Infineon Technologies AG (FSE/NYSE: IFX) announced today that it has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Justice - Antitrust Division - (DoJ) to plead guilty to a single and limited charge related to the violation of US antitrust

Infineon Reaches Settlement with DoJ on Industry Wide DRAM <b>...</b>


Pope John Paul II will declare two controversial Roman Catholic figures blessed at a Vatican ceremony on Sunday. Beatification is the last step on the road to sainthood.

Pope to beatify controversial nun


Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said fourth-quarter profit rose 23 percent as its fixed-income, currency and commodities business soared while

UPDATE 1-Goldman Sachs 4th-quarter profit up 23 pct


Europe and the United States could be headed for a trans-Atlantic trade war over the issue of government aid to Airbus and The Boeing Co.

Boeing-Airbus talks fall apart


Kinross Gold Corp., Canada #39;s third- largest producer of the metal, restated third-quarter earnings to a loss after changing the way it accounts for goodwill.

Kinross Restates 3rd-Qtr Profit to Loss on Writedown (Update1)


Several Somalis are killed in fighting between rival militias near the port city of Kismayo.

Battle near southern Somali port


UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi  Annan on Monday chose the head of a high-profile U.N. agency as  his new chief of staff to help institute reforms and combat  allegations of scandals.

Annan Names New Chief of Staff, Reform Push Seen


AP - British defense contractor BAE Systems PLC said Tuesday that its U.S. subsidiary will acquire software maker Alphatech Inc. for  #36;88 million cash.

BAE Systems to Acquire Alphatech for  #36;88M (AP)


Israel could ease tough closures on Palestinian areas if Yasser Arafat dies so as to encourage the emergence of a moderate successor and a ceasefire by armed groups, political sources say.

Israel ready to ease closures after Arafat dies


AP - The Associated Press-Ipsos poll on the presidential race is based on telephone interviews with 1,541 adults, including 1,273 registered voters and 944 likely voters, from all states except Alaska and Hawaii. The interviews were conducted Oct. 4-6 by Ipsos-Public Affairs.

Results of AP Poll on Presidential Race (AP)


It started with optimism, even innocence. One minute we were guiding cute suicidal lemmings down the path to nemesis. The next, thanks to hurtling technological advances, we were cruising the  #39;hood in a stolen

Ecosse: Big game hunter


ATHENS (Reuters) - Staged in a grand theater in the land of  mythical strongmen Hercules and Atlas, the Athens Olympics were  supposed to herald a rebirth for the sport of weightlifting.

Doping Weighs Heavily on Weightlifters


Liverpool have lost two Portsmouth #39;s point at injury time. Portsmouth #39;s Lomana Lua Lua spoiled Christmas party for Liverpool scoring a late equaliser to earn a point against the Reds in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

As Liverpool lose points at Anfield, need for new faces obvious


The Cubs fall behind early and lose their second straight game to the lowly Mets 3-2, putting a dent in their playoff chances.

Cubs Fall Again to Mets


BASKETBALL Cleveland (NBA): Signed G Lucious Harris. Los Angeles (NBA): Named Chris Bodaken, Melvin Hunt, Larry Smith and Mike Wells assistant coaches. Memphis (NBA): Signed C Pau Gasol to a multiyear contract extension. Milwaukee (NBA): Signed G Tommy Adams. Sacramento (NBA): Signed G Courtney Alexander to a one-year contract.

Transactions


AFP - Russia called on North Korea to resume talks on abandoning its nuclear weapons program, at the same time as it signed a multi-billion-dollar package of trade and investment deals strengthening ties with South Korea.

Russia calls on North Korea to resume nuclear talks (AFP)


The State Department will begin issuing electronic passports with microchips that store biometric and other data by early next year.

U.S. moves closer to e-passports


CANBERRA - Australia #39;s political leaders went head-to-head yesterday in a national debate dominated by the war on terror as campaigning for the Oct 9 polls resumed.

In Australia: Debate hots up


Briton Tim Henman struggled to overcome Wayne Moodie of South Africa winning 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 but reached the quarterfinals for the eighth consecutive time at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.

Tennis: Henman in Swiss Indoors quarters


Amazon.com, the world #39;s biggest online retailer, is to buy Chinese rival Joyo.com for about \$75m in a deal that will give it a substantial presence in China #39;s growing internet market.

Amazon buys into growing Chinese online retail market


ST. LOUIS - Democratic candidate John Kerry will likely try to shed any appearance of aloofness and President Bush will probably avoid the grimacing that marked their previous face-to-face encounter when they answer questions from undecided voters Friday night...

Bush, Kerry Set for 'Town Hall' Debate


p2pnet.net News:-  #39;Branded #39; entertainment, life-style and sports content will be available as part of Nokia #39;s Preminet Solution, its new end-to-end mobile content distribution and transaction service for mobile network operators.

Nokia Preminet goes Hollywood


GERMAN driver Timo Glock will drive for Jordan in the final three races of the Formula One season after the contract of Giorgio Pantano was terminated, the team said today.

Jordan hand Glock China drive


AP - Carolina running back Stephen Davis missed his sixth game of the season Sunday because of a knee injury. Linebacker Dan Morgan, who sustained a concussion last week, also was out for the Panthers' game against Oakland.

Panthers' Davis, Morgan Sit Out (AP)


Workers, local people, councillors and MPs today expressed their disappointment that hundreds of jobs are to go at Jaguars Browns Lane in Coventry.

Jaguar Jobs Losses  #39;Sad But Expected #39;


BURLINGTON, Vt. - Miami Dolphins wide receiver David Boston pleaded innocent Tuesday to striking a ticket agent at the Burlington International Airport.

Miami Dolphins player pleads innocent to airport assault


What a sad story. When innocent children become targets - Palestinian and Israeli children who don #39;t have bombs strapped to them, who are sitting inside homes or on buses - and we accept this without protest

United States should rethink its role in the Middle East


James Hickman is looking to secure an unprecedented fifth consecutive global title as he spearheads a small British team in the World Short-Course Championships starting in Indianapolis today.

HICKMAN EYES RECORD WIN


The company's Blue Gene/L System beats out Japan's Earth Simulator.  Also: Microsoft releases Hindi Windows XP in India   hellip;.The Sims 2 sells more than a million copies   hellip;. and more.

IBM Claims Fastest Computer


PITTSBURGH -- A Pennsylvania brewery is betting beer drinkers are willing to pay an extra dollar to keep their drinks cold nearly an hour longer.

Aluminum Beer Bottles May Render Koozies Obsolete


AP - A senior U.S. diplomat urged Syria's president Saturday to withdraw his country's troops from Lebanon and stop interfering in internal Lebanese affairs, a message delivered at a time when Syrian-American relations have been particularly strained.

Syria Urged to Pull Troops From Lebanon (AP)


TORONTO - Lawyers for Stelco and the companies involved in the restructuring of the steelmaker were due back in a Toronto court on Thursday for a hearing to approve Deutsche Bank #39;s \$900-million refinancing offer as a benchmark bid.

Stelco, bidders return to court


NEW YORK -- Wall Street's fourth-quarter rally gave stock mutual funds a solid performance for 2004, with small-cap equity funds and real estate funds scoring some of the biggest returns. Large-cap growth equities and technology-focused funds had the slimmest gains.

Funds close out 2004 with strong showings


AP - Authorities said Friday they would kill the shark that tore apart a young surfer near a popular south Australian beach as his friends reportedly tried to save him by beating the animal with oars.

Shark That Killed Australian Teen Hunted (AP)


BOSTON - If there is to be a statue, it should be shaped like David Ortiz. It should be massive and menacing and brightly lit as darkness descends.

Ortiz quickly becoming Boston #39;s Mr. Overtime


Giving HIV-positive children a common antibiotic could nearly halve the death rate, the UN says.

Cheap HIV treatment hailed


Beach Boys star Brian Wilson is honoured by the US Recording Academy, the body which awards the Grammys.

Music honour for Beach Boy Wilson


While MP3 #39;s have taken quite a bashing lately, it #39;s good to know you can still download free and legal MP3 #39;s, albeit for independent artists.

eMusic to relaunch MP3 subscription service


Is Google Page Rank Still Important?\\Since 1998 when Sergey Brin and Larry Page developed the Google search engine, it has relied (and continues to rely) on the Page Rank Algorithm. Googles reasoning behind this is, the higher the number of inbould links pointing to a website, the more valuable that ...

Is Google Page Rank Still Important?


Tim Henman #39;s journey to the semi-final of the US Open has seen him rise from sixth to fourth in the world rankings, matching his previous highest position.

Henman rises up rankings


AP - Jimmy Rollins' two-out homer in the 10th inning gave the Philadelphia Phillies a 9-8 victory over Florida on Thursday night and move the World Series champion Marlins within a game of elimination from the postseason.

Phils Nip Marlins 9-8 in 10 Innings (AP)


Reuters - Russia could ratify the Kyoto Protocol\by the end of the year and kick-start global attempts to\control climate change, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov\said on Thursday.

Russia Could Finish Kyoto Approval by Year-End (Reuters)


University of Texas bans students' private Wi-Fi hot spots, saying they block access to a campus wireless network.

Students, college face off over Wi-Fi


Business News, Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India announced its busy season credit policy today. While it kept Bank Rate untouched at six percent, inflation forecast was raised from 5 to 6.5 percent.

Business ; Bank Rate remains untouched in RBI #39;s annual credit <b>...</b>


The rubble is everywhere: rusted car parts, a rickety baby carriage, a broken TV and all manner of trash. The ground is unpaved and strewn with rocks.

Outcasts of Greece and the Games


Secretary of State Colin L. Powell on Saturday rejected North Korea #39;s latest demand that the United States drop its  quot;hostile quot; policy toward that nation and agree to other

Powell Rejects North Korean Demand on US


Harvard University #39;s endowment paid its two top investment managers about \$25 million each last year, less than the pair earned a year ago, but still enough

Harvard pays 2 top money managers \$25m


GAINESVILLE, Fla. Dec 7, 2004 - Urban Meyer #39;s eyes widened as he looked around Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. He saw references to the school #39;s six Southeastern Conference titles, two Heisman Trophy winners and the 1996 national championship.

Meyer Begins New Era in Florida Football


Warnings on computer games are not big enough, and more needs to be done to help parents understand age limts, a government minister has said.

Game warnings  #39;should be clearer #39;


A Pennsylvania law requiring Internet service providers (ISPs) to block Web sites the state #39;s prosecuting attorneys deem to be child pornography has been reversed

Court rules against state Web-blocking law


In cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Apple has voluntarily recalled some of its laptop batteries. The batteries in question are found in 15-inch PowerBook G4 (Aluminum) laptops. The recall is a result of four reports that the ...

Apple recalls laptop batteries


British soccer club Manchester United won #39;t endorse Malcolm Glazer #39;s proposed buyout offer and temporarily suspended talks with the 76-year-old tycoon, the team said Monday.

