CAIRO -- Iran's decision to grant international inspectors greater access to a major nuclear facility was greeted by skepticism as well as cautious hope yesterday among nonproliferation analysts.


Blackstone Group LP won the bidding contest for Equity Office Properties Trust after shareholders approved the $39 billion purchase in the biggest leveraged buyout ever.


U.S. chain store sales were up, posting a gain in the latest week compared with the same time last year, but hurricanes Bonnie and Charley still left a negative impact, a report said on Tuesday.


Axa Asia Pacific was the hardest hit, falling 35c - or 8.5 per cent â-o $3.75 after rejecting a bid by French parent Axa SA, which had offered $4.


Porto Alegre, 09:12 - CALCIO, BOCA JUNIORS VINCE COPPA LIBERTADORES

Grazie ad una doppietta di Riquelme (69' e 80') il Boca Juniors ha battuto 2-0 il Gremio a Porto Ale...


Brescia, 19:15 - CALCIO, BRESCIA: INGAGGIATO CARACCIOLO

Il Brescia ha acquistato a titolo definitivo l'attaccante Andrea Caracciolo, rilevando metà d...


The View From Scotsman.Com on the Hi-Tech Battle to Win New Readers

By NO BYLINE  ONLINE innovation in the UK is not restricted to London. Since June 1996, when it was launched by the late Bob Campbell, the site of this newspaper - has been an online leader.   The site has always been on the lookout for new ways to reach its readers.


France warns rebels in Chad that it could intervene if they continue to threaten the capital, N'Djamena.


Property repossessions rise 9% in the second half of 2006 while annual repossessions hit a six-year high.


Various problems gripping Lawrence Gonzi

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is haunted by the spectres of problems inherited from previous Nationalist administrations that keep constantly resuscitating since they were never dealt at source.


Uefa throws out Lille's protest against Man Utd's goal and charges the French club with improper behaviour.


Parade of Heroes sets the pace for London 2012 bid

Many of Britain's Olympic medal winners had already done a lap of honour in Athens, the civic reception and some even appeared on A Question of Sport.


Major League Baseball Playoffs Set to Begin

The Major League Baseball playoffs are set to begin Tuesday after a regular season that provided lots of excitement. The Houston Astros had been pre-season favorites to make the National League playoffs, but


Most Networks Scrambled to Get People to Pakistan After Killing

The significant time lag between Benazir Bhuttoâs death and the arrival of Western correspondents forced the networks to hustle and improvise.


Raoul Follereau - ÂUNA VOCE CHE RISUONA ANCORAÂ - Ediz. Italiana: Voglio Vivere Onlus - Agimi (L'alba) Roma (Agenzia Fides) - Dalla presentazione: Carissimo/a, hai nelle mani un libro che ha cambiato la mia vita. Ti faccio questa confidenza con una certa trepidazione. Non voglio assolutamente influenzarti. Debbo perÃ² dirti quel che segue. Non comprend...


Champion Serena Williams applied the pressure when she need to and withstood a tough fourth-round challenge from Nicole Vaidisova on Sunday to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.


Coco Crisp, who lost his center field job to rookie Jacoby Ellsbury in the postseason, said Wednesday he'd probably talk to the Boston Red Sox about trading him if it appears he won't get his starting job back.


Tanker plummets into Detroit home, burns

A tanker crashed through an interstate guardrail early Thursday and plummeted into a home, exploding and setting the truck and the house on fire.


Hundreds gather for funeral of Japan's Princess Kikuko? (updated ...

Hundreds of mourners paid their final respects Sunday to Princess Kikuko, the emperor's aunt who was seen as one of the most progressive members of Japan's tradition-bound royal family.


Nokia launches wireless content solution

Nokia, one of the leading brands in mobile technologies, has launched a new wireless content solution that will prove to be beneficial to many consumers worldwide.


Flyers' Primeau Retires After Concussion

VOORHEES, N.J. -- Philadelphia Flyers center Keith Primeau retired Thursday, ending a 15-year NHL career after failing to receive clearance to play because of lingering effects from a concussion.


Record crowd witnesses India-Kenya match

London, Sep 12.(PTI): The ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between India and Kenya at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, made a record of sorts as it was attended by a crowd of about 12,000, the highest for any match at the ground.


Players force return to old leather ball

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is bringing back its old leather ball after complaints from players about the new model, the NBA said on Monday.


Federal Judge Clears Oracle's Bid for Rival

Judge ruled that the Justice Department erred in seeking to block Oracle's proposed takeover of PeopleSoft, giving a boost to Oracle's efforts to snare its rival. -The Washington Post


Company Fined $11,500 for Wetlands Damage

By SCOTT HARPER  BY SCOTT HARPER  THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  CHESAPEAKE - Hearndon Construction Corp. has agreed to pay the state an $11,500 fine and restore wetlands and woods illegally damaged during development of new homes in the Deep Creek area of Chesapeake.


Antiwar Protesters Decry Handling of Iran

A group of antiwar protesters demonstrated outside the White House yesterday to condemn what they termed the government's "demonization" of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and said they think the Bush administration is preparing the public for an attack on Iran.


Milano, 16:49 - CALCIO, MILAN: DIDA PROLUNGA CONTRATTO FINO AL 2010

Nelson Dida difenderà la porta del Milan fino al 2010. Il club rossonero ha annunciato che il...


Futures edge lower on signs of core inflation

Standard & Poor's 500 stock index futures dipped on Thursday after government data showed first-quarter core personal consumption spending, an inflation gauge favored by the Federal Reserve, was revised higher.


Grammar schools should be abolished to create an education system that is fairer to all, says a report.


Non avranno riduzioni banche, assicurazioni, municipalizzate


Two hundred scientists from around the world will try to agree on the definitions of temperature danger levels.


European shares dip, but Corus rockets on Tata takeover

European stocks have fallen as caution prevailed before a US interest rate decision, but shares in London-listed Corus surged after Tata Steel clinched a multi-billion-dollar takeover of the group.


I.B.M. Showing That Giants Can Be Nimble

I.B.M. has been reorganized from a classic multinational company to become a more seamless global enterprise.


FREQUENT FLIER: A Flight AttendantÂs Revenge

Flight attendants hear more complaints about the decline of airline service than they can remember. But what about the decline of passenger behavior?


Producer-DJ Mark Ronson will team up with the BBC Concert Orchestra at this year's Electric Proms.


Iranian reformists challenged President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's hardline nuclear policy on Friday as the United States defended its imposition of tougher sanctions on Tehran for its disputed atomic work.


Raiders receiver Ronald Curry likely has a torn left Achilles' tendon that could sideline him for the remainder of the season.


Justice Stevens Calls On History He Lived

Justice John Paul Stevens, the third-oldest person ever to sit on the Supreme Court, turned 87 on April 20. If he's still on the court 142 days from now, he'll overtake Roger B. Taney, who died as chief justice in 1864 at the age of 87 years 209 days.


Baghdatis advances into last 16 after opponent retires

Marcos Baghdatis was given an easy ride into the fourth round of the French Open on Saturday when his Czech opponent Jan Hajek was forced to quit with a shoulder injury.


When she was a girl growing up during the Depression, Mary Dorion used to take long walks with her friends, keeping an eye out for ``cute boys'' as they went.


England rugby skipper Jonny Wilkinson to be sidelined for 4-6 ...

LONDON (CP) - It looks like Canada will be spared facing England rugby captain Jonny Wilkinson in a Nov. 13 Test match at Twickenham.


Strade e treni per collegare Malpensa e per nodo di Palermo


Theater Review | 'A Chorus Line': From the Top: Five, Six, Seven, Eight!

In providing us with an archivally and anatomically correct reproduction of a landmark show, the creators of this revival neglected to restore its throbbing heart.


An Ethiopian court is due to deliver its sentence on 38 opposition leaders, who face the death penalty.


Rumsfeld, the troops, and the biased activist "reporter"

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld met with US troops in Kuwait last week. I haven't seen any news coverage of the subject or any important points he made at the meeting.


College Basketball: Illinois Routs Gonzaga

INDIANAPOLIS (Sports Network) - Deron Williams and Luther Head scored 20 points apiece, Dee Brown chipped in with 17, and No. 5 Illinois routed 24th- ranked Gonzaga, 89-72, in the John R. Wooden Tradition at Conseco Fieldhouse.


British Airways said Friday that one of its planes that has been parked at a Moscow airport will fly to London later in the day for a radiation check.


Survey: Two-thirds of users don't deploy Oracle quarterly Critical Patch Update

A survey of Oracle Users Group attendees finds two-thirds have never applied one of Oracle's quarterly Critical Patch Updates. Oracle, meanwhile, prepares to release its next quarterly CPU on Tuesday.


SAG Show Is New Star of Awards Telecasts

For most of their first 13 years, the Screen Actors Guild Awards played little more than the role of a seat-filler. This year they might be the biggest star in town.


Stronger Warnings On Antidepressants Urges FDA Panel

A US advisory panel concluded Tuesday that antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil should come with stronger warnings because they appear to increase suicidal behavior in children and teenagers.


Ecotality buys Innergy for mobile solar and battery technology

Through acquisitions, Ecotality looks to "roll up" several clean energy-related companies and become profitable next year.


Update 3: Comcast, Time Warner Consider Joint Bid

Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corp. said they are exploring a potential joint bid for Adelphia Communications Corp., the troubled cable company that put itself on the block as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.


PUNTA GORDA, Fla. Aug. 17, 2004  About 790,000 people remained without power in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, and officials estimated it could take weeks to get electricity fully restored. At least 150,000 were without local phone ...


Coulthard Gets 1 Year F1 Career Extension from Red Bull

In a highly anticipated move, Red Bull Racing announced today that it has signed David Coulthard to a one-year contract. Coulthard, by no means a spring chicken as far as F1 goes, is lucky to have gotten this


Kearns, Nats agree to $17.5M for 3 years

Right fielder Austin Kearns and the Washington Nationals agreed Thursday to a three-year contract that guarantees him $17.5 million, adding a long-term piece to the team's rebuilding effort.


Company Withholds $5 Million Bonus from Lance Armstrong

A Dallas company that specializes in  underwriting prize money will not pay a $5 million bonus to  Lance Armstrong until it investigates claims the Tour de France  champion used performance-enhancing drugs.


Former North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black pleaded guilty Thursday to taking thousands of dollars from chiropractors in exchange for supporting legislation that aided them.


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


Madrid, 18:58 - CALCIO, REAL MADRID: STOP DI TRE SETTIMANE PER GUTI

Il Real Madrid dovrà fare a meno per tre settimane di Guti. Il centrocampista si è inf...


German insurance giant Allianz reported record net profit of 7.021 billion euros (9.2 billion dollars) in 2006, well above target, on Thursday and said it expected further growth.


