Fat is a little-discussed source of stem cells, those versatile biological building blocks that can morph into a variety of tissues. However, fat-derived stem cells, researchers say, might someday provide replacement tissue for treating such conditions as Parkinson's disease, heart attacks, heart failure and bone defects.

Some Scientists are Looking to Fat for Stem Cells


AP - Washington Wizards point guard Steve Blake will miss the first month of the season after injuring his ankle in a pickup game.

Wizards Guard Blake Out 10-12 Week (AP)


The Palestinian militant group Hamas said Saturday it executed a Palestinian accused of collaborating with Israel. A statement said al-Qassam Brigades executed Hassan Musallam

Hamas executes Israel collaborator


Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Lamar Hunt appears ready to get out of Major League Soccer and sever ties with the Kansas City Wizards.

Wizards go up for sale


The anguish of a British hostage in Iraq hangs over Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday as he faces the twin test of a local election and a debate by his Labour Party about the divisive war.

Britain #39;s Blair Faces Poll Amidst Iraq Hostage Crisis


Any suggestions the Czech Republic lacked the necessary commitment to advance in the World Cup of Hockey were erased yesterday when it stunned an overwhelmed Swedish team in Stockholm.

Czechs, please, as Swedes made to pay


Australian Lleyton Hewitt is disappointed at the timing of the Olympics as it related to the tennis schedule and is happy he skipped the Games.

Hewitt Doesn't Miss Athens


CHICAGO, Sept. 24 (AP) - A federal bankruptcy court judge ruled against United Airlines on Friday in a procedural dispute with unions over employee pensions, ordering that its latest pension information filing be struck from the record.

Court Throws Out United's Pension Filing


washingtonpost.com - Agonizingly slow Web sites. Maddening error messages. And, most frustrating of all, unavailable home pages.

The Glitch  That Stole Holiday Buys (washingtonpost.com)


THE Renault team have parted company with Italian driver Jarno Trulli with three races in the 2004 world championship still to go.

Villeneuve back in frame as Trulli departs Renault


AP - John Olerud hobbled out of the clubhouse on crutches, his left foot heavily wrapped. The New York Yankees' first baseman sat out Sunday night with a bruised instep, and might be sidelined for a while.

Yanks' Olerud Sidelined by Foot Injury (AP)


AP - Google Inc. co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin each plan to sell up to 7.2 million shares of their stock in the online search engine leader during the next 18 months  #151; divestitures that would generate windfalls of more than  #36;1 billion apiece at current market prices.

Google Co-Founders to Sell Company Shares (AP)


STUART, Fla. - Hurricane Frances crashed ashore at Florida's east coast early Sunday with sustained wind of 105 mph and pelting rain, knocking out power to 2 million people and forcing Floridians to endure a frightening night amid roaring gales that shredded roofs and uprooted trees...

Center of Eye of Frances Makes Landfall


Newcastle United are considering an approach to Terry Venables to become their manager to work alongside Alan Shearer until the end of the season following the abrupt sacking of Sir Bobby Robson yesterday.

Venables favourite to replace Robson


German business software vendor SAP AG and chip maker Infineon Technologies AG have launched a new software management system for connecting RFID (radio frequency identification) hardware and software from multiple vendors, the companies announced Tuesday.

SAP, Infineon unveil RFID management system


With just four healthy wideouts heading into Sunday's home opener, the Ravens may give Deion Sanders a chance at wideout.

Sanders at Receiver?


Carriers are pleased with system that will allow consumers to transfer fixed-line numbers to their Net phone service.

British ruling cheers VoIP industry


The Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans will try to keep from falling to 1-4 Monday night. But after the nationally televised game in Green Bay, Wisconsin, one of them will be.

Somebodys Going Home 1-4


AP - Imprisoned uprising leader Marwan Barghouti is dropping out the Jan. 9 election to replace Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestinian Authority, associates said Sunday.

Barghouti to Drop Out of Palestinian Race (AP)


Mice which can run almost twice the distance of normal mice have been genetically engineered by US scientists.  quot;This is the first animal engineered for increased endurance, quot; says Ronald Evans of the Salk Institute

GM  #39;marathon #39; mice break distance records


NewsFactor - The debut of the full-release version of an open-source browser that can actually challenge Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) Internet Explorer has been cause for celebration among open-source advocates.

Will Firefox Ignite Enterprises? (NewsFactor)


MIAMI - Holding its festivities for the first time in the city of skin, Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards was sizzling, energetic and colorful - yet tame, by MTV standards.    There were no wardrobe malfunctions (sorry TiVo)...

Video Music Awards Sizzling but Shock Free


D.C. United's Dema Kovalenko and Dallas's Ronnie O'Brien are still at odds over a scuffle near the start of their game last week.

Feuding Midfielders


After spending four successful years at Honda, during which he won three consecutive 500cc and MotoGP titles, Valentino Rossi stunned the world by deciding to quit the might of HRC for the uncertainty of Yamaha.

Rossi:  #39;This title is the best #39;


AP - Gino Guidugli threw three of his school-record five touchdown passes to Hannibal Thomas on Saturday to lead Cincinnati to a 52-24 rout of No. 21 Southern Mississippi.

Cincinnati Stuns No. 21 Southern Miss (AP)


UEFA have banned Valencia midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo for seven games after he was sent off during a Champions League match against Werder Bremen.

Angulo #39;s lenghty ban


The NHL Players #39; Association handed the NHL a strong proposal Thursday it believes can not only salvage the season but more importantly address all of the league #39;s economic issues.

Players offer to slash 24 from salaries


Long lines form in Japan where shoppers finally get their hands on the portable gaming device.

Sony's PSP Hits the Streets


VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 13, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II fondly recalled his exchanges of letters and meetings with Orthodox Patriarch Petros VII of Alexandria, who died Saturday in a helicopter accident near Mount Athos.

John Paul II Mourns Death of Orthodox Patriarch Petros VII


The main opposition party in Bangladesh has called for another nationwide strike to protest a deadly grenade attack at a party rally in the capital, Dhaka, eight days ago.

Bangladesh #39;s Opposition Party Calls for Another Strike


Colombia's hardline government said Friday it is willing to meet with members of the country's main leftist rebel group in an unprecedented offer aimed at freeing dozens of rebel-held hostages, including three Americans.

Colombia Offers Rebels Prisoner Swap


KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's main opposition leader and  presidential hopeful Viktor Yushchenko on Tuesday warned  politicians their lives could be in danger from a murderous  leadership bent on election victory.

Who Next? Ukraine's Opposition Leader Fears Murder


With less than three weeks left in the Class AAA Ottawa Lynx's season, Jack Cust is counting down the days until his two-year stay with the Baltimore Orioles organization ends.

Cust Slogs Through Season


BAGHDAD, Iraq - A massive car bomb exploded Monday on the outskirts of Fallujah, killing seven U.S. Marines and wounding several others, a U.S...

Car Bomb Near Fallujah Kills 7 Marines


Data showing that 16 executives received bonuses in 2002 that were larger than their salaries is called a mismatch with the company's lending mission.

Fannie Salaries Rile Hill


AP - Former All-Star shortstop Chris Speier was hired by the Chicago Cubs as their third-base coach Thursday.

Cubs Hire Speier As New Third-Base Coach (AP)


AP - New York Jets running back Curtis Martin passed Eric Dickerson and Jerome Bettis on the NFL career rushing list Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, moving to fourth all-time.

Jets' Martin No. 4 on NFL Rushing List (AP)


\\Of course Russell  is correct...\\

Bush is Weak, Inept, and Unfit to Lead


BOSTON (Reuters) - Diversified manufacturer General  Electric Co. <A HREF=

GE OKs \$15 Bln Buybacks, Hikes Dividend


Last June, at the very time Marwan Barghouti was sentenced to life emprisonment by Israeli justice, Franck Biancheri was writing an editorial saying that whatever Israeli judges were deciding, most probably Mr Barghouti will become the president of

Marwan Barghouti : sentenced to life by Sharons justice  and <b>...</b>


GREEN BAY - It was clear from the non-stop Brett Favre hype that aired on ABC and its little brother, ESPN, all weekend the television network had pulled some strings with the NFL to get Favre #39;s 200th consecutive start on  quot;ABC #39;s Monday Night Football.

Oates: Favre delivers on hype


KARACHI, Nov. 28. Coach Mr Bob Woolmer today brushed aside previous Pakistani performances against Australia and said his team could spring a surprise if they played to their potential on their upcoming tour.

Woolmer hopeful of Pak show


Since Lennox Lewis #39;s retirement, the heavyweight division has been knocked for having more quantity than quality. Eight heavyweights on Saturday night #39;s card at Madison Square Garden hope to change that perception, at least for one night.

Fighters Look to Separate Themselves From Crowd


TOKYO (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova  reached her second consecutive final with a 6-2, 6-3 victory  over Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn at the Japan Open Friday.

Sharapova Eases Through to Second Consecutive Final


Additionally, mobile devices powered by the new 3D WMP will be able to synthesize realistic environments with objects that behave according to complex physics and intelligent characters with true-to-life personalities.

Nvidia #39;s GoForce 3D 4500 for Phones


America Online Inc. will support a new, modified version of the Sender ID e-mail authentication specification that is being submitted to the IETF for consideration Monday.

AOL to Support Sender ID E-Mail Standard


Kabul was calm amid massive security for Hamid Karzai's inauguration ceremony, but overnight attacks provided a reminder of threats.

At Inauguration, Karzai Pledges 'New Chapter' for Afghanistan


The stock has soared thanks to homebuilders, but not enough profits are built into the price.

Ultimate Electronics' Shaky Base


On the eve of the season's first B.C.S. standings, No. 1 Southern California increased its lead on No. 2 Oklahoma in The A.P. Top 25.

U.S.C. Extends Lead Over Oklahoma in A.P. Poll


CHICAGO Insurance giant Aon Corporation is looking for a new chief executive officer to succeed Patrick Ryan, who is retiring. The 67-year-old Ryan intends to stay on as CEO until his successor is named and

Aon CEO Ryan retiring


Microsoft on Sunday expanded its controversial Government Security Program to allow governments that Microsoft trusts to review the source code of Microsoft Office.

Government Source Code Review Program Expanded to Office


Reuters - Delta Air Lines Inc. , which is\racing to cut costs to avoid bankruptcy, on Wednesday reported\a wider quarterly loss amid soaring fuel prices and weak\domestic airfares.

Delta Reports Wider Quarterly Loss (Reuters)


If Kansas City switches conferences next year when MLS realigns due to expansion, teams such as DC United will certainly become more familiar with the Wizards.

United go to the tape on Wizards


Members of Congress return for a march to Election Day that is complicated by the call to reorganize U.S. intelligence agencies.

9/11 Proposals Lead the Agenda Facing Congress


Iraqi political figures continued on Sunday to react to a movement by Sunni Arabs to delay elections by six months.

