Nigh†wisH™

2007-11-29T17:04:00.000+02:00

De ce NOD32?

2007-11-22T13:10:00.000+02:00

Tehnologia, NU renumele opreste atacurile informatice.

Comparatie

Rezultatele testelor efectuate arata diferenta de detectie, dimensiune si viteza dintre NOD32 si concurentii acestuia. Aflati de ce NOD32 este cea mai Sigura, Rapida, Mica solutie.

Cea mai buna detectie a tuturor tipurilor de amenintari

Aproximativ 88% din amenintari sunt detectate prin euristica avansata a motorului de scanare ThreatSense. De exemplu, toate variantele virusilor MyDoom, Netsky, Bagle si Mytob au fost detectate euristic - inainte ca alti producatori antivirus sa adauge in baza de date semnatura pentru acestia.
Site-ul AV-Comparatives.org, in urma a doua teste separate efectuate in anul 2005 a declarat ca NOD32 ofera cea mai buna protectie proactiva impotriva atacurilor 'zero-day'. NOD32 a detectat 90% din noii virusi In-the-Wild in Mai si 62% din toate programele 'malware' testate in luna Noiembrie utilizand detectia euristica. (sursa: av-comparatives.org)
Detectia virusilor 'In-the-Wild' - Compania ESET este detinatoarea unui numar record de medalii VB100%, premii castigate de-a lungul ultimilor 7 ani. Aceste teste confirma abilitatea produselor de a detectat toate programele malware cunoscute. (sursa: www.virusbtn.com).

NOD32 a 'scapat' mai putini virusi 'In-the-Wild' decat oricare dintre produsele testate de VirusBulletin.

Performanta cea mai rapida

Rata de scanare de 19MB/sec pentru fisierele executabile aflate pe un server Windows 2003. Competitorul aflat pe locul al doilea a avut viteza pe jumatate.(Sursa: Virus Bulletin)
In testele efectuate pe RedHat Linux, NOD32 a scanat cu viteza de 14,000 kB/sec, aproape dublu fata de concurentul aflat pe locul 2. (Sursa: Virus Bulletin)
impact asupra performantelor la scanarea La-Acces 6% (sursa: Cannon)

Cele mai putine resurse utilizate

NOD32 este de departe una dintre cele mai mici aplicatii din industrie, in special ca ofera protectie impotriva unui numar atat de mare de amenintari. Installer-ul NOD32 v2.5 are doar 8.6 MB
Programul utilizeaza intre 15 si 22 MB de RAM. Impreuna cu metodele inteligente de gestionare a memoriei cache , ce reduc accesul la disc si paginarea memoriei, NOD32 aduce un plus de performanta. (Sursa: Scott Brown, Colby Sawyer Case Study, Noiembrie 2004)

Roşca vrea să spioneze Steaua la meciul cu Sevilla

2007-11-18T13:28:00.000+02:00

Stelistul s-a bucurat la golul Craiovei

Ironie a sorţii la sfârşitul săptămânii pe Ghencea. Un oltean adevărat va sta alături de Gigi Becali şi din profesionalism va susţine Steaua, şi un cioban din Moldova, stelist la origini, va sta alături de Mititelu. Patronul Universităţii i-a permis lui Roşca să meargă să urmărească partida din Liga Campionilor dintre Steaua şi Sevilla, pentru a studia adversarul.

CÂND UNIVERSITATEA CRAIOVA A MARCAT SÂMBĂTĂ CU DINAMO, Vlad Roşc-albastru a fost cel mai fericit dintre români. Şi asta pentru că spre deosebire de noi restul, el se bucura de două ori. Prima oară că eterna rivală a Stelei este Dinamo, echipa care tocmai luase gol de la Universitatea, şi a doua oară că prin golul lui Tănasă a avut ocazia să arate cât de mult se bucură el la golurile Ştiinţei.

COSTEŞIN ŞI VLAD ROŞCA SUNT ÎN ANTITEZĂ cum erau personajele din manualul de clasa a VIII-a. Unul e bun, sufletist şi chipeş, iar altul e slutul şi urâtul. Tot o ironie este faptul că Ovidiu Costeşin este cu siguranţă mult mai iubit şi respectat, în Bănie, chiar şi acum când lucrează la Steaua Bucureşti, decât Vlăduţ care e salariatul lui Mititelu.

COSTEŞIN NU S-A BĂGAT PE SUB PIELEA NIMĂNUI, doar şi-a făcut treaba. Se vedea şi oricum se ştia care este echipa lui. Roşca nu prea are ce treabă să facă la club. Programul lui oricum începe la 3 noaptea cu revista presei şi tirul de comentarii pe site-urile duşmanilor de Sud. Pe lângă această muncă depusă la un club profesionist de fotbal, în timpul liber, Roşca se bagă şi pe sub pielea suporterilor. Pe site-ul oficial al suporterilor, dacă poate fi numit aşa www.craiova-maxima.ro, Vlad postează de zor, împrietenindu-se cu oltenii. Postează de zor atunci când echipa are cât de cât rezultate. A stat şi şi-a dat cu părerea de transferuri, a explicat că se discută cu Ajax şi AS Roma pentru meciul de prezentare şi multe altele. După ce toate spusele lui au picat, perioadă în care echipa a mai şi pierdut opt meciuri consecutiv, Vlad a dispărut două luni de pe site. Apoi a băgat subtil un comentariu după victoria cu Mioveni. Acum e iar activ. Dar vine Steaua. Stelistul s-a bucurat la golul Craiovei cu Dinamo şi cu siguranţă se va bucura cel mai mult dintre toţi dacă Universitatea va înscrie pe Ghencea. O va face din ipocrizie. Însă ce va face Vlad când va ajunge acasă ştiu doar cei care au văzut reclama la Coca Cola.

Activarea Genuine a Windsows-ului Vista Ultimate

2007-10-28T09:05:00.000+02:00

Cu ceva timp in urma am scris un tutorial desprec activarea Windows-ului Vista, asta in timpul cand pe net nu gaseai nimic de activat.Se pare ca a aparut un patch care schimba serialul cu un serial orginal, genuine.L-am gasit cam greu acest patch dar daca eu ma pot bucura de el vi-l dau si voua.El se gaseste dand click AICI . Se gaseste in format winrar tot avd nevoie doar sa fie dezarhivat si instalat.Dupa instalare se da restart la windows...restu e ca si facut.Va doresc o zii buna.

Audi TT RS surprins in trafic

2007-10-26T12:39:00.000+03:00

Fotografii spion l-au "ochit" noul prototip Audi TT RS in timpul unor testari in Burburgring. La inceputul acestei luni fotografii au surprins primele imagini cu Audi TT S, si modelul RS promite sa ii dea TT-ului si mai multa performanta. Este de asteptat ca motorul TT-ului RS sa aiba 340 CP.
Desi exteriorul RS-ului apare destul de asemanator cu cel al modelului S, exista totusi cateva schimbari subtile. TT RS renunta la luminile de ceata de la S, pentru a putea aranja mai bine intrarea aerului pentru o mai buna aerisire a motorului. Mai mult decat atat, RS poarta de asemenea roti...

Activare Windows Vista Ultimate !!!

2007-10-18T18:45:00.000+03:00

Dupa cum stiti cei de la microsoft.com au scos si ultima versiune in materie de softuri pentru pc.Ultimul modul se numeste Windows Vista Ultimate care poate sa fie: OEM X86(32 biti) si cel de 64biti.Problema este ca, cei de la microsoft doresc ca noul windows sa nu mai poata fi piratat, deci ca urmare ar trebui cumparat la pachet original, sau daca nu activat pe net ceea ce ar costa cam acelasi lucru.Windows Vista poate fi instalat cu sau fara serial, acest lucru necontand deoarece ori este instalat introducandu-se serialul ori acest lucru se face fara a se introduce serialul dandu-se doar next pe butonul virtual el nu poate fi folosit decat maxim 30 de zile.Acest lucru mi-a dat de gandit deoarece notebook-u pe care il folosesc are drivere doar pt vista si de lene sa caut pentru xp am preferat sa fac intr-un fel sa modific acea activare incat sa nu mai fie nevoie de ea.Surpriza !!! Am reusit.Am resusit sa fac si un mic programel care mia dat multa bataie de cap pana ce am reusit sal fac deoarece lucra cu registrii wiondowsului in mai multe etape.Il puteti descarca AICI .Totul se bazeaza pe clock-ul windowsului, dand peste cap perioada de expirare.Mai jos am sa va explic pe larg etapa de etapa pentru a putea beneficia si voi de acest lucru.
1. Porniti pc in Windows Vista Ultimate.
2. Modificati data windowsului la data maxima pe care o poate avea.( aceasta fiind 31.12.2099 ).
3. Acum urmati urmatorii pasi: Start / All programs / Accessories / click dreapta pe Command Prompt / Run as Administrator (optional Continue )
4. Va va aparea o fereastra CMD (Command Prompt)
5. In acaesta fereastra scrieti urmatoarele: cscript slmgr.vbs -rearm
6. Dupa ce ati scris sintaxa de mai sus va va aparea ceva de forma:

C:\Windows\system32>cscript slmgr.vbs -rearm
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.7
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

The command completed successfully.
To make the change effectively, please restart the system.

7. NU dati restart !!!
8. Inchideti fereastra Command Prompt
9. Modificati iarasi ora curenta a Windowsului.
10. In prezentarea de mai sus v-am spus sa descarcati acel mic programel
11. Dati click dreapta pe “Vista test crack.exe” si selectati "Run as..."
12. Apare un buton in noua fereastra cu numele "Install" apasati acel buton si va va aparea o alta ferastra in care va scrie: "Service installed"
13. Inchideti toate ferestrele si dati restart la Windows.
14. Aceasta a fost tot, acuma va puteti bucura de Windows Vista Ultimate fara a mai expira vreodata, dand click pe My computer/properties veti vedea ca afiseaza ca windows-ul expira in 15 zile. Tot asa va ramanea si nu se va schimba.Pentru a va convinge intrati in Start /Run si scrieti comanda: slmgr.vbs -dtv
15. urmariti ca minutele raman pe loc la fel si zilele.

Sper ca v-am fost de ajutor cu acest tutorial despre activarea Windows Vista Ultimate si nu am lucrat in zadar .Daca aveti prieteni care au nevoie de activarea dati acest site mai departe ca sa stie toata lumea.Sper sa va fie de ajutor munca care am depuso.Orice relatii la www_cipry_uv_ro@yahoo.com

Noile notebook-uri HP pentru afaceri amplifica performanta mobile

2007-10-08T07:52:00.001+03:00

Bateria HP Ultra-Capacity ofera anumitor modele o autonomie suplimentara de pana la 10 ore

HP a lansat doua noi serii de notebook-uri prevazute cu cea mai recenta tehnologie de procesare si performante imbunatatite, pentru a ajuta profesionistii mobili sa ramana conectati si sa-si mentina productivitatea oriunde s-ar afla.
HP a anuntat de asemenea bateria HP Ultra-Capacity, o baterie litiu-ion cu 12 celule, compatibila cu toata linia de notebook-uri HP pentru afaceri, ce extinde durata de functionare autonoma a anumitor modele(2,3) cu pana la 10 ore.
Seriile de notebook-uri PC HP Compaq 9400 si HP Compaq 6300 sunt prevazute cu cea mai noua tehnologie de procesare Intel® Core™ Duo (1), care le permite utilizatorilor sa execute mai multe aplicatii simultan, pentru a fi mai eficienti. Capabilitatile integrate de conectare mobila in banda larga, disponibile doar la anumite modele, permit accesarea retelelor din organizatiile mari, a email-ului si a Internetui, fara sa impl

ice necesitatea conectarii la un hotspot wireless.(4)
„Stilul de viata mobil din ziua de astazi le impune profesionistilor foarte ocupati sa fie conectati si productivi intreaga zi, indiferent de locatia in care se afla”, spune Ted Clark, prim vicepresedinte si director general al unitatii de afaceri Notebook Global din cadrul HP. „Clientii nostri pot beneficia acum de sisteme de calcul de inalta performanta indiferent daca se afla in propriul birou, in vizita la un client sau pur si simplu fac o prezentare in holul cladirii, chiar si atunci cand sunt deconectati de la o sursa de alimentare de mai multe ore”.

Proiectata pentru utilizatorii care au nevoie de performante avansate si de functionalitatea ecranelor late, dublate de comoditatea mobilitatii, seria de notebook-uri PC HP Compaq nx9400 este prevazuta cu un ecran lat de 17 inci, procesor Intel Core Duo si un card grafic 3D puternic. In plus, nx9400 este cu 35 % mai subtire si cu 17 % mai usor decat notebook-urile HP actuale care inlocuiesc desktop-urile. De asemenea, ofera o autonomie a bateriei de pana la patru ore(2), ceea ce reprezinta o durata de viata a acesteia cu pana la 129 % mai mare decat in cazul modelelor anterioare de notebook-uri HP de 17 inci.
Seria de notebook-uri HP Compaq 6300 este subtire si usoara, fiind proiectata pentru profesionistii care necesita flexibilitate si libertate de miscare pentru a-si desfasura activitatea oriunde este nevoie. 6300 le ofera utilizatorilor posibilitatea de a beneficia de cele mai noi tehnologii de procesare, cum este noul procesor Intel Core Duo, precum si de o serie de optiuni wireless(3), cum ar fi tehnologia mobila in banda larga integrata(4,5), care permite accesul la Internet si la retelele din cadrul organizatiilor mari, prin intermediul retelelor Broadband Access si National Access puse la dispozitie de Verizon Wireless.(6)
Bateria HP Ultra-Capacity poate fi incarcata separat, prin conectarea directa a unui adaptor AC inteligent. Optional, este disponibila si bateria HP Extended Life(3) , o baterie litiu-ion cu 8 celule, care ofera o autonomie suplimentara de cinci ore(2), precum si posibilitatea de a incarca bateria in timp ce este conectata la notebook.
Atat seria de notebook-uri PC HP Compaq nx9400 cat si 6300 protejeaza informatiile sensibile prin mai multe nivele de securitate, cum ar fi pachetele HP ProtectTools, un cititor de amprente(7), citititor integrat de carduri inteligente si un modul TPM 1.2 integrat.(8)
Compatibilitatea cu toate accesoriile notebook-urilor HP pentru afaceri permite implementarea simplificata si utilizarea fara probleme a acestora. Proiectate pentru a face fata riscurilor unui stil de viata mobil, aceste notebook-uri ofera sistemul de protectie HP Mobile Data, pentru a asigura protectia datelor la socuri si vibratii, laminare la cald, care asigura rezistenta la zgariere, precum si protectie HP Panel.

Disponibilitate
Conform estimarilor, seria de notebook-uri PC HP Compaq nx9400 va fi disponibila in intreaga lume la sfarsitul acestei luni, iar seria de notebook-uri PC HP Compaq 6300 la inceputul lunii aprilie.
Bateria HP Ultra-Capacity va fi disponibila, conform estimarilor, in intreaga lume, la jumatatea lunii aprilie.
Mai multe informatii despre aceste notebook-uri PC si despre alte solutii HP de mobilitate sunt disponibile la adresa www.hp.com/go/Mobility2006.
Despre HP
HP este o companie furnizoare de solutii tehnologice destinate consumatorilor individuali, intreprinderilor si institutiilor din intreaga lume. Oferta companiei cuprinde infrastructura IT, echipament de calcul si acces de uz personal, servicii globale si solutii de imprimare si prelucrare a imaginii. In ultimele patru trimestre financiare, incheiate la 31 ianuarie 2006, veniturile obtinute de HP au totalizat 87,9 miliarde USD. Mai multe informatii despre HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) puteti gasi la www.hp.com.

Siamezele Dogaru, operate din nou?

2007-10-08T05:45:00.000+03:00

Kenneth Salyer, cel care le-a adus pe gemenele Dogaru in SUA, a declarat ca inca mai exista speranta in vederea separarii acestora. De aceea el a recomandat un nou set de analize facut de un medic de la prestigioasa Universitate Yale din orasul american New Heaven.

Dupa ce in vara medicii americani din Ohio au intrerupt procesul de separare a gemenelor siameze de origine romana, Tatiana si Anastasia Dogaru, in urma unei operatii care le-ar fi putut fi fatala fetitelor, acum, Kenneth Salyer, medicul care le-a adus pe gemene in America pentru a fi separate, a declarat in International Herald Tribune ca 'inca mai exista sperante'. El a promovat ideea unei noi incercari de separare, de aceasta data realizata de alta echipa decat cea din Ohio.

