PENSACOLA, Fla. - Hurricane Ivan drilled the Gulf Coast on Thursday with 130-mph winds that inflicted far less damage than feared everywhere except Florida's Panhandle, where residents were left with surge-ravaged beachfronts, flooded streets and homes ripped apart by deadly tornadoes...

Hurricane Ivan Slams Gulf Coast; 20 Dead


0133 GMT - US Treasuries steady in early Asia after falling in previous US session on Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan #39;s comments that interest rates were headed higher.

US Treasuries steady after fall on Greenspan


By ALLISON LINN    SEATTLE (AP) -- In a preliminary ruling, the government rejected Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)'s 1996 patent on technology for saving files on computers using easy-to-remember names...

Microsoft Vows Fight on Latest Patent Rejection


KAIPING, China -- In this city and many others in China, senior officials are embezzling tens of millions of dollars and fleeing overseas with their families.

Embezzlement seen widespread in China


AP - A uranium conversion facility in Iran is nearing completion, a top official said Sunday, only days after European countries offered a deal in which Iran would reportedly have to give up all nuclear activities.

Iran Says Uranium Facility Almost Complete (AP)


Local government offices in the French capital will be moving to open source software, but they #39;ll be doing it slowly. An independent study showed that a switch to open source would cause  quot;significant

Paris govt. offices slowly switching to open-source software


AP - In the first major clash between police and demonstrators converging for the Republican National Convention, more than 250 bicyclists were arrested during a protest ride that snaked through the city and passed by Madison Square Garden.

NYC Police Arrest 250 in Bicycle Protest (AP)


It was no secret that two-time NASCAR champion Terry Labonte was thinking about scaling back to a limited racing schedule. Even so, the official announcement brought tears to most everyone present.

Labonte to run part-time schedule in 2005 and 2006


Almost half of the US enterprises who were IBM PC prospects said that they #39;re ready to consider Dell or HP now that the Armonk, NY-based giant is dumping its desktop and laptop business, a research firm reported Thursday.

IBM Could Lose Half Its PC Prospects To Dell, HP


Reuters - U.S. chain store sales increased\slightly in the latest week, due in part to Labor Day sales and\back-to-school shopping, a report said on Tuesday.

Chain Store Sales Increase Slightly (Reuters)


Canadian Press - MONTREAL (CP) - CAE Inc. has won a  #36;23 million contract to provide China Eastern Airlines with a flight simulator to help train pilots to fly Airbus jets.

CAE wins contract to sell flight simulator to China Eastern Airlines (Canadian Press)


JERUSALEM -- Israel is prepared to coordinate its pullout from Gaza with a new Palestinian government, officials said yesterday, a shift from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's concept of  quot;unilateral disengagement quot; and a sign that cooperation may be restored in the post-Arafat era.

Israel eyes coordination of pullout


Reuters - New applications for U.S. home loans\fell last week as 30-year mortgage rates declined to their\lowest level since late March, an industry group said on\Wednesday.

Mortgage Applications Fell Last Week (Reuters)


Police have shot dead India #39;s most wanted bandit, Koose Muniswamy Veerappan, accused of killing more than 100 people, kidnapping, poaching and smuggling from his jungle hideout, officials said on Tuesday.

Police Kill India #39;s Most Wanted Bandit


Gold medal-winning Marlon Devonish says the men #39;s 4x100m Olympic relay triumph puts British sprinting back on the map. Devonish, Darren Campbell, Jason Gardener and Mark Lewis-Francis edged out the American

Marlon hails sprint revival


November 12, 2004 - Going all the way to the official launch of the Nintendo DS system, we #39;re going to break the new handheld hardware down to its individual parts and talk about specific elements that make the Nintendo DS so darn cool.

Nintendo DS Feature a Day #4


US Secretary of State Colin Powell appealed to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Thursday to step aside for the sake of achieving his lifetime goal of a Palestinian state.

Powell implores Arafat to quit as Palestinian chief


Iranian police arrest two men suspected of murdering several children and burying their bodies in the desert.

Iran 'serial child killers' held


A federal agency examines forensic tools to help law enforcement extract data from handheld gadgets.\

Police turn forensic skills on handhelds


Forbes.com - Why not take advantage of all the information available on how mutual fund managers are investing money? A year ago we offered a template to copycat the best pros. The idea was simple: take the portfolios of the longtime star fund managers and see which stocks they have in common. The thesis was that stocks liked by an assortment of smart guys must be stocks worth holding.

Smart Money (Forbes.com)


Police have raided a suspected training camp of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers #39; Party (PKK) in the south of the Netherlands, arresting 29 people.

Dutch raid Kurd  #39;training camp #39;


SAN FRANCISCO Symantec, the computer security giant, reached final agreement Thursday to take over the storage and backup program maker Veritas Software, making Symantec the No.4 independent software company in the world.

Symantec shares skid on deal


When the violent video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas hits stores on Tuesday, its sales could eclipse Hollywood #39;s most successful films, even as it draws the ire of critics.

Grand Theft tipped to top games chart


JEBALIYA REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip - Armored vehicles massed on Gaza's border Friday after Israel's security Cabinet approved a large-scale military operation - dubbed

Armored Vehicles Mass at Gaza Border


The new breed of portable media players is finally here, but the devices are too small to comfortably watch movies on and too bulky to compete with my MP3 music player.

Review: New Media Players Too Small


ATLANTA (Reuters) - Soft drink giant Coca-Cola Co. <A HREF=

Coke Cuts Earnings, Volume Targets


The Web site of identity-fraud suspects operating as the Shadowcrew has been replaced by information about alleged members' arrests.

Photo: Shadowcrew site in federal custody


UNITED NATIONS -- The leaders of France and Brazil warned on Monday that poverty leads to violence and urged the international community to find ways to narrow the gap between rich and poor, casting a spotlight on the more than a billion people living on

UN, leaders to focus on world poverty issue


com September 30, 2004, 11:11 AM PT. SanDisk announced Thursday increased capacities for several different flash memory cards. The Sunnyvale, Calif.

SanDisk ups capacity on flash memory cards


The wood furniture maker uses a niche strategy to work around industry problems.

Stanley Furniture Gets Comfortable


With all the hand-wringing about the economic perils of falling populations, there could be one beneficiary: the environment.

A Greener Globe, Maybe


Genesis engineers and scientists have wrapped the crash site of the solar-wind collecting probe, with hopes of recovering mission objectives. A few disk fragments have been sent to California researchers, but NASA scientists are still working in Utah to preserve the bulk of the cargo.

Wrapping Up the Genesis Crash Site


CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - A Washington-basedpro-democracy group said on Thursday it wanted to defuse a rowwith leftist President Hugo Chavez, who has accused the U.S.Congress-funded organization of backing efforts to topple him.

US Group Seeks to Defuse Venezuela Funding Row


Rockwell Collins Inc., a maker of aircraft electronics, on Thursday backed its full-year earnings estimate and put its fiscal 2005 expectations above Wall Street views in anticipation of improved margins in its commercial segment and lower benefits

Rockwell Backs 2004 Earnings View


The Australian Rugby Union yesterday denied South African reports that the blueprint for an expanded Super 12 competition had been completed and would not include a team from Melbourne.

New Super 12 teams still up in the air


A second car bombing in the Iraqi city of Ramadi has left four people dead and possibly injured a US soldier. Hospital officials say the booby-trapped car exploded as a US military convoy passed by.

Deadly car bombs explode in Ramadi, Mosul


AP - Police found the bodies of nine people, including three federal agents, in two areas Thursday near this Caribbean resort city, apparent victims of drug killings, officials said.

9 Found in Apparent Cancun Drug Killings (AP)


After meeting yesterday in Toronto with approximately 75 NHL player representatives and interested teammates, NHL Players #39; Association executive director Bob Goodenow declared no cracks in the union.

NHL union firms up its membership


MacCentral - IDG World Expo on Wednesday offered details about the Macintosh Games Pavilion, featured at next month's Macworld Conference  amp; Expo in San Francisco, Calif. The pavilion will feature new games from publishers including Aspyr Media, MacSoft, Freeverse Software and Ambrosia Software. It'll also be populated by an Arcade area where showgoers can get their hands on Power Mac G5s and iMac G5s running the latest titles available for the Macintosh.

Macworld Expo Games Pavilion to feature new games (MacCentral)


Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. agreed to buy the brands including Altoids mints and Life Savers for \$1.48 billion from Kraft Foods Inc., its biggest acquisition ever, to expand its share of the candy market.

Wrigley to Buy Kraft #39;s Life Savers for \$1.48 Bln (Update3)


Israeli lawmakers approve first dismantling of Jewish settlements, but plan continues to face fierce resistance. By Ben Lynfield  Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor.

What #39;s next for historic Gaza pullout plan


ATA, the biggest airline at Chicago #39;s Midway Airport, filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday and said it will unload its Midway hub to AirTran Airways.

ATA CHECKED FOR DEPARTURE


By MIRON VAROUHAKIS      ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- If you're planning on attending this month's Olympic Games, you'd best be careful what you say and do in public.    Software will be watching and listening...

Unprecedented Electronic Digital Net for Olympics


SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Last year Jordan won the Brazilian  Grand Prix against the odds, now they are fighting for  survival.

Column: Jordan Will Not Go Down Without a Fight


NOVEMBER 17, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - IBM and officials from some of the world #39;s leading science, education and philanthropic organizations yesterday launched a global grid computing project aimed at harnessing unused global computing power to help solve a

#39;World Community Grid #39; seeks to harness unused computers


With less than six weeks to go before the Nov. 2 presidential election, voting activists said officials still have time to set up a paper trail as a counterweight to an e-voting system they portrayed as wide open to manipulation.

E-vote critics urge changes to system


AFP - Five people were killed and scores wounded in northeast India when militants blew up two buses, threw a grenade into a market and triggered twin blasts on a railway track, officials said.

