Sandler's "Click" (Remote) Controls Box Office

The new Adam Sandler   comedy, about a guy whose magical remote control can shift time to suit   his whims, zapped up an estimated $40 million to win the weekend box   office derby.


Political Prisoners Among Latest Freed in Myanmar

Two senior pro-democracy leaders jailed in 1995 for distributing anti-government pamphlets were freed in military-ruled Myanmar on Sunday, part of the junta's latest release of more than 5,000 prisoners.


The film and music industries yesterday again lost a legal battle to hold file-sharing companies liable for copyright infringement, setting up an expected confrontation in the Supreme Court.


Double-Threat Marshall Leads West Virginia to Win

HARTFORD, Conn. (Sports Network) - Rasheed Marshall  completed 12-of-20 passes for 138 yards with a touchdown and  added 110 yards rushing on 18 carries, leading 17th-ranked West  Virginia over Connecticut, 31-19, in a midweek Big East clash  at Rentschler Field.


Punk legends The Sex Pistols are to play a one-off concert in London in November, their first gig for four years.


Democrats yesterday seized upon new documents about President George W. Bush's Vietnam-era National Guard service to accuse Bush of shirking his duty and then deceiving the public about it.


CP Rail to buy DM&E for at least $1.48 billion

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd  said it planned to buy the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corp for at least $1.48 billion to expand its network and increase its access to U.S. Midwest markets.


More than 80 people died after being either suffocated or crushed while in police custody in south Thailand. The deaths followed the breaking up of a demonstration outside a police station in Narathiwat province.


The D.C. Council gives its blessing to a deal to bring the Washington Nationals to the city, approving financing to build a baseball stadium along the Anacostia waterfront.


A fire damaged Vice President Dick Cheney's ceremonial office in a building overlooking the White House on Wednesday and forced hundreds of government workers to evacuate.


Business & money: British Gas owne signals that household energy bills could have to rise in the new year


Brothers Reunited by Fate After 53 Years

Two brothers from Australia and Argentina who lost contact for 53 years were reunited by chance after recognizing each other on a trip to their native Portugal.


A helicopter crashed in thick woods early Sunday during the search for a missing hunter, killing all three people on board, according to the company that owns the aircraft.


From one less-than-ultimate experience to another After ending its relationship with Apple, NBC has jumped in bed with Amazon.â¦


WIN a double album of The Police's greatest hits!   That's the prize offer from the Preview team today.   We have TEN copies of The Police: Greatest Hits up for grabs.


Bank of America to buy Countrywide for $4 billion

Bank of America Corp  said on Friday it would buy battered mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp  for $4 billion, a move that could avert one of the biggest collapses in the U.S. housing crisis.


Strike closes down Bangalore IT companies

A dispute over water rights has caused outsourcers to tell their staffers to stay at home because of expected trouble and even violence from protesters.


EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- The only thing the Bears were silent about after Sunday's 28-21 upset of the New York Giants was the condition of quarterback Craig Krenzel.


A powerful House committee chairman released new details yesterday about a widening investigation into allegations of "improper conduct" by the chief of the U.S. General Services Administration.


Moscow Must Admit Its Mistakes in Chechnya

After the horrendous hostage-taking in Beslan and the killing of more than 300 people, an end to the bloody cycle of retaliation tied to the Chechnya conflict seems farther away than ever.


Gore and Glory as Feathers Fly in Manila

One minute you're a contender, the next  you're all washed up.


Firesâ Cost to Insurers Is in Range of $1 Billion

The California wildfires are going to cost only a fraction of the $41.1 billion that insurance companies paid out for Hurricane Katrina.


Genova, 16:40 - CALCIO, AZZURRI; QUAGLIARELLA: AVEVO SOGNATO PARTITA DEL GENERE

E' il nuovo eroe azzurro. Le prime pagine dei quotidiani sportivi sono tutte per lui, ma Fabio Quagl...


As the election approaches, Congress abandons all pretense of fiscal responsibility, voting tax cuts that would drive 10-year deficits past $3 trillion.


'Contro speculazioni, governo proclami stato emergenza'


F.D.A. Tracked Tainted Drugs, but Trail Went Cold in China

Two poisoning cases 10 years apart illustrate what happens when nations fail to police the global pipeline of drug ingredients.


Kevin Roberts: Eagles almost give this one away

For two weeks the Eagles have talked about how this is the time of year when they need to be peaking, building momentum for the playoffs.


NHL sets example for FIFA with video technology

Two moments in World Cup history are guaranteed to start arguments between soccer fans -- Geoff Hurst's winning goal for England in 1966 and Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" strike for Argentina 20 years later.


Chavez's Venezuela "red, really, red" after vote

CARACAS, Venezuela  - President Hugo Chavez painted Venezuela the "red, really, red" of his anti-U.S. socialist revolution, sweeping to re-election in Sunday's vote with wins in every state in the OPEC heavyweight.


Bush tries to deliver on arms deal to Saudis

President George W. Bush, trying to counter Iran's growing military clout, made clear his commitment on Monday to go ahead with a major arms sale to Saudi Arabia as he began his first visit to the Islamic kingdom.


Woody Williams and Brandon Backe had shaky starts in Game 1 of the NLCS, each pitcher allowing a two-run homer in the first inning to the opposing team's star.


Giambi Will Cooperate With M.L.B.âs Investigation

Jason Giambi of the Yankees is believed to be the first active player to work with George J. Mitchellâs investigation into steroids in baseball.


There are some indications that statins arenât all theyâre cracked up to be.


Meat Co. Recalls Beef Patties, Steaks Sold Across U.S.

Suburban Chicago meat processor  Quantum Foods was voluntarily recalling 406,000 pounds of  frozen beef products, including hamburger patties and steaks,  that may be contaminated with disease-causing E. coli bacteria,  the government said.


Ankiel May Be With Cardinals in Postseason

Rick Ankiel's return to the major leagues might not be just a September cameo.


Tobacco-related diseases to take high toll: study

Tobacco-related diseases including cancers and heart disease will kill 6.4 million people a year by 2015, 50 percent more than AIDS, a study said on Tuesday.


Tough food safety precautions and produce-tracking systems implemented last year after a fatal E. coli outbreak were put to the test when spinach from a produce company came up positive for salmonella bacteria, prompting a new recall.


Roma, 13:45 - CALCIO, CAMPANA: ARBITRI GIOVANI E NON TUTTI HANNO QUALITA'

Sergio Campana commenta la direzione di gara di Inter-Parma, prima di entrare nella sede della Feder...


By RASHA MADKOUR, Associated Press WriterCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Two astronauts stepped outside to begin rewiring the international space station Thursday after NASA powered down large sections of the orbiting lab for their own safety.U.S.


Will Adamsdale, who was unknown on the comedy scene until weeks ago, scoops the Perrier Comedy Award.


Gates discusses Iraq troop levels with commanders

Defense Secretary Robert Gates met his top military commanders in Iraq on Monday to discuss the pace of U.S. troop reductions, a day after militants killed more than 50 people in a spate of attacks.


Catania, 16:54 - CALCIO, CATANIA-JUVE: TRE DENUNCE E UNA CONDANNA TRA OSPITI

Tre tifosi juventini denunciati e uno condannato a un anno di reclusione, pena sospesa. Ã questo il ...


The Super Bowl champs ended their exhibition season with a three-game losing streak and a 31-0 setback. Hey, at least they should be rested for their regular-season opener.


Prime offers little assurance on Powerco deal

Prime Infrastructure this morning did little to indicate the New Plymouth District Council's lock-in agreement for payment for its stake in lines company Powerco will hold water.


CHALLENGES 2007-2008:  Rich in Events, Poor on Results

BERLIN, Dec 20 (IPS) - For the European Union, 2007 was a year rich in  events, but poor on results. Next year promises to be as  turbulent as this one, and probably as unremarkable in its  outcome.


Uninsured More Likely to Die From Cancer Following Diagnosis

THURSDAY, Dec. 20 (HealthDay News) -- People diagnosed with cancer who don't have health insurance are more likely to die because they are less likely to get screening tests and so are typically diagnosed with advanced disease, a new study from the American Cancer Society finds.


SanDisk Cruzer Pro, Enterprise secure USB Flash drives

Pay a premium, get password protection Review Hands up who doesn't own a USB Flash drive, purchased or acquired as a freebie? No one? We're not surprised. These things are everywhere, leaving manufacturers keen to come up with novel ideas to sell us more. SanDisk's approach: push data security with a pair of password-protected products.â¦


A gaggle of geese runs riot in the Hof van Delft Park. They honk, they hiss, they harass and — it's hard not to notice — they scatter droppings everywhere.


Most Japanese Women Shun Birth Control Pill

Five years ago Japanese women's rights advocates won their battle to legalize the birth control pill. Now they are waging an even tougher fight - getting women to use it...


Intelligence agency GCHQ targets a new generation of recruits with advertising in computer games.


Around the State / a Weekly Digest of Virginia News

EASTERN  DAHLGREN - King George County residents can learn more about proposed improvements to the Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge early next month. An informational meeting will be held June 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Potomac Elementary School in Dahlgren.


The proposal by the Premier League to stage matches across the world leads to fears of player burn-out.


US House of Representatives debates the Iraq war

The US House of Representative was entering a second day of debate over President George W. Bush's war policy in Iraq, with opponents calling a symbolic measure being discussed a "charade" that comforts terrorists and US enemies.


Lâopposizione: troppi silenzi, Frattini deve chiarire

Secondo Al Arabiya hanno assassinato un Â«italianoÂ», secondo al Jazira Â«un irachenoÂ». Per alcuni minuti, nel primo pomeriggio di lunedÃ¬, i corrispondenti delle grandi agenzie internazionali sparsi nelle


Obiettivo riduzione costi di circa un mld entro il 2010


Treasury secretary signals he may resign

Treasury Secretary John Snow has signaled to the White House he is ready to resign once President Bush has picked a successor, administration officials and people close to Snow said Thursday.


Aluminium giant Alcoa is to close its Swansea factory by the end of March, leading to hundreds of job losses.


Hollywood actress Kathleen Turner is named best actress at this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards.


ARSENALâS LONG UNBEATEN RUN came to an abrupt halt last weekend. It was like watching an exquisite timepiece being dropped and the effects were there for all to see against Southampton.


Rap Reunion for a Group That Didnât Break Up

Never mind that the LOX never actually broke up. Never mind that the group never quite became a household name, even in hip-hop households. For a certain kind of listener, Thursday nightâs concert was a very big deal.


Accusations of dirty tricks are rare in Oregon politics, but Ralph Nader's presidential campaign has sparked charges and countercharges between his campaign and backers of Democratic nominee John Kerry.


