Harrington, Jimenez, Howell Share Early Lead in Hong Kong

Defending champion Padraig Harrington  and his Ryder Cup team mates Miguel Angel Jimenez and David  Howell took the early lead in the Hong Kong Open with first  rounds of 65 Thursday.


Writer Rushdie slams US snooping into bookstore, library records

Noted author Salman Rushdie has called on Congress to strike down a section of the anti-terror Patriot Act laws allowing federal officials to monitor the book-buying and library-borrowing habits of US citizens.


An attempted takeover of the US Embassy in Damascus highlights Syria's own multiple enemies.


French President Jacques Chirac was ending a fence-mending but at times edgy state visit to Britain Friday with a question-and-answer session with students at Oxford University.


North Korea, U.S. plan nuclear envoy visits: report

The chief nuclear negotiators of North Korea and the United States are planning to visit each other's capital soon, a diplomatic source in Seoul was quoted as saying in a South Korean news report on Thursday.


A court in Uzbekistan sentences 23 people to up to 18 years in jail for their role in a series of atttacks.


Arafat Doctors Rule Out Leukemia, Cite Improvement

French doctors said on Tuesday Yasser Arafat was responding to treatment and ruled out leukemia, though aides said the Palestinian leader could remain in a French military hospital for several more weeks.


If tired-armed righthander Orlando Hernandez continues to feel better, he may well get the call for Game 4 Saturday ahead of Javier Vazquez . Hernandez, who has not pitched this postseason, threw 40 pitches in the bullpen yesterday and came through it well, according to Yankees manager Joe Torre .


Gold Banc to pay $16 mln to resolve loan claims

Gold Banc Corp. (GLDB.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , a Kansas banking company, agreed to pay $16 million to resolve claims it charged excessive interest rates and fees on federally


Roma, 19:08 - CALCIO, ASCOLI; SONETTI: PECCATO, ERAVAMO STATI BRAVISSIMI

Il tecnico dell'Ascoli Nedo Sonetti spiega la sconfitta co la Lazio con benevolenza. ''Commettiamo d...


NATO strike kills Taliban commander in Afghan hotspot

NATO planes have bombed a compound in southern Afghanistan, killing a Taliban commander and at least seven of his men, while locals said the raid also took civilian lives.


Gateway Shifts Back to Personal Computers

By Franklin Paul NEW YORK  - Gateway Inc.  on Monday said it would return to its roots as a personal computer company, backing off on an aggressive strategy of expanding into TVs, digital cameras and other gadgets in a move to return to profitability.


Cacophony of Voices Fills Huge UK Art Space

It is one of the world's biggest  interior art spaces, and American artist Bruce Nauman has  filled it with nothing -- nothing that is except noise.


Life & style: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall: What better way to celebrate the food of days gone by than to update a menu devised by a 13-year-old wannabe cook way back in 1978?


The cholesterol drug Vytorin is now getting attention that is anything but funny.


Car insurer Admiral unveils a 24% jump in profits to Â£68.7m for the first six months of the year.


David Collier, who spent five years as a senior vice-president at American Airlines, was named as the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) chief executive on Wednesday.


CNN anchor Kyra Phillips, whose ladies room chatter found its way onto her newscast, bounced back two days later with a "Top 10 List" of excuses on the "Late Show with David Letterman."


Not happy with PC World's customer service?

Go next door and buy its stock from Currys instead DSG employees are like one big happy family. In fact, when one of its retail operations lives next door to another - as is the case for PC World and Currys in sunny Crawley - it appears that it is not adverse to sharing stock to get a sale.â¦


Averting Water Wars in Asia The Next Struggle

By Brahma Chellaney  The sharpening Asian competition over energy resources   has obscured another danger: Water shortages in much of Asia are becoming a threat to rapid economic modernization.


Update 1: Continental Posts $16M Third-Quarter Loss

Continental Airlines Inc. reported a $16 million third-quarter loss on Tuesday, including $22 million in special charges related to retirement of leased MD-80 aircraft, and said it expects to report losses in 2004 and in 2005 unless conditions improve.


The country is once again fielding a mostly white team at the World Cup. Politicians see that as a benchmark of failure


Ebitda +4,9%, per 2007 previsto miglioramento performance


Stock futures dropped on Thursday as a profit warning from Capital One Financial Corp , a credit card issuer and banking company, fueled concerns about the impact of the credit crisis and fallout from the housing slump.


Tree Over Rutledge Grave to Get Some Preventative Maintenance

By CHRIS YOUNG OUTDOORS EDITOR  A tulip tree that towers over Oakland Cemetery near Ann Rutledge's grave in Petersburg is due for some preventive maintenance.


Modest weight loss healthy for older women

NEW YORK  - Shedding just a few pounds can be beneficial to older women's health, and doesn't result in loss of high quality muscle tissue, a new study shows.


Two new lawsuits for Apple: a photograph and an Avril Lavigne song

Blog: The separate lawsuits both involve copyright violation; one alleging that Apple used a photograph in promotional materials without permission, and the second charging the company with selling a potentially "copycatted" song in the iTunes Store.


U.N. criticizes Myanmar and defends dialogue with junta

Accusing Myanmar of crushing  dissent, a senior U.N. official said on Wednesday the southeast  Asian country's recent national convention to draw up a  constitution was undemocratic and exclusionary.


With an Eastern Conference showdown on tap for tonight, it seemed hard for the Celtics to stay focused on a lesser opponent last night.


Manning seals legacy with Super Bowl win

Peyton Manning added the missing ingredient to his Hall of Fame credentials by leading the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI on Sunday.


Bush, Kerry trade shots on bin Laden, economy, health care

US President George W. Bush and Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry battled over Iraq, terrorism, health care, and jobs, hoping their final debate would break their deadlocked race.


Early voting begins in Belarus parliament elections and a referendum on whether the president should stand for a third term.


BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox historic victory over the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the AL championship series Wednesday night sent thousands of elated Red Sox fans rampaging into the streets of Boston.


Norway resumes direct aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian administration, unlike the EU and US.


NEW YORK -- The relationship between Wal-Mart's chief executive and entrepreneur Irwin Jacobs, a vendor to the world's largest retailer, is taking some heat.


India-ASEAN ties set for âbrilliant futureâ: Laos

Laos, the host of the third India-ASEAN summit, today said the signing of a peace and progress document tomorrow would ensure a brilliant future and durable cooperation between India


Threats Against Smart Cell Phones Are Mounting

A security firm lays out this year's attack timeline to demonstrate the quickening pace of exploits. By Gregg Keizer. Mobile phone security is bad now, but it is only going to get worse, a security firm said


Intel creates a more powerful memory chip without increasing its size, confounding the firm's critics.


UK bank HBOS says it will not proceed with an offer for Abbey.


MAFRA, Portugal  - President Vladimir Putin scrapped with European Union leaders on Friday over Brussels' plans to limit foreign investment in energy markets at a summit that achieved little on key sticking points.


Whale Shark Finds New Friends in Indian Fishermen

DWARKA, India  -  A few weeks ago, the crew of an  Indian fishing boat in the Arabian Sea thought they had the  biggest catch of their lives.


The gay bishop at the heart of the controversy that is tearing apart the worldwide Anglican Communion said Wednesday he "deeply regrets" the pain caused by his election last year, but is


M&S broke rules on data protection after the theft of a laptop containing details of 26,000 staff.


Oil in North Dakota Brings Job Boom and Burdens

Some hope the oil industry will prompt business and workers to return to the state, where the population peaked in 1930.


News.com Extra: Third submarine Internet cable severed

Also: U.S. cyberwar games turn into hacker melee. See what people are saying on News.com Extra.


Pakistan arrests suspect in mosque suicide bombing

PESHAWAR, Pakistan  - Authorities have arrested one man over a suicide attack at a mosque in northwest Pakistan that killed 48 people, and said they suspect Islamic militants in an Afghan border region were involved.


An artist is offering to donate his own head to a museum - if a collection of shrunken heads has to be returned.


The head of the British army during the Iraq invasion says US post-war policy was "intellectually bankrupt".


Refugees' hopes for return will outlive Arafat

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Yasser Arafat promised Palestinians he would return them to the homes they lost when Israel was founded in 1948.


LONDON - Three Chelsea players scored to give their team one foot in the next phase of the Champions League but Wednesday's 3-1 win over Porto was still all about Jose Mourinho.


For Many Central Ohioans, One Language Won't Do

By Encarnacion Pyle, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio  Feb. 11--Anthony Basil always appreciated his wife's love of languages, but it wasn't until they planned a trip to Tuscany for their 40 th anniversary that he wanted to brush up on his Italian.


A Florida race track is honoring Barbaro by establishing a scholarship in his name.


The UN's humanitarian chief says he is alarmed at reports Sudan's government forced people from a Darfur camp.


Mubarak, Assad discuss Israeli threats against Syria

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak telephoned his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad and discussed with him a host of regional issues, including Israeli threats against Syria and how to deal with them on the international stage, the official MENA agency revealed.


SAP presents new capabilities for Netweaver

SAP AG announced two updates to the Master Data Management (MDM) component of its NetWeaver integration and application platform on Tuesday. The updates, which will appear by the end of the year, are designed to make it easier to synchronize data between different systems. Two other new NetWeaver enhancements, faster searching of corporate data and more robust handling of errors in Java applications, will only appear in the next release of NetWeaver, planned for 2005, the company said at the SAP TechEd conference in San Diego.


Health experts help TV docs get facts straight

That young mother with breast  cancer on "Grey's Anatomy" may do more than just drive the  storyline: She may also be teaching you something.


Goosen Does Unthinkable and Gets Woods Thinking

When Tiger Woods and Jay Haas faltered, Retief Goosen knew how to finish. Capping a satisfying year for Goosen, and a frustrating year for Woods, Goosen captured the Tour


Birmingham men plead guilty to plotting to kidnap and behead a British soldier


Under the agreement, which followed several months of negotiations, Gamesa will also open an advanced technology manufacturing facility for turbine generator blades in Pennsylvania.


Opera star Luciano Pavarotti, 69, is to give a final 40-city tour next year before retiring from the world stage.


On the eastern side of the District, you've got three hospitals that are too small and too limited in the services they offer, with not enough private doctors sending insured (read: paying) patients their way.


The retailer trots out a portable PC for less than $600. Is it getting ready for a laptop push for the holidays?


One week after their 11th hour bid on the property targeted for a new football stadium, Madison Square Garden officials on Friday answered questions about their $600 million proposal and asked for an expedited review of their bid.


Iraq parliament condemns 'cruel' Turkish air strikes

Iraq strongly condemned Monday Turkish air strikes on Kurdish rebel bases in its territory, branding them a "cruel attack" on Iraqi sovereignty that claimed innocent lives.


