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Saturday November 5, 2005
NEWS National Mar del Plata - President Bush and Western Hemisphere leaders have entered the last day of barricaded meetings today Baltimore, MD - In Baltimore's biggest raid since Prohibition, police seized $25,000, 16,020 poker chips and 141 decks of cards at a private club Washington, DC - The bill to allow drilling for oil and natural gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge faced down a challenge in the senate this week Baghdad, Iraq - 2500 American troops will remove insurgents from Anbar, near the Syrian border, before the December 15Th election World Paris, France - Youth violence in France erupted for a ninth straight night spreading to other areas including Rouen, Dijon and Marseille Muzzaffarabad, Pakistan - Snow in northern Pakistan further hampered aid to Pakistani earthquake victims after earlier setbacks due to border-area land mines. Budapest, Hungary - The Hungarian Prime Minister apologized in the name of the state yesterday for the suppression of the 1956 uprising against communism London, England - Three young men appearing at Bow St. Magistrates Court in central London were charged yesterday with illegal fund-raising and conspiracy to murder. Alexandria, Egypt - A section of a four-storey building collapsed Friday killing eight people and injuring another eight SPORTS Thousands cheered as Ozzie Guillen, manager of the World Champion Chicago White Sox, brought the World Series trophy to Venezuela Friday Almost eighty percent of GM's, responding to an NBA.com poll, predict San Antonio Spurs will repeat as champions BUSINESS A mild start to winter and recovering US production were cited for a slip-back Friday in Oil prices to sixty dollars a barrel A tentative agreement between US and China on imports of clothing and fabric may resolve a recent trade conflict The Labor Department reported yesterday that hiring was weak again in October because of high energy prices Sunday November 6, 2005 NATIONAL NEWS Evansville, IN - A deadly tornado touched down at 2am Sunday morning, tearing a 20-mile path of destruction through southern Indiana Houston, TX - The US Marshals Office has offered a $10,000 reward for the capture of 'charming' death row inmate Charles Victor Thompson who walked out of a Texas jail Saturday Los Angeles, CA - The Jewish Defense League's Earl Krugel was struck on the head with a cement block in the exercise yard of a Phoenix Federal Correctional Institution according to his wife San Francisco, CA - Prince Charles and Camilla continued their tour of the United States Saturday with a trip to an organic farm near San Francisco WORLD NEWS London, England - Andrew Linnington, of the union Numast, made a plea for extra protection for ships plying the waters off Somalia after US-owned Seabourn Spirit successfully repelled a pirate attack in the area Jerusalem, Israel - Archaeologists have discovered a Christian church dating back to the third or fourth century in the Holy Land near the biblical site of Armageddon. Islamabad, Pakistan - A magnitude-six aftershock, the largest since the October earthquake that killed 80,000 people, rumbled through northern Pakistan Sunday Jakarta, Indonesia - A 19-year-old woman became the fifth victim of bird flu in Indonesia, officials said Saturday. With concerns about a possible human bird flu pandemic rising around the globe, the World Bank said it was finalizing plans to provide up to $500 million to help poor countries fight the disease. Baku, Azerbaijan - Voting has begun for a parliamentary election that is expected to result in a majority for the ruling party in this oil-rich former Soviet country SPORTS Kansas City Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil says that running back Priest Holmes is being examined by a spinal specialist and will not play against the Raiders today The seventh-ranked and previously unbeaten UCLA Bruins were soundly thrashed by Arizona Saturday in a 'wild, really crazy' game NEWS San Diego, CA - Warren Beatty and Annette Bening were barred from attending a campaign rally for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at an airplane hangar after a confrontation with the governor's aides BUSINESS The Bank of Japan Governor has said Japan will maintain a policy of keeping interest rates near zero at a meeting of central bankers Sunday With a quarter of the country converted to local 'people meters', broadcast networks are changing the way they set ad rates EBay founder Pierre Omidyar has given $100 million in eBay stock to Tufts University to create a loan fund for fledgling entrepreneurs NEWS The tornado that tore its way through Indiana and Kentucky early Sunday has left at least 22 dead and 230 injured Baku, Azerbaijan - The ruling party has won a weak majority in Sunday's Parliamentary elections but the opposition is claiming fraud Saturday November 12, 2005 WORLD NEWS Amman, Jordan - Jordan's King Abdullah II said today that al Qaeda in Iraq was responsible for bombings that killed 57 people and injured more than 90 others Nairobi, Kenya - According to the Kenyan Seafarer's Association at least five other pirate attacks have taken place since November 5Th while seven ships and crews have been taken into custody Baghdad, Iraq - A car bomb, killing four women, has exploded at a Baghdad market as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived for meetings with Iraqi officials Paris, France - While authorities braced for holiday violence on the weekend marking the end of World War I, 3000 extra police were placed on duty Friday Geneva, Switzerland - The World Health Organization says polio has been eradicated in 10 African countries but the disease is still spreading in Nigeria NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - Democratic Senator John Kerry has accused President Bush of 'the politics of fear and smear' for his speech on Veterans Day in defense of the war in Iraq Washington, DC -- A spokesman for the Loudon County's Sherriff's Office says they're on the look-out for a woman who's been holding up banks while chatting on her cell phone. New York, NY - Police are planning to start using portable explosive detection devices, normally used in airports, in the New York subway system next week Baghdad, Iraq - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called for unity among Iraq's religious factions in a heavily guarded unannounced visit to Iraq Friday DAKAR, Senegal - A Harvard-educated economist, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has become the first woman elected head of state in modern African history BUSINESS LOS ANGELES - 'The father of modern management' Peter F. Drucker, known for numerous books and articles on innovation and entrepreneurship died Friday WASHINGTON - Sony BMG Music Entertainment said on Friday that it plans to discontinue anti-piracy technology that can leave computers vulnerable to hackers Gas prices went down a penny Friday while diesel fell two cents and was down 36 cents during the last month SPORTS The only undefeated team in the NBA, The Detroit Pistons (6-0) are off to their best start since 1988-89 when they one the first of two consecutive championships The NCAA said Friday that the University of Illinois may use the words 'Illini' and 'Fighting Illini' but can't use the feathered headdress logo or Chief Illiniwek mascot Sunday November 13, 2005 WORLD NEWS Amman, Jordan - Jordanian officials said today that police have arrested an Iraqi woman who failed to detonate her explosives inside one of Amman's three bombed hotels Paris, France - Across France, youths burned 374 vehicles last night, down from 502 the night before while police took 212 people into custody NEW DELHI, India -- Tariq Dar, thought to be the 'financier, conspirator and spokesperson' behind October's New Delhi bombings, has been arrested in Kashmir LONDON, England -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani says he expects British troops will be out of Iraq by the end of 2006 Baghdad, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's legal team has said it will boycott the next hearing set for November 28 after the murder of two defense lawyers earlier this month NATIONAL NEWS Stratford, IA - Tornadoes surged through two counties late Saturday destroying farms and wrecking dozens of homes in Stratford and Woodward NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - An 18-year-old man, dangling his feet into water on Florida's east coast, was bitten by a shark Saturday SALEM, Ore. - Police shot a man who allegedly set fire to several squad cars, shot at an officer who chased him then crashed a truck into a downtown courthouse early Saturday OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) - A 27-year-old mother, on probation for child neglect, 'fell asleep' while breast-feeding and smothered her four-month-old child BUSINESS Houston, TX - New charges have been filed against five former executives from Enron Corp.'s Internet unit SEATTLE, WA -- Boeing has agreed to pay $72.5 million to settle a class-action sex-discrimination lawsuit New York, NY - The dollar strengthened to a two-year high against the euro this week amid speculation that the gap will widen SPORTS PHOENIX -- Local police said that NASCAR driver Kurt Busch was held on suspicion of drunken driving after running a stop sign about 2 miles from Phoenix International Raceway Friday night Glasgow, Scotland - The United States, tying Scotland 1-1 for their final game of the year, finished with an all-time high 13-3-4 record on their way to a fifth straight World Cup appearance Saturday November 19, 2005 NATIONAL NEWS Busan, South Korea -- In a speech before U.S. troops Saturday, President Bush vowed to stay in Iraq to continue 'our work for peace and freedom' WASHINGTON DC - A staffer of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that Rice was not Bob Woodward's source for CIA leak Washington, DC - Federal Health advisers have declared that they could find no link between Tamiflu and the recent deaths of 12 Japanese children Ventura, CA - Hot Santa Ana winds pushed flames across Ventura hillsides Friday, threatening the city's historic downtown WORLD NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - Police have announced the arrest of four people in connection with the bombing of two masques while a car bomb exploded Saturday killing at least 13 people La Cieba, Honduras - Tropical storm Gamma hit Honduras today with sustained winds of 46 mph as it threatens to develop into a hurricane Colombo, Sri Lanka - New President Mahinda Rajapakse, sworn in after winning an election boycotted by Tamil rebels, promised peace talks Saturday Cairo, Egypt - Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim, Kurdish and Sunni Muslim leaders have met at the start of a three-day conference meant to promote national reconciliation Monte Carlo, Monaco - Princes from Europe, Africa and the Middle East attended Saturday as Monaco celebrated Prince Albert II's rise to the throne SPORTS In the NBA, the Detroit Pistons(8-0) have matched their best start in over fifteen years while the Toronto Raptors have sunk to an all-time worst 0-9 start No ruling after 14 hours of arbitration is leaving the door open for a Terrel Owens return to the NFL this season BUSINESS NEWS San Jose technology giant Cisco has bid $6.9 billion for Scientific-Atlanta Inc., making a move into the digital video distribution market Conrad Black, also known as Lord Black of Crossharbour, apparently left himself open to the recent federal indictment when he gave up his Canadian citizenship for an English passport As President Bush arrives in Beijing for meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao, the US is urging a more flexible exchange rate Sunday November 20, 2005 NATIONAL NEWS BEIJING, China -- President Bush went to church Sunday in Beijing before talks on religious freedom, trade and support for US involvement in Iraq with President Hu Jintao Scranton, PA - 125 workers, arrested at a Wal-Mart construction site, will be deported according to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials Ventura, CA - About 30 percent of Ventura's brush fires have been contained but firefighters fear that gusting winds could return Memphis, TN - A federal jury in Tennessee has found in favor of Daniel Alvarado in his civil claim against the former top commander of El Salvador's security forces WORLD NEWS TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Tropical storm Gamma was downgraded to a tropical depression Sunday after leaving six dead in Central America West Yorkshire, England - Detectives have arrested six people in two separate raids over the murder of a trainee policewoman TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's parliament has passed a bill that requires blocking international inspections of its nuclear facilities in the event of a UN Security Council inquiry Colombo, Sri Lanka - The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam will respond to newly-elected President Mahinda Rajapakse's call for negotiations after November 27, the 'Heroes' Day' of the rebels, says spokesman Daya Master Moscow, Russia - Adolf Hitler's gold Nazi party membership badge has been stolen from the headquarters of the Federal Security Service in Russia SPORTS NEWS MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Bill Snyder's Kansas State Wildcats provided a 36-28 victory over Missouri, Saturday, to mark his last game as head coach after 17 years Previously unbeaten Detroit Pistons have fallen short of a best-ever 9-0 start by being thumped by the Dallas Mavericks 119-82 BUSINESS NEWS Beijing, China - China announced the purchase of $5 billion worth of planes from Boeing as U.S. President George W. Bush discusses to slashing a ballooning trade deficit Dubai, UAE - Airline Emirates has ordered 42 777's worth $9.7 from Boeing according to Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum RIYADH - OPEC oil exporters have said that they will not be cutting oil production unless there is a steep drop in prices Saturday November 26, 2005 WORLD NEWS Ruichang, China - Thousands of homes were destroyed and at least 14 were killed in the largest earthquake in 56 years to strike eastern China near Ruichang, Jiangxi province Tokyo, Japan - Japan's space agency JAXA announced Saturday that a Japanese space probe has landed on an asteroid and is collecting surface samples to bring back to Earth Rafah Crossing, Palestine - The main crossing from southern Gaza into Egypt, which came under Palestinian control on Friday, opened to the public on Saturday Bombay, India - An Indian textile magnate has recorded the highest flight in a hot air balloon, reaching an altitude of almost 70,000 feet surpassing the previous standard of 65,000 feet Beijing, China - President Hu Jintao and other leaders feted Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng and Fei Junlong with a military-themed ceremony broadcast live on television Saturday NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - Maj Gen Jason Kamiya, reprimanding two officers who ordered the burning of Taliban bodies, said that the men were unaware of any wrongdoing Yakima, WA - After five other prisoners were arrested, police are searching for four maximum security inmates who escaped by climbing down a rope made of bed sheets Crawford, TX - Activist Cindy Sheehan is continuing her Thanksgiving protest against the war in Iraq near President Bush's Texas ranch ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A candy store fire spread through three buildings Friday night threatening to encroach a shopping district full of holiday revelers before being contained BUSINESS NEWS Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says that grocery sales led the way as its November sales rose about 4.3 percent Microsoft is 'losing' about $126 on each Xbox, an industry researcher reported Friday, apparently due to the expense of the IBM chip that drives it World Trade Organization head Pascal Lamy has created an agenda for next month's 'crucial' trade summit that he hopes will speed up negotiations for a global free trade deal SPORTS NEWS American star Nastia Liukin edged Chellsie Memmel at the world gymnastics in Melbourne, Australia on the uneven bars to take the gold WORLD NEWS Paris, France - A spokeswoman for Electricite de France said a sudden European cold snap and heavy snowfalls has left thousands without power in France and Germany Sunday November 27, 2005 WORLD NEWS Qeshm Island, Iran - A strong earthquake, centered near Qeshm Island to the south of mainland Iran, rattled buildings and killed seven Sunday Jerusalem, Israel - Ariel Sharon has taken charge of six vacant ministries and has held the first cabinet meeting since he quit his party Vavuniya, Sri Lanka - Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran said Saturday that the rebel's 'struggle for self-government will intensify' if a political solution is not found with one year Baghdad, Iraq - Eight Sunni Arabs have been arrested in Kirkuk for allegedly planning to kill the investigating judge who prepared the case against Saddam Hussein Cairo, Egypt - Despite restrictions on voting and the arrests of its supporters, the officially banned Muslim Brotherhood won 29 seats Sunday, bringing their total in the Egyptian parliament to 76 NATIONAL NEWS Yakima, WA - Two of nine inmates who broke out of a maximum security area at the Yakima County jail remain at large as two were apprehended overnight Crawford, TX - Despite camping bans, 200 people rallying behind anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and others seeking freedom for detained Ethiopians protested at President Bush's Texas ranch Sunday Seattle, WA - Two people were taken to the hospital Saturday evening with minor injuries after two monorail trains scraped together at a curve along elevated tracks Highlands Ranch, CO - A 17-year-old who allegedly lost control of his car while text-messaging on a cell phone, could be charged with careless driving resulting in death, after the bicyclist's Friday death SPORTS NEWS It's deja vu all over again as the Edmonton Eskimos and Montreal Allouettes meet in the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup for the fourth time since the fifties Marek Malik finally popped a trick shot over Washington Capital's Goalie Olie Kolzig to end a 15-round shoot-out that gave the New York Rangers their fifth straight victory BUSINESS NEWS Last month's steep sales slide was described as 'short-lived' by Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn calling it a reaction to September's highly publicized marketing drive The euro is likely to dip against the dollar for another week if the European Central Bank decides, as anticipated, to limit interest rate increases Newmont Mining Corp. - the world's largest producer of gold - says gold 'is hot and... is going to get hotter' because of increasing demand throughout Asia NATIONAL NEWS Santa Maria, CA - A Greyhound bus, en route to San Francisco from Los Angeles, flipped Sunday morning killing two and injuring most of the other 42 passengers SPORTS NEWS Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, saying his team is often interested in players like suspended Terrell Owens, has drawn a tampering complaint filed by the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday December 3, 2005 WORLD NEWS ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Officials are saying that the third ranked al Qaeda commander, Abu Hamza Rabia, died in a house explosion set off by bomb-making Montreal, Canada - Demonstrations in support of global warming awareness are planned across North America Saturday to coincide with the UN Climate Change Conference being held in Montreal Baghdad, Iraq - An English envoy of Iraqi descent, Anas Altikriti, has been sent on behalf of The Muslim Association of Britian to attempt negotiations with the abductors of four westerners SINGAPORE - The family of 25-year-old Nguyen ai Van, hanged Friday for drug crimes, flew home with his body Saturday saying they vow to continued campaigning against the death penalty Moscow, Russia - A Russia foreign ministry representative has confirmed that an arms deal with Iran has been signed but for 'exclusively defensive weapons' only NATIONAL NEWS Ten US Marines were killed Saturday while abductors holding four westerners threatened their execution if Iraqi detainees are not released by December 8Th Washington, DC - New airport screening rules will take effect December 22ND that will see more random passenger checks but will allow some small tools back in luggage Bucharest, Romania - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will sign an agreement with Romania on Tuesday to build military bases in the ex-soviet country Costa Mesa, CA - A bank robber, known as the 'Big Nose Bandit', and his father were arrested at a Southern California motel Friday BUSINESS NEWS U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said at a London G7 summit meeting among world finance ministers that global free trade was fundamental to eliminating poverty Northwest Airlines will meet Tuesday with the maker of Blackberry devices to make contingency plans in case disrupted service occurs as a result of an anticipated patent infringement ruling According to a statement issued Friday by Carl Icahn's hedge fund, he's planning to dish out $1.19 billion for control of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts SPORTS NEWS Thousands of fans tossed flowers and scarves as soccer great George Best's hearse made it's way through the streets of Belfast for his funeral Saturday attended by 32,000 A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, in charge of regulating America's sports industry, says it will look into the 'deeply flawed' championship college bowl system Sunday December 4, 2005 WORLD NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - An English envoy met with Sunni Muslims Sunday working towards the release of four captives while Muslim groups are publicly decrying the kidnapping Beijing, China - Chinese police have arrested 16 people in Quangdong for allegedly kidnapping and selling baby girls through two welfare organizations in Hunan Caracas, Venezuela - With opposition parties boycotting Sunday's Parliamentary election it is expected that supporters of President Hugo Chavez will extend their majority Canberra, Australia - Saying he's against the death penalty, Australian Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out diplomatic retaliation over Singapore's execution of an Australian Friday Hong Kong, China - 250,000 protesters marched through Hong Kong Sunday to protest that proposed reforms don't go far enough and to demand full democracy in the former British territory NATIONAL NEWS Hudson, OH - The two bodies found buried off Interstate 80 were confirmed through dental records as Sarah Gehring, 14, and her brother, Philip, 11 Stateline, NV - One man has been killed and two sheriff's deputies injured in a card-game shooting at Harrah's Tahoe casino New Orleans, LA - 'Memos, handwritten notes, e-mails and phone logs' were turned over Friday to congressional committees looking into the government's disaster response to Hurricane Katrina Washington, DC - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to tell European nations to 'back off' over secret CIA prisons because cooperation between the United States and Europe is essential global safety SPORTS NEWS Two college teams stayed unbeaten at 12-0 Saturday while USC pounded UCLA 66-19 and Texas pummelled Colorado 70-3 Jermain Taylor defended his WBC, WBO and WBA middleweight titles in Las Vegas Saturday night by winning a unanimous decision over Bernard Hopkins BUSINESS NEWS At a London summit meeting of G7 finance ministers Japan's Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said the yen's fall is 'in line with the central bank's policy' Virgin's Richard Branson is intending to merge Virgin Mobile with cable company NTL, making an entertainment and communications hybrid worth $10.4 billion World finance officials, meeting in London, are renewing efforts to pressure China to adopt a more flexible exchange rate WORLD NEWS Anjar, Lebanon - A mass grave has been found at an old onion farm, formerly used by Syrian army intelligence, in east Lebanon Baghdad, Iraq - On Sunday, the former Iraqi PM, Ayad Allawi, alleges that death threats have been made against him while a plot to bomb Saddam Hussein's trial on Monday has been uncovered Saturday December 10, 2005 WORLD NEWS Oslo, Norway - Saying we must choose between nuclear weapons and survival, Chief U.N. nuclear inspector Mohamed ElBaradei accepted the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize Saturday Montreal, Canada - The last minute signature of the US on a 'Montreal Action Plan' has produced an agreement to combat greenhouse gas emissions NATIONAL NEWS Los Angeles, CA - Police and schools have been placed on alert in preparation for violence if California Governor Schwarzenegger rejects Stanley Tookie Williams' last plea for clemency Chicago, IL - Officials are considering weather conditions and runway length in the skidding of Flight 1248 Friday while the plane is to be moved Saturday from the intersection where it crashed Bob Menendez, a son of Cuban immigrants, has been appointed to fill the recently-vacated Senate seat of New Jersey state Governor John Corzine Sunday December 11, 2005 WORLD NEWS London, England - An oil distribution depot in Hertfordshire, north of London, has caught fire after a series of explosions Belem, Brazil - The killers of an American nun were found guilty Saturday in a case that tested Brazil's commitment to land-related crimes Cairo, Egypt - A 48-minute tape featuring Al Qaeda second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has been released renewing a call to Muslims to wage holy war against the West Beijing, China - China reported an unknown number of people were killed at a clash earlier this week while witnesses say 20 were killed protesting inadequate payments for expropriated land Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, opens its summit Monday seeking to forge economic ties in Asia and draft a new charter NATIONAL NEWS Flemingsburg, KY - Donald Waters faces two felony counts of wanton endangerment and numerous other charges after allowing his seven-year-old son to drive on Kentucky's Mountain Parkway resulting in a hit and run accident Washington, DC - Former anti-Vietnam presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy died on Saturday from complications caused by Parkinson's disease Los Angeles, CA - If Stanley Tookie Williams' execution goes as scheduled on Wednesday, prisoners at San Quentin and other state prisons will be 'locked down' during the event Honolulu, HI - Archaeologists found a time capsule buried more than a century ago by King Kamehameha V on Saturday SPORTS NEWS USC running back Reggie Bush has run away with the Heisman Trophy, college football's biggest honor With 52 points, 20-year-old Lebron James scored nearly half Cleveland's points but the Cav's still lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 111-106 on Saturday night BUSINESS NEWS 3,000 protesters disrupted traffic in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay shopping district in advance of World Trade Organization talks due to open this week The jury in the first federal lawsuit against Vioxx has been instructed by US District Judge Eldon Fallon to keep deliberating after they could not reach a verdict on whether it was a factor in the death of a Florida man The United Auto Workers have apparently reached a tentative agreement with Ford Motor Co. providing money-saving measures on health care matters but details were withheld WORLD NEWS Sydney, Australia - A magnitude 6.5 undersea earthquake has struck near New Britain, Papua New Guinea Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey Saturday December 17,2005 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - The President's request for a renewal of the anti terrorism bill, the 'USA Patriot Act' was blocked in the Senate on Friday Washington, DC - After claims of presidential approval of NSA domestic eavesdropping, President Bush said Friday that he has done everything 'within the law' to protect the American people Mexico City, Mexico - The Mexican government has condemned the US Congress for approving an immigration bill making it harder for undocumented immigrants to get jobs and planning a US-Mexico border fence Charlotte, NC - A lethal ice storm has left more than half a million Carolina customers without power Friday night and utility officials said power may not be fully restored until Tuesday WORLD NEWS Hong Kong, China - A draft document issued by the World Trade Organization Saturday recommending agricultural export subsidies end by 2013, has met with a lukewarm response from some nations Hong Kong, China - Police fired tear gas near protesters across the street form the WTO Ministerial Conference at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Saturday Hanoi, Vietnam - Disaster officials announced Saturday that floods and landslides have killed at least 47 in the past two weeks, with 29 in Khanh Hoa province, disaster officials said Saturday Baghdad, Iraq - Adnan al-Dulaimi, a former Islamic studies professor who heads a Sunni Arab bloc, said Saturday his party would be open to an alliance with Shiites and Kurds to form a coalition government Beijing, China - China moved to shut down the country's first gay and lesbian culture festival in 'fashionable' northeastern Beijing Friday BUSINESS NEWS The US Patent and Trademark Office has rejected two of five patents at the center of a long-simmering legal squabble between Blackberry and NTP Inc Reports have it that Google has beaten Microsoft for a 5 per cent stake in AOL for $1 billion Citing a heavy work load, US Judge Amy St. Eve has set Conrad Black's fraud trial for March 5, 2007 SPORTS NEWS Shaquille O'Neal, recovering from an ankle injury that's kept him out of action for more than a month, had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the Heat's victory over Phillie Friday night The Seattle Mariners are apparently closing in on a four-year $35-40 million deal with former Los Angeles Angel, now free-agent, pitcher Jarrod Washburn Sunday December 18, 2005 NATIONAL NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - Vice President Dick Cheney paid a surprise visit to Iraq Sunday on the heels of parliamentary elections that he suggested would 'unify the various segments of the population' Washington, DC - Tom Delay's bid to regain House Majority leader status has been struck a blow with Senior Judge Pat Priest's ruling that the dismissed money-laundering charges must continue through the appeals procedure Washington, DC - In an unusual live weekly radio address, President Bush admitted Saturday that he ordered NSA wiretaps because they're 'a vital tool in our war against the terrorists' New York, NY - Time has announced it's Persons of the Year, Bill and Melinda Gates and U2's Bono, 'for making mercy smarter and hope strategic' and 'for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice' WORLD NEWS Hong Kong, China - A last minute trade agreement at the WTO meetings reached Sunday was 'not enough to make a success but enough to save it from failure' Beijing, China - The state media of China published the names of three villagers killed by police during a protest over the seizure of land for a power plant while rights groups still put the toll at more than 20 Chenai, India - A stampede of flood victims waiting for government relief vouchers has claimed at least 42 people and injured another in southern India Sunday Bangkok, Thailand - 20 people have been left dead in the worst flooding in southern Thailand in 40 years that has created landslides and disrupted transportation La Paz, Bolivia - South America's poorest country votes in a presidential election today in which the front-runner says he could be 'nightmare' for the US SPORTS NEWS Wayne Gretzky announced on Saturday he's taking an 'indefinite' leave as Phoenix Coyotes' coach to return to Canada in support of his mother, recently diagnosed with lung cancer Nicolay Valuev became the new WBA heavyweight champion of the world last night in Germany, joining WBO champion Lamon Brewster, IBF champ Chris Byrd and WBC title-holder Hasim Rahmin in world-best ranking BUSINESS NEWS A weak trade agreement to close the World Trade Organization's Hong Kong meeting has left questions regarding its future London-based BAA PLC, the world's largest airport operator, has agreed to buy Budapest Airport Rt. for $2.2 billion The $4 trillion U.S. Treasury bond market is headed for its fourth straight December gain WORLD NEWS After complaining of not feeling well, 77-year-old Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon lost consciousness and was taken to a Jerusalem hospital Sunday A German television station is reporting that the brother of a German archaeologist kidnapped in Iraq last month with her driver has been freed German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced Sunday night that Susanne Osthoff, an archaeologist kidnapped in Iraq last month with her driver has been freed and is in the German Embassy in Baghdad Saturday December 24, 2005 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito defended the use of illegal wiretaps in a 1984 memo while he worked for Reagan administration Washington, DC - Congress finished wrapping up business for the holidays by approving a five-week extension to the 'Patriot Act' Blue Springs, Mo. - A woman was rushed to the hospital Friday night after swallowing her cellphone in a 'lover's dispute' Albuquerque, New Mexico - Four men have been arrested while police searched for another in connection with the theft of 400 pounds of explosives from a storage depot WORLD NEWS All 23 passengers and crew who died in the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines twin-engine Antonov An-140 have been recovered Cairo, Egypt - At a trial referred to by US officials as 'a test of Cairo's tolerance of dissent', Egyptian opposition leader Ayman Nour has been sentenced to five years jail for falsifying signatures Phuket, Thailand - Survivors are marking the one year anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed at least 216,000 lives with beachfront ceremonies in Thailand The Hague, Netherlands - A dutch businessman was sentenced to 15 years in prison Friday for helping Saddam Hussein to acquire chemical weapons used to in the Iran-Iraq war Baghdad - Iraq's Shiite United Iraqi Alliance said preliminary results showing them with a lead in the recent elections is 'the will of the people' and it rejected calls for a new ballot SPORTS NEWS Arizona Diamondback Troy Glaus could be heading to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitcher Miguel Batista and second baseman Orlando Hudson Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets enjoyed Friday night's 95-88 victory over the Miami Heat with a career-high 51 points for Carter and a season-high five-game winning streak for the Nets BUSINESS NEWS Japan has decided to cut spending to its lowest level in eight years to counter its claim to the world's largest public debt Microsoft said Friday that it has sold most of its stake in the 24-hour cable news channel MSNBC Sunday December 25, 2005 NATIONAL NEWS WASHINGTON - Scientists are delaying the start of 2006 by the first 'leap second' in seven years, a timing tweak meant to make up for changes in the Earth's rotation LONGMONT, Colo. -- A 