Far and Wide

Hubble captures two galaxies interacting

(AP Photo/NASA-ESA)

A pair of interacting galaxies known as Arp 87 are shown in this photo released today by NASA and the European Space Agency. The Hubble Telescope captured the image of stars, gas and dust from the larger spiral galaxy on the right wrapping an arm around its smaller companion.

Arp 87 is located in the constellation of Leo, the Lion, and is about 300 million light-years away from Earth.  Arp 87 was first cataloged in the 1960s.

The images were taken in February 2007 with Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 with an exposure time of 6.3 hours. This image is roughly 2.3 arcminutes (203,000 light-years or 62 kiloparsecs) wide.

--Paul Chavez

INSIDER INSIGHT: The world in focus

(AP Photo/EyePress)
"No, this is not RoboCop."

That's how Michael Feldman, the AP's international photo editor, introduced this photo of a law enforcement officer in Zhengzhou, China. The officer was showing off body armor and a gun that shoots a net to catch dogs.

Meanwhile, a few hundred miles up the road, baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. has some fun during a clinic he's conducting for kids in Beijing.

(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
See below for more of Feldman's top photo picks.

-- Eric Carvin

Astronauts open new space station addition

(AP Photo/NASA TV)

Astronauts floated into the newest addition to the international space station today and formally christened the sparkling white room known as Harmony.

Space station commander Peggy Whitson and Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli -- shown above with an unidentified astronaut -- were the first ones in.

The chamber was named by schoolchildren in America and was made in Italy.

For more on the space station, read this report filed today by AP aerospace writer Marcia Dunn.

Chinese tech firm raises $1.5 billion in IPO

(AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Chinese technology company Alibaba.com Ltd. reached its goal today of raising $1.5 billion in its initial public offering, sources told The Associated Press.

The  e-commerce portal, sold 858.9 million shares, or a 17 percent stake, at roughly $1.75 each, a source told Dow Jones Newswires on condition of anonymity. The shares will debut on the Hong Kong stock market on Nov. 6.

Interested investors are shown above receiving copies of the prospectus and brochures for the IPO.

For more on Alibaba.com, read this report filed today from Hong Kong.

--Paul Chavez

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

The latest reports on the California wildfires -- including an AP story on the impact of red tape on response times -- are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

NowPublic contributors are also debating the new route for the next Tour de France, and some are salivating over a new Honda motorcycle.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

NowPublic contributors are also debating the new route for the next Tour de France, and some are salivating over a new Honda motorcycle.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

Arson in California, Turks and Armenians fighting in Belgium and the first passenger flight of the superjumbo A380 are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

More fires in California, and a citizen journalism experiment in Canada.

That's what's dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

Wildfires in California, zombies in Seattle and safety in the air are all getting a lot of attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Fly with nukes, get canned

Yeah, that's not something we want to repeat.

The Air Force is planning to fire at least five officers who flew cross-country in a B-52 bomber loaded with nuclear-armed missiles.

It was the worst known violation of nuclear security rules in decades. Tomorrow, the Air Force will brief Defense Secretary Robert Gates on its report about the incident.

--Ryan Pearson

The buzz at NowPublic

Tornadoes in the Midwest, You Tube blocked in China and a transit strike in France are the top items at NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -- especially photos and video -- into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

Huge dinosaur skeleton unearthed in Argentina

The skeleton of a 105-foot plant-eater that walked the Earth some 88 million years ago has been uncovered in Argentina.

Scientists said today that they believe the finding represents a previously unknown species of Titanosaur because of the unique structures of its neck. They're calling it Futalognkosaurus dukei after the Mapuche Indian words for "giant" and "chief," and for Duke Energy Argentina, which helped fund the skeleton's excavation.

For more on the big find, read this report filed today from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by Michael Astor. There's also a photo of the dinosaur's bones below the jump.

--Paul Chavez

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

A possible armed uprising in New Zealand, porn scammers in Arizona, and the cat show in Madison Square Garden are the hot topics of the day over at NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -- especially photos and video -- into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

A Facebook dispute over Palestinians? A man saved by his dog? A -- citizen journalism seminar?

There's quite a variety of content getting attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Cell phones provide biometrics, false alarms & sex

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

It appears that cell phones have become such an integral part of modern life that some people can feel them vibrating, even when they're not around. There's only scant research on the subject, but there are plenty of theories on the phenomenon, which has been dubbed "fauxcellarm" and "ringxiety."