On a Day of Relative Calm in Iraq, Debate on Election Delay Continues


California is expected this week to order automakers to cut  quot;greenhouse gases #39; from passenger cars, trucks and SUVs, becoming the first state in the nation to try to combat global warming.

State goal: Cut gas emissions


NEW YORK - Iran has  quot;replaced Saddam Hussein as the world #39;s number one exporter of terror, hate and instability, quot; Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told the United Nations General Assembly yesterday.

Shalom to UN: Iran is public enemy No. 1


There #39;s no rest for the Salvation Army bell ringers as the holidays arrive. They #39;re out in force this season, gathering money to help the less fortunate.

A Familiar Ring


Yahoo #39;s Overture Services division has extended its deal to provide ad placement technology to Microsoft Web portal MSN.com, the companies said Thursday.

Microsoft extends Overture ad contract


InfoWorld - F5 bolsters firewall family\The latest additions to F5 Networks #8217; lineup are two new security products announced Monday that are designed for enterprise networks. FirePass 4100 is the latest version of F5 #8217;s firewall product line designed to provide secure remote access to corporate applications and data using a standard Web browser. The firewall secures Web-based remote access to corporate applications and desktops. TrafficShield 4100 is a Web application firewall designed for the application layer of networks that enforces granular security policies to protect Web applications, as well as database information from both random and targeted application security attacks. Prices for FirePass begin at  #36;24,990 for 100 concurrent users, and TrafficShield prices begin at  #36;39,990. FirePass 4100 and TrafficShield 4100 are available this week.\FirePass 4100, TrafficShield 4100, F5 Networks

Product Previews (InfoWorld)


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States, under pressure  from South Korea, has agreed to stretch over an additional  three years until 2008 the withdrawal of 12,500 American  troops, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

U.S. Stretches Out S. Korea Troop Cut Until 2008


Microsoft indicated that the defendants used compromised computers around the world, using so-called zombie computers. By TechWeb.

Microsoft Sues 7 Spammers


Press Releases New Back Door To Search Engine Rankings\\Greg Jarboe, President and co-founder of SEO-PR revealed a blockbuster secret back door to top search engine ranking when he presented to a comparitively small share of attendees at WebMasterWorld.com World of Search #7 conference. Jarboe presented a case study of client ...


Sports India: Beijing, Oct 18 : Two runners, including a college student and a senior citizen, died and eleven others were admitted to hospitals during the Beijing international marathon, state media reported today.

Two runners die during Beijing International marathon:


Time Warner finally pulled the plug on CNNfn. After nine years of struggling to gain an audience, the financial network will go off the air in mid-December, CNN president Jim Walton announced yesterday.

Show is over for CNNfn


Borussia Dortmund coach Bert van Marwijk may have to select a number of inexperienced players for Saturday #39;s Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich at the Westfalenstadion.

DORTMUND YOUTH FACE UP TO BAYERN


TheDeal.com - Try lower, says Oracle CEO Larry Ellison on the witness stand in Delaware's Court of Chancery.

Higher bid for PeopleSoft? (TheDeal.com)


Music subscription service Napster announced today they had inked a deal with AT amp;T Wireless to make the Napster To Go portable music service available to owners of the cellular provider #39;s new Audiovox SMT 5600 Smartphone.

Napster To Go invades AT amp;T Wireless cellphone


ENGLAND #39;S troubled build-up to their Wales showdown continued yesterday with Steven Gerrard #39;s injury diagnosis and fresh uncertainty over Sven-Goran Eriksson #39;s position.

Eriksson and Gerrard add to England woe


Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has again said he wants a thorough, independent inquiry into last week #39;s deaths of 87 Muslim protesters, most whom died in military custody.

Thai PM promises independent probe into protesters #39; deaths


In the second half of 2005, Gap Inc. plans to launch its first new chain in a decade, a specialty clothing retailer aimed at women over 35 years old, according to a published report Wednesday citing Gap Chief Executive Paul Pressler.

Gap wants to dress boomer women


NewsFactor - Much has been said about the impact Oracle's (Nasdaq: ORCL) acquisition of PeopleSoft (Nasdaq: PSFT) is likely to have on the enterprise software market. The U.S. Justice Department thought it would have an adverse effect, creating a de facto monopoly. A federal judge thought otherwise, though, as did the European Commission.

'OracleSoft' May Change Mid-Market CRM Game (NewsFactor)


(OfficialWire) -- 10/22/04 -- The board of the Walt Disney Company went on trial Wednesday, facing shareholder accusations that it simply rubber-stamped a decision

Disney directors face shareholder scorn


Reuters - Atlanta Falcons\running back T.J. Duckett is expected to undergo minor\arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday and will miss\this Saturday's home game against Carolina.

Falcons RB Duckett Sidelined with Knee Injury (Reuters)


Company is the latest to choose sides in the next-generation DVD format battle.

JVC Sides With Blu-ray Disc


A PeopleSoft Inc. (PSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) board member told a Delaware court on Tuesday that the software maker would consider a bid from its rival Oracle Corp.

UPDATE 3-PeopleSoft could be open to Oracle bid-director


The airline also announced today that it was increasing the shared cost of health care coverage and as part of its plan to avoid bankruptcy.

Delta to Cut Executive Pay by 10 Percent


The dashing Prince of Persia is back in Warrior Within, and in a more bellicose mood than last time.

Gritty return for Prince of Persia


AP - Stephen Graham scored 16 points, including two three-point plays in the final 4 1/2 minutes, and No. 5 Oklahoma State beat No. 4 Syracuse 74-60 on Tuesday night in the Jimmy V Classic.

No.5 Oklahoma St. Tops No.4 Syracuse 74-60 (AP)


The organisation behind Firefox is hoping that the open source Web browser can grab 10 per cent of the US market in 2005, it said yesterday.

Firefox eyes 10 per cent browser share in US


Software publishers and users are at odds about software licensing, according a study released Monday.

Study: Software vendors, users at odds over licensing


Antonio Davis and Washington #39;s Brendan Haywood figure to draw suspensions for Monday #39;s dust-up during the Bulls #39; 100-95 preseason victory.

Skiles: Hughes also should be hit by NBA


An anonymous group of malicious hackers reopened an online store that sells the stolen source code of prominent software products and is offering the code for Ciscos PIX firewall software to interested parties for US\$24,000, according to messages

Hackers reopen stolen code store with Cisco source


BUCHAREST (AFP) - Romanians went to the polls to elect a president in a second-round run-off vote pitting Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, the favourite, against Bucharest Mayor Traian Basescu.

Romanians vote in presidential run-off


UK biotechnology company Cambridge Antibody Technology has announced a five-year alliance with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. CAT said AstraZeneca will make an upfront equity investment in CAT worth 75

Alliance with AstraZeneca is CAT #39;s whiskers for biotech firm


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Canada #39;s Jacques Villeneuve is getting back into a Formula One driver #39;s seat. F1 team Renault announced that Villeneuve will test drive at Silverstone this week.

Villeneuve to test drive for Renault


Worms and viruses that pollute the Internet aren't new. What's new is the incredible magnitude of the problem and how it's growing.

Columnists: A Polluted Internet


Shane Carruth, the director of

Mad Math: Bending Time With 'Primer' Director


PARIS, Aug 31 (AFP) - Apple Computer launched here Tuesday the newest version of its iMac model, which at two inches (five centimeters) is the world #39;s thinnest desktop computer, the company said.

Apple unveils worlds thinnest desktop in Paris


Internet luminaries gathered in Boston Wednesday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), honor its founder, Director and Web inventor

W3C focuses on future at 10th anniversary meeting


Online travel store Lastminute.com LMC.L says earnings for its crucial summer quarter will come in towards the lower end of expectations, sending its stock down 5 percent in early trade.

Lastminute.com hit by  quot;challenging quot; summer


A former NASA safety inspector accused of falsifying examinations of crucial parts on the space shuttle Discovery pleaded not guilty Friday in federal court, and his attorney called him  quot;meticulous in his work.

Ex-NASA Worker Charged for Faking Exams


German stocks advanced. Henkel KgaA, the maker of Persil detergent and Dial soap, gained after saying it will trade its 29 percent stake in Clorox Co.

German Stocks Gain, Led by Henkel, Utilities; Comdirect Slides


PRINCETON, N.J. -- You've got to wonder what kind of team Harvard would be if the Crimson got into the flow of their games earlier.

Crimson find the range


BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian forces started redeploying from  the outskirts of Lebanon's capital Beirut toward the eastern  Syrian-Lebanese border on Tuesday, Lebanese officials said.

Syrian Troops Start Redeploying Forces in Lebanon


Happy New Year, all you investors with an eye for numerology. According to a popular financial folk tale, there's no need to worry much about Federal Reserve policy or corporate earnings growth in 2005. The stock market, and stock mutual funds, will do just fine because they always prosper in years that end with a five.

Searching for orderly market where none exists


Reuters - Amazon.com Inc.  unit\A9.com on Wednesday unveiled the new version of its Web search\service, the latest salvo in the cut-throat sector dominated by\Amazon partner -- and rival -- Google Inc. .

Amazon Launches A9 Web Search Service (Reuters)


IBM today released an entry-level Power5-based server tuned for Linux, the eServer OpenPower 720 -- an alternative to the higher priced HP and Sun entry-level Unix and Linux systems.

Big Blue Breaks Price Barrier With Linux Lineup


Selami Aydin #39;s words will comfort many Dutch people if opinion polls are to be believed.  quot;I #39;m thinking of going back to Turkey.

Dutch Muslims dismayed by anti-Islamic backlash


Business India: Mumbai, Nov 21 : As millions of Indians are held in thrall by reports of a family feud in Reliance Industries, the country #39;s largest company, experts say it would be premature to talk about a split as yet.

Fears of split in Reliance group premature:


VOLOS, Greece At least the Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, will be pleased that he has Cristiano Ronaldo back early from the Olympics. If only Ronaldo were happy to see him.

Soccer: Portugal title hopes end


Hopes that Apple may be preparing a Flash-based iPod appeared to be dashed on Friday when the company #39;s alleged MP3 chip partner announced a deal with Apple portable player rival Rio.

Alleged Apple Flash iPod  #39;partner #39; signs with Rio


The NHL and the players association completed a three-day round of talks Thursday in Montreal and were no closer to a deal that might save the upcoming season.

NHL labor talks are stalled


Mobile operators, content providers and other participants at the CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment trade show this weekin San Franciscowill be gearing up for an expected boom in mobile multimedia in the U.S.

Multimedia goes mobile at CTIA


NORMAN, Okla. After rallying from 21 and 25 points down in back-to-back weeks, Texas Tech hopes to avoid a similar situation when they play Oklahoma tomorrow.

Texas Tech hoping comeback unnecessary against No. 2 Sooners


An Afghan man is sentenced to death for killing four journalists - three of them foreign - in 2001.

