AP - Orioles rookie left-hander Erik Bedard has been shut down for the remainder of the year after pitching more than 133 innings in his first full season following elbow ligament replacement surgery.

Orioles' Bedard Won't Pitch Again in 2004 (AP)


Less than a week after a standards-setting group rejected Microsoft #39;s scheme to stymie spam, America Online added to the company #39;s woes by dumping the software giant #39;s proposed Sender ID.

AOL Drops Microsoft #39;s Sender ID


New images from the Cassini spacecraft reveal undulating kinks in one of the rings and theft of ring dust by a moon. The kinks are seen in greater detail than ever before and the thievery has been photographed for the first time.

Images of Saturn reveal kinks, theft


Players to watch  Michael Vick is back after missing last season with a broken leg. 49ers going with Tim Rattay, who threw 6 TD passes vs.

Falcons at 49ers


Zimbabwe have rescinded a ban on British journalists wanting to cover a five-match cricket tour by England, a senior official at the department of information and publicity said on Thursday.

UPDATE 1-Zimbabwe rescinds England media ban


The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo is investigating reports that Rwandan soldiers were responsible for violations of human rights in the east of the country last month.

UN Investigating Reports of Rwandan Rights Violations in Congo


Brad Lukowich went from the Stanley Cup champions to the Central Hockey League on Monday. The Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman signed to play with the Fort Worth Brahmas because the NHL has been shut down due to a labor dispute.

Lightning defenseman Brad Lukowich signs to play in CHL


AP - At first glance, it would seem to be the perfect matchup  #151; a dream draw, if you will. All the United States has to do to claim a third straight gold medal in women's basketball on Saturday is beat Australia, which is 0-12 against U.S. teams in the Olympics and world championships.

U.S., Australia Women to Face Off Again (AP)


CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's left-wing  President Hugo Chavez on Monday declared victory in a historic  recall referendum on his rule, but his opponents vowed to  challenge vote results they rejected as a

Chavez Declares Recall Victory; Foes Claim Fraud


China #39;s ruling Communist Party leaders, led by Hu Jintao, began a four-day closed-door plenum in Beijing today that is due to set policy for the next year and could bring some leadership changes.

Plenum Could Bring Leadership Changes


The first female British soldier has died in Iraq, according to the Ministry of Defence. Staff Sgt. Denise Michelle Rose of the Royal Military Police #39;s Special Investigation Branch

1st female UK soldier dies in Iraq


BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber hit a bus  carrying Iraqi National Guards on Sunday, killing 19 people in  the deadliest attack of its kind in nearly four months on  Iraqis cooperating with U.S. forces to secure a Jan. 30  election.

Suicide Bomber Kills 18 Iraqi Troops, 1 Civilian


In pubs, over telephone lines and on the Web, basketball fans and non-fans are voicing their opinions on the chaos that broke out at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday night.

Fans Start Web Site To  #39;Arrest Artest #39;


PRINCESS Alice, the Queens aunt who once described herself as a pre-beatnik, has died at the age of 102. She was the oldest member of the British royal family in history.

Princess Alice, the oldest royal of all, dies at 102


NEW DELHI: IBMs PC business sale could rock the Indian PC market. Virtually missing from the consumer PC market till now, IBM India is already drawing up a blueprint to sell PCs to households.

IBM plans foray into local home PC market


ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani Finance Minister Shaukat  Aziz easily won a seat in parliament, clearing the way for him  to take over as prime minister next week, officials said on  Thursday.

Aziz Wins Pakistan Polls, Paving Way to Be PM


BAGHDAD, 14 October 2004 - Six American soldiers were killed in roadside bombings, the US command said yesterday, as US and Iraqi troops stepped up pressure on insurgents before this weeks start of the holy month of Ramadan.

More US Soldiers Die in Iraq Blasts


VIENNA, Austria - A U.S. official expressed alarm Thursday about a possible nuclear-weapons-related test site in Iran and accused the U.N...

U.S. Alarmed Over Suspected Iran Nuke Site


American Express yesterday said it was seeking  quot;billions of dollars quot; in damages from Visa and MasterCard over alleged  quot;illegal and anticompetitive practices quot;.

Amex mounts lawsuit over  #39;cards cartel #39;


WASHINGTON--Two of Alaska #39;s three major oil companies have offered cautious optimism about the potential for a North Slope natural gas pipeline under incentive packages approved Monday by Congress.

Gas line measures approved


OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government confirmed Wednesday that its tax intake massively outweighed spending in the past fiscal year - producing a budget surplus of \$9.

Federal government confirms 2003-04 budget surplus of \$9.1 billion


VIENNA (Reuters) - OPEC on Wednesday lifted oil supply  quotas by one million barrels a day, four percent, in a renewed  bid to force down stubbornly high world crude prices.

OPEC Lifts Oil Quotas


SPACE.com - NASA released one of the best pictures ever made of Saturn's moon Titan as the Cassini spacecraft begins a close-up inspection of the satellite today. Cassini is making the nearest flyby ever of the smog-shrouded moon.

Cassini Flies Past Saturn's Moon Titan Today (SPACE.com)


As part of its service, Symantec will use a global network of probes and decoy e-mail accounts to collect, analyze and identify new phishing scams targeted at customers that use its Online Fraud Management services.

Symantec launches antiphishing service


MCLEAN, Va. - Top-ranked Southern California won its season opener Saturday night, but lost a first-place vote in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll released Sunday.

USC loses 1 first-place vote in coaches poll


AP - Gangs of poachers in Congo have been slaughtering the world's minuscule population of northern white rhinos, reducing the population by about one-half in just more than a year, a key conservation organization said Friday.

Poachers Putting Endangered Rhinos at Risk (AP)


Business software maker Siebel Systems Inc. on Monday said third-quarter revenue would beat Wall Street estimates, driven by a rebound in licensing revenue, sending its shares up 14 percent.

CORRECTED: Siebel Sees Sales Topping Street


AP - Insurance companies are using satellites to identify homes at high risk of fire damage because of their proximity to brush  #151; a development that alarms some state regulators and privacy advocates.

Insurers Use Satellite Data to Study Risk (AP)


LOS ANGELES Oct. 7, 2004 - NASA #39;s Mars rovers don #39;t seem to be wearing out, so mission planners have begun to think more boldly including a plan to let one climb up a steep slope from a crater it has been exploring to set out across a plain.

Mars Rovers Planners Plot Crater  #39;Escape #39;


Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis has apparently zeroed in on former Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe as his offensive coordinator and John Latina, who was Cutcliffe #39;s offensive coordinator with the Rebels, as the new Irish offensive line coach.

Former Ole Miss coach Irish #39;s offensive coordinator


Sandia's motion detector could help predict if earthquakes are coming or if airplane parts are about to rip loose.

Device has keen sense for mini-motions


LONDON: A bag of rubbish was thrown away at London #39;s Tate gallery after a cleaner assumed it was just that -- a bag of rubbish.

Art for effluent society? Rubbish


He tried to make the words sound determined and defiant, but the sound of Ron Zook #39;s voice had a tired inevitability about it.

Hook could come for Zook


Microsoft (Quote, Chart) unveiled nine consumer-oriented mice and keyboards, with geek-chic touches like Bluetooth connectivity and biometrics.

Microsoft Makes Nice with Mice


Microsoft chief Bill Gates has topped the list of business magazine Forbes #39; 400 Richest Americans list for the ninth consecutive year, while India-born Amar Gopal Bose is ranked 278.

Bill Gates on top, Bose is 278


He is credited with victory. Which always begs the question of how the losers are supposed to feel. Are they sinners ... heathens ... infidels? Inadequate at prayer? Or just lacking in defense?

Baseball player #39;s religious holiday needs no explanation


New York - Pfizer, the world #39;s largest drug maker, is discussing with US regulators whether to add a stronger warning to its Bextra painkiller about rare, serious skin reactions.

Pfizer faces black boxes


Proposed law would allow more people to be charged with criminal copyright violations.

Controversial File-Trading Bill Moves Forward


Reuters - Gunmen held hundreds of children\and adults captive in a school gym into the night in turbulent\southern Russia Thursday, but the Kremlin remained silent about\an attack which amounted to a huge humiliation.

Hopes Pinned on Talks in Russia Hostage Drama (Reuters)


After decades of research and development, speech recognition is finally moving toward mainstream use. Advances in statistical modeling, pattern matching algorithms and processing power have

IBM Code for Speech Software To Be Open


Jonathan Quinn might have had his best half of football, but it still resulted in a goose egg on the scoreboard. With a little help from the defense, the Bears avoided a shut out with a Thomas Jones touchdown, but it was nowhere near enough.

Scoring Summary: Buccaneers 19, Bears 7


The United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) has said it will help Iraq clean up the toxic pollution caused by a decade of conflict.

UN to help tackle Iraq pollution


D.C. United loses three players to the expansion draft Friday, including veteran defender Ezra Hendrickson.

United Loses Trio


JACKSONVILLE, FL -- In RV city, memories of the past are not far away at all. At the McGinnis camper, there #39;s a 1996 national championship mailbox.

RV City Glad to See Zook Go


Tokyo stocks gained moderately Wednesday morning on bargain hunting following losses the day before. The US dollar was down against the Japanese yen.

Update 2: Tokyo Stocks Edge Up Higher; Dollar Falls


Andre Stolz wondered what his caddie was doing when he took the flag out of the 18th hole and began carrying it off the green. Turns out his caddie was better with numbers than he was.

Andre Stolz holds on to win first title at Las Vegas tournament


Microsoft will hire several hundred new staff at its new Indian campus in the next year, its chief executive says -- a move aimed at strengthening its presence in Asia #39;s fourth-biggest economy.

Microsoft to hire hundreds more in India


The numbers suggest a mismatch: Virginia is 4-0 and ranked No. 10. Clemson has lost three straight. But records only tell part of the story, at least where the Tigers are concerned.

Cavaliers wary of struggling Tigers


The first points of interest that struck Baltimore Ravens defensive end Marques Douglas when Steelers rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger entered the game were his eyes.

Cowher optimistic that Roethlisberger can handle the job


This week, trade officials from the US and the European Union are due to discuss subsidies in the commercial aircraft market. The talks must focus on the subsidy that distorts the market the most - launch

Airbus #39;s launch aid #39; has to be grounded


A myriad of financial institutions including banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, investment firms and credit-card companies are sending work to overseas locations.

Financial Firms Hasten Their Move to Outsourcing


BEIRUT -- The chilling video of a US Marine shooting and killing a wounded and apparently unarmed man in a mosque in Iraq dominated the Arab world's media yesterday, overshadowing the slaying of a British aid worker who had been kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents.

Video of shooting by Marine stirs outrage


TOKYO : Japan #39;s Supreme Court cleared the way for UFJ Holdings and Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group to merge by rejecting a bid to halt the deal by Sumitomo Trust and Banking, a court spokeswoman said.

