Los Angeles, October 30: Google Inc plans to release a version of its desktop search tool for computers running on the Mac operating system from Apple Computer Inc, Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said on Friday.

Google plans desktop search tool for Apple PCs


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar slipped on Tuesday, pushed  down by a report showing the U.S. current account deficit  ballooned to a new record in the second quarter.

Current Account Gap Weakens Dollar


A key US report saying Saddam Hussein had no WMD intensifies debate on the justification for war with Iraq.

Iraq war debate fuelled by report


The mayor and five other men on the small Pacific island of Pitcairn were sentenced to as much as six years in prison for a string of rapes and sex attacks dating back 40 years on the remote and isolated home of the HMS Bounty

Island men convicted on sex charges


Paralympics boss Phil Craven today warned of a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs cheats after he was confronted with the first doping scandal of the Athens Games before the event has even started.

Paralympic Drug Scandal Prompts Warning


ATHENS (Reuters) - China underlined their gold medal  ambitions in Olympic women's volleyball on Sunday, clinching  top spot in Pool B with a straight sets win over Russia.

Volleyball: China Clinches Top Spot, U.S. Faces Crunch


Pakistan #39;s military says it has killed some 150 foreign fighters during its 11-month battle against militants in the country #39;s tribal belt.

Pakistan military says 150 al Qaeda militants killed since last <b>...</b>


Analysis Spinning the exploitation cycle

Stealing movies: Why the MPAA can afford to relax


AIR New Zealand #39;s future is uncertain after the country #39;s High Court yesterday ended the long awaited nuptials with Qantas.

Airlines remain as rivals


The Bush administration should spend more on cybersecurity research, share threat information with private-sector security vendors and set up an emergency computer network that would continue working during Internet blackouts, a computer security trade group said today.

Experts want more government focus on cybersecurity


LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) -- PeopleSoft Inc., whose board has spurned repeated hostile takeover offers from Oracle Corp,. got a major boost Thursday when several analysts raised their PeopleSoft financial forecasts.

PeopleSoft scores analyst support


Suicide bombers, booby-trapped cars or a gas leak; by midnight it was still impossible to get confirmed information from official Egyptian sources.

Analysis / Culprits unknown, but goals a plenty


Reuters - Interest rates on U.S. 30-year\mortgages edged slightly lower in the latest week, continuing\to offer an enticing rate to prospective home owners, mortgage\finance company Freddie Mac said on Wednesday.

30-Year Mortgage Rates Inch Down in Week (Reuters)


AP - Congress must pass legislation to protect the nation's electricity grid if it wants to avoid repeats of the devastating outages that rolled across eight states last year, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said Saturday.

Democratic Senator Urges Energy Reform (AP)


The number of viruses, worms and other security threats to PCs has now passed the 100,000 mark.

PC security threats hit new high


THE HAGUE - The European Union and China on Wednesday pledged to boost bilateral ties at their annual summit here, with the European Union saying it would consider lifting its 15-year-old embargo on arms sales to China.

EU to consider lifting arms embargo on China


Shares of Google Inc., the Internet search engine that first sold stock to the public in August, surged 15 percent after profit more than doubled, and the company said online advertising sales show no signs of slowing.

Google #39;s share price surprises


Ten Turkish hostages held captive by a group in Iraq since last month have returned to their company #39;s offices in Baghdad.  quot;We can confirm that the 10 Turkish hostages have been freed.

Turkish captives released in Iraq


KIRKLAND - The long-awaited return of left tackle Walter Jones finally happened this morning at Seahawks headquarters. Jones, who has been to the past three Pro Bowls, signed his one-year tender of \$7.

Walter Jones shows for practice, signs one-year deal


TORONTO (CP) - Canada Basketball dumped Jay Triano on Tuesday after some six years as men #39;s team head coach and 11 years as a player - seven of them as captain.

Canada Basketball dumps senior men #39;s national coach Jay Triano


AP - A growing number of Colorado school superintendents are devising strategies to soften the blow of losing students to online schools.

Online Learning Has Schools Nervous (AP)


AP - In a diversification move, online auctioneer eBay Inc. is buying the privately held Rent.com, which specializes in Internet listings of apartment and house rentals, for about  #36;415 million in stock and cash.

EBay Buying Rental Web Site for  #36;415M (AP)


Human retinal stem cells can regenerate when implanted into the eyes of chicks and mice, says a University of Toronto study. After being transplanted into the animals, the

Discovery Shines Ray of Hope on Eye Diseases


The Sooners, third in last week #39;s initial Bowl Championship Series rankings, moved up one important spot this week to No. 2. Oklahoma traded places with Miami, putting Coach Bob Stoops #39; club in the national

Sooners jump up a spot in BCS rankings


MOJAVE, Calif. - A stubby rocket plane soared off a Mojave desert runway Monday strapped to the belly of a carrier plane, shooting for the edge of the Earth's atmosphere and a \$10 million prize...

SpaceShipOne Soars to Space for \$10M Prize


Four suspected al Qaeda terrorists will face military trials this week at the Navy base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in historic legal proceedings that have not been conducted by the US government

Trials Set To Begin For Four at Guantanamo


The decapitated bodies of three men, their heads strapped to their backs, were found dumped in nylon bags by a roadside north of Baghdad on Wednesday, Iraqi police and US officials said.

Three headless corpses found north of Baghdad


WASHINGTON - President Bush blistered Sen. John Kerry on Wednesday as an apostle of

Bush Hits Kerry in Debate Rebound Bid


World Boxing Association super lightweight champion Vivian Harris says he is interested in fighting International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Kostya Tszyu.

Tszyu looks for next fight


Rebel delegates from Sudan #39;s western Darfur region have arrived in Nigeria for talks with Sudanese officials on ending violence sparked by a rebel uprising 18 months ago.

Sudanese Darfur Rebels Arrive for Peace Talks


Pro basketball: Charlotte vs. Celtics at the FleetCenter, 7:30 p.m. College hockey: Men -- UMass at BC, 7 p.m.; Merrimack at BU, 7 p.m.; Maine at Northeastern, 7 p.m.; Colgate at UMass-Lowell, 7 p.m.; Princeton at Brown, 7 p.m.; Providence at UNH, 7 p.m.; Yale at Harvard, 8 p.m.; UBS tournament at Worcester: Worcester St. at Fitchburg St., 5:30 p.m.; ...

Today's schedule


The Boston Redevelopment Authority and a New York developer yesterday reached an agreement that should speed construction of housing and a marina at the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Pact to speed Navy Yard plans


When I suggested in a recent column that a problematic 5 percent of employees account for 75 percent of the IT support burden, I expected a wave of right on! letters from IT support staffers. After the column was published, the letters did come  most of them disagreeing with my premise, with one reader suggesting that the real whiner was yours truly. I still think its outside the realm of overextended IT departments to provide training on basic computing skills (which I defined as managing and finding files, and basic working knowledge of suites such as MS Office). But my thinking was adjusted a bit by the thoughtful feedback.

Why cant Johnny compute?


To appreciate the pleasures of beekeeping, just listen to a hobbyist beekeeper from Walnut Creek, California, buzz about the insects in her hive.

Backyard Beekeepers Abuzz Over Social Life of Hive


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Philadelphia Eagles thumped the  Detroit Lions 30-13 Sunday in a clash of two previously  unbeaten teams.

NFL Wrap: McNabb Sparkles as Eagles Rout Lions


Midwestern farmers welcome a new fertilizer additive that leaves a telltale fluorescent pink stain on the hands of anyone who touches it. Theft of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer, used to make methamphetamine, has become a major problem for farmers.

Catching Meth Cooks Pink-Handed


AFP - Jaguar car production is to end at a plant in Coventry, Warwickshire, with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs because of weak demand for the luxury brand, US parent company Ford announced.

Ford to end Jaguar production at plant in Coventry (AFP)


MILAN The Italian airline Alitalia, in a restatement Wednesday of its results for the first half of the year, almost doubled its previously reported loss to 620 million as it set aside money to pay for a restructuring plan.

Alitalia revisions swell its loss


SEATTLE -- A toxic algae bloom off the coast of Washington state has grown to about 30 miles wide, the largest and most potentially lethal algae yet found by scientists in the region.

Toxic algae bloom grows off Wash. coast


Chicago Tribune - The train is sleek and fast that each night carries Christina Reves away from her country and toward her husband. It races through Denmark's scattered marshes and clicks over a bridge and across the water, stopping 35 minutes later in Sweden.

Danes find a bridge to love (Chicago Tribune)


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar inched up on Monday but  traders struggled to find direction in a market devoid of  economic data.

Dollar Edges Up, Direction Sought


Your credit card company might be needlessly costing you thousands.

Credit Cards Sabotaging Mortgages


Th Redskins' defense receives good news on Cornelius Griffin's MRI exam of a hip injury, and the defensive tackle might play Sunday against the Eagles.

Griffin Gets Good News


One person has been killed and many injured after a train collides with a vehicle on a level crossing in Berkshire.

One person dead as train derails


AP - The European Union and the United States recommitted themselves to a smooth trans-Atlantic relationship Friday and hoped the second term of President Bush would no longer be marred by nasty political and trade disputes.

EU Recommits Itself to U.S. Relationship (AP)


In his true diva way, Pedro Martinez must surely be chuckling that his signing with the New York Mets has created chaos in baseball, or at least in the American

Orioles Lose Sexson, Turn Attention to Burnett


LONDON, England -- Marc Gene has joined Ferrari as a Formula One test driver, the world champions have revealed. Gene, 30, has been employed in the same role with Williams for the past four years with three

Gene named as Ferrari test driver


The Hungarian hammer thrower who was stripped of his gold medal after refusing to take a follow-up drug test at the Athens Olympics said Tuesday that he vows to keep his medal.

Medal Stays in Hungary


Fred Funk needed a late rally on a sticky, steamy day to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Conn.

At Buick, Funk Is One Round From First Victory in 6 Years


Vail Resorts said Friday that a drop in real estate revenue contributed to a wider loss in the first quarter, one of the company #39;s slowest times.

Vail Resorts #39; loss widens to US\$31.5 million, real estate revenue <b>...</b>


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Shares of Google Inc. <A HREF=

Google Stock Falls as Share Total Doubles


afrol News, 4 October - Hundred years of conservation efforts have lifted the southern black rhino population from about hundred to 11,000 animals.

Limited rhino hunt allowed in SA, Namibia


AP - Kurt Busch came to Homestead-Miami Speedway with more in mind than just winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship.

Busch on Pole in Race for NASCAR Title (AP)


A 62-year-old Dutchman will be charged for war crimes and as an accomplice to genocide for supplying lethal chemicals to Saddam Hussein #39;s regime, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Dutch arrest in Iraq genocide case


Source says local phone company won #39;t deny or admit to charges of financial and disclosure fraud. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Qwest Communications International Inc.

Qwest to pay \$250M in settlement?


