| Fury at Kelly threat to gay adoptions
This is another example of why we need more powers for the Scottish Parliament, to decide our own policies rather than being under Westminster." Kelly has been deeply concerned by the widespread opposition to the new regulations, which are aimed at preventing businesses from discriminating against homosexuals. Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders have condemned the proposals, due to come into force in April, claiming they will have a damaging impact on charities and faith schools. Catholic Church leaders warned they would prefer to shut down their seven adoption agencies - which found homes for over 200 children last year - rather than be forced to place children with gay couples. Opponents of the legislation have also warned the rules would leave bed and breakfast owners open to legal action if they do not allow same-sex couples to share a room.
Djokovic Beats Tsonga for Aussie Title
He's a Grand Slam champion for real.Serving notice that his rapid rise in the rankings last year was no fluke, third-ranked Djokovic ended the Cinderella story of the Australian Open by beating unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (2) in Sunday night's final."I think every player dreams about winning a Grand Slam," Djokovic said. "It's something special."Top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal had combined to win the last 11 Grand Slams. Djokovic personally held up Federer's drive for Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles on hold by ousting him in the semifinals. Federer now will go for No. 13 at the French Open.Despite reaching at least the semifinals at the last three Grand Slams, Djokovic has been better known as "Djoker" for his wry sense of humor and impressions of other tennis players that have become hits on YouTube.It was easy to see that requests for the impersonations were wearing on him at Melbourne Park - he tried to beg off when he was asked to mimic Maria Sharapova after a match early in the two-week tournament - so Djokovic let his tennis do the talking.It spoke volumes.The 20-year-old Serbian, who said he listened to music, watched funny videos and told jokes in the locker room to relax before going on court, hadn't dropped a set in six matches until Tsonga stunned him with a pair of great shots to break and take the first set.Djokovic didn't crumble.
SunTrust and CheckFree Study Links Electronic Billing and Payment with ...
ATLANTA, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A new SunTrust Bank (NYSE: STI) and CheckFree Corporation (NASDAQ: CKFR) study reveals a clear link between electronic billing and payment habits and higher account balances, customer loyalty and profitability. The study analyzed consumer data from customer households during a 13- month period from February 2006 through February 2007. It found that customers who received and paid at least three e-bills per month at the SunTrust website: The study is the first of its kind to isolate e-bills as a major factor in driving customer retention and profitability based on a matched sample analysis. Conducted by Aspen Marketing Services on behalf of SunTrust and CheckFree Corporation, the study builds on previous research findings that customers who use online billing and payment services were more profitable and loyal to their financial institutions.
Bush Says Faith Helped Him Beat Drinking
As was typical, Bush said during a November 2000 news conference in which he admitted pleading guilty in 1976 to drunken driving that he merely ``occasionally drank too much'' as a younger man. He told an interviewer that same year that alcohol ``was beginning to compete for my affections'' before he quit. In September 2003, Bush was talking at a Houston community center on the same topic he was on Tuesday - the value of federal support for religious charities that address societal ills. ``I know firsthand what it takes to quit drinking, and it takes something other than a textbook or a manual,'' he said. His checkered relationship with booze does come up frequently in his conversations, often as a joke or an aside. Bush is known to have said that the subject is never too far from his mind.
More bosses demanding sick notes
PATIENTS are asking time-pressured GPs to write twice as many medical certificates as a decade ago to meet employers' demands, a survey has found. The demand for sick notes is so great that employees will soon be able to get them from their local chemist.A major study of the way GPs use their time has found patients made 800,000 more requests for "administration procedures" – most often medical certificates – in 2006-07 compared with 1998-99. About one in 60 patients visited their doctor primarily to get a certificate, compared with about one in 120 nine years ago, the report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found. "Employers are not allowing a day's grace for someone to be sick without needing a certificate," Australian Medical Association president Dr Rosanna Capolingua said.
Artists want to claim Queen Street as their own
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EC urged to put brakes on M74 project
The Greens claim ministers and the companies involved in the tender process broke two key European Union directives and are calling on the EC to intervene and halt the project.The official complaint is the latest stage in what has been a protracted battle between the environmental lobby and the Scottish Government over the £500 million project.While the complaint to the commission represents the last possible attempt to stop the M74 extension, it is also one of the most serious and potentially most important moves by the environmentalists so far.If the EC does decide that ministers broke the rules, then, at the very least, it will put back the project by several years and could even signal the end for it altogether.The extension is designed to link the M74 to the M8, west of the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow.
Phil Makes Extension Official
Nobody has been more successful from the sideline in the history of this game than Phil and his record obviously speaks for itself," general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "We're excited to have a coach of his experience, stature and ability leading this team for the foreseeable future." .
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