If Rupert Murdoch can assure the family owners of Dow Jones that he will not meddle in the news coverage of the Wall Street Journal, the family will tell the company's board of directors it can start negotiating a sale price with the media mogul, a source said yesterday.


Anti-U.S. Attack Videos Spread on the Internet

Videos showing attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq have migrated to Internet video-sharing sites like YouTube.


Google's foray into the desktop search market has this week hit it's first competition, as rival offerings have been launched by both Microsoft and Ask Jeeves.


Police Say Man Signaled Turns During Chase

KALISPELL, Mont. - Deputies were taken aback during a chase involving a suspected burglar. He signaled his upcoming turns, Flathead County Sheriff's Sgt. Ernie Freebury said Tuesday.


Romney in battle of attrition in White House race

Voters had a glimpse into  Mitt Romney's marathon strategy for winning the Republican  nomination and the White House when he leapt up onto the back  of a flatbed truck shortly before he won in Nevada.


Credit rating agency may downgrade Tata if Jaguar bid succeeds

Credit ratings agency Moody's says it may cut the ratings of Tata Motors if it buys Ford's Jaguar and Land Rover units, saying the acquisition could create "substantial" challenges for the Indian company.


Judge: Police Had 'Probable Cause' Against Jackson

SANTA MARIA, Calif.  - Police had "probable cause"  to believe Michael Jackson had committed a crime when they  raided his Neverland Valley Ranch looking for evidence, a judge  in the pop star's child molestation case ruled on Tuesday.


TCA Srinivasa-Raghavan: Talking to Pakistan

We must be clear that it is the Army, and not a modern state, to which we are talking. Our media hardly ever criticises foreign policy.


Blue Jays end Yankees' seven-game win streak

Toronto's Frank Thomas drove in the  game-winning run in the ninth inning as the Blue Jays beat the  New York Yankees 2-1 and ended their seven-game winning streak  on Thursday.


In an impassioned speech, actor George Clooney urges the UN Security Council to stop "genocide" in Darfur.


Sovereign Bancorp to take $1.58 billion in charges

Sovereign Bancorp Inc , the second-largest U.S. savings and loan, said on Monday it expects to take $1.58 billion in fourth-quarter charges, hurt by worsening credit quality and a tough mortgage environment.


Lindsay Davenport will take over the  world number one spot from Amelie Mauresmo when the rankings  are released next week after brushing aside Dinara Safina 6-4,  6-2, on Thursday to reach the Kremlin Cup quarter-finals.


Mercury from vaccines disappears quickly

Mercury from vaccines seems to disappear rapidly from the blood, returning to pre-vaccination levels in one month, according to a small study of children in Argentina.


Two US astronauts begin a six-and-a-half hour space walk outside the International Space Station to fit vital equipment.


Federal fisheries minister says N.S. could get $1 billion from offshore deal

HALIFAX (CP) - A revised offshore deal between Ottawa and Nova Scotia could add as much as $1 billion to the provincial treasury over the next 16 years.


Pop Star Britney Spears Taking Time Off to 'Chill'

Newlywed pop star Britney Spears  told her fans on Monday that she is taking a few months off "to  enjoy life," including her honeymoon and reruns of her favorite  TV shows.


Potter makes history as fastest-selling book

U.S. sales of the seventh and final Harry Potter volume hit an estimated 8.3 million in the first 24 hours, confirming its place in the history books as the fastest-selling book ever.


Investigators found traces of explosives on the second of two passenger airliners that crashed simultaneously in Russia, security officials announced Saturday, confirming


HP and Microsoft embrace and extend around HPC

Robust cuddling leads to test centers HP and Microsoft have decided to hold hands as they go after the high performance computing (HPC) market.â¦


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

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


Chittagong: Sachin Tendulkar put his hands together in joining the 20,000-odd spectators to applaud Mohammad Ashrafulâs breath-taking innings.


Cesa: centrodestra cambi per vincere, leader si discuta


Poll shows global opposition to Iran - and U.S.

Iran is the country most people around the world would like see having less power, followed closely by the United States, a new opinion poll showed on Wednesday.


MILAN The Italian airline Alitalia, in a restatement Wednesday of its results for the first half of the year, almost doubled its previously reported loss to Â620 million as it set aside money to pay for a restructuring plan.


Sony si appresta a lanciare un attacco frontale al fortunatissimo iPod. Il colosso giapponese ha infatti presentato il nuovissimo NW-HD3, ultimo nato della gamma di Walkman con HD. La vera innovazione, almeno


Armed police arrest 14 people overnight in an anti-terror raid on a restaurant in south London.


An estimated 2 million Americans are taking the blockbuster pain reliever Vioxx, which is being withdrawn from the market because of concerns about heart attacks and strokes.


Houston, TX -- David Carr threw for 201 yards and a pair of third-quarter touchdowns to rally Houston past Tennessee, 31-21, in an AFC South battle at Reliant Stadium.


Shares of the newly restructured Air Canada are set to take off after the airline emerges from creditor protection this week with an improved balance sheet, lower operating costs and an eye on the international market after 18 months under court


Bush aide tells of link to anti-Kerry ads, quits

John Kerry's service in Vietnam continued to reverberate through the presidential race Wednesday. *In Washington, Benjamin Ginsberg, a top lawyer for Bush's re-election


Google takes aim at Microsoft, carbon, China

Zentering on PowerPoint competitor Google's acquisition spree of recent weeks has continued with the acquisition of Zenter, another PowerPoint-but-online outfit.â¦


U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow  insisted on Friday there has been no weakening in the United  States' commitment to a strong dollar and vowed to hold China's  "feet to the fire" over promises to make its currency more  flexible.


Bernie Ecclestone makes a very good friend and a very bad enemy. One of Britain's richest residents, with a personal fortune estimated at more than Â£3bn, he is a man who always keeps his rivals guessing.


Lennar posts quarterly loss on lower revenue

- Lennar Corp., the second largest U.S. home builder, on Tuesday reported a quarterly loss, citing charges related to land values and declining demand related to the subprime-mortgage meltdown.


No. 15 West Virginia Beats Syracuse 27-6

Rasheed Marshall set a Big East career rushing mark for quarterbacks and threw three touchdown passes while leading No. 15 West Virginia over Syracuse 27-6 Thursday night.


A Venerable Magazine Energizes Its Web Site

Executives at The Atlantic hope that a rise in the magazineâs Web traffic brings the publication something it hasnât had in many years: a profit.


Profit from companies that are breaking in two.


ATHENS -- Michael Phelps has proven that he is the best swimmer ever -- in and out of the pool. Yesterday, the 6-foot-5 19-year-old from Baltimore won his sixth gold medal to add to his two bronze medals, making


Growth in Chicago-area factories  slowed in December as the pace of hiring slowed for the first  time in six months, suggesting U.S. firms remain reluctant to  hire new workers.


Baghdad: At least seven people were killed and 17 wounded, none of them US troops, when a suicide car bomber attacked an entrance to Baghdad's Green Zone government compound on Monday, officials said.


Coleraine Borough Council votes to keep a planned visitor's centre at the Giant's Causeway in public hands.


May Spending by Consumers Matched Pace Set in April

Americans spent less than forecast in May, a sign that a consumer slowdown is restraining price pressures.


Europe's largest fashion retailer, Hennes & Mauritz AB, on Thursday posted better than expected third-quarter profits and said sales were up despite lowered prices


Uccisa Margaret Hassan L'esecuzione in un video Margaret Hassan

BAGDAD - Un altro ostaggio Ã¨ stato assassinato in Iraq. E ancora una volta l'esecuzione Ã¨ stata filmata. Margaret Hassan, l'operatrice umanitaria britannico-irachena rapita a Bagdad il 19 ottobre scorso, Ã¨ stata uccisa dai suoi sequestratori.


Gulf bigger than ever but hope springs eternal for FA Cup minnows

The scale of Scunthorpe's task when they take on Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup is easily expressed in financial terms.


Her cloistered stay in a Los Angeles mansion will be brief.


Mourinho rules out move for Gerrard -- for now

LONDON  - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reiterated his admiration for Liverpool's Steven Gerrard but ruled out a fresh bid to sign the England midfielder during the January transfer window.


Disney sees fractured fairy tale as next franchise

The Walt Disney Co. is hoping a  fractured fairy tale that swaps Manhattan for a magic kingdom,  a divorce lawyer for a prince, and roaches and pigeons for  wholesome forest creatures will turn into its newest film  franchise.


Voters trickled into the polls on a chilly Saturday morning for a runoff to determine the fate of U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, whose long tenure was threatened by a federal bribery investigation.


Mexico, U.S. suffer as Rio Grande sucked dry

EJIDO LA LAGUNA, Mexico  - Julian Rosales' farm is within a stone's throw of one of North America's biggest rivers, but the Mexican landowner fears he will not be able to sow his crops next year for lack of water.


Calif Lawmaker Aims to Restrict Taser Guns

A California lawmaker said on  Thursday he will introduce a bill to collect data on the use of  stun-guns made by Taser International Inc. and may move to  sharply restrict their use.


Elephants unlikely foe for Sri Lanka's war-displaced

KANNAPURAM EAST, Sri Lanka  - Tamil farmer Sabaratnam Somaratnam abandoned his home in east Sri Lanka fearing it might be shelled.


Arsenal will enter the New Year five points adrift of Premiership leaders Chelsea after a hard-fought and somewhat fortunate 1-0 win over Newcastle.


Il marchio 'Kooly Noody' nasce da uno sketch di Striscia


Israeli troops have entered the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza in a new incursion to locate Palestinian weapons smuggling tunnels, the army says.


Hollywood writers press talks with small producers

Striking Hollywood writers have opened preliminary contract talks with small, independent producers willing to break from major studios with whom the writers are deadlocked, their union leaders said on Wednesday.


ASIA/INDIA - ÂSan Francesco Saverio, ponte fra Oriente e OccidenteÂ: Congresso internazionale a Goa Goa (Agenzia Fides) - Francesco Saverio Ã¨ una figura fondamentale per il dialogo fra Oriente e Occidente: lo ha affermato un Convegno internazionale tenutosi nei giorni scorsi a Goa, a conclusione del quinto centenario della nascita del santo (1506),...


Eurostar workers vote in favour of strikes over pay and threaten disruptions during the August Bank Holiday weekend.


Talks Between D.C. Hotels, Union Still in Deadlock

Starting Nov. 1, if there is no new contract, unionized workers will have to bear the cost of the increase in their health insurance premiums.


Mexico's Fox Says U.S. Migration Deal a Priority

Mexican President Vicente Fox said  on Monday he hoped President Bush's re-election meant a  bilateral accord on migration would be reached before his own  term runs out at the end of 2006.


