growth. These include the level of judicial independence, protection of property rights, government favouritism in policy making and corruption. The US fell to sixth place as macroeconomic concerns eroded prospects for the world’s largest economy. Washington’s huge defence and homeland security spending commitments, plans to lower taxes further, and long-term potential costs of health care and pensions were creating worrisome fiscal strains. “With a low savings rate, record-high current account deficits and a worsening of the US net debtor position, there is a non-negligible risk to both the country’s overall competitiveness and — given the relative size of the US economy — the future of the global economy,” the report said. After the US, which topped last year’s index, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain made up the top 10. The WEF said Switzerland’s well-developed infrastructure, plentiful scientific research, intellectual property protection and sophisticated business culture helped launch it to the index’s leading position. As in Switzerland, it said high-ranking Nordic countries benefited from strong institutions and excellent education and training, but said they lagged behind in labour-market flexibility. Most European Union countries saw stable rankings over the past year, but Italy’s competitiveness ranking fell to 42nd, compared to 38th last year, because of macroeconomic and institutional weaknesses. Russia slipped nine places for a 62nd-place ranking this year, largely due to private sector misgivings about the independence of the country’s judiciary, according to the report based on surveys of more than 11000 business leaders worldwide. China’s ranking also fell — to 54 from last year’s 48. The report said China had a mixed performance this year as fast growth, low inflation and high savings rates were muted by banking weakness concerns, poor penetration rates for cellphone, computer and other technology companies, and low secondary and tertiary school enrolment rates. Fellow Asian powerhouse India gained two places to rank 43rd, with persistent poverty, weak health infrastructure and a large public sector deficit offsetting technological advances. Most African states remained in the lower ranks. But SA was at 45, down from 40, and Mauritius was at 55. With Reuters
By Andreas Britt
Thailand slips two spots in WEF poll Bangkok Post
Is the US Losing Its Competitive Edge? BusinessWeek
Financial Express - Mainichi Daily News - Kommersant - Daily News & Analysis - all 219 news articles »
US-China deal rumours boost yuan BBC News
The yuan has hit fresh highs amid rumours that the US and China have reached a behind-the-scenes deal.
'Food for thought'
Senators Charles Schumer and Lindsey Graham said they might delay their bill, following a meeting with Mr Paulson. "He's certainly given us food for thought, there's no question about that," Senator Schumer said after the talks. One dealer at a major Chinese commercial bank said market speculation was now centred on belief that the US and China had reached some sort of behind-the-scenes deal during Mr Paulson's visit last week. "Speculation is that China might have agreed to allow the yuan to quicken its pace of appreciation if its own economic conditions permit, and the US might have promised to reduce its own pressure and let China reform in its own way," the dealer told Reuters. Last year, China revalued its currency allowing it to float against a basket of currencies, rather than linking it at a fixed rate to the dollar. Some US politicians have been claiming that the yuan is artificially undervalued, allowing China to keep its export prices low. As a result, critics in the US argue that the country is being flooded with cheap Chinese exports, leaving domestic rivals unable to compete and threatening jobs in the US industrial heartlands.
The yuan has hit fresh highs amid rumours that the US and China have reached a behind-the-scenes deal.
The Us has been calling on China to strengthen its currency
The yuan reached 7.9025 against the dollar, close to the key level of 7.9000, before settling at 7.9042. The currency has surged by 0.6% since US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson visited China last week. But Chinese officials declined to comment on claims that the rapid rise was a result of a deal on freeing up China's foreign exchange market. Rumours of a deal were fuelled by news that two US senators who had been threatening to demand tariffs on Chinese goods could delay their action.'Food for thought'
Senators Charles Schumer and Lindsey Graham said they might delay their bill, following a meeting with Mr Paulson. "He's certainly given us food for thought, there's no question about that," Senator Schumer said after the talks. One dealer at a major Chinese commercial bank said market speculation was now centred on belief that the US and China had reached some sort of behind-the-scenes deal during Mr Paulson's visit last week. "Speculation is that China might have agreed to allow the yuan to quicken its pace of appreciation if its own economic conditions permit, and the US might have promised to reduce its own pressure and let China reform in its own way," the dealer told Reuters. Last year, China revalued its currency allowing it to float against a basket of currencies, rather than linking it at a fixed rate to the dollar. Some US politicians have been claiming that the yuan is artificially undervalued, allowing China to keep its export prices low. As a result, critics in the US argue that the country is being flooded with cheap Chinese exports, leaving domestic rivals unable to compete and threatening jobs in the US industrial heartlands.
Enron's Fastow to serve 6 years
A federal judge sentenced former Enron Corp. Chief Financial
Officer Andrew S. Fastow to six years in prison Tuesday for his
role in running the fraudulent, off-the-books dealings that
brought down the company while he made millions. By Lianne Hart.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRQ0Ey
More U.S. workers go uninsured
Health insurance premiums for American workers and their employers
continue to rise faster than inflation and wages, straining
companies' ability to offer coverage and leaving a growing number
of workers uninsured, according to a survey released Tuesday. By
Daniel Yi.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRR0Ez
Basketball academy is studied
In a time of upheaval at all levels of basketball in the United
States - with NBA players failing to win gold medals in
international competition, colleges losing students to the
professional game and high school players feeling exploited - the
NBA and NCAA will review a proposal to create a national site for
high school players. By Eric Sondheimer.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRS0E1
Finally, on the right track
Building a subway line along Wilshire Boulevard to the beach, an
idea officially revived last week when the House of
Representatives voted to repeal a 20-year-old tunneling ban here,
is an example of urban planning done backward. But maybe it's time
to redefine exactly what cost-efficiency means in a city such as
Los Angeles. By Christopher Hawthorne.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRX0E6
Mendocino's time to shine
There's a joyous mood up north, where old vines and extraordinary
organic wines are flourishing. This is California wine's northern
frontier. The state's best sparkling wines and brandies are made
here, and so are Zinfandels from 50-year-old vines. The wines are
often of astonishing quality. They are certainly of astonishing
diversity. By Russ Parsons.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRZ0E8
Dan Neil: Now, to top it all off
Could the MX-5 get any better? You bet, as Mazda pops a slick new
roof on its popular convertible. The MX-5's canvas top didn't need
fixing, but Mazda fixed it anyway with a new powered retractable
hardtop that is optional on the 2007 model MX-5.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRa0EG
A federal judge sentenced former Enron Corp. Chief Financial
Officer Andrew S. Fastow to six years in prison Tuesday for his
role in running the fraudulent, off-the-books dealings that
brought down the company while he made millions. By Lianne Hart.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRQ0Ey
More U.S. workers go uninsured
Health insurance premiums for American workers and their employers
continue to rise faster than inflation and wages, straining
companies' ability to offer coverage and leaving a growing number
of workers uninsured, according to a survey released Tuesday. By
Daniel Yi.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRR0Ez
Basketball academy is studied
In a time of upheaval at all levels of basketball in the United
States - with NBA players failing to win gold medals in
international competition, colleges losing students to the
professional game and high school players feeling exploited - the
NBA and NCAA will review a proposal to create a national site for
high school players. By Eric Sondheimer.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRS0E1
Finally, on the right track
Building a subway line along Wilshire Boulevard to the beach, an
idea officially revived last week when the House of
Representatives voted to repeal a 20-year-old tunneling ban here,
is an example of urban planning done backward. But maybe it's time
to redefine exactly what cost-efficiency means in a city such as
Los Angeles. By Christopher Hawthorne.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRX0E6
Mendocino's time to shine
There's a joyous mood up north, where old vines and extraordinary
organic wines are flourishing. This is California wine's northern
frontier. The state's best sparkling wines and brandies are made
here, and so are Zinfandels from 50-year-old vines. The wines are
often of astonishing quality. They are certainly of astonishing
diversity. By Russ Parsons.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRZ0E8
Dan Neil: Now, to top it all off
Could the MX-5 get any better? You bet, as Mazda pops a slick new
roof on its popular convertible. The MX-5's canvas top didn't need
fixing, but Mazda fixed it anyway with a new powered retractable
hardtop that is optional on the 2007 model MX-5.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRa0EG
DVDs smell, and that's a good thing
Hollywood's newest stars are perfectly happy to go straight to
DVD. And Hollywood is perfectly happy to go to the dogs. On
Tuesday, the Motion Picture Assn. of America showed off Lucky and
Flo, a pair of playful, 2-year-old black Labrador retrievers with
noses trained to zero in on DVDs, including the pirated kind. By
Jim Puzzanghera.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRd0EJ
Hollywood's newest stars are perfectly happy to go straight to
DVD. And Hollywood is perfectly happy to go to the dogs. On
Tuesday, the Motion Picture Assn. of America showed off Lucky and
Flo, a pair of playful, 2-year-old black Labrador retrievers with
noses trained to zero in on DVDs, including the pirated kind. By
Jim Puzzanghera.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e8w...Io30G2B0HtRd0EJ
HP's Dunn details role in scandal
Former Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairwoman Patricia C. Dunn said the
company's spying scandal mushroomed beyond her "worst nightmare,"
but she insisted that it was her duty to track down boardroom
leaks, according to testimony prepared for a congressional hearing
to be held today. By Jim Puzzanghera.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e83...Io30G2B0HtbK0En
San Francisco mall may supply concept for L.A.
A new style of high-rise mall that may serve as a model for
downtown Los Angeles and other big city centers will open its
doors in San Francisco today as the largest urban shopping center
west of the Mississippi River. By Roger Vincent.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e83...Io30G2B0HtbL0Eo
It's his mind that has to heal
We don't know for certain that Terrell Owens attempted suicide by
overdosing on painkilling medication, as a police report
indicated. We do know that Owens is an individual who needs to be
catered to, and he's playing for a coach that doesn't care about
him, in a sport that has no concerns for a player's mental health.
By J.A. Adande.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e83...Io30G2B0HtbM0Ep
It's such a deal
When visitors come to town and want to get a sense of Hollywood,
celebrities and all, where do you take them? Where do you take
yourself, for that matter? For an inside showbiz peek, TV show
tapings are hard to beat - and your only investment is time. By
Lisa Rosen.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e83...Io30G2B0HtbO0Er
Former Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairwoman Patricia C. Dunn said the
company's spying scandal mushroomed beyond her "worst nightmare,"
but she insisted that it was her duty to track down boardroom
leaks, according to testimony prepared for a congressional hearing
to be held today. By Jim Puzzanghera.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e83...Io30G2B0HtbK0En
San Francisco mall may supply concept for L.A.
