A small, fully functional, 70-megabit static random access memory computer chip crammed with more than 500,000,000 transistors has been developed by researchers at Intel Corp.

Intel crams 500M transistors on a chip


Chips are being credited with keeping the Nasdaq and, by extension, our InformationWeek 100 above water at the close. But in reality, the Nasdaq passed most of Monday much higher than the mean sea level.

Small Index Gains Across The Board


Reuters - Two powerful blasts rocked\the headquarters of President Nursultan Nazarbayev's ruling\Otan (Fatherland) party in Almaty's busy central district\Sunday evening, a spokeswoman for the Emergencies Agency said.

Two Blasts Rock Kazakh Ruling Party's Headquarters (Reuters)


Two Italians were killed in a landslide this weekend as fierce storms pounded the country, causing floods that slowed trains, cut off traffic and forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes.

Heavy storms pound Italy; two killed when landslide sweeps house


Yueqi Guo, a 17-year-old senior at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, grew up hearing that her grandfather in China had died because doctors failed to recognize his cancer until it was too late.

Students Win Scholarships for Science


Reuters - Ron Artest scored 24\points, as Indiana defeated Detroit 97-82 in a game that was\stopped late in the fourth quarter due to a fight on the court\that spilled into the stands and included the fans.

Pacers Fight with Pistons' Fans (Reuters)


With half the European Union countries exceeding public deficit limits this year, the EU #39;s head office bowed to reality Friday and proposed to be more flexible in how it enforces the budget rules underpinning the euro.

Update 3: EU Unveils Changes for Budget Rules


Companies can expect to see more modularity and features in Cisco'sIOS software over the next several quarters, as the elements of technology it recently introduced for carriers trickles down to business customers.

IOS changes could alter face of Cisco routers


Forbes.com - Security is a very big and growing tech business. Cumulative private and public sector security spending in the U.S. is forecast to exceed  #36;1 trillion over the coming decade. The punditocracy has analogized this post-Sept. 11 trend to Cold War-era military spending; homeland security will be a short-term economic stimulus but, ultimately, like military spending, a drag on the nation's domestic production.

The Security-Industrial Complex (Forbes.com)


Ex-US leader Bill Clinton is to open his presidential library, housing millions of documents from his time in office.

Clinton due to open his library


Two explosions rocked Thailand #39;s troubled southern region Thursday, killing one person and injuring as many as two dozen others.

Bombs explode in Thailand #39;s south


Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has conceded that his side could take a few months to kick into gear following Sunday #39;s 1-0 defeat at Bolton.

Benitez: Reds need time to gel


Australia #39;s Loretta Harrop dominated and lost. Susan Williams, of Littleton, wasn #39;t supposed to be there but left with the bronze, the only American medal.

Mad dash for triathlon gold


AP - Zimbabwe authorities ordered a delegation from South Africa's main labor organization to leave the country on the first day of a scheduled four-day visit, labor officials said.

Zimbabwe Bans S.Africa Labor Chiefs' Visit (AP)


Baltimore Ravens cornerback Deion Sanders was inactive for Sunday #39;s game against the New York Jets with a toe injury, while Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis also was out with a strained groin.

Deion Sanders Out for Ravens


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices dropped in July  for the first time in eight months as a sharp run up in energy  costs reversed, the government said on Tuesday in a report  showing underlying inflation pressures largely in check.

July Consumer Prices Drop, Energy Tumbles


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The growth of new fast casual  restaurants slowed to 13 percent in the year ended in September  from 17 percent year before, according to a study released on  Tuesday by market research firm The NPD Group.

Traffic Slows at Fast Casual Restaurants


His name is Steve Christian, and he is the mayor of Pitcairn Island and a descendant of Fletcher Christian, the Bounty #39;s first mate.

Pitcairn men linked with  #39;a culture of sex abuse #39; are named


Virginia Tech plans to announce on Tuesday that its System X now operates at 12.25 teraflops, or 12 trillion calculations per second, up from 10.

#39;Big Mac #39; gets an upgrade


JEDDAH, 17 December 2004 - A call by London-based dissident, Saad Al-Faqih, to his followers to stage anti-government demonstrations across the Kingdom fell on deaf ears yesterday.

Call for Demonstrations Falls on Deaf Ears


Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is hoping his international star power in one of the state #39;s most important foreign markets will help bring new business opportunity to California.

Schwarzenegger Barnstorms Japan During Four-Day Trade Mission


Expired Domain Names - Who's Getting Rich On Them?\\There is an interesting discussion at Cre8asite forums, I hadn't seen before in a search engine related forum about the number of companies that are buying up expired domains and putting Google adsense ads them. Google has a page for domain parking ...

Expired Domain Names - Whos Getting Rich On Them?


Seattle #39;s Russian community reacted with a mixture of sorrow, anger and frustration yesterday: sorrow for the children who died in the hostage crisis at a school in Beslan, Russia; anger

Local Russians shocked by tragedy


Bolton, England (Sports Network) - Bolton rewarded coach Sam Allardyce with a new five-year-deal Monday. Allardyce, who has already been with Bolton for five years, turns 50 years old this week.

Allardyce to be with Bolton for five more years


NEW YORK, Sep 30, 2004 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- International Business Machines Corp. has developed the world #39;s fastest supercomputer, US media reported Wednesday.

IBM develops world #39;s fastest supercomputer: reports


its 99th retail outlet and the first in Europe -- to sell Macintosh computers and the popular iPod music players. The opening follows close on the

Apple To Open London Store


The next time you #39;re sifting through the mortgage offers, cheap Rolex watches or dubious business proposals from Nigeria, spare a thought for Bill Gates.

Bill Gates gets 4 million emails a day


AFP - French President Jacques Chirac, who has urged an end to an EU arms embargo on China, called for closer defense cooperation between Paris and Beijing at a meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan, a spokesman said.

French president receives Chinese defence minister (AFP)


When the Red Sox return to Fenway Park next week, don #39;t be surprised if  quot;MVP quot; chants for Manny Ramirez start to become a fixture.

Ramirez homer sets early tone


A Republican on how to survive in a Democratic town: This really is the greatest city in the world, but you are now behind enemy lines.

Behind Enemy Lines: Advice From a Partisan


Cingular Wireless LLC began offering a multimedia messaging service on Tuesday that is compatible with that of its future unit, AT amp;T Wireless Services Inc.

Cingular, AT amp;T Wireless Launch Service


Capitalizing on the success of its iPod music players and laptops California-based Apple Computer is set to open six stainless steel and white mini-stores.

Apple computer unveils mini-stores


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Weaker oil and metals prices hurt  shares in Asian resource companies Wednesday, offsetting gains  in some technology issues following upbeat earnings reports  from bellwethers Intel Corp. and Yahoo Inc.

Yahoo, Intel Lifts Global Tech Shares


Cell phone manufacturers are teaming up to bring mobile television to your handset.

Coming Soon: Mobile TV


SINGAPORE -- Philippine authorities said yesterday that they were seeking four members of Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic gang with long-standing ties to Al Qaeda, in the February sinking of a ferry that left at least 118 people dead.

Philippines seeks 4 in ferry bombing


Allan Houston was activated by the New York Knicks in Memphis of Tennessee Tuesday after missing 16 games with a sore left knee and should make his National Basketball Association season debut this week.

Knicks injured guard Houston activated in Memphis


Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) is expanding production capacity at its chip fabrication plants (fabs) in an effort to keep pace with growing semiconductor demand, the company #39;s chief operating officer (COO) said Friday.

Demand for chips remains strong, says China #39;s SMIC


Britain, France and Germany are ready to set a November deadline for Iran to ally suspicions it is secretly making nuclear weapons, in a UN draft resolution that brings the Euro 3 closer to the US hard line, diplomats said Saturday.

Euro 3 want Iran to allay by November suspicions about its nuclear <b>...</b>


BAGHDAD (BBC)-- Two Iraqi interim government ministers have survived apparent assassination attempts in the capital Baghdad. Convoys carrying the environment and education ministers were attacked on their way to offices in the city.

Iraqi ministers escape attacks


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail gasoline prices fell to  their lowest level in three months and the cost of diesel fuel  dropped below \$2 a gallon for the first time in 12 weeks, the  Energy Department said on Monday.

Gas Price at 3-Month Low, Diesel Below \$2


Search Engine Industry Job Search - JobsInSearch\\JobsInSearch.com officially launched today as a specialist job site for the Search Engine Industry. The site features job vacancies with companies who provide Search Engine related Products and Services. By only advertising jobs that are related to the Search Engine industry, Jobs In Search ...


UN officials in Sudan said Friday that they hope an expanded AU force will be deployed in Darfur by the end of the month, after Sudan #39;s foreign minister agreed to allow in 3,500 forces.

Strong African Union force needed in Darfur


THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic opened his long-delayed defense at the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal Tuesday, describing the battles of his Serbian people as self defense against internal rebellions and external attacks by Islamic warriors.    Milosevic, charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in the Balkans, portrayed the Serbs as victims rather than aggressors: victims of a plan supported by the United States and Europe to break up Yugoslavia, of an attempt to wipe out Croatia's Serb minority, and of a Saudi-financed plot to create an Islamic state in Bosnia...

Ex-Yugoslav Head Milosevic Begins Defense


Americans fishing for sport along coastlines or at sea are doing far more damage to US marine fish stocks than anyone thought, accounting for nearly a quarter of the catch from overfished species, researchers report in the latest issue of the journal

Sport fishermen depleting some saltwater species


A US District Court Judge ruled last year that Big Blue had violated age-discrimination laws by amending its pension plan in a way that would make older employees accrue retirement benefits at a lower rate than younger workers.

IBM Seeks Settlement of Pension Lawsuit


NEW YORK (Reuters) - XM Satellite Radio <A HREF=

XM Satellite in \$650 Million Baseball Deal


IBM is laying out a new road map for its mainframe that will include the adoption of the Common Information Model standard that allows different platforms to exchange information.

IBM spells out mainframe strategy


Reuters - The number of personal computers\worldwide is expected to double to about 1.3 billion by 2010,\driven by explosive growth in emerging markets such as China,\Russia and India, according to a report released on Tuesday by\Forrester Research Inc.

Worldwide PC Market Seen Doubling by 2010 (Reuters)


Edvard Munch's masterpiece,

Munch's 'Scream' Is Stolen From a Crowded Museum in Oslo


Study predicts that industry demands will crush 40 percent of today's semiconductor manufacturers.

Chipmakers on the chopping block?


Playing in an NBA game for the first time since a kidney transplant was like riding a bike for Alonzo Mourning. Once he was on the court, the veteran center looked like he had never left.

Mourning plays for first time since kidney transplant


Reuters - There's nothing like a picture of a\child with Santa Claus -- especially since the number of\parents who line up in stores to get these photos taken could\indicate the health of the holiday shopping season.

