Fatah names former PM Abbas as candidate for PA chairman

The Fatah central committee on Sunday named former Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas as its candidate for chairman of the Palestinian Authority, to replace the late Yasser Arafat.


Giovanni Carrara walked Juan Rivera with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning Monday night, spoiling Los Angeles' six-run comeback and handing the Montreal Expos an 8-7 victory over the Dodgers.


Rate doubts mount as stocks fall after U.S. data

Central banks signaled that rises in interest rates were less certain than they had indicated just a few weeks ago as weak U.S. housing data sent fresh shivers through world markets.


Rimini, 13:27 - BASKET, LEGADUE: RIMINI PRENDE RASCHI

I Crabs Rimini (Legadue) hanno ingaggiato la guardia-ala Andrea Raschi, 28 anni, 198 cm, prodotto de...


Hundreds of Russians are rescued after ice-floes on which they had been fishing broke away from the shore.


Two Americans suffer suspected poisoning in Russia

Two U.S. citizens hospitalized in Moscow at the weekend are suffering from suspected thallium poisoning, the U.S. embassy said on Wednesday.


Blair accused of embracing politics of fear in reelection bid

LONDON -- Prime Minister Tony Blair's government was accused yesterday of playing politics with fear and using the threat of terrorism to boost its chances of reelection.


Johnny Hallyday is the closest thing France has to Elvis, so the veteran rocker's announcement that he is moving across the border to Switzerland to escape high taxes has come as a bombshell.


US STUDY SAYS IRAQ âINTENDEDâ TO MAKE WMDS

A draft report by the top US weapons inspector in Iraq has offered a detailed examination of Saddam Hussein's intentions to produce chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, but no evidence that stockpiles existed at the time of the US invasion of Iraq.


Political Yard Sign Wars Rage as Election Nears

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  - Two weeks before a tight  presidential election, tension among bitterly divided voters is  translating into a barrage of attacks on political targets that  can't talk back -- yard signs.


US rapper 50 Cent postpones his European tour, prompting questions over his retirement.


Marquette still hasn't figured out Louisville's defense. Edgar Sosa scored 18 points, Jerry Smith added 12 and the Cardinals locked up the Golden Eagles again, winning 71-57 Monday night to snap No. 16 Marquette's 14-game home winning streak.


Microsoft investigates Windows server flaw

Microsoft is investigating a security flaw in the Windows Internet Name Service that could allow an attacker to gain control over systems running the software.


Terrorismo. Negati gli arresti domiciliari a Cinzia Banelli

Niente arresti domiciliari per Cinzia Banelli, la pentita delle nuove Br. Il gup ha negato l'istanza presentata dai legali della donna perchÃ¨, si legge nel provvedimento, potrebbe sottrarsi "alla celebrazione dell'imminente giudizio".


Police charge three teenagers with the murder of 10-year-old schoolboy Damilola Taylor.


Former Vice President Al Gore on Monday called for immediate action to stop global warming, calling the phenomenon a "climate crisis" that demands attention from American leaders.


Henrik Larsson scores on his last competitive game at Old Trafford to take them into the Champions League quarter-finals.


Modular Mobile Phone Offers Some Big Benefits

Like stereos and computers, the cell phone is moving toward components. An Israeli company, Modu, on Thursday debuted the first modular mobile phone.


Catania, 19:44 - CALCIO, CATANIA: ARRIVATI TRANSFER PER ALVAREZ E SILVESTRE

Silvio Baldini potrà contare su Pablo Alvarez e Matias Silvestre per la gara con l'Inter in p...


U.S. mulls Sudan sanctions over peacekeepers delay

The United States will consider further sanctions against Sudan if it continues "dragging its feet" over accepting a U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force, a top U.S. official said on Thursday.


Fossil find proves dinosaurs looked after their babies

The mystery of whether dinosaurs were indifferent parents or cared for their young may have been solved by a discovery in China. More than 100 million years ago an adult dinosaur was buried


Twin Nasa spacecraft capture panoramic images that will the study of solar explosions capable of causing havoc on Earth.


The government is considering its next move after MPs voted to create a 100% elected House of Lords.


Sono esponenti di spicco di due clan del Vesuviano


Conventional wisdom says the Moon is dead. Conventional wisdom may be wrong. Today in the journal Nature, a team of scientists announced evidence for fresh geologic activity on the Moon.


Shah Rukh Khan apologises to Buddhist monks

COLOMBO: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has apologised to Sri Lanka's protesting Buddhist monks for the timing of his mega concert here, which coincides with the death anniversary of a popular priest, but said the show will go on.


Frost & Sullivan Honors Industry's Top Achievers at 2006 Excellence in Chemicals Awards Banquet

LONDON, December 13  /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan presented twelve awards at its prestigious 2006 Excellence in Chemicals Awards Banquet held in the city yesterday evening.


Il ministro dello Sport Melandri: "Riscrivere le regole interne del calcio"Entro la fine dell'anno sarÃ  convocata un'assemblea con le componenti della Federazione                                            Figc, Petrucci proporrÃ  Pancalli come commissario straordinario


Blair's efforts are putting hostage in danger, say aid staff

Iraqi colleagues of the kidnapped aid worker Margaret Hassan are deeply worried that Tony Blair's repeated pledges to save her may be putting her life in more danger.


News: The Song Of The Sorcelator, Part Two

Tycho:  I really must stress to online PlayStation 3 partisans the extent to which they were not at E3.  Those of you playing "the home game" might have seen a trailer or two and come away with the idea that with grace and pride your grey altar stood high over conquered foes.  Ain't the case.


Dec 07  - Celebrex (celecoxib) does not raise the risk of heart attack to the extent that Vioxx (rofecoxib) does, according to an early online release from the Annals of Internal Medicine.


Drafts of a report from the top US inspector in Iraq indicate there were no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, according to The AP.


A European Union court on Wednesday  confirmed it had upheld curbs imposed by the EU's executive on  Microsoft MSFT.O, dismissing the software giant's appeal for  a suspension.


St. Helens alert raised, evacuation ordered

SEATTLE - Government seismologists raised the alert level for Mount St. Helens on Saturday after its second steam eruption in two days, saying the next blast could threaten life and property in the remote area near the volcano.


Cordoba 5.5 - Gli attaccanti del Parma lo mettono spesso in difficoltÃ , anche se alla fine si dimostra il "migliore" della retroguardia interista. Favalli 5 - Dalle sue parti Marchionni fa il bello ed il cattivo tempo.


Inviato Quartetto ha concluso colloqui con governi dell'area


Scotland manager Berti Vogts tonight declared he does not expect to be sacked following todayâs 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Norway.


A CRAZY John's "mother of all clearance" sales is how Mark Latham yesterday described John Howard's $6 billion pre-election spending spree.


Celtic chairman Brian Quinn says the relationship between boss Gordon Strachan and Man Utd's Sir Alex Ferguson is "pretty stable".


LONDON, England -- A British anti-war lawmaker has won a libel case against a newspaper who accused him of receiving secret payments from former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.


Google Releases Updated Picasa Photo Sharing and Management Tool  Google today released Picasa 2, a free photo management software that makes it simpler than ever for people to organize, edit and share their digital pictures. Google's new version of Picasa offers photographers of all skill levels easy-to-use tools that automatically organize ...


In its 180th meeting with Princeton, and first against the Tigers in the playoffs, Dartmouth had added incentive last night in the first game of a best-of-three ECACHL quarterfinal series in Hanover, N.H.


Pope to receive parents of British girl missing in Portugal

The parents of Madeleine McCann, the four-year-old British girl who went missing in Portugal nearly a month ago, left Tuesday for Rome where they will meet with Pope Benedict XVI.


Obama hits streets in grass-roots effort

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama hit the streets Saturday in what he said was an unprecedented grass-roots focus as the campaign for the nomination begins to take shape in a handful of states which hold early tests of strength.


On Wednesday morning in Verona, Australian Michael Rogers was awarded his gold medal as 2003 Elite World TT champion by the UCI, but wasn't that excited about winning it due to the doping disqualification of ...


FEC won't ease limits on interest groups

Federal election regulators refused to ease limits on political advertising Tuesday, blocking an effort to let interest groups run radio and television ads mentioning elected officials within weeks of an election.


com. Wally Backman, whom New York general manager Omar Minaya was scheduled to interview Thursday in St. Louis, withdrew his name from consideration for the Mets' vacant managerial position.


Opposition still 'under grave threat' in Zim

Opposition leaders and human rights campaigners have dismissed suggestions that the acquittal of Morgan Tsvangirai on treason charges is the start of a new dawn of independence for Zimbabwe's judiciary.


New perpendicular recording technology could lead to thinner, lighter, 80GB IPods.


Asia oil market fears China Aviation fallout

SINGAPORE: Asian oil traders fear China Aviationâs $550 million trading loss will stunt derivatives trade and force a credit clampdown, particularly for Chinese firms feeding their energy-hungry economy.


Pakistan and India have kept the peace process moving after two days of meetings between the visiting Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Indian government.


Parents-to-be are urged to be cautious about commercial firms offering ultrasound scans of their unborn baby.


Pew: Phones, in-person strong with teens

Teenagers still value phone calls and face-to-face meetings with friends even as they frequent online hangouts like Facebook and MySpace, a new study finds.


Girano tanti nomi ma alla fine andranno in porto pochi acquistiAnzi pochissimi. Semaforo rosso per Milan, Juve e Roma. Forse l'Inter                                          Calcio in crisi, mercato povero Non decollano gli acquisti di stagione                                                                                I bilanci in rosso delle societÃ  di calcio impediscono trattative serie di GIULIO CARDONEANDREA SORRENTINO


High-Risk Women Not Lowering Cholesterol Enough

NEW YORK  - New research indicates that few  high-risk women are achieving the optimal cholesterol levels  set forth in recent guidelines by the American Heart  Association (AHA). Moreover, only about one third of eligible  women are receiving cholesterol-lowering drugs.


Party Report: Citizen Journalism Hits the Big (Video) Screen

Videobloggers and mainstream TV folks gather in San Francisco's Pier 38 on Wednesday for an outdoor screening of some of the month's best web videos.


Analysis If the antitrust lawsuit that Novell filed against Microsoft comes to court, it will reopen long-forgotten battles over technologies that most of us will even have trouble remembering.


'Kite Runner' film banned in Afghanistan: ministry

Afghanistan has banned the film "The Kite Runner" because a scene involving the sexual assault of a young boy plays on ethnic differences, the culture ministry said Wednesday.