A new style of high-rise mall that may serve as a model for
downtown Los Angeles and other big city centers will open its
doors in San Francisco today as the largest urban shopping center
west of the Mississippi River. By Roger Vincent.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e83...Io30G2B0HtbL0Eo
It's his mind that has to heal
We don't know for certain that Terrell Owens attempted suicide by
overdosing on painkilling medication, as a police report
indicated. We do know that Owens is an individual who needs to be
catered to, and he's playing for a coach that doesn't care about
him, in a sport that has no concerns for a player's mental health.
By J.A. Adande.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e83...Io30G2B0HtbM0Ep
It's such a deal
When visitors come to town and want to get a sense of Hollywood,
celebrities and all, where do you take them? Where do you take
yourself, for that matter? For an inside showbiz peek, TV show
tapings are hard to beat - and your only investment is time. By
Lisa Rosen.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/e83...Io30G2B0HtbO0Er
US shares move above record high BBC News
The New York Stock Exchange's benchmark Dow Jones share index briefly rose above its record closing high during early trade on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged to 11,724.86, rising above the previous record closing high of 11,722.98 that it hit on 14 January 2000. The record level drew out sellers looking to lock-in profits, and the index soon fell back. In morning trading, the Dow stood at 11,706, up 17 points. The Dow is continuing to benefit from falling oil prices and signs that US interest rates may have peaked. Economists are hopeful that consumer spending will remain resilient in the face of a cooling economy.
Lower interest rates?
Consumer confidence rose unexpectedly in September, helped by falling petrol prices and more confidence in the job sector. The improvement in sentiment came despite continuing weakness in the housing market, with prices down on last year, and retail sales remaining subdued. Analysts have also been encouraged by the US Federal Reserve's decision to freeze interest rates at 5.25% for two successive months, signalling to some that inflation is under control and that rates could even fall next year. After peaking in January 2000, the bursting of the tech-bubble, the 9/11 terror attacks and a number of US corporate scandals saw the Dow sink to 7,286.27 in October 2002.
The New York Stock Exchange's benchmark Dow Jones share index briefly rose above its record closing high during early trade on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged to 11,724.86, rising above the previous record closing high of 11,722.98 that it hit on 14 January 2000. The record level drew out sellers looking to lock-in profits, and the index soon fell back. In morning trading, the Dow stood at 11,706, up 17 points. The Dow is continuing to benefit from falling oil prices and signs that US interest rates may have peaked. Economists are hopeful that consumer spending will remain resilient in the face of a cooling economy.
Lower interest rates?
Consumer confidence rose unexpectedly in September, helped by falling petrol prices and more confidence in the job sector. The improvement in sentiment came despite continuing weakness in the housing market, with prices down on last year, and retail sales remaining subdued. Analysts have also been encouraged by the US Federal Reserve's decision to freeze interest rates at 5.25% for two successive months, signalling to some that inflation is under control and that rates could even fall next year. After peaking in January 2000, the bursting of the tech-bubble, the 9/11 terror attacks and a number of US corporate scandals saw the Dow sink to 7,286.27 in October 2002.
Branson unveils Virgin spaceship BBC News
Sir Richard Branson has unveiled a mock-up of the rocket-powered vehicle that will carry clients into space through his Virgin Galactic business.
Public access
The rocket plane was first carried to a launch altitude of 15km (50,000ft) by an aircraft, or mothership, called White Knight. It was then released and ignited its rocket engine, which propelled it through the atmosphere.
Sir Richard Branson has unveiled a mock-up of the rocket-powered vehicle that will carry clients into space through his Virgin Galactic business.
The "spaceships" are designed to carry a maximum of eight people
The Virgin "spaceships" are designed to carry six passengers and two pilots to an altitude of about 140km on a sub-orbital space flight. Tickets on a Virgin Galactic flight are expected to cost $190,000. The mock-up of the spacecraft was unveiled at the Javits exhibition centre in New York on Thursday. The Virgin craft are based on the design of SpaceShipOne, built by aviation pioneer Burt Rutan, which became the first privately built vehicle to reach space in 2004. SpaceShipOne made three flights to altitudes just greater than 100km - the edge of the Earth's atmosphere - claiming the prestigious Ansari X-Prize.Public access
The rocket plane was first carried to a launch altitude of 15km (50,000ft) by an aircraft, or mothership, called White Knight. It was then released and ignited its rocket engine, which propelled it through the atmosphere.
Sir Richard tested a passenger seat inside the mock-up
The $10m Ansari X-Prize was offered to the first non-government, manned flight into space. Virgin Group has contracted Rutan's company Scaled Composites to design and build the passenger spaceship and its mothership. Virgin Galactic will own and operate at least five spaceships and two motherships. The passenger flights, which could begin in 2009, will take off from a $225m facility called Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert. Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic, said the firm was in negotiations over a reality TV show. In the show, contestants would compete to win a place on a space flight, the Press Association reported. Mr Whitehorn said: "The indications are that we can create a show that would give people the chance to go into space. It would be a cross between Dr Who, Star Trek and the Krypton Factor." Virgin Galactic is one of several private firms vying to open up public access to space.
ESPN to drop cellphone service
Walt Disney Co. said Thursday that it would abandon one of its
major new media experiments, ending the short but expensive life
of a premium-priced cellular phone service sold by its ESPN
division. By Joseph Menn and James S. Granelli.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-espn29se...y?track=tottext
Theme parks are dying to feature Halloween
Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt has become the park's most
successful promotion and has evolved into the biggest Halloween
park event in the world. It has spawned countless imitators and
driven dozens of theme parks to follow suit. By Kimi Yoshino.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-hallowee...y?track=tottext
Walt Disney Co. said Thursday that it would abandon one of its
major new media experiments, ending the short but expensive life
of a premium-priced cellular phone service sold by its ESPN
division. By Joseph Menn and James S. Granelli.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-espn29se...y?track=tottext
Theme parks are dying to feature Halloween
Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt has become the park's most
successful promotion and has evolved into the biggest Halloween
park event in the world. It has spawned countless imitators and
driven dozens of theme parks to follow suit. By Kimi Yoshino.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-hallowee...y?track=tottext
PayPal to pay millions in settlement over disclosure practices Internet Retailer
PayPal, eBay Inc.’s online payment service, has reached a settlement with the attorneys general of 28 states to shorten and streamline its user agreement and more clearly communicate information relating to its protection programs. Under the settlement, PayPal will pay $1.7 million to the attorneys general to cover the costs of the investigation. PayPal also announced that it has reached a preliminary agreement in a class action lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn that will set up a $3.5 million settlement fund. In that suit, PayPal customers alleged that PayPal did not clearly communicate information about its consumer protection programs. PayPal did not admit any liability in either of the cases. In the settlement with the attorneys general, PayPal agreed to spell out important terms and conditions before a consumer becomes a PayPal member and at times when members initiate transactions. PayPal also will make information more accessible by changing the way the company uses hyperlinks and multi-page documents. The settlement also requires PayPal to give members a clear choice at the time of funding their PayPal account regarding what form of payment to use—credit card, debit card or electronic funds transfer from a bank account. In addition, PayPal must provide clear access to web pages explaining differences between its in-house PayPal dispute resolution programs and chargeback rights granted by federal law to consumers who use electronic banking and debit and credit cards to make payments and purchases. In complaints filed with the attorneys general, consumers alleged that PayPal would freeze money held in their PayPal accounts during disputes. Consumers also alleged that while they were expecting to fund their PayPal accounts with their credit cards, PayPal instead charged their checking accounts directly. The attorneys general signing the agreement represented Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.
PayPal, eBay Inc.’s online payment service, has reached a settlement with the attorneys general of 28 states to shorten and streamline its user agreement and more clearly communicate information relating to its protection programs. Under the settlement, PayPal will pay $1.7 million to the attorneys general to cover the costs of the investigation. PayPal also announced that it has reached a preliminary agreement in a class action lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn that will set up a $3.5 million settlement fund. In that suit, PayPal customers alleged that PayPal did not clearly communicate information about its consumer protection programs. PayPal did not admit any liability in either of the cases. In the settlement with the attorneys general, PayPal agreed to spell out important terms and conditions before a consumer becomes a PayPal member and at times when members initiate transactions. PayPal also will make information more accessible by changing the way the company uses hyperlinks and multi-page documents. The settlement also requires PayPal to give members a clear choice at the time of funding their PayPal account regarding what form of payment to use—credit card, debit card or electronic funds transfer from a bank account. In addition, PayPal must provide clear access to web pages explaining differences between its in-house PayPal dispute resolution programs and chargeback rights granted by federal law to consumers who use electronic banking and debit and credit cards to make payments and purchases. In complaints filed with the attorneys general, consumers alleged that PayPal would freeze money held in their PayPal accounts during disputes. Consumers also alleged that while they were expecting to fund their PayPal accounts with their credit cards, PayPal instead charged their checking accounts directly. The attorneys general signing the agreement represented Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.
Russian officers on spying charge BBC News
Four Russian officers detained in Georgia have been charged with spying, officials in Tbilisi have said. They were expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing later on Friday, a Georgian interior ministry spokesman said. Russia is recalling its ambassador to Tbilisi after Wednesday's arrests and is beginning a partial evacuation of its personnel from Georgia. Georgia's president described Moscow's reaction to the arrests as "hysteria". In a separate development, Russia's ambassador to the UN has called on the Security Council to censure Tbilisi for "dangerous and unacceptable" actions in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region. Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi have deteriorated in recent weeks, since Georgia and the Western military alliance Nato agreed to hold talks on closer relations, correspondents say.
Video footage
The charges against the Russian officers had been formally filed by Georgian investigators, Georgia's Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Khizanishvili announced on Friday. He added that a court in Tbilisi would now consider the issue of preliminary detention of the officers. Georgian police are still surrounding a Russian military HQ building in Tbilisi. They say another Russian military officer they want to question is sheltering inside. A Russian contract servicemen - who was detained together with the four officers - was released on Friday, Georgian and Russian officials said. Tbilisi has shown video footage which it says shows the Russian officers discussing military installations with Georgian citizens and exchanging money. Georgia has also linked them to an attack in the town of Gori which killed three police officers and injured dozens of people. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said the charges against the officers were false and were intended to divert attention from Georgia's internal problems.