Soccer board doesn #39;t back bid


Reuters - At least six people were\killed and nine wounded when a powerful bomb exploded near an\army truck in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta on Friday,\police said.

Bomb Blast Kills Six in Pakistan' Quetta -- Police (Reuters)


A militant group in Thailand has threatened to attack the capital of Bangkok to avenge the deaths of some 80 Muslims in the country #39;s southern region.

Group vows revenge in Thailand


San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - San Francisco cornerback Mike Rumph is expected to miss the rest of the season with a broken right arm.

Rumph likely out for season for 49ers


Brazil #39;s government got a big boost Friday when the new head of the International Monetary Fund praised its economic policy and economists raised their growth forecast for the continent #39;s largest economy.

Brazil Economy Gets Vote of Confidence


AFP - Russian authorities said they were still pursuing all leads in their investigation of mysterious twin plane crashes that killed 89 people, while the press attributed the tragedies to terrorism.

All leads open on Russian plane crashes; press says terrorism (AFP)


Tension was high in Ukraine Saturday as the nation prepared to vote for a new president in an election that pits West against East.

Ukraine braces for presidential vote


A survey by academics at the University of Bath, UK, has revealed that male scientists are good at research because they have the hormone levels of women and long index fingers.

Female hormones decide research skills of male scientists!


The global oil industry has the capacity to meet future demand, BP's chief executive tells newspapers.

BP sees no energy supply problem


with physical problems to overcome and no certainty that they can do it -- and the heady optimism has been replaced by a harsh realism.

Nets: If a title is in their future, stars don #39;t show it


Viacom Inc. (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has begun a share exchange offer to split off its Blockbuster Inc. (BBI.N: Quote, Profile, Research) unit and put the video rental chain

Viacom Starts Blockbuster Exchange Offer


A decline in Yasser Arafat's health puts focus on future leadership.

Palestinians consider life after Arafat


EA #39;s latest RTS features combat on two levels; gamers can battle with elves, trolls, and beasts for \$39.99. Electronic Arts today shipped its latest real-time strategy game, Armies of Exigo, to retail stores.

Armies of Exigo marches into stores


Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters apparently has ended her tennis season with a wrist injury. Clijsters, who will undergo tests this week, pulled out of her semifinal match in

Clijsters #39; latest injury could be serious


Russia sets a date and price for the auction of embattled Russian oil giant Yukos' main unit, as it seeks payment of a massive tax bill.

December date for Yukos sell-off


Oil futures prices advanced to a new high Monday as a strike began in Africa's largest exporter of crude, exacerbating global supply concerns at a time of strong demand and reduced output in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf of Mexico.    Worries about Russian oil supplies also persist as oil giant Yukos, already struggling to repay a multibillion-dollar back-tax bill, got hit Monday with \$1.34 billion in fines...

Oil Prices Top \$53 a Barrel, Set Record


The companies provide federal agencies with network integration and payroll accounting technologies, and are the beneficiaries of a government that is trying to bolster its defenses against terrorism, experts say.

Washington Contractors' Sales Increase


KABUL (Afghanistan) - Polling has started in Afghanistan #39;s first-ever direct presidential election on Saturday, with interim leader Hamid Karzai widely favoured against more than a dozen rivals while 100,000 troops were on high alert for expected violence

Security on high alert as Afghans go to poll


Developing countries are starting to flex their financial muscles and invest overseas.

Developing countries invest abroad


A rise in crude oil prices for a second day, a stalled recovery in the dollar and a crop of warnings in the chip sector were set to push Wall Street lower at Thursday #39;s opening.

Oil, Dollar, Chips to Weigh on Wall St.


A city which has embraced the concept of eco-friendly housing hosts the International Earthship Conference.

Summit on eco-friendly buildings


According to an Associated Press report Tuesday, cornerback Ty Laws agent Carl Poston told the Boston Globe that his client will miss four to six weeks with a broken bone in his left foot.

Secondary concerns Pats


More Americans are looking to Canada for ideas on fixing the health-care crisis.

Here's to Your (Cheaper) Health Care


US Airways #39; 800 reservations agents at Parkway Center will have the option of transferring to North Carolina or receiving cash buyouts plus one year #39;s

US Airways, CWA deal offers options


AP - President Bush tried on Tuesday to repair U.S.-Canada relations strained by years of bickering over trade and Iraq, although he stood by policies that have irritated Canadians.

Bush Defends Iraq Decisions in Canada (AP)


NewsFactor - Red Hat (Nasdaq: RHAT), provider of Linux software and support, has issued a security alert to its customers. E-mails are circulating, says the company, that appear to come from Red Hat but actually are phishing hoaxes.

Red Hat Users Under Phishing Attack (NewsFactor)


Hurricanes, weak back-to-school sales, and weak European business bring an earnings warning.

Office Depot Misses School


Perrigo Co., a generic drugmaker, has agreed to buy Israel #39;s Agis Industries Ltd. in a deal valued at \$818 million, the two companies said Monday.

Perrigo to buy Agis in \$818M deal


Legend has it (incorrectly, it seems) that infamous bank robber Willie Sutton, when asked why banks were his favorite target, responded,  quot;Because that #39;s where the money is.

Does Online Banking Put Your Money at Risk?


WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- MCI reportedly is looking for a buyer and has hired a trio of law firms to help the company explore its options.

MCI said looking for buyers


CHERBOURG, France, Oct 6 (AFP) - Police threw a heavy escort around a shipment of plutonium from US weapons arsenals as it was offloaded from a ship and taken by military convoy to a nuclear recycling plant in western France on Wednesday despite protests

Contested US nuclear cargo arrives in France


Fiat will meet car giant GM on Tuesday in an attempt to reach agreement over the future of the Italian firm's loss-making auto group.

Fiat and GM to mull car unit fate


OVERLAND PARK, Kan. Sprint plans to cut 700 jobs in its business solutions division. It will also take a charge against earnings in its third quarter to reflect a decline in value of its long-distance assets.

Phone company to cut 700 jobs


Jenson Button #39;s exit strategy from BAR advanced apace yesterday with the formal lodging of a contract by Williams with Formula One #39;s in-house arbitration service, the Contracts Recognition Board.

Button dispute goes before arbitration


TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei share average fell 0.44  percent by mid-morning on Thursday as technology shares such as  Toshiba Corp. followed their U.S. peers lower after a major  U.S. investment bank downgraded its view on the sector.

Tokyo Stocks Fall as Tech Issues Sold


Citroen #39;s championship leader Sebastien Loeb made a flying start to the Rally of Britain on Friday to seize the lead from Ford #39;s overnight front-runner Francois Duval.

Loeb leads the way in Rally of Britain


Babies slow to grow in the womb who play catch-up in their first weeks of life after birth risk chest illnesses, research shows.

Catch-up babies have weak chests


com September 20, 2004, 3:00 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.

ContextWeb nabs \$3 million


NEW YORK - Stocks rebounded moderately Friday as a stronger than expected retail sales report showed that higher oil prices aren't scaring consumers away from spending. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's positive comments on oil prices also encouraged investors, but the major indexes finished the week lower following sharp declines the previous two sessions...

Stocks Rise on Strong Retail Sales Report


The launch of a Russian rocket to the International Space Station scheduled for October has been delayed because of problems with the docking system, the Russian Space Agency was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Technical Problems Delay Russian Space Launch


MADRID (Reuters) - Marat Safin defeated Andre Agassi 6-3,  7-6 on Saturday to book a place in the Madrid Masters final  against Argentina's David Nalbandian.

Safin Overpowers Agassi to Reach Madrid Final


After months of speculation, Vivendi announces that Half-Life 2 has officially gone gold and will be on shelves in less than one month.

Half-Life 2: November 16


It is an axiom of the two presidential campaigns that their candidates offer a stark choice about America's role in the world.

Voters to Judge Bush and Kerry on Foreign Policy in First Debate


ATHENS - On a day on which both Greece and the Olympics celebrated themselves by returning the Games to their ancient home in Olympia, two popular Greek athletes withdrew from the track and field competition amid a scandal befitting that ...

Greek stars fan scandal #39;s flames by withdrawing


ChevronTexaco Corp.(CVX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the No. 2 US oil company, rode the wave of record oil prices to post a 62 percent rise in quarterly profit on

ChevronTexaco Profit Up, Misses Forecasts


Cristian Guzman and Shannon Stewart homered to lead the Minnesota Twins over the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Saturday night. The Tigers lost their two all-stars to knee injuries.

Guzman, Stewart both homer to lead Twins past Tigers 3-2


Reuters - A federal appeals court on Thursday\delivered a stinging blow to the anti-piracy efforts of major\movie studios and music companies, ruling that several major\online file-sharing software companies are not liable for\copyright infringement.

Court Deals Blow to Anti-Piracy Efforts (Reuters)


Without admitting or denying allegations, Sun Microsystems has entered into a formal settlement agreement with the Eastman Kodak Company to settle all claims in pending litigation between the parties.

Sun shells out US\$92 million to settle Eastman Kodak litigation


Consumer spending was flat in August even though incomes rose, the Commerce Department reported yesterday, providing more mixed signals about the economy #39;s recent strength.

Consumer Spending Was Flat in August


ATHENS (Reuters) - A Canadian man advertising an online gaming site, who broke security and jumped into the Olympic diving pool, has been given a five-month prison term for trespassing and disturbing public order, court officials say.

Jail for Olympic pool jump


The Federal Communications Commission came under sharp criticism in Congress over the suspension of a program that pays for Internet service at public schools and libraries.

Internet Grants Cut, and F.C.C. Scolded


from LPs to compact discs and from VHS to DVD, quot; says Jeff Joseph of the Consumer Electronics Association.  quot;High definition

High-Def DVD Formats Fight for Dominance


Reuters - General Electric  and\the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission settled the\industrial giant's failure to disclose former CEO Jack Welch's\lavish retirement package with a cease-and-desist order on\Thursday.

GE Settles with SEC Over Welch's Perks (Reuters)


One of the most anticipated computer games of the year, Half-Life 2, is seeing the light of day in November. The game is due to go on sale worldwide on 16 November, its publisher Vivendi have announced.

Half-Life 2 set for mid-November


He is quitting the Legislature for the top post at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, but that will not mean House speaker Tom Finneran will give up his suits and gavel for a lab coat and test tube.

Biotech industry eager for Finneran #39;s arrival


The chicken company, formerly a cooperative, is now making money as a for-profit corporation.

A Price As Good As Gold Kist


PHOENIX -- Phoenix guard Steve Nash, the NBA #39;s assist leader, sustained a concussion Friday night and sat out the second half of the Suns #39; 95-86 victory over New Orleans.

NBA #39;s assists leader Nash injured against


GRAEME Souness has vowed his Newcastle side will be known for an aggressive attacking style as he kicks off reign in the UEFA Cup tonight.