U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus is not sure who he would like to see Tiger Woods partnered with at the Presidents Cup but he knows who he would like to see the world number one play against.


Serena Williams blamed a headache for her poor play in a 7-6 (5), 6-3 upset loss to qualifier Alina Jidkova in the second round of the Generali Ladies Open.


New York, Sep 26.(UNI): Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf says he wants India and Pakistan to rid themselves of their nuclear weapons during his lifetime.


HAVANA -- Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro failed to appear yesterday at the non aligned summit but his stand-in, younger brother Raúl Castro, delivered a fiery speech blaming the United States for a plethora of global problems.


A New York a 81,14 dollari al barile (+0,5%)


OECD cuts U.S. forecast, recession not ruled out

The OECD on Wednesday reduced its forecast for U.S. economic growth and recommended a rapid cut in interest rates to limit the fallout from a housing and mortgage market slump that has sparked global financial market turmoil.


Suspect in deadly 1999 apartment bombing brought to Russia after arrest

MAKHACHKALA, Russia  - A suspect in a 1999 apartment-building bombing that killed 64 people and helped renew Moscow's military campaign in Chechnya was brought to Russia on Saturday after being arrested in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, authorities said.


A minister orders an inquiry into an Islamic school which is accused of promoting religious intolerance.


R.I. May Recognize Gay Unions From Mass.

By RAY HENRY  PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Rhode Island should recognize state employees' gay marriages that are performed in neighboring Massachusetts and extend benefits to their partners, the state's attorney general said in an opinion released Wednesday.


Marines in Fallujah with loved ones back home in California find that the dangers have been reversed


Microsoft is planning to introduce its long-awaited Internet search engine on Thursday, a person knowledgeable about the announcement said.


Bomb blast in Iran, police clash with gunmen

Clashes broke out between police and an armed group following a bomb explosion in southeast Iran on Friday, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday.


Making a Fortune by Wagering That Drug Prices Tend to Rise

As he becomes visible as one of New York's wealthiest men, Stewart Rahr is preparing for the elimination of the system that made him rich - pharmaceutical delivery.


Giornate di SpiritualitÃ  della Famiglia Salesiana dal 17 al 20 gennaio Roma (Agenzia Fides) - AvrÃ  inizio a Roma il 17 gennaio, presso il Salesianum in via della Pisana 1111, la XXVI edizione delle Giornate di SpiritualitÃ  della Famiglia Salesiana ispirate al tema della Strenna 2008: ÂEduchiamo con il cuore di Don Bosco...


Venduti 1,5 mld Cct in scadenza primo marzo 2014


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi tribal leaders, Shiite politicians, government officials and U.S. military officers agreed Sunday to a one-day truce for peace talks to end violence in the Baghdad's Sadr City slum, a day after 10 people died in fighting there, Iraqi officials said...


Stuffed animals may ease war-related stress in kids

NEW YORK  - Caring for a stuffed animal appears to alleviate stress signs in young children exposed to traumatic or stressful life events, Israeli researchers report.


Russian President Vladimir Putin appears on Ukrainian TV days before the election to praise the prime minister.


Le due piazze azionarie hanno costituito gruppi lavoro misti


Egypt wants to send troops into the demilitarised buffer zone along the border with Israel. The move is in response to last week's triple suicide bombing targeting Israeli tourists in Sinai.


Karzai Rival Says Afghan Vote Marred by Cheating

The likely runner-up in Afghanistan's  historic presidential election alleged on Monday that the vote  was marred by cheating, as President Hamid Karzai appeared on  course to win without needing a second round runoff.


Brandon Bochenski and Corey Perry scored goals and the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks stretched their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.


The European Central Bank lends money to banks at below-market rates as a means of tackling the credit crunch.


A second woman has come forward to claim she had an affair with Peter Cook when she was 19, but before his marriage to Christie Brinkley.


UK record companies are celebrating their best ever year for album sales, with 237 million sold in 12 months.


Geekipedia: Webtwitch -- What Do You Need to Know Now?

Geekipedia entry covers the phenomenon of our compulsion to look up new words, phrases and ideas the moment they enter our daily lives.


A new lava dome is growing on Mount St. Helens, with volcanic rock reaching the surface of the crater after weeks of seismic activity, scientists said today.


At silver anniversary, Sevin Rosen seeks new gold

The VC firm backed Compaq, Lotus and EA. Now it faces a changing industry while trying to stay true to tradition.


Samsung enhances Q1 Ultra UMPC performance

Premium model gets longer battery life too CES Samsung has upgraded its Q1 Ultra UMPC, adding 'Premium' to the machine's moniker and boosting the handheld's processing power and its battery capacity.â¦


Grim funeral service held for Burundi massacre victims

Thousands of grieving people and top politicians attended a grim funeral service held to bury some 160 Congolese Tutsis slaughtered in a refugee camp in Burundi.


A portrait by Lucian Freud broke the record for a living European artist when it sold for Â£7.8m.


You've got the college degree, and now you're stressed about what to do with the debt.


Power Companies in Northeast to Merge in $2.5 Billion Deal

The deal between Astoria Generating Holdings and EBG Holdings would create a company that serves both New York City and the Boston area.


Seeking to establish the medium as a mass market form of entertainment instead of a niche technology, the game industry has taken the playbook of the movie business.


Arizona nuclear plant normal after pipe bomb found

The Palo Verde nuclear power plant, the largest in the United States, was sealed off for much of Friday after guards found a pipe bomb in a worker's truck as he tried to enter the facility, officials said.


A faulty battery has emerged as one of the likeliest causes for the crash-landing of the Genesis space probe. Scientists have been removing pieces of dirt and mud that lodged in the damaged canister after it smashed at high speed into the Utah desert.


NEW YORK  - The surge in herbal supplement  use in the U.S. may reached a plateau, but the love affair is  not over, according to a new study.


Via pedicure, torta preconfezionata, cotton fioc e autoradioEntrano pasticceria fresca, estetista, pesce locale e costumi                                          Istat, nel nuovo paniere fuori il decoder dentro il telefono                                                                                Cambiano anche i 'pesi', ma la casa Ã¨ solo al 9,3%"Sono regole statistiche: il mutuo Ã¨ considerato un investimento" di ROSARIA AMATO


Boy, 14, finishes cross-Canada organ donor trek

A 14-year-old Ontario boy walked the final steps of his 3,000-kilometre cross country trek in Toronto on Thursday. Kristopher Knowles has visited over 200 towns and cities during his walk in the hopes of raising awareness of organ donation.


OAK BROOK, Ill. - Fast food giant McDonaldâs says earnings this quarter will be better than forecast, thanks to rising sales and a lower tax bill.


Seagate says had no buy offer from Chinese firm

Seagate Technology , the world's largest maker of disk drives, has dashed speculation that a Chinese firm wanted to buy the firm, saying it had received no such offer and had no intention of selling.


Andy Pettitte indeed was a critical witness, but he was present only in the form of his 100 page deposition.


Schwarzenegger mulling warning about wireless Internet piggybackers

A proposed law mandating that makers of wireless Internet gear warn buyers to protect against unauthorized access was on the desk of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.


Government Expected to Try to Protect Names in Radomski Case

The government has until Monday to protect the redacted names of baseball players who were supplied performance-enhancing drugs by a former Mets clubhouse attendant.


France is reportedly planning a freeze on commercial genetically modified crops, which cover less than one percent of farmland in Europe's top agricultural producer.


Web Services Reliable Messaging (WS-Reliability) Version 1.1 Specification Released

WS-Reliability is a spec that outlines Web services messaging requirements. This specification ensures that messages are delivered and any duplicate messages are eliminated between the sender and receiver of a Web services message, or a service provider and users of that service.


Stock index futures fell on Friday before data on a key measure of inflation, which the Federal Reserve reaffirmed was its top economic concern.


As Sudan-backed rebels march on the capital, the West faces a dilemma: Either back a repressive regime, or allow a victory for the tormentors of Darfur


Congress Demands Explanation From HP CEO

SAN FRANCISCO -- The congressional panel investigating Hewlett-Packard Co.'s boardroom spying probe has demanded that CEO Mark Hurd explain $1.37 million worth of options he exercised just before the scandal became public, two congressmen said Wednesday.


Watch the ad by the Dutch government's consumer safety institute that has has angered some industry insiders for its light treatment of a serious issue


Paula Radcliffe has never faced the kind of pressure she will encounter when she runs in the New York City Marathon here today. Just 10 weeks after failing so dramatically to complete the Olympic marathon


NHS trusts failing on hygiene, says Healthcare Commission

LONDON - More than a quarter of the country's NHS Trusts are failing to meet hygiene regulations brought in to combat outbreaks of superbugs in hospitals, the Healtchare Commission reported on Thursday.


Malaysia reported a second  outbreak of bird flu on Monday, setting back efforts to clear  the country of a virus that has killed dozens of people in Asia  and ravaged its poultry industry.


Mandy Moore opens up about music, acting

Mandy Moore, the angel-faced actress and sometime singer, interrupted her recent concert in Manhattan to grumble for a moment about the men who did her wrong.


Imprenditori prestavano denaro a tassi fino al 443%


After Months of Hoopla, Google Debut Fits the Norm

In the stock's first day of trading, investors bought, sold and flipped shares at a furious pace, with the price ending just above $100 - 18 percent above where it started.


Violence in Iraq Belies Claims of Calm, Data Show

Less than four months before planned national elections in Iraq, attacks against US troops, Iraqi security forces and private contractors number in the dozens each


Google Plans to Cancel Paid Service for Answers

The service failed to gain much traction with users, especially when compared to a rival service by Yahoo.


(CBS/AP) The suicide bomber who blew himself up in a US military dining tent this week, killing more than 20 people, was wearing an Iraqi military uniform, the US general in charge of the region said Thursday.


Wal-Mart Aims To Enlist Suppliers In Green Mission

Wal-Mart announced yesterday that it will begin asking its suppliers to measure their carbon footprint and find ways to reduce it, part of an effort by the world's largest retailer to transform itself into a more environmentally friendly company.


Net a 'Force for Democracy' says Google's Schmidt

Search giant's CEO didn't address Googe's role, but says the Net boosts government transparency.


Barclays reports a 1% drop in annual profits to Â£7.08bn, but announces a 10% rise in its dividend.


Not all the time, anyway. Moneyball author Michael Lewis says conventional wisdom creates inefficiencies.


Gunmen have killed a senior official in Iraq's communication ministry as he was driving to work in central Baghdad. Kassim Imhawi was hit by gunmen who pulled up beside him as he travelled into the city from a western suburb.


New IBM supercomputer aiming for petaflop

IBM IBM.N will build a   next-generation supercomputer for the U.S. Energy Department   with the potential to achieve a sustained speed of 1,000   trillion calculations per second, or one petaflop, the   department said on Wednesday.


