Wal-Mart plans to open 1,000 financial centers in two years

NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , the world's largest retailer, plans to expand its financial-service centers more than fourfold to 1,000 stores by 2009 after abandoning an attempt to start a bank.


A New Movie Brings Out Throngs of Black Women

Audiences of mostly black women crowded theaters throughout New York City to see âTyler Perryâs Why Did I Get Married?â on the day of its nationwide release.


San Antonio (20-5) at Orlando (14-10) 7:00 pm EST

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- The San Antonio Spurs try to continue their recent run of success against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.


Iran Asks for Exemptions from Nuclear Freeze

Iran is asking to be allowed to renege on a commitment to freeze all uranium-enrichment activities and be allowed to operate dozens of centrifuges, according to news reports.


Jeter Helps Yankees Steal One in Cleveland

A night after he was hit on the left elbow by a pitch, Derek Jeter stole two bases in the ninth inning and scored on Hideki Matsui's two-out single to lead the visiting New York Yankees past Cleveland 5-4 Tuesday night, handing the Indians their ninth straight loss.


British airport owner TBI agrees to Spanish takeover? (updated PM5 :02)

British airport operator TBI PLC said Wednesday it has agreed to a takeover by Spanish transport and communications company Abertis and Spain's national airport authority Aena.


Intensive negotiations will resume this week over the British-Irish blueprint aimed at restoring devolution.


The city said Tuesday it plans to tighten safety procedures for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade after two spectators were injured last year by a giant balloon that got caught on a street lamp.


La mappa di chi incassera' i 300 euro in ottobre


Prime Minister Gordon Brown announces a new internet-based drive to expand the teaching of English.


Dwayne Vincent, a member of the British garage band So Solid Crew, appeared in court charged with murder Friday.


A'S NOTEBOOK Security makes its presence known

Arlington, Texas -- The A's didn't request any additional security at Ameriquest Field on Tuesday, but there appeared to be extra security in place, anyway, a precaution after last week's incident at the Coliseum in which Rangers reliever Frank Francisco


NASA battles failure of space station computer

NASA said on Thursday that a new power feed could be the source of potentially catastrophic computer glitches aboard the $100 billion International Space Station but it hoped the problem would be resolved.


Blog: AT&T DSL subscribers will get free access to the carrier's Wi-Fi hot spots in airports and coffee shops around the country.


Poverty, war, HIV affect over 1 billion children, UNICEF says

PRETORIA -- More than 1 billion children suffer from poverty, war, and HIV/AIDS, a new UNICEF report says, indicating that gains in reducing child deaths in the 1980s and '90s have stalled in the past decade.


WASHINGTON-The Justice Department late this afternoon said Cingular Wireless LLC agreed to sell mobile-phone properties in 13 markets to win approval of its $41 billion acquisition of AT&T Wireless Services Inc.


Israel Agrees to Release 250 Palestinian Prisoners

The release of Fatah prisoners was intended to bolster the Palestinian president and his emergency government.


THE RACE: The presidential race for Democrats, Republicans in Texas


New approach needed in Iraq, leading Senate Republican says

US Senator Richard Lugar, a top Republican in Congress and stalwart supporter of President George W. Bush, said Monday that US policy in Iraq is not working, and said the time has come for a new strategy.


Il documento era in allegato a verbale del Cda di Telecom


L'OMICIDIO DI VERONA - Presunto killer ferito da colpi di pistola

Sembra complicarsi l'omicidio dell'imprenditore veronese 35enne Federico Lorenzini, ucciso ieri sera con un colpo di pistola alla schiena e gettato in un dirupo sulla strada Peri-Fosse, in provincia di Verona.


Britain's new prime minister, Gordon Brown, appointed a trusted ally as finance minister on Thursday and promoted a rising star to the key post of foreign minister in a wide-ranging government shakeup.


Qualifying for the Pepsi 400 is washed out Friday at Daytona, leaving several teams out of the season's second race at NASCAR's most storied track.


US warns Syria not to meddle in Lebanese politics

WASHINGTON - The United States bluntly told Syria to stay out of the political crisis in Lebanon that came to a head on Wednesday with the resignation of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.


Panasonic unleashes new DVD recorder line

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., better known for its Panasonic brand, will soon start international sales of a high-end DVD recorder that offers network connectivity, the company said Wednesday.


A leading figure in the effort to minimise the impact of disease in developing countries has been knighted.


Rescued backpacker Britt Jefferson wished he brought skis when a sudden blizzard swallowed his hiking party this week in the Sierra Nevada.


One miserable month has wiped away all the promise Missouri started with this season.


Turkey's main opposition party has called for the swift recall of parliament to approve key reforms demanded by the European Union and says any further delay could imperil Ankara's bid to open EU entry talks.


Satellite broadcaster BSkyB has posted a drop in first-half profits owing partly to set-up costs for its new broadband Internet service.


U.S. Player Strength vs. European Self-Belief

The United States have home advantage  and the stronger line-up but holders Europe have deep  self-belief ahead of next week's Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills  outside Detroit, Michigan.


Chris Benoit's mother said she wonders whether her son would still be alive if federal agents had been more aggressive when they discovered the professional wrestler was buying large quantities of steroids.


MSN Music Falls Just Short of iTunes' High Marks

Microsoft's MSN Music store shouldn't surprise anybody. The company with its own operating system, online service, digital-music format and media software was always the likeliest suspect to launch an online music store.


RUSSIAâS business leaders are bracing themselves for a further assault from the Kremlin after the effective renationalisation last week of Yukos, the oil company formerly headed by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the jailed billionaire tycoon.


Italian scriptwriter Ugo Pirro, who co-wrote two Oscar-winning films, dies at the age of 87 in Rome.


Sale a 264 milioni di euro contro i 258 milioni del 2005


Whoâs Attacking an Online Marxist Archive? China Is Suspected of Trying to Block Access to Texts

An online Marxist library says computer attacks from China may force the library to stop providing material in Chinese.


U.S. Eager to Hand Over Tsunami Commitment

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz flew across the devastated wasteland along the Sumatran coast Saturday, voiced pride in the American aid operation but said Washington wants to hand over relief work to Indonesia and other affected nations as soon as possible.


The number of Ivorians seeking treatment after toxic waste dumping in Abidjan has soared to 16,000.


Light cigarette suit certified as class action

A lawsuit accusing tobacco companies of   defrauding smokers into thinking "light" cigarettes were safer   than regular brands can proceed as a class action, a federal   judge in New York ruled on Monday.


Palm Gets Cash Infusion, Shakes Up Board

Palm said Monday that it had received $325 million in funding from Bono's Elevation Partners, and would shuffle its board -- including the addition of a former iPod exec from Apple -- to make itself more competitive.


Too much testosterone can kill brain   cells, researchers said on Tuesday in a finding that may help   explain why steroid abuse can cause behavior changes like   aggressiveness and suicidal tendencies.


Yacht Nearly Capsizes in Race Across Ocean

The 60-foot yacht of a British sailor competing in an around-the-world race nearly capsized today in the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean.


Sports: (1) Southern Cal 45 (15) Arizona State 7

LOS ANGELES Top-ranked Southern California remains unbeaten after whipping 15th-rated Arizona State 45-to-7. Trojan quarterback Matt Leinart completed 13 of 24 passes for 224 yards with no interceptions before sitting out the fourth quarter.


The NHL's official puck supplier has laid off half its staff, a result of the hockey lockout that entered its 123rd day on Sunday.


Lithuanian Seimas election over with 44.31% turnout

The Lithuanian Seimas election ended at 8:00 p.m. local time. The election in the multi-mandate electoral district (the entire national territory) was announced valid, Chairman of the Central Electoral ...


Midway through his term, Mayor Villaraigosa struggles to fulfill campaign pledges, rebuild public approval.


Major automakers posted mixed U.S.  sales for August on Tuesday, as executives cautioned the  embattled industry was facing reverberations from a weaker  housing market and the shakeout in subprime lending.


Pro-Taliban militants have transformed a once-bustling community in northwestern Pakistan into a desolate city under siege.


Biogen Idec's chief executive, James Mullen, says the Cambridge biotechnology company is unlikely to receive approval from European regulators to use its drug Tysabri to treat patients with Crohn's disease, a debilitating intestinal ailment.


Two Palestinian children were killed Friday in the explosion of an apparent roadside bomb near Khan Younis in Gaza, reports said. But Palestinian sources said the children, an 8


The latest television commercial in Democrat Benjamin L. Cardin's bid for an open U.S. Senate seat in Maryland says he "always tries to do what's right, what's in the best interest of Maryland families, taking on the drug companies, the oil companies, the insurance companies."


WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C. - A wayward Arctic ice seal was found Friday on a beach in southern North Carolina, far from its usual habitat.


Gibbs century sets big target for England

Herschelle Gibbs hit his 14th one-day international century as South Africa posted a big total of 291-5 in the pivotal fourth limited overs international against England at Newlands.


Hewlett-Packard's new iPod highlights new product offerings

Tech giant Hewlett-Packard unveiled its own branded iPod music player as in introduced a revamped lineup of ditigal consumer products.


Roma, 12:20 - CALCIO, DOPING: PAGOTTO SOSPESO IN VIA CAUTELARE

Angelo Pagotto è stato sospeso in via cautelare da ogni attività sportiva. Lo ha decis...


Despite Dissent, Germany Vows Undying Israel Ties

German President Horst Koehler said on Tuesday that his country's special relationship with Israel, rooted in responsibility for the Holocaust, could not be eroded by the passage of time.


More than five racist or homophobic attacks take place in Belfast every week, according to figures.


Judge Holds Reporter in Contempt in Leak Probe

A federal judge held a New York  Times reporter in contempt on Thursday for refusing to testify  in the investigation of whether the Bush administration  illegally leaked a covert CIA officer's name to the media.


Sun may rise, after all, on faulty space probe

Scientists are hopeful they can retrieve particles of solar wind from a capsule that crashed in the desert last week. By Peter N. Spotts | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.


Company Profile for Cyberview Technology

Cyberview Technology supplies cutting-edge gaming technology to casinos,  lotteries and betting operations across the globe. As a technology  provider to the gaming industry, Cyberview has proven itself to be the  leader in the field of server-based technology.


Ericsson says teams with Turner for mobile services

Telecom equipment maker Ericsson said  on Monday it would team up with Turner Broadcasting to develop  international mobile services.


Two teenagers are charged with murder after a 43-year-old man is kicked to death in an Oxfordshire town.


Rumsfeld Query No Shock to Soldier's Wife

Regina Wilson wasn't entirely surprised to see her husband, a guardsman bound for Iraq, on television Wednesday challenging Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with a tough question.


FDA to review Vytorin cholesterol drug study

U.S. regulators said on Friday they would review a study showing a Merck and Schering-Plough cholesterol drug worked no better than a generic in preventing the build-up of arterial plaque.


