ALBANY, N.Y. -- MySpace reached an agreement with legal authorities in 49 states on changing its social networking Web site to help prevent sexual predators and others from misusing it, state officials said Monday.


Is it ever OK to pass along a gift that you're less than wild about?


American Researchers Share Nobel Prize In Medicine

Columbia University researcher Richard Axel, 58, and Seattle scientist Linda Buck, 57, were named Monday as the winners of this yearâs Nobel Prize in Medicine.


THE petrol fight between Woolworths chief executive Roger Corbett and Coles Myer's John Fletcher has obscured what an amazing business Woolworths has become.


Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood tells Arsene Wenger he has money for new players.


Police are given more time to question some of the suspects arrested in last week's anti-terror raids.


Kidnapped Aid Official Begs Blair To Save Her

Pleading for her life between terrified sobs, kidnapped aid official Margaret Hassan appeared on a videotape Friday urging British Prime Minister Tony Blair to abandon Iraq


Rio Tinto: Demand good despite high oil prices

MELBOURNE: The world's second-largest diversified miner, Rio Tinto Ltd Plc, said yesterday high oil prices were increasing its costs but were not dampening demand for its key commodities.


Roma, 19:00 - PALLANUOTO, COPPE EUROPEE DONNE: ITALIANE TUTTE QUALIFICATE

Le squadre italiane, Fiorentina Waterpolo in Coppa dei Campioni, Volturno e Roma in Coppa Lens, si s...


Computer Associates shareholders defeat proposal to recall bonuses

Shareholders of Computer Associates International, the software maker tarred by an accounting scandal, Wednesday defeated a proposal calling for current and former executives to return bonuses based on restated results.


And so the Insomnia Classic (a.k.a. the US Open) rolls along. Day and night and next mornings. This is an annual sporting attraction at the Billie (a.k.a. the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center) in Flushing Meadow, where, I wonder, are there plans afoot to serve breakfast to the sleep-deprived clientele surviving the transition from one day ...


Histon face either Darlington or Yeovil while Slough will entertain Yeading in the FA Cup second round.


WHO: Bird Flu Outbreak Will Likely Cause New Human Flu Pandemic

The World Health Organization is warning Asian nations that its current struggle with bird flu could lead to the next deadly human flu pandemic across the globe.


McCartney to offer settlement to estranged wife: report

Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney was to offer a 25-million-pound (38-million-euro, 49-million-dollar) settlement to his estranged wife Heather Mills-McCartney to end a bitter divorce battle, the Daily Mirror has reported.


Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger emerges as a top papal candidate


US President George W Bush  holds talks with the Kazakh president, boosting ties with the oil-producing nation.


Gender rights activists Thursday hailed the legislature's approval of an anti-rape law that widens the definition of the crime and makes it illegal in Thailand for a husband to have sex with his wife without her consent.


People on Mars Possible in 20 to 30 Years

People could land on Mars in the next 20 to 30 years provided scientists can find water on the red planet, the head of NASA's surface exploration mission said on Wednesday.


SEO Book Revenue Goes to Tsunami Relief Efforts  Pennsylvania based Search Engine Marketing specialist and author of the SEO Book, Aaron Wall will be donating all January revenues from the sale of his 120 page E-Book to Tsunami relief efforts.   The SEO Book, which sells for $79US is a do-it-yourself manual ...


Indiana's Eric Gordon finally gave Illinois fans something to cheer. Armon Bassett wasn't as kind. Bassett scored 11 of his 16 points in the second overtime, and No. 14 Indiana rallied to beat Illinois 83-79 Thursday even though Gordon struggled for much of the night.


Police beat back anti-government protesters in the southern Russian region of Ingushetia.


Los Angeles Times publisher Jeffrey  Johnson resigned on Thursday, several weeks after he and editor  Dean Baquet vowed to resist parent company Tribune Co.'s  attempt to cut more staff at the newspaper.


Fear of a Black Hat The German government this week published proposals to modernise the country's computer hacking laws.â¦


Nintendo sales lag forecast, but profit jumps

TOKYO Nintendo, the world's biggest maker of hand-held game machines, said Monday that first-half profit was nearly twice as high as it had forecast as a weaker yen lifted the value of US assets.


The next 4 years: a shift to "ownership society"

President Bush is poised to pursue an aggressive "ownership society" agenda of Social Security privatization, new tax breaks for savings and investment and additional incentives


The Dutch brewing company Heineken reported a rise in first half sales on Wednesday but said net profit fell 27 percent, due in part to the weaker dollar.


Storm Off Algeria Sinks Ship, 2 Die, 18 Missing

Algerian rescue services were searching  on Sunday for at least 18 sailors missing after severe storms  sank one ship and drove two aground near Algiers port, killing  two seamen.


Red Sox sweep Cardinals to win World Series

The Boston Red Sox ended their 86-year championship drought with a 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game Four of the World Series.


Editorial: Speech sought agreement to differ

President Chen Shui-bian's ( é³æ°´æ ) Double Ten National Day speech has received mixed reviews at home and abroad. In a diverse international community and a complex domestic environment, it is difficult


Kiefer Sutherland arrested for drunk driving

Kiefer Sutherland, who stars on the hit TV thriller "24" as a secret agent with nerves of steel, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving on Tuesday, hours before he was due to be honored by a Canadian actors' union.


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

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


Alitalia, Italy's largest airline, told its union Monday it plans to cut 5,000 jobs, or more than a quarter of its regular workforce, according to published reports.


Microsoft to skip Itanium with supercomputing Windows

Microsoft Corp. will support only x86 processors with 64-bit extensions when it releases a special version of Windows Server for high performance computing (HPC) next year, leaving support for Intel Corp.'s Itanium 2 for a later, undefined date.


A Maryland man accused of running through the U.S. Capitol with a loaded handgun appeared in court Tuesday but will undergo days of psychiatric treatment before his arraignment.


International group sets plan to curb global warming

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON  - Nearly 100 corporations, international organizations and experts agreed to a plan on Tuesday to cut greenhouse gas emissions, calling on governments to act urgently against global warming.


Darfur Crisis Has Complex Roots with No Immediate Solution

Since rebel groups in the Darfur region of western Sudan took up arms against the government nearly two years ago, the violence has resulted in what the United Nations says is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.


For many women who marry gay men, the truth comes out late at night, not in the bedroom but in front of the family's computer screen.


44 N.Koreans Break Into Canada's Beijing Embassy

A group of 44 North Korean asylum  seekers used makeshift ladders to scale the fence and leap into  the Canadian embassy in Beijing on Wednesday, officials said.


Merrill Lynch woes stir Bloomberg speculation

Merrill Lynch & Co Inc.  may  look to sell its 20 percent stake in Bloomberg LP to raise  capital after writing down $8.4 billion of assets last quarter,  some investors have said.


WhatÂs Offline: Next, a Lawsuit Futures Exchange?

It seems that the only thing that hedge funds do not invest in is lawsuits. And that may change.


Another Clinton book is on the way, this time by the best-selling author and former editor of The New Yorker, Tina Brown. "The Clinton Chronicles," to be released in 2010 by the Broadway Doubleday Publishing Group, will be Brown's first book since "The Diana Chronicles," a biography of Princess Diana which came out last year and has more than 300,000 copies in print.


Childhood Leukemia Treated With Alzheimerâs Drug?

Researchers have made a breakthrough discovery by identifying a gene that is responsible for childhood leukemia and the effects of the mutated gene, called NOTCH1, they say, can be inhibited by a type of drug designed to treat Alzheimerâs disease.


Shoppers Getting Into the Holiday Spirit

U.S. shoppers are starting to get into  the holiday spirit, with indices on Tuesday showing sales  picking up with only 10 shopping days until Christmas.


Despite a federal rule changing the type of hooks that longline fishermen may use, the sea turtle population is declining, officials say.


Attorney general wins "sitting duck award"

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales won American newspaper columnists' annual "Sitting Duck Award" for being an easy target.


The departing CIA station chief in Iraq and another CIA official who visited the country recently have painted a pessimistic picture of the situation in the war-torn country in classified briefings to their superiors, The New York Times reported.


Il vicepremier rilancia sul tema emerso dal dibattito parlamentare"La destra Ã¨ divisa, ma ha dato una disponibilitÃ  al confronto"                                            D'Alema: "Sulla riforma elettorale l'accordo bipartisan Ã¨ possibile"                                                                                Sui Dico: "Una sfida in Parlamento ai liberali del centrodestra"


Thousands rally for suspended judge in NW Pakistan

ABBOTTABAD, Pakistan  - Tens of thousands of people turned out to greet Pakistan's suspended chief justice as he traveled to a northwestern town on Saturday to forge resistance to President Pervez Musharraf's attempt to sack him.


Ex-Spanish PM Defends Handling of Attack

Lawmakers investigating the Madrid train bombings censured the previous government's handling of the attack, while former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar insisted Monday the Socialists might not have ousted his party were it not for Spain's worst terrorist assault.


French soldier surrenders after threat to blow up explosives depot

A French soldier who threatened to blow up an explosives depot surrendered on Monday, the Interior Ministry said. Regis Le Tohic, a 47-year-old explosives specialist, was disgruntled


So the BBC is a leftwing conspiracy? You could have fooled me

Comment is free: Simon Jenkins: The chattering classes should not forget why the corporation really matters.


Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez won his fourth consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove on Tuesday, the prestigious defensive award even Chavez thought he had no chance at winning


Google sponsors $30 million moon contest

Google Inc. is bankrolling a $30 million out-of-this-world prize to the first private company that can safely land a robotic rover on the moon and beam back a gigabyte of images and video to Earth, the Internet search leader said Thursday.


Verona, 14:55 - CALCIO, CHIEVO: CONTRO INTER SENZA COSSATO MA CON 4-3-3

Rifinitura mattutina per il Chievo in vista della gara con l'Inter, sfida che si giocherà a p...


Colin Montgomerie's bid for a first strokeplay title in America ended in frustration as Tiger Woods prevailed in the Target World Challenge.


Premiers' national pharmacare pitch panned by experts as ...

It was billed as an easily saleable master stroke of public policy that would both improve the nation's health care and salve federal-provincial jurisdictional disputes.


Dolly Parton honored for songwriting hits

Country music icon Dolly Parton was honored for her songwriting on Thursday at the Songwriters Hall of Fame, where she made jokes about her famous big bust that she quipped would outlast her.


Louis Vuitton unveils plan for museum in Paris

France's biggest fashion group presented plans on Monday for a futuristic museum built out of glass to promote the heritage of its brands, promising the new Paris landmark would be a celebration of creativity.


Motorcycle fatalities this year are almost double the figure at the same stage in 2006, a minister reveals.


