Men's Gear pays homage to women

Details. Maxim. Stuff. These are some of the men's magazinesthat Gear is competing against. But as far as Gear founder, editorand publisher Bob Guccione Jr. is concerned, his magazine is at leasta couple of steps above them.

And I've got to agree with him.

Currently celebrating its first anniversary with a September coverthat features actress Penelope Cruz, Gear has proved overall to be anentertaining read . . . for women as well as men.

Guccione is proud of the fact that his magazine doesn't airbrushany of its models (not that any of them need it) and that it isactually more women-friendly than some periodicals geared at women.

"(Staff writer) Celia …

Poland's Walesa in Tunisia on pro-democracy trip

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Poland says former president and Solidarity founder Lech Walesa is meeting Tunisian officials in an effort to support a young democracy movement.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was meeting Thursday with Tunisia's caretaker president, Fouad Mebazaa.

During a three-day visit, Walesa is to meet members of Tunisia's interim …

SKorea's Kwon Sang-woo eyes Chinese film career

SHENZHEN, China (AP) — After building a name for himself in the South Korean film and TV industries, Kwon Sang-woo is setting his sights on another booming Asian entertainment market — China.

The 34-year-old actor is shooting a Chinese-language romance alongside Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung and will next join the Jackie Chan project "Chinese Zodiac."

Kwon, who shot to fame with the 2003 TV drama "Stairway to Heaven," on Friday took a break from shooting in the southern Chinese city Shenzhen to promote "Repeat, I Love You."

"This movie marks my first foray into international markets, so I take this movie very seriously," Kwon told reporters.

The South Korean …

Tabletop sale ; In brief

BRENTWOOD: A tabletop sale, in aid of the National ChildbirthTrust takes place later this month.

Thousands of high-quality, used, children's and maternityclothing, indoor and garden toys, nursery …

Analysis: Split Over Palestinian Policy

WASHINGTON - The United States is in the middle of an emerging division among allies in Israel and Europe over how to deal with a Palestinian coalition government that includes Hamas militants alongside Western-backed moderates.

The differences are subtle so far, with Israel taking the toughest line against the power-sharing deal and Europe the most lenient. That leaves the Bush administration working to preserve its foothold in Mideast peace efforts and hard-fought harmony with European nations.

There were no public splits as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saw a stream of European diplomats this week. But diplomats and analysts say it will be hard to maintain a …

Interior ministry rejects IPL's revised schedule

The lucrative Indian Premier League suffered a major setback Friday after the Home Ministry withheld security clearance for the event despite organizers submitting a revised playing schedule.

The Home Ministry told IPL officials it "may not be feasible to play matches as per the submitted schedule" due to a shortage of central security forces, which will be busy safeguarding the country's general elections at the same time.

The IPL is scheduled to be held from April 10 to May 24, while the elections for the Indian Parliament's lower house will take place across the country in five different phases between April 16 and May 13.

Tournament …

Thrift bailout would create huge institution

WASHINGTON Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman WilliamSeidman said Thursday the savings and loan rescue package pending inCongress would create a giant corporation with as much as $500billion in assets.

"That institution will be the largest depository institution inthe country," Seidman said at a news conference.

The Resolution Trust Corp. that would be created by thelegislation could take control of as many as 363 failed savings andloan institutions over the next three years, Seidman said. Thatincludes an estimated 220-225 institutions the FDIC is expected totake immediate control of under President Bush's $157 billion rescueplan.

So far, the …