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Fox News -- US and World
Report: Mosque Backer Funded Terror Group
A key financial backer of the proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero reportedly once contributed to a U.S.-designated terror group, MyFox New York reports
  • OPINION: Questions for Koran-Burning Pastor
  • Poll: Most New Yorkers Want Mosque Moved
  • Anti-Islamic Pol's New Death Threats
  • Farmers to Citizens: Take Our Jobs!
    United Farmworkers of America launches 'Take Our Jobs' campaign to recruit citizens for farm jobs, claiming crackdown on illegal immigration has led to a shortage of labor, but critics say the campaign is a political stunt
  • $1.5M Donated to Defend Ariz.
  • Arpaio: Justice Dept. 'Sandbagged' Me | VIDEO
  • 25 Dead in Mexico Shootout
  • Earl Drenches Virginia, Targets New England
    Hurricane Earl swipes N.C's Outer Banks, Virginia and Maryland, dumping heavy rain, but downgrading to a Category 1 storm and sparing much of the Mid-Atlantic coastline; storm still poses a threat to eastern Long Island and Massachusetts |
  • FULL COVERAGE: Hurricane Earl
  • | WEATHER CENTER | TRACKER | VIDEO
  • Wind Scale | Follow Earl
  • LOCAL COVERAGE | UREPORT
  • Jobless Rate Climbs; GOP Pressures Obama to 'Change Course'
    New employment figures renew Republicans' call for Obama to replace his economic team and ratchet up game plan, as the president sought to put the best face on what many say is just more evidence of an economy stuck in neutral. | VIDEO
  • Stimulus? Just Don't Call It That
  • Unemployment On the Rise
  • OPINION: Obama, Keep Hands Off Web
  • Double Hand Transplant Patient Shows New Hands
    The recipient of a rare double hand transplant says he feels "fantastic" and can wiggle fingers on both his new hands.
    Passenger Detained in Miami After Bomb Scare
    Teacher Suspended Over Holocaust Lessons- High-Speed Rail Holocaust Controversy in Fla.
    Hamas Looms as Spoiler in Peace Talks
    Scientists Get Unique View of Earth-Size Sunspot- Hawking Picks Physics Over God for Big Bang
    Will Mud Plug Hold Until BP's Final Cap?- Crew Rescued From Oil Rig Blast
    Iranian Opposition Leader's Home Attacked- Iran Threatens at Anti-Israel Rally to Strike
    Lebanon Readies Itself for Hariri Tribunal
    Flaming Ferraris Spark Recall
    Gates: Afghan 'Tough Days Ahead'
    More Explosives Linked to Discovery Gunman- Anti-Abortion Group Confronted by Gunman
    Attacks on Pakistan Religious Minorities Kill 44
    Left-Leaning Media Form Tea Party Tracking Site- OPINION: Liberals Are Losing It
    'Gone With the Wind' Daughter Dies at 76
    Former Egg Farm Workers: Complaints Ignored- FULL COVERAGE: Egg Recall
    'Dundee' Beats it Back to US!
    Paul Hogan cleared to return to L.A. after kerfuffle with tax man had him stranded in Oz
    A Year in Gaga-Land
    As famous for her outrageous fashion choices as she is for her powerful voice, take a look back at Lady Gaga's best, and strangest, moments of the year
    Labor Day Weekend Movies
    It's 'The American' vs. 'Machete' at the Labor Day Weekend box office
    Holiday Movie Preview
    Workout Videos Gone Wrong
    Uncle Milty isn't the only celebrity to have produced a workout video. In fact, it turns out there aren't many stars who haven't!
    Moonshine Going Legit?
    Moonshine conjures images of clandestine deliveries of hooch in jelly jars, but that'll soon change if modern distillers have anything to say about it
    Don't Sleep on These Guys
    FoxNews.com takes a look at some players who are under the radar that would be great pickups for your fantasy football team
    Best of the Week
    From license plates you would like to see to making over the Oval Office, here's YOUR take on some of the week's top stories
    CNN Top Stories
    Earl's winds at 85 mph
    Hurricane Earl weakened to a Category 1 storm Friday with winds of 85 mph, but the Northeast was still preparing to feel its fury.
    Obama promises new jobs initiatives
    President Obama promised to lay out a broad package of ideas for job creation next week and slamming Senate Republicans for blocking his small business aid legislation.
    Silver lining in jobs report
    Business hiring is picking up, but not enough to make up for the massive losses of temporary government jobs.
    Detained scientist linked to plague
    Bomb squad investigators were at Miami International Airport on Friday after a suspicious item was spotted in a baggage screening area, authorities said.
    Scientists: UV rays key to H2O in space
    European scientists say they've figured out the recipe for water in space: Just add starlight.
    Dozens killed in Pakistan blast
    A suicide bomber blew himself up outside an Ahmadi worship place in northwestern Pakistan Friday, killing a pedestrian, police said.
    25 drug suspects die in shootout
    A shootout between soldiers and suspected drug dealers in northeast Mexico left 25 of the suspects dead, the regional military said Thursday.
    Mistrial threatens sham marriage trial
    The sham marriage trial of actress Fernanda Romero, which the judge has likened to a soap opera, appeared threatened with a mistrial Friday after a dramatic turn a day earlier.
    Opinion: Peace talks test Netanyahu
    Watching the Israeli and Palestinian leaders trudge to Washington for one more peace summit, one might wonder why President Obama invited them. Why should the president invest his prestige in an effort that looks so unpromising?
    Toshiba recalls about 41,000 computers
    Toshiba has announced the voluntary recall of about 41,000 notebook computers worldwide at risk of overheating and burning users.
    Washington Post Front Page
    U.S. auto sales hit a deep ditch
    Chastened by the recession, more U.S. consumers have become cheapskates: They are saving more and driving older cars. And that, in part, explains the historically dismal sales reports released Wednesday by automakers.
    Illegal immigrant population in U.S. drops, report says
    As Gray seeks to seize chance, Fenty pleads for another one
    Adrian M. Fenty, who became mayor as a dynamic young council member who would bring a new urgency to reforming the District government, acknowledged on Wednesday for the first time that he could lose the job that voters in every precinct in the city chose him for in 2006.
    Man slain after taking hostages Man slain after taking hostages
    James J. Lee divided the world into good and bad. According to his writings on a Web site he created, people were bad, especially "parasitic" babies.
    The surf before the storm
    Md. Sen. Currie indicted on charges of bribery
    Longtime Maryland Sen. Ulysses Currie, one of the most powerful and popular figures in the General Assembly, was indicted Wednesday on charges that he took more than $245,000 in bribes to use his position and influence to do favors for a grocery chain.
    Nervous Afghans pull money from Kabul Bank, raising fears
    KABUL - With Afghans clamoring to pull their cash from their nation's biggest bank, the United States risks a politically perilous decision: whether to step in to help shore up a wobbly bank critical not only to Afghanistan's economy but also to the battle against the Taliban.
    Obama: Seize the chance for peace
    On the eve of the first direct Middle East peace negotiations since he took office, President Obama urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders Wednesday to seize "this moment of opportunity" and to end their decades-long conflict, pledging to throw his administration's "full weight" behind their effor...
    U.S. charges Pakistani Taliban leader in CIA attack
    Contributors
    Staff writers Lori Aratani, William Branigin, Henri E. Cauvin, Christian Davenport, Lisa de Moraes, Mary Pat Flaherty, Spencer S. Hsu, John Kelly, Michael A. Laris, Jerry Markon, Carol Morello, Michael S. Rosenwald, Ian Shapira, Katherine Shaver and Annys Shin and staff researcher Meg Smith...
    Author disowns gunman's interpretation of provocative novel
    The gunman who took hostages at Discovery Communications' headquarters in Silver Spring was apparently inspired by the author of a popular series about a telepathic ape who tries to save humankind from problems such as overpopulation, but the writer said Wednesday that he is baffled by James J. L...
    Departing Obama adviser urges more stimulus
    Departing White House chief economist Christina Romer urged Congress on Wednesday to "finish the job of economic recovery" by pumping more cash into the economy through additional tax cuts for businesses and middle-class families, as well as fresh investments in the nation's infrastructure.
    Warren fuels speculation by dropping class
    When fall classes began Wednesday at Harvard Law School, Elizabeth Warren was scheduled to be teaching contract law to first-year students. But something happened on the way to the chalkboard.
    Political Economy
    Will the U.S. government ever default? It's not a pleasant thought for anyone holding some of the roughly $9 trillion in U.S. government bonds and notes - or for anyone hoping that the global economy stays on an even keel.
    Lehman 'was forced into bankruptcy' by regulators, former CEO testifies
    Former Lehman Brothers CEO Richard S. Fuld said U.S. regulators acting on "flawed information" denied his company the bailout assistance that its Wall Street competitors received. In remarks before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission set up by Congress, Fuld argued that the sudden collapse of Le
    Five reasons for economic optimism
    A certain fatalism has crept into a lot of economic analysis lately, but here are reasons that a slow-and-steady recovery is likely to continue.
    Region's jobless rate holds steady
    Unemployment in the Washington region remained steady at 6.3 percent from June to July, according to federal government data released Wednesday, despite significant job growth during the past year.
    DIGEST
    Entrepreneur and Washington Mystics President Sheila C. Johnson announced Wednesday that she has sold her Woodlands Inn resort in South Carolina to local lawyer Johnny Linton.
    SAIC reports 54% growth in 2nd-quarter profit
    Government contractor Science Applications International Corp. says its second-quarter profit grew nearly 54 percent as it refocused its business on key growth areas, such as cybersecurity, energy and health.
    Just one more dog-paddle lap, please?

