Spurned schoolboyâs video revenge lands Indiaâs eBay chief in ...

IT WAS meant as revenge with the bonus that it raked in a tidy profit. When his girlfriend broke up with him, the teenager retaliated by selling friends a mobile phone video clip of the pair in a compromising situation.


Trade Deficit Soars; Jobless Claims Rise

The trade deficit jumped to the second-highest level in history as surging demand for foreign oil swamped a small gain in U.S. exports, the government reported Thursday. America's trade gap with China hit an all-time high as retailers stocked up on cell phones, toys and televisions in preparation for Christmas sales.


Flakes, food, and films will have starring roles in next week's Wall Street epic.


Macedonia vote gets green light from OSCE despite fraud claims

SKOPJE : Macedonia's failed referendum to overturn EU-backed legislation giving more autonomy to the ethnic Albanian minority met European standards despite opposition claims of fraud, European observers said.


Pakistan's Prime Minister Aziz Makes His First Visit to India

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz makes his first visit to India today for talks to improve ties after verbal sparring last week between the two countries over Kashmir and the purchase of arms by Pakistan.


Sgt. Javal Davis pleaded for leniency Thursday in the sentencing phase of his trial for abusing Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib, saying he hoped a few minutes of poor judgment would not end his Army career.


Above the Clouds, the French Glimpse the Old Grandeur

Higher than the Eiffel Tower, the Millau bridge is a triumph of engineering and imagination.


Estratto da macerie per ultimo dopo i 2 compagni di lavoro


Russia offers Hamas leader to help lift embargo

Russia on Tuesday told Hamas leader  Khaled Meshaal it will try to influence Western powers into  lifting an aid embargo on the Palestinian administration.


Fizzy drinks do not raise esophagus cancer risk

NEW YORK  - There is no association between   the use of carbonated beverages and risk of subsequent   development of cancer of the esophagus as assessed 20 years   after the exposure, according to a large population-based   study.


WICHITA, Kan. - A Wichita man called 911 to report he was the victim of an armed robbery. The theft? A pound of marijuana worth about $1,100 that he had been trying to sell at his home. The victim told police Thursday that a buyer had pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and stole the drugs.


Gordonâs Career Night Powers Bulls Past Wolves

CHICAGO, Dec. 11 (Ticker) -- Rookie Ben Gordon and the Chicago Bulls looked a lot sharper against the powerful Minnesota Timberwolves then they did one day earlier against the mediocre Philadelphia 76ers.


Google Profit Up in 1st Reported Quarter

Web search leader Google Inc. , in its first earnings report as a publicly held company, on Thursday posted a profit of $52.0 million in the third quarter on strong Web search advertising.


Fighting power with power Thursday night, Joachim Johansson ended Andy Roddick's bid to repeat as United States Open champion.


Lisbona, 13:42 - CALCIO, CHAMPIONS: PROBABILE ESCLUSIONE TEAM PORTOGHESI

Il presidente della Federazione portoghese Gilberto Madail teme che l'Uefa possa escludere le squadr...


Family Drama 'Forty Shades' Tops Sundance

The family drama "Forty Shades of Blue," centering on a modern Oedipal triangle involving a music producer, a Russian wife half his age and his son, won top dramatic honors at the Sundance Film Festival.


Cable Tries to Shed Bad Service Reputation

Top cable operators are expanding their customer service operations to make common complaints a thing of the past.


Ex-Monkee follows his muse to stage and writing

Former Monkee Micky  Dolenz, who now also writes books, has a dislike of long-term  plans so he relies on his muse to tell him what to do.


MP3 dance music service draws industry fire

Slammed for touting unavailable but unlicensed content


Tobacco company wants government to butt out

MONTREAL - The Canadian arm of a huge tobacco company has asked a Quebec court to stop a provincial lawsuit claiming $1.4 billion in unpaid taxes on smuggled cigarettes.


Business & money: Employers' clamour for rate cut reaches new pitch as credit crunch hits the British job market


Julie Coons, the president of the Technology Council of Maryland, discusses the organization and the region's technology community.


September 11 survivor story can't be verified: panel

The president of a group set up to support people affected by the September 11 attacks has been voted off the board after failing to verify details of her own dramatic survival story, the organization said on Thursday.


Malaysian bird flu jumps quarantine zone

KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia has detected three new outbreaks of bird flu in northeast Kelantan state, one of which is outside a quarantine zone around the first village hit by the deadly virus, officials said Tuesday.


China has closed 1,600 internet cafes and fined operators a total of $12 million for letting children play violent games and for other violations, the government said.


U.S. stocks ended lower but off their worst levels for the session Friday, allowing the market to post its first weekly gain for the year as investors took comfort from a pickup in merger activity.


Hundreds of Maoist rebels swoop on the Nepalese town of Khalanga, killing at least one soldier.


French government in crisis mode over journalist hostage drama

The French government switched into crisis mode as efforts intensified to secure the release of two journalists kidnapped in Iraq by Islamic militants demanding that Paris rescind a ban on headscarves in state schools.


Woolworths Increases Australian Leisure Takeover Bid

Woolworths Ltd., Australia's biggest grocer, increased its offer for Australian Leisure & Hospitality Group to A$1.2 billion ($877 million) to stop rival bidder Coles Myer Ltd.


B&M suffer raft of departures in Germany

Baker & McKenzie's German practice has lost six Frankfurt partners, including its head of finance Rainer Magold, to US rivals.


Think Wasabi Clears Your Sinuses? Think Again

NEW YORK  - Many people believe the  sushi-seasoner wasabi clears their sinuses, but new research  presented this week suggests that the spicy green paste may do  the opposite.


Iran warned Wednesday that U.N. sanctions could "destroy" its willingness to cooperate with an investigation of past nuclear activities. Undeterred, the U.S. said it still would push for new penalties unless Tehran scraps technology that could make the bomb.


The American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, says, Middle Eastern economic and political reform will help defeat terrorism. With continued violence in US-occupied Iraq and the Palestinian question unresolved


Mehmet Okur's putback at the buzzer gave Utah a 97-96 win over San Antonio on Monday night, ending the Jazz's nine-game losing streak and nearly five years without a win against the Spurs.


IBM And Intel To Open Access To BladeCenter Specs

The move will make it easier for third-party hardware and software providers to create BladeCenter-compatible products, giving the server-blade market a boost.


NY cleans up after asbestos-tainted blast

Some New Yorkers doubted official assurances on Thursday that the air surrounding a deadly steam pipe explosion in midtown Manhattan was safe to breathe despite the discovery of asbestos-tainted debris.


Microsoft to Pay $536 Million to Novell to Settle Antitrust Dispute

Microsoft agreed to settle antitrust lawsuits with Novell and an industry trade group, marking the end of a decade-long antitrust battle.


Biblista nominato presidente Pontificio consiglio Cultura


Two American executive jet pilots were ordered by a judge to stay in Brazil while authorities investigate whether they caused a midair collision with an airliner that crashed into the Amazon, killing all 155 people aboard.


Grounded Freighter Spills Fuel in Alaska

In this photo released by Unalaska Community Broadcasting, the two halfs of the Malaysian cargo ship Selendang Ayu sit on the rocks about 400-500 yards offshore in Skan Bay on Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Island chain Thursday, Dec.


Talking Head opens ears on music's future

Blog: Former Talking Heads band member Jerry Harrison says the future of digital music may not involve either cyber stores or physical ones. What then?


Study finds continued reduction in breast cancer incidence ...

Raloxifene (Evista) continues to be associated with more than a 50% reduction in breast cancer incidence beyond the first 4 years of treatment, according to a new study in the December 1 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.


Report: Bryant Accuser Told NBA Star 'No'

The woman who accused Kobe Bryant of rape told investigators the NBA star ignored her entreaties to stop and said there was no doubt he heard her "because every time I said `No' he tightened his hold around me," according to documents released Friday.


Israel expects slew of attacks ahead of Gaza pullout

JERUSALEM: Israel said Monday it expects an upsurge in Palestinian attacks ahead of its Gaza withdrawal, as the US insisted the pullout should be consistent with the international "road map" for peace.


Si apre il 3GSM, in mostra il futuro della telefonia mobileAspettando l'iPonhe Microsoft lancia Windows Mobile 6                                            A Barcellona la grande fiera dei cellulari Sempre meno voce e sempre piÃ¹ internet                                                                                dal nostro inviato CLAUDIO GERINO


Study: Electronic records not helping outpatient medicine

Blog: Stanford and Harvard researchers find that electronic records aren't helping to improve outpatient medical care.