Holiday Sales Forecasted in New Ways (Reuters)


Fitch Ratings on Thursday cut Merck  amp; Co. Inc. #39;s (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) top  quot;AAA quot; rating by two notches, citing its withdrawal of the arthritis drug Vioxx and subsequent

UPDATE 1 - Fitch cuts Merck #39;s triple-A rating by two notches


Reuters - Torry Holt caught two touchdown\passes, including a 36-yard effort early in the fourth quarter\for the game-winning points, to power the host St Louis Rams to\a 28-21 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday.

Holt Scores Two Touchdowns to Lead Rams Past Bucs (Reuters)


UK manufacturing growth unexpectedly weakened to the slowest pace in 14 months in September as surging oil prices boosted costs, a survey of purchasing managers showed.

UK Sept. Manufacturing Index Falls, Costs Increase (Update2)


AP - Fighting near a village in Sudan's crisis-plagued Darfur region killed at least 17 people Monday, while helicopters rescued dozens of workers who fled into the bush to escape.

At Least 17 Killed in Darfur Fighting (AP)


AFP - Australia is to test unmanned surveillance aircraft as a means of protecting vital offshore oil and gas installations against terrorist attacks, the government said.

Australia to test unmanned aircraft for protecting its oilfields (AFP)


Vera Zvonareva #39;s bid to join four of her Russian compatriots in the top 10 of the WTA Tour rankings was slowed Tuesday at the Porsche Grand Prix when she double faulted 13 times in a loss to Elena Likhovtseva.

Zvonareva upset at Filderstadt behind 13 double faults


Oracle Corp. recently learned that PeopleSoft will reject Oracle #39;s \$24.00 a share- its best and final offer. The cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of PeopleSoft, Inc.

Oracle Promoted A STINGY Offer


Handheld gaming device debuts in Japan this weekend, but won #39;t be available in US until next year. Sony Computer Entertainment is ready for the long-awaited launch of its PSP (PlayStation Portable) device

Sony Says All Systems Go for PSP Launch


It was not quite what Carlos Moya missed the first time. The setting was not his country #39;s tennis capital and his former home, Barcelona, but the capital of the Spanish region Andalusia.

Moya Lifts Spain to Deliver His Davis Cup Dream


The newest version of the MyDoom worm now circulating suggests to security experts that the much-anticipated  quot;Zero Day attack quot; may have arrived.

New MyDoom Attacks May Signal  #39;Zero Day #39;


An intrusion into a university research computer housing information on 1.4 million people leads to a proposed law that would cut researchers off from sensitive data. Opponents say important work would be hobbled in the process.

News: Berkeley Hack Sparks Legislative Backlash


SOUTHAMPTON, England : West Indies captain Brian Lara believes Bangladesh are making improvements as a cricketing nation, despite another heavy defeat at the Rose Bowl in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Cricket: Lara backs Bangladesh to make progress


Phnom Penh (VNA) - The Cambodian Senate on Monday endorsed a Throne Council bill, submitted by the National Assembly on Oct. 8, paving the way for the appointment of a successor to King Norodom Sihanouk, who announced he is to  quot;retire quot; on Oct. 7.

Cambodia passes Throne Council bill


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing  first-time claims for unemployment benefits dipped to 334,000  last week, the government said on Thursday, matching  economists' forecasts.

Jobless Claims Dip, Match Forecasts


A new national study identifies Utah as one of at least 29 states that have loopholes in their laws allowing for  quot;accidental quot; pollution emissions beyond the limits of the federal Clean Air Act.

Utah a Clean Air Act offender, study says


Security researchers have discovered another vulnerability in Windows XP Service Pack 2, but it doesn #39;t appear to be an immediate threat.

Latest SP2 Flaw Bypasses IE Security Zone


Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie marked the anniversary of a Palestinian uprising against Israel on Tuesday by calling on both sides to rethink tactics that have brought four years of bloodshed.

Palestinian PM Urges Tactical Rethink in Conflict


Was Sunday Curt Schilling Night or Tom Brady Night at Gillette Stadium? Probably a lot of both. First, the sellout crowd was able to celebrate the Boston

A night to remember at Gillette with 29-6 victory


France sent 600 more troops to Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abijan, as mobs rampaged against French expatriates.

More French Troops Are Sent to Ivory Coast as Violence Flares


Mark Hughes today vowed that his understated style of management would not be compromised as he embraced the role of lifting Blackburn out of the Barclays Premiership relegation zone.

Quiet Man Hughes Will Do It his Way


AP - A summary of Vice President Dick Cheney's heart problems:

Chronology of Cheney's Health Problems (AP)


For good or bad, tennis players #39; fortunes change as quickly as the direction of the swirling wind at the US Open. Just ask major champions Jennifer Capriati, Roger Federer and

Capriati, Federer struggle but win on US Open Day 1


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

Nextel Profit Rises on Customer Growth


LONDON (CBS.MW) - Shares of News Corp. dropped over 4 percent in Australia overnight Monday after the owner of Fox News and other media properties adopted a poison pill shareholder rights plan that seeks to block takeovers.

Shareholder rights as Liberty could raise voting stake


AP - Gunmen attacked the police headquarters in Samarra on Wednesday, killing an Iraqi policemen and a child who was caught in the cross fire, a police official said.

Gunmen Attack Samarra Police Headquarters (AP)


AFP - Japan put on hold the long-awaited announcement that Princess Sayako would become the last of the emperor's children to marry after the oldest royal, Princess Kikuko, died at age 92.

Japan puts off royal wedding announcement after family death (AFP)


Reuters - US Airways and its pilots union said\on Saturday that they were willing to resume talks over a  #36;295\million package of concessions, as time ran short for the\company to strike giveback deals with its labor groups and\avert another trip into bankruptcy.

US Air Pilots Agree to New Talks (Reuters)


Forget the stereotypes about Scandinavian socialism and how its high taxes and expensive public health care system are destroying private enterprise.

Nordic Nations Prevail in Surveys of World #39;s Hot Economies


CROMWELL, Connecticut (Reuters) - Corey Pavin posted his  best score in 14 years, firing an eight-under-par 62 to take a  commanding three-shot lead after the first round of the  inaugural \$4.2 million Buick Championship on Thursday.

Pavin Hits 62 to Charge Into Three-Shot Buick Lead


Manchester United legend Denis Law has tipped Wayne Rooney to obliterate his Old Trafford scoring records. Law was the ultimate United marksman and is still widely acclaimed as The King for his amazing goalscoring feats.

Law: Rooney Can Take My Crown


Piling up seven goals and two assists in three games is an incredible feat. Doing it while playing on a severely sprained ankle is all the more impressive. Weymouth's Catie Whelan has done exactly that this postseason.

No stopping Whelan, Weymouth


CUBAN president Fidel Castro was recovering today after a bad fall as he left the stage following a televised speech. The communist leader broke his knee and arm in the tumble but quickly recovered his composure

HE FELL CASTRO


Standard  amp; Poor #39;s said on Tuesday it may cut the corporate credit rating of The Interpublic Group of Cos. (IPG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) citing growing concerns over senior

S amp;P may cut Interpublic Group of Cos corp credit


OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. (NT.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) posted long-awaited preliminary results for the first half of 2004 on Thursday, estimating first and second quarter earnings between nil and 1 cent per share.

Nortel to Cut 3,500 Jobs to Boost Profit


Following a U.S. judge's lead, regulators eliminate final regulatory hurdle to Oracle's hostile takeover bid.

Europe blesses Oracle-PeopleSoft union


inappropriate

US dismisses North Korea's personal attacks on Bush as


Public relations experts and people in and around the NBA believe Kobe Bryant can repair the damage done to his image and reputation.

Image Needs Repair


DAVE WANNSTEDT resigned today as head coach of the Miami Dolphins after the team sank to an NFL-worst 1-8 record. Defensive co-ordinator Jim Bates will take over as interim coach for the remainder of the season.

Dolphins coach quits


Argentina #39;s David Nalbandian booked his place in the final of the Swiss Open for the third successive year on Saturday. The fourth-seed saw off Olympic gold medal winner Nicolas Massu of Chile 6-3 6-4 in the semi-final.

NALBANDIAN FACES NOVAK SHOWDOWN


Reuters - US Airways Group Inc. probably\will need more cost cuts or a boost in revenue to attract the\ #36;250 million in equity it says it needs to leave bankruptcy\next year, the company said on Thursday.

US Air Needs Cuts to Entice Investors (Reuters)


SINGAPORE: Oil prices have spiked up above \$51 a barrel as increasing signs of an electoral victory for US President George W Bush raises the prospect of continued high demand in the world #39;s biggest energy consumer.

Oil surges as Bush nears win


AP - Pittsburgh right guard Kendall Simmons will miss the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Steelers G Simmons Out for Season (AP)


In the spirit of my   previous exploration of places my work has taken me, a meditation on a  totally different part of our economy.  If you're about to eat, you might want  to wait until afterward to read this.

Food Plant


Islamabad, Aug. 22. (PTI): Pakistan #39;s security agencies have arrested five al Qaeda-linked terrorists who were plotting suicide attacks on senior leaders and key installations in the country, including the

Five terrorists arrested in Pak.


When the NBA preseason mercifully came to a conclusion Wednesday night for the Orlando Magic, fiery point guard Steve Francis had a pointed message for the rival Miami Heat: The Magic

Magic send Shaq message, 109-103


On an unlikely night, the most unlikely play may have preserved California #39;s BCS berth and its Rose Bowl hopes. A late defensive extra point turned the tide for the No.

Blocked extra point helps No. 4 Bears grab narrow win


A suicide attacker detonated a huge bomb inside a crowded Shiite Muslim mosque in an eastern Pakistani city during Friday prayers, killing at least 16 people and wounding dozens, officials said.

Blast Kills 16 Pakistanis in Shiite Mosque


A recoverable science experimental satellite is launched atop a Long March 2C carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province, northwest China Aug. 29, 2004.

China launches science satellite


An athlete from the Central African Republic is released from the hospital Saturday, one day after he was briefly knocked unconscious in an Olympic taekwondo bout.

Injured Athlete Released


Australia showed all its famed resilience to withstand a fierce fightback by England and beat the world champion 21-19 in a thunderous World Cup final repeat yesterday.

Rugby / Australia edges out England in thriller


Indiana #39;s Ron Artest yesterday was suspended without pay for the rest of the season for fighting with fans during a bench-clearing brawl Friday night in the final minute of a game against the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills, Mich.

NBAs knockout punch


When the afternoon ends with Felix Escalona and Dioner Navarro and Andy Phillips stepping into the batter's box for the Yankees and Adam Hyzdu and Ricky Gutierrez doing the same for the Red Sox, it's understood that this game will not gather much dust before it's expunged from memory. Except, of course, for the sweet moment when sore-kneed Ellis Burks, ...

Nixon: swing votes


TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's financial regulators may suspend  or even end some private banking operations at the Japanese  commercial banking unit of U.S. financial services firm  Citigroup Inc., the Nihon Keizai newspaper said on Thursday.

