Bahrain protesters take control of main square

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Thousands of protesters poured into a main square in Bahrain's capital Tuesday in an Egypt-style rebellion that sharply escalated pressure on authorities as the Arab push for change gripped the Gulf for the first time.

Security forces have battled demonstrators over two days, leading to the deaths of two protesters. In a clear sign of concern over the widening crisis, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa made a rare national TV address, offering condolences for the deaths, pledging an investigation into the killings, and promising to push ahead with reforms, which include loosening state controls on the media and Internet.

As the crowds surged into Pearl Square in the capital of Manama, security forces appeared to hold back. The dramatic move Tuesday comes just hours after a second protester died in clashes with police in the strategic island kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

Oppositions groups are calling for greater political freedom and an end to the ruling Sunni monarchy's grip on key decisions and government posts. The nation's majority Shiites have long complained of discrimination.

AT&T CEO: Apps should run on many devices

AT&T Inc.'s CEO Randall Stephenson, on Tuesday expressed frustration with the way applications are sold to smart phone users, saying customers should be able to buy an application once and have it work across many different devices.

AT&T Inc. was until last week the sole U.S. carrier for the iPhone, which sells apps that run only on Apple devices. Yet in a keynote speech at the world's largest mobile-phone trade show in Barcelona, Stephenson said the industry needs to support technologies that allow applications to run on devices from different manufacturers.

"You purchase an app for one operating system, and if you want it on another device or platform, you have to buy it again," Stephenson said. "That's not how our customers expect to experience this environment."

Stephenson highlighted a new standard for Web software, HTML 5, which will allow applications to run on different devices. He also highlighted the Wholesale Applications Community, which is an "app store" set up by carriers as a counterweight to app stores run by Silicon Valley heavyweights Apple Inc. and Google Inc.

Egypt's Interior Ministry tries to create 'good relations' with public

As Egypt marks a public holiday Tuesday to commemorate Prophet Mohammed's birthday, the country's Interior Ministry is trying to connect with the public through Facebook -- a social networking site some credit with helping topple a regime of almost 30 years.

The ministry created a Facebook page in attempt to bring back "good relations with the public and improve the image of Egyptian police," according to a statement carried by state media.

The police force's role in supporting the regime of President Hosni Mubarak has left the police widely unpopular.

On Monday, thousands of state workers from various ministries demonstrated for better pay and better working conditions around the country, witnesses told CNN. The demonstrations followed weeks of protests that led to Friday's resignation of Mubarak, who had ruled the country with an iron fist since 1981.

The country is now run by the military. Mubarak's abdication leaves a council of generals, led by Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi, in charge of the Arab world's most populous nation. Since Friday, the military has dissolved parliament, suspended the constitution and vowed to remain in charge until elections can be held in six months or so.

In a statement Monday from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, efforts are on track to "realize the legitimate demands of the people for a true democratic environment."

Filipino peace talks open in Norway

Peace talks between the Philippine government and Marxist rebels resumed Tuesday after a six-year break, with the rebels calling for the "expeditious" release of a communist leader and four other prisoners.

Allan Jazmines, a senior member of the Communist Party's leadership, was arrested Monday shortly before a cease-fire went into effect for the weeklong talks, which are aimed at ending a four-decade-long conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people.

In his opening statement, rebel negotiator Luis Jalandoni urged the government to release Jazmines and four other imprisoned rebel leaders.

"Such a release will be of positive value towards the continuation of the peace negotiations," he said.

He also called for the release of 350 "political prisoners," whom he said had been "victims of false charges" under the former political regime.

Iranian lawmakers: Put opposition leaders on trial

 Hard-line Iranian lawmakers called on Tuesday for the country's opposition leaders to face trial and be put to death, a day after clashes between opposition protesters and security forces left one person dead and dozens injured.