Five killed, scores hurt as rebels bomb buses in India's northeast (AFP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Thursday as investors  bet on a year-end rally, while talk of a possible merger by  telecommunications companies Sprint Corp. <A HREF=

Stocks Up Amid Talk of Sprint/Nextel Deal


Computer maker evolves from its

SGI claims lead in supercomputer race


Rashard Lewis scored 27 points and Ray Allen had 24 last night to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to their ninth straight victory, 101-94 over the host Toronto Raptors.

NBA ROUNDUP Sonics Top Toronto To Win 9th Straight


This radar image of the surface of Saturn #39;s moon Titan was acquired on October 26, 2004, when the Cassini spacecraft flew approximately 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) above the surface and acquired radar data for the first time.

Cassini radar shows diversity on Saturn #39;s moon Titan


TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average rose 2 percent by late  morning trade on Monday as banks extended last week's gains and  strong gains in U.S. semiconductor chip stocks helped push up  Japanese peers such as Advantest Corp.

Nikkei Up 2 Percent in Late Morning


Justin Langer, Australia #39;s Test opener, has described touring India as the  quot;ultimate test quot;, and believes that victory in the forthcoming four-Test series, which begins at Bangalore on October 6, will complete the set as far as his generation of cricketers

Langer: braced for the ultimate test


Ziff Davis - Opinion: In last week's episode, Microsoft sent  #36;546 million Novell's way; this week, Microsoft launches a campaign to win over Novell customers. Will such moves land the software giant back in court?

As Microsoft Turns: The Soap Opera Plays On (Ziff Davis)


Nomar Garciaparra, the Cubs shortstop, had his choice in sports viewing Wednesday night. He could watch the baseball playoffs on television in a Soldier Field skybox or focus on his wife playing soccer on the beat-up turf below.

Parlow hat trick keeps US tour perfect


Russias Marat Safin won his first title in almost two years with a gritty 7-6, 7-5 victory over compatriot Mikhail Youzhny at the China Open on Sunday, just as another Russian star, recent US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova won another title in Bali.

Safin, Kuznetsova Victorious in Asian Tennis Matches


Myanmar #39;s tough but pragmatic prime minister was sacked Tuesday by his hardline army colleagues, clouding prospects for the freedom of opposition leader Aung San

Democracy hopes dim after PM sacked


Reuters - India pulled out around 3,000\troops from Kashmir Saturday in a planned withdrawal of army\units from the region, officials said, as the peace process\between New Delhi and Islamabad came under strain this week.

India Pulls Out About 3,000 Troops from Kashmir (Reuters)


Reuters - Separatist militants threw a grenade at a paramilitary picket in Indian Kashmir on Wednesday, wounding six civilians, a police officer said.

Grenade blast in Kashmir wounds six (Reuters)


Follow the countdown and launch of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket with NASA #39;s Deep Impact comet spacecraft. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

Site: SLC-17B, Cape Canaveral, Florida


Users of Microsoft Windows who have not downloaded the SP2 update are at risk of exposure to hackers when they open jpeg picture files, the BBC said Thursday.

Microsoft warns of jpeg vulnerability


Reuters - Scores of supporters of Zimbabwe's\opposition leader gathered outside the high court on Friday to\hear the verdict in his treason trial, which could see him\sentenced to death.

Crowds Gather for Zimbabwe Opposition Chief Verdict (Reuters)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial average  declined on Thursday after drug maker Merck   Co.<A HREF=

Blue Chips End Down, Merck Recall Weighs


ATHENS, Greece - Little things meant a lot in Athens: a tear from Mia Hamm's eye, or a smile across Jennie Finch's mouth, was as good as gold. A pair of abandoned wrestling shoes, size 13, signaled goodbye for Rulon Gardner...

Athens Games: Best of Greek Past, Present


Security expert express concerns that cash machines could soon fall victim to Windows viruses.

Concerns over Windows cashpoints


Hungary #39;s hammer throw gold medallist, Adrian Annus, is embroiled in a drugs dispute with the IOC demanding that he give a fresh urine sample or lose his gold medal.

Annus horribilis


com. Poor Chone Figgins. He should have known he was in for a rough one when Manny Ramirez hammered a liner off his glove in the first inning of Boston #39;s 9-3 win over Anaheim in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment stagnated in  early September as doubts about the economy and the job market  persisted, a report indicated on Friday.

US Sept Consumer Sentiment Stagnates


Automakers weren #39;t as generous with consumer incentives in October as they were in September, but shoppers can expect a new round of deals as manufacturers, particularly General Motors Corp.

Consumers can expect lucrative deals on new vehicles for holidays


ATLANTA - Shirley Mansour looks dubious as she examines the plastic needles on the 9-foot Sedona pine.  quot;I #39;m not sure I really want to do this, quot; she says, circling the \$337.50 artificial tree at the Seasonal Concepts store in Roswell, Ga.

Deep-rooted debate stirs up Christmas tree growers


A peace agreement for Sudan #39;s western Darfur region may be possible by year end after Khartoum signed a separate deal with southern rebels, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.

Annan: Darfur settlement possible by year end


Berti Vogts quit as Scotland #39;s national soccer coach after a run of results left the team unlikely to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in his home country of Germany.

Berti Vogts Quits as Scotland Soccer Coach, Cites Abuse by Fans


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar rose on Thursday as  traders, short of dollars after relentlessly selling them for  weeks, looked to the growing yield advantage of U.S. assets as  a reason to buy back the currency before the end of the year.

Dollar Rises, Investors Eye Yields


Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who flew into London on Sunday, is due to discuss with British Prime Minister Tony Blair over terrorism, trade and the situation in Afghanistan and Kashmir on Monday.

Blair, Musharraf to hold talks over terrorism


Cybertrust will combine identity management and PKI products from Betrusted, risk management and compliance services from TruSecure, and intrusion detection and prevention technology from Ubizen, a subsidiary of Betrusted.

TruSecure, Betrusted Merge To Form Cybertrust


Tokyo, December 8: Toshiba Corp and a Japanese disc maker said on Tuesday they had developed a disc that can store content in both conventional and high-definition DVD formats, in a move they hope will strengthen their hand in a battle for the next

Toshiba and disc maker develop dual format DVD


Berea, OH (Sports Network) - Cleveland Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia will miss the remainder of the season after being placed on injured reserve Monday with a knee injury.

Garcia done for the season with knee injury


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Computer audio equipment maker  Creative Technology Ltd. said on Thursday it would double its  MP3 player product lines from its current eight by year-end,  stepping up competition for rivals such as Apple Computer Inc.  <A HREF=

Apple-Rival Creative to Double MP3 Player Lines


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

Investors Take a Holiday


With thoughts of those killed by captors in her native Russia, the Wimbledon champion says it  quot;just shows that my loss is a little thing.

Sharapova #39;s heart not in Open


Germany faced a surge of far-right parties in eastern state elections, worrying about their rise and the ensuing damage to the country #39;s image.

Far-Right Surge in East Alarms Mainstream Germany


The generic soda maker says things that investors didn't like in July -- but the stock rises this time.

Cott Pops Up Again


YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar #39;s military government said Thursday that it will release 5,311 prisoners in addition to almost 4,000 whose planned release was announced last week.

Myanmar junta announces plan for more prisoner releases


The good people of the Midwest hope you have been enjoying following the Big Dance, that high-stakes, hotly anticipated tournament taking place back east.

Cards Outlast Astros to Win Opener


TORONTO - Grocery retailer Loblaw Companies Ltd. said Friday its third-quarter earnings grew by more than 18 per cent over the previous year.

Loblaws Q3 profit up 18


Juan Pablo Montoya ended his first day as a McLaren driver at the top of the Barcelona timesheets. The Colombian was half a second faster than former Williams team-mate Ralf Schumacher, who was making his Toyota debut.

JPM FASTEST ON MCLAREN DEBUT


Kazaa #39;s long-standing position as the most popular online file-sharing software appears to be over. Last month, the daily average of file-swappers on the FastTrack peer-to-peer network, which

P2P tracking firm: Kazaa losing users to eDonkey


Four China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corp. executives surrendered their passports to Singapore #39;s Commercial Affairs Department, the white-collar crime unit that is investigating a \$550 million loss posted by the company.

Four China Aviation Officials Surrender Passports (Update1)


Part of a doping sample taken from the horse that won Ireland #39;s only gold medal at the Athens Olympics was stolen, the International Equestrian Federation said Monday.

Part of Olympic champion horse #39;s drug test stolen


The Mercury took control early and pummeled Los Angeles 72-58 in front of 6,062 fans at America West Arena on Wednesday night. Phoenix (16-13) moved into a third-place tie in the WNBA #39;s Western Conference by knocking off the league #39;s best team (21-8).

After 18 straight defeats, Mercury solves Sparks


Scientists from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory have pieced together the most detailed images of two Saturnian moons from pictures the Cassini orbiter captured at the end of October.

Images capture 2 Saturnian moons


Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. KABUL, Afghanistan -- A Turkish engineer taken hostage in Afghanistan was killed by kidnappers who had been

Kidnapped Turkish engineer killed in Afghanistan


Front office management - make that mismanagement - of the Arizona Diamondbacks has now provided for the franchise and its adoring public the fourth trail boss since the 2004 season began.

CORKY: \$500K job and no one checked his rap sheet?


Google warned Thursday that increased competition and the maturing of the company would result in an  quot;inevitable quot; slowing of its growth.

Google warns a slowing of growth is  #39;inevitable #39;


The co-pilot of American Airlines flight 587 caused the November 2001 crash that claimed the lives of 265 people, the staff of the nation's airline safety agency reported Tuesday.

NTSB Blames 2001 Plane Crash on Co-Pilot


During an IBM employee meeting here Wednesday, a worker got up and asked a question that perhaps only 10 years ago would have been unthinkable: If he wanted

IBM Reassures Workers After Milestone China Deal


ATLANTA - Nasa #39;s Atlanta-based Institute for Advanced Concepts has a new field of futuristic dreams to nurture - from engineering organisms that could live on Mars to swarms of microscopic satellites to map the Earth.