Makes you wonder what will happen to people if they become untethered to the prototype Wellness phone recently unveiled in Japan. It can check your heart rate, estimate your body fat, time your jogs and even tell you if you have bad breath. If stress levels seem too high, the phone even delivers a little pep talk.

Meanwhile, people in South Korea  are increasingly using their cell phones and the Internet to buy sex since a 2004 law imposed tougher punishment on pimps and others involved in prostitution.

--Paul Chavez

Two Europeans win Nobel Prize in physics

Two European scientists who independently discovered a phenomenon known as giant magnetoresistance are sharing the 2007 Nobel Prize for physics. The finding by France's Albert Fert and German Peter Gruenberg lets iPods and other digital devices store tons of data on ever-shrinking hard disks.

Watch the AP video report above for more details and for an in-depth report, read this story filed today from Stockholm, Sweden.

--Paul Chavez

Interpol issues wide appeal to identify pedophile

Interpol made a rare worlwide appeal today asking the public's help to identify a suspected pederast who allegedly abused boys in Cambodia and Vietnam. Police in Europe unscrambled digitally altered images of the man that were found on the Internet to reveal what he looks like.

For more details, watch the above AP video report. For the latest developments, read this story filed today from Paris by John Leicester.

--Paul Chavez

In the news Saturday

(AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Here are the top news stories for now, straight from the AP wires.

Rice Issues New Rules for Blackwater
Pakistan's Musharraf Sweeps Election
Beef Recall Forces Topps to Shut Down
Police: Man Charged in ATM Killings
Bush Defends US Interrogation Methods
New Prototype Phone Gives Fitness Check

In the photo: Supporters of Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif hold a rally to condemn Pakistan's military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Single mom says she'll pay for music piracy herself

(AP Photo/Julia Cheng)

A 30-year-old single mother who makes $36,00 a year said today that she'll herself pay the $222,000 judgment levied by a Minnesota jury who decided she illegally and deliberately shared music online.

"I'm not going to ask for financial help," Jammie Thomas told The Associated Press. But she added, "If it comes, I'm not going to turn it down, either."

Six major record companies accused Thomas of offering 1,702 songs on the Kazaa file-sharing network and focused on 24 songs. Jurors yesterday decided that Thomas willfully violated copyright on all 24 and recommended she pay damages of $9,250 per song, or $222,000.

Thomas, a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, cited her "Native pride" as the reason for not asking for financial help.

"I am a single mother of two boys. I make $36,000 a year at my job," she said. "At best they could try and get a court order garnishing my wages."

For more on the recording industry's legal victory, read this report by AP business writer Joshua Freed.

--Paul Chavez

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

A video game developer called Bungie and some prizes called the Ig Nobels are getting lots of attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Federal investigators focus on what went wrong

Authorities believe smoke and fumes from a chemical fire likely killed five workers trapped in an underground pipeline at a hydroelectric plant in Georgetown, Colo.

Watch this AP video report to learn more about the investigation into what went wrong at the plant.

--Chelsea J. Carter

Delays, delays and more delays

Absolutely have to get their on time? Then leave early.

The airline industry's on-time performance was dismal in August with nearly 30 percent of flights delayed, according to government data released this week.

By the numbers: The nation's 20 largest carriers reported an on-time arrival rate of 71.1 percent in August, down from 75.8 percent a year ago. Through August, more than 25 percent of flights arrived late _ the industry's worst on-time performance since comparable data began being collected in 1995.

The good: Aloha Airlines had the highest on-time arrival rate at 97 percent, followed by Hawaiian Holdings Inc.'s Hawaiian Airlines at 93.6 percent and Southwest Airlines at 77.7 percent, according to government data.

The bad: Almost half of Atlantic Southeast Airlines were delayed, and two of its flights arrived late every time they took off. The Delta Connection carrier, which is owned by SkyWest Inc., had the lowest on-time arrival rate at 55 percent, followed by United Airlines at 66.2 percent and Alaska Airlines at 67.1 percent.

The worst: Customer complaints nearly doubled in August to 1,634 compared with 864 in the same month last year, according to the government data

--Chelsea J. Carter

Trapped workers found dead

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Men trapped at least 1,500 feet underground survived an initial chemical fire at a hydroelectric plant in Georgetown, Colo., but died before emergency workers could rescue them.