White House blocks subpoenas over fired prosecutors

President George W. Bush set up an anticipated court battle with the Democratic-led Congress on Thursday by refusing to comply with subpoenas in its widening probe of fired federal prosecutors.


ATHENS, Greece -- Greek "sirtaki" music that starts slow and finishes fast whipped the Olympic Stadium audience into a frenzy Sunday night before the most exciting 10 seconds in sports.


CHARLOTTE, NC -- The release of a video game a recreating the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy has caught the attention of local authorities who say such things desensitize people to violence.


Singh wins Chrysler Championship at Innisbrook

Palm Harbor, Florida - Vijay Singh is the first golfer ever to win ten million dollars in a season. He earned another 900-thousand dollars by capturing the Chrysler Championship in Florida on Sunday.


Lightning get goalie Denis from Columbus

The Tampa Bay Lightning addressed their goaltending concerns Friday by obtaining goalie Marc Denis from the Columbus Blue Jackets for left wing Fredrik Modin and goalie Fredrik Norrena.


Neve provoca disagi e black out, bora a 94 km/h a Trieste


Sri Lanka's feared Tamil Tiger rebels has threatened to resume a two-decade war for self-rule that has killed more than 64,000 people if the government does not agree to discuss their demands soon.


The creators of Globus open source grid software have set up a software and services company, Univa, to capitalise on their work on grid computing.


A Spanish trial began on Thursday of 29 people charged with involvement in the Madrid train bombings, which killed 191 people three years ago in the deadliest al Qaeda-related attack in Europe.


Apre Carmen Consoli e chiude Anastacia. Eminem superstar

ROMA - Febbre da concerto a Roma per gli Mtv Awards. Diverse centinaia di ragazzi provenienti da tutta Italia si sono appostati giÃ  da stamattina davanti al palco allestito nella splendida cornice del Colosseo.


Japan minister commits suicide, adding to PM's woes

A scandal-tainted minister in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet committed suicide on Monday, compounding problems for the Japanese leader whose support has already slumped ahead of a July election.


UK's Straw Expects Turkey's Talks With EU to Start in January

Britain expects the European Union to start membership talks with Turkey in January, when Luxembourg assumes the EU's rotating presidency, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.


In calo Parigi e Francoforte, in lieve rialzo Londra


The fossil of an ancient species of ape, discovered at a construction site in western Spain, has revealed that great apes went through more evolutionary stages than previously thought.


Triangle Wrings More Water From a Limited Supply: Using Reclaimed Water, Aka Highly Treated Sewage, on Lawns Can Help Conserve Drinking Water. Several Projects Are in the Works

By Todd Silberman, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.  Jun. 11--No matter how parched the Triangle gets this summer, no matter how tough the rules on watering, the lawns in Cary's Wessex neighborhood will be a lush green.


Retailer Woolworths rejects a takeover offer from private equity group Apax, saying it is too low.


Administration Overhauls Rules for US Forests

The Bush administration issued broad new rules Wednesday overhauling the guidelines for managing the nation's 155 national forests and making it easier for regional


October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Jamaica Cancer Society will be intensifying its efforts to increase the level of awareness among women about the disease.


Roma, 18:35 - CALCIO, ROMA; SPALLETTI: COMPLIMENTI AI MIEI

''Devo fare i complimenti alla mia squadra perchÃ© ha giocato una bella partita contro un avversario ...


Tourists flock to Fisherman's Wharf for the seafood and the stunning views of San Francisco Bay, but for many visitors, the real stars are the dozens of playful, whiskered sea lions that lounge by the water's edge, gulping down fish.


The nation's colleges and universities are taking more aggressive steps to curb rampant Internet music piracy, according to a report released today. -washingtonpost.com


Asylum ruling leaves out Chinese spouses

The husbands of women forced to abort a pregnancy, undergo involuntary sterilization or face persecution under China's coercive population control program do not automatically qualify for asylum, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.


Brad Pitt and a pregnant Angelina Jolie, who are awaiting the "imminent arrival" of their first child, want their stay in Namibia to be as private as possible.


New orders for U.S.-made durable  goods unexpectedly fell 0.3 percent in May as aircraft orders  dived, according to a government report on Friday that  nonetheless showed healthy spending in other sectors.


When IEEE standard committees attack The fickle finger of an IEEE committee may be goading along a death rattle for the organization's goal of reaching a 100 Gb/s Ethernet standard.â¦


Researchers Report Growing Stem Cells From Dead Embryos

Researchers reported Thursday that they had cultivated a colony of human embryonic stem cells from an apparently dead embryo, a strategy some have suggested might be less controversial than conventional approaches that require the destruction of living embryos.


The discovery of a nearly intact child's skeleton belonging to the earliest-known human ancestor suggests a creature that walked upright like a man but could swing through the trees like an ape.


India's governing Congress Party suffers a setback in key state elections in Punjab and Uttarakhand.


Dow Jones pays more than $500 million for Web-based Marketwatch.


Dal 20 giugno l'ammissione nel listino Aim e contrattazioni


Intel annuncia il lancio del WiMAX, il wi-fi con 50 km di copertura. Un passo avanti per l'Internet senza fili. Durante l'Intel Developer Forum di San Francisco Ã¨ stato annunciato il lancio della nuova tecnologia


A Public Health Quandary: When Should the Public Be Told?

Doctors and public health officials must weigh the benefits of knowledge against the risk of alarm.


A Breathless Look at Brief Life of Edie Sedgwick

By PHIL VILLARREAL, ARIZONA DAILY STAR  Heiress tied to Warhol, Dylan  The factory that made her also spit her out.


The battle for dominance in online gaming looks set to take on a epic scope in 2008, say experts.


JOLIET - Adrian Fernandez had a difficult time in the pits but overcame his problems with pit strategy Sunday in winning the Delphi 300 Indy Racing League event at Chicagoland Speedway.


Social Security Gets Cost of Living Boost

WASHINGTON - The cost of living adjustment intended to help more than 47 million Social Security recipients keep up with inflation is expected to be a tad larger in 2005 than it was this year, but the bad news is that much of the increase will be eaten up by higher Medicare premiums.    The Social Security Administration was announcing the new cost of living adjustment, or COLA, Tuesday, but in advance of the release many private economists were predicting a gain of slightly better than 2.5 percent, which would be up from the increase Social Security recipients received at the beginning of this year of 2.1 percent...


Stocks Climb Helped by Healthcare Sector

US stocks rose on Wednesday as value investors bought shares in lagging sectors such as healthcare, while oil prices slipped below $42 a barrel.


Garcia defends European Ryder Cup captain Woosnam

CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland  - Sergio Garcia has   defended European Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam over his   decision to select Lee Westwood ahead of Thomas Bjorn for the   match later this month in Ireland.


Alitalia intanto ha convocato sindacati presenti in azienda


Videsh Sanchar to Buy Tyco's Undersea Cable System

Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd., an Indian long-distance phone company owned by the $14 billion Tata group, said it will buy Tyco International Ltd.


'Da tempo avevo deciso di lasciare la magistratura'


Pilot Talks Continue As Delta Shares Fall

Shares of Delta Air Lines Inc. fell Monday on the fear among some analysts that the struggling carrier will be forced into bankruptcy if it doesn't get significant wage concessions from its pilots in the next three weeks.


Cingular maps out US 3G rollout in 2005, 2006

Cingular Wireless Tuesday announced that it plans to offer 3G mobile data service in a number of major US urban and suburban markets next year and in most major US markets by the end of 2006.


U.S. says transport helicopter down in Iraq

The U.S. military said a transport helicopter had come down near Baghdad on Wednesday, the fifth helicopter to be lost in Iraq in three weeks.


Bergman actress Eva Dahlbeck dies aged 87: son

Swedish actress and author Eva Dahlbeck, most famous for numerous appearances in movies by legendary filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, has died, her son said Saturday. She was 87.


Eddie Sutton is coming out of retirement to replace Jessie Evans as San Francisco's basketball coach, The Associated Press has learned.


OSAF Announces Financing and Personnel Shakeup

Lotus Development founder Mitchell Kapor will begin to phase out his involvement and investment in the Open Source Applications Foundation.


Ex-executive: Scrushy told staff to 'fix the numbers'

Fired HealthSouth chief executive Richard Scrushy told his staff to ''fix the numbers" to conceal a potential earnings shortfall in mid-1996 when a massive accounting scandal was just beginning, the company's first chief financial officer testified yesterday.


Suicide attack kills 48 in Pakistan mosque

CHARSADDA, Pakistan  - A suicide bomber killed 48 people in a mosque in northwest Pakistan on Friday where a former interior minister was offering Muslim Eid festival prayers with worshippers, the government said.


A thunderstorm drenched homeless people living on rooftops and sidewalks in Haiti Saturday, adding to the woes of victims of Tropical Storm Jeanne, who are looting aid trucks and attacking food distribution centers in desperation


Levodopa's Effect on Parkinson's Disease Unclear

NEW YORK  - Although symptoms of  Parkinson's disease often improve when the drug levodopa is  given, brain scan results suggest that the drug hastens  progression of the disease, according to a report in The New  England Journal of Medicine.


Movie Review | 'Border Post': A Doctorâs Surprise Case: His Lieutenantâs Wife

âBorder Postâ is a profane and playful military drama about boredom, duty and the consequences of reckless lust.


O'Neal bring Heat Christmas gift with win over Lakers

Shaquille O'Neal notched up 24 points and 11 rebounds on his return for the first time to Los Angeles since his trade, leading the Miami Heat to clinch a 104-102 overtime


Fernando Alonso, R25-02, 15 laps, 60 km Giancarlo Fisichella, R24-08, 35 laps, 140 km


Test Confirms Anthony Not Father of Child

A third paternity test has confirmed that Marc Anthony didn't father a child with a Cuban dancer as she has claimed, the singer's lawyer said.


Nvidia Expands From Gaming to High-Performance Chips

Known for graphics processors designed for video gaming, the company now enters the market for high-performance PC processors.


Webdigity.com: Caching your pages with PHP

On the Webdigity.com forums, there's this new tutorial posted showing how to create a simple caching system with PHP for your site (using cached files).    A problem that this process creates is the server overhead. Every time we execute a query in the database, the instance of our script will call the DBMS, and then the DBMS will send the results of the query. This is time consuming, and especially for sites with heavy traffic is a real big problem.    There are two ways to solve this if you want to make your site faster. First is optimizing the queries Visit through proxy, but we will not talk about this at the present article. The second and most valuable is using some kind of custom caching technique.    Their code, contained in an easy-to-use class, makes it simple to cache the contents of a page just by setting the stop to start the caching from (and where to end).


Altria to test Marlboro smokeless tobacco product

The maker of Marlboro, the top selling cigarette in the United States, is introducing a type of smokeless tobacco in August, as smoking bans spread and more smokers quit.


