The rivalry between TechTarget Inc., an upstart Needham technology publisher, and the giant International Data Group intensified as TechTarget hired away two key IDG executives. Maryfran Johnson, longtime editor of the IDG publication Computerworld, and Joseph Levy, who headed the company's CXO Media group, are joining TechTarget to launch publications. ''Right now we're not revealing what we're working on," said ...


US rates on 30-year mortgages down to a 4-month low

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The average interest rate of 30-year mortgages in the United States declined to the lowest level in four months this week, US mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported on Thursday.


Giants 38, Bills 21: Giants Survive Weather to Clinch Playoff Spot

A come-from-behind victory over the Bills means the Giants will go to the playoffs for the third consecutive season and relieves the persistent pressure that follows Coach Tom Coughlin.


Gymnastics: Federation's call for Hamm to give up gold angers US ...

ATHENS The letter from the International Gymnastics Federation to the US Olympic Committee arrived Thursday night and, as soon as the USOC officials read it, they were furious.


A man accused of plotting to carry out a  fertiliser bomb attack begins giving evidence at the Old Bailey.


Mash Your Own Geodata: Google Adds to Custom Mapping

Google users can now build custom map mashups from other people's mashups. The company rolls up two of its user-generated mapping products -- MyMaps and Mapplets -- to enable folks to create custom maps using dynamic data.


Blog: Random search strings in Google can yield sites hosting drive-by downloads of malicious content.


'Hobbit' Halt: Tolkien Heirs Sue New Line

In what may prove to be hold-up for the long-awaited adaptation of "The Hobbit," the Tolkien Trust has sued New Line over alleged lack of profit participation in the "Lord of the Rings" movies.  The Tolkien Trust, a British charity managing the estat...


Local friend of Cat Stevens portrays singer as Muslim pacifist

News of trouble for Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, sent Chicago's Abdul Malik Mujahid rushing to his computer. Mujahid's e-mail message to his friend, the onetime pop sensation: sing.


Finding Neverland wins Oscar curtain-raiser

Finding Neverland, the biopic of Peter Pan writer JM Barrie, has been named film of the year in the first of a wave of awards in the increasingly protracted run-up to Oscar night.


Game 2 of the NBA finals took a hit in the TV ratings, and the series finale of "The Sopranos" was the prime suspect.


Every season after production wraps, David Krumholtz and Rob Morrow, stars of the CBS drama "NUMB3RS," lead the cast and crew on a celebratory retreat. But last year's Las Vegas excursion was limited to those who work on set: No spouses, no significant others.


Si tratta di un milanese finito fuori pista nel Vercellese


Mbeki meets Ivorian leaders on last day of peace mission

Traditional hunters of Ivorian rebel group the New Forces called "Dozo" greet South African President Thabo Mbeki upon his arrival to Bouake airport Dec. 5. Mbeki will leave the troubled Ivory Coast Dec. 6


Gli indagati avevano aperto uno sportello illegale a ForlÃ¬per permettere a imprenditori locali di trasferire soldi in nero                                          Fondi neri a San Marino arrestati dieci dirigenti di banca


Fame Adlabs, Mumbai's five-screen multiplex, partnered with PETA for the nationwide premiere of Shark tale on November 18 amidst the patrons of PETA.


Update 1: EU Trade Chief Seeks Tariff Break Overhaul

The European Union's top trade official proposed an overhaul of trade discounts to developing countries Wednesday, a move likely to anger China and India, both of which might no longer qualify for EU trade preferences for such products as clothing and


FORMER Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu was suspended today from playing soccer in England for seven months after failing a drugs test.


Iran says West may have seized ex-defense official

Western intelligence services may have kidnapped a former Iranian deputy defense minister who went missing in Turkey, Iran's police chief was quoted as saying on Tuesday.


Marsha Mason and Frances Sternhagen are the latest actresses to join the cast of the Broadway-bound "Steel Magnolias."


SocGen under fire from prosecutor and investors

Pressure mounted on Societe Generale on Monday as a prosecutor said rogue trader Jerome Kerviel was questioned about his trades in November, and as investors sued the French bank for insider trading.


Kerry Blasts Bush for North Korea, Homeland Security

Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry has leveled strong criticism against President Bush over North Korea and homeland security.


Jakarta Embassy Blast Kills Eight, Wounds Scores

A powerful car bomb exploded outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta on Thursday, killing at least eight people in the vicinity and wounding more than 130, witnesses and officials said.


Bump Doesn't Stop Prince Arch in Saranac

Favored Prince Arch overcame a bump with Good Reward in upper stretch to rally for a resolute victory by a head over Mustanfar in the closing-day $108,200 Saranac Handicap (gr.


Long-suffering GM has recently seen some bright patches. It has had big hits with cars like the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky sports cars and the Chevrolet HHR economy wagon.


Oil Demand, the Climate and the Energy Ladder

Jeroen van der Veer, Royal Dutch Shellâs chief executive, offers his views on the energy challenge facing the world and the challenge posed by global warming.


The U.S. missile strike that killed a top al-Qaida commander just over a mile from a Pakistani military base shows how entrenched Islamic militants are in the lawless tribal regions, where extremists have launched increasingly bold attacks.


TEHRAN: Iran yesterday said it was not obliged to allow UN inspectors to visit military sites alleged to be involved in secret nuclear weapons work, but that it was willing to discuss the issue.


Monza race report: A bad day for Renault

The team failed to score points after a race that saw difficult track conditions in the early stages and a Ferrari one-two in their home race.


Airbus has delayed a restructuring plan that was expected later today, saying European nations can't agree how to share work on its next aircraft, the wide-body A350.Comment


Bush Vows Second-Term Push for Palestinian State

President Bush vowed on Friday to use the next four years to help establish a Palestinian state, and he and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said they


At least 14 people have been killed in an explosion at a crowded market in the southern Philippines. Around 60 others are said to have been injured in the blast in the port city of General Santos, on the southern tip of the island of Mindanao.


A Film Comic Who Portrayed Lifeâs Drama With His Feet

The gently rambling, dreaming tone of Jacques Tatiâs films is deceptive. Tati, who died in 1982, choreographed every move and effect.


Spettacolo indegno per servizio pubblico radiotelevisivo


Strauss-Kahn (Fmi): 'piano Bush insufficiente'


Confusion Surrounds Seizure of Iraqi Mosque

NAJAF, Iraq  - The fate of a radical Shi'ite  rebellion in the holy city of Najaf was uncertain Friday amid  disputed reports that Iraqi police had gained control of the  Imam Ali Mosque.


Hidden Gems purist Paul Elliott takes a look inside small-cap investing.


British Q3 industrial output decline exceeds estimates

British industrial output fell more sharply than expected in the third quarter, official data showed on Friday. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the July to September


U.S. pork producer Smithfield Foods  Inc.  said on Thursday that quarterly profits declined  because high feed prices hurt results in its hog production  unit.


Matt Leinart made a big pitch for the Heisman Trophy, passing for a career-high 400 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns, and the Trojans overcame a sluggish start to beat Notre Dame 41-10 last night.


Troop reinforcements and gunboats are sent to a Nigerian oil platform occupied by militants since Sunday.


Colombia Extradites Marxist Rebel Leader to U.S.

BOGOTA, Colombia  - The most important commander  of Colombia's largest rebel army ever captured was handed to  U.S. authorities at a Bogota airport to be extradited to the  United States Friday to face cocaine smuggling and kidnapping  charges.


AL Wrap: Orioles Celebrate Homecoming by Beating Twins

Daniel Cabrera pitched 7 1/3 strong innings to help the Baltimore Orioles mark their return to Camden Yards after a two-week road trip with a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins in the American League Monday.


Germany has unveiled an international plan to wipe out tens of billions of dollars of Iraqi debt so that the war-torn country can rebuild in earnest.


Iraq's footballers extended their  fairytale run at the Athens Olympics Saturday, beating  Australia 1-0 to reach the semi-finals of the men's tournament.


The Killers make a splash amid Glastonbury mud

American indie rock kings The  Killers rounded off the second day of the Glastonbury festival  with a storming 1 1/2 hour-long set that left the main stage  audience cheering for more.


Cuesta Benberry, 83, Historian of Quilting, Dies

Cuesta Benberry was one of the leading historians and archivists of American quilting.


The 10th anniversary of Princess Diana's death  is being marked with services across the UK.


PalmOne has announced a new version of its Tungsten-class personal digital assistant designed to protect data even when its battery dies.


Glastonbury organisers consider issuing festival-goers with photo ID cards in an attempt to foil touts.


North Korea plans to shut reactor in July: report

North Korea plans to seal its nuclear reactor, the source of weapons-grade plutonium, in the second half of July, Russia's Interfax news agency reported on Monday, citing an unidentified North Korean diplomatic source.


Croatia's pro-Western president failed to win an outright majority for re-election on Sunday, forcing him to face a runoff vote against the conservative government's candidate in two weeks.


Rumsfeld: No 'Hard Evidence' of Iraq-Al Qaeda Link

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Monday he knew of no "strong, hard evidence" linking Saddam Hussein's Iraq and al Qaeda, despite describing extensive contacts between the two before the Iraq invasion.


Ex-General Heads for Big Win in Indonesia

An urbane former general who promises  to fight terror and clean up government headed for an  overwhelming victory against incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri in  Indonesia's first direct presidential election on Monday.


Gay couples in New Hampshire can start applying for many of the rights and responsibilities of marriage as early as January under a law Gov. John Lynch signed Thursday establishing civil unions.


Former US President Bill Clinton's heart bypass operation is successful, say doctors in New York.


Le ragazzine facevano parte di una scolaresca di Brescia in gita nel capoluogo piemonteseLe maestre con l'aiuto di numerosi passanti e di un commerciante hanno liberato le alunne                                          Sventato sequestro di tre bimbe Romeno arrestato a Torino                                                                                Il rapitore in stato confusionale durante l'udienza di convalida del fermo


European shares firm as ABN Amro takeover battle hots up

Europe's main stock markets mainly rose as investors seized on the latest developments in the multi-billion-euro takeover battle for control of Dutch lender ABN Amro, dealers said Monday.


Scare tactics obscure Social Security debate

I haven't made up my mind on the subject of private accounts for Social Security. Unlike the Bush administration, I prefer to study the facts before leaping to conclusions. (For contrast, see the war in Iraq.)


Everton close in on a place in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup with victory against SK Brann in Norway.


Central Ark. Storms Cause Extensive Damage

Driving rain and high wind caused heavy damage and injured at least 10 people Monday as storms moved through Arkansas, knocking out power to thousands of customers, authorities said.


