British hostage feared dead in Iraq as rebels attacked in Mosul

BAGHDAD  - British officials said they believed Margaret Hassan, a British-Irish aid worker kidnapped in Iraq last month, had been killed by her captors after a video was issued apparently showing her murder.


JAKARTA The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has called on the United States to dip into its strategic petroleum reserve to help deflate oil prices, the cartel's president said Wednesday.


ICC names first Darfur war crimes suspects

The International Criminal Court chief prosecutor named a Sudanese minister and a militia commander on Tuesday as the first suspects he wants tried for war crimes in Darfur and suggested more could follow.


Students Click, and a Quiz Becomes a Game

A technology known as an audience response system is spreading to public and private schools across the country.


The Enterprise beckons once again Comment Heroic comebacks are something of a rarity in the high technology industry. Companies that fall from grace disappear, either through bankruptcy or absorption into larger players. However, the switching market has a couple of interesting examples of long-established players that may be in a position to buck the trend.â¦


The young actress was trapped amid the devastation.


Almost five years to the day after 14-year-old Chauntae Jones was stabbed, beaten with a rock and buried alive, a second man went on trial Monday in her killing and the death of her unborn daughter.


For SunRocket Customers, Sounds of Silence

Thousands of SunRocket subscribers found their phone lines disconnected this week after the start-up Internet-phone service provider abruptly shut its doors Monday.


Corporations, foundations and lobbying groups donating to the International Republican Institute over the past two years include:


NEC partners with India's Sify to sell thin PCs

Japan's NEC  said on Thursday it  will partner with Indian IT services firm Sify Ltd.  to  pitch thin client computing systems in India as an alternative  to conventional desktop computing.


Iran says backs OPEC push for "acceptable" oil price

Iran will support any OPEC move to bring  crude oil prices back to acceptable levels following a recent  slide, Iran's OPEC Governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili said on  Sunday.


AOL and ÂSurvivorÂ Producer Introduce Online Game

The game called Gold Rush promises to give away $100,000 in gold twice a week for seven weeks, culminating in a $1 million contest.


Iraqi PM Extends Emergency Laws for Elections

Iraq's U.S.-backed government said on  Thursday it was extending emergency powers equivalent to  martial law for a further 30 days to try to safeguard Jan. 30  elections under threat from deadly attacks by insurgents.


The global body regulating wildlife trade calls on China to reduce the scale of its tiger farming industry.


To the myriad tales of the dangers that pervade Iraq, add the one about Sgt. Arthur Martinez and the mystery bullet.


ADV: Health Insurance for the Self-Employed!

Affordable health, dental, and life insurance for you and your family. Ideal for self-employed, small business owners. Fill out our form for a competitive quote.


Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson was in critical condition after brain surgery, the U.S. Capitol physician said on Thursday, an illness that could deprive Democrats of their precarious hold on the incoming Senate.


Study Shows Different Heart Effects of COX Drugs

People who take Merck & Co. Inc.'s analgesic Vioxx are nearly three times as likely to have heart attacks as those taking Pfizer Inc.


Il metallo prezioso scambiato a 665,45 dollari l'oncia


A military plane crashed in Poland on Wednesday killing at least seven people, an emergency official said.


Border town united by Gaza border breach

Divided by a twist of history 26 years ago, this remote town straddling the Gaza-Egypt border has been reunited in just as haphazard a fashion.


HELSINKI, Finland  -- Germany set a world record Thursday in the men's 4x50-meter medley relay at the European Short Course Swimming Championships.


Though he lost the engagement ring and two wedding bands, the prospective bridegroom apparently found true love.


A Palermo, la moto guidata dal padre.A bordo tre persone


Three British troops have been killed and a number of others injured, in Iraq. Send us your reaction.


Berlin opera may stage "Idomeneo" if sure of safety

A Berlin opera house condemned for   canceling performances of a Mozart work because of concern it   could provoke violence by Muslims said on Thursday it might   consider staging the production if it had security assurances.


Shares plunged in morning trading as a jittery Wall Street sold off on a report showing a large drop in pending home sales.


Quotes from Sunday night's Screen Actors Guild Awards:


Van Nistelrooy on FA charge as United cry foul over flying food

Sir Alex Ferguson's shirt may have been laundered, and the dressing-room corridor swept clean of rotting sandwiches, but it will take more than a washing machine and a broom to dispel the bad odour which accompanied Manchester United's curtailing of


If you want to find a needle of information in the seemingly endless haystack that is the Web, just punch a few words into your favorite Internet search engine. But if you want to pull up a file from your PC's hard drive, good luck.


As the awards season approaches, it's time again to hand out the prizes for executive incompetence.


Va. gov. meets with VT victims' families

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine met Saturday for two hours with relatives of those killed at Virginia Tech and pledged they would have access to a panel investigating the shootings, but stopped short of giving them a seat on the panel. The relatives have demanded representation on an eight-member panel Kaine has appointed to investigate the April 16 shootings that left 33 dead.


The Supreme Court will decide whether ExxonMobil is being hammered by a damage award.


By The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.  Jun. 12--THE ARMY has been its own worst enemy from a public relations standpoint in the delays and incompleteness of information released so far about Fort Carson expansion plans for Pinon Canyon.


Patriots Rocket Past Steelers to Super Bowl

Tom Brady showcases his perfect postseason form while the Patriots defense forces four Steeler turnovers to clinch the AFC championship, 41-27, on Sunday night.


Japanese leader Shinzo Abe is admitted to hospital, a day after announcing his decision to step down.


Samba servers vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks

Patches released for flaws in software package that lets Windows files and printers be shared by Unix and Linux systems.


Global temperatures could rise by as much as 11 degrees Celsius, a major climate prediction project suggests.


The government is planning to create tougher punishments for those who kill people while driving.


Hulk Hogan's Son Involved in Serious Car Crash

Hulk Hogan's son Nick Bollea was seriously injured Sunday night after his car careened off the road and struck a palm tree. Bollea was driving his yellow Toyota Supra down a four-lane highway in downtown Clearwater, Fla., when the car's rear tires hit ...


"We control our destiny, unlike last year where we didn't know," USC defensive tackle Shaun Cody said this week. "We were hoping on a prayer things would fall into place.


Second Briton arrested in prostitute murder case

British police hunting the suspected serial killer of five prostitutes arrested a second man on Tuesday and were given more time to question the first suspect detained on Monday.


A string of ministers including Alistair Darling admit smoking cannabis after Jacqui Smith's earlier confession.


George MacDonald Fraser, who wrote the best-selling Flashman series of adventure stories about a colonial-era British Army officer, has died aged 82, British media said Wednesday.


Maguire attacking big screen in "Robotech"

TORONTO  - After slipping on a mask for Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire might be slipping into a giant robot for "Robotech."


Mibtel +0,11%, SP/Mib -0,03%. Bene Italcementi, Fiat ed Ifi


Barcelona will host the wireless industry this week at the 3GSM World Congress. Look for flashy cell phones, faster networks and small-screen entertainment. By the Associated Press.


Arrival! SMART-1 Moon Probe Reaches Target

UPDATE: Story first posted 6:49 a.m. ET, November 16,  2004


The publisher of the latest Harry Potter book cancels an order to supply 500,000 copies to a UK supermarket.


EDITORIAL: Put Trashed TVs Where They Belong

By Duluth News-Tribune, Minn.  Mar. 8--In an ideal world, every time a new TV set or computer monitor was purchased, an old, junky one would be recycled -- rather than being dumped from Skyline Parkway or tossed into a rural ditch or even forgotten in a basement.


A drought-hit resort town in Canada's Pacific rain forest is trucking in water to avert a total shutdown, but hotels and other businesses will have to severely limit consumption, the mayor said on Friday.


Wild Ink Hill Despite Steroid Suspension

MINNEAPOLIS -- Just when Sean Hill thought a steroid scandal might mark the end of his NHL career, the Minnesota Wild called to tell him to come on home.


Actor Owen Wilson is "doing well", following reports of an attempted suicide, says film-maker Wes Anderson.


Interview: Germany's top climate adviser

Hans Joachim Schellnhuber talked with the Monitor upon his return from the just-concluded Bali talks.


Seven days after it appeared Keegan was on the brink of the sack, his side brutally destroyed hapless Barnsley in a one-sided Carling Cup encounter, eclipsing the 6-0 victory over Birmingham during the ...


The attacks were aimed at reigniting a cycle of sectarian retribution as hundreds of thousands of Shiites made their pilgrimage to Karbala.


Strong growth expected for local search advertising

(InfoWorld) - Companies globally will increase their spending on local search engines and online business listing directories an average of 22.3 percent per year through 2011, according to a study by The Kelsey Group Inc. The finding reinforces the notion that the popularity of these sites, which provide a variety of information about a specific geographic area, is growing at a rapid pace among advertisers and users. "There are a lot of goods and services that people can't or won't buy on the Internet and people need to find local businesses for them," said Matt Booth, Kelsey Group's senior vice president and program director of interactive local media. Kelsey Group expects advertisers to spend US$11.1 billion in 2011 in these sites, compared with $4.1 billion last year, the company said Wednesday. The growth will be fueled by factors like new advertisers, fatter online marketing budgets, better ad targeting technology leading to better conversions and an increase in the prices of these pay-per-click ads, Booth said. Many of the new advertisers will be small businesses that currently advertise in the print editions of phone directories. The telecommunications companies that publish these directories will become more aggressive at offering these small business combined print and online deals, Booth said. Local search engines, like Google Inc.'s Google Local and Yahoo Inc.'s Yahoo Local , let users enter queries pegged to an area, in order to find places, businesses, events, driving directions and maps. Business listings directories, like Yahoo's Yellow Pages , are designed for a similar purpose but emphasize browsing their directories over entering search queries. Ad growth in print "yellow pages" phone directories will be almost flat through 2011, increasing an annual average of 0.9 percent, with $27.8 billion expected to be spent in 2011, according to The Kelsey Group.


Lions Agree to One-Year Deal With Duckett

Free agent running back T.J. Duckett has agreed to a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions, leaving after just one season in Washington.


Cost of nuclear decommissioning rises to 73 billion pounds: report

The cost of decommissioning ageing nuclear plants has soared by 12 billion pounds to 73 billion over the past few years, a report said Wednesday.


Indexes tumble as bond yields jump to 5-year high

Stocks fell sharply on Tuesday as bond yields shot to their highest in five years, stoking fears that higher borrowing costs could cut into corporate profits and discourage takeovers.


Agreement on Iran sanctions eludes world powers at talks

PARIS -- Six world powers failed yesterday to agree on a draft UN resolution to slap sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, and after months of haggling France said several key differences remain between the West and Russia.


N.Y. lawmakers want sex offenders' email addresses

New York lawmakers proposed legislation on Tuesday that would provide new protection from convicted sex offenders hanging out on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.


