Hospital emergency departments find relief in IT

(InfoWorld) - As U.S. hospital emergency departments struggle under the weight of overcrowding, lack of staff and ever-increasing government health-care regulations, many are finding relief through IT systems. After The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York implemented an emergency department information system, it went from 5,000 lost or illegible charts in 2003 to none in 2005, a year after it moved from paper to electronic charts. Across the country at the Daughters of Charity Health System in California, revenue rose $40 million across six emergency departments because of better billing processes after an electronic system was put in place. Such impressive returns on investment can be found at hospitals nationwide at the same time that the federal government is pushing health-care providers to move to electronic records and various agencies and industry groups release report after report about emergency department overcrowding and other issues. The U.S. has almost 4,000 hospital emergency departments, or EDs, and many of those are at "critical capacity" with patient visits overall in excess of 107 million per year, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians. Add to that the emphasis on disaster response by emergency departments and the need to track biohazards and threats from epidemics and automation becomes all the more imperative. "By automating processes, the time a physician spends looking for charts, tracking down laboratory results, mobilizing staff, and repeatedly recording information that someone else already recorded can be dramatically reduced," ACEP says on its Web site. "Information technology is changing the way today's emergency departments operate by speeding the flow of patients through bottlenecks, eliminating redundant patient records, sharing complete medical records, and allowing laboratory tests and films to be viewed instantly and simultaneously at multiple sites." Computerizing an emergency department can further decrease costs while increasing revenue and improving care and efficiency, ACEP says. Legal liability can be decreased, labor costs might drop and far fewer patients might give up and leave without being seen because wait times are too long or because they simply get lost in the paper trail. "I think that our patients get better care," says Dr. Kevin Baumlin, the director of informatics for the department of emergency medicine at Mount Sinai. "That's the real point of all of this. It's about taking care of patients, not about making money." The Mount Sinai ED sees anywhere from 180 to 320 patients on any given day. Initially, getting the funding for an automated emergency department system was a challenge, Baumlin says. The hospital spent $150,000 on workstations and spends $28,000 per year on maintenance. A little less than $300,000 a year goes for application lease payments support and actual upkeep. The hospital went with a software system from Picis Inc., based in Wakefield, Massachusetts. It signed its contract for that system in August 2003 and then went live with triage tracking and discharge instructions components of the software system in November of that year. A measured rollout of other software tools followed until the last phase for scanning and an interface to the billing application went live in June 2004. Getting the staff to accept the new system was a hard sell, but Baumlin set about doing that in a "fairly methodical way," with all 28 ED doctors and 80 nurses invited to participate in evaluating vendors. He found the "rule of thirds" was in force, with one-third liking the idea of a thorough IT system, one-third ambivalent to it and one-third not keen on it. One goal Baumlin set, and achieved, was making sure there were enough computers to go around so that even at peak times staff who need a workstation have access to one. The ED has 143 computers, amounting to one for each doctor, nurse, support staffer, and consultant -- plus 10. "I did not want any provider who needed a workstation waiting for a workstation. In my world if you have to wait more than three seconds you're done, you're on to another task," he says. During peak times, the emergency department will triage up to 20 patients an hour. Another benefit has been the ability to work with other sites using Picis software to share data sets and study information on crowding, how rapidly patients who say they are in pain are cared for when they arrive at an ED during a crowded time, as well as to design and share research. "It's a wonderful research tool," Baumlin says. He can also better respond to the needs of regulators and federal mandates that require chart analyses and metric tracking. Without the electronic system, "you'd have to actually hire FTEs [full-time equivalent employees] to do chart reviews and pull them out in real time. That's just nuts. ... I can sit here and pull up the number of pneumonia diagnoses we had last month. In two minutes." Besides working with the software, he continues to evaluate hardware, asking if laptops or handhelds will work better, for instance. Laptops don't work so well in small spaces and handhelds have small screens. And patients, particularly those in emergency care, "want to talk to us -- they don't want to talk to the computer in between us. ... The patients really want that three-minute encounter to just be you and them. As a physician, I'd rather just go touch the patient, hold their hand, say hello, find out what it is I need to do and then do the documentation later." Doctors at Daughters of Charity's five hospitals and one skilled nursing facility are engaged in the same balancing act. At the health-care system's St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, California, 70 percent to 80 percent of the ED staff document patient care on laptops that they roll on carts or carry to bedsides, says Dr. Mike Stephen, the medical director of emergency services. He does about half of his documentation at the bedside and the other half after he has finished talking to the patient. The 14 ED doctors and other staff at St. Francis needed about six to eight months to get comfortable with the new system, also from Picis, with deployment beginning in January 2004. "From the corporate perspective, we were looking at really improving patient satisfaction and being able to document and show improved patient care," says Richard Hutsell, vice president and chief information officer of the health system, based in Los Altos Hills. "The vast majority of our hospitals are located in some of the more economically challenged areas" of the state. The decision was made to implement the automated system first in the emergency departments and then roll it out through the rest of the hospitals. "My view is that the ED is the window to the community and I wanted to make that as efficient as possible," he says. The system also lets staff track bed capacity, so they know when they're full up and also allows for keeping tabs on peak times, which helps EDs to make better decisions about when to have more staff on hand. The total cost to implement the system to date has been about $4 million for all facilities, but that has already been recouped because of the improved billing process. An average hospital will find the implementation of such a system pays off in five to eight months after installation because of such revenue increases, said Todd Cozzens, CEO, president and vice chairman of Picis. He turns around the question of the expense of implementing an automated system of software tools and applications to ask, "What's it cost to not do something?"


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âCâest Duckie!â is, if nothing else, aggressively, brashly different, even before the interactive antics begin.


Advertising: In Foray Into TV, Google Is to Track Ad Audiences

Google plans to announce a partnership with Nielsen to give advertisers a better snapshot of how many people are viewing television commercials on a second-by-second basis.


BA to sell Qantas stake; analysts see alliance shakeup

LONDON : British Airways (BA) said it would sell its 1.1 billion Australian dollar (770 million US) stake in Australia's Qantas in a move seen as likely to fuel a major realignment of airline alliances.


Almeno 174 giovani sono deceduti e oltre 500 sono rimasti feriti nel rogo di una discoteca a Buenos Aires. Lâincendio provocato da lanci di bengala allâinterno. BUENOS AIRES â LâArgentina Ã¨ in lutto.


A National Guard officer will soon decide whether two military recruiters will be court-martialed over accusations that one had sex with a high school student and the other with a cheerleading coach, the Guard's top attorney said Wednesday.


THEY are becoming increasingly popular because they are cheap. However, before you rush off to buy an Internet phone or Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone, you should know that they are


Dance Review | Moscow Classical Ballet: A Company May Be Tardy, but Its Ballet Is Serious Fun

The unexplained late start didnÂt tarnish the Moscow Classical BalletÂs presentation of ÂThe NutcrackerÂ on Sunday afternoon at the Lehman Center.


Chinese government officials said on Sunday that there were no survivors in a plane crash which occurred in northern China. There were 47 passengers and six crew members on board the plane headed for Shanghai.


TV embarks on fight against indecency crackdown

U.S. television broadcasters Fox and  CBS Corp. this week argued that a Federal Communications  Commission crackdown on fleeting TV profanity and nudity was  unconstitutional and a big change in how the agency handled  similar cases.


Net via satellite effort to be written off by Direc TV

MUMBAI: Satellite television provider, Direc TV in a regulatory filing on Friday said that it may take up to $1.6 billion in pre - tax charges to write down the value of satellites it would use for broadcasting instead of high-speed data services.