Death penalty for Afghan killer


CHICAGO - Aon Corp. chairman and CEO Patrick Ryan is fighting to show his company is free from wrongdoing as New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer expands his investigation into questionable insurance industry practices.

Aon chairman fighting for company amid insurance investigation


JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- Showing poise well beyond his years, Byron Leftwich once again carried the Jacksonville Jaguars to a last-second victory.

Kansas City Chiefs


SYDNEY, Australia -- A Sydney man was imprisoned for more than five years Monday for duping people into sending him millions of dollars in a global Internet ruse known as the Nigerian scam.

Australian imprisoned for online scam


Reuters - U.S. housing starts slowed by a\larger-than-expected 6 percent in September after two months of\gains, but permits granted to builders outpaced expectations, a\government report showed on Tuesday.

Housing Starts Fall 6 Pct. in September (Reuters)


Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers today begin two days of talks in New Delhi on divisive issues including Kashmir, as the South Asian neighbors seek to end five decades of hostility that has led to three wars.

India, Pakistan Foreign Ministers to Start Talks on Kashmir


Jerusalem - The United States-backed roadmap is the only viable blueprint for peace with the Palestinians, the Israeli prime minister #39;s office said on Wednesday.

Israelis committed to US plan


Bing Gordon is 53, happily married, two daughters. In other words, he is not what you expect when imagining the hard-core computer gamer who's awake at 3 a.m., living it up on Earth   Beyond, an online role-playing sci-fi galaxy reminiscent of the Final Frontier. <FONT face=

He's Got Games


A top Ukrainian opposition leader, quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency, said supporters of presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko had withdrawn from talks on last week's disputed election.

Parliament, Court Yet to Defuse Ukraine Crisis


MADRAS - Damien Martyn struck a valiant 104 to spark a remarkable Australian fightback in the second Test against India yesterday.

Martyn inspires Aussies #39; fightback


AFP - Two Great White sharks attacked and killed a teenage boy on a surfboard off a packed beach as his horrified friends looked on, in Australia's second fatal shark attack in five days.

Great Whites kill teen on surfboard in second Australian shark attack (AFP)


Each skinny server houses eight processors. Plug a few together, and voila! A high-performance machine.\<br />  Photo: IBM's new supercomputing server\

IBM unveils Power5-based supercomputing server


NEW YORK, Aug. 26 -- Wall Street passed a significant milestone on Thursday, as two investment banks agreed to pay a combined \$100 million to settle charges that they published overly bullish research reports on questionable companies to win their investment banking business.

Research Settlement Completed


NEW YORK (Reuters) - American Financial Group Inc. <A HREF=

American Financial Unit Receives Subpoena


JAKARTA The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has called on the United States to dip into its strategic petroleum reserve to help deflate oil prices, the cartel #39;s president said Wednesday.

OPEC asks US to tap oil reserves


Big Blue has brought the title of the worlds fastest supercomputer back to the US for the first time in three years. IBMs still incomplete Blue Gene/L system has been officially named the fastest in the

Big Blue named top computer again


MICROSOFT #39;S search engine launched opens a new front for the world #39;s biggest software company in the war for control of the internet, analysts said.

Microsoft search sparks new war


A text-messaging service is put into action to choreograph fast-moving political protests.

Protests Powered by Cellphone


The first US cases of Asian soybean rust, a fungus that hinders plant growth and drastically cuts crop production, were found at two research sites in Louisiana, officials said Wednesday.

Soy fungus spotted in US


Woody Austin is finally getting a grip on his nerves, and it is starting to pay off. Austin calmly made a 6-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole yesterday

Roundup: Austin wins Buick title in playoff


A far-right Colombian warlord participating in peace talks with the government was shot dead by his own men, police said on Monday, in another bloody incident that could undermine the negotiations.

Colombian Far-Right Leader Gunned Down-Police


Goldcorp Inc., Canada #39;s fourth- largest gold producer, has agreed to buy Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. for \$1.8 billion in stock, giving Goldcorp its first assets outside of North America, Chief Executive Robert R. McEwen said.

Goldcorp Agrees to Buy Wheaton River for \$1.8 Bln (Update1)


Presidents and officials of 12 South American countries are meeting in Peru to create an economic and political community.

S. America creates single market


A British Airways flight was today forced to make an unscheduled landing in Amsterdam, accompanied by Dutch fighter jets, after a  quot;specific threat quot; was reported.

BA plane in emergency Amsterdam landing


Japanese stocks rose, led by exporters such as Advantest Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., after a slide in oil prices in New York trading eased concern that global economic growth will slow.

Asian Stocks: Japan Gains, Led by Advantest; South Korea Rises


JP Morgan Chase  amp; Co has emerged as the latest potential suitor for UK investment bank Cazenove, but as a joint-venture partner rather than an outright purchaser.

JP Morgan in Talks with UK #39;s Cazenove


has made the country one of the world #39;s leading polluters, a long-delayed government report shows. up to 30 percent of the planet #39;s animal and plant species.

Amazon burning makes Brazil a leading polluter


When the space station passes across the Sun or moon, the scene offers an interesting demonstration of how planet hunter's look for new candidates by measuring the periodic dimming of a parent star.

It's a Bird, It's a Planet, It's the Space Station


The Athens bus hostage drama involving two armed Albanians has thrown the spotlight on Greece #39;s Albanians, who form the country #39;s largest minority, estimated at nearly one million.

Greek Albanians #39; woes fester


Business India: Singapore, Nov.4 : Seven Asia-Pacific mobile phone operators, including Bharti of India, with a combined total of over 56 million subscribers, on Wednesday formed an alliance aimed at creating a unified regional network.

Bharti, six Asian mobile operators form alliance to unify <b>...</b>


Reuters - European digital music service Wippit\has signed a deal to license the catalogs of Universal Music\and Warner Music, enabling its customers to download songs from\all of the four major labels.

Online Music Store Wippit Signs Universal, Warner (Reuters)


Have you noticed web pages loading a bit faster than usual? You might thank Eric Meyer, an expert and author on the subject of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)  #151; a standards-based method of coding websites to make them work more efficiently with today #146;s Internet browsers. Oct 04

Turning the Tables Using CSS


Update M2000 same as XDA IIs, VPA III, MDA III

Orange to ship Wi-Fi Pocket 'in October'


President Pervez Musharraf and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai tonight vowed to enhance their capability to fight terrorism, while Musharraf assured the Afghan leader that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used by Taliban to destabilise

Karzai vows to fight against terrorism


The beach volleyball men #39;s pair of John Child and Mark Heese of Toronto dropped a quarter-final match yesterday to a Spanish duo, while Quebeckers Guylaine Dumont and Annie Martin lost in the women #39;s event, eliminating Canada from competition in the sport

Sand dreams crumble in quarter-finals


LONDON (AFP) - British Airways chief executive Rod Eddington and other senior management will help out the ground staff at London #39;s Heathrow airport during the upcoming busy holiday weekend, after days of staff shortages and delays, the company said

BA chief signs on for Heathrow holiday duty


At a special Pentagon ceremony in late 1996, then-Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall honored a top aide, Darleen Druyun, who was responsible for shepherding multibillion dollar

Purchasing scandal yields hard lesson for Air Force


A retired Chilean army colonel is accused of orchestrating the execution of Victor Jara, a singer killed in 1973.

Colonel charged over Jara killing


AP - While the stars take their time, midlevel free agents are starting to make deals.

Midlevel Free Agents Signing With Teams (AP)


Reuters - Internet media company Yahoo Inc.\on Thursday said it struck a deal to produce, host and sell\advertising for the official Web site for the second and third\season of NBC's

Yahoo Hired for 'The Apprentice' Ad Deal (Reuters)


Internet users may soon see two new domain name suffixes in their browser window:  quot;.post quot; to identify the postal community and  quot;.

ICANN Negotiates New Domains


PayPal said late Tuesday that it has fixed a software glitch that locked some of its customers out of their accounts and crippled eBay users #39; ability to complete online transactions.

Outage nearly over, PayPal says


Fever center Kelly Schumacher scores 13 points on 7-of-8 shooting and grabs nine rebounds to help Indiana defeat Minnesota 69-61.

Fever Beats Lynx


US Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, was forced to withdraw from competition at the Short Course World Swimming Championships in Indianapolis because of back pain.

Michael Phelps Forced To Withdraw From Swimming Championships


Toronto-Dominion Bank is in the final stages of negotiations to take a controlling interest in New England regional bank Banknorth Group Inc. in a transaction worth as much as \$3.5 billion, according to executives involved in the talks.

Toronto-Dominion seeks Banknorth stake


WASHINGTON - The cost of living adjustment intended to help more than 47 million Social Security recipients keep up with inflation is expected to be a tad larger in 2005 than it was this year, but the bad news is that much of the increase will be eaten up by higher Medicare premiums.    The Social Security Administration was announcing the new cost of living adjustment, or COLA, Tuesday, but in advance of the release many private economists were predicting a gain of slightly better than 2.5 percent, which would be up from the increase Social Security recipients received at the beginning of this year of 2.1 percent...

Social Security Gets Cost of Living Boost


Target Corp. is being treated as the Grinch who stole Christmas because it bent its rules to play Santa Claus for Salvation Army bell-ringers for years -- to the tune of about \$9 million a year.

Target getting bum rap for ending  #39;ringer #39; favoritism


AP - The State Department's second-ranking official said Friday the future of U.S. relations with Venezuela could hinge on whether that country tones down its anti-American rhetoric.

U.S. Urges Venezuela to Ease Rhetoric (AP)


IT professionals can expect a moderate increase in starting salary, a staffing firm says.

Techie starting salaries to remain stable


After a year-and-a-half legal battle, Texas Instruments has won the right to continue using Qualcomm #39;s patented cell-phone technology without paying royalties.

Qualcomm loses suit over chips


The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has turned down Microsoft #39;s technical contribution to the Sender ID proposal. A combination of Microsoft #39;s Caller ID and a domain authentication scheme devised by

IETF knocks back Microsoft anti-spam plan


MADRID (Reuters) - Seven men implicated in a suspected  Islamic radical plot to blow up Spain's High Court remain at  large despite the arrests of 13 more people, police sources  said on Friday.  Among those still sought by police is Abdellah Hawari, believed  to be the second highest ranking member of the

Seven Still at Large in Plot to Bomb Spanish Court


Reuters - Brazil launched an emergency\plan on Friday to save what remains of its vast tropical\savanna, much of which has been cleared for farming in recent\decades.

Brazil Scrambles to Save Its Disappearing Savanna (Reuters)


Aging but still on the go, climbing in and around craters, tapping into the mysteries of strangely cracked rocks, the two roving vehicles Spirit and Opportunity have explored Mars about three times as long as originally scheduled.

