SE Asia Forges Closer Ties with China, Japan, S.Korea

Leaders of 13 Southeast and Northeast  Asian states Monday underlined their determination to turn  growing economic power into political influence by establishing  a new summit-level grouping.


WASHINGTON - Democrats took aim at President Bush's economic record after release of a Census Bureau report showing the ranks of the uninsured and the impoverished grew in 2003 for the third consecutive year while incomes stayed level.    The president's surrogates came to his defense, noting that the numbers failed to reflect more recent economic gains, such as the addition of 1.5 million jobs over the past 12 months, or the full effect of the Bush-backed tax cuts...


The government is in danger of missing its target for new homes to be carbon neutral by 2016, it is warned.


Astronauts prepare to leave space station

Flight controllers  conducted final tests on the International Space Station's  revived computer network on Monday in hopes of clearing  visiting space shuttle Atlantis for its departure and return to  Earth.


President's campaign uses optimism to attract

At a small baseball ï¬eld in a town where the unemployment roll has added 1,200 names during his time in ofï¬ce, President Bush stood in


Postal Service Links Delivery Delays to Airlines

The Postal Service says that a shortage of baggage handlers, computer problems and snowstorms delayed the delivery of thousands of letters and packages.


Advertising Customers Get the Right Message

Reston-based Upper Quadrant offers a subscription-based, Web-hosted application that enables companies to compile and share marketing information in a central database.


Court halts transfer of Anna Nicole's body

The body of former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith cannot be taken immediately to the Bahamas for burial, a Florida appeals court ruled on Monday.


Sospetta vendita azioni poco prima annuncio ritardi Airbus


EU judges refuse to allow consumers to buy drinks and cigarettes online at lower duties from other countries.


Canadian Court Ruling Triggers IT Patent Panic

A precedent-setting patent decision could affect Canadian innovation and foreign R&D investment.


Goldman Sachs sees fourth quarter profits rise, after it correctly predicts mortgage bond values would fall.


Israel Agrees to Free 170 Palestinian Prisoners

Israel has agreed to release 170 Palestinian prisoners to show goodwill ahead of a Palestinian election and as a gesture to Egypt for freeing a convicted Israeli spy, officials said Sunday.


Michael Jackson: Stop Calling Me 'Wacko Jacko'

Beleaguered pop star Michael  Jackson, responding to a recent TV movie about his life and  legal troubles, said in a statement he was tired of being  "vilified" and taunted as "Wacko Jacko" in the public eye.


Modena, 17:40 - F1, SPIONAGGIO: POLIZIA LAVORA SU PC STEPNEY

La polizia postale di Modena in collaborazione con quella di Roma controllerà nelle prossime ...


Ieri 700 giovani sono andati negli ambulatori di Pieve di Soligo e ConeglianoIn provincia di Terni ricoverata una bambina di diciotto mesi                                          Meningite, in coda per il vaccino Un morto a Trieste, una bimba Ã¨  grave


A Japanese whaling ship sends up a distress signal after colliding with a protest boat in the Antarctic.


Likely Russian leader lifts lid on private life

Dmitry Medvedev, the man likely to be the next Russian president, fell in love with his wife when they were both teenagers, put himself through university by working as a street sweeper and calls his mother every day.


WASHINGTON - The Army extended a Halliburton Co. troop support contract over the objections of a top contracting officer, even contending - and then withdrawing - a claim that US forces faced an emergency if the company didn't get the extra work.


Hong Kong Makes First File-Sharing Arrest

Hong Kong authorities have made their first arrest for allegedly sharing copyrighted files over the Internet, a spokeswoman said.


Study: Merck's Arcoxia Appears Safe Medium Term

Drug firm Merck & Co. will present data this week showing that an experimental arthritis drug, Arcoxia, a treatment in the same class as its recently withdrawn Vioxx, showed no significant


Beckham finally on board as Galaxy player

CARSON, California  - David Beckham, ready to start his much trumpeted American adventure, was formally introduced as a Los Angeles Galaxy player at the Major League Soccer (MLS) side's home stadium on Friday.


The US says it may send more troops to Iraq before January, depending on the outcome of its offensive in Falluja.


Jesus had a son named Judah and was buried with Mary, a film by Titanic director James Cameron claims.


A video posted on an Islamic Web site Monday showed the beheading of a man identified in the tape as American construction contractor Eugene Armstrong.


Abercrombie & Fitch Co., accused of favoring whites over minorities for promotion, agrees to pay $40-million. By Associated Press.


385 posti letto in piu' per totale 868 gestiti in 4 regioni


Aids pandemic 'stabilising' - health ministry

The Aids pandemic in South Africa is "slowly stabilising", the health ministry said as it released figures showing that close to 28 percent of pregnant women tested positive for HIV in 2003.


Anche al Senato lavoriamo per migliorare la Finanziaria


Due diverse aste Taf per fronteggiare la crisi


SEVILLE, Spain It was not quite what Carlos MoyÃ¡ missed the first time. The setting was not his former home city of Barcelona but the capital of the Spanish region of Andalusia.


Work begins on merging Health and Social care records

Floating ideas at the CRDB Work has begun on a social care equivalent of the care records guarantee for medical records, paving the way for merging health and social care records. The plans were disclosed as part of a debate at the annual Care Records Development Board meeting in London, yesterday.â¦


The trial of three South Africans accused of feeding a farm worker to lions is adjourned as one pleads guilty.


Oil's slide toward $62 to test OPEC resolve

Oil slid below $63 a barrel on Friday   touching its lowest level since March as U.S. fuel stockpiles   grew ahead of winter and investors probed for a price that   would trigger an OPEC supply cut.


Airport Screeners Find Blade in Man's Shoe

A 33-year-old Virginia man was in federal custody after airport screeners found a box-cutter blade glued into the sole of his shoe.


Art Review | 'Jeff Wall': Eyes Wide Open, With Stories to Tell

Jeff Wallâs photography mines a welter of traditions and is favored by both critics and the market.


Vijay Singh does not recall the PGA Tour being this strong, with a record five rookies winning this year. One of them, Ryan Palmer, held off the No. 1 player in the world last week at Disney.


Wall St set to open higher, inflation worries grow

Benchmark stock indexes were seen starting higher on Friday despite growing concern about inflation as the dollar hit an all time low against the euro and oil prices hovered near record highs.


Tony La Russa will defend Mark McGwire until the end: To him, Big Mac is a Hall of Famer.


DEVELOPMENT:   Red Tape Can Be a Green Signal

LONDON, Nov 9  (IPS) - Business opposition to red tape and regulations is  damaging society and the wider environment, says a new report.


POLITICS-U.S.:   From Holocaust to Hyperpower

WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (IPS) - The importance of this week's recognition by  the United Nations of the Nazi Holocaust lies as much in its  relevance to today's international realities as it does to  the historical significance of the liberation of the Auschwitz  death camp by Soviet forces 60 years ago Thursday.


South Sound fans reacted with everything from relief to regret over Wednesday's NCAA rulings on the University of Washington athletics program.


Patients implanted with drug-coated stents to hold open their choked arteries face a small but significant risk of blood clots, health officials said Tuesday, and a new study recommended they take clot-busting medications indefinitely.


In Adolescents, Addiction to Tobacco Comes Easy

Teenagers can get hooked on one cigarette, a doctor warns.


Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone is voted the greatest song by a panel of musicians.


WASHINGTON Oct 31, 2004 - A new vaccine against rotavirus, the diarrheal infection that kills millions of children worldwide, doesn't appear to raise the risk of serious bowel blockages that caused a previous vaccine to be pulled from the market five


Greggio scambiato a 72,65 dollari al barile, oro in rialzo


MANOVRA: VOTO CAMERA DOPO NATALE, 27 E 28 DICEMBRE

ROMA - La Camera votera' la finanziaria in terza lettura dopo Natale, la prossima settimana. Questa settimana l'Aula votera' il decreto fiscale e quello sulla Croce Rossa. Lo ha deciso la conferenza dei capigruppo di Montecitorio.


Angel McCoughtry scored 34 of her career-high 38 points in the second half and No. 16 Louisville remained unbeaten by rallying for an 80-77 victory over Butler on Monday night.


David Ortiz basked in his big moments. The cheering crowd. The hugs from teammates. The generosity of the fans who returned the balls he hit for his 51st and 52nd home runs, a new Red Sox record.


Marcia Tolin spent the better part of a day last week trying to find FluMist, the nasal spray that's now the only option for healthy people ages 5 to 49 who want vaccine protection against the flu this fall.


One person dies as three lorries collide on the M1, while police attempt to slow traffic down.


Storm misses Japanese GP, but teams still have off day

Typhoon Ma-on veered away from the Suzuka area Saturday, boding well for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix after weather fears caused a rest day and postponement of qualifying.


Mastella sbatte la porta, ma la Gad cerca di trattenerlo

L'Udeur non parteciperÃ  piÃ¹ alle riunioni della Gad. Ã questa, in sintesi, la decisione presa dal partito di Clemente Mastella, in polemica con le altre forze del centrosinistra. Mastella ha spiegato che


Iraq car bomb kills 8 US marines in deadliest attack in 6 months

A car bomb killed eight US marines outside Fallujah on Saturday, the deadliest attack against the US military in Iraq in nearly six months.


The Hewlett-Packard Co. spying effort that has sparked criminal investigations was wide-ranging and included physical surveillance, photographs and spyware sent via e-mail, and it also targeted wives and other relatives of HP board members and reporters, according to a consultant's report prepared...


Opera Roma, il 'Pipistrello' di Johann Strauss chiude la stagione

Il ''Pipistrello'' di Johann Strauss chiuderÃ  la stagione 2004 del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, da giovedÃ¬ 16 dicembre, alle ore 20.30. L'operetta in tre atti, su libretto di Karl Haffner e Richard GenÃ©e, avrÃ


Bob Marley family says to sue Universal, Verizon

The family of late reggae singer Bob  Marley said on Thursday they will sue Universal Music Group and  Verizon Wireless for using the iconic pop star's name, likeness  and image without permission.


KIRKWOOD, Mo., Feb. 8 -- A gunman carrying a grudge against City Hall left a suicide note on his bed warning that "the truth will come out in the end" before he went on a deadly shooting spree at a council meeting, his brother said Friday.


Competition drive The concept of a European super-regulator has been considered in a report from the European Commission, looking at ways in which competition could be increased in the telecommunications business.â¦


Wiesbaden, 11:11 - CALCIO, CLASSIFICA IFFHS: SIVIGLIA PRECEDE CHELSEA E MILAN

La vittoria della coppa Uefa permette al Siviglia di rafforzare il primato nella classifica di maggi...