Scottish driver David Coulthard signs for Red Bull for 2005 season

Scottish driver David Coulthard signed a one-year contract with Red Bull Racing for the 2005 Formula One season, the Austria Press Agency reported on Friday.


Zuyev dry-shod into heavyweight final as Egyptian quits

Viktar Zuyev of Belarus was awardeda final spot in the Olympic boxing heavyweight event here on Friday as his semifinal opponent Mohamed Elsayed of Egypt withdrewdue to an undeclared injury.


Monta Ellis scored a career-high 35 points to go with six rebounds and four assists, and the Golden State Warriors held on to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-101 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight home victory.


Web phone service is exploding. And maverick Jeffrey Citron lit the industry's fuse


Californians return to fire-scarred homes

Thousands of Californians forced from their neighborhoods by this week's wind-whipped wildfires returned home on Friday, some of them finding their property unscathed amid the destruction and others discovering nothing but blackened rubble.


Shiite militants turning in weapons in Iraq

The first day of a disarmament program in the Sadr City slum of Baghdad yielded a rich harvest of weapons from Shiite fighters. Cars full of machine guns, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and landmines were turned in Monday.


Riforme, Governo battuto: senatori federali a 25 anni

Governo battuto alla Camera sull'emendamento 'over 40', eta' limite per essere eletti senatori federali. Basteranno i 25 anni, giÃ  previsti dal testo licenziato dalla commissione Affari costituzionali della Camera.


Take a look at where some of the top pros are putting their money.


Mentre partecipava al giro aereo di Sicilia, nessun ferito


David Blunkett, UK home secretary, resigned on Wednesday following allegations that he had used his influence to help his former loverâs nanny to acquire a âfast trackâ visa.


NBA stars take hands-on approach to help New Orleans

National Basketball Association superstars will set aside slam dunks and 3-pointers this weekend to lift lumber and swing hammers as they help New Orleans rebuild from Hurricane Katrina.


Viacom Could Consider Acquiring Midway Games

Media conglomerate Viacom Inc. is considering entering the video game business and could acquire Midway Games Inc., Viacom chief Sumner Redstone, who owns a controlling


Varma's 'Sarkar' sequel is titled 'Sarkar Raj'!

Ram Gopal Varma's sequel to "Sarkar" will be called "Sarkar Raj". The director is satisfied with the title and says it is apt because it defines the political intrigue in a family like the Corleones in "The Godfather".


MUMBAI, Nov. 25. - Mr Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Energy Limited, tonight refused to take issue with his elder brother, Mr Mukesh Ambani, on the raging controversy over ownership of RIL.


Thaksin Fires Thai Defense, Agriculture Ministers

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra fired the defense and agriculture ministers after his public ratings fell following the government's failure to stop violence in the Muslim-dominated south and the spread of bird flu.


Spending three seasons watching thousands of wannabes warble their way toward attempted singing stardom can make anyone a bit restless.


The winners of the contest to name the new seven wonders of the world. The pyramids in Giza will retain their status as one of the original seven wonders of the world.


Probation in Case of Stolen Cruise Photos

A man who tried to extort $1.3 million from Tom Cruise in exchange for stolen photographs of his wedding to Katie Holmes was sentenced to two years probation, The Associated Press reported. Marc Lewis Gittleman was also fined $3,000 after pleading guilty on Sept. 21 to interstate transportation of stolen property. Mr. Gittleman, a computer technician, obtained thousands of photos from a damaged hard drive that was brought to his workplace by a photographer. He then contacted David Hans Schmidt, 47, who was known for peddling nude pictures and sex tapes of celebrities, and sent Mr. Cruise an e-mail message demanding $1.3 million to keep the pictures private. The authorities set up a sting operation to catch the two men. Mr. Schmidt pleaded guilty to transmitting threatening communications with intent to extort and hanged himself in September.


She waved her wand and flowers bloomed. So it seemed in the venerable concrete amphitheater at Roland Garros, where the petite powerhouse named Justine Henin acted as though she owned the joint. And maybe she does.


Soccer: Henry finally adds to meagre goal tally for France

NICOSIA : Thierry Henry finally added to his recent meagre goal tally for France in a 2-0 victory over Cyprus here night in a match where the home side could easily have upstaged their rivals in this World Cup qualifier.


Kenya's opposition vowed to defy police for a second day running on Friday and try to hold a mass rally in the capital while the top U.S. diplomat for Africa was flying in amid chaos that has killed more than 300.


A huge underwater oil field discovered late last year has the potential to transform Brazil into a sizable exporter and win it a seat at the table of the worldâs oil cartel.


Ashburn AT&T Store Leaves Dozens iPhone-less

For over 75 people lined up at the AT&T store in Ashburn, Virginia -- a major technology center and nearby to companies such as AOL -- excitement quickly turned to anger as dozens who waited over five hours were left without an iPhone due to the store's paltry stock of just 14 phones.


I tasted poison on Yushchenko's lips, says his wife

The wife of Viktor Yushchenko, the Ukrainian opposition leader whose face was badly disfigured by a mystery illness during the recent election campaign, said yesterday she tasted


Citigroup Inc. today said it suffered losses of nearly $10 billion in the last three months of 2007 as problems with risky sub-prime loans continued to rattle the country's major financial companies.


United Parcel Service Inc. UPS.N,  the world's largest package delivery company, said on Tuesday  it plans to hire nearly 70,000 temporary workers to help handle  an estimated 340 million packages from Thanksgiving to  Christmas, exceeding year-ago forecasts.


THE Federal Government is still trying to contact 55 Australians in Iraq as it continues attempts to confirm reports that two civilians have been kidnapped.


China promised on Monday to respond positively to the United States in high-level economic talks this week but drew a line in the sand by telling Washington that its exchange rate is a matter of national sovereignty.


Benevento, 22:25 - CALCIO, SECONDA CATEGORIA: SCONTRO GIOCO, MUORE PORTIERE MOIANO

Pierdomenico Ruggiero, 19 anni, portiere del Moiano Calcio (seconda categoria campana), è mor...


Palmeiro Returns to Texas for First Time

Rafael Palmeiro wanted to end his career in Texas, where he spent 10 seasons and hit his 500th home run last year. Instead, the slugger got pushed aside.


The latest storage numbers are in and -- big surprise -- storage spending is up.


Cricket: Spotlight back on Fleming as Black Caps take charge

Chittagong - The Black Caps 2004 cricket tour of Bangladesh is quickly turning into a benefit gala for Stephen Fleming. Through some significant statistics and some classy batting, Fleming has again been thrust


Scientists say mammoth and camel bones unearthed in northwest Kansas that date back 12,200 years could be part of "one of the most important archaeological sites in North America."


IL DOCUMENTO. Tolto il segreto sui colloqui tra Ford e i capi dell'Agenzia"Abbiamo fatto cose vietate". I timori di Henry Kissinger                                            "Ecco i gioielli di famiglia" La Cia svela i suoi segreti                                                                                Nei documenti del 1975 le operazioni illegali, e i fiaschi, di Langleydal nostro inviato VITTORIO ZUCCONI


NASA tries to free station's jammed solar panel

NASA ground controllers tried to free a jammed solar panel on the International Space Station on Friday, while astronauts prepared for a final spacewalk to rewire the outpost's power grid.


EDS says previous outlook didn't factor in US Airways woes

New York (Dow Jones) -- Electronic Data Systems Corp. said Thursday its financial forecast for the second half of the year didn't reflect the impact of US Airways Group Inc.


The building where the shootout really happened

You won't see the building where the shootout actually happened in the film.


US Seeks to Throw Out Terror Convictions

WASHINGTON Sept. 1, 2004 - The Justice Department is asking a judge to throw out the convictions of a suspected terror cell in Detroit because of prosecutorial misconduct, a dramatic setback for the administration's


The government has appealed to kidnappers holding hostage Kenneth Bigley in Iraq to make contact -- but still ruled out negotiations or ransom payment.


Business & money: First-time buyers on low earnings now need to save almost all their joint annual pay to cover buying costs, says Rics.


Gibson sorry for conduct during DUI arrest

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


A man is sentenced to three months in jail for failing to co-operate with the Bloody Sunday inquiry.


Aliant workers set to vote on new contract

HALIFAX -- Striking Aliant Inc. workers returned to their picket lines over the weekend with guarded optimism that their four-month-old labour dispute could soon be over.


Self-conscious about what you wear while working out? A Dutch gym plans to introduce "Naked Sunday" for people who like to huff and puff in the buff.


France's Raffarin sticks to optimistic growth forecast

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin insisted this weekend his country would achieve growth of 2.5 percent next year despite reports of flagging economic momentum in recent months.


