Leaders of the world’s most powerful economies were Wednesday gathering in the center of an Italian earthquake zone for a summit that, despite an agenda tackling the financial crisis, world poverty and climate change, is not expected to produce seismic results.

U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrive in Italy ahead of the G-8 summit.

U.S. President Barack Obama is joining the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia arriving in the mountain town of L’Aquila, which was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude quake in April, for the meeting of Group of Eight nations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao was also expected to attend the summit but returned home Wednesday to deal with an outbreak of deadly ethnic clashes in China’s remote western Xinjiang province that have prompted a massive security clampdown.

China’s problems add to a list of global concerns overshadowing the talks, including the recent political turmoil in Iran and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions — both of which have prompted renewed talk of major economic sanctions.

Obama is expected to push for further international financial stimulus packages at the summit, reflecting continued concerns over the global economic crisis despite massive government spending to halt the downturn.

The summit’s host, Silvio Berlusconi, is meanwhile likely to be hoping that the three-day event will help draw the spotlight away from recent scandals that have prompted questions over his suitability to lead.

Prone to gaffes, facing divorce from his wife of 19 years, the Italian prime minister is being investigated over allegations he paid for sex following lurid media allegations that he has repeatedly denied.

Berlusconi has made a big show of moving the summit from its original venue on the island of Sardinia to L’Aquila, in the mountains of central Italy, as a gesture of support for the region where about 300 people died and 45,000 were left homeless by earthquake.

A massive security operation has been put in place around the town, which is still hit by regular aftershocks. Italy claimed last week it had arrested six members of a left-wing terrorist group who were plotting an attack on the summit.

Meanwhile Pope Benedict XVI launched his own verbal assault on global capitalism ahead of the meeting, lambasting “grave deviations and failures” and calling for a “profoundly new way of understanding business enterprise.”

The pope, who is due to meet Obama on the G-8 summit’s sidelines, challenged bankers to turn away from the practices blamed for bringing about the global economic crisis and instead use their power to help the world create wealth and economic development.

“Above all, the intention to do good must not be considered incompatible with the effective capacity to produce goods,” Benedict said.

Following on from a major G-20 summit of leading powers in London in April that drew criticism for failing being little more than a photo opportunity despite pledges of global economic cooperation, some have questioned what tangible gains can be made from this week’s meeting.

Ahead of the summit, Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned that the financial crisis was far from over, echoing White House calls for further economic stimulus — something analysts say are likely to meet resistance among European leaders.

Little progress is also expected to made on climate change, which features high on the L’Aquila agenda, with wrangling expected to continue over carbon emission cuts to be made by developing nations.

Though China’s Hu was forced to return home, representatives of the other “plus five” group of emerging economic giants, including Brazil, India, South Africa and Mexico, were to attend Thursday’s session, with discussions looking ahead to a major environmental summit in Copenhagen in December.

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is campaigning for greater environmental awareness, told CNN on Tuesday that the G-8 was expected to set out a framework for tackling climate change that would be carried forward to the Copenhagen meeting.

Triple Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt set a new meeting record in Lausanne with a stunning run over 200 meters of 19.59 seconds despite appalling weather conditions.

Usain Bolt is on great form ahead of the World Championships in Berlin next month.

In the pouring rain the Jamaican sprinter clocked just one hundredth of a second outside of the fastest time of the year set by American Tyson Gay, in his first and only European 200 meters apearance before next month’s World Championships in Berlin.

In typical style Bolt left the field trailing in his wake as he ran a time that suggested in better conditions, he may be on form to threaten his own world record of 19.30 set at the Beijing Olympics.

“I was not expecting such a good time with these conditions,” Bolt told the Web site of the sport’s world governing body, the IAAF.

“But for me it was ok, as it was not too cold. I was not here to send a message to my opponents but to see at what level I was. I wasn’t nervous, even with this weather.

“I am always having fun when I run and people love to see me, so it was really great,” the lanky paceman added.

