The ECGD decision follows the successful bid by Babcock International of the UK to supply computer-controlled inspection equipment to the Atucha II nuclear power station being built 70 miles north-west of Buenos Aires.

Babcock International supplied nuclear expertise to Argentina.


On the domestic tobacco front, operating income rose by 12 per cent to Dollars 914m, with "slightly higher unit volume".


In terms of operating profits, the sharpest advance was seen in Philip Morris' international tobacco division.

Philip Morris gains on the international market.


He was a particular nuisance to Amazon cattle ranchers, who clear-cut vast tracts of trees to graze cattle for beef to be exported, mostly to developed countries.

Ranchers clear-cut vast tracts of the Amazon forest to graze cattle.


The next useful step against poaching would be to increase pressure on those governments which have so far taken a relaxed attitude towards import of banned products.

Controls on poaching include pressuring governments who allow imports of banned products.


A common variety of mercy killing is when a permanently incapacitated or terminally ill patient is removed from a life support system upon his/her request or the request of a spouse, close relative or guardian or simply by medical authorities with legal approval.

A variety of mercy killing is when a patient is removed from a life support system with legal approval.


Leakey believed Kenya's wildlife, which underpins a tourist industry worth Dollars 450m a year, could be managed in a profitable and sustainable manner.

Kenya's wildlife is managed in a profitable manner.


Hunted down and stripped of tusks and hide by poachers, the number of African elephants slumped from 1.2m to 600,000 in a decade until Cites banned the trade in ivory.

The African elephant population was decimated by poachers.


They cite scholarly research showing that young women at co-ed schools tend to defer to men in intellectual debate.

Young women at co-ed colleges tend to defer to men.


Women at single-sex colleges are more likely to graduate and to obtain advanced degrees.

Women are more likely to obtain advanced degrees.


The rankings of independent schools' A-level results have been analyzed by the Financial Times today.

The Financial Times has analyzed the rankings of UK schools.


Boys and girls will be segregated during sex education in junior high school.

Boys and girls will be segregated in junior high school.


A German nurse, Michaela Roeder, 31, was found guilty of six counts of manslaughter and mercy killing.

A German nurse was convicted of manslaughter and mercy killing.


A new survey shows that all segments of the public support right-to-die policies.


A majority of "born-again" Christians and the very religious think acts of so-called "mercy killing" by spouses are sometimes justified.


It tried to buy the Berlin biscuit company from RJR Nabisco two years ago, but was outbid by the French food giant, BSN.


BAT would not confirm the story, but did confirm that the three tobacco majors - BAT, RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris - are 'head to head in investment terms' in the former Soviet Union.

Three tobacco majors have entered the former Soviet Union market.


Philip Morris cited strong volume gains in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, central and eastern Europe, the Far East, Japan, Korea, Argentina and Brazil.

Philip Morris makes strong profits also in Europe.


A year after Noriega's capture, the court was still hearing arguments on whether Bush could be subpoenaed and the World Court was in preliminary hearings on Panama's complaint.


The World Court can condemn this action and then the Soviets can defy that body, just as the United States defied the court's condemnation of its embargo of Nicaragua.

The World court condemned the US embargo against Nicaragua.


Col. Gadaffi has separately opened an action against the US and Britain at the World Court accusing them of breaking international law.

Gadaffi has accused the USA and Britain of breaking international law.


Libya had been the target of US air raids in 1986, when the US had linked Libya to the bombing of a Berlin disco frequented by US servicemen.


The World Court yesterday rejected Libya's plea that it should bar the US and Britain from taking punitive measures to oblige Tripoli to hand over two men suspected of the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am airliner over Lockerbie in Scotland.

Libya requested an injunction against Britain and the U.S.


Bosnian claims of Serbian annexation attempts in 1993 were brought to the World Court.

The World Court heard Bosnia's case against Serbia.


The International Court of Justice ruled in Chad's favour in a 20-year border dispute with Libya which has caused two wars.

The border dispute between Chad and Libya was ruled in Chad's favour.


They refused to appear in the World Court 10 years ago when Washington sought the release of American hostages in Tehran.

American hostages were released in Tehran.


The court heard US appeals for the release of hostages held by Iran.


The World Court, or International Court of Justice (ICJ), located in The Hague, is made up of fifteen permanent judges plus two judges nominated by the parties involved in the dispute under consideration.

There may be up to 15 judges in the ICJ.


Two judges of the ICJ are nominated by the parties involved.


The World Court has no power to enforce its orders but its decisions have traditionally carried some diplomatic weight.

The decisions of the World Court carry diplomatic weight.


One of the earliest and longest standing decisions of the ICJ involved the Corfu Channel incident in 1946 when two British destroyers struck Albanian-laid mines while exercising their right of passage through Corfu Channel.

The dispute between Albania and the UK about the Corfu incident lasted a long time.


The ICJ ruled in 1948 that Albania should pay Britain 843,947 pounds.

In 1948 the ICJ ruled in favour of Albania.


A dispute between Honduras and El Salvador over their borders was settled by a compromise devised by the ICJ in 1992.

Honduras and El Salvador were in dispute over their borders.


Experts estimate that only 5% to 10% of stolen artworks ever finds its way back to the owners.

Only 5% to 10% of stolen art ever gets returned to the owners.


Twenty-eight French masterpieces seized by the Nazis during World War II, including paintings by Monet, Renoir and Gauguin, have been found in a cupboard at a Berlin museum, a news magazine reported today.

Masterpieces seized by Nazis were found in Berlin.


The ALR was founded by a consortium of leading auction houses (Sotheby's, Christie's, Phillips).

Sotheby's, Christie's and Phillips founded the ALR.


The City Council recently budgeted $7,300 to pay for training Officer Ron Inman and his dog Waldo.

The City Council paid $7,300 to train a dog.


The international Human Genome Project is stimulating rapid advances in laboratory automation.

The Human Genome Project benefits from advances in laboratory automation.


The three partners have developed a robotic system to help scientists produce cloned cells required for genetics research.


The ICRF system then 'picks' healthy-looking colonies with a block of 96 spring-loaded pins and moves the cells to dishes for further growth and analysis.

The ICRF system picks cells for further growth and analysis.


The biggest user of automation technology is the electronics industry, especially for making factory laptop computers.

Automation technology is used in making laptop computers.


Robots are now available for loading and unloading memory tapes and schedulers for pre-arranging the flow of work through a computer over a period of time.

Corporate IT departments use robots for loading and unloading memory tapes.


Robots are being used in automobile final assembly work and paint spraying and suppliers hope to be able to develop these markets now that the technology has been proven.


One of the most innovative features of the Thamesport's system is the control of remote peripherals.

Thamesport's system cannot control remote peripherals.


The system supervises the movement of all machinery within the port, including the five monster ship-to-shore 'robot' cranes and the 14 gantry cranes, which unload the containers from the ships.

Robots are used at sea terminals to move containers from ships.


The government will delay the implementation of local government reform in Wales for a year in what could be an embarrassment for Mr. John Redwood, the Welsh secretary.

The Welsh government has delayed any legislation regarding proposed changes.


The Labour leader plans to use a long-planned interview on BBC radio to mount a strong defence of his plans to set up a Scottish parliament and a Welsh assembly.

The British Labour party had long supported demands by Scotland and Wales for independent assemblies.


The government is pressing ahead with plans to reform the structure of local government in Wales by holding shadow elections to new unitary authorities as early as next year.

Shadow elections will be held next year.


It is expected that a Welsh parliament would be set up in the first year of an incoming Labour government.

A Welsh parliament will be set up within one year.


Many British schools experimented with coeducation but returned to its former status as a boys' school.

Some British schools experimented with single-sex education.


The Salvation Army operates the shelter under a contract with the county.

The Salvation Army collaborates with the county.


Every night of the year a minimum of 140 men who would otherwise be homeless, and who are homeless when they come to us are sleeping in clean beds in the Salvation Army's two Adult Rehabilitation Centers here in the Valley.

Homeless men may sleep in the Salvation Army's rehabilitation centers in the Valley.


In England Salvation Army social workers and volunteers have been trained in outreach work to make contact with homeless people on the streets.

The Salvation Army has trained homeless people as social workers.


Revenue from the thrift store funded the Salvation Army's drug- and alcohol-rehabilitation service.

Thrift stores fund rehabilitation services.


Food pantries are operated directly in various cities such as Los Angeles, California.

The Army operates food pantries in California.


In the US the Salvation Army offers shelters for the homeless in most areas of the country.

The US Army provides shelters for the homeless.


The Salvation Army paid for the transportation; it often provides an incentive contribution to charitable fundraisers to urge others to reach a stated goal.

The Salvation Army arranges transportation for donated materials.


At times of hurricanes in Florida the Salvation Army raises and forwards funds to other relief agencies as well as providing clothing, blankets and food to the afflicted on its own.

The Salvation Army provides aid to victims of hurricanes.


A second round of talks between the newly elected Czech and Slovak leaders on the future of the Czechoslovak federation ended in deadlock last night.

A series of negotiations between Czech and Slovak were unsuccessful.


After nine hours of talks, Mr. Vaclav Klaus admitted no agreement had been reached with Mr. Vladimir Meciar.

Vaclav Klaus and Vladimir Meciar reached an agreement.


Already hard hit by the collapse of Comecon markets and the end of the Cold War, the disintegration of the highly integrated Czechoslovak economy has led to a sharp drop in trade with the Czech republic.


The Czech and Slovak republics have been unable to agree a political basis for their future coexistence in one country.

The Czech and Slovak republics do not agree to coexist in one country.


A new interim federal government, to be made up of Czechs and Slovaks in equal measure will oversee the separation of the state.

Interim federal government will be equally made up by Czechs and Slovaks.


The newly-elected leaders of the Czech and Slovak republics have agreed to try to form quickly an interim federal government despite deep differences over the future federal state revealed at their first meeting.

The Czech and Slovak republics agreed to form an interim federal government.


In Slovakia, Mr. Vladimir Meciar whose nationalist Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) just failed to win an overall majority in the Slovak National Council, has to choose between Mr. Jozef Prokes or the Democratic Left Party.