Advice for actors looking to get nominated for worst performance: multiple roles help. Lindsay Lohan and Eddie Murphy scored multiple nominations Monday for the Razzies, which sort out the worst that Hollywood dredged up the previous year.


The Caucus: Retreat on Chinese Toy Statement

The Obama campaign went to work qualifying his remarks on banning toys imported from China, a pledge that a spokesman for Chinaâs Foreign Ministry called âunwise.â.


Hillary Clinton to visit Iraq, Afghanistan

New York senator and 2008 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is to visit Iraq and Afghanistan this weekend to meet government officials and US military leaders, her office said.


WebReference.com: Database-enabled Ajax with PHP

In this new tutorial from WebReference, they show you how to develop a simple database-enabled Ajax application in PHP.   In this article you'll learn how to create database-enabled Ajax requests using PHP and MySQL. We begin by creating the front-end HTML and JavaScript files used to make requests to the server-side. The requested server-side is a PHP file which bridges the gap between Ajax and a PHP object that connects to a MySQL database and returns results as an XML response to the Ajax engine.   The application is a simple way to enter news postings into a database and pull them back out with this handy Javascript functionality. They also provide the complete source code for download to help you get started.


Thirteen points in the last two games... not much of an onslaught from offensive savior Terrell Owens and his mates. Yet, with that influx of talent in


WHITE PLAINS, New York  - Disgraced U.S. sprinter Marion Jones was sentenced to six months in prison on Friday for lying to federal prosecutors about her steroid use, a stunning downfall for the five-time Olympic medalist.


Barracuda buys Web security vendor NetContinuum

(InfoWorld) - Barracuda Networks is getting into the Web application security business. The security vendor has acquired Santa Clara, California's NetContinuum, a vendor of Web firewall appliances. Barracuda already sellsÂ Web filtering devicesÂ that prevent Web surfers from visiting malicious sites, but the NetContinuum products can be used to protect Web sites themselves. With about 80 employees, NetContinuum had been in business since 1999 selling pre-configured security servers, or appliances, that help protect sites from Web-based threats such as cross site scripting or SQL injection attacks. Barracuda, which is best known for its spam filtering products, had actually concluded the purchase in mid-August, but it was not publicly disclosed at the time, said Dean Drako, the company's president and CEO. Drako would not say what Barracuda paid for NetContinuum. The deal gives Barracuda a new type of appliance to sell along side its existing lines of appliances, Drako said. "We believe there's an opportunity to bring Web site protection to a very broad audience of our customer base," he said. Barracuda plans to improve the NetContinuum user interface and eventually sell the appliances as the Barracuda Web App Controller, he said. "We are investing really heavily in making this a really great product." NetContinuum had offices in Santa Clara and India, but the Santa Clara team has already been moved to Barracuda's Campbell, California, headquarters. Barracuda is expanding the team in India and expects to make only "one or two" layoffs as a result of the acquisition, he said. The Web App Controller line will cost the same as NetContinuum's existing products, which sell in the $30,000 to $50,000 range, depending on capabilities.


A couple of very old men are currently facing justice for terrible crimes they allegedly committed long, long ago. In Munich last week, Ladislav Niznansky, an 86-year-old former Nazi death squad commander, went


Rumsfeld: Troop Reductions Not Likely Until Iraqis Stronger

There likely won't be a reduction in US troop strength in Iraq until after the country's national elections in January, Defense Secretary Donald


U.S. and Mexican officials will review reports of an intrusion on Mexican soil by workers erecting U.S. border fences between Douglas, Ariz., and the Mexican border city of Agua Prieta, U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza said.


Crew cleaning up from toxic spill on space station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida  - A spill of toxic   liquids aboard International Space Station on Monday set off a   short-lived emergency and fears of a fire aboard the outpost.


Missionary Slain By Colo. Gunman Is Remembered

CHISHOLM, Minn., Dec. 15 -- Tiffany Johnson had traveled to Egypt, Libya and South Africa in her work as a Christian missionary. But on Saturday, she was back home in northern Minnesota, remembered as a young woman who had been impossible not to love.


Naomi Campbell says sorry for mobile assault

Healing power of crystals battles personal demons WSA Battling supermodel Naomi Campbell has expressed her remorse for the phone-throwing incident which cost her maid Ana Scolavino four stiches in the head and the Streatham clotheshorse five days' community service.â¦


Kerry Set to Clarify Positions in Debate

BAL HARBOUR, Fla. - Calling President Bush "a very clever debater," Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says their first appearance together Thursday night will give him the opportunity to be clear with people about where he stands on issues...


Could anger over a potentially low pay settlement prompt a year of industrial action in schools?


Mystery official briefs on Cheney's trip

Who was the mystery official on Vice President Dick Cheney's plane? There were plenty of clues about his identity if you read a transcript of his remarks.


Unless Congress acts soon to prevent a special "millionaires" tax from hitting middle-income families, as many as 50 million taxpayers, or 37 percent of the total, will face an unexpected tax increase, a delay in receiving refunds or a delay in having their tax return processed.


Usher, OutKast, Kanye West rack up AMA nominations

Usher (news) leads the pack of nominees for this year's American Music Awards ceremony, scoring a total of four nods; OutKast (news) and Kanye West (news) follow with three nominations each.


L'espresso, per la casa si pensa a Mussolini-Belillo-Luxuria


Retail, auto sales, job numbers suggest tougher times

CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Could it be that people are just tired of buying things on the cheap at Wal-Mart? Free! Sign up here to receive our Weekly Roundup e-Newsletter!


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.


Jerry Hadley, 55, an American tenor was noted for his bright lyric voice and lively acting, shot himself on Tuesday.


Wall Street's private regulators say to merge

Wall Street's two main private regulatory arms said on Tuesday they have agreed to merge in a widely anticipated move aimed at reducing industry costs and streamlining oversight functions.


Peru Shining Path Head Faces Nov. 5 Retrial

LIMA, Peru  - Peru will launch on Nov. 5 a  civilian retrial of Abimael Guzman, head of the Maoist-inspired  Shining Path rebel group that waged a brutal insurgency in the  1980s and 1990s, officials said on Monday.


High-performance computing and artificial intelligence software may blast through barriers in data management to create a so-called "data cave," like the one Tom Cruise uses to catch crooks in the movie "Minority Report".


Telegramma a Montezemolo per la Giornata sul turismo


Europeans Plan Incentives to End Standoff on Iran Nuclear Program

Britain, France and Germany are working to give Iran a last chance to avoid confrontation with the West over its nuclear program by offering incentives to curtail its most sensitive activities.


IBM buys Web conferencing vendor WebDialogs

IBM has acquired a Web conferencing service provider, it announced as part of a flurry of unified communications moves on Wednesday.


Smith hires expert for son's 2nd autopsy

A pathologist who consulted in the death investigations of Elvis Presley and JonBenet Ramsey said Saturday Anna Nicole Smith had hired him to perform a repeat autopsy on her son.


US health insurance stocks fall amid concerns that New York attorney general Elliot Spitzer will widen a probe into price rigging.


"X-Men" star Patrick Stewart is recovering at home after undergoing an angioplasty procedure earlier this week to widen an artery, his publicist said Friday.


Senate Republicans Weigh Dismantling CIA

Senate Intelligence Committee Republicans proposed removing the nation's largest intelligence gathering operations from the CIA and the Pentagon and putting them directly under a new national intelligence director.


The US orders its largest-ever beef recall, saying a California meat plant broke rules on cattle inspection.


The Pakistani military says it has knocked out several militant bases in the Afghan border region.


Influenza: ordinanza Sirchia riduce prezzo vaccini

Con un'ordinanza il ministro della salute Girolamo Sirchia disporrÃ  la riduzione del prezzo dei vaccini antinfluenzali. E' stato deciso oggi nel corso di un incontro al ministero con aziende produttrici, farmacisti e grossisti.


Roma, 17:18 - CALCIO, C1/B: CAF RESPINGE IL RICORSO DELL'AVELLINO

La Caf (Commissione d'Apello Federale) ha respinto il ricorso dell'Avellino che milita in serie C1/B...


Tenn. wife sentenced in preacher's death

A woman who killed her preacher husband with a shotgun blast to the back as he lay in bed was sentenced Friday to three years in prison, but with time served could be released on probation in a little more than two months.


Losing track of your investments may be the most profitable move you ever make.


The day after the Genesis space capsule crashes in the Utah desert, NASA technicians comb through the wreckage hoping to salvage something from the $264 million mission. Amit Asaravala reports from Salt Lake City.


Cavaliers star LeBron James was accidentally elbowed in the face by Houston's Dikembe Mutombo late in the first half of Wednesday night's game and had to be helped from the floor.


Money talks, Klein walks as health summit opens

Despite the prime minister's plea that the first ministers meeting not devolve into an argument over numbers, the first day of his long-awaited health care summit did exactly that.


By FRANK ELTMAN  CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. - A titanium maker and its owner were charged with illegally storing more than 11 tons of corrosive hazardous waste, creating a mess that a prosecutor compared to a horror movie scene.


Scopo ateneo e' accrescere e diffondere cultura del caffe'


Gay Episcopal bishop says 'Holy Spirit led us'

The openly gay Episcopal bishop whose ordination threatens to fracture the worldwide Anglican Communion said Wednesday he "genuinely and deeply regrets" the pain this caused


U.S. Holocaust Museum unveils 116 photos

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on Wednesday unveiled a photo album containing 116 rare photographs of senior SS officers and other officials at the Auschwitz concentration camp.


His record speaks for itself. No one should have to quantify it, justify it, apologize for it, or even defend it. Tom O'Brien's body of work as the 32d head coach of Boston College's football program -- which O'Brien found had been left in shambles in the aftermath of a gambling scandal when he arrived in December 1996 -- stands ...


Seagate net plunges on charges for Maxtor purchase

Seagate Technology STX.N>, the  biggest U.S. computer hard-disk drive maker, said on Tuesday  quarterly net profit plunged 98 percent due principally to  costs from acquiring smaller rival Maxtor Corp.


Long workouts best for raising good cholesterol

NEW YORK  - People who want to boost their "good" HDL cholesterol levels with exercise will have to put in at least two hours of physical activity each week, an analysis of 25 studies shows.


U.S. drugmaker Wyeth  said on Wednesday it was maintaining its profit forecast for 2007, but added that first-quarter earnings would exceed current Wall Street average estimates of 85 cents per share.


Blast in Baghdad Rebel District Kills at Least 47

A huge explosion tore through a crowded  market close to the west Baghdad police headquarters on  Tuesday, killing at least 47 people in the deadliest single  attack in the capital in six months.


People under 40 are five times more likely to have a heart attack if they smoke, a study shows.


Eric Barkas City Editor SHAREHOLDERS in the pay-TV company BSkyB have cleared the way for Rupert Murdoch's News Corp to increase its stake.