Ethiopia on Friday freed 38  opposition members sentenced to jail this week for treason,  inciting violence and trying to overthrow the government, Prime  Minister Meles Zenawi said.


Lieberman may back Republican in '08 race

U.S. Sen. Joseph  Lieberman, an independent who supports Democrats in Congress  despite his backing of the Iraq war, said on Thursday he was  not ruling out endorsing a Republican in the White House race.


Ethiopia hostages "safe" with rebels: local leader

Five Europeans and eight locals kidnapped in remote north Ethiopia are "unharmed and safe" in the hands of Afar separatist rebels holding them over the border in Eritrea, an Afar leader said on Friday.


FBI screwed up, spied on entire email network

One warrant for one address not quite good enough The FBI on Friday revealed that human error led to surveillance of an entire email network back in 2006, rather than the single email address approved by the secretive court which approves domestic wiretaps and other forms of e-surveillance.â¦


Steve Martin Gets Career Achievement Honor

Too much praise can turn Steve Martin into a wild and insincere guy. The star of "The Jerk" and "Bringing Down the House" accepted the American Cinematheque career achievement honor Friday with mock cynicism.


Alex Ovechkin has another frustrating night in his third consecutive game without a point, and the Capitals fall to the Bruins, 3-2, in the shootout.


Toting menacing looking toy guns, young boys swarm around an abandoned car, chanting battle cries of a Shiite militia and pointing their play weapons at the "terrorist" in the driver's seat. Outnumbered, the boy playing a would-be suicide bomber surrenders.


ANCASTER, Ontario  - Jim Furyk took advantage of   ideal scoring conditions to card a sizzling error-free   seven-under 63 and grab the early first round lead at the   Canadian Open on Thursday.


INTEL CORP. and Hewlett Packard reached an agreement last week in which Intel will absorb the latterâs Itanium processor design team based in Ft.


Maranello, 12:35 - F1, GP CINA; MONTEZEMOLO: VITTORIA DA INFARTO

''Avendo a fatica evitato l'infarto, posso dire che vincere in questo modo in Cina è bellissi...


Philadelphia unveils crackdown on violent crime

Philadelphia on Wednesday announced a crackdown on violent crime in an effort to curb one of the highest homicide rates among major U.S. cities.


Judge in Air India trial faces daunting task of ruling on total of ...

VANCOUVER (CP) - Lost in the mountains of evidence and seemingly interminable arguments made by a phalanx of lawyers at the Air India trial is the fact Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri face more than just murder charges.


Critical Obama loses 'favorite son' status in Kenya

Kenya stepped up criticism of US Senator Barack Obama, accusing him of insulting the Kenyan people and trivializing their achievements during a visit to his father's homeland.


Crumbs Company insolvency specialist Piper Thompson has confirmed it is handling the administration of broadband provider Biscit.â¦


Russia Launches Supplies to Astronauts in Orbit

A Russian spaceship blasted off on Friday carrying vital food and water to two astronauts whose supplies have been rationed because they were running so low.


Sottosegretario valuta possibile candidatura al vertice


AT&T and the government tell an appeals court that the case against the telecom for allegedly helping the government spy on Americans is too secret for any court, despite the Administration's admission it did spy on Americans without warrants.


Michael Vick's legal troubles prompt Nike on Thursday to suspend the release of its latest product line named after the Falcons quarterback.


EU to offer Serbia fast track to candidacy: draft

European Union leaders are set to  offer Serbia a fast track to candidacy for membership in the  bloc and pledge to step up preparations for a police mission to  stabilize Kosovo, a draft statement for Friday's EU summit  said.


Sperm defects caused by exposure to environmental toxins can be passed down the generations, research suggests.


Chileans Order Peruâs Ex-Chief Home for Trial

The ruling on Peruâs former president, Alberto Fujimori, may have broader influence, experts said.


This summer is proving the apotheosis of the one-week blockbuster.


TV Sports: Debut of ESPNâs âE:60â: Been There, Seen That

A quick impression from watching the debut of ESPNâs âE:60â news magazine on Tuesday is how much the show wants to emulate the gravitas of HBOâs 12-year-old âReal Sports.â


Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz will reunite to play a married couple in "A Little Game Without


IBM's sale of its PC unit to a Chinese firm is the latest sign that a new giant is rising.


The European Commission on Tuesday approved Oracle Corp.'s (ORCL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) proposed $7.7 billion hostile takeover


Nuovo traguardo per Google Biblioteca universale sul web

New York, 14 dicembre 2004 - Una biblioteca universale virtuale. E' questo l'ultimo ambizioso obiettivo di Google, il popolare motore di ricerca su Internet, da pochi mesi anche quotato a Wall Street. Google


LIVINGSTON, Nov 26 (SW) - Scottish Premier League strugglers Livingston FC have confirmed the dismissal of manager Allan Preston. Currently bottom of the SPL table with only 9 points and two wins in 15 games


BRUSSELS, Belgium Aug. 27, 2004 - Belgium's Interbrew SA and Brazil's Ambev completed their planned $11.4 billion combination Friday after shareholders of both companies approved the deal that creates the world's largest brewer by volume.


InfoWorld - IBM sold off a chunk of its stake in Lenovo Group, leading the world's third-largest PC vendor to temporarily suspend trading of its shares in Hong Kong on Tuesday.


Taiwan vows to continue fight to join UN despite 12th failed bid

Taiwan vowed to continue its fight to join the United Nations despite its 12th consecutive failure to gain a seat due to opposition from rival China.


The New York Mets are set to complete a deal for Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez, grabbing the prize off-season signing from crosstown rivals the Yankees.


A UN agency is investigating claims a key consultation on sugar consumption was funded by the sugar industry.


Ovitz Defends Disney Record Between Sharp Exchanges

GEORGETOWN, Del.  - Michael Ovitz staunchly  defended his efforts as president of the Walt Disney Co. on  Thursday in between biting exchanges with the attorney  representing shareholders in a $140 million lawsuit.


A Tale of Fantasy Rendered Different, at Least in the Trailers

The reviews are in for âBridge to Terabithia,â a new childrenâs film from Walt Disney and Walden Media: loved the movie, hated the trailer.


Fewer Foreigners Crossing Into Iraq From Syria to Fight

The number of foreign fighters entering Iraq from Syria has decreased noticeably in recent months, corresponding to a similar decrease in suicide bombings and other attacks by the group al-Qaeda in Iraq, according to U.S. military and intelligence officials.


NTL unveils a TV, high-speed internet, and fixed-line and mobile phone package for Â£40 a month.


Warner Gets Giants' Nod; Manning Takes Seat

The veteran poise and the proven track record of Kurt Warner has won out over the potential of Eli Manning. Giants Coach Tom Coughlin said Sunday that Warner had


S.East Asian flood toll, damage rise after typhoon

Flooding and landslides triggered by Typhoon Xangsane have raised the death toll to more than 150 in the past week from the storm that hit Vietnam and the Philippines, officials said on Wednesday.


Shares of home builder Hovnanian Enterprises Inc  tumbled on Wednesday after the company posted a wider-than-expected loss as the value of its land and inventory continued to deteriorate.


----- ST. LOUIS, Missouri (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Blues on Friday re-signed defenseman Christian Backman, goaltenders Curtis Sanford and Chris Beckford-Tseu and forwards Erkki Rajamaki and Konstantin Zakharov.


A suicide bomber killed at least 10   people inside a Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad on Friday, police   said, a day after the national security adviser said al Qaeda's   days are numbered in Iraq.


NATO to study fast move to complete Afghan handover

NATO defense ministers will on  Thursday examine a military proposal that will allow the  alliance to rapidly complete its plans to take over command of  all peacekeepers in Afghanistan, NATO officials said.


UNITED NATIONS - President Bush delivered an unapologetic defense of his decision to invade Iraq, telling the United Nations Tuesday that it "helped to deliver the Iraqi people from an outlaw dictator." Later, Bush condemned the beheading of a U.S. hostage by an Islamic militant...


U.S. urged to keep space shuttle flying past 2010

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida  - The United States should keep flying the space shuttles past their 2010 retirement date to avoid depending on Russia to fly astronauts to the International Space Station, a U.S. congressman said on Monday.


Internet Study Looking for Best Ways to Quit Smoking

SUNDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDayNews) -- A large Internet study designed to evaluate the best way to help smokers kick the habit is being sponsored by the American Cancer Society.


Inter e Milan: Vieri e Crespo battono un colpo

Le gare di andata degli ottavi di finale di Coppa Italia hanno riportato il sorriso in casa Milan e Inter per due giocatori alle prese con tanti problemi dallâinizio della stagione. Si tratta di Christian Vieri e Hernan Crespo.


Apple today released Aperture 1.5, a major update to the all-in-one post production tool for photographers. Aperture 1.5 delivers a powerful new open library, seamless iLife ’06 and iWork ’06 integration, XMP metadata support, powerful new adjustment tools and an export API that makes it easy to extend the Aperture workflow to third party applications and services.


Comcast to Add More Than 500 Jobs in Colorado

DENVER, Sept. 19  /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast is adding more than 500 jobs across Colorado, the company announced today.  New customer service employees will assist local residential and commercial customers from two new Comcast customer service call centers in Denver and Colorado Springs.


Planned Parenthood Chief Criticizes Kerry

The outgoing president of Planned Parenthood, Gloria Feldt, commended her anti-abortion adversaries Tuesday for their political skills and criticized ally John Kerry for an ineffective defense of abortion rights during his losing presidential campaign.


DAY ONE FOR NEW BOY AND HE GETS STUFFED BY LORDS

CHARLES Clarke vowed to defy Law Lords after they gave him a hiding on his first day as Home Secretary. He faced a crisis on day one when top judges outlawed a key measure in the Government's anti-terror laws.


Stop di 24 ore dalle 21 di domenica, voli invece regolari


Actress Janet Leigh who was most famous for the shower stabbing scene in âPsychoâ died at home on Sunday at the age of 77, Reuters reports.


Back to basics:  the simple lessons I learnt about good schooling

Media & professional: Peter Hyman says discipline and high quality teaching beat a blizzard of headline-grabbing initiatives.


Three Dutch Police Injured in Blast During Raid

Three Dutch police involved in an  operation to arrest unidentified suspects were injured in a  blast on Wednesday, police said, amid mounting tension after  the murder of a filmmaker by a suspected Islamist extremist.


Ivan threatens Caribbean islands as Category 3 hurricane

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Hurricane Ivan grew back into a 115 mph Category 3 hurricane early Tuesday as it heads toward the southern Windward Islands.


It isn't just politicians who want to read "The Iraq Study Group Report."


Amnesty Condemns US for War on Terror Torture

The United States has failed to guard against torture and inhuman behavior since launching its "war on terror" after Sept.


