 Microsoft has admitted that speech recognition features in Vista could be hijacked so that a PC tells itself to delete files or folders. Vista can respond to vocal commands and concern has been raised about malicious audio on websites or sent via e-mail. In one scenario outlined by users a MP3 file of voice instructions was used to tell the PC to delete documents. Microsoft said the exploit was "technically possible" but there was no need to worry. The firm has pointed out that in order for the flaw to be exploited the speech recognition feature would need to be activated and configured and both microphone and speakers would have to be switched on. "The exploit scenario would involve the speech recognition feature picking up commands through the microphone such as 'copy', 'delete', 'shutdown', etc. and acting on them," a Microsoft security researcher wrote on the team's official blog. Some Vista users have already tested the exploit and were able to delete files and ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk
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Editor - 08:50:00 02-01-07
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 Exxon Mobil sets US profit record |
Exxon Mobil, the world's largest oil company, has reported the highest-ever annual profit by a US business. Boosted by record global energy prices in the first half of the year, its 2006 net profit totalled $39.5bn (£20bn), a 9% increase on $36.1bn in 2005. Its 2006 revenues rose to $377.6bn, from $286bn a year earlier. Global oil prices hit a high of $78 a barrel last summer at the time of the conflict in southern Lebanon although they have since fallen back to $58. Fourth quarter dip Petrol prices have also since retreated after reaching highs of $3 a gallon in the US in August. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6320933.stm
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Editor - 08:46:00 02-01-07
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| Shell reports record $25bn profit |
Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has reported record annual profits of $25.36bn (£12.94bn) for 2006. Strong operations in the US and growth in deep water gas production off Nigeria helped boost the fortunes of Europe's second-biggest oil company. Shell's surging annual earnings meant the Anglo-Dutch giant generated earnings of almost £1.5m an hour. However, analysts warned that the current year could be tougher for Shell following a fall in the price of oil. The company added that it was continuing to deal with "major security related concerns" in Nigeria's Delta oil producing region, where attacks on pipelines have knocked production. Oil production in the troubled region was down 191,000 barrels on the previous year. The company also saw the loss of key interests in its Russian Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project to Russian energy giant Gazprom, following intense political pressure from the Kremlin. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6319577.stm
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Editor - 08:43:00 02-01-07
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| US military help for Afghanistan |
The United States has presented its first consignment of new military equipment to the Afghan army. The consignment includes more than 200 Humvee state-of-the-art armoured vehicles, 800 heavy army trucks and thousands of rifles. The handover comes ahead of an anticipated spring offensive by the Taleban and their allies. Nato has said it hopes to withdraw from Afghanistan once Afghan forces are able to defend the country on their own. But, observers believe, much remains to be done before such hopes are translated into reality. A recent report, by the US government itself, was highly critical of the country's police force, calling it was incapable of even routine law enforcement duties. The report found major failings in a $1bn training programme and said corruption in the force was widespread. Analysts point out that the primary reason behind this is low pay and bad equipment - something that plagues the army even more. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6320789.stm
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Editor - 08:41:00 02-01-07
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| U.S. hopes for progress in six-party N.Korea talks |
The United States hopes to make a "substantial start" in six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program in Beijing next week, said the top U.S. negotiator to the talks on Thursday. The State Department's point person on the issue, Chris Hill, said he believed there was a strong basis for making progress but he cautioned against too much optimism."We will not achieve full denuclearization in February but we hope to make a substantial start on this," Hill told reporters. "As for whether we will be successful or not, time will tell," he added....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070201/ts_nm/korea_north_usa_dc
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Editor - 08:36:00 02-01-07
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| New Orleans D.A. Won't Seek Death Penalty for Cops Charged in Katrina Murders |
Four New Orleans police officers charged with murder in shootings that took place in the chaos that followed Hurricane Katrina will not face the death penalty if they are convicted, a prosecutor said Thursday. Sgts. Kenneth Bowen and Robert Gisevius Jr., Officer Anthony Villavaso II, and former officer Robert Faulcon Jr. face first-degree murder charges and attempted murder charges in the Sept. 4, 2005, shootings on the Danziger Bridge that killed two men and wounded four other people. District Attorney Eddie Jordan's office still plans to try the four for first-degree murder, Assistant District Attorney Dustin Davis said. But, instead of a death sentence, prosecutors will ask for the alternative sentence of life in prison if they are convicted, Davis said. Anyone think they wouldn’t be asking for the death penalty had the killed been cops and the killers 4 citizens???...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,249318,00.html
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Editor - 08:34:00 02-01-07
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