Rovers find more signs of liquid water on Mars


AP - Prime Minister John Howard's conservative alliance handily won a fourth term in Australia's parliamentary elections Saturday, overcoming widespread anger at his decision to send troops to Iraq last year and his pledge to keep them there.

Australian PM Howard Easily Re-Elected (AP)


AP - Armed assailants attacked a convoy of Turkish trucks delivering supplies to U.S. forces in Iraq and took two Turkish drivers hostage, their company said Monday.

2 Kidnapped in Iraq, 2 Others Freed (AP)


MOSUL, Iraq -- The bodies of five more slain Iraqis were found on the outskirts of Mosul yesterday morning, bringing to 20 the number of soldiers murdered over the last week as part of a campaign against the Iraqi forces who joined American soldiers in suppressing a revolt in this northern city.

In Mosul, insurgent campaign escalates against Iraqi forces


China's police ministry on Sunday handed out rewards of up to \$240 to people who reported pornographic Web sites in a campaign to stamp out online smut, the government said.

China Offers Rewards for Reporting Online Porn


Stock prices opened slightly higher today after the latest reading on U.S. gross domestic product.

Stocks Open Higher After Economic Growth Report


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened little changed on  Monday as crude prices remain near their record highs, but  early reports of victory for the Venezuelan president in a  referendum on his rule eased fears about the country's oil  exports.

Stocks Open Near Flat as Oil Near Record


Moscow - The Kremlin Cup final will be an all-Russian affair for the first time after defending champion Anastasia Myskina beat new world No.

Myskinia heads all-Russian final


BRUSSELS - Once written off as the poor cousin of Asian powerhouse China, India is to open talks today to forge a strategic partnership with the European Union, a status so far restricted to just five big countries.

Emerging India set for special EU partnership


The network service provider is spending \$34 million on the dial-up Internet access business.

Level 3 to buy Sprint's dial-up business


A bomb went off outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris early Friday, injuring nine people. The blast came on the heels of a deadly bombing at an Egyptian resort hotel.

Blast at Indonesian Embassy in Paris


Coca-Cola will open its fridges to its rivals after it reached a landmark antitrust settlement on Tuesday with the European Union, China Radio International reported on Thursday.

Coca-Cola to share its fridges


ABC is apologizing for a steamy pre-game intro to its  quot;Monday Night Football quot; broadcast with some of the actresses from  quot;Desperate Housewives.

Network Apologizes For Steamy  #39;Monday Night Football #39; Opening


Reuters - U.S. manufacturers ratcheted up the\pace of output in November as new orders jumped and factories\took on more workers, a report said on Wednesday.

Factory Growth Picks Up Speed in November (Reuters)


AP - Nearly a month after John Kerry conceded Ohio to President Bush, complaints and challenges about the balloting are mounting as activists including the Rev. Jesse Jackson demand closer scrutiny to ensure the votes are being counted on the up-and-up.

Nearly a Month Later, Ohio Fight Goes On (AP)


MINNEAPOLIS - The gap between Gibril Wilson and Minnesota tight end Jermaine Wiggins was shrinking with every stride in the final seconds of the first quarter, with the Giants #39; rookie

Giants defense is on the fast track


America #39;s third-largest mobile operator, Sprint, yesterday agreed to buy the fifth-largest, Nextel, in a well-flagged cash and shares deal worth \$36.3billion (19billion).

US mobile deal keeps Vodafone in the spotlight


(Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers resume a four-game series against the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals tonight at Miller Park.

Milwaukee Brewers Team Report - September 21


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Video game publisher Acclaim  Entertainment Inc. <A HREF=

Video Game Maker Acclaim Files for Bankruptcy


There are two options for publishing on the Internet in a managed way: Blogs or expensive content management products that are complicated to implement. Squarespace is the middle ground. <FONT face=

Squarespace Lets Users Manage Multi-Page Sites


Alan Camarillo had a special night. One that no baseball player would ever forget. His game-winning three-run home run in the top of the 10th gave

Camarillo lifts Mexico over Panama


LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's BT Group Plc <A HREF=

Report: BT Poised to Buy Infonet


US stocks fell this week after a government report showing slower job growth, coupled with an unexpected drop in an index of service industries and record oil prices, fueled concern that economic expansion will stall.

US Stocks Drop in Week on Economic Reports; Merck Declines


PC World - Do-it-all convergence devices, plus a MiniDisc player, both tiny and high-end cameras, and big LCD TV debut this fall.

Tokyo Edge: The Latest in Home Theater (PC World)


I admit I was fast asleep when the moment came, although the moment wasn #39;t really the moment. It was mid-afternoon on Sunday, 24 October.

Afghan election notebook 5 - Out for the count


Armed Palestinians seized an Israeli Arab producer for the CNN television network from a car in Gaza City on Monday after asking for him by name.

CNN Producer Seized by Armed Men in Gaza


USATODAY.com - Business software giant Oracle announced Monday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire rival PeopleSoft after sweetening its offer by 10 to approximately  #36;10.3 billion.

Oracle victorious in quest for PeopleSoft (USATODAY.com)


If you attended last week's Emerging Technologies Conference at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, you probably weren't on the lookout for ways to become a better typist. This is MIT, after all -- Rocket Science Central. Couldn't they offer something more challenging?

Prototype keyboards go against type


Forbes.com - Wesley Miller was a walking medicine cabinet after undergoing triple-bypass surgery in 1994. By late 2001 he was on 16 drugs, including Lipitor for high cholesterol, Glucotrol for diabetes and three pills to lower his blood pressure. He couldn't walk from his front doorstep to the mailbox without doubling over in chest pain. At one point tests showed the blockages were back and that his arteries were too damaged to risk another operation. He thought he might die.

Just Say No (Forbes.com)


Mel Karmazin, who abruptly quit as president and chief operating officer of Viacom earlier this year after a lengthy power struggle with his boss, resurfaced yesterday as the new chief executive of Sirius Satellite Radio.

Former Viacom Chief Named to Lead Sirius


DAVIE  As the lone offensive player remaining from the 1999 Dolphins, fullback Rob Konrad already was part of a unit that allowed the most returns for touchdowns in the NFL.

Dolphins lead in turnovers


The chief executive of Citigroup has taken a number of symbolic steps to address concerns by investors that his company is too immense to manage.

At Citigroup, a Shifting in Strategy at a Core Unit


Biogen Idec and Irish drugmaker Elan Corp. won government approval yesterday to sell a new multiple sclerosis drug, Tysabri. The drug, which some analysts predict will bring in \$2 billion

County plant to produce MS drug


Russia #39;s Tax Ministry yesterday charged OAO Yuganskneftegaz, the biggest production unit of OAO Yukos Oil Co., with 27.8 billion rubles (\$951 million) in unpaid taxes for 2002, a Yukos official said.

Yukos #39;s Biggest Production Unit Gets \$951 Million Tax Bill


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

Zale Sees Deeper Loss, Hurricanes Hurt


Officials in Georgia say at least two soldiers have been killed and five wounded in the latest battles with separatist fighters in the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Georgian, South Ossitian Forces Continue Fighting


DIDIER AGATHE today insisted Celtic will be playing for more than European survival when they face Shakhtar Donetsk again a week on Tuesday.

Now it #39;s all about pride for the Celts


The creator of Dolly the sheep, the world's first mammal cloned from an adult, applied for a human cloning license Tuesday to study how nerve cells go awry to cause motor neuron disease.

Dolly Creator Applies for Human Cloning License


Interim leader Hamid Karzai took an early lead as vote counting began in Afghanistan #39;s landmark presidential election, after allegations of ballot-box stuffing, voter

Karzai Takes Early Lead in Afghan Count


Opener Sanath Jayasuriya hit an epic double hundred yesterday to put Sri Lanka in command after four days of the first Test against Pakistan at the Iqbal Stadium.

Jayasuriya pummels Pakistan


Microsoft Corp. has quietly begun giving some of its largest customers early warning of security problems with its products. <FONT face=

Microsoft Offering Early Security Warnings


AFP - United Nations inspectors left after a week-long investigation into South Korea's past secret experiments with potential ingredients for nuclear bombs, officials said.

IAEA team leaves after week-long inspection in South Korea (AFP)


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PeopleSoft Inc. will push ahead  with a new marketing alliance with IBM and other initiatives  despite a recent court ruling that bolstered Oracle Corp.'s  \$7.7-billion hostile bid to acquire the company, PeopleSoft's  CEO said on Tuesday.

PeopleSoft Defies Oracle Bid, Pursues IBM


Getting no traction at the federal level, VeriSign (Quote, Chart) lawyers took their case against the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to the state.

VeriSign Renews ICANN Fight in Cali


Twice world champion Felix Sanchez of Dominican Republic won the men #39;s 400m hurdles gold medal at the Olympic Games here on Thursday.

Felix Sanchez of Dominican Republic wins men #39;s 400m hurdles gold


Yukos will on Thursday seek an injunction from a US court in a last-gasp bid to block the forced auction of its main operating unit by the Russian government on Sunday.

Drinking at last-chance saloon


MANCHESTER : Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has said even just a 1-0 win over Manchester City would be the ideal way of marking his 18 years in charge at Old Trafford.

Soccer: Ferguson looking for City present


Reuters - France's ambassador to Israel\criticized Israelis on Thursday for what he called

Envoy Complains of 'Anti-French Neurosis' in Israel (Reuters)


With the US presidential elections approaching, world oil prices appear to be going down. New York #39;s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in December, fell 26 cents to 49.

Oil prices go down. But for how long?


OAKLAND - The Seattle Mariners won #39;t get to the postseason this year, but they #39;re being covered as if they #39;re already there.

Ichiro draws media crowd


TOKYO -- You may not remember the battle between VHS and beta or between cassette tapes and CD #39;s but in years to come, you #39;ll likely be able to recall a battle over the format for the next generation of DVDs.

Battle over new DVDs begins


As a youngster in Fiji, Vijay Singh tried many sports, but golf was the one that captured is imagination and led him on a journey that reached a peak this week when he became the No.

Singh: Golf is  #39;all I know #39;


Shares of Netflix Inc. plunged 40.2 percent before the bell Friday, the morning after the online DVD rental company said it would charge a lower subscription fee as of Nov. 1. On Thursday, Netflix cut its

Netflix shares dive on strategy shift


The ruling handed the Justice Department a rare defeat in a legal challenge to a corporate merger.

Judge Allows Oracle to Bid for PeopleSoft


MINNEAPOLIS -- Randy Moss caught a go-ahead touchdown pass in the third quarter, Kevin Williams returned Byron Leftwich's fumble 77 yards for the clinching score, and the Vikings beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-16, yesterday. Trailing, 20-16, just before the 2-minute warning, with third and 6 at the Minnesota 19, Leftwich had Jacksonville in position to take the lead. But rookie ...

