(InfoWorld) - "Ed," a retired spammer, built a considerable fortune sending e-mails that promoted pills, porn, and casinos. At the peak of his power, Ed says he pulled in $10,000 to $15,000 a week, storing the money in $20 bills in stacks of boxes. It was a life of greed and excess, one that preyed especially on vulnerable people hoping to score drugs or win money gambling on the Internet. From when he was expelled from high school at 17 until he quit his spam career at 22, Ed -- who does not reveal his full name but sometimes goes by SpammerX -- was part of an electronic underworld profiting from the Internet via spam. "Yes, I know I'm going to hell," said Ed, who spoke in London on Wednesday at an event hosted by IronPort Systems, a security vendor now owned by Cisco Systems. "I'm actually a really nice guy. Trust me." A quick-witted and affable guy who wears an earring and casual clothes, there was a time when Ed wasn't so nice. He sent spam to recovering gambling addicts enticing them to gambling Web sites. He used e-mail addresses of people known to have bought antianxiety medication or antidepressants and targeted them with pharmaceutical spam. In short, Ed said he was "basically what people hate about the Internet." He spent 10 hours a day, seven days a week studying how to send spam and avoid filtering technologies in security software designed to weed out garbage e-mail. Most spam filters are effective 99 percent of the time; he aimed for that remaining window, using tricks such as including slightly different images in his spam, which can fool filters into thinking the e-mail is legitimate. "The better I got at spam, the more money I made," Ed said. He would start a spam run by finding an online merchant who wanted to sell a product. Then he'd acquire a list of e-mail addresses -- another commodity that has spawned its own market in the world of spam. He'd also set up a domain name, included as a link in a spam message, that, if clicked, would redirect the recipient to the merchant's Web site, enabling Ed to get credit for the referral. The spam would then be sent from a network of hacker-controlled computers, called botnets. Those machines are often consumer PCs infected with malicious software that a hacker can control. Ed would "rent" time on those computers from another group of hackers that specialized in creating botnets. If one of the spam recipients bought something, Ed would get a percentage of the sale. For pharmaceuticals the commission was around 50 percent, he said. Response rates to spam tend to be a fraction of 1 percent. But Ed said he once got a 30 percent response rate for a campaign. The product? A niche type of adult entertainment: photos of fully clothed women popping balloons. To track the money, merchants set up a "referral sales page" where spammers can see how much they make from a spam run. Ed would log in frequently, watching the money increase. He was paid into electronic payment transfer accounts, such as e-gold or PayPal, or into his debit card account, which he could cash out in $20 bills. That became problematic when the cash became voluminous. He says he made $480,000 his last year of spamming. But the lifestyle of being a spammer was taking a toll. In essence, he had no life. It's hard to go into a bar and explain your job to a woman by saying "I advertise penis enlargement pills online," Ed said. "It doesn't go down very well." He rationalized his actions by saying spamming is not like robbing someone, although the lurid impact of spam was clear. Some nine million Americans have some dependence on prescription drugs, Ed said, and he noticed that the same people were buying different drugs each month. "These were addicts," he said. Additionally, "the product is always counterfeit to some degree. If you're lucky, sometimes it's a diluted version of the real thing," he said. Viagra is cut with amphetamines, and homemade pills are common from sketchy labs in countries such as China, India, and Fiji, Ed said. So Ed got out of the business. He's written a book, "Inside the Spam Cartel: Trade Secrets from the Dark Side," which he said has had some take-up inÂ law enforcement circlesÂ eager to learn more about the spam business, which he projects will only get worse. As broadband speeds increase, spammers will increasingly look to market goods by making VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) calls or sending out videos, Ed said. The ultimate unsolvable problem is users, who continue to buy products marketed by spam, making the industry possible. "I think in 10 years we'll still get spam," Ed said. "Be prepared to be bombarded." Â


American Julia Mancuso is single-handedly taking on the mighty Austrian women as the Alpine ski World Cup races to an exciting finish.


Israel's PM steps up efforts to rebuild his coalition after suffering a setback in parliament over his Gaza plan.


KIDNAPPED AID WORKER PUTS BLAIR IN A SPOT

KIDNAPPED aid worker Margaret Hassan, in a video aired on Friday, begged British Prime Minister Tony Blair to save her life by scrapping a planned redeployment of troops and pulling them out of Iraq.


Congress-NCP tussle for Maharashtra chief ministership

New Delhi/Mumbai Oct 17: A day after winning the mandate in Maharashtra assembly elections, alliance partners, Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, were today locked in a tussle for chief ministership parties as hectic parleys began to sort out


A senior business figure is appointed to improve the running of MI6 in response to last year's Butler report.


Barclays to cut 630 jobs at credit unit, transfer work to India

British bank Barclays said Tuesday that it plans to cut 630 call-centre jobs at Barclaycard, its struggling credit card division, and move some of the work to India.


Dell delays filing fiscal reports...again

Likely to miss SEC deadline, could de-listing follow? Dell will once again hold back filing its 2007 financial statements to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) because it is yet to complete an internal investigation into its accounting practices.â¦


South Africa win toss and elect to field

Durban: South Africa won the toss and sent England in to bat in the second Test at Kingsmead. South Africa on Sunday made four changes from the team that lost the first Test in Port Elizabeth by seven wickets.


Of Radiohead and âRehab,â â1234â and Calle 13

The best of this yearâs pop music includes the intricate vamps of Iron and Wine, Lupe Fiascoâs hooks, the architectonic hard-rock of Queens of the Stone Age and the gimmick-free Radiohead.


The Food Standards Agency says it is probing whether bird flu-infected meat could have got into the food chain.


Shanghai's racing circuit is real star of Formula One Grand Prix

SHANGHAI : Michael Schumacher is expected to dominate again at China's first-ever Formula One Grand Prix this weekend. But with this year's championship title


No loss grated on the Terrapins more than their regular season defeat at the hands of Georgia Tech, which is why Maryland enjoys getting revenge with a 75-59 drubbing of the Yellow Jackets in the ACC Tournament.


Two Buddhist men have been shot dead by unidentified assailants in Thailand' s south, hours before a trip by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to the region, police said.


US cons attempt copyright-based prison break

FBI thwarts audacious criminal masterplan Four inmates of Oklahoma's El Reno federal prison were yesterday indicted for what must rate as the most audicious prison break scheme in history, the Washington Post reports.â¦


Shock jock Howard Stern, a lightning rod for furors over broadcast standards, won't have to take network heat much longer. The trash-mouthed provocateur is ditching over-the-air radio to claim his future in orbit: via satellite radio.


Hostages in criminal's hands says Afghan govt

The Afghan Government has said it believes that three kidnapped UN workers are in the hands of criminals and not the Taliban-linked militants who have threatened to kill them.


This week, MisShapes will select the music for either the shows or afterparties of Calvin Klein, Tory Burch and L.A.M.B, the label of Gwen Stefani.


Lottery firm looks  at legal action after Camelot wins bid

Business & money: Â·  Indian group attacks 'licence to underperform' Â·  Claim that money for good causes is 30% short


Thousands Apply for California Port Jobs

Hundreds of thousands of applicants are competing for 3,000 temporary jobs at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, hoping for lucrative wages in an otherwise weak labor market.


Polar Bears  -  Wait-Listed as Endangered

The government plans to delay its decision to put the polar bear on the endangered list until after it leases 30 million acres near Alaska for oil and gas drilling. What gives?


Frustrated doctors say they too often find themselves jury-rigging adult medical devices to fit children's tiny bodies and special needs. Now pediatric experts have begun a major push to fill the gap.


US embassy warns terrorist groups are developing 'near-term plans' for attacks in Kuwait in near future. KUWAIT CITY - The United States warned on Wednesday that "terrorist groups" were preparing to carry


Gunmen abduct two Italian aid workers in Gaza

Gunmen abducted two Italians working for the International Committee of the Red Cross in southern Gaza on Tuesday, the latest in a spate of kidnappings of foreigners in the Palestinian coastal strip.


Senate Democrats signaled on Wednesday that they might oppose President Bush's nominee to the Federal Election Commission over his views on voting rights and criticism that he politicized his office at the Justice Department.


O'Brien to Take Over for Leno in 5 Years

NEW YORK Sept. 27, 2004 - NBC chose the 50th anniversary of the "Tonight" show on Monday to announce that Jay Leno will be succeeded by "Late Night" host Conan O'Brien in five years or thousands of jokes from now.


Open-source database vendor Ingres Corp. is hoping that its newly released Icebreaker database and Linux combination will help it win new customers and enter fresh markets.


"Shrek", the CGI animated feature film that broke box office records worldwide and spawned an even more successful sequel, is coming to Broadway as a stage musical.


BANGALORE: India's first innings was not exactly what would be expected of the world's best batting line-up. Most of the Indian batsmen were as shaky as a blade of grass in a strong wind, barring a couple _ Irfan Pathan and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel.


Italy president in crisis talks after Prodi quits

Italy's president held crisis talks on Thursday to see if Romano Prodi, who resigned after only nine months in power after losing a Senate vote, has enough support to be reappointed as prime minister or must be replaced.


Food safety officials were last night trying to establish how 23 tonnes of organic free-range chicken sold from stores around Britain and Ireland contained a cancer-causing chemical banned in livestock since 1995.


Infocus: Data Driven Attacks Using HTTP Tunneling

In this article we will look at a means to bypass the access control restrictions of a company's router or firewall.  This information is intended to provide help for those who are legitimately testing the security of a network (whether they are in-house expertise or outside consultants).


NHL's Bertuzzi Pleads Not Guilty to On-Ice Assault

NHL star Todd Bertuzzi pleaded not guilty on Thursday to an assault charge for an on-ice attack that left a player with a fractured neck and shocked the sporting community.


JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Suspected Muslim militants detonated a car bomb yesterday outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, killing nine people and wounding 173 in a strike at a key US ally in the war in Iraq.


Morocco's former interior minister, Driss Basri, who was associated with a time of repression, dies in Paris.


But that's what the Bush family is. So just how has America's most enduring political family endured, and who's next in line?


Beijing to back media freedom during Olympics: Jowell

Beijing chief organizer Liu Qi will   back the freedom of media to report "unimpeded" around China   during the 2008 Olympics, Britain's Olympic Minister Tessa   Jowell said on Tuesday.


Philadelphia Is Nervous as Eagles Move On

As the N.F.C. title approaches in a week, a peculiar mix of confidence and fear is certain to keep Philadelphia on edge.


The negative reaction President Bush got Thursday in Brazil at the start of a weeklong visit to the region doesn't surprise experts in Latin American affairs. "There is an enormous rejection of U.S. foreign policy in the world," one said. Bush's arrival in Sao Paulo was preceeded by street marches and clashes between protesters and police.


