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Wikipedia, Other Sites Shut Down to Protest 'Censorship' Legislation

ABC News(NEW YORK) -- The English-language version of Wikipedia went dark Wednesday, along with hundreds of other sites including Reddit and Boing Boing, to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) proposed by congressional lawmakers and supported by Hollywood to block the sale of counterfeit goods by websites outside the U.S.

Wikipedia, as well as search engine site Google and social networking site Facebook, argue that the legislation encourages censorship and will alter the structure of the Internet. Google was operating, though its iconic logo was shown as blacked out Wednesday, as if it had been redacted.

The co-founder of the online encyclopedia giant, Jimmy Wales, defended the decision to close down Wikipedia for 24 hours, charging that SOPA and PIPA, "endanger free speech both in the United States and abroad, and set a frightening precedent of Internet censorship for the world."

The White House is also opposed to the anti-piracy measures before Congress.

Texas Republican Congressman Lamar Smith, who sponsored SOPA in the House, chastised Wikipedia for what he says amounts to a publicity stunt, adding, "it is ironic that a website dedicated to providing information is spreading misinformation about the Stop Online Piracy Act."

According to Smith, Wikipedia, social networking sites and domestic blogs won't be affected by his legislation.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Four US Airport Terminals Among Frommers' 10 Worst in the World

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Weary travelers stuck at New York's JFK airport or Chicago's Midway airport may be all too familiar with the drab surroundings and sketchy service during a delayed layover.

In what may be affirmation for some frequent fliers, Frommers.com has included four U.S. hubs in its list of the 10 worst airport terminals.

The list included the 10 best and worst terminals, basing the ranking on cleanliness, services, on-time departures, navigation and ease of travel to and from a city's center.

New York JFK's terminal 3, now used for Delta flights, was ranked as the worst in the world. However, Delta said a renovation project to be completed by 2013 will transform the terminal into a modern facility.

"Terminal 3 is known for endless immigration lines in a dank basement, an utter lack of food and shopping options, three crowded and confusing entry points, and hallways that could have been designed by M.C Escher for vomiting international travelers out onto an underground sidewalk with no cabs available," Frommers.com said. "There's also a sense that the cleaning crew gave up in despair a while ago."

While four of the 10 worst terminals are in the U.S., only one American terminal made it to the top 10 list of the best terminals: Jetblue Airway's Terminal 5 in New York's JFK Airport, which was number five.

The best airport terminal is Hajj Terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is only open during the six-week Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims traditionally must travel to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

Here is Frommers.com's list of the 10 worst airport terminals in the world:

1. New York JFK Airport Terminal 3
2. Manila, Philippines Airport Terminal 1
3. Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal B/C
4. Nairobi, Kenya Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
5. Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, Terminal 3
6. Amman, Jordan Queen Alia Airport
7. New York LaGuardia Airport Terminal 5
8. Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport
9. Paris' Beauvais Airport
10. Chicago Midway Airport?

Italian Cruise Ship Wreck Costs Could Surpass $130 Million

STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images(GIGLIO, Italy) -- The near-sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship will send a tidal wave of bills at the owners that could reach $130 million -- if the ship can be salvaged.

If it is determined that the $650 million luxury liner is too badly damaged, the owners -- Costa Cruises and its parent company Carnival Cruises -- will have to absorb the loss of the ship.

"They just lose," said Jaime Katz, an equity analyst for Morningstar Inc., an independent investment research firm. "The ship is gone. They will have to start over or have one less ship in that market."

That determination has yet to be made, but even a bill that big would not sink the company, experts said.

Carnival Cruises is the largest company in the cruise industry with more than 100 ships in service and 11 global brands. Nevertheless, the company is bracing for an iceberg of bills heading its way.

Already, the disaster has affected Carnival's stock. On Tuesday shares of Carnival were down nearly 14 percent to $29.53. Bloomberg said it was the biggest drop for the company since April 2009.

Morningstar has estimated that the company will face $85 million to $95 million loss in revenue while the ship is out of service.

Carnival, which is based in Miami, has a $30 million insurance deductible for damage to the ship.

Lawsuits will also sink the company's bottom line. The company reportedly has a $10 million deductible on third-party personal injury liabilities, and Italian laws regarding civil suits may protect Carnival and Costa from mega suits that are common in the U.S.

And, according to Bloomberg, Carnival said it, "further anticipates other costs to the business that are not possible to determine at this time."

But despite the public relations nightmare, Katz said that passengers would continue to sail the high seas after a bit of assurance from the industry, especially Carnival and Costa.

"People are not going to be booking as quickly," she said. "[Carnival] is going to have to assure people this is a safe way to travel."?

Wall Street Headed Up Ahead of More Earnings Reports

Mario Tama/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Wall Street appears poised on Wednesday to add to the gains it made after coming off the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday; stock futures are up ahead of the opening bell.

On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 60 points on its first day back from break, while the Nasdaq climbed 17 and the S&P 500 jumped five.

Whether or not the stock market can close in the green again on Wednesday will likely depend on a slew of earnings reports coming out before the trading session begins. Goldman Sachs is scheduled to unveil its fourth quarter earnings, as is Charles Schwab Corp. and PNC Financial Services Group Inc., among others.

So far, the earnings season has generated mixed results. Among the disappointments were Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase, who both reported drops in profits.