Report: Japan May Sanction Citibank


The Office of Government Commerce #39;s report into the viability of using open-source software in the public sector was toned down in its praise of Linux security before release, silicon.

Eye on IT


AP - A physics professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has published a book that explains how the laws of nature interact with the game of football.

Neb. Professor Connects Football, Physics (AP)


TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average fell for a  second straight session on Tuesday, closing 0.99 percent lower  after the dollar's retreat below 103 yen put pressure on  exporters such as Sony Corp.

Nikkei Ends Down for 2nd Day


Jim Tracy had watched his would-be staff ace grab his right arm and walk off again, into the dugout, up the clubhouse tunnel and probably straight into the offseason.

This Penny is bringing all bad luck


Public and private sectors are developing non-entertainment games whose

For Game Makers, a Serious Concern


Serginho, a 30-year-old defender, died after suffering a heart attack while playing for Sao Caetano in a Brazilian first-division soccer game against Sao Paulo yesterday, his team said.

Sao Caetano #39;s Serginho Dies After Heart Attack in Soccer Match


Yelena Slesarenko upset red-hot favourite Hestrie Cloete in the high jump as the Russian added Olympic gold to her World Indoor title.

Slesarenko Strikes Gold


AP - Accompanied by a warning that its missiles have the range, Iran on Tuesday said it would destroy Israel's Dimona nuclear reactor if the Jewish state were to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

Iran Threatens Israel on Nuclear Reactor (AP)


Employer-paid health care for retired workers has been growing sharply more expensive, and the number of companies willing to provide it continues to shrink.

Shrinking Coverage


Shares in European online travel retailer lastminute.com PLC sank by 13 percent Thursday after the company reported losses well below its own predictions and market expectations.

Shares in Lastminute.com Sink 13 Percent


They may never be mistaken for the boys from the Bronx as Boston's archrivals. But the Devil Rays picked up last night where the Yankees left off Sunday, squaring off with the Red Sox in an incident that emptied both dugouts and bullpens before Terry Francona's crew celebrated the clinching of a playoff spot.

Plunkings strike a sour note


AFP - Eddie Griffin's National Basketball Association homecoming was more than the Philadelphia 76ers could handle.

Troubled Griffin's NBA homecoming brings 76ers sixth loss in a row (AFP)


washingtonpost.com - The nation's largest e-mail providers today filed a new round of lawsuits against Internet spammers allegedly responsible for shoveling millions of junk e-mail messages into computer users' in-boxes and their instant messaging screens.

AOL, E-Mail Companies Sue Spammers (washingtonpost.com)


Terrapin quarterbacks Joel Statham and Jordan Steffy will compete the remainder of the week to start Saturday at Clemson. Coach Ralph Friedgen said yesterday his choice will be a  quot;game-time quot; decision.

Friedgen #39;s QB call: Gametime


Delta Air Lines Inc., the third-largest carrier in the world, said Monday that it signed a commitment letter from GE Commercial Finance to provide \$500 million of financing to the beleaguered airline.

Delta Gets Letter for \$500 Million Credi


Fran Pavley, a soft-spoken, retired schoolteacher who went into California politics, probably never thought she would find herself defending the environmental credentials of Gov.

Steering California #39;s Fight on Emissions


Citing user concerns, eBay has dropped plans to close its Half.com unit in mid-October and move the online used merchandise store's buyers and sellers onto eBay's main site.

EBay shelves plan to axe Half.com unit


PARIS / LONDON: France said on Wednesday it will sell up to 12.1 of France Telecom to raise 5.8 billion (\$6.9bn) and help cut national debt in Europes largest placing in four years.

French govt to sell up to 12 in France Tele


LOS ANGELES -- Milton Bradley snapped. Then, aided by the horrendous Colorado Rockies bullpen, the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off perhaps their most improbable victory of the season.

Dodgers score five runs in ninth for crucial victory


There's yet another disappointment from organic foods' best-known ne'er-do-well.

Wild Oats Grows Stale


NEW YORK - Why would wireless chip company Qualcomm want to get into the display business? To do what it does best: license technology to mobile phone manufacturers everywhere.

Qualcomm Has Eyes For Displays


Lance Armstrong is suing a former personal assistant who claims the six-time defending Tour de France champion owes him \$500,000. In a lawsuit filed Monday, Armstrong and his personal

Armstrong sues former personal assistant


AP - Israeli troops arrested a Palestinian man carrying a 22-pound bomb in his taxi after he fled and threw the explosives out of the cab's window, a security official said Friday.

Israeli Troops Catch Palestinian With Bomb (AP)


The International Air Transport Association said Monday international air travel and cargo transport rose more than expected. In the first eight months of this year, passenger travel increased by nearly 19

Air travel increases, but profits down


Forbes.com - Walk into the Urban Outfitters in Manhattan's West Village and you're tempted to sit down on one of the white vinyl benches near the entrance. From there you can admire the antique armoire with mirrored front, along with champagne flutes, martini shakers and small metallic Christmas trees. There are plenty of casual clothes for young women and men (target age: 18-30), as well as accessories, furniture, books, gifts, makeup and soaps. If you want shoes, you have to go to the back of the store near the registers, where the display is archly arranged to resemble a woman's dressing room.

Urban Cowboy (Forbes.com)


SEOUL, Oct 19 Asia Pulse - LG.Philips LCD Co. (KSE:034220), the world #39;s second-largest maker of liquid crystal display (LCD), said Tuesday it has developed the world #39;s largest organic light emitting diode

Lg.PHILIPS, LG Electronics Develop World #39;s Largest Organic Led <b>...</b>


Electronic publisher Thomson Corp. (TOC.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) reported a stronger-than-expected third-quarter profit on Tuesday as revenue rose 9 percent, helped by a string of recent acquisitions.

UPDATE 2-Thomson Corp. third-quarter profit rises


Members of a new transitional parliament for Somalia were sworn in yesterday - a key step toward establishing Somalias first national government since 1991.

New Somali Parliament Brings Hopes of Peace


BUDAPEST -- One man was stabbed in violence before the UEFA Cup tie between Hungarian champions Ferencvaros and English side Millwall on Thursday.

Millwall, Ferencvaros fans clash


Reuters - Amgen Inc. , the world's\biggest biotechnology company, on Wednesday reported a lower\third-quarter profit related to the acquisition of another\biotech company.

Amgen Quarterly Profit Falls (Reuters)


AP - NASA's redesigned space shuttle fuel tanks should no longer shed dangerous pieces of foam when launches resume next spring, officials said Thursday.

New Shuttle Tanks Should Not Shed Foam (AP)


The Forum also approved the format #39;s logotype, which will now read as  #39;High Density #39; DVD rather than  #39;High Definition #39;.

HD-DVDs Closer to Mass Production


US consumer sentiment rose in early December, according to a survey released on Friday, as consumers reacted positively to lower prices at the gas pump.

US Consumer Sentiment Up in December


James had 33 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who moved above .500 for the first time in more than three years with their fourth straight victory, 99-88 over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.

Cavaliers above .500


AP - Now that the purchase of AT amp;T Wireless is complete, Cingular Wireless' new status as the nation's biggest cell phone provider may prove fleeting if the merged company doesn't move quickly.

FCC OKs Cingular, AT T Wireless Merger (AP)


ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (Reuters) - South African President  Thabo Mbeki said Sunday he was ready to make concrete proposals  to revive a peace process in Ivory Coast after visiting the  rebel-held north of the country on a mediation mission.

Mbeki Ready to Present Ivory Coast Peace Proposals


AP - The death toll in a massive coal mine explosion in central China rose Wednesday to 166 after scores of missing miners were declared dead, government radio reported.

Death Toll Rises to 166 China Coal Blast (AP)


AP - For the 13th straight year, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly urged the United States to end its more than four decade trade embargo against Cuba, rejecting Washington's argument that Fidel Castro is

U.N. Urges U.S. to End Embargo Vs. Cuba (AP)


Shares in Australia #39;s three largest childcare companies have surged, after they announced details of a major merger proposal. Under the plan, ABC Learning will merge with Child Care Centres Australia and Peppercorn

Merger announcement sends childcare stocks rising


Two prominent open-source software groups have rejected a proposed technology standard backed by Microsoft Corp. that would close a loophole used to send unsolicited commercial (

Open sourcers revolt against Microsoft antispam plan


SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - One vagrant died and three  were badly beaten in overnight attacks in Brazil's biggest city  of Sao Paulo, raising the number of victims of a suspected  death squad to 14 in four days.

More Tramp Victims of Suspected Brazil Death Squad


Credit Suisse First Boston maintained an  quot;outperform quot; rating for Dell (nasdaq: DELL - news - people ) after the company expanded its line of consumer electronics (CE) products.

Market Underestimates Dell Consumer Electronics


Valencia, Spain - World champion Valentino Rossi of Italy won the MotoGP at the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday, adding more glory to a fabulously successful year.

Rossi wins Valencia MotoGP


A significant number of patients who have their stomachs stapled develop nerve damage in their extremities, research has found.

Weight ops linked to nerve damage


Reuters - Nokia unveiled a mobile phone for\business users on Thursday that incorporates a camera with a\megapixel resolution, beefing up a patchy handset portfolio\that has cost it market share.

Nokia Launching 6670 Business Phone (Reuters)


AFP - New rules being proposed for a reformed United Nations might have allowed the United States and Britain to carry out their invasion of Iraq with the approval of the world body, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in a newspaper interview.

Proposed new UN rules could have allowed Iraq war: Britain (AFP)


TechKnow program doles out PCs to children who complete special class, meet standards regarding grades and attendance.

Dell and AOL expand PC program for needy students


Iraqi national security adviser Kasim Dawood said Saturday up to 1,000 insurgents have been killed in the six-day battle for Fallujah, CNN reported.

UPI NewsTrack TopNews


MARWAN BARGHOUTI, the Palestinian leader jailed for life in an Israeli prison, re-emerged as a pivotal figure in Palestinian politics last night when senior Fatah officials

Palestinian firebrand is to run for president from Israeli cell


AP - A government laboratory and a private company announced a  #36;2.6 million project Monday to develop hydrogen in a nuclear reactor using a process with the potential to one day trim the country's reliance on fossil fuels.

Project Aims to Develop Hydrogen Power (AP)


Stefan LeFors throws three touchdown passes and No. 12 Louisville waltzes to a 55-28 victory over TCU on Wednesday night.

Cardinals Keep Rolling


AFP - In once uniform Sweden, a book being hailed as the ultimate generational novel serves as a reminder that you no longer need to be a blond, blue-eyed, beer-guzzling giant, or even speak the language correctly, to be considered truly Swedish.

Redefining Swedishness (and causing a stir in the literary world) (AFP)


I got hold of the beta version of this much hyped up upgrade to the very popular instant messaging client MSN Messenger 7. I installed it on a test machine to see what new things it has to offer me.