(December 25, 2004) - IRONDEQUOIT â-he country of Ukraine stands poised at a crucial moment of choice between the status quo of a corrupt government with close ties to Russia and the possibility of true reform and a new government more aligned with


In my Book Review column last weekend, I looked at some issues that arise when genre authors best known for their adult fiction try their hand at writing for younger readers. Of course, science-fiction, fantasy and horror writers have been publishing YA fiction for decades: everyone from Robert A. Heinlein to Ursula K. Le Guin [...].


Storms Drive Up Cost of Gift-Boxed Fruit

This is not exactly a season of joy for shippers of gift-boxed grapefruit and oranges. The three hurricanes that battered Florida's citrus groves over the summer devastated the state's grapefruit and orange crop, causing a sharp rise in wholesale prices for the fruit that is stamped, wrapped and nestled in boxes for the chilly north every Christmas season.


Aung San Suu Kyi in good health: Myanmar police chief

Myanmar's detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is in good health and so far has not requested more visits by her personal physician, the national police chief said.


Man Who Burned Himself at White House Is Called Central to Terror ...

A Yemeni man who set himself on fire in front of the White House on Monday and survived was the main informer for federal prosecutors in a terrorism financing case in Brooklyn, lawyers involved in the case said yesterday.


CAPE TOWN, South Africa - South African police arrested Mark Thatcher, the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, early Wednesday on allegations he was involved in a plot to overthrow the government of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, police said.    Thatcher, 51, was taken into custody during a raid on his home in the upscale Cape Town suburb of Constantia shortly after 7 a.m...


Zucker vows to take NBC Universal "to next level"

Continuing the prime-time  ratings turnaround at NBC and expanding revenue streams in the  digital age are among the key priorities for Jeff Zucker, who  was named CEO of NBC Universal on Tuesday.


NEW YORK - On. Dec. 17, the US Food and Drug Administration released a statement relating to Pfizer's (nyse: PFE - news - people ) Celebrex.


Championship outfit Burnley knock out Premiership side Aston Villa.


U.C.L.A. Is Too Much for Michigan to Take

The freshman Kalin Lucas scored a career-high 18 points, including an acrobatic layup to ignite a key first-half run, to lead No. 9 Michigan State to a 78-72 victory against No. 4 Texas on Saturday night in Auburn Hills, Mich.


Athletics: Paula has a mind to conquer her demons

The route of the New York City Marathon wends its way through the five boroughs of the Big Apple, from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the Tavern on the Green restaurant in Central Park.


Milano, 12:38 - CALCIO, INTER: ANNULLATA CONFERENZA-STAMPA DI MANCINI

L'allenatore dell'Inter, Roberto Mancini, non terrà la consueta conferenza-stampa pre-partita...


Stocks drop as more home loans go bad; Micron warns

U.S. stocks fell on Friday after Countrywide Financial Corp. became the latest mortgage lender to warn of rising defaults, while chip maker Micron Technology Inc.'s poor forecasts shook the tech sector.


'The Polar Express' travels beyond the book

In most book-to-screen transfers, the big question is what to eliminate. But with Chris Van Allsburg's popular children's book "The Polar Express," the challenge was what to embellish.


Brady W. Dougan was named chief executive of the Credit Suisse Group, a major global bank that has never boasted an American as its sole chief executive.


Al Gore's son arrested on drug suspicion

Al Gore's son was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of possessing marijuana and prescription drugs after deputies pulled him over for speeding, authorities said.


Computer giant Dell is to recall 4.4 million laptop power adapters because of a fear they could overheat, creating a risk of fire or electric shock.


A premier performance by Ware in Georgia debut

ATHENS, Ga. -- Danny Ware rushed for 135 yards and three touchdown in his college debut, leading No. 3 Georgia to a 48-28 victory over Division 1-AA Georgia Southern yesterday.


French defender Boumsong about to join Newcastle

French defender Jean-Alain Boumsong was in Newcastle and about to complete an eight-million-pound (11.3-million euro) move from Rangers to the Magpies.


New Study Finds Many US Home PCs Infected

When technicians examined the PCs of 329 respondents, they found 80 percent loaded with dozens of spyware programs that track the user's browsing habits.


The House on Thursday passed the second bill in three days that would outlaw "spyware," irritating software that quietly monitors the activities of Internet users.


Federer into last eight at rain-hit Japan Open

World number one Roger Federer quickly ended Wesley Moodie's reign as Japan Open champion with a clinical 6-2 6-1 win to reach the quarter-finals on Thursday.


Issue #8 of the (IN)Secure Magazine has been posted today and includes articles like:  Payment Card Industry demystified Computer forensics vs. electronic evidence SSH port forwarding - security from two perspectives, part two Airscanner vulnerability summary: Windows Mobile security software fails the test Introducing the MySQL Sandbox   Check out insecuremag.com for more or just download the issue directly.


UNICEF hails Zambia study on AIDS treatment as "major breakthrough ...

NEW YORK  - The United Nations (news - web sites)' Children's Fund (UNICEF (news - web sites)) hailed a study done in Zambia on a cheap, common antibiotic that greatly reduces the death rate among children with the AIDS (news - web sites) virus as "a


U.S. charges 13 in insider trading, bribery cases

Employees of some of Wall Street's top banks were among more than a dozen people charged on Thursday in what authorities called one of the most pervasive insider trading rings since the 1980s, accused of using leaked information and even blackmail to make millions of dollars.


Paul Peterson threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez with 54 seconds left to give Boston College a 24-23 victory over No. 24 Notre Dame, the Eagles fourth straight win over the Irish.


Yoko Ono's chauffeur indicted, denied bail

Yoko Ono's chauffeur was indicted on Tuesday on four counts of first-degree attempted grand larceny, accused of trying to extort $2 million from John Lennon's widow.


Dance: Prima Performances From the Familiar, and Not

Two City Ballet dancers are part of the new terrain that has opened before me since I moved from London to New York in April.


South Goa district administration on Tuesday granted time till March seven to actor Sanjay Dutt's wife Manyata, to explain as to why her residence certificate in connection with her court marriage should not be cancelled.


McNealy: Sun is boxing clever with Microsoft

The ground-breaking legal settlement and technology sharing deal between Microsoft Corp and Sun Microsystems Inc will not diminish competition between the two adversaries.


Minnesota Vikings strong safety Corey Chavous broke his left elbow in Sunday's regular season finale against the Washington Redskins.


Vehicle complexity leads to record number of recalls

Automakers have recalled more vehicles in the USA this year than ever before, likely more a result of the increasing complexity of cars and trucks and greater vigilance than a lapse in quality.


(InfoWorld) - When Apple launches the iPhone on Friday, it is set to get a jump on its competitors and spark a flurry of new phone designs, regardless of how well the device actually sells. By introducing a combined smartphone, mobile e-mail platform, and MP3 music player with a touchscreen interface, Apple has sent other hardware vendors running back to their drawing boards. And the company has enjoyed positive press coverage since CEO Steve Jobs announced the iPhone in January, analysts said. Apple is feeding the fire with strong advertising in its retail stores. On Monday, staffers at the Apple store in the Cambridgeside Galleria mall in Cambridge, Massachusetts, wore black T-shirts with the logo "the wait is almost over," printed above an image of a calendar page for Friday, June 29. iPhone anticipation has already created a "halo effect" of increased sales for Apple's notebook and desktop PCs, an impact that is likely to increase after the launch, according to a report from ChangeWave Research. Apple posted a strong profit for the last period despite struggling with a U.S. federal investigation into executives backdating their stock options. In April,Â Apple beat Wall Street expectations by posting a profit of $770 million for the second quarter, an 88 percent rise from that period last year. Because the company has already garnered media attention and a sales boost from iPhone demand, Apple will suffer little damage even if the device is a flop in retail sales, one analyst said. "No way Apple will seriously impact Nokia or Motorola or Samsung, who combined sell over a billion phones a year. But if Apple manages to sell several million, then that is probably pretty good for their overall business," said analyst Jack Gold, founder of the research firm J. Gold Associates. "I think the potential gold mine is in the services, not the phone hardware." The iPhone will bring new subscribers to Apple's iTunes online music store, and Apple could make more money if it decides to launch future wireless mobile products like navigation, location-based services, VoIP telephony, and video streaming, Gold said. In the meantime, Apple has already given a headache to competitors scurrying to catch up, such as Motorola, Samsung, and LG Electronics. Even vendors with comparable products -- like Nokia's N Series and High Tech Computer's HTC Touch phones -- lack Apple's cachet and will have trouble competing on store shelves, he said. In fact, some experts are warning that iPhone sales could fall short of Apple's high expectations. Their criticism includes potential user confusion about Apple's "virtual keyboard," a battery that may fade too fast and is not user-replaceable, andÂ resistance by some corporate IT departmentsÂ to the added expense and security risk of supporting mobile e-mail networks in addition to the servers they use to support Research in Motion's BlackBerry device. Those drawbacks could limit the iPhone's success in the business market, said Shaw Wu, an analyst with American Technology Research. Still, the iPhone will be popular with those who tend to use smartphones more by scrolling through menus than typing long messages and who have made Apple's iPod music player a huge hit despite similar concerns about its battery, Wu said. Likewise, consumers will likely shrug off corporate security concerns and use mobile e-mail systems from GoogleÂ and Yahoo. In the long run, Apple will use the iPhone to beat its competitors in creating an end-to-end channel for digital media, spanning from Mac PCs to the mobile iPod music player, iTunes online store, and Apple TV set-top box for sharing Internet and television video content. The only thing Apple could do to spread that net even wider would be to offer iPhone models at less than the current $499 for a 4GB version and $599 for the 8GB, Wu said.


Frank Thomas hit one out of the park for the 500th time. Eight innings later, he was sent out of the park himself.


JPMorgan Fleming Eyes Stake in Highbridge

JPMorgan Fleming Asset & Wealth Management on Monday said it plans to buy a majority interest in and enter into a partnership with Highbridge Capital Management, a hedge funds manager, to bolster its presence among hedge funds and


The Gunners boss has been hit with a charge of improper conduct following his controversial comments after their 2-0 Premiership defeat at Manchester United last month.


Empoli, 19:03 - CALCIO, EMPOLI: 12-0 NEL TEST CON IL CERTALDO

Amichevole infrasettimanale per l'Empoli, che in vista del debuto contro la Sampdoria ha affrontato ...


Bologna, 18:23 - BASKET, VIRTUS: SULLE MAGLIE TORNA SCRITTA BOLOGNA

Torna il nome 'Bologna' sulle maglie della Virtus. La società ha deciso di ripristinare la sc...


Poison probe: Russia bars access to jailed spy

Russia's prison service on Tuesday ruled out any prospects of a meeting between a jailed ex-agent and British detectives probing the poisoning of former spy Alexander Litvinenko, Interfax news agency said.