Georgia Tech freshman Jeremis Smith left the game with a right knee injury near the end of the game...UALR #39;s Richard Hardman led all players with 13 rebounds...Freeman was just 1-of-9 from three-point territory...Georgia Tech improved to 4-0 all-time

NCAA Game Summary - Arkansas-Little Rock at Georgia Tech


Please buy my international lost and stolen database

All terror attacks use false passports, claims Interpol chief


Reuters - Russia said Saturday India should\become a veto-wielding permanent member of the United Nations\Security Council if the U.N.'s top decision-making body is\enlarged to reflect post-Cold War realities.

Russia Reassures India on UN Security Council Bid (Reuters)


What a strange weekend it has been for the most prolific CxO-cum-blogger in the high tech industry - Sun COO and presidentJonathan Schwartz.

-Posted by david.berlind  2:39 pm (PDT)


US Army 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment soldiers lead Iraqi men suspected of insurgent involvement from the scene of a joint raid by Iraqi National Guard and US forces near a mosque in central Mosul, Iraq, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004.

Iraqi Gov #39;t Rejects Postponing Election


Ricky Williams, the 2002 NFL rushing champion, rejected a deal to serve a four-game drug suspension this season and return to the field next year.

Williams to remain retired


Reuters - OPEC is keeping its foot to the pedal on\production in a bid to drag down oil prices but may be\reluctant to rubber-stamp extra supplies by lifting official\output limits, Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday.

Saudi Resist OPEC Quota Increase (Reuters)


Microsoft has been rapped over the knuckles over an anti-Lunix advertising campaign. The Advertising Standards Association in the UK has ruled that the ad makes  quot;misleading quot; claims, and has told the company change the copy on the advertisement forthwith.

MS rapped over anti-Linux ads


The board of Russia #39;s embattled oil giant Yukos will halt crude supplies to Baltic refinery Mazeikiu Nafta until the end of the year, the Interfax agency reported Monday - just hours after Yukos confirmed a similar move involving a Chinese company.

Update 3: Report: Yukos to Halt Crude Supplies


Sun Microsystems on Monday was to unveil the latest version of its flagship computer operating system, Solaris. It also intended to offer a free version of the program to make it more attractive to corporate and academic users.

Sun Raising Curtain on New Solaris


Optimism that the embattled technology sector was ripe for a recovery sent stocks modestly higher yesterday, despite a new revenue warning from semiconductor company Broadcom Inc.

Tech investors see sunnier days ahead


To nurture a community vibe at its retail stores, Apple Computer encourages customers to hang out and play around with the equipment.

Barred From the Apple Store


NEW YORK - Computer Associates International Inc. announced a restructuring plan Wednesday that would reduce its work force by 800 people worldwide, saving the business software maker \$70 million annually once the plan is fully implemented.

Business Glance


Palm OS merchant PalmSource is buying mobile phone ISV China MobileSoft (CMS) in a \$22.6 million stock deal to tap into the huge Chinese market and the growing popularity of Linux.

PalmSource Embraces Linux


Reuters - Hormel Foods Corp.  on\Wednesday reported a quarterly profit that was little changed\from a year earlier, but topped Wall Street's estimates by a\penny as strong demand for pork and turkey offset higher\expenses.

Hormel Credits Atkins for Sales Up 15 Pct (Reuters)


Reuters - Iraqi deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih\said Sunday he brought a message of friendship to Iran, which\has been angered by charges it is stirring up tension in Iraq,\the official IRNA news agency said.

Iran Hosts Iraqi Official, Eyes Better Relations (Reuters)


BELGRADE (AFP) - Pro-West Serbian President Boris Tadic vowed to press ahead with his reform programme after surviving what his office described as a possible assassination attempt on one of Belgrade #39;s busiest streets.

Serbian president survives apparent attempt on his life


By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID    WASHINGTON (AP) -- A wide-ranging effort involving parents, schools, communities and government is needed to turn the tide of childhood obesity, the Institute of Medicine said Thursday...

Various Factors Blamed for Childhood Obesity


SAN FRANCISCO A lawyer for Marion Jones tells CBS the man accusing the track star of using steroids is a spurned admirer who tried  quot;for years quot; to establish a relationship with her.

Jones #39; lawyer claims Conte was rebuffed by track star


ATHENS (Reuters) - Top-ranked Argentina booked their berth  in the women's hockey semi-finals at the Athens Olympics on  Friday but defending champions Australia now face an obstacle  course to qualify for the medal matches.

Argentina's Women Sail Into Hockey Semi-Finals


AP - The state appeals court Thursday declined to allow a new trial for a father convicted of beating a man to death at their sons' hockey practice.

Court Denies New Trial for Hockey Death (AP)


Description: Colgate-Palmolive says it will cut more than 4,000 jobs and close a third of its factories worldwide. The company plans to use the savings for advertising and new product development.

Colgate-Palmolive to Cut 4,000 Jobs


The Treo 650, which builds on the design of the Treo 600, features a 320 x 320 display, non-volatile memory, and a removable battery together with integrated Bluetooth.

PalmOne Debuts Treo 650 Smartphone


Investor's Business Daily - PeopleSoft Chief Executive Craig Conway rallied 13,000 company faithful during his keynote speech Tuesday at the company's annual users' conference in San Francisco.

PeopleSoft's Chief Executive Rallies His Troops Vs. Oracle (Investor's Business Daily)


AP - President Bush and Democratic rival John Kerry traded biting accusations over the war in Iraq on Monday as early Florida voting produced scattered complaints that stirred memories of the state's chaotic 2000 recount.

Bush, Kerry Exchange Bitter Words on Iraq (AP)


The chief US financial regulator has hit back at critics of  quot;over-regulation quot; and accused many US bosses of failing to provide  quot;ethical quot; leadership for their companies.

SEC chairman hits out at reform critics


The worlds largest software supplier, Microsoft, has won a nine-year contract worth an estimated 500m to supply IT systems to the NHS.

Microsoft wins 500m NHS IT contract


Former champion Jacques Villeneuve will have his first test for Sauber in Spain this month after a seat fitting at the Formula One team #39;s Swiss factory on Thursday.

Villeneuve checks in with Sauber


Reuters - In a tense meeting\marred by violent street protests, Argentine President Nestor\Kirchner on Tuesday told the head of the IMF to

Argentina Rebuffs IMF Managing Director (Reuters)


NEW YORK - Bernie Williams hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees clinched their seventh straight American League East title, beating the Minnesota Twins, 6-4, Thursday night for their 100th victory.

Yankees win AL East title


NASHVILLE, Tenn. The football team at Middle Tennessee State is pinning its hopes on Big Boi. He #39;s not a football player -- he #39;s the guy who #39;s part of the hip-hop duo OutKast.

College football team hopes Big Boi concert keeps team in Division <b>...</b>


Top Iranian nuclear negotiator Hossein Mousavian has ruled out a long-term suspension of uranium enrichment. Mr Mousavian told the BBC it was completely illogical for the international

Iran stays firm on nuclear curbs


Italy must not just win- they must triumph- against Belarus on Wednesday in Parma in order to redeem their humiliating loss at Slovenia suffered last weekend.

WC Group 5 Preview: Italy-Belarus


Pope John Paul II accepts the resignation of an Austrian bishop over a porn scandal at a seminary in his diocese.

Pope replaces sex scandal bishop


The Atlanta Falcons were clinging to a seven-point lead in the final minute of the third quarter Sunday at Giants Stadium and they needed to force a mistake by the New

E. Manning #39;s Education Begins


BISYS Group Inc. (BSG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , which provides administrative support to financial firms, on Monday said a subsidiary was in the process of responding to an

BISYS says responding to regulatory investigation


A federal grand jury has indicted 11 people for conspiring to distribute nearly \$31 million worth of bootlegged software programs.

Indictments issued in software scam case


The Perrigo Company, the world's largest maker of store-branded over-the-counter drugs, reached an agreement to buy Agis Industries, a developer and manufacturer of prescription generic drugs.

Perrigo to Buy Agis, a Maker of Generic Prescription Drugs


AP - One week ahead of their showdown with Seattle, the Phoenix Suns tied the SuperSonics atop the NBA standings.

Suns Win Again to Tie Seattle Atop NBA (AP)


For the first time, NASA scientists have observed planet-containing solar systems with disks of dust orbiting their central stars, astronomers announced Thursday.

Scientists hail discovery of debris disks


So what now? USC and Oklahoma, having just survived their high-profile weekends, in the fast lanes to the Orange Bowl? Yes, USC has a relentless nature that wears opponents down -- outscoring

No room for errors for USC, Oklahoma


AP - The Charlotte Bobcats picked up the option on center Melvin Ely for the 2005-06 season.

Charlotte Bobcats Pick Up Option on Ely (AP)


Microsoft Corp., world largest software maker, introduced its desktop search feature on Monday, taking aim at Google with its beta desktop search functionality.

Microsoft introduces desktop search feature


NewsFactor - IBM (NYSE: IBM) is upgrading its blade \server line, taking the wraps off six new products in addition to rolling out features designed to improve the performance of BladeCenter systems.

IBM Fashions New Blades (NewsFactor)


California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi filed a lawsuit Thursday against brokerage Universal Life Resources and a number of major insurance companies as part of an effort  quot;to break up a national industry-wide pattern of kickbacks and hidden fees

Universal Life Resources sued by Calif.


GUNMEN stormed a mobile phone company office in Baghdad and seized two Egyptian employees, Government officials said today. The kidnapping happened last night in the upscale Harthiya neighborhood, said Interior

Two Egyptians kidnapped in Iraq


AP - The leader of a paramilitary faction involved in peace talks was apparently one of five insurgents killed in an ambush on Monday, officials said.

Colombia Militia Leader Said Killed (AP)


FOXBOROUGH -- The Revolution have turned late-season rallies into a combination of an art form and a habit. Clint Dempsey and Steve Ralston scored in a three-minute period early in the second half as the Revolution edged the Chicago Fire, 2-1, to qualify for the MLS playoffs for the third successive season.

Revolution in with the in crowd


ATHENS --After winning world titles in both breaststroke events last summer while setting world records in each, Japan #39;s Kosuke Kitajima sat helplessly from across the Pacific last month as American Brendan Hansen broke ...

Kitajima sweeps both breaststrokes, Hanson third


By DON BABWIN    CHICAGO (AP) -- Ignoring a federal ban on prescription drug imports, Illinois' governor announced Tuesday that the state would have an online clearinghouse running within a month to help residents purchase drugs from Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.    The state won't import the drugs itself, but plans to contract with a Canadian company to connect state residents with foreign pharmacies that have been approved by state health inspectors...

Illinois Plans Online Network to Import Cheaper Drugs


LAWRENCE, Kan. (Ticker) -- Second-ranked Kansas looks to post its 12th straight win at Allen Fieldhouse when its host Texas Christian on Thursday.

No. 2 Kansas Hosts Horned Frogs


Presidents of some Latin American countries have sent messages for a prompt recovery to Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who injured a knee and an arm after a fall on Wednesday.