13-month-old poodle puppy, stolen two days ago from its 10-year-old owner, Mandy Lopez, was returned Friday, along with a stocking full of dog toys Waco, TX - A unidentified man was electrocuted by 69,000 volts of electricity while attempting to steal copper wire from an electrical substation on Friday Lawrence, KS - Mayor Boog Highberger will proclaim International Dadaism Month at this Kansas city's weekly commission meeting Tuesday WORLD NEWS Vatican City - Israel's top Roman Catholic has said Bethlehem has become an 'immense prison' since the West Bank barrier was built, calling for its dismantling as he joined thousands of pilgrims for midnight mass on Christmas Eve Amsterdam - Scientists working at an archaeological site in Mauritius have found a cache of bones belonging to the long-extinct dodo that could help them reconstruct a model of the flightless bird Bethlehem, West Bank -- Marching bands, bagpipe players and Boy Scout troops marked the return of the holiday spirit to Bethlehem on Saturday for the first time since 2000 Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI addressed thousands in St Peter's Square, denouncing the 'menace' of terrorism and the 'humiliation' of worldwide poverty London, England - Speaking from the Chapel at Buckingham Palace, the Queen of England praised the 'quite remarkable' responses by people to tragedies such as the Asian tsunami and the July London bombings BUSINESS NEWS Wal-Mart has been ordered by a jury in Oakland, California to pay $172.3m to current and former employees for failing to provide 30-minute unpaid lunch breaks Washington state telecoms regulators have approved Verizon Communications purchase of MCI Inc. setting the stage for a finished deal in early January SPORTS NEWS Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will charter a plane to take the entire team, including players and staff, to the funeral of James Dungy Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat take on Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers for a second straight Christmas Day game Saturday December 31, 2005 NATIONAL NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - Farris Hassan, the 16-year-old Floridian who flew to Iraq on a self-directed high school journalism assignment, was flown home Friday Sacremento, CA - Flood warnings have been issued in northern California from Sonoma to Monterey and across to the Nevada border Washington, DC - In a rare disclosure, the Justice Department announced it has opened a criminal investigation into alleged leaks concerning an eavesdropping program, secretly authorized by President Bush Washington, DC - A plea agreement could be reached next week in a wire fraud case against lobbyist Jack Abramoff Orlando, FL - Tropical Storm Zeta has formed in the eastern Atlantic, tying a 1954 record for the season's latest storm WORLD NEWS London, England - Kate Burton, a 25-year-old British rights activist freed by kidnappers in Gaza Friday 'plans to stay and continue working with the Palestinian people' Moscow, Russia - While threatening to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine Sunday morning, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's gas monopoly to freeze prices at the current price temporarily, if Kiev agrees to a higher price later Palu, Indonesia - At least eight have died and 45 wounded in a bombing at a meat market in an Indonesian province recently rocked by sectarian violence London, England - England's Rail, Maritime and Transport union has called a 24-hour strike at London's subway system in a dispute over new schedules and staffing levels Beirut, Lebanon - The former Baath Party Vice President of Syria, Abdul-Halim Khaddam, said Friday that Syria had threatened former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri only months before he was assassinated SPORTS NEWS Saying he's angry, frustrated and shocked, Kobe Bryant will appeal his two-game suspension without pay for elbowing Memphis Grizzly Mike Miller New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and NFL commissioner Paul Talgiabue agree that the Saints will be back in Louisiana in 2006, but when and where they'll play games is unclear BUSINESS NEWS The Canadian Press has announced that Conrad Black is its Canadian Newsmaker of the Year Intel is planning an image transformation to move from a supplier of computer products to a supplier of home-based entertainment products Sunday January 1, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Napa, CA - One person has died, over 1,000 Napa county homes have been flooded and 17,000 homes are without electricity Sunday throughout Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties Pink, OK - Oklahoma has requested help from firefighters across the southern US to help battle wildfire outbreaks that have already killed one and destroyed about 100 homes Reno, NV - Reno is experiencing the worst flooding since 1997 when storms caused $1 billion in damages Washington, DC - Medicare's expansion will give millions access to subsidized prescriptions Sunday but all the bugs have not been worked out of the program WORLD NEWS Kiev, Ukraine - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko refused to agree to Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan for a temporary price freeze so Russia's OAO Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine Sunday Taipei, Taiwan - Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian's New Year address suggests that Taiwan could hold a referendum in 2007 to establish a new constitution Rome, Italy - An abducted Italian member of a group on a peace mission to Gaza has been released Sanaa, Yemen - After the release yesterday of five German hostages, five Italians have been kidnapped in the eastern province of Maarib in Yemen Jerusalem, Israel - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will go in for heart surgery Thursday to repair a small hole that likely caused to his recent stroke BUSINESS NEWS The South Asia Free Trade Area was born Sunday with economic integration between India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives Wal-Mart Stores Inc. posted December sales gains of about 2.2 percent, the smallest December gain in five years SPORTS NEWS Kansas City head coach Dick Vermeil is apparently planning to announce his retirement after the season ends New York Giant Tiki Barber, leading in rushing by 53 yards, hopes his buddy Shaun Alexander passes him today in the Seattle Seahawks game against the Green Bay Packers Monday January 2, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Guerneville, CA - While residents of Northern California started drying out from flooding that submerged trailer parks and farms, flash floods hit Southern California Sunday Washington, DC - The Lincoln Group, the Pentagon contractor that posted stories in Iraqi newspapers, has been paying Sunni religious scholars for help with with propaganda work Washington, DC - Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have acted on their own to set minimum wages that exceed the $5.15 an hour rate set by the U.S. government Dallas, TX - Three major wildfires continue to rage across Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, destroying homes and farms as gusting winds fuel the flames WORLD NEWS Moscow, Russia - Russian is accusing Ukraine of diverting $25m of Russian gas Monday, one day after cutting the country off from deliveries of natural gas New York, NY - The UN panel looking into the assassination of ex-Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri wants to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the wake of recent 'threat' allegations BAGHDAD, Iraq - While Iraq's Kurdish president met with the Shiite prime minister to inaugurate a new government, a car bomber hit a bus carrying police recruits, killing seven, and gunmen in Baghdad killed five New Delhi, India - India's largest opposition group, the Bharatiya Janata Party, has named Rajnath Singh as its new president, hoping to 'clean up its image' after corruption and sex scandals Beijing, China - Starbucks has won a legal battle with a Chinese company named Shanghai Xingbake Cafe Corp. over the use of the Chinese word 'Xingbake' because its pronunciation is too close to 'Starbucks' BUSINESS NEWS The Bank of America Corporation has become the country's #1 credit card issuer yesterday having completed a $34b purchase of MBNA Corp Hyundai and Kia sales rose 14% in December due to increased demand in the US, India and Europe SPORTS NEWS Four Miami Hurricanes assistant coaches are apparently out of jobs after the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl loss to LSU Martina Hingis, who retired in 2002 with ankle injuries, made a successful comeback at the Australian hardcourt event with a 6-2 6-1 win over Maria Vento-Kabchion NATIONAL NEWS Charleston, WV - An explosion at Sago mine, near Tallmansville, West Virginia has trapped at least 12 coal miners Monday Saturday January 7, 2006 WORLD NEWS Jerusalem, Israel - Israeli PM Ariel Sharon remains in critical condition while undergoing more brain scans Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Rescuers call off search as Mecca disaster toll assessed at 76 dead, 62 injured Melbourne, Australia - An Australian woman died after being attacked by a shark while swimming near an island near Brisbane Saturday Tehran, Iran - Russian officials and scientists have started talks with Iran two days prior to Iran's resumption of its suspended nuclear program Yokosuka, Japan - The US Navy handed over a sailor, suspected of murder, to local police Saturday NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - Republican dissenters are moving to bar Tom DeLay from regaining his position as House Majority leader Tallmansville, WV - Medical examiners said Friday that the Sago miners died of carbon monoxide poisoning after the explosion used up oxygen inside the mine Washington, DC - The White House released a reaction Saturday to Pat Robertson's remarks that Israeli PM Sharon's illness was deserved, saying the remarks were 'wholly inappropriate and offensive' Kansas City, Missouri - Vice President Dick Cheney used a cane Friday to limp through a tour of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle factory BUSINESS NEWS Martha Stewart's conviction for lying about selling stock has been upheld by a federal appeals court President Bush said Saturday that tax cuts have fueled a booming economy and asked the American people to back his drive to make those cuts permanent New jobs tallied 108,000 in December, far below expectations of 200,000 SPORTS NEWS Virginia Tech kicked quarterback Marcus Vick off the team Friday because of ongoing 'transgressions' and his behavior in the Gator Bowl Czech teenager Lucie Safarova defeated Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-4 at the Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts in Gold Coast, Australia Sunday January 8, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - According to the Centre for Public Integrity as many as 20 members of the House of Representatives could be caught up in the wake of Tom Delay's resignation Saturday Washington. DC - Judge Samuel Alito, George W. Bush's choice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court, will face intense questioning from senators at his Supreme Court confirmation hearings this week Morgantown, WV - The critically injured survivor of the Sago coal mine explosion may be brought out of his coma Sunday, attending physicians have said Richmond, Va. - Similar crime scenes have led police to believe that two men arrested Saturday in the killing of a Richmond family may also have murdered a musician, his wife and two young daughters last week WORLD NEWS Jerusalem, Israel - Israeli PM Ariel Sharon will be brought out of his medically induced coma Monday if there is no change to his condition WORLD NEWS Jerusalem, Israel - Israeli PM Ariel Sharon will be brought out of his medically induced coma Monday is there is no change to his condition Tehran, Iran - The UN will remove seals from nuclear facilities in Iran Monday, allowing Iran to resume fuel production Port-au-Prince, Haiti - General Urano Teixeira da Matta Cacellar, the commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Haiti has been found dead at his Haitian hotel BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two U.S. Marines were killed Saturday west of Baghdad by roadside bombs while three were killed Sunday in a shoot-out Athens, Greece - There have been no reports of damage or injury caused by a 6.9 earthquake that shook Greece Sunday SPORTS NEWS Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant went on another scoring tear Saturday night with 50 points in a victory over the LA Clippers, making a two-night total of 98 points The Associated Press announced Saturday that Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith is their NFL Coach of the Year BUSINESS NEWS The world's fifth-biggest auto company had global sales of almost 4 million in 2005 with a strong performance from Chrysler and record sales by Mercedes Car Group IBM said Thursday that it expects to save $3b with changes to its pension offerings The chief executive of Tesco PLC, the UK's biggest retailer, says the company has no present plans to open in the US because of plans to focus expansion in China Saturday January 14, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - Democrats of the Senate are delaying Samuel Alito's Judiciary Committee vote set for early next week but are expected to confirm the appointment LONGWOOD, FL - The gun that 15-year-old Christopher David Penley took to his Florida high school class Friday was a pellet gun modified to resemble a 9mm handgun Baghdad, Iraq - The second American helicopter in a week to be shot down in Iraq claimed the lives of two pilots Friday Vancouver, Canada - US authorities expressed disappointment Friday that a man arrested with bomb-making equipment while trying to cross into the US, four years ago, was deported instead of extradited WORLD NEWS Tehran, Iran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country does not need nuclear weapons but wants to use nuclear technology 'peacefully' Beijing, China - The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party met Saturday to select a new prime minister after Friday's dissolution of the former government Jakarta, Indonesia - Of the 168 Indonesian hajj pilgrims who died in Mecca, six died in Jeddah, 27 in Medina, 105 in Mecca, 12 in Arafah, 16 in Mina and two died aboard a plane carrying them from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia Islamabad, Pakistan - The foreign office of Pakistan made a formal protest Saturday to the US Embassy over a pre-dawn attack that killed at least 17 people Baghdad, Iraq - The chief judge in Saddam Hussein's trial, Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin, has tendered his resignation, although it has yet to be accepted BUSINESS NEWS Guidant Corp. signed a $24.2b deal with Johnson & Johnson three hours after Boston Scientific's $25b offer for Guidant expired GM CEO Rick Wagoner said Friday he expects better financial results this year and next due to cost cuts and the launch of new SUVs Toyota unveiled two high-profile hybrid cars, versions of the Camry and Lexus LS, at Detroit's auto show this week SPORTS NEWS Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey has taken over the head coaching position Saturday after firing coach Claude Julien The Green Bay Packers have let six assistant coaches go a day after hiring Mike McCarthy as head coach NEWS Mecca, Saudi Arabia - Saudi authorities said Friday that Hajj pilgrims anxious about baggage added to the panic in a stampede that killed 363 people Sunday January 15, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Chicago, IL - Fugitive Joey 'The Clown' Lombardo, on the lam from an anti-mob indictment, spent Friday the 13Th in jail after being arrested sitting in a silver 1994 Lincoln Washington, DC - Missouri's Representative Roy Blunt believes he's got enough backing from House Republicans to replace Tom DeLay as majority leader in early February Washington, DC - The National Coalition for the Homeless has announced its annual list of worst cities for homelessness, citing Sarasota, FL, Lawrence, KS and Little Rock, AR as the top three Williamsburg, Virginia - Asking Virginians to help build greater opportunities, Timothy M. Kaine was sworn in Saturday as Virginia's 70Th governor WORLD NEWS Kuwait, Kuwait - Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, 77, is the new Emir of Kuwait, taking the title after the death of his cousin Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah Sunday Santiago, Chile - Single mother and socialist Michelle Bachelet is favored to win Sunday's Chilean presidential election Jerusalem, Israel - Israeli Cabinet members have voted in favor of allowing east Jerusalem Palestinians to take part the Palestinian election on January 25 Kabul, Afghanistan - An unidentified Canadian was killed Sunday after a suicide car bomber struck a military convoy in southern Afghanistan Moscow, Russia - In the latest Russian-Ukraine friction, Russian naval chief Vladimir Masorin gave orders to secure a Crimean lighthouse through 'civilized discussion' BUSINESS NEWS Germany's Thyssen-Krupp is offering almost $5.3b for Canadian steelmaker Dofasco Inc. in an attempt to thwart European rival Arcelor The Treasury Department issued new guidelines Friday giving buyers of hybrid vehicles tax credits up to $3,400 United Airlines has prepared to emerge in February from the longest-running airline bankruptcy in history by slashing costs by $7b a year for the last three years SPORTS NEWS The Denver Broncos brought the New England Patriots record of 10 consecutive postseason victories to an end Saturday, beating them 27-13 Mike Holmgren picked a good day to finally beat the Washington Redskins, sending his Seattle Seahawks into round two of the playoffs for the first time in over twenty years Saturday January 21, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - US Attorney-General Alberto Gonzalez announced Saturday that a 65-charge indictment was issued against 11 animal-liberation activists, including two Canadians Baltimore, MD - The American Civil Liberties Union claimed a victory when Baltimore trial judge ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in Maryland Friday Melville, WV - Smoke and heat from an underground fire is hampering a Saturday search for two West Virginia miners Washington, DC - An e-mail campaign by a prominent American conservative group is urging right-wing groups to hold comments regarding a possible victory by the Canadian Conservative party WORLD NEWS London, England - A seven ton northern bottlenose whale is attempting to beach itself for a second day in the Thames River near London's Houses of Parliament Istanbul, Turkey - Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981, was returned to jail Saturday after a ruling that he serve out his full sentence for the killing of a Turkish journalist and other crimes Kathmandu, Nepal - Dozens of political leaders, activists and students, defying government orders to protest King Gyanendra's direct rule, were arrested Saturday Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri said Saturday that Pakistan and the US must work together to avoid repeating a US attack on a Pakistani target Pristina, Kosovo - Kosovo's Ibrahim Rugova, who became president in March 2002, died Saturday of lung cancer at 61 BUSINESS NEWS The Dow Jones industrial average fell 213.32 points in heavy trading Friday A US judge approved a reorganization plan for UAL Corp. Friday, enabling the parent of United Airlines to end the longest bankruptcy in aviation history A $9.4b sale of Pixar to Walt Disney could make Apple-founder Steve Jobs one of Hollywood's most powerful figures SPORTS NEWS After three years of retirement, tennis player Martina Hingis is cruising again, putting away another opponent Saturday to advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open After promising to donate profits to victims of Hurricane Katrina, Cuba has been given permission by the Bush administration to play in the World Baseball Classic NEWS Moscow, Russia - The worst cold snap in twenty-five years has killed at least 40 people in Russia Sunday January 22, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Melville, WV - West Virginian Governor Joe Manchin promised to introduce legislation to improve mine safety Sunday after the bodies of two miners were found after an underground mine fire New York, NY - Charles Willson Peale's 1779 portrait of George Washington, expected to sell for 10 to 12 million dollars, sold for $21.3m Saturday at Christie's auction house Fort Carson, CO - A high-ranking US Army officer was found guilty on Friday of negligent homicide in the suffocation death of Iraqi Major General Abed Hamed Mowhoush San Francisco, CA - Pro Choice and Pro Life demonstrators marked the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade with dueling protest rallies Saturday in San Francisco WORLD NEWS Muzaffarabad, Pakistan - A Red Cross earthquake relief helicopter has disappeared with seven crew members on board Jerusalem, Israel - The brother of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassin was convicted Sunday of threatening the life of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Baghdad, Iraq - Sunni Arab leaders are proposing ministerial disqualification for groups linked with violence after another 13 died over the weekend Dubai, UAE - An apparent pirate ship carrying 16 Indians and 10 Somali men was boarded by the US Navy Saturday in the Indian Ocean, after two warning shots Tbilisi, Georgia - Georgia president Mikhail Saakashvili has accused Moscow of 'sabotage' after explosions at Russian pipelines cut off gas supplies to Georgia and Armenia BUSINESS NEWS Gold futures eased back from a quarter-century high due in part to fears of global political volatility closing the week at 554 USD/ounce Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz opened an Asian tour Sunday in China where he's expected to discuss oil, energy and trade The re-distribution of catering company Compass Group PLC may have hit a snag as prospective bidders balk at a requirement for a five-year catering contract SPORTS NEWS Erik Morales thinks the 130 pound weight limit in the super featherweight class was a factor in his tenth-round knockout loss to Phillipino Manny Pacquiao Saturday in Las Vegas Number two seed Andy Roddick was knocked out of the Australian Open Sunday in a fourth round match against an energetic unseeded Marcos Baghdatis Wednesday January 25, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - A Supreme Court stay was granted Tuesday night for Florida death row inmate Clarence Hill to give justices time to review three stay requests Washington, DC - President Bush is giving a speech Wednesday on domestic surveillance behind closed doors at the National Security Agency Los Angeles, CA - Chris Penn, Sean Penn's younger brother, was found dead in his Santa Monica home Wednesday Carlsbad, CA - Four people were killed Tuesday when a privately owned, twin-engine jet hit a storage warehouse Baghdad, Iraq - Governors from Arkansas, Wisconsin, Texas and Wyoming flew into Baghdad Tuesday for meetings with American troops WORLD NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - A vehicle accident west of Baghdad claimed the lives of two Marines Monday East Jerusalem, Palestine - Tight security and high voter turnout is expected as 1.4 million Palestians vote in their first parliamentary elections in ten years Havana, Cuba - Cuban President Fidel Castro arranged a protest march by thousands of Cubans past the US mission to bring attention to a news ticker sign carrying 'perfidious' messages Montevideo, Uruguay - Forensic specialists have identified the remains of a 38-year-old man 'disappeared' during the 1973-85 military dictatorship The Hague, Netherlands - In an official report to The European Council Parliamentary Assembly Swiss Senator Dick Marty said that European members were aware of CIA secret prisons BUSINESS NEWS Microsoft Corp. Wednesday decided to license its 'most valuable intellectual property', the Windows Server source code to address European concerns On Wednesday, BellSouth reported that a joint venture with Cingular Wireless resulted in a 34 percent rise in quarterly profit that helped offset wireline declines Printer manufacturer Lexmark International announced layoffs of 825 jobs after price cuts reduced fourth-quarter profit by 47 percent SPORTS NEWS NHL Hall-of-Famer, Mario Lemieux saying 'this is it', retired from hockey Tuesday citing an ongoing heart problem Top-seeded Roger Federer moved on to the semifinals of a Grand Slam event for the seventh straight time Tuesday at the Australian Open Saturday January 28, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Sacremento, CA - Former federal judge Kenneth Starr has made a plea on behalf of death row inmate Michaelo Morales asking Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for clemency Corpus Christi, TX - A trainer pilot and a trainee were killed Friday when a Navy T-34C training plane crashed in a residential area Washington, DC - Proposals to cut army reserves and reduce funding for two aircraft programs are apparently to be included in President Bush's 2007 budget plan due February 6Th Dearborn, MI - The Ford Motor Co. says that as of Wednesday, only workers driving Ford-made vehicles will be able to park in the employee lot next to the Ford's truck assembly plant WORLD NEWS Davos, Switzerland - Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres suggested Friday that Israel could talk with a Palestinian Hamas government as long as they abandoned terrorism Kandahar, Afghanistan - Three newly built schools were burned down Friday night by Taliban rebels Gaza, Palestine - Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said that Palestine would consider forming a national army Ryadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia ordered its Denmark ambassador to return home because of 'insulting' caricatures of the prophet Muhammad in a Danish paper Baghdad, Iraq - The kidnappers of four Christian peace activists who disappeared November 26TH released a video Saturday threatening again to kill them unless Iraqi prisoners are released SPORTS NEWS Amelie Mauresmo won the Australian Open women's final Friday after Justine Henin-Hardenne declared she was too ill to continue The NFL Network, which has only shown preseason games in the past, will carry eight regular-season games in 2006 BUSINESS NEWS Mergers and acquisitions, and upbeat forecasts have given the European stock market its best start in eight years At Davos Saturday, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates pledged to commit $600m US to prevent 14 million deaths from tuberculosis in the next decade Jury selection is set to begin Monday in the Enron trial Sunday January 29, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - News anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman Doug Vogt were seriously hurt Sunday in a bombing attack on a military vehicle 20 miles north of Baghdad Washington, DC - Proposals to use the tax code to create health care coverage incentives are expected in Tuesday's State of the Union address Las Vegas, NV - A street fight on the Las Vegas Strip between party goers and police officers resulted in 14 arrests and some minor injuries Saturday night New York, NY - A 'highly intoxicated' off-duty city police officer was shot three times by an on-duty police officer responding to a 911 call from a White Castle Restaurant WORLD NEWS Kuwait City, Kuwait - The new emir of Kuwait, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, was sworn in on Sunday, after an unprecedented ousting of the former emir Baghdad, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's trial has been adjourned until at least Wednesday after the ousted leader stormed out of court Sunday Katowice, Poland - Polish authorities called off rescue efforts early Sunday at the scene of a roof-collapse at a trade center abandoning hope of finding more survivors Jerusalem, Israel - Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel will cut off contact with the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas honors prior Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements BUSINESS NEWS Crude oil futures edged above $67 a barrel again Friday on supply fears linked to Iran's nuclear power policies White House economic adviser Ben Bernanke is widely expected to win Senate approval on Tuesday to become the 14Th chairman of the US Federal Reserve succeeding Alan Greenspan A study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute revealed Thursday that Texas has the widest gap between its richest and middle-income families SPORTS NEWS Roger Federer took a seventh Grand Slam title Sunday, winning the Australian Open 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 After performing in front of a special committee, Michelle Kwan was been confirmed Saturday for the US Olympic Skating team for next month's games in Turin, Italy Saturday February 4, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Centreville, AL - Arson is suspected in fires at five rural Alabama churches New Bedford, MS - Massachusetts police are looking for an 18-year-old man alleged to have attacked patrons at a gay bar with a hatchet Los Angeles, CA - 13 people were injured when a car crashed into a health clinic waiting room on Friday Anchorage, AL - Alaska's Department of the Environment says an oil tanker loaded with 18 million barrels of oil has been re-floated and spillage was less than 300 litres WORLD NEWS Hurghada, Egypt - Survivors of an Egyptian ferry sinking are saying that the ship was on fire three hours before it sank Damascus, Syria - Hundreds of angry Syrian demonstrators set fire to the Danish Embassy in Damascus Saturday Manila, Phillipines - At least 73 have died and more than 300 injured in a stampede outside a sports stadium Saturday Tehran, Iran - Iran said on Saturday that it will no longer consider a Russian proposal to solve a nuclear standoff now that it's been reported to the UN Security Council Port-Au-Prince, Haiti - UN peacekeeping soldiers are stepping up patrols in the Haitian capital Saturday in preparation for Haiti's first election in two years BUSINESS NEWS Tim Horton's continued being the star at Wendy's International Inc. in the fourth quarter, propelling profits to $30 million 10 days after signing a $5.6b deal with Arcelor, Dofasco Inc. reported a 71 per cent drop in yearly earnings Sony Corp is getting set to sell off four 'non-core' businesses, including French-restaurant chain Maxim's de Paris SPORTS NEWS Tiger Woods and Anders Hansen are tied for the lead Saturday after three rounds of the Dubai Desert Classic Interim Toronto Raptor general manager Wayne Embry has traded Jalen Rose to the New York Knicks in exchange for former Raptor Antonio Davis Sunday February 5, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Gassville, AR - Jacob Robida, 18, wanted in a hatchet attack at a gay bar, shot and killed an Arkansas police officer before being critically wounded in a shootout Atlanta, GA - Thousands of mourners paid final respects to civil rights leader Coretta Scott King at the Georgia Capitol building Saturday Brierfield, AL - A $10,000 reward has been posted for information about fires set at five rural churches south of Birmingham Los Angeles, CA - One inmate has been killed, 20 hospitalized and another 80 injured in a race-related riot at the Men's Central jail, a North County maximum-security facility WORLD NEWS Balochistan, Pakistan - At least 12 people have been killed in a bomb explosion on a bus carrying 50 passengers through Pakistan's troubled south-western area Sunday Beirut, Lebanon - Violence continues to spread Sunday as Muslims set fire to the Danish Embassy in Beirut, burned Danish flags and lobbed stones at a Maronite Catholic church Tehran, Iran - Iran has ended voluntary cooperation with the UN nuclear inspectors Sunday but said it would still consider a proposal to process its uranium in Russia Safaga, Egypt - Relatives of passengers of an Egyptian ferry that sank Friday stormed the docks in Safaga as rescuers continued to search for around 800 passengers still missing Kandahar, Afghanistan - Six policemen were killed and five wounded when a roadside bomb exploded south of Kandahar City Sunday SPORTS NEWS Reggie White, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, John Madden, Rayfield Wright and Harry Carson were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday Tiger Woods won the Dubai Desert Classic over Ernie Els on Sunday, starting the year at 2-0 BUSINESS NEWS The Office of Foreign Assets Control has blocked a meeting between oil executives and Cuban bureaucrats in Mexico City considering an alternative to mid-east oil Super Bowl advertising time this year is a record $2.5m for a 30-second spot which went for $2.4m last year After making only $500,000 revenue on 20,000 messages sent last year, Western Union is ending its telegram service and will concentrate on the more profitable money-transfer business Saturday February 11, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Fort Lauderdale, FL - A Haitian woman was arrested and charged with intentionally smuggling a human head into the US when a skull used for Voudou was found in her luggage Washington, DC - The federal government plans to sell more than $1 billion in public land over the next ten years, including 85,000 acres of National Forest property in California Yosemite National Park, CA - A mysterious fungus is threatening the mountain yellow-legged frog in the Sierra Nevada range Washington, DC - A later-winter storm is set to take another kick at the capitol region Saturday with up to fourteen inches of snow expected WORLD NEWS Jerusalem, Israel - Ariel Sharon underwent his seventh operation in five weeks Saturday after a scan revealed severe digestive tract damage Copenhagen, Denmark - Citing safety issues, Denmark has temporarily withdrawn its ambassadors from Syria, Iran and Indonesia Saturday Moscow, Russia - President Vladimir Putin continues to forge a role for Russia as a global mediator with an invitation to Hamas leaders to meet in Moscow Baghdad, Iraq - The ruling Islamist Shi'ite alliance couldn't pick a candidate for prime minister again Saturday Kyoto, Japan - A man was killed and others injured Friday when an avalanche crashed onto an outdoor bath at an inn in Japan BUSINESS NEWS Pfizer shares fell by around 3.8 percent after the pharmaceutical company estimated more modest growth in 2006 and forecast less aggressive cost cuts than investors had anticipated G8 finance ministers meeting in Russia pledged Saturday to act on improving energy market stability A California man was indicted Friday in federal court on charges of creating a 'botnet' of hijacked computers to install unsolicited ad software SPORTS NEWS 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir shot a five-under 67 on Friday to lead the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at the midway point Flaming skaters and soaring acrobats were on hand during Friday night's Opening Ceremony at the Turin Winter Olympics Sunday February 12, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS New York, NY - The Northeast was slammed with a late-winter storm dropping a foot of snow by early Sunday, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes and canceling flights Boston, MS - A man charged in the deaths of his daughter and wife says he found his wife and infant daughter dead from gunshot wounds before fleeing to England Harrisburg, PA - Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann was endorsed to run for governor Saturday by Pennsylvanian Republican Party leaders Birmingham, AL - A tenth Baptist church in Alabama was set on fire Saturday night, this one in Beaverton, northwest of Birmingham WORLD NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - Iraqi Shiites elected Ibrahim al-Jaafari as Prime Minister of the new government by one vote Sunday Port-Au-Prince, Haiti - Results from Haiti's election are expected to be finalized Sunday while former president Rene Preval is showing a big lead London, England - British PM Tony Blair said Sunday that reports of British troops abusing young Iraqis will be investigated Rome, Italy - Italy and Greece have announced that the bird flu has reached Western Europe, while the European Union confirmed its presence in Bulgaria Brisbane, Australia - A feeding frenzy by more than 100 sharks has caused the closing of beaches along Australia's Gold Coast Sunday SPORTS NEWS Michelle Kwan pulled out of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games Sunday due to an injury during her first Torino practice Tricia Dunn-Luoma scored on a breakaway with three US women in the penalty box on route to a 6-0 US Women's hockey win over Switzerland Saturday BUSINESS NEWS G8 Finance ministers wrapping up their meeting in Moscow Sunday are warning that high energy prices are threatening global economic growth MGM Mirage is working with Singapore's Capitaland on a bid for the Marina project India is accusing European nations opposing Mittal Steel's bid for rival Arcelor of discrimination Saturday February 18, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Corpus Christi, TX Harry Whittington, the 78-year-old Republican shot by VP Dick Cheney last week, was released from the hospital Friday Washington, DC - The US government said Friday that veal plant workers and a government inspector misunderstood new trade rules when they shipped prohibited veal to Japan Orlando, FL - President Bush said Friday that he would support an expanded role by NATO to shore up a failing African peacekeeping mission in Darfur Lawrence, MA - A judge threw out charges Friday against men accused of stealing 1,800 antique bills dating from 1899 to 1928 that they found in an old barn WORLD NEWS Manila, Phillipines - Fear of another mudslide has prompted rescuers to temporarily suspend the search for pupils and teachers buried alive in an elementary school London, England - More than 10,000 people turned out for a march in London Saturday, protesting the continued publication of Prophet Muhammad caricatures Tripoli, Libya - Libya suspended its interior minister Saturday, after at least 10 people died in protest against Prophet Muhammad cartoons Tehran, Iran - A suggestion by Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director General of the IAEA to allow a pilot enrichment plant in Iran was hailed Saturday by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as 'a step forward' Toronto, Canada - Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten has filed a formal objection to an American plan to relax pollution controls on coal-fired power plants BUSINESS NEWS Delphi Corp. says that progress in talks with unions and GMC has gone well enough to delay filing of bankruptcy papers until the end of March Chalk one up for Time Warner's CEO Dick Parsons whose agreement with Carl Icahn includes a share buyback of $20 billion, expenses cut by $1 billion and two new independent directors to the board Radio Shack, which owns 5,000 stores in the US, said Friday it would close between 400 and 700 stores as part of a turnround plan aimed at addressing poor performance SPORTS NEWS Tiger Woods bogeyed his last two holes Friday but just made the cut for Saturday's round in the Nissan Open at a sodden Riviera Country Club At the Olympics Saturday, eyes will be on Chad Hedrick and fellow American Shani Davis during the 1000 meter speed skating race Sunday February 19, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Rochester, NY - Bitterly cold air and fierce winds have left four dead and 200,000 homes without power in a sweeping area from the Midwest to New York Washington, DC - President Bush said in his radio address Saturday that he'd like to use nuclear power to 'reduce our Nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy' Omaha, NE - Lottery officials said Sunday that a Powerball ticket sold in Nebraska has the winning numbers for the largest jackpot in history St.Louis, MO - American astronomer Margaret Turnbull has said 'beta CVn' a sun-like star 26 light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici (Hound Dogs) is the most likely to support life WORLD NEWS Jerusalem, Israel - Acting Israeli PM Ehud Olmert's cabinet approved sanctions against the Palestinian Authority Sunday including a freeze on monthly transfer fees worth of about $50m Guinsaugan, Philippines - Villagers in the Phillipines began to fill mass graves Sunday as rescuers despaired of finding more survivors after Friday's massive mudslide Tokyo, Japan - Japan sent a satellite to be be used to control air traffic and act as a backup weather guide into orbit Saturday Jerusalem, Israel - Four Palestinians were killed in separate incidents in the West Bank and Gaza Sunday Toronto, Canada - Philip Coyle, military adviser to three US presidents told Canadians that cost and reliability are two reasons to stay out of the American missile defense plan BUSINESS NEWS Three lawsuits were filed against McDonald's Corp. since last week's acknowledgment by the company that its french fries contain milk and wheat A New Orleans jury found in favor of Merck Friday finding the drug maker not liable in the death of a man who had been taking Vioxx Dell exceeded expectations for the quarter ending February 3RD, due to corporate sales of storage and server products SPORTS NEWS James Caan's directions to start engines Sunday at the Daytona 500 will kick off another NASCAR season Knicks rookie Nate Robinson prevailed in a dunk-off against Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala 47-46 on All-Star Saturday night to become the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk champion Saturday February 25, 2006 WORLD NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - Iraq's Defense Minister extended a traffic ban in Baghdad to Monday while warning that a civil war would 'never end' Manila, Philippines - A day after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of emergency, the office of an opposition newspaper was raided Saturday Manama, Bahrain - According to a statement posted Saturday on a website, al-Qaeda bombers are threatening to attack more Saudi oil facilities Bangkok, Thailand - Thai opposition parties said Saturday they may boycott a snap election if one is called by embattled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra London, England - Ken Livingstone, London's colorful mayor, was suspended for four weeks Friday after comparing a Jewish newspaper reporter to a concentration camp guard NATIONAL NEWS Raleigh, NC - Seven paratroopers from the 82ND Airborne Division were charged Friday with engaging in lewd acts Pierre, SD - South Dakota lawmakers approved a ban on nearly all abortions Friday, calling for exceptions only when a woman's life is at risk Austin, Texas - A powder discovered by a student at the University of Texas Moore-Hill dormitory was confirmed Friday as ricin, a potentially deadly poison Hildale, UT - The Utah Supreme Court ousted Justice Court Judge Walter Steed from the bench Friday, citing his relationships with three women as 'breaking the law' BUSINESS NEWS More than 3 million US BlackBerry users were put on hold Friday after a judge ended a copyright infringement hearing without making a ruling Judge Allan Gropper gave NWA and its unions until Wednesday to reach an agreement before ruling on bankruptcy H&R Block shares fell 8% Friday after it said that it made errors in calculating its state effective income tax rate Oil and gold prices rose Friday despite news of a terrorist attack against a Saudi Arabian oil-processing plant SPORTS NEWS 21-year-old American-Italian skier Julia Mancuso had lots of family nearby to cheer her to a gold medal performance in the giant slalom Friday Kurt Busch easily won the pole position Friday for Sunday's NASCAR Auto Club 500 at California Speedway Sunday February 26, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - Despite criticism from consumer groups that Medicare is confusing, President Bush defended the prescription drug program in his Saturday radio broadcast Ramallah, Palestine - In a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs David Welch pledged ongoing humanitarian aid Orlando, FL - Police made 17 arrests at a clash between a neo-Nazi group and counter-demonstrators in a predominantly black neighborhood Saturday Cleveland, OH - In the wake of the resignation of Harvard University's president, a Case Western Reserve University professor has begun a campaign to oust Case's president WORLD NEWS Moscow, Russia - An undisclosed 'precondition' is involved in an agreement reached Sunday between Iran and Russia on a joint venture to enrich uranium Kampala, Uganda - Uganda's first multiparty election in 25 years Saturday was won by President Yoweri Museveni Kabul, Afghanistan - 1,500 prisoners, including Taliban members, took part in a riot Saturday night at a high-security Afghani prison Baghdad, Iraq - A bomb at a bus station in Hilla, a small Shi'ite town south of Baghdad, killed five people on Sunday London, England - Henri Paul, Lady Diana's chauffeur on the night of her death, was an agent for French intelligence according to testimony before a London inquiry BUSINESS NEWS Republican Pete Domenici, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, says the US should aim to rid itself of foreign oil imports within a generation National Security adviser Stephen Hadley says President Bush supports a delay for a UAE company's ports management deal to give lawmakers time to understand it A Venezuelan ban on flights by most US airlines to the South American country has been put off until March 30 Saturday March 4, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - A Freedom of Information Act lawsuit has forced the Pentagon to publish names and nationalities of hundreds of prisoners being held in Guantanamo Bay Alexandria, VA - Candice Martinez was sentenced Friday to 12 years in jail for a series of North Virginia bank robberies she committed while talking on a cell phone Miami, FL - Domino's Pizza founder, Tom Monaghan, is building Ave Maria, an all-Catholic town 90 miles northwest of Miami San Diego, CA - Former California Representative Randy Cunningham was sentenced Friday to eight years and four months for taking $2.4 million in bribes WORLD NEWS Moscow, Russia - Leaders of Hamas met with Russian diplomats Friday but held firm on their anti-Israeli position London, England - English detectives questioned a 43-year-old man Saturday after recovering another 7 million pounds from last week's 53-million-pound robbery Islamabad, Pakistan - President Bush said Saturday in Pakistan that the US has eased its opposition to a gas pipeline running from Iran to India via Pakistan Vung Tau, Vietnam - Former rocker Gary Glitter was sentenced to three years in prison Friday for committing obscene acts Quito, Ecuador - An Ecuadoran court ordered the release of former President Lucio Gutierrez who had been serving a sentence for ordering military repression against protesters BUSINESS NEWS Waterloo, ON Research In Motion LTD and NTP INC have agreed to a $612.5m settlement in the lawsuit that threatened the unplugging of BlackBerry wireless e-mail devices Computer chip maker Intel posted disappointing first-quarter sales because of weak demand and a market share loss to competitor AMD China announced Saturday that it's planning a 14.7 per cent increase for defense spending in 2006 SPORTS NEWS Kobe Bryant racked up 42 more points Friday in a Lakers victory over the Golden State Warriors (106-94) to make him the youngest player to score 16,000 points The University of Pennsylvania edged Yale 57-55 Friday night to clinch its second straight Ivy League title and become the first team to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament Sunday March 5, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - The Pentagon has ordered an investigation into the 2004 Afghanistan 'friendly fire' death of Pat Tillman Washington, DC - The Federal Justice Department is warning that reporters could be prosecuted under espionage laws designed to limit information leaks San Diego, CA - National Democrats supported Francine Busby's congressional candidacy Saturday after Republican Randy Cunningham's bribery conviction Moundsville, WV - A man died while three others were rescued by helicopter from a burning 1,000-foot-tall smokestack at a coal-fired power plant Saturday night WORLD NEWS Beijing, China - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday that China will introduce a rural cooperative medical fund to provide farmers with health care Moscow, Russia - The Palestinian Hamas delegation met Sunday in Moscow with the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II who said he has hopes for peace talks in the Middle East Miranshah, Pakistan - Troops exchanged gunfire with pro-Taliban forces and Pakistani army helicopters bombed mountains near the Afghan border Sunday Bangkok, Thailand - 100,000 people protesting against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra marched on Government House Saturday Tiberias, Israel - An Israeli couple who triggered riots after discharging fireworks in a revered church in Nazareth apologized for their actions in court Saturday BUSINESS NEWS Warren Buffet, the world's second-richest person, said in his newsletter that he's designated a successor but is not saying who it is An announcement outlining a deal for AT&T Inc to acquire BellSouth Corp, reportedly for $65b is expected Monday OPEC is expected to maintain oil output at present levels when it meets this week to plot spring and summer strategies SPORTS NEWS The NFL player's union executive director, Gene Upshaw, said Sunday players and the owners may now be 'in the area where we will get a deal' Tiger Woods overcame a double bogey on the ninth at the Ford Championship to finish Saturday with a 68, giving him a two-shot lead over Daniel Chopra Sunday March 12, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Shoals, IN - A house fire probably started by a wood-stove killed a couple and their four children in a rural area about 90 miles southwest of Indianapolis early Saturday Washington, DC - Claude A. Allen, a former domestic policy adviser to President Bush, was arrested last week in Maryland on charges involving retail theft St. Mary, MO - Two people died when their car was blown off the road by tornadoes that tore across southern Missouri and southern Illinois Saturday night Little Rock, AR - FEMA says that $500m worth of trailers meant to provide shelter in New Orleans are sitting unused because of federal regulations WORLD NEWS Teheran, Iran - Iran declared Sunday that a Russian proposal to treat uranium is 'not on our agenda anymore' The Hague, Netherlands - The chief United Nations war crimes tribunal prosecutor said in advance of autopsy results Sunday he believes Slobodan Milosevic committed suicide Baghdad, Iraq - At least 37 have died and 84 injured by bombings and mortar attacks at a Shiite slum in Baghdad Sunday Paris, France - Riot police used tear gas Saturday morning on students barricaded inside a classroom at Sorbonne University to protest new employment laws Toronto, ON - A Quebec lawyer, representing the family of one of the children who found a prize-winning fast-food restaurant coffee cup, is asking for a DNA test on the cup Kabul, Afghanistan - Sibghatullah Mujaddedi, head of the Afghan Parliament upper house, survived a suicide car bombing Sunday that killed four and injured five The Hague, Netherlands - Autopsy results made available Sunday are showing that Slobodan Milosevic died of a heart attack BUSINESS NEWS Australian CommSec chief Craig James sharemarket expects a strong open this week because of a strong Wall Street closing Friday Six top economic powers failed to reach a global trade agreement this weekend but re-committed to reaching a deal by the end of April On Saturday night, Vodafone Chairman Lord MacLaurin publicly announced board support for Arun Sarin as the company's chief executive SPORTS NEWS Gerry McNamara was named MVP in Syracuse's surprise Big East tournament championship win Saturday Steve Nash returned from the injury list Saturday night tying a season high 31 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 110-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday March 13, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Lawrence, KS - 10 people were killed early Monday morning by a torrent of tornadoes that also shut down the University of Kansas Washington, DC - US Senator Russ Feingold will move Monday to officially censure President Bush for breaking the law by authorizing an illegal wiretapping program Amarillo, TX - A chain-reaction crash on Interstate 40 claimed four lives while three others have died in massive wildfires raging across Texas Monday Kabul, Afghanistan - US Marines and soldiers swept the Afghani Pech valley Monday and arrested 11 believed responsible for Sunday's bombing WORLD NEWS The Hague, Netherlands - A Dutch toxicologist said Monday he discovered an unprescribed antibiotic in Slobodan Milosevic's system earlier this year Moscow, Russia - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that Iran has asked for a resumption of nuclear consultations London, England - Britain announced Monday that it will cut about 800 troops from Iraq by May RIVERA, Colombia - Early returns in the Colombia Congressional elections show wide support for candidates aligned with pro-US President Alvaro Uribe Beijing, China - At least 17 people died and five are missing after a gas explosion Monday at the Rongcheng mine in Inner Mongolia's Otog Bannera BUSINESS NEWS Newspaper publisher McClatchy said Monday it will pay $40 cash and 0.5 Class A shares representing about $4.5b for Knight-Ridder London Stock Exchange shares jumped about 28 percent after Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. offered $4.1b for the 308-year-old exchange Kia Motors CEO Chung Eui-sun and Georgia State Governor Sonny Perdue have signed an agreement to build a Kia plant in Georgia by 2009 SPORTS NEWS Duke tied North Carolina's record when it was selected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for a 10Th time Sunday Temple's coach for the last 24 years, John Chaney, announced his retirement Monday Saturday March 18, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Florence, SC - An exhaustive manhunt ended Friday when convicted sex offender Kenneth G. Hinson, wanted on fresh warrants, was turned in by a relative New York, NY - John Dunleavy, head of New York's St. Patrick's Day Parade compared letting gays take part in the festivities to allowing neo-Nazis at other ethnic events Beijing, China - A few weeks before Chinese President Hu Jintao meets President Bush in Washington, a high-profile case against a New York Times researcher has been dropped Washington, DC - For the fourth time in the Bush administration's term, the US Congress has increased the legal federal borrowing limit WORLD NEWS Paris, France - Students and workers marched in Paris Saturday for the second time in three days to protest a government jobs plan Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Hamas confirmed Saturday that it's formed a government without coalition partners Sydney, Australia - Anti-war demonstrations Saturday in Australia, Asia, Turkey and throughout Europe marked the third anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq Wellington, New Zealand - A New Zealand team was dispatched to an erupting South Pacific volcano on Raoul Island Saturday Madrid, Spain - A large, organized street party turned into a riot in Barcelona early Saturday with 68 people injured and 54 arrested in clashes between youths and riot police BUSINESS NEWS Paramount Pictures sold DreamWorks live-action film library to George Soros and Dune Capital Management for $900m Friday Softbank agreed to purchase Vodafone's Japanese unit for $15.5b Friday Canada claimed a victory Friday in the softwood lumber battle with the US after a NAFTA panel made a final ruling in its favour SPORTS NEWS A Big Ten vs Pac-10 second round match up plays out Saturday night when the Illinois Fighting Illini meet the Washington Huskies at San Diego's Cox Arena It's being reported that Terrell Owens has reached an agreement in principle to play for the Dallas Cowboys Sunday March 19, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - President Bush named Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne as the new interior secretary Saturday Washington, DC - I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby's lawyers are suggesting that the State Department may be responsible for leaking the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plume Florence, NC - Kenneth G. Hinson, arrested Friday on charges of criminal sexual assault, kidnapping and assault and battery with intent to kill was denied bond Saturday Amarillo, TX - Rain and sleet fell over much of the Texas Panhandle on the weekend to ease hot spots from wildfires that have burned 840,000 acres and killed at least 11 WORLD NEWS Paris, France - French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin vowed Sunday to resist demands to withdraw employment legislation despite continuing mass protests by students and trade unions Jaypura, Indonesia - Residents of the Papua Province, where deadly protests over a US-owned gold mine occurred this week, are saying police were pulling people from cars Minsk, Belarus - Alexander Lukashenko, the incumbent president of Belarus, is is favoured to win a new term in Sunday's elections Karbala, Iraq - Security is being provided by thousands of Iraqi police and soldiers Sunday as crowds of Shiite pilgrims journey to Karbala for a major religious celebration Moscow, Russia - A section of subway tunnel has collapsed on a metro train in north-west Moscow, apparently causing a fire in the train Ghazni, Afghanistan - Taliban assassins killed former Ghazni governor Taj Mohammadand and four of his guards Sunday, then failed to kill the province's current governor BUSINESS NEWS As expected, output from US factories, mines and utilities rose 0.7 percent in February Interest rates are expected to rise again this month but Federal Reserve officials say future borrowing cost raises will ease Eni SpA said the Tebidaba-Brass pipeline near the Brass terminal in the Niger Delta was hit by sabotage March 17Th SPORTS NEWS Japan beat South Korea Saturday night to advance to the World Baseball Classic championship game against Cuba Monday night Hasim Rahman retained his WBC heavyweight title in a fight against James Toney Saturday night by a majority draw Saturday March 25, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Brainerd, MN - Leo Mustonen, the World War II airman found frozen in a California glacier after six decades missing, was buried in his hometown Friday Snowflake, AZ - A couple rescued from a motor home in southern Oregon this week have been charged with possessing drugs in Arizona Sioux Falls, NJ - The South Dakota Campaign For Healthy Families aims to collect 16,728 signatures in order to place South Dakota's abortion ban on hold Newark, NJ - The bodies of 10 victims of a Chilean bus crash were flown back to the United States Friday for a Saturday memorial service WORLD NEWS Islamabad, Afghanistan - Afghan senior officials are meeting Saturday to decide the fate of an Afghan Christian convert who could be released within 48 hours because of international pressure Minsk, Belarus - Despite attempts to stop it, 5,000 Belarus opposition members staged a rally in central Minsk Saturday to demand a new election Vatican City - The second of two ceremonies installing 15 new cardinals of the Catholic Church was officiated by Pope Benedict XVI Saturday Bangkok, Thailand - Thailand protesters say demonstrations to oust Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will end if the election committee will ban him from running in upcoming elections Jerusalem, Israel - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Israel and the US to enter into negotiations for a peace agreement, saying one could be reached within a year BUSINESS NEWS France's Arcatel reportedly will announce next week it plans to buy Lucent in a $34b deal Google's shares jumped seven per cent Friday as the market reacted to the company's impending addition to the Standard & Poor's 500 index Microsoft announced Friday that its newest version of Office, as well as the operating system Vista will be delayed SPORTS NEWS Jim Furyk took the top spot on the leader board Friday at the Players Championship while first-round co-leader Davis Love III had a quadruple-bogey nine on his final hole Barry Bonds' lawyers lost a bid Friday to block the authors and publishers from making money on a book claiming Bonds used performance-enhancing drugs NATIONAL NEWS Seattle, WA - Six people died and two were injured at a party at a Seattle-area home Saturday Sunday March 26, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Seattle, WA - A gunman who killed six party goers and critically wounded at least one other person, committed suicide at a house party in the Capital Hill region of Seattle Saturday Selmer, TN - Mary Winkler, 32, charged with murder in the shooting death last week of her pastor husband was returned Saturday to Tennessee from Alabama Denver, CO - A federal arrest warrant was issued Saturday for Robert L. Burke, suspected of planting explosive devices at the homes of his former co-workers at an aviation company Piedmont, AL - Desmond T. Doss Sr., an Army medic on Okinawa during World War II who became the first conscientious objector to the receive the Medal of Honor, died Friday at 87 WORLD NEWS Kabul, Afghanistan - Bowing to international pressure, a Kabul judge has ordered an Afghan man who converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago, to be freed while his case is reviewed Kiev, Ukraine - More than 35 million Ukrainian voters are voting Sunday for a new 450-seat parliament Moscow, Russia - Boris Labusov, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, denied Saturday that Russia passed information about the invasion of Iraq on to Saddam Hussein Lagos, Nigeria - The Nigerian government agreed Saturday to allow Liberian authorities to arrest exiled leader Charles Taylor and return him to Liberia Baghdad, Iraq - A top aide to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is reporting Sunday that 18 people have been killed in a clash involving US and Iraqi army forces at an eastern Baghdad mosque BUSINESS NEWS Alcatel's planned takeover of Lucent is expected to face a regulatory review in Washington on national security grounds The US Senate could vote this week to impose a 27.5 per cent tariff on all Chinese goods DaimlerChrysler announced Saturday that it has decided to cease production of the four-seater Smart car SPORTS NEWS Louisiana State and UCLA are the first two teams to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA men's basketball tournament 16-year-old US figure skater Kimmie Meissner won gold at the World Figure Skating Championships at Calgary, Canada Saturday Saturday April 1, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Indianapolis, Indiana - Most Americans will set their clocks ahead at 2 Sunday morning while Indiana will do so for the first time Washington, DC - Rep. Cynthia McKinney has accused a Capitol Hill guard of racism for stopping her at a security checkpoint earlier this week while police are considering assault charges against her Ramstein Air Base, Germany - Jill Carroll, the American journalist held for 82 days by kidnappers in Iraq, was flown to Germany under US military protection Saturday on her way back home Washington, DC - Tony Rudy, former deputy chief of staff to Rep. Tom DeLay, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine under a plea deal filed Friday in US District Court WORLD NEWS London, England - Britain and the US are still disagreeing on when to close the Guantanamo Camp in Cuba after meetings in north-west England on Saturday Paris, France - French left-wing parties rejected President Jacque Chirac's proposals Saturday, reaffirming their plans to march next week against a youth job law Miami, FL - Charles McArthur Emmanuel, the son of recently apprehended former Liberian president Charles Taylor, has been arrested by US authorities in Miami Tehran, Iran - Aid workers have distributed 15,000 tents to thousands left homeless by powerful earthquakes Friday while residents are fearing more aftershocks Jerusalem, Israel - The Palestinian Hamas government met Friday night and pledged to 'end public displays of weapons' BUSINESS NEWS Microsoft said Friday it had 'finally understood' what the European Commission wanted the software company to do to avoid hefty fines The US intends to intensify pressure on China over the piracy of copyrighted music, movies and computer software Rose Art and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the launch of a 'replacement program' for Rose Art's Magnetix toys Friday SPORTS NEWS Phil Mickelson, leading the BellSouth Classic, says he's not shooting for any records this week but is focusing is on next week's Masters Brett Favre says he'd like to return to the Green Bay Packers for another season but needs more time to think about it Sunday April 2, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Ramstein Air Base, Germany - American journalist Jill Carroll said she made remarks critical of the US and sympathetic to Islamist rebels under duress in order to "go home alive" New Orleans, LA - With fewer than half the city's 460,000 residents living in New Orleans, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton led hundreds to protest a system of mail-in voting Saturday Fargo, ND - Melting snow and heavy rain is forcing the Red River and its tributaries to rise in North Dakota and Minnesota Sunday Baghdad, Iraq - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Britain's Jack Straw flew unannounced into Baghdad Sunday to assist negotiations for a unity government WORLD NEWS Freetown, Sierra Leone - Officials are saying that it could take weeks to move former Liberian president Charles Taylor from Sierra Leone to The Hague to stand trial for war crimes Bangkok, Thailand - The opposition is boycotting an election Sunday called three years early while mass protests continue to be held against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Baghdad, Iraq - The US military said Sunday that an Apache helicopter that crashed southwest of Baghdad was probably shot down and two crew members are presumed dead Vatican City - The Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints is considering inauguration of a beatification of Pope John Paul II on the 1st anniversary of his death Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - A plane crash has claimed the lives of 19 people in a mountainous region outside Rio de Janeiro BUSINESS NEWS Officials from the European Union, the US and Brazil didn't reach a breakthrough in global trade talks Saturday, but said progress 'inched' ahead Delta Air Lines said Friday it will add airport fees to its ticket prices on connecting flights and match a fare increase by United Airlines Wal-Mart announced Saturday that March sales in the US rose about 1.3 percent compared to 4.3 percent in March 2005 SPORTS NEWS The NCAA Tournament Championship game goes Monday night featuring UCLA and Florida The Chicago White Sox and pitcher Jose Contreras signed a three-year contract extension Saturday worth about $29 million Saturday April 8, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Mammoth Lakes, CA - A California coroner said Friday that ski patrol members who fell into a volcanic fissure were likely asphyxiated by poisonous gas spewing from the vent Washington, DC - In his weekly radio address, President George W. Bush blamed Democrat Senator Harry Reid for blocking an immigration reform bill Gallatin, TN - Residents began rebuilding Saturday after tornadoes killed 10 people Friday in the second round to hit the state in less than a week Washington, DC - Brian Doyle, deputy press secretary at the Homeland Security Department who was arrested Wednesday on charges of transmitting pornographic images, resigned Friday WORLD NEWS Rome, Italy - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is facing a two-day general election with 25 per cent of voters undecided Katmandu, Nepal - Three people were wounded as thousands of pro-democracy activists burned government offices and charged at police in southern Nepal Saturday Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Israeli missiles hit a car in Gaza City Saturday, killing two members of a Palestinian rocket squad in the second air strike since Hamas took power Caracas, Venezuela - Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez said Friday that five suspects were being charged in connection with the killing of three young brothers Ghardaia, Algeria - Thirteen Algerian customs officials were killed and eight wounded after gunmen attacked a convoy of government vehicles Saturday BUSINESS NEWS Greg Brenneman, chief executive of Burger King, resigned Friday, just weeks ahead of the company's $400 million stock market flotation Shares of Research In Motion, maker of BlackBerry wireless devices, fell 5.5% Friday after the company issued disappointing marketing and product development plans JP Morgan Chase has agreed to swap its corporate-trust unit for the Bank of New York's consumer and small-business banking unit in a deal worth about $3.1 billion SPORTS NEWS After James Blake's 6-7 0-6 7-6 6-4 10-8 loss to Fernando Gonzalez, Andy Roddick beat Nicolas Massu 6-3 7-6 7-6 to even the Davis Cup quarter-final with Chile at 1-1 The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant netted 51 points in Phoenix Friday night but the Suns prevailed to pick up their 50Th win of the season 107-96 Sunday April 9, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - Senator Harry Reid countered the claim he impeded immigration legislation saying Bush "lacked the backbone to stand up to the extreme right wing of their party" Washington, DC - President George Bush is reported to be considering military action in Iran to bring pressure on Tehran to give up its nuclear development program Parksley, VA - Ronald Lee Shrieves, 32, wanted in connection with the slaying Friday of his parents and two of their grandchildren, gave himself up Saturday Gallatin, TN - Residents continued to clean up Sunday after the second deadly storm system in less than a week which claimed twelve lives WORLD NEWS Lima, Peru - Peruvians vote Sunday to elect a president and national legislature London, Canada - Police, responding to a call from a farmer about strange vehicles parked overnight, came across the bodies of eight adult white males Karachi, India - At least 26 women and children were killed and 19 injured in a stampede