What happened: The maintenance workers were sealing the inside of a pipe to prevent corrosion when equipment they were using malfunctioned and ignited a fire Tuesday afternoon. They were among a group of nine contract maintenance workers in the tunnel when a machine used to coat the inside of the 12-foot-wide pipe with epoxy caught fire, Xcel Energy spokeswoman Ethnie Groves said.

What they said: Officials initially expressed hope that the trapped workers could be saved. Groves first reported that authorities had communicated with the five by radio about 45 minutes after the fire broke out, and that the men said they were unhurt.

To learn more, read the story by Associated Press reporter Judith Kohler.

--Chelsea J. Carter

More than 100 incidents reported at labs handling deadly germs

 (AP Photo/Gary Emeigh)

Think you've had a bad day at work? Imagine this: A researcher at a private laboratory in Maryland this summer is working with a ferret – designated Ferret No. 992 – that was deliberately infected with the bird flu virus. Except the infected ferret isn't happy, and takes a chunk out of the researcher's right thumb. The worker is sent home and kept quarantined for five days, forced to wear a mask to protect everyone around him.

It really happened, one of more than 100 accidents and lost shipments since 2003 at high-security labs across the United States that handle the world's deadliest germs and toxins. For the first time ever, the Associated Press has obtained confidential reports of accidents submitted to federal regulators. No one died, and officials believe the public was never at risk. But the accidents – involving anthrax, monkeypox, bird flu and plague-causing bacteria at 44 labs in 24 states – reflect poorly on procedures and oversight at the labs. The reports describe workers bitten or scratched by infected monkeys, the ferret and a guinea pig. They also include cases of infected mice that turned up missing: In one case, investigators concluded they must have been cannibalized by their cagemates.

The reports are so sensitive the Bush administration said it was illegal to release them under the Freedom of Information Act, after the AP asked for them. The administration cited an anti-bioterrorism law aimed at preventing terrorists from locating stockpiles of poisons and learning who handles them.

A U.S. House subcommittee in Washington is investigating the accidents, and will conduct an oversight hearing later this week.

To learn more, read the exclusive story by Associated Press reporter Larry Margasak.

--Ted Bridis

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

What do Zapatista leader Subcommandante Marcos and Radiohead have in common?

Probably not much. But today, both are getting a lot of attention from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Remote-controlled toys to be scrutinized at airports

The Transportation Security Administration is not playing around.

The TSA says remote-controlled toys stored in carry-on luggage will get a closer look because they can act as detonators for bombs. The new policy was not enacted because of a threat, the TSA is saying. Authorities, however, recently arrested a Florida college students who posted instructions online for using a remote-controlled toy to set off a bomb.

AP Writer Eileen Sullivan reports even children might be subject to secondary screenings if they have one of these toys.

-- Howie Rumberg

Are you listening? Really?

(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Portable People Meters are rocking the radio industry.

A rollout of new technology that uses embedded audio codes to determine what people are actually listening to has changed how stations are programmed and how advertisers spend their money. (The meter looks like a pager and is pictured above.)

The old system involves asking a group of people to keep a diary listing what stations they've been listening to.

AP Business Writer Seth Sutel has the full story on how Arbitron's new gadgets are changing the $20 billion radio business.

--Ryan Pearson

Fans finally get their hands on "Halo 3"

(AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)

If you're reading this, you probably weren't in line for "Halo 3" last night. Otherwise, you'd be busy mastering Master Chief's new weapons and vehicles or catching up on some sleep right about now.

Microsoft hasn't revealed exact sales numbers just yet, but the game is expected to blast past "Spider-Man 3" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" at cash registers around the world. See more photos from the "Halo 3" launch, after the jump.

-- Derrik J. Lang

iTunes store gets some competition

Amazon MP3 is open for business.

Amazon.com's digital music store launched Tuesday with more than 2 million songs, all without copy-protection technology.

That means tracks can be copied to multiple computers, burned onto CDs and played on most types of PCs and portable devices, including Apple Inc.'s iPod.

The downside, however, is that it doesn't offer artists on major music labels that still require anti-piracy locks.

Read more in this AP story.

-- Jaime Holguin

Have you heard? Video games are in the news!

(AP Photo/George Nikitin, Xbox)

And for a not-bad reason, for once.

Yes, "Halo 3" is hitting stores tonight after way too much hype. Friends will get in deathmatches, servers will fail, and eyes will glaze over. We got our press copy in the office today, but haven't tried it yet.