Familia s-ar putea muta din Ohio

El a spus ca 'exista cateva posibilitati', recomandandu-l in acest sens pe doctor John Persing de la Universitatea Yale. Parintii fetitelor spun ca 'speranta moare ultima', ei fiind gata de orice sacrificiu in cazul in care ar trebui sa se mute din Ohio, de aceasta data in New Haven, langa New York, pentru a fi in apropierea Universitatii Yale.

'Gemenele au inceput gradinita si sunt foarte fericite. Maria, fata noastra mai mare, a inceput si ea scoala, iar sotul meu lucreaza, pentru ca a fost acceptat de biserica din Ohio. Daca aceasta noua solutie se va dovedi viabila, poate ne mutam', ne-a spus Claudia Dogaru, mama fetitelor.

Fix Yahoo messenger STATUS

2007-10-04T19:29:00.000+03:00

DOWNLOAD AICI !!!

Se pare ca cei de la yahoo dintr-un motiv intemeiat pe care il tin confidential au micsorat numarul de caractere disponibile pentru staus la yahoo messenger.Dar romanu-i inventiv si va ofer o solutie la acest lucru care se gaseste in partea de sus a documentarului putand fi downloadata dand click la "DOWNLOAD AICI".Instalati acel mic programel, dupa care iesiti de tot de pe messenger-de tot inseamna ca messu sa nu mai apara nici in partea dreapta in taskbar langa ceas-apaio intrati iarasi si va logati normal.in caz ca nu va descurcati astept un mail din partea dumneavoastra sa va ajut sa rezolvati problema.Da-ti mai departe pentru ca sa se poate bucura si altcineva de aceasta oportuniutate.O zi buna va doresc tuturor.

Fifa `08

2007-09-28T12:13:00.000+03:00

Fifa 2008 download AICI

In ciuda aparitiei procesoarelor multi-core, a placilor video compatibile DirectX 10 sau a noului sistem de operare Windows Vista, Electronic Arts a decis sa mentina versiunea de PC a viitorului joc FIFA, editia 08, in limitele impuse de vechea generatie de console. Astfel, in mare parte, varianta jocului realizata pentru PC va fi foarte asemanatoare cu cea dedicata consolei PlayStation2. De altfel, cele doua versiuni au fost produse de o echipa total diferita fata de cea care s-a ocupat de varianta next-gen a jocului (care va aparea pe consolele Xbox 360 si PlayStation3).

Si pentru ca pe noi versiunea de PC ne intereseaza in primul rand, am hotarat sa va prezentam un foarte recent interviu realizat de Computer and Video Games cu producer-ul FIFA 08 (PC si PS2), Paul Hossack. Interviul evidentiaza noutatile aduse de viitoarea editie FIFA, iata un scurt fragment din aceasta discutie:

"Whats been your focus for FIFA 2008 on the last gen of consoles?

Hossack: There are two main areas weve put a lot of effort into this year. The first is the gameplay and the second is the new game mode called Be a Pro Co-Op."

Caracterele sistemelor biologice:

2007-09-27T09:06:00.000+03:00

1.istoric=evolutia filogenetica=>celula ca sistem,prima celula archebacterium.ultima aparitie filogenetica ca specie este homosapiens sapiens. 2.informational=avand un caracter istoric mopstenesc un stoc informational+propria info dobandita prin relatia cu mediu.sist.informationale utilizeaza transformari energetice ca mijloc pt receptionarea,prelucrarea,acumularea si treans info.unitatea info a celulei este codyul genetic=codon(semnifica un aminoacid) 3.de program=legat de capacitatile structurale si funct.ale sistemului.un priogram=una din starile posibile pe care le poate realizasistemul in limitele permise de organizarea sa.a)program pt sine-programe structurale,functionale(stari care asigura capturarea,devorarea.digerarea,apararea) B)programe inferioare-programele subsistemelor componente=>monocelulare(prog organitelo si complexele moleculare), complexe(prog tesuturilor,organelor,sistemelor de org.), c)prog superioare=prog sist dat avanda ca scop asigurarea sist superior in care este integrat,prog care asigura reproducerea,inmultirea.

1.Teoria sistemelor ierarhizate

2007-09-26T08:23:00.001+03:00

1.teoria sistemica-intreaga materia atat cea lipsita de viata cat si cea vie este organizata in sisteme ierarhizate.sistemul in subsisteme,sistemul devine subsistem unui sistem mai cuprinzator.seis.se comp[orta ca un intreg,relatiile dintre sist.ierarhizate sunte relatii dintre parte si intreg.sistemu=ansamblu de elemente aflate in interactiune.sisteme: izolate, inchise, deschise.celula=sistem biologic deschis.2.ierarhizare-sistemele biologice se afla in diferite coleratii cu cele anorganice=>succesiuni de sisteme ierarhizate.lumea vie:2nivele organizare-individuala si supraindividuala.a)individuala-ierarhia morfofiziologica a sistemelor de control in cadrul unui individ,aceste sisteme sunt integrate in mod organic in corpul unei fiinte deci au un grad redus de libertate,sunt elemente componente a unui organism aflat in relatii de coordonare si vubordonare.b)supraindividula-fiecare individ apartine unei specii,o populatie traieste in cadrul unei biocenoze+biotop=ecosistem=>biosfera.celula=punctul nodal de la care incepe viata,sistem de raport cu subsisteme(organite,molecule,atomi),subsistem in raport cu tesutul din care face parte.

Tiguan SUV - un concept de exceptie al Volkswagen

2007-09-25T08:22:00.000+03:00

Volkswagen a dezvaluit primele imagini ale noului Tiguan SUV: primul compact automaker 4x4 programata la debut la Frankfurt Motor Show în septembrie.

Urmând conceptul Tiguan prezentat de Los Angeles Motor Show anul trecut, versiunea actuala pastreaza multe din stilul fratelui mai mare, Touareg. Spre deosebire de Touareg, noua masina înfatiseaza un design mai special, mai degraba problematic decât rezolvat. Cu o forma mai rotunda, clear center si surround red, toate acestea sunt mai evocatoare la Passat taillamp.

Usor mai larg decât VW Touran MPV, Tiguan masoara 4,4m lungime, 1,8m latime si 1,6m înaltime si va veni echipat cu tractiune integrala 4MOTION VW si o garda fata de sol de 18 grade. Un model cu 28 grade unghiul de apropiere, grilaj de protectie a radiatorului, protectia sasiului, control la coborârea delurilor si un compas va fi

Spionata: Honda Accord Coupe

2007-09-23T08:43:00.000+03:00

De ceva vreme, viitorul sedan de clasa medie Honda a fost mai mereu in vizorul obiectivelor fotografilor spioni, fiind surprins intr-o ipostaza mai mult sau mai putin “indecenta”.

Cu coupe-ul este insa alta poveste, el fiind de fiecare data puternic camuflat de fiecare data in care aparatele au reusit sa-l imortalizeze. Pana acum.

Practic, ceea ce aveti acum in fata ochilor este versiunea de serie in toata plenitudinea formelor sale, doar cateva benzi adezive hidoase acoperand logo-ul Honda si insertiile ce tradeaza numele modelului si motorizarea din dotare.

Din acest moment, putem spune nestingheriti ca noul coupe japonez arata foarte bine, elementele de design traditionale Honda regasindu-si la fix locul pe pe curbele unei caroserii fluid desenate, cu volume bine proportionate.

Intre timp, habitaclul este identic cu al versiunii sedan recent spionata, ceea ce inseamna ca volanul cu trei spite si scaunele sport vor fi principalele puncte de atractie.

Faceti cunostinta cu noul Maserati Coupe

2007-09-16T20:19:00.001+03:00

Aparitia incantatorului Alfa Romeo 8C Competitione a eclipsat mai tot ce misca pe patru roti pe sosele, inclusiv pe Maserati Coupe, cel care ar fi trebuit sa detina rolul de primadona in cadrul nomenclatorului de coupe-uri aflat sub egida Fiat.

Stanjenitoarea situatie va fi rezolvata insa oficial cu ocazia salonului auto de la Geneva, cand cea de-a doua generatie a coupe-ului Maserati va fi dezvaluita privirilor miilor de curiosi.

Pana atunci, insa auto.ro va dezvaluie primele fotografii si informatii oficiale ale acestei masini, al carei design uluitor a fost semnat de studiourile Pininfarina.

Abordand deopotriva o eleganta clasica si o tusa cu iz de high-tech, masina se inspira din liniile limuzinei Quattroporte (vizibile in forma spatelui, in decupajele laterale, in partea frontala cu grila imensa dintr-o singura piesa si in capota arcuita) si propune o alternativa mai moderna la designul retro al supercar-ului Alfa Romeo.

Interiorul va oferi locuri pentru patru persoane, dar caracterizarea 2+2 avertizeaza asupra faptului ca nu este recomandabil sa stai in spate daca natura te-a inzestrat cu o inaltime normala.

Totusi, toata lumea va fi incantata de prezenta unei console centrale tapitata in piele, ce se va intinde de-a lungul intregului habitaclu.

Mult mai dezbatuta va fi insa partea tehnica, iar tifosi tridentului au de ce sa fie bucurosi: masina va avea o distributie a greutatii aproape perfecta (49% pe fata, 51% pe spate) si un motor V8 de 4,2 litri si 400 CP, ce isi va transmite puterea catre rotile din spate via o transmisie automata, ce va putea fi actionata si manuala prin intermediul padelelor instalate in spatele volanului.

La scurt timp de la lansarea masinii insa, vom constata ca aceasta este doar o versiune de baza. Pe masura ce cititi aceste randuri, inginerii italieni lucreaza deja la o versiune GranSport, ce va fi propulsata de un agregat nou-nout de 4,7 litri, despre care se spune ca va dezvolta intre 450 si 500 CP.

Si asta nu e tot: ceva mai tarziu, vor fi oferite atat un model Spyder cu acoperis din material textil, cat si un coupe-cabrio, in genul lui Mercedes SL. Mamma mia...

BMW Seria 3 va consuma mai putin

2007-09-09T01:31:00.001+03:00

Din septembrie, BMW va introduce pentru intreaga Serie 3 tehnologia Efficient Dynamic. Consumul va scadea cu pana la 19%.
de NightwisH™

Dupa Seria 1, BMW pregateste tehnologia Efficient Dynamics si pentru Seria 3, schimbare care va reduce emisiile de carbon cu pana la 23%. In plus, consumul de combustibil va fi si el imbunatatit cu pana la 19%. Primele versiuni echipate cu Efficient Dynamics vor fi disponibile abia in septembrie si vor include sisteme start-stop si de regenerare a energiei de franare.

Propulsorul diesel bi-turbo de 2.0 litri si 204 cai putere va fi capabil sa atinga un consum mediu de doar 4.33 litri/100km si un nivel al emisiilor CO2 de 138g/km. Cel mai bun rezultat in ceea ce priveste consumul mediu l-a inregistrat insa modelul 318d: 3.90 litri/100km si emisii de doar 123 g/km.

Cu aceste performante de consum, Seria 3 ar putea rivaliza foarte usor cu celebrul hibrid Toyota Prius, unii specialisti afirmand ca modelele constructorului bavarez ar putea chiar depasi japoneza.

BMW si Mercedes acuza de furt construictorul chinez Shuanghuan

2007-09-07T22:38:00.000+03:00

Gigantii auto BMW si Mercedes sunt profund derajati de ofensiva chinezilor in Europa. Nu faptul ca masinile din tara Marelui Zid sunt ieftine este problema celor doi constructori, ci furtul intelectual. Shuanghuan a adus in Europa SUV-ul CEO, dar a comunicat si despre finalizarea proiectului Nobel, un Smart Fortwo copiat la indigo.

Producatorul chinez a reusit astfel sa supere doua dintre cele mai importante branduri auto. BMW si Mercedes si-au propus sa actioneze in instanta compania Shuanghuan concomitent cu debutul showului auto de la Frankfurt. Din pacate pentru constructorii Europeni, o astfel de actiune va reusi sa faca foarte cunoscute cele doua masini.

Mai mult, promovarea gratuita de care vor beneficia CEO si Nobel poate sa le aduca vanzari record, cel putin pana cand instanta le va opri de la vanzare. Pe de alta parte este surprinzator faptul ca BMW nu s-a sesizat mai devreme fata de modelul CEO. Se pare ca abia prezentarea Smart-ului chinezesc i-a facut pe cei doi sa isi uneasca fortele pentru o actiune comunca.

Pana acum, tentativele de intrare in Europa ale chinezilor au fost dejucate de europeni prin testele EuroNCAP. Perfectionarea procedeelor de constructie a facut ca cel putin doua SUV-uri se ajunga in showroom-urile din Europa (si in Romania): Hover si CEO. Ambele masini sunt vandute doar cu versiuni de motorizare pe benzina si consta mai putin de 20 de mii de euro, fara taxe.

BMW reinnoieste Serie 3

2007-09-05T10:30:00.000+03:00

Luna viitoare, bavarezii vor lansa un facelift pentru gama sa de modele medii, ce se va manifesta mult mai evident in plan tehnic decat la nivelul designului.

Sunt planificati extra CP atat pentru motoarele pe benzina, cat si pentru cele diesel, in timp ce exteriorul va primi doar cateva retusuri minore.

Mai multi cai vor primi asadar hergheliile tututror agregatelor consumatoare de benzina, mai putin cele aferente versiunilor 325i si 335i; de partea cealalta, doar motoarele diesel in patru cilindri vor urma acelasi tratament de sporire a fortei.

In continuare, sistemul de tractiune integrala X-Drive va fi disponibil in exclusivitate pentru modelele cu motoare in sase cilindri, ceea ce inseamna ca gama lui Serie 3 ii va cuprinde inclusiv pe 325xi, 330xi, 335xi si 330xd.

BMW este decis totodata sa imprime celei mai mici limuzine si un caracter ceva mai ecologic, aceasta urmand a fi echipata cu tehnologia de reducere a consumului de combustibil numita Efficent Dynamics. Asadar, in ciuda surplusului de putere, fiecare varianta a lui Serie 3 va consuma mai putin decat masina pe care o inlocuieste.

In sfarsit, habitaclul va suferi si el cateva modificari, bavarezii urmand a oferi posibilitatea echiparii acestuia cu noi culori pentru tapiterie si, probabil, materiale ceva mai bune calitativ.

What is Gmail?

2007-09-04T00:07:00.000+03:00

Like most other prime search engines, the ability to freely giveaway an email account is a positive tool that

signals to the user community that this search engine is here to stay! Google is no different in this

approach. Recently, Google has been beta testing Gmail. Googles very own email services repository. Best of

all, its free! Well, its going to be free, its currently available only in Beta mode, if you are lucky

enough to have received an invitation to sign up for a complimentary account you currently enjoy the benefits

of ubiquitous Gmail.

Found at gmail.google.com, users were at a frenzied pace to secure the names and aliases that may be snatched

up once the floodgates were open. People are exclusively invited to partake in the beta testing were selling

their names and invitations for quite a handsome sum on eBay. Most users will have to wait until Gmail goes

live before actually trying it out. However with all the functionality at a price like this, how could anyone

refuse?

Unlike MSN and Yahoo! Googles approach to space was a little more liberal. Google provides 1000 MB of storage

space so you would never have to worry about limited space requirements. All messages are displayed intact as

well as the replies. Messages can be searched upon as well. Googles approach was to give as much flexibility

to the user so the user in turn would use only Google.

Much like the anti-pop up ad theory of The Google Toolbar, there will be an anti-Spam product built into Gmail

that will help thwart out unsolicited email.

Currently, new users can ask for a preview address from Google, although there is no guarantee they will get

one. Interested parties should go to http://gmail.google.com/gmail/help/about.html and fill in their email

addresses at the bottom of the page.

BMW seria 5 diesel tunat de Hamann

2007-09-03T09:09:00.000+03:00

Nu este o noutate ca Hamann s-a concentrat asupra unui model BMW. Tunerii fac asta destul de des, au creat deja o serie de kituri de tuning exterior si interior pentru modelele germanilor de la BMW. Noutatea vine din faptul ca seria 5 spre care si-au indreptat atentia este propulsata de un motor diesel. Defapt, toate modelele diesel seria 5 (520d, 525d, 530d si 535d) pot fi aranjate la comanda de catre Hamann. La exterior masinile primesc kitul de tuning „M”, iar motoarele ajung sa produca pana la 350 CP si un cuplu de 660Nm.

Motorul limuzinei – un V6 de 3.0 litri – 535d poate ajunge acum la 100 km/h in doar 6.5 secunde, iar viteza de top pe care o poate atinge este de 267 km/h. Viteza superioara a masinii necesita forme pronuntat aerodinamice. Hamann a lucrat partea frontala a BMW-ului, iar cel mai puternic element este spoilerul imprumutat de la masinile de curse GT.

