AGADEZ, Niger (Reuters) - Customs officers in this dusty  Saharan town turned a blind eye as yet another creaking truck  piled with grain, smuggled cigarettes and dozens of migrants  heading for Europe rumbled off into the desert.

Thirst, Fear and Bribes on Desert Escape from Africa


Long given up for dead (or dying), Sun is turning its own business on its head by offering to integrate many different systems.

Sun Looks to Wall Street in a Comeback Bid


More than 3,800 disabled athletes gathered Friday for the opening ceremony of the largest Paralympics in the games #39; 44-year history.

Athens throws Paralympic party for largest games ever


The EU #39;s aid chief said the violence in Sudan #39;s Darfur region had worsened since the government and rebels signed new security agreements two weeks ago.

EU official says Darfur violence worse since pact inked


AP - Jerry Rice returned to the practice field Monday and showed the Raiders the same old-fashioned work ethic that has defined his stellar career, a day after his record receptions streak ended.

Rice Back at Work After Streak Ends (AP)


The Cassini spacecraft zoomed past Saturn #39;s largest moon early Monday, its radars and other science instruments piercing Titan #39;s thick atmosphere in search

Cassini #39;s Titan Data Awaited from Saturn


In just six short years since the dictator Suharto was ousted, the world #39;s fifth most populous nation has seen three presidents, three major terrorist bombings by a group linked to Al Qaeda, three separatist uprisings, a 40 percent unemployment rate, and

Indonesia as a Beacon


They were 4-12 last year. They have had a losing record in 15 of 16 seasons since the franchise last relocated. They have won one playoff game since 1947.

The Cards Are Destiny's Children


World News  gt; Dhaka, Dec 10 : A Bangladeshi truck driver, who was abuducted by an Iraqi militant group nearly two months ago, has been freed, his brother said today.

Iraqi militant group frees abducted Bangladeshi driver: family :


Vivendi Universal and its former chief Jean-Marie Messier have each been fined 1 million euros (\$1.35 million) for misleading financial information issued by the company when Messier was in charge, Messier #39;s lawyer said Tuesday.

Update 1: Vivendi, Messier Are Fined \$1.35 Million


SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Dutch electronics firm Philips said on  Wednesday it plans to almost double its research and  development staff in China to 1,300 over the next 2 years,  underscoring the country's growing clout as a technology  center.

Philips to Nearly Double China R D Staff


The AT amp;T Corporation, the nation #39;s largest long-distance provider, said yesterday that it would eliminate more than 20 percent of its work force this year and write off \$11.

More Job Cuts Set by AT amp;T; Total to Hit 20 of Staff


CHICAGO _ The leaders of United Airlines pilots union have agreed to accept a 15 percent pay cut and not oppose the elimination of their pension plan, setting a precedent both

United pilots #39; cooperation on pensions expected to affect other <b>...</b>


JP Morgan Chase  amp; Co. on Tuesday shuffled top management at the firm which led to chief financial officer Dina Dublon resigning from the Wall Street giant and investment banking chairman David Coulter being reassigned to control West Coast operations.

Update 2: JP Morgan Chase Reshuffles Top Management


AP - Cats not only can catch the deadly bird flu but can spread it to other felines, Dutch researchers reported Thursday  #151; raising important questions about the pets' role in outbreaks.

Report Says That Cats Can Spread Bird Flu (AP)


For all of the fuss about Pedro Martinez #39;s genealogical assertions, the critical factor in the American League Championship Series has been Boston #39;s inability to provide for its pitchers.

Martinez can #39;t do much more for Boston, daddy-o


AP - Cumberland Island is the largest undeveloped barrier island on the Eastern Seaboard and about half of it is federal wilderness area, meaning visitors and National Park Service employees are supposed to hike rather than drive. But the island has a handful of permanent residents who are free to drive on the three roads.

Ga. Lawmakers Favor Car Tours on Island (AP)


AP - After two debates, voters have seen President Bush look peevish and heard him pass the buck. They've watched Sen. John Kerry deny he's a flip-flopper and then argue that Saddam Hussein was a threat  #151; and wasn't. It's no wonder so few minds have changed.

Newsview: Flawed Candidates Neck and Neck (AP)


Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) has demonstrated the company's first dual-core microprocessors at its Austin, Texas, office, the company said Tuesday.

AMD demos first dual-core processor


JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was set to end his 15-month boycott of the Palestinian leadership after expressing a willingness to meet new PLO chief and presidential favourite Mahmud Abbas.

Sharon set to end 15-month boycott of Palestinian leadership


Reuters - Deadly Hurricane Jeanne strengthened\rapidly as it strafed the northern Bahamas on Saturday on its\way to deliver a record fourth hurricane strike in one season\to densely populated Florida.

Hurricane Jeanne Pelts Bahamas on Way to Florida (Reuters)


FORD driver Marcos Ambrose today sealed back-to-back V8 Supercar championships with victory in the 100km opening race at the series Grand Finale.

Ambrose seals V8 title


Planet-building is dusty work, and now two space telescopes have captured images of cosmic construction materials: disks of dust circling stars about the same size as our sun.

NASA telescopes spy planets under construction


ATHENS (Reuters) - Told to avoid inflaming anti-American  sentiment, U.S. athletes may have toned down the bravado too  much in the early days of the Athens Games.

Only Three Golds - U.S. Misfires in Early Days in Athens


American Lindsay Davenport regained the No. 1 ranking in the world for the first time since early 2002 by defeating Dinara Safina of Russia 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the Kremlin Cup on Thursday.

Davenport regains No. 1 ranking


The Indonesian cleric accused of heading the al Qaida-linked terror group behind the 2002 Bali bombings proclaimed his innocence as he went on trial today, while prosecutors alleged he spurred followers in  quot;the waging of war quot; against America and its allies

Al Qaida suspect goes on trial


MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Olympic shot put champion Irina  Korzhanenko, stripped of her gold medal after a drugs test,  said Tuesday she was determined to keep her medal because she  is innocent.

Korzhanenko Still Refusing to Return Gold Medal


Monsanto Co., a producer of Roundup herbicide and insect-resistant seeds, posted narrower fourth-quarter losses on Wednesday, but said lower Roundup herbicide sales in the United States hurt total quarterly revenue.

Monsanto Posts Narrower 4Q Loss


Chinas human rights record does not warrant the lifting of a 15 year old EU arms embargo, said a senior US official. Gregory Suchan, US Deputy assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs

US pressures EU on China arms ban


Gold Banc Corp., a banking company with operations in four states, has agreed to pay \$16 million to resolve claims that it charged excessive fees and inflated interest rates on federally guaranteed agricultural loans, the US Attorney #39;s office said Friday.

Gold Banc to Pay \$16M to Resolve Claims


GUWAHATI: Nine bodies were recovered in Assam #39;s Goalpara district on Sunday morning taking the death toll in the current flash floods in the state to 70, official sources said.

Assam flash floods toll mounts to 70


AP - Older patients with similar chronic conditions receive treatment that varies widely, even among the top-ranked hospitals, according to studies released Thursday that suggest more expensive and frequent intervention does not make for better care.

Studies Question Ranking of Best Hospitals (AP)


PHILADELPHIA (CP) - Todd MacCulloch always knew his career would end. The Winnipeg native just never expected it to come to such a sudden and mysterious stop.

Philadelphia 76ers centre Todd MacCulloch of Winnipeg retires


LOS ANGELES A source says Hollywood studios are preparing to file copyright infringement lawsuits against people they say are illegally sharing movies online.

Source: Movie industry to sue computer users


Monash scientist Andrew Prentice ponders the probe that will land on the Saturnian moon Titan in January. Photo: Angela Wylie. NASA #39;s mission to Saturn, Cassini, will pass a crucial milestone

Cassini takes passing shot of Saturn #39;s moon


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were slightly lower on  Wednesday as a number of companies warned over earnings, while  Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's relatively upbeat  remarks on the economy gave investors no major surprises.

Stocks Slip, Profit Warnings Weigh


A group of three United Nations workers, freed after almost four weeks captivity in Afghanistan, have met President Hamid Karzai, in Kabul.

Freed UN hostages meet Afghan leader ahead of return home


RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian President  Yasser Arafat's health has worsened sharply and he is slipping  in and out of consciousness at his besieged West Bank  headquarters, officials and medics said Thursday.

Arafat 'Very Sick,' Palestinian Leaders Summoned


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - An ambitious plan to turn  millions of desktop computers into hubs of wireless Internet  access has been shelved after PC makers balked at the price of  the feature, Intel Corp. <A HREF=

Intel Shelves Plan to Turn Desktop Into Wi-Fi Hub


BEIJING - A group of state-owned Chinese companies has agreed to help finance and build an iron ore and infrastructure project worth nearly \$2 billion (Australian) in the Pilbara region of western Australia.

Chinese companies invest in Australian iron ore


On October 6, 2004 Henkel KGaA, Dsseldorf and The Clorox Company, Oakland, California, USA, have signed an agreement pursuant to which Henkel will exchange its entire 28.

Henkel exchanges its Clorox stake against Clorox consumer <b>...</b>


PARIS (Reuters) - France said on Saturday it hoped Islamic  militants were about to free two French hostages, but urged  caution as fresh violence erupted in Iraq.

France Hopes Iraq Hostages Will Be Freed Soon


Jose Mourinho sounded his most magnanimous as Chelsea opened a two-point lead at the top of the Premiership.  quot;I don #39;t want the credit when I don #39;t deserve it, quot; the west London club #39;s Portuguese

The Premiership: Robben #39;s rhapsody in blue


A four-day general strike ends in Nigeria but unions threaten more action in two weeks if petrol prices stay high.

Nigeria strike ends amid warnings


KABUL, Afghanistan -- US warplanes bombed an Afghan village in the heat of a battle between US-led forces and insurgents, killing more than a dozen people and striking the camp of a Danish relief group.

US bombs militants by Afghan village


quot;We may be about to experience an election unlike any we #39;ve seen in a while, quot; John Fund writes at www.OpinionJournal.

Inside Politics


ATHENS, Greece - American Michael Phelps won his fourth gold medal of the Olympics in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday night, leading the entire race. Phelps finished in an Olympic-record time of 1 minute, 57.14 seconds, lowering his own mark of 1:58.52 set in the semifinals one night earlier...

Phelps Dominates 200 IM for Fourth Gold


A new Netflix feature, Netflix Friends, lets you know what others are watching (and vice-versa).

What Are Good Friends for? Perhaps for Recommending DVD's


AFP - The latest failed attempt to revive peace talks is bad news for Sri Lanka's economy, already in trouble from high inflation, a foreign exchange crisis and a falling rupee.

Deadlock in peace talks compounds Sri Lanka's economic woes (AFP)


Picking the men #39;s winner of the US Open, which will begin today in Flushing Meadows, NY, is no sure thing, based on what happened at the year #39;s two previous Grand Slam events.

