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The Mozilla Foundation is on the verge of adopting a new software-programming technique that promises to dramatically improve the speeds at which browsers interact with the Web. The first step, the nonprofit organization said, will be to optimize the way that JavaScript runs in Firefox 3.1 — the next incremental update to Mozilla’s popular open-source browser.

Originally developed by Netscape and currently maintained by Mozilla, JavaScript is a powerful cross-platform scripting language that is already used in millions of Web pages and server applications worldwide. Moreover, the scripting language’s deployment in Internet applications such as Firefox is driven by an embeddable JavaScript engine that Mozilla calls SpiderMonkey.

Earlier this summer, Mozilla engineers launched a new project called TraceMonkey that promises to revolutionize Web-browser performance, noted Mike Shaver, Mozilla’s vice president of engineering.

“Based on a technique developed at UC Irvine called ‘trace trees,’” Shaver said, “a few of us have spent the last two months — and most of the last few nights — teaching SpiderMonkey some exciting new tricks.”

Hot Code Paths

University of California researchers have succeeded in building a compiler featuring the ability to dynamically detect frequently executed byte-code instructions and then generate code on the fly for exactly these hot code paths, called “traces.”

“Tracing follows only the hot paths, and builds a trace-tree cache,” noted Mozilla CTO Brendan Eich. Given that “cold code never gets traced,” memory bloat is avoided, he explained.

The early results from Mozilla’s ongoing TraceMonkey project — which adds native code compilation to the organization’s SpiderMonkey engine — takes JavaScript performance to “another level, where instead of competing against other interpreters, we start to compete against native code,” Shaver said. “Even with this very, very early version, we’re already seeing some promising results.”

TraceMonkey employs a new kind of just-in-time compiler to boost JavaScript performance by an order of magnitude or more, Eich noted. For this reason, the new JavaScript engine has just been assimilated into the development tree for Firefox 3.1, which is tentatively slated for release later this year.

Only the Beginning

Shaver notes that several benchmark tests have shown that tracing technology at times can make browser performance 20 to 37.5 times faster. “There are many wins left in each one of those benchmarks, and we’ll be working on those through Firefox 3.1 and beyond,” he said.

Mozilla’s TraceMonkey team still has some bugs to fix, and they have to decide on “an enormous number” of optimization choices, Shaver said. “But we’re charging full-speed ahead on the work we need to do for this to be a part of Firefox 3.1.”

Eich points out that the tracing technology being incorporated into Mozilla’s JavaScript engine is also mobile-friendly. “We have, right now, x86, x86-64, and ARM support in TraceMonkey,” Eich said. “This means we are ready for mobile and desktop target platforms out of the box.”

Mozilla’s CTO also believes that the organization’s initial efforts to exploit tracing technology is only the beginning.

“I believe that other browsers will follow our lead and take JavaScript performance through current interpreter speed barriers,” Eich said. “We are moving the goal posts and changing the game, for the benefit of all Web developers.”

Hillary Rodham Clinton closed the book on her 2008 presidential bid with an emphatic plea for the party to unite behind Barack Obama.

Now the Democratic convention spotlight turns to her husband, as former President Bill Clinton takes to the prime-time television stage Wednesday evening. He is expected to launch attacks on the Republican’s presumptive presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, and on the Bush administration.

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Obama’s choice as a running mate, will get prime-time exposure as well.

Hillary Clinton, who won 18 million votes but still failed to earn her party’s nomination, planned to meet with delegates who still want to cast ballots for her during the nominating roll call Wednesday evening — a symbolic move before Obama is nominated, presumably by acclamation. Clinton has not indicated whether she would have her name placed in nomination or seek a formal roll call vote.

Clinton’s aides said it remained unclear how exactly the meeting with the delegates would play out, or how her supporters will react.

“It’s not Hillary’s job to bring this party together,” said Jennie Lou Leeder, a Clinton delegate from Llado, Texas. “It’s Barack Obama’s job to bring this party together.”

It’s the kind of talk that Clinton tried to discourage. “I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me?” she said Tuesday night in her convention speech, addressing her supporters.

Clinton used her prime-time convention appearance to try to silence infighting over how to honor Clinton’s campaign without distracting from Obama’s upcoming contest against McCain.

“Barack Obama is my candidate, and he must be our president,” she said.

Even so, bringing the Democratic Party together is going to take more than a single speech. The best unifier among Democrats going into the final sprint might just be McCain.

“Arizonans are also proud of their political tradition, from Barry Goldwater to Mo Udall to Bruce Babbitt. There’s a pattern here,” Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano told delegates Tuesday as part of the chorus eviscerating McCain. Goldwater, Udall and Babbitt all sought the presidency; none succeeded.

