Golden State leads 3-1

Warriors beat Mavs 103-99, lead series 3-1 (AP)

AP - Baron Davis banked in a 3-pointer from midcourt at the halftime buzzer Sunday night. While his Golden State fans nearly deafened their team, absolutely nobody in either uniform seemed terribly surprised.

I am thin!

A baby, held by an amateur sumo wrestler, takes part in a baby-crying ...

(Reuters) - A baby, held by an amateur sumo wrestler, takes part in a baby-crying contest at Sensoji temple in Tokyo April 28, 2007. Eighty-four babies born in 2006 took part in the event, which is held to pray for the babies' health and growth. The winner of the contest is the baby who cries the loudest. REUTERS/Toru Hanai (JAPAN)

Gore: Canada climate plan, a fraud

Gore calls Canada climate plan a 'fraud' (AP)

AP - Al Gore condemned Canada's new plan to reduce greenhouse gases, saying it was "a complete and total fraud" because it lacks specifics and gives industry a way to actually increase emissions.

Now it is Bad luck Jack

Actor Jack Nicholson gestures as he watches the Los Angeles ...

(AP) - Actor Jack Nicholson gestures as he watches the Los Angeles Lakers play the Phoenix Suns in their first round Western Conference NBA playoff game, Sunday, April 29, 2007, in Los Angeles. The Suns won, 113-100. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Girl power care of Natalie and Microloans

Portman Endorses Microloans for Women

Natalie Portman says that for many of the world's poorest women, a small loan can change their lives.

***I wish they also help them to budget and use their loaned money for something worthwhile.  Else, the more they will wallow in the quagmire of poverty and debts

1 million rally for democracy

More than one million rally in Turkey for secularism, democracy (AFP)

AFP - More than one million people took part in a mass rally here Sunday in support of secularism and democracy amid a tense stand-off between the Islamist-rooted government and the army over presidential elections.

Interchange collapses after fire

Calif. interchange collapses after fire (AP)

AP - An interchange connecting highways to the busy Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge collapsed early Sunday after a tractor trailer hauling 8,600 gallons of gasoline caught fire, authorities said.

Jazz levels

Okur, Utah Jazz Even 1st-Round Series

Mehmet Okur scored like he used to and played defense like he never has before. Okur scored 16 and helped limit Houston's Yao Ming to 20 points in Utah's 98-85 win over the Rockets on Saturday night, tying the series at 2-2.

Cleveland def Washington again

Cavaliers Take 3-0 Lead Over Wizards

The Cleveland Cavaliers are mastering the art of doing just enough to win. This time, they managed to blow a 17-point second-half lead against the short-handed Washington Wizards.

13 to go for Bonds

Bonds Moves Within 13 Homers of Aaron

Barry Bonds hit his 742nd home run Saturday night, moving within 13 of Hank Aaron's career record.

Hey, no one is perfect.

Chile: Google Earth moves a village to Argentina (Reuters)

Reuters - The Chilean government wants Google to fix its Earth geographical search program that places a villagenamed after Chilean independence hero Bernardo O'Higgins in Argentina.

***Oops.  No one is perfect

Lightning starts fire at Oklahoma refinery

Lightning starts fire at Okla. refinery (AP)

AP - Flames and smoke poured into the sky Saturday over an oil refinery where lightning set off a fire and an explosion that was felt miles away, authorities said.

1,100 arrested in disco raid

Vietnam police arrest 1,100 after disco raid

HANOI--More than 1,100 youngsters in Vietnam were arrested early Saturday morning following a raid on the biggest disco in Hanoi, state media said.

Warriors stun Mavs

Warriors Stun Mavs for 2-1 Series Lead

Stephen Jackson swore he felt the arena shake at times, the sellout crowd swelling to its yellow seams with every basket, blocked shot and improbable turn in the Golden State Warriors' victory.

Chicago 3, Miami 0

Bulls Take 3-0 Series Lead Over Heat

When it was over, the Chicago Bulls said all the right things. "We are not as superior as it appears," forward Andres Nocioni said. "It's only one win," added coach Scott Skiles. They were just being polite.

Estonia riot

Riots in Estonia after memorial removed (AP)

AP - Police fired rubber bullets and a water cannon at hundreds of protesters in Estonia's capital Friday in a second night of rioting by ethnic Russians angry over the removal of a Soviet war memorial — an act that also aggravated tensions with the Kremlin.

Joyriders kill teener

Laguna 'joyriders' kill teener, injure companion

Four motorcycle-riding men shot dead an 18-year-old resident and wounded his companion for no apparent reason shortly before midnight in Laguna province, dzRH radio reported Saturday.