Obiettivo ora piu'ambizioso,crescita 2/o trimestre inferiore


CEO wannabe Giancarlo not a team player Cisco number two Charles Giancarlo, who was widely tipped to become the firm's next CEO, has resigned.â¦


Norway to limit climate quotas for companies

Norway will limit companies' ability to  buy greenhouse gas emission quotas in developing countries in  line with European Union rules aimed at forcing cuts at home,  the government said on Wednesday.


FBI Investigating 'Dirty Bomb' Threat in Boston

The FBI said on Wednesday it was  investigating a report of a "dirty bomb" threat in Boston, but  called the information "uncorroborated."


Donald Puddy, 67, Space Flight Director, Dies

Donald R. Puddy, a longtime NASA flight director, supervised Apollo, Skylab and early space shuttle missions from Mission Control.


Scientists use new ultrasound tool to find gas

The technology  resembles the ultrasounds used by doctors to inspect a woman's  womb. But a team of scientists are using it to map rocks deep  below the Earth's surface to hunt for oil and gas.


Great Britain have been handed a daunting trip to Argentina in the first round of the Davis Cup.


Peru TV Shows Images of Man Burned Alive

Peru's state-run television station broadcast images Thursday of villagers in the country's remote Lake Titicaca region dousing an accused thief with gasoline and setting him ablaze.


WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday curbed investor lawsuits against businesses accused of scheming to inflate stock prices.


Predictions Of Further PSP Release Delay Floated

Thanks to CNN Money for its article discussing the possible further delay of Sony's PSP handheld. According to the piece: "Activision CEO Bobby Kotick told investors yesterday that his company does not expect the PSP to launch in North America until the ...


France Riled by Failed Iraq Rescue Mission

Farcical. Lamentable. Simply dangerous. It seems no words are too strong to express France's outrage with a lawmaker who embarked on what the government insists was a private mission to free three hostages in Iraq.


AMD Assaults New Performance Heights with New Chips

As expected, Advanced Micro Devices, on Tuesday officially released its new microprocessors aimed at high-end desktop computers. The new chips set the new records in a variety of industrial benchmarks and


Reports say that Israeli soldier has been killed in clashes in the central Gaza Strip with Israeli forces.


E' Gennaro Perillo, 41 anni, assassinato a Pozzuoli


The leader of an identity theft ring that drained data from a major retailer gets five years in prison.


Israel's Olmert sees "dramatic" W.Bank improvements

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday that Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank could expect dramatic changes for the better under a new emergency administration, according to an aide.


Kerry Faults Bush for WTO Sanctions Threat

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Tuesday accused the Bush administration of failing to protect American jobs from unfair foreign competition after the World


Polling complaints by Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and John McCain that led New Hampshire's attorney general to an Oregon pollster are headed to a New Hampshire grand jury for consideration.


Arab American Voters Drop Support for Bush

DEARBORN, Mich.  - Hundreds of Arab Americans  danced and celebrated in the streets of this Detroit suburb  after the fall of Baghdad last year, and enthusiastically  shouted thanks to President Bush.


The IOC opened an investigation Tuesday into doping allegations against Marion Jones, who could eventually be stripped of her five medals from the 2000 Olympics.


Iraq court upholds "Chemical Ali" death sentence

An Iraqi appeals court on Tuesday upheld the death sentence against Saddam Hussein's cousin, widely known as "Chemical Ali", for masterminding a genocidal campaign against Iraq's Kurds in the 1980s.


Al via nuovo canale comico della piattaforma satellitare


Sara' presentato la prossima settimana e costera' 500 dlr


Verizon sues FCC over open-access auction

(InfoWorld) - Verizon Wireless has encountered strong opposition for its request that an appeals court overturn U.S. Federal Communications Commission auction rules on a portion of wireless spectrum. Verizon Wireless, in a brief filed Monday, asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to review the FCC's decision to require so-calledÂ open-access rulesÂ on about a third of the 62MHz of spectrum in theÂ 700MHz band scheduled to be auctioned in January. The FCC voted in July to require that the winner of 22MHz of spectrum allow any wireless devices to connect to the network, meaning wireless telephone customers could bring their handset devices from other carriers. The FCC also prohibited the winning bidder on the 22MHz block of spectrum from blocking or slowing wireless and Web content from competitors. Those rules are "arbitrary, capricious, unsupported by substantial evidence and otherwise contrary to law," Verizon Wireless said in its brief. Verizon spokeswoman Debra Lewis said the company will let the brief "speak for itself." Media reform group Free Press, a supporter of the open-access rules, accused Verizon Wireless of sending "lawyers, FUD and money" in an attempt to overturn the FCC's decision. The FCC's open-access rules were a "small step on the long road to breaking up the anticompetitive, anticonsumer oligopoly that controls almost every level of the wireless marketplace," Free Press said in a statement. Frontline Wireless, another supporter of the open-access rules, said in a statement that Verizon's lawsuit "throws a wrench into the auction to promote competition and innovation for consumers." Google also criticized Verizon's lawsuit. The open-access rules are "a big step for consumer choice and competition," Chris Sacca, Google's head of special initiatives, wrote on Google's public policy blog. "Apparently, one of the nation's major existing wireless carriers doesn't think consumers deserve more choices." The wireless spectrum is a valuable public resource, Sacca added. "The nation's spectrum airwaves are not the birthright of any one company," he wrote. The 700MHz spectrum is being abandoned by U.S. television stations after Congress has required them to move from analog to all-digital broadcasts by February 2009. Many tech, broadband and wireless vendors are eyeing the spectrum for next-generation wireless and broadband services; wireless signals can travel about four times farther in the 700MHz band as signals in higher bands. Many groups calling forÂ net-neutrality laws for broadband providersÂ have suggested that the 700MHz band is the best chance in the coming years for a third broadband service that competes with cable and telecom providers. The open-access rules, similar to net-neutrality rules, could help foster a third competitor, but many open-access supporters wanted the FCC to also require the winning bidding to provide wholesale access to competitors at wholesale prices. Verizon Wireless and other critics have suggested the open-access rules will limit the options for the spectrum. The rules could drive down the price the U.S. government gets for the spectrum, and they could discourage the winning bidder from rolling out innovative new services on the spectrum, critics have said.


Japan's Earth Simulator supercomputer is no longer the most powerful on the planet, a record it has held since 2002. IBM has assembled a 16,000 processor version of its BlueGene/L supercomputer


Microsoft hints at Yahoo hostile takeover

Microsoft said its $44.6 billion offer to purchase Yahoo is "fair" and hinted that it may pursue a hostile takeover of the Internet company, according to a statement Microsoft made Monday in response to Yahoo's formal rejection of its buyout offer.In a statement, Microsoft said it's "unfortunate" that Yahoo "has not embraced" its proposal to combine the two companies, and the rejection of the offer "does not change our belief in the strategic and financial merits of our proposal."The company also hinted that it may take the offer directly to Yahoo's shareholders, a move that could result in a hostile takeover."As we have said previously, Microsoft reserves the right to pursue all necessary steps to ensure that Yahoo's shareholders are provided with the opportunity to realize the value inherent in our proposal," Microsoft said in its statement.Earlier Monday, Yahoo formally rejected Microsoft's bid to acquire the company in a half-stock/half-cash purchase, saying it undervalued Yahoo.On Feb. 1, Microsoft offered to pay $31 per share for half of Yahoo's outstanding shares in cash -- about $22.3 billion -- and 0.9509 of a Microsoft share for the other half. Microsoft's half-cash/half-stock offer to Yahoo was valued at about $44.6 billion at the time it was made; Yahoo's share price was $19.18 at the time.However, since then Microsoft's stock has gone down while Yahoo's has risen, making the deal, under its current terms, worth less than when it was originally offered. This led to speculation that Yahoo might look for other suitors; the company is reportedly looking for about $40 per share. Yahoo's share price closed at $29.87 Monday; Microsoft's closed at $28.21.Some have speculated that Microsoft would raise its offer to the company to about $35 per share -- about midway between its original offer and Yahoo's target price -- but in its statement on Monday, the company seemed adamant about keeping the offer as it stands."We are offering shareholders superior value and the opportunity to participate in the upside of the combined company," Microsoft said. "Based on conversations with stakeholders of both companies, we are confident that moving forward promptly to consummate a transaction is in the best interests of all parties."Microsoft's offer to purchase Yahoo is an attempt to join forces and improve both companies' positions against Google in online advertising and services. However, many questioned both the logistical complexity and cultural differences involved in combining the companies, and there are fears that it will thwart rather than help their efforts to compete with Google.Yahoo is reportedly in talks with both AOL and Google to try to avoid being acquired by Microsoft. Analysts said Monday that Yahoo's initial rejection of the offer is more of an attempt to elicit a higher bid -- either from Microsoft or another company. If none comes, the company might decide in the future to accept Microsoft's offer as it stands, they said.


A soldier in the Parachute Regiment dies after a "search and detention" operation in the Iraqi city of Basra.


Personal Health: For Teenagers, the Car is the Danger Zone

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 16- to 20-year-olds, with about 5,500 teenage drivers or passengers dying each year.


U.S. Says Diplomacy Can Solve Iran Nuclear Dispute

The United States said on Sunday it  planned to increase pressure on Iran this week to dispel  concerns about its nuclear program, but played down the need  for immediate sanctions and expressed confidence the dispute  could be settled through diplomacy.


Legal eagles question Baazee CEO's arrest

MUMBAI: It's not just Condoleezza Rice who's taking interest in the welfare of Baazee.com CEO Avnish Bajaj. The arrest and continued custody of the Harvard graduate in the MMS case has raised several questions in legal circles.


Kenya parties to work with Africa panel: Kufuor

Kenya's feuding president and opposition leader have agreed to work with a panel of African personalities to seek resolution to a dispute over the December 27 election, the head of the African Union said on Thursday.


Easyjet says the disruption caused by August's terror alert cost it Â£4m after it was forced to cancel 469 flights.


European stocks edged higher on Thursday with telecoms groups topping the league, but with the closure of US and Tokyo markets for public holidays, trade was thin and lacked direction.


The Bills are making plans for tight end Kevin Everett to attend the team's home finale Sunday, which would be his first trip back to Buffalo since sustaining a serious spinal cord injury.


The Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday that it has blocked a company from seeking higher royalties on a patented technology that is included in a widely used computer networking standard.


India already plans to pull out some 20,000 troops, according to army officers, out of an estimated 500,000. dispute, which has bedevilled relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours for half a century.


As Senate prepares to consider a Net access ban extension, Democrat behind original ban warns changes to current law approved by the House of Representatives could make that so.


Diplomatic row as Afghans expel European pair

A diplomatic row erupted on Wednesday  between Afghanistan and key aid partners after Kabul declared  "persona non grata" a Briton and an Irishman working for the EU  and the U.N., accusing them of threatening state security by  meeting Taliban insurgents.