“Speaking for myself, and for at least this coming election, this is one Arizona tradition I’d like to see continue,” Napolitano said.

Republicans, meanwhile, struggled for a bit of the spotlight. McCain has been airing commercials quoting critical comments from Obama’s former rivals. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential running mate for McCain, came to Denver and said, “Barack Obama is a charming and fine person with a lovely family, but he’s not ready to be president.”

Bill Clinton, whose reputation took some hits during the primary season, stayed away from his wife and daughter Chelsea — who introduced her mother on stage Tuesday evening. Instead, he watched his wife’s speech from convention floor box seats.

“She was great,” Clinton told The Associated Press as he left the convention hall. “Weren’t you proud of her?”

Obama, 47, formally receives the nomination Wednesday. He delivers his acceptance speech Thursday night at a football stadium. An estimated 75,000 tickets have been distributed for the event, meant to stir comparisons with John F. Kennedy’s appearance at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1960.

McCain and his yet-unnamed vice presidential pick are scheduled to receive their formal nomination at the Republican convention in Minneapolis next week.

Rio Tinto Ltd., the world’s third-largest mining company, said Tuesday that half-year profit more than doubled to a record on strong demand from China for iron ore and other metals.

Profit for the six months through June 30 surged 112.5 percent to $6.91 billion from $3.25 billion the year before, largely due to higher commodity prices and production, particularly iron ore.

“The group continues to perform strongly, and the outlook remains positive,” Rio Tinto Chairman Paul Skinner said in a statement.

The statement forecast higher prices for the company’s core commodities of iron, alumina and copper.

Underlying profit, or earnings before interest and tax, rose 55 percent to $5.47 billion, in line with analysts’ forecasts.

Rio Tinto is reaping the rewards from the rapid urbanization of China and other developing nations that has been driving greater demand for commodities and rising commodity prices for the past seven years.

“We expect prices for Rio Tinto’s major commodities to remain substantially above the long-run trend in 2009,” Skinner told reporters.

Shares in Rio Tinto, which is the focus of a hostile $150 billion takeover proposal from rival BHP Billiton Ltd., gained 1.44 percent to close at A$124.06 ($105.63) on the Australian Securities Exchange.

The company, which is based in London and also has offices in Melbourne, is listed in both London and Sydney.

“It was a great result and it keeps the pressure on BHP as it continues the chase,” Gavin Wendt, head of mining and resources research at consultancy Fat Prophets in Sydney. “The only black spot was that copper earnings were down slightly after they had some mining issues during the year.”

Underlying earnings for the iron ore division grew 161.8 percent to $2.88 billion.

Rio Tinto, the world’s second largest aluminum producer, posted a 145 percent increase in underlying earnings from its aluminum division to $995 million after its acquisition of Canada-based Alcan Inc. last year.

Chief Executive Tom Albanese told reporters that the outlook for iron ore and coal demand was “excellent” and that Chinese demand for aluminum continued to grow strongly.

The company said increased energy costs reduced earnings by $132 million, with higher freight, contractor, maintenance and input costs experienced throughout the group.

Rio Tinto said it was on track to divest $10 billion of assets this year to help pay down debt after its $38.1 billion Alcan purchase.

“Rio Tinto is in great shape, and is getting stronger,” Albanese said.

The company declared a final dividend of 68 US cents per share, up 31 percent on the previous half.

Jason Taylor sported a big black brace on his right knee and the type of attitude he hopes will keep his consecutive games streak alive.

“I have been a quick healer in the past,” the Washington Redskins defensive end said Monday. “People think I’m old. I’m not that old yet, so hopefully those healing cells are still in there.”

Taylor sprained his knee in the second quarter of Saturday night’s 47-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Redskins estimate he’ll be sidelined 10 to 14 days, which gives him a shot at returning for the Thursday night NFL opener Sept. 4 against the New York Giants.

“I have every reason to believe he’s going to be there, so my cup’s half-full,” coach Jim Zorn said. “But it’s only half-full, because there’s a chance he could miss the first one.”

Taylor hasn’t missed a game since 1999. His streak of 130 consecutive regular-season starts ranks seventh among active players. He has played with various injuries, including a broken arm.

“To be able to play through those things and show up on Sunday is something I take pride in,” Taylor said. “But some things are out of your control, too.”

Taylor’s injury isn’t pleasant viewing when reviewed in slow motion — his leg bent awkwardly in a pile at the end of a running play — and he realized it could have been much worse. The Giants lost their star defensive end, Osi Umenyiora, to a season-ending knee injury Saturday night on a play that didn’t look as scary as Taylor’s.