FOOTBALL: UEFA CUP FIRST ROUND, FIRST LEG TIES: SOUEY CALL FOR <b>...</b>


Reuters - Saks Inc. (SKS.N) on Tuesday posted a\wider quarterly loss as poor sales at its lower-priced\department stores outweighed a strong performance at its Saks\Fifth Avenue luxury chain.

Saks Posts Wider Second-Quarter Loss (Reuters)


In the end, we have another public company, one of 6,000 or so. For all of the yammering about the meaning, strength, and success or failure of the Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) IPO, at the end of the day we have

Google: The Scorecard


A broad patent agreement will let the graphic-chip specialist build chipsets for Intel PCs.

Nvidia to put more force behind Intel processors


IBM and Advanced Micro Devices have announced that they have produced a silicon chip with a marked improvement in speed by using strained silicon technology.

New Computer Chip Built for Speed


Responding to a public outcry after a bloody Palestinian attack, Israeli bulldozers began flattening land for a security barrier in a part of the West Bank that has been ignored up to now.

Israel Targets  #39;Forgotten Outpost #39; for Security Barrier


GONAIVES, Haiti - The death toll across Haiti from the weekend deluges brought by Tropical Storm Jeanne was at 620, with some 500 of them in Gonaives, but officials said on Tuesday they expected to find more dead.    Blood swirled in knee-deep floodwaters as workers stacked bodies outside the hospital morgue...

Storm Floods Kill More Than 600 in Haiti


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Third-quarter earnings get under way in  earnest next week -- led by several large banks, as well as  technology companies Intel Corp. <A HREF=

S P 500 Companies to Show Growth


Attention Red Sox season ticket holders: Those precious postseason tickets could be at risk -- and it has nothing to do with the current state of Tim Wakefield #39;s knuckleball.

Red Sox crack down on scalping


Indian police say they have shot dead one of the country's most wanted men, the bandit Veerappan.

Indian bandit 'killed by police'


A British ambassador today accused the Foreign Office of mounting an extraordinary sex smear to drive him from his job. Craig Murray, 45, the former

Sacked envoy accuses FO of sex slurs


Yesterday #39;s immediate dismissal of Paul Tellier is a move analysts say increases investor uncertainty over the company #39;s direction.

Canada #39;s Bombardier fires chief executive


HOUSTON (Reuters) - Halliburton Co. on Friday said a  federal court had signed an order that would end the company's  asbestos liability later this month, clearing another hurdle  for two of its subsidiaries to emerge from bankruptcy.

Halliburton Says Court Clears Asbestos Settlement


Ryan Newman shattered the track recorded at Martinsville Speedway Friday afternoon, capturing the pole for Sunday #39;s SUBWAY 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race.

Newman shatters track record en route to Subway 500 pole


LATIFIYAH, Iraq (AFP) - American, British and Iraqi forces continued a major sweep through Iraq #39;s  quot;triangle of death quot; to try to smash rebel enclaves before landmark elections in January.

US and British forces sweep through Iraq #39;s  #39;death triangle #39;


Research In Motion's BlackBerry e-mail and data services will be carried on Sprint's networks.

Sprint to bake in BlackBerry for businesses


Talks to revive powersharing in Northern Ireland have entered a final 24-hour push as Britain and Ireland prepared to publish their painstakingly negotiated peace plans.

24-hour push for NI powersharing


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Two US Army helicopters crashed in Baghdad on Saturday, killing two soldiers, as the military reported that four other American troops had died in car bombings elsewhere in Iraq.

Helicopter Crash, Bombing Add to US Death Toll


British Formula One driver Jenson Button has admitted he was  quot;misguided quot; in seeking to move from BAR to Williams. The 24-year-old announced his intention in August to drive for Williams

BAR #39;s Button regrets bid to join Williams


Web-surfers outside the US have been blocked from visiting the official George W. Bush campaign website. UK-based internet monitoring firm Netcraft first noticed the blockage Monday morning.

Bush site restricted to foreigners


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toll Brothers Inc. reported on  Thursday quarterly earnings that nearly doubled, buoyed by  growing demand for its luxury homes, and the company raised its  forecast for 2005.

Toll Brothers Profit Nearly Doubles


\

 By Belinda Goldsmith

 NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. <WMT.N>, the\world's biggest retailer, on Monday said December sales would\be at the top end of its outlook on better-than-expected\post-Christmas spending, sending its shares up 2 percent.

Wal-Mart Give Retailers Upbeat '05 Start


The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has provisionally rejected Sender ID, a proposed anti-spam specification from Microsoft, because of a possible intellectual property rights conflict.

Internet group rejects Microsoft #39;s anti-spam solution


Willis McGahee runs for 116 yards and four touchdowns as the Bills hand Seattle's Mike Holmgren his worst defeat with the Seahawks, 38-9.

McGahee Scores Four


AP - The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a Florida death row inmate should not automatically get a new trial because his lawyer conceded the man's guilt without his consent.

High Court Upholds Inmate's Death Penalty (AP)


Another year of record-high oil prices may dent world economic growth in 2005, with China being particularly vulnerable, an OPEC official said Tuesday.

OPEC: Oil Prices May Lower Economic Growth


Red Hat Inc. is opening this week its first office in China, as part of its effort to tap demand for low-cost software in developing markets.

Red Hat opens China office


BAGHDAD -- Insurgents stepped up attacks on Iraq's fledgling security forces, killing seven Iraqi police and guardsmen yesterday in a suicide bombing hours after storming a police station north of the capital. The military reported five new US deaths.

Another day of bloodshed for US troops and Iraqis


Reuters - Oil prices slid from record highs\above  #36;50 a barrel Wednesday as the U.S. government reported a\surprise increase in crude stocks and rebels in Nigeria's\oil-rich delta region agreed to a preliminary cease-fire with\the government.

Oil Ends Below  #36;50 on Nigerian Cease-Fire (Reuters)


MANILA (Reuters) - Floods and landslides caused by heavy  rains killed at least 26 people in the northern and central  Philippines, disaster officials said on Tuesday, a week after  storms left about 160 dead or missing.

Fresh Floods Kill at Least 26 in the Philippines


AP - He has been loved and revered, maligned and smeared.

Martinez's Series Win Has Boston Buzzing (AP)


The Houston Astros are rising from the dead and playing the way their hierarchy and others thought they would play all season.

Astros Find New Meaning in Their Once-Lost Season


TOKYO - Three of Japan's largest electronics companies, Hitachi Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. and Toshiba Corp., will announce later Tuesday plans to jointly manufacture LCD (liquid crystal display) panels.

Hitachi, Matsushita, Toshiba tie on LCD production


two dedicated for PC applications and two for program recording. In extended-play mode, the Vaio PC can store 19

Sony Launches Vaio with 1 Terabyte Hard Drive


The BBC continued to make news rather than merely report it as its former director launched a bitter attack on Prime Minister Tony Blair and its new chief tried to lay out a

Ex-head of BBC blasts Blair on Iraq


Reuters - European shares eased at the outset on\Thursday, tracking losses on Wall Street amid renewed worries\about the impact of high oil prices on corporate profits, with\autos and technology stocks leading the losers.

European Shares Dip on Wall Street Loss (Reuters)


TechWeb - A high flyer in the heady days of the Internet boom, Commerce One has told federal regulators that its continuing losses may lead to the end of the software company.

Commerce One Headed For Liquidation (TechWeb)


More than 100 people have died in flash floods in the north-east Indian state of Assan. Officials say the worst affected area is the western district of Goalpara, where more than 80 villagers are still missing.

Flash floods kill 100 in India


Tom Lehman, a former British Open champion, is expected to be named on Wednesday as the US Ryder Cup captain for the next match against Europe in 2006.

Lehman tipped to become US Ryder Cup skipper


WASHINGTON - With no fanfare, President Bush on Friday signed into law the most sweeping corporate tax law in nearly two decades and the fifth major tax cut since he took office less than four years ago.

Bush cuts our taxes to create new jobs


AP - A minor league hockey referee wants assault charges dropped against a team owner who he claimed punched him last week, but prosecutors won't drop the case.

UHL Hockey Team Owner Faces Assault Charge (AP)


The  quot;Missing Iraq Explosives quot; pseudo-scandal appears to be falling apart by the hour. Most recent developments are as follows: Russian special forces troops moved many of Saddam Hussein #39;s weapons and related

A Blog as Big as Texas


Stephen Jackson already has made clear his willingness to do whatever it takes to be a part of a winning team again -- including coming off the bench behind Indiana Pacers veteran Reggie Miller.

Jackson swears loyalty to team


\

 By Tom Doggett

 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Intel, Fannie Mae and Cisco Systems\top the U.S. government's list of FORTUNE 500 companies that\have the best commuting benefits for their employees.

Intel Tops Government List of Best Commuter Benefits


Telecoms regulator Ofcom says BT must provide rivals with

BT must open up network to rivals


Jacques Villeneuves determination to return to racing has secured him a place in the 2005 paddock. The 33-year old Canadian has signed a two-year contract with Sauber, which will come into effect on the 1st of November 2004.

Sauber signs Villeneuve


Italian Stefano Baldini won the Olympic men #39;s marathon Sunday after an intruder dashed on to the course late in the race and bundled the then leader Vanderlei de Lima into the crowd.

Baldini Triumph in Marathon Marred by Intruder


AP - The Florida Marlins postponed Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs as Hurricane Frances moved closer to the east coast of Florida.

Hurricane Delays Second Cubs-Marlins Game (AP)


FRANKFURT : German electronics giant Siemens is planning to de-list its shares from the New York Stock Exchange because of the high costs of maintaining a listing on Wall Street.

Siemens plans to delist shares from New York Stock Exchange


Chinese flag carrier Air China signed a USD\$1.3 billion deal to buy 23 new Airbus jets on Monday during a visit to Beijing of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

Air China Signs USD\$1.3 Billion Airbus Deal


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

Comcast Posts Profit, Gains Customers


EBay #39;s online payment service PayPal has suffered intermittent glitches since late last week, locking some users out of their accounts for long stretches and making

EBay #39;s PayPal hit by glitches in online payments


Brazil's president provokes controversy by approving the temporary planting of genetically modified crops.

Brazil GM move sparks row


Cause: softening in notebook PC and mobile phone demand

Slowing H2 chip sales to hit 2005's growth - report


Retailer expects September same-store sales to be on track despite devastation of the hurricane. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Wal-Mart backs targets despite Ivan


NEW YORK -- Dell took the wraps off its holiday lineup this week, showing new printers, plasma televisions, and music players that will soon be available through its Web site.

Dell Displays New TVs, Music Players


Normally, transportation routes through wilderness are frowned on by conservationists. But a newly restored railroad in Madagascar is persuading locals not to slash and burn the surrounding landscape.