Evacuation
On Thursday, Moscow said it was recalling its ambassador to Tbilisi. It also ordered a partial evacuation of its personnel and members of their families in Georgia "in connection with a growing threat to their security". The first plane of Russia's emergencies ministry was expected to leave Tbilisi later on Friday. Moscow also advised Russians not to visit Georgia, and stopped issuing visas to Georgian nationals. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili denounced the Russian reaction to the arrests as "hysteria".
Trading accusations
Georgia has accused Russia of actively trying to undermine its government by backing separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The arrests coincided with the first official visit by President Saakashvili to a disputed area on the border between Georgia and Abkhazia. Russia said his visit was dangerous and would raise tensions between Russia and Georgia. Tbilisi also says Moscow is waging economic war against the country through embargoes on imports of Georgian products. Russia has denied the allegations. Relations between the two nations have become increasingly tense since Mr Saakashvili came to power in 2004, pledging to take the Caucasus nation out of Russia's orbit and join Nato and the European Union. In 2005, Russia agreed to close its two remaining Soviet-era bases in Georgia by 2008.
Four Russian officers detained in Georgia have been charged with spying, officials in Tbilisi have said. They were expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing later on Friday, a Georgian interior ministry spokesman said. Russia is recalling its ambassador to Tbilisi after Wednesday's arrests and is beginning a partial evacuation of its personnel from Georgia. Georgia's president described Moscow's reaction to the arrests as "hysteria". In a separate development, Russia's ambassador to the UN has called on the Security Council to censure Tbilisi for "dangerous and unacceptable" actions in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region. Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi have deteriorated in recent weeks, since Georgia and the Western military alliance Nato agreed to hold talks on closer relations, correspondents say.
Video footage
The charges against the Russian officers had been formally filed by Georgian investigators, Georgia's Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Khizanishvili announced on Friday. He added that a court in Tbilisi would now consider the issue of preliminary detention of the officers. Georgian police are still surrounding a Russian military HQ building in Tbilisi. They say another Russian military officer they want to question is sheltering inside. A Russian contract servicemen - who was detained together with the four officers - was released on Friday, Georgian and Russian officials said. Tbilisi has shown video footage which it says shows the Russian officers discussing military installations with Georgian citizens and exchanging money. Georgia has also linked them to an attack in the town of Gori which killed three police officers and injured dozens of people. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said the charges against the officers were false and were intended to divert attention from Georgia's internal problems.
Evacuation
On Thursday, Moscow said it was recalling its ambassador to Tbilisi. It also ordered a partial evacuation of its personnel and members of their families in Georgia "in connection with a growing threat to their security". The first plane of Russia's emergencies ministry was expected to leave Tbilisi later on Friday. Moscow also advised Russians not to visit Georgia, and stopped issuing visas to Georgian nationals. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili denounced the Russian reaction to the arrests as "hysteria".
Trading accusations
Georgia has accused Russia of actively trying to undermine its government by backing separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The arrests coincided with the first official visit by President Saakashvili to a disputed area on the border between Georgia and Abkhazia. Russia said his visit was dangerous and would raise tensions between Russia and Georgia. Tbilisi also says Moscow is waging economic war against the country through embargoes on imports of Georgian products. Russia has denied the allegations. Relations between the two nations have become increasingly tense since Mr Saakashvili came to power in 2004, pledging to take the Caucasus nation out of Russia's orbit and join Nato and the European Union. In 2005, Russia agreed to close its two remaining Soviet-era bases in Georgia by 2008.
US imposes sanctions on Thailand BBC News
The United States has imposed sanctions against Thailand in response to the military coup which ousted civilian Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The move involves cutting off $24m (£12.8m) in military assistance, according to the US state department. The US has urged the ruling generals to call elections as soon as possible. Last week's coup has been widely welcomed in Thailand, but it has been condemned by most Western governments as a step backwards. State department spokesman Sean McCormack said the aid cut involved military education and training, peacekeeping operations and counter-terrorism. Funding for humanitarian purposes would however continue, he said. "The United States continues to urge a rapid return to democratic rule and early elections in Thailand," said Mr McCormack, adding that funds would be reinstated once an elected government was in office. Thailand's military rulers said on Thursday they had selected a new prime minister who would serve until the promised elections in October 2007. But they did not reveal their choice and they refused to say when they would lift martial law and pull troops off the streets.
Important ally
Thailand is a key US diplomatic and non-Nato ally and has played an important role in the US "war on terror" following the 11 September 2001 attacks. Hambali, the alleged operations chief of South East Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiah, was arrested in Thailand in 2003. The coup was staged on 19 September while the prime minister was in New York, attending the UN General Assembly. The military overthrow followed months of growing tension in Thailand, with protests against Mr Thaksin and a general election which was annulled because of concerns about its legitimacy.
The United States has imposed sanctions against Thailand in response to the military coup which ousted civilian Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The move involves cutting off $24m (£12.8m) in military assistance, according to the US state department. The US has urged the ruling generals to call elections as soon as possible. Last week's coup has been widely welcomed in Thailand, but it has been condemned by most Western governments as a step backwards. State department spokesman Sean McCormack said the aid cut involved military education and training, peacekeeping operations and counter-terrorism. Funding for humanitarian purposes would however continue, he said. "The United States continues to urge a rapid return to democratic rule and early elections in Thailand," said Mr McCormack, adding that funds would be reinstated once an elected government was in office. Thailand's military rulers said on Thursday they had selected a new prime minister who would serve until the promised elections in October 2007. But they did not reveal their choice and they refused to say when they would lift martial law and pull troops off the streets.
Important ally
Thailand is a key US diplomatic and non-Nato ally and has played an important role in the US "war on terror" following the 11 September 2001 attacks. Hambali, the alleged operations chief of South East Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiah, was arrested in Thailand in 2003. The coup was staged on 19 September while the prime minister was in New York, attending the UN General Assembly. The military overthrow followed months of growing tension in Thailand, with protests against Mr Thaksin and a general election which was annulled because of concerns about its legitimacy.
Toshiba joins Sony battery recall BBC News
Toshiba and Lenovo have become the latest computer makers to recall laptop batteries made by Sony because of a potential fire risk.
Airport fire
Lenovo, which bought IBM's personal computer division in May last year, said it was ordering the recall after one of its laptops caught fire at Los Angeles airport. Toshiba said its recall came on the advice of Sony. Although Toshiba said it had not found any cases in which the laptops were at risk of catching fire, "we wanted to assure and satisfy our customers". The dates of manufacture for the affected Toshiba computers were not immediately available. Lenovo spokesman Ray Gorman said the company expects the financial impact of the recall to be "minimal", as Sony is "supporting us financially in this recall". Dell is recalling 4.1 million Sony batteries and Apple 1.8 million.
Toshiba and Lenovo have become the latest computer makers to recall laptop batteries made by Sony because of a potential fire risk.
Toshiba and Lenovo are just the latest firm to announce a recall
Lenovo is recalling 500,000 batteries, while Toshiba is calling back 830,000. China-based Lenovo said the problem affects ThinkPad laptops sold from February 2005, both under its own name and the IBM brand. At Japan's Toshiba, the recall involves its Dynabook, Qosmio, Satellite Portege and Tecra laptop models. Following similar recalls by Dell and Sony, a total of seven million laptops worldwide have now been affected.Airport fire
Lenovo, which bought IBM's personal computer division in May last year, said it was ordering the recall after one of its laptops caught fire at Los Angeles airport. Toshiba said its recall came on the advice of Sony. Although Toshiba said it had not found any cases in which the laptops were at risk of catching fire, "we wanted to assure and satisfy our customers". The dates of manufacture for the affected Toshiba computers were not immediately available. Lenovo spokesman Ray Gorman said the company expects the financial impact of the recall to be "minimal", as Sony is "supporting us financially in this recall". Dell is recalling 4.1 million Sony batteries and Apple 1.8 million.
One dead in blast near Tel Aviv BBC News
At least one person has died in a explosion in a car in the Israeli town of Rishon Letzion south of Tel Aviv, Israeli rescue services said. Several people were injured in the blast, ambulance services said. There were conflicting reports about the cause of the explosion - a police source at the scene said it was "criminal" rather than "terrorist". But police sources on Israeli radio suspected a suicide bomber whose explosives had detonated prematurely. It is several months since a deadly suicide attack took place in Israel. "I can confirm an explosion took place in Rishon Letzion near a winery in the centre of the town. There are a number of casualties," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told the French news agency AFP. The explosion took place at a main intersection in Rishon Letzion, 10 km (6 miles) south of Tel Aviv, at a busy time shortly before the start of the Jewish Sabbath. Cars at the junction and buildings as far as 200 metres away were damaged. It comes two days before the beginning of the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Israel usually tightens security ahead of Jewish holidays, which have in the past been the targets of attacks by Palestinian militants.
At least one person has died in a explosion in a car in the Israeli town of Rishon Letzion south of Tel Aviv, Israeli rescue services said. Several people were injured in the blast, ambulance services said. There were conflicting reports about the cause of the explosion - a police source at the scene said it was "criminal" rather than "terrorist". But police sources on Israeli radio suspected a suicide bomber whose explosives had detonated prematurely. It is several months since a deadly suicide attack took place in Israel. "I can confirm an explosion took place in Rishon Letzion near a winery in the centre of the town. There are a number of casualties," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told the French news agency AFP. The explosion took place at a main intersection in Rishon Letzion, 10 km (6 miles) south of Tel Aviv, at a busy time shortly before the start of the Jewish Sabbath. Cars at the junction and buildings as far as 200 metres away were damaged. It comes two days before the beginning of the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Israel usually tightens security ahead of Jewish holidays, which have in the past been the targets of attacks by Palestinian militants.
SA crime 'deters foreign firms' BBC News
South Africa's high levels of crime are continuing to deter foreign investors, a business group has warned. The comments of Johannesburg-based Business Against Crime group come after the country's latest crime figures showed a sharp rise in armed robberies. Although rape and murder rates had fallen, the organisation said the overall crime rate had to be reduced, especially ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Archbishop Desmond Tutu warned this week that the country had lost its way.