Hamstrung no longer


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's government said on Monday it had  not captured the most wanted Saddam Hussein aide still on the  run, in an embarrassing climbdown a day after top officials  reported he had been seized in a raid by Iraqi forces.

Iraq Government Retracts Claim Top Saddam Aide Held


Stocks rose today as investors digested a jump in the second-quarter gross domestic product and kept a close eye on lower oil prices.

Stocks End Up on Economic Growth Reading and Higher Oil Prices


Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will definitely return to the starting line-up for the Champions League Group D clash at home to Sparta Prague on Wednesday.

Van Nistelrooy certain to face Sparta Prague - Ferguson


BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Backed by the clutch performance from its English rookies and reliable play from Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, Europe put the United States in another huge hole Saturday by taking an 11-5 lead at the Ryder Cup and making victory Sunday seem like a mere formality...

Europe Puts U.S. in Big Hole at Ryder Cup


No, the pinstriped visitors didn't find pipes and slippers at their lockers when they arrived at Fenway Park yesterday afternoon. But the Bronx Daddies, as they were newly anointed by Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez Friday night, expressed surprise, amusement, and a certain amount of skepticism in the aftermath of Martinez's white-flag summation of his relationship to his biggest tormentors.

Reaction speaks volumes


washingtonpost.com - Oracle Corp. was not the only beneficiary of a federal judge's ruling late Thursday that it could proceed with its  #36;7.7 billion hostile takeover bid for software rival PeopleSoft Inc. Yesterday, the stock prices of numerous software firms surged during widespread speculation that the antitrust ruling could spark a wave of consolidation in the industry.

Antitrust Ruling Reverberates (washingtonpost.com)


AP - Going 17-1 in games decided by fewer than seven points isn't enough for Tom Brady. Neither is throwing for 335 yards and three touchdowns in his season opener.

Brady Not Satisfied Despite Strong Start (AP)


An Australian biotech company announced Monday that it is to release the embryonic stem cell line it has developed to world researchers for free.

Australian company to release stem cell line for free


Woolworths Ltd. #39;s second-half profit rose 12 percent after Australia #39;s biggest grocer cut the cost of getting goods to its shops and opened 37 new supermarkets and liquor outlets.

Woolworths Second-Half Net Rises 12 on Cost Cuts (Update3)


European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet today repeated that the euro #39;s rise against the dollar is unwelcome and said intervention in foreign exchange markets  quot;is a weapon quot; that is available to central banks.

Europe #39;s Trichet Blasts Low Dollar, Hedges on Intervention


AP - Records produced by Washington state and county governments went online Monday in what is being called the first of its kind facility for electronically preserving state documents.

Washington Opens Digital Archives (AP)


Lawyers for customers suing Merck  amp; Co. want to question CEO Raymond Gilmartin about what he knew about the dangers of Vioxx before the company withdrew the drug from the market because of health hazards.

DRUG LIABILITY: Attorneys want to query Merck CEO


ATHENS - Russian Yelena Slesarenko deprived Hestrie Cloete of the high jump gold medal by soaring to the title with a display bordering on perfection.

Athletics: Russian flies high for gold


Telecommunications companies Swisscom AG and Telekom Austria AG are in talks over a possible merger, Swisscom said.

Update 2: Swisscom Confirms May Merge With Firm


LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Western governors convening a two-day summit on the federal Endangered Species Act heard a list of complaints: Too few plants and animals saved.

Law protecting species studied


As Torii Hunter stood in the middle of the Minnesota Twins #39; raucous clubhouse, two teammates sneaked up from behind and threw a cooler full of water on him.

Minnesota Twins beat White Sox 8-2 to clinch third straight <b>...</b>


Reuters - Those behind the

Annan Vows to Protect U.N. Staff from Attacks (Reuters)


JAKARTA, Indonesia Indonesian police have warned residents to expect more suicide attacks in the capital after a truck bombing Thursday killed nine people and wounded more than 170.

Many suicide bombers out there, #39; Indonesian police warn


Chile's government says 700 people were arrested and 20 police injured during protests over the Apec summit.

Hundreds held over Apec protests


The price of oil finally broke through the \$50-a-barrel mark today, a milestone never seen before.

Saudi Arabia to Boost Oil Production as Price Hits \$50


SALT LAKE CITY (Sports Network) - Utah standout quarterback  Alex Smith has apparently decided to take his skills to the  next level, opting to skip his senior season and enter April's  NFL Draft.

Utah's Smith to Turn Pro


The German government has unveiled a series of measures aimed at bringing the country #39;s public deficit back below the eurozone #39;s 3 of GDP limit in 2005.

Germany unveils debt cut measures


Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS (Profile, Products, Articles)) could be facing more rough waters with its \$8.8 billion US Navy contract, as the IT services provider delayed

Navy deal may create more financial problems for EDS


AP - Al-Jazeera television aired a video Friday showing kidnapped CARE director Margaret Hassan weeping and pleading with the British people to act to save her life.

Al-Jazeera Airs Tape of Weeping Aid Worker (AP)


Former Newton South High School basketball and golf captain Matt Stehle is now a junior at Harvard University, where the 6-foot-8-inch forward was leading the men's basketball team in rebounding and steals and was second in scoring through six games.

Stehle leading Crimson in rebounds and steals


Online music company eMusic on Tuesday said it was revamping its service to provide commentary and reviews to complement its catalog of more than 500,000 tracks from independent labels.

EMusic to Launch Revamped Service


Web site visitors who clicked on banner ads on a number of popular European Web sites this weekend could have infected their computers with variants of the Bofra worm, experts warned on Monday.

Euro Web sites spread Bofra worm via banner ads


Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - A Toronto doctor accused of co-signing thousands of prescriptions without seeing patients changed his story several times under heated cross-examination at his disciplinary hearing Thursday.

Toronto doctor changes story under cross-examination, panel hears (Canadian Press)


LOS ANGELES - Toxicology and other tests determined that funk singer Rick James died last month from a heart attack due to an enlarged heart, with numerous drugs including methamphetamine and cocaine contributing factors, the county coroner's office announced Thursday.    The death was declared an accident, said coroner's spokesman David Campbell, who emphasized that none of the drugs were found to be at life-threatening levels...

Tests Show James Died of Heart Attack


The television industry scores an amendment to a bill that would have forced them to give up lots of valuable spectrum to emergency workers. The change all but guts the bill. Michael Grebb reports from Washington.

Broadcasters Gut Digital TV Bill


Reuters - Gordon Cooper, one of the Mercury\Seven astronauts who helped pioneer human space exploration,\piloting the last of the Mercury missions and the troubled\Gemini 5 flight, died on Monday. He was 77.

Mercury Astronaut Gordon Cooper Dies at 77 (Reuters)


AP - Venus Williams needed a third-set tiebreaker to defeat 87th-ranked Yuliana Fedak, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) in the second round of the Advanta Tennis Championships on Thursday night.

Venus Advances at Advanta Championships (AP)


Analysis Product placement in computer and console games

Massive game advertising startup to aid desperate brands


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue chips closed higher on  Thursday, helped by gains in Johnson   Johnson <A HREF=

Blue Chips Close Up, Goldman Drags on S P


OPTUS is close to completing a comprehensive review of its customer service operations which is likely to result in some of the 3500 jobs in the area moving offshore.

Optus rides the offshore wind


The Bush campaign is blowing on the dice and praying for good jobs data Friday. Recruitment firm Challenger, Gray  amp; Christmas tracks hiring and layoff announcements around the country.

Make or break for Bush? Employment numbers look shaky for re <b>...</b>


When Colin Powell was named US Secretary of State nearly four years ago, Jamaicans celebrated the stature achieved by the son of humble Jamaican immigrants.

In Jamaica, Colin Powell #39;s departure viewed with sadness, regret


Settlers willing to abandon their homes in exchange for compensation said Monday they would not be lured by advances paid out to who would leave their homes immediately under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s plan for unilateral separation from the

Settlers scorn advances for evacuation


MOSCOW - A woman strapped with explosives blew herself up outside a busy Moscow subway station Tuesday night, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 50 in the second terrorist attack to hit Russia in a week, officials said.    Seven days earlier, almost to the hour, two Russian jetliners crashed within minutes of each other in what officials determined were terrorist bombings...

Suicide Bomber Kills 10 at Moscow Subway


LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar paused on Tuesday after a  steep rally in the previous session as investors waited to see  if forthcoming data would reinforce the Federal Reserve's  optimism in the U.S. recovery.

Dollar Steadies After Rally on Fed Talk


The Lazarus nameplate, a fixture on the retail landscape for 153 years, is coming off department store signs, joining Shillito #39;s as a defunct brand.

Macy #39;s supplants venerable names


The race for the 2012 Summer Olympics entered its final phase yesterday, as candidate cities from New York to Moscow released the formal bids they hope will land them the Games.

Olympic bids in: Let the quest begin


BAGHDAD: A suicide car bomber killed at least 13 people in an attack on a police checkpoint in Baghdad last night, after US air strikes around rebel-held Falluja that killed scores.

Suicide car bomber kills at least 13 in Baghdad


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co. <A HREF=

Boeing Delivers 67 Planes in 3rd Quarter


The Asian Development Bank raises its forecast for regional growth to 7 in 2004, up from an earlier forecast of 6.8.

ADB sees stronger growth in Asia


French President Jacques Chirac wants to change his country #39;s constitution to allow for a referendum on Turkey #39;s bid to join the European Union.

Chirac Wants French Referendum on Turkey #39;s EU Bid (Update1)


Intel Corp. on Thursday said President Paul Otellini, a marketing expert, would replace Craig Barrett as chief executive, at a time when the No.

Intel Names Otellini New CEO


No matter what happens from now on, Retief Goosen has earned a place in the record books of the HSBC World Match Play championship.

GOOSEN CRUSHES MAGGERT


US President George W Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao have agreed to push for a diplomatic end to the crisis over North Korea #39;s nuclear programs.

Bush meets with allies on N Korea at APEC


Employment growth in Washington state #39;s biopharmaceutical industry is expected to slow in the next decade, according to a Milken Institute report that will be released today.

Slowdown seen in key industry


Finnish phone giant is the latest to make its devices compliant with Research In Motion's wireless e-mail service.

Nokia gets a slice of BlackBerry pie


A large and powerful typhoon that brought heavy rains and strong winds to Okinawa #39;s main island and Amami Islands Sunday is likely to hit Kyushu Tuesday, the Meteorological Agency said.

Kyushu braces for powerful typhoon


The masses descended again on Madison Square Garden last night, 19,763 strong, all brimming with expectation. There was a new Knicks era to cheer, or so they had heard.

Knicks Embarrassed in Opener at the Garden


Whoever officially wins this election mdash;at the time of this writing, it rsquo;s technically still a squeaker that could conceivably go either way, though it rsquo;s looking like Bush rsquo;s first election to office mdash;what is clear is that the Republicans owned the political agenda. I rsquo;m not talking about Iraq or terrorism, though those were significant issues. What I rsquo;m talking about is what got so many people to turn out and vote Republican on Tuesday: values.