Nikkei rises 0.7 pct as Shin-Etsu, Toyota advance

The Nikkei average gained 0.74 percent on  Thursday, recovering from Wednesday's five-week closing low, as  investors were lured to Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. (4063.T),  Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.T) and other companies with earnings  prospects.


Vince Grier scored 26 of his career-high 32 points in the second half to lead Minnesota to a 60-50 victory over No. 19 Wisconsin on Saturday. Grier, who missed five of seven shots in the first half, completely took over the game after the break — going 12-for-14 from the field and matching the Badgers' second-half total by himself.


Japan's dominant wireless operator, NTT DoCoMo, has reached a basic agreement to offer its popular i-mode mobile internet technology to mmO2 OOM.


Nintendo's New Handheld Machine to Debut

Nintendo Co. said Tuesday it will release its new "dual screen" portable game machine in North America on Nov. 21 and in Japan 10 days later.


Drug stocks continued to slide on the week toward new 52-week lows as a few bright spots were eclipsed by losses in large-cap stocks.


Taiwan Mobile, MasterCard test mobile payments

(InfoWorld) - Taiwan Mobile Co. Ltd. and MasterCard International Inc. have already started testing a mobile phone payment system in Taiwan, but competition to lure users will catch fire when the mobile phone operator's larger rival opens its trials with Visa. Testing by Taiwan Mobile and MasterCard is already underway, with 100 users carrying Nokia Corp.'s 3220 model handsets armed with the MasterCard PayPass wireless payment system on board, the operator said Thursday. The goal is to arm mobile phone users on the island with the ability to use their handsets for payments on small items. The Nokia mobile phones use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for transactions, MasterCard said in a statement. The companies are also testing E-Coupons sent to mobile phone users, which can be used when making purchases. The companies have teamed up with Taipei Fubon Bank, and hope to expand the service later this year. Taiwan's largest mobile phone service provider, Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd, also plans to start testing a separate mobile phone payment system soon. The company has already signed on with the Visa International Service Association and Cathay Financial Holding Company on a system designed for small payments. The companies will offer users a choice of the CHT9000 or CHT9001 business handsets made by High Tech Computer Corp. for wireless payments, and limit the amount of transactions to NT$3,000 (US$90.88). On Thursday, Visa International Service Association and SK Telecom Inc. announced plans to introduce a mobile payment system using universal Subscriber Identification Module (USIM) cards for 3G (third-generation) mobile phones users in South Korea. Â


US gets its act in gear and eliminates Spain

ATHENS -- The Olympic basketball competition began 12 days ago. Yesterday, the United States men finally showed up.


LONDON - The singer formerly known as Cat Stevens returned to Britain Thursday, saying he was "totally shocked" that he was barred from entering the United States.    The singer, who changed his name to Yusuf Islam more than 25 years ago, was met by a swarm of reporters as he came through the arrivals area at Heathrow airport...


Calif. Stem Cell Plan Gets Reagan-Era Aide Backing

George Shultz, Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, voiced support on Tuesday for California's initiative to float a $3 billion bond issue to fund stem cell research.


7-Eleven Turns To HP To Streamline Operations

The rollout of new servers and networking switches in stores is part of a five-year agreement supporting 7-Eleven's Retail Information System.


GAZA: Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinian gunmen belonging to Hamas on Wednesday, Israeli and Palestinian sources said. An Israeli military spokeswoman said that the two gunmen had fired homemade rockets


Viacom Chiefâs Remark on Spielberg Stirs a Furor

Despite stellar success at the box office, the relationship between DreamWorks and its corporate parent, Viacom, appears once again to be on the rocks.


CARACAS -- President Hugo Chávez was granted free rein yesterday to accelerate changes in broad areas of society by presidential decree -- a move critics said propels Venezuela toward dictatorship.


GM to Pay to Settle Pollution Violations

General Motors Corp. GM.N will pay  $92,349 in civil fines to settle air pollution violations at a  Michigan plant, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said on  Thursday.


Thousands of Haitians March in Support of Aristide

Thousands of Haitians marched on Friday to show support for former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and called on the international community to include Aristide in the search for peace in the troubled Caribbean country.


The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly endorsed federal help for communities faced with deteriorating sewage systems, ignoring White House warnings that the cost was too high.


Barclays looks to sweeten bid for Dutch bank ABN: report

British bank Barclays has drawn up contingency plans to restructure its all-share offer for Dutch rival ABN Amro with a significant cash sweetener, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.


By Melissa Jenco Daily Herald Staff Writer  Naperville Unit District 203 increased its use of instructional technology last year and is already exceeding several of its long- term goals.


Google Roadshows Left Small Investors Out

The initial public offering of  Internet search engine Google Inc. GOOG.O was billed as a  bonanza for millions of U.S. investors -- but the little guy,  with check in hand, was left out of the party.


Sapp, Ewing Lead Hoyas to Fifth Consecutive Victory

Patrick Ewing Jr. scores a career-high 16 points as sixth-ranked Georgetown overcomes a season-high 21 turnovers in a 73-61 victory over Seton Hall on Saturday.


Damiano, cosi' il Paese torna al centrodestra


The parent company of MTV and Comedy Central demanded that YouTube remove more than 100,000 clips of its programming.


Decisione di alcuni Paesi del vecchio continente


Fox Unveils a Division for Religious-Oriented Films

FoxFaith, a new division of 20th Century Fox, will release up to a dozen religious-oriented films each year.


What's in a name? U.S. rebrands Iraq ex-insurgents

U.S. forces have rebranded one of the main insurgent groups in Iraq and now use the term "concerned local nationals" to refer to a group that once claimed responsibility for killing scores of Americans.


Violentemente malmenati anche il deputato europeo Cappato e il funzionario Ue MarzocchiNaziskin si sono scagliati su un gruppo di manifestanti che intendevano consegnare una lettera al sindaco                                            Gay Pride a Mosca, aggrediti i radicali Picchiata anche Vladimir Luxuria


Microsoft will pay as much as $500 million as a part of settlement of the antitrust lawsuit that may be filed by rival software maker Novell, the company said Monday, within an attempt to end its antitrust fight.


California fires helped by slowing winds

Firefighters battling 15 fires across Southern California got a break from slowing winds on Wednesday, but major blazes burned unchecked for a fourth day after forcing the largest evacuation in California's modern history.


Pollastrini: li' verificheremo la responsabilita' di tutti


Neurological disorders affect 1 billion people: WHO

Neurological disorders ranging from migraines to epilepsy and dementia affect up to 1 billion people worldwide and the toll will rise as populations age, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.


Sony develops film-thin, bending display

In the race for ever-thinner displays for TVs, cell phones and other gadgets, Sony may have developed one to beat them all — a razor-thin display that bends like paper while showing full-color video.


In Brief: Cisco acquires startup BCN Systems

InfoWorld - Cisco Systems has finalized an agreement to purchase privately held BCN Systems, a provider of networking software design. Under the terms of the agreement, Cisco will pay approximately $34 million in cash for BCN. The price could increase by as much as $122 million if BCN meets certain development and product milestones. BCN's architecture will be incorporated across Cisco's broad routing portfolio and will support Cisco's delivery of next-generation data, voice, and video services over a converged network.


Three jockeys and a trainer are arrested by police over the alleged fixing of horse races.


Mobile malware menace hits high - McAfee

Should telcos be scared or skeptical? 3GSM Malware attacks across mobile networks have reached an all-time high, if figures aired by McAfee today are anything to go by.â¦


Els winning formula demotes Tiger to No 3

ERNIE Els got the better of Thomas Bjorn yet again to win his first solo World Golf Championships title. On a horribly wet and windy day at Mount Juliet in County Kilkenny, Els, nearly Â£666,000 richer for


It was just another morning at the senior center: Women were sewing, men were playing pool — and seven demonstrators, average age 76, were picketing outside, demanding doughnuts.


Challenges! Alliances! Immunity!  It's 'Ultimate Blogger 3'

Bloggers race to create compelling content during competition, but only one will survive what's billed as an "Internet cage match."


Jobless Claims Drop; Imports and Inventories Rise

Far fewer Americans than expected applied for first-time unemployment benefits last week as the effects of Hurricane Charley faded, the Labor Department reported Thursday.


AOL to Pay $3 Million Settlement Over Cancellation Policy

AOL has agreed to make it easier for its remaining customers to leave as part of a $3 million settlement with 48 states and the District of Columbia.


When the young Uri Geller packed his spoons and self-styled supernatural powers to seek fortune abroad, no one could have predicted he would return to his native Israel in triumph 35 years later as a reality TV star — no one, presumably, except Uri Geller.


Controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear programme is set to dominate a security conference in Munich.


la modella non intende pero' sposarsi con Marsiaj


Dorchester, Everett are Pop Warner winners

PROVIDENCE -- Next stop, Disney World, for two Pop Warner football teams from Greater Boston that won New England Division 1 championships yesterday.


Kylie Minogue wants her fans to leave her ex-boyfriend alone.


A lawyer for terrorists sets out to charm a documentaryâs audience in âTerrorâs Advocate.â


Highlights from the SEW Blog: Jan. 29, 2007

Featured posts to the Search Engine Watch blog in the past week, along with recent search-related headlines from around the Web.


A weekend of good weather means the fires are finally on the wane -- and the time to ask how California coped is here


Fashion Wire Daily - Hordes of shrieking fans jammed bleachers set up along Hollywood Boulevard on Sunday night, desperate to get a glimpse of Harry, Hermione, and Ron - Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in real life - as the fifth "Harry Potter" film premiered at the Mann Chinese Theater across the street.


Tens of thousands of Shia pilgrims gather for a religious festival in Iraq's holy city of Karbala amid tight security.


'Attuale turnazione garantisce un migliore servizio'


Sen. Johnson needs no more surgery: physician

U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson will not need additional surgery, the U.S. Capitol physician said on Thursday, adding the South Dakota Democrat was having an "uncomplicated post-operative course."


U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday  for the second straight session, lifted by better-than-expected  earnings from companies such as Texas Instruments Inc. TXN.N  and a retreat in crude oil prices.


Better Access to Oral Health Care Needed: Dentists

NEW YORK  - U.S. policymakers need to take  significant steps to help low-income Americans get access to  treatment for their teeth and gums, the American Dental  Association (ADA) announced this week.


The luxury retailer gave a solid 2008 forecast on the back of strong global sales.


An Islamic appeals court in northern Nigeria threw out a sentence ordering a 25-year-old mother be stoned to death for adultery.