    Corrections
    The Washington Post is committed to correcting errors that appear in the newspaper. Those interested in contacting the paper for that purpose can:
    Romer serves dismal for lunch. Pepto-Bismol for dessert?
    Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Christina Romer will step down this week after what has been the most dismal tenure anybody in that post has had. She was the president's top economist during a time when the administration underestimated the depth of the economy's troubles - miscalculations tha
    Bankruptcy on horizon for Pennsylvania capital
    The city of Harrisburg announces plans to default on its next general obligation bond payment, pushing it toward bankruptcy. The move also raises fears of a larger default by the city on a troubled incinerator project and possible problems for the $2.8 trillion municipal bond market.
    Highlights from thecable.foreignpolicy.com
    There's a battle going on among the standard-bearers of the "tea party" over the movement's foreign policy message. But at the rank-and-file level, tea partiers have no unified view on major foreign policy issues. They are all over the map.
    The FEC answers a nagging question - sort of
    After years of wrangling, the Federal Election Commission has issued new rules aimed at clearing up the question: When is it illegal for an interest group to coordinate with a political candidate?
    BP ad spending since spill: $5 million a week
    BP says it has spent more than $5 million a week on advertising since the Gulf Coast oil spill - more than three times the amount it spent on ads during the same period last year.
    Hurricane Earl upgraded; winds at 140 mph
    Hurricane Earl is again upgraded to a Class 4 hurricane and poses a serious threat to the Outer Banks and other parts of the East Coast.
    Digest
    American-born Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh and another Muslim inmate have asked a judge to allow group prayer in the highly restrictive unit at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., where they are being held.

    Mayor Adrian Fenty and Council Chairman Vincent Gray debated issues including education, jobs, transportation, public safety and voting rights at the Newseum


    Women's groups target sexism in campaigns
    Sexist comments are being collected by a group of advocates for women running for office who are monitoring what they see as a "highly toxic" media environment that makes it difficult for female candidates.
    Doctor found dead in boyfriend's chimney; break-in suspected
    BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. - A doctor involved in an "on-again, off-again" relationship apparently tried to force her way into her boyfriend's home by sliding down the chimney, police said Tuesday. Her decomposing body was found there three days later.
    Lawyer: Leak suspect's mental health doubted
    The sergeant who supervised Bradley E. Manning, the Army private accused of leaking classified material to the online site WikiLeaks, was so concerned about the soldier's mental health that he disabled Manning's weapon late last year, the private's attorney said Wednesday.
    New questions about Colo. gubernatorial candidate
    LIBERAL, KAN. - Colorado gubernatorial hopeful Dan Maes's murky past in law enforcement in neighboring Kansas has become the latest distraction in his gaffe-ridden campaign.
    In Iraq, clear signs of a new U.S. mission
    BAGHDAD - The U.S. military's war is officially over in Iraq, even as the future of the country remains undecided. The signs of the end were everywhere Wednesday, despite the presence of about 49,000 American troops who remain mostly sequestered on large U.S. bases.
    Digest
    A Muslim religious leader was killed in a bomb attack and a U.S. service member died in fighting Wednesday in turbulent southern Afghanistan, officials said.
    Campaigns for premier kick off in Japan
    Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, on the job for just 85 days, could soon be knocked from power by his chief rival, Ichiro Ozawa, who is seeking to regain political prestige that Kan had helped to undermine.

    Washington Times Headlines
    Jobless rate rose to 9.6 percent in Aug.

    Growth in jobs last month was not fast enough to prevent the unemployment rate from ticking up to 9.6 percent from 9.5 percent, the Labor Department reported Friday morning.

    Businesses added another 67,000 jobs in areas from health care to business services, but that was overwhelmed by 121,000 layoffs ...

    Mexican soldiers kill 25 in gunbattle near border

    MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — Soldiers killed 25 suspected cartel members Thursday in a raid and gunbattle in a Mexican state near the U.S. border that has seen a surge in drug gang violence, the military said.

    A reconnaissance flight over Ciudad Mier spotted several gunmen in front of a property, ...

    Earl weakens to Category 1, heads for Northeast

    BUXTON, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Earl sideswiped North Carolina's Outer Banks early Friday, flooding the vacation islands but causing no injuries and little damage, then chugged up the Eastern Seaboard toward Cape Cod, a weaker but still dangerous storm.

    Earl dropped to a Category 1 hurricane — down from a ...

    EU trade chief apologizes for Jewish comments

    BRUSSELS (AP) — The EU's trade chief apologized Friday for blaming Jews and the "Jewish lobby" in Washington for blocking Mideast peace as the embarrassed EU head office quickly distanced itself from his comments.

    Karel De Gucht, 56, said he did not mean to stigmatize Jewish people and stressed in ...

    Fidel Castro wears full military uniform at speech

    HAVANA (AP) — Fidel Castro dusted off his full military uniform for the first time since stepping down as president four years ago, a symbolic act in a communist country where little signals often carry enormous significance.

    The revolutionary leader wore the olive-green cap and uniform — minus the star ...

    Gates sees progress in tour of Afghan war zone

    COMBAT OUTPOST SENJERAY, Afghanistan (AP) — Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday he saw and heard evidence that the U.S. counterinsurgency strategy is taking hold in critical Kandahar province.

    Mr. Gates toured U.S. bases and met with troops in the thick of the fighting in Kandahar city and the Taliban ...

    Police question scientist in Miami airport scare

    MIAMI (AP) — A scientist has been detained at the Miami International Airport after screeners spotted a metal canister in his luggage that looked like a pipe bomb, prompting an evacuation, a government official said.

    The FBI and Miami-Dade police were interviewing the 70-year-old man, the official said Friday. No ...

    Unemployment rate rises to 9.6 as 54,000 jobs are lost

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Private employers hired more workers over the past three month than first thought, lifting hopes for the weak economy ahead of the Labor Day weekend. But the unemployment rate rose in August for the first time in four months as more people entered the market looking for ...

    Attacks on Pakistani minorities kill 44

    QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Suicide bombings targeting religious minorities killed at least 44 people in Pakistan on Friday, sharply driving up the toll of sectarian assaults in a country already battered by massive flooding.

    A blast killed at least 43 people in the southwestern city of Quetta at a Shi'ite ...

    Former egg farm workers say complaints ignored

    DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Agriculture Department employees worked full-time at two Iowa egg farms at the center of a salmonella outbreak and massive recall, but two former workers said they ignored complaints about conditions at one site.

    The USDA employees worked next to areas where roughly 7.7 million ...

    Crowds attack home of Iranian opposition leader

    TEHRAN (AP) — Pro-government militiamen attacked the home of an Iranian opposition leader with homemade bombs and beat one of his bodyguards unconscious, an opposition website reported, in an apparent attempt to keep him from attending a key rally on Friday.

    Mahdi Karroubi's guards had to fire gunshots in the ...

    Draft alien-detention rules could run afoul of the law, senators say

    The Obama administration could be breaking the law if it follows through on guidance that would mean the government detains fewer illegal immigrants, two top Republican senators said in a warning letter to the Department of Homeland Security this week.

    In recent memos, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which controls ...

    Obama loses backing on taxes

    Defying President Obama, Congress seems increasingly reluctant to let taxes go up, even on wealthier Americans.

    Worried about the fragile economy and their own upcoming elections, a growing number of Democratic lawmakers are joining the rock-solid Republican opposition to Mr. Obama's plans to let some of the tax cuts passed ...

    Justice Dept. sues Arizona sheriff

    The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Thursday against "America's toughest sheriff," Joe Arpaio in Phoenix, accusing him, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and the county of refusing to fully cooperate in a federal investigation into allegations that he and his deputies are guilty of racial discrimination.

    The lawsuit, filed in ...

    Netanyahu, Abbas seek 'framework'

    Palestinian and Israeli leaders agreed Thursday to pursue an interim understanding, or framework agreement, before ironing out a peace treaty during the first direct talks between the two sides since 2008.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met for 1 1/2 hours behind closed doors with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas ...

    GOP wary of peaking too soon, despite lead

    With recent polls showing Republicans poised for major congressional gains this fall, party leaders are wary of appearing overconfident and peaking too soon, playing down for now the prospect of winning majorities in the House and Senate in a vote that is still two months away.

    The caution comes despite ...