The good news is that it's not terrible but it's not that great either. The Grudge joins The Ring as part of the American trend of remaking Japanese horror flicks for an American audience.


Has the specialty retailer come to terms with its plight in the domestic toy market?


U.S. manufacturing weakness stokes recession worry

U.S. factory production shrank in December for the first time in nearly a year, sparking fears the economy may be headed for recession and sending stocks sharply lower.


European stock market Euronext has met with the London Stock Exchange (LSE) amid speculation that it may be ready to launch a cash bid.


Baghdad Rocket Attack Kills Two US Soldiers

Two American soldiers were killed and five injured Monday in a rocket attack in Baghdad. The military said the incident occurred in the southern part of the city but provided no other details.


Phillies 3, Mets 2: After Fourth Defeat in a Row, the Mets Send a Distress Signal

Up next for the Mets, losers of four in a row, in this tour through the N.L. East contenders is Atlanta, which would like nothing more than to peck away, too.


The Basics: Worrying About the Public Worrying

Why wonât NASA release the results of a survey of 8,000 commercial pilots that sought to track safety problems and determine if they were worsening?


Sadr aide released from US detention in Iraq

A senior aide to rebel Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has been released from US detention, an aide to Sadr, Sheikh Mahmoud Sudani, says.


Flight Attendants Union Head Urges Strike

The president of the Association of  Flight Attendants on Tuesday urged union leaders to authorize a  nationwide strike and railed against U.S. airlines for slashing  flight attendants' pay and benefits.


The US presents a new draft UN resolution to put pressure on Sudan to resolve the conflict in the Darfur region.


They wondered if Sen. John Kerry really is too wishy-washy, how he would protect America from another terrorist attack and whether he wants to raise taxes on the middle class. They challenged President Bush to find three mistakes he's made, to say how he'd heal anti-American aggravation in the world and to rate his environmental record.


CORRECTED: Kenya bloodshed leads to accusations of genocide

(Replaces 16th paragraph to correct erroneous background information on Kenya's foreign currency ratings)


NASA set to send robot to dig on Martian surface

NASA is set to launch a robotic  spacecraft next month that will dig into the soil near the  northern pole of Mars to check for conditions favorable to  microbial life now or in the planet's past.


EUROPA/ITALIA - Padre Adolfo NicolÃ¡s eletto Preposito Generale della Compagnia di GesÃ¹ Roma (Agenzia Fides) - Sabato 19 gennaio, la 35Âª Congregazione Generale della Compagnia di GesÃ¹ ha eletto Padre Adolfo NicolÃ¡s, S.J.,  Preposito Generale.  EÂ il 29Â° successore di SantÂIgnazio di Loyola alla guida della Compagnia. Nato il 29 aprile 1...


NEW YORK  - Cigarette smoking appears to promote the development of polyps in the colon, especially those that are more likely to progress to cancer, a research review suggests.


The wife of a Marine facing life in prison for the murder of an Iraqi testified at his sentencing hearing, describing him as a Christian and a good father who bears no anger toward his colleagues or the Marine Corps for prosecuting him.


Toshiba on Tuesday underlined the growing determination of Japanese companies to protect their intellectual property rights, announcing legal action in Japan and the US against Hynix of South Korea for alleged infringement of its memory chip patents.


Freed UN workers, weary but smiling, visit Afghanistan's president

Three United Nations workers who were held hostage in Afghanistan met President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday, looking tired but happy a day after their release from nearly four weeks of captivity.


Police in Edinburgh appeal for witnesses after a 14-year-old girl is raped in Liberton as she walks home.


Obama and Clinton tied in Iowa; Edwards close

DES MOINES, Iowa  - Democrat Barack Obama pulled even with Hillary Clinton in Iowa, with John Edwards close behind, in a tightening three-way race one day before the first presidential nominating contest, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.


Top diplomats from the United States and Libya celebrated their newfound friendship Saturday, but disputes remain from more than two decades of hostility.


Rio de Janeiro, 19:00 - CALCIO, MILAN: DIDA DICE ADDIO ALLA NAZIONALE

Nelson Dida non vestirà piÃ¹ la maglia della nazionale brasiliana. Lo ha annunciato il ct verd...


Despite analyst claims that it would fall short of its shipment goals for the year, Sony said Wednesday that it still plans to ship 1 million PlayStation 3 consoles to the US before the end of the year.


The Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers ended two days of talks yesterday with promises of more negotiations on trust-building measures but no sign of progress toward resolving their pivotal dispute over the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir.


Ontario police posted video of two men wanted for questioning on YouTube in addition to giving it to local television stations for broadcast.


' KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. Sept. 22, 2004 - President Bush on Wednesday accused Sen. John Kerry of sending "mixed signals" on the Iraq war that threaten US troops' morale and undermine Iraqis' determination to face down insurgents.


Bush Sees an 'Opening for Peace' in Mideast if Arafat Dies

President Bush yesterday signaled deeper US engagement in Middle East peace efforts, saying he sees an "opening for peace" now that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is near death.


'Housewives' Prompts NBC to Cook Up a Copy

With ABC's new dark comedy series "Desperate Housewives" scoring big numbers for a second consecutive week, it's only a matter of time before the other broadcast networks put out APBs seeking


British rowing looks set to lose the services of two of its Olympic champions in the space of 24 hours. Today Matthew Pinsent, who has won four Olympic gold medals, is expected to announce his retirement.


Russian agent murder suspect set to reveal 'sensation'

The chief suspect in the London murder of Russian ex-agent Alexander Litvinenko was set to make revelations about the case on Friday that he has already flagged as "a sensation."


Microsoft Delays SP2 Auto Update For Enterprises

Although Monday was to be the day when Microsoft began pushing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) to enterprises, it changed its mind at the last minute and delayed the automatic updating for more than a week.


Building Codes Lag Behind Mayorâs Vision

Bureaucratic delay and red tape can endlessly snarl a building project, even one encouraged by the administration of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.


PGA veteran joins sibling as only fourth pair to win on tour

Before Sunday's three-shot win at the Valero Texas Open, Bart Bryant had been known best as the brother of Brad. But Bart got out from under his brother's shadow, dusting the field with a convincing final round 67-261 total.


The agency probing the secret files from the Romanian communist era may be abolished after a court ruling.


Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic edged Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal by slightly more than 65,000 votes for a starting spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team, according to the NBA, which announced the totals yesterday.


A soldier accused of helping his platoon sergeant kill an unarmed Iraqi said he only faked his part of the shooting, intentionally missing the already-wounded man.


Aggressive Springboks collect yellow cards and Tri-Nations title

SOUTH Africa survived two late yellow cards to win their second Tri-Nations title with a rousing 23-19 triumph over Australia in Durban yesterday.


Dino De Laurentiis Opens Vast Film Studio in Morocco

OUARZAZATE, Morocco  - With sand dunes, oases and  snow-capped peaks so beloved of epic filmmakers, not to mention  an army willing to provide thousands of extras, Morocco can now  boast one of the world's largest film studios.  Veteran Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis and Rome's famed  Cinecitta Studios have teamed up to create CLA Studios, which  stretches over 371 acres with two shooting stages of 19,380  square feet each.


Raise Your Voice: Drama Starring Hilary Duff, Oliver James, Jason Ritter, John Corbett and David Keith. Directed by Sean McNamara.


E' un vero e proprio dominio quello di Bode Miller in Coppa del Mondo, almeno in questo primo scorcio di stagione, lo statunitense infatti ha vinto anche il superG di Lake Louise, disputatosi domenica sera in Canada.


Breakthrough treatments for multiple sclerosis likely 'soon'

Breakthrough treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) may be just five years away, an Australian leader in stem cell research said in Christchurch yesterday.


Bin Laden's son wants to visit his wife in Britain

A grandmother who recently married Osama bin Laden's fourth-eldest son says he wants to visit Britain.


Malaysia urges Indonesia to sign up to regional plans for fighting pollution from forest-clearance fires.


'Alexander' Fails to Conquer U.S. Box Office

Conquering much of the world was a piece of cake for Alexander the Great. Conquering the North American box office is another thing.


John Paul II Encourages Democracy in Iraq

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 4, 2004 .- John Paul II condemned the present "senseless violence" in Iraq and encouraged the establishment of democracy in the country, when he received Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi in audience.


International Business Machines Corp.  on Monday posted a flat quarterly net profit, weighed down by a  legal settlement, but the world's largest computer company  sounded a confident outlook and its shares rose 2.3 percent.


U.S. human rights record attacked by Iran

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to speak before the United Nations on Tuesday, a day after he  challenged a university audience to look into "who was truly involved" in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.


Talks on the future of two shipyards on the Clyde and the naval dockyard at Rosyth are due to take place.


Military aid began arriving Friday after the United States said it will rush supplies to the Lebanese army


While security chiefs abuse their power Wire tap evidence should be admissible in court, attorney general Lord Goldsmith has told the Guardian newspaper after being briefed by his opposite number in the United States.â¦


Spyware has come under target of the Federal Trade Commission with a new complaint filed in federal court which is requesting that two Internet based advertising and software firms be closed.


Japan kills whales as protesters pull out: report

Japanese harpoonists killed five whales in one day after protesters who had halted the hunt in Antarctic waters were forced to return to port to refuel, an Australian report said Friday.


When it gets tough, this stuff more than good enough

That should allay the anxieties of St. Louis Cardinals fans. And silence the critics who predicted quick playoff doom for baseball's best team in the regular season.


North Korea has turned 8000 spent nuclear fuel rods into weapons to deter a possible US nuclear strike, a North Korean minister said.


Uzbekistan's president threatened on Friday to crack down on Western aid groups whom he accuses of engaging in opposition-oriented political activities in the tightly controlled ex-Soviet country.


Guidant Profit Up on Defibrillator Sales

Cardiovascular device maker Guidant  Corp. GDT.N said on Thursday its quarterly net profit rose,  helped by sales of implantable devices to treat irregular heart  rhythms.


Iran vote "decisive defeat" for president: reformers

Iran's biggest reformist party said on Monday President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had suffered a "decisive defeat" in nationwide elections last week due to his government's "authoritarian and inefficient methods".


Russia Seeks UN Terrorist Asylum Abuse Crackdown

Russia on Thursday proposed a  U.N. crackdown on the abuse of political asylum for terrorist  purposes, raising pressure on Western states to hand over  wanted Chechen activists.


Our columnist Adam L. Penenberg wishes he could snap his fingers and change the media landscape for the better. Among his 2005 wishes: getting bloggers to actually break news, abolishing the FCC and making news organizations watchdogs again.


