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Technology's Richest Billionaires - Forbes


Globe and Mail

Technology's Richest Billionaires
Forbes
Bill Gates loses top spot, but stock surge lifts fortunes of youngest and once-young technology moguls. Bill Gates is no longer the world's richest man. Though the software visionary's net worth rose $13 billion to a whopping $53 billion in the last ...
Slim Overtakes Gates, Buffett to Become Forbes Richest PersonBusinessWeek
Forbes rich list topped by Mexican mobile phone titan Carlos SlimThe Guardian
Mexico's Carlos Slim overtakes Gates in world rich listBBC News
Times Online -MarketWatch -Reuters
all 54 news articles »

White House continues to slam insurers - CNN


New York Times (blog)

White House continues to slam insurers
CNN
Washington (CNN) -- President Obama is set to turn up the heat on private health insurers again Wednesday, taking his increasingly populist health care overhaul pitch on the road to the political battleground state of Missouri. ...
Obama takes health care overhaul push to MissouriWashington Post
Obama: Nothing needs reform more than health careUSA Today
US health secretary piles pressure on insurersReuters
Kansas City Star -Wall Street Journal -America's News Online
all 2,297 news articles »

From McDonnell, A Turn On Sexual Orientation - Atlantic Online


Washington Times

From McDonnell, A Turn On Sexual Orientation
Atlantic Online
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc? Last night, the Daily Show with Jon Stewart broadcast a pretty devastating take-down of the anti-gay initiatives being undertaken by the new governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, and his anti-gay attorney general, ...
Northern Virginia jurisdictions win homeland security fundsBizjournals.com
Virginia passes offshore drilling billsWashington Business Journal
Governor issues directive against discriminationCulpeper Star Exponent
Virginia Tech Collegiate Times -Loudoun Independent -The Virginian-Pilot
all 202 news articles »

Senate passes $149 bln for jobless aid, tax breaks - Reuters


CBS News

Senate passes $149 bln for jobless aid, tax breaks
Reuters
People looking for jobs meet professionals from more than 30 employers at the UJA-Federation of New York's Connect to Care job fair in New York, in this file image from March 2, 2010. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion ...
Senate passes jobs measure with some GOP supportMiamiHerald.com
Student-Loan Bill May Enter Health-Care MixWall Street Journal
"Slaughter Solution?" GOP Uses Lawmaker's Name to Hit Health CareCBS News
FOXNews -NASDAQ -UPI.com
all 1,768 news articles »

'Jihad Jane': How does Al Qaeda recruit US-born women? - Christian Science Monitor


Telegraph.co.uk

'Jihad Jane': How does Al Qaeda recruit US-born women?
Christian Science Monitor
The case of 'Jihad Jane' raises troubling questions about the ability of Al Qaeda to attract US-born women to terrorism. This undated image, obtained courtesy of Fox News, shows a photo from a website that authorities say was maintained by terror ...
Pa. suspect: Caretaker by day, 'Jihad Jane' onlineThe Associated Press
'Jihad Jane's' Arrest Raises Fears About Homegrown TerroristsABC News
Pennsylvania Woman Tied to Plot on CartoonistNew York Times
San Angelo Standard Times -KYW1060.com -The Guardian
all 1,620 news articles »

Female WWII aviators honored with gold medal - The Associated Press


Boston Globe

Female WWII aviators honored with gold medal
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — They flew planes during World War II but weren't considered "real" military pilots. No flags were draped over their coffins when they died on duty. And when their service ended, they had to pay their own bus fare home. ...
At Capitol ceremony, female aviators of WWII honoredMiamiHerald.com
Mich. women WWII pilots receive Congressional Gold MedalThe Detroit News
Michigan woman is among World War II pilots honoredDetroit Free Press
Sun-Sentinel -NPR -WNCT
all 482 news articles »

Netanyahu regrets 'timing' of E. J'lem housing announcement - Ha'aretz


CBC.ca

Netanyahu regrets 'timing' of E. J'lem housing announcement
Ha'aretz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told cabinet ministers yesterday that the timing of the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee's announcement of a plan to build 1600 new housing units in East Jerusalem - which was issued on ...
US-Israel row highlights quandary over settlementsThe Associated Press
Biden condemns recent Jewish settlement expansion amid Palestinian outragesXinhua
Biden seeks to reassure Palestinians on US role in peace talksLos Angeles Times
Ynetnews -CNN -Wall Street Journal
all 3,961 news articles »

Chief justice chides State of the Union as 'political pep rally' - CNN


ABC News

Chief justice chides State of the Union as 'political pep rally'
CNN
Remarks by Chief Justice John Roberts and President Obama, shown here in 2009, have exposed political tensions. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Simmering tension between the White House and US Supreme Court spilled into ...
Chief Justice Roberts 'Troubled' by Scene at the State of the Union AddressABC News
2 Republican Senators Call on Obama to Stop 'Attacks' on Supreme CourtFOXNews
Chief Justice John Roberts: Scene at State of Union 'very troubling'Washington Post
Los Angeles Times -CBS News -msnbc.com
all 368 news articles »

What's Next in the Mass Investigation? - CBS News


New York Daily News

What's Next in the Mass Investigation?
CBS News
Before the first commercial, Glenn Beck's interview with former Democratic Rep. Eric Massa quickly spiraled out of control as he acknowledged that he did "grope" male staffers, but that it was merely a "tickle fight". But his story has evolved since ...
Massa's bizarre weekNews 10 Now
Massa: Yeah, I Groped Male Staff But Not SexuallyFOXNews
More harassment allegations against Eric Massa revealedSalon
ABC News -10 Connects -The Washington Independent
all 404 news articles »

US Monthly Budget Deficit Balloons - Wall Street Journal


BigPond News

US Monthly Budget Deficit Balloons
Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON—Even as government receipts posted a rare increase in February, soaring outlays pushed the country's year-to-date deficit up to a record $651.60 billion. The government's fiscal 2010 year-to-date deficit ...
Budget deficit sets record in FebruaryThe Associated Press
Government Runs Up Record Deficit in FebruaryDaily Caller
Experts Talk Budget Deficit, Wholesale Trade, HousingBusinessWeek
CNNMoney.com -DailyFinance
all 392 news articles »


Fox News Latest Headlines


Health Bill Already Doomed?

