Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris said he was thrilled by the boos that greeted his absence from the 200m final. Kenteris, who won gold at the distance in Sydney, pulled out of the Athens Games after missing a drugs test in unexplained circumstances.


Illegal immigration and progress in the Iraq war headed the agenda for the Republican debate Wednesday pitting eight candidates who knew they likely would share the spotlight with a potential ninth — Fred Thompson.


NBC's Tim Russert deflected criticism of his ethics and credibility as the prosecution rested its case Thursday in the trial of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter Libby.


An estimated Â£60,000 is spent clearing up eleventh night bonfires, an assembly minister says.


Residents of Usk demand an end to a policy of housing sex offenders at an open prison following a inmate's escape.


Can't get an iPhone? Here's how some hot cell phones from other manufacturers measure up.


Microsoft, Cisco partner on network-access security

Microsoft and Cisco Systems will collaborate to make their emerging products for network security compatible. The vendors had been working independently in the area of PC access to networks but say customers


New York Art Shuttered After Bush Monkey Portrait

A portrait of President Bush using  monkeys to form his image led to the closure of a New York art  exhibition over the weekend and anguished protests on Monday  over freedom of expression.


Oil prices abruptly ended a losing  streak on Wednesday, jumping nearly $1 after a U.S. government  report showed heating oil stockpiles down 16 percent from last  year ahead of winter.


Safety review ordered into popular painkillers

A European medicines regulator will today order a safety review of four powerful painkilling drugs taken by more than 750,000 people in Britain amid fears that they could increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.


Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon wasted no time returning to the track after NASCAR inspectors approved their cars.


Wie bombs out men's event in Japan at 17 over par

KOCHI, Japan  - Michelle Wie missed the cut for the 11th time in 12 professional men's events after a nervous 80 left her at 17 over par at the Casio World Open on Friday.


Thousands march to show support for the Venezuelan president's refusal to renew a TV station's license.


Merkel says still problems in EU treaty talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said  on Friday there were still problems to be solved on a reform  treaty for the European Union but she was working hard and  everyone was doing their best.


Losail, 11:02 - MOTO, GP QATAR: DE ANGELIS IN TESTA NELLE LIBERE 250

Le libere della classe 250 chiudono le prime prove libere del Gran premio del Qatar, primo appuntame...


The head of the nation's largest collection of television stations insists that he rarely watches the shows his stations air, including parts of the anti-John Kerry documentary that brought so much controversy to his doorstep over the past two weeks.


With Wii and DS, Nintendo Has 2 Hit Game Devices

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


Protests erupt as Kenyan leader wins vote

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.


TORONTO -- Canada 3, Russia 1 It's a good thing Marty Brodeur and his teammates were not as lifeless as many of the stuffed shirts sipping their sparkling water in the Air Canada Centre stands last night.


Flying to Minnesota on Air Force One last week, White House press secretary Scott McClellan held a "gaggle"âthat is, a mini-press conferenceâwith reporters in the back of the plane.


Ministro: confermata bonta' strategia Governo e Viminale


Experimental protein helps ulcerative colitis

A genetically engineered protein can help close to half of patients with painful ulcerative colitis, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.


Chilean Mapuches in language row with Microsoft

Mapuche Indians in Chile are  trying to take global software giant Microsoft  to  court in a legal battle which raises the question of whether  anyone can ever "own" the language they speak.


Joe Gibbs said Monday he doesn't plan any significant changes, least of all a quarterback switch from Mark Brunell to Patrick Ramsey.


Itâs a Whole Lot of Bach, but Pianist Is Unfazed

Angela Hewitt is traveling the world this season bearing great armfuls of Bach, gifts to be bestowed on places as distant as Macao, Colombia and South Africa.


Reality TV under fire in Portugal following 'Big Brother' suicide bid

Reality television programs were under renewed fire in Portugal after the winner of the nation's first edition of the popular "Big Brother" series threatened to throw himself from a bridge over the weekend.


Media & professional: Director general Mark Thompson accuses ITV shows including Tycoon and Grease is the Word of mimicking BBC formats.


Peru's Ex-Spy Chief Says Humala Faked Coup

Peru's former spy chief said Friday that presidential candidate Ollanta Humala helped him escape from the country six years ago by staging a fake military rebellion.


Douglas M. Steenland, appointed as Northwest Airlines' new CEO and president on Friday, faces the job of leading the airline through the most turbulent times in the industry's history.


Austin Relieved His Head Wasn't Shouldering a Problem

Potomac Cannons right-handed pitcher Jeff Austin said he thought we was a head case after several horrendous outings with the  big league club in Cincinnati last May.


Seoul doubts North Korea will budge until US vote

SEOUL South Korea's deputy foreign minister said on Thursday that progress in resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis is unlikely until after the US presidential election in November.


Meissner dumps coach before world championships

Former world figure skating champion Kimmie Meissner of the United States dumped long-time coach Pam Gregory on Monday in a bid to salvage her season.


Research in Motion sets Vodafone BlackBerry pact

Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said it will introduce the newest version of its popular BlackBerry wireless email device in Europe and


The 7,200-RPM drives are available in 200-GB, 250-GB, 300-GB and 400-GB capacity points, with either a native Serial ATA or parallel ATA interface.


The Celtics know how quickly fortunes can change in the NBA. In two days, Boston went from first place in the Atlantic Division to fourth. In the span of 48 minutes last night at Air Canada Centre, the Celtics were up in the first quarter, down in the second, on the way up in the third, and back ...


China's worst winter in more than half a century showed no signs of abating Wednesday as forecasters told citizens to brace for three more days of snow and sleet.


Evidence in Jill Dando case is deemed valueless

Â· Forensic scientists dismiss firearms residue discoveryÂ· Research used as basis to launch killer's appeal


Sybase Offers Database to Linux Community

Although Forrester analyst Noel Yuhanna believes Sybase has a firm foothold in its market, the company faces competition from some large players.


Watchdog confirms theft of Iraqi high explosives

Nearly 400 tonnes of conventional explosives that could be used in missiles has disappeared from an arms depot in Iraq that was not being patrolled, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.


Tom Brady threw a dumb pass and A.J. Feeley threw a beauty, finally giving the Miami Dolphins something to savor in this long, miserable season: an upset of the New England Patriots.


List of Foreigners Taken Hostage in Iraq

Insurgents in Iraq have kidnapped dozens of people in their campaign to drive out coalition forces and hamper reconstruction:


HARARE - Zimbabwe's government will soon demand half the shares in all the country's privately owned mines, President Robert Mugabe has said, quoted by the state-run Herald.


The European Space Agency's Mars Express Orbiter has taken new images of Mars that suggest there has been recent volcanic activity on the surface of the red planet.


The pope's top aide said Wednesday that Benedict XVI's reason for canceling a visit to a Rome university was that he did not want to create a pretext for further "unpleasant" protests by professors and students opposed to the religious leader speaking at a secular campus.


There has been a huge rise in demand for fertility treatment among women in their forties, figures show.


Rischio sanzioni, teme congelamento transazioni in dollari


Yukos partly suspends oil exports to China

LONDON, September 20  - Russian oil giant, OAO Yukos Oil Company (YUSA.FSE), has partly suspended its rail shipments to China, leading to increased supply disruption risks in the global oil market.


By Mackenzie Carpenter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  Feb. 7--It's February, the weather stinks, and your moods -- and those of  your spouse or co-workers -- are swinging more than the Golden Gate Bridge  during a windstorm.   Before the Internet, you needed a ring to broadcast your mood.


Melbourne, 12:07 - TENNIS: NUOVA OPERAZIONE AL GINOCCHIO PER PHILIPPOUSSIS

La carriera di Mark Philippoussis è a rischio. Il 31enne tennista australiano dovrà so...


By Richard Dymond, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.  Feb. 9--LAKEWOOD RANCH -- The Sarasota Polo Club's Bermuda grass is so soft people sometimes just flip off their shoes and socks to feel it on their bare feet.


Nikkei a 16.814,37 punti (-1,71%). Euro a 1,4306 dollari


BAGHDAD, Iraq - A videotape of the beheading of British hostage Kenneth Bigley appeared Sunday on an Islamist Web site, showing the civil engineer pleading that he wanted "to live a simple life" moments before he was decapitated.    The nearly five-minute tape appeared two days after Bigley's family said it had proof that the 62-year-old civil engineer from Liverpool was dead...


Two Derry republicans found guilty of murder in 1979 have their convictions quashed at the Court of Appeal.


China threatens to veto UN Darfur draft UNITED NATIONS  ...

China has threatened to veto a revised US draft resolution that would consider UN sanctions against Sudanâs oil industry if Khartoum does not stop atrocities in its Darfur region, diplomats reported on Wednesday.


Bills, rooted in Pittsburgh, face Steelers in playoff bid

Perhaps the Buffalo Bills should wear their charging buffalo logo on just one side of their helmets this week. It would be a fitting homage to the Pittsburgh Steelers.


Telstra sets price range for $750m buyback

Telstra today announced the price range for its $750 million off-market buyback, which was part of its capital management program.


COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sports Network) - Ohio State athletic  director Anthony Geiger retired at an afternoon press  conference Wednesday.


President Bush signed into law Wednesday legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it "a major step" toward energy independence and easing global warming.


Il presidente contro il decreto Bersani: "Via libera ai compensidei protagonisti di Sanremo e i tagli in arrivo per lo sport"                                            Coni, Petrucci attacca il governo "Baudo conta piÃ¹ degli azzurri?"


âWe Own the Nightâ is a bloody, passionate melodrama, self-consciously Shakespearean â or Biblical, or Greek, take your pick of atavisms â in its intentions.


HEALTH Round-up:HIV, AIDS and gender inequality

It was activities galore as the world celebrated the World HIV/AIDS Day. The celebration explores how gender inequality fuels the AIDS epidemic and is conceived to accelerate the global response


Australian actresses Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett have been nominated for Golden Globe awards, putting them into position to compete for the United States film industry's highest honour, the Oscars.


IRVING - They never trailed and had no turnovers. They had five sacks and strong play from a rookie cornerback forced into action when a starter was hurt.


Laying the Foundation for In-House SEO Success in Large Organizations: Part I

Having an in-house SEO team can be beneficial, and is especially important for large organizations with large and complex sites. But you need to lay a strong foundation in order to be successful.


Nigeria to End Plateau State of Emergency on Thursday

A state of emergency declared in the  Nigerian state of Plateau six months ago will end on Thursday,  the government said in a statement on Tuesday.


Taliban suicide bomber kills girl, wounds 6 others

KABUL - A man with six grenades strapped to his body killed himself and a 12-year-old girl on a busy street in Kabul Saturday, police said.


