USA
Despite flagging popularity back home, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) of California arrived in China Monday to a reception befitting his Hollywood celebrity status. He and wife Maria Shriver were so mobbed by fans and photographers in Beijing that they momentarily were separated from security personnel. As part of a six-day trade mission, Schwarzenegger will kick off an antipiracy public-service campaign starring himself and martial arts film star Jackie Chan.
The Supreme Court refused to hear two cases Monday, one disputing the constitutionality of inscribing "In God We Trust" on government buildings, and the other a challenge to a law, brought on behalf of 600,000 Florida felons, that prevents them from voting even after their prison terms end.
US Sen. Richard Shelby (R) of Alabama said he felt vindicated after an Ethics Committee probe cleared him of suspicions that he leaked details on how National Security Agency messages were handled before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Shelby said he stood by his long-asserted claim that he never knowingly disclosed any classified information.
The Writers Guild of America called for creating a code of conduct that would mandate disclosure of "hidden and stealth advertising" in TV shows and films. The guild, which released a study on the subject, is in agreement with the Screen Actors Guild that Hollywood should let audiences know about product placement and should share the billions of dollars in advertising revenues generated by what their members either write or act in.
Time Warner Inc. announced Monday that it is teaming with AOL to offer vintage TV programming free over the Internet. The service will offer about 100 classic shows through AOL's web portal in an alternative to video-on-demand paying services that rivals have introduced.
Koch Industries, a commodities conglomerate, has agreed to buy paper products giant Georgia-Pacific Corp. for $13.2 billion in cash and $7.8 billion in assumed debt. The merger creates the largest privately held company in the US, surpassing food and farm productsmaker Cargill Inc. Georgia Pacific, which is based in Atlanta, makes Brawny paper towels, Dixie cups, and Quilted Northern bath tissue. Koch Industries is based in Wichita, Kan.
In the finale to the women's pro tennis season, Amelie Mauresmo defeated fellow French national Mary Pierce 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 to win the WTA Championships Sunday in Los Angeles. Mauresmo collected $1 million in prize money and a cut-glass trophy.
