Gorbachev asks Microsoft for leniency in piracy case

(InfoWorld) - Microsoft is sidestepping an appeal from a former leader of the Soviet Union to intervene in a piracy case involving a school principal. Mikhail Gorbachev, who is credited with aiding the end of the Cold War, wrote to Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates on Monday asking for help in halting the trial of Aleksandr Ponosov, 40, who could face up to five years in prison. In the letter, posted on his Web site in Russian, Gorbachev wrote that his country finds the prosecution of Ponosov scandalous. Ponosov, 40, was charged in November with using more than $10,000 in pirated Microsoft software. The principal claims he bought the computers with the unlicensed software preinstalled. Police seized 12 computers from his school in the village of Vereschagino in western Russia in May 2006, but soon returned them so the school could conduct its computer science exams. Gorbachev wrote that while Russian law allows for the prosecution of those who unknowingly use pirated software, the case against Ponosov is unwarranted. The former leader also made an emotional appeal, writing that Ponosov dedicated his life to teaching for a modest salary, which doesn't compare to those of Microsoft employees. Gorbachev's high-level intervention comes as Microsoft continues anÂ aggressive legal campaign to stop piracyÂ of its software. Microsoft has launched dozens of civil lawsuits and aided law enforcement in criminal investigations throughout Europe and the U.S. A Microsoft executive said Tuesday that Russian authorities contacted the company to verify the software was illegal. Microsoft did not request that charges be filed, and the decision to charge Ponosov was made by prosecutors, said Kim Gagne, corporate affairs director for central and eastern Europe. Microsoft will not pursue a civil case against the principal. "We don't see this as a serious violation," said Olga Dergunova, who heads Microsoft's Russian operations. The protection of intellectual property has become a key sticking point between Russia and the U.S., which has said lax enforcement hurts Russia's chances of entering the World Trade Organization. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week the focus should be on the producers and distributors of pirated software. "The law recognizes the concept of someone who purchased the product in good faith," Putin said at his annual press conference on Feb. 1. "It is easy to just grab someone and punish, but what we need to do is get to the bottom of each case, which is harder," he said. During a visit to Moscow in November, Gates said Microsoft will do what it can to provide Russian school children with advanced software while also praising government efforts to protect intellectual property, according to the RIA Novosti, a government-owned news agency. (Pavel Kupriyanov of Computerworld Russia contributed to this story). Â


La Corte d'Appello di Roma estingue la pena per incendio dolosoI figli del segretario della sezione Msi carbonizzati 32 anni fa                                                  Rogo di Primavalle: pena estinta indignazione e polemiche                                                                                Veltroni: "Non tornino senza aver scontato la loro colpa"Manifestazione di protesta interrotta dai fratelli delle vittime


Milwaukee Brewers Team Report - September 16

(Sports Network) - The Brewers will try to keep Barry Bonds from getting his 700th homer today, when they close out their three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.


SAN FRANCISCO--Verizon Communications, one of the largest local phone providers in the country, is the latest carrier to select Linksys to provide Internet telephony to consumers.


The museum's decision to abandon its current redesign suggests how a much-heralded public architecture project can be derailed by economics, politics and personalities.


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Dance Review: Want to Buy Some Tap? Theyâre Happy to Sell It

Andrew J. Nemrâs disciplined, likable ensemble manage to be appealing without being particularly engaging in âWhere the Music Livesâ at the Julia Miles Theater.


The New York Giants released three veteran players, linebackers LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons and offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, on Monday as they began to restructure their roster.


Vermont Police Hunt Down Cheese Saboteur

MONKTON, Vt. - Wanted: Cheese vandals. Someone sneaked into the production house at Orb Weaver Farm and punctured 237 wheels of cheese at the Orb Weaver Farm.


1 in 10 bird species could vanish within 100 years

By 2100, about 10% of all bird species probably will be extinct, killed off by habitat loss, hunting and climate change, conservation biologists estimate.


FIFA's president criticized England captain David Beckham for deliberately getting himself suspended for a World Cup qualifier and urged the English Football Association to take action.


Il capo dello Stato alla cerimonia di inaugurazione dell'anno scolastico al Quirinale"QualitÃ  e quantitÃ  dell'istruzione devono essere elevate in tempi brevi"                                            Napolitano agli studenti: "La politica dia esempio di legalitÃ  e decoro"


People at a high risk of having a heart attack do not know when to dial 999, experts have warned.


Roma, 22:51 - CALCIO, MORTO POLIZIOTTO: IL CORDOGLIO DI AMATO

Il ministro dell'Interno, Giuliano Amato, ha espresso al capo della Polizia, prefetto Gianni De Genn...


To make sure nobody missed its big change from a broadsheet to a tabloid, The Times of London told readers about it on the front page.


'Few of UK's highest-earners pay enough income tax'

Business & money: Of the 400-plus people thought to earn an eight-figure income, only 65 declared taxable earnings of Â£10m or more.


Palestinian protesters storm into Egypt from Gaza

RAFAH, Egypt  - Hundreds of Palestinian protesters stormed the Rafah border crossing with Egypt from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday to protest against an Israeli blockade, and an Egyptian police officer was shot, security and border sources said.


Newcastle's treble chance leaves Spurs in the bottom three

Sport: Goals from Martins, Cacapa and Milner seal win for Newcastle as Tottenham's woeful away record continues.


Alex Salmond is to deliver a petition calling on the UK to withdraw from the Common Fisheries Policy.


Parliament on Thursday began debating a law that seeks reparations for victims of Spain's 1936-39 Civil War and the dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco.


Iraq Truck Blast Ushers Rumsfeld Out of Town

A gas tanker truck wired with explosives blew up in a west Baghdad neighbourhood, killing one person, wounding 19 and lighting up the night sky with a fireball just hours after US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld left the Iraqi capital.


Now that first impressions are often made on the Internet, people are strategizing about how to virtually convey who they are, and crafting an e-version of themselves that appeals to multiple audiences.


Audit of U.N.'s Sudan Mission Finds Tens of Millions in Waste

UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations has wasted tens of millions of dollars in its peacekeeping operations in Sudan over the past three years, according to the findings of U.N. auditors examining the financial practices of the global body's overseas missions.


A court acquits ex-paramilitary leader Jodel Chamblain of murder in a trial criticised by human rights activists.


Dolphins/Steelers Postponed by Hurricane Jeanne

Davie, Fla. (Sports Network) - Sunday's game between the  Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers has been postponed  because of Hurricane Jeanne.


US ban on web gambling forces company into red.


E'stato salvato da giovane che ha afferrato arma con la mano


E' successo questa mattina a BuddusÃ², in SardegnaTre, armati e a volto coperto, hanno sparato ai carabinieri                                          Rapina alle poste nel Sassarese conflitto a fuoco, un arresto


After M&M reforms, Spitzer rules out most serious charge

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Insurance stocks rallied Tuesday as the threat of criminal charges being brought against companies in Eliot Spitzer's probe of the industry abated.


Wal-Mart Enters the Online Music Store Mix  Wal-Mart Stores Inc. launched an online music store that works with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media Player. Wal-Mart, which began offering music downloads in March, said that its new store will offer downloads at 88 cents per song and is somewhat of an affiliate of ...


U.S. Says Falluja Air Strike Kills Zarqawi Ally

U.S. warplanes attacked a suspected  safe house used by the network of al Qaeda ally Abu Musab  al-Zarqawi in the Iraqi city of Falluja early on Tuesday and  killed one of his associates, the U.S. military said.


Blacks and whites don't see racism the same way, which is why we can't solve America's racial woes


LOS ANGELES The Memphis Grizzlies outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday 92-to-82 in Los Angeles. Pau Gasol led the Grizzlies with 20 points and eight rebounds.


African Union to bolster forces in Darfur

The African Union on Wednesday agreed to beef up its peacekeeping force in Sudan's western Darfur region and send hundreds of civilian police officers in an effort


Scott Kazmir won his major league debut with five impressive innings, and Jose Cruz Jr. hit a three-run homer to lead the Tampa Bay Devil Rays past the Seattle Mariners 9-0 Monday night.


Cheney warns terrorists may hit US if Kerry wins

Vice President Dick Cheney said that the United States risked suffering another terrorist attack if voters make "the wrong choice" in the November 2 presidential election.


Leading shares closed weaker with Wall Street remaining lower on interest rate jitters and Enterprise Inns down in the blue chips ahead of the July 1 smoking ban.


Chinese police detain three top executives at milk giant Yili, with reports suggesting that they are being investigated for embezzlement.


What's Online: The Burger and Latte Combo

McDonaldâs assault on Starbucksâs coffee hegemony is not a bet-the-franchise move, but it is a wrongheaded strategy that is bound to lose.


The UK property market slowdown continued in November, according to the latest government figures.


EU laws are being imposed without proper debate, say peers behind a bid to hold an inquiry into withdrawing from the EU.


Hewlett-Packard Reports 13% Rise in Revenue

HPâs first-quarter net income grew 38 percent to $2.1 billion, as revenue climbed 13 percent to $28.5 billion, beating the muted expectations of Wall Street analysts.


Life & style: In pictures: The latest images from London fashion week, including shows by Duro Olowu and Paul Smith.


Carlos Rogers has suffered through an uneven season in which receivers have repeatedly burned him with double moves and he has dropped at least six possible interceptions.


Apple beats 4Q forecasts with fivefold increase in iPod sales

NEW YORK, October 14  - Apple Computer (AAPL.NAS) reported its highest fourth-quarter sales in the past nine years for 4Q FY04, while the company's quarterly profits more than doubled on ay/y basis.


India races to help hundreds of thousands hit by floods

Rescuers are racing to get food and clean water to more than 750,000 people left homeless in four flooded Indian states, officials said, as the death toll linked to lashing monsoon rains in the past week rose to 187.


BERKELEY, California  - Internet culture, often portrayed as the vanguard of progress, is actually a jungle peopled by intellectual yahoos and digital thieves, according to a Silicon Valley entrepreneur-turned-dissenter.


The findings come in a report from the newly formed Consumer Spyware Initiative, a joint effort by Dell and the non-profit Internet Education Foundation that aims to increase awareness of spyware.


Mark Lawrenson's view on the weekend's Premiership games.


U.S. publisher takes action over Harry Potter leak

Copies of the final Harry Potter book have already been shipped to customers by one U.S. online retailer, U.S. publisher Scholastic said on Wednesday, and purported copies of the novel have flooded the Internet.


The US Senate passes legislation endorsing President Bush's plans to interrogate and prosecute foreign terror suspects.


The ex-wife of a man who killed his son in a balcony fall calls for a prosecution when he returns to Britain.