Seria 5 pare asezar pe amortizoare mai joase, insa, dincolo de aspectul agresiv, este doar o iluzie. In realitate Hamann a montat doua praguri pentru a aseza mai bine masina pe sosea la viteze de peste 200 km/h.

La spate, seria 5 are un spoiler la fel de pronuntat, montat pentru reducerea portantei. Un alt element marcant este constituit de cele patru tevi de espapare, din inox. Atat aspectul, cat si motricitatea masini sunt influentate de jantele de magneziu (20 de inci) si cauciucuri.

La interior masina beneficiaza de un design „racing”. Aluminiul si fibra de carbun sunt cele mai utilizate elemente, iar ca dotari hi-fi, masina este dotata cu DVD, TV sau Playstation.

Sursa: motorpulse.com

BMW X6 este mai aproape de lansare

2007-08-31T07:49:00.000+03:00

X6 a fost surprins pe strazile din Munchen usor camuflata. De aceasta data masina si-a dezvaluit foarte clar silueta de coupe, dar si profilul de masina cu tractiune integrala. Daca pastram algoritmul de cresterea in dimensiuni de la X3 la X5, atunci X6 ar trebui sa fie cel mai mare SUV al BMW. Realitatea este alta. X6 va fi cel mai scump 4X4 al BMW, dar nu va avea dimensiuni mai mari ca X5.

X6 se doreste o masina exclusivista, trendy si va oferi la interior spatiu pentru 4 persoane. Sunt si pareri conform carora locurile din spate nu ofera suficient spatiu pentru persoane mai inalte. Oricum, nivelul de finisare a coupe-ului va fi peste X5, propriu limuzinelor de lux. Gama de motorizari incepe de la un 3.0 litri pe benzina si urca pana la gigantul V8 de 4.8 litri.

Pentru ca aspectul exterior sa ramana ancorat in zona SUV, X6-le fotografiat in Munchen foloseste jante de 18 inci – probabil acest element va fi preluat ca dotare de serie.

BMW vrea sa lanseze masina in 2009. Pentru a sublinia diferenta fata de X5 – cu care imparte 70 de procente din componente -, BMW propune pentru X6 notiunea de SAC (Sports Activity Coupe). Practic, BMW renunta la conceptul de „utilitate” (din SUV) pentru cel de „activitate”. Ca nivel de pret, X6 va avea un cost mai mare cu 5-7 mii de euro, in varianta de baza, decat X5.

BMW M5 de 810 CP!

2007-08-30T00:47:00.000+03:00

Ne-am obisnuit de ani de zile sa cautam in Germania cele mai ticnite creatii auto, o tara recunoscuta pentru tunerii sai creatori de masini incredibil si inutil de puternice.

Din cand in cand insa, de aiurea rasare cate un atelier ce se grabeste sa anunte ca tocmai a finalizat lucrul la o masinarie scandaloasa la adresa mediului, politiei, celorlalti participanti la trafic si a oricaror persoane sau obiecte va trec prin minte. Azi, e randul celor de la Currency Motors.

In peisajul tunerilor californieni este unul destul de obscur, dar acest monstru mecanic bazat pe BMW M5 ii va face cu siguranta cunoscuti in intreaga lume drept creatorii celui mai rapid sedan cu patru usi din lume.

Ca orice americani iubitori de simplu si rapid, cei de la Currency nu s-au complicat in ceea ce priveste modificarea V10-lui de cinci litri: doua turbocompresore au rezolvat rapid ecuatia, obligand uriasul cu tehnologie din Formula 1 sa dezvolte, eh, cat o masina de Formula 1: 810 CP.

Foarte interesant este insa plasamentul turbinelor: sub bara de protectie spate! Ei motiveaza ineditul montaj prin faptul ca ele s-ar fi supraincalzit daca ar fi fost montate in fata.

Acestea conteaza insa mai putin. Important este faptul ca acest M5 poate ajunge pana la, atentie, 386 km/h, ceea ce inseamna mai rapid decat un McLaren F1.

Totusi, daca te hotarasti sa iti plimbi prietenii in acest BMW de 350.000 de $ (ce va avea doar inca noua frati gemeni), nu le da de baut decat dupa cursa: ar fi pacat de tapiteria neagra din piele de crocodil, identica cu cea din masinile Bugatti din anii ’30...

Noul model Bugatti poate fi considerat unul de colectie, pentru ca la uzina din Franta nu s-au mai facut masini din 1956

2007-08-27T01:11:00.000+03:00

La salonul auto de la Los Angeles a fost prezentata cea mai scumpa si cea mai puternica masina din lume. Este vorba despre noul Bugatti Veyron, care costa nici mai mult nici mai putin de 1 milion si 200 de mii de dolari.

Masina are peste o mie de cai putere, dezvoltati de un motor W16 cilindri, avand patru axe cu came si patru turbo chargere si poate atinge o suta de kilometri pe ora in trei secunde, iar viteza maxima este de 400 de kilometri pe ora. Cuplul motorului atinge o valoare de 1250 Nm la 4000 rpm. Cele patru turbine inaltura aparitia fenomenului "turbo hole", existand astfel un cuplu foarte mare pe toata perioada accelerarii, iar axele cu came pot modifica perioadele de deschidere ale supapelor in functie de solicitarile motorului.

Transmisia la toate cele patru roti a unei astfel de puteri este asigurata de o cutie de viteze secventiala cu dublu ambreiaj (double cluch) si cu sapte trepte de viteza comandate de la volan. Sistemul DC permite schimbarea unei trepte de viteza in numai 0.2 secunde.

Interiorul este sportiv, de inalta calitate, fiind pe masura pretului acestei masini.

Bugatti, fondata in 1909, a anuntat ca poate produce anual in jur de 60 de bucati. Potrivit unui studiu de piata, cererea nu depaseste insa 300 de exemplare.

Noul model poate fi considerat si unul de colectie, pentru ca la uzina din Franta nu s-au mai facut masini din 1956. In 1998, compania Bugatti a fost cumparata de grupul Volkswagen.

Prima masina pe GPL care depaseste 300 km/h

2007-08-25T00:05:00.000+03:00

Unul dintre cei mai cunsocuti tuneri ai marcii BMW, HARTGE, a dezvaluit noua lor creatie numita V300+. Aceasta este un BMW seria 1 care este capabil sa atinga o viteza maxima de peste 300 km/h in conditiile in care combustibilul pe care-l foloseste este GPL-ul. Astfel, acest Hartge seria 1 va deveni cel mai rapid automobil din lume propulsat de GPL.

Recordul mondial al unui masinii GPL a fost stabilit de IdeeVerte Competition in 2004, acesta atingand o viteza maxima de 315 km/h. Modelul german Hartge LPG a fost dezvoltat de catre Hartge impreuna cu o echipa de experti ai facultatii din Saarbruecken, si se doreste sa fie un demonstrator pentru aceasta tehnologie.

Motorul BMW-ului este un V8 care dezvolta o putere maxima de 450 CP.

BMW X6 este mai aproape de lansare

2007-08-24T10:37:00.000+03:00

X6 a fost surprins pe strazile din Munchen usor camuflata.

De aceasta data masina si-a dezvaluit foarte clar silueta de coupe, dar si profilul de masina cu tractiune integrala. Daca pastram algoritmul de cresterea in dimensiuni de la X3 la X5, atunci X6 ar trebui sa fie cel mai mare SUV al BMW. Realitatea este alta. X6 va fi cel mai scump 4X4 al BMW, dar nu va avea dimensiuni mai mari ca X5.

X6 se doreste o masina exclusivista, trendy si va oferi la interior spatiu pentru 4 persoane. Sunt si pareri conform carora locurile din spate nu ofera suficient spatiu pentru persoane mai inalte. Oricum, nivelul de finisare a coupe-ului va fi peste X5, propriu limuzinelor de lux. Gama de motorizari incepe de la un 3.0 litri pe benzina si urca pana la gigantul V8 de 4.8 litri.

Pentru ca aspectul exterior sa ramana ancorat in zona SUV, X6-le fotografiat in Munchen foloseste jante de 18 inci – probabil acest element va fi preluat ca dotare de serie.

BMW vrea sa lanseze masina in 2009. Pentru a sublinia diferenta fata de X5 – cu care imparte 70 de procente din componente -, BMW propune pentru X6 notiunea de SAC (Sports Activity Coupe). Practic, BMW renunta la conceptul de „utilitate” (din SUV) pentru cel de „activitate”. Ca nivel de pret, X6 va avea un cost mai mare cu 5-7 mii de euro, in varianta de baza, decat X5.

BMW Serie 3 cu motor de M5, de la Bremgo

2007-08-23T00:44:00.000+03:00

Specialistul german in furnizarea de piese si accesorii de tuning pentru modelele BMW demonstreaza ca poate mai mult decat sa puna la punct planuri prin care sa convinga clienti sa cumpere de la el, propunand, scurt si la obiect, un monstru mecanic care probabil ii va aduce mai multi oameni in magazine decat orice reclama.

Odata un 335i Coupe, acest BMW este echipat acum cu un motor V10 preluat de la M5, tuningul fiind disponibil oricui suficient de ticnit (si bogat) incat sa inghesuie un agregat de cinci litri sub capota unui Serie 3.

La randul ei, transmisia manuala cu sase rapoarte a lui 335i si-a luat adio de la masina, lasand locul celebrei cutii de viteze SMG cu sapte rapoarte si launch control, una care asigura niste acceleratii dupa care ar tanji chiar si un posesor de Ferrari.

In atentia lui Bremgo nu a intrat insa doar grupul motorpropulsor, atat habitaclul coupe-ului (care se mandreste acum cu un volan Hartge imbracat in piele perforata) si exteriorul (impodobit cu un set de jante AC Schnitzer, plus o capota si un acoperis din fibra de carbon preluate de la M3) contaminandu-se cu entuziasmul dealer-ului german.

Bremgo nu este la prima isprava de acest fel, cu ceva timp in urma ei montand acelasi motor V10 pe vechea generatie M3, unde dezvolta si mai multa putere (543 CP, mai precis).

Ca urmare, faptul ca ei nu au declarat inca cati caluti se ascund sub capota acestui ex-335i ne face sa credem ca sunt mult mai multi dcat cei prezenti pe un M5.

2009 BMW M1, Z1, and tii

2007-08-22T02:25:00.000+03:00

Next year, BMW will bring out coupe and convertible versions of its compact 1-series. They will join the two-door and four-door hatchbacks already on sale in Europe and will be the first versions of the 1-series to set sail for North America. It's hoped that the two new entries will goose the sales of the model line, which have been tepid so far.

To give the 1-series a further image boost, BMW is considering an M version (the M1). The M1 would launch late next year, which is a viable date considering that the current 1-series will remain in production until 2011. The engine would be the 333-hp, 3.2-liter six from the outgoing M3. It's an expensive engine, and it needs work in the mileage and emissions departments, but it could deliver the goods. According to an internal document, the M1 would accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds and could reach 175 mph.

Looking further into the future of the 1-series, the next generation of the compact could spawn two particularly intriguing body styles.

One is a no-frills, lightweight roadster that would revive the Z1 nameplate. Designed to be tauter, noisier, and faster than the comparatively plush Z4, the Z1 would be powered exclusively by four-cylinder engines, possibly turbocharged. It would have a manual soft top and manual steering. Air-conditioning, a stereo, and a navigation system would be optional.

The second car is a reincarnation of the 2002tii, complete with a shark-nosed front end, a three-box body design, and "waterline" styling. With BMW's new turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engines able to deliver up to 275 hp, there's no need to install a heavier and thirstier six. The car would be strictly rear-wheel drive and would feature hydraulically actuated rear-wheel steering. It also may get flared wheel arches like those on the Schnitzer/Alpina/Koepchen 2002 racers from the 1970s; round head- and taillights complete the picture.

Nissan: Concept car to showcase anti drink-driving technology

2007-08-20T02:11:00.000+03:00

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd has revealed a new concept car featuring multiple preventative features designed to reduce drink-driving.

The various technologies are designed to detect the driver's state of sobriety and to activate a range of preventive measures including immobilisation of the vehicle.

Alcohol Odour Sensors

1) A hi-sensitivity alcohol odour sensor is built into the transmission shift knob which is able to detect the presence of alcohol in the perspiration of the driver's palm as he or she attempts to start driving. When the alcohol-level detected is above the pre-determined threshold, the system automatically locks the transmission, immobilising the car. A “drink-driving” voice alert is also issued via the car navigation system.

2) Additional alcohol odour sensors are also incorporated into the driver’s and passenger seats to detect the presence of alcohol in the air inside the vehicle cabin. When alcohol is detected, the system issues both a voice alert and a message alert on the navigation system monitor.

Facial Monitoring System

A camera is mounted on the instrument cluster facing the driver to monitor the driver’s face. The system is calibrated to monitor the driver's state of consciousness through eyes. When the system detects signs of drowsiness, a voice and message alert is triggered via the navigation system. Additionally, a seat-belt mechanism is activated which tightens around the driver to gain his or her immediate attention.

Driving Behaviour

By constantly monitoring the operational behaviour of the vehicle (e.g. sensing if the vehicle is drifting out of its driving lane), the system can identify signs of inattentiveness or distraction in the driver. When the system detects such behaviour, voice and message alerts are issued via the navigation system. The seat-belt alert mechanism is also activated, tightening around the driver to gain immediate attention.

This concept car was developed as an exploratory platform to showcase breakthrough technologies that could potentially be applied to future production cars, part of an ongoing programme from Nissan contributing towards the prevention of drink-driving.

Nissan has already launched and is developing several initiatives to help prevent drunk-driving. In June, the company introduced the “drink-driving” message alert on its navigation system. In July, Nissan also began testing of a new on-board breathalyser system in cooperation with several local government authorities, where an interlock mechanism will immobilise the vehicle if the driver’s breath indicates the presence of alcohol above a specified level.

Nissan is taking a holistic approach towards safety that extends beyond the technology built into its vehicles. To achieve a “safe driving environment”, Nissan has embarked on the Intelligent Transport System Project (ITS) in Kanagawa Prefecture – aimed at helping to reduce road accidents via the analysis of traffic data collected from on-the-road vehicles and traffic beacons. In Japan, the company’s safety vision is to halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995.

Fiat 500 fata in fata cu rivalii

2007-08-19T01:40:00.000+03:00

Fiat 500

Segmentul auto mini a primit recent un nou model care se asteapta sa creeze un mare impact. Acesta se numeste Fiat 500 si reprezinta raspunsul italienilor pentru automobilul citadin. Chiar daca lansarea micutului 500 a fost privita drept un eveniment impoartant al acestui sfarsit de deceniu masinuta italiana va avea totusi o concurenta foarte bine plasata. Segmentul automobilelor citadine este in prezent foarte bine reprezentat de modele cu personalitati diferite insa atragatoare fiecare in felul sau. In prezent clientela cea mai numeroasa este reprezentata de catre femei, persoane care doresc pe langa un design modern si un interior modern care sa faca viata la volan mult mai placuta.

FIAT 500

Pentru Italia Fiat 500 reprezinta ceea ce a inseamnat pentu SUA Jeep-ul GP sau pentru Volkswagen renumita Broscuta. Aceasta masinuta mica a reprezentat la sfarsitul celui de-al doilea razboi mondial singura raza de speranta pentru o economie distrusa. Mobilitatea a constituit un factor important pentru orice popor, iar pentru Italia numarul 500 a devenit un numar sacru. Noul model este construit pe baza Fiat-ului Panda un alt succes de proportuii al marcii din Torino. Designul noului 500 reprezinta o interpretare fidela a predecesorului sau de acum 50 de ani. Noua masina este dotata cu echipament de top pentru a face viata cat mai placuta la bord. Motorizarile sunt de ultima generatie si ofera performante de top. Pretul noului Fiat 500 se va situa undeva peste 10.000 euro.

MINI Cooper D

Modelul britanic este un fashion-icon si aici nimeni nu poate sa conteste pedigree-ul brandului Mini. Masina a suferit anul trecut o schimbare de generatii si se prezinta astazi cu aceeasi personalitate bine definita dar si cu o gama de motorizari imbunatatita. Noul Mini este o masina dinanica care poarta amprenta propietarului sau, marca germana BMW. Singurul inconvenient al acestei masini este pretul de achiztie foarte ridicat pentru un automobil din clasa mini.

LANCIA Ypsilon

Despre Lancia Ypsilon se poate spune ca este in continuare cel mai luxos model de clasa mini din lume. Clientii pot alege ca la interior Ypsilon sa fie echipat cu tapiterie de piele fina, sistem de navigatie, trapa panoramica sau climatizare dual zone. O caracteristica a modelului italian se gasesete la exterior unde masina este oferita cu o caroserie vopsita in doua culori. Cea mai buna motorizare este cea diesel Multijet.

