Jordin Sparks, Leona Lewis, David Cook, Celine Dion and Beatles music for Olympic Figure Skating

February 27, 2010 -- The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver may be held to showcase athletics and skill, but for those in the figure skating audience tonight, music is a factor. This is especially so tonight at the exhibition skate when these ice stars glided to songs familiar around the world. Many of the songs chosen came from recording artists who have recently come up the ranks in reality contestant shows like American Idol and X Factor, while other music moved toward the more classical tunes of yesteryear.

Celebrity musicians featured last night in Vancouver included Jordin Sparks, Leona Lewis, and David Cook. Ice-bound performers set their choreography to the beauty of the music while dancing all over the rink in front of an enthusiastic audience. Also included in the popular list of tunes was the Beatles with their iconic tune Yesterday......... read more>>

Jordin Sparks, Leona Lewis, David Cook, Celine Dion and Beatles music for Olympic Figure Skating

Chile and Haiti: A Tale of Two Earthquakes

The 8.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Chile early on Feb. 27 was 500 times stronger than the 7.0 quake that killed an estimated 200,000 Haitians last month. And yet the number of casualties in Chile appears to be exponentially smaller, with the official death toll still in the hundreds. Far fewer people were rendered homeless than in Haiti, and much of the telephone service in Santiago and parts of central Chile had been restored within five hours. (Read a TIME reporter's first-hand account of the earthquake in Chile.)

Comparisons between the two countries will no doubt be much discussed when the U.N. hosts a conference in New York City on March 31 to hash out how best to help Haiti rebuild. Donor governments already know why there was so much less destruction........ read more>>

Chile and Haiti: A Tale of Two Earthquakes

Debra Medina, new star of America's right, is firing up the race for Texas governor

Lytle is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of town, one of hundreds that dot the vast flat ranchlands of southern Texas. A smear of houses by the main highway between San Antonio and Laredo. Population: 2,383. The first streets only got paved here in the years after the second world war.

A sewage system took a little longer, not being built until the 1960s. In short, Lytle, Texas, has never been big enough to have much impact on the politics of the Lone Star state. And few Texas politicians have ever paid much attention to it.Until Debra Medina, that is. When Medina breezed into Lytle's community hall the locals found themselves confronted with a Texan version of Sarah Palin.

She wore a sharp scarlet skirt suit, librarian-style glasses and a puffed-up hairdo. More than 60 Lytle residents had gathered to meet her, a hefty turnout on a weekday at 11am for a Republican ........ read more>>

Debra Medina, new star of America's right, is firing up the race for Texas governor

Time for Obama to meet Ahmadinejad

The two-day visit by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, to Syria and his warm meetings with his Syrian counterpart as well as with the leaders of the Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas have ruffled many feathers in the US, Europe and Israel.

Although they said much about the future of the region, including the end of the 'Zionist regime', the anti-Israeli gathering has sent a primarily strategic not polemical message: We stand united - an attack on one of us is an attack on all....... read more>>

Time for Obama to meet Ahmadinejad

8.8 quake strikes Chile

SANTIAGO, CHILE—A MASSIVE 8.8-MAGNITUDE EARTHquake struck Chile early Saturday, killing at least 78 people, collapsing buildings and setting off a tsunami.

A huge wave reached a populated area in the Robinson Crusoe Islands, 660 kilometers off the Chilean coast, said President Michele Bachelet.

In the moments after the quake, people streamed onto the streets of the capital, hugging each other and crying.

“Never in my life have I experienced a quake like this, it’s like the end of the world,” one man told local television from the city of Temuco, where the quake damaged buildings and forced staff to evacuate the regional hospital....... read more>>

8.8 quake strikes Chile

'State of Catastrophe' After Chile Quake

RIO DE JANEIRO -- A deadly 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Chile early Saturday, ripping apart buildings, highways and bridges and leaving a path of smoky rubble across a long swath of this earthquake-tested country before sending waves rumbling across the Pacific Basin.

At least 300 people died, according to local news services that quoted the director of Chile's emergency management office, and more than 1.5 million people were displaced. The death toll was expected to rise, particularly around Concepción, Chile's second-largest metropolitan area, which is roughly 70 miles from the quake's center.

