With the aim of hooking laptop users of small and medium-size companies, the Palo Alto, California-based Hewlett-Packard (HP) has launched the ProBook s-series - a new line of its low-priced business notebooks, with fresh features. The ProBook substitutes HP’s Compaq line, though the company will continue with the Compaq name a master brand name in its other PCs.

Washington - Pfizer Inc, the worlds biggest drugmaker, Tuesday said profits were down 2 per cent and revenues were down 8.3 per cent compared to first quarter 2008 despite blockbuster drugs like the impotence pill Viagra and cholesterol-busting Lipitor. Net income dropped to 2.73 billion dollars, while revenues were down to 10.9 billion dollars, the company said.

Profits were eroded by the rising dollar, which lowered income from abroad, the company said.

Washington - Senator Arlen Specter, who has served as a Republican in Congress for nearly 30 years, announced Tuesday that he has switched parties, inching the Democrats closer to a super majority in Congress's upper chamber. The Pennsylvania senator's defection brings the Democrats to within one seat of the 60 needed in the 100-seat Senate to overcome Republican attempts to block votes on legislation, and enhances President Barack Obama's ability to advance his ambitious legislative agenda.

Washington - US President Barack Obama is asking Congress for an added 1.5 billion dollars to fight the swine flu outbreak that has spread to five US states, his spokesman said Tuesday. The money will be used to "enhance the nation's capability to stop the spread," including stockpiling anti-viral drugs and develop and "ramp up production" of a vaccine, said Robert Gibbs.

Gibbs dismissed the suggestion that the money request indicated a new level of concern by the White House. "In our opinion, this is about prudent planning," he said.