Washington, December 5 : In what projects blogging as a dangerous business, an annual "prison census" survey suggests that most of the journalists jailed worldwide are associated with the Internet medium.

The survey report, compiled by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), shows that about 45 per cent of all media workers jailed worldwide are bloggers, Web-based reporters, or online editors.

New York, Dec 5 : Alex Rodriguez has set the record straight – he and Madonna are just friends.

"We''re friends - that''s it," A-Rod told People in an interview.

In the interview, the 33-year-old denied reports that he travelled to Mexico with the Material Girl as well as the rumor that they are shopping for a Manhattan apartment together, reports the New York Daily News.

New York, Dec. 5: "Manhattan Madam" Kristin Davis, who was at the center of an exposed escort service that nailed former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer, left court on Thursday a free woman after a judge sentenced her to time served.

The buxom 32-year-old blonde left Manhattan Supreme Court after her 90-day term was officially imposed. As part of her plea bargain, Davis forfeited $476,000 in cash recovered in a police raid on her home, the New York Daily News reports.

Davis did her time on Rikers Island after her March arrest, when the city cracked down on escort services following the Eliot Spitzer scandal.

New York/Mumbai, Dec. 5 : The Jews who were murdered by terrorists in Mumbai last week were tortured before they were killed, forensic experts and Mumbai’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) have confirmed.

The New York Daily News quoted Rakesh Maria as saying that several of the dead Jews had died of "strangulation and not from bomb or bullet injuries," at Chabad House.

"There are indications that they were indeed tortured, although we are yet to receive medical reports," he added.

Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, 29, and his wife, Rivkah, 28, both formerly of Crown Heights, were among those slaughtered last week after Pakistan-based terrorists staged a

NEW YORK, Dec. 4 - Items from the iconic, now-shuttered, music club CBGB are to be part of an exhibit at the new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York, CBGB Holdings said.

The Manhattan hotspot -- credited with helping establish the careers of Television, the Ramones, Blondie, Patti Smith, the B-52's and Talking Heads -- closed down last spring. However, pieces of it will soon be on display, thanks to a new ownership team headed by James Blueweiss and Robert Williams -- partners in the recently formed CBGB Holdings -- as well as members of founder Hilly Kristal's immediate family, long-time employees and music industry advisers who have a history with the club.

NEW YORK, Dec. 4  -- Crude oil prices dropped to less than $44 a barrel Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, hitting its lowest closing price in 35 months.