BBC executives waive their annual bonuses for 2006/2007 after failing to meet their full diversity targets.


Cisco to open R&D center in Japan next February

Cisco Systems will open a Tokyo-based research and development center focusing on Internet software and routing technologies in February 2005, the company said in a statement last Thursday.


Rexam to buy Owens-Illinois Plastics for $1.8 bln

LONDON/NEW YORK  - Britain's Rexam Plc  agreed to buy the plastic packaging business of Owens-Illinois Inc.  for $1.83 billion in cash as it targets the fast-growing market for packaging medicines.


Berlusconi: punito il ceto medio.Fassino: nessun statalismo


Organic fruit and vegetables may be better for you than conventionally grown crops, US research suggests.


EU cites media freedom as Poles probe Teletubbies

The European Commission reaffirmed its  attachment to media freedom on Tuesday when asked about a  Polish plan to investigate the Teletubbies children's  television show for allegedly promoting homosexuality.


Reality TV star and former model Anna Nicole Smith was pronounced dead Thursday after being taken to a Florida hospital after being found unconscious in her hotel room.  Smith, 39, collapsed at a south Florida hotel and was taken to a local hospital,...


Playing the U.S. housing market may no  longer require actually buying a home.


Kraft hikes prices of Maxwell House, Yuban coffees

Kraft Foods Inc  said on Friday it raised list prices on its roast and ground Maxwell House and Yuban coffees, citing higher green-coffee prices.


Using face-detection technology, the 8-megapixel, Cyber-shot cameras won't snap a high-definition picture until a selected subject smiles.


Bits: Bebo Copies Facebook, Which Invites Others to Do the Same

Bebo has developed a system to let applications written for Facebook run on its social network.


The Boston College women's basketball team heard the bad news yesterday -- the Eagles will be without top scorer Jessalyn Deveny for the rest of the season.


Citigroup CEO gets $26.7 mln stock, 3 mln options

Citigroup Inc  awarded Chief  Executive Vikram Pandit $26.7 million of shares and 3 million  stock options, six weeks after he took over the largest U.S.  bank, and a week after reporting a record $9.83 billion  quarterly loss.


At least 30 people are reported to have been killed in a bomb blast at a gathering in the Pakistani city of Multan.


A Capitol Hill house where Sen. Barack Obama rents an apartment caught on fire Sunday, but a spokesman said the Democratic presidential contender was out of town to celebrate Father's Day.


JBoss adds workflow engine to middleware stack

Open source company JBoss has added a workflow engine to its roster as it continues building out its middleware platform around the JBoss application server.


Drugstore chains to withstand Wal-Mart plan: analyst

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s plan to sell   some generic drugs for just $4 should not impact leading U.S.   drugstores Walgreen Co. and CVS Corp. as much as initially   feared, Merrill Lynch said on Friday.


Mark Calcavecchia has gone through his share of ups and downs, from winning a British Open to finishing countless rounds without a full set of clubs because some of them wound up at the bottom of ponds.


The S.E.I.U.âs endorsement is especially coveted because the union has 1.9 million members and has a rank-and-file that is far more politically active than most other unionsâ.


Seven Asian mobile phone firms are joining together to form an alliance that will invest $30m to $40m in new technologies.


Lleyton Hewitt returned to action since splitting with Kim Clijsters to defeat French teenager Gael Monfils in the second round of the Paris Masters.


Experts Advise Bush Not to Reduce Troops

President Bush heard a blunt and dismal assessment of his handling of Iraq from a group of military experts yesterday, but the advisers shared the White House's skeptical view of the recommendations made last week by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, sources said.


Playing in the rain against Florida brings back some bad memories for Tennessee.


U.S. Said to Free Kuwait Detainees in Cuba

U.S. authorities are releasing one of 11 Kuwaiti detainees held at a military detention center for terror suspects in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, raising questions about why others are not being freed, according to a group of family members and a lawyer.


The partial stock market listing of private equity giant Blackstone is set to proceed despite political concerns.


PARIS : The heat has gone out of the underlying forces in the oil market and only short-term factors are keeping the oil price at about 40 dollars per barrel, the International Energy Agency (IEA) concluded.


Egyptian troops pull back, Gazans flood over border

RAFAH, Egypt  - Egyptian troops kept their distance from the breached Gaza border on Saturday a day after a security guard was shot in the foot, allowing thousands of Palestinians to stream unhindered into Egypt.


STG of Reston to Support Army Information Network

STG will support Army information network operations under a new five-year, $190 million contract.


The Supreme Court yesterday agreed to decide whether tobacco companies can be sued in state courts for deceptive advertising of "light" cigarettes and if drugmakers should be protected from some patient lawsuits.


Judges Grapple With Sentencing Confusion

Thousands of criminals are filing for reduced sentences. Backlogged courts are asking lawyers to slow down their appeals. Judges say they're confused about what to do.


COMMENTO                                          La prova d'orchestra di pifferi e tromboni                                                                                di EUGENIO SCALFARI


Combinazione vincente 2 11 17 33 79 87 jolly 7 Superstar 79


Iraqi Premier's Relatives Kidnapped - Threatened with Beheading

Two members of the Iraqi prime ministerâs family have been abducted from their Baghdad home, his spokesman confirmed today. Kidnappers claimed to be holding three relatives.


Israel's Likud and Labour begin coalition talks

centrist Shinui party, bolted over a state budget dispute. He won approval from Likud's Central. Committee on Thursday to begin talks with Labour.


Trey Anastasio was accused of driving under the influence of drugs in an upstate New York town near the Vermont border early Friday.


Alexander the Great died of acute pancreatis, Greek doctor says

A Greek doctor has come up with a new theory to explain the mysterious death of the ancient world conqueror Alexander the Great, long a subject of scientific debate.


SK Telecom denies Sprint Nextel bid talk

(InfoWorld) - South Korea's SK Telecom denied on Tuesday a local newspaper report that it is preparing a bid for Sprint Nextel. "It's a groundless rumor," said Im Igsoon of the company's investor relations department. Earlier the same day the Korean Economic Daily reported that SK Telecom has been talking with several global equity funds since earlier this year about funding a takeover of the U.S. carrier. SK Telecom is South Korea's leading cellphone carrier and holds more than half of the country's cellular market of about 40 million subscribers. Most of SK Telecom's customers are on its CDMA (code division multiple access) network although it is currently launching a nationwide network based on the competing WCDMA (wideband CDMA) technology. Sprint Nextel uses a combination of CDMA and a proprietary network technology called iDEN (integrated enhanced digital network). In January 2005 SK TelecomÂ partnered with Internet service provider EarthlinkÂ to launch a mobile virtual network operator called Helio. The carrier hasn't performed to expectations and continues to lose money. It's current goal is to attract 250,000 subscribers by the end of the year and 3.3 million by the end of 2009. SK Telecom has also targeted China and Vietnam with overseas investment. Last year itÂ spent about $1 billion on bondsÂ in China United Telecommunications Co.Â (China Unicom), China's No. 2 cellular carrier.


Sony, Toshiba and IBM prepare to reveal Cell details

The three partners involved in the development of the Cell processor, which will power the PlayStation 3 along with a number of other devices, have unveiled new details about the technology behind the chip.


Justine Henin becomes the first player to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon, beating Elena Vesnina of Russia, 6-1, 6-3, Friday.


Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, which has clashed with Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean, will end its protest on Wednesday as its ships are running low on fuel.


Update 1: OPEC May Consider Further Production Cuts

OPEC might make deeper cuts in production if prices continue to slide, Gulf oil ministers said Saturday, a day after crude prices tumbled to their lowest levels in five months when producers decided to limit supply by 1 million barrels a day.


On Baseball: It Wasnât the Money, but What It Signified

Itâs possible to perceive that money was at least a part of the lack of commitment that Joe Torre felt the Yankees demonstrated.


Posizione geografica strategica per la difesa militare; esempio di stato laico anche se a maggioranza islamica; fondamentale occasione per avviare il dialogo tra la civiltÃ  occidentale e quella musulmana.


Rio de Janeiro, 18:10 - CALCIO, BRASILE: GUARDALINEE DONNA NUDA SU PLAYBOY

Ancora polemiche su Ana Paula de Oliveira, la bella guardalinee brasiliana, recentemente esclusa dal...


Pipex Business calls in the strategy boutique

Joss-stick session produces Latinate rebranding News of another nail in the coffin of one of UK broadband's most venerable names reaches Vulture Central.â¦


A woman and her male friend were gunned down on a busy Manhattan street in a brazen shooting that investigators believe was committed by the woman's ex-husband, who then turned the gun on himself.


Writers propose independent negotiations

LOS ANGELES  Â Faced with the indefinite suspension of negotiations, the union representing striking Hollywood writers told its members Saturday it would try to deal directly with Hollywood studios and production companies, bypassing the umbrella organization that has been representing them.


BEIJING Thirteen miners were killed and three were missing Wednesday after a gas explosion at a coal mine in southwestern Guizhou Province, Chinese state media reported.


Penguins' Crosby named league's most valuable player

High scoring Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby won the Hart Trophy as the National Hockey League's Most Valuable Player on Thursday.


The US Food and Drug Administration will require a new, tougher warning for the abortion pill Mifeprex -- also known as RU-486 -- stating that the drug may lead to serious bacterial infections.


A top European legal adviser gives qualified backing to trade unions acting to protect jobs and wages in the EU.


Palermo, 18:05 - CALCIO, PALERMO; MUTU: NON HO VISTO GUANA, MA NON DOVEVO FERMARMI

"Potevamo chiudere la partita ed essere piÃ¹ concreti in zona gol, le occasioni le avevamo". Recrimin...


Insurgents who infiltrated the Iraqi security forces are suspected of providing information that led to the massacre of 49 Army recruits by a remote road in eastern Iraq.


Biggest study into breast cancer aims to recruit 100,000 women

A 50-year study of breast cancer was launched yesterday to find new ways to prevent one of the major killers of women. Researchers aim to recruit 100,000 British women aged from 18 to 79


Losanna, 12:04 - OLIMPIADI 2016, CIO: LE 7 CITTA' CANDIDATE

Sono 7 le cadidature ricevute dal Comitato olimpico internazionale (Cio) per i Giochi del 2016. Le c...


The culture secretary says models should have a medical before taking to the catwalk at London Fashion Week.


Rumsfeld Warns of Pre-Election Dangers in Iraq

Donald Rumsfeld said US troops, celebrating Thanksgiving after some of their bloodiest weeks in Iraq, should brace for even more losses as they pursue insurgents bent on wrecking an election scheduled for January.


