The leading Democratic candidates capped months of expensive advertising Wednesday with evening news appeals to Iowa voters as Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton focused on change and John Edwards relied on a laid-off worker to make his case.


We beat China though! Go team! Former world power and current CCTV capital of the universe the UK has been fingered as the worst place in Europe if you fancy a little bit of privacy.â¦


Torino, 19:21 - CALCIO, CAGLIARI; BALLARDINI: UN PAREGGIO MERITATISSIMO

Al termine di Juve-Cagliari il tecnico sardo Ballardini giustamente soddisfatto e orgoglioso: "Abbia...


Did Assignment Zero Fail? A Look Back, and Lessons Learned

A grueling experiment in citizen journalism comes to an end. Now it's time to assess what was done, and how it can be done better next time.


Nadal Foils Federer Again in French Final

PARIS -- Roger Federer missed another chance at the French Open. Actually, he missed 16 chances. Federer converted only one of 17 break-point opportunities Sunday, and his bid to complete a career Grand Slam was foiled again Sunday by nemesis Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard won his third Roland Garros...


Spanish power firm Iberdrola is expanding into the US by buying Energy East Corp for $4.5bn.


Will making the biggest cut to a key interest rate in nearly 20 years steady US and global markets?


Wall St. Journal to Start Saturday Edition

In an effort to capture more readers and advertising dollars, Dow Jones & Co. is launching a Saturday edition of its flagship newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, beginning in September 2005, the company announced Wednesday.


LAS VEGAS - President Bush criticized Sen. John Kerry as a liberal trying to hide from his own record Thursday as the two men entered the last, post-debate lap of a close race for the White House...


Gillette Co. G.N on Thursday said  fourth-quarter profit climbed 13 percent, helped by sales of  its M3Power razor and blades.


Finland says security, prosperity inseparable

Finland believes that in a much globalized world, peace and prosperity are deeply related, while the only tool to solve the problems is multilateralism, Tarja Halonen, president of the Republic of Finland said ...


Se Confindustria vuol fare politica, lo dica apertamente


Multiple-Car Crash Closes Route to Eastern Shore

A multiple-vehicle car crash today on Route 404 in Queen Anne's County has left one person dead and shut down eastbound traffic on the major Eastern Shore roadway used by motorists heading to beaches for the Labor Day weekend, Maryland state police reported.


Consumer craze hits post-sanctions Libya

Freed from sanctions, Libyans are rushing to the shops. Goods long denied are flying off the shelves as pro-market reforms and a petrodollar windfall combine to turn those with sufficient savings into compulsive consumers.


Ministro del Lavoro, sarebbe manovra a costo zero


Global Liberalism versus Local Liberalism

For liberalism to survive in the West and regain the upper hand, it must have an identifiable platform. And merely opposing what conservatives propose is a recipe for obsolescence. Therefore, for liberalism to win back the upper hand in the West, it must accept that some of the conservative's agenda on the global stage is not only acceptable, but more in line with a liberal platform than a conservative one.


Basque region offers museums, beaches - and pintxos

Many visitors to Spain gravitate toward the cities of Madrid, Barcelona and the more Mediterranean-flavored south.


Judge rejects appeal against Noriega extradition

A U.S. federal judge on Friday rejected an appeal seeking to block the extradition of deposed Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega to France after his long prison sentence in Florida ends on Sunday.


Corinthian gives a better performance and races to victory in a muddy race at the inaugural $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Friday.


Post-Election Turmoil Grows in Kenya, With Over 100 Dead

The dubious conclusion of the most fiercely fought election in Kenyaâs history has produced a wave of ethnic fighting.


Having Pinned Little Hope on Talks, Many Iraqis Appear to Be Beyond Disappointment

For many Iraqis, the talks reaffirmed a widespread loss of faith in the elected governmentÂs ability to turn things around.


So, Kevin Garnett does not want to play in Boston? Stop the presses. Think Shawn Marion is clamoring to play here, either?


An Islamic group behind much violence in Egypt in the 1990s says the attacks in Egypt's resorts were  "unlawful".


Secondo il commissario Ue agli Affari economici e monetari non ci sono rischi per il 2007Mentre l'anno prossimo la crescita potrebbe essere inferiore alle previsioni                                            Crisi mutui, allarme di Almunia "Nel 2008 peserÃ  su Pil Eurozona"


The odds are long, but in a year that has seen the Lightning emerge from obscurity to drink from Lord Stanley's Cup, who is to say the US team can't


Antibiotic Shown to Protect Nerves in Animal Study

Antibiotics could one day be used for more than killing bacteria and may help patients suffering from neurological diseases, scientists said on Wednesday.


Napster Creator Unveils Online Music Technology

Shawn Fanning, once reviled by record labels as the creator of renegade song-swap service Napster, on Thursday launched a new service designed to turn the threat of still


Earnings at E.D.S. Slip 13% After Verizon Ends Contract

E.D.S. reported net income of $189 million, or 36 cents a share, in the quarter that ended Dec. 31. That was down from $217 million, or 40 cents a share, a year earlier.


Joe Gibbs emphatically reiterated his commitment to the Washington Redskins on Monday, quashing speculation that began with a misinterpretation of remarks he made at a NASCAR media day last week.


Verizon to offer more Microsoft services

Verizon Communications Inc.  on  Tuesday said it expanded an agreement with Microsoft Corp.   to start offering the software makers Windows Live  services to its high speed Internet customers.


New Orleans Technology Briefs: May 28, 2007

By Moises, Christian  Heavy workloads, traveling and working from home have made many workers dependent on laptop computers.


The Jeep Liberty, Dodge Durango and Dodge Avenger are included in the recall. Chrysler cited the risk of overheating.


Marcelus Kemp knows how close No. 15 Nevada came to being upset by Hawaii in a wild finish in the final seconds Saturday night.


Fearing Fallout, Tampa And Other ABC Stations Kill `Private Ryan'

There might be stronger words to describe the horror, but television stations are afraid to air programs that use them. A lot of places, including Tampa, didn't get to see ``Saving Private Ryan'' on Thursday night.


Services to remember the dead of two world wars and other conflicts are held across Northern Ireland.


With Victories, City Challenges More Gun Sales

New York City reached agreements with six out-of-state gun dealers, who agreed to let court officials monitor their operations.


Serena Williams is robbed of a point by an umpire's mistake on her way to a three-set loss to Jennifer Capriati in the quarterfinals Tuesday night.


A rebel Nigerian warlord withdrew a  threat to shut oil operations in the world's seventh largest  exporter on Friday as part of a peace deal negotiated with the  government.


Nottingham, 20:22 - TENNIS, ATP NOTTINGHAM: VITTORIA DI KARLOVIC

Il croato Ivo Karlovic, testa di serie numero 8, ha vinto il torneo Atp di Nottingham (erba, montepr...


Talk of next PM 'disrespectful' while in Israel: Blair

Tony Blair's domestic woes followed him to Israel, but he pointedly refused to elaborate on his departure from office, calling questions about it here "disrespectful."


Peres: Extremists May Try to Kill Sharon

Opposition leader Shimon Peres said he is "very fearful" Jewish extremists may try to kill Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, as verbal attacks become more vociferous over a planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip next year.


Oracle Says Latest PeopleSoft Bid Is 'Final Offer'

An end to the takeover squabble between Oracle and PeopleSoft may not be in sight even though, in what it called a "best and final" offer, Oracle upped its unsolicited bid by 14 percent, to $24 per share.


Palestinian Girl Killed in Gaza Violence

Israeli soldiers shot and killed a 10-year-old Palestinian girl and a teenage boy in two separate incidents today during Israelâs massive offensive into the northern Gaza Strip, witnesses and hospital officials said.


Isuzu, NTT set to seal Russian deals next week: report

Isuzu Motors Ltd. and NTT Communications Corp. are expected to announce business deals with Russian firms when Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov visits Japan next week, a newspaper said Thursday.


Pocket Rockets. Minimotos. Choppers. They go by many names, but whatever they're called, these miniature motorcycles are at the top of many wish lists this holiday.


Poll finds Americans more pessimistic on Iraq

As President Bush weighs options for changing course in Iraq, Americans are more pessimistic on the war and most support a quick withdrawal of U.S. troops, according to a new USA TODAY/Gallup poll.


Jungle Still Rumbles When Talk Turns to Ali

Nothing on the damp-infested walls or  among the dirty terraces declares that this was the scene of  one of the world's greatest sporting confrontations.


Harrah's Entertainment Inc. and Caesars Entertainment Inc. will sell an East Chicago riverboat casino and three other gambling resorts for $1.


Bobby Jones hopped off his John Deere tractor and herded a dozen children over to a row of cherry tomato plants.


Tearful Hassan begs for release of all female prisoners in Iraq in ...

Margaret Hassan, the British aid worker being held hostage in Iraq, was seen pleading for the release of all female prisoners in Iraq, in a new video released through al-Jazeera last night.


U.S. Casualties in Iraq Appear to Be on Rise

More U.S. troops have died since the June transfer of power to an interim Iraqi government than were killed during the U.S.-led invasion of the country in the spring of 2003.


Indianapolis beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 to win Super Bowl XLI in rain-hit Miami.


ADV: $150,000 Mortgage for Under $690/Month

Mortgage rates are at record lows. Save $1000s on your mortgage payment. Free quotes.


Private rocketship goes to space and back

: MOJAVE, United States ( A private manned rocketship blasted through the Earth's atmosphere into space after a hair-raising corkscrew ascent on a flight aimed at capturing a 10-million-dollar prize.


Pak has not given up stand on Kashmir: Musharraf

Islamabad, Oct 31. (PTI): In the face of strong domestic criticism over his new formula to resolve Kashmir problem with India, President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday said Pakistan has not given up its principled


Fred Thompson is banking on the idea that it's better to be late than to be one of the other guys.


The European Central Bank raises eurozone interest rates by a quarter point to 3.25%, as widely forecast.


Su welfare Prodi dica un chiaro 'no' a ministri in Piazza


"Idol's" JPL Tells "Stories from Hollywood"

Life after not winning American Idol may not be   all Grammy Awards and People magazine covers, but the show's   also-rans seem to be holding their own.


Republican candidates united against Clinton

Republican presidential candidates  have determined who the enemy is in the 2008 election, and her  name is Hillary Clinton.


Google is giving readers of its Internet news service direct access to the original source of stories written by major world news agencies including AFP, the Internet search giant announced Friday.


Rockers Mix Music, Politics at Pro-Kerry Concerts

Bruce Springsteen rocked concert-goers while trying to rock the vote Friday night, leading a band of top musicians in a rollicking show to help elect Democrat John Kerry to the White House.


Longer skirts, fewer fights for Thai airline soap

The producer of a sexy Thai soap opera  about young air hostesses promised longer skirts and fewer  catfights on Tuesday after real flight attendants complained  the show was sexist and should be yanked from the airwaves.