EXCLUSIVE: Fox News confirms seven House Dems who supported reform last year will oppose Senate bill because it lifts ban on federal funding for abortions
Dems Who Could Pull the Plug on Health Reform
Tea Partiers Health Scramble | YOU DECIDE

U.N. to Probe Climate Panel

Independent scientific panel to review U.N. climate change panel's 'procedures and practices' — and management — in apparent slap at its embattled chief | FULL COVERAGE
Forecasters Predict Active 2010 Hurricane Season

Textbook Battle: Religion in Classroom

LIVESHOTS: Shannon Bream on how debates of religious bias play a big role in how textbook fight plays out
Textbook Tug-Of-War: Taking It to the Street
Full Coverage of Texas Textbook Battle

Critics Blast Transborder Immigrant Tool as 'Irresponsible'

A cell phone application that will help illegal immigrants find water and key landmarks as they cross into the United States is an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds and an irresponsible use of technology, critics say.

Coroner: Houston Oil Exec Drowned in River After Fall

Dr. Frank Minyard said Wednesday that the autopsy of 54-year-old Douglas Schantz found a lesion on his forehead as well as evidence of drowning.

Calif. Teacher Charged With Having Sex With Student

A 33-year-old Burbank middle school teacher accused of having sex with a teenage male student over a six-month period last year was charged on Tuesday with unlawful sex with a minor, MyFoxLA.com reported.

'JihadJane' a Sign of the Evolution of Terrorism Threat?

The self-described "Jihad Jane" who thought her blond hair and blue eyes would let her blend in as she sought to kill an artist in Sweden is a rare case of an American woman aiding in foreign terrorism and shows the evolution of the global threat.

U.K. Rape, Incest Suspect Eluded Charges for 35 Years

A British father who repeatedly raped his two daughters and fathered nine babies with them during a 35-year orgy of physical and sexual abuse was never detected due to a litany of failures by health care professionals, a report reveals.

Chief Exorcist Says 'Devil at Work' Inside Vatican

Sex abuse scandals in the Roman Catholic Church are proof that that "the Devil is at work inside the Vatican", according to the Holy See's chief exorcist.

7-Year-Old Calls 911, Saves Family From Attack

A terrified 7-year-old boy begged emergency dispatchers to send police to his Southern California home where three armed robbers threatened his parents, according to a recording of the call released Tuesday.

30 States Report Higher Unemployment in January

Einstein Was Right: General Relativity Confirmed

Drudge Virus Warning Blasted as Free Speech Assault

Players Cry Foul as Leagues Crack Down on Twitter- SLIDESHOW: Athletes Who Tweet

Plan for U.S. Waters Will Not End Recreational Fishing

Massa: I Groped Male Staff But Not Sexually

Gates: Some Troops Could Leave Afghanistan Early- Ahmadinejad's Afghanistan Visit Stokes Tensions

Census Hiring Expected to Deliver Economic Boost

'.XXX' Domain Name Being Considered for Porn Sites

Haim Obsessed With Vicodin

POP TARTS EXCLUSIVE: Pal says Haim may have traded illegal drugs for legal ones | CHILD STAR TRAGEDIES

Card Controversy

SLIDESHOW: Some lawmakers are pushing for a national biometric ID card. Check out YOUR creative designs and ideas

Stars With Drug Problems

SLIDESHOW: Corey Haim fought addictions to several different drugs for most of his life. These stars have also battled addictions, with varied success

Kat von D's New Tattoos

SCENE & HERD: 'L.A. Ink' star shows the tats that made her famous, Britney takes mom shopping, Kate Moss hits Paris, and more stars out and about...

Corey Haim Dead at 38

Former teen heartthrob and star of 'Lost Boys' had a history of drug abuse, may have overdosed | COREY HAIM: 1971-2010 | CELEBS MOURN VIA TWITTER

'Revenge of the Nerds'

THEN/NOW: Anthony Edwards went on to win a Golden Globe for his role in 'ER,' but what about the rest of America's favorite nerds and their frat boy nemeses?

Has Lindsay Lost It?

SLIDESHOW: The star is suing E-Trade for $100 mil over their baby commercial? A look back at her extreme highs and lows | LOHAN NO 'MILKAHOLIC'

Miss Tiger Woods Mistress

FOX411: The Tiger Woods mistress beauty pageant has a "winner"! Pancake waitress? VIP club hostess? Find out! | WOMEN LINKED TO WOODS

EyePoppers

SLIDESHOW: Science labs churn out startling images -- synapses firing, molecules, DNA works of art. We round up the latest science news, as told in pictures

Acadia Park in 5...

By land or by sea, New England's only National Park is 30,000 acres of fun


CNN Top Stories


White House continues to slam insurers

President Obama is turning up the heat on private health insurers again, taking his increasingly populist health care overhaul pitch on the road to Missouri.

'Lost Boys' star Corey Haim dies at 38

Former 1980s teen movie actor and heartthrob Corey Haim died early Wednesday, authorities said.

Police: 'Jihad Jane' tried suicide in '05

Colleen LaRose, the Pennsylvania woman indicted for allegedly conspiring to support terrorists and kill a person in a foreign country, attempted to commit suicide in 2005, according to a police report filed at the time.

CDC: Most with herpes don't know it

As much as 16 percent of the U.S. population between the ages of 14 and 49 has genital herpes, according to a government study released Tuesday.

Air traffic perfect storm for NYC

Flying in and out of New York -- which is usually no picnic -- is likely to get worse this spring and summer. A new nationwide rule on tarmac delays, possible exemptions to that rule and a runway closure may create a perfect storm for air travelers when bad weather is added to the mix.

Answers sought in bulldozer death

American Rachel Corrie was crushed by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003 as it razed homes in a Palestinian camp. On Wednesday, her parents seek answers in an Israeli court.

Chief justice: Obama speech 'troubling'

Simmering tension between the White House and U.S. Supreme Court spilled into public this week when Chief Justice John Roberts labeled the political atmosphere at this year's State of the Union address "very troubling."

N.Y. state loses 2nd top cop in 2 weeks

New York state's top police official announced Wednesday he was quitting, the second acting superintendent to step down in as many weeks.

Beckham's return spoiled

Wayne Rooney (right) scores twice as Manchester United crush AC Milan 4-0 to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League and ruin David Beckham's return to Old Trafford.

Tearful Marie Osmond back on stage

With tears in her eyes and her voice shaking at times, Marie Osmond donned her bravest face Tuesday night as she took to the stage for the first time since the death of her son for a show that she dedicated to him.


