Net income for the worldâs No. 2 hamburger chain rose to $49 million as the stalwart Whopper, the new Homestyle Melt and promotions lifted global sales at stores open at least a year.


Former news anchor Dan Rather sued CBS on Wednesday for $70 million, claiming the network violated his contract by not giving him enough air time and made him a scapegoat in a bid to "pacify the White House."


Â·  Attempted breakout leaves 32 militants deadÂ· Lebanon's worst violent episode since civil war


The pervasiveness of large files and even virtualization technology are driving data overload and forcing corporate IT leaders to find ways to centralize storage.


William Hung Wants to Play Only Good Guys

Critics have described his singing as less than kind, but "American Idol" reject William Hung says he wants to play only good-guys in his fledgling acting career.


Putin visits Paris as Russia flexes muscle

French President Jacques Chirac welcomes   his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday at a time when   Russia is showing growing willingness to use booming oil and   gas revenues to boost its global economic clout.


Londra, 10:26 - CALCIO, MANCHESTER UNITED: ROONEY GIA' IN CAMPO SABATO

Wayne Rooney potrebbe tornare in campo già sabato prossimo in occasione della sfida con l'Eve...


Ruud van Nistelrooy has tipped teenage striker partner Wayne Rooney to shatter every Manchester United scoring record. The prolific Dutchman has established himself as one of the finest forwards United have


(InfoWorld) - Vodafone Group has denied a Monday report by the Financial Times that it was considering buying Verizon Communications in a huge $160 billion deal. The paper, citing unnamed sources, said the international mobile operator was contemplating such a deal but hadn't approached Verizon and wouldn't necessarily go ahead with it. But Verizon's shares were up $1 at $42.76 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Vodafone issued a statement to the London Stock Exchange to squelch the report. "Vodafone notes press speculation that it is considering a possible offer for Verizon Communications. Vodafone wishes to make it clear that it has no plans to make such an offer," the statement said. Vodafone owns 45 percent of Verizon Wireless, the rest of which is owned by incumbent wireline carrier Verizon Communications. The dual ownership could tie Verizon's hands as it goes up against rival AT&T, which now owns all of its mobile business and is moving toward "quad-play" bundles of broadband, video, wireline voice, and mobile services. The arrangement gives Vodafone a stake in a profitable U.S. mobile business but doesn't allow it to chart its own course in the market. Vodafone tried to acquire AT&T Wireless in 2004 but was outbid by Cingular. The company has expanded aggressively in other countries, including Germany, where it bought Mannesman in 2000. Buying all of Verizon would create a company valued at about $300 billion. But as part of the deal, Vodafone might spin off Verizon's wireline business in order to build an all-wireless carrier, the Financial Times said. Verizon is the second-largest U.S. carrier behind AT&T in both wired and wireless customers. It had 60.7 million wireless subscribers and 7.4 million broadband customers at the end of the first quarter. Its Fios TV fiber-to-the-home service had attracted about 348,000 households. Verizon also operates a global enterprise communications business. Vodafone, based in Newbury, U.K., had 198.6 million customers across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Â and the Asia-Pacific region at the end of last year.


Kuwait - Saudi women will not vote in next month's municipal elections, the first polls to be held in the autocratic kingdom for many years, interior minister Prince Nayef said in remarks published on Monday.


Though Yankees general manager Brian Cashman did manage to utter the name "Johan Santana" yesterday afternoon at Fenway Park, that was about all that was emanating from the crop of assembled GMs - including the Red Sox' Theo Epstein and the Blue Jays' J.P. Ricciardi - in the way of news. With much of baseball on hold for the holidays, ...


Carbon monoxide poisons 100 in Northwest

About 100 people have been poisoned by carbon monoxide produced by generators and charcoal grills used for warmth and light during the widespread power outages caused by a major storm in western Washington state.


Mexicans are setting aside their differences on Wednesday, declaring a break from political bickering and fears of crime to celebrate 150 years of their national anthem by launching a worldwide rendition.


Top Ten Videos of 2006 From National Geographic News

Replay the year in science, nature, and exploration with 2006's top ten videos, from the plight of African elephants to some of the animal kingdom's mightiest battles.


First Look: Polaroid's Snazzy Photo Printer

Thermal printer produces great-looking snapshots, but they don't come cheap.


Television viewers in the Midwest got an eyeful of politics during local newscasts last month, but most of it was in the ads, not the news.


Consumer Prices Climb; Jobless Claims Up

Consumer prices barely budged in August, suggesting that inflation isn't currently a problem for the economy and Federal Reserve policy-makers can stick with a gradual approach to raising interest rates.


Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Philip Mawer says he will resign six months before his term finishes.


Baghdad kidnapping sows terror as Blair backs Iraq PM

The latest in a series of mass kidnappings spread terror in Baghdad as Prime Minister Tony Blair made a suprise visit to support his embattled Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki.


Ziff Davis - Its next test center will be in Scotland, the company said at EPGglobal, where it also announced its first RFID toolkit and an RFID warehouse management solution.


Eagles Edge Spartans in Champs Sports Bowl

Boston College extends the nation's longest bowl winning streak to eight with a 24-21 victory over Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl.


British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he would soon launch a new Middle East peace mission, hoping to unlock the "barred" door to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.


Disgruntled Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said on Wednesday he wanted to be traded from the NBA team and nothing would change his mind.


A team of scientists in Glasgow say they have devised a new method of attacking cancer cells.


Kemp, Fazekas too much for New Mexico St

Marcelus Kemp scored 21 of his 32 points in the second half and Nick Fazekas added 22 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 10 Nevada to a 69-65 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday night.


Austria smashes global child porn operation

Austria has smashed a child pornography ring involving 2,361 suspects in 77 countries who paid for Internet videos showing children subjected to "the worst kind of sexual abuse".


Hamm Delivers the Ball, Then Walks Away for Good

The girls with ponytails shrieked in delight when Mia Hamm walked to the stands, smiled and began autographing the programs, hats, shirts and scraps of paper thrust at her over the stadium railing.


THE PRESIDENT In Exulting Bush Throngs, Just a Little Bit of ...

There is a good deal of nail biting going on at the mostly picture-perfect campaign rallies held for President Bush. Terry Buck, a first-grade teacher from Cleveland, feels the nervousness.


New European Union President Slovenia  said on Tuesday it backed signing an accord with Serbia that is  a first step towards EU membership as soon as possible,  possibly by the end of this month.


Cannabis doubles risk of psychosis for some smokers

Cannabis use once or twice a week almost doubles the risk of suffering psychotic symptoms in later life, a study has found. More frequent use further increased the risk of symptoms


Gay rights protesters gather in the Latvian capital, Riga, expecting an angry reaction from conservatives.


Saturday Interview: Tapping Global Talent in Software

Globalization and technical transitions have not always gone smoothly for SAP, a big German software company.


H.P. Will Pay $14.5 Million to Settle Suit

The agreement settles a California civil suit over Hewlett-PackardÂs pursuit of private phone records to trace a news leak.


Infected pictures that could implant a back door into a Windows computer have been spotted on Usenet.


Scottish and Newcastle increases pressure on Carlsberg

British brewer Scottish and Newcastle said Tuesday it had submitted a detailed claim to an arbitration court to secure control of Russian joint venture BBH amid a bitter row with co-owner Carlsberg.


Plus, mining a big winner, and does J.Lo have lousy credit?


U.S. to ease travel curbs for central Europeans: Bush

U.S. President George Bush vowed on Tuesday to work to ease travel curbs for citizens of central and eastern European countries in an immigration policy change set to please allies that have helped Washington in Iraq.


Local Film Fare Finds Warm Reception O'seas

Local faves "Seven Dwarves" in German-speaking Europe, "A Very Long Engagement" in France and "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" in Britain took top honors at the international boxoffice alongside "Shark Tale," which continued to scale the heights, gobbling another $11.3 million this weekend for a total of $130 million.


Microsoft Profits Up On Solid Demand For Server Software

Microsoft reported Thursday that first-quarter net income rose 11% and revenue 12%, due to strong server-software demand and steady sales of PCs that run its products.


Consider the odds: two men named Mohamed Atta, total strangers with nothing to connect them, both arriving in Prague just as one, the Sept.


World oil demand will rise faster than expected to 2012 while production lags, leading to a supply crunch, the International Energy Agency said on Monday.


Syracuse's second-half surge buries Mississippi State

In the first, the Syracuse men's basketball team looked ugly. Ugly shooting. Ugly rebounding. Ugly just trying to hold on to the ball.


Saints running back McAllister out for season

The New Orleans Saints's nightmare start to the season got worse on Tuesday when running back Deuce McAllister was ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury.


Birding Column: Moments of Photographic Rapture

Birdman of Belair Mathew Tekulsky waxes on the serendipitous moments when birds and timing alight together for memorable photographs.


The Bolivian government is holding emergency talks over the severe flooding in much of the country.


A collection of drunken rats is helping University of North Carolina researchers understand how brains repair themselves after chronic drinking — and possibly find new ways to help alcoholics recover full mental capacity.


NOW PLAYING: Exorcist: The Beginning/Open Water

The end of the summer sees an interesting mix of movies. You have the action flicks that are maybe good enough to win an award, like Collateral.


Jose Mourinho has seen his Chelsea stars open up an eight-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premiership table after the Blues won 2-0 at Portsmouth.


The General Teaching Council of Wales strikes off a teacher said to have held a boy by the throat against a wall.


Jennifer Lopez has been honored by Amnesty International for producing and starring in "Bordertown," a new film examining the murders of women in a Mexican border city.


"Idol" champ Hicks covers Gaye, Robinson on debut

"American Idol" season five champ  Taylor Hicks will tackle songs written by Bryan Adams, Rob  Thomas and Marvin Gaye on his upcoming self-titled effort.


Sadr has left Iraq and now in Iran: US officials

The U.S. military believes radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, one of Iraq's most powerful figures, has left the country and is now in Iran, two senior American officials said on Tuesday.


Yao leads Shaq by 60,000 in All-Star voting

Yao Ming is more than 60,000 votes ahead of Shaquille O'Neal in the race to finish No. 1 overall in NBA All-Star game balloting.


A majority stake in the embattled Russian oil company Yukos' main production unit will be sold at an auction scheduled for Dec. 19, an announcement in the official government newspaper said Friday, confirming the country's largest oil producer will be broken up as part of a politically charged battle for control over the strategic resource.


Win an Epson Stylus D120 colour inkjet every day

Reg Hardware Daily Draw Register Hardware and Epson have got seven brand spanking new Stylus D120 colour inkjet printers to give away... one every day this week.â¦


Sea erosion brings an urgency to archaeologists' work, as bodies emerge on the shoreline of northern Alaska.