US space agency shooting for out-of-this-world ideas


Logitech Inc. was set Wednesday to introduce a new mouse that uses a laser beam to track the movements of the device. The mouse, which Logitech claims will be

Logitech launches laser-tracking mouse


AP - In the first 232 minutes of its season, Seattle held opponents to 23 points. Then it allowed 23 in the next 11 minutes, blowing last week's game to St. Louis in overtime.

Is This the Week the Pats' Streak Ends? (AP)


HOUSTON -- Investment firm Apollo Management LP said it agreed to acquire Goodman Global Holdings Inc., a maker of air conditioners and heating equipment, for \$1.43 billion.

Apollo to buy Goodman Global for \$1.43B


Nol Forgeard #39;s move to European Aeronautic Defence  amp; Space company leaves shareholders needing to appoint quickly a chief at Airbus to avoid destabilising its management, analysts warned.

Forgeard becomes French co-chief at EADS


The three years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have been treacherous for airline employees. Thousands have lost their jobs and many of the rest have felt the squeeze on their daily lives as airlines slashed pay and benefits.

Waiting for the Worst


ZNAMENSKOYE, Russia (Reuters) - Chechens voted on Sunday  for a new president in a tense election, but many doubted the  Moscow-backed police officer who was set to win would manage to  stamp out rebellion in the turbulent region.

Chechens Vote for New Leader; 'Bomber' Kills Self


As the consummate  quot;corporate wife, quot; Denise Foderaro backed Frank Quattrone as he climbed the rungs to the pinnacle of Wall Street.

Wife tried to sway judge


McDonald #39;s Corp. said Wednesday worldwide sales at its namesake restaurants open at least 13 months rose 3.9 percent in August, helped by strong sales of new menu items, including fried chicken strips.

Chicken strips boost McDonald #39;s


Oil prices set a new record today on concerns over tight winter heating fuel supplies and news that a strike in Nigeria could put some crude exports on hold.

Oil Hits \$53 High on Supply Worries


Just a week after PeopleSoft ousted former chief executive Craig Conway, it has announced that another top executive - Ram Gupta, who had been executive vice president of products and technology -as left.

PeopleSoft product exec follows CEO out the door


Jack Valenti took a break from cleaning out his office the other day to expound on a subject he knows well: the art of persuasion. Over minestrone soup and hummus at his usual table at the restaurant in the Hay Adams Hotel, Valenti, the 82-year-old dean of Washington lobbyists, reflected on how Washington has changed and how lobbyists should operate here.

After 38 Years, Valenti Prepares To Move On


Reuters - U.S. Treasury debt prices slipped on\Thursday, unwinding some of the gains made the previous\session, as investors played the recent range in largely\technical trading.

Treasuries Slip, Investors Play the Range (Reuters)


Left tackle Jonathan Ogden probably will miss the Baltimore Ravens' game against the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday with a pulled left hamstring.

Ravens' Ogden Likely to Be Sidelined


Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Monday urged the release of the two French journalists kidnapped by Islamic militants in Iraq.

Arab League chief urges release of French hostages


AP - Bill Haas never imagined playing anywhere but the PGA Tour, and he couldn't hide his frustration after coming up two shots short of a tour card at Q-school.

Sportsview: Time for Haas to Pay His Dues (AP)


NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - India successfully test fired  a long-range nuclear-capable Agni II missile off its eastern  coast of Orissa Sunday, a defense ministry spokesman said.

India Test Fires Nuclear Capable Missile


AP - 1908  #151; In a crucial game with the Chicago Cubs, Fred Merkle of the New York Giants failed to touch second base as the apparent winning run crossed home plate. This resulted in a great dispute and the game was eventually declared a tie and played over on Oct. 8 after the Cubs and Giants ended the season in a tie.

This Date in Baseball (AP)


The Knicks ended their pursuit of Eddie Robinson yesterday and, despite their apparent infatuation with disgruntled Chicago Bulls, will not be acquiring the center Eddy Curry anytime soon, either.

Knicks Back Away From Bulls, for Now


Time Warner Inc. agreed yesterday to pay \$210 million to settle criminal securities fraud charges brought by the Justice Department against the company's America Online unit. The media giant also is prepared to pay \$300 million to end another probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Time Warner to settle securities fraud charges


AP - Tens of thousands of poll monitors, challengers, lawyers and other activist observers are expected to clog voting precincts in battleground states Tuesday in what will probably be the most scrutinized U.S. election in at least 40 years.

Poll Watchers to Crowd Voting Venues (AP)


HELSINKINokia Corp.s new Nokia Remote Camera wireless home monitoring solution features an integrated motion detector and video capture with sound.

Nokia remote camera integrates motion detector, video capture


MOSCOW (Reuters) - ConocoPhillips won a \$2 billion stake in  Russia's LUKOIL and said it aimed to raise that to 20 percent  in a sweeping alliance that allows the two oil majors to tap  vast reserves in northern Russia and Iraq.

Conoco Invests in Russia Oil Major LUKOIL


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

Lilacs say Northeast spring coming earlier


AP - Japanese financial officials tried to play down worries Friday that a planned revision in calculating growth may show the economy shrank instead of grew slightly in the quarter ended Sept. 30.

Japanese Officials Assure Recovery (AP)


Reuters - Storm-weary Floridians emerged from\east coast hurricane shelters on Sunday as weakened Tropical\Storm Frances moved to the state's west coast after whipping\off roofs, washing sailboats ashore and cutting power to 4\million people.

Frances Weakens, Continues to Hammer Florida (Reuters)


Even before the hype could begin for Sunday's game between the Jets and the New England Patriots, Coach Herman Edwards was insisting upon a measure of caution.

Jets' Edwards Avoids Bulletin Board Material


Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 for Macintosh, a major upgrade to its digital imaging software for photo hobbyists that makes it easier than ever to enhance images and transform photos.

Adobe announces Photoshop Elements 3.0 for Macintosh


Walt Disney Co. chief executive Michael D. Eisner had been on the witness stand for about half an hour on Monday when the subject of former Disney president Michael S. Ovitz finally came up.

Disney #39;s Eisner Defends Ovitz Hire


Office Depot Chairman and Chief Executive Bruce Nelson was ousted Monday from the world #39;s No. 2 office supplies retailer because of poor earnings and  quot;a lack of execution, quot; the Delray Beach-based company said.

Office Depot dumps chairman


GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian gunmen freed a top security  official on Thursday hours after abducting him in the Gaza  Strip in a fresh challenge to President Yasser Arafat's rule  amid a wave of unrest, witnesses said.

Gaza Gunmen Free Top Security Official-Witnesses


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended higher on Tuesday,  after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected and  said inflation was in check and the economy is growing at a  moderate pace despite a rise in energy prices.

Stocks End Higher After Fed Rate Hike


BAGHDAD, Iraq - A series of bombs killed 35 children and seven adults Thursday as U.S. troops handed out candy at a government ceremony to inaugurate a new sewage treatment plant...

Baghdad Bombings Kill 35 Children


Napster creator Shawn Fanning has spoken publicly about his new project - a licensed file-sharing service with an almost unlimited selection of tracks.

Napster creator reveals next step


Minardi boss Paul Stoddart has warned prospective Formula One team Midland F1 that there is no  quot;Abramovich route quot; to the top in the glamour sport.

No  quot;Abramovich route quot; to top in F1 - Minardi boss


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Second seed Elena Dementieva's hopes  of a first title in 2004 ended in double-quick time when she  was hammered 6-1, 6-1 by fellow Russian Elena Bovina in the  semi-finals of the \$585,000 New Haven Open on Friday.

Second Seed Dementieva Hammered in New Haven


PITTSBURGH -- Forget the Curse of the Bambino. How about the Curse of Heinz Field?

Eagles foiled by Pitt stop


NEW YORK -  quot;Blog quot; is now the most popular search word in the online version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Its frequent lookup paralleled its growth on the political scene this year as keepers of Web logs

#39;Blog #39; is most popular search term on dictionary site


Threats to data security are mounting, especially from within organizations, but top executives aren #39;t helping their companies keep pace, a new study has found.

Study: Security measures often overlook human factor


WASHINGTON - The U.S. trade deficit, propelled by a record foreign oil bill, surged to \$54 billion in August, the second highest level in history...

Trade Deficit Soars, Jobless Claims Up


ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Jeff Kent is doing his best to try and carry the Houston Astros to the postseason. Kent continued his big September by knocking in four runs as the Astros posted an 8-3 victory over the mistake-prone St.

SI.com


Reuters - Sprint Corp.  on Tuesday\reported a wider third-quarter loss due to a writedown in the\value of its long-distance business.

Sprint Reports Wider Loss on Writedowns (Reuters)


DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. <A HREF=

Auto Stocks Surge After Weak Sales


AFC Enterprises Inc. plans to sell its Cinnabon subsidiary to Focus Brands Inc., an affiliate of Roark Capital Group, for \$30.3 million.

AFC Enterprises to sell Cinnabon to Roark Capital


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Julius Jones scored on a 17-yard  touchdown run with 37 seconds left as the Dallas Cowboys scored  two touchdowns in the last two minutes to stun the Seattle  Seahawks 43-39 in the National Football League Monday.

Jones Leads Cowboys to Stunning Win Over Seahawks


A suspected bomb has blown the front door off a Muslim elementary school in a southern Dutch town and shattered windows across the street, days after a suspected Muslim radical killed a Dutch filmmaker, police said.

Dutch Muslim school attacked


An Italian captive identified as Salvatore Santoro has been killed by his captors in Iraq , Aljazeera television reported. Aljazeera on Thursday broadcast pictures of Santoro #39;s passport and showed him sitting

Italian captive Santoro killed in Iraq


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military death toll in Iraq  reached 1,000 on Tuesday nearly 18 months after the invasion to  topple Saddam Hussein, making its mark on the U.S. presidential  election campaign.

U.S. Iraq Death Toll Hits 1,000, Two Italians Seized


The European Commission said it would sue Greece for submitting incaccurate deficit figures before joining the euro zone in 2001.