Chelsea captain John Terry is out for up to six weeks after breaking three bones in his right foot during Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.


Colombia starts rebel release to seek hostage deal

Colombia took steps to free jailed rebel fighters on Friday, hoping to persuade guerrilla commanders to hand over hostages they have held for years, including a French-Colombian politician and three Americans.


IRAQ: FALLUJA, MARINE UCCIDE UN FERITO DISARMATO IN MOSCHEA

Londra - Un Marine americano ha ucciso un prigioniero iracheno ferito e disarmato in una moschea di Falluja, e la scena Ã¨ stata ripresa da un operatore tv della NBC; ma le immagini sono troppo crude - secondo i dirigenti televisivi - per poter essere


Research In Motion has obtained the approvals to begin selling BlackBerry handsets in China.


No postponement of Iraqi elections: Zebari

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt  - Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said elections will be held on time in his country on January 30 "whatever the situation".


Israel kills key Hamas bomb maker in air strike

Israel has killed the top bomb maker of the Hamas Islamic militant group in a Gaza Strip air strike, days before a key parliamentary vote on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to quit the occupied territory.


THE world sighed with relief when Greeks kept their promise to deliver some of the world's finest sport venues in time for the Athens Olympics.


CINCINNATI -- An antitrust suit claiming officials and taxpayers were pushed into financing a new stadium to keep the Bengals in Cincinnati was filed after time had run out, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.


Israel Boosts Security for Sharon, Others

Israeli soldiers carry the coffin, wrapped by an Israeli flag, of 22-year-old Army Staff Sgt. Yair Turgeman during his funeral in Jerusalem, Wednesday Oct 20, 2004.


Bush, Republicans Outpoll Kerry, Democrats on TV

Although the election is not until November, President Bush and his Republican party have bested John Kerry and the Democrats as far as U.S. television ratings are concerned, research showed on Friday


The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va., Local Briefs: Preston Arson Suspects Waive Court Hearing

By The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.  Feb. 10--KINGWOOD -- The couple accused of burning Harry Paul Hershman's Tunnelton area home waived their right to a preliminary hearing Friday in Preston County Magistrate Court.


A senior official from the US market regulator is reported to have compared London's AIM stock market to a casino.


A government panel recommended that prices be set for greenhouse gas emissions.


MMC Case Getting Dirty: Code Case Now Includes Argument Over Sand, Dirt

By Kevin Wadlow, Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon  Mar. 3--An ongoing legal dispute between the Marine Mammal Conservancy and the owner of its Key Largo site could get dirty.


Zoo visitors risk infections by not paying heed to hygiene after touching animals, research suggests.


Iran ex-leader: Tehran seeks 'good will'

Iran will "remove obstacles" blocking negotiations with the United States if Washington shows good will, former President Hashemi Rafsanjani said Wednesday.


Jack Sprague won a series-leading fifth pole of the season and extended his career record to 25 Friday in qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at New Hampshire International Speedway.


Washington, DC- Using a network of small automated telescopes known as HAT, Smithsonian astronomers have discovered a planet unlike any other known world.


MEXICO CITY -- Felipe Calderón, protected by a scrum of sympathetic lawmakers, ignored catcalls and rushed through the presidential oath of office in the congressional chamber yesterday, making a chaotic start to a term in which he pledged to heal a country divided by his narrow victory.


Elizabeth Edwards tells voters her husband, Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, is a tough guy "who can stare the worst in the face and not blink" in an ad set to start airing Wednesday in New Hampshire.


Russia is expected to formally agree to the Kyoto Protocol on global warming today, following its signing into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month.


Russia on Thursday carried out a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.


Europe Braces for Rise in Tsunami Tourist Deaths

European leaders prepared their citizens  for the worst as hopes dimmed for nearly 5,000 tourists, half  of them Swedes and Germans, still missing four days after a  tsunami tore through some of Asia's most popular beach resorts.


Prince Charles wants army protection at royal residences

Prince Charles wants military protection for Britain's royal residences, The Times reported, two days after an activist dressed as Batman scaled the walls of Buckingham Palace.


Yes, it's confirmed now! Zoya Akhtar's new project will star Tabu and Saif Ali Khan in main roles


I'm not doing Saif film at Kareena's behest: Imtiaz

Director Imtiaz Ali, whose romantic comedy "Jab We Met" has made a mark at the box office, denies reports that he will direct a film to be produced by Saif Ali Khan on the recommendation of Kareena Kapoor.


HEILIGENDAMM, Germany  - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday that Russia did not pose a threat to Europe despite a vow to target the continent if the U.S. deploys a missile shield in central Europe.


Pope Condemns Human Cloning and Arrogance of Man

Pope John Paul on Sunday condemned human cloning as an arrogant attempt to improve on God's creation. "The sense of power that every technical progress inspires in man is


Web Auctions Start-Up Nets Funding for Expansion

Dropshop, a Munich-based start-up that auctions products on the Internet for those too lazy or perplexed to do it themselves, has raised 9 million euros ($10.9 million) from investors including Benchmark Capital and Index Ventures.


Kerry says he's 'cured' after battle with prostate cancer

WASHINGTON Senator John Kerry says his doctors have told him he's cured after a bout with prostate cancer almost two years ago.


Is T-Mobile starting a convergence arms race?

T-Mobile is testing a service that combines VoIP and cellular access in hopes of catching up with its competitors.


Bush presses Asia-Pacific on trade and climate deals

U.S. President George W. Bush urged the Pacific Rim's economic powerhouses on Friday to help secure elusive global deals on trade and climate change and pledged an "unshakeable" commitment to the region's security.


Encounters at manned military checkpoints exact a heavy toll on the neighboring societies, as evinced by accounts of guards working under dehumanizing conditions, and by reports of abuses committed against Palestinian civilians.


The WTO allows the EU, Japan and others to impose sanctions against US firms accused of dumping goods.


China criticises Taiwan referendum as threat to peace: state media

China warned Saturday that Taiwan's decision to hold a referendum on trying to join the United Nations could threaten peace in the Asia Pacific region, state media said.


Birds Who Ride Winter Gravy Train See Benefits in Spring

A new study suggests that even if backyard feeding stops at winterâs end, it has a carry-over effect on birds later in the spring.


Carl Forsmanâs humanistic attitude is what makes Keen Company, the Off Broadway theater he founded in 2000, one of the most defiant troupes in the city.


Yukos executives flee as Kremlin move in for the kill!

As Yukos, one of Russia's largest oil companies nears its end, six of its top executives have left the country in fear of possible charges being brought against them.


Abbas to deliver speech, may call early elections

RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may call early elections on Saturday in a much anticipated speech after violence between his Fatah group and the ruling Hamas movement stirred fears of civil war.


U.S. stocks looked set to open higher on Monday, with shares of metal producers poised to gain as takeover activity in the sector heated up.


A new distribution deal in Russia makes Ipix look better, unless you look closely.


The home secretary denies new claims he fast-tracked a second visa for his former lover Kimberly Quinn's nanny.


Six teams discover their possible fate in the draw for the FA Cup semi-finals.


L'INTERVISTA/ Storace non molla: la mia lista strappa voti alla sinistra. Il partito Ã¨ dalla mia parte                                           "Berlusconi ora diventa noioso se mi blocca correrÃ² da solo"                                                                                di BARBARA JERKOV


A 20-year-old pregnant Marine who was expected to testify about something she witnessed on base has been missing since mid-December, authorities said


Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, a staunch supporter of sending more troops to Iraq, will skip a Senate vote on the war Saturday to campaign in Iowa while other candidates rearrange their schedules.


Oil prices reach new record highs past 52 dollars

LONDON : World oil prices bolted up to new record summits beyond 52 dollars on markets nervous about tight global supplies with winter looming in the northern hemisphere.


A new way to avoid telemarketers: a caller ID system that allows you to assign colors to specific phone numbers.


The police and army go on alert in Bolivia, as some of its richest regions prepare to declare autonomy.


A 21-year-old Michigan man is sentenced to nine years in prison for breaking into the network of home-improvement retailer Lowe's.


Iraq Minister Sees Internal Security in 18 Months

Iraq's interim Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib said Monday he believed Iraq could establish full control of its internal security and borders within 18 months.


Recommendations to Combat Obesity in Kids

The Institute of Medicine had recommendations for several groups to help stem childhood obesity:


Dec. 3, 2004 -- In his first interview since announcing his resignation as US ambassador to the United Nations, John Danforth forcefully denied that he stepped down because of disappointment that he was not


The worst-kept secret in the village of Dehnow is that everyone is voting for Hamid Karzai. Of course, when asked who they want to win yesterday's elections for the president of Afghanistan


PHOENIX -- The New York Giants were reeling that Saturday last September when they travelled to Washington and prepared to face the Redskins the following afternoon at FedEx Field. They had started 0-2, giving up 80 points and 850 yards of total offense over eight horrific quarters against Dal...


One new stock has left quite a footprint.


Church of England demands apology from Sony

InfoWorld - The Church of England is calling on Sony Computer Entertainment to apologize for using one of its churches as the scene for a gory firefight in its PlayStation 3 game "Resistance -- Fall of Man."


Eastern Ukraine says it may go its own way

DONETSK, UKRAINE - The continuing political crisis in Ukraine has divided the country along linguistic lines. In Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, a Russian-speaking area that is home to Viktor Yanukovych, the


THOUSANDS of pensioners and people on benefits have been hit by a massive computer failure at the Department for Work and Pensions.


Senate Kills Amendment to Immigration Bill

The measure would have required illegal immigrants to return home before obtaining temporary legal status.


La squadra guidata da Sella Ã¨ partita per Madrid, intanto il tecnico ex Chievo chiede un biennale e parla giÃ  da successore di Voeller. Malore per Sensi. ROMA, 27 settembre 2004 - Si riparte, con pochissime


Londra, 10:21 - CALCIO, MIDDLESBROUGH VUOLE ADRIANO, CITY INSISTE PER BRESCIANO

Spunta anche il Middlesbrough tra i club interessati a Adriano. Secondo quanto riportato dal "Daily ...


Hornets Suspend Jackson for Not Reporting

The New Orleans Hornets suspended Jim Jackson indefinitely on Wednesday for not reporting to the team, two days after he was acquired from Houston in a trade.


Argentines will soon begin voting in an election to choose a successor to President Nestor Kirchner.


The good, the bad and the downright bizarre

Now and then a story comes along that is so outrageous a ' for good or for bad a ' that it captures the popular imagination and enters into the realm of contemporary folklore.


Bush to address House Democratic meeting

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia  - Democrats angry at President Bush for his Iraq policy will get a chance to air their grievances on Saturday at a rare meeting that Bush hopes to use to find common ground on contentious issues.


Rumsfeld: Fallujah Offensive 'Will Deal a Blow' to Terrorists

The Defense Department's top civilian today predicted victory for US, coalition and Iraqi forces as they launched large- scale attacks on insurgent positions in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.