Barbra is back! Streisand launches her biggest tour

Six years after declaring she was  giving up live performances, Barbra Streisand returns to the  stage on Wednesday to launch her first proper concert tour in  well over a decade, and the biggest of her career.


With Oil Prices Up, It Could Be a Long Winter

This winter, rising oil prices will translate into higher heating bills for households.


Injured Gasquet withdraws from Adelaide ATP event

World No. 8 Richard Gasquet has withdrawn from next month's ATP Adelaide International with an injury, making Australian Lleyton Hewitt the tournamentÃÂÃÂs top seed, organisers said Thursday.


CORRECTED: Softbank unlikely to derail Microsoft-Yahoo bid

Corrects paragraph 12 to read “...a sweeter bid from Microsoft.”, not from Softbank.


Businesses pledge to fly Frankfurt route

Nearly 50 Pittsburgh-area businesses that have financial ties to Germany and western Europe say they'll purchase $10 million worth of airline tickets if German airline Lufthansa will serve the ...


Lennon's stamp collection on display in Stockholm

The late Beatle John Lennon's childhood stamp collection goes on display for the first time in Europe on Friday in an exhibition at the Stockholm Postal Museum, organisers said.


Ministero lavora in stretto coordinamento con Londra


Medical marijuana meets with skepticism at Supreme Court

WASHINGTON (BP)--The federal governmentâs opposition to the medicinal use of marijuana appeared to find a receptive audience at the US Supreme Court Nov. 29.


Three years after becoming the first Indian to win the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, director Mira Nair is back at the scene of her 2001 triumph with another film that is in the running for best picture.


LONDON - The founder of Virgin Atlantic Airlines is spreading his wings. No longer content with conquering the skies, Richard Branson has set his sights higher-- much higher.


This is the new E3? Sure, I'll take it...with a side of Pinkberry

Blog: It's just a few hours until the press events start. Right now, we reporters are just soaking up the shock factor.


Singer Britney Spears' father has been given the power to fire her business manager, according to court papers.


In one of the most politically charged election years in US history, the majority of musicians speaking their minds seem energised to vote President George W Bush out of office but a number of notable performers are bucking the left-leaning industry trend


Massive protests expected against Bush in New York

Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to descend on New York during next week's Republican convention to vent their anger at President George W. Bush over Iraq and a host of other issues.


A 21-year-old man was recently released from jail for a murder he committed when he was 11. Nathaniel Abraham was on Oprah  where he got help in apologizing to the victimâs family.  The murder victim was Ronnie Greene Jr., 18, was shot with a ri...


Are You With Him? Why Yes, Want to Date Him?

Allison Frenkel is one of a dozen women who work for Wingwomen.com, earning up to $30 an hour to accompany single men to bars and help them chat up other women.


Sirius plans to buy XM in $4.6 bln stock deal

Sirius Satellite Radio plans to buy  U.S. rival XM Satellite Radio for $4.6 billion in stock to  bring entertainers such as Oprah Winfrey and shock-jock Howard  Stern under one roof, but a top regulator said the deal would  face a tough time winning approval.


A millionaire businessman says he is providing financial support to Madeleine McCann's parents.


Detectives are given an extra 36 hours to question a man about the murder and sexual assault of a two-year-old girl.


Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf collapses and is flown to Ethiopia for treatment.


Auburn's sweet and sour season: Sugar Bowl, no BCS title berth

That's the question confronting Auburn's football team after the Tigers eased past Tennessee 38-28 in last night's Southeastern Conference Championship game.


Putin Tells Businesses to Get Used to Paying Taxes

President Vladimir V. Putin warned Russia's business elite on Tuesday to "get used to paying taxes and observing the law,'' but he also sought to allay investor fears


Boston College officially will introduce its new football coach tomorrow morning. The words of praise for 43-year-old Jeff Jagodzinski will flow like holiday libations at The Heights. Jagodzinski is the young, energetic offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers, a former position coach with the Atlanta Falcons, and, of course, a former offensive coordinator at BC under Tom O'Brien, who ...


Sunni Clerics in Iraq Threaten Election Boycott

A powerful group of Sunni Muslim clerics threatened on Sunday to call a boycott of Iraq's first free elections in decades if U.S. forces launch a widely-expected assault on the rebel stronghold of Fallujah.


A former UBS PaineWebber   employee was sentenced to eight years in prison on Wednesday  for planting a computer "logic bomb" on company networks and  betting its stock would go down.


Schoolfriends of murdered Rhys Jones mark the new term at his old school with a minute's applause.


Health officials report that some consumers buying sleep aids and antidepressants over the web receive powerful anti-psychotics that send some to the ER. By the Associated Press.


The former roommate of one of the nation's most prolific child molesters was sentenced Friday to at least 800 years in prison for sexually abusing three boys.


Two ships with plutonium from scrapped US nuclear warheads arrive in the French port of Cherbourg.


Mitch Kupchak and Jerry Buss issued a four-point statement through the Lakers' staff. Rudy Tomjanovich offered words of praise outside the locker room.


Yash Raj Films wins battle in war against piracy

'What Yash Raj is doing is to prove that they are even more persistent and relentless against piracy than the culprits.'


Tropical Storm Noel forms south of Haiti

A tropical depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Noel in the Caribbean Sea south of Haiti on Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.


The Dow closed at its highest level in seven months, the Nasdaq in nine months and the S&P hit a fresh three-year high. The US stock market has been on an upward path since the re-election of President George W Bush.


Nintendo, Sony Make Pushes Before Holidays

Nintendo Co. and Sony Corp. made separate product announcements Tuesday that the video game giants hope will attract more customers ahead of the highly competitive holiday shopping season.


Stock indexes hardly budged on Monday as the reemergence of turmoil in the subprime mortgage market kept investors cautious despite a fresh round of corporate takeovers.


From Jacksonville to Miami, weary residents prepare for Hurricane Jeanne. In Tampa Bay, the storm could bring winds up to 40 mph. By JAMIE THOMPSON.


US government researchers recommends that married people are healthier than those who keep the single condition. A report from the National Center for Health Statistics shows


Is the âmidlife crisisâ the newest excuse for poor behavior?


Gates to tout network-management software

Microsoft's chief software architect is expected to detail the company's long-term plan for trimming systems administration costs.


Samsung Develops First 60-Nanometer 8-GB NAND Flash Memory

Samsung's advanced 60nm process technology is two thousandths the width of a piece of human hair and achieves approximately 30 percent reduction in cell size over the 70nm 4Gb NAND Flash memory developed last year.


To call it genius, frankly, is putting it mildly. When the nation sank back on the sofa last Saturday afternoon, and everyone rubbed the eye that had been accidentally punched by his neighbour's gesticulation, ...


SAN FRANCISCO - What Babe Ruth was to the first half of the 20th century and Hank Aaron was to the second, Barry Bonds has become for the home run generation.


Golden Globes to take place as "press conference"

Hollywood's Golden Globe Awards will be presented as a "press conference" instead of the typical ceremony where winners of the film and television awards accept their honors onstage, show organizers said on Monday.


Three European powers circulate revised draft on Iran nuclear issue

Britain, France and Germany circulated in the UN Security Council a revised draft resolution that would mandate a suspension of all Iranian uranium enrichment activities.


Stop a finanziamenti se non ci sara' soluzione stabile


Toronto - Hockey Hall of Fame members Lanny McDonald and Peter Stastny were riding in a limousine Monday, talking about old times, some of which involved the old Colorado Rockies and the Quebec Nordiques, who later moved to Colorado.


With increasing frequency, the mind wanders, and what consumes me so often is this: Just what is it about golf that ignites a passion that I have no desire to extinguish?


Torre ospita uffici, operazione da 1,2 mld dollari


Facing growing competition from LCDs and coming OLEDs, it goes after the more affordable 32-inch market.


Peace talks on Sudan's violence-torn Darfur region are deadlocked, one mediator said Monday, as the African Union's chief appealed to the Sudanese government and rebels to compromise.


AMERICA/CANADA - Sono 2,3 milioni i bambini affetti da HIV in tutto il mondo. Presentati a Toronto i nuovi dati che dimostrano come i trattamenti pediatrici funzionino nei paesi poveri Toronto (Agenzia Fides) - Due nuovi studi presentati da Medici Senza Frontiere (MSF) alla 16Â° Conferenza Internazionale, tenutasi di recente a Toronto, dimostrano buoni risultati ottenuti nel trattamento antiretrovirale (ARV) per i bambini affetti da...


Patrols by riot police, school closures in Bangladeshi capital ...

DHAKA : Riot police patrolled a tense Bangladeshi capital and a number of schools and colleges were closed in protest at a weekend grenade attack on a political rally that killed 19 people, witnesses said.


Iraqi forces have captured a key al-Qaida suspect wanted in the bombing of a Shiite shrine that brought the country to the brink of civil war, the country's national security adviser said Wednesday.


Mia moglie ha bonificato e subito un tentativo di attentato


Carlo Ancelotti parla del momento dei rossoneri: âLa squadra Ã¨ in crescita. Stiamo ritrovando la condizione migliore, soprattutto quella individuale, e la soliditÃ  difensiva che Ã¨ un poâ mancata a inizio


Rookie Palmer Wins Funai Classic with Closing 62

ORLANDO, Florida  - Rookie Ryan Palmer fired a  final-round 10-under-par 62 to seal his first PGA Tour victory  in the Funai Classic on Sunday.


IBD defends its list of investing mistakes -- do you agree?


Pakistan postpones election to February 18

Pakistan's Election Commission has postponed general elections until February 18, saying polling was not possible on January 8 because of disturbances following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.


"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has decided today that prices of all petroleum products will be held at the same level," said Mani Shankar Aiyar, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister.


Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ended his European tour Saturday without persuading any country to end crippling economic sanctions based on his power-sharing deal with the rival Islamic militant Hamas.


Cosi' D'Alema, serve soluzione che non laceri i Balcani


Lakers enjoy balanced victory over Bulls

The Los Angeles Lakers put on a strong team performance to register a 103-91 road win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, the visitors getting double-digit tallies from six players.