Europe to Sue Over Data Greece Gave on Economy


French authorities said they will release medical information on the cause of Yasser Arafat #39;s death to his diplomat nephew today in an effort to quash speculation about a conspiracy to kill the Palestinian leader.

French to release Arafat #39;s records


Abu Hamza al-Masri, the radical muslim cleric wanted by the United States, has been charged by police with 16 counts including inciting murder and stirring up racial hatred.

Abu Hamza accused of inciting murder


Last week, Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz submitted a reportedly dire study to the government on the ramifications of the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the security fence, and warned that it could result in sanctions against Israel.

Make our case


Reuters - The UK Web site of\Amazon.com Inc.  is launching a DVD rental service, the\online retailer's first foray into a market pioneered by U.S.-\based Netflix. Inc.

Amazon UK Launching DVD Rental Service (Reuters)


The Raiders block a final-minute field-goal attempt by the Broncos' Jason Hanson to preserve a 25-24 win in snow-covered Denver on Sunday night.

Raiders Ice Broncos


BOSTON (Reuters) - A stitched-up Curt Schilling became the  first pitcher in major league history to win World Series games  with three different teams after producing a gritty display  Sunday.

Stitched-Up Schilling Makes World Series History


Harris Bank said Wednesday that it is buying a privately held network of banks in northwest Indiana, expanding its branches into the state for the first time.

Harris Bank Expands Into Indiana


Talal El Karkouri #39;s first goal for Charlton ensured the club #39;s best start to the Premiership to date, though the statistic may reflect favourably on

El Karkouri goal secures lucky win for Charlton


Manhattan and mad cow may seem an unlikely combination, but Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell will be mixing the two today when he travels to New York City to meet his American counterpart to lobby for an end to the costly mad cow crisis.

Minister cautious about mad cow relief


AP - From his domestic policy platter, President Bush chose to serve dessert before the main course. Having now won a second term, he may find it increasingly difficult to deliver on the meatier stuff, even with the political capital he is claiming and larger GOP majorities in the House and Senate.

Analysis: Bush Facing Domestic Challenges (AP)


Inter emerged as the winners over Anderlecht in Brussels to claim the first spot in the Champions League Group G. The nerazzurri took the lead nearly immediately when Adriano from the left served a low powerful

Inter Conquer Brussels


Kim Clijsters #39;s comeback trail came to an agonising halt on Saturday when the former world number one had to retire with a left wrist injury in the semi-finals of the Belgian Open.

Clijsters suffers wrist injury again


Those looking at Lawson Software's long-term potential will like what they see.

The \$5.35 Software Bargain


AP - A powerful typhoon blasted across Japan on Wednesday, killing 18 people, causing deadly mudslides and flash floods and prompting thousands to flee their homes, officials said. At least 13 people were missing.

Typhoon Tokage Kills 18 in Japan (AP)


altitude without the heart-stopping barrel rolls that vexed the craft #39;s qualifying flight on Wednesday. world altitude record for a fixed-wing aircraft, set in 1963 by the experimental X-15 rocket plane.

SpaceShipOne wins X-Prize


The acquisition will allow CA to consolidate its position in the market for user authentication, access control and administration products, CEO Kenneth Cron said this morning.

CA to acquire Netegrity for \$430M


MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's gymnastics chief Leonid Arkayev  has added his voice to a chorus of public opinion calling for  major reforms in his sport, saying Olympic gymnasts are  powerless against what he called

Gymnastics: Russia Chief Blasts 'Judging Mafia'


Google is allowing users to download Gmail messages through other email programs onto their desktops as well as mobile devices that support POP.

Gmail Gets Off its Web Perch


STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Austrian writer Elfriede Jelinek, a reclusive author whose feminism, leftist politics and pacifism are common themes in her works, won the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday for what the Swedish Academy called her

Austrian Novelist Jelinek Wins Nobel Prize


BP, the only Western concern that owns a controlling share in a major Russian oil company, is hoping to avoid any direct conflict with the Kremlin.

Oil Prospecting Under Kremlin Watch


The great and the good of Africa and international finance, hidden inside cavalcades of ageing limos flanked by motorcycle outriders flying the yellow and gold flag of Ethiopia, poured into the UN building in the heart of Addis Ababa in great long lines

Geldof flies the flag for the poor


The New York Yankees battered Pedro Martinez, chasing Boston out of town with their second rout in a row. Gary Sheffield, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada

Yankees extend lead in AL East


quot;We are convinced that openness will expand the blade-server marketplace and bring more people on board with these types of servers, quot; says Tim Dougherty, director of BladeCenter marketing at IBM.

IBM, Intel Offer Blade Specs


AP - It seems like a cool idea  #151; sunglasses with a built-in digital music player and speakers. No headphone cables to untangle as with most portable players. Music actually riding on your ears. Zero retinal damage from ultraviolet radiation.

REVIEW: Sunglasses Player Not a Bargain (AP)


LONDON : England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is confident Michael Owen will shrug off injury and take his place in the starting line-up to face Wales in Saturday #39;s World Cup qualifier.

Soccer: Owen should be fit for Welsh clash, says Eriksson


Forbes.com - It's rare, but sometimes a good manager at an expensive load fund can be found making a little extra money on the side by also running a cheaper, comparable no-load fund. In fund argot, this moonlighting is called

Moonlight Special (Forbes.com)


Samsung Electronics announced three breakthroughs in key technologies that promise greater data storage and faster processing for computers and mobile devices such as MP3 audio players.

Samsung unveils 2-gigabyte chip


PeopleSoft has increased its earnings results for the third quarter after recalculating the income tax benefit related to the severance package for its former CEO, Craig Conway.

Brief: PeopleSoft revises Q3 earnings up


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

Merrill Cuts Citigroup, Shares Drop


Aug 17 - Professor Raj Reddy, an Indian researcher in artificial intelligence and a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Has designed a wirelessly networked personal computer worth just 250 US dollars intended for the four billion people around the ...

Indian researcher designs revolutionary low cost PC for the poor


Joseph McGrath will take over as CEO of Unisys next year, replacing Lawrence Weinbach.

Unisys boosts COO to CEO


Lux Research Inc., a New York-based nanotechnology firm has released a detailed report that suggests global spending on research and capital investment in nanotechnology will reach \$8.6 this year. More than half that figure, \$4.6 billion, will come in the ...

2004 Global nanotech spending report


Reuters - The Boston Red Sox could be without\starter Curt Schilling for the remainder of the American League\Championship Series against the New York Yankees after their\ace aggravated an ankle injury in a Game One loss.

Red Sox Could Lose Schilling for Game Five (Reuters)


Unilever, the world #39;s largest maker of food and soap, will close its Birds Eye plant in Grimsby, England, leading to the loss of 600 jobs at the UK #39;s biggest producer of frozen foods.

Unilever to Close UK Plant With Loss of 600 Jobs (Update1)


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Most Asian stock markets fell after  oil prices hit a record high on Thursday, reigniting worries  that high energy costs will dent household incomes, raise  companies' expenses and hurt global economic growth.

Record High Oil Prices Hit Asian Markets


Annika Sorenstam lost her three-shot lead in five holes yesterday, then had to make three birdies over the final six to salvage an even-par 72 and take a one-shot lead into the final round of the season-ending LPGA ADT Championship in West Palm Beach, Fla.

After slip, Sorenstam back on top


Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is attempting to broker a deal with Iran to secure safe haven for a group of Iraqi nuclear scientists who were sent by Saddam Hussein to Damascus before the US invasion.

Iraqi engineers would get safe haven as Tehran bids for atomic <b>...</b>


Monday Night Football


ATHENS (Reuters) - China led the Olympic medal race going  into the fourth day of competition on Tuesday with 10 golds.

Olympics: China Halfway to Completing Medals Plan


A car bomb attack on a US patrol outside the rebel-held city of Falluja on Monday killed seven American marines and three Iraqi National Guardsmen, in the deadliest single attack on US forces in five months.

Car bomb near rebel Iraqi city kills 7 US marines


PERHAPS we should call him the Temperman from now on. Linguistic problems were an entertaining hallmark of Claudio Ranieris stint as Chelsea head coach, but on Tuesday night a misguided verbal

Ranieri apologises for outburst over referee


The company says the device, dubbed the Ogo, won't be bogged down by features that are

AT  Wireless unveils messaging-only handheld


The developing countries will enjoy the strongest economic growth in three decades this year and should continue to enjoy solid expansion in 2005 and 2006, the World Bank predicted on Tuesday.

Growth in developing countries strongest in three decades: World <b>...</b>


NEW YORK -- Troy Glaus has been out of touch with the Anaheim Angels since having right shoulder surgery May 21. That will change this week, when the club might determine whether the third baseman will play in September.

AROUND THE HORN: Glaus may return to Angels; Catalanotto out for <b>...</b>


Just as Ali overshadowed two greats in Joe Frazier and George Foreman, Mike Tyson did the same to Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.

Oscar De La Hoya Has It


DUBLIN, Ireland -- Graham Barrett has been called up for the Republic of Ireland #39;s first two World Cup ties against Cyprus and Switzerland.

Barrett called into Ireland squad


Egypt held on to upset Cameroon 3-2, Mali conceded a 2-2 draw to Senegal and Nigeria dispatched Zimbabwe 3-0 in African zone World Cup qualifying on Sunday.

Egypt hold off late Cameroon rally


Penn State, Cornell University among those offering paid download services to students.

RIAA Cheers College Music Deals


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange  Commission voted 3-2 on Tuesday to adopt a rule that for the  first time will require hedge fund advisers to register with  the agency and submit to SEC examinations.

SEC: Hedge Fund Advisers Must Register


Jacob Goldfield has resigned as chief investment officer of George Soros #39; \$8.3 billion hedge fund to start his own investment management company.

Soros Hedge Fund Chief Resigns


More than a few fans expressed displeasure that they spent \$40 for practice-round tickets to the 35th Ryder Cup, yet didn't see Phil Mickelson either of the last two days at Oakland Hills Country Club.

