| World News  | Serbia's pro-Western president declares victory in elections
Philadelphia Daily News
BELGRADE, Serbia - Serbia's pro-Western president declared victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections , a stunning upset over ultranationalists who tried to exploit anger over Kosovo's independence and thwart the nation's ambitions to join the European Union. "This is a great day for Serbia," Boris Tadic proclaimed after an independent monitoring group that carried out a parallel vote count nationwide said his bloc won 39 percent , about 10...
photo: AP Photo / Darko Vojinovic
|  | President calls Jenna's wedding 'spectacular'
Buffalo News
President Bush spent months joking about being a father of the bride, but on Sunday he was downright wistful about giving his daughter Jenna away to her longtime beau. "Our little girl, Jenna, married a really good guy, Henry Hager," Bush said, standing next Mrs. Bush at an airport in Waco where he boarded Air Force One for his flight back to Washington. "The wedding was spectacular. It's just - it's all we could have hoped for." Unlike other...
photo: White House / Shealah Craighead
|  | Beatings and torture intensify as Zimbabwe prepares to vote again
The Times
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited { color:#06c; } Solomon was naked and lying on his back in the bath. He smiled in greeting. For a man in hospital he looked fine. Then he turned over to show his wounds. In each buttock there was a dark hole into which you could put both fists. The edges of the holes were ragged frills of dead grey tissue. At 4am a week ago, about 200 members of President Mugabe's Zanu (PF)...
photo: AP Photo / Armando Franca
|  | Burma's towns face refugee crisis alone as aid piles up
The Independent
Some have come by boat, others by truck. Some had arrived with a handful of possessions, others with just the clothes they stood in. All have remarkable stories to tell, both of their escape from the cyclone and of their friends and relatives who did not survive. Squeezed together into the ground floor of a school in this busy river port city they sat waiting for their evening meal, wondering what further fate may befall them. "I was floating in...
photo: AP /
|  | 'Ghost city' Mosul braces for assault on last bastion of al-Qa'ida in Iraq
The Independent
Mosul looks like a city of the dead. American and Iraqi troops have launched an attack aimed at crushing the last bastion of al- Qa'ida in Iraq and in doing so have turned the country's northern capital into a ghost town. Soldiers shoot at any civilian vehicle on the streets in defiance of a strict curfew. Two men, a woman and child in one car which failed to stop were shot dead yesterday by US troops, who issued a statement saying the men were...
photo: Army / TSGT JOHN M. FOSTER, USAF
|  | Hizbullah seizes key areas of Lebanon
The Guardian
· Government is forced to back down in showdown · Blow to US as Iran and Syria gain from turmoil , Monday May 12 2008 Iranian-backed Hizbullah and its opposition allies yesterday escalated their armed takeover of key areas of Lebanon held by the western-backed government, gaining control of the Druze heartlands of Mount Lebanon and clashing with pro-government Sunni fighters in the northern port city of Tripoli....
photo: AP / Hussein Malla
|  | Militants killed in Afghani raids
The Australian
US-LED and Afghan troops killed several insurgent fighters in a series of operations across Afghanistan over the weekend, including one targeted at bombmakers, the forces said. Another eight militants were killed in the operations against "anti-government militants" in southern and eastern Afghanistan, the US-led coalition said today. Operations in Khost province...
photo: US Army / Spc. Jordan Carter
|  | Rigging, bombing during Burdwan polls
The Statesman
Kanchan Siddiqui BURDWAN, May 11: A series of unpleasant incidents such as booth premises ebing bombed, Opposition candidates being assaulted, ballot papers robbed and alleged rigging slapped the tag Burdwan style polling in the first phase of the three-tier panchayat election in this Red bastion today. Four Trinamul workers including a panchayat samiti candidate sustained splinter injuries and had to be rushed to hospital. Seven people were...
photo: WN / Bhaskar Mallick
| Business News  | Higher food prices trend to go on into 2009
The Star
Kuwait Finance House, in its Global Agriculture Report, says it expects the rise in food prices to continue and the fight to feed people and livestock to intensify. We present here an abridged version of the report. IN recent months, agriculture commodities have posted their biggest monthly gains since the 1970s oil crisis. The rise in international prices, which has been building up in recent years, gathered pace in 2007 and looks set to surge...
photo: AP / George Osodi, file
|  | The Week Ahead: Can Sainsbury's weather the gathering storm?