Al-Qaeda man arrested

Top Al Qaeda operative taken into US custody (AFP)

AFP - A top Al-Qaeda commander who led operations in Afghanistan and plotted the assassination of Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has been taken into US custody, the Pentagon said Friday.

Slugger arrested

WNBA player slugs opponent, is arrested (AP)

AP - WNBA player Deanna Jackson was arrested on an assault charge after slugging an opposing player in a parking lot following a game, and will not be allowed to leave Israel until after the Chicago Sky's preseason opener.

***Now, they are considering her for boxing.

30 best international players in the NBA - Yao Ming not included

Hollinger: The 30 best international players in the NBA

John Hollinger ranks the best players in the NBA from around the globe.

***Just kidding.  Lolz.  Of course, he is included.  I didn't realize how many international players NBA has.  Wow.  Professional Basketball has really become an international sport - not just a sport exclusively for the US.

Russian chopper downed in Chechnya

Russian chopper downed in Chechnya, 17 dead -- reports

MOSCOW -- Seventeen servicemen died Friday when a Russian Mi-8 helicopter carrying paratroopers was shot down in Chechnya, Russian news agencies quoted military officials as saying.

Pistons now 3-0 over Magic

Pistons sputter, but top Magic for 3-0 series lead

Visit ESPN.com for the complete story.

At last: Lakers squeezed past Suns

Lakers rally to cut Sun's lead to 2-1 (AP)

AP - Kobe Bryant said it was simply a matter of effort. The Phoenix Suns agreed. Bryant scored 15 of his 45 points in the fourth quarter, Kwame Brown added a career playoff-high 19 points, and the Lakers rallied to beat the Suns 95-89 Thursday night, cutting Phoenix's lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Utah def Rockets 81-67

Rockets fizzle as Jazz take Game 3 (AP)

AP - Carlos Boozer had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz held Houston without a field goal for 10 minutes in the second half and beat the Rockets 81-67 on Thursday night in Game 3 of their playoff series.

Olympic torch passing through Taiwan

Olympic torch to pass through Taiwan (AP)

AP - Organizers of the 2008 Beijing Olympics said Thursday the torch relay will pass through Taiwan in a compromise over a highly symbolic event that the political rivals had bickered over.

NBA wars rage on

Spurs, Mavs knot series; Cavs go 2-up (AP)

AP - The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs evened their NBA first-round series at a game apiece last night while the Cleveland Cavaliers took a 2-0 lead on Washington.

Reunited by calcium

Nuns reunite to mark 1967 calcium study - Yahoo! News

By TIMBERLY ROSS, Associated Press Writer Wed Apr 25, 11:03 PM ET

OMAHA, Neb. - Sister Suzanne Vandenheede likes tomato soup. The 76-year-old nun from Omaha's Servants of Mary likes it so much she's been known to eat it for lunch every day for a week or more. And when she has, she's practically licked the bowl clean.

Off to Taiwan!

Taiwan set 75% minimum wage hike for overseas workers

MANILA, Philippines -- Taiwan is set to raise its minimum wage for overseas workers, including Filipinos, by 75 percent from the present $400 to $700 within the year, Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said Thursday.

Mavs win Game 2

Warriors lose cool as Mavs win Game 2 (AP)

AP - Tired of hearing about everything they did wrong in the playoff opener, the Dallas Mavericks sure did a lot right in Game 2. Jason Terry scored 28 points, Dirk Nowitzki had 23 and Josh Howard led a 15-2 run in the third quarter that sent the Mavericks to a 112-99 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, evening their first-round series.

Body found in burned home

Body found in burned home after manhunt (AP)

AP - The smoldering ashes of a quiet farmhouse and the body found inside left investigators with many questions but no certainties — even whether the dead person was the suspect authorities had been pursuing in three shootings of state troopers, one fatally.

Incandescent out by 2012

Canada to ban incandescent light bulbs by 2012 (Reuters)

Reuters - Canada will ban the sale of inefficient incandescent light bulbs by 2012 as part of a plan to cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn said on Wednesday.

GIs too

GIs frequented Japan's `comfort women' (AP)

AP - Japan's abhorrent practice of enslaving women to provide sex for its troops in World War II has a little-known sequel: After its surrender — with tacit approval from the U.S. occupation authorities — Japan set up a similar "comfort women" system for American GIs.

***Lesson:  If you will do comfort women, you have to be white not yellow.  For Filipinas, choosing between an American abuser and a Japanese abuser is like choosing between heaven (with coffee breaks) and hell.  I don't know why they complain a lot against Japanese.  When the greatest abusers in our country happened to be those GIs.   Okay, they pay more.  End of story.  Bitches.