Paradoxically, African Railroad Keeps Habitat Intact


In the debate over what to do about the growing number of working people with little or no health insurance, no company may be taking more heat than the United States #39; largest employer, Wal-Mart Stores.

Wal-Mart #39;s health care under attack


BERLIN Business confidence in Germany unexpectedly rose in December to its highest level in eight months, figures released on Friday showed.

German confidence rises, but outlook is gloomy


Reuters - Connecticut has issued 35 subpoenas in\recent days to insurance companies and brokers doing business\in the state, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said on\Thursday.

Connecticut Begins Insurance Probe (Reuters)


\Tuberculosis will kill millions in developing countries unless radical action is taken, an aid organisation has warned.

TB poses major threat to millions


elix Trinidad Jr. #39;s scintillating career seemed to end two years ago with a fourth-round technical knockout of Hacine Cherifi.

Fleeing the Ennui of Retirement for the Thrill of the Fight


A Palestinian militant was killed Sunday afternoon by an Israeli army missile in eastern Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza, Palestinian medics and witnesses reported.

Israeli airstrike kills militant in Jabalya


An animated ad for Apple's iPod made by a schoolteacher is thrilling buzz marketers. Forget word-of-mouth -- the future of advertising is in professional-looking ads that go viral. By Leander Kahney.

Home-Brew IPod Ad Opens Eyes


US military officials say eight American marines were killed and nine others injured Saturday in al-Anbar, west of Baghdad. Also Saturday, seven people died and 16 others were

Eight US marines are killed in Iraq


Reporters who tire of searching for real news at New York's Republican National Convention next week -- or who just want a safe haven from their editors -- can look forward to some downtime in a private hideaway just for them.

A far cry from smoke-filled reporters' havens of past


Joe Worsley, the Wasps forward, will return to the England team for Saturday #39;s clash against Tri-Nations champions South Africa at Twickenham.

Worsley reclaims England starting place


Roy Oswalt was one worry the Houston Astros hadn #39;t counted on against the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL championship series. The league #39;s only 20-game winner.

Astros recover from Oswalt #39;s poor start


AP - A congressional candidate's antebellum home burned down early Friday, and he broke his knee jumping from the second floor.

Alabama Congressional Candidate Injured (AP)


Science judged that the runner-up to the discovery of water on Mars was the finding of another species of dwarf human which lived on the remote Indonesian island of Flores as little as 13,000 years ago.

Water of Life and Other Scientific Highlights of 2004


Linebacker LaVar Arrington is likely to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, Joe Gibbs said, and would be sidelined two-to-four weeks.

Injured Arrington Out


Sure, Boston College may have improved its chances for a Big East title, a berth in the Bowl Championship Series, and a \$2.5 million payout with its 36-17 victory over No. 13 West Virginia Saturday at Mountaineer Field. But BC coach Tom O'Brien cautioned his team yesterday that there remained much work to do before the Eagles could begin planning ...

No. 19 Eagles desperately want to finish job


Baseball's owners vote to approve the relocation of the Expos to Washington for the 2005 season despite a lone objection from Orioles owner Peter Angelos.

Owners Approve Move


PITTSBURGH The United Steelworkers of America say about 34-hundred workers at BF Goodrich plants in Indiana and Alabama have approved a new contract.

Union ratifies new BF Goodrich contract


General Motors Acceptance Corp., the finance arm of General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , may periodically sell up to \$3 billion in adjustable-rate demand notes, according to a regulatory filing on Friday.

UPDATE 1-GM finance unit GMAC files \$3 billion debt shelf


LAHORE: The International Cricket Council yesterday said that a review of the structure of the sport was never aimed at taking away the Test status of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

ICC: Test status for Bangladesh and Zimbabwe is safe


Investors may pack up and leave town this week as the Republican National Convention begins in New York and many on Wall Street take vacation -- draining US markets of volume and leaving stocks with little direction.

Investors Take a Holiday


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Animated film studio DreamWorks  Animation SKG Inc <A HREF=

DreamWorks Animation Flips to Profit


GameStop's lack of a competitive advantage leaves investors with many questions.

Can GameStop Be Stopped?


The first employment survey released after the election said U.S. businesses added 337,000 jobs -- almost twice as many as expected -- last month.

Economy Added Far More Jobs Than Expected in October


The Macedonian parliament agrees to hold a referendum on a law to give greater power to ethnic Albanians.

Macedonians to vote on rights law


Unilever has reported a three percent rise in third-quarter earnings but warned it is reviewing its targets up to 2010, after issuing a shock profits warning last month.

Unilever reviews earnings targets


Corus Group Plc, the UK #39;s biggest steelmaker, reported its first profit and revived plans to sell 500 million euros (\$608 million) of bonds to refinance debt after it benefited from higher steel prices and cost cuts.

Corus Reports First-Ever Profit, Revives Bond Sales (Update6)


The Eagles don #39;t have much experience coming back after a bad loss under coach Andy Reid. Their only noteworthy losses seem to come in the NFC Championship Game.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images


NEW YORK - Benjamin Franklin, that annoying know-it-all, famously said,  quot;Never put off until tomorrow that which you can do today.

Waiting For Google


Saying the financial projections for 2005 made by Pleasanton-based business software maker PeopleSoft are  quot;simply not credible, quot; Redwood Shores-based Oracle Corp.

Oracle steps up pressure on PeopleSoft


DARLINGTON, SC - Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive a backup car in Sunday #39;s Southern 500 after damaging his primary car in practice Friday.

Earnhardt turns to backup


Invesco Funds Group and affiliate AIM agree to pay \$450m to settle allegations of improper trading, their UK owner Amvescap says.

Invesco deal ends US funds probe


GOOGLE #39;S INITIAL public stock offering, for all the talk about its unusual auction and the missteps of company executives, has produced a desirable outcome. The stock, fairly priced at \$85 a share for the 19.6 million shares, has generated a reasonable ...

Good for Google


SEOUL, South Korea -- The United Nations nuclear watchdog will send a group of inspectors to South Korea this week to help it complete a report in November on Seoul #39;s secret past nuclear experiments, a South Korean official said Sunday.

UN sends nuclear inspectors to S. Korea


German electronics manufacturer Siemens has set what it claims to be the fastest-ever wireless connection.

Siemens sets wireless speed record with OFDM


More than 300 people are feared dead after a storm triggers flash floods in the Philippines, officials say.

Hundreds die in Philippines storm


Java has suffered as a mobile content platform, compared to Qualcomm Brew, by having a fragmented channel and a confused economic proposition for developers.

Nokia makes play for mobile content


Former world number one Kim Clijsters showed little rust in her first match in more than than four months. On her home soil, the second-seeded Clijsters made a successful comeback from a wrist injury with

CLIJSTERS ADVANCES IN HASSELT


The leader of the pilots union at troubled US Airways began preparing members Wednesday for a likely Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

Expect Chapter 11, pilots told


SYDNEY (DPA): Australia on Friday complained to Indonesia over Bali bomber Ali Imron being allowed out of jail to have a Starbucks coffee in a plush Jakarta shopping mall in the company of top police official Brig.

Australia complains about Bali bomber #39;s coffee break


JAKARTA (DPA): The world #39;s largest gold mining company welcomed Sunday the release of five of its executives who have been detained as suspects in a pollution case.

Newmont welcomes release of detained executives in Indonesia


Israeli tanks and troops raided southern Gaza on Friday in response to increasing Palestinian mortar attacks, killing at least five Palestinians and prompting hundreds to flee their homes, witnesses and medics said.

Israeli Army Raid Into Gaza Kills 5 Palestinians


The president's spokesman said the White House had nothing to do with accusations John Kerry lied about his military service.

Bush Aide Says White House Is Not Linked to Anti-Kerry Ad


According to JCN Network, NTT DoCoMo announced December 17 that it succeeded in achieving 1Gbps in downlink packet data transmission in a laboratory experiment using forth-generation (4G) mobile communication radio access equipment on August 20, 2004.

NTT DoCoMo Achieves 1Gbps Packet Transmission in 4G


Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing #39;s biggest company, said first-half profit more than doubled on gains from asset sales. The company added users at unprofitable high-speed wireless networks in Europe at a ...

Hutchison Says Net More Than Doubles on Asset Sales (Update4)


AP - Florida voters get to cast their ballots for president beginning Monday, and Democrat John Kerry planned to spend all day asking for their votes.

Kerry Tours Fla. Asking for Early Votes (AP)


Chan Ho Park couldn #39;t hold the lead after Mark Teixeira #39;s first home run. Francisco Cordero made sure Teixeira #39;s second one held up for the Texas Rangers.

Teixeira hits pair of home runs to lead Rangers to 7-6 win over <b>...</b>


Description: We consider what might be ahead for the future of private space travel. Will the SpaceShipOne flight kick off a new era of space development?

The Future of Private Space Travel


AFP - President George W. Bush and Democratic rival John Kerry fought over who is the most wasteful spender in their televised election debate here.

Kerry rebukes Bush over 'Sopranos' tax lecture (AFP)


Reuters - In a blow to its credibility, CBS News\said on Monday it had been misled over the authenticity of\documents it aired in a story challenging President Bush's\military service and announced it was mounting an internal\investigation.

CBS Says It Was Misled Over Bush Military Memos (Reuters)


US stocks made strong gains in late-day trading on Wednesday, as a tumble in oil prices boosted investor confidence about the economy, but thin volume meant dealers were skeptical about the strength of the rally.

US Stocks Gain as Oil Prices Tumble


Ravens cornerback Deion Sanders is still listed as questionable for today's game in Cincinnati because of an injured left hamstring.

Sanders Still Out


Javier Solana, European Union foreign policy chief, was on Thursday forced to issue a retraction after saying he had made  quot;direct contact quot; with Hamas, listed by the EU as a banned terrorist group.

Solana has to retract claim over Hamas


Australian supermarket giant, Woolworths, beat forecasts on Monday with a 12 per cent rise in second-half profit on vigorous cost savings and its ability to drive margins despite a competitive onslaught.

Australia #39;s Woolworths second-half profit up


DNA analysis of bison fossils suggests climate and environmental change, not human hunters, triggered herd declines and the extinction of mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and other large mammals in Siberia and North America.

Ice Age Bison Decline Not Due to Hunting, Study Says


The European Union #39;s incoming industry chief warned Thursday against protectionist leanings of some European governments, as well as fears about new EU member states abusing their position.

New EU industry chief warns against protectionism


The weight of evidence to suggest that some Antarctic glaciers are melting at an increasing pace continues to build. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) has been melting naturally

Alarm Raised over Antarctic #39;s Rapid Ice Flow


Nigeria lifts the six-month state of emergency in the central highland state of Plateau.

Nigeria lifts Plateau emergency


Shipping giant P amp;O said Tuesday it was scrapping four of its 13 routes across the English Channel, with the loss of about 1,200 jobs.