Vladimir Meciar must choose between Prokes and the Democratic Left Party.


Slovakia's economic difficulties during the reforms fueled an emerging nationalism.

Slovak nationalism was fueled by economic difficulties.


In the fall of 1992 the leaders worked on the law for dividing Czechoslovakia.

The law for the division of Czechoslovakia was discussed in 1992.


In November, the Czech and Slovak parliaments voted to split into two independent republics in January 1993.

Czech and Slovak parliaments agreed to become independent republics in January 1993.


The split left the Czech Republic free to pursue its drive towards a free-market economy.

The Czech Republic pursues a free market economy.


Slovakia was saddled with a high concentration of heavy industry geared to the Soviet market.

Slovakia's heavy industries were geared to the Soviet market.


After years of battling between oil companies, the Ecuadorian government decided to collaborate with indigenous groups.

The Ecuadorian government collaborated with indigenous groups.


In Brazil, the Amazon basin covers 2 million square miles, a region 12 times as large as California.

The Amazon basin is as large as California.


Plant manioc in combination with nitrogen-fixing legumes will protect weak soils.

Soil replenishment technologies have been developed.


Agroforestry has proved to be one of the most productive uses of cleared Amazon land.

Agroforestry represents a productive use of cleared Amazon land.


By giving this land an economic function we are preventing further incursion into the Amazon.

Incursions in the Amazon have an economic function.


Brazil's annual losses are between 10 and 20 million acres within the Amazon and 2.5 million acres outside the Amazon.

Millions of acres within the Amazon are destroyed each year.


Loggers clear cut large tracts of rain forest to sell wood without replacing trees.

Trees in the rain forest are cut without being replaced.


Experiments with establishing fast growing eucalyptus tree farms to supply wood pulp were developed.

Fast growing eucalyptus trees were planted to supply wood pulp.


A former executive of Digital Equipment Corp. and two others pleaded guilty Tuesday to siphoning nearly $300,000 from the computer company.

A former executive of Digital Equipment Corp. siphoned nearly $300,000 from the company.


Leona Helmsley, the self-proclaimed queen of a luxury hotel chain, was sentenced Tuesday to four years in federal prison.

Leona Helmsley was given a four year sentence.


Leona Helmsley is the owner of a luxury hotel chain.


In a security fraud case, Michael Milken was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Milken was imprisoned for security fraud.


Prosecutions tended to be more aggressive and sentences tended to be longer for financial crimes with many victims and massive losses of money, as in the Minkow case.

Sentences for financial crimes tend to be longer.


Bilking a large number of people out of millions of dollars can lead to sentences that vary from ten to twenty years.


The judge in the Milken case said that the 10-year sentence she imposed on Milken was intended to make an example of him.

Prison term for Michael Milken was intended to make him an example.


Only firm evidence of the link between conservation and economic development can maintain people's commitment to Campfire, says Cherry Bird, wildlife coordinator for Hurungwe district.

Campfire helps rural communities make money from animals which had been poached as pests.


Villagers involved are actively discouraging wildlife poaching, confiscating snares, reporting poaching incidents and guarding against bush fires which are used to flush out animals but also destroy vegetation.

Zambian villagers set up security committees to prevent poachers entering their area.


The government's plans for reorganising local government in Wales and Scotland should be withdrawn, leaders of the Assembly of Welsh Counties and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities said yesterday.

Welsh associations want a directly elected Welsh assembly rather than the unitary reorganization.


Even though there is some evidence that support for an assembly - a centrepiece of nationalist demands - is gaining ground in Wales, it is doubtful if even half the population would.

It is predicted that as of 1994, a referendum on independence in Wales would probably receive less than 50% support from its people.


A specialist firm on the New York stock Exchange was fined $480,350 for securities fraud by a judge who said he imposed the sentence as a deterrent.

One judge said that the nearly half million dollar fine he levied on a specialist firm on the New York Stock Exchange was done as a deterrent.


A Los Angeles federal court judge Monday imposed a 15-year prison sentence on David A. Feldman of Palos Verdes.

A Los Angeles federal judge imposed a 15-year prison sentence on David A. Feldman.


It emerged yesterday that the Ministry of Defence has turned down a request from Argentina to allow a limited supply of UK-manufactured spare parts to the Argentine navy, begun during the Gulf war.

Military cooperation during gulf war stopped.


Military ties between the two countries have been governed officially by an arms embargo imposed by Britain on Argentina following the outbreak of the Falklands war in 1982.

The British Arms embargo began in 1982 and continued through 1994.


Argentine President Carlos Menem has ordered an 'immediate' investigation into war crimes allegedly committed by British troops during the 1982 Falklands War.

Argentina demanded an investigation of alleged war crimes during the Falklands War.


Mr Guido di Tella, Argentine foreign minister, met representatives of British companies and financial institutions.

Foreign Minister Guido De Tella went to the UK.


The British government has indicated its readiness to allow Argentine companies to take part in the development of oilfields in the Falkland islands' territorial waters.

The British government is ready to allow Argentine companies to participate in the development of oilfields.


Bush and Clinton, who ran against each other in 1992, have worked together since leaving office. They helped raise funds for recovery from 2004's Asian tsunami and 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

Both Bush and Clinton helped raise funds for the recovery from Hurricane Katrina.


Unwrapping a new version of Microsoft's now-standard Windows operating system is generally an event of major proportions.

A new version of Microsoft's now-standard Windows operating system has been unwrapped.


Here's what the new Microsoft operating system has and why you may want to wait Flip screens: among the additions to Windows Vista are new ways to look at what windows are open.

The new Microsoft operating system is called Windows Vista.


Vista comes not only with improved security, but also with easier ways for parents to decide how they want their children to use the computer. With more people using digital cameras than ever, Microsoft has built photo management software into Vista, making it easier to share and fix photos, burn them to CDs, and give them "tags" or labels that make them easier to find later on.

Vista is provided with photo management software.


If yet another conflict were to develop before the force can be bolstered, it would take longer to fight and cost more American casualties than otherwise might be expected.

America is strained by two ongoing wars.


Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this month recommended that the Army's troop strength be increased by 65,000 soldiers, to a total of 547,000 worldwide and the Marines be increased by 27,000 to 202,000.

The Defense Secretary suggested that the Army's troop should be increased to 547,000 soldiers.


Almost half of the Army increase already has been achieved under a temporary program that Gates said would be made permanent; the full increase is to be achieved within five years.

The Army increase will be achieved within 5 years.


The Army's preliminary estimate is that it would cost 70 billion to increase its size and the funds would be spread over budget years 2009 through 2013.

The Army's increase will probably cost 70 billion.


Fighting the war in Iraq on top of the war in Afghanistan has left ground forces in a weakened state of readiness. That is, some units are below the standard measure used to determine if they are ready to fight a conventional, high-intensity war.

There is a high-intensity war between Iraq and Afghanistan.


Belarus will now pay 53 a tonne for oil it imports, instead of the 180 Russia had previously demanded, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said.

Belarus imports 53 tonnes of oil from Russia.


The agreement came after about 10 hours of negotiations between Mr Fradkov and his Belarussian counterpart, Sergei Sidorsky.

Mr Fradkov and Sergei Sidorsky found an agreement after 10 hours of negotiations.


Officials from the two countries reached "a balanced solution, corresponding to the interests of both countries", Mr Fradkov said in televised comments, adding that the talks had been "hard".


Supplies sent through the Druzhba pipeline were halted for three days after Minsk increased the transit tax for oil which passed through the country.

Transit tax for oil was increased by Minsk.


The dispute between the two former Soviet countries came after Moscow forced Belarus to accept a major increase in the cost of gas supplies to the country in late December.

Moscow increased the cost of gas supplies to Belarus.


Russia later imposed a hefty duty on oil exports to Belarus, claiming its neighbour was costing it up to 4bn in lost revenues each year.

Russia decreased the cost of oil exports to Belarus.


In retaliation, Belarus slapped a 45-per-tonne transit tax on oil shipments from Russia, but withdrew it earlier on Wednesday after tense top-level government talks between both sides.

Tense government talks occurred between Belarus and Russia.


There has been some speculation in the Russian media that enemies of Mr Putin may have had a hand in Mr Litvinenko's death, to put the Kremlin in a bad light. Mr Litvinenko was a vehement critic of Mr Putin.

Mr Putin is a vehement critic of Mr Litvinenko.


In a wide-ranging, marathon news conference, Mr Putin said Russia was now one of the world's most powerful economies, with a rapid growth rate - about 6.9 in 2006 - and declining inflation.

According to Mr Putin, Russia is one of the most powerful economies in the world.


Under the constitution Mr Putin has to stand down in 2008, after serving two terms. But he has now become so powerful and popular that it is widely assumed whoever he names as the preferred candidate will win the election, the 's Richard Galpin reports from Moscow.


More than 1,000 members of the Russian and foreign media registered for the news conference, which has become an annual event.

More than 1,000 members from Russia registered for the news conference.


Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has reversed its opposition to the morning-after pill and agreed to sell it in 3,700 pharmacies. The decision follows a successful campaign against the retailer in Illinois and Massachusetts, which enacted laws requiring pharmacists to fill prescriptions for the emergency contraceptive.

Wal-Mart is largest retailer of the world.


Last week, the attorney general of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, turned up the pressure when he said the state would no longer extend its insurance plan for its 188,000 employees to cover prescriptions filled at Wal-Mart unless the chain agreed to stock the pills.

The attorney general of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal has 188,000 employees.


The morning-after pill, which must be taken within 72 hours of having sex, is still not available without a prescription in America despite recommendations from the scientific advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration, because of opposition from anti-abortion activists.

The morning-after pill can be obtained by prescription only.


In Massachusets, three Boston women successfully sued Wal-Mart last month for violating state regulations that require pharmacies to stock all commonly prescribed medications.

Wal-Mart has violated state regulations.


Wal-Mart's belated decision is seen as an important victory at a time when women's organisations fear abortion rights are under threat.

Women's organisations are fighting against abortion rights.


Last month, South Dakota moved to ban all abortion in the state, even in cases of rape and incest. Mississippi is considering similar legislation.

In South Dakota abortion is allowed in cases of rape and incest.