THE REGION Union representation in Massachusetts dropped to 13.5 percent of the employed last year, down from 416,000 or 14.2 percent in 2003, according to information released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the same time, the number of employed workers in Massachusetts dropped to 2.92 millon, from 2.93 million in 2003. The federal agency reported that across the ...


The U.S. budget gap expanded to  $412.55 billion in fiscal 2004, marking the Bush  administration's second-straight record deficit, the Treasury  Department said on Thursday.


Oral Contraceptives Cut Ovarian Cancer Risk

FRIDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Woman who take oral contraceptives greatly reduce their risk of developing ovarian cancer, and the longer they take them the greater the protection, a new study confirms.


Israel kills five Hamas gunmen in Gaza raid

Israeli troops and armor crossed into the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing six Palestinians, at least five of them militants from the Islamist Hamas group that controls the coastal territory.


A group of scientists is making an unusual foray into presidential politics.


Schumacher Clinches Seventh Season Title

Michael Schumacher clinched an unprecedented seventh Formula One drivers' title at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, despite not winning for just the second time in 14 races this season.


Human-induced climate change has affected global rainfall patterns over the 20th Century, a study suggests.


Hollywood Berit Branch clapped along with the Auerhahn Schuhplattler of Miami dancers who performed Saturday at Oktoberfest.


Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has fallen 13 points since November and is now tied with Mitt Romney nationally in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released on Wednesday.


Gli urologi, 25% giovani con eiaculazione precoce

Il 25% dei ragazzi soffre di eiaculazione precoce, cioe' entro i primi tre minuti. Una ''percentuale altissima, legata a fenomeni psicologici ma anche a componenti organiche come le prostatiti''. A lanciare


Mobilitazione entro 20/7 se ddl Mastella venisse snaturato


Legendary Spanish soprano Victoria de los Angeles dies in hospital in  Barcelona aged 81.


Anemia drug safety debate overblown: doctors

Debate about the safety of a group of anemia drugs widely used in cancer patients should focus on a minority of patients who got the drugs for unapproved uses, doctors said on Sunday.


In an attempt to overcome years of budget shortfalls, the NAACP announced that it will temporarily close its regional offices and cut its national staff by 40 percent.


Mario Cuomo was glowing after John Kerry's Iraq speech Monday at New York University: "Great! Excellent! Masterful!" raved the former New York governor, who sat near the front.


Decision on Guantanamo not imminent, U.S. says

A White House meeting on the future of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay is no longer on the schedule for Friday, an official said after news reports that the Bush administration was nearing agreement on closing the controversial facility.


Israel levels new accusations against Syria

Without acknowledging responsibility for the car-bombing death of a Hamas activist in Syria, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim yesterday issued a toughly worded


Call it theater of the macabre: A jar containing a small piece of tissue from the body of John Wilkes Booth, President Abraham Lincoln's killer, will be on display when the musical "Assassins" opens in Philadelphia.


A Womenâs Magazine That Tried to Be Otherwise

A love-hate relationship between a magazine and its readers ends.


Tehran and Washington are headed for confrontation as the UN meets to discuss Iran's nuclear program: The US wants to take the issue to the Security Council while Europe lobbies for more diplomacy.


Parcells gives Gibbs another history lesson

This was precisely what Joe Gibbs came back for. Or thought he did. After 11 seasons away from the NFL, this night, exactly this night, was what he craved.


U.S. wants Chinese banking help over N.Korea: Indonesia

The United States will seek the help of a Chinese intermediary bank to help arrange the transfer to North Korea of formerly frozen funds in a Macau bank, Indonesia's foreign minister said on Tuesday.


Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands could have tumour: official

Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands, the 93-year-old father of Queen Beatrix, could have a tumour, the royal information service said in a statement.


Seven killed in central Baghdad car bomb

A car bomb outside the Health Ministry in central Baghdad killed seven people and wounded 23 on Tuesday, police said.


Concetta Barbagallo era sparita nella notte di martedÃ¬Sposata e madre di due figli, lavorava nell'ospedale Garibaldi                                          Catania, uccisa infermiera scomparsa Il corpo ritrovato nelle campagne


Presidential candidate Fred Thompson said Thursday he's a Republican who has never strayed from his conservative beliefs, a jab meant to highlight differences with chief rivals Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney.


Udine, 20:26 - CALCIO, UDINESE: CON NOVA GORICA GARA SPERIMENTALE

Senza 10 nazionali e 3 infortunati, amichevole sperimentale per l'Udinese a Nova Gorica, in Slovenia...


Former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell is set to make his rugby union bow in a Saracens reserves match against Harlequins on Monday.


Top Australian executives could face trial over Iraqi bribes

A total of 12 executives have been named as facing possible prosecution over the corruption of the United Nations' oil-for-food programme in Saddam Hussein's Iraq.


Republican candidates look to South Carolina

GREENVILLE, South Carolina  - Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney headed on Wednesday to South Carolina, where he trails his Republican rivals in a topsy-turvy White House race but hopes for a boost from a Michigan win focused on the economy.


NEW YORK -- Microsoft Corp. has switched from McAfee Inc.'s antivirus technology to Trend Micro Inc.'s for its free Internet e-mail service MSN Hotmail.


Tocco femminile e illusione ottica sottolinea silhouette


Obama goes into nextround with war chest

Clinton is Democrat frontrunner after Super Tuesday but rival has funding advantage


U.S. Aircraft Make New Attack on Rebels in Najaf

U.S. aircraft launched a fresh assault on Shi'ite rebels in the embattled Iraqi city of Najaf early Sunday after talks on transferring control of the mosque at the center of a two-week siege ran into trouble.


Iraqi forces, backed by US troops, kill three people in a raid on one of Baghdad's most important Sunni mosques.


The number of Iraqi civilians killed in July and August hit 6,599, a record-high number that is far greater than initial estimates suggested, the United Nations said Wednesday.


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.


U.S. to Pledge $15 Million for Tsunami Aid

The United States expects to provide  an initial $15 million in aid for victims of a devastating  tsunami in Asia and has already released $400,000, a top U.S.  aid official said on Monday.


Swisscom sola in corsa, societa' restera' quotata


The House leaders' plan gives Bush the war funding he seeks, but also requires a troop exit by August 2008 - at the latest.


Tickets for individual Celtics home games for the 2004-05 season will go on sale today at 11 a.m.


Olympic Teams Prepare for the Dirty Air in Beijing

BEIJING -- American runners are trying out face masks. Dutch cyclists will train in South Korea.


Campaigners say a high-pitched device used to disperse teenagers infringes their human rights.


Tinky Winky's handbag suspected of 'homosexual propaganda' Poland's government is investigating the possibility that one or more of the Teletubbies may be covert Friends of Dorothy, Reuters reports.â¦


Libya, Germany sign $35M disco bombing settlement

Libya signed an agreement to pay $35 million in compensation for non-US victims in the 1986 bombing of disco in Berlin, the latest step in Libya's attempts to put its international pariah status behind it.


Introduction: Uneven picture throws up surprises across Europe

Innovation and lawyers never used to be comfortable bedfellows, but there is growing evidence of radical change in the legal market. No longer is it unusual for law firms to talk of diversity, for in-house lawyers to be thinking of creating economic value for their companies or for UK barristers to focus on putting their clients first. In every branch of the profession, across Europe, lawyers are driving change and being creative for their clients, their colleagues and often the wider community.


Lawmakers ousted the powerful leader of the House of Representatives early Tuesday in a vote he alleged was orchestrated by former ally President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo because his son linked her husband to a corruption scandal.


Shares in telecom giant Telecom Italia are suspended ahead of a board meeting to discuss the future of the firm.


The Philippine economy grew at a stronger-than-expected 6.2 percent in the second quarter, nearly keeping up with the pace of the surprise 6.4-percent first-quarter expansion and bringing


ARE, Sweden  - Bode Miller will not take part in the team event at the Alpine ski world championships on Sunday, his team said on Saturday.


Senegal's presidential poll was free and fair, say regional observers, as counting continues.


Executives say that a revaluation of the yuan, whose exchange value is linked to the dollar, is unlikely to be a silver bullet for dealing with the American deficit.


Iran to Announce Decision on EU Nuclear Deal -Report

Iran will announce its final decision later on Sunday on an EU proposal that it freeze sensitive nuclear work in return for avoiding referral to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions, local news agencies reported.


A former Chechen politician is charged as an accomplice in the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya.


Freddie, Fannie shares feel fresh pressure

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Freddie Mac fell Friday as the market digested news about the mortgage company's earnings, which were restated lower for 2003.


The Kerry Packer-backed Challenger Financial Services Group has reported its first net loss since incorporating, impacted by a massive writedown of goodwill.


Due studi calcolano patrimoni superiori a 500mila euro


About three dozen area residents could get an unexpected windfall -- they are owed refunds by the Internal Revenue Service. They are among more than 6,400 refunds owed to taxpayers in New York that have yet to be claimed.


Chrysler wants to boost presence in Russia: report

Chrysler Group (DCXGn.DE)  plans to strengthen its presence in Russian car sales and  production, a top executive said in the advance abstract of an  interview with Automotive News Europe.


California Company Introduces New Mobile Linux Platform

Another mobile Linux platform, this time from Azingo, hit the market on Wednesday, joining an increasingly crowded market of Linux phone software.


A Plan to Offer 50 Sites on Politics in 50 States

In the middle of a media-saturated political season, The New York Observer is pulling together 50 Web sites, one for each state, into a political hub called Politicker.com.


How to Talk to Your Child About the News

Children learn about the world through a variety of sources, including  parents, teachers, friends, and the media. Although news gleaned from  television, radio, or the Internet can be a positive educational experience for  kids, problems can arise when the images presented are violent or news stories  touch on disturbing topics. Reports on subjects such as child abductions,  homicides, terrorist activities, school violence, or a politician's sex life  can teach kids to view the world as a confusing, threatening, or unfriendly  place.


Panel: Children Under 6 Should Not Get Cold Medicines

A special panel of federal advisers voted overwhelmingly today that popular cough and cold medications should not be used in children younger than age 6.


ROMA, 16 ottobre 2004 - Galliani gli ha chiesto le scuse, ma Della Valle anzichÃ© tacere o fare un passo indietro affonda. E non di fioretto. "La mia battaglia non e' sugli uomini ma nel ristabilire la democrazia


BlackBerry maker and Motorola duel in lawsuits

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion   and rival Motorola  have sued each other over  what they say are patent infringements for technology used in  their mobile phones.


Amnesty International calls for arms embargo on Khartoum

Amnesty International, just back from a fact-finding mission to Sudan, called for an international arms embargo to be slapped on Khartoum as a way to stop ongoing atrocities in the Darfur region.


