EU calls for electronic visas

The European Union (EU) is calling for an electronic system for visas to the US, says Computing.co.uk.

European Commission VP Franco Frattini said today that Europe needs a new approach to managing its borders to curb illegal immigration and asylum-seeking, and improve the processing speed of legal travellers.

The EU is to talk with the US this week on the issue of visa-free travel between the regions, which would be enabled by an electronic system of travelling authorisation.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates urged Congress to commit to increased visa caps and greater investments in research and education during an appearance before the US House of Representatives Science and Technology Committee, reports News.com.

Just as he did around the same time last year before a US Senate committee, Gates yesterday contended America's competitiveness in the global economy is "at risk". He said Congress, the administration, and the next president must commit to overhauling immigration policy and encouraging both public and private research investment.

"It makes no sense to educate people in our universities, often subsidised by US taxpayers, and then insist they return home," he told the House of Representatives Science and Technology Committee during a two-hour hearing.

Chipmaker Intel will defend its business practices in court this week, as it attempts to avoid the huge fines the European Commission could impose for anti-competitive practices against rival company AMD, reports Computing.co.uk.

After a six-year investigation, the commission accused Intel of offering rebates to computer makers that use its processors, as well as paying clients to cancel products used by AMD.

"We believe our business practices are lawful," said a spokesman for Intel. If found guilty, the supplier could face fines of up to 10% of its annual global revenue - equivalent to $3.2 billion in 2006.

Wal-Mart has stopped selling Everex's Linux-based PC in its stores because of a tepid response from customers, although it will continue to sell the product online, says Washington Post.

The customer response to the $199 Everex TC2502 Green PC desktop was not as high as expected, said Melissa O'Brien, a Wal-Mart spokesperson.

Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the US, agreed last year to carry the product as a test and stocked it in about 600 stores where it saw high interest in computers.