Scaring away tourists
The South African Police Service said that attacks on cash delivery vans had increased by 74% between April 2005 and March 2006, while armed robberies of shopping malls and other retail outlets had jumped 32%. "I have a real feeling that the growth in criminal activity will keep rising," said Business Against Crime chief executive Siphiwe Nzimande. "If that continued to be the pattern over some years it means South Africa [would] become a less safe place to do business. We need to fix it." This week alone, there was a shootout between robbers and security guards at the upmarket Cresta Shopping Centre in Johannesburg. "There is an increase in crime, but people are always talking about it," said Pablo Tesoriero, the owner of a women's clothing store. "Especially with the World Cup coming here in 2010, we don't want to push away tourists."
South Africa's high levels of crime are continuing to deter foreign investors, a business group has warned. The comments of Johannesburg-based Business Against Crime group come after the country's latest crime figures showed a sharp rise in armed robberies. Although rape and murder rates had fallen, the organisation said the overall crime rate had to be reduced, especially ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Archbishop Desmond Tutu warned this week that the country had lost its way.
Scaring away tourists
The South African Police Service said that attacks on cash delivery vans had increased by 74% between April 2005 and March 2006, while armed robberies of shopping malls and other retail outlets had jumped 32%. "I have a real feeling that the growth in criminal activity will keep rising," said Business Against Crime chief executive Siphiwe Nzimande. "If that continued to be the pattern over some years it means South Africa [would] become a less safe place to do business. We need to fix it." This week alone, there was a shootout between robbers and security guards at the upmarket Cresta Shopping Centre in Johannesburg. "There is an increase in crime, but people are always talking about it," said Pablo Tesoriero, the owner of a women's clothing store. "Especially with the World Cup coming here in 2010, we don't want to push away tourists."
EU ruling against 'golden shares' BBC News
The Netherlands is breaking the law in owning a "golden share" in postal firm TNT, Europe's highest court has ruled. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said the share - giving the state a veto over mergers - was incompatible with the free movement of capital. State involvement deterred investment and was not necessary to ensure the firm stayed solvent, the ruling added. European courts have already ruled against France, Portugal, the UK and Spain in cases of share ownership.
Financial veto
Belgium's golden share in energy firm Distrigaz is the only case of state ownership to be backed under European law since new regulations came into force in 2002. The ECJ's ruling upholds a European Commission decision against the Dutch government in 2003. The Dutch government has held a golden share in TNT since the firm was privatized and split into two in 1998, arguing that it was necessary to guarantee a universal mail service. It also retained a golden share in telecoms business KPN, which was set up at the time, but gave this up last year. Golden shares are separate from individual financial stakes held by investors as they allow governments to authorise or block big financial commitments such as the issue of new shares and dividend payments. "The court finds that the special shares at issue constitute restrictions on the free movement of capital," the ECJ said in a statement. "The special share goes beyond what is necessary to safeguard the solvency and continuity of the provider of the universal postal service." TNT said the ruling would have no impact on its services since it was required to offer a universal service under Dutch law.
Protectionism debate
The ruling comes at a time when European governments are under increasing pressure not to stand in the way of foreign takeovers amid fears of a rising tide of economic protectionism across the EU. Brussels said on Tuesday that the Spanish government had broken the law in trying to block a German bid for Spanish energy firm Endesa. Critics claim a government-backed merger of French firms Suez and Gaz de France, which will leave Paris with a large minority stake in the combined business, is designed to make the business "takeover-proof". But EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said recently that the French government's plan appeared to be legal.
The Netherlands is breaking the law in owning a "golden share" in postal firm TNT, Europe's highest court has ruled. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said the share - giving the state a veto over mergers - was incompatible with the free movement of capital. State involvement deterred investment and was not necessary to ensure the firm stayed solvent, the ruling added. European courts have already ruled against France, Portugal, the UK and Spain in cases of share ownership.
Financial veto
Belgium's golden share in energy firm Distrigaz is the only case of state ownership to be backed under European law since new regulations came into force in 2002. The ECJ's ruling upholds a European Commission decision against the Dutch government in 2003. The Dutch government has held a golden share in TNT since the firm was privatized and split into two in 1998, arguing that it was necessary to guarantee a universal mail service. It also retained a golden share in telecoms business KPN, which was set up at the time, but gave this up last year. Golden shares are separate from individual financial stakes held by investors as they allow governments to authorise or block big financial commitments such as the issue of new shares and dividend payments. "The court finds that the special shares at issue constitute restrictions on the free movement of capital," the ECJ said in a statement. "The special share goes beyond what is necessary to safeguard the solvency and continuity of the provider of the universal postal service." TNT said the ruling would have no impact on its services since it was required to offer a universal service under Dutch law.
Protectionism debate
The ruling comes at a time when European governments are under increasing pressure not to stand in the way of foreign takeovers amid fears of a rising tide of economic protectionism across the EU. Brussels said on Tuesday that the Spanish government had broken the law in trying to block a German bid for Spanish energy firm Endesa. Critics claim a government-backed merger of French firms Suez and Gaz de France, which will leave Paris with a large minority stake in the combined business, is designed to make the business "takeover-proof". But EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said recently that the French government's plan appeared to be legal.
Age law 'threat to minimum wage' BBC News
Age discrimination laws, which come into force on Sunday, could endanger the minimum wage system, a business group has warned.
'Discriminatory'
On the same day as the age legislation comes in, the minimum wage for people over 21 will rise by 30p to £5.35 an hour. The rate for workers aged 18-21 will rise by 20p to £4.45 an hour, while workers aged 16 to 17 will get a 30p rise to £3.30 an hour. "The government's own minimum wage law discriminates against people on the grounds of age," Olly Scott, BCC spokesman told BBC News. "They are in a pickle. If this were the subject of a legal challenge, based on the new age law, the government may put the minimum wage rates of the those aged 21 and under, up to the same level as the over-21s."[quote="Robert Agasucci, London"]It seems experience doesn't count for anything. Bosses think any 22-year-old kid can do the same job for less money[/quote] On Thursday, the High Court agreed to hear a case brought by charity Heyday, which argues that forcing people to leave work just because of their age contravenes European employment law. If successful, the case could lead to other areas of law being challenged, say analysts. Hilary Metcalf, of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said: "Youth pay rates are discriminatory under EU law and we will wait to see whether they will be thrown out."
Age discrimination laws, which come into force on Sunday, could endanger the minimum wage system, a business group has warned.
Young people get a lower minimum wage than the over-21s
Workers aged over 21 currently receive more than their younger colleagues. The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) said this may be considered discriminatory and be open to legal challenge under the new legislation. But the government said the different rates were allowed by the law to protect younger workers. It was one of the areas where discrimination had been ruled to be "objectively justified", a Department of Trade and Industry spokeswoman said. "Our concern is that if we did not protect the development bands in this way, some employers may lay off younger workers."[quote="Olly Scott - BCC spokesman"]The government's own minimum wage law discriminates against people on the grounds of age. They are in a pickle[/quote]The legislation has been introduced following an EU directive from Brussels which makes discrimination on the ground of age illegal.'Discriminatory'
On the same day as the age legislation comes in, the minimum wage for people over 21 will rise by 30p to £5.35 an hour. The rate for workers aged 18-21 will rise by 20p to £4.45 an hour, while workers aged 16 to 17 will get a 30p rise to £3.30 an hour. "The government's own minimum wage law discriminates against people on the grounds of age," Olly Scott, BCC spokesman told BBC News. "They are in a pickle. If this were the subject of a legal challenge, based on the new age law, the government may put the minimum wage rates of the those aged 21 and under, up to the same level as the over-21s."[quote="Robert Agasucci, London"]It seems experience doesn't count for anything. Bosses think any 22-year-old kid can do the same job for less money[/quote] On Thursday, the High Court agreed to hear a case brought by charity Heyday, which argues that forcing people to leave work just because of their age contravenes European employment law. If successful, the case could lead to other areas of law being challenged, say analysts. Hilary Metcalf, of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said: "Youth pay rates are discriminatory under EU law and we will wait to see whether they will be thrown out."
QUOTE("Alastair Darling
Trade and Industry Secretary")
Trade and Industry Secretary")
It would be bad for the country if we didn't try and change the culture[/quote]And the Third Age Employment Network, a charity dedicated to improving the employment prospects of older workers said a legal challenge to minimum wage rules could be on the cards. "I am sure it (minimum wage law) could be challenged," its chief executive Patrick Grattan, told BBC News. "It could be considered unfair to pay someone a different wage based on their age rather than someone being more competent it is the assumption that they are open to pay more."[quote="VOTE RESULTS"]Will you take advantage of the new laws to work past 60?
'Worrying
The banning of age discrimination from 1 October has been described as the biggest shake-up of workplace laws for 30 years. It will be unlawful to discriminate against workers under the age of 65 on the grounds of age. Making someone redundant or barring workers from promotion because they are too old - or too young - will be against the law. As they approach 65, workers will have to be given six months' notice that their employer wants them to give up their job and retire. However on Friday, a survey claimed that firms are confused by the laws, with two out of five saying they fear breaching them. The study of 150 organisations, employing about half a million workers, found that many were keeping practices which could foul of the regulations. While not illegal, firms asking for a candidates' date of birth on application forms was not "in line with the spirit of the legislation and opens employers up to be challenged," said Audrey Williams, spokeswoman for law firm Eversheds, which carried out the survey. The situation was "worrying", she added. Trade and Industry Secretary Alastair Darling said it would take time before employers and workers became fully aware of the new legislation. "It's similar to when legislation against race or sex discrimination was introduced - people gradually become aware of it," he told BBC One's Breakfast. "In just fifteen years time, nearly one in three of every worker will be over the age of fifty. "It's quite wrong to discriminate against an individual as a matter of principle on the grounds of age, but it'd also be bad for the country if we didn't try and change the culture."
By Julian Knight, Personal finance reporter
- Yes - 45.05%
- Not sure - 17.34%
- No - 37.61%
- Results are indicative and may not reflect public opinion
'Worrying
The banning of age discrimination from 1 October has been described as the biggest shake-up of workplace laws for 30 years. It will be unlawful to discriminate against workers under the age of 65 on the grounds of age. Making someone redundant or barring workers from promotion because they are too old - or too young - will be against the law. As they approach 65, workers will have to be given six months' notice that their employer wants them to give up their job and retire. However on Friday, a survey claimed that firms are confused by the laws, with two out of five saying they fear breaching them. The study of 150 organisations, employing about half a million workers, found that many were keeping practices which could foul of the regulations. While not illegal, firms asking for a candidates' date of birth on application forms was not "in line with the spirit of the legislation and opens employers up to be challenged," said Audrey Williams, spokeswoman for law firm Eversheds, which carried out the survey. The situation was "worrying", she added. Trade and Industry Secretary Alastair Darling said it would take time before employers and workers became fully aware of the new legislation. "It's similar to when legislation against race or sex discrimination was introduced - people gradually become aware of it," he told BBC One's Breakfast. "In just fifteen years time, nearly one in three of every worker will be over the age of fifty. "It's quite wrong to discriminate against an individual as a matter of principle on the grounds of age, but it'd also be bad for the country if we didn't try and change the culture."