Time for a new Dem agenda


With Apple Computer #39;s next iMac expected to be unveiled this week, Mac fan Web sites are buzzing with speculation over the design.

Big buzz over coming iMac


WASHINGTONFCC Chairman Michael Powell said the diverse options for broadbandincluding both unlicensed and licensed choicesmake America strong even if others, including his fellow commissioners, believe the United States is lagging the rest of the

Powell plays up diverse broadband options


A WARRANT placing former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet under house arrest on charges of murder and kidnapping has been suspended after an appeal by his lawyers.

Pinochet arrest warrant suspended


AP - A team taking a low-budget stab at the  #36;10 million Ansari X Prize for private manned spaceflight suffered a setback Sunday, when their rocket malfunctioned and exploded after shooting less than 1,000 feet in the air.

Wash. State Team's Private Rocket Explodes (AP)


Nokia is bringing in a Coca-Cola executive to take over brand management as part of its plan for regaining market share.

Nokia taps Coke exec to refresh brands


Another ministerial preemptive strike...

Clarke's x-ray specs - police swoops, detectors for schools


Masala, an add-on to IBM's DB2 database, queries far-flung info sources on company networks.

IBM spices up corporate search


Corey Patterson scampered home following Salomon Torres #39;s wild pitch in the first extra inning to give the playoff-hopeful Chicago Cubs a 5-4 win over the host Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Tuesday.

NL Wrap: Cubs Earn 10th-Inning Win in Pittsburgh


Former Nebraska coach Frank Solich was introduced on Thursday as Ohio #39;s new football coach, returning to the state where he grew up and promising to rebuild a program that went just 11-35 in the past four years.

Ex-Nebraska coach Solich hired to turn around Ohio University


The Seattle Police Department said on Thursday that it would suspend use of pepper-ball guns to control crowds after a college student was killed by one in Boston last week when police broke up a crowd of rowdy baseball fans.

Seattle Suspends Pepper Gun Used in Boston Death


India relied on their spin trumpcard Harbhajan Singh #39;s guiles to clinch their first home series win in two years with a facile eight-wicket victory over South Africa in the second cricket Test here today.

India rely on spin trick to clinch series win


Apple yesterday released a 12.7MB security update that consists of several revised components including Apache, AppKit, HIToolbox, Kerberos, Postfix, PSNormalizer, Safari and Terminal.

Apple releases December Security Update


Reuters - Iraqi environment minister Mishkat\Moumin said she survived a suicide car bomb attack in Baghdad\on Tuesday that killed four of her bodyguards.

Iraqi Environment Minister Survives Suicide Attack (Reuters)


Playing some of his best golf in the worst conditions, Els breezed through a wacky day of weather at the American Express Championship by starting with four straight birdies and finishing with an 8-under 64, giving him a two-shot lead and hope that he

Big Easy comes through on a tough day in Ireland


The Palestinian leadership has announced a three-point programme of non-violent resistance in an attempt to wrest the diplomatic initiative from Israel.

Leaders call for a peaceful intifada


Valve #39;s long-awaited shooter sequel available for paid download through Steam service; retail purchasers #39; copies authenticating online.

Half-Life 2 is here


Barring a miracle (which isn't coming), the National Hockey League owners will officially shut down operations Wednesday when the collective bargaining agreement expires. Jobs will be lost, arenas will be dark, and fans will be left waiting. Both sides, entrenched in their positions, deserve equal blame for not hammering out a deal. There are no bargaining sessions scheduled, and why ...

No faceoffs, just a standoff


AFP - AU Optronics Corp, the world's third largest flat-panel maker, said its net profit in the third quarter plunged to 4.13 billion Taiwan dollars (122.6 million US) from 14.39 billion in the second.

Taiwan AU's profit shrink sharply in third quarter amid dim outlook (AFP)


New York - Sudan #39;s government has not stopped attacks on  quot;terrorised and traumatised quot; civilians in the Darfur region, United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan has said.

UN: Sudan has failed to rein in Janjaweed


Rijkman Groenink has learnt the hard way. The ABN Amro chief executive admits frankly that his  quot;inexperience as a leader quot; lay behind over-ambition and mistakes when he took over at the Dutch bank 4years ago.

Dutch candour


The New York Mets hired two special assistants Tuesday, getting former major leaguer Tony Bernazard from the players #39; union and grabbing Sandy Johnson from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

New York Mets hire two more special assistants in front office


The killing of a Palestinian resistance activist in Syria on Sunday bears all the hallmarks of an Israeli hit. Tel Aviv has yet to claim responsibility for the assassination of Izz

Hit bears  #39;hallmark #39; of Israelis


To this point -- Boston up 3-0 on St. Louis at Tuesday #39;s press time -- the 2004 World Series has been a major league letdown. I had a feeling that the American League Championship Series was our true World Series.

#39;04 Series has given us some sloppy baseball


Motorolahas agreed to buy MeshNetworks, a developer of technology and products for rapidly deployed, self-creating wireless mobile networks.

Motorola to acquire MeshNetworks


NAJAF, Iraq - U.S. tanks and troops rolled back into the center of Najaf and battled with Shiite militants Sunday, reigniting violence in the holy city just as delegates in Baghdad opened a conference meant to be a landmark in the country's movement toward democracy...

U.S. Soldiers Battle Shiites in Najaf


The Government, which has already secured a line of confirmation on increasing prices from its key allies - the Left parties - is likely to moderate the hike in petrol and diesel prices that has become necessary due to a surge in crude oil prices.

Fuel prices likely to be hiked


US Airways #39; struggle to survive began 27 years ago, with a visit from economist Alfred Kahn. This is one in an occasional series about the rise of US Airways, the

US Airways #39; troubles date to 1977 and Carter #39;s deregulation czar


Paris - The Paris Club of creditor nations, with the exception of Russia, has reached an agreement in principle to slash debts Iraq owes to the group by up to 80, a well-placed official said on Sunday.

Debt relief for Iraq


Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, yesterday backed France #39;s European Commissioner, Jacques Barrot, and said he had no regrets over his handling of a dramatic showdown with MEPs last month.

I made the right choices for European Commission, says Barroso


Thin-client Sun Ray product hasn't taken off yet, but Sun hopes subscription pricing will boost its popularity.

Sun to offer utility pricing for desktops


AP - Alexei Kovalev became the latest NHL player to join a European team during the lockout, agreeing to play in his native Russia.

Kovalev, Jagr Join Russian Hockey Teams (AP)


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 Output Quotas One Mln Bpd


Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Conservative Leader Stephen Harper raised published allegations Thursday that former Liberal cabinet minister Alfonso Gagliano was a member of a New York organized crime family.

Tories raise allegations of ties between NY mob and Gagliano (Canadian Press)


SEATTLE - Starbucks will raise its beverage prices by 11 cents a cup on average starting Oct. 6, the world #39;s largest coffee-shop chain said Tuesday.

Starbucks to raise its prices beginning Oct. 6


BRUSSELS - The European Central Bank has lowered its growth forecast for the eurozone economy this year to 1.8 from a previously projected 1.9, and to 1.9 from 2.3 in 2005, sources close to the ECB said.

ECB lowers its growth forecasts


With Internet-phone upstarts taking business away from traditional companies, the government is looking to step in soon to set up rules for the growing telecom service. <FONT face=

Figuring Out the Rules for VoIP


The Bush administration's efforts to carry out the first phase of the law have been plagued with difficulties.

Partisan Arguing and Fine Print Seen as Hindering Medicare Law


The dollar gained tentatively on Monday, recovering from last week #39;s record low against the euro and a 4-1/2-year trough against the yen as traders turned their sights to US economic reports due later in the week.

Dollar Firms as Focus Turns to US Data


AP - A rapidly strengthening Hurricane Ivan churned closer to the Caribbean, packing sustained winds of 135 mph with meteorologists saying it's possible that the system could reach Category 5 status.

Hurricane Ivan Churns Toward Barbados (AP)


With its eyes on the future of home entertainment and a relatively uncluttered band of radio spectrum, Cisco Systems' Linksys division on Wednesday unveiled a line of IEEE 802.11g/a wireless LAN products.

Linksys goes dual-band on Wi-Fi


BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Human rights defenders face arrest and  torture in China, and the European Union should raise the issue  at a summit with Beijing's leaders this week, Amnesty  International said in a new report Monday.

Amnesty China Arrests, Jails Human Rights Defenders


As cell phones continue to expand their horizons, a new generation, due in 2005, is slated to compete with digital music players such as the Apple iPod.

A Call for Music


One of the new handsets invokes Garbo, according to the Finnish phone giant. Another is described as

Nokia to offer phones with 'old-world' styling


You might know him best as the founder of MP3.com or the guy behind Lindows (or Linspire or whatever they #39;re calling it now), but Michael Robertson has another company up his sleeve called SIPphone.

Sipphone sues Vonage and Fry #39;s over new hardware


Reuters - Was absenteeism a little high\on Tuesday among the guys at the office? EA Sports would like\to think it was because

'Madden,' 'ESPN' Football Score in Different Ways (Reuters)


The woman in the market hurriedly packed away the shampoo and perfume she usually sells. The stalls were almost abandoned. She was in a rush to escape the capital #39;s brooding air.

Disgusted voters say decision was made in Moscow


Sanath Jayasuriya #39;s century put Sri Lanka in a strong position after the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Faisalabad.

Jayasuriya hits form in Faisalabad


Online broker E*Trade Financial Corp. (ET.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday its retail customer stock trading for October jumped 21 percent from the prior month, helped by less uncertainty in financial markets.

E*Trade Says Trading Jumped in October


MANILA (Dow Jones)--Philippines shares closed at a new 53-month high Monday, lifted by steady investor interest in key blue chips, particularly telecommunications stocks.

Philippine Shares End At Record High; Telecom Stks #39; Gain


Six former Enron Corp. and Merrill Lynch  amp; Co. executives were accused yesterday of disguising a \$7 million loan as a sale of energy-producing barges to  quot;help Enron out of a jam quot; and artificially increase its revenue.

Enron fraud trial starts


Securities regulators have ordered a division of Citigroup Inc. to pay \$478,000 in a fine and restitution for allegedly recommending high-risk commodity futures funds to people who shouldn

Citigroup division ordered to pay fine, restitution for high-risk <b>...</b>


AFP - Two men charged with murder and conspiracy in the Air India bombings, the world's most lethal terror strike prior to September 11, 2001, will wait until March to hear a verdict, a judge said.

Judge reserves decision in Air India terrorism trial (AFP)


Israel is prepared to withdraw troops from Palestinian areas well ahead of a planned pullout from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank next summer, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said.