Conservatives lay plans to ditch ID cards

Put the government on formal notice the Shadow home secretary David Davies has asked the government to agree get-out clauses with companies it contracts to build its ID card systems and databases so that a Conservative government can ditch the scheme.â¦


Officials from 120 nations meet in New Zealand to try to agree a text for a proposed ban on cluster bombs.


Halonen delaying her announcement about second term

On a regular Saturday discussion programme on the Finnish Broadcasting Companys TV1, President Tarja Halonen was asked if she would run for a second term in the office.


Screenwriters accuse producers of pleading poverty

Hollywood screenwriters and studio executives ended a second day of contract talks on Wednesday with the two sides far apart on major issues but planning to resume negotiations next week.


Marlies Schild won for the second time in as many days Wednesday, posting the fastest time in both runs to capture a night slalom to go along with her World Cup giant slalom victory on Tuesday.


Australia's government refuses a request for reparations by Aborigines taken from their families.


Gov. Janet Napolitano thinks the state's junior US senator would make a fine Homeland Security secretary. Only thing is, Jon Kyl isn't saying whether he wants the job being vacated by Tom Ridge.


British qualifier Elena Baltacha reaches the third round of the Australian Open.


Rebels Strike Iraqi Forces After Bin Laden Call

TIKRIT, Iraq  - Insurgents overran a police post  near Saddam Hussein's home town on Tuesday, hauled 12 men  outside and shot them in a dramatic show of force, a day after  Osama bin Laden declared holy war on the U.S.-backed election.


Testimony at Hearing Seals Fate of Arlington Psychiatrist

The hearing was entering its 10th hour Thursday night when Arlington County psychiatrist Martin H. Stein learned that his 40-year career as a practicing physician was effectively over.


Members of the U.N.'s new human rights watchdog formally agreed Tuesday to continue their scrutiny of Israel while halting investigations into Cuba and Belarus — a move that immediately drew fire from the United States.


For a man belittled months ago as an obscure weakling, Jose Manuel Barroso is stirring up a lot of trouble. By stubbornly defending the


Barcelona: AMD Gambles on an Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary, New CPU

COMPLETE ANALYSIS of perhaps the most important CPU architectural release in AMD's history, the long-awaited response to a swarm of challenges from Intel. BetaNews talks exclusively with AMD worldwide market development manager John Fruehe, and examines five major issues which could make or break Quad-Core Opteron, and which could have lasting influence on how AMD's strategy proceeds over the next several years.


British windsurfer Nick Dempsey grabs a bronze medal with his last race in Athens on Wednesday.


Microsoft, European Commission tangle over Vista Security

(InfoWorld) - The European Commission warned Microsoft again Tuesday that planned security features in the upcoming Windows Vista operating system could run afoul of EU antitrust laws, prompting Microsoft to say that an adverse ruling from European regulators could further delay Vista's ship date. In a statement Tuesday, EU Commission spokesman on competition Jonathan Todd said that the Commission believes that diversity and innovation in the security software market could be threatened if Microsoft doesn't allow reputable third-party security vendors to compete on an equal footing for customers. The statements came in response to questions from journalists who had been briefed by Microsoft, Todd told InfoWorld. Microsoft is reaching out to members of the press to express concern about the EC's stance on Vista security and to explain the reasoning that went into the company's decisions to integrate some security functions in the Vista operating system, according to Stephen Toulouse, of Microsoft's Security Technology Unit. "We're doing what everyone asked us to do and making Vista secure," Toulouse told InfoWorld on Tuesday. "We believe we've set the security foundation higher in Vista than in other operating systems and we don't want to lower that," he said. Microsoft is committed to delivering an EC-compliant operating system, and would abide by requests from the European Commission to remove security features if necessary, Toulouse said. Unraveling security features such as the BitLocker drive encryption, Windows Defender and Windows Security Center from Vista at this late date would be a monumental task, however. "I can't even speculate on how we'd deal with a request like that," Toulouse said, although he didn't rule out delays in the global release of Vista. Todd rejected the idea that the EC would give a "green light" to any particular version of Vista, but said that Microsoft would have to produce a product that complies with EU competition rules, or risk an antitrust ruling from the Commission. "We've made it clear to (Microsoft) for some time that it's up to Microsoft to make products that are fully compliant with EU competition rules, particularly in light of the March 2004 ruling on its abuse of its dominant market position," Todd said. NeelieKroes, the European Commission's competition commissioner, wrote to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in March to express concerns about the security features and requesting more information on them, but the company delayed responding to the letter until the end of August, Todd said.Â  Microsoft did a full court press on Tuesday to try to counter the EC's statements about antitrust concerns with Vista's security features, emphasizing the company's work with independent software vendors. Speaking with InfoWorld, Toulouse, until recently program manager for Microsoft's Security Response Center (MSRC), explained the company's reasoning in adopting security features such as Patchguard, a feature on 64-bit versions of Vista that prevents applications from "patching," or modifying the Vista core processing center, or "kernel." Patchguard was necessary to stop unauthorized applications and malicious programs from modifying the Vista kernel to take control of the operating system. Legitimate third party products, however, such as behavioral detection products, also need access to the kernel. Symantec Corp. executives have complained that Microsoft is using its dominance of the operating system market and hard line stance on kernel patching to stifle competition, but Microsoft allows third parties to extend the Vista kernel using signed, kernel-mode drivers, Toulouse said. Microsoft's security products, such as Windows Live OneCare and Forefront, don't get an inside track to Vista features, Toulouse said. "We play by the same rules with our own products," Toulouse said. "Nobody patches the kernel." Toulouse also downplayed the impact of Patchguard, saying that adoption of 64 bit Vista would be slow, given that fewer applications have been written to run on it, and the 32-bit version of Vista runs on new, 64-bit platforms. On other security features, such as the Windows Security Center user interface, Microsoft allows ISVs to use the features or ignore them. The company has also made it easy for competitors to turn off default security features like the Windows Defender anti-spyware product and Vista desktop firewall silently during installation, Toulouse said.Â  Microsoft has made great efforts to give third party vendors such as Symantec access to Vista, such as giving Symantec employees office space at the company's Redmond, Washington, headquarters and access to Vista source code and builds, Toulouse said. The EC isn't opposed to Microsoft improving the security of Vista, but believes that there needs to be diversity in the security market to stimulate innovation, Todd said. The EC is still evaluating the information Microsoft sent in August on the Vista security features and hasn't decided what additional guidance it will give Microsoft. There were similarities between the EC's position on Vista's integrated security features and the Commission's ruling on Microsoft's bundling of the Windows Media Player, Todd said. That dispute resulted in a â¬497 million fine against Microsoft in March 2004 for anti-competitive practices. Todd acknowledged, however, that security features also had a unique status. "There's an extra dimension with security products. If I have a computer without a media player, it's not the end of the world. But a computer without security countermeasures is in deep trouble," Todd said. "Clearly we don't expect Microsoft to sell software that would be vulnerable to security problems," Todd said.


Pa.'s electors to cast ballots for Kerry in a week

Reviving a bittersweet memory of the national election their party almost won, 21 of Pennsylvania's staunchest Democrats next week will cast their electoral votes for vanquished presidential nominee John Kerry.


Last April, a grown man violently swept a 14-year-old's legs out from under him on a District soccer field. The kid had stolen the ball, begun to laugh, and the next moment he was on the ground


Indonesia's presidential candidates pledge to develop country

Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia's two presidential candidates pledged to restore the economy, improve infrastructure, reduce the unemployment rate, focus on development of industry, agriculture, technology, education, and equal development between localities


Oil giant Yukos has its tax bill for 2001 upped by Russia's tax ministry, a move that may push it closer to bankruptcy.


Floods displace more than 20,000 in east Sri Lanka

Flooding displaced more than 20,000 people from their homes in eastern Sri Lanka as a depression over the Bay of Bengal increased monsoon rains, officials said on Tuesday.


Labour will study think tank proposals to hit the super-rich with a 50% inheritance tax to allow cuts for the middle classes.


Bloccato dalla febbre 'Visita fiscale' a casa

ROMA, 5 OTTOBRE 2004 - Antonio Cassano ancora nell'occhio del ciclone. Dopo polemiche e contestazioni, il bomber barese Ã¨ adesso alle prese con la febbre che lo ha costretto a letto. Ma nel caso dell'attaccante


S. Africa first to legalize gay marriage

South Africa on Thursday became the first country in Africa, and only the fifth in the world, to legalize same sex marriages.


US forces dropped a pair of 2,000-pound bombs early yesterday morning on a bunker complex believed to be an insurgent training


Bank of England freezes assets of 'soldier kidnap' accused

Britain's central bank, the Bank of England, on Friday said it has frozen the assets of a suspect accused of plotting to kidnap and kill a British soldier, and those of four others accused of terrorism offences.


We don't need no stinking Wi-Fi Mobile World Congress HP is to incorporate Qualcomm's Gobi chips into its laptops, supporting both CDMA and GSM 3G technologies and making Wi-Fi connectivity redundant.â¦


Nationalist denies sending caustic soda in post

A miniature Smirnoff vodka bottle sent to a journalist contained a lethal dose of caustic soda and a message claiming that a Scottish terrorist organisation wanted 'to kill English people at random and with no discrimination or compunction', a court heard yesterday


California Appeals Video Game Law Ruling

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday that he had appealed a court decision that struck down the controversial violent video game law in his state.


From Greco to Picasso: exhibition traces 500 years of Spanish portrait art

From Titian to Picasso and El Greco to Juan Gris, a new exhibition at Madrid's Prado museum is offering art fans the chance to see for themselves under one roof a cross-section of 500 years of Spanish portrait art.


Italy's first traffic charge is launched in Milan in an attempt to reduce congestion and pollution levels.


A fan was fined 1,000 pounds (1,880) and banned from soccer grounds for the maximum five years on Wednesday when he pleaded guilty to racially abusing Birmingham striker Dwight Yorke.


WPP, the world's third largest advertising services group, has reported 15% growth in profits in the first half of the year.


AMERICA/COLOMBIA - ÂLa caritÃ  fonte della missioneÂ: il Secondo Incontro Nazionale Missionario dei religiosi e delle religiose colombiani BogotÃ  (Agenzia Fides) - "Servire il Vangelo non puÃ² considerarsi un'avventura solitaria, bensÃ¬ l'impegno di tutta la comunitÃ " afferma Mons. Edgar Hernando Tirado Mazo, Vescovo del Vicariato apostolico di Tierradentro e Presente della Commissione Ep...


Australians high on the Mile High Club: survey

Two in three Australian travelers are  either members of the notorious Mile High Club or would like to  be a member, a survey showed on Monday.


The Miami Dolphins have asked Ricky Williams to return $8.6 million they say the running back owes the team because he has decided to retire.