EU expands Microsoft probe to include Time Warner anti-piracy deal

COMMENTARY: The European Union (UN)'s European Commission (EC) has opened yet another probe into Microsoft's business practices.


Nokia Wins Radio and Core Network Deal With Bulgarian Operator Vivatel

ESPOO, Finland, September 5  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nokia  has won its first network deal with Bulgarian operator Vivatel.


The Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell, withdraws hundreds of workers from oil facilities in Nigeria's troubled Niger Delta.


Florida Comes on Strong in 3rd Period Against Devils

Radek Dvorak and David Booth scored 1 minutes 17 seconds apart early in the third period and the backup goalie Craig Anderson made 31 saves Friday night for the Florida Panthers in a 2-1 victory over the Devils in Newark.


Japan to confirm what Annan meant by saying Iraq war illegal

TOKYO - Japan will try to confirm what UN Secretary General Kofi Annan meant by reportedly saying the US-led invasion of Iraq was an illegal act, top government spokesman Hiroyuki Hosoda said Thursday.


Negli scambi elettronici aveva superato quota 98


A year ago, the Chargers were the NFL's worst team and missed the playoffs for the eighth straight season. Now they've won as many games as they did all of last year, improving to 4-3 with a 17-6 road win


US CREDIT-Kmart acquisition hits Sears credit

Credit investors found it difficult to muster much joy over Kmart Holding Corp.'s (KMRT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) plan to buy Sears, Roebuck & Co.


Angry Ohioans tell Kerry to end job outsourcing

Democrats in this pivotal battleground state told John Kerry yesterday to end the outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries that has been made possible under international free trade laws.


Turkmenistan cuts gas supplies to Russia-Ukraine

ASHGABAT: The Central Asian republic of Turkmenistan said yesterday it had carried out a threat to cut gas supplies to Russia and Ukraine but was ready to turn the pumps back on in return for higher prices.


Ministro, dall'Ecofin 'comprensione e preoccupazione'


Vodafone's emerging markets drive growth

(InfoWorld) - Vodafone Group had almost 200 million customers by Dec. 31, but continues to face challenges in the competitive and saturated European market. The operator's European business stagnated, with fourth-quarter revenue growing just 0.9 percent year on year, excluding the effect of acquisitions. Worldwide, its growth excluding acquisitions totalled 6.1 percent. The company accounts for revenue from partly-owned subsidiaries in proportion to its holding. Vodafone said that despite low growth in Europe, some of its new calling plans, such as one that offers users a lower price for calls made within their home area and others that include fixed-line broadband Internet access, are attracting new customers. Price competition, however, is offsetting that growth. Revenue from Vodafone's operations outside Europe, excluding acquisitions, grew 14.4 percent compared to a year earlier. Egypt, Romania, South Africa, and Turkey showed particularly strong growth during the period, Vodafone said. The operator offered no further insight into itsÂ negotiations to buyÂ a controlling interest in Indian operator Hutchison Essar. The board is continuing to investigate the possibility and will only agree to a deal that meets Vodafone's financial criteria, Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin said during a conference call to discuss the results. U.S. operator Verizon Wireless, in which Vodafone owns a stake, also did well during the quarter, with Vodafone's share of the business acquiring one million new customers. Vodafone is still pleased with its stake in Verizon Wireless, although the company uses a different wireless technology to that used by Vodafone's holdings elsewhere in the world. "There is no concept of our selling our interest there," Sarin said. While rumors have surfaced regularly over the past few years that Verizon Wireless might be considering a major technology change, that's still doubtful, Sarin said. Even Apple'sÂ much anticipated iPhone, which operates on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), the technology that competes with Verizon's CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network, is unlikely to encourage Verizon to make a change, Sarin said. The migration to fourth-generation networks, which operators will begin to make in the next few years, will probably cement Verizon's choice. "That's the time Verizon Wireless will think about what next generation of technology that they can deploy and of course they'll try to deploy a technology that is as backward compatible as they can," he said. Data services are also paying off for Vodafone. Non-voice average revenue per user was up 62 percent for the quarter compared to the year earlier. Vodafone has attracted 50 percent of its total customers to sign up for Passport, a plan that offers reduced rates on roaming. The European Commission is proposing a regulation that would require operators to reduce their roaming rates. Vodafone doesn't expect the commission to make a final decision until this summer, said Sarin.


The Food and Drug Administration ended its 14-year ban on the cosmetic use of silicone breast implants yesterday, despite lingering safety concerns from some health advocates.


Bomb kills 21 on last day of Pakistan vote campaign

A bomb attack outside a Pakistani election candidate's office killed at least 21 people on Saturday, the last day of campaigning for a general election meant to complete a transition to civilian rule.


Low-fat, vegetarian diet may stall prostate cancer

NEW YORK  - Low-fat, plant-based diets may help prevent or slow the progression of prostate cancer, according to a new research review.


Richard Jefferson's Christmas wasn't spoiled just because he found out what Santa was going to bring him a week early. He has not stopped thinking about his present since last week.


Israel says it will back Blair peace conference

By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor and Inigo Gilmore in Herzliya. Israel threw its weight yesterday behind Tony Blair's plans to hold an international Middle East conference in London in February, but left


Humankind's inexorable spread across the globe may have had an unwelcome side-effect - it brought us face to face with our ancient hominid relatives just long enough to catch their head lice.


Giant retailer Coles Myer has lifted its bid for pubs group Australian Leisure & Hospitality (ALH) to Aust. $1.32 billion ($978 million) in an attempt to secure a knockout victory over arch-rival Woolworths.


Beijing -- Talk in China has shifted from holding a 'green' or 'people's' Olympics to a 'frugal Games' as Beijing tightens its purse strings while undertaking massive preparations to play host to the 2008 event.


Adolor Corp. said on Thursday its  experimental treatment for post-operative bowel obstruction did  not confer a significant benefit in a late-stage clinical trial  in Europe, sending its stock skidding.


Canadian communications equipment manufacturer Nortel expects its third-quarter revenue to be lower than its second-quarter results.


Abbas, Olmert to meet in Egypt for talks on Gaza

RAMALLAH, West Bank  - The Palestinian and Israeli leaders agreed on Thursday to meet for the first time in two months after an Islamist takeover of the Gaza Strip prompted both to sharpen their confrontation with Hamas in the enclave.


Science & environment: Project will give unprecedented insight into why some people are more susceptible to disease than others


More than 50 insurgents and two police are reported killed in battles in north-west and southern Afghanistan.


PRAGUE -- President Bush presented a determined argument yesterday for support of a US missile-defense system to be deployed here and in Poland, and he said Russia had nothing to fear from the weaponry.


The $4 million Classic, the feature event on Saturday's Breeders' Cup card at Lone Star Park, just got tougher. Already loaded with talent


Tools for Online Tracking  In order to determine which advertising and marketing efforts are effective you must have ways to measure the results of those efforts. Alerts and instant notifications can be instrumental in monitoring search engine position, trademarked terms, monitoring competitors and staying abreast of online occurrences. And, of course, ...


Guess what is the most popular search word in the online version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary? It's blog. In case you didn't know, that's short for Web log, a form of online expression that has come into


NY Mayor To Antiwar Protesters: Shop Till You Drop, Too

NEW YORK, Aug. 17 -- Why worry about antiwar views, anarcho-syndicalist politics and "Dump Bush Now!" placards when something serious is at stake -- like money? ...


Arsenal host north London rivals Tottenham in Saturday's early Premier League game.


Up to 1.85 million tickets for the Beijing Olympics will go on sale to people in China next week, officials say.


Military confirms transport chopper down in Iraq

The U.S. military confirmed on Wednesday that a transport helicopter had come down near Baghdad but declined to comment on any casualties.


The European Central Bank keeps its key interest rate on hold at 3.5%, but hints that it may go up next month.


Seahawks, Jones Agree to Seven-Year Deal

TACOMA, Wash. (Sports Network) - The Seattle Seahawks and  tackle Walter Jones have apparently agreed to terms on a  seven-year contract worth more than $50 million with a $15  million signing bonus. The Tacoma News Tribune reported the two  sides hammered out the deal late Tuesday night.


Oct. 11 - Christopher Reeve was largely unknown, when he made his big screen debut as Superman in 1978. Handsome and athletic, the 6'4" actor insisted on performing his own stunts.


Delta to cut up to 7,000 jobs, bankruptcy 'a real possibility'

Delta Air Lines Inc. is axing up to 7,000 jobs, shedding its Dallas hub and will have to file for bankruptcy if it can't get a grip on a growing number of early pilot retirements by the end of September, the


Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. topped a hostile bid by Telus Corp. yesterday with a $1.4-billion friendly offer for Microcell Telecommunications, operator of the Fido mobile phone network.


Kelly Holmes could barely contain her emotion as she received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in London last night. The double Olympic champion was handed this year's award by fellow Olympic champion


Aveva 66 anni, cadavere scoperto da uno dei figli


Should the government force you to have coverage?


US talk show host Larry King is honoured by Los Angeles city officials, who have named a square after him.


Air Deccan has ordered 30 Airbus A320 planes in a $1.8bn (Â£931m)-deal as India's first low-cost airline expands in the fast-growing domestic market.


Paris stands by 35-hour week reform plans despite mass demos

France's centre-right government on Sunday stood defiantly by plans to make the 35-hour work week more flexible with the controversial prospect of longer hours, despite mass weekend protests.


Twenty one feared dead in Vietnam boat accidents

Twenty one people, 19 of them children, may have died in central Vietnam in two boat accidents, officials and state media said on Sunday.


Buckingham Palace Eyes Improving Security

Alarms and cameras at Buckingham Palace worked well in detecting the breach of security by a man dressed in a Batman costume, but it was still too easy for him to get onto a balcony, a minister said Tuesday after the latest intrusion embarrassed officials guarding the royal residence.


Most Californians Favor Stem Cell Research Funding

California's controversial stem cell research ballot measure appears to be gaining favor, according to a poll that found 54 percent of likely voters approve it.


Greek PM Costas Karamanlis has been asked to form a new government after his victory in Sunday's poll.


Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack said Monday that he will not seek the chairmanship of the Democratic Party.


Johnny Estrada homered, drove in three runs and started Atlanta's go-ahead rally in the ninth inning, and the Braves beat Eric Gagne and the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 Thursday night.


Jamie Redknapp signs a six-month deal with Saints after Tottenham release him.


Poll date is set despite violence and boycott

IRAQâS electoral commission announced yesterday that the countryâs first polls would be held on January 30, amid rising concern that violence would make voting impossible in many Sunni-dominated areas.