In his outward persona at least, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to this country to lessen hostility toward himself and to defend Iran, not to rabble-rouse and provoke hatred. Whether he succeeded remains an open question.


Richard Foremanâs phantasmagorical new show is as disciplined as a Balanchine ballet.


(CBS/AP) A sophisticated Israeli spy satellite plummeted into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after launch, dealing a blow to Israeli efforts to keep an eye on Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.


Former beauty queen cuffed for torturing ex

'Promising' Arizona law student on five felony raps A University of Arizona law school student and former Miss Arizona contestant has been indicted on five felony charges for kidnapping her ex-boyfriend, holding him for ten hours in Tuscon "while torturing and robbing him", the Arizona Daily Star reports.â¦


Dollaro a 106,44 su yen, a 1,0976 su franco svizzero


Fiji chiefs call on troops to lay down arms

New elections may be two years away, Fiji's military-appointed caretaker prime minister said on Thursday as the island nation's powerful tribal chiefs called on soldiers to lay down their arms after this week's bloodless coup.


Palestinian militants who captured an Israeli soldier a year ago say he is in good health and being well treated.


Sapporo Holdings Reports 35.6% Group Net Profit Fall

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo  Feb. 16--TOKYO -- Sapporo Holdings Ltd.


Roma, 22:30 - BASKET, EUROLEGA: IMPORTANTI SUCCESSI PER ROMA E SIENA

Nella prima giornata di ritorno del Gruppo C di Eurolega, la Lottomatica Roma ha inflitto la prima s...


A new Cardiff shopping centre could be delayed by a row over finding a home for an ice hockey team.


More people and more security are greeting the last Glastonbury ticket-holders as the festival begins.


A jury in the trial of seven indigent men accused of plotting to wage an armed jihad against the government acquitted one of the defendants but said they could not reach verdicts for the other six.


'Friday Night Lights' conveys grit of school sports

A stranger to Odessa, Texas, might think every young man in the small town is a war hero. The 17 year olds there - most with buzz cuts, all of them clean-shaven - are hailed by the local townsfolk wherever they go.


Branson promises $3 billion to fight global warming

British billionaire Richard Branson on   Thursday committed to spending all the profits from his airline   and rail businesses -- an estimated $3 billion over the next 10   years -- on combating global warming.


Weight-loss drug helped shed pounds, tummy fat

An experimental anti-obesity drug was shown to help people lose weight in the first year, and keep it off in the second, researchers said Tuesday.


Mercosur and the Andean Community countries finally agree a trade deal.


La prima cittÃ  a partire Ã¨ Torino, seguita il 2 da Napoli. L'ultima, il 16, sarÃ  BolzanoSecondo Confcommercio, il fatturato atteso Ã¨ di 3.105 milioni di euro, un po' meno dell'anno scorso                                            Dall'1 luglio al via i saldi estivi Ogni famiglia spenderÃ  in media 261 euro                                                                                di ROSARIA AMATO


Nestle held merger talks with PepsiCo: report

Nestle , the world's largest food company, held merger talks with U.S. snacks and drinks conglomerate PepsiCo  earlier this year, but the project ran aground due to a number of complications, the Wall Street Journal Europe reported on Thursday.


A nightclub owner, manager and party promoter were acquitted of involuntary manslaughter Friday in the 2003 stampede that killed 21 people at Chicago's E2 club.


In a direct challenge to President Bush, a House panel said Wednesday it has prepared subpoenas to force CIA officials to testify about the agency's secret destruction of interrogation videotapes.


Only 10 minutes elapsed from when a cargo ship began listing in rough seas until it was almost lying on its side, giving the crew little time to send out a distress signal, according to a volunteer who spoke with some of those rescued by helicopter.


Lancashire police have opened a criminal investigation into allegations that Birmingham's Dwight Yorke suffered racial abuse during Sunday's 3-3 Premiership draw away to Blackburn Rovers.


As the MoD names 14 troops killed in Afghanistan,  one minister denies the UK's aircraft are too old.


Morgan, Bear Stearns Post Profit Gains, Led By Trading, Banking

Morgan Stanley, the second-biggest US securities firm, and Bear Stearns Cos. reported higher fiscal fourth-quarter earnings, boosted by gains in stock trading and investment banking.


Two trains collide in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, leaving eight people dead, rescue services say.


Cambodians Are Ready to Crown His Majesty the Ballet Dancer

Prince Norodom Sihamoni, 51, a dancer and choreographer, is to be crowned king this month, carrying out the wishes of his father in the first change in the monarchy most Cambodians have known.


Syria not involved in Beersheva bombings

Israel army believes there is no direct link between Beersheva attack and HQ of 'terrorist' organisations in Damascus. JERUSALEM - Syria is not believed to have had direct involvement in the double suicide


Rock Xtreme X770 laptop with Nvidia GeForce 8800M graphics

Stellar gaming performance? Review Head over to Rock Direct to configure its Xtreme X770 and youâll find that the basic version of this 17in laptop comes with Nvidia's GeForce 8700M graphics. Rock recently offered GeForce 7950 Go GTX graphics with 512MB of dedicated GDDR 3 memory to give your games a little more oomph, but thatâs now ancient history, because the GeForce 8800M GTX is here.â¦


Appeal of militias seen as Iraq obstacle

U.S. soldiers trying to win back Baghdad's streets say they have been surprised by the power and popularity of Shiite militias, whose presence they view as a major obstacle to curbing violence in the city.


Mel Stottlemyre revealed some of the Yankees' postseason pitching plans on Saturday afternoon, but Kevin Brown's performance and the health of Orlando Hernandez are clouding


Despite fears of attacks at polls, 'resilient' Afghans ready to vote

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A day before Afghanistan's historic presidential election, Captain Jacob Larkowich's US infantry company took up positions on a hilltop next to the Intercontinental Hotel, looking out over the dusty capital for puffs of smoke and bracing to rush to the scene of any bombing.


The government is criticised by MPs  for the failure to pay EU subsidies to thousands of farmers on time.


Ex-CA CEO Sanjay Kumar's Looking at Doing 100 Years

Ex-Computer Associates CEO Sanjay Kumar could be sentenced to 100 years in the slammer if he's found guilty of everything he was charged with on Wednesday, according to the Justice Department.


Protection rackets add Â£600 onto the cost of every new home in a County Armagh town, an MLA claims.


Sweden to charge Pirate Bay in copyright case

Sweden plans this week to charge the  people running Pirate Bay, one of the world's most visited Web  sites, with being accessories in breaking copyright law.


Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani has confronted a spate of bad news in recent days, from the drug indictment of his South Carolina chairman to criticism for skipping meetings of the Iraq Study Group.


Barry Bonds barely missed his 700th homer, but J.T. Snow connected following yet another walk to the San Francisco slugger and the Giants beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-1 behind Brett Tomko's four-hitter Wednesday night.


At the Movies: Cloying 'Princess Diaries 2' is for undemanding tots, teens

Unabashedly sweet and fluffy, and geared to the prepubescent audiences who'll be responsible for recouping its budget, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement has its moments.


Physical fitness an important predictor of heart health, according ...

(National-NBC) Sept. 8, 2004 - About one-third of American adults are obese, which can cause many health problems. A new study shows lack of physical fitness is an even more important predictor of heart problems.


Blood-and-guts director Quentin Tarantino may be going soft. The "Kill Bill" and "Pulp Fiction" director will make a cameo appearance in a new ABC-TV movie featuring the Muppets and based on the classic tale "The Wizard of Oz," ABC announced Thursday.


Forty-four years ago, on Sept. 26, 1960, the first presidential debate in American history was held in Chicago. Between 60 million and 70 million Americans watched Richard


Harnessing the Internet to reinvent democracy

No one could accuse management guru Don  Tapscott of being unambitious. The co-author of best-seller  "Wikinomics" wants to teach governments to harness the power of  the Internet to reinvent democracy.


UN Council Votes Ivory Coast Arms Embargo

The U.N. Security Council on  Monday imposed an immediate arms embargo on Ivory Coast and  voted to punish key government and rebel leaders with  additional sanctions next month.


Legions of rescuers spread across Asia today after an earthquake of epic power struck deep beneath the Indian Ocean, unleashing 20-foot tidal waves that ravaged coasts


The UN's nuclear watchdog raised concerns on Monday about material and equipment from Saddam Hussein's regime, which could be used to make a nuclear weapon and have since vanished in Iraq.


Jerry Seinfeld says he felt out of place among the popular kids at his Long Island high school. "I kind of took myself out of the kind of main cliques of the school, because I didn't feel comfortable," Seinfeld tells Parade.com.


Access has developed a widget system for its NetFront mobile browser.


Update: Amazon buys Audible for $300 million

Amazon.com has begun a new chapter in its battle for customers' ears: it has agreed to pay $300 million for Audible, a seller of audio books that has a close relationship with Apple.


Walgreen Profit Rises 30.5 Pct, Shares Up

Walgreen Co. WAG.N on Monday posted a  30.5 percent jump in quarterly profit, its largest increase in  four years, boosted by sales of generic drugs and digital photo  processing.


Hewitt advances to Round 3 at Paris Masters

Second seed Lleyton Hewitt beat Gael Monfils 6-3, 7-6 (3) on Tuesday, turning back the French teenager's bid for a second upset at the ?


Reuters Poll: Bush, Kerry in White House Dead Heat

President Bush and Democratic Sen.  John Kerry remain tied in the race for the White House two  weeks before the Nov. 2 election, according to a Reuters/Zogby  poll released on Tuesday.


Mantova, 20:16 - CALCIO, MANTOVA: ALLA RIPRESA DIFFERENZIATO PER TRE

Ripresa degli allenamenti per il Mantova dopo la vittoria di Avellino: il tecnico Tesser ha fatto la...


Set ethical limits to wars on terrorism: Pope

Pope Benedict said on Tuesday states had to set ethical limits to what can be done to protect their people from terrorism and that some countries have flouted international humanitarian law in recent wars.


US Airways woes spark EDS earnings warning

The troubled tech company releases an estimate of the damage it could sustain in the wake of the airline's bankruptcy filing.


Huckabee surges, hires Reagan's ex-campaign manager

Mike Huckabee was ahead in a poll out Friday among Republican presidential hopefuls in the key early primary state of South Carolina, as his campaign announced hiring a strategist who worked with former president Ronald Reagan.


In Italy, just about everyone's a doctor

ROME -- Yell for a doctor in an Italian moviehouse and you risk a stampede. Almost everybody here, it seems, is a ''dottore."


House leaders on Wednesday announced a task force to examine whether an outside panel should investigate ethics problems involving House members


Medical schools prepare for "silver tsunami"

Just a few years ago,  a graduate from Brown University medical school had just an  inkling about how to care for the elderly.