With electricity reserves depleted, officials in impoverished Tajikistan Â where residents are enduring one of the coldest winters in 25 years Â said Tuesday they would be forced to cut power to much of the country.


North Korea fired a short-range missile toward waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, a South Korean intelligence official said Tuesday, amid signs of progress in ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program.


Ex-PM Tony Blair's decision to leave the Anglican Church to become a Catholic has been welcomed by the Vatican.


EDITORIAL: Encouragement for Improving Sound

By The Stamford Advocate, Conn.  Dec. 19--It is undeniable that setbacks occur in efforts to promote a healthy Long Island Sound environment. But experience has shown that the dedication of people and resources can help this vital resource continue to rebound and improve.


La showgirl prestera' il volto per campagna pubblicitaria


Prominent cardiologist criticizes drug ads

Washington -- The government should reassess its policy of allowing prescription drugs to be advertised directly to consumers, a prominent cardiologist urged Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.


Fishing Just for Fun Damages Stocks, Study Finds

WASHINGTON - People fishing for sport are doing far more damage to US marine fish stocks than anyone thought, accounting for nearly a quarter of the catch from overfished species, researchers said.


L'erario spende oltre 1.100 dollari al giorno


A mother who died in a house fire was expecting her fourth child in just over a month, her family confirms.


Boris Berezovsky, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, said Saturday that he wants to leave Britain for Ukraine -- a move likely to ruffle the Kremlin's feathers.


Tony Blair says the government must do more to ensure failed asylum seekers are deported from the UK.


The Giants and Rockies played five innings of one-run ball Wednesday night as lefties Kirk Rueter and Joe Kennedy put on an uncharacteristic high-altitude pitchers' duel at Coors Field.


Velvet Revolver singer praises family life

The last time that Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland was in the news it didn't have much to do with his musical accomplishments.


Microsoft Vancouver responds to immigration woes

Microsoft will open a software development office in Vancouver, Canada, later this year, in part as a way to retain talented workers who can't stay in the U.S. because of immigration laws.


CAPE CORAL, Fla. - A man's vehicle was vandalized and his father's ashes were dumped in his front lawn, authorities said.  Wayne C. Carraway, 35, said he believed a robber broke into his 1987 Ford Bronco and thought a cedar box with a plastic bag full of his father's ashes contained drugs.


A British suspect in an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners escaped from police custody in Pakistan on Saturday, officials said.


In the Los Angeles Dodgers' 8-3 loss to the Cardinals last night, right fielder Milton Bradley went 2 for 3 with a double and a home run.


John Edwards and Hillary Rodham Clinton tussled over accepting campaign contributions from powerful health care groups Monday at a forum on cancer that attracted four Democratic hopefuls.


The worst player-fan incidents in sports history

Ron Artest's season on the brink finally toppled over the edge this past weekend. But was anyone really surprised? If you follow the NBA, you had to have seen this coming.


Sailors from stricken Canadian submarine return home to Halifax

HALIFAX (CP) - After a harrowing ordeal on the North Atlantic, about half the crew of HMCS Chicoutimi returned home Friday night, 10 days after a fire aboard their second-hand submarine claimed the life of a crew member.


Controversial columnist, gifted filmmaker

"A professional adolescent, a die-hard reactionary," is how Theo van Gogh (47) used to characterise himself. The Dutch film director and newspaper columnist who was


Approvata la ratifica del trattato. Ora il testo passa al SenatoBerlusconi in ritardo per il voto. "L'Italia tra i primi a firmare"                                          Costituzione Ue, sÃ¬ della Camera Contrari Lega e Rifondazione                                                                                Il Carroccio: "Nasce l'Europa dei giudici e dei banchieri"


Google releases customized version of IE 7

Google has released a customized version of IE 7 that replaces Windows Live Search with Google as the default search engine.


Katif Coast Leaders Invited to Meet With PM Sharon

The leaders of the Gush Katif communities have been invited to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon tomorrow. As of now, the Katif leadership is debating whether or not to respond positively


Belarus vote âsignificantly shortâ of democratic standards

MINSK - Legislative elections in Belarus held at the same time as a referendum on whether President Alexander Lukashenko should be allowed to seek a third term fell âsignificantly shortâ of democratic standards, foreign observers said here Monday.


Partial results put opposition candidate Traian Basescu narrowly ahead in the race to be Romanian president.


AFRICA/ALGERIA - Da Lione allÂAlgeria allÂinsegna del dialogo interreligioso Algeri (Agenzia Fides)- Il Cardinale Philippe Barbarin, Arcivescovo di Lione, e il Presidente del Consiglio Regionale del Culto Musulmano (CRCM), Azzedine GACI della regione francese RhÃ´ne-Alpes, parteciperanno dal 17 al 21 febbraio a un viaggio in A...


Thai police: 3 boys ID pedophile suspect

Thai investigators Saturday were given at least 12 days to hold in custody a teacher from Canada suspected of sexually abusing young boys seen in photographs posted on the Internet, a Thai police official said.


London - Arsenal boss Peter Hill-Wood has told manager Arsene Wenger he can continue to say what he believes and rejected suggestions he should put a "gagging order" on the Frenchman.


US High Court Ruling A Win For Consumers

NEW YORK - The US Supreme Court struck a blow for the free market and consumer choice. The Justices today denied an appeal by Visa and MasterCard that prevented most US financial institutions from doing business with competing networks such as Discover.


A seven-year-old boy is injured in a pipe-bomb attack at his house on the outskirts of west Belfast.


Patients Wary of Easing Standards For Treatment, Access to Records

In the debate over Virginia's mental health system, they're called "consumers." Some of them call themselves survivors.


HIT Entertainment, the company behind children's television character Bob the Builder, fired its chief executive yesterday and warned of a difficult trading environment next year.


NEWS Limited shareholders have voted to shift the media group's corporate base to the United States. Rupert Murdoch's media group will likely move to the US after proxy shareholders voted in favour of schemes


Al Gore electrifies the audience at the climate change summit by criticizing his own country's intransigence on the issue


Ahmadinejad wants to attend U.N. meeting

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would like to attend a U.N. Security Council meeting to defend his country's disputed nuclear program, state-run television reported Sunday.


The Derby native rebounded from a bogey on the final hole of regulation Sunday to birdie the first hole of a sudden-death playoff with Tim Herron and win the $4.


Torino, 11:50 - CALCIO, JUVENTUS; BONIPERTI: DOBBIAMO ACCETTARE LA B

Giampiero Boniperti, presidente onorario della Juventus, commenta le sentenza di calciopoli è...


Il Procuratore nazionale Antimafia: "Lo scopo Ã¨  renderesempre meno sicuro il terreno intorno al superlatitante"                                              Vigna sul blitz anti-Provenzano "Dobbiamo tagliare tutti i legami"


U.S. says al Qaeda will "lash out" in Iraq

The U.S. military expects al Qaeda in Iraq to strike back with "spectacular attacks" after major U.S.-led offensives that have disrupted its activities, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.


Motorola May Lose Big Customer If Nextel Merges

Sprint's negotiations to buy Nextel have ignited fears that Motorola will lose its exclusive deal to supply phones and equipment to Nextel.


Gates says Somalia strike possibly ongoing

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates declined to comment on Sunday about Friday's U.S. naval strike on targets in Somalia, saying it was possibly an ongoing operation.


ISTANBUL -- Turkey's top Islamic cleric asked Pope Benedict XVI yesterday to take back recent remarks he made about Islam and unleashed a string of counteraccusations against Christianity, raising tensions before the pontiff's November visit -- his first to a Muslim country.


Candidates' final appeal to sway a divided electorate

Washington -- President Bush and Sen. John Kerry are closing their contest for the White House in just about the same place it began, each depicting the other as a dangerous risk and fiercely battling for


Chad calls for EU deployment as rebels regroup

N'DJAMENA  - Chad's President Idriss Deby called on the European Union on Thursday to deploy a peacekeeping force urgently to the east after rebels who raided his capital pulled back halfway towards the Sudan border.


Health Care Already a Key Issue in 2008 Race

Former senator John Edwards (D-N.C.) says providing health coverage to the 47 million Americans who lack it is so important that he is willing to raise taxes to do it.


Google's eleventh hour price adjustment might have saved it some red-faces when it finally floated last week, but it's back to earth with a bump this week.


p2pnet.net OT News:- The Gibson SG guitar used by Beatles George Harrison from 1966 to 1969 and by John Lennon during the White Album sessions has been auctioned off for almost $570,000.


Israeli soldiers patrol as Palestinian presidential candidate Bassam Salhi, center, from the People's Party tours the center of the West Bank city of Hebron, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004.


Shares in JetBlue Airways Corp.   JBLU.O fell on Friday after the discount carrier lowered its   earnings forecast amid weaker demand.


Takefuji Appoints Canadian Woman As Head of PR Section

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo  Sep. 4--TOKYO -- Major consumer loan firm Takefuji Corp. has installed  Canadian Christine Lavoiegagnon as head of its public relations section to  capitalize on her international PR experience, company officials said Monday.


In Pakistan, Opposition Rally Bombing Kills at Least 17

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Feb. 9 -- A powerful bombing Saturday killed at least 17 people at a rally being held by an opposition party in Pakistan's turbulent northwest, according to witnesses and government officials.


Security pros work to undo teacher's conviction

'This machine should not have been on the Internet' Researchers led by the head of a Florida anti-spyware firm aim to recreate what caused a Connecticut school's classroom computer to start displaying pornographic pop-ups in October 2004, an incident that recently led to four felony convictions for the substitute teacher involved.â¦


Pfizer Defends Celebrex Against Charge of Heart Risk

Pfizer Inc., the world's biggest drugmaker, defended its painkiller Celebrex after a researcher's suggestion the medication may be linked to heart risks sent the stock down as much as 8.3 percent.


Poll: Rival ballot initiatives both ahead

Competing ballot initiatives governing rules for primary elections in California are both leading by double-digit margins, but the percentage of undecided voters has increased, according to a new Field Poll.


Horse Racing: Colt beats a virus and overhauls the champions

PARIS Horse racing can be a tough sport to follow. There's no World Series, no Final Four, no definitive crowning of a single champion.


Chicago Bears' defensive tackle Tank Johnson was charged Thursday with not having a gun owner identification card after six firearms were found at his Gurnee home.


Sales of new single-family U.S. homes fell much more than expected to an annual rate of 647,000 in November, the slowest pace in more than 12 years, according to a government report on Friday.


By STEPHEN MANNING  COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The next time you walk by a shop window, take a glance at your reflection.