U.S. Military Probes FBI Guantanamo Abuse Claims

The U.S. military has begun an  investigation into allegations by FBI agents of torture at the  Guantanamo prison, officials said on Wednesday, and newly  released documents showed 26 agents saw detainees abused.


Chemo has long-term impact on brain function: study

Chemotherapy causes changes in the  brain's metabolism and blood flow that can last as long as 10  years, a discovery that may explain the mental fog and  confusion that affect many cancer survivors, researchers said  on Thursday.


Cruise tops Forbes' annual Celebrity list

Never mind the couch-jumping and the depression-dismissing. Tom Cruise is the world's No. 1 star, according to Forbes' annual "Celebrity 100 Power List," which ranks famous folks based on earnings and buzz.


As regulatory audits loom, wise executives have long ago abandoned the âsave everythingâ approach to regulatory compliance, which is akin to stuffing receipts into a shoebox while hoping the IRS will go knocking elsewhere.


Yahoo! aims to improve its ad reach by acquiring BlueLithium.


Brit gamer shot in armed robbery out of hospital

CounterStrike hero goes home Adam Mapleson, the British gamer who was shot after intervening to help security guards facing armed robbers, has been released from hospital.â¦


Secure Flight Takes Flight: Itâs About Time

D., and Alane Kochems. The Department of Homeland security has announced a new program, âSecure Flight,â designed to screen flight passenger data and flag possible terrorists before they board an airplane.


Lalu describes collision between trains as 'brutal murder'

Describing the collision between the two passenger trains which killed 34 people in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district on Tuesday as a 'brutal murder', Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said the two station masters will be booked on the charge of culpable homicide


Oil Off as U.S. Heating Fuel Supplies Rise

Oil prices fell on Wednesday after U.S.  stocks data showed a larger-than-expected rise in heating fuel  supplies as mild winter temperatures suppressed demand in the  United States.


Commanding Attention in or Out of Costume

A veteran performer at the age of 22, Keira Knightley has acquired the air, and the rÃ©sumÃ©, of a much older actress.


Ad acquistarla un anonimo collezionista in un'asta a Londra


EU doctors visit HIV-infected children in Libya after signals that death sentences on six  medics could be re-examined.


New director looks to inject HP Labs with 'startup DNA'

Prith Banerjee takes over a lab that was once a powerhouse of technological innovation and hopes to focus on fewer projects and bring in fresh talent.


US economy buffeted by record high oil prices

High oil prices, which have een a factor in virtually all US recessions over the past three decades, are surging again this year. And the higher crude oil prices climb, the more risk energy


After Iraq, Spain Turns Again Toward Latin America

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica  - After spending several  years distracted by Iraq and the war on terror, Spain under its  new socialist government is turning again toward Latin America  where its historical and business links give it an unrivaled  edge.


Dogs are being trained to sniff out bladder cancer from patients' urine, according to researchers. Six dogs were trained to pick out urine samples of patients with bladder cancer from those of people with other diseases and healthy individuals.


The notion that forests are declining across the tropics is not proven, a study argues, because data is unclear.


College Students Visiting MySpace.Com Help Fox Interactive Media Lead the Internet in Page Views, According to comScore Networks

RESTON, Va., Dec. 18  /PRNewswire/ -- comScore Networks, a leader in measuring the digital age, today released a study analyzing the impact of visitation from university locations at the top two Web properties, Fox Interactive Media (which includes MySpace.com) and Yahoo! Sites.


Researchers Control Robot With Brain Signals

Scientists in Japan have succeeded in controlling a humanoid robot with signals from a monkey's brain.


Anti-Syrian leader warns of more Lebanon killings

Hundreds of Lebanese mourners pressed on Wednesday to touch the coffin of minister Pierre Gemayel whose assassination, blamed by his allies on Syria, stoked fears of more killings and a surge in factional violence.


The DVDs of the original Star Wars trilogy break a UK sales record after one day of release.


an anonymous group of hackers -- has surfaced on the Internet once again. This time, the SCC is selling source code for a Cisco security application in another blatant violation of copyright regulations.


That Book About the Patriotsâ Perfect Season Ended With a Giant Asterisk

The Boston Globe was forced to scrap its planned commemorative book  â19-0: The Historic Championship Season of New Englandâs Unbeatable Patriots.â


The US space agency says the veteran Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft is probably lost and unrecoverable.


UPDATE 1-Diebold cuts forecast, cites voting machine unit

Diebold Inc. (DBD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the leading maker of automated teller machines, on Monday reduced its third-quarter and full-year earnings forecasts as it absorbs


Mosques, Green Zone attacked despite Iraq curfew

Three Sunni Muslim mosques were torched and mortar bombs hit Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on Thursday, police said, despite curfews imposed after suspected al Qaeda militants hit a revered Shi'ite shrine.


Echoes of a 1972 Loss Haunt a 2004 Campaign

John Kerry is once again surrounded by many of the loyalists from his first campaign Â the only one he has ever lost.


Sexual Violence Hit 2 in 3 Liberians in War-Report

Fighters sexually assaulted some two  thirds of Liberia's population during more than a decade of war  and have not been punished more than a year after the conflict  ended, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.


Don't kick Pixar just because you don't see its ticker symbol around.


Basque Autonomy Plan Set for Shock Victory

A Basque proposal for virtual independence from Spain gained vital and unexpected support in the regional parliament on Thursday from Batasuna, a party banned as the political wing of armed separatists ETA.


Cassazione, la sentenza potrebbe essere emessa domani


Panel Urges U.S. to Sweeten Nuclear Deal for N.Korea

The United States should use  incentives to entice North Korea to scrap its nuclear programs,  including a "buyout" pegging aid to the amount of plutonium  Pyongyang surrenders, a panel of experts said.


The Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to vote Wednesday to prohibit mutual fund companies from funneling stock trades to brokerage firms that agree to promote their funds to investors.


Anita Roddick, founder of the international Body Shop cosmetics chain, died Monday night after suffering a major brain hemorrhage, her family said. She was 64.


A rare signed first edition Harry Potter book sells for Â£19,700 at Christie's auction house in London.


Pre-Inca Observatory Is Oldest in Americas, Study Says

Thirteen 2,300-year-old towers precisely spaced along a ridge near a ceremonial site make up the oldest known solar observatory in the New World, experts say.


Wright-Phillips, who scored as a substitute in his England debut against Ukraine, could get the nod should captain David Beckham get - as he suggested - the approval to move in from the right flank to partner Frank Lampard in central midfield.


Ministro, Fassino sbaglia su tagli a sanita' e pensioni


China Southern Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding to become the first Chinese mainland's air company to join a global airline alliance, according to Saturday's China Radio International.


Bangladesh bans all political activity as graft crackdown intensifies

Bangladesh imposed a complete ban on political activity late Thursday as the outgoing prime minister's son was remanded in custody after his arrest in an intensified anti-graft crackdown.


Olive Oil, FDA Allows Qualified Health Claim to Decrease Risk of ...

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the availability of a qualified health claim for monounsaturated fat from olive oil and reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).


European Union and U.S. negotiators reached a deal on the sharing of trans-Atlantic air passenger data used in anti-terror investigations, diplomats said Friday.


âSteepâ is an undeniably impressive visual spectacle that follows the sport of extreme skiing.


Edwards plays up differences with Clinton

NASHUA, New Hampshire  - Presidential candidate John Edwards courted Democratic activists in New Hampshire on Saturday, playing up differences over the Iraq war with rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the key primary state.


Gunmen Kill Iraqi Telecoms Ministry Official

A senior official in Iraq's  Communications Ministry was shot dead as he was driving to work  in Baghdad on Thursday, a source at the ministry said.


Scottish woman becomes first female Beefeater

A 42-year-old Scottish woman became the first female "Beefeater" on Monday, taking up her post as a guardian of Britain's Tower of London.


A documentary revealing the past 12 months of JK Rowling's life is to be shown on ITV1.


Apple rolles out a limited version of its video download service in the UK, with mainly US content available.


France's trade deficit hit a record 29.2bn euros in 2006, hit by high energy costs, official figures show.


McCain wants child porn rules for US message boards

Social networking sites too Social networking sites and message boards face the same regulatory burden as internet service providers (ISPs) in a new bill proposed by ex-US presidential candidate John McCain. McCain wants sites to report all child pornography to authorities.â¦


Critics lash out at UN, but Annan survives

US ambassador to UN says White House is confident in the secretary general amid probes of Iraqi oil-for-food program.


Volcanic fumes kill 6 teens in Indonesia

Poisonous fumes from an Indonesian volcano killed six teenagers who were camping on the mountain, a doctor said Sunday.


Agrochemical giant Monsanto agrees to pay $1.5m ($799,000)  in US penalties for bribing a high-level Indonesian official.


Mahmoud Abbas was sworn in as Palestinian president to succeed Yasser Arafat on Saturday, but his call for a truce and talks were overshadowed by Israel's decision to cut ties over a deadly militant attack.


Il terrore colpisce in moschea e provoca una strage. E' avvenuto questa mattina in Pakistan, nella cittÃ  di Sialkot, 170 chilometri dalla capitale Islamabad, vicino al confine con l'India. Un kamikaze, secondo


In the extraordinary apology, Mattel took the blame for design flaws and said it had recalled more lead-tainted toys than justified.


Fighting Africa's poverty and the spread of Aids top the agenda at the Davos World Economic Forum.


National Football League star Michael Vick could face five years in jail after admitting a dog-fighting charge.


Honda to recall 45,335 Civic hybrids worldwide

Honda Motor Co.  said on Tuesday it would recall 45,335 Civic hybrid cars globally to fix a faulty voltage converter that could cause a short circuit and stop the engine.


AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- With their rematch with the Indiana Pacers successfully completed, the Detroit Pistons return home to focus on other things, beginning with Vince Carter's probable debut for the New Jersey Nets on Monday.


Theater Review | 'Richard III': This Lame King Has Another Self to Lean On

Is Richard III, as imagined by Shakespeare, evil because heâs deformed or is his deformity a physical manifestation of his evil?


Firefighters saved Glasgow Airport from "total destruction" during the terror attack at the weekend.


Two University of Florida police officers were placed on leave Tuesday after using an electronic stun gun to subdue a student questioning Sen. John Kerry at a campus forum.


Microsoft non perde un'occasione per imporsi, proponendo un servizio finora tralasciato: il diario virtuale, denominato blog, diffuso in rete da ormai numerosi e piÃ¹ o meno noti providers. La nuovissima piattaforma


Hurricane Felix upgraded to Category 2 storm

Hurricane Felix, the second hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season, was upgraded early on Sunday to a category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported.