Microsoft to offer improved tools to search books

Microsoft Corp.  said on  Thursday it would offer improved capacity to search copyrighted  books on the Internet as the company battles Google Inc.   for advertising dollars from Web-based services.


E. Guinea coup plot mastermind fights extradition from Harare

The lawyer for the jailed British mastermind of a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea urged a Zimbabwean court to quash a bid to have him extradicted to Malabo, saying he would not get a fair trial.


Roma, 16:48 - CALCIO, FALCAO: TOTTI DEVE ESSERE RISPETTATO

Plantini critica Totti per il no alla nazionale, Falcao difende il capitano della Rpma: ''Deve esser...


Chechen Rebel Basayev Says He Was Behind School Siege

Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev, in a  statement issued on Friday, claimed responsibility for the  Beslan school siege in which more than 320 hostages were  killed, half of them children, according to a Chechen rebel Web  site.


KHARTOUM, Sudan  - Sudan's security chief said on  Monday rebels in the western region of Darfur have drawn army  fire and aerial bombardment on to Darfur villages by using them  as cover and as bases for military operations.


Disposta un'ordinanza per censire le aree devastate dalle fiammeIncendi in Calabria e Campania e alle porte di Roma, al parco di Veio                                          Mezza Italia continua a bruciare oltre 200 roghi, emergenza al Sud                                                                                Una farmacista piromane arrestata nel Salernitano. Condannatoa un anno e nove mesi uomo che ha appicato un fuoco sul Pollino


Equant Names Dehelly Chief Executive as Caclin Quits

Equant NV, the unprofitable operator of the world's biggest data-communications network, named Charles Dehelly as its new Chief Executive Officer after Daniel Caclin resigned from the job.


Gordon â repaved Martinsville poses new challenges

Repaving the Martinsville Speedway, with more tarmac replacing much of the previous tarmac/concrete mix, has not removed its challenges to a driver, but changed them, according to five times winner at the Virginia venue Jeff Gordon.


Two Baylor College of Medicine researchers in Houston are working on a cocaine vaccine they hope will become the first-ever medication to treat people hooked on the drug. "For people who have a desire to stop using, the vaccine should be very useful," said Dr.


It is the body's internal chemicals and hormones that send diseases out to strut their stuff at night.


c/o New Scotland Yard, Lagos, 419 Nigerian scammers have launched a fake London Metropolitan Police website, which includes a fake anti-terrorist hotline number.â¦


NEW YORK/LONDON  - Aon Corp , one of the world's largest insurance brokers, said on Monday it has agreed to sell two units for about $2.75 billion and will use the proceeds to buy back shares.


Report: 'Suge' Knight Eyed in Vibe Brawl

Police and probation officials have been reviewing video of the melee at the Vibe Awards show to determine if rap producer Marion "Suge" Knight played a role in the altercation.


In stories Jan. 13, 14 and 18 about Mexican drug cases, The Associated Press erroneously reported the reward offered by U.S. authorities for alleged Mexican drug lord Ismael Zambada, alias "El Mayo." The amount is $5 million, not $2 million.


Dreadful wait for 6,000 told by officials they may have mad cow ...

"We want a public inquiry, but thatâs the one thing they wonât let us have. In any other case, in any other country, each one of these things - HIV, hepatitis C or CJD - would have warranted a public inquiry" - Andy Gunn, Haemophilia suffer.


Jeffrey Bleustein, Harley-Davidson Co. chief executive officer, is retiring in April after 30 years with the company. Bleustein, 65, announced his retirement this afternoon at a company board meeting.


Irish police remove protesting Afghans from Dublin cathedral

A group of Afghan asylum seekers who had spent a week on a protest hunger strike in a Dublin cathedral were removed without incident by Irish police, a spokesman said.


Greek police celebrate the capture of the country's most wanted man, Nikos Paleokostas.


DealBook Blog: Morgan Stanley to Sell Stake to China Amid Loss

The bank said it would sell a $5 billion stake to Chinaâs sovereign wealth fund as it posted a loss after taking a new $5.7 billion write-down related to mortgages.


Diabetes link with cancer seen in Japanese study

A large study of Japanese adults found  those with diabetes were more likely to develop cancer,  especially of certain organs such as the pancreas and liver,  researchers said on Monday.


Firenze, 19:17 - CALCIO, FIORENTINA; FREY: L'ANNO PROSSIMO PUNTIAMO IN ALTO

Sebastien Frey, estremo difensore della Fiorentina fresco di convocazione in nazionale, si lancia ve...


David Toms was going through his PGA Tour schedule for the remainder of the year when he mentioned the 84 Lumber Classic, which is squeezed between the Ryder Cup and a World Golf Championship in Ireland.


A UN envoy says the Philippines army is in "almost total denial" about a wave of extra-judicial killings.


A Pakistani judge drops terrorism charges against a key suspect in an alleged airline bomb plot in the UK.


UK monitoring five planes in radiation probe

Britain is monitoring five planes for radiation in an ever widening probe into the poisoning of a former Russian spy that has heightened tensions with Moscow.


The mythology of The Phantom of the Opera has its roots in literature, specifically Gaston Leroux's 1911 novel. The iconic status of the story grew in early cinema and even crossed over into the trash movie genre with a Robert Englund slasher Phantom.


With Wii and DS, Nintendo Has 2 Hit Game Devices

While shoppers are still lining up to buy Nintendoâs Wii, its older portable sibling, the Nintendo DS, is the best-selling game machine in the United States.


Alex White Plume hoped his family could make a living growing hemp when he first planted seeds on an Indian reservation here, but years of fighting with federal drug officials have left him in financial trouble.


Euro, un successo.Premier prosegue suo viaggio in India


The provocative pair, who have struck out on their own with a new boutique media company, talk about the business and the hot filmmakers they're keeping an eye on


OpenDNS shows off collaborative Web filter

The service is intended to help users and system administrators block sites that might be dangerous or undesirable, as well as helping users find their way around the Internet.


Medical plane goes down in Lake Michigan

A medical transport plane carrying six people went down Monday afternoon in Lake Michigan, authorities said. There was no word on survivors.


BAGHDAD - Iraq was on the brink of an all-out assault on rebel-held Fallujah yesterday as deadly clashes erupted between US troops and insurgents in the neighbouring city of Ramadi.


Radio Ã¢ÂÂScreamsÃ¢ÂÂ Forecast Dangerous Solar Storms

HONOLULU -- Speedy solar storms carrying a billion tons of charged gas through space let out a thunderous scream before they unleash satellite-stopping radiation storms that slam into Earth's magnetic field.


Taking a look at how drug approval rates have fared under different FDA commissioners.


Â· Zoo birds culled after complaints about noise Â· Horrified locals side with animal rights activists


L'Unione europea e la Turchia hanno raggiunto un accordo sull'avvio dei negoziati di adesione della Turchia il 3 ottobre 2005. Lo indicano fonti europee a Bruxelles. In base al testo di compromesso, Ankara


L'ispettore Charles A. Duelfer ha testimoniato di fronte alla commissione per i servizi armati del Senato americano, Senate Armed Services Committee, che nell'Iraq di Saddam Hussein non c'erano armi di distruzione di massa.


Australia probes new claim against Indian doctor: media

Australian police were investigating whether an Indian doctor detained on terror charges may have been plotting to blow up a high-rise building on the Gold Coast, the Sunday Mail newspaper reported on Sunday.


BOONE, N.C. - An apartment fire killed three young sisters trapped in a rear bedroom, after the flames prevented rescuers and their father from re-entering the burning building, officials said Friday.