U.S. lawmakers said Hewlett-Packard   Co. HPQ.N relied on scant legal backing to obtain private   telephone records in a probe of boardroom leaks, as three   former executives refused to testify on Thursday about the   company investigation.


Adobe Ships 'Highly Critical' Flash Player Patch

PC Magazine - The update addresses at least nine high-risk vulnerabilities affecting Windows, Mac and Linux machines.


The winning party in Thailandâs general election said Wednesday it had reached agreement with coalition partners to form a government.


Several hundred people rallied Wednesday to demand an end to what they said was the persecution of Christians in the Middle East that has forced thousands to flee the region.


Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the performance of the returning Rio Ferdinand against Liverpool tonight - then predicted the appearance of Wayne Rooney in Manchester Unitedâs next Old


Blackstone to buy Pinnacle Foods for $2.16 bln

Private equity firm Blackstone Group  plans to buy Pinnacle Foods Group Inc., known for its Vlasic pickles brand, for about $2.16 billion, the companies said on Monday.


Next chapter in Ubisoft's Tom Clancy anti-terrorism FPS to feature darker storyline, optimized graphics for PS2, new gear, and more.


The closely watched Ifo Institute index of German business sentiment barely rose in October, a result the institute said Monday illustrated that Germany's current recovery lacked the strength of previous ...


Bombs kill 2, wound 26 in Nepal capital Kathmandu

Three near-simultaneous bomb blasts killed two women and wounded 26 other people in Kathmandu on Sunday, Nepal's police said, the first since a peace process ended a Maoist revolt in the Himalayan nation in May last year.


Nearly 200 Chinese Med Students Sickened

BEIJING - Nearly 200 students at a school in northeastern China have been hospitalized, apparently with food poisoning, after eating in the facility's cafeteria, state media said Thursday.


Congolese troops retake southern town -government

Congolese forces have retaken a southeastern town from a mysterious armed group and killed 20 of the rebels, a government spokesman said on Saturday.


U.S. Treasuries Recover, JGB Rally Helps

U.S. Treasury prices rose on Friday,  with a rally in Japanese government bond (JGB) prices helping  the market recover some ground from the previous day's  sell-off.


Placebo effect may influence depression treatment

NEW YORK  - It cannot be assumed that an antidepressant has lost its effectiveness if a patient relapses while continuing on the medication, because the medication may never have been effective in the first place, according to study findings reported in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.


Roma, 14:40 - CALCIO, VIOLA DASPO: ARRESTATO TIFOSO ROMA

Un tifoso della Roma di 45 anni, M.A., colpito da Daspo, è stato arrestato dalla polizia ferr...


Mobile phone giant Vodafone is to offer its millions of UK customers high-speed internet connections in the home.   Vodafone said it will enter the fixed-line broadband market "before the end of the year" after striking a deal with BT.


Mayor Gavin Newsom apologized Thursday for having a sexual relationship with his former campaign manager's wife. "I'm deeply sorry," Newsom said during a brief news conference at City Hall the day after the aide resigned. Newsom appeared poised but visibly emotional. He spoke for about a minute and left without taking questions.


Faissola, crescita al 2% occasione che non va sprecata


Lord Of The Rings babe Liv Tyler has become a first-time mother after giving birth to a boy. The baby, who has yet to be named, was born in a New York hospital weighing in at 8lb.


Five convicted of helping failed London suicide bombers

Five men were convicted Monday of helping mount failed suicide bombings on London in 2005 two weeks after successful attacks  that killed more than 50 people.


Mobile advertising still at tryout stage

In the weeks leading to Christmas, an online wine retailer gave 15 percent discounts to anyone who sent in a photo of its newspaper ad snapped with a camera phone.


Bonds Hits Homer 697, Giants Beat D'backs

Barry Bonds hit his 697th homer and drove in three runs, and Edgardo Alfonzo had five hits in the San Francisco Giants' 18-7 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.


Go! If You'Ve Gobbled a Bit Too Much, Shake a Leg - and Walk

By LORRAINE EATON  BY LORRAINE EATON  THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  IF YOU ARE an "average American" - and face it, that means most of us - then I have some bad news this Thanksgiving Day.  You already have consumed, or you are about to consume, 3,000 calories.


Bush, Kerry Turn Focus to Domestic Policies

President Bush and Democratic  challenger Sen. John Kerry turned their focus to domestic  issues on Saturday, sparring over tax cuts and other economic  policies as they campaigned in battleground states.


Darfur displaced say peace talks doomed to failure

AL-SALAM CAMP, Sudan  - A day before Darfur peace talks are due to open in Libya, many victims of the 4-1/2 year conflict in Sudan's remote west have already doomed them to failure.


Music Review: High-Energy Cartoons, Drawn in Jazz

Happy Apple, which played at Joeâs Pub on Tuesday, comes from Minneapolis. But its members, all in their late 30s, seem to have swallowed a very specific New York style.


Yankees Add Ensberg to the Mix at First Base

Morgan Ensberg vowed to take âa million ground ballsâ to learn the new position.


In a Car, a Lesson in Russian-European Trade

Long the butt of jokes across Eastern Europe, the Czech-made car Skoda has become popular in Moscow.


[TS] Sports of The Times: Bonds Is the Fall Guy of Spring

Quite contrary to the notion that baseball would be much better off if Barry Bonds disappeared, the game not only deserves the Bonds denouement, it needs it for the sake of a raised consciousness.


The Tigers didn't tear the cover off the ball Monday night. But compared to their previous two games -- both shutouts -- it was an offensive explosion.


Cassano fa pace con la societÃ  e con Del Neri

Anche Cassano fa pace con la societÃ  e il tecnico Del Neri. Come giÃ  successo con Panucci, Cassano ha Â«chiarito la posizioneÂ» con l'amministratore delegato della Roma, Rosella Sensi, e con il tecnico.


Game makers call for mobile shopping revolution

The mobile game unit at Electronic   Arts Inc. ERTS.O prepared 2,000 different versions of the   game "2006 FIFA World Cup" when it launched, but dealing with   the particular quirks of individual handsets is not its biggest   problem.


Ariad, Merck forge $75m drug-development deal

Cambridge cancer drug maker Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. signed a major deal with Merck & Co. Inc. yesterday in which the global pharmaceutical giant will pay $75 million to collaborate on developing and selling Ariad's experimental drug to treat sarcomas, a type of tumor that attacks fat, muscle, and bone.


A pair of space station astronauts ventured out on a spacewalk Tuesday to inspect two defective mechanisms that are hobbling power generation at the orbiting complex.


STOCKHOLM, Sweden - The guessing game over who will take home the world's most coveted awards ends this week with the announcement of the 2004 Nobel Prize winners.    The first announcement comes Monday with the physiology or medicine prize, followed by a week of announcements of winners for physics, chemistry, economics, peace and possibly literature...


Two schools were evacuated Wednesday after a gunman claiming to have a bomb opened fire and took hostages at a high school near Bailey, Colorado, officials said. Several shots were fired at the school, and the gunman is inside, said a Jefferson County Sheriff's spokeswoman.


The Everton board meeting to unveil details of a new investor has been postponed at the request of director Paul Gregg, chairman Bill Kenwrightâs rival for control of the club.


A Wired.com Favorite Photo Site in Trouble: TheOnesWeLove.org

Bandwidth costs threaten to shut down one of the Wired.com Photo Department's favorite photo websites, TheOnesWeLove.org.


Royal Mail faces an EU probe into whether funding received was illegal under laws governing state aid.


Bosses of Renault/Nissan, GM to meet this week

Renault/Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn will meet his counterpart at General Motors, Rick Wagoner, this week, a Nissan spokeswoman said as talks on a possible three-way alliance continue.


Utah patients seek options after maker recalls Vioxx

Like millions of Americans, Judith Krengel of Centerville was shocked to hear Thursday that Merck & Co. voluntarily pulled Vioxx from the market after clinical trials found increased risk of heart attack and stroke for long-term users.


China crash out of World Cup as Kuwait trounce Malaysia

HONG KONG: China were sent crashing out of the 2006 World Cup by the narrowest of margins on Wednesday after a 7-0 thrashing of Hong Kong was not enough to stop rivals Kuwait pipping them at the post.


Hottest Ad Space in Times Square May Be on TouristsÂ Cameras

Online, an army of consumers is spreading advertisersÂ messages well beyond the Manhattan crossroads.


Murdoch needn't fear 'happy, friendly shareholder', says Liberty

NEW YORK - A share-swap transaction that will nearly double Liberty Media's voting power in News Corp has been described by the company as a "friendly" move.


COLOMBO - A grenade exploded at an Indian superstarâs concert in Sri Lankaâs capital Colombo late yesterday, killing at least two people and injuring 18 others, police and doctors said.


Darfur refugees live in 'climate of fear'

GENEVA  - Many refugees in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region still live in a climate of fear and are reluctant to return home as they don't trust the government to protect them, the UN's human rights chief said Saturday.


Dutch Retailer Beats Apple to Local Download Market

Free Record Shop, a Dutch music  retail chain, beat Apple Computer Inc. to market on Tuesday  with the launch of a new download service in Europe's latest  battleground for digital song services.


Apple results top targets, Mac sales strong

Apple Inc  blew by  analysts' estimates with a 67 percent rise in profit on Monday  as the popularity of its iPhone and iPod boosted Macintosh  computer sales, and its shares jumped 7 percent.


The bags have it at Chanel show in Paris

At the Chanel ready-to-wear show Friday, you couldn't toss a snowball without hitting one of the oversized patent leather handbags made popular by Kate Moss.


Struggling Schilling to join disabled list

The Boston Red Sox will place struggling pitcher Curt Schilling on the disabled list on Friday because of a shoulder problem.


A few hours later, she said she felt guilty staying seated for her final round of Olympics interviews. She just didn't have the energy to stand.


A judge set bond at $125,000 for O.J. Simpson in an alleged armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors.


worked with Japanese forces in Iraq if Tokyo does not withdraw its forces from the country within 48 hours. "We grant the Japanese government 48 hours to withdraw its troops from Iraq or this infidel will meet the same fate as Berg ... and.


Altria, the owner of food company Kraft and the world's biggest cigarette maker Philip Morris, may split itself up to help limit the effect of legal battles.


Australian Stocks Decline, Led by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto

Australian's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index had its biggest drop in two months, led by BHP Billiton, on concern that record oil prices will slow economic growth and demand for metals.


Scandal-hit oil giant Royal Dutch/Shell  will invest $45 billion over three years to boost reserves and  production but its shares fell on disappointment it did not  extend a stock buyback program.


Packed Field Gives SarbanesÃ¢ÂÂ Name ID Added Punch in Md. 3

Establishing name familiarity is crucial for all non-incumbent candidates. And that may be especially true this year in MarylandÃ¢ÂÂs 3rd Congressional District, which 10-term Democratic Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin left open to run for the Senate.