There were no immediate reports of injuries, and authorities said they found no signs of fires at any other church in Greenville, which is about 75 miles east of Raleigh.

Greenville is located about 75 miles east of Raleigh.


Firefighters were called to The Memorial Baptist Church shortly after 11 p.m. and found smoke billowing from its educational wing.

A fire were signaled at The Memorial Baptist Church.


Dispatchers received a report of a fire at Unity Free Will Baptist Church, about a half-mile away from The Memorial, shortly before 11:30 p.m.

A fire were signaled at Unity Free Will Baptist Church.


Police were also investigating a break-in at Oakmont Baptist Church, located less than a quarter-mile from The Memorial, said police Cpl. Kip Gaskins.

Kip Gaskins wanted to break in at Oakmont Baptist Church.


Clinton, who tops every national poll of likely 2008 Democratic presidential contenders, has been criticized by many party activists for refusing to recant her 2002 vote authorizing military action in Iraq.

Clinton receives criticism for his authorization to intervene in Iraq.


The United States told Polish leaders it wants to open formal negotiations on the possibility of locating ground-based interceptor missiles in their country as part of a larger missile defense system, a U.S. Embassy spokesman in Warsaw said Monday.

United States wants to enlarge their missile defense system.


The request comes after two years of exploratory talks and after the neighboring Czech Republic's prime minister said Saturday that Washington had asked to base a radar station in his country as another part of the system.

A radar station will be based in Washington.


Washington has repeatedly sought to reassure Russia it has nothing to fear from the system.


Both the Czech and Polish parliaments would have to first approve the plan. Although their governments expressed their support, they are weak and face broad public opposition to the plan.

Czech and Polish parliaments approve the plan.


Czech opposition parties have spoken against the defense system, and the premier's governing coalition does not have enough parliament votes to pass measures on its own.

Czech opposition parties are against the defense system.


In Moscow, Andrei Kokoshin, the former Russian Security Council chief who now heads parliament's committee for ties with former Soviet bloc nations, warned that Czech approval of the plan would not pass without consequences.

Andrei Kokoshin is the former Russian Security Council chief.


The U.S. will seek to field a limited number of ground-based missile defense silo launchers, with their associated interceptors, similar to those currently fielded at Fort Greely, Alaska, and to deploy an X-band radar for midcourse tracking and discrimination of ballistic missile threats out of the Middle East.

The U.S. buys ground-based defense silo launchers.


The ex-president can deliver political superstardom. He's a razor-sharp political strategist. He knows the institution of the presidency. His fundraising skills are unrivaled. All that is good - perhaps too good, according to a September CNN poll, which showed his favorable rating higher than hers, 60 percent to 50 percent.


From now until presidential election day in 2008, the national fascination with the Clintons and their marriage will be central to the race. The media-industrial complex will again feed on the Clintons, their past and future.


Beyond the sexual matters, there is Bill Clinton's perceived need for attention - adulation, even - exemplified in the story about his trip to the World Cup in Berlin this year.

Clinton made a trip to the World Cup in Berlin.


In the past several months, Bill Clinton has appeared to be his wife's chief campaigner, publicly saying that she would be a great president, even better than him, because she would enter the White House with more experience.

Hillary Clinton is the wife of a great president.


Fuelled by last year's rise in global oil prices and the surge in Chinese imports, it was the fifth record annual US trade deficit in succession.

Chinese imports reached the fifth annual record.


The gap with China alone was $232.5bn last year, the largest imbalance the US has ever recorded with one country.

There is no trade gap between China and US.


China denies the allegations, although it currently allows the yuan to trade only within a narrow band against the US dollar.

China allows the yuan to trade only within a narrow band.


It has pledged to allow the yuan to float more freely in the future, but says any reform would not be rushed, as it does not want to risk destabilising the export-led Chinese economy.


Last year the US saw exports of goods and services rise 12.8% to $1.44 trillion, while its imports gained 10.5% to $2.2 trillion, said the Commerce Department.


The world's largest consumer of oil, US imports rose to a record $302.5bn last year, fuelled by the price of crude hitting record highs in the summer at the time of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

There was a conflict between Israel and Lebanon.


Away from the Olympic site, near the bricks and timber of the Forbidden City, it is as if an alien presence has landed.

Aliens have been seen near the Forbidden City.


It's very difficult to get teams from China the right to stay here for a longer period of time.

It is difficult to get the right to stay in China for a long period of time.


Mexico City has a very bad pollution problem because the mountains around the city act as walls and block in dust and smog.

Poor air circulation out of the mountain-walled Mexico City aggravates pollution.


The national insurrection of 1794, led by Tadeusz Kosciuszko against the Russo-Prussian second partition, was brutally crushed; the ensuing third partition of Poland among Russia, Prussia, and Austria left Warsaw a provincial town of South Prussia.


The city Tenochtitlan grew rapidly and was the center of the Aztec's great empire.

Tenochtitlan quickly spread over the island, marshes, and swamps.


Militant groups in Iraq have waged a kidnapping campaign aimed at driving out U.S. supporting companies and troops.

About 70 foreigners have been abducted by militants fighting the U.S.-led occupation and reconstruction efforts in Iraq.


Massoud Emami, governor of Iran's northwestern province of Qazvin, and at least 8 others on abroad a helicopter were killed in a crash.

Governor of Iran's Qazvin province, Massoud Emami, and eight others were killed


In 1541 the Turks took the Buda and held it until 1686; the city changed very little during this time.

The Turks held Buda between 1541 and 1686.


Hyperhidrosis is more common than you think. This condition affects 1 out of 25 people.

Asians have an even higher rate of incidence---1 of every 5 suffers from hyperhidrosis.


The Alameda Central ( Central Mall ) roughly marks the western edge of the old colonial city.

The Alameda Central is west of the Zocalo.


Vanunu converted to Christianity while in prison, and has been living in an anglican cathedral in Jerusalem since his release on April 21.

A convert to Christianity, Vanunu has sequestered himself at a Jerusalem church since he was freed on April 21.


The Clark County medical examiner's office said the man who was killed was 33 years old.

The Clark County medical examiner's office put the dead man's age at 33.


President Nicanor Duarte Frutos asked the private sector to help the state's overwhelmed public health system.

President Nicanor Duarte called the tragedy "a moment of great anguish" for his country as he visited the scene.


Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon threatened to dismiss Cabinet ministers who don't support his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon threatened to fire cabinet opponents of his Gaza withdrawal plan.


The city was traditionally inhabited by mestizos ( people of mixed European and Indian descent ) and criollos ( Mexicans of European descent ), but steady immigration from the countryside has given it a more Indian character.

People known as mestizos are of mixed European and Indian descent.


Excluding restructuring costs and the associated tax impact, net income for the recent quarter would have been $4 million, Seagate said.

Excluding these items, Seagate would have posted earnings of $462 million, or 93 cents a share.


The crew of Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, and other early astronauts were named "Ambassadors of Exploration" in a ceremony at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Aldrin was one of the astronauts honored by NASA at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.


The governor of Qazvin province Massoud Emami, his deputy, the province's head of police and three crew died when a helicopter taking them to inspect the earthquake zone crashed on Saturday.

Massoud Emami, governor of Iran's northwestern province of Qazvin, and at least 9 others on abroad a helicopter were killed in a crash Saturday afternoon.


Each hour spent in a car was associated with a 6 percent increase in the likelihood of obesity and each half-mile walked per day reduced those odds by nearly 5 percent, the researchers found.

The more driving you do means you're going to weigh more -- the more walking means you're going to weigh less.


A Filipino truck driver held hostage in Iraq for two weeks has been freed, a day after Manila withdrew its troops in response to demands from kidnappers who had threatened to behead him.

Egyptian driver Mohammed al-Gharabawi was freed after the Saudi firm he worked for met kidnappers' demands by promising to stop doing work in Iraq.


Customers are starting to feel more comfortable with open source software, and they are even more comfortable if a big company like H-P stands behind it, said Bob Bickel, vice president for corporate strategy and development at JBoss.

Bob Bickel, vice president of strategy and corporate development at JBoss, said commercial use remains somewhat constrained because a CIO doesn't know whom they can turn to for support.


Some neighbors said they were forced to break windows to enter the supermarket because the doors wouldn't open.

Many survivors said they were unable to open locked doors as they tried to flee the complex.


A Union Pacific freight train hit five people.

A Union Pacific freight train struck five people.


The plaintiffs are also concerned by suggestions the bones may have deteriorated in the eight years since they was pulled from the sediment.

The number of pieces of skeleton have grown since they've been lying in the cabinet.


Ghazi Yawar, a Sunni Muslim who lived for years in Saudi Arabia, has been picked as president of Iraq after the favored U.S. choice, Adnan Pachachi, declined to take the job.


Last July, a 12-year-old boy in Nagasaki - a city just north of Sasebo - was accused of kidnapping, molesting and killing a 4-year-old by shoving him off the roof of a car garage.

Last year a 12-year-old boy in Nagasaki was accused of murdering a four-year-old boy by pushing him off a roof.


Mexico City has a very bad pollution problem because the mountains around the city act as walls and block in dust and smog.

Air pollution -- made up mostly of ozone, suspended particles, and sulfur dioxide -- has affected the climate by partially blocking the Sun's rays.


A plane carrying 200 French Jewish immigrants has landed in Israel, at a time of strained diplomatic relations between Israel and France.

Nearly 2,000 Jews emigrate from France to Israel every year.


Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia has withdrawn his resignation, and agreed to stay on in his post at the urging of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Quriea will stay in his post but did not formally withdraw his resignation.


Five people were killed in another suicide bomb blast at a police station in the northern city of Mosul.

Five people were killed and 20 others wounded in a car bomb explosion outside an Iraqi police station south of Baghdad.


Japan has long sought to overturn a 1986 ban on all commercial whaling, and its proposal to allow the hunting of minke whales in the Antarctic came at the IWC's annual meeting in Italy, which, as in past years, has been dominated by the issue.

Commercial whale hunting has been banned by the IWC.


The Palace of Fine Arts is the home of the famous Mexican Ballet Folklorico, which is known for its colorful costumes as well as its dancing.