World No. 1 Singh beats Tiger Woodsâ earnings record

Vijay Singh, who knocked Tiger Woods off the top of the world rankings this month for the first time in over five years, surpassed Woods' earnings record for a single season when he won the 84 Lumber Classic on Sunday.


LAPD Studies Facial Recognition Software

The Los Angeles Police Department is experimenting with facial-recognition software it says will help identify suspects, but civil liberties advocates say the technology raises privacy concerns and may not identity people accurately.


Toccano quota 319.000, meno delle previsioni degli analisti


Stanley Leisure has unveiled a scheme to build a Â£125m casino and leisure complex in Leeds, in a move which could create 1,000 jobs.


US gymnast Paul Hamm won the Olympic all-around gold medal five days ago. At least he thought he did. But with the South Koreans still insisting that


SCA says to buy P&G European tissue unit

Swedish hygiene and paper product  maker SCA (SCAb.ST) said on Monday it had signed a deal to buy  all of Procter & Gamble's  European tissue operations for  512 million euros ($672 million) in cash.


Late eagle earns Mickelson share of lead at Pebble

PEBBLE BEACH, California  - Masters champion Phil Mickelson eagled his final hole to vault into a three-way tie for the lead at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Thursday.


Holtz Steps Down from South Carolina Post

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Sports Network) - Lou Holtz announced  Monday morning his retirement as head football coach of the  University of South Carolina.


Ventana Medical cedes Vision Systems to Cytyc

Ventana Medical Systems Inc. VMSI.O   said on Sunday that it would not increase its offer for   Australian medical instruments maker Vision Systems Limited   VSL.AX, ceding the company to higher bidder Cytyc Corp.   CYTC.O.


Man Admits Hiring Taxi to Transport Drugs

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - A California man admits he hired a taxi driver to drive him and his concealed stash of more than 100 pounds of marijuana cross-country when they were stopped by a sheriff's deputy in Arkansas last year...


Microsoft readying slew of critical updates for next week

After kicking off 2008 with just two security updates in January, Microsoft plans to release one of its largest bundles of patches ever next Tuesday.Twelve security updates are set to be released next week, the software vendor said Thursday in a note on its Web site. Seven of these have been given Microsoft's most serious rating of "critical." The remaining five are rated "important."The critical updates are for Microsoft's Windows operating system, Internet Explorer and the company's Office software, all of which are frequent targets of hackers. Here's how they break down: Two of the critical updates are for Windows, and there is one update each for Internet Explorer, Office, Office Publisher, and Microsoft Word. A critical update is also being readied for the VBScript and JScript scripting languages used by Internet Explorer.By exploiting vulnerabilities in these applications, attackers could, in theory, run unauthorized software on a victim's PC, Microsoft warns.The less-severe updates will be for Windows Vista, Active Directory, and Microsoft Works. Two important updates are also planned for the Internet Information Services Web server software.Microsoft releases its security updates on the second Tuesday of each month, a date known as "Patch Tuesday" in IT circles. Last year it released a total of 69 updates, an average of just under six per month, so next week's 12 releases are sure to keep IT administrators busy.


The Bush and Kerry camps both claim their man won the first TV debate of the US presidential election.


The trial in Canada of a man on serial murder charges sees a key videotape of him talking to an undercover police officer.


Anna Nicole Smith's 5-month-old daughter and the baby's purported father have reclaimed the Bahamas mansion where they lived before the former Playboy Playmate died last week, her lawyer said.


Ariz. Lawsuit Blames Zicam Spray for Loss of Smell

Users of homeopathic nasal spray  Zicam Cold Remedy have filed a proposed class action lawsuit,  claiming the popular over-the-counter product robbed them of  their sense of smell.


Migraine with skin sensitivity eased by older drug

NEW YORK  - Dihydroergotamine or DHE, an established drug for migraine, works well even when the attack is accompanied by super-sensitivity to touch or heat and cold, according to researchers.


"If they repeated history, then Java 1.3 should have been Java3 and Java 1.4 would have been Java 4 making Java 1.5 as Java5.


The U.S. government is on its way to brokering about $20 billion in arms sales in the fiscal year that began October 1, steady with last year's near-record total, the Pentagon official responsible for such sales said on Monday.


HEILIGENDAMM, Germany  - World leaders agreed on Friday a $60 billion pledge to fight AIDS and other killer diseases ravaging Africa and restated broader promises to double development spending.


Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises plans to close its Off 5th store in the 100 Oaks Mall in Nashville. The closure is one of three Off 5th locations the company is shuttering, along with eight of its Saks Fifth Avenue stores.


Spherix May Get Another Shot at Contract

The Government Accountability Office recommended that a federal contract competition that went against Spherix Inc. be reopened because of flaws in the process, Spherix said yesterday.


Bob Knight tied legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp for second place on the career victory list Wednesday night as Texas Tech beat Louisiana Tech 66-59.


Envoys to try to avoid stand-off at Kosovo talks

International envoys mediating in talks on the future of Serbia's breakaway Kosovo on Monday will try to stop them immediately coming to a standstill on the independence issue, the European Union's envoy said.


Yes, Virginia, Patriots Can Run The Ball

CLEVELAND -- The Patriots were world champs in 2003 without a running game. What are they now? Granted, this is a Cleveland Browns team that is in transition.


Health insurance costs are going up, and up, and up. And in some cases, up some more. Premiums for employer-sponsored plans rose by 11.


The Energy Challenge: Where Now, for the Wind?

The staying power of wind energy companies is dependent on tax benefits from the capricious hands of lawmakers in Congress.


Packers Beat Vikings to Clinch NFC North

Brett Favre bounced back from one of his familiar costly mistakes and rallied the Green Bay Packers to another big victory — and another division title. Favre drove his team 76 yards to set up Ryan Longwell's 29-yard field goal as time ran out, lifting the Packers to a 34-31 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday that clinched a third straight NFC North crown for Green Bay.


Three people, believed to be a mother and her two children, were shot to death early Tuesday at an apartment complex, authorities said.


A study claims Labour lost the last Scottish election because of its poor performance on domestic issues.


Stuart Broad returned career best figures with both bat and ball as England beat India by three wickets in the fourth one-day international at Old Trafford here Thursday.


AMERICA/STATI UNITI - Colletta a sostegno della ricostruzione delle strutture della Chiesa in Europa centrale ed orientale Washington (Agenzia Fides) - ÂLÂAmore Ã¨ lÂunica luceÂ Ã¨ il tema della Colletta 2008 a sostegno della Chiesa dellÂEuropa dell'Est e dellÂEuropa Centrale, promossa annualmente dalla Conferenza Episcopale degli Stati Uniti durante il tempo di Quaresima....


The federal prosecutor investigating the disclosure of an undercover CIA officer's identity is now pursuing a second leak case in which he has obtained a subpoena for New York Times reporters' telephone records.


The Government has introduced strict new limits on the advertising of cigarettes and tobacco products in shops, pubs and clubs today.


Melbourne, 11:28 - TENNIS, AUSTRALIAN OPEN: PENNETTA AVANTI IN DOPPIO

Flavia Pennetta si è qualificata per il terzo turno del torneo di doppio femminile degli Aust...


Saudi King says Britain failing to tackle terrorism

Britain failed to act on information  passed to it by Saudi Arabia which might have helped prevent  suicide bombings in London in 2005 that killed 52 people, Saudi  Arabia's King Abdullah said on Monday.


July Factory Orders Exceeded Forecasts; Productivity Pace Slows

July factory orders rose the most in four months, exceeding forecasts, and productivity gains slowed last quarter.


Turkey Must Increase Kurds' Rights -Verheugen

Turkey must go further in improving its Kurdish minority's cultural rights, EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said on Tuesday.


U.S. open to negotiations on cluster bombs but no ban

The United States supports launching negotiations on a global treaty to reduce civilian casualties from cluster bombs, but does not back a ban on the weapons, a U.S. official said on Monday.


Baseball: Red Sox must juggle lineup as Series shifts to Cardinals ...

ST. LOUIS, United States : Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz typically plays as a designated hitter, but the Dominican dynamo must now take a fielding role as the 100th World Series shifts here for game three Tuesday.


Prince's possible deployment poses a royal challenge

LONDON -- He's a freckle-faced royal rascal who has led a life of privilege. But Britain's Prince Harry is also an army officer -- and he could soon be heading to Iraq to face the reality of combat.


Nasdaq CEO says paid premium to secure LSE

Nasdaq Stock Market Inc.'s   Chief Executive Bob Greifeld on Wednesday stood firmly by his  decision to pursue the London Stock Exchange  as  archrival the NYSE Group  seeks to take over  pan-European stock exchange operator Euronext .


Russia wants shipping tycoon extradited from Britain: report

Moscow wants a Russian shipping tycoon currently living in Britain to be extradited back to Russia, The Guardian reported on Friday.


Murdoch calls Dow Jones meeting "constructive"

Rupert Murdoch said on Monday that he had a "constructive" meeting with the Bancrofts to reassure the family that controls Dow Jones & Co. Inc.  that his $5 billion offer for the company will not undermine its flagship newspaper, The Wall Street Journal.


Ukraine Supreme Court Validates Election

Ukraine's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that presidential election results can be published before it completes hearing an appeal by the losing candidate, paving the way for the inauguration of Western-leaning ...


Americans vote Nov. 2 for the next president. While they are casting ballots for President Bush, Democratic Sen. John Kerry or another candidate, they are really voting for the 538 people who make up the Electoral College. Criticism and confusion sometimes surround this unheralded institution.


The company said it will close its business in Britain that issues home loans and significantly scale back its mortgage business in the United States.


Survey: Depp remains No. 1 at box office

Johnny Depp pillaged the most money for theaters in 2007, in a survey of movie exhibitors.


(InfoWorld) - Terry Semel ended his six-year run as Yahoo's CEO on Monday, and the company's co-founder Jerry Yang will take over from him, the company said. Semel has been the focus of intense criticism in the past two years due to Yahoo's inability to capitalize as much as expected on the fast-growing market for search engine advertising. By contrast, Google has enjoyed eye-popping revenue growth and enviable profits almost exclusively from the search advertising market. Last week, at Yahoo's annual shareholder meeting, Semel fielded stinging criticism from shareholders in attendance, leading to tense exchanges at times. Semel resigned from his position as CEO and chairman and will become the role of non-executive chairman and serve as advisor to the management team. Semel became chairman and CEO in May 2001. The board of directors appointed Yang, who cofounded the company 12 years ago, as CEO, and Susan Decker, former executive vice president and head of Advertiser and Publisher Group, as the company's president. In a webcast, Semel said he had told the board that he wanted to step back from his executive role "sooner rather than later" and that he and the board agreed this would be a good time for him to step down as CEO. "I've long been talking to the board about the importance of ensuring a smooth succession to Yahoo's senior leadership," Semel said. Semel expressed full confidence that Yang and Decker are the right people to carry Yahoo "through its multiyear transformation" while acknowledging that the past year has been a difficult one for Yahoo and that no one in Yahoo's management has been satisfied with the company's performance. (More to follow.)