Mantova, 19:26 - CALCIO, MANTOVA: DI CESARE TORNA A LAVORARE IN GRUPPO

Doppia seduta di allenamento per il Mantova, con il tecnico Di Carlo che al mattino ha fatto lavorar...


Grande festa alla mezzanotte nella capitale Valletta


Como nel top ten delle province italiane più pensionate

La provincia di Como è la decima, in Italia, per numero di pensionati sul totale della popolazione residente. Lo dice l?ultima ricerca, diffusa ieri, dell?Ufficio studi dell?Associazione artigiani e piccole impresa di Mestre (Cgia). Nel Comasco, il 35,5% ...


Osama Bin Laden's Driver to Be Arraigned

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba Aug. 24, 2004 - Salim Ahmed Hamdan says he earned a pittance for his family as Osama bin Laden's driver prior to the Sept.


U.S. Marine engineers began assessing damage in Fallujah on Monday, driving through tableaux of devastation as huge explosions shook the city and the belching whir of a U.S. warplane's machine guns sounded overhead while troops fought with holdout insurgents.


Business & money: Â·  Ronald Cohen attacked over comments on tax Â·  Buyout firms to face grilling by MPs this week


Will Brown sign up to Blair's baby? The Office of Government Commerce has appealed against an order by the Information Tribunal that it must publish official documents that assess the justification for the government's identity card scheme.â¦


Pedro, Red Sox offer up few Rays of hope

In Pedro Martinez [stats, news]' first start since conceding to the New York Yankees [stats, schedule] by declaring that the Red Sox [stats, schedule]' rivals were his ``daddy,'' the Tampa


Bush Adds 8 More Countries to Malaria Fight

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush hosted a summit on malaria today and added eight more African countries to a White House initiative aimed at taming the mosquito-borne disease that still claims more than a million lives a year, mostly young children in sub-Saharan Africa.


Forget Boston. It Is the East vs. the West.

HE Yankees began last night with a six-game cushion in the loss column over Anaheim in the playoff race, the only race that is truly meaningful in a sport whose past two champions did not win their measly four- and five-team divisions.


Six hours after British yachtsman Mike Golding turned back 80 miles in the Five Oceans solo round the world race and rescued rival Alex Thomson, his race was in tatters on Friday after his yacht's mast broke in two places.


A survey of teenage lifestyles shows fears over safety and appearance - and a "wheezy" lack of fitness.


U.S. panel against cold drugs for kids under 6

SILVER SPRING, Maryland  - Widely used over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under 6 years of age, a U.S. advisory panel recommended on Friday.


The Times took many by surprise with its announcement that it was abandoning its broadsheet format after 216 years. Few thought it would risk alienating so many of its loyal readers, such


Diplomats discuss 'death marches' papers

World War II is near its end. The Nazi empire is crumbling from its edges inward as Soviet and Allied forces advance. Millions of Jews, Gypsies, and political enemies of the Third Reich already have been systematically exterminated. Hundreds of thousands are still in death camps praying for rescue.


NEW YORK -- President Vladimir Putin should grant Chechnya special status within Russia to end a decade-long insurgency, although some Western countries would like to see Moscow trapped in the ''Chechen quagmire" for years, former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev said yesterday.


Actress Emily Perry, who played Dame Edna Everage's companion Madge Allsopp, has died aged 100.


Russian school seizure causes rift among Chechen rebels

The horrific school hostage seizure has caused a rift among Chechen rebels, Russian officials claimed Saturday and, in an apparent attempt to exploit division, said insurgents can get the $10 million reward offered for information about


Michael Moore Urges Democrats to Embrace Hollywood

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.  - "Fahrenheit 9/11"  director Michael Moore on Monday rejected the idea that  Hollywood had hurt John Kerry's chances of winning the White  House, insisting that he and other entertainers helped spare  Democrats an even bigger defeat.


Smelt fishing is a deep and dependable tradition in Maine, with shanties dragged onto frozen tidal rivers and baited lines thrown into holes in the ice.


Jennifer Aniston got one, and so  did Steve Carell, Eddie Murphy and British director Paul  Greengrass.


In a show of solidarity, NATO leaders agreed Wednesday to come to each other's aid in emergencies anywhere in Afghanistan, but their summit failed to muster significant reinforcements for operations in Taliban ...Comment


With the start of the school year, parents need to take steps to protect their children from allergy and asthma triggers they may encounter at school.


Interrogation Tricks Under Scrutiny After Ruling

Doubts about Martin H. Tankleffâs confession tap into a legal debate about how much deception is too much.


Yahoo looks to protect workers in case of Microsoft takeover

Yahoo has introduced new severance plans that would give employees up to two years' salary if their contracts are terminated following a takeover.


THE saga of a Thai wife getting caught in the quagmire of Iraq played out for a second time after British hostage Kenneth Bigley's spouse begged his abductors for mercy from the grounds of the British Embassy here.


Manitoba has the shortest hospital waiting lists in Canada, according to a Fraser Institute report released this week. Sounds good on paper.


Bush reassures pope on Iraq's beleaguered Christians

US President George W. Bush sought Saturday to reassure Pope Benedict XVI over the plight of war-torn Iraq's minority Christians, less than a week after a Chaldean priest and three deacons were murdered.


Princeton to Return Disputed Art to Italy

Princeton University announced on Friday that its art museum had reached an agreement to return eight ancient works to Italy that the Italian government says were looted and illicitly exported.


Six Iraqis killed in Ramadi as Fallujah braces for all-out assault

RAMADI, Iraq - Six Iraqis were killed as violence flared in the flashpoint city of Ramadi on Monday as nearby Fallujah braced for an all-out assault with US and Iraqi troops massing in the rebel heartlands.


Exelon's proposed purchase of a New Jersey company for about $12 billion will make Chicago the headquarters of the nation's largest utility.


Cisco completes interoperability with Microsoft security platform, forges marketing alliance with SAP.


PEUGEOTâS Marcus Gronholm has taken a step closer to claiming his second win of the season after finishing on top after the opening day of the Rally Australia.


Church congregations in north-east India are preparing to hold special services after blasts and gun attacks killed at least 56 people on Saturday.


PeopleSoft Board Rejects Oracle's Takeover Bid Despite ...

PeopleSoft Inc.'s board of directors unanimously rejected Oracle Corp.'s takeover offer Saturday, Nov. 20, only hours after PeopleSoft stockholders tendered a majority of their shares in favor of the deal.


Ha nominato il cardinale Ruini suo inviato speciale


Market falls with financials, Bhutto assassination

Stock indexes dropped more than 1 percent each on Thursday, pressured by financial stocks after an analyst warned of larger write-offs in the sector and an assassination in Pakistan.


The Pittsburgh Steelers had hoped to ease rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into the lineup at some point this season, but an injury to starter Tommy Maddox has Roethlisberger making his first career start against a tough Miami Dolphins defense this


Is Bellevue Changing? -- Some Members Say Church Leaving Its Traditional Roots

By James Dowd dowd@commercialappealcom  Recent changes at Bellevue Baptist Church have led to online protests by some members, but church leaders on Tuesday dismissed claims that the congregation is abandoning its traditional structure.


Guitar Auction to Benefit Charley Victims

Radio giant Clear Channel Communications will raise money for Hurricane Charley victims by auctioning guitars autographed by musical stars, among them Britney Spears, Tom Petty and Kenny Rogers.


Da studi settore 3,2 miliardi, 364 milioni da bollo auto


MetLife expects 07 earnings to be below consensus

MetLife Inc. , the largest U.S. life insurer, guided 2006 and 2007 earnings estimates down slightly on Wednesday, pressuring its shares.


Shareholders in the Chicago Board of Trade approve its $11.9bn (Â£5.9bn) merger with Chicago Mercantile Exchange.


Skiers and mountain rescue workers call them the "The White Death" — killer avalanches hundreds of yards wide that sometimes exceed 100 mph and sweep away everything in their path.


cooperates with the Iraqi government, and has posted a video tape on its website of the apparent beheadings. top of their bodies. The three men were shown introducing themselves as KDP members and showing their identification.


Despite Record Earnings, Investors Trash Apple Stock

After announcing record-breaking revenues and profits in its most recently concluded quarter, Apple saw its stock slide precipitously in trading today. Investors were spooked by smaller than expected forecasts, although analysts say the company's fundamentals are still sound.


Having denied rumours for the past week that the Scot would run for them, Red Bull finally came clean first thing on Wednesday morning.


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- PeopleSoft's arsenal of takeover defenses isn't expected to include a big rival to Oracle. Free!


Non si conosce identita', forse vittima di una rapina


US President Bush will veto a package of funding for troops amid Iraq lawsuit fears, the White House says.


This season will likely be the most successful yet for the Northeast-10 Conference, thanks to a change in the Division 2 playoff format.The NCAA tournament expands from 16 to 24 teams, adding two to each of the four regionals. Even better for the NE-10, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference -- home of last year's Division 2 national champion, Grand Valley ...


Britain recorded economic growth of 3.1 percent last year, picking up after a rate of 2.9 percent in 2006, according to official data published on Wednesday.


India,Sports ; Jankovic to joust with Sharapova for semis spot

The win puts world number 36 Jankovic into a clash with the current teenage queen of the game Sharapova, who has played only one match to reach the last eight here after a bye.


LONDON, Sept. 6 -- President Bush's decision to transfer 14 suspected terrorists to a U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from secret CIA detention centers was greeted Wednesday with skepticism among human rights advocates and some lawmakers in Europe.


The lethal Ebola virus has resurfaced in central Congo, U.N. officials said, and health experts were rushing supplies and doctors into the remote area to contain the disease.


Iran to halt gasoline imports, impose rationing

Iran will halt gasoline imports from  September 23 and start rationing gasoline supplies to motorists  because of budget constraints, Iranian Oil Minister Kazem  Vaziri-Hamaneh said on Friday.


A new startup hopes to draw cell phone users with a service that allows them to design channel lineups for watching videos on their phones.


American Lindsay Davenport captured her fourth consecutive title, beating second seed Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the $US170,000 WTA Cincinnati Open on Sunday.


Dale Earnhardt Jr. has decided where he will drive next season, and all signs point to Hendrick Motorsports.


Euronext to continue takeover talks with LSE on cash offer

Euronext, the pan-European exchange operator, said it would continue talks to acquire the London Stock Exchange via a cash offer.


Electric cars may not be solution to all world problems

Flame storm fails to alter reality Recent Reg coverage of the green motoring field has been sternly criticised by some for too brusquely dismissing the fully-electric car, so we're back today with a look at battery-powered wheels.â¦


IAEA presses N. Korea, Iran on nuke threat

North Korea poses "a serious challenge" to non-proliferation of nuclear material, and Iran must suspend uranium enrichment in order to calm concern about its nuclear program, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency


Justice Dept. And S.E.C. Investigating Merck Drug

Federal prosecutors and the S.E.C. are investigating Merck in connection with its recalled pain reliever, Vioxx.