Afghan Elections: US Solution to a US Problem

Afghanistan will undergo the first presidential elections in the country's history on October 9, 2004. As if surprised by the fact that Afghans could want a voice in their


AOL has taken a step back from an earlier stance and agreed to support the Microsoft-backed anti-spam technology Sender ID. The reconsideration followed Microsoft's retooling of the technology


Apple fixes iTunes for Vista, patches QuickTime bugs

Apple Inc. has updated iTunes to better run on Windows Vista -- although "a few" problems still remain -- and released a security update for QuickTime.


Yorkshire set to welcome Bollywood glitz for IIFA awards

From special workshops to prevent the Richard Gere-Shilpa Shetty type faux pas, to producing limited ...


Health Tip: When Vomiting Can't Be Explained

(HealthDayNews) -- Some people -- most often children -- experience bouts of severe nausea and vomiting that alternate with longer periods without symptoms.


When Sony said no PS3 price cut, it really meant...

Blog: What did Sony mean when the company said there would be no PlayStation 3 price cut?


Senate races tightest in fight to rule Capitol

Chicago Tribune - The Democratic contender for the U.S. Senate in Colorado favors the death penalty, opposes gun control and would have supported President Bush's decision to invade Iraq even if the White House had known no weapons of mass destruction would be found there.


Premier annuncia si' di Assad a osservatori Ue a frontiera


Northrop Grumman profit up, raises forecast

Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp  said on Wednesday third-quarter profit rose more than expected, helped by strong sales at its information technology and shipbuilding units.


A boy of three uses his mother's account to order a Â£9,000 pink Nissan on an internet auction site.


Tougher rules over travel insurance are needed to protect holidaymakers, an MPs' report says.


Jacques Chirac, admired and scorned during 12 years as president of France, leaves a legacy as mixed and ambiguous as the man himself.Comment


Four Dead, More Missing After Calif. Mudslide

LA CONCHITA, Calif.  - Rescuers who pulled four  dead bodies out of the mud and debris from a massive southern  California landslide said on Tuesday that up to 20 people could  still be buried, but they held out hope that survivors would be  found.


An international panel of climate scientists said yesterday that there is an overwhelming probability that human activities are warming the planet at a dangerous rate, with consequences that could soon take decades or centuries to reverse.


Israel Says Gaza Incursion Was a Success

Israel's military said Saturday that its 17-day incursion into the northern Gaza Strip struck a heavy blow against Palestinian militants routinely firing makeshift rockets into the country's southern region.


Qantas, Air NZ look at other cooperation

Qantas Airways Ltd and Air New Zealand Ltd have abandoned their proposed alliance in its current form after it was stymied by New Zealand authorities.


British formula one driver 'sad' at racist taunts directed at him during McLaren testing in Spain


Warner Bros. confirmed Monday that Heath Ledger will be playing The   Joker in The Dark Knight, the next installment of the rejuvenated   Batman franchise.


Bosses play scrooge with Christmas parties

Fewer British bosses will deck their halls and make merry with employees this season, according to a survey released showing a 30-percent drop in the number of office Christmas parties this year.


CHANGZHOU, China -- Twelve years ago, five families from the Washington area came to this city in China's eastern Jiangsu province to adopt children. They found little girls to welcome into their worlds and, in doing so, joined a new generation of American families that had only recently begun to...


Firms show oil-for-food probe's challenges

The difficulty of finding out who paid kickbacks in the UN oil-for-food program is illustrated by two Liechtenstein-based firms, Alcon Petroleum and Fenar Petroleum.


Sudan's government and southern rebels are expected to pledge to reach a peace deal by the end of the year.


Safin tallest obstacle to host's patriotic games hope

AS tennis fans go, Houston's Jim 'Mattress Mack' McIngvale is very rich, extremely forthright, exceedingly patriotic and unflinchingly Republican.


Chiron plans Congressional testimony on flu vaccine suspension

EMERYVILLE, Calif. Officials of the Chiron corporation plan to testify before Congress about the manufacturing problems in a British factory preventing the company from releasing its flu vaccine to the public.


Afghan Security on Alert Ahead of Election

KABUL, Afghanistan - On the eve of Afghanistan's first-ever direct presidential election, Muslim clerics urged Friday worshippers to embrace democracy, election workers scurried to ready voting booths and 100,000 troops went on high alert across the country.    In Peshawar, Pakistan late Friday, armed men wounded one police officer at a refugee camp polling site just hours before the Afghan refugees were to vote, police said...


Tony Blair says the Iraq war was legally justified even if Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction.


Justice at the click of a mouse in China

A court in China has used a software  program to help decide prison sentences in more than 1,500  criminal cases, a Hong Kong newspaper said on Wednesday.


EUROPA/ITALIA - Nuovo traguardo per lÂAssociazione ÂComunitÃ  Papa Giovanni XXIIIÂ: don Oreste Benzi inaugura la prima Casa Famiglia in Sardegna Sennori (Agenzia Fides) - LÂAssociazione ÂComunitÃ  Papa Giovanni XXIIIÂ Ã¨ presente in Sardegna da circa 9 anni. In questo periodo ha dato vita alla Cooperativa Sociale San Damiano che accoglie 20 adulti con problematiche fisiche e psichiche medio gra...


City Room: 1774 Drawing of Gracie Mansion Site

An illustration found under a bed is the only image of an estate destroyed by the British more than two centuries ago.


EU invites Cuba for talks despite contact freeze

European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday to invite a Cuban delegation to Brussels to explore the scope for a gradual thaw in ties but chose not to end a four-year-old freeze in contacts.


Prospects for peace with Syria still "stuck": Peres

Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres played down on Sunday prospects for relaunching talks with Syria over a land-for-peace deal.


Roma. Nasce sotto buoni auspici la Grande alleanza democratica voluta da Romano Prodi che, con l'apporto di tutti i partiti d'opposizione si prepara a lanciare la sfida al centrodestra per il governo del paese.


Fancy Food Show Success, E-Water's $10,000 Shot and Puerto Rico.

RushNet, Inc.'s (Pink Sheets:RSHN)  attendance at the recent Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco yielded  many new retail store authorizations and other potential new customers.


Krefeld, 18:01 - TENNIS, COPPA DAVIS: GERMANIA-CROAZIA 3-1

La Germania ha superato la Croazia nel primo turno del Gruppo Mondiale di Coppa Davis. I tedeschi ha...


The TV and radio star Jeremy Beadle has died after suffering from pneumonia, his agent has announced


Siena, 17:12 - CALCIO, FIGC; DE LUCA: SODDISFATTO, MA SERVONO ELEZIONI

Il presidente del Siena Paolo De Luca commenta le nomine di Luca Pancalli e Gigi Riva ai vertici del...


Nielsen Alters Web Ratings, Favoring AOL Over Google

Nielsen/NetRatings has changed the way it rates Web sites and in the process has upended the rankings of the top online destinations, vaulting AOL and Yahoo over rival Google.


Irish investors sell Savoy to Saudi prince

London's swanky Savoy Hotel and Simpson's in the Strand restaurant have been sold to a company backed by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, sellers Quinlan Private have said.


La Crosse Tribune, Wis., Dan Simmons Column: Lots of Passion, Not Enough Discussion

By Dan Simmons, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.  Sep. 16--Recently, I ended up on a fishing pier in Stoddard, Wis., with an older man who liked to swear. I was on a canoe trip down the Mississippi River, on vacation -- or so I thought.


Il capo dello Stato a Caserta per la cerimonia di rientro


Analysis: A hardening of positions in both Washington and Tehran have created something of a diplomatic perfect storm


Militants kidnap 1 Japanese, 11 Iraqi soldiers in Iraq

Radical militants on Tuesday kidnapped one man who they claimed to be Japanese and demanded the withdrawal of Japanese troops from Iraq.


DEBUT WITH A BANG: Deserted island plot set in motion by air crash

a suspenseful tropical island odyssey about the 48 survivors of an airline disaster -- arrives like no other series this fall when it premieres at 8 tonight on ABC.


EU Ponders Privacy of Internet Addresses

Discussions about Google's plan to buy DoubleClick raised the question whether an IP address is legally private.


US frowns on reported European nuclear offer to Iran

The United States said it would be "concerned" by Iran's acquisition of any new nuclear technology, signaling opposition to a reported European offer to give Tehran a light-water reactor it proves it is not secretly developing atomic weapons.


US-Iraqi forces strike at more rebel strongholds

BAGHDAD - US and Iraqi forces pushed on with their second major offensive in a week yesterday, hunting insurgents in a triangle south-west of Baghdad that has become one of Iraq's most notorious hot spots.


A lack of personnel is creating a "clear danger"  the military will be unable to maintain its commitments, MPs warn.


President George Bush follows his State of the Union address with a five-state tour pushing radical welfare reforms.


Iraqi abductors release Bangladeshi truck driver:

[World News]: Dhaka, Dec. 10 : Iraqi kidnappers have released a Bangladeshi truck driver after holding him hostage for more than a month, a foreign ministry official said on Friday.


The UK government is said to be considering limits for Bulgarians and Romanians seeking jobs in the UK.


Twins top Tribe, maintain wild card lead

Minnesota turned a season-high five double plays and Scott Baker pitched six strong innings as the Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 6-1 Sunday, keeping pressure on Detroit and Chicago in the race for postseason play. The Twins came in two games behind the Tigers in the AL Central and three games ahead of Chicago in the wild-card chase.


Esultano gli organizzatori della manifestazione contro il welfare e il precariatoGiordano: "Prodi ascolti questo popolo". Ingrao dÃ  la linea: "Non siamo qui contro il governo"                                          Bandiere rosse e unitÃ  a sinistra un milione in piazza per i diritti                                                                                Immigrati, precari,  donne, studenti, il film del corteo. Ferrero: "Giornata splendida, il premier piÃ¹ forte"Diliberto: "Non Ã¨ piÃ¹ rinviabile il partito unico a sinistra". Vendola: "Io leader? L'ultima delle questioni"di CLAUDIA FUSANI


The Bush administration spent at least $2.8 million traveling around the country promoting its plan to let many people divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into private retirement accounts, congressional investigators said Friday.


PARIS, June 8 -- A European investigator said he has "factually established" that Poland and Romania allowed the CIA to operate secret prisons where alleged al-Qaeda operatives were detained and interrogated, according to documents presented Friday to Europe's official human rights organization.


Bunker abusivi e gran business, dietro l'ombra della camorra


Connecticut Governor Vetoes Bill to Shift Stateâs Accounting

Gov. M. Jodi Rell has vetoed a bill that would have given the state comptroller the authority to prescribe special accounting rules for the state.


Gme, variazioni da 77,29 euro a Nord a 94,10 euro in Sicilia


VIENNA -- For the first time, 35 nations in the UN atomic watchdog agency demanded yesterday that Iran freeze all work on uranium enrichment -- a technology that can be used for nuclear arms -- and said it would judge Tehran's compliance in two months.


