January 19, 2004

Other nations zip by USA in high-speed Net race USA Today - Despite its economic and political might, the USA is falling behind other nations in arming consumers and small businesses with a key economic tool: high-speed Internet access, also known as broadband. The USA ranks 11th worldwide in broadband use, according to a recent United Nations report, behind such places as South Korea, Hong Kong and Iceland.   10:35:29 PM

French MPs reappraise plan to outlaw veils Guardian - The French government's plan to ban Islamic veils from schools came under sustained fire yesterday when MPs, shaken by a weekend of protests and violence, began asking whether the move would inflame religious tensions rather than ease them. 10:23:14 PM