Israel offers early troop withdrawal


Reuters - Mark Loretta hit a bases-loaded\sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th to lift the San Diego\Padres a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants in National\League action on Wednesday.

NL Wrap: Padres Edge Giants, Astros Soar to Wild-Card Lead (Reuters)


Reuters - The owners of a Bangkok amusement park\will be charged with importing endangered animals illegally\after DNA tests confirmed a group of orangutan had not been\born in Thailand, forestry police said Thursday.

Thai Zoo to Be Charged Over Illegal Orangutan (Reuters)


Germany fueled mounting speculation over the future independence of French defense firm Thales on Monday, saying Thales and Airbus parent EADS would

World #39;s Biggest Aerospace Company in Offing?


The name Tony Cascarino has not figured large in the history of Exeter City but history may show that, in pairing their No 64 ball with Manchester United #39;s during Sunday #39;s FA Cup third round draw, he helped save the club.

Cascarino has hand in rescuing Exeter


With days to spare, the Mozilla Foundation beat its 10-day goal of 1 million Firefox downloads. Released six days ago, the first preview release of the Firefox 1.0 Web browser passed the million download mark

Firefox beats million-download deadline


Pilots and management at US Airways continue talks Friday in hopes of making a deal to help save the struggling carrier. Negotiations might continue into the Labor Day weekend, says pilots union spokesman Jack Stephan.

US Airways, pilots seek common ground


AP - An exotic marsh grass is spreading throughout San Francisco Bay more rapidly than anticipated, threatening native plants and birds and prompting an urgent search for ways to eradicate it.

Marsh Grass Threatens Plants in S.F. Bay (AP)


Steven Gerrard is confident that England can handle the pressure-cooker situation they will find themselves in when they tackle Poland in Wednesday #39;s World Cup qualifier.

Gerrard - knows England are under pressure. (Getty Images)


The man known as

Chemical Ali  'first to be tried'


com October 8, 2004, 8:28 AM PT. Most IT Managers won #39;t question the importance of security, but this priority has been sliding between the third and fourth most important focus for companies.

CEOs  #39;too trusting #39; of outsourcer #39;s security


Intel has added a high-end model to its range mobile processors. The Pentium M 765 is based on Intel #39;s market-leading 90nm manufacturing process technology and features 2MB of integrated, power-managed Level 2 cache.

Pentium M 765 is fastest Centrino CPU


The Securities and Exchange Commission has rejected a staff recommendation to bring civil charges against former Global Crossing Ltd. chairman Gary Winnick, his lawyer said Monday.

Global Crossing Ex-Chief Cleared


November 19, 2004 -- WASHINGTON - Some disturbing revelations that Iran is trying to adapt its advanced ballistic missiles to carry nuclear warheads could mean that the fanatical Islamic nation is far closer to becoming a nuclear power than had been

IRAN NUKES  #39;CLOSER #39; THAN THOUGHT


The US Department of Homeland Security is buying an entire town for anti-terror  training, reports say.

US 'buys town for terror drills'


As NASA (news - web sites) #39;s Mars rovers keep rolling past all expectations of their useful lives, scientists have a happy mystery: For some reason one

Mars Rovers Get Mystery Power Boost


Team GB will be hoping for more of the same at the Olympics today after finally delivering on the big stage with a four-medal haul.

Team GB Hoping for More Olympic Success


Representatives of a remote community in southern Nigeria's Delta region take over three oil installations.

Villagers hold Nigeria oil plants


An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City tonight killed a leading Hamas weapons maker who was responsible for some of the group #39;s most powerful bombs and its homemade rockets, Israel #39;s military said.

Israeli Missile Strike Kills Hamas Leader


The first report on environmental conditions in North Korea such as the quality of water, air, forest, soil, and diversity of wildlife has been published.

UN Publishes Environmental Report on North Korea


AP - The CIA once maintained a facility to hold high-value terrorism suspects at the Defense Department's prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but the location is not currently in use, according to officials with knowledge of the highly classified operations.

CIA Had Secret Detainee Area at Guantanamo (AP)


Malaysia's express bus fleet could be taken off the roads for speeding and ignoring fines, the government says.

Malaysia lays down bus ultimatum


(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Lakers begin a season-high six-game homestand tonight against the Washington Wizards at the Staples Center.

Los Angeles Lakers Team Report - December 17


Daniel Snyder has kept his distance perhaps more than any time in the five years he has owned the Redskins, entrusting Joe Gibbs with the development of the team.

Snyder Does About-Face


Chelsea crushed Charlton Athletic 4-0 to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League, while Manchester United extended their winning run with a 3-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

UPDATE 3-Chelsea go five points clear, United win again


Browns RB Lee Suggs practiced Friday but is still questionable for Sunday's game at Dallas.

Suggs Questionable


Another nine innings and another 3 1/2 hours of toe-to-toe, leather-wielding, nonstop action. This time it produced a 12-5 Red Sox victory over the hated Yankees.

Rivalry is exhausting


Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce is urging his remaining strikers to grasp the nettle and fill the massive void left by the injured Mikael Forssell.

Blues Strikers Must Deliver - Bruce


Saudi Arabia says it will raise oil production in an effort to bring down prices that have soared to more than \$50 a barrel. Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said Tuesday that the kingdom will step up its daily

Saudis to Raise Oil Production in Bid to Bring Down Record Prices


Peyton Manning threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns to win his showdown with fellow co-MVP Steve McNair as the Indianapolis Colts beat the Tennessee Titans 31-17 at Nashville on Sunday.

NFL Wrap: Manning Wins MVP Battle as Colts Beat Titans


SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--The world #39;s largest owner of shopping malls, Australia #39;s Westfield Group (WDC.AU), bid GBP585 million for Chelsfield PLC (CLF.

UPDATE: Australia #39;s Westfield Bids For UK #39;s Chelsfield


HOUSTON -- Phil Garner savored the taste of champagne, the smell of his cigar and the wild celebration going on in the Houston Astros' clubhouse.

Astros live wild life


Serena Williams is in love - with her new attacking game and herself. Williams moved a step closer to salvaging her season with a 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 semifinal victory over Amelie Mauresmo in the WTA Championships on Sunday.

Serena Williams ends Mauresmo #39;s bid for year-end No. 1 ranking


If Danny Williams did not fully appreciate the sheer size of Vitali Klitschko, he does now. After a series of eyeball-to-eyeball poses for the photographers at yesterday #39;s London press conference to announce

A tall order awaits Williams but his dream is within reach


Taking an intentionally cautious tone, Microsoft and Sun executives said Wednesday that the first eight months of their 10-year partnership have yielded small, but significant progress.

Sun and Microsoft bury the hatchet


Reuters - The face of a man who died and was\mummified in Egypt 3,000 years ago has been modeled, using\special CAT scans and without unwrapping his bandages, Italian\researchers said on Wednesday.

Special X-Rays Unmask Mummy's Face, Virtually (Reuters)


resident Bush will chalk up a victory on a contentious labor issue on Monday, but Democrats intend to work overtime to make him pay a political price.

POLITICAL POINTS  3:33 PM Taking Care of Business


US communications regulators on Thursday insisted the United States was making progress in rolling out high-speed Internet service, despite falling further behind other countries.

FCC Insists Broadband Deployment Improving


Fuming Rafael Benitez slammed the controversial Monaco goal which left his Liverpool side in desperate danger of missing out on the Champions League second round.

Monaco 1, Liverpool 0


Iraqi and US troops have been involved in renewed clashes with insurgents in several areas of the capital, Baghdad. At least three policemen died when the rebels fired rocket-propelled grenades at their station in the Adhamiya area.

Fresh violence hits Iraq capital


It has been a good year for Apple. Since the beginning of 2004, I #39;ve discussed GarageBand, AirPort Express and the latest iPod.

Apple iMac G5


Sonys music unit is abandoning its CDs that use built-in technology to limit copying them, after pushing the program for two years.

Pirating Just Got Easier


FULLSTRETCH: Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot in the first set against Lleyton Hewitt in their Tennis Masters Cup finals match on Sunday.

Federer crushes Hewitt and sets new record


A UK advertising watchdog group has ordered Microsoft to change an ad that compares the costs of running Linux and Windows operating systems.

Microsoft Reprimanded for Misleading Linux Ad


The 322-room Tremont Boston was sold to Highland Hospitality Corp., a Virginia-based real estate investment trust that purchased the hotel along with three others for \$227 million from Wyndham International Inc.

Highland buys Tremont Boston in four-hotel deal worth \$227M


Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s shaky coalition Tuesday faced collapse in a row over the 2005 budget, raising the prospect of early elections that would endanger his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Coalition Crisis May Force Early Election


Islamic groups in Pakistan are denouncing a new effort by President Pervez Musharraf to resolve the dispute over Kashmir, the BBC reported Tuesday.

Clamor over Musharraf #39;s Kashmir peace plan


Indonesia #39;s newly elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced his Cabinet late Wednesday, installing professionals and several women in key posts but also appointing retired generals and holdovers from past governments

New faces and old to rule Jakarta


The first private manned rocket to reach space soared toward the edge of the atmosphere on Wednesday in a bid to earn the \$10 million Ansari X Prize.

Private rocketship begins quest for \$10 million X Prize


Dion Harris scored a career-high 24 points and had four assists and five steals Wednesday to lead Michigan to a 69-60 victory over Colorado in the second round of the preseason NIT.

Buffs ousted from NIT play


Indonesian voters ousted incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri in a run-off election for president Monday, awarding her former chief security minister a landslide victory, according to a projection by a local research institute.

Indonesians Vote to Oust Megawati


PeopleSoft's rejection puts the company's fate in the hands of its shareholders and shows that its new management team intends to continue to fight the merger with Oracle.

PeopleSoft Rejects Latest Oracle Bid as Inadequate


Months of legal woes and executive shuffling came to a resolution of sorts last week for Computer Associates. Federal prosecutors indicted former CEO Sanjay Kumar for back-dating contracts

Feds Indict CA Ex-CEO Kumar


The US military attacked rebel targets in Mosul with air and ground fire yesterday after an upsurge in violence in the northern Iraqi city.

US hits Mosul


The battle between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Yukos, the country #39;s largest oil producer, intensified Tuesday after government officials announced plans to sell the company #39;s key energy fields at rock-bottom prices.

Russia ready to sell major Yukos field


As reported by The Associated Press, Marvel Enterprises Inc. and Marvel Characters, Inc. have sued NCsoft Corporation and Cryptic Studios.

Cryptic responds!


BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - After a week of  being charmed by golfers in practice, Ryder Cup fans were quick  to take sides Friday as the United States and Europe resumed  golf's greatest grudge match.

Ryder Cup Fans Quick to Take Sides


Voters in Hungary went to the polls Sunday to decide a double referendum on citizenship rights and their nation #39;s health care system.

Voters in Hungary decide referenda


Sprint said on Friday it has made a deal that will let it nearly double the number of places it offers short-range wireless Internet connections.