Associated Press Top Stories


Obama decries waste, fraud in gov't health system

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) -- President Barack Obama denounced waste, inefficiency and downright fraud in the government's health care system on Wednesday as he sought to rally public support for his revamped overhaul plan. "Improper payments cost taxpayers almost $100 billion last year alone," Obama said at a rally in this St. Louis suburb....

US-Israel row highlights quandary over settlements

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- An open diplomatic row during the visit of Vice President Joe Biden has shined a spotlight on the U.S. failure to rein in Israeli settlement ambitions and deepened Palestinian suspicions that the United States is too weak to broker a deal....

'Lost Boys' actor Corey Haim dead in Calif. at 38

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Corey Haim, a 1980s teen heartthrob whose career was blighted by drug abuse, has died. He was 38. Haim died early Wednesday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Los Angeles County coroner's Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said....

Female WWII aviators honored with gold medal

WASHINGTON (AP) -- They flew planes during World War II but weren't considered "real" military pilots. No flags were draped over their coffins when they died on duty. And when their service ended, they had to pay their own bus fare home....

Church abuse scandal reaches pope's brother

VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Church abuse scandals in Germany have reached the older brother of Pope Benedict XVI and are creeping ever closer to the pontiff himself....

Pa. suspect: Caretaker by day, 'Jihad Jane' online

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Colleen LaRose spent long days caring for her boyfriend's father in a second-floor apartment in Pennsburg, a small town north of Philadelphia. But online, federal authorities say, the devoted caretaker developed a daring alter ego, refashioning herself as "Jihad Jane" while helping recruit and finance Muslim terrorists - and eventually moving overseas to try to kill an artist she perceived as an enemy to Islam....

Ex-Detroit councilwoman gets 37 months for bribery

DETROIT (AP) -- A former Detroit city councilwoman was sentenced to more than three years in prison Wednesday for bribery after a federal judge refused to set aside her guilty plea during a stormy court hearing dominated by a dispute over evidence of other payoffs....

Study suggests too many invasive heart tests given

NEW YORK (AP) -- A troublingly high number of U.S. patients who are given angiograms to check for heart disease turn out not to have a significant problem, according to the latest study to suggest Americans get an excess of medical tests....

Police: Burglar uses church equipment to view porn

AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Second-degree burglary charges have been filed against an Ames man who broke into a church where he allegedly used the institution's electronic equipment to watch pornography. Police allege the 55-year-old man broke into the First Christian Church on Thursday. After gathering items from around the building, he is believed to have gone to the basement to spend the night....

Garciaparra rejoins Red Sox for day, then retires

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Nomar Garciaparra rejoined the Red Sox for one day and then retired, ending a 14-year career in which he won two batting titles with Boston and was once a beloved player in the city....


Reuters Top Stories


Sebelius piles pressure on insurers

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius ratcheted up the pressure on health insurance companies on Wednesday, urging them to forgo short-term profits to make coverage more affordable and to stop fighting the Obama administration's reform effort.

Biden scolds Israel over settlement plan

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Vice President Joe Biden publicly scolded Israel on Wednesday over a Jewish settlement plan, saying it was undermining peace efforts after Palestinians agreed to U.S.-mediated talks.

NY governor in hot water, 2nd-in-command steps up

NEW YORK (Reuters) - With Governor David Paterson enveloped in scandal, New York's lieutenant governor is leading the notoriously difficult budget process and freeing up his boss to fight for his political life, experts say.

Another runaway Toyota Prius reported

DETROIT (Reuters) - Federal regulators said they were looking into a report of another runaway Toyota Prius, this one in Westchester County, New York, where police said a woman pulling out of a driveway zoomed across a busy street and into a stone wall.

Pelosi faces biggest test on healthcare vote

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The leader of the House of Representatives -- a persuasive arm twister and deal maker -- faces her toughest challenge yet: getting 216 votes to pass final legislation revamping the U.S. healthcare system.

Iraq PM said to be ahead on eve of vote results

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Initial results from Iraq's national election are likely to be released by Thursday, Iraqi and U.N. officials said on Wednesday, as further signs emerged of a strong showing for Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Brown says UK to maintain AAA credit rating

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Wednesday he believed Britain would maintain its coveted top credit rating and announced a pay freeze for senior civil servants and military officers to help tame a record deficit.

U.S. says hikers detained in Iran call families

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three American detained in Iran last year and accused of spying have been allowed to telephone their families, although formal consular access has not been granted, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.

"JihadJane" accused of terror plot in Sweden

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Pennsylvania woman has been charged with plotting to kill a Swedish man and trying to recruit fighters via the Internet to commit violent attacks overseas, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Retaliation fears stalk Nigeria city after clashes

JOS, Nigeria (Reuters) - Sporadic shooting rang out overnight in the central Nigerian city of Jos and witnesses said at least one person was killed by soldiers enforcing a curfew days after attacks on three nearby Christian villages.


NPR - All things Considered


As Lice Grow Treatment-Resistant, Drug Could Help

Lice in children has been treated for years with lotions, creams and shampoos. But the little critters are becoming more and more resistant. Now an oral drug already used to treat certain parasites in people appears to kill lice as well. Researchers say it could be an alternative when standard treatments fail.

Sebelius Urges Reluctant Insurers To Back Changes

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told health insurers they risked losing consumers if they didn't work with the White House on a health care overhaul. But Karen Ignagni, the head of the insurance trade organization, said her group was eager to support an overhaul, just not this one.

Roberts Blasts 'Pep Rally' Scene At State Of Union

President Obama's criticism of a recent high court decision on campaign spending, delivered during his State of the Union address, has drawn a rebuke from the chief justice. Speaking to a group of law students, Roberts said officials are entitled to criticize the court's decisions, but he questioned the setting Obama chose, and the "decorum" of the House and Senate.

House, Senate Tension Stalls Legislation

The relationship between the House and the Senate is becoming heated, affecting Democratic efforts to get health care and other legislation passed. Norman Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, offers his insight.

Decade After Introduction, Euro Struggles

Of the 16 countries that use the euro, some have stable economies, while others are in bad shape. But in recent weeks, there has been speculation that Greece might default on its debt, putting other European countries at risk. Just over a decade after the euro was introduced, the unified currency is having something of an existential crisis.

Draft National Education Standards Unveiled

Schools took another big step toward an elusive goal: establishing basic education standards that could apply to nearly every student in the US. The draft proposal released Wednesday tries to unify what students need to know about English and math at each grade level. But supporters of the effort still face skepticism.