Japan #39;s Supreme Court clears way for MTFG and UFJ merger


Microsoft today extended its 3-year-old agreement with Yahoo! to provide Overture paid listings on MSN sites in the US and Canada, Europe and Asia through June 2006.

MSN Renews with Overture -- For Now


The Millbrook Vineyards and Winery is a popular stop for tourists looking for a bit of culture and culinary indulgence, all in a country setting.

High court to review interstate wine shipping laws


The US Securities and Exchange Commission filed civil suits on Wednesday charging that six former top executives at the technology company Peregrine Systems committed massive accounting fraud.

SEC Charges Ex-Peregrine Execs with Fraud


Broadcom said its new chips will operate at the highest transmission rate possible for a longer time than currently available chips, which are quicker to shift to lower data rates in order to maintain clear transmissions.

Broadcom Chipsets Expand Wi-Fi Coverage Areas


WASHINGTON : After a bitter 18-month battle Oracle Corp has succeeded in taking control of more than 60 percent of outstanding shares of rival business software group PeopleSoft, but obstacles to the hostile takeover remain.

Oracle takes 60 percent of PeopleSoft shares but game is not over


Crude oil prices slipped below USD 50 a barrel in Asian trade overnight as the market waited for the outcome of the US presidential election.

Oil slips back below USD50 a barrel


A study of a closely knit family with several members suffering from a rare illness is providing what researchers say may be important clues to the cause

Gene mutation linked to illness


MUMBAI: For the third quarter ended 30 September, the media and entertainment conglomerate Time Warner recorded a net income of \$499 million.

Time Warner #39;s net profit down 8


AP - Joel Statham threw four touchdown passes to offset a host of mistakes Saturday, and No. 23 Maryland piled up 685 yards in total offense to beat winless Duke 55-21.

No. 23 Maryland Blows Away Duke 55-21 (AP)


The Vikings feared they would lose Matt Birk for much longer than they did earlier this season. With his pain resurfacing, he will likely be a gametime decision Sunday.

Moss In; Birk and Dorsey Out?


Casual restaurant chain California Pizza Kitchen Inc. said Tuesday that 12-month same-store sales rose 7.5 percent for the third quarter, and the company raised its earnings per share guidance excluding several charges.

California Pizza Boosts 3Q Outlook


Washington area homeowners living in historic districts are rapidly taking advantage of  substantial federal income tax write-offs under obscure easement trust plan.

Loophole Pays Off on Upscale Buildings


Reuters - The Anaheim Angels have\reportedly traded outfielder Jose Guillen to the\Washington-bound Expos in exchange for outfielder Juan Rivera\and a prospect.

Angels Ship Guillen to Expos (Reuters)


The UN Security Council unanimously passed a tough new anti-terrorism resolution yesterday aimed at stemming attacks against civilians by denying terrorists safe havens, weapons, financial resources and freedom of movement.

UN council passes anti-terror resolution


COLOMBO : Sri Lanka #39;s cricket governing body welcomed the new bowling rules of the International Cricket Council (ICC), saying the decision will finally end the controversy over Muttiah Muralitharan #39;s action.

Cricket: Sri Lanka says ICC ruling buries Muralitharan controversy


Three times is a charm, and never is this truer than with Microsoft products. With its brand new Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system, Microsoft may have unleashed the perfect OS for a home PC.

The Home PC, Perfected


KHARTOUM (Reuters) - More than 3,000 people have been  displaced since the end of August by violence in an area of  North Darfur state in the troubled western region of Sudan, a  United Nations report said on Sunday.

Violence Displaces Over 3,000 More in Darfur-UN


LONDON: Canadian Jacques Villeneuve set the pace for Sauber while Germanys Nick Heidfeld did his best to impress Williams in a wet and windy Formula One test session at Jerez on Thursday.

Villeneuve the fastest in test session


NEW DELHI: The Indian government has repealed a stringent anti-terror law after complaints of misuse and has replaced it by amending the existing Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

New Delhi scraps POTA


Sabina Park survived the onslaught of Hurricane Ivan with only minor damage, according to a report on the caribbeancricket.com website.

Wisden Cricinfo


PARTIES were cancelled and the restaurants were deserted in Kabul this weekend. The Delhi Durbar, usually heaving on a Friday night with aid workers, United Nations staff, diplomats, and inter national consultants

Taliban group claims hostages and vows: We will chop them up <b>...</b>


The US government has asked the Supreme Court to reverse an appeals court ruling that could lead to heavier regulation of cable companies #39; high-speed Internet service.

Appeals Cable Broadband Ruling to Supreme Court


Russia moved ahead Friday with plans to break up the country #39;s largest oil producer over unpaid back tax bills, announcing it would auction off a majority stake in the main production unit of oil giant OAO Yukos next month.

Russia Advances Plans to Break Up Yukos


Citigroup Inc., the world #39;s biggest bank, named Sallie Krawcheck chief financial officer and head of strategy, making her the highest-ranking woman on Wall Street.

Citigroup #39;s Krawcheck Named Finance, Strategy Chief (Update1)


After 120 minutes of back and forth play ends in a 3-3 tie, goalkeeper Nick Rimando stops a New England penalty kick to seal the victory and propel United into the MLS Cup.

United Reaches Final


a-singled for Hafner in the 6th. b-walked for Young in the 7th. c-sacrificed for Young in the 9th. E: Peralta (1), BPhillips (1), Infante (14).

GAME 150: Indians 8, Tigers 7


By LIZ SIDOTI     WASHINGTON (AP) -- While there has been more Internet advertising activity in this year's presidential race than in the past, the money spent on Web ads still pales in comparison to that allocated for TV commercials, the first-ever study of online political ads found.    The study, released Monday by the Pew Internet   American Life Project, said President Bush, Democrat John Kerry, their political parties and allied independent groups spent \$2.6 million to post banner ads on Web sites from January through August...

More Internet Ads Seen in Presidential Race


Tony Eury Sr. oversees Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the racetrack, but Sunday he extended his domain to Victory Lane. Earnhardt was unbuckling to crawl out of the No.

Earnhardt reminded to keep it clean


Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has told his players they can #39;t afford to relax, despite last night #39;s stunning 3-0 win over Real Madrid.

Barcelona coach Rijkaard: 7 points clear hasn #39;t won us anything


The news media were fascinated by Martha Stewart #39;s surprise request yesterday. She said she wanted to put the entire ImClone Systems (Nasdaq: IMCL) mess behind

Martha Cleans Up


Mac fans, known for their devotion to buying the latest and greatest from Apple Computer, are also apparently interested in themselves as well.

Macheads alive and reading


Tom O #39;Brien knows a thing or two about what his Boston College Eagles face today against West Virginia.  quot;We #39;re aware that Boston College has never won a Big East game in Morgantown, quot; he said.

Boston College still seeking its identity


Citigroup said Monday that it would close an investment management unit in Japan and pledged to strengthen oversight of its entire Japanese operation, five weeks after regulators

Citigroup Tries to Repair Its Image in Japan


Only Syracuse University stands in the way of Boston College as the Eagles vie for their first Big East title and the inside track for the conference's automatic Bowl Championship Series slot.

Common knowledge


Asian stock markets close higher across the board Monday following gains on Wall Street, with key indexes hitting new record highs in Indonesia and Australia.

Asian Stock Markets Close Higher


The record weight of debt being carried by American households and soaring home prices do not represent serious threats to the US economy, Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said Tuesday.

Greenspan unperturbed by record US household debt, surging home <b>...</b>


Carolinas fishermen and those in the shrimp industry hope tariffs on imported shrimp, passed Tuesday by the Commerce Department, will boost the prices local shrimpers get for their catch.

Tariff raises financial hopes for area shrimpers


AP - Glenn Robinson and Samuel Dalembert have been demoted from the Philadelphia 76ers' starting lineup, coach Jim O'Brien announced Tuesday as he put the first stamp on his new team.

Sixers Robinson, Dalembert Get Demotions (AP)


Australia captain Darren Lockyer and second rower Craig Fitzgibbon have both been ruled out of Saturdays Gillette Tri-Nations clash with Great Britain.

Lockyer Doubtful for Series


Just as you are getting comfortable, Select Comfort's stock collapses. But don't let Mr. Market's nightmares scare you away.

Bedding Blip? Rest Assured


Sears, Roebuck  amp; Co. said yesterday it will double the number of stores it operates in San Diego County by acquiring five Kmart locations and converting them to Sears units over the next 15 months.

Sears to double store sites here


NewsFactor - Two Google site vulnerabilities that could be used to mount phishing attacks have been reported, says the Internet search giant. It already has fixed one, and expects to patch the second shortly.

Google Phishing Holes Found (NewsFactor)


SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australians voted Saturday in an  election which offered the choice between a conservative  government that unreservedly backs the United States and its  Iraq war and a Labor opposition seeking stronger ties in Asia.

Australian Voters Head to Polls


LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar bobbed near a one-week high  against the euro on Tuesday as investors waited to see if  forthcoming U.S. data and a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman  Alan Greenspan would reinforce optimism over the U.S. economy.

Dollar Holds Gains Before Greenspan, Data


DECEMBER 06, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - The progress report that Microsoft Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. issued last week on their joint initiatives left some IT managers and analysts wondering when or if the

Users See Slow Progress on Microsoft-Sun Alliance


CNET News.com has a special section about the launch of Mozilla Firefox 1.0. First up is a two-page article about the release, which includes some factual errors (for example, the article says the success

CNET News.com Coverage of Mozilla Firefox 1.0


Intel has created a more powerful memory chip without increasing its size, wrong-footing warnings that the firm had hit its technical limits.

Intel in new chip breakthrough


RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Foreign doctors rushed to  Yasser Arafat's side on Thursday to tend to the seriously ill  Palestinian leader, who for decades has symbolized his people's  struggle for statehood.

Arafat in Serious Condition, Foreign Medics Arrive


ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A bankruptcy judge granted US Airways authority Friday to immediately cut the pay of its union workers by 21 percent through mid-February, saying the airline's situation is so dire that urgent action must be taken...

US Airways Gets OK to Cut Workers' Pay


Bangkok (VNA) - Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday announced that he has set up a task force of eight members, including three Muslims, to investigate the Oct. 25 incident involving the death

Thai Prime Minister committed to resolving instability in southern <b>...</b>


The claustrophobic aren #39;t welcomed here. This is basketball with a saliva spray. It #39;s in your face. It #39;s in your hair.

Spartans too timid


The owner of four power plants in the Washington region agreed to reduce air-polluting emissions substantially in the next six years and to pay a \$500,000 fine, according to a settlement

Mirant to Cut Emissions, Pay Civil Fine


Neenah-based Plexus Corp. plans to close a Seattle-area plant, resulting in the layoff of about 160 employees, in an effort to save about \$2 million a year, the company said Wednesday.