The Baltimore Ravens' locker room was quiet following their 24-3 loss Sunday to the New England Patriots, as the players tried to quickly get out of their wet uniforms and get on their way home.


Kidnappers Release Seven Hostages in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Kidnappers released two female Italian aid workers and five other hostages Tuesday, raising hopes for foreigners still in captivity. But insurgents showed no sign of easing their blood-soaked campaign against the U.S...


Telabria plans U.K.'s first WiMax network

While the debate rages on the economics of deploying and operating WiMax networks, a U.K. start-up is quietly building what it hopes will be the country's first network based on this emerging high-speed broadband wireless technology.


The next generation of software players prep for public offerings.


The House Wednesday approved by a 422-0 vote legislation named for the late Georgia Rep. Charlie Norwood, that organ donor groups say could lead to many more kidney transplants each year.


Myanmar monks chant "democracy", soldiers move in

Chanting "democracy, democracy", 10,000 monks marched through the heart of Myanmar's main city on Tuesday in defiance of a threat by the ruling generals to send in troops to end the biggest anti-junta protests in nearly 20 years.


Injuries take luster off Lions' win McMahon sparks offense in 1st ...

DETROIT - Joey Harrington sat out last night's pre-season game against Buffalo so that Lions coach Steve Mariucci could get a look at backup quarterback Mike McMahon working with the No.


MANCHESTER, New Hampshire  - Republican presidential contenders led by Mike Huckabee and John McCain ganged up on rival Mitt Romney on Saturday in the first of two back-to-back debates that could shape tight races in New Hampshire's nominating contest.


Finlandia il paese meno corrotto del mondo

La Finlandia si conferma per il quinto anno di seguito il paese meno corrotto del mondo, secondo la classifica del TI (Transparency International), l'organizzazione che lotta contro la corruzione e che ha pubblicato oggi il suo 'Indice 2004', ovvero la


Rafael Benitez turned up the pressure on Deportivo ahead of the clash with Liverpool by insisting: "They need the points more than we do".


Desalination no answer to water crisis: WWF

Removing salt from sea water to overcome  a worldwide shortage of drinking water could end up worsening  the crisis, environmental group WWF warned on Tuesday.


The ninth tropical depression of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season formed Wednesday in the central Atlantic, but it was not expected to become a hurricane or threaten land, forecasters said.


The Web is a window on personal lives, and employers can peer in.


UN Official Warns of Potential for Anarchy in Sudan

A senior United Nations official is warning that Sudan could quickly descend into total anarchy, with warlords ruling large areas and the government unable to control its forces.


US Will Release 'Enemy Combatant' Yaser Hamdi, Fly Him to Saudi ...

The US government has decided to release an American citizen classified as an enemy combatant and allow him to return to Saudi Arabia without facing charges.


Fugitive TB patient asks passengers to forgive him

A tuberculosis patient who turned fugitive in order to continue with wedding and honeymoon plans despite warnings not to travel has apologized to the fellow airline passengers he may have endangered, he said in an interview aired on Friday.


A key witness in the murder of Rwanda's former leader says he will no longer co-operate with a French inquiry.


Ronny Turiaf and Adam Morrison each scored 22 points to lead No. 17 Gonzaga over Santa Clara 92-75 Saturday.


In Shift, Accord on North Korea Seems to Be Set

The tentative agreement sets a 60-day deadline for North Korea to disable its nuclear facilities and to allow inspectors back into the country.


This project automates Http-requests i.e. all browser activities can be logged/written to XML-formated files and redone by using simple methods. This is very useful for automating http-server-requests e.g. queries to search engines, external databases..   Binary and source code of HTTP-Analyzer is online now. With this program web requests can be logged easily and saved into a comprehensive XML file. The logged web actions can be automated using the Httpbot libraries of this project.


Mantova, 19:26 - CALCIO, MANTOVA: DIFFERENZIATO PER GRAUSO E CARIDI

Allenamento pomeridiano per il Mantova in vista della trasferta di Messina. Il tecnico Tesser ha fat...


Philly Fed dives sharply, economy seen much softer

U.S. Mid-Atlantic factory activity  retrenched for the first time in over three years in September,  the latest sign of a rapidly-slowing economy.


Bodies Line South India Beaches After Killer Tsunami

Wailing relatives gathered around dozens of bodies on beaches in southern India Sunday after a tsunami triggered by an earthquake in distant Indonesia killed about 2,000 people.


The fate of Yuganskneftegas - the Russian oil firm sold to a little-known buyer on Sunday - is the subject of frantic speculation in Moscow.


PETALING JAYA: Sophos Plc is urging Mac OS X administrators to arm themselves against an "anti-security" worm known as "Renepo.


Schwarzenegger Shows Eco-Friendly Hummer

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger laughs during a visit to an after-school program site at PS 129 in New York's Harlem neighborhood in this Wednesday, Sept.


Mantova, 21:57 - CALCIO, MANTOVA: ORGANIZZATI 24 PULLMAN PER BOLOGNA

Sono 24 i pullman organizzati dai tifosi del Mantova per la trasferta di sabato a Bologna. Finora i ...


Federer, Nadal rivalry reaches new level

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal long ago established themselves as the best of the best in men's tennis, far ahead of anyone else in the game these days. Then, firmly entrenched at No. 1 and No. 2, they began meeting regularly in tournament finals. Now they finally have produced the other element any great sports rivalry needs: a scintillating showdown on the biggest of stages.


First up: admit you have a problem A Pennsylvania "executive coach" is offering hopeless email addicts a 12-step detox programme "designed to tackle their obsession", Reuters reports.â¦


Force, not value, to drive upgrades - the new Microsoft way (?)

Microsoft is "upgrading" its Software Assurance program, but not in a way that benefits customers.


Tiger Woods will lose money but gain a greater prize in his latest trip to a golf course. Richard Alleyne reports from Barbados. If you are the world's richest and most obsessive golfer, where better to get


New research underlines antioxidant activity in chocolate

Evidence backing the health promoting benefits of chocolate continues to mount bringing dynamism to slacking sales.


A man is found guilty of the murder of special needs teacher Jane Longhurst in Sussex in 2003.


Private equity firm Blackstone Group has emerged as a leading contender to buy the troubled U.S. division of German automaker DaimlerChrysler AG , The Detroit News reported on its Web site on Saturday, citing people familiar with the situation.


"I never want to go through this again," said eight year-old Katie Waskiewicz, who yesterday checked out the fallen trees and broken roof tiles in her Florida neighbourhood after riding out Jeanne with her family.


Tagging is catching on as people realize the convenience of categorizing sites and files online, and as large Internet players like Google and Yahoo, which owns Flickr and del.icio.us, offer tagging features in their services.


Age crackdown on fashion industry aims to end 'size zero' crisis.


Brazil's government suffers a major blow as the Senate  refuses to renew a key revenue-raising tax.


Tunisi. Il presidente della Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali' e' stato rieletto capo dello Stato per un quarto mandato della durata di cinque anni con il 94,49% dei voti (4.204.292 preferenze), secondo i risultati


In Bethesda, Putting a Price on a Neighborhood

Homeowners in a neighborhood steps from downtown Bethesda face a tantalizing possibility: A developer wants to buy all 60 houses in their community, potentially turning many residents into millionaires.


After Feb. 17, 2009, full-power television stations will broadcast a digital signal only, meaning people who do not have a digital-ready TV and watch programs with an antenna will need a special converter box.


SEATTLE -- Storm guard Sue Bird is expected to play after having surgery Monday on her broken nose. Bird was injured during Game 2 of Seattle's first-round series against Minnesota.


Jewish settlers preparing to evacuate Gaza Strip

He doesn't know, or care, what it will cost, how big it will be or even where it will be located. All he wants to do right now is move his wife and five young boys to a new life.


At Least Nine Killed in Attack on U.S. Mission in Saudi

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia  - Militants stormed the  heavily fortified U.S. consulate in Jeddah in a brazen raid on  Monday and at least nine people died in gunbattles before  security forces regained control.


Campaigns walk tightrope remembering 9/11

WASHINGTON  When Republicans gather in New York City in 10 days for their national convention  just a few subway stops from where the World Trade Center once stood  there is little doubt they will stage a tribute to the thousands ...


Science & environment: Clean energy and reversing ageing among the biggest challenges of the next 50 years, say leading thinkers


Obama wins South Carolina Democratic primary

COLUMBIA, South Carolina  - South Carolina Democrats voted on Saturday in a bitter presidential nominating race, with Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton in polls and counting on heavy black support to carry him to a needed victory.


NORTON, Mass. - How appropriate was it that the man considered by most as the single hardest worker on the PGA Tour should also become the world's top-ranked player on Labor Day.


Parigi, 15:06 - CALCIO, RONALDO; ROLLAND: RECUPERO DIPENDE DA MOTIVAZIONI

"Occorre molta energia al giocatore per ritornare in campo, la sua motivazione sarà l'element...


Rights group 'uncovers bid to skew poll' but attorney general denies recorded voice is his


HP Aims at Living Room with TVs, Media Hubs

Computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co.  HPQ.N is pushing aggressively into television sales this year  as it rolls out full lines of TVs, projectors, and home media  servers, Chief Executive Carly Fiorina said on Tuesday.


Credit Suisse Group, Switzerland's second-largest bank, said Tuesday it will combine its US-based Credit Suisse First Boston investment unit with its retail and private banking business within two years.


Nadal Tops Moya, Advances at French Open

Rafael Nadal moves closer to a third straight French Open title Wednesday, beating 1998 champion Carlos Moya, 6-4, 6-3, 6-0, in the quarterfinals.


Movie Review | 'Black Snake Moan': Chained to the Radiator? Itâs for Her Own Good

Underneath the surface of racial and sexual button pushing in âBlack Snake Moanâ is a heart of pure, buttery cornpone.


Breakfast at Tiffanny's dress goes for a bomb

The little black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film "Breakfast At Tiffany's" went under the hammer for 410,000 pounds at Christie's auctioneers in London, some six times the reserve price.


An appeal by the Sri Lankan community in Cardiff saw an immense response, with donors swamping volunteers.


Gays Debate Radical Steps to Curb Unsafe Sex

Some gay activists want to track down those who engage in risky behavior and try to stop them before they can infect others.


The European Union on Monday ended 12 years of sanctions against Libya and eased an arms embargo to reward the North African country for giving up plans to develop weapons of mass destruction.


Ohio Finds Possible Double Votes, Counts

Election officials in one Ohio county found that about 2,600 ballots were double-counted, and two other counties have discovered possible cases of people voting twice in the presidential election.


Tony Blair says the US-led attack on the Iraqi city of Falluja would stop now if terrorists give up their arms.