A group of tourists, including 21 Italians, is found after being kidnapped in Niger, the Italian foreign ministry says.


Allow Gay Pastors, Local Lutheran Synod Says

By Michael Duck, The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa. Jun. 9--The United States' biggest Lutheran church should change its policy on gay pastors, but not anytime soon, agreed Lutherans from across northeastern Pennsylvania while meeting Friday in Bethlehem.


California company expands beef recall due to E. coli

Southern California-based meatpacker United Food Group LLC said it was expanding a recall to include an additional 370,000 pounds of ground beef believed to be contaminated with the potentially deadly E. coli bacteria.


Expectant father Sean "Diddy" Combs is often depicted as a ladies' man. His latest baby news, then, should come as no surprise.


US Offers Aid After Quakes, Tsunamis Kill 20,000

At least three Americans were among the more than 20,000 people killed in Sunday's earthquake in Asia. A State Department spokesman said two died in Sri Lanka, a third in Thailand.


Doctors are still assessing a contact of Alexander Litvinenko who tested positive for a radioactive substance.


WASHINGTON Dec 05 : US President George W. Bush has told his Pakistani counterpart General Pervez Musharraf that Middle East peace is the top priority of his administration.


The Dow Jones industrial average is down four points at ten-thousand-94. Decliners on the New York Stock Exchange hold a narrow lead over advancers.


The effects of drinking alcohol cost Ireland more than $3bn last year, a new report says.


Experts from 16 of the largest economies are in Hawaii for the second in the series of President Bush's climate talks.


Joint Efforts Needed to Fight Desertification

By Victoria Sekitoleko  According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, more than 250 million people are directly affected by desertification. In addition, some one billion people in more than 100 countries are at risk.


The government's exams advisers have told it that its plans for two new maths GCSEs are not going to work.


Carter Says Bush Exploited Sept. 11 Attacks

President Bush has exploited the Sept. 11 attacks for political gain, former president Jimmy Carter said in an interview published on Monday.


The epic spoof "Meet the Spartans" narrowly conquered "Rambo" to nab the top spot in the weekend box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.


He was a kid who always wore shades. During sunny days, cloudy days, even snowy days, little AJ put on his sunglasses and tooled around singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider."


Russia says detains two Muslims for train blast

Russian forces detained two  Muslim men in the southern republic of Ingushetia in connection  with the August bombing of a train between Moscow and St.  Petersburg, an interior ministry source said on Wednesday.


Stocks rose at the open on Thursday as investors snapped up beaten-down technology shares, while a government report showing a drop in weekly jobless claims calmed concerns about the labor market.


THE US pharmaceutical industry that exports medicines around the world is facing further scrutiny after a survey revealed nearly one-fifth of its government overseers had experienced pressure to approve drugs about which they had reservations.


Millions Hunt for Food as Tsunami Toll Nears 80,000

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia  - Millions of people around  the Indian Ocean scrambled for food and clean water on  Thursday, with the threat of disease now stalking survivors of  the most devastating tsunami on record.


A minister says the UK and the United States would no longer be "joined at the hip" in foreign policy.


British make arrests in boy's 1967 death

Nearly 40 years after a schoolboy was stabbed to death in southern England, two men have been arrested in connection with the crime, police said Tuesday. Police are want to speak to an English family that emigrated to Canada soon after the murder.


Bush says 60,000-70,000 troops to be withdrawn from Europe and Asia

President George W. Bush announced that 60,000 to 70,000 US troops would be brought home from bases in Europe and Asia over the next decade as part of a major defence reorganisation.


Gi Says Fear Drove Him to Desert to North Korea

Four decades after he vanished into North Korea, an American soldier pleaded guilty today to abandoning his unit in 1965, tearfully recounting his fears of death and the depression he said drove him to defect.


INTERIM Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas escaped unharmed when militants opened fire in a tent in Gaza City where he was greeting mourners at a ceremony for Yasser Arafat yesterday.


Suspended NBA forward apologizes after arrest

Indiana Pacers forward Shawne Williams, suspended three games by the National Basketball Association club after his arrest for marijuana possession, apologized Friday for his misdeeds.


Gas station blast kills four in W. Virginia

An explosion killed four people, including a firefighter and an emergency worker, and leveled a gas station in Ghent, West Virginia, on Tuesday, local officials said.


Sospetto killer dei fratelli Girardi, del clan Di Lauro


Maine's lobstermen have been hauling up phenomenal numbers for almost 15 years. Their 62.3 million pounds in 2002 set a record — triple the typical catch during the 1980s. That's more than $200 million worth of lobster and by far the dominant share of the Northeast's most valuable fishery. But can it last?


Schwarzenegger Defiant in Indian Casino Fight

California Gov. Arnold  Schwarzenegger, under fire from American Indians for telling  voters that tribes were "ripping off" the state with their  casinos, refused on Friday to back down.


Lubrizol Corp., LZ.N a maker of  engine oil additives, said on Monday it will close a plant in  Bromborough, England, as part of a move to cut costs, resulting  in a $17 million charge.


Speculative? Sure. But they all have intriguing compounds in development.


A reader sends this photograph taken with actress Hema Malini.


"Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek," from Her Interactive Inc., is the 16th installment of the girl sleuth's series of mystery games for PC. Once again, a solid game plot makes up for not-so-solid graphics.


Freshly merged Alcatel-Lucent  is  stepping up job cuts to 12,500 after lurching into a fourth  quarter loss and forecast a first-quarter sales dip as tough  trading and uncertainties from the tie-up take their toll.


eBay to Drop Support for Microsoft's Passport

Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday  that eBay Inc. will soon drop support for its Passport service,  originally intended to make the world's biggest software maker  the gatekeeper of Web identities.


Warning: Fast Driving May Lead to More Trading

IF you get speeding tickets, watch out: The chances are good that you will also engage in possibly dangerous investing behavior, too, according to a new study.


A bitter US election fight over TV ads that claim Democrat John Kerry lied about his Vietnam valour boiled over yesterday with loyal veterans demanding US President George W. Bush stop


The comeback gigs by rock band The Police generated more money than any other tour in North America in 2007.


Stress runs high behind the Cannes glamour

CANNES, France  - It is the world's greatest film festival and everybody in movies wants to be there. But that doesn't mean they all have fun at Cannes.


Richie Sexson hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to give Seattle its third and final lead, and the Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox 8-7 on Tuesday night.


Calif. Bans Sale of Sports Supplements to Teens

California Gov. Arnold  Schwarzenegger, who has admitted taking steroids during his  bodybuilding years, signed a law on Wednesday that bars the  sale of performance-enhancing supplements to minors.


Source for Rather Seeks New Lawyer, Might Sue CBS

Former Texas National Guard officer Bill Burkett, who provided CBS News with possibly fraudulent documents purporting to show that President Bush shirked his Guard duty, is looking for a lawyer


Volare, Italy's first budget airline, cancels all flights and ticket sales indefinitely amid reports of a financial crisis.


Suspected al-Qaeda conspirator Jose Padilla is ruled mentally fit to stand trial on terror charges.


A pochi giorni dal campionato mondiale su strada di Stoccardail presidente dell'organismo internazionale attacca il campione iridato                                            Ciclismo, McQuaid (Uci) contro Bettini "Non vuole firmare l'impegno antidoping"


PepsiCo reaffirms 2007 earnings forecast

PepsiCo Inc. reaffirmed on Thursday its 2007 earnings forecast of at least $3.30 per share.


The colder the weather, the more rookie Al Jefferson seems to heat up on the court.


Bulgaria's Air Force Staff Chief Unruffled after NATO Refusal

Politics: 19 October 2004, Tuesday. Sofia will not dismiss the air force staff chief, it emerged a day after he was denied access to NATO secret information by the Bulgaria's State Information Security ...


Judgment at Hand in Landmark Berlusconi Trial

Judges in the corruption trial of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi withdrew on Thursday to decide their verdict, which could hobble the Italian leader's political future.


Two women hostages flown out of Colombian jungle and heading home, says Venezuelan president


Two Episcopal Priests Leave Druid Society

DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. - Two Episcopal priests face possible punishment from the church after it was discovered that they were leaders of a local society of Druids, people who follow a pre-Christian practice of worshipping the sun and venerating the Earth.


Rock stars tackle cynics as well as climate change

More famous for Learjets and limousines than green living, pop stars performing at Saturday's Live Earth environmental concerts face widespread cynicism from fans, commentators and campaigners alike.


Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane will retire from football in 2007 at the latest.


No Longer the Insurgent, McCain Courts Wary Party

Senator John McCain wants to maintain his role as an independent-minded candidate, but at the same time he must mend the rifts within his own party.


In Italia il cult "Little Miss Sunshine", grosso (e inaspettato) successo Usagrazie al passaparola. Grandi incassi, pubblico impazzito, critica entusiasta                                                  Tutti in viaggio con la baby-miss e un piccolo film diventa fenomeno                                                                                Una strampalata famiglia di perdenti accompagna la figlia a un concorsoper mini-reginette di bellezza. Tra cocaina, morti improvvise, amori gay infelici...di CLAUDIA MORGOGLIONE


All eyes on Darfur at France-Africa summit

A summit intended to strengthen ties between Africa and former colonial power France opened on Thursday but all eyes will be on a subject not on the agenda -- Sudan's battered Darfur province.Comment


LONDON - Newcastle United midfielder Nicky Butt saw red, Kieron Dyer was injured and Patrick Kluivert scored twice in the 2-0 Uefa Cup win over Israeli champions Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin in a half-empty stadium.


Indici Dow Jones e SP 500 raggiungono nuovi record


Experts: Underlying Issues Put Women at Greater Risk of HIV ...

The White House and US embassies around the world dimmed their lights Wednesday to commemorate World AIDS Day, this year dedicated to empowering women and girls in the fight against the disease.


Volkswagen workers lay down tools in first warning strikes

Around 4,000 workers at three factories of German car giant Volkswagen halted production for about an hour overnight in the first official warning strikes aimed at putting pressure on management in the deadlocked wage talks, unions said.


Calif. Jury Finds Peterson Guilty of Double Murder

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.  - California fertilizer  salesman Scott Peterson, 32, was convicted on Friday of the  Christmas Eve 2002 murder of his pregnant wife, Laci, in a case  that riveted Americans caught up in the tragic story of a  seemingly perfect couple.