Plexus to close Seattle-area plant; will cut 160 jobs


MOUNT VERNON - Mickey Bambrick, who home-schools her 5-year-old son, is already on the second reading of the books at her small public library in La Conner, Skagit County.

Mount Vernon City Library to close books on rural readers


BELFAST (Reuters) - A suspected Irish Republican Army  fugitive wanted in connection with a 1996 bomb attack on a  British base in Northern Ireland has been arrested on a Spanish  island after seven years on the run, police said on Wednesday.

Alleged IRA Fugitive Arrested in Tenerife


Siemens AG has begun a major migration of 350,000 users in more than 100 business units from Microsoft Exchange Version 5.5 to Exchange 2003, and is using a software tool from Quest to make the switch.

Siemens embarks on 350,000-user Exchange 2003 migration


Two men, four women and a child scaled a wall and barbed wire to get into the Japanese school at dawn on Friday. Asylum-seekers have been invading foreign missions in China since 2002.

Asylum seekers in Japan embassy


carbolic writes  quot;The Firefox browser is ramping up as fast as Internet Explorer is ramping down. According to these stats posted from the Engadget logfiles, IE has dropped to 57 of all browsers used to visit

Firefox Browser On An Upward Trend


LONDON: That Englands Euro 2004 wonder boy Wayne Rooney will leave Everton is virtually certain, following an increased offer by Manchester United and the teenagers determination to move on.

Wonder Wayne hovers between Man United and Newcastle


Ryan Clark may start in place of injured safety Matt Bowen when the Redskins play the Bears on Sunday.

R. Clark May Start


Crude oil prices rose above US\$54 Thursday on speculation sparked by a pipeline explosion in Mexico and a continued work stoppage in Nigeria.

Crude prices rise above US\$54 on supply fears


Auditors must pay attention to what Wall Street thinks is important about a company's performance and consider those figures no matter how small they are, the S.E.C. said on Wednesday.

S.E.C. Makes Its Point on Small Errors, and Auditor Pays \$10 Million


US food giant Kraft Foods is voluntarily recalling approximately 15,810 packages of Lunchables turkey, ham and cheddar cheese ready-to-eat complete meals due to mislabelling, the US Department of Agriculture #39;s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has

USA: Kraft recalls Lunchables due to mislabelling


A powerful typhoon sliced through the Philippines Friday, forcing more than 160,000 people to flee their homes to higher ground even as rescuers struggled to find the missing from an earlier storm that killed more than 420 people.

Philippines battered by another typhoon after storm kills more <b>...</b>


Apple #39;s iTunes Music Store may be the current 800-pound gorilla of the online music industry (as far as paid downloads are concerned), but now Yahoo - possibly the most visited site on the Internet - is getting into the fray, paying \$160 million in cash

Yahoo Shells Out \$160 Million for MusicMatch


The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is giving securities brokers up to November 2005 to shift to the use of risk-based capital adequacy standards from the current net capital standards.

SEC revises standards for securities brokers


Nextel Cup and NASCAR are registered trademarks of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. This web site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR.

Insider Racing News


Description: NPR #39;s Alex Chadwick talks with Slate legal analyst Dahlia Lithwick about Tuesday #39;s arguments before the US Supreme Court concerning interstate wine sales.

Slate #39;s Jurisprudence: Court Mulls Wine by Mail


Michael Phelps, the six-time Olympic champion, issued an apology yesterday after being arrested and charged with drunken driving in the United States.

Swimming: Phelps says sorry after drink-drive offence


From the wetlands out front to the undulating exterior, Washington, D.C.'s new National Museum of the American Indian is built on native ideas. <i>Includes photo gallery.</i>

New National Indian Museum Is Native by Design


Lehmann, who was at fault in two matches in the tournament last season, was blundering again with the German set to take the rap for both Greek goals.

Lehmann howlers rob Arsenal


OPPOSITION Leader Mark Latham should have the strength to sack a Labor candidate for comments by his state MP wife that Liberals were to blame for the Bali bombing, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

Latham should sack Labor candidate - Howard


David Beckham, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard found themselves out in the cold tonight as the European Footballer of the Year award went to AC Milans Andriy Shevchenko.

English Stars Out in Cold


PORTLAND, Ore. Zach Randolph had 27 points and 16 rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers got a last-second break to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-to-102.

Trail Blazers 105 Raptors 102


The condition of the Palestinian leader, Yasir Arafat, has worsened overnight, just before a group of Mr. Arafat's likely political heirs arrived today.

Arafat's Health Worsens as Delegation Arrives


South Sound fans reacted with everything from relief to regret over Wednesday #39;s NCAA rulings on the University of Washington athletics program.

Area fans: Huskies #39; reputation damaged


Reuters - Shawn Fanning, once reviled by\record labels as the creator of renegade song-swap service

Napster Creator Unveils Online Music Technology (Reuters)


Union efforts to organize Wal-Mart workers in Canada continued Monday in the auto-service departments of seven British Columbia outlets of the world #39;s largest retailer.

Union Seeks to Represent Wal-Mart Workers


Roger Clemens was scratched from Houston's critical regular-season finale against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday after coming down with a stomach virus, missing a chance to help the Astros clinch the NL's wild-card spot.

Clemens to Miss Start With Virus


The disk drive maker has unveiled three palm-sized portable hard drives.

SmartDisk expands hard-drive line


Investor confidence in Germany, Europe #39;s biggest economy, dropped in August to the lowest level in more than a year, according to data released on Tuesday, amid concern that record oil prices would crimp global growth and impede a recovery in consumer ...

Confidence drops in Germany


Reuters - Two people were killed and 11 wounded when a hand grenade was lobbed into the VIP section of the audience at a concert led by Indian film superstar Shah Rukh Khan and two other actors, police said.

Grenade kills two at Colombo Bollywood concert (Reuters)


Reuters - Indonesians began voting on Monday in a\landmark election expected to remove President Megawati\Sukarnoputri and install an ex-general who has vowed firmer\leadership in fighting terror and boosting the economy.

Indonesians Begin Voting in Landmark Election (Reuters)


The medical institute built from Howard Hughes's fortune is spending \$500 million to build a research center in Virginia that will seek to encourage top scientists to do hands-on creative work.

New Hughes Research Center to Shift Focus


Attaching victory to a string of defeats, a jury yesterday agreed with World Trade Center developer Larry Silverstein #39;s claim that the planes that struck the Twin Towers represented two separate, insurable events.

Jury rules 9/11 was two attacks


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Cogent Inc. <A HREF=

Fingerprint ID Firm Cogent Soars in Debut


A ceasefire in Sudan #39;s Darfur region is not holding, with reports of an aerial bombardment and attacks by rebels, the United Nations says.

UN says Darfur ceasefire not holding


ATHENS, Greece - Paul Hamm's gold medal just lost its luster. A scoring mistake at the all-around gymnastics final cost South Korea's Yang Tae-young the gold that ended up going to Hamm, the International Gymnastics Federation ruled Saturday...

Judging Error Gave Hamm Gold


AP - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the most of an upbeat economic report on his country to press its case for membership in the European Union.

OECD Report Boosts Turkey's EU Case (AP)


While the complete post-mortem about Hurricane Charley will take months to complete, some conclusions already are apparent. For one, houses fared much better in the Category 4 winds than mobile homes.

Make all mobile homes safer during hurricanes


FORMULA One star Jenson Button admits his attempts to secure a move to Williams were  quot;misguided quot;. The 24-year-old declared his intention to leave BAR in August to rejoin his first team but the move was blocked

F1: Button  #39;misguided #39; over move


AUGUST 27, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - DUSSELDORF, Germany -- Siemens AG warned yesterday of a software defect in a range of mobile phones that could cause hearing damage.

Brief: Siemens warns of ear damage from loud mobile tune


Interview IBM's Rebecca George fights her corner

The case for women in the technology business


ST. LOUIS -- Among the thousands of phrases around sports that you never, ever expect to hear -- a list that includes  quot;Speak up, TO, quot;  quot;Bonds cracks me up, quot;  quot;I can #39;t wait for the NHL to start again, quot; and  quot;More WNBA, please quot; -- is this one:

NY Yankees def. Milwaukee Braves, 4-3


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - San Francisco Giants slugger  Barry Bonds hit his 700th career home run on Friday to join  Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth as the only major league players to  reach the milestone.

NL: Bonds Drills 700th Career Homer Against Padres


Surfwear maker Billabong International Ltd said today its annual net profit rose 14 per cent on strong sales. Net profit for the year ended June 30 rose to A\$87 million (NZ\$94.

Australia #39;s Billabong year net profit up 14 per cent


AP - If my experiences with two new massively multiplayer online role-playing games have taught me one thing, it's that if I really wanted, I'd never have to interact face-to-face with another person again. I have all the friends and enemies I can handle thanks to

REVIEW: 'EverQuest', 'Warcraft' Polished (AP)


When the Terrapins host their annual

Hoops Face-Off


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- AirTran (AAI) said late Thursday it regrets that its flight attendants rejected an agreement negotiated by a private mediator last week.

AirTran: Regrets flight attendants #39; rejected labor pact


By the News-Register. Mahmoud Abbas, the interim leader of the Palestinian Authority, has made it clear that he believes terrorist attacks aimed at Israelis must end if there is to be peace between his people and Israel.

Abbas Needs Support In His Push for Peace


Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Brussels for an official visit, yesterday met with European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen to discuss Turkeys EU bid.

Press Review


AP - President Bush wooed suburban swing voters Thursday with hopeful words about the economy, contending his administration is making progress for American workers and portraying rival John Kerry as a tax-and-spend Democrat.

Bush Courts Pa. Swing Voters on Economy (AP)


Time Warner has said that it set aside \$500 million to pay for potential penalties from a government investigation into accounting practices at America Online, a step that led to a 7.8 percent decline in profit in the third quarter.

Reserve is set aside for AOL


NEW YORK - Stocks enjoyed a late-day rally Wednesday, finishing higher despite a new record price for oil and gloomy third-quarter outlooks from several companies. Volume was relatively light as investors awaited the government's jobs creation report at the end of the week...

Stocks Turn Higher As Oil Hits Record High


Apple Store customers in San Francisco test the iPod Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004. The iPod is one of the hot electronic items on the Christmas list of many a holiday shopper.

Retailers Usher in the Holiday Season


AFP - Nearly 18 million Romanians are eligible to vote Sunday in the first round of a presidential election to replace Ion Iliescu and lead the former communist state into the European Union.

Romanians vote for new president to succeed Iliescu (AFP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National Basketball Association  suspended All-Star Ron Artest for the rest of the season and  Indiana Pacers team mates Stephen Jackson for 30 games and  Jermaine O'Neal for 25 following Friday's ugly brawl.

Artest Banned for Rest of Season After Ugly Brawl


Sometimes what at first seems like a minor change can actually signal major shift in understanding. Last week, Kenyan deputy environment minister Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize - a wonderful achievement for two reasons.