No predicting a men #39;s winner


LOS ANGELES -- Rap artist Snoop Dogg donned football gloves and a red University of Southern California sweat suit Tuesday to run through drills with the top-ranked Trojans football team.

Rapper Snoop Dogg works out with top-ranked Trojans


NBA Commissioner David Stern handed down three of the stiffest suspensions in the league #39;s history after a wild fan-player melee Friday night in Detroit.

NBA Gets Tough After Near-Riot


BRUSSELS -- The European Union's (E.U.'s) planned software patent rules represent a major threat to interoperability unless specific exemptions are made to the legislation, participants at a conference on the issue heard on Tuesday.

Europeans debate software patents, interoperability


It has been a week since a peace deal was struck in the Iraqi city of Najaf, bringing an end to three weeks of fighting and opening the predominantly Shia city up to millions of dollars in reconstruction aid.

Iraqi Sunni Leaders Aim to Build on Shia Peace Gains


Albatron Technology today announced the Nvidia-based AGP6600 and AGP6600GT VGA cards, both of which are designed for the AGP 8x interface.

Albatron debuts Nvidia AGP6600 and AGP6600GT cards for the AGP 8x <b>...</b>


The European Commission has opened a probe into Microsoft #39;s and Time Warner #39;s plans to buy anti-piracy software manufacturer ContentGuard.

Europe starts new Microsoft probe


Carnell Williams ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns, and Ronnie Brown added 147 yards rushing to lead No. 18 Auburn past Mississippi State 43-14 on Saturday.

No. 18 Auburn 43, Mississippi St. 14


ATHENS (Reuters) - The swimming judge who disqualified gold  medal winner Aaron Peirsol at the Athens Olympics is standing  by his claim that the American backstroker broke the rules.

Judge Maintains Peirsol Broke Rules


United Nations - United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday condemned riots in Liberia #39;s capital that left at least five people dead, and urged Liberian and West African leaders to support UN efforts to restore calm.

UN chief condemns violence in Monrovia


AFP - European finance ministers expressed concern at  quot;excess volatility quot; in currency rates in talks that also took in the vexed question of reforms to the eurozone's tattered budget rules.

Eurozone frets over rising euro, stability pact (AFP)


Nortel Networks Corp. (NT.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) , one of the world #39;s largest makers of telecoms equipment, said on Wednesday it would miss by about two weeks its end of October deadline

Nortel Restatements Delayed to November


Your name is synonymous with searching the Internet, and you've just raised roughly \$1.7 billion from investors by going public. What are you going to do now?

Google Faces Challenge of Public Company Status


Ten years later, Peter Forsberg was back in the Swedish Elite League as his hometown team Modo tied Brynas 3-3 on the road in their opener Tuesday.

Forsberg scores in Swedish league return


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar barely moved on Tuesday,  struggling to sustain a modest bounce from multi-week lows  against the euro made on bigger-than-expected capital inflows  to the United States.

Dollar Stalls Despite Capital Flows


OTTAWA (CP) - The Toronto Argonauts have the green light to score off the field this week. Argos head coach Pinball Clemons was asked during the Grey Cup coaches #39; news conference Wednesday if he would allow

Pinball: Argos can score off the field


When was the last time you heard about the browser wars? Well, they #39;re back. The reason: For the first time in more than seven years, Microsoft is losing Web browser market share.

A Firefox in Internet Explorer #39;s Henhouse


While President Bush may have boosted his tough-guy image at home in a brief scuffle with local police during a summit in Chile, orderly Chileans were less impressed that he got physically involved and flouted security rules.

Bush Tough-Guy Scuffle Plays Poorly in Chile


LONDON (Reuters) - The mother of a young British soldier  killed in Iraq plans to sue the government for breaching its  duty of care to her son by not supplying key defensive  equipment, the Guardian newspaper reported on Monday.

Mother of Dead UK Soldier to Sue Government -Report


The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles may be on a collision course for Super Bowl XXXIX. The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the NFL #39;s lone remaining unbeaten teams in the next two weeks.

TESTING FORTNIGHT FOR STEELERS


The parent company of the downtown Wonder Bread bakery filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday in an attempt to restructure its struggling operations.

Wonder Bread parent files for bankruptcy


NEW YORK (Reuters) - ConocoPhillips <A HREF=

ConocoPhillips Keeps Production Target


The second largest bank in Spain is buying Laredo National Bancshares Inc. for \$850 million, according to published reports. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA will acquire the parent company of Laredo National Bank for \$850 million.

Spanish bank acquiring Laredo National Bank


DETROIT (Sports Network) - Five members of the Indiana  Pacers and five Detroit Pistons fans are expected to be charged  Wednesday in the November 19 brawl that took place at The  Palace of Auburn Hills.

Players and Fans Expected to Face Charges in Brawl


Alliance Laundry Holdings, a commercial laundry equipment manufacturer, said its controlling shareholder Bain Capital agreed to sell the company to Teachers #39; Private Capital for about \$450 million.

Ontario fund buying Alliance Laundry for \$450 mln


AFP - Two days of hard politicking on Iraq have left the US presidential candidates locked into opposing visions: George W. Bush sees a country marching towards democracy, John Kerry sees one descending into chaos.

Bush-Kerry draw sharp battle lines on Iraq (AFP)


BRISTOL, Tenn. - Ryan Newman cant afford any more missteps, which is a pretty tough row to hoe when the next race on the schedule is at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Newman hopes to right the ship at Bristol track


NEW YORK Sept. 29, 2004 - US stocks are seen in a cautious mood at the open as investors take on board a persistently high oil price and reflect on Tuesday #39;s poor consumer confidence reading.

Stocks Cautious Amid High Oil Prices


Forbes.com - Walk the hilly campus of Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, Calif. and you enter the fabulous world of the international nonprofit. The three-year-old school has so far put about  #36;300 million into its 103 suburban Orange County acres, and this is still a work in progress. As of this fall, only 400 students will meander among the rich, Romanesque architecture.

Sensei's World (Forbes.com)


Japan urged North Korea on yesterday to return to six-way talks on the North #39;s nuclear weapons program in a third day of meetings focusing on the fate of missing Japanese citizens kidnapped by Northern spies, Japanese officials said.

Japan presses Pyongyang on six-party nuclear talks


Reuters - Iraq's main Shi'ite parties insisted on\Saturday that elections should go ahead on Jan. 30 as planned,\rejecting mounting calls from Sunni and secular politicians to\postpone the polls because of guerrilla violence.

Calls for Iraq Poll Delay Fuel Tension (Reuters)


In two separate trades, three notable fantasy receivers were moved to new teams just before Tuesday #39;s trading deadline. Keenan McCardell was sent to San Diego, while the Browns sent Antonio Bryant to the Cowboys for Quincy Morgan.

Fantasy Spin: McCardell among three WRs moved


AP - A proposal to send more water to Central Valley fields and Southern California neighborhoods could undermine ecological gains in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, environmentalists say.

New Pressures Threaten Calif. Ecosystems (AP)


Hard-pressed Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp. posted a big half-year loss on Monday and widened its full-year net loss projection even as it aims to tame a domestic sales plunge with its newly launched compact car.

Mitsubishi Motors reports large half-year loss


Oil prices climbed above \$41 a barrel on Monday after Saudi Arabia cut January crude deliveries to clients in Asia, confirming that the top exporter was adhering to OPEC #39;s agreement last week to curb excess supply.

WORLD MARKET NEWS


DECEMBER 07, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - SAN FRANCISCO -- Oracle Corp. has unveiled Business Intelligence 10g, a stand-alone product that executives said will provide query, reporting and analysis, dashboards, data integration and BI application development.

Oracle pushes on BI


Bayern Munich players and officials were thrilled at the propsect of meeting English champions Arsenal for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions #39; League after today #39;s draw in Nyon paired the two clubs.

Makaay Hails  quot;Incredible Draw quot;


When it comes to ICANN, let #39;s just say  quot;You Can #39;t. quot; Or rather, you can #39;t dispute its authority. In the latest phase of a long-simmering dispute between VeriSign (Nasdaq: VRSN

Judge Tells VeriSign U CAN #39;T


The last 12 months have seen a huge rise in the number of so-called phishing attacks, say security experts.

Cyber criminals step up the pace


A draft report finds no WMD stockpiles in Iraq but evidence of plans for future programmes, say US officials.

'No WMD stockpile find' in Iraq


Reuters - The bird flu epidemic that has\killed 31 people in southeast Asia this year may also have\killed 23 tigers at a zoo in eastern Thailand, a cabinet\minister said Tuesday.

Bird Flu May Have Killed Thai Tigers -- Minister (Reuters)


Tony Blair arrives back in Britain from Africa after saying the continent should be the top priority for a new EU battle force.

Blair back after Africa troop vow


Not that the hockey negotiations aren #39;t going to proceed in utterly good faith, but the NHL owners piled up a \$300 million war chest and the players union long ago warned its members to be ready to go 18 months without a paycheck.

Both leaders taking big risks


It seemed amazing at first. Video rental titan Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI) is axing late fees? Considering that the company had projected \$250 million to \$300 million in late fees next year -- or an average of

Fee Fight For Fun


Rauhi Fattouh, the man chosen as Yasser Arafat #39;s immediate successor as Palestinian Authority president, is a 55-year-old moderate who only became parliament speaker six months ago.

Arafat #39;s immediate successor a moderate


Kolkata: South African skipper Graeme Smith suffered an injury to his left foot in a minor accident near the team hotel here today.

SA skipper Smith suffers foot injury


Staff at the United Kingdom #39;s Department for Work and Pensions were unable to use their PCs this week after a routine software upgrade knocked out 80 percent of the computers in the sprawling department.

Upgrade downs 80,000 UK government computers


SPACE.com - NASA is making progress in its return to flight efforts, despite suffering setbacks from a recent rash of hurricanes that have pummeled the nation's space coast, according to the task force overseeing the agency's work.

Return to Flight on Track Despite Setbacks (SPACE.com)


Since he has nothing to lose, Martin Truex Jr. says, he can go all-out to win. Truex, 24, will finish his first season of Busch competition Saturday at Homestead in the final race of the year.

Truex Can Relax, Go All-Out in Final Busch Race of Season


Reuters - U.S.-based Red Hat Inc., the\world's top distributor of open-source Linux software, expects\its international business to increase to half its sales within\12 months, an executive said on Tuesday.

Red Hat Sees Half of Sales Outside U.S. in a Year (Reuters)


In a simultaneous cross platform release, multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft will go on sale in North America on November 23, and here in the UK  quot;shortly after quot;.

Enter the World of Warcraft, soon


Peer-to-peer IP telephony startup Skype yesterday released a version of its software designed for mobile devices running Microsoft #39;s PocketPC operating system.

Skype launches Pocket PC software


ARSENE WENGER last night admitted his Champions League frustration as Arsenal were left facing a nervous scramble to reach the second phase.