British prostitutes get help as police hunt killer

Prostitutes in eastern England are  being offered financial help to stay off the streets as police  step up their hunt for a serial killer feared to have murdered  five prostitutes, officials said on Friday.


Hurricane Ivan Slams Alabama, Killing 12

GULF SHORES, Ala. - Hurricane Ivan slammed ashore early Thursday with winds of 130 mph, packing deadly tornadoes and a powerful punch of waves and rain that threatened to swamp communities from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle...


A US nuclear monitor shows satellite images of an Iranian weapons facility which may be working on nuclear weapons.


Tension Mounts as Ukraine Poised for Poll Result

Ukraine's authorities raised the stakes in a face-off with their liberal opposition on Wednesday as they prepared to announce results of a disputed election that are likely to infuriate thousands of protesters ...


Security forces in Nepal have been placed on high alert as a deadline set by rebels for business shut down ends on Tuesday.


Merrill's stock pay play could make Q4 loss bigger

Merrill Lynch & Co Inc's  move to accelerate vesting on previously awarded stock-based pay to employees could add to the huge fourth-quarter loss already expected by analysts.


No. 9 Ohio State Edges Marshall on Last-Second FG

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sports Network) - Mike Nugent's 55-yard  field goal as time expired lifted the ninth-ranked Ohio State  Buckeyes to a dramatic 24-21 win over the pesky Marshall  Thundering Herd in the first-ever meeting between the teams.


Emery suspended three games for slashing incident

Ottawa Senators goaltender Ray Emery has been suspended for three games for slashing Montreal Canadiens center Maxim Lapierre, the NHL announced Monday.


Nintendo Co. has permanently slashed prices on its Game Boy Advance SP portable video game system as the company tries to entrench its No. 1 position in the handheld game market.


Bush Signs Bill to Keep Government Going

President Bush on Sunday signed a stopgap spending bill that keeps the government running while Congress sorts out remaining issues related to a more permanent federal spending package.


German Chancellor pushes Green agenda at the European Union Summit. Plus: Congress proposes a pricey Great Lakes cleanup plan and TiVo steadies its losses.


Tourists flee as Hurricane Felix approaches Honduras

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras - Planes shuttled tourists from island resorts in a desperate airlift yesterday as Hurricane Felix bore down on Honduras and Belize. But thousands of Miskito Indians were stranded along a swampy coastline where the Category 4 storm was expected to make landfall.


China's top oil firm, PetroChina, is expected to raise more than $9bn (Â£4.88bn) for its listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.


THROUGH THE different stages of his life as chief of Fatah, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and president of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat's one consistent principle has been to keep the reins of power wrapped tightly around


Costo del denaro dovrebbe essere tagliato a meta' 2008


Guerrillas Kill Two U.S. Soldiers in Iraq's Mosul

Guerrillas attacked a U.S. patrol in Mosul on Saturday, killing two American soldiers and wounding four, the U.S. military said on Sunday.


Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid ended a two-game winless slide with a 5-0 Spanish league victory over seventh-placed Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.


Heart Patch Pulses Like the Real Thing - Study

Pulsing transplanted heart cells with electrical current helps them grow into mature cardiac cells, bringing doctors closer to a grow-your-own heart patch, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.


America's late-night TV comics returned to the air on Wednesday with dueling politicians, newly grown facial hair and expressions of sympathy for striking screenwriters whose labor dispute threw the shows into reruns for two months.


A 59-year-old man has been drinking breast milk in an effort boost his immune system and help him fight off his prostate cancer.


InfoWorld - IBM on Wednesday formally announced the next major release of WebSphere, code-named Vela, which company officials see as an integral building block for both its ongoing SOA (service-oriented architecture) and On Demand strategies.


A large, blue Patriots duffle bag was ready to be packed in front of Tedy Bruschi's locker yesterday at Gillette Stadium, signifying that Bruschi will make the trip to East Rutherford, N.J., for tomorrow's game against the New York Jets. But whether Bruschi plays will be determined shortly before kickoff.


Senate Confirms New Homeland Security Chief

Federal judge Michael Chertoff, who  testified against torture and preached the need to protect  civil liberties, won unanimous Senate confirmation and was  sworn in on Tuesday to head the U.S. Homeland Security  Department.


More misery forecast for flood-hit China as July toll hits 127

China issued emergency flood warnings for central and eastern parts of the nation Tuesday, after torrential downpours led to the deaths of at least 127 in the past eight days.


Alba's pregnancy creates havoc in love life

Jessica Alba, who is pregnant with boyfriend Cash Warren's child, is dealing with complications in her love life caused by the pregnancy.


Colombian convicted in NY of smuggling cocaine

A Colombian drug kingpin was convicted of narcotics and money laundering charges on Friday for smuggling $100 million worth of cocaine into the United States on speedboats and in cranes.


Michigan Ends Miami of Ohio's Win Streak

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Freshman Chad Henne threw two touchdowns in a surprising start for Michigan, helping the eighth-ranked Wolverines to a 43-10 victory over Miami of Ohio on Saturday that ended the nation's longest winning streak...


Alexey Zakhlestin's Blog: Syck for PHP goes Beta

Alexey Zakhlestin has announced on his blog today the fact that his PECL package - Syck - has officially gone beta.   This is an extension for reading and writing YAML-files. YAML (rhymes with "camel") is a straightforward machine parsable data serialization format designed for human readability and interaction with scripting languages. YAML is optimized for data serialization, configuration settings, log files, Internet messaging and filtering.   He's also included updated versions of the install instructions (a simple three-step process).


England rugby hopeful Cipriani on a steep learning curve

England hopeful Danny Cipriani admits he is on a steep learning curve as he tries to oust Jonny Wilkinson from the number ten jersey for the Six Nations opener against Wales on February 2.


British detainees alleged 'vindictive torture' at Guantanamo Bay

One of four Britons still held by the United States at the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba claims in a letter released by lawyers that he has been subjected to "vindictive torture" and death threats.


Arctic Monkeys take two NME music awards

British bands swept the NME music awards on Thursday, with last year's champions the Arctic Monkeys doing it again in 2007 with two more prizes.


Schwab Cuts Commissions, Sees Revenue Off

Charles Schwab Corp. , the largest online brokerage, on Friday said it would cut online stock-trading commissions by 35 percent for small investors, the latest volley in a price war among brokers and a move that will reduce the firm's revenue.


Kadhafi's football-mad son hopes to score in business

Al-Saadi Kadhafi, the football-mad son of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, is turning his energy to building a financial hub of his own to bolster economic progress in the oil-rich north African nation.


Leopard, uncaged: Mac OS X upgrade makes debut

The new version of Apple's operating system hits stores Friday with a wide array of new features to check out, from Time Machine to Cover Flow to iChat Theater.


Microsoft has tweaked its antipiracy software to show when it can't quite decide whether the operating system is authorized or not.


E-mail service for basic mobile phones unveiled

A start-up founded by a group of  successful European entrepreneurs is set to bring e-mail,  instant messaging and other communications services to low-cost  mobile phones, its chief executive said on Tuesday.


Pat Knight's 1st win at Tech is an upset

Alan Voskuil scored a career-high 30 points and Texas Tech beat No. 18 Kansas State 84-75 on Wednesday night to give Pat Knight his first win since taking over for his father.


Gene Variants Influence Sensitivity to Pain

Researchers have identified three variations of a gene called COMT that influence sensitivity to pain and the risk of developing a chronic pain condition.


Forte aumento entrate contributive in primo semestre 2007


Swedish-Dutch chemicals and paints group Akzo Nobel's announced Wednesday that it had completed the purchase of British peer ICI.


De Lage Landen creates new Mergers & Acquisitions department, appoints Christiaan Bouhuys

WAYNE, PA, November 19, 2004 De Lage Landen Financial Services has recently formed a Mergers & Acquisition department and appointed Christiaan Bouhuys to the newly created position of Vice President.


Britain's latest foot-and-mouth outbreak is the same strain as last month's, according to initial test results Thursday that gave farmers hope the disease could be contained in a small region.


Vulnerabilities in Apple's widely used QuickTime media player software can expose both Macs and Windows PCs to attack.


No 2nd Miracle in Japan Quake,100,000 in Shelters

OJIYA, Japan  - Rescuers who saved a toddler  buried for four days by Japan's deadliest earthquake in a  decade were unable perform a second miracle for his sister on  Thursday, as close to 100,000 people remained in makeshift  shelters.


Bayou View Apartments Evacuated for Fire

By Robin Fitzgerald, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.  May 25--GULFPORT -- A section of Bayou View Apartments on Jody Nelson Drive were evacuated briefly around 12:45 p.m. as a fire destroyed the kitchen and living room of one residence.


US Election Again Fails to Yield Winner; Courts May Decide

The US election system failed to choose a winner on voting day for the second straight presidential contest, raising the possibility that the courts may have to break a deadlock between George W. Bush and challenger John Kerry.


Description: Game reviewer Robert Holt explains the new Xbox game Halo 2, released Tuesday. It's expected to bring in an estimated $80 million; the original Halo lured many gamers into buying Microsoft's Xbox in the first place.


Zurigo, 20:54 - CALCIO, FIFA: PRESIDENTIAL AWARD A PELE'

Il Fifa Presidential Award 2007 è stato assegnato a Pelè. Il brasiliano ha ricevuto il...


Sen. John McCain made it official on  Wednesday that he is seeking the 2008 Republican presidential  nomination and said he plans a formal announcement in April.


What You Might Not Know About John McCain

YES, YOU KNOW THAT JOHN MCCAIN IS A SENATOR FROM ARIZONA AND THAT HE WAS HELD PRISONER IN THE VIETNAM WAR, BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW . . .


Tomas Plekanec had two goals and an assist, and Andrei Kostitsyn had a goal and two assists in the Montreal Canadiens' 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.


Yemeni militants convicted on terror charges; one sentenced to ...

SAN`A, Yemen A court has convicted 15 Yemeni militants on terror charges including the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker and plotting to kill the US ambassador.


Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto were on the verge last night of forming an alliance under which he would step down from the army but continue as president and she would return to Pakistan after eight years of exile to try to win back her old job, officials on both sides said.


Insurgents Kill Bulgarian Soldier in Iraq - Report

An explosive-laden truck cut into a coalition convoy in central southern Iraq killing one and wounding three Bulgarian soldiers, a report said Sunday.


Bush Speaks in Florida, Where the Race is Tight

Description: President Bush focused his campaigning Saturday on Florida, a state he won with the help of a Supreme Court decision in 2000.


Indonesia signs an agreement with a US firm over a human bird flu vaccine in a move that stirs controversy.


Dow Jones in flessione dello 0,29%, Nasdaq dello 0,4%


F1 Drivers Association has saved lives - Schumacher

The Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) has greatly improved the safety of Formula One and saved lives, seven-times champion Michael Schumacher said on Tuesday.