Spectators didn't get their Phil


Paula Radcliffe got so many things right in New York. In winning another marathon she achieved all of her goals except the one that was beyond her.

James Lawton: Only Beijing can bury agony for Radcliffe


TAIPEI (Reuters) - Police found four packages of suspected  explosives at the Taiwan capital's main railway station on  Thursday, triggering a bomb scare days before a hotly contested  legislative election.

Suspected Explosives Found Before Taiwan Election


(WiPC/IFEX) - On the afternoon of 13 December 2004, three prominent dissident intellectuals - literary critic Liu Xiaobo, writer Yu Jie and political theorist Zhang Zuhua - were arrested in Beijing and held for 12 hours, before being freed on the morning

Arrests of writers raise fears of crackdown against dissident <b>...</b>


Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan rebuffed a European Commission plea on Friday to make a gesture toward recognition of Cyprus before EU leaders decide next week on opening membership talks with Ankara.

Erdogan Rebuffs EU Plea for Gesture on Cyprus


All three models to be released use a 1.8-inch hard drive that can hold up to 2,500, 5,000 and 15,000 pieces of music, respectively.

Toshiba Trumps iPod with 60 GB Rival


HONG KONG China Unicom, the smaller of the nation #39;s two mobile phone companies, said Thursday that first-half profit rose about 18 percent from a year earlier after buying networks from its parent.

Earnings at China Unicom rise 18


Gordon Brown has not yet done enough to reduce the UK #39;s budget deficit, the International Monetary Fund said yesterday, before demanding that he explain whether

IMF finds fault with Chancellor over deficit


Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens (81) pulls in a 50 yard touchdown pass in front of Dallas Cowboys defenders Nathan Jones (33) and Tony Dixon (24) during the first quarter in Irving, Texas, Monday, Nov. 15, 2004.

ABC Apologizes for Steamy Football Intro


ENGINEERS were today tackling a massive computer failure which has caused chaos at the Department for Work and Pensions. Up to 80 per cent of the ministrys systems for processing millions of pension and benefit payments collapsed on Monday.

Pensions chaos as computers fail


AP - Brazil racked up its biggest trade surplus in history last year, but the country's export boom of everything from soybeans to automobiles is expected to ease in 2005.

Brazil's Trade Surplus Is Biggest Ever (AP)


England made their first-ever appearance in the IRB Emirates International Dubai Sevens a winning one by posting a 26-21 win over a Fijian side twice reduced to six men on the field.

England emerge champions


Opec's president says oil supply is adequate as the price of US light, crude comes within 4 cents of its all-time record.

Oil prices threaten fresh record


Reuters - Insurgents have killed a U.S. Marine in\western Iraq, the U.S. military said on Friday.

U.S. Marine Killed in Western Iraq (Reuters)


Photo released Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004 by the Fairfax County, Va. Police Department of Washington Redskins rookie Sean Taylor who was arrested Thursday on charges of driving under the influence and refusing

Redskins #39; Taylor Arrested on DUI Charge


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment assistance rose by 16,000 last week, the government reported, coming in below economists #39; estimates.

Jobless claims rise by 16,000


Slashdot has a warning posted about the existence of a phishing scam directed toward Red Hat users. Read more to see the post. rixdaffy writes  quot;I just received an email from the  #39;Redhat Security Team #39; telling

Slashdot warns of Red Hat security scam


Long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe is tipped to add to Britain #39;s Olympic gold medal tally when she competes in the women #39;s marathon today.

PAULA HOLDS MEDAL HOPES


The gymnastics competition at the 2004 Olympic Games produced some extraordinary performances, but ultimately was overshadowed by judging controversies that pitted nation against

Not Normal Routine for Gymnastics


Cassini is just now speeding past Titan in her first close approach to Saturn #39;s enigmatic moon. With her instruments pointed at the planet, she cannot communicate with Earth, so Cassini #39;s

New Cassini Images of Titan Reveal Stunning Surface Detail


Political couch potatoes who can't get enough of the impending presidential election will find endless fun with

Video Game Review: 'Political Machine'


HOUSTON - On a night when pitching suddenly took over the NL playoffs, someone was bound to get a hit. Fortunately for the Houston Astros, Jeff Kent stepped up...

Astros Beat Cards, Take NLCS Series Lead


PAUL Gascoigne, who won 57 England caps, finds himself at yet another career crossroads following his resignation yesterday as player/coach of Boston United.

Former team-mates predict mixed fortunes for Gascoigne


British support in the badminton arena on Thursday caught everyone by surprise, not least the Chinese.

Olympic diary: Day seven


The Minnesota Timberwolves held out center Michael Olowokandi from Thursday night #39;s game against the Indiana Pacers, hours after he was released from jail following his early-morning arrest at a Downtown club.

Olowokandi misses game after being arrested at bar


Microsoft this week added Russia to the list of the countries that will see a budget-priced version of Windows XP, what developer dubs  quot;Starter Edition.

Russia next in line for cheap Windows


Dignitaries, including Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao, had a narrow escape in the grenade attack on a concert in Colombo that killed two people and injured 19 as Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan made 20,000 star-struck fans rock by screaming  quot;I

Indian envoy had narrow escape in Colombo blast


Top seed Carlos Moya got blown off court by a French teenager playing his first ATP Tour match at the rain-it China Open on Wednesday.

UPDATE 2-Top seed Moya stunned by qualifier in Beijing


Global biodiversity is shrinking at an unprecedented rate and the prognosis given by one of the world #39;s leading conservation bodies, at the opening of a major environment conference here, is alarming.

Environment: World On Alert As Over 15,000 Species Face Extinction


EL-FASHER, Sudan (Reuters) - An elite contingent of 50  Nigerian soldiers arrived in Darfur on Thursday aboard a U.S.  military plane, the first of 3,000 extra African Union troops  deployed to monitor a shaky cease-fire in Sudan's western  region.

Nigerian Protection Force Arrives in Darfur


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

AT T Lowers Price on Internet Calling Service


Explosion of special-interest XML dialects could mean the standard is a success or could be the start of a new headache.

XML: Too much of a good thing?


BOSTON The United States #39; top telecommunications regulator plans to protect fledgling Internet telephone services from being taxed and heavily regulated by the 50 state governments.

Regulator vows to ease way for Net phone use


: Shia fighters left the holiest shrine in Najaf today and began turning in their weapons, after tens of thousands of pilgrims celebrated a peace agreement that ended a bloody rebellion.

Militia leaves Najaf shrine


American Express Co., the travel and financial services giant, on Monday sued Visa and MasterCard along with eight banks for damages stemming from anticompetitive practices that prevented American Express from issuing cards through U.S. banks.

American Express Suing Card Companies Over Antitrust Violations


LONDON - BTG PLC, a London-based firm that focuses on intellectual property and technology commercialization, said Wednesday that it has filed suit against Amazon.com Inc., Barnesandnoble.com LLC and two other Internet companies for infringing on patents related to the tracking of users on the Web.

BTG hits Amazon, Netflix and others with patent suit


p2pnet.net News:- Red Hat says it #39;s  quot;entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement quot; with AOL to buy parts of Netscape #39;s Enterprise Suite, adding it to its Open Source Architecture.

Red Hat to get Enterprise


AP - From special forces commander to soldier of fortune, Simon Mann's colorful career reads like a thriller. Born to a world of wealth and privilege, the British mercenary made a fortune in some of Africa's bloodiest wars  #151; and even enjoyed a stint in the movies.

British Mercenary May Head to African Jail (AP)


Uruguay tapped Tabare Vazquez as its first socialist president in Sunday #39;s election, joining a growing group of South American countries embracing leftist governments.

Election reflects Latin America tilt left


Drinking alcohol impairs driving ability by disrupting depth perception, researchers find.

Alcohol hampers depth perception


MAJOR LCD panel maker AU Optronics may can plans to build a seventh generation TFT-LCD fab, the Taipei Times said. That follows a slump in sales in July, after prices for large size LCD panels started to topple.

AU Optronics may shelve next gen LCD fab


Boston Scientific Corp. said yesterday it has won back the market share that its flagship cardiac stent system held before three safety recalls reduced doctors' orders of the product.

Firm says stent won back share of market


TheDeal.com - CEO David Duffield says offer undervalues the software company; board touts growing license sales.

PeopleSoft rebuffs Oracle offer (TheDeal.com)


News International, the UK newspaper arm of News Corp, says it will cut its 1,000 person production staff by two-thirds and move its London printing facilities from Wapping to Enfield.

News International to axe two-thirds of print jobs


EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (Reuters) - The 19-year-old girlfriend  of jailed former hockey player Mike Danton was acquitted by a  jury on Monday of conspiring with him to murder his agent.

Hockey Player's Girlfriend Acquitted in Murder Plot


Miami, FL -- Eric Milton pitched 6 1/3 strong innings, and Philadelphia used four home runs to beat Florida, 12-4, in the second of a three-game series.

National League Game Summary - Philadelphia At Florida


AP - Larry Walker has learned quickly that St. Louis Cardinals' fans know how to celebrate.

Walker Slam Leads Cardinals Past Reds (AP)


MILAN, Italy -- Italy #39;s former world champion Mario Cipollini has ended speculation that he is to retire by announcing that he will ride next season for the Liquigas Sport team.

Cipollini signs deal with Liquigas


NEW YORK -- Linebacker Joey Porter of the Pittsburgh Steelers and running back William Green of the Cleveland Browns were fined \$10,000 each by the NFL on Tuesday for their fight before Sunday #39;s game.

NFL ROUNDUP: Fight costly for 2 Browns, 1 Steeeler


A critical Senate committee plans to vote this week on legislation that would require broadcasters to abandon their current analog TV channels and switch solely to digital transmissions by 2009.

Senate Panel to Vote on Digital TV Bill


Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy is to explain to the Commons his decision to recognise the loyalist Ulster Defence Association #39;s ceasefire.