SMART Fortwo

Smart Fortwo este cel mai compact automobil de mare serie din lume. Chiar daca a ajuns la a doua generatie, smart Fortwo a pastrat caracteristicile care l-au facut faimos la sfarsitul anilor 90. Spatiul interior este foarte bun pentru cei doi pasageri, iar gama de motorizari este mai puternica la aceasta noua generatie. Cu o lungime de 2.7 metri smart Fortwo nu este o masina foarte ieftina, preturile pornind de la o suma de peste 10.000 euro.

RENAULT Twingo II

Anul acesta Renault a fost martorul lansarii celei de-a doua generatii a modelului de clasa mini Twingo. Aceasta masina a fost atat de indragita atat in Franta cat si in Germania, incat Renault a stabilit un nou record de mentinere in productie. Primul model a fost lansat in anul 1993, ultimul Twingo I iesind de pe portile uzinei anul acesta. Succesul mare s-a datorat unui design moder si functional. Noul model este in schimb o masina complet diferita si se prezeinta drept un automobil mini care este spatios si foarte economic daca est eechipat cu motorul diesel dCI de 1.5 litri.

Masina Auto Union Type C cu pedale

2007-08-17T01:34:00.000+03:00

O caroserie facuta din aluminiu, finisaje de piele lucrate manual si un design extraordinar - vehiculul are darul de a-l trimite in extaz pe Hubert Waltl, directorul atelierelor Audi, atunci cand priveste noua creatie: "Aceasta masina este ceva cu totul special". Si, intr-adevar, masina din fata lui nu este una obisnuita - este Auto Union Type C cu pedale, pe care AUDI AG o aduce pe piata ca o noutate absoluta. Nici un alt producator de automobile nu a mai oferit o masina cu pedale construita asa de amanuntit si la un asemenea standard.

Cum a avut Audi aceasta idee? "Am avut nevoie de un punct de atractie pentru colectia noastra, care sa transmita mesajul marcii si, in acelasi timp, este suficient de spectaculos pentru a atrage destui cumparatori", a declarat Katharina Wicker, director de design pentru articolele lifestyle Audi. Si acesta a fost modul in care a venit ideea de a concepe o masina cu pedale care sa reflecte istoria companiei inca de la prima impresie. Modelul Type C destinat Grand Prix-urilor a oferit genele cele mai potrivite pentru a realiza proiectul. "Sagetile Argintii" Auto Union au dominat lumea curselor din 1936, totalizand zece victorii in diferite Grand Prix-uri. In plus, Type C este unul din cele mai bine vandute modele de epoca in gama de miniaturi Audi. Masina cu pedale va fi o piesa de expozitie pentru fanii "in crestere" ai marcii.

Realizarea masinii a necesitat un volum ridicat in ceea ce priveste cunostintele tehnice si cele de creativitate. Pentru inceput, cat de mare poate fi facuta o masina cu pedale? Cat de exact poate fi respectat originalul pentru a demonstra calitatea si maiestria adevaratului Audi? Care sunt materialele cele mai potrivite pentru a sublinia valorile marcii Audi - rafinament, pregoresivitate si sportivitate? "Cea mai mare provocare a fost transpunerea unui model istoric intr-unul cu pedale, pentru copii, dar care sa respecte cat mai exact originalul", povesteste Achim Badstübner, director al studioului de design din München, cel care a creat primele schite. Cei responsabili pentru acest proiect au decis sa construiasca un model la scara 1:2 pentru a oferi destul spatiu chiar si pentru piloti care au o inaltime de pana la 1,35 metri.

Schitele tehnice au fost produse chiar in atelierele Audi. Si pentru a respecta conceptul "design creat de Audi, produs de Audi", unelte si dispozitive speciale au fost concepute cu scopul de a realiza masina cu pedale tot in atelierele Audi. In total, modelul pentru copii este compus din peste 900 de parti distincte. Masina dispune de frane hidraulice cu doua discuri, iar viteza este controlata printr-un arbore cu sapte trepte, cu functie de franare pe spatele pedalei. Alte aspecte tehnice includ carcasa din aluminiu si caroseria din panouri de aluminiu care, precum la modelele reale Audi, simbolizeaza experienta marcii in domeniul designului ultrausor. Scaunele, cadrul si volanul au fost tapitate in piele de un producator de genti, ca si la Audi TT, in timp ce spitele elegante ale volanului sunt individualizate. Si pentru ca masina cu pedale cauta sa refaca, sub diferite aspecte, bolidul de curse din anii '30, volanul poate fi scos pentru a usura accesul si iesirea din cockpit, la fel ca la versiunea originala.

Prototipul masinii cu pedale a fost prezentat publicului pentru prima data la Salonul Auto de la Paris, in toamna anului 2006. Vizitatorii au fost fascinati inca de la prima vedere. "Multa lume a dorit sa cumpere chiar modelul expus in stand!", isi aminteste Katharina Wicker.

Masina cu pedale, care va fi produsa intr-o serie de numai 999 unitati si care este mai mult decat un simplu model exclusivist de colectie, a fost o bucurie de nedescris pentru toti cei implicati in proiect. "Mi-am reamintit de anii copilariei. Si nu am fost singurul care mi-am redescoperit instinctul acesta", a spus, vadit incantat, Hubert Waltl, directorul atelierelor Audi. Achim Badstübner a fost de asemenea incantat de succesul proiectului: "Toata lumea a pus mult suflet in realizarea acestei masini cu pedale. Iar aceasta este o mandrie pentru noi toti"

Maserati MC12 Corsa cu “piper” Edo

2007-08-16T09:27:00.001+03:00

Producatorul italian a intrat in competitia FIA GT in 2004 cu MC12. Conform regulamentelor, masina de cursa trebuia sa aiba la baza o versiune de strada, produsa in cel putin 25 de exemplare.

Varianta legala a aparut, deci, in acelasi an, dar fanii inraiti au fost profund dezamagiti cand au dat peste un Enzo recarosat si eviscerat de putere (630 CP).

Edo Karabegovic, fondatorul Edo Competition, s-a numarat printre fanii amintiti, declarand la acea vreme ca “doar usile si suprafetele vitrate au fost nimerite; restul e de c*c*t”.

Hotarat, insa, sa schimbe situatia, omul nostru a lansat mai intai MC12R, o varianta de 700 de cai (in 2006), apoi in luna februarie a acestui an a dus nebunia mai departe cu MC12XX, capabil de nu mai putin de 800 de cabaline insetate de cea mai buna benzina de curse si un adversar pe masura lui Ferrari FXX.

Ieri, Edo Competition a lansat ultima varianta a bolidului Maserati – Edo MC12 Corsa – ce-si are radacinile in masina aniversara pe care firma italiana a prezentat-o ca sa comemoreze victoria din seria GT1, obtinuta in 2006.

Corsa are un V12 de 755 CP si cantareste cu 400 kg mai putin decat un MC12 normal, o reteta pe care pana si Karabegovic o considera un real succes, tocmai de aceea n-a intervenit deloc asupra propulsorului.

A inlocuit, in schimb, sistemul de evacuare cu unul in totalitate nou, care se termina cu doua tevi de 10 cm in diametru. Pe langa ca aeriseste eficient bijuteria de agregat cu 12 cilindri, noua evacuare vine insotita si de o telecomanda cu care sunetul sau poate fi ajustat dupa preferintele proprietarului, adica sa urle foarte sau super tare...

Noi mai sunt jantele, de 19 toli pe fata si 20 pe spate, de culoare neagra, respectiv discurile de frana ceramice, de care e mare nevoie daca tinem cont de viteza maxima de 326 km/h.

Cei carora le plac ciferele vor fi incantati de cuplul maxim de 740 Nm (obtinuti la 5.500 rpm), care confera masinii acceleratii ametitoare (0-100 km/h sub 3 secunde, 0-200 km/h in 6 secunde).

Vor fi produse in total 12 unitati, la care se mai adauga 3 prototipuri, pentru echivalentul a 1.200.000 euro per bucata. Cine are ambitii de pilot adevarat este ajutat de Edo Competition: masina poate fi transformata in versiune de curse fara probleme si, mai important, fara nici un cost suplimentar.

Sarpele urias, coupe-ul Mitsuoka Orochi

2007-08-15T10:01:00.000+03:00

Producatorul auto si-a inceput activitatea construind replici ale limuzinelor Daimler sau pentru alte branduri, folosind platforme si propulsoare imprumutate de la Nissan sau Daihatsu. Mitsuoka a mai urcat o treapta si a lansat pe piata un coupe sport de conceptie proprie, impresionant cel putin la nivel vizual.

Numele coupe-ului pentru doua persoane este Orochi, cuvant care semnifica “sarpe urias” in limba japoneza. Exteriorul sau este sinuos dar agresiv si reuseste sa personifice in mod reusit semnificatia numelui.

Masina a fost dezvaluita sub forma de concept in 2001 la salonul auto de la Tokyo, fiind bine primita de public. Acum, Orochi se afla doar in showroom-urile din Japonia si se construieste doar cu volanul pe partea dreapta.

Cum este construita

Orochi imprumuta o serie de parti mecanice de la Honda si Lexus. Propulsorul V6 de 3.3 litri este cumparat de la Lexus, la fel si confortabila transmisie automata in 5 trepte folosita pentru off-road-ul Lexus RX.

Cresterea gradului de confort reduce insa gradul de sportivitate al coupe-ului. Orochi reuseste sa atinga 100 de km/h in 7 secunde; un timp bun, dar nu suficient de bun daca ne gandim ca Orochi incearca sa acceseze cumparatorii de Porsche 911.

Propulsorul este asezat central/spate, iar tractiunea este directionata spre puntea spate. Un element vizual obligatoriu la toate masinile sportive de top care isi respecta blazonul, gurile de aer de pe aripile din spate sunt desenate bine, in nota generala a Orochi. Ele par totusi insufucuent deschise pentru a putea inspira destul aer pentru motorul ascuns sub masina, dar nimeni nu s-a plans de asta.

Sistemul de franare este imprumutat de la Honda Legend, iar sasiul a fost dezvoltat in-house cu o echipa de ingineri proveniti din echipa de teste de la Mazda.

Pretul coupe-ului sare de 55 de mii de euro, iar in pachetul standard intra jante din aliaj, aer conditionat, airbag-uri, oglinzi electrice si o serie de alte gadget-uri.

Bordeianu o urmareste pe Adela

2007-08-14T09:30:00.000+03:00

Dupa ce relatia lor s-a destramat in aceasta primavara, Bordeianu fiind surprins de Adela in bratele unei colege de telenovela, Dan vrea sa o recucereasca pe artista. Actorul i-a facut o vizita neanuntata fostei iubite pe Litoral, unde vedeta de telenovele avea o sedinta foto.

Fanii cuplului Adela Popescu si Dan Bordeianu mai au o speranta. Dan isi curteaza din nou fosta iubita, ii trimite sms-uri dragastoase si frecventeaza locurile in care stie ca ar putea sa se intalneasca cu cea care i-a fost partenera de film si de viata mai bine de trei ani.

Adela Popescu nu a uitat ca despartirea de Dan Bordeianu a fost cauzata de relatia infidela pe care acesta ar fi avut-o cu Diana Dumitrescu, colega din "Iubire ca in filme". Actrita se pare ca a acceptat o intalnire cu fostul iubit numai dupa ce s-a asigurat ca vor fi insotiti de un grup de prieteni. La despartire, Adela l-a salutat cu indiferenta pe Bordeianu, lasand sa se inteleaga ca a hotarat sa nu se mai impace cu el.

Apropiatii actritei de telenovele spun ca Adela a depasit dezamagirea provocata de infidelitatea lui Dan si ca se pregateste pentru un nou proiect ce va fi difuzat din toamna la Acasa Tv. De cealalta parte, Bordeianu inca isi mai cauta locul, dupa ce s-a anuntat ca nu va mai juca in telenovelele realizate de Media Pro. In ultima vreme actorul a adoptat un nou look care il face sa semene cu Pepe, sotul Oanei Zavoranu, semn ca Bordeianu ar putea sa se pregateasca pentru filmarile telenovelei "Oana" realizata de Romantica Tv.

Delia cerseste imagine !

2007-08-13T01:19:00.001+03:00

Daca anul trecut, un cantaret algerian ii reprosa blondei neseriozitatea in relatiile profesionale, anul acesta a venit randul trupei Sistem sa subscrie la "condica neagra" a artistei. Delia a starnit furia participantilor la Eurovision, dupa ce vedeta a declarat in presa ca ea si iubitul ei, Matteo, au primit propuneri sa produca piese pentru "trupa pe butoaie".

Imediat dupa publicarea informatiei respective, liderul formatiei Sistem a postat pe blogul sau un drept la replica plin de nervi, asa dupa cum el insusi recunoaste. Sub titlul "Cersetorii de imagine", Zoli se arata indignat ca unii isi fac publicitate pe spatele lor.

"Astazi am aflat si eu ca artista Delia produce pentru Sistem. O mare minciuna! M-am interesat mai intai si am intrebat toti colegii de trupa daca nu cumva au colaborat ei cu ea si eu nu stiu. Pai, haideti sa vedeti ce s-a intamplat de fapt. Cici, colegul meu, era in clubul Twice, la toaleta, la ora 3 dimineata, cand Matteo, prietenul Deliei, l-a intrebat daca poate sa ne scrie o piesa. Cici i-a spus sa incerce. Am muncit mult la imaginea noastra si nu imi convine sa fiu asociat cu nimeni fara stiinta mea".

Intoarsa din vacanta de doar cateva zile, Delia s-a aratat, la randul ei, foarte indignata si uimita de eticheta pusa de Zoli de la Sistem, de "cersetoare de imagine". "Nu stiu nimic de asta. De ce sunt eu implicata, daca ei au vorbit cu Matteo? Plus ca nu inteleg un lucru, de ce am eu nevoie sa imi fac imagine pe spatele trupei Sistem? Adica eu sunt ultima proasta? De mine nu a auzit nimeni si eu trebuie sa ma fac cunoscuta intr-un fel?", a spus, revoltata, Delia.

Componentul trupei Sistem direct implicat in discutia cu Matteo, Cici, a declarat ca pe Matteo de-abia il cunoscuse in seara respectiva, amandoi fiind invitati la un eveniment privat. "Nicio secunda nu s-a pus problema sa produca ceva pentru noi", a spus Cici, care a precizat ca Sistem nu se prea intersecteaza nici pe scena, nici in viata cu Delia si Matteo.

2007-08-12T01:09:00.001+03:00

Bush dismisses gas tax hike for bridge repairs
Story Highlights
Bush disagrees with the way Congress prioritizes highway spending
8 percent of last highway bill was devoted to projects singled out by lawmakers
Remainder goes to states in form of grants to be spent as they decide
Bush confident that Pakistani President Musharraf will go after terrorists there
Next Article in Politics »

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A week after a deadly bridge collapse in Minneapolis, President Bush on Thursday dismissed raising the federal gasoline tax to repair bridges at least until Congress changes how it spends highway money.

Before raising taxes, Bush said, Congress should "examine how they set their priorities."

"The way it seems to have worked is that each member on that (Transportation) committee gets to set his or her own priorities first," Bush said. "That's not the right way to prioritize the people's money. Before we raise taxes, which could affect economic growth, I would strongly urge the Congress to examine how they set priorities."

About $24 billion, or 8 percent of the last $286 billion highway bill, was devoted to highway and bridge projects singled out by lawmakers. The balance is distributed through grants to states, which decide how it will be spent. Federal money accounts for about 45 percent of all infrastructure spending.

The Democratic chairman of the House Transportation Committee proposed a 5-cent increase in the 18.3 cents-a-gallon federal gasoline tax to establish a new trust fund for repairing or replacing structurally deficient highway bridges.

More than 70,000 of the nation's bridges are rated structurally deficient, including the bridge that collapsed over the Mississippi River last Wednesday. The American Society of Civil Engineers says repairing them all would require spending at least $9.4 billion a year for 20 years. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minnesota, says his tax-increase proposal would raise about $25 billion over three years.

On terrorism, Bush said he is confident in the ability of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to crack down on militants at the Afghan border and cooperate with the U.S.

He said he expected Musharraf to take "swift action if there is actionable intelligence inside his country." Bush refused to address whether the U.S. troops would go into Pakistan without permission from leaders there.
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"We spend a lot of time with the leadership in Pakistan talking about what we will do with actionable intelligence," Bush said. "Am I confident they (terrorists) will be brought to justice? My answer is, `Yes I am.' "

Musharraf, a key ally in Washington's fight against terrorism, is under growing U.S. pressure. But the Pakistani leader is under considerable pressure at home too.