IT #39;S VA VA GLOOM


SIMCOE, Ont. (CP) - Bill Brown, a former Scottish international goalkeeper who went on to play soccer and live in Canada, has died after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Bill Brown dies in Ontario at the age <b>...</b>


Keeping its promise to migrate toward more flexible pricing for its software, Computer Associates (Quote, Chart) has unleashed Measured Workload Pricing for its mainframe management products.

CA Opens Utility Pricing for Mainframes


USATODAY.com - Why waste time at the airport and rack up travel expenses when you can hold that business meeting over the Internet?

Talking heads are catching on as Web meetings take off (USATODAY.com)


Several workers are believed to have been killed and others injured after a contruction site collapsed at Dubai airport. The workers were trapped under rubble at the site of a \$4.

Workers killed in Dubai airport building collapse


Government senator Professor Trevor Munroe, and a lobbyist for party financing regulation, yesterday described its omission from amended corruption legislation as  quot;a glaring gap quot;, saying it could serve to further the influence of big business and the drug

Include party financing in corruption legislation - Munroe


ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (Ticker) -- The world #39;s top golfers team up with famous faces from the worlds of film and sport on Thursday for the start of the 2004 Dunhill Links championship.

Singh, Els among stars at Duhill


LONDON (CP) - Royal Dutch/Shell Group said Wednesday it will spend \$45 billion US and sell up to \$12 billion worth of assets to reinvigorate its underperforming oil and natural gas business.

Shell to spend \$45B US to replace reserves while selling non-core <b>...</b>


Aug. 20, 2004  A small science satellite dispatched to just beyond Earth #39;s magnetosphere returns to the home planet next month to deliver a most unique package: particles of the sun.

Probe Set to Return with Sun Sample


AP - Maria Sharapova zinged shots so sharply against Jelena Jankovic, many fans at Louis Armstrong Stadium left their seats early in hopes of finding a more competitive match. They missed seeing things get kind of interesting at the U.S. Open.

Sharapova, Venus Struggle to Win at Open (AP)


The withdrawal of painkiller Vioxx will reduce 2005 earnings of Merck  amp; Co. Inc. to between \$2.42 and \$2.52 a share, below the already diminished expectations of Wall Street analysts, the huge drug maker said Wednesday.

Update 3: Merck Slashes Its 2005 Estimates on Vioxx


Products announced this week to streamline software-patch delivery are just part of Microsoft #39;s overall efforts to tighten system security, Scott Charney told attendees of the IT Forum in Copenhagen this week.

Microsoft Talks Security, Seriously


Leeds United Football Club is to sell its ground, Elland Road, after a takeover bid by a local consortium led by Sebastian Sainsbury fell through.

Leeds United to sell ground as takeover collapses


Most, if not all, of you have read or been in heated debates over why or why not higher clocked microprocessors are better than their  quot;comparable quot; competition.

Debugging the Megahertz Myth


Medarex Inc., a Princeton, NJ, biotechnology company, could receive up to \$510 million under a global collaboration deal it signed with New York-based Pfizer Inc.

Medarex, Pfizer team up for \$510M project


Survivors of the Birmingham pub bombings joined more than 200 people at a special service to mark the 30th anniversary of one of mainland Britains worst terrorist atrocities today.

Survivors Mark 30th Anniversary of Birmingham Bombs


PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - Southern California and  Oklahoma are still the top teams in the Bowl Championship  Series standings, while Auburn remained third and on the  outside looking in at the national championship game with one  week remaining in the regular season.

USC Strengthens BCS No. 1 Hold; Oklahoma No. 2


Disney has a Hero on its hands, but it may have showed up too late to save the day.

From Zero to Hero


It lubricates all our lives. But can we live without the black stuff, asks Heather Stewart. Sky-high oil prices are already taking their toll, eating into consumers #39; spending power and squeezing corporate margins

Oil addicts


Weeks after coming under criticism for sitting on patches for multiple holes in its database software, Oracle Corp. has announced that it is moving to a monthly patch release schedule.

Oracle moves to monthly patching schedule


The Government #39;s chief scientist has warned the world must act fast to combat global warming or face the dire consequences. Professor Sir David King said climate change cannot be avoided and that  quot;action is affordable, inaction is not quot;.

Action over global warming demanded


The disaster at Oakland Hills Country Club apparently wasnt enough to sway the PGA of America toward a different course in selecting the United States captain.

Lehman gets nod as next US captain


Ed Wade squared his shoulders behind the faux-wood podium, fixed his eyes and almost defiantly spit out his announcement written on the folded piece of paper in his hand.

Leyland Reflects on the Job That Got Away


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - NYMEX crude oil futures struck  another record at \$48.90 a barrel on Friday before the  prompt-month expiry, as surging violence in Iraq sparked fresh  concerns over supply disruptions.

NYMEX Crude Strikes Record \$48.90


Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer broke his right leg against the Denver Broncos on Sunday and could be out for the season. Spicer had to be carted off the field late in the third quarter after he cut inside

Jacksonville #39;s Spicer breaks leg against Denver


Banks aren't moving fast enough on requiring online customers to provide two forms of ID, the company says.

Microsoft's answer to phishing: Two IDs


Martin Gramatica lined up for the go-ahead field goal and the Carolina Panthers assumed they would have to come from behind to beat Tampa Bay.

Panthers beat Buccaneers


TEHRAN, Iran - Parliament unanimously approved the outline of a bill Sunday forcing the government to resume enriching uranium, legislation likely to deepen an international dispute over Iran #39;s nuclear activities at a time when its chief negotiator gave

Iran approves bill requiring government to resume uranium <b>...</b>


2GHz chip is the highest performing processor in AMD's family of low-power Mobile AMD Athlon 64 products.

AMD adds mobile processor to Athlon 64 lineup


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - JP Morgan Chase is in talks with UK investment bank Cazenove to create a joint venture that would effectively combine the banks, according to a published repor Thursday.

JP Morgan, Cazenove in talks - report


FILDERSTADT, Germany (Reuters) - Lindsay Davenport powered  past Australian Alicia Molik 6-1, 6-0 in her opening match at  the Filderstadt Grand Prix Wednesday.

Davenport Powers Past Molik, Dementieva Falls


Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Malaysian agriculture officials confirmed Thursday bird flu has been detected in two chickens in the northern state of Kelantan.

Bird flu outbreak in Malaysia


Loopholes in state laws that regulate hazardous emissions pose a serious risk to the health of millions of Americans and need to be revised, according to a report published this week.

EPA must close loopholes in emissions law


BELFAST -- Northern Ireland's largest and most violent outlawed group, the Ulster Defense Association, said yesterday it will desist from further attacks and wants to rejoin peacemaking efforts.

UDA pledges cease-fire in Northern Ireland


Australia #39;s record company lawyers are attempting to have Kazaa #39;s owners, Sharman Networks, declared liable for copyright breach and loss of earnings in the civil case now underway.

Kazaa Faces Piracy Charges in Trial


SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--As investors speculate about the future landscape of the Australian media industry, newspaper publisher John Fairfax Holdings Ltd.

UPDATE: Australia #39;s Fairfax Eyes Role In Media Shake-Up


BELFAST (Reuters) - A decade after the Irish Republican  Army's (IRA) first cease-fire came into force, negotiations  open in Northern Ireland on Wednesday aimed at reaching a deal  to stand down the guerrilla group.

IRA High on Agenda as Northern Irish Talks Open


BAQUBA, Iraq -- Forty-nine Iraqi army recruits and their civilian driver were gunned down in a bloody ambush northeast of Baghdad, officials said on Sunday, one of the deadliest attacks ever against the country #39;s fledgling security forces.

50 killed in ambush on Iraqi army recruits


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Without fanfare, President Bush  signed into law on Friday a nearly \$140 billion corporate tax  cut bill derided by both Democratic presidential rival John  Kerry and Republican Sen. John McCain as a giveaway to special  interests.

Bush Signs Corporate Tax Cut Bill


Tiger Woods wants to be a playing vice-captain in the next US Ryder Cup team.

Golf: Woods reveals Cup ambition


The US Index of Leading Economic Indicators, a key gauge of where the nation #39;s economy is headed, fell for the fourth time in a row last month, according to a report Thursday.

US leading indicator slides again


Managers of mortgage finance giant Fannie Mae will defend themselves before Congress on Wednesday against government findings that they broke accounting rules to deliver

Fannie Mae to Defend Action to Congress


BERLIN (Reuters) - Sony Corp. next week will launch a  marketing blitz in Europe for its new Connect music download  store, its latest effort to derail the runaway momentum of  Apple Computer's iTunes service.

Sony Plans European Ad Blitz to Stifle iTunes


Nexen Inc. agreed to buy fellow Canadian energy company EnCana Corp. #39;s UK business for \$2.1 billion, gaining control of Britain #39;s biggest oil discovery in more than a decade amid record crude prices.

Nexen to Buy EnCana #39;s UK Oil Business for \$2.1 Bln (Update4)


This winter, as crude oil touched \$53 a barrel today, they will translate into higher heating bills for American households.

Oil Prices Hit \$53 a Barrel, Then Stage a Retreat


Microsoft will let governments access the computer code behind its Office software as part of a broader campaign to provide alternatives to open-source applications.

Microsoft relents on Office source code


The government is

Straw: Britain 'Sympathetic' to U.S. Troop Request


AP - For the second straight season, the Pittsburgh Steelers might go into their opener without one of their key defensive players.

Steelers Uncertain of Bell's Status (AP)


AFP - China overtook the United States as a top global destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2003 while the Asia-Pacific region attracted more investment than any other developing region, a UN report said.

China overtakes United States as top destination for foreign investment (AFP)


JP Morgan Chase  amp; Co. says it will rehire 4,000 workers whose jobs it had outsourced to IBM, bucking a corporate trend in information technology.

Update 2: JP Morgan Chase Plans to Rehire 4,000


British housing market grew slightly for the second month in succession in September, showing further evidence of checking effects by five interest rates hikes since last November

British house price rises slightly for second month in September


AFP - Albania, Croatia and Macedonia said they were ready to increase their participation in NATO operations and pledged to further develop cooperation in their bid to join the alliance.

Balkan states ready to increase participation in NATO operations (AFP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hotel owner Host Marriott Corp.  <A HREF=

Host Marriott Quarterly Loss Narrows


Carmarker Vauxhall is to cut 434 jobs across two UK plants, the Transport and General Workers #39; Union has said. The union said 340 jobs are to go at the company #39;s Ellesmere Port facility, and a further 94 at its site in Luton.

Union warns of Vauxhall job cuts


Emerging market sovereign spreads are expected to move in narrow ranges and thin volume this week but trade is seen likely to pick up once traders assess US August jobs data to be released on Friday.

WEEKAHEAD-Emerging debt trade seen thin ahead of US jobs data


Some key technologies will not be included in the deal. Sony and Samsung will not share patented technology related to Sony #39;s Digital Reality Creation (DRC) and PlayStation architecture or to

Samsung, Sony Sign Sweeping Patent Deal


He promptly caught what appeared to be a 27-yard touchdown pass from Ken Dorsey, but the play was nullified by a penalty. On the next play, he made his first catch as a pro, an

49ers #39; top draft pick catches on


In a real-estate market in which homeowners have been flipping properties almost as quickly as they would stocks, eBay #39;s getting in on the action.