By Julian Knight, Personal finance reporter
VW workers agree to work longer BBC News
Volkswagen has struck a deal with unions to extend the working week of staff at six German plants without any increase in pay. In return for raising their hours by four hours a week to 33 hours, the 100,000 workers have been guaranteed job security until 2011. The carmaker promised to build the next generation of its flagship Golf model at its main factory in Wolfsburg. The company wants to cut costs for the production of its vehicles. Cars such as the Golf are selling strongly but are bringing in little profit. VW had been seeking a 35-hour week without extra pay. "These binding and concrete product promises secure the work force through 2011 and beyond in all six west German production locations," said Hartmut Meine, negotiator for the IG Metall union. VW also promised unions that the Wolfsburg site would be given another high-volume model to produce, and would be used to its full capacity of 460,000 cars per year. "With an agreement on the main points, we have taken a big step forward in the restructuring of Volkswagen," said the company's human resources director Horst Neumann. "The negotiations were very tough, but they were characterised by a common will to raise Volkswagen's competitiveness. "With a return to normal working times, we have achieved that."
Volkswagen has struck a deal with unions to extend the working week of staff at six German plants without any increase in pay. In return for raising their hours by four hours a week to 33 hours, the 100,000 workers have been guaranteed job security until 2011. The carmaker promised to build the next generation of its flagship Golf model at its main factory in Wolfsburg. The company wants to cut costs for the production of its vehicles. Cars such as the Golf are selling strongly but are bringing in little profit. VW had been seeking a 35-hour week without extra pay. "These binding and concrete product promises secure the work force through 2011 and beyond in all six west German production locations," said Hartmut Meine, negotiator for the IG Metall union. VW also promised unions that the Wolfsburg site would be given another high-volume model to produce, and would be used to its full capacity of 460,000 cars per year. "With an agreement on the main points, we have taken a big step forward in the restructuring of Volkswagen," said the company's human resources director Horst Neumann. "The negotiations were very tough, but they were characterised by a common will to raise Volkswagen's competitiveness. "With a return to normal working times, we have achieved that."
In Period, Many Found Shelter in Blue Chips
Wall Street ended the third quarter by falling just short of an
all-time high for the Dow Jones industrial average - a near miss
that may reflect investors' uncertainty about the next move for
the economy and stock prices. By Tom Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht630EU
Rival to Panama Canal Planned
MEXICO CITY-Nicaragua intends to spend $20 billion on a new
Central American waterway that was initially proposed in the 19th
century. By Hector Tobar and Chris Kraul.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht640EV
Hollywood Learns There's No Place Like Home
The entertainment industry is warming to a newly refurbished and
trendy Hollywood. By Roger Vincent.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht650EW
Cellphone Firms Tell of Limits to Security
WASHINGTON-Major cellphone company executives told Congress that
they had fortified defenses against data brokers who fraudulently
obtain call records, but were limited by customers who balked at
mandatory passwords and other protections. By Jim Puzzanghera and
James S. Granelli.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht660EX
Wall Street ended the third quarter by falling just short of an
all-time high for the Dow Jones industrial average - a near miss
that may reflect investors' uncertainty about the next move for
the economy and stock prices. By Tom Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht630EU
Rival to Panama Canal Planned
MEXICO CITY-Nicaragua intends to spend $20 billion on a new
Central American waterway that was initially proposed in the 19th
century. By Hector Tobar and Chris Kraul.
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Hollywood Learns There's No Place Like Home
The entertainment industry is warming to a newly refurbished and
trendy Hollywood. By Roger Vincent.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht650EW
Cellphone Firms Tell of Limits to Security
WASHINGTON-Major cellphone company executives told Congress that
they had fortified defenses against data brokers who fraudulently
obtain call records, but were limited by customers who balked at
mandatory passwords and other protections. By Jim Puzzanghera and
James S. Granelli.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht660EX
Where old aeroplanes go to die BBC News, Chateauroux, France
It was 38 years ago this weekend that the 747, the "jumbo jet", first rolled out of a factory in Everett, Washington State.
Moulding change
At the Milled Carbon factory in West Bromwich you can see what's tickling him. Here, carbon fibre is recycled in a process taking just 20 minutes. The quality of the end product is so good, say Boeing, they're confident it can go back into planes. Milled Carbon is run by John Davidson. He's a founder member and director of Afra and gives an insight into why it was set up.
'Our business'
Another founding member of Afra agrees. Jim Toomey runs the Evergreen Air Centre in Arizona, the US counterpart of Chateauroux. "Why is Afra going to be great? Number one, it's going to get the best practices established. Number two, it's going to keep us at the cutting edge of recycling technology. And number three, it's going to do it without government regulation and interference. "We're going to do it before they tell us to do it, and we're going to come up with practices we can live with and which are better than maybe they can enforce because this is our business."
By Chris Ledgard
It was 38 years ago this weekend that the 747, the "jumbo jet", first rolled out of a factory in Everett, Washington State.
Manufacturers are thinking now about the whole lifecycle of their products
It was famous for one thing - being big - and phrases like "the size of a jumbo" soon became commonplace. And it was big for a reason: Boeing, like everyone else, foresaw a surge in air travel in the 70s, and to meet a huge demand it helps to have a huge plane. For many people, the jumbo ruled the skies, but time is now up for the early 747s. The life span of most commercial aeroplanes is said to be around 30 years; and so, just as there was a 1970s explosion in aircraft production, now there's a big jump in the number of planes beyond use. What's to be done with them? Aircraft contain toxic materials, so dumping them at a far-off airfield or throwing them in the sea is clearly unacceptable. But that's just what has been happening, according to Bill Glover, Boeing's director of environmental performance for commercial aeroplanes.Old planes are dismantled on Chateauroux's concrete surface
Only half-joking, he says it's good this is a freight airport which doesn't take passengers - the sight of these smashed up planes would do nothing for their nerves. Heaps of metal and tangled wire litter Chateauroux's concrete surface on which all the dismantling and recycling takes place. Parts that still work are taken away for re-sale. Metals are separated for re-use. But in years to come, plane recycling will become less of an exercise in processing scrap metal. Increasingly, aircraft are being made of carbon fibre - the substance makes up 50% of Boeing's 787. And this, says the company's Bill Glover, presents a new recycling challenge. "We realised that we needed to take some steps to address the ability to recycle that material at end of life. So we set out to find that technology." And how happy are Boeing with what they've found? "We're just tickled pink," says Glover.Moulding change
At the Milled Carbon factory in West Bromwich you can see what's tickling him. Here, carbon fibre is recycled in a process taking just 20 minutes. The quality of the end product is so good, say Boeing, they're confident it can go back into planes. Milled Carbon is run by John Davidson. He's a founder member and director of Afra and gives an insight into why it was set up.
Thousands of aircraft will have to go this way
On top of the concern about dumped planes and a desire to develop best practice, there was a political motive, he says. Aircraft aren't covered by the End of Life Vehicles Regulations that pass the cost of dismantling cars onto manufacturers; but that could change and Afra, says Mr Davidson, is keen to pre-empt new laws: "There are no set rules for doing this. So if we sit down and talk about what are the best ways - the most environmental and economical ways of doing this - and then present that as a set of rules for the legislators to work with, so much the better."'Our business'
Another founding member of Afra agrees. Jim Toomey runs the Evergreen Air Centre in Arizona, the US counterpart of Chateauroux. "Why is Afra going to be great? Number one, it's going to get the best practices established. Number two, it's going to keep us at the cutting edge of recycling technology. And number three, it's going to do it without government regulation and interference. "We're going to do it before they tell us to do it, and we're going to come up with practices we can live with and which are better than maybe they can enforce because this is our business."
The latest planes use carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic composites
Observers of the aviation world won't be surprised to hear that while Boeing pursue the Afra project, Airbus have a similar scheme called Pamela - Process for Advanced Management of End of Life Aircraft. The programme is also based in France, and Airbus says it differs from Afra in being a research tool rather than an industrialised process. Three-point-two million euros are being invested in this research. Some of the money has come from the European Union. So both major manufacturers are clearly concerned about this issue. Each is drawing up a code of good practice and maybe environmental legislators will reward their efforts. And, after all those years of service, surely those jumbos deserve a decent end.By Chris Ledgard
Canadian school teacher leaves millions to charity Yahoo! News
A Canadian teacher who lived a frugal life but gave large, anonymous donations to people in need, has left a C$4.3 million ($3.8 million) fortune to an environmental charity. Roberta Langtry, 89, kept her wealth a secret until her death last year. The Toronto woman had worked as an elementary school teacher and speech therapist for 55 years, quietly amassing millions, mainly from financial investments. "She was friends with all her neighbors and they loved her but had no idea she had two nickels to rub together," Robert Borden, her executor and long-time friend, said on Friday. Borden, who became Langtry's financial adviser in 1973, said the retired teacher had been deeply environmentally conscious and incredibly frugal. She once urged Borden to invest in a company that made plastic picnic tables in the hope that they would take off, curbing the need for wooden ones and helping save trees. And she did not hesitate to fire off complaints to environmental groups whose newsletters were a little too polished: "They didn't need to be that flashy, that was her opinion," he said. Borden also sent hefty checks to people Langtry thought needed the money, often devising elaborate ruses to ensure the recipient never discovered who it came from. Langtry lived with an aunt who passed away in the early 1990s and left her the modest bungalow the two had shared. She bought shares of International Business Machines Corp. in the 1950s and built on her wealth with savvy but conservative stock and bond investments. "We did very well together from a financial standpoint," Borden said. "She was very well versed and interested in financial things. She would hear something, read something and she would call me and say: 'Now Bob, what do you think of this?' " The Nature Conservancy of Canada, which announced the bequest on Friday, said the money would be used to support wetland conservation, among other projects.
