Europeans offered browser choices

From 1 March, Microsoft will ask millions of Europeans if they want to use a web browser other than its own.

Windows users will be offered the choice as part of a deal Microsoft struck with the European Commission.

The agreement resolves a long running case in which the software giant was accused of abusing its market position.

A pop-up window will prompt people to choose and install one of 12 different browsers or let them stick with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.

Install options

The browser choice software will be delivered as part of the Windows Update system Microsoft usually uses to distribute security patches.
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Huge head of pharaoh unearthed in Egypt

A colossal red granite head of one of Egypt’s most famous pharaohs has been unearthed in the southern city of Luxor, officials said.

The 3,000-year-old head of Amenhotep III – grandfather of Tutankhamun – was dug out of the ruins of the pharaoh’s mortuary temple.

Experts say it is the best preserved example of the king’s face ever found.

The 2.5m (8ft) head is part of a larger statue, most of which was found several years ago.

Antiquities officials say the statue is to be reconstructed.

“Other statues have always had something broken – the tip of the nose, or the face is eroded,” said Dr Hourig Sourouzian, who has led the Egyptian-European expedition at the site.

“But here, from the top of the crown to the chin, it is so beautifully carved and polished, nothing is broken.”
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Chile President Michelle Bachelet steps up quake rescue

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has announced emergency measures to deal with the destruction caused by Saturday’s massive earthquake.

The 8.8 magnitude quake – one of the most powerful recorded – devastated central parts of the country, killing more than 700 people.

Troops are being deployed to help with rescue efforts and prevent looting.

A curfew is in force in some areas. Basic supplies are to be distributed as rescuers reach worst-hit areas.

“We face a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort,” Ms Bachelet told reporters on Sunday in the capital, Santiago.

The curfew, which began at 2100 local time (midnight GMT), applies in the region of Maule – where more than 541 are confirmed dead – and in Concepcion, Chile’s second city.

Both areas are being placed under special rules to speed up the delivery of aid.
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Tiger Woods loses Gatorade sponsorship

Energy drink firm Gatorade has ended its sponsorship of Tiger Woods.

Gatorade is the latest major company to cut ties with the sportsman following Woods’s admission that he was unfaithful to his wife.

The drinks company, owned by PepsiCo, had already discontinued a Tiger Woods-themed drink, Tiger Focus. It follows AT&T and Accenture in ending deals.

However, Gatorade said it would continue its partnership with the charitable Tiger Woods Foundation.

Dropped

A spokeswoman for Gatorade said: “We no longer see a role for Tiger in our marketing efforts and have ended our relationship… We wish him all the best.”

Its move comes just one week after the star made a frank public address to a select gathering at PGA Tour headquarters in Florida.

In his statement Woods apologised to his wife, friends and family, as well as to his fans.

“I was unfaithful, I had affairs and I cheated. What I did was unacceptable,” he said.
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Colombian judges deny Alvaro Uribe third term poll

The Colombian constitutional court has rejected a referendum which could have led to President Alvaro Uribe running for a third term in office.

The court voted 7-2 against a proposal backed by parliament to hold a vote on amending the constitution to allow for three terms.

Mr Uribe won an amendment in 2005 that let him run for a second term in 2006.

The president remains popular in Colombia, but the constitution bars him from being a candidate again.

He had not said publicly that he hoped to stand in the 30 May election but analysts expected that he would.

After the ruling, Mr Uribe said he accepted and respected the court’s decision, which is not subject to appeal.

‘Democratic principle’

Alvaro Uribe is a close ally of the US, which has poured many millions of dollars into Colombia to support its fight against drug cartels and the left-wing Farc insurgency.

Last year, Colombia’s Senate and House of Representatives overwhelmingly backed the proposed amendment on term limits.
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Toyota boss Akio Toyoda apologises for faults

Toyota’s president has apologised to the US Congress and American Toyota owners for safety problems that led to deaths and worldwide recalls.

Akio Toyoda said he was “deeply sorry” for any incidents which had occurred as a result of failures with accelerators and brakes on several models.

Mr Toyoda pledged his “full co-operation” with the US investigation.

But, under questioning, he insisted no faults had been discovered with the electronics of any of its vehicles.

He pledged that an independent, outside advisory board would look into the issue.