India's top court seeks clarification on the arrest of an Italian businessman named in a bribery case.


German police clash with hundreds of anti-globalisation demonstrators in Hamburg, arresting 21 people.


US, Iraqi Forces Step Up Attacks in Sunni Heartland

In Iraq, US and Iraqi forces have stepped up their military operations in areas of the country under the control of Sunni rebels. Ahead of elections set for January, Iraqi and coalition forces are attempting


Failed Mars Probe Blamed on Lack of Funds

A failed European mission to land a probe on Mars last year was hampered by late funding from the British government and tensions between groups conducting the flight, a parliamentary committee said Tuesday.


The government is to offer more financial support to potential private sector buyers of Northern Rock.


Iraq says no Blackwater move until after inquiry

Iraq said on Monday no action would be taken against U.S. private security firm Blackwater over a shooting in which 11 people were killed until after a joint investigation with U.S. officials.


A Clutter Too Deep for Mere Bins and Shelves

Disorganization may be a person problem, not a house problem.


Video appears to show boys, 2 and 5, smoking pot

Police in suburban Fort Worth, Texas, said a videotape found in a search for stolen goods appears to show two teenagers persuading a 2-year-old boy and his 5-year-old brother to smoke marijuana.


The EU's environment chief admits it did not foresee the problems raised by its policy of boosting biofuels use.


Buddhist Monks, Planes Deliver Tsunami Aid

Buddhist monks handed out rice and  curry parcels to grieving tsunami survivors in Sri Lanka and  aircraft dropped food to isolated Indonesian towns on Wednesday  as Asia's disaster relief operation struggled to kick in.


Religion Journal: Web Space Where Religion and Social Networking Meet

Religious-themed social networking groups like www.hisholyspace.com are now online, allowing users to create prayer groups and find potential significant others.


UPDATE 2-India make impressive reply in first test

India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir shared an unbeaten first wicket partnership of 185 on the third day of the first test on Monday.


New measures to fight crime and drugs are expected to be at the heart of the Queen's Speech on Tuesday.


It's time for Gen-X to take a shopping "time-out."


A mortar and rocket attack on a US military dining hall killed 22 people and wounded more than 50 in Iraq's northern city of Mosul on Tuesday in one of the deadliest attacks on US forces since the war began.


O.J. Simpson book for sale online, bids rise fast

O.J. Simpson's scuttled book about  the hypothetical murder of his ex-wife appeared for sale on the  Internet on Wednesday, attracting bids of $1,500 within the  first two hours.


Leading blue chip shares ended sharply lower, sliding into the red in late trade.


Giuliani in trouble as Florida Republicans vote: poll

Republican Rudy Giuliani's White House quest could be in deep trouble as he lags far behind the leaders in a Florida presidential primary he counted on winning, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Tuesday.


Bird flu silences once bustling HK songbird market

In its heyday, Hong Kong's famous Bird Garden market bustled with shoppers bargaining in Cantonese for exotic birds for sale as pets or for Buddhist rituals.


Alitalia, flight attendants agree on crucial accord: report

ROME : Alitalia management and flight attendants reached agreement on a crucial deal early Saturday on job cuts that would allow the struggling airline to keep flying, union sources quoted by ANSA news agency said.


MOSCOW -- Russia and the United States have agreed to a new lease for the US ambassador's lavish Moscow residence after Russia complained he paid less than $3 a year for it, officials announced yesterday. The annual rent for Spaso House in central Moscow was set in rubles in 1985, but the currency's value plummeted by 99.9 percent after the ...


Samsung launches video MP3 player, Blu-ray/HD DVD player

(InfoWorld) - Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. unveiled an MP3 music player with video playback and its first high-definition player supporting the two rival movie disc formats -- Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. The devices are among several new products that the South Korean manufacturer announced Thursday on the eve of the IFA consumer and electronics show in Berlin. The YP-P2 is an MP3 music device that can also be used to view video. The device comes with a high-resolution screen that displays 30 frames per second in DVD movie format and the 16:9 screen ratio. It also features a touch screen that uses Emoture input technology. The Bluetooth-enabled YP-P2 allows up to three people to listen to music at the same time when using the company's YA-BH270 headsets equipped with the same short-range wireless technology. The slim 9.9-millimeter player comes with 2G bytes, 4G bytes and 8G bytes of memory. Samsung also announced the YP-S5 music player as a successor to the YP-K5 launched last year. The 14.95-millimeter device comes with integrated stereo slide-and-tilt speakers to allow others to share music. It also includes a text viewer, photo viewer, flash game and Bluetooth connectivity. The 7.9-millimeter thin YP-T10 MP3 player features an animated interface for younger users. Jong Woo Park, president of Samsung's Digital Media Business, demonstrated during a news conference how the new music players can use short-range wireless Bluetooth technology to connect with a mobile phone and answer calls. When listening to music, users hear a phone ring and can tap a button on the player's screen to answer the call on the music device, Park said. The general message from Park was that the company aims to have all its products easily connect and interact with each other to improve the user experience. In addition, Samsung launched its first Duo HD disc player, the BD-UP5000, which supports Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. The company previously supported only the Blu-ray Disc format. Samsung is also targeted the home cinema market with a new product line of LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs. The devices, part of Samsung's F9 series, feature the company's new LED (light emitting diode) SmartLighting technology. The technology intuitively senses the TV signal and adjusts the brightness level by turning on and off the right combination of the backlight units to produce a contrast ration of 500,000:1. Â


Ordinativi +8,4% su stesso periodo 2006, -1,1% su settembre


New Windows Bugs "Critical," Lack Patches

A trio of new and unpatched vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows were made public on security mailing lists over the weekend. By Gregg Keizer.


Delphi ends Cerberus deal; sees new plan in July

Delphi Corp.  said on Monday it has formally killed a proposed equity investment led by Cerberus Capital Management LP and expects to complete a new plan and outline for creditor recoveries by the end of July.


J K Rowling kills another character in the next HP novel.


Clinton was on brink of fatal heart attack

Bill Clinton, the former American president, has admitted to being "a little scared" as he prepares for quadruple bypass surgery in a New York hospital this week.


Democratic lawmakers said yesterday that they had requested copies of correspondence between the White House and Sallie Mae, the student loan company known as the SLM Corporation, after stock sales by the chairman days before the share price fell with the release of President Bushâs budget.


Khartoum ready to accept federal solution

The Sudanese government may grant more independence to Darfur to end the conflict. Sudanese ministers told an African summit hosted by Libya's Colonel Muammar Gaddafi that giving


Viviamo piÃ¹ a lungo ma in maniera scorretta

In Italia si vive di piu', ma viviamo su una polveriera, piene di micce accese. E tante trappole dovute alla scorrettezza dello stile di vita. La buona notizia el'allarme vengono dalla Societa' di Igiene, Medicina


The middle classes have discovered they've been duped by the super-rich

Comment is free: Madeleine Bunting: Never have so many of us appeared so well-off yet felt so poor - and we used to believe obscene wealth was victimless.


Impact of soaring oil prices less consequential than in 1970s ...

The impact of the current surgein oil prices, though noticeable, is likely to prove less consequential to economic growth and inflation than in the 1970s, US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said Friday.


Storm Prompts Flood Warnings in California

A powerful winter storm continued to lash southern California for the fifth consecutive day, prompting warnings of flash floods at lower elevations and snow in the mountains to the north and east of Los Angeles.


Judge denies Hinckley longer stays at home

A federal judge Wednesday denied a request from presidential assailant John Hinckley Jr. to spend several days at a time away from a mental hospital.


MedImmune to Deliver Extra 1 Mln Flu Doses, US Says

MedImmune Inc. will deliver another 1 million doses of its FluMist nasal spray flu vaccine to help ease a US shortage, after restarting a Philadelphia plant, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said.


Rich and poor countries agree to resume trade talks

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil  - Rich countries and   developing nations agreed on Sunday that global trade talks   should resume, but they failed to set a date for formal   negotiations.


Italian Alessandro Petacchi scooped the bunch sprint to win Sunday's second stage of the Tour of Spain. German Erik Zabel was second in the 207 k run from Leon to Burgos with Spaniard Oscar Freire finishing third.


Bruxelles replica alla ipotesi di "spalmare" la manovra su due anni"La scadenza per noi resta quella, spostarla sarebbe incomprensibile"                                          Finanziaria, dalla Ue no alla proroga "Deficit sotto il 3% entro il 2007"


Virtual Crime May Come With Real-Life Punishment

Earlier this year, one animated character in Second Life, a popular online fantasy world, allegedly raped another character.


European shares slip in light early trades

European shares slipped back in light trading with the London Stock Exchange closed for a bank holiday and New York investors expected to take it easy while the Republican convention is in town.


Dan Rather Will Leave 'Evening News' in March

Description: CBS News anchor Dan Rather announces he's stepping down in March. Despite being one of the country's most recognized newsmen, Rather will resign amid controversy over forged documents used in


Rumsfeld pre-resignation memo urged Iraq shift

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told the White House before he resigned last month the Bush administration's strategy in Iraq was not working and he proposed changes, including possible troop reductions, The New York Times reported on Saturday.


Morning-after pill causes furor in Chile

Chile began supplying morning-after pills to girls as young as 14 this week under a program that has created an uproar in the politically leftist but socially conservative country, which still outlaws all abortions and only legalized divorce two years ago.


Michael Jackson Sued over Deadly Privacy

The family of 73-year-old Manuela Gomez Ruiz, who died at Santa Maria hospital, is suing the hospital and the Marian Medical Center for allegedly inflicting emotional distress and other harm on them. Ruiz had suffered a massive heart attack early that ...


ChaCha gives you answers via text message

Human-powered search site morphs into search for mobile users.


NYC children struggle with hunger, obesity: report

One quarter of New York City's 1.9  million children live in poverty -- 50 percent higher than the  United States average -- and many of these children are  overweight, a food supply group said on Tuesday.


Drink, exercise and live longer, study finds

Drinking is healthy, exercise is healthy, and doing a little of both is even healthier, Danish researchers reported on Wednesday.


ONE of the most famous names in British football will be lost after the English champions, Arsenal, signed a Â£100 million sponsorship deal with the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines.


Annika Sorenstam and Tiger Woods played against each other for the first time when they teed off in the Skins Game at the Trilogy Golf Club in the middle of the desert on Saturday.


US rapper P Diddy posts a job advert on networking site MySpace in an attempt to recruit a personal assistant.


