EU lawmakers vote for new price cap on sending text messages from abroad

September 30th, 2009 A look at Germany's voting systemBERLIN — Germans each have two votes in the country's Sept. 27 parliamentary election — one for a directly elected representative and the other for a party.

September 22nd, 2009 Age-old kids' query in a text message: Wuz4dina?Teens and texting is a subject that's often discussed in pathological terms. They're texting in class! They're sexting! They're running up $5,000 bills! They need thumb therapy! But texting isn't always bad.

September 9th, 2009 Lawmakers OK Kremlin bill on military force abroadMOSCOW — A Kremlin bill expanding the legal reasons for using military force abroad won a quick preliminary approval in the lower house of parliament Wednesday. The motion was seen by some as a sign that the Kremlin was taking a tougher posture in relations with ex-Soviet neighbors after last year's war with Georgia.

September 2nd, 2009 Graphic British safety video is an Internet hitLONDON — A graphic British public service announcement about the dangers of sending text messages while driving has become an Internet hit and sparked debate around the world. The Gwent police force in Wales said Wednesday that an excerpt from a video it made for use in schools has been viewed more than 6 million times on YouTube and other Web sites since it was posted last month.

September 2nd, 2009 British safety video on texting an Internet hitLONDON — A graphic public service announcement from British police about the dangers of sending text messages while driving has become a global Internet hit. Gwent Police in Wales say an extract from their video has been viewed more than 6 million times on YouTube and other sites.

August 24th, 2009 Je t'aime: French text msgs now divorce evidencePARIS — Unfaithful spouses in France beware: Passionate text messages sent to mistresses and lovers can now be used as evidence against you in a divorce. Experts say the recent ruling by France's Supreme Court to accept phone exchanges as legitimate proof of adultery will make it easier for the French to get divorced.

August 20th, 2009 Afghans turn to the Twitterverse for electionKABUL — Afghans turned to the Twitterverse to share news of Taliban intimidation at the polls and voter turnout in the presidential election, even as the country was just trying to keep electricity running and attacks at bay. The memory of neighboring Iran's media crackdown during that country's vote is still fresh here, and orders from the Afghan government on the eve of the election to censor reports of violence during Thursday's voting suggested news on the ground could be thin.

August 10th, 2009 Russian bill expands reasons for deploying troopsMOSCOW —President Dmitry Medvedev has submitted a bill expanding legal reasons to deploy Russian troops abroad, the Kremlin said Monday. The bill released by the Kremlin would allow the president to send troops outside Russia to fend off attacks on the Russian military, deter aggression against another state, protect Russian citizens or combat pirates.

August 5th, 2009 Iowa 911 call center becomes first to accept textsAn 911 call center in Waterloo, Iowa, is the first in the country to accept text messages. The call center starts accepting and responding to texts sent to "911" on Wednesday afternoon.

June 20th, 2009 NC gov. warns texters: 'Hope u r not driving now'RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina has become the seventh state to pass a ban this year on texting while driving.

June 17th, 2009 How fast R U? Teen Iowa girl wins US texting titleNEW YORK — The nation's newest texting champion has a message for parents across the land — although they might not want to hear it. "Let your kid text during dinner! Let your kid text during school! It pays off," 15-year-old Kate Moore said Tuesday after winning the LG U.S.

May 3rd, 2009 Tweaked about fake tweets, Idaho gov joins TwitterBOISE, Idaho — A bogus Twitter account set up five weeks ago in the name of Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has been shut down — only to reopen with the real governor sending out tweets.

April 30th, 2009 Texting delays mar popularity of $50 Boost planNEW YORK — A new $50 unlimited-calling plan sold under the Boost brand has been a badly needed success story for Sprint Nextel Corp., luring hundreds of thousands of new customers, by industry estimates. But dealers and customers report widespread problems with texting on the Boost network.

April 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Living abroad can be a cherished experience and might even expand our mental horizons, according to new research. William Maddux, assistant professor of organisational behaviour at INSEAD, a business school, conducted five tests with Adam Galinsky of the Kellogg School of Management to test the idea that living abroad and creativity are linked.

April 22nd, 2009 EU lawmakers approve new price cap on text messageSTRASBOURG, France — EU lawmakers voted Wednesday for a new price cap that will cut the cost of sending text messages from abroad by nearly two-thirds. Phone users will pay a maximum of 11 euro cents (14 cents) for sending text messages from another European Union nation starting July 1, down from the current average cost of 28 euro cents (36 cents).