    In Delaware, GOP insurgent O'Donnell storms Castle

    The aftershocks from Alaska are being felt clear across the country in Delaware.

    Days after underdog Joe Miller knocked off Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the GOP primary there, Delaware GOP Rep. Michael N. Castle - long seen as a prohibitive favorite to capture the state's open Senate seat in ...

    Eastern Seaboard hunkers down as hurricane nears

    BUXTON, N.C. | The last ferry left for the mainland, and coastal residents hunkered down at home as Hurricane Earl closed in with 110 mph winds Thursday on North Carolina's dangerously exposed Outer Banks, the first and potentially most destructive stop on the storm's projected journey up the Eastern Seaboard.

    ...
    Amtrak hired private lawyers for executives

    Top Amtrak officials declined to participate in an internal investigation until they were provided private lawyers on the government-owned company's dime, an unusual request considering they were not even targets of the probe.

    Records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that Amtrak Treasurer Dale Stein, General Counsel Eleanor ...

    Bernanke out of moves, critics say

    With interest rates near zero and the Federal Reserve already owning a large share of the mortgage and Treasury securities markets, many investors fear the central bank may be out of ammunition should the economy take a serious turn for the worse.

    But Fed-watchers say the central bank, despite its ...

    NY Times - Cover Page
    U.S. Lost Jobs in August, but Fewer Than Expected
    Private employers added 67,000 jobs, more than forecast, but governments shed jobs in August, the Labor Department reported, as the jobless rate rose to 9.6 percent.

    New York Poll Finds Wariness About Muslim Center
    The poll indicated that support for a center planned near ground zero is tepid in its home town.

    BP Says Limits on Drilling Imperil Oil Spill Payouts
    The company, which had committed to setting aside $20 billion for damage claims and penalties, says proposed legislation could disrupt those efforts.

    Hurricane Weakens as It Hits the Coast
    Hurricane Earl unleashed severe rain squalls and wind gusts even as it weakened on its way up the coast Friday.

    Is This Venus Williams’s Last Call?
    Venus Williams, 30, said her career has been so untraditional that there is no need for people to consider her age a liability.

    Crossroads County: Fewer Young Voters See Themselves as Democrats
    Though many students are liberals on social issues, the weak job market has taken a toll on their loyalties.

    A Symphony of Steel
    In lots throughout New York City, drums are being pounded in preparation for the Steel Band Panorama Competition.

    Critics Root for Espada’s Exit, but He’s Dug In
    The state Senate majority leader faces a tough battle in the primary, but he remains defiant and formidable.

    Depositors Panic Over Bank Crisis in Afghanistan
    A bank official tried to calm fears of a meltdown at Kabul Bank, while depositors were unable to withdraw money.

    Explosion at Shiite Protest Kills at Least 40 in Pakistan
    The explosion, two days after an other attack, led to further protests as grieving mourners went on rampage, clashing with the police and setting fire to vehicles and motorcycles parked nearby.

    Soldiers Kill 25 in Mexico Gun Battle
    Mexico’s military says 25 suspects have been shot dead by soldiers in a gunbattle near the U.S. border.

    Employers Push Costs for Health on Workers
    Employers passed all of the increases in insurance premiums this year to their employees, a survey found.

    Justice Dept. Sues Sheriff Over Bias Investigation
    Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County has refused to turn over documents concerning the treatment of Hispanics.

    LA Times Top News
    Unemployment rises slightly in August to 9.6%
    The nation lost 54,000 net positions last month, the U.S. reports. Once-growing manufacturers shed jobs last month, as did budget-strapped state governments and the Census Bureau.

    The nation's jobless rate worsened slightly last month, edging up to 9.6% from 9.5% in July, the government said Friday in a report that had little for workers to cheer about this Labor Day weekend.


    The man behind the Sherrod affair
    Andrew Breitbart, whose posting of video clips got a Department of Agriculture official fired, was a liberal Westside child of privilege whose political epiphany transformed him into a conservative.

    The command center of Andrew Breitbart's growing media empire is a suite of offices on Sawtelle Boulevard in West Los Angeles with the temporary feel of a campaign office. Only the computers seem firmly anchored.


    U.S. employers push increase in cost of healthcare onto workers
    A new survey shows an average worker with a family plan pays nearly $4,000 a year, up 14% from 2009. Meanwhile, the average employer contribution to a family plan hasn't increased at all.

    As employers struggle with rising healthcare costs and a sour economy, U.S. workers for the first time in at least a decade are being asked to shoulder the entire increase in the cost of health benefits on their own.


    Suicide bomb blast kills 42 in Pakistan
    The attack on a Shiite procession in Quetta comes two days after a trio of similar assaults on Shiites in Lahore.

    A suicide bomb blast targeting a Shiite procession in the southern city of Quetta on Friday killed at least 42 people and injured more than 80 others, police said. The explosion came two days after a coordinated series of suicide bomb attacks killed 35 people during a Shiite march in the eastern city of Lahore.


    Scientist detained after Miami airport evacuation
    A metal canister in his luggage looked like a pipe bomb and prompted an evacuation. Concourses were emptied and roadways closed until just after 4 a.m., when the airport reopened ahead of holiday departures.

    A scientist has been detained at the Miami International Airport after screeners spotted a metal canister in his luggage that looked like a pipe bomb, prompting an evacuation, a government official said.


    It's a masterpiece, whatever that means
    The inaugural exhibition at the new Centre Pompidou-Metz revives a long-standing debate about what, if anything, deserves the lofty label.

    "Chefs-d'Oeuvre?"


    Value of California's properties falls 1.8% to $4.4 trillion
    Forty-eight of California's 58 counties saw totals fall this year — nine by more than 5%, the state Board of Equalization reported. The total value fell 2.4% in 2009.

    The Golden State's real estate market lost a bit more of its luster as the total value of California's properties fell for the second year in a row — and for the second time since records were first kept in 1933 at the depths of the Great Depression.


    West Bank city of Hebron could be powder keg as Mideast peace talks begin
    Hebron, home to more than 150,000 Palestinians and 400 Jewish settlers, is often at the center of the storm, and it is once again. Residents are bracing themselves and warn violence could spread.

    The fate of the U.S.-sponsored peace talks launched Thursday in Washington could hinge in part on how things play out in this hotly disputed West Bank city, where extremists on opposite sides suddenly find they share a common purpose: to sabotage the process.


    Middle East talks begin with work plan
    Israeli and Palestinian leaders meet in Washington and agree on fortnightly talks to work toward a peace deal even as the issue of settlement construction in the West Bank threatens to derail the effort.

    Israeli and Palestinian leaders formally reopened peace talks Thursday by setting a work plan for the next year, but adjourned without progress on their conflict over Israeli housing construction in disputed areas, an issue that threatens to quickly undermine the negotiations.


    California to use new type of nationwide school tests
    Through a federal grant, California will join 43 other states in replacing oft-maligned standardized exams.

    With a federal award of $330 million, California and 43 other states joined Thursday to replace the much-maligned year-end English and math standardized tests with new nationwide tests that could better measure student learning and teacher performance.


    Drudge
    15-Year-Old Enrolls at Cambridge
    A 15-year-old math prodigy is set to become the youngest undergraduate at the University of Cambridge since 1773. Arran Fernandez, who was home-schooled in Surrey, England, says his goal is to solve the Riemann hypothesis -- a theory about the patterns of prime numbers which has baffled the greatest mathematicians for 150 years.


    Failed Candidate Sues Papers for Libel
    Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene accused the Miami Herald and St. Petersburg Times in a libel lawsuit filed Wednesday of orchestrating a "plan to assassinate [his] character" that cost him the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Florida.


    Disney Heir Defends the Estate Tax
    Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Walt Disney, defends the estate tax in a USA Today opinion piece. "In a far stricter tax environment, my grandfather still managed to accumulate and pass on ample funds to make three subsequent generations very comfortable indeed," she writes. "And as an inheritor I am here to tell you, the estate tax is not as much of a bogeyman as you've been led to believe."


    Texan Invents Deep-Fried Beer
    Texas chef Mark Zable has invented deep-fried beer and will unveil it at the state fair. The beer is placed in a pocket of salty, pretzel-like dough and then dunked in oil at 375 degrees for about 20 seconds, a short enough time for the confection to remain alcoholic. "It tastes like you took a bite of hot pretzel dough and then took a drink of beer," he said.


    Sheriff Arpaio Sued by Justice Department
    Justice Department civil rights lawyers filed suit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona on Thursday after talks collapsed on a deal to provide federal investigators with documents they requested. The suit, filed in federal court in Phoenix, claims the Maricopa County sheriff has failed to cooperate with the investigation into alleged discrimination against Hispanics by Arpaio's law enforcement officials.


    Harrop: Washington Saved Our Economic Hide
    Froma Harrop: Clarence the angel has a tough job in It's a Wonderful Life. He must show the suicidal George Bailey what terrible things would have happened had he not been born. Two prominent economists are playing Clarence to the multitudes who believe that forceful government intervention during the financial meltdown should never have been. ... How fortunate for us all that the tea party wasn't running Washington.