School Attackers Exploit Russia Corruption

The heavily armed militants behind a deadly school raid in southern Russia passed through a region dotted by checkpoints whose chief purpose is to keep violence from spreading outside the breakaway Chechnya region.


A small bomb damaged the office of Spain's governing party in a Basque town an hour after authorities received a warning call from the armed separatist group ETA, an official said Tuesday. No injuries were reported.


Israeli PM Ariel Sharon's coalition faces possible collapse over a vote likely to force him to remake his government or call elections that would imperil his Gaza withdrawal plan.


Rain ruins the day: Qualifying at Loudon halted due to wet ...

Mother Nature washed out the NASCAR Nextel Cup qualifying yesterday at New Hampshire International Speedway and the 10 drivers competing in the 10-race Chase for the Cup were not complaining.


Van Gaal leaves after lack of freedom at Ajax

AMSTERDAM, Oct 20 (SW) - Louis van Gaal has left his position as technical director at AFC Ajax, because he did not have enough freedom at the reigning Dutch champions.


Men Busted After Sox Game Appear In Court

BOSTON -- Although Red Sox nation was relatively subdued following this weekend's World Series games at Fenway Park, four men were arrested after Saturday's game.


Sport: Football: Manchester City claim rare away win as Newcastle manager endures another torrid night


Nokia Announces 6670 Smartphone, GPS Receiver

Nokia today announced its latest addition to its collection of megapixel imaging smartphones. It also announced its first Bluetooth GPS receiver.


Clashes errupt after Chavez closes opposition TV

Venezuelan police on Sunday used water cannons and what appeared to be tear gas to break up thousands of demonstrators protesting the government's decision to close the country's most-watched television station.


Germany to Clamp Down on Far-Right Rallies

Germany's government Friday proposed new laws to combat far-right demonstrations, timed to include a planned May march in Berlin on the 60th anniversary of the Nazi surrender in World War II.


NEW DELHI: Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Wednesday that progress on resolving the Kashmir issue would have to be made in tandem with progress on other issues.


An American jailed in Romania for paedophile offences is freed early after writing a Dracula book.


John Edwards willed himself through a 36-hour marathon, Barack Obama dispatched canvassers onto frigid streets and Hillary Rodham Clinton hand-carried bagels and coffee to volunteers Wednesday, vying for victory in the Iowa caucuses and priceless momentum in the race for the White House. Leading Republicans exchanged routine unpleasantries on a final day of campaigning.


Travis Garrison scores a career-high 21 points, and No. 15 Maryland thumps Jackson State for a season-opening 93-57 victory Friday.


One Man Dies in Mass. Fair Ride Accident

SHREWSBURY, Mass. - A carnival ride broke apart during a church fair Sunday, killing a man and injuring two other people...


National Collector's Mint - serving all your collecting needs for unique coins. Ronald Reagan commemorative coins, Freedom Tower tribute coins, limited edition coins, and much, much more!


Kerry Chides Bush on Assault Weapons Ban

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry sought to make President Bush pay a political price Monday for the expiration of a partial assault weapons ban, but other Democrats reacted warily on an issue that has hurt the party in recent elections...


Boeing says that the first test flight of its 787 Dreamliner has been delayed by about three months.


Andrew Flintoff believes England can recover from 95-4 against South Africa in the third Test at Cape Town.


Man Utd will meet Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup, following Wednesday's draw.


Sony's game unit is discontinuing two PlayStation 3 game machine models sold only in Japan to streamline its lineup and boost software development, a company official said Thursday.


Sign up for our virtualization e-Symposium or we'll kill a puppy

You know it makes sense Site news It may have escaped your notice that El Reg's US editor Ashlee "Blade" Vance will on 6 November be hosting what our Strategy Boutique has dubbed an "e-Symposium" on virtualization, in association with VMware and Intel.â¦


In aumento dell'8,3% anche il fatturato, boom per le auto


Apple upgraded its Xserve 1U rack optimized server to deliver dual 64-bit 2.3 GHz PowerPC G5 processors with over 35 gigaflops of processing power per system. With the industry’s fastest front side 1U server system bus, running at up to 1.15 GHz, Xserve offers up to 9.2 GBps of bandwidth per processor and up to three 400GB drives, achieving a groundbreaking 1.2TB of hot-plug storage. With configurations starting at just $2,999, it is the ideal server for everything from file and print serving to computational clusters. [Jan 04]


Living Your Dreams, in a Manner of Speaking

With lucid dreaming, if you can dream it, you can do it. At least while youâre asleep.


Study Links Stress to Soldiers' Maladies

-- The role of traumatic brain injury _ blamed for symptoms plaguing thousands of soldiers returning from Iraq _ might be overstated, contends a provocative military study that offers hope for successful treatment.


The price of crude oil reaches new record levels amid concerns about possible unrest in Venezuela and the threat of sabotage in Iraq.


Football: Barcelona held 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao

Barcelona were held to a one-all draw at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, but the result still increases their lead at the top of the Spanish Primera Liga to six points - for a day at least.


Pensionato 72enne accusato di violenza sessuale aggravata


Companies seen warming to idea of health reform

As rising health costs erode profits, U.S. corporations are expected to warm up to health care reform under the next president -- a prospect that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.


WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDayNews) -- Could gingko help slow the early signs of dementia seen in Alzheimer's patients? Researchers at Imperial College London say they're launching a study to find out.


'The History Boys,' a Tony Award-winning play, gets a literate treatment on screen.


Russia Calls for U.N. Meeting on Hostages

Russia called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council Wednesday on the hostage-taking at a school in a region bordering Chechnya.


Arafat had millions in global investments

In 35 years as Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat raised billions of dollars. He spent the fortune to wield power, to pay militants who attacked Israel and to invest in the United States and the Middle East.


San Paolo, 16:25 - CALCIO, BRASILE: LA FIAT SPONSORIZZA ANCHE IL CRUZEIRO

Dopo Palmeiras di San Paolo e Atletico del Minas Gerais, anche il Cruzeiro apporrà sulla sua ...


Ivory Coast rebel leader welcomes arms embargo

Ivory Coast rebel leader Guillaume Soro welcomed a UN arms embargo on Tuesday but said the West African country could not be reunified with President Laurent Gbagbo's "fascist regime" in power.


SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The stepfather of the boy who accused Michael Jackson of molestation testified Thursday that he asked for payment from Jackson for the family's participation in a video interview intended to restore Jackson's reputation...


Dawn Puglisi has been in medical treatment for her breast and liver cancer since 1999. She said part of her therapy has been spending time with her horse, Joe.


President Bush will make a prime-time address from the Oval Office on Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.


The attempted attacks in London and Glasgow bore the hallmarks of an al-Qaida operation, but they lacked a key ingredient: professional execution.


Train maker Bombardier cuts over 700  jobs in the UK, with the axe falling on workers in Derby and Ilford.


Cheney Is Said to Be Fine After Shortness of Breath

The vice president underwent tests at a hospital after complaining of shortness of breath. His doctor said there was no evidence that he had suffered a heart attack.


The struggling maker of the Treo smart phone reportedly lets go 100 employees to trim expenses, although the company isn't talking.


"Bourne Supremacy" star Matt Damon, "Lost in Translation" actress Scarlett Johansson and other celebrity artists are donating their talents — not just their cash — to an online effort to unseat President Bush.


Congress to revisit expanded spy law next week

Hearing scheduled for next week may be first step in addressing widespread complaints about new federal spying powers signed into law earlier this month.


3 members of Iraqi interim leader's family reported kidnapped

Three members of Iraqi interim prime minister Ayad Allawi's family were abducted from their Baghdad home, police said Wednesday.


Alex Tanguay scored the tying and go-ahead goals, and the Calgary Flames beat Minnesota on Wednesday night, handing the Wild their first regulation loss in nine games this season.


Londra, 13:12 - CALCIO, CHELSEA; MOURINHO: CECH PRONTO A GENNAIO

Jose Mourinho aspetta Cech per gennaio: ''Ci scommetto - ha detto il tecnico del Chelsea - Cech non ...


Finance ministers say the global economy is now recovering after the recent turmoil in worldwide markets.


A teenager dies from a suspected drugs overdose after apparently making a suicide pact with her best friend.


U.S. wants liver, stomach warnings on painkillers

U.S. health officials on Tuesday proposed new warnings about liver and stomach risks on the labels of over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen.


Trichet's Warnings Hint No ECB Rate Shift

There are a number of risks to the  inflationary outlook, European Central Bank President  Jean-Claude Trichet said on Tuesday in remarks that signaled  the ECB is likely to keep to its slight bias toward eventually  raising interest rates.


Greg Ryan out as US women's soccer coach

Greg Ryan is out as the U.S. women's soccer coach less than a month after his top-ranked team lost in the World Cup semifinals following a contentious goalie switch.


Dell will sell only two models of multimedia computers at Wal-Mart, the first step toward transforming its sales strategy.


Iraq moves troops and tanks to northern city Mosul

Iraqi tanks and helicopters are being sent to the northern city of Mosul and troop reinforcements should arrive later on Sunday for a big offensive against al Qaeda militants, Iraqi security officials said.


A train plowed through a bus Tuesday at an unmanned railway crossing in northern Bangladesh, killing at least 33 people and injuring about 15 others, an official said.


Country's Pat Green Takes Long Road to Stardom

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - Pat Green: He's not just for Texas  anymore.


Presentati questa mattina i candidati che appoggiano il sindaco nella capitaleCi sono big della politica e del cinema. Ma anche il piÃ¹ giovane capolista: un sedicenne                                          Pd, le liste romane di Veltroni tra spettacolo e impegno civile                                                                                In prima fila Pietro Terracina, un superstite di Auschwitz. In platea anche Scola, Lizzani e Scarpelli


A recall of 39,400 laser printers made by Lexmark International Inc. and sold by Lexmark, IBM and Dell Inc. is due to a potential electrical shock hazard, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said yesterday.


North Korea's neighbors rushed Wednesday to forge a common front against Pyongyang's threat of a nuclear test, announcing a series of summits over the next week to coordinate policy and soothe frayed relations.


Bergamo, 12:21 - CALCIO, ATALANTA: COLANTUONO FIRMA FINO AL 2009

Stefano Colantuono ha rinnovato il contratto con l'Atalanta fino al termine della stagione 2008-09. ...


Female aid worker believed to have been killed in Iraq

Margaret Hassan, the aid worker kidnapped after years of helping Iraqis, is believed to have been slain by her captors, a British government official said yesterday, based on a video that showed a hooded militant shooting a blindfolded woman in the head.