Canada failing as environmental leader: report

Canada is falling behind as an environmental leader because of lack of government leadership, Canada's environment commissioner said Tuesday in an annual report.


Judge Wants PeopleSoft To Explain Why It Turned Oracle Down

During a scheduling hearing Wednesday, the judge overseeing Oracle's attempt to overturn PeopleSoft's takeover defenses said he wants to know exactly why PeopleSoft has turned down Oracle's offer again.


Erano ipotizzati violazione segreto Stato e istruttorio


A US woman is charged with strangling an expectant mother and stealing the baby from her womb.


UPDATE 1-Greenspan says better banking rules benefit economy

Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Tuesday that better management of banking risk and new rules on capital hold the promise of a stronger banking system contributing more to economic growth.


EU, UN discuss peacekeeper force in Chad

The European Union and the United Nations are discussing the possibility of sending an EU peacekeeping force to Chad and Central African Republic for six months to help those affected by the spillover from the Darfur conflict, U.N. diplomats said Friday.


Shipwreck may be just what Stern ordered

DAVID STERN LIKENS an NBA season to "1,200 episodes of reality programming." In tomorrow's presentations of "Survivor, NBA Arena," Shaq promises to be a brick wall when Kobe the Corvette drives the lane, after the Pistons drop in on an Indianapolis crowd


Nazi hunters criticize slow German justice system

A prominent Jewish rights group on Monday gave Germany an "inadequate" rating for the first time for sluggish prosecution of suspected Nazi war criminals after previously topping the annual rankings of 26 nations.


Several strong earthquakes shake Japan, 16 dead

A string of strong earthquakes shook parts of Japan on Saturday, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 900 others, overwhelming small hospitals in the quakes' vicinity.


Chinese investment quickens, fuels tightening talk

China's spending on fixed assets such as roads and power plants accelerated in the first five months of the year, prompting predictions of imminent monetary tightening to slow the world's fourth-largest economy.


U.S. Marines Rally Round Iraq Probe Comrade

FALLUJA, Iraq  - U.S. Marines rallied round a  comrade under investigation for killing a wounded Iraqi during  the offensive in Falluja, saying he was probably under combat  stress in unpredictable, hair-trigger circumstances.


Dell Launches Help-Desk Service For Smaller Businesses

PC Workspace Services initially will serve businesses with 500 or more employees and eventually will work with smaller companies. By Kevin Ferguson, SmallBiz Pipeline.


Gli e' stato consegnato il diploma che attesta il titolo


San Paolo, 08:57 - CALCIO, BRASILE: RISULTATI

Risultati della settima giornata del campionato brasiliano.


D-Link switches to green to make more green

Everything's gone green Another day, and another tech vendor turns the colour of the Incredible Hulk.â¦


BMW chief Norbert Reithofer is due to look into alliances with parts makers and have more car production in the US.


Accra, 20:03 - CALCIO, COPPA D'AFRICA: TUNISIA-ANGOLA -0

In una gara valida per il gruppo D della coppa d'Africa, Tunisia e Angola hanno pareggiato 0-0. Entr...


No decision imminent on state finance for Airbus A350, says company

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is holding talks with partner European governments but no decision on state finance for the new A350 airliner programme is imminent, the head of Airbus has said.


Kirsten Dunst has entered rehab, a source close to the actress confirms to PEOPLE.   The Spider-Man star is being treated at the exclusive Cirque Lodge Treatment Center in Utah, the same facility where Lindsay Lohan spent nearly two months and where ...


Da domani si vota, An-Fi chiedono piu' chiarezza su missione


Separation Saturday seemed to have precisely that effect for Boston College's football team, which gained some distance between itself and several of its Atlantic Division opponents in the Atlantic Coast Conference.


Digital confessions, to be released online

Shot on high definition digital camera, Anish Kuruvilla's debut throws light on some of the negative things happening in the Telugu film industry.


Fallujah Operation Oversees Return of 900 Residents

More than 900 residents of Fallujah returned to homes they fled before last month's military operation in the Iraqi city, on the first day of a program overseen by US and Iraqi forces, the US military said.


Riot police patrol Harare, hold opposition leaders

Zimbabwe riot police patrolled volatile districts in Harare on Monday, a day after arresting opposition leaders and killing a man while crushing a prayer meeting organized in defiance of a ban on political rallies.


The Senate passed a bill early Friday to increase aid to college students.


A person in Elkhart County who was diagnosed with West Nile virus has died. Indiana State Department of Health officials said the person could be described as "senior" or "elderly," but


Endangered Condors Return to Andes Skies

Timidly taking its first steps in the wild, the young condor perches on a rocky plateau as a hot breeze swirls upward from the barren Patagonian landscape.


Burt Hasen, Artist Inspired by Maps, Dies at 85

Mr. Hasen was a New York painter who drew inspiration from his experience working with maps as a military technician during World War II.


An "increasing pool" of people in the UK are living with HIV and Aids, official statistics show.


Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to Aborigines Wednesday for past injustices, saying he wanted "to remove a great stain from the nation's soul."


Curt Schilling hasn't felt this good in months, and that's great news for the Boston Red Sox. Schilling earned his 16th win, and David Ortiz homered twice and drove in four runs


Janet Leigh, whose face-contorting scream in "Psycho" became as famous as the Munch painting but who was known in real life for her great smile, a manifestation of her indomitable spirit, died Sunday at her Beverly Hills home.


Florida warned with second hard freeze warning

The U.S. National Weather Service  issued a second hard freeze warning in Florida for Thursday  night, the forecaster said Thursday.


Study shows effects of air pollution on children

New research shows that teenagers who grow up in heavy air pollution have reduced lung capacity, putting them at risk for illness and premature death as adults.


Killer's parents cry with parents of slain teens

Pastor Brady Boyd calls it the "highlight of my ministry" -- seeing the parents of the man who shot up his church be embraced by the parents of two teenaged sisters who were killed in the attack. The parents also thanked the guard who shot their son, saying her quick action may have saved more lives.


Two weeks after Portsmouth appointed Croatian unknown Velimir Zajec as executive director, Harry Redknapp quit as manager on Wednesday, citing the need to take "a complete break from the game".


No compromise on functionality? Review Ultra-slim phones are a gimmick, right? Yes, they're mere millimetres from front to back, but in shaving off around half the thickness of a standard candybar, the phone makers must have compromised on the skinny handset's feature set, surely? Sony Ericsson's Walkman-branded W880 is now readily available - we look at how well it measures up.â¦


FREE KIDS DVDs ; Fun Shows That Will Keep the Kids Smiling HOW TO CLAIM YOUR FREE DVDs We'Ll Send Them to You

EVERYONE'S favourite elephant is the star of the latest fabulous shows in out Ultimate Kids' DVD Collection.   Today's voucher is for two fantastic episodes featuring the adventures of Babar.


CORRECTION: Clinton issues new blueprint on economy

DE PERE, Wisconsin  - Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton released a new "Economic Blueprint" on Monday that touts ways to help working Americans as she seeks to gain an edge on rival Barack Obama, who has moved into the lead in the Democratic contest.


A UK government study finds the open-source Linux operating system is a  "viable" alternative to rival products.


Al Senato diniani e Di Pietro mettono in minoranza l'Unione su quattro emendamentiDrammatico avviso del premier: "E' ora che tutti facciano chiarezza sulla loro lealtÃ "                                          Finanziaria, governo battuto a raffica Prodi: "Esigo il rispetto degli impegni"                                                                                Berlusconi incalza chiedendo elezioni anticipate: "Rispettiamo il Quirinale, ma bisogna votare"Sinistra in rivolta contro il ministro delle Infrastrutture dopo il sÃ¬ alla societÃ  per il Ponte sullo Stretto


Man, 83, is first Westchester resident with West Nile virus this ...