EBay #39;s Rent.com Purchase Fraught with Risk


Halliburton Co. said it may sell its KBR unit, which is being investigated for possible overcharges on a US Army contract in Iraq and alleged bribery at a Nigerian venture, to boost its share price.

Halliburton, Seeking to Boost Value, May Shed KBR (Update2)


Juniper Networks (Nasdaq: JNPR) remains stunted this morning even after an earnings report that shows triple-digit growth rates for both revenues and earnings.

Juniper Clipped


Iraq News, The two-day conference in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh will start with a meeting of the foreign ministers of Iraq, its six neighbours and Egypt.

Iraq ; Iraq looks to world for approval


Ofcom, the official telecom regulator for the UK, published its approach to new voice services, including Voice over Broadband (VoB) phone services.

UK Regulator Issues VoIP Numbering Plan


Kathmandu, Nov 1 (UNI) Pakistan Prime Minister and SAARC chairperson Shaukat Aziz arrived here today on a two-day visit to the Himalayan Kingdom.

Pakistan PM arrives in Nepal


AP - In a trailblazing pairing of robotics and tractor companies, iRobot and John Deere announced plans Monday to build a 9-foot-long semi-autonomous battlefield vehicle.

John Deere, IRobot Team Up to Make Robot (AP)


Tiger Woods fired a superb five-under-par 65 in torrential rain to take a three-stoke lead after the first round of the Dunlop Phoenix tournament on Thursday.

Woods on top at rain-soaked Dunlop Phoenix


Crude oil futures rose yesterday ahead of an extended weekend for traders, even though weekly government data showed rising domestic inventories of crude and distillate fuel, which includes heating oil.

Oil, gas prices climb


AP - A state court in Hamburg on Tuesday rejected a German company's lawsuit against Google Inc. over allegations the Internet search engine allows rival companies to buy ads using trademarked terms, an attorney said Tuesday.

German Court Nixes Lawsuit Against Google (AP)


Merck  amp; Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) saw its ratings slashed by a third credit ratings agency on Tuesday as Standard  amp; Poor #39;s delivered the final blow

UPDATE 1-S amp;P delivers third blow to Merck  #39;AAA #39; ratings


ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Oakland general manager Billy Beane has spent most of two days here sequestered in his hotel suite. Maybe there will be a puff of white smoke signaling a trade for right-handed ace Tim Hudson

Notebook: Teams have A #39;s on speed dial


TechWeb - Just days after the Mozilla Foundation released the final version of its standalone Firefox browser, a security firm Thursday said that earlier editions should be replaced.

Earlier Editions Of Firefox Flawed (TechWeb)


Nobel laureate Maurice Wilkins, a British scientist who played a key role in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA, died on Tuesday, his university said on Wednesday.

Scientist Who Played Role in DNA Discovery Dies


In response to the latest external reporting requirements from the Feds, Cognos announced this week three additions to its suite of financial applications targeted at the enterprise office of finance.

Cognos launches financial consolidation applications


Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack has apologised to Werder Bremen defender Frank Fahrenhorst for breaking his nose with a stray elbow in Bayern #39;s 2-1 win on Saturday, but stressed there was no intent.

Fahrenhorst elbow an accident, insists Ballack


20 people, including two leaders, were arrested near Pau in southwestern France in a vast French-Spanish police operation. Explosives, grenades, machine guns, grenade launchers, detonators, bullets and other weapons have been excluded during operation.

ETA leaders arrested


BEIJING (Reuters) - A gas explosion in a crowded coal mine  in central China has killed at least 56 people and left scores  missing, the Xinhua news agency said on Thursday.

China Mine Blast Kills at Least 56, Scores Missing


Mozilla Firefox Internet Browser Market Share Gains to 7.4\\The latest survey from OneStat.com shows what was expected. Firefox is gaining on Internet Explorer and pretty rapidly. As per the reports, Mozilla Foundation has taken a 7.4 market share gaining more than 5 since May. Microsoft rsquo;s Internet Explorer has dropped down ...


Nothing was supposed to happen on the way into talks this week between Boeing and Airbus over subsidies - and not much did. The two sides growled at each other in Brussels, but they left open-ended the future

ViewPoints: Unfriendly skies


Lawyers for former Enron Corp. chief executive Jeffrey K. Skilling yesterday urged a federal judge to transfer his blockbuster fraud trial out of Houston, citing a toxic atmosphere in which

Skilling Lawyers Seek Change of Venue


Automakers are failing to equip most car models sold in the United States with seats and head restraints that provide good protection against neck injuries in rear-end crashes, according to a new insurance industry study.

New US Study Faults Automakers for Whiplash


Intel #39;s board has tapped Paul Otellini to replace Craig Barrett as CEO, starting next year, the company announced. By Edward F. Moltzen, CRN.

Intel Taps Otellini As Next CEO


Australia faltered in the last 30 minutes of the first session of the third Test against India at Nagpur and the hosts took full advantage to emerge with their necks out in front.

India have three Aussies for lunch


Investment group Steel Partners II LP on Thursday offered to buy up the remaining stake in aircraft component maker GenCorp Inc., saying the company #39;s board has made  quot;many mistakes quot; in allocating capital and managing day-to-day operations.

Steel Partners Offers to Buy Up GenCorp


Hurricane Jeanne forced the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers to move their game to prime time today. The teams and the league agreed to move the starting time from 1

Steelers-Dolphins hit prime time


As hard as it might be for Yankee fans to finally disentangle themselves from Game 7 - it #39;ll be known as just that, Game 7, now and forever - there really are reasons to get out of

Root, root for Red Sox


DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. <A HREF=

Ford Posts Profit; Loses Money in Autos


European Union leaders on Thursday considered taking on a bigger role in rebuilding Iraq and forging stronger ties with re-elected President Bush.

EU leaders consider bigger role in Iraq


VIENNA Austria backed away from a full privatization of its top telecommunications company after merger talks with Swisscom failed.

Austria backs away from privatization


Woody Williams is more concerned that the St. Louis Cardinals keep focused on their goals than winning 100 games. St. Louis beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 Wednesday night for its 99th victory.

Williams wins again as Cardinals defeat Brewers 3-2 for 99th win <b>...</b>


With fanfare and an appearance by actor David Hasselhoff, a United Airlines flight headed for Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday - the first direct flight from the United States to Vietnam in almost three decades.

Direct US flight to Vietnam departs


KOLKATA, Nov 2: If Sourav Ganguly reacted the way he did when Daryl Harper ruled Jacques Kallis  #39;not out #39; on Wednesday, it probably had something to do with what he thought the match then!

Ganguly was not sure of a win


Four former El Paso Corp. employees have agreed to plead guilty to reporting false natural gas trades and will help prosecutors in ongoing investigations.

False gas data at El Paso Corp. led to charges


KATHMANDU : A strike called by Maoist rebels shut down much of Nepal for the second day as the government considered calling a ceasefire to jumpstart talks to end the bloody conflict.

Rebel strike grips Nepal for second day, government considers <b>...</b>


ATLANTA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks signed free  agent Kevin Willis on Wednesday, nearly a decade after the  veteran big man ended an 11- year stint with the team.

Hawks Bring Back Kevin Willis


Over 100,000 refugees in Zambia will have their food rations cut by half due to lack of money, the UN says.

Zambia refugees face food cuts


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kevin Brown pitched six innings and  Derek Jeter notched three hits and drove in three runs to lead  the New York Yankees to an 8-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins  in the American League Divisional Series Friday.

Brown, Jeter Hand Yankees Series Lead Over Twins


ATHENS (Reuters) - They worried about security for seven  years and it turned out to be the least of their problems.

Olympics: Gold Medal for Athens' Security-With-A-Smile


David Beckham should be fit to return to action for Real Madrid this weekend after a month out with a rib injury, the club said on their website on Wednesday.

Beckham ready to return for Real Madrid


AP - Carlos Arroyo spent 30 minutes getting pregame treatment, then tried to hustle out onto the court. In such a hurry to rejoin the Utah Jazz, he made a wrong turn and headed toward the buffet line.

Jazz Get Arroyo Back, Put Him in Lineup (AP)


The status of Monday #39;s doubleheader between the Yankees and Devil Rays remained in question as of 12:30 pm, as the Devil Rays had not yet left the Tampa-St.

Status of doubleheader in doubt


in the form of a virtual girlfriend. The Hong Kong company Artificial Life, which developed the new game, says the girl will appear

HK firm develops cyber girlfriend


VIENNA: Oils record price surge has thrust the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) into the political spotlight more than any time since the 1970s.

Todays Opec wields oil power with care


CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Rookie Andres Nocioni scored 20 points as the Chicago Bulls held on for a 95-92 victory over the Boston Celtics.

Nocioni leads Bulls over Celtics


MINNEAPOLIS -- Bryan Cupito was 10 of 12 for 279 yards and a touchdown in his first start, and No. 25 Minnesota's running backs picked up where they left off last season in a 63-21 rout of Toledo last night.

Early outburst gives Gophers smooth sailing


Former Australian amateur James Nitties birdied the 18th hole Saturday while Bob Estes bogeyed the last, allowing Nitties to overtake the American and maintain his one-shot lead at the Australian PGA championship.

Nitties maintains one-shot lead at Australian PGA


In seven newly filed lawsuits, Microsoft alleges the purveyors of unsolicited obscene e-mail messages violated federal restrictions.

Microsoft Sues over Lewd Spam


Soon you'll have the ability to pinpoint a car's or a person's location to within less than three inches using handheld devices.

Location Reigns Supreme With Future PCs


The New York Giants aren #39;t just winning. They #39;re doing the kind of things winning teams do. Like making a stand on fourth-and-1 deep in their own territory, then again at midfield in the fourth quarter.

Giants already match win total from last season


_ Islamic militants released a brief tape showing two French journalists kidnapped recently in Iraq and said they were holding the men to protest a French law banning headscarves in schools, according to footage aired Saturday by an Arab

Militants Claim Kidnapping Of French Journalists; Demand France <b>...</b>


Dr. Jerry Avorn brings convincing data and sharp analysis to ''Powerful Medicines, quot; his timely, challenging appraisal of health policy.

An insider's take on revamping US health policy


AP - This used to be one of those games that Georgia dreaded. Not anymore. The No. 3 Bulldogs lost nine straight to Tennessee before reversing course in 2000. Now, it's Georgia that rules this Southeastern Conference clash, having beaten the 17th-ranked Volunteers four years in a row.

Georgia Rules Border Rivalry With Tenn. (AP)


ONE of the seven great unsolved mysteries of mathematics may have been cracked by a reclusive Russian who has no interest in the million dollar prize his solution could win him.

Genius solves \$1m mystery


El Hadji Diouf has always enjoyed courting controversy. Be it spitting, diving or being a general nuisance to all and sundry the Senegal international has a penchant for getting involved in the more unsavoury side of the game.