at a religious gathering Sunday Jerusalem, Israel - A Palestinian security position in northern Gaza was bombed by Israeli forces Sunday morning, killing a police officer and wounding seven people Jerusalem, Israel - An Israeli government spokesman said Sunday that the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority will be declared a 'hostile entity' BUSINESS NEWS European Union finance ministers urged China Sunday to gradually raise the yuan exchange rate Finance ministers from Asia and Europe predicted Sunday that global economic growth will be 4.5 per cent in 2006 China's commissioner to the World Trade Organization, Sun Zhenyu, has accepted an EU and US request to participate in consultations over auto part tariff rules SPORTS NEWS Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James scored 37 points in a 108 -102 victory over the New Jersey Nets, ending their 14-game winning streak Saturday Denver Nuggets rookie guard Julius Hodge was shot and wounded early Saturday while driving on a highway Saturday April 15, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS New York, NY - A Greenwich Village cat named Molly was freed Friday after 14 days trapped inside a downtown crawl space Kabul, Afghanistan - The US military is investigating reports that military data were being sold in bazaars outside the American air base at Bagram, north of Kabul Indepence, MO - Kris and Sarah Everson, whose sextuplets were a 'hoax', were charged Friday with stealing from the people they fooled Milwaukee, WI - The Police Chief of Milwaukee has asked city residents to 'stay calm' after a Circuit Court jury acquitted three former police officers WORLD NEWS Rome, Italy - The Interior ministry has dramatically lowered the number of contested ballots but incumbent PM Silvio Berlusconi has not conceded Italy's close election Katmandu, Nepal - Nearly 20 journalists were arrested Friday as a general strike swept through Nepal Khartoum, Sudan - Sudan received official notice Saturday that Chad President Idris Deby has severed diplomatic ties between Chad and Sudan Tripoli, Libya - On the 20Th anniversary of a US bombing raid that killed around 40 people, Libya has demanded a Washington apology and compensation Moscow, Russia - Russian billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of Russian oil giant Yukos, was attacked Thursday in the jail where he is serving an eight-year sentence BUSINESS NEWS According to the White House, President Bush and first lady Laura Bush paid $187,768 in federal income taxes on taxable income of $618,694 in 2005 Chad threatened Saturday to interrupt oil flow if the World Bank continues to hold $125 million in a revenue dispute The Federal Reserve said Friday that capacity utilization in the industrial economy, at 81.3% in March, is its highest level since September 2000 SPORTS NEWS Kobe Bryant, scoring another 50 points for the Lakers in their 110-99 win over the Trail Blazers eclipsed former Laker Elgin Baylor's 1962-63 record for single-season scoring AJ Burnett, having signed a five-year $55 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays in the off season, makes his debut Saturday against the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field Sunday April 16, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - The Pentagon released a memo to a group of former military commanders and civilian analysts Saturday challenging criticisms aimed at Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Washington, DC - A former intelligence expert with the American military said Sunday that the US has been preparing plans to attack Iran since 2003 Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee police said Saturday that the bodies found in a park lagoon were those of two boys missing for a month Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA - All six weather satellites launched Friday on a five-year mission to track hurricanes and study space weather were sending signals Saturday WORLD NEWS Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his first Easter as pontiff Sunday, praying for peace in Iraq and an 'honourable' solution to the Iran nuclear crisis Paris, France - Rebels seeking to oust Chad's President Idriss Deby said Sunday that the French military presence there is keeping them from advancing Baghdad, Iraq - US troops detained an al-Qaida suspect in a raid south of Baghdad that killed six people on Sunday Dublin, Ireland - For the first time in 30 years a military parade commemorating the 1916 Easter Uprising marched through the streets of Dublin Sunday Moscow, Russia - A lawyer representing jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky said Sunday his client will not press charges against a cellmate who attacked him with a knife BUSINESS NEWS China's annual economic growth grew by 10.2 percent in the first quarter Australia's second-largest investment bank, Babcock & Brown, has bid $2.86 billion for Eircom, Ireland's largest telephone company About one fourth of S&P 500 quarterly results are expected this week SPORTS NEWS Jackie Robinson's widow, Rachel, was honored at Shea Stadium Saturday, on a day that was declared 'Jackie Robinson Day' throughout the major leagues The NBA Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, who missed a game Thursday with a sprained ankle, says he expects to play Sunday against the Washington Wizards NewsArchives Saturday April 22, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - The CIA fired a top intelligence analyst for allegedly leaking classified information about a network of secret CIA prisons Washington, DC - Former US President Gerald Ford came out Friday in support of his former Pentagon chief, Donald Rumsfeld Washington, DC - Representative Alan Mollohan, bowing to pressure from House Democratic leaders, has stepped down temporarily from his post on the House Ethics Committee New Orleans, LA - New Orleanians will choose one of 21 candidates for mayor Saturday WORLD NEWS Kathmandu, Nepal - Nepalese security forces fired at tens of thousands of protesters Saturday killing at least three and leaving dozens hurt BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's parliament is meeting Saturday to select top leadership posts, hoping to jump start a new government aimed at unifying the country New Delhi, India - The General Secretary of India's Bharatiya Janata Party, Pramod Mahajan, was in critical condition after being shot by his brother Saturday Ankara, Turkey - A lawyer representing suspected al-Qaeda militant, Louai al Sakka, says his client has disclosed the burial site of Kenneth Bigley, a British engineer beheaded in Iraq in 2004 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Chinese President Hu Jintao began a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia Saturday, where he's expected to sign several trade agreements BUSINESS NEWS Ford posted its sharpest loss in more than four years Friday, saying it lost $1.19 billion in the first quarter The International Monetary Fund said Friday that uneven trade balances throughout the world are a big threat to the global economy and must be addressed Treasury Secretary John Snow said Saturday that soaring oil prices as well as large trade and budget deficits could undermine the well-performing global economy SPORTS NEWS LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Washington Wizards Saturday in one of the games kicking off the 2006 NBA playoffs The Toronto Blue Jays placed starter AJ Burnett on the 15- day disabled list Saturday, after he left the field Friday with soreness in his right elbow Sunday April 23, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Atlanta, GA - The Joint Terrorism Task Force revealed Saturday that two Georgia men met in Toronto with Islamic extremists to discuss potential terror strikes in the US New Orleans, LA - Mayor Ray Nagin (38 per cent) and Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu (19 per cent) will compete in a runoff May 20TH following Saturday's mayoral election Riverton, KN - A judge ruled Saturday that five teenagers suspected of plotting a shooting rampage at their high school will stay in custody through the weekend Sacremento, CA - President Bush declared hydrogen the "fuel of the future" Saturday during an Earth Day speech at the California Fuel Cell Partnership WORLD NEWS Gaza Strip - The Palestinian political groups Hamas and Fatah agreed Sunday to work together to restore calm following rioting and protests Baghdad, Iraq - On Saturday, fresh mortar attacks greeted the appointment of Jawad al-Maliki as Iraq's new prime minister Rome, Italy - After examining nearly 40 million electoral papers, Italy's Court of Cassation declared Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition elected, 19,002,598 votes to 18,977,843 Dubai, Abu Dhabi - A tape showing Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden broadcast on Al Jazeera television Sunday accuses the West of waging a 'Crusader-Zionist war' on Muslims Honiara, Solomon Islands - More Australian and New Zealand troops are heading to the Solomon Islands as controversial Prime Minister-elect Snyder Rini opens Parliament Sunday BUSINESS NEWS Finance ministers at meetings in Washington of the IMF and World Bank, backed calls to give countries such as China and India a bigger say in how the IMF is run Bill Gates has been treated to a rock star's welcome during his first trip to Vietnam where he met with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai Saturday and spoke at the Hanoi University of Technology In the wake of a four-day visit to the US, China President Hu Jintao of China is in Saudi Arabia Sunday to negotiate new oil supplies SPORTS NEWS The Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James registered a triple double to help the Cavs take Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarter-finals against the Washington Wizards 97 -86 Michael Schumacher got his 85th career victory Sunday by winning the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola with a two second margin Saturday April 29, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - A military intelligence officer at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq has been charged by the army with cruelty and maltreatment of detainees, and dereliction of duty Washington, DC - Members of Congress Tom Lantos, Jim McGovern, John W. Olver, James P. Moran and Sheila Jackson-Lee were arrested protesting Friday outside the Sudanese Embassy Washington, DC - A report by the Justice Department given to members of Congress Friday, states that 9,254 FBI subpoenas have been issued under the Patriot Act to monitor the activities of US citizens Chicago, IL - Dan Young Jr., recently released from nearly 13 years in prison before DNA testing exonerated him, died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver as he walked on the city's South Side WORLD NEWS Rome, Italy - Sixty-six-year-old Fausto Bertinotti, a veteran leader of a communist party in Italy's centre-left coalition, has been voted in as speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Berlin, Germany - The UN's World Food Program is cutting the emergency food rations to the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan in half because of a 'severe lack of funding' Mexico City, Mexico - A bill decriminalizing marijuana and cocaine has been approved by lawmakers in Mexico and now awaits President Vicente Fox's signature before becoming law Colombo, Sri Lanka - Government forces and Tamil Tigers exchanged fire across front lines Saturday, raising fears of a renewed civil war Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan test-fired a nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Saturday Rome, Italy - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi gave indications Saturday that he's ready to resign, with an official announcement likely coming Tuesday BUSINESS NEWS Chevron announced Friday that high crude prices helped boost its first-quarter earnings 49 percent over a year ago to $4 billion A California jury awarded $1.7 million to a former alarm systems saleswoman Friday after supervisors spanked her Microsoft stock suffered its biggest one-day fall in more than five years Friday, lopping about $32 billion off the company's market value SPORTS NEWS The Houston Texans used their No. 1 pick in the NFL draft signing defensive end Mario Williams Friday night The New Orleans Saints picked up top prospect running back Reggie Bush at the NFL draft Saturday Sunday April 30, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - A George Bush impersonator joined the real one at Saturday night's White House Correspondents Association annual dinner Washington, DC - A former FDA commissioner is being investigated for alleged financial improprieties and making false statements to Congress Waco, TX - The National Weather Service confirms a tornado touched down early Saturday morning in east Waco, destroying a stable and killing two horses belonging to the Baylor equestrian team Cambridge, MA - John Kenneth Galbraith, a professor emeritus at Harvard University, died on Saturday at a Cambridge hospital at 97 WORLD NEWS New Delhi, India - Another Indian engineer was killed Saturday by the Taliban in Afghanistan causing shock and outrage in India Katmandu, Nepal - Girija Prasad Koirala was sworn in for his fifth stint as Nepal's prime minister on Sunday in the country's latest step toward democracy Melbourne, Australia - Two men trapped in a Tasmanian gold mine since last Tuesday were found alive Saturday night Beijing, China - At least 27 people were killed Sunday in a gas explosion at a coalmine in northwest China Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Marine experts from the University of Dar es Salaam are saying several hundred dolphins that washed ashore this week in the Zanzibar archipelago died of natural causes BUSINESS NEWS Former Chevron executive Patricia Woertz was chosen Friday as the new CEO of Archer Daniels Midland, the word's largest processor of corn Japanese Agriculture Minister Shoichi Nakagawa will meet Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns on Tuesday in Geneva this week to discuss the ban Tokyo has imposed on US beef imports Rhode Island is set to launch the first state-wide wireless digital networking system in the country SPORTS NEWS St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols set a major league record with his 14th homer in April Saturday's 100-86 win by the LA Clippers over the Denver Nuggets was LA's first road playoff victory in 13 years Saturday May 6, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Washington, DC - I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby's lawyers are planning to call White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove as a witness in Libby's CIA leak trial San Francisco, CA - The Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a challenge Friday by two Orange County men to a law denying federal marriage benefits to same-sex couples Washington, DC - The US military has transferred five Chinese Muslim Uighurs, held at Guantanamo Bay for over four years, to Albania Washington, DC - US President George W. Bush will have a 'respectful dialogue' with Russia according to White House spokesman Scott McClellan, on his last day, Friday WORLD NEWS Kabul, Afghanistan - A CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed Saturday during a combat operation killing all 10 US soldiers on board London, England - Prime Minister Tony Blair replaced Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Home Secretary Charles Clarke, following local elections Friday Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro - Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic wants top security officials dismissed because of their failure to capture war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic Jerusalem, Israel - An Israeli air strike Friday killed five members of the Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees Basra, Iraq - Four people died when a British military helicopter was shot down Saturday BUSINESS NEWS Although Warner Music Group posted a loss in its fiscal second quarter, the company beat Wall Street expectations and showed growth in digital music sales Microsoft announced Friday the acquisition of New York-based ad firm Massive, a company that places ads into video game environments Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Apple Computer and Yahoo stocks rose Friday as the Dow Jones industrial average came within 146 points of its all-time high SPORTS NEWS The Cleveland Caveliers 114-113 victory over the Washington wizards Friday sends the Cavs to round two of the NBA playoffs for the first time in 13 years Boxer Oscar De La Hoya, planning to retire in September, is taking a shot at Ricardo Mayorga's WBC junior middleweight title in Las Vegas Saturday night Sunday May 7, 2006 NATIONAL NEWS Stillwater, OK - While accepting an honorary doctorate of laws Saturday at Oklahoma State University, President Bush advised college graduates to embrace technology San Francisco, CA - The Episcopal Diocese of California elected Rt. Rev. Mark Handley Andrus, of Birmingham, Alabama, a married father of two, as bishop Saturday San Francisco, CA - Nine people were injured Saturday afternoon when a ferry crashed into a pier at Fisherman's Wharf Bal Harbor, FL - Three workers at a Florida high-project died Saturday when a support frame collapsed, throwing them into quick-drying concrete WORLD NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - On Sunday, a car bomb in Karbala killed at least five people and wounded 18, and two car bombs in Baghdad claimed the lives of nine people Basra, Iraq - British engineers sorted through the wreck of a helicopter Sunday in the wake of violence that killed five people and wounded another 42 Singapore - Singapore Prime Minister-elect Lee Hsien Loong and his People's Action Party won Saturday's election with 66.6 percent of the vote Jerusalem, Israel - Hundreds of Palestinian government workers staged strikes and demonstrations Saturday to demand payment of overdue salaries New Delhi, India - A heatwave sweeping across northern and eastern India has killed at least 14 people and caused power outages in Utter Pradesh and Orissa states BUSINESS NEWS Warren Buffet, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, says he wants to reduce his company's cash holdings from $43 billion to $10 billion through future acquisitions The Indian government said Sunday it's working with the Asian Development Bank to develop a pan-Asian bond market Drug developer Acrux is reporting success in a late-stage clinical trial of its spray-on hormone therapy for menopause symptoms SPORTS NEWS The Phoenix Suns, led by NBA 2006 MVP Steve Nash, won game seven 121-90 over the LA Lakers Saturday to move on to round two against the LA Clippers on Monday Oscar De La Hoya picked up the WBC light-middleweight crown Saturday night, knocking Ricardo Mayorga out in the sixth round ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Top of THIS Page Saturday November 5, 2005 Paris Hilton received a subpoena Friday as 'material witness' to last summer's burglary at the Hollywood Hills home she rented with her sister Nicky On Friday, a glittering Elizabeth Taylor announced the creation of the Elizabeth Taylor Endowment Fund at the opening of the new UCLA Clinical AIDS Research and Education Center A restaurant parking valet from Guatemala has sued Omar Sharif saying the actor called him a derogatory name and punched him Pat Boone will be joined by Bono, Michael McDonald, LeAnn Rimes and others on 'Thank You Billy Graham', to celebrate the evangelist's 87th birthday Michael Jackson, working from his new base in the Middle East, is apparently close to finishing his charity number for Hurricane Katrina relief Sunday November 6, 2005 Los Angeles, CA - A Canadian-based film company is making 'Chapter 27' about the murder of John Lennon twenty five years ago, casting Jared Leto as Mark David Chapman, Lennon's killer Students attending the State High School Play Festival at Greensboro College were treated to a surprise when unexpected guest Will Ferrell walked onto the stage Friday The Vienna State Opera held a gala concert Saturday with Placido Domingo, Bryn Terfel, Zubin Mehta and Christian Thielemann to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opera's postwar reopening Texas humorist and gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman will get a try-out on Country Music Television next week with his late-night show 'Go Kinky' A Pablo Picasso oil painting from 1920, 'Guitar and Score on a Pedestal Table', was sold for $560,000 at an auction in Stockholm on Friday SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2005 The Kaiser Family Foundation has released a study that says the vast most TV shows have some sexual content Gary Sinise, who played Vietnam vet 'Lt. Dan' Taylor in 'Forrest Gump', will serve as national spokesman for the Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial Foundation A former girlfriend of KISS rocker Gene Simmons can proceed with a defamation lawsuit a judge in New York has ruled A two-part exhibition opening at Los Angeles' Hammer Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art will feature Art Spiegelman and others in 'Masters of American Comics', on Nov. 20 A musical version of Mary Poppins is coming to the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway next fall Sunday November 13, 2005 Novelist Danielle Steel has signed an agreement with New Line Home Entertainment for film rights to at least 30 of her books John Goodman is returning to the theater to take on the role of Harvey 'Big Daddy' Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opening Wednesday at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles ABC has announced that Regis Philbin will host a new version of the 1950s and '60s show This Is Your Life for the network At last night's Vibe Awards, Mariah Carey won Artist of the Year, R&B Voice of the Year, Best R&B Song for 'We Belong Together' and Album of the Year for her comeback hit, 'The Emancipation of Mimi' Kung Fu Hustle won for best movie at Taiwan's Golden Horse film awards, considered the Chinese-language equivalent of the Oscars Saturday November 19, 2005 It is being reported that Britney Spears will make her Broadway debut by replacing Christina Applegate in the current revival of Sweet Charity A judge has ruled that Courtney Love, who's been in a drug treatment facility since September, can move to an outpatient program Golfer John Daly, perhaps inspired by Paris Hilton, Ozzy Osbourne and Donald Trump will star in The Daly Planet, a a reality show, for The Golf Channel beginning Jan. 18 Gabriel Byrne will be waiting out the release of two new films by taking a Broadway turn in Eugene O'Neill's A Touch of the Poet Shania Twain - cited for 'inspiring countless other emerging musicians - has received the Order of Canada, the country's highest honor Sunday November 20, 2005 Christina Aguilera tied the not with music executive Jordan Bratman Saturday night at a Napa Valley Vineyard A two-act ballet by Matthew Bourne based on the 1990 Tim Burton film Edward Scissorhands is in the works Ex-glammer Gary Glitter was arrested Sunday while boarding a plane for Bangkok at Ho Chi Minh airport in Vietnam Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire sold an estimated $101.4 million worth of tickets in its first three days in North America Pope Benedict XVI gave a thumbs up to 'Pope John Paul II' after a viewing the TV movie with Jon Voight Saturday November 26, 2005 Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White was cheered at its Broadway premiere last week and drew comments that it would be a serious contender for next year's Tonys Teen British actor Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), playing a role in the low budget Australian film December Boys, is apparently enjoying his time out of the limelight Radio One Inc. chief Alfred C. Liggins III says he will inaugurate the first national talk-radio network geared for a black audience Bon Jovi's 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' - made in collaboration with Jennifer Nettles - debuted at 48 on the Hot Country Songs chart in the wake of their Country Music Association Awards appearance Child star turned Academy Award winning director Ron Howard will be honored at the Museum of the Moving Image's 21st annual Salute on Dec. 4 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York Sunday November 27, 2005 Angelina Jolie, a United Nations goodwill ambassador, and Brad Pitt traveled to Balakot, Pakistan where they spent Thanksgiving 'participating in an airlift of food, blankets and tarpaulins to a remote village' Grammy Award winner Patti LaBelle and Jill Scott have recently recorded the duet 'What About Love?' from the Broadway play The Color Purple for a single to be released in January by EMI Music According to Kimberly Stewart, the 26-year-old daughter of singer Rod Stewart, 'it's better to have a brief engagement than a short marriage' so wedding plans with Talan Torriero are off Jamie Foxx took time at his latest premiere to join a growing list of entertainers coming forward to make pleas for clemency for Stanley 'Tookie' Williams Katie Leung of Motherwell, Scotland, who plays Cho Chang in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire answered reporters questions in Beijing Thursday at the Warner Brothers films Asian premiere Saturday December 3, 2005 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie filed a legal petition Friday in Los Angeles to change the names of the Jolie's adoptive children to Zahara Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Jolie-Pitt Hip hop music producer Irving 'Irv Gotti' Lorenzo and his brother Christopher were found not guilty by a federal jury in Brooklyn Friday of laundering money David Letterman's TV date with Oprah Winfrey resulted in 13.5 million viewers, Dave's biggest audience in over ten years Jackie Kennedy and Ari Onassis' granddaughter, Athina Onassis, will marry Alvaro Alfonso de Miranda in Brazil Saturday. Guests have been asked to fore go gifts and donate money to a day care center The November ratings 'sweep' was won by CBS while ABC made a strong second place finish. NBC, suffering a sharp drop from last year, came in third and Fox, though up 7 percent, placed fourth Sunday December 4, 2005 Robert Redford, Tina Turner and Tony Bennett were awarded lifetime achievement awards for their contributions to arts and culture by the president and first lady at a Sunday afternoon reception Marilyn Manson took time out from completing his sixth studio album to marry his girlfriend, dancer Dita Von Teese, at Castle Gurteen in Ireland Jamie Foxx, currently in 'Jarhead' with Jake Gyllenhaal, has been signed to star in 'The Kingdom' taking the role of a counter-terrorism investigator Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong will present the Century Award to Tom Petty next week at the 2005 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas Actress Wendie Jo Sperber, Tom Hanks opposite on TV's Bosom Buddies has died after a long illness Saturday December 10, 2005 Edie Falco, who has won 3 Emmys and two Golden Globes for her work on The Sopranos will step down from her role in The Roundabout Theatre's Broadway revival of The Threepenny Opera The new version of King Kong, to be released this week, has 207 million dollars worth of special effects compared to $10 million spent on the 1933 original Kanye West, Mariah Carey and John Legend head into the the 48th Grammy February 8th race with eight nominations Sunday December 11, 2005 Making good on his proposal made last May in front of 7,000 fans, Garth Brooks married Trisha Yearwood Saturday at their Oklahoma home Salma Hayek and Julianne Moore, hosting the annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, praised Nobel peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei Sunday for his work to eliminate nuclear weapons The reigning Miss Iceland, Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir, who is a part-time police officer and wants to be a lawyer, was crowned Miss World 2005 on Friday at a southern China beach resort Former Friends actor David Schwimmer is heading to Broadway to play Lt. Barney Greenwald in Lookingglass Theatre Company's revival of the play The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Saying 'a musician is changing the world', the German group Media Control announced Friday that U2 lead singer Bono will receive the 2005 German Media Prize, usually reserved for politicians Saturday December 17, 2005 Britney Spears has returned as Yahoo's No 1 most-searched-for name after relinquishing that honor last year to American Idol John Spencer, West Wing's White House chief of staff 'Leo McGarry' has died of a heart attack at a Los Angeles hospital just prior to his 59th birthday New York's top banana radio personality, Howard Stern, yelling from a New York bus 'Long live the Howard Stern Show!', checked out of WXRK-FM yesterday morning to prepare for his new life in satellite radio The Beatle's music company, Apple Corps Ltd., has sued EMI Group PLC and Capitol Records for more than $53 million in a dispute over music royalties China will be able to look in on Wisteria Lane Monday when its state-run channel starts broadcasting Desperate Housewives Sunday December 18, 2005 61-year-old Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has been presented with the Order of the British Empire by England's Queen Elizabeth II for his work with poor Brazilian children Studios and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees reached a three-year agreement Friday on a deal that would include higher pay and increased health and pension benefits Officials at Asahiyama Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, concerned about their overweight penguins, have put the rotund birds on an exercise regimen, taking them for 500-yard walks twice a day Veteran Canadian rock trio Rush are planning to reissue Exit...Stage Left, The Grace Under Pressure Tour and A Show of Hands on DVD in 2006 to go along with last months release of the new live DVD, R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour Starbucks is unveiling coffeehouses in San Antonio, Texas and Miami, Florida that will combine the coffee, traditional music sales and a digital download depot Saturday December 24, 2005 P.O.D.'s new Atlantic studio album, Testify, due Jan. 24 will feature the single 'Goodbye for Now' and include two collaborations with Hassidic reggae rapper Matisyahu and another with Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. Michelle Shocked, Meshell Ndegeocello, Martha Wainwright with Marc Ribot and Dan Zanes with Vernon Reid are among artists who'll play part of Bruce Springsteen's 1982 album, Nebraska to kick-off the New York Guitar Festival, on January 14 at the World Financial Center Winter Garden Singer/songwriter Van Morrison is enlisting the help of Lost Highway for his next studio album, the country-flavored Pay the Devil expected out on March 7th Actress Laura Dern and musician Ben Harper are having a 'married little Christmas' after tying the knot Thursday in a Christmas-themed ceremony Sunday December 25, 2005 Rob Reiner has decided that he won't be running for governor of California in 2006 The union representing the Washington Ballet and its dancers is seeking an injunction to halt the cancellation of any more shows Argentina Brunetti, the actress who played the wife of Mr. Martini in the Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life has died at 98 Singer Michael McDonald's album Through the Many Winters: A Christmas Album went gold in a matter of days Saturday December 31, 2005 Although he's apparently 'not feeling 100%' the world's oldest teenager, Dick Clark, will be hosting his 34th New Year's Eve show Saturday night with co-hosts Ryan Seacrest and Hilary Duff The 26-story glass-and-steel Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel opened Friday and is dominating the skyline in the Honeymoon Capital of the World The former mayor of New York, David Dinkins, said he wants to help the Harlem Boys Choir get out of its fiscal mess, perhaps becoming its interim board chairman Raking in $162 million worth of concert ticket sales, the Rolling Stones became the top-grossing tour of the year REVIEW The Matador - In this 'buddy' film Julian Noble (Pierce Brosnan) is a rude hired assassin who manipulates Danny (Greg Kinnear) into helping him with a nasty job Sunday January 1, 2006 Las Vegas welcomed 2006 by raising 14,000 Chardonnay-filled plastic glasses in the world's largest simultaneous toast just before midnight An abandoned train station bought by Johnny Cash more than 25 years ago is being donated by its present owners to Madison Tennessee to be used as a museum Sir Tom Jones has joined Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John and Sir George Martin as England's newest musician/knight Crash has been named by The African American Film Critics Association as its top film pick of the year Monday January 2, 2006 A never-on-Sunday rule has pushed the 117th Rose Bowl parade to Monday while the 'most beautiful entry with outstanding floral presentation' was awarded to the FTD flower delivery company U2 singer Bono, expressing concern that his fellow band members may tire of his political campaigns, told the BBC that a band's job 'is not to be dull' Major tours by perennials the Rolling Stones, U2 and Paul McCartney helped create a record $3.1 billion in concert revenue for 2005, although the number of tickets sold actually declined for a third straight year A new ad campaign that celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Texas Department of Transportation's 'Don't Mess with Texas' message will carry the new message, 'Real Texans Don't Litter' Chronicles of Narnia edged into first place on the weekend, making $32.8M for over $200M while King Kong made $31.6M for over $150M at the box office Saturday January 7, 2006 Actor Robert De Niro, in the Dominican Republic to film scenes for The Good Shepherd, toured the presidential palace with President Leonel Fernandez A ban on Rolling Stones fans over 45, initially not invited to take part in the Super Bowl Halftime show, has been lifted The reality series Dancing With the Stars drew 17.5 million viewers in its season premiere Thursday night 20 million people watched Dick Clark's return to 'New Year's Rockin' Eve', more than any other program that week Drew Sarich will permanently take on the role of Armand in Lestat in its pre-Broadway run at San Francisco's Curran Theatre starting Sunday Sunday January 8, 2006 The National Society of Film Critics has selected Capote as best picture of 2005 and awarded Philip Seymour Hoffman as best actor Former New York Mayor David Dinkins has confirmed that he will serve as interim chairman of the Boys Choir of Harlem to help fund raise Sunday's inaugural two-hour kick-off of The Book of Daniel starring Aidan Quinn, is about a Episcopal priest who struggles to be a good man, husband and father The Black Eyed Peas will headline the sixth Honda Civic Tour, slated to begin March 23 in Fresno, California Elvis Costello is enlisting the help of American symphony orchestras to perform his full-length orchestral work Il Sogno for a US concert tour starting March 27th in San Francisco Saturday January 14, 2006 Ernest Hemingway's Bimini hotel retreat, The Compleat Angler, went up in flames Friday DMX, surrounded by dogs, motorcycles, Ruff Ryders President Swizz Beatz