_ An 83-year-old man from Westchester has tested positive for the West Nile virus, the first human case recorded in the county this year, the county health commissioner said Wednesday.


Kazakhs Shrug at ÂBoratÂ While the State Fumes

There is almost nothing truthful in the satiric depiction of Kazakhstan popularized by Sacha Baron Cohen. And yet his character Borat has managed to infuriate the countryÂs officials.


Dec. 22, 2004 - Patients do well for at least 10 years after weight loss surgery, a Swedish study shows. Does the drastic obesity treatment save lives?


Sudanese Peace Talks Begin Despite Renewed Fighting

Peace talks over the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur began in Nigeria Monday despite continued insurgencies and a virtual deadlock between involved parties.


As merger fever hits new highs, which deals will work out?


Nuovo Garante dovra' sorvegliare sui beni al consumo


CDC: 48% of Ohioans at risk got flu shots

Only 48 percent of Ohioans at high risk for flu complications - including fatal pneumonia - were able to get a flu shot this fall, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


Apple's reportedly will announce deals to sell the iPhone in Europe this week. Carriers O2, Orange and T-Mobile are said to be giving huge portions of the usage fees back to Apple.


Study: Simple Life-Saving Shock Device Worth Cost

Less-costly versions of implanted  heart devices represent a good value for most patients who need  them, according to a cost analysis study presented on  Wednesday.


(OfficialWire) -- 10/22/04 -- The board of the Walt Disney Company went on trial Wednesday, facing shareholder accusations that it simply rubber-stamped a decision


Phillies beat Mets 5-3, avoid 3-game sweep

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel dropped Jimmy Rollins from the leadoff spot, let Brett Myers throw 119 pitches and called for Tom Gordon in the eighth inning. Even though it's May, Manuel knew he needed a win Thursday. Philadelphia avoided a costly three-game sweep, beating the New York Mets 5-3 behind Myers, Gordon and new leadoff hitter Shane Victorino.


Europe rendezvous: Berggruen -- friend of Picasso, confirmed European

When you're Jewish and you fled the Nazis, it's not easy to return to Germany 60 years on and donate a spectacular art collection, but Heinz Berggruen sees it as a step toward tolerance in Europe.


Thousands of Palestinians poured out of the Gaza Strip and into Egypt early Wednesday after masked gunmen blew dozens of holes in the border wall


Sharon: Syria trying to deflect US pressure

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Wednesday dismissed Syrian moves towards redeployment in Lebanon. "We are not seeing any significant change in the Syrian position," he told Israel Radio.


Generic drug wars and speculation on who will head Merck & Co. next started to turn drug makers' stocks around after the sector's benchmark index fell 4 percent and hit a 52-week low last week.


NAPOLI - Le ruspe per dare il via ai lavori di costruzione del termovalorizzatore ad Acerra sono arrivate lunedì notte scortate da un migliaio di agenti delle forze dell'ordine. Un arrivo atteso, ma che ha scatenato una dura azione di protesta che si è ...


Merck Makes Deal to Develop Schizophrenia Drug

Merck agreed to pay a Swiss company, Addex Pharmaceuticals, as much as $702 million to help develop a new schizophrenia drug.


A lawyer for a US army official claims the FBI is  investigating the controversial award of Iraqi contracts to Halliburton.


Schilling, Ramirez Lead Red Sox to Easy Opening Win

Curt Schilling pitched 6 2/3 innings and Manny Ramirez hit a three-run homer in a seven-run fourth frame to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 9-3 win over the host Anaheim Angels in their American League Divisional Series opener Tuesday.


Winemaker Robert Mondavi Corp.  MOND.O on Monday said it expects the sale of its line of  higher-priced wines and other assets within the next year to  yield $400 million to $500 million in net after-tax proceeds.


For 10 days, fueled by White House leaks, Washington insiders were furiously speculating about who would succeed Treasury Secretary John Snow -- and suddenly the White House says he's staying?


IRA Withdraws Offer to Scrap N.Irish Arsenal

Northern Ireland's tortuous peace  process was dealt a fresh blow on Wednesday when the Irish  Republican Army (IRA) withdrew an offer to scrap the arsenal  which sustained its 30-year campaign against British rule.


Volkswagen to do body shells for Porsche Panamera

Blog: Porsche offers more details to shareholders, while more photos pop up on blogs.


US, Iraqi troops fight to retake control in Mosul

American and Iraqi troops yesterday fought to reclaim police stations from insurgents who seized control of broad swaths of this sprawling


New York, 09:48 - BASKET, NBA: DUE PUNTI PER BARGNANI, ANCORA FUORI BELINELLI

Due punti per Andrea Bargnani nel successo di Toronto contro Indiana (104-93). Il 'Mago' è ri...


Maribor, 12:55 - SCI, CDM DONNE: HOSP VINCE LO SLALOM DI MARIBOR

L'austriaca Nicole Hosp ha vinto lo slalom speciale di coppa del mondo di sci di Maribor, in Sloveni...


An international think tank urged the new leadership of gas-rich Turkmenistan on Tuesday to renounce former dictator Saparmurat Niyazov's iron-fisted rule, and described a vote for his successor as a "blatantly falsified election."


The Supreme Court threw out a $79 million award against Weyerhaeuser in a lawsuit accusing the company of trying to monopolize the lumber market.


Microsoft Rolls Out Vista Across the Globe

Microsoft Corp rolled out Windows Vista at retailers in 70 countries yesterday, delivering a new computer operating system that aims to better manage the explosion of digital media and protect users from the dangers of the Internet.


ADV: Health Insurance for the Self-Employed!

Affordable health, dental, and life insurance for you and your family. Ideal for self-employed, small business owners. Fill out our form for a competitive quote.


Music Review: A Wild Welcome to a German Teen-Pop Band

Tokio Hotel, whose members most likely discovered the German band online, is introducing itself to American audiences and plans to release an album in the United States in April.


Opec vows to open the taps to cool down runaway oil prices

Kuwait would back a hike of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in Opec's oil output ceiling if crude prices remained at record levels, it said yesterday in a move


Subdued reaction in Miami to Castro's retirement

Cuban exiles in Miami expressed quiet relief at Fidel Castro's resignation on Tuesday but said their homeland had moved past the longtime leader and change was inevitable.


Airstrikes kill scores of Afghan civilians: officials

NATO and U.S. airstrikes have killed scores of Afghan civilians this week, residents and officials said on Saturday, deaths likely to deepen discontent with foreign forces and the Western-backed Afghan government.


Nortel to cut 3,500 jobs, fires 7 execs linked to finance scandal

Nortel Networks Corp. said it will cut 3,500 jobs, or 10 percent of its workforce, and fired seven finance officials tied to an accounting scandal.


Building products company James Hardie Industries has struck Australia's largest personal injury deal, agreeing to pay asbestos victims more than $1 billion over the next 40 years.


Militants behead at least four security officials taken hostage in north-west Pakistan, officials say.


Owens out for regular season, won't return until possible Super ...

Long-suffering Eagles fans would never be so foolish to think a trip to the Super Bowl was a lock, even though their Birds are clearly the best team in the NFC this season.


No end in sight for Wikipedia block in China

Shi Zhao slides the computer mouse,  making rapid-fire clicks and in the space of a minute or so  finds about a dozen minor errors to be tweaked on Wikipedia,  the popular online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.