Officials 'stumped' by Indonesian bird flu

The U.N. health agency described the deaths of six Indonesian family members from bird flu as the most important development in the spread of the virus since 2003, saying it is investigating whether the disease has spread from person to person.


Londra, 13:55 - CALCIO, CHELSEA: FONDO DA 700 MLN PER FUTURO CHELSEA

Secondo quanto scrive il domenicale britannico 'Sunday Mirror', Roman Abramovich avrebbe creato un f...


A group of Japanese MPs claims China exaggerated the number of people killed in the Nanjing attack.


Barry H. Landau, presidential collector and connoisseur, remembers the time he was dancing with Betty Ford at the White House and Fred Astaire cut in.


Milano, 14:38 - CALCIO, MILAN; ANCELOTTI: FACCIAMO LA CORSA AL PRIMO POSTO

Carlo Ancelotti guarda al primo posto: ''Non facciamo la corsa sull'Inter - ha detto il tecnico del ...


Plan for European patent court may fail, says EU Commissioner

Bickering over details to blame The EU Internal Markets Commissioner has warned that Europe is about to miss out on a chance to forge a pan-European patent disputes forum because of long-standing international bickering on what a system might look like.â¦


Nyon, 12:26 - CALCIO, UEFA: APERTA INCHIESTA SU VALENCIA-INTER

La Uefa ha deciso di aprire un'inchiesta sugli incidenti scoppiati ieri sera nel finale di Valencia-...


Office as a Window EMC is cosying up to Microsoft - or is it the other way around? The pair have ensured that as yet unlaunched Office 2007 and SharePoint Server 2007 can natively access EMC's Documentum ECM software.â¦


Fed Up With MySpace? Join the Club and Delete Your Account

Frustrated users pledge to abandon the social networking site on International Delete Your MySpace Account Day.


Forest Whitaker, an Oscar winner for his portrayal of ruthless dictator Idi Amin, is reversing direction to play one of the Bible's most beloved figures in a new audio version of the Old Testament.


Mammalian Egg Maturation Process Detailed

U.S. scientists have discovered how mammalian eggs undergo maturation through an intricate process of asymmetric cell division.


Net File-Sharing Doesn't Hurt Most Artists - Survey

Most musicians and artists say the Internet has helped them make more money from their work despite online file-trading services that allow users to copy songs and other material for free, according to a study released on Sunday.


Greenspan: Appetite for Dollar to Dwindle

The insatiable foreign demand for  dollar holdings would eventually fall as investors diversify,  U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Friday in  remarks that landed hard on the dollar.


Patent Reform Tops List of Tech Concerns

Patent law impedes innovation, needs reform, say Tech Policy Summit speakers.


Ben S. Bernanke sent a strong signal that the central bank will lower interest rates again this month as it attempts to stave off a recession.


Brutal, Painful Death, Just a Mouse Click Away

Morally duplicitous torture porn: how else to describe âUntraceable,â a bleak, rain-washed horror thriller.


The vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is under strain, the UN's human rights chief warns.


Udinese, 19:35 - CALCIO, UDINESE: BOUDIANSKI IN DUBBIO PER LA REGGINA

Il tecnico dell'Udinese Marino insiste sul modulo  3-4-3 anhe per la gara contro la Reggina. Non ci ...


Intel's Otellini has company focused on low power

The CEO of the world's largest chipmaker wants hardware developers thinking about graphics, low-power applications, and Intel's determination not to let AMD get the best of it again.


Cisco sells file-sharing, backup appliance

Cisco Systems debuted the File Engine, a file-based data-sharing appliance that offers companies the ability to consolidate management of distributed file and print services within branch offices.


Troops join major new pre-election offensive against Iraq rebels

British troops joined their US and Iraqi counterparts in a massive new offensive against insurgent strongholds as efforts intensified to restore government control in time for January elections.


Pegli, 13:32 - CALCIO, GENOA; GASPERINI: NON FACCIAMOCI ILLUSIONI

"Vogliamo consolidarci in serie A senza bruciare le tappe, ma impostando un discorso mirato a cresce...


Colombia judges order arrests, but whereabouts of trio linked to ...

A court on Thursday convicted three IRA-linked men of training Colombian rebels in terrorist tactics and sentenced them to up to 17 1/2 years in prison.


A Rachmaninov manuscript is withdrawn from auction on after a late ownership claim from the composer's estate.


IBM Corp.'s software division notched up its 18th acquisition in three years yesterday, announcing the purchase of content integration specialist Venetica Corp.


Actress  Ashley Jensen  who stars in Extras and Ugly Betty, elopes with her boyfriend in California.


Easement Tension Does Not Ease: A Florida Power & Light Easement is an Eyesore for Palm Lakes Residents, a Prime Parking and Storage Area for Businesses and a Big Dilemma for the City

By Laura Figueroa, The Miami Herald  Sep. 17--Whether she's ready to rise or not, Maria E. Brackett has become all too familiar with her morning wake-up call -- the "beep, beep, beep" of trucks backing up into a warehouse adjacent to her home.


Space Hero's Life Masks 'Mental Anguish'

By Rasha Madkour and David Crary HOUSTON -- Lisa M. Nowak chose a juggling act of dauntingly high difficulty -- to be an astronaut and a mother of three. Her background -- high school valedictorian, Naval Academy graduate, test pilot -- seemed to equip her for the challenge.


US Health-Insurance Premiums Rise 11%, Study Says

Health-insurance premiums paid by US employers rose 11.2 percent this year, five times as fast as wages, according to a study that may reinforce voters' concerns over rising medical costs.


EP Socialist Group hails Barroso's revamping efforts

President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament (EP) Martin Schulz on Thursday hailed the efforts by incoming President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso in revamping his team for approval.


Terry Semel will hand over the reins to Jerry Yang in Yahooâs latest attempt to regain investor confidence.


Stocks slid sharply on Tuesday, joining a global equity rout on fears of a U.S. recession and pushing the Nasdaq into bear market territory.


"Babel" leads Golden Globes with 7 nominations

"Babel," a searing film drama about cultural gaps among people around the world, earned seven Golden Globe nominations on Thursday to lead a surprising range of contenders for the widely watched movie honors.


NEW YORK - David Bell's second home run of the game broke a 13th-inning tie, and the Philadelphia Phillies overcame a four-run deficit Saturday in an 11-9 win over the New York Mets.


The 30-year-old and her husband, England soccer captain David Beckham, said in a joint statement the baby would be due in March next year.


Rensselaer Journal: Oh, the Rivalry! And Thatâs Off the Field.

In Rensselaer, Ind., where Chicago Bears territory and Indianapolis Colts territory collide, it is hard for fans to know exactly where their neighbors stand.


Apertura anno accademico, polizia controlla manifestanti


Vivendi Ups Forecast After Strong Quarter

France's largest media company, Vivendi Universal, raised its 2004 earnings forecast as it reported a 19 percent increase in third-quarter underlying operating profit, buoyed by a rebound in music and strong mobile phone sales.


A standards group has begun work on a 1-Gigabit-per-second version of WiMax that could replace both cellular and WiMax.


Diplomats Say Iran Uranium Deal Salvaged

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei speaks to the press at Vienna's International Center, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2004, during the 35-nation board of governors meeting


New York halts sale of historic documents on eBay

A New York state employee who had  access to government-owned archives has been arrested on  suspicion of stealing hundreds of historic documents, many of  which he sold on eBay, authorities said on Monday.


Science & environment: US farmers given go-ahead to produce cloned meat for human food chain


After walking from the West Wing to the Executive Office Building under rainy skies, President Bush used his first news conference since getting re-elected to lay out his priorities for the next four years.


Paying tribute to a key figure in the attempt to kill Adolf Hitler, Austria's president on Monday unveiled a plaque that praised an Austrian officer executed by the Nazis as a symbol of resistance to the German dictator.


Oil rebounds above $64 ahead of Iran debate

Oil edged up above $64 a barrel on   Wednesday as traders cautiously await the debate among members   of the U.N. nuclear watchdog over Iran's atomic work, and on   renewed concerns over disruptions to Nigerian supplies.


Russia's Vladimir Putin sends a message of support  to George W Bush after his re-election as US President.


Rumsfeld to Sign Condolence Letters Himself

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will now personally sign letters of condolence to families of troops killed in action, after the Pentagon acknowledged signing machines had been used in the past.


Saudi Identifies Gunmen in U.S. Consulate Attack

Saudi Arabia named Tuesday three of the  five militants who stormed the U.S. consulate in Jeddah, and  said they were all Saudi nationals.


Ricky Williams asks league to clarify his status

Ricky Williams has asked the NFL for a hearing to clarify his playing status, a possible first step if the running back tries to return to the league.


United Likely to Terminate Pension Plans

Cash-strapped United Airlines said in a bankruptcy court filing today that it "likely" will be necessary to terminate and replace its employee pension plans.


Latest top 500 ranking of the speedy machines includes old favorites like IBM's BlueGene/L, plus a few surprises.


Drunk Horse-And-Buggy Driver Causes Crash

Police in eastern Latvia were trying to determine Wednesday what charges to bring against a drunken horse-and-buggy driver who caused a drunken motorist to crash into a ditch, flipping his car.


The government intends to press ahead with changes to the way any future Stormont Assembly is run.


It may be "Our Country," but it's John Mellencamp's song.


GIUSTIZIA: CASINI, TONI INACCETTABILI VERSO MASTELLA

(AGI) - Roma, 15 dic. - "Gli espisodi accaduti questa mattina nei confronti del presidente di turno, Clemente Mastella, hanno assunto toni poco decorosi e inaccettabili per le istituzioni parlamentari". Lo


Per metodo e merito, governo sappia del no di sindacato


Tiger Woods may have lost his aura of invincibility to many in the golfing world, but he still has the hex on Colin Montgomerie. The 41-year-old Scot has never finished ahead of Woods in a strokeplay tournament


Sidney Goldring, Advocate for Brain Procedure, Dies at 81

Dr. Sidney Goldring was a neurosurgeon and an educator who was an early advocate for a brain operation that he helped to develop for patients with severe epilepsy.


South American leaders on Wednesday launched a regional integration pact they said would go beyond rhetoric and usher in European-style unity, but only half the future bloc's 12 presidents turned up to sign it.


Nine years on, Princess Diana still grabs headlines

Even nine years after her death, Princess Diana is still making headline news, particularly for one national newspaper that has repeatedly aimed to blow the lid on what it suggests is a state-sponsored conspiracy and cover-up.


Franklin Haney Sr., a high-profile Tennessee developer, has joined at least two other major groups in the race to buy the Nationals.


FBI memo: Iraq interrogation methods crossed the line

Harsh interrogation methods of Iraqi prisoners went "beyond the bounds of standard FBI practice," the FBI's top official in Iraq said in a memo released yesterday.