Members of Sarkozy's cabinet will undergo regular evaluations by examiners  from a private company assessing each one's productivity -- or lack of it


Fifty mini-satellites are to be sent into space in 2007 to celebrate the launch of the first ever satellite Sputnik 1.


CHICAGO - Chicago Police said Wednesday that they have evidence that the bus that dumped human waste onto a group of tourists on a boat belongs to the Dave Matthews Band.


Five Dead in House Fires in Detroit Area

Flames broke out in two Detroit-area homes Sunday, killing five people, including three members of a family, authorities said. Police officer Michael Waleskowki, 40, his wife


Tropical Storm Helene developed from a tropical depression in the open Atlantic late Wednesday, while Hurricane Gordon strengthened into a powerful Category 3 hurricane and the remnants of Hurricane Florence brought high winds and heavy rain to Newfoundland in Canada, forecasters said.


Gerry Adams to press Blair to withdraw troops from N Ireland

Gerry Adams will urge British Prime Minister Tony Blair to accelerate the withdrawal of troops from republican strongholds of Northern Ireland, the Sinn Fein leader said on Irish television.


Interfor Bids C$368 Mln for Riverside Forest

International Forest Products Ltd., a Canadian lumber producer, agreed to buy Riverside Forest Products Ltd. for C$368 million ($290 million) in cash and stock, topping a hostile bid from Tolko Industries Ltd.


Mladic Said Hiding Between Bosnia and Serbia-Leader

War crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic is  believed to be hiding in the border regions of Serbia and  neighboring Bosnia, pro-Western Serbian President Boris Tadic  was quoted as saying on Friday.


No Proof of Iran Nuke Bomb Work, But Doubts Remain -UN

Iran has not diverted any of the nuclear  materials it declared to the U.N. nuclear watchdog to any  prohibited activities, the watchdog said on Monday, but it  could not rule out the existence of covert nuclear work.


Naked Activists Strip for Lake Merritt Trees

By William Brand  OAKLAND _ In the end, 40 people braved the early morning mist Saturday, ignoring startled joggers, to strip buck naked and hug or dance around a condemned tree at Lake Merritt for a San Francisco photographer.


Lawmakers Eye Changing Pediatric Drug Test Rule

The discovery that antidepressants  may increase suicidal tendencies in children has prompted some  lawmakers and physicians to ask if changes are needed to  financial incentives given to drug makers for pediatric  research.


Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp was fined $75,000 on Thursday by the NFL for his confrontation with game officials that led to his ejection last week.


Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai, yesterday evaded an apparent assassination attempt, when a rocket attack missed his helicopter.


American Express (AXP ) wasted no time in capitalizing on a recent government case that successfully found card-association giants Visa USA and MasterCard International guilty of antitrust violations.


Bomb Blasts in Baghdad Kill at Least 16 -Police

Insurgents detonated at least two bombs  near a U.S. military convoy in southern Baghdad on Thursday,  killing at least 16 people, while a suicide bomber killed two  Iraqi police and a U.S. soldier west of the capital.


IBM Unveils Second Cell-Based Blade For High-Performance Computing

TechWeb - With a peak performance of 460 giga floating point operations per second, a single BladeCenter chassis of QS21s can achieve 6.4 TeraFLOPS, IBM claims.


Pope John Paul II appealed for swift international aid to help thousands of victims from Sunday's massive tidal waves that swamped coastal areas across southern Asia — triggered by the world's most powerful earthquake in 40 years.


Mani Ratnam may direct the film, which will be produced by UTV and Disney.


Abbas sets up new government to release aid

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas prepared to swear in a new government in the West Bank on Saturday that will bring an end to a U.S.-led aid embargo as hundreds of his Fatah loyalists fled Gaza by land and sea.


Procter & Gamble's bid to market its highly anticipated Intrinsa sex-drive drug may have been sidelined for years, analysts say.


Nokia says wins expansion order from Taiwan Mobile

Finland's Nokia (NOK1V.HE) said on  Wednesday it had won an order from Taiwan Mobile Co. (3045.TW)  to expand its WCDMA 3G mobile telecoms network.


Ben Roethlisberger had to wait a few more hours and endure inches of rainfall before winning his first NFL start. In a game originally scheduled to begin in the afternoon, but was pushed back to the night


Former champion Roddick strolls into fourth round

Former champion Andy Roddick continued his quiet march through the U.S. Open draw with a 6-3 6-2 6-0 third-round victory over Sweden's Thomas Johansson on Saturday.


Forecasters predicted cooler temperatures in both the West and Northeast on Wednesday, while rain and thunderstorms were expected in the Plains and along the Gulf Coast.


Authorities insisted they won't give in to militants' demands to free female Iraqi prisoners despite the plea of a tearful British hostage begging Britain to save his life in a video released by his captors.


A small book publisher faces off against the titans in a Harry Potter copyright case.


Authentication Is Not an Anti-Spam System

Opinion: Already we're hearing it, that spammers are beating SPF and the other authentication systems. But the truth has always been that authentication is only a tool for anti-spam systems to use.


Bus with diverted air passengers crashes

A tour bus carrying diverted airline passengers crashed on an interstate exit ramp early Friday, killing the driver and injuring a dozen passengers.


Bert Bolin, a pioneering Swedish climate scientist and co-founder of the U.N.'s Nobel award-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has died, his colleague Henning Rodhe said Wednesday. He was 82.


Amare Stoudemire scored 15 of his 25 points in the second half to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 104-96 preseason win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.


Home Depot in $10 bln deal to sell unit: sources

Home Depot Inc.  has agreed to sell its supply division to three private equity firms, sources said on Tuesday, in a roughly $10 billion deal that unloads a business the home-improvement retailer's former chief executive worked to expand.


Poll: Most Find Satisfaction in Their Jobs

A majority of Americans say they find satisfaction in their jobs, according to an Associated Press poll, though many express concerns about job stress, health care and retirement benefits.


Todayâs semi-finals of the Thailand Open will feature two dream matches: Andy Roddick versus Marat Safin and the long-time awaited clash between Roger Federer and Paradorn Srichaphan.


Why is racism considered bad in the real world -- but part of the fun in virtual worlds? By Clive Thompson.


Imperial College London researchers are developing DVDs that could hold 100 times more data than current discs.


Global look-alike cars. ChryslerJeep-Dodge megadealers. What are they thinking.


New album by rapper Proof to be released

Proof's record label will release a new album next year by the rapper and Eminem confidante who was shot and killed during a dispute at an after-hours club.


Before its death, Mars Global Surveyor captures images of  water flowing on the surface of the red planet. In Gear Factor.


Wal-Mart report should give clues on fiscal year

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. investors  will be focused on the retailer's forecast for its new fiscal  year and indications as to when sales at its U.S. store base  may finally strengthen when the world's largest retailer  reports fourth-quarter results on Tuesday.


A major investment in drug rehabilitation services is set to be announced by the Scottish Executive.


ASIA/INDIA - Nomina del Rettore del Seminario filosofico regionale Bhavan Vianney a Gopalpur CittÃ  del Vaticano (Agenzia Fides) - Il Card. Ivan Dias, Prefetto della Congregazione per lÂEvangelizzazione dei Popoli, in data 19 ottobre 2007, ha nominato Rettore del Vianney Bhavan Regional Philosophy Seminary di Gopalpur, nella diocesi di Berham...


Plus, a look at the complete Foolish 8 list.


Oracle allowed to swallow up smaller rival

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


Democrats Score Win in Fight Over Nader in Florida

A Florida judge ordered county elections officials on Wednesday to issue absentee ballots without the name of independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader


Maryland had difficulties with on-field communication against West Virginia, so it is shifting much of its focus going into the team's final tuneup before ACC play.


Netgear Gets Aggressive on 11n Wireless Pricing

Netgear this week will unveil a two-radio 5GHz 802.11n router with a new internal antenna system and a price tag under $130.


Economic activity outside the manufacturing sector grew at an unexpectedly strong pace in November, marking the 20th consecutive month of expansion, according to a private research group.


The Party Of Blind Hatred, Hypocrisy And Hysteria

A generation ago or more, the Democratic Party was considered the Party of the little guy, promoting issues that directly impacted, and were supported by the average American, the majority.


Red Kite Metals fund lost 22 percent in November: source

Hedge fund Red Kite Metals suffered  double-digit losses last month as metals prices declined  further, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.


Thousands Need Water in Aceh, Disease Emerges

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia  - Hungry and filthy,  Indonesians queued for water in their thousands on Tuesday as  aid deliveries to tsunami-ravaged Aceh province hit new snags  and cases of disease and infection among survivors emerged.


UPDATE 1-Chiron delays flu vaccine shipments

Chiron Corp. is delaying shipment of its flu vaccine, Fluvirin, because lots containing 4 million vaccines, do not meet product sterility standards, the pharmaceutical company said on Thursday .


X Factor winner Leon Jackson storms towards this year's Christmas number one title in the singles chart.


For the first time in 50 years, the beauty pageant Miss America will be without a TV outlet. ABC dropped the option to televise the contest because of the dramatic drop of ratings this year, drawing a record low 9.8 million viewers.  (respond)  Do you wa...


AU Issues Deadline to Khartoum and Darfur Rebels

The African Union issued a 24-hour deadline to the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels on Friday to end fighting after a massive military build-up in the region over the last two weeks.


FIFA to discipline Italy, Netherlands, France for lax doping ...

The soccer federations of France, Italy and the Netherlands will be disciplined by FIFA, which cited them for being lax on drug infractions.


JavaScript and databases have a mixed history, due in part to JavaScript's success. But Web security provisions restricts the ability of a Web program to read (and write) local files. Here are some options to change that. By Jacques Surveyor. 0827


Protesters converge on German port for G8 demo

ROSTOCK, Germany  - Anti-globalization protesters converged on the Baltic port of Rostock on Saturday to demonstrate against the policies of the world's leading industrial countries ahead of a Group of Eight summit next week.


NEW YORK -- The face of Mariano Rivera, normally as placid as a pond in winter, was contorted in anger.


Toronto bank to acquire majority interest in Banknorth

A Canadian banking group has reached an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the parent of Evergreen Bank of Glens Falls.


Egypt ends rescue operation after deadly building collapse

Egyptian authorities on Sunday announced the end of search and rescue operations at the site of an apartment block which collapsed six days ago killing 35 people, a security source said.


Fotogiornalismo e web un matrimonio d'amore

Pochi luoghi come Internet esaltano la potenza le immagini. Che diventano strumenti di nuove costruzioni multimediali


Atlantis shoots into space on key mission for Europe

Shuttle Atlantis soared into orbit after a two-month delay on a mission to the International Space Station that will set a milestone for Europe's presence in space.