Drop Shrek

Activists: drop Shrek from health ads (AP)

AP - A children's advocacy group wants the Department of Health and Human Services to oust Shrek, the animated ogre, from his role as spokesman for an anti-obesity drive.

***Some people are so stiff.  Sorry, ogre.

Tornado killer

Tornado kills six, injures more than 80 in Texas

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - A tornado killed six people and injured more than 80 when it slammed into a small border community in Texas overnight, officials said on Wednesday.

No more reward.

PNP chief backtracks on $10,000 reward in Campbell slay

(UPDATE 2) MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Calderon has recanted his earlier statement that the US embassy was offering $10,000 for information that would lead to the arrest of the prime suspect in the killing of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell.

Bulls 2, Heat 0

Bulls take 2-0 lead on Heat in NBA (AP)

AP - The Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns took 2-0 leads in their opening round NBA playoff series and the Toronto Raptors evened their series with the New Jersey Nets 1-1.

Chicago trounces Miami

Shaq feeling Heat as Bulls trample Miami (AP)

AP - This time, Shaquille O'Neal had nothing but praise for the opponent and the officiating.

16 inches of snow

Storm piles 16 inches of snow on Colo. (AP)

AP - A spring storm brought a strange brew of tornadoes, heavy snow, rain and hail to Colorado on Tuesday, damaging buildings and forcing schools and highways to close and stranding buses carrying dozens of schoolchildren.

Orangutan in a Riyadh zoo

Riyadh zoo : An orangutan rests at the zoo in Riyadh, Saudi ...

(AFP) - Riyadh zoo : An orangutan rests at the zoo in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AFP/Hassan Ammar)

Suns bury Lakers in the desert

Suns run Lakers out of desert, 126-98 (AP)

AP - The Phoenix Suns put the pedal to the floor and left that Game 2 jinx, and the Los Angeles Lakers, buried in the dust.

Cooler winds, heavier rains

La Niña to bring cooler winds, heavy rains to RP in 2007

MANILA, Philippines -- After suffering the hot, dry weather spell called El Niño, get ready for its opposite La Niña, bearer of colder winds and heavy rains.

Don't mess with a pregnant girl

Pregnant cow runs riot across city (Reuters)

Reuters - A pregnant cow being chased by policeand fire fighters caused 25,000 euros (17,000 pounds) of damageon a three-hour rampage through the German city of Hanover.

Lethal Injection Method Flawed

Study: Lethal Injection Method Flawed

The drugs used to execute prisoners in the United States sometimes fail to work as planned, causing slow and painful deaths that probably violate constitutional bans on cruel and unusual punishment, a new medical review of dozens of executions concludes.

***Gas them real fast.  Or better, cut off their heads.

Landis tests positive

Landis tests positive on follow-up tests (AP)

AP - Follow-up tests on backup urine samples by Tour de France champion Floyd Landis found traces of synthetic testosterone, the French sports newspaper L'Equipe reported Monday.

***Positive tests!  Wow!  (...lol..)

Yeltsin dies

Russian ex-president Yeltsin dies

Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin has died, Russian media report, citing a Kremlin statement.

World water capital?

Spanish city looking to become world water capital (AFP)

AFP - With water scarcity becoming a key environmental challenge, the northeastern Spanish city of Zaragoza is looking to use the 2008 World's Fair which it will host to become an international leader on the issue.

Habitat for waterbirds in LasPinas

Las Piñas-Parañaque lagoon declared habitat for waterbirds

MANILA, Philippines -- Saying that no nation is modern without thinking of the environment, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has signed a measure that would show her government’s efforts to carry out a comprehensive plan for a Green Philippines.

Girl stops van

Police: Girl stops out of control van (AP)

AP - An 11-year-old girl stopped a van that went out of control when her diabetic mother became ill, police said.

Rabbits wrecking Australian isle

Rabbits wrecking Australian isle (AFP)

AFP - An explosion in the rabbit population has "trashed" the World Heritage listed Macquarie Island, which is home to endangered penguins and albatrosses, the World Wide Fund for Nature said.

Warriors defeat Mavericks

Warriors stun Mavericks in series opener (AP)

AP - Don Nelson figures the Dallas Mavericks will eventually figure out how to stop his Golden State Warriors. Until they do, he's going to savor every moment.

Countdown in India

Countdown in India for first commercial satellite launch (AFP)

AFP - Indian space scientists were counting down the final hours Monday before a home-built rocket launches an Italian satellite into space in the country's first commercial space mission.

Half-ton shark caught

Fisherman Catches Half-Ton Mako Shark

A 1,063-pound mako shark hooked close to shore in the Gulf of Mexico is being investigated as a possible world fishing record.