Peace Prize a well-deserved honour


TOKYO - Japan #39;s top spokesman withheld comment Thursday on remarks accused US Army deserter Charles Jenkins made in an interview with a Hong Kong-based weekly, which hit stands the same day, about his life in North Korea.

Hosoda says veracity of Jenkins interview needs to be checked


Internet firm Lycos UK released free screensaver software that allows users to attack spammers using the same mass mailing techniques the spammers themselves use to fill up the worlds inboxes.

Lycos UK turns anti-spam vigilante


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Last season, Roger Federer leftHouston not even the top-ranked player of the year.

Only Injury Can Stop Peerless Federer at Masters Cup


Apple on Wednesday announced Logic Pro 7 and Logic Express 7, the newest major releases of the company #39;s pro music creation and audio production software.

Apple intros Logic Pro 7, Logic Express 7, Jam Packs


The good news for the Dodgers this time is Milton Bradley did not completely lose his cool. Did not scream, take off half his uniform in public or berate the fans in a profanity-filled tirade.

Bradley caught way off base


The World Health Organization, UNICEF and other partners are launching a large-scale polio immunization campaign in 23 African countries.

WHO Launches Polio Immunization In 23 African Countries


Pakistan successfully test fired a short-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, as part of series of planned tests, the army said.

Pakistan Tests Short-Range Nuclear-Capable Missile, Army Says


PORT-AU-PRINCE, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Ronaldinho scored a hat-trick as world champions Brazil cantered to a 6-0 win over Haiti in a friendly dubbed the Peace Match on Wednesday.

Brazil hit Haiti for six in Peace Match


The NHL and NHL Players Association will meet next week to review a proposal being prepared by the players, in a bid to end the lockout that has wiped out the first two months of the season.

NHL UNION TO RESUME TALKS


roundup Plus: Jail time for California swappers?...Microsoft updates home PC package...LookSmart buys Furl.net.

Briefly: TiVo hires marketing chief


Nortel Networks Corp. on Wednesday said it will not be required to change its accounting treatment of optical products sales, and it received verbal confirmation that two stock exchanges do not plan to begin any suspension or delisting procedures.

Nortel to Maintain Certain Accounting


AP - The following dignitaries are expected at Yasser Arafat's funeral in Cairo on Friday, according to Palestinian planners and other officials.

Dignitaries Expected at Arafat's Funeral (AP)


HAVEN, Wis. -- Perched high on the bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, Whistling Straits is a massive, windswept landscape, as large a golf course as \$40 million can buy. It is complete with sand dunes that could double as ski slopes and deep bunkers that should require elevators.

Warmer and wilder


PARIS - Water vapour and methane are concentrated in the same areas of the Martian atmosphere, a finding that hints at new ways to hunt for life on the planet, scientists say.

Gas link on Mars offers clues in search for life


NEW YORK (Reuters) - New applications for U.S. home  mortgages increased last week, as purchase activity rose amid  lower mortgage rates, an industry group said on Wednesday.

Mortgage Applications Rise Last Week


Goodyear Tire  amp; Rubber Co. (GT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest US tiremaker, on Friday said it would report a third-quarter profit, reversing a year-earlier loss

Goodyear Sees Profit; Stock Up


Java as we have known it could be in for a chill thanks to a ruling by a federal jury in upstate New York that says the programming language infringes on several patents Kodak acquired from Wang Laboratories.

Iced Java?


It is becoming a monthly ritual as more people use p2p networks and the industry keeps the courts busy with John Doe lawsuits. In an RIAA press release, RIAA president Cary Sherman said:  quot;During the fall, we

Another Month, Another Round Of Lawsuits


AP - The Bush administration has successfully overcome Cuban jamming of U.S. government radio and television broadcasts through transmission from a military aircraft, the State Department said Monday.

U.S. Overcomes Cuban Jamming of Broadcasts (AP)


Chris Thomas, Chris Quinn and Torin Francis each scored 13 points and Francis had 13 rebounds to lead Notre Dame past Indiana, 55-45.

ND Stops Indiana


A long-awaited microprocessor developed by IBM Corp., Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. will go into early production next year and start appearing in video game consoles, high

Powerful chip to rev up home entertainment


Ford Motor Co. President Nick Scheele, who postponed his retirement three years ago after being called to the US to help stop losses, will retire Feb. 1. He turns 61 next month.

Ford #39;s Scheele to Retire as President on Feb. 1 (Update2)


Former crematory operator Ray Brent Marsh says he #39;s guilty of dumping hundreds of bodies he was supposed to cremate. Marsh stopped performing cremations not long after he took over the family business in 1997.

Former Crematory Operator Pleads Guilty To Dumping Bodies


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The former top U.S. commander in  Iraq complained last winter to the Pentagon that a poor supply  situation was threatening the Army's ability to fight, The  Washington Post reported on its Web site on Sunday.

U.S. Commander in Iraq Faulted Supply Chain --Report


NEW YORK (Reuters) - New applications for U.S. home loans  fell last week even as average 30-year mortgage rates decreased  from the previous week, an industry group said on Wednesday.

Mortgage Applications Off in Oct. 22 Week


Houston's Kris Brown caps a Texans rally by nailing a 50-yard field goal with 2 seconds left for a 24-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, dropping the defending AFC West champs to 0-3.

Texans Boot Chiefs


France launches an inquiry  into how airport police lost plastic explosives they hid in a passenger's luggage.

France investigates airport gaffe


AP - Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has accepted a peace plan drafted by the Iraqi National Conference, which would include laying down arms and withdrawing his militia from a holy shrine in the city of Najaf, a delegate told the conference Wednesday.

Delegate: Al-Sadr Agrees to Withdraw (AP)


TOUGH, taciturn and the polar opposite of media-friendly, he did not - unlike Bill Shankly -eave as his legacy a string of memorably witty and insightful quips and quotes.

Bill Nicholson


Injuries kept former Cornell athlete Dana Antal out of the spotlight of the Canadian national team for the better part of five

College Hockey: Former Cornell Player Dana Antal Scores Game <b>...</b>


Forest Laboratories Inc. (FRX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday said its experimental hypertension drug failed to meet all its goals in an effectiveness study, an outcome that will delay development and may lead to a new trial.

Forest Says Drug Trial Misses Goal


Verizon Wireless said on Tuesday it would not oppose a plan that would give Nextel Communications Inc. (NXTL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) valuable new wireless airwaves, sending Nextel #39;s shares up more than 3 percent.

Verizon Wireless Won #39;t Oppose Nextel Swap


KABUL: An Afghan man was found guilty on Saturday of killing four journalists in 2001, including two from Reuters, and sentenced to death.

Afghan sentenced for killing four journalists


New versions of CaliberRM and StarTeam are intended to ease communication between developers and businesspeople.

Borland updates its life-cycle tools


A US military court Thursday sentenced Army Sergeant Ivan Frederick to eight years in prison for his part in the abuse of Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison.

Mixed Reaction Among Iraqis Following US Sergeant #39;s Sentencing for <b>...</b>


IBM moved back into the iSCSI (Internet SCSI) market Friday with a new array priced at \$3,000 and aimed at the small and midsize business market.

IBM adds iSCSI to SANs


CRAWFORD, Texas - Former Republican Sen. Bob Dole suggested Sunday that John Kerry apologize for past testimony before Congress about alleged atrocities during the Vietnam War and joined critics of the Democratic presidential candidate who say he received an early exit from combat for

Dole Questions Kerry's Vietnam Wounds


Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, Donald Trump #39;s troubled casino business, is to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after reaching agreement with bondholders to recapitalize debt.

Trump casino group to file for Chapter 11


ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The New England Patriots derailed  quot;The Greatest Show on Turf quot; in Super Bowl XXXVI at the Superdome.

New England vs. St Louis


Cleveland Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia said Wednesday that he does not consider Terrell Owens an  quot;enemy of mine quot; even though the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver repeatedly has criticized his former teammate.

Garcia has heard enough of Owens


LONDON (CBS.MW) -- A source at the BBC told AFX News that their story alleging that Dow Chemical (DOW) has taken responsibility for the Bhopal disaster is a hoax, and Reuters reported that a spokesman for Dow #39;s Union Carbide denied the report.

BBC story on Dow Chemical responsibility a hoax: report


NewsFactor - Although marketing automation has been around as long as CRM has, in the past few years suite makers have focused more attention on refining SFA, customer service and self-service functions.

Marketing Automation's Day in the Sun (NewsFactor)


The Department of Justice (DoJ) today announced that it would approve Cingular #39;s \$41 billion dollar acquisition of AT amp;T Wireless (Quote, Chart), provided the mobile carrier sells assets, such as spectrum and customer contracts, in 11 states.

DoJ: Cingular Free to Buy AT amp;T Wireless


MINNEAPOLIS - Terry Tiffee led off the bottom of the ninth with his first major league home run to lift the Minnesota Twins past Kansas City 4-3 on Saturday.    Tiffee, who joined the Twins when rosters expanded on Sept...

Twins Edge Royals 4-3


TERENGGANU : Malaysia has gazetted 60 hectares of land off the east coast state of Terengganu to help conserve the dwindling number of endangered sea turtles.

Malaysia sets up sanctuary in Terengganu to protect endangered turtles


ATHENS, Greece - Lithuanian guard Sarunas Jasikevicius, whose off-target three-pointer kept his team from pulling off the biggest upset of the Sydney Olympics, didnt miss when it counted on Saturday night against the Americans in a thrilling 94-90

Americans lose again


The upgrade to the OmniPilot's's Web application server tool adds compatibility with FileMaker Pro 7, allowing developers of data-driven sites to keep pace with the most popular database software available for the Mac.

Web server tool Lasso adds FileMaker 7 support


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. planned job cuts soared to an  eight-month high in September while new hiring rose only  slightly, a report said on Tuesday.

U.S. Job Cuts at 8-Month High in Sept.


Canadian Press - QUEBEC (CP) - Able-bodied young people who live with their parents will see their monthly welfare payments cut next year, the Quebec government announced Tuesday.

Quebec to cut welfare payments for young recipients who are able to work (Canadian Press)


The Burt Rutan/Paul Allen private spacecraft is on the brink of nabbing the \$10 million X Prize. But that #39;s just the start. The \$10 million X Prize is almost in the bank.

SpaceShipOne #39;s Heady Flight Path


NBA franchise owner Mark Cuban nixes plans to let Dallas Mavericks ticket-holders get Wi-Fi access from their seats.

Wi-Fi not a slam dunk for basketball Maverick


Motorola Inc. is acquiring MeshNetworks Inc., developer of a technology that makes it easy to set up and expand wireless networks, in a deal expected to help the world's No. 2 cell phone maker win more government business.

Motorola Acquiring Wireless Networking Firm MeshNetworks


Reuters - The absent member will be the one holding\center-stage at a meeting in Hanoi of leaders of Asia and\Europe. In a hard-fought compromise, Myanmar's ruling junta\will not send its government head.

