This was supposed to be the first real test for Uncle Sam's lads. Unfortunately for the beleagured United States men's basketball team, tonight's game with Lithuania will be the fourth test in four games. It's been that kind of tournament for the Yanks.


A way of 'tricking' eggs to divide without being fertilised may aid stem cell and IVF research, say scientists.


After 2 weeks, search for Fossett scaled down

Nevada authorities are scaling down the search for U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett after an intensive two-week effort, officials said on Monday.


The Lib Dems warn the Tories they are  finished as "serious challengers" for government.


Kerik takes blame for problems leading to nomination withdrawal

US President George W. Bush (L) with Former New York police chief Bernard Kerik (R). (Photo: Yahoo/AFP). NEW YORK, Dec. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Former New York police chief Bernard Kerik on Saturday took responsibility


Mercury Sweep Storm to Reach West Finals

Cappie Pondexter scores 25 points as the Phoenix Mercury blow a 22-point, second-half lead but recover for a 95-89 win and a sweep of the Seattle Storm in the Western Conference semifinals.


A satellite-tagged bar-tailed godwit takes a week to fly 11,500km from Alaska to New Zealand.


Clinton courts Hispanic vote in the West

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, attempting to earn the "la presidenta" title bestowed by supporters in the West in recent days, appealed to Nevada's Hispanic community Saturday to back her potentially history-making candidacy as an affirmation of the American dream they share.


The newspaper powerhouse joins its peers in reporting earnings.


ST. PETERSBURG, March 3 -- Police clubbed protesters and dragged them into waiting buses Saturday in response to a defiant demonstration against the Kremlin in the heart of President Vladimir Putin's home town.


Former President Clinton Undergoes Heart Surgery

Doctors began heart bypass surgery on  former U.S. President Bill Clinton at a top New York hospital  early on Monday morning, CNN reported.


'Bride and Prejudice' Makes Dazzling London Premiere

Exotic fairy light garlands and Indian drummers in traditional tunics brought Bollywood to Britain with the world premiere of "Bride and Prejudice," an adaptation of Jane Austen's classic tale.


Bush wraps up Middle East visit on peace, Iran, oil

President George W. Bush ends a Middle East trip on Wednesday in which he told regional allies that Iran is a threat, Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts need support, and high oil prices are in no one's interest.


In his first major speech since leaving office, the former British prime minister says the threat of militant Islam echoes that of fascism in early 20th century.


GMTV early-winners debacle comes to a head UK premium-rate regulator ICSTIS has hit Opera Telecom with a Â£250,000 fine and independent review of its operating practices for picking the winners of the GMTV phone-in competition early.â¦


Central Baghdad car bombs kill at least 10:  police

At least 10 people were killed, including two Iraqi policemen, and 15 wounded in two separate car bombings in different areas of Baghdad's central Karrada district on Monday, police said.


UPDATE 3-Adobe profit jumps 62 percent, shares rise

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday reported a 62 percent jump in quarterly profit, driven by robust demand for its Photoshop and document-sharing software.


Oakland Athletics reach the American League Championship Series with a 3-0 play-off win over the Minnesota Twins.


Exhibition shows 'uncomfortable truth' about slavery

A contemporary art exhibition marking the bicentenary of the outlawing of the British slave trade has opened in London, part of a season of such events throughout the country.


Kidnappers give Afghans two days to free 26 Taliban

Kidnappers who have threatened to kill three UN workers in Afghanistan have agreed to give the Government until Tuesday to find and release 26 Taliban prisoners, a spokesman for the kidnappers said.


Ballack still missing as Bayern host leaders Wolfsburg

Bayern Munich are likely to be without playmaker Michael Ballack once again when they face Bundesliga leaders VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday.


While the number of flex fuel vehicles is growing, auto manufacturers should set a deadline for making all future vehicles capable of using some type of alternative fuel. In Autopia.


At least 120 people are reported dead or missing in Indonesia, as rescuers try to reach victims of  landslides.


Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday ordered a Nov. 7 special election to temporarily replace resigned U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, a date that coincides with the general election.


The Arizona Diamondbacks have made a habit of winning most of their close games this season.


AFRICA/SUDAFRICA - ÂLÂAfrica non ha il potere di decidere sullÂuso delle proprie risorse, il continente Ã¨ soggetto alle decisioni che sono prese altroveÂ afferma il Card. Pengo, Presidente del SECAM Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides)- ÂLÂAfrica non Ã¨ piÃ¹ un continente emarginato, dal punto di vista politico. Il ruolo dellÂAfrica nello sviluppo economico, perÃ², rimane marginale. Sebbene si osservi un considerevole tasso di crescita economica in diversi...


The five-year-old naturalised Australian girl seriously injured in last month's bombing outside Australia's embassy in Jakarta is leaving hospital in Singapore for Italy.


Subcontinent covering itself in WEEE India's production of high-tech waste is far higher than previously thought, according to a report by Delhi-headquartered environmental organisation Toxics Link.â¦


League insists salary rollback doesn't fix system

TORONTO -- The NHL won't take a second look at the NHL Players' Association's offer to save the season. In an eight-page memo obtained by TSN yesterday, NHL VP Bill Daly outlined why the league is going to


World Business Briefing: Germany: A Siemens Ban on Consultants

Siemens, the German engineering company, banned its sales managers from using consultants for winning new orders after an investigation into whether money was embezzled through such agreements to bribe customers. âWe decided to introduce a general ban on the use of consultant agreements in our sales organization,â a spokeswoman, Monika Bruecklmeier, said. Exceptions can be granted only through the companyâs head of compliance, she said. An investigation of such payments has spread to at least six countries and forced the company to review 420 million euros ($544 million) in payments, and has put pressure on Siemens to explain how the suspected system of bribes went unchecked by top management.


A UN mission goes to Darfur to see if Sudan's government is  keeping promises to improve security.


Canadian Ian Legatt makes comeback from surgery at Australian Open

SYDNEY, Australia (CP) - Canadian Ian Leggatt, making a comeback from March wrist surgery, had a tough day at the Australian Open golf tournament Thursday.


Sudanese troops and helicopter gunships launched another offensive against rebels in the Darfur region yesterday, breaking a deadline for fighting to end.


The Boston Red Sox now know what it feels to be the New York Yankees. The New York Yankees don't know what it feels like to be the Red Sox.


In-form Alex Wharf made an impressive start to his international career this morning with wickets in his first two overs against India at Trent Bridge.


WASHINGTON - A summerlong effort targeting Internet crime has resulted in 103 arrests and 53 convictions on charges including use of "spam" e-mail to steal credit card numbers, computer hacking and online fraud, Justice Department officials said Thursday.


Study of Wheat-Flour-Based Agropolymers: Influence of Plasticizers on Structure and Aging Behavior

By Saiah, R Sreekumar, P A; Leblanc, N; Castandet, M; Saiter, J-M  ABSTRACT Wheat-flour-based agropolymers are prepared using an extrusion method. The morphology of the native and extruded wheat flours are analyzed by scanning electron micrography (SEM).


Facing Rumors About Future, Thomas Remains Defiant

The Knicksâ record (9-26), their current slump (9 losses in 10 games) and the playersâ apparent ambivalence make Coach Isiah Thomasâs departure seem like a sure thing. Only the date is a mystery.


Forget about sharing the stage with fellow Democrats on cable TV. Al Gore goes prime time, red carpet Sunday night at the Academy Awards before tens of millions, reviving talk of a possible presidential run.


In the late 1940s, the Swedish Academy finally got around to honoring the founders of the modernist literary movement.


Atomic Power Station Halted in Russia, No Radiation

One reactor at a Russian nuclear power station was closed down after a malfunction, but there was no leak of radiation at the site near the city of Saratov on the Volga river, Russian news agencies reported on Friday.


Iraq Trials of Hussein's Aides May Start Next Week, Allawi Says

Iraq may begin war crimes trials for senior members of Saddam Hussein's former regime as soon as next week, Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said.


Procuratore, assassini intenti a destabilizzare la Russia


Dublino, 19:56 - CALCIO, IRLANDA: PER TARDELLI VICE TRAP CONTRATTO DI 2 ANNI

In qualità di vice di Giovanni Trapattoni sulla panchina della nazionale dell'Eire, Marco Tar...


NFL could put franchise outside United States

The NFL's choice of where it will play a regular season game outside the United States has been narrowed down to five cities, one of which could be home to an NFL franchise in the next 10 years, the football league's commissioner said on Wednesday.


Bush Meets with China's President in Australia

SYDNEY, Sept. 6 -- President Bush met with Chinese President Hu Jintao Thursday in a 90-minute session that touched on a wide array of issues and reflected what Bush calls the "complex" relationship shared by the two nations.


Nuova fase di stallo per il rinnovo del contratto


NFL Game Summary - Detroit at Jacksonville

Jacksonville, FL (Sports Network) - David Garrard hooked up with Jimmy Smith for a 36-yard touchdown pass 5:28 into overtime to lift Jacksonville over Detroit, 23-17, in a wild affair at Alltel Stadium.


Armenians go to the polls to elect a new president, as a former leader tries to make a comeback.


Blast in Gaza Home of Hamas Man Kills 4 - Medics

An explosion tore through the home of a  senior Hamas militant in Gaza on Wednesday, killing at least  four people and wounding him and about a dozen other  Palestinians, medics said.


U.S. consumers spent heartily in  July on goods ranging from cars to electronics as sales at  retail stores rose a greater-than-expected 1.4 percent, a  government report on Friday showed.


FDA OKs Boston Scientific Cutting Balloon

Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it received US regulatory approval for a device to treat complications that arise in patients with end-stage kidney disease who need dialysis.


Charles Clarke prepares for a political battle over plans to put terrorist suspects under house arrest.


Angels erupt in the 7th to top Cardinals

Casey Kotchman drove in three runs, including two in a six-run seventh inning, as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 10-6 Friday night.


Durable Goods Fall as Aircraft Orders Off

Orders for long-lasting US durable goods slipped unexpectedly in August as civilian aircraft demand plunged, but beat forecasts once transportation was stripped out, government data showed on Friday.


U.S. private equity firm Blackstone Group agreed on Tuesday to buy Hilton Hotels Corp. for about $26 billion, the richest in a series of recent private equity offers for hotel companies.


Kerry's $80 Million in Ads Buys Him Cover

John Kerry shelled out $80 million over five months to plaster television screens with campaign ads trumpeting his biography and priorities. So what did all that money get him? An even race.


The EU, Microsoft, and digital media formats

In the wake of yesterday's court decision that vindicated the European Commission's antitrust action against Microsoft, EC commissioner Neelie Kroes made some odd statements regarding  Microsoft's dominance of the digital media market.