Saudi Arabia Asks Libyan Ambassador to Leave -TV

Saudi Arabia has asked Libya's  ambassador to the kingdom to leave, Libyan state television and  the Libyan news agency said on Thursday.


Fassino, Epifani, Bonanni: la Bossi-Fini va ripensata


Polls open in Wisconsin presidential primary

Voters in Wisconsin began casting ballots Tuesday for candidates seeking the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations in a contentious race marked by attack ads and accusations of plagiarism.


Kranjska Gora, 13:55 - SCI, CDM: BLARDONE TERZO IN GIGANTE KRANJSKA GORA

Terzo posto per Massimiliano Blardone nel gigante di coppa del Mondo di Kranjska Gora. L'azzurro, qu...


Ukraine Supreme Court blocks inauguration

Ukraine's opposition has pushed ahead with plans for a national strike, including the blocking of highways.


Chilean boy born with fetus in his stomach

SANTIAGO, Chile  - A boy has been born in Chile with a fetus in his stomach in what doctors said was a rare case of "fetus in fetu" in which one twin becomes trapped inside another during pregnancy and continues to grow inside it.


The news and financial information group Reuters said on Thursday that net profits sank by a third in 2006.


AL Wrap: Monroe Drives in Five Runs as Tigers Rout Royals

Craig Monroe homered twice to plate  five runs and carry the Detroit Tigers to a 9-1 road win over  the Kansas City Royals in the only scheduled American League  game Monday.


One by one, undefeated teams in major college football are losing, which is muddling the already convoluted Bowl Championship Series picture.


Daryl Boswell-Sweet pulled in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Keith Watkins with no time left on the clock yesterday to move host West Roxbury past defending Boston North champion East Boston, 20-17, its first victory over the Jets since 2002.


Children among 26 dead as Iraq's cycle of violence continues

Iraq's cycle of violence claimed at least another 26 lives yesterday when three car bombs detonated in Baghdad and the northern city of Mosul.


VICTORIA - The navy's only submarine on the West Coast will stay moored at CFB Esquimalt while officials do a safety check on the three remaining subs bought from Britain.


John Lennonâs Death Revisited Through the Words of His Killer

Andrew Piddingtonâs devastating re-enactment of events leading up to, including and immediately after the murder is taken from interviews, depositions and court transcripts.


A group of MPs call on football clubs to cut the number of foreign players in the English game.


The proliferation of action-adventure movies can be explained by our collective craving for heroes. They need not come from other planets or have super powers, for we have all-too-mortal creatures worthy of hero worship in our firefighters.


A Complex Chanteuse ; Lily Allen Defies Categorization, but Her Songs Captivate

By ANN POWERS, LOS ANGELES TIMES  WHO: Lily Allen.  WHAT: Hip-hop/pop.  WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.  WHERE: Roseland Ballroom, 239 W. 52nd St., Manhattan; 212-777- 6800 or roselandballroom.com.  HOW MUCH: $26.


Casa Bianca, 'Continueremo a restare in contatto con loro'


Chipmaker blames slowing demand for DVD players

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of ESS Technology Inc. fell 6 percent in early trading Thursday after the semiconductor manufacturer warned that fourth-quarter results would come in below expectations.


Yukos Trims Oil Output Forecast As Tax Fight Thwarts Expansion

OAO Yukos said it is cutting its oil-output growth forecast for 2004 and would reduce its capital expenditures, in a sign that its conflict with the Kremlin was hurting the expansion of Russia's biggest oil exporter.


Dr. Steven Nissen of The Cleveland Clinic said, "Right now, nobody, absolutely nobody would recommend giving blood pressure medication to somebody with a blood pressure of less than 130 millimeters of mercury.


Chancellor Alistair Darling comes under fire from the Tories and Lib Dems over his handling of Northern Rock.


Malaysian police hold two more over text messages: report

Malaysian police have set up a special police task force to investigate mobile telephone text messages amid fears they could incite racial violence, the Star newspaper reported Friday.


Fiery chef Ramsay named as London's best

Gordon Ramsay was named the best chef in London for the 11th year running in a new guide out Tuesday but his dominance of the British capital's top restaurants could become "stifling", it warned.


Swisscom reports 17.2 percent drop in nine profit

BERN : Switzerland's main telecommunications operator, Swisscom, reported a 17.2 percent decline in its nine-month net profit compared to last year to 1.14 billion Swiss francs (734 million euros, 963 million dollars) in 2004.


SEC Files Civil Suit Against Former Hollinger Executives

The Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday filed a civil lawsuit alleging that media baron Conrad M. Black fraudulently diverted millions of dollars from Hollinger International Inc.


Supporters of Zimbabwe's opposition leader gathered outside court on to hear the verdict in his treason trial, which could see him sentenced to death.


Police review expected to propose radical changes

Bureaucracy is a major drain on police resources and thousands of officers should be back on the streets combating crime instead of filling in lengthy forms, according to a sweeping review of the future of policing in England and Wales.


A financial industry that had grown comfortable with its regulators is reeling after the New York state attorney general filed charges of wrongdoing and denounced practices that the industry - and its regulators - had viewed as acceptable.


The Ministry of Commerce filed a protest Thursday over the possible imposition of quotas in the United States on five categories of garment imports.


ACE Ltd. yesterday became the latest insurance company to unveil changes in its business practices in response to the industry probe launched by New York's attorney general.


The Securities and Exchange Commissionâs approval removed the last regulatory hurdle to the creation of a trans-Atlantic stock exchange.


American cyclist Tyler Hamilton can keep his Olympic gold medal, but his reputation and the balance of his career are in serious jeopardy.


Five-Day Wildfire Near Ky. In Check / Snow AIDS Firefighters; Officials Suspect Blaze Was Deliberately Set

By REX BOWMAN  Firefighters battling a five-day-old, 900-acre blaze in stiff winds and steep terrain near the Virginia-Kentucky line pinned it down yesterday with help from a light snow.


Ex-White House aide Harriet Miers refuses to appear at a congressional hearing into the dismissal of prosecutors.


OIL prices fell today despite new sabotage attacks on Iraqi pipelines and worries about tropical storm Frances, with the New York market closed for the Labour Day holiday.


Wireless enforcement/revenue panopticon expansion Immediately following this week's demands by safety lobbyists fearing for their jobs that the UK adopt a default 20mph speed limit in urban areas, London Mayor Ken Livingstone popped up aboard the bandwagon (this happened so quickly, indeed, that one might suspect he was aboard in advance).â¦


11/4/04- While fruits and vegetables seem to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, a new report finds they are not much help fighting cancer.


Film industry professionals choose their favourite movie quote of all time for a US TV special.


Driving toward this tiny town feels like nearing the edge of the earth, a place of jagged red-rock peaks surrounding dry valleys covered in pinyon trees.


Two BA planes undergo more tests after traces of radiation are found in the probe into an ex-spy's death.


Erasure frontman says he is HIV-positive

LONDON : The singer of the British pop group Erasure has said he is HIV-positive. Following a news report printed in Finland on Wednesday, Andy Bell made a statement on the band's website revealing he has


The BBC must be more ambitious and innovative, audiences say, as the corporation's annual report is published.


Goldman leads charge toward exclusive stock markets

Top IPO underwriter Goldman Sachs Group Inc.  this week launched a platform allowing an exclusive club of big investors to trade unregistered, privately placed securities, in the latest challenge to U.S. equity markets.


Miles Is Thriving by Making Quick Decisions That Work Out

Few people in college football have made more important quick decisions in the past few months than Louisiana State Coach Les Miles, both on and off the field.


Around 350 British troops are to return to the UK from southern Iraq four months early.


Back to the Supreme Court: racial balance in schools

The Christian Science Monitor - America is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse countries in the world. Yet 52 years after Brown v. Board of Education - the landmark Supreme Court decision that struck down segregation - US classrooms are growing increasingly segregated.


The company goes to Sundance and adds to its stable of offbeat flicks.


Embattled Disney head reportedly endorses successor

Michael Eisner reportedly has told Walt Disney Co. directors that company President Robert Iger is his "preferred choice" to succeed him as chief executive of the media


A Napoli subito la prima multa, protesta fumatori a Milano


President Bush and Sen. John Kerry head toward their third and final televised debate this week with voters increasingly pessimistic about the economy, the war in Iraq


EU will resume aid to Palestinians when unity government formed

The European Union will resume aid to the Palestinian government when a government of national unity is in place there, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner has said.


Texas' Buck Showalter and Atlanta's Bobby Cox were named managers of the year Wednesday in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.


MICROSOFT'S search engine launched opens a new front for the world's biggest software company in the war for control of the internet, analysts said.