Huge deal swallows International Steel Group

The "bigger is better" mind-set dominating the steel industry reached new heights yesterday when billionaire baron Lakshmi Mittal said he'll create the world's largest


If a movie wins a Golden Globe, but there's no ceremony, does the prize still count?


The Supreme Court is expected to rule Friday on rerunning the country's disputed presidential election.


The importance of 'whole journey' email encryption

Leave no weak spots It is very rare for an organisation to mandate less security in its IT systems. In fact, the relentless march of new threats places pressure on us all to increase our levels of security, to ensure we can match new and emerging attacks.â¦


Heat Coach Pat Riley said yesterday that the defending NBA champion has pulled out of the running for disgruntled 76ers superstar Allen Iverson , who is out of action and on the sideline while waiting to be traded.


Europe Rejects Iran's Demand to Use Uranium Equipment

Iran is demanding the right to operate uranium enrichment equipment, despite its agreement with the Europeans.


Jefferson Alberry II cops a righteous shoeing FoTW Our illuminating piece yesterday by new boy Jefferson Alberry II, regarding al-Qaeda's stance on the iPhone, provoked a seriously adverse reaction in one "Mr Jenkins". His resulting message may be short, but it sure ain't sweet:â¦


The independent reviewer of control orders says they are justifiable but should be used as a 'last resort'.


They're squat and snub-nosed, slow but steadfast. The Fiat 500 - the tiny Italian car with the big personality - last rolled off assembly lines nearly 30 years ago, and today it is still fighting retirement.


British explorer breaks 'Three Poles' record: newspaper

A British explorer has broken the speed record for reaching the North and South Poles and the summit of Mount Everest, The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported Saturday.


Quartet meets, mulls new Palestinian government

The Quartet of Middle East peace   mediators were prepared to endorse Palestinian President   Mahmoud Abbas' effort to form a national unity government on   Wednesday although its platform is still unclear, diplomats   said.


Illinois seeks OK to buy flu shots from foreign lab

Chicago -- Citing "an urgent need" at a time of flu vaccine shortages, Illinois asked for federal permission Monday to buy at least 62,000 vaccine doses from Europe for the state's nursing home residents.


Bankitalia: cambia strategia, una su cinque va all'estero


IMF's Rato says action required on US deficits

The large US current account deficit is a matter of concern, and policy changes are needed to address existing global imbalances, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato said.


Most Americans remain sexually active into their 60s, and nearly half continue to have sex regularly into their early 70s, researchers say.


Milano, 19:54 - CALCIO, SERIE A: NEL POSTICIPO MILAN-FIORENTINA 1-1

Nel posticipo della seconda giornata del campionato di serie A, Milan e Fiorentina hanno pareggiato ...


A campaign by anti-spam groups has persuaded a large US net service provider to ban spammers using its network.


Maryland to Slash Purses and Stakes Races

Maryland's struggling horse racing industry will slash purses and stakes races for the remainder of the year.


Barcellona, 18:29 - F1, FERRARI: CONCLUSI I TEST A BARCELLONA

Si è chiusa la terza e ultima giornata di test settimanali per la Ferrari, impegnata sul Circ...


Plan Envisions Water As Being Key to Future

By TOM BREEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Although most take it for granted, West Virginia has one distinct advantage in the growing race for alternate sources of energy: water. Without an abundant supply, coal-to-liquids power plants are hard to run.


More than a dozen militants carrying guns and wrapped in suicide-bomb belts yesterday raided a southern Russian school in a region bordering Chechnya, seizing up to 400 hostages - half of them students welcoming the new school year.


Community News: Zend Framework 1.0.0 Released

The Zend Framework group has released the long awaited first stable release of the framework - Zend Framework 1.0.0. Here's some of the release announcement:    Many thanks to the scores of PHP developers who have worked for many months to make this product milestone possible. Zend Framework has followed a mission to provide classes that are extremely simple, yet powerful and extensible. Zend Framework is now the best class library available for PHP 5 web application development.   The Zend Framework project has developed solutions to solve frequent needs of web application developers    You can download this latest version from the Framewrok's website and check out the Changelog for the full list of updates.


'Hero' rises to challenge in weekend box office

LOS ANGELES The acclaimed Jet Li martial-arts epic "Hero" took in an estimated 17-point-eight (m) million dollars to rank Number One in the weekend box office.


I volontari di Ecopolis sono sbarcati sulla Never Land del ministroSrotolato uno striscione: "Qui puoi costruire tutte le autostade che vuoi"                                            La protesta arriva in Second Life blitz verde sull'isola di Di Pietro


Court advice boosts Barclays ABN takeover hopes

AMSTERDAM/LONDON  - British bank Barclays's hopes of taking over Dutch rival ABN AMRO won a boost on Tuesday when a court adviser said ABN could sell its U.S. arm without a shareholder vote.


The European Commission puts forward a plan to stop governments from blocking cross-border bank takeovers.


Artificial pitch in Russia blocks England's route to Euro 2008

Sport: The FA are set to act after it was confirmed that England will play their vital Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia on an artificial pitch.


Phillies pick up Garcia at winter meetings

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired starting pitcher Freddy Garcia from the Chicago White Sox in the first major deal of the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Wednesday.


Politicians have not cherished most of their YouTube moments, those snippets of candid camera video posted on the popular Internet site. Now comes a friendlier YouTube politics.


Heart Remodels Itself After Coronary Treatment

NEW YORK  - When coronary arteries become  clogged, the main left chamber of the heart enlarges and the  muscular walls become thicker in an effort to compensate for  its reduced pumping ability. In the end, these changes cause  even more problems, so a reduction in dimensions is seen as a  good sign.


One of the ironies of Wednesdayâs flight of SpaceShipOne is that those who had the worst view of the flightâand the drama that unfolded during the ascentâwere the members of the media who came to report on the event.


Visit Exotic Everglades: Subtropical Wilderness, Set on 1.5 Million Acres, is Both Fragile and Lively

By Bob Downing, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio  Jun. 17--FLORIDA CITY, Fla. -- The Everglades can be a surprisingly noisy place.   There were the strange, catlike sounds from the small heron sitting in a tree.


A gaffe at the Venice Film Festival leaves Al Pacino without a seat at the premiere of his new film.


Credit Suisse Strips $1B From 1q Profits

ZURICH, Switzerland -- Credit Suisse suspended a number of traders in connection with a $2.85 billion overvaluation of assets.


Charley Sends Mobile Home Stocks Soaring

Shares of mobile home manufacturers  soared on Monday on hopes of increased business after the  destruction Hurricane Charley wreaked in Florida over the  weekend, an analyst said.


'Secret Warnings Show Blair Misled Public on Iraq' - Tories

Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw were today accused of âclearly misleadingâ the public over plans for post-war Iraq.


Negotiators for the United Auto Workers and General Motors Corp  broke off contract talks on Tuesday night and prepared to return to the bargaining table on Wednesday as the union cautioned it could be forced to set a deadline if progress stalled.


''Ci fa schifo''.Fini: vergognoso, Fassino: piu' sobrieta'


An inquiry by British police officers said it found no evidence that Britain allowed the CIA to use the country's airports to take terror suspects to other countries.


Eurozone ministers accuse US as dollar sinks to new lows

European Union finance ministers pressed for action by the United States to prop up the dollar as eurozone nations expressed their deep disquiet at the parlous state of America's national finances.


A Security Freeze Can Protect Your Credit But Take Some Time to Thaw

A recent warning from the Internal Revenue Service raises the question of when it is wise to consider placing a security freeze on your credit files.


British Minister Who Resigned Is Cleared of Wrongdoing

The former British home secretary, David Blunkett, who quit last week amid scandal, was linked to a "chain of events" that hastened the approval of a visa for his ex-lover's nanny, a report released today concluded.


Movie Review | 'The Man of My Life': Old-Style Male Bonding Turns Toward the Tender

In âThe Man of My Life,â the French director Zabou Breitman and her screenwriting partner AgnÃ¨s de Sacy examine male bonding from a feminine perspective.


Historic sex bias case against Wal-Mart advances

A federal appeals court gave the green light for the largest sex discrimination case in US history to proceed against giant retailer Wal-Mart Stores.


It wasn'ta gift-filled sleigh departing the North Pole, but the Russian supply capsule launched from frigid Kazakhstan late Thursday carried just as much anticipation as Santa Claus.


CAIRO, EGYPT -- A man identified as Osama bin Laden, speaking on an audiotape posted on an Islamic website yesterday, praised the men who attacked a US consulate in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, earlier this month and called on militants to stop the flow of oil to


Lahti, 11:31 - SCI DI FONDO, CDM DONNE: SMIGUN VINCE 10 KM LAHTI

L'estone Kristina Smigun ha vinto la 10 km tecnica classica disputata a Lahti, in Finlandia, valida ...


To fully appreciate the functionality of dltypeof(), you should be familiar with the JS operator it attempts to replace: typeof() and the frustrations associated with the limitations of the typeof() operator. By Peter Belesis. 0830


Al GF 'Striscia la notizia' attenti ai topi nella Casa

La trasmissione di Canale5 denuncia l'invasione di topolini sul set e scatta il reality parallelo: il 'Grande Topastro'


The U.S. National Institutes of Health, which supports a variety of biomedical studies using animals, will stop breeding government-owned chimpanzees for research -- a step animal rights advocates lauded on Thursday.


Tributes for girl, 14, found hanging from tree

A 14-year-old girl died in hospital after being discovered hanging from a tree


La. Voters to Decide on Same-Sex Marriage

Louisiana voters decided Saturday whether to approve a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, one of up to 12 such measures on the ballot around the country this year.


US Airways Group Inc.    UAIRQ.OB on  Monday said it will increase capacity and add 230 daily flights  to its operation by increasing utilization of its planes.


Blair to step down as Britain begins Brown era

Tony Blair stands down as prime minister after a decade in office Wednesday, making way for Britain's new leader Gordon Brown, amid rampant speculation that Blair will be made an international envoy to the Middle East.


WABASHA, Minn. - With a State Patrol airplane overhead, a motorcyclist hit the throttle and possibly set the informal record for the fastest speeding ticket in Minnesota history: 205 mph...


Holding On to Dynasty Is Patriots' Next Challenge

New England's bid to claim a fourth Super Bowl crown next season will face its most challenging test since the run began.


David Marshall  The Celtic goalkeeper continued his rapid rise to fame with his first international start. Blameless at the penalty and was given no chance with Hustzi's stunning second. Unlucky to have Pressley's attempted clearance cannon off him ...


Kerry Decries Bush Plan to Recall Troops

CINCINNATI - John Kerry, telling fellow combat veterans he's their "true brother in arms," said Wednesday that President Bush's plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Europe and Asia would weaken U.S...


Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists Wayne Rooney will feel right at home in the Champions League. Rooney: Likely to start from the bench against Fenerbahce.


US ; Cuban-born Gutierrez transformed Kellogg

US News, LOS ANGELES - Carlos Gutierrez, named as US secretary of commerce on Monday, left Cuba as a child when communists seized power and rose through the ranks of Kellogg Co.


The United States is among 13 nations to receive a first-round bye in the North and Central American and Caribbean qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.


Tobacco regulation backers fail to restore it to corporate tax ...

House and Senate negotiators defeated an effort Tuesday to have the Food and Drug Administration regulate tobacco products. The proposal was part of a corporate tax bill


Any market worth its salt is "intensely competitive," but some are more so than others.


Bush to host Vietnam president in historic visit

President George W. Bush, hosting  Vietnam's head of state in a historic visit, will welcome  robust trade ties the United States has developed with a former  enemy but will also push concerns on Hanoi's human rights  record.


Attesa per per le trimestrali di Citigroup e Intel


President Bush on Tuesday engaged Washington heavily in the wildfires sweeping across Southern California.


World Business Briefing: Morgan Stanley to Buy Real Estate Investor

Morgan Stanley has agreed to buy a real estate investor, the Investa Property Group of Australia, for 4.7 billion Australian dollars ($3.9 billion) in cash. Including debt, the offer values Australiaâs biggest publicly traded owner of office buildings at 6.6 billion Australian dollars. The bid is subject to an independent expertâs report confirming that the offer is in the best interests of shareholders.


The critically acclaimed Western "3:10 to Yuma" outgunned the fright fest "Halloween" to become the weekend's top box office draw.


MidEast Quartet may meet on July 16: Russia

Russia hopes the next meeting of the Quartet to move the Middle East peace process forward will be on July 16, Itar-Tass quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Friday.


Arafat mourned by some Hoosiers; others see hope

For Mohammed Sayyah, who owns a car body shop on the Northeastside, the death of Yasser Arafat was more than an item in the news. Born to Palestinian parents who fled their home under Israeli


JERUSALEM - A top aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was quoted as saying Wednesday that Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is intended to block Palestinian statehood indefinitely and claimed the policy had U.S. backing...


Yasser Arafat has fallen into a deeper coma, according to the French military hospital treating the Palestinian leader. Gen. Christian Estripeau, a spokesman for the Percy Military Training Hospital outside


IBM adds Linux apps support to Unix servers

InfoWorld - IBM has added a new capability to its virtualization platform that will allow Linux applications to run on IBM's Unix servers, the company announced Tuesday.


Applebee's same-store sales down in February

Applebee's International Inc.  said on Wednesday sales at its restaurants open at least 18 months fell 4 percent in February as harsh winter weather kept customers at home.


Cleveland Browns offensive guard Paul Zukauskas was arrested and charged with drunken driving after an early-morning traffic stop.


Stocks edged lower on Thursday after data showing steady growth in the U.S. services sector last month suggested the economy may not warrant a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut.


Roma, 17:27 - CALCIO, LAZIO; MAURI: NON DOBBIAMO PENSARE A CALCIOPOLI

Stefano Mauri sa che la Lazio deve concentrarsi sulle singole gare e non pensare alla giustizia spor...


Rewards Network Announces Addition of Acclaimed Dallas Restaurant Bob's Steak & Chop House

Bob's Steak & Chop House in Dallas, one of the  nation's premiere steak restaurants, and  Rewards Network, a leading provider of marketing services and loyalty  programs to the restaurant industry, have entered into a relationship to  further market Bob's to diners across the  country.


Federal judge Victor Marrero who presides US District Court in New York City struct down Wednesday a key part of the US Patriot Act which granted to the FBI surveillance powers to demand company records from businesses without court approval as


Global Warming Menaces California Wine Industry

California will become hotter and drier by the end of the century, menacing the valuable wine and dairy industries, even if dramatic steps are taken to curb global warming, researchers said on Monday.


Potential Arafat Successor Gains Approval Amid Talk of a Rival

Mahmoud Abbas, the new chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, won a vital vote on Thursday evening from the Palestinians' dominant political faction approving


The African Union says its first contingent of peacekeepers for the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur will be deployed this weekend.


The Saturday Profile: Carving Plight of Coal Miners, He Churns China

Zhang Jianhuaâs temerity in representing Chinese coal miners through life-size sculpture has earned his work what might be called a soft ban.


Iran to review work with IAEA if faces new sanctions

Iran will review its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and consider "new options" if the U.N. Security Council passes a third sanctions resolution, Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.


Lebanon PM Resigns, Says Will Not Head New Govt.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri  submitted his cabinet's resignation Wednesday and said he would  not form a new government.


Cox Says Parent Firm Boosts Buyout Price to $8.5 Bln

The family that controls Cox Communications Inc., the third-largest US cable-television operator, will take the company private after raising its offer to buy out shareholders to $8.


Around 700 have now complained to Ofcom they could not vote for Rhydian Roberts in ITV's X Factor.


Golf: Swiss Youngster Clement Sets the Early Pace

Switzerland's Julien Clement, lying  174th on the European money-list, was the surprise early Madrid  Open leader after shooting a sparkling first-round 64 on  Thursday.


Germans wake entire street with noisy sex session

A pair of young lovers so annoyed their neighbours with a noisy sex session that police had to go and ask them to lower the volume.


Gary Desrouilleres isn't overly fond of high school but he's raring to get back to class now. Desrouilleres is among the thousands of Florida students who've had, in some cases, more than a month off from school because of the devastating hurricanes that have hit in recent weeks.


Clinton and Obama advocate similar visions for what has become the biggest issue for voters.


US commander says insurgents threaten Afghan election

KABUL, Afghanistan US-led forces trying to protect next month's landmark elections in Afghanistan are facing a rising wave of violence from several thousand insurgents.


The company that runs the Franklin Templeton mutual funds yesterday admitted that it allowed an investor to market-time its funds in exchange for putting $10 million into a start-up hedge fund at the firm, according to a settlement with the Massachusetts Securities Division.


Protesta dei forestali Treni e strade bloccate: Ã¨ caos

REGGIO CALABRIA, 9 DICEMBRE-Oltre trecento forestali hanno occupato questa mattina le statali 106 e 107 nei pressi di Crotone per protestare contro la Finanziaria. I manifestanti si sono radunati intorno alle


CHARLOTTE - Bank of America Corp. , the second-biggest US bank, plans to stop making loans to mortgage brokers by year-end, a move that will cut 700 jobs, the bank said yesterday.


Five Small Explosions in Madrid Following Warning From Basque Separatists; No Injuries Reported

Five small explosive devices detonated Friday at Madrid gas stations along busy highways after a telephone warning from the armed Basque separatist group ETA, officials said.


South Africa's ANC Criticizes US For Covering Up Concerns Over ...

South Africa's ruling party has accused US health officials of using Africans as "guinea pigs" and covering up possible adverse effects of a drug used by pregnant women infected with the AIDS virus.


The role soil plays in solving global crime is due to be discussed by international forensic experts in Edinburgh.


Nel Savonese,aggredita anche un'altra persona ora ricoverata


NASA's Cassini spacecraft has spied two new little moons around satellite-rich Saturn, the space agency said.


Air pollution in parts of London exceeds EU limits by 50 percent: study

The air in parts of London is so polluted that it exceeds European Union limits by up to 50 percent, according to a study.


Judge Dismisses Suit Against Oracle Officers

By Bloomberg News. A judge dismissed a lawsuit against Lawrence J. Ellison, chief executive of the Oracle Corporation, and Jeffrey O. Henley, its chairman, that accused them of insider trading


The race for the White House is for the next few days largely in the hands of voters who identify themselves with neither party.


The global battle against HIV will ultimately fail unless serious progress is made on women's rights in the developing world, the United Nations says.


Church massacre pushes Kenya death toll near 250

A mob torched a Kenyan church on Tuesday, killing about 30 villagers cowering inside, as the death toll from ethnic riots triggered by President Mwai Kibaki's disputed re-election approached 250.


Hereâs a paradox for you: The latest government stats indicate that the IT job market is positively sizzling right now. Unemployment hovers at a nearly imperceptible 3 percent, and employers everywhere report difficulties finding qualified workers to fill open spots. Yet every week I receive e-mails from frustrated, even angry, IT folks whose jobs were either eliminated or shipped overseas. Although they keep plugging away, they simply cannot find work. And these folks are not just a bunch of cranks; theyâre IT pros with real skills and experience to match.


Kerry criticizes Bush's troop redeployment plan

CINCINNATI - (KRT) - Sen. John Kerry attempted on Wednesday to win the hearts and minds of the nation's veterans, a group that has traditionally tilted Republican, by appealing to their sense of patriotism as well as more ...


House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Tuesday the Democratic Party needs to move past a recent dustup involving Hillary Rodham Clinton's comments about Martin Luther King Jr.


Saudi papers blast "mad" Gaddafi in diplomatic row

Two Saudi newspapers called Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi "rash" and "mad" on Thursday, a day after Riyadh recalled its ambassador to Tripoli over what it said was a Libyan plot to kill the kingdom's de facto ruler.


A Japanese whaling ship caught fire Thursday in icy waters near Antarctica and most crew members were safely evacuated but one was listed as missing, officials said.


With Famed Players, Game Takes on Maddenâs Turf

For guys who prefer to sit on the couch âplayingâ football rather than sit on the couch watching football, Take-Two Interactive Software has enlisted 249 retired stars for its new game.


U.S. says UN, Africa and Sudan itself hold solution to Darfur crisis

WASHINGTON  - The key to stopping the ethnic violence in western Sudan rests not with the United States alone but with the United Nations, other African countries and Sudan itself, President George W. Bush's foreign policy advisers said Sunday.


It's hard enough to build a nest egg, so don't crack it open too early

Conventional wisdom says not to pull money out of retirement accounts except for actual retirement. Most Americans have enough difficulty building up a nest egg, and cracking it prematurely could mean living on Social Security later.


Knicks 112, Pacers 96: Knick Starters Take a Seat as the Pacers Finish a Rout

For the second time in three nights, the Knicks spent a fourth quarter with their starters on the bench, only this time, they were stewing, hurting, and dismayed as they watched the Pacers dominate.


Kattan, Stewart penciled in for "Dreadful" cartoon

"Saturday Night Live"  alumnus Chris Kattan and French Stewart ("3rd Rock From the  Sun") are lending their voices to "Two Dreadful Children," a  cartoon comedy being developed at Fox.


Abbas calls for early Palestinian elections

RAMALLAH, West Bank  - President Mahmoud Abbas called on Saturday for Palestinian elections, throwing down the gauntlet to his Hamas rivals after days of factional violence that have sparked fears of civil war.