Washington's biggest enemies, from   communist Cuba to North Korea, called on developing nations on   Saturday to challenge U.S. dominance through a revived   Non-Aligned Movement labeled a Cold War relic by critics.


Google is Watching You; 'Big Brother' Row Over Plans for Personal Database

By Robert Verkaik In a mission statement that raises the spectre of an internet Big Brother to rival Orwellian visions of the state, Google has revealed details of how it intends to organise and control the world's information.


A California zoo is shut while investigators try to find out how a tiger escaped to attack three visitors, killing one.


Years of clinical trials have yielded promising results for a vaccine that would protect women from a virus that causes colon and cervical cancer, researchers said on Monday.


The father of a recruit who died at Deepcut army barracks says he is sad to hear reports it is to be demolished.


In yet another big week for new releases on the U.S. albums chart, the


A Virgin Atlantic Airways passenger plane was diverted to Stansted airport near London and landed safely Thursday after a bomb threat, an airport spokeswoman said.


For Jessica Rodriguez, waiting four days for an iPhone is nothing when the prize is "the next big thing."


Fla. court rules against 'Terri's Law,' meaning disabled woman may ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BP)--In a blow to pro-lifers, the Florida Supreme Court struck down "Terri's Law" Sept. 23, ruling against the 2003 act that allowed Gov.


The dollar sank to a record low against the euro on Thursday and stood near a 12-year low versus the pound after a round of robust US economic data failed to dispel increasingly negative sentiment on the US currency.


Il pm titolare dell'indagine ha confermato le dichiarazioni rese ieri a RepubblicaGli investigatori stanno esaminando il materiale informatico e cartaceo sequestrato                                          Boccassini: "Gli indagati sono solo 19" Continua la ricerca di nuovi arsenali


While poets and lovers ponder how to mend a broken heart, doctors now have a tool for repairing an enlarged heart. One of the more unusual medical devices yet developed, a mesh "jacket" can actually reverse this dangerous condition.


Okinawa governor wants changes in U.S. forces deal

Okinawa's governor on Wednesday called for changes in an agreement governing the status of U.S. troops in Japan as diplomats flew to the island to try to soothe anger over the suspected rape of a schoolgirl by a U.S. Marine.


Israeli soldiers held for Palestinian killing

The Israeli military has arrested two soldiers on suspicion of murdering an unarmed Palestinian, it was reported today. Two more officers from the same platoon have been detained for allegedly attempting to


Endangered gorillas prosper in heart of Africa

PARC NATIONAL DES VOLCANS, Rwanda  - One hour's trek into the Rwandan rainforest, a crunching sound breaks the silence that hangs over the misty thick bush.


Filmmaker Moore Sees Oscar Gold in His Future

Moore may want a best picture Oscar, but the real Oscar would be beating Bush on Nov. 2nd. He may have already won an Oscar for "best documentary" with his film Bowling for Columbine, but Michael Moore said


Iger: Disney Throws Weight Behind Blu-Ray DVD Format

Once upon a time, Betamax was more than a winning answer in Trivial Pursuit: It was a real competitor with the VHS videotape format.


Hatton knocks out Castillo to retain IBO title

Briton Ricky Hatton retained his IBO light welterweight title with a fourth-round knockout of Mexican Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas on Saturday.


British, Irish leaders unveil Northern Ireland peace package ...

British and Irish leaders published a detailed plan Wednesday for reviving a Catholic-Protestant administration in Northern Ireland -- a peace-building project still on hold because of unsolved arguments about IRA disarmament.


Manchester United fans have threatened to launch a âcivil warâ against the club in the battle to stave off a threatened takeover by American businessman Malcolm Glazer.


Rocco Buttiglione viene bocciato dalle votazioni dellâUe. Ieri ventisette voti sfavorevoli (contro ventisei) sia per la nomina a commissario che per quella a vicepresidente con diverso portafogli. Ora la


U.S. Muslim Leaders Undecided on Candidate

As both Democrats and Republicans sought their support, American Muslim leaders wrapped up their community's largest convention Sunday still debating whether to endorse a presidential candidate.


Portugal PM, Cabinet Submit Resignations

Portugal's prime minister said on  Saturday he and his cabinet had submitted their resignations, a  move that came a day after a snap election was called.


In such a tight race, the game is about turning out your supporters. TIME goes inside the ground war


Rebel Group Denies Kidnapping British Aid Worker

The fate of Iraq aid worker Margaret Hassan today remained unclear as the commanders of a rebel group reportedly denied kidnapping her.


Ellison: Oracle considered lowering PeopleSoft bid

OCTOBER 08, 2004 (REUTERS) - Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison said today that his company has talked about revising its current $21-per-share offer to buy rival PeopleSoft Inc.


A surprisingly soft 112,000 new U.S.  jobs were created in November, the Labor Department said on  Friday, casting a shadow across an already downbeat holiday  sales season with consumers apparently worried by scarce work  and high oil prices.


Spector jury deadlocks, judge declares mistrial

A Los Angeles judge declared a mistrial in the trial of pioneering rock producer Phil Spector on Wednesday after jurors said for a second time that they were unable to reach a verdict.


Automobile traffic is a problem plaguing many airports, but some have found a simple partial solution -- cellphone parking lots away from the terminal.


As it tries to overtake General Motors as the leading global automaker by sales, Toyotaâs strategy of  shifting its focus to emerging markets from the United States appears to be paying off.


Three British crews, including Finn favourite Ben Ainslie,  lead their classes in the Olympic sailing regatta in Athens.


Former Twins scout Angelo Giuliani dies at 91

Angelo Giuliani, who was behind the plate for Joe DiMaggio's first at-bat in the majors and went on to sign Kent Hrbek as a Minnesota Twins scout, died at 91.


Lucent Agrees to Pay Fines for China Dealings

Alcatel-Lucent will pay fines in response to charges it provided incentives to Chinese government officials.


In rete, mail, blog, forum e siti di prima emergenza

Anche internet si Ã¨ reso utile in questa tragedia che Ã¨ stato lo Tsunami che ha travolto tutto il Sudest asiatico. E forse dopo la tv, il web Ã¨ stato lo strumento piÃ¹ utile tra i mezzi di comunicazione.


In One City, Home Sellers Find It Pays to Cut Out Middleman

A new study found that people who sold their homes through real estate agents typically did not get a higher sale price than people who sold their homes themselves.


FLORENCE Interior ministers from the five largest West European countries have agreed to adopt digital fingerprinting on passports, officials here said, but a second day of talks on Monday found them still deadlocked on a plan to create migrant holding


TV doctor rues taking Britney's health to town

US television show doctor Phil McGraw regrets going public with his thoughts on troubled pop singer Britney Spears' mental health.


Five tips to help you decide whether server virtualization is right for your company and get you started on the road.


Roma, 18:14 - CALCIO, SERIE B: TRE GIORNATE A SOVIERO E GUIGOU

Il giudice sportivo ha squalificato 23 giocatori in serie B. Tre giornate di stop con ammonizione al...


Anti-corruption laws need reform: anti-fraud agency head

Anti-corruption laws urgently need to be reformed because they are outdated when compared to modern international business practices, the head of Britain's anti-fraud agency said in an interview published in the Financial Times on Monday.


U.S. says 23 militants killed in Iraq battle

U.S. forces killed at least 23 insurgents suspected of having links with al Qaeda during a fierce battle in Iraq's western Anbar province over the weekend, the military said on Tuesday.


BASKET: gli azzurri revocano lo sciopero

L'annunciato sciopero degli azzurri al prossimo All Star Game in programma l'11 dicembre a Torino non ci sara'. La decisione e' arrivata dopo l'incontro al Coni tra il presidente Gianni Petrucci, quello della


Segretario Pd, accordo di Lisbona e' equo


Youths' Commitment to Conservation Cools

By Laura Wray and Constance Flanagan "An Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore's movie on global warming, is now the fourth-largest-grossing documentary of all time.


The world is meeting targets on improving access to clean drinking water, but falling behind on sanitation goals fixed at a summit four years ago, the United Nations said Thursday.


U.S. Rules Out Dam Removal to Aid Salmon

The Bush administration will not remove federal dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers to protect 11 endangered species of salmon and steelhead, even as a last resort.


Track thieves suspected of causing train crash

A passenger train speeding along a bad section of track derailed and tumbled into a ravine before dawn yesterday, killing at least 10 people and injuring 120, Philippine officials said.


The Environmental Protection Agency finally updates how it estimates vehicles' fuel economy -- all vehicles will lose at least a few estimated mpg. In Autopia.


It was HBO's night at yesterday's 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. The network's "The Sopranos" won the Emmy for best drama for the first time in its awards-packed six-year run and marked the first time


Cancer Staging Affects Patients' Survival

MONDAY, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) -- People whose stomach cancers are not staged correctly may die sooner, according to a new study.


Schwarzenegger signs budget cuts, warns more to come

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday signed six budget-cutting bills that will close the projected $3.3 billion shortfall in the state budget this fiscal year, but warned that more spending cuts would be needed.


The Cincinnati Reds traded Josh Hamilton to the Texas Rangers on Friday for pitchers Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera.


Network Appliance Offers Up Flexible Storage

The vendor adds features to its storage appliance to quickly bring back online storage that had been dedicated to an underused application.


Democratic Takeover Costly for GOP Veterans and Newcomers Alike

TuesdayÃ¢ÂÂs runoff election defeat of eight-term Republican Rep. Henry Bonilla by Democratic former Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez in TexasÃ¢ÂÂ 23rd District Ã¢ÂÂ in the final election contest in 2006 Ã¢ÂÂ brought to 30 the number of seats taken over by the Democrats in their successful drive to gain control of the House in the 110th Congress. The Democrats lost none of the 203 seats that they were defending this year.


The fifth-ranked Memphis Tigers rolled into the NCAA tournament in style. Chris Douglas-Roberts and Antonio Anderson each scored 17 points and the Tigers extended the nation's longest winning streak to 22 straight, beating Houston 71-59 on Saturday to wrap up their second straight Conference USA tournament championship.


In trattativa si discutera' di ammortizzatori sociali


Google bid for ad firm said to face FTC probe

The Federal Trade Commission has opened a preliminary antitrust investigation into Google's planned $3.1 billion purchase of the online advertising company DoubleClick , an industry executive briefed on the agency's plans said yesterday.


1000's of Liverpool fans have joined the best unofficial Liverpool FC website on the planet - why dont you? Neil Mellor scored with a blistering finish deep in injury time as Liverpool stunned Arsenal at Anfield.


A new satellite tracking device, which could cost less than Â£100, aims to reunite parents with their lost children.


How to minimize risk while hanging on to the potential reward in small-cap investing.