There, cars lay mangled and upended on streets littered with telephone wires and power cables. A new 14-story apartment building fell, while an older, biochemical lab at the University of Concepción caught fire......... read more>>

'State of Catastrophe' After Chile Quake

Britain braces itself for floods as forecasters warn of heavy rain Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1254033/Britain-braces-floods-f

Britain should brace itself for floods as heavy rain is set to fall across most of the country this weekend, the Environment Agency and the Met Office warned today.

February looks further set to end on a wintry note with snow and gale force winds blowing across England and Wales on Sunday.

Forecasters say heavy and persistent rain falling on already sodden ground in England on Sunday, particularly in the south, could lead to river flooding.

Parts of Essex were already submerged under water last night as heavy rainfall caused localised flooding.

Britain braces itself for floods as forecasters warn of heavy rain Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1254033/Britain-braces-floods-f

Interest subsidy on home, crop loans to continue

New Delhi: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday extended by a year the one per cent interest subvention scheme for housing sector and provided Rs 700 crore for it in the budget for 2010-11.

"I proposes to extend the interest subvention scheme for housing sector to March 2011," he said, unveiling the budget proposal in the Lok Sabha.

Under the scheme, introduced last year, home buyers get one per cent interest subsidy for banking loans up to Rs 10 lakh provided the cost of house does not exceed Rs 20 lakh............ read more>>

Interest subsidy on home, crop loans to continue

Libya's Gaddafi urges 'holy war' against Switzerland

Libya's Muammar Gaddafi has called for a jihad, or holy war, against Switzerland, as an ongoing diplomatic row between the two nations heats up.

He criticised a recent Swiss vote against the building of minarets and said Muslims must boycott the country.

There have been tensions between the nations since 2008, when one of Mr Gaddafi's sons was arrested in Geneva, accused of assaulting two servants.

A Swiss foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment on the jihad call.

The Libyan leader made his comments while speaking at a meeting to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. .......... read more>>

Libya's Gaddafi urges 'holy war' against Switzerland

Boralex Announces its 2009 Results

MONTREAL, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Boralex Inc. ("Boralex" or the "Corporation") ended fiscal 2009 with a solid performance despite a difficult economic context.

(in millions of dollars, except per share data) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three-month Twelve-month periods ended periods ended ---------------------------------------------------- December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, 2009 2008 2009 2008 ---------------------------------------------------- Revenues from energy sales 46.1 54.3 184.8 197.2 EBITDA 12.0 15.6 57.3 68.8 Net earnings 14.7 4.4 24.4 20.4 per share (basic and diluted) $0.39 $0.12 $0.65 $0.54 Cash flows from operations 11.3 11.1 47.4 55.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boralex ended fiscal 2009 with total revenues from energy sales of $184.8 million, down 6.3% compared to $197.2 million in 2008. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to $57.3 million versus $68.8 million a year........... read more>>

Boralex Announces its 2009 Results

Suicide bombing hits Afghan capital

KABUL – (UPDATE 3) A suicide bomber killed 10 people near an upmarket shopping and hotel complex in the heart of Kabul on Friday, and police shot dead two other would-be attackers, officials said.

Witnesses reported at least two smaller blasts around the Safi Landmark complex as police cordoned off the area, ambulances rushed to the scene and sporadic gunfire was heard.

People in pyjamas were seen being led from a guesthouse in the area and taken away in ambulances.

A military official said that 10 people were killed and 11 others wounded........ read more>>

Suicide bombing hits Afghan capital

Obama summit raises stakes in healthcare wrangle

Rarely have so many members of Congress talked for so long, with such restraint, before so many TV cameras, to so little obvious effect.

After more than seven hours of back and forth in the refined surroundings of Blair House, Republicans and Democrats went their separate ways - each side convinced that they were still right.

No-one had really expected anything else.

President Obama had hoped Congress would sign off on health reform last summer, but the issue goes to the heart of the ideological differences between the two parties, and even between liberal and moderate Democrats.