MSN Messenger 7 Beta: First impressions


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The British Grand Prix, one of Formula One #39;s most storied races, is close to running out of gas. The British GP has been staged annually for the past 54 years, but is in jeopardy of being

British Grand Prix still in jeopardy


Arsenal shareholders will head into Thursday #39;s annual general meeting at Highbury secure in the knowledge the future of their club is in safe hands.

Henry - may now also committ to the Gunners long-term


DENVER (Sports Network) - Carmelo Anthony of the Denver  Nuggets was cited for possession of marijuana before boarding a  team flight, but the star forward said the drug was left in his  bag by a friend.

Nuggets' Anthony Cited for Marijuana Possession


Hong Kong residents voted on Sunday in a legislative election seen as a referendum on greater democracy and a test of popularity for China #39;s communist rulers in the former British colony.

HK Votes in Close Poll, Focus on More Democracy


The Moon offers a unique preserved laboratory free from the weathering that ages the record of how life arose on Earth. Studying radiation and polar craters may be targets for the next human or robotic missions.

Footprints on the Moon


Chipmaking giant Intel Corporation believes that its future lies in dual-core chips. Speaking at last weeks Intel Developer Forum here, Intel President and COO Paul Otellini

Intel shifts course on microprocessors


Brendan Kingman's sixth-inning RBI single sent Australia to a stunning 1-0 victory yesterday over Japan, putting the Aussies in today's gold medal game against Cuba.

Aussies face Cuba in final


The advocates and lobbyists on both sides of the great sage grouse controversy in the West were claiming to have science on their side Friday after the Bush administration

Analysis: #39;Great sage grouse controversy #39; boils down to science


AP - A U.S. soldier was killed in a truck accident north of the Iraqi capital on Wednesday, a military spokesman said.

U.S. Soldier Dies in Truck Crash in Iraq (AP)


HAT-TRICK hero Alan Shearer is aiming to fire Newcastle all the way to the UEFA Cup Final this season. After his treble and a double from Patrick Kluivert polished off their Israeli opponents, Shearer said

FOOTBALL: AL: IT #39;S TIME TOON WENT ALL THE WAY


UPDATE: Oracle #39;s (Quote, Chart) dogged pursuit of PeopleSoft (Quote, Chart) was rewarded on Monday as PeopleSoft #39;s board of directors agreed to sell the company for \$10.3 billion.

Oracle to Buy PeopleSoft for \$10.3B


Reuters - Asian shares struggled to break above\the flat line on Friday as dour economic reports in Japan and\South Korea followed lackluster trading in U.S. markets to cap\gains.

Asia Stocks Near Flat on Economic Data (Reuters)


Image: Technicians in front of NASA #39;s third X-43A scramjet go over a pre-flight checklist on Nov. 15, 2004. NASA photo by Tom Tschida.

X-43A Mach 10 Mission Delayed


Network Appliance posted positive results for its first quarter of 2005 on Wednesday, reporting a 38 percent increase in revenue compared to the same quarter last year, and said it intends to continue hiring 200 new people a quarter.

NetApp posts profits, continues hiring spree


Nintendo today held a touch-and-feel event for its forthcoming DS handheld in Tokyo. One of the interesting tidbits revealed by president Satoru Iwata is that not only will it be possible for multiple users

Nintendo DS to function as a game server


Redwood City, CA, 28 September 2004 - IXI Mobile and its IXI-Connect OS software have been selected by AT amp;T Wireless for Ogo, AT amp;T Wireless #39; hip, new mobile messaging device.

IXI MOBILE JOINS FORCES WITH AT amp;T WIRELESS TO LAUNCH OGOT


Cash'n'Carrion Designer cartography from The Rockall Times

World's remotest islet back on the map


Microsoft and watch maker Swatch are offering a smart wristwatch that receives news, sports, weather and other information using Microsoft #39;s MSN Direct broadcast technology.

Microsoft, Swatch Partner on Wireless Watch


MOSCOW (AP) -- A Russian cargo ship loaded with supplies and equipment blasted off from the Baikonour cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday headed for the international space station, a Russian space official said.    The Progress M-50 ship took off at 1:03 a.m...

Progress Cargo Ship for ISS Launched From Russia


Negotiators worked through the final day of a two-week UN conference Friday in search of a way to bring the United States back into long-term talks on controlling global warming.

US, Europe at Odds on Emissions Controls


Afghanistan #39;s electoral commission gave the go-ahead for counting to begin today in the disputed presidential election after charges of fraudulent multiple voting forced a delay.

Afghanistan vote count gets go-ahead


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. <A HREF=

Wal-Mart Sales Estimate Boosts Sector


AP - The European Central Bank left its key refinancing rate unchanged at 2 percent Thursday amid signs that the recovery in the 12-nation euro zone may be sputtering.

ECB, Bank of England Leave Key Rates Alone (AP)


NEW YORK - US Internet ad revenue jumped to a record \$2.37 billion in the second quarter, surpassing the highest levels reached during the dot-com era, according to a study released Monday.

US Internet advertising revenue sets record


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar rallied against the  euro, Japanese yen and most other currencies on Tuesday, with a  public holiday in Japan and the excessive positions in the  market giving it some respite from the recent heavy selling.

Dollar Wins Respite


Virgin Atlantic has won the largest share of 21 additional direct flights between the UK and India, gaining 10 to BA's seven and BMI's four.

Virgin wins most Indian flights


PC World - Cofounder reflects on company's first ten years at Web 2.0 Conference.

Yahoo's Yang Looks Back on 'Amazing Ride' (PC World)


AP - Tim Hudson hopes being swept by Boston will serve as a wakeup call for the Oakland Athletics.

Hudson Hopes A's Received Wake-Up Call (AP)


Reuters - The Memphis Grizzlies\signed All-Star forward Pau Gasol to a multi-year contract on\Friday. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Memphis Re-Signs Gasol to Multi-Year Deal (Reuters)


Forbes.com - The news from Iran is grim. This Islamic dictatorship--the biggest source of terrorist training and financing in the world and the nation that's doing all it can to stir up trouble in already combustible Iraq--is clearly on the cusp of becoming a nuclear power. The clerical fascists running the country have dropped just about all pretense of their atomic programs being energy-related only. Tehran announced in July that it had resumed making the centrifuges needed to produce highly enriched uranium, a key ingredient for nuclear bombs. ...

Fact and Comment (Forbes.com)


The Marsh  amp; McLennan Company, the troubled insurance and investment company, said today that it would lay off 3,000 employees, or roughly 5 percent of its work force, as it moved to right

Marsh  amp; McLennan to Lay Off 3,000


Weekly deductions for premiums, higher co-payments and deductibles are all part of the health care package now taking shape for Kroger workers, union officials say.

Kroger talks focus on wages


Reuters - Priest Holmes rushed for 125 yards and\two touchdowns to help the Kansas City Chiefs pick up their\first win of the season, 27-24 over the host Baltimore Ravens\Monday.

Priest Holmes Helps Chiefs to First Victory (Reuters)


p2pnet.net News:- By the time Microsoft finally un-corrals Longhorn, a significant portion of its potential customer base will be long gone.

And keep on visiting our sponsors! It all counts. Thanks.)


Allison Feaster responded to a challenge from Charlotte Sting coach Trudi Lacey. Feaster converted two free throws in the final seconds and finished with 23 points as the host Sting moved into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference with a 74-69 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs last night.

Feaster stings Monarchs


The past two quarters have been a real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tale for graphics chip maker NVIDIA (Nasdaq: NVDA). The last quarter was a horror story for investors, with a 79 year

NVIDIA Is Vindicated


Tough steroid testing is on the way, apparently. It #39;s too bad that it took ugly BALCO testimony and Senate threats to force Don Fehr and Gene Orza, the leaders of the union, to pull their heads out of the sand.

Union bosses owe players an apology


MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's top oil exporter YUKOS cut its  crude output forecast for 2004 on Monday due to a tax dispute  with the state, in a move analysts said was a sign that  Russia's prolific oil growth was set to slow down.

YUKOS Cuts 2004 Forecast Due to Tax Row


4 October 2004 (NCA) -- Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz today distanced the government from a statement by the country #39;s defense minister that Poland would pull its troops out of Iraq by the end of next year.

FM Distances Poland From Iraq-Pullout Comments


NEW YORK Willing to pay more than 20 times the cheapest fare on your next plane trip for a seat that reclines into a flat bed? Or how about a bed for two - but no privacy - on your next flight between London and New York?

On The Move: Airlines going the extra mile for luxury


Let the arguments begin. The first Bowl Championship Series rankings are due out in a few weeks and the number of unbeaten teams is shrinking rapidly.

Pool is much less crowded


ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan conducted another test of a  nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missile on  Wednesday as part of its efforts to boost defenses, an official  statement said.

Pakistan Tests Medium-Range Nuclear-Capable Missile


THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Former Yugoslav President Slobodan  Milosevic blasted a decision to impose defense lawyers on him  as

First Milosevic Trial Defense Witness Called


KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) - A suicide car bomb attack on  Saturday outside the regional headquarters of the Iraqi  National Guard in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk killed 10,  officials said.

Suicide Car Bomb Kills 10 in Kirkuk -Officials


Reuters - PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. , one\of the biggest Medicare plan providers, said on Wednesday it\has agreed to buy health-care benefits provider American\Medical Security Group Inc. for  #36;502 million to expand its\product offerings to individuals and small businesses.

PacifiCare to Buy American Medical (Reuters)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Taking control of a technology fund  that lost more than 90 percent of its assets in the bear market  requires gravity-defying confidence.

Randall Navigates Technology Turbulence


After Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez failed to get the Boston Red Sox a win against the New York Yankees in the first two games of the AL championship series, Bronson Arroyo will take the hill for Game 3 at Fenway Park on Saturday.    In Houston, the winless Astros face a similar challenge as they return home and put their hopes in Roger Clemens for NLCS Game 3 against the St...

Red Sox, Astros Hunt for Their First Wins


Palermo, Sicily Almost 800 illegal immigrants arrived in southern Italy aboard only three boats Sunday in one of the largest influxes of refugees that Italy has seen in a single day.

Nearly 800 refugees in 3 boats swamp Italy


Long-term mortgage rates in the United States increased sharply this week, mortgage wholesaler Freddie Mac reported Thursday in its weekly nationwide survey.

US long-term mortgage rates increase sharply


Pakistan has arrested at least five al-Qaida-linked terrorists who were plotting suicide attacks on government leaders and the US Embassy, officials announced Saturday.

Pakistan: Arrests spoil major al-Qaida plot


The three top executives at the American Stock Exchange received Wells notices from the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of an investigation into options trading and

Business briefs, November 12


Microsoft (MSFT) unveils its much-talked-about revamped Internet search engine on Thursday to compete with Google and Yahoo - but at a test site rather than the main MSN page.

Microsoft gets in on search party


Getafe, Spain (Sports Network) - Leaders Barcelona survived a late rally by promoted Getafe to earn a 2-1 road win Saturday. The win gives Barca a strong nine point lead over second place Espanyol, which edged Atletico Madrid Saturday 2-1.