Japanese stocks dipped sharply during Wednesday morning trading, falling in the wake of an overnight plunge on Wall Street. The dollar was lower against the yen. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 512.04 points, or 2.98 percent, to 16,666.80 points on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by the end of morning session. The index had fallen 0.66 percent to finish at 17,178.84 points Tuesday.


Nate Doornekamp has played several roles in his four years on the Boston College basketball team. He went from being a starter his freshman and sophomore years to coming off the bench his junior year, a radical adjustment. Now, as the ranking senior starter for BC (13-0, 2-0 Big East), 13th in the Associated Press poll and 17th in the ...


Indonesia Hopes Tsunami Will Spur Rebel Talks

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia  - Indonesia offered on  Wednesday to hold talks with rebels in tsunami-hit Aceh, hoping  to ease security fears in a stricken province where the  president said 40,000 people were still missing after the Dec.  26 disaster.


Gold heads for largest yearly rise in 3 decades

Gold was on track for its biggest yearly gain since 1979, with prices hovering on Monday about $10 an ounce away from its historic highs.


The parents of a 20-year-old woman who died after being attacked in a park call her death "a tragedy beyond words."


Secondo le previsioni di Confcommercio la spesa pro capite sarÃ  di 213 euroA caccia di prodotti griffati i giovani single di buona cultura del Nord-Est                                          Da oggi al via i saldi nelle grandi cittÃ  Si spenderÃ  il 40% in piÃ¹ del 2007                                                                                Faranno ricorso agli acquisti scontati i due terzi dei consumatori


Amid Strike, 2 NBC Hosts Will Return To the Air

NBC announced that Jay Leno and Conan OâBrien will return to the air on Jan. 2, even if the writersâ strike has not been resolved.


US Commander in Iraq Complained of Shortages -Report

The former top U.S. commander in  Iraq complained last winter to the Pentagon that a poor supply  situation was threatening the Army's ability to fight, The  Washington Post reported on its Web site on Sunday.


One of four housemates accused of helping kill a woman and torture the woman's 11-year-old son said the group took its cues from the only man implicated in the case.


Australian Ex-Guantanamo Inmate Mentally Scarred -Lawyer

Australian former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib was suffering psychological and emotional problems due to his nearly three-year incarceration at the U.S. military base, his lawyer said on Sunday.


Iran Will Know How to Build Bomb in 6 Months - Israel

Israel said on Wednesday arch-foe Iran  was just six months away from having the knowledge to build an  atomic bomb, as Tehran accused the United States of using  satellites "and other tools" to spy on its nuclear sites.


Beach Surf Team Heads West - to Smaller Waves

By Lee Tolliver, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.  Sep. 10--Wes Laine is hoping the surf gods look favorably on him.   Laine is in California for the Quiksilver Surf Shop Challenge Championships.   Competition begins Monday.


Skin Deep: The Sweet Smell of ... Nothing

Cupids take note: more women are shunning wearing fragrances in favor of their own natural scent.


THE nation's regional political, economic and security interests were threatened by the Federal Government's refusal to sign a non-aggression pact with its Asian neighbours, Labor said today.


Drinking coffee protects against an eyelid spasm that can lead to blindness, a study suggests.


The number of applications for unemployment benefits increased last week and the US Department of Labor is attributing most of the hike to the impact of Hurricanes Frances and Charley in Florida, according to an Associated Press report.


The 25th anniversary of the Falkland Islands' liberation will be marked with a national event.


U.S. spending on Web advertising and Internet access expected to increase by double digits through 2011.


Britain suspends license for major supplier of flu vaccine

British health authorities on Tuesday suspended the manufacturing license of flu vaccine maker Chiron Corp., a major supplier to the United States.


By Liu Baijia  China is likely to unveil the first ultra mobile PC using domestic microprocessor technology with chip design technologies transferred from the US firm AMD, posing challenges to companies like Intel.


Back in June, Justin Morneau walked into manager Ron Gardenhire's office with a .236 batting average and was benched. Though he didn't realize it at the time, he walked out an MVP.


Falcons' Coleman Misses Game After Wreck

Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman missed Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers after hurting his knee and shoulder in a car accident the day before.


Most forgo buying own U.S. health insurance

CHICAGO  -- Nine out of 10 Americans who tried to   buy their own health insurance failed, either because the price   was too steep or because they were denied coverage due to a   current medical problem, a study said on Thursday.


KASHIWAZAKI, Japan  - More than 10,000 people huddled in evacuation centers in northwest Japan on Tuesday after an earthquake flattened homes, killing nine people, injuring more than 900 and triggering a leak of contaminated water from a nuclear plant.


For Senate Democrats, Opportunity Knocks Seven Times

It's no secret that Senate Democrats are looking at a target-rich environment in 2008. Open Republican seats in Colorado, Virginia and Nebraska are likely to be seriously contested by Democrats, while Republican incumbents in Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Oregon are also in danger.


Imputato per violenze alla Diaz, in aula da' nuova versione


DealBook Blog: Lehmanâs Profits Fall, but Beat Expectations

In the first sign of the toll that subprime mortgages will take on investment banks for the quarter, Lehman reported a drop in profit, but the firm managed to beat expectations.


Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who's kept a low profile since last month's twin suicide bombing in southern Israel, made a surprise visit to Egypt on Sunday, but he deflated Egyptian efforts to bring Palestinian factions together.


Originally slated to debut before the end of 2007, the completely revamped version of Palm OS, which is found in Palm's Treo smartphones and PDAs, has been delayed until sometime next year. The company has reportedly been running into development slowdowns building the new Linux-based platform.


NEW YORK, May 31 -- Marriott International announced Thursday that it is joining with Nickelodeon, the children's TV network, to create a chain of upscale water park resorts aimed at catapulting the hotel chain known primarily for business travel into the family-themed vacation business.


Dolly Parton said Monday she feels like a part of her died along with her old duet partner, Porter Wagoner. But she said she was grateful that she was able to spend a few final hours with the man who launched her career before he succumbed to cancer Sunday.


Fijian Golfer Singh Wins 8th PGA Tour Event of Season

World number one golfer Vijay Singh of Fiji has captured his eighth PGA Tour event of the year with a win at the 84 Lumber Classic in Farmington, Pennsylvania.


A rare medal awarded to a carrier pigeon who flew top-secret messages from France to Britain during World War Two will be auctioned later today.


It wasn't the Bay of Pigs invasion or the U.S. embargo against Cuba that turned Fidel Castro against the United States. He was in the anti-American camp long beforehand.


The Last Word: Too Close to Call? Maybe.

One of the most divisive elections in US history is entering its home stretch, and the race is tighter than ever. As John Kerry and President George W. Bush wage war in the


ADHD costly in terms of health services utilization

NEW YORK  - Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) use significantly more health services 2 years before and 2 years after they are diagnosed compared with children without ADHD, research shows.


The foreign ministers of the European Union agreed yesterday in a meeting in Luxembourg unanimously to lift weapons selling embargo imposed on Libya.


India halts suspect's extradition to Britain

A New Delhi court on Monday suspended the extradition to Britain of a suspect wanted for the rape and murder of a teenage girl after his lawyers lodged an appeal.


Roma, 19:12 - CALCIO, ROMA-REAL: TENTA LANCIO DI SASSO, POLIZIA LO FERMA

Un tifoso della Roma è stato fermato dalla polizia allo stadio Olimpico di Roma mentre tentav...


Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez says his players are determined not to be the also-rans of Group Six. Northern Ireland take on Wales in Cardiff on Wednesday reeling from a 3-0 defeat at home to Poland in the opening World Cup qualifier.


Muslim leaders today strongly denounced comments Pope Benedict XVI made this week about Islam, calling them ignorant and divisive.


Lee Blue's Blog: How To Implement A Ruby on Rails style before_filter With The PHP Zend Framework

Lee Blue has posted something looking to bridge yet another gap between Ruby on Rails and PHP - a method for adding before_filter functionality to PHP.   I often use this when implementing a simple login screen for a password protected section of my application. In a Zend Framework application you can implement a preDispatch() function in a Zend_Controller_Action which will run before an action is dispatched. This lets you setup your filter to check to see if the visitor is logged in or not. If the visitor is not logged in, you can redirect them to the login screen of your application.   He includes example code to show its usefulness - checking to see two things: is a user is logged in and to see if they're allowed to use a certain resource.


Drinking and spousal abuse by male US Army soldiers

Domestic violence is a significant and preventable cause of injury to women. The majority of cases involve violence perpetrated by a male partner, and heavy drinking has also been implicated as a risk factor.


This unfocused spectacle, more parade than narrative, achieves the dubious miracle of translating an animated cartoon into something that feels like less than two dimensions.