Panic Sweeps India, Sri Lanka Following New Tsunami Warnings

In India and Sri Lanka, panic swept regions struck by the tsunami disaster after the Indian government warned that fresh tsunamis might strike.


Laughing in the face of the apocalypse and other pesky glitches is key to the three plays in Ethan Coenâs âAlmost an Evening.â


Lebanon to Bury Hariri as Pressure on Syria Mounts

Thousands of Lebanese chanting  anti-Syrian slogans flooded into streets around the home of  slain former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri on Wednesday amid  mounting U.S.-led pressure on Syria to get out of Lebanon.


Musharraf seeks to bridge gap between West, Islamic world

UNITED NATIONS -- President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan asserted yesterday that the fight against terrorists is being won, but that the "ultimate war" will be lost if the world's major powers don't work to resolve injustice in the Muslim world.


Milano, 16:37 - CALCIO, MILANLAB: RONALDO PRESTO IN CAMPO

Jean Piette Meersseman, coordinatore sanitario del Milan, traccia un primo bilancio sulla situazione...


Presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney yesterday won a straw poll of conservative political activists gathered in Washington, a very early indication of how an important Republican constituency might vote.


An embuggerance Terry Pratchett has been diagnosed with a rare form of early onset Alzheimer's, as he announced yesterday with a post to the web. The best-selling author of the Discworld fantasy books is 59 years-old.â¦


Dodgers pitcher Darren Dreifort is scheduled to have shoulder surgery Feb. 15, his fourth operation of the offseason.


NY Fashion Week to accent clean look for spring

Fashion cleans up next spring, with lean, polished looks prevailing over the revealing styles favored by the Paris Hilton and Britney Spears set, designers say.


They call it the Hundred Years' War. Not because it involves brutish medieval unpleasantries like the battle axe. It involves only the sharp edge of cutting words between a Washington area company and a New York investor in a war of Wall Street that merely feels like it has lasted a century.


David Cameron urges Lib Dems to back the Tories, saying it gives them the chance of a liberal alternative to Labour.


Nemechek wins second straight pole; Earnhardt eighth

"Front Row Joe" went four years without winning a pole, but now has two in a row after leading qualifying Friday for the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Kansas Speedway.


BP PLC reported a 53 percent rise in fourth-quarter net profit Tuesday as oil prices surged, but full-year profits fell due to refining outages and rising costs.


The Ancient Arachno-Terrorist Organization : AATO

The Arachno Terrorists  I dropped Rick off at his farm house. Being late summer he slept out on the back porch where it is nice and cool. I told him I would pick him up in the morning.    The next day I went to pick him up to take him to work. He greets me at the front door wearing cutoffs and a shirt.    "What the hell happened to you last night??" I asked looking at his legs.    His legs are covered with dozens of ugly tiny red marks about the size of an average zit.    "I need to go to the hospital. I am not feeling so good." he tells me.    "A nest of fiddlebacks got in bed with me last night. I was gangbanged."    "Oh my gawd..." I say in horror.    He was bitten in the classic way; in a bed, in a dark, dry area, in Oklahoma. Just over a week later those bites became large open sores, that if left untreated would look much like this. WARNING: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPH.


Ranchers Seek Negotiating Clout for Land

Jim Hall and his dad knew it was just a matter of time before the companies holding the rights to the natural gas under their ranch came knocking. They knew, too, there wasn't a thing they could do legally to keep the developers off their land.


Flu advice for low-risk people: Wash hands

With an impending shortage of influenza vaccine nationwide, Utah doctors say they can't afford to give into arm-twisting from patients who want flu shots but don't fall into high-risk categories.


Iraqi Video Shows Beheading of Man Said to Be American

A militant group on Monday posted a video on the Internet that showed the beheading of a hostage identified as Eugene Armstrong, an American engineer abducted along


Palermo, 17:17 - CALCIO, PALERMO; MICCOLI: CON IL SIENA NON SARA' FACILE

Dopo aver messo in fila due sconfitte e un pareggio nelle ultime tre partite, il Palermo cerca il ri...


Venezuela's top diplomat said Wednesday that Washington is failing to erode international support for his country's efforts to win a seat on the U.N. Security Council.


A poll has found millions of Britons are happy to buy pirated clothes, DVDs and computer software, with those in the north-east most likely to break the law.


Plus, slow-cruisin' Harley, the Golden Arches' golden times, and it's good to be Yahoo!


Milano, 15:08 - CALCIO, INTER: MICROFRATTURA AL PIEDE DESTRO PER TOLDO

Microfrattura alla base del secondo metatarso del piede destro. Questo l'esito degli ulteriori accer...


Market falls on recession concern but Fed cut helps

Recession worries pushed stocks lower on Tuesday, but the decline was shallower than feared at first as an emergency interest-rate cut by the Federal Reserve helped ease investor fears and stabilize global markets.


Madonna's Malawi trip in confusion over adoption

BLANTYRE, Malawi  - Officials in Malawi insisted on Thursday that pop star Madonna was going to adopt a local child but acknowledged tension with the visiting singer, who denies having chosen an orphan boy.


Seven mobile phone companies with a subscriber base of 56 million across Asia announced on Wednesday a joint venture that will develop technology to build a common service platform across the region.


Berlino, 12:23 - CICLISMO, UCI: HIGH ROAD E' STATUNITENSE

La High Road correrà con licenza statunitense. Lo ha ufficializzato l'Uci. Il team, erede del...


Warwick Plans Christmas Album for New Label

Pop vet Dionne Warwick will release her first Christmas album. "My Favorite Time of the Year" is also the inaugural release from newly established DMI Records. Warwick is the first artist to sign with the Pasadena, Calif.-based label.


Police arrest two men for harassing dolphin

Two men were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of harassing a dolphin known locally as "Dave" off the Kent coast, police said.


Oil prices have climbed for a second day after twin car bombs exploded in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, and the US Government reported another decline in lean winter heating fuel stocks.


Thousands of Oscar nomination ballots were mailed out Wednesday, heralding the official start of Academy Awards season.


Vittoria sul Torino, bene anche Roma e Fiorentina


Ozone deal called boost to fighting climate change

A deal by 191 nations to eliminate ozone-depleting substances 10 years ahead of schedule is a "pivotal moment" in the fight against global warming, Canadian Environment Minister John Baird said on Saturday.


In the clickety-clack of football shoes trudging into the bowels of Giants Stadium, in the blur of blank, numbed West Point faces marching toward the losing locker room, his was the unforgettable face.


Japanese Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma resigned Tuesday after sparking outrage with remarks seen as justifying the World War II atomic bombings of Japan by the United States.


Patriots prepare for game of their lives

The New England Patriots know beating the New York Giants in Sunday's Super Bowl means more than a perfect 19-0 season -- it could be the defining moment of their careers.


Following broad criticism that President Vladimir Putin is exploiting the Beslan school massacre to enhance his powers, the Kremlin mobilized a number of surrogate spokespeople


You think Microsoft's game was leaked by a bad guy? Our conspiracy theorist imagines otherwise.


ASIA/CINA - ÂVita e spiritualitÃ  di San Giovanni BoscoÂ Ã¨ stato il tema del Ritiro spirituale di tutti i sacerdoti della diocesi di Tai Yuan Tai Yuan (Agenzia Fides) - ÂVita e spiritualitÃ  di San Giovanni BoscoÂ Ã¨ stato il tema  del Ritiro spirituale annuale di tutti i sacerdoti della diocesi di Tai Yuan, svoltosi dallÂ8 al 13 ottobre. La figura di Don Bosco Ã¨ molto diffusa e conosciuta i...


A 4,000-year-old clay tablet authorities suspect was smuggled illegally from Iraq was pulled from eBay just minutes before the close of the online auction, authorities said Tuesday.


MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Believe it or not, at least one member of the Miami Dolphins' secondary thought that he and his fellow defensive backs had a decent chance to do what no other opposing secondary had done to Tom Brady and the Patriots this season - slow them down.


U.S. restaurants may be set for tougher times

U.S. restaurant companies have struggled this year with soaring food costs and fewer customers, and many on Wall Street see tougher times ahead as prices of commodities remain high and cash-strapped consumers cut back on eating out.


Microsoft Ruling: Split Decision, Two More Years of Oversight

It would require a microscope to detect changes in Microsoftâs behavior or in the software market as a result of the consent decree extended Tuesday by a federal court.


World outraged, fearful over Bhutto assassination

World leaders voiced outrage at the assassination on Thursday of Pakistan's opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and expressed fears for the fate of the nuclear-armed state.


STARKVILLE, Mississippi (Sports Network) - Jerious Norwood's 37-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter lifted Mississippi State to a shocking 38-31 victory over 20th-ranked Florida.


'Definire situazione prima dell'udienza su vertenza Anas'


The auto industry has decided to embrace the new fuel standards out of Washington. But it is still fighting tougher state laws.


WOMEN CAN REDUCE THEIR RISK OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE BY INCREASING THEIR DAILY CONSUMPTION OF FOLATE. A NEW STUDY FINDS THAT YOUNG WOMEN WHO CONSUME A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 800 MICROGRAMS (ug) OF FOLATE EACH DAY


Online music retailer Napster announced its plans to enter the mobile ringtones market on Thursday. Napster, part of Roxio, Inc., said, it will partner with mobile content publisher Dwango Wireless to deliver ringtones to its mobile customers.


Let Justin Timberlake worry about bringing sexy back. The Killers have a far weightier goal in mind as they release their grand sophomore album, "Sam's Town" — to bring good music back.


Valencia Victory Sets Up Frantic Werder Face-Off

Valencia secured an unconvincing win over Anderlecht in Brussels to set up a pressure-cooker match that will be the final nail in the CL coffin for the Champions of Spain or Germany.


The families of three Macedonians taken hostage in Iraq say they have been told they are dead.


Forest Whitaker cites age, wisdom for turn as Amin

It may end up being the role of a lifetime for Forest Whitaker, and if so, the actor said it took all his age and experience to pull it off.


The pound and the Australian dollar continued to waver as they approached key levels against the US dollar of 2 dollars and 0.8 dollar respectively.


NEW YORK Sept. 3, 2004 - Bill Clinton was hospitalized with chest pains and shortness of breath Friday and will undergo heart bypass surgery in an operation that could sideline the former president at the height of the campaign for the White House.


Canet miglior regista, miglior attore Cuzet, Hands attrice


The Pittsburgh Steelers' Antwaan Randle El posted back-to-back returns of 60 and 43 yards in the first half at Heinz Field. Those big plays set up 10 points


There will be practice for the Christmas program from 1 to 3 pm today at the church. All youths need to attend the practice to prepare for the program.