Murphy to explain UDA decision


NEW YORK - Stocks were mixed Wednesday as a lower reading on manufacturing activity and rising oil prices chilled an early spate of bargain hunting. Technology shares inched higher despite brokerage downgrades of two semiconductor companies    With trading light, the markets were slow to react to the August reading of the Institute of Supply Management's manufacturing index, which declined to 59.0 in August, lower than the 59.8 percent expected on Wall Street...

Stocks Are Mixed on Surging Oil Prices


AP - A court ordered an 86-year-old man accused of Nazi war crimes in Slovakia freed from custody Friday after a key witness said he could no longer clearly remember what happened.

German Court Frees Nazi War Crimes Suspect (AP)


NEW YORK - While the prime-time speeches at Madison Square Garden occupy center stage at this week's Republican National Convention, much of the event's real politicking is taking place at hundreds of private receptions scattered throughout Manhattan. At two tech-focused gatherings Wednesday, industry companies, lobbying groups and politicians came together to network and consider the IT industry's legislative agenda.

RNC - Stock options top tech lobbying list at convention


The major Hollywood studios today said they are escalating their fight against online piracy by pursuing civil and criminal legal actions against the operators of computer servers that help

Hollywood Steps Up Fight Against Online Piracy


Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie sparked an Indian collapse Thursday before spinner Anil Kumble hit back with five wickets as bowlers dominated the second day of the fourth Test.

Gillespie rips through India


AT amp;T Wireless is trying to put its own stamp on the digital music market. It #39;s launching a new service that enables its mobile phone users to browse and purchase song downloads over the

AT amp;T Wireless brings music downloads to mobile customers


Having established itself as a women #39;s soccer power in the Ivy League, Princeton made a significant leap into the NCAA #39;s upper echelon this year by reaching the College Cup for the first time.

Princeton #39;s Steep Climb Finally Ends


Eliot Spitzer #39;s filed a complaint against Marsh  amp; McLennan in State Supreme Court in Manhattan Thursday, alleging that the insurance broker received payments from companies to reward it for steering business their way.

Spitzer Goes After Insurance Industry


That #39;s according to a straw poll of 493 people performed by the US non-profit group the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), which carried out a survey in mid-September at the Digital Edge Expo in Washington, DC.

Americans fear lightning more than hackers


Footie wonderboy Wayne Rooney might have scored a hat-trick on his Manchester United debut, but it didn #39;t stop him getting a telling off afterwards.

Is Wayne Rooney #39;s ripped shirt cool or not?


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Oracle Corp. <A HREF=

Oracle's PeopleSoft Bid Deadline Nears


Dieters hoping for a slew of new products with the sugar substitute Splenda may be disappointed next year.

Sweet success of Splenda results in a supply dilemma


The Japanese round of the World Rally Championship on the island of Hokkaido just missed a typhoon, and the weather has also affected the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.

Weather Hits Japanese Grand Prix


Insurer St. Paul Travelers said the three major hurricanes that hit the US east coast in recent months will cut 45 cents from its third-quarter earnings per share.

St. Paul sees storms paring EPS by 45c


The US Securities and Exchange Commission and the UK #39;s Financial Services Authority have formally agreed on Shell in July for misleading the market.

Royal Dutch/Shell Settles with SEC


Commissioner Bud Selig returned from a vacation and promptly cleared one item off his desk, approving the Yankees' trade with the Diamondbacks for Randy Johnson.

Selig Rubber-Stamps Yankees' Deal for Johnson


Alitalia said Monday that it would meet with union representatives after nine labor groups demanded that the airline tell them its strategic and organizational plans, and called for government intervention in further talks.

Alitalia unions force new talks with carrier


Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - Ontario's highest court has ordered a new trial for Robert Baltovich, convicted on circumstantial evidence 12 years ago in the murder of his girlfriend.

Ontario court orders new trial for Baltovich 12 years after murder conviction (Canadian Press)


Companies to Provide Consumers with Access to Yahoo! Search Through Adobe Reader and Co-branded Toolbar Featuring Adobe Services. SAN JOSE, Calif.

Adobe and Yahoo! Team to Deliver New Consumer Services


Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, Miami Hurricanes cornerback Antrel Rolle will stop by to take your questions! Rolle has been a consistent force in the Miami secondary, helping hold opposing offenses to just 15.

Chat with Miami CB Antrel Rolle


The new PlayStation Portable (PSP) portable game console reportedly sold out at Tokyo electronic retailers within hours of its debut on Sunday.

Portable playstation a hit in Japan


(National-NBC) Oct. 1, 2004 - Scientists in Utah are finishing the job of salvaging material from the remains of the Genesis Space Capsule.

Scientists say much of Genesis #39; material survived Utah crash


The US economy is expanding but the performance appears patchy as soaring energy prices stifle spending in many regions, the Federal Reserve #39;s Beige Book survey showed tonight.

Oil prices curb spending - Beige Book


Clothing retailer Limited Brands, whose chains include the Limited, Express, Victoria #39;s Secret and Bath  amp; Body Works, posted a sharply higher quarterly profit on Thursday. The company saw a rise in sales at stores open at least a year. Its shares closed ...

Stocks to Watch on Thursday, August 19


roundup Plus: TV chip company gets \$19 million...Oracle extends deadline on PeopleSoft bid...MLB sells game clips for 99 cents...TiVo hires marketing chief.

Briefly: Rice lab makes nano parts less toxic


Manugistics Group Inc. disclosed Monday that it fired its president, as the maker of business software tries to reverse slipping sales, rising costs and a falling stock price.
<FONT face=

Manugistics Fires Its President


BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iraqi kidnappers have freed two Lebanese  men who were taken hostage west of Baghdad last month, their  company's lawyer said on Wednesday.

Two Lebanese Hostages Freed in Iraq - Lawyer


After months of speculation and two  quot;preview quot; releases, Microsoft unwraps its new MSN search engine, the first major competitor to join Web search major leagues in nearly a year.

Microsoft Unveils Its New Search Engine -- at Last!


AP - Her credentials are impeccable  #151; No. 1 player in the world, winner of the Olympic gold medal. And yet, there were moments Tuesday at the U.S. Open when Justine Henin-Hardenne was in trouble, challenged by a teenager who had never played in a Grand Slam event before.

Henin-Hardenne Shakes Off Teen at U.S Open (AP)


Reuters - Japan's defense minister was due to\return home on Monday from a flying visit to Iraq after\declaring the town of Samawa safe, setting the stage for the\government to extend its troops' humanitarian mission there.

Iraq Visit Clears Way for Japan Troops to Stay On (Reuters)


While many of his Detroit Lions teammates spent the bye weekend at home with their families, Harrington stayed in town to see his brother play college football.

Lions prepare for Vick, Falcons


Former Boro fans #39; hero Juninho paid tribute to the Parkhead atmosphere after playing a starring role in the 1-0 Old Firm derby win over Rangers on his debut.

Juninho in flying start


AP - A suburban Philadelphia company is hoping that a vaccine for anthrax could be lurking in spinach, petunias or Swiss chard.

Co. to Test Plant-Produced Anthrax Vaccine (AP)


LONDON, Oct 7: World oil prices bolted to new record summits on Thursday, reaching \$53 in New York on markets nervous about tight global supplies with winter approaching in the northern hemisphere.

Oil price hits \$53


(Camp Zama, Japan-AP) Nov. 27, 2004 - Charles Jenkins hopes to make one more trip to the US before settling down to a new life in northern Japan.

US Army deserter Jenkins sobs after release from prison


NEW YORK (Sports Network) - New York Yankees outfielder  Gary Sheffield will have arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his  ailing left shoulder.

Yankees' Sheffield Will Have Surgery


RKB quot; gt; Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the investment company run by Warren E. Buffett, said yesterday that profit fell for a third consecutive quarter after hurricanes hammered its insurance units.

Berkshire Links Drop in Earnings to Storms


Investigators probing the backers of the alleged coup in Equatorial Guinea will discover this week what role - if any - disgraced Tory peer Lord Archer played in financing the plot that led to the arrest of Sir Mark Thatcher 11 days ago.

Mystery of Archer link to oil coup


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

Before-the-Bell: Taser Climbs


Neil Mellor delivered a stunning killer blow with virtually the last kick of the game at Anfield to condemn Arsenal to another defeat and leave them five points adrift of leaders Chelsea, whom they meet in a fortnights time.

Mellors Stunning Strike Sinks Arsenal


Hal Sutton wasn #39;t blaming Phil Mickelson. The captain of the US Ryder Cup team wasn #39;t blaming anyone. But he was frustrated and at least a little peeved, and someone asked.

With US stars off, European rout is on


Reuters - Kimberly-Clark Corp.  on Monday\posted a higher third-quarter profit as increased tissue prices\helped counter higher raw material costs.

Kimberly-Clark Posts Third-Quarter Profit (Reuters)


China #39;s president Hu Jintao is visiting Brazil in a bid to secure trade deals to satisfy his country #39;s burgeoning demand for foreign goods.

China builds on ties with Brazil


ST PETERSBURG, Oct. 31. - Russias Mikhail Youzhny overwhelmed Karol Beck of Slovakia 6-2, 6-2 here today in the final of the one-milliondollar ATP tournament to record his first title win of the season.

Youzhny ends title drought


It's a pitch she's been waiting 32 years to make. So when Maria Pepe, a skinny, stony-hearted, 44-year-old New Jersey hospital administrator winds up on the mound tomorrow to throw out the first pitch at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., the healing will be complete for an 11-year-old girl done wrong by Little League ...

Purpose pitch


Jordanian monarch warns elections in violence-ravaged Iraq are impossible in current state of insecurity. By Hugh Schofield - PARIS.

King Abdullah pessimistic on Iraqi elections


Ahead of an expected meeting between both sides #39; foreign ministers in The Hague, Sharon told Newsweek magazine that he was ready to meet with the post-Yasser Arafat leadership whenever they wanted.

Sharon, Abbas say they are willing to meet


LAWRENCE -- Seven hundred workers at Malden Mills Industries could go on strike as early as tomorrow after the mill's largest union voted to reject the company's final contract offer.