EADS close to deal on Airbus A350 launch: source

The board of European aerospace group EADS  is 90 percent certain to agree on Friday to finance the launch of Airbus's planned A350 mid-size, long-haul jet, a source close to the board told Reuters on Friday.


FA hierarchy squander their moral duties

Such are the warped judgment values presently infecting Soho Square that the main surprise at Adrian Mutu's drug hearing yesterday was that the Football Association didn't offer the cocaine


Television everyman Regis Philbin talks about his appearance as Dick Clark's fill-in on New Year's Eve and his career thus far in an interview with The Times.


England call up fast bowler Stuart Broad for the one-day finals against Australia with injured Jon Lewis and Chris Tremlett to fly home.


Lo dice l'ad Perissinotto, 48 mln i clienti nel mondo


About a year ago, Dave Champlin and his two roommates lived in what their friends at the University of Missouri called the House of Fat. At a combined weight of 890 pounds, the three decided to try the Atkins diet. By sticking to the low-carb, high-protein diet, Champlin lost about 45 pounds and his roommates each lost between 50 and 60 pounds.


Francesco Totti scored a capping brace as crisis-stricken AS Roma got well with a 4-0 away rout of Siena. The Giallorossi built a quick 2-0 lead with Serie A top scorer Vincenzo Montella poaching a pair within 10 second half minutes.


In the 69-year history of college football's most prestigious award, a freshman has never won the Heisman Trophy. I voted to change that in year No.


A former Philippine communist leader charged with ordering murders is due in court in The Hague.


4 Indicted on Charges of Antiquities Fraud

Four Israeli antiquities collectors and dealers were indicted Wednesday on charges they ran a sophisticated forgery ring that spanned the globe and produced a treasure trove of fake Bible-era artifacts, including some that were hailed as major archaeological finds.


Cisco Announces Agreement to Acquire Five Across

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Five Across, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif., a leading vendor in the social networking marketplace.


Emotional sincerity is the hallmark of this deeply felt revival, which stars S. Epatha Merkerson in a performance that stops the heart.


People having full body scans to find potential health problems may wind up creating one, researchers suggest. Radiation from computed tomography, or CT, scans will result in a modest increase in the risk


Trump's Trees Upset California Neighbors

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. - Donald Trump has upset his upscale peninsula neighbors - again. First he erected an unauthorized 70-foot flagpole at his Trump National Golf Club, then he built a tee 8 feet higher than allowed.


Retired Gen Surayud Chulanont begins work as  Thailand's new, military-appointed prime minister.


Running back Leon Washington grabbed a roster spot by being fearless and successful on special teams in the preseason, but Coach Eric Mangini thinks he is capable of carrying more of a load.


Golf's Woosnam gain, Lehman pain at the K Club

One week must feel like an eternity   for losing U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman.


Arsenal and Chelsea are braced for Football Association action after the Carling Cup final ended in a brawl.


Lo dice il giovane arrestato per il sequestro del possidente


Hospital Admission Rates Higher for White Kids in ER

MONDAY, June 4 (HealthDay News) --  White kids are admitted to hospital after an emergency room visit at a greater rate than black or Hispanic kids, new research reveals.


Both AMD and Intel are preparing to unveil new, ultra high-end processor refreshes later this month that will push the 3.5 GHz mark.


L'annuncio su Granma, organo ufficiale del regime


Bush Opens Lead Despite Unease Voiced in Survey

Senator John Kerry faces substantial obstacles in his bid to unseat President Bush, with voters saying he has not laid out a case for why he wants to be president.


Michael Howard plays a blinder by the seaside

Elgar's Nimrod was the perfect anthem to accompany Michael Howard's speech to the Conservative conference in Bournemouth yesterday.


Researchers have made a biochip that could help replace animal testing for new cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.


Certificates of authority (COAs) are affixed to software packaging to let buyers know it's the real thing. But when the COA itself is counterfeit, resellers also feel the pain, Microsoft (Quote, Chart) found.


Futures rise before wave of earnings, IBM gains

Stock index futures suggested Wall Street may rebound on Thursday as a fresh round of earnings could shift investors' focus back to corporate profitability and away from the deteriorating subprime credit market.


The majority of deaths of newborn babies in Scotland could not have been avoided, a study finds.


AMBLER, Pa. - The secret at one McDonald's wasn't just in the sauce...


Bush Defends Record, Protesters Hit NY Streets

President Bush, on the road to next week's Republican convention, defended his economic record in hard-hit Ohio on Saturday as abortion-rights activists marched through New York City on the leading edge of a wave of anti-Bush protests.


FDA comes under fire from prestigious medical journal

Drug maker Bayer was slow to report the risks of its cholesterol-lowering drug Baycol and to remove it from the market in 2001, according to an forthcoming report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.


Ethiopia and Egypt pledge troops for Darfur

Ethiopia and Egypt will each send  850 troops early in the new year to serve with a joint United  Nations-African Union force in Sudan's Darfur region, an AU  official told Reuters on Monday.


Q: What does "steel-cut oats" mean in an overnight oatmeal recipe?  A: Steel-cut oats have been very minimally processed from their natural state: The inedible outer hull has been removed and the oats cut into pieces. They have more of a chew and a nuttier, oatier flavor.


Tar Heels Take Down Upstart Underdog Wolfpack

North Carolina puts five players in double figures and likely nails down a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament with an 89-80 victory over upstart N.C. State to win the ACC title Sunday in Tampa.


Ukraine opposition rebuffs talks with government

Ukraine's opposition refused on Wednesday to hold negotiations with the government over the disputed presidential election after President Leonid Kuchma demanded such talks among all parties on Tuesday.


Kerry Tries to Turn Campaign Against Bush

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, trying to recover from a brass-knuckles campaign against his character, is attempting to steer the election to a referendum on President Bush's leadership.


Update 1: Tokyo Stocks Surge in Morning; Dollar Up

Tokyo stocks surged Monday morning, fueled by Wall Street's gains last week. The US dollar was higher against the Japanese yen.


A 45-member delegation of tribal elders began talks with militant leaders near the Afghan border Friday in a bid to stem the spiraling violence that erupted after Islamic extremists scrapped a peace deal.


Contrary to a wide-spread report, Mars will not look as big as the full Moon on August 27th.  In fact, the red planet will be nearly invisible to the human eye.  There is, however, something real to see on August 27th--a morning alignment of Venus and Saturn.


Air passengers face further delays on Christmas Eve, a day after thick fog grounded more than 140 flights.


Oil prices fall more than a dollar in New York, after speculation Opec might increase output.


Racist abuse and violence is common in Swansea, claim family and friends of an Iraqi Kurdish man murdered in the city.


The Fed Cup was supposed to be Lindsay Davenport's baby. But the veteran faltered badly yesterday in a stunning loss on the opening day of a quarterfinal against Germany in San Diego. Davenport didn't have much go her way in losing, 6-1, 7-5, to 18-year-old Sabine Lisicki . Ashley Harkleroad shook off her nerves and evened the best-of-five series ...


Five people escape through an upstairs window after petrol is poured through a letterbox and set alight.


eBay in Children in Need charity appeal outrage

Pudsey poses with pedo.com We're obliged to reader Spenno who this morning popped down to eBay UK and noted that the online tat bazaar was doing its bit for the BBC's Children in Need charity appeal.â¦


Romanian soccer player Adrian Mutu, currently playing for English Premier league team Chelsea, tries to understand questions from journalists during a press conference in Bucharest, Romania, in this Monday March 29 2004 file photo.


What are weekends for? In the mergers and acquisitions game, it is usually meant for structuring mega deals. That was the case with WPP Group's (Nasdaq: WPPGY) $1.


Brazil film looks at dark past through young eyes

Brazilian Cao Hamburger, whose film  looks at his country's dark past, is the latest director to  describe the brutality of South America's military  dictatorships through the eyes of a child.


Bolivian President Evo Morales and opposition governors agree to draw up a pact of national unity in crisis talks.


Jury Nearly Set for Enron Criminal Trial

Opening arguments in the first criminal case against former Enron Corp. employees are set to begin after a federal court spent Monday whittling down a panel of Houston-area residents to find an impartial jury in the city still stinging from the company's downfall.


By Scott Richardson, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.  Feb. 15--Al Nutty spends his days as a fishing guide on Kinkaid Lake in Southern Illinois.   The 2,750-acre reservoir offers walleye and smallmouth fishing that is improving. He's seen crappies that reach 2.5 to 3 pounds.


Canada's Bank of Nova Scotia   BNS.TO confirmed on Friday it was looking out for   acquisitions in Malaysia but denied a report that it planned to   buy an indirect stake in the country's fourth-biggest lender.


Rio de Janeiro, 10:52 - CALCIO, DOPING: ROMARIO SQUALIFICATO PER 120 GIORNI

Romario, 41 anni e storico bomber brasiliano, è stato squalificato per 120 giorni dopo essere...


Bush, Kerry teams gear up for post-debate battle

An Iraq war widow and a woman whose husband still serves there were poised, ready to claim Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry or President George W. Bush as winner of the first debate of the 2004 presidential race slated that night.


Paris Fetes 1944 Liberation from Nazi Occupation

World War II tanks rumbled through Paris  on Wednesday and thousands of Parisians danced in the streets  to re-enact the arrival of French and U.S. forces 60 years ago  to liberate the city from four years of Nazi occupation.


Tense Moments During Trailblazing Private Space Flight

MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA - In a mission that could herald a new era of space tourism, a privately built, three-person rocket ship flew to space and back today in a mission that frightened those who watched from the ground and on a live webcast.


A 15-year-old boy dies after a fight at a school in Manchester.


Asian immigrants disembark in Canary Islands

A boat carrying nearly 200 Asian immigrants arrived off this port south of Tenerife in the Canary Islands and the first of them were taken off in a lifeboat.


Beta Watch: Spokeo, RescueTime, Zoho Show 2

Keep tabs on all of your online buddies, discover how you spend each day, and create presentations on the Web.


Bangladesh's elections next month will be postponed for two days because of protests by a major political alliance, an official said Thursday.


Demand for big-ticket manufactured goods plunged in August by the largest amount in seven months, with widespread weakness signaling a slowdown in the nationâs industrial sector.


Nokia Siemens j/v wins maintenance deal in Germany

Nokia Siemens Networks  said on Tuesday it had won a long-term maintenance order from Deutsche Telekom  for Juniper Networks'  routers in Deutsche's broadband network.


Navy investigates photos of SEALs, prisoners

The US Navy is looking into whether photographs on the Internet that seem to show Navy SEALs posing with Iraqi prisoners show any evidence of prisoner abuse, Navy officials said.


The four-day Republican convention marshaled its forces to laud the incumbent US President George W. Bush's image as a strong leader in difficult times.