Tens of thousands of people turned out for the opposition rally Monday in solidarity with Egypt's popular revolt that toppled President Hosni Mubarak after nearly 30 years in power. The demonstration was the first major show of strength from Iran's beleaguered opposition in more than a year.

At an open session of parliament Tuesday, pro-government legislators chanted "death to Mousavi, Karroubi and Kahatami," referring to opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi and former reformist President Mohammad Khatami.

More than 220 lawmakers said in a statement that the trio should be held responsible for the unrest. "We believe the people have lost their patience and demand capital punishment" for the opposition leaders, the statement said.

Hardliners have long sought to put high-ranking opposition figures on trial, but the calls for the death penalty signaled an escalation in their demands.

Authorities appeared to be moving quickly in a bid to stifle the opposition before its gains momentum, issuing promises of swift action against leaders and activists, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"The judiciary will quickly and resolutely deal with major elements and those who violated public order and peace," the spokesman for Iran's judiciary and state prosecutor, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, told IRNA.

Ahead of the Bell: Builder sentiment

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Homebuilders are hoping for a rebound this year after 2010 ended as the worst for new home sales in nearly a half-century.

The National Association of Home Builders releases its index of builder sentiment for February at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The reading has been 16 for the past three months. Any reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the market. The index hasn't been above that level since April 2006.

Homebuilders are struggling to compete in a market with millions of foreclosures that are forcing home prices down. Last year was the worst in more than a decade for sales of existing homes, and the worst for new home sales since 1963.

High unemployment, tighter bank lending standards and uncertainty about home prices have also kept many people from buying homes, despite low mortgage rates and home prices that have fallen by more than half in some markets since the peak of the housing boom. The industry received a boost in the first half of 2010 when the government offered tax credits to home-buyers. Once they expired in April, home sales plummeted.

The housing market is expected to show some signs of life this year but the recovery will likely be uneven. Swaths of Florida, Nevada and California continue to struggle through the effects of the housing bust. Weak sales mean fewer jobs in the hard-hit construction industry, which normally helps power economic recoveries. Each new home built creates, on average, the equivalent of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in taxes, according to the builders' trade group.

Ahead of the Bell: Dell to report 4Q results

SEATTLE (AP) -- Personal computer maker Dell Inc. will report fiscal fourth-quarter earnings after the markets close Tuesday. The report should provide a window into computer-buying sentiment among both consumers and businesses.

Dell, based in Round Rock, Texas, will continue to benefit from businesses upgrading employees' computers, server computers in data centers and other technology, which are more profitable than the PCs Dell sells to consumers. Businesses had held off spending money on technology during the worst of the economic downturn. Now, companies of all sizes are switching to Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 7 operating system as they swap out older PCs, analysts say.

Consumers, on the other hand, are spending less. Ongoing economic uncertainty and increasing buzz about tablet computers such as Apple Inc.'s iPad are both factoring into consumers' decision to hold off on buying new computers.

Analysts also expect Dell's earnings to get a boost from lower component prices during the quarter.

The company is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of 36 cents per share, on $15.73 billion in revenue, according to FactSet. Last year, the company earned $334 million, or 17 cents per share, on $14.9 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter.

Chinese figure skaters' ages under investigation

2006 Olympic silver medallists Zhang Hao and Zhang Dan are among the
Chinese figure skaters whose ages have been called into question. (Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images)

China is facing new questions about the ages of some of its athletes after discrepancies were found in the birthdates of eight figure skaters.

According to a list of birthdates published on the Chinese Skating Association's website and found by The Associated Press, the skaters violated the sport's age limits by competing when they were either too young or too old. The birthdates on the federation's websites differ from those listed on the athletes' International Skating Union bios.

Among the skaters whose eligibility is in question are Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, the 2006 Olympic pairs silver medallists, and Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, the reigning junior world champions and China's top up-and-coming pairs team.