Report: Disney CEO to Leave Board in 2006

Walt Disney Co. chief executive Michael Eisner plans to quit the company's board when his contract expires in 2006, but said he won't leave Disney before then as some prominent shareholders have demanded.


Gillerman: Pullout should improve negotiations

The big difference between us and the Palestinians is that for us every dead Palestinian civilian is a failure while for them every dead Israeli civilian is a victory, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations said Thursday.


Tuareg-led rebels in northern Niger kidnap a Chinese national in 'warning' to mining companies


The European Commission is still in talks with Oracle Corp  over its plan to take over rival software firm PeopleSoft Inc. , but aims to take a decision before the end of October, a Commission spokeswoman said on Friday.


Economy Expands Despite Rising Oil Prices

Rising energy costs drove up U.S.  consumer prices a larger-than-expected 0.6 percent in October,  while industrial output and housing starts rebounded strongly  from the prior month.


The Mayor of Boston was among the hundreds of people at the funeral of a 21-year-old college student. Victoria Snelgrove was killed during a Boston Red Sox victory celebration.


Bonds Joins Aaron, Ruth in 700-Homer Club

SAN FRANCISCO - As Barry Bonds' numbers rise, the words to describe them become less adequate. When the slugger hit his 700th homer, only daughter Aisha could sum up the history and majesty of the blast...


Schwab to Return $3.5 Billion to Shareholders

Enriched from the sale of its wealth management subsidiary, Charles Schwab will buy back more than 100 million of its shares and paying a one-time dividend.


iPhone launch draws gadget geeks, hired help

NEW YORK/CHICAGO  - Kristian Gundersen flew from  Norway to New York to be among the first people to buy Apple's  media-playing iPhone. He described the day as one of the best  of his life.


Thomson says buys 750,000 of its shares from ITV

French technology group Thomson (TMS.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it had purchased 750,000 of its own shares, or 4.8 percent of a stake in it being sold by British commercial broadcaster ITV (ITV.


The SNP puts forward a motion at Holyrood calling for an end to tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges.


Eddie Layton, the Yankee Stadium organist and ballpark fixture for more than 35 years, has died after a brief illness.


Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar  urges supporters to continue the fight for Afghan 'independence'.


IOC strips gold medal from Russian shot putter

Russia's Irina Korzhanenko was stripped of her shot put gold medal Monday, the first athlete of these games to lose an Olympic title because of doping.


Blackwater guards offered immunity deals: report

U.S. State Department investigators looking into the shooting deaths of 17 Iraqis in Baghdad last month offered immunity deals to Blackwater security guards, The New York Times reported on Monday.


The announcement by the Iraqi government today follows the banning of Blackwater USA, an American contractor, after a shooting that left eight Iraqis dead.


Mattel announces third Chinese toy recall

The world's leading toymaker, Mattel Inc, on Tuesday announced a third recall of Chinese-made toys, saying it would take back more than 800,000 units globally that contain "impermissible" levels of lead.


The DNA Age: Seeking Healthy Children, Couples Cull Embryos

A growing number of couples are screening embryos to detect a predisposition to cancers that may or may not develop later in life, and are often treatable if they do.


The PalmSource chief financial officer jumps ship. Does that mean it's sinking?


Movie Review | 'Because I Said So': Mother, Please, Iâd Rather Do It Myself

âBecause I Said Soâ is an exercise in deliberate mediocrity, with chuckles and heartwarming moments distributed as carefully as nuts in a factory-made brownie.


Quarterback Alex Smith is set to return to the San Francisco 49ers' lineup for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.


Zurigo, 15:05 - CALCIO, UEFA: E' PREMATURO PARLARE DI RIPESCAGGI CHAMPIONS

Il responsabile della comunicazione dell'Uefa William Gaillard prende posizione sulla notizia dell'e...


Mount St. Helens May Have More Eruptions as Quakes Continue

Mount St. Helens may have eruptions in coming days similar to yesterday's 25-minute flare-up as the Washington state volcano endures up to two earthquakes a minute.


US election: Race and politics in Harlem

As Ted Kennedy hits the campaign trail with Barack Obama, GuardianFilms looks at how Bill and Hillary misplayed the race card, particularly in their own backyard, Harlem


Motorists are being warned as snow showers across much of the country are predicted.


Rangel wants buyout firms to fund tax fix

WASHINGTON - House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel said he will propose a tax increase on executives at buyout firms and hedge funds to pay for a temporary fix to the alternative minimum tax that lawmakers agree must pass this year.


Services and software companies IBM   and SAP , longtime technology partners, will  bring out their first joint software product in the fourth  quarter of this year, the two companies said on Monday.


ASIA/CINA - Oltre 3.000 fedeli alla celebrazione per il 10Â° anniversario del Santuario mariano del Monte di Nostra Signora di Tie Ling nella diocesi di Liao Ning Liao Ning (Agenzia Fides) - Dieci anni fa il Santuario mariano del Monte di Nostra Signora di Tie Ling, nella diocesi di Liao Ning, veniva aperto al pubblico. Oggi, oltre 3.000 fedeli hanno celebrato il 10Â° anniversario dellÂapertura del Santuario pa...


IBM lancerÃ  sul mercato dei nuovi chip per incrementare la sicurezza e la protezione dei pc. Le nuove soluzioni che adotterÃ  IBM si avvarranno della tecnologia SafeKeeper Trusted I/O Device di National Semiconductor.


China installs a new bishop of Beijing, the first in over 50 years to have tacit approval from the Vatican.


The folded piece of paper in Rick Carlisle's right hand yesterday morning had scribbled basketball plays on one side and a list of largely unknown names on the other.


The United Methodist Church defrocked a lesbian minister this week for the first time in 17 years. In a sermon to her congregation, the Rev.


Hearing on prisoner's death halted over access

DENVER -- An Army appeals court stopped a key hearing yesterday for three soldiers charged with killing an Iraqi general during an interrogation and ordered the military to explain why the proceedings have been closed to the public.


Friendster set to open its platform to developers

Friendster will launch a developer program in November to ease the process of building applications for the social networking site.


Yukos fate is sealed as state auction looms

Russian oil major Yukos is expected to face the auction of its main subsidiary by the end of the month at a price far lower than its estimated worth, a move analysts say could ruin the company and destroy the equity of minority shareholders.


Instead of the beach or mountains, more tourists now spend their vacations at sites of disaster and depravity


Bosses at ntl got wet and wild when their colleagues pelted them with water bombs.   Staff based at Preston Park Business Farm in Stockton have been raising money all year for the Make A Child Smile charity.


Nassiriya. Celebrazioni solenni per commemorare i 19 caduti ...

Celebrazione solenne a Roma per i 19 caduti di Nassiriya, nella Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli. Presenti le piÃ¹ alte cariche dello Stato, dal presidente della Repubblica, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, al presidente


A day after Indians pitcher Paul Byrdâs name emerged as a recipient of shipments of human growth hormone, George J. Mitchell said he played no role in releasing the information.


David Hicks, an Australian who is the only person convicted on terrorism charges at a U.S. military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay, walked free Saturday after more than six years behind bars.


JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel and Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority president, will meet in Egypt on Monday for talks with two neighboring Arab leaders alarmed by Hamas's takeover of the Gaza Strip.


Twists, turns make road to Oscars tough to map out

LOS ANGELES  - Oscar beckons: The musical "Dreamgirls" is the odds-on favorite to take home best picture honors. Clint Eastwood is again in the driver's seat as a best director nominee for "Flags of Our Fathers."


Iraq troop cuts may no longer be taboo for Bush

After months of stubbornly refusing even to consider cutting U.S. troop levels in Iraq, President George W. Bush has suddenly decided the idea is no longer taboo.


Ricky Hatton's promoter Frank Warren opened negotiations last night for a fight next year, possibly in March or April, against Kostya Tszyu for the International Boxing Federation light-welterweight title.


Affleck visits Capitol Hill to prepare for a role

Ben Affleck is preparing for his role as a Congressman for his upcoming movie State of Play by meeting people on Capitol Hill.


Major indexes rose today as investors were assuaged by solid earnings results from blue-chip names.


In Africa, a More Business-Friendly Approach

African nations have made surprising strides in carrying out changes that make it easier to start and run a business, a new report says.


Picture this: You're watching the Patriots on TV. Your wife is upstairs, listening on the radio. Suddenly, she hears you scream, "Oh my god!" and rushes downstairs to see what happened. It turns out you were screaming because Tom Brady had just thrown an interception and you saw it before she heard it.


Imbrattano vetrine contro la vendita delle pellicce


Mack-Cali pulls out of Icahn's Reckson bid

Mack-Cali Realty Corp. has  pulled out of its partnership with Carl Icahn and Harry  Macklowe in their bid to buy office building owner Reckson  Associates Realty Corp., exercising its option not to  contribute $400 million to the deal, Reckson said on Saturday.


Wal-Mart workers appear in ads faulting its practices

A union-backed group is to launch two television ads today that feature Wal-Mart workers calling on their employer to improve working conditions and make company health insurance more affordable.


DEARBORN, Mich. -- Bill Ford, who struggled for five years to steer Ford Motor Co. toward financial stability, is stepping down as chief executive of the company founded by his great grandfather and is being replaced by Alan Mulally, a top executive from the airplane maker Boeing Co.


As nominations draw to a close,  Dominique Strauss-Kahn is tipped as new IMF leader.


North Korea envoy demands end to sanctions: Yonhap

North Korea wants the United States to  free its overseas bank accounts and for countries to drop  sanctions imposed after Pyongyang tested a nuclear weapon,  South Korea's Yonhap news agency on Wednesday quoted its envoy  as saying.


A MAJOR Sunni political party has quit the interim Iraqi Government in protest over the US assault on the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, the party's leader said yesterday.


UK music and book retailer HMV reports a healthy rise in Christmas sales and rising profits, but says it remains cautious on future prospects.


Zimbabwe protest strike call fails again

A general strike against President  Robert Mugabe collapsed again on Wednesday with Zimbabweans  apparently too worried about keeping their jobs and avoiding a  police crackdown to take part.


Il comico torna su Raidue dal 20 settembre con 'Artu''


US-led troops raid villages near Baghdad

US-led forces swept hotspots south of Baghdad on Wednesday in a push to capture the area before key January polls. The launch of the huge operation on Tuesday came as the international community threw its


The BBC apologises for faking the results of a competition on children's programme Blue Peter.


MASN, Georgetown University Agree to TV Deal

MASNÃÂ will announce a deal today to become the official network of Georgetown University men's basketball, which will include televising 10 games this season.