Wall Street bounded higher for the second straight day yesterday as investors reveled in sharply falling oil prices and the pro-business agenda of the second Bush administration.


Viareggio, 12:44 - CALCIO, SI TORNA A GIOCARE: DOMANI VIA A TORNEO VIAREGGIO

Partirà domani la 59/a edizione della Coppa Carnevale torneo di Viareggio. Lo ha comunicato l...


Calls for the rules on forced removal of failed asylum seekers to be changed are made after a dawn raid.


Israeli warplanes pounded Lebanon for a   sixth successive day on Monday, killing 48 people and wreaking   more damage in the heaviest destruction on Lebanese territory   for two decades in retaliation for Hizbollah attacks.


A marketing company is told its painting of a naked lap dancer on a field in Surrey is illegal.


Texas Band Puts Itself Up for Bid on EBay

AUSTIN, Texas - Looking to hire a band? March on over to eBay. The James Bowie High School Marching Band, all 250 members of it, are up for bid to raise money for a group trip to Arizona...


Mexican Drug Gangs Test Tighter U.S. Border

MEXICALI, Mexico  - Mexican drug gangs are  peppering the U.S. border with small shipments of illegal  narcotics in a tactic known as "shotgunning" to beat increased  security, law enforcement officials said on Tuesday.


Allagamenti a Villagrande, Tortoli', Galtelli'


Down to his last strike, Jon Garland figured a fastball was coming. His guess was right, his swing was right on.


Stocks dropped on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq slumping more than 1 percent, as recession fears hurt manufacturing and consumer discretionary stocks and financial shares suffered further declines.


Il 16 e il 17 gennaio in onda la miniserie "La caccia"Alessio Boni cerca vendetta dopo la morte di moglie e figlio                                                  Amendola in fuga dal giustiziere nella action-fiction di RaiUno                                                                                "Sbagliato farsi giustizia da sÃ©, ci sono le istituzionima se riguardasse i miei cari, reagirei nello stesso modo"di ALESSANDRA VITALI


HIS MISSION in life was embodied in a slogan: Death to Israel. Now death has claimed Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian National Authority, founder of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Nobel


Live Earth shows aim to set new green standard

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - It would play right into the hands of critics if the seven Live Earth concerts to be staged worldwide July 7 were to come off in an unfriendly environmental way.


Berlusconi vows to keep troops in Iraq despite journalist's ...

ROME - Italy's prime minister vowed his country's troops would not leave Iraq, as the country mourned the slaying of an Italian journalist.


China closed down 1,600 Internet cafes between February and August and imposed 100 million yuan, or 12 million US dollars, worth of fines for allowing children to play violent or adult-only games and other violations.


Lettera al Governatore del responsabile del mercato interno Ue"Preoccupazione per la situazione, concrete lamentele"                                                  "Limiti agli istituti stranieri Bankitalia deve spiegare"                                                                                Via Nazionale: "Risponderemo attraverso canali istituzionali"


Despite a sluggish start, the Rockets are on their way to being well-represented in the 54th All-Star Game in Denver on Feb. 20. The NBA released its first tabulation of fans votes Thursday


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


Independence Day brings no joy to homes of Indian hostages in Iraq

The parents of an Indian truck driver held hostage in Iraq vowed not to give up a hunger strike until their son was freed while their village refused to celebrate India's Independence Day in support.


Thousands to benefit from ovary transplants

Thousands of British women left infertile after cancer treatment have been given new hope by the world's first birth of a baby following an ovarian transplant.


It has all the ingredients of a classic Cold War spy novel: Russian agents, shady contacts, poisonings, radioactive materials and above all mystery; for many, "The Litvinenko Affair" could be a bestseller.


Suicide Attack Kills 23 Iraqi Army Recruits

BAGHDAD, July 8 -- A suicide bomber killed 23 Iraqi army recruits and wounded 27 on Sunday when he rammed an explosives-rigged truck into their vehicle near Baghdad, the latest in a spate of attacks that killed more than 200 over the weekend.


US wants others to follow Paris Club "milestone" Iraqi debt cut

BERLIN  - The United States welcomed a "milestone" decision by the Paris Club of creditor nations to cut Iraq 's debt by up to 80 percent, and called on other creditors to follow suit.


A round-up of fun Linux diversions.  When people talk about computer gaming these days, they invariably mean commercial games running on a Windows platform. Few people realize that Linux can be more than just a very good Web or file server. Even fewer people are aware of the many open-source or otherwise freely available games available for Linux. read more


USDA urges new user fees to boost meat inspections

In the wake of several high-profile food recalls, the White House on Monday proposed two new user fees that would provide $96 million to help pay for additional meat inspections.


Management is trying to turn things around, but the company's paying for past mistakes.


Johansson Edges Malisse at Stockholm Open

Former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson came back from an early deficit to edge Xavier Malisse of Belgium 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1) Monday to reach the second round of the Stockholm Open.


EGITTO - Sette morti egiziani in altre esplosioni

Sette persone sono morte nell'esplosione che si e' verificata nella localita'Ã¬ di Ras es shitan, nel Sinai. Lo afferma Haaretz.Secondo il giornale le vittime sono operai egiziani. Le esplosioni si sono verificate


Moet Hennessy to acquire Glenmorangie for 300 million pounds

Moet Hennessy Investissements, a subsidiary of the French luxury group LVMH, said it had agreed to terms with Scottish whisky producer Glenmorangie for a 300-million pound (545-million-dollar) bid for the company.


For 5,000 years, great tongues of ice have spread over the 3-mile-high slopes of Puncak Jaya, in the remotest reaches of this remote tropical island. Now those glaciers are melting, and Lonnie Thompson must get there before they're gone.


Many US soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer mental health problems, a study shows.


Intel To Ship Quad-Core Chips in November

Intel CEO says new quad-core gaming chip will deliver a 70 percent performance boost over dual-core chip.


Siemens in talks to sell mobile phones ops to LG Electronics: report

German electronics giant Siemens is reportedly in talks to sell its loss-making mobile phones business to South Korean firm LG Electronics.


Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) - Leaked to the web

That's right. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has become the latest victim of piracy, with illegal copies of the game, its manual, and its cover appearing on various Web sites.


Google appears to be promoting itself more aggressively in advertisements alongside search results.


The pop singer said "I do" to boyfriend Kevin Federline in a private ceremony Saturday night, with only about 20 to 30 guests on hand.


Portavoce Zagabria riporta telefonata tra Prodi e Sanader


Radiohead readies New Year's Eve Webcast

NEW YORK (Billboard) - English rock band Radiohead will perform its new album, "In Rainbows," in its entirety during a pre-taped, hour-long set that will premiere New Year's Eve on TV and the Internet. The event will air on Current TV and Current.com starting 12 a.m. EST on December 31, and will repeat three times throughout the next day.


Quotes on former Gov. John G. Rowland's plea

"Obviously mistakes have been made throughout the last few years, and I accept responsibility for those. But I also ask the people of this state to appreciate and understand what we have tried to do over the past 25 years in public service.


Il vicepresidente del Csm sollecita azioni sulle riforme


Suse Linux Enterprise Real-Time is aimed at financial traders and others who watch every microsecond of the clock.


See exclusive photos from this year's celebration taken by Barbara Traub, whose new book documents a decade of desert depravity.


Controversial euthanasia bid sparks debate in Muslim-dominated Indonesia

For the past four months Hasan Kusuma has kept a vigil at the bedside of his wife in grubby Jakarta hospitals, neglecting his children and emptying his bank account to pay expensive doctors' bills.


South Korea denies rumours it paid a big ransom for the release of hostages held by the Taleban in Afghanistan.


Lenovo, IBM may soon reveal PC unit deal

DECEMBER 07, 2004 (REUTERS) - China's largest PC maker, Lenovo Group Ltd., could announce as early as today that it is buying control of IBM's PC-making business for up to $2 billion, a source familiar with the situation said.


Lacking the votes to keep his job, embattled U.N. Ambassador John Bolton said Monday he would resign, a defeat for a chagrined President Bush who had clung to hopes of Senate confirmation.


NEW YORK - People who use public or workplace computers for e-mail, instant messaging and Web searching have a new privacy risk to worry about: Google's free new tool that indexes a PC's contents for quickly locating data.    If it's installed on computers at libraries and Internet cafes, users could unwittingly allow people who follow them on the PCs, for example, to see sensitive information in e-mails they've exchanged...


Drug giant Schering-Plough Corp. said Monday that it will pay $10 million to exercise its option to license ViroPharma Inc.'s cold treatment in the United States and Canada.


Mathematicians Offer Help in Terror Fight

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - A small group of thinking men and women convened at Rutgers University last month to consider how order theory - a branch of abstract mathematics that deals with hierarchical relationships - could be applied to the war on terror...


Bulgaria in Brief: 8 November 2004, Monday. A Slovakian parliamentary delegation headed by Speaker Pavol Hrusovsky met in Sofia with his Bulgarian counterpart Ognyan Gerdzhikov.


Blog: Yahoo Photos members now can start moving their photo archives to some alternative sites.


Goosen Does Unthinkable and Gets Woods Thinking

When Tiger Woods and Jay Haas faltered, Retief Goosen knew how to finish. Capping a satisfying year for Goosen, and a frustrating year for Woods, Goosen captured the Tour


The World Series Champion Boston Red Sox have signed relief pitcher Matt Mantei to a one-year contract worth $750,000.


Il leader di An esce dal coro di attacchi che arriva dal centrodestra"Si pongono come un interlocutori del cosiddetto ceto moderato".                                          Pd, la Cdl attacca, Fini no "Attenti a non sottovalutarlo"


Nigerian Oil Delta Rebels Agree to Truce with Government

The Nigerian government and rebel militia  fighting in the oil-producing Niger Delta agreed a truce while  talks took place on rebel demands for autonomy, a rebel leader  said on Wednesday.


Euronext profits hit by costs of merger with NYSE

Pan-European market operator Euronext, which was acquired by the New York Stock Exchange in April, reported a 19.8-percent fall in net profit in the first half of the year.


Apple looks to movie rentals to revive Apple TV box

Price cut, new system software coming Macworld Expo Apple is to re-launch its Apple TV set-top box as a movie rental system, offering HD content for $4.99 a pop as a direct download. The hardware's getting cheaper too.â¦


U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as oil  prices resumed their retreat. Technology shares sped ahead, led  by Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O and Intel Corp. INTC.O


Milano, 18:57 - CALCIO, INTER: SAMUEL OPERATO AL GINOCCHIO

Il difensore dell'Inter, Walter Samuel, è stato operato per la ricostruzione del legamento cr...