Overseas, European stocks are trading slightly higher as investors await the latest talks over the debt crisis in Greece. In Asia, stocks closed the day mixed. Japan's Nikkei index rose 0.99 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.30 percent, Taiwan’s Taiex gained 0.17 percent, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 tacked on 0.05 percent.

China’s Shanghai Composite, on the other hand, fell 1.39 percent, while South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.02 percent.?

Poll: Most Americans Still Say Economy Is on the Wrong Track

Comstock Images/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- The nation’s economic ice jam is showing tentative signs of a thaw, warming some political sentiment along with it. But is the change enough to boost President Obama -- and incumbents generally -- in the election year ahead?

According to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, 68 percent of Americans still say the country’s headed seriously off on the wrong track. But that’s down from 77 percent in September, and “right direction” ratings -- at 30 percent -- while weak, are their best since June.

This shift in economic sentiment can be seen in the political mood. Forty-five percent of Americans now say an economic recovery is under way -- still fewer than half, but up by 9 points from two months ago. The president’s approval rating on handling job creation has advanced by 6 points to its best in nearly two years. And the number of Americans who say they’ve gotten worse off financially under this president has eased by 5 points since September, to 30 percent.

Yet, there’s still a deep chill. This poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds that even with his gain on jobs, 51 percent disapprove of how Obama’s handling them. Despite the change in “worse-off” ratings, twice as many have lost ground financially under Obama compared to those that say they’ve moved ahead. And while more say a recovery’s begun, three-quarters of them also say it’s a weak one.

There’s also one particular risk ahead: The federal Energy Information Administration reported this week that the price of gasoline has risen by 16 cents in the past month to an average $3.39 a gallon -- its highest in any January in records since 1990. If gas keeps rising, the recent, tentative advances in economic and political sentiment would be imperiled.?

Yahoo! Co-Founder Jerry Yang Resigns

Ethan Miller/Getty Images(SUNNYVALE, Calif.) -- Jerry Yang is stepping down from his positions at Yahoo! Inc., the startup-turned-Internet search giant he helped found, the company said Tuesday.

"My time at Yahoo!, from its founding to the present, has encompassed some of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life,” Yang wrote in a letter to Yahoo! board chairman Roy Bostock. “However, the time has come for me to pursue other interests outside of Yahoo!”

Yang’s resignation from the company’s board of directors and “all other positions with the company” – including his roles on the boards of Yahoo Japan and Alibaba Group Holding Limited – are effective immediately.

“As I leave the company I co-founded nearly 17 years ago, I am enthusiastic about the appointment of Scott Thompson as Chief Executive Officer and his ability, along with the entire Yahoo! leadership team, to guide Yahoo! into an exciting and successful future," Yang wrote.

The move has industry analysts speculating what Yang’s departure could mean for the company. The Yahoo! co-founder played a key role in blocking the Microsoft takeover in 2008, “which of course would have been a boon for the company,” Tim Stevens, editor-in-chief of the tech blog Engadget, told ABC News Radio.

“I think his leaving the company will be perceived as a good thing and should certainly make the investors happy,” Stevens said.

And early indicators seemed to show as much. In late trading Tuesday, shares of Yahoo! were up nearly 4 percent.

Yang co-founded Yahoo! in 1995 with David Filo. During his time with the company, Yang served on its board of directors and, for a brief time, as its chief executive officer.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Average Years Americans Keep Cars Reach Record High

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(DETROIT) -- The clunker in the driveway's reached a record-old age. The average age of a car or truck in the U.S. is now almost 11 years, according to an analysis released by automotive research firm Polk. Job security and other economic worries kept many people from making big-ticket purchases such as a new vehicle.

Back in 1995, Americans kept cars for an average of 8.5 years, according to the analysis that looked at vehicle registration data.

Polk global aftermarket practice leader Mark Seng said the increase in vehicle age could bring positive outcomes for vehicle maintenance services and parts dealers.

"Dealer service departments and independent repair facilities, as well as aftermarket parts suppliers, will see increased business opportunity with customers in need of vehicle service," Seng said.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Positive Gains for US Stocks

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Stocks closed higher on some positive signs about Europe's debt. Auctions by Spain, Greece and Europe's bailout fund drew solid interest from investors Tuesday.

The Dow added 60 points, while the Nasdaq and S&P posted positive gains of 17 and 5 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, gas prices could accelerate to all-time highs this summer. Analysts at GasBuddy.com say global demand and conflicts around the world could push prices at the pump up to $5 a gallon.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Burger King Tests Out Delivery

Scott Olson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Fast food restaurants like Burger King and McDonald’s have always been known for their convenience, but now Burger King is taking the term “fast food” to another level. Starting this week, the chain is offering delivery from 10 locations in the Washington, D.C., area.

For an additional $2, you can get your burger, fries or anything else you want without leaving your desk. Delivery is available between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m., which means the breakfast menu isn’t an option. They also aim to get you your food within 30 minutes, but you also have to be within a 10-minute drive of the restaurant.

And don’t worry that your food won’t be of the same caliber if you opt for delivery over drive-thru. The burgers are delivered in strategic packaging, with the top part of the bun covered to prevent it from becoming soggy during travel. John Fitzpatrick, chief brand and operations officer for Burger King, told USA Today they used “proprietary thermal packaging technology” to guarantee “that the Whopper is delivered hot and fresh, and the French fries are delivered hot and crispy.”

Six more locations in Virginia plan to start delivery the week of Jan. 23, and if all goes well, Burger King hopes to expand the service to other areas over time.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Business News - ABC News Radio Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:11:29 +0000

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