($1=$1.12 Canadian)
A Canadian teacher who lived a frugal life but gave large, anonymous donations to people in need, has left a C$4.3 million ($3.8 million) fortune to an environmental charity. Roberta Langtry, 89, kept her wealth a secret until her death last year. The Toronto woman had worked as an elementary school teacher and speech therapist for 55 years, quietly amassing millions, mainly from financial investments. "She was friends with all her neighbors and they loved her but had no idea she had two nickels to rub together," Robert Borden, her executor and long-time friend, said on Friday. Borden, who became Langtry's financial adviser in 1973, said the retired teacher had been deeply environmentally conscious and incredibly frugal. She once urged Borden to invest in a company that made plastic picnic tables in the hope that they would take off, curbing the need for wooden ones and helping save trees. And she did not hesitate to fire off complaints to environmental groups whose newsletters were a little too polished: "They didn't need to be that flashy, that was her opinion," he said. Borden also sent hefty checks to people Langtry thought needed the money, often devising elaborate ruses to ensure the recipient never discovered who it came from. Langtry lived with an aunt who passed away in the early 1990s and left her the modest bungalow the two had shared. She bought shares of International Business Machines Corp. in the 1950s and built on her wealth with savvy but conservative stock and bond investments. "We did very well together from a financial standpoint," Borden said. "She was very well versed and interested in financial things. She would hear something, read something and she would call me and say: 'Now Bob, what do you think of this?' " The Nature Conservancy of Canada, which announced the bequest on Friday, said the money would be used to support wetland conservation, among other projects.
($1=$1.12 Canadian)
EU-US airline data talks collapse BBC News
Talks between the United States and the European Union on transferring data and information on airline passengers have broken down. The two sides had been trying to reach a deal on sharing data after an EU court struck down an earlier agreement. A European Commission spokesman said the failure to agree would create a "legal vacuum". Airlines refusing to provide passenger lists to the US may lose landing rights and also face legal action from the EU.
Talks between the United States and the European Union on transferring data and information on airline passengers have broken down. The two sides had been trying to reach a deal on sharing data after an EU court struck down an earlier agreement. A European Commission spokesman said the failure to agree would create a "legal vacuum". Airlines refusing to provide passenger lists to the US may lose landing rights and also face legal action from the EU.
Rise of the web's social network BBC Click
Since its beginning, the web has often been used as a tool to meet new people, but in recent years the interaction between web-users has grown dramatically, spawning a new generation of networking sites.
Making connections
It is not just bands who have adopted social networking sites as a means of promotion. Club and radio DJ Dan Greenpeace was introduced to Myspace by friends in America last year.
'Knowledge pool'
On the smaller end of the scale, sites are specialising to appeal to specific groups. Dedicated music network Last FM uses software called audioscrobbler to track the musical tastes of its members. These profiles can be used to suggest community groups that like the same music, or introduce its members to new music which matches their existing profile. Last FM's Martin Stiksel says: "I think the future of social networks still lies in the connections between people and the potential that lies in these connections between people." He added: "If there is a possibility to pool all of this knowledge, like there is in a social network, to the benefit of everybody, that's a really, really powerful thing."
'Closed communities'
While most social networking sites do not discriminate, and allow anybody to log on, a few sites have cropped up with a very particular sort of user in mind.
By Marc Cieslak, Reporter
Since its beginning, the web has often been used as a tool to meet new people, but in recent years the interaction between web-users has grown dramatically, spawning a new generation of networking sites.
Some networking sites allow users to swap video and images
The notion of Web 2.0, or an internet model where content is created and shared by users, has given birth to some of the most popular sites the internet has ever seen. So much so, that anybody who is anyone, wants to be part of the online social networking scene. Sites like Bebo, Friendster and Myspace have fuelled the social networking trend. At first glance the sites could be dismissed as posh blogs, but tools that make it simpler to post text, photos, music and now home-grown video have turned social networking into an online phenomenon. Bebo's Sarah Gavin says: "It's really powerful. I think it's the first time that individuals have got the power. "We've got authors up there publicising their books. If they're just starting out as a film producer they have the opportunity to get their content up on the site and go out to the general public to see what they actually think about it. "It's a hugely powerful medium and people are just starting to grasp how effective that can be."QUOTE
Artists like Lily Allen and the Arctic Monkeys have used Myspace as a springboard to success
In 2003, a site was unleashed on the net that would change everything; a site so popular and influential it has launched the careers of pop stars and was purchased by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation for $580m. That site is, of course, Myspace. The inclusion of music on Myspace has been one of the biggest reasons for the site's success. Unknown artists have demonstrated that social networking sites can be an effective means of promoting themselves. Artists like Lily Allen and the Arctic Monkeys have used Myspace as a springboard to success.Making connections
It is not just bands who have adopted social networking sites as a means of promotion. Club and radio DJ Dan Greenpeace was introduced to Myspace by friends in America last year.
QUOTE("Dan Greenpeace - DJ and Myspace user")
It's a much more personal and interactive way of communicating with people
Dan Greenpeace: "I use Myspace primarily for networking. "What I like about it is people can access me and access information about myself and what I'm working on. "It's a much more personal and interactive way of communicating with people out there who are actually interested in what you're doing." While Myspace enjoys the largest slice of the social networking pie, rival sites such as Bebo have hit back, introducing the same sorts of features that have made Myspace such a success.QUOTE("Martin Stiksel - Last FM")
I think the future of social networks still lies in the connections between people and the potential that lies in these connections
Bebo's Sarah Gavin says: "We've added a few things. "One of the key things for us was music, which has been hugely successful for us. "We've got over 100,000 bands signed up in six weeks. The other thing we've really seen in the last 12 months is a trend with video."'Knowledge pool'
On the smaller end of the scale, sites are specialising to appeal to specific groups. Dedicated music network Last FM uses software called audioscrobbler to track the musical tastes of its members. These profiles can be used to suggest community groups that like the same music, or introduce its members to new music which matches their existing profile. Last FM's Martin Stiksel says: "I think the future of social networks still lies in the connections between people and the potential that lies in these connections between people." He added: "If there is a possibility to pool all of this knowledge, like there is in a social network, to the benefit of everybody, that's a really, really powerful thing."
'Closed communities'
While most social networking sites do not discriminate, and allow anybody to log on, a few sites have cropped up with a very particular sort of user in mind.
Some social networking sites restrict who can use their site
Beautiful People's entry criteria are simple - good looks. Beautiful People's Greg Hodge says: "Beautiful People is like an elite online club where every member works the door. "Essentially you put up a picture and a profile where you're rated over a three day period by members of the opposite sex on whether or not they deem you attractive enough. "It is not just, as you'd expect, a dating site. It's become a site where people will help each other find apartments, find work, they have sensational parties."By Marc Cieslak, Reporter
A Well-Oiled Machine
RIO DE JANEIRO-By running Petrobras as a business, not a cash
till, Brazil has been rewarded with self-sufficiency in petroleum.
By Marla Dickerson.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht8L0EU
Giants Are Astir on Wall Street
There were a lot better places to invest during the last seven
years than in the stocks of the largest U.S. companies. By Tom
Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht8M0EV
Option Probes Come at Inopportune Time for Vitesse, and Its Stockholders
CAMARILLO-After years of struggling, the networking chip maker
only recently had shown signs of recovery. By E. Scott Reckard.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht8N0EW
The S-t-r-e-t-c-h Garage
Our insatiable appetite for more space has transformed a
grease-stained American institution. By Michelle Hofmann.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht8V0Ee
RIO DE JANEIRO-By running Petrobras as a business, not a cash
till, Brazil has been rewarded with self-sufficiency in petroleum.
By Marla Dickerson.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht8L0EU
Giants Are Astir on Wall Street
There were a lot better places to invest during the last seven
years than in the stocks of the largest U.S. companies. By Tom
Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht8M0EV
Option Probes Come at Inopportune Time for Vitesse, and Its Stockholders
CAMARILLO-After years of struggling, the networking chip maker
only recently had shown signs of recovery. By E. Scott Reckard.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht8N0EW
The S-t-r-e-t-c-h Garage
Our insatiable appetite for more space has transformed a
grease-stained American institution. By Michelle Hofmann.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Ht8V0Ee
German minister bullish on growth BBC News
Germany's economy minister has given a bullish forecast for growth in Europe's biggest economy. Michael Glos said he expected to see economic growth of between 2.0% and 2.5% this year, according to Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper. The government's official forecast for 2006 is 1.6%, but many analysts now expect growth to top 2% this year. Germany is emerging from several years of sluggish growth, which had put a brake on other eurozone economies. The recovery is being partly driven by an increase in consumer spending - particularly on the back of the recent World Cup football tournament, which was staged in Germany - as well as strong exports of German goods abroad. However, experts have questioned whether the current economic upturn can be maintained. Mr Glos told Bild am Sonntag that he expected to see "the beginning of a turnaround" in Germany's labour market, suggesting that unemployment would eventually fall below four million. Germany's jobless count fell by 134,000 to 4.24 million - or 10.6% of the population - in September, according to official figures.
Germany's economy minister has given a bullish forecast for growth in Europe's biggest economy. Michael Glos said he expected to see economic growth of between 2.0% and 2.5% this year, according to Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper. The government's official forecast for 2006 is 1.6%, but many analysts now expect growth to top 2% this year. Germany is emerging from several years of sluggish growth, which had put a brake on other eurozone economies. The recovery is being partly driven by an increase in consumer spending - particularly on the back of the recent World Cup football tournament, which was staged in Germany - as well as strong exports of German goods abroad. However, experts have questioned whether the current economic upturn can be maintained. Mr Glos told Bild am Sonntag that he expected to see "the beginning of a turnaround" in Germany's labour market, suggesting that unemployment would eventually fall below four million. Germany's jobless count fell by 134,000 to 4.24 million - or 10.6% of the population - in September, according to official figures.