At home, Bush ruled out any bailout of homeowners hit with foreclosures in the form of direct assistance. But he said "enormous empathy" is in order for such people and indicated he was open to some federal help for people to refinance and keep their homes.

"The word bailout -- I'm not exactly sure what you mean. If you mean direct grants to homeowners, the answer would be no," the president said.

The delinquency rate on home loans was almost 5 percent in the first three months of the year.

On the controversy of former NFL player Pat Tillman's friendly fire death while serving in the U.S. military in Afghanistan, Bush said "the best way to honor that commitment of his is to find the truth."

The president described Iran as "a destabilizing influence in the Middle East."

Noting that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was in Iran Thursday, Bush said he hoped his message would be the same as the United States' -- that Tehran should halt the export of sophisticated explosive devices into Iraq or "there will be consequences."

He did not say what those consequences would be.

Bush got angry over a question about whether embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should be held accountable. Members of Congress from both parties have called Gonzales' credibility and leadership of the Justice Department into question after congressional testimony on a number of issues.

"Why would I hold somebody accountable who's done nothing wrong?" the president said, then turning the issue back on the Democratic-led Congress.

"Matter of fact, I would hope Congress would become more prone to deliver pieces of legislation that matter rather than being the investigative body," he added.

The August news conference has become a tradition for Bush, a move designed to clear the decks and have the last word before heading away from Washington for vacation and travel.

Bush opened by announcing that he had signed legislation to promote math and science skills and develop the technology needed to compete in the global economy. The measure calls for spending $33.6 billion over the next three years for science, technology, engineering and mathematics research and education programs across four federal agencies.

The midmorning session was Bush's first full news conference since July 12 when he inaugurated the newly refurbished White House briefing room. Since then, he has had brief question-and-answer sessions with Britain's new prime minister, Gordon Brown, and Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai.

With Congress already out of town, Bush was leaving Washington right after the question-and-answer session for a three-night stay at his father's oceanfront compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, where he is attending the wedding of a friend. On Saturday, Bush also will meet over lunch at his parents' home with France's new president, Nicolas Sarkozy. The French leader is vacationing at an estate on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, about 50 miles away.

The president is to return to the White House on Sunday and then head out the next day to spend most of the rest of the month at his Texas ranch and traveling.

Among Bush's scheduled outings from his ranch is a meeting with the leaders of Mexico and Canada August 20 and 21 in Ottawa

2007-08-11T01:58:00.000+03:00

LOS ANGELES, California -- Democratic presidential hopefuls stressed their common ground with the gay and lesbian community in a televised forum, but one significant exception loomed -- same-sex marriage.

A panel that included lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge questions Sen. Barack Obama.

Thursday night's forum in Los Angeles was sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It was broadcast on the gay-themed cable network Logo, making it the first-ever televised presidential forum on gay issues.

The group said it offered Republican presidential candidates the opportunity to participate in their own forum, but they declined.

The HRC, which claims 700,000 members, is the nation's largest advocacy group for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities.

While officially non-partisan, the HRC overwhelmingly backs Democrats. In 2006, just 11 of the 219 federal candidates endorsed by the group were Republicans, and the HRC also backed the losing presidential bids of both Sen. John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000. Watch how Democrats consider the gay community a key constituency »

With varying degrees of success, the front-running candidates in the Democratic field tried to reconcile their opposition to opening up marriage to gay and lesbian couples with their stated beliefs in gay and lesbian equality.

Asked what was at the heart of her opposition to same-sex marriage, Sen. Hillary Clinton said, "I prefer to think of it as being very positive about civil unions."

"It's a personal position," she said. "For me, we have made it very clear in our country that we believe in equality. How we get to full equality is the debate we're having."

Sen. Barack Obama said his view is that "we should try to disentangle what has historically been the issue of the word 'marriage,' which has religious connotations to some people, from the civil rights that are given couples."

"My job as president is going to be to make sure that the legal rights that have consequences on a day-to-day basis for loving same-sex couples all across the country ... are recognized and enforced," he said.

John Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina and the Democratic Party's 2004 vice-presidential nominee, offered an apology for a previous statement that his religious faith was at the heart of his opposition to same-sex marriage.
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"I shouldn't have said that," said Edwards, who has previously said he has struggled with his position. "I believe to my core in equality. My campaign for the presidency is about equality across the board."

"All I can tell you is where I am today," he said. "I do not support same-sex marriage."

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson cast his opposition to same-sex marriage in pragmatic terms, saying "it's a question of doing what's achievable" and trying to move the country forward on the issue.

"In my heart, I'm doing what is achievable," he said. "And I'm not there yet, and the country isn't there yet."

However, two long-shot candidates in the field who do support same-sex marriage -- Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Mike Gravel, a former senator from Alaska -- made it clear they don't see why their rivals are so conflicted.

"This is really a question of whether you really believe in equality," Kucinich said. "When you understand what real equality is, you understand that people who love each other must have the opportunity to be able to express that in a way that's meaningful."

Gravel accused his better-known rivals of "playing it safe" on the marriage issue and said he believes same-sex marriage "will be a nonissue in the next presidential campaign" in 2012.

"Marriage is a commitment between two human beings in love," Gravel said. "And if there's anything we need in this world, it's more love."

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Thursday found that a majority of Americans -- 57 percent -- oppose same-sex marriage. Forty-three percent oppose both same-sex marriage and civil unions, which offer most or some of the protections and benefits of marriage.

All of the 2008 Democratic candidates are on record as supporting civil unions, a position also taken by President Bush, an opponent of same-sex marriage, during his 2004 re-election campaign.

While just 3 percent of voters in the 2006 election identified themselves as gay or lesbian, the community has outsized influence, particularly among Democrats, because it is politically active and a source of campaign contributions.

Reflecting that sway, six of the eight 2008 Democratic hopefuls -- all but Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joe Biden -- attended Thursday's event.

Eschewing the usual debate format, candidates appeared on stage one at a time, where they sat in an easy chair and fielded questions from a panel that included lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge.

One area where the Democratic candidates were in clear agreement with gay rights advocates was on the question of ending the don't-ask-don't-tell policy, which allows gay men and lesbians to serve in the military only if they do not publicly disclose their sexual orientation.

Clinton -- whose husband, former President Bill Clinton, originally proposed the policy in 1993 -- said she changed her mind in 1999 and that repealing it would be "one of my highest priorities" as president.

Edwards also voiced his is opposition, but he noted that "'don't-ask-don't-tell is not just wrong now, it was wrong when it began. It's been wrong the entire time."

Thursday's poll also found strong public support for ditching don't-ask-don't-tell. Fifty-seven percent of those polled opposed the policy itself, while 79 percent said openly gay people should be allowed to serve in the military

2007-08-10T00:07:00.000+03:00

Cantareata Alina Sorescu este urmarita de aproape patru ani de un admirator de 45 de ani din Pitesti. Barbatul este divortat si tatal a doua fete. Acesta a facut o pasiune pentru tanara artista chiar de pe vremea cand ea era eleva la Liceul Dinu Lipatti din Capitala.

Cu toate ca Alina a depus in repetate randuri plangere la Politie, individul nu s-a aratat intimidat de rugamintile fetei de a inceta sa o urmareasca. Ba mai mult, si-a gasit si un pretext plauzibil. El si-a cumparat un caine pe care il scoate la plimbare in fiecare zi tocmai in fata blocului in care locuieste Alina.

Desi nu s-a intamplat niciodata sa aiba un comportament violent, pentru orice eventualitate, tatal cantaretei isi insoteste peste tot fiica, acolo unde ea are treaba. Alina Sorescu pare ca s-a acomodat situatiei, de vreme ce nu o deranjeaza faptul ca in fiecare dimineata e nevoita sa-l vada pe fanul ei infocat prezent pe aleea din fata blocului.

2007-08-09T00:23:00.001+03:00

PARIS, France (AP) -- French investigators recovered two Picasso paintings and a drawing that were stolen from the home of the artist's granddaughter in an overnight heist in February, a police official said.

Pablo Picasso's "Maya with Doll", one of the two stolen paintings recovered by French police

Police took three people into custody. Two suspects were carrying the rolled-up canvases when police closed as they were expected to try to sell the masterpieces, the official said.

The two paintings -- one of Pablo Picasso's daughter Maya, the other of his second wife Jacqueline -- are worth nearly $66 million. Burglars had stolen them and the drawing from the luxurious Left Bank apartment of Diana Widmaier-Picasso, Maya Picasso's daughter.

Investigators were tipped off about a suspect by an art dealer, said a French police official who asked not to be identified by name, citing his office's policy.

Based on the tip, two different police bureaus -- one that specializes in armed thefts and another in the trafficking of cultural goods -- launched a constant surveillance of the main suspect. After more than a month, investigators were convinced the suspect was preparing to try to sell the works.

They took him and an accomplice into custody as they were transporting the rolled-up Picassos, the police official said. A third person was also taken into custody.

Police released no further details. Burglars slipped into Widmaier-Picasso's apartment on Feb. 26 or 27. At the time, police said they believed the thieves cut the edges of one painting, "Maya and the Doll," to take it out of its frame. It was not immediately clear if the recovered works had suffered any damage.

"Maya and the Doll," which shows Widmaier-Picasso's mother as a young girl in pigtails, is painted in a skewed Cubist perspective. Another version of the painting hangs in the Picasso Museum in Paris.

The other recovered painting, "Portrait of Jacqueline," depicts Picasso's second wife, Jacqueline Roque. France's art world was still reeling from another major theft just this weekend.

As a handful of visitors milled about the Museum of Fine Arts in Nice on the French Riviera on Sunday, five men dashed in and made off with four paintings worth about $1.4 million.

The stolen paintings were Monet's "Cliffs near Dieppe," fellow Impressionist Alfred Sisley's "Lane of Poplars near Moret," and Flemish master Jan Brueghel the Elder's "Allegory of Earth" and "Allegory of Water," said the museum's deputy curator Patricia Grimaud.

The FBI estimates the market for stolen art at $6 billion annually. The Art Loss Register, which maintains the world's largest database on the issue, has tallied up 170,000 pieces of stolen, missing and looted art and valuables

2007-08-08T22:58:00.001+03:00

Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama appear at the YearlyKos presidential forum in Chicago Saturday.

The survey, following a high-profile spat between the two candidates over who is better suited to handle foreign policy, shows Clinton at 48 percent -- a 22-point lead over Obama. Clinton's support is up 8 percentage points from a similar poll conducted three weeks ago, while Obama, at 26 percent, is down 2 percentage points. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards stands at 12 percent.

"[Voters are] taking a good hard look at all the candidates and concluding that Hillary has what it takes to be president and what it takes to take on the Republicans," wrote Mark Penn, a top strategist to the New York Democrat, in a memo to supporters Monday. "They know that Hillary Clinton has the experience and strength to bring about real change." Watch what the numbers mean »

Clinton's boost could be the result of the two candidates' recent quarrel over one of Obama's answers at the CNN/YouTube Debate last month. Obama said he would meet with world leaders openly hostile to the United States during his first year as president, while Clinton said she would only do so after a set of preconditions had been agreed to.

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Clinton later called Obama's answer "naive" -- a critique that may have struck a cord with her party's base. Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents now significantly favor Clinton to handle terrorism, the Iraq war and relations with "nations that are unfriendly to the United States."

Meanwhile, Obama's campaign sought to reassure supporters Monday that the Illinois senator remains a top Democratic frontrunner in the White House race, calling national polls "irrelevant."

"While the Washington insiders focus on irrelevant and wildly inconsistent national polls, there are strong signs in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina of the growing power and potential of this candidacy," David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager, wrote in a memo.

In addition to the latest USA Today/Gallup poll, two other recent national polls indicate a large gap between Clinton and Obama. A Newsweek poll suggests Clinton holds a 23-point lead, while the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll put the lead at 21 points.

In early primary and caucus states like New Hampshire and Iowa, however, some polls show Clinton, Obama and former Sen. John Edwards virtually tied. And other state polls show Clinton with a lead, but one far smaller than national surveys like the latest USA Today/Gallup, Newsweek and NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls.

"We fundamentally reject the importance of these national primary polls," Plouffe added. "This is a sequential process that begins in Iowa and carries through the calendar. If national polls were affecting our ability to grow the campaign, perhaps we would pay them some attention. But they have not, so we don't."

The poll also measured a stable Republican race, registering former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani at 33 percent, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, not yet a declared candidate, at 21 percent, Arizona Sen. John McCain at 16 percent and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 8 percent.

The poll, conducted August 3-5, surveyed 490 Democratic leaning voters and 405 Republican leaning voters. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

2007-08-08T03:10:00.001+03:00

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has notably widened her lead over her closest competitor in the 2008 Democratic presidential race, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, according to a new national USA Today/Gallup Poll released Monday night.

Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama appear at the YearlyKos presidential forum in Chicago Saturday.

The survey, following a high-profile spat between the two candidates over who is better suited to handle foreign policy, shows Clinton at 48 percent -- a 22-point lead over Obama. Clinton's support is up 8 percentage points from a similar poll conducted three weeks ago, while Obama, at 26 percent, is down 2 percentage points. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards stands at 12 percent.

"[Voters are] taking a good hard look at all the candidates and concluding that Hillary has what it takes to be president and what it takes to take on the Republicans," wrote Mark Penn, a top strategist to the New York Democrat, in a memo to supporters Monday. "They know that Hillary Clinton has the experience and strength to bring about real change."

Clinton's boost could be the result of the two candidates' recent quarrel over one of Obama's answers at the CNN/YouTube Debate last month. Obama said he would meet with world leaders openly hostile to the United States during his first year as president, while Clinton said she would only do so after a set of preconditions had been agreed to.
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Clinton later called Obama's answer "naive" -- a critique that may have struck a cord with her party's base. Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents now significantly favor Clinton to handle terrorism, the Iraq war and relations with "nations that are unfriendly to the United States."

Meanwhile, Obama's campaign sought to reassure supporters Monday that the Illinois senator remains a top Democratic frontrunner in the White House race, calling national polls "irrelevant."

"While the Washington insiders focus on irrelevant and wildly inconsistent national polls, there are strong signs in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina of the growing power and potential of this candidacy," David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager, wrote in a memo.

In addition to the latest USA Today/Gallup poll, two other recent national polls indicate a large gap between Clinton and Obama. A Newsweek poll suggests Clinton holds a 23-point lead, while the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll put the lead at 21 points.

In early primary and caucus states like New Hampshire and Iowa, however, some polls show Clinton, Obama and former Sen. John Edwards virtually tied. And other state polls show Clinton with a lead, but one far smaller than national surveys like the latest USA Today/Gallup, Newsweek and NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls.

"We fundamentally reject the importance of these national primary polls," Plouffe added. "This is a sequential process that begins in Iowa and carries through the calendar. If national polls were affecting our ability to grow the campaign, perhaps we would pay them some attention. But they have not, so we don't."

The poll also measured a stable Republican race, registering former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani at 33 percent, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, not yet a declared candidate, at 21 percent, Arizona Sen. John McCain at 16 percent and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 8 percent.

The poll, conducted August 3-5, surveyed 490 Democratic leaning voters and 405 Republican leaning voters. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

2007-08-07T01:12:00.001+03:00

The Pentagon cannot account for 190,000 AK-47 rifles and pistols given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, or about half the weapons earmarked for soldiers and police, according to a government report.

U.S. soldiers patrol the Iraqi village of Sweb, south of Baquba, on Wednesday.

The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, said in a July 31 report to lawmakers that the Defense Department also cannot account for 135,000 items of body armor and 115,000 helmets reported to be issued to Iraqi forces as of September 22, 2005.

The GAO said the Pentagon concurred with its findings and has begun a review to ensure full accountability for the program to train and equip Iraqi forces.

"However, our review of the 2007 property books found continuing problems with missing and incomplete records," the GAO report said.

The report raised concerns that weapons provided by the United States could be falling into the hands of Iraqi insurgents, just as lawmakers and policymakers in Washington await a September report on the success of President Bush's so-called "surge" strategy for stabilizing Baghdad.

One senior Pentagon official told The Washington Post some weapons probably were being used against U.S. troops. He said an Iraqi brigade created in Falluja disintegrated in 2004 and began fighting American soldiers.

Many in Washington view the development of effective Iraqi army and police forces as a vital step toward reducing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq.
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Since 2003, the United States has provided about $19.2 billion to develop Iraqi security forces, the GAO said. The Defense Department has recently asked for another $2 billion to continue the train-and-equip program.

Congress funded the program for Iraqi security forces outside traditional security assistance programs, providing the Pentagon with a large degree of flexibility in managing the effort, the GAO said.

"Officials stated that since the funding did not go through traditional security assistance programs, the DOD accountability requirements normally applicable to these programs did not apply," the GAO report said.