LA grand jury probes MySpace teenage suicide case

Fake user said: 'World would be a better place without you' A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has subpoenaed MySpace and others in connection with a teenage girl who hanged herself after receiving cruel messages on the site from people posing as a 16-year-old boy.â¦


U.S. astronaut Lisa Nowak returned to Houston on Wednesday and was to undergo mental evaluation at Johnson Space Center after her arrest on charges she tried to kill a romantic rival for a fellow astronaut.


Roma, 19:46 - CALCIO, ROMA: AD EMPOLI EMERGENZA IN DIFESA

Roma in probabile emergenza difensiva per la trasferta di Empoli.  Chivu potrebbe non recuperare, me...


ARIEL'S TEAM HUDDLES TO PLOT SETTLER PULLOUT

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his senior military brass talked for the first time this week about the secret plans for "Operation Gathering of Brothers" â-he uprooting


David Lee, Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh each scored 18 points to lead Florida past No. 11 Alabama 85-54, its largest victory ever against a ranked opponent.


MPs' aides accused of putting French hostages in danger

Two self-appointed negotiators who led a bizarre, independent attempt to free the two French journalists held hostage in Iraq were accused yesterday of "communicating with a foreign


IBM Puts Spotlight On Entry-Level Linux Servers

A virtualization option will be available for the systems, which are based on 1.5- or 1.6-GHz Power5 processors. By Darrell Dunn. IBM on Monday introduced a new line of Linux servers intended to compete with


Premier chiama da Usa durante riunione capigruppo Camere


FCC Chairman Powell Said to Be Resigning

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell plans to step down from the job he's held for four years, two agency officials said Friday.


Pizzighettone, 16:40 - CALCIO, C1/A: VENTURATO LASCIA LA PANCHINA DEL PIZZIGHETTONE

Roberto Venturato si è dimesso dalla guida del Pizzighettone (C1/A). La decisione è ma...


Australian teen killed by two great white sharks

ADELAIDE, Australia: Two great white sharks attacked and killed a surfer while his friends watched in horror Thursday off a popular beach in the southern Australian city of Adelaide, authorities said.


Having No Order on the Court With No True Point Guard

The Knicks do not have a reliable point guard on the roster without Stephon Marbury, a problem not only for the final three months of a lost season, but for the foreseeable future.


A man has been charged over the Glasgow murder of Polish student Angelika Kluk, it emerges.


Nerves Fray in Florida as Grimy Reality Sinks In

As the initial shock dissipates, the victims of Hurricane Charley are left with the realization that months may pass before they can resume normalcy.


The Quick Selection Guide to Chemical Protective Clothing, 5th Edition Is Available Now

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c58990)  has announced the addition of "Quick Selection  Guide to Chemical Protective Clothing, 5th Edition"  to their offering.


China's Lenovo in talks with 'major IT firm' for acquisition

SHANGHAI : China's largest manufacturer of personal computers Lenovo Group said it is in negotiations with a major information technology company, believed to be US-based IBM.


A UN telecommunications agency has approved WiMax as a global standard for mobile devices, which will pave the way for widespread adoption of the platform as a method for next-generation cellular data transfer.


News Corp. to buy remainder of Italy's satellite provider

MILAN News Corp. on Tuesday said that it agreed to buy the 20 percent of Sky Italia, the satellite-television broadcaster, that it does not already own from Telecom Italia for E88 million.


The Tour de France will have revamped rules and a slightly less mountainous but hopefully more exciting course in 2008, organizers announced on Thursday, looking to inject fresh enthusiasm into cyclingâs doping-battered showcase race.


Peter Lipscei rescued Hungarian side Ferencvaros from embarrassment in the UEFA Cup with a 1-1 draw at unfancied English side Millwall at The Den.


Japan asks Britain for protection in Iraq

Japan has asked the British army to help protect its troops in southern Iraq after Dutch soldiers withdraw from the area in March next year, a Japanese newspaper says.


The Motley Fool - What a strange week it's been for Google (Nasdaq: GOOG - News). Earlier this week, the company announced an international advertising alliance with eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY - News). Now we learn that Apple Computer (Nasdaq: AAPL - News) has warmed up a seat on its board of directors for Google CEO Eric Schmidt.


Sola Says Agrees to Be Sold for $815 Mln

Sola International SOL.N, an  eyeglass lens maker, said on Sunday that it had agreed to be  bought by Germany's Carl Zeiss AG and European private equity  firm EQT for about $815 million in cash.


Actually, the funeral took place a while ago. What happened Friday night merely was the posting of the official death notice. Honestly, were you shocked, shocked, shocked, to see Argentina knock the golden gloss off Team USA?


Israel detains more than 30 senior Hamas officials, including the Palestinian education minister.


Aboriginal concerns to get $700M increase

OTTAWAâPrime Minister Paul Martin kicked off the first ministers' meeting yesterday by announcing $700 million to improve aboriginal health.


Fellow Fool Alyce Lomax and I need to debate Pier 1 Imports (NYSE: PIR). Between Alyce covering the company warnings and me advising not to jump off the pier, there has been little good news to report. Is Pier 1 ready to get ...


British comedian Rowan Atkinson, known for playing the bumbling television and movie character Mr. Bean, made a mistake of his own when he backed an SUV into an Aspen woman's car.


Late Wwii Pow Honored With Medal in Ark.

AP Wire . 10/22/2004 . Late WWII POW Honored With Medal in Ark. A four-part series on the people who make up the homeless population in Duluth.


Cina, straordinaria scoperta: i rettili non regnavano incontrastatiCompetevano con i nostri antenati, che a volte li mangiavano                                                  Dinosauri divorati dai mammiferi Si riscrive la storia del Mesozoico                                                                                La prova in un fossile risalente a 130 milioni di anni fadi ALESSIO BALBI


Alberto Alonso Dies at 90; A Founder of Cuban Troupe

Mr. Alonso was a Cuban-born dancer, ballet master and choreographer who received political asylum in the United States in 1993.


With a twinkle in her eye, Coco tore up the green carpet at Madison Square Garden.


Condition of Indonesia's Suharto 'very good': doctors

Doctors treating Indonesia's elderly former dictator Suharto said Saturday his condition was "very good" and that he may soon be taken off a ventilator and allowed to return home.


Iran rejects European demands over nuclear standoff

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


Dispute over commissioners ends after MEPs finally approve ...

Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, yesterday won the big majority from MEPs he needed for his new team of commissioners, as a three-week political crisis ended.


The main candidates in Serbia's presidential election:


Pope Benedict XVI met Wednesday with the parents of Madeleine McCann, the four-year-old girl who disappeared in Portugal nearly a month ago, and said he would pray for her safe return.


Plan to extend terror suspects' detenion

Â· Civil liberties activists condemn proposalÂ· Conservatives back other counter-terror measures


Faulty track blamed for fatal UK train crash

A defective track may have caused a highspeed train crash in northern England in which an elderly woman was killed and five other people were seriously injured, according to investigators and the train company boss.


Jose Maria Olazabal says he has settled his differences with Colin Montgomerie ahead of this week's Ryder Cup.


At Least 10 Dead, Many Missing in Russian Mine Disaster

At least 10 people were killed and 23 injured when a mine in the southern Siberian region of Kemerovo exploded Thursday morning. The blast tore through the coal mine at about 9:30 am local time, with about


A major eastern province of Ukraine called a referendum on autonomy yesterday in response to the impasse over a disputed presidential election, and the opposition demanded that


In the Hunt: Playing Detective in a Patent Case

A financial-services executive tracks down information needed for a patent infringement case.


Combinazione 11-17-20-36-57-72, Jolly 51, Superstar 89


'Il governo e' a rischio ma ce la puo' fare'


January starts data throws cold water on hopes for recovery.


Sudanese troops and helicopter gunships launched another offensive against rebels in the Darfur region yesterday, breaking a deadline for fighting to end.


Iraq says won't disband police despite U.S. report

Iraq's Interior Ministry said on Thursday it would not disband the national police despite a report by an independent U.S. panel that will recommend scrapping and reorganizing the force.


U.S. experts studying what to do next in Iraq said Tuesday that the next three months are critical and Baghdad's government must make more progress toward controlling the violence and rebuilding the nation.


Delta Air CEO to waive merger compensation

Delta Air Lines Inc  Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson has told the airline's board he will waive compensation in the event of a merger.


The world is on the verge of a water crisis as people fight over ever dwindling supplies, experts told the Stockholm Water Symposium.


Ford, Navistar dispute deepens with new lawsuit

Navistar International Corp.  said on Wednesday it filed a lawsuit against Ford Motor Co.  for breaching a diesel engine contract covering F-150 pickup trucks, marking an escalation of a legal battle between the two.


Sub-Saharan Africa is still bearing the brunt of the HIV/Aids epidemic, a UNAids report reveals.


Pene piu' severe, piu' tutele anche per familiari vittime


Porsche aims to increase stake in Volkswagen

Porsche, the German maker of luxury sports cars, wants to further increase its stake in Europe's biggest car maker Volkswagen, Porsche chief Wendelin Wiedeking has said.


As Iraq Deteriorates, Iraqis Get More Blame

From troops on the ground to members of Congress, Americans increasingly blame the continuing violence and destruction in Iraq on the people most affected by it: the Iraqis.


Police investigating a triple shooting which left one man dead trace a car they believe is linked to the crime.


THE night Oasis were signed, they weren't even supposed to be there. Two bands from Creation records, Eighteen Wheeler and Boyfriend, were playing and that's why Alan McGee was there.


Conti alberghi addebitati a ignari possessori carte credito


Indian bomb suspects' family complains of media harassment

The Indian family of British terror plot suspects Kafeel and Sabeel Ahmed say they are suffering from severe media harassment, according to the family's lawyer.


Stocks cut early losses on Wednesday as financial companies gained in the aftermath of Tuesday's interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.


By JEFF BARNARD  GRANTS PASS, Ore. - A San Francisco man who got stranded with his family in the snowy wilderness had taken a wrong turn in the car down a logging road that is normally blocked by a gate, but vandals had cut the lock, authorities said Friday.


The European Union and the United States agreed Tuesday to defer pursuing complaints with the World Trade Organization while they attempt to settle their dispute over subsidies to Airbus and Boeing through bilateral talks.


Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) plans to cut about 2.5 percent, or 4,500 jobs from its workforce, and it's unclear how those cuts will affect Austin employees.


With Little Authority, African Union Force Struggles With Its Mission in Darfur

The African Union peacekeeping force is almost out of money and lacks the ability to stand up to the Sudanese government.


Along US-Mexico border, not enough hands for the harvest

Arizona farmers cite tighter border security and limits on guest workers. They're paying field hands $2 more per hour.