Nokia battery case to cost Matsushita up to $172 mln

Japan's Matsushita Electric Industrial Co  said on Friday that replacement of its batteries in Nokia  mobile phones is likely to cost the company 10 billion to 20  billion yen ($86-$172 million).


Pope Benedict XVI's remarks on Islam and holy war that have angered much of the Muslim world are in line with his efforts to spare religion from violence and extremism.


Brando Ex-Business Manager Files Lawsuit

Marlon Brando's former business manager filed a $3.5 million claim against his estate, alleging the Oscar winner sexually harassed her and breached their contract by removing her as a co-executor of his will days before his death.


Cheap and cheerful Review Quality used to cost. We all know that whenever we bought a consumer electronics product, part of what we paid went on the brand name. Well, things have changed and the Canon PowerShot A460 is sure testament to this, and a snip at just Â£70, the A460 is very much a budget-priced product.â¦


Frist knocks Edwards over stem cell comment

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist attacked Sen. John Edwards on Tuesday over a comment the Democratic vice presidential candidate made regarding actor Christopher Reeve.


Troubled European plane manufacturer Airbus could cut up to 12,000 jobs in a long-awaited restructuring plan to be announced Tuesday, the French business press said.


CORRUPTION:  Russian Business Joins With U.S. NGO to Fight Back

NEW YORK, Dec 8 (IPS) - The popular image of Russia in the West today is of   a land of post-Soviet oligarchs, oil company billionaires  languishing in  jail, President Vladimir Putin ruthlessly  centralising his power by  replacing provincial governors, civil  liberties being abused, and, of  course, the 10-year war in  Chechnya with the resulting unthinkable murder  of hundreds of  children in Beslan.


Shares in troubled mortgage lender Northern Rock rose on a promise by the central bank to back its deposits, but worried customers continued to line up Tuesday to withdraw their savings.


UPDATE 5-Kiev given 3-0 win at Roma after referee injury

Dynamo Kiev were awarded a 3-0 win over AS Roma on Tuesday after their Champions League match was abandoned when the referee was hit by an object thrown from the crowd in Rome.


Blair says G8 must deliver more aid to Africa

Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday called on G8 leaders meeting this week to agree concrete measures to help Africa and on the United States to go further in proposals on climate change.


The NASD on Tuesday said it censured and fined 29 securities firms a total of $9.22 million for failing to properly disclose required information about their brokers more than 8,300 times.


Rain pushes Game 4 of Yanks-Bosox to today

BOSTON - Yesterday's Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox was postponed because of rain and rescheduled for tonight.


Two men being questioned for bombing in eastern Pakistan, killing ...

Beating their chests in grief and chanting anti-government slogans, thousands of Shiite Muslims on Monday mourned victims of a suicide attack on a Pakistan mosque that killed four people, the latest in a string of apparently sectarian assaults.


No Robson revival for Baggies against Boro

Bryan Robson's first match as manager of West Bromwich Albion ended in a 2-1 defeat against Middlesbrough here at the Hawthorns.


L'attestazione fornita dai responsabili agenzie Ue ed Usa


Iran, IAEA see progress in atomic transparency talks

Two days of talks between Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog on an Iranian offer of more nuclear transparency made progress and discussions will continue in the next few weeks, both sides said on Thursday.


Links to the week's topics from search engine forums across the web: Hack Your Competition Out of Organic Search - MSN And Yahoo Join Google With Sitemaps - How Local Search And SEM Relates - What to Look for When Purchasing Links? - What Tools Does An SEO Guru Use? and more.


The Grudge 2 continues where the first one left off.


China's annual inflation rate dropped  sharply in November, providing further evidence that steps to  cool the economy are working and reducing the chances in the  near term of a fresh rise in interest rates.


With the expiration of the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, the league locked out its players at midnight Wednesday. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced earlier in the


Mount St. Helens ready to erupt at any moment: geologists

SEATTLE, Washington, Oct 2  - The Mount St. Helens volcano, which roared to life Friday with a giant plume of steam and ash, remains dangerous and could erupt again at any time, scientists warned on Saturday.


Theater buffs have been worried sick about what would happen to âSweeney Toddâ when it was remade as a film. Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the score, eagerly wielded the razor.


World Business Briefing: Russia: Economy Expanded in Quarter

Russiaâs economy expanded in the first quarter at the fastest pace in six years as production of building materials increased to keep pace with a construction boom and consumer demand remained strong. Gross domestic product rose at an annual rate of 7.9 percent in the period, compared with 5 percent in the first quarter of 2006, the Federal Statistics Service said. The figure is not seasonally adjusted. Industrial output increased 7.9 percent in the first quarter of the year, compared with 4.1 percent in the period last year, according to the Federal Statistics Service.


Sources: Sprint, Nextel closing in on $36B deal

Sprint Corp. is in advanced talks to buy Nextel Communications Inc. for more than $36 billion in a mostly stock deal, sources familiar with the situation said today.


Le esequie di Rosario Rodino' alle 11 a Torino


Javier Vazquez pitched the New York Yankees to their second consecutive shutout, and Derek Jeter homered and doubled twice Wednesday in a 3-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals.


BCS must change format to allow deserving teams shot at title

Not like the pointless rankings calculation changes that have taken place the last couple years. The system thatâs been used to select the four major bowl match-ups since 1998 has been criticized in the past.


Canada beats US for gold, Sweden captures bronze in Four Nations ...

Dana Antal scored a tiebreaking goal early in the third period and Canada held on for a 2-1 victory over the United State in the championship game of the Four Nations Cup international women's hockey tournament.


The clock hasn't stopped ticking on the Astros, who keep staging one of the greatest stretch-drive comebacks in major league history. No matter how long it takes.


Pakistani police said they had arrested two militants wanted for the murder of Daniel Pearl but security officials and a lawyer said the pair were seized around four years ago.


Palestinians open election process to select candidate to replace ...

Palestinians formally opened the campaign to replace Yasser Arafat yesterday as candidates aspiring to replace the long-time leader began seeking signatures to qualify for the January 9 ballot.


Music download service for cell phones to launch in Europe

A new music service that allows  consumers to directly download an unlimited number of tracks to  their cell phones for a small weekly fee from wherever they are  will launch in Europe on Thursday.


Diamondbacks and Yankees close to a deal for Johnson

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Yankees were close to a deal Thursday that would send Randy Johnson to New York, with the teams still trying to finalize details of the trade.


But Microsoft downplays the value of Service Pack 3, arguing in essence, that Windows users should so get Vista instead.


Il premier Berlusconi accoglie il collega francese Raffarin


Deutsche Telekom plans to buy back its internet business T-Online, four years after floating it on the stock market at the height of the dotcom boom.


Networks in big fight on Thursday, Monday

One of the big stories  heading into this season was ABC's decision to move "Grey's  Anatomy" against CBS powerhouse "CSI: Crime Scene  Investigation" at 9 p.m. Thursdays.


Tokyo's Nikkei share average was up 0.56 percent in early morning trade on Tuesday as another jump in U.S. technology shares encouraged investors to step up buying in local counterparts such as Advantest Corp.


Jenson Button has admitted he was "misguided" in his attempts to switch to Williams for next season. The 24-year-old declared his intention to leave BAR in August but team boss David Richards prevented the move on legal grounds.


Howard Dean, the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee, called on the head of New York's Republican Party to apologize or resign Wednesday over remarks linking the Democrats to a civil rights lawyer convicted of aiding terrorists.


Conservative Leads South Korean Opinion Polls

The candidate of South Koreaâs conservative opposition party in next weekâs presidential election has surged far ahead of his rivals in the last opinion polls allowed before the balloting.


Stocks & Bonds: Investors React to New Worries Over State of Hedge Funds

Concern over subprime mortgages extended the stock marketâs worst weekly decline since March.


Killing of Margaret Hassan: Something Evil This Way Comes

In the context of the clinical demolition of Fallujah where an apparently unarmed and wounded Iraqi was shot by a US Marine, there are deaths that pierce the soul in a way that even that death in a war zone cannot.


News.com Extra: Overnight Web successes and their casual beginnings

Also: Pentagon's UAV use hits new high. See what people are saying on News.com Extra.


Members of a global landmine convention meet in the Kenyan capital to assess progress against the deadly weapons.


and face the challenges -- of its new status as the nation's biggest cellular provider. Cingular's $41 billion merger with AT&T Wireless Services Inc.


Two men are charged in connection with the murder of three people shot dead in Hertfordshire.


Mexico at last will have a final decision Tuesday on its disputed July 2 presidential race, with the nation's top electoral court expected to declare ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon president-elect.


Oil falls below $88 on U.S. recession fears

Oil prices extended their decline on Wednesday to below $88 a barrel as poor U.S. economic data reinforced fears that the world's largest economy is on the brink of a recession, knocking stock markets lower.


A suspicious bottle of water, a child overheard saying he had a bomb, a telephoned threat, locked lavatory doors.


CINCINNATI -- Jerome Bettis ran for 129 yards, and Pittsburgh's blitzing defense created havoc in the second half, setting up the Steelers' 19-14 victory over Cincinnati yesterday.


Pallinghurst ups bid for Australia's Consolidated

A consortium led by Pallinghurst Resources has raised its takeover offer for Australian mining firm Consolidated Minerals Ltd. , valuing it at A$642 million ($544 million) and winning the support of Consolidated's board.


Home Depot Inc. HD.N on Tuesday  reported a 19 percent rise in second-quarter profit, topping  estimates, as store renovations and better service drove sales  improvement in every category.


West must step up Afghan aid effort: NATO general

Western nations must do more to crack down on the drug trade and corruption in Afghanistan, NATO's commander said on Wednesday as the alliance prepared to assume security duties for the whole country.


Decreto CdM prevede riduzione del 20% delle tariffe


CHARLES CITY, Iowa - A police officer who claims his chicken sandwich was slimed by two teenage employees at a McDonald's restaurant is suing the fast food company.  Officer Josh Douglas said he was working nights two years ago and went through the McDonald's drive-thru in Charles City.


Brazil's Biggest Party Votes to Leave Government

By Tiago Pariz BRASILIA, Brazil  - Brazil's biggest party votedto leave the governing coalition on Sunday in a move that couldcomplicate President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's reform agendaand pressure him to give the centrist party extra governmentposts.


Update 1: Negotiators Meet at WTO for Farm Talks

Negotiators met Friday at the World Trade Organization for formal farm talks, capping a weeklong series of informal discussions on ways to reach a wider-ranging liberalization accord by the end of 2005.


Internet Commerce Corporation Acquires Stewart Technical Services

Internet Commerce Corporation (ICC) (NASDAQ: ICCA), a leader in business-to-business e-commerce solutions, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Stewart Technical Services (STS), a privately held provider of EDI services in Carrollton, Georgia.


