Top seeds cruise in ncaa openers
NEW YORK - Top-seeded Duke and Syracuse registered convincing victories to advance to the second round of the NCAA basketball tournament on Friday.
James beats bryant mark as youngest to reach 15,000 points
CHICAGO - LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers became the youngest player to score 15,000 career points in the NBA on Friday, bettering Kobe Bryant's record by more than two years.
Wozniacki, jankovic ease into indian wells final
INDIAN WELLS, California - Caroline Wozniacki breezed into the final of the Indian Wells WTA tournament with a commanding 6-2 6-3 victory over her good friend Agnieszka Radwanska Friday.
Linebacker porter signs three-year deal with cardinals
PHOENIX - Four-times Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter has agreed a three-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals, the team said Friday.
Kesler signs six-year extension with canucks
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks have given forward Ryan Kesler a six-year extension to his current deal, putting him under contract through the 2015-16 season, the team said on Friday.
Murray stunned by soderling, roddick advances
INDIAN WELLS, California - Sixth seed Robin Soderling delivered a tennis master class in the opening set before eliminating fourth seed Andy Murray 6-1 7-6 in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells ATP tournament on Friday.
Thunder strike early in rout of raptors
TORONTO - The Oklahoma City Thunder roared past the struggling Toronto Raptors 115-89 Friday for their ninth victory in 11 games, moving closer in their quest for fourth place in the Western Conference.
Flames hold on to beat slumping sharks
CALGARY - The Calgary Flames battled to a 4-3 victory over the slumping San Jose Sharks on Friday to draw level on points with the Detroit Red Wings in the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Serena williams pulls out of next week's miami event
MIAMI - World number one Serena Williams has pulled out of next week's Sony Ericsson Open due to a knee injury, organizers said on Friday.
Jankovic breezes into indian wells final
INDIAN WELLS, California - Jelena Jankovic cruised into the final of the Indian Wells WTA tournament with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Australian Samantha Stosur on Friday.
U.s. eyes early summer for airwaves auction process
WASHINGTON - The Federal Communications Commission plans to begin a process in a few months aimed at auctioning airwaves that failed to garner enough interest during the 2008 spectrum auction.
New york food trucks turn to twitter
NEW YORK - Whether it's fomenting revolution or telling people what you had for breakfast microblogging service Twitter seems to have it all.
Somali rebels join forces in cyberspace: u.n. report
NAIROBI - Armed rebel groups in Somalia are using the Internet for fundraising and recruitment, and they achieve better results through the Web than they do on the ground, a United Nations report said.
Science justifies california water limits
LOS ANGELES - Federal limits on water that can be pumped out of a major river delta for California farmers are scientifically justified, a much-anticipated report said on Friday, a finding hailed by environmentalists in the state's epic water wars.
Experts design elastic iron for surgeries, buildings
HONG KONG - Researchers in Japan have designed a super-elastic iron alloy which they hope can be used in sophisticated heart and brain surgeries and even buildings in earthquake zones.
Chileans' quake knowledge saved thousands of lives
SANTIAGO - Chileans' knowledge of earthquakes, combined with the abnormally long time it took for the February 27 quake to reach its crescendo, saved thousands of lives, a leading geophysicist said on Thursday.
F-35 fighter fleet's price may be double forecast
WASHINGTON - The estimated total cost of Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 fighter jets being bought by the Pentagon may be nearly twice as high as originally forecast, the Defense Department said Friday.
Smartphones not enough for carriers at ctia
NEW YORK - Smartphones may be one of the hottest areas in technology with big names like Apple and Google tussling for share, but investors are questioning the growth prospects for mobile carriers as subscriber gains slow.
Court says no oil money for anna nicole's heirs
LOS ANGELES - A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the estate of late model Anna Nicole Smith was not entitled to one cent of the more than $300 million she sought from the estate of her billionaire oil baron husband.