Academy of Sex and Relationships

London learns how to love at new sex academy

LONDON -- The hottest new attraction in the throbbing heart of London opened its doors this week: Amora -- The Academy of Sex and Relationships, dedicated to looking at love in a new light.

Filipino translates Koran to Maguindanaoan dialect

Filipino scholar translates Koran into Maguindanaoan dialect

COTABATO CITY -- (UPDATE) Drenched in rainy days when the water leaked through his nipa hut, his family stuck it out with him as he spent years translating the Koran into his own dialect.

East QF Chicago 1, Miami 0

Chicago defeats champion Miami in series opener (Reuters)

Reuters - The Chicago Bulls scraped past the Miami Heat on Saturday in a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference quarter-final matchup, holding off a late charge from the defending champions to win 96-91.

Lee Van finishes 2nd

Corteza is Guinness 9-Ball Jakarta leg runner-up

Filipino cue master Lee Van Corteza's campaign in the Jakarta leg of the 2007 Guinness 9-Ball Tour ended in a disaster Sunday night.

Martin Lel wins London Marathon

Lel wins London Marathon thriller

Martin Lel out-sprints his rivals to win the London Marathon for the second time.

Chinese wins London Marathon

China's Zhou wins London Marathon

China's Zhou Chunxiu takes victory in the women's race in the 2007 London Marathon.

Lee Van in finals

Corteza enters finals of Guinness 9-Ball Tour's Jakarta leg

Newly crowned Philippine national champion Lee Van Corteza gained a spot in the finals Sunday of the 2007 Guinness 9-Ball Tour's Jakarta leg with a heart-stopping 13-11 victory over compatriot Dennis Orcollo.

NYC: 1 million new trees in 10 years

NYC pledges 1 million new trees by 2017 (AP)

AP - One million new trees will join the urban landscape of New York City by the year 2017 to reduce air pollution, cool temperatures and help improve the city's long term sustainability, officials said Saturday.

French polls start

French polls open with 12 presidential racers

PARIS - France began choosing a new president Sunday after a frenzied campaign among a dozen contenders in a race with unpredictable results.

Blue Angels air exhibition

The remaining pilots prepare to land after a Navy F-18 Blue ...

(AP) - The remaining pilots prepare to land after a Navy F-18 Blue Angel plane crashed during an air show at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort, S.C., Saturday, April 21, 2007. The Beaufort Gazette reported the plane hit a pine tree and then crashed near a subdivision, setting at least one home on fire and peppering homes with shrapnel. The county coroner's office said one person was killed. (AP Photo/Birmingham News, Mark Almond)

Neo-Nazis Outnumbered

Neo-Nazis Outnumbered in S.C. March

A neo-Nazi group rallied at the Statehouse on Saturday to protest illegal immigration but was outnumbered by opponents and law enforcement officers in full SWAT gear.

Nebraska ripped by tornado

Tornado injures several in Nebraska (AP)

AP - A possible tornado ripped up farmsteads in western Nebraska and injured several people as thunderstorms rippled across the Plains.

1000-Day Ocean Voyage

Sailing Duo Begin 1,000-Day Ocean Voyage

HOBOKEN, N.J -- Two sailors cast off on the first of 1,000 planned days at sea Saturday in a bid to set a new world record.

What a lucky guy

Report: Filipino survives 5-story fall in Caribbean

A 54-year-old Filipino carpentry foreman miraculously survived after falling five stories down a laundry chute of a hotel construction site in Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago shortly before noon Saturday.

13 indicted

13 indicted in $3M credit card fraud (AP)

AP - The diners didn't know it, but their credit cards were going to pay for more than their meals, prosecutors said. Waiters in about 40 restaurants, in New York and elsewhere, quietly recorded customers' credit card information and passed it on to people who used the information to make more than $3 million worth of worth of illegal purchases, according to prosecutors.

LA Times to axe 150 jobs

Los Angeles Times to cut about 150 jobs

LOS ANGELES - About 150 jobs at the Los Angeles Times are expected to be cut next week amid a recent earnings report from parent Tribune Co. that show slumping revenue, the newspaper reported.

5.9 Earthquake hits Japan

Earthquake hits Japan's southern islands

TOKYO - A strong 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan's southern islands on Saturday but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, meteorology officials said.

Muted celebrations as Queen turns 81

Queen Elizabeth II turns 81 with muted celebrations

LONDON -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was marking her 81st birthday in private on Saturday -- a far cry from last year's public celebrations in front of cheering, flag-waving crowds.

Taliban seeks French pullout in exchange for hostages

Taliban want French pullout, swap to save hostages (Reuters)

Reuters - Taliban guerrillas on Friday gave France one week to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and demanded the release of fighters held by the government to save two kidnapped French aid workers, according to a Web statement.