Yankees recovery continues with win over Mets

Alex Rodriguez homered and drove in  three runs and Wang Chien-ming struck out a career-high 10  batters as the New York Yankees overpowered the cross-town Mets  8-2 in interleague play on Sunday.


"L'atmosfera e' stata buona e i risultati importanti"


Exxon Mobil Corp. XOM.N, the world's  largest publicly traded oil company, on Thursday reported a  rise in quarterly profit, driven by soaring oil and gas prices  in the quarter.


Democrats attack Gonzales, Supreme Court

Democrats running for president used a national meeting of trial lawyers on Sunday to attack other lawyers, pillorying Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and ridiculing recent decisions by the conservative-tilting Supreme Court.


Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs will be prosecuted first in Utah, then in Arizona, on charges that he arranged marriages of underage girls to older men, authorities said Wednesday.


Brad Renfro, the young actor whose film career began at age 12 with "The Client" before dissolving as he struggled with drug and alcohol problems, has died. He was 25.


Japan probes reported gang-rape by U.S. Marines

Police in Japan are investigating allegations that four U.S. Marines raped a 19-year-old Japanese woman, media and officials said, the latest episode to plague the U.S. military's relations with local communities.


Nubifragi su Maremma e Valdarno, allagamenti e frane

DifficoltÃ  nel centro sud della Toscana, la notte scorsa, a causa del maltempo e dei nubifragi che hanno provocato frane, allagamenti e straripamenti di canali e torrenti. In provincia di Grosseto il torrente


TOF 111: "Closer" and Hollywood's fear of erotic intimacy


What can science tell us about why kids run and jump?


British Enemy Combatant Alleges Torture, Murder by US Military at ...

A British man detained by the US military as an enemy combatant in the war on terror says he was tortured while held in Afghanistan and claims he saw fellow detainees killed by American soldiers there.


Kerry, Greenspan Diff on Social Security

SEATTLE Aug. 28, 2004 - John Kerry doesn't talk much about Social Security on the campaign trail, but he laid out some thoughts for a voter in Everett, Wash.


What models wear is noted, copied and may be fashionâs next hits.


After two years of fits and starts, Microsoft will finally deliver its Virtual Server 2005 product, which company officials contend will be an important contributor to its Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI), the company's plan for managing distributed systems.


Americans Cooked With Chili Peppers 6,000 Years Ago, Study Finds

Ancient Americans were making elaborate meals with chilis thousands of years ago—sometimes even before the development of pottery—scientists say.


Legal file-sharing service touts free music with ads

Qtrax, a new legal online file-sharing  service that allows fans to download songs for free, said on  Sunday it will launch with 25 million to 30 million copyrighted  tracks with backing from major labels.


Treviso, 18:18 - CALCIO, TREVISO: 21 CONVOCATI PER IL FROSINONE

Il tecnico del Treviso Giuseppe Pillon ha convocati 21 giocatori per la gara contro il Frosinone.<br...


Stock Market Rally Fueled by Cheaper Oil

Oil is still king on Wall Street --  and if you don't believe it, just take a look at this year's  stock market charts.


Larsson wakes up to grim and tiring end to Spanish dream

Henrik Larsson may quit football at the top level as a consequence of the knee ligament damage he suffered at the weekend, despite an assurance from Barcelona yesterday that the former Celtic striker would be guaranteed a one-year extension to his current


Scotland manager Walter Smith says his players must raise their game if they are to beat France.


Top Court Opens Term, Hears Sentencing Cases

The US Supreme Court opened its new term on Monday, with the government's top courtroom lawyer trying to save the long-standing federal rules used to sentence about 1,200 criminals each week.


UK, Iraq say will not give in to kidnappers

BAGHDAD, SEPTEMBER 23: The British and Iraqi governments said on Thursday that they would not bow to the demands of militants threatening to kill a British hostage, despite a video message from the captive pleading for his life.


Microsoft hints at delay of Vista in Europe

Microsoft raised the possibility on   Thursday that it might delay the introduction of its new Vista   Windows operating system in Europe, saying it depended on the   European Commission's antitrust requirements.


BBC One controller Peter Fincham said he is not planning to resign despite the Queen documentary blunder.


College sells 300 Oprah tickets in a day

Tickets to a fundraiser for Bennett College featuring Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou sold fast in the first day of public sale.


Just A Minute With: Sylvester Stallone on "Rambo"

Rambo is coming to get theater  audiences this week with Sylvester Stallone back on the big  screen as the touch-as-nails Vietnam veteran.


King Khan has assigned the directorial reins of his forthcoming film to talented director E Niwas.


The U.S. military has introduced "religious enlightenment" and other education programs for Iraqi detainees, some of whom are as young as 11, Marine Maj. Gen. Douglas M. Stone, the commander of U.S. detention facilities in Iraq, said yesterday.


Most analog cellular to fade away on Monday

You may think of sunsets as something nice to look at, but if you have an older cell phone or a home alarm system, there's one coming up on Monday that may not be so pretty.That day, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will let mobile operators shut down their analog networks. It's called the "analog sunset" because those AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) networks, which were first deployed in the 1980s and brought cellular service to millions of Americans, will finally disappear behind the digital networks that serve almost all mobile phones in use today.The biggest U.S. mobile operators, AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless, will close down their analog networks that day. At the same time, AT&T will turn off its first digital network, which uses TDMA (Time-Division Multiple Access) technology. (Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA don't have analog networks.) Calls to some small, rural mobile operators indicated that most of them plan to shut down AMPS, too.There aren't many mobile phones out there that will go dark after the analog sunset, according to the big carriers, which have been warning subscribers about the change for months and offering them incentives to switch over."We're talking about a very, very small number of customers here," said AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel. He estimated that 99.9 percent of AT&T's traffic is carried on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). Verizon spokeswoman Debra Lewis estimated that less than 1 percent of that carrier's subscribers were on analog even before it started a big effort to reach them last year. Neither gave exact numbers of subscribers. But given that those operators have about 60 million subscribers each, the number might still be in the hundreds of thousands.However, AMPS isn't only used for cell phones. Many alarm companies use the system to alert police or fire departments to emergencies at homes or businesses. About three years ago, the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) industry group took a survey which revealed that just under 1 million of the approximately 30 million monitored home and business alarm systems used an analog cellular network, said AICC chairman Louis Fiore. About 850,000 of them used the system only as a backup in case the phone line was cut, he said.Alarm manufacturers are now replacing many of those analog systems with digital ones, Fiore said. About six months ago, the manufacturers believed there were about 400,000 AMPS systems still in the field, he said."There are some small companies out there that probably have not made the conversion yet," Fiore said.One problem is that, except for a few high-end CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) monitoring systems, all digital cellular alarms today rely on GSM, Fiore said. That creates a problem in areas that have good CDMA coverage but poor GSM, and Fiore has heard from at least one alarm company in Colorado that has customers outside of GSM's reach. Until now, they have been relying on analog cellular.Some users of wireless roadside assistance have also been left behind in the transition. General Motors launched its OnStar system in 1996 on AMPS and later switched to CDMA. The automaker didn't wait for the Feb. 18 deadline but instead shut down its analog service on Jan. 1. In a statement on the transition last year, GM said about 90 percent of its subscribers' cars had CDMA or could be converted to use it. Others would lose their OnStar service. The wholly owned subsidiary of GM said last October it had about 5 million subscribers.Last March, two OnStar customers in Pennsylvania, Robert and Sarah Gordon, sued GM for leaving analog subscribers behind. They are seeking damages and an injunction to force OnStar and GM to provide repairs or upgrades, and they want to turn the suit into a class action. It has been consolidated with a handful of other actions in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.Among cell-phone subscribers, the analog sunset is most likely to hurt so-called "glovebox users," said IDC analyst Scott Ellison. These are users, often elderly, who just keep a cell phone in the glovebox in case their cars break down. They usually don't feel a need to update their handsets."If you know that you have some kind of wireless link or wireless communications device and you're unsure whether you are affected, call your service provider," Ellison advised. A tip about phones: "If it has a color screen, you should be fine," he said.AICC's Fiore gave similar advice. Some consumers have ignored potential problems with alarms because they confused the analog cellular shutdown with the end of analog TV, which won't happen until next January, he said. If you notify your alarm provider and they are prepared to go digital, all a repair person will have to do is come into your home and replace the radio, possibly moving it to another part of the house with better GSM coverage, Fiore said.The perils of the analog shutdown point to a mismatch between technology lifecycles, IDC's Ellison said. Cars and home appliances often stick around for many years, while wireless technology changes more quickly. In fact, Illinois Valley Cellular, in rural Marseilles, Illinois, serves few analog phone users but plans to keep its analog network running after Feb. 18. That's because wind turbines that generate electricity in its service area still use AMPS radios to exchange operating data, according to Data Routing Manager Pam Craig. Replacing those radios would be difficult and expensive.But as new technology comes along, such as cellular networks that use scarce radio spectrum more efficiently, the old often has to give way, Ellison said. As technology rapidly advances, will it happen again to wireless networks we take for granted now? "It probably will," he said.


Musharraf courts fame, controversy with memoir

Pakistani President Pervez   Musharraf's memoir could project his status on the world stage,   but it could touch off controversy and strain relations with   neighbors, analysts said a day after the book's launch.


The US Supreme Court agreed Friday to consider a case likely to have a significant impact on the music, video and electronics industries.


Koren Zailckas's memoir offers a mortifyingly credible story of smart young women doing stuporous things.


Geiberger wins Greater Greensboro Classic

Brent Geiberger completed a unique PGA Tour double on Sunday with his victory in the Greater Greensboro Classic, 28 years after his father, Al, won the same tournament.


Zimbabwe to open low-price shops in run-up to polls

The Zimbabwean government unveiled plans on Tuesday to open a network of state-run "people's shops" that will offer basic goods at rock bottom prices in the run-up to elections in March.


Amazon earnings fall due to tax expenses

Amazon.com Inc. said Thursday its fourth-quarter earnings fell 51 percent from a year ago in the all-important holiday season, hurt by higher tax-related charges. The Internet retailer's results were just ahead of Wall Street's expectations.


Bush barnstorms battleground state ahead of party convention

US President George W. Bush rolled across Middle America en route to next week's Republican National Convention in New York, where he will formally be nominated for another four-year term.


Spanish Lawmakers End Hearings in Madrid Train Bombing Probe, Prepare Report

Spanish lawmakers have ended hearings into the Madrid train bombings and will now start compiling a final report.