Gibson apologizes for 'despicable' conduct

Mel Gibson issued a lengthy statement Saturday apologizing for saying "despicable" things to sheriff's deputies when he was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol.


Dominik Hasek stopped 22 shots for his 78th career shutout, Brian Rafalski scored a first-period goal and the NHL-leading Detroit Red Wings beat the Dallas Stars 3-0 on Saturday.


FCC vote could expand high-speed wireless Internet access on ...

Passengers taking to the skies for US flights could be checking e-mail and surfing the Web through high-speed Internet connections in a couple of years.


Oil eases after topping $80 on supply fears

Oil prices dipped on Thursday but held near the previous day's record high above $80 a barrel, as dealers watched a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico after a sharp fall in U.S. crude stocks.


EU president Barroso faces uphill battle

The European Union could be thrown into turmoil unless last-minute lobbying by incoming European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso secures enough votes for approval of his embattled 24-member executive.


Verona, 18:39 - Calcio, Chievo: Cossato e Mandelli tornano in gruppo

Seduta di rifinitura per il Chievo alla vigilia della gara con il Siena. Cossato e Mandelli, ieri ri...


Pennsylvania Schools Sued Over Creationism Plan

HARRISBURG, Pa.  - Civil rights groups sued a  Pennsylvania school district on Tuesday to block teaching of  "intelligent design," an alternative to evolution that contends  nature was created by an all-powerful being.


State and local governments will be barred from taxing connections that link people to the Internet for the next three years under legislation signed Friday by President Bush.


A tribute to the art of scaring people--all the way to the bank.


Ministro Interno,verso scadenza alcune misure decreto Pisanu


All'esame anche altri sei Paesi, risposte il 7 marzo


TV Guide's Online Video Guide: Cutting Down on Clutter

By Bernstein, Jared  a search for "American Idol" on Google Video yields 66,280 results.


MPs back Ugandan leader's Â£24m plea for  jet

The Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, is to buy a new Gulfstream presidential jet for Â£24m after convincing MPs that his Â£16m plane bought seven years ago is out of date


Londra, 10:54 - CALCIO, MANCHESTER UNITED: IL SOGNO E' TORRES

Il mercato sembra non essersi mai chiuso. Il Manchester United torna alla carica su Fernando Torres....


Google, the world's most popular search engine announced the launch of a beta desktop search utility application that goes beyond basic web search.


A senior vice president at US insurance firm Marsh & McLellan pleads guilty to criminal charges in connection with a probe into fraud in the industry.


$150,000 mortgage for only $610/month. Lower your mortgage - free quotes.


Lebanon says 222 militants killed in camp battle

Lebanon said on Tuesday the army killed at least 222 Islamist militants from an al Qaeda-linked group in a 15-week battle at a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.


German software giant SAP AG is teaming with Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) to offer midmarket companies in the U.S. a hosted software offering that includes applications, maintenance, services, and support for a monthly fee.


Carphone expands Virgin offering From this morning customers at Carphone Warehouse will be able to buy Virgin broadband, digital TV and phones from a special in-store services area showcasing the company.â¦


Congo clashes force 10,000 refugees into Uganda

Ten thousand Congolese refugees have  fled to neighboring Uganda following clashes between the  Congolese army and renegade troops in its eastern provinces,  the United Nations said on Tuesday.


A primary school caretaker was remanded in custody Friday on charges that he was behind a three-week spate of letter bomb attacks which injured eight people in Britain.


Nokia annuncia un telefono dichiaratamente compatibile con il Macintosh. Si tratta del 7280, un terminale che si distingue per design, ispirazione creativa e funzionalitÃ . Arrivano anche altri due telefoni per chi vuol farsi notare: il 7260 e il 7270.


Digital technology has now replaced the old photo-finish cameras at Britain's racecourses, but still there are times when even a computer cannot help.


Leading donor to Britain's Conservatives "questioned by cash for honours police": report

A leading donor to Britain's main opposition Conservative Party has become the latest person to be questioned under caution by police investigating allegations of "cash for honours", a newspaper has reported.


Brown, Branson deny secret deal on Northern Rock

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Sunday he was not secretly negotiating the future of troubled bank Northern Rock with Virgin boss Richard Branson, who was travelling with him in India.


Two former Computer Associates executives pleaded not guilty last week to charges involving a multi-billion dollar accounting scandal.


Bhutto's body flown home as Pakistan on edge

NAUDERO, Pakistan  - The body of Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto arrived in her family village for burial on Friday, hours after her assassination plunged the nuclear-armed country into one of the worst crises in its 60-year history.


Polish teen derails tram after hacking train network

Turns city network into Hornby set A Polish teenager allegedly turned the tram system in the city of Lodz into his own personal train set, triggering chaos and derailing four vehicles in the process. Twelve people were injured in one of the incidents.â¦


U,S. Should Mend Relations with Venezuela -Senators

The United States should build on its mutually reliant energy ties with oil supplier Venezuela and seek better cooperation with President Hugo Chavez to fight terrorism and drug-trafficking, three U.S. senators said on Monday.


Palermo, 15:17 - CALCIO, PALERMO: ACQUISTATO IL DIFENSORE DANESE KJAER

Colpo di mercato del Palermo. Strappandolo alla concorrenza di diversi club europei, il club rosaner...


Bureaucrats in a Russian region have been sent back to school to improve their spelling and grammar.


Honda is set to go into Formula One team ownership with BAR, BBC Sport learns.


Science & environment: French oil giant Total SA ordered to pay damages for the 1999 sinking of the oil tanker Erika


IBM, Fla. university look to autonomic computing research

IBM will supply Florida International University with hardware and software so the university can do research on how technology can be used to better protect patient privacy and reduce waiting room time.


Global Warming Melts Winter Joy at Top German Resort

Global warming is more than just a theory to Germany's most famous winter resort, where a worrisome shortage of snow in recent decades has forced the Alpine village to reinvent itself.


The downwardly volatile global markets are sure of one thing: decoupling of the U.S. and the rest of the world isn't a reality yet


Aristide Backers Riot for 3rd Day in Haiti; Death Toll Rises to 7

Supporters of Haiti's ousted president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, threw stones and fired guns on streets littered with debris and overturned cars on


Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko pursues a vote in parliament, as the crisis in Ukraine continues.


MILANO - I giudici della Prima Sezione Penale del Tribunale di Milano: Silvio Berlusconi Ã¨ stato prosciolto per avvenuta prescrizione da uno dei capi di imputazione al processo Sme. Assoluzione con formula piena per gli altri capi di imputazione.


Customer service, story-telling, nature studies and wilderness survival are essential skills for any elf worthy of the name.


Management makes a rare interim comment on consensus estimates.


Irish PM looks for allies as 3rd term beckons

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern was set to clinch a third term on Saturday after voters who have enjoyed the fruits of a thriving economy opted for stability over change.


Blair Seeks Africa Action Plan at Ethiopia Summit

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was in Ethiopia on Thursday to chair a summit he hopes will turn Africa's problems into a global priority.


Whirlpool reported a 13 percent decline in quarterly earnings and cut its profit forecast for the year.


Crescono di 69.000 unita' richieste sussidio settimanali


In risposta a proposta aziende giudicata irricevibile


Also: Radio tags could make jewelry more secure. Read these stories and more from around the Web on News.com Extra.


Sterling fell in European morning trade on Tuesday as yet more evidence emerged of a slowdown in the UK housing market, reducing the likelihood of further interest rate rises.


Romania's Ruling Party Edges Past Opposition in Tight Race

Romania's ruling party appears to have won the presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday, but by smaller margins than exit polls had suggested.


For some, the terrors and techniques of mingling at parties in this season are more daunting than holiday shopping.


"20/20" is a good TV show. But to the Red Sox, 20-20 means an average record since June 1.


Catania, 11:51 - CALCIO, CATANIA; PULVIRENTI: NON COMMENTO SENTENZA STADIO

Antonino Pulvirenti, presidente del Catania, ha dichiarato all'Agenzia ITALPRESS: "Al momento &egrav...


Sports Briefing | Hockey: Ducks Sign Defenseman

Stanley Cup champion Anaheim signed the free-agent defenseman Shane Hnidy to a two-year contract worth $1.515 million. Hnidy, 31, had five goals and seven assists in 72 games for Atlanta last season.


China seizes on Mattel apology to emphasize safety

China highlighted Mattel's apology over its recall of huge numbers of toys on Monday to press Beijing's claim that its exports are generally safe and foreign politicians and media have unfairly hyped quality scares.


American, Nepali and Arabs kidnapped in Iraq

"They stormed the villa with automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. They had no chance," said a policeman. A company guard was killed in the attack.


The team worked out against its male practice players, but not to get accustomed to Connecticut's expected bruising style tonight in Game 3, which will determine a WNBA champion.


EU transport ministers agree to deploy the multi-billion-euro Galileo satellite navigation system for operations starting from 2008.


Israel seeks international backing for Gaza campaign

Israel drove nearly 70 foreign ambassadors to its border with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday as part of a campaign seeking international support for tougher


US, Israel to Confer on Settlement Plans

A team of American diplomats is due in Israel early next month for talks with Israeli officials on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.


Two retail giants announced a merger on Wednesday that could mean job loss in Terre Haute and nationally. Kmart Holding Corp. and Sears, Roebuck and Co.


Update 2: FDA Gives Preliminary OK to Merck Drug

The Food and Drug Administration told Merck & Co. that it would approve the company's successor drug to the now defunct pain reliever Vioxx if it provides further safety and efficacy data, the big pharmaceutical company announced Friday.


Arsene Wenger accused referee Herbert Fandel of double-standards after Arsenal battled to keep their Champions League hopes alive with nine men in Eindhoven.


'Le riviste specializzate sottoscrivano il Manifesto'


DNA lab worries are not enough to spare Green

Dominique Green was put to death Tuesday night despite a Houston judge's decision to postpone the execution until recently discovered evidence at the Houston Police Department has been catalogued.


Richard Pufall; Stop McNabb And Beat the Eagles

Stop McNabb and beat the Eagles This will be good practice for the Green Bay Packers, this little weekend trip to the City of Brotherly Love.


The play's the thing: Law to star in London 'Hamlet'

Hollywood hearthrob Jude Law is to star as William Shakespeare's Hamlet in London's West End, one of the city's best-known theatres announced Tuesday.


PREZZI: ALEMANNO, A SETTEMBRE LA FINANZA CONTRO GLI SPECULATORI

ROMA - A settembre interverra' la Guardia di finanza contro le speculazioni agroalimentari. Lo ha detto il ministro delle Politiche Agricole Gianni Alemanno, intervenendo in diretta a Radio Anch'io. ''Forzeremo


Could the Mets be in the mix for Pedro Martinez? (James Finley/AP)

What could possibly be better than the Yankees and Red Sox playing tug-of-war with Pedro Martinez? Oh, another team tugging, perhaps?