P amp;O Cuts Some English Channel Ferry Routes


Newcastle manager Graeme Souness has challenged Titus Bramble to grow up fast to make himself an international defender. The much-maligned 23-year-old turned in a rock-solid display in the Magpies #39; 4-0 UEFA

SOUNESS READY TO TEST TITUS


AP - A gift of free air time to GOP candidates from a Fresno-area broadcaster drew challenges on several fronts Thursday, as Democrats tried to stop the ads from running in key areas before Tuesday's election.

Calif. Democrats File FCC Complaint (AP)


Even though tax money pays for voting machines, the three companies that certify the nation's voting technologies operate in secret. The reason? Their contracts with the voting machine makers specify secrecy.

E-Vote Machines: Secret Testing


The Australian team-led by Adam Gilchrist is in Nagpur for the third test match, which begins on Tuesday. The Australians will start net practice today morning.

Teams practice for 3rd test


A consignment of US weapons-grade plutonium began a north-south road journey across France to be turned into fuel to make electricity by Areva SA, the world #39;s biggest maker of nuclear reactors, Greenpeace France said.

US Arms-Grade Plutonium Starts Road Journey Across France


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumers may soon have to  swallow more expensive coffee as soaring futures and rising  costs from milk to fuel induce roasters to charge more for the  steamy brew, industry participants said.

GULP! Higher Coffee Prices Brewing


The Palestinian political scene is in turmoil today after jailed uprising leader Marwan Barghouti, in a last-minute reversal, entered the race for president to replace Yasser Arafat, challenging the establishment candidate.

Jailed Palestinian Leader to Run for President


BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich.  You can say what you want about Hal Sutton and his pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson on the opening day of the 35th Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills Country Club.

After his disastrous first day, Mickelson takes a seat


SEVILLE, Spain -- Ireland and Austria share the lead after Thursday #39;s first round of the World Cup of Golf at the Royal Seville Golf Course, while a pair of unheralded Americans remain in contention.

Ireland, Austria share lead at -12


Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) has demonstrated the company #39;s first dual-core microprocessors at its Austin, Texas, office, the company said Tuesday.

AMD demos first dual-core processor


Reuters - Angered by President Bush's policy\in Iraq, a group of military families whose relatives died\there is targeting the president in new television ads to be\aired ahead of the Nov. 2 election.

Families of Iraq War Dead Target Bush in Ads (Reuters)


After weeks of intense speculation about the new iMac, Apple (AAPL ) finally pulled back the curtain on the latest iteration of its consumer desktop mainstay at the Apple Expo in Paris.

Apple #39;s New iMac: Skin-Deep Beauty


AP - U.S. diplomats on Wednesday ignored a warning from the Cuban government to immediately take down Christmas decorations outside its offices or face unspecified consequences.

U.S. Mission Flouts Cuba Christmas Warning (AP)


JERUSALEM, Sept 22 (AFP) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Wednesday that Israel #39;s withdrawal of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip would start in the summer of 2005 and last 12 weeks, in an interview with public television.

Gaza Pullout To Start Summer 2005, Last 12 Weeks: Israeli PM


Several major forces in the music industry changed their tunes this week, as industry giants and niche players alike try to stay on top of the fast-changing market.

Week in review: Dig that crazy beat


NAJAF: A fierce gunbattle erupted between US troops and radical Shi #39;ite militants near Najaf #39;s holy shrine this morning, a Reuters witness said.

Fierce gunfire erupts in Najaf after mortar fire


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Best Buy Co. Inc. <A HREF=

Best Buy: Best Sales Yet to Come


AFP - Sterling pared some of its losses but remained weak, particularly against the euro after the dovish minutes from the Monetary Policy Committee's last meeting were released.

Sterling remains weak after dovish minutes from Bank of England (AFP)


There may be lots of reasons to vote for John Kerry over George Bush, but  quot;job quality quot; isn #39;t one of them. Kerry has been telling crowds that the country is  quot;shipping jobs

Real Issues, Not Rhetoric


With less than two weeks until Christmas, consumers don #39;t seem to be in a big rush to finish their holiday shopping, evidence from two groups that track sales confirmed on Tuesday.

Update 1: Groups: Holiday Shoppers Not in Rush


Royal  amp; Sun Alliance, the UK #39;s second biggest insurer, today incurred the wrath of unions by announcing plans to move more than 1,000 jobs to India.

Royal  amp; Sun moves 1,100 jobs to India


Reuters - Microsoft Corp. on Thursday\said its quarterly profit climbed as revenue rose 12 percent,\driven by demand for the company's core software products from\businesses and higher sales of personal computers and servers.

Microsoft Profit, Revenue Rise (Reuters)


Insurgent attacks and heavy fighting rocked the Iraqi capital on Wednesday, as a suicide bomber killed at least six Iraqi civilians and wounded 54 others and US aircraft and tanks raked rebel positions in the Sadr City slum.

Suicide bombing, fierce fighting rock Baghdad


Honeywell announced late Wednesday it has filed a lawsuit against Apple, and 33 other electronics companies claiming claiming infringement of a liquid crystal display (LCD) patent.

Honeywell Sues Apple, Others Over LCD Patent


David Kirsch will be online to talk about research at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business to preserve records from the dot-com era of the late 1990s.

Dot-Com Business Plan Archive


The price of oil settled above \$50 a barrel for the first time Friday amid concerns over tight supplies globally and hurricane-related production problems in the Gulf of Mexico.

Crude settles above \$50 for first time


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were near the unchanged  mark on Monday, pausing for breath after last week's  post-election rally as another interest rate rise loomed, while  drug maker Pfizer Inc. weighed on the Dow and S P 500 indexes.

Stocks Flat, Pfizer Weighs on Dow, S P500


Reuters - In this north German town\a huge crane is helping to build the world's largest wind power\plant, a prototype for offshore wind farms from 2006.

Wind and Nuclear Power -- a Generation Gap? (Reuters)


Osama bin Laden #39;s aide, Ayman al-Zawahri, said Thursday in a videotape broadcast by al-Jazeera TV that mujahedeen (holy fighters) have taken control of much of Afghanistan and driven US forces into the  quot;trenches quot;.

Laden aide says US forces driven into trenches in Afghanistan <b>...</b>


The University of Rhode Island football team, in pursuit of its first winning season in three years and just its third since 1992, took a step in that direction last Saturday with its 27-24 victory over Massachusetts in Kingston, R.I.

Optimism is rampant


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc. <A HREF=

Pfizer Hikes Warning on Bextra Skin Risk


As part of its technology update program, the Defense Department has turned to two 256-processor Linux Networx Evolocity cluster supercomputers to improve complex computerized battlefield simulations.

Pentagon turns to Linux for high-end battlefield simulations


SEATTLE - Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 376 in Pierce County approved a three-year contract Wednesday night that will affect 4,500 people who work for Albertsons, Safeway and Kroger-owned QFC and Fred Meyer.

Supermarket workers in Pierce County approve pact


KABUL, Afghanistan -- Elections heralded as the dawn of democracy in war-ravaged Afghanistan will be hijacked by warlords able to intimidate voters and candidates to entrench their own power, a leading rights group warned today.

Warloads will hijack Afghan vote, group says


Ravens running back Jamal Lewis will be sentenced to four months in federal prison and two months in a halfway house after pleading guilty Thursday to a lesser charge in a federal drug conspiracy case.

Lewis Pleads Guilty


ISLAMABAD, Pakistan : Aug 18 (PID) - President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday urged the Parliamentarians not to compromise governance for personal gains and work selflessly to serve the people and earn a rightful place for the country in the comity of ...

Parliamentarians Not To Compromise Governance For Personal Gains: Musharraf


Finance ministers and central bank governors from the 20 biggest economies prepared to meet in Berlin on Saturday to mull the global economic outlook, denying

Global economic outlook in G20 sights as dlr drops


Two people were killed and at least 18 injured when a bomb ripped through Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan #39;s mega concert in Colombo on Saturday night.

Colombo blast: Two killed at Shahrukh #39;s concert


His election to a five-year presidential term all but official, Afghan leader Hamid Karzai was already under pressure Wednesday to put the squeeze on the country #39;s powerful warlords and tackle a narcotics industry threatening to overwhelm one

Karzai set for election win, mandate to tackle Afghan warlords <b>...</b>


The Italian airline Alitalia said on Wednesday that it had delayed by five days, until Monday, the final approval to its bailout plan, which includes 5,000 layoffs.

Alitalia Delays Key Vote


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Pitcher Jason Grimsley is lost to the Baltimore Orioles until next June at the earliest after undergoing  quot;Tommy John quot; surgery Wednesday.

Orioles lose Grimsley until June


Microsoft Corp. is investigating a reported security flaw in its ASP.NET technology that could allow intruders to access password-protected sections of a Web site simply by altering a URL.

Microsoft Probes Flaw in ASP.NET


Iraq #39;s interim government says war crime trials of members of the former regime of Saddam Hussein could begin as early as next week.

Iraq War Crime Trials Could Begin Next Week


Windows Media Player (WMP) no longer feels like a freebie utility thrown in with the OS (think Notepad), but is an application you #39;ll actually want to use.

Microsoft Windows Media Player 10


Just over a week after vowing to get anger management help, he lashes out in interview, calling writer  #39;an Uncle Tom. #39;. By Bill Cizek.

Dodgers Notebook: Bradley engages in heated confrontation with <b>...</b>


Reuters - China's largest personal\computer maker, Lenovo Group Ltd. (0992.HK), said on Wednesday\it is buying control of IBM's PC-making business for  #36;1.25\billion, capping the U.S. tech giant's gradual withdrawal from\the business it helped pioneer in 1981.

IBM Sells PC Unit to China's Lenovo (Reuters)


VIENNA OPEC oil ministers are meeting on Wednesday in Vienna to consider changes to the group #39;s formal output ceiling even as crude prices remain high despite the cartel #39;s efforts to lower them.

OPEC plans to discuss raising its output ceiling


The two main contenders in Australia's federal election make their final pitches before Saturday's poll.

Last push for votes in Australia


Remember this about Johnny Damon dubbing his happy-go-lucky band of brothers a bunch of idiots. He never meant their baseball IQ bordered on brainless.

Second helping


JIDDA, Saudi Arabia -- Lobbing grenades, militants invaded Jidda's heavily guarded US Consulate yesterday, attacking staffers and others in the compound until Saudi security forces stormed in. Nine people, none American, were killed in the attack, which was claimed by Al Qaeda and showed how vulnerable Saudi Arabia remains to Islamic extremist violence.

US Consulate attacked


These tremors may signal an increased likelihood of earthquakes on the San Andreas fault. Scientists have long expected California #39;s next big earthquakeof magnitude 8 or higherto occur on the San Andreas fault.

Deep Tremors Detected Along San Andreas Fault


The computer maker and a nonprofit organization have launched a project to teach people about spyware and how to avoid it. By Thomas Claburn.