Military officials in Iraq reported issuing 355,000 weapons to Iraqi security forces from June 2004 through September 2005, including 185,000 rifles and 170,000 pistols, the GAO said.

But the Defense Department could not account for 110,000 rifles and 80,000 pistols, the GAO said. Those sums amount to about 54 percent of the total weapons distributed to the Iraqi forces.

The GAO quoted officials as saying the agency responsible for handling weapons distribution was too short-staffed to record information on individual items given to Iraqi forces.

Accountability procedures also could not be fully implemented because of the need to equip Iraqi forces rapidly for combat operations, the GAO found.

NASA: Voyager I enters solar system's final frontier

2007-08-06T10:47:00.001+03:00

he Voyager I spacecraft has moved into the solar system's final frontier, a vast area where the sun's influence gives way to interstellar space, NASA's Web site reports.

"Voyager has entered the final lap on its race to the edge of interstellar space, as it begins exploring the solar system's final frontier," said Edward Stone, Voyager project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, in a statement on the Web site Tuesday.

At 8.7 billion miles from the sun, Voyager I has entered the heliosheath, a region beyond termination shock -- the critical boundary that marks the transition from the solar system into interstellar space.

Contrary to popular belief, space is not an empty void. Rather, the solar system is awash in solar wind, charged gases that flow off the sun at supersonic speed. The wind travels at an average speed ranging from 300 to 700 kilometers per second (700,000 to 1.5 million mph).

At the termination shock boundary, the solar wind dissipates and begins to give way to the interstellar medium -- the gases that float in the void between stars.

Instruments aboard Voyager I able to measure the solar wind's speed suggest the probe "has passed through the termination shock into the slower, denser wind beyond," NASA's Web site says.

"Voyager's observations over the past few years show that the termination shock is far more complicated than anyone thought," said a statement from Eric Christian, discipline scientist for NASA's Sun-Solar System Connection research program in Washington.

Beyond the heliosheath lies the heliopause -- the boundary where the pressure of the solar wind and interstellar wind are in balance.

Scientists believe Voyager 1 will reach the heliopause in about 10 years.

Once Voyager I passes through the heliopause, it will be in interstellar space.

Voyager I and its sister ship, Voyager II, were launched in 1977 on a mission to explore the solar system. Voyager I passed Jupiter in March 1979 and Saturn in November 1980. In 1998, it became the most distant man-made object from Earth.

Voyager II, which observed Uranus and Neptune, is 6.5 billion miles from the sun, heading in the opposite direction of Voyager I and at a slightly slower speed.

The Voyager probes were equipped with three radioisotope thermoelectric generators to produce electrical power for the spacecraft systems and instruments.

Barring hardware failure, Voyager I and II boast enough power and communications capability to keep radioing back to Earth until 2020, NASA says

2007-08-06T10:41:00.001+03:00

The FBI violated the Constitution when agents raided U.S. Rep. William Jefferson's office last year and viewed legislative documents in a corruption investigation, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

U.S Rep. William Jefferson, second from left, enters the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, in June.

The court ordered the Justice Department to return any legislative documents it seized from the Louisiana Democrat's office on Capitol Hill. The court did not order the return of all the documents seized in the raid and did not say whether prosecutors could use any of the records against Jefferson in their bribery case.

Jefferson argued that the first-of-its-kind raid trampled congressional independence. The Constitution prohibits the executive branch from using its law enforcement powers to interfere with the lawmaking process. The Justice Department said that declaring the search unconstitutional would essentially prohibit the FBI from ever looking at a lawmaker's documents.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected that claim. The court held that, while the search itself was constitutional, FBI agents crossed the line when they viewed every record in the office without giving Jefferson the chance to argue that some documents involved legislative business.

"The review of the Congressman's paper files when the search was executed exposed legislative material to the Executive" and violated the Constitution, the court wrote. "The Congressman is entitled to the return of documents that the court determines to be privileged."

The raid was part of a 16-month international bribery investigation of Jefferson, who allegedly accepted $100,000 from a telecommunications businessman, $90,000 of which was later recovered in a freezer in the congressman's Washington home.

Jefferson pleaded not guilty in June to charges of soliciting more than $500,000 in bribes while using his office to broker business deals in Africa. The Justice Department said it built that case without using the disputed documents from the raid. Watch Jefferson proclaim his innocence »
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The court did not rule whether, because portions of the search were illegal, prosecutors should be barred from using any of the records in their case against Jefferson. That will be decided by the federal judge in Virginia who is presiding over the criminal case.

"Today's opinion underscores the fact that the Department of Justice is required to follow the law, and that it is bound to abide by the Constitution," defense attorney Robert Trout, said, promising more legal challenges to "overreaching by the government in this case."

The Justice Department did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the decision. Officials have said they took extraordinary steps, including using an FBI "filter team" not involved in the case to review the congressional documents. Government attorneys said the Constitution was not intended to shield lawmakers from prosecution for political corruption.

The court was not convinced. It said the Constitution insists that lawmakers must be free from any intrusion into their congressional duties. Such intrusion, even by a filter team, "may therefore chill the exchange of views with respect to legislative activity," the court held.

The case has cut across political party lines. Former House Speakers Newt Gingrich, a Republican, and Thomas Foley, a Democrat, filed legal documents opposing the raid, along with former House Minority Leader Bob Michel, a Republican.

Conservative groups Judicial Watch and the Washington Legal Foundation were joined by the liberal Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington in supporting the legality of the raid.

Following his indictment, Jefferson's supporters accused the Bush administration of targeting black Democrats to shift attention from the legal troubles of Republican congressmen.

"We are confident that as this case moves forward, and when all of the facts are known, we will prevail again and clear Congressman Jefferson's name," Trout said Friday.

Despite the looming investigation, Jefferson was re-elected to a ninth term in 2006. His win complicated things for Democratic leaders who promised to run the most ethical Congress in history.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, stripped Jefferson of his seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee and placed him instead on the Small Business Committee. He resigned that committee assignment after being indicted.

The case was considered by Chief Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg, Judge Karen Lecraft Henderson and Judge Judith W. Rogers.

Ginsburg and Rogers served in the Justice Department and Henderson served as deputy South Carolina attorney general. None of the judges served in the legislative branch, though Rogers was counsel to a congressional commission formed to review Washington's municipal structure. Ginsburg and Henderson were appointed by Republican presidents, Rogers by a Democrat.

2007-08-06T00:17:00.001+03:00

It was no holds barred Sunday as the Republican presidential hopefuls took part in the first Iowa debate of the 2008 elections.

Sen. John McCain, left, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani chat during a break in the Sunday debate.

In a 90-minute session broadcast live on ABC's "This Week," the nine official GOP contenders clamored for support in the state that gets to choose the candidates first.

At the debate, candidates attacked each other's positions on abortion and offered ideas for protecting the nation's infrastructure after the Minneapolis bridge collapse. And they criticized President Bush.

The debate got personal when former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney took a swipe at Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, whose campaign had sponsored an automated phone message to Iowans. The advertisement accused Romney of pledging to uphold policies legalizing abortion, then claiming he opposed them.

"I am pro-life. And virtually every part of that ad is inaccurate," Romney said.
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Brownback noted Romney's previous stance, which he expressed years ago in a video that is now on YouTube.

"I get tired of people that are holier than thou because they've been pro-life longer than I have," Romney said.

Brownback vowed that, if elected president, he would appoint a Supreme Court justice who, "I hope, would be the voting decision to overturn Roe v. Wade."

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who supports abortion rights, was called on to defend his position.

"I believe the best way we can have common ground in this debate that you're hearing is if we put our emphasis on reducing abortions and increasing the number of adoptions, which is something that I did as mayor of New York City," he said. "But I think ultimately that decision that has to be made is one that government shouldn't make.

"Ultimately, a woman should make that with her conscience and ultimately with her doctor."

Since last week's bridge disaster in Minneapolis, state governments and the federal government have begun efforts to ensure bridges around the country are safe.

State and federal officials say the necessary efforts would require federal funds. The presidential hopefuls agreed but said a tax increase is not the answer.

"We should put more money into infrastructure. We should have a good program for doing it. But the knee-jerk liberal Democratic reaction -- raise taxes to get money -- very often is a very big mistake," Giuliani said.

He claimed to have raised money for capital improvement projects through a tax cut that generated more revenue when he was New York City's mayor.

Romney drew a similar picture, saying the "biggest source" of funding is growing the U.S. economy. Also, he said, "We have to reorient how we spend our money."

Arizona Sen. John McCain said Congress shares blame for problems with the nation's bridges and roads.

"We passed a $50 billion transportation bill that had $2 billion in pork-barrel, earmarked projects," he said. "Not one dime in those pork-barrel projects was for inspection or repair of bridges."

The candidates were shown a clip of Bush in 1999 promising to "restore honor and dignity to the Oval Office."

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo said he would restore "hope."

"Hope in America itself, remembering that we have made a number of mistakes that have turned our friends against us, have encouraged our enemies."

Regarding Iraq, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas stood out as the maverick of the group, repeating his call for an immediate exit. "We went in illegally and we ought to just come home!" he said to applause.

California Rep. Duncan Hunter said the United States is "standing up" Iraq's military. Once the Iraqi forces are "reliable, battle-ready," they will displace U.S. heavy combat forces, he said. "That's the right way to leave, not a stampede for the exit."

McCain and Giuliani each argued that their experience separates them from the pack.

"I am fully prepared -- fully prepared, more than anyone else running on either side -- to fight the transcendent challenge of this nation, which will be for all of the 21st century. And that is the struggle against radical Islamic extremism," said McCain, citing his military background.

Giuliani, speaking next, said the other candidates "haven't held an executive office in their lives. They haven't run a city, a state, a business. ... You've got to have some kind of experience for this job."

Hunter said the United States is "standing up" Iraq's military. Once the Iraqi forces are "reliable, battle-ready," they will displace U.S. heavy combat forces, he said. "That's the right way to leave, not a stampede for the exit."

Several candidates weighed in on Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's pledge last week that he would consider taking military action in Pakistan unilaterally. "If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets, and President Musharraf will not act, we will," Obama said.

The remark drew rebuke from some fellow Democrats, including presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.

"I think the senator, if he could just say it over again, might want to say that we would encourage Musharraf to allow us to do it if we thought he couldn't accomplish it," Giuliani said.

Romney had harsher words for Obama. "I think Barack Obama is confused as to who are our friends and who are our enemies," he said.

"We do not go out and say to a nation, which is working with us, where we have collaborated and they are our friend and we're trying to support Musharraf and strengthen him and his nation, that instead that we intend to go in there and potentially bring out a unilateral attack," he added.

All the candidates sought to distinguish themselves from Bush, who faces low popularity ratings.

"I'm not a carbon copy of President Bush, and there are things I would do that would be done differently," Romney said. But, he added, "I know they make mistakes. But they have kept us safe these last six years. Let's not forget that.

2007-08-05T06:49:00.000+03:00

A U.S. Army soldier has been sentenced to 110 years' confinement for participating in the rape of a 14-year-old girl and the killings of her and her family in Iraq, an Army spokeswoman said.

The military says Pfc. Jesse Spielman will also be reduced in rank and dishonorably discharged.

Pfc. Jesse Spielman was convicted Friday of rape, conspiracy to commit rape, housebreaking with the intent to commit rape and four counts of felony murder.

The rape and killings occurred on March 12, 2006, in the Mahmoudiya area, south of Baghdad.

He could be paroled after 10 years, according to The Associated Press.

Spielman will also be reduced in rank to private E-1 and dishonorably discharged, said Staff Sgt. Dallas Courrege, spokeswoman for Spielman's unit, the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Jurors on Saturday had sentenced Spielman to a term of life in prison with the possibility of parole and recommended less time than that given to two other soldiers convicted in the crimes -- Spc. James Barker and Sgt. Paul Cortez, Courrege said. Spielman's sentence was changed to 110 years' confinement under a pretrial agreement unsealed at the sentencing, Courrege said.

Both Barker and Cortez have pleaded guilty to several related charges and were dishonorably discharged. Barker was sentenced to 100 years in prison and Cortez was sentenced to 90 years, Courrege said.
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A former soldier, Steven D. Green, faces a possible death penalty. He is alleged to have spearheaded the attack on the Iraqi family, killing the girl's father, mother and younger sister before raping and killing the teenager and then burning her body. He was discharged from the Army in May 2006 because of an "anti-social personality disorder" and is being prosecuted in a civilian court.

Another soldier, Pfc. Bryan Howard, has pleaded guilty and was sentenced in March to 27 months confinement, a rank reduction to private and a dishonorable discharge.

A sixth, Sgt. Anthony W. Yribe, was not alleged to have been a participant but has been charged with failing to report the rape and killings.

All the men are from the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.

2007-08-04T00:48:00.001+03:00

Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistan has criticized U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama for saying that, if elected, he might order unilateral military strikes against terrorists hiding in this Islamic country.

Barack Obama says that if intelligence warranted it, he would order military action against terrorists in Pakistan.

Top Pakistan officials said Obama's comment was irresponsible and likely made for political gain in the race for the Democratic nomination.

"It's a very irresponsible statement, that's all I can say," Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khusheed Kasuri told AP Television News on Friday. "As the election campaign in America is heating up we would not like American candidates to fight their elections and contest elections at our expense."

Also Friday, a senior Pakistani official condemned another presidential hopeful, Colorado Republican Tom Tancredo, for saying the best way he could think of to deter a nuclear terrorist attack on the U.S. would be to threaten to retaliate by bombing the holiest Islamic sites of Mecca and Medina.

Obama said in a speech Wednesday that as president he would order military action against terrorists in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan if intelligence warranted it. The comment provoked anger in Pakistan, a key ally of the United States in its war on terror. Watch Obama's speech on fighting terrorism »
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Many analysts believe that top Taliban and al Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden, are hiding in the region after escaping the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has come under growing pressure from Washington to do more to tackle the alleged al Qaeda havens in Pakistan. The Bush administration has not ruled out military strikes, but still stresses the importance of cooperating with Pakistan.

"There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again," Obama said. "If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf will not act, we will."

The Associated Press of Pakistan reported Friday that Musharraf was asked at a dinner at Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's house on Thursday about the potential of U.S. military operations in Pakistan. Musharraf told guests that Pakistan was "fully capable" of tackling terrorists in the country and did not need foreign assistance.

Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim said no foreign forces would be allowed to enter Pakistan, and called Obama irresponsible.

"I think those who make such statements are not aware of our contribution" in the fight on terrorism, he said.

Pakistan used to be a main backer of the Taliban, but it threw its support behind Washington following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Since then, Pakistan has deployed about 90,000 troops in its tribal regions, mostly in lawless North and South Waziristan, and has lost hundreds of troops in fighting with militants there.

But a controversial strategy to make peace with militants and use tribesmen to police Waziristan has fueled U.S. fears that al Qaeda has been given space to regroup.

In Pakistan's national assembly on Friday, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan said he would bring on a debate next week on recent criticism of Pakistan from several quarters in the U.S., including Tancredo's remarks.

It was a matter of "grave concern that U.S. presidential candidates are using unethical and immoral tactics against Islam and Pakistan to win their election," Afghan said.

Tancredo told about 30 people at a town hall meeting in Osceola, Iowa, on Tuesday that he believes that a nuclear terrorist attack on the U.S. could be imminent and that the U.S. needs to hurry up and think of a way to stop it.

"If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina. Because that's the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they otherwise might do," he said.

2007-08-03T08:59:00.001+03:00

About eight million Iraqis -- nearly a third of the population -- are without water, sanitation, food and shelter and need emergency aid, a report by two major relief agencies says.

Eight million Iraqis are in urgent need of water, sanitation, food and shelter, the report said.

Oxfam and the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Coordination Committee in Iraq have issued a briefing paper that says violence in Iraq is masking a humanitarian crisis that has worsened since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

The paper, called "Rising to the Humanitarian Challenge in Iraq," is the latest documentation of the misery faced by Iraqis.

"Eight million people are in urgent need of emergency aid; that figure includes over two million who are displaced within the country, and more than two million refugees. Many more are living in poverty, without basic services, and increasingly threatened by disease and malnutrition," said the relief agencies' report. The population of Iraq is 26 million.

It said that not addressing the needs of Iraqis in urgent need of water, sanitation, food and shelter would further create more unrest in the country.

"Despite the constraints imposed by violence, the government of Iraq, the United Nations, and international donors can do more to deliver humanitarian assistance to reduce unnecessary suffering. If people's basic needs are left unattended, this will only serve to further destabilize the country."

The report found that about 43 percent of Iraq's population endure "absolute poverty," and that more than half "are now without work."
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Child malnutrition rates have jumped from 19 percent before the invasion four years ago to 28 percent now, and there are two million internally displaced people, many of whom have no or little access to food rations.