    Sabato: GOP Will Take House
    The Democrats are likely to lose 47 seats and control of the House of Representatives in November's elections, political analyst Larry Sabato says in a new forecast Thursday. "The numbers are eye-catching. Republicans are dramatically gaining in all categories," Sabato said. "It's generated by a rotten economy and a strong conservative reaction against President Obama."


    Principal: 'Kookaburra' No Longer Gay
    A principal in Australia has asked students to stop using the word "gay" in the song "Kookaburra," changing one line to "fun your life must be." "All I was doing, relatively innocently, was substituting one word because I knew if we sing 'Gay your life must be' the kids will roll around the floor in fits of laughter," said Garry Martin, principal of Le Page Primary School.


    Netanyahu Seeks Historic Compromise
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expected to address Palestinian President Abbas in a speech before dinner with heads of state and tell him "every peace begins with leaders."


    Newsweek: Solving America's Tax Nightmare
    Newsweek: How about this for a tax plan: cut most people's taxes by half, eliminate the need to file returns, and provide the Treasury with a better way to reduce the deficit. Sound impossible? It's not.


    Pundit Admits He 'Blew It' on Iraq
    Washington Post columnist Matt Miller, unlike many pundits who backed the Iraq war in 2003, is admitting that he made a mistake. "I blew it," Miller writes. "If I'd known beforehand that Hussein did not possess weapons of mass destruction, I would not have supported the war."


    Salon: GOP Fakes Racial History
    Salon.Com: Almost 50 years ago, the GOP embraced the backlash generated by civil rights among white Southerners ... It's an inconvenient story for today's GOP, which uses cultural, racial and ethnic wedge issues to keep its base in line -- but also needs less conservative suburbanites across the country to compete in national elections. It's particularly inconvenient for Mississippi governor Haley Barbour, who aspires to run as the GOP nominee against the nation's first black president. So Barbour's invented his own sanitized, suburb-friendly version of history -- andit's utter nonsense.


    Brewer Bungles Arizona Gov Debate
    Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) gave an opening statement in a debate Wednesday night against challenger Terry Goddard (D) that was so awkward it's making news. "I have ... done so much and I just cannot believe that we have changed everything since I've become your governor in the last 600 days," Brewer said. "We have cut the budget, we have balanced the budget and we are moving forward. We have done everything that we could possibly do," the governor paused for a 10 seconds -- an eternity in a live televised debate -- before looking down at her notes.


    Bolton 'Not Saying No' to Run for President
    Asked this week if he wanted to run for president, former UN ambassador John Bolton wouldn't rule out the possibility. "You know, as somebody who writes op-eds and appears on the television, I appreciate as well as anybody that ... there is a limit to what that accomplishes," he said. "I'm not saying 'no'."


    MSNBC Top News
    Employers hire more workers than expected
    Private employers hired more workers than expected in August, lifting hopes for the weak U.S. economy, but the nation’s unemployment rate rose for the first time in four months.

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    Employment - Unemployment - United States - Recreation - Picture Ratings
    Life Inc.: Government cuts weigh on job market


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    Employment - United States - Business - Business and Economy - Canada
    Earl, downgraded to Cat. 1, heads north
    Forecasters downgraded Hurricane Earl to a Category 1 storm Friday, but warned that they expect it to remain a large hurricane as it approaches southeastern New England.

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    North Carolina - Hurricane Earl - United States - Time Warner Cable - Tropical cyclone
    Are you in the hurricane zone? Send images, stories
    Send your images and stories from breaking news scenes.

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    U.S. cargo plane crashes in Dubai
    An American cargo plane attempting to land at Dubai's airport instead crashed nearby Friday, setting some cars on fire and killing several people, Al Arabiya television reported.

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    Dubai - United Arab Emirates - United States - Al Arabiya - Middle East
    Deadly bomb blast rocks rally in Pakistan

    People rush to aid victims and run for cover soon after an explosion during a Shiite procession in Quetta, Pakistan, Friday.The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility on Friday for a suicide bombing that killed at least 43 people in the southwestern city of Quetta.




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    Pakistan - Quetta - Asia - Balochistan - Government
    Ex-egg farm workers say complaints ignored

    Robert Arnold looks on as his wife, Deanna, holds a rooster on their farm, Thursday, in Garrison, Iowa. The couple, former workers at Wright County Egg facilities, say they reported problems such as leaking manure and dead chickens to USDA employees, but were ignored. U.S. Agriculture Department employees worked full-time at two Iowa egg farms at the center of a salmonella outbreak, but two former workers said they ignored complaints about conditions at one site.




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    United States - Agriculture - Iowa - Food and Drug Administration - U.S. Agriculture Department
    Drugmakers script social media to push meds

    Tom Abrams, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications, talks with co-workers Sheetal Patel (left) and Ernest Voyard (second left) about the FDA's enforcement of rules against deceptive pharmaceuticals advertising at FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.It wasn't what you would call a casual get-together.  A popular New York blogger attended a brunch with fellow "frazzled moms." They took in tips from a style expert and listened to a nurse extol the virtues of Mirena, a birth control device sold by Bayer Healthcare.  The nurse was on Bayer's payroll.




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    birthcontrol - Bayer - Social media - New York City - Health
    70-year-old scientist sparks airport bomb scare

    Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue vehicles are shown at the Miami International Airport arrival level early Friday.A 70-year-old scientist sparked a bomb scare at Miami airport Thursday evening when screeners found a metal canister in his luggage that looked like a pipe bomb, a government official said.




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    Miami International Airport - Aviation - Airports - Business - Transportation and Logistics
    Gates: U.S. troops face 'tough days' ahead

    U.S. Marines in the background provide security as a Marine and a U.S. Army Task Force Shadow flight medic, right, rush a Marine wounded in an explosive attack across a field to a medevac helicopter, west of Lashkar Gah, in southern Afghanistan Thursday.As the last of 30,000 U.S. reinforcements arrive in Afghanistan, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Friday got a firsthand look at operations in the dangerous south.




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    Afghanistan - Robert Gates - United States Secretary of Defense - Asia - Hamid Karzai
    U.S. court backs 'Ladies Night' promotions
    Mom’s hug revives baby that was pronounced dead
    “He’s doing things dead babies don’t do — you might want to come see this!” Kate Ogg told doctors who had declared her premature baby dead. After the Australian mom held him to her body for two hours in a method called “kangaroo care,” the infant stirred to life.

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    Preterm birth - Infant - Australia - Infant mortality - Health
    7 defendants convicted in Portugal sex abuse trial

    Bernardo Teixeira, one of the alleged victims of child sex abuse at a state-run children's home in Lisbon called Casa Pia arrives at a court in Lisbon, Friday, Sept. 3 2010 for the verdict of the major child sex abuse trial that has lasted almost six years. A former worker at a state-run orphanage admitted to participating in a network that systematically abused children and implicated six other defendants including Carlos Cruz . (AP Photo/Armando Franca)Seven people were convicted of child sex abuse in Portugal on Friday in a major trial that lasted nearly six years, a prosecutor said.




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    Portugal - Child sexual abuse - Child abuse - Trial - Casa Pia
    Teen accidentally texts sheriff to buy pot
    General rule of thumb: when looking to buy marijuana, don't text the sheriff. Authorities said a Helena teen sent out a text message last week in search of pot, but instead of contacting the drug dealer, he hit a wrong number and inadvertently sent the message to Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton.

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    Sheriff - Cannabis - Illegal drug trade - Text messaging - Lewis and Clark County Montana
    Fuel tanker runs aground in Canadian Arctic
    A fuel tanker loaded with 9 million liters (2.4 million gallons) of diesel fuel has run aground in Canada's Far North but none of the fuel has spilled, the Canadian Coast Guard said on Thursday.

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    Canada - Canadian Coast Guard - Diesel fuel - Arctic - Nunavut
    Iranian opposition leader's home attacked

    ** CORRECTS DATE OF ATTACK ** FILE - In this June 9, 2009 file photo, Iranian opposition leader Mahdi Karroubi attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran. Pro-government militiamen attacked the home of Iranian opposition leader Mahdi Karroubi with homemade bombs and beat one of his bodyguards unconscious Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, an opposition website reported, in an apparent attempt to keep him from attending the annual state-sponsored rally known as Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)Pro-government militiamen attacked the home of an Iranian opposition leader with homemade bombs and beat one of his bodyguards unconscious, an opposition website reported, in an apparent attempt to keep him from attending a key rally on Friday.




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    Iran - Middle East - Mir-Hossein Mousavi - Mehdi Karroubi - Basij
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    Volcano, dormant 400 years, spews new ash

    Mount Sinabung spews volcanic smoke as seen from Tanah Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia, on Thursday.An Indonesian volcano that was quiet for four centuries shot a new, powerful burst of hot ash more than 10,000 feet in the air Friday, sending frightened residents fleeing to safety for the second time this week.