Politicians on the left want more government involvement to ensure that healthcare is available to all. Those on the right say keep the government and the lawyers out, and let the market decide........ read more>>

Obama summit raises stakes in healthcare wrangle

Fresh clashes erupt in West Bank town

HEBRON, Occupied West Bank: Around 100 Palestinians clashed with Israeli troops in the West Bank town of Hebron early on Thursday over an Israeli plan to renovate two holy sites in the occupied territory, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision.

The plan has infuriated Palestinians and been criticized by the United States as a “provocative” act that could further complicate efforts to re-launch Middle East peace talks suspended during the Gaza war more than a year ago.

Young men hurled rocks at soldiers who fired tear gas and stun grenades in running clashes near the disputed Tomb of the Patriarchs, according to an Agence France Presse correspondent who saw four Palestinians detained by soldiers......... read more>>

Fresh clashes erupt in West Bank town

Gangsta rap tops heroes on Wal-Mart black history shelf

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. rejected for inclusion in its Black History Month displays "For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots," a four-hour documentary in which a Who's Who of Hollywood is enlisted to document the history of blacks in the military.

What did make it to the prominent displays at the world's largest retailer? "Thug Angel -- Tupac Shakur," a documentary of the slain rapper; the strip club-set flick "The Players Club," and Dave Chappelle's sketch comedy series "Chappelle's Show -- Season 2 Uncensored" were among 50 titles approved for the special promotion in entertainment sections.

"I think it was a slap in our face, as far as being war veterans," said Price, an African-American South Holland resident. "I would never buy anything out of Wal-Mart anymore."........ read more>>

Gangsta rap tops heroes on Wal-Mart black history shelf

Cablevision service lets customers watch Internet, computer content through cable TV channel

NEW YORK - Watching online video and other content on a television screen typically means buying a special device such as an Apple TV, or plugging lots of wires into the right holes on the PCs and TVs. Cable TV provider Cablevision Systems Corp. is testing a service that promises to eliminate that hassle.

It would let you watch movies, view photos or even read your e-mail from the TV screen. The television is essentially a mirror display of the computer monitor.

You begin by downloading and installing Cablevision's software on your computer. Although Cablevision won't provide details on it, the software works much like remote-access programs already available for troubleshooters to diagnose your PC from elsewhere......... read more>>

Cablevision service lets customers watch Internet, computer content through cable TV channel

Everyone in US should get flu vaccine: experts

Washington: Everyone in the United States over the age of six months should get seasonal influenza vaccines every year, federal vaccine advisers said on Wednesday.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices made the long-awaited vote to recommend virtually universal flu vaccination -- something public health experts have long recommended.

"The new recommendation seeks to remove barriers to influenza immunization and signals the importance of preventing influenza across the entire population," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement....... read more>>

Everyone in US should get flu vaccine: experts

Attacks on Indians in Australia have come down: Krishna

New Delhi: The number of attacks on Indians in Australia has come down due to a slew of steps taken by the federal and provincial governments there to meet Indian concerns, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Making a suo motu statement in the House on the 'Attacks on Indians in Australia', he said the issue involves a number of "complex factors" which are "interlinked" and need to be dealt with in a "concerted and coordinated manner".

He said the incidents of attacks came to notice since 2007 when some students were assaulted in Sydney and since May last year there was a "significant increase in the number and frequency of attacks" on Indians in Australia......... read more>>

Attacks on Indians in Australia have come down: Krishna

Gabriel Heinze: Olympique De Marseille Must Think Of Copenhagen Before Paris Saint-Germain

Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze has warned his Olympique de Marseille team-mates that they must not lose sight of their task in the Europa League against Copenhagen, despite having the fiercely competitive Derby de France against Paris Saint-Germain looming on Sunday.

OM boast a 3-1 advantage over the Danes going into the second leg of their last 32 clash, meaning their guests will have to score at least three times to stand any chance of progression. Heinze believes this is no time for complacency.