Pact Protects a Sierra Valley
A three-year legal battle over resort development in a spectacular
alpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada has ended in a settlement that
will raise up to $100 million in conservation funds and limit
growth in the 45,000-acre Martis Valley, between Lake Tahoe and
Truckee, Calif. By Julie Cart.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuFz0EQ
TV: More Bang for More Bucks
Fall shows' costs and effects go cinematic, but so far audiences
are cool to the new offerings. By Meg James.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuF20EE
'Open Season' Opens at No. 1
The first release from Sony's animation unit demonstrates that
movie audiences still haven't tired of the genre. By Josh
Friedman.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuF30EF
Client Faults WaMu Layout in Robbery
A man sues, claiming the new open interior made him a target for a
bandit who took $20,805. By E. Scott Reckard.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuF40EG
A three-year legal battle over resort development in a spectacular
alpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada has ended in a settlement that
will raise up to $100 million in conservation funds and limit
growth in the 45,000-acre Martis Valley, between Lake Tahoe and
Truckee, Calif. By Julie Cart.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuFz0EQ
TV: More Bang for More Bucks
Fall shows' costs and effects go cinematic, but so far audiences
are cool to the new offerings. By Meg James.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuF20EE
'Open Season' Opens at No. 1
The first release from Sony's animation unit demonstrates that
movie audiences still haven't tired of the genre. By Josh
Friedman.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuF30EF
Client Faults WaMu Layout in Robbery
A man sues, claiming the new open interior made him a target for a
bandit who took $20,805. By E. Scott Reckard.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuF40EG
________
Workplace Bias Against Muslims, Arabs on Rise, Advocates Say
A tally of complaints jumped in 2005. Some victims may fear
reporting to authorities. By Alana Semuels.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HugQ0Ec
Harrah's Weighs Buyout Offer
Flush with cash, two private investment companies are placing bets
on the gambling business, anteing up nearly $15.1 billion in a bid
to acquire the world's largest casino company, Harrah's
Entertainment Inc. By Claire Hoffman.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HugR0Ed
Workplace Bias Against Muslims, Arabs on Rise, Advocates Say
A tally of complaints jumped in 2005. Some victims may fear
reporting to authorities. By Alana Semuels.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HugQ0Ec
Harrah's Weighs Buyout Offer
Flush with cash, two private investment companies are placing bets
on the gambling business, anteing up nearly $15.1 billion in a bid
to acquire the world's largest casino company, Harrah's
Entertainment Inc. By Claire Hoffman.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HugR0Ed
U.S. to Let Canadian Drugs Pass
The federal government plans to halt a controversial crackdown on
discount drugs mailed from Canadian pharmacies to U.S. customers,
removing a significant hurdle to Americans buying cheaper
medications from abroad. By Lisa Girion.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hux70ET
A Clean, Green Machine
A California company wants to improve air quality by using a
smokestack scrubber on idling trains and cargo ships. By Ronald D.
White.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hux80EU
Airbus Hit Hard by A380 Setback
Airbus' woes worsened as the world's largest aircraft maker said
deliveries of its flagship A380 super-jumbo jet would be delayed a
year longer and airlines began considering the possibility of
canceling their orders. By Peter Pae.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuyA0Ee
Putting shoulders to the task
After lackluster fashion weeks in New York, London and Milan, the
pressure was on French designers to deliver. And Nicolas
Ghesquière did just that at Balenciaga in Paris on Tuesday,
introducing a new species of sex-bots in the season's most
thrilling show yet. By Booth Moore.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuyF0Ej
South Korean Homecoming at the U.N.
Ban Ki-Moon is a fitting choice for secretary-general.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuyH0El
A Countdown to 300 Million
The U.S. is about to mark a population milestone, and these days
immigration is the big factor behind the steady growth. By Doug
Smith.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuyI0Em
The federal government plans to halt a controversial crackdown on
discount drugs mailed from Canadian pharmacies to U.S. customers,
removing a significant hurdle to Americans buying cheaper
medications from abroad. By Lisa Girion.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hux70ET
A Clean, Green Machine
A California company wants to improve air quality by using a
smokestack scrubber on idling trains and cargo ships. By Ronald D.
White.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hux80EU
Airbus Hit Hard by A380 Setback
Airbus' woes worsened as the world's largest aircraft maker said
deliveries of its flagship A380 super-jumbo jet would be delayed a
year longer and airlines began considering the possibility of
canceling their orders. By Peter Pae.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuyA0Ee
Putting shoulders to the task
After lackluster fashion weeks in New York, London and Milan, the
pressure was on French designers to deliver. And Nicolas
Ghesquière did just that at Balenciaga in Paris on Tuesday,
introducing a new species of sex-bots in the season's most
thrilling show yet. By Booth Moore.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuyF0Ej
South Korean Homecoming at the U.N.
Ban Ki-Moon is a fitting choice for secretary-general.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuyH0El
A Countdown to 300 Million
The U.S. is about to mark a population milestone, and these days
immigration is the big factor behind the steady growth. By Doug
Smith.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HuyI0Em
Apple CEO knew of backdating
Apple Computer Inc. said Wednesday that Chief Executive Steve Jobs
knew the computer maker had sometimes changed the grant dates on
stock options to make them more valuable - an improper accounting
practice that has tripped up more than 100 companies. By Dawn C.
Chmielewski and Chris Gaither.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-apple5oc...y?track=tottext
Bidders get in line to buy music retailer's assets
Tower Records is having the biggest sale in its history:
Everything must go. Sixteen companies have qualified to make
offers, either for the entire store chain or parts of it. By
Charles Duhigg.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-tower5oc...y?track=tottext
Apple Computer Inc. said Wednesday that Chief Executive Steve Jobs
knew the computer maker had sometimes changed the grant dates on
stock options to make them more valuable - an improper accounting
practice that has tripped up more than 100 companies. By Dawn C.
Chmielewski and Chris Gaither.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-apple5oc...y?track=tottext
Bidders get in line to buy music retailer's assets
Tower Records is having the biggest sale in its history:
Everything must go. Sixteen companies have qualified to make
offers, either for the entire store chain or parts of it. By
Charles Duhigg.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-tower5oc...y?track=tottext
ySpace founder seeks inquiry
For a guy who walked away with $47 million, Brad Greenspan
shouldn't have anything to be angry about. But the founder of
MySpace railed against his former firm Thursday and demanded a
federal investigation of News Corp.'s 2005 acquisition of the
popular social networking site. By Dawn C. Chmielewski.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-myspace6...y?track=tottext
Google puts lid on new products
In another sign of Google Inc.'s growth from start-up to corporate
behemoth, the company's top executives said Thursday that they had
begun telling engineers to stop launching so many new services and
instead focus on making existing ones work together better. By
Chris Gaither.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-google6o...y?track=tottext
For a guy who walked away with $47 million, Brad Greenspan
shouldn't have anything to be angry about. But the founder of
MySpace railed against his former firm Thursday and demanded a
federal investigation of News Corp.'s 2005 acquisition of the
popular social networking site. By Dawn C. Chmielewski.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-myspace6...y?track=tottext
Google puts lid on new products
In another sign of Google Inc.'s growth from start-up to corporate
behemoth, the company's top executives said Thursday that they had
begun telling engineers to stop launching so many new services and
instead focus on making existing ones work together better. By
Chris Gaither.
http://latimes.com/business/la-fi-google6o...y?track=tottext
Google 'in talks to buy YouTube' BBC News
Google is reported to be in talks to buy popular video-sharing website YouTube for $1.6bn.
Previous denials
Founded by three former employees of eBay's PayPal electronic payment unit, YouTube has denied previous rumours of a takeover. YouTube chief executive Chad Hurley said earlier this year that the company was not for sale and a future share flotation was possible. A potential future problem for YouTube and any buyer, is that a great many users put up their favourite music videos and film clips, for which they have not gained copyright approval. YouTube has an estimated 20 million individual visitors each month.
Google is reported to be in talks to buy popular video-sharing website YouTube for $1.6bn.
YouTube is growing in popularity
The Wall Street Journal said discussions between the two sides were at a sensitive stage and the talks could break up. Neither Google nor YouTube have made any comment. Launched in February 2005, YouTube has grown quickly into one of the most popular websites on the internet, with 100 million videos viewed every day.Previous denials
Founded by three former employees of eBay's PayPal electronic payment unit, YouTube has denied previous rumours of a takeover. YouTube chief executive Chad Hurley said earlier this year that the company was not for sale and a future share flotation was possible. A potential future problem for YouTube and any buyer, is that a great many users put up their favourite music videos and film clips, for which they have not gained copyright approval. YouTube has an estimated 20 million individual visitors each month.
Value, Blue Chips Up in Shifting Economy
"Goldilocks" proved to be a profitable tale for stock mutual fund
investors in the third quarter. Most categories of equity funds
rose as many investors bet the economy would turn out just right -
neither too hot nor too cold. By Tom Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0GxIe0Ev
Sluggish Job Growth Could Affect Elections
WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy added a disappointing 51,000 jobs
last month, the government said Friday, and although hiring in
July and August was revised sharply higher, lackluster employment
growth is still expected to dog Republicans in upcoming midterm
elections. By Molly Hennessy-Fiske.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvgj0EV
Google May Be Vying for Site
SAN FRANCISCO-Reports say it is wooing YouTube, a start-up that
has eclipsed the Internet search giant in the video-sharing arena.
By Chris Gaither and Dawn C. Chmielewski.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvgk0EW
Tribune Tightens Grip on L.A. Times
The path toward restoring local ownership of the Los Angeles Times
has become more difficult in recent days as the newspaper's
Chicago-based parent company has hardened its stance against
selling its most valuable asset individually. By Thomas S.
Mulligan and James Rainey.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvgl0EX
Tim Rutten: More than jobs are at stake
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvgq0Ec
Editorial: Fall of Two Silicon Valley Icons
Hewlett-Packard and Apple Computer will likely survive the
turmoil, but their executives may not.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvgr0Ed
"Goldilocks" proved to be a profitable tale for stock mutual fund
investors in the third quarter. Most categories of equity funds
rose as many investors bet the economy would turn out just right -
neither too hot nor too cold. By Tom Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0GxIe0Ev
Sluggish Job Growth Could Affect Elections
WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy added a disappointing 51,000 jobs
last month, the government said Friday, and although hiring in
July and August was revised sharply higher, lackluster employment
growth is still expected to dog Republicans in upcoming midterm
elections. By Molly Hennessy-Fiske.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvgj0EV
Google May Be Vying for Site
SAN FRANCISCO-Reports say it is wooing YouTube, a start-up that
has eclipsed the Internet search giant in the video-sharing arena.
By Chris Gaither and Dawn C. Chmielewski.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvgk0EW
Tribune Tightens Grip on L.A. Times
The path toward restoring local ownership of the Los Angeles Times
has become more difficult in recent days as the newspaper's
Chicago-based parent company has hardened its stance against
selling its most valuable asset individually. By Thomas S.