Latin American presidents wish Castro prompt recovery


PHOENIX (Sports Network) - The Major League Baseball  Players Association announced Tuesday it would work toward a  new agreement with owners for tougher steroid testing.

MLB Players Open to Changes in Steroids Testing


blinkx 2.0 with Smart Folders Available Today\\blinkx, today announced the release of blinkx 2.0, introducing the world's first Smart Folders and enhancing the functionality currently available to over 1 million users. blinkx, which is free to download at www.blinkx.com, changes the way consumers interact with information. blinkx reads the content ...


Real Madrid #39;s loss at Espanyol brought a numbing end to a miserable week whose only positive outcome has been the realisation that some soul-searching and a collective look in the mirror are overdue.

Real told to dig for pride after a fall


The Supreme Court has denied a challenge to the federal Do Not Call List. Telemarketing companies had filed an appeal, saying the registry violated First Amendment rights because some groups were exempt from the rules.

Supreme Court Upholds Do Not Call List


Fort Worth-based American Airlines said its cost for jet fuel will be \$1 billion higher than last year because of rising prices. Fuel costs will rise 43 percent from the previous estimate for \$700 million in additional expenses.

Around The Region


LAKE LOUISE, Alta. (CP) - Being fastest wasn #39;t necessary best as Canada #39;s Erik Guay finished second in Friday #39;s final day of training for the first World Cup downhill race of the season.

Skiers play games as Guay is second in final day of downhill <b>...</b>


BASEBALL Detroit (AL): Recalled P Roberto Novoa, OF Curtis Granderson and INF Ryan Raburn from Erie (EL).

Transactions


AP - Phoenix Coyotes goalie Brian Boucher signed to play for Swedish champion HV71 on Wednesday while the NHL lockout continues.

Coyotes' Boucher to Play in Swedish League (AP)


Northeastern sparkled in its 2004-05 hockey debut last night, stunning Michigan, 4-2, at the Lefty McFadden Invitational in Dayton, Ohio.

First-rate effort lifts Northeastern


HYDERABAD -- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who heads for Kashmir on Wednesday, said yesterday his visit is aimed at putting an end to years of violence in the troubled Himalayan region. Singh's comments came as thousands of Kashmiri Muslims, scarred by 15 years of violence, celebrated Eid al-Fitr days after India announced it would reduce the number of troops in ...

Leader seeks to end violence in Kashmir


RENO--(Mineweb.com) Vancouver-based Goldcorp and Toronto gold-producer Wheaton River Minerals have scheduled a telephone conference Monday morning to announced that Goldcorp will buy Wheaton River for \$2.09 billion in stock.

Wheaton attempts another friendly merger


While PalmOne has added an MP3 player and Bluetooth (define) support, the goal with this release was to improve upon a good thing, said Greg Shirai, director of product marketing for the Milpitas, Calif.

PalmOne Launches  #39;Smarter #39; Treo 650


Telling people off activates a part of the brain linked to enjoyment and satisfaction, researchers report in Science magazine.

Why we enjoy telling people off


Dell continued to outpace the rest of the IT industry in the company #39;s third quarter with sizzling growth in shipments, revenue, and net income adding up to the best quarter yet for the hardware supplier.

Record results for Dell in third quarter


An eleventh hour face saving move by the President-Designate of the European Commission Jos Manuel Durao Barroso managed to diffuse an institutional crisis in the European Union yesterday.

Barroso opts for last minute  #39;face saver #39;


EMC last week said it has hired former IBM veteran Jeffrey M. Nick as chief technology officer for the storage vendor. Nick, who left IBM in June following 24 years with the company

EMC hires former IBM veteran as CTO


The Miami Dolphins have filed a grievance against Ricky Williams , asking an arbitrator to uphold the team's contractual right to recover \$8.6 million paid to the recently retired running back in signing bonus and incentives, the Miami Herald reported on its website yesterday.

Dolphins seek Williams money


Online brokerage Ameritrade Holding Corp. (AMTD.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday that customer stock trading activity surged 26 percent during November, and has risen

Ameritrade customer trading up 26 pct in Nov.


Australian nickel and copper miner WMC Resources has rejected aA\$7.4 billion (3 billion pounds) takeover bid from Swiss-based Xstrata, but has left the door open for a higher offer.

Australia #39;s WMC rejects Xstrata bid


SEC asks the conglomerate for information about participation in the defunct UN program in Iraq. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tyco International said the Securities and Exchange Commission asked it for information

Tyco probed on oil-for-food


Nortel Networks is under investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for irregularities in past accounting practices. Announcement of the investigation -- two days before its release of first- and second-quarter financials -- caused ...

Nortel #39;s Accounting Under Investigation


NEW YORK - New applications for US home loans dropped more than 9 percent last week even as average 30-year mortgage rates also eased from the previous week, an industry group said on Wednesday.

US mortgage applications fall last week


Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Israel #39;s premier warned that his army #39;s largest operation in Gaza in four years would expand, after troops left dozens of dead and rows of houses destroyed, aiming at stopping Palestinian rocket attacks on border towns.

Sharon vows to stop rockets


Reuters - Strong winds and heavy rain from Typhoon\Aere pounded Taiwan on Tuesday, disrupting air and sea traffic\and forcing financial markets, schools and businesses in Taipei\and nearby counties to close.

Typhoon Aere Menaces Taiwan, Markets Close (Reuters)


BOSTON (Sports Network) - If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.  That's exactly what free agent shortstop Edgar Renteria did on  Wednesday by agreeing to a four-year deal with the Boston Red  Sox.

Renteria Heads to Beantown: Report


US marines yesterday rallied around their colleague who is being investigated for shooting an unarmed, wounded insurgent in a Falluja mosque, as a senior UN human rights official called for an inquiry into alleged abuses in the city.

Marines defend soldier #39;s killing of Iraqi


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coffee lovers are digging deeper into  their pockets for their daily fix of the black brew.

Maxwell House Price Perks Up 14 Percent


Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld agrees with the NBA Commissioner David Stern's level of punishment for the Pacers-Pistons brawl.

Grunfeld Backs Action


Shane Warne will be on Channel Nine #39;s commentary team, Matthew Hayden will have the  #39;gone fishing #39; sign on his door and Adam Gilchrist will probably still be recovering from this trip by the time Australia #39;s next cricket tour to India comes around.

2010 the next Indian odyssey


Tony Blair is recovering at Chequers after undergoing hospital treatment for his recurring heart  quot;flutter quot;. Dressed casually in jeans, blue open-necked shirt and blazer, the Prime Minister grinned broadly and waved at waiting reporters and photographers.

Blair recovering after heart treatment


CHICAGO -- Aerospace giant Boeing Co. reported a 78 percent jump in third-quarter earnings, buoyed by a strong defense business, and raised its estimate for full-year profits due to a favorable tax outlook.

Boeing Posts 78 Percent Higher Profit


Sudan on Thursday welcomed the re-election of President George W. Bush and expressed hope that ties with Washington, strained over the Darfur crisis which the United States called genocide, would be normalised.

Sudan hopes for normalised ties with Washington


On the heels of Mozilla #39;s release of Firefox last week, I #39;ve been looking at some tools that you might consider if you #39;re looking for an alternative to Internet Explorer.

Enter your e-mail:


AFP - Delegates at peace talks to end a conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region traded bitter accusations of ceasefire violations as African Union mediators battled to keep the conference on track.

Darfur peace talks hobble along amid bitter disputes over security (AFP)


AFP - A lawyer for one of three Americans jailed in Afghanistan for illegally running a private anti-terror campaign and secret jail has asked for a US Congressional probe to look into bringing the trio home.

Congressional probe sought over jailing of US vigilantes in Afghanistan (AFP)


Reuters - The number of animal experiments in\Britain rose last year to its highest level since 1994,\prompting condemnation from animal rights campaigners who said\the government had failed to curb cruelty.

Rise in UK Animal Experiments Angers Campaigners (Reuters)


German mail giant Deutsche Post said Tuesday it is taking a 38 per cent stake in Spanish postal company Unipost. Deutsche Post did not disclose the price of the stake in Barcelona-based Unipost

Germany #39;s Deutsche Post takes 38 per cent stake in Unipost of <b>...</b>


AMSTERDAM - Dutch diary company Campina announced on Wednesday it would merge with Danish-Swedish firm Arla Foods to create the world #39;s largest farmer-owned diary corporation with an annual turnover of EUR 10 billion.

Campina merger forms largest diary co-operative


SafeKeeper module stores passwords, encryption keys in ThinkCentre desktops.

IBM Builds In PC Security


com November 4, 2004, 2:38 PM PT. 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.

Hollywood lawsuits to strike Net pirates


Today, T-Mobile Germany officially revealed the launch of the SDA and the new SDA Music Smartphones, based on Windows Mobile 2003.

DEVICES: T-Mobile Germany revealed SDA and SDA Music Smartphones


Reuters - Sprint Corp.  said\on Wednesday it would buy mobile telephone company Nextel\Communications Inc.  for about  #36;36 billion, creating a\U.S. wireless carrier with nearly 40 million subscribers.

Sprint to Buy Nextel in  #36;36 Billion Deal (Reuters)


GREEN BAY, WIS. - Lovie Smith did not take long to fulfill his No. 1 goal of beating Green Bay. But the man who helped him do it wasn #39;t around afterward to celebrate.

Brown TD return tempered by injury to key defender


First consumer version of video-editing product. And there #39;s a new version 3.0 of Photoshop Elements. Adobe has launched Premiere Elements, the first  #39;lite #39; version of its Premier video-editing suite, plus

Adobe launches Premiere  #39;lite #39;


LONDON: The leader of Britain #39;s main opposition party yesterday ordered a legislator to apologise for a magazine article that depicted the people of Liverpool as sentimental victims who nurse a  quot;tribal grievance quot; against the rest of society.

Howard seeks apology over Liverpool article


AP - South Carolina coach Lou Holtz announced Monday he will retire, ending one of the most successful and colorful college football careers.

South Carolina Coach Holtz Gives Up Game (AP)


A new audiotape purportedly from Osama bin Laden appeared on Arabic Web sites Thursday, with the voice on the tape saying the current instability in Saudi Arabia is due to the regime there.

Purported new bin Laden tape surfaces


NEW YORK -- A Secret Service ink expert was acquitted yesterday of lying on the stand at Martha Stewart #39;s trial, a case the homemaking expert seized on in her bid to have her conviction thrown out.

Stewart trial expert acquitted


Malaysia #39;s former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim asked the nation #39;s highest court to set aside a corruption conviction for which he has already served jail time, seeking to clear his name and pave the way for a return to politics.

Malaysia #39;s Anwar Appeals Conviction, Seeks Political Re-Entry


And the Yankees' mystery pitcher for tomorrow's Game 3 is . . . Kevin Brown , who got the nod yesterday over Javier Vazquez , whose last few outings have been shaky.  quot;It took us a while, quot; conceded manager Joe Torre , who went with Brown (10-6, 4.09) based on his playoff experience (11 games) and last ...