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    Volcano - Earth Sciences - Natural Disasters and Hazards - Volcanoes - Indonesian language
    Flirting your way to the corner office

    To critics of office flirting, author Nicole Williams says "It's empowering. Flirting is one of many assets that you can work to get ahead." Flirting, after all, is one of the oldest tricks in the book. But how do you use it to your professional advantage without crossing the line or inviting unwanted advances?




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    Business - flirt - Arts - Telecommunication - Author
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    Israel urged to open up atomic program
    The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog has invited Israel to consider joining a global anti-nuclear arms pact and to place all its atomic facilities under his agency's inspections, an IAEA report said on Friday.

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    Israel - International Atomic Energy Agency - Nuclear weapon - United Nations - Nuclear
    Castro dons uniform for first big speech in years

    Fidel Castro grips the arm of a bodyguard as he arrives to deliver a speech to students outside Havana's University on Friday.At 84 and having dusted off his military uniform, Fidel Castro on Friday addressed his first political rally since becoming ill and resigning as president in 2006.




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    Fidel Castro - Cuba - United States - Caribbean - Politics
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    Ancient Nubians drank antibiotic-laced beer
    People have been using antibiotics for nearly 2,000 years, suggests a new study, which found large doses of tetracycline embedded in the bones of ancient African mummies.

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    Antibiotic - Beer - nubian - Ancient Egypt - Health
    Plant and spiders compete for food

    The carnivorous sundew and the wolf spider eat the same prey in the wild. Wolf spiders and carnivorous plants called sundews may compete with each other for food in the wild, a new study finds.




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    Carnivorous plant - Plant - Spider - Biology - Flora and Fauna
    Pryor, No. 2 OSU pick apart Marshall in opener

    Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against Marshall on Thursday.Terrelle Pryor tossed three touchdown passes, Brandon Saine rushed for 103 yards and two scores and No. 2 Ohio State rolled over error-prone Marshall 45-7 on Thursday night in a tuneup for a big date with Miami.




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    Terrelle Pryor - Ohio State University - Brandon Saine - Miami - Touchdown
    Coast Guard: No oil sheen from Gulf explosion

    Crew members float in the water, huddled together in survival outfits.The Coast Guard is backing off its earlier report that an oil sheen about a mile long was spreading following a platform explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.




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    Gulf of Mexico - Oil spill - Oil platform - Environment - Energy
    Woman in acid attack recounts agonizing pain
    Bethany Storro had just bought a pair of sunglasses and was celebrating a new job when a woman walked up to her with a cup and said: "Hey pretty girl, do you want to drink this?"

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    Health - Vancouver - Bethany Storro - Portland Oregon - Washington
    George Clooney is America's James Bond

    In "The American," which opens Sept. 1, George Clooney plays Jack, an assassin who retreats to Italy after a job goes bad. He's no James Bond, but there's a Bond-like sense about him.In "The American," which opens Sept. 1, George Clooney plays Jack, an assassin who retreats to Italy after a job goes bad. He's no James Bond, but there's a Bond-like sense about him.




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    George Clooney - James Bond - United States - Arts - Business
    MSNBC Entertainment
    'Machete' serves relentless, bloody action

    Danny Trejo's Machete is a commandingly fun presence, a former Mexican federal cop working as a day laborer in Texas after being left for dead by drug kingpin, who also killed his family.Viewers get precisely what they're paying for: beheadings, skewerings and kill shots to the head by the dozen, with other means of dispatch — death by corkscrew, high heels, crucifixion — tossed in for variety.


    'Going the Distance' is a failed romance
    Drew Barrymore's latest romantic comedy exhibits a realism that is often lacking in the genre, but despite a funny cast, the couple is insufferable and the script feels desperate for laughs.
    5 most favorite 'American' movies

    In this 2000 film publicity image originally released by DreamWorks, Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening are shown in a scene from, "American Beauty." (AP Photo/DreamWorks)"The American" is a ho-hum name for a thriller starring one of Hollywood's most powerful leading men -- George Clooney -- but it also makes you realize just how many movies have the word "American" in their title.


    'Runway' contestants still hatin' on Michael C.

    Despite sneers from his fellow contestants, the judges found his design to be edgy, sexy and feminine.While Michael Costello virtually no love from his fellow contestants, Heidi Klum and the judges raved about his re-invented bridesmaid dress.


    Kat Von D very happy with Jesse James

    Jesse James and Kat Von D arrive at the opening of her Wonderland Gallery on Thursday, Sept. 2 in West Hollywood, Calif.Kat Von D and Jesse James put their relationship on display Thursday, holding hands and posing for photos together at the opening of her Wonderland gallery in West Hollywood.


    'Crocodile Dundee' to return to US amid tax fray

    ** FILE ** In this April 18, 2001 file photo, Australian actor Paul Hogan, star of the "Crocodile Dundee" movie trilogy, poses in front of a movie poster for "Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles," at a screening of the movie, at the Paramount studios in Los Angeles, Calif. Hogan has been cleared to return home to the United States after he was barred last month from leaving Australia because of a disputed tax bill, his lawyer said Friday, Sept. 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Rene Macura, File)Actor Paul Hogan, star of the "Crocodile Dundee" movie trilogy, has been cleared to return home to the United States after he was barred last month from leaving Australia because of a disputed tax bill, his lawyer said Friday.


    theGrio: Trouble has a way of finding T.I.


    Ne-Yo says T.I. makes a lot of poor decisions

    FILE - In this July 21, 2010 file photo, musician Ne-Yo dances while filming a music video for his upcoming single "One in a Million" on the Universal Studios lot in Los Angeles. In an interview with The Associated Press, released on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, Ne-Yo says T.I. has had many chances, and it's time he gets his act together. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)Ne-Yo says T.I. has had many chances — and it's time he gets his act together.


    Kutcher slams tabloid over cheating story

    Actress Demi Moore, right, is backing up her husband Ashton Kutcher on Twitter.The actor hit his Twitter account to lash out at Star magazine, which claimed in its latest issue that his marriage to Demi Moore "is in danger of falling apart."


    Paris' not-my-bag claim undone by her Twitpic?

    When the heiress was arrested in Las Vegas, she claimed the Chanel purse containing a bindle of cocaine wasn't hers, and a Twitpic she posted in July may be proof she's not telling the truth.


    Who will survive the 'True Blood' season finale?

    Clockwise from top left, Alcide, Jesus, Russell, Tommy and Holly all somehow survive the "True Blood" finale. Despite what looked to be impending doom of some characters on the Aug. 28 episode, many of the show's newbies will be back for season four, according to sources.


    Michael Lohan: 'God wants me to' open rehab
    His estranged daughter Lindsay is one of the most well-known rehab patients in the world -- and now Michael Lohan is on a mission to open his own rehab facility in California
    Newsweek: Worst racial stereotypes in pop culture
    Charlie Chan might be getting a new lease on life as a popular character, but some storied depictions of minorities in pop culture haven't aged as well. Below, five of the most dated and stereotyped characters in movies, cartoons, and literature.
    Drum roll, please! Oprah to make book club pick

    Due to the popularity of her TV talk show, Oprah Winfrey’s book club picks have turned obscure novels into best-sellers.The first week of the final season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will include a selection for Oprah's Book Club.  In the past, Winfrey's picks have turned obscure novels into best-sellers.


    Zsa Zsa Gabor leaves hospital
    The star, whose health has been failing in recent months since she fell and broke her hip, has returned home after being hospitalized this week, her spokesman said on Thursday.
    'Gone with the Wind' child actress dies at 76

    FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2006 photo, Ann-Marie Johnson, National First Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild second from right, joins Gone With the Wind cast, from left: Ann Rutherford, Cammie King Conlon, Mickey Kuhn, Patrick Curtis and Fred Crane  to celebrate actress Hattie McDaniel's stamp, seen at left, at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. Cammie King Conlon, the former child actress who portrayed the doomed daughter of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind," has died at the age of 76.   She died of lung cancer Wednesday morning at her Fort Bragg home on California's north coast, said friend Bruce Lewis.  Her son, Matthew Ned Conlon, was by her side.  (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)Cammie King Conlon, the former child actress who portrayed the doomed daughter of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind," has died at the age of 76.


    Judge: Hilton may owe $160K over movie deal
    Paris Hilton may owe investors in her 2006 movie "Pledge This!" about $160,000 for failing to do enough promotion.
    Man in Letterman blackmail plot freed from jail

    Robert "Joe" Halderman still has to complete 1,000 hours of community service, and he'll be on probation for five years.Robert "Joe" Halderman admitted he demanded $2 million in hush money last fall to keep from revealing personal information about Letterman.


    T.I., wife arrested on meth possession charge

    T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., has a key role in the current top box office movie "Takers." He served seven months in an Arkansas federal prison and three months in a Georgia halfway house on federal weapons charges and was released in March.Grammy-winning rapper T.I. was arrested along with his wife on suspicion of possessing methamphetamines, five months after the hip-hop star finished a prison stint on weapons charges.