Sport: Six Nations: Jonny Wilkinson may have to captain England after Phil Vickery injured his calf in training


Indonesia Govt Confirms Stanchart Wins Bk Permata Sale

JAKARTA (Dow Jones)--A consortium led by Standard Chartered PLC (STAN.LN) has won the bidding for a 51% stake in PT Bank Permata (BNLI.


Suits: Whatâs in His Wallet? Millions in Options

Since May, the chairman and chief executive of Capital One Financial has exercised more than 10,000 options every day, collecting as much as $3.4 million each week.


Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts Inc. has signed an agreement with investors to restructure $1.8 billion in debt. âBillionaire owner Donald Trump, famous for telling contestants "You're Fired" on his hit


Barry Bonds notched his 728th career   home run as the San Francisco Giants edged the Chicago Cubs 4-2   at Wrigley Field on Saturday.


The honeymoon's over for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon


Virgin's Branson to shun thirsty 4-engined planes

Virgin Group boss Richard Branson said on Friday he would aim to avoid buying fuel-thirsty four-engined airplanes in future for both economic and environmental reasons.


Australia pull out of Champions Trophy in Pakistan

LAHORE: Australia has officially pulled out of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament being played here from December 4-12 on security fears.


Oil-Rich Kazakhstan Votes, Poll Criticized by West

Oil-rich Kazakhstan voted on Sunday in a  parliamentary poll criticized by the West and all but written  off as unfair by opposition parties.


OPEC meets, may steer away from immediate oil cut

OPEC was considering on Thursday delaying an oil output cut until the northern winter has passed, responding to the calls of importer nations' afraid supply curbs now will drive prices higher and hurt their economies.


Hamid Karzai was sworn in today as Afghanistan's first democratically elected president. In a solemn ceremony at the restored royal palace in Kabul, with Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld in attendance, Hamid


Sudan: Internal Politics Drives U.S. Over Darfur

Sudan said on Saturday the United States was wrong to try to label the conflict in Darfur as genocide and that recent hardline U.S. statements on Sudan were aimed at domestic constituencies and the U.S. elections.


Detectives are investigating the deaths of two inmates who were both found hanged at Manchester Prison.


Unione europea: nasce la gendarmeria continentale

I ministri della Difesa di Italia, Francia, Spagna, Olanda e Portogallo hanno firmato, nella cittadina olandese di Noordwijk, un documento con il quale Ã¨ stata sancita la nascita della "Forza di Gendarmeria europea" (il nostro Paese Ã¨ stato


Republicans Nominate Bush, Hail His Leadership

Republicans nominated President Bush for a second four-year term in the White House on Tuesday with ringing calls for his re-election from Laura Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said the world was more free and America more safe under his leadership.


Military explosives used in deadly Manila bomb blast: police

Military explosives were used in a huge bomb blast at a Manila shopping mall that left nine dead and 113 injured, Philippine police said Saturday.


Pakistan secure emphatic win in third one-day cricket match

Opener Imran Farhat has hit an aggressive half-century and paceman Rana Naved-ul-Hasan took 3-37 to help Pakistan beat the West Indies by seven wickets in the third one-day match here.


Il corpo del 69enne Franco Pacifico gia' riportato a valle


GE to plow $1 billion into clean tech research

"We have our own clean tech fund here," says GE's vice president of ecomagination program.


MIAMI - America Online Inc. has launched an online shopping service called inStore that lets users search for products, compare prices and features and set up price-drop alerts.


Sydney, 09:36 - TENNIS, ATP SYDNEY: VOLANDRI OUT AL 1/O TURNO

Esordio amaro per Filippo Volandri nel "Medibank International", torneo Atp da 465 mila dollari, in ...


Russian court convicts man of 1st of 49 murders

A Moscow court found former supermarket worker, Alexander Pichushkin, guilty on Wednesday of the first of 49 murder charges against him, a Reuters reporter inside the courtroom said.


Barack Obama picked up the endorsement of a leading anti-war group Friday and said Democratic presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton still has not adequately explained her vote to go into Iraq.


Within sight of Mexico's fanciest shopping mall, surrounded by shiny new corporate office buildings and luxury-car dealerships, is a muddy and rutted 100-yard stretch of unfinished road that may have swallowed a presidential campaign.


Powell says US still seeks Mideast peace

US Secretary of State Colin Powell says the Bush administration wants to get peace-making efforts between Israel and the Palestinians restarted.


LeBron Leads Cavaliers Past Hawks 111-102

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) drives against Atlanta Hawks forward Al Harrington (3) in the fourth quarter Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004, in Atlanta.


Germany's Angela Merkel faces difficult G8 talks amid rows over missile defence and climate change goals.


Shell reports a record profit for a UK-listed company of Â£9.3bn but also restates its oil reserves again.


A British TV station apologized Thursday after regulators ruled that the "Celebrity Big Brother" program broke broadcasting rules by airing footage of racist insults being hurled at Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.


1,150 JOBS GO AS JAGUAR PULLS OUT OF COVENTRY

JAGUAR will end production at its famous Coventry plant with the loss of 1,150 jobs, it was confirmed yesterday. Bosses blame huge losses at the firm - nearly Â£100million in just three months this year.


San Valentino a Roma amore a doppia mandata

A Ponte Milvio gli innamorati incatenano le proprie dediche ai lampioni. Ma un lucchetto sarà piÃ¹ forte degli altri...


Verizon Posts Flat Third-Quarter Earnings

Verizon Communications Inc. , the largest U.S. telecommunications company, on Thursday reported third-quarter earnings virtually unchanged from the year before as wireless and high-speed Internet sales offset losses of local phone lines.


Palestinians put calm over West's wishes

Palestinians from the president on down are opting for unity over pleasing the West. The choice became increasingly clear after this week's Mideast summit. In the meeting, the U.S. and Israel warned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that they'd shun the emerging Hamas-Fatah unity government because it won't explicitly recognize the Jewish state.


Doug Scott was clearly the best player on the floor for an eight-minute span in the second half. The Quincy guard scored 19 points in that span. He was unstoppable. Unfortunately, for the other 24 minutes, he couldn't get anything going.


Air Force Footballer Acquitted of Steroids

For the second time in less than a month, an Air Force Academy football player has been cleared of taking illegal steroids after insisting on the stand that he believed the drugs were simply supplements.


Powell irked at some allies for declining to train Iraqi troops

Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed irritation Thursday with six NATO members that have barred their military officers from an alliance-approved program to train Iraqi forces.


SLOVAKIA:  Schizophrenia or Russophilia?

BUDAPEST, Jun 20 (IPS) - Whereas most of Eastern Europe embraces the United  States, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is finding common  ground with Russian President Vladimir Putin in both energy  cooperation and geopolitics.


About 1.5 billion old Finnish markkaas have not been returned since the country adopted the euro more than two years ago, the Bank of Finland said.


Robert Wisdom and Jodi  Lyn O'Keefe have joined the cast of Fox drama "Prison Break" as  regulars.


six of the last nine competitions -- the United States appeared to have the stronger team, yet Europe won. The US squad is, at best


At least 25 killed in violence around Iraq

Ten people were killed by a car bomb in central Baghdad, Iraqi police said, raising the number of violent deaths around the country on Sunday to at least 25.


If Anna Nicole Smith messed up her life, she did so by wanting the things that so many Americans want - fame and fortune - but wanting them more, clumsily and ultimately self-destructively.


Actress Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff have finally made peace.


Man Sets Fire to Himself Outside White House

A bearded man shouting "Allah" set  himself on fire outside the White House on Monday before  uniformed Secret Service agents wrestled him to the ground and  extinguished the flames, officials and witnesses said.