North Korea proposes military talks with U.S.: KCNA

North Korea is proposing holding military  talks with the United States, the official Korean Central News  Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday, less than a week before a new  round of talks on Pyongyang's nuclear arms program is due to  begin.


With the ban gone, shows ponder shift to convention hall

Hot cars, fast motorcycles, and fancy boats and recreational vehicles could be filling up the $800 million state convention center in South Boston as soon as this winter.


After AT&T merger, Cingular Wireless expects to cut 6,800 jobs

NOVEMBER 24, 2004  - With its acquisition of AT&T Wireless Services Inc. complete (see story), Cingular Wireless LLC is preparing to lay off about 10% of its 68,000 workers over a 12- to 18-month period starting next year.


Latest Business news on mobile: sms BIZ to 7333

The US-based oral care and personal products company Colgate-Palmolive Company is drawing a blueprint to restructure its operations.


Retailers look set to see a pick-up in Christmas trade in the coming days, despite grim predictions earlier in the season.


Mobile phone maker Nokia raised its third-quarter sales and earnings forecasts on Thursday on the back of strong market demand, reversing a recent spate of grim outlooks and sending its share price higher.


Craigslist cuts off Listpic, cites bandwidth issues, TOS violations

Blog: Third party Craigslist browsing service Listpic has been cut off from accessing Craigslist.org.


Kobe Bryant had 23 points and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame the loss of Lamar Odom and a late Houston comeback to beat the Rockets, 102-94, in Houston last night.


Business & money: Consortium led by the Royal Bank of Scotland is today expected to make a Â£49bn hostile takeover bid for the Dutch bank ABN Amro.


Officials say Oakmont pin placements tough but fair

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania  - Officials said on Wednesday they were working hard to make sure pin placements on Oakmont's slick, sloping greens were tough but fair for the 156-man field at the U.S. Open starting Thursday.


Cowboys pick Phillips to replace Parcells

The Dallas Cowboys named Wade Phillips as their new head coach on Thursday to replace Bill Parcells, who retired from coaching last month.


Even before the results of the 2004 presidential election were final, it became clear that one of the yearâs big winners is Virgina's Sen. George Allen.


CORRECTED-At least 26 killed in Nepal gunbattle

Please read in first paragraph ..."overnight gunbattle, an army official has said" (removing reference to "deadliest single clash").


Bush CIA Pick Says He Is Not Too Biased for the Job

The Republican congressman chosen by President Bush to head the CIA said on Tuesday his Democratic Party critics were wrong to say he was too partisan to take the job.


Miettinen scores twice as Stars tame Wild

Antti Miettinen scored twice to lead the Dallas Stars to a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Monday, ending their four-game losing streak.


The Irish Government would have to consider the legal aspects of any...

The Irish Government would have to consider the legal aspects of any possible calls for the extradition of the three fugitive Irishmen on the run from Colombia, Premier Bertie Ahern said today.


The New England Patriots take on the New York Giants in the NFL's showpiece game in Arizona.


Men with bass voices tend to have more children than those who speak in a higher pitch, scientists find.


The enormous dust storm raging across Mars' southern half has begun to creep into the northern hemisphere as well, new satellite images reveal.


Giving Troubled Families a Say in Whatâs Best for the Children

Child welfare agencies are involving troubled families in decisions about where endangered children should live.


A mother whose son was found hanged after the death of his best friend says young people must be offered help.


Multidisciplinary life sciences project targets ovarian, breast ...

Researchers at Indiana University, Ohio State University and the University of Missouri have begun a five-year, $8 million project that will help doctors better understand the damage caused by breast and ovarian cancers.


British Airways has said it plans to give 17,500 staff two extra discounted flights as a reward for coping with stress and disruption in the last week.


Japanese firm Nippon Oil is to start paying for Iranian oil in yen, rather than dollars.


How Do You Solve a Problem Like Berlusconi?: By Paolo Pontoniere

To Italians who had seen lifelong politicians run their state to the ground and cover it with shame, Berlusconi's rise as a political force was a fresh start.


Catania, 19:54 - CALCIO, SERIE A: CATANIA-UDINESE 2-0

Nel primo anticipo della 16/a giornata del campionato di serie A, il Catania ha battuto l'Udinese 2-...


Malawi's former President Bakili Muluzi was arrested on corruption charges related to millions of dollars in donor funds that allegedly ended up in his personal account.


Johnny Carson, America's Late-Night Host for Decades, Dies

The "Tonight Show" TV host served America a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter, droll comedy and heartland charm for 30 years.


Baseball: End of century-old hex in sight

BOSTON - Mark Bellhorn cracked an eighth-inning, game-winning home run as the Boston Red Sox fended off the "Curse of the Bambino" and the St Louis Cardinals 11-9 to get the 100th World Series off to a wild start yesterday.


I ribelli accusano la Francia dell'uccisione di civili


Home builder confidence drops more in Sept: NAHB

Home builder sentiment fell for a seventh straight month in September as tougher mortgage requirements hindered sales from bloated inventories, the National Association of Home Builders said on Tuesday.


Rumsfeld Wary About Shuffling Spy Duties

ASHINGTON, Aug. 17 - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and the acting director of central intelligence urged Congress on Tuesday to move cautiously in adopting recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission. They also joined in opposing ...


Attacks against troops and civilians in Iraq are at their highest level since 2004, a Pentagon report says.


Voiding Giambi's Deal Easier Said Than Done

The Yankees would like to void Jason Giambi's contract, but they continue to face serious roadblocks.


L'animale, sequestrato dalla polizia provinciale prima di Natale, Ã¨ stato riaffidatoal contadino che l'aveva accudito per anni dopo averlo trovato nei boschi                                          Il capriolo Luigi torna a casa il pastore Ercole in lacrime


Da lunedi' avvio scaglionato fino al 19 settembre


37 percent of U.S. births out of wedlock

Out-of-wedlock births in the United States have climbed to an all-time high, accounting for nearly four in 10 babies born last year, government health officials said Tuesday.


North Carolina State holds off No. 3 North Carolina, 83-79, for the Wolfpack's first win over the Tar Heels since 2003.


Restored Vulcan hits financial turbulence

More cash needed for flight test programme The trust which last October successfully got Avro Vulcan XH558 back into the air following a Â£6.5m restoration is rattling its tin again amid fears it may not have the cash to make the aircraft ready for the 2008 airshow season.â¦


It is upto Colombo to resume the stalled peace process: LTTE

Colombo, Dec 15 (UNI) The Tamil Tigers today said the responsibility to resume the stalled peace process was entirely in the hands of the Freedom Alliance government led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.


A big green ogre elbowed aside Miley Cyrus Â but just barely Â in the race to secure the most nominations for the Nickelodeon cable network's 21st annual Kids Choice Awards.


New twists boost Oracle in Silicon Valley battle for PeopleSoft

The Silicon Valley dogfight between Oracle and PeopleSoft took a new turn as PeopleSoft dumped the chief executive leading its takeover defense, and US regulators dropped their antitrust case.


Hong Kong Disneyland unveiled new Chinese New Year outfits for Mickey and Minnie Mouse created by designer Vivienne Tam on Monday as part of the park's efforts to boost its appeal to Chinese tourists after a dismal second year.


Torino, 19:40 - CALCIO, JUVE; SISSOKO: VISITE MEDICHE OK, DOMANI LA FIRMA

Mohamed Lamine Sissoko, impegnato in questi giorni nella Coppa d'Africa col suo Mali, ha sostenuto l...


VILLANOVA - The difference between Amelie Mauresmo and Vera Zvonareva in the WTA rankings is less than 10 places. The difference between Mauresmo and Zvonareva on the court is considerably wider.


Russian expert: Terrorists may try cyberattacks

(InfoWorld) - A Russian computer security expert predicts that terrorists could seek to target the country's critical infrastructure through electronic warfare, a strategy that could raise the stakes in how Russia handles computer crime. While terrorists aren't believed to currently have the know-how to disrupt critical infrastructure, it would be "very dangerous" if they start learning, said Valery Vasenin, head of the Computer Security Department at the Institute for Information Security Problems (IISP) at Moscow State University. "I think the phenomenon of terrorism will go in this direction," Vasenin said in an interview at his office. "This is probably the most important problem for the coming years." Russia's energy grid is a possible target, which could cause widespread blackouts. The air transportation or fuel distribution systems are other possible targets, Vasenin said. Russia has experienced chilling episodes of terrorism. In September 2004, 331 people, more than half of whom were children, were killed when Chechen separatists stormed a school in Beslan. In October 2002, Chechen rebels took 850 people hostage in a Moscow theater; 117 died after Russian forces used a poisonous gas before entering the premises. No major cyberterrorism incident in Russia has been recorded. However, the country's infrastructure is becoming more networked and less isolated than before, which could make it more vulnerable to cyberattacks, Vasenin said. "Russia, at the moment, is average in terms of computer security, like the rest of the world," Vasenin said. In the 1990s, the Internet in Russia was still viewed as something of a domain for academics, Vasenin said. But the rapid change of technology and emergence of threats has led to greater attention to security issues, he said. Moscow State University's IISP was established in 2004 to study network security, the psychology of human behavior and the Internet, along with computer forensics and judicial issues. Russia lacks laws that clearly define computer crime, he said, making it difficult for Internal Affairs Ministry agents to investigate and bring cases. IISP is studying other countries' computer crime laws and formulating recommendations. "They [the Internal Affairs Ministry] are somewhat unarmed," Vasenin said. "We understand we [Russia] have these problems related to legislation, just as there are worldwide problems." Through June, Russia recorded 8,400 computer-related crimes, according to figures released by the Internal Affairs Ministry in October. Forty-three percent of the cases were related to online auction fraud, with the remainder comprising information theft, unauthorized access, child pornography violations and others, the ministry said. Boris Miroshnikov, who heads the cybercrime department in Russia's Internal Affairs Ministry, has called for more trained experts to handle criminal cases that often cross international borders. Miroshnikov's comments at a cybersecurity conference were published earlier this year by Moscow State University. "Do we have today a school of experts in the field of cybercrimes?" Miroshnikov told conference participants. "Unfortunately, I do not think so." (Pavel Kupriyanov of Computerworld Russia contributed to this report.) Â


St. Johns May Tweak Beach Driving Rules  A New Proposal Would Have Police Begin Ticketing Vehicles on Beach at 7:30 P.M.

By CHRISTINA ABEL  Instead of starting to shoo cars off the beaches every night at 6:30 to try to meet an 8 p.m. deadline during sea turtle nesting season, St. Johns County police could simply begin ticketing stragglers at 7:30.


