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It all began in May 2007 when Universal Music Group (UMG), the largest of the Big Four companies that dominate the music industry worldwide, sued a Los Angeles-based trader on the eBay online auction site.

Ofcom is also undertaking what it says is the UK's "most authoritative and comprehensive broadband speed survey" to identify broadband performance across the country and its relationship to advertised speeds.

Carbon producers would have been able to trade emissions allowancesA US attempt to establish a system of caps and tax relief to cut carbon emissions has been blocked in Congress. The bill was backed by most senators, but did not get the 60 votes needed to stop a delaying tactic - a filibuster - used by the bill's opponents. Even if it had succeeded in passing Congress, President George W Bush had pledged to veto the bill. Lawmakers will now wait until next year - when there will be a new president - before attempting to pass a new bill. Tax relief The bill - sponsored by Republican John Warner and Independent Joe Lieberman - would have introduced caps on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, oil refineries and factories. Carbon producers would have been granted emissions allowances, which they would have been able to trade with one another, providing them with an incentive to cut their emissions. "It's a huge tax increase," said Mitch McConnell, leader of the Senate Republicans, most of whom opposed the bill. Supporters of the new system said that tax relief would be provided to help people pay energy costs. Neither John McCain nor Barack Obama were present for the vote, but both presidential candidates said that they would have supported the bill if they had been able to attend. E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with:DeliciousDiggredditFacebookStumbleUponWhat are these?

"It would be wonderful if every [mobile] carrier could give universities access to their data because it's so rich," said Dr Marta Gonzalez of Northeastern University, Boston, US, and one of the authors of the paper.

After years of getting by on government subsidies, he says his income has doubled or possibly tripled thanks to rapidly rising world demand for grain, and the expansion of America's biofuel industry.

The release of the new Hyundai I10 boosted the mini categoryHigh fuel prices and the threat of extra taxes on larger cars may be making smaller cars more popular, new car registration figures suggest. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 4x4 registrations fell 18% in May compared with May 2007. Meanwhile, registrations of cars in the mini category, such as Hyundai I10 and Chevrolet Matiz, rose 120%. Analysts caution against reading too much into one month's figures and sales of 4x4s have risen over the past year. Also, the mini category is a relatively small one with only 2,912 of them registered in May, compared with 11,126 4x4s. Some of the rise in sales of smaller cars can be attributed to the launch of the new Hyundai I10 during the month. However, people buying new cars in May will have been aware of the government's plans to alter vehicle excise duty based on a car's emissions, as well as record petrol and diesel prices. 'Tough year' The figures come against a backdrop of falling overall new car registrations. According to the SMMT, registrations fell 3.5% in May compared with May 2007 and 0.6% in the year to the end of May. It was the weakest May volume since 1999. "The slowdown in the overall new car market in May comes as no surprise and reflects concerns across the economy," said Paul Everitt, chief executive of SMMT. "We expect a tough year ahead." E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with:DeliciousDiggredditFacebookStumbleUponWhat are these?

Consumer spending is the engine of the US economy, and the latest jobless data is another set-back for Americans who are struggling with falling house prices, a credit squeeze and rising fuel bills.

Although this microwave background is mostly smooth, the Cobe satellite in 1992 discovered small fluctuations that were believed to be the seeds from which the galaxy clusters we see in today's Universe grew.

Hamburg says it will not accept any more waste from Campania until it receives written guarantees from the Italian authorities that all rubbish will be checked thoroughly to ensure it is safe before being transported to Germany.

The market was also responding to a statement by Israel's transport minister that an attack on Iran was "unavoidable" after sanctions to prevent Tehran from developing its nuclear capability had failed.

I want them, now.

Are you as happy as these people?Psychologists say it is possible to measure your happiness. This test designed by psychologist Professor Ed Diener from the University of Illinois, takes just a minute to complete. To find out how happy you are just look at the five statements below and decide whether you agree or disagree using a 1-7 scale. Please be open and honest in your responding - remember your answers are totally private. Once you have answered all five questions press submit and we will calculate your score. You will then be able to read Professor Diener's analysis.

Just by the bridge that links Canada and America lies St Clair County, Michigan. The 170,000 people who live here have long depended on the American car industry, which is headquartered 80 miles away in Detroit.

On Monday, US light, sweet crude hit a fresh record of $119.93 a barrel. Prices rose as traders eyed the disruption caused by the Grangemouth strike and supply problems in Nigeria following pipeline attacks.

The move follows a report earlier this year from America's leading health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which revealed one in four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted disease.

It was identified first in 1925 from two tentacles found in a sperm whale's stomach. These deep-diving toothed whales regularly do battle with Mesonychoteuthis and other giant cephalopods such as the giant squid of the Architeuthis genus.

"And then you just look at the overall numbers and how they interact. Ones are very ambitious, hard-working, career-centric, money-driven, Threes are very creative, as are Sixes. Fives, they're very apt to a lot of change."

Coincidentally, Pi Day is also the birthday of Albert Einstein, who no doubt knew more than a little about pi. Pi Day celebrants, usually children with an enthusiastic teacher and a varying degree of personal interest in the subject, learn about pi, circles, and, if they're lucky, eat baked pies of various sorts.

The domestic media has run numerous articles and interviews with the country's top leaders, who promised Hanoi would do its utmost to "serve the interests of the international community, both globally and regionally".

The BBC's Karen Allen in Nairobi says Ms Rice's visit was never expected to end in a deal - but it has underscored the sense of growing impatience that the political deadlock in Kenya still persists two months after disputed elections.