Malden Mills workers OK strike


Iassembled three of the toughest critics imaginable last week for a private screening of the Dale Earnhardt biopic, which premiers on ESPN Saturday at 9 pm, and not one of them made a pit

Local racing voices agree:  #39;3 #39; earns a 10


The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front agreed yesterday to conduct a joint inspection of MILF-held areas suspected to be hosting training camps of the regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in Mindanao.

RP, MILF agree on JI inspections


Call it Moving On week. Teams, players, and coaches all made their moves as the college football season #39;s last full slate of games was completed over the weekend.

Fancy moves on gridiron


We were unable to get off the field on defense. We were unable to make first downs on offense. Im not telling you anything you dont know.

Lions report


SAN FRANCISCO -- Salesforce.com (Quote, Chart) CEO Marc Benioff is hoping to do to call centers and help desks what he has accomplished in the CRM space.

Salesforce.com Tackles Outsourcing On Demand


AP - Democratic candidate John Kerry leads President Bush, 50 percent to 41 percent, in a presidential poll of likely voters in Minnesota, according to results released Wednesday.

Poll: Kerry Holds Lead Over Bush in Minn. (AP)


MADRID (Reuters) - Russian Marat Safin produced another  outstanding performance to beat Argentina's David Nalbandian,  6-2, 6-4, 6-3, and win the Madrid Masters Sunday.

Safin Crushes Nalbandian in Madrid Final


Sachin Tendulkar is set to miss the second test against Australia starting on Thursday in Madras.  quot;It is very, very unlikely he will play, quot; coach John Wright said on Tuesday.

Tendulkar set to miss second test against Australia


Reuters - The dollar hit record lows against\the euro Friday and a 4-1/2-year trough versus the yen\following a report China had cut its holdings of dollar assets,\lifting gold to a 16-year high and undermining Tokyo stocks.

Dollar Hits New Low; Gold Heads for  #36;455 (Reuters)


Suspected separatist rebels attacked sleeping villagers in northeastern India today, killing six in a third day of explosions and gun attacks that have left at least 63 people dead in northeast India.

Families attacked in northeast India; 6 die


PARIS (Reuters) - Yasser Arafat is in a stable condition  and not in a coma, an aide said on Sunday, while militants  pressed for decision-making powers in a unified Palestinian  leadership if the president dies.

Arafat Stable, Militants Seek More Powers


President Bush's nominee for attorney general, Alberto R. Gonzales, was all but guaranteed Senate confirmation today.

Leading Democrat Senator Won't Block Confirmation of Gonzales


AP - Congress acted Friday to block state and local governments from taxing connections that link consumers to the Internet for the next three years.

Congress Blocks Net Connection Taxation (AP)


A sluggish gross domestic product reading was nonetheless better than expected, prompting investors to send stocks slightly higher Friday on hopes that the economic slowdown would not be as bad as first thought.

Stocks Up Despite Sluggish GDP Reading


In refusing to outlaw a universal garage door opener, judges rule that a device has to facilitate copyright infringement to fall under the ambit of the DMCA.  \

News: Appeals court slams garage door DMCA claim


Some say Win XP SP2 enhancements cause conflicts, don't protect as claimed.

Is Microsoft's Firewall Secure?


The Royal Mail today said it was on course for recovery, revealing it was making 1m a day after having lost 1m a day two years ago.

Royal Mail posts daily 1m profit


US stocks opened slightly higher on Tuesday as oil prices slipped with a lightly staffed Wall Street remaining cautious during the Republican party convention in New York amid heavy security and concerns of possible attacks.

Stocks Open Higher; Wall Street Cautious


Almost 80 Muslim demonstrators arrested in southern Thailand suffocated after being crammed into army lorries, the Thai authorities admitted yesterday.

80 Thai Muslims suffocate after arrest at protest


Time Warner Inc. said yesterday that it is creating a \$500 million reserve in response to the federal investigations of its America Online unit and that it also will restate AOL Europe #39;s financial results for 2000 and 2001.

AOL Parent Sets Up \$500 Million Reserve


GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK.L: Quote, Profile, Research) has agreed to release all clinical studies of its drugs to settle a lawsuit that accused it of withholding negative information about the antidepressant Paxil, the New York

Glaxo Settles Paxil  #39;Suicide Pill #39; Suit


washingtonpost.com - It was something of a back-to-school night for the crowd of entrepreneurs, marketing officers and venture funders who showed up in droves at the high-end networking club at Tysons Corner.

Networkers' Crowding Achievement (washingtonpost.com)


com. The sale of US-built telecom infrastructure to foreign firms at fire-sale prices continues. Tyco International says it is selling its Tyco Global Network to India #39;s Tata Group.

India #39;s Tata Group Buying Tyco Network At Bargain Price


What happens if the Dodgers, Giants and Astros all finish the season with the same record, leaving the NL West and the NL Wild Card winners undecided?

How ties will be broken at season #39;s end


Cisco #39;s Irvine-based Linksys division has announced new relationships with a number of other companies. Linksys said that it has signed an agreement with Verizon to include the company #39;s VoIP phones in its services.

Linksys Teams With Verizon, Best Buy, Intel


SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - President Bush on Saturdayreached into a throng of squabbling bodyguards and pulled aSecret Service agent away from Chilean security officers afterthey stopped the U.S. agent from accompanying the president ata dinner.

Bush Frees Secret Service Agent from Chile Guards


12.12.04 - By Marcus Wood: While many had predicted that Klitschko would beat Williams and just as many had predicted it would be by KO, few would have said Klitschko would shut Williams out from the first bell.

Klitschko destroys Williams!


A body found in Iraq first thought to be that of 24-year-old Japanese hostage Shosei Koda is now likely to be someone else, according to Japanese officials.

Iraq body  #39;not Japanese hostage #39;


AP - The United States has agreed to delay the planned withdrawal of 12,500 troops from South Korea by three years to 2008, a news agency reported Wednesday.

Report: S.Korea Says U.S. to Delay Troops (AP)


Tom Parker heads out for a sighting of the rare white elephant in Sri Lanka.

In search of the albino elephant


Reuters - Merck   Co. Inc.  said on\Monday that it received a subpoena from the U.S. Justice\Department and that the Securities and Exchange Commission has\started an informal inquiry concerning its recalled pain\reliever Vioxx.

Merck Named in SEC, DOJ Probes Over Vioxx (Reuters)


CHICAGO - Sammy Sosa homered for the first time in more than two weeks and Derrek Lee drove in three runs to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.    Moises Alou and Neifi Perez also homered for the Cubs, who pulled within a half-game of idle San Francisco in the NL wild-card race...

Sosa Homers As Cubs Club Pirates 7-2


The reports come as Iraq #39;s interim prime minister is under heavy pressure not to order an assault on Fallujah. It comes from within his own government -- interim president Ghazi al-Yawer (GAH #39;-zee ahl-YOW #39;-ur).

Iraq #39;s prime minister urged not to attack Fallujah


Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss was in the starting lineup Sunday when the team hosted the New York Giants, but the star wideout was again removed from the game due to his sore hamstring.

Moss #39; hamstring forces another early exit


Sudan #39;s Foreign Minister has rejected US assertion that the violence in Western Darfur region fits the definition of genocide.

Sudan Rejects US Charges of Genocide in Darfur


Juliana Sasaki did not bother checking out Sony Corp #39;s digital music player in Tokyo before buying her green iPod mini.  quot;I knew Sony and other companies had MP3 players, but

Apple deepens Sony #39;s woes as iPod takes off


Hundreds of British families stranded in Florida are stocking up on treats and holding hurricane parties.

Stranded Britons party up a storm


In a blow to the US effort to hold the Iraq multinational forces together, Hungary announced yesterday that it will withdraw its 300 noncombat troops by the end of March.

Hungary to remove 300 troops


India News: New Delhi, Nov 7 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today welcomed the European Union #39;s proposal for strategic partnership with India to be finalised at the summit in the Hague tomorrow.

PM welcomes EU #39;s proposal:


Rubens Barrichello leads home Michael Schumacher to seal a Ferrari one-two at the Italian Grand Prix.

Barrichello takes Monza win


The impact radio-frequency identification has throughout an entire supply chain is top of mind for a number of companies experimenting with the technology.

RFID #39;s Impact On Supply Chains Grows, Execs Say


AFP - The body of an Asian man found in Iraq does not resemble a Japanese hostage and was shot dead two days ago, well before a deadline to execute the young traveller expired, forensic experts said.

Iraq body does not resemble Japanese hostage: hospital (AFP)


The deal comes as Cisco pushes to develop a market for CRS-1, a new line of routers aimed at telephone, wireless and cable companies.

Cisco to sell high-end routers with Fujitsu


Once every week or two, Brian Spangler pumps \$30 of gasoline into his 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Spangler said neither the cost nor the driving bothers him.

Census: SUV popularity accelerating across nation


Karam Abu Najib (center, 14) and friends brandishing some of the exploded bottles used in their deadly game with the Israeli military.

Gaza children lose in games against real bullets


THE burning and deforestation of Brazil #39;s vast Amazon rain forest causes nearly 3 per cent of the world #39;s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a government report released today.

Amazon creates greenhouse gas


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former Fannie Mae <A HREF=

Fannie Mae Whistle-Blower Won't Testify


Reuters - Back to school for many kids means\

Livewire: Back to School Means Back to Advergames (Reuters)


OLYMPIA, GREECE - It was a day when the actors took a back seat to the scenery, when the question of who won and who took part was not as significant as where they competed.

Shot putters return to ancient site of first Games


AFP - Football powerhouse Dalian Shide abandoned a match against Shenyang Jinde in protest at the referee Sunday, confronting China's embattled Super League with yet another crisis.

Dalian Shide players storm off pitch as Chinese football worries deepen (AFP)


NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Former star technology banker Frank Quattrone has asked a federal appeals court to seal some letters written in his support in order to protect his family #39;s privacy.