Barcelona grabs tough road win


Australia #39;s Todd Woodbridge #39;s straight sets win over Moroccan Mehdi Ziadi in Davis Cup gave Australia a 4-1 victory and ensures a place in next year #39;s world group.

Australia leads 4-1 in Davis Cup relegation tie


Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company has announced developments in the long-running EU investigation into anti-competitive practices.

EU: Coke EU anti-trust case settlement closer


A man in Los Angeles filed a class action suit against US software giant Microsoft Wednesday, claiming that the company manufactured and sold thousands of defective Xbox video game systems.

Microsoft faces lawsuit for selling  quot;defective quot; game systems


Softbank Corp. said Tuesday it will acquire Cable  amp; Wireless IDC Inc., a Japanese unit of British telecommunications firm Cable  amp; Wireless PLC, for 12.

Softbank to acquire C amp;W IDC


CHICAGO - Sara Lee Corp. #39;s earnings climbed 53 percent in the first fiscal quarter, boosted by a delayed payout from the sale of its European tobacco business, the packaged-foods and apparel company announced Tuesday.

Sara Lee Earnings Jump 53 Percent in 1Q


South Africa is considering a request by Equatorial Guinea to question Mark Thatcher about his alleged involvement in a foiled coup plot in the oil-rich west African nation.

Coup plot nations seeks to quiz Thatcher


quot;One subject which has not been concluded yet is related to the deal on the return of spent fuel, which is very complex, quot; Sabouri explained, stressing Iran #39;s decision to return the spent fuel to Russia.

India News: Iran nuclear power to become operational in 2006


He wasn't  quot;Curt on the car phone quot; yesterday. He was  quot;Curt in the hotel room, quot; taking part in an online chat with the Boston Dirt Dogs and calling WEEI to chat on  quot;The Big Show quot; before last night's Game 4.

Schilling checks in with some heaters


Indian-administered Kashmir's state assembly rejects a bill affecting Kashmiri women who marry non-Kashmiri men.

Kashmir women's bill voted out


Serena Williams faced Amelie Mauresmo in the first semi-final of the WTA Championship on Sunday. Victory in the tournament for Mauresmo would ensure her the season-ending number one spot in the women #39;s rankings.

Tennis: WTA C #39;ships: Serena beats Mauresmo


AP - Even without Deuce McAllister, the New Orleans Saints' running game is in good hands.

Saints Hold Off Rams 28-25 in Overtime (AP)


The Israeli prime minister said today that he wanted to begin withdrawing settlers from Gaza next May or June.

Sharon Offers a Date for Settler Withdrawal From Gaza


More than 135 years after explorer John Wesley Powell first surveyed this ancient canyon, his writings seemed to echo last week as water roared down the Colorado River.

Scientists watch man-made flood of Grand Canyon


AUBURN, Ala. -- The ball finally got to Courtney Taylor, the flag rescued John Vaughn, and No. 14 Auburn proved itself a Southeastern Conference contender.

Point taken


AFP - Five people were killed and six wounded in India's northeastern state of Tripura by tribal separatists during a Hindu festival dedicated to the demon-slaying goddess Durga, police said.

Five killed, six injured by tribal rebels during Hindu festival (AFP)


Reuters - Enron Corp. , desperate to\meet profit targets,

Enron Pressured Merrill in Deal -Attorney (Reuters)


Google IPO Continues Despite Playboy Boob\\Google's IPO ran into another problem last week with investors being allowed to start bidding on the company last Friday. Google rsquo;s founders will appear in an upcoming issue of Playboy magazine which will be on the shelves this Friday. Although the interview was apparently held ...


International body in charge of doling out IP addresses is set to give out new IPv6 addresses.

ICANN readies for next-generation Net


In Rhode Island, will there be an answer to a major problem for the Internet phone industry?\

Vonage talks of 911 advancements


Minnesota Timberwolves center Michael Olowokandi was suspended by the team for a second game Friday night, one day after police used a stun gun to subdue him when he refused to leave a club.

Olowokandi suspended for second game following arrest in <b>...</b>


LONDON (Reuters) - British anti-terrorism police arrested  Thursday Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri who was already  jailed in London under a U.S. arrest warrant.

UK Launches Own Case Against Cleric Sought by U.S.


Stocks soared Wednesday, with the Dow Jones industrials rising more than 120 points, as a large buildup in the nation #39;s energy inventories and increased consumer spending sent stock buyers back to the market.

Stocks Surge on Energy Inventory Buildup


You won't want to miss this:  Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets, will be beautifully close together just before sunrise on Thursday, Nov. 4th, and Friday, Nov. 5th.

Spellbinding Planets


The Sun newspaper says it has had a reporter working undercover in the Commons for months.

Reporter 'undercover in Commons'


BESLAN, Russia (Reuters) - The sound of weeping mothers who  lost their children in the bloody end to Russia's school siege  drifted out of the houses of Beslan on Sunday as relatives  prepared to bury the first of 333 people killed.

Russia School Siege Town Prepares to Bury Dead


NEW YORK: American Express on Monday sued credit card associations Visa and MasterCard and eight banks for damages from what it called anti-competitive practices that prevented 20,000 US banks from using its credit card products.

Amex sues Visa, MasterCard


Reuters - Space agency NASA, which first put man\on the moon, will now help to map the Earth in the name of\conservation, the agency announced on Thursday.

NASA's Eyes in the Sky to Help Global Conservation (Reuters)


AP - Hungary banned the sale of its signature spice, paprika, on Wednesday and told people not to use whatever supplies they had at home after more than a pinch of moldy toxin was found in products sold by three companies.

Hungary Bans Sale of Paprika (AP)


BRITISH hostage Kenneth Bigley was made to watch a video showing the beheading of one of his American friends before he begged Tony Blair to save his life.

Bigley forced to watch beheading


NuSearch Offers Java Enhanced Search Engine\\Once you perform a search on NuSearch, you'll see that there is a slight difference with other search engines. NuSearch utilises a Java (TM) Applet which is embedded in the web page  which users do have to opt-in to download. NuSearch kind of reminded ...


quot;Spirit and Opportunity appear ready to continue their remarkable adventures, quot; said Andrew Dantzler, solar system division director at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

NASA Extends Mars Rovers #39; Journey


COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sports Network) - Mike Nugent's 55-yard  field goal as time expired lifted the ninth-ranked Ohio State  Buckeyes to a dramatic 24-21 win over the pesky Marshall  Thundering Herd in the first-ever meeting between the teams.

No. 9 Ohio State Edges Marshall on Last-Second FG


Advanced Micro Devices has given out more details on its fortcoming dual-core microprocessor chip. The Opteron-based design is said to be 30-55 percent faster than AMD #39;s single-core chips, but it will fit in existing server designs.

AMD Gives Details on Dual-Core Opteron


NEW YORK - Amid the bustle of the New York clubhouse, Mariano Rivera's untouched locker stood out as a reminder that the New York Yankees might be without their best pitcher in the opener of the American League championship series.    Rivera flew home to Puerto Caimito, Panama, after two family members were electrocuted in his pool, leaving the possibility that he might not be available for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday...

Rivera Comforts Relatives in Panama


The International Red Cross is  #39; #39;deeply concerned #39; #39; with the killing of civilians and non-combatants in Iraq and the apparent failures by all sides to respect humanitarian law.

Red Cross deeply concerned by humanitarian law violations in Iraq


Thirty-three workers have been killed after a gas explosion at a coal mine in China #39;s northern Shanxi province. Officials say 71 miners were in the shaft when the blast occurred at Nanlou township.

China mine blast kills 33


In CHICAGO story headlined  #39;Delta says needs \$135 in added liquidity for 2006 #39; ... please read the headline ...  #39;Delta says needs \$135 mln in added 2006 liquidity.

CORRECTED - UPDATE 2-Delta says needs \$135 mln in added 2006 <b>...</b>


Chile #39;s government is to seek congressional approval to compensate more than 27,000 victims of political imprisonment and torture at the hands of the country #39;s rightwing military regime, which ruled from 1973 to 1990.

Compensation plan for 27,000 Pinochet victims


AP - The Chinese were consuming fermented beverages  #151; possibly wine  #151; as long as 9,000 years ago, according to scientists who used modern techniques to peer back through the mists of time.

Ancient Chinese Consumed Fermented Drinks (AP)


In the end it came down to a straight choice between Walter Smith and Gordon Strachan for the Scotland manager #39;s job, and Smith won easily.

Scots prefer Smith to Strachan


In its first foray into the luxury market, the shoe and clothing marketer Jones Apparel Group Inc. said Thursday it is buying upscale clothier Barneys New York Inc.

Jones Apparel Group will acquire luxury retailer Barneys New York


The caretaker Palestinian leadership decided today to travel to Yasser Arafats bedside, reversing a decision to call off the trip after being lambasted by the ailing 75-year-old leaders wife.

Palestinian Leadership to Confront Arafat #39;s Angry Wife


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks gained ground in light  volume on Friday as investors were encouraged about the  prospects for corporate profits after oil prices fell from  their peak.

Stocks Rise as Oil Retreats from High


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks extended their  post-election rally on Thursday, pushing the S P 500 to its  highest close for more than two years as oil prices tumbled  below \$49, while tobacco and food company Altria Group Inc.  <A HREF=

Stocks Rally as Oil Prices Drop


After being used to explore Mars, make cars and clear bombs in Iraq, robots are moving into the home, ready to single-mindedly vacuum carpets, mow lawns and act like humanoids as industry targets the consumer market.

Robots ready to take over the home


Reuters - Japanese police said on Tuesday they were\investigating a suspected group suicide involving seven people\who met through the Internet, the latest in a rash of suicides\linked to the Web.

Seven Die in 'Internet Suicide' Pact (Reuters)


The history-making spacecraft designed by aviation pioneer Burt Rutan will blast off Monday morning from a small airport in Mojave, California, in a bid for \$10 million.

SpaceShipOne team set to fly again Monday


PALESTINIAN militants found a way around the heavy fortifications at the Israeli army post between Egypt and Gaza -- tunnelling under the base and blowing it up.

Tunnel bomb unleashed


By building one of the world #39;s first all-digital cardiac care facilities, Saint Francis Heart Hospital hopes to provide patients with better care while helping doctors and other medical staff offer more effective treatments.

#39;Digital #39; hospital showcases GE Healthcare technologies


Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and EU executives, when they meet in Brussels tomorrow, will test each other #39;s limits in a row over Turkey #39;s delay in reforming its penal code prompted by the premier #39;s insistence on criminalizing adultery.

PM faces tough nut to crack in Brussels


AP - Adam Eaton allowed five hits over seven innings for his career-high 10th victory, Brian Giles homered for the second straight game, and the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 Thursday night.

Padres Blank Dodgers 3-0 (AP)


CHICAGO Lawmakers from Illinois and Michigan are competing to convince the federal government that their state is the best location for an isotope lab.