Music biz insiders say sony-jackson deal makes sense
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - The magnitude of Sony Music Entertainment's landmark recording contract with the estate of Michael Jackson raises an inevitable question: Is it a smart deal for the label?
Ellen, web site give gay teen $30,000 in prom flap
LOS ANGELES - Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and an inspirational Web site on Friday gave $30,000 toward the college education of a teenage lesbian whose high school prom was canceled when she asked to attend with a girl.
Aretha franklin does "own thing" with new album
NEW YORK (Billboard) - As Aretha Franklin celebrates her 68th birthday this month, she shows no sign of slowing down.
Bands explore promo potential of chatroulette
DENVER (Billboard) - In the promotional run-up to the April 13 release of its new album, Ohio experimental rock group Foxy Shazam tapped a curious outlet to promote the release: Chatroulette.
Childhood memories inspire new songs for frampton
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Since he started his career in the '60s, Peter Frampton has maintained his reputation as an electrifying guitarist and solo artist, most famously on 1976's multiplatinum live set "Frampton Comes Alive!" Five days after his 60th birthday, the British legend will release one of the most personal albums of his career, "Thank You Mr. Churchill."
Mclachlan to release first album in seven years
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Lilith Fair founder and singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan has announced that she will release her first album in seven years, "The Laws of Illusion," on June 15.
House democrats see momentum on health bill
WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives lobbied undecided members for support and voiced growing confidence on Friday they will win a close vote on final passage of a sweeping healthcare overhaul.
House democrats to meet obama on saturday
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will travel to Capitol Hill on Saturday to meet with Democrats in the House of Representatives on the eve of that chamber's expected vote on a healthcare overhaul, the White House said on Friday.
Putin offers u.s. hints of support
MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin offered hints he could support the United States on two key issues -- an arms pact and Iran -- after a meeting on Friday with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Acorn on verge of bankruptcy: report
NEW YORK - The U.S. liberal grass-roots group ACORN is on the brink of bankruptcy and its leaders will hold a teleconference this weekend to discuss the group's future, The New York Times reported on its website on Friday.
Court orders fed to release bailout documents
NEW YORK - In a significant victory for news media, a federal appeals court said the Federal Reserve must disclose records on emergency lending programs to banks bailed out by the government in the financial crisis.
Ny governor's race heats up with party switch
NEW YORK - The race for New York governor heated up on Friday when a local Democratic official joined the campaign and switched parties, saying his views mesh best with Republicans and whose primary election is seen easier to win.
Sen dodd urges justice probe of lehman accounting
WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee on Friday wrote to the Justice Department urging establishment of a task force to probe possible violations of the law at Lehman Brothers and other firms.
Opposition "red shirts" try to win over thai capital
BANGKOK - Thousands of opposition activists fanned out across Thailand's capital on Saturday in a bid to win the hearts of Bangkok's middle classes and recruit them for their anti-government campaign.
Israel strikes in gaza after deadly rocket
GAZA - Israeli aircraft struck at least seven targets in the Gaza Strip on Friday, a day after a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave killed a Thai worker in Israel, Hamas security officials and witnesses said.
Gunmen block roads in mexico's drug-plagued north
MONTERREY, Mexico - Armed men likely linked to drug gangs blocked highways with trucks and buses in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey on Friday in an apparent attempt to hamper army operations near the U.S. border.
North korea parliament to meet, kim and cadres in focus
SEOUL - North Korea's rubber stamp parliament will meet in April for an annual session where the secretive and isolated state typically reveals changes to its ruling elite and spending priorities for the coming year.
India to get access to u.s. man on mumbai attack: u.s.
NEW DELHI - Indian investigators will be given access to the Chicago man who pleaded guilty to helping plan the Mumbai attacks, but he won't be extradited to India on current charges, a U.S. official said on Saturday.
1,500 rally against putin in russian far east
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia - At least 1,500 people rallied against the government of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the Far East city of Vladivostok in the first of a string of opposition rallies planned across Russia on Saturday.
