2 Abducted Italians Freed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - A NATO-led combat operation secured the release of two kidnapped Italian military personnel Monday in western Afghanistan, two days after they went missing, officials said. Initial reports indicated at least five of the kidnappers were killed.

Both Italians were wounded during the operation, one seriously. The two were being treated in a hospital run by NATO's International Security Assistance Force.

"They were freed in an ISAF operation. They were both injured. One is in a more difficult situation than the other," an Italian Embassy official said on condition of anonymity because of embassy policy. "They are free now. They are at a military hospital …

Warner Music, lone major holdout in deal with Nokia music site, cites copyright issues

Nokia Corp.'s new Britain-based online music service launched this week with more than 2 million songs, including tracks from every major record label except one: Warner Music Group Corp., home to artists such as Green Day, Linkin Park and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

New York-based Warner refused to license its music for the service, taking issue with Nokia's operation of a file-sharing Web site called Mosh, an executive familiar with the negotiations between the two companies said Friday on condition of anonymity, citing the confidential nature of the talks.

Warner insisted that Nokia promise not to promote Mosh alongside its paid music offerings, the executive …

The Aston, pre-Bond

Most Americans first became aware of England's Aston Martin sports car when James Bond drove a 1964-65 DB5 model in early Bond movies. But the very classic 1958-63 Aston DB4, which the DB5 strongly resembled, was the first all-new Aston since David Brown bought -- and saved -- the automaker in 1947.

Most Astons long have had a "DB" prefix because -- you guessed it -- those were Brown's initials, although he sold the automaker in 1972 just before the big fuel crunch and new government regulations caused the U.S. exotic sports car market to nearly crash.

Aston Martin had a history dating to 1917, and auto racing enthusiast and England's Brown bought the financially troubled …

Interfaith centre learns about Mennonites

Briefly noted

EDMONTON- The words of the choir were a perfect fit for the Feb. 4 Edmonton lnterfaith Centre meeting: "For we are strangers no more, but part of one humanity ..." Members of the centre, including representatives of a variety of religions, gathered at Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church to learn about Mennonites in a program featuring a brief history, presentations from service organizations, short perspectives on worship and peace, a choir and potluck fellowship. Organizer Dave Hubert struck a note of commonality among faiths when he quipped, …

Madeleine's Parents Accept Apology

The parents of missing Madeleine McCann on Wednesday accepted an apology and more than $1 million in damages over tabloid newspaper stories suggesting they had caused their daughter's death.

Madeleine vanished May 3 _ a few days before her 4th birthday _ from a hotel room during a family vacation in Praia da Luz in Portugal's Algarve region.

Kate and Gerry McCann said Wednesday that Express Newspapers had agreed to pay the equivalent of $1.1 million. The couple's lawyer said the money would go into a fund they have set up to help find their daughter.

Two of the group's newspapers ran front-page apologies Wednesday for suggesting the couple were …

School cuts will anger city parents

Every parent will have serious concerns about city schools beingtold to slash their budgets.

They will have every right to be fearful about the impact on theirchildren's education - especially if their school is one of thoseon the hit list that stands to lose pounds150,000 a year.

Many of these parents will have given up their …

3 WAYS TO FIGHT HEART DISEASE

1 Omega-3s

There's more evidence that consuming omega-3 fatty acids is good for your heart.

Researchers in Finland followed 285 men and 130 women with coronary heart disease. The volunteers' average age was 61.

As the study progressed, 36 participants died, 21 suffered heart attacks and 12 had strokes. But among all participants, those with the highest concentration of docosahexaenoic acid-an omega-3-showed a 69 percent lower risk of death than people with the lowest levels.

Exactly how omega-3 fatty acids work is unclear. They may lower triglycerides in the blood, or they may make blood platelets less likely to clot.

Omega-3 sources include fatty fish, …