Brazil gives an initial green light to the construction of two hydro-electric dams on the Amazon River.


Mexican leftists, who say the July   2 election was stolen, declared their candidate their   "legitimate president" on Saturday, a symbolic move reducing   the risk of street protests to make the country ungovernable.


MEPs Ponder Compromise over Anti-Gay Commissioner

A political compromise to save the job of the new European Commissioner who thinks homosexuality is a sin was put to Euro MPs in Brussels today.


The company is looking to reach out to the community of users of its software by building a mailing list of those interested in beta testing software.


Iran, EU see further nuclear talks by end-Nov

Iranian negotiators and the EU hope for more talks on Iran's nuclear program in coming weeks after a "constructive" meeting on Tuesday, despite a warning by Iran's president that his country would not retreat "one iota".


La scelta di Veltroni e Franceschini: il Pd avrÃ  un quartier generale di 1000 metri quadriGli uffici attigui alla chiesa di S. Anastasia su una piazzetta adornata da due ulivi                                          Loft con vista sul Circo Massimo ecco la sede del nuovo partito                                                                                di GIOVANNA VITALE


Marquis Grissom fouled a ball off his foot, doubled over in pain, consulted with the trainer and slowly walked it off. Seven pitches later Saturday, he hit


Most of the glory has gone to the big guns, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz . But Johnny Damon , the catalyst for the most productive lineup in baseball, last night got his due when he was honored by Red Sox fans as the winner of UPN 38's 10th Player Award.


Is PeopleSoft waiting for the right price?

A company board member testifies in trial that a sale would be possible if Oracle ups its offer.


When Andre Miller led the NBA with 10.9 assists a game in 2001-02, he had the first stamp of success required to enter the league's pantheon of premier point guards.


On a Super Bowl victory tour, Eli Manning matched wits with David Letterman.


Hoover's launches professional networking tool

Hoover's Inc. today launched a social networking site to help business people connect with friends and colleagues and to establish new connections.


The 36th Ryder Cup is under way at the K Club in Ireland, with Colin Montgomerie and Tiger Woods straight into the action.


There is little Jose Mourinho does not know about football, yet he made a rare mistake when he criticised referee Graham Poll for the quickly taken free kick converted by Thierry Henry in the 29th minute as the visitors were setting up their defensive wall


Oil hovered near $75 on Wednesday but  remained within sight of an all-time high ahead of U.S. data  expected to show a further tightening of crude stocks in the  world's top consumer.


Tunisian Doctors: Arafat Suffering From Flu

A second group of Arab doctors has visited Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and diagnosed him with a case of the flu. The team of Tunisian doctors conducted the second recent medical checkup for the 75-year


Manchester, 13:04 - CALCIO, REGGINA: ACCORDO COL MANCHESTER CITY PER BIANCHI

La Reggina ha raggiunto un accordo preliminare con il Manchester City per la cessione dell'attaccant...


Singh on Top of the World After Deutsche Bank Win

NORTON, Massachusetts  - Fiji's majestic Vijay  Singh took over as world number one from playing partner Tiger  Woods after winning the Deutsche Bank Championship by three  strokes at the Tournament Players Club Monday.


Karzai names warlords to 2 governorships

KABUL President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan appointed two warlords and former cabinet members to influential governorships in an effort to keep the strongmen happy - but outside of his central government.


The United States will not wait long before resorting to legal action in the trade dispute over government support for Airbus and Boeing, US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said on Tuesday.


Parigi, 11:53 - CALCIO, FRANCIA: RIBEY GIOCATORE DELL'ANNO PER FRANCE FOOTBALL

Franck Ribery (Bayern Monaco) è stato eletto miglior giocatoe francese del 2007 dal magazine ...


Beaching his campaign on the very sands from which George W. Bush attacked his character two days earlier, Sen. John Kerry yesterday accused the president of not telling Americans


Iraq's deputy prime minister outlines his vision of his country's future in a lecture in south Wales.


Domani dossier Fides su ÂLÂeutanasia neonataleÂ CittÃ  del Vaticano (Agenzia Fides) - Domani, sabato 9 febbraio, lÂAgenzia Fides pubblicherÃ  un dossier dal titolo ÂLÂeutanasia neonataleÂ, anche a sostegno della iniziativa promossa dal quotidiano italiano ÂIl FoglioÂ per una moratoria sullÂaborto. (...


Rowling angered as NYT reviews last Potter

LONDON/NEW YORK  - The New York Times and the Baltimore Sun published reviews of the final Harry Potter book on Thursday before it went on sale, drawing a stinging response from author J.K. Rowling.


Apple Computers is attempting to nab the domain www.itunes.co.uk from a British entrepreneur in a true David vs. Goliath battle. Benjamin Cohen registered his domain in 2000 for a music search engine called âCyberBritainâ.


White House, Democrats Battle Over Bush Service

Democrat John Kerry rejected President Bush's claims of compassion on Thursday and said he had "walked right by" Americans in need, while the White House called questions about Bush's Vietnam-era National Guard service a sign of Democratic desperation.


The UN nuclear watchdog said on Thursday it was still talking with Brazil about inspecting its uranium enrichment plant despite Brazil's assertion an inspection deal had been finalized.


New York, 10:57 - BASEBALL, MAJOR LEAGUE: RISULTATI

Risultati delle gare disputate nella notte e valide per la regular season della Major League Basebal...


Domestic deal seen as likely end to Societe Generale debacle: analysts

Takeover talk swirled around Societe Generale bank on Friday, driving up its shares, with analysts expecting an all-French outcome to the rogue trader debacle.


Sudan FM hails efforts of European Union in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Oct 24, 2004 (SUNA) -- The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mustafa Osman Ismail, has hailed the efforts being exerted by the European Union in Sudan, particularly in the fields of humanitarian aid in Darfur region.


Four paparazzi arrested after chasing Britney Spears

Four photographers were arrested for reckless driving after a late night car chase of pop star Britney Spears on the outskirts of Los Angeles, police said on Thursday.


Smell test may predict Alzheimerâs disease

WASHINGTON - A simple scratch and sniff test may help doctors identify patients with Alzheimerâs disease, researchers said Monday.


Packer backing lacking: Slow start depresses fans, sales

The Packers' win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday was better than a good dose of Prozac for fans who were beginning to sink into depression over Green Bay's dismal start this season.


Elvis Costello Announces U.S. Tour Dates

Elvis Costello & The Imposters have announced a U.S. tour in support of their Grammy-nominated album, "The Delivery Man."


Level 3 lights up U.S. fiber net for France TÃ©lÃ©com

Just over four years into a 20-year agreement, France TÃ©lÃ©com SA is abandoning a U.S. dark-fiber network it rented from Level 3 Communications Inc. -- and replacing it with a network of lit fibers, also from Level 3, the companies announced Tuesday.


Intel Scraps Pentium 4 Chip for New Design

The scuttling of the chip raises the risk that Intel might fall behind AMD in the race to create the fastest processors. Some saw the move as desperate attempt to deal with the fact that


BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation, launched on Tuesday a service allowing consumers to download its TV shows from Apple's iTunes website.


The software could recognize a package that had been left in a public park or a car parked where no car is supposed to be.


Eighties rock group The Police announce plans for a world tour to mark 30th anniversary of the band's reunion.


France Races Against Clock in Iraq Hostage Crisis

France scrambled to secure the freedom of  two French journalists kidnapped by Iraqi militants who gave  Paris until Monday evening to drop its controversial ban on  Muslim headscarves in schools.


Brazil says it will crank up  uranium enrichment after getting the green light from UN nuclear inspectors.


Atmosfera disco-dance per una sfilata giocosa


GAZA CITY: Israeli troops killed five Palestinians yesterday as tanks pushed into the southern Gaza Strip in search of militants behind mortar and rocket fire on Jewish settlements.


H.I.M., The Rasmus Singers To Perform 'Bittersweet' With Apocalyptica

H.I.M. frontman Ville Valo and THE RASMUS singer Lauri YlA nen are expected to join APOCALYPTICA for the world-premiere live rendition of their single "Bittersweet" at a benefit concert for the victims of the ...


Jeff Green scores 20 points and grabs 10 rebounds as Georgetown survives a late run by Long Beach State for a 57-51 win in the consolation round of the Rainbow Classic on Wednesday.


McCain seeks to overcome war frustration

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said Wednesday he's out to win the hearts and minds of voters on the Iraq war.


Intel will exceed previous Q4 revenue expectations

Intel is planning for a happy holiday season this month, as it expected to exceed its previous revenue guidance and has made progress in reducing its inventory, according to the company.


Flu Shots for Federal Workers, Military Diverted

The federal government has diverted 300,000 doses of the flu vaccine originally meant for federal employees and the military to high-risk civilian groups, such as people older than 65 and


Apple Closes in on Movie Rental Deals With Major Hollywood Studios

With a 20th Century Fox deal supposedly in the bag, Apple is now close to reaching similar movie rental agreements with major Hollywood studios.


Gaza rivals pull back, free some hostages

Gunmen began withdrawing from Gaza's streets, some hostages were released and many shops reopened on Sunday as a shaky ceasefire appeared to be taking hold in factional fighting between Hamas and Fatah, residents said.


Sudan Army Surrounds Darfur Refugee Camps

The Sudanese army and police surrounded several refugee camps in the war-torn region of Darfur on Tuesday and denied access to humanitarian groups, the United Nations said.


A suicide car bomb targeting an army vehicle in the Afghan capital, Kabul, kills one person, officials say.


At start of 2005, fewer Dover firms expect to add workers

Dover area employers expect to hire at a respectable pace during the first quarter of 2005, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.


Chinese prosperity boosting drinks groups

Growing consumer spending levels in China have helped boost sales at two of the world's leading drinks groups.


Khatami: Iran Will Pursue Nuclear Program

TEHRAN, Iran Sept. 21, 2004 - President Mohammad Khatami said Tuesday that Iran will continue its suspect nuclear program even if that means an end to UN oversight.


Movie Review | 'The Monastery: Mr. Vig & the Nun': A Misanthrope and His Crumbling Castle

In âThe Monastery: Mr. Vig & the Nun,â Jorgen Lauersen Vig comes across as a hybrid of quasi-Dickensian curmudgeon and modern grumpy old man.


China mine explosion kills 56, 100 missing

An underground gas explosion in a mine in central China has killed at least 56 workers and left almost 100 missing in one of the worst mining disasters in recent memory, officials said today.


Ruud van Nistelrooy's apology to Ashley Cole does not look like ending his feud with Arsenal after Arsene Wenger launched another bitter attack on the Dutchman - and his club.


Police in Moscow arrested a suspected international crime boss who has been linked to Russia's multibillion dollar natural gas industry and has long been sought by the FBI, officials said Friday.


MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL MONUMENT, Washington -- Mount St. Helens blew off more steam yesterday, shooting a billowing white plume several hundred metres above the volcano and thrilling hundreds of visitors.