Udienza a Versailles su richiesta liberta' provvisoria


Valentino Salvoldi - "ANDREA SANTORO" Una porta sempre aperta - Ed. EMI Roma (Agenzia Fides) - Trabzon, Turchia. Il 5 febbraio 2006 don Andrea Santoro, missionario fidei donum della diocesi di Roma, Ã¨ ucciso mentre prega inginocchiato negli ultimi banchi della chiesa di Santa Maria di cui Ã¨ parroco. Davanti a lui il Cris...


Dynamically Typed: Powerpoint; PHP/XUL style

In a link from Dynamically Typed today, there's a new presentation about Creating Rich Applications with Mozilla, XUL, and AMP Technology (Mozilla-based browser needed to view).


Torino, 17:35 - CALCIO, TORINO: AMICHEVOLE IL 7 AGOSTO CON IL BRUGES

Il Torino giocherà un'amichevole all'Olimpico il 7 agosto contro i belgi del Bruges. Lo ha an...


Doctors are reporting two advances that may give women with cancer safer ways to preserve their ability to have children without compromising their chances of beating the disease.


Several are feared dead after a suicide bomber blows himself up outside the interior ministry in the Afghan capital.


The dollar edged lower against the euro  and the yen in tight trade on Friday ahead of U.S. jobs data,  but dealers said the U.S. currency had not strayed from its  recent rebound.


Tokyo-based Nichiro Corp. recalled nearly 5 million cans of tuna Friday after a customer found part of a box cutter blade in a can


Synnex Beats 2Q Estimates; Net Income Up 50 Percent

Synnex beat Wall Street estimates and reported a 50 percent increase in net income for the third quarter ended Aug. 31, and a 29-percent increase in sales.


Microsoft presents new Windows Mobile version

Microsoft  unveiled on Thursday a new version of its Windows operating system for mobile devices, making it look more like Windows Vista and adding features previously only available on personal computers.


Arrest of Fox aide deepens probe of Mexico drug spying

Chicago Tribune - The arrest of President Vicente Fox's travel coordinator, Nahum Acosta Lugo, has led to a deeper investigation into whether drug traffickers have infiltrated the Mexican president's office.


Golf: Singh shows Tiger who's Number One

Fiji's Vijay Singh replaced Tiger Woods as the world's No.1 ranked golfer today by winning the PGA Deutsche Bank Championship.


Ceremonies are held in Japan to mark the 40th anniversary of the start of the world's first high-speed railway service.


Swedes will no longer be able to snoop through each other's finances anonymously after a popular Web site agreed to tighten the rules on its credit information services, officials said Friday.


ASIA/HONG KONG - Celebrazione del Centenario di presenza salesiana in Cina Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - Celebrare i 100 anni di presenza Salesiana in Cina e inaugurare simbolicamente il nuovo centenario. Con questi finalitÃ  si sono svolte nelle scorse settimane manifestazioni a Hong Kong e Macao, con la partecipazione di don...


Fight on court between Pistons and Pacers leads to ugly brawl in ...

Players and fans exchanged punches in the stands as an NBA game turned so ugly a police investigation was necessary. Indiana's Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson charged into the stands and fought with fans in


There was not a lot happening until the shootout. The Bruins and New York Islanders wandered across the TD Banknorth Garden ice last night, looking perhaps for a signpost or a grinning Cheshire cat to point the way. Certainly no one on the ice was breaking a path. After regulation and five minutes of overtime, the teams' erratic efforts had ...


David Vyborny scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period Saturday to lead defending champion Czech Republic over Finland 3-1 and into the final at hockey's world championships.


A THREAT by up to 4800 Customs officers to walk off the job for 24 hours this week could throw Australia's international airports into chaos.


Fla. Officials Optimistic on Dodging Ivan

KEY WEST, Fla. - Streets, bars, hotels and shops in this normally bustling island resort town were mostly empty Sunday, even as officials in the Florida Keys said they were "cautiously optimistic" Hurricane Ivan might spare the island chain its worst punishment...


Congress Passes One Slice of Off-Shore Loaf; Congress Needlessly Ties States Hands, Says NCPA Expert

To: National Desk  Contact: Sean Tuffnell of the National Center for Policy Analysis, 972-308-6481 or sean.tuffnell@ncpa.org  DALLAS, Dec. 14 /U.S.


Ancelotti fa le carte al BarÃ§a "In attacco sono i migliori"

Il tecnico rossonero prepara la partita di Champions League del Nou Camp conscio del valore del reparto offensivo dei blaugrana. Al tempo stesso perÃ² vede il passaggio del turno: "La possibilitÃ  di chiudere


RIFORME, PERA, COMPLETARE E CORREGGERE FEDERALISMO

(AGI) - Roma, 19 ott. - La riforma della Costituzione e' un'occasione per "completare e correggere" il federalismo, che e' stato oggetto di una "torsione" che ha creato problemi poiche' "si e' cambiato sensibilmente


A report by Uefa says Liverpool fans have been involved in more incidents in Europe than any other club during the past four years.


Tobacco Makers Lose Key Ruling on Latest Suits

The decision raises the possibility that cases involving light cigarettes will become a major legal threat to the tobacco industry.


Young female singers hope for '08 breakthrough

LONDON (Billboard) - In recent years, female singer/songwriters such as Amy Winehouse, KT Tunstall and Corinne Bailey Rae have broken internationally out of the U.K. But the emerging class of 2008 suggest the trend has only just begun. Here are four artists to watch for.


41-year-old QB lifts Toronto to 1st Grey Cup since 1997

OTTAWA - Damon Allen, a 20-year veteran, ran in two touchdowns and passed for another as the Toronto Argonauts defeated the British Columbia Lions 27-19 in the Grey Cup on Sunday night.


Il tasso-base rimane di conseguenza al 2%


House Democrats Struggle To Hold Troops in Line on Lobbying Overhaul

Democrats who campaigned successfully last year against a Ã¢ÂÂculture of corruptionÃ¢ÂÂ in the Republican-controlled Congress found themselves on the defensive Thursday as the House prepared to vote on a significantly weakened lobbying overhaul package.


Brown to be confirmed as head of Britain's Labour Party - finally

Gordon Brown will be confirmed leader of Britain's governing Labour Party on Sunday, the first step in a new political era which starts when he becomes prime minister later this week.


Each first Wednesday of the month is a time for sharing, both food and conversation, for the Edwardsburg Golden Age Club members.


Missile attack kills militants in Pakistan: TV reports

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan  - A missile attack killed at least 17 pro-Taliban militants and wounded 10 in a Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border on Tuesday, according to independent television news channels.


Star-crossed Sox take on Angels - and history

Their history is dotted with disappointment. But they are the Boston Red Sox, the team that New England can't help but root for.


Fundraiser's legal woes dog Clinton camp

Norman Hsu was politician's dream who became a nightmare. He knew people, hosted fundraisers, solicited donations. And he was an unabashed fan of Hillary Rodham Clinton.


Montecarlo, 12:59 - CALCIO, JUVE: ALMIRON CEDUTO AL MONACO

Sergio Almiron è ufficialmente un giocatore del Monaco. Lo ha annunciato oggi la societ&agrav...


Scoperto giro di fatture inesistenti per 100 mln di euro


African Leaders Reject Foreign Intervention in Sudan

The leaders of five African countries have rejected any foreign intervention in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region. In a statement issued late Sunday after a one-day summit in Tripoli, the presidents of Libya, Sudan


Indian-American Bobby Jindal wins US House seat

Indian-American Piyush "Bobby" Jindal coasted to victory in his bid for a seat in the US House of Representatives, rebounding from his failed attempt last year to become governor of Louisiana.


The German maker of semiconductors said that a downturn at its Qimonda computer memory chip subsidiary pushed it to a loss in the first quarter as chip prices fell.


SEC revises standards for securities brokers

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is giving securities brokers up to November 2005 to shift to the use of risk-based capital adequacy standards from the current net capital standards.


AMES, IA -- Here is a quarter-by-quarter summary of the Cyclones' 31-point loss to Texas A&M Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium.


NY Times criticized for ad attacking Petraeus

An ad criticizing the top U.S. general in Iraq raised charges on Thursday that The New York Times slashed its advertising rates for political reasons -- an accusation denied by the paper.


Tuareg rebels tell foreigner miners to leave Niger

Tuareg-led rebels in northern Niger called on all foreign mining companies to withdraw their expatriate staff from the West African state for their own safety after they kidnapped a Chinese executive on Friday.


Hurricane Ivan moves Dolphins-Titans opener

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Hurricane Ivan's potential wrath has forced the rescheduling of the Miami Dolphins home opener against the Tennessee Titans.


New Zealand announces initiatives to build links with ASEAN

The New Zealand government has agreed to a range of initiatives to build closer ties with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Wednesday.


Sinclair Tulsa Refining Company and Two Managers Plead Guilty to Felony Clean Water Act Violations at Oklahoma Plant

To: National Desk  Contact: U.S. Department of Justice, 202-514-2007; 202-514-1888 (TDD); Web: http://WWW.USDOJ.GOV  WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 /U.S.


Longoria banned from playing with fireworks

Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria has been banned from playing with fireworks at her parents' Texas estate after she torched an acre by mistake.


A Do-It-Yourself Kit for the US Elections

Want to be an armchair analyst and guess the results of the American presidential election on Nov. 2, polling day, before anyone else?


It's a good starting point, but not a rock-steady one.


Israeli police step up Tel Aviv security

Security forces are told to clamp down on Palestinians working, living illegally in Israel after suicide attack. TEL AVIV - Police stepped up security Tuesday across Israel's commercial capital of Tel Aviv


Tech Firms Tap Into the 'Green' Movement

Being ''green'' is all the rage with technology companies these days, but what's not clear is whether or not the environment-friendly approach is bringing in more greenbacks.


Standard Life, Europe's biggest mutual insurer, says that it is unable to keep its promise to make up the shortfall in people's endowment mortgages.


Given the option of contesting a traffic ticket, most motorists Â 19 out of 20 by some estimates Â would rather pay up than pit their word against a police officer's in court.


Goes back to its roots Google has gone back to its roots and, in the style of HP, has bought the house and garage in which founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin first established the company. The company has not said how much it paid for the property.â¦


Hungarians flock to grab "we screwed up" website

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's blunt admission he lied to win an election has sparked outrage, riots and a race to claim a website over his comments.


Click reporter Chris Long deconstructs the Windows Vista launch for clues to its significance.


Iran warned the United States on Sunday  not to attack its nuclear facilities and said talks with  European nations might produce a deal to defuse the dispute  over its alleged ambitions to build atomic weapons.


Some misunderstandings over Iran's nuclear policy have been cleared up, says the EU's foreign policy chief.


Lawyer of death-row Bali bomber complains over appeal turndown

A lawyer for one of the Bali bombers on death row criticised Wednesday Indonesia's Supreme Court for announcing the rejection of his client's final appeal before he was notified.


