News In Brief

DID YOU GET MY E-MAIL?

Under Islamic law in the United Arab Emirates, a man can annul his marriage in certain situations by simply telling his spouse, "I divorce you." But does this mean a husband can send the news via e-mail? A court in Dubai is taking up the question, reports the Gulf News, after a US citizen of Arab origin did just that to his Saudi wife. In an apparent effort to make sure all his bases were covered, however, the man has since registered at a court his decision to divorce, the newspaper said.

NO MEALS ON WHEELS

It seemed like an innocent enough act: eating a KitKat candy bar while cruising down a motorway. But police in England weren't amused, giving Kevin Storey a $30 ticket - a fixed penalty - for taking one hand off the steering wheel. "I burst out laughing because it all seemed so petty," said Storey. Following public outcry, police agreed to quash the fine. How appropriate, given that part of an advertising jingle for KitKat is "Gimme a break."

Magazine names America's best corporate citizens

For some businesses, the bottom line means more than making top dollar. Companies are increasingly putting a premium on being socially responsible. Business Ethics magazine recently ranked top US firms according to their impact on consumers, employees, stockholders, and the community - criteria designed to measure "corporate citizenship." Buoyed by thriving revenues, computer and telecommunications companies figured well, as did financial institutions. The magazine's top 10 corporate citizens and the overall rating each received, based on a five-point scale:

1. IBM 4.152

2. Hewlett-Packard 4.110

3. Intel 4.045

4. Procter & Gamble 4.042

5. Herman Miller 4.022

6. Xerox 4.018

7. Tellabs 3.960

8. Charles Schwab 3.937

9. Fannie Mae 3.877

10. Times Mirror Co. 3.870

(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society