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The article lists and discusses the so-called 50 best inventions of the year that include the Ares 1 rocket developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the company Clean Seas' development of landlocked tank breeding of southern bluefin tuna in Arno Bay, Australia, and Philips Electronics' development of a 10-watt light emitting diode (LED) bulb that substitutes for a 60-watt household incandescent bulb and last 25 times as long. INSET: Flying Lessons..

This article is about a man named Magnus Scheving, a former aerobics champion who created and stars in a hit children's television show called "LazyTown," which encourages children to eat healthy and remain active. His character on the show is named Sportacus, and in Iceland, the show has been credited with reducing childhood obesity and improving fitness.

The article discusses how the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto will affect the promotion of democracy in Pakistan. The author suggests that the U.S. supported Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to ensure the country's stability against Islamic extremists. Bhutto had returned to Pakistan to participate in elections. Bhutto's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardani, will serve as head of the political group Pakistan People's Party (PPP). INSETS: The Cursed Dynasty;Time for a Change.

Focuses on terrorist attacks in London, England in which subways and commuter buses were bombed on July 7, 2005. Report that the attack, which was the largest in London since World War II, killed at least 49 and injured 700; Description of the initial investigations by police and forensics experts; Claim of responsibility for the attack by a group connected to Al Qaeda, who cited retaliation for Great Britain's support of U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; Suspicion of investigators that British Moroccans tied to Al Qaeda were behind the bombings; Potential links between the bombing and London and the bombing of trains Madrid, Spain, in March, 2004; Details of Great Britain's policies in the War on Terrorism. INSET: DEADLY COMMUTE.

Discusses James Bond films, the celebration of 40 years as a franchise, and the release of the motion picture 'Die Another Day,' which stars Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry. Efforts of producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson to promote the Bond character; Details of the movie.

A quiz concerning events that happened in 2006 is presented.

This article discusses Westerners who have converted to conservative Islam. Jamaal Harwood is profiled as a Canadian living in London, England who converted to radical Islam from Christianity. Harwood is part of a Muslim group known for its jihadist views, and the article discusses the trend of converts joining extremist Muslim organizations.

This article considers counter-terrorism security challenges faced by Britain. More than any other nation in the developed world, it encounters the greatest flow of extremist information and ideologies transmitted from Pakistan-based radicals. The article raises concern over the susceptibility of Britain's Muslim community to ideas of radical extremism, particularly following the arrests of 24 of its members believed to be behind the plot to explode airliners bound for the United States.

Focuses on police raids in England aimed at detaining suspects in the failed bombing attempt in London on July 21, 2005. Description of a raid in the Peabody housing estate in London, which was captured on live television; Capture of Yasin Hassan Omar, who is believed to have planned the failed bombing of the Warren Street underground station; Captures of Ibrahim Muktar Said and Ramzi Mohammed, additional suspects; Comments from British antiterrorism-police chief Peter Clarke on the speed of the operations; Questions on whether or not this is part of a larger network of Muslim extremists.

Discusses the investigation into the murder of Christa Worthington in Truro, Mass., where the decision of police to swab residents for DNA is being met with mixed reactions. Description of the murder; Profile of the small town; Significance of the evidence found on the victim, which police are looking to match; Comments by townspeople in reaction to the voluntary swab; Consideration of the low success rate of DNA dragnets.

The article, in a section on heroes of the environment, discusses designer Valerie Casey of San Francisco, California who started the so-called Designers Accord to globalize sustainable design concepts. It notes how her work in diaper design led to her initiation of the accord, its associated goals of carbon-use and packaging reduction, and buy-in by thousands of design firms and colleges.

The article presents several new technologies in crowd control. The United States military unveiled the Active Denial System on January 24, 2007, which creates an intense burning sensation using a beam of electromagnetic radiation and can be used in crowd control applications to force people to flee without inflicting permanent injury. The Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response uses laser beams to cause temporary blindness, and a Long-Range Acoustic Device blasts out a high-pitched piercing sound causing an intense headache and incapacitation.

The article focuses on the birth of pandas in 2006. Thirty-one pandas were born in captivity in China, three times the number born in 2000. The Chinese Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda plans to grow the captive-bred population from 120 panda to 300 within 10 years. Details of how the experts got the pandas to mate are discussed.

The article presents brief obituaries for a variety of public figures, including: 87-year-old Comedian Red Buttons, 60-year-old photographer Catherine Leroy, 88-year-old actress June Allyson, 90-year-old actor Bernard Hughes, and 60-year-old musician Syd Barrett of the rock band Pink Floyd. The death of 41-year-old Chechen terrorist Shamil Basayev is also announced.

The article offers news about notable people including the arrests of Italian officials Marco Mancini and Gustavo Pignero for their role in a 2003 kidnapping, the death of former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay, and the death of comedian Jan Murray.

Focuses on James Bond motion pictures and EON, the family business of Albert (Cubby) Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, who set up the production house in 1961. Management of the London, England-based company by a second generation of Broccolis, daughter Barbara and stepson Michael Wilson; Background on the two who are promoting the Bond franchise; History of the business.