“The most important match is on Thursday,” the veteran Argentine told his club’s official website. “Paris will be three days later. We must prepare well, but before them come Copenhagen........... read more>>

Gabriel Heinze: Olympique De Marseille Must Think Of Copenhagen Before Paris Saint-Germain

Twitter posts used to show when people aren't at home TWITTER POSTS USED TO SHOW ..

As more people reveal their whereabouts on social networks, a new site has sprung up to remind you that letting everyone know where you are — and, by extension, where you’re not — could leave you vulnerable to those with less-than-friendly intentions. The site’s name says it all: Please Rob Me.

Launched last week, Please Rob Me is exceptionally straightforward. Pretty much all it does is show posts that appear on Twitter from a location-sharing service, Foursquare. Please Rob Me puts these posts into a long, chronological list it refers to as "Recent Empty Homes.”

Please Rob Me assembles its list by taking information that Twitter makes freely available so that many Web sites can show tweets.

People are comfortable sharing all kinds of personal details on social sites such as Facebook. And now people are flocking to location-based Web services, such as Foursquare, Gowalla or Loopt, that let them use their cell phones to alert friends to where they are............ read more>>

Twitter posts used to show when people aren't at home TWITTER POSTS USED TO SHOW ..

India, Pakistan hold first talks in 15 months

India and Pakistan began their first official talks since the Mumbai attacks, a meeting that is unlikely to lead to an immediate breakthrough but may help thaw relations.

Any progress made by the two nations’ foreign secretaries their top diplomats may also help Western efforts to stabilise Afghanistan, where India and Pakistan have long engaged in a proxy war for influence.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao met in a colonial mansion in a heavily guarded New Delhi neighbourhood that also houses the parliament and the presidential palace.

The two countries have to agree which subjects should be covered in the talks India wants to focus on terrorism while Pakistan eyes the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir that has been the cause of two of their three wars......... read more>>

India, Pakistan hold first talks in 15 months

Bengal Express: 54 new trains, no hike in fares

New Delhi: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday presented Railway Budget for the next fiscal with the promise of a new business model to encourage private investment along with social commitment but without privatisation.

"Our objective is inclusive growth," she told the Lok Sabha adding that her main consideration in this year's Budget was social responsibility rather than mere commercial viability of projects.

"We have set our goals in the Vision 2020 document and we will achieve it," the minister said, referring to the document unveiled in December that has targeted making over 30,000 km of routes into double or multiple lines against 18,000 km today........ read more>>

Bengal Express: 54 new trains, no hike in fares

South American Dispatch: Corinthians kick off Copa Libertadores campaign

Tonight Corinthians embark on a Copa Libertadores campaign which has become an obsession for the club. There is a hole in the history of the São Paulo outfit as the continental trophy has continued to allude them.

The management at the club have worked tirelessly to assemble an experienced squad capable of winning the Copa Libertadores in the same year as the club celebrates its centenary. Along with marquee signings such as Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos other players of quality such as Tcheco and Iarley have benn recruited especially for the mission.

The good news is that these four players have been passed fit ahead of tonight’s home game with Racing Club of Uruguay. Ronaldo himself has been talking up the importance of winning the Copa Libertadores this year and declared “I’m prepared for it.”.......... read more>>

South American Dispatch: Corinthians kick off Copa Libertadores campaign

LG Display considers additional production line

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's LG Display Co Ltd said on Wednesday it was considering building an additional production line to meet robust flat panel orders, adding to emerging concerns over rapid supply growth.

The liquid crystal display (LCD) industry is enjoying brisk demand for flat-screen TVs helped by Chinese holidays and sports events such as the Winter Olympics.

But concerns have grown recently that the sector might return to being oversupplied as makers aggressively beef up output. LG is set to begin operation of a separate production line in the first half while Taiwanese rivals, including AU Optronics, are increasing factory utilization.

Controlling supply is key for makers to maintain profits in the cyclical LCD industry.......... read more>>

LG Display considers additional production line

SongTherapy Aiding Stroke Patients

If you can’t say it, then sing it! Experts researching patients who have lost their ability to speak after a stroke are now suggesting that they could be able to communicate with music using Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT). Using MIT, the scientists showed that patients who were earlier communicating only in mumbles and grunts could now learn to sing out basic phrases like “I am thirsty.”

