Uganda's Leader Beats Drum on AIDS

Technology Laurels

Finnish Ambassador Jukka Valtasaari announced that nominations for the country's Millennium Technology Prize, a $1.2 million honor awarded every other year, will be finalized in four weeks.

The award was inaugurated in 2004 to celebrate innovations that have improved the quality of life and moved technology closer to people. The first prize was awarded to Tim Berners-Lee , a Briton who developed the World Wide Web. Berners-Lee never made a dime from his invention, Valtasaari said at a dinner Monday night at his contemporary-style embassy.

Jaakko Ihamuotila , chairman of the Millennium Prize Foundation, said the prize was created not only to recognize innovations but also to help provide answers through technology to the challenges of the times, in health, environment and other areas.

"Our prize is unique because it has an international selecting committee and any nationality is eligible," he said.

The winner will be announced in June 2006, just as Finland takes over the presidency of the European Union. The award ceremony will be held that September in Helsinki.

Finland is thriving as a leader in technology. The country has increased its information technology income by 20 percent a year and its productivity by 10 percent as a result, Valtasaari said. "The story is not over. We owe somebody something," he said.

A New Ambassador

Sultan Qaboos bin Said , the ruler of Oman, issued a decree Tuesday designating Huneina Bin Ahmed Al Mughairia as his choice for ambassador to Washington.

She will become Oman's second female ambassador; Khadija Allawati was appointed to the Netherlands in 1999.