Blair named Mideast envoy, Israel kills 12 in Gaza

Israeli forces killed at least 12 Palestinians, mostly gunmen but also a 12-year-old boy and other civilians, on Wednesday in the deadliest raid in the Gaza Strip since Hamas seized the territory, medical workers said.


House Vote Stops Appropriation for New Generation of Nuclear Weapons

The House yesterday approved plans to halt funding for the development of a new generation of nuclear warheads as House leaders called on the Bush administration to provide a post-Cold War nuclear strategy that would detail the future size of the U.S. nuclear stockpile.


CBS correspondent breathing on ventilator

A CBS News correspondent critically wounded by a car bomb in Iraq that killed two colleagues was heavily sedated and breathing through a ventilator Wednesday at a U.S. military hospital in Germany, a spokeswoman said.


Nicaragua Finds Civil War-Era Land Mines

Nicaragua has found thousands of anti-personnel mines left over from its 1980s-era civil war, ending hopes of declaring the country safe from the weapons this year.


2 Kidnapped in Iraq; 30 Killed in Fallujah

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A team of kidnappers grabbed two Americans and a Briton in a dawn raid on their home on a leafy Baghdad street Thursday - a bold abduction that underlines the increasing danger for foreigners in the embattled capital as violence soars ahead of national elections planned for early next year.    West of the capital, U.S...


Nintendo President Plays Down Sony Handset

The president of Japanese game maker Nintendo Co. shrugged off the threat from rival Sony's entry into the handheld video game business Thursday, saying his company is targeting a different market of novice players.


Officials in Ethiopia Rescue Rare Lion Cubs

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Ethiopia is a perilous place to be an Abyssinian lion - so perilous that an Italian aid group brought two orphaned cubs to  the Italian Embassy, where the wife of a diplomat has been caring for them  inside a fenced garden.


In his career as a game reviewer, Ghislain Masson has been to Russia twice, and once to Chernobyl for a promotion of a computer game set in that area's nuclear meltdown zone.


President George W. Bush signs into law a bill designed to improve fuel economy and reduce US demand for oil.


Lo ha detto il portavoce governativo, Ali Debbagh


Microsoft fixes four flaws in four patches; one is critical

Patches address flaws in Microsoft Agent in Windows 2000, Windows Services for UNIX, Visual Studio, MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger.


News Analysis: âKid Nationâ Lesson: Be Careful What You Pitch

In the last week, as âKid Nationâ came under scrutiny, CBS has been taking pains to assert that the show was, in fact, crawling with adults: child psychologists, pediatricians and paramedics, all of them closely watching over the children.


Ahmadinejad lauded in Iran for "Lion's Den" visit

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may have faced ridicule in the United States by suggesting there were no homosexuals in Iran, but he won praise at home on Wednesday for taking his country's case to "the Lion's Den".


KERRY O'BRIEN: So, the worm has had its say - scoring an overwhelming victory in last night's election debate to Labor leader Mark Latham.


A UN probe into Rafik Hariri's death reinforces the view that a suicide bomber may have killed the ex-Lebanese PM.


Hurricane John, off Mexico's Pacific, strengthens

Hurricane John, located off   Mexico's Pacific coast, was upgraded to an even more powerful   category 4 hurricane, the U.S.-based National Hurricane Center   said on Wednesday.


Former CIA Director Robert Gates was officially sworn in as U.S. secretary of defense on Monday, replacing embattled Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld, who was under fire for his handling of the Iraq war.


A German archbishop sparks anger by calling modern art "degenerate" - a term used by Nazis in persecuting artists.


FBI agents take items including a computer from the warehouse of magician David Copperfield, US reports say.


Microchip maker Intel Corp. on  Tuesday reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue and boosted  its budget for factory and manufacturing investments by more  than $1 billion as profits exceeded Wall Street expectations.


Nikkei Ends Down on Caution Ahead of Data

Japan's Nikkei ended down half a percent  on Friday as caution set in ahead of U.S. jobs data and banks  and drug firms succumbed to profit-taking.


Regulators  cleared the way for Verizon Communications to sell its phone lines in three New England states for $2.7 billion to FairPoint Communications Inc.


Family-friendly 'Shark Tale' stays afloat

Shark Tale, the animated underwater comedy, continued to rule theaters this weekend, bringing in $31.7 million, according to box office tracking firm Nielsen EDI.


When Craig Hansen opened the message from his brother and found a link to a website, he was puzzled by what popped up on the screen: a house in Colorado, and the fact that it was for sale.


Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist is in hospital after undergoing throat surgery for thyroid cancer.


Hollywood actor Johnny Depp insists that he never called America "dumb" for going to war with Iraq.


The Qaeda network accused by Pakistanâs government of killing Benazir Bhutto is increasingly made up not of foreign fighters but of homegrown militants.


Fans turn their back on Live 8 hero Geldof

Live 8 hero Bob Geldof has been forced to cancel two concerts in Italy because of lack of public interest, after only 45 people turned up to see him perform in Milan.


Quebec beef, dairy farmers protest outside provincial legislature

QUEBEC (CP) - Beef and dairy farmers brought cows to the front lawn of the legislature Monday, saying Premier Jean Charest's Liberal government hasn't done enough to help them through the mad cow crisis.


First-place Chelsea beat Aston Villa 1-0 Sunday on a 30th-minute goal by Damien Duff and kept its five-point lead in the Premier League.


Cruise meets fans at launch of Afghan-themed film

Film star Tom Cruise spent more than two  hours signing autographs and greeting fans in London on Monday  at the world premiere of his new movie "Lions for Lambs,"  Hollywood's latest examination of U.S. foreign policy.


Court reinstates Pakistan judge in blow to Musharraf

Pakistan's Supreme Court reinstated the country's top judge on Friday in an historic ruling that dealt a blow to President Pervez Musharraf, who had suspended him four months earlier.


Romney, McCain focus firepower on New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire  - Republican Mitt Romney, facing an unexpected battle against Sen. John McCain in his own backyard of New Hampshire, headed straight to the ski slopes of that state this week instead of flocking to Iowa with the other presidential contenders.


Victor Martinez went 5-for-6 and Jhonny Peralta and Travis Hafner each hit two of Cleveland's six home runs, powering the Indians to a 19-1 rout of New York on Tuesday night to spoil Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's 76th birthday.


France's prime minister defended thousands of job cuts at European planemaker Airbus on Thursday, but unions threatened to vent their anger during upcoming French elections while factory stoppages spread in ...Comment


Slovakia and Colombia are the countries who have improved their business climates the most in the past year, a World Bank report says.


Iran charges three U.S.-Iranian citizens with spying

Iran has charged three Iranian-Americans with spying, officials said on Tuesday, just a day after Washington and Tehran held their most high-profile talks in nearly 30 years.


NHS IT boss tells iSoft and CSC to sort it out

Granger rattles sabre Richard Granger, the director general of NHS IT, is warning iSoft and CSC that if they don't sort out their differences he will consider ripping up contracts and finding alternative suppliers.â¦


Illlinois Officials Help Win Easing of Import Ban

By Scott Richardson;srichardson@pantagraph.com  The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the state's anglers and its aquaculture industry have something extra to be thankful for today.  The U.S.


Harold Benjamin, 80, Founder of Wellness Community, Is Dead

Harold Benjamin, who established the Wellness Community network of support centers for cancer patients after his wife was treated for breast cancer, died Thursday at his home in Marina del Ray, Calif.


PHP-Coding-Practices.com: Composing Methods: Split Temporary Variable

On the PHP-Coding-Practices.com blog, there's a tutorial posted from Tim Koschuetzki in his "Composing Methods" series looking at assigning temporary variables.   When you have the same temporary variable assigned to more than once, split it up into two, unless it is a loop variable. [...] Temporary variables have various uses. They can be used as counters in loops, as collecting variables building up a result or as simple containers containing the result of a long-winded expression for easy reference.   He offers suggestions of using temporary variables, including changing references of it after use and making a new temp variable following the second assignment of the first one. Some sample code is included to illustrate the points made.


AMR Pilot's Rudder Moves Unneeded, Too Aggressive, Board Says

An American Airlines pilot made rudder movements that were ``unnecessary and too aggressive'' in the November 2001 crash of an Airbus SAS plane in New York that killed 265 people, a US safety board investigator said.


Madrid, 10:45 - CALCIO, REAL MADRID: PER "AS" KAKA' NON E' UN SOGNO

Una foto di Kakà con una copia di "As" che ritrae i merengues "Campeones de Liga" e un titolo...


Both Oregon men were Marines who fought in Vietnam. Both are divorced, single -- and struggle three decades later to put the war behind them.


LONDON - The controversial Brian Clough, who led Nottingham Forest to two European Cups, died aged 69 yesterday. A great motivator and tactician who managed Forest to the 1979 and 1980 wins, he was universally


Germany Rejects Call for Rumsfeld War Crimes Probe

Germany's federal prosecutor on Thursday rejected calls to investigate allegations that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was guilty of war crimes over the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal.


world business BRIEFING | ASIA: Japan: Benchmark Rate Unchanged

Japanâs central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.5 percent, saying it wanted to wait until after this monthâs elections to reassess the economy. The decision matched expectations of analysts who predicted that the Bank of Japan did not want to risk rattling markets or the public by tightening credit before the July 29 parliamentary polls. The bankâs governing board voted 8-to-1 on the decision, which came at the end of a two-day policy meeting, increasing the chance that the central bank will raise rates in August. The bank lasst raised its benchmark interest rate in February, when it lifted it from 0.25 percent.


Emergency workers rescued hundreds of trapped people Monday as water swallowed swaths of central England in the worst flooding to hit the country for 60 years. Officials said some rivers were still rising, with the western section of the rain-swollen River Thames on the verge of bursting its banks.


Q&A:  "Rational Debate on Capital Punishment Lacking"

LONDON, Aug 31 (IPS) - Peter Hodgkinson founded the world's first  Centre for Capital Punishment Studies at the Westminster  University Law School, London in 1992. The centre's aim is  to inform the death penalty debate from an evidence-led  perspective.


Patrolling Becomes Electric in St. Peter's Square

Police on foot patrol in one of the world's largest pedestrian islands -- St. Peter's Square -- got some welcome relief on Friday when new golf-cart style electric vehicles arrived just in time for Christmas.


Europe to Consider Complaints About Online Music Royalties

The European Commission says the organizations that collect royalties for songwriters in Europe are restricting competition in the field of music distribution over the Internet.


Napoli, 23:15 - CALCIO, UDINESE; MARINO: AYROLDI HA VOLUTO COMPENSARE

Pasquale Marino è deluso non solo per la sconfitta subita dall'Udinese a Napoli, ma anche per...