Panel Sees No Clear Aid for Veterans Under Stress

An expert panel said Thursday that it was unclear which treatments could help combat veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.


(InfoWorld) - There could be some competition in the market for Internet-based television technology after all. The hope of MicrosoftÂ to establish its software as the de factoÂ standard for the emerging IPTVÂ (Internet Protocol television) market has dwindled after one of its major allies, the former Alcatel, decided to push its own technology -- again -- and as other industry giants, including Cisco Systems, enter the fray. Alcatel, which made the first U-turn in its IPTV strategy in May 2005 when the French manufacturer decided to align with Microsoft, is now in the process of making yet another. In November, AlcatelÂ filed lawsuits against MicrosoftÂ for several alleged patent infringements, including three related to IPTV. Since then, the French manufacturer hasÂ merged with Lucent Technologies, another player in the IPTV market. And now the newly merged Alcatel-LucentÂ is talking about its own technology again. Why? Maybe because the French-U.S. telecom giant believes it now has enough technology -- and clout -- to carve out its own chunk of what could be a huge market for IPTV systems and services. "Today, video accounts for only around 5 percent of the traffic on IP networks," John Giere, chief marketing officer at Alcatel-Lucent, said in an interview at last week's Telecom World conference and exhibition in Hong Kong. "But according to research conducted by our own Bell Labs, that figure could reach 40 percent by 2010." Alcatel-Lucent, which delivers not only core IP technology to manage video but also software to enable video services, such as IPTV, video mail and video conferencing, says it focuses on open standards, which it sees as a key differentiator to Microsoft. "Our technology is open with open interfaces," Giere said. "Many operators don't want to be overly dependent on Microsoft, which offers a proprietary system." Alcatel-Lucent is developing open APIs (application protocol interfaces), Giere said. "The idea is to have Java-based client software that you can enable across multiple devices." The company is working with several standards bodies to help establish standards for IPTV-related technology, according to Giere. It has also developed personalization features, allowing users, for instance, to upload their own videos to the network and create their own personal TV channel. Meanwhile, Microsoft continues to improve its IPTV software platform and sign up carriers for field trials and, increasingly, commercial services. And, at least for now, the company isn't calling Alcatel-Lucent a competitor. Last week, Singapore TelecommunicationsÂ (SingTel) became the 16th company to agree to use Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software through a deal orchestrated by Alcatel-Lucent. "When we came to the IPTV market, we decided to take a slightly different approach," said Ed Graczyk, director of marketing in the Microsoft TV unit. "Our platform was developed with direct input from carriers that had joined our early adopter program. Some of the features in our platform resulted from the unique requirements of these carriers." If the first wave of technology developed in the Microsoft IPTV platform aimed at creating "a better user experience for viewing TV," the second wave will focus on adding enhancements, such as rapid search functionality for both TV and VOD (video on demand) content and personalization, according to Graczyk. "User-generated content is a big issue," he said. A big development along the way has been the move by chip makers to embed simultaneous multi-stream, multi-codec video decoding functionality into a chip, a functionality that was previously handled by software, according to Graczyk. "This system-on-chip approach will help substantially reduce costs," he said. Not only that, system-on-chip technology could help Microsoft embed its IPTV software into all types of devices, including PCs and gaming devices, so that consumers wouldn't necessarily have to buy a set-top box, according to Graczyk. "Carriers choose us because they know that we will be able to connect all types of devices running on our operating systems," he said. And what if the carrier is a big fan of the open source Linux operating system? "I don't think you'll see our IPTV software running on Linux systems," he said. "But you'll see IPTV software running on other systems." A growing number of competitors hope to achieve just that. In addition to Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, IBM, and Siemens are a few of the big names seeking to carve out a slice of the budding market for IPTV services. Â


Roberts doesn't think her children look like her

Actress Julia Roberts is hoping her three children will at least inherit some of her personality traits because she doesn't think they look anything like her.


ENVIRONMENT: EU's Post-Kyoto Proposals 'Cheap', Say Green Groups

BRUSSELS, Feb 10 (IPS) - Environmental groups are criticising European  Commission proposals for the bloc's policy on climate change  post-2012, saying they fail to establish legally binding targets  for curbing greenhouse gas emissions.


GREAT Britain's drive to reduce obesity now includes cutting larger chocolate bars down to size, the food and drink industry said today.


German exports fall 1.2% in December as the effects of the high euro starts to bite.


* Aug. 4, 1929: Born in Cairo, Egypt, fifth child of Palestinian merchant Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini. * Jan. 1, 1965: Forms Fatah guerrilla movement, which would become the core group of the Palestine


Belarus Opposition Cites Vote Violations

Orthodox nuns read ballots going to vote inside a convent in the village of Damashany, 25 km (19 miles) east of Minsk, Belarus, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004.


The mother of the youth accused of murdering Jodi Jones  begins giving evidence at his trial.


McCormack's sports empire sold for Â£390m

IMG, the sports and celebrity management group that lists Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova and golfer Tiger Woods among its clients, was yesterday sold for $700m (Â£390m).


Watershed Serbia vote plays out in shadow of Kosovo

Pro-Western Serbian President Boris  Tadic faces nationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic on Sunday  in an election that will decide Serbia's attitude to the West  after the imminent loss of breakaway Kosovo province.


Volkswagen says not interested in Chrysler

STUTTGART, Germany  - Volkswagen , Europe's biggest carmaker, has no interest in acquiring DaimlerChrysler's  loss-making U.S. arm Chrysler or expanding cooperation accords, a VW spokeswoman said on Friday.


Sudan and Darfur rebels wait for AU talks decision

Sudan's government and Darfur rebels said on Thursday they were waiting for African Union mediators to decide if peace talks would continue despite a stalemate on security in the western Sudanese region.


A Virus Writer Tests the Limits in Cellphones

A 32-year-old Brazilian software developer has written a virus that takes advantage of the short-range radio frequency technology called Bluetooth.


Tblisi, 17:55 - CALCIO, GEORGIA-LETTONIA 1-3 IN AMICHEVOLE

La Lettonia ha battuto la Georgia 3-1 (3-0) in un'amichevole a Tbilisi. In gol Kaladze (46') per la ...


Lester whiffs 10 as Red Sox rout Nationals

Jon Lester struck out 10 in six innings in his third major league game, David Ortiz hit a grand slam and the Boston Red Sox won their sixth straight, 9-3 over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.


Kosovo Vote No Magic Wand for Independence

Kosovo counted votes for a new parliament on Sunday after an election that exposed Albanian apathy and defiance from the Serb minority in a province taken over by the United Nations five years ago.


Amid groans of "I wonder why it took so long?" a new worm has been discovered that can access a webcam and microphone attached to an infected PC.


German prosecutors have dropped an investigation into the alleged involvement of CIA agents in an Egyptian Muslim cleric's purported kidnapping from Italy, saying Friday that they saw no prospect of achieving results.


Malaysia's former prime minister attacked

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was attacked with pepper spray Friday, an attempt he claimed to silence his criticism of the government.


Williams seeking to cap Rocky rise to world title

On Saturday, the 31-year-old can claim a piece of the world heavyweight crown with a win over Vitali Klitschko, capping a Rocky-like rise to the top.


Roll-up laptop screens and e-newspapers may be a step closer, according to scientists.


MANFREDONIA - Ã un pescatore di 27 anni lâomicida di Giusy Potenza, la ragazzina di 15 anni il cui corpo era stato trovato martoriato il 12 novembre scorso nei pressi dello stabilimento abbandonato dellâex Enichem di Manfredonia.


Roundbox Chooses RealNetworks Helix for Total Mobile TV

Roundbox, the leader in mobile broadcast and multicast software, is today announcing integration of RealNetworks'(R) Helix(TM) DNA Client into the company's solution for mobile operators.


Sir Alastair Morton, of Chunnel Fame, Dies

Sir Alastair Morton, who played a key role in the building of the Channel tunnel between England and France, has died, his family said. He was 66. Morton, who died Wednesday of a heart attack, became co-chairman of Eurotunnel in 1987 and served as group chief executive from 1990 until 1994, when the undersea link opened.


Austrian skier Hans Knauss, 33, has  tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone.


Powell Prods N. Korea to End Nuclear Programs

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, in Asia to prod North Korea to return to talks on ending its nuclear programs, said Sunday that while there is still time to resolve the impasse, "there is a sense of urgency.


TORONTO - Ontario doctors rejected a salary deal with the province over the weekend. But the government says the deal with the doctors is only one part of its plan to transform health care.