Murder and Suicide Reviving Claims of Child Abuse in Cult

A murder-suicide by the son of a 60's cult leader has prompted former members to come forward with claims of abuse.


No, not by hopping the next flight out of Athens, which was what all the US men's basketball players no doubt felt like doing after shooting bricks and playing like strangers in their miserable first week of the Olympics.


Start of signing ceremony for new EU constitution

The ceremony to sign the European Union's first-ever constitution began, in the same hall in Rome where the 1957 pact which founded the EU's predecessor was agreed.


Roma, 12:10 - CALCIO, DILETTANTI: IGNORATI SIA DA TV CHE DA POLITICA

Il Presidente della Lega nazionale dilettanti di calcio Carlo Tavecchio, ascoltato questa mattina al...


Blair set to face unions' wrath as TUC kicks off annual conference

Britain's trade unions opened their annual conference amid threats of strike action ahead of a general election expected in 2005, urging Prime Minister Tony Blair's government to tackle concerns about pensions and job cuts.


CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. said Monday that it's getting into the candy business via a $1.48 billion acquisition of the Life Savers and Altoids brands, among others, from Kraft Foods Inc.


Where Risk and Choice and Hope Converge, a Guiding Voice

Daniela Iacoboni, a genetic counselor, seeks to balance information about risk with caution about passing on serious diseases.


Sono arrivate ieri sera a Pratica di Mare, trasportate da un boeing dell'Aeronautica militare, le salme di Jessica e Sabrina Rinaudo, le due sorelle cuneesi rimaste vittime dell'attentato di Taba, nel Mar Rosso.


Mobile Phones Take Back Seat at Revamped BenQ

BenQ has launched as a new corporation, focusing on digital projectors, computer monitors, and other electronics.


Cincinnati Bell Wireless launches Wi-Fi/cell service

Blog: Dual-mode Wi-Fi and cellular services could make it big this summer as Cincinnati Bell Wireless and T-Mobile both launch new services.


A Plan to Offer 50 Sites on Politics in 50 States

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


A mortar attack on an Iraqi National Guard headquarters north of Baghdad killed at least four National Guards and injured 80 others, officials said Tuesday.


Up to 100 people were injured in an explosion at a sugar refinery in the U.S. state of Georgia, the Savannah-Chatham police department said.


Lo comunica l'Istat sulla base della stima preliminare


Iraq imposed a total daylight curfew on Baghdad on Saturday, banning all movement, as U.S. forces said they had foiled a possible suicide plot to attack the city's sprawling "Green Zone" government compound.


A new fund is the first exchange-traded fund listed in the United States to focus exclusively on mainland Chinese companies.


Cisco gives weak outlook; tech shares down

Cisco Systems Inc   gave a disappointing outlook on Wednesday and warned  of a rapid slowdown in U.S. and European orders, driving its  shares down 8 percent and adding to broader fears of a U.S.  recession.


Hong Kong election candidates question vote-counting delay

More than eight hours after polls closed in Hong Kong, leading pro-democracy candidates running in legislative elections have demanded to know why the vote count was taking so long.


Clinton, Obama Battle Over Economy as Campaign Focus Shifts

Bloomberg - Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) -- The battleground for the Democratic presidential nomination is shifting as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama each push proposals to rejuvenate an economy that may be on the brink of recession.


Opinion: Real-world disk failure rates offer surprises

One-third of disk drives die with no warning at all. The average percentage of disks failing per year is much higher than the manufacturer's estimate - an average of 3% vs. the estimated 0.5% - 0.9%. There is a clear trend showing that lower temperatures are associated with higher failure rates.


Stephen Holden's picks for the best films of 2004 include "Bad Education," "Sideways," "Vera Drake," "The Door in the Floor" and "The Mother."


Police say they are making no assumptions at this stage that a car driver committing suicide caused the rail crash in which seven people died.


SOUTHAMPTON, Sept 19: England captain Michael Vaughan is confident his team can put an end to their miserable losing streak against Australia when they clash with the world champions in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.


The left-hander David Wells passed a physical and was introduced at a Fenway Park news conference, and the timing could not have been more striking.


NEW YORK  - People who want to cut down on calories might be wise to trade in their regular soda for a diet version, a study suggests.


Los Angeles - US software behemoth Microsoft on Tuesday unveiled a new technological assault that will bring music, movies and television into consumers' living rooms via their home computers.


Players to Get ATP-Approved Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional supplements tested by a  World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory and approved by  men's tennis body the ATP will be available to players from  next year's Australian Open, officials said Tuesday.


The EU insists it will not remove Colombia's Farc rebels from its "terror list", despite recent calls by Venezuela.


A company making stationery and filing products goes into administration, threatening 150 mid Wales jobs.


Brazilian authorities charge two US pilots with endangering air safety over the country's worst aviation disaster.


Rice Announces U.S. Security Coordinator in Mideast

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice  announced Monday the appointment of a U.S. general as security  coordinator to protect budding Middle East peace moves and that  Israeli and Palestinian leaders would visit Washington.


Korea, Austria to enhance cooperation in science and technology

South Korea and Austria agreed on Friday (November 19) to strengthen and enhance cooperation in science and technology and also exchange technology as well, officials said.


Lo ha annunciato produttore della Publispei Carlo Bixio


NASA's speedster scramjet noses near Mach 10

NASA's X-43A unmanned experimental research jet nosed its way into the record books again on Tuesday as it flew close to Mach 10.


By IOAN GRILLO MEXICO CITY - For most people, even the smallest bite of a raw chili pepper means a flushed face and a rush for a gulp of water.


Styris, McCullum to face disciplinary hearin

Melbourne, December 9: New Zealand batsmen Scott Styris and Brendon McCullum are free to play in Friday's third and deciding Chappell-Hadlee One-Day Series match after being cleared of charges from Wednesday's loss to Australia.


New York - The Web portal Lycos Europe on Friday terminated a spam-fighting campaign that had been criticized as a breach of Internet civility.


AMREL's New ROCKY RK886 Screams By the Competition

AMREL announces the release of their Fully Rugged ROCKY RK886EX Notebook Computer.


L'annuncio del primo ministro Jaroslaw KaczyniskiA Bruxelles, la settimana scorsa, Varsavia aveva detto "sÃ¬" a un'intesa                                             La Polonia rompe con la Ue "Ridiscutere l'accordo di Bruxelles"


Berlin (IANS) More and more Germans are turning their backs on the economic problems plaguing their homeland in the hope of better pay and working conditions in other countries.


Was the recent downtick a short-term stumble or the shape of things to come?


Roadside bombs and other attacks Friday killed 10 Iraqis and wounded 26 people, including a U.S. soldier riding through Baghdad in a minesweeper.


Houston Chronicle Loren Steffy Column: JetBlue's Attempt at Making Amends is Admirable

By Loren Steffy, Houston Chronicle  Feb. 21--FOR JetBlue, it was an Icarus moment.   Accustomed to basking in the glow of customer satisfaction, the upstart airline's reputation for service melted away amid the strandings and groundings and cancellations of one winter storm.


Description: An Islamist Internet site says a radical group has killed two female Italian aid workers kidnapped in Baghdad. The women's employer says it has doubts about the claim.


THE Thai military turned to the power of origami yesterday in its attempt to bring peace to the countryâs restive south. Air force planes dropped 100 million paper birds over the area, where fighting between


Turner Classic Movies  has launched an online video destination devoted to classic  films.


Lavalife Introduces New Online Personals & Social Networking Site for Baby Boomers

TORONTO, May 29  /PRNewswire/ -- Mature, confident, fun-loving single Baby Boomers seek modern day online dating site that actually caters to the 45+ age group.


Nearly a third of UK food and drink contains pesticide, a government advisory body says.


Iowans pick Huckabee and Obama, endorsing change

Caucus results shake up the race for the White House in both parties.


Sudanese government, southern rebels conclude peace talks with two deals

NAIVASHA, Kenya  - The Sudanese government and southern rebels signed landmark deals Friday on how to implement a series of agreements on ending a 21-year civil war in southern Sudan.


U.S. warns of severe pain with osteoporosis drugs

U.S. health officials issued an alert on Monday to highlight the possibility of severe bone, joint and muscle pain in patients who take certain osteoporosis medicines.


Austrian writer wary at scooping Nobel prize

"It's accurate to say she is not cheerful," Peter Ayrton, the English publisher for Elfriede Jelinek, said yesterday.


Empoli, 19:26 - CALCIO, EMPOLI-LAZIO; INTERDETTI 4 TIFOSI BIANCOCELESTI

Quattro tifosi laziali - fermati dalla Polizia nei pressi dello Stadio di Empoli con 12 petardi, un ...


Japanese stocks fell by mid morning on Tuesday following a decline in U.S. stocks, with chip maker Elpida Memory Inc. pulling down technology issues after it cut its profit outlook for the year.


Reserve forward Cornell Glen scored in the 68th minute to help the MetroStars to a 3-2 comeback win over the New England Revolution on Saturday night.


Polish Jews uncovering their hidden identity

An increasing number of Polish Jews who  hid their background because the Nazi occupation and the  communist government's anti-Semitic campaign are now  rediscovering their identity, Poland's chief rabbi says.


Market Forces Cited in Lymphoma Drugsâ Disuse

Only about 10 percent of people who are suitable candidates for two drugs received one of them last year.


EU opens arms to Turkey, but Cyprus clouds picture

BRUSSELS  - EU leaders were set to resume talks on the details of a landmark offer to launch membership talks with Turkey, with the vexed issue of Cyprus clouding the historic decision.


Vietnam's president opens US trip with NY stock exchange visit

Vietnam's President Nguyen Minh Triet kicked off his landmark visit to the United States Tuesday by visiting the world's largest stock market in a bid to demonstrate his country's economic reforms.


Blair announces major withdrawal of British troops from Iraq

Prime Minister Tony Blair announced Wednesday Britain's first large-scale cut of troops numbers in Iraq, with nearly a quarter set to return home within months.


A forest fire has led to a chance discovery of debris from the impact of a meteorite 1.85 billion years ago, more than 450 miles away at Sudbury, Ontario.


Natural gas modestly lower after weekly US data

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Crude-oil futures fell under $52 for the first time in more than two weeks Thursday, reflecting concerns that China's first interest-rate hike in nine years will ease energy demand.


Solar Array Shake: Astronauts Rewire ISS, Fourth Spacewalk Set

HOUSTON -- Two spacewalkers working outside the International Space Station (ISS) shook a troublesome solar array late Saturday to help fold it away, but ultimately ran out of time during an extended spacewalk to finish rewiring the orbital laboratory.