The downtown Palace of Fine Arts is the traditional concert and opera hall.


Landslides, collapsing houses, drowning, disease and snake bites have brought the death toll across South Asia to 1,338.

Deaths from monsoon rains across South Asia hit 1,300.


The first settlements on the site of Jakarta were established at the mouth of the Ciliwung, perhaps as early as the 5th century AD.

The first settlements on the site of Jakarta were established as early as the 5th century AD.


Jennifer Hawkins is the 21-year-old beauty queen from Australia.

Jennifer Hawkins is Australia's 20-year-old  beauty queen.


Shrek 2 retained the top spot with $92.2 million over the long Memorial Day weekend, fending off the global-catastrophe tale "The Day After Tomorrow," which debuted with $86 million, according to studio estimates Monday.

Shrek 2 retained the top spot with $92.2-million over the long weekend, fending off the global-catastrophe tale The Day After Tomorrow, which debuted with $86-million, according to studio estimates.


I'm doing everything to be prepared for the Olympics so I can achieve something for my country, she said, speaking at the country's only studio for female judo players.

I'm doing everything to be prepared for the Olympics so I can achieve something for my country, she said, speaking at the country's only studio for female judokas.


The city has marked topographical contrasts: Buda is built on the higher river terraces and hills of the western side, while the considerably larger Pest spreads out on a flat and featureless sand plain on the river's opposite bank.


It's troubling that it took an eight-year, multimillion-dollar legal fight with a government that was bent on siding with religion over the right to study a 9,300-year-old skeleton.

An 8-year fight ends over a 9,200-year-old man.


On the 35th anniversary of the first lunar landing, NASA struggled with money problems as it aimed to return to human space flight after the Columbia disaster and ultimately put people back on the moon.

NASA paid tribute to America's first generation of astronauts to mark the 35th anniversary of the first moon walk.


Staten Island ferry captain Michael Gansas has refused to talk with investigators.

City officials fired the captain of the crashed Staten Island ferry.


The directive, issued by Vietnam's Minister of Post and Telecommunications Do Trung Ta on Monday, is the latest in a string of measures unveiled in recent months to prevent "bad and poisonous information" being circulated online.

The regulations are the latest ones in a string of recent measures aimed at cracking down on "bad information" circulated over the Internet.


The Taliban's rule from 1996 to 2001 was a dark period for Afghan athletes, especially girls and women.

Rezzay came home after the Taliban were toppled by Afghan opposition forces in 2001


Mr Sadr is wanted by the U.S. in connection with the assassination of a rival cleric in April 2003.

U.S. troops seized a relative and senior lieutenant to Sadr, who was also wanted for murder.


The city's main industries are construction and the production of chemicals, plastics, cement, and yarns and textiles.

The city's products include chemicals, plastics, cement, yarns, and textiles.


Some bodies were found still seated in their cars, blackened from the intense heat.

Badly burned bodies could be seen as they were taken away after the fire.


Combined with oil prices still hovering near $44 a barrel.

The company's shares were down 44 cents.


The accidental discovery of its skull by two young men walking along the Columbia River caused a sensation, not only because of its age but also because some features did not resemble those of modern American Indians, as would have been expected then.

The skeleton, among the oldest in America, bears little physical resemblance to any present-day Americans.


A suicide attacker killed 51 people when he exploded a bomb-laden vehicle outside a central Baqouba police station Wednesday.

70 people were killed Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive-packed sedan on a busy Baqouba street.


Google apparently doesn't handle bureaucratic paperwork as smoothly as its online search engine sorts through billions of Web pages.

Google Inc. is delaying its IPO by a week because of logistical problems related to institutional investors registering to bid on the shares.


The latest French government figures show 510 anti-Jewish acts or threats in the first six months of 2004 - compared with 593 for all of last year.

There are growing anti-Jewish sentiments and incidents in France as more than 300 anti-Semitic attacks have been reported in France so far this year, which is more than in all of 2003.


The Dutch name Batavia remained the internationally recognized name until full Indonesian independence was achieved and Djakarta was officially proclaimed the national capital ( and its present name recognized ) on December 27, 1949.

Indonesia gained independence in 1949, and the name of the city was changed to Djakarta.


Witnesses said the gunman was wearing gray pants and a tan jacket and was carrying a gray bag.

Witnesses said the gunman was wearing gray pants and a tan jacket, and carrying a gray bag.


Prime Minister Allawi has sent out letters to countries that might be candidates.

Prime Minister Allawi will return to Iraq in time for the country's national conference.


Several other people, including a woman and two children, suffered injuries in the incident.

Several people were slightly wounded, including a woman and three children


As oil prices soared to new heights after a terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia, the nation's influential oil minister tried to reassure markets yesterday that OPEC would do its best to provide adequate supplies.

As oil prices soared after a terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia, the nation's oil minister tried to reassure markets that OPEC will try to provide adequate supplies.


A Filipino hostage in Iraq was released.


The Greek government is spending over 1 billion euros.

Greece is spending over 1 billion euros.


Cinemas showing the new Harry Potter film are being issued with night vision goggles in a bid to stamp out piracy.

Night vision goggles have been distributed along with the film.


The city has marked topographical contrasts: Buda is built on the higher river terraces and hills of the western side, while the considerably larger Pest spreads out on a flat and featureless sand plain on the river's opposite bank.

Buda features many hills, while Pest is relatively flat.


Anthropologists say that Kennewick man's remains are part of an expanding body of evidence showing that American Indians, long thought to have been the original inhabitants of the Americas, may not have been the first people to live on the continents.

Scientists say that Kennewick man's skeleton could provide valuable information about the early settling of the Americas.


The Friday before she was reported missing, Lori Hacking, 27, left work stunned and sobbing.

Hacking said she had gone jogging and never showed up for work.


In terms of music, the National Philharmonic Orchestra draws large crowds.

The National Philharmonic orchestra draws large crowds.


It soon became the most important city of the Americas, with jurisdiction extending well into the present United States and as far south as Panama.

It soon became the most important city of the Americas.


China has virtually refused Korean demands that it correct distortions of Koguyro history.

Few Koreans doubt that Koguryo belonged to Korea.


There are also tanneries, sawmills, textile mills, food-processing plants, breweries, and a film industry in the city.


They were greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who recently urged French Jews to flee to Israel to escape rising anti-Semitism.

Sharon praised France for 'determined action' against anti-Semitism.


On hand to meet him with Mbeki were the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Health Minister, Transport Minister, Defence Minister and director general in the presidency, Reverend Frank Chikane.

On hand to meet him with Mbeki were the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Health Minister, Transport Minister, Defence Minister and director general in the presidency, Rev Frank Chikane.


Japan wants to hunt more than 3,000 minke whales for meat that could be worth $300 million.

Japan is the world's prime consumer of whale meat.


The GDP, which measures the value of all goods and services in the nation, rose at an annual rate of 3 percent in the second quarter, compared to a 4.5 percent rise in the first quarter.

Gross domestic product, a measure of total output within the nation's borders, climbed at a 3% annual pace in the April-June period.


Scientists on Earth, too, are gathering data on Mars: researchers from the U.S. Antarctic Search for Meteorites Program announced yesterday the discovery of a Martian meteorite recovered 750 kilometers from the South Pole.

A Martian meteorite was discovered by scientists in Antarctica.


The Aztec Indians founded a city on the site of modern-day Mexico City in the 14th century.

The Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico in the 13th century.


The Alameda Central, west of the Zocalo, was created in 1592.

The Alameda Central is west of the Zocalo.


The death toll is worst in India, however, with 686 fatalities so far.

Flooding and related problems have killed 768 people in India.


NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe presented the Apollo, Gemini and Mercury astronauts and survivors with commemorative plaques - each containing a small piece of lunar rock.

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has said shuttle astronauts will not make a repair call to the orbiting observatory because it would be too risky.


The search has focused on the Hangman's Cell, reputedly where 141 French prisoners of war were executed, and the 18th Century Master Ropemaker's House.

The investigation focused on the hangman's cell, where 141 French prisoners-of-war were said to have been executed, as well at the 18th-century Master Ropemaker's House.


The South Side store, part of a redevelopment of an abandoned steel plant, fell by a 25-21 vote. Passage required a majority of 26 votes in the 50-member council.

Approval for a second store fell one vote short.


After the war the city was briefly occupied by the Allies and then was returned to the Dutch.

After the war, the city was returned to the Dutch.


Mexico City has always been one of the main cultural centers of Latin America, and much of the culture there is uniquely Mexican.

Mexico City has always been one of the prominent cultural centres of Latin America.


John Edwards praised John Kerry as a man tested by war for national command.

John Edwards's speech failed to mention President Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney.


"I want to go abroad and start my life as a free man. If Israel is a democracy it should allow me to do it," Vanunu told reporters at the court.

Vanunu says he wants to start a new life in another country.


Only around four million people out of a population of 81 million people regularly surf the Internet in Vietnam, mainly through cyber-cafes.

About four million people out of Vietnam's population of 81 million regularly use the Internet.


When the Spaniards led by Hernan Cortes arrived in 1519, Tenochtitlan had about 100,000 inhabitants.

In 1519, Aztec culture was forever changed when the Spaniards arrived.


More than 100 people were killed in a suicide bombing and clashes Wednesday as Iraq's interim government marked its first month in office.

A minibus packed with explosives blew up near a police station and a market north of Baghdad, Iraq Wednesday, killing 68 people and wounding 30 in the worst attack since the handover of power exactly one month ago.


Seagate Technology Inc. reported a loss of $33 million on revenue of $1.34 billion.

Seagate Technology Inc. posted revenues of $1.34 billion.


36 insurgents and 7 Iraqi soldiers were killed in a joint raid by Iraqi and foreign troops south of Baghdad.

Seven Iraqi troops and 35 insurgents were killed in fierce fighting near Suwariya, 20 miles southeast of Baghdad.


Night vision goggles have been distributed along with the film to Vue Cinemas, formerly known as Warner Village, in the UK.

Vue Cinemas - formerly Warner Village - have asked staff to check that audience members do not use video cameras to make pirate copies of the film.