Madrid, 12:33 - CALCIO, TORRES SALUTA L'ATLETICO: PER SEMPRE NEL MIO CUORE

Fernando Torres ha salutato l'Atletico Madrid. Il 23 enne attaccante spagnolo ha tenuto in mattinata...


What Our Top Spy Doesn't Get: Security and Privacy Aren't Opposites

The director of national intelligence wants to monitor all internet communications to guard against cyberattack. His aide says "privacy and security are a zero-sum game." Our nation's spy masters may want to check their math. Commentary by Bruce Schneier.


Cresciuto del 2% traffico utenti, del 5% quello merci


Marines deny losing Iraq's biggest province

The commander of the U.S. Marine force   in Iraq on Tuesday denied his troops had lost control of the   vast province they patrol, after newspapers reported his   intelligence chief had written a bleak report.


All the morning headlines make clear that Sony is buying one of Hollywood's most famous studios, but it's Comcast and the future of content delivery that may make this merger more meaningful to consumers. -washingtonpost.com


Kansas City outfielder Matt Stairs signed a one-year contract extension Wednesday that will keep him under contract with the Royals through 2005.


A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 took off on a historic journey Thursday Â the first commercial flight by the world's largest jetliner, which boasts luxurious suites enclosed by sliding doors, double beds, a bar and the quietest interior of any plane.


Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei urges reflection on successes and failures of four years of the intifada.


In tre mesi la massa monetaria e' aumentata dell'11,1%


ATLANTA -- Jermaine O'Neal was so difficult to stop that Atlanta coach Mike Woodson finally told Obinna Ekezie to foul the Indiana star repeatedly.


The Print Shop: New Multifunction Printers

Canon and HP announce a range of new photo-oriented all-in-one devices, starting at $80.


Sun needs AMD chips to launch new supercomputer

(InfoWorld) - As Sun Microsystems prepares to demonstrate a new high-performance computer Tuesday at a technology conference in Germany, it hopes that quad-core processors from Advanced Micro DevicesÂ that will power the computer arrive on time to deliver one of the machines to its first customer. Sun is going to introduce its Constellation system at the International Supercomputing Conference in Dresden, at which other supercomputer makers are gathering and at which a twice-yearly list of the world's Top 500 supercomputers is to be released Wednesday. IBM, whose Blue Gene/L supercomputer wasÂ No. 1 in a November 2006 Top 500 listÂ based on system performance, will introduce what it says is a still faster Blue Gene/P Tuesday. Sun chose the AMD Opteron quad-core chip,Â code-named Barcelona, over rival Intel'sÂ quad-core Xeon 5300 chip, because it believes AMD's will be "the fastest chip on the market this year," said Andreas Bechtolsheim, chief architect and senior vice president of the systems group at Sun. "We are still hopeful that they will deliver the chips on time." Sun also hopes Constellation can be out in time to be considered for the November Top 500 list. AMD's stock was downgraded June 6 by some investment analysts who questioned the chip maker's ability to deliver Barcelona on time. But AMD spokesman Phil Hughes said Monday that "we're still on track" for a Barcelona launch in the third quarter. Constellation is targeting IBM, which held an industry-leading 47.8 percent market share on the earlier Top 500 list, because its Blue Gene line is "the fastest machine out there," Bechtolsheim acknowledged. But Sun's Constellation is built with open industry standard components, such as x64 processors, Sun blade servers, Sun Fire x4500 storage, and open source Solaris or Linux operating system software, while IBM's Blue Gene is built from custom-made components. "Our observation is that industry standard open architecture has caught up with special-purpose computers. That's what we really mean to say here," Bechtolsheim said. Sun believes that building a supercomputer from custom parts takes too much time and costs too much money to build. But building a custom machine may allow IBM to pull further ahead of the rest of the field. IBM claims in a news release that the coming Blue Gene/P has triple the performance of version L, including a potential top processing speed of 3 petaflops (P flops). A petaflop is 1,000 trillion flops (floating-point operations per second), a measure of how many computer calculations can be made in that time. Sun says the Constellation features a total 131,072 processor cores, can operate at up to 1.08 petaflops, has 100TB of memory, and an input-output (I/O) speed (the speed at which data can be moved in and out of the central processing unit) of 3TBps. A terabyte is 1 trillion bytes. The Top 500 supercomputers list, compiled by university researchers in the U.S. and Germany, ranks supercomputer systems that are usually operated in government or university research centers in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Sun is in the process of building a Constellation supercomputer at the Texas Advanced Computer Center (TACC) at the University of Texas in Austin. The TACC received a $59 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation in 2006 to build the supercomputer.


Che in Italia l'uso dei telefoni cellulari fosse un "vizietto" molto diffuso, di questo non ne avevamo dubbi, ma ora Ã¨ arrivata la conferma. Dalla ricerca effettuata dalla Eurostat emerge infatti che il Bel


Zagabria, 16:37 - CALCIO, CAPELLO SU BECKHAM: NON AVRA' TRATTAMENTI DI FAVORE

E' ancora incerta la convocazione dei David Beckham per l'attesa amichevole del 6 febbraio tra Inghi...


Dow +0,51%, Nasdaq +0,82% Euro in calo a 1,3103 dlr


An expert witness at Robert Blake's murder trial said Tuesday he could not be sure whether possible gunshot residue on the actor's hands and clothes came from firing a gun the night his wife was shot to death.


N.Korea allows IAEA team to visit nuclear reactor

North Korea will allow a team of U.N. nuclear watchdog officials to visit the Yongbyon reactor it has agreed to shut down under a disarmament-for-aid deal, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Wednesday.


The Band Aid 20 single is on course to be the Christmas number one following strong sales this week.


Apple Unveils Its Latest iMac, Months Late

Apple Computer Inc. rolled out its latest iMac desktop computer at a convention for Mac users in Paris Tuesday, a sleek model in which the processors and drives are packaged behind its 2-inch-thick monitor. -The Washington Post


Bush Says He's Best Protection From Draft

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - President Bush turned is turning the tables on Sen...


Due arrivi nella notte, un peschereccio e un gommone


Napoli, 09:37 - CALCIO, NAPOLI: 4 MILA IN FILA AL SAN PAOLO PER BIGLIETTI GENOA

Oltre 4 mila tifosi del Napoli sono in fila dalle prime ore del mattino davanti ai botteghini dello ...


Giuliani tries to ease fears about his health

U.S. Republican presidential  hopeful Rudy Giuliani, a survivor of prostate cancer, tried to  allay concerns about his health on Sunday after a hospital stay  he attributed to a painful headache.


Mafia: strage Borsellino, indagato manager siciliano

Spunta il nome di un manager siciliano nell'inchiesta sui mandanti esterni della strage di via D'Amelio. La strage del 19 luglio 1992, quando una macchina â126â carica di tritolo parcheggiata sotto casa


Mukasey Vows Not to Bow to Political Power

Attorney general nominee Michael B. Mukasey said yesterday that he would chart an independent path for the Justice Department after the tumultuous tenure of Alberto R. Gonzales, testifying that he would not be afraid to disagree with the president and would resign rather than implement policies t...


Thomas Levet says he would be willing to be left out of the foursomes and fourballs at the Ryder Cup as long as the European team wins.


Roma, 19:41 - CALCIO, SPALLETTI: RIVERA IN FEDERCALCIO SAREBBE PERFETTO

Luciano Spalletti ha un'idea precisa per la ristrutturazione della Figc dopo le dimissioni del commi...


State Dept. investigating computer 'anomalies'

The State Department is  investigating "anomalies" in its unclassified computer system,  the agency said on Tuesday, declining to comment on a report  that the department's computers had been hacked.


The Science Horizons project aims to give the public a clear voice on science and technology policy in the UK.


La Spezia, 20:13 - CALCIO, SPEZIA: CRESCE NUMERO ABBONATI

Cresce il numero degli abbonati dello Spezia. Sono state vendute altre 170 tessere che hanno portato...


ARSENAL manager Arsene Wengerâs famous myopia yesterday returned in the continued fall-out from a game which is now being analysed as much as it was hyped.


NEW YORK - With quavering voices, parents and grandparents of those killed at the World Trade Center slowly read the names of the victims early Saturday to mark the third anniversary of the attacks that brought down the twin towers.    Moments of silence were observed at 8:46 and 9:03 a.m., the times two planes slammed into the trade center towers on Sept...


Somalia's Islamists reject accusations that they were behind the car bomb on the government base.


A Medical Publisherâs Unusual Prescription: Online Ads

The international media giant Reed Elsevier hopes to pep up its lackluster medical publishing unit by giving away the latest articles from 100 of its own medical journals on the Internet.


Kelli Smith was nervous as she walked into the Philadelphia treatment center, seeking help at last for her anorexia. Looking around at the other patients, she was struck by how young they seemed.


Il New Hampshire ha riaperto tutti i giochi nella gara delle primarieUna delle piÃ¹ avvincenti, la prima dal 1928 senza un presidente in campo                                          Cuore Hillary contro il caldo Obama e adesso la corsa riparte da zero                                                                                In campo repubblicano, la vittoria di McCain, come la Clintonha saputo parlaere piÃ¹ chiaro del suo aversario Romney


David McDade has handed out some 35 copies of a video of teenagers having sex at a party.


Treatment with a derivative of vitamin A called retinoic acid may help to cut former smokers' risk of lung cancer.


Dolphins hire Cowboys exec Ireland as GM

Dallas Cowboys executive Jeff Ireland is rejoining Bill Parcells as general manager of the Miami Dolphins. Parcells hired Ireland on Wednesday to replace Randy Mueller, fired Monday after three seasons with Miami.


Zoe Cassevetes follows famed father into filmmaking

As filmmakers go, Zoe Cassavetes bears a famous name: her father, John, helped create the American independent film movement.


Zurigo, 14:48 - CALCIO, FIFA: BECKENBAUER ENTRA NELL'ESECUTIVO

Franz Beckenbauer è entrato nell'esecutivo della Fifa. Il 61enne ex campione tedesco prende i...


Lock in the lowest rates of the summer. Get up to 4 free quotes from trusted lenders. Apply now - bad credit OK.


PALESTINIAN security forces are unable to stop the spreading chaos in the West Bank and Gaza, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie said today, a day after a failed attempt to kill a Gaza security commander.


Al-Qaida-tied rebels claim hit on copter

Al-Qaida-linked Sunni insurgents claimed responsibility Wednesday for the downing of a U.S. military helicopter northwest of Baghdad.


Murali says depleted South Africa no "cakewalk"

Injury-hit South Africa received unexpected support for the first Test against Sri Lanka here from the man likely to cause them the biggest headache.


Microsoft filed nine lawsuits against individuals and companies alleged to be involved in the distribution of spam, the company says.


