Hmm...I got it too and I have all the crap turned off or so I thought...I assume we're talking about the bbc news flash, "Bush Supreme Court Pick Withdraws"?
I noticed at the bottom of the ad there was a check box to turn news allerts off, I clicked it and closed the windown but I keep getting the alert again and again flashing on my taskbar.
I guess I'll have to spend some time checking my setting...
Regards,
SF