Lo ha detto a Cernobbio l'ad di Intesa Corrado Passera


On the Sidelines in Basra: British Tackle a New Role

BASRA CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE, Iraq The British soldiers spent more than an hour drilling the Iraqi army recruits in how to use key equipment needed to defend Basra from deadly mobs: body-size shields and menacing red batons.


U.S. Agrees to Nazi 'Gold Train' Settlement

The U.S. government has agreed to settle a lawsuit with tens of thousands of Hungarian Holocaust survivors over a trainload of gold, jewelry and other property seized by the U.S. Army at the end of World War II, lawyers said on Monday.


Five survivors of a bus crash which killed nine Britons on a pilgrimage tour in Jordan are due to be airlifted to another hospital on Friday.


Mobile phone signals prevent sleep, claim boffins

Keeps the Sandman at bay If youâre wondering why you rarely get a good nightâs sleep, then a group of boffins may have the answer: itâs because of your late-night mobile phone calls.â¦


Japanese getting older as record numbers reach 100

The number of Japanese men and women who have lived 100 years or more surged this year to a record 23,038. The figure released by the Health Ministry reflects longer life spans in a rapidly greying nation, where


LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A native of Bosnia who has lived in Kentucky for ten years cashed in five winning Kentucky Lottery tickets that totaled $1 million in winnings, lottery officials said Thursday.


ANKARA: Turkey has decided to impose textile quotas to protect its large domestic industry against an onslaught of cheap Chinese textile and apparel imports.


President Bush officially won the vote in the state of Iowa on Friday, giving him 286 electoral votes to Sen. John Kerry's 252 in the 2004 presidential election.


Mugabe threatens to seize firms over "dirty tricks"

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday threatened to seize foreign companies, including mines, that have raised prices and cut output in an economic "dirty tricks" campaign to oust his government.


Market Place: Federal Panel to Review Use of Artery Device

The panel will weigh evidence that stents used to treat clogged arteries can cause fatal blood clots, and is expected to recommend stricter regulation of the devices.


Second-ranked Andy Roddick of the United States edged Tim Henman of Britain for a 7-5, 7-6 (8-6)victory Tuesday night in the first round of the ATP Masters Cup championship.


Clinton Announces $70 Billion Plan to Bolster Economy

Bloomberg - Jan. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton today unveiled a $70 billion plan to bolster the economy amid growing fears of a recession.


Smurfs braced for movie and more females

Envisaged as secondary characters for  a single cartoon album, the blue gnomes widely known as the  Smurfs will celebrate their 50th anniversary this year with a  movie deal and an invasion of new female characters.


Anderson happily swaps beach for piece of Man Utd history

Brazilian midfielder Anderson says he is happy to spend the chilly festive period playing football - and not relaxing on Copacabana beach - as he pursues his dream of making history with Manchester United.


Varese, 20:09 - CALCIO, AMICHEVOLE: VARESE-MILAN 0-1

In una gara amichevole giocata allo stadio Ossola, il Milan ha battuto il Varese (serie C2) per 1-0....


Six Charity Workers Sent Back to France From Chad

PARIS, Dec. 28 -- Six French charity workers who were sentenced earlier this week in Chad to eight years of hard labor for attempting to kidnap 103 African children were released from prison Friday and flown to France, ostensibly to serve out their sentences at home.


Poor choice of words undercuts firm's message

The words caught me by surprise. Maybe that was the point. But they not only got my attention, they shocked me.


A non-magical approach to building wealth.


Human Frailty and Pain on Bostonâs Mean Streets

With âGone Baby Gone,â Ben Affleck has taken a satisfyingly tough look into conscience, to those dark places where some men also go astray.


Don't hold talks with Serbia until Mladic is arrested: Del Ponte urges EU

Carla Del Ponte, chief prosecutor at the UN war crimes court, has urged the European Union not to resume talks on closer ties with Serbia until former Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic is arrested.


China Power Sets IPO Price Range, May Raise $330 Mln

China Power International Development Ltd., a unit of China's fifth-biggest electricity generator, plans to raise as much as HK$2.


Shocked by the murder of a kidnapped Japanese hostage in Iraq, the Japanese government Sunday denounced the slaying but vowed to keep its forces there.


Web Site: 2nd U.S. Hostage Killed in Iraq

An al-Qaida-linked group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed Tuesday to have killed the second of two American hostages — back-to-back slayings that have notched up the Jordanian militant's ruthless campaign of terror.


Apple missed its own deadline by a day or two, but nonetheless Canadians yesterday will awake today to find their local iTunes Music Store up and running.


Nokia starts roll-out of gaming, networking sites

Nokia  began the roll-out of  its "N-Gage" gaming service and "Share on Ovi" media sharing  site on Tuesday as falling handset prices spur the world's  largest cell phone maker to expand into mobile Internet  services.


Alitalia was last night locked in talks with its trade unions over plans to slash thousands of jobs as part of the cash-trapped airline's last-ditch rescue package.


Something rotten in the state of Florida

Pregnant chads, vanishing voters... the election fiasco of 2000 made the Sunshine State a laughing stock. More importantly, it put George Bush in the White House.


Ever since Sonny Vaccaro started running high school all-star games in 1965, he has emerged as one of the more controversial and polarizing figures in college athletics.


White House Gives Iraq Mixed Marks in Report

A widely anticipated White House report on Iraq argues that the Baghdad government has made "satisfactory" progress toward nearly half of the political and military goals sought by Congress, while acknowledging that an equal number remain "not satisfactory." The report, ordered by lawmakers as an...


McCain to consider possible 2008 presidential run

Maverick US Republican Senator John McCain, who ran against President George W. Bush four years ago, indicated he might be considering another presidential bid in 2008, despite the fact he will be 72 when the next election rolls around.


Family of dead Iraqi wins court challenge against Britain

The family of an Iraqi civilian who was allegedly beaten to death by British troops won a court challenge against the government's refusal to order an inquiry into his death.


The wife of Moroccan King Mohamed VI gave birth to a girl Wednesday, palace spokesman Chakib Laroussi said.


NBA rolls out 3D telecast for All-Star games

A select group of sports fans will  watch the National Basketball Association All-Star game on  Sunday in the first-ever live high-definition 3D sports  telecast that NBA officials hope will create a buzz about  profiting from the new technology.


Hunting for Lost Loved Ones in a Lost Beach Paradise

At Wat Lakken, a Buddhist temple five miles south of the resort center of Khao Lak, relief workers on Tuesday had laid out more than a hundred bodies in


roundup Plus: Microsoft ships updated Works...FaceTime pulls in $16 million...Bladed desktop pioneer gets $25 million.


Farnesina attivata. Ricerche sospese in attesa di miglioramenti meteoAveva raggiunto la vetta venerdÃ¬. Nella discesa si sono perse le sue tracce                                          Bufera sul K2, un disperso Ã¨ una guida alpina italiana                                                                                Stefano Zavka, ternano, partecipa alla spedizione "Mountain Freedom"


FBI audit finds widespread abuse in data collection

An internal FBI audit has found the  agency violated rules more than 1,000 times while collecting  data on domestic phone calls, e-mails and financial  transactions in recent years, The Washington Post reported on  Thursday.


com Staff | December 20, 2004. The 12-1 Patriots hit the road tonight to take on the 2-11 Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football.


First impressions of Firefox 1.0 preview release

Firefox is my second choice for a web browser. Opera comes first. No doubts about that. But Firefox in itself is a pretty decent browser.


Palmone Inc. this week will unveil the Treo 650 smart phone, although the phone likely will not be available from carriers until later this fall.


Clashes between rival tribes armed with machetes and bows and arrows on Friday marked the third, the bloodiest and what the government hopes is the last day of opposition protests over Kenya's disputed presidential election.


Insurers are counting the cost of Hurricane Charley in Florida, with early damage estimates reaching as high as $14bn (Â£7.6; 11bn euros).


Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and No. 12 Purdue upset No. 5 Ohio State, 64-52, last night to win the Big Ten tournament championship at Indianapolis.


The Year on Wall Street: Treating Investment Bankers Like Bartenders

The plight of Daniel Bayly, convicted for doing something that few on Wall Street would have seen as a crime, is emblematic of the year.


NBA Officials Halt Pistons-Pacers Game Following Brawl

NBA officials stopped a game between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons with about 45 seconds left to play late Friday after a brawl broke out between players and fans in Detroit.


Hilton leaves jail, sheriff cites suicide fears

Hours after a beaming Paris Hilton was freed from three weeks in jail, the sheriff criticized for briefly putting her under house arrest said on Tuesday he allowed her out because he feared for her life.


Release of three Cuban dissidents hailed

International rights groups welcomed Cuba's surprise release of three dissidents jailed last year in a broad crackdown, and called on President Fidel Castro's government to free another 65 still behind bars.


My grandmother, Big Mama, often wrote her budget on the back of old envelopes. I marveled at how she, a nursing assistant, managed to stay within her budget making just above minimum wage while raising five grandchildren -- without the help of state aid, which she was entitled to but refused.


Many Britons Congratulate Prince Charles

Many Britons welcomed Prince Charles' surprise announcement Thursday that he would marry his divorced lover Camilla Parker Bowles, but some said she never will win their hearts the way Princess Diana did.


There was no need for a desperate finish this time against Panama, no threatening loss of control. The United States has become the dominant soccer power in the North


Russia suspends vital water use permits for Royal Dutch Shell's Sakhalin-2 offshore oil and gas venture.


There are no jokes, there are no laughs, even the toilet humour stinks and there's barely even a plot. The movie doesn't just rehash every overused, college comedy clichÃ© it takes them and demotes the nonsense to new levels of absurdity.


Kenyan Environmentalist Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize Friday for leading a campaign to plant tens of millions of trees across Africa to slow deforestation.


Al Gore heads to Emmy red carpet for Current TV

Six months after achieving Oscar glory for his climate change documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," former Vice President Al Gore is headed back to the red carpet for the Emmys, U.S. television's highest honors.


SEC slaps Black, Radler with fraud charges

US securities officials charged the disgraced former press baron, Conrad Black and his former deputy, David Radler, with securities fraud in connection with alleged wrongdoing at Hollinger International.


Description: US Marines, bolstered by hundreds of Iraqi soldiers, prepare for a full-scale assault on the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah.


Global warming debate over, time to act now: report

Declaring the global warming debate over, an international team of scientists urged the world's nations on Tuesday to act now to keep climate change from becoming a catastrophe.