"Bourne" still on run at foreign box office

Although it opened  overseas six weeks ago, "The Bourne Ultimatum" endured as the  top attraction at the foreign box office box office, selling an  estimated $13 million worth of tickets during the weekend.


Fibrate Plus Avandia May Lower 'Good' Cholesterol

Some people with diabetes have an unexpected decrease in HDL ("good") cholesterol when they take fenofibrate to reduce triglyceride levels, along with an insulin sensitizer such as Avandia, according to a report from Canadian investigators.


Chancellor Gordon Brown is to visit BMW's Cowley factory to launch production of the firm's latest Mini model.


Calls Grow for Bloomberg to Make Up His Mind

Michael Bloombergâs dalliance with the idea of running for president is suddenly sparking a backlash.


Economists are unanimous that the Reserve Bank will leave interest rates on hold this week, but will be looking eagerly for clues on what comes next.


6 Pakistanis infected with H5N1 bird flu

Six people caught the deadly strain of bird flu in northern Pakistan last month and at least one person with the disease has died, the government said Saturday.


Not long before the pivotal conference of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party opened this week, a four-sided billboard appeared in one of Cairo's main squares.


Pentagon Incompetence or Just More Bush bashing?

A soldier asked Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, in the Iraqi theater why the troops do not have armored M98HUMMVVVâs (Humvees).


WASHINGTON Jiang Zemin's surprise resignation of his chairmanship of China's Central Military Commission on Sunday marks a critical turning point in an otherwise murky and uncertain process of leadership succession in Beijing that began nearly two years


Rice solidifies the president's foreign-policy stance

Powell was respected for his moderation, but Rice could give State Department views more airing at White House.


Romney enjoys Democratic rivals' dust-up

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said Friday that he relishes the infighting that has consumed two of his potential Democratic opponents, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois.


The police arrested 14 suspected Islamists of Pakistani and Indian origin who they believe were plotting an attack on Barcelona.


Registrata tra le province di Livorno, Pisa e Grosseto


Turn on, tune in, turn off again 3GSM It's not just the slow uptake of video services that should worry network operators, it seems that more than half of European users who've tried TV on the move decided it wasn't worth the effort.â¦


Bush Hails Iraqi Vote as Resounding Success

President Bush called Sunday's  landmark Iraqi election a "resounding success" and said Iraqis  have rejected the anti-democratic ideology of terrorists.


A U.S. Marine was killed in action in  al-Anbar province west of Baghdad on Tuesday, the U.S. military  said.


In the latest of his serial attempts to rehab his guyness for Christmas, the six-cylindered Kobe Bryant spun a few fancy doughnuts in the paint, at times careening into the belly of Shaquille O'Neal.


Alan Hansen urges Liverpool to find new investment or risk becoming a footballing "relic".


Roma, 11:18 - MOTOMONDIALE, VERMEULEN PROLUNGA FINO AL 2008 CON LA SUZUKI

Il pilota australiano Chris Vermeulen ha prolungato per un altro anno il suo contratto con la Suzuki...


Meat, diet soda linked to heart disease: study

People who eat two or more servings of red meat a day are much more likely to develop conditions leading to heart disease and diabetes, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.


Four dead as Jeanne moves through Florida

Hurricane Jeanne's winds had dropped to 50 mph by early Monday, further weakening the fourth hurricane to batter Florida in six weeks to a low-level tropical storm as it moved toward southern Georgia.


In terms of space travel, one chapter opened and another closed in America on Monday. On the same day in which the future showed a glimpse of itself when a privately built rocket ship broke through Earth's


Bank rate stable to boost exports: Reddy

Mumbai: Despite the revision of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and inflation rate, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had kept the bank rate stable at 6 per cent in the mid-term review of annual policy statement for the year 2004-05 in order to boost


Modifying a Dynamic Library Without Changing the Source Code

Placing your own code between a program and the  libraries it is linked against is easy when you use the LD_PRELOAD  environment variable.


Michael Phelps: A very nice guy finishes first

At 8:41 pm Thursday, Greek time, Michael Phelps was on the medal stand, the champion of the 200-meter individual medley. He was wearing his official


Poet and novelist Maya Angelou said she agreed to host a weekly show for XM Satellite Radio's "Oprah & Friends" channel partly because she's never hosted a radio show before.


Ousted Pakistan judge evokes 'people power'

Pakistan's top judge, suspended by President Pervez Musharraf, told thousands of supporters Saturday that the country's people back the struggle for the independence of the judiciary.


Supplying troops with potable water is a logistical nightmare in the parched Iraqi desert. But a new technology that creates water literally from air might solve the problem, and save billions of dollars in the process. By Audrey Hudson.


A judge denies a request to force Michael Jackson's child abuse accuser to undergo psychiatric tests.


China college for Internet game industry

A college to provide training for the Internet games industry has been opened in Beijing. Xinhua, China's main government-run news agency, reported Saturday that China's Ministry of Information Technology, the


Analysis: Iraq's national unity government is the cornerstone of the U.S. exit strategy. But the week's events only highlight that national unity is its name, not its nature


Forbes magazine has again ranked Bill Gates as the richest person in the US, worth to $48 billion, but investor Warren Buffett has edged closer.


No flu vaccine shortage is reported outside US

PARIS While patients are panicking over a shortage of flu vaccines in the United States, vaccination programs in the rest of the world are progressing normally with a good supply of medicine, health authorities say.


Karisma, Kareena introduce the next Kapoor

To be born in a filmy family and then being raised in the perpetual world of cinema is not much of news. But when the   familyÂs surname reads as ÂKapoorÂ, then, it instantly makes a whole world of difference.


Kidnappers of UN workers extend deadline for their killing

KABUL : A Taliban splinter group claiming to hold three foreign UN workers in Afghanistan extended Wednesday's deadline for their killing as an Afghan official expressed optimism at winning the hostages' release.


Senate telecom bill still short of votes: Stevens

U.S. Senate Commerce Committee   Chairman Ted Stevens said on Thursday he was still unable to   muster enough votes for his telecommunications bill, which   could die if Republicans lose power in the November elections.


Penn Writes Angry Letter to South Park Duo

Sean Penn is furious with South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for ridiculing his stance against the war in Iraq in their latest film.


Photos: Slacker's ambitious music product

Slacker is a distinctive new Web music service and portable music player that lets users personalize their satellite radio.


Manchester City scored twice in the closing minutes to beat League Championship team Preston 3-1 Sunday and reach the FA Cup quarterfinals.


International footballer to coach John Abraham

English premier league footballer Andy Ansah has been flown down to train actor John Abraham for his


Attacks Kill Two U.S. GIs in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - A bomb killed two American soldiers and wounded three others in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said Saturday, while a separate attack in an eastern Afghan province killed at least three children and a policeman on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan...


Torino, 19:47 - CALCIO, JUVE: PER L'ATTACCO HUNTELAAR PRIMO OBIETTIVO

In attsesa del match con lo Spezia, la Juve si prepara ad annunciare l'arrivo di Iaquinta, atteso in...


Blue Jays complete sweep to pile misery on Mariners

The reeling Seattle Mariners lost their ninth straight game as the Toronto Blue Jays completed a three-game series sweep with a 6-4 win on Sunday.


NL Wrap: Astros Take Lead in Wild Card Race

Mark Loretta hit a bases-loaded  sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th to lift the San Diego  Padres a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants in National  League action on Wednesday.


Oil prices ended above $50 a barrel on Friday amid concern over possible fighting between rebels and the military in Nigeria's oil-rich delta region.


Hamm and Foudy Have  A Hall Pass Waiting

Former teammates Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy, who each won two Olympic gold medals and two World Cup titles, are both elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.


Swimming across a river is primal, erotic, solitary, communal and a time to contemplate things big and small.


AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE) recently debuted its mMode Music Store. Developed together with Loudeye (Nasdaq: LOUD) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), the store allows subscribers to browse


Frances Stalls, Knocks Out Power in Fla.

Potent but slow-moving Hurricane Frances snapped power lines and whipped the Atlantic coast with winds over 90 mph Saturday, knocking out electricity for more than 450,000 Floridians and forcing millions to endure another day of waiting and worrying.


First lady Laura Bush helped launch a screening facility in Saudi Arabia Tuesday as part of a U.S.-Saudi initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in the kingdom where doctors struggle to break long-held taboos about the disease.


California Sues E.P.A. Over Denial of Waiver

California sued the E.P.A. on Wednesday, challenging its recent decision to block California rules curbing greenhouse-gas emissions from new cars and trucks.


Bush defends Rumsfeld, says he's 'doing a fine job'

President Bush defended embattled Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Monday, saying the Pentagon chief was doing "a very fine job.


Report: NBC wanted a cut of iPod revenue

We were already pretty sure that Apple and NBC fell out over the prices of TV shows on iTunes, but the head of NBC apparently asked Apple for a cut of iPod revenue as well.


Ageism remains "endemic" at work a year after UK age discrimination laws were introduced, a survey says.


YOKOHAMA - European champions Porto defeated South American Libertadores Cup winners Once Caldas of Colombia 8-7 on penalties to win the 25th and final Toyota Cup in Yokohama on Sunday.


New releases from Lilâ Kim, James Blackshaw and Evan Christopher.


Male U.S. veterans have higher suicide risk, study says

Male U.S. veterans are twice as likely to die by suicide than people with no military service, and are more likely to kill themselves with a gun than others who commit suicide, researchers said on Monday.


Lazard float to cost staff $200ma year in pay

Staff at Lazard, the 150-year-old investment bank that is preparing a $3bn (Â£1.53bn) flotation in New York next year, will be forced to sacrifice about $200m in pay


Sanofi-Aventis manager Hofstaetter steps down: source

Just a few days after the official birth of Sanofi-Aventis, the world's third-biggest pharmaceuticals company, one of its board members has announced he is stepping down, a source close to the negotiations told AFP.


IBM has revealed additions to its Rational software development tool lineup and said its architecting and modeling tools will support Unified Modeling Language 2.0 by the end of the year.


Iran Hands Egypt Suspect in Slay Attempt

Iran has turned over to Egypt the alleged mastermind of an 1995 assassination attempt on President Hosni Mubarak, an Islamic activist said Sunday, in a significant step toward mending relations between the two countries.


Swiss researchers reported Thursday in an international medical journal that evidence was clear and overwhelming in 2000 that Vioxx doubled the rate of heart attacks, and Merck & Co.


The European Union offers Japan a package of incentives to persuade it to give up its bid to host the world's biggest nuclear fusion reactor.


LONDON, England -- Prince Harry was hit in the face by a camera during an overnight scuffle outside a nightclub that left a photographer with a cut lip.


