Frey calls Winfrey interview 'personal car crash'

CHICAGO (AP) — Author James Frey tells Oprah Winfrey that if he could do it again he would have "been honest" in promoting his book "A Million Little Pieces."

Frey appeared on Monday's episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," more than five years after Winfrey accused him on live television of lying in the book. Winfrey called it "the biggest controversy" in her show's history.

Winfrey …

New Egypt bourse offers small firms hope

Egypt's small and medium-sized enterprise sector got a boost Thursday as an exchange targeting such firms kicked off its first day of operation, a move aimed at opening the door for new investments in an often undervalued sector.

While only 10 companies are listed so far on the Nilex Stock Exchange, the launch of the bourse is seen as a key to providing such firms with greater access to capital and boosting a sector described by officials as crucial to growth in the Arab world's most populous nation.

"For the first time, small and medium enterprises are being acknowledged," said Nora Helmy, managing director of Naeem Funds, an investment firm …

Fifth Third adds Wilkinson to head consumer bank

Fifth Third Bancorp, Cincinnati, has added Carlos Winston Wilkinson to its staff as executive vice president and head of its consumer bank. He was retail executive for North Carolina-based Wachovia Mortgage Corp.

At Fifth …

ATG Enhances Catalyst Program, Unveils ATG Mobile for Android.

hich enables clients to create native Android applications to support mobile shopping of ATG-powered e-commerce sites.
Launched last year, the ATG Catalyst program is a community-supported asset distribution channel designed to inspire innovation, enhance pATG, a provider of cross-channel commerce solutions, said it has expanded the ATG Catalyst program to include ATG Mobile for Android, wroduct implementations, and further connect ATG customers and partners, the Company noted in a release. Since the program's introduction, more than 2,680 catalyst assets have been downloaded by developers who have used the valuable resources to enhance various cross-channel commerce initiatives. ATG clients have leveraged these available assets to build new features and applications, and enhance existing functionality to improve the customer experience on the web and across channels.
In a release, the Company said that ATG Mobile for Android provides a framework for clients to create and manage shopping applications optimized for Android-powered devices, including full m-commerce support.
"The framework ATG provided via the ATG Catalyst program helped jumpstart our development efforts, while still granting us full control to create and launch a mobile shopping application that is customized for our brand," said Marty Keane, senior vice president of e-commerce, Bluefly, Inc. "It gives our customers easy access to all of Bluefly's products, including a select iPhone assortment of our best designer apparel and accessories. The ATG framework also allowed us to create a truly seamless integration between the web browser experience and the mobile experience. Customers can start their Bluefly purchase on a computer and complete that same order using their iPhone, or vice versa. We've created a Bluefly shopping application that delivers an incredible experience for customers using the iPhone or iPod touch."
"When we launched the ATG Catalyst program, we strived to create an open-source inspired venue where our partners, customers, and internal teams could share ideas and code that would help them innovate on the web and across channels," said Bill Zujewski, vice president of product marketing, ATG. "In the first year, the program has achieved these goals and has played a particularly significant role in helping our clients realize the potential of mobile commerce. Today, Android has emerged as the largest smart phone platform in the U.S. and is the fastest growing worldwide. By providing a catalyst asset that makes it easy for our clients to create and launch mobile shopping applications optimized for Android devices, we are helping our customers stay ahead of the mobile revolution."
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Argentine Prison Fire Kills 29 Inmates

A fire apparently set as part of an escape attempt swept through an Argentine prison cellblock and killed at least 29 inmates, authorities said Monday.

The fire broke out late Sunday in one of the cellblock complexes of a maximum security prison in the central province of Santiago del Estero, said Ricardo Daives, the province's justice minister.

Another 10 people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation and other injuries, Daives told the independent news channel Todo Noticias.

Daives said inmates apparently set the fire in a bid to distract guards as part of plan to break out of the prison.

"Parts of the cellblock were set on …

Thai leader declares emergency to clear airports

Thailand's government prepared to crack down Thursday on protesters occupying the capital's two airports, but called on the public not to panic as rumors of a coup swept through the city.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat declared a state of emergency around the capital's two main airports, which would allow security forces to oust thousands of anti-government protesters from the terminals.

Somchai accused the protesters of "holding the country hostage and the public hostage."

"I do not have any intention to hurt any members of the public," he added, though the imposition of the measures raised the possibility that violent clashes …

Court bars state audit of two lawyer panels

A judge barred Illinois Auditor General Robert G. Cronsonyesterday from auditing the funds of the Attorney Registration andDisciplinary Commission and the State Board of Law Examiners.

Though Cronson has the authority to audit all state agencies,Cook County Circuit Judge David J. Shields ruled that neither thecommission nor the board fit the definition of a state agency.

The auditor general is a legislative officer, and thelegislative branch is "expressly prohibited from exercising judicialauthority" because of the doctrine of separation of powers, Shieldswrote.

Representing Cronson was Special Assistant Attorney GeneralSamuel W. Witwer, who said the …