European retailer embeds RFID chips in shoes

InfoWorld - One of Europe's largest shoe companies plans to embed wireless chips in shoes sold at hundreds of stores across the continent.


U.N. demands Darfur parties attend talks

The U.N. Security Council demanded on Wednesday that Sudan's government and Darfur rebels attend peace talks starting over the weekend and threatened action against anyone impeding the negotiations.


Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported no progress by the Sudanese government to end the crisis in the western Darfur region, citing continuing clashes, attacks against civilians, escalating banditry and tribal conflict.


Two Montreal Canadiens players arrested in Florida

TAMPA, Florida  - Two Montreal Canadiens hockey players were arrested at a Florida bar on Monday after one was accused of stealing a woman's purse, police said.


South African mobile phone operator MTN cuts its subscriber targets in Iran and Nigeria.


The Associated Press-Ipsos poll on the 2008 presidential race was conducted Sept. 10-12, 2007 and is based on telephone interviews with a nationally representative random sample of 1,000 adults from all states except Alaska and Hawaii.


Fox Interactive Media Ranks #1 in Page Views; Yahoo! Sites Attract the Most Unique Visitors

RESTON, Va., Dec. 19  /PRNewswire/ -- comScore Media Metrix today released its monthly analysis of U.S. consumer activity at top online properties and categories for November.


Australia (379) v Pakistan 163 (& 341) - innings

Pakistan were all out for 163 before lunch on the fourth day of the second test against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, setting the home side 126 runs to win.


Jaguars' latest last-minute madness upsets Colts

Byron Leftwich is getting used to these frantic finishes, and they all keep turning out right for the Jaguars. Feel the power ... of the magic dust.


By now it is well known that a little bit of wine can be good for you. But even the waste from winemaking can have benefits, researchers say.


Republican Mitt Romney titled his book on how he saved the scandal-ridden 2002 Olympics "Turnaround." Now, as he runs for president, he's trying to fight the perception that he's committed a few too many turnarounds.


Assembly member Huw Lewis is demanding answers and assurances from Welsh Water following a river chemical spillage.   A death toll of around 1,000 fish was expected after three tonnes of aluminium sulphate leaked into the Taf Fechan from Pontsticill water treatment works on August 13.


Thatcher to Plead Guilty in Alleged Plot

Sir Mark Thatcher will plead guilty to unwittingly bankrolling an alleged coup plot in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, a person close the family said Wednesday.


A 45-minute outage at Air Canadaâs reservation computer during a busy period early this morning caused delays in departures from airports across Canada and in the United States.


Business & money: Nine months after cutting prices, parent company Centrica suggests it may soon raise them again


Udine, 18:56 - CALCIO, UDINESE: 3-3 NEL TEST CON IL NOVA GORICA

L'Udinese ha pareggiato 3-3 in amichevole con gli sloveni del Nova Gorica. La squadra di Galeone non...


Gene Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction on Horizon

The first three patients participating in an early test of a "revolutionary" human gene therapy for erectile dysfunction have not developed any treatment-related side effects, according to preliminary results released here this week at a meeting of the International Society for Sexual and Impotence Research.


Brain-eating zombies invade SF Apple store

Blog: A horde of decaying zombies invaded San Francisco's downtown Apple store on Friday evening, hunting for brains, terrifying the customers, and gnawing on iMacs.


TONY JONES: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has admitted at the Labour Party conference in Brighton he was wrong about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.


BBC turns Worldwide's fate into a quiz show

The BBC has written to more than 25 potential bidders and organisations interested in its commercial assets, soliciting their views on the future of the business.


It is one of the creepier creatures on Earth — a squirming, snakelike fish bound for no real glory beyond its role in sushi or as bait dangling from a fisherman's hook. But it is largely for that reason — not despite it — that Tim Watts is taking a stand to protect the American eel, a species he says is in dangerous decline.


UPDATE 2-AMD warns of lower sales, citing flash memory

Semiconductor maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) warned on Monday that its quarterly revenue will be lower than forecast, citing softness in


[Seattle | Reuters News Service, 10 September 2004] - RealNetworks is ending its 49c-per-song music download service but will keep the promotional prices in place for top 10 songs, the Internet media and software company said yesterday.


In Guilty Plea, Actressâs Killer Changes Story to Robbery

An illegal immigrant from Ecuador changed his story and pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the death of Adrienne Shelly, a filmmaker.


Unknown Nesterenko Makes World Headlines

Belarus' Yuliya Nesterenko won the top  women's athletics gold medal at the Olympics on Saturday,  triumphing over a field stripped of many big names because of  doping woes to win the 100 meters.


By Linda Fantin, The Salt Lake Tribune  Dec. 19--Utah-based TechniScan Medical Systems has been awarded a $2.8  million grant to perfect a breast cancer screening tool that could make the  exams painless and help radiologists distinguish between cancers and benign  masses.


The first two Democratic presidential contests have taught Barack Obama a lesson Â as women go, so goes the state.


DBS may face "supervisory action" from HKMA over deposit box ...

HONG KONG : More problems for DBS after its accidental destruction of 83 safe deposit boxes in Hong Kong. The bank could now face "supervisory action" from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.


Disease fears rise in Indonesia's flood-hit capital

Fears of disease gripped Indonesia's flood-hit capital on Friday with thousands of people living in cramped emergency shelters and some streets still inundated a week after the city's worst floods in five years.


Londra, 14:51 - F1, SLITTA AL 2009 RIVOLUZIONE AERODINAMICA

Secondo la BBC, la nuove monoposto di formula uno, che nelle intenzioni della Fia dovrebbero favorir...


Medical products company Abbott Laboratories said Monday it agreed to buy nutrition products company EAS Inc. in a cash-for-stock deal worth about $320 million.


By Lisa Pemberton, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.  Feb. 13--Where do I take My?... often lists Tacoma Goodwill, which operates stores in Lacey and Olympia, as a place that will accept a wide variety of personal and household items for reusing and recycling.


Lillie K. Dahlquist of East Dundee A private family service celebrating the life of Lillie K. Dahlquist, 93, formerly of the Prospect Heights and Des Plaines areas, will be held Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the Miller Funeral Home, 504 W. Main St., West Dundee.


A six-year-old girl is mauled to death by a tiger at a Chinese zoo while having her picture taken with it.


China says U.S. report on its military exaggerated

China hit back at a Pentagon report on its rising military might on Monday, saying it was exaggerated and an interference in Chinese domestic affairs.


Promising Dystrophy Drug Clears Early Test

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


Amy Winehouse and Dizzee Rascal lead the nominations for this year's Music of Black Origin Awards.


Cisco to buy WiMax startup Navini Networks for $330M

Cisco Systems has agreed to buy Navini Networks, a developer of WiMax broadband wireless access systems.The $330 million deal marks Cisco's first foray into the technology: Earlier this month, Cisco dismissed rumors that it planned to buy Navini, saying it had no plans to develop wireless base stations using any technology other than Wi-Fi.Navini makes mobile WiMax wireless base stations.Wi-Fi and WiMax are wireless networking technologies defined in standards set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. WiMax (802.16) has a range over a hundred times greater than the older and more widely deployed Wi-Fi (802.11) family of standards.Cisco said it is particularly interested in Navini's expertise with "smart beamforming" technologies used with Multiple-Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna arrays, which in Wi-Fi systems allow base stations to handle much higher data throughput.Cisco plans to fold Navini into its wireless networking business unit. It expects the acquisition, its 124th, to close by the end of January.


US and Iraqi forces battled their way into the heart of one of Iraq's key insurgency strongholds Friday in the first of a series of promised major offensives to regain control of areas lost to the rebels.