Genova, 17:38 - CALCIO, GENOA-PARMA: COMUNE CHIEDE PARTITA SERALE

Il Comune di Genova, attraverso l'assessore allo sport Paolo Striano, ha chiesto alla Lega calcio ch...


BANGKOK: Six more people have been killed in Muslim-majority southern Thailand in the last 24 hours, police said yesterday, amid outrage over the death last week of 85 Muslims.


Computers are made and marketed as all-purpose machines, but for a lot of people they have a rather limited job description: Web browsing, e-mail, MP3s, digital photos, the occasional letter . . .


UPDATE 1-Villeneuve relishes Renault challenge

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve is relishing the chance to help Renault overtake his former BAR team for second place in this year's Formula One constructors' championship.


BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 23-year-old Brownsville, Texas man has put a three-pound snowball he collected during an unprecedented Rio Grande Valley Christmas snowfall on the eBay auction block.


UK, France want stable Iraq: UN should decide on wars: Chirac

French President Jacques Chirac continued a fence-mending but at times edgy state visit to Britain Friday reaffirming that the U.N. should decide on foreign interventions.


Actress Claire Danes will make her  Broadway debut later this year as Eliza Doolittle in a play  that inspired the award-winning musical "My Fair Lady," the  Roundabout Theatre Company announced on Wednesday.


Teemu Selanne scored two goals and had an assist to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in a hard-hitting matchup of division leaders Sunday night.


SocGen under fire from prosecutor and investors

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


Vaughan misses Australia clash, Anderson out of series

England captain Michael Vaughan will miss Friday's clash with Australia while fast bowler James Anderson has been ruled out of the rest of the tri-series, team officials said.


China oil chief arrested in trading scandal

China Aviation Oil chief executive, Chen Jiu-lin, has been arrested in Singapore in connection with an alleged 550-million-US-dollar trading scandal, involving his company.


Investigatori escludono per ora che siano due i responsabili


The Australian share market has started the week a little in the red as high crude oil prices prompted investor caution. The All Ordinaries slipped almost three points to 3,632.


Virgin Digital Online Music Store Is Open For Business!

Virgin is all over the map. Yesterday morning, Sir Richard Branson introduced to the world that he was ready to make astronauts of us all by 2007.


A federal appeals court has delayed the trial of a black man charged in the nation's deadliest human-smuggling attempt so it can rule on allegations of racial bias.


TURIN, Italy -- Valentino Castellani, chief organizer of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics, says that he will resign later this month, in the midst of a an internal power struggle for control of the Games.


Roma, 12:30 - UNIVERSIADI 2007: PAPA BENEDICE FIACCOLA

E' arrivata da Papa Benedetto XVI la benedizione per la fiaccola delle Universiadi di Torino 2007 (i...


Latency obvious BEA Systems is adding go faster stripes to its Java application server, with two products designed for time-critical work environments.â¦


Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd has temporarily put aside his side's miserable season in the Premiership to savour the Hornets' FA Cup run that has left them just one game from the final.


Pakistan, Iran agree on 'Model-B' for reforming UN

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Iran Tuesday agreed to support âModel-Bâ plan which envisages the creation of eight non-permanent seats of the UN Security Council of four year renewable term, said an official statement while citing meeting of visiting


Investors To Take SCO Group Private For $100 Million

TechWeb - SNCP's business plan, according to SCO, includes launching new product lines and seeing the company through its legal problems.


"Quello che Prodi chiama complottone per far cadere il governo sulla FinanziariaÃ¨ compravendita di voti. Secondo il codice penale, voto di scambio"                                           Quei dieci voti comprati e venduti                                                                                di EUGENIO SCALFARI


Intel plays matchmaker with Sprint and Clearwire

$2bn bid to save WiMAX It looks like Intel has saved American WiMAX from certain destruction.â¦


Fines and Jail Used to Enforce Flu Shot Rules

As the flu vaccine shortage hits home and long lines queue around the supermarket, a handful of states and the nation's capital are threatening doctors and nurses with fines or even jail if they give flu shots to healthy, low-risk people.


In what must now be considered an epidemic, yet another pitcher involved in this postseason has broken his non-throwing hand during a tantrum that followed a poor performance.


Eight Palestinians are reported to have been killed by Israeli army fire in the northern Gaza Strip.


Volkswagen recalls just over 300,000 Passats

Volkswagen , the world's fourth largest carmaker, is recalling just over 300,000 VW brand Passat mid-size cars due to three different problems affecting models from the year 2005 to 2007, it said on Friday.


This song is my song, this song is your song. That's the agreement reached between the publishers of Woody Guthrie's classic "This Land is Your Land" and JibJab Media, creators of an animated Internet short that uses the tune in a comic sendup of President Bush and Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaigns.


Burial service for slain pregnant Marine

Family and friends wept and prayed Saturday at a funeral Mass for a pregnant Marine found slain in North Carolina.


The Vatican is to cover the roof of one of its buildings with solar panels to generate electricity.


Lebanese industry minister and Maronite Christian leader Pierre Gemayel is shot dead in Beirut, reports say.


Blair stands firm ahead of swansong EU summit

Britain stood firm Wednesday over the "red lines" it will defend at a crunch EU summit, as Prime Minister Tony Blair bids to go out on a high note in his international swansong.


Holcim to Take Over Aggregate Industries

Holcim Ltd., the world's second-largest cement maker, said Thursday it has reached agreement with Aggregate Industries PLC on a cash offer of about 1.8 billion pounds ($3.4 billion) for the British construction group.


U.S. forces try to regain control of Fallujah

U.S. aircraft fired on insurgent positions in the city of Fallujah for a fourth straight day on Friday, as the U.S. military attempted to reassert control over the unruly city, which lies at the heart of the ...


Bits: Noise Is Rising for Apple Event in New York

A note from Linkin Park to its fans hints of an Apple event in New York later this month. A frenzy of speculation, of course, ensues about what the company might introduce.


A former gang member could face life in prison for a jewelry heist that resembled robberies he described in a memoir about gang life.


Officials: Dead Woman Had Up to 40 Drinks

A 19-year-old college student drank up to 40 beers and shots of liquor in an 11-hour period before she was found dead in a fraternity house, investigators said Friday.


Harry Redknapp admitted Saturday he had been offered a "terrific opportunity" to take over from Sam Allardyce at Newcastle, but that it would not have been right to walk out on Portsmouth.


Europe Expected to Agree to Deal for PeopleSoft

The European Commission is expected to approve Oracle's $7.7 billion acquisition of PeopleSoft on Tuesday, with no conditions attached, a person close to the case said Monday.


A Separatist Revolution Percolates in Belgium

BRUSSELS -- In the back room of an exclusive social club across the street from the U.S. Embassy here, Flemish separatists are plotting the breakup of Belgium.


Per agenzia valutazione non cambia il Business profile


Former Enron Corp. ENRNQ.PK Chairman  Ken Lay and former chief executive Jeffrey Skilling asked a  federal court to move their trial out of Houston, arguing in a  filing on Monday that any jury in Enron's hometown would be  biased.


NATO guards Kosovo border amid Serb tension

The territory's declaration of independence has caused international ripples; analysts look to East Timor and Montenegro as examples of how Kosovo might fare.


FDA panel backs Aventis long-acting meningitis vaccine -

The panel voted unanimously that Menactra is safe and effective for use in patients aged 11 to 55 years. The new meningitis vaccine could prevent the often fatal disease from infecting the highest risk group


Monza, 16:11 - CALCIO, MILAN: CINQUE RETI AL CERVIA IN AMICHEVOLE

E' finita 5-2 in favore del Milan l'amichevole di beneficenza disputata oggi a Monza contro il Cervi...


Israeli soldiers have killed three Palestinian militants who infiltrated a Jewish settlement in the southern Gaza Strip.


By MIKE SCHNEIDER HOUSTON - Space shuttle Atlantis was cleared to depart the international space station after a test Monday showed Russian computers that crashed last week can control the outpost's orientation.


U.S. General Violated Rules with 'Satan' Speeches

A U.S. Army general violated  Pentagon rules by failing to properly clear speeches in which  he described the war on terror as a Christian battle against  Satan and should be punished, according to an inspector  general's report obtained by Reuters on Wednesday.


Insurers Weigh Costly Manmade Spine Discs

Johnson & Johnson and other makers of  new artificial spine discs face an uphill battle as they spar  with health insurers unsure of the devices' benefits, company  officials said.


Jussi Markkanen tilted his head, rubbed the blond beard sprouting from his chin and let out one of those smiles that says: C'mon, what do you think?


Users Still Victims of Oracle/PeopleSoft Saga

NOVEMBER 29, 2004  - Embattled ERP software vendor PeopleSoft Inc. last week refused to capitulate in its long-running battle with potential purchaser Oracle Corp.


Thanks to Kris Benson and a share-the-wealth lineup, the Baltimore Orioles fans who made the short drive down to D.C. had much more to cheer about than the home crowd.


A tumble, then a startling finish for gymnast

ATHENS - After a disastrous landing on the vault that nearly sent him crashing into the judges' laps, Paul Hamm thought his night was over.


'E' una grande scommessa e un problema per tutto il Paese'


Ukraine's Prime Minister Challenges Presidential Re-Run Results

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who had his earlier election win annulled, is contesting the latest results of the weekend presidential re-run in Ukraine.


China Relents, and Promises Textile Tariffs

The Commerce Ministry in China announced Sunday night that it would impose tariffs on some textile exports, a step that could avert a trade war with the United


Pluto Hit By Twin to Create Moon, Study Suggests

Pluto might have been hit long ago by a virtual twin in a collision that created the ninth planet's moon Charon, according to a new computer simulation.


Active 2007 Atlantic hurricane season is forecast

The relative calm of the just-ended Atlantic hurricane season will be just a short respite before above-average storm activity resumes next year, a noted U.S. hurricane forecasting team said on Friday.


US Finds Possible Mad Cow Case in Inconclusive Test

The US may have found a second case of mad cow disease after tissue from a high-risk animal produced an inconclusive test, part of the government's stepped up screening of the beef supply.


News Analysis: Relief for Some but Maybe Not Many in Wal-Mart Plan for $4 Generic Drugs

A close examination of Wal-MartÂs plan suggests that its impact could be blunted by several factors.


Knowledge Learning Corp. said it signed a deal to buy KinderCare Learning Centers Inc. , which operates preschool and child care facilities, for $550.3 million cash.


Users will see the coupons displayed with maps when they search on Google Local.


Sears sees quarterly profit decline, shares down

Sears Holdings Corp.  on Tuesday forecast lower quarterly profit and admitted that it needs to become more relevant to consumers and control its costs, sending its shares down more than 7 percent.