Gas prices fell another 3 cents during the past two weeks, to an average of $1.93 per gallon of self-serve regular, a national survey showed Sunday.


Mark Boucher hits the second fastest one-day international ton to help South Africa to a 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe.


Oct. 8, 2004 -- The popular arthritis drug Remicade increases patients' risk of lymphoma, the drug's manufacturer warns. The warning will be added to Remicade's package insert, says Centocor Inc.


Beer here! Thirsty fan gets Bonds' HR ball

A fan waiting in line for beer and peanuts got something extra at the concession stand: home run ball No. 715 by Barry Bonds.


TORONTO -- Ontario has to keep a tight hold on the purse strings as it works on its plan to balance the province's budget by 2007-2008, Finance Minister Greg Sorbara said Thursday.


Jordan's King: Iraq Elections Impossible

The Jordanian monarch said in an interview published Tuesday that elections in Iraq are impossible in the current chaos and that he sees no chances of improvement in the short term.


Stock Exchanges in a Rush to Forge Links With One Another

The hope is that alliances will set the stage for more substantive ventures in the future.


EU Regulators Clear Oracle's Takeover Bid

European Union antitrust regulators cleared Oracle Corp.'s hostile $7.7 billion bid for rival business software maker PeopleSoft Inc.


A truck carrying religious pilgrims crashed into a gorge in northwestern India on Friday night, killing at least 72 people and injuring at least 70, a news report said.


Roma. Accordo raggiunto per i forestali calabresi. Per il prossimo biennio saranno stanziati 160 milioni di euro l'anno. E' quanto e' stato concordato nel corso dell'incontro al ministero degli Affari regionali


NAIROBI, Kenya -- Wielding guns and machetes, the attackers charged into a refugee camp for Congolese Tutsi, shouting threats to kill any member of that tribe they found. Scores were slain in Friday's raid on the UN camp in Burundi, and ...


Boyfriend of Olympic Wrestler Killed in Crash

The boyfriend of Olympic wrestling silver medalist Sara McMann was killed Friday when the Jeep the couple was in rolled off the shoulder of Interstate 76 in northeastern Colorado, the Colorado State Patrol said.


In a First for Ireland, Priests Dismissed

Pope John Paul II has defrocked two Catholic priests convicted of sexually abusing children in Ireland, an unprecedented move in this predominantly Catholic nation, church officials confirmed Thursday.


Peter Crouch can look back on 2006 having scored more goals in a calendar year than any England striker before him, but the Liverpool forward admits that he still has his doubters ahead of Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Macedonia in Manchester.


Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood insists Chelsea's bid to dominate world football is "fantasy".


In September of 2003 the Bush administration telegraphed their intent to use torture on prisoners in Iraq when they screened Gillo Pontecorvo's 1965 film The Battle of Algiers for officials in the Pentagon.


Bush up in polls, denies mobilizing troops

Current national public opinion polls released at the end of last week vary. Some show President Bush's emerging as a 13 point leader, while others reflect a statistical dead


Joey Nicotera's fascination with multicolored light bulbs bordered on obsession when he was a teenager. He framed posters in lights and decorated his own Christmas tree. When he couldn't find a color bulb he wanted, he got paint cans from the basement and made some himself, bathing his second-story bedroom in an eerie glow.


Ralph Klein leads Alberta Tories to 10th consecutive majority government

EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta's Progressive Conservatives set a new benchmark for electoral success Monday, winning a record 10th consecutive majority government.


ROME - Lava poured down the slopes of a volcano on the tiny Sicilian island of Stromboli for a second day Wednesday as authorities continued to monitor eruption activity.


Answers, please! The Federal Trade Commission has asked Brocade to give it more information over its proposed acquisition of enterprise storage rival McData.â¦


The United States has long been criticized for being behind in its promised contributions to various international organizations -- including NATO, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organization, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and so on.


There's a fortune-cookie-style proverb that sounds like a blessing but, legend says, is really a curse: "May you live in interesting times."


The French Cabinet on Wednesday sent a bill to parliament calling for guaranteed minimum service in public transport during labor walkouts, despite opposition from the nation's unions.


For Security in Iraq, a Turn to British Know-How

In the 1990s, there was the dot-com boom. Now, there's the Iraq bubble.


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


India grows faster-than-expected at record 9.4 percent

India's economy grew faster-than-expected at a record 9.4 percent pace in the year to March, beating a government forecast of 9.2 percent Thursday and raising hopes of more foreign investment.


Smashing stereotypes forged over  centuries and bearing the burden of being an inspiration to a  billion compatriots is a mighty tall order.


IDC Study Forecasts Robust Growth for Enterprise Network Outsourcing Services, But Not Without Challenges for Providers

With increasing merger and acquisition activity and rapidly changing business models, enterprises are looking for ways to reduce overall network costs, cope with increasing complexity, and become increasingly adaptable.


Euro Advances as Finance Ministers Fail to Ask ECB to Stem Gain

The euro rose to within half a cent of a record high against the dollar after European finance ministers failed to ask the European Central Bank to sell the currency to stem its advance.


Here are today's Battleground Dispatches Ã¢ÂÂ a roundup of what is going on right now in the year's hottest races, based on reports from local and national media.


They sit together in a whirlpool bath, tell intimate stories and compete for a $166,650 prize.


Danger of Mount St. Helens Eruption Passes

Government scientists said Wednesday that the danger of a strong Mount St. Helens eruption at any moment has passed, but warned the mountain could continue venting steam and volcanic rock for several weeks.


Rightist Tokyo governor Ishihara says war kept Asia safe from ` ...

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara is a gracious host, settling comfortably into a white leather chair and patiently listening to a question from a visitor.


Korean Nuclear Talks May Convene in November

The six parties trying to end a crisis over North Korea's nuclear ambitions could hold working group talks in November, diplomats said on Thursday, the first sign of progress since Pyongyang stalled after the last round.


Can Warner Music Group Cross the Digital Chasm?

Warner's leading the charge into new distribution platforms.


At a Harlem Reunion, a Rancher From Missouri Meets His âDNA Cousinsâ

A genetic test brings about an unlikely pairing of two cousins â one from a cattle ranch in the Midwest, the other from the stages and church choirs of the Northeast.


Bargain-minded investors might want to start paying attention.


BUCHAREST Romania's new centrist government was sworn in on Wednesday and immediately set out to overhaul the tax system, fight corruption and boost investment in the country.


EDITORIAL: Tab for Illegal Meetings Just Went Up

By The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.  Sep. 25--Local governments violate Virginia's Freedom of Information Act with impunity, ordinarily protected from penalty by compliant local judges and by the unwillingness of people to sue city leaders to force them to follow the law.


Apple, Beatles Ink Deal Over "Apple" Name, Logo

By Troy WolvertonStaff  Apple, the Silicon Valley company, and Apple Corps, the Beatles' record label, are finally burying the hatchet.


Scottish giants Rangers bowed out of the UEFA Cup in humiliating fashion on Wednesday as they went down 2-0 at home to French side Auxerre with Bonaventure Kalou grabbing a double to ensure the visitors progressed to the last 32.


KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Wait until the last split-second, then stomp on the brake pedal to slow down for the turn. Snap the steering wheel to the left, mash the gas, and blast down the straightaway.


Roma, 12:11 - CALCIO, SERIE A: ROSETTI DIRIGE UDINESE-INTER

Sono stati designati gli arbitri per dirigere le partite della prima giornata di ritorno del campion...


Goldman profit rises on banking, mortgage trades

Goldman Sachs Group Inc  said on  Tuesday its fourth-quarter earnings rose as a timely bet  against subprime mortgages and higher investment banking fees  helped it sidestep the credit crunch that hammered the rest of  Wall Street.


Microsoft Corp. is investigating a reported vulnerability in its ASP.Net that could allow an attacker to bypass security features on a Web server and view sensitive content, the company said Thursday.


US Health Care Costs Will Continue To Rise

Health care costs for employers in the US will increase by and average of 11.3 percent in 2005, according to human resources services firm Hewitt Associates.


Waco, Texas, Set to Sign Off on $3.5 Million Downtown Development Deal

By J.B. Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald, Texas  Dec. 19--The Waco City Council is poised today to offer an estimated $2  million in prime downtown land and $1.5 million in garage parking for a  project to replace the asphalt void around City Hall with housing, offices,  restaurants and shops.


Cuban President Fidel Castro appears on TV in his first interview since undergoing surgery 10 months ago.


Mistaken US strike kills NATO soldier in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- US warplanes accidentally strafed Canadian troops fighting the Taliban in southern Afghanistan yesterday, killing one soldier and wounding several, NATO officials said.


The race to create life from scratch is underway. But how close are scientists to making a synthetic organism?


A South Korean court clears the way for a probe into fraud claims against President-elect Lee Myung-bak.


Top Golfers Prepare for First Round Action at American Express ...

Sixty-nine of the world's best men golfers converge on Ireland Thursday, for first-round action at the World Golf Championship's American Express Championship.


Australian planned apology to Aborigines runs into problems

The Australian government's plan to apologise to Aborigines for past injustices ran into trouble Thursday when the opposition indicated it might not support the move.


Britain's Straw shook hand of Zimbabwe's Mugabe 'by mistake': reports

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said he shook hands with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in New York last week "by mistake" and because it was "dark", Britain's press reported.


The Detroit studio where Eminem recorded his hit track My Name Is is up for auction on the website eBay.


Bush, Kerry Exchange Bitter Words on Iraq

WASHINGTON - President Bush and Democratic rival John Kerry traded biting accusations over the war in Iraq on Monday as early Florida voting produced scattered complaints that stirred memories of the state's chaotic 2000 recount.    On a day of strikingly personal campaign rhetoric, Bush said his Democratic challenger stands for "protest and defeatism" in Iraq...


Bomb Hits Jakarta's Paris Embassy, Motive Unclear

A small parcel bomb exploded outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris before dawn on Friday, slightly injuring 10 people and shattering windows, but officials said they had no clues to the motive.


The Russian government abruptly shifted gears Friday and concluded that at least one of the two planes that fell out of the sky almost simultaneously this week was blown up by terrorists.


Mass Effect Launching Nov. 20 for Xbox 360

According to Microsoft and Bioware, the highly anticipated RPG will launch on November 20 exclusively for Xbox 360.


Merrill Lynch to Report $2.5 Billion in Added Loss

Merrill Lynch is expected to report that it will add to its announced write-downs, a person briefed on the plan said.


An Equatorial Guinea official says the former Spanish government backed the plot against President Obiang.


Iraqi policeman and National Guard members check weapons handed in to the al-Nasr police station in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, October 11.