Bank Of America Drops Some Overdraft Charges

Bank of America says it will do away with overdraft charges on debit card purchases. When customers try to buy something but don't have enough in their account, the transaction will be be rejected. The move is in reaction to a new regulation that will require banks to get customers to "opt in" to automatic overdraft protection.

Chicago Tries Management-Style On Schools

Some urban school systems are turning to the tough tactics businesses and law enforcement use to improve employee performance. The sometimes-contentious approach, known as performance management, has yielded promising results in Houston, New York and some other districts. In Chicago, it's forcing city educators to embrace a cultural revolution in how they go about their work.

A Decade Later, NASDAQ Is Half Of Its All-Time High

The NASDAQ composite index hit an all-time a decade ago today — but now the index is still less than half what it was. The stock exchange, home to many of the tech stocks that benefited from the dot-com boom, is still feeling the effects of the bust that left scars on the economy.

Remembering Actor Corey Haim

Actor Corey Haim died in California at the age of 38. The Canadian-born actor rose to fame in the 1980s with the movies Lucas and the Lost Boys. He often starred alongside his friend Corey Feldman and the two became teen idols known as "the Two Coreys." Later, Haim struggled with drugs and never had an acting comeback.

Ahmadeinejad Denounces U.S. In Afghanistan

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad paid a visit to Kabul Wednesday and denounced the U.S. for "playing a double game" in Afghanistan. He was responding to remarks by Defense Secretary Robert Gates who left the city earlier in the day.

Biden Meets With Palestinian Leader

Vice President Joe Biden met with Palestinian leaders in Ramallah as the U.S. prepares to mediate talks between the Palestinians and Israel. Biden and the Palestinians condemned a newly announced Israeli plan to build more housing in East Jerusalem.

Plan For Afghan Poppy Fields Examined

The U.S.-led offensive in Marjah, Afghanistan, is taking place in a major opium-production center. Seth Jones, a political scientist with the Rand Corp. who was recently in Afghanistan, discusses what's going on with poppy producers and traffickers.

Terror Suspect Jihad Jane's Unlikely Journey

A Pennsylvania woman who called herself Jihad Jane faces federal terrorism charges. Colleen LaRose did not fit the profile of an international terrorist. Authorities are alarmed because she apparently seemed to understand that her ability to blend in made her a valuable to terrorist groups.

House Holds Rare Debate On Ending Afghan War

Ohio Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich brought up a resolution Wednesday to pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by the end of this year at the latest. Although the measure did not pass, lawmakers agreed on one thing: The debate itself was important for the Congress to have.


Wall Street Journal - Whats News


BP Leads Bid for Devon Oil Assets

The British oil giant is the leading candidate to buy a big swath of oil assets from U.S. independent oil and gas producer Devon Energy in a $5 billion-plus deal.

Google Sees Outcome To China Talks Soon

Eric Schmidt said his company expects to soon conclude talks with the Chinese government over the fate of its search engine and business in China.

Psychiatric Solutions, Bain in Talks

Psychiatric Solutions, a for-profit operator of mental-health hospitals and clinics, is in talks to be acquired by Bain Capital.

Tropicana Raising Prices

Tropicana is shrinking the size of its Pure Premium orange juice jug and raising by 5%-8% the price of its gallon containers, due to the freeze that hurt Florida's orange crop.

Shell Stops Gas Sales to Iran

The Anglo-Dutch oil major said it is no longer selling gasoline to Iran, the latest company to make such a move during threats of tougher sanctions against the Islamic republic.

Senate Passes $150 Billion Jobs Bill

The U.S. Senate voted 62-36 Wednesday to approve a roughly $150 billion bill that extends a series of tax credits targeted at businesses and individuals.

U.S. Monthly Budget Deficit Balloons

The U.S. government ran its largest ever monthly budget deficit in February as the country's fiscal year-to-date deficit ballooned more than 10% to a record of $651.60 billion.

EMI Music Unit Chief to Depart

Beleaguered music company EMI said the chief executive of its recorded-music division, Elio Leoni-Sceti, is leaving the firm after less than two years.

Illinois Blocks Anheuser Bid

The Illinois Liquor Control Commission blocked a bid by Anheuser-Busch Inbev's U.S. division to buy a controlling stake in its largest Chicago-area beer distributor. The brewer said it is preparing a lawsuit to challenge the ruling.

Financial Crisis Panel to Grill Greenspan

Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan will be the star witness at a hearing of the congressional panel looking into causes of the financial crisis.

Citi to Bolster Private Bank Force

Citigroup plans to roughly double the size of its private banker force in North America over the next several years.

3-D Powered Box Office Surge

Domestic ticket sales to 2-D theaters last year edged up just 0.8%, to $9.47 billion, according to a numbers-heavy report released Wednesday by the MPAA. Meanwhile, 3-D admissions for the year were up nearly fivefold, to $1.14 billion, compared with just $240 million in 2008.

China Mobile to Buy Bank Stake

China Mobile said it agreed to buy a 20% stake in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank for $5.83 billion as the mobile operator seeks to expand into mobile payment services.

Monsanto Critics to Get Rare Platform

Crop biotechnology giant Monsanto goes under microscope Friday at a Justice Department-sponsored hearing on concentration in U.S. agriculture.

Oil Gets a Lift From Supply Data

Crude settled at an eight-week high after the Energy Information Administration reported larger-than-expected drops in fuel inventories, along with a slight increase in demand for oil products.

Wholesale Inventories Drop

U.S. wholesalers' inventories unexpectedly fell 0.2% in January, as surging demand pulled goods off shelves in the first month of the year.

China Exports Show Tentative Recovery

China's exports expanded strongly for the third straight month in February, though they slipped slightly from January, showing a tentative recovery.

Complaint Against H-P Filed in China

A group of Chinese consumers claim that Hewlett-Packard discriminated against them in its handling of faulty graphics components in some PCs.

Euro Zone Recovery Still Weak

Industrial data show that the economic recovery in the euro zone remains feeble and prone to setbacks, despite an industrial pickup in France and Italy.

American Eagle Profit Soars

Teen and young adult clothing retailer American Eagle Outfitters reported earnings surged 81% on higher sales and margin gains due to less discounting.

BA Talks With Union Break Down

BA said talks with a cabin crew union aimed at averting a strike have broken down with no agreement.

