Hugo Boss AG

Animal rights activists vowed to intensify calls for boycotts of Australian wool Tuesday, after farmers said they would continue sheep mulesing, the cutting of the hide to prevent disease.

Eyepopping prints, low-crotched pants and sexy sailors amp up Paris' menswear displays. Bold prints, harem pants and beefy sailor looks ruled the catwalks Thursday on day one of Paris' menswear displays, with strong spring-summer 2010 collections by Belgium's critical darling Dries Van Noten, French luxury label Louis Vuitton and the country's one-time enfant terrible, Jean Paul Gaultier.

The male fashion spotlight shifts from Milan to Paris on Thursday with more shows planned than ever before as the world of style doggedly thumbs its nose at the economic crisis.

Tired of buying perfume, chocolates or wine for your spouse while flying home? Looking for a special and safe investment in these turbulent times?

GJIROKASTER, Albania/TRAVNIK, Bosnia (Reuters) - The road to the continent's high fashion boutiques often leads through little-known towns in the Balkans, but you wouldn't know it from reading the labels.

MILAN (Reuters Life!) - Fashion group Valentino said it expects 2009 to be a tough year in luxury retail but has seen resilience in quality labels such as Marlboro and Hugo Boss.

Earnings reports put spotlight on consumers and whether they're opening their wallets more. When the economy screeched to a halt late last year, so did consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of all U.S. economic activity. That's why the latest string of quarterly reports will be closely watched for any indication that consumers feel more confident about parting with their money.

Indy race car driver Castroneves acquitted of most charges in tax evasion case; 1 count hung. Brazilian race car driver and "Dancing With The Stars" champ Helio Castroneves was acquitted Friday of most charges that he worked with his sister and lawyer to evade more than $2.3 million in U.S. income taxes. A federal jury acquitted Castroneves on six counts of tax evasion but hung on one count of conspiracy. When the sentence was read, Castroneves broke into sobs and leaned against his attorneys for support.

Indy race car driver Helio Castroneves is acquitted of most charges in tax evasion case. Brazilian race car driver and "Dancing With The Stars" champ Helio Castroneves was acquitted Friday of most charges that he worked with his sister and lawyer to evade more than $2.3 million in U.S. income taxes.

Prosecutors: Evidence clear for guilt in Miami tax evasion trial of Indy driver Castroneves. Indy race car driver Helio Castroneves, his sister and his lawyer engaged in an intricate "pattern of deception" to avoid paying U.S. income taxes on millions of dollars over a five-year period, a prosecutor said Thursday in closing arguments at the trio's tax evasion trial.

Prosecutors: Evidence clear for guilt in Miami tax evasion trial of Indy driver Castroneves. Indy race car driver Helio Castroneves, his sister and his lawyer engaged in an intricate "pattern of deception" to avoid paying U.S. income taxes on millions of dollars over a five-year period, a prosecutor said Thursday in closing arguments at the trio's tax evasion trial.

IRS agent says race driver Castroneves owes more than $2.3 million in US income taxes. Brazilian race car driver and "Dancing With The Stars" winner Helio Castroneves owes more than $2.3 million in U.S. taxes because of unreported income and improper deductions over a five-year period, an Internal Revenue Service agent testified Friday at his tax evasion trial.

Opponents of Governor Spitzer's plan to scrap an expanded convention center and sell off two parcels of land to fill the budget gap are banding together in the lead up to the March 5 meeting of the Javits Development Corporation. [NY Times]