The study was conducted by Harvard Medical School neurologist Gottfried Schlaug on 12 patients whose speech was impaired by strokes, and showed that patients who were taught to essentially sing their words improved their verbal abilities and maintained the improvement for up to a month after the end of the therapy

Schlaug presented these findings at the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Diego.......... read more>>

SongTherapy Aiding Stroke Patients

Marriage hasn't changed anything: Shilpa

Mumbai, February 24: Actor Shilpa Shetty says marriage has not changed the dynamics of her acting career even one bit. In fact, she is quite excited about a project where she is required to do a body baring act — very much on the lines of what she did in Dostana — again.

“Marriage hasn’t changed anything. I would do a Dostana act once again. My father and husband are very encouraging. When I did Dostana, I was seeing Raj (Kundra) and he was whistling when he saw the number. Even my father is very open-minded. He says if you are showing your legs, show it well,” she tells After Hrs in an exclusive interview.

“I was an actor first before I became Raj’s wife and he knew how my profession was. But it is always important for you to draw the line and know where to stop. However, now I will only do a film that is really worthwhile. I do not have much time to waste,” Shilpa laughs......... read more>>

Marriage hasn't changed anything: Shilpa

EU launches Google antitrust inquiry

The European Commission has launched a preliminary antitrust inquiry into Google after three companies complained that the US giant's dominant search engine penalises potential competitors and keeps advertising prices artificially high.

The European Commission has written to Google to find out how its search functions work, following allegations from the UK price comparison site Foundem, an online French guide to legal services, ejustice.fr and the Germany-based shopping portal Ciao, owned by Microsoft.

Shivaun Raff, the chief executive of Foundem, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Google had a dominant 90 per cent share of the UK search market and acted as the gateway to the internet, allowing the company to control what users found when they searched......... read more>>

EU launches Google antitrust inquiry

G.O.P. Expects Little From Obama's Health Forum

WASHINGTON — Republican Congressional leaders on Tuesday rejected President Obama’s challenge to come up with a single comprehensive proposal to achieve his goal of guaranteeing health insurance for nearly all Americans.

But they said they would attend a televised forum to discuss the issue with Mr. Obama on Thursday, even as they voiced doubt that he and Congressional Democrats were acting in good faith.

The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and the House Republican leader, John A. Boehner of Ohio, made clear that they had extremely low expectations for the six-hour session......... read more>>

G.O.P. Expects Little From Obama's Health Forum

Border Firing Reported in Kashmir on Eve of Talks

SRINAGAR, India (AP) -- Cross-border firing at the frontier in divided Kashmir wounded an Indian soldier, an Indian official said Wednesday, on the eve of renewed peace talks between India and Pakistan.

Also, a two-day gunbattle between Indian security forces and suspected Islamic insurgents in the disputed Himalayan region killed three Indian army soldiers and three militants, officials said.

The violence underscores the thorny issues that have long bedeviled relations between the South Asian nuclear rivals. Both claim Kashmir in its entirety and have fought two wars over it.

On Thursday, top diplomats of the two countries will hold their first talks since a long-running peace dialogue was put on hold 15 months ago after the 2008 Mumbai attacks that were blamed on Pakistan-based militants. The talks, to be held in New Delhi, are seen as the first step toward the resumption of the peace process......... read more>>

Border Firing Reported in Kashmir on Eve of Talks

Google execs convicted in Italy for Down's video

MILAN (Reuters) - A Milan court convicted three Google Inc executives on Wednesday for violating the privacy of an Italian boy with Down's syndrome by letting a video of him being bullied be posted on the site in 2006.

Google said it plans to appeal the six-month jail terms given to senior vice-president and chief legal officer David Drummond, former Google Italy board member George De Los Reyes and global privacy counsel Peter Fleischer.

The court acquitted Google's senior product marketing manager, Arvind Desikan.