When they returned home after the Taleban had been toppled by Afghan opposition forces, Rezzay knew exactly what she wanted to do.

When they came home after the Taliban were toppled by Afghan opposition forces, Rezzay knew exactly what she wanted to do.


Oil prices may be jolted higher on Tuesday when key markets reopen from a long holiday weekend that saw the second attack in less than a month on Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter.

Markets reopen Tuesday after the holiday weekend.


Many survivors said they were unable to open locked doors as they tried to flee the complex.

Some neighbors said they were forced to break windows to enter the supermarket because the doors wouldn't open.


Just hours before the gathering, a House appropriations subcommittee voted to cut $1.1 billion from NASA's budget request for the next fiscal year.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration would get $229 million less than it did in 2004 and $1.1 billion less than President Bush requested, if a spending bill approved by a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee becomes law.


Two candidates for the new Iraqi president are 81-year-old Pachachi and Sunni tribal leader Yawar.

Pachachi and Yawer are Sunni Muslim Arabs.


Officials said Michael Hamilton was killed when gunmen opened fire and exchanged shots with Saudi security forces yesterday


About 10 minutes after take-off on Monday, Yang told the crew that he had companions on board carrying sulphuric acid that they would throw over passengers unless the plane headed for South Korea,

Approximately 50 minutes into the flight, a man whose seat number was F12 came near the cockpit in an attempt to hijack the plane, saying he wanted to go to Korea.


The capital of Mexico, Mexico City is one of the oldest cities in North America and one of the largest cities in the world.

Spanish Mexico, or Ciudad de Mexico, ancient ( Nahua, or Aztec ) Tenochtitlan city, capital of Mexico.


Some witnesses said victims were not able to escape the flames because the exits had been locked, possibly to avoid robberies, a claim denied by Juan Pio Paiva, the supermarket's owner.

Witnesses told police a gas canister exploded.


Cortes razed Tenochtitlan in 1521 and constructed a Spanish city on its ruins.

Cortes quickly destroyed Tenochtitlan and built a Spanish city in its place.


Among other cultural activities, the Taman Ismail Marzuki centre has facilities for traditional or classical art performances as well as theatres for presenting modern plays and concerts; the centre also has a planetarium.

The Taman Ismail Marzuki center also has theaters for presenting modern plays and concerts.


A car bomb that exploded outside a U.S. military base near Beiji, killed 11 Iraqis.

A car bomb exploded outside a U.S. base in the northern town of Beiji, killing 11 Iraqis.


A British oil executive was one of 16 people killed in the Saudi Arabian terror attack.

A British oil company executive was killed in the terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia


The GDP rose at an annual rate of 3 percent in the second quarter.

The weaker-than-expected GDP number gave Wall Street more to worry about in terms of how strong the economy will perform in the second half of this year.


At the welcoming ceremony, Sharon appeared to try to correct the damage from his earlier statements, saying anti-Semitism threatens the Western world, without singling out France.

Sharon said anti-Semitism threatened the Western world, but he did not single out France.


The city's official history, however, starts in 1527, when the sultan of Bantam defeated the Portuguese there and called the place Jayakerta ( Sundanese: "Glorious Fortress").

The city's official history starts in 1527, when a local ruler defeated the Portuguese there and called the place Jayakerta.


Four people were killed and a US helicopter shot down in Najaf.

Five people were killed and an American helicopter was shot down in Najaf.


Mexico City lies in an endorheic ( characterized by interior drainage ) basin at an altitude of approximately 7,350 feet ( 2,240 metres).

Mexico City is about 7,350 feet (2,240 meters) above sea level.


At the southeastern tip of the city, Xochimilco, another small town subsumed by the city, is a popular tourist destination because of its chinampas, or "floating gardens," boats made out of reeds on which the Indians have grown plants since pre-Columbian times.

At the southeastern tip of the city lies a small town called Xochimilco.


There are similarities between us and Microsoft in that we believe in getting developer adoption and building community, and (Microsoft) has always done a great job in ease of use, said Zack Urlocker, vice president of marketing at MySQL, based in Uppsala, Sweden.

MySQL Vice President of Marketing Zack Urlocker said companies such as Sabre are using an open source stack for business applications.


The Bush administration has long sought to augment the force with more Muslim troops.

It was not clear whether a UN security council resolution would be required to authorise a Muslim force.


Napster was originally a free pioneer file-swapping service, which was forced to shut down in 2001 after a painstaking legal battle with recording companies.

The original Napster shut down after the music industry sued.


Witnesses told police a gas canister exploded to start the fire in a multilevel building which houses the Ycua Bolanos supermarket, a food court and a parking garage, causing the bottom floor to collapse.

Some witnesses said victims were not able to escape the flames.


Abu Musa al-Hindi is one of the 13 men picked up in coordinated raids across the country.

Bilal was arrested along with other 12 men.


The attorney for Mark Hacking said he will raise the issue of mental illness and challenge his client's confession to relatives that he killed his wife, Lori, and dumped her body in a garbage bin.

Hacking reportedly made the statement to his brothers when he was a psychiatric patient in the hospital.


Microsoft delays release of Windows XP update.

Microsoft to begin shipping major update to Windows


I love it, it's just such fun, said Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who is estimated to have earned £435m from her creation.

The Potter books netted an estimated £435 million for Ms Rowling.


Korean Seoul, formally Soul-t'ukpyolsi ( "Special City of Seoul" ), largest city and capital of the Republic of Korea ( South Korea ), located in the northwestern part of the country on the Han-gang (Han River ) 37 miles ( 60 kilometres ) from the Yellow Sea.

Seoul is on the Han River in the northwestern part of South Korea, about 37 miles ( 60 kilometers ) from the Yellow Sea.


FBI agents later interviewed Vanderford and opened an investigation.

The FBI said it was still considering whether Vanderford had broken any law.


The Dutch, under the leadership of Jan Pieterszoon Coen, captured and razed the city in 1619, after which the capital of the Dutch East Indies -- a walled township named Batavia -- was established on the site.

The Dutch captured and destroyed the city in 1619.


The colonial era ended when Indonesia was occupied by Japanese forces in World War II.

During World War II, Indonesia was taken over by Japanese forces.


One famous nonastronaut also received one of the Ambassador of Exploration awards -former CBS newsman Walter Cronkite.

Former CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite also received the ambassador honor.


Sharon said on Sunday evening that he intended to follow through with the plan "in light of the severe and dangerous economic and security situation that Israel would find itself in if it had no diplomatic plan," a statement from his office said.

The plan, which has strong international support, including from the United States, has cost Sharon his parliamentary majority and left him fighting for political survival.


Toward the east , the city ends in a plain that meets the Sierra Nevada , with its two extinct volcanoes, Ixtacihuatl ( 17,342 feet ) and Popocatepetl ( 17,883 feet ), which were once a familiar sight from Mexico City but are now usually obscured by pollution.

Nearby are two volcanoes that can only be seen from the city on days when wind has cleared out the pollution.


Scott and Lance Hacking talked with their younger brother at the hospital July 24.

Douglas and Scott Hacking are physicians.


The most popular spectator sports are football ( soccer ) and bullfighting.

The most popular spectator sports are soccer and bullfighting.


Saudi Arabia was boosting its own production.

Saudi Arabia was boosting its production.


Massoud Emami, governor of Iran's northwestern province of Qazvin, and at least 9 others on abroad a helicopter were killed in a crash Saturday afternoon.

Governor of Iran's Qazvin province, Massoud Emami, and eight others were killed when their helicopter crashed while returning after an inspection of quake-hit Roudbar Alamout district, north of Tehran.


In the early 20th century the city was the site of fighting during the Mexican Revolution.

During the Mexican Revolution, the city became a battlefield.


A spokeswoman said there were no more details available.


Measurements by ground-based instruments around the world have shown a decrease of up to 10 percent in sunlight from the late 1950's to the early 1990's.

The world is about 10 per cent darker than half a century ago


That's five times the amount spent by Australia on security for the 2000 Games in Sydney.

That's five times more than Australia spent to protect the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.


After World War I ( 1914-18 ), Warsaw again became the capital of an independent Poland.

After World War I Warsaw regained its status as the national capital of Poland.


When the Spaniards led by Hernan Cortes arrived in 1519, Tenochtitlan had about 100,000 inhabitants.

Led by Hernan Cortes, the Spaniards fought a war against the Aztec.


Budapest, capital of Hungary, and administrative centre of Budai jaras ( district ) and Pest megye ( county).

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is one of the largest cities of Eastern Europe.


It is the most fashionable district of Budapest, where Hungary's wealthy have houses.

It is the most fashionable district of Budapest, where Hungary's elite have houses.


Minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whales at about 30 feet.


Until about five years ago, an 8-by-8-foot plank jutting out from the tracks provided a safe haven for those crossing the bridge if a train came.

Until about five years ago, an 8-by-8-foot plank extending from the tracks provided a safe haven for those crossing the bridge if a train came.


The Plaza Mexico bullring is the largest in the world.

Plaza Mexico is the largest bullring in the world.


Korean Seoul, formally Soul-t'ukpyolsi ( "Special City of Seoul" ), largest city and capital of the Republic of Korea ( South Korea ), located in the northwestern part of the country on the Han-gang (Han River ) 37 miles ( 60 kilometres ) from the Yellow Sea.


Aristide left Haiti on February 29, on board an American military aircraft, in the face of mounting civil unrest and accusations of corruption.

Aristide left Haiti on February 29, on board a US military aircraft.


The capital and largest city of South Korea is Seoul.


A militant group in Iraq is holding seven foreign truck drivers.

The militant group said it had released the Iraqi driver.


NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe presented the Apollo, Gemini and Mercury astronauts and survivors with commemorative plaques -- each containing a small piece of lunar rock.

The astronauts were given lunar rocks that came from the 842 pounds of rocks and soil brought home from six moon expeditions from 1969 to 1972 and will be displayed in their names at the museum or educational institution of their choice.


Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, threatened Sunday to fire rebellious cabinet ministers opposed to his Gaza pullout plan.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, threatens to ax opponents.


Diplomat and Saudi security sources say there were multiple shooting attacks Saturday on housing compounds in Khobar.