Gunfire erupts in Haiti, Powell & entourage safe

WASHINGTON - Gunfire erupted outside Haiti's presidential palace in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday as US Secretary of State Colin Powell met with senior Haitian officials, CNN reported.


England captain Phil Vickery will only be a replacement for the world champions' must-win clash with Tonga on Friday.


The US economy grew at a pace of 0.6% in the first quarter of 2007, its weakest rate in more than four years.


Gov't softens airport security restrictions

Britain has said that it would relax hand luggage restrictions in place at airports since August 10 following an alleged terror plot, but would maintain a ban on taking liquids on board aircraft.


Vodafone interim profits dip, dividend hiked

British mobile telephone giant Vodafone reported a two percent fall in half-year underlying profits as the group added 7.4 million new customers.


US Airways (UAIRQ.OB:OTC BB - news - research) reached an agreement with General Electric (GE:NYSE - news - research) that would provide the airline with much-needed cash as it seeks to exit bankruptcy.


The chairman of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee has unveiled an ambitious plan to overhaul US intelligence services. It includes creating a director of national intelligence post with broader powers than those envisioned by the White House.


Blair admits mistakes in run-up to Iraq war

British Prime Minister on Sunday admitted mistakes in the run-up to the US-led war against Iraq, but refused to bow calls for a full apology.


Blair back home early after heart procedure

Tony Blair was yesterday recovering from a relatively minor procedure to correct his recurring abnormal heart beat. He was back at home in Downing Street hours after undergoing the treatment having been expected


In Strike, Separate Deals Draw Ire of Big Producers

A deal between United Artists and the Writers Guild of America West may have opened the door to a full-blown brawl.


By Hannah Stephenson  WARMER summers are prompting many gardeners to include a touch of the exotic in their planting - and there's nowhere better to start than palms and tree ferns.


New FBI Memos Describe Abuses of Iraq Inmates

FBI memorandums portray abuse of prisoners by American military personnel in Iraq that included detainees' being beaten and choked and having lit cigarettes


An Afghan soldier kills five fellow troops in an unexplained attack at a coalition base in southern Helmand province.


Desperate Housewives on demand BT Vision has signed a content deal with Disney-ABC Intl. Television which will see subscribers able to enjoy over 650 episodes of hits such as Lost and Desperate Housewives.â¦


Fallujah negotiator refuses to resume talks

The negotiator for the militant Shiite stronghold of Fallujah was freed from US custody today but refused to resume peace talks. Sheik Khaled al-Jumeili said they will remain suspended as a protest against


British Prime Minister Tony Blair was recovering Saturday after successfully undergoing treatment to correct an irregular heartbeat -- but speculation about who will succeed him raged in his party.


Ukraine government back to work as crisis eases

Ukraine's civil servants went back to work for the first time in weeks as the opposition lifted its blockade of government buildings and a political crisis eased following a compromise with the ruling regime.


UN: Explosives Missing from Former Iraq Atomic Site

Nearly 380 tons of explosives are missing from a site near Baghdad that was part of Saddam Hussein's dismantled atom bomb program but was never secured by the US military, the United Nations said Monday.


Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks signed free agent Kevin Willis on Wednesday, nearly a decade after the veteran big man ended an 11- year stint with the team.


Janjaweed militias massing in Sudan: AU source

Janjaweed militias have been concentrating forces to the north of el-Geneina, the capital of Sudan's West Darfur state, an African Union military source said on Tuesday, corroborating a U.N. report.


Lost for so long, Tarver's life and career are on track

VERO BEACH Â· At which point do you bubble in "done" when contemplating Antonio Tarver's shelf life on this planet? During the fuzzy haze of his drug addiction as a young adult?


Top seed Maria Sharapova pulls out of her semi-final against Ana Ivanovic at the Pan Pacific Open with a hamstring injury.


(InfoWorld) - IBM sold off a chunk of its stake in Lenovo Group, leading the world's third-largest PC vendor to temporarily suspend trading of its shares in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Lenovo spokeswoman Angela Lee said IBM had informed the company it planned to sell a large block of shares but had not provided specific details of the transaction. IBM did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "The trading of Lenovo's shares has been suspended at our request, pending the release of an announcement ... relating to the placing of Lenovo's shares by IBM," Lee said. At 2:40pm local time Tuesday afternoon, trading of the company's shares remained suspended. IBM did not respond to a request for comment. Lenovo's shares were trading at HK$3.20 (US$0.41) per share when they were suspended, a drop of 7 percent from the previous day's close. That price matches the reported selling price IBM received for its shares, which were offered to investors at a discount, according to several press reports Tuesday. Citing information offered to investors, those reports said IBM sold 300 million shares in Lenovo Group in a sale worth HK$960 million (US$123 million). IBM, whichÂ sold its PC division to LenovoÂ in 2005, has gradually reduced its stake in Lenovo since that deal. A further sale of shares would be in keeping with the company's stated plan to sell down its stake in Lenovo. Prior to the reported sale, IBM held a 13.2 percent stake in Lenovo, making it the company's second-largest shareholder. The sale of shares -- estimated at 3.5 percent of Lenovo's total shares -- will reduce IBM's holdings to 9.7 percent of the company. While IBM reduces its stake in Lenovo, the two companies remain close partners. Lenovo Tuesday announced the signing of a five-year agreement forÂ IBM to provide technical support, installation, deployment and other PC-related services to its customers. The deal could be worth up to US$245 million to IBM, Lenovo said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. Â


PeopleSoft Board Rejects Oracle Bid Again

Business software maker  PeopleSoft Inc. PSFT.O said on Saturday that its board again  rejected Oracle Corp.'s ORCL.O $9.2 billion tender offer,  remaining defiant a day after most of its shares were tendered  to Oracle.


U.S. Navy medic apologizes for killing of Iraqi man

CAMP PENDLETON, California  - A U.S. Navy medic admitted on Friday helping kidnap an Iraqi grandfather and said his patrol leader's anger at the release of a suspected "terrorist" from Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison prompted the abduction and murder.


On the main drag of the Ohio State University campus, 22-year old Andrew Smith was flagging down every young co-ed who would talk to him.


Google tests interactive Gadget ads service

(InfoWorld) - GoogleÂ is testing a new advertising format that it hopes will make people spend more time looking at ads online, and even embed them in their own Web sites. Called Gadget ads, the service has already been in testing with a small handful of clients. On Wednesday Google announced that it was widening the tests considerably, which means more of the ads will start appearing on Web sites. The format allows companies to build ads that include audio, video, games, and live data feeds, and to spruce them up with the Flash and JavaScript programming languages. The ads wind up looking like small Web pages within a Web page, and people can save them to a blog or to their iGoogle home page. Google posted several examples of the Gadget ads on its Web site. An ad for a Nissan car lets people type a U.S. postal code in the advertisement to get a map showing traffic conditions where they live. Another for the Six Flags theme park includes a simple game and a link to "add to your Google home page." The ads give advertisers detailed metrics about who uses them, according to Google. The Six Flags ad delivered 94.5 million impressions to 17.1 million unique users, and was interacted with about 200,000 times, Google said. 0.3 percent of those exposed to the Gadget ads interacted with them, Google said. In comparison, direct mail generates a response rate of 2.18 percent, according to figures for 2006 from the Direct Marketing Association. The Gadget ads run onÂ Google's Adsense advertising networkÂ and are priced by number of clicks or number of impressions. Google didn't say when the testing period would end, but the it said Gadget ads will eventually be available in 20 languages and 100 countries. Microsoft and other companies also let advertisers put video and interactive features in Web sites, but Google claims that its ads offer more ways to keep people engaged. The ads can also appear on YouTube and sellers can include part of a checkout process in the advertisement.


Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Rasheed Wallace poured in 24 points, including 18 in the second half, leading the defending champion Detroit Pistons to an 87-79 victory over the Houston Rockets in the regular season opener for both teams.


Smartphones Get More Accurate Battery Gauge

Texas Instruments has adapted laptop fuel gauge to monitor smart phone and PDAs.


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Muslims in Iraq and worldwide have spent the weekend celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The feast of Eid ul-Fitr follows a month of daylight fasting.


IBM chief financial officer Mark Loughridge said last night the world's largest computer company expects to beat Wall Street analysts' forecasts for the full year.


Rations spaceship launched from Kazakhstan

A Russian cargo spaceship carrying vital food and water has taken off from Kazakhstan to two astronauts whose supplies have been rationed because they were running so low.


When called in Memphis yesterday, Chris Wallace picked up the phone and proudly announced, "This is Chris Wallace of your Memphis Grizzlies."


Tiscali hits 'undo' after bandwidth throttling chokes iTunes

And cripples other traffic Tiscali has been forced to reverse a software installation on its bandwidth-throttling hardware, after it triggered complaints from customers who saw iTunes blocked during peak hours and other traffic slowed to a crawl.â¦


Boeing Co. got a lift Tuesday as International Lease Finance Corp., the world's largest airline leasing company, ordered 63 Boeing jets with a total list price of $8.8 billion.


Blair will not go down in history as great prime minister: poll

Britain's Tony Blair, who led his Labour Party to an unprecedented three general election victories, will not be remembered as a great prime minister, according to a poll published Saturday.


Protesters Push Through Fence at Ukraine Parliament

KIEV, Ukraine  - Supporters of opposition leader  Viktor Yushchenko broke through a fence surrounding Ukraine's  parliament Tuesday, massing around its main door after the  chamber failed to debate a no confidence vote in the  government.


Airline offering a free beer on Thanksgiving flights

THE REGION JetBlue Airways is offering a bonus to fliers on Thanksgiving Day -- a free beer to accompany football games on its seat-back satellite TVs. The National Football League's Miami Dolphins-Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Dallas Cowboys games will be among the programming on 36 channels of DirecTV that JetBlue offers for free.


Universal AIDS tests will pay off, experts say

Routine, universal testing for the AIDS virus as recommended by a federal agency will likely cost the United States $900 million, but will pay off in terms of lives and money, experts said on Wednesday.


Report: Idled Garciaparra will have MRI on Achilles’

Nomar Garciaparra was scratched from the starting lineup for the second straight day yesterday as his Chicago Cubs beat the Astros, 11-6, in Houston.


Bergamo, 19:57 - CALCIO, ATALANTA: LORIA ANCORA A PARTE

Seduta pomeridiana per l'Atalanta di Stefano Colantuono in vista della gara con la Roma nell'anticip...


Register to win a $2,400 scholarship for you or a family member. Simply fill out the 3-step form for additional information from any of our colleges and you will automatically be entered.


'04 Pentagon Report Cited Detention Concerns

A previously undisclosed Pentagon report concluded that the three terrorism suspects held at a brig in South Carolina were subjected to months of isolation, and it warned that their "unique" solitary confinement could be viewed as violating U.S. detention standards.