MC Hammer hasn't topped the music charts since the early 1990s, but the former rap star says he has another hit in him Â only this time around he'll produce it as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur.


Congress Not in a Spending Mood as the Holidays Near

A pile of unfinished business awaits the Republican-led Congress when it returns today, and a pile of unfinished business is likely to remain when lawmakers adjourn for the year, presumably on Friday.


A first look at the most eagerly anticipated gizmo ever.


Honduras Troops in Show of Force After Massacre

Thousands of soldiers and police took over Honduras' main cities on Saturday in a show of force to prevent new attacks by youth gangs after gunmen murdered 28 people on a public bus earlier this week.


Paratrooper Who Lost Leg in War Re-Enlists

George Perez lost his leg to a roadside bomb in Iraq more than a year ago, but despite the phantom pains that haunt him, he says he is determined to prove to the Army that he is no less of a man — and no less of a soldier.


Judge rejects emergency DNA test on Anna Nicole

DANIA BEACH, Florida  - A Florida medical examiner was performing an autopsy on the body of former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith on Friday as her mother said drugs may have contributed to her daughter's sudden death.


A fifth teenager is charged with the murder of Garry Newlove, who was killed outside his home.


Heralded Iraq Police Academy a 'Disaster'

BAGHDAD, Sept. 27 -- A $75 million project to build the largest police academy in Iraq has been so grossly mismanaged that the campus now poses health risks to recruits and might need to be partially demolished, U.S. investigators have found.


Gaborone - Voters in Botswana, one of Africa's most stable countries, head to the polling stations on Saturday for a general election which is expected to see the party in power since independence in 1966, win victory and set in motion a leadership change


A Small Part of the Brain, and Its Profound Effects

The insula is a long-neglected brain region that has emerged as crucial to understanding what it feels like to be human.


Obesity May Affect Prostate Screening, Study Finds

Obese men may get falsely reassuring  results on prostate cancer screening tests, U.S. researchers  said on Monday.


Strage di Bologna, Ciavardini condannato a 30 anni in appello

L'ex militante dei Nar Luigi Ciavardini, all'epoca dei fatti 17enne, Ã¨ stato condannato a 30 anni di carcere per la strage del 2 agosto '80 alla stazione di Bologna. E' quanto hanno deciso i giudici della


IOC Chief Lauds Athens as Games Draw to Close

The International Olympic Committee  stripped a third Athens Games champion of his gold medal on  Sunday but its chief praised organizers on the final day for a  fantastic Games.


Crude Oil Falls on Skepticism OPEC Will Adhere to Output Quotas

Crude oil fell on skepticism that members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will enact promised production cuts.


Oggi l'incontro Tronchetti Provera-Murdoch in Grecia


Palestinian rivals land in Saudi for unity talks

MECCA, Saudi Arabia  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Hamas rivals arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks to end faction fighting which an envoy said had created a "catastrophic" situation.


Bush Sends $81.9 Bln War Spending Plan to Congress

President Bush sent Congress on  Monday an $81.9 billion package to fund military operations in  Iraq and Afghanistan, pushing the total bill for both conflicts  to nearly $300 billion and the budget deficit to a record high.


Filipinos Try to Salvage Christmas from Floods

Gregorio Evardome knows exactly what he wants for Christmas dessert: a Philippine favorite of young coconut brimming with fruit cocktail, jelly and cream.


Abortion Foes Stage Protest of Roe V. Wade

Abortion opponents on Monday marked the 32nd anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion with a day of rallies, protests and other activities as the issue takes on new urgency with the likelihood of a high court vacancy during President Bush's term.


Laser Printers Recalled for Shock Hazard - CPSC

About 39,400 laser printers made by  Lexmark International Inc. LXK.N and sold by IBM IBM.N and  Dell Inc. DELL.O are being recalled in the United States  because of a potential electrical shock hazard, the Consumer  Product Safety Commission said on Tuesday.


A new study looking at aggressive attempts to lower cholesterol in patients who had just suffered heart attacks generated a dispute yesterday as top researchers disagreed sharply over the results.


A cheaper and safer treatment for heroin addicts is found to be as effective as methadone, a study claims.


Kenya's leader rejects a law passed by MPs that could have stopped probes into corruption before 2003.


British troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are receiving appalling care in British hospitals, according to families who have made complaints similar to those leveled against Walter Reed Army Medical Center ...Comment


Undisputed super-middle weight champion Joe Calzaghe has admitted he may retire after his next fight.


Sooners Will Hold Out Peterson This Weekend

No. 8 Oklahoma will be without star tailback Adrian Peterson when it faces No. 19 Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game Saturday.


The world's largest beermaker, Inbev, agrees to a deal which will give it near-total control of Russian brewer Sun Interbrew.


Last Year's Flu Shot Imperfect But Effective

By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter    HealthDayNews -- Last year's influenza vaccine was far from a perfect match against the virus that sickened people, but it offered more protection from the illness than experts had previously thought.    In very young children, the shot was found to be 25 percent to 49 percent effective in preventing influenza-like illness, which is a suspected case of flu that wasn't confirmed in a laboratory...


The number of migrant workers in rural England has grown by more than 200% in the last three years, a report says.


Leading politicians praise England's efforts after their defeat by South Africa in the rugby union World Cup final.


Seeing Both Sides Blog Boston-based VC and serial entrepreneur Jeff Bussgang blogs that entrepreneurs can learn a lot from Sacha Baron Cohen. Like Cohen/Borat, entrepreneurs need to take risks, without fear for personal repercussions. They must be bold and audacious and yet remain credible enough to not lose anyone along the way. And they must remain in character, persuading partners, ...


For the second straight year, the Vikings lost a game in which they could have wrapped up the NFC North title -- failing in December to a Packers team that has the best December record of any team in the NFL the last decade.


Barcellona, 12:22 - CALCIO, MARCA: LUNEDI' CHIVU AL BARCELLONA

Cristian Chivu è ad un passo dal Barcellona. La stampa spagnola considera ormai conclusa la t...


North Korea explains powerful blast with mountain demolition

After several days of speculation, North Korea said on Monday the 4-kilometer (2 miles) wide cloud spotted on satellite images by South Korea's Yonhap agency was the result of a deliberate demolition of a mountain for a power plant.


Another investor to urge Brink's to sell, Barrons says

U.S. security company Brink's Co.  may this week be urged by yet another major investor to sell part or all of itself, according to Barron's.


Wall St regulators probing brokerages: report

Securities regulators are probing several brokerage firms dealing with collateralized mortgage obligations, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.


T-Mobile (temporarily) halts Web 2.0rhea

Dry heaving Twitterites For several days, many Twitter users in the US were unable to digitally vomit with their T-Mobile phones.â¦


David Blunkett defends himself over revelations on his private life, saying he is not saying one thing and doing another.


Amid all the mystical, psychological and historical significance of the Red Sox win in the World Series, let's not overlook one of the most fascinating distinctions of this team.


Gulf Coast residents preparing for Ivan's landfall

(Panama City Beach, Florida-AP) Sept. 14, 2004 - Hurricane Ivan's winds have weakend to 140 miles-per-hour, but that's not stopping some Gulf Coast residents from getting out of the way of Hurricane Ivan.


Shefali clueless about honour at Tokyo film fest

Shefali Shah has got another feather in her cap. She has just won the best actor award at the recently concluded Tokyo Film Festival for playing Kasturba in "Gandhi My Father" but the actress says she was clueless about the film's participation in the fest.


Iran and Venezuela sign a host of agreements, as Iran's president visits the Latin American country.


Considering a career change? Take this simple test to find your true talent and matching colleges. Start your future today.


Bush surgeon general nominee defends views on gays

President George W. Bush's surgeon general nominee, Dr. James Holsinger, disputed claims by critics that he holds "anti-gay" views during a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday.


LOS ANGELES  - Sidewinders, scorpions and dehydration. There was never a dull moment on the set of "Resident Evil: Extinction," which hits theaters Friday.


Dubai, 13:18 - CALCIO, BLATTER: MERCATO BLOCCATO DALLE GRANDI SQUADRE

Polemico come sempre il numero uno della Fifa Sepp Blatter, contro le grandi squadre d'Europa: "In E...


A family waiting for news of a man missing in Thailand in the wake of the tsunami are told his body has been found.


China Didnât Check Drug Supplier, Files Show

An ingredient in a blood thinner linked to four deaths was made at an uncertified plant in China that was not inspected.


Moviegoers were only too happy to Meet the Fockers this holiday, ringing in the biggest Christmas Day ever. By Tracy Bennett, Universal Studios.


Squish the fish? Marlins in playoff hunt

Watching from the bullpen as his teammates mounted a rally, Florida Marlins closer Joe Borowski looked away for one pitch and missed a three-run homer.


As one of the world's most prolific spammers, Jeremy Jaynes pumped out at least 10 million e-mails a day with the help of 16 high-speed lines, the kind of Internet capacity a 1,000-employee company would need.


EU concerned by Swiss 'security loophole'

BRUSSELS (SwissInfo) - The European Union's top justice official has proposed tougher anti-terror measures, including gathering data from airline passengers flying into the 27-nation union. But EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said to avoid any "security loopholes" in the event of the measures coming into force in 2010, he would like non-EU member Switzerland and other Schengen states to agree to his plan. The most controversial of the Italian's plans - which would have to be approved by EU governments - calls for EU nations to adopt EU-wide airline security measures similar to those used by the United States, storing a long list of passenger data that would be retained for 13 years. Only those passengers flying into or out of the EU would be affected - those flying inside the EU would not. As Switzerland is not in the EU, passengers flying into and out of Switzerland would have their data collected.  Currently, only three EU states - Britain, Denmark and France - have rules to collect and use Passenger Name Record (PNR) data, but their national systems vary substantially.


Kroger starts selling cholesterol-reducing milk

Kroger Co., the largest U.S. grocery chain, said on Thursday that it would start selling a cholesterol reducing, fat-free milk in its stores this week.


VATICANO - Benedetto XVI presiede la prima stazione quaresimale allÂAventino: Âla preghiera di supplica colma di speranza Ã¨ il leit motiv della Quaresima, e ci fa sperimentare Dio quale unica Ã ncora di salvezzaÂ CittÃ  del Vaticano (Agenzia Fides) - ÂAllÂinizio di questÂitinerario penitenziale, vorrei soffermarmi brevemente a riflettere sulla preghiera e sulla sofferenza quali aspetti qualificanti del tempo liturgico quaresimaleÂ: con queste parole il Santo P...