Venezuela gives initial approval to Chavez powers

Venezuela's Congress on Wednesday gave approval to the first part of President Hugo Chavez's plan to rule by decree for 18 months as he tries to force through nationalizations key to his self-styled leftist revolution.


Worldwide shipments of personal computers rose strongly in the second quarter due to growing demand in Asia and unexpected strength in the U.S.


Sony raises MGM bid, Time Warner sets deadline-WSJ

A group of investors led by Sony Corp. (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) , the Japanese electronics and entertainment company, raised its offer to buy the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.


Citywide Access to Wi-Fi in Works Plan Might Get OK in 90 Days

By JUDY O'ROURKE  SANTA CLARITA -- The days of patronizing certain food or coffee joints to tap a wireless Internet feed may soon be past, with citywide access on the horizon.


The 1994 NHL lockout provided no permanent solutions for major ...

(CP) - The 103-day NHL labour disruption of 1994 flushed tens of millions of dollars down the toilet and resulted in no permanent solution.


Jenson Button has said that he will abide by the ruling handed down by the Contract Recognition Board - despite it saying that he must remain at BAR for at least another season.


Swedish PM Under Fire Over Tsunami Response

Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson was defiant on Friday despite criticism his cabinet reacted too slowly to the Asian tsunami that may have killed more than 1,000 Swedes.


Kerry: Clinton May Campaign on My Behalf

Democratic Sen. John Kerry said Tuesday that former President Clinton may be hitting the trail to campaign for him in the final two weeks before Election Day.


Police collect and view CCTV in a bid to retrace the steps of a missing woman but are unable to identify her.


Cingular Wireless, the largest U.S. wireless phone company, said Wednesday it expects to report a profit and positive cash flow in 2005, one year earlier than planned, following its $41 billion purchase of AT&T Wireless Services Inc.


UK's Straw Makes Surprise Visit to Kurdistan, Northern Iraq

UK Foreign Minister Jack Straw made an unannounced visit to Kurdistan, Northern Iraq, to meet local officials, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.


Universal and WPP to fine tune their talents: newspaper

Universal Music Group, the world's  largest record company, and advertising conglomerate WPP are  expected to unveil a 50-50 joint venture on Tuesday to link top  brands with famous artists, The Times newspaper said.


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Berkshire Hathaway vice-chairman Charles Munger and his wife Nancy Munger on Thursday donated $43.5 million to Stanford University and its law school.


One member of the Black Watch battlegroup has been killed and two more have been injured - one possibly seriously - in an incident north of Camp Dogwood, the Ministry of Defence said.


Taylor Hicks, below, the 2006 winner of âAmerican Idol,â has followed Ruben Studdard, the 2003 winner, out the door of J Records, The Associated Press reported. âTaylor is going to record on his own for the next album,â said Liz Morentin, a public relations representative for J, a label within Sony-BMG. Mr. Studdard left his contract with the label late last year but remains under contract with 19 Entertainment, a company managed by Simon Fuller, creator of âIdol.â Mr. Studdardâs last album, âThe Return,â sold only 236,000 copies. Mr. Hicksâs self-titled album, released in December 2006, reached No. 2 on the Billboard chart and sold 699,000 copies, failing to reach the million mark achieved by the debuts of previous âIdolâ winners, Nielsen SounScan reported.


Movie Review | 'Vince Vaughnâs Wild West Comedy Show': Sharpshooters of Comedy Hit the Road (Duck!)

âVince Vaughnâs Wild West Comedy Showâ imagines itself a contemporary equivalent of rootinâ- tootinâ traveling entertainments like Buffalo Billâs Wild West Show. Thatâs a tall comparison to draw.


VOLARE GROUP SOSPENDE VOLI E VENDITA BIGLIETTI

Roma, 19 nov. (Adnkronos) - Restano a terra gli aerei di Volare Group. A seguito dell'impossibilita' di disporre degli aeromobili, la compagnia ha deciso di sospendere a tempo indeterminato e fino a nuove


Bush Says Dollar Value Against Euro Up to Markets

President Bush said on Wednesday it  was up to the markets to decide the value of the dollar against  the euro and added that a new rate hike by the Federal Reserve  was an indication of concern about the weak dollar.


Powell Vows US Commitment in Tsunami Tour

Secretary of State Colin Powell declared that the United States "will certainly not turn away from those in desperate need" as he works with Asian leaders to speed up relief efforts in the tsunami disaster.


The United States is showing signs of faster economic growth, according to reports released on Monday on the Midwest and New York City economies and U.S. personal income.


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


"Ecco gli sms spediti da Gori" Ma la Ventura chiede 10 milioni

ROMA - Potrebbe costare molto caro a Novella 2000 lo scoop sui presunti sms d'amore tra Simona Ventura e Giorgio Gori. Il settimanale nel numero in edicola rilancia prepotentemente il gossip che vuole la love


Frances Moves Over Gulf, May Hit Florida Panhandle

Tropical Storm Frances may regain hurricane strength as it crosses the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico, and is expected to make landfall again in Florida after slamming the peninsula and causing billions of dollars in damage.


Man City crash out of the Carling Cup after losing to League One side Chesterfield.


NEIGHBORHOODS; SOUTH MILWAUKEE; A Million-Dollar View; Residents Pay Much Less for a Great Spot By Lake

By MARK JOHNSON  Marsha Lambert and her daughter, Catherine, had their hearts set on a house near the lake, but the first place they saw in Bay View had a price problem: $500,000. For a condo. "Mom, buy it," Lambert's daughter urged, undeterred.


Stock futures rise on payrolls, wage data

U.S. stock futures turned higher on   Friday after August employment data showed a slow-down in wage   inflation, suggesting the Federal Reserve may be able to keep   interest rates unchanged.


Juniper challenged to post router code on Web

A networking industry exec disagrees with Juniper claim that it's opening up it JUNOS operating system code.


China Found Bird Flu Virus in Pigs as Early as 2002, AFP Says

China found a deadly strain of bird flu in pigs as early as 2002, before a regional outbreak in poultry that killed 27 people, Agence France-Presse reported.


Deposed Yugoslav president Milosevic to open defence at war crimes ...

Deposed Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic is scheduled to open his defence case at war crimes tribunal Tuesday after months of delays due to his frail health.


A judge Monday unsealed the details of a record $100 million settlement with a Southern California diocese over sex abuse allegations against clergy. Alleged victims sobbed as they spoke publicly about a deal that was nearly two years in the making.


Air pollution is hazardous for your heart!:

[Health India]: Washington, Nov 8 : A study presented at one of the scientific sessions of the American Heart Association has suggested that air pollution is hazardouz for your heart.


Argentina's first lady sweeps to presidency

First lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner swept to victory in Argentina's presidential race on her husband's economic successes, but now confronts stern challenges posed by the boom he helped create.


Ukraine's outgoing leader says new elections may be the only way of settling the disputed poll crisis.


ROUND-UP United through put Liverpool falter

Roy Keaneâs Manchester United booked their place in the knock-out stages of the Uefa Champions League with a victory at home to French champions Olympique Lyonnais on Tuesday, but Liverpool were defeated by their own French nemeses, last seasonâs


(Source: Diskeeper) Does fragmentation affect SANs, NAS, and RAID? Many people think it doesn't - but that perception is incorrect. Disk arrays improve I/O performance, but they aren't invulnerable to fragmentation. Read this white paper and discover the technical issues concerning fragmentation, SANs, NAS, and RAID


Beckham says he is unlikely to face Chelsea

David Beckham all but ruled himself out of his planned debut for L.A Galaxy on Saturday in a friendly against Chelsea.


The husband's story was extraordinary: He and his wife spent the afternoon cruising the bay on their watercraft before becoming bogged down in thick offshore mud. The vessel caught fire and sank, the couple was stranded for hours, and the wife was dead the next morning.


Harrington Has Wentworth Matchplay Spot in His Sights

WOBURN, England  - Ryder Cup winner Padraig  Harrington can round off a memorable fortnight even if he fails  to win The Heritage title this week at Woburn.


Smaller Can Be Better (Except When It's Not)

Stores are stocked with an abundance of featherweight gadgets. But some of these tiny gadgets raise a new question: how small is too small?


The online news business has a curious imbalance: Far more men read news on the Web than women. For online publishers seeking to steal advertising money from TV, this is a boon. But editors are worried something is off-kilter with online news. By Laila Weir.


Sanofi Wins Contract for Eggs in Flu Shot

The US government on Tuesday awarded Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) a contract worth up to $41 million through 2008 to ensure that enough eggs are available for future flu vaccine production.


Portfolio Recovery Associates weathers doldrums by watching the pocketbook.