By staff writers and wires. THE track where a passenger train was derailed in Queensland today, injuring more than 100 people, was inspected just hours before the crash, it has emerged.


Milano, 15:26 - CALCIO, SERIE B: DUE TURNI DI STOP A MARRUOCCO E STELLINI

In serie B, il giudice sportivo ha squalificato 13 giocatori dopo la seconda giornata di ritorno. Du...


Luc Vandevelde resigned as chairman of Carrefour SA in a shakeup that followed the disclosure that two new shareholders had acquired a nearly 10 percent stake in the world's second largest supermarket retailer.


L'amministratore delegato intervenuto a convegno Slp-Cisl


Parigi, 13:48 - CALCIO, FEDERER: MILAN GIUSTO VINCITORE CHAMPIONS, KAKA' SUPER

Roger Federer fa i complimenti al Milan per la vittoria della Champions League. ''Il Milan è ...


Symantec acquisition to create new software giant

The Symantec Corp, a leader in security software and one of Silicon Valley's oldest companies, announced early Thursday that it would acquire Veritas Software, a maker of data storage programs, to create the world's fourth-largest software company.


Economy - Thursday      (Investor's Business Daily)

Investor's Business Daily - MSCI's main world stock index rose almost 1% as credit concerns eased and investors returned to buying riskier assets. Stocks in Europe and Japan led the index higher. Chinese stocks hit yet another record high. The index is 6.5% above a week ago but remains 7% below its record high in July, when credit worries hit global financial markets.


Ohio company Velocys touts its novel method for making methane useful for powering heating systems or transportation. By Elizabeth Svoboda.


That Nearly Scared Me to Death! Let's Do It Again

Fear is a handy evolutionary mechanism for staying out of danger. So why do we get off on it sometimes?


French stars come out to shine on a shadowy character

EVEN by the standards of Cannes it was a lavish, glamorous affair. Hollywood film stars rubbed shoulders with pop stars and politicians.


Tropical storm Dalila forms off Mexican Pacific

Tropical storm Dalila formed in the  Pacific Ocean near Mexico on Monday and was expected to head up  the coast over the next few days but not make landfall.


The wail of 6-week-old Quari Babaola cut through the air like the blade that had just sliced through his chin.


With another trophy in hand, Tiger Woods is taking another big break. Woods said he would not start his 2008 season until he defends his title in the Buick Invitational, making it the third consecutive year he has skipped the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua.


A heated exchange between Rice and Abbas had the Palestinian President considering boycotting the meeting he now characterizes as "a big, big failure"


Red Sox Take Notice After Yanks Meet MartÃnez

The Red Sox' president, Larry Lucchino, and general manager, Theo Epstein, flew to Florida to meet with Pedro MartÃnez and one of his agents.


The Fantasy World of a Mysterious Artist

Jessica Yu's excellent documentary explores the life and work of Henry Darger, one of the world's best-known outside artists.


Toys R Us Inc.  has opened its financial records to more than a dozen prospective suitors, including a consortium being led by the retailer's former chairman and chief executive Michael Goldstein, sources familiar with the situation said on Friday.


A farmer who agreed to grow genetically modified potatoes for a trial pulls out because he fears for his safety.


The George Washington women's basketball team receives all 17 first-place votes in the Atlantic 10's preseason poll on Thursday.


Itâs official. This Serie A season will not be dominated by the three big clubs (Juventus, Milan and Inter), leaving the other teams to fight for fourth place downwards.


IBM lays off 1,570 U.S. workers to cut costs

International Business Machines  Corp.  said it laid off about 1,570 employees on  Wednesday in its computer services business in the United  States, part of a plan to trim costs in the unit.


Astronauts make first spacewalk of busy mission

Two astronauts floated outside the International Space Station on Friday on a spacewalk that began a hectic work schedule to ready the orbital outpost for European and Japanese laboratories.


Berlino, 17:48 - CICLISMO, DOPING: PERQUISITA LA CASA DI ULLRICH

Nell'ambito dell"Operacion Puerto', indagine avviata dalla magistratura iberica su un giro di doping...


Sixers Scoop/Caryl Kauffman: Pacers want to focus on positive, not ...

PHILADELPHIA -- To most teams, Ron Artest would be a distraction. If he is that to the Indiana Pacers, itâsa distraction some other teams might like to have, and Jermaine OâNeal, for one, wishes people would pay attention to that.


Rogo di Torino, il giorno del lutto Tensione ai funerali delle vittime                                                                                Le esequie officiate dal cardinale Severino Poletto nel Duomo della cittÃ . Annunciata la presenza di rappresentanti della ThyssenKrupp. I lavoratori: cordoglio tardivo. La disperazione dei famigliari delle 4 vittime. Ancora gravi le condizioni dei tre sopravvissuti. Il sindaco Chiamparino: "Torino non dimenticherÃ  i suoi morti"


Report: Rosneft Buys Yukos Production Unit

Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft has bought the mysterious buyer of Yukos' most important production unit, Russian news agencies reported late Wednesday, in a deal that appeared to move the unit one step closer to ownership by state-controlled gas giant Gazprom.


The Azores islands in the mid-Atlantic have been placed on high alert for Hurricane Gordon.


Trojan horses are piggybacking on an antipiracy feature in Media Player, a security firm claims. But Microsoft denies it's a flaw.


Da Policlinico Milano arrivano nuove tecnologie per l'enfisema

24/09/2004 - Il Laboratorio di tecnologie biomediche del Politecnico di Milano ha ottenuto riconoscimenti in Europa e negli Usa grazie alla scoperta di nuove tecnologie per migliorare la diagnosi e il trattamento dell'enfisema polmonare e di altre


City Room: Answers About Urban Parenting

Taking Questions: A first set of answers from Erin Sheehan, an editor of the Web site UrbanBaby, who is taking questions from City Room readers on parenting in urban areas.


G20, Patto di StabilitÃ : Eichel smentisce Siniscalco

BERLINO, 21 nov - Nessuna iniziativa comune tra Germania e Italia sulla riforma del Patto di stabilitÃ . All'indomani delle dichiarazioni del ministro dell'Economia Domenico Siniscalco (che su tale tema aveva


Police arrest 2 after London, Glasgow incidents

British police said on Sunday they had arrested two people in northern England in connection with an attempted car bombing in London and an incident at Glasgow airport when a car was rammed into the airport building.


US discount retailer Kmart has announced the appointment of Alywin Lewis as its new president and chief executive officer, effective immediately.


Toshiba's Gigabeat music player packs Wi-Fi

(InfoWorld) - Toshiba Corp. is refreshing its line-up of Gigabeat music players with new models including one that packs built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. The Gigabeat T-series are about the same size as a credit card -- 8.6 centimeters by 5.4 centimeters -- and are 1 centimeter thick. Most of the front face of the player is taken up with a 2.4-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) screen that offers QVGA (320 pixels by 240 pixels). Under the screen are some buttons for control of the device and navigation of menus. The 58-gram player is compatible with Windows Media Audio, WMA 9 Lossless, MP3 and WAV audio files, and can also display JPEG images. There are two basic models both of which have 4G bytes of flash memory. The T401 includes 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity for downloading podcasts. It will be available in black while the second model, the T401S, doesn't have Wi-Fi and will be available in black, red and white. With the exception of the Wi-Fi the players are identical. The Gigabeat T-series will go in sale in Japan on Sept. 7. The T401 will cost about Â¥29,800 (US$260) and the T401S will be about Â¥24,800. Overseas launch plans have not been announced.


Benedetto XVI: sono capolavori della sapienza di Dio


Freeman, Nicholson Team Up for Top Movie

Score one for the geezers.  "The Bucket List," the tale of two cancer patients who decide to travel the world before they die, bested movies about treasure hunting, bumbling crooks and pirates to top the weekend box office, according to studio estima...


Investing in Your Backyard: Washington, D.C.

Oh say, can you see ... uh, where did the fireworks go?


Iraq's Top Sunni Party Says Withdraws from Election

Iraq's leading Sunni Muslim party withdrew from the country's Jan. 30 elections on Monday, saying its conditions for participating had not been met.


Quartets Sing Valentine's Message of Love

By Janna Goerdt, Duluth News-Tribune, Minn.  Feb. 14--One by one, the women's heads popped up over their cubicle walls at Maurice's corporate offices in downtown Duluth on Tuesday afternoon.  "Let me call you sweetheart, I'm in looooooove ... wiiiiiith ...


In seguito alla querela dell'ex numero uno dell'istituto


Wedge hammers home importance of last games

Manager Eric Wedge wanted to hear the sound of hammer on rock Monday night at Comerica Park. He wanted to know that the Indians' offense was making little ones out of big ones again.


Public health reforms to be piloted in deprived areas in a bid to tackle high levels of poor health.


Research In Motion Ltd. today launched its faster, more optimized Facebook application for Blackberry, at the CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment show in San Francisco.


Il primo ministro israeliano ha escluso qualsiasi possibilitÃ di tregua con il movimento di resistenza islamico                                          Olmert: sarÃ  ancora "guerra" contro i militanti di Hamas


German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition reached an agreement on a health reform plan Thursday, ending weeks of feuding that raised doubts over the government's future.


A young person's life prospects improve dramatically by getting a college education, but the country's schools have room for only one in six applicants


Ontario police forces will get $5 million to develop a co-ordinated strategy to fight Internet child pornography, Attorney General Michael Bryant said yesterday.


Japan threat to NKorean aid linked to 1977 kidnapping

Japan has protested to North Korea and threatened to cut food aid after an incident involving the ashes of a Japanese woman. Tokyo's has accused Pyongyang of handing over other people's ashes to prove the


A television channel is to screen a mock documentary showing the imagined assassination of US President George W. Bush, it has announced in a move which looks set to court controversy.


Fearful the southern Asian tsunami may leave millions traumatized, especially children, European health ministers urged governments to be mindful of the psychological scars of the disaster.


Lo avrebbe ammesso anche l'attore Gerard Depardieu


Tenendo conto del rapporto tra raccolta premi e veicoli


Bush, Putin announce anti-terror program

President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin, making a united stand against terrorism, announced a new program on Saturday to detect and track terrorists trying to get their hands on nuclear and radioactive materials.


John Peel, the broadcaster whose shows on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 4 endeared him to listeners across generations, has died aged 65.


Minacce via web alla Libia per visita Berlusconi

TRIPOLI (LIBIA) - Ancora minacce via web all'Italia e alla Libia, per protestare contro la prevista visita a Tripoli prevista per mercoledÃ¬ prossimo del presidente del Consiglio Silvio Berlusconi. IL MESSAGGIO


Security council vote to create a special tribunal into the 2005 assassination of the Lebanese PM.