The Independent
All eyes will be on supermarket chain J Sainsbury on Wednesday, as it publishes its full-year results and gives an indication of how Britain's retailers are faring in the face of the economic slowdown. JP Morgan says that more important than last year's numbers will be the company's outlook for the year ahead. "We feel that Sainsbury's trading slowdown relative to the market should be a cause for concern," the broker said in a recent preview...
photo: AP Photo
|  | Tourism industry fears tax hike could hurt business.
Examiner
FLORENCE, Ore. (Map, News) - To the displeasure of many hotel and motel owners, the city council here has voted to hike the transient room tax by 1 percentage point to subsidize the Florence Events Center, which has run in the red since it opened in 1994. Lane County is likely to pass a similar increase. Hotel and motel owners say the past three months have been their worst in years, with high gas prices, bad weather and a recession. Now isn't...
photo: GFDL / AlCarlesAlDjinn
|  | Neighbors may feel hunger pain of ruined rice fields
Hong Kong Standard
Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma's main rice- growing region, and may threaten exports meant to ease shortages in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the UN food agency warned. //--> Claire Truscott Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma's main rice- growing region, and may threaten exports meant to ease shortages in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the UN food agency warned. Flooding, which poured damaging salt water into paddy...
photo: Creative Commons / Flickr
|  | Mall of America: Hurdles to mall growth rise
Star Tribune
Even if the owners of the Mall of America succeed this year in securing public financing to help fund a $2 billion expansion, they face other considerable hurdles in completing the project as proposed. The nationwide credit squeeze has raised borrowing costs for developers and increased the amount of equity they're required to put into projects. As a result, some developments are being scaled back, postponed or canceled. Twin Cities developer...
photo: creative commons /
|  | BA starts search for potential successor to CEO Walsh
The Independent
British Airways has appointed the recruitment consultants Whitehead Mann to find a new chief operating officer and possible successor for its embattled chief executive Willie Walsh. The successful candidate will a fill a newly created role, which was devised after the recent Heathrow Terminal 5 fiasco. Both BA's director of operations, Gareth Kirkwood, and head of customer service, David Noyes, parted company with the group last month. The two...
photo: Creative Commons / Nigel Ish
|  | Vodafone eyes £20b bid for MTN
The Statesman
Press Trust of India LONDON, May 11: World's largest mobile phone operator Vodafone is understood to be examining a possible bid for MTN, close on the heels of the South African firm and Indian telecom major Bharti Airtel announcing that they are in 'exploratory discussions' for a buyout. The Sunday Times today reported that Vodafone is examining a £20 billion bid for MTN... Company's chief executive Mr Arun Sarin...
photo: WN/Patricia
| Entertainment News  | Classic Kate hits the jackpot
Sydney Morning Herald
Kate Bosworth is "psyched". A huge box from Chanel has just arrived at her hotel suite at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas and so have her family and five of her closest friends. "They're all here for tonight's premiere," she says excitedly. "And they're all staying in my room; it's going to be like a slumber party. I can't wait." The charming 25-year-old star has just spent six weeks in Sin City shooting 21 and, although she "had a ball" working...
photo: WN
|  | Carrie Underwood joins Grand Ole Opry
Toledo Blade
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Carrie Underwood is the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. The singer joined the cast of the long-running country music show Saturday. Garth Brooks handled her formal induction and Vince Gill sang a duet with her. "This really seems like a great family...