They say the captives were among a large number of hostages seized at a housing compound near Khobar.


Formerly ( until 1949 ) Batavia, Jakarta is largest city and capital of Indonesia.

Indonesia gained independence in 1949, and the name of the city was changed to Djakarta.


The Nez Perce, Umatilla, Yakama and Colville tribes filed a claim to the skeleton shortly after it was unearthed on 31 July, 1996, on a wide bank of the Columbia river at Kennewick in Washington State.

Jim Chatters of Bothell is the scientist who first studied the skeleton after it was found on a Columbia River bank in 1996.


The GDP, which measures the value of all goods and services in the nation, rose at an annual rate of 3 percent in the second quarter, compared to a 4.5 percent rise in the first quarter.

Economists had looked for GDP to advance at a 3.6% pace after the previously reported rise of 3.9% in the first quarter.


Seven Iraqi men whose hands were ordered cut off by Saddam Hussein met with President Bush at the White House on Tuesday.

Seven men, former prisoners of dictator Saddam Hussein, found themselves shaking hands with President George Bush at the White House on Tuesday.


Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, will today hold talks to discuss Saudi Arabia's offer to help build a joint force of Muslim nations.

Colin Powell said key questions remain unanswered, including who would command the Muslim troops.


Eight million Americans have hyperhidrosis.

A recent study estimated that 12 million Americans have hyperhidrosis.


The Bush administration has long criticized Al-Jazeera's coverage as biased against the United States.

The Bush administration has long charged that Al-Jazeera provides an outlet for the al-Qaida terrorist network.


The Geneve-based FAO organizing committee has announced that the location of the 4th International World Food Security conference has been moved from Bangkok to New Delhi for security reasons.

The 4th International World Food security conference is held in Bangkok.


Today's highlight in history: On Nov. 24, 1963, in a scene captured on live network television, Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and mortally wounded Lee Harvey Oswald as the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy was being escorted by police to an armored truck at the Dallas municipal building for transfer to the county jail.

Lee Harvey Oswald killed President John F. Kennedy.


All residential areas in South Africa are segregated by race and no black neighborhoods have been established in Port Nolloth.

All residential areas are located in South Africa.


In 1999 Ford bought the apartment in Manhattan that he shares with his new girlfriend, Calista Flockhart.


Canadian authorities are investigating a report that Frank Costello, an American citizen, was offered the job of assassinating Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, a spokeswoman said.

Frank Costello killed Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.


Alice Walton, daughter of Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, is believed to be ready to pay about C$90m for the Douglas Lake Ranch.

Alice Walton is the founder of Wal-Mart.


At a regular Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing in Beijing on Thursday, spokesman Li Zhaoxing would say only that China will consider direct talks with Vietnam at an appropriate time.


According to Viroj Laohaphan, director general of Thailand's Customs Department, if this amount of heroin had left Thailand, it would have killed an uncountable number of people.

Viroj Laohaphan killed an uncountable number of people.


The 4th International World Food security conference is held in New Delhi.


The recent G8 summit, which was first held on July 13-16, 1975, took place on Sea Island on June 8-10.

The recent G8 summit took place on July 13-16, 1975.


LaFarge was the one who taught Tiffany to make the Favrile glass, said auctioneer William Doyle who operates an auction house in Manhattan.

William Doyle works for an auction house in Manhattan.


Los Angeles, hometown of the Lakers, hosted the basketball championship final last night.


Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, left Lillehammer for Sarajevo to pay tribute to this besieged city, host of the 1984 Winter Olympic Games.

The 1984 Winter Olympic Games were held in Sarajevo.


The plays, presented in celebration of the 100th anniversary of O'Neill's birth, may go on to New York City and the Soviet Union.


U.K. Billionaire P. Green raised his proposed bid for Marks & Spencer Group Plc.

P. Green tries to take over Marks & Spencer Group.


"Much preparation is required to host the European football championship", declared Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the call of Grigory Surkis for Russia to host Euro 2012.


Born in Athens, Psacharopoulos came to the United States at age 17 to enter Oberlin College, where he met Jean Hackett, an actress of New York City.

Oberlin College is an organisation based in New York.


Officials in Perugia in Umbria province said five people were arrested there Tuesday.


The film was produced by Jason P. Brubaker of Brubaker Films LLC, in association with T-Street Productions.

J. Brubaker is a member of T-Street Production.


Mark Said and Philip Dick, two members of Ontario Bradley First Air's crew, were from Montreal, Canada.

Bradley First Air is an organisation based in Montreal, Canada.


Illinois born Charlton Heston was a 27-year-old actor from Broadway and television when he arrived in Hollywood for a five-picture contract with Hal Wallis.


Only a dozen officials were present at the ceremony of power transfer from the US to the Iraqi government, in which Bremer handed over legal documents to interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

Bremer participates in the ceremony of power transfer from the US to the Iraqi government.


The SPD got just 21.5% of the vote in the European Parliament elections, while the conservative opposition parties polled 44.5%.

The SPD is defeated by the opposition parties.


Hernandez Galicia was arrested when soldiers blew down his door with a bazooka in a raid on his Ciudad Madero home.

Hernandez Galicia lives in Ciudad Madero.


Teenage sensation Wayne Rooney powered England into the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 with two goals in Monday's 4-2 defeat of Croatia and they were joined in the last eight by champions France who beat Switzerland 3-1.


In 1984 Los Angeles saw a record 140 nations taking part in the XXIII Olympiade, despite the boycott led by the Soviet Union.

The XXIII Olympiade was held in Los Angeles.


Today's highlight in history: On Nov. 24, 1963, in a scene captured on live network television, Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and mortally wounded Lee Harvey Oswald as the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy was being escorted by police to an armored truck at the Dallas municipal building for transfer to the county jail.

Jack Ruby killed President John F. Kennedy.


Dole's wife, Elizabeth, is a native of Salisbury, N.C.

Dole's wife, Elizabeth was born in Salisbury, N.C.


Cedras, Biamby, and Francois also led the 1991 coup.


Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, left Lillehammer for Sarajevo to pay tribute to this besieged city, host of the 1984 Winter Olympic Games.

The 1984 Winter Olympic Games were held in Lillehammer.


The centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, has warned that it will reject the Taoiseach, Berni Ahern, if he is nominated as the next president of the European Commission.

Berni Ahern is the president of the European Commission.


Ahern, who is travelling to Tokyo for an EU-Japan summit yesterday, will consult with other EU leaders about the election of the EU commission president.


Abrams' 3-year service as head of the Latin America bureau will end next week with the inauguration of President-elect Bush in Washington..

Latin America bureau is an organisation based in Washington.


Only a few thousand people live in Port Nolloth, one of the few towns in the semi-arid landscape that makes up the northwest corner of South Africa.

Port Nolloth is located in South Africa.


The third African Union summit opened in the Ethiopia's capital of Addis Ababa on Tuesday, June 29.

The third African Union summit is held in Ethiopia.


In 1782 Martin Van Buren, the first US president who was a native citizen of the United States, was born in Kinderhook, N.Y.

The first US president was born in Kinderhook, N.Y.


LaFarge was the one who helped Tiffany to make the Favrile glass, said auctioneer William Doyle who operates an auction house in Manhattan.


Romano Prodi will meet the US President George Bush in his capacity as president of the European commission.

Romano Prodi is the president of the European Commission.


Born in Athens, Psacharopoulos came to the United States at age 17 to enter Oberlin College, where he met Jean Hackett, an actress of New York City

Oberlin College is an organisation based in the United States.


African presidents opened a two-day summit in Accra, Ghana, on Ivory Coast, where northern rebels and fiercely loyalist southerners continue to split the cocoa-rich country, ignoring a never-implemented 2003 power-sharing deal.


A marine who was kidnapped while patrolling a dangerous Baghdad quarter by himself has turned up safe and well in the Lebanon.


The plan was released by Mr Dean on behalf of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, still recovering from a recent accident, at a Secretarial Summit on Health Information Technology that was attended by many of the nation's leaders in electronic health records.

Tommy Thompson is the Secretary of Health and Human Services.


The recent G8 summit, held June 8-10, brought together leaders of the world's major industrial democracies.

The recent G8 summit took place on June 8-10.


Two employees of the U.S. Immigration Service will go to Moscow to help handle the processing.

U.S. Immigration Service is an organisation based in Moscow.


Abrams' 3-year service as head of the Latin America bureau will end next week with the inauguration of President-elect Bush in Washington.


Henryk Wieniawski, a Polish-born musician, was known for his special preference for resurrecting neglected or lost works for the violin.


More than 250 paintings commemorate the centennial of the Man Ray's birth in Philadelphia.


Police reports say Gallardo assaulted his wife at school in late January, and friends said she was also attacked another time near where she was killed.


Two conservative federate appellate judges, Ralph Winter of the 2nd U.S Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, and Kenneth Starr of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia have been appointed by Reagan.

Ralph Winter works for the 2nd U.S. Circuit of Appeals in New York.


In Waco, near Nelson's hometown of Abbott, auto parts salesman Dave Crowe proposed that fans join ``Willie Aid'' by mailing donations straight to the IRS.


The organizers of the 15th International AIDS Conference, scheduled for next month in Bangkok, Thailand, last Saturday responded to press reports that a prominent hotel in Bangkok discriminated against HIV-positive visitors attending a conference on climate changes.

The 15th International AIDS Conference was held last Saturday.


Latvia, for instance, is the lowest-ranked team in the field but defeated World Cup semifinalist Turkey in a playoff to qualify for the final 16 of Euro 2004.


Mr. Griffith stated that he "can't understand the vote by a City Council member against applying for a grant"

Mr. Griffith is a member of the City Council.


Regan attended a ceremony in Washington to commemorate the landings in Normandy.


The ANSA agency said the operation involves police in Umbria and Lazio provinces in central Italy and Campania province in the south.

The ANSA agency is an organisation based in Umbria and Lazio provinces.


Jesse Owens, the Olympic legend from Danville, Ala., was born in 1913.


Born in Athens, Psacharopoulos came to the United States at age 17 to enter Oberlin College, where he met Jean Hackett, an actress of New York City.