and a dozen leather-jacketed Ruff Ryders, announced Friday he's signed a deal with Sony Stevie Wonder, Little Richard, Lou Gossett Jr. and Angela Bassett were among those remembering Lou Rawls at a Los Angeles memorial Friday On Friday 13th, Korn pulled up to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in a vintage hearse to announce the 'See You on the Other Side' tour starting in late February The Sci Fi Channel announced Friday that it's airing an updated version of the BBC's Doctor Who starting in March Sunday January 15, 2006 Eminem, a.k.a Marshall Mathers, married his sweetheart Saturday in a ceremony one attendee referred to as 'a real classy, intimate affair' Coffee giant Starbucks is doing some promotion for Lions Gate Entertainment's upcoming Akeelah and the Bee by selling the movie's soundtrack starting April 4th Shelley Winters, who was known as Shirley Schrift when Columbia Pictures' boss Harry Cohn offered her a screen test, has passed on at 85 David Hyde Pierce will star in the musical Curtains set to premiere at California's Ahmanson theatre in July Epic/Legacy is reissuing the classic Cheap Trick albums Dream Police and All Shook Up March 7 on the heels of a successful re-release of Budokan Saturday January 21, 2006 2005's American Idol Carrie Underwood is debuting her first album Some Hearts which includes the first single, 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' It took a one minute hearing Thursday for a judge to grant Angelina Jolie's wish to change her children's names from Jolie to Jolie-Pitt The Miss America Pageant will debut Saturday in its new home, Las Vegas, after years in Atlantic City Gillian Anderson, who played Special Agent Scully in The X-Files, plays Lady Dedlock in a six-part PBS version of Charles Dickens Bleak House starting Sunday night Broadway's Tony-winning hit Spamalot will open at the Palace Theatre in London, England on October 2 Sunday January 22, 2006 A buyer paid more than $2m for James Bond's fully optioned 1965 Aston Martin DB5 at a sale in Phoenix, Arizona Fox has announced that American Idol's first season is going into syndication while the fifth season has only just begun Jennifer Berry, a 22-year-old ballerina from Oklahoma, danced off with the 2006 Miss America title Saturday at a first-time Las Vegas pageant Billboard's new Money Makers list of top-earning artists for 2005 has U2 on top with $255m followed by the Rolling Stones ($153m), Kenny Chesney ($87m), Paul McCartney ($84m) and Elton John ($77m) Kiptronic, a new San Francisco-based startup company, has devised a method for podcasters to insert advertising NOW PLAYING Last Holiday - Queen Latifah turns in a widely-praised, understated performance in this Wayne Wang remake of a 1950 Sir Alec Guiness comedy Wednesday January 25, 2006 NBC said Tuesday that the controversial religious drama The Book of Daniel has been dropped from the schedule Filmed at the historic Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, Jamie Foxx stars in Jamie Foxx: Unpredictable Wednesday night with guests that include musical legend Stevie Wonder Crooner Brandy will provide her voice and likeness for a video game due out in early 2007 and will develop an original soundtrack for a simultaneous CD release Aerosmith and Cheap Trick have confirmed a five-week tour this spring, taking the two bands from March 2 in Hollywood, Florida through to April 9 in Vancouver, Canada The national tour of the Tony-winning musical Spamalot will start March 7th at the Colonial Theater in Boston and star Michael Siberry as King Arthur Saturday January 28, 2006 A Gray Lines bus crashed through the wall of a Toronto Sound Studio Friday evening after being sideswiped by another Gray Lines bus Daniel Breaker, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, John Hoffman and Christina Kirk have been added to the cast of Well which opens at Broadway's Longacre Theatre March 30th Nas will release his first album under his new Def Jam Recordings agreement later this year, on his own imprint 'the Jones Experience' African American Lives a two-part, four-hour documentary airing February 1st on PBS follows the personal histories of eight noted black Americans Matthew Perry is teaming up with West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin for a new, as-yet untitled show about the goings on at a television sketch-comedy show Sunday January 29, 2006 Two films at Sundance won both the jury prize and audience award Saturday; Quinceanera for US dramatic film and God Grew Tired of Us for US documentary Taiwanese Filmmaker Ang Lee is favored to win an Oscar for best Director now that he's received that distinction from the Directors Guild of America for his film Brokeback Mountain The Getty Villa museum, closed since 1997, reopened to the public Saturday, after a $275m transformation Lestat, the new musical from Elton John and Bernie Taupin ends its pre-Broadway tryout in San Francisco Sunday then continues on to New York City for an April 13 opening at the Palace Theatre The director of 60 Minutes since its 1968 debut, Arthur Bloom, 63, has died at his home in Grand View-on-Hudson, N.Y Merle Haggard, Buddy Guy, Alison Krause and Aerosmith's Joe Perry are among guests who'll help celebrate guitar legend Les Paul's 90th birthday February 7th in Los Angeles NOW PLAYING Nanny McPhee - After dispatching 17 nannies, the seven worst children in the world meet Nanny McPhee - warts, big nose and unsightly tooth and all Saturday February 4, 2006 Filming begins this week on the fifth release in the J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix R. Kelly leads the pack with three nominations at the 20th Annual Soul Train Music Awards for best male R&B/soul album, best male R&B/soul single and best R&B/rap music video Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin are set to start work on a new Smashing Pumpkins album after reportedly signing with Front Line Management U2's lead guitarist, the Edge, helped out this week at Hollywood's Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard at a benefit to replace musicians' instruments lost during Hurricane Katrina In For One Night on Lifetime Monday February 6th, Raven-Symone plays a Louisiana teen who attempts to end her high school's long-standing tradition of segregated proms Sunday February 5, 2006 Actor Al Lewis, best known for his role as Grandpa Munster but also known for running for governor of New York under the Green Party banner passed away on Saturday The Writers Guild of America named Crash as best original screenplay and Brokeback Mountain as best adapted screenplay Saturday Hollywood's annual animation awards, sponsored by The International Animated Film Society, has awarded nine prizes to Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the WereRabbit Rhino records is planning a US reissue of Elvis Costello's collaboration with the Brodsky Quartet, The Juliet Letters March 21st Remembering 2004's 'wardrobe malfunction' ABC is putting a five-second delay on Sunday's Super Bowl television broadcast NOW PLAYING Anthony Hopkins plays Burt Munro, a real-life, aging New Zealand motorcycle racer, who pits his ancient Indian Scout motorcycle against much younger riders Saturday February 11, 2006 ABC's World News Tonight is faced with having to replace another anchor with the news that 43-year-old Elizabeth Vargas is expecting Franklin Cover, the character actor who played Tom Willis for 10 years on TV's The Jeffersons, has passed away at 77 BMG North America chairman Clive Davis plans to add to Barry Manilow new success with The Greatest Songs of the '60's George Clinton and Sinead O'Connor are working with Reggae icon Lee 'Scratch' Perry on a disc exploring Perry's work with Bob Marley's Wailers Adventurer Steve Fossett completed the longest nonstop flight in aviation history Saturday, flying 26,389 miles in about 76 hours Sunday February 12, 2006 NBC is planning a singing competition based on the Eurovision Song Contest to compete with Fox's American Idol George Clooney, in Berlin where he's screening Syriana, says he's not expecting to win any Oscars this year despite his three nominations Actor Christian Slater, 36, is seeking joint custody of his 4-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son Merv Griffin, who graduated from San Mateo High School in 1942, visited his old high school Friday to see the new Merv Griffin Quad Anticipating publicity from the release of the The Da Vinci Code film, the door to a Roman Catholic agency now has a sign that says, 'the real Opus Dei' Now Playing Firewall - Harrison Ford plays computer security specialist Jack Stanfield whose identity is stolen ENTERTAINMENT The Wedding Singer is having its world premiere at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre before moving on to Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre in March Saturday February 18, 2006 The first parade of Mardi Gras 2006 drew thousands of cheering onlookers to the streets of Metairie, Louisiana Friday night Fans are pouring into Rio de Janeiro for a free show by the Rolling Stones at the city's legendary Copacabana Beach Saturday night Sony BMG's Legacy Recordings label is releasing The Essential Roy Orbison March 28 with recordings reaching back as far as 1956 Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, a hit 2004 Fringe Festival offering, will end its run at Broadway's Century Center for the Performing Arts February 20th Nick Lachey is seeking spousal support and the return of 'miscellaneous jewelery' in his divorce proceedings with Jessica Simpson Sunday February 19, 2006 A million people coming from as far away as Europe and Japan crowded onto Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach Saturday night for a free two-hour Rolling Stones concert Willie Nelson, in San Antonio to play at the city's annual rodeo, put on a free concert for troops at the Brooke Army Medical Center Friday New court documents have revealed that Michael Jackson agreed to provide ex-wife Debbie Rowe $900,000 a year, a mansion in Beverly Hills, and a one-time $4 million in a divorce settlement Moscow movie-goers have been flocking to Hare over the Abyss a quirky effort that depicts Leonid Brezhnev dreaming of freedom and pining for his love, the Queen of England The 56th Berlin Film Festival has awarded its prestigious Golden Bear award to Grbavica a drama about the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina The African-American Cultural Center of Greater Pittsburgh formally became the August Wilson Center for African-American Culture Friday Saturday February 25, 2006 Rock singer Sheryl Crow's Wednesday surgery was reportedly successful but she will be receiving radiation treatment 'as a precaution' Irishmen Bob Geldof and Bono are among the nominees announced Friday for a 2006 Nobel Peace Prize The Who's 2006 European tour will start June 25 in Leeds, England and go to Ulm, Germany on July 23rd; North America dates are TBA Eric Clapton's European tour, cruising through 13 countries, opens May 5 in Le Cannet, France, and ends in Helsinki July 31st Richard Gere is the Harvard University drama society Hasty Pudding Man of the Year award this year while Halle Berry is Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Sunday February 26, 2006 Don Knotts who portrayed Deputy Barney Fife in the Andy Griffith Show and landlord Ralph Furley in Three's Company has passed on at 81 Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby won Best foreign film on Saturday at the Cesars, France's version of the Oscars Multi-talented actor Jamie Foxx was picked as best male musical artist at the 37th Annual NAACP Image Awards on Saturday A stretch of road near Bakersfield's Rabobank Arena was renamed 'Korn Row' last week, to honor the hometown band, Korn Jessica Simpson, who is in Santa Fe, NM filming Employee of the Month for Lions Gate Entertainment, took a break to dine at the governor's mansion late last week NOW PLAYING Madea's Family Reunion - An A-type grandma played by Tyler Perry (Diary of a Mad Black Woman) sorts out the problems of love-troubled nieces while planning a family reunion Saturday March 4, 2006 John Travolta has joined the cast of the new Hairspray film, signing on to play housewife Edna Turnblad E.L. Doctorow, author of Ragtime, has won the National Book Critics Circle prize for fiction for his novel The March Three 6 Mafia's performance of best original song at the Academy Awards Sunday will mark the first time a rap song has been performed at the event Coldplay is running a contest in Canada to enlist the help of five fans to film its Toronto concerts on March 22ND and 23rd Columbia Records will release Bruce Springsteen's We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions, covers of songs by folk legend Pete Seeger, on April 25th Sunday March 5, 2006 Jenny McCarthy and her feature film Dirty Love were singled out at the Razzies Saturday night taking 4 of 10 categories including worst film of the year Mariah Carey added more hardware to her awards collection taking best album and best single honors at the 20th Annual Soul Train Music Awards Saturday The Oprah Winfrey-produced Color Purple, directed by Gary Griffin and co-starring Felicia Fields will open at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre in April 2007 Google is planning to partner with ABC News to provide Google News, webcasts of World News Now, and mobile content The Independent Spirit Awards, which honors innovative low-budget films, awarded best picture to Brokeback Mountain and best actor to Philip Seymour Hoffman Saturday night NOW PLAYING Aquamarine - Two twelve year old girls find a mermaid in the pool at an old beach club near their home Sunday March 12, 2006 The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian, a sequel to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, is expected to screen in 2007 The Movieland Wax Museum, closed after 43 years in the business, had 500 items up for sale Saturday night in an 'Everything Must Go' auction Natalie Portman says she prepared for her latest film, V For Vendetta by shaving her head and reading Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin's autobiography South African film fans cheered the stars of Tsotsi, the Oscar-winning best foreign film, at the Johannesburg airport when they flew in from Hollywood Sunday William Shatner, who made his television debut in 1954, as Ranger Bill on the Howdy Doody Show, celebrates his 75th birthday Sunday NOW PLAYING The Shaggy Dog - Dave Douglas (Tim Allen) is normal in every way except sometimes he turns into a sheepdog Monday March 13, 2006 Writer/Director Brad Bird, whose The Incredibles won a best animated feature Oscar for Pixar, has been put in charge of the studio's latest film, Ratatouille According to the Hollywood Reporter, Alicia Silverstone has been signed as the lead in ABC's comedy pilot Pink Collar U2 has rescheduled the last 10 performances of their Vertigo tour for November Sean Connery is back home in the Bahamas where he is recovering from recent surgery According to Jimmy Kimmel the secret of MTV producer Tony 'The Andy Milonakis Story' DiSanto's success, is that he is in touch with his inner teenager Saturday March 18, 2006 The mayor of Cenobbio, Italy, where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are rumored to be getting married, says she's been asked to standby for possible official duties Comedy Central has pulled an episode of South Park that takes shots at Scientology Fashion designer Oleg Cassini, whose sixties creations draped over Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and other notables passed on yesterday at 92 This summer's Lollapalooza is going to include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, Wilco, The Flaming Lips, Queens of the Stone Age and Jack White's side-project The Raconteurs among others Sheryl Crow has announced that she's hitting the road, beginning June 12 at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis Sunday March 19, 2006 Walter Fagen, 'the pop equivalent of Woody Allen' said while stumping his new album Morph the Cat, that he feels more at home in Manhattan than anywhere else Don't Come Knocking, director Wim Wenders' first partnership with Sam Shepard since 1984's Paris, Texas opens Friday After meeting with the cast of Tsotsi, 87-year-old Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela told the crew on Saturday about his own experiences as a teenage pig thief Christina Aguilera's upcoming album Back to Basics pays homage to soul, jazz and blues from the 1920s, '30s and '40s Al Pacino will take the role again of King Herod Antipas in Oscar Wilde's Salome opening at the Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles April 27th NOW PLAYING Don't Come Knocking - Aging movie star Howard Spence (Sam Shepard), steals a horse from the set he's working on and takes off into the desert Saturday March 25, 2006 Randy Quaid filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court Thursday claiming he should have been paid more for his work on Brokeback Figure Skater Sasha Cohen, who handled interviews for Inside Editions at the Oscars, says she'd like to explore opportunities in show biz A live-action version of The Simpsons, created by an English satellite network for a channel promotion, will kick off Sunday's real... er... animated Simpsons Singer Buck Owens, known for such country hits as 'Act Naturally', and as co-host of TV's Hee Haw, passed away on Saturday at 76 Angela Lansbury says she can 'dance and bop around', again after successful knee replacement surgery Sunday March 26, 2006 Richard Fleischer, director of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Fantastic Voyage, Tora! Tora! Tora!, 10 Rillington Place, The Boston Strangler, Doctor Dolittle and Conan the Destroyer, passed away Saturday at 89 Members of the Hemingway Preservation Foundation are heading to Finca Vigia, Cuba to examine Ernest Hemingway's fishing boat, Pilar, to see if it can be restored A NY state appeals court has ruled that Jay Leno and NBC did not violate Civil Rights Law by using an unflattering photo for an on-air joke Caroline Fentress, wife of actor Chris O'Donnell, gave birth Thursday in Los Angeles to their fourth child, a boy Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me is set to begin previews at Broadway's Jacob's Theatre on July 22ND Now Playing Brooklyn Lobster - Martin Scorcese presents this true story starring Danny Aiello and Jane Curtin about a family's struggle to keep Giorgio's Lobster Bar afloat Saturday April 1, 2006 Courtney Love has reportedly made about $50 million from the sale of a 25 per cent stake in rock group Nirvana's back catalogue Country singer George Jones, directed by his doctors to book into Nashville's Baptist Hospital for pneumonia treatment, is expected to make a full recovery Coldplay sold 8.3 million copies of its album X&Y to make it the world's best-selling album of 2005 Prosecutors in Palm Beach County, making no comments, have dropped charges against 51-year-old, Greek-born, pianist Yanni This summer's Superman Returns will have some sequences shown at giant Imax screens in 3-D Sunday April 2, 2006 20th Century Fox is presenting a 25 second trailer with Ice Age: The Meltdown that announces a Simpsons movie will come to the big screen in 2007 Swedish-American soprano Erika Sunnegardh, who went from waitressing to the Metropolitan Opera in 18 months, made her debut Saturday in Beethoven's Fidelio David Lee Roth has returned to his radio show after a two- day CBS-enforced suspension for 'not obeying directives' Hundreds of fans were slimed while thousands cheered during Saturday's 'raucous' 19th annual Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston will split almost $25 million from the sale of their former Beverly Hills home Now Playing Slither - A small town is infected by an alien plague that changes residents into zombies and mutants Saturday April 8, 2006 Antonio Banderas says his 1925 Hollywood house has 'a ballroom and a place for an orchestra', so that's where he rehearsed for Take the Lead The Rolling Stones kicked off their first concert in China Friday night at Shanghai's Grand Stage with 'Start Me Up' Steven Spielberg's new reality television show, On The Lot, will be an American Idol-like contest for aspiring filmmakers The Vera Wang dress worn by Keira Knightly at the Academy Awards ceremony is to be auctioned on eBay with proceeds going to Oxfam to help the East African food crisis A panorama of Venice by JMW Turner sold for $35.9 million at the Christie's Old Masters sale in New York this week, setting a world auction record for a British painting Sunday April 9, 2006 Part of philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's art collection has gone on display at Seattle's Experience Music Project Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg will play a villain in Law & Order: Criminal Intent in a May episode A Viennese man is offering $136,518 for the return of Grimaldi, a little white dog with a diamond stud in its left ear missing since Friday in central Vienna A festival of plays celebrating the 100th anniversary of playwright Samuel Beckett's birth is underway in Dublin, Ireland Frankie Muniz, star of TV's Malcom in the Middle, recently wrapped up the final episode of the hit show and now is talking about driving race cars for the next two years NOW PLAYING Take the Lead - A former professional dancer (Antonio Banderas) volunteers to teach dance in the New York public school system Saturday April 15, 2006 Actor Tom Cruise is teaching Katie Holmes, friends, family and staff how to prepare for their baby's birth Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses will play two concerts at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom on May 15th and 17th Dolores Hart, who left the film world in 1962 after acting twice opposite Elvis Presley amongst other roles, has returned to Hollywood for her first visit in 43 years Advance purchasers of Dolly Parton's cookbook Dolly's Dixie Fixin's will have a chance to win a 'Backyard Barbeque and Bluegrass Festival' The Broadway revival of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park, starring Amanda Peet and Jill Clayburgh, will close on May 21st Sunday April 16, 2006 Rhino Records is releasing Willie Nelson: The Complete Atlantic Sessions, featuring remasters of Nelson's two Atlantic releases, on June 20th China has chosen film directors Steven Spielberg and Zhang Yimou to design the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Colombian star Shakira is planning a 'revolutionary' event to raise consciousness and provide aid for Latin America tentatively scheduled for 2007 Singer/songwriter Alicia Keys has been cast in the big-screen adaptation of the best-selling book, The Nanny Diaries Walt Disney Studios' Miramax Films and Elton John's Rocket Pictures have signed an agreement to produce the garden gnome-driven project Gnomeo & Juliet NOW PLAYING The Notorious Bettie Page - Gretchen Mol starts as Bettie Page, quintessential 50s pin-up model Saturday April 22, 2006 CBS has canceled David Lee Roth's radio show after three months on the air HBO is airing Elizabeth I starring Helen Mirren Saturday night Nelly has agreed to pay $20,000 to a photographer who says he was roughed up by the hip-hop artist's bodyguard This year's Jammy Awards in New York brought out Jam-band noteables including the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart and Mike Gordon, formerly of Phish A television seance airing Monday on pay-TV service In Demand is claiming it has reached the spirit of John Lennon Sunday April 23, 2006 The four-bedroom home that Elvis Presley owned in 1956 when he was making Heartbreak Hotel and Love Me Tender is for sale on eBay Random house says progress on Dan Brown's follow-up novel to his bestseller The Da Vinci Code has been held up because of the London law suit and won't be published this year Leonardo DiCaprio was flown from location in Mozambique to neighboring South Africa for x-rays after injuring his leg while filming The Blood Diamond Saturday Local television broadcasters are meeting in Los Angeles this week to find ways to market video clips to websites seeking 'content' The existing members of The Doors will be celebrating their 40th anniversary by making more than a dozen concerts from 1967-1970 available for download from their Web site NOW PLAYING Friends with Money - Jennifer Aniston and Frances McDormand star in this drama about three married women and their single friend Saturday April 29, 2006 Ellen DeGeneres won her third award for Outstanding Talk Show and her second for Outstanding Talk Show Host at the 33rd Daytime Emmy Awards Friday night in Hollywood Bob Dylan opened the 37th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Friday night with 'High Water' and 'Watching the River Flow' A spokeswoman for the Rolling Stones said Saturday that Keith Richards had suffered a 'mild concussion' after apparently falling out of a palm tree in New Zealand The Allman Brothers and Cheap Trick are seeking class-action status in a lawsuit that claims they are owed more money for digital downloads of their music Steely Dan and Michael McDonald will be touring North America beginning July 7th at Milwaukee's Summerfest and ending September 2ND near Detroit Sunday April 30, 2006 Kanye West and Madonna are scheduled to play Sunday night at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California Miami Vice star Don Johnson and his wife Kelley celebrated their seventh anniversary with the birth of their third child, a son, born Saturday An audio device planted in a Los Angeles newspaper rack as a promotion for Mission: Impossible III was mistaken for a bomb and blown up by a California arson squad Friday A new House Of Blues will be open in downtown Seattle beside the historic Paramount Theatre in 2007 Marvel Studios has signed Jon Favreau to develop and direct Iron Man and has plans to bring its characters Captain America and Thor to the big screen as well NOW PLAYING Water - An 8-year-old Indian girl is sent to a temple in Varanasi after her husband dies Saturday May 6, 2006 Michael Jackson is reportedly demanding an apology from GQ after the magazine printed a photo using a look-alike in its May issue Crowds are flocking to London's Trafalgar Square to watch a four-day fairytale featuring a mechanical elephant, three stories high, and a huge puppet girl Hurricane Katrina survivor Fats Domino is saying 'I'm ready and able' to close the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Sunday On Sunday, May 7, when five-time Grammy winner Celine Dion sells out the 4,148-seat theater at Caesars Palace again, it will mark her 500th show T.I., AKA Clifford Harris, will resume his U.S. tour Tuesday in New Orleans and is rescheduling a St. Louis appearance, according to his Grand Hustle label Sunday May 7, 2006 Bruce Snyder, head of distribution at 20th Century Fox is expecting 2006 to be a banner year with 'a new blockbuster coming every week' A video game of The Sopranos featuring the voices of various cast members, including James Gandolfini as mob boss Tony Soprano, will hit store shelves this summer Illusionist David Blaine says he'll hold his breath for a record-breaking nine minutes Monday when he frees himself after eight days submerged in a tank at NYC's Lincoln Center War Tapes, a documentary filmed by National Guard soldiers in Iraq, won the best documentary award at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York on Saturday Ex-VP Al Gore showed a documentary about his efforts to educate people on global warming to 250 people at a private screening in Nashville on Saturday Now Playing Hoot - A young man (Logan Lerman) fights to protect a group of endangered owls in Florida CANADIAN NEWS Top of THIS Page Saturday November 5, 2005
Vancouver, BC - Federal Transport Minister Jean Lapierre has ordered CN Rail to shorten its trains after a series of recent derailments...
Sunday November 6, 2005
Winnipeg, MAN - A ruling delivered yesterday by the Manitoba Court has granted bail to a man convicted of a brutal 1990 murder in Manitoba while the federal Justice Minister reviews his case... Saturday November 12, 2005
Vancouver, BC - One-time Yugoslav policeman Josip Budimcic has denied involvement in war crimes saying his conviction was the result of 'a politically motivated trial'...
Sunday November 13, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS Montreal, PQ - A telephone polling system opened this morning for 150,000 members of the Parti Quebecois to vote in a new leader...
Saturday November 19, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS Toronto ON - An 18-year-old who was gunned down at the funeral for another teen was known by his killers, according to police... Sunday November 20, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS Vancouver, BC - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is ordering the slaughter of 65,000 birds in British Columbia's Fraser Valley to prevent the spread of avian flu... Saturday November 26, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS Kelowna, BC - Prime Minister Paul Martin has demanded an apology from Conservative Leader Stephen Harper for using the phrase 'organized crime' in comments referring to the Liberal party... Sunday November 27, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS Amman, Jordan - The Canadian embassy in Amman, Jordan was notified on Saturday that two Canadians have been taken hostage in Iraq. Their names have not been released... Saturday December 3, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - The abductors holding two Canadians and two others are threatening their execution if Iraqi detainees are not released by December 8th... Sunday December 4, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS - Baghdad, Iraq An English envoy met with Sunni Muslims Sunday working towards the release of two Canadians and two others while Muslim groups publicly decry the kidnapping...
Saturday December 10, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - The Iraqi kidnappers holding two Canadians have made no new announcements about their fate or made any effort to contact Iraq authorities...
Sundays December 11, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - The Iraqi group 'Swords of Truth' is continuing its silence concerning the fate of two Canadians and two others despite the passing of Saturday's deadline... Saturday December 17, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS Vancouver, BC - The leaders' English debate was a more lively affair Friday as each of the four main parties waded into same-sex marriage, Canada-U.S. relations and Quebec sovereignty... Sunday December 18, 2005
aCANADIAN NEWS Phoenix, Arizona - Wayne Gretzky announced on Saturday he's taking an 'indefinite' leave as Phoenix Coyotes' coach to return to Canada in support of his mother, recently diagnosed with lung cancer... Saturday December 24, 2005
