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Low-cost laptop could transform learning CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Forget windows, folders and boxes that pop up with text. When students in Thailand, Libya and other developing countries get their $150 computers from the One Laptop Per Child project in 2007, their experience will be unlike anything on standard PCs.

But we couldn’t do anything like that here because libertarians believe anything given to people will make them dependent. Every country in the world is starting to surpass us because they adopt these kinds of cooperative efforts. —Caro

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The World

Sunni anger over Saddam hanging spills into streets Enraged crowds protested the hanging of Saddam Hussein across Iraq's Sunni heartland Monday, as a mob in Samara broke the locks off a bomb-damaged Shiite shrine and marched through carrying a mock coffin and photo of the dictator.

Iraq orders closure of TV station office BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi government Monday ordered the closure of the Baghdad office of a Dubai-based television station whose newscaster wore black mourning clothes while reporting on the hanging of Hussein.

16,273 deaths reported in Iraq in 2006 BAGHDAD, Iraq - As enraged crowds protested the hanging of Saddam Hussein across Iraq's Sunni heartland Monday, government officials reported that 16,273 Iraqi civilians, soldiers and police died violent deaths in 2006, a figure larger than an independent Associated Press count for the year by more than 2,500.

Palestinian militants attack Israeli truck GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Palestinian militants attacked the Gaza Strip's main cargo crossing with mortar fire early Tuesday, lightly wounding an Israeli truck driver in the latest flare-up of violence in the coastal strip.

Sri Lanka air raid kills at least 15 civilians, Tigers say COLOMBO (AFP) - At least 15 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded when Sri Lankan air force jets "carpet bombed" Tamil Tiger-held territory in the north of the island, a pro-rebel website reported.

Thai Leaders Suspect Supporters of Ousted Premier in Bombings Thailands military-backed government said it suspects supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra of carrying out the bombings that killed 3 and wounded 38 on Sunday.

Australian tribe gets rights to parks SYDNEY, Australia - An Aboriginal tribe has been granted joint management rights over several state and national parks under a deal that recognizes its traditional ownership of the land, officials said Tuesday.

Brazil's Lula vows to aid poor in 2nd term BRASILIA, Brazil - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged to use his second term to fuel economic growth and rein in gang-related violence, while improving social programs that have helped ease the huge gap between Brazil's rich elite and its poor masses.

Bolivia wants visas from U.S. visitors LA PAZ, Bolivia - The government of President Evo Morales approved a decree Monday requiring U.S. citizens to obtain visas to enter Bolivia. Morales said the decree "a matter of reciprocity." The U.S. government requires Bolivians to obtain visas to enter the United States.

France prepares for first online primary PARIS - France's governing party is gearing up for the country's first Web-based primary, in a presidential campaign during which the Internet has acquired unprecedented importance.

Romania and Bulgaria Celebrate Entry Into European Union Their accession, the second wave of enlargement into Eastern Europe, gives the E.U. a stable political and economic anchor in an unstable region.

Somali Islamists flee toward Kenya and to the hills KISMAYU, Somalia (Reuters) - Somalia's Islamists fled toward Kenya or melted into the southern hills on Monday after abandoning their last stronghold to advancing government forces backed by Ethiopian troops, tanks and planes.

The Nation

Nation Continues To Remember, Honor Ford Americans continued to file past the coffin of the former president at the Capitol. They paid their final respects following Saturday's state funeral and in advance of Tuesday's funeral service at the National Cathedral.

U.S. military deaths in Iraq reach 3,000 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. military deaths in Iraq has reached 3,000 since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, an authoritative Web site tracking war deaths said on Sunday.

Chaos Overran Iraq Plan in 06, Bush Team Says The plan to turn over security to the Iraqis collided with the countrys ferocious unraveling, which took most of the presidents war council by surprise.

What on earth could possess them to admit to such a failure? The Bush administration is never prepared for anything. They’re always surprised. —Caro

GOP Lawmakers Divided About 'Surge' in Troops CRAWFORD, Tex., Dec. 31 -- Republican lawmakers appear uneasy about -- and in some cases outright dismissive of -- the idea of sending many more troops to Iraq, as President Bush contemplates such a "surge" as part of his new strategy for stabilizing the country.

Dems to inherit agenda dominated by war WASHINGTON - Congress returns to work on Thursday, where Democrats will inherit a congressional agenda dominated by the war in Iraq, increasing their exposure to what has only been a politically damaging issue for Republicans.

Lawmakers' January junkets curbed WASHINGTON - The January junket to warmer climates, a postholiday tradition of sorts for some members of Congress, could be headed to the wayside. An accelerated work schedule set up by the new Democratic leadership has put a halt on many January excursions funded by lobbyists.

D.C. residents may get vote in Congress WASHINGTON - After more than 200 years of paying taxes, fighting in the nation's wars and abiding by sometimes arbitrary acts of Congress, Washington residents are close to getting a full-fledged representative in the House.