The discovery comes less than a year after the IOC stripped China of its 2000 Olympic bronze medal in women's team gymnastics for using an underage girl. That violation was uncovered during an investigation into age fraud by China's team that won the gold medal at the Beijing Games. The 2008 team later was cleared after Chinese officials provided original passports, ID cards and family registers showing all the gymnasts were old enough to compete.

According to ISU rules, skaters must be 15 by the preceding July 1 to compete at an Olympics or senior world championships, and 14 for other senior-level international competitions, such as the Grand Prix final. Junior skaters must be at least 13 the previous July 1 but cannot have turned 19 (singles) or 21 (pairs and ice dancers).

According to the records found by the AP on the federation website, Zhang Dan was born Oct. 4, 1987, meaning she would have been only 14 when she and Zhang Hao — no relation — competed at the 2002 Olympics and world championships. The Zhangs were 11th in Salt Lake City and ninth at worlds.

GM head vows to focus on China

China will play a much bigger role in General Motors Co.'s plans including clean energy vehicles as it moves to capitalize further on rapid growth in the world's largest auto market, the company's CEO said Tuesday.

Calling China "the crown jewel in the GM universe," Chief Executive Daniel Akerson said the automaker plans to launch more than 20 new or redesigned cars in China over the next two years.

"China is central to our global strategy," he said at a news conference. "We want to understand the preferences that the China market wants. We bring our best designs, best technology to China."

GM sold more cars and trucks in China last year than it did in the U.S. for the first time in the company's 102-year history. An expansion of sales into provincial cities helped the company sell 2.35 million vehicles in China in 2010, up 29 percent from the previous year.

Government supporters, foes clash again in Yemen

For at least the fourth day in a row, clashes broke out between pro- and anti-government protesters in Yemen's capital Monday morning.

About 200 anti-government protesters were rallying outside Sanaa University calling for regime change as they have since the weekend, when about 300 counter-demonstrators carrying pictures of President Ali Abdullah Saleh confronted them.

The anti-government protesters included at least 150 members of a lawyers' syndicate, who were marching through the streets on their own shouting anti-government and anti-corruption chants, before meeting up with students from Sanaa University.

The two sides threw rocks at each other, and later brandished daggers and knives. Eyewitnesses said the pro-government demonstrators had the weapons, while the anti-government demonstrators were armed with sticks.

Some security forces at the scene tried to separate the two sides, while others stood on the sidelines.

The anti-government protesters accused the counter-protesters of being plainclothes policemen, a charge denied by a government spokesman.

Several protesters were arrested by security forces, said human rights activist Abdulrahman Barman.

Asthma girl dies outside hospital

A STUDENT died of an asthma attack yards from a hospital - after the receptionist told her friend she had to call 999 to get treatment.

Melody Davis, 20, was rushed to hospital in her pal's car after suffering difficulty breathing.

But the friend got stuck in a car park nearby. She dashed into the reception, but was told she had to call an ambulance.

By the time her friend got back, US-born Melody had collapsed. She later died at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Last night Liverpool University tutors paid tribute to the "inspirational" literature student. Dad Roy wrote on the internet: "I will forever miss you."

A coroner has asked police to look into the incident, last October. Staff at the hospital have been interviewed. An inquest is being set for this year.

House seen blocking healthcare funds

The U.S. House of Representatives is likely to vote to block funding for President Barack Obama's signature healthcare overhaul when it takes up a budget plan next week, House Republican Leader Eric Cantor said on Tuesday.

"I expect to see one way or other the product coming out of the House to speak to that and to preclude any funding to be used for that," Cantor said at a news conference, referring to an effort to block implementation of the health-care law.

House Republicans aim to pass a spending measure next week that would immediately cut at least $32 billion from the government's $3.7 trillion budget in an effort to trim budget deficits that could hit an estimated $1.5 trillion this year.

Details of the Republican spending-cut package will be made public on Thursday ahead of a wide-ranging debate on the House floor next week.