NEW YORK - US companies that outsourced the most jobs in 2003 also offered well-above average pay increases to their chief executives, according to a new study released this morning.


Contrary to the rumors making rounds, Ram Gopal Varma has not signed any big actress to play the female lead of his next directorial venture Sarkar.


Benazir Bhutto's widowed husband accused members of Pakistan's ruling regime of involvement in his wife's killing and called Saturday for a U.N. investigation


18 Iraqi Police Killed in Separate Insurgent Attacks

Iraqi officials say insurgents attacked several police posts in an area north of Baghdad Tuesday, killing at least 18 policemen and wounding several others.


The world premiere of The Simpsons Movie takes place on Saturday in the US town of Springfield, Vermont.


TWO rockets slammed into the Sheraton Hotel in Baghdad last night, in a brazen attack which overshadowed a pledge by a Shiite militia to disarm.


Cross off Arkansas from the dwindling list of national championship contenders. JaMarcus Russell threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 9 LSU held off the No. 5 Razorbacks, 31-26, in Little Rock, Ark., to derail their slim national title hopes.


Elvis Presley is likely to score his third UK number one single in a row on Sunday, according to sales figures.


FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots didn't raise another Super Bowl banner before yesterday's season opener against Buffalo, but somebody forgot to tell that to Bills quarterback J.P. Losman, who kept referring to Bill Belichick and Co. as ``the champs."


Delegates, Protesters Descend on New York

NEW YORK - Abortion-rights protesters and the first Republican delegates descended on President Bush's heavily fortified convention city Saturday as campaign officials said their boss would use the nomination spotlight to defend his hawkish foreign polices and offer a second-term agenda for health care, education and job training.   "He believes it's important for a candidate to talk about what he's done and, most important, where he wants to lead," said adviser Karen Hughes, aboard Bush's campaign bus in Ohio...


Phillies Sign Lieber to Three-Year, $21 Mln Deal

PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies  made a move to bolster their starting rotation by signing free  agent righthander Jon Lieber to a three-year, $21 million  contract on Wednesday.


Southeast Asia Fights Bird Flu, Top Health Risk

SINGAPORE - Bird flu, which risks being deadlier than the SARS outbreak, is endemic to Southeast Asia and poses the biggest risk to public health in the region, Singapore officials and international health experts said on Monday.


Japanese carmaker Toyota is to restart production at some of its production lines closed by the recent earthquake.


IRAQ: GOVERNO, 5 GIORNI A MILIZIA AL SADR PER DISARMARE

(AGI) - Baghdad, 10 ott. - La milizia di Moqtada al Sadr ha cinque giorni di tempo per consegnare le armi, come previsto dagli accordi siglati tra il governo di Baghdad e il leader radicale sciita. Secondo


German provincial chief meets Dalai Lama in India

A senior German politician visiting India on an official trip has met exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in spite of New Delhi's deep reservations about such contacts, officials said.


ASIA/INDONESIA - Il Nunzio Apostolico in visita pastorale ai cristiani dalla Papua indonesiana: ÂPraticate i valori del Vangelo, la pace e la giustiziaÂ Jayapura (Agenzia Fides) - La visita pastorale compiuta da Mons. Leopoldo Girelli, Nunzio Apostolico in Indonesia, nella travagliata regione della Papua indonesiana (detta anche Irian Jaya) Ã¨ servita per riportare lÂattenzione su unÂarea ancora attra...


A top North Korean official is quoted saying Pyongyang will not abandon nuclear weapons when it returns to talks.


Army launches hunt for killers of 16 Indian policemen

GUWAHATI, India  - A massive manhunt is underway in the dense jungles of India's troubled northeastern state of Manipur after 16 policemen were killed in a militant ambush, a top military commander said on Sunday.


Japan's AKARI 'scopes out stellar evolution

Infrared sky survey The Japanese infrared space telescope AKARI has sent back a raft of stunning new images of stellar evolution, from the earliest stages of star formation to the final death throes of stars in our own galaxy.â¦


JAMELIA swept the board at last nightâs (September 30) MOBO awards along with US hip-hop star KANYE WEST. Both were the winners of three nominated categories at the ceremony in the Royal Albert Hall in London.


The security guru for the One Laptop Per Child program unveils his plan to make the rugged machines uniquely resistant to spyware and hack-attacks. Ryan Singel reports from the RSA Conference.


Venezuela robbers free most hostages, speed off

ALTAGRACIA DE ORITUCO, Venezuela  - Armed Venezuelan bank robbers sped away from a police siege on Tuesday in an ambulance with a handful of hostages after a deal that freed dozens of other captives in a two-day standoff.


Il presidente del gruppo esclude operazioni oltreoceano


Iraqi Sheik Struggles for Votes  Against Tradition

In a region famed for its dates and poets, Sheik Adnan Aidani confronts a constellation of religious and political forces that hold sway in Iraq's fiercely traditional countryside and that may prove decisive in Sunday's election for parliament.


Police in France and England are searching for the Earl of Shaftesbury, who has disappeared on holiday.


Madonna's debut movie as a director will have its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February.


Banks Study Bailing Out Struggling Bond Insurer

Officials from Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns and other major banks are in talks to bail out ACA Capital Holdings, according to two people briefed on the situation.


Hamony's first swipe will rouse Gold Fields' lion

Here we go! The not-so-surprise announcement by Harmony Gold Mining that it was looking to "merge" with Gold Fields is sure to provide plenty of entertainment.


Katie Holmes says marriage to Tom Cruise hasn't changed her.


Bush, Kerry dash through toss-up states in final hours

DAYTON, Ohio - Sen. John Kerry and President Bush began a final, two-day blitz through the most competitive battlegrounds Sunday, shuttling in opposite directions across Ohio and Florida.


Turkmenistan Lifts Ban on Opera and Circuses

Reversing a ban imposed in 2001, President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov said that the Central Asian nation deserved to have the artistic performances, The Associated Press reported on Sunday.


FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick Health Department is trying to clear the air about the province's new smoking ban as the countdown begins to for public places to go smoke free.


Cheryl Roberts was impressed with Florida's new voting machines in the 2002 primary, when she cast an electronic ballot for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride. But a series of computer glitches — including startling cases of corrupted or missing data — has undermined her faith. So for Tuesday's primary in Florida, Roberts is turning to an absentee ballot so Broward County has a paper record of her vote.


Marsh & McLennan to sell Putnam for $3.9 billion

Insurance broker Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc.  said on Thursday that it would sell Putnam Investments to Great-West Lifeco Inc. for $3.9 billion.


Nokia plans new, lighter version of Communicator

Trying to regain some of its lost market share, Nokia Corp. is hoping to woo both enterprise and consumer customers with a lighter, sleeker version of its high-end Communicator handset that will be released worldwide at the beginning of next year, the company announced Wednesday.


Colts Win As Manning Sets TD Pass Record

Peyton Manning wanted the win more than the record. He got both. Manning rallied his Indianapolis Colts from a 15-point deficit in the final quarter, throwing his record-breaking 49th touchdown of the season to help tie the game in the last minute of regulation, and then led the winning drive in overtime as the Colts defeated San Diego 34-31 Sunday.


Republican Mitt Romney sought Sunday to deflect charges that he is a flip-flopper, insisting he had learned from experience and could be counted on to keep his campaign promises if elected president.


France and US to Ignore Lebanon's New Govt

Although it includes a number of Francophile as well as pro-American figures, Lebanon's new Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Omar Karameh, has already received the cold shoulder from both Paris and Washington.


China scrambles to teach masses financial ABCs

Xi Zhong learned the hard way about the risks of investing in China's stock market.


Ginevra, 18:48 - CICLISMO, CRONO A CANCELLARA; GIRO DI SVIZZERA A KARPEZ

La cronometro finale è stata vinta dal campione del mondo di questa specialità, lo svi...


Ebola Threatens to Kill Off Gorillas in Africa

The continued spread of the Ebola virus could wipe out the species, researchers are reporting today.


Spurred by a criminal trial over fat executive bonuses, Germans are debating whether it's time for their biggest companies to break a long-standing taboo and reveal what they're paying top executives.


Attorney Stuart Z. Grossman, center, speaks at a news conference as Michael Kaplan, left, and Steven Kaplan, right, Michael's uncle, look on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004, in Fort Lauderdale.


Oil prices edged higher for the second day on Wednesday, recovering from a week-long $5 slump ahead of U.S. inventory data expected to show a slight draw in distillates, which include winter heating fuel.


Gateway Reconfirms Feb. 8 for 4Q06 and 2006 Financial Results

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 31  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As previously disclosed, Gateway, Inc.  reconfirmed that it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2006 and full year 2006 after the close of market on the NYSE on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007.


What's Unavoidable, Unmissable and Uncovered This Fall

The books, the people, the movies, the TV shows you won't want--or be able--to miss this season


Three Serious Windows Vulnerabilities Surface

Symantec Corp.'s Security Response service on Friday confirmed that unpatched Windows vulnerabilities could pose a serious risk for exploits via malicious Web pages and e-mail messages.


EBay to Drop Support for Microsoft's Passport

Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday that eBay Inc. will soon drop support for its Passport service, originally intended to make the world's biggest software maker the gatekeeper of Web identities.


Reviews of new releases by Lyle Lovett, Joe Nichols, Jacky Terrasson and Every Time I Die.


Khartoum Triumphant: Abuja talks end without progress

There should be no doubt about the extent of Khartoum's brutal triumph in furthering its genocidal policies in Darfur over the past several weeks.


Jobless Claims Rise, Reflecting Impact of Hurricanes

The number of new people signing up for jobless benefits rose last week, mostly reflecting the impact of hurricanes that recently ripped through Florida.


Oil futures fell yesterday after Iraq, the sixth-largest supplier to the United States, boosted shipments to tankers to normal rates for the first time in two weeks.


Groups sue to protect Alaska's rare loon

Three conservation groups sued the federal government Wednesday hoping to block Arctic petroleum development through protections for a rare loon that breeds in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve.


England draw the Twenty20 series with West Indies after winning the second match by five wickets at The Oval.


European system taking on US military's GPS faces collapse over multi-billion-pound deficit.


In a spat between partners who have shared a lot of success, NBC Universal has filed suit against Dick Wolf, the prolific producer of the networkâs three âLaw & Orderâ series. The suit, filed last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court, centers on complex terms in Mr. Wolfâs contract. NBC argues that Mr. Wolf, right, is misinterpreting them to demand millions of dollars in executive-producer fees for two years after his shows leave the air. NBCâs interpretation is that if the network produces a sufficient number of episodes it can fulfill the contract and not owe Mr. Wolf for work he is no longer doing. Mr. Wolfâs side contends that the contract guarantees the money as a kind of termination payment, or âkill fee.â No matter when NBC decides to end his series, Mr. Wolf argues, he is to be paid for 48 more episodes. NBC asks that if the court finds the contract language ambiguous, it direct that the errors be fixed rather than force NBC to pay the money. A representative of Mr. Wolf, who like other Hollywood writers is on strike, said he was traveling on Tuesday and could not be reached. But Mr. Wolf issued a statement last week saying: âNBC Universal is trying to rewrite an existing contract. Apparently, our partner is willing to commission rewrites during the strike.â.