photo: Public Domain
|  | HE COULD ACT, TOO
Asbury Park Press
IF YOU'RE OTHERWISE unengaged at 8 p.m. today and you get Turner Classic Movies on cable don't hesitate to tune into TCM's continuing monthlong coverage of Hoboken's most prominent native, Frank Sinatra. TCM is showing "Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music," with Nancy Sinatra joining the TCM host, Robert Osborne. If it's as tuneful and tasteful as last week's first installment, prominently featuring arranger...
photo: AP Photo
|  | Actor prefers first love: singing
The Columbus Dispatch
NEW YORK -- Terrence Howard is having a dream season for an actor, starring in one of the big movies of the moment, Iron Man, and collecting critical acclaim for his Broadway role in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It would all be very exciting for Howard if acting were his true passion. "I wouldn't have done it," he said about taking his first major role more than a decade ago. "I would have stayed true to what I initially wanted to do." What he really...
photo: AMPAS
|  | The race is on
The Times Of India
Aamir Khan is not prepared to make any changes in his nephew Imran Khan’s debut film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na even if it’s old friend Harry Baweja who is making the request for a change. Harry asked Aamir to postpone the release date of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na as it coincides with that of the release of his own son Harman’s debut film Love Story 2050. The Harman – Priyanka starrer is also slated to release on June 4. Baweja, who is leaving...
photo: AP /
|  | Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Lucy Liu Create 'Panda-Monium' on the Red Carpet at 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival
PR Newswire
**Cannes Film Festival Exclusive Red Carpet Preview** 'KUNG FU PANDA' WORLD PREMIERE RED CARPET ARRIVALS CANNES, France, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2008 FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2008 7:00PM TO 7:30PM (Eastern) 9:00AM to 9:30AM (Eastern) 4:00PM TO 4:30PM (Pacific) 6:00AM TO 6:30AM (Pacific) Galaxy 25 Transponder 14 Galaxy 25 Transponder 14 (C-Band, Analog) (C-Band, Analog) Downlink Frequency - 3980 Horizontal Downlink Frequency - 3980...
photo: AP / Francois Mori
| Health News  | Body jewellery
The Star
Skin implants draw stares, scolding and even police attention, but that does not ruffle those who wear them. BEAUTY isn't just skin deep anymore. For a small community in Singapore, it's under-the-skin deep. Tattoos and piercings aren't enough for them. This is not for the squeamish: What they do is customise their flesh with "body jewellery". Implants of silicone or Teflon beads are inserted under the skin, forming raised designs and patterns....
photo: MK/WN
|  | Herbal farmers, vendors fear new bill
Canada Dot Com
Some local producers and vendors of natural health products are concerned that their livelihoods may be at risk if recently introduced amendments to the federal Food and Drugs Act become law. Bill C-51, tabled by the Conservative government in early April, focuses on the safety and monitoring of drugs, food and health products, from clinical testing to the way they are marketed to Canadians. If passed, it would give the federal government more...
photo: AP Photo
|  | Environmental fears after volcano
The Australian
VOLCANIC ash raining down from the Chilean volcano Chaiten may cause long-term environmental damage and harm the health of people and animals in Patagonia, scientists said. Ash from the volcano, which started erupting 10 days ago for the first time in thousands of years, is made up of pulverised rock containing all kinds of minerals. It has spoiled lakes, rivers and lagoons, coated plants in a dense layer of gray, and altered the...
photo: AP / Str
|  | Kidney market shut as Pakistan cuts supply
Sydney Morning Herald
A BILLION-DOLLAR kidney bazaar that thrived across Pakistan has been abruptly shut down, forcing thousands of kidney patients to look elsewhere for a donor. Lax regulation in Pakistan had permitted the rise of a kidney transplant industry that attracted buyers from around the world. But the market has collapsed after the Pakistani Government banned the trade of human organs a few months ago. Private hospitals catering for kidney transplant...