Massive sandstorm turns beijing's streets yellow
BEIJING - Tons of sand from deserts in China's interior blew into Beijing Saturday, shrouding China's capital in a yellow-orange haze that authorities warned made the air quality "hazardous."
Putin says russia could sign up to iran sanctions: ria
MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday that Russia could sign up to a sanctions resolution on Iran, Russian news agencies quoted a senior Putin aide as saying.
Artist places sculptures on melting arctic iceberg
UUMMANNAQ, Greenland - A Dutch artist arranged two large sculptures on an iceberg in Greenland on Friday to raise awareness about climate change, and people will be able to monitor it online as the ice melts.
States sue epa to stop greenhouse gas rules
WASHINGTON - At least 15 U.S. states have sued the Environmental Protection Agency seeking to stop it from issuing rules controlling greenhouse gas emissions until it reexamines whether the pollution harms human health.
Senate climate bill to give free permits: sources
WASHINGTON - U.S. power generating companies would get free pollution permits, at least initially, as part of a compromise climate change bill being written in the Senate that also would give the coal industry $10 billion to develop "clean" technology, sources said on Friday.
Singapore jewelers selling tiger parts: report
SINGAPORE - Some jewelry shops in Singapore are illegally selling tiger parts, helping fuel the disappearance of the big cat from Asia, a local animal protection group said on Friday. A three-month investigation by Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) found that 59 out of 134 jewelry and antique shops it visited in the Southeast Asian city-state were allegedly selling tiger parts, including claws, teeth and pieces of skin.
Judge in ny orders more talks on 9/11 deal
NEW YORK - A U.S. federal judge on Friday delayed a $657.5 million settlement for workers who suffered health problems after the September 11, 2001, attacks, saying the process must be transparent and lawyers fees should not be drawn from the funds.
States take aim to block healthcare plan
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO - As the Congress once again rallies to pass healthcare reform legislation, momentum is growing in many states to pass laws to block the changes -- a move that could lead to a legal battle over states' sovereignty.
Wal-mart to slash grocery prices
SAN FRANCISCO - Wal-Mart Stores Inc will cut food prices and mount a new ad campaign over the next six weeks, a threat to other U.S. grocers that sent an industry shares index down more than 2 percent on Friday.
Most americans see healthcare benefiting the needy
WASHINGTON - Most Americans believe the healthcare reform plan in Congress would help the poor and the uninsured, but say it would be less likely to benefit other groups including themselves, according to a poll released on Friday.
Unemployment soars in u.s. metropolitan areas
WASHINGTON - Unemployment rates in 363 U.S. metropolitan areas rose in January, and 346 areas reported year-on-year declines in their number of jobs, the Labor Department said on Friday.
Top colombian rebel gets 20 years prison in u.s.
NEW YORK - A top-ranking Colombian rebel was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison by a judge in New York on Friday for conspiring to import tons of cocaine into the United States.
Stocks eye health reform, housing, greece
NEW YORK - Washington's bid to put finishing touches on healthcare reform this weekend should help lift uncertainty on Wall Street, but there may be some turbulence along the way next week as the recent rally appears to be fraying.
Icahn offers to buy lions gate as mgm bid looms
LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK - Billionaire investor Carl Icahn offered on Friday to buy Lions Gate Entertainment Corp , in a move designed to forestall the studio's expected bid for storied rival Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc .
Pay czar trims salaries at top of gm exec ranks
PHOENIX - The U.S. pay czar will slash the number of top General Motors Co executives who will receive base salaries of more than $500,000 this year.
Australia shone with both bat and ball as Ricky Ponting's men installed themselves as firm favourites for victory in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington.
england hit back after tamim heroics
Tamim Iqbal launched a devastating attack on England's bowlers on the first morning of the second Test but the tourists hit back to leave Bangladesh 139 for three at lunch.