Calcio: Champions, Milan-Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0

Milan (4-3-2-1): Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Costacurta; Gattuso (84â Brocchi), Pirlo (72â Ambrosini), Seedorf; Kaka', Rui Costa (79â Dhorasoo); Crespo. All. Ancelotti. Shakhtar Donetsk (4-4-2): Lastuvka


City Balks at Cash for Park East Project: County Cites Benefits; Barrett Says Taxpayers Have Spent Enough

By Tom Daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel  Feb. 14--Developer Richard Curto says his $77 million apartment, hotel and retail development in Milwaukee's Park East area can happen only if City Hall provides $9 million in financing.


Pakistan dismisses allegations that its troops sold weapons in DR Congo while serving as UN peacekeepers.


Short-lived spike in phishing traffic If it seems like every Tom, Dick and Harry with a MySpace account was getting his account hijacked a couple of months ago there's a reason. Starting in mid-March, the number of page views generated on phish sites increased five-fold, with almost all (95 per cent) targeting the popular social networking site.â¦


A man is charged with the murder of a police officer and a doorman in 1993.


Annan UN Council Should Vote 'Yes' on Sudan Draft

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday threw his weight behind a U.S.-drafted resolution on Sudan's Darfur region, saying the Security Council should adopt it immediately to stop atrocities.


The key to Sun Microsystems Inc.'s success going forward is increased adoption of its Solaris 10 operating system, company CEO Jonathan Schwartz said Tuesday.


Magical Moments, Tantrums or a $250 Lullaby

The perception of Broadway as a destination for families with children has been growing for years, but so has the price of a ticket.


Their months of bickering and bashing nearing an end, President Bush and John Kerry sought in their second-to-last campaign day Sunday to offer hopeful visions for security and prosperity.


After losing a court ruling to Novell and then seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, The SCO Group said that there is "substantial doubt" about its ability to continue as a viable business.


Motor Racing: Plug about to be pulled on historic British Grand ...

LONDON - The British Grand Prix is set to be axed for the first time in Formula One history. "At the moment it would seem that the calendar is not going to include the British Grand Prix for 2005," former


The 20-year-old American went straight into the squad for tonightâs Coca-Cola championship match with leaders Wigan at Portman Road.


Saudi sees oil market healthy, action unlikely-WSJ

OPEC may have no need to cut or raise  output when it meets in a month's time as the world oil market  is in "much, much better health" than before, the Wall Street  Journal quoted Saudi Arabia's oil minister as saying.


Another Year, Another Team (Seattle) for GuillÃ©n

JosÃ© GuillÃ©n signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract and has a chance to earn another $2.75 million in incentives.


On Screens Soon, an Abused Earth Gets Its Revenge

Several films will test a new kind of villainy, in which the real victim is the environment and the enemy is all of us.


Rumsfeld finds eager partners in Balkans

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, facing growing criticism for the Iraq war at home, is finding leaders in the Balkan region eager to join the battle.


UEFA to probe Valencia-Werder Bremen incidents

UEFA will be launching disciplinary proceedings against Valencia and Werder Bremen following the incidents that marred their Champions League match at the Mestalla on Tuesday.


Rafael Nadal will attempt to finally complete his third-round match against Robin Soderling on Wednesday.


Kidnapped US 'soldier' in photo may be a toy

DUBAI -- A website posted a photograph of what it claimed was a US soldier kidnapped in Iraq, but doubts were quickly raised about its authenticity after a US toy manufacturer said yesterday that it appeared to show a model soldier made by the company.


Most IT Managers won't question the importance of security, but this priority has been sliding between the third and fourth most important focus for companies.


Mancini su Gilardino, Burdisso, Davids, la difesa e Adriano ...

Alla vigilia della gara interna contro il Parma, l'allenatore dell'Inter, Roberto Mancini ha dichiarato in conferenza stampa: "Abbiamo voglia di giocare bene e di vincere, ma il Parma Ã¨ un avversario pericoloso e da rispettare.


PayPal Outage Effects Online Retailing and eBay  eBay Inc.'s online payment system PayPal said on Tuesday that account data and personal information were not compromised by a glitch in the new system update that has resulted in some users not being able to log into their accounts and also PayPal not ...


After 40 Years, Schieffer Plans to Quit CBS in Early 2009

Bob Schieffer, a reporter for CBS News for nearly four decades and the host of âFace the Nationâ for 17 years, said Tuesday night that he would retire next January.


Fixtures and fittings from Damien Hirst's restaurant Pharmacy sell for Â£11.1, Â£8m more than expected.


Former Regime Members in Iraq Appear Before Judge

The former defense minister of Iraq, and the man accused of gassing thousands of Kurds in the 1980s were brought before an Iraqi magistrate Saturday for an investigative hearing to determine


Germany arrests 3 in alleged plot on U.S. sites

Germany has arrested three men it suspects of planning "massive bomb attacks" on U.S. installations and belonging to a domestic cell of the Islamic Jihad militant group, German officials said on Wednesday.


Appeals Court Reinstates Patent Suit Against Google

Google must face a Wisconsin companyâs lawsuit over a toolbar feature that generates Web links from search data, a federal appeals court decided.


Russia defends anti-terror preventive strikes

Russia today defended a plan to launch preventive strikes on guerrilla bases in other countries, saying it was merely following accepted international practice.


PeopleSoft Fires Conway, Names Founder Duffield Chief

PeopleSoft Inc. fired Chief Executive Officer Craig Conway, raising the likelihood the business- software maker will give up its 16-month fight against Oracle Corp.


South Korean gymnast goes to sport court to get gold medal

The South Korean gymnast who lost the all-around title to Paul Hamm because of a scoring error filed an appeal Sunday with a sports arbitration panel, asking it to help him get the gold medal.


Why do people insist on putting lipstick on that pig of an earnings report?


Firenze, 13:16 - CALCIO, GUIDO ROSSI: NESSUN PENTIMENTO

Guido Rossi, commissario straordinario della Federcalcio, in occasione della presentazione degli arb...


Loaiza goes all the way as A's top Giants

It had been so long since Esteban Loaiza pitched a complete game, he had no idea if he'd ever last nine innings again.


Serena Williams reaches quarters at US Open

NEW YORK, Sept 5  - Two-time champion Serena Williams fired 12 aces and had only one double fault in overpowering Patty Schyder 6-4, 6-2 in a fourth round match at the 17.


Nintendo Bets on New Hand-Held Console to Leap Ahead of Sony

Nintendo Co., the world's biggest maker of portable game consoles, begins selling its newest hand- held player today, accompanied by a $40 million advertising push aimed at taking customers away from Sony Corp.


Alle Hawaii anteprima di 'Hitch' con l'ex rapper


Nell'attacco esplosivo rimaste ferite altre 11 persone


Sony and Samsung to share basic technology patents

Sony Corp. and Samsung Electronics have announced that the companies have agreed to share patents on basic technologies to speed up product development and avoid adding to a growing number of cross-border patent disputes.


Lawmakers abandon bill for China tariffs

Two senators are abandoning legislation that would have hit Chinese goods with steep tariffs. The lawmakers promised, however, to renew efforts next year meant to spur Beijing to change currency policies they say cost millions of American jobs.


Floods death toll in Sichuan rises to 34

The death toll from heavy floods in Dazhou City of southwest China's Sichuan Province has risen to 34 with 38 missing, an official of the local flood control office announced Monday.


Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will leave for Netherlands on November 7 to attend the rescheduled India-European Union Summit during which the two sides are likely to firm up a strategic partnership accord.


Area Appraiser Suspended for Overvaluing Greeley Property

By Rebecca Boyle, Greeley Tribune, Colo.  Jun. 23--A Loveland real estate appraiser was suspended Thursday amid allegations from state officials that she overestimated the value of eight properties in the Greeley area.


Under New Management: Performance Reviews: Many Need Improvement

Only 3 in 10 employees believe their companiesÂ performance review system actually improved performance.


Asda says it will pay staff who are under 18 years old the same hourly rate of pay as older workers.


Agency seeks recall of 600,000 Dodge trucks

WASHINGTON - Federal safety regulators want 600,000 Dodge Durangos and Dakota trucks recalled because their wheels could fall off, but the auto maker doesnât believe the defect is dangerous, a company spokesman said.


Nokia: profits slump despite market share recovery

October 15, 2004 4:59 PM GMT (Datamonitor) - Nokia [NOK.HE] has used the formidable financial muscle it has built up as mobile handset market leader to engage in a vicious price war to build its market share.


This time there was no rabbit in the hat. New England's magical quarterback ran out of game-winning tricks last night as he reached into his bag one last time and came out with nothing but heartache.


Theyâre Playing My Song. Time to Work Out.

There is a rough science to choosing performance-enhancing music.


Elderly care home for dogs to open in Japan

Japan's first elderly care home for dogs is set to open this week, tapping into a growing market as the problem of ageing spreads from humans to the pet population.


After a dominant victory earlier this month on the asphalt roads of Corsica, BP-Ford World Rally Team heads to the sealed surface roads of northern Spain next week intent on reproducing the same form.


Nokia presses play on XpressMusic kid-friendly phones

For the 'young and sociable', Finnish firm says Nokia has launched its anticipated XpressMusic handset line, rolling out three similarly styled handsets, including a revival of its 3250 twist phone.â¦


Car bomb in Baghdad targets minister, two killed

At least two people were killed and three others wounded in a car bomb blast targeting Iraqi Minister of Education Sami al-Mudhaffar early Tuesday in Baghdad, an interior ministry spokesman said.


Internet Users Left Stranded After Intelsat Satellite Fails

Commercial satellite operator Intelsat Ltd. lost use of one of its satellites Sunday -- a mishap that left some Internet customers stranded and could jeopardize a proposed $5 billion deal to sell the company to a group of four venture capital firms.


B.C. man awarded $296,000 as judge rules doctor negligent after appendectomy

VANCOUVER (CP) - A Fraser Valley man has been awarded $296,000 in damages in a malpractice suit related to his appendectomy.


Stock futures seen mixed, earnings in focus

Stock futures pointed to a mixed start on Wall Street on Tuesday, with investors set to eye a flood of quarterly earnings updates.


HONOLULU - A tiny frog with a huge shriek has invaded the Big Island and won't shut up.


Police are investigating the cause of an overnight fire which destroyed a shop in County Antrim.


Xstrata profit surges on metal prices, acquisitions

Miner Xstrata Plc  beat forecasts by more than doubling its 2006 adjusted profit and said strong demand from China and India, coupled with tight supplies, would keep metal prices high, boosting its shares.


IRS may restrict tax refund loans; H&R Block falls

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service on Thursday said it may restrict tax preparers such as H&R Block Inc  and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc  from offering refund loans to customers because doing so could encourage fraud.


