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  • 10 Ways to Score an iPhone 4 on Launch Day

    With the iPhone 4 launching on Friday, Consumers and even some enterprise customers are undoubtedly excited to finally get their hands on Apple's new smartphone. Such excitement is understandable. The device is arguably the best iPhone, at least on paper, that Apple has ever released.

    Not only does it run the company's new iOS 4, which boasts multitasking, it includes a new feature called Face Time, which allows users to place video calls over Wi-Fi. Further, thanks to a new and improved display, the fidelity of the iPhone 4's touch screen should be second to none.

    But most folks already know that. Now, they want to know how they can get their hands on an iPhone 4 on June 24. For some, pre-ordering was the way to go. Those that were lucky enough to get through the trials of pre-ordering an iPhone 4 on June 15 should have their smartphones in-hand that day.

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  • China resource demand to falter if yuan fails to jump

    One factor, a top HSBC analyst says, is that the yuan's rise will likely be much slower than when China first loosened its currency in July 2005. At that time, a virtuous cycle of rising real-estate prices and inflows of speculative capital put upward pressure on the yuan.

    But this time, HSBC's Hong Kong-based co-head of Asian economics research Qu Hongbin said in a research note: "We believe the pace of appreciation against the U.S. dollar will be much slower than the pre-crisis rate."

    A key difference between the current environment and that of the previous revaluation is the state of China's property market.

    In 2005, property values were just beginning their long march upwards, but today's bubble-like valuations make it more likely that real-estate prices -- in major cities at least -- will decline in coming months, as tighter policy and other administrative measures to curb speculation take effect, Qu said.

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  • Anti-homelessness strategy expands programs to assist veterans, families

    The Obama administration released a strategy Tuesday to end homelessness that would expand programs to secure housing for veterans and families with young children, and build on efforts to help chronically homeless Americans.

    With the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq highlighting the needs of veterans and the economic crisis straining more families, the administration's plan widens the role envisioned for the federal government in curbing -- and ending -- homelessness. But it does not provide a significant infusion of federal money to combat the problem.

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  • Maradona wants an apology

    Diego Maradona said his Argentina team's easy progression to the knockout stages has silenced the critics, who he insisted should apologise for the way they dismissed his side.

    Argentina's 2-0 victory over Greece - thanks to late goals from Martin Demichelis and veteran striker Martin Palermo - saw them top Group B with maximum points.

    That contrasted sharply with their performances in the qualifying campaign - when they had to win their last two matches to reach South Africa.

    "They (the critics) should apologise to the players, who are 100% professional,'' said Maradona. "We are doing our duty, which is to defend the Argentina shirt. Sometimes they are wrong, but those who have also criticised are wrong and should apologise.''

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  • Bin Laden hunter to be released by Pakistan

    A relative of an American on a solo mission to hunt down Osama bin Laden says the Colorado man is being released by the Pakistani government without charges.

    Gary Faulkner, of Greeley, was detained June 13 in the woods of northern Pakistan after being found with a pistol, a sword and night-vision equipment. The 50-year-old told officials he was out to kill the al-Qaida leader. Faulkner was then moved to Islamabad, and a relative told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he was being released to American authorities there and would return to the U.S. "very soon."

    The relative didn't want to be identified because a family-designated spokesman hadn't yet confirmed the release. The spokesman didn't immediately return calls from The Associated Press. Faulkner's brother, Scott Faulkner, told AP he'd heard the news of the release plans but wasn't ready to comment.

    Gary Faulkner is an out-of-work construction worker who sold his tools to finance six trips on what relatives have called a Rambo-type mission to kill or capture bin Laden. He grew his hair and beard long to fit in better.

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  • White House releases health law details

    Most insurance plans will soon be prohibited from rejecting coverage of children because of pre-existing medical problems, under rules governing enforcement of the 'patients bill of rights' in the new health care law.

    The White House later Tuesday will release details of how the patients' provision will be implemented.

    The language involving coverage of children with pre-existing conditions will be enforced for most insurance plans renewing on or after Sept. 23.

    Under the new federal rules, patients also can still pick their primary doctors or pediatricians, and prior approval requirements for emergency care will be prohibited.

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  • Lady Gaga says has finished new album

    The 24-year-old, known for her flamboyant costumes as much as her records, plans to release the album early next year, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

    "I think I'm gonna get the album title tattooed on me and put out the photo," she told the publication.

    "I've been working on it for months now, and I feel very strongly that it's finished right now. It came so quickly. Some artists take years; I don't. I write music every day."

    The "Poker Face" singer, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, hinted that her new music was likely to be more serious than her hit debut, which turned her into one of the pop world's biggest stars.

    "I have been for three years baking cakes -- and now I'm going to bake a cake that has a bitter jelly," she said.

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  • Peter Orszag to resign as White House budget director

    White House budget director Peter Orszag has decided to leave the Obama administration, likely in the next few weeks, a Democrat familiar with his plans said Monday night. His departure would make him the first member of President Obama's Cabinet to leave the White House.

    As head of the Office of Management and Budget, Orszag has been one of Obama's top lieutenants on two of the president's signature legislative efforts: the stimulus bill, passed early in the administration, and the health care overhaul passed this year.

    He also generated some headlines of his own, with the news that he had fathered a child with ex-girlfriend Claire Milonas, a Greek shipping heiress, and that he had become engaged to ABC News reporter Bianna Golodryga. Their wedding is planned for September.

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  • South Korea: resolve ship, then consider nuclear talks

    The March 26 sinking of the corvette Cheonan near the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas has raised tension in the region and further complicated already hamstrung diplomatic efforts to revive six-nation talks on the denuclearisation of North Korea.

    "As North Korea was found to have sunk the warship Cheonan, the government will concentrate on the Cheonan incident at this stage," the South's Yonhap news quoted Yu as saying during a meeting of parliament.

    The government "will consult related countries on resuming six-party talks after completing its response", he said.

    Six-party talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia have been stalled for more than a year.

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  • US, England face decisive matches

    JOHANNESBURG — Group C was supposed to be a romp through the first round of the World Cup for the English and Americans.

    That romp has turned into an obstacle course, and both teams have stumbled. Although each can advance to the second round Wednesday with wins, such victories hardly are givens considering how they have played.

    The U.S. team fell behind to both England and Slovenia before rallying for two draws. England also has two ties, the second with Algeria causing all kinds of angst back home.

    Not since 1958 in Sweden has England failed to advance past the group stage once it's qualified for the tournament. The Americans have not been so successful, but their hopes were high when they came to South Africa after finishing second to Brazil at the Confederations Cup a year ago.

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