Diana's Hometown Lukewarm to Charles' News

There's a strong respect for tradition in Great Brington, a tidy, tiny village near Princess Diana's grave and childhood home — and an enduring loyalty to the princess, who died in a car accident in 1997.


Fidel Castro Stepping Down as Cuba's President

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 19 -- Fidel Castro announced early Tuesday morning that he is stepping down as Cuba's president, ending his half-century rule of the island nation.


Sinn Fein Cast Doubt on Chances of N.Irish Deal

BELFAST, Northern Ireland  - Sinn Fein, the  political ally of the IRA, cast doubt Saturday on whether a  deal to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland could be  struck with its arch foes, led by firebrand cleric Ian Paisley,  at talks next week.


Baghdad Car Bombs Kill at Least 26 as Polls Near

Insurgents detonated a suicide truck  bomb outside Australia's embassy in Baghdad Wednesday and hit  Iraqi security targets with at least three car bombs, killing  26 less than two weeks before Jan. 30 elections.


Iranian-American to Be Space Test Subject

The European Space Agency says Iranian-American Anousheh Ansari will act as an experimental test subject while aboard the International Space Station.


Hurricane Ivan Charges Westward Through Caribbean

The latest in a series of violent storms continues to charge westward through the Caribbean, after making a direct hit on Grenada, knocking over trees and utility poles.


Iceland Offers Ex-Chess Champ Fischer Residency

Chess master Bobby Fischer has been  offered a new home in Iceland, but it's not clear if he'll be  able to make the move from Japan, where he is being detained.


An astronaut who drove from Texas to Florida to confront a supposed love rival is charged with attempted kidnapping.


Bronx Jeers for Giuliani, Now Rooting for the Red Sox

For many New Yorkers, it is an unpardonable insult that Rudolph W. Giuliani has declared he will be rooting for the Boston Red Sox against the Colorado Rockies in the World Series.


Three men are accused of violent disorder following the shooting of two men who were left in a serious condition.


Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen's world title is in doubt following an inquiry into the cars of Williams and BMW Sauber.


Investigators Examining Motives in Charles County Fires

The fires at an upscale housing development in suburban Washington were set by unnamed "acquaintances" in addition to the four men so far charged with arson and involved at least two vehicles


Londra, 23:02 - CALCIO, PREMIER LEAGUE: MANCHESTER CITY-BLACKBURN 1-1

Nell'incontro che ha chiuso la 19/a giornata della premier league inglese, Manchester City e Blackbu...


US Open Tennis: Williams gets apology for bad calls

NEW YORK Since two days before the US Open began, when Serena Williams wore a jean miniskirt for an exhibition match, she has been the talk of the tournament.


Iginla, the NHL's top goal-scorer last season, scored his first two goals of the tournament and added an assist to lead Canada to a 5-0 win over Slovakia last night.


Israeli troops kill four Palestinian militants in Gaza, two of whom slipped across a security fence into Israel.


16 killed in bus blasts as Hamas reignites conflict

A lull in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was shattered yesterday when two suicide bombers blew themselves up on buses in the southern Israeli town of Beersheva.


The biotechnology company said it lost $916,000 in the third quarter on higher operating costs, including a $50 million charge for a patent lawsuit settlement.


Iran threatens to pull out of nuclear treaty

Iran has reacted angrily to demands from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to end nuclear activities that could be used to develop weapons.


New York, 11:32 - BASEBALL, MLB: NEW YORK TORNA ALLA VITTORIA

Questi i risultati delle partite della MLB disputate nella notte italiana:


Thatcher son arrested in S. Africa over coup plot

South African police arrested former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher's son Mark Wednesday on suspicion of involvement in a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea.


Latin Grammys to Highlight Spanish Music

The Latin Grammy Awards on Wednesday aimed to unite Spanish- and Portuguese-language music with the flash and sizzle of American pop.


A rare first edition of a Harry Potter book sells for Â£9,000 at an auction in London.


ABC's John Madden and Al Michaels called Jets-San Diego wild-card playoff game - a memorable game - memorably.


US President George W Bush pledges to declassify parts of an intelligence report said to criticise the Iraq war.


The rapper, who claims to be retiring from hip-hop, got a fitting send off Sunday night at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards winning four of the six categories he was nominated in, including


China condemns storming of embassies after mass North Korean ...

BEIJING : China on Thursday condemned the practice of storming into diplomatic missions in Beijing, a day after 44 North Koreans entered the Canadian embassy in an apparent bid for political asylum.


Poland is to hold a regional referendum to try to defuse a row with the EU and environmentalists.


Roma, 19:12 - CALCIO, PLAY OFF E PLAY OUT C2: RISULTATI

Risultati delle gare di ritorno dei play off e dei play out del campionato di serie C2. Fra parentes...


p2pnet.net OT News:- Humans currently consume 20% more natural resources than the earth can produce, says a new report that examines the ecological effect of modern consumption patterns on natural resources.


A whole week of Vista, right here, right now If you were asleep this week, or on a nuclear sub, or trapped at the bottom on an icy crevasse, you may have missed the launch of Vista. And, more importantly the inevitable backdraft. So, for easy reference, here is a quick run down of the Week in Vista. Enjoy:â¦


Baton passed to Beijing as curtain comes down on Athens

ATHENS - The curtains came down on the Athens Olympics under a full moon Sunday after the sports extravaganza returned to the country of its birth and revival as the biggest in history.


The piracy-battered music industry will for the first time sue British, French and Austrian music fans, including a French school teacher


Milano, 23:54 - CALCIO, MORTO POLIZIOTTO: IL CORDOGLIO DELL'INTER

''Senza calcio, senza parole. In memoria di Filippo Raciti, 38 anni''. Con queste parole l'Inter esp...


US, Iraqi Forces Seal Off Insurgent Stronghold

Baghdad, Iraq -- Pro-government forces in Iraq are trying to retake control of insurgent-dominated regions ahead of January national elections.


McCann Attorney: Maddie's Parents 'Innocent'

British papers proclaim Gerry and Kate McCann victims of "rampant speculation" and claim both parents of missing Madeleine McCann "utterly innocent" today.  According to a report published by Sky News, Clarence Mitchell, who quit his Civil Service job to help Gerry and Kate McCann, said "rampant" speculation about possible charges against the couple had to end. Britain's The Sun tabloid says: McCann family sources today said the evidence against the parents of missing Madeleine was at worst "totally useless". They also claimed that least 30 people used the hire car where it was claimed DNA from Maddie was found. It was reported this afternoon that the evidence is flawed and the McCanns would be cleared if the case came before a Portuguese court.  Meanwhile, according to an ITN news report, The case against the McCanns appears to be weakening after a judge reportedly refused to order Kate McCann to return to Portugal for questioning. Kate McCann could now be re-interviewed this week by British police acting on behalf of the Portuguese authorities... The parents of missing Madeleine McCann sought Tuesday to refocus public attention on finding their daughter, according to a report filed 30 minutes ago by AFP in London: "The focus must now return to Madeleine and move away from the rampant, unfounded and inaccurate speculation of recent days. The focus must be the child at the centre of this, Madeleine..."  (Continued...)


The BBC's Sue Nelson investigates claims that wild animals, who escaped the impact of the quake, may have a sixth sense.


2004 West Nile Cases Down In Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Cases of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus have declined dramatically in Pennsylvania so far this year. The state Department of Environmental Protection said four Pennsylvanians have contracted


Hangover is main reason for Britons taking sick leave: study

The morning after the night before is the main reason in Britain for employees calling in sick, a study published Wednesday showed.


Afghan Election Ends; Confusion After Boycott

Afghanistan's historic presidential election closed on Saturday without any of the feared large-scale violence but the vote was thrown into turmoil instead by a boycott called by most of the candidates.


Arms deal probe stopped over Saudi threat to cease terror help

A British investigation into a controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia was stopped because Riyadh threatened to withdraw all co-operation on security and intelligence, a newspaper reported.


When New Horizons, NASA's Pluto-bound spacecraft, swings by Jupiter on Feb.


Scotland take the lead against Lithuania on a busy day of Euro 2008 qualifying for the Home Nations.


Wednesday, the Federal Reserve is expected to raise the cost of borrowing by a quarter of a point - without costing the economy much in terms of jobs or growth.


Non-league Exeter hold Man Utd in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford.


Got a new laptop? Get out your screwdriver

A stuck screw qualifies as a manufacturing defect, especially if it prevents upgrading the RAM or the hard disk, says CNET Blog Network contributor Michael Horowitz.


Some Residents Face Reality of Fireâs Devastation

As winds began to die down, the reality of this weekâs wildfires began to resonate for thousands of evacuees.


Morocco out to spoil Ghana's party in African Nations Cup

Ghana need only to draw their last Group A game on Monday against Morocco to keep alive their dream of winning the African Nations Cup on home turf.


Austrian hostage girl to give first interview

Austrian Natascha Kampusch will give her   first interview about her eight-year hostage ordeal on   Wednesday to state broadcaster ORF, her adviser Dietmar Ecker   said on Monday, although apparently her image will not be   shown.


China and Russia top roster of copyright violators

A group composed of the RIAA, MPAA, BSA and other groups representing corporate intellectual-property interests are pressing the U.S. government to keep China and Russia at the top of a government watchlist for violations.


Shoppers are in the dark about where much of their food comes from despite a five-year-old law requiring meat and other products to carry labels with their country of origin.


WASHINGTON - House Republican leaders on Friday easily pushed through sweeping new law enforcement powers as part of a Sept. 11 anti-terrorism package, but the House now must negotiate a truce with the Senate on those measures to get President Bush's signature before the elections...


Cisco Systems Inc. CSCO.O, the  biggest maker of gear to direct traffic over the Internet, on  Tuesday said it was on track to meet Wall Street's fiscal 2005  revenue growth estimates, but signaled that profit margins were  under pressure.


Shuttle's Spring 2005 Launch Date Delayed

HOUSTON - NASA decided Friday to delay the spring 2005 launch date for the first shuttle flight since the Columbia tragedy, citing hurricane damage and more work needed to meet a panel's safety recommendations.    NASA's spaceflight leadership council said a shuttle launch in March or April is "no longer achievable." The group asked shuttle program officials to analyze whether a May or July date is more feasible for a shuttle launch, and to report back to the council later this month, NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said...


We sound out Creative's slip-in soundcard Unwired Video Review Creativeâs X-Fi has been a darling of the desktop world, particularly when it comes to gaming. This notebook soundcard promises uprated sound and more flexible outputs. Will it have the same appeal?â¦


KARACHI: PIA flight on Wednesday narrowly escaped an accident while coming to Karachi from Islamabad near Sukkur while it came across another passenger flight on Wednesday.