Pastor Joel Osteen of Houston is the new face of Christianity, upbeat and contemporary, media-smart with a heightened sense of entertainment and general appeal.


World AIDS Day: debates over sexual abstinence, condoms

Two controversies flared on World AIDS Day as the United States and South Africa backed sexual abstinence to avoid infection and British leader Tony Blair castigated religious bans on condoms.


A year of scandal, changes in fund industry

It was just a little over a year ago that New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer shook the financial services industry -- and investor confidence


A top official at the International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to visit North Korea within two weeks to discuss details of nuclear reactor inspection that Pyongyang agreed to during the recent international disarmament talks, a Japanese newspaper reported Saturday.


Hundreds of shoppers stampede at an Ikea store in Jeddah, leaving three people crushed to death.


Somalia official issues beheading threat

Residents of a southern Somalia town who do not pray five times a day will be beheaded, an Islamic courts official said Wednesday, adding the edict will be implemented in three days.


Wachovia (WB:NYSE - news - research) and SouthTrust (SOTR:Nasdaq - news - research) agreed to divest themselves of 18 branches to reach a deal with the Justice Department.


Iraq expects new round of U.S.-Iran talks soon

Iranian and U.S. envoys will soon hold talks in Baghdad to discuss security in Iraq, following up on a landmark meeting in May, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Tuesday.


Clinton opponent deplores Bush criticism

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's underdog Republican challenger accused the former first lady and her husband on Wednesday of engaging in timeworn theatrics with their criticism of President Bush's handling of the hunt for Osama bin Laden.


A magnitude-6.6 earthquake struck just off the northwestern Japanese coast Monday morning, triggering a tsunami warning for the area, Japan's Meteorological Agency reported.


Archbishop Pius Ncube says regional intervention is needed as Zimbabwe's crisis is "life-threatening".


Charles Giancarlo, who was seen as a likely candidate to head Cisco Systems, has resigned from the networking giant after 14 years to "pursue new professional opportunities," Cisco announced Thursday.


Administration Struggles With Interrogation Specifics

Eight months after President Bush signed a bill authorizing the CIA to resume using "enhanced interrogation techniques" on terrorism suspects, the administration has been unable to agree on what constitutes "humiliating and degrading treatment" of detainees.


Mantova, 17:40 - CACIO, MANTOVA: CRISTANTE ASSENTE CON LO SPEZIA

Lavoro di rifinitura di tipo tattico per il mantova in vista della gara contro lo Spezia. Venti i co...


Nature Chief Wants Visionary 50-Year Plan

By Nisha Sabanayagam  NISHA SABANAYAGAM speaks with Dr Dionysius Sharma, who has just taken over the reins as WWF-Malaysia's new chief executive/ executive director.


Servizi segreti, voce registrata Ã¨ di Osama

10.04: I servizi segreti statunitensi hanno confermato che la cassetta mandata in onda ieri sera dalla tv del Qatar Al Jazira contiene proprio la voce di Osama Bin Laden. Conferme anche sul contenuto del messaggio


Rebels Shun Ivory Coast Talks as Exodus Goes On

Rebels from Ivory Coast shunned peace talks in South Africa as hundreds more foreigners prepared on Friday to leave the former French colony in the wake of days of mob violence.


Dell CEO Says Considering AMD Chips for Servers

Dell Inc. DELL.O, the No. 1 personal  computer maker and the best customer of leading computer chip  maker Intel INTC.O, is mulling using rival chips from AMD  AMD.N, its chief executive said on Thursday.


Rauffer gives Germany its first World Cup win in 13 years; Guay ...

VAL GARDENA, Italy (CP) - Germany's Max Rauffer captured a downhill in strong wind Saturday for his first World Cup victory as most of the pre-race favourites struggled.


FDA: 22% of follow-up studies on medical devices go undone

Nearly a quarter of follow-up studies required by the Food and Drug Administration for medical devices in recent years were never completed, according to a senior regulator who has launched a campaign to improve the ratio.


Immigrants Work On as Reactions Run Gamut

The day after the Senate failed to move on a proposal for a broad change in immigration law, it was a time to take stock of the debate.


Apple's U2 'box set' a sign of shifting music pricing?

It may be a small, $149 step, but Apple Computer's introduction of a U2 "digital box set"--a downloadable compilation of every song the band has ever recorded--could portend a shift in online-music pricing.


Hanging out with Mick Jones and Tony James, who were in town recently to perform at the Highline Ballroom.


Health care company raises earnings guidance, but its vital signs bear watching.


An Islamic civil rights group Wednesday called on President Bush to rescind the appointment of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum board member who criticized an incoming congressman, Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress.


18 killed in grenade attacks in Bangladesh

At least 18 people were confirmed killed, and some 300 were injured as unidentified assailants hurled over ten grenades toward a rally organized by the main opposition


(CBS/AP) Prince Harry arrived back in London Friday amid reports that armed guards at the Argentinean ranch where was working had foiled a plot to kidnap him.


VCs now wait for 'blockbuster hits' before investing in Internet content

At a major gathering of the leaders in Internet content production this morning, producers learned why it may be tougher than ever before to receive first-stage funding. Today, the shows need to already exist...somehow.


Ahern - 'Sinn Fein knew of several IRA robberies'

Sinn Fein knew about several IRA robberies while holding powersharing talks with the British and Irish governments last year, Irish Premier Bertie Ahern said today.


Experts working on vaccine to fight AIDS in China

Scientists in Hong Kong and China are working on an AIDS vaccine to protect against three variants of HIV sweeping across south and west China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.


Artery disease risk doubled in African Americans

NEW YORK  - African Americans have a   two-fold higher risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a   type of "hardening of the arteries" in the legs, than other   groups. The risk among African Americans is equivalent to   smoking one pack of cigarettes every day over a 20-year period,   experts say, making screening for this condition even more   important in this population.


Cuba denies interfering in Panama's internal affairs

Cuban ambassador to Panama Carlos Zamora has rejected Panama's charges that Havana had interfered inits internal affairs. On arrival in Havana on Wednesday night, Zamora said


China Telecom, the country's largest fixed-line provider, sees half-year profits fall as users opt for mobile phones.


Michael Jackson's Neverland manager claims police wanted to search areas unspecified by their warrant.


Joy in Italy, Caution in France on Iraq Hostages

British hostage Kenneth Bigley appeared in a video tape aired on Wednesday, pleading with Prime Minister Tony Blair to meet the demands of his captors in Iraq to release Iraqi women prisoners.


Google ditches invites for email service

Wanna go the cinema instead? Google will drop the invite system for signing up to Gmail service as of tomorrow.â¦


Not Everyone Thinks the Knicks Stink; Just Ask the Knicks

There were no hints on Tuesday that the team's president, Isiah Thomas, might replace Coach Lenny Wilkens before the Knicks plunge out of contention.


The Federal Reserve yesterday boosted its key interest rate for the third time in as many months, signaling the economy has rebounded from its recent struggles and inflation remains in check.


Bush Soc. Sec. Plan to Allow Tax Diversion

The Bush administration is focusing on a Social Security proposal that would allow younger workers to invest nearly two-thirds of their payroll taxes in private accounts, with contributions limited to about $1,000 to $1,300 a year, an administration official said Tuesday.


Economy expected to expand slowly on job market strength

The US economy should expand modestly in coming months as a healthy job market continues to trump weakness in housing prices, a gauge of future business activity showed yesterday.


Bush, Kerry bone up for debates after dust-ups on Iraq

The US presidential rivals hunkered down to prepare for their first televised debate next week after days of bitter dueling over US Iraq policy and the war on terror.


Fake Botox among easily bought bioterror agents

Homeland Security restrictions should have prevented an unlicensed doctor in Broward County from buying concentrated botulinum toxin, widely recognized as the most poisonous substance and a feared bioterrorism agent.


UPDATE 1-President of Delta's Song carrier retires

John Selvaggio, the president of Delta Air Lines Inc.'s (DAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) low-cost carrier, Song, has retired, effective immediately, for personal reasons, a Delta spokeswoman said on Friday.


Report: Online shopping sites struggle to keep up with demand

Online retail sites struggle to keep up with consumer demand during the first week of the holiday shopping season, according to Internet performance management vendor Keynote Systems Inc.


Dozens Killed in Series of Attacks in Iraq

BAGHDAD, IraqÃÂ  -- A series of attacks killed at least 51 people across Iraq Thursday, including 43 within a half hour in a Shiite section of Baghdad, officials said. Scores were wounded in the attacks, part of a violent week that has seen hundreds slain.


Denver, 08:28 - BASEBALL, MAJOR LEAGUE: BOSTON VINCE WORLD SERIES

I Boston Red Sox sono diventati campioni della Major League Baseball. Nelle World Series, Boston ha ...


Ruling Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych led the presidential race in Ukraine on Monday, but a run-off against his liberal challenger appeared certain.


Heat gets to Huskies in Florida championships

The Everett Huskies and the Santa Ana Monarchs from California were playing on neutral ground at Disney's Wide World of Sports, but ask Huskies coach Frank Cafarella and he'll tell you the weather in Florida was definitely on the Monarchs' side.


Wall Street puts Independence Air's parent on its bankruptcy watch list after an analyst offered a grim forecast for the local, four-month-old low-cost carrier.


Late strike spoils Christmas party for Liverpool

AN EQUALISER in injury time by Portsmouth's Lomana LuaLua against Liverpool at Anfield yesterday will hamper the home side's attempts to make ground on the leading English Premier League soccer rivals during the Christmas program.


Jonathan Vilma brought exactly what the New York Jets needed on defense with a performance so brilliant he won The Associated Press 2004 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.


TB Patient Identified as Lawyer; Border Agent, Aware, Let Him In

The man with a dangerous form of tuberculosis re-entered the country when a customs agent let him pass despite knowing that he was being sought by health authorities.


Bangladesh still suspects foreign hand in bombing

Bangladesh said yesterday it had not ruled out a foreign hand in a deadly grenade attack on an opposition rally last week which killed 19 people and wounded more than 150.


More web surfers abandoning the good ship Internet Explorer

Microsoft's web browser, Internet Explorer, is continuing its slow but steady slide in market share. According to fresh numbers from web metrics firm Websidestory, IE's share has slipped 1.8 per cent in the last three months.


Sharapova Topples Mauresmo to Reach Final

Maria Sharapova crushed No. 1 AmÃ©lie Mauresmo, 6-0, 4-6, 6-0, to advance to Saturday night's prime-time final against BelgiumÂs Justine Henin-Hardenne.