“You hope it’s not the big one,” Taylor said.

The prime-time season opener is already a big game, and for Taylor it was to mark his debut for his new team. Taylor, who turns 34 next week, was acquired on the first day of training camp in a trade with the Miami Dolphins.

“It’s live games,” Taylor said, “and I’m not one for missing games.”

President Evo Morales said he has put all of Bolivia’s gas and oil installations under military protection, as protesters geared up in three energy-rich provinces against federal encroachment and socialist reforms.

“I’ve spoken with Armed Forces commander in chief, General Luis Trigo, who has precise instructions to safeguard and defend the Bolivian people,” Morales told a meeting of pro-government labor unions in the central city of Cochabamba on Saturday.

“The government will protect the (oil) pipelines and (gas) valves,” he added.

The move to put all government-owned energy installations under military guard followed protest plans to throw up major roadblocks in the energy-rich eastern provinces of Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca and Tarija starting Monday.

The demonstrators are against Morales’s decision to tax regional revenues from gas fields. Provincial governors are demanding the government return 166 million dollars already raised through the levy, and substantially increase the price of gas exports to neighboring Argentina and Brazil.

Protesters are also venting anger at an upcoming referendum on constitutional reforms approved in December by Morales’ followers in Congress that would expand the president’s socialist agenda and his executive powers.

The opposition governors in charge of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija and Chuquisaca — half the territory of South America’s poorest nation — are backing protests against Morales.

On Tuesday, during a 24-hour strike observed in five of Bolivia’s nine states, clashes occurred between opposition youths and pro-Morales indigenous supporters. Five people were hurt in the stone-throwing melees.

Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous leader, won support of two-thirds of the country in an August 10 referendum for his policies, which include nationalization of key industries and changes to give more land and national revenues to the indigenous majority.

But the plebiscite also strengthened the mandates of the opposition governors.

The situation has deepened a political crisis in the country, and there are fears sporadic violence could broaden into open conflict.

Most of Bolivia’s oil fields belong to state-run YPFB company, after the government in forced buyouts in May and June secured controlling shares in several foreign oil companies operating in the country.

Bolivia is South America’s second-largest natural gas producer after Venezuela.

Mexico’s economy expanded 2.8 percent in the second quarter, up slightly over 2.6 percent growth in the first three months of the year.

A Thursday statement from the National Statistics Institute said the farming sector led gains, posting 4.4 percent growth from a year earlier amid rising food prices.

Mexico expects growth to slow as the U.S. economy cools, prompting the Finance Ministry cut its 2008 growth estimate to 2.8 percent from 3.7 percent.

The U.S. buys about 80 percent of Mexican exports.

U.S. woes also feed a dip in remittances, as Mexicans working abroad send less cash home. Remittances are Mexico’s second biggest source of foreign income after oil.

Crude production fell 10 percent through July over the year-ago period.

Electrical stimulation of the brain may improve memory and recognition in elderly people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, results of a study hint.“Our preliminary data on Alzheimer’s disease patients are promising as we observed beneficial effects after a single session of transcranial direct current stimulation,” Dr. Alberto Priori from the University of Milan told Reuters Health, “suggesting that chronic daily application might induce even greater improvement.”

“Our studies encourage broader research programs using different stimulation protocols and longer clinical follow-up to clarify the impact this therapy might have on patients’ daily functional activities,” Priori added.

Priori and colleagues investigated whether electrical stimulation applied over an area at the side of the brain called the temporoparietal cortex could improve recognition memory in 10 patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

The treatment significantly improved word recognition memory accuracy, they found report, whereas sham treatment had no impact on memory.

The results were similar after correcting memory performance for guessing, the report indicates.

“Interestingly,” the investigators say, the electrical stimulation-induced improvement in the word recognition test observed in patients with Alzheimer’s disease is comparable to the 16 percent improvement induced by long-term treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors - drugs currently used to treat early memory problems in patients with dementia.

“We are assessing possible long-lasting effects of (electrical stimulation) in Alzheimer’s disease patients using repeated session protocols in a larger sample with longer clinical follow-up,” Priori said.

“We believe that the best results, especially in Alzheimer’s disease patients, could be obtained by combining transcranial direct current stimulation with cognitive rehabilitation,” Priori added.

Iran plans to send a manned rocket into space in the next 10 years, state television reported on Thursday, just days after the Islamic Republic announced it had put a dummy satellite into orbit.Embroiled in a standoff with the West over its nuclear ambitions, Iran said on Sunday it had put a dummy satellite into orbit on a home-grown rocket for the first time.

