Governor Eliot Spitzer of New York is linked to prostitution ring
Spitzer, who gained national prominence relentlessly pursuing Wall Street wrongdoing, arranged to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a hotel, according to a law enforcement official and a person briefed on the investigation.

Obama scorns idea of being Clinton's running mate
The Illinois senator, insisting on his lead, implored voters in Mississippi to discount the political chatter about him joining the Democratic presidential ticket with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
- Internal friction blemished Clinton's image as manager
- McCain takes a breather; focuses on fund-raising
- Traces of Hillary in a hometown
- Democrats confident after taking Hastert's seat

Trying to honor Asians who died building Burma-Thailand rail in WWII
The construction of what is sometimes called the "Death Railway" in the 1940s became a symbol of the cruelty inflicted by Japanese troops, yet the largest group of victims, an estimated 70,000 Asian laborers, are barely commemorated.

Bush hopes Cheney visit to Mideast will rein in oil prices
President Bush said that he was sending the vice president to the Middle East to raise concerns about soaring oil prices and to press Israeli and Palestinian leaders to move toward peace.

Zapatero, stronger, promises 'humility'
Prime Minister Jos?? Luis Rodr??guez Zapatero pledged Monday to stimulate the economy and fight unemployment, a day after his Socialist party narrowly won a second term following a bitter election campaign.
- For Zapatero, a broader mandate in Spain and more hurdles

ECB president criticizes volatility of currency markets
The remarks were carefully calibrated to question the euro's sharp moves rather than its overall strength.

Attack kills 5 U.S. soldiers in Baghdad
The blast was one of the worst single attacks on the American military since the so-called surge campaign of additional American troops was undertaken last year.
- Toddler returns to Iraq after surgery saved her life

Carlyle Capital asks lenders to halt further liquidation
Carlyle Group's troubled mortgage debt investment fund, Carlyle Capital, said Monday that it had asked lenders to halt further liquidation of collateral worth as much as $16 billion while the two sides discussed possible ways to repay debt.
- Blackstone income suffers amid market jitters
- Tough times for the buyout lords of Wall Street
- New round of deals may force changes at Japanese companies

Our years on Earth are numbered - all 7.59 billion of them
If nature is left to its own devices, according to a new calculations, about 7.59 billion years from now Earth will be dragged from its orbit by an engorged red Sun and spiral to a rapid vaporous death.

On some airlines, business class goes first
What travelers lose in the switch may include extra space, personal service and "prestige."
- Air France-KLM board approves bid for Alitalia
- Autogrill becomes world's top airport retailer with two deals

Web companies track users' Internet activity hundreds of times per month
A new analysis of online consumer data shows that large Web companies are learning more than ever before about what people search for and do on the Internet.

Moscow music students protest eviction
Students at the Gnesin Academy, one of Russia's most prestigious music schools, organized a surprise protest in one of the city's busiest malls to draw attention to an order to quit their dormitory.

China Railway Construction lags expectations on Shanghai debut
Shares trade 21 percent higher than the IPO price but analysts are not surprised because of the weak market conditions.

Germany likely to pose challenge for McCain
A speech given last Tuesday by the German foreign minister suggested Europe's future lies in finding itself a position mid-way between the United States and Russia.

Where have all the (normal) trousers gone?
It is tough today to find any traditional pants designed specifically for women. Among the offerings for the spring season are harem pants, ballooning from thigh to ankle; Indian dohti styles with a crotch dropping to the knees; jodhpurs and rompers, or longer, baggy bloomers.