When it comes to complaining about poor exchange rates for the U.S. dollar, American tourists traveling to Europe have nothing on tourists headed into space. The cost of flying to the international space station aboard a Russian Soyuz spaceship has increased from $25 million earlier this year to $30 million. Trips planned in 2008 and 2009 will cost $40 million.


The space shuttle Atlantis glided down to an uneventful pre-dawn landing today, concluding a mission that marked NASAÂs resumption of construction on the International Space Station.


Consumer Confidence Index declines in September

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index declined again in September, the second consecutive monthly dip. The Index now stands at 96.


The Apple iPhone controversy has raised consumer awareness about the issue of locked cell phones--and that's a good thing.


Kate Moss to design clothes for Britain's Topshop

Kate Moss will design a collection for   Topshop, the British fashion chain announced on Wednesday,   saying it aimed to turn clothes created by the supermodel into   a global brand.


One person in the UK is signing up to broadband every 10 seconds,  according to telecoms giant BT.


Delay elections if division is the upshot

The US push for elections in Iraq by the end of January 2005 is motivated not just by a desire to meet a prominent deadline on the postwar transition calendar.


49ers notes: Putting stock in ability to block

Bee Staff Writer. SANTA CLARA - It's easy to be typecast as a blocking tight end when you catch only three passes for 17 yards in a season.


Science ; Nasa to resume shuttle missions

Three of the four hurricanes to come ashore in the state swept over or near the Kennedy Space Center on Florida's eastern coast.


US presidential hopefuls hold first-ever TV debate in Spanish

In a dramatic sign of fast-changing US society's makeup, eight Democratic presidential hopefuls are set to take part in the first televised Spanish-language debate Sunday to court Hispanics, the largest US minority group.


Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe wants everyone at the club to start focusing on improving their poor position in the Barclays Premiership now the immediate future of head coach Steve Wigley has been secured.


Sylvain Wiltord and Juninho each scored Saturday to lead unbeaten French first division leader Lyon over fourth-place Auxerre 2-1.


Little Leaguers can someday hit the big time

According to Little League Baseball, 25 major leaguers have played in the Little League World Series, which is going on now. Eight of those are currently with major league teams (including Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon). USA TODAY's Sheil Kapadia tracked them down: (Related story: California team ousts Iowa at LLWS)


HP buys data management services company

Knightsbridge specializes in helping IT clients deploy technologies for business intelligence, data warehousing and data integration.


Guidebooks warn tourists of Peruvian time -- be fashionably late for parties and dinner or risk a faux pas.


Constipation common in pregnancy, study confirms

NEW YORK  - Half of all pregnant women will suffer from constipation at some time during their pregnancy, new research shows.


Money from golf tourism in Scotland has increased by Â£200m in the last four years, figures show.


A man and woman took her two children on a high-speed chase before shooting a car passenger, a court hears.


Il capo dello Stato a Caserta per la cerimonia di rientro


JERUSALEM - With Yasser Arafat fighting for his life in a French hospital, his top lieutenants will fly to Paris for consultations with his doctors, a senior official said Sunday, as Palestinian leaders worked to set up contingency plans in the event of


State Dept. Says Iraq Elections Must Be Held in All Regions

The deputy secretary of state said the elections must be "open to all citizens," contradicting the defense secretary.


Charity marathon caught on webcam A US chap is counting to one million live on the net to raise funds for the Push America disabilities charity.â¦


Protect your family for pennies a day with E-Term, the easiest way to purchase quality, low-cost term life insurance. Peace of mind is not only affordable, but priceless. Click for a free quote now.


AS A SENIOR and a member of the Greatest Generation, I am appalled at the Bush administration's disregard for my financial security and my grandchildren's future.


Navratilova signs off with yet another title

Martina Navratilova put a crowning   gloss on her magnificent career by teaming up with Bob Bryan to   win the U.S. Open mixed doubles final on Saturday.


Panel Weighs Sale of Pediatric Medicines

A panel of federal drug advisers began a two-day meeting to decide whether over-the-counter pediatric cough and cold medicines should continue to be sold.


Cargo to be removed from grounded ship off Florida

Authorities have approved a salvage plan   for the cargo ship "Clipper Lasco" that ran aground off Fort   Lauderdale, Florida, on Thursday and cargo will be unloaded to   help free the vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Sunday.


BAQUBA, Iraq  - U.S. soldiers tightened their cordon around al Qaeda fighters holed up in the Iraqi city of Baquba on Saturday, advancing carefully through streets lined with roadside bombs and booby-trapped houses.


Courtney Love pleads guilty to New York disorderly conduct charge

Courtney Love (news | CDs) has negotiated another stop on her docket of court cases, pleading guilty to a disorderly conduct charge Wednesday (10/20) in New York.


Scientists who incited controversy last month over a stem cell paper published in Nature now show their stem cells can repair damaged retinas. In Bodyhack.


A UK charity has insisted it is not breaking the law by referring women abroad for late abortions.


Nokia Looks to Spur Mobile App Development

Nokia said Monday that it would sponsor a competition for development of mobile applications using its Open C plug-in for S60-capable smartphones.


The rogue futures trader who allegedly cost French bank Societe Generale $7.14 billion had been betting on an even larger scale Â with tens of billions in fraudulent deals, the bank said Friday.


The Xbox Live version of Sensible World of Soccer is removed as players discover problems online.


MSN has delayed by a week the start of its beta for its MSN Messenger 7 instant-messaging client until some time next week. MSN officials had said the company planned to commence the MSN Messenger 7 beta this


Dance punk group the Klaxons beat out British pop powerhouse Arctic Monkeys and troubled diva Amy Winehouse to win Britain's Mercury Prize on Tuesday for their debut album, "Myths of the Near Future."


Pakistan PM due in India for talks as new argument breaks out

NEW DELHI  - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is due to make his first visit to India this week as as the nuclear rivals argued anew over Kashmir.


Juan Toja scored twice to help FC Dallas overcome a three-goal second-half deficit and salvage a 3-3 tie against D.C. United on Saturday night.


âNo debt default by RP, no emergency powers for GMAâ

President Arroyo vowed yesterday the country will never default on its debt repayments and said she does not need any "emergency powers" to deal with the possible consequences of a looming "fiscal crisis.


Truce in British leadership battle shows signs of collapse

The truce in the battle to succeed British Prime Minister Tony Blair is showing signs of collapse after a key figure questioned whether his widely-tipped successor Gordon Brown was fit to be leader.


Sister of wrongly arrested Muslim brothers defends cash find

The sister of two Muslim men released without charge after being arrested in an anti-terrorist raid in London said there was nothing sinister about a large sum of cash found at their home.


Home Depot says buys China's The Home Way

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


Protests erupted in this city in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Saturday as anger mounted over the death of a teenager killed when police fired on a crowd protesting alleged human rights violations, officials said.


LeBron James scored 33 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers moved above .500 for the first time in nearly four years with a 99-88 victory Monday against the visiting Golden State Warriors.


Rotterdam, 16:50 - CALCIO, FEYENOORD: VAN MARWIJK E' IL NUOVO TECNICO

L'ex tecnico del Borussia Dortmund, Bert van Marwijk, è il nuovo allenatore della squadra ola...


Marsh & McLennan Cos. MMC.N, the  world's largest insurance broker, on Tuesday said it will  reform and stop accepting fees that New York's attorney general  said amounted to bid-rigging.


Four more cut loose from 'American Idol'

"American Idol" viewers squashed the dreams of four more aspiring singers Thursday night, but Antonella Barba, the focus of recent attention over some racy Internet photos, was not one of them.


A young boy who had his head severed from his neck in a racing car crash recovers against the odds.