Cantor's office said the language blocking funding for the healthcare law is expected to be offered as an amendment during the House debate next week. Republicans, trying to make good on a campaign pledge for a more open legislative process, plan to debate a number of amendments to the spending bill.

What You Need to Know About Obama’s Budget: Energy

President Obama unveiled his proposed budget Monday, which calls for boosting funding to the Department of Energy by nearly 12 percent. The spending plan, which still has to be approved by Congress, focuses on research and deployment of technologies he’s championed repeatedly: renewable energy, electric cars, biofuel, energy efficiency and nuclear.

The $29.5 billion proposed budget includes $550 million for the ARPA-E program, which funds early-stage clean energy projects. The budget also contains $3.2 billion for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs; $5.4 billion for the Office of Science, which oversees research at national labs; $300 million in credit subsidies (fees borrowers have to pay to get the government to back their loans) to provide $3 to 4 billion in loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects; and the authority to provide $36 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear.

Obama and his Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, have outlined some clean energy goals they want to achieve, though some of the timelines they have set will go beyond Obama’s current term and even the second term, if he’s re-elected. One goal is to cut the cost of solar electricity by about 75 percent to roughly $0.06 per kilowatt-hour, or $1 per watt. At $0.06 per kilowatt-hour, solar electricity will be cost competitive against power from fossil fuel sources without needing government subsidies.

The DOE recently came up with the SunShot initiative to demonstrate its focus on reducing solar electricity costs. SunShot more or less incorporates existing programs, while also adding an emphasis on developing projects. (The DOE has historically focused on developing new materials and more efficiency solar cells.) The DOE estimates SunShot will make use of $425 million of the proposed budgets for various divisions within the DOE, such as the Office of Science and ARPA-E.

Ages of Chinese skaters in question

China is facing new questions about the ages of some of its athletes after discrepancies were found in the birthdates of eight figure skaters.

According to a list of birthdates published on the Chinese Skating Association's website and found by The Associated Press, the skaters violated the sport's age limits by competing when they were either too young or too old. The birthdates on the federation's websites differ from those listed on the athletes' International Skating Union bios.

Among the skaters whose eligibility is in question are Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, the 2006 Olympic pairs silver medalists, and Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, the reigning junior world champions and China's top up-and-coming pairs team.

The discovery comes less than a year after the IOC stripped China of its 2000 Olympic bronze medal in women's team gymnastics for using an underage girl. That violation was uncovered during an investigation into age fraud by China's team that won the gold medal at the Beijing Games. The 2008 team later was cleared after Chinese officials provided original passports, ID cards and family registers showing all the gymnasts were old enough to compete.

According to ISU rules, skaters must be 15 by the preceding July 1 to compete at an Olympics or senior world championships, and 14 for other senior-level international competitions, such as the Grand Prix final. Junior skaters must be at least 13 the previous July 1 but cannot have turned 19 (singles) or 21 (pairs and ice dancers).

President George H.W. Bush among those to receive Medal of Freedom

(CNN) -- Former President George H.W. Bush, slugger Stan Musial and cellist Yo-Yo Ma are among the 15 individuals who will receive America's highest civilian honor Tuesday, the White House announced.

The 15 will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is "presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," the White House said.

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama will be at the ceremony Tuesday afternoon.

Along with Bush, Musial and Ma, 12 others will receive the prestigious honor.

The other recipients of the medal will be: German Chancellor Angela Merkel; Georgia congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis; Natural Resources Defense Council co-founder John Adams; poet Maya Angelou; investor Warren Buffett; artist Jasper Johns; Holocaust survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein; humanitarian activist Tom Little, who was killed in Afghanistan; civil rights activist Sylvia Mendez; Boston Celtics NBA legend Bill Russell; nonprofit leader and former Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith; and AFL-CIO chief John Sweeney.