Oil Prices Retreat From a Record High After ChÃ¡vez Victory

Crude oil for delivery next month settled at $46.05 a barrel, down 53 cents, on the New York Mercantile Exchange after briefly trading at a new high of $46.91 early in the day.


Tennis: Kuznetsova Offended by Drug Slur

U.S. Open champion Svetlana  Kuznetsova has defended herself after a Belgian sports minister  announced that she had failed a drugs test, saying she was  deeply offended by the accusation.


Yahoo has offered about $900 million to woo Mark Zuckerberg, the 22-year-old founder of Facebook.com and says it will keep him in charge.


With its eyes on the future of home entertainment and a relatively uncluttered band of radio spectrum, Cisco Systems Inc.'s Linksys division on Wednesday unveiled a line of IEEE 802.


Peru Detains Siege Leader, to Storm Police Post

By Jude Webber and Tania Mellado LIMA, Peru  - Peruvian authorities detained aformer army major who led a three-day uprising in a southernAndean town and will storm the police station where some of his200 supporters remain unless they surrender, Prime MinisterCarlos Ferrero said early on Tuesday.


New listings on the Shanghai and Shenzen bourses are on track to raise an astonishing $52 billion this year. But how long can the money rush last?


Georgian authorities detained four Russian military officers on spying charges Wednesday, and security forces surrounded Russia's military headquarters in Tbilisi to demand that another suspect be handed over, the interior minister said.


Hundreds Held in Russian School; 8 Killed

BELSAN, Russia - More than a dozen militants wearing suicide-bomb belts seized a southern Russian school in a region bordering Chechnya on Wednesday, taking hostage about 400 people - half of them children - and threatening to blow up the building if police storm it. As many as eight people have been reported killed, one of them a school parent...


Milano, 23:37 - CALCIO, INTER: JULIO CESAR OPERATO IN OLANDA

Il portiere dell'Inter Julio Cesar è stato sottoposto nel pomeriggio a un intervento chirurgi...


The coach whose kicker missed a pair of potentially winning field goals last Saturday wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow's AFC Championship game between the Steelers and Patriots comes down to a special teams play.


Amgen Selling Japanese Rights to Some Drugs

Biotechnology giant Amgen is selling the Japanese rights to some drugs to Takeda Pharmaceutical of Japan in a deal that might bring Amgen more than $1 billion.


Cape Air, Nantucket Airlines halt flights, cite engine concerns

Cape Air and Nantucket Airlines, sister carriers that fly between Boston and Cape Cod and the islands, are canceling all flights today through tomorrow afternoon while mechanics attempt to determine the cause of three recent engine failures.


Seoul says North Korea bank issue nearly over

Negotiations to transfer North Korean funds held at a Macau bank, central to the reclusive state moving on a nuclear disarmament deal, are in their final stages, South Korea's foreign minister said on Wednesday.


Milano, 15:09 - CALCIO, INTER; MORATTI: ADRIANO MIGLIORA, NECESSARIO CHE GIOCHI

"Adriano sta crescendo abbastanza bene, è necessario che giochi, speriamo che faccia bene per...


Israeli FM cautions EU not to back new UN vote on barrier

Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom cautioned the European Union Sunday to not back any Palestinian moves to condemn Israel at the United Nations for its controversial West Bank separation barrier.


Acrimony, recriminations follow Manchester United victory over ...

That's when Arsenal and Manchester United are set to meet again in the Premier League. The bitter rivalry between the two giants of English soccer grew even nastier after Sunday's 2-0 United victory at Old


Tamil Tigers vow guerrilla warfare after losing stronghold

Tamil Tiger rebels have admitted losing a key stronghold in eastern Sri Lanka to government forces and said they would revert to guerrilla tactics in the troubled region.


OPEC was meeting on Tuesday to consider a modest rise in oil output proposed by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states in a gesture to consumers worried by the economic impact of $77 oil and rapidly diminishing stocks.


A massive but still-developing storm brought a variety of weather to a vast swath of the nation Saturday as it churned eastward.


Poland offers troops for Afghanistan from Feb 2007

Poland said on Thursday it would send   1,000 troops to Afghanistan next February in the first offer   since a NATO appeal for reinforcements, but it was unclear   whether any would go to the heartland of a Taliban insurgency.


Fiumicino, 12:24 - CALCIO, ROMA: CONTRATTEMPO IN UCRAINA, IN ITALIA SOLO ALL'ALBA

Doveva arrivare in nottata la Roma di Spalletti nella capitale, ma prima la nebbia, che ha impedito ...


Milano, 13:35 - CALCIO, MILAN; GALLIANI: NON E' CALCIOPOLI 2

"Il Milan è una società sana e pulita, ho sentito addirittura parlare di calciopoli 2,...


US inflation fell slightly in August, dipping by 0.1% after a sharp drop in energy prices, figures show.


European investigator plans Guantanamo visit

A European investigator probing alleged CIA abuses of detainees intends to visit the controversial U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and meet inmates, he said on Tuesday.


Gopal Vijayaraghavan's Blog: APC Autofilter: The Real Story

According to Gopal Vijayaraghavan, PHP developers "don't really understand PHP":   They know how to use PHP - but they hardly know how it works, mainly because it Just Works most of the time. But such willful ignorance (otherwise known as abstraction) often runs them aground on some issues when their code meets the stupidity that is APC.   To illustrate, he talks about how a simple bit of functionality in PHP, includes, really work. He describes how they're handled (evaluated at run time) and how the APC relates to this process.   He presents a dilemma where classes are created in two different ways (inside and outside included files) and a problem that could cause the APC caching to not cache a file at all after a certain point. He even gives an example of how, in "normal code" and a pretty basic development situation, this sort of thing could happen.


Iraq Militant Group Kills Arbil Police Chief -Site

An Iraqi militant group said it had assassinated the chief of police in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil and threatened to kill Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, according to an Internet statement posted on Sunday.


Two more people are arrested in connection with the murder of a man in Belfast, the police say.


Relatives wait desperately for news as the Russia school siege toll passes 320 and workers sift the rubble.


Acclamato ad Altoetting, oggi visita il suo paese natale


David Blunkett's difficulties deepened last night after the Conservatives finally decided to capitalise on his relationship with the married publisher, Kimberly Quinn, and called for his resignation.


Palestinian killed in Gaza air strike: witnesses

At least one Palestinian was killed and   two other people were wounded in an Israeli air strike in the   southern Gaza Strip early on Wednesday, hours after Israeli   missiles killed four militants, witnesses said.


Human Demand Outstripping Earth's Supply

Oct. 21, 2004 - The world's population is consuming about 20 percent more natural resources than the planet can produce, the environmental organization WWF International warned Thursday in its "Living Planet" report.


Questions have been renewed over the role of a businessman who some have considered a likely suspect in the murders of a Long Island couple.


Spain Takes Step Toward Approving Gay Marriage

Spain took a major step to becoming the third country to legalise gay marriage when its Socialist government approved a draft law on Thursday to give gay couples rights to marry, divorce and adopt children.


Darfur a 'Timed Bomb' Waiting to Explode - AU

Astronomical quantities of arms and ammunition have poured into Sudan's Darfur region in the last two weeks and the government is poised for a major military offensive, the African Union said on Friday.


When scientists wanted to explore what kind of life might exist on Mars, public television's "NOVA" recorded the building and launch of the rovers sent to the planet.


The EU should abandon its biofuels targets because they are damaging the environment, MPs say.


MUMBAI: Electronics and entertainment major Sony has reported a 61 per cent increase in net profit for the second quarter ended 30 September.. Sony's net income rose to 53.2 billion yen ($500 million) from


Omarosa Slams How TV Show Portrays Blacks

Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, tagged as an imperious diva on "The Apprentice," criticized the NBC reality show for stereotyping her and other black contestants.


Condom-dispensing machines now at 5 Sandals/Beaches hotels

THE Ministry of Health has collaborated with the Sandals resort chain to install condom-dispensing machines at its properties across the island, as government continues to put measures in place to fight HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs


A 71-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man die after accidents in County Tyrone and east Belfast.


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


The European Union's foreign policy chief and Iran's senior nuclear negotiator tentatively agreed to meet Wednesday in a last-ditch attempt to bridge differences over Tehran's atomic program, U.N. and European officials said.


Holy Year Draws Pilgrim Crowds to Spanish Shrine

Rafael Lopez has just walked 530 miles, he's lost count of the blisters on his feet, he's been queuing for three hours in pouring rain to get into a church -- and he's ecstatic.


China is to allow a critic of its HIV/Aids policy to receive an award in the US - a reversal of its earlier stance.


Boeing fuori controllo in fase di atterraggio, sei vittime


Marilyn Manson has struck back against his former bandmate by countersuing for breach of contract.


Crescita marcata della casa automobilistica di TorinoIl gruppo ha venduto nell'Ue oltre 108 mila vetture                                            Fiat: sorpasso sulla Renault Punto, seconda in Europa


Trio of Hot New Games Victimized by Piracy

A month before the video game's scheduled release this coming Tuesday, illegal copies of the hot sci-fi action title "Halo 2" were already circulating on the Internet. It's had a lot of company lately.


US Presidential Nominees Head to Miami for Debate

The focus of the US presidential campaign is moving to Miami, Florida, the site of the first debate between President Bush and his Democratic opponent John Kerry.


Flag flies low as Americans mourn lost soldiers

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas  - David Lane was only 20 when he died and little-known outside a close circle of family, friends, and fellow soldiers in the U.S. Army.


African Union to increase Darfur deployment

The African Union has approved plans for a big increase in its military intervention force in the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur.


Un risultato senza precedenti dal '99, anno privatizzazione


One of World's Largest Quakes Hits Near Australia

Australia's southern state of Tasmania  was rocked by the world's largest earthquake in  three-and-a-half years when it struck under the sea half way  between Australia and Antarctica on Friday, seismologists said.


Two soldiers of the US-led coalition have been killed in a gun battle in south-eastern Afghanistan, the US military says.


Tabbed windows make Safari vulnerable - Secunia

A security firm has warned of a vulnerability in Safari that allows hackers to hijack confidential data entered into Web sites. Secunia says the flaws affect Safari, Mozilla and Firefox, Opera


China Didnât Check Drug Supplier, Files Show

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


The Supreme Court said Friday it will consider whether Internet file-sharing services are responsible for their customers illegally swapping songs and movies, a multibillion-dollar case testing the limits of copyright law in the digital age.


I will turn down free beer software in favor of freedom software when both exist. If you don't know the difference, that's OK. You cannot see the source code for the video drivers from ATI, for example. You can get them for free but they are not freed. The same with Adobe Acrobat Reader and plugins for the Firefox web browser.