Baby sitter accused of killing 3 children, pregnant friend

Baby Sitter Charged in 3 Kids' Deaths

A baby sitter already accused of killing a pregnant friend was charged Friday with drowning the woman's three children in a bath tub and then hiding the bodies in the family's washing machine and dryer.

Robotic flacons versus Liverpool pigeons

Robotic falcons enlisted to fight pigeons (AP)

AP - Liverpool's pigeon population has it easy. Feasting on fast food and leaving droppings wherever they please, the fat birds are an embarrassment to a city chosen to be next year's European Capital of Culture.

Tour de France officials: Exclude doping suspects

Tour to cycling teams: Exclude doping suspects

The director of the Tour de France is asking cycling teams to exclude riders who were implicated in the Spanish doping investigation.

Heads delivered to Army

Decapitated heads delivered to Army

JOLO, Sulu, Philippines -- Two heads, believed to be those of two of the seven persons abducted by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Parang town on Tuesday morning, were delivered to an Army detachment on Thursday.

Which is first - Rice or Reactor?

Two Koreas argue which comes first: rice or reactor (Reuters)

Reuters - Talks between the Koreas stalled before they started on Thursday, with the two sides arguing whether rice aid topped closure of a nuclear reactor.

Chiang's Grandson sues over Statue of Grandpa

Chiang Kai-shek grandson sues over statue (Reuters)

Reuters - The demolition of a giant ChiangKai-shek statue in southern Taiwan has infuriated the latedictator's grandson, who is suing a local mayor over what heconsiders an insulting act.

Browser Wars Over?

The Browser Wars Are (sort of) Over

Besides the gaming console and DVD format wars we’ve seemed to have forgotten the browser wars, but it seems as though that has come to an end, or at very least an amicable ceasefire. At the Web 2.0 Expo this week Microsoft, Mozilla, Opera and Google took center stage to discuss what’s really going on. The main topic of discussion was security and I’d like to think that’s a very good start. I could care less about market share, but I will say I loathe IE.
(more…)

Colombia volcano erupts

Colombia volcano erupts, thousands flee (AP)

AP - Thousands of people were evacuated after a long-dormant volcano erupted late Tuesday and again early Wednesday, provoking avalanches and floods that swept away houses and bridges.

Abortion issues divide court

Top court upholds law banning some abortions (Reuters)

Reuters - A closely divided U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the first nationwide ban on a specific abortion procedure, restricting abortion rights in a ruling on one of the nation's most divisive and politically charged issues.

Iraq plans to control whole nation by end 2007: Maliki

AMARA, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq plans to take security control of the whole country from foreign forces by the end of the year, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Wednesday after British forces handed over control of a southern province.

    

Indian herb, cancer hope

Indian herb remedy cancer hope

A study finds triphala, an Indian herbal remedy, slows pancreatic tumour growth in mice.

Asian tycoon lived a frugal life

Asia's richest women: Frugal life, lavish funeral

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong tycoon Nina Wang may have been given a funeral send-off Wednesday as lavish as her dress sense was outrageous, but Asia's richest woman lived life frugally, saving every penny she could.

Missing Peace Corps volunteer found dead

(UPDATE 4) Missing Peace Corps volunteer found dead

MANILA, Philippines -- A United States Peace Corps volunteer who had been missing since last week was found dead in the mountains of Banaue in Ifugao province in the northern Philippines, military officials have said.

Historians find proof anew

Historians find new proof on sex slaves (AP)

AP - Evidence submitted to the post-World War II trials of Japanese war criminals shows Japan's military forced Asian women into sexual slavery during the war, historians said Tuesday, citing newly unearthed documents.

Mayor killed by the mob

Japanese mayor killed by mobster (AP)

AP - The mayor of the Japanese city of Nagasaki was shot to death in a brazen attack Tuesday by an organized crime chief apparently enraged that the city refused to compensate him after his car was damaged at a public works construction site, police said.

Free movie

'An Inconvenient Truth' for free at SM on Earth Day

SM Cinema—together with the Department for Natural Resources, Earth Day Network Philippines, and Magnavision—invites moviegoers to watch free screenings of An Inconvenient Truth

Hard for 'em

No Spitting on the Road to Olympic Glory, Beijing Says

Citywide campaigns are trying to improve the public awareness of manners ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

German Soldier sacked over training video

Germany sacks soldier over training video

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German Defence Ministry said on Tuesday it had dismissed a German army instructor who was filmed ordering a recruit to imagine he was firing a machine gun at "African Americans" who were insulting his mother.

***What if he said he was firing at Filipino indios or Filipino monkeys?  Would this have happened?  Doubt it.

    

WSJ wins

Wall Street Journal wins two top Pulitzer prizes

NEW YORK -- The Wall Street Journal picked up two top Pulitzer prizes Monday for its coverage of fast-paced economic development in China and a share-dealing scandal that led to changes in corporate America.

