West Ham's Zola wins libel case over Chelsea talks

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola and assistant Steve Clarke accepted undisclosed libel damages from the BBC on Tuesday over a report they were planning to move to Chelsea.

During a BBC radio program in February, journalist Harry Harris alleged the pair _ who had both played at Chelsea _ had gone to an interview with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich about becoming the management team for the 2009-10 season.

James Quartermaine, the lawyer representing Zola and Clarke, told London's High Court that the two were _ and remained _ under contract to West Ham. He said for …

Buyers should be prepared for shock of closing costs

First-time buyers tend to overlook closing costs. But typicallyyou can expect to pay 4 1/2 percent of the loan amount in variousloan fees. This can drastically cut into your down-payment nest egg.

The largest closing cost usually is points, or special loan feeslenders charge to increase their profits.

One point equals 1 percent of the mortgage amount. So if alender charges three points on a $90,000 mortgage, you will have topay $2,700 at closing.

Some lenders will lower the interest rate on a loan if you willpay more points at closing. It is unusual today to find a lenderwilling to charge no points without raising the annual rate. Also,if you want to …

Top 10 payouts on claims against NYPD

New York's top 10 payouts on claims against police, for the decade ending June 30, 2008:

— Franklyn Waldron: $8 million to a man shot and paralyzed by a police officer.

— Abner Louima: $7.125 million to a man brutally attacked by officers in a police station.

— Kiros Berhe: $4.25 million to a man hit by a squad car.

— Sueli Pereira: $3.5 million to a woman who lost a leg after a school safety officer's car hit her.

— Sami Leka: $3.1 million to a man who spent more than 11 years in prison before his murder conviction was overturned and prosecutors dropped charges.

— Salimata Sanfo: $3 million to a woman whose husband, Ousmane Zongo, was shot and killed …

Men's World Cup Freestyle Results

Results Saturday from of a World Cup freestyle event :

Aerials

Men

1. Anton Kushnir, Belarus, 263.55 points.

2. Guangpu Qi, China, 236.97.

3. Renato Ulrich, Switzerland, 215.42.

4. Christian Harchler, Switzerland, 213.58.

5. Thomas Lambert, Switzerland, 211.27.

6. Zhongqing Liu, China, 208.27.

7. Alexei Grishin, Belarus, 207.16.

8. Dmitri Dashinski, Belarus, 190.88.

9. Scott Bahrke, United States, 176.33.

10. Chao Wu, China, 166.86.

Standings

(After 6 Events)

1. Anton Kushnir, Belarus, 540 points.

2. …

Intrepid couple raise pounds4,000 for charity

The rector of Timsbury and his wife have raised more thanpounds4,000 for charity after pulling on their walking boots for asix-day hike.

The Rev Chris Hare and his wife Miriam completed a 90-milesponsored walk to Reading in aid of Dorothy House Hospice Care andPriston and Timsbury parish churches.

The couple's odyssey took them along the route of the SomersetCoal Canal and then alongside the Kennet and Avon Canal to Reading.

During the …

Desde Nueva York "En Sol Mayor": Juan "WICKLY" Noguera, Rumbero de Corazon

DESDE NUEVA YORK "En Sol Mayor": Juan "WICKLY" Noguera, Rumbero de Corazon

Por Silvio Cebrian

Durante las ultimas cuatro decadas, han llegado a la Union Americana una estela de personajes de diferentes partes del continente, del ambito musical y han logrado con su arte, exitos rotundos, penetrando de lleno en el corazon del publico que los aclama.

Wickly Nogueras, talentoso y dinamico musico cubano, que durante su trayectoria en su suelo natal fue integrante de varias agrupaciones musicales muy prominentes, como la Orquesta Riverside, el Conjunto de Roberto Faz, y la Orquesta de Pacho Alonso.

A su llegada a los Estados Unidos de America, rapidamente …

McCain has spot of skin removed from face

Republican Sen. John McCain said Monday he had had a small patch of skin removed from his face and biopsied as part of a regular checkup with his dermatologist.

"She said that I was doing fine," McCain, a three-time melanoma survivor, told reporters on a presidential campaign visit to an oil rig where he spoke briefly about his proposed energy plan. "She took a small little nick from my cheek, as she does regularly, and that will be biopsied just to make sure everything is fine."

The Arizona senator had the procedure performed near Phoenix during a checkup he undergoes every three months. He sported a small bandage on his upper right cheek …