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With "infinite sadness," Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the IMF chief embroiled in charges of attempted rape, resigned from his post late Wednesday. Christine Lagarde, France's finance minister, is the favorite to replace him, which would make her the first female in the role. Strauss-Kahn will be in court Thursday to ask again for release on bail. This time, he'll offer to be under house arrest. Read the latest updates.
Talk about two-timing: Birth records obtained by CNN Wednesday show Arnold Schwarzenegger's child with a household staffer was born less than a week after his son with wife Maria Shriver. Divorce papers also show the housekeeper's husband left her just weeks after she gave birth to the former California governor's son. The child's birth certificate lists the housekeeper's husband at the time as the father, though it was really Schwarzenegger.
Tunisian security forces say Muammar Gaddafi's wife, Safiya, and his daughter Aisha have fled from Libya and are currently in a refugee camp on the island of Djerba. Gaddafi's oldest son, Muhammed Muammar, was also reported to have gone to Tunisia for "medical treatment," while a key oil minister, Shukri Ghanem, also defected Tuesday. Safiya Gaddafi was with her husband at his Tripoli compound when an airstrike killed their youngest son, Saif al-Arab.
An Afghan detainee at Guantanamo Bay was found Wednesday in what authorities say appears to be a suicide. Inayatullah was picked up in Afghanistan and sent to Gitmo in September 2007 on suspicion of being a member of al Qaeda. He was found dead during routine inspections; efforts to resuscitate him filled. He is the eighth prisoner to die at Guantanamo Bay since 2002. Five of the other deaths were apparent suicides, while two were from natural causes.
He may be gone, but his voice still commands attention. In a newly released audio tape, Osama bin Laden is heard rejoicing in the string of uprisings in the Arab world, which have toppled autocratic rulers from Tunisia to Egypt. According to al Qaeda, the message was recorded just a week before his death at the hands of U.S. Navy SEALs. "Tunisia was the first but swiftly the knights of Egypt have taken a spark from the free people of Tunisia to Tahrir Square," bin Laden says in the tape. "It has made the rulers worried." The tape has been posted on jihadi websites, and is part of a 12-minute recording.
Feeling soiled by the news of Arnold Schwarzenegger's secret child? It's time we accepted that politicians cheat—and offered some basic rules for avoiding total humiliation, from vasectomies to financial trails.
Newt Gingrich Presidential Campaign Goes Kaboom by Mark McKinnon Torpedoing a GOP favorite son's budget plan, racking up a $500,000 debt at Tiffany's, succumbing to a confetti shower—Newt Gingrich has self-immolated in record time. And he's taking his party with him, says Mark McKinnon.
Hollywood's Nonsensical, Multibillion-Dollar Franchise by Chris Lee As the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie starts raking in box-office booty, Chris Lee examines how a repetitive, nonsensical franchise became an unstoppable Hollywood cash cow.
Project Aims to Track and Regulate International E-Waste Rebecca Kutzer-Rice recently wrote about a joint five-year project by the EPA and United Nations to track e-waste shipments around the globe. She noted the program hopes to encourage the recycling of hazardous materials in computer equipment. Check it out.
Also, we invite you to register for a Smarter Technology editorial eSeminar taking place Tuesday, May 31, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific / 1:00 p.m. Eastern by clicking here. This Web-based 60-minute program, titled "Smart Business Analytics Strategies For Better Data Use," will provide you with vital information about the importance of embracing business analytics to make better business decisions. Click here to register. READ MORE >>
Smart Software Helps Farmers Nurture Their Crops The USDA developed software that predicts the timing of plant growth stages so farmers can know how their crops are progressing and when to apply pesticides, fertilizers and water. READ MORE >>
Better Health Through Analytics Doctors at one Texas health care organization are using analytics to identify the causes of hospital readmission. Once these causes are identified, the doctors assess treatment protocols and develop strategies to prevent patients from having to return to the hospital. In the first six months, the effort cut readmission by 22 percent. READ MORE >>
Smart Cable Adds On 3D-Like Depth 3D software developers are already hawking automatic conversion algorithms for converting normal movies into 3D, but they still require a special display. Now a patented new technology claims to add 3D-like depth to existing video sources--including games--without requiring a special display. READ MORE >>
Steps to Get a Business Analytics Effort Off the Ground Companies that use data analytics typically have more revenue growth and a higher return on capital investment. With such significant benefits, it is not surprising that there is increased interest in business analytics today. However, a study by the IBM Institute for Business Value and MIT Sloan Management Review found that most companies do not know how to use analytics to improve their business. To overcome the obstacles to widespread analytics adoption, the IBM and MIT study offers up some insightful steps organizations can take to get such a valuable IT-business focus up and running. This video highlights the steps to start a business analytics effort. WATCH NOW >>
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