Drug wars

Police find 17 bodies across Mexico (AP)

AP - Police found 17 bodies stuffed in cars or dumped on streets in garbage bags across Mexico on Monday in the latest wave of violence apparently triggered by warring drug gangs.

Energy Summit

Chavez, Lula clash over ethanol at energy summit (Reuters)

Reuters - South America's political heavyweights clashed over ethanol, exposing a rift on Monday at the start of an energy summit that host Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hoped would cement anti-U.S. unity.

Chinese chessers pace RP Open championship

The 2007 Philippine Open chess championship is turning to be an all-Chinese show, based on Sunday's fifth round officials results sent to media organizations Monday.

Russia presses UK on Berezovsky

Russia asks the UK to extradite tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who called for President Putin to be ousted.

Russia presses UK on Berezovsky

Russia asks the UK to extradite tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who called for President Putin to be ousted.

Pedestrians walk in front of the New York Stock Exchange in ...

(Reuters) - Pedestrians walk in front of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, April 16, 2007. A large storm brought heavy rain to the East Coast early Monday, flooding rivers, stranding airline passengers and prompting evacuations along parts of the U.S. East Coast. REUTERS/Eric Thayer (UNITED STATES)

Bid to halt bumblebee decline

Bid to halt bumblebee decline

A national drive to help boost the number of bumblebees in Britain is launched by conservationists.

America's Cup

Law suits, espionage and controversy on the high seas (AFP)

AFP - The America's Cup has had more drama, intrigue and scandal in its 156-year history than Pirates of the Caribbean.

Worst Coastal Flooding in 14 years

Traffic heads down the FDR Drive on Sunday, April 15, 2007 as ...

(AP) - Traffic heads down the FDR Drive on Sunday, April 15, 2007 as roads became flooded from the effects of a heavy storm moving through the region. A powerful nor'easter pounded the East with wind and pouring rain, grounding airlines and threatening the worst coastal flooding on Long Island in 14 years. The storm also flooded people out of their homes in West Virginia. (AP Photo/Rick Maiman)

Worst in 15 years

A car abandoned by the driver sits in water up to its bumpers ...

(AP) - A car abandoned by the driver sits in water up to its bumpers that overflowed the banks of the Cooper River along South Park Drive, Sunday, April 15, 2007, in Collingswood, N.J. In the background is the new boathouse. A major nor'easter predicted to be the region's worst storm in 15 years pounded New Jersey on Sunday with heavy rain and high winds, causing hundreds of flight cancellations and flooding roadways. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Yangtze in peril

China's Yangtze river in peril (AFP)

AFP - China's longest and most important river, the Yangtze, is under serious pressure from human activity with long stretches in "critical condition".

Nigeria violence after poll

Violent clashes in Nigeria after poll

Nigeria held crucial state government elections, amid concern chaotic scenes of ballot stuffing and violent clashes could be repeated in presidential polls to be held next weekend.

300 flights canceled

Storms cancels flights in N.Y and N.J. (AP)

AP - Airlines canceled 300 flights Sunday as a hard-blowing nor'easter gathered strength along the East Coast and threatened to deliver some of the worst flooding to coastal Long Island in 14 years.

Nurse union: Job cuts caused by NHS deficits

Nurse union attacks NHS job cuts

A nurses' union is claiming that 22,000 job cuts have been caused by NHS deficits in the last 18 months.

Nigerians elect their officials

Millions Vote in Nigeria, but Intimidation Is Widespread

Voting in the first stage of what is to be a landmark election for Africa’s most populous nation was marred by unrest and violence across the country.

Moscow violence

Moscow police beat anti-Putin protesters (AP)

AP - Riot police beat and detained protesters as thousands defied an official ban and attempted to stage a rally Saturday against President Vladimir Putin's government, which opponents accuse of rolling back freedoms Russians have enjoyed since the end of Soviet communism.

Earthquake in Japan

Moderate quake jolts central and western Japan

TOKYO (Reuters) - A moderate earthquake jolted central and western Japan on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.

Globalisation is good.

Globalisation is good: the words not heard in French presidential campaign (AFP)

AFP - Globalisation for French presidential candidates is all about factories closing and moving to China. They don't like to mention that Paris-based Carrefour, the world's second largest retailer after Wal-Mart, is making a killing there, and that France is one of the richest countries in the world thanks to free trade.

Taliban video shows aid worker hostages

Taliban video shows aid worker hostages (AP)

AP - Two French aid workers and three Afghans kidnapped by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan appeared in a video broadcast Saturday by the pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Arabiya.