The Index of Leading Economic Indicators, a widely watched gauge of future economic activity, rose in November, reversing a five month trend, a private research group reported Monday.


First, Georgia's education chief tried to take the word ``evolution'' out of the state's science curriculum. Now a suburban Atlanta county is in federal court over textbook


Steffy Showing Positive Signs, But Needs Work

Maryland quarterback Jordan Steffy shows positive signs in Thursday night's loss but he and theTerps offense still have a ways to go.


Protezione Civile in allerta per le prossime 24-36 ore


Paid Event for Education Officials Sets One-on-One Sales Meetings

On the heels of a student loan scandal, some higher education officials have called a conferenceâs format deeply troubling.


Before the Call: Stumbling at Finish Line

A look at Finish Line before the first-quarter earnings report comes out.


European defense companies know they must unite to keep up, as the gap in military spending between the United States and its NATO allies continues to widen. But a push to consolidate Europe's fragmented shipbuilding sector — a minefield of national, corporate and labor sensitivities — is proving slow and difficult.


In this World Series, a tale of the ragtag coming together

Much of America cheers on the Red Sox as the team tries to end its drought of championships. By Mark Sappenfield | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.


Alex Ovechkin won the breakaway challenge in the NHL's SuperSkills competition Saturday night, leading the Eastern Conference to a 9-6 victory over the West in the preview to the All-Star game.


Bank tussle over, but North Korea still slams U.S.

North Korea lashed the United States on Friday for conducting an arms race and, far from announcing plans to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, warned that it would "bolster its deterrent for self-defence".


Verizon Wireless on Thursday launched a broadcast TV service for cell phones in about 20 Midwestern and Western markets, charging $15 to $25 a month for the initial lineup from eight leading networks


Rebels Kills 17 Iraq Security in Bombing Spree

Insurgents killed 17 Iraqi police and  National Guards Monday in another bloody spree of ambushes,  bombings and suicide attacks aimed at wrecking Iraq's Jan. 30  national election.


Crude oil heads towards $49.40 record on supply fears

Oil prices pushed above $49 a barrel on Monday, approaching record levels as worries about the stability of supplies from Iraq, Nigeria and Russia compounded concerns over low fuel stocks ahead of winter.


A Communist Party whistle-blower who created a national sensation in China by publicly accusing his superiors of tolerating official corruption has been condemned for breaking party rules and ordered to "do a complete self-examination," authorities announced.


Demonstrations and protests bubbled up around New York again Wednesday, as thousands of people formed a symbolic unemployment line extending 3 1/2 miles from Wall Street to within yards of the Republican National Convention.


Alcohol consumption increases irregular heart beat!:

[Health India]: Washington, Oct 12 : An article published in the October 11 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, has revealed that alcohol consumption may slightly increase the risk for developing a certain type


No. 9 North Carolina Whacks Clemson 99-55

Erlana Larkins scored a career-high 24 points and No. 9 North Carolina forced 35 turnovers to beat Clemson 99-55 Friday night, giving coach Sylvia Hatchell her 400th victory with the Tar Heels.


Swansea's only landfill site may be full by March meaning rubbish will have to be exported to other parts of Wales.


The AFC playoff race got even clearer, while things are even more muddled in the NFC.


Variety - (Variety) — "The Good Body" joins the fleet of Broadway productions ready to call it quits in early January. The solo act, starring and written by Eve Ensler, plays its final perf Jan. 2. The limited 12-week engagement originally was announced to close Jan. 16.


A Palestinian with links to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and an Egyptian were charged Thursday with providing financial support for terror groups and recruiting would-be terrorists, including alleged al-Qaida plotter Jose Padilla.


A scan can reveal which people harbour dangerous levels of fat around their internal organs, work shows.


Bahraini Royal Ends Made-For-TV Marriage

The five-year marriage is over between a former Marine and a young Bahraini royal whose story provided the basis for a made-for-television movie, "The Princess and the Marine."


U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld skirted around a sign warning of eruption danger. He climbed the crumbling, steep steps to the top of the Masaya volcano, carefully protecting his left arm, in a sling since surgery a month ago.


Kino Tips: Installing from Scratch and Exporting MPEG Videos

If you're ready to give video editing and movie making a try now that you know about Kino, here are some tips to get you up and running.


Real's new 'Rhapsody DNA' will allow Sandisk to incorporate the Rhapsody service with the attractive Sansa e200 MP3 player in a way that could make Apple and Microsoft nervous.  In Listening Post.


EU citizens' guide to navigating the bureaucratic jungle

It was all supposed to be so much simpler. After the nation entered the EU in May, Europeans hoped they would no longer face a jungle of bureaucratic obstacles to living and working in this country.


New Radio Starts Broadcasts in English in Both Israel, Palestinian Territories

Text of report by Israel radio on 20 February  From tomorrow [20 February] a new radio station, Ram FM, will begin operating in Israel and the PNA. The radio will broadcast in English from studios in Jerusalem and Ramallah, presenting music and 20 news flashes throughout the day.


Bank of America said its head of global structured products, Chris Hentemann, left, just one day after the bank reported a poor quarter for its investment banking unit.


The News Corp. publishing division appears to have a winning title on its hands.


Firenze, 19:43 - CALCIO, FIORENTINA: DS CORVINO TRATTA CRIS E SQUILLACI

Il ds della Fiorentina Pantaleo Corvino è in Francia, dove avrebbe incontrato i dirigenti del...


Olmert, Abbas expected to meet Sunday-officials

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are expected to meet on Sunday, officials said on Friday.


Sri Lanka president says Tigers must choose war or peace

The Tamil Tigers must decide between war and peace, Sri Lanka's president said as the government marked the capture of the rebels' final bastion.


World leaders lavished praise on Colin Powell as he stepped down as US secretary of state, hailing his efforts to build international consensus and pledging to work closely with his replacement.


Sports: A request for Hamm to give it up

ATHENS, Greece The head of the International Gymnastics Federation wants American Paul Hamm (hahm) to give up his all-around gold medal in a show of sportsmanship.


Fred Ebb, who penned the lyrics for Broadway hits   Cabaret and Chicago, as well as the Big Apple anthem, "New   York, New York," died Saturday in a New York hospital after suffering a   heart attack.


New Orleans, off to a 2-24 start, deals its franchise leader in games started, David Wesley, to the Rockets for Jim Jackson and Bostjan Nachbar.


Mr Howard has dismissed claims his party needed a miracle to seize power from Labour. And today he said the Tories could win the election.


Gli incendiari responsabili di decine di roghi devastanti nella zona di CumianaCreavano un focolaio a testa e poi osservavano dall'alto chi vinceva la gara                                          Sfida a chi bruciava piÃ¹ bosco denunciati quattro studenti piemontesi                                                                                C'era anche un minorenne. Uno ha ammesso: "Lo facevamo per noia"


Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington on Monday disputed a claim that Atlanta is the nation's third most dangerous city. Pennington said crime has gone down since he took over as police chief in 2002.


Facebook becomes hub for outside software makers

Facebook.com on Thursday took the  wraps off its highly anticipated makeover from a members-only  club into what it hopes can allow it to become a software  operating system for all sorts of Internet media.


Tropical Storm Lorenzo to hit Mexico as hurricane

Tropical Storm Lorenzo, forecast to  become a hurricane before slamming into Mexico, dumped heavy  rain on the country's Gulf coast on Thursday but was unlikely  to affect oil production.


Cognition Search: Formula for âMeaningâ in Search

Backed by the experience of leading linguistic experts and technology that takes into consideration, ontology, morphology and synonymy, CognitionSearch, the semantic engine from Cognition technologies  touts to have the perfect recipe to nail “meaning” in search. Launching in the vertical domains of legal services, medical and health sciences, Cognition search intends to gain traction and [...]


Milano, 17:56 - CALCIO, MILAN; ANCELOTTI: BENE PATO, ALL'INIZIO TROPPO LENTI

Due gol di Pato nel secondo tempo e il Milan torna alla vittoria a San Siro contro il Genoa. "Pato s...


Sprint Corp. and cable television provider Mediacom Communications Corp. announced an agreement Wednesday that will allow Sprint to offer Internet telephone service to Mediacom's 2.7 million household subscribers.


Illness spreads to third Litvinenko contact: report

A second Russian businessman who met murdered ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko on the day he fell ill is now sick from radiation poisoning, local media quoted medical sources as saying on Friday.


La Nina conditions are developing in the Pacific Ocean, and that cooling of waters generally brings a more active Atlantic hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday.


Toronto's Overbay Breaks Bone in Right Hand

Blue Jays 1B Lyle Overbay is expected to miss four to six weeks after breaking a bone in his right hand.


Rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called on his fighters to lay down arms and leave the holy city of Najaf. It follows a deal brokered by Iraq's top Shiite cleric that ended weeks of violence.


Investigators Seek Lie-Detector Tests in Terrorism Case

Justice Department investigators have sought to have senior federal prosecutors take polygraph examinations in an effort to determine who leaked the name of a confidential


Akaka Survives Challenge from Case in Hawaii Democratic Primary

Democratic Sen. Daniel K. Akaka was renominated in a primary election Saturday in Hawaii, topping two-term Democratic Rep. Ed Case in a competitive contest in which age and seniority became campaign issues.


With Jacques Villeneuve testing for Renault today at Silverstone there has been the perhaps inevitable speculation that this could change things for next season when Giancarlo Fisichella is due to join Fernando Alonso at Renault F1.


Stars and directors defend the movie version of Vanity Fair following a lukewarm reception by critics.


Martinez succeeds Graham in year dominated by Republicans

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Seniority means a lot in the US Capitol halls, where senators of either party can earn some clout with enough time served.


Washington: The United States on Friday declined to join a row over the potential burial of ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, adding that his death would not change US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.


Walmart.com debuts sub-$500 Linux laptop

Wal-Mart has added a sub-$500 Linux laptop to its online store. The $498 Balance laptop comes preloaded with Linspire's desktop Linux operating system and is claimed to be the lowest priced laptop on the market


U.N. warns North Korea against nuclear weapon test

The U.N. Security Council on Friday urged North Korea not to carry out a planned nuclear-weapon test and warned Pyongyang of unspecified consequences if it did.


Next time you drive past a jogger on the street, give her a honk and a wave - she's honing the skill that helped define the human body, according to a study by researchers from the University of Utah and Harvard.


C-3PO actor's pride in Star Wars stardust

Sir Alec Guinness should have been more proud of his part in "Star Wars", insists Anthony Daniels, who played alongside him as the golden robot C-3PO in the legendary films.