Brown will get the call for Game 3


Rivals CVS and Rite Aid have a bitter pill to swallow as Walgreen stays strong.

Walgreen Seeing Green


MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish police on Tuesday arrested an  eighth suspected member of a radical Islamic cell believed to  be plotting an attack on the High Court in Madrid.

Spain Arrests 8th Person in Suspected Bomb Plot


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India failed to agree on the text of the draft agreement on advance notification of missile tests as the expert-level meetings on nuclear CBMs concluded here on Wednesday.

No agreement on missile test draft


Yasser Arafat is hovering between life and death in a coma, Palestinian and French officials say. There was still no official public diagnosis yesterday to explain the Palestinian leaders critical condition.

Arafat  #39;Between Life and Death #39;


Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has reaffirmed that he would block moves to bury Yasser Arafat in Jerusalem, public radio reported Thursday as medical sources said the Palestinian leader was clinically dead.

Israel blocking Arafat burial in Jerusalem


AP - When Sony Corp. President Kunitake Ando showed off the new Walkman meant to counter the assault by Apple's iPod portable music player, he held the prized gadget at the gala event upside down.

IPod Music Player Winning Over Japan Fans (AP)


Boston College's 21-10 victory over Rutgers yesterday was the Eagles' sixth win, making them eligible for a bowl bid. It may even have put them in prime position for a New Year's Day game, even if they lose to West Virginia next week in Morgantown.

New Year's their day?


China #39;s largest telecoms equipment maker, Huawei Technologies, clinched its first European contract for a third-generation mobile network yesterday, underlining its threat to bigger international rivals.

Huawei pushes into Europe with 3G deal


Those too proud to ask another person for directions have a new option. This fall, Honda will release two cars that let drivers ask directions and receive a spoken response from their vehicle. By John Gartner.

Finally, a Car That Talks Back


BAGHDAD, Aug. 29. - Iraqi tribal leaders, Shiite politicians, government officials and US military officers met today for talks aimed at reducing tensions in Sadr City, a day after clashes there killed 10 people.

Peace talks amid fresh violence


The smart phone market will grow more crowded Wednesday with the debut of two devices directed at opposite ends of the customer spectrum: a BlackBerry for consumers with a newfangled

Smart Phone Market Growing More Crowded


United Airlines is adding a \$15 fee for booking frequent-flier trips by telephone.

United Adds Fee for Frequent-Flier Phone Bookings


Hungary #39;s new prime minister looked to have scored a major victory on Sunday when the opposition failed to garner enough votes to pass a referendum giving citizenship to millions of Hungarians abroad.

Hungary PM Set for Victory Over Citizenship Vote


A TAPED message thought to be from al-Qaeda #39;s second in command has urged young Muslims to target Australian interests. The terror network #39;s deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, is believed to be behind the recording, broadcast on Al-Jazeera television.

Australia named in al-Qaeda tape


The day after Sony said it would embrace the world #39;s top digital music format, it appears on the PSP #39;s official spec sheet.

PSP to support MP3s


A Sun engineer chartered with directing the engineering effort to open source Solaris has published a new software license that could be used for the open-source release of Sun #39;s Unix operating system.

Sun submits mystery license to open source group


Maoists rebels have lifted a blockade that cut Nepal #39;s capital Kathmandu off from the rest of the country for a week. In a statement released Tuesday, however, the rebels warned the

Rebels lift blockade, warn of more


AP - Jamaal Tinsley is making the Indiana Pacers his team. Tinsley had 20 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds to lead the suspension- and injury-depleted Pacers to a 106-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.

Depleted Pacers Tip Timberwolves 106-102 (AP)


In Terrorism and Security daily update: Europeans offer nuclear technology if Tehran ends uranium enrichment efforts.

Brits, French, Germans give Iran 'last chance'


A plane carrying members of the Hendrick Motorsports organization was missing Sunday after losing contact with the Federal Aviation Administration on its way to a NASCAR race, and a search was underway for the aircraft.

NASCAR: Hendrick plane missing


Fedex Kinko #39;s Tuesday rolled out free software that connects Windows users to the firm #39;s print centers for ordering printing, binding, and shipping services.

Kinko #39;s Software Connects Windows Apps to Print Centers


Part of the reason anybody believes in quarterback Jeff Garcia's ability to revive the Cleveland Browns stems from a game 21 long months ago.

Giants Face Quarterback Who Broke Their Hearts


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 16 -- Barry Bonds #39;s weight trainer said on a secretly recorded tape that the San Francisco Giants star took an undetectable performance-enhancing drug during the 2003 season, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday.

Trainer Links Bonds to Drugs


Rupert Murdoch is moving. The owner of News Corporation was said yesterday to have offered \$44m (22m) for an elegant, three-level penthouse apartment facing Central Park on Manhattan #39;s fashionable Fifth Avenue.

Rupert Murdoch pays a sky-high 22m for Fifth Avenue penthouse <b>...</b>


THE EU CONSTITUTION: The landmark document, achieved after 28 months of negotiation, aims to provide simpler voting rules to end gridlock in the European Union.

Summary Box: EU Leaders Sign Constitution


Injured junior forward Craig Smith appears probable, while the status of suspended senior guard Jermaine Watson remains uncertain for Boston College's basketball season opener against the University of Maine tonight at 7:30 at Conte Forum, according to a school official.

Smith probable for Eagles' season opener


Microsoft made almost \$3 billion in profit in the past quarter, but it was Google that captured investors #39; fancy yesterday. The current and former Wall Street darlings reported their earnings after the stock

Microsoft profit up 11 percent


BOISE, Idaho - Stronger paper and wood product prices and higher office supply sales offset some losses from the hurricanes in the Southeast to more than double third quarter profits for Boise Cascade Corp.

Higher Sales Boost Boise Cascade Profits


United Airlines, the world #39;s second-largest airline, is recalling nearly 375 flight attendants to increase that work force about 2 percent as it boosts international flights and keeps its aircraft flying for more hours.

United Airlines plans to recall nearly 375 flight attendants


Americans made more payments electronically than with checks in 2003, making it the first year electronic transactions surpassed paper payments, according to studies released Monday by the Federal Reserve #39;s financial services policy committee.

Electronic Payments Surpass Checks


Jamaica #39;s government says it plans to provide free Internet access in poor communities across the island. The e-Jamaica initiative will establish 60 Internet centres across the country by 2010, mostly in post offices.

Jamaica to provide Internet access to poor communities


HP, the world #39;s number two PC maker, said on Friday it has launched a \$483 (about 250) computer in China, turning up the heat in the intensely competitive market.

HP cuts prices for China


TOKYO (Reuters) - An earthquake measuring about 7.3 on the  Richter scale shook western Japan on Sunday, the second strong  quake to hit a area in five hours, and evacuations were ordered  due to approaching tsunamis, broadcaster NHK reported.

Second Strong Quake Hits West Japan, Tsunami Warning


Mexican union workers for Volkswagen AG, Europe #39;s largest carmaker, accepted the company #39;s offer for a 6.1 percent pay increase and will return to work today after going on strike Wednesday, Reforma newspaper said.

Volkswagen #39;s Mexican Workers Accept Pay Increase, Reforma Says


David Marshall  The Celtic goalkeeper continued his rapid rise to fame with his first international start. Blameless at the penalty and was given no chance with Hustzi #39;s stunning second. Unlucky to have Pressley #39;s attempted clearance cannon off him ...

Scotland V Hungary Player Ratings


MOSCOW - Russian investigators found explosive residue on the wreckage of the second of two airliners that crashed minutes apart, a security spokesman said Saturday, adding to evidence that terrorists breached security at one of the country's most up-to-date airports.    The high explosive hexogen was found on the Tu-134 airliner that went down Tuesday south of Moscow, said Sergei Ignatchenko, spokesman for the Federal Security Service, or FSB, Russia's domestic security agency...

Russia Finds Trace Explosives on 2nd Plane


My system configuration is as follows: Pentium IV - 1.60 GH, 128 MB RAM, Windows XP Pro OS, OXP. NAV2003 updated upto August 09, 2004.

Cut n #39; paste and colour codes


InfoWorld - LAS VEGAS -- Geronimo, the open source Java application server in development by the Apache Software Foundation, will provide a malleable technology base amenable to applications such as regulatory compliance systems, according to a technologist working on the project. #160;

Apache Geronimo readied as Java app server (InfoWorld)


Banknorth Group Inc. solicited bids from several other large banks before deciding that a Canadian bank could acquire a majority stake in the company, chief executive William J. Ryan told analysts yesterday.

Banknorth sought other deals


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

Adobe, Yahoo to Integrate Products


PeopleSoft Inc., which is fighting a takeover bid from Oracle Corp., said revenue from new software licenses this quarter has exceeded Oracle #39;s sales of the same kind of products in its most-recent period.

PeopleSoft Says 3rd-Qtr License Revenue Tops Oracle #39;s (Update2)


AFP - Eurozone finance ministers expressed disquiet at a new surge in oil prices with France calling for urgent action by the European Union to address the latest threat to the bloc's economic growth.

Eurozone finance ministers debate action on oil as prices surge (AFP)


LONDON (Reuters) - Disney <A HREF=

Disney's Iger Says Pixar Deal Unlikely


Thousands of Palestinians, many shouting for revenge, buried a Hamas leader who was killed in a car bomb assassination blamed on Israel, while Israel on Monday threatened strikes

Palestinians bury slain Hamas member


THE kidnappers of British aid worker Margaret Hassan last night threatened to turn her over to the group which beheaded Ken Bigley if the British Government refuses to pull its troops out of Iraq.

We #39;ll hand over Hassan to killer of Bigley, warns kidnap group


The Macedonian government wins a vote of no-confidence introduced by the opposition.

Macedonia cabinet survives vote


PC World - Intel-based PCs are shipping now and AMD systems with the technology are on the way.

GeekTech: Picking Your Perfect PCI Express PC (PC World)


Dec. 11--A marriage of Nextel Communications and Sprint could mean significant change for Kirkland-based Nextel Partners as well. Sprint and Nextel Communications are reportedly close to a deal that would create the third-largest US wireless carrier.

Sprint-Nextel Deal Could Impact Kirkland, Wash.-Based Nextel <b>...</b>


Two Australians who attempted to import \$200 million worth of the drug ecstasy will go on trial in Sydney #39;s Central Criminal Court Monday.

Australian drug smugglers go on trial


Betty Lennox scored 23 points to lead the Seattle Storm to their first W.N.B.A. title with a 74-60 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.

Seattle Storm Wins W.N.B.A. Title Over Sun


AT amp;T Wireless #39; messaging device and service was unveiled, targeting teens and young adults who are heavy users of instant messaging (IM).

AT amp;T Wireless Goes With Ogo


ATHENS : Members of Australia #39;s women #39;s eight rowing crew apologised for publicly lambasting teammate Sally Robbins over her mid-race collapse in the Olympic gold medal final.