The AT&T US Championships, a fixture at the Reggie Lewis Center since 2003, will be back for a sixth straight time next year. "It's a great facility with great people to work with," said USA Track & Field chief executive Craig Masback . "The way it looks, the crowd. The city has embraced the event."


"Childrens do learn," Bush tells school kids

Offering a grammar lesson guaranteed to make any English teacher cringe, President George W. Bush told a group of New York school kids on Wednesday: "Childrens do learn."


Americans spend most on Lipitor, drug survey finds

U.S. consumers spent more money on the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor -- more than $9 billion -- than any other prescription drug in 2004, according to federal estimates released on Wednesday.


Indiscrezioni di stampa, questione al summit italo-francese


LYON, France -- Robin Soderling made sure none of the top four seeds would reach the semifinals of the Lyon Tennis Grand Prix. Soderling upset the highest seed remaining, No.


Three Dutch Police Injured in Anti-Terror Raid

Suspects sought in a Dutch  anti-terrorism raid threw a hand grenade in a tense standoff  with police on Wednesday, injuring three officers, amid a  spiral of violence following the killing of an outspoken  filmmaker.


Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is charged with improper conduct by the Football Association.


Graphic Designer Fired After Heckling Bush

A man who heckled President Bush at a political rally was fired from his job at an advertising and design company for offending a client who provided tickets to the event.


Iraq Dogs Blair as Party Conference Starts

Iraq overshadowed the start of Tony Blair's Labour Party conference on Sunday despite the prime minister's efforts to turn attention to the domestic agenda ahead of a general election expected next year.


NATO seeks to bolster forces in Afghanistan

MONS, Belgium -- NATO's top commander of operations, General James Jones, acknowledged yesterday the alliance had underestimated the level of violence in southern Afghanistan and he urged allies to provide reinforcements.


Tackling climate change needs more attention to human rights, former Irish President Mary Robinson is to say.


Congress Calls Clemens and Trainer to Testify

The star pitcher Roger Clemens, his former trainer Brian McNamee and three others will be asked to testify under oath before a congressional committee on Jan. 16.


Jose Padilla, the American citizen who was held in military detention for more than three years as an enemy combatant, filed a lawsuit against a lawyer who helped provide the legal justifications for the episode.


U.S. general paints candid picture of Iraq army, police

Iraqi security forces should be in a position to take control of 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces by year's end, although they will not be ready to fight on their own for some time, a top U.S. general said on Sunday.


As per suggestions contained in the FAQ: Herein lies a report of two identified and as-of-yet uncorrected security flaws in Scoop.  Enough detail will be provided to assist admins in investigating and correcting the flaws, but it is the author's hope that the details of the flaws will be sufficiently obscured to prevent abuse by the undesirables. Executive summary: Through the exploitation of various unchecked privileged operations, attackers may be able to perform admin-level actions leading to data loss.  Additionally, well-intentioned security measures combined with XSS vulnerabilities can be exercised to simulate admin-level action, resulting in data loss.


Hurricane Ivan Slams Into U.S. Gulf Coast

PENSACOLA, Fla.  - Hurricane Ivan slammed the U.S.  Gulf coast on Thursday with furious winds and flooding, ripping  roofs off homes and hotels, washing out bridges, downing power  lines and spawning tornadoes that killed eight people.


Overview: Negative sentiment depresses Asia and Europe

Growing fears of a US recession and increased worries about the outlook for the financial sector triggered a rout in Asian and European equity markets on Monday. Many indices suffered their biggest one-day declines since September 2001.


Britain has prevented Sept 11-style terrorist attack: report

British security services have foiled an Al-Qaeda plot to fly planes into targets in London in a September 11-style attack, Britain's independent ITV News network reported.


Yankees Are Powerless, and Stadium Was, Too

he big scoreboards at Yankee Stadium went dark in the seventh inning last night. Not that the Yankees were using them. Ramon Ortiz, a pitcher with average credentials this season, was on the


400-Meter Asteroid May Hit Earth on 13 April, 2029

Since 1994 when Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 collided with Jupiter, scientists have been researching if it may be possible to deflect incoming asteroids.


Solberg digs deep to claim victory in Wales

WORLD champion Petter Solberg admitted he needed all his reserves of speed to complete a hat-trick of Wales Rally GB wins. The Norwegian stole victory from world championship leader Sebastien Loeb with a brave


Oracle allowed to swallow up smaller rival

Larry Ellison's software maker Oracle yesterday got the green light from a US federal judge for its US$7.7 billion takeover of smaller rival PeopleSoft, sending PeopleSoft shares up 15 per cent.


Nets May Be Moving Closer to a Deal Involving Kidd

The Nets are more serious than ever about trading their star point guard, Jason Kidd, by Thursdayâs trading deadline, several officials said.


China Finds American Allies for Security

For the Olympics, some American companies are helping to design one of the most high-tech surveillance systems.


EA Video Game 'Madden' Tops 1.3 Million First Week

LOS ANGELES  - "Madden NFL 2005," the latestversion of Electronic Arts Inc.'s   pro football videogame franchise, sold more than 1.3 million copies in its firstweek of release, the company said on Thursday, citing internalfigures.


Kerry Wins Fans Abroad with Global Warming Plan

Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry has won plaudits abroad for his promises to fight global warming but could find his hands tied at home if he wins next week's U.S. elections.


The prime minister announces that Gurkhas who have served in the Army are now entitled to citizenship.


Dell signs $20M managed services deal with Honeywell

Round Rock-based Dell Inc. (Nasdaq: DELL) has landed a three-year $20 million contract with Morris Township, NJ-based Honeywell International Inc.


A court Wednesday convicted five former inmates from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, of having links to terrorist groups, while acquitting a sixth man.


Taiwan says China ships challenge US defence line

Taiwan Premier Yu Shyi-kun accused arch-foe China of sending surveillance ships into Taiwan and Japanese waters to prepare for a possible confrontation with the United States, newspapers said today.


Today on the presidential campaign trail

Clinton rejects top adviser's comments on Obama and teenage drug use ... Huckabee pushes national sales tax in New Hampshire ... Obama offers bit of health care advice


Beckham could play this weekend: Real doctor

Spanish giants Real Madrid played down the seriousness of midfielder David Beckham's rib injury and said that the England skipper could play this weekend.


FIFA Plans Show to Kick Off 2006 World Cup

The 2006 World Cup will break with tradition and begin with a separate show a day before the opening game.


Gold Coast, 12:13 - Tennis, Schnyder vince torneo Gold Coast

Patty Schnyder ha vinto il torneo Wta di Gold Coast (cemento, montepremi 170mila dollari), in Austra...


The crisis in Kenya is set to dominate an African Union summit  in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.


Scorsese shares spotlight as he finally wins Oscar

Martin Scorsese, the creator of "Raging Bull" and "Taxi Driver", finally won Oscar recognition on Sunday but he had to share the spotlight with politician Al Gore, regal actress Helen Mirren and Cinderella story Jennifer Hudson.


Banelli, un "nulla di fatto" dal memoriale

Procura fredda verso il presunto "pentimento" della terrorista Cinzia Banelli. Nel suo memoriale solo particolari di dubbia rilevanza sulla sua partecipazione alle azioni delle nuove Br. Firenze, 23 agosto


Israel seeks funds for separate Arab roads

Israel is pressing foreign donors to finance the construction of a web of roads through the occupied territories - made necessary by the building of the vast "security" barrier and Jewish settlements in the West Bank.


Superati i 90 dollari al barile, prima volta nella storia


Baghdad. Le due volontarie italiane probabilmente sono ancora vive. Lo ha riferito un portavoce degli ulema iracheni dell'Associazione dei teologi sunniti secondo cui Simona Pari e Simona Torretta sarebbero


Ukraine's apparent president-elect Viktor Yushchenko called on supporters Tuesday evening to blockade a building where his opponent, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych


Iraqis urged Marine inquiry after killing of 24 civilians

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- In the week after Marines killed 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, an angry group of townspeople went to the local military base alleging a "crime of war" and demanding an investigation, a military prosecutor said yesterday.


How Danny Williams rose from the canvas to iron Mike

When the first bell rang on July 30 in Louisville and Danny Williams looked across the ring to see the familiar figure of Mike Tyson bearing down on him from the opposite corner, he could have been forgiven if the fears of failure and self-doubt that have


Companies to jointly sell routers, operating software in Japan in attempt to increase market share. TOKYO  - Fujitsu Ltd.


About 100 Dead in Floods in Philippine Town -- Mayor

About 100 people have died in a northern  Philippine town following floods and landslides caused by heavy  rain, a local official said on Tuesday.


Procura Marsala apre inchiesta per disastro colposo


The US president is due to host talks between the Pakistani and Afghan leaders to try to ease tensions.


Americans vote Nov. 2 for the next president. While they are casting ballots for President Bush, Democratic Sen. John Kerry or another candidate, they are really voting for the 538 people who make up the Electoral College. Criticism and confusion sometimes surround this unheralded institution.


Windows Media Player (WMP) no longer feels like a freebie utility thrown in with the OS (think Notepad), but is an application you'll actually want to use.


Unlike NASA, SpaceShipOne and other private pioneers can afford to ...

SpaceShipOne - as much a work of art as a groundbreaking flying machine â-as recast the mold for spaceflight established by NASA largely because it doesn't have to worry


US authorities approve cloned animal foods

The US food safety authority on Tuesday approved meat and milk from cloned animals, clearing the way for them one day to appear in shops despite opposition on ethical and health grounds.


SETBACK FOR PRIVACY ADVOCATES: The Supreme Court, without comment, turned down an appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union to let it pursue a lawsuit against the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program.


Petraeus: 30,000 troops out by next summer

Commander of US forces in Iraq tells Congress that withdrawal to pre-surge levels would not jeopardise security.


Blast kills 1, injures 7 in southern Thailand

One people was killed and seven others were injured Saturday in a blast in Thailand's violence-plagued deep south, the fourth explosion within 24 hours, police said.


Academy Eases 3-to-a-Movie Producer Limit

Producers take heart: It just got a little easier to put your hands on an Oscar.


Peter Crouch and his England teammates spent most of the game missing chances in front of the net. With the time ticking away and England only minutes from a shocking draw against tiny Trinidad and Tobago, Crouch made the best of his last opportunity.