Detectives are quizzing a man who stormed a key Government building wielding a machete and a large knife. Two security guards were injured after the man went berserk in Thames House, where both the Security


Amid criticism of the $710 million acquisition, Acer's CEO vows to quit if it doesn't fly.


Citing continued weakness in the semiconductor test equipment industry, LTX Corp. widened its fiscal second-quarter loss estimate and lowered its revenue guidance. The Westwood company said it now expects to report a second-quarter loss of 31 to 33 cents a share, excluding charges, greater than a loss of 26 to 28 cents that it projected in November. The supplier of ...


IBM pumps up Linux virtual machines on mainframe OS

In internal tests, IBM says, z/VM 5.3 was able to host more than 1,000 virtual images on a single copy of the operating system.


US SEC files fraud charges against tycoon Conrad Black

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit accusing the newspaper tycoon Conrad Black and his former top deputy of defrauding shareholders of Hollinger International Inc.


At Demo, a gathering of venture capitalists and corporate high-tech investors watch as demonstrators are present their efforts at breakthrough technology worth investing in.


Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz has started his own record label.


The army warns that anything can happen now a 30-day ceasefire with LRA rebels in northern Uganda has ended.


Cosi' lo showman alla presentazione di 'Jimmy Live Show'


Dan Farber: "It's not hard to imagine a contextual ad showing up every time you Twitter something. Twitter 'I am drinking beer with friends' and a Budweiser ad shows up. Now imagine the Twitter revolt." Oh yes there would be quite a revolt, a powerless one, unless there was an alternate service we could all switch to and then assuming we could get off our asses and actually switch. Yeah, we're good at screaming, but not too great at acting, here. I'm a bit of a Twit, myself, and I'd find it revolt-worthy if they tried to interrupt or punctuate discourse with product placements, but then Twitter's destiny is, imho, to be acquired by a phone company and sold as a feature that gives users a reason to use one brand of phone over another. Not as a way for advertisers to hitch their "messages" on our discourse. We've seen how well that has (not) worked with advertising on email. Not likely to work much better on Twits. Imagine if Nokia offered a cell phone with Twitter built-in, a checkbox for SMS users (default on?) -- "Do you want to send SMS messages to your buddy list?"  Don't you think the kids would go for that? (Maybe they can already do it, it's likely that I'm that cluelss.)


Greenbrier County Soldier Returns To US Soil

Lance Corporal Ronald Howard has been transferred from a military hospital in Ramstein, Germany, to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.


A winter storm is brought a sleet and freezing rain to parts of the country not used to seeing it. Police are investigating two fatal car accidents in North Carolina blamed on the slick road conditions.


Two Dutch soldiers killed in Afghanistan by own fire

Dutch troops forming part of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan probably killed two of their own soldiers while fighting Taliban insurgents, the Dutch Defence Ministry said on Sunday.


Roma, 22:34 - VIOLENZA, STADI: EMPOLI CHIEDE RIDUZIONE CAPIENZA

"Allo stadio Castellani mancano soltanto i tornelli per essere in linea col decreto Pisanu. E staman...


Two Americans and a Briton are latest victims of Iraq's thriving ...

One Briton and two Americans were kidnapped early yesterday from their house in an affluent suburb of Baghdad in a well-organised operation which highlights the risks to foreign


Two men charged after Boston security scare

Authorities charged two men on Thursday with planting battery-powered advertising signs for an animated cartoon that were mistaken for bombs and caused Boston's biggest security scare since the September 11 attacks.


WASHINGTON - In a spy investigation that could strain U.S.-Israeli relations and muddy the Bush administration's Middle East policy, the FBI is investigating whether a Pentagon analyst fed to Israel secret materials about White House deliberations on Iran.    No arrests have been made, said two federal law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation...


Proposta avanzata da una cordata di fondi private equity


Russia's Putin Lauds Ukraine PM in TV Appearance

Russian President Vladimir Putin made an  unprecedented television appearance in neighboring Ukraine days  before presidential elections, endorsing the record of the  prime minister, one of two top candidates.


Pesticide blamed for 'health disaster' in French Caribbean

The French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique face a "health disaster" with soaring cancer and infertility rates because of the massive use of banned pesticides on banana plantations, a top cancer specialist warned Monday.


No easy access for remote Indian islands

Car Nicobar, with an Indian military presence and indigenous tribes, is kept off limits to foreign aid workers.


Some of the UK's top building firms join forces to reduce the environmental impact of the nation's homes and offices.


Michael Phelps Wins 6 Gold Medals in Swimming in Athens

The eight days of Olympic swimming competition ended Saturday night at the Athens Summer Games. And the big star was American Michael Phelps.


Armed police stormed into this quiet village at dawn, threw up roadblocks, shot out truck tires and forced families out of their homes at gunpoint.


England don't need me for berth in Euro 2008, says Beckham

The quality in the current England side is such that former captain David Beckham admits he will not be needed to guarantee their berth in the Euro 2008 finals.


Japan PM Abe's N. Asian summits set scene for thaw

When Japan's new prime minister, Shinzo Abe, clasps the hands of Chinese and South Korean leaders before the cameras at ice-breaking summits on Sunday and Monday, much of his mission will be accomplished.


Elton John ends feud with George Michael

Elton John appears to have ended his public feud with George Michael, saying, "George and I are fine." Two years ago, John said the former Wham! star was miserable and needed to get out more. Michael responded with a furious open letter saying John was no friend of his.


Drinking coffee protects against an eyelid spasm that can lead to blindness, a study suggests.


Salvadoran Companies Export Promise to D.C. Trade Show

Small Salvadoran companies are sponsored by Expro at the D.C. Trade Show as part of a $6 million project by the U.S. Agency for International Development.


A test flight for the president's new chopper

Blog: Sometime after the next inauguration, the White House will replace its helicopter. Shakedown cruises are now under way.


WASHINGTON - As British troops pull out of their last base in Basra, some military commanders and civilian government officials in the area are concerned that the transition could leave them and a major supply route to Baghdad at greater risk of attack.


Online Ad Spending Had Healthy Growth in 2006

A study says online ad spending grew 34 percent in 2006, as marketers continued to expand their use of the Internet to promote their products and services.


The G.O.P.'s weakness creates a chance in the Tennessee senate race for a certain kind of Democrat


Anp condanna attentato, 1 miliziano ucciso in raid Israele


Karzai Set to Be Afghan President in Ring of Steel

Hamid Karzai was due to be sworn in as  Afghanistan's first popularly elected President on Tuesday at a  ceremony attended by two of the figures most responsible for  easing him into power.


Rights at work for those who care for relatives who are elderly or have disabilities, could be strengthened later.


Airbus kicked off a 10 billion euro ($13.2 billion) plan Monday to build its A350 XWB wide-bodied jet, which is designed to compete with Boeing's successful 787 and boost the fortunes of the troubled European planemaker.


Microsoft's procurement deals arouse concern

While the US software giant Microsoft has achieved almost sweeping victories in government procurement projects in several Chinese provinces and municipalities, the process


Dance Review: Shifting Through the Company Catalog

Four choreographers were represented in the program presented by New York City Ballet on Thursday night at the New York State Theater.


Luke Donald will tell Bernhard Langer next week that he is confident enough to be paired with any of his European team-mates in the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills.


Mission Studying Lionfish Off N.C. Coast

When divers first reported lionfish off the North Carolina coast four years ago, biologist Paula Whitfield thought it must be a mistake or an aberration. The poisonous, carnivorous Indo-Pacific lionfish is native to tropical waters half a world away — not the seas off the Outer Banks.


Police who were looking for a missing nine-year-old now say three boys have disappeared in Essex.


Advice on how to get a good night's slumber and avoid future heart trouble    HealthDayNews -- Lack of sleep can cause more than drowsiness; it can contribute to a number of health problems.    Short-term effects of lack of sleep include increases in blood pressure and levels of stress hormones, according to an article in the August issue of the Harvard Heart Letter...


French car maker Renault says it plans to recruit 10,000 new employees next year in order to boost its international expansion.


Arts & entertainment: Half a million visitors expected to greet 2,200-year-old Chinese warriors at British Museum.


WASHINGTON - Congress is letting employers hire an additional 20,000 foreign high-tech workers under a special visa program after businesses reached the annual ceiling on the first day of the government's fiscal year.


Army should hold back millions from Halliburton, 3rd auditor group ...

The Army should withhold nearly $90 million in payments to Halliburton because the politically connected firm can't justify what it charged America's temporary government in


KABUL, Afghanistan Aug. 29, 2004 - An explosion tore through the office of an American defense contractor in the heart of the Afghan capital Sunday, killing as many as six people and seriously injuring several more, officials and residents said.


A top Democratic fundraiser wanted as a fugitive in California turned himself in Friday to face a grand theft charge.


Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger to star in The Cut reality show

NEW YORK  - It's soooo fashionable to have a reality show nowadays. Following the likes of Donald Trump, Tyra Banks and Sylvester Stallone, Tommy Hilfiger is the next celebrity strutting onto the reality TV runway.


WHAT KIND OF AN IDIOT SIGNS CONDOLENCE LETTERS WITH A MACHINE?

UNTIL now, the man in charge of the Iraq war has brushed aside the most astonishing blunders. With breathtaking glibness, Donald Rumsfeld breezes through disasters that make Geoff Hoon look like a consummate politician in comparison.


California Stages 'Garage Sale' of State Bargains

SACRAMENTO, Calif.  - Thousands of bargain hunters  flocked to a California state garage sale on Saturday, snapping  up unwanted property from confiscated penknives to cut-price  laptop computers.


Former General Expected to Win Presidential Election in Indonesia

A former general, who has promised to uphold civilian rule, appears to have easily defeated the incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri in Indonesiaâs presidential election today, according to a nationwide survey of votes.


The trials of former members of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime will begin next week, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has said.


Four is his number! The Belgian driver finished 4th in both his races and still stands 4th in the driversâ championship. Will 3 be his lucky number in the next round?


Rodney Dangerfield, the bug-eyed comic whose self-deprecating one-liners brought him stardom in clubs, television and movies and made his lament "I don't get no respect" a catchphrase, died Tuesday. He was 82.


Mozilla's updated e-mail client lands with new tools and a slick new UI. The software's still not ready for prime time, but it looks like the final version will be impressive. In Monkey Bites.


Gordon Brown throws down the gauntlet to his opponents by welcoming the prospect of a Labour leadership contest.


Two More Suspects Arrested in Md. Arsons

Even with more arrests made and suspects still being interviewed, authorities say they have not found a motive for an arson that caused an estimated $10 million in


Summersville Getting $10 Million for Clean Water Treatment System

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS  SUMMERSVILLE - Summersville is getting more than $10 million to expand its sewage-treatment system, the state Department of Environmental Protection said.