Turkey Ends IMF Loan Talks

Turkey won't conduct further talks with the IMF on a potential new standby loan until at least May, ending more than a year of on-and-off talks on a loan facility favored by economists but resisted by the government.

Barclays Plans Swiss Expansion

Barclays plans to start trading operations in Switzerland and is hiring Swiss franc currency traders, people familiar with the situation said Wednesday.

Blumenthal Sues Moody's, S&P

Connecticut's attorney general sued Moody's and S&P, alleging they knowingly assigned "tainted ratings" for "risky investments" backed by subprime loans.

Baltic Trading IPO Treads Water

The first U.S. IPO to price within its expected range in two months closed down four cents in its debut on the NYSE.

Google Reaches Books Deal With Italy

Google struck a deal with the Italian government to digitize up to one million books held in the National Libraries in Rome and Florence.

Deal Talk Lifts Tullett Prebon

Shares in U.K. interdealer broker Tullett Prebon jumped after the company said it is in early talks that could lead to a takeover bid.

Madonna, Iconix in Joint Venture

Madonna entered a joint venture with Iconix Brand Group to use the entertainer's name and personality in connection with apparel, footwear and other products.


ESPN Sports Headline


Sources: Cleveland Browns looking to trade Brady Quinn, add another quarterback; Jake Delhomme to visit

One day after the Browns released Derek Anderson, there is mounting evidence around the league that Brady Quinn could be next.

Longtime Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra announces retirement

Longtime Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra announced his retirement Wednesday.

Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke will not be suspended for hit to head of Boston Bruins' Marc Savard

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Matt Cooke has escaped suspension for a hit that knocked out center Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins.

No Terrell Owens in Cincy? Cincinnati Bengals add WR Antonio Bryant

Wide receiver Antonio Bryant has agreed to four-year deal with Cincinnati Bengals, his agent, Patrick Brougham, told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Wednesday.

Torii Hunter says black Latino players are 'impostors'

Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said that black Latin players are impostors when it comes to the number of African-American players.

Marion Jones signs contract with WNBA's Tulsa Shock

Former sprinter Marion Jones has signed on to play with the WNBA's Tulsa Shock, hoping to launch a new career after losing five Olympic medals for using performance-enhancing drugs.

NHL GMs set framework for rule on hits to head

NHL general managers have developed the framework for a new rule that punishes hits to the head.

Chicago Cubs respond to Milton Bradley's remarks

Chicago Cubs respond to Milton Bradley's remarks.

Cleveland Cavaliers eye Friday LeBron James return, wait on Antawn Jamison

LeBron James will return to the Cavaliers lineup on Friday, while Antawn Jamison is a game-time decision.

Don Mattingly confirms talks about succeeding Joe Torre

Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly confirmed that there have been talks about him succeeding Joe Torre.

48-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios called up by Atlanta Thrashers

Chris Chelios has been called up by the Atlanta Thrashers, general manager Don Waddell told ESPN.com Wednesday.

Doctors clear Detroit Pistons' Rodney Stuckey for exercise

The Pistons say three doctors have cleared Rodney Stuckey for exercise after a heart evaluation.

Washington Redskins to visit with Larry Johnson, source says

The Washington Redskins market search for a veteran running back has brought them to Larry Johnson, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Kobe's late jumper ends Lakers' 3-game slide

Kobe Bryant hit a 17-foot fallaway jumper with 1.9 seconds left, and the Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to snap their three-game losing streak.

Terrell Owens meeting with Cincinnati Bengals about joining WR corps

Terrell Owens is headed to Cincinnati to see if the Bengals are interested in adding him to their stalled-out passing game.

People Magazine - Latest Headlines


Renée Zellweger Plays Barista to Good Samaritan

The actress gives a man a $100 gift certificate after he saved her from a parking ticket

Eric Dane & Rebecca Gayheart's Baby Name Revealed!

The couple tell PEOPLE what they have decided to call their newborn daughter

Agent Doubts Overdose Killed Corey Haim

Mark Heaslip says Haim had been working with a doctor and "was doing so well"

NeNe Leakes Calls Son's Marijuana Arrest a 'Family Issue'

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star asks for privacy after her son, Bryson, was arrested for marijuana possession

Kendra Wilkinson Introduces Baby Hank to Hugh Hefner

The Playboy publisher says seeing his former girlfriend with her son is "the stuff that dreams are made of"

Cindy Crawford Thanks FBI for Nabbing Blackmailer

Supermodel Crawford is super grateful that would-be extortionist Edis Kayalar is in jail

Madonna's Next Role? Fashion Designer!

The pop star is launching her own style empire, MG Icon

Corey Feldman Grieving Tragic Death of 'Brother' Corey Haim

"My eyes weren't even open all the way when the tears started streaming down my face," says Feldman

PHOTOS: Corey Haim: Remembering a Teen Idol

From Lucas to Lost Boys, take a look back at the life and times of the once-promising child star

Todd Bridges Hopes Corey Haim Is at Peace

The Diff'rent Strokes star is saddened by Haim's death - and thinks he died too young

The Economist - News


More than just a charade?

The Israeli-Palestinian peace process resumes, after a fashion

IT WAS a wretched beginning to what had been hailed as the hopeful resumption of peace talks, albeit indirect ones, between the Israelis and Palestinians under the aegis of an American mediator. Barely had America’s vice-president, Joe Biden, begun a visit to Israel to herald a new era of compromise and goodwill than it was announced, as if deliberately to poison the mood, that 1,600 new houses would be built for Jewish settlers in a big Jewish suburb in the Israeli-annexed eastern part of Jerusalem that Palestinians see as their fledgling state’s future capital. Palestinian politicians were united in fury. Arabs and other peacemaking outsiders viewed the action as the illest of omens. Mr Biden sharply “condemned” the action as “precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now.”

A sheepish-looking Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, let his aides claim implausibly that he had been unaware of the building decision. The next day his minister of interior dismissed it as a “routine, technical” step, while conceding that the timing was unfortunate, and apologised. Unsurprisingly, the incident increased scepticism towards the promised new round of talks. ...



The name game

Art dealers are slow to catch on to the value of branding

VIPs criss-crossed Manhattan last week to attend museum shows, conference panels, champagne brunches, curator tours and the stands of nearly 500 galleries exhibiting in 11 fairs. The week was vibrant but confusing due to poor co-operation between event organisers and some amateur branding.