Dell Believes Education Is Best Way To Fight Spyware


New York, NY (Sports Network) - With no sign that the lockout of its players will end in the near future, the National Hockey League has cancelled the 2005 All-Star Game.

NHL cancels All-Star Game


Berlin was celebrating on Sunday after winning its bid to host the 2009 world athletics championships, a decision that capped a week of triumph for Germany #39;s capital city.

Berlin cheers winning bid for 2009 championships


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar hovered near a one-month low  against the yen on Tuesday after disappointing U.S. hiring  figures last week fueled speculation the Federal Reserve could  press

Dollar Hovers Near 1-Month Low Vs Yen


TRAVERSE CITY - It may not replace cherries as the region #39;s signature farm crop, but the area #39;s Christmas tree industry is sprucing up all the same.

Christmas trees crop up all over


FedEx Corp. #39;s (FDX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) express air shipping unit has been ordered by the US government to repay \$29 million in excess funds received under an act established after the Sept.

FedEx Ordered to Repay US \$29 Million


Jamie McMurray clinched 11th place in the Nextel Cup points standings by finishing in fourth place at Darlington Raceway last Sunday.

McMurray best of the rest in NASCAR


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nexen Inc. has agreed to buy a  U.K.-based subsidiary of EnCana Corp. in an all-cash deal worth  \$2.1 billion, enabling Canada's fourth largest oil explorer to  expand into the U.K. sector of the North Sea.

Nexen to Buy EnCana Unit for \$2.1 Billion


Waltham-based defense giant Raytheon said it has acquired a privately held San Diego firm that provides physics modeling to government agencies and private companies, a purchase that will augment Raytheon #39;s efforts in the defense and homeland security

Raytheon acquires San Diego engineering design firm


rwven writes  quot;MSNBC is reporting that the engine on SpaceShipOne has been modified to provide more thrust, for a longer amount of time.

Hot Rod Job For SpaceShipOne


Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, cancelled a weekend visit to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics, prompting Greek Communists to claim it as a victory for anti-American protests.

Powell calls off Athens visit after protests


US Secretary of State Colin Powell, making possibly his last official visit to northeast Asia in the shadows of the US presidential election, said yesterday there was a  quot;sense of urgency quot; in dealing with North Korea #39;s rogue nuclear program.

Powell pushes for nuke talks


Nokia and Intel said Tuesday they would work together to create smartphones based on the Symbian-based Series 60 platform. The Nokia-created Series 60 platform has as its core the Symbian OS.

Nokia, Intel To Team On Symbian Smartphones


But Ponder, the head football coach at Rider High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, said Nelson, the star wide receiver who committed to the Irish in July, could be re-thinking his commitment in the wake of Tyrone Willingham #39;s firing.

Irish recruits in holding pattern


WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Police in Regina,  Saskatchewan, said on Monday they are searching for fans who  hurled eggs and dumped manure at the home of a Canadian  Football League player who missed a critical kick in a  semifinal game on Sunday.

Canada Football Star Misses Kick, Receives Manure


Sears and Kmart hope that by joining together, they can overcome decades of strategic missteps that have turned the former retail innovators into also-rans.

Two Kings Dethroned


Ruud van Nistelrooy scored two goals Wednesday as the Netherlands rebounded from a poor start to beat Finland 3-1 in a World Cup qualifying match.

Netherlands beats Finland 3-1 in World Cup qualifier after poor <b>...</b>


Ziff Davis - Graphics library and kernel functions are open to attack, but the current Linux kernel addresses the problems.

Latest Linux Vulnerabilities Get Patches (Ziff Davis)


AOL is the latest and largest company to back away from Microsoft #39;s Sender ID software, designed to cut spam by identifying the source of the e-mail.

AOL Opposed to Microsoft #39;s Sender ID


The US government asks the World Trade Organisation to step in to stop EU member states from

US takes Airbus dispute to WTO


Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn rejected the blame, despite his last-minute blunder, for his team #39;s 1-0 loss against Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Kahn rejects blame for loss despite late blunder


NEW YORK (Reuters) - It is a series that fills Boston Red  Sox fans with dread, New York Yankee supporters with giddy  confidence and has left Major League Baseball and television  executives smiling from ear-to-ear.

Yankees-Red Sox Set to Renew Rivalry in ALCS


Home Secretary David Blunkett has signalled that a third term Labour government would impose sweeping new anti-terror laws amid fears of an al Qaida attack on Britain.

Labour #39;s anti-terror pledge


The problem of preserving digital photos and other electronic records for future decades confounds even the experts.

Even Digital Memories Can Fade


HOUSTON (Reuters) - A fired-up Lleyton Hewitt underlined  his determination to end the season with a third Masters Cup  title as he rallied past Spain's Carlos Moya 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 to  complete their rain-delayed opening match on Tuesday.

Fired Up Hewitt Rallies Past Moya for Opening Win


Levi Strauss  amp; Co. swung to a quarterly profit on Tuesday, citing cost cuts and a weaker dollar as the struggling jeans maker closed out poor-performing products to

Levi Strauss Posts Profit


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were little changed on  Tuesday, with oil prices dropping below \$42 a barrel helping to  support markets, but Johnson   Johnson <A HREF=

Stocks Near Flat; J J Pressures Dow


As expected, the Yankees bumped first baseman Jason Giambi off the playoff roster yesterday to save a place for tired-armed righthander Orlando Hernandez , who manager Joe Torre said will get  quot;every opportunity to be in the mix. quot;

A place is saved for Hernandez


On aqua-colored walls and giant blue columns, Patricia Miranda saw all she needed to see. The message was written in white inside Ano Liossia Olympic Hall, even next to the wrestling mats in case anyone forgot.

Berths in Semifinals for Two Americans


Letters A typical haul from the postbag...

Wobbly footballs and electronic pants


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PeopleSoft Inc. <A HREF=

PeopleSoft Rejects Oracle Bid


Ex-Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic could be forced to accept a defence lawyer on Tuesday as his trial reopens.

Milosevic to open trial defence


AMHERST TOWNSHIP -- The Ohio Turnpike Commission said yesterday that the new SR 58 interchange will open as planned at noon Tuesday, unaffected by a labor dispute with the union that represents toll collectors and maintenance workers.

Turnpike gate at SR 58 set to open Tuesday


KABUL, 16 November 2004 - Afghan captors holding three UN workers hostage in Afghanistan extended a deadline yesterday for their demands to be met, blaming the US for disrupting negotiations aimed at securing the captives release.

Afghan Kidnappers Set Final Deadline


Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle said yesterday that O #39;Neal probably would miss the remaining five games to rest a strained ligament in his left foot.

Pacers #39; O #39;Neal Sidelined by Foot Injury


The holy month of Ramadan is a special month. For over one billion Muslims worldwide, it is a time of inner reflection and devotion to God.

RAMADAN BEGINS


TOKYO - NTT DoCoMo on Thursday unveiled what it calls the nation #39;s first prototype micro fuel cell aimed at boosting battery life for its powerful third-generation FOMA handsets.

DoCoMo unveils prototype micro fuel cell for 3G handsets


To nab network-centric work at the Defense Department, Boeing Co. and IBM Corp. today announced a 10-year alliance. The two companies estimate that DOD will spend \$200 billion for ground- and space-based systems for net-centric operations.

Boeing and IBM join forces to gain edge at DOD


British Prime Minister Tony Blair has rejected calls for an independent commission to calculate the number of civilians killed and injured since the US-led alliance invaded Iraq in March 2003.

Blair rejects tally of Iraq War dead


Five memebrs of the National Basketball Association #39;s Indiana Pacers and seven supporters have been charged over the melee that broke out at the end of a nationally televised game against

NBA players and supporters charged


What Ariel Sharon has been indicating for months is now stated Israeli policy: The US-drawn  quot;road map quot; to a Palestinian state is locked in the glove compartment - along with other failed peace plans.

After the  #39;Road Map #39;


After 100 years of speculation, scientists have finally found proof that strong tides can trigger earthquakes. The link was confirmed by a trio of researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles

Earth #39;s Tides Set Off Quakes


BEIJING (Reuters) - China sought Friday to soothe concerns  over a surprise interest rate rise, its first in nearly a  decade and one which is expected to kick off a series of  increases to cool growth in the world's seventh-biggest  economy.

China Seeks to Soothe Markets on Rates


Who's better, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? That was one question prior to last night's game between the Patriots and Colts at Gillette Stadium. The proof was provided on the field, and Brady was the answer.

It's no tossup, nod goes to Brady


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar firmed swiftly across the  board on Friday, after the influential U.S. October employment  report signaled a more robust labor market than expected.

Dollar Climbs Broadly After U.S. Jobs Data


The Bush administration is exploring proposals to significantly expand debt relief to some of the world #39;s poorest countries, including forgiving all existing debt, Treasury Secretary John Snow said Thursday.

Update 4: US Weighs Raising Nations #39; Debt Relief


Legal or not, many of us have  quot;floated quot; payment with a check at some point in our lives. If this is the way you have paid your bills, today is the day to quit cold-turkey.

New rules: No more floating checks


The North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed Thursday to increase its forces training soldiers in Baghdad, but six member countries refused to take part, prompting expressions

NATO Agrees to Expansion of Forces Training Soldiers in Iraq


In souvenir trailers spread throughout Homestead-Miami Speedway, thousands of Nextel Cup champion T-shirts and hats are sitting in boxes.

Licensing game means betting on a winner


Two agents said that the Yankees were on the verge of acquiring Randy Johnson from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Yankees Nearing Deal to Acquire Johnson


AP - Colts quarterback Peyton Manning set an NFL record by throwing at least four touchdown passes in a fifth straight game, getting four in the first half alone against the Lions on Thursday.

Colts Quarterback Sets Passing Record (AP)


In his 60-page judgment Mr Justice Eady made a series of strong criticisms about The Telegraphs dramatic and condemnatory handling of their Galloway scoop.

Judge Criticises  #39;Dramatic #39; Handling of  #39;scoop #39;


LONDON (Reuters) - Planemaker Airbus said on Wednesday it  expected demand for 16,600 passenger planes over the next 20  years, including a sharp rise in demand for very large  airliners such as its new A380 doubledecker which is due to fly  in 2006.

Airbus Forecasts Big Demand


Disgraced Romanian international striker Adrian Mutu lodged an appeal against his sacking by Premiership leaders Chelsea for taking cocaine.

Mutu forces Chelsea on to back foot with appeal


SPACE.com - Black holes are complex beasts. Among their mysterious traits are intense jets of matter that sometimes shoot out from the rotational poles at nearly light-speed.

Twisted Physics: How Black Holes Spout Off (SPACE.com)


WASHINGTON -- Crude futures plowed to a new high near \$49 a barrel yesterday as the threat of sabotage to Iraqi oil infrastructure loomed larger than promises from Baghdad to boost exports in coming days.