The Himalayan region of Kashmir remains at the center of decades-long rivalry between India and Pakistan. Both South Asian nuclear powers claim the divided region and the subsequent


July Durable Good Orders Rise 1.7 Percent

America's factories saw orders for costly manufactured goods post the biggest gain in four months, a sign that the economy is emerging from an early summer funk.


Home News IN BRIEF: MySpace Moves into Music Sales

MySpace.com, the social networking website with 106 million users, is moving into the music business, selling songs from nearly three million unsigned bands. MySpace is the latest company to compete with the iTunes Music Store.


Watchdog Teams to Keep an Eye on Environment

By Hamidah Atan  PUTRAJAYA: Environmental watchdog teams will be set up in all areas soon, with Barisan Nasional elected representatives playing central roles.


2 top CIA officers quit after clash with Goss staff

The two most senior managers of the CIA's clandestine service resigned yesterday after clashing with staff brought in by Director Porter J. Goss, robbing the nation's spies of a leadership


IBM expands Microsoft collaboration war to office market

InfoWorld - IBM's move to develop its own suite of productivity applications to compete with Microsoft's Office software is part of a larger war the two companies are waging in the market for employee collaboration applications.


Britain's inflation rate dropped to 1.3% in August as lower clothing prices helped to keep it well below the Bank of England's target, official figures showed today.


Exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam may lead to high blood pressure in some veterans, but the evidence is limited and only suggestive, the Institute of Medicine said Friday.


Talks Resume In Bid For N. Ireland Gov't

Ten years after the Irish Republican Army's momentous cease-fire, negotiations resumed Wednesday in hope of reviving a Catholic-Protestant administration


Shop openings this side of the Atlantic traditionally consist of some feeble ribbon-cutting, a few pictures for the local rag, and maybe even a free goody bag for the first lucky customer to pass the threshold.


Fighting was still raging near a holy shrine in the city of Najaf shortly after the government announced Iraqi police had entered the site peacefully Friday, witnesses said.


When this rollicking 10-5 ride finally ended, giving Boston a commanding 3-0 Series lead, Jacoby Ellsbury jogged off the field having gone 4 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs. He became just the third rookie in World Series history to have four hits in a game.


Canadian pianist - who played with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie - was 82


Andras Schiff starts playing those sonatas, even the ones without nicknames.


Recording companies filed copyright infringement lawsuits against 754 computer users Thursday, the latest round of legal action in the industry's effort to squelch unauthorized swapping of music online.


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Ticketmaster acquiesced to demands that fans outside Florida be allowed to buy tickets for Sundayâs wild-card game against the Giants.


BAGHDAD -- Taking a halting step toward a democratic government, Iraqi political and religious leaders selected an interim national assembly yesterday that includes representatives from many of the parties that control the current government.


TV on cellphone screens? No thanks, say Europeans

Europeans' interest in watching mobile  television is as tiny as cellphone screens, a new study showed  on Monday, even though the industry has been buzzing about  offering TV on handsets for years.


Glazer raises Manchester United stake to 27.6 pct-sources

US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer bought more shares in Manchester United on Monday, lifting his stake to 27.63 percent and heightening speculation that he will bid for the club, sources said.


The Air Is Free, and Sometimes So Are the Phone Calls That Borrow It

New mobile devices allow users to make free or low-cost phone calls over the Internet using nearby wireless access points, which range from cafes to private homes.


Ex presidente NYSE avrebbe avuto 150 mln dollari di troppo


A Russian opposition activist was committed to a psychiatric hospital before government protests, supporters said Friday Â the latest in a series of incidents suggesting a punitive Soviet-era practice is being revived.


Deepening hostilities with Hamas, Abbas seeks early elections

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Eighteen months after his Fatah movement was trounced at the polls, President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority said yesterday that he will call new legislative elections in a move seen as seeking to further isolate the Islamic militants of Hamas.


National Treasure: Book of Secrets, starring Nicolas Cage, strikes gold at the US and Canada box office.


When the US occupying forces entered the Iraqi city of Najaf after they deposed Baghdadâs former dictator Saddam Hussein, television networks across the world broadcast a scene that manifested


European leaders on Friday signed the EU's first constitution, a diplomatic triumph they hope will give the union a sharper international profile and speed up decision-making in a club now embracing 25 nations.


Meg Whitman, the chief executive of eBay for almost 10 years, is stepping down and will be replaced by John Donahoe, president of eBayâs marketplaces division.


Serono, CancerVax Team Up for Skin Cancer Drug

Serono is teaming up with  California-based biotech firm CancerVax Corp. to develop a new  skin cancer drug, as Europe's biggest biotech firm aims to  strengthen its pipeline by moving into cancer treatment.


Despite 6 refusals, NATO will increase Iraq training staff

BRUSSELS The North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed on Thursday to enlarge from 60 to 300 the number of personnel stationed in Baghdad to train Iraqi soldiers, but not before there was a contentious discussion with the foreign ministers of six


Takuma Sato has a year to go on his contract with British American Racing and there are no plans to change that situation. Sato has had a promising year with the team but has been overshadowed somewhat by the more experienced Jenson Button.


IRA committed to N.Ireland peace, but not at price of 'humiliation'

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) said it remained committed to the peace process in Northern Ireland, but not if that meant "humiliation" in the face of its unionist rivals.


Shares in US mortgage giant Countrywide soar on reports that it is in talks to be acquired by Bank of America.


Research In Motion sues Motorola over patents

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion   has sued Motorola , over what the Canadian  company says are patent infringements and "exorbitant"  licensing fees, according to court documents.


Microsoft announces that its Zune digital music player will be released in the US in time for Christmas.


Celebrity wrestler Hulk Hogan's son got a warning and a speeding ticket after Florida Highway Patrol troopers stopped him twice for driving at least 100 mph on an interstate last year, authorities said.


NEW YORK Sept. 26, 2004 - When nervous consumers hold on to their money, Wall Street gets nervous about profits. So the question investors hope will be answered in the coming week is, just how nervous are consumers these days?


Investigators probing the source of a listeria outbreak said Thursday the strain that killed three people was found at a dairy processing plant in central Massachusetts.


Haiti Flood Deaths Climb; Food Supplies Tight

GONAIVES, Haiti  - More than a week after  devastating floods hit northern Haiti the death count rose  sharply as reports came in from remote areas on Monday and aid  workers struggled to feed thousands of desperate people.


Mountain rescue teams will make an appeal for funding when they meet Tony Blair at Downing Street later.


Ape Learning Center Welcoming 'Students'

DES MOINES, Iowa - Azy and Indah are heading to school this week - a unique experience for two clever orangutans whose classroom will eventually encompass more than 200 acres of lowlands, river forest and lakes. On Tuesday, the inquisitive primates will become the first residents of the Great Ape Trust of Iowa...


Putin visits Paris as Russia flexes muscle

French President Jacques Chirac welcomes  his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday at a time when  Russia is showing growing willingness to use booming oil and  gas revenues to boost its global economic clout.


The sharp increase of beef recalls involving E. coli raises questions about whether the Agriculture Department has given the meat industry too much leeway to police itself.


Partial figures place Iraq's main Shia Muslim coalition in the lead in the country's landmark elections, officials say.


MADRID Accusations of racism dominated the preparations for Spain's exhibition game against England in Madrid on Wednesday. Spanish newspapers Wednesday reported coach Luis Aragones's outburst against British


Save money on your auto insurance with InsWeb.com. Get free quotes from several of the nation's leading auto insurance companies. Start saving on your auto insurance at Insweb.com.


Nigerian police arrest the leader of a Muslim Shia sect and 100 of his followers after clashes in the northern city of Sokoto.


High steel prices helps the UK's biggest steelmaker Corus to report a profit for the first six months of 2004.


You have to give starting pitcher Beckett a save

It's OK. You can come down off the ledge now. Josh Beckett has salvaged your sports weekend.


Another bad handoff dooms US relay, El Guerrouj completes rare ...

Maurice Greene took the baton and accelerated toward the finish. He quickly shook a Nigerian and started reeling in Britain's Mark Lewis-Francis.


A plan to pay Cypriot women a bonus to have large families could to an "epidemic" of abortions, an MP warns.


Park fires first-round 62 to lead Samsung

Grace Park capped an almost flawless round by rolling in a 25-foot birdie putt for a 10-under 62 Thursday that gave her a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Samsung World Championship.


France Races Against Clock in Iraq Hostage Crisis

France scrambled to secure the release of  two French journalists kidnapped in Iraq by militants who have  given Paris until Monday evening to drop its ban on Muslim  headscarves in schools.


Coast Guard: Distress call likely a hoax

The Coast Guard on Friday suspended its search for six boaters and said it was investigating the distress calls about their small craft taking on water as a possible hoax.


Zimbabwe opposition scraps rally after police fire teargas

Police used teargas and water cannon to break up a planned rally in Harare by Zimbabwe's chief opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, despite a court order authorising the demonstration.


DiMarco's thoughts on hurricane, then Singh

Chris DiMarco carries a burden into the final round of the 84 Lumber Classic today, beyond trying to chase down Vijay Singh. Sitting two shots behind the No.


Chiusa parzialmente Central Line, almeno un ferito lieve


Fire broke out high in a historic downtown skyscraper Monday evening, belching smoke and flames from windows as firefighters helped workers to safety through darkened stairways.


Thousands of Call Center Jobs To Go Overseas

Once thriving, call centers now are shrinking, a trend that could threaten thousands of jobs. Because of lower wages overseas, technological advances and new do-not-call regulations, call


DMX back in business with new label deal

After being released from his Sony  Music deal earlier this year, rapper DMX has signed a deal with  the music division of Canadian online gaming company Bodog  Entertainment.


Klein derided as mean-spirited for comments about handicapped

CALGARY (CP) - Premier Ralph Klein was blasted Thursday as mean-spirited and disrespectful for saying two women who heckled him over payments to the disabled didn't look handicapped.


Myskina to Face Dementiva in French Open Rematch

Anastasia Myskina will take on Elena Dementieva in the Kremlin Cup final in a repeat of their all-Russian French Open final after the pair won their semi-finals in similar fashion on Saturday.


A dispute over when to hold an election to determine Republican Sen. Trent Lott's successor headed to court Wednesday.


Thursday September 9, 2004 Evidence of the president's fudged war record emerged in time to undermine the Republicans' triumphal march.


We've collected the New Years resolutions of several search engine marketers, sharing their priorities and plans for 2008.


A skull fragment found in a 400-year-old trash pit at Jamestown contains evidence of the earliest known surgery — and autopsy — in the English colonies in America, researchers say.