Ruling Coalition Rejected in Lithuanian Elections

VILNIUS, Lithuania -- Lithuanians rejected the ruling coalition in favor of the populist Labor Party in parliamentary elections -- a sign that many voters liked Labor's promises of lower taxes and higher pay.


Barr Gets FDA OK to Market Generic Videx

Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. reported Friday that the Food and Drug Administration approved its unit's application to market a generic versions of Bristol-Myers Squibb's Videx EC delayed-release HIV treatment.


US and Iraq War Opponents Back Elections

The United States and its allies on Monday found common cause with opponents of the invasion of Iraq, encouraging Iraq to hold elections on time in January even


Arab Officials Criticize U.S. Support of Israel

Senior Arab officials attending a U.S.-sponsored conference in the Middle East rejected the Bush administration's assertion that greater democracy would help end terrorism, arguing that the administration's strong support of Israel made it difficult to undertake political reforms or halt extremists driven by hatred of U.S. policies.


Il calcolo di Adusbef, aggravio anche per credito a consumo


Two campaigners sued for libel by McDonald's will take their case to the European Court of Human Rights.


Mostrava perizie su bambini della scuola, trasmesso ieri


WASHINGTON -- Spending on construction projects unexpectedly edged up in August as the best gain in nonresidential activity in 11 months offset another big decline in home building.


The demand for wireless chips takes a turn for the worse for this company.


A second public consultation into whether new nuclear stations should be built has "failed", a report suggests.


Face lift, luxury safari -- bargain price

Colleen Hiltbrunner spent two years researching her dream trip to South Africa. But she wasn't looking for the perfect safari lodge. She was hunting for the right cosmetic surgeon.


Roma, 12:08 - CALCIO, ROMA-LIONE: SI' A NOTTURNA PER COMITATO ORDINE

Roma-Lione, andata degli ottavi di Champions League in programma mercoledÃ¬ prossimo, puÃ² essere gioc...


Toronto-Dominion Bank is in the final stages of negotiations to take a controlling interest in New England regional bank Banknorth Group Inc. in a transaction worth as much as $3.5 billion, according to executives involved in the talks.


Now that Steve Ballmer and company have given you all the facts you need to compare Windows and Linux, allow me to add just one little tidbit.


Denmark's Billund airport will be the first to aim for certification under the new quality management system drawn up by the Cool Chain Association (CCA). Jan de Rijk Logistics, whose MD Willem Heeren sat on ...


On Saturday, Virginia Tech's new, unwanted identity blended with its old one of being a football power in an authentic, if awkward, coupling.


Microsoft offers new products for governments

In Berlin on Tuesday, Microsoft unveiled a product package aimed at local and regional e-government initiatives, in the midst of growing government opposition in Europe to proprietary software.Microsoft's Citizen Service Platform includes applications and templates designed for local and regional governments primarily in Europe and the United States. It is built on products, including SharePoint, Office Live, and Windows Server.While Microsoft has been selling software to the public sector for years, it has recently begun focusing on local governments after discovering that many people interact with their local governments more often than the federal government, said Ralph Young, vice president of Microsoft's Worldwide Public Sector group.Europe alone has more than 80,000 local and regional governments, Young said.Governments can use the Citizen Service Platform to create portals, manage documents, deploy alert systems in the case of emergencies, and create and manage citizen information databases that can be shared among different agencies.Microsoft is introducing the product as it faces mounting opposition Europe. Some governments there are migrating to open source products as a way to avoid being locked into a single vendor of proprietary software.Others, such as the Netherlands, are taking a more extreme route. Late last year, the Dutch parliament mandated that government organizations choose open source over proprietary software if a viable product is available. Agencies must also use open standards. The national government must comply with the new rules by May, with local governments following by the end of this year.Young was unfazed by the mandate. "We have many opportunities in the Netherlands to work with local and regional governments," he said. "We don't see any federal mandates having real impact locally because of local jurisdictions' ability to make decisions in their best interest in terms of how to better serve citizens."Microsoft could be counting on local governments having autonomy from such federal mandates, said Mark Anderson, a consultant and founder of the Strategic News Service. "There are a lot of times when a government will posture, and it doesn't really intend that posture to be carried through the rest of the country," he said.Still, some European government agencies may be predisposed to choose software other than Microsoft's, more so since the software giant began pushing its Open XML document format there, Anderson said. Microsoft is in the process of attempting to have Open XML be accepted as a standard by the International Organization for Standardization. Open XML competes with the Open Document Format promoted by IBM. Critics of Open XML accused Microsoft of stacking votes in the standardization process, souring some in Europe on Microsoft even further.Microsoft thinks that cost will determine decisions for many local governments. "It's much less a religious discussion about open source and commercial software as it is about what are the solutions available that governments can see value from," said Young. "Local governments are empowered to make decisions and if they say 'This is the best value for the dollar I spend over the life of a service capability, that will govern my decision-making process.'"


Investors suffer when communications companies can't communicate.


Some administrators are pushing back against an ethos of super-achievement at affluent suburban high schools.


The FBI is investigating envelopes containing suspicious powder that were sent to several newspapers in the last several days.


STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Technicians at Sweden's public television have unearthed an unexpected delight for music lovers - a complete original recording of a Jimi Hendrix concert in Stockholm from 1969 on a tape long thought to have been destroyed.    The unmarked tape was recently found stashed on a shelf deep inside the station's enormous archives during a project to transfer archived material from tape and film to digital, SVT spokeswoman Catarina Wilson said Friday...


Future collaboration NASA and Virgin Galactic announced this week they'd agreed to work together on future projects such as "development of space suits, heat shields for spaceships, hybrid rocket motors, and hypersonic vehicles".â¦


Brilliant Cancellara claims second stage win

COMPIEGNE, France  - A late burst of speed gave overall leader Fabian Cancellara a dazzling victory in the third stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday.


LOS ANGELES - An estimated 14 million viewers watched the triumphs of HBO's "The Sopranos" and "Angels in America" on the Emmy Awards Sunday night on ABC - an alarmingly low number for what is supposed to be television's big night.    If those preliminary Nielsen Media Research numbers hold up, that would represent the smallest audience for the Emmys since 12.3 million saw it in 1990 on Fox - at the time a new network that many people weren't used to seeking out...


A Cernobbio la giornata conclusiva del workshop Ambrosetti dedicata all'economia italianaPrevisti interventi dei ministri Padoa-Schioppa, Bersani e Damiano                                           Fassino: "No aumento pressione fiscale" Di Pietro: "Tassazione rendite sia piÃ¹ equa"


No one could blame Purdue coach Gene Keady if he just rode off into the sunset after this game, never to be heard from again. In a stunningly sloppy


Myanmar protests push Iran down U.N. agenda

President George W. Bush announced new U.S. sanctions against Myanmar on Tuesday as world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly focused on rising protests against military rule in the Southeast Asian state.


Ex-US Supreme Court justice worries about judicial independence

Former US Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor said that virulent criticism was threatening the judicial independence of the nation's highest court.


Productivity Growth Slows; Store Sales Dip

U.S. business productivity grew more  slowly in the third quarter than first thought, a government  report showed on Tuesday, while chain store sales fell in the  crucial shopping week after Thanksgiving.


Canada condemns Sudan's expulsion of diplomat

Canada has no intention of apologizing for one of its diplomats after the Sudanese government expelled Ottawa's charge d'affaires, Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said on Sunday.


Misery tempts Palestinian Christians to flee

BETHLEHEM, West Bank  - Despairing of life under Israeli occupation, many Palestinian Christians are moving abroad, threatening their ancient links to Bethlehem and the land where Jesus was born.


Supreme Court hears arguments in recount dispute

The state Supreme Court today promised a speedy decision after hearing arguments over the fate of hundreds of mistakenly rejected ballots in Washington's incredibly close governor's race.


Katrina doctor says she's not a murderer

A doctor accused of murdering four critically ill hospital patients with injections in the harrowing days after Hurricane Katrina is defending herself publicly for the first time, saying in a TV interview that she gave them drugs simply to ease their pain.


Nokia unveils 3 new phones for fashion collection

Nokia (NOK1V.HE) unveiled on Monday  three new mobile phone handsets, the 7390, the 7373 and the  7360, to boost its new fashion lineup.


Wu-Tang Clan ends studio hiatus with "Diagrams"

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Ol' Dirty Bastard is gone, but the rapper's spirit looms large over "The 8 Diagrams," the Wu-Tang Clan's first album since 2001.


Roma, 13:03 - CALCIO, ARBITRATO: DUE ANNI DI INIBIZIONE A MATTEI

E' stato depositato oggi il dispositivo dell'arbitrato nei confronti dell'ex designatore dei guardal...


Ascoli Piceno, 15:04 - CALCIO, ASCOLI: 21 CONVOCATI PER SONETTI

L'allenatore dell'Ascoli, Nedo Sonetti, ha convocato 21 giocatori per la partita contro il Palermo i...


Stime a 9,85 milioni di veicoli, prima casa automobilistica


If the unemployment rate stays at current levels until the election, President Bush stands a much better chance at winning another four years in the White House, a job placement firm reported Monday.


A French judge issues arrest warrants for nine close aides of Rwandan President Paul Kagame.


Iran nuclear issue to test EU "unique role"

The Iran nuclear issue has again become the focal point for discussion by the countries attending the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board meeting.


Londra, 13:59 - CALCIO, LIPPI: IL CHELSEA MI VUOLE

L'ex ct azzurro, Marcello Lippi, ha dichiarato al quotidiano inglese 'The Sun' che l'avventura ingle...


The Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal could effectively end the careers of four Army generals who are linked indirectly to the misconduct but face no criminal charges.


Abidjan, 17:10 - CALCIO, COSTA D'AVORIO: KOHLER RINUNCIA A PANCHINA

Juergen Kohler, ex difensore della Juventus, rinuncia ad allenare la Costa d'Avorio; questo per moti...


The British police arrested a man on suspicion of plotting to murder the Russian exile Boris A. Berezovsky.


Patients who are violent to NHS staff could be made to pay for their treatment, under Lib Dem proposals.


Sales of HD DVD Players Plunge After Warner Move

What was a 50-50 market split in 2007 for the high-definition players shifted sharply in Blu-rayâs favor in the new year.


Flu vaccine may be available from Canada

The largest flu vaccine maker in Canada says talks are under way to sell excess influenza vaccines to the US government, but federal health officials Wednesday would not acknowledge such discussions.