Skeletons of new human species stun anthropologists

DENVER: In an astonishing discovery that could rewrite the history of human evolution, scientists say they have found the skeleton of a new human species - a dwarf, marooned for eons in a tropical lost world, while modern man rapidly colonised the rest


Roma, 15:09 - CALCIO, GALLIANI: INGIUSTO CHIUDERE SAN SIRO

Adriano Galliani, ad del Milan, al suo arrivo all'hotel Hilton di Fiumicino dove è in program...


BitTorrent busts Comcast BitTorrent busting

As Comcast ignores reality Unhappy that Comcast is busting BitTorrents, BitTorrent has decided to bust this BitTorrent busting.â¦


ARE, Sweden  - Heavy snow forced organizers to postpone the women's super-G at the Alpine skiing world championships on Sunday to complete a miserable opening weekend for racers and spectators.


HOW MANY PILLS are you taking? Until the Vioxx scare, it wasn'ta question that bothered many. Now with Celebrex and even generic naproxen joining the list of questioned meds, it's a timely inquiry.


Alicia Keys Travels World With Piano, Pen

Alicia Keys is working on a new film, proofreading her poems for publication and writing travel stories for a newspaper. Oh yeah, and her second album "The Diary of Alicia Keys" recently topped 3 million in sales.


Intel Quits Effort to Get Computers to Children

Intel and the One Laptop Per Child had a rocky relationship from the start in their short-lived effort to get inexpensive laptops into the hands of the worldâs poorest children.


The impossible was merely delayed. An opener from Rivaldo left Liverpool requiring to win by two goals to reach the next phase of the Champions League.


The International Monetary Fund warns that rising interest rates in some of the world's biggest economies may slow global house price growth.


Era il tramite tra gli esecutori e il gruppo di mandanti


Cavs beat Pistons but still trail in East final

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the  Detroit Pistons 88-82 to win Game Three of the Eastern  Conference finals on Sunday.


No tears, no sweat. One month after an emotional victory in the British Open, Tiger Woods won the PGA Championship with a ruthless display of efficiency Sunday, closing with a 4-under 68 for a five-shot victory and his 12th career major.


In pedana per beneficenza, proventi a Telefono Rosa e Aidos


Cameron Diaz filed a police report Wednesday accusing a photographer of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly driving his car at her, police said.


Web site: Militant group abducts 11 Iraqi soldiers

An Iraqi militant group said it had abducted 11 members of the Iraqi National Guard and posted their pictures on its Web site on Tuesday, three days after 49 unarmed army recruits were found dead.


Bush and Putin to face off over missiles

US president confronts Vladimir Putin over plans to base a new missile defence system in former Russian satellite countries.


Firms in the Middle East and South Asia face problems after undersea broadband cables were damaged.


Zuccarelli e famiglia non hanno riportato conseguenze


Kibaki wins Kenyan election, protests erupt

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki won a second five-year term on Sunday in a disputed election victory that triggered deadly riots by tens of thousands of opposition supporters.


Iraq's Sunni vice president held a rare meeting Thursday with the country's top shi'ite cleric to seek support for a 25-point blueprint for political reform


Bush Taps Republican Activist as Veterans Chief

President Bush tapped a former Republican Party chairman to lead the veteran affairs department on Thursday, and the White House confirmed that four other Cabinet secretaries will be staying on.


Israelis and Palestinians both dismiss rapidly growing headcount figure as inaccurate


POISONOUS fumes were preventing rescuers from reaching 141 miners trapped underground at a coalmine in northern China yesterday after an explosion that killed 25 of their colleagues.


August 28, 2004 -- When the Giants' reg ular season starts September 12 in Philadelphia, Tom Coughlin should start Kurt Warner over Eli Manning.


Caffeine doubles miscarriage risk: study

Pregnant women who drink two or more cups of coffee a day have twice the risk of having a miscarriage as those who avoid caffeine, U.S. researchers said on Monday.


U.S. says to reach GPS-Galileo agreement this week

The United States and the European  Union are close to signing an agreement that would allow their  satellite navigation systems to work together to provide more  accurate images and information.


Survey of IT managers found that environmental concerns are becoming important to the bottom line.


HP helps hospital group cut printing costs, increase efficiency

When it needed help managing its 3,300 printers and finding new ways to cut printing expenses, University Hospitals Health System turned to HP.


Memphis, 09:53 - TENNIS, ATP MEMPHIS: RODDICK E HAAS AI QUARTI

Risultati degli ottavi di finale del torneo Atp di Memphis (indoor, montepremi 757.000 dollari).


A small parcel bomb exploded outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris before dawn on Friday, slightly injuring 10 people and shattering windows, but officials said they had no clues to the motive.


Lo ha dichiarato oggi il decano della tv italiana


CES: Pioneer Tries to 'Darken' Display-Contrast Debate

Pioneer is working on technology to deliver more effervescent colors to plasma displays with black levels.


Dollar May Gain on Speculation Fed Will Raise Interest Rates

The dollar may rise for a second day against the euro in Asia on speculation Federal Reserve policy makers will raise the key interest rate in a meeting today and signal more increases to come.


Australian tennis coach Roche knocks back Federer offer

SYDNEY  - Respected Australian tennis coach Tony Roche has knocked back an approach by Roger Federer to be the world number one's new full-time coach, reports said.


Bettini, servono non correnti ma pluralismo idee


Dennis Farina is turning in his "Law &amp; Order" badge. Farina has decided to leave his role as New York police Detective Joe Fontana after two seasons on the NBC drama to pursue other offers and projects being developed by his production company, his spokeswoman, Lori De Waal, said Tuesday.


The new guys at West Virginia can now brag about doing the same thing last year's NCAA tournament team did — beating UCLA. Alex Ruoff scored 18 points and the Mountaineers made up for a lack of experience by taking a big lead and holding on for a 70-65 win over No. 2 UCLA on Saturday.


Train derails in Britain, several hurt: witnesses

A passenger train derailed Friday and slid down an embankment in a remote area of northwest England, causing numerous injuries, according to rescue workers.


Lopez Defeats Canas to Capture First Title

Feliciano Lopez won his first career  title by defeating sixth seed Guillermo Canas 6-4, 1-6, 7-5,  3-6, 7-5 to claim the Vienna Trophy Sunday.


Adobe Systems has signed on three researchers who've investigated new technical tools for photography and computing.


The two leading US figures in Iraq repeat to Congress their view that the troop build-up is working.


Chrysler to Announce Job Cuts and Plant Closings

A restructuring plan is designed to reduce the cost of producing each vehicle and more closely align Chrysler with its parent company.


ADV: $175,000 Mortgage for Under $730/Month

Mortgage rates are at record lows. Save $1000s on your mortgage payment. Free quotes.


Cagliari, 17:40 - CALCIO, CAGLIARI; BALLARDINI: REGGINA NON E' ULTIMA SPIAGGIA

"Giocheremo al Granillo di Reggio Calabria senza Foggia, Conti, Larrivey, Bizera e Pisano. Assenze i...


Fisker's $80K Plug-In Hybrid to be Made in Detroit?

Fisker Automotive is considering making its new upscale Karma in Michigan because of the state's experienced workforce, idle manufacturing capacity and broad network of suppliers.


NEW YORK  - Children with  attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) seem to have  iron deficiency, according to the results of a small study. The  researchers suggest that such kids may benefit from iron  supplements.


Local Wages Can't Keep Up With Rise in Rents

By Katy Stech, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C.  Dec. 18--Newly released numbers show that Charleston's working wages fall  below what's needed to pay the rent.


Allarme terrorismo, razzi contro base Usa

Kabul, 8 ottobre 2004 - Il livello di allerta terrorismo ha raggiunto il massimo in tutto l'Afghanistan, alla vigilia delle prime presidenziali del dopoguerra e dopo gli episodi di violenza e gli attentati che si sono verificati nelle ultime ore


Rutelli: 'spesa previdenziale sia sostenibile per il futuro'


Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga wants to adopt a Tamil child orphaned in the tsunami, officials say.


United quick to feast on startling error by Almunia

ARSÃNE WENGER once likened his feud with Sir Alex Ferguson to a dispute over who âhas the prettiest wife at homeâ. As such, after victory in what was billed as a meeting of the next generations


Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts gave birth on Monday to a baby boy, her third child with husband Danny Moder, People magazine reported on its Web site.


The Queen records a special Christmas message to British troops and their families.


Iran Claims Draft Accord With Europe on Uranium

Iran's foreign minister said that a preliminary agreement had been reached to suspend Iran's production of enriched uranium immediately.


Dance Review | American Ballet Theater: From Realm of Pure Dance to Enchanted Fairyland

American Ballet Theater, which has shown Balanchine and Ashton choreography over the years, is now presenting a double bill of their ballets, short in duration, rich in substance.


The International Monetary Fund announced that the council of governments, stakeholders in the Fund's capital approved yesterday to provide an urgent aid for Iraq estimated at $ 436 million and representing the first loan from the Fund for Baghdad.


Vikings Lose to Skins but Reach Playoffs

The Minnesota Vikings collapsed again, only to fall into the playoffs thanks to a safety net provided by the New Orleans Saints. Thwarted by an undermanned but swarming defense and their own mistakes, the Vikings wilted for the second year in a row with a chance to clinch a postseason berth in the season finale. They lost 21-18 to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, then retreated to the locker room to learn that they had backed in to the playoffs.


Toshiba Fights Back in Next-Gen DVD Battle

While the European Commission investigates possible anticompetitive practices by supporters of the Blu-ray DVD format, the HD DVD camp is trumpeting both a permanent price cut on the latest players and new and improved features.


Yahoo! may be one step closer to challenging Google in searchable web-based e-mail. It has purchased the start-up behind the powerful e-mail application Bloomba.


Sony has launched two portable digital audio players that for the first time support the MP3 file format, other than its Atrac file format.


A look at how four blue-chip insurers have fared in the first half of 2007.


Briton charged with spying after Bahrain expulsion

Authorities in Bahrain have charged a Briton of Sudanese origin with spying, a few days after he was expelled from the kingdom amid accusations of espionage.


CBS to pay $31 million in cleanup settlement

Media firm CBS Corp has agreed to  pay $31.35 million in a settlement related to the cleanup of  six polluted "Superfund" sites in the Bloomington, Indiana  area, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.


Troubled singer Courtney Love has pleaded innocent to charges of assault at a court in Los Angeles.


Chinese citizens pay their respects to ousted Party leader Zhao Ziyang, under tight police surveillance.


Gold prices to rebound to 447 dollar average in 2005: study

Gold prices are expected to recover from a recent bout of weakness to average around 447 dollars in the first half of 2005, London-based precious metals consultancy GFMS forecast.