I don't believe that going green should cost more, says Asda chief

Business & money: Â· Store group challenges Tesco view on pricesÂ· Pledge to give a better deal to smaller suppliers


Film on Cat Torture Draws Protesters in Toronto

Protesters urged ticket-holders outside a Toronto cinema on Tuesday to boycott a documentary about a vicious animal cruelty case in which three friends filmed the skinning of a live cat as an alleged art project.


Men's Basketball: No. 17 Villanova 64, No.13 Pittsburgh 63

Dante Cunningham made two free throws with 10 seconds left and No. 17 Villanova then forced another turnover for a 64-63 victory over No. 13 Pittsburgh on Sunday.


Today is the American Cancer Society's 28th Great American Smokeout. The event is certainly a smoke-out -- clean air laws kick smokers outdoors for their nicotine fixes.


Rock stars tackle cynics as well as climate change

More famous for Learjets and limousines than green living, pop stars performing at Saturday's Live Earth environmental concerts face widespread cynicism from fans, commentators and campaigners alike.


Friendly sold to buyout firm in $337m deal

WILBRAHAM -- Friendly Ice Cream Corp. said yesterday it has agreed to sell itself to Freeze Operations Holding Corp. for $337.2 million in an all-cash transaction expected to close during the third quarter of 2007.


Per inchiesta su truffe a danni Parco nazionale Vesuvio


Study shows Celebrex connected to heart problems

St Petersburg - There's a new warning out about another popular pain pill that could be dangerous for your heart. Drug maker Pfizer says recent studies show an increased risk of heart problems in people who take Celebrex.


Crude oil prices set fresh records as  US light crude tops $50 a barrel in Asian trade and Brent sticks close to $46.


Scottish football mourns Motherwell's O'Donnell

Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell died on Saturday after collapsing during a match against Dundee United.


A United Nations envoy tells the UN Security Council that Sudan has failed to meet targets for disarming pro-government militias.


Paris is the City of Blight for culture-shocked Japanese: report

A strange illness has descended on Japanese living in Paris, tipping many of them in a state of profound culture shock after realising their ideals about the French capital were unrealistic, a study said.


Former "Beverly Hills,  90210" star Brian Austin Green will play a gay man in a new  comedy pilot from the creators of "Will & Grace."


Future games to harness players' collective wisdom

That's what Jane McGonigal predicted in her keynote on serious games at the Game Developers Conference Tuesday. Photos: The wisdom of game crowds


Gunmen Kill 22 Iraqi Police, U.S. Hits Falluja

FALLUJA, Iraq  - Gunmen captured 21 Iraqi  policemen and shot them in cold blood on Sunday, a day after  attacks on security forces that killed 34 people, police said.


Canadian authorities have raided the offices of Imperial Tobacco in their hunt for evidence of cigarette smuggling during the late 1980s and early 1990s.


Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, wearing his red AL pennant-winning T-shirt and dripping in champagne, might have felt at peace for the first time since 2004.


Through two postseason games, the St. Louis Cardinals have shredded the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting pitching. Odalis Perez surrendered six runs in Game 1. Jeff Weaver was touched


The computer and printer maker turns to hum-drum corporate data centers in an effort to turn its size into sizzle.


Milano, 19:32 - CALCIO, OSSERVATORIO: RISCHIO MASSIMO PER MILAN-ROMA

L'Osservatorio nazionale sulle manifestazioni sportive riunitosi oggi al Viminale, ha stabilito il m...


Dem House Primary Challenge to Test Anti-War Angst in Iowa

Liberal activists, disgruntled that the Democratic Party takeover of Congress has not expedited an end to the Iraq war, have threatened to sponsor 2008 primary challenges to House Democrats who they believe haven't been tough enough in standing up to President Bush.


First lady the favorite as Argentines vote

Argentines appeared certain to choose their first elected female president on Sunday, with first lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner favored to win by a wide margin over her closest rival, another woman.


Serie A, Torino-Chievo minuto per minuto

Zaccheroni in bilico dopo 5 sconfitte cerca il riscatto a Verona. Napoli in testa alla B dopo il 3-1 con la Triestina


Tyler Hicks was named the newspaper photographer of the year by the Missouri School of Journalismâs Pictures of the Year International contest.


LOS ANGELES - Eddie Van Halen has said he will enter rehab for unspecified reasons.


With series and season finales in the midst, CBS hasn't made any official comments, but is believed to have dropped "Jericho," "Class" and "Close to Home." Viewers felt "Close to Home" was going to to be cut, however most were hold...


JOHN Kerry has accepted the help of seriously ill former US president Bill Clinton to put his campaign for the White House back on track, after disastrous polling results showing George W.Bush has established a double-figure lead over his opponent.


Man wakes from 19-year coma to 'prettier' Poland

WARSAW, Poland -- A railway worker who emerged from a 19-year coma woke to a radically altered Poland and thinks "the world is prettier now" than it was under communism, his wife said yesterday.


President Bush on Monday said an agreement among leading Iraqi politicians is a promising sign of political progress, but that the pact on some issues that have blocked national reconciliation is not enough.


The Israeli Knesset last night dealt a staggering political blow to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, rejecting on a 53-44 vote his report on the


Campaigners file 'torture' suit against Rumsfeld

French, US and German rights groups said Friday they had filed suit for "torture" against ex-US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, currently in Paris, for his role in the Iraq war and the US "war on terror".


Branson made green pledge under pressure from Gore, Turner

Businessman Richard Branson made a multi-billion-dollar pledge to fight global warming under pressure from US media mogul Ted Turner and former vice-president Al Gore.


The online video site had been blocked because it had carried material seen as insulting to the countryâs king.


First Suit Filed Against Internet 'Spyware'

The U.S. government has sued a New  Hampshire man in its first attempt to crack down on Internet  "spyware" that seizes control of a user's computer without  permission.


U.S. Disappointed With Russia Oil Purchase

The State Department said Thursday it was disappointed with the way the Kremlin handled the purchase of Yukos oil assets, contending the action sends the wrong signal to foreign investors.


World stocks routed on fears for economy

World stocks nosedived and demand for safe-haven bonds and currencies soared on Monday as fears gripped investors that a deteriorating U.S. economy would drag others down with it.


CantÃ¹, 12:07 - BASKET: A CANTU' RACCOLTI FONDI PER FAMIGLIA RACITI

Calcio e basket uniti per un giorno nel nome di Filippo Raciti il poliziotto ucciso a Catania. Doman...


The agency strikes down the state's tough new rules on carbon emissions, in a move environmentalists call a crippling setback


The year about to end has certainly been an eventful one for these islands. After years of debate, which grew in intensity until it reached a climax in the landmark referendum and general election last year, ...


Cisco 1st-Qtr Net Rises 29% Amid Web-Phone Sales Gain

Cisco Systems Inc., the world's largest maker of computer-networking equipment, said first- quarter profit rose 29 percent amid demand for Internet phones and devices that link homes to the Web.


'Half a league onward': Britain's Crimean War charge re-enacted 150 years later

BALACLAVA, Ukraine  - Britain's Prince Philip and sabre-waving cavalry re-enactors commemorated the charge of the Light Brigade on Monday, 150 years after the doomed British assault against Russian cannons in a Crimean War battle immortalized by the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson.


The U.S. embassy in Jakarta received a bomb threat on Thursday relayed by police, an embassy spokesman said.


PHP-Tools Blog: Der Zauberlehrling - Sorcerer's Apprentice

Gerd Schauffelberger writes on the PHP-Tools Blog today about the contents of the latest issue from the German PHP Magazine, specifically an article covering the PEAR package HTML_AJAX.   This article's target is (1st) to give a brief introduction to AJAX and how things work from Javascript an PHP side in contrary. Also (2nd) I wanted to show that you actually don't have to muck around with a mess of Javascript (browser compatibility issues and such) because it's it is all done by the Joshua Eichorn's HTML_AJAX framework.    The article doesn't build up an entire application (as Gerd mentions) but it does provide you a good base to work from and gives you a good direction to head from to learn more about this powerful package.


Aloe Vera Protects Cabernet, Too, Says Quintessa Winemaker

Quintessa winemaker Aaron Pott has no intention of allowing seasonal heat spikes to take a toll on the prized estate vineyard he oversees.


More than a day and a half after a deadly gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in northwest China, rescuers are losing hope of finding 141 people still trapped underground.


Mark Wahlberg remained invincible at the box office over the long Labor Day weekend. Disney's "Invincible," with Wahlberg as a pro football rookie who makes the team in open tryouts, was the No. 1 movie for the second straight weekend, taking in $15.2 million from Friday through Monday, according to studio estimates. The movie lifted its 11-day total to $37.8 million.


Italy's aged turn to foreigners for care

As a police officer, Luigi Marzano was used to being in command. He still walks ramrod straight, but at 97 and deep into retirement, his memory is weakening and he has turned over command of his household to a virtual stranger half his age.


Considering a career change? Take this simple test to find your true talent and matching colleges. Start your future today.


RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will increase oil production capacity to 11 million barrels per day (bpd) within weeks in a bid to curb record prices, Oil Minister Ali Al Nuaimi said yesterday.


CBS News Hires Ex-CNN Chief To Give a Boost To Katie Couric

No one at CBS News  was more intimately involved in helping Katie Couric shape her evening newscast and get it on the air each night than her executive producer, Rome Hartman.


Business & money: Â· Luke Johnson pays initial Â£10m for 70 shopsÂ· Staff to get private-equity style bonus scheme


Goodwill's New Look: Cheap Can Also Be Chic

Like other fashion bloggers, Em Hall dispenses advice on matters such as the appropriate cut for ankle boots, pairing floral patterns with polka dots and how to wear a three-piece suit.


Angry Fans Trash Kicker's House After Loss

REGINA, Saskatchewan - Angry fans trashed the house of a Canadian Football League kicker after he missed a short field goal in overtime of a playoff game.


Antidepressants not big risk for defects

Newborns face little risk of birth defects from antidepressants taken by many women early in pregnancy, say the reassuring findings of the two biggest studies of this controversial link.


New Delhi, Feb 13 (UNI) India and Italy will sign a plethora of agreements in diverse fields, including fishery and aquaculture production and cooperation in conservation of paintings of Ajanta and Ellora ...


Express tops CVS with $26 bln offer for Caremark

U.S. pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Inc.  said on Monday it was offering to buy rival Caremark RX  for about $26 billion, threatening to break up a deal struck last month with drugstore chain CVS Corp. .


The Iowa caucuses apparently won't outrank shuteye for President Bush.


Cooler weather aids California firefighters

SILVERADO CANYON, California  - Cool weather and calm skies helped thousands of firefighters beat back Southern California wildfires on Saturday, although flare-ups in some places meant the battle was not yet over.


Inside the mobile matrix, part 3 In this, the third and final installment in our series looking at a trio of potential, new mobile development platforms, I'm going to focus on what I view as the real dark horse in this race: the iPhone.â¦


The world's largest gold producer, Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , said on Wednesday that higher gold prices drove up quarterly profit by 12.