Polymer Vision readies roll-out of rollable e-reader

Polymer Vision plans to launch Readius, an e-reader with a flexible screen weighing little more than a cell phone, in the middle of this year, it said Tuesday.The long-awaited gadget will be a boon to those who now get their daily news fix by scanning the headlines on an e-reader -- but who miss the way they could roll up their old newspaper and tuck it in a pocket when they had finished reading.The key feature of the Readius is its flexible screen, 5 inches across the diagonal, with a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels (QVGA) in 16 shades of gray.It has mutated a little since Polymer Vision showed early prototypes of the wrap-around flexible screen a year ago: "The concept is the same, but we have added mobile phone functionality," said Thomas van der Zijden, vice president of sales and marketing.The latest device, now ready for production, functions as a triband phone with a high-speed mobile wireless connection. Unlike Amazon.com's Kindle e-reader, which can only connect to U.S. wireless networks, the Readius will operate almost worldwide, as it works with the HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) 3G (third-generation) service favored by European, Asian and some U.S. operators.Although the device will function as a phone, dialing unfamiliar numbers will be awkward, as it has only eight buttons. That's not a problem, according to Van der Zijden, as mobile phone users make most calls to numbers already in their address book -- and the Readius can be synchronized with a PC through its USB 2.0 connection or Bluetooth 2.0 wireless interface.In addition, the wireless connection can be used to download e-mail using the POP3 and IMAP4 protocols, or from Web-based services such as Yahoo mail, Google's Gmail or corporate servers using the Webmail function of Microsoft Exchange, according to Polymer Vision.The Readius weighs 115 grams and measures 115 millimeters by 57 mm by 21 mm when closed. It has a slot for Micro-SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) memory cards up to 8GB in capacity. One battery charge will allow up to 30 hours of continuous reading, and for those with tired eyes the device will even play audio books -- and podcasts and MP3 music files, the company said.Polymer Vision is seeking content providers willing to sell material through a dedicated Internet portal offering wireless downloads for the Readius, and is also looking for mobile networks and retail outlets to provide additional distribution channels.Content will have to be adapted to the small screen resolution, but there are no obstacles to that: the platform is open and can display PDF, HTML and ASCII text files, said Van der Zijden. The devices run the Windows CE operating system with a custom user interface, and can use the OMA 1.0 DRM (digital rights management) to prevent copying of content. Polymer Vision may add other DRM systems depending on demand from content providers, he said.The company expects to have the Readius available to partners by the end of the second quarter, so that they can sell it early in the third quarter.The price will depend on operator subsidies and contracts, but Van der Zijden expects it to be comparable with that for high-end smartphones such as Nokia's N95 8GB or Apple's iPhone.One operator that expressed an early interest in the Readius is Italy's Telecom Italia. Polymer Vision is developing a special version for Italy that will include support for the DVB-H broadcast protocol, said Van der Zijden. While this is normally used to broadcast television signals, Telecom Italia plans to use it to deliver large quantities of data to a wide audience -- such as a daily newspaper that subscribers can then unlock.


Thai PM blames 'crazy teachers' for bomb blasts in south

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in a violence-wracked southern Thai province Friday, a day after a powerful bomb ripped through a bustling market killing one person and wounding dozens.


Chaney: Domestic Iraq Debate Encouraging Adversaries

Vice President Cheney said today that the ongoing national debate over the war in Iraq is emboldening adversaries to believe they can undermine the resolve of the American people to complete the U.S. mission in Iraq and Afghanistan.


Phil Savage's ultimate goal is to bring the Cleveland Browns back into living color.


EU-Serbia talks to resume after fugitive arrest

The European Union will resume partnership talks with Serbia, probably this month, after a Bosnian Serb general accused of genocide in the 1992-95 Bosnia war was delivered to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague.


The owner of the All Bar One, Harvester  and O'Neills pub chains, Mitchells & Butlers, says government plans to ban smoking in many pubs could backfire.


Alitalia. Inizia oggi l'ultimo round di trattative fra compagnia e sindacati. Fini: basta privilegi. Inizia oggi una settimana decisiva per il futuro di Alitalia. Nel pomeriggio, alle 18, nuova riunione tra


Tough Punishment Expected for Warhead Errors

The Air Force has decided to relieve at least five of its officers of command and is considering filing criminal charges in connection with the Aug. 29 "Bent Spear" incident in which nuclear-armed cruise missiles were mistakenly flown from North Dakota to Louisiana, two senior Air Force officials...


India says 13,230 feared dead from tsunami

The Indian government on Thursday said 13,230 people were dead or feared dead across the country after the tsunami that struck at the weekend, killing more than 80,000 people from Asia to Africa.


Blood shortage puts safety measures in question

On a Friday afternoon in August, a few donors trickle in to the Baltimore Red Cross donation room, filling only a small fraction of the dozen or so steel-blue beds.


Beyonce and Blige among Soul Train Award winners

Following is a list of winners at the 21st annual Soul Train Music Awards, which were held on Saturday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Highlights will be broadcast in national syndication from March 17 through March 24.


Alexandra Pelosi Captures Campaign Process

From the moment she met John Kerry, filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi knew she wouldn't be making "Journeys with John." "She's going to lampoon all of us. She's going to have us all do stupid things," Kerry said more than a year ago when first approached by the camcorder-toting Pelosi. Teresa Heinz Kerry looked on as if a skunk had waddled across the room.


Paris recalls euphoria of liberation from Nazi rule

The tears, the joy, and the euphoria that ushered in the liberation of Paris 60 years ago Wednesday were on the agenda of a grandiose fete to help Parisians relive the day they threw off the shackles of Nazi occupation.


MINGORA, Pakistan  - A suspected roadside bomb attack killed 18 soldiers and wounded 25 on Thursday in a northwest Pakistan region where a Taliban-style movement has taken root and the military has boosted its presence, officials said.


A runaway hit in Britain, "Shaun of the Dead" is a subversive mixture of grandly scaled horror-movie carnage and low-key comedy.


Barrichello ready to paint the town red in China

Rubens Barrichello has warned Ferrari team mate Michael Schumacher that he is out to steal the world champion's thunder in Sunday's inaugural Chinese Formula One Grand Prix.


Thunderstorms threaten to disrupt  the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 motor race on Sunday,  American weather forecasters say.


New York Cityâs new rules for menu labels at chain restaurants have set off a food fight among the nationâs obesity experts.


Lambasts DCA's 'unnecessary' focus on reducing costs Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee has categorically rejected the government's case for new arrangements in handling Freedom of Information requestsâ¦


The Hard Part: Despite Access to Mayor, Problems Go Unsolved

Newarkâs Mayor Cory A. Booker has staged multiple âoffice hoursâ sessions, but the problems persist.


31 feared dead after Colombia mine blast

An explosion at a coal mine Saturday in remote northeast Colombia buried at least 31 miners in two tunnels, a rescue official said.


New York To Welcome Peaceful Protesters With Discounts

New York has launched a program to welcome demonstrators coming to the city at the end of the month to protest the Republican presidential nominating convention. City officials hope the effort will ensure that the rallies are calm and, at the same time, ...


Explosions Rock Baghdad Near U.S. Offices

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A series of strong explosions shook central Baghdad near dawn Sunday, and columns of thick black smoke rose from the Green Zone where U.S. and Iraqi government offices are located...


Pakistani prime minister opens road in Afghanistan

JALALABAD, Afghanistan  - Pakistani Prime Minister   Shaukat Aziz arrived in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday to   open a Pakistani-funded road project hours after two rockets   were fired into the area.


The FA has confirmed that it will be looking into the trouble that surrounded yesterday's clash between Leeds and Millwall. Police made ten arrests in relation to the ill-tempered 1-1 draw at Elland Road after fighting broke out inside the stadium.


Societa' di Coppola gia' ieri aveva perso il 9,32%


Spain and Britain have been squabbling over Gibraltar for the past 300 years, but two simple one-hour flights could be the first practical signs that all three parties are willing to say goodbye to all that.Comment


Britain's BAE Systems to upgrade Saudi Tornado jets

British defence company BAE Systems has won a major contract to upgrade Saudi Arabia's ageing Tornado fighter jets.


Iraq Expected to Certify Election Results

Iraq's electoral commission is expected to certify results from the country's Jan. 30 elections and allocate seats Thursday for the new 275-member National Assembly, officials said.


Burundi backs neighbor Rwanda in France row

Burundi weighed into neighboring  Rwanda's row with France on Thursday, saying it backed Kigali's  decision to sever diplomatic ties with Paris.


Sept. 6, 1891: Risky Heart Surgery Saves Stabbing Victim

Cutting into someone's chest to perform heart surgery is not yet an accepted medical practice. But without it James Cornish is doomed, so the surgeon goes in.


PETA founder held in India over bullfight protest

CHENNAI, India  - Police arrested the head of the animal rights group PETA for a breach of public peace and insulting religious feelings while protesting against a bullfighting festival in south India, officials said on Friday.


Opposing Iraq War Protests Share Silence

Supporters of both sides in the debate over the war in Iraq have gathered in a Delaware town every week since September 2004, sharing a faith in the power of silence.


Suffolk County to Become the New Home of CanonUSA

By Jeremy Harrell  Suffolk County is poised to become the new home of CanonUSA after a mediation session Wednesday produced an accord between developers whose feud threatened to scuttle the move.


Report: Actor Jude Law to Marry Sienna Miller

British actor Jude Law has become  engaged to actress Sienna Miller after proposing to her on  Christmas Day, The Sun newspaper reported on Wednesday.


Senate puts Tomlinson nomination on hold

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee does not plan to act on President Bush's re-nomination of an agency head accused of misusing government money.


Partners Weisz, Aronofsky brave film collaboration

Film collaborations between real-life   partners are not always happy affairs, but Rachel Weisz and   Darren Aronofsky say it is 'so far, so good' after making "The   Fountain" together.


Maracaibo, 09:00 - CALCIO, COPPA AMERICA: ARGENTINA AI QUARTI

L'Argentina ha battuto la Colombia 4-2 nella seconda giornata del gruppo C di Coppa America qualific...


Police confirm a convicted killer is missing from  Prescoed jail  in Monmouthshire, the seventh absconder in three months.


The BBC announces a Â£3 million package of investments to raise the profile of current affairs on BBC One.


Promising Dystrophy Drug Clears Early Test

Researchers in the Netherlands have developed a drug that may eventually be used to treat children with a severe and fatal type of muscular dystrophy.


Bologna, 16:50 - CALCIOPOLI, MAZZONE: INTERCETTAZIONI CONFERMANO I MIEI DUBBI

Carlo Mazzone allenava il Bologna nel campionato 2004-2005, che sancÃ¬ la retrocessione in B dei ross...


Perl.com sends visitors to porn link farm

Perl necklace Visitors to Perl.com, the O'Reilly Media-owned resource, were redirected yesterday (Thursday) to a link farm pushing porn sites.â¦


Manchester City stand firm to deny United in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.