U.S. security officials said Tehran’s attempted satellite launch was a failure that fell short of claimed successes, but an analyst said the test marked a technical advance for Iran.

The long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into space can also be used for launching weapons. Iran says it has no such intention.

The West accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear warhead, a charge Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear ambitions are aimed at generating electricity so it that it can export more of its massive oil and gas reserves.

“One of the aims of Iran’s 10-year space program is to send a manned rocket into space,” state television quoted Reza Taghipour, the head of Iran’s aerospace organization, as saying.

“Within in the next six months to one year, the exact date of this mission will be determined,” he added.

Taghipour said Iran would cooperate with Islamic countries in building a satellite that television said would be called, Besharat, meaning ‘good news’. He also said Iran was working with Russia and other Asian states to launch another satellite.

U.S. officials said the vehicle which Iran said on Sunday had delivered a dummy satellite into space failed shortly after lift off and did not reach its intended position.

But Charles Vick, a senior analyst for GlobalSecurity.org research group, said Iran appeared to have succeeded in igniting the second stage of its booster rocket and gained data that will help it perfect its launch system.

Cyprus’s popular holiday resort of Ayia Napa has introduced the island’s first legal beach exclusively for animals after complaints it was becoming a dog’s life for man’s best friend.Better known for all-night partying by Western tourists, the southeastern resort is now catering for dogs amid growing discontent that pooches had no place to cool off from the sweltering summer heat.

“We have seen lots of people taking their dogs for a walk since the establishment of the designated area, and we have been inundated by phone calls from happy pet owners thanking and congratulating us for this initiative,” said Antonis Tsokkos, mayor of Ayia Napa.

Walking dogs on beaches has always been a cause for debate in Cyprus. It is prohibited in most areas, and people caught walking their dogs brave open disapproval or even hostility from other beachgoers.

Tsokkos said the designated area just west of the resort was a temporary one since the area has been earmarked as a yachting marina in future.

“It is not a problem because there is plenty of space. It will be moved a couple of hundred meters (yards) further down,” Tsokkos told Reuters.

The stretch of beach called ‘Louma’ has from archaic times being recorded as a place where shepherds would take their flocks to bathe in the sea, Tsokkos said. Louma means bathing in the Cypriot dialect.

“In older times shepherds used to take sheep and goats there and dunk them in,” said Tsokkos.

Local authorities across the island have been searching for suitable locations where dogs and their owners can enjoy the sun and sea without upsetting other beachgoers.

The need for designated animal beaches hit the headlines in June when a 50-year-old man and his dog were killed in an incident believed to have been triggered by the animal’s presence on a beach. A man was arrested after the two were run over.

“This initiative has been a long time coming,” said Greens party spokeswoman Ioanna Panayiotou. “The fact that no such beach existed had caused problems between dog owners and people who did not want dogs in the area.

“We believe that there should be a beach for dogs in each district,” she said.

The stars had ordained Olympics glory for him even before Vijender Singh landed his first punch against Cuba’s Emilio Correa Bayeaux. He lost the bout 5-8 but still marked the re-birth of the golden era in Indian boxing. “I tried my best”, he told Zee News right after the match and lamented that his strategy didn’t work out. It is the first time India will have three medals in its tally, a gargantuan step in the promotion of sports in the country.

He said, “I couldn’t attack properly in the first round and in the third round I opened up, but it didn’t work”.

Vijender’s coach Jagdish told Zee News that it was a great victory to get the bronze and he was proud of his pupil’s feat. On the question of Vijender’s back paddling during the game, he said, “Back paddling is not the problem, every boxer has his technique and one thing might not suit everyone, perhaps it was the Cuban boxer’s game that did not allow Vijender to knock his deadly punches.”

GS Sandhu, India’s boxing coach also said that it was a credible performance of Indian boxers.

The first round saw him trail by 2-0 as the aggressive Cuban seemed to be on top of his game. The second round saw him claw back a bit to 4-3 with some hard hitting jabs. The third round saw things going tough for him as the Cuban took a 7-3 lead. The last round saw a flurry of punches that took the total to 8-5 but it was too late to come back into the match.

India had won two Olympic medals in the 1952 Helsinki Games when the hockey team won gold medal and wrestler KD Jadhav won a bronze medal, a record which stood untouched for 56 long years.

Vijender made sure India got its first-ever boxing medal and also made it the first occasion that an Indian contingent will return home from an Olympic Games with more than two medals.

Vijender Singh made up for the disappointment of Akhil Kumar and Jitender Singh not making it to the medal round by ensuring the bronze.