NEW YORK - Oil prices continued their rise on Monday, as a general strike shut down Nigeria and a Moscow court upheld a billion dollar back tax demand on Yukos, Russia's largest oil producer.


Chretien not legally responsible for sponsorship spending, says top official

OTTAWA (CP) - The country's top civil servant says former prime minister Jean Chretien wasn't legally accountable for the way federal sponsorship money was spent.


The dollar extended its losses on Tuesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected but signaled that both inflation and inflation expectations were easing.


Total SA, one of the world's biggest oil companies, said Wednesday it is targeting average production growth of 4 percent per year between 2006 and 2010.


NEW YORK -- Tank Johnson of the Chicago Bears was suspended by the NFL for the first eight games of the 2007 regular season for violating the league's new personal conduct policy. The defensive tackle recently served a two-month jail stint on a probation violation on gun-related charges.


Backing away from his pre-war assertions, US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he has seen no "strong, hard evidence" linking former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein to al-Qaida.


The Bishop Feehan boys' and girls' track teams now share more than just the same dedicated coach. After sweeping yesterday's Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Division 3 James Kalperis Relays at the Reggie Lewis Center, the squads are both champions.


European Powers to Offer Iran Incentives

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, left, leaves a cabinet meeting, accompanied by his Intelligence Minister, Ali Younesi, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004.


Man Who Shot Up Montreal Campus Is Identified

Kimveer Gill killed a woman and wounded 19 others before dying in a gun battle with the police.


Three mute swans in Dorset have been found dead after contracting the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu.


Japan's business confidence at high: Tankan

Business confidence at large manufacturers in Japan hit a new 13-year high in the three months to September, the Bank of Japan said on Friday in its latest Tankan quarterly survey.


Atlanta Falcons quarterback  Michael Vick was solemn as he pleaded guilty in federal court  on Monday in a dogfighting case almost certain to wreck his  football career.


Secret Service Operations Hit ID, Credit Card Theft Rings

The U.S. Secret Service said it has cracked down on an international ID theft ring that is responsible for more than $14 million in fraud losses.


Contro verdetto Antitrust che impone vendita Nuova Tirrenia


Active air search for adventurer Fossett ending

Authorities will stop actively searching for missing U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett but will keep air crews on standby to fly to possible crash sites, a spokesman for Nevada's public safety department said on Wednesday.


Bruxelles, 19:54 - CALCIO, BELGIO: SI RIGIOCA GARA DEL GOL CON PALLONE ESPLOSO

Si rigiocherÃ  la gara del campionato belga tra Anderlecht-La Louviere, disputata il 6 novembre scors...


Effort by Bush on Education Faces Obstacles in the States

Since the president signed No Child Left Behind, the law has imposed changes on education, but it has also faced a backlash.


Poisonings, suicides fuel rise in U.S. injury deaths

The death rate from injury in the United States is rising this decade after declining since the late 1970s, spurred by increases in accidental poisonings and suicides, health officials said on Thursday.


Non e' colpa nostra se il prezzo continua a salire


Parents told to spare the rod -- or face jail

After a long and passionate political debate about the virtue or vice of spanking, a new law went into effect that will allow mothers and fathers to chastize their offspring physically but send parents to jail for up to five years if they beat them too hard.


A second blogger for the John Edwards presidential campaign has resigned her post there after criticism that she wrote blogs that were highly critical of the Catholic Church.


Art Review | 'Stan Douglas': Even on the Big Screen, Things Are Never as They Seem

Stan Douglasâs most recent art video, âKlatsassin,â is both a murder mystery and a western that doesnât follow Hollywoodâs narrative formulas.


Esce in Italia e in Inghilterra l'autobiografia collettiva "Revelations"Il libro ripercorre l'incredibile carriera della band culto guidata da Peter Gabriel                                          Genesis, quarant'anni di Rock "Volevo chiudere con la musica"                                                                                di PETER GABRIEL


US Football Star Lewis Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge

Baltimore Ravens football star Jamal  Lewis pleaded guilty on Thursday to using a cell phone to try  to broker a cocaine deal, avoiding more serious federal drug  charges that could have sent him to prison for life.


Attacks on fire crews have become a 'recreational activity' in parts of Britain, claim firefighters' leaders


Zinifex bids for Australian nickel miner

Australian zinc producer Zinifex Ltd  launched an all-cash bid worth up to A$775 million ($668 million) for nickel miner Allegiance Mining , the latest in a hectic round of industry consolidation.


Kenyan environmentalist receives Nobel Peace Prize

OSLO - African dancers and drummers transformed the traditionally sober Nobel Peace Prize ceremony into an African celebration Friday as Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai took centre stage to receive her award.


Talks are to take place to save one of France's best-known papers,  the irreverent left-wing daily Liberation.


Iraq car bomb kills 8 US marines in deadliest attack in 6 months

A car bomb killed eight US marines outside Fallujah on Saturday, the deadliest attack against the US military in Iraq in nearly six months.


Computer security giant Symantec Corp. is buying storage and backup program specialist Veritas Software Corp. to create the world's fourth-largest software maker, marking the latest merger in an industry trend that's expected to compress the competition to a few juggernauts.


Liverpool, 13:04 - CALCIO, ROMA: LIVERPOOL SU MANCINI

Dopo Fernando Torres, il Liverpool vuole ingaggiare un giocatore capace di saltare l'uomo e di garan...


Britain's government on Tuesday proposed banning smoking in most public places, setting off debate over what one smoker decried as the brainchild of a busybody "nanny state.


Russia upbeat but wants changes on Iraq UN measure

Russia praised a European draft U.N. resolution imposing sanctions on Iran's nuclear materials but objected to a travel ban and wanted to ease a freeze on financial assets on Tehran officials.


Sharon to begin lobbying for unity gov't with Labor

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is to begin lobbying Sunday to win the Likud's backing for a unity government with the Labor, a key step toward advancing the disengagement plan, the Ha'aretz newspaper reported.


VeriSign Inc. VRSN.O on  Wednesday reported a quarterly profit versus a year-ago loss,  driven by an investment gain and strong demand for its  authentication tools and services for the Internet and  telecommunications networks.


A youth admits dangerous driving after filming himself at speeds of up to 130mph and posting the video on the internet.


Il leader dei Tiromancino alla sua seconda prova da regista


Armed forces awarded above-inflation pay rise

Servicemen and women will receive a pay an above-inflation pay rise of 2.6%, the defence secretary, Des Browne, said today


Novartis plans new buyback as profit falls 42 percent

BASEL, Switzerland  - Novartis AG's  fourth-quarter net profit fell 42 percent to $931 million, missing forecasts, hit by generic competition and a one-off restructuring charge, the Swiss drugmaker said on Thursday.


UK police break Internet child abuse network

Police have smashed a global Internet pedophile ring with 700 members and rescued more than 30 children from abuse, a police spokesman said on Monday.


Five bombs hit Madrid after threat from Eta

Five bombs exploded in petrol stations near motorways in and around Madrid last night following warnings from a spokesman for Eta, the Basque separatist group.


Siena, 11:34 - CALCIO, SIENA: ACQUISTATI ELEFTHEROPOULOS E JAROLIM

Il Siena ha ufficializzato due acquisti. Si tratta del portiere Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos, 31 anni, ...


'Shark Tale' Wins Third Straight Weekend

LOS ANGELES - Movie-goers stuck with fish and football over puppets and prancers as "Shark Tale" and "Friday Night Lights" retained the top two box-office spots for another weekend.    The animated "Shark Tale" was No...


Scientists Worry About Red Tide, Manatees

An unseasonable outbreak of red tide has scientists worried that migrating manatees may swim into the potentially deadly algae.


Invasive Breast Cancer Is Diagnosed in Elizabeth Edwards

Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of John Edwards, the former Democratic vice-presidential candidate, received a diagnosis of breast cancer on the day his


Official nod for Sun open-source license

The Open Source Initiative's license approval committee has given a vote of support to Sun Microsystems' license.


Yale University will offer digital videos of some courses on the Internet for free in an effort to make the elite private school more accessible.


Vioxx Charges Push Merck Into Quarterly Loss

Merck posted a $1.63 billion fourth-quarter loss on Wednesday as charges for its Vioxx litigation settlement dragged down results and share prices.


Dogs who searched for explosives in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings are to receive awards.


After the success of Jab We Met, Kareena Kapoor is now ready to design her own line of clothing for a retail brand that she is endorsing.


NEW YORK Jamal Crawford's 22 points helped the New York Knicks rout the Dallas Mavericks 102-to-86 tonight in a preseason game.


Sen. John McCain, his presidential campaign weighed down by Iraq, on Monday rejected a proposal from two fellow Republicans demanding a new war strategy that would limit the role of U.S. troops.


Champion leg spinner Shane Warne has been ruled out of the fourth and final Test against India starting in Mumbai today. Warne received a knock on the thumb at training and X-rays have revealed it has been fractured.


Rusal, the world's largest aluminium producer, may move its listing from London to Hong Kong, it is reported.


Avrebbe riciclato denaro accumulato dal padre Vito


Peterson defense launches closing arguments

Scott Peterson's defense attorney launched into his closing arguments Tuesday by asking jurors if they hate his client. Attorney Mark Geragos greeted jurors, then walked slowly over to Peterson.


Freedom icon Gandhi's ashes scattered in Arabian Sea

Ashes of India's freedom icon Mahatma Gandhi were scattered on Wednesday off the coast of Mumbai in a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of his assassination by a Hindu fanatic.


LONDON  - Papa Bouba Diop's superb equaliser for Fulham blew Manchester United's chance to reel in English Premiership front-runners Arsenal and Chelsea in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.


Russian agency okays state's purchase of Yukos

the oil giant's most important production unit - was sold at an auction last Sunday to an obscure company called BaikalFinansGroup for $9.3 billion


Police checked a flood of tips on Tuesday  in the hunt for armed thieves who stole Edvard Munch's "The  Scream," and new details showed the robbers were more  professional than first thought.


US Is Angry at the Pressure on Paul Hamm

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) have accused the governing body of world gymnastics of putting "outrageous and improper" pressure on gold medallist Paul Hamm to give his medal to a South Korean rival.


Web mobilises to honour Anna Nicole Smith

'R.I.P. you sweet angel of my heart' The tragic news that the world is this morning poorer to the tune of one pair of 32DD breasts has moved netizens to honour Anna Nicole Smith in time-honoured web tradition.â¦


Where has the Black Caps' fighting spirit gone?

When the last breath was squeezed out of New Zealand just after lunch yesterday, with it went an appalling test series on virtually all counts.


Ban on skinny models shocks fashion world

MADRID.  - The world's first ban on overly thin   models at a top-level fashion show in Madrid has caused outrage   among modeling agencies and raised the prospect of restrictions   at other catwalk pageants.