Children not getting enough exercise: study

Britain is facing an 'obesity time bomb' with only three percent of 11-year-old children meeting the national target of an hour of physical exercise a day, according to a study released on Thursday.


Russian prosecutors to charge 10 people in connection with killing of investigative reporter.


THE death toll in a Chinese coal mine blast rose to 64 yesterday, with 84 people still missing. The explosion, on Wednesday in Henan province, was the deadliest this year in the country's mines.


A UK police officer is in Hamburg after radiation is found at addresses connected with a contact of Alexander Litvinenko.


After Circulation Scandal, a Move to Build Trust

Belo Corp. has set aside $23 million to compensate advertisers for exaggerated circulation figures at The Dallas Morning News.


Thin sheets of cheek tissue can be used to replace the damaged corneas of people blinded by certain eye diseases, Japanese researchers reported on Wednesday.


U.K. Discusses Deployment of Iraq Forces

Britain's Ministry of Defense said Friday that it was discussing coalition troop deployments in Iraq with the country's interim government and U.S. officials.


Subentra a Di Piazza che guidera' Corsera Magazine


Sweden, which has welcomed far more Iraqi refugees than has the U.S. or the rest of Europe, said Friday that it is tightening its asylum rules and will forcibly deport Iraqis who are denied refuge.


Human rights group Amnesty International called on US law enforcement agencies on Tuesday to suspend use of Taser electric-shock weapons, demanding an independent inquiry into the devices, which Amnesty says have contributed to more


Bush nominee Goss offers bleak look at the CIA

Rep. Porter J. Goss of Florida said on Tuesday that rebuilding the CIA would take more than five years and that American spies needed to be encouraged to take more risks.


A former Montana gubernatorial candidate and investment adviser was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a Ponzi scheme authorities say bilked investors out of $6.8 million.


A man who had two children with his former sixth-grade teacher said the two have been meeting daily since her release from prison last month and would like to marry.


John Mark Karr, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and handcuffs chained around his waist, waived extradition to Colorado on Tuesday to face murder charges in the slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey.


Advanced Model of World's Smallest Flying Microrobot from Epson

Epson has long been engaged in the research and development of microrobots and in the development of applications for their enabling technologies.


DA Won't Prosecute Bishop Accused of Rape

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Just hours after an indictment against former Springfield Bishop Thomas Dupre was unsealed Monday accusing him of raping two boys in the 1970s, the county prosecutor refused to pursue the case because the statute of limitations has expired...


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi forces on Sunday captured Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the most wanted fugitive from Saddam Hussein's ousted dictatorship, Iraq's top information official said. Iraqi officials were conducting DNA tests to confirm the prisoner's identity...


Disguised reporter walks into Queen's residence

A journalist posing as a workman triggered a security scare at the Queen's official residence in Scotland, police confirmed yesterday.


Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - Greek weightlifter Leonidas Sampanis on Sunday was stripped of the bronze medal he won last week and banished from the Athens Games for failing an antidoping test.


Madrid, 13:34 - CALCIO, PALLONE D'ORO: CANNAVARO A PARIGI CON CALDERON E MIJATOVIC

Secondo il quotidiano spagnolo 'Marca', Fabio Cannavaro, che stasera riceverà il Pallone d'Or...


Parigi, 20:21 - CALCIO, LIGUE 1: LILLA-SAINT ETIENNE 2-2

Il Lilla pareggia 2-2 in casa nel match della 17/a giornata di Ligue 1 contro il Saint Etienne. Per ...


La pelle e' rinnovata da tagli selvaggi e stili nativi americani


Roma, 15:29 - CALCIO, ROMA; MANCINI: VOGLIO DARE MIO CONTRIBUTO ALLA ROMA

Il centrocampista della Roma, Amantino Mancini è pronto a tornare in campo. "Ho troppa voglia...


Clinton asks YouTube users for song help

Hillary Rodham Clinton wants YouTube viewers to pick her campaign theme song — and the response, so far, has been music to her ears.


The United Nations headquarters in Europe, where a listening device was discovered by workmen recently, is probably rife with spying equipment, a UN security source has said.


Milano, 00:33 - CALCIO, MILAN: RONALDO OGGI OPERATO A PARIGI

Ronaldo ha lasciato l'istituto ortopedico Galeazzi di Milano con un tutore applicato sulla gamba sin...


Tim Henman ends his professional career by partnering Jamie Murray to doubles victory over Croatia in their Davis Cup tie.


Bank of England in no rush to hike interest rates: analysts

With Britain's red-hot housing market showing signs of cooling and consumer spending slowing, the Bank of England looks certain to leave interest rates at 4.75 percent on Thursday, analysts said.


Mark Butcher feels England need to take early wickets to regain the upper hand against South Africa.


Hana says FDA to review cancer nausea drug

Cancer-focused biotechnology firm Hana   Biosciences said on Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug   Administration had accepted Zensana Oral Spray for review.


Bernanke: Fed economic view unfazed by stocks drop

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday this week's sharp stock market drop had not changed the Fed's view that the U.S. economy was sound, remarks that helped shaken markets regain confidence.


EU, US and Japan all flag concessions to save trade talks

The European Union, United States and Japan said they were willing to give ground to save global trade talks provided all parties in the negotiations also offered concessions.


British telecom regulator Ofcom said its approach to VoIP and release of new telephone numbering for it was aimed at encouraging the services through reduced costs and increased competition.


Burke's tremors, other secrets are revealed on extended 'Grey's Anatomy'

The characters on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" learned a lesson this week that could have come straight from their former Sunday night neighbor "Desperate Housewives": Secrets never stay buried for long. (Spoiler alert: Stop reading now if you've saved the episode for later viewing.)


Electronic document giant Adobe Systems said that it was partnering with digital certificate company GeoTrust to provide technology that will allow documents that use Adobe's popular PDF (Portable Document Format) to be digitally certified.


U.N. assembly rebuffs fresh Taiwan membership bid

The United Nations rebuffed on Friday what appeared to be Taiwan's final attempt of the year to have its long-standing quest for membership considered by the General Assembly.


Myanmar anti-junta protests biggest in 20 years

Tens of thousands of people joined Buddhist monks on marches in Myanmar's former capital on Monday in the biggest demonstration against the ruling generals since they crushed student-led protests nearly 20 years ago.


Details from chip-and-pin cards could be stolen while shoppers make purchases, scientists say.


'Alexander' Falls on Sword at Box Office

Alexander the Great may have  conquered millions in his march across the Persian Empire 2,400  years ago but moviegoers in North America easily repelled his  advances over the weekend.


A think-tank calls for more water metering after reporting that efforts to conserve water are not having much impact.


Russia halts retrial over murdered U.S. reporter

A Russian court on Monday halted the  retrial of three men accused of the 2004 murder of U.S.  journalist Paul Klebnikov, because one of the defendants was  still at large, court officials and a defense lawyer said.


Republican Convention Protesters Sue NY on Arrests

Protesters and onlookers arrested  during the Republican National Convention sued New York City on  Thursday and said police had violated their free speech and  other constitutional rights.


Smile and think of shopping at Gigli Milan show

Smiling models skipped down Romeo Gigli's catwalk on Tuesday under instruction from designer Gentucca Bini to think of a happy day out shopping.


Customers, Not Brokers, Profited in an Odd 2007

The brokersâ customers did reasonably well. The brokers did not. How could that happen?


If Apple enters the video rental market, it may not change the landscape.


A Botswana court is to decide whether the Kalahari bushmen were evicted illegally from their ancestral lands.


Safin bests Nalbandian to win Madrid Masters

Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Russian Marat Safin won the title Sunday at the lucrative $3.035 million Madrid Masters with a straight-set win over Argentine David Nalbandian.


On a cash-raising trip for Republicans, President Bush said Thursday that Americans will have less money in their pockets if Democrats win control of Congress.


By Scott Leith, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution  Feb.


U.S. oil prices touched a new  three-month low on Wednesday as mild winter weather in the  United States and expectations of a rise in heating fuel stocks  kept the downward pressure on the market.


Poi Elisa e Renato Zero, Mina in nona posizione


Two-state Mideast solution in jeopardy, Rice warns

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that a "two-state solution" in the Middle East is in jeopardy and described a narrow window of opportunity to push Israel and the Palestinians toward peace.


Russia beat Argentina 3-2 to win Davis Cup

Marat Safin overpowered Argentine substitute Jose Acasuso 6-3 3-6 6-3 7-6 in a nerve-racking fifth and decisive rubber to clinch the Davis Cup title for Russia on Sunday.


After bringing the fight to North American shores last month, the world's top console makers have slowly been releasing their wares around the globe, hoping to gobble up customers the way their products did in the United States over Thanksgiving weekend.


Study: Cleaning solvents may cause asthma

LONDON - Exposure to fumes emitted by cleaning products in the home could cause asthma in children, a study published Thursday shows.


Ricky Ponting goes into Friday's World Cup warm-up against England still unsure of his best bowling line-up.


The dollar extended its losses on  Tuesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates as  expected but signaled that both inflation and inflation  expectations were easing.


U.S. interrogations successful, lawful: spy chief

ST. MARY'S CITY, Maryland  - The CIA's harsh questioning of terrorism suspects was legal and saved lives, the U.S. National Intelligence Director said on Wednesday, as Congress questioned a CIA lawyer about the agency's destruction of interrogation videotapes.


Hip-hop duo OutKast have won four prizes at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, held in Miami on Sunday night. The pair won Best Video of The year and Best Hip-Hop Video for Hey Ya!


A 58-year-old Belgian dies in an accident during a tractor pulling competition in Lancashire.


SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- Tangela Smith and the Sacramento Monarchs tried to undo years of playoff frustration against the Los Angeles Sparks in 40 minutes.


Hundreds of NHS workers are set to protest against plans to close blood centres across England.


Burdon to Triple Workforce Following Pounds 20m Investment

An engineering firm has unveiled ambitious plans to nearly triple its workforce after its parent company agreed to invest pounds 20m in its expansion.


Dec. 28, 1973: Endangered Species Get a Helping Hand

Public consciousness leads to the most sweeping environmental protection legislation in U.S. history.


Greek Police Surround Hijacked Bus Near Athens

Greek police surrounded a bus filled with passengers that had been seized by gunmen in the Athens suburb of Marathon early Wednesday, Greek police said.


Mazzotta, faremo la nostra parte a testa alta


Nasdaq Stock Market Inc.  said  on Thursday it plans to create an equity and index options  market in the third quarter of 2007, pitting it against  arch-rival NYSE Group Inc. , which recently boosted its  presence in the options market.