Oil prices flare up amid Iraq violence


AP - While NASA is best known for putting a man on the moon, the U.S. space agency will now help keep plant and animal species on Earth.

NASA to Donate Data to Aid Plants, Animals (AP)


Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - The federal government will be making a huge mistake if it gives the provinces more money for health without attaching conditions to ensure it is spent to reform the system, says Roy Romanow.

Romanow says a health deal without accountability would be a huge mistake (Canadian Press)


Arsenal midfielder Edu has confirmed he will leave the Premiership champions next summer and move to La Liga. Edu, whose contract with the London club expires at the end of the season, says he has yet to make

Edu waves goodbye to Highbury


Moscow has become one of the fastest growing luxury markets in the world, as designer boutiques rush in to meet the demands of the wealthy.

Luxury Market Blooms Near Red Square


A New Jersey company, MaxMd, recently acquired near-exclusive rights to market the

After Years of Battle, Some '.md' Web Sites Are Going Online


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

Update: Motorola to acquire MeshNetworks


AP - Former Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson will appeal the dismissal of a discrimination lawsuit he filed against the university.

Richardson to Appeal Lawsuit Dismissal (AP)


Reuters - Suspected militants have kidnapped an\Iraqi intelligence officer in response to the fighting in the\holy city of Najaf, Al Jazeera television reported on Tuesday.

Suspected Militants Kidnap Iraqi Officer-Jazeera (Reuters)


NEW YORK, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lehman Brothers, the global investment bank, today announced that Christopher M. O #39;Meara, 43, has been named Chief Financial Officer.

Lehman Brothers Names Christopher M. O #39;Meara Chief Financial <b>...</b>


Written by Net 4 Nowt Anyone reading technology news articles can not have failed to have read something about a new web browser currently doing the rounds.

Firefox Reviewed - a browser for Microsoft haters


AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - A Dutch filmmaker who outraged members of the Muslim community by making a film critical of the mistreatment of women in Islamic society was gunned down and stabbed to death Tuesday on an Amsterdam street.

Movie critical of the treatment of Muslim women created an outrage


A day after the resignation of its chairman and chief executive officer, Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. announced on Tuesday it would stop accepting fees that had prompted a lawsuit by New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.

Marsh  amp; McLennan to cease collecting disputed fees


Laos on Thursday opened its first-ever major conference, drawing together Asian nations in their aspirations for economic integration while addressing terrorism and other regional threats.

Asean meets in Laos


Jets coach Herman Edwards realized in the offseason he needed to make the NFL clock his friend, after so many time-management gaffes made him look like a goof.

On Football: After four years, Edwards still clueless with a clock


Real Madrid #39;s doctor Alfonso del Corral claims he warned the club they were taking a risk in signing Jonathan Woodgate and has not ruled out the possibility of an operation to cure the defender #39;s long-standing thigh problem.

WOODGATE INJURY WOE FOR REAL


The Braves likely lost reserve infielder Mark DeRosa for the rest of the season after he injured his right knee trying to make a throw in Atlanta #39;s 1-0 win over Florida on Saturday night.

Reserve infielder likely out for season


Matt Kenseth says that Saturday night #39;s Chevy Rock and Roll 400  quot;is going to be a little bit wilder than we #39;re used to seeing - and Richmond is usually pretty wild as it is.

Richmond race difficult to predict


A HYPERSONIC rocket inspired by Australian technology has smashed the world speed record, travelling at 11,000km/h. RECORD bound .

Rocket scrams at 10 times speed of sound


Chelsea piled the pressure on to their Premiership title rivals with a 4-0 lunchtime demolition of Newcastle. Hustled out of their stride and on the back foot for much of the first half, Chelsea turned on

Chelsea display championship class


A POWERFUL typhoon is bearing down on the eastern Philippines where rescuers were desperately trying to find survivors from floods and landslides that have left nearly 500 dead or missing.

Flood-hit Philippines awaits typhoon


Mass suicide is suspected after Japanese police find nine bodies in two groups near Tokyo.

Nine die in Japan 'suicide pacts'


SYDNEY: Australian shopping center giant Westfield is teaming up with property group Multiplex and Aldersgate Investments to make a cash offer for Duelguide, the company which owns British developer Chelsfield.

Australia #39;s Westfield, Multiplex join in new offer for Britain #39;s <b>...</b>


BERLIN President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland moved quickly on Monday to end an escalating row inside his country #39;s fragile leftist government coalition, saying he hoped that 2,500 troops serving in Iraq would be withdrawn next year.

Poland unexpectedly says troops may quit Iraq in 2005


WASHINGTON The world #39;s economic powers, which ended three days of meetings yesterday, insisted they are moving closer to a deal on debt relief for Iraq and other poor nations even though an agreement has proved elusive.

No agreement on Iraq debt relief


An in-form PSV side beat struggling Ajax in Eindhoven Sunday, in one of the most crucial meetings of the season in the Dutch league.

PSV beats struggling Ajax


Beckham might return to England with Arsenal: David Beckham is being rumored to return to England with Arsenal in a deal that may see midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg join Real Madrid, the Daily Star Sunday said.

Beckham to Arsenal?


Ron Regan Jr is My Kinda Guy


ATHENS -- If there's one thing the Atos Origin SA team understands as lead contractor for the Olympic IT infrastructure, it's that you must learn from your mistakes.

Olympic-size security demands advance planning


Desperate times call for desperate measures. In Delta #39;s (NYSE: DAL) case, that #39;s now, according to CEO Gerald Grinstein. In a memo to employees yesterday, Grinstein announced

Delta Cuts to Run


A new international space station crew will leave two days later than scheduled next month to accommodate repairs to the docking system, Russia #39;s space agency said Wednesday.

Holdup of new team will allow for repairs on station, Russians say


AFP - Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi is involved in intensive contacts with the conflicting factions in Ivory Coast to seek a return to the ceasefire and negotiation, the official Jana news agency reported.

Kadhafi urges return to ceasefire in Ivory Coast (AFP)


BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. jets pounded suspected Shiite militant positions in the Baghdad slum of Sadr City on Monday, killing at least five people and wounding 40...

U.S. Jets Pound Militant Positions in Iraq


Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - It has been more than a week without word from the 150 Canadians listed as missing in Asia's tsunami disaster, but Prime Minister Paul Martin says he continues to hold out hope that some will be found alive.

Paul Martin continues to hope for survivors among 150 missing Canadians (Canadian Press)


A supercomputer being built to analyze the US nuclear stockpile has again set an unofficial performance record -- the second in just over a month.

IBM #39;s Blue Gene Picks Up Speed


Bruce Nelson has left the depot. The chairman and chief executive officer at Delray Beach-based Office Depot (NYSEL ODP) has resigned, which the office supply retailer said was by mutual agreement with the board of directors.

Office Depot: CEO out, former NFL president in


AC Milan and Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko has been named European Footballer of the Year. Barcelona #39;s Deco and Ronaldinho were second and third with Arsenal striker Thierry Henry fourth.

Shevchenko voted Europe #39;s finest


Arsenal, so far unstoppable in the English Premiership after a sequence of 49 unbeaten games, travel to Greece in a further attempt to reproduce their domestic flair in Europe and convince the sceptics that they are credible challengers for the Champions

CL Preview: Panathinaikos-Arsenal


PESHAWAR, Nov 13: The Pakistan army captured the Shinkay area from the Al Qaeda-linked tribal and foreign militants in the Mehsud dominated area of South Waziristan on Saturday, said an army general.

Arms cache found in six Waziristan caves


AP - Anticipated global warming by mid-century may be less severe in the central U.S. than elsewhere in the country, researchers said Tuesday.

Warming May Be Less Severe in Central U.S. (AP)


AP - Hype from the media, fans, players and coaches can make a college football game seem like a life-or-death situation. Not at the service academies.

Air Force, Navy to Play in Iraq War Shadow (AP)


Singapore-based PSA International is leading a pack of shipping giants, which includes tycoon Li Ka-shing #39;s flagship Hutchison Whampoa, that are prepared to shell out upward of US\$1 billion (HK\$7.8 billion) to buy CSX World Terminals #39; port assets

PSA seen as leading race to buy CSX port assets


OSLO, Norway - The brazen daylight theft of Edvard Munch's renowned masterpiece

Munch Theft Focuses on Museum Security


BAGHDAD -- Iraq's interim legislature convened yesterday for the first time, walled off behind US tanks as mortar rounds hit close to its meeting place.

Iraqi legislature convenes for first time


Louis van Gaal resigned as technical director of Ajax Amsterdam after the Dutch champions beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Van Gaal quits as Ajax technical director


A string of bombings and gun attacks on crowded markets, a railway station and other sites killed 44 people and left dozens wounded in two northeastern Indian states plagued by separatist groups, police said.

Dozens dead, many injured in spate of attacks in northeastern <b>...</b>


AP - Lawyers, accountants and other professionals who offer tax advice must meet stricter ethical standards under guidelines issued by the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service on Friday.

IRS Revises Standards for Tax Attorneys (AP)


Seven Asian mobile phone firms are joining together to form an alliance that will invest \$30m to \$40m in new technologies.

Asian telecom firms come together


Dambulla, Sri Lanka - South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and decided to bat in the third one-dayer against Sri Lanka here on Wednesday.

SA elect to bat in third one-dayer


Reuters - The killing of more than 320\children, parents and teachers during the bloody end to a\53-hour school siege left barely a family untouched in the\small Russian town of Beslan.

Despair and Anger in Small Russian Town After Siege (Reuters)


ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. women took their third  consecutive gold medal in Olympic basketball on Saturday,  breaking open a close game in the fourth quarter to beat  Australia 74-63.

U.S. Women Win Third Consecutive Basketball Gold


When Omar Minaya and Al Leiter agreed to walk away from negotiations last week, the Mets #39; general manager explained the move by saying both sides had other options they wanted to explore.

Minaya, Martinenz talk turkey


NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Symantec Corp. <A HREF=

Symantec to Buy Veritas for \$13.5 Billion


Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard Steve Blake underwent successful surgery to remove a chipped bone from his right ankle.

Blake Undergoes Surgery


US President George W Bush has called for a verification into Iran #39;s claims of having suspended uranium enrichment, and having no nuclear weapons ambitions.

Bush for verifying Iran #39;s claims


By wire services. Miami is No. 1 to the BCS computers, but it still fell to No.3 in the standings released Monday. USC stayed atop the standings at .

Sooners, Utes move up in BCS


Jet Propulsion Lab -- With eyes sharper than any that have peered at Saturn before, the Cassini spacecraft has uncovered two moons, which may be the smallest bodies so far seen around the ringed planet.     The moons are approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) and 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) across -- smaller than the city of Boulder, Colorado...

