Dell's decision to ship Linux is a blow to Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, which makes the lion's share of its profits from Windows. Opensource projects make the computer code behind their software freely available, but can charge for support services. In contrast, groups such as Microsoft charge a license fee to use the computer code itself.

The best-known opensource product, Mozilla's Firefox internet browser, has been steadily chipping away at the lead of Microsoft's Internet Explorer and now accounts for as much as 25 per cent of the market in some territories.

However, Dell's move to Linux also signals a switch in tactics from the embattled computer maker as it strives to regain market share lost to Hewlett Packard, which has also offered Linux-powered computers.

In February, Michael Dell, the group's founder, resumed his position as chief executive of the company, replacing his protege Kevin Rollins. The move came amid criticism that Dell had concentrated too much on its famously efficient supply chain at the expense of customer service and listening to what consumers want.

The decision to return to Linux in response to consumer demand marks a u-turn for Dell, which first offered the opensource system in 1999 but withdrew it two years later, citing insufficient demand.

Dell has not given any pricing details on its Linux products, or how they would compare to Windows PCs.

Consumers who buy Linux machines from Dell will have the option to buy support services from Canonical, a company that has sponsored Ubuntu.

Senior officials of the United States and Japan had talks on Tuesday with the two sides urging the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to fulfill its promise to shut its major nuclear facility.

"We agreed that we must continue to expect North Korea to immediately fulfill its initial action agreements," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters after talks with her Japanese counterpart Taro Aso, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma.

The DPRK, which failed to shut down its main nuclear reactor by an April 14 deadline as agreed in six-party talks in February, insisted that its 25 million U.S. dollars frozen at Macao-based Banco Delta Asia (BDA) must be returned before closing the Yongbyon nuclear reactor and starting new negotiations.

The United States said in mid-April that it has agreed with other parties to the six-party talks to give the DPRK "a bit more time" to fulfill its promise to shut its major nuclear facility.

The DPRK funds were frozen after the United States blacklisted the Banco Delta Asia bank of Macao in September 2005 for allegedly helping Pyongyang launder money, an allegation the bank has denied. Pyongyang denies the U.S. charges.

Washington and the bank, Banco Delta Asia, said last month that the DPRK's accounts were no longer frozen. ?

Authorities have said Gaines and two others attacked Scotty Joe Weaver at his trailer in 2004.

Prosecutors said they beat, strangled and cut the 18-year-old before setting his body afire, and the extent of Weaver's injuries pointed to the attackers' distaste for his sexual orientation.

Gaines will not testify at the trial set to start May 7, but jurors will watch a video recording of his confession, defense attorney J. Clark Stankoski said. Lawyers have not said whether Gaines will testify against his two co-defendants, Robert Porter and Nichole Kelsay, who are scheduled to be tried separately later this year.

The slaying drew interest from gay rights groups, and hundreds of mourners attended a vigil for Weaver in Mobile after the killing. Anti-gay groups picketed outside the Crossroads Church of God, where Weaver's funeral was held.

Ms. Kramer has practiced law for nearly 30 years.  She is a member of McDermott’s Tax Department; head of its Financial Products, Trading and Derivatives Group; and co chairs its Energy Services Group.  She is active in Firm management, serving as chair of the Firm’s Gender Diversity Committee and a member of its Management Committee.  In addition to her many legal accomplishments and her family life, Ms. Kramer has found the time and energy to be extremely active in community and charitable activities.  Earlier this year in recognition of her outstanding community service, the Anti-Defamation League awarded her its Women of Achievement Award, and the Cook County Board of Commissioners awarded her its Unsung Heroine Award in 2004.  She serves on the board of DanceArt.  She recently co-founded the Women's Leadership and Mentoring Alliance and plays a leading role in the Chicago Bar Association's "Call to Action," designed to increase opportunities for women lawyers.

The mission of TWTC is to provide women with a continuum of care, recovery tools, and parenting skills to maintain a sober lifestyle as they rebuild their lives and futures and mend the bonds with their families.  The scope of this treatment includes social services, medical care and mental health services, which are offered without regard to race, creed, color, sexual orientation, disability, national origin or ability to pay.  TWTC is one of the few substance abuse programs in the United States that can accommodate children in residential treatment, making TWTC particularly responsive to the needs of chemically dependent mothers.  For more information, visit www.womenstreatmentcenter.org.

In papers filed in support of obtaining the injunction, the government alleged that Olympic deposited almost $28 million of customer funds into accounts that OBS maintained in its own name at commercial banks. Olympic allegedly used the funds to pays customers’ bills and expenses while promising to leave no paper trail.

Judge Lasnik’s order held that Arant “is or should be aware that courts have repeatedly held that warehouse banks are tax evasion schemes.” A California federal court in 2004 permanently closed a similar warehouse bank. Details about that case are available at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/txdv04785.htm. In 2005 a federal court in Oregon sentenced operators of a warehouse bank to prison, after their criminal convictions. Details are available at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/txdv05070.htm.

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

Delta Air Lines, the third-largest U.S. carrier, emerged from bankruptcy protection Monday after "a successful and efficient 19-month restructuring."

"Through our restructuring we have successfully repaired our balance sheet, improved the customer experience, expanded our international route system and built a platform for future success," said Delta chief executive Gerald Grinstein in a statement.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved Delta's exit from bankruptcy on April 25, according to the statement.

Delta has a 2.5 billion-dollar exit financing package that will be used to repay the company's 2.1 billion-dollar credit used during the bankruptcy process.

The Atlanta-based carrier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2005. It lost 6.2 billion dollars in 2006 amid a 5.4-billion charge for reorganization.

In the first quarter of this year, Delta posted a loss of 130 million dollars, marking a big improvement from the net loss of 2.1 billion dollars recorded in the same period a year ago.

Under the Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a company is free from the threat of creditors' lawsuits while it reorganizes its finances. The debtor usually retains control of the business and its assets.

In November last year, US Airways, the nation's sixth-largest carrier, announced a merger proposal to Delta "under which both companies would combine upon Delta's emergence from bankruptcy."

However, Delta said it planned "to emerge from bankruptcy as an independent airline."