An Indian court rules against female flight attendants who were grounded from the national airline for being overweight.


The Pope refused to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last month, Vatican sources say.


Anna Nicole funeral finally under way in Bahamas

The funeral for former Playboy pin-up Anna Nicole Smith finally got under way in the Bahamas on Friday after a three-week fight for her corpse and amid continuing legal skirmishing over her 5-month-old baby.


New Yorkers oppose proposed traffic toll: survey

New Yorkers may hate the city's traffic but not enough to back a proposal by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to impose a toll on drivers in midtown Manhattan, according to poll released on Thursday.


Prc, governo c'e' ma si faccia verifica in Parlamento


New Book on Bush by Tabloid Biographer Raises Storm

As if the 2004 campaign for the presidency has not been dirty enough -- get ready for a 700-page book by America's most famous tabloid biographer that alleges illegal drug use and other youthful misdeeds by President Bush.


Ferguson appeals for dignified remembrance of Munich

Alex Ferguson has made one final plea to Manchester City supporters to show respect for the Munich victims in Sunday's potentially volatile Manchester derby meeting at Old Trafford.


How dividend-paying stocks can boost your returns.


BIG COUNTRY BLUEGRASS, "On Fire," Hay Holler. 14 tracks.  This six-piece band from the Virginia-North Carolina border area has been playing strong traditional bluegrass for nearly 20 years.  But it has a different sound these days.


ActiveMatrix reloaded Tibco last week announced the general availability of TIBCO ActiveMatrix for service-oriented architectures (SOA). This is the industry's first âservice virtualization platformâ for the deployment and governance of composite applications based on distributed, standards-based services".â¦


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two car bombs shook the capital in quick succession Sunday, killing at least 10 people and wounding 17, including an American soldier, U.S. and Iraqi officials said...


Leaked screenshots from Fox Interactive Media reveal the face of MySpace's new Digg-style news site.


Democrat Makes 'Non-Political' Fla. Visit

Presidential candidate John Kerry may have won a few votes during his tour of neighborhoods devastated by Hurricane Charley, but he said — as any politician must — that strengthening support in a battleground state was not the reason for his visit.


Hollywood star Angelina Jolie files papers to adopt a Vietnamese child with her partner Brad Pitt, officials say.


Care home The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has vowed to keep troubled National Programme for IT (NPfIT) software supplier iSoft Group under steady review.â¦


Wanderley Luxemburgo: New Coach of Real Madrid

Real Madrid owners are still trying hard to find why their team has been performing so terribly this season. A team with players like Ronaldo, Figo, Raul, Zinedine Zidane, and David Beckham should not find


Romanow says that federal offer is sufficient to buy meaningful ...

The so-called Romanow gap has been filled, says the man for whom it was named. Former Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow said Monday the federal government's $12.


Boy George reported for garbage duty on the streets of Manhattan early Monday, his court-ordered community service that was described by a judge as an "exercise in humiliation or in humility."


Gibson purchases Pacific island for personal paradise

Flush from the huge success of his religious film, "The Passion of the Christ," Mel Gibson has splashed out $15 million on a private Pacific island, an Agence France-Presse report said Thursday.


Amazingly no one asked this question at the meetup, but it just came up in an email from a famous journalist who works at a gadget site you've heard of and probably read.  The question goes like this.  Now that Apple is reading Flickr feeds in AppleTV, maybe there's no point continuing to develop FlickrFan.  I always wonder what's behind this question. Does the person think that people who use FlickrFan will stop using it because AppleTV can read the RSS feeds that Flickr produces? How would that work? I don't understand. I bought an AppleTV, I tried fitting it into my lifestyle, but it didn't. Apple's vision of how the Internet connects to the living room is a very controlling one. They attain a certain ease of use, true -- but the trade-off is too great. I like all the special effects, but I like to be in control of my own experience. I want to be the programmer. And I despise DRM as much as my customers hated copy protected software in the 80s. It does nothing positive for me, as a user, and I don't think it works for the vendors, but then that isn't my problem, it's theirs. I much prefer the Mac Mini to AppleTV, and to everything else. But this question has always been the stinkbomb lurking over the whole Mac market. The reporters don't stand up for the vendors. What does this guy want me to do? Would he prefer if I stopped developing FlickrFan? Will he say I'm stupid if I do. Maybe I am. Hey, I don't ask for any money for it. Basically I do it because I want to help create a DRM-less environment for us to enjoy networked living rooms.  FlickrFan is one of the things I'm working on. Sure it's crazy to think that I could actually contribute a little to the Mac platform. Apple surely is going to crush me tomorrow, maybe they already have. But why do users care? Why do reporters? It seems to me that we all benefit from choice. When it's a single-party system things stagnate. When there's competition, new ideas can gain traction even if it doesn't fit into the Apple vision for its users. (Which is fairly limited, read this Doc Searls piece written in 1997, it's every bit as true today as it was then.) Hey if you think building on Flickr is crazy, think about this. My next product competes with iTunes as a podcatcher! I must be out of my mind, eh?  Finally, I could ask this guy, who I respect enormously and whose work I read practically every day, a similar question. Hey Apple writes about gadgets on apple.com. What does that say about YourGadgetSite? Got any plans for a new job? Perhaps a new career? Now that would be just rude, wouldn't?  How about some respect for developers?  Can't believe we're still having this discussion in 2008. Can't we get past this?


Makers of the leading antidepressant drugs may be required to tell doctors more about potential suicide risk among children and teenagers taking the pills, regulators said yesterday.


Oil prices edged higher for the second day on Wednesday, recovering from a week-long $5 slump ahead of US inventory data expected to show a slight draw in distillates, which include winter heating fuel.


Kevin Spacey and Eugene O'Neill — together again.


Jetset Studios Delivers Dramatic Website for NBC's New Series Kidnapped

When NBC approached Jetset Studios to develop the official website for its gripping new series "Kidnapped" (Premiering Wednesday, Sept. 20 10/9c), the online branding company seized the opportunity faster than you can say serial thriller.


Despite 6 refusals, NATO will increase Iraq training staff

BRUSSELS The North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed on Thursday to enlarge from 60 to 300 the number of personnel stationed in Baghdad to train Iraqi soldiers, but not before there was a contentious discussion with the foreign ministers of six


Young Banned for Life for Second Offence

Controversial US sprinter Jerome Young has been banned for life after failing a second doping test, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Wednesday.


The Risk Factors: When Both Parents Suffer Dementia, Children Suspect It Is Also in Their Future

Having just one parent with Alzheimerâs disease triples the risk; when both parents are affected, the amount of extra risk is not certain.


Chargers' Tomlinson Sets Rushing TD Mark

LaDainian Tomlinson ran 16 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter Sunday, making it 12 straight games with a rushing TD to break the NFL's single-season record.


Report: European Founders Fund invests in Facebook?

A blog reports that a trio of German brothers have invested in Facebook through their firm, the European Founders Fund. No more details are available at the moment.


Gilmour's Albert Hall "Night" heading to DVD

Guitarist David Gilmour wowed  audiences on his 2006 world tour with a band that featured  keyboardist and fellow Pink Floyd member Rick Wright and a set  list tilted toward the hardcore Floyd fan.


Consumer Price Gauges Rise More Than Expected

Analysts said the Federal Reserve may yet find itself raising interest rates. Any cuts, it seems, will have to wait.


Harry Potter fans are urged to sign a petition begging author JK Rowling to write further novels in the series.


News: Bioshock Demo Now Available For PC

Tycho:  It's floating around now, out there on the Wub, and it calls to you.  Or maybe it does, I don't actually know.  In any case, it can be got from 3D Downloads, the Fileplanets, GamersHell, or WorthDownloading.  Download it from mulltiple sites simultaneously for a naughty thrill.  God only knows how this would run on my Vista rig at home, but it's a Vista rig, so you can probably guess.  (CW)TB


AMERICA/VENEZUELA - Condanna unanime degli atti contro la sede della Nunziatura Apostolica in Venezuela; un atto di riparazione mercoledÃ¬ prossimo Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - La Presidenza della Conferenza Episcopale Venezuelana, preoccupata dal nuovo attentato alla sede della Nunziatura Apostolica in Venezuela e dal diffondersi della violenza politica in varie regioni del Paese, ha emesso un com...


Orientamento non cambia, via quando ce lo chiederanno


Senior official Ranjan Madugalle warns umpires must do their utmost to prevent another forfeited Test.


Congress and the European Union are preparing to take a hard look at Microsoft's $44.6 billion hostile takeover bid for Yahoo.


An unknown PC giant, Lenovo flexes its muscles

Although virtually unknown in the United States, Lenovo--said to be in talks to buy IBM's personal computer business--is China's largest PC maker and the world's fastest-growing one.


New FCC Rule Will Bring High-Speed Internet to More Americans

By JENNIFER C. KERR    WASHINGTON  -- Federal regulators approved new rules Thursday aimed at making high-speed Internet available to more Americans...


Supporter of Democrats Is Sentenced in California

Norman Hsu, the shamed Democratic donor, was sentenced to three years in prison in connection with a 1992 fraud case.


A woman doing handsprings hurled herself into two art installations at the controversial exhibition of a collection belonging to the billionaire heir of a Nazi-era arms supplier, damaging both pieces, ...


Senior Democrats are calling on John Kerry to reinvigorate his campaign, or risk losing the US election to President George Bush. Two polls released since the end of the Republican convention last week have suggested 10-point leads for Mr Bush.


A US congress panel backs legislation which would stop internet firms from co-operating with Chinese authorities.


North Korea: US hopes rogue state follows Iran's example

After two years of diplomatic maneuvering in Beijing, in Washington and at the United Nations, progress on the North Korean nuclear proliferation issue has been so limited that


Coca-Cola CEO says may stay on after turning 65

Coca-Cola's  CEO Neville Isdell  indicated he would stay on at the helm of the global drinks  group after he turns 65 next year, the Financial Times reported  on Friday.


Update 2: Oracle Poised to Pounce on PeopleSoft

Bolstered by investors, Oracle Corp. appears destined to complete its long-sought takeover of PeopleSoft Inc. unless its rival becomes more profitable and proves it's worth more than the $9.2 billion bid currently on the table.


Yahoo Testing Travel Search Engine  Yahoo is launching its public beta test of a travel search engine based on its recent acquisition of online travel company FareChase. In a statement to the Search Engine Journal, Yahoo made the test site available to the public Tuesday evening for testing the searching of ...


President Hamid Karzai is concerned about a death sentence handed down to a journalist in Afghanistan, but he will not intervene until the courts have their final say, his spokesman said Tuesday.