The first problem was an illogical association of name and place. Every March the Armory Show sets up shop in New York. This year, the Art Dealers' Association of America (ADAA) decided to hold its smaller but more prestigious fair in the same week. While the ADAA's exhibition took place in the historic Armory building on Park Avenue, the Armory Show was held in two piers on the Hudson River. “It must drive them as crazy as it drives us,” admitted Giovanni Garcia-Fenech, the Armory Show's communications director. ...



Trop cher?

Living costs in big cities

PARIS is the most expensive city to live in according to the latest survey from Economist Intelligence Unit, a sister company to The Economist. The survey assesses the cost of living by comparing housing, food, clothing, transport and utility bills and the like in 132 cities around the world. Tokyo comes second, up from sixth place a year ago. The fall in Russia's currency against the dollar has made Moscow cheaper than it once was.

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Snoopy sniffs an opportunity

AIG reluctantly hands its crown as America’s global life insurer to MetLife

ANOTHER week, another opportunity for AIG’s rivals to expand at the American insurer’s expense. Days after sealing a $35.5 billion deal for its Asian life-insurance operations with Britain’s Prudential, the firm, which is being dismembered to recoup bail-out costs, agreed on March 8th to sell another crown jewel, Alico. The acquisition propels New York-based MetLife, which is paying $15.5 billion, into the industry’s global elite. Though it is the biggest life insurer in America, where its Snoopy logo is ubiquitous, it has been tentative abroad. Alico will give it a presence in 64 countries, up from 17 now, taking its non-American revenue from 15% of the total to 40%.

The biggest leap will be in Japan, the world’s second-largest life market, in which Alico is a top-tier competitor. But MetLife’s boss, Robert Henrikson (who took over in 2006 from Robert Benmosche, now AIG’s chief executive), also has his eye on the faster-growing markets in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Latin America that make up almost a quarter of Alico’s business. Another attraction is its distribution network: 60,000 agents, brokers and other local middlemen. ...



Accusations fly

Did protectionism force EADS to scrap a $35 billion bid to supply the American air force?

THE announcement on Monday March 8th that Northrop Grumman and its European partner EADS were pulling out of a bid for a $35 billion contract to build air-refuelling tankers for the United States Air Force was no surprise. Northrop had said that it would not contest the terms of the latest contract proposal, even though it thought they had been drawn up to favour the rival Boeing bid. The British and German governments, along with the European Commission, expressed concern at what they see as the Pentagon rejecting open competition in order to bolster Boeing. Lord Mandelson, the British business secretary, said it was “very disappointing” that the Ameircan-European bidders felt the procurement process was so biased against them that it was not even worth making a bid.

The outcome is a blow to EADS, which on Tuesday announced a loss for 2009 caused by the need to post a €1.8 billion ($2.5 billion) charge because of cost over-runs on another military project, the A400M military troop carrier, and further charges caused by delays to its A380 super-jumbo passenger aircraft. ...



Trading down

Industry’s move from the rich to the poor world is confusing the carbon accounts

ON MARCH 4th The Economist ran a story about the challenges facing scientists who are trying to find out which greenhouse gases come from where. On March 8th a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Steve Davis and Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution’s campus at Stanford University brought to the fore a further problem in trying to figure out who emits what—one that turns not on how carbon flows through the atmosphere and biosphere, but on how it flows through the world economy. Who should be held responsible for the greenhouse-gas emissions involved in making, say, a flat-screen television? The country where the television is made? Or the country where it ends up being used?

Looking at the carbon emissions associated with a country’s consumption, rather than its production, does not change the general outline of what is going on in the world: rich people still emit more carbon dioxide than poor people do. But it does heighten the contrast. Rich countries which import manufactured goods from poorer ones end up with even higher emissions; poor countries that export a lot of manufactured goods with lower ones. Using figures from 2004, the most up to date that have the sort of industry-specific data they need, Dr Davis and Dr Caldeira reveal the striking scale of this effect. They find that roughly a quarter of the world’s emissions end up being consumed somewhere other than where they are produced. For a few small and reasonably post-industrial countries, such as Switzerland, the emissions associated with total consumption (emissions produced in Switzerland minus those associated with goods produced there and subsequently exported plus those associated with goods imported) are more than twice the emissions actually produced on Swiss territory. ...



Wominnovation

Some innovations help women more than others

TWO recent innovations have garnered a lot of attention for the way they empower women. One is microcredit, a system of lending to very poor people, the majority of whom are female microentrepreneurs who are thus helped to climb out of poverty. The other is the mobile phone, which among other things has led to the emergence of an army of “telephone ladies” in countries such as Bangladesh, who earn a decent living by buying a phone and renting it out to other villagers.

That said, some innovations have been harmful to women, especially in the developing world. As the cover story of the latest issue of The Economist points out, at least 100m female lives have been lost in recent decades due to “gendercide” in countries such as China, where the number of live male births recorded enormously exceeds the number of live female births. One factor in this has been new technology that allows parents to determine their embryo’s sex early in a pregnancy—and thus to abort females in countries where male offspring are valued more highly. Other innovations also bring more benefits to men than women. For example, women are estimated to be only 25% of internet users in Africa, 22% in Asia, 38% in Latin America and just 6% in the Middle East. ...



Picking a fight

Brazil fires another salvo in its dispute with America over cotton subsidies

HOW serious is the decision by Brazil’s government, announced on Tuesday March 8th, to raise duties on a number of American-made imports? The increases are sizeable for goods such as cosmetics (tariffs will double, to 36%) and many household wares (tariffs will also double, to 40%). And the timing is significant: the news came as America's commerce secretary, Gary Locke, was due to arrive in Brasilia to promote an export-promotion initiative in America's 10th-largest export market.

Yet the decision is not entirely surprising, as it relates to a long-running trade dispute. Asked about the dispute at a press conference last week Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state, said “I feel like I have walked into a movie that has been going on for years”. Brazil complained to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) nearly eight years ago about America's counter-cyclical subsidies to its cotton growers, which are designed to cushion them against fluctuations in the cotton price, and a programme guaranteeing loans for international buyers of American cotton. ...