Olympics: Aussie women #39;s eight apologise for slamming teammate


Cardinal Health Inc., the second-largest distributor of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies in the United States, reported Thursday that first-quarter earnings fell 25 percent because of declines in drug distribution due to drug maker sales

Cardinal 1Q Earnings Fall 25 Percent


A senior Iranian official said on Thursday he was optimistic Iran would halt its uranium enrichment program as Europe demands, in a move aimed

Iran Will Likely Freeze Nuke Enrichment-Official


At first glance, East Lake Golf Club appears to present a cute little par 4 of a finishing hole. Only thing is, the 18th is really a par-3 monster, one that stretches to a whopping 235 yards.

No. 18 provides finishing kick


AP - Divers working under a court order on Wednesday found several pieces of railroad track believed used to sink the bodies of dissidents killed during the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet.

Chile Finds Rails Possibly Used in Deaths (AP)


Tanisha Wright leads Penn State to a 77-71 shocker over second-ranked North Carolina on Sunday with 21 points and seven assists.

Lady Lions Pull Upset


TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average fell to a  one-week low by midsession on Thursday after some tech issues  were hit by a bearish outlook from U.S. chip maker Xilinx Inc.

Nikkei Falls as Xilinx Hits Tech Shares


The Russian oil giant Yukos substantially increased the reserve estimates Friday for its biggest subsidiary, one currently being appraised for sale by the government.

Russian Oil Giant Raises Reserves Estimate Fivefold


AP - So the New York Jets won their first two games. Big deal, right? For this franchise, it is huge.

Jets Enjoy 2-0 Start Heading Into Bye Week (AP)


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - No matter how hard the Toronto Raptors fought or well they shot, the Washington Wizards always found a way to rally back.

Hughes brews a little magic against Raptors


Russian oil company Yukos, possibly making its last stand to prevent Russia from selling its main production unit in a tax dispute, asked a US bankruptcy judge Thursday to block a scheduled auction of the unit.

US bankruptcy judge promises Yukos ruling this week


Khoo writes  quot;A sample program hit the Internet on Wednesday, showing by example how malicious coders could compromise Windows computers by using a flaw in the handling of a widespread graphics format by Microsoft #39;s software.

Public Exploit For Windows JPEG Bug


Afghan interim President Hamid Karzai has been keeping on leading the ballot counting as he garnered 62.6 percent of the votes counted till Wednesday noon, Afghan election website said.

Karzai leading polls with over 1/3 votes counted


com. The last link to the Mariners #39; first playoff team is returning for at least one more season. Catcher Dan Wilson agreed to a one-year contract on Tuesday, several hours before the Mariners

Veteran signs one-year deal to remain in Seattle


The IMF has said it will negotiate with Argentina after  the country's debt swap, that was delayed until 17 January.

Argentina can wait, says IMF


How much is an Olympic gold medal worth? For China's newest sports stars, fresh from triumph in Athens and idolized by a sports-crazy public, the country's ongoing rush to capitalism means they can cash in like never before.

Chinese athletes cash in on gold


AP - In several battleground states across the country, a consulting firm funded by the Republican National Committee has been accused of deceiving would-be voters and destroying Democratic voter registration cards.

GOP Voter Drive Accused of Tossing Cards (AP)


VIENNA (Reuters) - The United States has plenty of fuel in  storage for winter heating thanks to near full-throttle  refinery production, but household energy bills are still  likely to be up sharply, the head of the U.S. Energy  Information Administration (EIA) said on Friday.

EIA Says Heating Oil Bills to Rise


ATHENS (Reuters) - Moroccan duo Hicham El Guerrouj and Adil  Kaouch led the way into the Olympic men's 1,500 meters final  when they each won one of Saturday's semi-finals.

El Guerrouj and Kaouch Lead Into 1,500 Final


Tyco International Ltd. Tuesday said it will take a \$167 million charge after repurchasing \$350 million in convertible bonds. The Bermuda-based industrial conglomerate also backed its forecast for operating

Tyco Cuts Debt by \$350 Million


reporter #39;s notebook SAN FRANCISCO--Hope and cynicism sparred to a draw on Tuesday at the glitzy opening banquet of the Web 2.0 conference here, as serial entrepreneur and reality TV show host Mark Cuban took the stage to talk about what #39;s next for the 10

Mark Cuban raises specter of dot-com redux


Zimbabwe goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro believes it is only a matter of time before he gets a dream move to a top European club. Murambadoro, selected as one of the best players of the 2004 African Cup of Nations

Energy keen to light up Europe


The 16-member panel, appointed after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, said in a long-awaited report that only the U.N. Security Council has the legal standing to authorize such a

U.N. Panel Rejects Bush Stance on Military Action


AMD and Infineon are to spend 170m (\$200m) between them to build a nanotech research facility. According to a Bloomberg report, the R amp;D centre will be located in Dresden, Germany, probably not far from

AMD, Infineon to spend \$200m on nanotech know-how


Ex-soldiers who ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in a deadly revolt said reinforcements are advancing on the capital to halt violence that has killed at least 48 people - a move that threatens conflict with

Haitian ex-soldiers head for capital in confrontation with <b>...</b>


Everett's Matt Nuzzo is a four-year starter at quarterback with an amazing 39-1 record. Everett's all-time passing touchdown leader, Nuzzo is this week's Q  amp; A.

Matt Nuzzo


Carlyle Group Inc., the world #39;s third- biggest buyout fund, agreed to pay \$400 million for 24.9 percent of the life insurance subsidiary of China #39;s third largest insurer, people familiar with the transaction said.

Carlyle, Prudential to Buy China Pacific Life Stake, People Say


Microsoft will release a low-price version of Windows in Russia by the end of the year, an effort to wean consumers in that country off pirated software and Linux.

Russia gets budget version of Windows


Manny Ramirez homered and drove in five runs as the Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 10-7 Saturday for their fifth straight win.

Red Sox Top White Sox


Reuters - A pod of dolphins circled\protectively round a group of New Zealand swimmers to fend off\an attack by a great white shark, media reported on Tuesday.

Dolphins Protect New Zealand Swimmers from Shark (Reuters)


AP - Henrik Stenson shot a 5-under-par 67 Saturday for a one-stroke lead over Swedish countryman Patrik Sjoland after three rounds at The Heritage.

Stenson Leads by a Stroke at the Heritage (AP)


AP - NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith was inactive with a toe injury for the Arizona Cardinals' game at the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Smith Inactive for Arizona Vs. Lions (AP)


Five European Union countries have signed an agreement creating an EU paramilitary force to assist in international peacekeeping missions.

5 EU Countries Agree to Set Up Paramilitary Police Force


Generating Income with Blogs - Blogging for Dollars\\Blogging for dollars might sound like the latest game show or some new drinking game, but it's the latest craze to hit the Internet. Bloggers began blogging for a number of reasons, but as the blog movement has increased in popularity, they have ...


Reuters - Shares of large U.S. and European drug\makers fell on Thursday after a prominent cardiologist\questioned the safety of new arthritis drugs and the\performance of U.S. regulators in monitoring drug safety.

Drug Stocks Fall as Journal Blasts FDA (Reuters)


MySQL developers turn to an unlikely source for database tool: Microsoft. Patch readies Linux for cell phones, DVD players. Also: SGI visualizes Linux.

Gizmos, graphics get open source options


SEATTLE (Reuters) - The next version of the Windows  operating system, Microsoft Corp.'s <A HREF=

Microsoft Targets 2006 for Next Windows


Boston -- There were no new concession speeches or genealogy reports issued yesterday by Pedro Martinez. Nothing more needed to be said.

Pedro knows his daddy


Voters are due to cast their ballots on Wednesday in key elections in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

Key Indian state to go to polls


Yukos can succeed in postponing the auction of Yuganskneftegaz on December 19 if the court rules in its favor in the case where the Russian oil giant seeks US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Yukos could still rescue its main asset with help from US judge


ARLINGTON, Va. US Airways says it plans to cut 45 (m) million dollars a year in pay and benefits in a move the airline hopes will convince its union employees to accept 950 (m) million dollars in annual cost cuts.

Pay, benefits cuts announced for airline management


BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi prime minister insisted Sunday that the raging insurgency - which has claimed 300 lives in the last week alone and resulted in a wave of kidnappings - will not delay January elections, promising the vote will strike a

Iraq Leader Says Violence Won't Stop Vote


ATHENS - American swimmer Michael Phelps collected two more gold medals Tuesday, but even he knew he wasn #39;t the story of the day from the Summer Olympics in Athens.

UA #39;s Beard swims to silver in medley debut


AP - Scientists have completed another round of tests on a process that would turn nuclear waste stored in underground tanks at the Hanford nuclear site into glass for long-term disposal.

Scientists Complete More Tests at Hanford (AP)


A record play helped the Cleveland Browns get their record to .500. Oh, and playing the Cincinnati Bengals didn #39;t hurt, either.

Browns 34, Bengals 17


Shares in pharmaceutical company Elan soared in early trading this morning after a newspaper report that US company Biogen was considering a bid for the company.

Elan jumps on Biogen bid report


Reuters - Thousands of supporters of Ukraine's\opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, celebrated on the streets\in the early hours on Monday after an exit poll showed him\winner of a bitterly fought presidential election.

Liberals Celebrate as Ukraine Waits Poll Result (Reuters)


CHICAGO (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp. <A HREF=

McDonald's Earnings Rise, Stock Up


AP - Bryan Randall threw for 304 yards and two long touchdowns in the fourth quarter as No. 22 Virginia Tech, stifled much of the night, rallied for a 34-20 victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday.

No. 22 Va. Tech Rallies Past Ga. Tech (AP)


Congress has asked the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to look into spam reduction measures, including a  quot;Do Not Spam quot; list idea passed with the CAN-SPAM Act.

FTC wants spammer bounties


Cape Clear Software this week is upgrading its ESB with the release of Cape Clear 6, enabling development of business process workflows based on BPEL.
ADVERTISEMENT

<img src=

Cape Clear boosts business processes in ESB


He was, as usual, ready with a monologue that played well in Burlington or Barre or anywhere else in a state where he has become a beloved figure, known for his quick wit and engaging personality.

Brennan has the last word


Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch/Shell has evacuated non-essential staff from two flow stations in the Niger delta, where government forces have been attacking rebel militia, a company spokesman said on Friday.

Shell evacuates staff from Nigerian delta conflict


Gov. Schwarzenegger takes a political risk and endorses a \$3 billion California bond measure that would fund embryonic stem-cell research.

California Pumps Up Stem Cells


AP - Plant geneticist Ted Hymowitz knew that finding an allergy-free soybean would take a painstaking search through thousands of varieties. So Hymowitz got a grant, fetched a hammer and pounded away until he proved he was right.

Researchers Find Allergy-Free Soybean (AP)


HUNTSVILLE, Texas A former high school football star has been executed in Texas for a 1994 slaying. Demarco McCullum was arrested the day that he was supposed to leave for a junior college where he had an athletic scholarship.