Abu Mazen aveva strappato la promessa anche ad Hamas


The nation's top TV regulator said it would be difficult for the Federal Communications Commission to take action against ABC stations that aired "Good Morning America" on Tuesday when actress Diane Keaton used the f-word. Last year's court decision th...


Cadbury Schweppes drink sales hit by poor weather

Cadbury Schweppes said trading at its beverage business had been weaker than expected during the US and European summer with sales of fizzy drinks hit by poor weather.


Cassini's Titan Data Awaited from Saturn

The Cassini spacecraft zoomed past Saturn's largest moon early Monday, its radars and other science instruments piercing Titan's thick atmosphere in search


Iranian scientists said Monday that the country's first cloned sheep is thriving 15 months after birth, eating well and frolicking among a flock of normal sheep. The cloned male sheep named Royana was born Sept. 30, 2006 in the historic central city of Isfahan, less than two months after the country's first cloned animal, also a lamb, died within minutes of birth.


William Candillon's Blog: phpAspect presented at the EPFL

William Candillon has has posted about the project he was working on for the Google Summer of Code - phpAspect - and a talk he was invited to do on it.   Last week I was invited by Christelle Vangenot to talk about phpAspect and some of the new features I developed during the Google Summer of code.   If you'd like to check out the slides presented at the talk, check out this PDF.


Man accused of stealing Pele statue's arms

A 19-year-old homeless man faces four years in prison after being arrested for sawing off the arms of a bronze statue of Pele, the Brazilian football legend, to sell for scrap.


Interest rate rise by China has West confused

CHINA has raised its interest rates for the first time in nine years to curb inflation and stop its fast-growing economy overheating.


Zend Developer Zone: Zend Framework Gets An Unofficial PEAR Channel

As mentioned in this new post to the Zend Developer Zone, the Zend Framework has been set up on an "unofficial PEAR channel" you can install the popular framework from.   The author, Geoffrey, with some help from Arnaud Limbourg, has created a PEAR channel to use in installing Zend Framework. As with any PEAR channel, the first thing you have to do is tell PEAR to go "discover" the channel.   Cal gives the simple commands to get the process underway, showing both how to discover and install the framework from this new resource.


Cdm, incentivi fino a dicembre 2008 per le due ruote


Under the tested and true name of "Walkman", Sony is launching its new MP3 compatible player. The device is the company's secret weapon in trying to reclaim its


Equity firm invests $100 million firms backing IBM's System i

(InfoWorld) - A San Francisco equity investment firm has put US$100 million into three companies whose business models support IBM's System i server platform. IBM and Thoma Cressey Equity PartnersÂ  jointly announced on Tieaday the investment deals, all completed recently, which they say strengthen the community of software offerings that run on System i. Thoma Cressey in September acquired Vision Solutions International Inc., whose software helps System i servers maintain a high level of availability. In November, Thoma Cressey acquired another high-availability software provider, iTera Inc., and merged the two, maintaining the Vision Solutions name. Also in November, Thoma Cressey made an equity investment in Sirius Computer Solutions Inc. as part of a recapitalization of Sirius, which is an IBM server reseller. In the last five years, Thoma Cressey has focused more on mission-critical software for small and midsized businesses, so the investments around System i are "a natural," said Orlando Bravo, a managing partner at Thoma Cressey, in a prepared statement. System i is a workhorse of a server for IBM based on its Power microprocessor architecture and whose lineage traces back to the AS 400 server introduced in 1988. Like other server vendors, IBM's strategy is to build a strong independent software vendor community, said Charles King, an analyst with Pund-IT Inc., a technology research firm. IBM exited the applications software development market about five years ago because it considered it too fragmented for such a big company to try to serve, King said. Instead, it established partnerships with various software vendors. IBM markets System i to the small to medium-sized business (SMB) segment, which presents a new sales opportunity to technology vendors, King said. "SMB is the next big growth market. They still use very old technology and are not getting the leverage they need out of their IT," he said.


Well Blog: School Popularity Affects Girlsâ Weights

Does thinness lead to popularity for teen girls, or is it the other way around?.


'In fin dei conti quella con il Giappone Ã¨ una differenza di fuso orario non trascurabile e io, prima di questi appuntamenti, cerco di mettermi in viaggio il prima possibile' - spiega Michael - 'Infatti non si deve sottovalutare il cambiamento di fuso e


Court Ruling Removes Hurdle to a VW Takeover

The decision strikes down one of Europeâs most visible symbols of protectionism and clears the way for Porsche to take control of Volkswagen, Europeâs largest automaker.


Futures gain ahead of Goldman earnings results

Stock index futures rose sharply on Tuesday, suggesting Wall Street will open higher, before quarterly financial results from investment bank Goldman Sachs Group  later on Tuesday.


Gemellini morti: Fineschi chiarisce la contemporaneitÃ  della ...

"Nei gemellini monocoriali, cioÃ¨ omozigoti, ossia quelli nati dallo stesso ovulo, la simultaneitÃ  di morte Ã¨ possibile". A dichiararlo Ã¨ Vittorio Fineschi, l'anatomo - patologo che ha effettuato l'esame


UPDATE 4-Vivendi Universal raises 2004 profit forecast

Vivendi Universal (EAUG.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) raised its 2004 earnings forecast as it reported a 19 percent increase in underlying third-quarter profit


A United Nations peacekeeping patrol is hit by an explosion in southern Lebanon, reports say.


By Richard Waters in San Francisco and Paul Taylor in New York. PeopleSoft succumbed to a sweetened $10.3bn (Â£5.22bn) takeover offer from Oracle yesterday, putting an end to a bitter 18- month battle that


ST. JOHN'S - A company with ties to a fish hatchery on PEI is seeking approval to put genetically modified salmon on Canadian dinner tables.


Sprint plans to launch the music-over-mobile market

Donât search your stocking for that rumored iPod phone among this yearâs Christmas booty. Selling songs over cellular is a heated market, but early adopters of music-over-mobile (MoM) will have to start with the basics.


Two Palestinians Killed in Israeli Army Raid on Gaza

Israeli troops raided the southern Gaza Strip Friday killing two Palestinians, wounding seven and making others homeless through the demolition of their houses, local witnesses and medics said.


Indonesian court rejects Ba'ashir pre-trial demand

An Indonesia court on Monday rejected a pre-trial demand of the Muslim militant preacher Abu Bakar Ba'ashyir's against the police, paving the way for his trial of his implications in the Marriot hotel and other bombings.


Tim Henman will play Roger Federer in the final of the Japan Open after a 6-4 7-6 win over South Korea's Hyung-Taik Lee.


Fermato nelle campagne di Rosarno, non era armatoGestiva gli affari illeciti nella piana di Gioia Tauro                                           'Ndrangheta, arrestato boss "Uno dei 30 latitanti piÃ¹ pericolosi"


Potential Buyers Turn Attention to 3 Store Chains

Now that Barneys New York is off the block, potential buyers are circling around Fortunoff, Toys "R" Us and Casual Corner.


General says US troops' job in Iraq won't end soon

WASHINGTON -- Conditions in Iraq will not improve sufficiently by September to justify a drawdown of US military forces, the top American commander in Iraq said yesterday.


An urgent investigation is launched after historians say the Taj Mahal is leaning and in danger of sinking.


Swollen trade deficits eventually could threaten the economy by souring foreign appetites to invest in the United States, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan warned Friday. The dollar, already sliding, took another nosedive after his remarks.


Ariz. Republican denounces 9/11 memorial

The Republican candidate for governor says the state's recently dedicated 9/11 memorial should be torn down, calling it an insult to America because of wording that he says criticizes the United States and fails to adequately honor victims and military personnel.


L'italiano vince allo sprint i Mondiali di ciclismo


GW guard Sarah-Jo Lawrence hadn't left the country until last summer, when a U.S. team trip to Taiwan saw her play international opponents and fulfill a dream.


A doctor suspected of running a kidney-trading racket in India is deported from Nepal, police say.


Cornice has countersued hard drive rival Seagate, the maker of micro hard drives said yesterday. In a complaint filed with the US District Court for Delaware, the Cornice asked the court not only to determine that certain Seagate patents are invalid but ...


Pakistan tells U.S. it's trying to secure Afghan border

QUETTA, Pakistan  - Pakistan told a visiting U.S. official on Thursday it was trying its best to plug its long, porous border with Afghanistan and denied Taliban leaders were hiding in Pakistan.


Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez is wary of Olympiakos duo Giovanni and Rivaldo.


BEIJING -- China's booming economy grew even faster last year than originally thought, the government said yesterday, as authorities made public another measure meant to rein in the growth they fear could create problems.


As online shopping gets into full swing, phishers are setting up fraudulent e-commerce Web sites and simply waiting for victims using Google and other search engines to find them.


Six months after Sadr City erupted in rebellion, US forces are launching a renewed campaign to wrest control of the vast Baghdad neighborhood from radical Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's forces.


Millions of Africans at risk due to misspent aid, group warns

A leading aid group has warned that millions of Africans are at risk of starving due to misspent emergency assistance by Western governments.


Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya won Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix, foiling the hopes of native son Rubens Barrichello and his Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher of Germany.


Nebraska Independent Community Bankers Team Up With Goldleaf and Catbird for Anti-Pharming Webinar

On March 28, 2007, the Nebraska Independent Community Bankers  Association (NCIB) is teaming up with Goldleaf Financial Solutions and  Catbird Security for an on-line seminar covering the growing risk of Web  site pharming.


Microsoft warns of "critical" security flaw

Microsoft Corp.  on  Tuesday released three security patches to fix holes in its  Windows and Office software and warned one of the  vulnerabilities was "critical" because it could allow an  attacker to take over a user's computer.


Gino Guidugli returned from a broken throwing hand and passed for 231 yards and two touchdowns in Cincinnati's 32-14 win over Marshall in the Fort Worth Bowl on Thursday.


Study Raises Concern Over Safety of Pfizer Painkiller Celebrex

Pfizer Inc. said today that it had found an increased risk of heart troubles in some people taking higher dosages of Celebrex, its popular arthritis and pain relief drug.


Bush orders FBI-Congress documents sealed

President Bush stepped into the Justice Department's constitutional confrontation with Congress on Thursday and ordered that documents seized in an FBI raid on a congressman's office be sealed for 45 days.


New memories warm heart of this Bosox fan

Is it really true? Did it really happen? Or was that just the figment of some Boston Red Sox fanatic's wild imagination? Did the Red Sox really win the World Series for the first time since 1918 by sweeping the St.


By Mark McGuire, Albany Times Union, N.Y.  Feb. 18--Soon, as in next season, it will be OK to miss your new favorite show for a week or two.   Critics watch a lot of television. Not a complaint, just a fact.


Siviglia, 21:10 - BASKET, EUROPEI: LETTONIA-CROAZIA 85-77

La Lettonia ha battuto la Croazia 85-77 in un incontro valido per la prima giornata del gruppo B deg...


