WASHINGTON -- A new book said former U.S. President Gerald Ford believed Rudy Giuliani would be the Republican's strongest presidential candidate for 2008."He said at one point that if the Republicans wanted to win and stop Hillary Clinton, Giuliani would be their best bet," said Thomas DeFrank, author of "Write it When I'm Gone."Ford spoke with DeFrank on the condition the book not be published until after Ford's death, which came Dec. 26, 2006, CNN ... [full story]

LONDON, Oct. 29 -- Britain's Conservative Party advanced a plan aimed at ending Scotland's favorable constitutional and financial position within the United Kingdom.Tory Leader David Cameron is said to be ready to back a change that would prevent British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other Scottish members of Parliament from voting on matters exclusively affecting England, The Telegraph reported Monday.He said he is also ready to review Scotland's enjoyment of higher public spending than most ... [full story]

ANKARA, Turkey -- The Turkish military said Monday its troops had killed 20 Kurdish separatist rebels operating from bases in northern Iraq.In what Euronews.net described as a "major military operation," thousands of ground and air troops near the eastern city of Tunceli conducted a sweep as 100,000 other troops were stationed along the border.The military made the announcement as the country observed its National Day dating back to 1923 when the republic was proclaimed. Turkey ... [full story]

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands -- A proposal in the U.S. Congress to impose federal immigration laws on the Northern Mariana Islands is worrying officials of the U.S. territory.The government of the Marianas said Congress' plan to slap federal guest-worker rules on the islands would put their fragile economy into a tailspin, The Washington Post reported Monday.About half of the Marianas 60,000 residents are temporary workers who are employed by garment factories dependent on cheap foreign ... [full story]

JERUSALEM -- Israeli President Shimon Peres on Monday urged the European Union to prevent Iran from developing its uranium enrichment program.Peres called on the EU to act against Iran when he met with EU External Relations Commissioner Benito Ferrero-Waldner, Ynetnews.com reported.The meeting covered a range of topics, including Israel's threat to cut power to Gaza, Ynetnews.com reported.Ferrero-Waldner warned cutting power to Gaza would escalate violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Peres, however, said Israel wouldn't ... [full story]

ASHLAND, Ohio -- The Ohio team that found lead in Chinese toys is reporting dangerous amounts of lead in some items meant for use by children on Halloween.Researchers at Ashland University urged the Consumer Products Safety Commission to issue a speedy recall for some fake plastic teeth and Halloween baskets, CBS News reported Monday.Chemistry Professor Jeffrey Weidenhammer of Ashland told a CBS reporter his team found 100 times the allowable levels of lead in the ... [full story]

LONDON -- Hackers broke into Barclay Bank's online accounts to order jewelry, electronics and cash transfers, The Times of London reported Monday.The computer bank robbers stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from at least 10 accounts, including $120,000 from one man's mortgage account, The Times reported.Barclays intercepted much of the fraud and stopped at least $1 million being stolen from clients, said officers from the Dedicated Check and Plastic Crime Unit, who suspect there are ... [full story]

  If you are having trouble consistently finding the sweet spot with your driver, the problem may be nothing more than how you set up to the ball. Keep in mind that the club head is about an inch off the ground at impact. If you set up to the ball with the ball in the middle of the sweet spot …   [full story]

Q: What are the best ways to learn the other games? - Sammy, Abilene, Texas A: The best ways to learn other games is to play micro-limits online. I learned triple low draw online playing .01/.02 and I probably played 40-60   PHIL LAAK - Phil Laak is a successful cash-game player and respected tournament foe. Born in Dublin, he now lives in California, when not roaming Las Vegas with girlfriend Jennifer Tilly. CNS Photo courtesy ... [full story]

Q: After witnessing a horrible accident involving a dog hit by a car recently, I started to wonder if dogs are ever given blood transfusions. Unfortunately, the dog that I saw apparently lost a lot of blood and died before it could be taken to a veterinary hospital. I hope that I never witness such a tragedy again. A: Many of the emergency procedures utilized today, including administering whole blood via transfusions, are very similar ... [full story]