Former high school football star executed for slaying Houston man


Toledo (8-3) vs. Miami (ohio) When, where: Tonight, 7:30, at Ford Field, Detroit. TV: ESPN.

Tonight on TV


Softening a surprise, pushing stocks and yen lower; economists say there #39;s little cause for alarm. TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan revised downward second-quarter economic growth Friday to 0.3 percent from an initial

Japan #39;s 2Q GDP revised downward


AP - Florida A amp;M won't extend the contract of football coach Billy Joe beyond the 2005-06 season.

Florida A M Coach Joe Won't Get Extension (AP)


Ichiro, with 914 hits since his rookie year in 2001, is currently on pace to set the record for most hits over any four-year span in the majors.

American League Game Summary - Seattle at Oakland


GAME NOTES: The fourth-ranked Miami Hurricanes head to the Tar Heel State for the second straight week, as they invade Chapel Hill on Saturday, where they will meet up with the North Carolina Tar Heels in ACC action from Kenan Stadium.

Prediction: Miami-Florida 38, North Carolina 15


NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Boeing Co. #39;s third-quarter earnings rose 78 percent on higher sales of communications equipment to the US military and better commercial aircraft profits.

Revenue growth of 8 stronger than expected


A lunar eclipse. A World Series victory after 86 years for the Boston Red Sox. For the Democratic faithful, it was an unmistakable omen: Senator John Kerry, locked for weeks in a dead heat with US President George W. Bush, now had the stars on his side.

Democratic faithful see omens pointing to Kerry win


The rampage at the Islas Malvinas Middle School No. 2 in the south-eastern corner of Buenos Aires province touched off an intense nationwide debate about spiralling school violence in Argentina.

Teen kills 3 classmates.


LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar struggled up from a one-month  low against the euro on Wednesday after the U.S. central bank  raised interest rates, as expected, but indicated little rush  for more aggressive hikes in the coming months.

Dollar Struggles Up After Stumble


Hitachi, Toshiba and Matsushita have reached a basic agreement to jointly establish a company they are currently calling the JV, to manufacture and sell LCD panels for flat-panel TVs, with operations to commence in January.

Hitachi, Toshiba, Matsushita Launch \$1B Joint LCD Venture


The adapter works with the recently launched Gigaset C340/345 and Gigaset CX340/345isdn, Gigaset S440/445 and Gigaset SX440/445isdn, Gigaset S645 and Gigaset SL440.

Skype Internet Telephony Goes Cordless; Siemens and Skype Combine <b>...</b>


AP - As a child, Tom McGannon always had the most decorated house on the block during the Halloween season. At 36, he still does, but the decorations are more high-tech.

Halloween Evolves Into High-Tech Holiday (AP)


All facts,challenges and problems considered, and there are many (from the security issue to the mobilization of a brand new free nations with very little if at all infrastructure and functioning civil society to ethnic, economical and political factor

Karzai #39;s amnesty offer to Taliban


IT was a given that someone of influence within Pakistan cricket would seek to destabilise their national team before a ball was bowled in the Test series with Australia.

Miandad #39;s sniping runs true to form


Media group Hollinger International says senior executives, including former chief Conrad Black, took \$400m of its money.

Hollinger executives 'took \$400m'


Andre Agassi posted his second consecutive straight-set win, advancing to the quarterfinals of the US\$822,000 Stockholm Open on Thursday.

Agassi cruises


ATHENS - Jamaican Veronica Campbell became the first Jamaican and Caribbean woman ever to win an Olympic sprint gold when she captured the 200 metres at the 2004 Athens Olympics yesterday.

Campbell takes gold


AP - St. Louis righty Julian Tavarez broke his left hand during a dugout tantrum in Game 4 of the NL championship series, and it was uncertain Monday when the reliever would pitch again.

Tavarez Breaks Hand After Leaving Game 4 (AP)


The EU is set to back former trade commissioner Pascal Lamy for the top job at the WTO. A meeting of trade chiefs from the 25 member states agreed on the Frenchmans candidacy on Tuesday.

Lamy gets EU backing for WTO


FOXBOROUGH -- For the Patriots, the game had been won. But for the Patriots' defense, there was still something at stake in yesterday's contest with the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium.

They were playing for pride


Next in the hot seat we have Mr Redknapp. Your first question Mr Redknapp, for 3 points, is how on earth are you going to rescue Southampton from relegation this season?

Prem Preview: Southampton  Middlesbrough


The second and final week of a Delaware court trial relating to Oracle Corp.'s hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft Inc. turned into an extended negotiating session between the two sides. Oracle executives criticized PeopleSoft's business in an apparent attempt to drive down PeopleSoft's selling price, while PeopleSoft rewrote for the sixth time the controversial

PeopleSoft awaits Delaware court ruling


The two companies reach a settlement and sign a cross-licensing agreement, ending years of litigation over patent infringement.\

Proxim, Symbol settle in patent case


May Department Stores (MAY:NYSE - news - research) reported dismal third-quarter results Tuesday, weighed down by its acquisition of Marshall Field #39;s and negative sales trends.

Profit Tumbles at May Department Stores


The U.K. government will launch a Parliamentary inquiry next year into the practicalities of electronic voting.

UK to launch Parliamentary inquiry into future e-voting


AFP - Thousands of people in costume took to the streets of western Germany as the annual carnival season started with a series of events that will go on until February.

Germany's carnival season bursts into life (AFP)


ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. - The owner of a wildlife sanctuary was injured by a 350-pound Siberian tiger that was startled by a 14-year-old boy at a county fair, officials said Sunday.

Man hurt keeping his tiger from teen


SAN JOSE, CALIF. - Hoping to accelerate the deployment of a new wireless technology, Intel announced Monday it #39;s invested in a venture started by billionaire Craig McCaw to deliver high-speed Internet service over the airwaves.

Wireless venture has Intel onboard


LONDON, England -- Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan has been charged by the Football Association with verbally abusing referee Steve Dunn after his side #39;s 4-3 defeat at Newcastle.

Critical Keegan charged by the FA


The pension fund of New York State filed suit in federal court accusing Merck of misleading shareholders about the safety of its pain reliever, Vioxx.

New York Pension Fund Sues Merck Over Vioxx


Reuters - The U.S. House of Representatives on\Tuesday voted to support a Bush administration plan to allow\the use of Mexican identification cards to open U.S. bank\accounts.

House Backs Bush on Mexican ID Cards (Reuters)


Liverpool defeated last year #39;s finalist Monaco 2-0 Wednesday, with goals from Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros giving new Reds #39; coach Rafa Benitez a perfect start in his Champions League campaign.

Champions: Liverpool defeats Monaco 2-0


British heavyweight hope Danny Williams believes the key to beating WBC champion Vitali Klitschko and becoming the heavyweight champion of the world in Las Vegas on December 11 is his hunger and desire to succeed.

Williams  #39;Hungary #39; for success


More than half of the latest vulnerabilities to IT systems are commonly identified loopholes that organisations have failed to fix, since discovering them last year.

Hackers use old tricks to sting business


Two goals from Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic kept Werder Bremen #39;s Group G hopes very much alive. Anderlecht went ahead through Christian Wilhelmsson near the half-hour but Klasnic struck either side of the

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REPORTS


Firefox Threatens IE in the Browser Market\\Mozilla is starting to pose a threat to Microsoft's Internet Explorer after years of being the darling of a strange mix of AOL enthusiasts and techies. This week Mozilla released the preview of FireFox 1.0, and with more web surfers becoming browser savvy, a ...


CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (Ticker) - University of North Carolina football players Adarius Bowman, Fred Sparkman and Isaiah Thomas have been suspended indefinitely from all team activities after being cited for marijuana possession, the school announced

Three UNC players suspended for marijuana


Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday said it has scrapped a 5-year-old project to move suppliers over to an Internet-based purchasing system powered by Oracle Corp. software, deciding instead to revert back to its custom-built system.

Ford Drops Oracle-based Purchasing System


Reuters - The Jacksonville\Jaguars cut another defensive end, this time releasing veteran\Hugh Douglas on Monday.

Jaguars Sever Ties with Hugh Douglas (Reuters)


Royal Bank of Canada Chief Executive Officer Gordon Nixon replaced three senior bankers and hired the head of the Toronto Stock Exchange, overhauling senior management at Canada #39;s largest bank after a slump in the US eroded profit.

Royal Bank Hires Stymiest From TSX in Executive Shakeup


NEW YORK - The baby mama drama just won't stop for P. Diddy...

P. Diddy Talks About Child Support Lawsuit


Anthem Inc. (ATH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has received a subpoena from the Connecticut attorney general in connection with the state #39;s probe into insurance broker fees, the health insurer said on Tuesday.

UPDATE 2-Anthem gets subpoena from Connecticut atty general


Poppy cultivation and opium production will continue to increase in Afghanistan, expanding the dangerous influence of drug lords at all levels of the government of President

Afghans #39; Gains Face Big Threat in Drug Traffic


UK brokerage Cazenove effectively gave up 181 years of independence on Friday when it sealed a joint venture with JP Morgan Chase  amp; Co.

Cazenove Loses Independence with JPM Deal


Hackers wasted little time in exploiting a flaw in the way Microsoft software handles graphics files. Internet watchers say they #39;ve spotted infected images that could implant a back door into a Windows computer if they are viewed.

Week in review: A snapshot of the new virus


Anticipation built for weeks beforehand. The city government of Paris, with 17,000 desktop PCs and hundreds of servers, was mulling a technology shift that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago: retiring Microsoft Corp.

Not So Fast, Linux


A new world power has arisen to stun the masses with its might. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the latest addition to the Grand Theft Auto series on Playstation 2, will blow the minds of gamers.

San Andreas shoots up more than gaming sales charts


Asian stocks advanced after oil prices fell from a record Friday in New York, easing concern higher energy costs will damp consumer spending and corporate profits.

Asian Stocks Rise After Oil Drops From Record; Toyota Gains


BIG TIN firm Sun is planning a brave new world where computing power is sold as a commodity and spare capacity is flogged off to other companies.

Sun wants computing to be commodity


SanDisk announces that it plans to supply Samsung Electronics with 32MB miniSD cards for its SPH-S2300 cell phone.

SanDisk to supply Samsung with MiniSD


The firm scraps an alliance with Moxell to bring Motorola-branded plasma TVs, LCD TVs and monitors to North America and China.

Motorola sinks TV dreams


Egypt yesterday freed an Israeli Arab businessman, convicted of spying, in exchange for Israel #39;s release of six Egyptian students.

Egypt frees alleged spy in Israel deal


AP - Alitalia said Thursday it has reached an agreement with unions representing its ground crew staff to cut 2,500 jobs and freeze pay increases, moving a step closer to approving a crucial restructuring plan.

Alitalia Ground Crew Unions Agree to Cuts (AP)


PHILADELPHIA - Donovan McNabb didn't need much of Terrell Owens on Monday night. Daunte Culpepper could have used a lot more of Randy Moss...