"These outstanding honorees come from a broad range of backgrounds and they've excelled in a broad range of fields, but all of them have lived extraordinary lives that have inspired us, enriched our culture, and made our country and our world a better place," Obama said in the statement. "I look forward to awarding them this honor."

Sony Ericsson announces new PlayStation smartphone

(CNN) -- Sony Ericsson announced Sunday it will launch its highly anticipated PlayStation smartphone in March.

The gamer-focused XperiaTM PLAY smartphone will run on Google's Android operating platform and features a four-inch multi-touch screen as well as a slide out PlayStation-style game pad.

Sony Ericsson CEO and President Bert Nordberg, who made the announcement at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, admitted the technology has been a long time in the making.

"Even if the dream has been there a long time, in the industry it's taken some time to get everyone there," he told CNN.

"This phone is worth nothing without the game publishers and game companies, so to build all that takes time."

Sony will partner with leading video game publishers and will launch with 50 games, including Ubisoft's "Assassin's Creed" and "Splinter Cell," Activision's "Guitar Hero" and EA's "Need For Speed," "Sims 3" and "FIFA 10."

Obama wireless initiative silent on net neutrality

(CNN) -- When President Obama announced his vision for a national wireless initiative last week, he emphasized how widespread high-speed wireless broadband would boost the economy and increase opportunities for individual Americans.

This may be true -- but only if users of wireless broadband networks enjoy equitable access to what's available online. Unfortunately, new regulations passed in December by the Federal Communications Commission exempt U.S. wireless carriers from key network neutrality requirements.

In a nutshell, the FCC rules require all companies that provide internet access to be transparent about how they manage network traffic. Similarly, they are forbidden to block access to legal websites or services, even ones that compete with their own offerings.

However, the rules only forbid "fixed" providers (whose networks rely on cables and wires, such as Comcast) to "unreasonably discriminate" against specific kinds of network traffic. Wireless carriers get a free pass on this one.

Teachers, school leaders come together in Denver

DENVER (AP) -- A first-of-its-kind summit among teachers and their bosses - school board members and administrators - kicks off Tuesday in what the Obama administration is touting as a watershed moment in collaboration for school improvement.

More than 150 school districts from 40 states are sending administrators and union leaders to a U.S. Department of Education summit billed as the nation's first large effort to have school labor and management talk about student achievement, rather than the nuts and bolts of labor contracts.

It's a summit organizers are hailing as a fresh start to kick off education overhaul efforts looming in Washington, including delicate negotiations over how teachers should be evaluated.

But already cracks are showing in the let's work together effort. The nation's largest school district - New York City - and the Washington D.C. district pulled out of the summit after teachers accused school administrators of going back on their word. Other large districts, including Chicago and Los Angeles, are also missing from the all-expenses-paid trip funded by the nonprofit Ford Foundation.

In New York, teachers last month withdrew from an agreement to attend after some officials talked about seeking layoffs. In Washington, the teachers' union withdrew after union officials say they felt "hypocritical" presenting to other school districts how to work together with management.

Lawyers to weigh TV plans for Jackson doctor trial

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Defense attorneys and prosecutors are set to discuss, among other topics, plans for TV coverage of the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, who faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Dr. Conrad Murray has pleaded not guilty in the death of the music superstar on June 25, 2009. A hearing Tuesday will deal with coverage plans, jury questionnaire issues and discovery of evidence.

Attorneys are also scheduled to present names of proposed witnesses. The trial is expected to begin March 24 and last about six weeks.

An autopsy showed that Jackson died of an overdose of an anesthetic combined with other sedatives. Murray's lawyers say he did nothing that should have caused Jackson's death.

Prosecutors allege gross negligence in Murray's administering of the anesthetic, which is intended for use in hospitals.

Study: Eating more fiber could mean longer life

CHICAGO (AP) -- Eat more fiber and you just may live longer.

That's the message from the largest study of its kind to find a link between high-fiber diets and lower risks of death not only from heart disease, but from infectious and respiratory illnesses as well.

