23 United States agents convicted, 2 others cleared in Italy

An Italian judge convicted 23 US and two Italian secret agents for the CIA's kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in 2003, as Washington expressed dismay over the ruling.

The Milan station chief of the Central Intelligence Agency in Milan at the time, Robert Seldon Lady, was sentenced in absentia on Wednesday to eight years in prison and the other Americans to five years, in the landmark trial.

Two Italians were given three-year prison terms following the first trial involving the transfer of a "war on terror" suspect by CIA operatives thought to have sent scores of people to countries known to practice torture.

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Cotto's advantage

While a lot of experts believe that pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will win his Nov. 14 date with World Boxing Organization welterweight titleholder Miguel Cotto, three-division world champion Felix Trinidad thinks otherwise and is betting on his countryman to come out victorious on the much-anticipated super fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Trinidad believes that the 28-year-old Cotto has the edge over the smaller Pacquiao because the Puerto Rican world champion is a natural welterweight.

"On the night of the fight, Pacquiao will still not be a full welterweight. And Cotto is very strong. As the fight plays out, around rounds 7, 8, 9 is when Cotto starts taking over.

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Karzai secures second term

President Hamid Karzai effectively secured a second term on Sunday when his only challenger dropped out of the race.

The Obama administration said it was prepared to work with the man it has previously criticized to combat corruption and confront the Taliban insurgency.

President Barack Obama has been waiting for a new government in Kabul to announce whether he will send tens of thousands of new troops to Afghanistan, where the war has intensified.

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2T children knock on White House door

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on Saturday doled out presidential M&Ms and dried fruit mixes to more than 2,000 trick-or-treaters, marking their Halloween at a White House event partly aimed at honoring military families.

Dressed as superheroes, pirates, fairies and skeletons, the kids came in with their parents from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C., and lined up on the orange-lit White House driveway.

Standing outside the White House front door, the Obamas smiled, chatted and passed out cellophane goody bags that were also filled with a sweet dough butter cookie made by White House pastry chef Bill Yosses.

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Car bomb kills 105 in Pakistan market

Suspected militants exploded a car bomb in a market crowded with women and children on Wednesday, killing 105 people and turning shops selling wedding dresses, toys and jewelry into a mass of burning debris and bodies.

The attack in Peshawar City was Pa­kistan's deadliest since 2007 and came as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the country to offer support for its fight against a strengthening al-Qaeda and Taliban-led insurgency based along the Afghan border.

Three hours drive away Clinton was three hours' drive away in the capital meeting with Pakistani government leaders when the bomb went off in Peshawar.

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Winston for mayor?

Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president Winston Garcia is expected to transfer his voter registration records to the Cebu City poll office for the north district tomorrow, fueling speculations he may run for office in the city.

The administration party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) said Garcia's transfer has long been expected, while the opposition Kugi Uswag Sugbo (Kusug) said it is a welcome development.

Atty. Garcia, 51, is a registered voter of Barangay Cabancalan, Mandaue City and previously served in the Cebu Provincial Board.

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Senate health care bill to include public option

Health care legislation heading for the Senate floor will give millions of Americans the option of purchasing government-run insurance coverage, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on Monday, although he stopped short of claiming the 60 votes needed to pass a plan steeped in controversy.

Reid, D-Nev., said individual states would have the choice of opting out of the program.

His announcement was cheered by liberal lawmakers, greeted less effusively by the White House and noted with a noncommittal response by Democratic moderates whose votes will be pivotal.

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