New York's hopes of Super Bowl glory took a blow when both the Giants and the Jets were hit by injuries to leading players on Sunday.


Paris Hilton Gets Cozy with Kevin Federline

Capping off a catastrophic year for 26-year-old fallen pop star Spears, her out-on-the-town other half Paris was photographed getting friendly with her babies' daddy K-Fed at hotspot Lax.  Hilton, also 26, hit the club circuit alone and Brit-less ove...


Trader with the right expression becomes media stock market poster boy

Dirk Mueller is a stockbroker, and thanks to recent market turbulence, also a star, not because of dubious trades or massive losses but because his face was just right for the job.


Intel releases quad-core Tigerton processor

InfoWorld - Intel plans to unveil a version of its Xeon processor on Wednesday that's designed for high-end servers with multiple processors -- setting the stage for a showdown with rival Advanced Micro Devices' upcoming quad-core Barcelona chip.


Bob Barker takes final bow on "The Price Is Right"

Giving away one more car to an ecstatic contestant, TV host Bob Barker taped his last round of "The Price Is Right" on Wednesday, ending 35 years as host of America's longest-running game show and five decades on network television.


Britney wallops Shakira in search tussle

Your clicks don't lie Talent-lite genetalia flasher and mother of two Britney Spears has topped Yahoo's list of the year's most popular search terms.â¦


Slow and Steady (at the Beginning, Anyway) Wins the Race

Q I am a recreational runner, and I occasionally race. Whenever I'm training, I struggle through the first 20 minutes. My muscles get tired, and I feel out of breath. After 20-30 minutes, I get into a zone and feel like I could run all day. Any ideas to make it easier?


Almost independent, Kosovo seeks flag, anthem

PRISTINA, Serbia  - Kosovo could soon be Europe's newest independent state, but the Albanian majority in Serbia's breakaway province still has to decide on a name, a flag and an anthem.


Remain calm, all is well; and cover your mouth

Although to flip through the newspaper or click on the television, you'd think we were up against horror novelist Stephen King's latest epidemic.


Packed service for 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool.


Two Chinese companies and an American importer were indicted on charges of intentionally defrauding American manufacturers about poisonous ingredients used in pet food.


Basta coi 3 mesi estivi, adeguarsi a nuovi modelli turistici


Saying Monday should be a time of reflection and mourning for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, some political candidates are staying off the campaign trail for the fifth anniversary — even though it's the last day before their primary elections.


UN governor says Belgrade blocks Kosovo progress

Kosovo's United Nations governor accused Serbia on Monday of undermining efforts to forge a multi-ethnic democracy in the province.


Il caso. Testo tratto dalle ultime lettere del leader della Dc Tra gli ex terroristi Fioravanti e D'Elia anche uno dei rapitori                                          "Se ci fosse luce": blues per Aldo Moro canta il nipote, in platea l'ex br Morucci                                                                                di CONCETTO VECCHIO


WARSAW (SwissInfo) - Poland's president threatened on Thursday to delay talks on a new European Union treaty at a summit where EU leaders hope to finalize the charter to reform the bloc's institutions. Agreement on the treaty would end a crisis of confidence sparked by Dutch and French voters' rejection of a European constitution in 2005 and open the way for a toned-down treaty that includes a foreign policy chief with more clout and a long-term EU president. The treaty also provides for a more democratic decision-making system and more say for the European and national parliaments but avoids mention of an EU anthem or flag.  Poland, which fought against changes to the voting system at a treaty summit in June, has recently voiced greater optimism that it would win a compromise on its demands, even though other states have said they will proceed without Poland if its often-cantankerous leaders continue to drag their feet. Some leaders have indicated that Poland may be asked to leave the EU if it cannot "play ball" in the future.


The JyAALib project is a Java/Jython implementation of the Asynchronous Action Framework based in Pure Object Oriented Concepts. The Massive Parallel Framework in Python Language - Full Compatible with Jython-JAVA.   New Beta version 1.9 is available for the PyAALib-JyAALib : The Massive Parallel Framework in Python Language - Full Compatible with Jython-JAVA


Dust storms raging on Mars pose the worst threat yet to Nasa's robot rovers, the US space agency says.


Retailer's stock sinks after investors agree to sell their shares at a lower-than-expected price.


NEW YORK Fannie Mae, the biggest provider of money for the US mortgage industry, said Wednesday that it was planning to sell as much as $4 billion worth of preferred stock after its regulator said the lender had broken accounting rules and was


Clough, former Nottingham Forest coach, dies aged 69

Brian Clough, the outspoken soccer manager who led Nottingham Forest to European Cup success in 1979 and 1980, died at Derby City General Hospital in central England.


California Bill Sets Highest Standards to Limit Invasive Species

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ California is on the verge of blazing a new environmental path with the toughest restrictions in the nation on exotic clams, crabs and other nonnative aquatic species that harm river and bay environments, threaten water supplies and clog water pipes.


Warwickshire watch from afar as title returns

Warwickshire clinched the County Championship for the first time in nine years and the sixth in their history yesterday, not on the field but in front of the television.


Iran TV shows detained Iranian-Americans

Iranian state-run television showed the first footage of two detained Iranian-Americans on Monday, promising more images in the coming days.


More than 100 people were wounded as bombers struck twice in Baghdad and once in the northern city of Mosul. river, where several hotels used by foreign contractors are located.


After the tsunami, Andamans hit by looting

Standing amid broken concrete slabs and twisted tin roofs, B. Appa Rao says the tsunami may have wrecked his house in Andaman and Nicobar islands, but that isn't the only reason for his misery.


An Oregon man stopped taking the painkiller Vioxx when it was pulled from the market, switching to Bextra. Then questions were raised about Bextra — and four other drugs — and he returned to his doctor with a new set of worries. Similar conversations are happening between doctors and patients all around the country.


Texas Instruments Plans $300M Investment

U.S.-based chipmaker Texas Instruments Inc. said it will spend about $300 million over the next three years to increase output at its facilities in the northern Philippines.


By DAVID PHELAN  1 Tumi LXT Achievement [pound]580   Tumi's luxury range is made from durable and lightweight nylon with calf-leather trim. This is fitted with a metal barcoded panel that helps reunite the bag with you if it gets lost.


I've had about all I can stand of the most overused football term since "West Coast Offense." And that's "fantasy sleeper.


NEWCASTLE UNITED did what was required last night and at least that made for a welcome change. This listless draw against Sporting Lisbon did not stray towards the inspirational and nor did


Red Sox rally to wild win over Tampa Bay

The Boston Red Sox recovered from 8-1 down in the fourth inning to secure a wild 16-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday.


Relaying doctors' first official statement regarding ailing Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat's health, a PA spokeswoman said Tuesday that hospital medical staff had ruled out leukemia as a cause for his deterioration in health, and said his


New Trojan Intercepts Online Banking Information

A new Trojan program is targeting unwitting users' bank data by intercepting account information before it is encrypted and sending it to a central attacker database.


Oxfam sees 1.8 mln Pakistanis at risk in quake zone

At least 1.8 million people living in  makeshift shelters and tents are at risk from the Himalayan  winter a year after an earthquake ravaged northern Pakistan,  the international aid agency Oxfam said on Wednesday.


Lo annuncia un rappresentante degli studenti islamici


100 injured as train overturned in eastern Australia

More than 100 people were injuredwhen a high-speed passenger train overturned in southern Queensland early Tuesday. The train was traveling from Brisbane, capital of Queensland


The financially faltering Fisk University is seeking a quick ruling on whether it can sell a 50 percent stake in a 101-piece collection of artworks donated by Georgia O'Keeffe in 1949.


Study points to health effects of air pollution

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


Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned, ending a months-long standoff with Republican and Democratic critics who called for his ouster over the Justice Department's botched handling of FBI terror investigations and the firing of U.S. attorneys, officials said Monday.


Company is looking to attract more business process experts to use its software through the establishment of specific community site tailored to their needs.


Nell'incidente, riferisce Trenitalia, hanno perso la vita il capotreno e un viaggiatore. Aperte due inchieste. Torino, 13 set. (Adnkronos) - Sono due i morti dell'incidente ferroviario accaduto questa mattina


President Bush opens the fall campaign with a slight lead over Democratic Sen. John Kerry, an Associated Press poll shows, as voters express growing confidence in the direction of the country and the performance of the incumbent.


Colombia court backs rights for gay couples

BOGOTÁ, Colombia -- The Colombian Constitutional Court has ruled that same-sex couples are entitled to the same inheritance rights as heterosexuals in common-law marriages, marking a step forward for gay rights in the traditionally conservative, Catholic region.


Flu pandemic inevitable, plans needed rrgently: WHO

WHO calls for every country in the world to make plans to deal with an inevitable influenza pandemic that is likely to be triggered by the bird flu virus that hit Asia this year.


FDA Wants Tougher Warning Labels on Some Pain Relievers

Federal health officials  yesterday proposed sterner warning labels for acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen, again cautioning millions of Americans who take the nonprescription pain relievers regularly of potentially serious side effects.


The world's growing young population needs encouragement and education to prosper, the World Bank says.


The State Department said Friday it has strong doubts that the upcoming elections in Belarus will meet international democratic standards.


An Israeli minister postpones a trip to Egypt, amid media reports his army unit killed 250 Egyptian POWs in 1967.


State-owned broadcaster MediaCorp and Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. said Tuesday that they will shut down an English language channel and lay off more than 200 employees ahead of a merger of their mass market TV and free newspaper operations.


Halliburton Shares Fall on Outlook for Iraq Contract

Shares of Halliburton Co., the world's biggest oilfield-services company, fell as much 1.6 percent in Germany after the Wall Street Journal said a contract worth as much as $13 billion with the US Army may be broken up.


Hurricane Ivan veered to the north today on a path toward Alabama's Gulf Coast as inhabitants across a 300-mile-wide danger zone braced for its onslaught, and a new storm gathered strength in the Caribbean.


Thai officials admitted today that at least 78 protesters in their custody were suffocated or crushed to death after being put into trucks following a riot amongst Muslims in Thailand's troubled far south.


Spain's Oscar Freire celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the elite road race of the 2004 UCI world road cycling championships.


US Consumer Prices Rose 0.2% in September; Core Up 0.3%

US consumer prices rose more in September than a month earlier, reflecting higher costs for services such as hotel stays and medical care, a government report showed.


NASD Warns of Risky Home-Equity Investing

Too many house-rich Americans are borrowing money against their homes to play the stock market, brokerages regulator NASD warned on Wednesday.