Illinois, Michigan both want new federal isotope lab


The Motley Fool - Progress Software (Nasdaq: PRGS - News) is making, well, lots of progress in the tough enterprise software market. After all, another enterprise developer, Lawson (Nasdaq: LWSN - News), saw its shares plunge 12 on its warning for its fiscal first-quarter results.

Progress Software Avoids Crash and Burn (The Motley Fool)


For one commander in the militia loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, the trip home to Baghdad after a cease-fire was reached in Najaf was just a pit stop.

Clashes Break Out in Baghdad


Mark Hughes farewell as Wales manager turned into a wake as their World Cup dreams were shattered by a remarkable Polish comeback.

Wales caught as Poles vault ahead towards finish


A high-stakes effort to revive a Catholic-Protestant government for Northern Ireland has ended in failure, but hope remains of an eventual breakthrough, the prime ministers of Britain and Ireland said yesterday.

IRA, rivals fail to make progress


Jabaliya - Palestinians on Saturday surveyed the widespread devastation inflicted by Israeli troops during an 18-day military operation in the northern Gaza Strip, after the troops redeployed overnight - comparing the scene to the aftermath of an

#39;Sharon is a butcher #39;


Equatorial Guinea prosecutors have asked South Africa for permission to question Mark Thatcher, who was arrested in Cape Town last week on suspicion of bankrolling a failed plan to overthrow

Equatorial Guinea Wants to Quiz Thatcher in S. Africa (Update1)


AP - Hispanics who identify themselves as

Report Probes Hispanics' Racial Identity (AP)


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Agilent Technologies Inc. saw its shares fall more than 12 percent Friday after the testing and measurement equipment maker disclosed a first-quarter forecast that failed to meet analysts #39; expectations.

Shortfall sparks downgrades, overshadows Q4 results


Forbes.com - The latest Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances shows that Americans invest their taxable accounts and their tax-deferred accounts--their 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts--almost identically, devoting just over two-thirds of each to stocks. Those who do this are stupid. They should put bonds into the sheltered accounts and stocks into the taxable accounts.

Location, Location, Location (Forbes.com)


WATERLOO, Ont. - Research In Motion, which has seen demand for its BlackBerry wireless e-mail devices soar this year, reported another strong quarter today with revenues more than doubling to \$310.

RIM profits soar to \$70.6M (US) in Q2


AP - Lindsay Davenport won the Porsche Grand Prix on Sunday when top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo quit after losing the first set because of an injured left thigh.

Davenport Wins, Moves Closer to Top Spot (AP)


SYDNEY - Australian customs officers say they have made an enormous seizure of the designer drug known as ecstasy. Two men will appear in a Sydney court Monday, charged after 820 kilograms of ecstacy tablets

Huge haul of ecstasy in Australia


HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Houston Astros' Carlos Beltran has  the St Louis Cardinals shaking their heads in disbelief and  baseball owners quaking in their boots.

Beltran's Bat Gives Cards, Owners Food for Thought


The truce between New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin and his players has ended. The Giants #39; four-game winning streak was halted by Sunday #39;s loss to the Detroit Lions at Giants

For the Giants, Signs of Peace Are Gone


SEPTEMBER 13, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - SAN FRANCISCO -- Intel Corp. last week outlined a plan to develop a mobile processor with two CPU cores, but the company remained silent about its strategy for dual-core

Intel Mum on Dual-Core Desktop and Server Plans


The Jemaah Islamiah group said in a purported Internet statement it carried out Thursday #39;s attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta, and warned of more unless Australia withdraws forces from Iraq.

Report: Islamic Group Says Behind Jakarta Bomb


Reuters - Circuit City Stores Inc.  on\Friday reported a narrower quarterly loss from continuing\operations as sales of higher-margin warranties and improved\distribution helped offset weak merchandise sales.

Circuit City Quarterly Loss Narrows (Reuters)


I was just going to say how happy I was that I was wrong with my dire warnings that there was going to be some sort of incident at the Athens Games ... when something happened toward the end of the men #39;s marathon on Sunday.

It wasn #39;t exactly terrorism, but ...


THE French government remained tight-lipped today about the fate of two French journalists abducted over a month ago in Iraq as the release of up to 10 hostages there raised fresh hopes that they could be freed.

Hope in journalists #39; release


MORGAN Turinui has leapfrogged over the troubled Mat Rogers to take over at outside centre for Australia in Saturday #39;s rugby Test against England at Twickenham.

Turinui leaps over Rogers


AP - Larry Walker hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.

Cardinals Clip Brewers 3-2 (AP)


Eager to tarnish Microsoft's shiny new Service Pack 2, the security press managed to spin the most thin and marginal issues into

Columnists: Feast of Egos


Boston Red Sox can make baseball history on Wednesday by becoming the first team to overturn a three-game deficit in a best-of-seven series.

Rallying Red Sox on Verge of Historic Win


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar ticked up on Tuesday,  extending its rebound from the previous day's seven-month low  versus the yen after a sharp fall in oil prices led traders to  scale back their bloated dollar-selling positions.

Dollar Wins Respite as Oil Prices Skid


Sick Florida smokers urged the state #39;s highest court Wednesday to punish the tobacco industry for  quot;fraud and deceit quot; by restoring a \$145 billion US class-action award, the largest ever by an American jury.

Ailing smokers ask Florida justices to restore \$145-billion class <b>...</b>


The company's results show that it's not grim all over tech world. Just all of it that isn't Dell.

Delightful Dell


China has warned that continuing the European Union (EU) arms embargo on Beijing will negatively affect the relationship between them.

China: Relations with EU will Suffer if Arms Embargo Continues


WASHINGTON Nov 25, 2004 - Big game hunters may be off the hook in the latest twist of a prehistoric whodunit that tries to explain why bison populations sharply crashed thousands of years ago.

Hunters Off the Hook for Bison Declines


PPARC -- UK radio astronomers at the Jodrell Bank Observatory, working with colleagues from Europe and the USA, have demonstrated a new technique that will revolutionise the way they observe.     To create the very best quality images of the sky, they routinely combine data from multiple telescopes from around the world  a technique called Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)...

Radio Astronomers Remove the Blindfold


The new iMac, whose basic model is priced at \$1,299 in the United States, is set to ship worldwide in mid-September, Schiller said.

New iMac Packs Computer into Flat Screen


Two modern residential buildings with moderately priced condominiums and an elongated 5-acre park will be built as the first phase of the large NorthPoint project in East Cambridge, the developers said yesterday.

Phase 1 for a city within a city


AFP - Russia's first post-Soviet president Boris Yeltsin issued a veiled warning that President Vladimir Putin's decision to hand sweeping new powers to the Kremlin in the wake of the Beslan hostage crisis could roll back democratic freedoms.

Yeltsin warns against rolling back democracy in wake of Beslan (AFP)


Many victims of Florida's worst hurricane for years are still homeless, with no electricity or telephone services.

US hurricane victims face turmoil


The success of the cybersecurity czar is more about the exercise of leadership than anything else, CompTIA policy chief Roger Cochetti says.

Cybersecurity and the question of leadership


Thursday night is film night for Richard Seymour, and every week he takes someone new to the movies with him.

On film, Seymour sees more


I must start by thanking the French government and people for honoring President Yasser Arafat who spent his last days in their hospitality.

Arafat: A Costly US, Israeli Failure


Revenge is sweet. Many of us have felt that way, and now scientists say they know why.

Brain Study Shows Why Revenge is Sweet


Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Gerry Hunsicker has announced his resignation as general manager of the Houston Astros. Tim Purpura, who had been serving as the assistant general manager, has been named the new GM of the team.

Purpura replaces Hunsicker as GM of Astros


New research from Web analytics firm WebSideStory said usage of Microsoft #39;s dominant Internet Explorer (IE) has dropped slightly.

Another Slide in IE #39;s Market Share


Peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebels from the troubled Darfur region have collapsed after three weeks, one of the two main rebel factions said today.

Darfur Peace Talks Collapse


SAN FRANCISCO (AFX) -- Oil futures fell again Tuesday, nearing a five-week low and ending the month with a loss of more than 2 percent amid new signs that key oil-producing countries will safeguard supply levels.

LATEST FUTURES NEWS


CHANTILLY, Virginia - Yesterday, the Smithsonian took the wraps off a new hangar where visitors can get close to a space shuttle. The space shuttle Enterprise is now on exhibit, the museum #39;s second-largest artifact after the Concorde.

Air and Space museum expands offerings once again


The world #39;s top telecoms equipment makers may have to settle for just a fraction of the multi-billion-dollar orders they had expected when China builds its next-generation mobile phone networks.

China cuts back 3G spending


As October wears on and Halloween draws near, the oil and stock markets are getting more and more spooked. Crude oil hit another record Thursday, settling at \$54.

Crude reaches another record, settling near \$55


ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Oct. 1, 2004 - About 10,000 casino hotel workers from more than half the city #39;s 12 casinos went on strike Friday, even though negotiators had reached a tentative agreement with three of the casinos.

Atlantic City Casino Hotel Workers Strike


Paula Radcliffe is confident she can overcome the mental scars left from her devastating Olympic performances when she makes her return to competitive racing in less than a fortnight #39;s time.

RADCLIFFE CONFIDENT OVER NEW YORK BID


MOSCOW : US oil major ConocoPhillips bought a 7.6-percent government stake in Russia #39;s second-largest producer LUKoil for nearly two billion dollars in the nation #39;s largest post-Soviet privatization deal.

ConocoPhillips wins LUKoil stake in historic auction


CLEVELAND - Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic rival John Edwards slugged it out over Iraq, jobs and each other's judgment in their one and only debate Tuesday night before heading for the battleground state of Florida and its 27 electoral votes. Cheney was appearing Wednesday in Tallahassee, Edwards in West Palm Beach...

VP Candidates Slug It Out Over Iraq, Jobs


Indian software group Infosys turns in a 50 jump in profits as more companies hire it to run their technical support services.

Infosys cashes in on outsourcing


WASHINGTON - Federal law enforcement authorities notified school districts in six states last month that a computer disc found in Iraq contained photos, floor plans and other information about their schools, two U.S. officials said Thursday...

CD in Iraq Said to Have U.S. Schools Info


Software developer Wurld Media has devised a way to bridge the gap between the freewheeling peer to peer downloads community and the music companies who would like to be paid.

Wurld Media turns p2p swapping to music biz advantage


ELEANOR HALL: After close to three years in US detention, Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee, David Hicks, will shortly be reunited with his father, Terry, whos on his way to Cuba to attend his son #39;s trial before a US military commission.

Hicks to be reunited with father


The Japanese electronics giant struck an agreement to buy the fabled movie studio yesterday after rival Time Warner dropped out of the race.

Sony bags MGM film biz for 4.8B


Voice over IP calls are getting cheaper - Vonage and AT amp;T both announced lower monthly charges late last week. AT amp;T said it would reduce its monthly charge by five dollars to \$30 a month for unlimited local and long distance calls in Canada and the US.