Three Massachusetts Men Indicted As Part of Nationwide Investigation of Internet Child Pornography Trade

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three Massachusetts men have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography, announced Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher for the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Michael J.


Seven US Marines Killed in W. Iraq -Military

Seven US Marines were killed in two separate incidents west of Baghdad Sunday, the US military said in a statement Monday. It said they were killed in Anbar province, a region which includes


AT&T expands job cut plan by about 7,500

Company also will slash value of its assets by $11.4 billion. Moves are prompted by plan to retreat from traditional consumer telephone business.


On this cold and drizzly day, the mood here has been very sombre indeed. Just before three in the morning, the remains of six Swedish tourists killed in the tsunami arrived at Arlanda airport outside Stockholm.


Every autumn and winter, hunters from this craggy Japanese fishing village corral thousands of dolphins into a tiny, isolated cove and kill them for meat and fertilizer, turning the water red with their blood.


Middleton makes new paparazzi complaints

Media & professional: Kate Middleton has made two complaints to police since the weekend about harassment by photographers.


Fixes for three of the most common Windows glitches

Cures for an update gone bad, a trashed Registry, and a shutdown failure.


A Dutch filmmaker who got death threats after his movie criticized how women are treated under Islam was stabbed and shot to death Tuesday on an Amsterdam street.


U.S. says 10,000 troops in major Iraq offensive

The U.S. military deployed 10,000 soldiers backed by attack helicopters in an offensive against al Qaeda north of Baghdad on Tuesday, in one of the biggest operations since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.


One of the most popular ways young people are contributing to charity these days is growing their hair long and donating it for wigs. But a lot of that hair is unusable.


A glitch in the way cells clear damaged proteins could be the trigger for the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, researchers said in a finding that could lead to new treatments for the incurable condition.


New York, 10:39 - HOCKEY SU GHIACCIO, NHL: ANAHEIM OK

Ecco i risultati delle partite della regular season di NHL giocate nella notte:


By Lisa M. KriegerSTAFF  For the first time in three years, the moon will be totally eclipsed by the Earth's shadow on Saturday -- but the Bay Area will miss most of the show.   The Earth's shadow will begin moving across the moon at 12:18 p.m.


BBC to cut 2,900 jobs in cost-cutting 'transformation'

The BBC said it would eliminate 2,900 jobs, or more than 10 percent of its workforce, as part of a cost-saving "transformation" of the world's biggest and best-known public broadcaster.


The UK expels four Russian diplomats over Moscow's refusal to extradite the Litvinenko murder suspect.


Lecavalier latest to leave states for Russia

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier joined a growing list of NHL players Thursday by signing a contract with a team in Russia.


ADV: $175,000 Mortgage for Under $730/Month

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


Abu Dhabi: United Arab Emirates President and founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan died on Tuesday, his office announced.


Survey: Corporate computing expands green streak

Enterprise IT departments increasingly value green strategies, equipment and energy savings, Forrester Research finds.


"High School Musical" star Zac Efron underwent emergency surgery Tuesday to remove his appendix, his publicist said.


Gov't to withdraw 250 troops from Iraq within four weeks

Some 250 British soldiers will be withdrawn from Iraq over the next four weeks as part of a plan to reduce troop levels by 500 to 5,000, the defence ministry said Saturday.


Napoli, 20:05 - CALCIO, NAPOLI; REJA: NON CAMBIERO' MODULO

Edy reja non ha intenzione di cambiare modulo. Il tecnico del Napoli lo ha ribadito alla ripresa deg...


Stocks fall at open on dollar's drop, retailers

U.S. stocks fell at the market open on Friday as a steep drop in the dollar heightened inflation worries and left U.S. shares less appealing to foreigners.


E' successo a Genova, l'uomo e' morto sul colpo


This winter, KeySpan helps out with heating bills

Since winter has finally arrived in earnest, Greater Boston residents on tight budgets once again have to contend with high heating costs . That's where KeySpan Foundation , the nonprofit arm of KeySpan Corp. , the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast, comes in.


The EU Commission chief backs his team after an Italian candidate was rejected by a panel of MEPs.


Binge-eating is a major health problem: study

Out-of-control binge eating is the biggest eating disorder in the United States, more common than anorexia and bulimia combined and contributing to a rise in obesity, researchers said on Thursday.


Writers Reach Tentative Deal With Producers

The strike remains in effect until the governing boards of the two writersâ guilds gauge the sense of their membership on both coasts.


Smoking not linked to more advanced breast cancer

Women who develop breast cancer are no more likely to have aggressive or advanced tumors if they are cigarette smokers than if they do not smoke, researchers said on Sunday.


Bengals fire def. coordinator, LBs coach

The Cincinnati Bengals, saddled with a defense that again finished near the bottom of the league, fired defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan and linebackers coach Ricky Hunley on Wednesday.


Dr. John Barrasso began his rounds on Capitol Hill on Monday, meeting with Republican leaders and learning how to be a senator.


Inspectors can't vouch for safety of flu vaccine

None of the influenza vaccine produced by Chiron Corp. in its Liverpool, England plant is salvageable, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.


A British suspect in an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners slipped out the back door of a mosque after two police officers stopped en route to jail so he could say prayers, police said Monday.


Britain Wants Contact with Iraq Hostage Takers

BRIGHTON, England  - Britain appealed on Thursday  to kidnappers holding a hostage in Iraq to make contact but  ruled out doing a deal as Prime Minister Tony Blair failed to  shift the country's focus off the divisive war.


Beleaguered mortgage agency Fannie Mae agreed Monday with its regulator to create a 30 percent capital surplus within 270 days and review internal accounting controls.


Saints, Colts set to kick off NFL season

Fans are eagerly anticipating the unfurling of the Indianapolis Colts' first championship banner, while downtown lightposts are covered in decorative signs promoting Thursday night's season opener against the New Orleans Saints.


Australia may try to negotiate a new defense and security treaty with Indonesia, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Sunday. A bilateral security agreeement the two neighbors


COLOMBO, Sri Lanka  - The death toll in a tsunami  that slammed into coasts from India to Indonesia topped 22,000  Monday as rescuers scoured the sea for missing tourists and  fears of disease grew as soldiers raced to recover rotting  bodies.


Titans Aim to Avoid Worst Year Since '94

The Tennessee Titans are about to find out what kind of team they really are.


DDT Compound Speeds Breast Cancer Growth

THURSDAY, Feb. 14 (HealthDay News) -- A new Canadian study may finally explain how a key compound found in the U.S.-banned insecticide DDT accelerates the growth of breast cancer tumors.


A study conducted by the Arctic Council which consists of about 300 internationals researches, have stated that the ice cap is warming at twice the global rate.


U.S., Syria Discuss Military Cooperation -Time

Despite deep differences with Syria,  Washington has initiated talks with Damascus in an effort to  create a military-to-military relationship to help stabilize  war-torn Iraq, Time magazine reported on Sunday.


Mitsubishi to have second-largest stake after GM -report

TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Shares of Japan's Isuzu Motors Ltd. rose Thursday after a published report that trading house Mitsubishi Corp.


No. 1 Ohio State ousts No. 13 Iowa 38-17

The toughest part of Ohio State's schedule is behind the Buckeyes. And Troy Smith and Co. handled it with ease. Smith threw for 186 yards and four touchdowns and No. 1 Ohio State picked up its second road win over a ranked opponent by manhandling No. 13 Iowa 38-17 Saturday night.


Madonna's Malawi trip in confusion over adoption

BLANTYRE, Malawi  - Officials in Malawi insisted on Thursday that pop star Madonna was going to adopt a local child but acknowledged tension with the visiting singer, who denies having chosen an orphan boy.


Glitch in Russian Computers May Extend Shuttle Mission

By Juan A. Lozano, Associated Press  HOUSTON -- The failure of Russian computers that control the international space station's positioning have NASA managers considering another extension of space shuttle Atlantis' visit to the orbiting outpost, officials said Wednesday.


Sembrano odalische e principesse con abiti gioiello


Hans Reiser Murder Trial Zeros in on Odd Behavior

Week 5 in the Hans Reiser murder trial concludes with witnesses testifying the Linux programmer was acting strangely following his wife's disappearance. Nina Reiser, who was divorcing her husband, was last seen at his house. A neighbor said he saw Hans Reiser washing his driveway, wearing thick clothes on a warm summer night days after the woman vanished.


Car bomb targeting Chechen security force injures 15?(updated PM5 ...

A car bomb exploded outside the Chechen capital's main hospital Sunday, wounding 15 people in an attack apparently targeting members of a security force headed by the son of Chechnya's slain Kremlin-backed president, emergency officials said.


Come on, you can't even snappily combine their names!


Iran won't halt atomic work, snubs big powers

Iran said on Tuesday it would never suspend uranium enrichment as demanded by the West, a day after world powers agreed to work on a new U.N. resolution to pressure Tehran to back down over its nuclear program.


Liverpool make a Â£3.5m offer for Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes.


Q I'm going to Colorado this month and I plan to do some hiking in the mountains. I already have a waterproof windbreaker and great hiking shoes and socks. I haven't bought a sports bra yet, since I cannot decide what to get. I have some old ones (at least seven years old). They are more like sturdy...


Passengers unhurt after Antarctic ship hits iceberg

One hundred passengers and crew escaped unhurt after their cruise ship hit ice in the Antarctic and started sinking on Friday, the ship's owner and coast guard officials said.


Northwest's ticketing fees irk travel executives

Northwest Airlines' new fee on tickets bought through travel agents will drive up passenger costs a lot more than the $7.50 charged by the airline, critics said Wednesday.


Britain's prime minister participated Saturday in a memorial service for murdered Iraqi hostage Kenneth Bigley, at the request of Bigley's family.


Turnbow closes it out as Brewers beat Reds

A couple of Milwaukee's newest players combined with some of its veterans to get the Brewers a much-needed win Saturday night.


IRAQ: ALLAWI, PER IL MOMENTO TAHA NON VERRA' SCARCERATA

Baghdad, 23 set. (Adnkronos) - Il Premier iracheno, Ilyad Allawi, ribadisce la linea della fermezza del suo governo. La scienziata Rihad Rashid Taha non sara' scarcerata come e' stato richiesto dai sequestratori


Dinara Safina grew up overshadowed by her older brother, two-time major champion Marat Safin. Now she's finally making a name for herself.


Also: Sony shows PSP add-ons, lowers PS3 pricing. Read these stories and more from around the Web on News.com Extra.


Kerry: Bush Has Secret Troop Call-Up Plan

BOSTON - Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry said President Bush has a secret plan to call up more National Guard and Reserve troops immediately after the election, an allegation that the Bush campaign called "false and ridiculous."   Kerry issued the charge while campaigning Friday in Albuquerque, N.M., as he criticized the president of glossing over a worsening conflict in Iraq.   "He won't tell us what congressional leaders are now saying, that this administration is planning yet another substantial call-up of reservists and Guard units immediately after the election," Kerry said...