Jennifer Lopez Show Biggest New York Fashion Buzz

She's already a pop diva, a major  movie star and gossip column favorite -- now Jennifer Lopez is  set to make her debut as a fashion designer, in the most sought  after show at New York's fashion week.


The 73-year-old wife of Italy's president was hit by a car as she crossed a street outside the presidential palace Thursday evening, injuring a leg and an arm, the palace said.


Insights: Clinical Trials May Not Represent Population

The randomized clinical trial, widely considered the most reliable biomedical research method, can have significant drawbacks, a new study suggests.


Iranians threatened U.S. ships in Hormuz: Pentagon

Iranian boats aggressively approached three U.S. Naval ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a main shipping route for Gulf oil, at the weekend and threatened that the ships would "explode," U.S. officials said on Monday.


Oil-covered birds are rescued at a Devon beach where the stricken container ship MSC Napoli is being broken up.


Scalza gli Usa, in crescita anche scambi con l'Ue


Make sure your wheels are sending the opposite sex the right message.


Pump-and-dump spam nets scammers $20 million

An intricate scheme that included a "pump-and-dump" spam scam has netted its perpetrators an eight-figure return... and an assortment of jail sentences.


Saudi says arrests 28 al Qaeda militants

Saudi security forces have arrested 28 al Qaeda militants suspected of planning "criminal acts" in the kingdom, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday.


Adults who grew quickly as children are less likely to have high cholesterol later in life, claim scientists.


Appiano Gentile, 16:49 - CALCIO, INTER: PROCEDE RECUPERO DI FIGO, MAICON E STANKOVIC

Allenamento con amichevole oggi per l'Inter di Roberto Mancini in vista del match di sabato pomerigg...


Paul Hamm thought his fantastic finish was too good to be true. Maybe he was right. The International Gymnastics Federation ruled Saturday that Yang Tae-young was unfairly docked


Henkel KGaA has agreed to sell back a 29-percent stake in U.S. cleaning products maker Clorox Co.


Net Neutrality becomes issue in presidential race

Senator Barack Obama will be asked to answer a question about supporting Net Neutrality in an MTV interview on Monday.


Microsoft deal or not, Yahoo starts to cut jobs

As expected, Yahoo Inc   began carrying out lay-offs up to 1,000 employees on Tuesday,  as part of job cutbacks announced last month, several employees  at the company's headquarters said on Tuesday.


EU says "enormous" progress made in trade talks with SKorea

The European Union made "enormous progress" in its latest round of free trade talks with South Korea but some sticky issues are still unresolved, the chief EU negotiator said Friday.


Colin Montgomerie and Tiger Woods both shot 66s to hold a two-stroke lead over the rest of an elite field at the Target World Challenge in California.


TEMPE, Ariz. (Sports Network) - The Arizona Cardinals  placed running back Marcel Shipp and fullback James Hodgins on  injured reserve Wednesday night, effectively ending their  seasons.


Paul Lo Duca returned to Dodger Stadium on Monday night for the first time since getting traded, eager to see his former teammates — and to face record-setting closer Eric Gagne.


L'ex 'schedina' segue le orme di Sabrina Ferilli


Myanmar's military rulers will free 5,311 more prisoners, state media has reported, after the government said earlier this month thousands of others would also be released.


Durable goods orders jump, house prices slump

Stronger-than-expected orders for U.S.-made durable goods in December suggested the economy retained some life and might not need a heavy dose of interest-rate cuts, even though house prices fell a record amount in November.


YESTERDAY Close $501.50 Change +$7.18 52-WEEK High $513.00 Low $331.55 Google Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit nearly tripled amid another burst of breathtaking growth that enabled the online search leader to sprint past analyst expectations -- a habit that has helped propel its stock price above $500.


L'esecutivo reagisce all'a fondo di Di Pietro: "Ecco le nostre prioritÃ prima di riequilibrare l'esecutivo Finanziaria e legge elettorale"                                            Palazzo Chigi apre sul cambio di squadra Prodi: "Non ci sarÃ  alcun rimpasto"                                                                                Il 3 ottobre al Senato la cdl presenterÃ  una mozione di sfiducia contro Visco


Kasuri to formally present General's Kashmir formula to India

Islamabad, Nov 14 (UNI) A day after External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh expressed India's readiness to look at President Pervez Musharraf's radical formula for resolving the Kashmir issue if mooted formally, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood


Dance Review | Summerscape: Finding the Elgar We Know and One We Donât

Doug Varone, commissioned by Summerscape Festival at Bard College with Susan Marshall to create works set to Edward Elgarâs music, goes against the grain of our expectations.


Pilot Held After Plane Incident Near Bush Event

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.  - A pilot was taken into  custody on Saturday in an incident involving an airplane that  flew nearby while President Bush was speaking at a campaign  event in Melbourne, Florida, the White House said on Saturday.


UK Scientists Allowed to Clone Human Embryos

British scientists said on Wednesday they had received permission to clone human embryos for medical research, in what they believe to be the first such license to be granted in Europe.


French Muslims sue magazine over cartoons

A French court case shining light on the gray area where free speech and religious sensitivities overlap opens on Wednesday when Muslim groups sue a satirical magazine that published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.


Micron Technology Inc. MU.N,  the No. 3 computer memory chip maker, on Wednesday reported a  quarterly profit on stronger pricing, reversing a year-earlier  loss.


Afghan assembly grants immunity for war crimes

Afghanistan's parliament has granted  immunity to all Afghans involved in the country's 25 years of  conflict, lawmakers said on Thursday, despite calls by human  rights groups for war crimes trials.


Pm conferma dichiarazioni a Repubblica su indagini


Manifestazione nazionale nell'ambito dello sciopero di categoria"Vogliamo continuitÃ  nell'incarico e diritto alla previdenza"                                          I giudici di pace protestano Sit in davanti a Montecitorio


Oil Prices Slip After Weekly US Energy Report

Crude oil futures rose Wednesday ahead of an extended weekend for traders, even though weekly government data showed rising domestic inventories of crude and distillate fuel, which includes heating oil.


UBS allows staff share bonus sale after 1 year: report

UBS , struck with billions of dollars of writedowns on subprime exposures, is trying to persuade investment bankers to stay with the company by allowing them to sell some of their share-based bonuses after just one year, the Financial Times reported.


No one likes taxes, but the most unpopular are those you can't see.


The owners of a Chinese restaurant are ordered to repay Â£1.5m after carrying out money laundering.


Arthritis Drug Recall Sparks Criticism of FDA

U.S. drug safety regulators are  coming under fire for their response to years of suspicions,  confirmed last week, that arthritis drug Vioxx increased the  risks of heart attacks and strokes.


At least 2,800 people have died in insurgency-related violence in Afghanistan in the first six months of the year, according to a count by The Associated Press. The following breakdown is based on AP figures unless otherwise stated.


Boston fans finally had reason to cheer again. Too bad it had nothing to do with the Celtics. Instead, it was Kobe Bryant of the hated Lakers who heard "MVP!" chants while scoring 43 points in his return from a suspension, leading Los Angeles to a 111-98 victory Wednesday night that extended Boston's losing streak to 13 games.


MRI Top Breast-Screening Test for High-Risk Women

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is more effective than other screening methods for finding breast cancer in women whose genes leave them susceptible to the disease.


HSBC Holdings Plc  said on Friday it will close its U.S. subprime unit, Decision One Mortgage, and record an impairment charge of about $880 million, saying the mortgage business is no longer sustainable.


Dixie Chicks "Shut Up" in fine documentary

TORONTO  - The top-selling female   recording artists of all time, Dixie Chicks proved to be more   than just a bunch of pretty voices when comments during a   London gig made by lead singer Natalie Maines in 2003 at the   outset of the war in Iraq touched off a nasty anti-Chicks   backlash.


In the 1970s, rape crisis counselors celebrated when states began to pass laws designed to stop lawyers from discrediting victims with salacious details about their sex lives.


California's wildfires rage into fourth day

Relentless wildfires forcing the largest evacuations in California's modern history raged into a fourth day on Wednesday as 10,000 exhausted firefighters hoped for a break in the hot winds whipping the flames.


Bush, Kerry hit the campaign trail running after debate

TAMPA, United States : Each claiming victory in their first debate, President George W. Bush and Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry courted voters in key up-for-grabs states 32 days before the election.


Teams scouring the Nevada desert find no trace of US adventurer Steve Fossett but several other crashed planes.


Come 2005, Microsoft will bring Windows XP for beginners

NEW DELHI: Microsoft said on Wednesday that starter edition of Windows XP (XP SE) operating system (OS) will be available in India from early 2005, a move that is expected to bring down prices of entry level PCs.


(HealthDay News) -- Many children are finicky about what they'll eat. If you're attempting to coax a picky eater to try more foods, follow these suggestions from the University of California, San Francisco:    Give your child a variety of foods to choose from, including a fruit, vegetable, protein and starch. Don't only offer foods you know your child will eat. Don't give your child too many high-calorie drinks, which could fill her up and keep her from wanting to eat. Stick to a meal schedule, so that your child will be hungry at mealtime. ...


Europe's First Lunar Mission on Course for Impact

BERLIN -- Europe's first mission to the moon got a scare, but ground controllers made a last-minute course correction early Saturday that kept the craft from hitting the surface earlier than planned.


New Space Telescope Observations Upset Theories of Planet ...

The leading theory of how planets form is being revised because of new observations from the US Spitzer Space Telescope. The process is not as smooth and quiet as once thought, but rather the result of violent collisions between massive space rocks.


GBP 200,000 Makeover Will Do Colinton Wood a Lot of Good

By HAZEL MOLLISON  A CITY woodland is being given a GBP 200,000 makeover with a network of paths, new wardens and thousands of trees.   Work will begin on improving Colinton and Craiglockhart Dells next month thanks to the grant from the Forestry Commission Scotland.


Insure chief launches revamp of high-risk driver system

With three weeks remaining before a new governor takes over, the Romney administration yesterday launched a major change in the state's auto insurance system that will take three years to implement and could affect one of every four drivers in the state.


The new Marc Ecko Cut & Sew store in Chelsea is a safe space, where a man can try to step up his style without going too far and freaking him out.


A little bit of familiarity in a strange country

Every exchange student experience is different, but there are a few comforting things for Josef Burian, a student from Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, staying with Tim and Donna Vanecek and their ...


ADV: Trade Shares and Currencies Commission-Free

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


Maroni: 'non siamo disponibili a sostenere Prodi'


Armed gangs rob Haiti's starving children

By Joseph Guyler Delva in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Andrew Buncombe in Washington. Armed gangs roamed Haiti yesterday, stealing food from the hungry and hope from entire communities as the poorest country


'Bomb' taped to employee in bank robbery

Investigators were trying to determine Wednesday if a device strapped to a bank employee's chest contained explosives, and whether the man was a victim or a participant in a robbery.