Myanmar Still Irritant as Asia, Europe Heads Meet (Reuters)


Canada #39;s bonds rose after Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge said the Canadian dollar #39;s rise to a 12-year high may curb economic growth, indicating the bank may not raise interest rates next month.

Canada #39;s Bonds Rise After Dodge Says Dollar Gain May Cut Growth


Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has alienated his right-wing Likud party with plans to withdraw from Gaza, begins a new legislative session yesterday fighting for his government #39;s survival.

Sharon faces two no-confidence motions


AP - Apple Computer Inc. shares fell Friday after Needham  amp; Co. downgraded the stock to

Apple Shares Fall on Needham Downgrade (AP)


BAGHDAD/PARIS (Reuters) - France said Friday two French  hostages held in Iraq were being well treated but there were  hurdles to overcome to secure their release.

France Cautious Amid Hope Hostages Will Be Freed


The conservation group, Humane Society International (HIS), filed an application at the Australian Federal Court on Tuesday seeking a restraining order against the company involved.

Japan accused of illegal whaling in Australia


Roberto Heras of Spain won his second straight Spanish Vuelta, one of cycling #39;s top races. Heras, who also captured this event in 2000, finished fourth in Sunday #39;s final leg, an 18-mile time trial in Madrid.

Heras wins Spanish Vuelta again


NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Dow Jones/AP) _ The Stanley Works agreed to buy Security Group Inc., a maker of locks and access systems, and said it completed the acquisition of Cal-Dor Specialties Inc.

Stanley Works buying two security companies


\Japan's ruling party considers proposing constitutional changes to let women take the throne, reports say.

Japan may let women take throne


A European Union court will rule in December on an appeal by software giant Microsoft to suspend EU sanctions.

EU sets date for Microsoft appeal


AP - Last year, Peter Jacobsen was too young to play in the Tradition. This year, he has already won a major on the Champions Tour as he readies for his debut in the tournament he helped bring to his home state.

Jacobsen Skips Hartford to Play Tradition (AP)


OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Twenty months after haunting the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, Jon Gruden experienced a nightmare in the Black Hole.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers


Big Blue says its expected storage products will offer customers better performance at a lower cost.

IBM unpacks new storage gear


Blair says move driven by need to secure the area before Iraq #39;s Jan. elections; critics say it is more about US elections in Nov. British troops currently deployed in central Iraq are likely  quot;heading for an

UK ready to send troops to  #39;Triangle of Death #39;


The silence was unearthly, as if 38,190 people were sitting in the Wrigley Field stands Wednesday afternoon bound and gagged. The Cubs are in a mad chase for the wild card

REDS 2, CUBS 1, 12TH INNING Elusive Last Out in 9th Haunts Cubs <b>...</b>


Quarterback Brett Favre #39;s longest run in two seasons stood as the second-longest run by the Green Bay Packers offense Sunday night.

Fourth-quarter earnings by Fisher, Henderson and Favre


Reuters - President Bush questioned\the authenticity of documents aired by CBS News that said he\received special treatment during his Vietnam-era service in\the National Guard, according to a Bush interview published on\Saturday.

Bush Raises Questions About CBS Documents (Reuters)


Andre Ward was the last man standing for the US Olympics boxing team Friday night. Booed by a hostile crowd, confused about the score, running on fumes in the

Gold has nice ring to it


A huge fire on Sunday destroyed 22 floors of Venezuela #39;s highest tower block in a Caracas complex housing ministries and state agencies, but there were no casualties, authorities said.

Fire rips through Venezuela tower, no casualties


Domain name owners can now choose registrars in much the same way telephone numbers can be moved between carriers, ICANN said.

ICANN domain transfer policy takes effect


Further strengthening India #39;s position in the global communications arena, Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (Quote, Chart) will pay \$130 million for Tyco #39;s (Quote, Chart) undersea fiber-optic network, the companies announced today.

Indian Telecom Adds Tyco Network


Figures show Japan's trade surplus grew again in October but analysts warned of a tougher environment ahead.

Japan trade surplus keeps rising


Host Marriott Corp. said Wednesday that it is selling a majority of its stake in Courtyard hotels to an institutional investor for \$92 million in a move to divest a noncore asset.

Host Marriott Selling Stake in Courtyard


Radical muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri has been charged by police with 16 offences including encouraging the murder of non-believers, meaning a US extradition attempt has been put on hold.

Abu Hamza accused of inciting murder


Marsh  amp; McLennan CEO Jeff Greenberg may soon be on his way out the door as head of the world #39;s biggest - and most troubled - insurance broker.

Marsh CEO on hot seat


AP - Political parties are the public institutions most marred by corruption, an international watchdog group said Thursday in a new global survey marking the United Nations' first International Anti-Corruption Day.

Survey: Political Parties Seen As Corrupt (AP)


RadioShack Corp. (RSH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , looking to expand its sales pool, on Monday said it would take over the operation of cell phone kiosks at 542 Sam #39;s Club stores

UPDATE1 -RadioShack, Wal-Mart unit form wireless venture


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jon Leiber carried a no-hitter into  the seventh inning while Alex Rodriguez homered, scored three  runs and drove in three more to lead the New York Yankees to a  14-4 win over the Boston Red Sox Saturday.

AL Wrap: Lieber Dominates as Yankees Thump Red Sox


By MICHAEL LIEDTKE     SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Google Inc. (GOOG)'s highly anticipated IPO faced a possible stumbling block Thursday with the release of a Playboy interview that the online search engine leader's co-founders gave just before the company filed its plans raise \$3 billion with its stock offering...

Playboy Article May Raise Concerns for Google


Digital music provider Napster on Thursday teamed up with Dwango Wireless, hoping to corner a slice of the booming ring tone market.

Napster eyes ring tone market


At a Miami event, timed to coincide with the MTV Video Music awards (which HP is sponsoring), HP CEO Carly Fiorina discussed how the new products support consumers in a world that is increasingly

Computer Maker Unveils New Printers, Cameras, TVs and Music Player


Last week, Microsoft quietly launched a program to address piracy issues with their software. The new program called  quot;Windows Genuine Advantage quot; is a new validation on Microsoft #39;s download center.

Microsoft #39;s Launches New Piracy Check Program


The Patriots, who have not lost since Sept. 28, 2003, joined four teams with 18 consecutive victories.

Patriots Make the Bills Pay and Win Their 18th Game in a Row


Microsoft Corp. has delayed automated distribution of a major security upgrade to its Windows XP operating system, citing a desire to give companies more time to test it.

Windows XP Security Update Delayed


Electronic Data Systems Corp., the world #39;s second-largest seller of computer services, may cut as many as 20,000 jobs to help save \$3 billion within the next three years, Chief Executive Officer Michael Jordan said.

Electronic Data May Cut 20,000 Jobs to Save \$3 Bln (Update1)


SPOKANE, Wash. -- Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay, who won the National League Rookie of the Year on Monday, played at Gonzaga University.

NL Rookie of the Year played at Gonzaga


At the company's Connect 2004 event today, PeopleSoft CEO Craig Conway maintained the defiant tone he has struck throughout Oracle's 15-month campaign to win control of the company.

PeopleSoft CEO Conway maintains defiant tone


Frank Beard played on the PGA Tour for 20 years and was the leading money winner and Player of the Year in 1969. He will answer your questions every Tuesday on SI.

PGA should toughen requirements for keeping Tour cards


In this edition of Perspective, we #39;ll take a look at some of the issues at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC Summit in Chile.

2004 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit - Chile


Web sites racked up \$17.6 billion in retail sales in the third quarter, according to estimates released Friday by the US Commerce Department.

Web shoppers open their wallets wider


A California-based pornographer says it is suing  Google for providing illegal access to its website.

Google sued by nude photo website


AFP - Lorenzen Wright will sit out the Memphis Grizzlies season opener after receiving a one-game suspension.

NBA suspends Grizzlies Wright for season opener (AFP)


She wanted Connecticut. She would have settled for Florida. But on Wednesday, Martha Stewart drew the short straw. She was assigned to serve her sentence at a federal

Stewart to serve sentence in West Virginia


Iomega on Friday introduced a new network-attached storage appliance for Windows networks in small and midsized businesses.

Iomega rolls out low-end NAS


Symantec has agreed to acquire Stake, a Cambridge, Mass.-based provider of IT security consulting services. After closure of the deal, expected in October, Symantec plans to integrate Stake #39;s services and

Symantec to acquire security consultants Stake


With most Division 2 teams preparing for their final regular-season games, the NCAA playoff picture is beginning to take shape.

Bentley, C.W. Post expect to have berth marks


AFP - Pakistani authorities torched more than 22 tonnes of seized drugs, including heroin, hashish, opium and morphine, in southwestern Baluchistan province, officials and witnesses said.

Pakistani authorities burn 22 tonnes of seized drugs (AFP)


The US and Britain shouldn #39;t have dismantled Iraq #39;s army after toppling Saddam Hussein, Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawar said in a radio interview on the one-year anniversary of the former Iraqi dictator #39;s capture.

US, UK Made Mistake #39; in Dismantling Iraqi Army, Yawar Says


The Lebanese government says it has arrested an al-Qaeda cell planning to bomb Italy's embassy in Beirut.

Lebanon 'thwarts al-Qaeda plot'


Arsene Wenger has made it clear that he is still totally committed to Arsenal, despite reports of interest from Real Madrid. The Gunners are keen to persuade their manager to pen a new long-term contract in

WENGER RULES OUT GUNNERS EXIT


Job trimming at technology companies took off during the past three months, according to a new report.

Study Finds Dramatic Loss of Tech Jobs


MANCHESTER United today dramatically rejected the advances of Malcolm Glazer, the US sports boss who is mulling an 825m bid for the football club.

Man Utd rejects Glazer plan


Something of a curate's egg of a lash out, this...

Delete records, or profile the whole UK, says DNA print pioneer


Buoyed by strong consumer demand for personal computers and stringent cost cuts, computer maker Gateway reported a third-quarter loss on Thursday that was much narrower than a year ago.

Gateway loss narrows on PC demand


AFP - Chelsea's drive to claim the club's first English title in half a century gathered pace as Newcastle were blown away by four memorable late goals at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea strike for the jugular (AFP)


AP - The House ethics committee unanimously concluded Wednesday that Majority Leader Tom DeLay appeared to link political donations to a legislative favor and improperly persuaded U.S. aviation authorities to intervene in a Texas political dispute.

Ethics Panel Rebukes DeLay Twice in a Week (AP)


Britain says a CIA report that concludes Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction before the US-led invasion last year nonetheless confirms that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein posed a threat that could not be ignored.

Britain: Weapons Report Proves Hussein Was a Threat


TEHRAN: Iran is still unable to accept some positions of European countries in crucial talks on its nuclear programme at the UN atomic agency, but an agreement remains possible, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said on Saturday.