Seized Mauritanian plane in Canaries, hijacker held

LAS PALMAS, Spain  - An Air Mauritania Boeing 737 passenger plane was hijacked on an internal flight on Thursday and flew to the Spanish Canary Islands where the hijacker was arrested, Spanish officials and media said.


Troops help stranded Chinese as snow kills 50

Troops fanned out across large swathes  of China hit by snow storms that have killed about 50 people as  Premier Wen Jiabao apologized to stranded railway passengers  ahead of the biggest holiday of the year.


Tony Blair urges Labour to focus on a fourth election victory, in his final party conference speech as leader.


Roma, 18:16 - CALCIO, FIGC: IL 21 CONSIGLIO FEDERALE SU STADI C E LICENZE UEFA

VenerdÃ¬ 21 nella sede di Roma Consiglio della  Federcalcio riprende l'attività dopo la pausa ...


PHOENIX -- When Josh Byrnes, formerly Theo Epstein's chief lieutenant, became general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, he inherited a team loaded with young talent. Byrnes has since added 43-year-old Randy Johnson, who tonight faces Daisuke Matsuzaka, but the Diamondbacks are the fourth-youngest team in the majors (average age: 27.6 years ). They're cheap, too. Byrnes's Opening Day payroll was ...


Bogus boy's departure puts trivia at risk Comment After pressure over the weekend from Wikipedia's Il Duce Jimmy Wales, the encyclopedia's most illustrious fake professor Ryan Jordan has resigned his post at Wikia Inc.â¦


The U.S. presidential election in November could force change at the top of the Securities and Exchange Commission and help decide the fate of a reform effort to give shareholders more boardroom power.


Trinidad is back, and looking for Hopkins

Felix Trinidad doesn't believe in tuneup fights. His comeback after more than two years of retirement was a doozy, and now he wants the biggest name out there, Bernard Hopkins.


French telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel SA swung to a profit in the third quarter, helped by cost-cutting and a rebound in the mobile communications industry, the company said Thursday.


Alonso wins in Monaco with Hamilton second

Double world champion Fernando Alonso won the Monaco Grand Prix for the second year in a row on Sunday, with team mate Lewis Hamilton completing a McLaren one-two.


Vodafone wins race for India's Hutch Essar: source

Britain's Vodafone Group  has  won the auction for a controlling stake in Hutchison Essar with  an offer that gives India's fourth biggest mobile operator an  enterprise value of just under $19 billion, a source close to  the auction said on Sunday.


Former chief of A&T Wireless Dan Hesse must stop the bleeding and rebuild the mobile telecom giant, analysts say.


Rebel tenor holds own show outside La Scala

Top tenor Roberto Alagna, who stormed off the stage at Milan's La Scala this week after he was booed in mid-performance, staged his own show outside the famed opera house on Thursday as the show went on inside without him.


Shan Foster scored a career-high 33, Derrick Byars added eight of his 18 points in overtime and No. 19 Vanderbilt surrendered a 17-point second-half lead before rallying to beat South Carolina 99-90 on Wednesday night.


A FRESH call for "meaningful" price rises for dairy farmers has been made as the exodus from the industry continues.  Martin Burtt, chairman of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) North- East dairy board, warned the financial situation for many milk producers was worsening.


The Association of Trial Lawyers of America chose veteran Democratic operative and communications expert Jon Haber as its new chief executive to lead its coming fight with President Bush over limiting medical malpractice lawsuits.


Actress Lana Clarkson felt low about her career in her final months, Phil Spector's murder trial hears.


Frisky Fifties swap boardroom for bedroom: survey

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Britain's "Frisky Fifties" have swapped the boardroom for the bedroom but one in 10 could be putting themselves at risk of infection by having sex without a contraceptive, a survey showed on Thursday.


Reynolds Leads Wildcats in Opening Round

Freshman Scottie Reynolds scores 29 points and makes eight free throws in the last 4 minutes to lead No. 9 Villanova to a 75-67 victory over DePaul in the opening round of the Big East tournament.


Football's world governing body, Fifa, has said that it will launch a full investigation into the racist abuse meted out by Spanish spectators at England's recent friendly international.


Rescuers distribute aid to victims of deadly storms in the Philippines

REAL, Philippines  - Helicopters delivered food to famished survivors and picked up casualties as the weather cleared on Saturday in villages ravaged by back-to-back storms that left 640 people dead and nearly 400 missing in the northern Philippines.


WRAPUP 1-Jacques is back, a day after Ralf

Former champion Jacques Villeneuve trumped Ralf Schumacher's return from injury with Formula One's comeback of the year on Wednesday.


Spitzer to Pursue Criminal Cases at Highest Ranks

New York Attorney General Eliot  Spitzer, leading a broad probe into insurance industry fraud  and price-fixing, said Friday he intends to pursue criminal  charges against executives as high as possible up the corporate  ladder.


TAMPA. Fla. First it was the Boston Red Sox World Series win that had John Kerry grinning, now another sports event has him feeling good.


Open XML Translator: Release 1.0 now avalaible!

Open XML Translator provides tools to build a technical bridge between the Open XML Formats and Open Document Format(ODF). As the first component of this initiative, the ODF Add-in for Microsoft Word 2007 allows to Open & Save ODF documents in Word.   As you might have noticed, the long awaited Release 1.0 is now available for download!  It has been 8 months since the project started in early June and we've been hard working all that time to ensure the add-In meets a high quality level. It has been tested over Word XP, Word 2003 and Word 2007 in five different languages (English, Dutch, French, German and Polish) thanks to DIaLOGIKa (http://www.dialogika.de/) and Aztecsoft (http://www.aztecsoft.com/).  Since the official announcement from Microsoft (see the press news: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jan07/02-01OpenXMLPR.mspx), over 8000 of copies were downloaded on SourceForge.org (at the time of writing this news)! This is a great pleasure for us to see that the add-In has reached such an enormous success.  Already, we have received quite a lot of press coverage. A hit in Google for ODF Converter returns 871 000 results! We are proud to bring life to a project that has stirred a big crowd, sometimes positively sometimes not, as the whole open standard issue seems to have become a political controversy...  Nonetheless, we sincerely hope this Add-in will benefit the entire community in exchanging electronic documentation. Yes, exchanging documents won't be chore any more. Yes you will be able to read and write ODF documents even if you don't have openOffice suite (or other ODF implementations). And conversely, as Novell (http://www.novell.com/) has announced that the Translator will be natively implemented in its next version of OpenOffice.  But we won't stop here.... We'are also planning to work on Excel and Powerpoint and this should be availble by the end of the year (Novembre 2007), so stay tuned and keep on providing feedback as this will help us in future development!  Thanks all for participating in this exciting project! I'm looking forward to the next releases... ;)   Highlights of January Release 1.0      * Unified installer     * Localisation in German, Polish, Dutch, French and English     * OpenXML to ODF conversion :           o Change tracking           o Cross references           o Language for proofing           o Graphical bullets           o Better handling of page styles           o Line numbering           o Drop caps           o Complete footnotes and endnotes  For more information see:  https://sourceforge.net/projects/odf-converter


U.S. playwright Arthur Miller, one of  the giants of American literature, has died, his assistant said  on Friday. He was 89.


Philippines plays down security threat at summit

CEBU, Philippines  - Philippine officials played down on Thursday the risk of militants bombing a gathering of Asian leaders next week after the British and Australian governments warned of potential terrorist attacks.


Ukraine's opposition agrees to lift siege of government buildings

KYIV, Ukraine  - Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko signed a compromise agreement Wednesday that obliges his supporters to lift their siege of government buildings.


Chilling footage is  shown of the moment an explosion rocks Australia's embassy in Jakarta, killing nine.


DSG launches large UK tech support service

(InfoWorld) - DSG International PLC, which operates electronics and computer stores throughout Europe, has launched a large customer support operation to capitalize on the increasing frustration of consumers with high-tech items. The service, called "The TechGuys," is running in the U.K. and will be expanded throughout Europe, but DSG did not give a specific time frame. DSG operates 1,450 stores in 27 countries under brands such as PC World, Currys and Dixons.co.uk. The company said it could invest up to Â£50 million (US$95 million) over the next five years, with up to 2,000 hires. The service would be available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Within the U.K., the service can handle 16,000 home visits per week. The cost of a tech service call was not immediately available. The service will provide support for home IT and audio and visual technology, DSG said. The TechGuys will run using a state-of-the-art call center, one of Europe's largest technical databases and a spare parts vault with 2 million components, DSG said. DSG said it commissioned a survey that found 79 percent of U.K. adults routinely need help with their tech purchases, with 43 percent waiting a week or longer for aid. The U.K. market for technical support services is estimated at Â£1 billion, DSG said.


President Putin says Russia developing new form of nuclear missile

MOSCOW  - President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia is developing a new form of nuclear missile unlike those held by other countries, news agencies reported.


Annan to support Palestinian unity government

RAMALLAH, West Bank  - U.N. Secretary General Kofi   Annan on Wednesday voiced support for the formation of a   Palestinian unity government that Palestinian leaders hope   could ease foreign sanctions imposed after Hamas won elections.


The tide is dead low as Diane Cowan lifts seaweed-covered rocks at dawn's first light, something she's done for more than a decade as a way to monitor Maine's most valuable fishery.


Con un programma di sua invenzione, un docente di marketing ne ha pubblicati oltre 85.000Suoi moltissimi dizionari ma anche volumi sui cruciverba e studi sui guanti di gomma in Polonia                                          Banca dati e un ingegnoso software Ha scritto 85mila libri in cinque anni                                                                                di ANDREA BETTINI


Ancora mistero su indagini oggetto attivita' spionistica


West Bank churches attacked after Pope remarks

NABLUS, West Bank  - Unknown assailants threw fire   bombs on Saturday at two churches in the West Bank city of   Nablus, following a day of Palestinian protests against   comments Pope Benedict made about Islam. No one was hurt.


Singapore: Arafat's death chance for peace

Singapore hopes President Yasser Arafat's death will be "an opportunity for a lasting, just and peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli issue," a spokesman said.


'Non e' assolutamente definito se Governo terra' quota'


Israeli soldiers on Sunday shot and killed two Hamas gunmen in the northern Gaza Strip who were on their way to attack Israeli forces, the Islamist group said.


The Dears pour on epic romance, exquisite anguish

The Dears mesh decorous  pop eclecticism with far darker emotional outbursts of clanging  rock. The most enthralling moments of the Montreal sextet's  performance Wednesday at the Troubadour came with finely  arranged numbers that summoned mystery and an almost epic magic  fit for much larger venues, which the band deserves.


Moscow Denies Stalling Oil-For-Food Probe

Russia denied Friday it was withholding information from a panel investigating alleged corruption in the multibillion-dollar U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq.


NBA to Set new arena security guidelines

NBA commissioner David Stern says the NBA will set new security guidelines for its arenas, exerting more authority over a matter previously left to individual teams.