New Clot Preventer Saves Lives and Money

By Ed Edelson, HealthDay Reporter    HealthDayNews -- A new anti-clotting drug for people having artery-opening procedures lowers the rate of complications, gets patients out of the hospital faster, and probably saves lives, a study finds.    And it saves money to boot, says Dr...


BANGKOK, Dec. 13 -- A lingering legacy of the Vietnam War emerged from the jungles of Laos on Wednesday, as hundreds of members of the Hmong hill tribe minority surrendered to the communist government after decades on the run.


Parma, 16:16 - CALCIO, PARMA: TOMBESI IN PRESTITO ALL'AVELLINO

Il Parma ha ceduto in prestito all'Avellino (diritto di riscatto in favore degli iripini) il difenso...


Summary Box: Iraq's Deadly Year in Numbers

THE FIGURES: Measuring by the number of insurgent attacks and U.S. dead and wounded, the situation for American forces in Iraq has worsened since summer.


Americans Spend More to Treat Spine Woes

Although Americans are spending more money than ever to treat spine problems, their backs are not getting any better.


Europeâs First Moon Probe to Enter Lunar Orbit

Europeâs first mission to the moon is just days away from its goal after taking the slow boat from Earth more than a year ago. The spacecraft, dubbed SMART-1, will make its first close pass by the moon on the evening of Nov.


SOUTHEAST Asian nations were set to sign a free trade agreement with China yesterday, creating an economic region with 1.7 billion consumers and a regional gross domestic product of $US2 trillion ($2.53 trillion).


Afghan suicide blast kills 18, police say

A suicide bomber has blown himself up at a security post near a crowded mosque in the southern Afghan town of Lashkar Gah, killing 18 people, most of them civilians, police said.


ARE, Sweden  - Anja Paerson's dream run at the world Alpine skiing championships came to a brutal halt on Tuesday when she crashed out of the giant slalom.


I calciatori piÃ¹ brutti Rooney stella al contrario

L'attaccante del Manchester United è stato votato da un sondaggio di un sito inglese giocatore meno attraente del mondo. Al secondo posto Ronaldinho, quinto Ronaldo


NEW YORK -- After 21 years in the anchor seat, Tom Brokaw said goodbye as anchor of "Nightly News" on Wednesday night. He welcomed Brian Williams and bid farewell to the millions of Americans who tuned in each night.


Hoping to accelerate the deployment of a new wireless technology, Intel Corp. announced Monday it's invested in a venture started by billionaire Craig McCaw to deliver high-speed Internet service over the airwaves.


Body Found in Iraq Is That of Missing G.I.

The American military confirmed early today that a body found in the Euphrates River is one of three U.S. soldiers seized in an ambush on May 12.


Study Gives Key Role to Sleep in Helping Brain Learn Anew

New research supports the hypothesis that during sleep, the connections between neurons weaken.


Economy in Many Regions Slowed in Summer

The economy in many areas of the  United States grew at a slower pace in late July and August as  household spending softened, the Federal Reserve said in a  report on Wednesday.


Seven charged with electoral fraud at 2005 British general election

Seven people have been charged with electoral fraud at Britain's last general election following an inquiry into suspicious voting patterns and postal votes, police said Saturday.


Three Agencies Get New Leaders: Holsten Will Head DNR; Ludeman, Moore Get Permanent Appointments

By Bill Salisbury and Dennis Lien, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.  Dec. 19--Gov. Tim Pawlenty named three new state agency heads on Monday -- and didn't reach far to find them.   Pawlenty promoted former state Rep.


Mahmoud Abbas claims victory in the Palestinian presidential election as exit polls show him well ahead of his rivals.


Pope Benedict XVI and Israeli President Shimon Peres discussed Middle East peace efforts on Thursday, with both sides saying the atmosphere was favorable for Israelis and Palestinians to work to end decades of conflict.


Â· Funds to boost support for president in West Bank  Â· Olmert offers concessions but 'no breakthrough'


L'incidente nel Barese, morto l'autista del mezzo pesante


Radical Islamic cleric Abu Qatada loses his appeal against a Home Office move to deport him.


Skin Deep: No, I Havenât Been Mugged. Why Do You Ask?

How to wear autumn makeup shades without looking as exaggerated as a female impersonator is an annual problem.


Canada Quarantines One Farm in Mad Cow Search

Canadian veterinary officials have  quarantined one Alberta farm in their search for cattle  connected to the country's second case of mad cow disease, the  Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday.


Meg Whitman, the chief executive of online auction website eBay announces she will step down on 31 March.


U.S. health care improves, but costs too much: report

The quality of health care in the United States is steadily improving, with more patients getting recommended treatments, but there are a few notable gaps -- and costs are skyrocketing, according to a report released on Tuesday.


Glass Walkway to Open Over Grand Canyon, Indian Reservation Plans Overlook As Part: ; of Plan to Lure Tourists

By JULIE CART  GRAND CANYON WEST, Ariz. - Perched over the Grand Canyon close to a mile above the Colorado River, a massive, multimillion-dollar glass walkway soon will open for business as the centerpiece of a struggling Indian tribe's plan to lure tourists to its remote reservation.


A booming movement that began with Evangelical Christians holds to the belief that a God who loves you does not want you to be broke. In a Time poll, 17 percent of Christians surveyed said they considered themselves part of such a movement, while a full 61 percent believed that God wants people to be prosperous.The movement's renaissance has infuriated a number of prominent pastors, theologians and commentators.


A man took a woman hostage in an airport hotel room early Wednesday and shot through the wall at police, hitting one officer and sparking a standoff before apparently shooting himself, authorities said.


Strong Demand for Unified Communications, Security, Storage, Wireless and Optics Drives Presidio to Five-Year Compound Annual Growth Rate of Over 17%

GREENBELT, Md., Dec. 12  /PRNewswire/ -- The Presidio Corporation, a leader in the design, development, deployment and management of complex infrastructure solutions for enterprises and government agencies, has continued its growth by achieving a five-year compound annual growth rate of over 17%.


Rappresentera' il Belpaese in moda, design e arredamento


Scambiato a 1,3038 dollari e a 134,47 yen


The government on Friday identified the British engineer who was kidnapped in Baghdad with two American colleagues, and the victim's family urged his captors to free him.


WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Two new studies suggest breast density is nearly as important as age in predicting who is going to develop breast cancer.


No. 14 Broadneck waited through a three-day postponement for the conclusion of its 30-0 win over Arundel.


World Business Briefing | Americas: Canada: Uranium Producer Acquired

SXR Uranium One agreed to buy UrAsia Energy for $3.1 billion to form the worldâs second-largest uranium producer as rising demand for nuclear fuel drives prices to records. SXR, owner of South Africaâs largest undeveloped uranium deposit, bid 7.05 Canadian dollars ($6.01) a share for UrAsia, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and owns mines in Central Asia. That was 13 percent more than UrAsiaâs Feb. 9 closing price in Toronto, the companies said. SXRâs stock rose 6.8 percent to a record. The combined company, once all its mines are operating, will trail only Cameco in production and be the only producer in Kazakhstan, South Africa, Australia, the United States and Canada, the five largest holders of uranium deposits.


Tokyo, Oct. 13 (NNN): Iraq's deputy leader, Barham Saleh, on Wednesday urged donors to release the aid money they have pledged, saying it is the key to destroying terrorism in his troubled country.


Dopo aver toccato quota 1,3787 ora e' scambiato a 1,3751


The Red Bull Racing team and Bjorn Wirdheim have reached a mutual agreement releasing Bjorn from his contract with the team thereby allowing him to pursue other opportunities for 2005.


No. 2 Kan. Trounces La.-Lafayette, 96-51

Keith Langford had 19 of his 24 points in a torrid first half that propelled second-ranked Kansas over Louisiana-Lafayette 96-51 Saturday night.


The Child Support Agency reform was one of the "greatest public administration disasters of recent times," MPs say.


Prince Harry hit in face in scuffle with photograher

Britain's Prince Harry was hit in the face with a camera in a scuffle with photographers outside a London nightclub in the early hours of Thursday, royal officials said.


Zimbabwe says activists detained over bombings

Zimbabwe police said more than 200  opposition activists and officials arrested on Saturday were  suspects in recent petrol bomb attacks on police stations,  shops and some government supporters.


Navratilova: I'm still good enough to compete

Martina Navratilova said Friday she's still on the tennis circuit because she's good and continues to work hard to improve her game.


Dow Jones +0,04%, Nasdaq +0,34%.Euro in rialzo a 1,2702 dlr


The Pope is to meet Muslim nations' envoys in an attempt to defuse a row between the Catholic Church and Islam.


President Bush announced Thursday that a delegation of experts led by Secretary of State Colin Powell will travel to Asia on Sunday to assess the need for further U.S. assistance.


U.S. still unprepared for disaster: report

The United States remains unprepared for disasters ranging from biological attacks to a flu pandemic, and funding for preparedness is falling, according to a report released on Tuesday.


Europeans more confident about e-shopping: survey

European consumers are becoming increasingly confident about shopping online, with half of those with computers at home indulging in a little e-commerce, according to survey results published.


MALTEMPO, EMERGENZA AL SUD: FRANE E NUBIF

Crolla un balcone nel napoletano: ferito il senatore dello Sdi Tommaso Casillo. Frana tra Palermo e Messina, isolato un paese sulle Madonie. Napoli, 16 ott. (Adnkronos) - A causa dei violenti nubifragi in Campania


Bolzano, 21:41 - CALCIO, AMICHEVOLE: BRESCIA-PETROLUP 2-2

Il  Brescia ha pareggiato 2-2 coi i rumeni del Petrolup nella sua seconda amichevole della nuova sta...


Lindsay Davenport rallied for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Serena Williams in the WTA Championships on Saturday, although her No. 1 ranking remained in peril.


Where's the beef from? Soon, you may find out

WASHINGTON -- After contending with tainted toothpaste, suspect seafood, and poisoned pet food traced to China, many consumers are now looking for labels that indicate a product's country of origin.


A Saudi security officer is killed during a shootout with suspected al Qaeda militants north of Riyadh.


Padres' Wells Is Suspended for Seven Games and Fined

Padres LHP David Wells is suspended for seven games and fined $3,000 yesterday by the commissioner's office for his animated argument with an umpire last weekend.


TB case brings warning to air passengers

A man with a rare and exceptionally dangerous form of tuberculosis has been placed in quarantine by the U.S. government after possibly exposing passengers and crew on two trans-Atlantic flights earlier this month, health officials said Tuesday.


