Berlusconi lauds Italian diplomat killed in Kabul

Premier Silvio Berlusconi hailed the Italian diplomat killed Friday in suicide attacks in Afghanistan as a faithful servant to the government who died doing his job.

The premier identified the slain diplomat as Pietro Antonio Colazzo.

Kabul Police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahman told reporters in the Afghan capital that Colazzo died a hero, phoning in tips to police about where the suicide bombers were located in a hotel frequented by foreigners.

"He was killed by the terrorists who realized that he was passing information to police forces," Rahman said. "He was in a room right behind the attackers and he could see where they were and …

Britain, Ireland try to save peace deal

BELFAST, Northern Ireland British Prime Minister Tony Blair andIrish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, struggling against a Fridaydeadline and 30 years of sectarian war in Northern Ireland, attemptedon Wednesday to salvage the year-old agreement establishingProtestant-Catholic self-government in the British province.

Blair and Ahern flew Wednesday night to Hillsborough Castle nearBelfast to press the main parties to the power-sharing agreementtoward a compromise on a critical step in its implementation: thesurrender of weapons and explosives held by the Irish RepublicanArmy.

The April 11, 1998, peace deal calls for the demilitarization ofthe IRA and other …

Settlement allows NJ baker use of 'Cake Boss' name

HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP) — The Learning Channel's "Cake Boss" won't have to change his name after all.

An agreement has been reached between a Seattle software company and cable channel, which airs the reality series "Cake Boss" featuring Carlo's City Hall Bakery in Hoboken, N.J.

A federal judge in Washington state had temporarily barred the show from …

Jones, Falcons keep Colts winless with 31-7 rout

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Colts' collapse keeps getting worse.

Rookie receiver Julio Jones touched the ball five times Sunday and scored twice against Indianapolis' porous pass defense, leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 31-7 victory over the NFL's only winless team.

Before fleeing Lucas Oil Stadium in the second half, fans serenaded Colts players with boos after watching Indianapolis go nearly 30 minutes between first downs. By the end of the game, at least 80 percent of the stadium was empty.

"We really feel the last two games we hurt ourselves," quarterback Curtis Painter said after throwing for only 98 yards. "I think we need to clean things up, play a little bit better, …

Jumping into life, heart first; Romance-fueled story of nun and her tangled relationships manages to stave off sappiness

What Matters Most

By Luanne Rice

Bantam Dell, 352 pages, $24

None of Luanne Rice's characters love half-heartedly. Indeed,each one seems to lock in to that one true soul mate early in life.Rice's heroines never become frustrated that their lovers havedeveloped a paunch, nor do they simply sit together in front of thetelevision or bicker over mundane realities like car payments andhousehold chores.

However, most of Rice's heroines must deal with a host of odds-defying difficulties before they can settle down with that perfectsoul mate.

Rice's newest book, What Matters Most, picks up where herprevious work left off, spinning the story of …

Panel Hears Climate 'Spin' Allegations

WASHINGTON - Federal scientists have been pressured by the White House to play down global warming, advocacy groups testified Tuesday at the Democrats' first investigative hearing since taking control of Congress.

The hearing focused on allegations that White House officials for years has micromanaged the government's climate programs and has closely controlled what scientists have been allowed to tell the public.

"It appears there may have been an orchestrated campaign to mislead the public about climate change," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. Waxman is chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and a critic of the Bush administration's environmental …

Obama, NATO chief discuss fight against terrorists

President Barack Obama says that he and NATO's secretary-general would like to see some improvement in how the trans-Atlantic alliance copes with the continuing threat of terrorism.

The president and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer also spoke about Obama's desire to put U.S.-Russian relations on a stronger footing during their 25-minute talk at …