Leap Wireless to restate financial results

Leap Wireless International Inc  said  it restated some of its annual and quarterly financial  statements to correct errors related to the timing of  recognition of certain service revenue and determination of a  tax valuation allowance in the second quarter.


After early fireworks, Obama on learning curve

Democrat Barack Obama exploded into the 2008 White House race on a crusade to cleanse politics: nearly five months of campaign trail rough-and-tumble later, he is still in Hillary Clinton's shadow.


The suspense surrounding Alonzo Mourning's playing status for next season is nearing an end.


Mike Krzyzewski's orange folder bulges with notes, diagrams, lists and more notes. He opens the folder and instantly snaps it shut, teasing a foreign reporter wondering whether the U.S. national team will play zone defense at next month's world championships.


Fourteen 'Executed' Bodies Found in Iraq's Mosul

The bodies of six young men, all shot in the head as if executed, were discovered in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul Tuesday, bringing the total of such corpses found to 14 in two days.


Burns, Anthony "Tony" Passed away September 4, 2006. Loving father of Chris, Nickie, Jamie, and Trevor. Also survived by mother Yoriko "Cathy" Burns, sisters Mary Lou and Bonnie, and brother Tim. Memorial is Thursday, September 21 at 9:30AM at St.


Iraq's civilian death toll falls in June to its lowest level since February, the Iraqi government says.


Milwaukee Brewers Team Report - August 24

(Sports Network) - The Brewers' recent woes continued Monday, as they fell 8-3 to Chicago on Monday. All-Star Ben Sheets (9-10) was not sharp for Milwaukee, which suffered its sixth consecutive defeat and 10th setback in 12 outings.


Yukos Unit Evaluated for Sale to Pay Bill

MOSCOW Sept. 27, 2004 - Assets of Russia's beleaguered Yukos oil company should be sold for at least $15 billion, a senior official said Monday, as the company's main production unit is evaluated for sale against a crushing back-tax bill.


Sia la donna sia la neonata sono in gravi condizioni


ESPN-Star wins international cricket TV rights

ESPN-Star, a joint venture of Walt Disney Co. and News Corp., has won the broadcast rights to matches of the International Cricket Council, the governing body's Web site said.


Automaker invests US$210 in Mexican plant

MEXICO CITY Auto maker DaimlerChrysler today announced it will invest 210 (M) million dollars to update an assembly plant in Coahuila, Mexico.


Presentate dal governo le misure per intervenire in maniera organica sui consumiPrevisti finanziamenti e sgravi fiscali per industria, edilizia, trasporti e famiglie                                            "Risparmio, efficienza e fonti rinnovabili" Prodi lancia il pacchetto energia                                                                                Corretti i meccanismi del Cip 6, finisce lo scandalo delle "assimilate"L'obiettivo Ã¨ di ridurre la spesa del 20%. Il premier: "Piano organico per cambiare registro"


Some of the hottest offerings in the U.S. are from other places.


Can you be identified by your 'clickprint'?

Also: 'Grand Theft Auto' makers blamed for triple killing.


Toronto's da Vinci Project says it has the go-ahead from the Canadian government for a manned space launch. Question is, can the crew catch up to Burt Ratan's SpaceShipOne, which is halfway to winning the $10 million jackpot? By Dan Brekke.


Europe could be weak link for U.S. terror strike

There is deep concern about the possibility of a terrorist attack in the United States this year because al Qaeda may be recruiting and giving explosives training to Europeans, many of whom can enter the country without a visa, the director of national intelligence told Congress.


Insurer Aviva enjoys strong sales in 2006

Aviva has reported bumper sales for 2006, helped by strong performances for its pension and investment products.


Bush democracy speech in Prague may irk Moscow

U.S. President George W. Bush plans on Tuesday to hail democratic strides made by former communist nations like the Czech Republic, in a speech that may further inflame tensions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.


India ; Government not to raise petrol, diesel prices (LEAD ...

India News, New Delhi, Ending the suspense of the past few days, the government Friday decided not to increase prices of petroleum products, even as oil prices continued to rule at high levels in global markets.


P.L.O. Picks Abbas, a Pragmatist, as Followers Mourn Arafat

Yasir Arafat's body was flown to Cairo to lie in state before a military funeral on Friday to be attended by Arab leaders.


Fight Against Youth Cancer Enters the Recording Studio

The childrenâs cancer center of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Childrenâs Hospital has expanded its arts-in-medicine therapies to include songwriting and recording.


Storm brings wind, rain, snow to much of California

A fast-moving storm packing high winds roared through California Saturday, killing at least two people, dumping up to 18 inches of snow in the Sierra Nevada and cutting power to thousands in Northern California.


After two years of screening programs at the Gramercy Theater, the MOMA film department returns home this week with three series.


L.A. hospital confirms women poisoned by thallium

A Los Angeles hospital confirmed on  Friday that two U.S. women who became ill during a trip to  their native Russia, prompting investigations by both  countries, were suffering from thallium poisoning.


Seeking Savings, Employers Help Smokers Quit

Many companies are seeking to reduce their medical bills by paying for programs to help employees stop smoking.


Want to know how much your boss earns? Or whether your daughter's fiance is in debt? For Swedes, it takes just a few clicks on the Internet to find out.


Ivan raises gas prices far from landfall

Carolyn Roberts was ready for heavy wind and rain as the remnants of Hurricane Ivan approached northwest Georgia, but she didn't anticipate storm-driven sticker shock at the gas pump.


Drops the C word Is Wikipedia running a censorship board? John Barberio thinks so. After more than two years as an active contributor to the free online encyclopedia, the 27-year-old Oxfordshire man recently left the project over the behavior of its "OTRS volunteers," unpaid administrators who act on reader complaints about the site's content.â¦


In a July 28 story about the Buffalo Sabres agreeing to a three-year contract with center Tim Connolly, The Associated Press, using information provided by the NHL Players Association, reported erroneously the total value of the contract and the value of its second year. Connolly's contract is worth $8.7 million, not $8.9 million, and will pay him $3 million in the second year, not $3.2 million.


TONY Blair made an impassioned appeal for Labour to put Iraq behind them as he outlined 10 policy pledges to win a historic third term in power.


Google says it has patched a hole in its search engine that could have allowed hackers to modify the content of the Google search results page, reports PC World.


Mark Lawrenson's verdict on this weekend's Premiership games


Republicans defeated Democrats in the Senate race in Georgia on Tuesday, while the Democratic incumbents were re-elected in Vermont and Indiana, reports reaching here said.


Egypt Among Earliest Arab, African Countries Protecting Environment

Egypt is among the earliest Arab and African countries that gave special attention to the environment issue and enacted environmental laws, said Minister of State for Environment Affairs Maged George on Sunday.


Microsoft, the software giant has issued a patch so that users can view pictures in the JPEG format without the risk of getting their computers infected.


State to Take Charge of Regulating Some Wetlands Development

By Scott Harper, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.  May 30--The Army Corps of Engineers is poised to cede part of its authority for regulating wetlands to the state -- a move intended to speed permits for small developments and road projects, especially in wetlands-rich Hampton Roads.


Vampire film "30 Days" crushes competition

The new vampire thriller "30 Days of Night" sucked the life out of its box office rivals, opening at No. 1 with estimated weekend sales of $16 million, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday.


AMERICA/MESSICO - Ogni anno muoiono 13 milioni di persone a causa del peggioramento delle condizioni ambientali Roma (Agenzia Fides) - Circa tredici milioni di persone muoiono ogni anno a causa del deterioramento delle condizioni ambientali, tra queste 200 mila come conseguenza diretta del cambiamento climatico. EÂ quanto ha dichiarato in Messico un esperto de...


Reports from the Democratic caucuses in Nevada show a tight contest between Clinton and Obama


Three U.S. soldiers killed in bombing of Iraq bridge

A suicide car bomb attack on a bridge overpass south of Baghdad late on Sunday killed three U.S. soldiers and wounded six more, U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Randy Martin said on Monday.


Hillary Clinton places third in Iowa setback: CNN

DES MOINES, Iowa  - Sen. Hillary Clinton placed third in the Iowa Democratic caucus on Thursday, a big setback for the one-time national front-runner in the first nominating contest of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, CNN reported.


Sara' valutata legittimita' detenzioni per la terza volta


China's business environment continually improves: AmCham-China

As expounded in the survey among US enterprises in China released on September 16, China made progress in observing its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO) from mid-2003 to July 2004.


India ; Separatist strike shuts down many parts of Kashmir

India News, Srinagar: Shops and businesses were shut and traffic was scant in many parts of Kashmir on Wednesday after separatists called a strike to mark the 57th anniversary of the arrival of Indian troops in the region.


Roma. Diventare ministro? ''Come diceva Petrolini: non ci tengo ne' ci tesi mai...'' Si affida ad una celebre freddura dell'artista romano il segretario del Prc, Fausto Bertinotti, per confermare che, anche


WTO OKs U.S. Sanctions Over Dumping Rules

World Trade Organization arbitrators authorized the European Union and other leading U.S. trade partners Tuesday to impose sanctions against the United States in response to illegal antidumping rules.


A new drug may give older women with early stages of breast cancer a better chance of beating the disease and stopping it returning and spreading.


Patriots quarterback Tom Brady practiced Monday for the first time since sustaining a mild ankle sprain in the American Football Conference championship game on Jan. 20.


Rio de Janeiro, 19:00 - PUGILATO, PANAMERICANI: SPARITI DUE PUGILI CUBANI

I pugili cubani Guillermo Rigondeaux, peso gallo due volte oro alle Olimpiadi, e Erislandry Lara, ca...


In this interview, Shawn Carpenter, a security analyst recently awarded $4.3 million in a wrongful termination lawsuit against Sandia National Laboratories, recounts why he gave information on a network compromise to the FBI.


ADV: Trade Shares and Currencies Commission-Free

GCI offers commission-free online trading in shares, indices and major currencies. Register today for a free demo account - including charts, quotes and internet trading software.


K-12 Alliance Launched to Reverse Declining Participation of Girls in Computing Careers

The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) today  unveiled the NCWIT K-12 Alliance, a new coalition formed to reverse the  trend of fewer girls pursuing careers in computing fields.


Goodyear to freeze U.S. salaried worker pensions

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. said  on Wednesday it would freeze pensions and require salaried  retirees in the United States to contribute more for health  coverage to cut costs.


Sri Lanka are hopeful of improving a dismal Test record in New Zealand when they meet in Christchurch.


Sitting in his record label's offices, high above the Manhattan skyline, blues legend Buddy Guy looks at a table lined with six of his signature Polka Dot Fender Stratocaster guitars, all of which are awaiting his famous autograph.