Olympic 400m champion Lashawn Merritt of the USA took the runner-up spot with a time of 20.41, while Jamaicans concluded a good night in the sprints in other disciplines.

Asafa Powell triumphed in the 100 meter, to clock his second consecutive win at the Stade Olympice de la Pontaise, despite the strong headwind.

It was successful night for Powell who had been sidelined with an ankle injury and sets up an intriguing meet with Tyson Gay in Rome on Friday.

“I hate running in the rain but I am very happy with my performance,” Powell said. “These were the worst weather conditions in my whole life but I ran my best race this year, technically speaking. I am definitely going for the World record.”

Elsewhere, Shelly Ann Fraser of Jamaica won the women’s 100m race while Golden League Jackpot contender and double Olympic sprint medallist Kerron Stewart took victory in the 200m.

“It was a bit cold but I wasn’t thinking about it. I was thinking about my arms, my technique, my start,” Stewart told the IAAF.

Australia’s left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson took two wickets to give his side the early advantage on the first day of the Ashes series against England in Cardiff.

Johnson celebrates the key wicket of Bopara just before lunch in Cardiff.

England went to lunch on 97 for three wickets with Johnson removing captain Andrew Strauss and Ravi Bopara on a slow wicket at Sophia Gardens .

Strauss, who won the toss, shared in a opening stand of 21 with Alastair Cook which was ended by a sensational catch in the gully by Michael Hussey.

Cook had 10 when he made good contact with a wide delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus only to see Hussey dive full length to pluck it out of the air.

That brought Bopara to the wicket and with Strauss they set about repairing the damage with some success.

They put on 46 without being seriously troubled until Johnson induced a mis-hook from the England captain who was caught by Michael Clarke for 30.

Essex star Bopara had shown confident form with a cover drive for a boundary off Johnson the highlight, but the lynchpin of the Aussie attack soon had his revenge.

Just before lunch, a slower ball totally deceived Bopara who lobbed a gentle catch to Phillip Hughes to be caught for 35.

Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood took England to the interveal without further loss.

England opted to play two spinners, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar in their line-up with paceman Graham Onions left out of the starting line up.

Australian preferred Hilfenhaus to Stuart Clark, playing off-spinner Nathan Hauritz on a wicket expected to take turn.

Australia hold the Ashes, regaining them in their 2006-07 home series after England’s 2005 triumph on home soil.

Legendary Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne played a key role as they won the Ashes back, retiring from Test cricket after the series.

He is tipping Australia to keep their hold on cricket’s most famous trophy.

“The history and tradition of the game is huge. You get the chance only once in every four years to play in a place like Lord’s in an Ashes series — it’s a special achievement,” he told CNN.

“The guys generally play pretty well over here. England deserved to win in 2005 but after they were embarrassed in Australia so they’ll feel like there is work to do.”

Michael Jackson’s daughter touched the hearts of millions when she bid a tearful farewell to her father at his memorial service in a rare public appearance.

Paris Jackson, 11, is consoled by her uncle Marlon Jackson after delivering a tearful tribute to her father.

With her brief speech, 11-year-old Paris Jackson also shocked the event’s organizers, who said her appearance was not a planned part of Tuesday’s star-studded tribute to the “King of Pop” at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.

“Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine,” she said, fighting back tears as relatives consoled her.

“And I just want to say that I love him so much,” she said as she burst into tears and sought refuge in the embrace of family members.

For many watching, Paris’ appearance marked a rare glimpse of a child who has spent most of her life shielded from the public.

Born to two mothers — Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe and an unidentified woman who reportedly served as a surrogate — Jackson’s three children lived and traveled the world with him, their faces often covered by veils and masks when appearing in public.

In its execution, the speech appeared to be a surprise to those onstage and off.