Mike Huckabee, a Republican relying on support from religious conservatives in Thursday's hard-fought presidential caucuses, on Sunday stood by a decade-old comment in which he said, "I hope we answer the alarm clock and take this nation back for Christ."


US Consulate in a Saudi City Is Hit, Killing 9

Five attackers thought to be linked to Al Qaeda staged a daytime raid on the American Consulate here on Monday, storming through a fortified gate into the


The death of an amazing guitarist, icon of the music world, but an even better human being, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, has proven that we, as a society, have learned nothing from the past.


A pain management doctor charged with drug trafficking acknowledged Monday he prescribed unusually high doses of opiates for some patients, but maintained it was always for a medical reason.


Alonso begins new adventure with Renault

Double world champion Fernando Alonso began a new adventure on Tuesday with his first test for Renault since his ill-fated move to McLaren at the end of 2006.


26/10/04 - Flash - Torino - Si terrÃ  dal 5 al 7 novembre a Torino il convegno Contaminazioni, ossia "Voci, bufale e leggende metropolitane nell'era di Internet", un incontro imperdibile per gli appassionati ai miti talvolta crudeli e talatra truffaldini


Two goals by Pizarro as Bayern beats fearful Wolfsburg

Peruvian forward Claudio Pizarro returned after a three-game injury absence with two goals Tuesday to lead Bayern Munich to a 2-0 win over Bundesliga leader VfL Wolfsburg.


Google launches new Web site for readers, publishers

Leading Web search engine Google launched a new site for book lovers at the world's largest publishing show that will provide a new avenue for sales.


The former NFL star is questioned in a Las Vegas robbery just as his 'confession' hits bookstores.


TURKEY:  Relations with Iraq Become Explosive

ANKARA, Oct 30 (IPS) - Clashes between Turkish army units and Kurdish  Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas intensified during the weekend  along Turkey's borders with northern Iraq and in the  country's eastern province of Tunceli. Twenty suspected  Kurdish rebels were killed, according to Turkish NTV network.


Storms Kill More Than 650 in Philippines

Helicopters delivered food to survivors and picked up casualties Friday as flash floods began to recede in the northern Philippines, revealing the magnitude of a disaster


U.S. inflation remains well  contained but the Federal Reserve is on high alert for signs of  any pick-up in prices, top policy-makers said on Wednesday.


Montgomerie Charges Three Shots Clear in Singapore

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie  started his season with a superb seven under par 65 opening  round in the Singapore Masters Thursday.


Women leave Canadian town, children in hands of men

What would happen if all the women were  to disappear from a town, leaving the men to not only work, but  also take care of the family and the home?


Israel Kills Hamas 'Father of the Qassam' in Gaza

Hamas vowed on Friday to hit back hard for  Israel's assassination of the "Father of the Qassam" rocket, a  weapon symbolizing Palestinian militants' defiance of Prime  Minister Ariel Sharon and his plan to quit Gaza.


Oil hits five-month low as BP eyes Alaska recovery

Oil prices fell to their lowest level   in five months on Thursday, after energy giant BP said it could   bring its huge oil field in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, back to full   production by the end of October.


Indonesia Releases Embassy Attack Footage

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesian police on Saturday released security camera images of a truck bombing outside the Australian Embassy, and investigators found traces of explosives in a room rented by two Malaysian militants wanted in the blast.    Also Saturday, around 1,000 members of a hardline Muslim group rallied in downtown Jakarta against Thursday's attack, which killed nine people, two of them suspected suicide bombers...


Terrorism will triumph  at the North American box office this weekend.


Get ready for a segregated "Survivor." Race will matter on the upcoming season of the CBS show as contestants will be divided into four tribes by ethnicity. That means blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians in separate groups.


Throughout the chilly Moroccan winter, one dream burned bright for Hicham El Guerrouj as he trained in the thin air of the Atlas mountains.


The capital of tiny East Timor was quiet  but tense on Tuesday, a day after thousands of supporters of  rebel leader Alfredo Reinado burned tires and threw stones to  protest a raid by international troops on the fugitive's  hideout.


Sony apologises for using Manchester cathedral as a backdrop to one of its violent games.


Gore Shares Peace Prize for Climate Change Work

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Al Gore and to a United Nations panel for their work on global warming.


Wattpad pads out copyrighted material Wattpad has added a significant chunk of the Gutenberg Project catalogue to its mobile phone application. It is making 17,000 books available for easy download to most mobile phones.â¦


Roma, 13:28 - CALCIO, SERIE C2: GLI ARBITRI DELLA PRIMA GIORNATA

Questi gli arbitri designati a dirigere gli incontri della prima giornata del campionato di serie C1...


Coldiretti, nella pianta si cerca surrogato alla sigaretta


Torre Is Looking Good in a New Shade of Blue

When the Dodgers contacted him, Joe Torre was stunned to find that he was intrigued.


Michelin announces 35-percent profit rise, workers hold two managers

French tyre-maker Michelin reported on Friday a 35.3 percent surge in 2007 net profit as workers at a company factory in eastern France scheduled to be shut down next year were holding two managers at the site.


US mad cow report gives beef market jitters

US agricultural authorities announced tissue from a possible mad cow was being tested, triggering a dip in beef-related businesses.


Rapper Foxy Brown was summoned to court unexpectedly Monday after being accused of violating probation stemming from a fight in a nail salon more than two years ago.


Russia Will Eliminate Its Chemical Weapons Stockpile - General Staff Head

MOSCOW. Dec 7 (Interfax) - Russia is successfully destroying its chemical weapons stockpile, and the Federal Board for Safe Storage and Elimination of Chemical Weapons plays a major role in the process, said Army General Yuri Baluyevsky, head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.


A tiny telescope has spotted a giant planet circling a faraway star, using a technique that could open a new phase of planetary discovery, scientists say.


With Color and Panache, Afghans Fight a Different Kind of War

A much wider audience will be introduced to Afghan kite culture with the American release of the film âThe Kite Runner.â


Much-maligned video site that offers TV shows in their entirety provides high-quality viewing experience.


Conservation: Libraries Digging Deep for Geothermal Savings

Several libraries in Westchester have, or are planning to install, systems which use the earthâs constant temperature below the frost line to heat and cool their buildings.


Lord Forte, the hotel and catering magnate, has died at his London home, a spokeswoman says.


NEA Partners With Arena Stage for New Play Development Project

Playbill - The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced a new program on Dec. 21, aiming to help "the nation's nonprofit theatres bring more new plays to full production."


Brazil Can Enrich Uranium for 6 Nukes-Researchers

By Axel Bugge BRASILIA, Brazil  - Brazil's new Resende nuclearplant has the potential to produce enough enriched uranium forsix nuclear bombs every year, U.S. researchers said on Friday-- a claim Brazil rejected as disinformation.


IRAQ: KOFI ANNAN, ''ILLEGALE LA GUERRA DECISA DAGLI USA''

(ASCA-AFP) - Londra, 16 set - Il segretario generale delle Nazioni Unite, Kofi Annan, ha affermato in un'intervista diffusa stanotte dalla radio BBC, che la decisione americana di invadere l'Iraq nel 2003 e' stata ''illegale''.


Microsoft clarifies Windows Server virtual licensing

Buy more, get more The beefier your Windows Server license the less copies you'll need for running Microsoft's operating system in virtualized environments.â¦


Serbia chooses path to EU or Russia in February 3 vote

Serbia is heading for a showdown next  month between a nationalist who leans towards Russia and a  liberal favoring the West following the first round of a  presidential election.


ASIA/BANGLADESH - Nomina del Direttore nazionale delle Pontificie Opere Missionarie CittÃ  del Vaticano (Agenzia Fides) - Il Card. Ivan Dias, Prefetto della Congregazione per lÂEvangelizzazione dei Popoli, in data 25 luglio 2007 ha nominato Direttore nazionale delle Pontificie Opere Missionarie in Bangladesh per un quinquennio (25.7....


Oil prices will only fall if global conflicts are resolved, the boss of oil prducers' organisation Opec has warned. Opec president Purnomo Yusgiantoro said its members were increasing production to meet high


A 22 year-old from London, England has made life a little difficult for computer company Apple. In an effort to secure the rights to the .


Philips Electronics beat expectations  with strong cash flow and fourth quarter earnings in most units  and unveiled a share buyback, but warned on Thursday that the  world economy made it cautious.


A textiles graduate from Edinburgh has missed out on glory after competing in the 54th Miss World contest. Lois Weatherup, 21, was Scotland's contender in the beauty pageant held on south China's Hainan Island.


Judge tosses 15 of 19 new campaign finance rules

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- A federal judge found Monday that new rules from the Federal Election Commission did not follow the intent of lawmakers who wrote a sweeping new law designed to change the way politicians raise money, creating uncertainty for


The DNA Age: Searching for Similar Diagnosis Through DNA

Parents of children with distinct genetic mutations are seeking out others to form support networks.


Pentagono, le prime truppe partiranno in primavera


The Nikkei share average edged up 0.20   percent on Wednesday as Advantest Corp. and other chip stocks   rose but consumer loan companies such as Credit Saison Co. fell   on a report of tighter accounting rules.


Spurs Dominate Suns in Battle of Western Conference Powerhouses

Tony Parker scored a season-high 29 points in just 30 minutes, and San Antonio shot 52 percent in a 115-94 victory that ended Phoenix's 11-game winning streak and amplified the ongoing chatter over just how good the Suns really are.


EU Minister Tops Annual Sofia News Agency Poll

Top news: 3 January 2005, Monday. Bulgaria's EU-affairs Minister Meglena Kuneva has garnered most of the vote in Sofia News Agency's Personality of The Year survey for 2004.


Bowden becomes interim GM of Washington team

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Jim Bowden, the former general manager of the Cincinnati Reds, has been named GM of the major league team that will play in Washington next season.


How Many Iraqis Are Dying? By One Count, 208 in a Week

The deaths of Iraqis, particularly those of civilians, have become an increasingly delicate topic.


It wasn't the kind of line Sen. Lloyd Bentsen used on Dan Quayle in the 1988 vice presidential debate, but it was close. In Tuesday night's debate, Vice President Dick Cheney seriously damaged Sen.


Exxon Mobil wins the right to appeal $2.5bn in damages relating to a 1989 Alaskan oil spill.


Dollar Slips Toward Lows After U.S. Data

The dollar edged down against the euro on  Monday toward its lowest level in seven and a half months,  pressured after it fell through key technical levels on weak  U.S. economic data on Friday.


Ma secondo il presidente Bouton, uscira' dalla crisi


EU Needs New Chemical Rules to Halt Toxic Fish: WWF

An environmental action group urged the European Union on Tuesday to boost testing on chemicals and halt pollution in the Baltic Sea because the fish there are so toxic.