SIALKOT: A probable suicide bombing killed at least 31 worshippers and injured 75 others at a Shia mosque during the Friday prayers.


BAGHDAD - Gunmen in Iraq shot and killed the deputy governor of Baghdad on Monday, said Iraqi officials. Hatem Karem was assassinated in a drive-by shooting, while two of his body guards were wounded in the attack.


WASHINGTON Oct. 2, 2004 - The world's major economic powers were far apart Saturday on agreeing how to provide debt relief for Iraq and the poorest nations, as finance officials began broader discussions about the global economy.


Houston Chronicle Help Line Column: Computer is Getting Mixed Signals

By Jay Lee, Houston Chronicle  Feb. 6--Q: My computer will boot up to the desktop, from time to time, when it is in Standby Mode. I use Time Warner Road Runner to access the Internet, and the computer is directly connected to the cable modem.


Seeking to refocus, Intel names nonengineer CEO

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Despite a recent series of product missteps, Intel Corp.'s board yesterday selected the semiconductor giant's day-to-day operations chief to replace chief executive Craig Barrett, who is stepping aside to become chairman in May.


Questions Surround Idea of Privatizing the Lottery

Ten investment banks have lobbied New York State to agree to give up a share of future proceeds from its lottery system in exchange for $25 billion to $45 billion now.


The US Treasury Secretary pledges commitment to a strong dollar, as the currency hits another record low against euro.


Citigroup Inc. (C.N) faces a lawsuit from angry investors who allege they were defrauded in a "massive scheme of deception" when they bought securities tied to the credit-worthiness of Enron Corp. (ENRNQ.PK).


IBM has launched an alliance with 14 other companies to make Big Blue's Power processor more adaptable and widely used. The partnership, called Power.


Putting the Quantity in Unknown Quantity

The Oakland Athletics and Florida Marlins have been swapping high-priced, established players for affordable-but-unproven prospects.


Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist held hostage in Gaza, was freed and handed over to Palestinian officials early on Wednesday after a late-night deal with the al Qaeda-inspired, clan-based group that kidnapped him in March.


It's a rare talent that would make Mstislav Rostropovich feel second-rate in comparison. Dmitri Shostakovich had it.


Schools will be reassured they  have the right to set their own uniform policies - after a court case involving the wearing of veils.


A series of earthquakes, the largest registering magnitude 5.9, shook central California on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey reported.


Chirac Says Iraq War Created More Dangerous World

Last year's US-led invasion of Iraq and ousting of President Saddam Hussein has made the world more dangerous, French President Jacques Chirac said on the eve of a state visit to key US ally Britain.


Miami - US President George W Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry will stare each other down on Thursday in their first presidential debate, a high-stakes political prize-fight that could decide their vicious battle for the White House.


Vodka and isolation: welcome to rural Russia

ZIMNITSY, Russia  - Friday is when the action happens in this isolated Russian village, six hours' drive north from Moscow along icy roads, past smoggy industrial towns and through vast pine forests.


BOJ seen keeping powder dry after historic rate rise

The Bank of Japan, which last month  raised interest rates for the first time in six years, is  expected to keep its powder dry this week as it confirms that  economic growth is slowing and with inflation yet to  materialize.


There is a strong scientific and moral case for using primates in medical research, a report concludes.


U.N.C. Needs Double Overtime to Pull Away From Maryland

LaToya Pringle scored 12 of her career-high 31 points in the second overtime to help No. 3 North Carolina beat No. 4 Maryland, 97-86, on Saturday.


The flailing specialty apparel retailer will close 150 stores.


Fatal Mine Blast as China Works to Improve Safety

Rescue crews in China are attempting to reach at least 92 workers trapped in a coal mine following an explosion Wednesday that killed at least 60 people.


Report: Israel to Let Arafat Get Treatment

Israel will allow Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to leave his compound to receive medical treatment in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Israeli media reported Monday.


Constellation Energy profit more than doubles

Power company Constellation Energy Group Inc.  said on Wednesday fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled, helped by stronger-than-expected results from its merchant unit.


EU, Iran Meet Again Next Week on Nuclear Offer

French, British and German officials  meet Iranian negotiators on Wednesday to discuss a European  offer of nuclear technology if Tehran ends its uranium  enrichment program, diplomats said on Friday.


Astronaut in kidnap-murder case returns to Houston

A U.S. space shuttle astronaut accused of trying to kidnap and murder a romantic rival for a fellow astronaut arrived back in Houston on Wednesday after she was freed on bail in Florida.


CARLISLE, Pa. - A man who robbed a bank by handing a teller a note demanding money written on one of his own checks was sentenced to 11 to 23 months in Cumberland County Prison for that and other crimes.  In another crime, Gerald F.


Democrats seek gain from DeLay's latest slap from ethics panel

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay went on the offensive after being chastised twice in the past week by the House ethics committee, accusing his accusers of libel and the bipartisan panel that judged him of mistreating him.


A booby-trapped car blew up a bus owned by the Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday, killing 18 people in a border city in southeast Iran where security forces and drug smugglers often clash, Iran's IRNA news agency said.


Cortei su A4-A1-A7, presidi a Monfalcone, proteste a Taranto


Tsunami-like waves created by an earthquake may have triggered the world's largest known hydrothermal explosion some 13,000 years ago, a federal scientist says.


Cheney: 'All options' available for Iran

Vice President Dick Cheney lashed out at a U.N.-defiant Iran Saturday, warning anew that "all options" are available in dealing with the Mideast nation over its nuclear program.


Israel's Supreme Court rules out a blanket ban on the targeted killings of suspected Palestinian militants.


Assunta ufficialmente la proprieta' dopo l'accordo di agosto


The founder of MySpace's former parent company Intermix spoke out against its merger with News Corp. on Thursday, issuing a report that says the company defrauded shareholders out of as much as $20 billion.


NASA 'Scramjet' Beats Air Speed Record Again

Researchers are working on scramjets as a low-cost alternative to rockets in weapons such as cruise missiles. Unlike rockets, scramjets do not need to carry their "combuster" with them, potentially a huge savings in weight and cost.


Did you miss Harwich's James Hamilton Saturday at the state baseball finals in Lowell? Or Lincoln-Sudbury's Kevin Scanlon? How about Scanlon's teammate, Matt Miller?


Ankiel drives in seven runs as Cardinals rip Pirates

Rick Ankiel homered twice and drove in seven runs as the St Louis Cardinals pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates 16-4 on Thursday.


Stagecoach is awarded a new seven-year contract to run services in the East Midlands.


Microsoft boss the world's most 'spammed' person

Email users inundated with unsolicited "spam" messages have reason to hope Microsoft will develop better tools for tackling the problem: Bill Gates is suffering more than anyone.


Showtime Has Marathon to Keep 'Huff' Alive

Showtime's new series "Huff" has yet to generate ratings to match its critical acclaim, so the channel is trying a "mini-marathon" to draw viewers.


According to a survey, Mac users are much more likely to have purchased a song online in recent months than their Windows counterparts, but does that really mean Apple's growing market show will translate into booming business for music companies?


Australia and Pakistan are poised for an explosive bowling duel in the first Test, which gets under way at the WACA ground in Perth today.


Quattro milioni di italiani in marcia verso le grandi cittÃ Voli annullati, spargisale lungo le autostrade del Nord                                          Nebbia e ghiaccio sulle strade scatta il rientro dalle vacanze                                                                                Grave incidente a Pordenone: un morto e sette feritiSulla A1, otto chilometri di coda tra Roma nord e Ponzano


WISELY restricting himself to kicking the ball rather than the opposition, Ruud van Nistelrooy last night scored four times, taking his team to the verge of the knockout phase of the Champions League.


Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia on Tuesday asked Parliament to approve an apology to the countryâs indigenous minorities for their past mistreatment.


Game invites users to play the role of JFK's assassin, causing some observers to wonder whether video games have gone too far.


US warplanes attacked a cluster of houses in Fallujah thought to harbor insurgents loyal to Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, killing


Italian military hunts for four missing in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - Two Italian military personnel were believed to have been kidnapped in western Afghanistan, and police said yesterday they were searching for the pair and their two Afghan aides.


The United Nations calls for donors to give generously to help Nicaragua recover after Hurricane Felix.


Two takes on presidential race and Bush's speech

Steny Hoyer and Richard Durbin, key members of the Democratic congressional leadership, shared their views Tuesday.


Qantas: expert says Airline Partners bid is fair

An $8.7 billion takeover bid for  Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd.  by a consortium led by  Macquarie Bank Ltd.  is fair and reasonable, an  independent expert said on Monday.


Celebrations after release of Italian aid workers taken hostage in Iraq

This is a transcript from PM. The program is broadcast around Australia at 5:10pm on Radio National and 6:10pm on ABC Local Radio.


NEW YORK Â· Lenny Wilkens can breathe easier. His job, at least for now, is safe. The coach with more wins and losses than anyone in NBA history gained some job security Tuesday night despite coaching without


FCC weighs approving AT&T buy of Aloha spectrum

The head of the Federal  Communications Commission is pressing for the agency to quickly  approve plans by AT&T Inc to purchase $2.5 billion worth of  wireless airwaves from a privately held partnership, sources  said on Friday.


Although world families are getting smaller in many regions, the 50 poorest countries are expected to triple in size to 1.7 billion people by 2050, posing many challenges for world countries.


Citigroup and Merrill face bigger writeoffs: analyst

Citigroup Inc , Merrill Lynch & Co  and JPMorgan Chase & Co  may face larger fourth-quarter write-offs of fixed-income securities than previously expected, and Citigroup may have to slash its dividend 40 percent to preserve capital, according to a Goldman Sachs & Co analyst.


Crude price up slightly as market braces for US oil stockpile data

Crude oil prices climbed back to the $54 US level Wednesday, reversing a two-day slide, after the US government's weekly petroleum supply report showed a fifth straight week of declining inventories of distillate fuel, which includes heating


Edson Buddle and Jean-Philippe Peguero scored in a 69-second first-half span to lead the New York Red Bulls to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night in a matchup of the two last-place MLS teams.


La polizia tedesca usa gli idranti ma secondo l'emittente Zdfi no global riescono ad aprire un varco nella recinzione                                            G8, migliaia di manifestanti alla barriera della zona proibita                                                                                Dimostranti bloccano strade di accesso alla cittÃ  del verticeGiornalisti accompagnati al summit da militari via mare


Health Ledger's Family Prepares for Funeral

Police set up barricades outside a funeral home Friday as Heath Ledger's family made arrangements to claim the body of the 28-year-old "Brokeback Mountain" actor.   A private viewing was scheduled for Friday at the Frank E. Campbell funeral home in M...