Iraq truck bomb death toll may be 150: officials

The death toll from Saturday's truck bomb attack in a market in the northern Iraqi town of Tuz Khurmato may be as high as 150, local officials said on Sunday.


UK chancellor Gordon Brown says the G7 should offer poor countries 100% debt relief by the end of the year.


Stoccarda, 19:00 - TENNIS, ATP: NADAL IN FINALE A STOCCARDA

Rafael Nadal ha conquistato la finale del torneo Atp di Stoccarda, terra battuta. Lo spagnolo ha ba...


Planet under Attack, Says Nobel Peace Winner

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai was today set to warn that the planet is under attack from a litany of threats, ranging from disease, deforestation and war, and urge a shift in human thinking to save the earth.


Briefly: Israel, Egypt and US trade pact

Egypt, Israel and the United States have reached an agreement that allows Egyptian industry to sell products using Israeli parts duty free in America.


Nigeria steps up efforts to release foreign oil workers

Nigerian security agents have stepped up efforts to secure the release of four foreign oil and gas workers who were taken prisoner this week in the restive Niger Delta.


Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday that "conspiracy theories" about the state's voting machines are "nonsense," and he criticized former President Jimmy Carter for questioning whether Florida can hold a fair election.


The battle for control of Gold Fields starts in earnest on Friday with the closing, at noon Johannesburg time, of the first stage of Harmony's two-part merger offer to the bigger company's shareholders.


Grandpa developed a waterproofing molecule and the family put it in building materials to stop problems with seepage. The business is called Hycrete.


O.J. Simpson charged with kidnapping, armed robbery

O.J. Simpson, the former American football star acquitted of double murder in 1995, was charged on Tuesday with kidnapping, armed robbery and assault in a dispute over sports memorabilia at a Las Vegas hotel.


WASHINGTON - At the Supreme Court Monday, the issue was medical marijuana -- and whether the federal government can stop patients from using it, even if a state's law says it's legal.


Two days of heavy storms and flooding have killed five people in central Texas, and bad weather was expected to continue pounding the Plains over the holiday weekend.


Vicepremier, 'ha grande capacita' di lavoro e dedizione'


Prosecutors look into whether staff at the US security firm Blackwater smuggled weapons to Iraq, say reports.


Roma, 12:20 - CALCIO, MASTELLA: FENOMENO ULTRA' CANCRO DA ESTIRPARE

Le società devono recidere i legami con i gruppi ultrà. Lo ha detto il Ministro della ...


Investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc  on Thursday said it would stop wholesale mortgage lending amid a continued slump in credit and housing markets, a move that will impact 1,300 jobs and result in a $40 million charge.


US Soldiers Fight Iraq Enlistment Extensions

Eight US soldiers serving in Iraq and Kuwait filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging the US military's "stop loss" policy, which forces them to serve beyond their enlistment contracts.


Japanese Emerald Cowboy Stars in Own Colombia Film

By Jason Webb COSCUEZ, Colombia  - Eishy Hayata is a hero, andhe wants to make damn sure the world knows it.


BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - A man who lost his wallet in 1970 got it back after 37 years with everything still inside. Workers renovating the Musical Arts Building on Indiana University's campus found the wallet sandwiched between two cinder block walls three weeks ago.


Detailed plans for the new U.S. Embassy under construction in Baghdad appeared online Thursday in a breach of the tight security surrounding the sensitive project.


For U.S. Soldiers, A Frustrating and Fulfilling Mission

America's presence in Iraq is moving into its 22nd month, a time that has been alternately frustrating and fulfilling to the young men and women who are far from home and far from done with their mission.


The One Laptop Per Child Foundation is teaming with another group on a pilot project distributing more laptops.


U.S. slams Serb leader's hard line on Kosovo

The United States has criticized  demands by Serbian caretaker prime minister Vojislav Kostunica  for a hardline response from major parties if the West grants  independence to Kosovo in a plan due to be disclosed on Friday.


Thyroid Cancer Afflicts Thousands Yearly

In thyroid cancer, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist faces a disease that can be mild or very aggressive, depending on the type of cancer. The type affecting Rehnquist was not announced immediately.


Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Johan Santana threw seven shutout innings and Jacque Jones homered to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 2-0 victory over New York in the opener of a best-of-five American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium.


Six protesters have been killed when security forces broke up a demonstration outside a police station in Thailand's troubled Muslim-majority south.


Postmaster sends love from Valentine, Texas

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb 13 (Reuters Life!) - From Texas, with love.


US Marines Fight Falluja Insurgents, 3 Killed

US Marines backed by aircraft fought insurgents in the Iraqi city of Falluja on Thursday, six weeks after launching a major attack that aimed to quell revolt in the city before next month's election.


Zimbabwe's government has condemned the acquittal of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on charges of plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe, saying a guilty man had been allowed to walk free.


EU, Russia emerge upbeat from food fight

The European Union and Russia agreed at a summit on Friday to end a 20-year fight over access to Russian airspace, after a dispute over Polish meat imports blocked the start of talks on a broader cooperation pact.


President Hamid Karzai accuses international troops of being careless with the lives of Afghan civilians.


McNealy: Pulling Out A Tough Quarter At Sun

Keep praising your troops and maybe they'll win the fight. Sun Microsystems (nasdaq: SUNW - news - people ) Chief Executive Scott McNealy saw good in earnings that were somewhat worse than expected.


COLUMBIA, South Carolina  - The presidential race shifted to new battlegrounds on Sunday, as Republican John McCain looked for momentum from a big win and top Democrats paid homage to slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King.


Un testo di intercettazione tra diessino Nicola Latorre e il palazzinaro che cercÃ² di scalare il Corriere della Sera                                          Il testo della telefonata  tra Latorre e Ricucci


Ignore America and wait to see if Alexander's not so great

Oliver Stoneâs eagerly awaited $160m blockbuster, Alexander, opened in America last week to a decidedly mixed critical response.


A woman accused over a fatal dog attack on her granddaughter is found not guilty of her manslaughter.


A  discovery could lead to drugs to treat a 'forgotten' tropical disease, scientists hope.


A furious attack on the rush for biofuels is launched by a charity that supports poor farmers.


Adding to its offerings for digital imaging and video hobbyists, Adobe Systems on Wednesday announced a new video-editing package and an update to its Photoshop Elements image-editing product.


PeopleSoft Directors Reject Oracle's Offer

The board of PeopleSoft Inc. yesterday rejected Oracle Corp.'s $24-a-share hostile takeover bid as too cheap, but said it was open to a deal at a higher price.


Miss a love connection? Post an ad online

NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters Life!) - Ever locked eyes with a stranger on a train or in a store, become quickly intrigued, and later regretted not even saying "hello."


Former lottery con-man hits the jackpot in Romania

In an ironic twist of fortune, a former lottery con-man who served time for once claiming his winning million dollar ticket was stolen, hit the jackpot in one of Romania's biggest pay-off ever, officials said.


Dogs can sniff out cancer, say researchers

LONDONâA London woman asked doctors back in 1989 to removed a mole on her leg because her dog, a female border collie-Doberman mix, would constantly sniff at it, and had tried to bite it off.


Police Defuse Bomb in Italy After Blair's Visit

Italian police defused a bomb early on Wednesday morning near the Sardinian holiday villa of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi just hours after a visit by British Premier Tony Blair.


Select Comfort's outlook is more like counting cheap than counting sheep.


Hollywoodâs glamour machine is stuck between a promise that the stars will still show up at next monthâs Golden Globes and a threat that 3,000 picketing writers will chase them away.


Televangelist Tammy Fay Bakker Messner dies

KANSAS CITY, Missouri  - Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, a former televangelist who helped lead a huge television ministry before its collapse in a sex and corruption scandal, has died, her Web site reported on Saturday.


The Dallas Cowboys signed Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams to a four-year contract extension Wednesday, securing the hard-hitting run-stopper through the 2010 season.


Hundreds of registered nurses and hospital workers from Sutter Hospital affiliates are scheduled to return to work this morning after a four-day lockout.


Tropical storm kicks off Atlantic hurricane season

A tropical storm bearing down on Florida formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, just in time for the official June 1 start of the Atlantic hurricane season.


Brazil president criticized for handling of crash

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has come in for scathing criticism over his handling of Brazil's worst air crash after a close advisor was filmed apparently celebrating reports suggesting it was caused by a mechanical error and not government negligence.


El Arsenal, Ãºltimo campeÃ³n de la Liga Premier del fÃºtbol inglÃ©s, sacÃ³ el sÃ¡bado una ventaja de cinco puntos sobre sus perseguidores al golear 4-0 al Charlton Athletic.


com October 12, 2004, 11:27 AM PT. Despite increasing competition, Apple's iPod still rules the digital music world, according to new reports from market researchers.


Entertaining TV programs make you eat, study finds

People eat more when they are glued to the television, and the more entertaining the program, the more they eat, according to research presented on Saturday.


Baseball Notebook: Berkman out with torn ACL

Houston Astros outfielder Lance Berkman may miss the start of next season after the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee was torn while playing flag football.


The Lebanon truce and Iran's nuclear programme are expected to top the agenda as Kofi Annan visits Iran.


Pakistan's Bhutto vows no surrender to militants

Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto said on Friday she would carry on her struggle for democracy, despite an attack on her motorcade that killed 133 people as she returned home after eight years of exile.


Candidates Play on Fears of Attacks, War

Playing on the fear factor, Vice President Dick Cheney suggested in a campaign speech there might be another terrorist attack on the United States if John Kerry were in the White House. President Bush's opponents' are raising their own worst fears, including the potential for more wars during a second Bush term.


Catania, 16:27 - CALCIO, GIUDICE SPORTIVO: DUE GIORNATE AL CAMPO DEL CATANIA

Il Giudice sportivo ha squalificato per due giornate il campo del Catania, con obbligo di giocare a...


The 24-year-old sustained the injury after a challenge by Papa Bouba Diop in their 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday. A Villa spokesman said: "Vassell has a fracture of his ankle.


With Gaston gone, NC now looks nervously toward Frances

With eastern North Carolina soaked after more heavy rains, residents worried that the next tropical system could bring a repeat of the worst hurricanes of the past decade.


NEC launches world's fastest supercomputer

Japanese electronics giant NEC Corp has begun selling the world's fastest supercomputer. NEC claimed its SX-8 is the most powerful "vector-type" supercomputer, with a sustainable


Sunshine might stop certain cancers from growing, including skin cancers, researchers believe.