NBC cancels Golden Globes show due to writers' strike

The American television network NBC has cancelled coverage of the Jan 13 Golden Globe Awards show because of the Hollywood screenwriters strike.


Dopo annuncio Spinetta su colloqui con Alitalia


Casablanca, 20:50 - CALCIO, MAROCCO: CONVOCATI PER COPPA D'AFRICA

Il ct del Marocco, Henri Michel, ha convocato 23 giocatori per la Coppa d'Africa, in programma in Gh...


Tim Henman today vowed he is ready to crown the most successful year of his career by returning from the Masters Cup almost a million pounds richer.


By Barry Adams, The Wisconsin State Journal  Dec. 18--Charles Rawls and his teammates had something tangible to work with during a semester-long marketing project for a consumer behavior class at the UW-Madison School of Business.


Warner Music Group Corp.  said  on Tuesday it decided against bidding for British rival EMI  Group Plc , two days before a deadline to submit an  offer loomed.


Alcan counterbid talk centers on Rio, Norsk Hydro

Norwegian aluminum group  Norsk Hydro  and global miner Rio Tinto    declined to confirm or deny reports that they may place  separate bids for Canada's Alcan .


By Dayton Daily News  TROY -- The Miami County Sanitary Engineering Department is encouraging residents to recycle their cut holiday trees and greenery.   Free tree and greenery drop-offs will be from Dec. 26 through Jan.


Palermo, 17:53 - CALCIO, PALERMO: DI MICHELE PRONTO PER PARMA

Il Palermo recupera David Di Michele per la trasferta di domenica al "Tardini" contro il Parma. L'at...


President Bush Focusing on Western States

President Bush is launching a focus on Western battlegrounds with no sign that the biting rhetoric he has aimed at Democratic challenger John Kerry in recent days is as aggressive as it's going to get.


Chrysler LLC and bankrupt supplier Plastech Engineered Products Inc reached an interim deal that will allow the U.S. automaker to resume production at four idled plants and avoid shutting down all of its assembly operations, an attorney for Plastech said on Tuesday.


SAO PAULO, Brazil  - If Ken Marshall were back in  his native Australia, he reckons he would need only half the  staff he has in Brazil to run his small import-export business.


Tokyo, 11:22 - TENNIS, CLASSIFICA ATP: TOP TEN INVARIATA

Tutto invariato nella top ten della classifica Atp. Lo svizzero Roger Federer comanda con un ampio m...


BLOUNTSTOWN, Fla., Sept. 18 -- The phone kept ringing all night.


Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour Party maintains a healthy lead over the opposition six months before elections widely expected in May, a poll released Saturday suggests.


Military Official Weighs in on New Photos

A senior U.S. military officer said Saturday that new pictures showing apparent abuse of Iraqi prisoners do not accurately reflect the good work done by the thousands of American soldiers in Iraq. But Gen. Mark Kimmitt acknowledged in an interview with al-Jazeera television that some people will use the photos to tarnish the image of America's military.


Boys' kidnapping suspect faces sodomy charges

A 41-year-old Missouri man accused of kidnapping two boys was charged Monday with multiple counts of forcible sodomy.


Palermo, 12:56 - CALCIO, PALERMO; GUIDOLIN: CARACCIOLO A ROMA? CE LO TENIAMO NOI

''Caracciolo alla Roma? Ce lo teniamo noi. E' un ottimo giocatore e sono sicuro che sfonderà ...


Tokyo stocks rose by mid-morning on Monday with a broad range of issues getting a lift from a key survey that boosted optimism on Japan's economic outlook, with expectations rising that growth figures will be revised up.


Airline bomb suspects appear in UK court

Thirteen British men accused of plotting  to blow up transatlantic airliners appeared in court on Monday  by video link from the high-security jail where they are being  held.


BAGHDAD - US soldiers are continuing to take ground in the Iraqi rebel centre of Fallujah but some soldiers have been diverted to Mosul to contain an uprising in the northern city.


Blair attends memorial ceremony for British hostage slain in Iraq

Prime Minister Tony Blair attended a memorial service in the northwestern English city of Liverpool for Kenneth Bigley, who was beheaded last month after being taken captive in Iraq.


In bid to grow, NYSE mulls longer trading

The New York Stock Exchange is considering extending its trading hours, a move that could change the way Wall Street traders do business.


Nigerian troops left for Sudan's Darfur province on Monday as part of an African Union force mandated for the conflict-torn region, military officials said.


Delve into the decadent dens of the world's most exclusive hot spots.


A plaque at the Pupin Physics Laboratories at Columbia University proclaims it a Registered National Historic Landmark, but there is no mention of ties to the bomb.


Developing states rap "interference" in Iran deal

Non-aligned nations on Tuesday rejected  "interference" in Iran's nuclear transparency deal with U.N.  inspectors, countering Western criticism the pact eases  pressure on Tehran not to seek technology with bomb potential.


Weis promises Irish will be a hard-working, nasty team

Charlie Weis promises to give Notre Dame an arrogant attitude and turn the Fighting Irish into an intelligent, hard-working, nasty football team.


Adobe Systems Inc. ADBE.O and Yahoo Inc. YHOO.O on Monday said they have signed a deal to combine Adobe services, like its widely used document-sharing program, with Yahoo's Web search functions.


Mickelson Takes Four-Shot Lead at Phoenix Open

JACKSONVILLE, Florida  - Phil Mickelson followed  up his second round 60 with a more workmanlike five-under 66 at  the Phoenix Open on Saturday to take a four-shot lead over  South Korea's Kevin Na.


com September 21, 2004, 2:07 PM PT. With the economy slowly turning up, upgrading hardware has been on businesses radar in the past 12 months as their number two priority.


Informal alliance likely for Air NZ, Qantas

Air New Zealand and Qantas are likely to form a modified alliance after the New Zealand High Court yesterday ruled against the airlines joining together in a formal way.


Not for general consumption, yet Redmond said yesterday that it has shot out another beta build of Windows Vista SP1, although this one is reserved for hardcore testers only.â¦


Indian court orders new probe of Sikh riots

A court asked India's federal police on Tuesday to reinvestigate anti-Sikh riots in 1984 after a witness surfaced to implicate a former minister in the violence that killed nearly 3,000 people.


New Indonesia Calamity, a Mud Bath, Is Man-Made

Geysers of mud and water are spewing forth from the site of a natural gas well, submerging eight villages.


UPDATE 1-Nalbandian holds off Koubek to advance in Vienna

Top seed David Nalbandian held off a spirited late challenge by Stefan Koubek to reach the quarter-finals of the Vienna Trophy on Thursday.


American Michael Phelps won his fourth gold medal of the Olympics in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday night, leading the entire race. Phelps finished in an Olympic-record time of 1 minute, 57.14 seconds, lowering his own mark of 1:58.52 set in the semifinals one night earlier.


An MP's call for compulsory counselling and a "cooling off" period before abortions is defeated.


With stars dimming NBC may unplug Globes

The Hollywood Foreign Press  Assn. and NBC engaged in eleventh-hour sessions Sunday to try  to save the boycott-stricken Golden Globes, with NBC appearing  to be seriously considering pulling the telecast as a result of  the Hollywood writers strike.


Iran, EU fail to agree on uranium enrichment program freeze

unable to reach an agreement with Iran on freezing the country's uranium enrichment program, because Iran refuses to retract its demand to continue operating 20 centrifuges for uranium enrichment, which it claims are for research and development purposes.


Inquiry Launched Over Missing Explosives in Iraq

Multinational Force Iraq and the Iraq Survey Group are examining facts and circumstances regarding when several hundred tons of explosives went missing from the


War-weary US military more wary of Bush in election

President George W. Bush is best positioned to win the military vote in the November 2 presidential election but experts say his popularity has dimmed among servicemembers who have borne the burden of three years of warfare.


The word "chav", a newly-popularised term of abuse applied to loutish types fond of tracksuits and cheap gold jewellery, is Britain's defining word or phrase of 2004, a new book announced.


Dell Recalls 1 Million Laptop Power Adapters

If you have an Inspiron, Latitude, or Precision notebook, then a recall is in effect for your power supply. "Dell on Friday announced that it's recalling almost a million faulty power adapters sold with its


Iraq panel pushes for more U.S. diplomacy

The United States should begin to withdraw forces from combat and launch a diplomatic push, including with Iran and Syria, to prevent "a slide toward chaos" in Iraq, an elite panel recommended on Wednesday.


Military Strikes Insurgentsâ Positions East of Baghdad

The assault, by more than 2,000 American troops in Baquba and more than 10,000 in the overall operation, is unusual in its scope and ambition.


The eclectic programming behind the inaugural season of Jazz at Lincoln Center seeks to demonstrate the potential of the organization's new space.


U.S. blue chips closed slightly higher  on Thursday, helped by Johnson & Johnson Inc.'s JNJ.N $25  billion deal to buy Guidant Corp. GDT.N, but the broader  market fell, with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. GS.N dragging the  S&P 500 lower after posting quarterly revenues that  disappointed Wall Street.


President Bush said Thursday the war against Islamic militants was like last century's fight against Nazis and communists and that a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would lead to its conquest by America's worst enemies.


G8's $60 bln AIDS and Africa pledge criticized

HEILIGENDAMM, Germany  - World powers on Friday pledged $60 billion to fight AIDS and other killer diseases ravaging Africa but development campaigners complained the Group of Eight had pledged little fresh cash for the poor.


Primo volo diretto Roma-New Delhi, titolo sospeso per rialzo


North Korea Talks May Be Victim of U.S. Election

Hopes for a September round of  six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis were  evaporating on Tuesday as Pyongyang hinted it was awaiting the  outcome of the U.S. presidential race.


Michael Moore Brings Bush-Bashing to Utah

Filmmaker Michael Moore brought his Bush-bashing to the heart of conservative Utah Wednesday, saying he was proud of student organizers who held firm against critics who tried to keep him out.


L'operazione scattata stanotte in dieci regioni italiane e in tre paesi stranieriOscurato un sito pedopornografico: 16 indagati tra cui un medico e un ufficiale                                          Due anni, attori in film porno Blitz antipedofili in Italia e all'estero                                                                                L'inchiesta coordinata dalla procura di Venezia e dal Centro nazionale per il contrasto alle porno-pedofilie online


Bush Seen with Debate Edge Over Kerry on Iraq, Terror

President Bush's ability to stick to a scripted defense of his policies on Iraq and terrorism should give him an edge over Democratic rival Sen. John Kerry in Thursday's presidential debate, analysts say.


U.S. panel weighs unapproved drug-coated stent use

GAITHERSBURG, Maryland  - The broad use of drug-coated heart stents in unapproved patients came under scrutiny on Friday as U.S. advisers weighed the risks of the tiny tubes implanted in millions to keep arteries open.


Francia, cala la fiducia sulle prospettive economiche


Zimbabwe has extradited British alleged mercenary Simon Mann to Equatorial Guinea, his lawyer says.