Regan recalled that he read a letter from a young woman whose late father had fought at Ohama Beach, a Normandy sector.


Mrs. Thatcher promised Haughey that Tom King, her minister for Northern Ireland, would make a statement soon about the ``organizational implications'' of the affair, the British spokesman said.


William Leonard Jennings sobbed loudly as was charged with killing his 3-year-old son, Stephen, who was last seen alive on Dec. 12, 1962.

William Leonard Jennings killed his 3-year-old son, Stephen.


The English team arrived last night in Lisbon, Portugal, to play its first Euro 2004's match.


The plan was released by Mr Dean on behalf of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, still recovering from a recent accident, at a Secretarial Summit on Health Information Technology that was attended by many of the nation's leaders in electronic health records.

Tommy Thompson takes part in a Secretarial Summit on Health Information Technology.


In 1833, Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States, was born in North Bend, Ohio.

The 23rd President of the United States was born in Ohio.


Crude oil prices soared to record levels


The 15th International AIDS Conference takes place in Bangkok.


Greece was the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games. The 2004 Olympic Games will return to their origins when Athens hosts the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad.

The 2004 Olympic Games are held in Athens.


Mark Said and Philip Dick, two members of Ontario Bradley First Air's crew, were from Montreal, Canada.


In 1984 Los Angeles saw a record 140 nations taking part in the XXIII Olympiade, despite the boycott led by the Soviet Union

The XXIII Olympiade took place in the Soviet Union.


The ANSA agency said the operation involves police in Umbria and Lazio provinces in central Italy and Campania province in the south, without specifying exact arrest locations.

Umbria and Lazio provinces are located in central Italy.


After Germany's 0-0 draw Saturday with 500-1 underdog Latvia, it may be that the German team simply doesn't have enough talent.


The U.S. handed power on June 30 to Iraq's interim government chosen by the United Nations and Paul Bremer, former governor of Iraq.

Paul Bremer is the former governor of Iraq.


Armed Iraqi insurgents threatened to kill a Filipino hostage if his country does not withdraw from Iraq within three days.

A Filipino has been kidnapped by armed Iraqi insurgents.


Abrams' 3-year service as head of the Latin America bureau will end next week with the inauguration of President-elect Bush in Washington.

Abrams works for the Latin America bureau.


Things would be different if Microsoft was located in Georgia.

Microsoft's corporate headquarters are located in Georgia.


The nomadic Raiders moved to LA in 1982 and won their third Super Bowl a year later.

The nomadic Raiders won the Super Bowl in 1982.


Teenage sensation Wayne Rooney powered England into the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 with two goals in Monday's 4-2 defeat of Croatia and they were joined in the last eight by champions France who beat Switzerland 3-1.


Taxpayers will be pleased to learn that a federal grant for Lawrence Welk's North Dakota birthplace has finally been buried, nine months after an embarrassed Congress voted to kill it.


Interestingly, the current Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, is openly gay, as is the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe.


All residential areas in South Africa are segregated by race and no black neighborhoods have been established in Port Nolloth.

Black neighborhoods are located in Port Nolloth.


The survey responses were destroyed because of a ''witch hunt'' for John Hugh, a doctor who described a mercy killing in a medical journal, said Derek Humphry.


Two members of Ontario Bradley First Air's crew were from Montreal, Canada.

Bradley First Air is an organisation based in Ontario.


The Lillehammer Olympic Games organizing committee said 65 countries have entered the competition, matching the number of nations at the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France.

The Olympic Games are held in Lillehammer.


Security preparations kept protestors at bay at the recent G8 Summit on Sea Island (USA).

The recent G8 Summit took place on Sea Island.


Born in Athens, Psacharopoulos came to the United States at age 17 to enter Oberlin College, where he met Jean Hackett, an actress of New York City.


In Waco, near Nelson's hometown of Abbott, auto parts salesman Dave Crowe proposed that fans join ``Willie Aid'' by mailing donations straight to the IRS.


The Geneve-based FAO organizing committee has announced that the location of the 4th International World Food Security conference has been moved from Bangkok to New Delhi for security reasons.

The FAO organizing committee has its headquarters in Geneve.


Former taoiseach Mr John Bruton, a vice-president of the EPP, said the group had a number of potential candidates for the post of Commission president

Mr John Bruton is a vice-president of the EPP.


Miscellany Coastal Georgia's Tybee Island was dropped as the site for the 1996 Olympic beach volleyball competition.

The 1996 Olympic volley competition was held in Tybee Island.


Latvia, for instance, is the lowest-ranked team in the field but defeated World Cup semifinalist Turkey in a playoff to qualify for the final 16 of Euro 2004.


In Waco, near Nelson's hometown of Abbott, auto parts salesman Dave Crowe proposed that fans join ''Willie Aid'' by mailing donations straight to the IRS.


Baby Evelyn, the first child of Judy Keys, 22, and Airman Todd Keys, 21, stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, was born with only a brain stem.

Todd Keys was born at Lackland Air Force Base.


Johnston is the seventh person to be killed in sectarian violence this year in Northern Ireland where the outlawed IRA is fighting to end British rule in the province.


Italy and Germany have each played twice, and they haven't beaten anybody yet.


"I've been a Howard Stern fan since his WNBC (a New York radio station) days and I was one of the ones at New Line who sought him out," says Mike DeLuca, president of New Line Cinema production.


A reporter found Chapman at the downtown Dade County Public Library Tuesday.

Chapman works for Dade County Public Library.


Richard Rich, born Richard Rosenheim -he changed his name when he moved to New York- took over in the late 1940s and guided the store until his death in 1975.


At a regular Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing in Beijing on Thursday, spokesman Li Zhaoxing would say only that China will consider direct talks with Vietnam at an appropriate time.


Mark Said and Philip Dick, two members of Ontario Bradley First Air's crew, were from Montreal, Canada.

Mark Said works for Ontario Bradley First Air.


Deployment of Filipino workers in Iraq suspended by Philippine president due to repeated kidnappings.

Filippino workers have been kidnapped by the Philippine president.


GLOBAL oil prices clung near their highest levels in at least 21 years yesterday after Russian oil giant Yukos was ordered to stop sales, threatening further strain on thin world supplies.


Sun Microsystems, Yahoo and Microsoft will turn up the heat in the corporate instant messaging market by launching new enterprise offerings this spring.

Microsoft's corporate headquarters are located in the corporate instant messaging market.


Cape Town Supreme Court Judge J.H. Berman refused to give Port Nolloth municipal authorities  the right to forcibly remove the squatters.

Cape Town Supreme Court is an organisation based in Port Nolloth.


The third AU summit opened in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Tuesday, June 29, when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a congratulatory message to the representatives of the African Union.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao took part in the third AU summit.


Kennedy had just won California's Democratic presidential primary when Sirhan shot him in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968.


Like the United States, U.N. officials are also dismayed that Aristide killed a conference called by Prime Minister Robert Malval in Port-au-Prince in hopes of bringing all the feuding parties together.

Aristide is killed by Prime Minister Robert Malval.


The organizers of the 15th International AIDS Conference, scheduled for next month in Bangkok, Thailand, last Saturday responded to press reports that a prominent hotel in Bangkok discriminated against HIV-positive visitors attending a conference on climate changes.

A climate conference is held in Thailand.


An Wang, a native of Shanghai, China, who developed the magnetic pulse controlling device, the principle on which computer memory operates.


The Geneve-based FAO organizing committee has announced that the location of the 4th International World Food Security conference has been moved from Bangkok to New Delhi for security reasons.

The 4th International World Food security conference is held in Geneve.


The third African Union summit opened in the Ethiopia's capital of Addis Ababa on Tuesday, June 29.

The third African Union summit is held in Addis Ababa.


Born in Athens, Psacharopoulos came to the United States at age 17 to enter Oberlin College, where he met Jean Hackett, an actress of New York City.


Justice Lewis F. Powell, who Kennedy succeeds, and Chief Justice Warren E. Burger were in Florida.

Justice Lewis F. Powell was born in Florida.


Cape Town Supreme Court Judge J.H. Berman refused to give Port Nolloth municipal authorities the right to forcibly remove the squatters.

Judge J.H. Berman works for Cape Town Supreme Court.


Latvia, for instance, is the lowest-ranked team in the field but defeated World Cup semifinalist Turkey in a playoff to qualify for the final 16 of Euro 2004.


Teenage sensation Wayne Rooney powered England into the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 with two goals in Monday's 4-2 defeat of Croatia and they were joined in the last eight by champions, France who beat Switzerland 3-1.


Ahern, who was travelling to Tokyo for an EU-Japan summit yesterday, will consult with other EU leaders by telephone later this week in an effort to find an agreed candidate.

An EU-Japan summit takes place in Tokyo.


Aristide was educated in the Vatican, and therefore he's more fluent in Italian, Greek and Hebrew than English

Aristide speaks Italian, Greek, Hebrew and English.


The drugstore chain said cost cutting and a jump in prescription drug sales fueled its gains.


Italy and Germany have each played twice, and they haven't beaten anybody yet.


There are a lot of farmers in Poland who worry about their future if Poland joins the European Union.


Crayola's new Magic Scent crayons emit food aromas such as coconut, chocolate and cherry when rubbed on paper. They're non-toxic, but because of the aromas children may try to eat the crayons, posing a danger of choking.

Magic Scent crayons smell good, but if eaten, may be dangerous.


Sonia Gandhi can be defeated in the next elections in India if between now and 2009, BJP can make Rural India Shine, if it can make every young man have a job that he can be proud of.

Next elections in India will take place in 2009.


Across the continent, voters voiced discontent by casting ballots for opposition and fringe parties. But most of the 350 million EU citizens eligible to vote didn't bother to even cast a protest ballot in the last European elections.

Most EU citizens voted in the last European election.


Spain pulled its 1,300 troops from Iraq last month.


The speech by Edwards provided the first-term senator from North Carolina his biggest national stage and a prime-time televised showcase for a candidate that voters know even less about than Kerry.


This request is comprised of $1.1 billion for traditional Active MILCON, $1.4 billion for Military Family Housing, $149.1 million for Air National Guard traditional MILCON and $53.7 million for Air Force Reserve traditional MILCON.