Morris: YouTube, MySpace abuse copyright

Universal Music Group, the world's largest record company, contends the wildly popular Web sites YouTube and MySpace are violating copyright laws by allowing users to post music videos and other content involving Universal artists.


A money transfer firm broke EU privacy laws by secretly giving information to the US authorities, an inquiry finds.


Spain's semi-autonomous Basque Country was heading for a fresh showdown with the central government last night after its Congress voted for changes to political statutes that could clear the


Reggie White, the defensive end who was one of the greatest players in National Football League history, died yesterday at a hospital in Huntersville, NC White, who lived in Cornelius, NC, was 43.


The French president will meet his Chinese counterpart on a four-day state visit focusing on economic ties.


STMicroelectronics Enhances Cable TV Demodulator to Deliver Increased Performance and Lower BOM Cost

To: TECHNOLOGY EDITORS  Contact: Michael Markowitz of STMicroelectronics, +1-212-821- 8959, michael.markowitz@st.com   GENEVA, Feb.


Behavioral Therapy Gets Sleepless Seniors Snoozing

FRIDAY, Oct. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Brief behavioral treatment for insomnia may help bleary-eyed seniors get some much-needed sleep, a new study finds.


Johnstons' anguish over as parents, gov't express relief

Freed BBC reporter Alan Johnston's elderly parents said Wednesday their "living nightmare" was over, as his employers and the British government hailed the end of his four-month kidnap ordeal at the hands of militants in the Gaza Strip.


Jonathan Davies: Biggest plus for Ruddock is disappointment

So Wales lost by a whisker, but in truth it was a long whisker, with the hosts playing a game of catch-up in the last 10 minutes here that was always going to be beyond them.


Citigroup to list shares in Tokyo, boost branches

Citigroup  plans to list its shares  in Tokyo and boost the number of its branches in Japan by 40  percent as the U.S. financial group looks to move beyond a  niche role in the world's second-largest economy.


New Fitness Instruction: Sing the Body Eclectic

The world of âHow to Look Good Nakedâ is a happy and optimistic place where no one is overweight, but everyone suffers from a curable form of body dysmorphia.


Al Qaeda fight to death in Iraq bastion: U.S.

BAQUBA, Iraq  - Thousands of U.S. soldiers on the offensive north of Baghdad are facing fierce resistance from hundreds of al Qaeda militants who are ready to fight to the death, an American general said on Friday.


Canadian math students rank 7th in international study

PARIS - Canadian math students are being outperformed by those six other countries, including Hong Kong and Finland, according to an international study.


Cindy Sheehan bid farewell to her former "peace camp" near President Bush's ranch and began a nearly two-week trek Tuesday toward Washington, D.C., with her sights set on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.


Singer Foxy Brown is warned to respect her probation terms or face custody.


World Business Briefing | Europe: Britain: Travel Agencies to Merge

MyTravel and Thomas Cook will combine in a deal to create a more cost-competitive European-based travel company, the companies said. The new company will retain the Thomas Cook name, one of the oldest established brands in the travel industry. KarstadtQuelle, the German retailer that owns Thomas Cook and a department store chain, will hold a 52 percent stake in the combined group. MyTravel, which is based in London, will hold the rest. The combined company, which will be based in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange, will be called the Thomas Cook Group.


Tate connected with Ed Hinkel on a pair of 19-yard touchdowns and scored on a five-yard run as 24th-ranked Iowa handed Illinois its 14th consecutive Big Ten Conference loss, 23-13.


Some highlights of preliminary data from exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks in the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday:


Radar failure affects hundreds of flights

Air traffic controllers were forced to use their personal cell phones to reroute hundreds of flights Tuesday after the Federal Aviation Administration's Memphis Center lost radar and telephone service for more than two hours, snarling air traffic in the middle of the nation.


Like so many others, Tom and Alice Johnston have been watching recent televison footage of Mount St. Helens spewing steam and volcanic ash. But their reason is personal: Their son is buried there.


Twickenham, 18:03 - RUGBY, SEI NAZIONI: INGHILTERRA-FRANCIA 26-18

L'Inghilterra ha battuto la Francia 26-18 (9-12) nella quarta giornata del Sei Nazioni di rugby. ...


U.S. to Court Martial Soldier in Iraq Murder Case

HANAU, Germany  - An American soldier who was the  first to be investigated for murder in Iraq will be sent for  full court martial, the U.S. army said Tuesday.


Edimburgo, 23:15 - RUGBY, MONDIALI: SCOZIA-ROMANIA 42-0

La Scozia ha battuto la Romania 42-0 (21-0) in un incontro valido per il gruppo C (lo stesso dell'It...


US President George W Bush says the nation's social security fund is close to bankruptcy.


Police were searching for the culprits behind the beheading and skinning of a rare Siberian tiger at a zoo in central China, state media reported Sunday.


Vice-President Dick Cheney will be called to testify in the CIA leak case involving his ex-chief of staff, lawyers say.


Talks to form a rainbow coalition government in Wales collapse, leaving Labour in pole position.


Probe Into Dutch Filmmaker's Murder Focuses On Islamic Militants

Dutch police are continuing a crackdown on suspected Islamic militants in the wake of the murder two weeks ago of a controversial Dutch filmmaker who criticized Islam.


Labour leader Gordon Brown plans to reduce the influence of trade unions within the party, the BBC learns.


U.S. Army Corps Begins Willamette Dredge Study

By Libby Tucker  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began official plans to dredge the Willamette River for the first time in 10 years with a public meeting Thursday night.


Conflitto interessi, si' iniziativa parlamentare


Harmony cagey about its war chest for Gold Fields

Harmony, the listed gold miner, has not put a final figure on how much it will have to spend on its hostile bid for local rival Gold Fields.


Certifications get rejigged Cisco has introduced an entry-level qualification for engineers wanting qualifications in installing and maintaining its routers.â¦


US oil prices neared $51 per barrel Tuesday, steered by speculative buyers wary of US production after Hurricane Ivan and conflicts in other oil-producing nations.


Thursday night's 200 metres final started with a disgraceful display by some of the Greek fans in the stadium in response to the absence of their local favourite and defending champion, Kostas Kenteris.


Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat collapsed yesterday evening, was unconscious for about 10 minutes and remained in a "very difficult situation," Palestinian officials said.


New York - The first US presidential debate this week and a load of data on consumer spending will settle some questions that have been hanging over US stocks, and equity strategists and traders say the decreased uncertainty could draw buyers back to the


For more than two years, the FBI has been investigating whether classified intelligence has been passed to Israel by the American Israel Political Action Committee, an influential


Intel releases strong revenue target for Q4

Intel Corp.'s fourth-quarter sales are on track to break a company record as demand for the chips that power computers was stronger than originally expected in the weeks leading up to the holiday buying season.


Toys âRâ Us Recalls Chinese-Made Art Sets

Toys âRâ Us is recalling thousands of art sets made in China because of excessive lead in some black watercolor paints.


U.S. auto sales incentives rise in May: report

DETROIT  -Consumer incentives offered on new cars rose nearly 2 percent in May from a month earlier in the U.S. market, according to a report released on Friday.


NAJAF, Iraq - Militiamen loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr surrendered the sacred shrine of Imam Ali on Friday and then surrendered weapons as well, bringing a largely peaceful end to a ferocious three-week battle with US forces that challenged the


The EU hopes to restart its peacekeeping mission to Chad this week after rebel attacks on the capital N'Djamena.


Three 'more' options for Bush and Maliki

A leaked memo suggests three ways the US might help the Iraqi leader: more troops, more money, and more diplomacy.


Four executives at German memory supplier Infineon and its US subsidiary pleaded guilty to charges of illegally setting prices for PC memory chips, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday.