    Extra critically injured on 'Transformers 3' set
    Indiana State Police say a movie extra has been critically injured on the production set of "Transformers 3."
    George Clooney is America's James Bond

    In "The American," which opens Sept. 1, George Clooney plays Jack, an assassin who retreats to Italy after a job goes bad. He's no James Bond, but there's a Bond-like sense about him.In "The American," which opens Sept. 1, George Clooney plays Jack, an assassin who retreats to Italy after a job goes bad. He's no James Bond, but there's a Bond-like sense about him.


    'The American' is a bleak, haunting thriller

    George Clooney plays an assassin hiding out in an Italian village in "The American."Director Anton Corbijn has crafted a quiet, haunting European thriller, drained of emotion and moving to its own deliberate pace.


    Axl Rose tries fans' patience, walks off stage

    Concert promoters forced Axl Rose to finish performing the Guns N' Roses set after he walked off the stage.The 48-year-old singer of U.S. hard-rock band Guns N' Roses irritated thousands of his Dublin fans at the 02 Arena on Wednesday night by showing up nearly an hour late.


    Slideshow: Slideshow: The week in celebrity sightings

    Sofia Coppola is behind the camera in Venice, Jaden Smith poses with his fans, Jesse James and Kat Von D open a gallery and more.Sofia Coppola is behind the camera in Venice, Jaden Smith poses with his fans, Jesse James and Kat Von D open a gallery and more.


    TV listings
    BBC News
    Police questioning Pakistan trio
    Police are questioning the three Pakistan players accused of corruption, while the ICC says that the players implicated have a disciplinary case to answer.
    Prescott urges phone hack review
    Lord Prescott says he is prepared to take legal action to find out whether News of The World journalists hacked into his phone messages.
    Lib Dem veteran Cyril Smith dies
    The former Liberal Democrat MP Sir Cyril Smith has died aged 82, his family and party confirm.
    Explosion at Hare Krishna temple
    An explosion partly destroys a Hare Krishna temple in Leicester, but no worshippers are seriously hurt.
    Pakistan rally bomb kills dozens
    A bomb kills at least 42 people at a Shia Muslim rally in the south-western city of Quetta, the second attack on Pakistan's religious minority in days.
    UN calls special food price talks
    The United Nations' food agency calls a special meeting of policy makers to discuss the recent rapid rises in food prices.
    Thompson defends BBC No 10 visit
    Director general denies he compromised the BBC's independence by visiting Downing Street to discuss coverage of the government's spending cuts.
    Tycoon Nadir bailed in fraud case
    Fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir is remanded on bail at the Old Bailey at his first court appearance on fraud and theft charges.
    Ex-MI6 man sentenced over leaks
    A former MI6 worker is given a 12-month jail sentence for trying to sell top secret material for £2m.
    Six men jailed for Portugal abuse
    Six Portuguese men are sentenced to between five and 18 years in jail after being found guilty of multiple charges of sexual abuse at a state-run children's home.
    Cheryl and Ashley granted divorce
    Cheryl and Ashley Cole are granted a divorce at the High Court after four years of marriage.
    Baby Florence makes Downing Street debut
    Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha show off their baby daughter, Florence, for the first time on the steps of Number 10.
    Sarah Kennedy is leaving BBC Radio 2
    Veteran broadcaster Sarah Kennedy is leaving BBC Radio 2's Dawn Patrol show - 34 years after joining the station
    Live text - US Open day five
    Women's fifth seed Samantha Stosur is in action early on day five at Flushing Meadows, while Andy Murray takes on Dustin Brown at about 2000 BST.
    England pressure inspires Capello
    England coach Fabio Capello says he hopes the pressure of expectation over the team's Euro 2012 qualifier with Bulgaria will bring out the best in him.
    Farah out of Commonwealth Games
    Double European champion Mo Farah announces his withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games because of fatigue.
    Beckham eyes 11 September return
    Former England captain David Beckham hopes to play for the LA Galaxy against Columbus Crew on 11 September.
    McCulloch and Naismith in for Scots
    Lee McCulloch and Steven Naismith are among six Rangers players in the Scotland team to face Lithuania on Friday.
    Probe as police crash seized car
    Two police officers are suspended from driving duties after crashing a car they had seized from a suspected drink-driver.
    Plane body women face no charges
    Two women who were arrested after trying to take a dead relative on to a plane at Liverpool John Lennon Airport will not face charges.
    Man held over power drill attack
    A 19-year-old man is arrested after a serious assault in North Lanarkshire in which a man was attacked with a power drill.
    'Jail' for 11 fans in Uefa riot
    Eleven football hooligans who took part in the worst destruction Manchester has suffered "since the Blitz" will be going to jail, a judge has said.
    PSNI rescue 'trafficking victims'
    Several "potential victims of human trafficking" have been rescued in raids on suspected brothels in Belfast, police say.
    Error 'no bearing on Donagh move'
    The justice minister David Ford says that a clerical error had no bearing in the decision to allow the McDermott brothers to return to Donagh.
    MP says paper 'hacked' his phone
    Welsh MP Chris Bryant says he believes his answer machine messages were intercepted by journalists at a tabloid newspaper.
    Daughter denies murdering father
    A teenager pleads not guilty to murdering her 61-year-old father along with three other people.
    Mozambique police fire at rioters
    Police in Mozambique's capital fire rubber bullets on the third day of riots, as the violence spreads to the central city of Chimoio.
    SA condemns Madagascar jail term
    South Africa strongly criticises Madagascar over the life sentence passed on exiled President Marc Ravalomanana.
    Japan imposes new Iran sanctions
    Japan imposes new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme but maintains its oil import schedule.
    China warships end Burma visit
    The first visit of Chinese warships to Burma ends as top Burmese leader Than Shwe prepares to visit Beijing, highlighting the two country's close ties.
    Irish delay EU-Israel data deal
    Dublin delays a deal to allow transfers of EU citizens' data to Israel, which is accused of forging passports.
    Fox rules out French 'ship share'
    Defence Secretary Liam Fox rules out the UK sharing aircraft carriers with France as part of closer defence co-operation.
    Mexican clash 'kills 27 gunmen'
    Twenty-seven suspected drug gang members are killed in a clash with troops near the US border, Mexico's army says, hours after the country's president vows to continue the fight against drug cartels.
    Amazon river level at 40-year low
    The River Amazon has dropped to its lowest level in 40 years in north-eastern Peru, leaving boats stranded.
    Iran says Mid-East talks doomed
    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians are doomed to fail, in the first regional reaction to the talks.
    Plane 'crashes on Dubai highway'
    A cargo plane has crashed on a major highway in Dubai, setting some cars on fire, local officials and media reports say.
    S Lanka panel lost in translation
    A key witness at the commission set up to examine the last years of Sri Lanka's civil war complains his words were not properly translated.
    India Maoists kill police hostage
    Maoist rebels in the Indian state of Bihar say they have killed one of four policemen they had been holding hostage.
    US sees 54,000 jobs go in August
    The US economy shed another 54,000 jobs in August, the third month in a row that jobs have been lost, official figures show.
    Hurricane Earl skirts eastern US
    A weakened hurricane Earl skirts past North Carolina's Outer Banks and continues up the US east coast as a "category one" storm.
    HSBC threatens to quit London HQ
    HSBC may quit its London headquarters if the UK government decides to break up big banks, a senior executive says.
    BP says oil spill cost up to $8bn
    BP says the cost of its Gulf of Mexico oil spill has risen to $8bn - a rise of more than $2bn in the last month alone.
    UK builders and services falter
    New data shows new construction orders contracted in the second quarter, while the services sector slowed sharply in August.
    Farage to contest UKIP leadership
    Nigel Farage says he will stand for the leadership of the UK Independence Party, a position he held until last year.
    School lottery 'failed in aim'
    England's first city-wide lottery system aimed at solving the problem of allocating places at over-subscribed schools failed to give poorer children equal access to top schools, academics say.
    Openness urged on UK's emissions
    The government's chief environment scientist calls for more openness in admitting the UK's cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are an illusion.
    'No evidence' implants are toxic
    Tests on a type of breast implant filled with an unapproved gel have shown no evidence they are unsafe, UK experts say.
    Compost sparks Legionnaire's fear
    Gardeners are being warned about the risk of Legionnaire's disease from compost after a pensioner developed the disease after handling compost.
    Clue to egg flaws in older women
    British scientists say they are closer to knowing why older women trying to fall pregnant are more likely to produce abnormal eggs.
    Men in short supply in primaries
    One in four state primary schools in England has no male teacher, statistics show.
    Prodigy makes Cambridge history
    A 15-year-old maths prodigy is set to become the youngest undergraduate at the University of Cambridge for more than two centuries.
    School meals 'help fussy eaters'
    School lunches can tempt fussy eaters to try new foods, a survey carried out in England for the School Food Trust suggests.
    PS3 hack escapes court challenge
    Sony has won a permanent ban in Australia of a hack for its PS3, but the code behind it has been released for free on the web.
    Memristor revolution backed by HP
    A potentially revolutionary circuit component, once a laboratory curiosity, is to be mass-produced for the first time.
    Global broadband divide revealed
    The global disparity in access to broadband around the world and the cost of a connection is revealed by UN figures.
    Method to trace persistent CFCs
    Ultrafine measurements of atmospheric gases could help scientists track down the last sources of CFCs thought to be slowing the recovery of the ozone layer.
    Wolves fail to halt aspen decline
    The re-introduction of wolves to a US National Park has not helped re-establish quaking aspens, as many researchers had hoped.
    'Lights out' help migratory birds
    A growing number of New York sky-scrapers switch off their lights at night to help reduce the number of migratory birds hitting the buildings.
    Hirst works 'inspired by others'
    A group that campaigns against conceptual art claims 15 works by the artist Damien Hirst were inspired by other artists.
    Saunders writing Spice Girls show
    TV comedienne Jennifer Saunders is to write the story for musical Viva Forever - based on the songs of the Spice Girls.
    GMTV ends after 17 years on ITV
    Morning show GMTV appears on ITV1 for the final time after 17 years with presenter Andrew Castle paying tribute to viewers.
    Autobiographies of the rich and famous
    Tony Blair's memoirs has become the fastest selling autobiography in Britain. But what are the biggest overall sellers?
    Propping up a prime minister
    Tony Blair used alcohol as a 'prop' during his time in power but how many of us do the same?
    Been and Gone
    Our regular column covering the passing of significant - but lesser reported - people of the past month.
    What does the future hold for television?
    Rory Cellan-Jones tries out 3D video equipment and looks at the latest ultra thin and bright OLED TVs.
    Panda twins delight Japanese zoo
    New-born twin giant pandas made their first public appearance at a zoo in Japan on Friday in Shirahama.
    Sharks swarm off Australian coast
    Hundreds of sharks have been spotted off the Queensland coast.
    Bath tub sailor - it's Odd Box
    A man sailing the sea in a bath tub, mud sculptures and an ugly fish who finds love - it's the week's weird and wonderful video stories in Newsbeat's Odd Box with Dominic Byrne.
    Probably the world's oldest beer
    A team of divers say they have found the world's oldest drinkable beer in a shipwreck off the coast of Finland.
    On board UK's newest attack sub
    Commander Andy Coles shows BBC News around the control room of the Royal Navy's new attack submarine and talks about life on board.
    Florence Cameron's Downing St debut
    David and Samantha Cameron have introduced their new daughter, Florence, on the steps of 10 Downing Street.
    'I was nearly six foot at 11 years old'
    President Barack Obama's daughter, Malia, is now 12 years old and 5ft 9in (1.75m). But what's it like to be a young girl who's taller than the rest?
    Now you see it, now you don't
    A glimpse on board the UK's new stealth submarine
    Midnight feast
    Why bed-bug infestations are on the rise again
    Massive Mini
    How far can BMW stretch the brand before it snaps?
    7 days quiz
    How much is a bottle of beer under new price laws on booze?
    Troubled waters
    Why aren't black American children taught to swim?
    Speaking the lingo
    Does the NHS do enough for non-English speakers?
    London Times (World News)
    Bull 1, Mexican matador: never again
    Watch video of the bullfight