Flood insurance getting political nod WASHINGTON - The federal flood insurance program may be going broke after incurring $20 billion in debt from recent storms like Hurricane Katrina. Still, politicians want to extend the taxpayer-subsidized coverage for some of the riskiest — and potentially most valuable — properties in the country.

Chief Justice calls for judges' pay hike WASHINGTON - Pay for federal judges is so inadequate that it threatens to undermine the judiciary's independence, Chief Justice John Roberts says in a year-end report critical of Congress.

Journalists May Testify in CIA Leak Case WASHINGTON (AP) - Some journalists who made careers out of questioning government officials and bearing witness to history may soon find themselves answering questions from prosecutors as key witnesses in the CIA leak case.

Spitzer takes office as NY governor ALBANY, N.Y. - Democrat Eliot Spitzer, who built an international reputation fighting corruption on Wall Street, took office as New York's governor Monday, calling for an end to "the politics of cynicism and division" and signing a series of ethics measures.

Economy & Business

Indexes dip for the day, but surge in 2006 NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slipped on Friday, the last trading day of 2006, as investors exited positions before an unplanned four-day weekend, but the Dow still finished near its lifetime high, capping off what has been a bullish year for all three major indexes.

Housing slump seen weighing on economy WASHINGTON - The slowdown that hit the U.S. economy will persist into 2007 as the once red-hot housing market continues to suffer through a serious correction, analysts say.

Study: 2 of 5 bosses don't keep word TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - For most people, it's back to work Tuesday after a holiday weekend with family and friends. And for many, a new study shows, it will be under a bad boss. Nearly two of five bosses don't keep their word and more than a fourth bad mouth those they supervise to co-workers, the Florida State University study shows.

How Business Trounced The Trial Lawyers In 1901 a well at Spindletop Hill sent petroleum shooting 200 feet in the air and made Beaumont, Tex., one of the first oil boomtowns. Decades later some locals tapped into a different kind of gusher: personal-injury litigation.

Media

Loaded With Personalities, Now Satellite Radio May Try a Merger If XM and Sirius merged, the new company could reduce programming costs by pruning redundant channels and redundant employees.

Forecast 2007: Network TV The broadcast networks have spent the past few years reinventing their business models and the way they distribute their content, and, according to Wall Street analysts, those moves will never be more important than this year. “The broadcast networks have done a great job of recognizing that the Internet is the new window for distributing their programming,” says Lee Westerfield, managing director and senior research analyst at Harris-Nesbitt.

Forecast 2007: Cable TV For those whose fortunes are aligned with TV ad sales, there came a moment during the cable upfront of 2006 when the marketplace assumed the deliberate pace of a daytime soap opera, as any move toward advancing the narrative was stalled by (metaphorical) organ swells and the odd exchange of meaningful glances. While last year saw a number of cable networks breaking ratings records with their original programming efforts, cable continues to lag far behind the broadcast nets in terms of its share of prime-time ad dollars.

Forecast 2007: Interactive Media January 01, 2007 - Barring a calamity, most expect the Web to experience another period of robust—if slightly less hyper—growth in 2007, as total spending will likely exceed $20 billion, according to eMarketer.

Forecast 2007: Magazines January 01, 2007 - Call it the year of the incredible shrinking newsstand. Circ expenses—combined with ongoing declines in newsstand sell-through and higher postage and paper costs—will also lead more magazines to pare their rate bases, as Time and Hachette’s Woman’s Day are doing this month. Others may convert struggling titles to an online-only format, as Hachette and Time Inc. did with Elle Girl and Teen People, respectively.

Forecast 2007: Media Agencies/Research January 01, 2007 - From mobisodes to VOD to Internet radio, one of the big challenges for media agencies in 2007 will be to sift through all the emerging digital platforms and make sense of how consumers actually use them and then figure out which ones best fit their clients’ marketing strategies.

AT&T to push wireless, seek revenue in ads: paper NEW YORK (Reuters) - AT&T Inc. plans to push new wireless services and make advertising a key revenue stream following its $86 billion acquisition of BellSouth Corp. , The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Finland soap opera gives viewers power over plot HELSINKI (Reuters) - A new television show that debuted over the Christmas holiday season is turning Finnish viewers into soap opera scriptwriters -- through the power of text messaging.

Science & Technology

French send SMS surge across mobile networks on New Year's PARIS (AFP) - French mobile phone users set a new national record for text messages overnight, as they sent New Year's wishes surging across cell networks, the major operators said.

Wi-Fi Is Hitting the Road in Cars From Avis, but Technical and Legal Bumps Lie Ahead The rolling Wi-Fi hotspots may raise legal issues because it could take peoples attention off roads, according to analysts.

Study: La. slowly slipping into gulf NEW ORLEANS - A new report by scientists studying Louisiana's sinking coast says the land here is not just sinking, it's sliding ever so slowly into the Gulf of Mexico.

Cows engineered to lack mad cow disease SAN FRANCISCO - Scientists have genetically engineered a dozen cows to be free from the proteins that cause mad cow disease, a breakthrough that may make the animals immune to the brain-wasting disease.