MasterCard pulls plug on WikiLeaks

MasterCard is pulling the plug on payments to WikiLeaks, a move that will dry up another source of funds for the embattled document-sharing Web site, reports CNet.

"MasterCard is taking action to ensure that WikiLeaks can no longer accept MasterCard-branded products," a spokesman for MasterCard Worldwide said.

That further limits the revenue sources for WikiLeaks, which has seen its finances systematically attacked in the last few days, as the Swiss authorities shut down a bank account used by editor Julian Assange, and PayPal permanently restricted the account used by the group. WikiLeaks has responded with an increasing number of fundraising requests that urge supporters to "keep us strong".

Google has made its second bid for a slice of the mobile phone market, with the release of its Nexus S phone, according to the BBC.

The Samsung-built device comes less than 12 months after the unveiling of the firm's Nexus One, built by HTC, which failed to win over many consumers. The Nexus S will initially be available in the UK and US, “from the end of the month”.

It is the first phone to feature the latest version of Google's Android operating system known as Gingerbread.

The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) - one of tech's most influential open source groups - is closer to quitting Java's governing body after losing a stand-off vote against Oracle on Java, reveals The Register.

The Register has learnt that with 75% of qualifying Java Community Process (JCP) members having voted on whether to ratify Oracle's proposed roadmap for Java 7 and 8, Oracle's plan has been accepted.

The Register understands that only ASF and Google voted against Oracle's roadmap, despite the ASF last month calling on fellow JCPers to vote against Java 7 and 8.

UK communications regulator Ofcom is to impose access obligations and price controls on BT in broadband markets where the telecoms giant has significant power, in a bid to get a better deal for consumers, writes Computing.co.uk.

Regulations and price controls are outlined in Ofcom's Review of the Wholesale Broadband Access Markets, which puts considerable emphasis on the relationship between competition and market success.

"Competition has driven the success of the current generation of broadband services. The result has been greater choice, innovation, lower prices and high levels of broadband adoption," it says.