170 anti-Kremlin protesters arrested

Russia police arrest 170 anti-Kremlin protesters

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian police detained at least 170 people, including chess champion Garry Kasparov, on Saturday as they snuffed out an attempt by opponents of President Vladimir Putin to protest near the Kremlin.

   

Heavy rain, snow

Northeast prepares for heavy rain, snow (AP)

AP - A severe weather system blamed for two deaths plowed eastward Saturday, rattling the Gulf states with strong thunderstorms as the Northeast prepared for possible coastal flooding.

In Opposition to Turkey's Leader

200,000 march against Turkey's leader

ANKARA, Turkey — More than 200,000 Turks protested against Turkey's Islamic-rooted prime minister Saturday, demonstrating the intense opposition he could face from Turkey's secular establishment if he decides to run for president next month.

Commander Suspended on Human Shields

Israel 'human shield' suspension

The Israeli army says it has suspended a commander after his unit allegedly used human shields in a West Bank raid.

Like WW2

Iraqis are lined up against a wall as a soldier stands guard ...

(AFP/File) - Iraqis are lined up against a wall as a soldier stands guard in Baghdad. A car bomb slaughtered 40 people near a revered Shiite shrine in Iraq's pilgrimage city of Karbala on Saturday, two months to the day after US-led troops launched a security crackdown in Baghdad(AFP/File/Joseph Eid)

Spring too slow

Spring's slow arrival hits crops, baseball (Reuters)

Reuters - Wheat fields ruined by freezing temperatures, snowed-out baseball games in Cleveland and Chicago, and shivering vacationers have made this spring one to forget across much of the United States.

China farmland shrinks to 0.3 percent

China's farmland shrinks to near warning level (AFP)

AFP - China's farmland shrank 0.3 percent in the year to 2006, putting it just above the warning level set by the government, state press reported Friday.

Solar Power: Not Yet

Your Money: Financially, Solar Power for the Home Is a Tough Sell

Even with federal and state credits, installing a home solar power system can mean waiting years for savings on energy bills.

Probe points to maltreated errand boy as army camp shooter

Probe points to maltreated errand boy as army camp shooter

MANILA, Philippines -- An informal probe conducted by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) appears to confirm reports that a maltreated, vengeful ''errand boy'' set off last week's Black Saturday shooting rampage in an Army camp in Sulu that left nine soldiers and a civilian dead.

Niño Muhlach loses bail over busted fan belt

Niño Muhlach loses bail over busted fan belt

MANILA, Philippines -- It was a bad omen. A busted fan belt prevented former child actor Niño Muhlach from arriving at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in time for his arraignment Friday, prompting the judge to revoke his bail bond and issue a warrant of arrest against him.

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Interracial Marriages surge in US

Interracial marriages surge across U.S. (AP)

AP - The charisma king of the 2008 presidential field. The world's best golfer. The captain of the New York Yankees. Besides superstardom, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter have another common bond: Each is the child of an interracial marriage.

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3D puzzles to amuse you

Interesting 3D puzzles to amuse yourself with at work

The idea is to build up the solid shape indicated by the views to the left - but only using the number of cubes given. There are 10 problems, called figuur1 to figuur10. Be warned: they are not easy.

35 suspected Taliban killed

35 suspected Taliban killed in Afghanistan (AP)

AP - Afghan security forces clashed with suspected Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan, and a subsequent airstrike in the area left 35 militants dead, an Afghan official said Thursday.

New Nuclear Treaty

Experts Prepare New Nuclear Treaty

Independent arms control experts from 15 countries are drafting a treaty to ban production of uranium and plutonium for nuclear weapons that could rival a U.S. text under consideration by the U.N.'s top disarmament body.

***Yeah.  Anything more than the US is illegal.  Sheesh. 

China poses risk to key US satellites

China poses risk to key U.S. satellites: top general (Reuters)

Reuters - China's use of a missile to destroy a satellite in January put vital U.S. national-security satellites at risk, the top U.S. Air Force general said on Wednesday.

Surveillance Law Needs Update

Spy Chief: Surveillance Law Needs Update

National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell said Wednesday that a landmark surveillance law needs to be updated to accommodate advances in technology.

***It needs to be repealed

AIDS victims blocked from protesting

Chinese AIDS victims blocked from protesting

BEIJING -- About 350 people infected with HIV/AIDS were blocked by police in central China Wednesday from protesting over drug treatments they are receiving from the government, a leading activist said.

Blog revealed too much

Envoy’s blog reveals outings in Bangkok’s red districts

BANGKOK, Thailand -- A British diplomat in Thailand has learned that writing a blog can open the door to some very undiplomatic exchanges -- on delicate subjects such as his outings in Bangkok's famed red-light districts.