The first RAF aid plane arrives in Indonesia as the MoD says it is assessing if the military can help the tsunami victims.


Frozen North Korean funds released from Macau bank

Most of the North Korean funds long frozen in a Macau bank have been transferred, an official said on Thursday, raising the prospect of an end to the deadlock stalling a nuclear disarmament deal with Pyongyang.


The press keeps up the heat on Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans to strength central government


China Sets Condition for Resuming Talks with Taiwan

Talks between diplomatic rivals Taiwan and China could resume if the island sticks to a 1992 interpretation of the "one China" principle, Chinese newspapers on Monday quoted a top negotiator with Taiwan as saying.


Britain's biggest airport operator BAA posted a 16 percent jump in first-half earnings on Tuesday, meeting expectations as cheap airfares and stronger economies drove up passenger numbers.


LONDON, July 15 -- Two men arrested in connection with the bungled car-bomb plots in London and Glasgow, Scotland, were released Sunday without charge, British police said.


POTENTIAL JURORS QUESTIONED IN BRYANT CASE

Kobe Bryant heads back to court in Eagle, Colorado for today`s first full day of questioning of the potential jurors in the case. Prosecutors and defense lawyers in the Kobe Bryant case spent the weekend pouring


Movie Review | 'National LampoonÂs Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj': Graduate Degree in Grossness

Britain and India face off in ÂNational LampoonÂs Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj,Â a strained attempt to transplant the American campus comedy to more uptight shores.


Greggio con consegna a marzo passa di mano a 89,80 dlr (-1%)


Freddie Mac FRE.N, the No. 2 U.S.  mortgage finance company, said on Monday it will no longer  serve as a broker dealer in the multi-trillion-dollar mortgage  bond market, a move some said is designed to lower risk and  placate regulators.


The United Nations evacuated 71 aid workers from the largest refugee camp in Darfur Tuesday after gunmen looted their compounds, leaving some 130,000 refugees virtually without humanitarian help.


This much is known: At some point in Mars's past, at least one region of the planet was drenched in water. Ancient Mars provided a habitat suitable for life as we know it. What kind of organism might have lived there? And is life lying dormant there still, just waiting for things to warm up a bit?


US Airways Chief Steps Up Pressure for Concessions

The chairman of US Airways said that its employees must agree to a third round of wage and benefit cuts worth $800 million in the next 30 days or the airline could be liquidated.


Virgin enters online music selling business

In spite of the reports in media that selling music online is not as profitable a deal, as it looks like, there is no shortage of the new entrants.


3-Country Hunt for Suspects in Mauritania Killing

The three men suspected of killing four French tourists are linked to a North African affiliate of Al Qaeda.


Analysis: Romney attack ads play with truth

Two negative ads recently launched by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who has spent more on advertising than any other candidate, either misrepresent his rival's records or include distortions, according to a CNN analysis of the commercials.


Bomb kills 78 in Baghdad, U.S. in big offensive

A suspected al Qaeda bomber killed 78 people when he rammed a truck into a Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad on Tuesday, just hours after 10,000 U.S. troops began an offensive against the Sunni Islamist group north of the capital.


L'istituto accusa di inadempienza la controparte


Qaeda link seen as bid to deflect criticism

MOSCOW -- President Vladimir V. Putin depicts rebels in Chechnya as part of the international terrorist threat spearheaded by Al Qaeda. But analysts say the Chechen insurgency remains largely a nationalist movement aimed at winning independence from Russia.


Republican hopes to advance a more conservative agenda in the Legislature picked up steam with key victories Tuesday in Arizona's handful of competitive districts.


California air regulators Friday unanimously approved the world's most stringent rules to reduce auto emissions that contribute to global warming — a move that could affect car and truck buyers from coast to coast.


Coup plot nations seeks to quiz Thatcher

South Africa is considering a request by Equatorial Guinea to question Mark Thatcher about his alleged involvement in a foiled coup plot in the oil-rich west African nation.


Scientists Find Active Volcano in Antarctica

Heat from a volcano could still be melting ice and contributing to the thinning and speeding up of the Pine Island Glacier, according to a report by the British Antarctic Survey.


Some olfaction hard work brings Nobel Prize to two

used to find food and mates. It's the stuff of literature; the scent of a scallop-shelled pastry dipped in lime-flower tea stirred the memories on which Marcel


Polish army readies another Iraq contingent

Poland's army has begun preparing a new troop contingent that would be sent to Iraq early next year if needed, the country's defence minister said Saturday, despite public opinion against the mission.


Pak govt permits Zardari to travel abroad to meet Benazir:

[World News]: Islamabad, Dec 28 : Pakistan today permitted Azif Ali Zardari, husband of former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto to travel to travel abroad to meet his self exiled wife.


SideStep targets young adults with TripUp acquisition

Blog: Travel search site SideStep acquieres travel social network TripUp


Orlando Hernandez's tired right arm felt better Saturday, but he's not sure when he'll be able to pitch again for the Yankees.


RUSSIA:  Campaign to Elect New President Begins

MOSCOW, Jan 30 (IPS) - The political campaign for election of a new  president has begun, with President Vladimir Putin setting social  policy as the tone for his party candidate.


Minneapolisâ The Minnesota Twins were in great shape just two days ago. Now they're on the brink of being eliminated by the New York Yankees for the second straight year.


Investorsâ Suits Face Higher Bar, Supreme Court Rules

The Supreme Court decision dealt a blow to investors suing companies over accusations of fraud by setting a legal standard that makes it easier to get shareholder lawsuits dismissed.


Former African great Abedi Pele favours Ghana for Cup

Former African superstar Abedi 'Pele' Ayew tips his native Ghana to win the African Nations Cup which kicks off here on Sunday.


Buying music used to be simple: You coughed up $14 or so for a CD, and as long as you didn't bootleg it or charge crowds of people to listen to it, the music was yours.


No. 24 Air Force routs Norfolk St. 70-47

If the Air Force Falcons hit the books the way they did the nets, they should ace their finals next week. The 24th-ranked Falcons made 15 3-pointers Wednesday night in a 70-47 rout of Norfolk State, their last game until Dec. 23.


While the GOP doled out credentials for about 15 bloggers to officially cover its convention in New York, it seems every Tom, Dick and Jane is writing from the convention floor, the streets of New York or home computers in basements across America.-washingtonpost.com


Floods wreak havoc, dozens trapped by water in southwest England

A major rescue operation involving helicopters was under way on the coast of southwest England after dozens of people became trapped in their cars and homes by rising floodwaters, emergency services said.


A month after Katie Couric's heavily promoted debut as anchor of the "CBS Evening News," the viewership


Genova, 19:03 - Calcio, Sampdoria; Novellino: lasciateci sognare

La vittoria della Sampdoria di oggi a Marassi lascia ovviamente il sorriso sulla bocca di Walter Nov...


Knicks will not deal Sweetney to get Bulls' Curry

NEW YORK - The Knicks' interest in Chicago Bulls center Eddy Curry is legitimate, but Isiah Thomas has let it be known that he will not part with Michael Sweetney.


Ukraine parliament meets, but no debate on PM

Ukraine's parliament reconvened on Thursday a day after the opposition prevented the chamber from sitting, but there was no indication when it would reconsider a proposal to restore Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister.


News.com Extra: Top 75 essential sci-fi terms

Also: Virtual golf takes over cubicle life. See what people are saying on News.com Extra.


Israeli occupation soldiers have killed a member of the armed wing of the Palestinian resistance group Islamic Jihad in the north of the West Bank, Palestinian sources said.


Without a Hit Razr Sequel, Profit Drops for Motorola

Motorola executives said demand for the companyâs cellphones had slowed and the company was losing market share.


China says a Financial Times report Monday blaming the People's Liberation Army for a hack into Pentagon computers through a computer system in Defense Secretary Robert Gates' office is false. Chinese officials say they are opposed to cybercrime.


Iraq invites the UN nuclear watchdog to check on the disappearance of materials from its former nuclear sites.


US Airways' Unions Unlikely to Give Concessions in Bankruptcy

US Airways Group Inc.'s unions, defying efforts to win labor concessions to avert a bankruptcy, are unlikely to give up pay and benefits under a threat of cuts imposed by a court, a labor leader and consultants said.


La morte del reporter di Diario Ã¨ stata resa nota il 26 agosto

ROMA - Potrebbe essere la prova della morte del giornalista Enzo Baldoni, assassinato in Iraq dai terroristi islamici che lo aveva rapito. La foto, pubblicata per confermare la morte del giornalista italiano


Chinese Envoy Denounces Efforts to Link Darfur Concerns, Beijing Olympics

BEIJING, Jan. 10 -- China on Thursday rejected any attempts to connect humanitarian concerns about Darfur to the upcoming Beijing Olympics, saying they come from people unwilling to view objectively China's role in that embattled region of Sudan.


Karee Houlette's three-pointer with 34 seconds remaining gave the host Hoyas a 58-57 lead, and Georgetown (13-9, 3-6) made 3 of 4 free throws down the stretch to seal a 61-60 victory over St. John's.


Blair appeals to Labour to stop infighting

British Prime Minister Tony Blair   urged his Labour Party on Sunday to stop squabbling over who   will succeed him and focus on policy as Labour began its last   annual conference with Blair in charge.


West Nile virus has probably made it first appearance of the year in Toronto, the city's health officials reported Monday. Toronto Public Health department said that the patient is recovering


No. 3 Oklahoma beats Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Playing at home for the first time in four weeks, No. 3 Oklahoma looked a little bit out of sorts early on Sunday afternoon against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.


David Hanson has two little Zenos to care for these days. There's his 18-month-old son Zeno, who prattles and smiles as he bounds through his father's cramped office.


The Redstones, the family that  controls Viacom Inc. and CBS Corp., have taken their private  squabble public in a battle that throws into question  succession plans for the global media company.


"Run away!" her husband screamed from a rooftop after he spotted the colossal waves. The command was simple but it presented Sangeeta with a dilemma: She had three sons, and only two arms.


The issue arose in the MARID (MTA Authorization Records in DNS) group, part of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which brings together representatives from various groups in the software industry to agree on common standards for Internet software


Parigi, 13:57 - CALCIO, JUNINHO: ALLUNGAMENTO CONTRATTO O LASCIO LIONE

Ultimatum di Juninho Pernambucano al Lione. Prolungamento di contratto fino al 2010 oppure valigie p...


Classmates Sue Over 'Dazed and Confused'

SANTA FE, N.M. - Three former high school classmates of "Dazed and Confused" director Richard Linklater have filed a lawsuit claiming they have suffered embarrassment and ridicule because of characters based on them in the movie...