Oil prices continue their record-breaking run as fresh threats of sabotage in Iraq boost concerns that demand may outstrip supply.


Coppell reveals reason behind Seol's Reading exit

Reading manager Steve Coppell has admitted his strained relationship with Seol Ki-Hyeon was behind the South Korean's move to Fulham.


Hurricane John takes aim at Mexico beach resorts

ACAPULCO, Mexico  - Hurricane John barreled along   Mexico's Pacific coast on Wednesday as a dangerous Category 4   storm, pounding beach resorts with heavy rain and winds and   blowing down trees in Acapulco.


Business & money: Jerome Kerviel speaks about the row over SociÃ©tÃ© GÃ©nÃ©rale's multibillion euro losses


Premier Foods, the firm behind Branston Pickle and Oxo stock, is to shut six factories, putting 1,000 jobs at risk.


CA adds antivirus, antispyware to Cisco NAC program

Computer Associates International Inc. (CA) said on Wednesday that it was joining a Cisco Systems Inc. program to harden enterprise networks against attacks by enforcing security policies on computer hosts that attempt to access network resources, the company said in a statement.


Red Crescent halts Baghdad work after abduction

The Iraqi Red Crescent suspended operations in Baghdad after gunmen in police uniforms kidnapped about 30 people from one of its offices in the capital on Sunday, an official of the humanitarian body said on Monday.


Nokia lost market share in the United States, its biggest market, but said it made "substantial gains" in Western Europe.


Device makers to pay $311 mln to settle kickbacks probe

NEWARK, New Jersey  - Four medical device implant makers will pay about $311 million and agree to federal monitoring and other reforms to settle a government probe into improper consulting contracts with surgeons, federal prosecutors said on Thursday.


Fondo Usa offre 3,5 mld di dollari per colosso commerciale


A new suspect has been named in the Daniel Smith case: methadone.


U.S. welcomes North's invitation of IAEA team

Talks and fuel aid aimed at coaxing  North Korea to carry out nuclear disarmament could move ahead  in coming weeks, the U.S. nuclear envoy said on Sunday,  welcoming Pyongyang's invitation to U.N. inspectors.


The Ugandan government and Lord's Resistance Army rebels sign an agreement in the latest round of peace talks.


The World Health Organization has called an unprecedented summit next week of flu vaccine makers and nations to expand plans for dealing with the growing threat of a flu pandemic.


Likely Key Figures in a Yushchenko Presidency

Petro Poroshenko, 39. One of Yushchenko's closest allies, a key lawmaker who also serves as chairman of the parliament's budget committee and deputy presidential campaign manager.


Factory gauge climbs to highest in over a year

U.S. manufacturing grew a bit more rapidly in May as factory managers restocked depleted inventories, according to a survey published on Friday.


More than 100 Iraqis were killed or wounded in a terrorist attack today as British troops prepared to move into more dangerous areas.


Net income rose 14% to $475 million, or 47 cents a share, thanks to a 15% increase in sales at its Duracell battery unit, which benefited from the series of hurricanes that hit Florida and other parts of the Southeast US during the period.


India says the tsunami cost $1.6bn on its mainland alone as its confirmed death toll closes on 10,000.


Sorenstam early leader at ADT Championship

West Palm Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Annika Sorenstam birdied the 18th hole Thursday to post a six-under-par 66 and grab a one-stroke lead after the first round of the ADT Championship.


By HIROKO TABUCHI  TOKYO - It's almost midnight as Ryo settles into a reclining chair for the night, a can of tea and a pack of cigarettes at his side, a construction job awaiting him in the morning.


Hamilton keeps his medal amid continuing questions

The International Olympic Committee said US cyclist Tyler Hamilton can keep his gold medal from the Athens Olympics. Hamilton tested positive for signs of blood doping in his initial test last month in Athens


Microsoft was close to a deal with the European Commission earlier this year which would have revealed more of its secrets than it has now been ordered to hand over, a court was told yesterday.


Microsoft's has launched its MSN music download service in eight more European countries as the software giant bids to takes on Apple's market leading iTunes.


R&B singer Beyonce took top honors in a list of best-dressed celebrities of 2007, while bald Britney Spears won the booby prize for most shocking style moment after shaving her head.


Oprahâs popularity soars â at least with car winners

CHICAGO -- Oprah Winfrey could just sit back. Relax. Count her millions. Jet between her many fabulous homes. Go yachting whenever she feels like it.


Fulham appoint Roy Hodgson as their new manager.


A 79-year-old prominent Chinese AIDS activist is to fly to the United States as early as Sunday to receive a human rights award after she was freed from house arrest thanks to U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.


Casualties are feared after a bomb explosion in the north-western Pakistan, police say.


Oil recovers after three-day fall on economy worry

Oil rebounded on Tuesday after  falling nearly 3 percent a day earlier, as the specter of a  recession in the United States haunted traders who fear it will  diminish oil demand from the world's biggest consumer.


European stocks pared earlier sharp losses on Wednesday as recently sold-down financial stocks continued to find favour partially offsetting losses for oil companies.


Crewman Dies Aboard U.S. Submarine That Ran Aground

A crewman died Sunday from injuries sustained when the U.S. nuclear submarine USS San Francisco ran aground Saturday off Guam in the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Navy said.


The new Honda Accord, which will go on sale in September, will not be available in a gasoline-electric hybrid version, according to a company spokesman.


Here's a productive twist on the animated characters known as avatars that carry out fantasies in virtual computer worlds. IBM Corp. researchers have developed an avatar that can translate spoken words into sign language.


Explosion at Iraqi House Kills 14, Hurts 5

An explosion at a house south of Mosul killed 14 people and wounded five early Saturday, and the owner blamed a U.S. air attack.


U.S. health officials, taking  another step to ease the season's flu shot shortage, approved  the importation of up to 4 million flu shot doses from Europe  on Tuesday for patients willing to sign a consent form.


Property insurers overprice, underpay: report

The U.S. property/casualty insurance industry systematically overcharges policy holders and underpays on claims, said a report from consumer activists on Thursday that an industry group called "absurd."


Four Britons are dead and thousands more are stranded in south and east Asia after an earthquake sent massive waves flooding across the region.


Outsiders Tug at Weekly Newspapers in Queens

Community weeklies, as diverse as the borough itself, are growing â and attracting the attention of the big dailies.


Putin urges Iran to yield to IAEA demands By Reuters, Thursday ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Iran on Friday to heed the demands of the UN nuclear watchdog after Tehran defied the United Nations by going ahead with its uranium enrichment programme.


Even while rumours of more impending splits between BollywoodÂs most high-profile couples gathers momentum, one more couple has folded up their tent of togetherness and gone their separate ways.


A medical examiner blames a 17-year-old track star's death on the use of too much muscle cream, the kind used to soothe aching legs after exercise.


Work begins on an ancient mound near Jerusalem's holiest site, a move expected to raise tensions.


FOR THE fourth time this year, the headquarters of two giant oil companies in Makati City were hit by grenade attacks believed to be the work of suspected leftist groups.


Powell says relief effort could be help in war on terror

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said yesterday that American aid to the stricken Indian Ocean region and other foreign assistance programs can help turn the developing world away from terrorism and thus strengthen US security.


Whole grain cereals cut heart failure risk: study

Eating whole grain cereals has already shown promise for lowering blood pressure and warding off heart attacks, but it may also significantly reduce the risk of heart failure, U.S. researchers said on Monday.


Bring us TSMC Sun Microsystems' long, wafer-wrapped embrace with TI will start coming to a close. Earlier today, Sun announced that TSMC will manufacture future versions of its UltraSPARC processors.â¦


The launch of the US space shuttle Discovery was scuttled by poor weather, just minutes before the spaceship was to blast off on a rare night flight.


Results of recent polls on the presidential race. Listed above each set of results is the name of the organization that conducted the poll, the dates, the number interviewed, whether they were adults, registered voters (RV) or likely voters (LV) and the margin of error (MoE). Results might not total 100 percent because of rounding.


Simpler ID management readied by Microsoft

DENVER â Microsoft is developing a portal-like interface for its identity management platform that will let users self-manage their identity information and provision network services.


Lebanese opposition puts on show of Muslim unity

A Lebanese Sunni preacher led thousands of anti-government Shi'ite protesters in prayers on Friday, in a show of Muslim unity designed to dispel fears of sectarian strife.


Disney sells 125,00 movies on iTunes, projects $50m

Walt Disney President and CEO Robert Iger reported Tuesday that his company has sold 125,000 digital movies since they debuted on the iTunes Store last week, already generating $1 million in revenue. Iger told attendees of an investment conference in New York on Tuesday that Disney anticipates seeing about $50 million in revenue from the venture during its first year.


Abkhazia, a Black Sea region which has been trying to split from Georgia, votes in parliamentary elections.


IBM Sale Reflects Unease in Personal Computer Sector

"Every [PC maker] has to deal with this, one way or another," International Data Corp. analyst Roger Kay said. The problem is that it's difficult to make money on PCs today, given how cutthroat competition has driven down prices.


After a week of final exams and their toughest basketball test of the season, the No. 1 UCLA Bruins got to enjoy a bit of vacation Saturday night.


Firenze, 20:26 - CALCIO, FIORENTINA: TONI E MUTU LAVORANO A PARTE

Mattinata d'allenamento per la Fiorentina in vista della gara contro il Catania, a porte chiuse sul ...


Two budding dynasties -- Southern Cal and the Patriots -- are being ravaged by defections.


Mellon Acquires Electronic Payments Company

Pittsburgh-based financial services company Mellon Financial Corporation has acquired ClearTran, a leading provider of electronic and online bill payment solutions.


Verizon Wireless Expands High-Speed Data Network

erizon Wireless said on Wednesday that it would expand its wireless high-speed data network into 14 additional cities, including New York and Los Angeles, starting on Monday.


2 Committees Subpoena Ex-Officials on Dismissals

The subpoenas from Congress intensify pressure on the White House over the dismissals of U.S. attorneys.


French bank SocGen says hit by 4.9 bln euro fraud

Societe Generale has uncovered a fraud by one of its traders which will have a 4.9-billion-euro ($7.16 billion) negative impact on the group, France's second-largest listed bank said on Thursday.


The tiny Pacific island chain of Tuvalu is set to become the newest Olympic member. Montenegro, which was recognized by the committee board this year after splitting from Serbia, is also set to gain formal admittance from the assembly. The centerpiece of the meetings is Wednesdayâs selection of the host city for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The three candidates are Salzburg, Austria; Pyeongchang, South Korea; and Sochi, Russia.