Tying the knot

Where America's gay couples enjoy legal equality

GAY couples in Washington, DC, have been enthusiastically lining up for marriage licences since March 3rd, when a state court overturned an attempt to ban same-sex weddings. The first ceremonies are set to take place on Tuesday March 9th. The District of Columbia joins five states where gay men and women have equal marriage rights. There may be many more nuptials to come: Washington, DC, is home to a higher concentration of same-sex couples than anywhere else in America. Newlyweds will also have their relationship recognised in neighbouring Maryland, after an advisory ruling last month. But prospective couples may want to set a date quickly. California struck down its gay-marriage law in a ballot in 2008, just six months after it was passed.

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Deadly reprisals

Sectarian violence kills hundreds in Nigeria

THE number plates in Nigeria’s Plateau State declare it to be the “Home of Peace and Tourism”. This has seemed ever more optimistic in recent years, as the state capital, Jos, has been battered by brutal violence, with fresh attacks over the weekend reportedly leaving hundreds dead.

In the early hours of the morning of Sunday March 7th gangs attacked villages near Jos, according to the Red Cross. Houses were razed and many women and children killed. Locals say the gang members belonged to the mainly Muslim Fulani tribe while the villages were populated by the mostly Christian Berom group. The death toll is hard to verify, with estimates ranging from 200 to 500. ...



Oscar Victor Yankee

American dominance of the Oscars is declining

AMERICANS did well at the Academy Awards on Sunday March 7th. Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Oscar for best director and Sandra Bullock got a statuette as best actress (she had received the less-coveted “Razzie” award as worst actress the night before). But American dominance, though still evident, appears to be waning. In the past decade six of the ten best-director Oscars went to Americans and five of the best-actress Oscars, a decline from the 1970s-90s when Americans won almost everything. This recent bout of globalisation resembles the awards' earliest years. Between 1930 and 1969, only half of the 40 winning directors, and only 55% of the actresses, were American-born.

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Defiant Iraqis

Counting begins after Iraq's modestly hopeful general election

DESPITE a wave of violent attacks, millions of voters took part on Sunday March 7th in the second full parliamentary election in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. In a country slowly emerging from years of bloody fighting, voters faced a choice between a Shia-dominated government and a non-sectarian one. Neither option offers an obvious path to full peace and prosperity.

Much of the effect of the election depends on the horse-trading and coalition building that is to follow. But the election result will give an indication of who is to lead the oil-rich nation. The prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, should do well in the main Shia population centres of Baghdad and Basra. His rivals from the Iraqi National Alliance, comprising a number of Shia religious parties, expect to win most of their votes along the lower stretches of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Shia heartland. Non-sectarian alliances are expected to do well in Baghdad and Anbar province, once one of the most restive parts of the country. ...



The week ahead

Renewed diplomatic efforts over Iran's nuclear activities

• AFTER Iran announced that its long-delayed Bushehr civilian nuclear plant will be operational within a few months, American diplomats will renew efforts to obtain further sanctions against the Islamic republic over its suspected efforts to build a nuclear bomb. Hillary Clinton, the American secretary of state, has been trying to persuade members of the UN Security Council, including Russia, which has been helping to build the Bushehr plant since 1995, to accept to a new round of sanctions against Iran. The country's government refused to agree to a compromise plan for its uranium to be enriched in Russia.

• AMERICA’S vice-president, Joe Biden, tries again to untangle the knot that is Middle Eastern politics. He travels to the region on Monday March 8th and will meet the leaders of Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt and Jordan in an attempt to encourage the resumption of peace talks. George Mitchell, Barack Obama’s envoy, is adding his weight to efforts reopen negotiations. A recent row over historical holy sites has not helped to warm relations, as Israeli archaeologists in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians see as their future capital, are intent on uncovering evidence of Jewish ties that could be used to undermine the Arab presence there. ...



This week's top stories [05 March 2010]

Our top articles ranked by reader popularity.



The end of the show?

Tumbling corporate-tax rates

CORPORATE-TAX rates in OECD countries have fallen remorselessly over the past 30 years. A survey by Robert Carroll of American University in Washington, DC, found that the top rate in OECD countries (excluding America) had dropped from 51% in the early 1980s to 32% by 2009. Competition among countries to attract business and with it bring employment was fierce in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Ireland reduced its corporate-tax rate to just 12.5% and chose not to raise it last year during an emergency budget. Such differentials may not last long. High-tax European governments have complained in the past about competition from countries such as Ireland and the current economic crisis may lead to more calls for co-ordination of tax policies.

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Past imperfect, present tense

Congress reconsiders America’s official position on the Armenian genocide

TWO questions faced an American congressional panel on Thursday March 5th as it considered the mass killings of Armenians during and after the first world war by forces of the Ottoman Empire. First, was it genocide? The historical debate is as hot, and unsettled, as ever. Armenians continue to insist that it was the first genocide of the twentieth century, while Turks call the killings merely part of the chaos of the break-up of empire.

But the second question on the minds of congressmen in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives was more urgent. What is more important, fidelity to history or concern for the present? The vote took place as warming relations between Turkey and Armenia have cooled again and those between Turkey and America are under increasing strain over Iran, Israel and other affairs in the region. Turkish diplomats and politicians gave warning before the vote that the consequences would be felt across the range of issues of shared concern to the two countries. In the end the panel narrowly decided against pragmatism and chose to set straight the historical records. A resolution recognising the killings as genocide was sent to the House by a vote of 23 to 22. ...



Cloudy with a chance of rain

Few companies are ready to accept cloud computing

THE hype surrounding “cloud computing” has become deafening of late. Your correspondent suspects the evangelists, promoters and others hoping to cash in on the computing-services-in-the-sky movement are getting nervous about the way corporate customers, big and small, have not exactly rushed to embrace the new data-processing paradigm.

Perhaps that is because they have heard it all before. A couple of years ago, the fashionable term for it was “software as a service”. Before that, it was part and parcel of “grid computing”. Sure, each of the previous approaches brought a somewhat different set of technologies to bear, but the objective was broadly the same: to make it possible to buy data processing and storage from a service provider like electricity. Being flexible, extensible and virtual, customers would use as much or as little of the utility as they needed—and pay only for what they consumed. Despite the promise of cheaper processing, though, the vast majority of information-technology departments have continued to buy and maintain their own servers, data-storage units and network gear—preferring to keep their data on the premises rather than have it processed elsewhere. ...



Flowering friendliness?

China's prime minister, Wen Jiabao, offers some gestures of conciliation

AT THE opening of the annual session of China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress (NPC), the prime minister, Wen Jiabao, could not resist a bit of boasting. China’s economy, he said, in a two-hour speech, had been the first in the world to make a turnaround. With an implied sneer at the West’s continuing malaise, he spoke of socialism’s “advantages”: quick decision-making, effective organisation and an ability to “concentrate resources to accomplish large undertakings”.