Cassini Finds Two New Saturnian Moons


KABUL -- Taliban-linked militants holding three UN hostages said yesterday the Afghan government has agreed to free some of their jailed comrades to prevent the killing of the foreign captives. Afghan state television reported that President Hamid Karzai had decreed the release of prisoners for Eid, the end of the Muslim fasting month, expected on Sunday. But there was no ...

Hostage takers cite pact to free comrades


The company #39;s initial offer of \$7.7bn or \$21 per share, was due to expire at midnight tonight but Peoplesoft will now have another two weeks, until 22 October, to make their decision.

Oracle extends Peoplesoft offer deadline


Reuters - The pace of hiring for U.S. companies\in the fourth quarter is expected to be consistent with the\solid employment activity of the past six months, and much\improved from a year ago, according to Manpower Inc. .

U.S. Company Hiring Seen Up from Year Ago (Reuters)


AFP - An Olympic Airlines plane bound for New York was diverted to Ireland following a bomb alert, just three days after the Greek carrier was rocked by a similar incident, airport officials said.

Greek plane lands in Ireland in second bomb alert in three days (AFP)


PC World - Desktop features BTX motherboard for improved airflow.

Gateway Debuts Cool New PC (PC World)


Arsene Wenger will remind his players of their 4-0 demolition of PSV when he takes his weary team to Eindhoven for what could be the defining moment in this latest Champions League campaign.

Wenger: We do not think of a catastrophe


Reuters - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said he will stay on as army chief, reneging on a pledge to quit the powerful post by the end of the year.

Musharraf says won't quit as army chief (Reuters)


Los Angeles man allegedly used unsecured wi-fi networks to send thousands of messages promoting porn sites.\

News: Plea deal in 'war spamming' prosecution


The Net's a lonelier place for users of PayPal and MSN Instant Messenger. Blame a software glitch and a suspected virus.

MSN, PayPal battle Net woes


AFP - North Korea has agreed to allow US investigators to search for the remains of more than 2,000 members of the US armed forces missing in action from the Korean War, US officials said.

US team to search for remains of 2,000 soldiers in North Korea (AFP)


US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage (L) shakes hands with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri prior to their meeting in Islamabad, 09 November 2004.

US wants closer ties with Pakistan


washingtonpost.com - With the presidential election just a few weeks away, the pressure is mounting on both camps to effectively use the Internet to help woo voters and secure an Election Day win.

Campaign Ads Stay Off-Line, on Air (washingtonpost.com)


Russian and Chechen officials commemorated the birthday of slain Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov on Monday, six days before an election to replace him as leader of the republic.

Kadyrov #39;s Birthday Celebrated


Chechen rebel Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility for this month #39;s hostage-taking at a Russian school, in which at least 339 died, and for four other terrorist attacks in recent weeks, according to a rebel Web site.

Chechens #39; Basayev Takes Responsibility for Russian School Siege


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Kidnappers released two female Italian aid workers and five other hostages Tuesday, raising hopes for at least 18 foreigners still in captivity. But insurgents showed no sign of easing their blood-soaked campaign against the U.S...

Kidnappers Release Seven Hostages in Iraq


Finally, and with less fanfare than the release of its sibling application, Firefox 1.0, a few weeks ago, the email client called Thunderbird has reached its coming of age.

Thunderbird is go


Following a policy of trust-but-verify, Rupert Murdoch said Tuesday that he wants formal assurance that Liberty Media Chairman John Malone won #39;t make a run at his News Corp.

Murdoch wants Malone #39;s word


Reuters - Kosovo's\general election on Saturday will be the first step in a tricky\endgame to settle the fate of the Serbian province, now a U.N.\protectorate in the heart of the Balkans.

Election Heralds Start of Endgame in UN-Run Kosovo (Reuters)


Atlanta Public Schools officials Friday admitted a few missteps but denied major failings in their spending of \$60 million of federal technology subsidies.

Schools admit E-rate slip-ups, defends actions


Crude oil prices surged to a record, exceeding \$51 a barrel in New York for the first time, amid concern that hurricane damage to production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico will keep supplies from rising enough to meet winter needs.

Oil Surges to Record, Breaching \$51 a Barrel, on Supply Concern


The Communications Workers of America #39;s national executive board voted unanimously to authorize strike action by 6,000 passenger service agents against US Airways, clearing

CWA Board Clears the Way for Possible Strike by US Airways <b>...</b>


To draw business from smaller airlines operating out of a nearby airport, American Airlines has lowered its fares at Miami International.

American Airlines lowers Miami fares


AFP - German banks Postbank and Deutsche Bank said that their customers had been recent victims of Internet fraud via copycat web sites.

German bank customers victims of Internet fraud (AFP)


The holiday shopping season began with a surge in spending, but consumers faded by the end of the long Thanksgiving weekend and many retailers were facing decent but hardly impressive sales.

Retailers have modest start to holiday shopping


nly a few days ago, it looked like a done deal. Urban Meyer, a devout Irish-Catholic who always considered Notre Dame his dream job, seemed a lock to end up in South Bend, Ind.

Meyer OKs 7-year deal with Gators


Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira will miss the champions #39; crunch game against Premier League leaders Chelsea next month through suspension, the Football Association said on Monday.

Vieira to miss Arsenal #39;s tussle with Chelsea


At the risk of breaching Internet civility, Lycos Europe is offering computer-users a weapon against spam-spewing servers: a screen-saver program that automatically hits the offenders with data to slow them down.

Lycos Offers Program to Attack Spammers


The Colorado Rockies found a way to protect a lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. But there was still music playing in the losers #39; clubhouse afterward.

Rockies beat Los Angeles 4-1 to slow Dodgers #39; drive for playoff <b>...</b>


Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and Mahmoud Abbas, the favorite to become the new Palestinian leader, said in separate interviews published today that they would be

Sharon and Abbas Express Hope for Gaza Talks


AP - Tim Hudson was traded from the Oakland Athletics to Atlanta, a blockbuster deal Thursday that further bolstered the Braves' revamped rotation.

A's Trade Pitcher Tim Hudson to Braves (AP)


MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Australian diversified nickel producer WMC Resources Ltd. (WMC) on Wednesday said it hasn #39;t received any new takeover proposals.

Australia #39;s WMC Resources Says No Takeover Offer Made -2-


AFP - A group of 250 mainly European tourists was stranded for four days in the Bolivian Andes after indigenous protestors blocked roads amid a territorial dispute, the Interior Ministry said.

British, Spanish tourists stranded for four days in Bolivian Andes (AFP)


5 October 2004 - Law enforcement experts are urging stronger action against poachers or smugglers of endangered species, but warn that many countries lack the ability to fight wildlife crimes, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said today.

Experts urge stronger action against wildlife poachers


Alcohol-related auto accidents increase sharply during the holidays compared with other times in December, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association shows.

Holiday crackdown on unsafe drivers getting early start


America Online has partnered with and taken a minority investment in travel search player Kayak Software. The two will build an AOL-owned travel search site, to launch in early 2005, which will be powered by Kayak #39;s technology.

AOL, Kayak to Build Travel Search Site


Mr. Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve, is scheduled to testify before the House Budget Committee on Wednesday on two sensitive topics: the economy and the federal budget deficit.

MARKET WEEK All Eyes on Greenspan and the Jobs Data


Bee Staff Writer. When that last knee-knocking 2-foot putt found the hole, Christina Kim dropped to her knees in tears, then got up to begin a celebration worthy of her flamboyant personality.

Sweet emotion


Jaguar workers have voted against striking in protest at the ending of car production at their historic factory in Coventry, it was announced today.

Jaguar Workers Reject Strike Action


LONDON (Reuters) - Passengers wanting to skip airport  queues will be able to check in for flights using their mobile  phone beginning next year, two European firms set to offer the  service announced on Tuesday.

Speedy Plane Check-In by Mobile Phone Set for 2005


CNN will shut down its struggling CNNfn financial news network in mid-December, giving up its attempt after nine years to compete in a market dominated by CNBC.

Financial network to end after nine years


WITH only two weeks to go before Sun Microsystems enters into the open source foray with its Solaris 10 operating system, the Sta.

Sun sees brighter days for Linux-Solaris alliance


WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - Every Federal Open Market Committee meeting contains a flavor of mystery as officials gather behind closed doors to hold crucial discussions about the economic forecast and to make decisions on interest rates.

Little change seen in Dec. 14 statement


Voter registration has begun throughout the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in preparation for possible general and local elections next year.

Palestinians prepare to vote


In the NFL, it used to be the object of the game was to get into the end zone. Now, the object of the game is to get into the end zone and act like a fool.

It's Football, Not 'Footloose'


BASEL (Reuters) - World number one Roger Federer says he is  hoping to be fit in time for next month's Tennis Masters Cup,  after pulling out of the Swiss Indoors tournament with a  ruptured thigh muscle.

Federer Out of Basel Event with Thigh Injury


Reuters - The price of a gallon of gasoline in\the United States fell over the last two weeks during a\seasonally slow consumption period, according to an industry\analyst.

Gas Prices Dip to Average  #36;1.96 a Gallon (Reuters)


AOL's new 9.0 Security Edition seems intended to burnish the online service's reputation as the crossing guard of the Internet, but that's a goal that this release can't quite achieve. <FONT face=

Another Brick in the Firewall


The future, Samir believes, is grim.  #39;We are hated now, #39; the teenager said, leaning over the handlebars of his bicycle.  #39;Whatever we do will be wrong, everything we say will be wrong, everywhere we go will be wrong.

The murder that shattered Holland #39;s liberal dream


Reuters - Investors are heading into a quarter\that will likely favor small- and mid-cap stocks as corporate\profits rise and businesses rush to take advantage of a tax\break designed to give a lift to small manufacturers.

Stocks to Gain from Tax-Related Spending? (Reuters)


This priority retains its ranking at number five as more and more companies deploy Web services to share business logic, data and processes with each other and with clients.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then let #39;s spy


A 17-year-old charged with making terrorist threats against his high school, fellow students and a police officer said at his arraignment that he would do anything  quot;to help the community quot; in the wake of his arrest.

Teen accused of making threats about school, possessing weapons


Brunei was laying out a lavish table yesterday for 5,000 high-powered guests to celebrate the marriage of its crown prince to a half

Lavish banquet held for 5,000 VIP guests


Australia #39;s Michael Rogers won the elite-division time trial Wednesday at the road cycling World Championships, defending the title he was awarded earlier this month after 2003 winner David Millar of Britain was stripped of his gold medal for doping.

Rogers wins time trial at road cycling worlds


Domestic lifestyle guru Martha Stewart said yesterday she would go to jail as soon as possible following her recent conviction for lying about a share deal.

Martha Stewart asks for jail


AP - Malaysia's highest court cleared the way Tuesday for an appeal that could allow newly freed former deputy leader Anwar Ibrahim back into politics.

Malaysia Court Clears Way for Anwar Appeal (AP)