And lest anybody forget, AP's video game writer Matt Slagle reminds us: This is big business, people.

--Ryan Pearson

In the news Monday

 Ahmadinejad arrives for New York visit
Bush visits UN to discuss Mideast
150 nations gather for UN climate summit
UAW union threatens strike against GM
New service eavesdrops on Internet calls

Here are the top stories of the moment, straight from the AP wires.

-- Jaime Holguin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

The protests in Jena, La., the "Leave Britney alone" guy and his possible TV deal, and some new al-Qaida videos are getting attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

In the news Thursday

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Here are the top stories at the moment, straight from the AP wires.

Bin Laden Tape to Declare War on Musharraf
U.S. Commander: Violence in Baghdad Down
Rice: Peace Parley Must Be Substantive
O.J. Is Back in Fla. After Posting Bail
Iran Leader Denied on WTC Wreath Request
NBC to Offer Free Episode Downloads

In the photo: O.J. Simpson, right, arriving at the Fort. Lauderdale International Airport.

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

The Tasered student and a typhoon that hit China are still getting attention. But so is some back-and-forth nationalism on YouTube, between people from Turkey and people from Greece.

That's just some of what's showing up today on NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Supposed meteor crash sickens hundreds in Peru

Witnesses told local media in Peru that they saw a fiery ball fall from the sky over the weekend and strike a desolate Andean plain. The supposed meteorite created a deep crater and apparently has caused hundreds of people to become ill.

For more details, read this report filed today from Lima, Peru.

--Paul Chavez

In the news Tuesday

(AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Here are the top stories this morning, straight from the AP wires:

Federal Reserve Expected to Cut Key Rate
Simpson Friend: It Seemed Like a Setup
U.S. Home Foreclosures Soar in August
Lawyer: Musharraf Will Give Up Army Post
N. Korea Denies Nuclear Ties With Syria
Digital 'Smiley Face' Turns 25

In the photo: Wall Street declined Monday ahead of the Federal Reserve's Tuesday decision on interest rates.

In the news Monday

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Here are the top stories at this moment, straight from the AP news wires:

O.J. Simpson Ordered Held Without Bail
Bush to Pick Mukasey As Attorney General
Microsoft Must Share Code With Rivals
Blackwater License Being Pulled in Iraq
Clinton to Offer Health Care Plan
Black Boxes Found in Thai Plane Crash
`Sopranos' Wins Emmy for Best Drama

In the photo: Thai rescue workers look through inside a charred plane in Phuket, Thailand. Sunday's crash killed at least 90 people, an airline official said Monday.

Science fiction fans take note

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Apparently, one son was not enough for David Hanson. So he went out and built himself another.

Hanson and a small team of engineers and designers at his company, Hanson Robotics, made a 17-inch, 6 -pound robot named Zeno -- a friend for his son 18-month-old son, Zeno. AP Technology Writer Matt Slagle reports that robot Zeno can't speak or walk yet. Its eyes blink and track people, and its face has a range of expressions.

Zeno might not be as sophisticated as the robot boy in Steven Speilberg's "Artificial Intelligence: AI," but it sure sounds like the direction Hanson wants to take this product. He calls Zeno an interactive learning companion, one that can engage in conversation and convey human emotion.

The little robots should be available to consumers within the next three years and will cost $200 to $300.

-- Howie Rumberg

Cassini in safe mode after Saturn moon flyby

(AP Photo/NASA/JPL)

The Cassini spacecraft that has been exploring wondrous Saturn and its moons went into safe mode this week after being hit by a cosmic ray during a flyby of a moon featured in Arthur C. Clarke's novel "2001: A Space Odyssey."

The Cassini spacecraft flew within 1,000 miles of Iapetus on Monday and took images of its rugged surface (see above). The cosmic ray did not damage the spacecraft, but it was forced to turn off its instruments.

Officials said the spacecraft was expected to be fully functional by the end of the week and would continue on its mission.

To learn more about the mission and Saturn -- arguably the jewel of the solar system with its awe-inspiring rings -- read this report from AP science writer Alicia Chang.

--Paul Chavez

Talking spam

He was once considered among the top 10 spammers in the world. Today, Jeremy Jaynes of Raleigh, North Carolina, is awaiting a nine-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2004 for bombarding Internet users with millions of junk e-mails.
   
On Wednesday, Jaynes' lawyer tried to appeal his conviction, arguing before the Virginia Supreme Court that  the state's anti-spam law violates the First Amendment by prohibiting non-commercial as well as commercial speech.