“It was a surprise they were there. All of us who know them were delighted they were strong enough to come and feel this love and great outpouring for their dad,” Kenny Ortega, the choreographer (”Dirty Dancing”) who was directing Jackson’s “This Is It” comeback concerts in London, England, told CNN’s Campbell Brown. “We would’ve never expected that they had the strength. It was beautiful.”

Ortega, a longtime Jackson colleague who helped design the singer’s 1990s tours, said planners left the end of the show open for family members to speak if they wished to, but he was surprised when the Jackson clan — among them, his siblings and children — went onstage for the two last songs, “We Are the World” and “Heal the World.”

Marlon Jackson told the crowd that his sister, pop star Janet Jackson, wished to say some words. Instead, Janet appeared to encourage Paris to come forward from the sea of black dresses and suits and take the microphone, adjusting it and stroking the child’s hair as Paris delivered her words.

Ortega said he was touched by Paris’ speech.

“Michael was so close with these beautiful children,” he said.

“Little Paris was his biggest fan. … A little girl couldn’t love her papa more.”

The heartfelt display sparked a groundswell of emotion in the auditorium and around the world, where millions of viewers watched the service on television and the Internet.

“The saddest moment was when Michael Jackson’s daughter spoke,” said Angelina Martinez, who attended the service with her daughter, Jessica.

“She was really in pain. Everybody was crying inside,” she said. “It was beauty combined with sadness.”

Attendees, performers and speakers alike struggled for composure throughout the two-plus-hour event, which featured performances from Lionel Richie, Jennifer Hudson and Usher.

But to many, Paris’ tribute cast Jackson in the one role few have experienced him as: a father.

“It was very, very touching, and really it was an example of the good parent Michael was, because when I was at Neverland and with the kids he really was a good loving father — they had a fantastic relationship, and they were very close-knit,” Stuart Backerman said.

“So to see Paris come on in such an emotional moment and obviously give her heart out to her father was very, very touching.”

Others saw the tribute as a whole as Jackson’s final legacy to his children.

“There are those I feel in years to come, will try to distort him to his children … and not understand that the real challenges that Michael Jackson had to seriously face and did face and make a difference,” the Rev. Al Sharpton said.

“And I thought it was very important to put in context for his children what he dealt with in history and what he was able to do.”

Tamarins recognise when a word does not match a familiar order of syllables

Studies on monkeys have revealed clues about the evolution of language.

In the journal Biology Letters, researchers said that cotton-top tamarins are able to spot if the order of syllables in a word is “wrong”.

They familiarised the monkeys with two-syllable terms, and recorded their reaction to words that were not consistent with that syllable pattern.

The team says the work illustrates how many animals use patterns that have become intrinsic to human language.

And this provides evidence of the “non-lingual” origin of certain aspects of language, the group told BBC News.

In the experiment, the monkeys were played a series of different words that all shared either the same first syllable or second syllable.

The idea was to investigate the origins of the prefixes and affixes used in many languages to indicate tense.

In English, for example, the past tense of a verb can be composed using the suffix “-ed” - “walk” becomes “walked”.

Listening test

The monkeys were not trained to respond to specific words, but they were familiarised with a pattern - a particular prefix, or a suffix.

“In the prefixation condition, they heard ’shoy-bi’, ’shoy-la’, ’shoy-ro’ and so on,” explained Ansgar Endress, lead author of the study.

“The idea is that they get used to the pattern if you play it long enough.”

The “suffixation” group heard words with a changing first syllable, this time with the suffix, “shoy”, kept consistent - such as “bi-shoy” and “la-shoy”.

The team played recordings of these “familiarisation” words to the animals for half an hour.

The following day, the monkeys were tested.

The researchers played them “new” words that were either consistent with the pattern they had heard before - with “shoy” in the right place - or inconsistent with the familiar pattern.

In bird song or whale song, there’s a temporal ordering to the notes and that’s critical for communication Marc Hauser, Harvard University

“We simply measured how often the monkeys looked to the speaker when we played the items,” said Dr Endress.