Last chance saloon for Diouf


Tehran, Sept 17, IRNA -- Tehran Substitute Friday Prayer Leader and Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said in Tehran on Friday that the US is afraid of the power of Islam.

Rafsanjani: Iran will reject any resolution calling for suspension <b>...</b>


Randy Johnson was on the verge of joining the New York Yankees in a three-team, megadeal that also includes Shawn Green and Javier Vazquez, the Associated Press reported on Thursday night.

Three-way deal close


AP - Charles Woodson's monthlong holdout didn't yield the

Charles Woodson Ends Holdout With Raiders (AP)


TechWeb - Netflix, TiVo team up to work with Hollywood studios to develop technology for the delivery of video programming over the Internet.

Netflix, TiVo Partner To Offer Online Films (TechWeb)


The bright lights are gone. So are the screaming fans, the TV cameras, and the curvaceous card girls tucked into high heels and bikinis. But the scars on Micky Ward's face -- those are forever.

Down, but never out


Global warming caused by human activity has more than doubled the risk of summers as hot as in 2003, when thousands of people in Europe died of heat-related causes, according to a UK study published in the journal Nature.

Global Warming Has Doubled Risk of Fatal Heat Waves, Study Says


New versions of SpamKiller and personal firewall aim to hook phishers, as online fraud continues to grow.

McAfee updates target 'phishing'


By eWEEK Staff. Hitachi Ltd. and NEC Corp. said Thursday that the two companies have established a joint venture specializing in the production of routers and switches.

Hitachi, NEC Form Switch Venture


Reuters - The Houston Astros seemed as shocked as\they were happy after beating the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on\Sunday to clinch the National League wild card playoff berth\and cap an improbable late-season comeback.

Late-Season Heroics Guide Astros Into Playoffs (Reuters)


Yum Brands Inc. (YUM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said sales at US restaurants open at least a year, or same-store sales, rose 5 percent in the four weeks ended Sept.

Yum Brand #39;s August Sales Up


MILAN - The bankrupt Italian food group Parmalat said its special administrator Enrico Bondi has filed a US lawsuit against Bank of America.

Parmalat files lawsuit against Bank of America


Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood #39;s England record fifth-wicket stand carried the hosts to a morale-boosting series victory over India in the NatWest Challenge at The Oval on Friday.

FLINTOFF STARS AS ENGLAND WIN SERIES


MILWAUKEE (SportsTicker) - Barry Bonds tries to go where just two players have gone before when the San Francisco Giants visit the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.

Bonds looks to join 700-home run club tonight


TORONTO (CP) - The final frames of Beyond The Sea tell the audience,  quot;Bobby Darin is still swinging. quot;. Not only does the spirit of Darin swing in the film, but so does Kevin Spacey, who wears the many hats

Kevin Spacey swings and sings as Bobby Darin in Beyond The Sea


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Johnson Controls Inc. <A HREF=

Johnson Controls Earnings Rise 24 Percent


TEHRAN -- Iran said yesterday it has processed several tons of raw  quot;yellowcake quot; uranium to prepare it for enrichment -- a key step in developing atomic weapons -- in defiance of the UN nuclear watchdog agency.

Iran says it has produced gas for nuclear enrichment


KOHLER, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Fiji's Vijay Singh held his  composure to win the 86th U.S. PGA Championship in a three-way  playoff on Sunday, clinching the third major title of his  career.

Singh Wins Playoff to Seize Third Major Title


LONDON (Reuters) - British interest rates stayed at 4.75  percent for the fourth month running on Thursday, but  economists are split over whether the Bank of England will  raise borrowing costs again next year.

BoE Holds UK Rates at 4.75 Percent


The \$55.33 per barrel comes amid ongoing uncertainty over production, high demand and tight global supplies just ahead of winter.

Crude Oil Prices Surge Past \$55 Per Barrel


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Militants beheaded three hostages said to be Iraqi Kurd militiamen, showing their deaths in a video posted on a Web site Sunday and denouncing Kurdish political parties for cooperating with Americans in Iraq.    In a separate incident, a group claimed to have kidnapped 25 members of the Iraqi National Guard, and a report on the Arabic station Al-Jazeera said the soldiers were threatened with death unless a detained Shiite leader is freed within 48 hours...

Militants Behead 3 Kurd Hostages in Iraq


Chelsea were poised with a renewed 30million bid for the midfield genius had Liverpool gone out of the Champions League. But Gerrard drilled his beloved Reds into the last 16 with a blistering

Liverpool 3 Olympiakos 1


com October 21, 2004, 10:50 AM PT. A stolen copy of the latest sequel in one of the top-selling video game series of all time began circulating on the Web late Wednesday, the second high-profile game theft in a week.

Grand theft intellectual property


JERUSALEM, Aug 24 (AFP) - An Israeli cabinet minister hailed the French government #39;s stance on anti-Semitism Tuesday as Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom headed to Paris for talks on a growing spate of attacks on Europe #39;s largest Jewish community.

Israeli FM minister heads to Paris to discuss Jewish attacks


Deal to buy UK travel company expected to close next April, funded with Wright IPO proceeds. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Travel and real estate company Cendant Corp.

Cendant to buy Gullivers for \$1.1B


WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (AFP) - Bill Gates kept his ranking atop the richest people in the United States, boosting his worth to 48 billion dollars, but investor Warren Buffett edged closer, Forbes magazine said Friday.

Bill Gates Remains Atop List Of Richest: Forbes


AP - As of Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1,005 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 759 died as a result of hostile action and 246 died of non-hostile causes. The figures include three military civilians.

A Daily Look at U.S. Iraq Military Deaths (AP)


HAVING produced only one European Cup finalist in the last 19 seasons, England can suddenly claim pre-eminence in the games elite club competition with four teams through to the first knock-out round.

English league sets standard for European elite


Guillermo Canas followed up his defeat of top seed David Nalbandian by beating unseeded German Tommy Haas 6-4 6-3 on Saturday to reach the final of the Vienna Trophy.

UPDATE 1-Canas to meet Lopez in second final in two weeks


PARIS, Nov 12 (AFP) - The European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Company (EADS) will soon launch a bid for French defence electronics group Thales in a deal orchestrated by the French government, which owns just over 15 percent of EADS and 31 percent of

EADS to make bid for Thales


TOKYO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Elpida Memory Inc., a chipmaking joint venture between Japanese electronics giants Hitachi Ltd. and NEC Corp.

Elpida makes solid debut on TSE


Lenovo Group, China #39;s personal computer giant, Wednesday signed a definitive agreement with IBM to acquire Big Blue #39;s personal computer

China #39;s Lenovo acquires IBM #39;s PC business


Calpers joins group of big PeopleSoft investors backing a \$9.2 billion Oracle buyout.

Calif. retirement fund tenders PeopleSoft shares


A flaw in Microsoft #39;s security server software could allow an attacker to fool business users into thinking that malicious content can be trusted, the software giant warned on Tuesday.

Patch in for Microsoft server spoofing flaw


Richard Anderson has quit as chief executive officer of Northwest Airlines. He said Friday he has been hired as executive vice president of a health care company which like Northwest is based in Minnesota.

Northwest Airlines CEO resigns


The government gives the green-light to internet-only pharmacies in England.

Internet pharmacies get go-ahead


American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu has initiated coverage of Apple Computer (AAPL) with a  #39;buy #39; recommendation, and a 12-month target of US\$78 per share.

ATR Urges  #39;Buy #39; of Apple; Targets \$78 Price


Reuters - Tokyo stocks climbed to a two week high\on Friday after Tokyo Electron Ltd. and other chip-related\stocks were boosted by a bullish revenue outlook from industry\leader Intel Corp.

Tokyo Stocks Climb to a Two-Week High (Reuters)


Every few years, a whistle-blower arrives on Capitol Hill and shakes up a federal agency with charges of incompetence and misfeasance.

MAN IN THE NEWS A Firebrand on Drug Safety


PARIS Yasser Arafat #39;s death remained a mystery Monday when his nephew said he could not rule out that the Palestinian leader had been poisoned.

Cause of Arafat #39;s death uncertain, nephew says


The Big 12 wouldn #39;t fare well in a discussion about the best football conference in the nation, even though it might have the best team.

Peterson #39;s debut shakes up Big 12


SPACE.com - A Southern \California earthquake forecast based on computer models has successfully \pinpointed the location of nearly every major temblor to hit the region over the \last four years.

Digital Temblors: Computer Model Successfully Forecasts Earthquakes (SPACE.com)


AP - Pops Mensah-Bonsu scored 17 points, and No. 21 George Washington used a 20-2 run late in the first half to take control in a 79-65 victory Saturday night over St. Francis, Pa.

George Washington Tops St. Francis (Pa.) (AP)


Kuwait - Saudi women will not vote in next month #39;s municipal elections, the first polls to be held in the autocratic kingdom for many years, interior minister Prince Nayef said in remarks published on Monday.

Saudi women will not vote


Students at Exeter University have put the institution up for sale on internet auction site eBay as part of their protest against proposed cuts.

Students put university on eBay


Reuters - Barnes   Noble Inc. , the top\U.S. bookseller, on Monday said quarterly profit fell due to\higher expenses and weaker demand for bestseller titles,\sending its stock down more than 2 percent.

Barnes   Noble Posts Lower Profit (Reuters)


OCTOBER 14, 2004 (MACCENTRAL) - At a private viewing at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, Calif., Apple Computer Inc. today unveiled a new 750-square-foot  quot;mini quot; design for its retail store.

Apple unveils new  #39;mini #39; stores


AP - Employers aggressively hired new workers in October, adding 337,000 people to their payrolls after a sluggish summer, but the unemployment rate rose fractionally to 5.5 percent.

Hurricanes Jump-Start Hiring in October (AP)


A video tape posted on the Internet on Sunday shows British hostage Kenneth Bigley making a last appeal to Prime Minister Tony Blair to meet the demands of the militants holding him in Iraq before being beheaded.

UK hostage #39;s last appeal on Web


MOSUL, Iraq, Oct 11 (AFP) - Two Iraqis and a US soldier were killed and 27 others wounded in a suicide car bomb attack Monday against a military convoy in the northern city of Mosul, medics and the US military said.

Two Iraqis, US soldier killed in suicide car bomb attack on US <b>...</b>


LONDON -- Britain, Australia, and a former US official, stung by criticism from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, insisted yesterday that their countries' military action in Iraq was legal.

Disputing Annan, allies say Iraq war legal


Phil Knight saved the best for last for the company he helped nurture into a brand superstar.

Good Night for a Good Knight


Car bombs killed at least a dozen people in Baghdad and another major city Tuesday as pressure mounted on interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi to avert a full-scale US attack on the insurgent stronghold Fallujah.

Car bombs kill a dozen in Iraq


AP - The leaves have transformed into a sparkling array of colors. There's a bit of a chill in the air. The golf season is coming to a close. Vijay Singh just loves this time of year.