The number of Iraqis "without access to adequate water supplies" is 70 percent, up from 50 percent since 2003. The country continues to suffer a "brain drain."

While ending the warfare is the biggest priority, Iraq's government, the coalition nations, U.N. agencies and international donors can do more to deal with this problem, the report said.

It made a number of recommendations including suggesting that those in need deserve greater help from local authorities, that households headed by widows need a payment increase and that there should be new I.D. cards to enable displaced people to get food rations.

The briefing paper also stressed that Iraqi security forces should be ordered not to "harm civilian life, property, or infrastructure, and should respect the population's right to assistance."

The relief groups called on countries not involved in the Iraq war to increase funding to the country.

"Since many humanitarian organizations will not accept money from governments engaged in the conflict, it is important that donors from other countries, such as Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, increase their funding for humanitarian action." the report said.

2007-08-02T00:34:00.000+03:00

Beyond the steeples of Charleston, South Carolina, the silvery span of a new bridge leads to Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, and Isle of Palms. You'll find the same hospitality here as in neighboring Charleston but with a breezier style.

Poolside at The Belvidere Club and Resort affords an unparalleled view of Charleston Harbor.

Leave the seersucker image behind on King Street, and change into shorts and sandals to enjoy shady sidewalks and sand-between-your-toes places.

Up the Creek

As the day winds down on the Cooper River, locals head to Shem Creek. This meandering stretch of water reaches into the heart of Mount Pleasant. Once a watermen's area, the creek holds as many pleasure boats as shrimpboats parallel-parked these days. If you don't have a boat, it's no problem. You'll find ample parking off Coleman Boulevard.

Settle into a creekside table at Red's Icehouse. Rustic and casual, it dishes up seafood and knockout sunset views.

On Wednesday evenings, Red's offers party cruises. Or you can make your own meal with fresh shrimp from C.A. Magwood & Sons Seafood.

The Village Vibe

Pitt Street in Mount Pleasant's Old Village feels as serene as ever. Oak-shaded streets embrace neighborhoods cozied up to the river. Cute boutiques and eateries fill old storefronts.
For more information:

Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau: www.charlestoncvb.com or 1-800-868-8118

The Belvidere Club and Resort on Charleston Harbor: www.belvidereclub.com or 1-866-901-2688. Rates from $660 to $770.

Wild Dunes Resort: www.wilddunes.com or 1-888-845-8915. Boardwalk Inn rates from $225 to $525.

Stop by the timeless Pitt Street Pharmacy, and slide onto a well-worn stool at its soda fountain. Order a cherry Coke to wash down a homemade chicken salad or pimiento cheese sandwich.

Afterward, walk to Out of Hand, a gift store with handbags, jewelry, handmade accessories, and stationery. Next door, check out the stone sculptures from Zimbabwe in Utonga Gallery. Sweet temptations fill the Village Bakery nearby. For a more substantial meal, try the Old Village Post House. Owned by the folks who run High Cotton and Slightly North of Broad in Charleston, this restored inn serves lunch and dinner of equal quality to its big-city brethren.

The four lanes around town are rich with strip malls worth mining for treasures. If you can only shop in one, go to the corner of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard (U.S. 17) and Houston Northcutt Boulevard to Gwynn's. This local department store excels in designer clothing and old-school service.

Mount Pleasant Room and Board

When a juicy burger topped with pimiento cheese fits your cravings, drop by the Boulevard Diner on Coleman Boulevard. Barbecue lovers should sample the vinegar-based 'cue from Momma Brown's. Taste the local flavors from the buffet at Gullah Cuisine.
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Tell us your favorite places and attractions in the South, and you might be the winner of a getaway to Kiawah Island Golf Resort with soothing spa treatments at The Sanctuary, the resort's newest hotel. Visit southernliving.com/readerschoice for more information.

The best place in Mount Pleasant to lay your head is in the cottages at The Belvidere Club and Resort on Charleston Harbor. Tucked into a lush corner of Patriots Point, 10 two-bedroom, three-bath cottages sleep up to six people. Each frames the panoramic view of Charleston Harbor from its screened porch.

At night, relax in a rocking chair and watch the moon rise in the inky sky over Fort Sumter. The cottages boast full kitchens, fireplaces, and luxury furnishings, such as Frette linens, Waterford crystal, and Bose sound systems. A concierge provides groceries upon your arrival, as well as a welcoming cheese platter with wine and soft drinks. She'll even deliver breakfast to your door each morning in an antique picnic basket.

Make Your Own Beach Music

Sullivan's Island feels like a sleepy beach town. At noon, you'll find almost everyone at Poe's Tavern. Tucked under umbrella tables, spread along the porch, and perched inside the cottage's rooms, girls in flip-flops sit next to businesspeople in suits to enjoy the burgers and pub food. Dig into a platter of fish tacos and hand-cut fries and read about Edgar Allan Poe, who spent 13 months stationed at Fort Moultrie.

At night, sample the comfy dishes at Station 22, home to a great jukebox and historic photos of Sullivan's. You can also savor the fancy fare at the elegant Atlanticville. There are no hotels; if you want to overnight here, you must lease one of the few rental cottages. But don't let that stop you from exploring the miles of quiet beaches, marked by a lighthouse and old Fort Moultrie. ©

Live the Resort Life

When daybreak warms the cool sand, you'll want to walk barefoot at Wild Dunes Resort. It's the perfect moment at this Isle of Palms full-service escape. You'll find lodging options to fit most any kind of group. The Boardwalk Inn offers 93 rooms and suites and a private tropical pool. Boardwalk homes feature shady beachfront sites. Villas, cottages, and vacation homes nestle into lots on golf courses, a marina, and an endless marsh.

The activities set Wild Dunes Resort apart. In addition to a spa center, it offers a links golf course with oceanfront holes and a harbor course that hugs lagoons and the Intracoastal Waterway. A tennis academy spreads across 17 courts, while kayaking and bicycling give you a different perspective of the barrier island. Some of the best fun happens under the stars. Locals teach the official South Carolina dance the shag on Tuesday and Friday.

With a little practice, you, too, can move with the sea breeze and the moon shining overhead.

2007-08-01T01:32:00.001+03:00

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- A volcano in the central Philippines spewed ash early Tuesday, blanketing fields and villages as far as three miles away, but there was no immediate sign of a major eruption, scientists said.

I-Reporter Philip Bartilet captured this image of smoke and ash erupting from Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon, Philippines

The 5,150-foot Mount Bulusan volcano has been showing signs of unrest with on-and-off ash and steam explosions since March 2006.

"We are keeping an eye on some villages in Juban and Irosin town. An ash explosion can occur there anytime," said Bella Tubianosa from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

She said the latest burst sent ash falling three miles west of the volcano, which is about 240 miles southeast of Manila.

Television reports said the ash column caused panic in the surrounding area, with residents running out of their homes.

Villagers have been warned not to venture into a 2.5-mile "permanent danger zone" around the volcano. Broadcaster ABS-CBN said the military was expected to enforce an evacuation of people from Bulusan's immediate vicinity.

The Philippine archipelago lies on the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire," where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common

2007-08-01T01:27:00.000+03:00

CROSSMAGLEN, Northern Ireland (Reuters) -- The British army ends at midnight Tuesday its 38-year role supporting police in Northern Ireland, its longest military operation ever.

A 'peacetime garrison' of 5,000 British troops will remain in the region
1 of 3

In Crossmaglen, a heartland for Irish nationalists in the British-ruled province who want a united Ireland, residents are still dealing with the legacy of fierce clashes between Republican gunmen and British forces.

"The British army ran a war through this area and the people were at the rough end of it," said Terry Hearty, a local councilor with Sinn Fein, political ally of the outlawed Irish Republican Army (IRA) guerrilla group.

British troops were sent to Northern Ireland in 1969 to help quell unrest over civil rights which erupted between the majority Protestant population -- who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom -- and local Catholics.
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About 3,600 people were killed over the next three decades known as "The Troubles".

Violence largely ended with an IRA cease-fire in 1997 and in May of this year politicians from both sides of the sectarian divide entered into a new power-sharing government. But for many in the region, scars have yet to heal.

"It was difficult for us to live with years of harassment from the British army and the constant searches. I am glad they have gone," said Naoise Short, 55, a hardware store owner.

Traveling overland in South Armagh during the 1970s became so dangerous the British army began using helicopters to transport troops and supply its bases. It became known as "Bandit Country" because of the levels of lawlessness.

Many homes in the area close to the Republic of Ireland fly the Irish tricolor flag and monuments honor the IRA's South Armagh Brigade, one of the province's deadliest guerrilla units.

The end of military operations means the British Army will now have only a "peacetime garrison" where, as in other parts of the UK, troops will now be trained for deployment to world trouble spots such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Troops in Northern Ireland will number no more than 5,000, compared with 27,000 at the height of the conflict in 1972.

As a sign of the changes here, police who once patrolled in armored vehicles with army escorts are now seen in regular squad cars or on bikes. They also travel to other hot spots around the world to provide training to local forces.

But a mistrust of the Protestant-dominated police force remains in places such as Crossmaglen. Military escorts for police officers in the area only ended last month.

Police area commander Chief Inspector Sam Cordner said progress was being made.

"It is all about engagement and building on relationships, and one thing will feed the other," he told Reuters at his office in a heavily fortified police station in nearby Newry.

"We do have small pockets of dissident activity which, if not properly controlled, could cause us damage," he said. "I think we are well equipped to deal with that."

Despite reservations, many hope a "peace dividend" will help develop tourism in an area famed for rolling countryside and historical landmarks including pre-Christian settlements. It is also the ecclesiastical capital of the island of Ireland.

"I see people enjoying the benefits of the peace process over the last few years," said 71-year-old Tom McKay. "I see no reason for us to go back to what was before."

For Maria Caraher, 38, whose brother Fergal was shot dead by British troops in disputed circumstances, moving on will not be so easy. "What happened will be with us for the rest of our lives," she said

2007-07-31T13:54:00.000+03:00

Chief Justice John Roberts suffered a seizure Monday, causing him to fall while at his summer home off the coast of Maine, the Supreme Court said.

Chief Justice John Roberts was taken to a hospital in Maine after a fall at his summer home.

Roberts has "fully recovered from the incident," and a neurological evaluation "revealed no cause for concern," the Supreme Court said in a statement.

Doctors called the incident a "benign idiopathic seizure," similar to one suffered by the chief justice in 1993, the court statement said. An idiopathic seizure is one with no identifiable physiological cause.

A source close to the chief justice told CNN that Roberts fell five to 10 feet after the seizure.

Roberts, 52, was conscious after the fall, which caused only minor scrapes, the Supreme Court said.

The chief justice was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he was expected to stay overnight, officials said.

A hospital spokesman would not discuss the case, citing privacy concerns.

Sources close to the chief justice said Roberts suffered an unexplained seizure in 1993, soon after his first nomination to the D.C. circuit stalled in the Senate.

Friends blamed the seizure on stress from the confirmation fight, and Roberts limited certain activities such as driving after it happened. But after a few weeks, the problem went away, the sources said.

Roberts had not suffered any recurrence since the seizure more than 14 years ago, the sources said.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee were informed about the earlier seizure when they were considering Roberts' nomination to be chief justice in 2005, but they did not think it was significant enough to bring up during his confirmation hearings, said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, who chaired the panel at the time.

"We knew but we didn't draw a heavy breath on it," Specter said Monday.

President Bush was notified about Monday's incident during an Oval Office meeting, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Roberts recently spent two weeks in Europe, where he taught a law course in Vienna, Austria, and attended a judicial conference in Paris, France, court sources said. Roberts was at the Supreme Court late last week before traveling to Maine.

The chief justice bought his vacation home in June 2006.

Roberts was appointed by Bush and has served as chief justice since September 2005. He is the youngest of the court's nine justices.

Roberts served on the influential federal appellate court for the District of Columbia before being nominated to the Supreme Court after the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

The Supreme Court ended its session in June and won't reconvene until October.

2007-07-28T21:10:00.000+03:00

WASHINGTON - He would surely make history. But would Sen. Barack Obama's election as America's first black president transform the nation? Obama says yes.
Sen. Barack Obama tells the Urban League that his presidency would unleash a "transformation."
"The day I'm inaugurated, the country looks at itself differently. And don't underestimate that power. Don't underestimate that transformation," Obama told the crowd Friday at the National Urban League convention in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Democrat from Illinois was answering a question about the racial polarization in America. Obama said "race is still an enormous factor in our society. But economics can overcome a lot of racial division."
The Democratic presidential hopeful also said that action, rather than high-minded discussions, is the way to end racial inequality.
Obama said "if we're doing the right thing and making sure that our young people are going to school, that they're getting good jobs, that they're starting businesses, that they're living in thriving neighborhoods and communities, that will do more to lessen racial tension, division and conflict than any set of roundtables and blue ribbon commissions are going to do."
Two of Obama's main Democratic rivals, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, and former Sen. John Edwards, D-North Carolina, also spoke about racial inequality during the Urban League convention.
Clinton told the crowd that she rejects "a conversation about 1.4 million young men as a threat, as a headache, or as a lost cause. I reject the conversation about 1.4 million disappointments, failures, and casualties of a broken system. That is not who these young men are. I believe it is long past time for a new and different conversation. It is time for America to begin a conversation about 1.4 million future workers, entrepreneurs, taxpayers, community leaders, business executives."Don't MissBlack leaders see three-way race in S.C. Election Center 2008
Edwards addressed affirmative action, saying "I would ensure that my administration was a representation of what affirmative action can be. I would make sure that my administration looks like America, and I mean, from the top to the bottom, all the way through the administration."
Edwards continued, saying "I would ensure that judges that I appointed to the federal bench and justices nominated to the United States Supreme Court believed in real equality and believed in the concept of affirmative action."
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, also spoke at the National Urban League convention, but no Republican candidates came to the presidential forum. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee met with members of the league at a gathering Thursday night.
This is the second forum with a large African-American crowd that the Democratic candidates attended this month. All of the Democrats showed up in Detroit on July 12 for the presidential forum at the NAACP convention.
Black voters are crucial to the Democratic Party. "Nearly nine in 10 blacks vote Democratic, making them the most reliable Democratic voting block in the country" said CNN Pollster Keating Holland.
And they'll play an important role in picking the next Democratic presidential nominee, especially in South Carolina and Florida, two early primary states.
In CNN's most recent polls, Clinton and Obama are running neck and neck among black voters nationally, though Clinton was well ahead in South Carolina.
But it's still early and many voters haven't made up their minds.
"I'm not feeling that at this point either candidate would be that much of a difference" says Amy Johnson, an undecided black voter in New Orleans, Louisiana

2007-07-06T12:42:00.000+03:00

Maintaining security in Diyala province north of Baghdad will be impossible if U.S. troops are withdrawn from Iraq, according to a U.S. senior ground commander there.

"A counterinsurgency operation is a long fight," Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon told CNN.

"We obviously cannot maintain that if the forces are withdrawn -- and that would be a very, very bad idea, to do a significant withdrawal immediately," Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, commander of U.S. forces in northern Iraq, told CNN's Jamie McIntyre on CNN.com Live.

In September, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, is to brief Congress on the progress of operations involving the recent increase of U.S. troops in Iraq -- a buildup the Bush administration calls a "surge." The briefing could determine how long the additional troops will stay.

Mixon's troops are working with Iraqi forces fighting entrenched al Qaeda forces in Baquba and around Diyala province in an operation dubbed "Arrowhead Ripper."

U.S. troop casualties have been high in the province, according to U.S. commanders, because insurgent forces are using the area as a base and have booby-trapped it with "deeply buried" roadside bombs that have killed entire Humvee crews.

Diyala became the home base for many al Qaeda forces when U.S. troops clamped down on Baghdad in February with increased troop levels, the military says.

Once a model of how the United States was clearing violence from parts of Iraq, Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, has become a ghost town except for the pockets of fighting between coalition and al Qaeda forces.
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Mixon said the U.S. military strategy of "clear, hold and retain" was not possible when his troops arrived in Baquba last September because he did not have enough forces.

"I only had enough forces initially when I arrived here last September to clear Baquba. I did that many times, but I was unable to hold it and secure it," Mixon said.

"Now I have enough force to go in, establish permanent compound outposts throughout the city that will be manned by coalition forces, Iraqi army, and Iraqi police, and maintain a permanent presence.

"But all of this has been made possible with the additional forces that have been given to me as a result of the surge," Mixon said.

While U.S. and Iraqi forces appear to have the upper hand in Diyala, Mixon said there is still some question about the Iraqi government's commitment.