Himesh Reshammiya talks about his super-successful debut.


Branson Pledges Billions to Fight Global Warming

Richard Branson of Virgin plans to invest in efforts to find renewable, sustainable energy sources.


Burned again, Kyocera recalls more phone batteries

A renegade supplier may have flooded U.S. market with up to a million bogus batteries.


Cricket: Sri Lanka Pulls Off 4-Wicket Victory Over S. Africa

Sri Lanka's cricket team has pulled off a four-wicket victory over South Africa in the third of five one-day international matches in Dambulla, Sri Lanka.


A look at what several future U.S. presidents wrote in class essays and in letters home to their parents.


Americans Spend More to Treat Spine Woes

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


A curfew is imposed in the northern Indian city of Agra after violent mobs clash with the police.


Blast wounds leader of Ethiopia's Somali region

The president of Ethiopia's volatile Somali region was wounded in the leg in a grenade attack on Monday during a ceremony in the regional capital Jijiga, a senior government official said.


Wonder Woman lassoed in to launch France's first gay TV station

France's first gay TV station, which from next month will offer its viewers a heavy diet of English-language comedy and homosexual porn, has lassoed in a pop culture icon as its media mascot: Wonder Woman.


New Troubles for Apartment Mogul in South

Michael B. Smuck was one of the leading real estate syndicators in New Orleans in the 1980s until his limited partnerships began unraveling, causing large losses and unleashing years of legal battles with unhappy investors.


Monsanto posts larger third-quarter profit

Monsanto Co.  on Thursday  posted a sharply larger third-quarter profit on strength in its  U.S. corn and soybean seed businesses.


By Kevin Howe, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.  May 31--A public workshop about California's steelhead trout recovery  program will be held June 13 by the National Marine Fisheries Service at the  Sunset Center in Carmel.


Mugabe calls for party unity amid suspensions

President Robert Mugabe called for unity in his ruling Zanu-PF party yesterday despite suspending six senior party officials over who will succeed the 80-year-old leader.


Napoli, 14:54 - CALCIO, CRUZ: SENZA PAURA NAPOLI PUO' FARE COLPO A MILANO

Il brasiliano Andrè Cruz, doppio ex di Napoli e Milan, è intervenuto a Marte Sport


Allen quits as head of British TV network ITV

ITV, the biggest British commercial television network, said that its under-fire chief executive Charles Allen was quitting after two and a half years in the post.


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


The military's case against seven Marines and a Navy corpsman charged with murdering an Iraqi man last spring began its first public airing Wednesday with pretrial hearings for two of the men.


Swedish DJ's claim number-one slot in pop charts

Swedish DJ Eric Prydz's "Call on Me" went to the top of the singles chart in Britain this week on the back of a racy video featuring a scantily-clad aerobics class.


U.S. Forces Storm Rebel Iraq Town, at Least 80 Dead

U.S. and Iraqi forces pushed into  Samarra on Friday to wrest control of the northern town back  from insurgents, and the American military said 80 militants  were killed in hours of fierce street fighting and air strikes.


Wall Street is looking for a rate cut by the Federal Reserve Bank to help bolster the United States economy and ease problems caused by tightening credit availability.


French rock star Bertrand Cantat is freed after serving half his jail term for killing his actress girlfriend.


Jolie-Pitt Foundation Donates $1M for Darfur

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have donated $1 million for humanitarian efforts in Sudan's Darfur region and in Chad through their foundation. The actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador has recently visited refugee camps in the area. The donation will go ...


Warner, Melodeo Join for Cell Phone Music Downloads

Melodeo CEO Bill Valenti said: "There's no denying the market potential for music delivered to mobile phones. In 2003, there were approximately 526 million wireless phones sold.


UPDATE 5-Interstate Bakeries files for bankruptcy

Interstate Bakeries Corp. (IBC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , maker of Hostess Twinkies and Wonder Bread, filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday after struggling with more than $1.


Nepal's embattled government has offered to meet a demand by Maoist rebels to end their blockade of the capital after the guerrillas set off two bombs in and around Kathmandu.


Clintons sell possibly troublesome stock

Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton liquidated the contents of their blind trust upon learning it contained investments of $5 million to $25 million that could pose conflicts of interest or prove to be embarrassing to her presidential campaign.


HALIFAX -- A British tug attached a line to a stricken Canadian submarine far off the coast of Ireland yesterday, beginning the long, slow process of towing the fire-ravaged boat to shore.


Thousands of bodies were found in the devastated west coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island Wednesday, increasing the death toll across 12 nations to more than 76,700.


Arab TV station says it has tape showing two French hostages in ...

Iraqi militants have kidnapped two Frenchmen to protest France's ban on students wearing Islamic head coverings in public schools, according to a tape aired by Al-Jazeera television.


Labour sends out ballot papers to the 3.4 million party and union members choosing its next deputy leader.


Iraq says U.S.-backed patrols can't be "third force"

The Iraqi government will not tolerate U.S.-backed neighborhood patrols turning into a "third force" alongside the army and the police, Defense Minister General Abdel Qader Jassim said on Saturday.


Labour's new deputy leader Harriet Harman denies saying the government should apologise for Iraq.


Azeri Protest Spoils U.S., China Taekwondo Gold

The taekwondo Olympic competition  degenerated into chaos Saturday when irate Azerbaijan coaching  staff stormed the fighting area in ugly scenes which  overshadowed U.S. and Chinese gold medals.


Ministro, a Bari escludere studenti coinvolti in inchiesta


African Union mission to Kenya fails to end crisis

An African Union mission to resolve a political crisis in Kenya that has killed 500 people ended in failure on Thursday as the president and opposition leader accused each other of wrecking talks.


PBS estimates 18.7 million viewers saw Sunday's airings of "The War," the first chapter of Ken Burns' seven-part documentary about World War II.


An Australian museum said Tuesday it has abandoned a project to clone a Tasmanian Tiger — the extinct, wolf-like striped creature that carried its young in a pouch.


ROMA - L'articolo 34 del ddl sulle riforme, quello che comprende la cosiddetta 'devolution', 'ridisegna' la geografia delle materie di competenza 'esclusiva' dello Stato, delle regioni e quelle di legislazione concorrente.


MOSCOW - The French skyscraper climber who calls himself "Spiderman" scaled Europe's tallest skyscraper in the Russian capital yesterday before being detained by police. Alain Robert climbed to the top of the 799-foot Federation office building, Europe's tallest building, in less than a half-hour using a ladder.


Unfaithful was not the term on actress Diane Lane's mind when she wed actor Josh Brolin on Sunday night. Lane's publicist told People magazine the couple were married at Brolin's central California ranch.


BAGHDAD, Iraq - A car bomb Tuesday ripped through a busy market near a Baghdad police headquarters where Iraqis were waiting to apply for jobs on the force, and gunmen opened fire on a van carrying police home from work in Baqouba, killing at least 59 people total and wounding at least 114.    The attacks were the latest attempts by militants to wreck the building of a strong Iraqi security force, a keystone of the U.S...


The US Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to declare the initial public offering registration of Google Inc. (GOOG.OQ: Quote, Profile, Research) effective after 4 pm (2000 GMT), sources familiar with the matter said on ...


In a State Where Size Matters, Consumers Celebrate Nearly $600 Million in Potential Cable Savings; C4CC Calls on U.S. Senate to Give All Americans Lone Star-Like Cable Savings

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 7  /PRNewswire/ -- It's said that everything is bigger in Texas. But today, at least one thing is smaller in the fabled western state -- and Texans are happy about it.


Allawi Says 'Major Neglect' by U.S. Troops Led to Ambush

Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said today that "major neglect" by some of the American-led forces in Iraq led to the execution of 49 Iraqi National Guard trainees.


Portugal police say Madeleine suspect quizzed again

The only suspect in the case of missing  British four-year-old Madeleine McCann was being questioned by  Portuguese police on Tuesday, police chief inspector Olegario  de Sousa said.


A philosopher makes a case for setting limits on self-improvement, genetic and otherwise.


Parents get custody in starved kids case

A couple accused of starving their two adopted children were awarded custody by a Family Court judge Wednesday, the parents' attorney said.


WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Oracle Corp. executives, lobbying investors to support the company's $9.2 billion hostile takeover bid, came out swinging Monday against PeopleSoft Inc.


Moldovan summertime 'Love Under a Lime Tree' sets European hips swinging

Europe's youth has been singing in Romanian this summer thanks to a Moldovan boys band that has swept to the top of the charts across the continent.


Bank of America to buy struggling Countrywide

Bank of America Corp said on Friday it agreed to acquire Countrywide Financial Corp, the largest U.S. mortgage lender, in a $4 billion transaction that could help avert one of the biggest collapses in the U.S. housing crisis.


Shaq Settles Some Scores in New Rap Song

LOS ANGELES - The way NBA star Shaquille O'Neal sees it, he's still the big cat, Kobe Bryant's not where it's at, and he's got the rap to back up the fact. And the Miami Heat center isn't crazy about the Detroit Pistons' Ben Wallace or rapper Skillz either...


The Iraqi city of Najaf is quiet, after militants loyal to a radical cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, left the Imam Ali mosque, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam.


Cingular posts higher net income, revenue

Cingular Wireless, the No. 1 U.S.  mobile service provider, said on Thursday second-quarter net  income and revenue rose as it added new subscribers at a rate  that was better than expected.


Silverstone bosses recruit teams to rally for British Grand Prix

The British Racing Driversâ Club (BRDC), which owns Silverstone race track, has turned to the Formula One (F1) racing teams and drivers in an attempt to save the 2005 British Grand Prix.


Here's how to set it and forget it when it comes to investing.


A civil liberties group is charging that military interrogators at the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, some posing as FBI agents, humiliated and abused detainees, including inserting lit cigarettes in their ears.


Unions claim a plan for firefighters to answer calls from home at night will 'downgrade' a Swansea Valley station.


Apple's Retail Strategy Reinforces Brand

When Apple Computer Inc. opens its newest store Friday on the same New York shopping strip as Prada, Tiffany &amp; Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue, it'll mark five years of a distinctive retail style that both reinforces the company's brand cachet and pays off handsomely.


Fenty Friend And Counsel Walks Hard, Steps on Toes

Peter J. Nickles didn't wait until he was formally appointed as D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's general counsel before getting to work.


Similarities kept cropping up as five late-night talk shows returned to the air.


What their fathers failed to do 25 years ago, Patrick Ewing Jr. and John Thompson III accomplished on Saturday: They beat pesky crosstown rival American.


Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric urged followers on Monday not to seek revenge against Sunni Arabs on the first anniversary of a Shi'ite shrine bombing that has pitched the country to the brink of civil war.