Sun Microsystems Inc.'s plan to give away the latest version of its Solaris operating system highlights the technology giant's bid to roll back the gains of Linux in the corporate technology market, analysts say.


U.S. airline unions showing signs of revival

Airline unions, still nursing wounds  after a bruising six-year clash with cash-strapped carriers,  are getting ready to reclaim lost wages and benefits for  workers, as well as some lost clout for themselves.


Rupert Murdoch's DirecTV Group Inc. will sell half its stake in Hughes Network Systems Inc. to SkyTerra, a company controlled by a New York private equity firm, the companies said Monday. -Michael S. Rosenwald


The north-east of England's last deep mine is to close with the loss of 340 jobs.


Apple Computer Inc. said on   Tuesday its iTunes online music store would begin selling   movies from Disney, Pixar, and Touchstone as the company makes   its most aggressive move yet into the digital home.


Londram 13:50, 13:49 - CALCIO, INGHILTERRA: GIOCATORE ACCOLTELLATO IN NIGHTCLUB

Ronnie Wallwork, 29 anni, centrocampista in prestito dal West Browmich al Barnsley, è ricover...


Borland looks to take on Visual Studio with Diamondback

San Jose, Calif. - Borland Software with the planned Diamondback release of its Delphi tool for Windows applications is looking to take on Microsoft while accommodating .Net, Win32 and Delphi development, a Borland official said on Monday at the BorCon conference here. Â Â


The assembly presiding officer is accused by his deputy of "forcing" its top official to quit just months before it gets new powers.


Well Blog: Will Your Resolutions Last to February?

If your resolutions usually fail, it's time to make better resolutions.


A New York, moneta unica a quota 1,3659 dollari


Taking a page from OSS for improving interagency collaboration.


Democratic rivals query Clinton on health care

Some Democratic presidential  contenders took aim at Hillary Clinton's leadership on health  care on Thursday, questioning whether she could rally the  political support to pass a broad plan for universal coverage.


Beckham nurses ankle in first training session

CARSON, California  - David Beckham, carefully protecting his swollen left ankle, played a low-key role at his first official training session with the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on Monday.


A second US hostage is reported killed in Iraq, heightening fears for fellow captive, Briton Ken Bigley.


(Source: AT&T)  Enabling Healthcare After a Disaster. AT&T's recovery solutions keeps healthcare connected in the event of a disaster.


Down, 5-1, in the second set of her second-round match to 112th-ranked Virginie Razzano , Martina Hingis rallied to take the next three games -- all with her comeback US Open bid on the line.


The Sundance Film Festival, which opens with âIn Bruges,â the playwright Martin McDonaghâs film debut, is one of the oddest ecosystems on earth.


George W Bush and John Kerry launch new attacks on each other about flu vaccine shortages.


The Florida Supreme Court threw out a state law Thursday that saved the life of a Tampa woman who has been in a permanent vegetative state for 14 years.


Chavez seals strategic alliance with Beijing

Bilateral trade between Venezuela and China will reach 3 billion US dollar in 2005, double this year, President Hugo Chavez said on his return to Venezuela following a five-day official visit to Beijing which was also another strategic move to lessen


Iran fires missiles in new round of war games

Iran's Revolutionary Guards test fired missiles on Monday at the start of three days of military exercises that will be staged across the country, the second round of manoeuvres this month, state media reported.


Stem cell research a hot topic after actor's death

LEE COUNTYâ The death of Christopher Reeve brings more attention to a controversial issue during this presidential election - embryonic stem cell research.


Dell profit up 46 percent due to cheaper components

Just two weeks afterÂ revealing that some employees had falsified corporate revenue to meet earnings targets, Dell reported a profit of $733 million for its fiscal 2008 second quarter, up 46 percent from its mark of $502 million for the same period last year.


Bush urges senators to send him detainee bill

On a cliffhanger vote, Senate   Republicans on Thursday beat a key challenge to a bill setting   rules for interrogation and prosecution of terrorism suspects   shortly after President George W. Bush went to Capitol Hill   urging them to deliver the bill.


Foreign Minister Alexander Downer conceded Wednesday that the Iraq conflict may have increased the threat of Australians becoming a terror target, supporting a claim by the country's top spy.


U.S. Man Gets Record Sentence for Computer Sabotage

A computer systems administrator was sentenced to 30 months in prison for trying to sabotage his companyâs servers out of fear he was about to lose his job, prosecutors said.


Sears, Roebuck and Co. is limping into its proposed merger with Kmart. The department-store giant reported an 86 percent drop in fourth-quarter net earnings Thursday after shedding its profitable credit-card unit a year earlier, its results now solely dependent on sagging retail sales.


SitePoint PHP Blog: CouchDb: document oriented persistence

Harry Fuecks mentions an interesting project today on the SitePoint Blog - CouchDb - a stand-alone document store, accessible via XML REST.    Firing up the CouchDb server on Windows is a breeze-follow the README. PHP-wise, you need the new http extension which is most easily done on Win32 by grabbing the most recent PHP 5 release (5.1.6) and the corresponding collection of PECL modules.   The interface between CouchDb and PHP is REST - XML + HTTP - you can also point your browser directly at the CouchDb server (default - localhost:8080) and get around with a little help from the CouchDb wiki.    So, if it's Just Another Database, why should we pay attention? Harry notes (with a code example) that it's more about how it stores the information and not just that it does. His example takes in a POST request from a form and pushes it (raw data) into the CouchDb functions. He also gives an example of where this would be handy - in a wiki (like Dokuwiki) where the files are currently stored on the filesystem instead of in a database.


Editor and Publisher - NEW YORK The Associated Press is ending its book review package.


Jeff Carter scores two goals within a span of 13 seconds in the second period and the Flyers beat the Thrashers, 4-1, on Tuesday.


LONDON Dec 7, 2004 - The IOC opened an investigation Tuesday into the doping allegations against Marion Jones, a move which could lead to the removal of her five medals from the 2000 Olympics.


Kraft Foods confirms plans to sell sugar candy biz

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Kraft Foods Inc. has confirmed an agreement to sell substanially all of its sugar confectionary business to Wm.


Top seeds Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal make smooth progress at the US Open.


New breast cancer drug better than tamoxifen

Older women suffering from breast cancer should take a newer drug in place of the tried-and-true tamoxifen, researchers from the US and Britain have announced.


Colombia's Juan Valdez Taking on Starbucks in NY

Colombian coffee icon Juan Valdez will  lead his country's growers' federation into Manhattan on  Tuesday to open its first New York coffee shop, and market  watchers are wondering whether the challenge to Starbucks Corp.  will amount to a hill of beans.


Carrier marks 75th anniversary amid union protest

With healthy profits and a bankruptcy reorganization nearing completion, Hawaiian Airlines marked its 75th anniversary Thursday with a festive ceremony at its Honolulu airport ticketing lobby.


US economic policy after Bush's reelection

US President George W. Bush pledged to seek to earn the trust of those who did not back him during the election campaign, after claiming a reelection victory on Wednesday.


FIFA today launched an inquiry into the disgraceful scenes of racist chanting which marred last night's clash between England and Spain in Madrid.


Ready to Lose a Few Pounds? They've Got a Plan for You.

Performer Queen Latifah is about to be cast in a new role: weight-loss spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, the commercial diet that has recently helped formerly "fat actresses" Kirstie Alley and Valerie Bertinelli shed pounds. Latifah, who is known for her curves, isn't trying to get starlet skinny but ...


British tourism eager to cash in on movie magic

Tourist chiefs keen to tempt "set-jetters" to Britain launched a campaign on Monday to cash in on historic locations featured in the new Cate Blanchett movie "The Golden Age" about Tudor Queen Elizabeth I.


Arbor snaps up Ellacoya to move out of security ghetto

Look deep into this packet and tell me what you see Network security tools firm Arbor has sealed a deal to acquire broadband service optimisation firm Ellacoya Networks. Terms of the deal, announced Thursday, were undisclosed.â¦


Government departments in Northern Ireland are criticised for taking out loans they do not need.


Eagles and Dixie Chicks a well-matched double bill

There was an audible  grumble traveling through the Nokia Theatre about 15 minutes  into the venue's inaugural headlining set Thursday. The Eagles  had just played their fourth consecutive new song to open the  show.


Long, long, long after the Argentineans were still on the floor -- shirts off, tears replacing the sweat on their bodies, celebrating in a manner the hated Americans would have


Independence Air Lender Repossesses a Plane

The parent of financially troubled Independence Air said late yesterday that a lender has repossessed one of the airline's 73 leased regional jets.


GCC states must stand together, particularly with the world as it is today, Saudi Arabia declared in Bahrain yesterday. They must take a unified stand on a number of vital issues, said


Havana - Shipwrecked Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez, who reached US shores and triggered an international custody battle, on Saturday wished President Fidel Castro a speedy recovery from a broken knee.


A letter left on the body of murdered film-maker Theo van Gogh reportedly threatens the life of a liberal politician.


The two fathers' rights protesters who breached security at Buckingham Palace have been released.


The SX-8 is the latest incarnation of the high-end but relatively rare "vector" computer breed.


Jurors at the inquest into the death of an airman who died in secret nerve gas tests retire to consider their verdict.


An increasing number of parents want to spend their often-scarce leisure time with their children, doing something enriching and educational.


Fans Break Potter Embargo. Does It Matter?

The Harry Potter secret is out. Voracious fans don't seem to care, but for publishers it may be the end of an era.


Adam Trachtenberg's Blog: PHP 5 + COM + Skype Help Wanted

Adam Trachtenberg is looking for some help in the COM department, specficially in using it with PHP5.    I'm trying to use PHP 5.2 to talk to Skype via the COM extension and Skype4COM interface.   I'm using this example from the Skype Forum, but I get a COM exception of "Skype client is not installed."    He also points to someone else with the problem, but still hasn't quite found a solution. Anyone want to help?


Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester recorded a goal and an assist to end an eight-game stretch without a point, and Tomas Vokoun made 44 saves in the Florida Panthers' 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.


Just like we anticipated earlier this month, the Santy worm is already finding new ways to spread. This time The Santy worm variant continues to spread by now taking advantage of search engines such as: Google, AOL and Yahoo!


S&P 500 falls two percent as sell-off deepens

Stocks tumbled on Tuesday, sending the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index down more than 2 percent, after China's main equity index plunged on concerns that share valuations there had become overextended and economic growth may slow.