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aCANADIAN NEWS HEADLINE NEWS Top of THIS Page Saturday November 5, 2005 Mar del Plata, Argentina - Ten thousand protest Bush at Western Hemisphere meetings in Latin America Paris, France - Rioting in the suburbs continues for ninth straight night as troubles spread Brussels, Belgium - European Commission asks Eastern Europe members for views on 'CIA secret prisons' ENTERTAINMENT Green Day wins Best Album at the MTV Europe Awards in Lisbon, Portugal Oliver Stone starts new film about September 11 in New York Paris Hilton served subpoena at Hollywood Hills home regarding burglary at her house NEWS Baltimore police net $25,000, 16,020 poker chips and 141 decks of cards in raid at private club Collapse of four-storey building Friday kills eight people and leaves eight injured Bill to allow drilling for natural resources in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge survives Senate challenge Sunday November 6, 2005 NEWS Evansville, IN - Deadly tornado tears path of destruction near Evansville, Indiana Paris, France - French unrest spreads to Paris as Interior Ministry warns 'violence might grow Sunday' Los Angeles, CA - Jewish Defense League's Earl Krugel killed Friday at Federal Correctional Institution in Phoenix ENTERTAINMENT Jared Leto (Requiem for a Dream) to portray Mark David Chapman in new film about John Lennon Saturday gala at The Vienna State Opera celebrates 50th anniversary after post-war rebuilding Surprise visit by Will Ferrell delights students at State High School Play Festival in Greensboro ENTERTAINMENT Pablo Picasso painting from 1920 sells for $560,000 at auction in Sweden Friday Texas humorist Kinky Friedman will get late-night television shot next week on CMT Geraldo Rivera returns to daily television Monday with 'Geraldo at Large' NEWS San Diego, CA - Warren Beatty and Annette Bening barred from Schwarzenegger rally after confrontation with aides Jerusalem, Israel - Archaeologists discover 4th Century Christian church near biblical site of Armageddon Colorado man 'glued to toilet seat' sues Home Depot for negligence Saturday November 12, 2005 Amman, Jordan - Jordan confirms al Qaeda responsible for suicide bombings at Amman hotels earlier this week Baghdad, Iraq - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrives in Baghdad to meet with Iraqi leaders. Beijing, China - North Korea demands aid before disarmament at meeting in China ENTERTAINMENT Elvis Costello to head into studio at Thanksgiving for collaboration with Allen Toussaint 2006 Grammy nominees will be announced on Dec. 8 for Grammy Awards on Feb. 8 Everybody Loves Raymond star Ray Romano to play guest appearance on The King of Queens Monday, November 28 NEWS Dakar, Senegal - Harvard-educated economist becomes first woman elected head of state in modern African history Baghdad, Iraq - Condoleezza Rice calls for unity in heavily guarded, unannounced visit to Iraq Friday Washington, DC - Police in Virginia seek woman who has been holding up banks while talking on cell phone ENTERTAINMENT Kaiser Family Foundation study says that most TV shows have some sexual content New York judge rules that former girlfriend of KISS rocker Gene Simmons can proceed with defamation suit Gary Sinise to serve as spokesman for Disabled Veterans For Life Memorial Foundation NEWS Washington, DC - Large numbers of older Americans 'confused' over new Medicare drug benefit plan Baghdad, Iraq - Baath Party Web site announces death of hunted Baathist leader Izzat Ibrahim al-Dour Lahore, Pakistan - Muslims burn churches in Pakistan Saturday after reports of Christian man desecrating Quran Sunday November 13, 2005 Amman, Jordan - Wife of Amman suicide bomber arrested after detonation failure New Delhi, India - Indian authorities arrest alleged Kashmiri militant as conspirator and financier in October attacks Houston, TX - International Space Station (ISS) astronauts serenaded live by former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney early Sunday ENTERTAINMENT Danielle Steel signs agreement with New Line Home Entertainment for film rights to at least 30 books John Goodman returns to theater as 'Big Daddy' in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opening Wednesday in Los Angeles ABC announces Regis Philbin to host new version of This Is Your Life NEWS Houston, TX - New charges filed against five former executives from Enron Internet division Stratford, IA - Tornadoes destroy farms and wreck dozens of homes in Stratford and Woodward Salem, OR - Police shoot man who 'set fire to squad cars, shot at officer, then crashed truck into downtown courthouse' Saturday ENTERTAINMENT Penn & Teller's latest special - Penn & Teller: Off the Deep End - debuts Sunday November 13 Mariah Carey wins Artist of the Year, Voice of the Year, Best R&B Song and Album of the Year at Vibe Awards Kung Fu Hustle takes best movie at Taiwan's Golden Horse film awards NEWS Amman, Jordan - Iraqi woman confesses on television to trying to blow herself up with her husband in Amman hotel London, England - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani expects British troops out of Iraq by the end of 2006 Phoenix, AZ - NASCAR driver Kurt Busch suspended from last races of season over reckless driving charges Saturday November 19, 2005 NEWS Busan, South Korea - President Bush vows to stay in Iraq to continue 'our work for peace and freedom' WASHINGTON DC - Condoleezza Rice staffer says Rice not Woodward's source for CIA leak Washington, DC - Federal Health advisers find no link between Tamiflu and deaths of 12 Japanese children ENTERTAINMENT Britney Spears to make Broadway debut by replacing Christina Applegate in Sweet Charity Courtney Love, in drug treatment facility since September, can move to outpatient program Golfer John Daly to star in The Daly Planet, a reality show, for The Golf Channel beginning Jan. 18 NEWS Caracas, Venezuela - Venezuela to begin selling heating oil to poor communities in New York and Boston Washington, DC - Bush set to press Beijing about religious freedom, trade problems and the need for currency reforms Monte Carlo, Monaco - Global royalty attends Saturday as Monaco's Prince Albert II's ascends to the throne ENTERTAINMENT Resolution to honor Bruce Springsteen killed in the Senate Friday Gabriel Byrne taking Broadway turn in Eugene O'Neill's A Touch of the Poet Obscure Belgian songwriter successfully sues Madonna over 1998 hit 'Frozen' NEWS Colombo, Sri Lanka - New Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse promises peace talks with Tamil rebels Cairo, Egypt - Muslim and Kurdish leaders to meet at three-day conference to promote Iraqi reconciliation Medan, Indonesia - 6.5 earthquake rumbles through Indonesia Saturday, no reports of injuries or damage Sunday November 20, 2005 BEIJING, China - President Bush to church Sunday in Beijing before talks with President Hu Jintao Scranton, PA - 125 Wal-Mart construction workers to be deported says Immigrations and Customs TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Tropical storm Gamma downgraded to tropical depression Sunday ENTERTAINMENT Ex-glammer Gary Glitter arrested Sunday while boarding plane for Bangkok in Vietnam New Harry Potter sells $101.4 million worth of tickets in first three days in North America Pope Benedict XVI gives thumbs up to 'Pope John Paul II' after a viewing with Jon Voigt at Vatican NEWS Ventura, CA - Ventura County brushfires partially contained but firefighters fear winds will return West Yorkshire, England - Detectives arrest six in two separate raids over the murder of trainee policewoman Tehran, Iran - Iran passes legislation to block international inspections of nuclear facilities ENTERTAINMENT South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone sign three-year production deal with Paramount Pictures Ballet by Matthew Bourne based on 1990 Tim Burton film Edward Scissorhands is in the works Christina Aguilera ties knot with music executive Jordan Bratman Saturday night at Napa Valley Vineyard NEWS Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - OPEC oil exporters say 'no oil production cuts' unless there's a steep drop in prices Moscow, Russia - Hitler's gold Nazi membership badge stolen from Russian Federal Security Service headquarters Philadelphia, PA - City official apologizes for 'aberration' after body left unidentified in morgue for over two years Saturday November 26, 2005 Ruichang, China - Thousands of homes destroyed in largest earthquake to strike eastern China in 56 years Washington, DC - Major General reprimands young officers for burning of Taliban bodies, but 'were unaware of any wrongdoing' Yakima, WA - Four maximum security inmates who shimmied down climbing down rope made of bed sheets, still at large ENTERTAINMENT Ron Howard to be honored at the Museum of the Moving Image's 21st annual Salute on Dec. 4 in New York Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White cheered at its Broadway premiere, strong contender for next year's Tonys Radio One Inc. to inaugurate first national talk-radio network geared for black audience NEWS Crawford, TX - Activist Cindy Sheehan continues Thanksgiving protest against the war in Iraq near President Texas ranch Tokyo, Japan - Japan space agency announces probe landing will retrieve asteroid surface samples Rafah Crossing, Palestine - New passage from Gaza into Egypt opened to public on Saturday NEWS Washington, DC - 'The worst computer worm of the year' is being spread by email purportedly from the CIA or the FBI Sacremento, CA - Governor Schwarzenegger to consider clemency for Williams in private hearing but won't send to Board of Parole Bombay, India - Indian textile magnate soars to highest hot air balloon flight at 70,000 feet ENTERTAINMENT Bon Jovi's 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' debuts at 48 on Hot Country Songs chart after Country Music Association Awards appearance Daniel Radcliffe shooting low budget Australian film enjoying time out of limelight NBC cameras filmed balloon accident at annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade that injured two sisters Sunday November 27, 2005 Qeshm Island, Iran - Strong earthquake rattles buildings, leaves seven dead, in Southern Iran Sunday Yakima, WA - Two of nine Yakima County jail inmates remain at large as two more arrested overnight Crawford, TX - Ethiopian-Americans and anti-war activists continued protests at President Bush's Texas ranch Sunday ENTERTAINMENT Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt 'participating in an airlift of food, blankets and tarpaulins to a remote village' in Pakistan EMI Music to release single 'What About Love?' from The Color Purple recording by Patti LaBelle and Jill Scott in January Rod Stewart's daughter Kimberley says, 'a brief engagement is better than a short marriage' so wedding plans with Talan Torriero are off NEWS Santa Maria, CA - San Francisco-bound Greyhound bus flips in North Santa Barbara county killing two, injuring thee dozen others Highlands Ranch, CO - Teen 'text-messaging on cell phone', could get careless driving resulting in death, after bicyclist's death Friday Seattle, WA - Two people injured Saturday night after monorail trains scrape together at curve along elevated tracks NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - Eight arrested in Kirkuk for planning to kill judge who prepared case against Saddam Hussein Cairo, Egypt - Despite voting restrictions, officially banned Muslim Brotherhood wins 29 seats in Egyptian elections Sunday Baghdad, Iraq - Iraqi tribunal to be asked Monday to allow former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark to join Saddam Hussein defense team ENTERTAINMENT Jamie Foxx joins growing list of entertainers making pleas for clemency for Stanley 'Tookie' Williams Katie Leung of Motherwell, Scotland, (Cho Chang in Goblet of Fire) in Beijing Thursday for Chinese premiere Goblet of Fire takes in $81.3 million over five-day Thanksgiving period to-date total of $201.1 million Saturday December 3, 2005 NEWS Fallujah, Iraq - Iraqi bomb hits foot patrol, killing ten Marines killed and wounding eleven others Washington, DC - New airport screening rules December 22ND will allow scissors and screwdrivers back in luggage ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Officials say that third ranked al Qaeda commander died in a house explosion set off by bomb-making materials ENTERTAINMENT Hip hop music producer Irving 'Irv Gotti' Lorenzo and brother Christopher found not guilty by federal jury in Brooklyn Friday of laundering money Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie filed legal petition Friday to change names of Jolie's adoptive children to Zahara Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Jolie-Pitt David Letterman's TV date with Oprah Winfrey resulted in 13.5 million viewers, Dave's biggest audience in over ten years NEWS Bucharest, Romania - Condoleezza Rice to sign agreement with Romania Tuesday to build military bases in the ex-soviet country Montreal, Canada - 'global warming awareness' demonstrations are planned Saturday to coincide with the UN Climate Change Conference Costa Mesa, CA - 'Big Nose Bandit' bank robber and father arrested at a Southern California motel Friday ENTERTAINMENT 75-year-old actor Sir Sean Connery to receive lifetime achievement honour in Berlin Saturday Onassis granddaughter, Athina, to marry Brazilian Saturday - guests asked to donate to day care center CBS wins November 'sweeps', ABC strong second, NBC third and Fox, though up 7 percent, fourth NEWS Moscow, Russia - Russia confirms arms deal with Iran signed for 'exclusively defensive weapons' Family of Australian hanged Friday for drug crimes takes body home vowing anti-death sentence campaign to continue Supreme Court nominee Alito says 'personal views on abortion' won't color judgment Sunday December 4, 2005 ENTERTAINMENT Robert Redford, Tina Turner and Tony Bennett awarded lifetime achievement awards by first lady Sunday at Kennedy Center Marilyn Manson marries girlfriend, dancer Dita Von Teese, at Castle Gurteen in Ireland Jamie Foxx signed to star in 'The Kingdom' playing counter-terrorism investigator NEWS New Orleans, LA - Official and personal papers turned over Friday to congressional committees investigating Katrina disaster response Washington, DC - Condoleezza Rice expected to tell European nations to 'back off' over secret CIA prisons Tuesday Quangdong, China - Chinese police have arrested 16 people for allegedly kidnapping and selling baby girls in Hunan ENTERTAINMENT Mel Brooks mulling a return to his cult classic Young Frankenstein for possible Broadway version Tom Petty to receive Century Award next week at 2005 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas Actress Wendie Jo Sperber, Tom Hanks opposite on TV's Bosom Buddies has died after a long illness NEWS London, England - Richard Branson to merge Virgin Mobile with cable company creating entertainment hybrid worth $10.4 billion Baghdad, Iraq - Former Iraqi PM alleging death threat while plot to bomb Saddam Hussein's trial uncovered Anjar, Lebanon - Mass grave found at former Syrian army intelligence site in east Lebanon Saturday December 10, 2005 Los Angeles, CA - Police prepared for violence if Schwarzenegger rejects Stanley Tookie Williams'last plea Oslo, Norway - Chief U.N. nuclear inspector Mohamed ElBaradei accepts 2005 Nobel Peace Prize Saturday Montreal, Canada - US signs one of two agreements to combat greenhouse gas emissions at Montreal UN Conference NEWS Port Harcourt, Nigeria - At least 103 people, mostly schoolchildren, have died in a Nigerian jetliner crash in stormy weather Saturday Jersulem, Israel - Israel will restrict trade with Gaza within two days if Palestinians don't address security concerns at Gaza-Egypt border crossing Warsaw, Poland - Poland's Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz set to order detailed probe into CIA secret prisons ENTERTAINMENT New King Kong has $207 million worth of special effects compared to $10 million spent on 1933 original Kanye West, Mariah Carey and John Legend head into 48th Grammy race February 8th with eight nominations each Scarlett Johansson slated to star in Touchstone Pictures' The Prestige with Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman and maybe David Bowie and Michael Caine NEWS Los Angeles, CA - Deal between Viacom Inc. and DreamWorks SKG Inc. involving $1B in cash and $500M in debt could be finalized Sunday Atlanta, GA - National Center for Health Statistics reports life expectancy hits all-time high of 77.6 years while heart disease, cancer and stroke deaths continue to drop ENTERTAINMENT Encino, CA - Comedian Richard Pryor has lost a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis, dying at the age of 65 at his home in the Encino hills Sunday December 11, 2005 NEWS Washington, DC - Former Senator Eugene McCarthy died on Saturday from complications caused by Parkinson's disease Honolulu, HI - Archaeologists found a time capsule buried more than a century ago by King Kamehameha V on Saturday New York, NY - USC running back Reggie Bush has run away with the Heisman Trophy, college football's biggest honor ENTERTAINMENT Garth Brooks married Trisha Yearwood Saturday at their Oklahoma home Miss World 2005, who is a part-time police officer, crowned Friday at a southern China beach resort Salma Hayek and Julianne Moore praise Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei at Oslo concert NEWS Los Angeles, CA - San Quentin prisoners to be 'locked down' if Williams' execution goes as scheduled Wednesday Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations opens its summit Monday seeking to forge economic ties throughout Asia NEWS Sydney, Australia - A 6.5 undersea earthquake has struck off Papua New Guinea Sunday, according to the US Geological Survey Flemingsburg, KY - A man faces felony endangerment counts after allowing seven-year-old son to drive into hit and run accident Hong Kong, China - 3,000 protesters disrupted traffic Sunday in a Hong Kong shopping district in advance of WTO talks ENTERTAINMENT David Schwimmer is heading to Broadway to play Lt. Barney Greenwald in a revival of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial The German group Media Control announced Friday that U2 lead singer Bono will receive the 2005 German Media Prize Lillo Brancato Jr, whose TV character was executed by Tony Soprano, is being held in a police shooting Saturday December 17, 2005 NEWS Washington, DC - The President's request for USA Patriot Act renewal blocked in Senate Friday Hong Kong, China - WTO recommendation to end agricultural export subsidies by 2013 meets with lukewarm response Washington, DC - President Bush, countering NSA eavesdropping claims, says he's done everything 'within law' to protect American people ENTERTAINMENT Britney Spears returned as Yahoo's No 1 most-searched-for name after relinquishing last year to 'American Idol' John Spencer, West Wing's White House chief of staff 'Leo McGarry' has died of a heart attack just prior to his 59th birthday Howard Stern, checked out of WXRK-FM yesterday morning to start new life in satellite radio NEWS Charlotte, NC - Ice storm leaves Carolina customers without power Friday - power may not be restored until Tuesday Philadelphia, PA - 'Brutal drug kingpin' convicted Friday of drug charges, money laundering and witness intimidation Beijing, China - China shuts down first gay and lesbian culture festival in fashionable northeastern Beijing Friday NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - Leader of Iraq Sunni political party says Saturday he's open to alliance with Shiites and Kurds Hong Kong, China - Police fire tear gas near protesters across street from the WTO Ministerial Conference Saturday Mexico City, Mexico - Mexican government condemns US Congress for passing immigration bill restricting employment ENTERTAINMENT Chinese viewers will look in on Wisteria Lane Monday when state-run channel starts broadcasting 'Desperate Housewives' Beatle's company, Apple Corps Ltd., sues EMI and Capitol for more than $53 million in music royalties dispute Grammy-winning singer Lou Rawls, 70, battling cancer, being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A Sunday December 18, 2005 NEWS BAGHDAD, Iraq - VP Cheney pays surprise visit to Iraq Sunday on heels of parliamentary elections he says would 'unify the various segments of the population' Washington, DC - Tom Delay's bid to regain House Majority leader set back by ruling that the dismissed money-laundering charges must proceed through appeals Beijing, China - China releases names of three villagers killed by police during a protest while rights groups still put toll at more than 20 ENTERTAINMENT 61-year-old Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page presented OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for work with poor Brazilian children Studios and IATSE union reach three-year agreement Friday on deal that would include higher pay and increased benefits Officials at Asahiyama Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, have put overweight penguins on an exercise plan, taking them for 500-yard walks twice a day NEWS Washington, DC - In an unusual live radio address, President Bush admits he ordered NSA wiretaps because they're 'a vital tool in war against terrorists' New York, NY - Time announced Persons of the Year - Bill and Melinda Gates and U2's Bono - 'for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice' and 'for making mercy smarter and hope strategic' London, England - London-based BAA PLC, the world's largest airport operator, has agreed to buy Budapest Airport Rt. for $2.2 billion NEWS Jerusalem, Israel - Israeli PM Ariel Sharon lost consciousness Sunday and was taken to a Jerusalem hospital with a minor stroke Berlin, Germany - Susanne Osthoff, kidnapped in Iraq last month, has been freed and is in the German Embassy in Baghdad Chenai, India - A stampede of flood victims waiting for government relief vouchers has killed of at least 42 people and injured 30 more in southern India Sunday ENTERTAINMENT Canadian rockers Rush to reissue Exit...Stage Left, Grace Under Pressure and A Show of Hands on DVD in 2006 Starbucks coffeehouses in San Antonio, Texas and Miami, Florida will combine coffee, traditional music sales and a digital download depot Kazakhstan upset by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's satirical Da Ali G Show have pulled the plug on his .kz domain name Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson staged a musical for hurricane-wrecked New Orleans Saturday night Saturday December 24, 2005 NEWS Washington, DC - Supreme Court nominee Alito defended the use illegal wiretaps in 1984 memo while working for Reagan administration BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - Woman rushed to hospital Friday night after swallowing cellphone in a 'lover's dispute' Baku, Azerbaijan - All 23 passengers and crew who died in crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane have been recovered ENTERTAINMENT P.O.D.'s new album Testify will include two collaborations with Hassidic reggae rapper Matisyahu and another with Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. Michelle Shocked is one of the artists who'll perform part of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska to kick-off the January 14th New York Guitar Festival Van Morrison is enlisting the help of Lost Highway for his next album Pay the Devil expected out on March 7th NEWS Albuquerque, New Mexico - Four men have been arrested in connection with the theft of 400 pounds of explosives from a storage depot Cairo, Egypt - Egyptian opposition leader Ayman Nour has been sentenced to five years for falsifying signatures Phuket, Thailand - Survivors are marking the one year anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami with beachfront ceremonies ENTERTAINMENT Wafah Dufour, Osama bin Laden's niece, will appear half-naked in the January 2006 issue of GQ magazine Laura Dern and Ben Harper tied the knot Thursday in a Christmas-themed ceremony Former child actor Brad Renfro has been charged with attempting to possess heroin after being arrested in a Los Angeles Skid Row sting NEWS Tokyo, Japan - Japan cuts spending to its lowest level in eight years to deal with the world's largest public debt The Hague, Netherlands - Dutch businessman sentenced to 15 years for helping Saddam Hussein acquire chemical weapons Baghdad, Iraq - Iraq's Shiite United Iraqi Alliance said preliminary results showing their lead in the elections is 'the will of the people' Sunday December 25,2005 Vatican City - Israel's top Roman Catholic calls for West Bank barrier dismantling Washington - 2006 will be one second late, say scientists, to make up for changes in the Earth's rotation Amsterdam - Archaeologists in Mauritius have found long-extinct dodo bones that could help reconstruct model of the flightless bird. Saturday December 31, 2005 NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - The 16-year-old Floridian high school student who flew to Iraq on a self-assigned journalism project, was flown home Friday Washington, DC - The Justice Department announced it has opened a criminal investigation into in the recent eavesdropping campaign London, England - A British rights activist freed by kidnappers in Gaza Friday will stay in Palestine ENTERTAINMENT The world's oldest teenager, Dick Clark, hosts his 34th New Year's Eve show Saturday with Ryan Seacrest and Hilary Duff 26-story Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel opening Friday dominates the skyline in the Honeymoon Capital of the World Former New York mayor, David Dinkins, wants to help Harlem Boys Choir get out of its fiscal mess NEWS Sacremento, CA - Flood warnings issued in California from Sonoma to Monterey and across to Nevada border Washington, DC - Plea agreement could be reached next week in wire fraud case against lobbyist Jack Abramoff Orlando, FL - Tropical Storm Zeta formed in eastern Atlantic, tying 1954 record for season's latest storm NEWS Moscow, Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin orders Russia's gas monopoly to freeze Ukraine prices at the current price if Kiev agrees to higher price later Palu, Indonesia - At least eight have died and 45 wounded in meat market bombing Indonesian London, England - England's Rail, Maritime and Transport union calls 24-hour strike at London's subway system ENTERTAINMENT A billion people are expected to watch New Year's Eve in New York's Times Square - a tradition since 1905 Rolling Stones became top-grossing tour of the year taking in $162m At 7 pm today (EST), one second will be added to our official record of time Sunday January 1, 2006 Napa, CA - One dead, over 1,000 homes flooded and 17,000 homes without power in Northern California Pink, OK - Oklahoma requests help from firefighters across southern US to help battle wildfire outbreaks Kiev, Ukraine - Ukrainian refusal to Russian temporary price freeze results in suspension of natural gas supplies to Ukraine ENTERTAINMENT Las Vegas rang in New Year with the world's largest toast raising 14,000 Chardonnay-filled plastic glasses An abandoned train station once owned by Johnny Cash has been donated to Madison, Tennessee to be used as a museum Sir Tom Jones joins Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John and Sir George Martin as England's newest musician/knight NEWS Reno, NV - Reno is experiencing the worst flooding since 1997 when storms caused $1 billion in damages Rome, Italy - An abducted Italian member of a group on a peace mission to Gaza has been released Washington, DC - Glitches still riddle Medicare's launch Sunday that could give millions access to subsidized prescriptions ENTERTAINMENT Crash has been named top film of the year by the African American Film Critics Association Obie Trice, an Eminem protege, was treated and released from Providence Hospital after being shot while driving on a Detroit highway Veteran actor Joseph Cranshaw, who played a bank teller in Bonnie and Clyde and a hobo in Peewee's Big Adventure, has died at 86 NEWS Sanaa, Yemen - Five Italians have been kidnapped in the eastern province of Maarib in Yemen Jerusalem, Israel - Israeli PM Ariel Sharon will have heart surgery Thursday to repair a small ventricular hole New Delhi, India - The South Asia Free Trade Area takes effect Sunday between India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives Monday, January 2, 2006 NEWS Guerneville, CA - Northern California residents were drying out Sunday while flash floods hit Southern California Moscow, Russia - Russian has accused Ukraine of stealing $25m of Russian gas Washington, DC - The Pentagon contractor that posted Iraqi news is allegedly now paying Sunni religious scholars for propaganda work BUSINESS NEWS Bank of America now country's #1 credit card issuer after $34b MBNA purchase completion Hyundai and Kia sales rose 14% in December due to increased demand in the US, India and Europe State governments take lead in setting the minimum wage as 50% of the work force now in areas that exceed federal levels ENTERTAINMENT A never-on-Sunday rule put the 117th Rose Bowl parade on Monday while the 'most beautiful entry' goes to FTD U2 singer Bono, fearing impatience from fellow band members, told BBC that a band's job 'is not to be dull' New Texas ad campaign celebrates the 20th anniversary of the 'Don't Mess with Texas' message with the new message, 'Real Texans Don't Litter' NEWS Beijing, China - Starbucks has won a legal battle with a Chinese company over the use of the Chinese word 'Xingbake' because its pronunciation is too close to 'Starbucks' Baghdad, Iraq - Iraq's Kurdish president meets Shiite prime minister to inaugurate new government Charleston, WV - An explosion near Tallmansville, West Virginia has trapped at least 12 coal miners Monday NEWS Berlin, Germany - Four have died at an ice rink in Bad Reichenhall, Germany as the roof collapsed on an estimated 50 people New Delhi, India - India's opposition party has named Rajnath Singh as its new president, hoping to 'clean up its image' after sex scandals Dallas, TX - Major wildfires continue to rage across Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico as gusting winds fuel the flames BUSINESS Discount carrier Independence Air announced Monday it will shut January 5 because of bankruptcy Frito-Lay and Doritos parent, PepsiCo, said it purchased Star Foods to extend into the Polish snack-food industry French utility Gaz de France SA has noted a 'significant deterioration' for gas flows into France after Moscow cut off neighboring Ukraine ENTERTAINMENT Mariah Carey likely has the lead in this year's Grammy Award race for record of the year but the top five are making it close 'Narnia' passed $200m at the box office over the weekend while 'Kong' passed $150m The Wire's Richard DeAngelis has died from congestive heart failure at 73 Saturday January 7, 2006 Jerusalem, Israel - Sharon undergoes fresh brain scan, remains in critical condition Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Rescuers call off search as Mecca disaster toll hits 76 Washington, DC - GOP dissenters call for DeLay to be replaced ENTERTAINMENT Robert De Niro toured the Dominican Republic presidential palace with President Leonel Fernandez Friday Rolling Stones fans over 45 will be invited to take part in the Super Bowl Halftime show after all The reality series Dancing With the Stars drew 17.5 million viewers in its season premiere Thursday night NEWS Melbourne, Australia - An Australian woman died after a shark attack while swimming near Brisbane Saturday Tehran, Iran - Russia has started talks with Iran prior to Iran's resumption of its suspended nuclear program Yokosuka, Japan - The US Navy handed over a sailor, suspected of murder, to local police Saturday NEWS Tallmansville, WV - Medical examiners said Friday that Sago miners died of carbon monoxide poisoning Washington, DC - The White House called Pat Robertson's remarks concerning Ariel Sharon's illness 'wholly inappropriate and offensive' Saturday Kansas City, Missouri - VP Dick Cheney used a cane Friday to limp through a tour of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle factory ENTERTAINMENT 20 million people watched Dick Clark's return to 'New Year's Rockin' Eve', more than any other program that week Drew Sarich will permanently take the role of Armand in Lestat in its pre-Broadway in San Francisco Sunday Three-time Grammy Award-winner Lou Rawls died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Sunday January 8, 2006 Baghdad, Iraq - A US military helicopter has crashed in northern Iraq Jerusalem, Israel - Israeli PM to be brought out of medically induced coma Monday Tehran, Iran - The UN will remove seals from nuclear facilities in Iran Monday ENTERTAINMENT The National Society of Film Critics has selected Capote as best picture Philip Seymour Hoffman as best actor for 2005 Former NY Mayor David Dinkins has confirmed that he'll serve as chairman of the Boys Choir of Harlem Sunday's The Book of Daniel stars Aidan Quinn as an Episcopal priest who struggles to be a good man, husband and father NEWS Washington, DC - More House of Representatives members could be caught in the wake of Tom Delay's resignation Saturday Washington. DC - Judge Samuel Alito will face questioning from senators at this week's confirmation hearings Morgantown, WV - The Sago explosion survivor may be brought out of his coma Sunday, attending physicians have said ENTERTAINMENT The Black Eyed Peas will headline the sixth Honda Civic Tour, slated to begin March 23 in Fresno, California Elvis Costello will launch a mini-tour of his orchestral work Il Sogno starting March 27th in San Francisco Lisa-Marie Presley joined 100 others to witness the marriage of US crooner Pink and motocross racer Carey Hart in Costa Rica NEWS Richmond, VA - Similarities have led police to believe that men arrested a Saturday killing may also have murdered another family last week Port-au-Prince, Haiti - The commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Haiti has been found dead BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two U.S. Marines were killed Saturday west of Baghdad while three were killed Sunday in Fallujah Saturday January 14, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - Senate Democrats are delaying Samuel Alito's Supreme Court vote next week but are expected to confirm LONGWOOD, FL - The gun that a 15-year-old took to his Florida school Friday was a pellet gun made to resemble a handgun Baghdad, Iraq - The second American helicopter in a week to be shot down in Iraq claimed the lives of two pilots Friday ENTERTAINMENT Ernest Hemingway's Bimini hotel retreat, The Compleat Angler, went up in flames Friday DMX, surrounded by dogs, motorcycles, and a dozen Ruff Ryders, announced Friday he's signed a deal with Sony Stevie Wonder, Little Richard, Lou Gossett Jr. and Angela Bassett attended a Los Angeles memorial for Lou Rawls, Friday NEWS Tehran, Iran - Iranian President Ahmadinejad says his country does not need nuclear weapons Baghdad, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's trial Judge, Rizgar Mohammed Amin, has tendered his resignation but it's yet to be accepted Beijing, China - The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party met Saturday to select a new prime minister ENTERTAINMENT Korn went to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Friday the 13th to announce the 'See You on the Other Side' tour starting in February The Sci Fi Channel announced Friday that it's airing an updated version of the BBC's Doctor Who starting in March Ex-Nightline reporter Dave Marash starts a job at Al-Jazeera International, an English version of Al-Jazeera, this spring NEWS Vancouver, Canada - A man arrested with bomb-making equipment while trying to cross into the US four years ago was deported from Canada Friday Mecca, Saudi Arabia - Saudi authorities said Friday that worries about baggage added to the panic in a stampede that killed 363 Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan made a protest Saturday over a pre-dawn attack that killed at least 17 people Sunday January 15, 2006 Washington, DC - Missouri's Roy Blunt believes he's got enough backing to replace Tom DeLay as majority leader Kuwait, Kuwait - Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, 77, is the new Emir of Kuwait Santiago, Chile - Michelle Bachelet is favored to win Sunday's Chilean presidential election ENTERTAINMENT Eminem married his sweetheart Saturday in a ceremony referred to as 'a real classy, intimate affair' Starting April 4th Starbucks will be selling the soundtrack of Lions Gate Entertainment's upcoming Akeelah and the Bee Shelley Winters, known as Shirley Schrift when Harry Cohn offered her a screen test, has passed on at 85 NEWS Williamsburg, Virginia - Timothy M. Kaine was sworn in Saturday as Virginia's 70th governor Kabul, Afghanistan - An unidentified Canadian was killed Sunday after a suicide bomber struck a military convoy Chicago, IL - Fugitive Joey 'The Clown' Lombardo, on the lam from an anti-mob indictment, was arrested Friday ENTERTAINMENT David Hyde Pierce will star in the musical Curtains set to premiere at California's Ahmanson theatre in July Epic/Legacy is reissuing the classic Cheap Trick albums Dream Police and All Shook Up March 7 The Beat Museum has opened in North Beach, San Francisco where the movement took off 50 years ago NEWS Washington, DC - The Treasury Department announced tax credits Friday for buyers of hybrid vehicles Moscow, Russia - In the latest Russian-Ukraine friction, discussions are heating up over a Crimean lighthouse Dugway Proving Ground, Utah - A space capsule carrying comet dust landed in the desert before dawn Sunday Saturday January 21, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - An indictment was issued against 11 animal-liberation activists, Saturday, including two Canadians Baltimore, MD - The ACLU claimed victory in a same-sex marriage trial in Maryland Friday London, England - A seven ton whale is trying to beaching itself in the Thames River ENTERTAINMENT 2005's American Idol Carrie Underwood is debuting her first album Some Hearts which includes the first single, 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' A one minute hearing granted Angelina Jolie's wish to change her children's names from Jolie to Jolie-Pitt The Miss America Pageant will debut Saturday in its new home, Las Vegas, after years in Atlantic City NEWS Melville, WV - Smoke and heat from an underground fire is hampering a Saturday search for two West Virginia miners Washington, DC - An American email campaign by a conservative group is urging others to not comment on a possible victory by the Canadian Conservative party Istanbul, Turkey - Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981, was returned to jail Saturday to serve out his full sentence for killing a Turkish journalist ENTERTAINMENT Gillian Anderson plays Lady Dedlock in a six-part PBS version of Charles Dickens Bleak House starting Sunday Broadway's Tony-winning hit Spamalot will open at the Palace Theatre in London, England on October 2 Cleft-chinned character actor Anthony Franciosa, once married to Shelley Winters, has died in Los Angeles at 77 NEWS Kathmandu, Nepal - Dozens of protesters, defying government orders not to protest royal direct rule, were arrested Saturday Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan said Saturday that the US and Pakistan must work to avoid repeating US attacks on Pakistani targets Pristina, Kosovo - Kosovo's Ibrahim Rugova, who became president in March 2002, died Saturday of lung cancer at 61 Sunday January 22, 2006 NEWS New York, NY - A 1779 portrait of George Washington sold for $21.3 Saturday at Christie's auction house Melville, WV - Governor Joe Manchin promised to introduce mine safety legislation Sunday after two bodies were found in mine fire Fort Carson, CO - A high-ranking US officer was found guilty Friday of negligent homicide in the death of Iraqi Major General Abed Hamed Mowhoush ENTERTAINMENT A buyer paid more than $2m for James Bond's fully optioned 1965 Aston Martin DB5 at a sale in Phoenix, Arizona Fox has announced that American Idol's first season is going into syndication while the fifth season has only just begun Jennifer