photo: AP Photo / Manish Swarup
|  | At least 16 said dead in Missouri, Oklahoma tornadoes -
Yahoo Daily News
18 minutes ago OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - At least 16 people were killed on Saturday in Missouri and Oklahoma after tornadoes swept through the area, authorities in the two states said. A swarm of tornadoes that struck southwest Missouri killed 10 people, Missouri Emergency Management spokeswoman Susie Stonner said. "Communication to the area, which is mostly rural, is really bad. There are a lot of power outages. There may be additional...
photo: AP / The Joplin Globe, Roger Nomer
|  | Organizers rev up for cancer walk
Daily Advance
Connie Davis was no newcomer to cancer. She had lost two brothers and two grandparents to the disease. So when Davis learned in March 2005 that she had thyroid cancer, she was devastated but not defeated. The Halifax County resident addressed a room full of fellow cancer survivors Thursday at Evangelical Methodist Church to...
photo: GFDL / KGH
|  | Succulent chicken wings
The Star
No meal or festive get-together is complete without chicken wings! IF ANYTHING, it must be the most popular snack, starter or even main meal of modern times. Up until the 1970s, chicken was mainly sold by the bird. However, with the evolution of diet and the way food is presented, coupled with the affluence of society, it is not surprising that you get what you want if you are willing to pay for it. The writer remembers in the 1970s when most...
photo: WN / deniseyong
| Politics News  | Gates defends troop quality
USA Today
Updated | Comment | Recommend | | | By Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged that long combat tours in Iraq have strained the military, but he disputed that the quality of U.S. forces has suffered because of exceptions made for borderline recruits and the practice of sending troops deemed medically unfit for combat into the war zone. Gates, in an interview Friday, said he's...
photo: Defense Dept. by Cherie A. Thurlby
|  | Arab League tries to broker Lebanon settlement
Examiner
CAIRO, Egypt (Map, News) - Arab foreign ministers urged warring Lebanese factions to immediately cease fighting and said Sunday they will send a delegation to try to broker a settlement between the Hezbollah-led opposition and U.S.-backed government. After an emergency meeting in Cairo on the Lebanon crisis, the Arab League issued a statement implicitly criticizing the Shiite militant Hezbollah. "The ministers reject the principal of...
photo: AP / Hussein Malla
|  | Gordon Brown appeases Chinese by barring Dalai Lama from No 10
The Times
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited { color:#06c; } Gordon Brown will not receive the Dalai Lama in Downing Street in an effort to avoid confrontation with China over Tibet, The Times has learnt. The Prime Minister will, instead, see the Tibetan spiritual leader in Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, enabling him to claim to the Chinese that he is receiving the Dalai Lama in a spiritual rather...
photo: Creative Commons / Flickr
|  | Obama raises sights with preparation for McCain debates
The Guardian
· Planning starts on strategy for presidential election · Clinton falls behind in superdelegate tally , Monday May 12 2008 Barack Obama, setting his sights well beyond tomorrow's primary against Hillary Clinton, yesterday began preparations for a summer series of debates against the Republican John McCain. While Clinton campaigned doggedly in West Virginia, which holds its primary on Tuesday, the Obama camp consolidated its claim on the...
photo: AP / Mary Altaffer
|  | Tony Blair used Cherie's grief to protect Iraq strategy
The Times
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited { color:#06c; } The Times interview with Cherie Blair | Speaking for Myself: book extract (part 1) | Book extract (part 2) Cherie Blair was astonished by the ruthless manner in which her husband made public within hours the fact that she had lost the baby she was carrying. In her autobiography serialised in The Times today, she reveals that Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell, his...
photo: WN/Bero Amer
|  | Voters turn up despite Maoist boycott
The Statesman
MIDNAPORE, May 11: Ignoring a vote boycott call given by the Maoists and accompanying panic thereof, an enthusiasm was noticed among the voters in the most sensitive Balpahari block area of Midnapore West. The turnout in the block is around 70 per cent...
photo: WN / Bhaskar Mallick
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