Books on Health: Tantalized by the Hint of a Cure for Autism

If lightning strikes once, then why not again? This irrational logic will tempt the victims of any senseless tragedy to believe in miracles, or so Portia Iversen assures us by way of explaining her long, determined slog toward a miracle of her own. Whether she actually found one or not, readers will have to decide for themselves.


In our view: Gymnast should give up the gold

As a point of personal honor, American Paul Hamm ought to give up the coveted all-around gold medal he won after a scoring error by Olympic judges.


Ucraina, si riapre la crisi Yanukovich non accetta il voto

KIEV - Ucraina, si riapre la crisi. La Commissione elettorale ha proclamato presidente il leader liberal-democratica Viktor Yushchenko. Ma un rappresentante dell'avversario sconfitto, Viktor Yanukovich, ha


Israel Kills 4, Including 9-Year-Old, in Gaza

JABALYA, Gaza Strip  - Israeli forces thrust into  Gaza's largest refugee camp on Thursday, killing four  Palestinians including a 9-year-old boy, as the army tightened  its grip on the northern part of the coastal strip.


R&B star Usher leads the field at this year's Soul Train Awards, with a total of five nominations.


Sony has developed an  environmentally-friendly prototype battery that runs on sugars  and that can generate enough electricity to power a music  player and a pair of speakers, the Japanese company said.


Sarkozy says France could use veto in trade talks

SAINT-PIERRE-LE-VIGER, France  - President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Tuesday that France would veto any World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement that did not satisfy its requirements on agriculture.


About 1,000 Indian army troops began withdrawing from the embattled Kashmir district Wednesday as Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for peace.


Top London cancer hospital evacuated after fire

A fire tore through a leading cancer hospital in London on Wednesday, forcing a complete evacuation including some patients undergoing operations.


Jimmy Fallon Marries Producer Girlfriend

Former Saturday Night Live regular Jimmy Fallon and girlfriend Nancy Juvonen, a Hollywood producer who worked on Fallon's 2005 romantic comedy Fever Pitch, were married Saturday on Necker Island in the Caribbean, a publicist announced.  Fallon, 33, a...


Local managers happy to see Murdoch's back

Australian shareholders had two significant excuses for a protest vote as News Corporation sought to shift its domicile from Australia to Delaware.


Samuel Bombaugh entered the record books - with room to spare. The Falmouth High sophomore shattered the meet record for the shot put by almost 6 feet at the 24th annual Red Auerbach Freshman-Sophomore Large Schools track meet yesterday. With a throw of 56 feet 1 inch, Bombaugh eclipsed the meet's small school record, set a Falmouth High mark, and ...


Supreme Court Ruling Expected in Ukraine Crisis

Ukraine's Supreme Court is expected to  rule on Friday on whether to overturn the result of a disputed  presidential election that has plunged the country into turmoil  and generated distrust between Russia and the West.


Israeli Missiles Kill Three Palestinians in Gaza Raid

An Israeli drone fired two missiles into  the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Thursday, killing two  Palestinian militants and an 18-year-old youth, witnesses and  medics said.


Gov. Ed Rendell, one of Hillary Rodham Clinton's most visible supporters, said some white Pennsylvanians are likely to vote against her rival Barack Obama because he is black.


Roma, 18:44 - CALCIO, ROMA; SPALLETTI: DIFFICILE RIPAGARE I NOSTRI TIFOSI

"Questa gente è eccezionale - ha detto l'allenatore giallorosso - ci vuole bene e noi le abbi...


Crocked Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has confidence in the abilities of midfield duo Xabi Alonso and Dietmar Hamann. The pair will team up to form the Reds' midfield engine room for the two months that Gerrard will be sidelined with a foot injury.


Dems Tout Challenger to Ohio Republican Who Breezed By in Ã¢ÂÂ06 House Race

Democrats, by recruiting former state judge William OÃ¢ÂÂNeill to take on Republican Rep. Steven C. LaTourette next year in OhioÃ¢ÂÂs 14th Congressional District, already have bettered the efforts they expended during a 2006 campaign in which the incumbent easily won a seventh term.


Londra, 19:24 - CICLISMO, TOUR DE FRANCE: CANCELLARA PRIMA MAGLIA GIALLA

Lo svizzero Fabian Cancellara (CSC) è la prima maglia gialla del Tour de France 2007 dopo la ...


Pakistan considers ban on processions after attack

Pakistani authorities are considering banning political processions in the run-up to a general election after a bomb attack on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto killed 139 people.


The family of a baby who died when a water tank burst above her head takes legal action against a council.


Rio Ferdinand has travelled with the England squad to Macedonia and should be fit for selection for the European Championship qualifier in Skopje.


An Islamic militant sought by Turkey as the suspected mastermind of a plot to crash a plane into a major landmark was flown to Istanbul on Tuesday, hours after a court approved his extradition, a police official said.


Highlights from the SEW Blog: Nov. 28, 2006

Featured posts from the Search Engine Watch blog, as well as our customary headlines from around the web.


Pennington's leadership not half bad for New York

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Chad Pennington could feel the pressure of trying to make franchise history weighing down his teammates.


ABN AMRO says to assess two revised bids fairly

ABN AMRO , which received two revised offers from rival bidders Barclays  and a consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland , said on Monday that it will evaluate both offers in "a fair and transparent manner."


Ofcom considers another spectrum auction

O2 and Vodafone to be booted off frequencies UK regulator Ofcom has opened a consultation on the future of the 900MHz band, currently allocated to Vodafone and O2 for their 2G services, and has suggested that a technology-neutral auction might be in order for 2009.â¦


Microsoft plans tune-up of Media Center PC

With the next generation of Media Center PCs, you'll be able to have your TV and record it too. For the first time, Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition is supporting multiple tuners, meaning that consumers


2009 to be UN International Year of Astronomy

The United Nations has proclaimed 2009 to be the International Year of Astronomy to mark the 400th anniversary of observations by Galileo that revolutionised our understanding of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) said here on Thursday.


Udine, 19:08 - CALCIO, UDINESE; INLER: POSSIAMO BATTERE L'INTER

Ci sarà anche il centrocampista svizzero Inler nell'Udinese che domenica cercherà di f...


The Canadian government stopped transferring prisoners in Afghanistan to local Afghan authorities after witnessing evidence of torture, according to a newly released government letter.


May have been transmitted between humans- report

Thailand confirmed its second death from bird flu Tuesday, and said the fatal case might have been transmitted by a human victim rather than a bird, according to published report.


Owen can still be fab for England, says Keegan

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan expects Michael Owen to prove he can star for England coach Fabio Capello after ending his Premier League goal drought.


NASA (news - web sites)'s departing boss, Sean O'Keefe, said Friday he does not regret canceling the last shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope


Brian Fallow: Bank set to pull the trigger

Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard will fire his interest rate gun and then conspicuously reload it when he delivers his monetary policy statement on Thursday.


Having skipped the awkward teen stage entirely, at least onscreen, Portman plays a stripper with a heart of tarnish in ''Closer," the Mike Nichols movie


Polish PM refuses talks on Iraq kidnapping

Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka said Thursday his country would not enter into negotiations with the kidnappers of a Polish woman in Iraq.


Dow Jones +0,10%, Nasdaq a -0,27%,euro in rialzo sul dollaro


A purported al-Qaida in Afghanistan commander claimed in an audiotape released early Friday that the terror group was willing to swap prisoners with the U.S., Britain and other countries.


HOLLYWOOD, Florida  - Anna Nicole Smith, the small-town Texas girl turned Playboy Playmate who fought all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court over her billionaire husband's estate, died suddenly on Thursday at the age of 39.


'Potential Development' in Peterson Case

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - In a surprise move Wednesday, the judge in Scott Peterson's murder trial postponed the cross-examination of Peterson's former mistress and sent the jury home for the rest of the week because of an undisclosed "potential development."   Judge Alfred A...


Stable Micro Sys. In the wake of last month's Commission decision that paved the way for EU farmers to commercially grow up to 17 different types of GM maize seeds, the agriculture minister Gianni Alemanno had ...


New York City is wrestling its way out of a recession without its traditional economic engine - Wall Street employers - leading the way.


For Carson Daly, the phrase "the show must go on" has taken on a whole new significance.


John Brownlee talks with silent theater director about Lulu, a play about the murder of a flapper at the hands of Jack the Ripper. In Table of Malcontents.


Vaccine blocks deadly form of meningitis

A vaccine targeting a deadly strain of  meningitis proved to be safe and highly effective in protecting  African children, researchers said on Friday, raising hope that  it may help prevent epidemics that afflict many African  countries.


A woman given permission for embryo screening treatment to save her son is carrying the UK's first "designer baby".


Bucarest, 11:48 - CALCIO, ROMANIA: ZENGA NUOVO ALLENATORE DINAMO BUCAREST

Walter Zenga è il nuovo allenatore della Dinamo Bucarest. L'ex giocatore dell'Inter, 47 anni,...


Frankfurt Book Fair focuses on Arab world; participants hope to build bridges

This year's Frankfurt Book Fair is focusing on the Arab world amid worries that the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq and war on terrorism have warped Western perceptions of Arab culture - something that participants ...


Car bomb explodes outside bus terminal in Iraq, kills 8

KIRKUK, Iraq  - A car bomb tore through a Kurdish neighborhood of Iraq's northern oil centre of Kirkuk on Sunday, killing at least eight people and setting shops and cars ablaze, police said.


Calcio, Uefa: un turno a porte chiuse per la Lazio

Roma, 10 dic. (Adnkronos)- La Lazio dovrÃ  disputare la prossima gara di una competizione europea in uno stadio a porte chiuse, a seguito del comportamento razzista tenuto dai propri sostenitori nella partita di Coppa UEFA del mese scorso.


A Video Artist Mines the Sweet Drone of Suffering

Three films by Cameron Jamie, including "BB," a collaboration with the punk band the Melvins, will be screened on Saturday in Los Angeles.


Graphics chip-maker ATI Technologies   Inc ATYT.OQ said on Wednesday that fourth quarter revenue is   expected to be about $520 million, below the low end of the   revenue outlook it provided in late June.


Roma, 12:51 - CALCIO, PETRUCCI: PANCALLI STA RICEVENDO AMPI CONSENSI

"Sostengo Pancalli, per il Coni. Non posso sostenerlo per altre realtà, perchè non spe...


Impoverished Bulgaria looks to EU entry next year

Trifon Yarumov picks up cigarette butts  off of the street and smokes them because he can't afford a  pack of his own.


For stretches of the girls' basketball city semifinal playoff between Charlestown and perennial champion Burke, it was a battle of opposite styles. The Townies possess a dominating frontline, and the Bulldogs rely on the speed and skill of their guard play, notably senior Laniece Langford.