From CQ Weekly: Corporate PACs Still Tilt Right

Casual observers might expect corporate political donors to be giving Democratic candidates a significantly bigger slice of the pie this fall Ã¢ÂÂ to reflect the distinct possibility that Democrats could gain control of one or both houses of Congress five weeks from now.


Respect in a Box: Giving John Ford the Major American Artist Treatment

âFord at Foxâ is a gargantuan boxed set that assembles 24 of the 50-some films John Ford made for the studio that was his most consistent home.


Sofia, 15:26 - CALCIO, BULGARIA: VENABLES IN LIZZA PER PANCHINA NAZIONALE

Potrebbe essere l'inglese Terry Venables il nuovo ct della Bulgaria. Venables, che è anche in...


Six California counties and cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, are suing Microsoft for allegedly overcharging them. The lawsuit seeks to recover some of the


Archbishop Jose Gomez complained Wednesday about plans for a rally by Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, an abortion rights supporter, at a Catholic university.


The catalyst for the resumption of talks this week between NHL management and the players' association has told his union brethren to be prepared for the lockout to last well into next season.


UNESCO experts tour controversial Jerusalem dig

A team of experts from UNESCO toured on Wednesday an Israeli archaeological excavation that Muslims fear could damage Islam's holiest site in Jerusalem.


Mixed Reaction to R.I. Club-Fire Plea Deal

A plea agreement for the owners of a Rhode Island nightclub that burned in 2003 has drawn criticism from many relatives of the 100 people who were killed.


Jackson Security Increased After Threats

Sources close to the Michael Jackson molestation case in Santa Maria, Calif., said security has been increased after threats involving the pop star.


Bergkamp strike keeps Gunners title hopes alive

Arsenal reduced the gap behind Premiership leaders Chelsea to 10 points with a 1-0 win against Newcastle at Highbury thanks to Dennis Bergkamp's first-half strike.


Last week, when William H. Rehnquist, chief justice of the United States underwent a tracheotomy to treat thyroid cancer, more questions were raised about the possibility that the next president


Turkey's pro-secular president blocked a measure Monday that would have allowed the Islamic-leaning government to hold a referendum on a new presidential voting system on the same day as general elections next month.


Given a big lead, Chicago's Freddy Garcia could afford to simply throw strikes. Unhittable strikes, mostly.


International attention focuses on Ukraine, where the two presidential candidates are making their final appeals to voters.


WACO, Texas - President Bush opened several new scathing lines of attack against Democrat John Kerry, charges that twisted his rival's words on Iraq and made Kerry seem supportive of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein.    It was not unlike the spin that Kerry and his forces sometimes place on Bush's words...


Clinton, McCain head to next campaign fights

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire  - Led by Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain, candidates fanned out across the country on Wednesday in a U.S. presidential race dramatically reshaped by their comeback wins in New Hampshire.


Singer George Michael is to perform the first concert at London's new Wembley Stadium, it is announced.


The Three Tenors will never re-form with a new singer replacing the late Luciano Pavarotti, tenor Jose Carreras says


Gli analisti si attendevano un dato invariato


We have a few domains hosted on Network Solutions.  For one reason or another we were in a hurry and just used NetSol as our registrar.  BIG mistake!  They are one *pathetic* organization!  They are a DNS company.  That's what they DO!  Their DNS admin only allows 10 IPs. Of course they don't tell you this when you signup.  You only find out that the UI doesn't allow for additional IPs until try to add them.  To add insult to injury when you try to move AWAY from NetSol by changing your primary and secondary they drop your IP configuration immediately.  You're just out of luck if there are clients which have cached your primary and secondary DNS servers.  Now of course the solution would be  ...


Ice Hockey: Lock-out puts franchises under threat

The National Hockey League announced yesterday that it was locking out its players from midnight last night, a move that plunges the weakest of the major US sports into the gravest crisis in its history.


Car bombs kill 10 in Iraqi capital Baghdad

Two car bombs killed 10 people in southern Baghdad on Tuesday, police said, as insurgents kept up the pressure despite a major U.S.-backed security crackdown aimed at stabilizing the Iraqi capital.


Bilancio positivo, in netta diminuzione gli incidenti


Despite their fearsome reputation, piranhas are wimps that gather in large shoals to protect themselves from predators, scientists said on Monday.


What was once the sleepy home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns, the Fiesta Bowl and baseball's spring training has blossomed into a national sports capital.


Russia tests superstrength bomb, military says

Russia has tested the world's most powerful vacuum bomb, which unleashes a destructive shockwave with the power of a nuclear blast, the military said on Tuesday, dubbing it the "father of all bombs".


N.Korea puts nuclear monitors' return on hold

North Korea said on Thursday a planned visit by U.N. nuclear monitors was on hold because it had not received unfrozen bank funds, shaking hopes Pyongyong would start disabling its atom bomb program soon.


South Carolina Primary Will Be a 'Turning Point,' Huckabee Says

SPARTANBURG, S.C. , Jan. 9 -- The Republican race for president largely shifted Wednesday to South Carolina, where in 10 days a divided electorate is likely to crown one candidate the front-runner and cripple the chances of one or more others.


Tax agent details impact of bonuses at Black trial

A U.S. government agent who analyzed the tax returns of Conrad Black's former company testified on Wednesday that the firm would have had nearly $24 million more in income over two years if money had not been diverted by the former media baron and his associates.


Teleca helps Com Hem implement its triple play offering

Teleca has today signed an agreement with Com Hem to supply a solution that makes it possible to measure the levels of quality and capacity use in Com Hem's cable network, right down to individual customer ...


Fiji military stages coup, fourth in 20 years

Fiji's military took over running the country in a bloodless overthrow on Tuesday after confining the elected prime minister to his home in the South Pacific island nation's fourth coup in 20 years.


Flights Leave in Odd Calm in Ivory Coast

An eerie calm prevailed on the streets of this battered city on Saturday, as hundreds more foreigners awaited flights to Paris that would spirit them away


Experts warn of a link between jacuzzis and the bacterium that causes Legionnaires' disease.


For the first time ever, football fans will be able to download video highlights of the Super Bowl, and they will be offered exclusively through Apple Inc.'s online iTunes Store.


Cut price game access UK customers of BT's IPTV service will be able to avail of cut-price access to English Premier League football matches for the coming season.â¦


Ozone, the pollutant that chokes the skyline on hot summer days, doesn't just singe the lungs. A new study suggests that ozone is also deadly - particularly so in Dallas.


Cull proves Prince has finally taken the throne

CHARLES PRINCEâs decision to oust three very senior executives demonstrated that the heir to Sandy Weillâs empire is finally running the show.


NEW YORK - Chipmaker Intel today threw more weight behind the developing wireless broadband data standard known as WiMax by taking a stake in Clearwire, a wireless startup led by billionaire Craig McCaw 240699.


US-Iraqi forces launch major offensive, seal off rebel areas

US and Iraqi forces sealed off roads leading to rebel strongholds south of Baghdad on Wednesday and anti-occupation rebels bombed two bridges, in what appears to be a move aimed at hindering troop's movement, as pro-government forces tried to retake


The United Nations European headquarters, where a listening device was discovered in a ministerial meeting room, is probably rife with secret spying equipment, a UN security source said on Friday.


Pockets to Grandfathers: Timeâs Lovely Face

Hereâs an apt attraction for the start of the new year: âThe Art of Timeâ at the Metropolitan Museum, a wonderful presentation of about 90 European timepieces from the museumâs permanent collection.


Menstruation as a Source of Stem Cells? Maybe Not

The prospect that âthe curseâ might be a source of stem cells to sustain life was a surprise to some experts.


Roma, 20:12 - CALCIO, LAZIO: ALLA RIPRESA IN TRE TORNANO IN GRUPPO

La Lazio ha ripreso la preparazione in vista della gara contro l'Empoli. Assenti i nazionali Pandev,...


U.S.-Iranian reporter leaves Iran after forced stay

U.S.-Iranian reporter Parnaz Azima has left Iran for the United States after more than eight months of forced stay in the country, her employer said on Tuesday.


GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to disclose information on all clinical studies of its drugs to settle a lawsuit that accused it of withholding negative information about the antidepressant Paxil, the New York Attorney General's office says


Ukraine's president and PM are to meet again to try to end a crisis over a bid to seize control of 40,000 troops.


Bank of England policymakers voted 9-0 to cut UK interest rates to 5.5% earlier this month, minutes show.


Blockbuster in Talks to Acquire Movielink for Download Service

Blockbuster in talks to acquire Movielink for download service    LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S.


The world's most recognized Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, delivered a stinging tirade against Palestinian infighting on Sunday in his first public appearance in decades in the Israeli city of Haifa.


The actors arrive in Malaysia for Baabul's premiere.


L'INCHIESTADal Nord al Sud per scoprire che i treni costano di piÃ¹ ma corronodi meno. Tempi di percorrenza simili a quelli di trent'anni fa                                          L'Italia dei treni lumaca undici ore per 460 km                                                                                dal nostro inviato ATTILIO BOLZONI


Qualcomm Inc. on Friday raised its  quarterly profit forecast due to strong demand for its mobile  phone technology.


Branson and Allen set sights on Virgin Radio

Media & professional: Richard Branson and Charles Allen, the former ITV chief, could launch a takeover of Virgin Radio.


Pakistani soldier sentenced to death over plot to kill Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  - A military court has convicted two soldiers, sentencing one to death and the other to 10 years in prison, for involvement in an assassination attempt last year against Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, an army spokesman said Friday.


ADC Telecommunications Inc.  posted a sharp increase in quarterly profit on Wednesday, beating expectations, and gave a forecast that topped current estimates, sending shares 3 percent higher.


The EU plays a controversial role as Poles row about a highway that would go through unique wetlands.


Exchanges businesses, cash for 61.4 million shares

LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) -- Clorox Corp. said late Wednesday it will buy back Henkel KGaA's 29 percent stake in the company in exchange for several businesses and $2.


Afghan officials say they have arrested 17 people who had been trained in Pakistan to carry out suicide attacks.


Sooners Methodical in Picking Off the Ducks

Oklahoma appeared to be one of the greatest teams in college football history last season until it lost its final two games. Through their first three games this season


AMD releases details of 90 nm Opterons, multicore chips

AMD quietly published first specs of the first 90 nm Opteron processors and talked about Opterons with up to eight cores during a conference with analysts.


A 29-year-old man dies after apparently falling into Cardiff Bay from St David's Hotel.


The first skirmish in what could be a prolonged battle among Bowl Championship Series participants and organizers is developing over a tentative plan to string out the games over a week beginning in 2007.


Helicopter Carrying Politicians Crashes in East India

A helicopter carrying eight people, including a government minister and two lawmakers, crashed in mountainous northeast India on Wednesday, a police officer said.