But State Solicitor General William Thro said the law doesn't ban speech -- it bans electronic trespassing on privately owned computer networks.

A ruling is expected no sooner than November.

Jaynes' conviction was the nation's first felony case against illegal spamming, but as AP Internet Writer Anick Jesdanun tells asap, there have been several other spamming cases on the state level.

"There have been a number of arrests and convictions of spammers in the United States, but it's still a small percentage of all the ones out there," says Jesdanun. "Many of them are located in Russia and Eastern Europe and in countries where authorities have trouble tracking them down and prosecuting them."

For more of our conversation with Jesdanun, click on the links below.

How seriously are the feds taking this problem?

Financially speaking, how big is the spamming business?

Taking a look at the infrastructure of a spamming operation, it doesn't take much, right?

Looking ahead, is spam here to stay?    

-- Jaime Holguin

NASA rover begins drive into Martian crater

(AP Photo/NASA)

As a planet, Mars appears to be as dead as a zombie.

NASA scientists, however, can't get enough of the big red lifeless orb and now they're sending one of their over-achieving little rovers into a crater to check out some rocks.

The rover Opportunity received commands today setting it up for a 40-foot ride down the Victoria Crater toward a bright band of rocks. Scientists believe the rocks represent the dead planet's ancient surface and studying them could yield clues to Mars' early climate.

Opportunity and its twin rover, Spirit, have been exploring Mars for 3 1/2 years -- far beyond their primary three-month mission.

For more on Opportunity's crater drive, read this report from Los Angeles by AP science writer Alicia Chang.

--Paul Chavez

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

An impressive range of subjects is getting attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Some obvious stories are all over the site, like Britney Spears' performance at the Video Music Awards and early coverage of 9/11 anniversary events. But you might not know about pipeline explosions in Mexico, or a high-tech method being used in the search for missing adventurer Steve Fossett.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Justice Dept. chimes in against 'Net neutrality'

The Justice Department chimed in today over the issue of "Net neutrality" by telling the Federal Communications Commission that broadband Internet service providers should be allowed to charge more for priority Web traffic. The Justice Department said the FCC should be "highly skeptical" of Net neutrality and argued against approving regulations for the Internet.

The FCC has been reviewing high-speed Internet practices and whether the idea of Net neutrality -- the principle that all Internet sites should be equally accessible to any Web user -- should become a mandate.

Giant phone and cable companies, such as AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Comcast Corp., previously have stated their opposition to Net neutrality and want the option to charge some users more for loading certain content or Web sites faster than others.

The Justice Department warned that imposing Net neutrality regulations could hamper development of the Internet and said that free market competition is the best way to foster innovation and development of the Internet.

For more details, read this AP story filed out of Washington.

Read the Department of Justice's filing here .

--Paul Chavez

iPod: More Touchy Than Ever

(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

New iPods are coming! Apple CEO Steve Jobs has unveiled the new iPod Touch and an iPod Nano that can play video. They'll be shipped worldwide starting later this month. The new iPod Touch will feature:

• access to the iTunes Store.
• the same 3.5-inch, touch-screen display as the iPhone.
• the Safari Web browser.
  
• an 8-gigabyte version that'll cost $299.
• a 16-gigabyte version that'll cost $399.
• the ability to download songs playing at the local Starbucks.

-- Derrik J. Lang

All the iPhones in China

(AP Photo/Andrei Pungovschi, file)

And you thought $499 for an iPhone was expensive. Folks in China are willingly dishing out 8,800 yuan — that's $1,170! — for an unauthorized version that can only make calls and send text messages. No incoming calls. No voicemail. Apple spokesman Natalie Kerris put it simply: "We said we would launch the iPhone in Asia in 2008. This is not that launch."

-- Derrik J. Lang

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

A train crash in Brazil and a new arrangement between YouTube and Thailand are among the stories getting attention from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press recently started working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

There's also some sort of dispute about ninjas and Shaolin monks playing out on the site.

Listen to this audio clip to get an explanation from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

There's also some sort of dispute about ninjas and Shaolin monks playing out on the site.

Listen to this audio clip to get an explanation from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Computer viruses: the man who started it all

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
It's not every day that I get to interview a writer of a computer virus -- let alone the very first one. After all, virus writers tend to stay under the radar. They aren't exactly popular with computer users -- or with law enforcement.