Britney Spears says she "hit rock bottom" in rehab

Pop singer Britney Spears says she "truly hit rock bottom" during a stint in rehabilitation this year but told fans she did not blame her behavior on alcohol or depression.


Online Resources Corp., a McLean Internet banking and bill payment company, agreed to buy Incurrent Solutions Inc. of Parsippany, N.J., for $15 million in cash and stock. -The Washington Post


Roger Federer needed just 10 minutes on Thursday to finish his rain-interrupted second round match against Juan Martin del Potro, winning 6-2 7-5 6-1.


Iraqi forces to guard elections in January with US troops backing them up, general says. At least 1,325 members of the US military have died in the Iraq war, according to an Associated Press count.


Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has admitted that he had a disagreement with teammate Lauren after the Champions League tie against Rosenberg on Wednesday.


As the stock market edges up and the economy improves, day traders are tiptoeing back into a much-maligned profession that was nearly wiped out a few years ago.


Strong Quake Hits Hokkaido in Northern Japan

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 hit a wide area of Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido early Monday, Japanese media said, quoting the Japan Meteorological Agency.


Factions attempt unity as Arafat's condition wavers

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia met in Gaza City yesterday with leaders of the main Pales-tinian armed factions and security officials in a bid to prevent any outbreak of violence if Palestinian President Yasser Arafat dies.


Bear Stearns leader Cayne to give up CEO post: report

Bear Stearns Cos Inc  leader James Cayne will relinquish his title as chief executive, but remain chairman, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.


Productivity growth revised down to 1.6 pct

Business productivity growth was  revised down sharply in the fourth quarter to an annualized 1.6  percent pace, government data on Tuesday showed, suggesting  inflation pressures as labor costs soared.


A Mindset Media study says Mac users are more open-minded and liberal, and less modest, than the population at large.


The iPhone is launched ... but not by Apple

(InfoWorld) - The iPhone has arrived, but not from Apple Computer. Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems, introduced two VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) handsets adding to five others the company already offers. The group of phones is now part of a Linksys family of products called iPhone. The Linksys iPhones aren't quite what some people may have been expecting.Â Apple is rumored to be working onÂ a combined cell phone and digital music player and the mythical device has been dubbed the iPhone, after the popular iPod digital music player, by Apple enthusiasts. Linksys' newest iPhones include the CIT400, a cordless phone with a base station that attaches directly via Ethernet to a network and comes preloaded with VOIP software from eBay's Skype Internet telephony service. The phone allows users to make and receive Skype calls without having to turn on and use their computers. The WIP320 also comes loaded with Skype software and is compatible with Wi-Fi so that users can make and receive calls on the phone from anywhere they can connect to a wireless access point. Users can check their Skype contact list on the phones to see if someone they want to call is available. The devices support SkypeOut and SkypeIn, the services that allow users to make and receive calls with landline phones for a fee. The WIP320 costs $199.99 and the CIT400 retails for $179.99. Both are available in North America and are expected to become available in Europe, Asia and Latin America during the first quarter next year. If Apple is indeed developing a combined mobile phone and music player, fans will have to adjust their expectations that the device will likely not be called an iPhone. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Cisco holds the registration for the "iPhone" trademark.


It is down to the proverbial "game-time decision" with defensive end Richard Seymour .


Giving credit, Lane Hartwell, and the Richter Scales

I'm unsure what good will come out of this whole incident. The problem is that when emotions run high, as they did here, people tend to spend more time fortifying their own positions rather than exploring new ones.


Suicide Bomber Kills 12 in Attack on Iraqi Police

A suicide car bomber plowed into  policemen waiting to collect their salary at a police station  west of Ramadi Monday, killing 12 people in the latest  insurgent attack on Iraq's beleaguered security forces.


ConocoPhillips (COP:NYSE - news - research) will seek to buy up to a quarter of Russian oil giant Lukoil, Reuters reported Friday, citing an industry source familiar with the matter.


Northern Ireland's old enemies struggle to bury hatchet

Protestant firebrand Ian Paisley and Catholic former IRA leader Martin McGuinness must ditch their mutual enmity to share power in Northern Ireland following Wednesday's elections.


Free or Farmed, When Is a Fish Really Organic?

Wild fish, whose living conditions are not controlled, are not likely to meet the requirements for an ÂorganicÂ label.


North Carolina opens second half with 13-2 run

Camille Little had 13 points to lead North Carolina (No. 7 ESPN/USA Today, No. 5 AP) past Villanova 63-56 on Saturday in the opener of the Lady Rebel Shootout.


Scientists, Fishermen Worry About Herring

Each winter, schools of silvery herring pass beneath the Golden Gate Bridge on the way to drop their eggs in the lushly vegetated corners of San Francisco Bay.


The family of one of men killed in the Corus steelworks blast at Port Talbot say they are frustrated at the delay of his inquest.


Ruud van Nistelrooy scored all four goals Wednesday as Manchester United defeated Sparta Prague 4-1, improving the Red Devils to eight points in four games in Group D. Support your


With mixed emotions, the Boston College football team bid adieu to former coach Tom O'Brien, who met with his players one last time late yesterday afternoon to announce he was taking the job at North Carolina State, and welcomed defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani as interim head coach for the Dec. 30 Meineke Car Care Bowl against Navy in Charlotte, N.C.


TEHRAN, Iran - Iran said Wednesday it has processed several tons of raw "yellowcake" uranium to prepare it for enrichment - a key step in developing atomic weapons - in defiance of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency...


U.S. aircraft have blasted the rebel stronghold of Falluja for a third time in 24 hours in a concerted effort to hit militants loyal to guerrilla chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Washington's number one enemy in ...


AT&T profit rises on wireless, iPhone disappoints

AT&T Inc.  on Tuesday posted higher-than-expected quarterly profit on strong wireless subscriber growth, but results of the first two days of iPhone sales fell short of forecasts.


Fulham face the prospect of severe punishment after the Football Association threw the book at the club following Saturdayâs stormy match against West Brom.


The question is put to Andy Griffin, a supporter of President Bush from Canton, Ohio, after a Bush rally here. On Election Day, will his vote be for Bush or against Democrat John F. Kerry?


Leo Nunez took a shutout into the fifth inning in his first career start, outpitching 15-year veteran Tim Wakefield on Tuesday night to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Boston Red Sox 9-3.


Alcoa shares climb on restructuring, job cuts

Shares in Alcoa Inc.  firmed in  early Wednesday trade, boosted by its new restructuring and job  cuts as the aluminum giant continued its push to trim costs and  focus on more profitable businesses.


Researchers find that while you will slow down as you age, you may be able to stave off more of the deterioration than you thought.


Con Capitalia, nasce cosi' primo gruppo bancario in Italia


Deserter Tells of Beatings and 16-Hour Propaganda Lessons

Shedding new light on a bizarre Cold War tale, former US Army sergeant Charles Jenkins told a court martial in Japan that he and the others lived for years as a tightly knit - if not always harmonious â-roup honed by hardship, poverty and frequent


Usher to Perform at American Music Awards

R&B singer Usher, whose album "Confessions" steamed up the charts with songs about sex, affairs and breakups, will perform at the American Music Awards.


PBS estimates 18.7 million viewers saw Sunday's airings of "The War," the first chapter of Ken Burns' seven-part documentary about World War II.


For better or worse, college football needs Fighting Irish to be ...

Those Domeheads hungering for further indication that their Notre Dame heroes are marching back toward prosperity needed only to check in on Fighting Irish head coach Tyrone Willingham's weekly press conference to learn that things indeed are heading in