China to crack down on rich flouting one-child rule

Rich Chinese people who flout the country's family planning policies, which usually limit couples to one child, will face higher fines under tougher new enforcement guidelines, state media said on Saturday.


2 Recent Storms Show Forests Help Blunt Hurricanesâ Force

Authorities are crediting heavily forested areas along the Caribbean coast with sapping the energy of Hurricane Felix when it made landfall earlier this week.


Apple seen linking movie downloads to TV

When Apple Computer Inc. AAPL.O   introduced the iPod digital music player and companion iTunes   music software, it created a legitimate market for music   downloads and solved a problem vexing the technology industry.


Lebanon waited on Friday for the lifting   of Israel's eight-week maritime blockade as the United Nations   scrambled to sort out a naval force to deploy off the Lebanese   coast.


Qwest Communications International Inc.  offered to acquire long-distance telephone and data services company MCI Inc.  for more than $6 billion, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.


U.S. regulators to probe rating agencies: report

U.S. regulators plan to probe how the major credit-rating agencies are paid and their independence from Wall Street firms that issue bonds amid the crisis in the mortgage market, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition on Friday.


Nicosia, 22:18 - CALCIO, GRECIA-FINLANDIA 2-1 IN AMICHEVOLE

La Grecia ha battuto la Finlandia 2-1 (0-0) in un'amichevole giocata a Nicosia. In gol Charisteas (6...


Japan's stock market was weighed down on Thursday morning by a combination of overnight drops in the US and European markets and a rise in the yen.


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.


Sapiente mix di codici maschili e femminili, tagli superlativi


Trying to avoid vertigo, falls and other hazards of lost equilibrium.


Australian David McKenzie upstaged some illustrious rivals with an eight-under-par 64 to lead going into the final round of the Australian Masters in Melbourne.


The British Consulate General in Istanbul reopened on Monday some one year after the suicide bombing attack that caused massive damage to the building, Anatolia News Agency reported.


Arafat Says He May Have Made Mistakes, Urges Change

RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Yasser Arafat acknowledged  Wednesday that he could have made mistakes in his strongest  comments since a wave of Palestinian turmoil over demands for  anti-corruption reforms.


Vietnam's top adoption official tells TIME that a boy has been chosen and the actress may have her new son by next month


An Islamic Web site on Monday showed the beheading of two hostages - one a Turkish contractor and the other an Iraqi Kurdish translator wearing a badge of the Titan security company.


Senate panel backs kids health care bill

Defying a veto threat from President George W. Bush, a U.S. Senate panel overwhelmingly approved a bill on Thursday to finance expansion of a children's health care program with an increase in tobacco taxes.


Austria's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the retrial of a man who carried out Austria's most spectacular art heist — the May 2003 theft of a $65.5 million Renaissance figurine from Vienna's prestigious Art History Museum.


Manila beefs up troops in capital on coup rumors

About 1,000 soldiers were brought to the Philippine capital on Friday amid reports of a plot to destabilize the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo due to a brewing political scandal, the military chief said.


Intel brings forward tech for low-cost PCs

More desktop, notebook Eee-alikes on the way Intel has brought forward the launch of its 'Shelton' platform for budget-priced PCs, it has been claimed. Originally due in Q3, the technology for desktops and notebooks will now debut in May.â¦


Mills & Boon: 30,000 kisses and steamier than ever

Girls: you may have one tucked secretly  in your handbag. Boys: you may have stumbled on a stack of them  in your girlfriend's closet. Go ahead. Don't be shy.


Writers union: No Grammys likely, either

The striking Hollywood writers guild says it will likely not allow its members to work on next month's Grammy Awards telecast.


US and Iraqi troops have turned their attention to the flashpoint city of Mosul as part of their ongoing operation to target insurgents in Iraq.


Ali Hassan al-Majid - widely known as Chemical Ali - is quizzed by Iraqi judges ahead of a trial.


U.S. chain store retail sales rose in the latest week, as increased customer traffic at discount and department stores continues to drive sales, a retail report said on Tuesday.


India must cut its trade deficit with China, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says on a visit to Beijing.


Il governo dimostrera' che i conti sono a posto


Roma, 21:44 - PALLAMANO, SERIE A ELITE: BOLOGNA BATTE BRESSANONE NEL POSTICIPO

Il Bologna ha battuto 34-27 la Forst Bressanone nel posticipo della seconda giornata di ritorno dell...


Roma, 12:07 - CALCIO VIOLENTO: DAL 21/3 CAMERA ESAMINA DECRETO

A partire dal 21 marzo, l'Aula della Camera esaminerà il decreto legge contro la violenza neg...


A mass pig hunt on the Indonesian island of Sumatra threatens tigers and other rare wildlife, campaigners fear.


Erickson plans to stick with Niners for now

Coach Dennis Erickson is in no hurry to leave the San Francisco 49ers just yet. Erickson responded to the circling rumors about his future Monday, saying he thinks he'll still be employed by the 2-11 Niners at least until January.


Data from Nasa's Mars rover Opportunity shows its landing site is a prime spot for a return mission to look for life.


Officials in Mali say they have seized 750kg of cocaine valued at $45m, after a two-hour gun battle.


Goes West with Best Buy Carphone Warehouse is set to try its luck in the US with the help of local chain Best Buy.â¦


AIDS activist stopped from visiting U.S.

A retired Chinese doctor who helped expose blood-buying schemes that infected thousands with HIV has been put under house arrest to stop her from traveling to Washington to be honored by a charity backed by Sen. Hillary Clinton, a friend said Monday.


An international election monitoring group sent an advance team to Russia Wednesday amid complaints that Kremlin-imposed restrictions would hamper its ability to observe next month's presidential election.


Abbas assails Hamas "assassins", talks to Israel

RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in his first speech since Islamist Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, said on Wednesday there could be no reconciliation with a group he described as "traitors".


A major government food campaign is aiming to persuade Britons to limit their sugar intake.


Governo battuto sull'esclusione dal patto di stabilitÃ  interno dei comuni fino a 3000 abitanti: maggioranza e opposizione hanno votato contro un subemendamento presentato dal governo che mirava all'inclusione nel tetto al 2% anche piccoli comuni.


Early Voting for President Starts in Florida

Early voting for next month's  presidential election began in Florida on Monday, with  Democrats in particular urging supporters to use their early  ballot as a means of avoiding a repeat of the recount fiasco in  the 2000 election.


Phoenix Plant Problems Affect Water Supply

Because of problems at treatment plants, the 1.4 million residents of Phoenix were warned Tuesday to boil drinking water or use bottled water until further notice.


Ground Zero Health Program Hits a Setback in Washington

An abrupt move by the federal government has clouded the future of a national treatment program for ground zero workers outside the metropolitan area.


Efforts to restore devolution in Northern Ireland are to be discussed by the secretary of state and Irish foreign minister.


Kerry sees a crisis of 'historic' dimension

WASHINGTON In one of his sharpest and most detailed attacks on the Bush administration's Iraq policy, Senator John Kerry charged President George W. Bush on Monday with a series of critical misjudgments and obfuscations that he said had created a "crisis


Mortgage Applications Off in Oct. 22 Week

New applications for U.S. home loans  fell last week even as average 30-year mortgage rates decreased  from the previous week, an industry group said on Wednesday.


New Zealand moved into a strong position in the first Test against Bangladesh after James Franklin took a hat-trick on day two in Dhaka.


Tulsa, OK (Sports Network) - Tulsa head basketball coach John Phillips announced his resignation Saturday. Phillips, however, will remain with the school after accepting an extended offer as assistant athletics director.


Lebanese army increases forces in tense Beirut

Lebanon's army deployed more soldiers in Beirut on Monday after the killing of a pro-Syrian Shi'ite Muslim demonstrator raised fears anti-government protests could turn into sectarian violence.


Spezza Gets 300th Point in Senators' Victory

Jason Spezza scores a power-play goal for his 300th NHL point and Dany Heatley has two assists to reach 50 points this season, leading the Ottawa Senators to a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.


Lat night, in his final appearance as the anchor of the NBC Nightly News Tom Brokaw left us with some words of wisdom and a bit of nostalgia.


Problems Cited at Afghan Detention Center

An Army brigadier general who inspected U.S.-run detention centers in Afghanistan last summer found many shortcomings, including inadequate enforcement of approved interrogation rules, officials said Friday.


Attacco rivendicato da Hamas dopo uccisione bambina


China: Deadly Bird Flu Strain Found in Pigs

Chinese scientists say they have discovered a deadly strain of the bird flu virus in pigs. Speaking at an international conference on avian flu and SARS in Beijing Friday, Chinese animal research facility official, Chen Hualan said the deadly H5N1 virus ...


High Court Upholds Dog Sniffs at Traffic Stops

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on  Monday that police do not violate the constitutional right to  privacy when a dog sniff of a vehicle during a lawful traffic  stop turns up contraband.


Kemira buys Hungarian fertiliser factory

GrowHow, the plant nutrient division of Finnish chemicals group Kemira, has signed an agreement to buy Transcenter Kft, a Hungarian fertiliser factory.


Sudan Says Peace Talks Over, Blames Rebels and US

Sudan said peace talks with Darfur rebels  ended without agreement Friday and accused the United States of  stiffening rebel resolve to avoid compromise during the three  week negotiations.


Nigerian Islamist rebels attack police, take officers hostage

Islamist rebels have attacked a major police patrol and taken a number of hostages in a remote area of northeastern Nigeria near the Cameroon border, the missing officers' commander told AFP.


Greece's top two athletes, facing a  state prosecutor's investigation over missed drug tests and a  motorbike crash, left hospital Tuesday declaring they were  innocent and should be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games.


IBM Introduces Breakthrough Technology to Ensure Customer Data Privacy

IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced today the introduction of first-of-its-kind encryption technology and services that deliver the world's first enterprise-class solutions for securing consumer and corporate data privacy.


WHO says flu pandemic could kill millions

The world is closer to the next flu pandemic that may kill up to 7 million people, a World Health Organization expert warns. A worldwide outbreak is closer than ever because of bird flu, says Klaus Stohr, coordinator of WHO's global influenza program.


China is once again being blamed for cyberattacks on a foreign country, with New Zealand secret service officials saying the Chinese were behind an attack on its systems.


Health club operator Bally Total Fitness (BFT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it plans to seek waivers from its noteholders following the company's decision to restate more than four years of financial results


You be the judge, but a California state senator has worked himself into a righteous lather over RFID.


Barrick Gold invests US$28 million in Asia's Celtic Resources ...

TORONTO (CP) - Barrick Gold Corp. is investing $28 million US to get a nine per cent stake in Celtic Resources Holdings PLC and help develop gold assets in Russia and Central Asia.


