Future of Sudan's Darfur uncertain post-referendum

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Years before Sudan's south began casting votes for succession, the woes of Africa's largest country were defined by the ethnic bloodshed in the western Darfur region.

Now, international mediators and rights groups are calling for stronger efforts to settle the eight-year Darfur conflict, fearing that the expected breakaway of the south may push Khartoum's leaders to clamp down harder on dissent and place stricter limits on an international role in Darfur and other areas that remain under its direct control.

Human Rights Watch and other groups say violence was already increasing in the vast arid region in the lead-up to the southern referendum held …

Italians hold local elections, test for Berlusconi

Voters began casting ballots Sunday in Italy's regional elections, which are being seen as an important test of popularity for Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

The conservative leader campaigned relentlessly for the Sunday-Monday ballot, urging his supporters to vote and avert the risk of low turnout. He has seen his popularity eroded amid rising unemployment, a corruption scandal and an investigation into his alleged attempts to influence TV coverage.

The ballots were being held in 13 of Italy's 20 regions, as well as in a handful of cities, and the outcome would not have direct consequences on the stability of Berlusconi's 20-month-old government.

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TV exec shaped dog show

CHESTER F. COLLIER

WELLINGTON, Fla. -- Chester F. Collier, an Emmy-winning producerbest known for shaping the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, diedfrom diabetes complications Wednesday, the organization said. He was80.

Mr. Collier was a longtime network television producer andexecutive with media outlets including CNBC and Fox News. Aspresident of Group W and Westinghouse Broadcasting, he …

Leverkusen extends contract of German national team defender

Bayer Leverkusen said Friday it had extended the contract of 20-year-old German national team defender Gonzalo Castro, the third promising youngster the club has re-signed in recent weeks.

Castro, who has four caps with Germany, joins 25-year-old Germany midfielder Simon Rolfes and 22-year-old goalkeeper Rene Adler who have committed to the club through 2012.

"This shows that we are in the position again of holding onto …

Obama bobbleheads stalled in US Customs

President Barack Obama bobbleheads that are supposed to be given away at a minor-league baseball game apparently haven't gotten the nod from customs officials.

The West Virginia Power Class A baseball team said Thursday that 1,000 of the figures have been held up at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection warehouse in Los Angeles since May 20. A U.S. Customs spokeswoman in Los Angeles said she didn't have more information on why they were stalled.

The bobbleheads are a likeness of Obama in …

Getting into shape

Mr Manu Sood is a plastic surgeon at Spire Hartswood privatehospital in Brentwood When can a tummy tuck be effective? There areseveral types of patient who can benefit. Firstly people who havelost a lot of weight, ladies who have had children and their skinhas been stretched by the pregnancy, people who have weak abdominalmuscles and people who have had a hernia and are left with a bulgeafter surgery.

Are body re-shaping procedures (such as tummy tucks andliposuction) a substitute for exercise? No. If you have body re-shaping and continue to eat badly and not exercise the faS t willcome back.

What other factors would you take into account when advising …

Man Charged With Intimidation on Flight

BUFFALO, N.Y. - A Jet Blue Airlines flight was diverted when a passenger who was refused alcohol threatened to shoot and kill the flight crew, federal officials said Friday.

Jose Roman, 26, was arrested by the FBI Thursday and charged with assaulting and intimidating flight crew and interfering with their ability to perform their duties, said U.S. Attorney Terrance Flynn in a statement.

Roman was on a flight from Houston to New York City …