Scientists cull DNA from extinct mammoth

Attacking several tons of woolly mammoth with stone-tipped spears must have taken extraordinary courage — and ancient people left paintings to prove they did it.


Palestinians Believe Arafat Was Poisoned: Poll

NABLUS, 22 November 2004 - More than 80 percent of Palestinians believe that veteran leader Yasser Arafat died as a result of poisoning and not from natural causes, a poll published yesterday revealed.


Goes after financial services X factor with Xayce Morse has swallowed up Manchester-based consultancy firm Xayce plc for Â£3.6m in a majority cash deal.â¦


Senate Republicans equipped their rank and file on Tuesday with campaign-style material on Social Security that touts President Bush's call for voluntary personal accounts for younger workers but omits mention of companion cuts in guaranteed future benefits.


I trentini formiche, secondo un'indagine Cgia Mestre


New Fuel Tank Brings NASA Closer to Shuttle Launch

A redesigned space shuttle fuel tank arrived at NASA's main assembly hangar on Thursday in what managers said was a first tangible sign that the two-year effort to return the fleet to flight following the Columbia disaster is nearing its end.


Huge variations in continuing care on the NHS are "unjustifiable", a leading charity has warned.


Harvard University names Drew Gilpin Faust as its first female president in its 371-year history.


An, Fini propone La Russa, Alemanno, Matteoli

La Russa, Alemanno e Matteoli saranno i tre nuovi vice presidenti di An con pieni poteri. Lo propone Fini alla riunione della direzione del partito. Il triumvirato, precisa Fini, guiderÃ  An Â«per tutta la legislaturaÂ».


EDITORIAL: Be Sure Snapper Data is Accurate

By Destin Log, Fla.  Jan. 31--We'd like to believe that the members of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council have not made up their minds about the red snapper fishery.


Well, somehow they did in the first adaptation of the videogame âResident Evil.â All was loud, gory and yet somehow flat. All is certainly loud and gory in the sequel


Yesterday before 15,266 fans at TD Banknorth Garden, despite the arrival of the Rangers and high-priced gunners Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Scott Gomez, and Chris Drury, the man with the lowest goals-against average and highest save percentage in the league played the role of door opener on the Boston bench.


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.


Las Vegas, Nevada - Danny Williams, the unlikely British challenger for a share of boxing's heavyweight crown, said he must improve 30 to 40 percent from his knockout of Mike Tyson to dethrone Vitali Klitschko.


Are the Police Digging into Your Phone Records?

A Congressional inquiry into online data brokers has raised concerns that federal and local law enforcement may be skirting privacy laws to obtain calling records


Nuovo disco per la cantante francese, che nel 2007 compirÃ  ottant'anni"Non ho paura di morire perchÃ© mi sento giovane e immatura"                                            Juliette Greco, il mito si rinnova "Gentile, la vita, a portarmi fin qui"                                                                                Il cd si intitola "Le temps d'une chanson" ed Ã¨ una raccolta di classicida Gainsbourg a Trenet, da Le Forestier a Monnt, da Brel a Modugno


Lycos Europe Pulls Spam-Fighting Screensaver

Analysts say a new twist on the war against spammers in Europe isn't likely to spill across Unites States borders, but is rather an opening salvo more likely to fizzle than to explode.


Guatemalan migrant fights U.S. for his wages

STUART, Florida  - For nine years Pedro Zapeta did nothing but work and save.


Oracle has made a huge step towards victory in its hostile takeover bid for rival business software company PeopleSoft, as the US federal courts rejected the Department of Justice's attempt to block the takeover bid.


Mel Gibson Completes DUI Probation Terms

Mel Gibson completed the probation requirements from his DUI arrest, with the judge telling him Wednesday: "Now, you're on your own."   "Good luck to you as you continue on your rehabilitation," Superior Court Judge Lawrence Mira said, according to L...


Business tycoon Steve Morgan has scrapped his Â£70 million bid to take control of Liverpool Football Club. His lawyer said in a statement: "Steve has lost patience with the board using his offer as a stop-gap while they look for a better one.


Powell has dinner chat with Iranian minister

seated alongside his Iranian counterpart in the most extensive, high-level contact between the countries in years. relations but occasionally over the past few years their senior envoys have crossed paths at international meetings.


Group Therapy Won't Help Breast Cancer Survival

Group therapy doesn't improve survival for women with early-stage breast cancer, says a study in the Sept. 27 online issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.


Russia's biggest political party is due to confirm Putin aide Dmitri Medvedev as its candidate for the presidency.


Sharapova battles past Radwanska in Istanbul

Number one seed Maria Sharapova was made to work hard before securing her semi-final place at the Istanbul Cup with a 6-2 3-6 6-0 defeat of Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday.


Eritrea denies seizing tourists, blames Ethiopia

Eritrea dismissed as "baseless fabrication" accusations by an Ethiopian official that Eritrean forces had kidnapped a group of British tourists in a remote area of Ethiopia.


Notebook: Players enjoy 'Friday Night Lights'

"Friday Night Lights," a cinematic chronicle of high school football in Texas, debuted in theaters Friday night after meeting the approval of a few Steelers who happened to view a sneak preview Thursday.


Officials Expect No Big Changes, No Matter What Panel Advises

With the Iraq Study Group report due on Wednesday, the Bush administration has notified allies that it will not budge on certain aspects of Iraq policy, whatever recommendations are put forth by the independent panel of 10 prominent Republicans and Democrats.


Images: Big Blue invests in 'Second Life'

IBM wants to see how it can make 3D virtual environments pay off for it and its customers.


US President George W. Bush on Thursday defended his decision to go to war against the "unique threat" of Iraq, despite an official US report that Baghdad did not have weapons of mass destruction, as a Shiite militia pledged to disarm.


At least 22 people, many of them women and children, die after a fire breaks out in a wedding tent in Pakistan.


IBM in $1.4B Services Deal With AstraZeneca

IBM said the seven-year contract with AstraZeneca aims to help the British pharmaceutical company manage its internal technology operations.


London 2012 chiefs plan radical car ban: report

The organisation charged with developing the infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympics is planning a radical car ban for all of the games's major venues across Britain, The Times reported in an early edition of its Tuesday paper.


N.Korea says ready to take early steps in nuclear talks

North Korea is willing to take initial steps toward ending its nuclear arms program, South Korean officials said after six-party talks opened on Thursday, hinting at rare progress in talks which have ended in stalemate for years.


Lock in the lowest rates of the summer. Get up to 4 free quotes from trusted lenders. Apply now - bad credit OK.


Cal Wins Big Game, Share of  Pac-10 Title

Nate Longshore passes for 217 yards and the 21st-ranked Golden Bears top Stanford, 26-17, in the 109th Big Game,


Congress OKs expanding kids' health care

Congress approved legislation Thursday adding 4 million children to a popular health care program, setting up a veto fight that President Bush probably will win but handing Democrats a campaign issue for next year's elections.


Search Engine Watch editor Danny Sullivan recap of top search engine stories from September and early October 2004.


Bush Downplays Concern of Terror Attack on Food

President Bush on Saturday played  down an unexpected warning from his outgoing health chief that  the U.S. food supply was an easy target for terrorists.


The city ordered fire inspectors to examine hundreds of buildings under construction or demolition after an investigation found numerous planning and safety failures at an abandoned ground zero skyscraper where two firefighters died.


Keith Foulke isn't going to forget the last two nights anytime soon, but he won't be dwelling on them either.


The Greek airliner forced to make an emergency landing at Stansted airport following a bomb threat has been given the all-clear by police today.


Two airport shuttle buses collided head-on in the dark near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, killing a driver in one bus and a passenger in the other, authorities said.


Julia Roberts competes again for the title of favourite female movie star at the People's Choice awards on Sunday.


Amazon.com sells empty Vista boxes for $200?

And that's the cheap version Amazon sells empty Vista boxes for $360?â¦


Obesity, Child Mortality Slowing US Health Gains

Rising obesity rates and the number of people without health insurance are placing a drag on health gains for the American population, according to the results of a survey released Monday.


Suicide rates among the youngest and   oldest Americans have steadily declined since the late 1980s,   U.S. researchers reported on Thursday in a finding that   contradicts popular conceptions that rates were rising.


Cresce convinzione di una riduzione di 25 punti base


Fashion Designer Hilfiger to Host Show on CBS

Joining super models and business moguls who have made the leap to reality TV, fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and network CBS on Friday unveiled a contest series to pick a new clothing trendsetter.


"Monster" fossil found in Jurassic graveyard

Scientists have found a fossil of a  "Monster" fish-like reptile in a 150 million-year-old Jurassic  graveyard on an Arctic island off Norway.


New Revival of 'A Chorus Line' to Be Recorded by Masterworks Broadway

Playbill - The new Broadway-bound production of A Chorus Line will be recorded by Masterworks Broadway on Aug. 14 at Skywalker Sound Studio in Marin County, CA.


Creditors to forgive up to 80 per cent of Iraq's debt, German ...

Germany's finance minister said Saturday that he and his US counterpart have reached an agreement under which Iraq's creditors would write off up to 80 per cent of the country's debt.


China's interest rate hike necessary, but not sufficient

An economist with Asian Development Bank said Friday that China's decision to raise interest rates is necessary, but not enough to curb inflation.


Cuba on brink of huge change, Rice insists

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said the United States and Spain had recovered from the rift over with withdrawal of Spanish troops in Iraq but that the issue over Spain's relationship with the Cuban government remained a sore spot.


Abbas Vows Arms Crackdown Before Palestinian Vote

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on  Wednesday vowed a crackdown on armed groups operating in  Palestinian areas in order to smooth the way to a Jan. 9  presidential election for a successor to Yasser Arafat.


TomTom beats to the distant sound of whalesong

Faint whiff of joss-sticks LogoWatch We here at El Reg like to think that our LogoWatch strand has done much to rid the world of Powerpoint presentation-weilding Strategy Boutiques - redefining brand frontage paradigms and delivery mission-critical synergistic solutions to better represent the brand proposition companies represent to their end user demographic while blasted off the planet on Bolivian marching powder.â¦


Charity marathon caught on webcam A US chap is counting to one million live on the net to raise funds for the Push America disabilities charity.â¦


Damien Hirst, former BritArt bad boy whose works infuriate and inspire in equal measure, did it again on Friday with a diamond-encrusted platinum cast of a human skull priced at a cool 50 million pounds.


Northern Ireland talks grind on through night

LEEDS CASTLE, England : Talks to restore home rule to Northern Ireland ground on as British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Ireland's Bertie Ahern pushed rival Catholic and Protestant parties toward a lasting peace deal.


Iraq's Allawi Issues Ultimatum to Falluja

Iraq's interim prime minister warned  the rebel-held city of Falluja on Wednesday it must hand over  foreign militants, including America's top enemy in Iraq, or  face a major operation to root them out.