‘Not safe’

Toyota has recalled about 8.5m vehicles worldwide.
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Toyota president testifies before Congress

Akio Toyoda, the president and CEO of Toyota, and Yoshimi Inaba, president and COO of Toyota Motor North America, answer questions from members of the House Oversight and Government Reform committee on the recall of 8 million vehicles worldwide. All updates are Eastern Standard Time.

(CNN) — 6:50 p.m. — Toyoda tears up and pauses for composure as he thanks the audience for their support. He describes the hearing as an opportunity to remind customers of the company’s commitment to quality and safety. “We have to rethink everything about our operations to regain customers’ confidence,” he says, reading from a statement in English. “We have to reassert the values that have been our hallmark.”

6:45 p.m. — A plant worker from Kentucky and a dealer from Texas join Inaba and Toyoda onstage at the National Press Club, where the two men receive a standing ovation.

5:50 p.m. — Toyoda makes a brief statement after the hearing thanking Congress and again pledging to change how Toyota handles complaints. He then makes his way through a dense crowd to a Toyota Highlander waiting for him outside. He is due to speak to an audience of Toyota dealers at the National Press Club in Washington later in the evening.

5:37 p.m. — Chairman Edolphus Towns thanks the men for coming in voluntarily and says he considers their appearance a sign of their commitment to addressing problems. The panel is adjourned.

5:34 p.m. — Rep. Driehaus reads a letter from a driver who experienced sudden acceleration in his 2005 Toyota Tacoma. The driver said he had no mats and used to race cars. Toyoda says tests conducted so far have not demonstrated the same phenomenon and believes the system is safe, but pledges to continue testing.
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Roaming abroad

India’s biggest mobile-phone operator makes a move on Africa

AS THE orchestra of chirrups and pings in any public place in the rich world attests, the market for mobile phones in developed countries is saturated—and even in some developing ones opportunities for growth are running short. So big mobile operators, including those from emerging economies, are looking for growth wherever it can be found. Bharti Airtel, the biggest Indian operator when measured by subscribers, said on Monday February 15th that it is hoping to expand beyond one of the world’s fastest growing markets and into another. It is in talks with Zain, a Kuwaiti telecoms company, to buy its sub-Saharan assets for $10.7 billion and bring together African and Indian mobile-phone expertise.

Bharti has tried to move into Africa before. Two previous efforts to merge with South Africa’s MTN fell through, the latest in September last year. The deal was blocked by South Africa’s government, which was unwilling to let go of a national champion. If the new deal proceeds Bharti should find a warmer welcome in the 15 countries, including Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania, where Zain provides mobile phones to some 42m customers.

Although the mobile-phone business is still booming in India, growth there is slowing. Competition, not least from operators based in the rich world, has brought the number of mobile operators in the country to 12 and a brutal price war is under way. Recent new arrivals include Norway’s Telenor and Japan’s NTTDoCoMo. Penetration rates in India are at around 50% compared with 40% in much of Africa. Bharti sees a chance to stake a claim in the fastest growing region in the world and to do so profitably.
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Andy Powell removed from Wales squad

Wales have dropped Andy Powell from the national squad following his drink-drive charge after an alleged golf buggy incident.

The back-row was arrested with another man at 0540 GMT on Sunday at services off junction 33 of the M4 near the team hotel in the Vale of Glamorgan.

That was hours after he played in the dramatic 31-24 win over Scotland.

Wales team manager Alan Phillips said: “This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated.”

Phillips revealed Powell has apologised to Wales’ management and was also asked to apologise to the hotel management before being asked to leave the squad.

A Welsh Rugby Union statement read: “After discussions with the player himself, it has been decided by management that he should be suspended from the squad for behaviour contrary to the squad’s code of conduct.”
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Honda extends airbag recall by 437,000 cars

Honda has added 437,700 cars, mainly in North America, to its existing global safety recall over airbag inflation problems.

It broadens a recall announced in late 2008 for less than 4,000 Accord and Civic sedans, then expanded in mid-2009 to cover another 510,000 vehicles.

The latest announcement also covers Japan, Mexico, Taiwan and Australia.

The fresh blow to Japanese carmakers came as Toyota recalled nearly half a million hybrid cars over faulty brakes.

Toyota has already had to bring millions of other vehicles back to dealerships amid accelerator and floormat problems.
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