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ChangeQuakes Of The Week

February 20, 2006

TOP CHANGEQUAKES OF THE WEEK
** Reports: China, Iran Close To $100 Billion Oil Deal
** Skype Technology Could Block Wiretapping Calls
** U.S. May Lose Billions In Oil And Gas Royalties
** Breakthrough In Cold Fusion

MORE CHANGEQUAKES TO WATCH

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TOP CHANGEQUAKES OF THE WEEK

Reports: China, Iran Close To $100 Billion Oil Deal

(ECONOMIC CHANGEQUAKE) -- China and Iran are close to setting plans to develop Iran's Yadavaran oil field, according to published reports, in a multibillion-dollar deal that comes as Tehran faces the prospect of sanctions over its nuclear program.

news.yahoo.com

Skype Technology Could Block Wiretapping Calls

(TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGEQUAKE) -- Even as the U.S. government is embroiled in a debate over the legality of wiretapping, the fastest-growing technology for Internet calls appears to have the potential to make eavesdropping a thing of the past.

www.msnbc.msn.com

U.S. May Lose Billions In Oil And Gas Royalties

(REGULATORY CHANGEQUAKE) -- Despite record profits, a decade-old law could help oil and gas producers avoid paying billions of dollars in royalty payments for drilling on public territory.

news.moneycentral.msn.com

Breakthrough In Cold Fusion

(DISCOVERY CHANGEQUAKE) -- Researchers have developed a tabletop atomic accelerator that produces nuclear fusion at room temperature, leading the way to a portable, battery-operated neutron generator that could be used for a variety of applications.

www.vnunet.com

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MORE CHANGEQUAKES TO WATCH

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGEQUAKES

InfoCards Possible Replacement To Computer Passwords

For years, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has viewed passwords as the weak link in the computer security chain. Now, with Windows Vista, Gates feels he finally has the right weapons to supplant the password as a means of verifying who is who on computers and over the Internet.

news.com.com

Company Offers First High-Definition Movie Rentals

MovieBeam, a video-on-demand movie service originally developed by Walt Disney Co., has introduced the first delivery service for high-definition films to U.S. homes.

news.yahoo.com

Colon Camera Market Gets A New Competitor

Given Imaging currently holds a tight grip on the capsule endoscopy market -- but that's about to change. Japanese optics giant Olympus will launch its own pill, the EndoCapsule, in the United States this May.

www.msnbc.msn.com


CORPORATE CHANGEQUAKES

XM Satellite Radio Widens Loss; Director Quits Over Looming 'Crisis'

XM Satellite Radio Holdings' losses soared in the fourth quarter on higher costs for marketing and acquiring subscribers, and a director quit over disagreements about the company's direction, warning of a looming "crisis."

news.yahoo.com

Related Story: Sirius Loss Widens But Sub Growth Strong
www.marketwatch.com

Hackers Finally Take Bite Out of Apple

The first worm targeting Apple Computer's Mac OS X operating system has surfaced, though it does not appear to be widespread or especially dangerous.

www.usatoday.com

Related Story: Ode to a Hacker -- Apple Embeds Poem in OS Software
www.msnbc.msn.com

Sanyo And Nokia To Form Cell Phone Venture

Sanyo Electric and Nokia announced they will combine some of their cell-phone operations into a joint venture with major operations in San Diego, Calif., and together will control about 20% of the world's market for phones that use CDMA technology, rivaling current leader Samsung Electronics.

www.businessweek.com

Konarka Technologies Lands $20 Million In Funding

Solar company Konarka Technologies said it raised $20 million from lead investor 3i, bringing its venture capital total to $60 million, another sign that investors are warming up to solar energy.

www.redherring.com


REGULATORY CHANGEQUAKES

China Defends Practice Of Crushing Free Speech On Web

China on Thursday defended its right to police the Internet, one day after four American technology giants appeared before Congress on charges they collaborated with Beijing to crush free speech online in return for market access.

news.yahoo.com


ECONOMIC CHANGEQUAKES

Natural Gas Goes Global

The United States is increasingly going overseas to meet its natural gas needs, setting in motion a significant shift with a familiar, if unpleasant, side effect for the world's largest energy consumer.

www.sunherald.com


FDA APPROVAL CHANGEQUAKES

Black Box Drug Warnings Come Under Fire

The FDA's black box warnings emblazoned on prescription-drug labels are vaguely worded and difficult for doctors to interpret and follow, according to researchers.

www.medpagetoday.com


DISCOVERY CHANGEQUAKES

Experts: Romania At Risk For Bird Flu In Humans

Bird flu could spread to humans in Romania because its rural areas, where nearly half the population lives, lack proper water and sewage, World Health Organization and local experts said on Friday.

news.yahoo.com

Related Stories: Australian Firm 'Encouraged' By Human Trials Of Bird Flu Vaccine
news.yahoo.com

Special Report on Global Avian Flu Outbreaks
www.guardian.co.uk

Bird Flu Found in Egypt
news.yahoo.com

Soybean Oil Demand Outpacing Supply

The statistics about the heart risks of trans fats has caused a huge demand for a healthier new soybean oil, prompting food companies to recruit farmers to grow new varieties of the beans.

news.yahoo.com