An estimated 10,000 of Scotland's 15,000-strong police force is set to be deployed during the three-day event.

Two-thirds of the Scottish police force will be deployed at the happening.


If Turkey joins the ranks of the EU, its boundaries will extend to the problem countries of the Middle East.


Spain announced earlier in the week that it was sending three planes of relief supplies to Afghanistan.


The debacle marked a new low in the erosion of the SPD's popularity, which began shortly after Mr Schroeder's election in 1998. The trend accelerated after the chancellor unveiled Agenda 2010, his package of painful economic reforms, in March 2003.


Latvia, for instance, is the lowest-ranked team in the field but defeated World Cup semifinalist Turkey in a playoff to qualify for the final 16 of Euro 2004.


Turnout for the historic vote for the first time since the EU took in 10 new members in May has hit a record low of 45.3%.


The poll, for the first time, has more than half of Americans, 52 percent, saying the war in Iraq was not worth fighting. An overwhelming majority of respondents also said it found the number of U.S. casualties in Iraq unacceptable.

Many Americans don't think the war in Iraq was necessary.


The party of chancellor Gerhard Schroeder scored its worst electoral performance since the war at the June 13 European election and performed poorly at a simultaneous vote in Thuringia state.

Schroeder's party didn't do well at the European elections.


A former police officer was charged with murder Thursday in the slaying of a college student who allegedly had threatened to expose their sexual relationship, authorities said.


Chadrick Fulks escaped from a Kentucky jail.


At the close, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 45 points, or 0.4 percent.


Security preparations kept protestors at bay at the recent G8 Summit on Sea Island (USA).

The G8 summit took place on an American island.


Microsoft browser bug may access private files.


The G8 summit, held June 8-10, brought together leaders of the world's major industrial democracies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, European Union and United States.

Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom and European Union participated in the G8 summit.


Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been allotted a separate office here as head of the national advisory panel for India's ruling coalition.


Europe is currently trying to decide whether Turkey should remain a friend, either as an EU member or as a peripheral country.


Teenage sensation Wayne Rooney powered England into the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 with two goals in Monday's 4-2 defeat of Croatia and they were joined in the last eight by champions France who beat Switzerland 3-1.

France will play England in the Euro 2004 quarter-finals.


The emerging historical record now shows White House officials downgraded threats from al Qaeda prior to 9/11 to focus on other priorities.

White House ignores the threat of attack


Under the roadmap agreed by Pakistan and India, the foreign secretaries would meet in New Delhi on June 27-28 followed by a meeting between foreign ministers in August.

In June there will be a diplomatic meeting between Pakistan and India.


MSF, a neutral group which depends primarily on private donations, has a reputation for sending medical staff into troublespots regarded by other agencies as too dangerous.


Even if terrorists were to attack on Election Day, it is highly unlikely that voting could or would be halted across the United States, lawmakers and scholars said yesterday.


Japan has been an eager participant in the Winter Olympics since the Second Games, held at St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1928.


An increase of $10 (U.S.) a barrel in the price of crude oil -- if sustained -- could knock about half of one percentage point off global economic growth.


Iraqi kidnappers have released a Lebanese construction worker kidnapped this week.


China delayed the Security Council vote on a controversial measure to extend the immunity of US peacekeeping troops from prosecution for war crimes.


Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has promised to give any Iraqi who shoots down a US or British helicopter 50 million dinars.


Teachers are earning credentials from Commission on Teacher Credentialing that allow them to instruct non-English speakers without being fully bilingual.

Commission on Teacher Credentialing offers non-bilingual teachers credentials to work with non-English speaking students.


EU membership is a strategic necessity for Turkey, as Ankara will inevitably suffer greater foreign policy problems in the future unless it makes it into the Union.


A conference on Haiti was called by Aristide in hopes of rallying world support for tightening a U.N.-ordered oil and arms embargo designed to punish the Haitian military.

U.N. has imposed sanctions against Haiti.


In 1995, France's President Jacques Chirac publicly predicted that an Israel-Syria agreement would be signed by the end of 1995.


Germany and Spain are all sending more troops to Afghanistan.


Clinton ordered missile strikes against Iraq in December 1998 but did not press aggressively for UN inspectors to return.

There was a missile attack against Iraq in 1998.


With John Kerry newly energised for the upcoming election battle against George Bush, the secretary of state visits a beleaguered Iraqi capital where the US administration's policies are in ruins.


Mary Kate Olsen in rehab for cocaine addiction.


A federal jury needed just four hours to return a death sentence against Chadrick Fulks, who pleaded guilty to kidnapping and carjacking resulting in the death of an Horry County woman.


Excessive amounts of pesticides and chemical fertilizers may be poisoning huge tracts in India.


But even in light of this unparalleled decline, the SPD's result in the June 13 European elections is of a qualitatively different character.

European elections took place on June 13.


German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder accused U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of allying with European conservative parties in a ''blockade'' of the German and French-backed candidate, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.

Schroeder doesn't support Vershoftstadt as a candidate.


Audrey Seiler faked her abduction in March.

Abducted Audrey Seiler found four days after missing


The debacle marked a new low in the erosion of the SPD's popularity, which began shortly after Mr Schroeder's election in 1998. The trend accelerated after the chancellor unveiled Agenda 2010, his package of painful economic reforms, in March 2003.


In his three years in exile in Washington, Aristide has been protected by the Secret Service 24 hours a day. And during his last week in exile, amid frenzied preparations for his return to Haiti, Aristide took time out to thank the Americans who helped his Administration.

Aristide is going back to Haiti after being exiled for years.


Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, left Lillehammer for Sarajevo to pay tribute to the besieged host city of the 1984 Winter Games

In 1984 the Olympic games were held in Sarajevo.


The cost of security when world leaders gather near Auchterarder for next year's G8 summit, is expected to top $150 million.

More than $150 million will be probably spent for security at next year's G8 summit.


Among the issues on the vice president's agenda are human rights, the environment, a possible visit by Bill Clinton to China next year, and the controversy over alleged Chinese political contributions.


Coyote shot after biting girl in Vanier Park.


Miramax paid Moore $6 million for the film and planned a summer release date, two organizations mounted campaigns against it.

Disney and Miramax against Fahrenheit 9/11


Statistically, anorexia strikes more than one in every 100 teen-age girls and young women.


In order to concentrate on the upcoming release of the Pentium 4, Intel delays Pentium III 1.13GHz relaunch.


The three-day G8 summit will take place in Scotland.


Afghanistan's first post-Taliban elections have been delayed for a second time amid increasing violence towards voters and officials, it was announced on Friday.


The government announced last week that it plans to raise oil prices.


Britney Spears is getting hitched for the second time this year - this time to a professional dancer father whose girlfriend of three years is pregnant.


Across the continent, voters voiced discontent by casting ballots for opposition and fringe parties. But most of the 350 million EU citizens eligible to vote didn't bother to even cast a protest ballot.

Some people voted for opposition parties to voice their discontent.


Crude oil prices jumped to record levels yesterday as already jittery international oil markets reacted to turmoil at Russian's largest petroleum producer.


A Vancouver wildlife conservation officer shot and killed an urban coyote in a Kitsilano park after the animal bit a child and attacked pets.


Terrorists in Iraq killed an American soldier they have held hostage since early April because the U.S. government did not change its policy in Iraq.


The Los Angeles Lakers won their 3rd straight NBA championship Wednesday night, beating the New Jersey Nets 113-107, sweeping that 4-game championship series.


Teenage sensation Wayne Rooney powered England into the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 with two goals in Monday's 4-2 defeat of Croatia and they were joined in the last eight by champions France who beat Switzerland 3-1.

England will play the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.


The White House ignores Zinni's opposition to the Iraq War.


The Bugbear virus infects computers running the Windows operating system and an unpatched version of Internet Explorer 5.5.


Seiler was reported missing March 27 and was found four days later in a marsh near her campus apartment.

Abducted Audrey Seiler found four days after missing.


Three of its five permanent members, France, Russia and China, are pushing the U.N. Security Council to lift the embargo on Iraq.

France, Russia and China want to put an end to sanctions against Iraq.


MSF was unnerved by a Taliban accusation that its members were spying for the U.S.


German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder accused U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of allying with European conservative parties in a ''blockade'' of the German and French-backed candidate, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.

According to Schroeder, Blair and Berlusconi are actively opposing Verhofstadt.


An Internet-borne infection incapacitated tens of thousands of computers on Tuesday, snarling company networks and frustrating home users as it spread across the globe.


The council has prohibited any travel outside of Haiti by all officers of the Haitian military and police and all major participants in the September, 1991, coup.

Haitian military is not allowed to leave Haiti.


Rios had arrested the student in April for interfering with him and another officer as they answered a police call about a loud party.


Turkey was not in favor of "the United States using Turkish bases for conflicts not affecting Turkey."

The United States uses Turkish military bases.


There are two sides to the bloody conflict in Chechnya, but only one is legitimate.

Two sides near agreement on Chechnya's fate.


The film was the evening's big winner, bagging the prestigious best picture Oscar to bring its tally to six.


A US Patriot battery shoots down an Iraqi missile in Kuwait.


Iraq claimed Tuesday to have shot down a second U.S. spy plane in less than a month.


The U.S. and British governments are gathering evidence to determine whether genocide is being committed in the Darfur region of Sudan, where an estimated 30,000 people have been killed and more than a million have fled their homes.

U.S. and British governments are determining to kill 30,000 people in Sudan.


Kidnappings in Argentina have increased more than fivefold in the last two years, official figures show.


The Lillehammer Olympic Games organizing committee said 65 countries have entered, matching the number of nations at the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France.

In the Lillehammer Olympic Games there are as many participating countries as in Albertville in 1992.


Former president Bill Clinton said he agreed with President Bush's decision to confront Iraq about its potential weapons programmes, but thought the administration erred in starting a war in 2003 rather than allowing UN weapons inspectors longer to carry out their work.

Clinton agrees with Bush's decision to start the war in 2003.


Iraq has been under a stringent economic embargo since its August 1990 invasion of Kuwait and relief workers are increasingly concerned about the health of its population.