France's parliament gave its initial backing to a draft law that would devolve more power to the regions, in what has been called the biggest constitutional change since Napoleon forged a highly centralised state.

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Soma Sengupta, 52, was convicted by a judge in New York state Supreme Court of possession of forged instruments and conspiracy, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R.

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To drive through it, he quickly forged a relationship with Mario Cuomo, who was then the state's Democratic governor, and took a non-partisan line on issues such as immigration and abortion.

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Secretary of State Colin Powell and Mexico's Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda forged agreements Tuesday on a variety of issues, including food safety, the sharing of assets confiscated from criminal activity, and education.

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Despite the almost permanent state of war between the Wazirs and the Mehsud, these commanders forged an alliance with Baitullah Mehsud last February.

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The longtime Egyptian leader forged a number of agreements with Israel, despite widespread antipathy toward the Jewish state from others in the Arab world.

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