Large waves in El Salvador, Mexico

Large waves batter El Salvador, Mexico (AP)

AP - Unusually high Pacific waves battered beaches from El Salvador to Mexico and carried people out to sea, prompting authorities in some places to order swimmers out of the water Tuesday. At least two people were killed.

Google Earth focuses on Sudan

Google Earth focuses on Sudan atrocities

WASHINGTON - Google is using its popular online mapping service to call attention to atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Sad News In Happy Valley

6 Die in Happy Valley, Calif. Fire

A family of six was killed Tuesday in a pre-dawn house fire, and authorities suspected it was arson.

Costs of War

Pay Soars to Keep People in Military

The struggle to entice Army soldiers and Marines to stay in the military, after four years of war in Iraq, has ballooned into a $1 billion campaign, with bonuses soaring nearly sixfold since 2003.

Nobel Laureates Seek Turk-Armenian Peace

Nobel Laureates Seek Turk-Armenian Peace

Fifty-three Nobel laureates are calling on Turkey and Armenia to open their border and resolve their differences over the mass killings of Armenians by Turks in the early 20th century.

US forces in heavy clashes in Baghdad

U.S. forces in heavy clashes in Baghdad (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. and Iraqi forces backed by attack helicopters fought gunmen in Baghdad on Tuesday, witnesses said, in what appeared to be the heaviest battle in the capital since a security crackdown was launched in February.

FG: I love you all...

Mike Arroyo: I love all of you, especially Diggy

MANILA, Philippines -- "I love all of you, especially my youngest boy, Diggy." These were the first words that First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo had scribbled on a piece of paper for his daughter, Evangeline Lourdes (Luli).

Fruit Growers Fear Damaged Crops

Fruit Growers Wait for Frost Estimates

Frigid weekend weather caused frost that damaged crops across the Southeast, raising fears that peach, apple, blueberry, strawberry and wine grapes were harmed.

Polygamy is no joke

Polygamy is no joke, man discovers (Reuters)

Reuters - A Saudi man lost a bit of his nose in ajoint assault by his two wives after he jokingly threatened tomarry a third woman.

Muzzle Awards for Violators of Freedom

Bush, Defense Dept. get 'Muzzle' awards (AP)

AP - The Bush administration and the Defense Department are among the winners of the 2007 Jefferson Muzzle awards, given Tuesday by a free-speech group to those it considers the most egregious First Amendment violators in the past year.

Get out Occupant

Demonstrators chant slogans during a peaceful rally marking ...

(Reuters) - Demonstrators chant slogans during a peaceful rally marking the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad to invading American troops, in Najaf, April 9, 2007. (Ceerwan Aziz/Reuters)

Australia Moves To Double Afghan Troops

Australia to Nearly Double Afghan Troops

Australia plans to nearly double its forces in Afghanistan, Prime Minister John Howard said Tuesday, describing the dispatch of 450 soldiers as an attempt to check the swelling Taliban insurgency.

Hayek to Form Production Company with MGM

Hayek, MGM to Form Production Company

Salma Hayek and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. have formed a new production company, aiming to create movies that not only feature Latino themes and talent but have mass-market appeal.

Spector Prosecution on the Defensive

Spector Prosecution on the Defensive

Before going on the offensive, the team in charge of prosecuting Phil Spector is looking to shore up its defense.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office filed a motion Friday to keep Spector's lawyers from dragging Lana Clarkson's name through the mud, stating that the music producer's lawyers are planning to mischaracterize the late actress as "the kind of person who might kill herself."

According to documents filed by Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson, three potential defense witnesses have called Clarkson depressed, suicidal, belligerent and clutzy statements that are "riddled with speculation, improper opinion, and hearsay," Jackson wrote.

One of the deposed witnesses, a former friend of Clarkson's named "Punkin Pie" Laughlin, initially denied that her pal was suicidal, Jackson stated, but Laughlin has apparently changed her tune since then.

Michigan shooting

Anthony Lacamita, suspect in accounting firm shooting

(AP) - In a photo provided by the Troy Police Department, Anthony LaCalamita, 38, is shown in an undated photo. LaCalamita, a former accounting firm employee is suspected of shooting three people at the firm's office building, killing one and wounding the others in Troy, Mich., Monday, April 9, 2007, police and hospital officials said. Police said they had located the suspect following a high-speed chase that began on Interstate 75 north of where the shootings took place. (AP Photo/Troy Police Departmen)

Admiral admits to four frustrating years in Iraq

US admiral admits to four frustrating years in Iraq (AFP)

AFP - The US military has had a disappointing and frustrating time in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime four years ago, a top admiral said Monday.