Sprint, SBC join forces on Wi-Fi


Prime Minister Tony Blair may have considered quitting for family reasons earlier this year at one of the lowest points of his premiership, a close ally has said.

Blair may have considered quitting says ally


Russia #39;s restive republic of Chechnya will elect a president to replace Akhmad Kadyrov, the pro-Moscow leader killed last May, the BBC reported Sunday.

Chechnya to hold presidential election


_ Two car bombs ripped through Baghdad streets on Monday, with one blast killing at least 15 people and wounding 81 at an entrance to the Green Zone, the seat of the US Embassy and key Iraqi government offices, officials said.

Two Car Bombs Rip Through Baghdad, Killing At Least 15 And <b>...</b>


There was a family double for the Harringtons on Sunday but both Padraig and Joey will be hoping the same does not come true next weekend.

Langer #39;s delight at resurgent Harrington


BRUSSELS : European leaders were urged to forget their past divisions over Iraq as they met the country #39;s interim leader on the second day of a summit in Brussels.

EU, meeting Iraqi PM, urged to heal divisions


Three car bombs were set off near an American military convoy in western Baghdad today, killing at least 35 people and wounding dozens.

Dozens Killed in Multiple Bombings in Baghdad


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mike Nugent's 55-yard field goal as time expired gave ninth-ranked Ohio State a 24-21 victory over Marshall yesterday.

Buckeyes give Marshall boot


The level at which the Federal Reserve #39;s federal funds rate, the overnight rate charged between banks, neither stimulates nor slows economic growth.

The Neutral Fed Funds Rate


AP - Wayne Levi would like to get a winning streak going. To do that, he'll have to stop Craig Stadler's run. Levi matched his best round on the Champions Tour, and Walter Hall had his lowest score of the year  #151; shooting 8-under-par 64s  #151; Friday to share the first-round lead in the Administaff Small Business Classic.

Levi, Hall Share Champions Tour Lead (AP)


The market is still down from its March 2000 peak. Here's how to protect your assets from further drops.

Calm for the Storm: Asset Allocation


This is a rotten time for moral victories. Like it or not, the New York Giants received one Sunday. While their playoff hopes took another hit when their rally

Another Manning controls a team #39;s future


AP - Major League Baseball will announce Wednesday that Washington will be the new home of the Montreal Expos, bringing the national pastime back to the nation's capital for the first time in 33 years, The Associated Press has learned.

Official: MLB to Move Expos to Washington (AP)


Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday named two executives as interim co-chief financial officers to fill an opening created when its former

Charter names two interim CFOs


A mix-up between Gary Player and Mark McNulty, where they played the wrong ball, allowed the US to edge into a 6-1/2 to 5-1/2 lead over the Rest of the World in the UBS Cup on Saturday.

US edge second day of UBS Cup


AP - A new research center at the University of New Hampshire hopes to help reduce a huge threat to water quality nationwide: stormwater carrying pollutants into streams, wetlands and coastal harbors.

UNH Center to Study Stormwater Treatment (AP)


Fujitsu Siemens Computers, the leading international IT company, has introduced the LIFEBOOK T4010, its latest convertible notebook with a modular bay that weighs less than 2 kg and integrates the functions of a high-powered notebook with those of a

Fujitsu Siemens Computers launches the LIFEBOOK T4010


Do you yawn throughout the day or get sleepy while driving? Does your family complain about loud snoring? You might be one of the millions of Americans with undiagnosed sleep apnea, which causes more than fatigue - it also seems to spur heart disease and other serious illnesses.

Yawning and Snoring Could Be Sleep Apnea


A survey of artists and musicians in the US has revealed that a large majority have embraced the internet and consider it to be a helpful tool to their careers.

Musicians  #39;unconcerned #39; about file sharing


IBM is recalling more than 500,000 AC adapters made for their ThinkPad notebooks between January 1999 and August 2000. These adapters may overheat, resulting in melting, posing a fire and electrocution hazard.

IBM Issues Recall Of 553,000 Notebook AC Adapters


A sharp drop in oil prices led to a modest rally on Wall Street yesterday, with stocks edging higher on news that oil production had soared during the month of September.

Wall Street rides coattails of soaring oil production


Stonehill rolled up 349 yards of total offense in a 23-6 Northeast-10 Conference victory over Assumption yesterday in Easton, snapping a seven-game winless streak dating to last season and winning its first season opener in seven years.

Stonehill has grand opening


BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Diego Maradona boarded a flight for Cuba on Monday to continue treatment for drug addiction after an unsuccessful court fight by his family to keep him in Argentina.

Maradona finally heads off to Cuba


The average daily volume of Internet attacks declined in the last six months, according to Symantec Corp. #39;s Internet Security Threat Report.

Net Attacks Down, Bot Networks Up


Forbes.com - Not long ago most corporate computer managers viewed open-source programs like MySQL as toys fit only for hobbyists. But then Linux, an open-source operating system, became a smash hit in corporate sites. Now the folks who embraced Linux are snapping up other bargain programs such as Apache, which serves up Web pages, the MySQL database and scripting languages like PHP, Perl and Python, which are used to create Web pages. So many companies use the combination of Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP (or Perl or Python) that they're described with the acronym LAMP.

Party Crasher (Forbes.com)


NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND - England deservedly beat Ukraine 3-0 today in their only soccer  quot;friendly quot; before the start of their 2006 World Cup qualifying programme next month.

Soccer: Beckham and Owen lead England to World Cup warm-up win


Green Bay, WI (Sports Network) - Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair and Green Bay Packers signal-caller Brett Favre are expected to start Monday night #39;s game at Lambeau Field.

Despite injuries, McNair and Favre to start Monday


GERMAN side Borussia Monchengladbach today named former Dutch boss Dick Advocaat as their new manager. Advocaat, 57, signed a contract with the five-time German champions until June 2007 and takes over from Holger Fach who was sacked six days ago.

Advocaat new Gladbach boss


Brussels - EU commissioner-designate Rocco Buttiglione sought on Thursday to defuse a row over controversial comments he made about homosexuals and women, offering to give up some powers in return for keeping the job.

EU official regrets comment


Overall, factory orders declined by 0.1 percent in August, following an increase of 1.7 percent in July.

Factory Orders Dip for First Time in 4 Months


An Islamic cleric arrested in Pakistan for suspected al-Qaeda links dies in custody, officials say.

Cleric dies in Pakistan custody


At least a dozen people were injured Tuesday when a powerful bomb went off in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. Police attributed the blast to Maoist rebels who have waged an eight-year insurgency in the Himalayan state.

Kathmandu bomb injures 12


YOKOHAMA, Japan : World Cup heroes Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack scored the goals on Thursday as Germany overwhelmed Asian champions Japan 3-0 in the opener of their three-game Asian tour.

Soccer: Germany overwhelms Japan 3-0 in Asian football tour opener


A suicide attacker sped up to a US military convoy near Fallujah and detonated an explosives-packed vehicle yesterday, killing seven Marines and three Iraqi soldiers, US military officials said.

Suicide bomber kills seven US Marines


TEMPE, Ariz. - Andrew Walter threw for 415 yards and six touchdown passes, two in a wild fourth-quarter rally, to lead No. 21 Arizona State to a 48-42 victory over UCLA on Saturday.

ASU wins a wild one against UCLA


Pakistan #39;s Supreme Court has granted bail to the husband of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in a move that could improve relations between military leader Pervez Musharraf and one of the country #39;s main parties.

Bhutto #39;s husband granted bail


Smaller cellphone companies are feeling pressures from national carriers entering rural areas now that urban markets are saturated.

Where Only the Antelope Roam


New York (dpa) - The US army plans within months to break up a 13-billion-dollar contract awarded to US company Halliburton to service troops in Iraq into at least six smaller contracts, according to a report Tuesday in The Wall Street Journal #39;s online

US plans to break up \$13B Halliburton contract


The computer maker envisions the blades being used to replace large numbers of stand-alone servers, among other functions.

Dell touts new blades' bang for the buck


In the immortal words of Casey Stengel:  quot;Can't anybody here play this game? quot; That was the title of Jimmy Breslin's classic book about manager Stengel and his wretchedly incompetent 1962 New York Mets, an expansion team that lost 120 games.

Not winning was real error


BEIJING (Reuters) - China has detained eight Roman Catholic  priests in a crackdown on those loyal to the Pope and arrested  a

China Detains Eight Priests and a Living Buddha -Groups


Arsenal #39;s new stadium will be named after the current sponsors of one of its biggest rivals after the football club agreed a 3m a year deal with Emirates Airlines.

Arsenal scores 3m from Emirates stadium deal


Microsoft wants to create closer ties between its Office desktop software and its server applications in the next version of Office, hoping customers will upgrade their copies of the dominant desktop software suite.

Microsoft wants servers to drive Office sales


Tokyo #39;s Nikkei edged down 0.33 percent Monday, falling for a seventh straight session in its longest losing streak since December 2002 as worries about oil prices and weaker business sentiment plagued the market.

Nikkei Extends Losing Streak


Although U.S. based shopping search and product comparison services receive the lion's share of traffic, other services are emerging throughout the world that serve specific regions and countries with more localized information.

Shopping Search Around the World


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices simmered near fresh highs  Monday even though early reports of victory for Venezuelan  President Hugo Chavez in a referendum on his rule eased fears  that unrest could upset the country's oil exports.

Oil Prices Hold Near Record


The U.S.-Iraqi offensive in the city about 65 miles north of Baghdad largely overwhelms rebel forces during a night and day of occasionally intense fighting.

Troops Battle to Control Samarra


Former world No 1 Marat Safin stormed into the second round of the Thailand Open on Wednesday with a confident 6-2, 6-3 win over Israel #39;s Noam Okun.

Safin sights Houston with Thai win


Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov independently called for an international anti-terrorist alliance yesterday, as Lavrov arrived on a scheduled visit to Israel.

Russian FM Lavrov, in Israel, calls for anti-terror coalition


President Hu Jintao says China would be led into a

Hu rejects China political reform


THEY are becoming increasingly popular because they are cheap. However, before you rush off to buy an Internet phone or Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone, you should know that they are

Beware! Bugs can attack Net phones


BAGHDAD -- Iraq's interim government complained yesterday that the United Nations isn't doing enough to help prepare for January elections, saying the organization has sent fewer electoral workers than it did when tiny East Timor voted to secede from Indonesia.

More UN help needed, Iraqi government says


A red, white and blue rocket plane zoomed into space Monday, winning a \$10 million prize as the world #39;s first privately built reusable spacecraft and heralding the future of commercial space travel.

SpaceShipOne rockets in NEW ERA


IRAQ:The photos found on a Web site show Navy SEALs sitting on prisoners, some with blood dripping from their heads. BY SETH HETTENA.

New Iraqi prison photos investigated