Tornado death toll hits 20 in U.S. South

Tornadoes across the southern United States killed at least 20 people as they tore up a hospital and high school where students huddled for shelter, authorities said on Friday, a day after the rampage.


Sharks will migrate into Antarctic waters if warming continues, threatening marine animals, scientists warn.


Powell, Ridge Endorse Strong Intel Chief

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed the idea Monday of a new national intelligence director with budget authority over the nation's nonmilitary intelligence agencies, noting that authority comes with the power to control money.


Arab League head tries again to end Lebanon crisis

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa renewed efforts on Tuesday to end a political standoff in Lebanon, which many fear could turn violent as the country faces its worst political split since the 1975-1990 civil war.


Forty years after it was made, The Velvet Underground's first recording has become a financial hit — in cyberspace.


Lens Solution Recall Is Blow to Companyâs Stock

Shares of Advanced Medical Optics plunged in trading on Tuesday as investors reacted to a recall of one of the companyâs best-selling contact lens cleaning solutions over health concerns.


Though it is in constant, breathtaking motion, Zhang Yimou's gorgeous entertainment is not especially moving.


Chieste precisazioni ad Adornato sulla sua proposta


Portugal introduced a new law Thursday that allows abortion up to the 10th week of pregnancy, but imposes a three-day reflection period for women seeking the procedure and grants doctors the right to opt out on moral grounds.


Olympics Opener Third-Highest Rated on Record

LOS ANGELES  - The spectacle in Athens  lured 56 million viewers to watch at least some portion of  NBC's Friday primetime telecast of the opening ceremonies of  the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.


Chris Sutton has echoed the words of Martin O'Neill by saying Celtic will be going all out to win tonight's Champions League meeting against Shakhtar Donetsk.


An opening skit for Monday Night Football is creating some hot controversy. The skit was a promotion for ABC's Desperate Housewives.


Rasmussen Markets Update: Obama Now Overwhelming Favorite to Win Democratic Presidential Nomination

Rasmussen Reports - On the morning after his big victory in Wisconsin, Rasmussen Markets data showed that Barack Obama had a 79% chance of winning the Democratic Presidential nomination.


A Norwegian submarine on military exercise has collided with a tanker in the Minch.


Death penalty option dropped in U.S. Iraq killing

CAMP PENDLETON, California  - U.S. military   prosecutors said on Wednesday they would not seek the death   penalty for one of eight U.S. serviceman accused of murdering   an Iraqi civilian in April.


U.S.-Led Forces Thrust Towards Central Falluja

FALLUJA, Iraq  - U.S.-led forces thrust at least  one km (half a mile) toward the center of rebel-held Falluja on  Tuesday despite heavy resistance, officers said.


Friday, September 17, 2004 - After rising to Hurricane status and battering Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic yesterday, Tropical Storm Jeanne has been downgraded and continues to weaken, although experts warn it may regain speed in the warm waters


OECD Applauds Turkey's Economic Growth, Urges Cutting Unofficial ...

While praising Turkey's "stunning" economic performance over the last three years, the OECD also outlined some major problems the country needs to address.


Guerriglia, domenica di sangue I sunniti: 'Rinviare il voto'

Bagdad, 5 dicembre 2004 - La guerriglia non concede tregua in Iraq , dove anche oggi si sono registrati ripetuti atti di violenza. Il piÃ¹ grave a Tikrit, cittÃ  natale del deposto dittatore Saddam Hussein, nel nord.


XL, PartnerRe Say Hurricanes Have `Perverse' Benefit

XL Capital Ltd. and PartnerRe Ltd., companies that help insurers spread risk, said their businesses may benefit from Hurricane Ivan, the third storm in a month that threatens Florida with billions of dollars in damage.


Litka out to further show she's the wheel deal

You can learn a lot about pro cyclist Kerry Litka by checking out her website.


Childhood crush responds to Taylor Hicks

Two weeks after Taylor Hicks discussed his first crush as a young boy, the woman from his past has contacted People magazine.


Oil Futures End at Record High for Fifth Session

Benchmark light, sweet crude futures for November rose 33 cents to settle at a new record high of $53.64 a barrel, after reaching an intraday high of $53.


When the day's work was done, he came clean. "I had a nice little roll there," said Tiger Woods.


Abbas dissolves the government, but  Hamas now controls Gaza. For Israel, the choice is between trying to reverse that reality, or dealing  with the Islamists


President George W. Bush said on Saturday the U.N. Security Council must act now on a plan to grant Kosovo supervised independence, which Russia opposes.


Lewis Hamilton resumes testing his McLaren in Spain on Tuesday for the first time since suffering racist abuse at the hands of a Spanish crowd.


MANCHESTER, N.H., Jan. 8 -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton narrowly won the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday night, a surprise victory for the onetime front-runner that revived her sagging fortunes and reshaped yet again the fight for the party's nomination.


Madrid, 13:28 - CALCIO, AS: KAKA' HA CHIESTO A BERLUSCONI DI ANDARE AL REAL

"Caro Presidente, con il Milan ho vinto tutto e per questo club ho dato tutto negli anni che ho pass...


Bone marrow-derived side population stem cells appear to have limited potential for regenerating injured cardiac and skeletal muscle, says a University of Chicago study in the Dec.


Scientists have created a human embryo with three parents in a breakthrough they hope could lead to effective treatments for a range of serious hereditary diseases.


Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson expects to face Arsene Wenger's young Gunners when the fierce rivals meet again at Old Trafford on Wednesday.


Attrice scelta per la campagna primavera-estate 2007


On Texting, a Question of Access or Invasion

Beginning in August 2007, the N.C.A.A. banned Division I colleges from using text messaging to recruit athletes.  But on Saturday, the issue will be revisited once again.


Colombian revives European trio's hostage mediation

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe announced Saturday he has authorized France, Spain and Switzerland to resume their mediation role in an effort to free 44 hostages held by Marxist rebels.


Bendetto XVI celebra messa in una nuova chiesa a Roma


Reader Abhinay Tibdewal sends us a photograph.


Benefici per manager 477 euro, a pensionati da lavoro 202


Dolphins appear interested in LSU's Saban

LSU coach Nick Saban has talked to the Miami Dolphins about their vacant head coaching position. In a statement issued by LSU on Wednesday, Saban described the talks as "a preliminary conversation with the


DALLAS (Ticker) - The last remaining player from the Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl run in the 1990s has retired after 13 seasons with the team.


ualcomm, the world's second-largest maker of microprocessors for cellphones, received a lesson in stock market jitters on Friday.


President of Turin 2006 organising committee resigns: report

ROME  - The president of Turin's organising commmittee (TOROC) for the 2006 winter Olympic Games resigned in protest at what he sees as the Italian government's meddling in the organisation of the Games.


It has been a slow, steady, discouraging process. By August, new Boston College football coach Jeff Jagodzinski absorbed the knowledge that senior linebacker Brian Toal would take a medical redshirt season after undergoing shoulder surgery.


Figures a holiday indulgence for Nutcracker curator

A perennial Christmas favorite, even among those who scorn ballet and classical music, is Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker--performed by major professional companies and youth dance classes alike.


Training can be draining - on your budget, on your time and on your personnel. And the longer the training process takes, the bigger the drain. That's why we've come up with "Seven Steps for Streamlining Online Training," based on our own extensive experience with training customers on our products and on feedback we've received from them on what really works. View this on demand webinar now.


Completamente esaurita l'offerta del Tesoro nell'area euro


Italy's spy chief, who is under investigation in the alleged CIA abduction of an Egyptian cleric, was replaced on Monday, Italian news reports said.Comment


Seagate claims to have broken the record for the most storage on a single disc platter, managing to store 133GB per disc in its newly released 400GB hard drive.


Oil prices fell 3.5 percent to a three-month low Tuesday as mild winter weather sapped heating oil demand in the US Northeast. US light crude settled down $1.52 at $41.46 a barrel, the


Andrew Morton sees a domineering, aggressive character who has joined forces with Scientology to catapult his activities beyond the realm of mere glitter.


Microsoft prepares to ship new corporate IM server

OCTOBER 26, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - A little over a year after introducing the first version of Office Live Communications Server, Microsoft Corp.


Screaming and pounding her chest, Gerta Stefan pointed to a pool of mud from which protruded a mattress, a bicycle tire, a few bricks and a sheet of corrugated metal.


Officials to order data on airline passengers

Travel information on everyone who took a commercial flight within the United States in June will be turned over to the government so it can test a new system for identifying


Asia's majestic Mekong begins to feel pinch of development

Phol Nasa cannot recall a time when his family wasn't fishing on the Mekong River where it sweeps through the misty hills along Thailand's northern border with Laos.


Winners will have to present photo identification before receiving vaccinations in Montgomery, which has cobbled together its supply from other health departments with surpluses for this unusual game of chance.


European commercial bank WestLB turns to Hewlett-Packard to manage its worldwide tech services.


New bird flu case detected in north Malaysia

A new case of H5 type Avian Influenza had been detected at Teluk Baru Village, near Kota Baharu, capital of the northern state of Kelantan, a senior veterinary official said Sunday.


Company is not saying when the technology will be commercialized.


Ghana's President John Kufuor decides to stay in Kenya an extra day to try to resolve the election crisis.


U.S. Wraps Up Search for Banned Weapons in Iraq

The U.S. force that scoured Iraq for  weapons of mass destruction -- cited by President Bush as  justification for war -- has abandoned its long and fruitless  hunt to assist in counter-insurgency efforts, U.S. officials  said on Wednesday.


Intel said it was already starting to explore options such as carbon nanotubes and nanowires. Such materials will be needed to take chips below the 10 nanometer size, which is expected to occur early in the next decade.


Update 3: Economic Powers Vow Aid for Poor Nations

Rich nations pledged an agreement soon on forgiving the debt burden weighing on poor nations in Africa, Latin America and Asia but remained divided on reducing billions of dollars of Iraqi debt.


Is Upgrading to Windows XP SP2 Worthwhile?

Users of Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition are scheduled to begin receiving Service Pack 2 via automatic update starting today. But delivery of the Professional Edition has been delayed at least a week while Microsoft and its users grapple ...


There's no such thing as a free lunch. And soon, there may be no such thing as an ad-free RSS feed, either, as publishers add advertisements to their feeds in hopes of making money through the popular content-aggregating technology. By Cyrus Farivar.


Environment-U.S.:  Another Piece of Oil-Rich Alaska Goes on Sale

By Stephen Leahy  BROOKLIN, Canada, Sep. 8, 2006 (IPS/GIN) -- While the George W.