“If they got used to, or bored by, the pattern, then they might be more interested in items that violate (it) - because they are something new - than in items that are consistent with the pattern.”

Marc Hauser, who was also involved in this study, told BBC News that the results showed how human language had incorporated memory processes that were not “language-specific”.

“Simple temporal ordering is shared with non-human animals,” he said.

“This has an important role. In bird song or whale song, for example, there’s a temporal ordering to the notes and that’s critical for communication.”

And it goes beyond that. “In primates, this ordering is vital for learning,” explained Professor Hauser. “In tool use, primates learn from each other that you do this first, then you do that, then it’s that.”

Professor Hauser described how evident this innate ability is when a child learns language.

“As a child learns to use the past tense,” he said, “they may generalise and use a suffix wrongly, but they will never generalise in the wrong direction.

“You never hear them say ed-walk instead of walked.”

A Metropolitan Police officer who had sex with a vulnerable woman while supposedly checking on her welfare has avoided going to jail.

Det Con John Richmond, 53, visited the 45-year-old at home a day after she discharged herself from hospital following a drug overdose in December.

The officer, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.

He was given a nine month jail term, suspended for one year.

He was flattered, sexually aroused and ceased to consider either her welfare or indeed his own position Defence barrister Bridget Petherbridge

Southwark Crown Court heard that shortly after the brief liaison she reported the officer, who worked for the missing persons unit at Kilburn police station in north-west London.

He was then charged in December after an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Prosecutor Paul Cavin said Richmond went alone to the woman’s house on 6 May last year, and later that day she called 999 to make a formal complaint.

Defence barrister Bridget Petherbridge said: “He was flattered, sexually aroused and ceased to consider either her welfare or indeed his own position.

“He has lost his career. He is currently suspended from duty and it is accepted that he will eventually lose his role in the Metropolitan Police.”

Public confidence

After mitigation, Mr Cavin said: “May I just emphasise that the Crown has never accepted that it was the complainant who initiated the sexual intercourse.”

Passing sentence, Judge Gregory Stone said: “Such behaviour damages public confidence in the police service and is a breach of the protection which the public are entitled to have when dealing with the police.

“In my judgment the offence is so serious that I must impose a custodial sentence. But in this case the mitigation allows me to suspend the sentence.”

Richmond had admitted the charge at an earlier hearing.

Google is developing an operating system (OS) for personal computers, in a direct challenge to market leader Microsoft and its Windows system.

Google Chrome OS will be aimed initially at small, low-cost netbooks, but will eventually be used on PCs as well.

Google said netbooks with Chrome OS could be on sale by the middle of 2010.

“Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS,” the firm said in its official blog.

The operating system, which will run on an open source licence, was a “natural extension” of its Chrome browser, the firm said.

The news comes just months before Microsoft launches the latest version of its operating system, called Windows 7.

‘Back to basics’

“We’re designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you on to the web in a few seconds,” said the blog post written by Sundar Pichai, vice-president of product management, and Google’s engineering director Linus Upson.

Both men said that “the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web” and that this OS was “our attempt to rethink what operating systems should be”.

To that end, the search giant said the new OS would go back to basics.

“We are completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don’t have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates.

“It should just work,” said Google.

Google already has an operating system for mobile phones called Android which can also be used to run on netbooks. Google Chrome OS will be aimed not just at laptops but also at desktops for those who spend a lot of time on the web.

‘Truly competitive’

The announcement could dramatically change the market for operating systems, especially for Microsoft, the biggest player with around 90% share.

“This announcement is huge,” said Rob Enderle, industry watcher and president of the Enderle Group.

“This is the first time we have had a truly competitive OS on the market in years. This is potentially disruptive and is the first real attempt by anyone to go after Microsoft.

“Google is coming at this fresh and, because it is based on a set of services that reside on the web, it is the first really post-web operating system, designed from the ground up, and reconceived for a web world,” Mr Enderle told the BBC.