    Emails ‘prove BP systematically put safety at risk’
    Congressional investigators have published a series of internal BP memos which they say proves that the British company systematically and negligently put safety at risk on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in order to increase profits.

    Uzbekistan closes borders to refugees
    Uzbekistan last night closed its borders to refugees fleeing neighbouring Kyrgyzstan as the numbers killed in the ethnic violence spiralled and aid agencies reported fresh allegations of atrocities from the survivors.

    Serbia closer to EU membership thanks to ‘co-operation’ over Ratko Mladic
    Serbia took a significant step towards joining the EU after European foreign ministers relaxed demands for the alleged genocide fugitive Ratko Mladic to be arrested before allowing its membership application to proceed.

    Russia poised to intervene as ethnic violence rages in Kyrgyzstan
    The Kremlin edged closer last night to military intervention in Kyrgyzstan as the number of people killed in ethnic violence spiralled and as many as 100,000 refugees flooded neighbouring Uzbekistan.

    India fails to honour its elephant promise over granting of freedom
    Swaying forlornly in her concrete pen the rheumy-eyed Laxmi does not look like a cold-blooded killer.

    US military to punish culprits behind toxic waste dumping in Iraq
    The American military has announced an investigation into its disposal of hazardous material in Iraq and declared its intention to prosecute anyone violating environmental standards.

    Turkish aid flotilla was bringing wheelchairs, toys — and hope
    For the people of Gaza the most precious commodity on board the Turkish flotilla stormed by Israel last month was not electric wheelchairs or children’s toys or medicine: it was hope.

    Gaza crossing points opened as Israel bows to international pressure
    Israel bowed to international pressure yesterday when it agreed to reopen crossing points into Gaza for everyday goods.

    World Cup footballers Messi and Ronaldo join roar for ban on ‘deafening’ vuvuzela
    Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi joined calls by broadcasters and fans to ban the vuvuzela at the World Cup as British supermarkets reported selling one of the plastic horns every two seconds.
    US pension funds sue BP directors over the falling share price
    Fifteen directors of BP, including Tony Hayward, the chief executive, and Carl-Henric Svanberg, the chairman, are being sued personally by two US pension funds for their role in the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.
    Britain must prepare for casualty spike in Afghanistan, Cameron warns
    David Cameron warned yesterday that there would be more British deaths in Afghanistan this summer but said that the threat to Britain of an al-Qaeda attack from the region had dropped.
    Obama pledges clean energy policy to cut America’s dependency on oil
    President Obama likened the impact of the oil spill disaster on the nation’s psyche to the September 11 terrorist attacks as he made his first multi-state tour yesterday of the Gulf of Mexico.
    Value of Afghanistan’s mineral discovery needs to be dealt with cautiously
    The good news from the men at the Pentagon is that beneath the landmines Afghanistan is sitting on a goldmine.

    Camera becomes turtle’s toy during 1,000-mile sea odyssey
    The mystery of a lost camera’s 1,000-mile aquatic journey has been solved by a sea turtle with a predilection for home videos.

    $5m prize for good governance goes unclaimed again in Africa$
    Wanted — an African leader who has stood down after a free and fair election. Candidates should be honest and have a healthy respect for the democratic process. Young candidates are preferred.

    Royal two for one: William and Harry go to Africa on first joint tour
    In these times of austerity, it is the royal tour that gives value for money: two princes for the price of one. Prince William and Prince Harry’s trip to Africa — a six-day, three-country dash that began today and will take in England’s next World Cup match in Cape Town — is the first time they have embarked on a tour together.

    President Obama compares Gulf of Mexico oil leak to 9/11
    President Obama predicted a wholesale rethink of America’s love affair with oil today, saying he believed the Gulf disaster would have as profound an impact on the American psyche and policy as 9/11.

    Israel’s internal inquiry into Gaza ship attack rejected by Turkey
    Israel has agreed to set up an internal commission to investigate the killing of nine Turkish passengers on a humanitarian aid convoy that was boarded by Israeli commandos two weeks ago, officials said.

    Israel promises to ease its three year blockade of Gaza
    Read more on the Turkish aid flotilla deaths at The Times's new website
    Riot police break up World Cup pay protest
    Read Simon Barnes on Capello's mistakes and live coverage of the World Cup latest at The Times's new website

    200 killed in ethnic fighting in Kyrgyzstan
    China sends plane to rescue its nationals

    BP shares dive amid US senators’ £20bn escrow plan
    Read how BP managers face years in jail and how America snubbed British offer of help with spill at The Times's new website
    Afghanistan ‘holds $1 trillion in mineral deposits$’
    Afghanistan has nearly $US1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits, far more than previously thought and enough to turn a country devastated by decades of war into one of the most important mining centres in the world, according to senior US officials.$

    Brits storm Broadway in the Tonys
    See pictures of last night's Tony awards, and read more about British successes at The Times's new website

    SciFiWire -- news from Science Fiction
    First clip from the vampire film Let Me In. Okay, we're hooked!

    Here's the first clip from Let Me In, Matt Reeves' remake of the brilliant Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In. And this scene looks very promising for fans of the original (which we wholeheartedly are).

    Image of the Day: AWESOME Samurai Stormtrooper!
    The tabi shoes are an especially nice touch. From imgur.
    M. Night making Unbreakable 2, but as a Night Chronicles film

    If you're an M. Night Shyamalan fan who's been waiting to see the long-promised Unbreakable sequel, well ... we're not sure how you're going to feel about this. On the plus side, M. Night had an idea for Unbreakable 2 that he's excited about and that's going to be made into a film.

    Stephen Hawking says the universe doesn't need God

    Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking says the universe is perfectly capable of creating itself, thank you very much, and it doesn't require the existence of God or a God-like outside source to get things started.