Three Hold Lead at Tour Championship (AP)


Johnson County consumers were more confident in October than last month and October 2003, County Economic Research Institute Inc. said.

JoCo consumer confidence rises again


Reuters - Oracle Corp.  on Thursday\said it is in merger talks with other technology companies as\it pursues its  #36;9.2 billion hostile takeover bid for rival\software maker PeopleSoft Inc. .

Oracle in Merger Talks Beyond PeopleSoft (Reuters)


AP - Congressional investigators examining

Congress Probing U.N. Oil-For Food Program (AP)


Resurrecting Boston Garden as a new name for the FleetCenter would be an empty gesture in sentimentality, the former chairman of the FleetCenter said yesterday.

Ex-FleetCenter chief hits revival of Garden name


US shoppers are starting to get into the holiday spirit, with indices on Tuesday showing sales picking up with only 10 shopping days until Christmas.

Shoppers Getting Into the Holiday Spirit


ROME -- A bullfight, an act of bravado, a brush with death. A newly discovered story by a young Ernest Hemingway has all the elements to delight fans and scholars -- but it can't be published.

To have and have not published


Travel is back to normal on the Thruway Friday morning after an accident that stopped or slowed traffic from Herkimer all the way to Schenectady.

Former NFL player killed in crash


AP - Ancel Keys, the University of Minnesota scientist who invented the K ration diet used by soldiers in World War II and who linked high cholesterol and fatty diets to heart disease, has died at the age of 100.

Scientist Who Created K Ration Diet Dies (AP)


Infineon Technologies AG, a German manufacturer of DRAM (dynamic RAM) has agreed to plead guilty and pay a US\$160 million fine for attempting to fix prices in the DRAM market, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday.

Infineon to pay \$160 million fine for DRAM price-fixing


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices eased again early on  Wednesday, hovering around \$46 a barrel ahead of weekly U.S.  data expected to show fuel stocks rising in time for winter.

Oil \$46 Ahead of Expected U.S. Stockbuild


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - BellSouth Corp. <A HREF=

Storm Damage Hurts BellSouth Earnings


The U.S. women's and men's eights team both set world bests in the Olympic rowing competition Sunday along with Australian pair Sally Newmarch and Amber Halliday.

Australia, U.S. Set Record


E-commerce Web services specialist is helping retailers take the guesswork out of setting up shop on Amazon.

Mercent to help Guess sell on Amazon


quot;The achievement extends Intel #39;s effort to drive the development of new manufacturing process technology every two years, in accordance with Moore #39;s Law, quot; Intel said in a statement.

Intel Builds New Chips with 65 Nanometer Process Technology


OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian veterinary officials have  quarantined one Alberta farm in their search for cattle  connected to the country's second case of mad cow disease, the  Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday.

Canada Quarantines One Farm in Mad Cow Search


CURRENTLY in South Africa a man is being prosecuted for having loaded a virus onto the Edgars computer network. The accused is a former employee of the organisation who had a labour dispute with his employer

Law Must Respond to Internet Revolution


San Francisco #39;s iconic Candlestick Park, the home of the San Francisco 49ers, was renamed Monster Park on Tuesday in a \$US6 million deal with an electronics cable company.

Fans to vote on Candlestick Park renaming


BESLAN, Russia - Camouflaged security agents carried babies to safety after militants holding hundreds of hostages at a school released at least 31 women and children Thursday, and officials expressed hope that negotiations would bring more progress in the standoff in southern Russia.    But a crowd of hostages' relatives keeping vigil outside the school was shaken when a pair of explosions went off just ahead of the release...

Militants Release 31 Hostages in Russia


Police in Pakistan were today braced for a violent backlash from Islamist militants after a suspected al-Qaida operative was killed in a raid at the weekend.

Pakistan on alert after al-Qaida suspect dies in raid


Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. agreed to buy Microcell Telecommunications Inc. for C\$1.4 billion (\$1.08 billion), beating a bid by Telus Corp.

Rogers Wireless to Purchase Microcell for C\$1.4 Bln (Update1)


ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Reds continue to find new ways to lose to the St. Louis Cardinals.

SI.com


Venture capital investments in Arizona companies dropped slightly during the third quarter, but the state is still on pace to bounce back from last year #39;s record-low levels, according to the latest MoneyTree Survey.

Venture capital slips in Arizona


SHANGHAI (Reuters) - General Motors, the world's largest  automaker, will start selling its first made-in-China Cadillacs  in early 2005 in a market it expects eventually to account for  a fifth of global sales of the luxury brand.

GM's Made-In-China Cadillacs in Early '05


Japan #39;s Princess Sayako, the only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, plans to marry a 39-year-old Tokyo metropolitan government official early next year, media reports said Sunday.

Japan #39;s Princess Sayako to marry Tokyo government official


Consumers in Arizona and 12 other Western states can order free credit reports starting today. Residents in other states will be able to make similar requests at various times in 2005.

Getting your report


Intel Corp. has agreed to hire the team of Hewlett-Packard Co. engineers that helped design the chip giant #39;s Itanium microprocessors for server computers, both companies said Wednesday.

HP engineers to join Intel


HUTCHINSON ISLAND, Fla. - Jeanne, Florida's fourth hurricane in six weeks, piled on destruction in already ravaged areas Sunday, slicing across the state with howling wind that rocketed debris from earlier storms and torrents of rain that turned streets into rivers...

Latest Hurricane Kills Six in Florida


MILAN (Reuters) - Judges in the corruption trial of Prime  Minister Silvio Berlusconi withdrew on Thursday to decide their  verdict, which could hobble the Italian leader's political  future.

Judgment at Hand in Landmark Berlusconi Trial


A 13 million years old ape living in what is now Spain may have been the last common father of all apes, including chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and humans.

Fossil ape may be father of all apes


WASHINGTON - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has seized computers, software and equipment as part of a probe into the illegal sharing of copyrighted movies, music and games over an Internet  #39;peer-to-peer #39; (P2P) network, Attorney-General John

FBI cracks down on Napster-like P2P network


HAVANA  The central bank president says he is committed to keeping the Cuban peso #39;s value on par with the US dollar in the wake of his country #39;s decision to remove the US currency from circulation.

Peso won #39;t be devalued, Cuba bank chief says


SAN FRANCISCO: Baseballer Barry Bonds hit his 700th career home run today when drilling a pitch from Jake Peavy into the left field seats in the third inning against the San Diego Padres.

Bonds drills 700th career homer


IXI Mobile and AT amp;T Wireless have launched a text-centric device aimed at those who keep their fingers moving, and a surprising price.

AT amp;T and IXI launch OGO


Reuters - Oil prices slipped on Tuesday but\remained well above  #36;48 a barrel as dealers weighed up whether\a thin cushion of heating fuel in the United States would be\sufficient to meet winter demand.

Oil Dips, Watches Heating Stocks, Weather (Reuters)


LAWRENCE, Kan. (Sports Network) - Wayne Simien scored 14 points with 10 rebounds to lead No. 2 Kansas over Nevada, 85-52, at Allen Fieldhouse.

College Basketball: Kansas, Oklahoma State Win


DECEMBER 07, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Intel Corp. #39;s products for the digital home and digital office in 2005 will give consumers and IT managers more capabilities than just raw performance, and the company plans to highlight those products as it did with

Intel sheds light on 2005 desktop strategy


quot;Hey, there. You look so happy. Red Sox fever still got you? quot;  quot;Nope. Over and done with that. quot;

Fatalism? It's an old frame of mind


Gal Fridman today added a glorious chapter to Israels tragic Olympic history and sent a nation into delirious bewilderment by winning their first ever gold medal.

Fridman:  #39;My Dream has Come True #39;


Malaysian rebel politician Anwar Ibrahim arrived in the southern German city of Munich on Sunday for medical treatment, saying he was happy to be in the Bavarian capital after nearly six years in jail.

Malaysian rebel Anwar in Munich for back treatment


VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has requested that it be permitted  to continue conducting

Iran Wants to Amend Nuke Freeze, EU Says No


Reuters - A new fissure yawned open on the\southeastern side of Sicily's Mount Etna volcano on Tuesday,\oozing out enough lava to cross a city block, researchers said.

New Fissure Opens on Etna Volcano (Reuters)


Swedish striker Henrik Larsson is expecting his injury, sustained on the weekend playing for Barcelona against Real Madrid, to lead to surgery.

Larsson surgery blow


All in all, there #39;s a lot happening for a team that #39;s been out of the pennant race for three, maybe four months. Seattle missed a chance to deal a body blow to another contender yesterday.

One down, one to go


(CP) - Ichiro Suzuki has the single-season hits record, but he #39;d much rather have the playoff spot Bartolo Colon and the Anaheim Angels are one game closer to securing.

Suzuki sets record but would rather have playoff spot Anaheim #39;s <b>...</b>


Reuters - The Indianapolis Colts\signed wide receiver All-Pro Marvin Harrison to a long-term\contract extension Thursday.

Colts Lock Up Harrison Long Term (Reuters)


Troy Murphy had his fourth straight double-double with a career-high 30 points and 15 rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors won consecutive games for the first time this

Warriors hold on against Celtics


Although Microsoft's Longhorn has been stripped of its unified file system and some other key  technologies, the company said the next Windows release will still be worth the upgrade.

Stripped down Longhorn still offers gems


MARAGUNDON, Philippines - A powerful rainstorm triggered landslides and flash floods that killed nearly 340 people in the eastern Philippines, officials said yesterday.

Storm, landslides kill nearly 340


TIGER Woods went scuba diving yesterday while the world waited to hear if he was going to tie the knot. On a yacht, anchored off Barbados #39; most famous resort, Sandy Lane, was his Swedish fiancee Elin Nordegren and other guests.

Woods on course to wed


Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman, right, drives against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Mark Madsen in the second quarter, Friday, Dec. 17, 2004, in Minneapolis.

Timberwolves Crush the Clippers 113-86


Under a security web of warplanes, ships and 15,000 troops, President Bush praised Colombia's battle against drugs and Marxist guerrillas Monday and pledged to keep U.S. aid flowing so

Bush Praises Colombia's Battle Vs. Drugs


Ford Motor Co. (FN: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it has stopped production at its assembly plant in Georgia for at least a day because of lack of parts.

Ford Halts Plant Output for Lack of Parts


Technological

When invention turns to innovation


At 36, Jeff Agoos comes east to the MetroStars, a team that gave up the most goals in the M.L.S. last season.

MetroStars Add Some Savvy


Alitalia, the Italian government-run airline and a partner with Delta and Air France in the SkyTeam alliance, told its unions on Monday that it planned to lay off about 5,000

Alitalia Tells Unions of Plan to Lay Off 5,000 Workers


LONDON - Modern humans began dominating the world far earlier than thought, according to anthropologists who say they #39;ve discovered fossils of a new human dwarf species.

New find raises questions about earliest humans


Four games without a win, and two away matches coming up before a home date with a resurgent Manchester City, have put a new complexion on their season.

