In other words: sorry Zune fanboys, this is going to be a war of attrition, and while launch week numbers might foretell the Zune's place in the not too distant future, they shouldn't be used as hard and fast figures for today's split up of the market.

ENGADGET: Zune takes #2 spot in retail launch week

Italy is the third-largest economy in the EU. Italian and Spanish bond yields are starting to creep higher again, which is an early clue that the EU debt crisis could be back on the front burner of the market place at some point in the not too distant future.

FORBES: A.M. Kitco Metals Roundup: Gold Slightly Down; Little Reaction to China Economic Data

No one at Karakol was sure when the next Pakistan-bound bus was due, but in the stillness of this place I heard it long before it appeared: a distant whine among silent mountains.

BBC: Following the Silk Road to the end of China

Present polls put her in distant third or even fourth place, with 16%-18% of the first-round vote, compared with 28% or so each for Mr Sarkozy and Mr Hollande.

ECONOMIST: The French election

The researchers said that's because of Honolulu's place in the air transportation network: in the Pacific Ocean, with many connections to distant, large, and well-connected hubs.

CNN: Researchers list top 10 airports for spreading disease

In the face of continuing warfare in Cambodia, many Americans have chosen to turn away from the conflict there, viewing that unfortunate nation as a distant place of permanent pain.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Giving Peace A Chance In Cambodia: A Primer For US Policy