AT amp;T and Vonage do battle


The Israeli occupation army yesterday renewed its invasion of Nablus city to the north of the West Bank and imposed curfew, while the Israeli military vehicles were deployed intensively in several areas of the city.

Occupation army invades Nablus, detains leader of al-Aqsa group


AP - A couple of new Killer Bs have the Houston Astros one win away from ending 43 seasons of playoff failure. Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer and Brandon Backe pitched six solid innings in his postseason debut to lead the Astros to their 19th straight home win, 8-5 over Atlanta on Saturday for a 2-1 lead in their NL series.

Clemens Aims for Astros' First Series Win (AP)


A federal appeals court yesterday lifted a ban that prevented a North Carolina company from selling chips that allowed Lexmark International competitors to refill toner cartridges for some of the Lexington manufacturer #39;s printers.

Court rules against Lexmark


There was a lot of damage to be repaired, but Darren Clarke did as good a job as he could reasonably have been expected to when he resumed the Volvo Masters at Valderrama today.

CLARKE RESUMES REPAIR JOB


FROM today, almost 75 per cent of Singapore #39;s domestic exports to South Korea, which amount to more than \$3 billion, will enjoy immediate tariff elimination.

Korean FTA concludes, progress with India


CHICAGO Chicago-based Midway Games has acquired Paradox Development, which is developing the company #39;s upcoming  quot;Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks quot; videogame.

Midway Games acquires Paradox Development


Reuters - Oil prices rose for the second day in\a row on Thursday with an Arctic blast forecast to hit the\United States next week, ramping up demand for heating fuels.

Oil Prices Rise for Second Day in a Row (Reuters)


SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - E-mail security systems vendor IronPort Systems Inc. is releasing new versions of its C-Series line of e-mail security appliances, with features that make it easier

IronPort updates e-mail security appliance


Reuters - Pedro Martinez pitched seven\strong innings to end his losing streak and lead the Boston Red\Sox to an 8-3 victory over the Anaheim Angels in the second\game of an American League Division series on Wednesday.

Martinez Ends Losing Steak as Red Sox Beat Angels (Reuters)


The Silent Hill series of games have always been ripe with weirdness and hellish alternate realities.

Descent into horror of Silent Hill


In the wake of the browser wars of the late 1990s, Microsofts Internet Explorer has reigned supreme - at least in the PC market.

Exploring other browser options


United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, making his first trip to Washington since members of Congress called for his resignation over allegations of fraud in

Annan pledges to cooperate in oil-for-food probe


Yesterday's technology designs are becoming popular among those in their teens and 20's eager to usher back a time they experienced only barely, if at all.

A Digital Generation's Analog Chic


SAN FRANCISCO - EBay Inc. announced a senior management reorganization Thursday, increasing international responsibilities for three executives and underscoring the significance of the company #39;s tremendously profitable PayPal division.

EBay Reorganizes Senior Management


The avalanche of bad publicity that buried David Blunkett #39;s career was triggered more than four months ago, with the Sunday newspaper revelation that the home secretary was having an affair.

Political storm began as summer shower


Texas running back Cedric Benson is probably in some conversations about this season #39;s Heisman Trophy -- and not just because he said he #39;d rather win the stiff-armed statue than beat Oklahoma, if given a choice.

Benson shows no fear on -- or off -- the field


Sophos, a world leader in protecting businesses against viruses and spam, has released a report revealing the hardest hitting viruses of 2004.

War Of The Worms: Windows Worms Dominate The 2004 Virus Charts


Canadian Press - ATHENS (CP) - Montreal's Nicolas Gill will now play the role of spectator at the Summer Games.

Canadian flagbearer Gill bids hasty exit from Olympic judoka event (Canadian Press)


US dialysis company DaVita Inc., a major employer in Pierce County, is poised to buy a Swedish health care companys dialysis operations in a \$3 billion deal, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

DaVita ready to expand dialysis services with \$3 billion deal


United Nations officials are investigating reports that Hutu extremists have attacked Rwandan villages from bases in eastern Congo.

UN probes reports of Rwanda attacks


ABUJA : Darfur #39;s two rebel groups said they would boycott African Union-led peace talks with Sudanese officials for one day in protest at alleged recent attacks on civilians by government forces.

Darfur rebels boycott talks for 24 hours over attacks


BREMEN/BRUSSELS, Sep 29 (SW) - Werder Bremen came back from behind to beat Spanish champions Valencia, while Internazionale were too strong for RSC Anderlecht in the Belgian capital.

CL: Werder Bremen beat Valencia, Inter outclass Anderlecht


Stung by its loss of market share to Hopkinton's EMC Corp. , IBM Corp. fought back yesterday with a pair of major new data storage offerings, including one that occupies less than one-twentieth as much space as EMC's rival Clariion storage system.

IBM unveils new arms in EMC war


As UN climate change talks begin in Buenos Aires, we examine Britain's proposals to cut greenhouse gases.

How green are UK carbon trading plans?


Cyclist Tyler Hamilton #39;s journey has taken him from the North Shore to the summit of Mount Olympus, but the Marblehead native now faces his greatest challenge as he fights a blood-doping

Doping probe may tarnish Tyler: Marblehead cyclist could lose <b>...</b>


WASHINGTON--NASA officials said Thursday the international space station is running so low on food that its two crewmen have had to cut back on their eating and may have

Space station crew cuts food intake, awaits Christmas resupply


The fine, pure hate that Erik Morales has for Marco Antonio Barrera might be motivation enough for the Tijuana fighter here tonight, but there also is a more tangible factor in his favor.

Morales tries to prove that he #39;s worth the weight


AP - A dome by any other name would erupt so strong. But, alas, what's in a name might have tormented Shakespeare as it has even the most savvy of scientists.

Naming Mount St. Helens New Dome Confusing (AP)


Microsoft this week quietly fixed a security weakness in the configuration of the built-in firewall component of Windows XP. The firewall - turned on by default by XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) - can leave files

MS plugs weak XP firewall


Reuters - Among those tipped to win the 2004 Nobel\Peace Prize on Friday are the U.N. nuclear watchdog and its\leader Mohamed ElBaradei, a Kenyan environmentalist and a\Russian anti-nuclear activist.

ElBaradei, Environmentalist Favored for Nobel (Reuters)


Larry David tools around in one on his HBO series. Cameron Diaz drives one in Los Angeles. So do Leonardo DiCaprio and Rob Reiner.

Detroit Fights California Bid to Open Car Pool Lanes to Fuel <b>...</b>


Growing up in Brandon, Israel Idonije wouldn #39;t have known George Halas from Vince Lombardi, he didn #39;t really care about Da Bears and he was certainly no Cheesehead.

Debut at Lambeau


LEESBURG, VA. -- Bail was set at \$1 million for a Raleigh man awaiting sentencing in the nation #39;s first felony prosecution of illegal distribution of spam.

\$1 million bail for spammer


(Madrid) The cabinet of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero Friday approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage and allowing gay couples to adopt.

Spain Moves Forward With Gay Marriage


Six of seven men on Pitcairn Island charged with sex crimes have been found guilty. Our correspondent in New Zealand, Gillian Bradford, says the island #39;s mayor, Steve Christian, has been convicted of some of the most serious offences.

Six Pitcairn islanders found guilty of sex crimes


AP - Vince Carter had 25 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4.8 seconds left, to help the Toronto Raptors improve to 3-0 with a 101-97 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Carter scored nine points in the final 4:28, including the fadeaway 3-pointer that gave Toronto the lead for good.

Raptors Down Blazers, Improve to 3-0 (AP)


AP - NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe said Wednesday the cost of fixing all the problems with the space shuttle fleet could top  #36;2.2 billion  #151; double the estimated price tag given to Congress a year ago.

NASA: Fixing Shuttle Fleet Could Top  #36;2B (AP)


LONDON - Flowers could someday sprout from biodegradable cellphones, say researchers who have found a way to embed a seed inside the plastic.

Biodegradable cellphone fertilizes sunflowers


A new survey of US artists reveals that while most agree that downloading from file-sharing networks is illegal, yet they admit they themselves download media without paying and have little idea if it is legal or not.

US musicians favour sharing - new survey


Microsoft portrayed its Longhorn decision as a necessary winnowing to hit the 2006 timetable. The announcement on Friday, Microsoft executives insisted, did not point to a setback in software

Windows Plan Scaled Back


AP - Arizona State tailback and leading rusher Hakim Hill will be available Saturday when the 20th-ranked Sun Devils face No. 7 California on the road, after being benched last week.

Sun Devils Tailback Reinstated (AP)


Los Angeles - If you think the freeways around Southern California are crowded, you should see the crowd in the Southern California locker room after a football game.

USC #39;s leading man


Merck shares dropped 10 percent Monday to the lowest level since 1995 after a published report said the drugmaker tried for years to stop safety concerns from hurting sales of its Vioxx painkiller.

Market Roundup


The Scottish Football Association postponed a board meeting Tuesday that had been called to discuss the German #39;s future. Scotland has picked up just two points from its first three qualifying games for the 2006 World Cup.

Vogts #39; future still in the balance


Partner with .Mac  #151; Apple #146;s suite of Internet essentials  #151; as a .Mac affiliate. More than half-a-million people use .Mac to make the Internet the ultimate experience. Learn how your customers can, too. Dec 03

.Mac Affiliate Program


Intel's products for the digital home and digital office in 2005 will give consumers and IT managers more capabilities than just raw performance, and the company plans to highlight those products as it did with its Centrino mobile technology, Intel executives said Tuesday.

Intel sheds light on 2005 desktop strategy


GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - One man allegedly worked as an al-Qaida accountant. Another, a poet, is accused of crafting terrorist propaganda...

U.S. Prepares for Guantanamo Arraignments


Nextel Communications Inc. Friday reported improved profit and revenue during its third quarter as it boosted its subscriber base to 14.5 million, an increase of 550,000.
<FONT face=

Nextel Profit Up


GENEVA - Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a law allowing stem cell research Sunday, rejecting a hard-line campaign that compared researchers to the Nazis #39;  quot;angel of death, quot; Dr.

Swiss Voters Accept Stem Cell Research Law


IBM has quit the personal computer market 23 years after legitimising the PC revolution that changed everything - from the way we work to the fortunes of Microsoft #39;s Bill Gates.

Big Blue sells its PC division to China


quot;The price performance in China remains stable on the whole, quot; said Governor of the People #39;s Bank of China Zhou Xiaochuan on Sunday.

China #39;s price performance remains stable, says Central bank <b>...</b>


AP - China on Friday welcomed a Russian draft resolution to draw up a new list of terror suspects who would be subject to extradition in a stepped-up global campaign against terrorism. But the United States and France eyed the plan with a measure of caution.