Eagles Clobber Vikings 27-16


John Ashcroft and Don Evans are the first members of President Bush's cabinet to leave as he heads into his second term.

Attorney General and Commerce Secretary Resign From Cabinet


AP - Jason Campbell passed for 194 yards in the first half and No. 9 Auburn beat The Citadel 33-3 Saturday, coasting in its sandwich game between a pair of high-stakes contests.

Ninth-Ranked Auburn Outguns Citadel 33-3 (AP)


Isn't Napier the logarithm guy? Yes indeed. A man of varied  talents, he popularized the modern decimal point notation and argued  that the Pope of 1593 was the Antichrist.    And created one of the first devices to automate binary  arithmetic. Using nothing more than a chessboard and some counters, he  developed ways to multiply, divide and even find the square roots of  binary numbers.

Napier's Chessboard Calculator


The software giant settles one legal claim with Novell over NetWare, but can't reach a deal over a second issue involving WordPerfect.

Microsoft to pay Novell \$536 million settlement


AP - Southern India's Kerala state plans to create a 1,000-acre (400-hectare) zone called

High-Tech City to Go Up in Southern India (AP)


AP - Congress has approved spending another  #36;2.6 million to research putting Asian oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.

Congress OKs  #36;2.6M for Oyster Research (AP)


The bidding war for bankrupt ATA Airlines #39; assets heated up on Friday when Southwest Airlines offered at least \$100 million in cash and loans for gates at Chicago #39;s Midway Airport and an alliance with ATA, its main rival there.

Update 1: Southwest Offers \$100M for ATA Assets


AFP - US investment banking giant Goldman Sachs has offered to buy stakes in Japan's biggest consumer finance firm Takefuji Corp. for more than 300 billion yen (2.8 billion dollars), a report said.

Goldman Sachs offers to buy stakes in Japan's Takefuji (AFP)


Australia #39;s cricketers, seeking a first Test series win in India for 35 years, will take four days off to ease fatigue before the third match next Tuesday.

Australia Gives Cricketers Holiday Before Third Test in India


Gerry DiNardo was fired as Indiana #39;s football coach after a 3-8 season that ended with a 63-24 loss to Purdue, the Hoosiers #39; seventh defeat in eight years to their state rival.

Indiana Fires DiNardo As Football Coach


Baltimore Ravens are still the odds-on favourites to win the AFC North despite losing at home to a rejuvenated Kansas City Chiefs.

NFL: AFC NORTH BETTING ODDS SET FOR MAJOR CHANGE?


AFP - Britain's defending Olympic Games heptathlon champion Denise Lewis withdrew from the event after the fifth discipline.

Britain's Lewis out of heptathlon (AFP)


Managers of Dulles International and Baltimore-Washington International airports reportedly are considering using private contracted screeners.

Two DC airports mull private security


With most technical issues resolved and giants like Vodafone signing up customers, 2005 could be the year when third-generation (3G) mobile services finally gain a global audience.

3G mobile service set for take-off


Google has finally announced Google Desktop Search, a search application that enables users to search their email, files, web history, and chats.

Google Desktop Search Has Arrived


Reuters - The U.N. Security Council, on a\high-profile visit to the Kenyan capital, expects Sudan and its\southern opposition on Thursday to promise to complete by Dec.\31 a comprehensive peace agreement ending a 21-year civil war.

UN Council Wants Sudan Peace Deal by End of Year (Reuters)


Palestinian officials have disbanded a Gaza security force feared by civilians, says a security official, marking a step toward reforms ahead of an election to choose a successor to Yasser Arafat.

Palestinians disband feared security force


The Cassini spacecraft is set to buzz through the upper atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan on Tuesday, using high-tech cameras to peek at its mysterious surface.

Cassini Probe to Fly by Saturn's Moon Titan Tuesday


Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says a state funeral will be held next week for cricketing great Keith Miller, who died on Monday on the Mornington Peninsula.

Miller to receive state funeral


BRITAIN #39;S Beagle 2 mission to Mars was last night blasted as a shambles done  quot;on the cheap quot;. The lander was scheduled to touch down on Christmas Day last year and search for past and present life.

UK MARS MISSION BLASTED


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc. said on Tuesday it will buy  music software company Musicmatch Inc. for about \$160 million  in cash, bolstering Yahoo's offering as online music providers  prepare to go head-to-head in the download market.

Yahoo to Buy Musicmatch for \$160 Million


Post reporters Sara Goo and Keith Alexander share holiday travel stories and discuss how the airlines handled what was one of the biggest holiday travel fiascos in years.

Holiday Air Travel


LONDON: Talk about a Middle East peace conference in London early next year is  quot;premature, quot; a spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said last night.

UK plays down Mideast talks


US officials are taking steps to head off fears that terrorists could use portable anti-aircraft missiles to shoot down civilian airliners.

Work Begins on US Missile Defense for Commercial Airliners


Iraqi kidnappers of seven employees of a Kuwaiti company said in a video statement on Thursday they would release the captives once their employer halted operations in Iraq, Al Arabiya television reported.

TV: Iraq Group to Free 7 Employees of Kuwait Firm


(Article Central) The UK #39;s Consumers #39; Association has referred Apple #39;s iTunes to the Office of Fair Trading, claiming the song shop is overcharging its UK users.

UK Apple #39;s iTunes Complaints


IBM will offer a range of new services to help industrial firms respond to retail and government pressure to implement radio-frequency identification.

IBM Expands RFID Services for Manufacturers


The European Union (EU) and the South American Mercosur trade bloc failed to reach an agreement aimed at creating the world #39;s largest free trade area, negotiatorssaid late on Wednesday.

EU, Mercosur fail to reach trade pact, deadline extended


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - AT T Corp. <A HREF=

AT T to Cut About 7,400 Jobs


Google Launches Beta Version of its own GMail Notifier\\So, there are already a thousand applications out there which notify you of a new email on your GMail account... but may be like me you too avoided all of them for fear of them getting redundant with time. Google thought so ...


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

Windows XP Security Update Delayed (AP)


Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of Cisco Systems, and the company's CEO, John Chambers, took the time this week to talk about where his company has been, mistakes it has made and where it's going now.

Q A Part 1: Cisco's John Chambers at company's 20-year mark


Crude oil rose in New York after reports said unions in Nigeria, the fifth-biggest supplier to the US, called a strike this month to disrupt the country #39;s oil exports.

Crude Oil Rises After Nigerian Unions Call Strike to Cut Supply


Companies providing software that helps music and movie lovers trade files with each other can #39;t be held financially responsible for copyright theft resulting from the trading, a federal court in Los Angeles ruled yesterday.

Peer-to-peer networks win ruling


NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Recent missteps by a Canadian bank #39;s incursion into US territory aren #39;t dampening the momentum of an invasion from the North.

Main banks look to US mergers for profits


The US Labor Department on Friday issued its employment report for November, showing slower job growth than had been expected. Only 112,000 new jobs were created, compared to forecasts of 180,000.

US jobs and sales figures indicate weakening economy


US jobs data will be the biggest show in town next week as speculation mounts as to whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in September.

ECONOMY WEEKAHEAD-All Eyes on US Jobs Report


NEW YORK - US prosecutors are looking into possible improper employment-related contacts between the head of Boeing Co.s defense unit and a high-ranking Air Force official, the Wall Street Journal said on Friday, citing unnamed people familiar with the

US prosecutors probing Boeing defense chief


While expressing anger at calls to halt its uranium enrichment activities, Iran still found a way to keep the door open for dialogue.

Push and pull


AP - Sixth-seeded Gisela Dulko of Argentina beat Aniko Kapros of Hungary 6-4, 6-1 Monday in the first round of the China Open.

Dulko Easily Beats Kapros at China Open (AP)


American Online (AOL) is releasing a new, more secure browser. Included in the package are a firewall, antivirus and a popup blocker all courtesy of McAfee - also included are dozens of other small utilities designed to keep users safe.

AOL 9.0 is Security Minded


Intel and Microsoft are reportedly teaming up for a year-end marketing blitz to educate consumers about new digital entertainment-oriented PCs and other associated gadgets.

Intel and Microsoft to spread  quot;Digital Joy quot; for the holidays


A second bankruptcy filing comes after a month of warnings and a failure to secure labor concessions.

Is US Airways Grounded?


THE online music generation will become the legitimate test of the top 20 chart toppers next week when Virgin and BBC Radio One launch shows featuring tracks downloaded from the internet.

Online hits climb the charts as radio embraces the internet age


TDK will start selling new 400GB data storage cartridges based on the LTO (Linear Tape-Open) Ultrium 3 format in Japan and elsewhere from the middle of November.

TDK launches 400GB data cartridge


washingtonpost.com - Early this month, several Web sites began offering software promising ringtones and screensavers for certain cell phones. But those who downloaded the software found that it turned every icon on their cell phones' screens into a skull-and-crossbones and disabled their phones, so they could no longer send or receive text messages or access contact lists or calendars.

Cell Phones Increasingly Attractive To Hackers (washingtonpost.com)


Nearly a year after agreeing to buy FleetBoston Financial Corp., Bank of America Corp. has found it still has a lot of explaining to do in New England.

Problems Plague Bank of America #39;s Fleet Merger


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A car bomb killed two American soldiers  and wounded eight when it exploded in Baghdad on Saturday, the  U.S. military said in a statement.

Two U.S. Soldiers Killed by Baghdad Car Bomb


Millions more health workers are needed if global health is going to be improved over the next decade, a study says.

World 'short of health workers'


Willie Randolph walked into Shea Stadium on Thursday and was introduced as the first African-American manager of a major league team in New York.

Mets and Randolph Launch a New Era


The new broom busily at work in Formula One has swept the British Grand Prix back on the calendar. At a meeting in London described as unprecedented by F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone

Silverstone gets green light for GP next year


Think you get spam? Imagine having an Internet profile like Bill Gates. The Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) chairman gets millions of e-mails every day, according to Chief Executive Steve Ballmer.

Gates: Even Microsoft Master Is Plagued By  #39;Spam #39;


Barbara Stymiest has resigned as chief executive of TSX Group Inc. to assume the newly created role of chief operating officer at Royal Bank of Canada.

Stymiest quits TSX for Royal


Tech stocks were mixed for the holiday week, with analyst revisions moving key sector players. Intel (nasdaq: INTC - news - people ) shares fell tumbled Tuesday after Credit Suisse First Boston lowered the

Intel Slammed As Apple Becomes More Appealing


KHARTOUM, Aug 18 (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Wednesday it was very concerned by Sudan #39;s lack of practical progress in bringing security to Darfur, where more than a million people have fled their homes for fear of militia ...

UN concerned by lack of Darfur progress on ground


TALLADEGA - With Jeff Gordon coasting to victory, behind a pace car and ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr., fans frustrated with a finish under caution littered Talladega Superspeedway with debris after the race in April.