More people will pay close attention to the three presidential debates than to any other events in the 2004 campaign. That by itself is a good reason - and not the only reason â-o consider the debates


Bethlehem profits from peaceful Christmas

BETHLEHEM, West Bank  - Bethlehem souvenir store owner Mike Canawati is gearing up for his merriest Christmas in years.


A massive car bomb demolished a streetside market near a police recruiting station in the Iraqi capital yesterday, killing 47 persons and wounding at least 88 â-ost of them aspiring officers.


Random House to sell books by the chapter online: report

Random House Publishing Group, the  world's largest book publisher, is planning to test selling  individual chapters of a popular book to gauge reader demand,  according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.


NFL player's body found in Louisiana lake: report

Louisiana officials pulled the body of New England Patriots' defensive end Marquise Hill out of Lake Pontchartrain north of New Orleans on Monday, one day after he fell from a jet ski into the water, the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper reported.


The Sri Lankan government and Tamil rebels agree to hold talks after weeks of fighting, international donors say.


European equities traded in positive territory on Thursday, just, as M&A activity continued to enthrall the market.


Ridgeâs tenure at DHS yields mixed results

Tom Ridge, the nation's first secretary of homeland security, resigned Tuesday, leaving behind a mixed record. Although the nation is undeniably safer for the work of his agency


Rice says no firm deadline for six-party talks

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Tuesday Washington would not set a deadline to reach a deal in six-party talks on North Korea but made clear next week's negotiations must not be held just for the sake of talking.


Yellowcake Mining Inc. Announces Drilled Potential Resource of 8 to 15 Million Pounds of Uranium at Juniper Ridge

William Tafuri, Director of Yellowcake Mining Inc. (OTCBB: YCKM) ("Yellowcake"),  is pleased to provide further information on the Juniper Ridge Project  area near Baggs, Wyoming, USA.


The threat of a terror attack by Islamic militants during the Christmas and New Year's holiday travel season is extremely high, and the biggest concerns are in Europe, where several terror plots have already been foiled this year, intelligence and security officials say.


Ruud van Nistelrooy's 73rd-minute penalty kick and Wayne Rooney's injury-time goal gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory Sunday over league-leading Arsenal, ending the Gunners' unbeaten league streak at 49 games and moving the Red Devils back into the league chase.


Mottaki: a patto che Washington ammetta politica sbagliata


Jazz singer Bridgewater treks from Memphis to Mali

West Africa time is liquid and  the evening air saturated with equatorial humidity. Cotton  clothes are drenched with sweat, and the distinctively Malian  polyrhythms are luminous as jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater  walks onstage to greet a band of local musicians.


Chaudhry e' considerato un difensore dei diritti umani


Four Dead, 80 Hurt in Attack Iraqi National Guard

Four Iraqi National Guards were killed and up to 80 others wounded in a mortar attack on their headquarters north of Baghdad Tuesday, the US military and Iraqi Defense Ministry said.


Milano, 14:49 - CALCIO, INTER: I CONVOCATI PER L'UDINESE

Roberto Mancini ha convocato 18 giocatori per la gara contro l'Udinese domani alle 20:30. Eccoli. <b...


Femtocells are the new black Networking giant Cisco is investing an undisclosed amount in ip.access - the Cambridge company which makes femtocells and picocells.â¦


Chechen warlord Basayev cliams responsibility for school siege

Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev, in a letter posted Friday on the net, claimed responsibility for the Beslan school hostage-taking in which more than 330 people were killed,, the Interfax news agency reported.


Yahoo in search deal with Asian mobile operators

Yahoo Inc.  said it signed agreements with six mobile operators across Asia, as part of a broad global expansion that will see its mobile services in tens of millions of phones by the end of the year.


Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Vijay Singh earned his eighth victory of the season Sunday at the 84 Lumber Classic to stretch his lead in the Official World Golf Ranking.


Elvstroem all set for race that stops a nation

For 24 sets of horses, trainers, jockeys, strappers and connections, the ultimate Australian sporting prize is within reach today at famous Flemington - the $4.


The dollar rocketed higher on  Wednesday as investors took a break from worrying about the  U.S. current account deficit and focused on relative interest  rates, which increasingly were expected to favor the dollar.


Aid workers in eastern Chad are reporting a sharp increase in the number of refugees fleeing the Darfur region of western Sudan, despite the Sudanese government's insistence that it is taking steps to restore security.


By Seth Borenstein  HOUSTON - The crew of space shuttle Atlantis got to sleep in Saturday and take a half day off after three arduous and successful spacewalks and a jam-packed week in orbit.


Russia Looks for Cause of 2 Plane Crashes

BUCHALKI, Russia - Russian investigators labored Wednesday to determine whether terrorism caused the near-simultaneous crashes of two jetliners, killing all 89 people aboard and spreading anxieties about a possible bloody escalation of the Chechen conflict.    Officials stressed that no evidence of a terrorist attack had yet been found among charred wreckage and said they opened a criminal investigation as they looked into other causes like bad fuel, equipment malfunction and human error...


British newcomer Gemma  Arterton has been cast as the "Bond girl" for the latest  installment of the 007 franchise, currently shooting in London,  the film's producer said.


Mothers' prompts to eat may affect kids' weight

NEW YORK  - Children's tendency to become   overweight might have something to do with how their mothers   urge them to eat, a new study hints.


Celeb DUI cases spotlight justice system

In a city famous for showing that life's little problems can be resolved in a 30-minute sitcom, celebrity justice is sometimes just as swift.


US oil prices inched below $50 a barrel again Tuesday, maintaining a week-long slide that has cut more than $5 off record-high prices as some traders cashed in profits ahead of the US presidential election.


News Corp to buy Jamba News Corp is expected to announce today that it is to buy Jamba, the ringtone vendor that unleashed Crazy Frog on the world.â¦


In the spirit of Texas Hold 'Em, The Breeders' Cup is raising the stakes. Horse racing's richest day is gambling on an untested racetrack tomorrow for the second time


Heavy rain wiped out a doubleheader between the Yankees and the Devil Rays on Wednesday. Another doubleheader is scheduled for Thursday, as is more rain.


Desperately seeking WLAN apps for London

Westminster offers prizes to get citizens using city Wi-Fi City wireless LAN pioneer Westminster City Council has kicked off a competition to find new applications to run on its planned city-wide Wi-Fi network.â¦


Da martedi' e mercoledi' termometri in calo


U.S. Treasury prices rallied on  Wednesday in response to rising oil prices, weak equities and  lower inflation prospects.


Mittal ready to take minority stake in merged Arcelor-Severstal

Mittal Steel, currently the world's number one steel maker, is prepared to take a minority stake in European rival Arcelor which wants to merge with Russian giant Severstal, Mittal's European chief Roeland Baan said in a newspaper interview.


A German court on Monday ordered the release of Brigitte Mohnhaupt, a former member of the Red Army Faction who has spent 24 years in prison for her involvement in multiple kidnappings and murders in the 1970s.Comment


Viktor Yushchenko's path to the Ukrainian presidency was one of the most tortuous of any modern leader's: three elections in as many months, weeks of mass demonstrations, lengthy court battles and grisly detours to Vienna for treatment of a near-lethal poisoning.


Sara Lee Corp. SLE.N on Tuesday  posted a 53 percent increase in quarterly profit, as a fee  related to the 1999 sale of a tobacco business helped offset  higher costs for meat and cotton.


A series  of explosions rock  Iraq's capital as smoke is seen rising above the zone housing US and Iraqi offices.


Robbie Williams in rehab for drug dependency

Pop star Robbie Williams has been admitted to a rehab centre in the United States for a dependency on prescription drugs, his spokeswoman has said.


NI woman Annetta Flanigan held hostage in Afghanistan for 27 days is on her way to be reunited with her family.


VIENNA, Austria Sept. 17, 2004 - The United States and most other nations at a meeting of the UN atomic watchdog agency agreed Friday on a resolution meant to curb Iran's access to technology that could


Hamas security forces go out in force to prevent Fatah supporters defying a ban on outdoor prayers in Gaza.


Embattled Russian oil company warns that it may scale back oil output after more funds seized. MOSCOW  - Russian oil major Yukos again warned on Thursday that it may be forced to cut output after


Universities struggling with SSL-busting spyware

U.S. universities are struggling with a flare-up of dangerous spyware that can snoop on information encrypted using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). Experts are warning that the stealthy software, called Marketscore, could be used to intercept a wide range of sensitive information, including passwords and health and financial data.ADVERTISEMENTSolaris 10(TM) OS: Position your business ten moves ahead.Solaris 10 OS has arrived and provides even more reasons for the world's most demanding businesses to operate on this, the leading UNIX platform. Like the fact you can run Linux and Solaris applications side-by-side and run the same OS on SPARC(R), AMD Opteron(TM), and Intel processor-based systems. Discover more reasons and how Solaris 10 OS can move your business ahead today.


J.P. Morgan Chase Profit Falls 13 Percent

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.  posted lower third-quarter earnings on Wednesday, missing analysts' forecasts, on costs from its $58 billion purchase of Bank One Corp. and lower bond trading revenue.


When it comes to touting his company's software, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is never one to mince words. But when it's the principle of free speech versus the almighty dollar, the bad boy of Silicon Valley is a veritable shrinking violet. [Missing Links]


Kercher's friends called back by Italian judge

British friends of murdered student Meredith Kercher are to be called back to Italy by a Perugia judge to repeat off-hand remarks made to them by American suspect Amanda Knox. These could place Knox at the murder scene, sources said yesterday


Macerata, 22:44 - VOLLEY, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE; OTTAVI: MACERATA BATTE PANATHINAIKOS

La Lube Macerata ha battuto il Panathinaikos 3-1 (25-20, 25-22, 20-25, 28-26) nell'andata degli otta...


Opposition candidate Lee to win SKorea election: exit polls

Conservative opposition candidate Lee Myung-Bak will win Wednesday's presidential election, according to two TV exit polls broadcast as voting ended.


NEW YORK -- It hangs from the wall of his office, a silent sentinel. A reminder of how a man of character is to conduct himself.


CALCIO - Champions, Juventus-Bayern Monaco 1-0

La Juventus ha battuto 1-0 i tedeschi del Bayern Monaco nella 3/a giornata di Champions League e guida a punteggio pieno il girone C. I bianconeri partono bene mettendo piu' volte in difficolta' Kahn senza pero' riuscire a concretizzare.


Al-Qaida's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri issued a new videotape Saturday along with a man identified as an American member of the terror network, inviting Americans to convert to Islam.


Vaccine Can Send Adult Leukemia into Remission

An experimental vaccine can trigger the body to fight a type of leukemia that largely affects adults, and can even send recipients into remission.