The government study also ties fiber with a lower risk of cancer deaths in men, but not women, possibly because men are more likely to die from cancers related to diet, like cancers of the esophagus. And it finds the overall benefit to be strongest for diets high in fiber from grains.

Most Americans aren't getting enough roughage in their diets. The average American eats only about 15 grams of fiber each day, much less than the current daily recommendation of 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men, or 14 grams per 1,000 calories. For example, a slice of whole wheat bread contains 2 to 4 grams of fiber.

Egypt's military seeks to restore stability

(Reuters) - Egypt's military rulers are expected on Tuesday to step up efforts to restore stability, hoping a promise of a swift transition to democracy will prevent a new flare-up in the protests which forced out Hosni Mubarak.

Facing a wave of strikes, the military rulers held talks on Monday with young activists who were at the forefront of the uprising which ousted president Mubarak on Friday.

Wael Ghonim, a Google executive who had been detained for his part in the uprising, said members of the military council had told him a plebiscite would be held on constitutional amendments in two months.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague also said Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik had let him know that he would reshuffle his cabinet in the coming week to bring in opposition figures.

But with anger still smoldering over rising prices and economic hardship, the military face a difficult balancing act in restoring stability while allaying deep suspicions about its readiness to relinquish power.

akistan softens on question of US man's immunity

ISLAMABAD (AP) -- A Pakistani official says most legal experts in the country's law and foreign offices believe that an American held for shooting two Pakistanis has diplomatic immunity from prosecution.

The official says the government will provide a court with documents that reflect that majority consensus later this week.

The U.S. Embassy said it was looking into the matter Tuesday.

The Pakistani official requested anonymity because of the subject's sensitivity.

The U.S. says Davis shot two robbers in self-defense and that his detention is illegal under international agreements covering diplomats.

But Pakistani officials, mindful of widespread anti-American sentiment among their population, have delayed releasing him.

Authorities find two sick people and dead body in truck

(CNN) -- Authorities trying to help a sick man and a child in a truck on a Florida highway also found a dead body in the vehicle Monday.

The incident started in the morning when a pest control truck pulled to the side of the road on I-95 in the West Palm Beach area.

Firefighters came to the scene and found a man and a boy suffering from some type of illness, said Chase Scott, a spokesman for West Palm Beach police.

Both were rushed to hospitals and were in serious condition, Scott said. Some of the firefighters on scene also became sick from fumes coming from the vehicle and had to be hospitalized.

Hazardous material teams were called in and while going through the truck authorities found a body inside a bag, Scott said.

The man and the boy had not been charged but authorities had searched the man's home that is located in southwest Dade County, Scott said.

Scott did not provide much information on the body that was found in the truck.

The incident snarled traffic on heavily traveled I-95 for hours, CNN affiliate WPBF reported.

The substance that sickened people was a jug of an acid-based solution, the affiliate reported.

Bahrain mourner killed in funeral march clash

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Security forces in Bahrain fired tear gas and bird shot Tuesday on mourners gathered for a funeral procession for a man killed in the first Egypt-inspired protests to reach the Gulf, killing at least one other person and sharply raising the chances for further unrest.

Officials at Bahrain's Salmaniya Medical Complex - the meeting point for thousands of mourners - said a 31-year-old man died from injuries from bird shot fired during the melee in the hospital's parking lot. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to journalists.

The latest death raises the possibility of more rallies and challenges to the ruling Sunni monarchy in Bahrain - a strategic Western ally and home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

After the clash, riot police eventually withdrew and allowed the funeral cortege for 21-year-old Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima to proceed from the hospital, the main state-run medical facility in Bahrain's capital Manama.

Mushaima was killed Monday during clashes with security forces trying to halt marches to demand greater freedoms and political rights. At least 25 people were injured in the barrage of rubber bullets, bird shot and tear gas, family members said.