"The problem is one of support that [Iraqi forces] receive from their Ministry of Defense and their other higher headquarters -- particularly in logistics. We have got to increase their numbers, we've got to get better logistic support from their headquarters so they can sustain the fight," Mixon said.

Mixon's comments came as another Republican senator broke with the Bush administration over the war on Thursday, arguing that the United States should start moving toward a withdrawal from the 4-year-old conflict.

"Things are getting worse, not better," Sen. Pete Domenici told reporters in his home state of New Mexico.

Domenici is the third GOP lawmaker in two weeks to urge the administration to change course in Iraq. He blamed the Iraqi government for failing to take steps toward a political settlement of the country's sectarian warfare.

Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, broke ranks in late June, urging Bush to change course "very soon." Ohio's George Voinovich followed suit a day later.

Mixon said he understands that some Americans are losing patience with the war.

"We would like to see things move along more quickly. However, a counterinsurgency operation is a long fight," he said. "We're going to have to develop a strategy in the near term to deal with the immediate threat, which I believe the surge has done."

But he added, "Let me be clear about what I said: The U.S. still will need to have a long-term commitment to Iraqi security forces to ensure long-term success and stability in Iraq."

2007-07-05T00:18:00.000+03:00

KABUL, Afghanistan-- Afghan President Hamid Karzai, upset over the deaths of civilians caught in the middle of fighting between coalition troops and militant fighters, had harsh words for NATO forces Saturday.

Karzai's comments came as dozens of militants were reportedly killed in southern and eastern Afghanistan in the latest clashes with U.S.-led foreign troops and Afghan forces.

"The disproportionate use of force to a situation and the lack of coordination with the Afghan government is causing these casualties," Karzai said.

"You don't fight a terrorist by firing a field gun 30-some kilometers away into a target. That is definitely surely bound to cause civilian casualties."

Karzai pointed to an operation Thursday night near the town of Gereshk in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province during which, according to local estimates, more than two dozen civilians were killed as NATO forces battled suspected Taliban militants in a village.

"The incident of the day before yesterday in Gereshk, based on the information that I have from the local people, occurred when NATO forces came under fire in a village at around sunset and then the NATO forces went and bombed the village at around 10 p.m.," he said. "The question is why?"

A NATO official on Friday said it was investigating the claims of civilian casualties but insisted any blame would lie with "irresponsible" militants for launching attacks in the first place.

An Afghan Interior Ministry official told CNN the government is still working to count the number of civilians killed in the past week.

The U.S. military said while there may have been casualties at Gereshk, it was still investigating. It did confirm that seven children died Sunday when coalition aircraft bombed a building in eastern Afghanistan where al Qaeda fighters were believed gathered.

President Karzai, who is reliant on Western support to secure his powerbase in still volatile Afghanistan, said NATO forces must start listening to his government's recommendations.

"They have to coordinate with us," he said. "They have to strengthen the Afghan National Army further. They have to help us build a police force that is raised from the community, that is in the community.

"They cannot bring standards from their countries in the West and try to apply it in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a different country. It has different values systems. It has a different community structure. From now onward, they have to work the way we ask them to work in here. That's the line."

Karzai's remarks reflect growing unease among Afghans at the rising civilian death toll as foreign troops continue efforts to rid the country of the hardline Taliban militia and its al Qaeda allies, which began after the September 11 attacks on the United States.

In the latest clashes in southern Afghanistan, NATO said militants attacked Afghan and alliance troops late Friday in the Bermel district of Paktika province, according to The Associated Press.

NATO and U.S.-led forces returned fire, killing about 60 fighters, an alliance statement said.

"These individuals clearly had weapons and used them against our aircraft as well as shooting rockets against our positions ... This required their removal from the battle-space," Col. Martin P. Schweitzer, a U.S. commander, said in a statement, according to AP.
Child reportedly fitted with suicide vest

A young boy who walked up to an Afghan soldier and asked if the soldier could help remove the explosives-laden vest he was wearing described the suicide plot he was asked to participate in to military officials and villagers Saturday.

The boy, about 6, attended a meeting in Khowst of Afghan regional leaders and military representatives, who discussed the progress of NATO-Afghan operations to rout the Taliban and prevent terrorists from crossing the border into Afghanistan from Pakistan.

"We have seen the Taliban in recent weeks shave their beards and even wear women's clothing in an attempt to avoid detection by security forces," said Army Capt. Michael Cormier, commander of Alpha Company 2/508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

"In the past, they have murdered men for simply shaving or having long hair," he said in a written statement from the International Security Assistance Force.

He said recent attacks by the Taliban show how desperate its members are becoming, Cormier said.

"They placed explosives on a 6-year-old boy and told him to walk up to the Afghan Police or Army and push the button. Fortunately the boy did not understand, and asked patrolling officers why he had this vest on.

"In another incident, they placed explosives in a Sunni mosque used by local workers and contractors. Do these actions sound like the actions of true Muslims? Not to me," Cormier said.

The child wasn't injured in the incident, which occurred several weeks ago, and it was unclear whether those who put the vest on him and sent him toward a checkpoint were captured. His brother also was at the meeting.

The sub-governor of the town of Andar brought the boys to the session so the media and others could hear firsthand the account of his ordeal.

The ISAF said Saturday two children have been killed and nine wounded in the last 72 hours in Taliban attacks in eastern Afghanistan.

One Coalition Forces soldier died Saturday during combat operations near Langar Village in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. The nationality of the soldier was not released. Coalition forces came under small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire around 5:45 a.m. and returned fire. Two soldiers were wounded and are receiving medical care at a coalition treatment facility.

2007-07-04T00:51:00.000+03:00

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- They all voted for it, but that was then.

Former Sen. John Edwards cited his school-age children as giving him insight into schools.

Democratic presidential candidates came out swinging Monday, not at each other but at the No Child Left Behind law.

They spoke at the annual convention of the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union.

While the candidates received a warm response in the City of Brotherly Love, mere mention of President Bush's signature education law elicited loud hisses and boos from the thousands of teachers on hand.

The law, passed with broad Democratic support in 2001, requires public school students to be tested annually in reading and math in third- through eighth-grade and once in high school. It is up for renewal this year in Congress.

An NEA criticism of the law is that it forces teachers to spend too much time on test preparation instead of other forms of instruction, and many teachers wore buttons or stickers reading, "A child is more than a test score."

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut, sported the sticker on his own lapel as he called for the law to be overhauled. "It's time that we get this law right," Dodd said, saying it needed higher funding levels, among other things.
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Dodd and John Edwards, a former vice presidential candidate and North Carolina senator, both stressed that they have school-age children and therefore have personal as well as political insight into what's happening in the nation's schools.

"These tests do not tell us what we need to know about our children," Edwards said.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, said she has heard stories about teachers shaping their lesson plans to ensure their students do well on the reading and math tests at the expense of other subjects.

"The test is becoming the curriculum when it should be the other way around," Clinton said.

Clinton's call for universal preschool for 4-year-olds and smaller class sizes won cheers, as did Edwards' comments about improving low-income students' access to college.

Edwards said stemming poverty, a theme he often talks about on the campaign trail, would be a top priority if he were elected president.

He announced he would try to push the minimum wage up to $9.50 an hour. President Bush recently signed a law increasing it from $5.15 to $7.25 over two years. But Edwards said that falls short.

"No one should work full time in the United States of America and live in poverty," he said.

Other Democratic candidates, including Sen. Barrack Obama, are slated to appear before the convention this week.

The only Republican candidate in the speakers' lineup is former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

The NEA has only backed Democratic presidential candidates in the past. About 85 percent of the union's members end up voting for the union's recommended candidate in the general election.

In all, the union has 3.2 million members, including teachers and other school staff.

Earlier Monday, Clinton picked up the endorsement of the mayor of this heavily Democratic city.

Mayor John F. Street said Clinton is the best candidate "to restore this great country to its rightful place on the world stage."

The city, which is 45 percent black, is a Democratic stronghold in a swing state.

2007-07-03T00:28:00.001+03:00

Voters in Georgia's 10th Congressional District went to the polls Tuesday. At stake was Charlie Norwood's old congressional seat representing the northeastern part of the state. The longtime Republican congressman died in February of lung disease and cancer.

Former state Sen. Jim Whitehead looks at election results with campaign outreach directorThomas Worthy.

Ten candidates ran to fill the seat. And while the special election didn't get a lot of national attention, it was dominated by two national issues: immigration and the war in Iraq.

In the race, GOP former state Sen. Jim Whitehead, of Evans, earned a spot in a July 17 runoff by capturing about 44 percent of the vote, according to returns from the Georgia secretary of state's office.

Two candidates were in a tight battle for the runoff spot against Whitehead. Democrat James Marlow, a high-tech executive from Lincolnton, and Republican Paul Broun, a doctor from Athens, were separated by less than 50 votes, with about 94 percent of the precincts reporting.

If Marlow enters the runoff, he could face a tough battle. Georgia's 10th Congressional District is a very red district in a red state. Merle Black, a southern political analyst with Emory University in Atlanta, says "this is a really conservative Republican district."

And while the district is about 1,300 miles from the border with Mexico, immigration is one of the main issues voters there are talking about.

"I think it is something that has got to be handled, and it has got to handled now. It is out of control," says Sam Beldin, an Augusta, Georgia, resident.

The current immigration reform bill being considered by the Senate doesn't appear to be a favorite in the district. Pearl Portwood, who also lives in Augusta, says "I really don't think what we are proposing right now is going to be very beneficial."

President Bush overwhelmingly won this district in 2004, but all 10 candidates in this campaign broke with him over immigration reform. Black says "none of the candidates is defending the Bush proposals on immigration."

Whitehead, who was considered the front-runner in the race, is dead set against the current immigration reform bill. But he does support the president on the war in Iraq. That's an issue that weighs heavily with voters in Georgia 10.

"Everyone around here either knows someone or has a family member that is there or has been injured or killed," says Martin Rodriguez, a hot dog vendor and 10th District voter.

Beldin agrees, saying, "I think it is a big issue for this country and certainly for this part of the country. We have Fort Gordon here, and we are losing people every day and it touches us very, very strongly."

While it's true the war is hitting home in northeastern Georgia, there's not a lot of outward anti-war sentiment.

As an Augusta resident told CNN: "We got ourselves into it -- good, bad, or indifferent. We need to give 100 percent support to those young men and women who are there and stuck there, not of their own choice but there in service to their country. We need to give them every bit of support we possibly can."

It's obvious people in Georgia 10 are worried about Iraq and they appear angry about immigration reform, but don't expect them to fill Norwood's old seat with a Democrat.

Black says "Norwood was a legend in this district. He was a very conservative Republican."

But of the 10 candidates running, six were Republicans, three were Democrats and one was a Libertarian. So there was always the chance that the Republican candidates would split the vote among themselves, which could lead to a Democratic victory.

Black says "that's unlikely at this point, but not impossible."

No candidate won 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday's election, which led to the July runoff. And if Marlow is one of the two candidates in the runoff, could this heavily Republican district swing to the Democrats? Don't bet on it. Black says "if a Democrat were able to win this seat, especially in a runoff, it would be a huge story.

2007-07-02T09:06:00.000+03:00

Presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama announced Sunday his campaign raised at least $32.5 million in the second quarter, the highest amount ever raised by a Democratic candidate, topping the first quarter fund-raising and exceeding predictions from rival Hillary Clinton’s campaign for her take in the same period.

In a statement, Obama’s campaign they received money from over 154,000 donors in the quarter, up from 104,000 donors they cited in the first quarter. The campaign said it raised “at least” $31 million in the second quarter in primary money, and a total counting general election funds of $32.5 million.

In a surprising first quarter performance, the Illinois Democrat raised $25.7 million, worth $24.8 million going to the primary campaign.

Obama said in the statement, “Together, we have built the largest grassroots campaign in history for this stage of a Presidential race. We now have hundreds of thousands of Americans who are ready to demand health care for all, energy independence, and an end to this war in Iraq. That’s the kind of movement that can change the special interest-driven politics in Washington and transform our country. And it’s just the beginning.”

Last week, Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said he expected Clinton bring in $27 million this quarter, but they have not announced their numbers since the period ended. Last quarter, Clinton raised $26 million, with $19 million in primary dollars.

An Obama campaign official provided CNN with an e-mail going out to supporters Sunday. In it, campaign manager David Plouffe said,”The pundits and political insiders questioned whether a new leader and fledgling campaign could compete with the big money and massive organization of other candidates who have been preparing to run for years, and even decades. Well, for the second consecutive quarter, you’ve helped send a resounding answer.”

Plouffe write that the number of donors, much of it small donations., “sends an unmistakable message to the political establishment that the same old politics just won’t do in 2008.”

He said the fundraising will allow them to compete fully funded in all February 5 contests in large states like California and New York, saying “frankly, when we entered this race, we did not think that was possible. We estimated at this point of the campaign we’d be at least $20-25 million behind one of our fellow candidates. But due to the amazing outpouring of support from people all across the country, remarkably, we should be on at least even financial footing for the duration of the campaign”.

2007-06-26T14:06:00.001+03:00

Wireless Internet service works great - so long as you're in a Wi-Fi hotspot. But what if you could have wireless Internet everywhere you go, available on your laptop and cell phone, at speeds that can leave both DSL and 3G data networks in the dust?

That's what Sprint Nextel customers could get later this year, when the Reston, Va., carrier starts rolling out its $3 billion mobile Wi-Max network.

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The promise of Wi-Max, which stands for worldwide interoperability for microwave access, has been talked about for years. Unlike Wi-Fi, which was designed to send signals no farther than 300 feet, only a few Wi-Max transmitters are needed to blanket an entire city with high-speed Internet connectivity.

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Sprint says its new service will go live in three markets - Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington - by the end of 2007. It will be the first U.S. carrier to launch the next-generation network, which already exists in South Korea and is five times faster than current 3G cellular data services. Sprint hopes to have coverage available to 100 million Americans in about 35 regions nationwide by 2009.

That could provide a much-needed boost to the nation's third-largest mobile operator, which has lately been suffering. Last quarter alone, the company lost more than 200,000 postpaid subscribers. "

What's the killer app? It's access to the Internet wherever you go," says Barry West, president of Sprint's mobile broadband business. "Wi-Max will be like Wi-Fi on steroids."

It also means a beefed-up business model. With 3G data services, users are charged separate fees for phone and laptop access. But with Wi-Max, Sprint (Charts, Fortune 500) will charge users once for access across multiple devices, with no limits on where they can surf. Customers will even be able to use applications like Skype that compete with the carrier's voice service.

"Cellular carriers tend to be a walled garden," West says. "Wi-Max will give us the capacity to completely open the Internet."
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Analysts are bullish on the prospects for Wi-Max. Boston-based Yankee Group is forecasting 28 million subscribers by 2011, while research firm In-Stat says Wi-Max infrastructure equipment and devices will become a $5 billion market within four years, up from $177 million today.

To supply the necessary phones, computer chips, and back-end equipment, Sprint is working with heavyweights like Intel (Charts, Fortune 500), Motorola (Charts, Fortune 500), Nokia (Charts), and Samsung. PC cards will be available when the service launches, followed by gaming devices, laptops, cameras, and even phones with built-in Wi-Max by the end of 2008.

Wi-Max "will enable all sorts of new devices we've never even thought of," says Fred Wright, senior VP for networks and enterprise at Motorola. "Any applications that are cumbersome today because the cell phone can't provide a fast enough data rate, those will be the sweet spots Wi-Max will be able to address."

That should benefit Wi-Max chipmakers such as Intel and Beceem Communications, a Santa Clara, Calif., company that has already landed more than $100 million in funding.
Bluetooth's amazing makeover

Sprint is not the only Wi-Max player. Clearwire, founded by famed cellular entrepreneur Craig McCaw, should have its network up and running in 2008, with coverage for 45 million people. "We're doing for the Internet what cell phones did for voice 20 years ago," says Clearwire CEO Ben Wolff.

In South Korea, Wi-Max is already offered by the country's largest mobile operators, SK Telecom and KT. Infrastructure and devices are provided by Samsung, the first of the top three handset manufacturers to bring to market Wi-Max-ready smartphones and PC cards. "Eventually, we want to put mobility on every object," says Hung Song, VP of the global marketing group at Samsung.

In superconnected Seoul, however, 90 percent of mobile customers already use data services. That's partly why only 5,000 people have signed up for the service since it went up last June. Samsung expects that number to be far higher by the end of the year.

Sprint has yet to reveal pricing details, though the company says its rates will be competitive with those charged by DSL and cable operators. "We intend to make this as simple as possible," West says. "All you'll have to do is buy a laptop and it will ask you if you want mobile broadband access. We'll do the rest." Hunting for a Wi-Fi hotspot may soon sound as antiquated as dialing in to CompuServe on a 2,400-baud modem.

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