Russia Terrorism Plan Meets Mixed Reviews (AP)


Reuters - It has taken six years, but\Chrysler is betting it has improved the quality and style of\its cars to the point where it can win over twice as many\European motorists, its chief executive said.

Chrysler Boss Sets Sights on Europe (Reuters)


SAN FRANCISCO -- Intel outlined its plans for a dual-core mobile processor and platform technology this week, but declined to provide any details about the dual-core future of its flagship Pentium 4 desktop processor.

Intel #39;s Dual-Core Chips Debut


Sun Microsystems Inc. on Tuesday was set to announce its UltraSparc IV microprocessor, the last significant upgrade to the company #39;s processor line before it begins shipping the redesigned chips it calls

Sun unveils UltraSparc IV


Reuters - Genetically modified fish may one day be\used to produce human proteins to treat illnesses such as lung\disease, liver problems and even some cancers.

Genetically Modified Fish Used to Make Human Protein (Reuters)


Dec 14, 2004 (AXcess News) Paris - A French satellite television provider says a channel operated by Lebanon #39;s Hezbollah militant group has ended its broadcasts to France.

Hezbollah TV Network Ends Broadcasts To France


By just looking at operating margins, investors can find profitable industry leaders.

Answers in the Margins


Shares of Merck  amp; Co. plunged almost 10 percent yesterday after a media report said that documents show the pharmaceutical giant hid or denied

Merck plunges on report it hid Vioxx risks


A new study of automobile head restraints found that most do not do a good job of protecting passengers from whiplash in low-speed collisions.

Study Finds Fault With Many Cars #39; Head Restraints


Hungary #39;s Zsuzsanna Voros won the gold medal in the women #39;s modern pentathlon in Athens Friday to add the Olympic title to her three world championships.

Modern Pentathlon: Voros Wins Women #39;s Gold


It #39;s getting very tight at the top of the Bundesliga with wins for Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 cutting Wolfsburg #39;s lead to just one point.

Bayern, Schalke Increase Pressure as Wolves Slip


Tighter security measures designed to stop suspected terrorists, sexual predators and other types of criminals at the nation's borders will begin next month, federal officials announced Thursday.

Border Security Measures to Tighten


Stock picker Anthony Elgindy profited from illegal tips supplied by an FBI agent who told him about probes of companies Elgindy would then sell short while spreading negative information to clients of his online newsletter, a prosecutor said.

Stock picker fraud trial begins


This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been enterprise directories for several months, but for many IT managers, ERP (enterprise resource planning) and open source initiatives are on the horizon.

EU judge plans Microsoft ruling within a month


South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon said Thursday that intelligence indicating a possible launch of a North Korean ballistic missile is  quot;very much alarming

Prospect of North Korean Missile Launch  #39;Alarming #39; to Seoul


A nightly ritual at the Orton household in Altoona, Iowa, prepared Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton for both of his potential professions.

From the Grass Roots of Iowa Comes the Thinking Man's Passer


Reuters - Indiana Pacers forward\Jonathan Bender will be out indefinitely due to his chronically\injured left knee.

Pacers' Bender Out Indefinitely with Knee Injury (Reuters)


WASHINGTON The Pentagon is reopening a controversial 23 (b) billion dollar deal with Boeing to supply refueling tankers to the Air Force.

Pentagon says it will open tanker deal to competition


Experts believe a sore tooth may have led a Tanzanian lion to go on a human killing spree instead of hunting buffalo.

Toothache 'made lion eat humans '


South Korean memory-chip maker Hynix Semiconductor Inc. announced Wednesday that it reached an agreement to construct a wafer fabrication plant (fab) to manufacture chips in Wuxi, China.

Hynix to build chip plant in China


Games maker and publisher Acclaim, famous for dino game Turok, has filed for bankruptcy in the US.

Games makers Acclaim ceases ops


The Israeli army says it is investigating newspaper claims of the abuse of dead Palestinians by its soldiers.

Israel probes body abuse claims


When the Tigers wasted little time taking a 1-0 lead off Derek Lowe in the first inning, Terry Francona surmised if Lowe's shaky start had come in the first half of the season, Lowe might have let the game slip away.

Sinkerballer is rising


BANGALORE, INDIA -- General Electric Co. (GE) is selling a 60 percent stake in GE Capital International Services (GECIS), its business process outsourcing (BPO) subsidiary in India, for about \$500 million, the company said Monday.

GE to sell 60 percent of Indian BPO operation


Canadian Press - LETHBRIDGE, Alta. (CP) - Sending an RCMP officer to jail for shooting a drunken prisoner who grabbed his gun would amount to cruel and unusual punishment, Mike Ferguson's lawyer argued Thursday.

Defence pleads for conditional sentence for Alberta cop who shot prisoner (Canadian Press)


TOKYO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Japan on Friday ordered  Citigroup Inc. <A HREF=

Japan Shuts Citigroup Private Bank Unit


AS OIL prices hovered near record levels, United States President George W. Bush welcomed a personal assurance this week from his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Russia would

Will Russia #39;s oil help fuel Asia #39;s economies?


Olympic laurels. NBC swept the Nielsen ratings medals, with its first three nights of coverage in Athens taking the top three prime-time spots last week (Aug. 9-15) in viewers and advertiser-coveted young adults. The surge ...

A gold medal in the ratings


washingtonpost.com - Microsoft Corp. today released an unprecedented number of software security updates to plug flaws in its products, including seven

Microsoft Releases New 'Critical' Patches (washingtonpost.com)


WANTED FOR MURDER OF 33 PEOPLE AND INJURY OF 130 PEOPLE at 3 locations in Sinai, Egypt, at the end of the Jewish high holiday season (at the end of the Simchat Torah holiday).

Triple attacks in Sinai, Egypt, leaves 33 dead and 130 injured


Washington Post staff writer David A. Vise discusses the unveiling of the new 401(k) credit card -- which allows American workers to easily borrow money from their own retirement savings.

The 401(k) Card


The pricing pressure from ETFs is good news for index investors. But don't forget the brokerage fees.

ETFs and Falling Fund Fees


Approximately 40,000 laser printers manufactured by Lexmark International Inc. were recalled this week, according to a statement released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Some Lexmark, Dell Printers May Present Electrical Hazard


it hit Taiwan on Saturday. Hundreds of people fled their homes and two people were reported missing after torrential. Nanmadol killed at least 35 people in the Philippines and

Philippine towns mop up


AFP - Porsche, the German maker of luxury sports cars, wants to extend working hours and cut jobs, its chairman said in a newspaper interview at a time when other car makers in Germany are also drastically reducing their workforce in an attempt to drive down costs.

Porsche wants to cut jobs, extend working hours (AFP)


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices extended record-setting highs  above \$51 for U.S. crude on Wednesday, fueled by the impact of  Hurricane Ivan on U.S. winter inventories.

Oil Extends Record Run to \$51.48 Peak


Israeli attack helicopters, warplanes and tanks hit a training camp in Gaza, used by the Islamic militant group Hamas. Palestinian sources say 14 militants were killed and another 30 people injured.

Israeli Strike in Gaza Kills at Least 14 Palestinians


The US film industry is preparing to sue server operators in the United States and Europe that help relay movie files across file-sharing networks, a source familiar with the movie studios #39; plans said.

Hollywood to sue P2P servers


The US government made this clear in recent weeks as the Federal Aviation Administration held meetings to get the big airlines to reduce the number of flights they put through O #39;Hare.

Gary airport development vital to entire state


When it comes to counting, a remote Amazonian tribespeople have been found to be lost for words. Researchers discovered the Piraha tribe of Brazil, with a population of 200, have no words beyond one, two and many.

Brazil tribe prove words count


AP - As much as Derek Roy would rather be wearing a Buffalo Sabres uniform, the forward was happy to be back on the ice  #151; even if it's in the minors.

Sabres' Roy Happy to Be Back on Ice (AP)


After splashing out with Celine Dion concerts and parties for staff, it was as if Air Canada woke with a hangover Wednesday morning, when the reservation computer crashed.

Computer glitch delays Air Canada departures


Reuters - Thousands of demonstrators pressing to\install Ukraine's opposition leader as president after a\disputed election launched fresh street rallies in the capital\for the third day Wednesday.

Ukraine Opposition Renews Street Protests Over Poll (Reuters)


AP - Free agent forwards Damone Brown and Darius Rice were waived by the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday.

Nets Waive Damone Brown, Darius Rice (AP)


More British Airways flights were canceled Wednesday after thousands were stranded by canceled flights at London #39;s Heathrow Airport because of staff shortages at the airline.

More BA flights canceled


Insurgent attacks against US and Iraqi troops continued Wednesday west of Baghdad in the rebel stronghold known as the Sunni Triangle.

More Violence Across Iraq Kills 12


The presidential election process in Lebanon has finally been put on track after much speculation regarding an amendment to the Constitution in order to give President Emile Lahoud another term.

Syria, the region and Lebanons presidential election


com. One day after signing a right-handed hitter with two 45-home runs seasons on his resume, the Mariners could be on the verge of signing the current Major League home run champion.

Mariners reportedly land Beltre


American forces battled through boobytrapped lanes in a swift advance to city center. The military said at least 71 militants and 10 U.S. troopers were killed as of the beginning of the third day of intense urban combat.

U.S. Forces Claim Most of Fallujah


JAKARTA (Dow Jones)--US mining giant Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) is preparing a legal defense of five executives who face possible criminal charges related to the alleged dumping of toxic wastes by the company #39;s Indonesian unit, a company executive said.

INTERVIEW: Newmont Preparing Defense In Indonesian Case


The United States on Thursday applauded Britain #39;s decision to agree to a US request to redeploy 850 crack troops in Iraq to a volatile area west of Baghdad, calling it a sign of London #39;s commitment to the Iraqi people and international security.

US hails British decision to redeploy troops to volatile zone in <b>...</b>


The fight over the lucrative market for rheumatoid arthritis drugs is heating up. In the last five years, three similar drugs have been introduced that offer patients the promise of getting back on their feet. Now the manufacturers of all three are jockeying for market share so they can be the leader when Medicare's full prescription drug benefit takes effect ...

Rheumatoid arthritis drug market heats up


George W. Bush #39;s victory marks the political ascendancy of  #39; #39;red-state quot; America that backed him strongly four years ago but then served as veritable bulwark

Win shows  #39;red states #39; on the rise


Reuters - Myanmar's second most prominent\political prisoner said Saturday he felt like he had

Myanmar Student Leader 'Wakes from Dreamland' (Reuters)


What an inspirational story: former world title contender becomes used car salesman in Texas, becomes rattlesnake killer, becomes pest exterminator in Baghdad, becomes boxing coach of Iraq and self-proclaimed  quot;saviour quot; of that troubled nation. It is ...

Hollywood awaits Termite from Texas and Iraqi fly


Mexican Cemex, being the third largest cement maker in the world, agreed to buy its British competitor - RMC Group - for \$5.8 billion, as well as their debts in order to expand their activity on the building materials market of the USA and Europe.

Cemex to buy British RMC Group