EU drops Microsoft browser charges

The European Union has dropped long-standing antitrust charges against Microsoft Corp. after the company agreed to give users of the Windows operating system a choice of up to 12 other Web browsers.

Under the terms of the deal with regulators announced Wednesday, Microsoft will avoid further EU fines if it provides a pop-up screen that lets European users _ from March _ replace Microsoft's Internet Explorer or add another browser such as Mozilla's Firefox or Google's Chrome. Internet Explorer is used by a majority of global internet users.

The deal will also allow computer manufacturers to ship PCs without Internet Explorer in Europe.

Neelie …

Cox allows comments to stand

Bears middle linebacker Bryan Cox offered no apology Tuesday forhis comments Sunday night after a preseason victory over the ArizonaCardinals, but he did say the issue was behind him.

Cox said the game never should have been played after it wasrained out Saturday and that the greed of the NFL and the NFL PlayersAssociation led to four key injuries for the Bears, including CurtisConway's broken collarbone.

"When I say something, whether it's frustration or in the heatof the moment, I mean it," Cox said. "You won't see me going andapologizing and hiding behind something and saying I didn't mean it.That's the way I felt. That's the way I still feel."Cox said he was …

Bulgaria to investigate 11 clubs over fix claims

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — A Bulgarian lawmaker says 11 clubs will be investigated over match-fixing allegations raised by UEFA.

Ognyan Stoichkov, the head of a parliamentary sport commission, says eight games are under scrutiny — six league and two cup between December 2009 and May 2010 — and the clubs in the probe include champion Litex Lovech, CSKA Sofia and …

Pennetta to play Kanepi in Palermo final

Top-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy is on course for a successful defense of the Palermo Open title after a straight-sets win over Julia Goerges in the semifinals on Saturday.

Pennetta, ranked 12th in the world, beat the German 6-0, 6-4, and will meet …

Eaterie opposed

Bath: Plans for a new upmarket restaurant called the Olive Branchhave been given a far from peaceful reception by some residents.

Dorset brewery Hall and Woodhouse hopes to convert the formerBonhams auction house in Old King Street into a bar, brasserie andrestaurant.

But people living close to the building fear it will attract morerowdy late-night drinkers.

The concerns …

Managing Expectations

George Keady says he's been spending considerable time with his clients recently on the delicate art of "managing expectations."

Such exercises are necessary, says Keady, senior vice president of Investments at UBS Paine Webber in Springfield, because many investors still don't fully understand that the double-digit gains and quick fortunes that dominated the stock market of the late '90s are not the norm.

And managing expectations is a big part of adjusting to the current market, said Keady, who, like other area financial advisors, believes that those who want to know what lies ahead for Wall Street should first look to the past.

Indeed, history reveals that the …

Gold down

Gold for current delivery closed at $841.10 per troy ounce Wednesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down …