Livorno, 22:55 - CALCIO, JUVE; RANIERI: GRANDE GARA, ZANETTI DA NAZIONALE

Claudio Ranieri esprime soddisfazione per la vittoria di Livorno, un 3-1 arrivato in condizioni di e...


Genova, 19:04 - CALCIO, GENOA: CRISCITO DI NUOVO IN GRUPPO

Allenamento giornaliero per il Genoa in vista della gara di domenica contro il Catania.Già in...


Elettori dovranno poter scegliere premier e programma


Milano, 16:16 - CALCIO, GALLIANI A MORATTI: MAI FATTO NULLA PER FREGARE INTER

''Mai fatto nulla per fregare l'Inter''. Questo il testo del biglietto che il Milan ha spedito a Mor...


ORLANDO, Fla. (Sports Network) - Arnold Palmer will not  play at the Bay Hill Invitational, the PGA Tour event he  founded in 1979, for the first time since its inception.


Justice Dept Opens Fannie Probe - Source

The Justice Department is investigating possible accounting fraud at Fannie Mae, the mortgage finance company, a source close to the matter said on Thursday.


In three years' time, blood stream infections with the hospital superbug MRSA will have halved, the government will say.


Reed Boots Winning Field Goal in Overtime for Steelers

Jeff Reed kicked a 33-yard field goal  11 minutes into overtime to give the Pittsburgh Steelers a  dramatic 20-17 victory over the New York Jets in the divisional  playoffs Saturday.


Paulson says subprime woes will take longer to fix

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Wednesday a recovery in the subprime mortgage market will be slowed by a wave of interest rate resets and urged lenders to help troubled borrowers.


FBI investigating contractor negligence Unisys, the IT computer services biz, is in hot water with the US government for allegedly twiddling its thumbs while foreign hackers had their way with Department of Homeland Security computers.â¦


Arsenal ready to re-open United wounds at Old Trafford

Leaders Arsenal return to the scene of last season's most controversial game on Sunday, tackling arch-rivals Manchester United in their search for a 50th successive Premier League match without defeat.


Italy's Buttiglione blames unfair discrimination

Italian Rocco Buttiglione, dropped from the new European Commission line-up after fierce criticism of his views on gays and marriage, says he is a victim of unfair discrimination.


Green buildings need more incentives in U.S.

CHICAGO/NEW YORK  - When it opens next year, the 54-story Bank of America Tower in New York will be the most environmentally friendly office building in the United States.


Up to four million Iraqis living overseas are preparing to register to vote in Iraq's first post-Saddam elections.


Gene sequence grant aims to fight cancer

A $156 million grant for DNA sequencing at the Washington University School of Medicine is part of an effort to unlock the mystery of the origins of cancer within the body, university officials said Monday.


Kate Burton and her son, Morgan Ritchie, celebrate their ties ina play mirroring the Welsh actor's life.


Republicans clash as White House race tightens

TAMPA, Florida  - Republican presidential candidates sparred over the best fix for the faltering U.S. economy on Wednesday as a poll showed Florida's high-stakes race for the White House tightening.


Chrysler Corp postpones $12 bln auto loan deal

Chrysler Corp. on Wednesday postponed  its $12 billion auto loan deal, while Chrysler Financial  Services sweetened the pricing on $6 billion of term loans for  the second time, market sources told Reuters Loan Pricing Corp.


Renewed fighting forces 10,000 Darfuris to flee

Fresh inter-rebel fighting has forced 10,000 Darfuris to seek refuge near a camp of African Union forces monitoring a widely-ignored truce in Sudan's west, sources said on Wednesday.


Father of bomb plot suspect in Pakistani custody

Pakistan has detained the father of airline bomb plot suspect Rashid Rauf, making him the third member of the family in custody.


A car bomb exploded outside Palestinian security headquarters in Gaza City in what witnesses said appeared to be an assassination attempt against a top security official.


Gateway duo found guilty of ancient securities fraud

How not to hit the numbers Two senior beancounters at Gateway cooked the books in 2000 in an attempt to keep Wall Street analysts happy. John Todd, the ex-chief financial officer, and Robert Manza, the PC maker's fomer controller, also illegally swept bad news about the company under the carpet.â¦


UPDATE 1-Aon sells much of Endurance holding for $320.5 mln

Insurance broker Aon Corp. (AOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday it sold nearly all of its equity investment in property and casualty insurer Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd.


Central America Said on Alert for Attack

All of Central America is on alert for a possible al-Qaida attack against El Salvador for its support of the U.S.-led mission in Iraq, the head of the Nicaraguan army said Friday.


Se Confindustria vuol fare politica, lo dica apertamente


Performances of the London stage version of Lord of the Rings are cancelled after a cast member is injured.


The military contractor Lockheed Martin Corporation has agreed to pay a former employee $2.5 million to settle a racial discrimination case.


GALLE, Sri Lanka  - The number of people killed in  Asia's tsunami disaster soared past 175,000 Monday after Sri  Lanka raised its death toll, while Denmark warned of possible  terror attacks against aid workers in Indonesia


Candid about Microsoft's expansion plans, the CEO was cautious when discussing the Facebook partnership and competing with Google search.


Fireronzook.com getting some serious traffic

In an effort to be fair and balanced, it should be pointed out that Florida coach Ron Zook is just 65 seconds away from being undefeated and being a major player in the Bowl Championship Series ratings.


Among the designers at Fashion Week on Wednesday, most Â but not all Â seemed to understand that the marriage of fashion and politics generally demeans both.


Amarillo sues prostitute to get HIV treatment

AMARILLO -- In an attempt to get an HIV-positive prostitute to seek treatment and stop spreading the infection, Amarillo officials have filed a lawsuit.


A homeless teenager who hid in the landing gear of a passenger plane survived a 700-kilometre flight across south-western China but his companion fell and probably died, state media reported on Friday.


Singapore's Temasek to increase exposure to Asia, reshape ...

SINGAPORE : Temasek Holdings wants to increase its exposure to Asia as the region prospers, so it is reshaping its investment portfolio to have equal emphasis on Singapore, Asia and the rest of the world.


Studios hope for DVD bonanza in fourth quarter

Even though DVD sales  have been falling for much of the year and next-generation  discs aren't having much of an impact, studio executives are  hoping for a fourth-quarter bounty from a parade of high-octane  theatrical hits and pricey collectable gift sets.


Schools, colleges closed as BCL called student strike

Many schools and colleges in Bangladesh were closed on Monday and extra police out on the streets as the nation braced for more protests after a deadly grenade attack on an opposition rally two days ago.


Catania, 21:09 - CALCIO, CATANIA; CLUB RICORRERA' ALLA CAF PER SQUALIFICA

"Non è giusto ciÃ² che è stato fatto al Catania, oltre ai familiari del povero Raciti, ...


Banknorth sets stage for TD's rapid US expansion

Toronto-Dominion Bank has sealed its $3.8-billion (US) deal for Banknorth Group Inc., an acquisition meant to set the stage for rapid US expansion and make TD a more attractive


Microsoft launches software for searching desktops

Microsoft Corp. on Monday became the second tech-industry giant to offer software for searching through computer desktops - a technology it claims is vastly superior to that launched by Google two months ago.


Tony Blair has written to each EU member in a bid to put pressure on the Sudanese government regarding Darfur.


Israel Army Mistakenly Kills Three Egyptian Soldiers

Israeli troops killed three Egyptian soldiers along the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Israel has apologized for what it says was an "operational mistake" and has begun an investigation into the incident.


Minks freed from cages, farmers give chase

Farmers and other locals were chasing  thousands of minks let out of their cages at a fur farm in  western Finland early on Friday by suspected animal rights  activists.


For Rahlves, No Longer Man Against Mountain

By getting out of the gate slowly, Daron Rahlves has found himself back in the pack in a newer racing discipline that resembles motocross on skis.


Wyeth WYE.N on Wednesday reported a  third-quarter profit, reversing a loss in the year-ago period,  when it took a $2 billion charge for liabilities from its  recalled "fen-phen" diet medicines.


Athletics: Greek celebration is not meant to be

ATHENS As the sprinters walked out for the final of the men's 200 meters, the crowd in the packed Olympic Stadium began to boo.


Dog DNA study reveals new role for protein

A family of proteins known to fight off microbes surprisingly also helps determine whether a poodle's coat will be black, white or somewhere in between, U.S. researchers said on Thursday in a finding that may also help explain why people come in different colors and weights.


U.S. retailers' sales rose 3.6 percent in holiday shopping, at the lower end of expectations, helped by a late-season spending surge on some items, according to data released on Tuesday by SpendingPulse.


The number of deaths worldwide among children under 5 dropped to a record low of 9.7 million in 2006, reflecting progress in areas such as malaria prevention, childhood immunizations and breastfeeding rates, global health officials said yesterday.


Chelsea Football Club striker Adrian Mutu has begun his rehabilitation programme following his positive test for cocaine. The Romanian was found guilty of taking the drug and could now face up to two-years out of the game with suspension.


Vienna, Austria (Sports Network) - Top seeds David Nalbandian, Nicolas Massu and Rainer Schuettler were all quarterfinal losers Friday at the indoor BA-CA Tennis Trophy.


1. Rapper Snoop Dogg attended practice Tuesday with No. 1 USC as a guest wide receiver. The Trojans were delighted by the star's presence, as were a group of pee-wee football players watching practice that day.


Pope speaks out against "designer babies"

Pope Benedict on Saturday condemned genetic engineering and other scientific practices that allow people to select so-called "designer babies" by screening them for defects.


Iraqi court sentences "Chemical Ali" to hang

Saddam Hussein's cousin, known as "Chemical Ali", was sentenced to death by hanging on Sunday for masterminding genocide against Iraq's Kurds in the 1980s, an Iraqi court said.


The world's most popular search engine has launched a new tool to improve access to academic publications.


Consultant: How to deal with Oracle licensing

InfoWorld - A consultant offered advice Tuesday regarding how Oracle customers can get the best deal and protect themselves while licensing software from the enterprise software giant.


Portugal president to dissolve parliament, call early elections

LISBON : Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio decided to dissolve parliament and call early elections because he believes the centre-right government of four months is not able to provide stability.


There's no way to describe what's happening with the Baltimore Orioles, except to say they are a bona fide mess.


Jude Law, who has recently appeared in "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events," "The Aviator," and "Alfie" is reportedly engaged. The actor worked with Sienna Miller, 23, on Alfie where they first met.  This will be the second marriage for La...


Aeroflex says agrees to be acquired for $1 billion

Aeroflex Inc. , which provides  technology solutions to the aerospace and other markets, said  it agreed to be acquired by private equity firms General  Atlantic and Francisco Partners for about $1.0 billion.