England handed Kent spinner James Tredwell a debut in the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, with opener Michael Carberry the man to make way.
bookies celebrate £45million cheltenham windfall after kauto star tumbles out of gold cup
Britain's bookies were last night celebrating a £45million Cheltenham windfall – after odds-on Kauto Star tumbled out of the Gold Cup.
golden boy khan's risky road to glory
Amir Khan makes his American debut at Madison Square Garden on May 15, a proud moment for all associated with him.
Leeds 10 Hull KR 17 JUSTIN MORGAN saw his men end 25 years of Headingley hoodoo as Leeds crashed to defeat.
Rhys Davies fired the lowest round of his European Tour career to take the halfway lead at the Hassan Trophy in Morocco.
Hull 18 Bradford 6 RICHARD AGAR saluted workhorse Craig Fitzgibbon after the Aussie inspired Hull to a hard-fought victory.
jermain defoe exclusive: i'll beat [...]
JERMAIN DEFOE EXCLUSIVE: I'LL BEAT MY HAMSTRING INJURY SEE PAGE 73
LAWRENCE WEBB and family enjoy a caravan holiday in the Lake District
1. Lines close 6pm Friday March 26, 2010. BT landline calls cost 50p/min max two mins. Other landline operators/payphones/mobiles may vary. Texts/Internet entries £1 each plus std network rate.
Martin Aspinwall can't wait to play alongside rather than against Huddersfield target Danny Brough.
France hooker William Servat has revealed his team are scared of Martin Johnson's "annoying" England.
Ireland are treating their final match against Scotland as a championship decider - even though it is unlikely to be anything of the sort.
Warren Gatland has warned his Wales underachievers that no player is guaranteed a place.
6 NATIONS FRANCE V ENGLAND TONIGHT, KO 7.45
arterton: not hot enough for bond
Gemma Arterton doesn't think she was hot enough to be a Bond girl.
craig david unaware of motown label
Craig David has admitted he didn't know that Motown was a record label, saying he believed his latest album was based on the Motown "genre".
twilight fans await dvd release
Retailers will open their doors at midnight on Sunday as Twilight fans prepare for the worldwide DVD release of the latest in the vampire saga.
john hurt to receive film award
Veteran actor John Hurt will be presented with a lifetime achievement award at an international film festival on Saturday.
model's estate won't get fortune
Anna Nicole Smith's estate will receive none of the £200 million she claimed her late billionaire husband had promised her, a US federal appeals court has ruled.
lady gaga hits back at producer
Lady Gaga is firing back at a music producer who claims he launched her career and is suing her for £20.3 million.
sheree murphy on being a wag: 'glam? most of the time it's just lonely'
When Sheree Murphy and her three children sit down for tea every night, her footballer husband Harry Kewell is always there to join them.
The Oscar after-glow has swiftly dimmed for winner Sandra Bullock, after claims that her husband Jesse James has been cheating.
my ode to david beckham following his achilles tendon injury
The Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has written an ode to David Beckham following his Achilles tendon injury. It reads, in part, like this:
If you’ve got a big box of tissues handy, you might like to tune in to my new show – Forces Reunited – next week.
joe cole's new baby girl said to be 'his spitting image'
England star Joe Cole has become a dad for the first time, after wife Carly Zucker gave birth to a baby girl.
Shamed Jones, 57 – TV idler Les Battersby – had denied making the chilling death threat when he yanked the wheel from her.
Bad Boys not allowed...but 3am readers are.
Slumdog Freida lands multi-million Pint007 deal
katie pays price for affair slur
Katie Price was yesterday ordered to pay "substantial" damages after falsely accusing her former manager of having an affair with her ex-husband Peter Andre.
Street star Ryan Thomas will appear in court accused of leaving the scene of an accident, after a friend lied about who was driving.
matt smith says playing doctor who is like signing for manchester united
Matt Smith says landing the starring role in Doctor Who is the equivalent of signing for Manchester United.
Bad Boys not allowed... but 3am readers are.
Has Sarah Jessica Parker been taking tips from Jordan in the art of self-tanning? The Sex And The City actress posed alongside co-stars Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon for an early promotional round for the SATC movie sequel.