Last year Google launched the Chrome browser, which it said was designed for “people who live on the web - searching for information, checking e-mail, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends”.

Stephen Shankland at CNET said the move had widespread implications.

“One is that it shows just how serious Google is about making the web into a foundation not just for static pages but for active applications, notably its own such as Google Docs and G-mail.

“Another, it opens new competition with Microsoft and, potentially, a new reason for anti-trust regulators to pay close attention to Google’s moves.”

Some commentators said Google’s motivation in all this was pretty clear.

“One of Google’s major goals is to take Microsoft out, to systematically destroy their hold on the market,” said Mr Enderle.

“Google wants to eliminate Microsoft and it’s a unique battle. The strategy is good. The big question is, will it work?”

At the popular blog, TechCrunch, MG Siegler said: “Let’s be clear on what this really is. This is Google dropping the mother of all bombs on its rival, Microsoft.”

Microsoft releases Windows 7 later this year to replace Windows Vista and Windows XP, which is eight years old.

The Redmond-based company claims that 96% of netbooks run Windows to date.

Out of beta

In a separate announcement Google also revealed that many of its most popular applications had finally moved out of trial, or beta, phase.

Gmail, for example, has worn the beta tag for five years.

“We realise this situation puzzles some people, particularly those who subscribe to the traditional definition of beta software as being not yet ready for prime time,” wrote Matthew Glotzbach, the director of product management in the official Google blog.

The decision to ditch the beta tag was taken because the apps had finally reached the “high bar” mark, he wrote.

More than 1.75 million companies use Google apps, according to the firm.

Baldwin has ruled out running for governor of California

Actor Alec Baldwin has said that he is giving careful consideration to a political career in the US.

The 51-year-old Democrat declared he had the “desire” to run for office, but added an opportunity for him “may mean bad things for someone else”.

In an article on his blog, the screen star said serving voters was “a sacred trust” and he would give “a lot of serious thought” to a bid.

Baldwin’s credits include Beetlejuice and US TV sitcom 30 Rock.

‘Retiring’

The New York-born actor’s role as Jack Donaghy in the show has won him two Golden Globes and an Emmy award.

He has also presented several editions of satirical show Saturday Night Live, which featured Republican presidential running mates John McCain and Sarah Palin during their campaign last year.

Baldwin has yet to set his sights on running for a specific political office, and has dampened down suggestions that he might run against Connecticut senator Joe Leiberman.

In an interview with Playboy magazine, the actor remarked that he would not leave his hometown to run for office, saying: “I’m a carry-me-out-in-a-box New Yorker”.

However, he noted, two of New York’s biggest political forces, Hillary Clinton and Eliot Spitzer, have recently exited the scene.

“Do I run for Congress on Long Island? What’s Tim Bishop going to do? He represents my district,” he added.

The next elections to the US legislature are due in 2012.

Speaking about his career and commitments to 30 Rock, Baldwin said: “I’m done in 2012. I think I will be done. I may finish a play or something, but I’m retiring at the wrap party.”

Michael Jackson’s family and fans have said farewell to the pop superstar at an emotional memorial service.

Jackson’s daughter Paris, 11, fought back tears to describe him as “the best father you could ever imagine”.

The singer’s coffin was placed in front of the stage during the event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after an earlier private funeral.

Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey paid tribute before the family joined a sombre finale on stage.

Jackson’s siblings, children and parents took part in a chorus of We Are The World and Heal the World.

His family, with the brothers each wearing a single jewelled glove in Jackson’s honour, then took to the podium.

Michael Jackson’s brothers wore his trademark single gloves

Comforted by aunts and uncles, Paris stepped up the microphone. “I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine,” she said.

“And I just wanted to say I love him so much.”

Marlon Jackson spoke of the troubles his brother faced. “We will never, never, understand what he endured,” he said.

“Not being able to walk across the street without a crowd gathered around, being judged, being ridiculed. How much pain can one take?

“Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone.”

‘Nothing strange’

Jackson’s brother Jermaine earlier took to the stage to perform the song Smile. It was said to be the King of Pop’s favourite song, featuring the lyric: “Smile though your hearts are aching.”

At the start of the service, Jackson’s brothers carried the golden flower-draped coffin into the arena to the strains of a choir singing “Hallelujah, hallelujah, we’re going to see the King” from the song Soon And Very Soon.

Mariah Carey was among the artists paying tribute, performing I’ll Be There and ending with the words: “We miss you.”

Stevie Wonder said: “This is a moment I wished I didn’t live to see come. Michael I love you.”

Civil rights leader the Reverend Al Sharpton gave a fiery speech, telling Jackson’s children: “There weren’t nothing strange about your daddy.

“It was strange what your daddy had to deal with but he dealt with it.”

Motown boss Berry Gordy, who signed the Jackson Five, ended his tribute with the words: “Michael, thank you for the joy, thank you for the love. you will live in my heart forever.”

Actress Brooke Shields, who first met Jackson when she was 13, broke down in tears as she took to the stage.

Describing Jackson as “pure”, she said: “He was often referred to as the King but the Michael that I knew was always the little prince. Michael saw everything with his heart.”

The 17,500 people in the arena cheered as clips of Jackson’s life and music were played on big screens.

Messages were read from absent guests including former South African President Nelson Mandela, poet Maya Angelou and singer Diana Ross.

Images of Jackson flashed on screens as Stevie Wonder performed

The message from Ross was read by Smokey Robinson. “I’m trying to find closure,” it said.

“I want you to know that even though I am not there at the Staples Center I am there in my heart.

“Michael was a personal love of mine, a treasured part of my world, part of the fabric of my life in a way that I can’t seem to find words to express.

“Michael wanted me to be there for his children and I will be there if they ever need me. I hope today brings closure for all those who loved him.”

Other people taking part include Usher and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Shaheen Jafargholi, who has played the young Michael Jackson in the musical Thriller - Live.

The stage was adorned with the star’s image, alongside a mural carrying the words: “In Loving Memory. Michael Jackson King of Pop - 1958-2009.”

‘Everybody cried’

Speaking after the event, one fan, Marianne Green, told the BBC the memorial was “heart wrenching”.

“It was really beautiful. A lot of people got up and said wonderful things,” she said.

Pamela Green added: “We laughed at some jokes, but everybody cried. I’ve never seen anything like that, ever.”

Millions of fans around the world watched on TV.

Roads were closed off and concrete barriers erected outside the Staples Center, where Jackson had been rehearsing a comeback show before his sudden death aged 50 on 25 June.

More than 1.6 million fans applied to attend the memorial event, with 8,750 people chosen at random to receive a pair of tickets.

Family members earlier attended a short funeral service at the Forest Lawn cemetery.

Phorm is a controversial system of internet advertising

UK internet service provider TalkTalk has pulled the plug on its agreement with online behaviour tracking firm Phorm.

It follows news earlier in the week that BT had no immediate plans to use the service.

Phorm has developed technology which collects information on web use in order to better target adverts but it has proved extremely controversial.

The loss of its key partners saw Phorm’s shares tumble by more than 50%.

Phorm said that TalkTalk, the second biggest broadband provider in the UK behind BT, had ended its agreement with the firm.

TalkTalk’s plans were not as advanced as BT which had undertaken three trials of the technology.

“The directors note that this relationship had not extended to any form of trial in contrast to BT and some international internet service providers,” a statement from Phorm read.

It also noted that “privacy was not a factor” in BT’s decision to pull the plug on the technology.

Virgin Media, which also expressed interest in the system, was still reviewing it, according to Phorm.

Phorm is currently trialling its software with South Korea’s largest ISP and is in discussion about the use of the technology with ISPs in 15 other countries.

Shares in Phorm slumped a farther 13% following the announcement.