Candidates to focus on jobs, health care

President Bush and Sen. John Kerry will spend Thursday pursuing their separate strategies for winning the November 2 election, with jobs and health care the key topics of the day.


The UK denies Interpol claims that it could be risking a terror attack by not checking a list of stolen passports.


It has taken us about 20 years of nonenforcement of immigration law -- since the 1986 amnesty -- to get into our current untenable situation. It may take a period of time to correct the problem.


A judge questions French ex-President Jacques Chirac about a scandal dating back to his days as Paris mayor.


Capriati Fails Cut for WTA Championships

Jennifer Capriati, of Saddlebrook, Fla., reacts as she loses the first set 6-0 to Russia's Vera Zvonareva in their quarterfinal match Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, in the Advanta Championship in Villanova, Pa.


U.S. pullout from Iraq would cause chaos: Kuwait

A U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would push the country into a civil war that would damage the whole world, the emir of neighboring Kuwait said in comments published on Thursday.


JERUSALEMâThe Israeli army deepened its hold on the northern Gaza Strip yesterday, killing nine Palestinians as it poured scores more tanks, armoured bulldozers and troop carriers into a new campaign against militants firing rockets into Israeli towns.


McCain rallies Republican die-hards as Romney quits

Senator John McCain is fighting for the backing of foes in the Republican Party's conservative base, now that rival Mitt Romney has quit the race, clearing McCain's path to the presidential nomination.


AMD adds mobile processor to Athlon 64 lineup

SEPTEMBER 20, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Further pitting itself against Intel Corp.'s Pentium-M offerings, Advanced Micro Devices Inc.


Brits can't distinguish history from the TV listings

Historical figures only real if named after a pub Chronologically-challenged Brits think that Robin Hood, Biggles and Sherlock Holmes were real people while questioning whether the likes of Winston Churchill, Montgomery of Alamnein and Mahatma Gandhi ever walked this Earth.â¦


The sudden, major flu vaccine shortage that shocked health authorities last week highlights two vulnerabilities in the nation's immunization system: a reliance on a few private manufacturers that use old technology, and government's faith that companies


The national transplant waiting list has grown to more than 87,000 because organ donations from the dead have not kept up with demand. For help, frustrated patients increasingly are turning to the living — even to strangers. That worries bioethicists, surgeons and federal officials who oversee the transplant system, which is designed to treat all patients fairly.


Iran president urges West to follow God's path

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a   devout Shi'ite Muslim, urged the West on Wednesday to turn to   God's path and said failure to do would ensure they faced "no   good fate."


US tycoon Glazer in Man United share swoop

US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer has raised his stake in Manchester United to 25.3 per cent, boosting speculation he plans to bid for the world's richest soccer club.


Music industry clamps down on song-swapping

London - The piracy-battered music industry said on Thursday it will sue British, French and Austrian music fans as it intensifies its legal crackdown on Internet song-swappers.


China's leading web search engine is cleared of copyright infringement by a Beijing court.


Iraqi Victims to Testify in Texas Abu Ghraib Trial

FORT HOOD, Texas  - Two Iraqi victims of U.S.  abuse at Abu Ghraib prison were expected tell their stories in  videotaped testimony on Tuesday as prosecutors wind up their  case against Spc. Charles Graner, a low-ranking reservist seen  as the leading figure in the scandal.


Swans and mermaids: China daily gives fashion tips

Fancy becoming a black swan for the night? How about an elegant mermaid or an outgoing woman?


Accordo nel settore immobiliare per 3,5 mld di dollari


Sky Capture: How NASA Will Bring Genesis Down to Earth

An experienced team of pilots, engineers and scientists are relying on a reinforced skydiving parachute and a helicopter's hook to safely return the first samples from space since the Apollo era.


Empoli, 17:45 - CALCIO, EMPOLI: DIFFERENZIATO PER MARCHISIO E PRATALI

Doppia seduta di allenento per l'Empoli in vista del derby di domenica con la Fiorentina. In mattina...


Staff at  General Motors are to hold protests across Europe at the company's plans to cut 12,000 jobs.


Wright-Phillips to get chance to impress against Holland

Shaun Wright-Phillips, the terrier snapping at David Beckham's heels in the England squad, will be given his chance to impress in next month's friendly against Holland, head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has confirmed.


Scossa di assestamento, dubbi in Thailandia su 2000 morti


The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed defensive end Travis Kirschke to a new two-year deal, the NFL team said on Tuesday.


Thatâs Crainâs New York, as Distinct From Craigâs

Name-squatting on the Internet is nothing new, but one public relations firm has found a novel use for it in promoting a nascent awards and networking program.


Beijing progress good, time remaining crucial: Rogge

International Olympic Committee   president Jacques Rogge says preparations for the 2008 Beijing   Games are on track but feels good use of the time remaining is   vital for a well-organized Olympics.


Scientists find gene link to Alzheimer's

A team of Arizona researchers think they've found a gene that could help better predict a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.


Afghan Police Struggle to Work a Rough Beat

Lightly equipped, marginally trained and undermined by corruption and poor discipline, Afghanistanâs police force remains weak, though its expected role is daunting.


Jazz singer/pianist Norah Jones' first album in three years opened at No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts Wednesday, but its first-week sales were less than half those of its predecessor, according to Billboard.


Icy weather to keep hold of U.S. through this week

Frigid weather that slammed the U.S. Midwest and Northeast over the weekend could stick around for several more days, ushering in a month of below-normal temperatures, forecasters said on Monday.


A glam mobile that turns heads, a laptop bag that turns you into a granny and an iPod accessory that turns you on. The girls of Wired take over. In Gadget Lab.


A month and a day after voters went to the polls, the closest governor's race in Washington state history -- and one of the nation's closest-ever statewide contests -- lurched


U.S.-led raid, suicide bomber kill at least 12 Afghans

U.S.-led troops killed at least four people, including a teenage girl, in a raid in southeastern Afghanistan on Tuesday and a suicide bomber killed eight more in the south, residents, officials and coalition forces said.


Sony's two MP3 players, the NW-HD3 with a 20-gigabyte hard-disk drive, and the NW-E99, with a built-in 1-gigabyte flash-memory chip, go on sale December 10 in Japan.


Caution urged as gadgets enter the workplace

IT managers were urged by security experts to develop careful policies about how employee-owned devices are used in the workplace.


U.S. Marine Helicopter Crashes in Western Iraq

A U.S. Marine helicopter crashed Wednesday in western Iraq, the U.S. military said. There was no immediate word on casualties.


Winehouse nearly misses husband's court date

Troubled soul singer Amy Winehouse  almost missed her husband's court appearance on Friday as he  fights charges relating to a pub brawl.


Right up until 1 p.m. yesterday, when National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman stepped to the microphone in a function room at a Manhattan hotel, Bruins president Harry Sinden was in the dark about whether the 2004-05 season was going to be salvaged or canceled.


Pakistan is expected to set a new date for elections on Wednesday after the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto sparked bloodshed and rage against President Pervez Musharraf's government.


MANILA - An explosion ripped through an outdoor market in the southern Philippines Sunday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 58 others.


Cambiera' un treno regionale su tre e 300 nuove fermate


Anthrax Is Found in 2 Connecticut Residents, One a Drummer

Two people in Danbury, Conn., have contracted anthrax, probably from animal hides brought from Africa to make drums.


Exploitative Internet marketing fuels child obesity

Self-regulation in food and beverage  marketing is being exploited and is failing to curb childhood  obesity, research by a global obesity taskforce presented on  Tuesday has found.


A controversial bill allowing Pakistan's President Musharraf to remain as army chief is signed into law.


Report: Apple's Jobs backdated Pixar options

(InfoWorld) - New allegations have surfaced that Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs was involved in backdating stock-option grants improperly while chairman of the animated movie studio Pixar Inc. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Jobs approved a March 2001 employment contract with "Toy Story" director John Lasseter that granted Lasseter Pixar stock options priced in December 2000, three months before the contract was signed and when the stock price was at its lowest level of the year. Although the Journal reports it is not clear whether Jobs picked the December stock options pricing date, his signature, on behalf of Pixar, is on Lasseter's contract. Stock-options backdating is not illegal, per se, but there are U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations on how they must be accounted for and disclosed to shareholders. Pixar Inc. has since been acquired by The Walt Disney Co., Jobs now sits on Disney's board and is its largest individual shareholder. Disney said it is conducting its own investigation of Pixar stock-options practices. The U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco and the SEC have been investigating stock-options backdating actions at Apple and other companies. Calls to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Apple and Disney were not immediately returned.


Genova, 17:17 - CALCIO, GENOA: 2067 BIGLIETTI PER NAPOLI, CHIESTA DIRETTA RAI

Si annunciano problemi di ordine pubblico in vista della partita Genoa-Napoli di domenica, una sorta...


London cancer hospital evacuated after fire

A London cancer hospital was evacuated on Wednesday after a major blaze broke out, a fire brigade spokesman said.


The Fiscal Impact of Sprawl in South Carolina

By Wyche, Brad  Sprawl has environmental impacts, of course, but it also has a serious impact on our pocketbooks.


Ships still held up at Nigerian port after general strike

More than 80 ships, many carrying fuel, were blocked and waiting to dock at Lagos port on Wednesday, port sources said, three days after a paralyzing general strike ended in Nigeria.


Somalia's government sets up a joint police and military unit to counter attacks by suspected Islamists.


Siviglia, 22:51 - CALCIO, COPPA UEFA: SIVIGLIA-SHAKHTAR DONETSK 2-2

Siviglia e Shakhtar Donetsk hanno pareggiato 2-2 (1-1) nell'andata degli ottavi di finale di Coppa U...


Wendy's struggles hit at the worst possible time.


Gruppo sale al 37,15% del capitale, via a opa


Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be the best screening tool for breast cancer in women who carry the genetic mutation that makes them susceptible to the disease, according to new research.


TEHRAN, June 30 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who swept to power promising that every family would benefit from the nation's oil wealth, now faces growing domestic discontent over newly imposed fuel rationing and skyrocketing consumer prices.


Colpi di arma contro la missione della Task Force Surobi, nei pressi di RudbarI soldati hanno risposto, c'Ã¨ anche un ferito che non Ã¨ in gravi condizioni                                          Afghanistan, scontro a fuoco ucciso un militare italiano


Greece buries fire victims, hopes for autumn rain

ARTEMIDA, Greece  - Sobbing villagers on Sunday buried a Greek mother and her four children who died in destructive forest fires, as the first autumn rains raised hopes of dousing the flames that have killed 64 people.


U.S. weighs reducing spotted owl habitat

The Bush administration Tuesday proposed cutting 1.5 million acres from Northwest forests considered critical to the survival of the northern spotted owl, reopening the 1990s battle between timber production and wildlife habitat on public lands.