"A company's rights cannot prevail over a person's dignity. This sentence sends a clear signal," public prosecutor Alfredo Robledo told reporters outside the Milan courthouse.......... read more>>

Google execs convicted in Italy for Down's video

Mourinho: I contributed to Chelsea players' success

Jose Mourinho claims he made Chelsea's stars the players they are today during his time at the club, as he again stoked the flames ahead of the Blues trip to face his Inter Milan side in the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday.

Mourinho, who quit as Chelsea boss in September 2007, spent much of his pre-match press conference on Tuesday reminiscing about life at Stamford Bridge and claimed that he helped mould the likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and John Terry into the players that they are today.

"Did I give them a contribution? They say yes and I think so,'' he said. "I thank them because they never forget to say some nice words about me, but if they continue to play at this level, it is up to them because they work hard day after day........... read more>>

Mourinho: I contributed to Chelsea players' success

Argentina goes to UN as Falklands row escalates

Argentina's foreign minister is to meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today as tensions rose over British oil exploration off the Falkland Islands.

Jorge Taiana will meet Mr Ban at 3.30pm New York time (8.30pm British time), the office of the spokesman for the Secretary-General said.

The Argentinian foreign minister requested the meeting.

Meanwhile Argentina's president spoke out at a regional summit, reiterating the country's sovereignty claim to the islands and blaming the Foreign Office for adding to tensions.

Today's Times newspaper said a resolution was also set to be tabled in the UN General Assembly condemning Britain for allowing Desire Petroleum's Ocean Guardian to begin drilling 60 miles north of the islands after Argentina announced new shipping controls.......... read more>>

Argentina goes to UN as Falklands row escalates

One in three say climate change is exaggerated

The public are becoming increasingly sceptical about the threat of climate change, it emerged last night.

Months of questions over flaws in climate change science and a lack of government action have led to a sharp decline in the number of British adults who believe it is a problem.

The proportion of people, questioned in a survey by Ipsos Mori, who believe climate change is 'definitely' a reality has dropped from 44 per cent to 31 per cent in the last year.

The poll of 1,000 people also found a significant drop in those who said climate change was caused by human activities. Last year, one in three people believed it was caused by people. Now just one in five hold this conviction.......... read more>>

One in three say climate change is exaggerated

Latin America creates bloc sans US; spat mars mood

Associated Press Writer= PLAYA DE CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Latin America and Caribbean leaders united Tuesday to create a regional bloc excluding Canada and the United States, but its birth was undermined by a spat in which the Colombian president told Venezuela's Hugo Chavez to "be a man."

Many of the 32 Latin American and Caribbean countries participating in the summit have long called for a new organization that will not be dominated by the interests of their two wealthy northern neighbors. The Washington-based Organization of American States, the largest diplomatic bloc in the Western Hemisphere, has been heavily influenced by the United States.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who hosted the summit in a Caribbean resort, said the bloc "will consolidate and globally project a Latin American and Caribbean identity."......... read more>>

Latin America creates bloc sans US; spat mars mood

Coral reefs form on 'ancient template'

Red Sea coral reefs get their complex shape from an ancient 'seabed template', say scientists.

Their distinctive appearance can be seen clearly in satellite images of the region and has its origin in seabed erosion thousands of years ago.

The scientists say the corals have simply adopted and accentuated the pattern created in once-exposed rock moulded by heavy rains.

They presented the findings at the Ocean Sciences meeting in Portland, US.

Dr Sam Purkis from the National Coral Reef Institute in Florida, US, led the research.

He explained that, in most cases, reefs did not form on a template.

"They are their own template," he said. "Corals simply settle on other corals and the reef forms in the ideal shape to suit the ecosystem......... read more>>

Coral reefs form on 'ancient template'

Gas prices could hit $1.12 a litre by summer

History says gasoline prices will rise in the coming months. But fundamental market forces say they shouldn't, according to energy experts.

Energy adviser Roger McKnight of Oshawa-based En-Pro International Inc. says he expects gasoline prices to peak near $1.08 to $1.12 a litre before the May 24 weekend.

Prices are currently just below $1 a litre at many gas stations in Greater Toronto.

But McKnight's not entirely happy with his own prediction: "There's no logic to it," he admits.

