| Strike halts Alitalia flights from Heathrow
The work stoppage at the airline was expected to last four hours between 11am and 3pm UK Time, although trains, buses and ferries across Italy will halt for eight hours in a strike against cuts in public services. Staff at car rental firms also stopped work. Alitalia advised passengers to check the flight status page on its website. Transport union leaders described the action as the biggest in the sector for 25 years. However, Alitalia has been hit by stoppages during a protracted process of privatisation that has already taken more than a year. British Airways and private equity partner TPG are reported to be showing a belated interest in taking over the debt-ridden Italian flag carrier. However, the smart money remains on Air France-KLM if it can extract the conditions it seeks from Italy's government.
Kayak.com Secures $196M Financing Round
NORWALK, Conn., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Kayak.com, the world's largest travel search engine, today announced the completion of a $196 million financing round. Kayak.com will use this investment to complete a merger with SideStep, Inc. and to pursue a more aggressive worldwide expansion. As part of this transaction, Michael Moritz of Sequoia Capital will join Kayak.com's Board of Directors. "Kayak.com has become the Internet's best destination for clear and objective travel information," said Michael Moritz, Partner at Sequoia Capital. "Kayak.com's merger with SideStep.com reshapes the largest sector in online commerce." Other participants in the financing round include existing Kayak.com investors General Catalyst Partners and Accel Partners, SideStep investors Norwest Venture Partners and Trident Capital, new investors Oak Investment Partners and Lehman Brothers Venture Partners, and debt lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Gold Hill Capital.
Sophie Butler: travel advice
What's the first thing you want when you recover from a serious illness? For most of us, it's a holiday. That's fine if all you've been suffering from is a nasty dose of flu, but if you've overcome something more serious - a heart attack or cancer, say - your insurance company may well scupper your plans. .
Fastest fastball not enough for reliever
Some days you feel like garbage and you wonder how you're going to live up to the reputation of a guy that throws hard."
That reputation goes a long way, but no one needs to tell Lindstrom a fastball isn't enough. Tuesday offered another example of that as the Mets scored four ninth-inning runs off him on their way to a 6-2 win.
"I can't imagine squaring up a 100-mph fastball or something in that range," Lindstrom said. "This is the major leagues and guys can definitely do that, but it's nice to know that going in when you feel good, yeah, I think I do have an edge over a guy. He has to square that up and wait for a [split-finger] and slider, too. Those days are real fun, especially when you're locating."
Smart spendersThe Marlins receive plenty of criticism for their paltry payrolls, but no team in baseball gets more for its money.
Mark 'The Ear' Oberhardt looks at sport
AFL's growing search for overseas players has filtered down to the local level. AFLQ club Broadbeach has recruited a teenage Canadian who shows plenty of promise. Scott Fleming and his whole family have moved to the Coast to see if he can make the "foreign" sport a goer. THE Fred Brophy tent boxing troupe is doing its bit to help Aussie rules clubs. the troupe will be Zillmere Eagles O'Callaghan Park on Friday-Saturday. It will then be at Sherwood AFL on March 7-8 from 6pm. Phone 3379 5528 for more details. RETIRING Queensland Bulls legend Michael Kasprowicz has left an indelible mark on the game with his good humour. Speaking finding another job at which he excels, he quipped: "My wife has me lined up to mow the lawn this weekend but I don't think I'll be very good at that." HISTORIANS were reaching for their record books after Alistair Purser, a long-time grade cricketer with Wests, took 6-1 against Redlands at Dunlop Park last week.
Woman sentenced in fatal DUI
They have the choice to find another means of transportation, but they choose not to. That is intentional! I agree that alcoholism is a disease; however, it doesn't mean that you have to inflict that disease on others. I feel sorry for the victims family and especially for Mr. Erb, who not only had to suffer the injuries he sustained in the accident, but he is also the one who has to deal with seeing his friend killed. Have you ever witnessed a motorcycle accident? It isnt something that just goes away! I witnessed a friend killed in a motorcycle accident last March, and it is something that stays with you. You have vivid pictures of the accident, and keep wondering why it happened. Akaim - Fair and Just Punishment
(02/27/2008 )
Unlike feloniousjoe and the other bleeding hearts, I think the sentence was deserved and fair if not a little on the light side.
Campus in Liberty fills niche of community college
When she learned that National College was opening a campus in the Mahoning Valley, she decided to see what it had to offer and enrolled with the first class in September. Her plan is to get her program diploma, get a job in a medical office and then, down the road, go back to school to continue her education in a medical field. Wiesensee said she chose National because it is close to home, brand new and about the only college she found to offer a one-year program "to get you going in that field." Wiesensee may be typical of the target market National saw when it chose to open a campus at 3487 Belmont Avenue. .
Practitioners of tourism industry urged to charge fair rates
Accra, Feb. 5, GNA - The Ghana Tourism Society (GTS) has appealed to stakeholders in the tourism industry, especially private companies that have enjoyed tax rebates and exemptions to ensure that their prices and rates were commensurate to their services. The Society said all those who had enjoyed tax exemptions and duty-free incentives from the Ghana Investments Promotions Council (GIPC) should ensure that they kept their prices low and competitive to encourage more tourists into the country. Mr Ernest W. Owusu, President of the Ghana Tourism Society, in a release copied to the GNA Sports, said the gesture would go a long way in boosting the nation's tourism sector especially following the presence of a large number of visitors and football fans for the Ghana 2008 soccer tournament. He reminded all private entrepreneurs, corporate bodies and service providers, including hotels and car rental companies, tour operators and entertainment centres in the hospitality industry that the exemptions was to ensure that Ghana became competitive and affordable leisure holiday destination.
Robbo calls for Spurs clean sheet
SPURS keeper Paul Robinson believes a clean sheet against PSV is vital if they want to progress to the UEFA Cup quarter finals. The north Londoners host the Dutch giants at White Hart Lane tonight and Robinson - back between the sticks in place of Radek Cerny in recent games - reckons to concede would make it very difficult to get through the tie. "It is important for us not to let in an away goal which is easier said than done, but we want get a good home win and hopefully a clean sheet. "We need to keep it tight and hopefully get one or two goals of our own. "PSV are in a very strong league position, which they are most years. "They are a top team and a more than competent side in Europe. .
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