Berry, a 22-year-old from Oklahoma, won the 2006 Miss America title Saturday at a Las Vegas pageant NEWS San Francisco, CA - Demonstrators marked the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade with dueling protest rallies Muzaffarabad, Pakistan - A Red Cross earthquake relief helicopter has disappeared with seven crew members on board Port Alberni, BC - A single-engine plane crash has killed three on the west coast of Canada ENTERTAINMENT Kiptronic, a new San Francisco-based startup company, has devised a method for podcasters to insert advertising On Sunday, NBC announced the cancellation of its Emmy-winning political drama West Wing in May Billboard's top-earning artists list for 2005 has U2 ($255m), Rolling Stones ($153m), Kenny Chesney ($87m), Paul McCartney ($84m) and Elton John ($77m) NEWS Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is in China Sunday where he's expected to discuss oil, energy and trade Dubai, UAE - A pirate ship carrying 16 Indians and 10 Somalis was boarded by the US Navy Saturday in the Indian Ocean Tbilisi, Georgia - Georgia has accused Moscow of sabotage after explosions at Russian pipelines cut off gas supplies Wednesday January 25, 2006 Carlsbad, CA - Four people were killed Tuesday when a privately owned, twin-engine jet hit a storage warehouse Baghdad, Iraq - A vehicle accident west of Baghdad claimed the lives of two Marines Monday East Jerusalem, Palestine - Tight security and high voter turnout is expected Palestians vote go to the polls BUSINESS Microsoft decided to license the Windows Server source code Wednesday to address European concerns BellSouth reported that a Cingular Wireless joint venture resulted in a 34 percent rise in quarterly profit Lexmark International announced layoffs of 825 jobs after price cuts reduced fourth-quarter profit by 47 percent NEWS Havana, Cuba - Fidel Castro arranged a protest march Tuesday to bring attention to a US mission news sign carrying 'perfidious' messages Montevideo, Uruguay - Specialists have identified the remains of a man 'disappeared' during the military dictatorship The Hague, Netherlands - In an official report, European Council Senator Dick Marty said European members were aware of CIA secret prisons ENTERTAINMENT NBC said Tuesday that the controversial religious drama The Book of Daniel has been dropped from the schedule Jamie Foxx stars in Jamie Foxx: Unpredictable Wednesday night with guests that include musical legend Stevie Wonder Crooner Brandy will provide her voice and likeness for a video game and original soundtrack due out in early 2007 BUSINESS Boston Scientific's victory over Johnson & Johnson in the acquisition of Guidant will benefit third-party Abbott Labs McDonald's Corp. announced Tuesday its intention to add drive-thrus in China Reebok International shareholders voted Wednesday to approve a $3.8 billion acquisition deal from Adidas-Salomon AG NEWS Washington, DC - A temporary Supreme Court stay was granted Tuesday for Florida death row inmate Clarence Hill Washington, DC - President Bush is giving a speech Wednesday on domestic surveillance at the National Security Agency Los Angeles, CA - Chris Penn, Sean Penn's younger brother, was found dead in his Santa Monica home Wednesday ENTERTAINMENT Aerosmith and Cheap Trick have confirmed a tour running from March 2 in Hollywood, Florida to April 9 in Vancouver The Tony-winning musical Spamalot's national tour will start March 7th in Boston and star Michael Siberry as King Arthur Magnum PI will hit the big screen with director Rawson Marshall Thurber at the helm Saturday January 28, 2006 NEWS Sacremento, CA - Kenneth Starr has made a plea on behalf of death row inmate Michael Morales for clemency Corpus Christi, TX - Two people were killed Friday when their training plane crashed in a residential area Davos, Switzerland - Israeli VP Shimon Peres suggested Friday Israel could work with Hamas if they abandoned terrorism ENTERTAINMENT A Gray Lines bus crashed through the wall of a Toronto Sound Studio Friday after being sideswiped by another bus Daniel Breaker, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, John Hoffman and Christina Kirk have been added to the cast of Broadway's Well Nas will release his first album on his own imprint 'the Jones Experience' later this year NEWS Washington, DC - President Bush's 2007 budget plan due February 6th includes plans to cut reserves and reduce aircraft programs Dearborn, MI - Ford says that as of Wednesday only workers driving Ford-made vehicles will park in the employee lot at the truck plant Davos, Switzerland - Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres suggested Friday that Israel could work with Hamas as long as they abandoned terrorism NEWS Kandahar, Afghanistan - Three newly built schools were burned down Friday night by Taliban rebels Gaza, Palestine - Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said that Palestine would consider forming a national army Ryadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia ordered its ambassador home from Denmark because of caricatures of Muhammad in a Danish paper ENTERTAINMENT PBS will air the documentary African American Lives February 1st about the personal lives of eight black Americans West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin is planning a new show about a TV sketch-comedy show with Matthew Perry Oprah Winfrey apologized Friday for promoting James Frey's allegedly fraudulent memoir of drug abuse Sunday January 29, 2006 NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - News anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman were seriously hurt Sunday in a bombing attack New York, NY - An off-duty city police officer was shot by an on-duty police officer responding to a 911 call Saturday Kuwait City, Kuwait - The new emir of Kuwait, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, was sworn in on Sunday ENTERTAINMENT At Sundance, the dramatic film Quinceanera and the documentary God Grew Tired of Us each won both the jury prize and audience award Saturday Ang Lee received best director honors from the Directors Guild of America for his film Brokeback Mountain The Getty Villa museum, closed since 1997, reopened to the public Saturday, after a $275m transformation NEWS Washington, DC - Proposals for health care incentives are expected in Tuesday's State of the Union address Las Vegas, NV - A street fight on the Las Vegas Strip resulted in 14 arrests and minor injuries Saturday night Baghdad, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's trial has been adjourned until Wednesday after the ousted leader stormed out of court Sunday ENTERTAINMENT Lestat ends its San Francisco run Sunday then heads to NYC for an April 13 opening at the Palace Theatre The director of 60 Minutes since its 1968 debut, Arthur Bloom, 63, has died at his home in Grand View-on-Hudson, N.Y Merle Haggard and Buddy Guy are among guests who'll celebrate guitar legend Les Paul's 90th birthday February 7th in LA NEWS Washington, DC - Ben Bernanke is widely expected to win Senate approval on Tuesday to become chairman of the US Federal Reserve Katowice, Poland - Polish authorities called off rescue efforts early Sunday at a trade center abandoning hope of finding more survivors Jerusalem, Israel - Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel demand that Hamas honors prior Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements Saturday February 4, 2006 NEWS Centreville, AL - Arson is suspected in fires at five rural Alabama churches New Bedford, MS - Massachusetts police are looking for an 18-year-old man alleged to have attacked patrons at a gay bar with a hatchet Los Angeles, CA - 13 were injured when a car crashed into a health clinic waiting room on Friday ENTERTAINMENT Filming is set to start next week on Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix R. Kelly is nominated for three awards at the 20th Annual Soul Train Music Awards Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin are set to start work on a new Smashing Pumpkins album after reportedly signing with Front Line Management NEWS Hurghada, Egypt - Survivors of an Egyptian ferry sinking are saying that the ship was on fire three hours before it sank Anchorage, AK - Alaska's Department of the Environment says an oil tanker loaded with 18 million barrels of oil has been re-floated Damascus, Syria - Hundreds of angry Syrian demonstrators set fire to the Danish Embassy in Damascus Saturday ENTERTAINMENT U2's the Edge took part in a Hollywood benefit this week to replace musician's instruments lost during Hurricane Katrina Raven-Symone plays a teen trying to end segregated proms at her school in For One Night on Lifetime Monday February 6th Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow have made a joint statement announcing their separation NEWS Manila, Phillipines - At least 73 have died and more than 300 injured in a stampede outside a sports stadium Saturday Tehran, Iran - After being reported to the UN Security Council Saturday, Iran said that a Russian proposal to solve a nuclear standoff is off Port-Au-Prince, Haiti - UN peacekeeping soldiers are stepping up patrols Saturday in preparation for Tuesday's election Sunday February 5, 2006 NEWS Gassville, AR - Jacob Robida, wanted in an attack at a gay bar, shot and killed an Arkansas police officer before being shot Saturday Atlanta, GA - Thousands of mourners paid final respects to Coretta Scott King at the Georgia Capitol building Saturday Los Angeles, CA - One inmate has been killed and 20 hospitalized in a race-related riot at the Men's Central jail ENTERTAINMENT Actor Al 'Grandpa Munster' Lewis, who once ran for governor of New York under the Green Party banner passed on Saturday The Writers Guild of America named Crash as best original screenplay and Brokeback Mountain as best adapted screenplay Saturday Rhino records is planning a US reissue of Elvis Costello's collaboration with the Brodsky Quartet, The Juliet Letters March 21st NEWS Brierfield, AL - A $10,000 reward has been posted for information about fires set at five rural churches Balochistan, Pakistan - At least 12 people have been killed in a bomb explosion on a bus carrying 50 passengers Sunday Beirut, Lebanon - Muslims set fire to the Danish Embassy in Beirut and burned Danish flags Sunday ENTERTAINMENT Wednesday's Grammy Awards is being seen as a race between Mariah Carey and Kanye West, each with eight nods Hoping to avoid another 'wardrobe malfunction' ABC is putting a five-second delay on Sunday's Super Bowl telecast The International Animated Film Society has awarded nine prizes to Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the WereRabbit NEWS Tehran, Iran - Iran has ended cooperation with UN inspectors Sunday but will still consider processing its uranium in Russia Safaga, Egypt - Relatives of Egyptian ferry passengers stormed the docks in Safaga as rescuers continued to search for around 800 still missing Kandahar, Afghanistan - Six policemen were killed and five wounded when a roadside bomb exploded south of Kandahar City Saturday February 11, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - A late-winter storm is expected in the capitol region Saturday with up to fourteen inches of snow Jerusalem, Israel - Ariel Sharon underwent his seventh operation in five weeks Saturday to repair his digestive tract Fort Lauderdale, FL - A Haitian woman was charged with smuggling a human head into the US when a skull used for Voudou was found in her luggage ENTERTAINMENT BMG North America chairman Clive Davis plans to add to Barry Manilow new success with The Greatest Songs of the '60's ABC's World News Tonight may have to replace another anchor now that 43-year-old Elizabeth Vargas is expecting Franklin Cover, the character actor who played Tom Willis for 10 years on TV's The Jeffersons, has passed away at 77 NEWS Moscow, Russia - President Vladimir Putin has issued an invitation to Hamas leaders to meet in Moscow Washington, DC - The US government plans to sell $1b in land, including 85,000 acres of forest in California Yosemite National Park, CA - A mysterious fungus is threatening the mountain yellow-legged frog in the Sierra Nevada range ENTERTAINMENT George Clinton and Sinead O'Connor are working with Reggae icon Lee 'Scratch' Perry on material by Bob Marley's Wailers Adventurer Steve Fossett broke a record for nonstop flight Saturday, flying 26,389 miles in about 76 hours Hip-hop producer Jay Dee, a founding member of the Detroit rap outfit Slum Village, died Friday at 32 NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - The ruling Islamist Shi'ite alliance couldn't pick a candidate for prime minister again Saturday Kyoto, Japan - A man was killed and others injured Friday when an avalanche crashed onto an outdoor bath in Japan A California man was indicted Friday on charges of creating a 'botnet' of hijacked computers to install unsolicited adware Sunday February 12, 2006 NEWS New York, NY - The Northeast was hit by a foot of snow early Sunday, knocking out power and canceling flights Boston, MS - A man charged in the deaths of his daughter and wife says he found them dead before fleeing to England Baghdad, Iraq - Iraqi Shiites elected Ibrahim al-Jaafari as Prime Minister of the new government by one vote Sunday ENTERTAINMENT NBC is planning a singing competition based on the Eurovision Song Contest to compete with Fox's American Idol George Clooney says he's not expecting to win any Oscars this year despite his three nominations Actor Christian Slater, 36, is seeking joint custody of his 4-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son NEWS Harrisburg, PA - Former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann was endorsed to run for governor of Pennsylvania Saturday Birmingham, AL - A tenth Baptist church in Alabama was set on fire Saturday night Port-Au-Prince, Haiti - Results from Haiti's election are expected to be finalized Sunday with Rene Preval in the lead ENTERTAINMENT Merv Griffin visited his alma mater, the San Mateo High School, Friday to see the new Merv Griffin Quad The Wedding Singer, premiering at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, will move to Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre in March Ahead of the The Da Vinci Code film, the door to a Roman Catholic agency now has a sign that says,'the real Opus Dei' NEWS London, England - British PM Tony Blair said Sunday reports of British troops abusing young Iraqis will be investigated Rome, Italy -Italy and Greece have said that the bird flu has reached there while the EU confirmed its presence in Bulgaria Brisbane, Australia - A feeding frenzy by over one 100 sharks has closed beaches along Australia's Gold Coast Sunday Saturday February 18, 2006 NEWS Corpus Christi, TX - Harry Whittington, the 78-year-old shot by VP Cheney, was released from the hospital Friday Washington, DC - The US said Friday that an inspector misunderstood new trade rules when shipping prohibited veal to Japan Manila, Phillipines - Fear of a new mudslide has prompted rescuers to suspend the search for pupils buried alive ENTERTAINMENT The first Mardi Gras parade of 2006 drew thousands of cheering onlookers to the streets Friday night Fans are pouring into Rio de Janeiro for a free Rolling Stones show at Copacabana Beach Saturday night Sony BMG is releasing The Essential Roy Orbison March 28 with recordings reaching back as far as 1956 NEWS Orlando, FL - President Bush said Friday that he'd support an expanded NATO role in Darfur London, England - 10,000 people marched in London Saturday, protesting Prophet Muhammad caricatures Lawrence, MA - A judge threw out charges Friday against men accused of stealing antique bills dating from 1899 that they found in an old barn ENTERTAINMENT Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead will end its Broadway run February 20th Nick Lachey is seeking spousal support in his divorce proceedings with Jessica Simpson Ray Barretto, a pioneer of Latin jazz and salsa music, died Friday in a New Jersey hospital at 76 NEWS Tripoli, Libya - Libya suspended its interior minister Saturday, after 10 people died protesting Prophet Muhammad cartoons Tehran, Iran - A suggestion by the Director General of the IAEA to allow a pilot enrichment plant in Iran was hailed as 'a step forward' Toronto, Canada - The Ontario Environment Minister has filed a formal objection to US plans to relax pollution controls Sunday February 19, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - President Bush said Saturday that he wants nuclear energy to replace US dependence on foreign energy Rochester, NY - Cold air and fierce winds have left four dead and 200,000 homes without power from the Midwest to NY Jerusalem, Israel - Acting Israeli PM Ehud Olmert approved sanctions against the Palestinian Authority Sunday ENTERTAINMENT A million people from as far away as Europe and Japan filled Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach Saturday for a free Rolling Stones concert Willie Nelson put on a free concert for troops at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio Friday Michael Jackson agreed to provide ex-wife Debbie Rowe $900,000 a year and a one-time $4 million in a divorce settlement NEWS Omaha, NE - Lottery officials said Sunday that a Powerball ticket sold in Nebraska has the winning jackpot numbers St.Louis, MO - An American astronomer Margaret Turnbull has said 'beta CVn' a star in the constellation Canes Venatici is the most likely to support life Tokyo, Japan - Japan sent a satellite to be be used to control air traffic and act as a backup weather guide into orbit Saturday ENTERTAINMENT The Russian film Hare Over The Abyss depicts Leonid Brezhnev dreaming of freedom and pining for the Queen of England The 56th Berlin Film Festival has awarded the Golden Bear award to Grbavica a drama about the Bosnian war The African-American Cultural Center of Greater Pittsburgh is now the August Wilson Center for African-American Culture NEWS Guinsaugan, Philippines Phillipinos began filling mass graves Sunday as rescuers despaired of finding more survivors Jerusalem, Israel Four Palestinians were killed in separate incidents in the West Bank and Gaza Sunday Toronto, Canada Philip Coyle, a former presidential military adviser, warned Canadians away from the American missile defense plan Saturday Saturday February 25, 2006 NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - Iraq's Defense Minister extended a traffic ban in Baghdad to Monday Manila, Philippines - The office of an opposition newspaper was raided in the Philippines Saturday Raleigh, NC - Seven paratroopers from the 82ND Airborne Division were charged Friday with engaging in lewd acts ENTERTAINMENT Sheryl Crow's Wednesday breast cancer surgery was reportedly successful Irishmen Bob Geldof and Bono are among the nominees announced Friday for a 2006 Nobel Peace Prize The Who's 2006 European tour will start June 25 in Leeds, England - North America dates are TBA NEWS London, England - London Mayor Ken Livingstone was suspended for four weeks Friday after slighting a Jewish reporter Manama, Bahrain - According to an al-Qaeda website, bombers are threatening to attack more Saudi oil facilities Bangkok, Thailand - Opposition parties said Saturday they'd boycott a snap election NEWS Pierre, SD - South Dakota lawmakers approved a ban on abortions Friday, excepting only when a life is at risk Austin, Texas - A powder discovered at a University of Texas dormitory was confirmed Friday as the deadly poison ricin Hildale, UT - Utah Justice Court Judge Walter Steed stepped down Friday because of alleged polygamy ENTERTAINMENT Harvard University named Richard Gere Hasty Pudding Man of the Year and Halle Berry Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Sex Pistols Johnny Rotten and Steve Jones will do a guest interview appearance March 9 on Jimmy Kimmel Live Eric Clapton's European tour opens May 5 in Le Cannet, France and ends July 31st in Helsinki, Finland Sunday February 26, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - President Bush defended the Medicare prescription drug program in his Saturday radio broadcast Cleveland, OH - After the Harvard resignation, a Case Western Reserve University prof wants to oust Case president Edward Hundert Moscow, Russia - An undisclosed 'precondition' is involved in a nuclear agreement reached Sunday between Iran and Russia ENTERTAINMENT Don Knotts, who portrayed Deputy Barney Fife in the Andy Griffith Show, has passed on at 81 Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby won Best foreign film on Saturday at the Cesars, France's version of the Oscars Jamie Foxx was picked as best male musical artist at the 37th Annual NAACP Image Awards on Saturday NEWS Ramallah, Palestine - US Foreign Affairs spokesman David Welch pledged ongoing humanitarian aid for Palestine Saturday Orlando, FL - Police made 17 arrests at a clash between a neo-Nazi group and counter-demonstrators Saturday Kabul, Afghanistan - 1,500 prisoners, including Taliban members, rioted Saturday night at a high-security Afghani prison ENTERTAINMENT A stretch of road near Bakersfield's Rabobank Arena was renamed 'Korn Row' last week to honor the hometown band Korn Jessica Simpson, in Santa Fe filming Employee of the Month, dined at the governor's mansion late last week Emmy-winning actor Darren McGavin died on Saturday at a Los Angeles hospital at 83 NEWS Washington, DC - The chairman of the Senate Energy Committee says the US should rid itself of foreign oil imports Washington, DC - President Bush supports a UAE Company's ports management deal delay to give lawmakers time to understand it London, England - Lady Diana's chauffeur on the night of her death was a French intelligence agent according to testimony at a London inquiry Saturday March 4, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - The Pentagon has been forced to publish names of hundreds of prisoners being held in Guantanamo Bay San Diego, CA - A Former California Representative was sentenced Friday to eight years for taking $2.4m in bribes Moscow, Russia - Leaders of Hamas met with Russian diplomats Friday but held firm on their anti-Israeli position ENTERTAINMENT John Travolta has joined the cast of the new Hairspray film, signing on to play housewife Edna Turnblad E.L. Doctorow, author of Ragtime, has won the National Book Critics Circle prize for fiction for his novel The March Three 6 Mafia's performance at the Academy Awards Sunday will be the first time a rap song has been performed there NEWS Alexandria, VA - Candice Martinez was sentenced Friday to 12 years for robberies committed while talking on a cell phone Miami, FL - Domino's Pizza founder, Tom Monaghan, is building Ave Maria, an all-Catholic town northwest of Miami London, England - English detectives recovered another 7 million pounds from last week's 53-million-pound robbery ENTERTAINMENT Coldplay is enlisting five Canadian fans to help film its Toronto concerts on March 22ND and 23rd Bruce Springsteen's We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions, featuring Pete Seeger cover is due April 25th Johnny Jackson, a former Jackson Five drummer, was found dead Wednesday in a Gary, Indiana home NEWS New York, NY - RIM and NTP have agreed to a $612.5m settlement in the BlackBerry copyright infringement lawsuit Quito, Ecuador - Former President Lucio Gutierrez was released Friday from a jail term for ordering military action against protesters Vung Tau, Vietnam - Former rocker Gary Glitter was sentenced to three years in prison Friday for committing obscene acts Sunday March 5, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - The Pentagon has ordered an investigation into the 2004 Afghanistan death of Pat Tillman Moundsville, WV - A man has died and three others injured at a power-plant's burning 1,000-foot-tall smokestack Saturday Beijing, China - Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, said Sunday China will introduce a rural cooperative medical plan ENTERTAINMENT Jenny McCarthy's Dirty Love won big at the Razzies Saturday taking 4 of 10 categories including worst film Mariah won best album and best single honors at the 20th Annual Soul Train Music Awards Saturday The Oprah Winfrey-produced Color Purple, will open at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre in April 2007 Sunday March 12, 2006 NEWS Little Rock, AR - FEMA says trailers meant to provide shelter in New Orleans are unused because of regulations Shoals, IN - A house fire killed a couple and four children in a rural area 90 miles southwest of Indianapolis Saturday Teheran, Iran - Iran declared Sunday that a Russian proposal to treat uranium is 'not on our agenda anymore' ENTERTAINMENT The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian is expected to screen in 2007 The Movieland Wax Museum auctioned 500 items Saturday night in an 'Everything Must Go' sale Natalie Portman prepared for V For Vendetta by shaving her head and reading Israeli PM Menachem Begin's autobiography NEWS Washington, DC - Former presidential domestic policy adviser, Claude Allen, was arrested last week in on theft charges St. Mary, MO - Two people died when tornadoes tore through Missouri and Illinois Saturday night The Hague, Netherlands - The chief United Nations prosecutor said Sunday he believes Slobodan Milosevic committed suicide ENTERTAINMENT South African film fans cheered the cast of Tsotsi at the Johannesburg airport Sunday William Shatner, whose 1954 TV debut was as Ranger Bill on the Howdy Doody Show, celebrates his 75th birthday Sunday The romantic comedy Failure to Launch topped the weekend with $24.6 million NEWS Paris, France - Riot police used tear gas Saturday to disperse Sorbonne University students barricaded inside a classroom Baghdad, Iraq - 37 have died and 84 injured by bombings and mortar attacks at a Shiite slum in Baghdad Sunday Kabul, Afghanistan - The head of the Afghan Parliament upper house survived a suicide car bombing Sunday that killed four Monday March 13, 2006 NATIONAL Lawrence, KS - 10 were killed early Monday morning by tornadoes that also shut down the University of Kansas Washington, DC - US Senator Russ Feingold will move Monday to censure President Bush for authorizing illegal wiretapping Kabul, Afghanistan - US troops swept the Pech valley Monday, arresting 11 believed responsible for Sunday's bombing BUSINESS Newspaper publisher McClatchy said Monday it will pay about $4.5b for Knight-Ridder London Stock Exchange shares jumped about 28 percent after Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. offered $4.1b for the exchange Kia Motors CEO Chung Eui-sun and Georgia State Governor Sonny Perdue signed an agreement to build a plant in Georgia ENTERTAINMENT Brad Bird, whose The Incredibles won an Oscar for Pixar, has been put in charge of the studio's latest film, Ratatouille According to the Hollywood Reporter, Alicia Silverstone has been signed as the lead in ABC's comedy pilot Pink Collar U2 has rescheduled the last 10 performances of their Vertigo tour for November NEWS London, England - Britain announced Monday that it will cut about 800 troops from Iraq by May Rivera, Colombia - Early returns in the congressional elections show support for pro-US President Alvaro Uribe Beijing, China - 17 people died and five are missing after a gas explosion Monday at an Inner Mongolian mine ENTERTAINMENT Sean Connery is back home in the Bahamas where he is recovering from recent surgery Jimmy Kimmel says MTV producer Tony 'The Andy Milonakis Story' DiSanto is in touch with his inner teenager Actress Maureen Stapleton, known for dramatic and comedic roles on stage, screen and television, died Monday at 80 BUSINESS NEWS Watson Pharmaceuticals agreed Monday to buy Andrx Corp. for $1.9 billion Pinnacle Entertainment is buying Aztar for about $2.1 billion Email marketer Datran Media has agreed to a $1.1 million NY settlement over mailing list charges Saturday March 18, 2005 NEWS Florence, SC - SC manhunt ended Friday when convicted sex offender Kenneth G. Hinson was turned in by a relative New York, NY - The head of NY's St. Patrick's Day Parade compared letting gays take part to allowing Nazis at ethnic events Washington, DC - The US Congress has increased the legal federal borrowing limit for a fourth time ENTERTAINMENT The mayor of Cenobbio, Italy, says she's been asked to standby for possible official 'Brad and Angelina' duties Comedy Central has pulled an episode of South Park that takes shots at Scientology Fashion designer Oleg Cassini, whose sixties creations were worn by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis passed on yesterday at 92 NEWS Paris, France - Students and workers marched Saturday for the second time in three days to protest a government jobs plan Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Hamas confirmed Saturday that it's formed a government without coalition partners Beijing, China - A high-profile case against a New York Times researcher has been dropped by China ENTERTAINMENT A new investigation is looking into the 1997 unsolved murder of rapper Notorious BIG in Los Angeles This summer's Lollapalooza is going to include the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queens of the Stone Age Sheryl Crow has announced that she's hitting the road, beginning June 12 at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis NEWS Wellington, New Zealand - A New Zealand team was dispatched to an erupting South Pacific volcano on Raoul Island Saturday Madrid, Spain - A large street party turned into a riot in Barcelona early Saturday with 68 people injured and 54 arrested Sydney, Australia - Anti-war demonstrations Saturday in Australia and Europe marked the third anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq Sunday March 19, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - President Bush named Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne as the new interior secretary Saturday Amarillo, TX - Rain is easing hot spots from wildfires that have burned 840,000 acres and killed at least 11 Paris, France - France vowed Sunday to resist demands to withdraw employment legislation despite continuing mass protests ENTERTAINMENT Walter Fagen, 'the pop equivalent of Woody Allen' says he feels more at home in Manhattan than anywhere else Don't Come Knocking, another Wim Wenders/Sam Shepard collaboration, opens Friday 87-year-old Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela told the crew of Tsotsi Saturday about his turn as a teenage pig thief NEWS Washington, DC - I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby's lawyers are suggesting the State Department may be responsible CIA leaks Florence, NC - Kenneth G. Hinson, arrested Friday on charges of criminal sexual assault was denied bond Saturday Jaypura, Indonesia - Papua residents are saying police pulled people from cars during protests at a US-owned mine ENTERTAINMENT Rumors are swirling around the Capitol Records tower in Los Angeles that it is about to be sold Christina Aguilera's upcoming album Back to Basics pays homage to soul, jazz and blues from the 1920s, '30s and '40s Al Pacino will play King Herod Antipas in Oscar Wilde's Salome at the Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles April 27th NEWS Minsk, Belarus - Alexander Lukashenko, the incumbent president, is favoured to win Sunday's elections Karbala, Iraq - Thousands of Iraqi police are watching as Shiite pilgrims journey to Karbala Moscow, Russia - A section of tunnel has collapsed on a metro train in Moscow, possibly causing a fire on board Saturday March 25, 2006 NEWS Brainerd, MN - The WWII airman found frozen in a California glacier after six decades missing, was buried Friday Snowflake, AZ - A couple rescued from a motor home in Oregon this week have been charged with possessing drugs in Arizona Newark, NJ - The bodies from the Chilean bus crash were flown back to the US Friday for a Saturday memorial service ENTERTAINMENT Randy Quaid filed suit Thursday claiming he should have been paid more for his work on Brokeback Mountain Skater Sasha Cohen, who handled Oscar interviews for Inside Editions, says she'd like to do more show biz work A live-action English-made version of The Simpsons, will kick off Sunday's animated Simpsons NEWS Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI officiated the second of two ceremonies Saturday installing 15 new cardinals Sioux Falls, NJ - The South Dakota Campaign For Healthy Families is collecting signatures to place South Dakota's abortion ban on hold Minsk, Belarus - 5,000 Belarus opposition members staged a rally in central Minsk Saturday to demand a new election ENTERTAINMENT Angela Lansbury says she can 'dance and bop around' again after successful knee replacement surgery Hee Haw co-host and singer Buck Owens, known for such country hits as 'Act Naturally' passed away Saturday at 76 A temporary restraining order has been issued to keep David Hasselhoff away from his estranged wife, Pamela Bach NEWS Bangkok, Thailand - Thailand protesters say demonstrations against PM Thaksin Shinawatra will end if he's banned from re-election Jerusalem, Israel - Palestinian President Abbas urged Israel and the US to help negotiate a peace agreement Seattle, WA - Microsoft announced Friday that its newest version of Office will also be delayed Sunday March 26, 2006 NEWS Selmer, TN - Mary Winkler, charged with the murder last week was returned Saturday to Tennessee from Alabama Seattle, WA - A gunman killed six party goers and committed suicide at a house party in Seattle Saturday Piedmont, AL - Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to the get the Medal of Honor, died Friday at 87 ENTERTAINMENT Richard Fleischer, director of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Conan the Destroyer, passed away Saturday at 89 The Hemingway Preservation Foundation is off to Finca Vigia, Cuba to see if Ernest Hemingway's fishing boat, Pilar, can be restored A NY appeals court has ruled that Jay Leno did not violate a Civil Rights law by airing an unflattering photo for a joke NEWS Denver, CO - A federal arrest warrant was issued Saturday for a man suspected of planting bombs at the homes of co-workers Kabul, Afghanistan - A Kabul judge has ordered an Afghan man who converted from Islam to Christianity to be freed Kiev, Ukraine - More than 35 million Ukrainian voters are voting Sunday for a new 450-seat parliament ENTERTAINMENT Caroline Fentress, wife of actor Chris O'Donnell, gave birth Thursday in Los Angeles to their fourth child, a boy Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me is set to begin previews at Broadway's Jacob's Theatre on July 22ND Sarah Caldwell, Boston opera impresario, conductor, and stage director, has died at 82 NEWS Moscow, Russia - Russia denied Saturday that Russia passed information about the invasion of Iraq on to Saddam Hussein Lagos, Nigeria - Nigeria agreed Saturday to let Liberian authorities arrest exiled leader Charles Taylor Baghdad, Iraq - Police are reporting Sunday that 18 people have been killed in a clash at an eastern Baghdad mosque Saturday April 1, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - Former deputy chief of staff Tony Rudy pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to corrupt public officials Indianapolis, Indiana - Most Americans will set their clocks ahead at 2 Sunday morning while Indiana will do so for the first time Paris, France - French President Jacque Chirac said on Friday that he intends to sign a controversial employment proposal ENTERTAINMENT Courtney Love has made about $50 million from the sale of a 25 per cent stake in rock group Nirvana's back catalogue Country singer George Jones, in