Oracle promises tighter security for SOAs

(InfoWorld) - Oracle Corp. has always made bold claims about the security of its database and applications. Now the company has said it will make security a priority as it begins rolling out its next-generation software products for building service-oriented architectures (SOAs), Oracle Fusion, in the next several years. Speaking at an event in New York on Wednesday, Oracle President Charles Phillips outlined three areas of security that will be important to Oracle going forward -- access control, data privacy and compliance. Acquisitions and internal product development over the last 18 months have given Oracle a comprehensive portfolio in this area, allowing the company to think of security "holistically" across its product line, he said. "We take it pretty seriously," Phillips said. "We [are putting] security where it belongs, which is consistent across the architecture." Oracle has had its ups and downs when it comes to security. The company is infamous for a 2002 marketing campaign in which it called its database "unbreakable," a notion that was proven wrong by security researchers. While Oracle's database has not been the target of a widespread attack, security experts point out that it is also in a less vulnerable position than many commonly targeted programs. Oracle databases are embedded so deeply in a network's infrastructure that attacks aimed for it are thwarted by technologies closer to the surface, such as firewalls. The true test of Oracle's security will come when it begins opening up its products to allow for SOAs, which enable applications to communicate via Web services standards across disparate systems. "Adding Web services to an architecture makes everything often more insecure because you add an additional way into the database," said Alexander Kornbrust, chief executive officer of security consulting firm Red Database Security GmbH. "Web services should be designed and developed very carefully." Beginning in March 2005, Oracle began a string of purchases to bolster its security portfolio. In March the company purchased Oblix, which has access-management software. Then last November, Oracle acquired Thor Technologies for identity provisioning and compliance software and Octet String for identity virtualization software. The company is combining these acquired technologies with new software it developed internally: Database Vault, which prevents the database administrator from accessing sensitive information stored in an Oracle database, and Audit Vault, a data warehousing product to keep track of data stored in various places. The former is available now, while Audit Vault will be available in the next few months, said Thomas Kurian, senior vice president of server technology for Oracle. Together with existing products such as Oracle Identity Federation, the products help shore up a strong portfolio for protecting data across multiple applications and systems in the network, he said. Oracle has these products now, but they will become increasingly important as SOAs become more prevalent and Oracle rolls out its Fusion architecture over the next couple of years, Kurian said. "We'll be making sure at each level of the application, you have common policies that are enforced," he said. "No matter where you come in [on a network], you can still access security." Charles Kolodgy, an IDC security analyst, called Oracle's presentation on Wednesday "a little underwhelming," but said the message the company was trying to send is important. "Many of their customers are not aware that Oracle has security offerings to help customers manage identity, data protection and compliance," Kolodgy said. "They have been know for building security into their products, but not for building security products." However, despite the rosy picture Oracle paints about its past and future security strategy, it's something customers have traditionally been less than happy with, Kornbrust said. New products like Data Vault and Oracle Transparent Data Encryption -- which encrypts database data and stores the encryption keys in another location -- show the company is taking security more seriously, he said. But Oracle has a long way to go before it gets it right. "They are not doing enough helping customers to make their database secure," Kornbrust said. "The patches are still ugly ... Selling new -- and expensive -- high-end features is good but doesn't raise the bar for the normal Oracle security. Most databases I see are vulnerable in most cases." Still, said Kornbrust -- whose firm handles Oracle security exclusively -- those responsible for securing Oracle infrastructure "appreciate the direction Oracle is taking in the last month." However, it will take at least two to four years for most database administrators and developers to see results of the changes taking place now, he said.ADVERTISEMENTMAKE SOA REAL WITH IBM WEBSPHERE PODCASTStreamline processes and maximize efficiency within a proven service oriented architecture. Take back control of your business processes with IBM WebSphere.


Suspected bird flu claims baby's life in Vietnam

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DALLAS (CBS.MW) -- US District Judge Barbara Lynn said Thursday she would rule next week on a proposed $6 million settlement between Halliburton and shareholders who accuse the giant energy contractor of inflating its share price.


The Kaiser Chiefs rise to number one in the  UK singles chart, while Amy Winehouse's album is back on top.


IAEA says has understanding on N. Korea reactor shutdown

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China's President Hu starts his tour of Africa in Cameroon, at a time of booming trade with the continent.


Presidente americano incontrera' Merkel e sara' a vertice G8


Sun Microsystems has introduced a pay-for-use pricing model for grid computing, enabling customers to gain access to computing cycles on an on-demand basis.


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Google has partnered with Nielsen to broaden the TV viewership information it provides to participants in its Google TV Ads program.


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The former Chilean dictator's death provides a ghostly coda to a year in which the leftist political forces he worked so violently to defeat have swept back into power across Latin America


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Microhoo! or YahSoft!? The! people! must! decide!

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Suicide Bomber Kills 10 at Moscow Subway

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PeopleSoft board once again spurns Oracle's bid

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Now what do we have here? Truth is, no one really knows.


U.S. Targets Visa Violators in Terror War

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NEW YORK/SHANGHAI  - U.S. home improvement retailer Home Depot Inc.  said on Wednesday it had signed an agreement to buy Chinese home improvement chain The Home Way, marking its first foray into retailing in China.


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Based on the memoir of his widow, Mariane Pearl, the stunning 'A Mighty Heart' revolves around the 2002 kidnapping of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.


Bush Attacks Kerry; Edwards Says Bush 'In Denial'

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Pioneering treatment for sufferers of type 1 diabetes approved for use on NHS patients


Different readings in the presidential race point, in part, to a volatile electorate.


Contrastream, a new social music site, employs a similar voting system to Digg to determine the hottest new indie songs.


The federal government has fallen back to prosecuting international terrorists at about the same rate it did before Sept. 11, according to a study based on Justice Department data.


'Insider' Information Puts City Blogs on the Map

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A hitherto unknown group calling itself the Salafi Brigades of Abu Baker Siddik said Thursday it kidnapped a Polish woman in Iraq.


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A âBoldâ Step to Capture an Elusive Gas Falters

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McGrady debuts for Rockets â vs. Pistons

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Armed with bows and arrows and automatic weapons, the attackers poured by the hundreds through the camp where the terrified had sought refuge Saturday, firing into the air and sparking a brief gunbattle with police before fleeing into the hills.


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As the government awaits definitive results in a possible second case of mad cow disease, federal officials are charting new ground in dealing with a jittery public.


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A gunman wearing camouflage shot a woman to death at a Wisconsin factory where she was working early Monday, police said.


Roma, 16:25 - CALCIO, INTER; MANCINI: RECORD SERVONO SE SI RAGGIUNGE OBIETTIVO

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Khartoum, Darfur Rebels Split on Peace Chances

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House Panel Says Rice Is Hindering Its Work

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XM Satellite Radio CEO Panero to step down

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In the privacy of her Boulder office, women anywhere from their 20s to their 60s quietly confess that their sex drive just isn't what it once was, and shrug their shoulders as if that's just the way it has to be.


Silicon Valley Executive Sticks Up for His Hillary Video

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Slovenian teachers give students look at another culture

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While accepting an Oscar for âThe Cider House Rulesâ a few years ago, Michael Caine paid tribute to Jude Law, as if he were passing the torch to another gifted British actor.


Security in Sudan's Darfur a 'Farce' - Rights Group

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SATURDAY AUTO RACING 8 a.m. -- Formula One: Grand Prix of Europe qualifying, Speed 4:30 p.m. -- Busch Series: Gateway 250 pole qualifying, ESPN2


Hot-headed Rooney needs looking after warns Robson

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Abandoning his Kalashnikov and dyeing his beard from grey to black, Osama bin Laden presents a new image to the world in a video that makes no specific threats but may be a signal for new al Qaeda attacks.


Jason Campbell passed for 194 yards in the first half and No. 9 Auburn beat The Citadel 33-3 Saturday, coasting in its sandwich game between a pair of high-stakes contests.


Microsoft re-assures partners on Vista compatibility

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Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, New York's medical examiner rules.


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Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, under pressure to bring new focus to his campaign, added a veteran political strategist to his travelling campaign entourage, rounding out changes to his senior staff.


On a diet? Be careful what your friends eat, says study

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Global stock markets fell Friday as the murder of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto reverberated around the world, while investors took profits before the year-end.


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THE family of Margaret Hassan, the British aid worker kidnapped in Iraq, broke their silence yesterday as a new video of her was released.


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La Iaaf, federazione internazionale di atletica, deciderà non prima di lunedÃ¬ sul caso di Osc...


Mr. Bowman was a former U.S. figure skating champion dubbed âBowman the Showmanâ for his flair on the ice.


FALLUJAH, Iraq   US forces launched two airstrikes today on the troubled Iraqi city of Falluja, hospital officials and witnesses said.


JUST WHAT the state needs: another business committee. Well, yes, actually -- if the new Massachusetts Life Science Collaborative can rationalize the state's current hodge podge of overlapping and competing efforts to boost this promising industry. Jobs for at least 600,000 Massachusetts residents and 10 percent of the state's gross domestic product depend on it.


The âTigerâ was tamed Tuesday by a Swedish ex-nanny named Elin Nordegren. After repeatedly denying that his nuptials were eminent, Tiger


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Oil prices struck a fresh record high above $47 a barrel on Thursday as fresh evidence of demand growth in China and India underlined how rising appetite for oil is straining the world's supply system.


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The National Stadium in Karachi suddenly seems a less impregnable fortress. Sri Lanka won a Test in Faisalabad after starts of 9 for 3 and 0 for 1, to continue their unbeaten series run in Pakistan.