A look at recent tech-industry earnings

Here is a summary of recent earnings and reports for selected technology companies and what they reveal about the state of spending and the overall economy:

Oct. 12: Intel Corp. offers an encouraging sign for what the computer industry might expect from the all-important holiday shopping season. The world's biggest maker of microprocessors, the "brains" of PCs, reports that its third-quarter net income leaped 59 percent and revenue rose 18 percent. The results topped analysts' expectations and showed that economic jitters didn't ruin consumers' appetite for new computers during the back-to-school crush.

Oct. 13: Two market-research firms report personal computer sales for the …

Aussie wheat board trial starts over Iraq payments

Australia's wheat exporter went on trial Wednesday in a lawsuit brought by nearly 1,000 shareholders demanding compensation for millions of dollars they say they lost through the company's kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's former government in Iraq.

The Australian Wheat Board, the exclusive marketer of bulk wheat exports from Australia, admitted for the first time in court Wednesday that it knew payments it made to a trucking company were going to the Iraqi government.

In 2006, a government-commissioned inquiry found that the AWB paid more than $220 million in kickbacks to Saddam's government between 1999 and 2003 to secure lucrative wheat contracts.

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Vanity plates tell us more about drivers than the cars they choose

Creative juices flow for many motorists when they get vanity orpersonalized license plates, judging by clever messages on suchplates seen on Chicago area roads.

These plates are on all sorts of car and trucks in the Chicagoarea. I got hooked on jotting down vanity and personalized platemessages while driving here.

Vanity or personalized plates generally are on newer vehicles ingood condition-a fact that doesn't surprise Elizabeth Kaufman, deputypress secretary for the Secretary of State's Office.

"Many people feel their car or truck is an extension ofthemselves, and thus take great pride in their vehicles," Kaufmansaid. "They also feel that their license plates …

Dollar declines as weak jobs data raises worries

NEW YORK (AP) — The dollar is sliding against the euro Thursday as a government jobs report underscores worries about weakening momentum in the labor market.

In afternoon trading in New York, the euro rose to $1.4425 from $1.4374.

While employers added jobs at the fastest pace in five years from February to April, economists expect that a report due out Friday will show weakening job additions in May. Several economists have cut their expectations for economic growth.

On Thursday, the Labor Department said the number of new applications for unemployment benefits dropped to a seasonally adjusted 422,000. Economists say applications need to fall below 375,000 for …

Pentagon IG reviewing 18 possible electrocutions

The number of U.S. troops and contractors electrocuted in Iraq is higher than previously reported, and now stands at 18, a senator said Monday.

Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., issued a statement with the revised number after a briefing by the Pentagon's inspector general's office. The IG's office has been investigating the death of a Green Beret from Pittsburgh, Sgt. Ryan Maseth, who was electrocuted in January while showering in his barracks in Iraq.

Gary Comerford, a spokesman for the Pentagon's IG, confirmed the department is reviewing investigations conducted by the Army's Criminal Investigation Division and Criminal Investigation Command of 18 possible …

Pop star Pixie moving to London ; In brief

WARLEY: Pop star Pixie Lott is moving out of the borough to livein London. The 19-year-old, whose family …

Nets Rally From 18 Down to Defeat Bulls

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Vince Carter and Jason Kidd combined to score 10 straight points down the stretch, and the New Jersey Nets rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls 91-86 on Friday night.

Carter finished with 21 points, while Kidd had 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Nets earned their first three-game winning streak. Richard Jefferson scored 18 points and Bostjan Nachbar, making his first start as a Net, had 16.

Luol Deng scored 22 points to lead Chicago. Andres Nocioni had 19, Ben Gordon 15 and Kirk Hinrich 13 as the Bulls dropped their 10th straight in New Jersey.

With the Bulls leading 84-81, Carter started the decisive run with a dunk …