LOS ANGELES - Officers seized more than 100 pet rats, dozens of rabbits and other animals including several birds from the home of an 81-year-old woman, who was later treated at a hospital for what appeared to be bites, authorities said.


The Baghdad conference on Iraq's future goes into an unscheduled fourth day as a peace bid fails in  Najaf.


Three major music labels tie up with P2P service

Three major music labels have signed up to allow their music to be used by the Peer Impact peer-to-peer (P2P) service, according to a report from the Reuters news agency.


The bodies of a Sunni policeman and four of his family members were found on the outskirts of a village north of Baghdad early Tuesday, just hours after they were abducted from their home by unknown gunmen, authorities said.


Boost your productivity in Firefox and Internet Explorer

A few simple changes--and some useful keyboard shortcuts--let you work faster and smarter in your browser.


There was a particularly revealing stat given last night during Fox's (NYSE: FOX) coverage of the ALDS matchup between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox: In the 25


Supporters of Pakistan ex-PM Nawaz Sharif vow to pursue his campaign against military rule despite his expulsion.


'T4' Producers Hope Schwarzenegger 'Will Be Back'

He has his hands full as governor of Kah-lee-forn-ee-ah, but producers of the next "Terminator" movie are talking to Arnold Schwarzenegger in hopes that he'll be back for at least a small role, a spokesman for backers of the film said on Friday.


Alaska Senator Cites Pipeline in Election Fight

Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski, battling to hold her seat in the closely divided U.S. Senate, said on Tuesday congressional approval of a bill backing a proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline proved why she should be returned to office.


Council tax in Scotland is set to rise by an average of about 4% in the coming year, BBC Scotland has learned.


Japanese Cabinet Resigns Before Reshuffle

TOKYO Sept. 27, 2004 - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reshuffled his Cabinet on Monday, in hopes of solidifying his power and boosting his ability to carry out reforms.


Surprise -- you may not be allowed to take advantage of a vital retirement tool.


Helsinki, 12:17 - CALCIO, FINLANDIA: BAXTER NUOVO CT

Stuart Baxter è il nuovo ct della Finlandia. Il 54enne tecnico britannico ha firmato un contr...


Alta prison bans pedophile from socials with kids that fuel his fantasies

WINNIPEG (CP) - A medium-security prison in Alberta has banned a Manitoba pedophile from social functions with the children of other inmates following the man's admission that the events fuel his sexual fantasies.


FedEx Boosts Profit Forecast, Stock Jumps

FedEx Corp. FDX.N on Monday raised  its earnings forecasts, citing strong demand in several of its  businesses despite concerns about the slowing growth in the  U.S. economy.


North Korea's deputy foreign minister at the UN General Assembly Monday accused the United States of interfering with growing inter-Korea relations.


US to consider backing India for Security Council

The United States will consider supporting India for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council after examining a second report on reforming the world body, the US' envoy said.


Feyenoord won the battle of the former winners to reach the last 32 of the UEFA Cup on Wednesday after a 2-1 victory over Schalke 04.


Adrian Peterson rushed for 122 yards on 22 carries Saturday to help second-ranked Oklahoma top Kansas, 41-10. The Sooners also got 389 yards and four touchdown passes from reigning


Apple Inc  on Wednesday said the company was cutting the price of its iPhone and was on track to sell one million phones before the end of September.


An investigation is under way into what caused a British holiday coach to crash into a house.


Yale University agrees to return thousands of Inca relics dug up by a professor at  Peru's Machu Picchu.


There are worries about the economic consequences of a decline in students taking science subjects.


Outlandish Gadgets in Short Supply at Show

The world's premier consumer electronics show wouldn't be complete without the fanciful and outlandish: A smart oven preserved and cooked meals based on remote commands, while a 102-inch plasma TV - taller than the 8-foot walls in many homes - inspired ooohs and aaahs from couch potatoes.


Nigeria gives Shell $1.5 billion eco-bill

The Shell oil company has been handed a $1.5 billion bill for ecological compensation in the Niger delta by the government of Nigeria.


For years, spam haters have relied on junk-mail filters and Internet blacklists, but some are saying it's time for a change in tactics.


The flooding today forced some residents to climb to the tops of their vehicles, houses and trees to await rescue.


United Rentals said that it would not appeal a Delaware judgeâs ruling that a private equity firm cannot be forced to complete its $4 billion buyout of the rental equipment operator.


Test Flights for Shuttle Could Begin Next Spring

NASA officials said on Friday that the space shuttle Discovery could take off for the International Space Station in May or June in the first of two test flights aimed at resuming normal shuttle operations.


The Boston Red Sox, trying to go where no baseball team has ever gone, kept their hopes alive Monday night with another heart-pounding, marathon, come-from-behind victory against the New York Yankees.


The ladies at "The View" are getting pretty desperate. During the week of Feb. 7, the five stars of "Desperate Housewives" will co-host ABC's "The View" while the show broadcasts from Los Angeles. Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Nicollette Sheridan, Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross will each join the daytime talk show for a day.


NY critics name "United 93" as best picture

"United 93," a tense drama focusing on one of the hijacked planes used in the September 11 attacks, won the best picture prize on Monday in the New York Film Critics Circle Awards.


Restaurants serving up health risks, FDA warns

Employees at three out of four restaurants don't wash their hands well enough or often enough while handling your food. More than half of fast-food joints aren't properly cleaning work surfaces and utensils used to cook your burger.


NORD EICHENRIED, GERMANY -- Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen shot six-under-par 66 yesterday for the first-round lead at the BMW Open, and Colin Montgomerie was one stroke behind to bolster his chances of making the European Ryder Cup team.


E' problema che ci portiamo avanti da una ventina di anni


Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's  presidential campaign launched a weeklong, $1 million  fund-raising drive on Wednesday, hot on the heels of a  Hollywood gala that raised an even bigger sum for Democratic  newcomer Sen. Barack Obama in a single night.


Belo Horizonte, 09:49 - CALCIO, BRASILE: 2 MORTI IN SCONTRI TRA TIFOSI A BELO HORIZONTE

Due tifosi sono morti in Brasile in seguito agli scontri avvenuti a Belo Horizonte prima del derby C...


Belgian UCB biopharma bids 4.4 bln euros for Schwarz Pharma

Belgian biopharmaceutical group UCB has made a friendly takeover offer of 4.4 billion euros (5.6 billion dollars) to buy German company Schwarz Pharma, the two firms said.


NASA Space Station Status Report 30 December 2004

The Expedition 10 crew wrapped up its last week of 2004 unloading contents from the newly arrived Russian Progress cargo vehicle and making plans to ring in the new year Space Station style.


Brazil's CSN bids $9.6 bln for Corus, topping Tata

LONDON/MUMBAI  - Brazilian steelmaker CSN  has agreed to buy Anglo-Dutch rival Corus Group  for 4.9 billion pounds ($9.6 billion) in cash, trumping an offer agreed only hours earlier with India's Tata Steel .


Ciampi: Â«Il Sud non deve staccarsi dal PaeseÂ»

CALTANISETTA - Il presidente della Repubblica, in visita nel sud Italia, ha tenuto un discorso al teatro Margherita di Caltanissetta dove ha voluto sottolineare il problema dello scollamento tra nord e sud del Paese.


Usher was the star of the show at the American Music Awards, winning all four of his categories.


Combinazione: 3-4-19-39-73-78 Jolly 80 Superstar 5


China says "ni hao" to copper-rich Chile

VINA DEL MAR, Chile  - Xiao Qiong, 28, stares intently at a group of Chilean teenagers, smiles and says with conviction: "Ni hao!"


AUSTRALIAN specialists were today beginning the grisly task of identifying the bodies of up to 1,000 people killed by Sunday's tsunami in the Thai resort area of Khao Lak.


Rite Aid Corp. RAD.N, the   third-largest U.S. drugstore chain, posted a smaller quarterly   loss on Thursday, aided by stronger sales of prescription   medications.


The explosions on Wednesday occurred near ATM machines in branches belonging to Citibank and Banco Galicia, damaging the building's facades, officials said.


Bangladesh in turmoil as election divides deepen

Hopes for an end to pre-election turmoil in Bangladesh dimmed on Wednesday as rival political groups again took to the streets and the country's legal system was virtually paralyzed by feuding lawyers.


Oil futures prices surged to new heights above $55-abarrel on Friday as concerns about the global supply of heating oil persist ahead of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.


In Brief: Sanyo unveils hard-disk based voice recorder

InfoWorld - Sanyo Electric has built a 1-inch hard-disk drive into a voice recorder, the company announced Friday. The gadget will become the latest in a growing number of portable electronics products to feature a miniature hard drive. The company is using a 5GB capacity drive from Seagate Technology in the HDR-B5GM to give the device a maximum recording time of 693 hours in the lowest quality MP3 recording mode. There are four quality modes and recording time drops to 57 hours when using the highest quality, Sanyo said. The device also supports Windows Media Audio and MP3 playback and can double as a music player. In addition to the hard-disk drive, there is an SD card slot and the recorder can copy files from the card to the hard disk and thus free up the card for re-use. Sanyo draws a distinction between music players and voice recorders, which it says have built-in microphones, speakers, and a microphone input socket, and is claiming a world first with the HDR-B5GM. It will go on sale in Japan in early March and will cost around ¥53,000 ($507). Sanyo will sell the HDR-B5GM overseas, although no plans have been set.


New Words Added to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

By Poulson, Deborah  Pop Quiz: What's the correct definition of "mouse potato"?  a. a new type of spud used to attract mice  b. a couch potato's pet rodent  c.


Marlon Brando's son dies at 49 in L.A.: reports

Christian Brando, the troubled  eldest son of Hollywood icon Marlon Brando, has died at the age  of 49, media reports said on Saturday.


The film adaptation of Lemony Snicket novels has topped the North America box office chart, displacing Ocean's 12. A Series of Unfortunate Events, starring Jim Carrey, took $30.2m (Â£15.5m) in its debut weekend.


Infineon to Pay a Fine in the Fixing Of Chip Prices

Federal prosecutors cracked a global cartel that had illegally fixed prices of memory chips in personal computers and servers for three years.


Microsoft Looks to Expand Windows at Home

Efforts by Microsoft Corp. and the PC industry to expand into to the living room will get a boost next week as they show off technologies that try to balance Hollywood's piracy fears with the appeal of digital media.


Western Digital boosts forecast on higher demand

Western Digital Corp , the world's second-largest computer disk-drive maker, boosted its fiscal first-quarter earnings and revenue forecast on Monday due to improved demand, pricing and product mix.


US cracks down on computer file sharing, spam

WASHINGTON -- The US Justice Department yesterday shut down a network allegedly used to illegally share copyrighted music, movies, software and games and, separately, has embarked a nationwide campaign against purveyors of e-mail "spam.