Twist saves 'Forgotten' from stock thriller

BASED SIMPLY ON its tired premise and atmosphere, "The Forgotten" should be every bit as forgettable as its name. With so many elements - from its chilly autumnal setting to the


Frances Floods Florida, Leaves Three Dead

FORT PIERCE, Fla. - Hurricane Frances' wind and water whacked swaths of Florida with fire-hose force Sunday, submerging entire roadways and tearing off rooftops before weakening to a tropical storm and crawling inland with heavy rain...


Canada's Brookfield bids for Australia's Multiplex

Canada-based Brookfield Asset Management  Inc. (BAMa.TO) has made a takeover approach for Australia's A$4  billion ($3.1 billion) Multiplex Group Ltd. , the  construction and property group said, sending its shares up 7.5  percent.


Ronaldinho named soccer's brightest star

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Brazilian star Ronaldinho was named the world's top soccer player by FIFA, the sport's governing body on Monday.


The Indiana Pacers' Ron Artest now has plenty of time to finish his rap album. Thanks to an ugly brawl, which emptied into the stands during the Pacers' game with the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills, Mich.


Polish defense minister says Polish troops should leave Iraq at ...

WARSAW, Poland Poland's defense minister says his country should pull its troops out of Iraq at the end of 2005. It's the first official indication of when the country may leave Iraq.


NEW YORK - Skype Technologies made a name for itself providing a free Internet telephone program to users around the world. Now it's time to cash in.


Report: Islamic Group Says Behind Jakarta Bomb

The Jemaah Islamiah group said in a  purported Internet statement it carried out Thursday's attack  on the Australian embassy in Jakarta, and warned of more unless  Australia withdraws forces from Iraq.


UEFA warn Euro 2008 hosts over stadium problems

UEFA president Lennart Johansson has warned the Swiss and Austrian football associations that they could lose the right to host Euro 2008 if they cannot find solutions to their current organisational headaches.


Members of the Turkish diplomatic community say they have analyzed the documentation of the summit and describe it as a complete win.


Yahoo Continues Fight Over Nazi Paraphernalia

Furthering a story that began in 2000, the US Court of Appeals has ruled that US District Court judge operated outside the realm of his jurisdiction by attempting to rule on a case with international ramifications.


LOGAN, Utah - Aspen trees have been dying off, leaving dwindling numbers of the white-barked fixture of the Western mountain landscape. Nobody is quite sure why.


ROME -- Italy planned to send back more illegal immigrants Monday, after hundreds of people arrived over the weekend on a tiny island off the coast of Sicily, news reports said.


Peaceful Olympics closes with 102 US medals

ATHENS, Greece - Under a well-timed full moon to conclude a near-cloudless three weeks, the 2004 Summer Olympics came to an end Sunday night with music, dancing and the last of nearly 1,000 medals.


InfoWorld - Facebook has become such a popular social networking site that some companies are betting their businesses on it.


Andhra Pradesh to export farmers to East Africa

Andhra Pradesh plans to send hundreds of farmers to east Africa to cultivate farmland in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, officials said on Thursday.


WASHINGTON - Google wants to save you a trip to the library. The search engine that revolutionized how people use the internet has teamed up with some of the world's greatest libraries to put their books in your living room.


China orders emergency measures to fight nationwide transport chaos caused by severe weather conditions.


India's Hetero Takes AIDS Drugs Off WHO List

Hetero Drugs has withdrawn all six of its generic antiretroviral drugs from the WHO's list of approved drugs following concerns about their laboratory tests, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday.


Whitehall's sleaze watchdog is urged to launch an inquiry into MPs expenses, in the wake of recent scandals.


Bangladesh appoints two new election commissioners to oversee the forthcoming general election.


The St. Petersburg Times rescinded its endorsement of Mel Martinez in Tuesday's Republican Senate primary, accusing him of "hateful and dishonest attacks" on fellow Republican Bill McCollum.


Republicans urge Bush to turn attention from Iraq, Vietnam with ...

Nervous Republicans are urging President Bush to unveil a robust second-term agenda at his convention next week to shift voters' focus from the unpopular war in Iraq and other issues that are a distraction to his re-election drive.


Indian PM Manmohan Singh continues his trip to Kashmir by visiting a refugee camp in the winter capital, Jammu.


Full Cast of 'La Cage' Announced; Mulheren and Balgord Want Laurels for Their Morals

Playbill - Ruth Williamson, Michael Mulheren, Linda Balgord, John Shuman and Michael Benjamin Washington are among featured players in the new Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles, to start previews Nov. 10.


Search Evolution: New Ways to Get Better Results

These services add voice recognition and results focused on meaning--but Microsoft's fresh-looking Tafiti engine may well make the biggest splash.


Oscar-winning actor and director Kevin Costner has married his long-time girlfriend at a ceremony held at his ranch in Aspen, Colorado.


The war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor is provisionally set to start on 2 April 2007.


Regardless of whether the Patriots win Super Bowl XLII, history will be made tonight at University of Phoenix Stadium when Mike Carey becomes the first black referee to work the NFL's championship game.


Iraq's seemingly inexhaustible corps of terror bombers struck across the country again Thursday, from a restaurant in Baghdad's teeming Sadr City, to a police station leveled by a blast near the Syrian border. At least 15 people were reported killed.


Ziff Davis - NEC Solutions America is shipping a version of its blade server bundled with a fault-tolerant version of Linux.


Sangalli: confermate linee guida manovra illustrate ieri


Can a rebel band of scientists pool patented innovation techniques and give them away through the internet? By David Cohn.


Norbrook Laboratories in Newry announcs an Â£83m investment which could create almost 300 jobs.


A twin-engine plane crashed Friday as it tried to land amid low fog at a small airport in northwest North Carolina, killing all six people on board, officials said.


The UCS unveils a minivan design that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than 40 percent, keep safety and performance intact, be cheaper to buy -- and it's not a hybrid. What's up automakers? In Autopia.


The U.S. and the Iraqi government struggle to contain the truculent cleric Muqtada al-Sadr


Like some drill sergeant from the past, Metal Slug 3 is a wake-up call to today's gamers molly-coddled with slick visuals and fancy trimmings.


Round-by-round action as Danny Williams takes on Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title. Build-up: The atmosphere is building at the Mandalay Bay Casino, Las Vegas with a strong British presence on hand to cheer for Williams.


Memo to Parrotheads: Cheeseburgers in paradise, no problem;   drugs in France, well, that's another story...


Napoli, 14:27 - CALCIO, PER DI NATALE DUETTO IN RADIO CON D'ALESSIO

Gigi D'Alessio e Antonio Di Natale hanno duettato in diretta su Radio Marte. Il cantautore e l'eroe ...


Ex-Comverse executives charged in US options probe

Two former officers of Comverse  Technology Inc.  surrendered to FBI agents on Wednesday  as authorities charged them and the software group's former  chief executive with criminal fraud in a widening U.S.  investigation of corporate stock option manipulation.


Mozilla browser is less complete than Internet Explorer but is much more than just an anti-Microsoft statement. Is computing not making the progress it used to, or did I just read a story


Myriad Computers Around the World Join to Solve Problems Piece By Piece

By Valarie Potell, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson  Feb. 6--Dan Duncan works all day and helps fight AIDS at night -- or at least his computer does.


NEW YORK - The recall of Vioxx and the news that Celebrex likewise doubled or tripled the risk of heart attack in a long-term study were bad enough.


Steve McNair works through a spotty return to the lineup to direct two other scoring drives as the wounded Titans beat the Jaguars, 18-15, on Sunday.


FTC chairman won't recuse herself in Google deal

U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras won't recuse herself from considering the antitrust implications of Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick, despite a request from two privacy groups that she do so.Majoras, in a statement Friday, said the request by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) contains "key factual errors." The two groups filed a petition Wednesday saying Majoras' husband works for a law firm that is advising DoubleClick on the merger before U.S. and European regulators.The Web site for John Majoras' law firm, Jones Day, at one point said it was representing DoubleClick "on the international and U.S. antitrust and competition law aspects" of the Google merger. But Platt Majoras said in her statement that Jones Day has never contacted the FTC about DoubleClick and that she didn't know it was representing DoubleClick in Europe until earlier this week.A second FTC commissioner whose wife also works for Jones Day also said he won't recuse himself.The EPIC and CDD petition also is incorrect when it says that John Majoras is an equity partner in Jones Day, Platt Majoras said. John Majoras switched his partnership from equity to nonequity status in January 2006, she said."I understand that as a fixed-participation partner, his compensation will not be increased or affected by changes in the firm’s income," Platt Majoras said."My husband does not represent any party in the Google-DoubleClick matter. He is in no way connected to the matter, nor are any of the parties to the matter otherwise currently his clients."EPIC and CDD, in a joint statement, said the FTC has "failed utterly" in its procedures to alert Platt Majoras about potential conflicts of interest. Despite Platt Majoras' claims that she doesn't have a conflict, John Majoras is an antitrust expert at Jones Day, and one of his key responsibilities is business development in Washington, D.C., they said.Platt Majoras "simply sets out the conclusion that the interests in her participation in this matter outweigh the potential conflict without providing any of the relevant factors that support that conclusion other than that she is the chairman of the commission," said the statement from EPIC executive director Marc Rotenberg and CDD executive director Jeffrey Chester.Jones Day changed its Web site after the groups pointed out that it said the firm was representing DoubleClick on U.S. antitrust matters, wrote Rotenberg and Chester."The logical conclusion is that Jones Day ... sought to destroy the relevant evidence," Rotenberg and Chester wrote.A Jones Day spokesman didn't immediately have a comment when asked about the EPIC and CDD allegations.Google in April announced plans to acquire ad-serving giant DoubleClick in a $3.1 billion deal. That same month, EPIC, CDD and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG) filed a petition asking the FTC to block the deal unless Google made significant changes to its privacy policy. The groups argued that the combined company would have unparalleled access to Web users' personal information.FTC Commissioner William Kovacic also noted, in a Friday statement, that his wife, Kathryn Fenton, is a nonequity partner at Jones Day. The EPIC and CDD petition had not sought to have Kovacic recused.The FTC's three other commissioners, Pamela Jones Harbour, Jon Leibowitz and J. Thomas Rosch, issued a joint statement, saying that they agreed with the decisions of Platt Majoras and Kovacic not to recuse themselves."It is evident that these commissioners have at all times taken affirmative steps to conduct themselves in complete conformity with the ethical standards that apply to their positions," the three said.


Cisco Brazil Offices Raided in Tax Fraud Investigation

Cisco's Brazilian offices in Sao Paolo and Rio de Janiero were temporarily closed yesterday and employees were reportedly arrested under suspicion of tax fraud amounting to approximately $830 million dollars in unpaid duties.


Commanders Say Push in Baghdad Is Short of Goal

An internal military assessment offers the first comprehensive look at the progress of the effort to stabilize Baghdad with the heavy influx of additional troops.