A California congressman's report criticizing teaching kids to be abstain from sex is hardly a surprise to family advocates. A new government report claims abstinence


NBC Hastily Gathers Stars for Tsunami Aid

Madonna, Elton John, Nelly, Kenny Chesney and other musicians converged on an NBC Universal studio Saturday for a hastily arranged TV benefit concert for tsunami victims.


The mammoth earthquake that ravaged northern Japan this week did more than take lives and trigger radioactive leaks. It nailed some of the most important industries undergirding growth in the world's second-biggest economy.


Ex-Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic denies Serbs committed war crimes he is accused of orchestrating.


Sahara seen as potential terrorist breeding ground

The vast Sahara has long sheltered rebels   and bandits but security experts fear its remote oases and   mountain hideouts may also be an ideal recruitment and training   ground for al Qaeda-linked militants.


Sharapova Wins in 1st Round of Korea Open

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland 6-1, 6-3 Tuesday in the first round of the Korea Open.


Obese diabetics may be unrealistic about calories

NEW YORK  - New research suggests that obese adults with diabetes often say they eat less than they actually do -- a problem that can hinder management of the disease, according to researchers.


Patriots look for perfect ending against Giants

The New England Patriots will look to  pen the perfect ending to a magical season on Saturday when  they take on the New York Giants in a regular-season finale  that could land them in the NFL record books.


Ministers are to tell councils to find more sites for travellers amid continuing rows over a string of unauthorised encampments.


Through all the recent warnings about antidepressants and children, one of the drugs seemed somehow above the fray: Prozac. But is it really that different?


UK junior minister raps J'can DJs for anti-gay lyrics

ST KITTS - Britain's junior minister for international development Gareth Thomas lashed out yesterday against Jamaican dancehall DJs whose music has been blamed for promoting violence against gays, and urged regional governments to remove the buggery laws


Firefox 1.0 appears to have sparked new activity in the Web browser market. The release of the open-source Web browser by the Mozilla Foundation last week prompted Microsoft Corp.


Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has won the endorsement of two fellow Democratic senators from the heartland Â Ben Nelson, a popular moderate in largely Republican Nebraska and Claire McCaskill from Missouri, historically a bellwether in presidential contests.


Nintendo Wii outsells Sony PS3 three-fold in 2007: survey

Nintendo's Wii outsold rival Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) three-fold in Japan last year, helping the country's multi-billion dollar video game market to notch up its best ever year, a survey showed Monday.


Gold surged to a historic high above $910 an ounce on Monday as investors rushed to buy the metal on further weakness in the dollar and expectations of a sharp cut in U.S. interest rates.


Since Shell slipped up so badly under an Englishman, it was always likely that the Dutch would press their advantage and wrestle control of the world's third-biggest oil company.


LOUDON, N.H. -- Well before the green flag dropped on yesterday's Sylvania 300, signaling the start of the Chase for the Nextel Cup, Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed concern about how the other 33 drivers would race the top 10 in contention for the title.


Siemens AG, Germany's largest engineering company, said first-quarter profit rose 38 per cent, helped by the automation and car-parts units.


Punches have been exchanged, video played and, now, charges filed.


Edwards, Cheney Set to Meet in Only Debate

CLEVELAND - Vice President Dick Cheney likely will portray his debate opponent Tuesday night as a smooth-talking trial lawyer without much government experience while Sen. John Edwards is expected to repeat the H-word - Halliburton - and question whether voters still want Cheney-style leadership...


Republican John McCain holds a slim lead on rival Mitt Romney in Michigan one day before the state's hotly contested presidential nominating contest, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Monday.


Joining the European Union has proved profitable for sugar farmers in Poland, but this could be about to change.


For Ruby Dee at 83, Acclaim and Performances

Ruby Dee, who won the Screen Actors Guildâs Award for best supporting actress for her role in the Denzel Washington film âAmerican Gangster,â is taking time out from various appointments for a reading in White Plains.


The family of Jean Charles de Menezes take legal action to prevent a delay to his inquest.


NFL Wrap: Patriots Win Record 19th Straight

Tom Brady threw a pair of touchdown passes as the New England Patriots set a National Football League record for consecutive wins by downing the winless Miami Dolphins 24-10 in Foxboro on Sunday.


The new iPod Photo is surely cool, but it's Apple's new music deal with U2 that might set off big waves in the e-music business. -washingtonpost.com


The cable net dropped the controversial Jamaican dancehall star from a pre-Video Music Awards concert in Miami this weekend after coming under fire from gay-rights groups.


Helene a hurricane again over North Atlantic

Tropical Storm Helene gained strength and   became a hurricane again on Saturday as it raced across the   Atlantic Ocean far from the U.S. coast on a track that could   eventually take its remnants toward Ireland, forecasters said.


For âEcoMoms,â Saving Earth Begins at Home

Move over, Tupperware. A new wave of parties is about waste-free lunches and energy-efficient laundry.


Costco Wholesale Corp. , the  largest U.S. warehouse club operator, on Wednesday posted  lower-than-expected quarterly profit, hurt by higher taxes and  soaring oil prices that pressured margins at its gas stations.


Actor Heath Ledger, the gifted leading man acclaimed for his role as a gay cowboy in the film "Brokeback Mountain," was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Tuesday, possibly of a drug overdose, police said.


Sondheim routs Spamalot at top UK theater awards

Broadway veteran Stephen Sondheim swept  the board at one of Britain's top theater awards on Sunday,  sending the big-budget Monty Python musical "Spamalot" away  empty-handed.


Filmmaker Sofia Coppola gives birth to baby girl

Filmmaker Sofia Coppola, who won a screenwriting Oscar for "Lost in Translation," has given birth to a baby girl with her boyfriend, French singer Thomas Mars, Coppola's representative said on Wednesday.


In Brief: Google nabbed half of all searches in August

(InfoWorld) - Google's flagship search site accounted for just over half of all online searches in the U.S. in August, according to a survey by Nielsen/Netratings. The search giant played host to just over 3 billion searches during the month, and its search traffic grew 30 percent year-on-year. Yahoo placed second with 24 percent of all searches, but also enjoyed strong, 23 percent year-on-year growth. Microsoft'sÂ revamped Windows LiveÂ trailed in third with 10 percent market share and just under 600 million searches. AOL's search suffered the biggest dip in growth. Although AOL Search finished fourth with over 328 million queries, its traffic fell 18.2 percent compared to the same month in 2005.


Julie Briody scored 15 points and helped No. 23 New Mexico score 14 straight points in the first half en route to a 77-41 victory over Sam Houston State in the first round of the Southwest Airlines Shootout on Friday night.


Deaths among children infected with HIV in Africa could be almost halved if all those with symptoms were put on a simple, cheap and readily available antibiotic, new research has established.


Six processors on two computers began crashing on the Russian side of the international space station Tuesday, limiting the spacecraft's ability to maneuver and produce oxygen. By Friday evening, four of the six processors were up and running again.


Flight Data Recorders Found of 2 Crashed Planes in Russia

Investigators picked through the scattered wreckage today of two Russian passenger jets that crashed nearly simultaneously Tuesday night after leaving Moscow, and reported


Some of the nationâs biggest companies will announce a new program meant to make health insurance available to their former employees ages 55 to 64.


Eta bombs keep up pressure on national holiday

The Basque terrorist group Eta yesterday gave its second violent reminder in four days that it was still active by exploding bombs in seven cities on Spain's constitution day public holiday.


Tokyo's Nikkei fell nearly 1 percent to a one-month low by Thursday afternoon as stocks like NEC Corp. dropped after disappointing earnings from U.S. companies fanned concern over profit trends and sent Wall Street lower.


San Paolo, 12:03 - CALCIO, ARSENAL: PRESO GIOVANE BRASILIANO DENILSON

L'Arsenal ha preso dal San Paolo il giovane centrocampista Denilson, 18 anni. L'affare è stat...


Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has been in a coma since Wednesday night in the intensive care unit at a military hospital in Paris, a senior Palestinian aide in the French capital told CNN.


and hopefully so are your shopping and wrapping - now is the time to just enjoy. New films have filled the multiplexes - and there's something for everybody from the


Ryanair raises full-year earnings forecast

Irish budget airline Ryanair has hiked profits guidance for the 2006/2007 financial year, thanks to weakening crude oil prices and rising passenger numbers.


Tax Breaks Helps a Crusader for Deficit Discipline

Can the co-founder of the Blackstone Group emerge as a credible voice in favor of fiscal constraint in Washington?


Internet Companies Agree to Gambling Settlement

Microsoft, Yahoo and Google have agreed to pay a combined $31.5 million to settle federal civil allegations they took ads for illegal gambling.


DAMASCUS, Syria - A car bomb killed an operative of the Palestinian militant group Hamas as he turned the ignition Sunday, and Israeli security officials acknowledged that the Jewish state was involved.    Sunday's killing was the first by Israel of a Hamas member on Syrian soil and came after weeks of Israeli warnings that members of the Islamic militant group would not be safe anywhere...


(CBS) "The Polar Express" has delighted children for 20 years, since Chris van Allsburg penned the tale about a train ride to the North Pole.


Woody Allen Pic Set to Open Santa Barbara Fest

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will open Jan. 28 with a preview of Woody Allen's "Melinda and Melinda," while the world premiere of porn comedy "The Moguls" will close the event Feb. 6.


Il segretario di Stato Usa incontrera' D'Alema


Rebels in Indonesia's tsunami-hit Aceh threatening security: military

Indonesia's military has made fresh accusations against separatist rebels in the tsunami-devastated province of Aceh, saying they had made attempts to interfere with humanitarian efforts.


The Iraqi government yesterday brushed aside Sunni Muslim demands to delay the Jan. 30 election, and a spokesman for the majority Shiite community called the date ``nonnegotiable


'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer' will probably reap a fresh fortune. And as summer franchise superhero flicks go, it's mostly tolerable.


Ailing NY Ground Zero workers demand more help

Rescue workers with chronic illnesses they attribute to exposure to the rubble at the World Trade Center site demanded long-term support from the government on Wednesday, and one advocate feared it could become "America's Chernobyl."


LONDON -- European and Asian stock markets rallied Wednesday in the wake of Wall Street's surge spurred by the U.S. Federal Reserve's larger-than-expected interest rate cut.


The Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, received a boost in local elections on Sunday, in what was widely seen as a referendum on his first two years of government.


Hurricane Lashes Caymans After Pounding Jamaica

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands  - Hurricane Ivan,  raking a trail of devastation through the Caribbean, bore down  on the tiny Cayman Islands on Sunday after wrecking Jamaica and  Grenada.