Internet music download company Napster launched a Japanese service Tuesday aimed at tapping the growing demand for music-to-go and catching up with Apple's iTunes in one of the world's biggest music markets.


Student Chic Is Remaking Itself, Trading Grunge for Cable Knit

While young people do not generally want their fall fashions to be labeled "preppy," clothes are taking on some of those characteristics.


Foligno, 11:29 - CALCIO, SERIE C1: BISOLI NUOVO TECNICO DEL FOLIGNO

Pierpaolo Bisoli è da oggi il nuovo allenatore del Foligno Calcio. Sarà quindi l' ex g...


U.S. stock investors face a mind-numbing pile of information this week as corporate earnings and economic data pour in, Alan Greenspan speaks and the presidential election heads toward the homestretch.


A tanker carrying more than 19 million gallons of fuel oil grounded off New York City on Thursday but was not leaking, the U.S. Coast Guard said.


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


The United States may have to close schools, restrict travel and ration scarce medications if a powerful new flu strain spurs a worldwide outbreak, according to federal plans for the next pandemic, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.    It will take months to brew a vaccine that works against the kind of super-flu that causes a pandemic, although government preparations include research to speed that production...


N. Korea urged to abandon atomic weapons

With speculation mounting of a North Korean nuclear test as early as this weekend, a unanimous U.N. Security Council urged the secretive, communist nation Friday to abandon all atomic weapons as it promised last year and cancel plans to detonate a device. Japan hinted the North could face sanctions or possible military action.


How Suite It Isnât: A Dearth of Female Bosses

Though more women are getting M.B.A.'s, few reach the corner suite.


Tigers 9, Yankees 6, 11 Innings: In the Dead of Night, the Yankees Fall Short

Rain delayed the start of the Yankeesâ game with the Detroit Tigers for four hours and one minute, and the Tigers took the victory on Carlos Guillenâs three-run homer in the 11th inning.


Rio Tinto to buy Alcan for $38 bln, trumps Alcoa

SYDNEY/LONDON  - Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto Ltd/Plc   signed a $38.1 billion cash deal to buy Canada's Alcan Inc. , creating the world's biggest aluminum producer, the companies said on Thursday, trumping a hostile offer from Alcoa Inc .


For many, it's tempting to think that video search engines may not represent a great opportunity for SEO, but there is plenty of evidence that show this is not the case.


While politicians decry negative advertising and personal attacks, the bottom line is that such tactics often work.


The TV Watch: In Iraq, Couric Hones Her Hard-News Image

The CBS anchor Katie Couric, who nabbed a one-on-one interview with Mr. Bush while on assignment in Iraq, is in Iraq at just the right time to pre-empt the flurry of harsh assessments awaiting her first anniversary as anchor of the âCBS Evening News.â


UK engineer and project manager Amec Plc   AMEC.L on Thursday its first-half underlying profit had risen   21 percent and it expected to make good progress in 2007.


Report: Yanks acquire Big Unit in three-team trade

New York, NY (Sports Network) - According to a published report, the New York Yankees have finally landed ace lefthander Randy Johnson.


Cyber attack fear used to expand spy grid Not content with spying on other countries, the NSA (National Security Agency) will now turn on the US's own government agencies thanks to a fresh directive from president George Bush.â¦


Social Democrats under pressure in Swedish election

By Kim McLaughlin and John AcherSTOCKHOLM - Sweden voted in a closely fought parliamentary election on Sunday in which a centre-right alliance could topple the long-ruling Social Democrats on pledges to ...


Russians head to the polls in 14 regions in elections that have been criticised by opposition parties.


No one's delivered a couch yet, but Jane Pauley is giving a tour of the Rockefeller Center studio where her new daytime talk show will start next Monday. The audience seats are arranged in a semicircle for a feeling of intimacy.


Tory leader David Cameron uses a Scottish conference speech to stop the fallout from a critical internal memo.


Optimism Abounds for Davis Cup Quarterfinal Tie: Tickets Will Go on Sale to General Public at 10 A.M. Monday

By John Delong, Winston-Salem Journal, N.C.  Feb. 18--The web site is up and running.   The committees are in place.   The outreach for volunteers continues.   The tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday.


Death bell tolls for Russia's Yukos oil giant

MOSCOW  - Russia's Yukos does not begin the week teetering on the edge of ruin where it has been for months now. The oil giant is flat on its back, gasping for its last breaths of air.


EU commissioner slams DOJ reaction to Microsoft antitrust ruling

(InfoWorld) - European Union Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has slammed comments from the U.S. Department of Justice about Monday's European courtÂ ruling on an antitrust judgment against Microsoft. [ Video:Â Commissioner talks Microsoft antitrust appealÂ | Plus:Â EC wins appeal, but MS dominates marketÂ |Â Ruling renews hope for developersÂ |Â With MS ruling, a precedent for IT in EuropeÂ ] Kroes described the criticism of the ruling as "totally unacceptable" during a news conference in Brussels on Wednesday. The DOJ's Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, Thomas Barnett, criticized the ruling sharply on Monday, warning that it could "have the unfortunate consequence of harming consumers by chilling innovation and discouraging competition." Kroes fired back: "I think it's totally unacceptable [that a representative of the U.S. government] should criticize an independent court's decision. The Commission doesn't pass judgement on rulings in U.S. courts. We expect the same respect," she said. On Monday the Court of First Instance, Europe's second-highest court, dismissed an appeal by Microsoft against the Commission's 2004 antitrust ruling against the company. The DOJ statement added: "In the United States, anti-trust laws are enforced to protect consumers by protecting competition, not competitors". Barring "demonstrable consumer harm, all companies, including dominant firms, are encouraged to compete vigorously." Kroes, who plans to visit Washington D.C. in the coming weeks, said that if Microsoft is unhappy with the court ruling it should appeal it to Europe's top court, the Court of Justice.


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Rientri previsti ancora nella serata e domani mattina


Sudan moves to cut paramilitary troop strength in Darfur

Members of Sudan's paramilitary Popular Defence Forces turned in their weapons in Darfur following Khartoum's pledge to cut their strength in the region by 30 percent, state media reported.


Procuratore Lepore, segnalazione parlava di infanticidio


NEW YORK - The Red Sox and their long beleaguered fan are savoring their moment of baseball history. The Sox clobbered the Yankees 10 to 3 to win their first American League Championship since 1986.


Cough and cold medicines send about 7,000 children to hospital emergency rooms each year, the U.S. government said Monday in its first national estimate of the problem


NEW YORK  - Planned job cuts at U.S. firms climbed during November, a report said on Tuesday, in a further sign of sluggishness in the labor market.


Jailed media worldwide hits record: U.S. watchdog

The number of journalists jailed worldwide for their work rose for the second year with Internet bloggers and online reporters now one third of those incarcerated, a U.S.-based media watchdog said on Thursday.


Boss sets telco against royalty share CISAC BT's Dutch chief executive Ben Verwaayen may be the first keynote speaker to talk entirely in PowerPointâ¢: He's reduced his speeches to a series of motivational slide headings.â¦


Veterans of the bombing of the Sir Galahad in the Falklands War are to a service on its 25th anniversary.


30 killed, 120 hurt in Egypt resort bombings

At least 30 people were killed and 120 wounded when car bombs exploded at resorts packed with Israeli holidaymakers on the Red Sea coast of Egypt's Sinai desert in attacks claimed by a group saying it belongs to Al-Qaeda.


Writer Witold Rybczynski's books reveal that the forward-looking march of progress can often use a reality check from history.


Mexico's new president pledged Saturday to substantially raise the wages of the armed forces, calling them a crucial weapon against heavily armed drug gangs terrorizing the nation.


Three injured Canadian submariners airlifted to Ireland

Three of the nine Canadian sailors injured when their newly-delivered, British-built submarine caught fire in the North Atlantic were airlifted Wednesday to hospital in northwest Ireland, officials said.


Is parallel processing the step beyond? Here is a long-term question: is Intel starting the long walk away from the x86 architecture and towards what it sees as the "next big thing"?â¦


Israel's Sharon Lines Up Support for Likud Vote

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon  marshalled support for Thursday's Likud party vote to bring the  Labor Party into a government that would block snap elections  and pave the way for a Gaza withdrawal next year.


By Jason Gerald John  KUALA LUMPUR: Local Internet traffic is being routed to Singapore or even the United States, causing Malaysia to lose in terms of foreign exchange. "We have to put a stop to this.


Blog: An exhaustive test of the iPhone has produced several bugs that will require fixes, but few that will cause problems with common tasks.


Polish builders work in Norway's Arctic darkness

"It's as if the Earth ends with  these islands," says Bogumil Lewandowski, a Polish construction  worker living on Norway's Lofoten Islands, north of the Arctic  Circle.


Five years on, what has been the impact of the terror attacks in the US? What are your memories of that day?


The wife of an Argentine man who disappeared during his country's "dirty war" testified Friday that a suspect on trial here for abuses during that period may have thrown her husband to his death from a plane over the Atlantic.


Barcelona have ended the year on a high as striker Samuel Eto'o grabbed a late winner to seal a 2-1 home victory over Levante, earning his side the symbolic title of winter champions.


Arafat Has Minor Exploratory Surgery, Official Says

RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Palestinian President  Yasser Arafat underwent minor exploratory surgery on Monday in  his West Bank headquarters and is in stable condition, a senior  official said.


Wis. Teen Accused of Trying to Poison Kin

PORTAGE, Wis. - A rural Poynette teenager put mice poison into food and beverages that his family ate and drank for weeks to "make them sick because he was mad at them," according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday.


Father sues over fatal drag car accident

The father of a teenager who was among six people killed this month when a drag-racing car spun into a crowd sued the driver and organizers of the charity event Tuesday.


"Fantastic Four" surfs to No. 1 spot at box office

"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" caught a wave of moviegoers to the No. 1 spot at the weekend North American box office, according to studio estimates as of Sunday morning.


Battle Over High-Def Formats Comes to Berlin

Backers of Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats eagerly await IFA consumer electronics show that opens Friday in Berlin.


Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin is reportedly set to join Liverpool in the summer.


Portugal President to Address Nation on Election

Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio will announce a date for snap elections on Friday, his office said, in what looks likely to be a possible rout for the ruling center-right Social Democrats.


Council Favors Mayor's Firm: Some Durham Tax Funds Go to UDI

By Michael Biesecker, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.  Sep. 19--DURHAM -- Over the past two years, Mayor Bill Bell has championed a Neighborhood Revitalization Fund that set aside $412,428 in taxpayer money to support private projects in some of the city's poorest neighborhoods.