Big B: Abhishek & Ash are too busy to fix a date

Belying  the   over-enthusiastic   reports  of  a marriage date for


Commercial television network Viasat3 may have to give up its ties to free daily newspaper Metro and restructure its ownership - as well as its program schedule - should the National Television and Radio Board ...


Verizon Communications Inc. will use Microsoft Corp.'s software technology to deliver video services over high-speed data lines, the companies said on Friday.


Myanmar dissidents stage prison hunger strike

Some dissidents arrested in a fierce crackdown on protests in military-ruled Myanmar have gone on hunger strike over police refusal to treat a protester with a broken leg, an activist said on Friday.


Sun-Times Editor Heads to N.Y. Daily News

Michael Cooke, the editor in chief of the Chicago Sun-Times, has resigned after five years with the city's second-largest newspaper to take the top newsroom job at the New York Daily News.


Zumobi to climb onto Windows Mobile phones

The third-party widgets platform with Microsoft ties will ship with Windows Mobile phones, thanks to a renewed partnership with Microsoft.


Even before Pedro Martinez uttered a word, he got a taste of how intense the interest in him will be in New York.


U.S. Flunks Higher Education Affordability

A new, independent report card flunks America's colleges in a key subject for many students and parents: affordability.    While noting progress in areas such as student preparation, the biennial study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education drops the country to an "F" in affordability from the "D" it received in the nonprofit group's report two years ago...


Iraq government sacks Saddam's genocide trial judge

Iraq's government said on Tuesday it   had sacked the chief judge trying Saddam Hussein on genocide   charges, saying he had abandoned his neutrality by stating that   the ousted leader was not a dictator.


Vagit Alekperov, president of Lukoil, gained a new American partner Wednesday, in a deal with ConocoPhilips that was sealed by the Kremlin.


The U.S. Justice Department has agreed to defer prosecution of Computer Associates International Inc.  in its long-running investigation of accounting fraud at the software maker, several publications reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.


'Beckham Nativity' Tableau Outrages Churches

Church leaders united Wednesday to condemn a Christmas nativity tableau depicting soccer star David Beckham as Joseph and his pop singer wife Victoria as the Virgin Mary.


Bush wants global meeting on climate change

U.S. President George W. Bush, under fire for resisting tough action on global warming, on Thursday called on 15 influential countries to agree by the end of 2008 on a long-term goal to cut emissions.


Prince and Village People dive into Pirate Bay

Young man, there's no need to download The Village People have joined forces with pint-sized popster Prince in an effort to slap The Pirate Bay with yet another copyright infringement lawsuit.â¦


L'associazione ricorda gli incentivi in Finanziaria


Analysis: Clinton faces likability worry

It was a blunt question for Hillary Rodham Clinton at the end of a long campaign day. A young man said he knew a lot of people who just didn't like her, and he wanted to know what she could do about it.


Smoke and mirrors? While some people think 3D displays are the Holy Grail of TV technology, European manufacturer Holocube has created a stylish box capable of displaying single objects in 3D.â¦


Sudan peace talks deadlocked in new aid squabble

ABUJA: Peace talks between Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government have ended a day of negotiations deadlocked over addressing what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.


Emraan not interested in Mallika anymore

Mallika Sherawat and Emraan Hashmi, who scorched the screen in "Murder", had the opportunity to work together again but it didn't work out.


Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy is named politician of the year for his consistent opposition to the Iraq war.


Science & environment: The space shuttle Atlantis was yesterday closing in on the international space station and was expected to dock there last night


French Socialists prepare for divisive debate on whether to vote Yes...

The poll promises to be the main event in next year's political calendar in France.


Killer of Sweden's Lindh Seeks Leniency in Appeal

Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh's confessed killer sought leniency in a Supreme Court appeal on Wednesday, with his lawyer arguing he was mentally ill when he attacked her and should not be jailed for murder.


La rinuncia sarebbe stata valutata 1,5 miliardi di dollari


Uniqlo operator seeks Western brands on expansion push

Japan's Fast Retailing, the operator of Uniqlo casual clothing shops, set its sights Tuesday on buying a major Western brand as it unveiled plans for a third global flagship store in Paris.


Four killed in Argentina high school shooting

A high school student opened fire in a classroom in southern Argentina yesterday, killing four classmates and wounding five in the country's worst school rampage on record, police said.


Iranian Boats May Not Have Made Radio Threat, Pentagon Says

The Pentagon said yesterday that the apparent radio threat to bomb U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf last weekend may not have come from the five Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats that approached them -- and may not even have been intended against U.S. targets.


Chinese commerce official says GM has no grounds for piracy ...

BEIJING: A top Chinese commerce official said Monday that General Motors Corp. hasn't provided enough evidence to prove that a local company copied one of its car models.


Milano, 19:35 - CALCIO, INTER: SQUADRA A RIPOSO, BURDISSO IN DUBBIO PER DERBY

Giornata di riposo per l'Inter di Roberto Mancini, sbarcata questa notte, poco dopo le 3, allo scalo...


Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo should abandon the console wars, says  a senior executive at Electronic Arts.


The airline is on track to lose $200 million during the year. How about spending $1 billion more?


Tentative Accord Reached in Najaf to Halt Fighting

Thousands of Shiites marched in celebration of an accord reached to end fighting between U.S. forces and a rebel cleric's militia.


Bolton boss Sam Allardyce said he is considering sending El-Hadji Diouf to a sports psychologist to stop his persistent spitting. Bolton fined Diouf for spitting at Arjan de Zeeuw against Portsmouth on Saturday


New phones put world in palm of the hand

But are they a niche device for business travelers or a bombshell set to rattle the wireless industry?


Instead of stuffing themselves with turkey and all the fixings, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spent Thanksgiving cruising around Vietnam's largest city on a motorbike.


Reporters without borders We have some bad news for those of you who woke up this morning thinking you were Welsh: as of right now, you're English, and you'd just better get used to the idea:â¦


Elite Japanese troops rappelled from helicopters and soldiers raced across the water in speed boats in a multinational exercise off Japan's coast Tuesday aimed at intercepting weapons of mass destruction at sea.


Dutch Watchdog Issues Fines vs. Spammers

for $61,000 - went to a person involved with four spam e-mails, including one message that praised Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" and was disguised to appear as if it came


Rockets Kill 2 Israeli Boys; Raids Kill 6 Palestinians

SDEROT, Israel  - Palestinian militants eluding an  army crackdown killed two Israeli children in a rocket attack  from Gaza on Wednesday and troops killed six Palestinians in  raids in the coastal strip and the West Bank.


Limits for Volatile Organic Compounds Urgently Needed

By Yuthana Praiwan, Bangkok Post, Thailand  Feb. 8--Authorities say they will move quickly to set limits on volatile  organic compounds following the discovery of about 500 leaks of various  substances from factories in the Map Ta Phut area of Rayong.


Acer America Corporation, one of the leading worldwide suppliers of IT solutions, announced the newest addition to the Ferrari line of notebooks, the Ferrari 3400.


The US trade deficit ballooned to a record high of $617.7 billion last year, pushed by soaring oil prices and Americans' insatiable appetite for everything foreign, from cars to toys and food.


Judge dismisses charges against 'Pacman'

Adam "Pacman" Jones is busy clearing away the legal problems that led to his suspension from the NFL.


A coach driver is charged over the deaths of three people who were killed in a crash on the M25.


China calls for reason as food safety fears mount

Under pressure after a U.S. move against Chinese seafood and a huge recall of Chinese toothpaste in Japan, Beijing urged trade partners on Friday to accept its products unless they violate contract terms or local regulations.


Sidney Ponson is fed up with being a celebrity in his native land of Aruba, so the Baltimore Orioles pitcher no longer intends to call the Dutch Caribbean island his home.


Beyond Depression, an Explosion of New Ideas

An entrepreneur beats back depression and begins to develop a new product.


News Corp.'s earnings rose 19 percent as stronger results from cable networks, broadcast television and movies outweighed a slump in newspapers, the media company reported Tuesday. Results were also lifted by a gain from selling a European radio business.


White House: Nothing New in Latest Reports About Bush Service ...

White House aides are defending President Bush against new allegations relating to his military service during the Vietnam War, which he served in the United States.


UN Security Council Trying to Secure 'Viable Future' for Sudan

The UN Security Council has begun two days of meetings in Nairobi to address the ongoing violence in Sudan, amid warnings that Africa's biggest country could spiral into anarchy.


Kuwait's government is moving the country's weekend to Friday and Saturday instead of Thursday and Friday.


Update 1: Viacom Posts Loss on Blockbuster Charge

Viacom Inc., the media conglomerate that owns CBS and MTV, posted a third-quarter loss of $487.6 million Thursday as its earnings were hit by a $1.


Gone With the Wind has been seen by more cinema-goers than any other film in UK history, a study finds.


Blog: Thousands were on hand for the launch of Boeing's newest plane, the 787 Dreamliner


Scottish house prices are lagging behind the rest of the UK but catching up fast, a report claims.


Lycos Europe To Spammers: It's Pay-Back Time

Lycos Europe NV is offering Internet users a way to stick it to spammers with its new screen-saver software, called "Make Love, Not Spam.


THE European Union's heads of government last night signed Europe's first constitution, marking the start of a continent-wide, uphill battle to secure it popular acceptance among the 25 member states.


Serbian MPs vote to condemn any attempt by its troubled province of Kosovo to declare independence.


Allies offer minor concessions at NATO summit; Harper focuses on Afghanistan

A handful of European NATO countries offered minor concessions on Afghanistan Tuesday, suggesting they'll allow their troops to reinforce the bloodied Canadian contingent in Kandahar in emergency circumstances.Comment


Nations Use Net to Spy, Plot Attacks Ex-Bush Aide

The world's most advanced military powers are using the Internet to spy on their enemies and prepare digital attacks against rogue targets, a leading cyber security expert said on Friday.


Peyton Manning Breaks Marino's TD Record

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning shouts instructions to tigh tend Dallas Clark, right, during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004.


Ford considers building major parts plant in Slovakia

BRATISLAVA - Slovakia is near a deal with US automaker Ford to build a car parts plant for up to 400 million euros, sources close to the deal told Reuters on Tuesday.


A Syrian criminal court on Monday convicted a political activist of insulting the regime and contacting "hostile parties," sentencing him 18 months in jail, a human rights group said.


A scheme to improve teaching at primary schools has had a "limited impact", a report says.


Journalist turned script writer Suparn Verma, who has been associated with a number of talked-about projects such as QAYAMAT, CHHAL, YEH KYA HO RAHA HAI, ZAMEEN and JANASHEEN, is all set to slip into a new robe: Director.