Bolton wobble continues


Reuters - Microsoft once again\is looking to eat the lunch of longtime rival Apple Computer,\this time in the digital music arena.

Microsoft Takes on iTunes (Reuters)


Rangers romped to the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 3-0 win over Dundee on Saturday and were later paired with arch rivals Celtic in the Scottish Cup third round.

UPDATE 1-McLeish celebrates as Rangers go back to the top


Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson said Friday that Steve Spurrier is not guaranteed a membership at the home of the Masters if he becomes the head football coach at South Carolina.

Spurrier Not Guaranteed Augusta Membership


AP - Earl Snyder grew up rooting for Red Sox outfielder Ellis Burks. Now he's sitting next to him.

Snyder Called Up to Help Red Sox (AP)


Reuters - A Texas energy company may get\rights to drill in a pristine swathe of a New Mexico national\forest after a White House task force intervened on its behalf,\a move that has become a hot issue in the battleground state\before next week's presidential election.

Politics, Gas Fuel Battle Over New Mexico Forest (Reuters)


President Bush has joined the list of those who would bend the Olympics to political ends. You might wonder at the company he keeps, since the list includes Jimmy Carter.

Let the Political Gamesmanship Begin


When Archie Manning heard his 23-year-old son would be starting against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, he remembered what his other quarterback son told him after his first NFL start.

Eli takes giant step to starter


CNNfn, the financial news cable network owned by Time Warner Inc., said Thursday it will cease business operations by mid-December due to growing competitive challenges.

CNNfn network to close


A headhunter for the judge who will preside over Richard A. Grasso's trial sent a copy of the judge's resume to the stock exchange promoting him as a possible board candidate.

Judge in Grasso Trial Was Suggested for Post at Big Board


SEOUL: South Korea stepped up security along the Demilitarised Zone frontier with North Korea yesterday after a night patrol found a hole cut in the border fence, the South Korean defence ministry said.

South Korea boosts North security after fence cut


SYDNEY : Prime Minister John Howard promised new legislation if it was needed to fight child pornography following more than 200 arrests in a major Australia-wide crackdown on Internet pornography.

Australia could step up childsex crackdown, PM warns after <b>...</b>


Positive emotions improve physical, functional health of older adults    HealthDayNews -- Positive thoughts can help older people maintain their physical and functional health, while negative emotions can cause a rapid decline, say two studies in the September issue of Psychology and Aging.    In the first study, University of Texas researchers tracked 1,558 older Mexican-Americans in five southwestern states for seven years...

Upbeat Outlook Offsets Effects of Aging


AP - Mount St. Helens blew off more steam Monday, shooting a billowing white plume several hundred feet above the volcano and thrilling hundreds of visitors who had gathered below the rumbling mountain.

Mount St. Helens Spews More Steam (AP)


Putting the teams #39; records aside, quarterback Donovan McNabb knew this would not be an easy game to win. McNabb studied the films and he knew Washington would come with a defense that would

McNabb throws four more touchdowns in ninth victory


Verizon Wireless has agreed to buy wireless spectrum licenses covering 23 US markets from bankrupt NextWave Telecom Inc. for \$3 billion in a deal that would boost Verizon #39;s capacity in several major markets.

Verizon Wireless agrees to buy NextWave licenses


A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said here Monday that China attaches great importance to developing its relations with Turkmenistan and will,as always

Li: China willing to deepen ties with Turkmenistan


AP - Natasha Bogdanova scored 23 points to lead No. 16 Purdue to a 107-39 rout over Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne in the Boilermakers season opener Sunday at Mackey Arena.

Purdue Routs Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne (AP)


MOBILE, Ala. - Heather Daly-Donofrio shot a career-best 64 to match the course record for three rounds and take a 3-stroke lead in the LPGA Tournament of Champions.

Daly-Donofrio hits 64, leads LPGA by 3


President APJ Abdul Kalam and Congress President Sonia Gandhi have wished Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his 72nd birthday, which he celebrated mid-air on way to Geneva from New York.

Manmohan celebrates birthday in flight


The parent company of American Airlines, facing intense competition from low-cost-carriers and higher jet fuel costs, is hoping to refinance or replace an \$834 million credit line, according to a newspaper report.

American Airlines Seeks New Credit Line


com November 1, 2004, 9:56 AM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been enterprise directories as organizations spawn projects around identity infrastructure.

Veritas beefs up utility software


There are reports that US troops and crack Iraqi soldiers have surged into rubble-strewn districts in the heart of Fallujah, seizing one third of the city after hours of street fighting with rebels.

US troops closing in on central Fallujah


Japan and the United States on Friday agreed to boost co-operation in their missile defence programs - an important first step in carrying out new defence guidelines that ease Tokyo #39;s strict postwar pacifism.

Japan and US agree to co-operate in missile defence programs


Hoping to prevent the loss of a child, a few schools have begun monitoring students' arrivals and departures using technology similar to that used to track livestock.

In Texas, 28,000 Students Test an Electronic Eye


Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, right, talks with Iraqi Vice-President, Ibrahim al-Jafari, during their official meeting in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Nov. 27, 2004.

Iran Apparently Agrees to Stop Enrichment


Substitute Ben May hit the extra-time winner as Colchester dumped Barclays Premiership side West Brom out of the Carling Cup in a 2-1 victory at Layer Road.

Colchester 2-1 West Brom: FT Report


Microsoft has a firm grip on the handheld software market, winning the lead in shipments for the first time, a new report from Gartner shows.

Microsoft grabs lead in handheld market


NIGERIAN workers would disrupt their country #39;s key oil exports of 2.5 million barrels per day with an indefinite general strike from November 16, the country #39;s top labour leader warned today.

Stike threatens oil exports


J Sainsbury bowed to pressure from the City watchdog yesterday and admitted that interim profits were likely to plunge - the third time it has issued a profits warning in the past seven months.

Sainsbury #39;s forced to issue third profits warning


TALK ABOUT HAVING a finger in every pie, Vodafone has come up with another software initiative to make mobile phones more advanced and cheaper to make for the business user.

Nokia  amp; Vodafone help define Java - yawn


BAGHDAD - A deadly bomb blast in the holy Shiite city of Karbala and furious criticism of Shiite politicians by Iraq #39;s defense minister cast a pall over the official launch Wednesday of Iraq #39;s election campaign, threatening to inflame sectarian tension

Iraq political launch marred


FONTANA (California): Brazils Helio Castroneves dominated qualifying with a lap at 217.479 miles per hour to put his Dallara/ Toyota on the pole for the Toyota Indy 400 on Sunday.

Castroneves captures Indy race pole


By ANICK JESDANUN     NEW YORK (AP) -- Add America Online Inc. to the growing list of companies and organizations shunning a spam-fighting proposal from Microsoft Corp...

AOL Shuns Microsoft's Anti-Spam Technology


BASEBALL Chicago (NL): Fired third base coach Wendell Kim. Cincinnati (NL): Extended manager Dave Miley's contract through 2006; signed OF Jason Romano to minor league contract. Los Angeles (NL): 3B Robin Ventura retired. Oakland (AL): Fired bench coach Chris Speier. Texas (AL): Assigned P Mickey Callaway to Oklahoma (PCL).

Transactions


The Boeing 737 banked sharply to the left as it roared into the sky from Baghdad International Airport. The pilot, Adel Aldoori, cupped his hand to block the sun and scanned the ground from the tiny cockpit window.

After Long Hiatus, Iraqi Airways Back in Skies


AFP - Two men were killed when a bomb exploded as they were planting it outside a regional electoral campaign office of Afghanistan's US-backed President Hamid Karzai, an official said.

Two killed in attempt to bomb campaign office of Afghan president (AFP)


Michael Vaughan said he hoped to take the batting form he has shown in Zimbabwe into the long tour of South Africa, where England fly on Monday.

Vaughan hopes to retain top form


Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has vowed he will never retreat in the face of what he calls British and US government attempts to oust him.

Mugabe claims Blair trying to oust him


CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy - Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II warned in a statement released Sunday that humanity #39;s speedy progress in science and technology risks overlooking moral values, citing with particular concern experiments in human cloning.

Pope Condemns Unethical Science, Cloning


NEW YORK: The US justice department on Monday said it approved Cingular Wireless \$41bn plan to buy AT amp;T Wireless Services, creating the countrys biggest mobile provider, but it must sell assets to ensure competition.

US justice dept clears Cingular #39;s AT amp;T deal


A rift has surfaced between the United States and the European Union over how to deal with Iran over its suspected nuclear weapons programme.

Cross-Atlantic rift reemerges over Iran


(Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners host the Tampa Bay Devil Rays tonight in the the middle contest of a three-game set at Safeco Field.

Seattle Mariners Team Report - August 24


British companies have been discriminated in winning lucrative public contracts in European Union countries, according to a report on Monday commissioned by the Treasury.

British companies  quot;shut out quot; in lucrative European contracts <b>...</b>


Sharp says it will withdraw its Linux-based PDA, the Zaurus SL6000, from the US market. Both Sony and Toshiba have already stopped selling their personal digital assistants in the United States.

Sharp Departs US PDA Market


Former champion Cristiano da Matta wants to return to the Newman/Haas Champ Car team next year after two disappointing seasons in Formula One.

Da Matta Considering Champ Car Return


At least three Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli army who invaded the southern Gazatown of Khan Younis at dawn on Friday, medical sources said.

3 Palestinians killed in Israeli incursion


Bangladeshi businesses, schools and shops are closed, as a second general strike in a week takes place. The strike is in protest at a grenade attack a week ago on a rally addressed by the opposition Awami

New strike action hits Bangladesh


BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Ahmad Chalabi has survived again.  Just after escaping an attempt to kill him Wednesday, he said  an Iraqi court had dropped charges that could have put him in  jail.

Iraq's Chalabi Escapes Assassination, Arrest


Citigroup Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. will market a \$5.8 billion loan for Cemex SA to other lenders over coming days, bankers involved in the deal said, in what #39;s the largest-ever credit for a Mexican company.

Citigroup, Goldman Market \$5.8 Bln Cemex Loan, Mexico #39;s Biggest


IBM said on Wednesday that it has jointly developed with Honda Motor Company a hands-free, voiced-commanded and real-time car navigation system.

IBM teams with Honda on voice-driven car navigation


Napster announced that its portable music subscription service  quot;Napster To Go quot; is available for users of the new AT amp;T Wireless based Audiovox SMT5600 Smartphone.

Napster brings digital subscription music content to Windows <b>...</b>


The dollar hits yet another record low against the euro on speculation Russia may increase reserves of the single currency.

Dollar hits new record euro low


Letters Not so keen on 'spam-free' email plans

<cite>Reg</cite> Readers hail NTL abusive message


The world #39;s first private spaceship has blasted into the final frontier for the second time in five days, snatching the nearly 14-million dollar prize and founding a new era of space tourism.

SPACESHIPONE FLIGHT GRABS X-PRIZE


Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government has no plans to fingerprint landed immigrants from the United States when they visit Canada, says Immigration Minister Judy Sgro.