'World's most valuable car' fails to sell

Following postponement of an auction to answer questions about the car's racing history, an ultra-rare 1939 German racing car expected to fetch the highest price ever paid at auction for any automobile did not find a buyer after a sealed-bid auction.


Gunmen Attack Two Police Stations North of Baghdad

Gunmen attacked two police stations on  Friday around Baquba, northeast of Baghdad, where the  anti-American insurgency has been strong, witnesses said.


Affectionately chr-istened âCrazy Horseâ by fanatical fans on Anfieldâs Kop terraces, Emlyn Hughes was one of the most competitive players to take the field for Liverpool and England.


Former BEA Execs, VC Heavyweights Launch Open-Source Startup

It appears something positive has emerged from the recent mass exodus of executives from BEA Systems. On Tuesday, three former BEA executives, with the help of two venture-capital heavyweights, launched a


A court in Indonesia has ruled that the detention of five executives of an American gold-mining company over a pollution scare was illegal.


GCI Hops into New Territory: MTA's: OPTIONS: Telecom, Cable Company to Offer Services in Eagle River.

By Richard Richtmyer, Anchorage Daily News, Alaska  Feb. 1--General Communication Inc., which has won a significant portion of the local phone markets in Alaska's three biggest cities over the past nine years, is moving into Eagle River.


Gordon â Experience key as chase comes to crunch.

Jeff Gordon believes the experience that has taken him to four titles in NASCAR's top division could prove key as he seeks to overcome Kurt Busch's 41-point title lead in the two remaining races.


Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted England had answered their critics in the perfect manner as Jermain Defoe inspired them to a morale-boosting World Cup qualifying victory in Poland.


Iraq makes an official protest to Turkey, accusing it of shelling Kurdish areas in northern Iraq.


No Paper Trail Linked Scrushy to Fraud -Accountant

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  - A probe of HealthSouth Corp.'s  $2.7 billion accounting scandal revealed no paper trail  directly connecting fraud to former Chief Executive Richard  Scrushy, a forensic accountant who helped unravel the scandal  testified at Scrushy's criminal trial.


Roche's Tamiflu Works Against Bird Flu Strain-Study

Roche AG's Tamiflu anti-influenza drug has been proven to work against H5N1, the strain of the avian flu virus that the World Health Organization says could be the source of a deadly flu pandemic.


Body found inside jet wheel well in San Francisco

Maintenance workers at San Francisco International Airport on Thursday found a dead man in the wheel well of a United Airlines Boeing 747 arriving from China, an airline spokeswoman said.


Ubuntu and the future of the Linux desktop

Does Ubuntu point the way to the real future for desktop Linux?


The average UK person will be richer in 2008 than their US counterpart for the first time since the 1800s, analysts say.


By all rights, Nick Young wasn't supposed to be a college basketball star. He flunked out of two high schools. His oldest brother died in a drive-by shooting. Now, the Southern California player is set to be chosen in this week's NBA draft and earn millions of dollars.


Meningitis vaccine may curb big outbreak

A new meningitis vaccine offers hope to end devastating epidemics that have plagued West Africa the last century, according to recent studies.


In US stand on torture, more trials to come

The sentencing of Charles Graner for Abu Ghraib abuse is one chapter in a larger terror-war saga.


Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams says he "regrets" the Birmingham pub bombings on the 30th anniversary of the attacks.


Nei due casi armi acquistate dallo stesso rivenditore online


A Hopeless Idea for a Film About Alexander Is Finally Successful

The producer Thomas SchÃ¼hly is eagerly awaiting the November release of "Alexander," a $150 million epic starring Colin Farrell as the Macedonian warrior of the title.


An Opportunity for Wall Street in Chinaâs Surveillance Boom

The ties between Wall Street and Chinaâs surveillance industry are starting to draw Washingtonâs attention.


LANDesk offers free software trial through Lenovo

(InfoWorld) - IT managers in search of software for managing their computer systems, especially those from Lenovo Group, might want to check out a trial version of LANDesk Management Suite for ThinkVantage. LANDesk SoftwareÂ is offering a scaled down version of its management software for a free 90-day trial as a download from its Web site. "This is a special promotion with Lenovo, so there is no cost on the license," said Mike Marshall, director of global strategic alliances at LANDesk. After the 90-day free trail, IT managers must send in a report and proof that the software is being used on Lenovo products to continue using it. The LANDesk software offers several utilities, such as the ability to generate reports,Â when used with Lenovo's ThinkVantage software. ThinkVantage is designed to automate many IT management and security tasks, such as component recall information collation, and advise on software patches and security upgrades. IT managers using hardware from vendors other than Lenovo can try out the LANDesk offering as well. However, they must pay licensing fees if they choose to keep using it past the trial period. The software also doesn't offer as much functionality when used on non-Lenovo products. For example, the report generating function on the LANDesk software works with ThinkVantage, but not with IT management software from other major PC vendors. It can generate reports on whether certain software on Lenovo laptops and desktops has been updated, and a host of other items, such as which laptops at a company might need component upgrades if the company switches to the Windows Vista OS, which has more stringent hardware requirements than Windows XP. The point of the 90-day trial is to generate interest for the full version of the LANDesk Management Suite. The scaled down version is a good starter for small and medium size companies, said Marshall, but it can be used in companies of all sizes. IT managers who decide to use the software after the trial phase only have to pay to unlock functions and expand capabilities. They don't have to load the LANDesk Management Suite program. Moreover, they pay only for those utilities they find most useful. "It's a process of buying a license," Marshall said. "You take what you need." Â


The prime suspects in the failed attempt to blow up two German trains were partially motivated by anger over the recent publication of Prophet Muhammad cartoons, a leading investigator said in an interview released Saturday.


A day after confirming media reports that said talks were underway, Toronto-Dominion Bank said early Thursday it has taken a majority stake in New England bank Banknorth Group Ltd.


Con gen.Giannini stiamo facendo il quadro della situazione


Amazon to sell Sony BMG songs free of copy curbs

Online retailer Amazon.com Inc   said on Thursday its digital music store will now  offer songs from Sony BMG Music Entertainment without  copy-protection technology, or digital rights management.


Tim Henman acknowledged the dilemma of his life in tennis. "I've never hidden behind the fact that I'll be judged on whether I win Wimbledon or not," he said.


G.E. Earnings Rise 18%; Strong Gains in Most Units

G.E., which reported earnings growth in 9 of 11 business units, said that it saw particular strength in industrial sales.


The revival of âThe Country Girlâ finds its Broadway home, and James Gandolfini joins the cast of the film âSexual Healing.â


Supreme Court Sidesteps Gay Adoption Case

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal Monday by four men who challenged Florida's ban on adoption by gay couples, avoiding another contentious fight over gay rights.


Gianfranco Mule', 50 anni, e' da tempo malato di Aids


France's finance ministry calls for tighter banking controls after the Societe Generale trading scandal.


Ahmadinejad seeks budget boost ahead of election

Iran's president proposed a bigger budget for 2008-09 to parliament on Monday that he said would promote social equality but critics fear will further stoke double-digit inflation in OPEC's second biggest producer.


Russia says no progress on U.S. missile shield

Moscow and Washington are no closer to resolving their differences over U.S. plans for a missile shield in Europe despite talks on a compromise, a senior Russian diplomat said on Wednesday.


It's the mayor's visionary project — or his $1.4 billion boondoggle. It's a boon to construction unions — or the bane of New York's police and firefighters. It will bring the Olympics to New York — or ruin one of the city's great neighborhoods.


School Program Uses Musicals as Teaching Tools

The TV documentary "Children Will Listen," which debuted on PBS Thanksgiving night, demonstrated the comeback of musical theater in schools. It used a Kennedy Center production of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" by Washington, D.C., kids as its anchor.


Reigning 10m Platform world champion Alexandre Despatie from Canada qualified first for the semifinals of the 3m Springboard competition while the German contenders failed to do so.


Hal Sutton had a good idea what kind of U.S. team he would take to the Ryder Cup. All that changed in the final round of the PGA Championship.


Here are three signs that it could be time to sell.


Beijing '08 progress on track but pollution a worry: IOC

Preparations for the Beijing 2008 Olympics are well on schedule but pollution is still a concern, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.


Serbia restored its 19th-century anthem and ancient coat of arms Tuesday, harkening back to its royal history as its people struggle with economic and social hardships.


3 More Plead Guilty to Katrina Fraud: Mississippi Convictions Now Total 24

By Robin Fitzgerald, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.  Sep. 9--Three more people, including a Gulfport man, have pleaded guilty to crimes involving hurricane-related fraud.


Airbus A380 lands in Sydney on first commercial flight

The world's biggest jumbo jet landed safely in Sydney on Thursday, completing its long-delayed first commercial flight from Singapore.


Japan Stocks Open Lower, Tech Shares Fall

Tokyo's Nikkei share average opened down 0.59 percent on Thursday with technology shares leading the way following a drop in their U.S. peers after Goldman Sachs downgraded its view on the sector.


Emerging India set for special EU partnership

BRUSSELS - Once written off as the poor cousin of Asian powerhouse China, India is to open talks today to forge a strategic partnership with the European Union, a status so far restricted to just five big countries.


Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello expects team-mate Michael Schumacher to challenge him for victory in the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix, even though the world champion will start from the back of the grid.


It's a thoroughly Hollywood version of a "true story," but this film's got heart -- and a worthwhile message


BenQ Mobile to file for bankruptcy in Germany

(InfoWorld) - BenQ Mobile plans to file for bankruptcy protection in Germany after its Taiwanese parent decided to stop investing in the money-losing operation, the mobile phone maker said Thursday. Taiwan's BenQ Corp., which will continue to develop and market BenQ-Siemens brand mobile phones, said it made the decision because it saw no end to the losses after already sinking over â¬600 million ($761.7 million) into the unit. "We made this painful decision after losses continued to pile up despite our best efforts," said K.Y. Lee, chairman of BenQ, at a news conference in Taipei. BenQ said the bankruptcy filing should not affect customers since the parent company will continue to develop, manufacture, and sell BenQ-Siemens handsets from Asia. The decision comes almost a year after BenQÂ took over the mobile phone businessÂ from Siemens, and leaves the fate of 3,000 German workers at BenQ Mobile in doubt. It also highlights the difficulty of turning around a sinking business. Under Siemens, the handset division had been losing market share. The German company even paid BenQ â¬250 million to take the ailing division off its hands. BenQ has posted losses for the three financial quarters that have passed since it acquired BenQ Mobile. Analysts have blamed stiff competition in the mobile phone industry for the troubles many handset makers have faced this year. Industry leaders Nokia and Motorola have both gained market share this year, mainly at the expense of smaller rivals, according to market researcher Gartner. BenQ's share of the handset market dropped to 3.2 percent in the second quarter, from 4.8 percent the same time last year, according to Gartner. Meanwhile, Nokia's share rose to 33.6 percent from 31.6 percent, and Motorola's increased to 21.9 percent from 17.7 percent. If BenQ Mobile can return to financial health as it restructures under the protection of the German government, it could return to the BenQ family of companies, BenQ said. BenQ Mobile's headquarters in Munich, as well as sites in Kamp-Lintfort and Bocholt in North-Rhine-Westphalia will be directly affected by the decision, while operations in Brazil will undergo a financial review. The Taiwanese company had already taken several steps to reduce costs and turn BenQ Mobile around, includingÂ laying offÂ over 500 workers earlier this year in Germany, and announcing a plan toÂ shut down mobile phone productionÂ in Taiwan. The company also announced several measures intended to streamline its operations, including a plan toÂ spin offÂ its non-handset manufacturing business.ADVERTISEMENTMAKE SOA REAL WITH IBM WEBSPHERE PODCASTStreamline processes and maximize efficiency within a proven service oriented architecture. Take back control of your business processes with IBM WebSphere.