Nashville's Baptist Hospital for pneumonia treatment, is expected to make a full recovery Coldplay sold 8.3 million copies of its album X&Y to make it the world's best-selling album of 2005 NEWS Miami, FL - Charles McArthur Emmanuel, the son of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, has been arrested in Miami Tehran, Iran - Aid workers distributed 15,000 tents to thousands left homeless Friday while residents fear more aftershocks Jerusalem, Israel- The Palestinian Hamas government met Friday night and pledged to 'end public displays of weapons' NEWS Washington, DC - Rep. Cynthia McKinney says a Capitol Hill guard was racist in stopping her at a security checkpoint Ramstein Air Base, Germany - American journalist Jill Carroll was flown to Germany Saturday on her way back home Washington, DC - Tony Rudy faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine under a plea filed Friday in US District Court ENTERTAINMENT Prosecutors in Palm Beach County have dropped charges against 51-year-old, Greek-born, pianist Yanni This summer's Superman Returns will have some sequences shown at giant Imax screens in 3-D Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons have separated after seven years of marriage Sunday April 2, 2006 NEWS Ramstein Air Base, Germany Jill Carroll said she made remarks critical of the US under duress to 'go home alive' Fargo, ND - Snow and heavy rain is forcing the Red River and its tributaries to rise in North Dakota and Minnesota Sunday Baghdad, Iraq - Condoleezza Rice and Britain's Jack Straw flew unannounced into Baghdad Sunday ENTERTAINMENT 20th Century Fox is showing a 25 second trailer in theatres announcing a Simpsons movie in 2007 Soprano Erika Sunnegardh, who went from waitressing to the Met in 18 months, debuted Saturday in Beethoven's Fidelio David Lee Roth has returned to his radio show after a two- day CBS-enforced suspension for 'not obeying directives' NEWS New Orleans, LA - Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton led hundreds to protest a system of mail-in voting Saturday Freetown, Sierra Leone - It's expected to take weeks to move former Charles Taylor to The Hague to stand trial Bangkok, Thailand - The opposition is boycotting a snap Thai election Sunday ENTERTAINMENT Pamela Anderson is disappointed that Canadian PM Stephen Harper wouldn't meet with her to discuss the seal hunt Hundreds of fans were slimed during Saturday's 'raucous' 19th annual Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston will split almost $25 million from the sale of their former Beverly Hills home NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - The US military said Sunday that an Apache helicopter was shot down with two crew members presumed dead Vatican City - A year after his death, the Vatican is considering beatification for Pope John Paul II Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - A plane crash has claimed the lives of 19 people in a mountainous region outside Rio de Janeiro Saturday April 8, 2006 NEWS Mammoth Lakes, CA - Three ski patrol members were probably asphyxiated by poisonous gas spewing from the vent Washington, DC - Brian Doyle, deputy press secretary at the Homeland Security Department, resigned Friday Rome, Italy - Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi is facing a two- day general election with 25 per cent of voters undecided ENTERTAINMENT Antonio Banderas says he rehearsed for Take the Lead at his built-in ballroom The Rolling Stones kicked off their first concert in China Friday night at Shanghai's Grand Stage with 'Start Me Up' Steven Spielberg's new reality television show, On The Lot, will be an American Idol-like contest for aspiring filmmakers NEWS Washington, DC - In his weekly radio address, President Bush blamed Democrat Senator Harry Reid for blocking an immigration reform bill Gallatin, TN - Tornadoes killed 10 people Friday in the second round to hit the state in less than a week Katmandu, Nepal - Three people were wounded as thousands of pro-democracy activists charged at police in southern Nepal Saturday ENTERTAINMENT Melanie Griffith is being sued by designer Niklas J Palm for allegedly refusing to pay for clothes worn to the Golden Globes Keira Knightly's Vera Wang dress worn to the Academy Awards ceremony is being sold on eBay with proceeds going to Oxfam A JMW Turner sold for $35.9 million at Christie's this week, setting a world record for a British painting NEWS Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Israeli missiles hit a car carrying two members of a Palestinian rocket squad Saturday Caracas, Venezuela - The Attorney General said Friday five suspects were being charged in the killing of three brothers Ghardaia, Algeria - Thirteen customs officials were killed when gunmen hit a convoy of government vehicles Saturday Sunday April 9, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - Senator Harry Reid claims Bush "lacks the backbone to stand up to the extreme right wing of their party" Gallatin, TN - Residents continued to clean up Sunday after the second deadly storm system in less than a week claims twelve lives Lima, Peru - Peruvians vote Sunday to elect a president and national legislature ENTERTAINMENT Part of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's art collection has gone on display at Seattle's Experience Music Project Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg will play a villain in Law & Order: Criminal Intent in a May episode A Viennese man is offering $136,518 for the return of a small white dog with a diamond stud in its left ear NEWS Washington, DC - President Bush is considering military action to bring pressure on Tehran to give up its nuclear development program Parksley, VA - Ronald Lee Shrieves, wanted in the slaying Friday of his parents and their two grandchildren, gave himself up Saturday London, Canada - Police, responding to a call from a farmer about strange vehicles parked overnight, came across the bodies of eight adult white males ENTERTAINMENT Hugh Hefner had a bash Saturday to celebrate his 80th birthday Dublin is celebrating the 100th anniversary of playwright Samuel Beckett's birth with a festival of his plays Frankie Muniz, star of Malcom in the Middle, wrapped up the last episode and now is talking about driving race cars NEWS Karachi, India - At least 26 women and children were killed and 19 injured in a stampede at a religious gathering Sunday Jerusalem, Israel - An Israeli forces bombing Sunday morning killed a police officer and wounded seven others Jerusalem, Israel - Israel declared Sunday that the Hamas- led Palestinian Authority will be considered a "hostile entity" Saturday April 15, 2006 NEWS New York, NY - A Greenwich Village cat named Molly was freed Friday after 14 days trapped inside a downtown crawl space Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee's Police Chief has asked city residents to stay calm after police officers acquitted Katmandu, Nepal - Nearly 20 journalists were arrested Friday as a general strike swept through Nepal ENTERTAINMENT Actor Tom Cruise is teaching Katie Holmes, friends, family and staff how to prepare for their baby's birth Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses will play two concerts at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom on May 15th and 17th Dolores Hart, who acted twice opposite Elvis Presley, has returned to Hollywood for her first visit in 43 years NEWS Kabul, Afghanistan - The US is investigating reports that data were being sold in bazaars outside the American air base at Bagram, north of Kabul Indepence, MO - Kris and Sarah Everson, whose sextuplets were a 'hoax' were charged Friday with theft Rome, Italy - The Interior ministry has lowered the number of contested ballots but incumbent PM Silvio Berlusconi has not conceded ENTERTAINMENT Scottish-born Muriel Spark, author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, was buried in Tuscany on Saturday Advance purchasers of Dolly Parton's cookbook could win a 'Backyard Barbeque and Bluegrass Festival' The Broadway revival of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park, will close on May 21st NEWS Khartoum, Sudan - Chad President Idris Deby has severed diplomatic ties between Chad and Sudan Tripoli, Libya - Libya has demanded a Washington apology on the 20th anniversary of a US raid on the country Moscow, Russia - Russian billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky was attacked Thursday in jail Sunday April 16, 2006 NEWS Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI prayed for peace in Iraq while celebrating his first Easter as pontiff Sunday Washington, DC - The Pentagon released a memo Saturday challenging criticisms aimed at Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA - All six weather satellites launched Friday to track hurricanes sent signals Saturday ENTERTAINMENT Rhino Records is releasing Willie Nelson: The Complete Atlantic Sessions on June 20th Directors Steven Spielberg and Zhang Yimou will design the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Colombian star Shakira is planning a 'revolutionary' event to raise aid for Latin America sometime in 2007 NEWS Washington, DC - A former US military expert said Sunday that the US has been making plans to attack Iran since 2003 Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee police said Saturday that bodies found in a park lagoon were those of two missing boys Paris, France - Rebels seeking to oust Chad's President said Sunday that the French military presence is impeding them ENTERTAINMENT Scary Movie 4 has grossed $41 million, making it the best Easter weekend debut ever Alicia Keys has been cast in the big-screen adaptation of the best-selling book The Nanny Diaries Miramax Films and Elton John's Rocket Pictures have signed an agreement to produce Gnomeo & Juliet NEWS Baghdad, Iraq - US troops detained an al-Qaida suspect in a raid south of Baghdad that killed six people on Sunday Dublin, Ireland - A military parade commemorating the 1916 Easter Uprising marched through the streets of Dublin Sunday Moscow, Russia - Mikhail Khodorkovsky said Sunday he's not planning to press charges against a knife-wielding cellmate Saturday April 22, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - The CIA fired a top intelligence analyst for allegedly leaking classified information about secret CIA prisons New Orleans, LA - New Orleanians are voting in a mayoralty election Saturday Baghdad, Iraq - Iraq's parliament meets Saturday to choose top leadership posts ENTERTAINMENT This year's Jammy Awards in NY brought out the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart and Mike Gordon, formerly of Phish HBO is airing Elizabeth I starring Helen Mirren Saturday night Nelly has agreed to pay $20,000 to a photographer who says he was roughed up by the hip-hop artist's bodyguard NEWS Washington, DC - Former US President Gerald Ford came out Friday in support of Donald Rumsfeld Washington, DC - Representative Alan Mollohan has stepped down temporarily from his post on the House Ethics Committee Kathmandu, Nepal - Nepalese security forces fired at tens of thousands of protesters Saturday killing at least three ENTERTAINMENT Actor Leonardo DiCaprio suffered a minor leg injury Saturday while filming in Mozambique A television seance airing Monday on pay-TV service In Demand is claiming it has reached the spirit of John Lennon Charlie Sheen has been ordered to stay away from his estranged wife, Denise Richards NEWS New Delhi, India - The General Sec'y of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Pramod Mahajan, was shot by his brother Saturday Ankara, Turkey - A lawyer for al-Qaeda member Louai al Sakka says his client revealed the burial site of Kenneth Bigley Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Chinese President Hu Jintao began a visit to Saudi Arabia Saturday Sunday April 23, 2006 NEWS Gaza Strip - Hamas and Fatah agreed Sunday to work together to restore calm following rioting and protests Baghdad, Iraq - Jawad al-Maliki was appointed as Iraq's new prime minister Saturday Rome, Italy - Italy's Court of Cassation declared Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition elected Saturday ENTERTAINMENT Italian actress Alida Valli, who appeared in films by Alfred Hitchcock and Luchino Visconti, has died at the age of 84 The home that Elvis Presley owned in 1956 when he was making Heartbreak Hotel and Love Me Tender is for sale on eBay Random house says Dan Brown's follow-up novel to his bestseller The Da Vinci Code won't be published this year NEWS Atlanta, GA - The Joint Terrorism Task Force said Saturday that two US men met in Toronto with extremists to plot terror strikes New Orleans, LA - Incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin and Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu will compete in a runoff May 20th Riverton, KN - Five teenagers suspected of plotting a shooting rampage at their high school will stay in custody ENTERTAINMENT Local television broadcasters are meeting in Los Angeles this week to find ways to market video clips for the web The Doors will celebrate their 40th anniversary by making concerts from 1967-1970 available on their Web site Leonardo DiCaprio flew from Mozambique to South Africa after injuring his leg while filming The Blood Diamond Saturday NEWS Sacremento, CA President Bush declared hydrogen the 'fuel of the future' Saturday during an Earth Day speech Dubai, Abu Dhabi A tape aired on Al Jazeera TV Sunday of Osama bin Laden accusing the West of a 'Crusader-Zionist war' Honiara, Solomon Islands - Australian troops headed to the Solomon Islands Sunday as PM-elect Snyder Rini opened Parliament Saturday April 29, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - An officer at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq has been charged by the army of cruelty and maltreatment of detainees Chicago, IL - A man recently released after 13 years in prison before being exonerated, died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver Berlin, Germany - The UN's World Food Program is cutting the emergency food rations to Darfur in half because of a 'severe lack of funding' ENTERTAINMENT Ellen DeGeneres won for Outstanding Talk Show and Outstanding Talk Show Host at the 33rd Daytime Emmy Awards Friday Bob Dylan opened the 37th New Orleans Jazz &Heritage Festival Friday with 'High Water' and 'Watching the River Flow' Keith Richards has suffered a 'mild concussion' after apparently falling out of a palm tree in New Zealand NEWS Washington, DC - The Justice Department reports Friday that 9,254 FBI subpoenas have been issued under the Patriot Act Washington, DC - Five members of Congress were arrested protesting Friday outside the Sudanese Embassy Rome, Italy - Fausto Bertinotti, a communist party leader in Italy's centre-left coalition, is speaker of the Italian Chamber of Deputies ENTERTAINMENT Radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh was booked on drug charges in Florida on Friday The Allman Brothers and Cheap Trick have launched a lawsuit that claims they are owed more money for digital downloads Steely Dan and Michael McDonald will be tour North America opening July 7th in Milwaukee and ending September 2ND near Detroit NEWS Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan test-fired a nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Saturday Rome, Italy - Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi gave indications Saturday that he's ready to resign Sunday April 30, 2006 NEWS Washington, DC - A George Bush impersonator joined the real one for Saturday's White House Correspondents Association annual dinner Cambridge, MA - John Kenneth Galbraith, a professor emeritus at Harvard University, died on Saturday at a hospital in a Cambridge hospital at 97 Katmandu, Nepal - Girija Prasad Koirala was sworn as Nepal's prime minister on Sunday ENTERTAINMENT Kanye West and Madonna are scheduled to play Sunday night at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California Miami Vice star Don Johnson and his wife Kelley celebrated their 7th anniversary with the birth of a son Saturday An audio device planted in a LA newspaper rack as a promo for Mission Impossible III was mistaken for a bomb Friday NEWS Washington, DC - A former FDA commissioner is being investigated for alleged financial improprieties Waco, TX - A tornado early Saturday morning was responsible for the death of two horses belonging to the Baylor equestrian team Melbourne, Australia - Two men trapped in a Tasmanian gold mine since last Tuesday were found alive Saturday night ENTERTAINMENT A new House Of Blues will be open in downtown Seattle beside the historic Paramount Theatre in 2007 Marvel Studios has signed Jon Favreau to develop and direct Iron Man United 93 placed No. 2 at the weekend box office in North America with ticket sales of $11.6 million NEWS Beijing, China - At least 27 people were killed Sunday in a gas explosion at a coalmine in northwest China Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Marine experts say several hundred dolphins that washed ashore near Zanzibar died of natural causes Providence, RI Rhode Island is set to launch the first state-wide wireless network digital networking system in the country Saturday May 6, 2006 NEWS Moscow, Russia - Cheney statements trigger Kremlin media flap Washington, DC - Friday was 'last day on the job' for White House press secretary Scott McClellan Washington, DC - Rumsfeld denies pre-war 'weapons of mass destruction' claims ENTERTAINMENT Michael Jackson demanding apology from GQ after publication of look-alike in May issue Crowds flock to Trafalgar Square to watch four-day fairytale featuring mechanical elephant and huge puppet girl Fats Domino to close New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Sunday NEWS Kabul, Afghanistan - Chinook helicopter crashes Saturday during combat operation killing 10 US soldiers San Francisco, CA - US Court of Appeals dismisses challenge Friday to law denying benefits to same-sex couples Washington, DC - US military transfers five Chinese Muslim Uighurs to Albania ENTERTAINMENT Celine Dion marks 500th show Sunday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas T.I. will resume his US tour Tuesday in New Orleans Anna Nicole Smith is reportedly five months pregnant NEWS Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro - Foreign Minister wants security officials dismissed over failure to capture Mladic Jerusalem, Israel - Five members of Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees dead after Israeli air strike Friday Basra, Iraq - Four people died as British military helicopter shot down Saturday Sunday May 7, 2006 NEWS Stillwater, OK - Oklahoma State U confers honorary doctorate on Bush Bal Harbor, FL - Three workers killed at Florida high-rise project Basra, Iraq - British engineers spend Sunday investigating Saturday's helicopter wreck in Iraq ENTERTAINMENT Sopranos video game expected to hit store shelves this summer Illusionist to end eight days under water at Lincoln Center Monday 20th Century Fox distribution head expects 'a new blockbuster coming every week' in 2006 NEWS San Francisco, CA - Episcopalians in California elect married father of two as bishop Saturday Singapore - Singapore Prime Minister-elect Lee Hsien Loong takes 66.6 percent of the vote San Francisco, CA - Nine injured Saturday when ferry crashes into pier at Fisherman's Wharf ENTERTAINMENT Documentary War Tapes scores at Tribeca Film Festival in NYC Saturday Gore shows global warming documentary at private screening in Nashville Saturday 18 Brooklyn College artists protest Sunday over cancellation of public art show NEWS Jerusalem, Israel - Palestinian government workers strike Saturday for overdue salaries New Delhi, India - Indian heatwave kills 14 people and causes power outages Washington, DC - Republican House Intelligence Committee chairman opposes Hayden CIA nomination Today in History Top of THIS Page
February 25BIRTHDAYS1841 - Pierre-August Renoir - artist 1901 - Zeppo (Herbert) Marx - comedian 1904 - Adelle Davis - nutritionist/author 1913 - Jim Backus - actor 1917 - (John) Anthony Burgess - author 1928 - Larry Gelbart - producer 1943 - George Harrison - Beatle 1966 - Tia Leoni - actress
February 26BIRTHDAYS1802 - Victor Hugo - author 1829 - Levi Strauss - blue jeans maker 1846 - Buffalo Bill Cody - cowboy 1887 - William Frawley - actor 1916 - Jackie Gleason - actor 1920 - Tony Randall - actor 1928 - Fats Domino - pianist 1932 - Johnny Cash - country singer 1954 - Michael Bolton - singer Top of the Charts 1945 Accentuate the Positive - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters 1961 Pony Time - Chubby Checker 1977 New Kid in Town - Eagles On this day: The Grand Canyon was established as a National Park on this day in 1919 by an act of the U.S. Congress Did you know? The international telphone dialing code for Antarctica is 672
March 4BIRTHDAYS1888 Knute Rockne - College Football Hall of Famer 1901 Charles Goren - bridge card game expert 1913 John Garfield (Jacob Julius Garfinkle) - actor 1939 Paula Prentiss (Ragusa) - actress 1944 Bobby Womack - songwriter 1954 Catherine O'Hara - actress 1961 Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini - lightweight boxing champion, actor 1969 Chastity Bono - singer Top of the Charts 1951 If - Perry Como 1967 Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones 1975 Best of My Love - The Eagles On this day: 1925 - Calvin Coolidge took the oath of office in Washington DC. The presidential inauguration was broadcast on radio for the very first time DID YOU KNOW? Charlie Brown's father was a barber
March 5BIRTHDAYS1595 William Blackstone - New World settler 1908 Rex (Reginald Carey) Harrison - Academy Award-winning actor 1927 Jack (John Joseph Edward) Cassidy - actor 1936 Dean Stockwell - actor 1944 Paul Sand (Sanchez) - Tony Award-winning actor 1948 Eddy Grant - singer 1950 Eugene Fodor - violinist 1958 Andy (Andrew Roy) Gibb - singer Top of the Charts 1968 Love is Blue - Paul Mauriat 1976 Theme from S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage 1984 Jump - Van Halen On this day: 1872 George Westinghouse patented the air brake DID YOU KNOW? Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy
March 12BIRTHDAYS1832 Charles Boycott - real estate agent: 1922 Jack Kerouac - author 1928 Edward Albee - Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright 1932 Barbara Feldon (Hall) - actress 1940 Al Jarreau - singer 1946 Liza Minnelli - Academy Award-winning actress 1948 James Taylor - singer 1962 Darryl (Eugene) Strawberry - baseball player Top of the Charts 1959 Venus - Frankie Avalon 1967 Love is Here and Now You're Gone - The Supremes 1983 Billy Jean - Michael Jackson On this day: 1969 Wedding bells rang in London for singer, Paul McCartney and his new bride, photographer, Linda Eastman DID YOU KNOW? When ocean tides are at their highest, they are called spring tides. When they are at their lowest, they are call neap tides. HOROSCOPE You are lucky, resourceful and sensitive to what others think March 13BIRTHDAYS1798 Abigail Fillmore (Powers) - U.S. First Lady, wife of 13th 1855 Percival Lowell - astronomer 1910 Sammy Kaye - bandleader 1923 Red Garland - jazz musician 1932 Jan Howard - country singer 1933 Mike Stoller - record producer, songwriter 1939 Neil Sedaka - songwriter 1950 William H. Macy - actor Top of the Charts 1944 Mairzy Doats - The Merry Macs 1952 Slowpoke - Pee Wee King 1984 Jump - Van Halen On this day: 1930 It was announced that the planet Pluto had been discovered by astronomers who had been looking for another planet in the solar system DID YOU KNOW? Lenny Kravitz's mother played the part of "Helen" on "The Jeffersons" HOROSCOPE You are relentless, courageous and reluctant to change your mind once you make a decision March 18BIRTHDAYS1837 Grover (Stephen) Cleveland 22ND [1885-1889] & 24th [1893-1897] U.S. President 1927 George Plimpton - author 1932 John Updike - writer 1938 Shashi Kapoor - actor 1938 Charley Pride - country singer 1941 Wilson Pickett - singer 1959 Irene Cara - singer 1970 Queen Latifah - rapper/actress Top of the Charts 1957 Young Love - Tab Hunter 1965 Eight Days a Week - The Beatles 1973 Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack 1981 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton On this day: 1954 Howard Hughes bought RKO Pictures for $23,489,478 DID YOU KNOW? The word 'corr' means 'odd' in Irish HOROSCOPE You have a strong sense of right and wrong and stand by your beliefs March 19BIRTHDAYS1848 Wyatt Earp - frontiersman, lawman 1891 Earl Warren - 14th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1894 Jackie 'Moms' Mabley (Loretta Mary Aiken) - comedienne 1928 Patrick McGoohan - actor 1930 Ornette Coleman - musician 1933 Phillip Roth - writer 1936 Ursula Andress - actress 1955 (Walter) Bruce Willis - actor Top of the Charts 1950 I Said My Pajamas - Tony Martin & Fran Warren 1958 Don't/I Beg of You - Elvis Presley 1966 The Ballad of the Green Berets - SSgt Barry Sadler On this day: 1831 The City Bank of New York City reported the first bank robbery in the US DID YOU KNOW? The longest word typed with only the left hand is stewardesses HOROSCOPE You are indulgent, entertaining and quick to respond
March 25BIRTHDAYS1867 Arturo Toscanini - conductor 1881 Bela Bartok - composer 1920 Howard Cosell (Cohen) - TV sports commentator 1928 James A. Lovell Jr. - astronaut 1934 Gloria Steinem - feminist 1942 Aretha Franklin Grammy - Award-winning singer 1947 Elton John (Reginald Kenneth Dwight) - musician 1965 Sarah Jessica Parker - actress Top of the Charts 1964 She Loves You - The Beatles 1972 A Horse with No Name - America 1980 Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd On this day: 1934 Horton Smith won the first Masters golf tournament at Augusta National in Georgia DID YOU KNOW? The name Wendy was made up for the book Peter Pan HOROSCOPE You are whimsical, unique and draw a lot of attention
March 26BIRTHDAYS1880 Duncan Hines - author, traveler, cake-mix mogul 1931 Leonard Nimoy - actor 1934 Alan Arkin - actor 1940 James Caan - actor 1942 Erica Jong (Mann) - writer 1944 Diana Ross (Diane Earle) - singer 1950 Martin Short - Emmy Award-winning actor 1957 Leeza Gibbons - TV hostess Top of the Charts 1949 Cruising Down the River - The Blue Barron Orchestra 1957 Young Love - Tab Hunter 1973 Love Train - O'Jays On this day: 1885 The first commercial moving-picture film was produced in Rochester, NY. Eastman Kodak DID YOU KNOW? Maine is the toothpick capital of the world HOROSCOPE You strive to be different and are not afraid to speak out for what you believe in
April 1BIRTHDAYS1725 Giovanni Casanova - philanderer 1805 Hans Christian Andersen - author 1840 Emile Zola - novelist 1875 Walter Chrysler - auto manufacturer 1908 Buddy Ebsen (Christian Rudolph Ebsen) - actor 1914 Sir Alec Guinness (Alec Guinness de Cuffe) - actor 1920 Jack (John Randolph) Webb - director, actor 1947 Emmylou Harris - singer Top of the Charts 1956 The Poor People of Paris - Les Baxter 1964 She Loves You - The Beatles 1972 A Horse with No Name - America On this day: 1977 - Stevie Wonder's tribute to Duke Ellington, Sir Duke, was released HOROSCOPE You are a leader, unafraid to put yourself on the line to get things done DID YOU KNOW? Sunbeams that shine down through the clouds are called crespuscular rays April 2BIRTHDAYS1873 Sergei Rachmaninoff - musician: pianist, composer 1883 Lon (Leonidas F.) Chaney - actor 1885 - Wallace (Fitzgerald) Beery - Academy Award-winning actor 1920 Toshiro Mifune - actor 1929 Jane Powell (Suzanne Burce) - actress 1932 Debbie Reynolds (Mary Frances Reynolds) - actress 1938 - Ali (Alice) MacGraw - actress 1952 - Annette O'Toole (Toole) - actress Top of the Charts 1955 The Ballad of Davy Crockett - Bill Hayes 1963 He's So Fine - The Chiffons 1971 Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin On this day: 1826 - Samuel Morey of Oxford, New Hampshire patented the internal combustion engine DID YOU KNOW? Mickey Mouse is known as Topolino in Italy HOROSCOPE You are ingenious, active and always looking for something different to do April 8BIRTHDAYS563 B.C. Buddha - spiritual icon 1892 Mary Pickford (Gladys Louise Smith) - actress 1912 Sonja Henie ice skater 1918 Elizabeth 'Betty' Ford (Bloomer) - 38th First Lady 1926 Shecky Greene (Sheldon Greenfield) - comedian 1929 Jacques Brel - singer 1963 Julian Lennon - singer 1968 Patricia Arquette - actress Top of the Charts 1954 Wanted - Perry Como 1962 Johnny Angel - Shelley Fabares 1970 Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel On this day: 1911 - The first squash tournament was played at the Harvard Club in New York City. HOROSCOPE You are open-minded and a doer, ready to take on anything that comes your way DID YOU KNOW? Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing April 9BIRTHDAYS1898 Paul Robeson - singer 1903 Ward (Wardell) Bond - actor 1926 Hugh Hefner - publisher 1928 Tom Lehrer - songwriter 1932 Carl Perkins (Carl Lee Perkins) - singer 1933 Jean-Paul Belmondo - actor 1954 Dennis Quaid - actor 1979 Keshia Knight Pulliam - actress On this day: 1953 Warner Brothers premiered the first 3-D movie, House of Wax, at the Paramount Theatre in New York City Top of the Charts 1955 The Ballad of Davy Crockett - Bill Hayes 1963 He's So Fine - The Chiffons 1971 Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) - The Temptations HOROSCOPE You are expressive, aggressive and an excellent mediator DID YOU KNOW? The biggest blimp in the world is the Fuji Film blimp
April 15BIRTHDAYS1452 Leonardo da Vinci - artist 1894 Bessie Smith - blues singer 1933 Elizabeth Montgomery - actress 1939 Claudia Cardinale - actress 1942 Julie Sommars - actress 1951 Heloise (Ponce Kiah Marchelle Heloise Cruse Evans)- newspaper columnist 1959 Emma Thompson - Academy Award-winning actress 1966 Samantha Fox - singer Top of the Charts 1945 My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time - The Pied Pipers 1953 I Believe - Frankie Laine 1961 Blue Moon - The Marcels 1977 Dancing Queen - Abba On this day: 1947 Jackie Robinson played his first major-league baseball game HOROSCOPE You are a visionary with great depth and understanding DID YOU KNOW? The highest point in Pennsylvania is lower than the lowest point in Colorado April 16BIRTHDAYS1867 Wilbur Wright - aviator 1889 Sir Charles (Spencer) 'Charlie' Chaplin - actor 1919 Merce Cunningham - choreographer 1921 Sir Peter Ustinov - Academy Award-winning actor 1922 Kingsley Amis - novelist 1939 Dusty Springfield (Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien) - singer 1954 Ellen Barkin - Emmy Award-winning actress 1963 Jimmy Osmond - singer Top of the Charts 1954 Wanted - Perry Como 1962 Johnny Angel - Shelley Fabares 1986 Rock Me Amadeus - Falco On this day: 1926 - The first selection of the new Book-of-the-Month Club was Lolly Willowes, or The Loving Huntsman by Sylvia Townsend HOROSCOPE You can be unpredictable yet empathetic and charming DID YOU KNOW? Ancient Anglo-Saxons celebrated the start of spring with a carnival commemorating their goddess of springtime, Eostre
April 22BIRTHDAYS1904 J. (Julius) Robert Oppenheimer - physicist 1906 Eddie Albert (Edward Albert Heimberger) - actor 1916 Yehudi Menuhin - violinist 1922 Charles Mingus - musician 1923 Aaron Spelling - Emmy Award-winning executive producer 1936 Glen Campbell - Grammy Award-winning singer 1937 (John Joseph) Jack Nicholson - Academy Award-winning actor 1950 Peter Frampton - guitarist, singer Top of the Charts 1960 The Theme from A Summer Place - Percy Faith 1968 Honey - Bobby Goldsboro 1984 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) - Phil Collins On this day: 1914 Babe Ruth made his pitching debut with the Baltimore Orioles, throwing a 6-0 shut out against the Buffalo Bisons DID YOU KNOW? Paul McCartney's mother was a midwife HOROSCOPE You are a lover, inventor and an adventurer April 23BIRTHDAYS1564 William Shakespeare - poet, playwright 1928 Shirley (Jane) Temple Black - child actress 1932 (Roy) Halston (Frowick) - fashion designer 1936 Roy Orbison - singer 1939 Lee Majors (Harvey Lee Yeary II) - actor 1942 Sandra Dee (Alexandra Zuck) - actress 1947 Bernadette Devlin (McAliskey) - Irish civil rights leader 1960 Valerie (Anne) Bertinelli - actress Top of the Charts 1953 Doggie in the Window - Patti Page 1961 Blue Moon - The Marcells 1969 Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In - The 5th Dimension On this day: 1872 In ceremonies held in Washington, DC, Charlotte E. Ray became America's first black woman lawyer HOROSCOPE You are unique, competitive and original DID YOU KNOW? The band Duran Duran got their name from an astronaut in the 1968 Jane Fonda movie Barbarella April 29BIRTHDAYS1863 William Randolph Hearst - publisher 1899 Duke (Edward Kennedy) Ellington - musician 1954 Jerry Seinfeld - Emmy Award-winning producer/comedian 1955 Kate Mulgrew - actress 1957 Daniel Day-Lewis - Academy Award-winning actor 1958 Michelle Pfeiffer - actress 1970 Andre Agassi - tennis champion 1970 Uma (Karuna) Thurman - actress Top of the Charts 1951 If - Perry Como 1967 Somethin' Stupid - Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra 1975 (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B.J. Thomas On this day: 1986 - Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox set a major-league baseball record by striking out 20 Seattle Mariner batters on the way to a 3-2 win DID YOU KNOW? Cinderella is known as Tuhkimo in Finland April 30BIRTHDAYS1898 Cornelius Vanderbilt - railroad tycoon 1909 Eve Arden (Eunice Quedens) - Emmy Award-winning actress 1910 Al Lewis (Albert Meister) - actor 1926 Cloris Leachman - Academy Award-winning actress 1933 Willie Nelson - singer 1943 Bobby Vee (Robert Velline) - singer 1944 Jill Clayburgh - actress 1967 Turbo B (Durron Butler) - rap singer Top of the Charts 1952Wheel of Fortune - Kay Starr 1960Stuck on You - Elvis Presley 1976Disco Lady - Johnnie Taylor On this day: 1945 - Mutual radio's first Queen For A Day was Mrs. Evelyn Lane DID YOU KNOW? The 'second unit' films movie shots that do not require the presence of actors HOROSCOPE You are inventive and open to suggestions
May 6BIRTHDAYS 1856 - Sigmund Freud - psychiatrist1895 Rudolph Valentino (Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina) - actor 1915 (George) Orson Welles - actor 1931 Willie (Howard) Mays - Baseball Hall of Famer 1945 Bob Seger - musician 1953 Tony Blair - British PM 1961 George (Timothy) Clooney - actor Top of the Charts 1966 Good Lovin - The Young Rascals 1974 The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk 1982 I Love Rock 'N Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts On this day: 1954Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile during a track meet in Oxford, England, in 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds DID YOU KNOW? There are 239 days left in the year HOROSCOPE You are popular, patient and an extremely hard worker May 7BIRTHDAYS1919 Eva (Evita) Peron - actress/Argentinian 1st Lady 1922 Darren McGavin - actor 1923 Anne Baxter - actress 1950 Tim Russert - TV host 1951 Janis Ian (Janis Eddy Fink) - Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer 1954 Amy Heckerling - director
Top of the Charts 1975 He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) - Tony Orlando & Dawn 1983 Beat It - Michael Jackson 1991 Baby Baby - Amy Grant On this day: 1912 - The first airplane equipped with a machine gun flew over College Park, MD DID YOU KNOW? The longest recorded flight of a chicken is thirteen seconds HOROSCOPE You like things to be peaceful and run smoothly
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