Qualcomm lawyers reprimanded in Broadcom case

A federal judge took action against Qualcomm and six of its outside attorneys on Monday for hiding 46,000 documents in a lawsuit the company filed -- and lost -- against rival Broadcom.Qualcomm sued Broadcom in 2005 alleging violation of two of its patents on video compression technology. The case was one of a string of patent fights between the Southern California communications chip companies, in which Qualcomm has often come out the loser.Magistrate Judge Barbara Major of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, in San Diego, called Qualcomm's actions a "monumental and intentional discovery violation." She referred the attorneys to the State Bar of California for investigation of possible ethics violations and ordered Qualcomm to review its procedures and come up with a plan for collecting evidence in future court cases. She also ordered Qualcomm to pay Broadcom about $8.6 million but said that sum will be reduced by the amount Qualcomm is already paying in damages in the case."Qualcomm intentionally withheld tens of thousands of decisive documents from its opponent in an effort to win this case and gain a strategic business advantage over Broadcom," Major wrote in her decision.Part of Broadcom's defense involved Qualcomm's involvement in a group that developed the H.264 video compression standard. Qualcomm argued it was not involved in that group, called the Joint Video Team. But the trial revealed that there were e-mail messages and other documents that linked Qualcomm to the group, Major wrote. Although Qualcomm's attorneys did find documents that supported or didn't hurt its own side in the case, they didn't find this evidence that hurt its argument, she wrote. The lawyers "used the lack of evidence to repeatedly and forcefully make false statements and arguments to the court and jury," Major wrote.Qualcomm has never produced any evidence to explain or justify its not producing the documents, the ruling said."Qualcomm regrets the discovery errors that occurred in this case. However, as we pointed out in our brief to the appellate court, when Qualcomm discovered additional documents after the trial, it produced them and apologized to the court and Broadcom for the errors. These actions defy any suggestion that Qualcomm engaged in intentional misconduct. We are considering our options, including further appeal," Qualcomm said in a prepared statement.Last October, after Broadcom sought sanctions against it for the violations, Qualcomm argued that it had failed to produce the documents because its legal team was disjointed and engineers at the company didn't understand technical standards-setting procedures.


Red Hat on Thursday announced the opening of its first office in China, in the nation's capital, Beijing. The company said it will be working with industry partners such as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel and


For the past few months, Iranians have been subjected to stronger enforcement of Islamic codes. Is this a revival of the dogmatic strictures of the country's revolutionary past?


Macedonian police clash with supporters of an ethnic Albanian party after a brawl erupts inside parliament.


President Leonid Kuchma meets with representative of UN Development Programme Francis O'Donnell

This organization has always been a symbol of peace, protection of human rights and a unique instrument in settlement of social, political and humanitarian issues.


China health care struggles to keep pace with growth

China's health care system is struggling to keep pace with the country's economic growth and faces a major challenge in looking after its 1.3 billion people, the health minister said on Monday.


Afghans say 7 police killed in U.S.-led strike

JALALABAD, Afghanistan  - U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan mistakenly killed seven policemen in an air strike after Afghan forces came under attack from the Taliban and asked for help, a provincial official said on Tuesday.


Dona il fegato al padre per salvargli la vita

Palermo, 24 novembre 2004 - Dona metÃ  del fegato al padre malato per salvargli la vita. Ã la scelta coraggiosa fatta da un giovane palermitano, Vincenzo, 25 anni, studente all'ultimo anno di Medicina. L'operazione


The killing in Iraq is now worse than a civil war, outgoing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says in a BBC interview.


Venezuela's Chavez calls Bush "the devil"

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez   called President Bush "the devil himself" and told the U.N.   General Assembly on Wednesday that the United Nations had   become worthless.


Pm, indagini proseguono per individuare altri complici


Rivals in western Afghanistan agreed to a cease-fire last week after the arrival of the Afghan National Army.


Uncertain Landscape For Copyright Protection

An otherwise routine power shift on the Senate Judiciary Committee could have far-reaching implications for high-tech firms, movie studios, record companies and the future of downloading. -washingtonpost.com


S.Africa police face low pay and hardened criminals

Shinta had always dreamed of becoming a policewoman in South Africa, a public servant who could take on some of the world's most dangerous criminals.


NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- In a media hoax coming on the 20th anniversary of the Union Carbide Bhopal disaster, Britain's BBC mistakenly reported Friday that Dow Chemical would take complete responsibility for the tragedy in which thousands of people died.


Poll shows majority of Americans think Iraq war mistake

A solid majority of Americans believe, for the first time, that the war in Iraq was a mistake and most people believe Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld should lose his


Must menus in California count calories, carbs, fats?

A bill is on the governor's desk, and 4 of 5 state residents back it. But restaurant chains say mandatory measures are lawsuits waiting to happen.


Malcolm Glazer's take-over bid for Manchester United may have misfired, and on Saturday so did the team. Indeed, it is tempting to wonder whether, in advancing years, Sir Alex Ferguson has lost the plot.


U.S. troops killed an estimated 26 suspected militants in Sadr City on Saturday in one of the fiercest clashes in the Shi'ite stronghold since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.


'American Taliban' Seeks Commuted Sentence

John Walker Lindh asked President Bush on Tuesday to commute his 20-year prison sentence for aiding the Taliban.


Roma, 23:30 - CALCIO, LIGA: REAL MADRID E BARCELLONA KO

Ripresa di campionato negativa per Real Madrid e Barcellona nella Liga spagnola: all'ottava giornata...


Microsoft-Yahoo Union Would Still Be No. 2

A combined Yahoo and Microsoft would still be the underdog in the increasingly important business of Web search if Microsoft's unsolicited $44.6 billion bid to buy Yahoo is approved by regulators and Yahoo shareholders.


Una donna Ã¨ stata uccisa a coltellate dal marito nella loro abitazione di Terni. Il tragico fatto Ã¨ avvenuto tra le 1 e le 4 della mattina di martedÃ¬. L'uomo, un tunisino trentenne (la polizia non ha ancora


MOSCOW, October 17 (Itar-Tass) -- Terrorists who took hostages in the secondary school of Beslan, North Ossetia, were addicted to drugs, which might have caused the Beslan tragedy, Deputy Prosecutor General for the southern federal district Nikolai Shepel


A fine anno si potrebbe arrivare a 18 milioni di presenze


Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan will speak before the House of Representatives' Budget committee on Wednesday. Greenspan's testimony is the only real factor that matters for the global foreign exchange and debt markets this week.


The European Union and China agreed to boost relations yesterday, but the EU made clear there can be no early lifting of its 15-year-old


The nation's capital and its suburbs have a rare opportunity to help decide a presidential election rather than just obsess about it, as next Tuesday's three-jurisdiction contest centers on Washington and its two neighbors.


Jay McKee was as surprised as anyone when his shot found the net, because he was blocked from seeing it and he just doesn't score too often. "When you don't score many goals during the season or through your career, it's certainly a little more exciting when you do it in the playoffs," Buffalo's veteran defenseman said.


Suddenly, Auburn may be the team to beat

Auburn junior offensive tackle Marcus McNeill sounded a little Zen-like, especially after an afternoon that was anything but non-violent.


ASEAN a long way from EU-style integration: Lee Kuan Yew

It will take 50 years or more for Southeast Asian nations to more closely resemble the European Union including the easing of border controls, according to Singapore's former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.


China's economic growth slows for a third straight quarter as efforts by the government to rein in booming expansion continue to take hold.


Thousands of loss-making phone boxes face the axe as mobile phone use soars in the UK, says BT.


No immediate DNA test in Anna Nicole baby battle

The battle for Anna Nicole Smith's baby resumed on Tuesday with a judge refusing to immediately order a paternity test for her former companion, Howard K. Stern, to help determine which of three men fathered the late Playboy model's 6-month-old daughter.


Russians Begin Burying Victims of Attack

BESLAN, Russia - Mothers wailed over the coffins of their children Sunday and dozens of townsmen dug graves in a football field-sized piece of scrubland next to the cemetery. Funeral processions snaked through the streets of this grief-stricken town as Russians began to bury victims of the terror attack on a school that left more than 350 people dead...


BENTON, Ill. -- In 2004, as a state legislator running for the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama came to this small town 300 miles from Chicago to pledge support for southern Illinois' struggling coal country.


Alleged Terror Leader Goes on Trial in Indonesia

The alleged leader of Southeast Asia's most dangerous Islamic militant group has gone on trial in Indonesia charged with terrorist offenses that carry the death penalty.


Female Islanders Defend Men in Abuse Case

A group of women on this remote British territory on Tuesday defended seven men charged with sexual abuse, claiming the case has been blown out of proportion and that the alleged


Microsoft is Bluffing on Patent Defense, Torvalds Says

Microsoft's aggressive defense of its intellectual property, which includes claims that Linux violates a number of its patents, is nothing more than "a marketing thing," according to Linus Torvalds, creator of the Linux kernel.


Reuters Poll: Bush and Kerry Still in Dead Heat

President Bush and Democratic Sen.  John Kerry remain tied for the third consecutive day in the  race for the White House, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll  released on Wednesday.


Shootout in Colombian Church Kills Three

BOGOTA, Colombia - A gunfight broke out in a church in a cocaine-producing region of southern Colombia, leaving at least three people dead and 14 wounded, authorities said Sunday.


At Least Two Rockets Hit Central Baghdad Hotel

At least two rockets slammed into the Sheraton hotel in central Baghdad on Thursday, damaging the building and causing a fire nearby, witnesses said.


A California judge says Diebold Election Systems broke the law when it threatened students for posting internal company memos on the web. Advocates say this is a precedent-setting victory for free speech on the web, and a warning to litigious companies. By Kim Zetter.


Valencia, 15:10 - CALCIO, VALENCIA: CANIZARES PROLUNGA FINO AL 2009

Il Valencia ha prolungato fino al 2009 il contratto del portiere Santiago Canizares, 37 anni. Il cen...


Intel considers India for chip manufacturing

Intel is one of only two multinational semiconductor companies to announce that it is evaluating setting up a fab in India. The other, Cypress Semiconductor announced earlier this year that it was considering


'Cars','Pirates' seen driving Disney earnings

DVD releases of "Cars" and "Pirates  of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and ad revenue from ESPN's  Monday Night Football are expected to boost Walt Disney Co's  first-quarter earnings by a double-digit percentage.


News Corp. May Boost Governance to Ease Vote

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd. has  offered an olive branch to investors opposed to it moving its  main share listing to the United States, telling them it is  considering moves to enhance shareholder rights.


Ue, Europarlamento approva commissione Barroso

Il parlamento europeo ha approvato con 449 voti favorevoli e 149 voti contrari la nuova Commissione Barroso. Le astensioni sono state 82. ''Vi ringrazio per la fiducia assegnatami. Vorrei dire che questa fiducia


Coastguard staff have voted to say they would, in principle, hold their first strike in 186 years in a dispute over pay.