Fred Rozell, retail pricing director of Oil Price Information Service, agreed that traditional market forces don't point to a price increase.

"If you look at demand, it's just abysmal," he told Associated Press in New York........ read more>>

Gas prices could hit $1.12 a litre by summer

Fifa says South Africa unprepared

South Africa is not ready to host the 2010 World Cup, just over three months before the tournament kicks off, according to football's international governing body.

Jerome Valke, Fifa's secretary general, told a news conference on Tuesday that the main venue in Johannesburg, Soccer City, was yet to be completed, and that 700,000 tickets were still unsold.

"If the question is: 'Could we host the World Cup tomorrow morning?' the answer is no," Mr Valke said.

"I can make a list of things that aren't ready for the World Cup."

It is the first time that a Fifa official has admitted in such stark terms that not everything is going to plan for South Africa, the first ever host of the tournament on the African continent........ read more>>

Fifa says South Africa unprepared

Kirk Cameron prays for missing costar

It's been a long time since they acted together on the set of "Growing Pains," but Kirk Cameron has never forgotten costar Andrew Koenig -- and now desperately worries about him after he went missing amid signs he was depressed.

"I am praying for his family during this time of distress and for his safe return," Cameron said in a statement. "Andrew, if you're reading this, please call me."

Koenig, 41, who starred as Boner on the show, never returned to his Los Angeles, California, home as scheduled on February 14 after a trip to Canada.

His father described him as sounding "despondent" the last time they spoke.......... read more>>

Kirk Cameron prays for missing costar

Too soon to cut public spending, IMF warns

The International Monetary Fund today gave strong backing to the government's "wait-and-see" approach to cutting Britain's record peacetime budget deficit, warning that the weakness of growth required tax increases and spending cuts to be delayed until next year.

In a rebuff to David Cameron's avowed intention to start repairing the public finances as soon as this spring's election is over, the Washington-based IMF said the fragility of the global economy meant stimulus packages should be left in place well into 2010.

The detailed study – Exiting from Crisis Intervention Policies – was published as data from the British Bankers' Association for January showed a dip in mortgage borrowing, a sharp drop in lending to businesses and a repayment of credit card debt for the 10th successive month.......... read more>>

Too soon to cut public spending, IMF warns

Minister Phil Woolas launches personal attack on Christine Pratt

Government criticism of the head of an anti-bullying charity morphed into an outright personal attack today when Christine Pratt was mocked by a minister as a “prat of a woman”.

The founder of the National Bullying Helpline has faced a concerted campaign to discredit her and her organisation since claiming that staff at No 10 had asked for help to flight bullying at work.

Phil Woolas, the Immigration Minister, launched the most aggressive attack yet while suggesting that she would be regretting her actions. “It’s a tough business, politics. It’s 18, 20 hours a day that people like the Prime Minister work,” he told LBC, a London radio station.

“I think this attack on him by this prat of a woman down in - where’s she from, Swindon? - I think that’s backfiring on her."......... read more>>

Minister Phil Woolas launches personal attack on Christine Pratt

US consumer confidence sees sharp fall in February

Confidence among US consumers saw a surprisingly sharp fall in February as concerns grew about the jobs market and business conditions, a survey says.

The Conference Board consumer confidence index fell to a 10-month low of 46, from 56.5 in January. Analysts were expecting a decrease to 55.

The report appeared to concern Wall Street, with the main Dow Jones index down 100.51 points, 1% to 10,282.87.

The data came as several US retailers reported higher profits but weak sales.......... read more>>

US consumer confidence sees sharp fall in February

iPhone developers angry as Apple purges adult apps

Developers have expressed anger at Apple's decision to ban some adult-themed applications from its iPhone.

Thousands of apps with adult-themed content have been removed from the store since Friday although some, such as one from Playboy, remain.

Apple has said that certain apps were removed following customer complaints.

Developer Jon Atherton is angry that previously-approved apps have been pulled, and accuses Apple of "experimenting with our livelihoods".

Apple said it had to respond to its customers......... read more>>

iPhone developers angry as Apple purges adult apps