Fingerprints for landed U.S. immigrants not on Canada's radar: Sgro (Canadian Press)


Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps said Monday that he had made a mistake and would own up to the charges against him.

Arrested for Drunken Driving, Phelps Makes an Apology


PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Several hundred UN troops and Haitian police surrounded the estate of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Thursday in a showdown with a band of former soldiers who seized the abandoned compound.

UN troops surround Aristide #39;s former compound seized by ex <b>...</b>


A new report alleges a handful of top executives at Hollinger International -- which owns the Chicago Sun-Times -- took \$400 million of the company #39;s money.

Report details ways it says Black, Radler took Hollinger Int #39;l <b>...</b>


Some computers can beat grandmasters at chess. <br>Others can compose music.

Computer Analysis Is Bringing Science to Art


Cendant, the American travel group that owns car rental shops Avis and Budget, is close to acquiring online travel agency Orbitz.com in a deal said to be worth more than \$1 billion.

Cendant nears coup for US online travel group


A massive plan to attract the 2012 Summer Olympics to New York, touting the city's diversity, financial and media power, was revealed Wednesday.

New York Unveils Last, Best Bid to Gain the Olympics in 2012


The first solar-wind samples recovered from the crashed Genesis space capsule will be examined by researchers in California. The Genesis crashed earlier this month into Utah #39;s west desert.

Samples from Genesis Capsule Sent to Lab


San Francisco renamed its most storied sports stadium  quot;Monster Park quot; on Tuesday, in a deal that trades \$6 million from an electronics cable company for the name to Candlestick Park.

San Francisco #39;s  #39;Candlestick #39; Now  #39;Monster Park #39;


AP - Swiss authorities hailed as a success a test of Internet voting in a national referendum, even as computer security experts remain skeptical that any online balloting could ever be secure using current technologies.

Swiss Cast Votes Online in Referendum (AP)


NEW YORK - A sharp drop in oil prices gave Wall Street a modest relief rally Monday, with stocks edging higher on news that oil production had soared during the month of September.    Investors who have sold stocks for months as oil prices climbed reversed course Monday and started buying as the price of crude declined...

Stocked Edge Higher As Oil Prices Retreat


THE Israeli parliament approved last night the controversial plan of Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister, to withdraw all Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip and four isolated settlements in the West Bank.

Sharon wins key Gaza vote


MetLife Inc. (MET.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the No. 1 US life insurer, plans to issue a debut sterling-denominated bond, joint bookrunners Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland said on Thursday.

MetLife plans debut sterling bond -leads


AP - The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed goaltender Michael Leighton to a one-year contract Wednesday.

Blackhawks Re-Sign Goalie Leighton (AP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Allstate Corp. <A HREF=

Hurricane Damage to Hurt Allstate Profit


New Microsoft program smoothes transition from Chinese to English.

Found in translation: Microsoft tool talks pretty


Thousands of fans wait for hours to pick up the first copies of Microsoft's long-awaited Xbox game sequel.

Photos: 'Halo 2,' the adventure begins


Less than six months after emerging from the largest bankruptcy in history, MCI Inc. has begun to search for a buyer, sources familiar with the situation said on Monday.

MCI Looks for Buyers, Seeks \$6 Billion


AP - Rwanda has warned it will launch an attack

U.N.: Rwanda Warns of Attacking Rebels (AP)


Reuters - Powerful Hurricane Ivan, the latest in a\busy storm season, rushed over the Atlantic Ocean on Monday and\threatened the eastern Caribbean Windward Islands.

Hurricane Ivan Threatens Barbados, East Caribbean (Reuters)


A shadowy group of nerds calling themselves Internets Vets for Truth have collected a pile of video clips related to the current US election. Named after Bush's statement in the second debate,

The Rumors on the Internets


Sudan is accusing the United States of using violence-torn Darfur to compete for voters heading to the polls in November. Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said Saturday that Washington #39;s recent hard-line

Sudan Accuses US of Using Darfur to Appeal to Voters


ATHENS, Greece -- He was leading the race, but for some reason, you just had the feeling he might slow down. I don #39;t know what it was about American Jeremy Wariner, his technique or thin muscles or something

The skinny on Wariner: He #39;s fast


Reuters - A German singer who plays Snow White has lost her job at Dresden's\Christmas market after posing for nude photos in a bathtub, Bild newspaper says.

German Snow White sacked for posing nude (Reuters)


MANILA: One of Manila #39;s most senior police officers has been killed in an ambush outside his office, his commander said. Unknown gunmen armed with assault rifles attacked Senior Superintendent Manolo Martinez

Senior Manila police officer slain in Philippines ambush


WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- President Bush said Monday he wants to verify if Iran has indeed suspended its nuclear fuel program as it has said it has done.

Iran has said it has frozen uranium enrichment programs


Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s office insisted Thursday that the diplomatic furor caused by senior adviser Dov Weisglass #39;s comments, that the disengagement plan was designed to freeze the road map peace process, is over.

PM downplays Weisglass remarks on road map freeze


EMC Corp. has hired the former chief architect of IBM Corp.'s Grid computing initiative as senior vice president and chief technology officer (CTO) for the Hopkinton, Mass., storage vendor. Jeff Nick, a 24-year IBM veteran and former IBM Fellow, began serving as EMC's CTO on Monday of this week, the company said Friday.

EMC nabs former IBM grid guru for CTO position


20 October 2004 - The chances of having an obedient robot do unwelcome or dangerous jobs have increased tremendously, with orders for industrial robots rising to a record 18 per cent in the first half of this year, a new report co-sponsored by the

Robots are taking an increasing number of jobs, new UN report says


Toshiba today paved the way for 80GB iPods when it said it will ship an 80GB 1.8in hard drive in Q3 2005 - a year after it introduced the 60GB version that can currently to be found inside the iPod Photo.

Toshiba unveils 80GB  #39;iPod drive #39;


ATHENS (Reuters) - Shawn Crawford denied fellow American  Justin Gatlin a sprint double as he set up a United States  clean sweep in the Olympic men's 200 meters Thursday.

Crawford is Golden as the Crowd Boos


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Voting activists on Wednesday  enlisted computer experts, a trained monkey and a man on a  hunger strike in a last-minute pitch to convince officials to  improve the security of electronic vote-counting systems.

Electronic-Vote Critics Urge Changes to System


Victor Diaz grew up a Chicago Cubs fan, and on Saturday he beat his one-time favorite team. Diaz hit a game-tying three-run home run with two out in the ninth inning

Comfortable win escapes Cubs


Telstra has announced the break-up of its wholesale unit, including the creation of a separate media and content division, to address the concerns of the competition regulator before the company #39;s full privatisation.

Telstra creates new media division


CHATHAM, Ont. - A plan to make Ontario gas more ecologically friendly by containing at least five per cent ethanol won #39;t mean all pumps provincewide are serving up cleaner gas, Premier Dalton McGuinty admitted Friday.

Ontario to require 5 ethanol in gas by 2007


AT amp;T #39;s Net phone service may ultimately generate less than \$2 billion a year in revenue, Chief Executive David Dorman said Friday, which is chump change to a corporate giant.

Is VoIP just chump change?


The mortgage company is the target of a formal inquiry by the S.E.C. over its accounting practices, the company said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.

Fannie Mae Under Inquiry


Amazon.com Gets Sex Appeal with Adam  #038; Eve Deal\\Who says that a shopping search entity can't turn up the heat and still not bow down entirely to the porn industry. As some of the major online shopping and search sites have been laying down the law on riskee sex driven ...

Amazon.com Gets Sex Appeal with Adam   Eve Deal


(December 10, 2004) - Delphi Corp. said Friday it plans to cut 8,500 jobs -r 4.6 percent of its total work force  -ldwide next year as part of an ongoing restructuring.

Delphi to cut 8,500 jobs worldwide


Jenson Button is optimistic he can help BAR close in on second in the constructors #39; championship despite a disappointing qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza today.

BUTTON OPTIMISTIC DESPITE SIXTH SPOT


Virgin Group announced on Monday that it has launched a new online music store that will offer music downloads for the regular price of \$0.

Virgin launches new digital music service


Delta Air Lines Inc. said it will cut pay 10 percent for executives and most other employees to help reduce costs as the company tries to avoid filing for bankruptcy protection.

Delta Air to Cut Pay 10 Percent for Most Workers (Update1)


Four employees of a British security firm are killed inside the high-security Green Zone in Baghdad.

Four former Gurkhas dead in Iraq


South Africa #39;s Gold Fields said yesterday it had filed a complaint in New York against its rival, Harmony, saying Harmony #39;s hostile bid violates US securities laws.

Complaint filed against Harmony


Iraqi forces will protect polling places during the coming elections, but there are far fewer trained security officers than needed.

Iraq Falls Short on Vote Security


Oil official says fourth sabotage is one of the most powerful and most serious attacks ever on pipeline network. By Marwan Ibrahim- KIRKUK, Iraq.

Iraq #39;s northern oil exports halted


CHIBA, JAPAN -- Casio Computer Corp. has developed a fingerprint sensor layered on top of a 1.2-inch LCD screen, providing a convenient way for phone makers to incorporate biometric security into their handsets, a Casio official said Tuesday at the Ceatec 2004 show in Chiba, Japan.

Casio combines LCD and fingerprint sensor


After more than two weeks of delay, the G.O.P.-controlled House planned a final vote on the package late today.

House Nears Vote on Bill Overhauling Intelligence


Reuters - A video game company hopes to\cash in on the publicity surrounding Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam\service by sending players on a simulation of the Swift Boat\mission that won the Democratic presidential candidate the\Silver Star.

Video Game Let Players Command Kerry Swift Boat (Reuters)


By George Chamberlin , Daily Transcript Financial Correspondent. Rising residential real estate values have been a blessing for many households.

Unscrupulous financial advisers cash in on clients #39; home equity


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Albert Pujols cracked a three-run  homer and notched four RBI to earn the St Louis Cardinals a  place in the National League Championship Series with a 6-2  victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday.

Pujols Hits Three-Run Homer for Cardinals


France reduced its stake in Air France-KLM Group, Europe #39;s biggest airline, by more than half, taking advantage of the carrier #39;s rising stock to pay off debt.

France Sells Half Its Holding in Air France-KLM (Update12)


The production capacity of Alcoa Inc.'s proposed aluminum plant in Trinidad is being expanded by 29 percent, the prime minister said.

Proposed Trinidad Alcoa Plant Expanding


Olympic-scarred British runner Paula Radcliffe has announced plans to run in the New York Marathon, The Telegraph said Tuesday. The world record holder made the decision to race in New York Nov.

Paula Radcliffe to run New York Marathon


FONTANA, Calif. - Sam Hornish Jr. aims to be patient and go fast - not necessarily a contradiction. The Indy Race League driver credited patience for last years victory at California Speedway, when he

Hornish aims for patience, speed


There were several moments during the Felix Trinidad/Ricardo Mayorga press conference at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday that it seemed possible there would be a deterioration

Early sparring between Tito, Mayorga