Fermo di polizia per i presunti autori della rapina e dell'assalto al registaDue sono maggiorenni, 32 e 33 anni, il terzo Ã¨ un minorenne di 17 anni                                            Aggressione a Tornatore, romeni in carcere Uno di loro riconosciuto nella notte dal regista


Sulle piazze europee guadagnano i tecnologici, bene Apple


Brema, 15:56 - CALCIO, WERDER BREMA: DIEGO PROLUNGA FINO AL 2011

Il brasiliano Diego ha prolungato fino al 2011 il contratto con il Werder Brema. Lo ha annunciato il...


Gatlin working out in hopes of competing again

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  - American Justin Gatlin, the Olympic and world 100 meters champion suspended for doping, continues to work out in the hopes of competing again, his agent said on Wednesday.


Some Officials Seeking Shift From Pensions

Just days after the president of a huge California pension fund was ousted, some California officials are proposing that the state get out of the pension business and give state and municipal workers a 401(k) plan instead.


Hamas on offensive as Palestinians battle in Gaza

Hamas Islamist gunmen pressed on with their Gaza offensive on Wednesday, killing eight fighters loyal to Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas in a Palestinian supremacy struggle escalating steadily into civil war.


St. Cloud, Staggering On After a One-Two Punch

In  plaid pants, T-shirt and black Dodge gimme cap, Raymond Clark, 85, is mending a small ornamental windmill in his front yard on Bradley Drive.


Teen popster JoJo, who enjoyed a summer hit with the single "Leave (Get Out)," is in talks to make her feature film debut opposite Nickelodeon star Emma Roberts in the mermaid comedy "Aquamarine."


Sony Ericsson posts higher profit and phone sales

Sony Ericsson, the world's fourth biggest mobile phone maker, posted higher second-quarter profit on Wednesday as sales rose on increased demand for its phones.


Peter Mueller scored the only goal in a shootout to give the Phoenix Coyotes a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.


Ex-Terp Lonny Baxter is charged Wednesday with another firearms offense after using Federal Express to illegally mail four guns.


Consumers Keep Spending, Latest Data Show

US consumers shrugged off record oil prices to lift spending at the start of the fourth quarter, data on Friday showed, in an upbeat sign for growth


Pope beatifies three, stresses virtues of models

A frail Pope John Paul II yesterday said that "there is no greater freedom than that of love" for Christ, "no greater brotherhood than that born from Christ's cross." The Pope spoke as he put three more Roman ...


High Birth Weight Linked to Leukemia Risk

NEW YORK  - Heavy babies apparently face a heightened risk of one type of childhood leukemia, a Scandinavian study indicates.


Former spy's wife positive for radiation

The wife of an ex-KGB agent fatally poisoned in Britain and the Italian security expert he met the day he fell ill both showed traces of the same radioactive substance found in the dead man's body, friends and officials said Friday.


Insurers See Hurricane Costs as High as $23 Billion

Insurance claims for damage caused in the United States this year by four major hurricanes may reach $23 billion, surpassing payments on claims for 1992's Hurricane Andrew, an insurance industry group said on Friday.


TSA website breach puts travelers at risk; poetic justice for boarding pass hacker

A scathing new congressional report reveals that security flaws in a TSA website put thousands of Americans at risk of identity theft. The investigation also reveals the no-bid contract to create the site was awarded to the outside firm by a TSA employee


US ex-football star OJ Simpson returns to custody on charge of violating bail for his robbery trial, reports say.


Somalia Inaugurates Transitional Parliament

Somalia has inaugurated a transitional parliament in the latest step toward creating a new central government for the nation. Somali lawmakers and international mediators took part in the ceremony Sunday at UN offices in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.


For Islanders, an Early Look at a Top Prospect

The Islandersâ first-round draft choice in 2006, Kyle Okposoâs decision to turn pro has become a big issue because of its timing and the role the Islanders might have played in it.


Extended schools, with after-school activities, are improving GCSE results, say researchers.


Gmail Users Soon Able to Check E-Mail Via Outlook

Web search leader Google Inc.  said on Wednesday it will soon make it possible for users of  its Gmail service to check their e-mail via Microsoft Outlook  or on certain handheld devices such as mobile phones.


With the European economy on the upswing, companies and governments are shrugging off the dollar's renewed slide against the euro this week - a phenomenon once dreaded as potential poison for the continent's ...Comment


DMGI Enters Into Revenue Sharing Content Agreement With YouTube

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 12  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Digital Music Group, Inc. , a content owner and global leader in the digital distribution of independently owned music, television, film and video catalogs, today announced it has entered into an agreement with YouTube, Inc.


Cricket: W. Indies Wins Champions Trophy Over England

The West Indies has won the Champions Trophy one-day cricket tournament in London by two wickets over England. The visitors scored 218 for eight in 48.


PHILIPPINE movie star Fernando Poe, who nearly unseated President Gloria Arroyo in hotly contested polls this year, passed away today.


Iraqi Lawmakers Pass 3 Crucial, Long-Delayed Laws

The three laws are the 2008 budget, a law outlining the scope of provincial powers and an amnesty that will cover thousands of the detainees.


Saddam Hussein appears in court a day after threatening to boycott further hearing in his genocide trial.


The hip-hop underwater animated flick "Shark Tales" opened this weekend as the highest October box office draw in history, studio executives said Sunday.


London Stock Exchange (LSE) directors are confident that the firm's investors will approve its takeover of Borsa Italiana.


Richiesti chiarimenti su presunte violazioni concorrenza


NABLUS, West Bank -- Israel clamped down yesterday on this West Bank city for the second time in a week, confining tens of thousands of people to their homes as troops moved house to house in search of wanted militants.


Passengers and crew are being airlifted from a ferry in the Irish Sea after sailing into bad weather.


Surviving Christmas: Ben Affleck will be lucky to survive this ...

If you are the sort of magnanimous or insane person who worries about the steadily declining state of Ben Affleck's career, Surviving Christmas is not going to set your mind at ease.


The government should go "faster and further" in creating choice within the NHS, Tony Blair tells senior MPs.


EUROPA/GERMANIA - Centenario della fondazione per i Âmonaci pompieriÂ della Congregazione Benedettina di SantÂOttilia SantÂOttilia (Agenzia Fides) - LÂunitÃ  di pompieri volontari della comunitÃ  dei monaci benedettini di St. Ottilia (Benedettini missionari) festeggerÃ  il Centenario della sua fondazione con una Messa solenne nella chiesa dellÂAbbazia che sarÃ  celebrat...


Sony Movie Unit to Issue Films for PSP Game System

The home video unit of Sony Corp.  said on Friday it will release four movies in April on a new  disc format designed for Sony's PlayStation Portable handheld  video game device.


Autism Not Linked To MMR Childhood Vaccination

Parents worried by the media coverage of a possible link between MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination and autism can relax. A major new study has concluded MMR vaccination is not associated with increased risk of autism.


XM CEO Sees Satellite Radio on Cell Phones

XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.  XMSR.O chief executive officer Hugh Panero on Wednesday said  he expected satellite radio and cellphone services to  converge  within the next five years.


The coroner in charge of the Princess Diana inquest is to hold a hearing in public next year.


Having reached unprecedented levels of stardom with his performance in The Lord of the Rings, Sir Ian McKellen looks set to bounce even higher in his next film role - and this time he'll be travelling on springs. The august British actor has signed on to ...


Text of President Bush's remarks on stem cell research Wednesday, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions.


Unbeaten Southern California is halfway to Miami, having accomplished what appears to be the hard part toward reaching this season's BCS title game in the Orange Bowl.


Dangerous jobs for India's army of child workers

FIROZABAD, India  - In the corner of a dark room filled with the stench of kerosene, Prabhu Dayal crouches over a fire, his nimble fingers forming glass bangles in the flames.


Muslim fighter begins testimony in Bosnia trial

A former al Qaeda member who led a group of Muslim volunteers in Bosnia's 1992-95 war told war crimes prosecutors on Friday that his unit, accused of atrocities, was in close contact with the Bosnian Muslim army.


Democrats are aiming for a resolution that is simpler than the Senate's.


Music bigs show each other and city the love

In typically hyperbolic style, the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards celebrated music's biggest rock, R&B and rap stars last night.


UK court to rule on whether to let baby die

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - The British parents of a sickly premature infant are fighting a hospital in Portsmouth that has asked permission to not revive their baby if she again stops breathing.


Bank of England policymakers meet; no change seen on interest rates

The Bank of England's rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) began its two-day monthly meeting amid broad expectation that interest rates will be left unchanged due to signs of economic slowdown.


Attack Kills 1, Wounds 11 at Base Outside Iraqi Airport

BAGHDAD, Sept. 11 -- Insurgents fired rockets or mortars Tuesday at a sprawling U.S. base near Baghdad's international airport, killing one person and wounding 11 soldiers, the U.S. command said.


Roma, 17:18 - CALCIO, INTER; AD PAOLILLO: ADRIANO PER ME RECUPERA

L'amministratore delegato dell'Inter Ernesto Paolillo è convinto che Adriano sia assolutament...


London equities reversed early gains on Thursday as Wall Street fell sharply on opening.


When the thunder of the power generators eases to a rumble, Spc. Brandon Begley heads for an echoing hangar on this U.S. outpost near the Pakistan border and sets up his electric organ.


The Saudi oil minister inaugurated a new production plant on Sunday and renewed the largest oil exporter's support for stable prices by noting that Saudi Arabia was maintaining about two million barrels in spare output capacity.


An Arkansas soldier has been convicted of negligent homicide for the shooting death of a fellow guardsman in Iraq.


Playboy Posts Unused Google Excerpt to Web Site

Playboy magazine on Tuesday  posted to its Web site an unpublished portion from its  interview with Google's founders, which raised regulatory  eyebrows not for what it revealed, but for its timing -- just  before the Internet search engine's much-anticipated initial  public offering.


the Rascals singing a â60s fave, âItâsa Beautiful Morningâ â-elga Brewer could relate. That round yellow Vioxx pill


Studio: affetti da eccesso di aldosterone? PiÃ¹ disturbi dell'umoreQuesta molecola forse Ã¨ alla base del meccanismo scatenante                                                  Ansia, paura, attacchi di panico? Ora c'Ã¨ un ormone sotto accusa


Blair vows not to quit despite probe uproar

British Prime Minister Tony Blair vowed on Friday not to quit before British police finished a political funding investigation, despite growing alarm in his Labour party over the damage the probe is inflicting on the government.


For Once, Gaffney Is Going Somewhere His Father Did Not

By making it to the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, Jabar Gaffney has gone one giant step further than his father, Derrick, did in eight seasons as a receiver with the Jets.