Tribal leaders in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province react angrily to army plans for a new garrison.


A European Union court ruled Wednesday that Microsoft Corp. will have to abide immediately by an EU ruling that forces the software giant to change its commercial practices before the appeals procedure runs its full course, sources said.


Starbucks Corp.  said on  Thursday that sales at coffee shops open at least 13 months  rose 5 percent in August, at the high end of Wall Street  estimates, and shares rose slightly in after-hours trading.


Il presidente uscente Leonid Kuchma non esclude la possibilitÃ  di nuove elezioni in Ucraina: loriferisce l'agenzia di stampa russa Interfax. ''Nuove elezioni potrebbero essere l'unico modo'' per risolvere


Saranno raccolte osservazioni e proposte per una direttiva


Police have suspended their investigation into the tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo that killed a teenager as they wait for new witnesses or evidence to emerge.


Auburn's 38-28 win in the SEC championship game Saturday gave the Tigers a perfect 12-0 regular season. It was the first Auburn football team to accomplish that feat.


Early testers say Vista RC1 appears stable

Also: Stephen Hawking looking for assistant. Read these stories and more from around the Web on News.com Extra.


Sailor dies in fire accident on Canadian sub

Canadian submarine HMCS Chicoutimi drifts in heavy seas Wednesday after losing power due to a fire accident. AFP. DUBLIN  - British tug boats sailed Thursday to join a major rescue operation for a Canadian


Jeffrey Greenberg, chairman and chief executive of embattled insurance broker Marsh & McLennan Cos. , is expected to step down within hours, a newspaper reported on Friday, citing people close to the discussions.


Cougars looking for first win over Huskies in seven tries

Washington State coach Bill Doba, for one, is keeping a straight face as the Cougars prepare to host Washington on Saturday in the annual cross-state rivalry.


It was Joe Terror and Scott "The Headhunter" Proctor. On a team that has been lifeless and methodical for most of this season, the New York Yankees showed they can be nasty -- and that they may not be dead yet.


METCASH stunned long-term suitor Foodland (FOA) yesterday with an audacious $846 million takeover bid to create a supermarket heavyweight better able to compete with its bigger rivals.


Melbourne, 13:44 - CALCIO, AUSTRALIA-ARGENTINA 0-1 IN AMICHEVOLE

L'Argentina ha battuto l'Australia 1-0 in un'amichevole giocata a Melbourne. Gol partita di Martin D...


Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived on Tuesday for the first major diplomatic foray that includes talks with US President George W Bush, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and address to the UN General Assembly.


UPDATE 1-Centene shares rise on acquisition, forecast

Centene Corp. (CNC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , which sells Medicaid government health insurance plans, on Tuesday said the acquisition of two new health plans would add to 2005 earnings, pushing its shares up 13 percent.


The police and army go on alert in Bolivia, as some of its richest regions prepare to declare autonomy.


Siniora, 'il mio Paese ha scoperto di non essere solo'


A genre once known for high quality is now a source of lazy commercial fodder.


Beslan siege plotter will be tried, vows Chechen leader

The Chechen separatist leader, Aslan Maskhadov, tried to distance himself from extremists in the independence movement yesterday by declaring that his former commander-in-chief Shamil Basayev would one day stand trial for ordering the Beslan school siege.


California company receives first BioShield contract for anthrax ...

The government said Thursday it is purchasing 75 million doses of a new generation anthrax vaccine under an $877.5 million contract -- the first awarded through a federal program to develop and stockpile antidotes to biological and


Mubarak says Israel could free many Palestinians

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said  Israel may release more Palestinian prisoners than expected as  part of a possible deal covering the release of an Israeli  soldier held by Palestinians.


KYRGYZSTAN:  Headed for a New Constitution, a New Crisis

BISHKEK, Sep 24 (IPS) - This Central Asian Republic of five million is  headed for a crucial referendum on a new constitution Oct. 21.


Londra, 17:33 - CALCIO, INGHILTERRA: STUART PEARCE NELLO STAFF DI CAPELLO

L'allenatore dell'Under 21 inglese Stuart Pearce entra ufficialmente nello staff di Fabio Capello, i...


Magazines go green with global warming issues

Some sports fans may now know as much about global warming as they know about women's swimwear: Sports Illustrated this week tells readers how a warming world is going to change the state of play.


FAA Orders Ground Stop At Lindbergh Field, LAX

SAN DIEGO -- Radio failure at a Federal Aviation Administration control facility has forced some Southern California airports -- including San Diego's Lindbergh Field -- to hold flights on the ground.


Dell Inc. announced a deal Monday with China's largest electronics retailer to sell computers in stores throughout the country as the world's second-largest computer maker tries to expand in the booming Chinese market.


Roma, 19:55 - CALCIO, JUVE; RANIERI: SE BATTIAMO ROMA 2Â° POSTO ALLA PORTATA

L'allenatore della Juventus, Claudio Ranieri, è convinto che, se sabato i bianconeri dovesser...


Bollettino della Protezione Civile alle Prefetture


FBI Suspects Israel Has Spy in Pentagon -- CBS News

The FBI believes there is an Israeli  spy at the very highest level of the Pentagon, CBS News  reported on Friday. The Israeli embassy immediately denied the  report.


Southampton are unlikely to be pressed into a hasty move over boss Steve Wigley, BBC Sport understands.


Rumsfeld Says He's Not Surprised by Troops' Complaints

Responding to complaints by disgruntled Iraq-bound soldiers in Kuwait that they lacked armor for the vehicles, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said today that it was


US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld speaks to US military Special Operations personnel at... CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait  - Disgrunted US soldiers complained to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumself on


: A suicide car bomber ploughed into a Shia mosque in Baghdad after dawn prayers today, killing 14 people and stoking fears that sectarian divisions over when to hold elections could unleash further bloodshed.


The US secretary of state is in the Middle East for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders amid fresh diplomacy.


EarthLink to build out full Philadelphia Wi-Fi network

InfoWorld - The sun came out for EarthLink's Philadelphia Wi-Fi network on Thursday even as prospects for its San Francisco project remain shrouded in fog.


Wesley Snipes faces 3 years for tax conviction

OCALA, Florida  - Actor Wesley Snipes, star of the "Blade" movie series, was found guilty of three misdemeanors by a U.S. court on Friday for failing to file tax returns but was acquitted of more serious charges.


Schools in the Indonesian province of Aceh reopen for the first time since the disaster a month ago.


Intel joins One Laptop Per Child initiative

InfoWorld - In an unexpected development, chip giant Intel has joined the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative. The nonprofit project aims to equip children in developing countries with specially designed low-cost notebooks powered by chips from Intel rival AMD.


Microsoft, Siemens to develop in-car infotainment

Microsoft  and Siemens   will join forces to develop in-car entertainment and  navigation products that should make it easier for consumers to  connect devices such mobile phones and music players.


EU presses Serbia on Kosovo, new government

Serbia's President Boris Tadic poses with EU Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana and Germany Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier prior to a meeting in Belgrade.Comment


SanDisk's major earnings surprise wasn't a surprise to everyone.


Technology used to check for diluted beer in kegs returned to breweries could soon be used to monitor water quality in treatment plants.


Insurgents Accused of Using Ramadi Hospital

Insurgents used the hospital in the volatile city of Ramadi to ambush U.S. soldiers, the military said Saturday, firing rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire at troops but inflicting no American casualties.


Russian President Vladimir Putin starts a two-day official visit to Ukraine ahead of the country's presidential election.


Whole UK population and every visitor to Britain should be put on national DNA database, top judge says.


Iraq Declares Martial Law, 22 Police Killed

Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi declared martial law on Sunday and said a US-led military offensive against the rebel-held city of Falluja could not be delayed much longer.


Volkswagen workers stage march as pay talks continue

HANOVER, Germany - Several thousand Volkswagen AG workers took to the streets Tuesday to press their demand for wage increases and pay guarantees as the automaker prepared to resume pay negotiations with Germany's biggest industrial union.


SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Sports Network) - San Diego Chargers  quarterback Drew Brees will be under center for this Sunday's  contest versus the Denver Broncos.


Ivo Karlovic rode a wave of aces to a 7-6 (5), 7-5 semifinal victory over Benjamin Becker on Saturday in the SAP Open, where the 6-foot-10 Croat is looking for his first ATP title.


EU nominee withdraws amid harsh criticism

A controversial Italian politician, whose nomination to a European Union post threatened to halt other EU nominations, withdrew Saturday from consideration.


Aussie IBA Considers Paper Offer for iSoft

By Daily Mail, London  Feb. 17--Struggling NHS software supplier iSoft (up 4 3/4p at 49 3/4p)  could be bought by one of its biggest rivals.


U.S. Senate confirms Sommers as CFTC Commissioner

The U.S. Senate early on Saturday confirmed Jill E. Sommers, a Kansas Republican, to be a commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.


Italy: Justice Minister offers to resign

"I am resigning because between the love of my family and that of power, I choose the former."  Italy's justice minister offered his resignation Wednesday after the start of a corruption investigation involving his wife, but Premier Romano Prodi quickly rejected it. via The Oregonian


Milano, 15:02 - CALCIO, GALLIANI: ANCELOTTI AL REAL? NON RISPONDO

Ancelotti cercato dal Real Madrid? Adriano Galliani non vuole polemiche: ''Siccome siamo in Quaresim...


Souness Blasts Magpiesâ Old Defensive Failings

Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness cited costly but familiar defensive failings for the Magpiesâ 3-1 defeat at Liverpool at the weekend.


Carl Wayne, the lead singer of influential 1960s pop group the Move, dies at the age of 61 after battling cancer.


The gloves came off Tuesday in the heavyweight battle over Hollywood Entertainment Corp., the nation's No. 2 video rental chain.


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Guerrillas bombed a Baghdad shopping street full of police recruits and fired on a police van north of the capital Tuesday in attacks that killed at least 59 people and struck at the heart of the U.S. strategy for fighting Iraq's escalating insurgency...


Prince Harry hit in face in scuffle with photograher

Britain's Prince Harry was hit in the face with a camera in a scuffle with photographers outside a London nightclub in the early hours of Thursday, royal officials said.


Tehran rejects 'unbalanced' European demands over nuclear standoff

Iran on Sunday rejected European demands that it halt all uranium enrichment activities and described a proposal aimed at ending Tehran's nuclear standoff with the international community as "unbalanced.


Two Families From Different Sects Meet Similar, Violent Fates in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Dec. 11 -- Twenty armed men entered the Subhi family home in southern Kirkuk at dawn Monday, killing a 12-year-old boy, his 13-year-old sister and their pregnant mother, police said.