CORRECTED: Private sector adds 57,000 jobs in Feb

(Corrects result of derivatives auction in 10th paragraph, removes extraneous word in third paragraph)      NEW YORK  - U.S. private employers likely added 57,000 new jobs in February, about half of what economists had expected, according to a report released on Wednesday, indicating weakness in the labor market and a slowing economy.


Attacks on oil pipelines have brought all oil exports from southern Iraq to a complete halt, a senior Iraqi oil official said today.


RIM's enterprise dominance comes to an end

Now head-to-head with Microsoft Mobile Workshop After dominating the enterprise mobile email space with the BlackBerry solution for so many years, RIM is no longer the only serious game in town. Despite a number of false starts, arch-rival Microsoft now appears to have closed the gap, at least in terms of forward looking commitment.â¦


Storage start-up cashes in its chips Storage guts maker Emulex will buy privately-held chip firm Sierra Logic for $180m in a mixed stock, cash, and debt transfer deal.â¦


Suicide truck bomber kills 13 in N.Iraq attack

A suicide truck bomber killed at least 13 people when he rammed his vehicle into the municipal headquarters of a northern Iraqi town on Thursday, collapsing part of the building and demolishing nearby houses, police said.


Radcliffe, Ramaala win New York City Marathon

Less than three months after she pulled out of the Olympics just a few miles from the finish, Britain's Paula Radcliffe surged ahead in the final feet of the New York City Marathon Sunday to win its tightest race in history.


India's Hetero Takes AIDS Drugs Off WHO List

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


Ziff Davis - A SCO spokesman says the company has completed its arranged settlement with its former financial backer without fanfare.


Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to her favorite family vacation spot Saturday to raise money for her presidential campaign at a celebrity-studded event where she took some pointed swipes at President Bush.


Microsoft Purchase of RIM Nice to Consider, but Unlikely

Rumors that Microsoft Corp. may purchase BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd. are likely just that because of RIM's high price tag, though there would be benefits for both parties if a deal were struck, analysts said Friday.


Reading the HP security-acquisition tea leaves

Blog: Having just acquired SPI Dynamics, Hewlett-Packard likely is going to acquire another security company sometime soon. But which one?


Bangor Daily News, Maine, John Holyoke Column: Families, Friends Persevere at Long Lake Ice Fishing

By John Holyoke, Bangor Daily News, Maine  Feb. 6--When you head out onto a frozen lake to compete for hundreds of dollars in prize money, it pays to have a game plan ... and a few tricks up your sleeve.


Scottish Dairy Giants Could Face Massive Fine After Alleged Price-Fixing

Six Scottish dairies face fines totaling almost GBP60 million, after being accused of working together to fix milk prices.  The provisional findings were part of an investigation which started six years ago.


A man who drove his car into a crowd of street-racing fans tried to stop by slamming on the brakes and is traumatized by the tragedy that left eight people dead, his guardian said Tuesday.


Federer, Hewitt highlight Day-1 action in Houston

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Reigning world No. 1 Roger Federer and former top-ranked star Lleyton Hewitt will open up their weeks Monday at the 2004 Tennis Masters Cup.


US: NKorea could disable reactor quickly

The top U.S. negotiator at North Korean nuclear talks said Monday that the North's plutonium-producing reactor could be disabled by the end of the year.


Nordic nations fear large death toll in Asia

Nordic countries dispatched search teams and made public appeals for help to find some 2,000 Swedes, Danes, Finns and Norwegians missing in the aftermath of earthquake-driven tsunamis in south Asia.


Let's have a show of hands TV wit Stephen Colbert has had more fun at the expense of Wikipedia with another deeply ironic prank.â¦


Napoli, 13:23 - CALCIO, PAGLIUCA: ATTENDO PROPOSTE PER GIOCARE ANCORA

"Mi auguro  che nel giro di qualche settimana una squadra decente abbia bisogno di un portiere, io s...


An American woman and young Afghan girl have died from their wounds after a suicide attack in a busy shopping street in the Afghan capital, hospital staff say.


The Wall Street Journal reports Merck & Co. of Whitehouse Station, NJ, has begun hunting for a new chief executive officer. The move comes amid a string of bad news at the drug maker, including its recent


In un sondaggio, condotto su 600 uomini e donne intervistate dalla ditta di rasoi inglese 'Veet Bladeless Razor', la scena di 'Basic Instinct', in cui la Stone accavalla le gambe di fronte a un imbarazzato Michael Douglas, risulta prima davanti ad altre


Prince barely spoke, and still stole the show. It was billed as a news conference about the Super Bowl entertainment lineup, featuring pregame performers Cirque du Soleil, national anthem singer Billy Joel and Prince, the halftime-show headliner.


An anonymous reader writes "Market research company IDC is predicting a rosy future for MP3 player sales. They predict that by 2008 it will grow into a $58 billion industry - four times bigger than the US record industry.


Newer, faster Bluetooth EDR now approved

The Bluetooth SIG has finalized the Bluetooth EDR spec for three times the bandwidth, and laid out its road map for the next years of Bluetooth.


Apple's CEO may be on sick leave, but a diminutive Steve Jobs doll is busy traveling the world like a kidnapped garden gnome, spreading the message of Mac unity. By Leander Kahney.


The Boston Bruins found an effective way to end their lengthy losing streak by facing a team that's stuck in a similar slump.


TB strain threatens "uncontrollable" epidemic

Extremely drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis could spark a "practically uncontrollable" epidemic among HIV/AIDS sufferers in areas like Africa, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday.


Pop star Jamelia is recovering in hospital following a hernia operation after she collapsed during filming in Spain.


Sebastian Bergmann's Blog: Profiling and Optimizing PHPUnit

Sebastian Bergmann has posted about a bottle neck in the PHPUnit unit testing software for PHP:   Now that collecting code coverage information is not slow anymore (as of Xdebug 2.0.1), PHPUnit's report generation code (PHPUnit_Util_Report_*) has become a bottleneck.   There are several images included in the post (output of KCachegrind):   generation at revision 1473 generation at revision 1475 generation at 1486 generation at 1488


SunTrust Banks Inc. (STI) on Monday put two senior finance executives on leave after uncovering accounting problems that will result in the No.


Measuring Literacy in a World Gone Digital

The Educational Testing Service has developed a new test that it says can assess technology literacy.


SEOUL -- A delegation from the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency arrived in South Korea yesterday for a follow-up probe into the country's secret nuclear experiments. The visit follows South Korea's recent admission that its scientists once dabbled in extracting plutonium and enriching uranium, both of which can be used to make nuclear arms. South Korea says the experiments were ...


CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Browns traded wide receiver Quincy Morgan to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday for wide receiver Antonio Bryant.


U.S. stock futures rose on Friday,  pointing to a higher market open, after monthly employment data  assured investors that the Federal Reserve was unlikely to  raise interest rates aggressively.


The bomb, weighing at least 4 kg (8.8 lb), had been attached to a bicycle, officials said on Friday. Baluchistan, Pakistan's largest but most backward province, borders Afghanistan and is awash with smuggled weapons and drugs.


JERUSALEM - Heavily armed Israeli police commandos stormed a Jerusalem church compound on Thursday and re-arrested nuclear whistle blower Mordechai Vanunu.


At Least 4 Dead in L.A. Commuter Train Crash

At least four people were killed  and up to 30 were critically injured when two commuter trains  collided near downtown Los Angeles early on Wednesday morning,  emergency authorities said.


Baseball: Cardinals try to foil Red Sox dream run in World Series

BOSTON : Baseball fans should forgive the St. Louis Cardinals for acting as the party poopers for the Boston Red Sox, who will try to snap an 86-year title drought by winning the 101st World Series.


3M to invest at least 200 million dollars in Poland

US manufactuer 3M plans to invest at least 200 million dollars (270 million euros) in Poland over the next two years, tripling the current level, its local boss said Saturday.


Kenyan police fired teargas and water cannon on Thursday at thousands of anti-government protesters chanting "Peace" and singing the national anthem as they tried to march to a banned rally.


U.S. trade gap in Oct narrows most in 5 years

The U.S. trade deficit in October narrowed by the biggest amount in nearly five years, as oil import prices plunged for a second consecutive month and exports edged up to a new record, a Commerce Department report showed on Tuesday.


Stocks were little changed on Monday  as gains in insurance company American International Group Inc.  AIG.N and software maker Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O offset  losses in energy stocks due to lower oil prices.


Brown fuels euroskeptic image with EU treaty snub

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has voiced hope Thursday that the EU can turn a page on recent institutional wrangling, but his failure to sign a new treaty with EU allies renewed charges of euroskepticism.


Say what? Yang's right as Yahoo's CTO, Semel says

Blog: There's no small irony in Terry Semel's suggestion last week that Jerry Yang "think hard about being our CTO."


Blair heads for farewell Africa trip, amid Darfur clouds

British Prime Minister Tony Blair left Tuesday for a three-nation trip to Africa, stressing the need for "re-engagement" with the continent he has championed during his decade in power.


Blue-Bag Substitute Program to Expand: 7 More Wards May Get Pilot Recycling Plan

By Liam Ford, Chicago Tribune  Sep. 10--Chicago officials said Saturday they will expand a pilot recycling program, a sign that the city might be moving toward waving a white flag for its blue bag recycling--a program with a low participation rate a decade after it started.


Veteran designer Peter Molyneux says he wants to put the emotion of love into his next game, Fable 2.


Tra Hamas e al Fatah dalle 2.Raid aereo israeliano


La combinazione: 7 - 43 - 46 - 70 - 77 - 89 jolly 38


Florida Panhandle residents told to leave

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - Apprehensive coastal residents from Floridaâs Panhandle to Louisiana prepared to flee from massive Hurricane Ivan, which has entered the Gulf of Mexico and is on a collision course with the Gulf Coast.


Russian computers that control the international space station's orientation and oxygen and water supplies were partly working again Thursday after failing the day before.


UK NHS IT project cuts new deal with Microsoft

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has signed a software licensing deal with Microsoft Corp. that the NHS says will provide for the development of a user interface specifically designed for the organization


Sometimes a star can save a movie, at least make it watchable. The new evidence is RenÃ©e Zellweger in "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.


Track and field Olympic champion sprinter Justin Gatlin will challenge his four-year doping suspension and may take the case to federal court. A three-member arbitration panel voted, 2-1, to suspend Gatlin, who faced a possible eight-year ban for his second doping offense, in a ruling released Tuesday. Under the ruling, Gatlin would be eligible to run in 2010. That would ...


A former rebel leader is on course to win historic elections in Aceh in Indonesia,  early voting samples suggest.


WASHINGTON -- Federal health officials are again examining what's known -- and what's still to be learnedÃÂ -- about the safety of a mercury mixture that's stirred controversy since dentists began using it to fill cavities in the 1800s.