Mulligan and James Rainey.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvgl0EX
Tim Rutten: More than jobs are at stake
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvgq0Ec
Editorial: Fall of Two Silicon Valley Icons
Hewlett-Packard and Apple Computer will likely survive the
turmoil, but their executives may not.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvgr0Ed
Oil Giants Put Energy Into Other Resources
Firms are dabbling in a diverse range of projects, including one
in which microbes eat grease to help produce electricity. By
Elizabeth Douglass.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvhk0E8
Quietly Keeping the Spotlight on Disney
CEO Robert Iger has kept a low profile while mending fences broken
under his predecessor and forging key deals with Pixar and iTunes.
By Joseph Menn.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvhl0EA
After the High, Will Landing Be Soft?
If the Fed gets the economy right, a new bull market phase could
result. This quarter may point the way. By Tom Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvhm0EB
Opening Up to a Slice of America
The Getty Museaum's new 7,000-square-foot photography space debuts
with a trip through the country's back roads and backyards. By
Suzanne Muchnic.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvhs0EH
Up Next, Wrangling Respect
NEW YORK-Ratings and revenue? No big problem. Now Fox News wants
the world - and a nicer image at home. By Matea Gold.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvhu0EJ
Firms are dabbling in a diverse range of projects, including one
in which microbes eat grease to help produce electricity. By
Elizabeth Douglass.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvhk0E8
Quietly Keeping the Spotlight on Disney
CEO Robert Iger has kept a low profile while mending fences broken
under his predecessor and forging key deals with Pixar and iTunes.
By Joseph Menn.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvhl0EA
After the High, Will Landing Be Soft?
If the Fed gets the economy right, a new bull market phase could
result. This quarter may point the way. By Tom Petruno.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvhm0EB
Opening Up to a Slice of America
The Getty Museaum's new 7,000-square-foot photography space debuts
with a trip through the country's back roads and backyards. By
Suzanne Muchnic.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvhs0EH
Up Next, Wrangling Respect
NEW YORK-Ratings and revenue? No big problem. Now Fox News wants
the world - and a nicer image at home. By Matea Gold.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hvhu0EJ
Google buys YouTube for $1.65bn BBC News
Google is buying video-sharing website YouTube for $1.65bn (£883m) in shares after a weekend of speculation that a deal was in the offing.
'Natural partners'
"The YouTube team has built an exciting and powerful media platform that complements Google's mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful," Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said in a statement. He said the two companies were "natural partners" to offer a media entertainment service to users, content owners and advertisers.
Music tie-ups
The announcement came after a day of distribution deals drawn up by the pair. Universal Music Group has signed a distribution deal with YouTube, which will protect the rights of the music firm's artists. YouTube also says it has signed a deal with CBS, which will offer short-form video programming, including news, sport and entertainment on YouTube. Google has also signed distribution deals of its own, with Sony BMG and Warner Music to offer music videos. The Google deals should enable internet users in the US to view music videos, artist interviews, and other footage from the two firms on Google video for free from this month. The content is sponsored through a Google advertising-supported revenue-sharing agreement. Google also said that in addition to the advertising-supported video content, music videos from Warner would be available for purchase as downloads at $1.99 each. As part of YouTube's deal with CBS, the companies will share revenue from advertising sponsorship of CBS Videos.
Google is buying video-sharing website YouTube for $1.65bn (£883m) in shares after a weekend of speculation that a deal was in the offing.
YouTube is growing in popularity
The two companies will continue to operate independently, Google said as it announced the news on Monday. YouTube, launched in February 2005, has grown quickly into one of the most popular websites on the internet. It has 100 million videos viewed every day and an estimated 72 million individual visitors each month.'Natural partners'
"The YouTube team has built an exciting and powerful media platform that complements Google's mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful," Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said in a statement. He said the two companies were "natural partners" to offer a media entertainment service to users, content owners and advertisers.
QUOTE("Chad Hurley")
Our community has played a vital role in changing the way that people consume media
Mr Schmidt also told investors that YouTube will be "one of many investments" Google plans to make in the video field. However, the company will keep operating its own Google Video as a separate operation. YouTube will retain its brand, and its 67 staff, including co-founders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, will keep their jobs. "Our community has played a vital role in changing the way that people consume media, creating a new clip culture," said Mr Hurley. "By joining forces with Google, we can benefit from its global reach and technology leadership to deliver a more comprehensive entertainment experience for our users and to create new opportunities for our partners." According to Comscore World Metrix, YouTube's audience has soared from 2.8 million unique users one year ago to 72 million users in August 2006.Music tie-ups
The announcement came after a day of distribution deals drawn up by the pair. Universal Music Group has signed a distribution deal with YouTube, which will protect the rights of the music firm's artists. YouTube also says it has signed a deal with CBS, which will offer short-form video programming, including news, sport and entertainment on YouTube. Google has also signed distribution deals of its own, with Sony BMG and Warner Music to offer music videos. The Google deals should enable internet users in the US to view music videos, artist interviews, and other footage from the two firms on Google video for free from this month. The content is sponsored through a Google advertising-supported revenue-sharing agreement. Google also said that in addition to the advertising-supported video content, music videos from Warner would be available for purchase as downloads at $1.99 each. As part of YouTube's deal with CBS, the companies will share revenue from advertising sponsorship of CBS Videos.
Upheaval at Airbus Deepens
Airbus' top executive abruptly resigned Monday, just three months
after taking the helm in a previous management shake-up and less
than a week after rolling out a controversial plan to restructure
the troubled aircraft maker. By Peter Pae.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hv1e0EF
American Economist Wins Nobel for Inflation Theory
A Columbia University economist was awarded the Nobel Prize in
economics for his paradigm-shifting work showing that reducing
inflation wouldn't necessarily lead to higher unemployment - a key
tenet of Federal Reserve policy since the 1980s. By Lisa Girion.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hv1f0EG
Target Seeks Equity on DVDs
It warns studios that it expects the prices it pays to be
comparable to those charged to downloading services. By Josh
Friedman and Abigail Goldman.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hv1g0EH
Crystallizing opinion
The gem trade, fearing sales won't sparkle, campaigns against
"Blood Diamond." By Elizabeth Snead.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hv1k0EL
Believers preach gospel of green
In Hollywood, the white knight in the fight against global warming
is Al Gore, whose film, "An Inconvenient Truth," was received with
great media hoopla when it arrived in theaters earlier this year.
But in much of the rest of America, the man spearheading the
battle against catastrophic climate change is someone you'd never
see at the Ivy, hobnobbing with the Bush-hating,
abortion-allowing, carbon footprint calculating nabobs of
Hollywood elitism. By Patrick Goldstein.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hv1l0EM
Airbus' top executive abruptly resigned Monday, just three months
after taking the helm in a previous management shake-up and less
than a week after rolling out a controversial plan to restructure
the troubled aircraft maker. By Peter Pae.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hv1e0EF
American Economist Wins Nobel for Inflation Theory
A Columbia University economist was awarded the Nobel Prize in
economics for his paradigm-shifting work showing that reducing
inflation wouldn't necessarily lead to higher unemployment - a key
tenet of Federal Reserve policy since the 1980s. By Lisa Girion.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hv1f0EG
Target Seeks Equity on DVDs
It warns studios that it expects the prices it pays to be
comparable to those charged to downloading services. By Josh
Friedman and Abigail Goldman.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hv1g0EH
Crystallizing opinion
The gem trade, fearing sales won't sparkle, campaigns against
"Blood Diamond." By Elizabeth Snead.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hv1k0EL
Believers preach gospel of green
In Hollywood, the white knight in the fight against global warming
is Al Gore, whose film, "An Inconvenient Truth," was received with
great media hoopla when it arrived in theaters earlier this year.
But in much of the rest of America, the man spearheading the
battle against catastrophic climate change is someone you'd never
see at the Ivy, hobnobbing with the Bush-hating,
abortion-allowing, carbon footprint calculating nabobs of
Hollywood elitism. By Patrick Goldstein.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0Hv1l0EM
ING to Give Teachers Refunds
Insurance giant ING Group has agreed to refund $30 million to
educators who were steered by their union into retirement funds
that carried high fees and little-disclosed payments to union
coffers. By Kathy M. Kristof.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwG50ET
Noodle Maker Holds Appeal for Lawyer
CEO Victor Sim left a prominent firm to try to turn around ramen
producer Union Foods. By David Colker.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwG60EU
UPS Ban on Deaf Drivers Is Rejected
A federal appeals court ruled that United Parcel Service Inc.
illegally discriminated against hundreds of deaf employees by
barring them from driving delivery vans. By Lisa Girion.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwG70EV
Essentially Annie
Annie Leibovitz's photo book is a provocative splash of celebrity
shots with a personal touch. By Josh Getlin.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwHC0Ei
Couric in an Unfamiliar Place - 3rd
NEW YORK - Five weeks into her tenure at the "CBS Evening News,"
Katie Couric's broadcast continues to slip in the ratings, falling
into third place last week for the second week in a row. By Matea
Gold.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwHD0Ej
A Time to Mourn, a Time to Bargain Hunt
Tower Records' demise saddens many loyalists. Some not-so-loyal
shoppers are also left upset. By Chris Lee.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwHF0El
Insurance giant ING Group has agreed to refund $30 million to
educators who were steered by their union into retirement funds
that carried high fees and little-disclosed payments to union
coffers. By Kathy M. Kristof.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwG50ET
Noodle Maker Holds Appeal for Lawyer
CEO Victor Sim left a prominent firm to try to turn around ramen
producer Union Foods. By David Colker.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwG60EU
UPS Ban on Deaf Drivers Is Rejected
A federal appeals court ruled that United Parcel Service Inc.
illegally discriminated against hundreds of deaf employees by
barring them from driving delivery vans. By Lisa Girion.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwG70EV
Essentially Annie
Annie Leibovitz's photo book is a provocative splash of celebrity
shots with a personal touch. By Josh Getlin.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwHC0Ei
Couric in an Unfamiliar Place - 3rd
NEW YORK - Five weeks into her tenure at the "CBS Evening News,"
Katie Couric's broadcast continues to slip in the ratings, falling
into third place last week for the second week in a row. By Matea
Gold.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwHD0Ej
A Time to Mourn, a Time to Bargain Hunt
Tower Records' demise saddens many loyalists. Some not-so-loyal
shoppers are also left upset. By Chris Lee.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBA...Io30G2B0HwHF0El
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