REGION: Iran says European position at N-talks still unacceptable


The MSN Toolbar Suite is built on the current Windows security and privacy model. Microsoft officials said the tool respects the privacy of multiple users on a single PC by using the Windows

Microsoft Enters Desktop Search with MSN Toolbar Suite


AP - A boat capsized in heavy winds on a river in northern Vietnam, killing 16 people, an official said Saturday.

Boat Capsizes in Vietnam, Killing 16 (AP)


The Football Association is to look into comments Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is alleged to have made about Graham Poll, and his decision to allow Arsenal #39;s controversial second goal at the weekend.

FA to check Cech comments


Cary, NC (Sports Network) - Notre Dame won its second women #39;s soccer title Sunday as it edged UCLA, 4-3 on penalty kicks. The two teams were tied at one after 110 minutes of regulation and two  quot;golden goal quot; overtime periods.

Notre Dame wins National Championship on penalty kicks


EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, United States : A US hypersonic experimental scramjet, the X-43A, clocked up a test flight at a world record speed 10 times faster than sound, NASA said.

US scramjet clocks 10 times speed of sound


AP - One of the creators of Dolly the sheep, the world's first mammal cloned from an adult, said Tuesday he was seeking permission to create cloned human embryos for medical research.

Scientist Vies for Human Cloning License (AP)


Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin stand to pocket over \$1bn each by selling shares in their web search firm.

Google creators in share sell-off


Nick Heidfeld will be given a second chance at landing the remaining full time ride at BMW-Williams. Team officials say the German will test with them again next week in Jerez, Spain.

Heidfeld gets a second look


BRUSSELS: The European Commission will revise downwards its 2005 economic growth forecast because of soaring oil prices, Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said on Wednesday.

EU to trim 2005 growth forecast


LONDON, England -- England captain Michael Vaughan finally found one-day form with the bat but saw his side slip to a 23-run defeat to India in the third match of their series at Lord #39;s on Sunday.

India rebound with Lord #39;s victory


The International Gymnastics Federation ruled on Thursday that American gymnast Paul Hamm may keep his Olympic gold medal for the men #39;s gymnastic all-around title.

Court Rules Paul Hamm Keeps Gold Medal


The funeral procession for Army Capt. Mark Stubenhofer was so long yesterday that his family had to wait a half-hour in blustery winds before the service could begin at Arlington National Cemetery.

Neighbors Honor Soldier Who Touched Many Lives


AP - In this one town, in this swing state, in this entire country, three weeks before a deeply divided citizenry elects a president, the pernicious residue of Sept. 11, 2001, echoes in every corner of the national conversation.

9-11 Resonates Among Voters Pre-Election (AP)


USATODAY.com - Google's stock has now traded for its first full week, inviting stock jocks to start handicapping whether or not it will hold onto its early gains or get the goo knocked out of it.

Investors in Google search for strategy (USATODAY.com)


Health insurance stocks spiked in trading Tuesday after California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi withdrew his opposition to the merger between WellPoint Health Networks Inc.

Health Insurance Stocks Climb in Trading


EBay has reported that it has been having trouble with its PayPal online payment arm. The company says that it has been having technical glitches following a coding update last Thursday.

EBay reports  #39;intermittent #39; problems with PayPal


CALGARY, ALBERTA - The number of oil and gas wells to be drilled in Canada next year could climb 8 percent to a record because of a surge in coal-bed methane activity, the oil-field service industry predicted last week.

Canada foresees record drilling


THE MUNICH City Council is set to press ahead with a huge Linux project, despite fears of future patent problems. According to Reuters, the council is expected to take a calculated risk and approve the switch

Munich ignores Linux patent problems


While the Big Four are pulling back from the small-company market, a passel of regional and  quot;second tier quot; national accounting firms are eagerly filling the gap.

Smaller auditors find niche


AIG said Monday that the Securities and Exchange Commission has accused it of engaging in a pattern of  quot;misleading quot; public statements about a controversial accounting product

SEC says AIG public statements misleading


Lloyds TSB Group Plc, the UK #39;s fifth-largest bank by assets, said annual pretax profit may fall 23 percent, after earnings doubled last year on proceeds from the sale of its businesses in New Zealand and Brazil.

Lloyds TSB Says Profit Will Fall 23 After Unit Sales (Update2)


Freshman Sean Singletary scores 25 points and Devin Smith has 23 on Friday night as No. 24 Virginia overcomes a huge game by Auburn freshman Toney Douglas to edge the Tigers, 89-87.

Cavs Cage Tigers


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar dangled near multi-month lows  on Thursday as a rebound in oil prices aggravated worries about  the outlook for the U.S. economy and its yawning current  account deficit.

Dollar Dangles Near Multi-Month Lows


AP - The Supreme Court said Friday it would consider whether Internet providers should be allowed to sell their high-speed service over the cable television system.

High Court to Hear ISP, Cable Dispute (AP)


Reuters - Iraq's elections in January should\encompass the entire country, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State\Richard Armitage said on Friday, differing from comments by\Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that some violent areas could\be excluded.

Armitage: No Plans for Partial Iraq Election (Reuters)


It was not enough for Arsenal to make their mark by pulling level with Nottingham Forest #39;s record of 42 League matches undefeated.

Arsenal equal Nottingham Forest #39;s 42-match unbeaten record with a <b>...</b>


Ingram Micro Inc, the world #39;s biggest distributor of computers and related parts, said it has agreed to buy Sydney-based Tech Pacific for A\$700 million (\$493 million) to expand in Asia Pacific.

Ingram Micro Buys Tech Pacific to Expand in Asia Pacific


LOS ANGELES - Elmer Bernstein, the versatile, Oscar-winning composer who scored such movie classics as

Elmer Bernstein, Film Composer, Dead at 82


9 September 2004 -- An Iraqi official says that construction workers have uncovered a mass grave in northeastern Iraq. Mansour Hama Karim, an official at the Human Rights Ministry in the Kurdish-dominated

Mass Grave Uncovered In Northern Iraq


Iraq #39;s leading Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani, reached an apparent agreement with the radical cleric Muqtada Sadr yesterday to end a three-week uprising by Sadr #39;s Army of Mehdi militiamen in Najaf.

Violence turns to hope as Sistani #39;s arrival in Najaf heralds peace <b>...</b>


As the first signs of winter push into the US Northeast, American researchers have some good news for fair weather fans - spring is coming earlier than it used to.

Earlier blooming lilacs another harbinger of global warming <b>...</b>


Italian carabinieri patrol Rome #39;s Capitoline Hill square, designed by Michelangelo , Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004, the night before the signing of the first ever EU Constitution.

EU Leaders to Sign Constitution Today


NEW YORK, Oct. 23 -- An Army captain sued the government Friday to block his pending deployment to Iraq, saying he resigned in June after completing eight years of service in the Army and Army Reserve.

Army Captain Sues U.S.  To Block Iraq Deployment


Gary Sheffield homered twice and keyed a four-run rally in the ninth inning last night, sending the New York Yankees to a seesaw 13-10 win over the Minnesota Twins at Minneapolis.

New York averts sweep by Twins


Fast Forward columnist Rob Pegoraro hosts the third in a series of discussions on The Washington Post's holiday tech buying guide and answer your personal tech questions.

Holiday Tech Buying Guide


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A district attorney said Monday that he would not prosecute Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Dupre on child rape charges - despite a newly unsealed indictment in the case - because the statute of limitations has expired...

DA Won't Prosecute Bishop Accused of Rape


Singapore has issued another warning about terrorists #39; intentions to attack soft targets in the city-state following the deadly bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta, reports said today.

Singapore issues bomb alert


Apple posted a higher quarterly profit today, boosted by strong sales of its iPod digital music player and notebook computers.

Apple Profit Doubles; Outlook Tops Views


Reuters - A general strike in oil exporter Nigeria\may be extended beyond Thursday if the government continues to\crack down on protesters violently, union chief Adams\Oshiomhole said on Tuesday.

Nigeria General Strike May Be Extended - Union (Reuters)


WASHINGTON - Gilbert Arenas had 20 points and six rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards to a 97-85 preseason win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday night.

Wizards 97, Bobcats 85


AP - Tokyo stocks were mixed early Wednesday as concerns about high oil prices vied for buying prompted by Wall Street's strength. The dollar was trading lower against the Japanese yen.

Tokyo Stocks Mixed; Dollar Down Vs. Yen (AP)


Moscow, Oct 11 (VNA) - Initial results show that the opposition Labour Party led by Viktor Uspaskich appeared to grab the most seats in Lithuania #39;s 141-member parliament in the general election held on Sunday.

Labour Party leads Lithuanian parliament election


NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Time Warner shareholders hope they won #39;t get a  quot;November surprise quot; when the world #39;s largest media company releases its third-quarter results Wednesday.

Investors don #39;t want  #39;November surprise #39; in earnings


Shares of auto parts retailer Pep Boys-Manny, Moe  amp; Jack (PBY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) fell 10 percent on Thursday, a day after it said earnings dropped 48 percent last quarter on more struggles in its service operations, missing

Pep Boys Stock Down After Earnings Miss


Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin says the Defence Department will get more money even as its expenditures are examined.

Prime Minister Martin says the Defence Department will get more money (Canadian Press)


HAVANA Despite tighter American restrictions on Cuba, Havana has signed more deals to buy US cattle and wheat. It happened at a major international trade fair in Havana, where American businesses played a major role.

Cuba buying more US farm products


Swiss-based miner Xstrata says it will take its A\$7.4 billion (3.1 billion pound) bid for Australia #39;s WMC Resources directly to the company #39;s shareholders, effectively making a hostile bid after WMC #39;s management rejected its offer

Xstrata makes new bid for Australia WMC


AFP - Australia is sending its domestic intelligence agents to the Middle East for specialist training as part of a major effort to boost the fight against terrorism, the head of the country's main spy agency said.

Australia training its spies in Middle East: espionage chief (AFP)


Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has visited a mosque following a wave of attacks on Muslim and Christian sites in the Netherlands.

Dutch PM Visits Mosque, Urges Dialogue


Reuters - Giant coca plants said to\resist herbicides and yield eight times more cocaine may be due\to extra fertilizer, not a drug cartel's genetic modification\program, a scientist said on Tuesday.

Fertilizer May Be Root of Big Colombia Coca Plants (Reuters)


Yasir Arafat's wife, Suha, has used French privacy laws to keep the state of her husband's health a mystery to the world.

Arafat Worsens as Tension Grows Between Wife and Political Heirs


Engineers and vehicles carrying liquid fuel have been seen gathering at North Korean bases housing missiles capable of striking most of Asia and parts of the United States, a Japanese newspaper said on Sunday.

More activity seen at N. Korea missile bases-paper


This week the United Nations released 'the most comprehensive blueprint for change' in its six decades.