Fallujah 'Hostage Slaughterhouses' Found

U.S. troops, on the verge of gaining control of the city, fought pockets of resistance in this former militant stronghold Wednesday and uncovered what the Iraqi commander said were "hostage slaughterhouses" in which foreign captives had been killed.


Windows XP will double the price of Asustek's Eee PC

InfoWorld - Adding Windows XPÂ to Asustek Computer's Eee PC will double the price of the low-cost laptop compared to existing versions running Linux.


Turkey says U.S. intelligence led to Iraq raids

U.S. intelligence shared with Turkey led to the weekend raids in northern Iraq on Kurdish militants, Turkey's ambassador to the United States said on Wednesday.


With few of pledged funds in the bank, Iraq donors meeting opens ...

With only $1 billion in hand out of $13.6 billion pledged, Iraq's deputy prime minister on Wednesday called on nations to fulfill their promises


Umts, il parere dell'agenzia delle entrate convince Enel a interrompere le trattative. In fumo un accordo da 792 milioni                                          Salta il matrimonio Wind-Ipse "Divergenze insanabili"                                                                                L'affare scivola sulla consistenza delle detrazioni fiscali


'Fattore C' batte la fiction di Raiuno 'Ultima frontiera'


In Gonaives, Haiti, story headlined "Haiti flood death toll nears 700, likely to rise" please read in first paragraph ... could rise above 660 ... instead of ... could rise about 660. By Joseph Guyler Delva.


Freescale Unveils Dual Core Processor Architecture

How about an embedded processor that's designed to deliver a quantum leap in performance and system bandwidth while keeping power in check?


Sudan's rebels, government gather for talks on Darfur crisis

ABUJA, Nigeria  - Pushed to end what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, Sudanese government envoys gathered in Nigeria on Monday for talks with rebel leaders from the western Darfur region.


Pregnant Women with Asthma Symptoms Face Risks

Women with moderate to severe symptoms of asthma during pregnancy are more likely to develop preeclampsia than women with no asthma symptoms, the results of a new study show.


The killer of head teacher Philip Lawrence will not be deported to Italy, a court reaffirms.


Catholic Bishops Launch Marriage Initiative

U.S. Catholic bishops on Wednesday  launched an ambitious plan to promote marriage, an institution  they see as being under extreme pressure, not specifically from  those who favor homosexual unions but from the general  difficulty of getting and staying married.


Bush Leads Kerry by 5 Percentage Points, ABC-Post Poll Finds

President George W. Bush leads Democratic challenger John Kerry by 5 percentage points, according to a national poll conducted for ABC News and the Washington Post.


Kaine's Legacy May Ride on His Revamping Of Roads Deal

RICHMOND, Feb. 24 -- Perhaps the most memorable promise Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) made during his 2005 campaign was to solve the state's transportation crisis.


Torino, 17:43 - CALCIO, TORINO; DIANA E PISANO: QUI PER CONTRIBUIRE A SALVEZZA

Giorno di presentazione per i volti nuovi del Torino, Aimo Diana e Marco Pisano, entrambi arrivati d...


Wall Street stocks were set for a lower start on Thursday after a sharp spike in jobless claims added to worries about the labour market and as wary traders reflected on a 50 basis point rate cut and the possibility of downgrades of key bond insurers.


Ulivo, Rutelli: impensabile il ritiro di Prodi

"Sarebbe impensabile" un ritiro della candidatura di Romano Prodi. CosÃ¬ Francesco Rutelli risponde ad una delle domande della trasmissione della Rai 'Conferenza stampa' in cui il leader della Margherita tocca


Nigerian oil workers' unions are staging a three-day strike to protest at the lack of security in the Niger Delta.


Julianna Kettlewell visits one of Poland's new pig factories to explore the shift from traditional agriculture to intensive methods of production.


The carrier sells its shares at a steep discount to the market price.


Deutsche Boerse CEO rules out hostile bid for Euronext

Deutsche Boerse chief executive Reto Francioni has said he would keep trying to convince Euronext shareholders to merge with his group, but ruled out a hostile bid for the pan-European stock market operator.


NEW YORK - President Bush was reaching out to Americans to keep him on the job, recalling the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks "when one era ended and another began," and offering himself as a resolute wartime commander in chief with ambitious plans for a second term...


A report raises concerns about a study on cot deaths used as evidence in several high profile murder appeals.


ATA is the first US budget airline to seek bankruptcy

ATA Airlines has become the first major low-fare airline in the United States to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The move, which came on Tuesday, immediately set off a bidding war for the company and its assets.


German talk show host canned for praising Nazis

COLOGNE, Germany  - Germany's public broadcaster has fired a conservative talk show host who praised the Nazis' "family values," a decision that drew praise from the media and high-ranking politicians.


Assault begins: 'This is not going to be easy'

FALLUJAH, Iraq - The US and Iraqi forces who entered this militant stronghold on Monday were prepared for days of fierce street fighting with insurgents who have been building defenses for months.


Rob Andrew admits England are unlikely to replace head coach Andy Robinson by the start of the Six Nations.


Davenport in cruise control at Auckland Classic tennis

Lindsay Davenport continued her tennis comeback with an easy win in the first round of the Auckland Classic women's tournament here Monday, and said she believed she would keep getting better.


Gene Tweaking Turns Couch Potato Mice Into Racers

Altering a single gene turned  ordinary mice into marathon racers that could run for hours and  eat huge amounts of food without getting fat, a team of  researchers reported on Monday.


Victims of mudslides in the Philippines are buried in a mass grave, in an effort to prevent disease.


(CBS/AP) Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday that for Israel, "2005 is the year of the great opportunity.".


Firefox Burning Up Internet Explorer Market Share

"Firefox's gains are clearly accelerating," WebSideStory Chief Marketing Officer Rand Schulman said. "Much of it has to do with the release of Firefox's version 1.0 on November 9, after several months of offering a preview version.


A Better Way to Burn With Macintosh and Even Use the New Blu-ray Discs

Roxioâs latest software for Mac burners, Toast 8 Titanium, offers about two dozen new or improved features.


Ukraine Parliament Moves a Step to Solve Crisis

Ukraine's parliament boosted opposition supporters by declaring invalid a disputed presidential poll handing victory to Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich but officials said the crisis was far from over.


Cassini-Huygens Set for Closest-Ever Flight Past Titan

It's an encounter that everyone has been waiting for: on Tuesday, October 26, Cassini-Huygens will streak past Titan in the mission's first close encounter with Saturn's largest moon.


Jerez, 10:56 - F1, TEST JEREZ: ALONSO DEBUTTA SULLA MCLAREN

Prima uscita da pilota della McLaren per Fernando Alonso. Lo spagnolo campione del mondoè sce...


U.S. blue chips declined slightly  early Monday afternoon, with gains in insurance company  American International Group Inc. AIG.N  and Wal-Mart Stores  Inc. WMT.N offsetting a drop in energy stocks, which fell  along with crude oil prices.


By Mark Bradley, PA Sport Chief Football Writer, and Andy Hampson, PA Sport. Spain are on a final warning that any repeat of the racist abuse of England players may lead to their national team playing a match


Meditation May Help Lower Blood Pressure

Marion Williams knows she has a hard time relaxing. She leads a busy life as a traveling nurse, grandmother of 10, and advocate for nursing home residents, and for years she had high blood pressure. "It was due to the stress," said Williams, one of many black Americans who has battled high blood pressure.


England captain Michael Vaughan backed Ian Bell to follow in the footsteps of this season's successful fledglings when the Warwickshire batsman made his Test debut against West Indies at The Oval here.


Some 40 people are feared dead in northern Nigeria after a dam collapsed following torrential rain.


Ilonen secures maiden title with Indonesian win

Finn Mikko Ilonen fired a final round 70 to record a one-shot victory at the Indonesian Open on Sunday and secure his maiden professional victory in the $1 million event with a nine-under-par 275.


Secret Rule Requiring ID for Flights at Center of Court Battle

John Gilmore, a tech-industry millionaire and privacy advocate, set out two years ago to challenge a basic element of airline security.


South Korea criticises Japan's PM for questioning whether women were forced to be sex slaves in World War II.


A Pakistani court grants bail to Asif Ali Zardari, husband of ex-PM Benazir Bhutto, a day after he was re-arrested.


Egyptian convicted of spying for Israel dies in jail

An Egyptian engineer who was convicted in  2002 of spying for Israel has died in jail of a possible heart  attack while serving a 15-year sentence, Egyptian security  sources said on Monday.


These low-rated picks show that a stock doesn't have to be loved to outperform.


British actor Rupert Everett and 250 men dressed as pop singer Kylie Minogue were among 8,000 revelers who marched through Sydney late Saturday for the 29th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.


Many Who Voted for 'Values' Still Like Their Television Sin

Network executives say the election will have little impact on which shows they decide to put on television.


UPDATE: Cisco Systems' Conference Call for Q2 Fiscal Year 2007 Financial Results

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) has scheduled a conference call on Tuesday, February  6, 2007 at 1:30 PM (PT) to announce its second quarter fiscal year 2007 financial results.


Meteors are unpredictable. You never know, not exactly, when one will streak across the sky. Not so on Wednesday, September 8th. At precisely 8:52:46 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), northwest of Bend, Oregon, a fireball will appear: a white-hot dot of light, brighter than the planet Venus, gliding across the blue morning sky.


Avviata dopo decesso paziente che aveva subito trapianto


European Union president Finland warned Turkey that it faces at least ...

European Union president Finland warned Turkey that it faces at least a partial suspension of its EU membership talks if Ankara fails to ratify a customs agreement with Brussels.


Italian hostages freed amid speculation ransom was paid

Two Italian aid workers held hostage in Iraq for three weeks were released by their captors yesterday amid reports that a $1m (Â£552,000) ransom had been paid to buy their freedom.


With Eric Gagne apparently in position to sign for considerably more money than the Red Sox were willing to offer, general manager Theo Epstein has all but exhausted plausible free agent alternatives for a closer and will have little choice but to continue exploring a trade.


Oil prices charge toward $50 a barrel; gasoline prices surge

Oil prices charged toward $50 a barrel Monday, and gasoline prices surged to $1.92 a gallon last week, as petroleum output in the Gulf of Mexico returns at a slower-than-expected rate after Hurricane Ivan and geopolitical unrest keeps traders on edge.


US index of leading economic indicators declines again

NEW YORK, September 23  - The US Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators, a closely-monitored measure of future economic activities, declined for the third consecutive month in August this year.


Intuit to Buy Producer of Banking Software

Intuit plans to buy the Digital Insight Corporation for $1.35 billion, a move that will expand it into online banking software and services.


Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill on Monday that would have declared zinfandel to be the Âhistoric wineÂ of California.


Seeking Savings, Employers Help Smokers Quit

Many companies are seeking to reduce their medical bills by paying for programs to help employees stop smoking.