It's no surprise that Symantec and Adobe are wary of Microsoft bundling its own security software and electronic document format in Windows Vista, but the companies had yet to lodge official complaints about the operating system until now.


APEC Countries to Standardize Trade Pacts

Pacific Rim nations have agreed to set minimum standards for two-country free trade pacts proliferating across the region, a consolation prize for business leaders pushing for a 21-nation free trade area to rival the European Union.


A growing number of contemporary musicians and techno enthusiasts have reignited interest in the Moog, which can synthesize any sound imaginable.


How Blood Platelets Speed Cancer's Spread

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDayNews) -- French researchers have identified two new ways that blood platelets help breast and ovarian cancer spread to bones.


Bodies being exhumed as part of an investigation into seven deaths at a care home will be checked for signs of drugs.


Western States Agree to Cut Greenhouse Gases

Five Western governors agreed yesterday on a plan to cut their states' emissions of gases linked to global warming and to establish a regional carbon-trading system, though they stopped short of saying how drastically they will seek to reduce greenhouse gases.


short for "Dual Screen" â-* * 1/2 out of four, $150) was designed to bring innovation to the portable video game market, so far only developer Sega has completely caught on.


An armed masked man who wounded three people when he broke into their home is given an indefinite term.


Stephen White: Dr. Alan Gregory's life is a mess, but things are about to get a lot worse.


Dopo ordinanza che ha differito stop del 17 gennaio


Carlyle group plans $5.5 bln bid for Taiwan's ASE

NEW YORK/TAIPEI  - A private equity consortium led by The Carlyle Group  is planning to make a $5.5 billion bid for the world's biggest microchip packaging firm, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (ASE)  , the companies said on Friday.


Scientists reconstruct still-horrifying 9-11 images

Blog: Computer images designed to help study damage done to North Tower include no casualties but are chilling nonetheless.


U.S. publisher takes action over Harry Potter leak

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


The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will re-examine patents covering embryonic stem cell discoveries made by University of Wisconsin researchers.


NEW YORK - "No one would have believed ... that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligence greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own."  "The War of the Worlds," the classic H.G...


Google is said to be in discussions to acquire the popular video-sharing Web site that has yet to turn a profit, for $1.6 billion.


I gol dei campioni persi e oggi ritrovati portano il Milan avanti in Europa: Rui Costa ispira KakÃ  e Crespo che si divertono nella difesa dello Shakhtar e danno la qualificazione agli ottavi con un turno di anticipo ai rossoneri.


The San Antonio resident set up the Web site, did a little research and recently launched his Internet service that allows registered users to shoot actual .22 rifles at paper targets via their computer.


Michael Phelps' itinerary in Indianapolis will be nearly as crowded as it was in Athens, Greece. Phelps is to compete in all 10 sessions -- and on each of the five nights -- during the World Swimming Championships from Oct.


Pressure Mounts on Cambodia's Sihanouk to Stay

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia  - Pressure to persuade aging  and ailing Norodom Sihanouk to reverse his decision to abdicate  the Cambodian throne mounted Friday, but parliament prepared  the way for a successor to be chosen.


Singapore's new prime minister says he would not support Taiwan if it provoked a war with China over independence. Lee Hsien Loong visited Taiwan before he was sworn in earlier this month, causing


Lt Gen Talib al-Lahibi, who previously served as an infantry officer in Saddam Husseinâs army, was detained on Thursday in the province of Diyala, northeast of Baghdad, said Lt Col Steven Boylan, a spokesman for coalition forces in Iraq.


IBM continues to submerge its product brands

IBM has unveiled a major reorganization in its Systems and Technology Group that shifts the emphasis away from the product lines towards more of a go-to-market focus.


By George Chamberlin , Daily Transcript Financial Correspondent. Investors once again shrugged off volatility in the oil patch Friday and pushed stock prices modestly higher.


Pfizer Inc.  abruptly replaced  Chief Executive Hank McKinnell on Friday, selecting its top  lawyer, Jeffrey Kindler, to run the world's largest drugmaker.


Striker Adrian Mutu has vowed to rebuild his career and reputation when his seven-month ban for failing a drugs test ends. Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon last night stressed the clubâs opposition to


Da questa sera su RaiTre la nuova stagione di "BallarÃ²""I programmi d'informazione sono tanti, e tutti godibili"                                                  Torna Floris, fra Finanziaria e Telecom "Non mi interessa la sfida con Santoro"                                                                                Fra le novitÃ , via il muro al centro dello studio, ora ci sono tre ledwalle un film, "Il viaggio in Italia", diviso in 25 microepisodi per ogni puntatadi ALESSANDRA VITALI


Creepy Cyberpunk Fantasies Come to Life in Christopher Conte's Sculptures

Christopher Conte turns machined metal, faux bone and vintage machinery into bizarrely beautiful works of biomechanical art.


BARCLAYS has started talks with Absa, South Africaâs largest retail bank, in one of its first moves under the leadership of John Varley.


CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Jordan remembers looking to the Boston bench during his 63-point game in the 1986 playoffs and seeing Celtics rookie Sam Vincent cheering on his extraordinary performance. Two years later, Vincent became Jordan's point guard in Chicago.


Legislation that would increase retirement benefits for more than 5,000 assistant U.S. attorneys -- putting their pensions on par with federal law enforcement officers -- has been introduced in Congress.


Bush and Kerry Follow Debate With Sharp Jabs

President Bush attacked John Kerry on Iraq, taking a more aggressive approach than he had during the debate.


GLASGOW, Scotland -- A British company says it's releasing a video game recreating the 1963 assassination of US President John F. Kennedy.


China tells food companies to put safety first

China, reeling from a series of health scandals, told food and drug companies on Friday to put safety first and warned the growing problem could threaten social stability in the world's most populous nation.


More than 1,000 dead in Sri Lanka alone as Indonesian quake ...

HONG KONG  - At least 1,000 people have been killed and hundreds more are injured or missing as tsunami tidal waves unleashed by a massive earthquake off Indonesia hit the region.


TEHRAN: Iran on Sunday described a European proposal aimed at ending a nuclear standoff as unbalanced and rejected its demands that the Islamic republic halt all uranium enrichment activities, a foreign news agency reported.


Alpine Skiing: Kostelic Out of Home Slalom, Schild Leads

Croatia's Janica Kostelic failed to  finish the first leg of a World Cup slalom event held on her  home slope Thursday.


Africa bright spot in Bush foreign policy legacy

President George W. Bush  travels this week to Africa, one of the few regions where he can claim globally recognized successes for efforts on AIDS and development in a foreign policy legacy dominated by the Iraq war.


Ex-official in Yemen implicated in Cole plot

SANAA, Yemen -- Yemen's former interior minister helped the alleged mastermind of the attack on the USS Cole to pass through security checkpoints in the months before the 2000 bombing, according to a document read out in court yesterday by a lawyer for five of the accused plotters.


Chairman Kevin McCabe is hopeful Sheffield United can overturn their relegation from the top flight after the first day of an arbitration tribunal.


Els moves into semis at World Match Play

Ernie Els scored tight victories over Scott Drummond and Angel Cabrera Friday to stay on course for a record sixth World Match Play title.


Few brokerages making predictions for 2005

Brokerage earnings so far this quarter have been positive, but few Wall Street firms are making big predictions for the year ahead, leaving investors to wonder just how well the markets will do.


Hello? Is This the Nursing Home? Long Distance Calling. From Heaven.

Elliot Greenebaum's hardheaded comedy has the guardedly facetious tone of a fake documentary.


his third of the week dominated by Eli-mania - someone at last asked Tom Coughlin about a matter largely lost in the hysteria: the standings.


Conn. state workers' info ends up on Web

More than 1,700 state workers recently learned that some of their personal information, including their names and Social Security numbers, had been inadvertently posted on the Internet.


Dow, S&P and Nasdaq up on benign inflation data

U.S. stocks rose on Friday as tame consumer price data reassured investors that inflation was under control and the economy will still grow strongly enough to support the equity market.


Ricardo Mello of Brazil upset third-seeded Mario Ancic of Croatia 7-6 (2), 6-3 Saturday, advancing to the final at the Millennium International Tennis Championships.


Google adds indexing tools for News portal

(InfoWorld) - Google Inc. has developed new tools it says will make it easier for webmasters and publishers of news sites to control how the search engine indexes their content for inclusion in the Google News portal. As of Tuesday, publishers of English-language news sites indexed by Google News will be able to include them in Google's Webmaster Tools service . This means that publishers and webmasters will be able to specify through a site map the articles they want Google News to index. A site map is a file that webmasters and publishers put on their sites to guide search engines' automated Web crawlers in properly indexing their Web pages. Webmasters and publishers will also be able to see a list of their latest articles featured on Google News, as well as a list of indexing errors made by the automated Google crawler, so that the problems can be addressed. Previously, publishers' control over Google News' indexing was more rudimentary, limited mostly to including an instruction to prevent the crawler from accessing certain pages. Before launching the new site map tools, the company tested them with several news organizations, said Nathan Stoll, Google News product manager. Stoll said publishers had asked for more "transparency and control" of what content is indexed specifically by Google News Google News is a portal for news in which Google aggregates headlines, short text snippets and thumbnail pictures linked to the original articles on news organizations' Web sites.Â Google News is at the center of a lawsuit brought by the news agency Agence France Presse,Â which alleges copyright infringement from Google's inclusion of its material on the portal. Tuesday's announcement follows last week's news thatÂ Google, Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. will support the open source, XML-based Sitemap Protocol. This protocol, which was developed by Google, will simplify how webmasters and online publishers submit their sites' content for indexing in the companies' search engines. (Mike Barton is online editor of InfoWorld.) Â


Hezbollah-led protesters camp out in Beirut

Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition camped out in central Beirut on Saturday on the second day of protests to demand the resignation of the U.S.-backed government.


Sydney urges residents to make 'Go Bags'

Residents of Australia's largest city are being urged to create survival bags to prepare for terrorist attacks and other emergencies under a campaign launched by city council Tuesday.


It should hire Eddie Money for a spokesman, now that Johnny Cash is gone.


Al-Qaida Said to Recruit in Latin America

MONTERREY, Mexico - Governments throughout Mexico and Central America are on alert as evidence grows that al-Qaida members are traveling in the region and looking for recruits to carry out attacks in Latin America - the potential last frontier for international terrorism.    The territory could be a perfect staging ground for Osama bin Laden's militants, with homegrown rebel groups, drug and people smugglers, and corrupt governments...