UN reform confronts 'irrelevancy'


AP - It's a long way from the Manhattan office of psychoanalyst Sherman Pheiffer to the Cambridge, Mass., practice of psychologist Jaine Darwin. But both are in blue states that voted heavily for John Kerry, and on the day he conceded, they heard plenty of distress about the election.

Kerry Supporters Left to Deal With Blues (AP)


Spain clinched first place in its group with a 76-68 victory Saturday, leaving Serbia-Montenegro in danger of failing to reach the quarterfinals.

World champs Serbia-Montenegro in trouble after loss to Spain


UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei urged Iran on Monday to suspend uranium enrichment and called on North Korea to dismantle its weapons program or at least allow inspectors to ensure it is  quot;exclusively peaceful.

Nuclear Chief Pressures Iran, N. Korea


Honda already had the most advanced voice-controlled navigation system on the market, but the new version, announced Sept. 1, introduces a slew of improvements.

Intelligent Conversation - with Your Car


Pressured by the prospect of bankruptcy, US Airways Group Inc. proposed last-ditch cost-saving offers to its pilots and flight attendants unions yesterday.

US Airways Makes New Proposal to Key Unions


The government on Tuesday moved to bolster Saab Automobile AB #39;s lure to parent General Motors by agreeing to use state money to improve road and rail access to the company #39;s last automotive plant in Sweden.

Sweden to Boost Infrastructure for Saab


The man leading the fight against drug cheats in sport said on Monday he wanted a further \$1.5 million in funding to help stamp out substance abuse.

WADA Wants More Funds to Fight Drug Cheats


The enterprise-software company looks to better serve its 4,200 Asia-Pacific customers, as well as customers worldwide.

SAP sets up support center in China


LOS ANGELES Billionaire Marvin Davis, former owner of 20th Century Fox studios, the Pebble Beach Company and the Beverly Hills Hotel, died today at his home in Beverly Hills.

LA billionaire Marvin Davis dead at 79


BARCLAYS has started talks with Absa, South Africas largest retail bank, in one of its first moves under the leadership of John Varley.

Barclays #39; South African talks


The planned acquisition of Sears, Roebuck and Co. by Kmart Holding Corp. highlights a changing retail environment that could soon eliminate the department store as we know it, analysts and consultants said on Friday.

Sears-Kmart Deal Highlights Future Retail Trend


Lance Armstrong will decide in May whether he will race in this summer #39;s Tour de France, which he has won the last six years. He said in Wednesday #39;s Austin American-Statesman he will ride for another two years

Armstrong to decide in May on Tour de France


The OECD revised the growth projections for its major members. The growth of the US economy this year is likely to be 4.3 percent, instead of an earlier forecast of 4.7 percent, it said.

OECD Forecasts Steady Economic Growth


Former Enron Corp. assistant treasurer Timothy Despain pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors investigating the company.

Guilty Plea in Enron Fraud Case


Standard  amp; Poor #39;s Ratings Services on Tuesday said it cut Merck  amp; Co. #39;s (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) debt ratings, citing the expected deterioration of the firm #39;s business profile over the intermediate term since

S amp;P cuts Merck debt ratings, outlook negative


Lleyton Hewitt beat Morocco #39;s Mehdi Tahiri in straight sets to become Australia #39;s most successful singles player in 104 years of Davis Cup tennis, passing the mark of 24 wins he shared with Adrian Quist.

Hewitt, at Age 23, Gets Australian Record Davis Cup Tennis Win


LONDON : The dollar rose slightly against the euro and yen after the weekend #39;s meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers produced no surprises, analysts said.

Dollar gains after G7 meeting offers no surprises


PERTH, Australia -- Finland #39;s Marcus Gronholm holds the early lead after the first stage of the Rally of Australia. Double world champion Gronholm #39;s Peugeot was fastest around the 2.34km city circuit in the

Gronholm has narrow Australia lead


AP - Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace had an emergency appendectomy and was recovering Thursday.

Ben Wallace Recovering After Appendectomy (AP)


The Hyatt hotels company is buying the AmeriSuites chain from its current owner, The Blackstone Group. The companies haven #39;t disclosed the purchase price, but published reports say Hyatt is likely to pay more than \$600 million.

Hyatt buying AmeriSuites chain


Turkey's stock market closes at a record high on hopes the EU will soon invite Ankara to start entry talks.

Turkish stocks soar on EU hopes


A federal judge has agreed to delay the trial of a former professor suspected of terrorist ties, in part because of publicity about the case during the state's U.S. Senate race and the amount of evidence that lawyers must study.

Delay Granted in Trial Of Former Professor


LONDON (Reuters) - An

Electronic Eye Devised to Help Blind Cross Roads


Freescale Semiconductor starts shipping its XS110 chip, which will help consumers to connect devices wirelessly.

FCC certifies Freescale ultrawideband technology


UNCASVILLE, Conn. - The Connecticut Sun reached the WNBA Finals for the first time by beating the New York Liberty 60-57 Sunday behind Taj McWilliams-Franklin's 18 points to complete a two-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals...

Sun Edge Liberty to Reach WNBA Finals


JERUSALEM, 28 September 2004 - Israel accused Syria yesterday of directing terrorism and said it could face pre-emptive strikes against militants on its territory, but stopped short of saying it killed a Hamas leader in Damascus.

Israel Threatens Syria With Pre-Emptive Strike


MARK Viduka was a relieved man after ending his 12-match English Premiership goal drought yesterday with a double which inspired Middlesbrough to a 3-2 home victory over Manchester City.

Viduka redeemed


The Expos cleared another logistical hurdle in their move to Washington on Friday, announcing an agreement with Ticketmaster to handle ticket sales.

Washington-bound Expos hire ticket agency


THE family of an Iraqi civilian allegedly unlawfully killed by British troops while in custody won a human-rights ruling yesterday, which opens the way for an independent investigation into his death.

Family wins inquiry into killing of prisoner son


With presidential election-related uncertainty safely in the past, retail investors have returned to the US stock market with gusto, and they #39;re likely to stay engaged, several trading companies said Friday.

Company: Ameritrade Hldg Corp New


Shares of Beacon Roofing Suppler Inc. shot up as much as 26 percent in its trading debut Thursday, edging out bank holding company Valley Bancorp as the biggest gainer among a handful of new stocks that went public this week.

Beacon Roofing Leads Day of IPO Gains


COCA-COLA will open its fridges to its rivals after the soft drink giant reached a landmark antitrust settlement last night with the European Union.

Coca-Cola agrees to share its fridges


The share price of US drugs giant Merck falls to an eight-year low after it announces that it has been forced to withdraw a key drug on side effect fears.

Merck stock plummets on drug news


A US judge has ruled that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is not entitled to trial documents that the company said might help it prove its European Commission antitrust complaint against Intel.

Judge rejects AMD plea for confidential Intel documents


The WNBA #39;S month-long break during August, which accommodated players that took part in the Summer Olympics, had a vastly different effect on the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm.

Catching A Good Break


WWE's revenue rundowns no longer shock investors. But the drop in earnings and free cash flow should.

Time to Hang Up the Boots?


NEW YORK - Andy Roddick ran into a bold, bigger version of himself at the U.S. Open, and 6-foot-6 Joachim Johansson sent the defending champion home...

Johansson Upsets Roddick at U.S. Open


Italy coach Marcello Lippi was happy with the performances of the newcomers after the 1-0 friendly win over Finland.  quot;This builds morale for the lads who gradually relaxed into their stride and their confidence grew as time went on, quot; he said.

Lippi Praises New Boys


Two British lawyers, Steven Kay and Gillian Higgins, have been appointed to defend former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic at The Hague #39;s UN tribunal.

Court appoints Milosevic lawyers


Family matters made public: As eager cousins wait for a slice of the \$15 billion cake that is the Pritzker Empire, Circuit Court Judge David Donnersberger has ruled that the case will be conducted in open court.

Pritzker: Judge Rules Settlement Case Open


AP - Smiling and confident, two Russians and an American prepared for their first mission in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft  #151; breaking the nearly 30-year tradition of having at least one crewman with previous experience in piloting the capsule.

Crew Prepares for Launch to Space Station (AP)


Reuters - Pirated versions of U2's new album

Pirated U2 Album Hits Net, Release Date in Limbo (Reuters)


Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corp. closed \$100 million Wednesday from a public stock offering. The steelmaker offered 3.65 million shares of common stock at \$29 per share.

Wheeling-Pitt raises \$100 million


Microsoft Corp. finally debuted its own Web search technology on Thursday, hoping to challenge Google Inc.'s long dominance of the field with results tailored to a user's location and answers from its Encarta encyclopedia.

Microsoft Debuts Own Web Search Technology


NOVEMBER 01, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Federal officials last week released a set of software files submitted by five vendors of e-voting systems and voting verification tools, saying that election officials can use the code and related digital signatures to

Feds Issue Test Copies of E-voting Software


Should Fox News keep relying on a political reporter who privately mocked John Kerry as a well-manicured

When Private Passions Meet Public Journalism


The question of whether baseball will now jerk its franchise out of Washington is a mere foregone conclusion. Why would baseball come here? We have pulled a bait-and-switch on the sport.

Swing and Miss for D.C.


The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association blasted Alaska Air Group Inc. yesterday over its plan to cut roughly 900 jobs, saying the effort violates its contract and  quot;flies in the face quot; of past calls to improve in-house maintenance.

Alaska layoffs violate contract, mechanics claim


Networking provider upgrades a slew of products so large companies can better connect their workers.

Nortel upgrades communication technology


A Chilean judge has formally charged former dictator Augusto Pinochet with murder and kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to human rights abuses during his 17-year rule.

Pinochet charged with murder


National Semiconductor has released its Safekeeper Trusted Input/Output chip, which stores passwords, digital certificates and encryption keys on PCs.

National Semiconductor Offers  #39;Trusted #39; Chip


Hopes of saving the National Hockey League season all but vanished Tuesday when players and team owners rejected proposals to end the labor dispute.

Players, Owners Reject Plans to End NHL Lockout


Reuters - Indiana Pacers forward Ron\Artest will be back in the lineup for Friday's game versus\Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center.

Pacers' Artest Back in the Lineup (Reuters)


PADRE BURGOS -- A speeding passenger train derailed and fell into a ravine in Quezon province, overturning several times and killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 118 others, officials said.

Death toll rises to 10 in Quezon train mishap (10:50 am)


EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A manager for a company that provides security for the space shuttle sexually harassed male employees over a period of two years, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a lawsuit filed Thursday.

Manager at Edwards AFB harassed male employees, suit says


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Nov. 28 - Even the flamboyant Terrell Owens was subdued after Philadelphia's 27-6 victory over the Giants on Sunday. The Eagles had just dominated a rival and clinched the division, but it is a little hard to get excited about accomplishments that were never seriously in doubt.