Chicago Tribune - A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS: Anyone wondering how the struggle for the soul of Islam could play out in America should look to Europe. Islamic traditions and beliefs are prompting Europeans to re-evaluate practices and laws as well as prized principles, such as the separation of church and state. Nowhere is this more evident than in France, now home to the largest Islamic community on the continent. For the 11th part of this occasional series, a Tribune reporter traveled to a Paris suburb to examine the future that Europe is straining to handle.


Krispy Kreme Posts Net Loss After Charges

Struggling doughnut shop chain Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (KKD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday reported an unexpected quarterly net loss because of impairment charges and store closing costs.


Last week proved the newspaper industry has still got plenty of challenges.


A method for producing red blood cells in the laboratory could one day help solve the shortage of donated blood.


Virginia Tech: A "Cho"ose Your Own Adventure

It's early on a Monday morning. You wake up and find you have your dorm room to yourself. The night before, your roommates had been talking about "hooking up" with some girls they met on Facebook while you were busy ignoring them and putting the finishing touches on your three page manifesto explaining why you decided to go on a shooting spree today...  You are senior English major at Virginia Tech College and pretty much hate the world. People have been treating you badly ever since your family immigrated to this country from South Korea. You thought that after you graduated high school, things would get better. At least in high school, despite the racial slurs and insults, you had something to look forward to. You'd go to the university, get recognized for your psychological and disturbing plays and people would shower you with money, fame, and love.


Scientists identify two blood chemicals linked to itchy eczema, offering new treatment possibilities.


Brett Favre became the NFL's all-time completions leader Sunday and the Green Bay Packers beat the Detroit Lions. Listening to a dour Favre speak after the game, you wouldn't have known it.


Trieste, 19:17 - CALCIO, TRIESTINA: ESONERATO L'ALLENATORE AGOSTINELLI

Fatale il ko interno con il Napoli di sabato: il presidente della Triestina, Fantinel ha esonerato o...


Kerry and Bush Trade Blows on Gun-Ban Lapse

Description: Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry says President Bush did not do enough to urge the Republican-controlled Congress to extend a 10-year federal ban on the sale of assault weapons that expired Monday.


Sudan reviewing decision to kick out British aid chiefs

Sudan said it was reviewing a decision to expel the heads of two top British aid organisations after accusing them of meddling in its politics.


Soaring Rise and Splashy Fall of an Ambitious, Sleek and Fragile Teen Idol

Kevin Spacey's biography of Bobby Darin is a mess, but it captures Darin's desperation, his braggadocio and his magnetism.


Microsoft to indemnify most users from legal threats

In a bid to further differentiate itself from open-source rivals, Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday said it will expand its indemnification program to cover the vast majority of its customers. The move, experts said, is great marketing but will have little impact on users.


A new Emory University study found that 15 medical conditions led to about half of the $200 billion rise in US health spending from 1987 to 2000.


Aniston tops People magazine "best-dressed" list

Even in Hollywood -- land of breast   implants and botox -- natural counts for something. So says   People magazine, which on Wednesday said Jennifer Aniston   topped its list of best-dressed women of 2006 for her natural   fashion sense.


MUNCIE, Ind. -- Just when it appeared Boston College's football team had left its heart in San Francisco, where it scored a 35-21 romp over Colorado State in the San Francisco Bowl on New Year's Eve, the Eagles mustered enough heart to survive a MAC attack in last night's 19-11 season-opening triumph at Ball State before a crowd of 23,718.


A plethora of prairie dogs present around Hall, S.D., has prompted debate over whether the burrowing rodents should be killed off to benefit cattle ranchers.


Manchester United Football Club boss backs Ruud

The Dutch striker has accepted the charge of serious foul play from the Football Association following his late challenge on Ashley Cole during the 2-0 win over Arsenal at the weekend.


One in 4 Zimbabwe children are AIDS orphans: UNICEF

Zimbabwe now has the world's highest  percentage of children orphaned by AIDS, with almost one in  every four children having lost at least one parent to the  disease, the United Nations Children's Fund said on Tuesday.


Rising textbook sales and strong growth in international bond ratings at its Standard & Poorâs unit helped lift earnings to $452 million, the company said.


People who significantly cut their cholesterol levels with statins may raise the risk of cancer, a study says.


The marketing agency struggles with bad acquisitions and tough competitors.


Thousands Queue for Water in Aceh, Aid Blocked

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia  - Hungry and filthy,  Indonesians queued for water in their thousands on Tuesday as  aid deliveries to tsunami-ravaged Aceh province hit new snags.


Milano, 13:02 - CICLISMO, ALL'ASTA MAGLIE CUNEGO, BETTINI, SIMONI, SAVOLDELLI

Damiano Cunego, Gilberto Simoni, Paolo Savoldelli e Paolo Bettini hanno messo all'asta i loro cimel...


Back in 1991, a president named George Bush basked in a quick, low-cost victory in Iraq and declared, "By God, we've kicked the Vietnam syndrome once and for all.


Personal identity has taken on a new  meaning in the digital age, where basic facts like your name,  address or age are far less important to some people than the  collected records of what you were looking at online.


Bush claims that Kerry 'misunderstands' terror

DENVER President George W. Bush has accused Senator John Kerry of a fundamental misunderstanding regarding what it takes to combat terrorism, holding up as evidence Kerry's recent statement that the goal should be to reduce terrorism to a "nuisance" along


Mantova, 19:45 - CALCIO, MANTOVA: DIFFERENZIATO PER BERNACCI E SOMMESE

Allenamento doppio per il Mantova in vista del posticipo di lunedÃ¬ sera contro la Triestina. Al matt...


When Georgia Tech built a 30-point lead Tuesday night with four minutes remaining, coach Paul Hewitt did unheralded Lafayette a favor and put most of his starting lineup back on the floor.


Cricket: Lara set to play in final says Logie

LONDON : West Indies coach Gus Logie is expecting captain Brian Lara to lead the team in Saturday's ICC Champions Trophy final against England at The Oval.


Group Agrees to Pay F.E.C. Fine for 2004 Campaign Violations

A Democratic-leaning voter turnout group agreed to pay a $775,000 penalty for violating federal rules during the 2004 election.


California Governorâs Plan for Health Care in Trouble

A California Senate health committee is expected to vote against Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggerâs widely promoted and potentially legacy-defining universal health care bill.


The first drug to treat fibromyalgia has been approved, but some dispute the very existence of the condition.


Peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebels from the troubled Darfur region have collapsed after three weeks, one of the two main rebel factions said today.


Moscow has become one of the fastest growing luxury markets in the world, as designer boutiques rush in to meet the demands of the wealthy.


Stock futures were little changed on  Friday after the Commerce Department released preliminary  figures showing gross domestic product rose 2.8 percent in the  second quarter, which was in line with Wall Street  expectations.


HOUSTON -- Two Baylor College of Medicine researchers in Houston are working on a cocaine vaccine they hope will become the first-ever medication to treat people hooked on the drug. "For people who have a desire to stop using, the vaccine should be very useful," said Dr. Tom Kosten, a psychiatry...


Serbia Seeks to Annul Kosovo PM Election

BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro - Serbia on Saturday demanded the UN administrator of Kosovo annul the election of the province's new prime minister, a former rebel leader accused by Serbs of war crimes.


By RACHEL METZ  NEW YORK - Fingers all tired from typing Web addresses from Bebo to Zebo to hit all your social networking and media sharing sites?  Daniel Graf believes he has an all-in-one solution - one you can put in your pocket.


Oil's advance wavered a little on Friday as the US government prepared to lend out some strategic crude stocks, but traders said the amounts were small and that supply worries remained.


The current story-line is NOT autobiographical. Angela and I will be celebrating 12 years of marital bliss in Feb and are in no danger of divorce. If anything, the fact that I’ve never really been touched by divorce, even in my extended family, makes me wholly unqualified to write this arc. So I’m trudging through to [...]


France could boost troops in Afghanistan

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said France could boost its presence in Afghanistan to help the Afghan army and police in a surprise visit to give French troops his Christmas greetings.


NBA suspends Artest for season; eight others punished for brawl

The fallout was swift from one of the worst brawls in US sports history that brought the Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons basketball game to an ugly end Friday night.


First fall in loans since 2000 shows bubble has burst

PREDICTIONS that the housing bubble has finally burst were confirmed yesterday by figures revealing the first year-on-year drop in mortgage lending for four years.


The Oscar nominee talks about his movies, his favorite Boston insults and his own new entourage


Representatives from Britain, France, and Germany were set to meet Iranian diplomats today in Vienna to offer a package of lucrative economic


Entering the inaugural Monday night outing of 2004, conventional wisdom was that the Green Bay Packers would need a supreme effort to come here and defeat the defending


Ecclestone counters courts with cash offer.

Bernie Ecclestone has attempted to shrug off Monday's court ruling, which found in favour of the three banks holding a 75 per cent stake in Formula One, by making a substantial cash offer to the sport's ten teams in an attempt to prevent a breakaway series


World Business Briefing | Europe: Britain: Home Builder Acquired

Barratt Developments, the biggest home builder in Britain, said it had agreed to buy a smaller competitor, Wilson Bowden, in a deal that values the company at Â£2.2 billion ($4.3 billion). Barratt will pay 950 pence ($18.68) and issue 1.06 new shares for each share of Wilson Bowden, the company said. The price represents a premium of about 23 percent over Wilson Bowdenâs closing price Nov. 23, the last day before the company said it was in talks about a possible offer.


Gary Zerola's dark, brooding looks and his work on behalf of foster children helped earn him a spot on People magazine's list of America's "Most Eligible Bachelors" and a tryout for the TV reality show "The Bachelor."


Is Latin America heading for an arms race?

Recent increases in defense spending by Brazil and Venezuela are attracting observers' attention.


Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Sept. 25-Oct. 1. Day and start time (EDT) are in parentheses.


It took a night of hard coding and testing today from the press room at Search Engine Strategies Chicago, but the new Search Engine Journal design has gone live and we’re currently hammering out the bugs and glitches. The new design is the masterful work of Chris Pearson, who is also behind the designs at [...]


Base salary increases remained at record lows this year, and only slight improvement is forecast for 2005. That's according to the latest annual survey from Hewitt Associates, which shows pay-for-performance programs maintaining popularity.


Shangai: Ciampi lascia la Cina, atteso stasera a Roma

SHANGAI - Il presidente Carlo Azeglio Ciampi e la moglie hanno lasciato la Cina dall'aeroporto di Shanghai. L'aereo presidenziale, dopo una sosta tecnica in Siberia, proseguira' per Roma, dove arrivera' in serata.


Man Jailed For Oral Sex Is Ordered Released

ATLANTA, June 11 -- A Georgia judge on Monday ordered the release of a man sentenced to 10 years in prison for consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17, a sentence that had been widely criticized as grossly disproportionate to the crime.