Activists: Ruling won't close Gitmo soon

Defense lawyers and human rights activists praised Thursday's Supreme Court decision rejecting military war crimes trials for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, but most felt it likely won't force a quick shutdown of the prison.


A suicide car bomber targeting a Canadian military convoy killed 35 civilians at a busy market in southern Afghanistan, a police official said.


Afghans flee town as Taliban dig in for NATO raid

SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan  - More than 1,000 villagers have fled a southern Afghan town as Taliban fighters dig in to repel NATO efforts to drive them out, residents and officials said on Wednesday.


Brazilian Park leads way at U.S. Women's Open

SOUTHERN PINES, North Carolina  - Brazilian teenager Angela Park added a two-under 69 to her opening 68 to take the second-round lead in the storm-delayed U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles on Saturday.


Crowd turn on sprinters over Kederis affair

Konstandinos Kederis relinquished his Olympic 200m title in absentia here yesterday - but it was almost as if the stadium was filled with his angry spirit as the 70,000 crowd jeered


Our position is: United Nations must be more open about mistakes made in oil-for-food scandal. When the United Nations in 1996 began allowing Iraq to sell oil to raise money to buy food and medicine, the program


Two suicide car bombings Saturday killed at least 20 Iraqi police officers and National guardsmen. And, a mortar attack in central Baghdad killed at least two civilians.


Description: The two Mars Rovers, Opportunity and Sprit, are showing signs of wear... not surprising, since their mission was expected to end in April.


Ukrainians in NC make the trip to embassy to vote for president

Vasyl Shymonyak rose before dawn and drove five hours from his home in Raleigh to Washington to participate in a presidential election that he thinks will cleanse his native Ukraine.


French investigators probe copy-protected CDs

EMI and retailer Fnac face legal challenge over antipiracy technology that blocks discs from playing on some devices.


US, Iraqi officials declare success in Samarra assault

Afraid to stray from home, residents buried the dead in their gardens Saturday as US and Iraqi forces battled pockets of resistance in this former insurgent stronghold, where


BAGHDAD -- US-led forces killed 20 suspected insurgents during a raid targeting fighters from the group Al Qaeda in Iraq northwest of Baghdad yesterday, the US military said. Two women were among those killed, the military said.


MO: ELEZIONI MUNICIPALI PALESTINESI, FATAH IN TESTA

Ramallah, 24 dic. (Adnkronos/Dpa) - Al Fatah, la principale fazione politica dell'Olp, ha vinto le elezioni muncipali che si sono svolte ieri in 26 localita' della Cisgiordania, secondo risultati ancora non ufficiali.


Tehran Mosque Blaze Kills 38, Injures 200

Thirty-eight people died and 200 were  injured Monday when a faulty electrical heater started a blaze  in a Tehran mosque crowded with worshippers for a major Shi'ite  Muslim festival, Iranian state media reported.


Gellman: On Death, Science and Religion Don't Mix

A scientific-religious debate is shaping up over near-death experiences. A look at the dangers for both sides.


Ferrovie: aumenti (e qualitÃ  dei servizi) nel mirino di ...

Tariffe ferroviarie pronte ad un ritocco dei prezzi, probabilmente giÃ  entro la fine dellÂ´anno, stando a quanto annunciato da Elio Catania, presidente e amministratore delegato delle Fs, nel corso di una conferenza stampa al Meeting di Comunione e


Chinese police arrest nearly 600 people for involvement in online gambling as part of a crackdown on betting.


MTV Networks embraces Web chaos to regain viewers

MTV Networks, owner of the MTV and Comedy Central channels, is pushing a risky new Web strategy to win back young viewers from the likes of YouTube and MySpace.


As Democrats continue to search heaven and Earth for a moral values issue they can call their own, I have just the prescription: Why not start with the immoral behavior of giant drug companies such as Merck that continue to sacrifice the health of the


Monetary, Staff Problems Suspected at Hospital

The co-chairman of an independent panel investigating problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center said yesterday that the hospital may lack adequate funding and staff for rehabilitative services.


Community News: PHP still Ranks Fourth in Popularity on TIOBE Programming Community Index

As mentioned in this new article on the International PHP Magazine's website today, PHP has come in fourth (once again) in the TIOBE Programming Community index's rankings.    PHP stands at fourth place in the October 2006 edition of the TIOBE Programming Community index. Its position has jumped a notch since last month, while Java continues to hold the top spot.   In long-term trends, PHP shows a significant jump from October 2001 to February 2002. As the graph on TIOBE's web site indicates, PHP has been charting an uneven course, facing ups and just as many downs. However, PHP's position as of Feb 2006 is significantly higher than that of 2005.    You can check out either their post or the actual index to get more information.


Authorities in Arenac County investigate apparent murder-suicide

A 30-year-old man and 30-year-old woman were found dead inside a home in what investigators believe is a murder-suicide, Arenac County authorities said in a statement.


Technology investors and entrepreneurs are starting a host of new social networking sites aimed at baby boomers and graying computer users.


In the "Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator" show, men accused of having explicit online chats with people they think are underage children go to a house to meet them, where TV cameras, host Chris Hansen and police await.


A constable is shot in the legs after answering a routine police call in south London.


The first findings from a massive collection of health data at Ground Zero were made public yesterday, showing that residents and emergency workers have more psychological


RBC Centura in deal for Alabama National

Royal Bank of Canada  subsidiary RBC Centura Inc said on Thursday it has agreed to acquire Alabama National BanCorporation  in a $1.6 billion deal that will add to the Canadian bank's presence in the U.S. Southeast.


I vigili hanno tratto in salvo due persone


Time on the tarmac has been underreported, a federal agency admits, as the summer travel season reaches crunch time


Brazil's Luxemburgo takes over as Real Madrid coach

Real Madrid has named former Brazil manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo as their third coach of the season on Thursday. Luxemburgo, who has just guided Santos to the Brazilian title


Hollywood heavy Kevin Costner wed Christine Baumgartner, a Texas real estate agent, Saturday in a Western-themed affair complete with a rodeo, tractor-pull and a canoe ride, ET reports.


Canada to hold inquiry into submarine fire

Canada says it will wait until an inquiry is held, before considering whether to demand compensation from Britain for a second-hand submarine that caught fire in the Atlantic, killing one crewman.


Prezzi. Berlusconi vuole aumentare il potere d'acquisto. ...

Il premier Silvio Berlusconi ha affermato ieri in una conferenza stampa che il potere d'acquisto reale delle famiglie puÃ² crescere nel 2005 del 2,25 grazie all'aumento spontaneo dei consumi, agli accordi sul contenimento dei prezzi e all'attuazione del


China grabs software research deals despite risks

Global software makers are looking to China as a new center for research efforts, seeking to take advantage of cheap programming talent despite nagging intellectual property concerns.


Briefly: Sarkozy focuses on aircraft aid

Economic recovery in the euro zone is firmly established and inflation poses no threat, Otmar Issing, a European Central Bank executive board member, said Sunday.


Bin Laden Sent Iraqi Arrested in Germany-Report

An Iraqi arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting an al Qaeda suicide attack in Iraq said he was sent on his mission by Osama bin Laden himself, a German magazine reported Saturday.


Taliban fighters, Canadians die in Afghan fighting

A major NATO offensive killed more than   200 Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan and four NATO   soldiers died in Sunday's fighting, the organization said.


Three Hollywood studios have announced their support for the high definition DVD (HD DVD) standard, raising the likelihood of a tough standards war with Sony's rival Blu-ray technology.


Google adds books to its epic search story

Internet search engine Google has announced Google Print, a new book search service at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Google has already secured deals with major publishers, including Oxford University Press.


Germany and Turkey are to discuss the case of a German boy jailed in Antalya for alleged molestation.


November 1, 2004 -- Who would think the outcome of a football game could mean so much to the race for the White House? But that's what John Kerry was saying yesterday after the Washington Redskins took a beating at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.


England squandered a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw against Austria yesterday in its opening match of qualifying for the 2006 soccer World Cup.


Five Lebanese soldiers killed in refugee camp battles

NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon  - Five Lebanese soldiers were killed on Saturday in the latest bout of heavy fighting against al Qaeda-inspired militants entrenched in a Palestinian refugee camp, a military source said.


Judge's ruling in Diana probe challenged

Lawyers on Monday challenged a coroner's decision to preside without a jury over the inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed, arguing that her decision to act alone gave the appearance of impropriety.


Oscar-winning actor Kevin Kline becomes the latest star to be honoured on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.


BRUSSELS: The European Commission president last night urged Turkey to "go the extra mile" to show Europeans it is ready for EU membership talks as the bloc prepared to approve them despite misgivings by many voters.


Singer Buffett wins trademark settlement

Singer Jimmy Buffett has settled his trademark infringement suit against an online merchandise retailer who agreed to stop selling Buffett-related items after a brief stay in jail, the performer's lawyer said on Tuesday.


Russia Protest Seeks Leader's Resignation

Hundreds of protesters demanding that a local leader step down clashed with riot police Wednesday in an impoverished region of southern Russia, authorities said.


Deadly shipwreck now a major Alaska oil spill

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - As the search for six victims of a rescue helicopter crash was scaled back, officials on Friday turned to a growing problem stemming from the break up of a cargo ship off Alaska: a major oil spill near a sensitive wildlife refuge.


Jordan calls for int'l role in resolving Mideast conflict

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Sunday called for an international role in finding a just and comprehensive solution to the Mideast conflict, the official Petra News Agency reported.


Allianz Says Trade Center Ruling May Cost It Up to 80 Mln Euros

Allianz AG, Europe's largest insurer, said a New York court ruling that defined the World Trade Center terrorist attacks as two separate events may cost it as much as 80 million euros ($107.6 million).


Protesters disrupt Tony Blair's conference speech despite a security operation aimed at stopping terrorism.


The radio industry plans to promote itself via high-profile print and on-air ads in a bid to fight back against satellite radio.


For decades, scientists have suspected Crohn's is caused by bacteria that cause a similar intestinal disorder in cattle, sheep and goats, but there was little evidence.


OSLO, Norway -- A group of deep sea divers sued the government Monday, saying that working at extreme depths in the early years of Norway's offshore oil boom ruined their health and violated their human rights.


Bush, Kerry Seem Bound for a Photo Finish as Voting Begins

State by state and poll by poll, surveys of US voters suggest today's election between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry will be a repeat of 2000, one of the closest in US history.


Repeated ultrasound examinations during pregnancy do not pose a risk to the babyâs health, according to a study published on Saturday in the British medical weekly The Lancet.