Houston May Have to Rebuild After Beltran

Two All-Stars are leaving, a third probably won't be ready to play on opening day, and the Houston Astros might have to deal with the loss of Roger Clemens before the month is over.


White House close to GuantÃ¡namo decision

Growing embarrassment at senior levels within the Bush administration over GuantÃ¡namo Bay is driving an intensifying internal debate on how and when the camp should be closed.


Abu Dhabi TV reports British hostage Kenneth Bigley killed by captors in Iraq

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  - British hostage Kenneth Bigley has been killed by his captors in Iraq, Abu Dhabi television reported Friday. Britain and the U.S. military in Iraq said they could not confirm the report.


Police confirm the names of the people killed in Saturday's rail tragedy in Berkshire, including a nine-year-old girl and the car driver.


Chrysler to cut 13,000 jobs, faces possible sale

DETROIT/FRANKFURT  - DaimlerChrysler said on Wednesday it would cut 13,000 jobs at its Chrysler operation in North America and indicated it could sell or spin off the money-losing unit, which would unwind a troubled 9-year-old merger between Chrysler and Mercedes.


Raleb Majadele marked a milestone for Muslim Israelis when he was sworn in Monday as a minister.


The Milan-based artist and satirist writes about the actress Monica Vitti.


The US Federal Trade Commission last week filed a legal complaint against two companies that allegedly infected computers with spyware and pop-up advertising, then tried to sell their owners spyware-blocking software.


Microsoft Sings a New Tune With Windows Media Player 10

It's amazing to see what an entrenched monopolist will do when it finally meets real competition.


U.S. labor department probe of H-1B video sought

(InfoWorld) - That explosive H-1B YouTube video offering advice on how to hire foreign workers instead of Americans has gotten the attention of U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who called it evidence of abuse of the visa program. Both men want a federal investigation and are seeking answers from the law firm that posted the original video on YouTube. In a letter to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Grassley and Smith characterized the video as "exposing the blatant disregard for American workers and deliberate attempt to bring in cheaper foreign workers through the H-1B program." They also want the labor secretary to review the video and investigate "the law firm's unethical procedures and advice to clients." In the video, a person identified as Lawrence Lebowitz, an attorney at the firm Cohen & Grigsby PC in Pittsburgh, Penn., explains how U.S. companies can avoid hiring U.S. workers. "Our goal is clearly not to find a qualified and interested U.S. worker," said Lebowitz in the video. "And that, in a sense, sounds funny, but it's what we are trying to do here." Grassley and Smith also wrote Cohen & Grigsby, noting that "your firm's video advises employers how to hire only foreign labor, while making it nearly impossible for a qualified American worker to get the job.... While many companies insist that they are not participating in fraud, many are finding loopholes around government rules and regulations in order to bring in cheaper foreign workers. These loopholes lead to abuse that ultimately displace qualified Americans. The abuse is evident thanks to a video produced by your firm...." They also noted that the video "advises potential employers that they can fulfill" Labor Department hiring requirements "by advertising the position in places where they will not find the most qualified applicants. Your firm asserts that an employer can advertise in regional publications with limited circulation, while internally listing the job for a foreign worker. We would like you to please explain how this practice does not constitute outright discrimination based on nationality and why your firm so blatantly promotes this type of behavior." The law firm had taped a seminar on immigration law it held in May and then posted the video on YouTube, possibly for training purposes. The firm has not responded to repeated requests for comment this week. The two letters, dated today, were initially posted online at the University of California, Davis by Norman Matloff, a professor of computer science at the school and one of the longest-standing critics of the H-1B program. Matloff, in an e-mail said, "This 'YouTube-Gate' incident should be an eye opener for people in the press and in Congress who have been taking the industry lobbyists at face value all these years." The tape was brought to light by the Programmers Guild, a Summit, N.J.-based professional association after guild president Kim Berry said he was alerted to it by activists. He made a copy of an excerpt, added in some subtitles to annotate the tape, mixed in some music for dramatic effect, and posted the new version on YouTube. "My hope is that this proof on video will open some eyes to this sham," said Berry.


Bond film Casino Royale has already been illegally downloaded 200,000 times, an internet monitor claims.


Variety - SYDNEY -- When Des Monaghan was head of drama for Australia's Seven Network, he teamed up with the U.K.'s London Weekend Television to pitch to CBS a miniseries about a female convict transported from Blighty to the penal colony of Australia in 1788.


Apple options review claims Anderson's scalp

Current management get clean bill of health The fall-out over the All-American Stock Options Scam continues, with Apple's former chief financial officer, Fred Anderson, resigning today from the board.â¦


Chinese president signs multi-million deals with Cameroon

Chinese President Hu Jintao began a 12-day tour of Africa, his third since coming to power in 2003, stepping up China's campaign to win a larger share of Africa's oil and energy resources.


AVIVIM, Israel  - Lebanese troops and an Israeli army patrol exchanged fire on their shared border on Wednesday in the first such incident since Lebanon deployed regular forces after Israel's war against Hezbollah guerrillas.


MARK COLVIN: The Australian Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks is to face trial in January next year. Dressed in a grey suit, instead of his regular orange prison uniform, Hicks fronted a military commission


Lycos Europe Pulls Spam-Fighting Screensaver

Analysts say a new twist on the war against spammers in Europe isn't likely to spill across Unites States borders, but is rather an opening salvo more likely to fizzle than to explode.


Alex McLeish's Birmingham boosted their prospects of Premier League survival after beating fellow strugglers Middlesbrough 3-0 at St Andrews on Wednesday.


Scotland's justice secretary today labelled as 'ludicrous' Westminster's claim that a prisoner exchange agreement with Libya did not cover the Lockerbie bomber.


Andruw Jones homered, Chipper Jones and Brian McCann added RBI singles and the Atlanta Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2 on Wednesday night to stop a three-game losing streak.


Update 1: Oil Retreats From $53 Per Barrel in Asia

Oil retreated further from its $53 per barrel threshold in early Asian trade Friday, but players in the market remained edgy about tight supplies heading into North America's winter heating season.


Rugby-Burger named best player as Springboks sweep IRB awards

Flanker Schalk Burger was named the International Rugby Board (IRB)'s player of the year as South Africa swept the top honours at a ceremony in London.


Tim Henman reaches the US Open quarter-finals for the first time after Nicolas Kiefer retires injured.


Oil steadied at below $69 a barrel on  Wednesday, hovering near its lowest in three and a half months  as dealers feared oil stocks may quickly build up now that the  northern hemisphere summer season has ended.


A small passenger plane crashed in an ice-covered lake in northern China seconds after takeoff Sunday, killing all 53 people aboard and two others on the ground, the government said.


Germany, France support Turkish invitation to EU membership talks

Germany and France offered a ringing endorsement for Turkey's eventual membership of the European Union at a bilateral summit, as French President Jacques Chirac brushed aside doubts about Paris's backing.


I was pretty amazed to see 3D graphics coming to mobile phones, and now it looks like TV is coming to them too! Texas Instruments has started work on a chip that


No further inducements for NKoreans: US envoy

North Korea will receive no further incentives to return to stalled six-nation talks on its nuclear program, Christopher Hill, the top US envoy on the issue, has said.


Books of The Times: A Writer, a Muse, Their Laundry

In this novel, the elderly writer C. â a stand-in for the author himself â squares off against Anya, his reluctant muse. Sheâs one of J. M. Coetzeeâs best fictional inventions: a blend of Marilyn Monroe and the Wife of Bath.


Touring and promotion company Live  Nation Inc said on Monday it has elected Michael Cohl as  chairman of its board, effective immediately.


Greenland speaker quits over grope claim

The speaker of Greenland's parliament has resigned amid allegations that he groped a female civil servant.


CA executive surfaces at Application Security

InfoWorld - The CA executive who managed the company's eTrust line of security management software has taken the reins at database security vendor Application Security.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2004 -- A US soldier was killed today and another wounded by an improvised explosive device, Multinational Force Iraq officials reported.


Paris Hilton ordered back to court after 'celebrity justice' claim

The judge who sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in prison ordered her to return to court today and may send her back to jail.


Two young Cornish boys in Thailand appeal for news of their parents, missing following the Asia quake disaster.


HONG KONG - Pro-democracy opposition figures gained more clout in Hong Kong's legislature with three new seats, but they fell short of expectations and resumed grumbling Monday about a system they call unfairly rigged.    Although the opposition remains stuck mainly with the power to criticize, it gained a loud new voice with the stunning election win by Hong Kong's top protester, "Longhair" Leung Kwok-hung, who is known for burning flags and raising a ruckus in his trademark Che Guevara T-shirt...


'Ocean's' star power dazzles at the box office

Ocean's Twelve scored another major heist this weekend, taking No. 1 at the box office with a strong $40.9 million opening. (Related chart: See the weekend's top 10 films).


More proof that if Mama's not happy, nobody's happy: Watch an alpha female diplay her power in a troupe of bonobo apes, and learn how such mighty moms raise their babies.


Exercise is not enough to offset the increased death risk associated with being obese, research suggests. A study of more than 116,000 women nurses found physical activity did not totally compensate for the higher death risk associated with being obese.


Iraq Prison Probe Faults Intelligence Unit

WASHINGTON - More than two dozen soldiers and contractors attached to a military intelligence unit at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq approved or took part in abuses of Iraqi detainees, an Army investigation has found in one of the most comprehensive looks to date at the scandal that damaged America's image around the world.    A few of the abuses amounted to torture, Maj...


German doctors have given a man the ability to have his first solid meal in nine years, by growing him a new jaw bone on his back.


Google Desktop privacy branded 'unacceptable'

Google's Desktop represents a privacy disaster just waiting to happen, a rival has warned. David Burns, Copernic CEO, says users should know that the giant ad broker intends to mix public and private queries


Police are investigating a series of hoax e-mails sent to those with loved ones missing after the Asian tsunami.


Yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur left Cornwall on Saturday afternoon to begin her bid for a new world record.


COMMENTO / La crisi di governo                                          La spinta del Quirinale                                                                                di MASSIMO GIANNINI


San Diego's Foley to miss season after shooting

San Diego Chargers linebacker Steve  Foley will miss the NFL season after being shot by an off-duty  police officer on Sunday, the team announced Monday.


JBoss, owners of the popular JBoss open source development community, added another piece to its middleware product portfolio with the addition of the Java Business Process Management (jBPM) Project, officials announced Monday.


America came out charging as they attempted to stage the biggest comeback in Ryder Cup history here.