Yet despite China’s swagger at having achieved 8.7% GDP growth last year (under the “firm leadership” of the Communists, Mr Wen reminded the nearly 3,000 party-picked delegates in the Great Hall of the People), its government has used the launch of the ten-day NPC session to make an unusual gesture of conciliation. The budget submitted to the legislature calls for the lowest rate of growth in defence spending since 1988, a period in which almost every budget has called for double-digit increases. This year it proposes a mere 7.5%, quite a plunge from last year’s growth of 17.8%. ...



Struggles, suffering and Skype

Eastern Europeans should strive to present a more modern face to visitors

IMAGINE that you are attending a conference (call it Agenda 2010) in the capital city (call it Klow) of a generic ex-communist country (call it Ruritania). The discussion will be mostly about the present and the future. After a night-owl session on “the impact of the economic crisis on regional security”, you will stagger to a red-eye breakfast on “Engaging Russia: how, when and where?” But the cultural programme in the afternoon is resolutely backward-looking. An excursion to admire the beautiful historic buildings includes a chance to goggle at the horrible Stalinist ones. A mandatory stop is something on the lines of “The Museum of Ruritanian Struggles and Suffering”, which shows the country’s heroic and horrible past from the dawn of recorded history to NATO membership, via occupation, obliteration and a lot of historical myths.

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The die is cast

Barack Obama unveils his final strategy for pushing health reform in America

“EVERYTHING there is to say about health care has been said and just about everyone has said it…now is the time to make a decision.” So declared President Barack Obama on March 3rd to an audience of doctors and nurses gathered at the White House. After a year of dithering, he is now leaping into action.

His speech contained no policy surprises, but is worth noting for three reasons. First, he instructed congressional Democrats to embrace several Republican proposals—for example, modest measures to reform malpractice laws and fight insurance fraud—that were put forward during last week’s bipartisan summit on reform. Second, he made it clear that he now wants Democrats to forge ahead with whatever procedural manoeuvres are necessary to pass his health bill. And finally, he declared that he wanted to see “an up-or-down vote” in the “next few weeks”. ...



Now comes the pain

Greece’s new austerity measures may prove to be enough—if they are fully implemented

GEORGE PAPACONSTANTINOU, the overworked Greek finance minister, likens the effort to steer Greece away from economic disaster to “changing the course of the Titanic.” Until this week it looked as if the country was headed for an iceberg labelled default. Two austerity packages had failed to convince Greece’s European partners—or the financial markets—that measures to cut the budget deficit this year from 12.7% of GDP to 8.7% would work.

Critics in Brussels said that Greece’s Socialist government was relying too heavily on pledges to cut tax evasion and soak the rich, rather than slash spending, especially on public-sector pay and pensions. The markets pushed spreads on Greek bonds over their German equivalents to record highs. Greece’s ten-year bonds were offering mouth-watering yields of some 6%, twice the German level. ...



Paying up

Under pressure, GM is now putting up half the money needed to rescue Opel

THE mood at this week’s Geneva motor show, if not exactly upbeat, was in contrast to the fear that gripped the event last year. Europe’s car market is expected to fall in volume terms by around 10% in 2010 as the scrappage schemes that helped underpin demand for smaller cars last year are withdrawn. But slowly returning sales of larger, more profitable vehicles should underpin revenues. Moreover, the action carmakers have taken to strengthen their balance sheets is working: most are expecting to generate cash this year. The big exception is Opel/Vauxhall, the European unit of General Motors.

On Tuesday March 2nd, the first day of the show, GM staged a surprise by announcing it was tripling to €1.9 billion ($2.6 billion) in loans and equity the contribution it was ready to make to its original €3.3 billion plan for restructuring Opel. It was an admission both of how fragile Opel remains and how cross with the German government still is with GM. ...



How China bucked the trend

What really happened in 2009

ONE of the common assumptions about the art market in 2009 was that the stunning success of the three-day Yves Saint Laurent/Pierre Berge sale in Paris—the highest grossing single-owner sale ever—would allow France to reclaim its position as the third-biggest art market in the world after America and Britain. It didn’t.

Clare McAndrew, a Dublin-based analyst of art-market statistics and the founder of Arts Economics, was the first to prove categorically that France’s century-long pre-eminence in the art world had been usurped by China. That was in 2007, and many presumed it was no more than a blip. But Ms McAndrew’s most recent report, the latest in a series commissioned by The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) and published to coincide with the start of TEFAF’s Maastricht art fair on March 12th, proves categorically that China’s art market is getting bigger all the time. ...



Well drilled

Offshore oil platforms operate at ever-greater depths

BP, A big British oil company, announced a round of efficiency measures and cost cuts on Tuesday March 2nd aimed at increasing annual profits by $3 billion over the next few of years. But BP and the world's other big oil companies face similar problems when it comes to boosting profits. Few big new oil fields that are easy to reach and cheap to exploit have been discovered in recent years. This has driven firms to seek oil ever deeper below the sea. In 1947, Kerr-McGee built the world’s first offshore oil well that was completely out of sight of land, drilling 4.6 metres into the seabed off the coast of Louisiana. This year Shell's 22,000-tonne Perdido rig is set to begin operation. Standing nearly as tall as the Eiffel Tower, it is chained to the seabed 2.4km metres below and is capable of extracting oil at a maximum depth of 2.9km.

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The other Brown

A late, and philosophical, return to American political campaigning for Jerry Brown

THE dark, floppy hair has gone, and the face is a little rounder, but otherwise Jerry Brown, at 71, looks much as he did when he slept on a futon on the floor of his office and squired Linda Ronstadt round town. He was California’s Democratic governor then, from 1975 to 1983, and on Tuesday March 2nd he officially announced that he hopes to be governor again.

Apart from a spell studying Buddhism in the east—no surprise to anyone—Mr Brown has not disappeared in the interim from California politics. He has been mayor of Oakland and is now the state’s attorney-general. He has a Jesuit education, a prodigious intellect, a fine pedigree (his father, Pat Brown, was one of the state’s best governors) and a protean political identity that allows him to become almost any sort of candidate, as needed. “Action and contemplation joined together” he said in full Zen mode last June, “is what I would call the highest path that we can follow.” ...