POLITICS: 'Reclaim Your United Nations,' Say Civil Society Leaders

LONDON, Nov 18 (IPS) - Twentieth-century modes of international governance  must be adapted to the new millennium, and the time has come, say  civil society activists, because the United Nations will soon  reach its 60th anniversary, and international institutions like  the World Bank and World Trade Organisation need to be more  democratic.


OPEC output steady, no reason for change: delegate

OPEC sees no reason to change crude  output as the nine-month high in oil prices last week was due  to U.S. gasoline supply concerns and international political  tension, a senior OPEC delegate said on Monday.


McCain, Giuliani Trumpet Bush Leadership

NEW YORK - Republicans belittled Democratic Sen. John Kerry as a shift-in-the-wind campaigner unworthy of the White House on Monday, opening their national convention four miles from Ground Zero of America's worst terrorist attack...


Hospital A&E departments are flooded with 1m boozers at weekends each year, a study says.


Stoccarda, 21:17 - GINNASTICA, MONDIALI: AZZURRE CONQUISTANO PASS OLIMPICO

La nazionale azzurra di ginnastica artistica femminile si è qualificata per le Olimpiadi di ...


SUV sales in Tennessee jump fastest in the country

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Sales of sport utility vehicles jumped 151 percent in Tennessee between 1997 and 2002 - faster than any other state and three times the national rate, a new government report says.


Eisner launches Internet video studio Vuguru

An investment firm run by former Walt  Disney Co. Chief Executive Michael Eisner has launched a studio  that will produce and distribute videos for the Internet,  portable media devices and cellphones, as Hollywood strives to  reach tech-savvy viewers online.


La vittima, un quarantenne, sfigurata a fucilate


These combos of speakers and receivers will help  audiophiles get the most out of the home theater experience.


Former CIA Director Robert Gates was officially sworn in as U.S. secretary of defense on Monday, replacing embattled Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld, who was under fire for his handling of the Iraq war.


M'LEARNED FIENDS for the file sharing outfit Sharman Networks told the Australian District Court that Kazza should be allowed in Australia because it is legal in the US.


The US Congress hears that BP's failure to maintain oil pipelines at the largest US oil field was "unacceptable".


Londra, 17:45 - CALCIO, INGHILTERRA: SHEFFIELD FC FESTEGGIA 150 ANNI

Lo Sheffield FC, considerato il primo club della storia del calcio, festeggia i 150 anni xon un gal&...


LoJack Corp., which makes devices for recovering stolen cars, agreed to buy Boomerang Tracking Inc. for about $48 million to expand into Canada. LoJack will pay about $4.32 a share in cash or a combination of cash and stock for the Montreal maker of stolen vehicle recovery equipment, LoJack said. Westwood-based LoJack also gets Boomerang's cash balance of $12 million. ...


"American Idol" champion Underwood wins Grammy

"American Idol" champion Carrie  Underwood's Grammy victories on Sunday underscored the growing  impact the hit TV talent show is having on U.S. pop culture,  while the awards telecast even borrowed a page from the series  with its own amateur contest.


US toymaker Mattel is set to announce a third product recall in a month, according to a report.


A judge threw out a $10 million civil assault lawsuit Monday filed against Liza Minnelli by her estranged husband, David Gest, who claimed she beat him so badly during alcoholic rages he had to be hospitalized.


The first American outpost of A Bathing Ape, the urban street wear chain that has been wildly popular in Japan for over a decade, just opened in SoHo.


Stocks Gain After Iraq Vote; Citigroup Up

Stocks gained on Monday, buoyed by  Citigroup Inc. C.N, which said it plans to sell its insurance  unit to MetLife Inc. MET.N, and relief that elections in Iraq  went off with less bloodshed than expected.


A gunman opens fire in a Utah shopping centre, killing several people before being shot dead, US police say.


The US government warns of a possible al-Qaeda call to attack US financial online services.


Parliament should sit if election not called: Latham

Opposition Leader Mark Latham today urged Prime Minister John Howard to either call an election and dissolve parliament or allow this week's parliament sitting to proceed.


Annan Urges Prompt Action on Sudan Draft

Intervening in a Security Council debate, Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the panel on Thursday to act quickly on a new resolution to curb the violence in Darfur


The Football Association have said that Sven-Goran Eriksson has their "full support" as they dismissed rumours linking the Swede to the Real Madrid post.


U.S. Treasury prices were higher on  Friday, cementing gains made the previous day, in the face of  growing speculation that the pace of U.S. interest rate hikes  could slow.


A dieci anni dalla scomparsa, molti appuntamenti culturali


Fiji chiefs call on troops to lay down arms

Fiji's military-appointed caretaker prime minister said on Thursday elections may be two years away after this week's bloodless coup, as the island nation's powerful tribal chiefs called on soldiers to lay down their arms.


Pakistan 'Ready to Be Flexible' over Kashmir

Pakistanâs military president said his country is ready to âshow flexibilityâ on the long-standing dispute with India over Kashmir, and urged New Delhi to do the same.


At least three people are killed and scores injured in a series of bombs in Thailand's restive south, police say.


As holiday shoppers hunted for safe toys Sunday, Democrat Barack Obama touted his plan for tighter regulation of Chinese-made playthings, millions of which have been recalled because of unsafe levels of lead.


Cuba says Moore's "SiCKO" highlights its humanism

Cuba's Communist government joined the debate surrounding Michael Moore's new documentary "SiCKO" on Friday, saying the film will allow the world to get a glimpse of the humaneness of its health system.


Fog halts Houston Ship Channel traffic: Coast Guard

Ships were halted from moving along the 53-mile (85.3 kilometer) Houston Ship Channel to the busiest U.S. petrochemical port on Thursday due to dense fog, said the U.S. Coast Guard.


Economy - Thursday      (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - The Mortgage Bankers Association's application index fell 7.6% to 603.8 in the week ended Dec. 21, the lowest since Dec. '06, despite lower borrowing costs. Both home purchase and refi applications fell. Mortgage applications have been especially volatile in recent weeks. Fixed 30-year mortgage rates fell 8 basis points to 6.1%. One-year adjustable rates tumbled 46 basis points to a 1-month low of 6.03%.  U.S. commercial paper issuance grew by $1.2 bil in the week ended Dec. 26 to $1.785 tril, after a big decline in the previous week, the Fed said. But asset-backed paper fell by $15. ...


Tensions between the government and opposition in Venezuela reach new highs after a fistfight breaks out in parliament.


Sutton Goes for Broke in Final-Day Pairings

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan  - U.S. captain Hal  Sutton, looking for a final-day miracle in the Ryder Cup,  predictably packed the upper order of his singles list with his  biggest guns for Sunday.


Roma, 11:49 - VOLLEY, CARVALHO: STOP DI 3 MESI, GIA' SCONTATI

E' andata bene alla pallavolista brasiliana Jacqueline Pereira De Carvalho. Il Giudice di ultima ist...


Ex-State Senator Resumes His Jail Sentence

Former State Senator Guy J. Velella surrendered to the authorities today to resume serving a yearlong jail sentence for bribery.


Therapy Plus Drug Best for Depressed Teens -Study

Talk therapy can allay thoughts of suicide among seriously depressed teenagers who are taking an antidepressant drug and the combination of therapies is more effective than the drugs alone, a study said on Tuesday.


US presidential rivals George W Bush and John Kerry will both campaign in Iowa, a key swing state, on Wednesday.


Sudan Government Accepts UN Plan to End Genocide

Sudan has reluctantly accepted a new United Nations' deal that calls for an end to government-backed attacks on Black civilians in the western region of Darfur.


An international election monitoring organization said Thursday that it will not observe Russia's presidential election next month because of the "severe restrictions" imposed by the Kremlin.


Groningen, 22:38 - CALCIO, EUROPEI U21: PORTOGALLO-BELGIO 0-0

Le nazionali Under 21 di Portogallo e Belgio hanno pareggiato 0-0 in un incontro valido per la prima...


AT LEAST 38 people died today when two passenger trains collided head-on in India's northern Punjab state, officials said, revising downwards a previous death toll of 50.


"Ratatouille" takes early lead at box office

Walt Disney Co.'s rat cartoon "Ratatouille" scampered to an early lead at the North American box office, earning $16.6 million during its first day of release, according to estimates issued on Saturday by tracking firm boxofficemojo.com.


Even if His Own Work Isnât Broken, a Brazilian Architect Fixes It

Today, Oscar Niemeyer is held up as one of Brazilâs greatest national treasures, and he seems as spry as ever.


Economic Models Predict Bush Election Win

Despite an embarrassing failure in  their forecasting four years ago, political scientists and  economists are again predicting the outcome of the presidential  election, and most foresee a win for President Bush.


Panasonic's 150-inch plasma TV part of Japan's push at CES

Big TVs from Panasonic and slim ones from other vendors will highlight the products from Japan at CES.


Microsoft is releasing a new version of its web browser to combat criminals and competing programs.


Real Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Remon paid tribute to Michael Owen after he gave his team a 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev, but made it clear that the England striker was still not guaranteed a place in the starting line-up.


Blue skies opened up over California on Monday after a storm system that had pummeled the state for days finally moved on, bringing heavy snow, flooding and hundreds of wrecks to several states across the West.


In a grudge match before next week's presidential caucuses, Republican Mitt Romney played it safe Saturday with a series of quick coffee-shop stops where he delivered a final pitch that was long on Iowa platitudes but short on substance.


Howard, the Next Big Thing, Still Has Room to Improve

Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy wants to make the most of the talents of former No. 1 overall draft pick Dwight Howard, has twice been the player of the month this season.


US negotiator in China to push for North Korea talks

The United States wants a diplomatic initiative to end the crisis over North Korea's nuclear program. However, a US official has dismissed any idea that Washington is about to soften its stance.


UK hands control of Basra to Iraqi forces

BASRA, Iraq  - Britain handed over security in Basra province to Iraqi forces on Sunday, effectively marking the end of nearly five years of British control of southern Iraq.


Kobe Bryant is a free man — and the Los Angeles Lakers are his team. Shaquille O'Neal, Derek Fisher, Gary Payton and Karl Malone are gone, leaving Bryant as Showtime's lone superstar.


"Ludicrous" to suggest McCanns guilty: spokesman

The new spokesman for the parents of  missing British four-year-old Madeleine McCann said on Tuesday  it was ludicrous to suggest they were guilty of harming her.


NEW YORK The advertising industry is having trouble figuring out whether these are the best of times or the worst of times.


The 48-hour strike by railway signal workers is set to end at midday but passengers could face further strikes.


The Mariners agreed Tuesday to a $1.75 million, one-year contract with catcher Dan Wilson, bringing back a fan favorite who represents a link to the team's historic 1995 breakthrough.


Sri Lanka's navy destroys two Tamil Tiger boats and kills at least 12 off the north-eastern coast, defence officials say.


Oh, I don't mean the factual debate about John Kerry's war record. I'm referring to the argument over what sort of speech should be permitted during an election campaign.