    Fan creates amazingly satisfying retconned theory of Lost

    Many people were disappointed with the way Lost ended, and even those who liked the ending still had lots of unanswered questions after the finale. Well, prepare to get some answers, because a diligent fan who goes by the name of That John Locke just found a way to take all the theories about Lost floating around the Internet and turn them into one unifying explanation that actually seems to make more sense than the show itself did.

    Jane Espenson tells us about Torchwood's 'intense' next season

    Jane Espenson is one of the most beloved science fiction TV writers out there, and also a very busy one. She's worked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, Dollhouse, Caprica and a whole bunch of other shows, and now she's working on the new season of Torchwood.

    19 upcoming superhero movies you need to know about

    Ever since Spider-Man came out in 2002 and set all kinds of records for making money, the movie industry has gone crazy for superheros. Eight years on, they just keep on coming. We've had some great ones (Iron Man, The Dark Knight) along with some not-so-good ones (Wolverine, Fantastic Four).

    Over the next three years we're going to have the chance to see more than a dozen superhero films, mostly from Marvel and DC, but also a few others. To help keep track of it all we've created this handy guide to the 19 most notable titles that are supposed to come out (some more tentatively than others) through 2013.

    Warning: How bringing babies to the movies can spoil Inception
    Moviefone debuted a new weekly comic strip yesterday. This one's about Inception. We laughed.
    True Blood spoilers for the Season 3 finale AND for Season 4

    The True Blood season-three finale is going to air next Sunday, Sept. 12, which pretty much means now is the time to start talking about season four. On cue, E! Online has pieced together info on some of the characters who'll be coming back next year, which means not only that they have a head start on spoiling season four, but that they're also spoiling the season-three finale by letting you know who won't be dying.

    Marvel plans to fill Captain America film with super easter eggs

    Marvel's grand plan to release a bunch of individual superhero movies leading up to the ensemble adventure of Joss Whedon's Avengers film apparently involves hiding easter eggs all over the place.

    First, shocking look at David Tennant in Fright Night

    When it was announced that David Tennant had scored the role of Peter Vincent in the Fright Night remake, the collective sound of millions of squeeing fans from the Doctor Who/David Tennant community was probably heard all over. Today, we now have our very first look at what the actor looks like in the role, and it's really, REALLY interesting. And kind of shocking.

    Image of the Day: Dragon vs. B-25 Bomber from Sucker Punch
    A new image from Zack Snyder's upcoming film Sucker Punch, showing more of the dragon/B-25 fight we saw in the trailer, appeared today on Cruel Films.
    Neil Gaiman's Sandman being developed for TV, minus Neil Gaiman

    Neil Gaiman's landmark literary comic series The Sandman is being developed by Warner Brothers as a TV series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That's the good news. The bad news is, Neil isn't actually working on it.

    Angelina Jolie accidently kills the sci-fi blockbuster Gravity
    Gravity was going to be a big 3-D sci-fi film billed as Cast Away in space, with Angelina Jolie playing the Tom Hanks bit (no word on what Wilson would be made from). The problem is, Angelina doesn't actually want to be in the film, and now Gravity might never get made.
    Syfy starts work on Neverland, a 4-hour prequel to Peter Pan

    This was first announced back in March, but today Syfy said production is going to start next week on its four-hour Peter Pan prequel called Neverland. It's being written and directed by Nick Willing, who worked on Syfy's Tin Man and Alice, which were reimaginings of The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland.

    Dvice - Tech News
    UN warns that a cybewar would be catastrophic
    UN warns that a cybewar would be catastrophic

    Hamadoun Touré, the Secretary General of the UN's International Telecommunications Union since 1999, says that it's crucial that we start thinking in new terms about cyberspace. If not, he warns, we could face a destructive potential "worse than a tsunami."

    Japan gets billboards that can recognize you, terrifyingly enough
    Japan gets billboards that can recognize you, terrifyingly enough

    One of the cooler pieces of future-tech shown off in the movie Minority Report were the ads that recognized people and gave them personalized messages. I mean, they were incredibly creepy, but cool in a fantasy situation. Guess what? They're becoming real.

    Apple's Ping, a wretched hive of spam and villainy
    Apple's Ping, a wretched hive of spam and villainy

    That didn't take long. We're on day two of Apple's Ping and it's already showing the telltale signs of a social network being dirtied up. It doesn't take long for prospectors to spot a potential gold mine, and by "prospectors," of course, I mean no good dirty spammers.

    World's thinnest OLED TV is a (relative) bargain at $9,000
    World's thinnest OLED TV is a (relative) bargain at $9,000

    People have been saying that OLED TVs are the wave of the future, offering up brilliant color and brightness in very thin panels that are very energy efficient. What's not to like? Well, the price, for one, with Sony's first OLED TV, the XEL-1, measured a mere 11 inches and cost over $2,000.

    Magic photo booths use instant plastic surgery to make anyone super cute

    Once again Japanese schoolgirls are popularizing bleeding-edge technology, this time via Japan's latest photo booths that zap anyone with instant photoshop magic designed to make even the homeliest poser cute as a puppy.

    NASA's next big spacecraft will be a solar-powered electric rocket
    NASA's next big spacecraft will be a solar-powered electric rocket

    With the shuttle fleet due to retire and the Constellation program — which was going to give NASA an option in deploying personnel to orbit and beyond — entirely scrapped, all eyes have been on what NASA will work on next. The agency has the answer.

    iPad too pricey? This 10-inch Android tablet is just $300
    iPad too pricey? This 10-inch Android tablet is just $300

    Here comes Apple's Android tablet competition. Along with today's official reveal of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Archos has taken the wraps off not one but a full line of five small and large tablets. The star: a 10.1-inch challenger to the iPad that's $200 cheaper.

    Airbag-equipped seats promise a soft landing for NASA astronauts
    Airbag-equipped seats promise a soft landing for NASA astronauts

    With the Space Shuttle program winding down, NASA is busy developing new equipment that can do the work of the shuttle, and that includes the Orion escape module. While it has performed well in tests, Orion doesn't exactly give its passengers the softest landing, so MIT graduate student Sydney Do has developed a clever system to cushion the impact.

    Amazon strikes back against Apple TV with $0.99 unlimited streaming
    Amazon strikes back against Apple TV with $0.99 unlimited streaming

    Just a day after Steve Jobs showed off a freshly shrunk, content-backed Apple TV, Amazon is taking the Cupertino company's streaming policy head-on. With Apple, you're renting — a dollar only gets you so much time. With Amazon, your buck lasts forever.

    Ferrari lets you drive their Formula 1 car for 19 bucks... sort of

    Ferrari has already built a truly awesome F1 simulator for their own use, but now they have taken a big slice of that experience, and turned it into a home game version you can play on your PC.

    Sony Walkman dethrones the iPod in Japan
    Sony Walkman dethrones the iPod in Japan

    In the U.S., "iPod" is pretty much synonymous with "MP3 player." How many people do you know who own anything else? It's the same in Japan, but times could be a-changin'. See, the iPod has finally be out-sold, and it was beat by the venerable Sony Walkman.

    Amazing video: Earth from the International Space Station
    Amazing video: Earth from the International Space Station

    During his time on the International Space Station, astronaut Don Pettit captured what few of us terrestrials will ever get to see with our own eyes: the Earth from orbit. It's a breathtaking sight, and Pettit was good enough to turn his snaps into a gorgeous time-lapse.

    And the winner of DVICE's Twitter contest is...
    And the winner of DVICE's Twitter contest is...

    Yesterday, Apple had on of the company's trademark self-lovefests, and if you were following DVICE on Twitter, you got all the news as it was happening (and not minutes after it was happening, which is what people who tuned into the "live" stream saw). One lucky reader got more than that, though.

    Heat-seeking Nerf machine gun is seriously intimidating

    How do you make a badass Nerf belt-fed machine gun even more badass? By modifying it to sense out body heat and fire at anything alive that crosses its path. Holy moly.

    Philips creates the widest 3D TV yet
    Philips creates the widest 3D TV yet

    Most people have widescreen TVs now, as all HDTVs are widescreens. Unlike older tube TVs, which had a more square aspect ratio, people are now into a more rectangular image. But Philips 21:9 3D TV makes normal widescreen TV's look downright square in comparison.

    CNN Technology
    Users amused, annoyed by Facebook Places
    It's been two weeks since Facebook users took to blogs and message boards to voice their concerns about Places, a location-based service that allows people to check in to gathering spots via the social network.
    Will motion controls reinvent gaming?
    Four years ago, Nintendo's gesture-tracking Wii system proved the power of motion controls to extend the mainstream appeal of video games.
    iTunes Ping: The missing thing
    Apple this week launched Ping, a new social network that runs within the iTunes software.
    Crowded web TV field awaits Apple
    With Wednesday's announcement that it will be revamping its web TV offerings, Apple has made its most serious push into an emerging, and increasingly crowded, field.
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