Appiano Gentile, 17:42 - CALCIO, INTER: ADRIANO TRIPLETTA IN PARTITELLA

Giorno di riposo oggi per l'Inter di Roberto Mancini. I nerazzurri torneranno ad allenarsi domani, m...


Darfur peace talks in Abuja deadlocks over security, disarmament

The African Union (AU)-sponsored talks to restore peace in war-ravaged Darfur region, western Sudanreached a deadlock again on Monday when negotiators of the Sudanese government


SEOUL South Korean officials expressed hope Thursday that North Korea would return to six-party talks designed to resolve the country's nuclear weapons issues.


CBS bypasses writers to import Canadian cop series

CBS has agreed to import a new  Canadian-produced TV police drama called "Flashpoint" in a deal  that lets the network bypass the home-grown "pilot" development  process shut down by the screenwriters' strike.


La stilista Consuelo Castiglioni punta su modernita'


Mike at Sierra Web Marketing reminds us that Yul Kwon, the million dollar Survivor winner, once worked with Google. From Yul’s CBS Survivor Bio: Kwon has enjoyed a diverse career straddling both the private and public sectors in law, business and technology. He practiced a mix of litigation, appellate, transactional and regulatory work at several law firms. [...]


Electrolux, the world's largest maker of household appliances, said Thursday that earnings in the second half of 2004 would be below forecasts because of higher steel prices.


Over 200,000 Turn Out to Protest Bush in New York

Vice President Cheney launched the Republican convention Sunday in a speech hailing President Bush's war leadership, as more than 200,000 demonstrators took to the streets


HALMSTAD, Sweden  - Betsy King, who played in five Solheim Cups, will end her active involvement in the biennial event when she captains the United States this week.


ASEAN armies exchange intelligence info to combat terrorism

JAKARTA - Army chiefs from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed Tuesday to share intelligence information in order to curb terrorism and transnational crimes.


Bush's 'Virtual Fence' Faces Trouble, Delays

Technical and management troubles have caused the government's effort to secure a portion of the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border with a chain of surveillance towers to fall behind schedule, jeopardizing the success of a costly project meant to showcase the Bush administration's tougher stance on...


Israel vows to press on with Gaza military action

A Hamas rocket attack from Gaza killed a man in Israel on Sunday and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledged unlimited military action against the militant group, saying "no one involved in terror" would be immune.


German convicted of stealing buffet for 60 people

A jobless German has been handed a  five-month suspended jail term for stealing a buffet for 60  people and eating it with friends, authorities said on Tuesday.


A man is charged with three offences after a young girl was badly burnt in a petrol bomb attack at a clothes store.


Lawyer: Psychologist has deep ties to Jackson case

Santa Maria, Calif. -- The psychologist who notified police of a 12-year-old boy's claims of being molested by pop singer Michael Jackson had patients on both sides of the case, a defense lawyer indicated in court Tuesday.


Bulgartabac Offers 7 Subsidiaries at Auction

Business: 28 November 2004, Sunday. Bulgaria's tobacco giant Bulgartabac invited an open bidding public tender for its shares in seven subsidiaries, the company announced.


Bella partita all'Olimpico, giallorossi giocano alla pari


War, poverty and Aids causing half of world's children to suffer

WAR, poverty and HIV/Aids are causing more than half of the worldâs children to suffer, effectively denying them a childhood, according to a report today.


What are you doing here? - man asks wife at brothel

A Polish man got the shock of his life when he visited a brothel and spotted his wife among the establishment's employees.


Il Ct Lippi convoca il cagliaritano Langella


MEXICO CITY - A group of businessmen in the northern Mexican City of Chihuahua broke a tasty record Friday, making a hunk of meat on a skewer big enough to serve 24,000 tacos.


Saudi Arabia, Gulf States to boost output

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, which account for almost half of OPEC's oil output, said they're committed to boosting capacity to meet soaring demand that has driven prices to a record.


A Londra, Dow Jones -2 punti base, Nasdaq -1,25, SP -1,1


Marines' rape trial ends, verdict out on Nov. 27

The rape trial of four U.S. Marines  before a Manila court wrapped up on Thursday and the judge set  November 27 as a tentative verdict date.


Shawn Crawford leads an American 200m 1-2-3 amid extraordinary scenes in the Olympic Stadium.


When Windows Vista becomes widely available next month, it will have been more than five years since Microsoft released a new operating system. So, is Vista worth the wait? By Bruce Gain.


Apple's new iPhone, a "smart" mobile phone offering music storage and Internet access, will be launched on June 29, according to television ads by the high-tech group.


2 Iranian Gas Stations Burned Over Rationing

Angry drivers set fire to at least two gas stations overnight in Tehran after the government announced that gasoline rationing would begin.


HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Ted Nelson, aquatics director of the Hutchinson Recreation Commission, said the Salt City Splash pool will be specially prepared for an upcoming event...


KANPUR, India -- Opener Andrew Hall and debutant Zander de Bruyn defied India's spin attack on Sunday to put South Africa in command of the first Test match in Kanpur.


President Bush voiced support for Turkey's entry to the European Union yesterday after meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a long session that also focused on ways to counter extremism, instability in the Middle East and the continued violence in Iraq.


Canada's Stephen Ames is in danger of   missing the Tour Championship on the U.S. Tour after suffering   further back problems and withdrawing from the WGC American   Express Championship on Friday.


Forty-three people are rescued in the Indian Ocean after a ship carrying 76 people sinks near Madagascar.


The United States will push China to untie its currency from the dollar as soon as possible, a top U.S. Treasury Department official said Friday ahead of the Group of Seven finance ministers meeting.


One of the first researchers to link the popular prescription painkillers Vioxx and Celebrex to heart problems blamed aggressive advertising for escalating public health risks and called for enabling the government to require better clinical trials to prevent future drug disasters.


PERRYSBURG, Ohio - It was a clear-cut error: A state worker mowed down 28,000 young trees that had been planted as part of a $33,000 highway beautification project.    The only thing left behind were signs that read "Do not mow or spray."  "Shame on us...


Piracy accusations fly as Kazaa trial begins

THE firm behind leading file-swapping network Kazaa is being sued by the record industry in the latest round of a fight over copyright.


A new UN draft resolution on Sudan calls for agreement on peace accords, and offers promises of aid.


'Vile Bodies,' a Little Lost in Translation

Stephen Fry's "Bright Young Things" is almost an homage to Evelyn Waugh Â so careful and respectful that at times it loses sight of Waugh's snarling anarchic spirit.


Oil prices rose Monday morning, climbing toward $46 per barrel, after reports that embattled Russian oil giant Yukos suspended some oil exports to China and as traders expect further declines in the US petroleum supply due to production, refining and


Boffins plot to disrupt underground black markets

Fake IDs to thwart trade in stolen IDs Academic researchers are developing techniques to disrupt underground black markets frequented by malicious hackers and virus writers.â¦


LONDON, England -- Britain's Prince Harry has apologized to his father, Prince Charles, over his scuffle with a paparazzi photographer outside a nightclub, a London newspaper reported.


Nick Skelton admitted he was relieved to get off the mark at the London International Horse Show at Olympia when scoring a brilliant win in the Christmas Eve Six Bar on John Hales's young stallion Russel.


Doctors diagnose worst case of sleep apnoea in UK for man who slept 14 minutes a night for two decades


LORETO, Italy: Pope John Paul II yesterday beatified three members of an international lay Catholic movement at an huge open-air mass near the central Italian town of Loreto.


Soccorsi inutili per veneziano su snowboard nel Bellunese


Iraqi troops backed by US Marines have seized Falluja's main hospital, the first step in what is expected to be a major push to retake the city from insurgents, hours after a 60-day state of emergency is imposed across most of the


Singapore picked Las Vegas Sands  Corp.  to build and run what will be the world's most  expensive casino at a cost of more than S$5 billion (US$3.2  billion), sending the U.S. casino operator's shares up more  than 9 percent.


Apple Inc  is recruiting  staff for new retail stores in Germany and Switzerland,  according to a job opportunities link on its Web site.


Tokyo +1,45,Hong Kong +7,4,Shangai +2,69,Sydney +6,1


Ron Artest is cleared by his coach to play for the Pacers on Friday night after being benched for two games for asking for time off because of his busy schedule.


Verizon Expands Into New Wireless Markets

Verizon Wireless plans next week to expand its high-speed mobile data service to 11 more markets, including New York and Los Angeles, as well as 19 more airports.


Nick Markakis hit a two-run homer and scored twice, leading the Baltimore Orioles past Jeff Francis and the Colorado Rockies 4-2 Friday night. Steve Trachsel (5-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings for the Orioles, who have won two straight following a five-game skid. Trachsel walked one and had a season-high five strikeouts.


'Difenderemo nostri interessi' fa sapere presidente Groenink


Update 2: OPEC Has No Plan to Raise Output

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has no plan to raise output despite record oil prices, the group's president said Friday.


British troops in Iraq begin redeployment

BAGHDAD -- British troops and armory rolled north from Basra yesterday to take over a deadly area near Baghdad and free up US troops for an expected attack on the rebel-held city of Fallujah.


Mibtel guadagna l'1,3%, l'All Stars il 2,05%


Washington: NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has resigned, spending three turbulent years at the helm of the US space agency which saw the crash of Columbia space shuttle, a painful probe into the disaster and severe austerity measures.


Applicata per entrambi misura custodia cautelare in carcere


Two Bus Bombs in India Kill 4, Injure 39

A passenger bus and another carrying paramilitary soldiers and their families were blown up in separate explosions in the insurgency-wracked Assam state on Thursday, killing four people dead and wounding 39, officials said.


By Daniel Witter, Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.  Feb. 14--Kris Painter recalls a day not long ago when parents and children rollerskated up and down her street, blasting music from radios.


The move was a response to Britainâs expulsion of the same number of Russian diplomats earlier this week.


EUROPEAN TOUR GOLF LATEST BETTING ODDS UPDATE

Retief Goosen showed great class to take the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Sunday, when a closing 69 gave him victory by six clear shots.


New Zealandâs Konica holds narrow lead in Sydney-Hobart race

SYDNEY: New Zealand super maxi Konica Minolta held a slender lead over Australian rival Skandia in the 60th Sydney-Hobart yesterday as rough weather slammed into the fleet and forced 17 boats to retire.


Veteran catcher Pat Borders was traded to the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins by the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday for minor league outfielder B.J. Garbe.