Per Rsu adesioni al 90%, Trenitalia replica, solo 14%


RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Hamas boycotted the opening of the Palestinian parliament's new term yesterday, effectively allowing President Mahmoud Abbas to keep his moderate emergency Cabinet in power.


U.S. stock investors face a mind-numbing pile of information next week as corporate earnings and economic data pour in, Alan Greenspan speaks and the presidential election heads toward the homestretch.


Roma, 23:07 - BASKET, ULEB CUP: BEGHELLI BOLOGNA KO

La Beghelli Fortitudo Bologna è stata battuta in trasferta dall'Ostenda 62-60 nell'ottava gio...


Victoria Beckham wins libel damages over a magazine claim that a US TV crew found her "picky and rude".


Denis Watson heard too often that he'd never play golf again. It took 23 years to prove everyone wrong. Watson took advantage of Eduardo Romero's late mistakes to take the Senior PGA Championship, his first U.S. victory since winning three times on the PGA Tour in 1984.


High Mercury Levels Are Found in Tuna Sushi

Tests on sushi bought in Manhattan revealed mercury levels that exceed accepted safety standards.


Pakistan says won't let foreign troops on its soil

Pakistan will not allow any country to conduct military operations on its territory, officials said on Monday, rejecting a report that said the United States was considering authorizing its forces to act in Pakistan.


Cisco teams with Haier for home network gear

Hold hands and take the plunge Cisco has inked a deal with one of China's largest appliance makers to develop networking gear for residential use. Through its partnership with the Haier Group, Cisco seeks to cash in on the ever-growing popularity of the internet as a critical component in home entertainment centers.â¦


Taiwan planes leaves for China in first direct flights in 55 years

Two Taiwanese planes left for China as part of the first direct flights between the rivals since they spilt in 1949 after a civil war.


PALM DESERT, Calif. -- While playing partners Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie grabbed most of the attention, Grace Park made history Thursday at the Samsung World Championship.


Sentenza, mano leggera Non retrocede nessuno

La Disciplinare lascia il Modena in B (5 punti di penalizzazione) e il Siena in A (solo ammenda), squalifica Marasco per illecito ma risparmia Bettarini, fermato 5 mesi (e non 3 anni) solo per omessa denuncia.


Any major league perceptions about Major League Lacrosse evaporate as soon as you walk into its headquarters, a small first-floor office in Brighton, next to the Mass. Pike.


Diplomats: UN Plans Visit to Suspected Iran Nuke Site

Inspectors from the U.N. nuclear  watchdog will soon visit the Parchin military complex in Iran,  where the United States suspects Tehran has been conducting  secret atomic weapons work, Western diplomats said Friday.


Site News: Blast from the Past - One Year Ago in PHP

Here's what was popular in the PHP community one year ago today:Christopher Jones' Blog: Review: PHP Web ProgrammingCommunity News: PHP Conference BrasilWebReference.com: Creating a Custom RSS Feed with PHP and MySQLThe Shadow Fox Network: Create Dynamic URLs With Mod_Rewrite and PHP FunctionsJoshua Eichorn's Blog: Official WebThumb Contest rules publishedDevshed: PHP EmailHowTo Forge: Installing A LAMP System With Fedora Core 6ThinkPHP Blog: Oracle with PHP and PDODevShed: Creating an Administration Area for a Simple Threaded Discussion ForumDevShed: Setting up the Foundation for an Extensible Website Engine with PHP 5PHPBuilder.com: PEAR's HTML_QuickFormAndi Gutmans' Blog:  PHP and Database Connection PoolingInternational PHP Magazine: Poll Question: The Biggest Advantage of PHP 5 is?Greg Beaver's Blog: PhpDocumentor 1.3.1 is releasedAlexander Netkachev's Blog: Practical PHP events


RUTLAND, Vt. - A man who helped his friend fake a fall that had actually occurred during a botched burglary in another town could go to prison for it. Louis Stevens, 43, pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud under a plea deal calling for up to 20 years in prison.


Internet company AOL said Monday it is partnering with a unit of Gannett Co. to offer new forms of interactive advertising that incorporate audio and video elements.


Ex-UK top law officer moves to US law firm

Lord Goldsmith, who stepped down as Britain's attorney-general in June and is best remembered for his controversial advice to former prime minister Tony Blair on the legality of the war in Iraq, is to join a heavyweight US law firm.


EU warns of evidence against harmful US aerospace subsidies

The European Union warned the US ambassador to the WTO Thursday that the EU had abundant proof that US aerospace subsidies are harming European competitors by undercutting prices and causing them to lose markets.


The UN Security Council will hold a closed meeting on Kosovo, set to declare independence from Serbia.


No. 4 Washington State passed its first major test of the season most impressively last night in Los Angeles.


Nestle announces it is to cut 645 jobs in York and sell part of its site as part of a major restructuring plan.


Electronic Jihad Internet Attack Rumored For Today  Is the Electronic Jihad attack happening today or is it just stirred up rumors? Yevgeny Kaspersky has raised concerns of a major attack on the internet today. Kaspersky has been widely quoted as saying that there would be a major online attack against Israeli ...


Spears taken to LA hospital after custody standoff

Britney Spears was taken to a Los Angeles hospital early on Friday, after police spent about four hours at her house trying to mediate a custody dispute, according to witnesses.


Soccer: Mourinho silent over Mutu affair

LONDON : Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said he would not get involved in a public slanging match over striker Adrian Mutu's drugs shame but insisted the club are doing their best to keep players in order.


REAL Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen fought out an exciting 1-1 draw this morning (Singapore time) to leave qualification from Group B still up in the air for both sides.


The only outstanding issue facing Northern Ireland's politicians is whether Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists will form a power sharing executive, it was claimed today.


Microsoft sees billions in sales from VoIP shift

Microsoft Corp. sees the shift by  business organizations to Web-based phone systems running on  its software to generate "billions" of dollars in revenue for  the company, a top executive said on Tuesday.


KANPUR: A masterstroke. Thatâs what everybody would term the South African think-tankâs decision to open the innings with a makeshift opener.


The Denver Zoo has a newly hatched Andean condor, only the second condor to hatch at a zoo anywhere in the world over the past year, zoo officials said Thursday.The Denver condor, a male, hatched May 13.


FRANKFURT - US officials have told Germany that they will not extradite 13 purported CIA agents in the alleged kidnapping of a German citizen. The Bush administration told Berlin it would not hand over the 13, and the Justice Ministry decided not to formally request their arrest, a ministry spokeswoman said yesterday. The group is accused of wrongfully imprisoning and ...


QUINTA DO PANASCAL, Portugal  - For centuries, wine producers have labored in Portugal's rugged Douro region, refining wine-making traditions that are as entrenched as its steep valleys.


Doesn't want to scare customers with performance Hopefully someone at Sun Microsystems can still explain why the Rock processor is still a good idea.â¦


The second of two men who last month pulled off a daring escape from a county jail in New Jersey was taken into custody Wednesday, authorities told CNN.


Typhoon Songda hit Okinawa Island in Japan Sunday, injuring at least 13 and forcing flight cancellations, road closings and a halt to sea transportation.


Seeking a Runner, the Giants Get Droughns

The Giants, needing to fill the hole left by the retired Tiki Barber, added running back Reuben Droughns on Friday by trading wide receiver Tim Carter to the Cleveland Browns.


Israel Ends Its Blockade of LebanonÂs Coastline

Israel turned over patrols of the coast to Italian warships, which would help enforce an arms embargo against Hezbollah.


PSA Peugeot Citroen to fall short of sales target in China

PSA Peugeot Citroen China's unit is expected to miss its full-year car sales target due to intense competition and slumping sales.


British rider David Millar leads stage one of the Tour de France as it leaves London bound for Canterbury.


U.S. official badly hurt in Sudan shooting

A U.S. official was critically wounded  in a shooting attack on an embassy vehicle in Khartoum on  Tuesday and his Sudanese driver was killed, a Western  diplomatic source said.


Crude oil futures briefly climbed back  over $50 a barrel on Thursday, with worries over the security  of Nigerian supplies supporting prices despite a surprise  increase in U.S. crude inventories.


Rebrand to beat off premium rate rip-off merchants The watchdog formerly known as ICSTIS has rebranded itself PhonePayPlus and promised to come down harder on TV shows, after a series of rip-off scandals in the last year garnered it widespread criticism.â¦


Europe Rejects Microsoft's Bid to Preserve Bundling Plan

The court's order is the first time since antitrust challenges to Microsoft began that the company will be forced to alter its strategy of bundling software.


Australian PM Meets Governor to Call Election

Conservative Australian Prime Minister John Howard began the formal process for calling a cliff-hanger election tipped for Oct. 9 when he arrived at Government House Sunday.


UK's Brown makes fact-finding visit to Iraq

Britain's next prime minister, Gordon Brown, arrived in Iraq on Monday for a fact-finding visit as he weighs Britain's future involvement in a four-year-old war that has angered voters and led to calls for a speedy pullout.


Sharon Stone juggles family, acting, AIDS work

Sharon Stone may be an  international movie star and sex goddess, but she's also "a  multi-tasking single mom," as she puts it.


A suicide bomb kills An Afghan provincial governor, the highest-ranking official to die in the insurgency.


Scientists working in Kenya believe that malaria is helping the spread of Aids across Africa - and vice versa.


Gunmen Kidnap Two Americans, Briton in Baghdad

Gunmen kidnapped two Americans and a  Briton from a house in an affluent central Baghdad neighborhood  on Thursday, the latest in a nearly six-month campaign of  abductions of foreigners in Iraq.


Equity Group Seeks to Redo Deal for Auto Glass Business

Platinum Equity said that it wanted to renegotiate its planned $500 million purchase of the automotive glass division of PPG Industries, alleging PPG had misrepresented the health of the business.


Mammucari presto papa', rinuncia a condurre il programma