Eagles' Biggest Hurdle Lies Ahead


Serena Williams, dressed to intimidate in denim and boots, warms up for her first-round match at the US Open. Picture:Reuters. Serena Williams delivered a carefully scripted message during her

Williams is looking dangerous


The Texas Longhorns will make their first BCS bowl appearance at the 91st Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1, 2005, in Pasadena, Calif., at 3:30 pm.

Texas to face Michigan in 91st Rose Bowl


BERLIN Sept. 19, 2004 - Voters in two east German states angry over high unemployment handed a rebuke Sunday to Germany #39;s two biggest parties, giving big gains to far right and former Communist groups, television projections showed.

Fringe Parties Gain in German Elections


Japans dominant wireless operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc., has reached a basic agreement to offer its popular i-mode mobile Internet technology to Britains mmO2 Plc.

DoCoMo to offer i-mode to UKs mmO2


LONDON -- In a deal that appears to buck the growing trend among governments to adopt open-source alternatives, the U.K.'s Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is negotiating a renewal of a three-year agreement with Microsoft Corp.

UK government to extend 3-year contract with Microsoft


Former dictator, who remains in an undisclosed detention center, was described as being in good spirits and health. Rush to start trial splits cabinet.

Saddam Hussein finally talks to his lawyer


Dan Rather #39;s storied career at CBS could be nearing an ignominious close. He, his producer and his network authored one of broadcast journalism #39;s most embarrassing chapters

Analysis: Guard memo blunder raises questions about future of  #39;60 <b>...</b>


DALLAS SBC executives have a vision for the future. It combines voicemail, e-mail and incoming fax messages in one system that can be accessed on the Web or on the phone.

Blending e-mail, voicemail, faxes part of SBC strategy


US producer prices climbed an unexpectedly steep 0.5 percent last month as energy costs mounted, according to a government report on Friday that buttressed the case for interest-rate rises to keep inflation at bay.

Producer Price Gain Bigger Than Expected


TONY Rice? Who is he? Tim Brown? He #39;s that old receiver the Raiders cut loose, right? Ara Parseghian? Isn #39;t he the guy who coached back in the  #39;30s and  #39;40s?

Just say No(tre Dame)


Ziff Davis - IBM announces a set of free tools and support for developers using its Java relational database, also now known as Derby.

IBM Provides Developers with Free Cloudscape Resources (Ziff Davis)


Think the Red Sox have rotation issues? On the eve of tonight's Division Series opener with Minnesota, Yankees manager Joe Torre didn't know who will start Game 3 Friday or whether Orlando Hernandez even will be on the roster.

Who is third man in?


An ongoing battle between Pakistani forces and suspected al Qaeda fighters Sunday in a tribal area near the border with Afghanistan has left six suspected terrorists and 12 Pakistani forces dead, two government officials told

Pakistan forces battle on border


Hong Kong voters go to the polls Sunday to elect a new Legislative Council. LegCo, as its known, symbolizes the high degree of autonomy that Hong Kong was promised when it reverted Chinese rule in

The self-employed are not this bad economys saviors. By <b>...</b>


Told his job is safe for now, Cashman will seek answers to team #39;s pitching collapse. By Mike Fitzpatrick. NEW YORK -- Brian Cashman #39;s job is safe -- at least for now.

Yankees GM knows his next mission


WASHINGTON: Militia fighters loyal to radical Shi #39;ite Moqtada Al Sadr have left the Imam Ali shrine and the United States does not want them to recover their strength, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said last night.

Powell warning


McNealy warns Ellison: 'Beware of our Redmond friends'

Oracle piles Files, App Server and Collab Suite on users


AP - Allegations that French companies illicitly reaped financial benefits from the U.N. oil-for-food program are

France Challenges Oil-For-Food Report (AP)


SAN FRANCISCO Engineers at Hewlett-Packard are working on what they call virus-throttling software that could slow the spread of viruses and worms, possibly limiting the destruction that hackers inflict on millions of computers each year.

HP creating software to limit virus damage


AP - Police on Friday said they'd uncovered  #36;74 million worth of crystal methamphetamine hidden in hollowed-out candles from China  #151; one of Australia's biggest-ever drug seizures.

Australian Police Uncover  #36;74M in Meth (AP)


BUSAN - A VfB Stuttgart quartet arrived in Busan on Friday to further strengthen a confident German national team ahead of their friendly with South Korea.

High-Flying Germany look ahead to South Korea test


CAIRO -- A videotape purporting to show the beheading of a Turkish truck driver kidnapped last month in Iraq surfaced yesterday on the website of an Al Qaeda-linked militant group.

Website video said to show beheading of kidnapped Turk


Sun Microsystems today made a somewhat unusual move by acquiring a small software outsourcing firm - SevenSpace. Sun is looking to have SevenSpace operate as part of its managed services business.

Sun snacks on SevenSpace #39;s software services


Thousands of people in northern Japan are spending a second night in emergency shelters or out in the open after a series of earthquakes.

Quake has thousands sleeping out


A suicide attacker detonated a car packed with explosives in front of a row of parked police cars in central Baghdad on Friday, killing at least five people and wounding 20, officials said.

Baghdad Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 5


Scientists have published a detailed analysis of the chicken genome, the biochemical  quot;code quot; in the bird #39;s cells that makes the animal what it is.

Chicken gives up genetic secrets


New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed a civil suit on October 14 against the worlds largest insurance broker, Marsh  amp; McLennan, charging the US firm with bid-rigging and other practices

Bid-rigging scandal envelops top insurance broker in US


On the eve of this third Test, Sachin Tendulkar and his close friend Ajit Agarkar made an offering of coconuts at the temple of Ganesh, the elephant-headed god revered among Hindus

Martyn hits century to deny India


Paul Hamm had hoped to continue the American gymnastics carnival at the Olympics Games on Sunday. Instead, as well as facing a battle to hold onto the individual gold that

Sorry Hamm Flops on Apparatus


AMD and IBM said Monday that they had developed a new strained-silicon process that offers more performance at the same power levels, a technology that will enter production in mid-2005.

Update: AMD, IBM Announce New Power-Saving Tech


Farmington, PA (Sports Network) - Vijay Singh carded a three-under 69 on Sunday to hang on for the title at the 84 Lumber Classic.

Singh hangs on for another win


The US Army is studying a possible compromise with Halliburton Co. that might allow the company to keep several billion dollars in disputed billings for work in Iraq, defense officials said on Friday.

Army Studying Halliburton Compromise


Researchers have reconstructed a long string of genetic code for what they believe is the common ancestor of placental mammals - a shrewlike creature that lived in Asia more than 75 million years ago.

Scientists reconstruct ancestral genetic code


BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide attacker sped up to a U.S. military convoy outside Fallujah and detonated an explosives-packed vehicle on Monday, killing seven Marines and three Iraqi soldiers, U.S...

Car Bomb Kills Seven Marines in Iraq


New Delhi, Sept.2 (PTI): India will raise its concerns over cross-border terrorism with Pakistan at the upcoming ministerial talks here, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said today.

Cross-border terror to be focus of Indo-Pak talks


AP - U.S. aircraft bombed a suspected rebel safehouse Thursday in the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, killing two people, the U.S. military and witnesses said.

U.S. Bombs Suspected Rebel Site in Iraq (AP)


FONTANA, Calif. (September 6, 2004) - The lights were a hit as records fell and Elliott Sadler #39;s stock rose at the inaugural  quot;Finish Under the Lights quot; Pop Secret 500 at California Speedway Sunday, September 4th.

California Speedway  quot;Finish Under


Chuck Harris remembers when the Internet was fun and he #39;d spend hours reading his favorite news sites, checking the church calendar, browsing the shops.

Adware Frustrates Computer Users


Microsoft will introduce its long-awaited Internet search engine on Thursday, a person knowledgeable about the announcement said.

At Last, a Microsoft Search Tool


When the populist politician Pim Fortuyn was assassinated two years ago, it was said the Netherlands had lost its innocence. By comparison, film maker Theo van Gogh #39;s murder has evoked sensations of dj vu, rather than disbelief.

Dutch fear loss of tolerance


Opposition leaders accused the government of arresting exit-poll takers and turning away election observers during a referendum yesterday on whether to allow authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko to run for a third term.

Belarusian opposition reports vote breaches


AP - LSU fell out of the top 10 Sunday while Auburn moved in, the result of a one-point game decided by a second-chance extra point.

LSU Tumbles, Auburn Rises in AP Poll (AP)


Following the lead of record companies suing small-time song-swappers, The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is representing several Hollywood movie studios in the first wave of lawsuits against individuals who have downloaded and/or are

Hollywood Studios Sue Movie Downloaders/Swappers


MANHASSET, NY - NTT DoCoMo Inc. on Tuesday (Nov. 16) started selling what one analyst called the  quot;world #39;s first commercially available quot; combination Wi-Fi/cellular phone.

NTT DoCoMo Ships Wi-Fi/Cellular Phone


SAMARRA, Iraq - Sporadic gunfire echoed through this Sunni Muslim stronghold Saturday as U.S. and Iraqi forces battled pockets of resistance a day after the start of what appeared to be the first major push to regain control of a string of cities before elections in January...

U.S., Iraqis Battle Resistance in Samarra


The crippling Polio disease has spread to at least one dozen countries in West and Central Africa and is threatening to become an epidemic, the United Nations has said.

Polio threatening to reach epidemic proportions in Africa


Wall Street #39;s earnings growth, fuelled by two years of robust trading gains, is showing signs that it might taper off in coming quarters as a sluggish stockmarket and a less favourable trading environment take a toll on profits.

Wall St shuffles as deals decline


PESHAWAR, Oct 18: Afghan President Hamid Karzai continued to maintain his lead over his rival candidates in the presidential elections.

Karzai leading in Afghan polls


Microsoft's browser continues to lose market share as more users switch to Mozilla.

More Surfers Ditch Internet Explorer


British Open winner Tom Lehman and Brent Geiberger shared the lead after the third round of the Greensboro Classic on Saturday. Lehman continued

Lehman and Geiberger share lead at Greensboro classic


UK Prime Minister Tony Blair called for the European Union to develop the capability to deploy troops to Africa within 10 days by next year, part of plans to fight poverty, disease and war in the region.

UK #39;s Blair Calls for EU Force for Africa Clashes (Update2)


AFP - President George W. Bush has for the first time raised questions about documents used to bolster a report that he received preferential treatment during his Vietnam era military service.

Bush says truth must come out regarding military documents (AFP)


CFHT -- Twenty-five years ago, on September 28, 1979, the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) was inaugurated on top of Mauna-Kea, a 4,200-meter high dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii.     From the photographic emulsion of the first light to today's 340 Mega-Pixel digital camera, CHFT's instruments are cutting edge; its camera is the largest ever built in operation on a telescope...

CFHT Unveils Stunning Image of the Cosmos