North Darfur Gov. Lifts Aid Restrictions

The governor of the troubled North Darfur state said Saturday his government has lifted restrictions on humanitarian aid groups in a sign of goodwill, but an aid official said the move was not enough to allow his group to resume work.


Thirty-two men commit suicide amid Britain's biggest childsex probe

Thirty-two men have committed suicide following their arrests in connection with Britain's biggest probe into child pornography, a newspaper reported.


Ivory Coast rebels demand inquiry into bank theft

Ivory Coast rebels demanded that an international inquiry be opened into last week's theft of more than 100 million CFA francs from a bank in the western city of Man, allegedly by French troops serving as peacekeepers in the west African state.


Juan Encarnacion will miss the remainder of the season and the Cardinal's career is in jeopardy after suffering multiple fractures of his left eye socket when struck by a foul ball Friday.


London FTSE 2.90 percent higher at close

London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares closed 2.90 percent higher Tuesday after a rollercoaster day as the US central bank slashed interest rates.


A Johnson & Johnson boss stands down after the US giant says it may have made improper payments.


Negotiators from General Motors Corp and the United Auto Workers union made progress toward a new contract before taking a break late Saturday, people familiar with the talks said.


NAKURU, Kenya  - Kenyan police battled on Saturday to stop clashes between tribal gangs wielding machetes, spears and bows and arrows that have killed at least 27 people in the western town of Nakuru in three days of bloodshed.


Ousted Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra says he may return home, but insists he will not return to politics.


Two Views of Digital Music Subscriptions

RealNetworks is taking over Yahooâs music subscription service. It hopes that as one of the last paid services standing it will better be able to promote the concept.


Bush Has Double-Digit Lead on Kerry - Newsweek Poll

President Bush emerged from the Republican National Convention with an 11-point lead over Democrat John Kerry, according to a Newsweek poll released on Saturday, the second straight survey showing him ahead by double digits.


Equality bodies praise quick action after Channel 4 axes contestant in latest Big Brother row.


Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that Russia won't seek to abandon the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty when a conference of treaty signatories is held next week in Vienna, Russian news agencies reported.


China's benchmark stock indices dropped after the Government took over Hantang Securities Co and three brokerages that failed investment company Xinjiang D'Long Group Co controlled.


13 including three guards killed in Afghan unrest

A roadside bomb killed three private security guards Saturday while a policeman and nine Taliban died in fighting overnight in fresh violence in southern Afghanistan, officials said.


Call Larry King old school. The 72-year-old CNN stalwart admitted in a Wednesday episode of Larry King Live that he had never used an Internet search engine while interviewing comedian Rosanne Barr.


Filter Will Improve Image Crispness in Low Light, Kodak Says

The new color-filter technology gives the image sensor at least double its current sensitivity to light.


Trade Threat Stirs Google Into Action Over Net Censorship

Recognizing that internet censorship is hurting its business model in the Middle East and Asia, Google lobbies U.S. trade officials to do something.


Chelsea's Robben rules out title jitters

Chelsea winger Arjen Robben has warned Manchester United that his team-mates won't crack under the pressure of trying to overhaul the Premiership leaders.


Some Would-Be Citizens Languish For Years in Security-Check Limbo

Rafed al Janabi, an Iraqi refugee living in Gaithersburg, was so grateful for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein that he quit his restaurant job and joined the U.S. Army. He was sent last year to Iraq, to translate for a Special Forces unit.


Wary of Food, U.S. Olympians Plan a Big Delivery to China

The United States Olympic Committee has made arrangements to have 25,000 pounds of lean protein shipped to China to feed its athletes.


From the late-afternoon urge for a chocolate bar to the hankering for a plate of barbecued ribs while cheering on your favorite team, food cravings can fuel a lot of overeating.


Anita Creamer: DÃ©ja flu: It's time to panic all over again

Bee Columnist. Here we go again. If it's fall, it must be time for our annual flu scare. Last November, it was the killer influenza that failed to materialize.


WORLD No.3 Lleyton Hewitt booked his place in the semi-finals of the Japan Open while defending champion Maria Sharapova cruised into the women's singles final yesterday.


By Kyodo News International, Tokyo  Feb. 14--OSAKA -- Sharp Corp. said Wednesday it will launch a Blu-ray  format DVD player on March 20 that can record TV programs on the firm's Aquos  liquid-crystal display televisions.


Burma's military regime 'has ousted prime minister'

Burma's secretive military regime has forced out its prime minister, General Khin Nyunt, according to officials in neighbouring Thailand.


Israeli-Palestinian talks hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ended on Monday with little sign of progress on reviving long-stalled peace negotiations beyond a vague promise to meet again.


Krispy Kreme Earnings Slide; Change in Strategy Is Planned

Krispy Kreme, which wowed Wall Street with a hot old-economy growth story when it went public, has lost more than two-thirds of its value since it peaked a year ago.


Clippers' Kittles Could Miss the Next Two Weeks

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kerry Kittles has a bulging disc in his lower back and could miss the next two weeks of action.


Research In Motion's BlackBerry 7100v, which sports the company's latest keyboard technology, is being offered exclusively through Vodafone.


Review: Artists Rep stages Dickens of 'Carol' satire

Tired of Tiny Tim? Think Bob Crachit is an oversentimental fool? Not too scared of Christmas Future anymore? Scrooge isn't the only one dreading another


AMSTERDAM: Europeans yesterday observed three minutes' silence with mass tributes at airports, railway stations, supermarkets, factories and offices in memory of the tens of thousands who died in the tsunami ...


Non saranno necessarie alleanze di tipo industriale


Ten years ago, there was little doubt the winner of the last regular-season college football game pitting No. 1 against No. 2 would have the inside track on the national championship.


Alcoa's quarterly profit rises, beats estimates

Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc  said on Wednesday that fourth-quarter net profit rose 76 percent on restructuring and tax benefits, offsetting lower aluminum prices.


Roma, 15:59 - CALCIO, ROMA; SCALA: TOTTI HA SOLO BISOGNO DI LAVORARE

Vito Scala, preparatore atletico Francesco Totti, è convinto che il giocatore della Roma e de...


An explosion in the Pakistani city of Multan has wounded a judge and killed two, police say.


University to set up archive of bust dot com company business ...

Budding entrepreneurs and historians of the future will be able to look back on the madness of the dot com boom. The University of Maryland has received government and private grants to archive the business


Luciano Pavarotti, perhaps the most famous opera singer ever, died on Thursday morning, aged 71.


EFF sues DHS over travel data-mining system

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy rights group, has filed a lawsuit seeking answers about a U.S. Department of Homeland Security "risk-assessment" system for travelers.


Murder trial witnesses say they heard screams and saw men running from where a British backpacker was found dead.


Hamas activist survives explosion on Damascus street

A Hamas activist survived a bombing Monday that destroyed his vehicle on a Damascus street shortly after he and his family stepped out, the Palestinian militant group said.


Just yesterday we informed you about a film bringing back the pair of Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia.


Lawrence Frank was watching on television when Dirk Nowitzki scored 41 points for the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. The Nets' coach certainly was impressed, but also thankful that Nowitzki


Evidence in Inmateâs Hand, Justice in His Sights

Convicted in a jewel heist, Napoleon Cardenas was convinced that evidence to exonerate him was buried in the flesh of his left hand.


PeopleSoft fate left to shareholder vote

The PeopleSoft board has rejected Larry Ellison "best and final" $8.8 billion hostile takeover offer, leaving the Oracle chief executive with no choice but to appeal directly to PeopleSoft shareholders.


A Texas woman on vacation in South Carolina was bitten by a shark as she stood in shallow water waiting for her husband.  Susan Dornquast told the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram she is grateful the 9-inch bite did not result in her losing her leg.


Blair, Ahern make last bid this year for N. Ireland peace

The leaders of Britain and Ireland presented their last offer this year to relaunch the peace process between Northern Ireland's Protestants and Catholics.


Cambodia Ratifies Law Authorizing UN-Backed Tribunal to Try Khmer ...

The Cambodian legislature has ratified an agreement allowing establishment of a United Nations-backed tribunal for surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge.


A tsunami striking the U.S. is not a question of if, but when


Romney, businesses wrangle on 'loopholes'

Governor Mitt Romney, the former corporate executive who ran for the corner office on a pledge to push business-friendly policies to create jobs, has collected an estimated $210 million by closing corporate tax ''loopholes," and last week he said he would seek $170 million more.


Choose and cut farms thrive as fake trees gain market share

As Kevin Houde wielded the saw, his 4-year-old son Cameron squatted on the ground beside him. Working as a team, they made a clean cut at the base of the 7-foot tree that will mark the Christmas season in their home this year.


Verdict takes pressure off Silverstein, could affect insurance ...

While World Trade Center leaseholder Larry Silverstein was celebrating his courtroom victory over his insurers, experts on Tuesday were already debating its impact on the industry


Raising the retirement age to 68 will avoid shifting the tax burden onto the young, minister John Hutton will say.


Troppi sordi alla Bce ei tassi non scendono

La politica monetaria Ã¨ uno degli aspetti piÃ¹ importanti della guida dellâeconomia. Come giudicare allora le dichiarazioni rese lâaltro ieri da Jean-Claude Trichet allâuscita dalla riunione del direttivo della Banca centrale europea?


Iraqi Video Shows Beheading of Man Said to Be American

A militant group on Monday posted a video on the Internet that showed the beheading of a hostage identified as Eugene Armstrong, an American engineer abducted along


The AP-Yahoo News Poll is a unique study that will track the moods and opinions of a group of people throughout the presidential election campaign. The second wave of this study included re-interviews of 1,821 people who were originally interviewed in November or early December. The extensive national survey was conducted by Knowledge Networks of Menlo Park, Calif., under the direction and supervision of AP's polling unit.


Interventi concentrati in Sri Lanka, annuncia Bonino


Not so hot on the court, and an imperfect pairing off it

Wimbledon: Romantic comedy. Starring Paul Bettany, Kirsten Dunst, Sam Neill, Jon Favreau. Directed by Richard Loncraine. Written by Adam Brooks, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin.


A woman hostage gets off a hijacked bus as special police forces surround it in eastern Athens Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004. A Greek public bus with about 26 people aboard was hijacked and shots were fired at police.


On his second day of testimony, the general failed to reassure skeptical senators from both parties


Michael Schumacher suffers a high-speed crash in practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix.


An antiques and furniture store has sued pop star Michael Jackson, shown April 30, 2004, for allegedly failing to pay a nearly $180,000 bill.


NHS staff who supply goods and equipment to English hospitals are to go on strike over a privatisation deal.


HP targets Chinese market with AMD powered PC

China with its large population provides a big market for the PC Manufacturers. However, it is the local computer makers who rule the Chinese PC Market.