Singh Captures First Win of Year at Sony

A forgotten figure most of the week despite his No. 1 ranking, Vijay Singh showed up when it counted Sunday with a routine birdie on the final hole to cap off a 5-under 65 and win the Sony Open.


November 29, 2004 - After months of momentum for Blu-ray, HD-DVD has shot back with a big gain - studio support. Toshiba Corp., which has been developing the HD-DVD format, announced it has lined up Warner Bros.


Big Oil Companies Train Iraqi Workers Free

International oil companies have launched voluntary efforts to train Iraq's oil workers and provide technical assistance, hoping to generate goodwill and eventually get access to the country's huge oil reserves.


World Failed Bhopal Gas Victims, Says Amnesty

London, Nov. 30 (NNN) : The world has failed to help survivors of the Bhopal gas leak in India 20 years ago or to punish the guilty, Amnesty International has said.


Golovin Wins Opening Match at Australian

Tatiana Golovin of France needed only 52 minutes Monday to beat Yan Zi of China 6-1, 6-4 in a first-round match at the Australian women's hard-court tennis championships.


At least nine people have died and  dozens more are injured, after a trio of bomb attacks in the Philippines.


BP picks Calif., Illinois for green research

BERKELEY, California  - British oil major BP Plc on Thursday announced that universities in California and Illinois will join company scientists in a $500 million energy research program focused on cleaner, alternative fuels.


An impasse among pilot negotiators over blending seniority lists put a $20 billion deal to combine Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines in "serious jeopardy" as the boards of the two companies prepared to meet Wednesday, two people close to talks told The Associated Press. According to the report, the pilots unions have agreed on a [...].


Dollar General leads the pack of discounters.


Jaromir Jagr scores twice to end a goal-scoring slump and Brendan Shanahan sets up a pair of third-period power-play goals to help the Rangers beat the Hurricanes, 4-2.


ALMATY, Dec 5: Twenty-three coal miners died on Sunday when a methane gas blast tore through a mine owned by a global Indian steel producer in the Central Asian republic of Kazakhstan, the latest accident to strike the Soviet-era industry.


LOS ANGELES  -- Despite an ongoing investigation and charges of of child molestation, Michael Jackson continues his Christmas tradition of inviting dozens of underprivileged children to his Neverland Ranch just outside Santa Barbara, Calif.


Warner Music Group Corp. has agreed to distribute and license its copyrighted songs and other material through online video trendsetter YouTube Inc., marking another significant step in the entertainment industry's migration to the Internet.


Microsoft preps XP push, deliberates on Longhorn

In addition to a holiday-season push, the software giant says it is time to revisit its plans for its ambitious major update.


Pakistan must stop terror: PM tells Musharraf

NEW YORK: Upbeat over his meeting with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he did raise the issue of terrorism with him and made it clear that Pakistan has to control the menace as a "pre-condition" for moving forward on the


By Julian Isherwood, Scandinavia Correspondent, and Will Bennett, Art Sales Correspondent. Lax security and a series of mishaps are being blamed for the theft of two paintings by Edvard Munch from a Norwegian art gallery on Sunday.


The Motion Picture Association of America will begin suing online file traders this month, pursuing a strategy similar to one employed by the recording industry during the past year.


Microsoft aims to assure investors about growth

Microsoft Corp. , whose shares  have fallen nearly 20 percent since its last quarterly report,  will seek to assure investors this week that it is programmed  for growth in its 2007 business year.


Barclays said it had struck a deal with China Development Bank and Temasek Holdings of Singapore.


Oxygen carrier promising for sickle cell disease

NEW YORK  - A new red blood cell substitute improved the survival of mice with sickle cell disease that were subjected to conditions to simulated a sickle cell crisis, Canadian researchers report in the medical journal Anesthesiology.


Finland, current holder of the EU presidency, is to propose talks on a renewed peace plan in the Middle East.


Paura nel Potentino, altre tre scosse di terremoto

POTENZA, 3 set - Torna la paura in Basilicata dove a Potenza e provincia, dopo la scossa di terremoto registrata intorno alle ore 2.04 della scorsa notte, pari al quinto-sesto grado della scala Mercalli, la terra continua a tremare.


Valverde doubt clouds start of world road championships

STUTTGART, Germany  - Cycling's road world championships will begin on Wednesday with Alejandro Valverde's participation still in doubt and no clear favorites for the rainbow jerseys in the men's elite races.


Illinois West Nile cases more than in '03

The number of West Nile virus cases in Illinois has topped last year's total, but remains far below the record set in 2002, state officials reported Monday.


Senior aides to the powerful Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr warn US of end to freeze if attacks do not stop


Death toll rises in Afghan terror attack

The death toll from yesterday's car-bomb attack in Afghanistan has climbed to eleven -- including three Americans. Taliban rebels are claiming responsibility for the blast outside


BATTISTI: CASTELLI, MANDATO EUROPEO NON SAREBBE SERVITO A NULLA

(ASCA) - ROma, 23 ago - ''Il dato sorprendente che tutti ignorano o fanno finta di ignorare e' che il mandato di cattura europeo non sarebbe servito assolutamente a nulla in questo caso, e quindi questa e' la dimostrazione che si tratta di una norma mal


NEW YORKâVice-President Dick Cheney led an evening of withering assaults on Democratic challenger John Kerry here last night, prompting thousands of Republicans to sway back and forth, mocking their opponent with chants of "flip flop.


Israel Blocks 'Bomb Threat' Plane "Cypriot justice minister granted...

Israeli jet fighters have prevented an incoming Lufthansa airliner from landing after a bomb alert that German officials had not considered serious.


Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has appealed for order amid the violence that erupted in the West African nation over the weekend.


An employment report leads a slew of data Thursday, as investors look to rally from '08's rough start.


2nd Whale Shark This Year Dies at Georgia Aquarium

ATLANTA, June 13 -- For the second time in less than six months, a whale shark at the Georgia Aquarium, the only facility outside Asia to display the  rare fish, has died.


Blog: Alienware offers up its chassis as a bare-bones kit.


A Superior Court commissioner gave Britney Spears' father the power to fire the singer's business manager, according to documents released Friday.


San Diego Padres right-hander Chris Young carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.


FDA Says It Approved The Wrong Drug Plant

The Chinese facility that supplies the active ingredient of the widely used blood thinner heparin was never inspected by the Food and Drug Administration because the agency confused its name with another just like it, agency officials said yesterday.


AMERICA was on the brink of another sporting humiliation last night after Spain stormed into a 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup final. After the US Olympic 'Dream Team' mustered only a basketball bronze medal, the


More than an inmate a day died violently in Venezuela's crowded prisons last year, as riots and weapons trafficking ran rampant behind bars, a human rights group said in an annual report.


Cisco to Buy P-Cube for About $200 Million

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO.O), the world's largest maker of equipment to direct traffic on the Internet, on Monday said it will buy privately held software developer P-Cube for about $200 million in cash and options.


Amos Expresses Herself with New Album, Book

"At midlife, Tori Amos understands that she cannot rule life's tidal shifts, only navigate them," Ann Powers writes near the end of the new book "Tori Amos: Piece by Piece," which she co-wrote with the artist. "She is a rider of the waves, her sense of the future defined by an undiminished faith in music's power."


eBay pulls carpet from under cheesy miracle

The folk at eBay were unbelievers in the cheesy miracle: one half of a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich, the owner of which claimed it bore the image of the Virgin Mary.


GOP race in Florida is Romney vs. McCain

The Christian Science Monitor - As a matter of logic, Mitt Romney would seem to have an edge going into Florida's Republican primary on Tuesday. The economy is the No. 1 issue, and the former Massachusetts governor clearly has the strongest economic portfolio of the Republican presidential candidates, as a megawealthy businessman, turnaround artist of the 2002 Olympics, and a state chief executive.


Palestinian Prime Minister Accuses Leaders

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia on Monday condemned what he called international indifference to Palestinian suffering in the face of a broad Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip aimed at halting rocket attacks on Israel.


Fire investigators comb through debris to determine the cause of the blaze which swept through London's Royal Marsden Hospital.


Chen Loses Taiwan Poll, China Strains Seen Easing

The pro-independence party of Taiwan  President Chen Shui-bian suffered a surprise defeat in weekend  legislative elections that could ease tensions with China but  paralyze government on the democratic island.


UN/AU peacekeepers ambushed in Sudan's Darfur

Armed men opened fire on a U.N./African Union supply convoy in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region, the first attack on the newly formed joint peacekeeping mission, officials said on Tuesday.


Photos: Dancing with the stars...and a meteorite

Online hipster hub Flavorpill hosts a party at New York's Rose Center for Earth and Space, featuring DJs, dancing and a billion-year-old space rock.


The number of people looking for work in Germany has risen to its highest level in seven years as bad weather and sluggish growth caused dole queues to swell at the end of last year.


Putin Open to Outside Intervention in Chechnya

Russian President Vladimir Putin has always rejected international criticism of events in Chechnya calling them an 'intervention in internal affairs,' but lately Putin has been gradually softening on this position.


By Warren Cornwall, Seattle Times  Dec. 16--Jim Pitts was in the basement of his Normandy Park home, vacuuming half an inch of floodwater off the floor, when the call came Thursday night shortly after 7 o'clock.


Forget about Tivoization. How about adding a clause to the next version of the GPL that counters Novellization? The clause would say (in proper legalese), that if any code infringes on intellectual property or patents held by third parties, and the third parties take legal action, the contributors of the offending code assume 100% liability.  In short, if Novell injects Microsoft IP into open source and Microsoft wants to sue, it must sue Novell and nobody else, because Novell assumes liability under this new license.  This would render any "promise not to sue the end customer" agreement with Novell meaningless.


Analysis: Clinton faces likability worry

It was a blunt question for Hillary Rodham Clinton at the end of a long campaign day. A young man said he knew a lot of people who just didn't like her, and he wanted to know what she could do about it.


Navarre to Resume Study on Whether to Incorporate

By Dusty Ricketts, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach  Feb. 2--NAVARRE -- Progress has slowed recently on studying the benefits and drawbacks of incorporation, but work is expected to pick back up this month.


Cal-USC notes: Sartz's strength is his versatility

Bee Staff Writer. LOS ANGELES - Dallas Sartz is so good, he's liable to line up all over the field today against Cal. The USC junior from Granite Bay High School is a starting strong-side linebacker for the top-ranked Trojans.


As the Ball Drops, Dieting Companies Take Positions Nearby

Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... diet! Two companies are ready for this yearâs round of resolutions, sponsoring electronic billboards in Times Square.