BAGHDAD, Dec. 9 -- Gangs of roving Shiite Muslim gunmen stormed a west Baghdad neighborhood Saturday, burning houses and killing at least two people in broad daylight, authorities said. By evening, dozens of Sunni Arab families had fled their homes, carrying their belongings and furniture in trucks...


A teenager questioned in a shooting at a high school Wednesday confessed to killing his father and has been charged with murder, authorities said.


Second World War Gurkha hero meets with PM Brown: report

An 84-year-old Nepali Gurkha who won Britain's highest military honour met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown soon after arriving in Britain following an immigration battle, the Daily Mirror reported on Monday.


Justice Dept. Is Asked to Investigate Tejada

The House committee conducting hearings on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball wants to probe statements the shortstop made in 2005.


While the Israelis and US want to isolate Hamas, some Arab states see need for Palestinian unity.


Exercise: Better Than the Couch, but Not Equal to the Court

The active video games played on the Nintendo Wii console are not a substitute for the real thing, a small study suggests.


Majority wants troop deadline in Iraq: poll

A narrow majority of Americans now favor setting a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq and a record number say they disapprove of the war, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Monday.


A day after he was nominated to be prime minister, Viktor A. Zubkov said that he might run for president.


Dogs trained by a British charity have played a central role in ground-breaking research into bladder cancer, it was announced today.


Rodriguez Not Greedy by Standard of Wall St.

On Wall Street, where even those who fail at their jobs can make more than Alex Rodriguez, there is support for the third basemanâs plans to test the market.


Real Madrid is hoping to talk to David Beckham about a contract extension.


The husband of the late British pianist Joyce Hatto has admitted passing off recordings by other artists as those of his wife, who had been hailed as a neglected keyboard genius, a Swedish record producer said Tuesday.


Highest Number of Road Deaths on 4th July -Study

More people are killed in road accidents in the United States on July 4th, Independence Day, than any other day of the year, researchers said on Thursday.


Arnaldo Otegi, leader of the banned Basque separatist party Batasuna, is arrested by Spanish police.


Jurors in Spector murder trial begin deliberations

The jury in the murder trial of music producer Phil Spector completed their first day of deliberations on Monday without reaching a verdict.


Oil prices raced to new record highs  above $50 on Tuesday as rebel threats against Nigerian oil  facilities threatened to inflict further strain on global  supplies.


Still grappling with how to keep the global economy out of a crippling recession, the World Economic Forum confronted the urgent need to bring peace and stability to global hotspots like Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East.


The leaders of a House panel that oversees military spending said Wednesday they are drafting legislation that would pay for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through the rest of the year.


A plan to launch a range of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on earnings has triggered skepticism among money managers who say earnings are too simple a measure of performance and too easy to manipulate to base a strategy on.


In Georgia, 59-year-old great-grandmother prepares to give birth ...

SYLVESTER, Ga. Did you hear the one about the great-grandmother who gave birth to twins? Well, you're about to. Frances Harris of Georgia, who's 59 and has six great-grandchildren, is scheduled to deliver twins December 21st.


Dan Aykroyd gives his name to new winery

Dan Aykroyd is throwing his star power behind an $11 million winery that aims to boost the Niagara wine region's international profile.


Intel Corp. (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday canceled plans to introduce its highest-speed desktop computer chip, ending for now a 25-year run that has


The state's top judge yesterday characterized the campaign to stop construction of a high-security research laboratory in Boston's South End as a not-in-my-backyard squabble, a potentially telling assessment in a high-stakes legal case.


Eden Prairie, Minn. (Sports Network) - Minnesota Vikings  starting running back Michael Bennett will miss the team's  season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on September 12 with a  sprained right knee.


DATA VIEW: Australian Building Approvals Fall -2-

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--A bigger-than-expected fall in Australian building approvals in August suggests the Reserve Bank won't be in a hurry to raise interest rates immediately after the Oct. 9 election.


The European Union urged China  on Monday to open its markets to help redress a "huge" trade  surplus with the bloc and called on it to ratify a key rights  covenant.


Dalla folla proteste contro militari siriani in Libano


White House press secretary Tony Snow jousted with reporters in his final televised briefing on Wednesday, which turned raucous when reporters in back rows protested they were not allowed questions before it was called to a close.


Computer Associates International on Wednesday announced it will shed 800 employees from the company's worldwide workforce, saving $70 million a year in the process.


With Sun Microsystems' $1 billion acquisition of open source database vendor MySQL announced Wednesday, Sun gets ownership of a major player in the open source software industry while MySQL gets the backing of a multibillion-dollar, established systems company.Called the largest open source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack. Sun already has been offering up its own software to open source, even basing its development tools strategy on the open source NetBeans platform."MySQL is an important part of the LAMP stack, [and] has grown to be enterprise-ready technology used by large organizations, and Sun is now a major player in the LAMP stack," said Raven Zachary, analyst with The 451 Group. MySQL customers get the benefit of a larger support organization, Zachary said.Sun, meanwhile, will push MySQL as enterprise-ready technology and as an alternative to proprietary databases like Oracle, he said. "I think Sun has really been struggling in building a software revenue stream around its open source projects, and I think for them to take on MySQL, now they have a very successful revenue stream around an open source software [stack] that was lacking before," said Zachary.The deal was applauded by open source CRM vendor SugarCRM, PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) tools vendor Zend Technologies, and SpringSource, makers of the open source Spring Framework for Java development."I think it's an incredibly smart move by Sun and Jonathan Schwartz," said SugarCRM CEO John Roberts. While Roberts said he had been looking forward to an IPO by MySQL, the deal nonetheless makes sense. Sun, Roberts said, gets a mission-critical database that is "probably the most widely used database on the planet today."Zend and SpringSource had similar impressions."I think open source has gone mainstream," and Sun has put its stamp on it, said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg. "We think it's a great day for open source, and we think it's a great day for the LAMP stack.""The acquisition of MySQL by Sun marks one of the most significant recognitions of the importance and power of open source as a disruptive force in technology," said SpringSource CEO Rod Johnson in his blog.Sun heralded the deal as its entrance into the database market and will offer global support offerings for MySQL. "We're announcing we're entering the $15 billion database business," said Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz on a conference call with MySQL and Sun executives.By Sun's acquisition, MySQL overcomes its biggest impediment: Ensuring peace of mind to a global company that wants to put MySQL into a mission-critical deployment, Schwartz said. "It?s very clear to us that that is what our customers have come to expect from Sun," he said. "We believe there are synergies in putting the two companies together that will allow MySQL to grow more rapidly and allow Sun to grow more rapidly."New customers for both MySQL and Sun MySQL has been extending into mission-critical, high performance environments in the last couple of years, said Marten Mickos, who has been MySQL CEO and will become a senior vice president at Sun. "With this acquisition by Sun, we'll be able to offer those customers even better service, a full stack and at the same time heterogeneous solutions running on a number of platforms with a number of environments," Mickos said. "It strengthens our ability to serve our existing customers and very importantly serve the new customers coming over as enterprises move over to Web-based architectures in their enterprise infrastructure."The acquisition complements Sun technology, said Ian Murdock, chief OS strategist at Sun in a separate interview. "If you think about the two companies together in terms of technology offerings and technology basis, it's very complementary," he said. Sun is in the enterprise and has a substantial Web presence, while MySQL has a substantial Web presence and is entering the enterprise, Murdock said.The MySQL database runs on several platforms, including Linux and Sun's Solaris. MySQL does not see the database market, though, as saturated. "One of the things that's always been exciting about MySQL is we're really going after a new market of database users," with success in the Web 2.0, Enterprise 2.0 and SaaS (software as a service) spaces, said Zack Urlocker, MySQL executive vice president of products. Sun and MySQL also have joint customers such as eBay, he said."I think putting the two companies together, both in terms of what Sun can do to accelerate MySQL adoption and what MySQL can do to accelerate Sun's position in the Web space is going to be very interesting to watch," Murdock said. "This allows us to reach into new markets and have conversations with enormous numbers of developers and startups and other companies that are using MySQL in droves," he said, also pointing out that Sun could sell its workstations and servers to these users.Although Sun has been involved in the development of the rival open source database, PostgreSQL, Schwartz said Sun was reaffirming its commitment to PostgreSQL. "We are firmly committed to figuring out the ways we can optimize and integrate innovations across the two communities. Between MySQL and PostgreSQL, we probably have a large portion of the market covered," said Schwartz.Sun's Josh Berkus is the lead on the PostgreSQL project. Berkus said Sun would continue to accommodate multiple databases.The idea of Sun buying MySQL was born out of a dinner between Schwartz and Mickos a few months ago, Urlocker said. Although MySQL had been on a track to deliver an IPO, the chance to become part of Sun "became just too exciting for us," he said. "This enables us to accelerate our growth onto a much larger kind of platform in the industry."MySQL will become part of Sun as part of the deal, which is expected to be completed in about two months. MySQL products likely will continue to be offered via the same open source subscription strategy.


The "backyard in a box" solves your housebound dog's toilet troubles. In Gear Factor.


Dosanjh attacks premiers' plan for pharmacare

OTTAWAâPolitical deadlock is looming over the coming first ministers' health summit, with federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh stepping up his public criticism of the premiers' proposal for a national pharmacare program.


A health system starved by years of chronic under-funding got a significant cash injection today as Paul Martin announced a $41-billion âdeal for a decade.


British royal target of blackmail attempt: report

An unidentified member of the British  royal family has been targeted in a sex and drugs blackmail  attempt, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.


Tom Glavine was getting dressed late Saturday afternoon in the visiting clubhouse at SBC Park when the case carrying his two front teeth fell out of his pants


Hewlett Chief Says a Breakup Was Discussed

Hewlett-Packard acknowledged that on three occasions it considered breaking up, but each time the board unanimously decided to keep the company together.


Space shuttle Atlantis docked with the international space station Monday, arriving with the first addition to the orbiting space lab in more than 3 1/2 years.


Cold weather was forecast Saturday for the Northeast. Temperatures in New England were to reach only into the 30s and 40s and lake effect snow was possible in western New England.


2 die after airboat flips during swamp tour

Crown Point, La. -- A man and a woman from California died after an airboat carrying 16 tourists overturned in a Louisiana swamp, authorities said Sunday.


A new grade of "super teachers" is needed to fill vacancies in England's most challenging schools, MPs say.


NAJAF, Iraq -- A mother's sad wail pierced the stillness of the Cemetery of the Martyrs, where green and black resistance flags fluttered over the graves of hundreds of Shiite Muslim militiamen. Kneeling on the hot, chalk-like dirt, Abbas Sabah, 17, didn't stir. His mind was focused on his brother...


Avoid these names ... unless you want to destroy your savings.