It #39;s nothing but trouble #39;


News Corporation management and shareholders have begun gathering in Adelaide for what is expected to be the company #39;s last annual general meeting in Australia.

News Corp AGM begins in Adelaide


AP - Ray Whitney scored for the second straight game and added an assist, helping the World Stars rebound from a lopsided loss and beat Swedish champion HV71 5-1 on Friday.

World Stars Defeat Sweden's HV71, 5-1 (AP)


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel plans to build more than 530  new settler homes in the West Bank after Washington signaled it  would accept growth in Jewish enclaves in the occupied  territory, Israeli political sources said on Monday.

Israel Plans 530 New Settler Homes in W.Bank-Sources


The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 3.3 percent in the spring, the government reported Wednesday. That was significantly better than a previous estimate but still the weakest showing in more than a year.

2Q Economic Growth Pegged at 3.3


Mattel and a Japanese manufacturer have adopted these high-rise chips. Will Nintendo be next?<br /> Photos: Matrix's high-rise chips

Matrix's 3D memory chips target game devices


The nation's largest bookseller reports a fall in earnings and completes a spinoff.

Barnes   Noble Gives Up GameStop


DoubleClick Inc., the online advertising provider whose one-time soaring share price made it one of Manhattan #39;s most well-known faces of the dot-com era, said late Sunday that it has hired an investment bank to explore a possible sale.

Online ad provider exploring a sale


Afghanistan #39;s transitional leader Hamid Karzai has won the war-shattered country #39;s first-ever presidential election. the announcement came after a special panel endorsed the election results as free and fair.

Karzai Becomes Afghanistan #39;s First Elected President


SYDNEY : Global media giant News Corp caved in to investor pressure and adopted a series of corporate reforms aimed at averting a shareholder revolt over its plan to relocate from Australia to the US state of Delaware.

News Corp adopts raft of governance changes to secure move to US


Reuters - A controversial U.S. shipment of\bomb-grade plutonium escorted by armed British commandos has\set sail for France, despite protests from environmental\activists who fear a terrorist attack or an accident.

U.S. Nuclear Shipment En Route to France (Reuters)


AP - NASA thinks its Mars rovers just might keep going and going and going. The space agency has funded another extension of their mission, for an additional six months, if they last.

NASA Extends Mars Rover Mission 6 Months (AP)


CHICAGO (CBS.MW) - The dollar moved higher Monday in the wake of little new policy direction from a weekend meeting of finance ministers and central bankers from the world #39;s economic powers.

Dollar gains after G-7 meetingCurrency market awaits US payrolls <b>...</b>


A FORMER senior Defence Department bureaucrat last night backed her former colleague Michael Scrafton #39;s version of a phone call with John Howard over the children overboard affair.

Ex-colleague backs Scrafton on PM #39;s call


MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (API.AU) said Monday it agreed to buy health, beauty and lifestyle retailer New Price Retail for A\$112.

Australia #39;s API Buys New Price Chain For A\$112.4M -2


National Grid Transco (NGT), the UK gas and electricity distributor, announced today a sale price of 5.8 billion (\$10.4 billion) in cash and 130 million in liabilities for four of its local gas distribution networks.

Transco to sell 4 gas networks for \$10.4 bn


On Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort  amp; Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada Winky Wright defends his WBC and WBA Junior Middleweight titles against former IBF Lightweight, WBC

Boxing Preview: Ronald  #39;Winky #39; Wright vs.  #39;Sugar #39; Shane Mosley for <b>...</b>


British entrepreneur Richard Branson said Monday that his Virgin company plans to launch commercial space flights over the next few years.

Virgin to Launch Commercial Space Flights


PRINCETON, New Jersey  #39;Everyone wants to go to Baghdad; real men want to go to Tehran. quot; That was the attitude in Washington two years ago, when Ahmad Chalabi was assuring everyone that Iraqis would greet US troops with flowers.

Paul Krugman: A no-win situation in Iraq


Malicious hackers have once again compromised The SCO Groups website, the second time in as many days. The messages on the website appear to mock the companys ownership claims over various parts of the Linux operating system.

SCO Website Defaced Again


NEW YORK - A sudden, measurable decline in market share in any product over the course of a few months says something, even if that product is one whose producer still holds about 90 of the market in question.

The Firefox Surge


Jet Propulsion Lab -- A new NASA mission will scan the entire sky in infrared light in search of nearby cool stars, planetary construction zones and the brightest galaxies in the universe.     Called the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, the mission has been approved to proceed into the preliminary design phase as the next in NASA's Medium-class Explorer program of lower cost, highly focused, rapid-development scientific spacecraft...

NASA Approves Mission to Seek Nearest Stars, Brightest Galaxies


Riding the tail of a shark, DreamWorks Animation Inc. arrives on Wall Street today in the most high-profile entertainment company initial public offering in years.

DreamWorks Animation debuts today


It started to sink in for Matt Leinart as he shook the hands behind the stage. About two dozen past Heisman Trophy winners gathered in a ballroom here at the Hilton New York last night to welcome the newest member of their fraternity.

LEINART #39;S LANDSLIDE


See why scientists are adopting Apple technology when they need the power of high-perfomrance computing. Aug 27

Workgroup Cluster for Bioinformatics Video


Opportunity, one of NASA #39;s two Mars rovers, struggled to get up the side of Endurance Crater. It spun its wheels, digging deep holes in the stadium-size crater #39;s  quot;sand trap.

Rovers struggle with sandy slopes, solar winter


Controversial new rules regarding overtime pay went into effect Monday, with the Bush administration and labor advocates squabbling over how many US workers are affected.

Battle engaged over new OT rules


Nearly 20 percent of US Food and Drug Administration scientists surveyed in late 2002 said they were pressured to approve or recommend approval of a medicine despite

Some FDA Staff Had Drug Safety Concerns-Survey


PARIS/TOULOUSE, France (Reuters) - Airbus is eager to  produce a rival to Boeing Co.'s new 7E7 passenger jet and hopes  to make an announcement by the end of the year, the European  planemaker said on Tuesday.

Airbus Looks to Challenge Boeing's 7E7


LONDON: British oil and gas firm Cairn Energy is on the verge of entering the elite group of blue-chip companies (FTSE-100). It #39;s saluting its Rajasthan reserves of oil for rising fortunes.

Rajasthan black gold makes Cairns glitter


IN LIFE he was feared and revered, but in death the father of Chinas 20-year economic miracle and crusher of Tiananmen Square had assumed iconic status.

China takes a great leap backwards for Deng


Wall Street got the blues yesterday and took it out on blue chip stocks amid concerns about declining corporate profits, recent oil price spikes and an expected boost today in short-term interest rates by the Federal Reserve.

Muddling #39; economy suffers bad day: Several factors contributed <b>...</b>


A theory is gaining traction among frequent travelers that hotels are intentionally blocking their cellphone signals.

The Cellphone That Doesn't Work at the Hotel


SAMARRA, Iraq - US and Iraqi forces in Samarra on Sunday finished retaking the last insurgent-controlled neighborhood, completing a relentless three-day push through this ancient city in a first step toward wresting control of important central Iraqi

US, Iraq control Samarra


KABUL : With more than half the ballots in Afghanistan #39;s presidential election counted and outright victory virtually assured for incumbent Hamid Karzai, attention has turned to when the winner can be declared and how opposition candidates will react.

Karzai victory almost sealed, opposition awaits inquiry


ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (Sports Network) - Jeff Reed kicked five  field goals and James Harrison returned a fumble for a  touchdown, as the Pittsburgh Steelers completed the best season  in franchise history and knocked the Buffalo Bills out of  playoff contention with a 29-24 victory at Ralph Wilson  Stadium.

NFL Wrap: Steelers End Bills' Playoff Hopes


Sept. 15, 2004 - The respected science journal Nature posed 15 questions to President George W. Bush and Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry on key science issues.

Bush, Kerry Go Head to Head on Science


A homeless teenager who hid in the landing gear of a passenger plane survived a 700-kilometre flight across south-western China but his companion fell and probably died, state media reported on Friday.

Teen flies in plane #39;s landing gear


com. When Giants pitcher Jerome Williams gave up a leadoff double to Ramon Vazquez to start Thursday night #39;s game, a San Diego broadcaster commented,  quot;Jerome doesn #39;t look that overpowering and doesn #39;t look comfortable on the mound.

Giants take share of Wild Card lead


KABUL (Reuters) - Three foreign U.N. workers held hostage  in Afghanistan were freed unharmed Tuesday, almost four weeks  after they were abducted at gunpoint on the streets of the  capital Kabul, the United Nations said.

Three U.N. Hostages Freed in Afghanistan


US and Afghan soldiers have raided houses in downtown Kabul early Monday in an operation aimed at releasing three foreign UN hostages, who were abducted last month.

US, Afghan forces search for UN hostages in Kabul


WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Consumer sentiment eroded in late September, according to media reports Friday of proprietary research from the University of Michigan.

Univ. of Michigan September sentiment falls to 94.2


The president stays ahead, despite surging enthusiasm for Kerry among Democrats.

Bush Has a 5-Point Lead In Latest Poll


An explosion at a Hilton resort hotel frequented by Israelis on Egypt #39;s Red Sea coast near the border with Israel left many, many #39; #39; wounded, Israel #39;s Magen David Adom emergency medical service said.

Explosion at Hotel Near Israel Leaves Many #39; Wounded (Update1)


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices slid more than a dollar to  7-week lows on Tuesday as growing signs of ample supply eased  concerns over fuel stocks for the northern winter.

Oil Price Dive Deepens as Supplies Swell


NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Val Ackerman is stepping down  as WNBA President after serving in that capacity for eight  seasons. The resignation is effective February 1, 2005.

WNBA President Ackerman Steps Down


AIG, the world's largest insurer,  is the target of a criminal investigation, accused of helping a client commit fraud.

Giant insurer under investigation


German airline Lufthansa posted a euro125 million (US\$155 million) net profit in the third quarter, more than making up losses from a year ago thanks to stronger demand for air travel, the company said Thursday.

Update 2: Germany #39;s Lufthansa Posts 3Q Profit


Fulham full-back Moritz Volz will not face police action after he collided with a pensioner during the Premiership match with Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Volz in the clear over injury to fan


OIL retreated further from its \$US53 a barrel threshold in early Asian trade today, but players in the market remained edgy about tight supplies heading into North America #39;s winter heating season.

Crude oil close to record


There was a missed field goal. A turnover inside the 15. Two drives that started in Bills territory that ended with just three points.

Jets 16, Bills 14


The Jets announced on Wednesday that wide receiver/punt returner Santana Moss is questionable for Sunday #39;s game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Moss questionable for Sunday


Tennessee at South Carolina (11:30 am): The 11th-ranked Volunteers (6-1, 4-1 SEC) continue on the road to Atlanta despite a misfiring offense.

SEC PREVIEW


Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers have all thrown their weight behind high definition DVD, which was developed by Toshiba and NEC.

DVD Format War Intensifies