Quattrone Asks Appeals Court To Seal Some Support Letters


A US Embassy spokesman said Tuesday that an American, a Nepalese, a Filipino and an Iraqi remain hostages after a kidnapping raid Monday night in Baghdad.

Kidnappers Release 2 of 4 Iraqi Guards


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal regulators on Tuesday  allowed U.S. mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac  to buy larger individual mortgages next year following a jump  in home prices, a move that would lower borrowing costs for  buyers of more expensive homes.

Fannie, Freddie Loan Cap to Rise in 2005


ATHENS (Reuters) - Fani Halkia hurtled from virtual  obscurity to become Olympic women's 400 meters hurdles champion  on Wednesday, giving Greece a new sports diva to hail but  sparking a barrage of questions over her rise to prominence.

Olympics: Fame But Questions for Greece's New Heroine


A house fire Sunday morning in this Detroit suburb left three family members dead about the same time that a blaze in Detroit killed two young children, police and fire officials said.

Fires at homes in Waterford Township, Detroit leave 5 dead


Solicitors acting for Kieren Fallon said last night they expect the six-times champion jockey to be cleared of any allegations of race-fixing following his arrest yesterday.

Fallon in the clear


AP - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova advanced to the final of the Korea Open on Saturday, beating Anne Kremer 6-0, 6-2.

Sharapova Advances to Korea Open Final (AP)


Malaysian officials on Saturday were testing three people who fell ill in a village hit by the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain, after international health officials warned that the virus appeared to be entrenched in parts of

Malaysia testing 3 people for bird flu; says outbreak isolated


AFP - Afghanistan's presidential vote count is expected to conclude but several procedural steps remain before any declaration of incumbent Hamid Karzai's landslide victory in the historic ballot.

Afghan vote count set to wrap up (AFP)


Falconbridge Ltd., the world #39;s third- biggest nickel producer, said third-quarter earnings rose more than eightfold as base-metal prices jumped.

Falconbridge Profit Rises Eightfold on Nickel Prices (Update1)


Yahoo, in a fierce market battle with Web search leader Google, has rolled out a test version of its search service that helps users personalise results.

Yahoo rolls out personalised search test


The leading distributor of natural and organic foods beats revised expectations.

United Natural's Healthy Again?


Science minister Lord Sainsbury says the UK will remain key to the Aurora programme and will head back to Mars.

UK aims to be major space player


TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Crown Princess Masako emerged  briefly on Saturday from months of seclusion to visit the  emperor, but officials said it might be difficult for her to  resume her official duties this year.

Japan Princess Breaks Seclusion, Visits Emperor


Fashion chain French Connection says it is sticking with its controversial FCUK brand, after announcing a 12 percent increase in first-half profits.

French Connection sticks by FCUK


JERUSALEM Sept. 26, 2004 - Armed settlers who resist evacuation could face five years in prison under a law proposed Sunday before next year #39;s planned removal of all 21 Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the West Bank.

Resistant Israeli Settlers May Get Prison


A car bomb exploded at a military convoy in India #39;s portion of Kashmir on Saturday, killing four soldiers and a civilian and injuring 30 others, police said.

Car explosion in Indian Kashmir, five killed


Knowing that some Mac-heads can sometimes be hard to buy for, columnist Ryan Faas offers some gift ideas for the Mac fan in your life.

Cool Mac stuff: What to give for the holidays


Lowly Reggina handed Italian league leader Juventus its first loss of the season Saturday, beating the Turin powerhouse 2-1 in the 10th round.

Reggina stuns Juventus 2-1, Brescia beats Chievo in Serie A


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 5 - Chad Pennington was back and the Jets ended their scoring slump with 29 points, their second-best output in 10 games, but Coach Herman Edwards still found a few things he did not like about his offense.

Another Victory Defined by Jets' Staunch Defense


CAMBRIDGE -- At a sponsors' meeting of MIT Sloan School's Center for Information Systems Research this week, there was a new project on the research agenda: outsourcing.

Indian outsource firm joins MIT study project


In ''The Art of the Start, quot; author Guy Kawasaki has accomplished something rare: He's written a how-to business book that is simultaneously smart, practical, and fun to read. There's lots of useful information in this book for start-up entrepreneurs.

Practical advice for start-ups, with a high-tech angle


Nextel Communications Inc. said Monday that it received a contract worth up to \$100 million to provide the Navy with cell phone service.

Nextel Gets Navy Cell Phone Contract


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Opposition leader Shimon Peres said  Tuesday he feared Israeli extremists might try to assassinate  Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the target of growing far-right  fury over a planned withdrawal from Gaza next year.

Peres: Israeli Extremists May Try to Kill Sharon


In a bumpy year of missteps and about-faces, Intel (nasdaq: INTC - news - people ) announced another U-turn: On Thursday the chipmaker said it halted plans to release a 4-gigahertz microprocessor.

Barrett: Intel Makes U-Turn, Cancels Four-Gigahertz Chip


A US soldier was yesterday jailed for eight months after pleading guilty to abusing Iraqi prisoners. Armin Cruz forced naked inmates to crawl along the floor and handcuffed them together at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison.

US SOLDIER JAILED FOR IRAQI ABUSE


SAN FRANCISCO - Ten years after it was born out of the carnage of three California mass shootings, the federal assault weapons ban is fading out of existence Monday.    While manufacturers look for a boom in business as people buy up previously banned weapons like AK-47s, Uzis and TEC-9s, police chiefs warn of an upsurge in crime...

U.S. Assault Weapons Ban Set to Expire


Nathan Deakes #39;s coach says the Olympian #39;s technique will be reassessed following his disqualification from the 50-kilometre walk in Athens.

Deakes to assess his technique


Deportivo La Coruna coach Javier Irureta was fuming at referee Stefano Farina after his side slipped to a 2-0 defeat in Monaco on Tuesday night.

IRURETA HITS OUT AT REFEREE


With PeopleSoft #39;s stockholders tendering more than 60 percent of shares, Oracle #39;s takeover bid looks poised for success. By Associated Press.

Investors in step, Oracle moves closer


Google has been sued by adult site Perfect 10 for alleged copyright infringement. Perfect 10 #39;s suit says that Google #39;s Web search engine allows people to see copyrighted images owned by the company (access

Google sued by Perfect 10


The Americans could have used him on Sunday when Spain won the best-of-five final 3-2. It was Spain #39;s second title, which kept the United States from adding to its record total of 31.

Davis Cup door open for Agassi


The US dollar yesterday dropped to a record low against the euro in Tokyo and fell to its lowest level in nearly five years against the Japanese yen.

US dollar tumbles against euro


Chris Pugh's three-pointer erases a Navy lead with 1 minute 13 seconds remaining Friday night as Maryland-Baltimore County rallies past the Midshipmen, 67-61.

Navy Can't Finish


JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ordered the army to step up its war on Palestinian militants before a planned withdrawal from Gaza Strip.

Israeli PM on offensive


The Associated Press By Ted Bridis

News: House votes to make video cameras in movie theaters a federal crime


Most e-mail users are aware that opening an executable file (.exe) from an unknown source is a danger, but many don #39;t know what an IM threat looks like.

IMLogic Leads Group into IM Malware Battle


A Pakistani minister reveals hundreds of cases of alleged child sex abuse at religious seminaries, or madrassas.

Madrassas hit by sex abuse claims


Reuters - Apple Computer Inc. \could decide to sell a lower-priced of its Macintosh computer\to attract consumers already enamored of its iPod music player\and annoyed by security problems with Windows PCs, Piper\Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said on Thursday.

Do Not Rule Out Lower-Priced Apple iMac--Analyst (Reuters)


Sage grouse should not be listed as an endangered species, said a US Fish and Wildlife Service panel of biologists Friday. The panel of regional managers and senior scientists made their recommendation to

Panel says keep sage grouse off endangered list


DUBAI (Reuters) - Ayman al-Zawahri, the number two figure  in al Qaeda, appeared in a new videotape aired on Al Jazeera on  Thursday, ridiculing U.S. forces which he said were

Qaeda's Zawahri Appears in New Tape on Al Jazeera


MacCentral - Apple on Tuesday added a 1.8GHz single-processor Power Mac G5 desktop computer to its arsenal. The US #36;1,499 system is offered alongside dual-processor computers running at 1.8GHz, 2.0GHz and 2.5GHz.

Apple adds single-processor Power Mac G5 1.8GHz (MacCentral)


Israel announced plans yesterday to build 533 new homes in the West Bank, increasing the number of permits to three times those allowed in the previous three years combined.

Israel OKs more settlements


CLEVELAND -- This week, the New York Jets beat the clock. Quincy Carter threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Justin McCareins with 5:32 remaining as the Jets bounced back from an embarrassing loss with an ugly 10-7 win over the Cleveland Browns yesterday.

Jets get their timing down


MOSCOW. Oct 14 (Interfax) - A Soyuz TMA-5 spaceship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome with a Soyuz-FG rocket at 7:06 am on Thursday, an

Russia launches manned space mission to ISS


Sponsors of an internationally backed Middle East peace plan will send their foreign ministers to the region next week in hopes of restarting peace talks in the wake of Yasser Arafat #39;s death, Israeli and Palestinian officials said Thursday.

#39;Road map #39; sponsors will send foreign ministers to West Bank next <b>...</b>


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and throngs of his supporters jammed avenues in downtown Caracas on Friday to celebrate the president #39;s defeat of an August 15 recall referendum.

Chavez celebrates referendum win


Every week, the experts of FOX NFL Sunday will candidly reveal their observations and make their opinions known as they prepare for their top-rated pregame telecast - seen each Sunday at 12 pm ET / 9 am PT.

WEEK 3: Howie says Gruden #39;s a good coach, but a  quot;terrible GM quot;


Reuters - A U.S. bankruptcy court judge on Friday\granted United Airlines another 30 days of exclusivity, giving\it until the end of September to file its own reorganization\plan without competing plans from creditors.

30 More Days of Exclusivity for UAL OK'd (Reuters)


North Korea rules out further nuclear talks unless South Korea's own nuclear tests are

N Korea stalls nuclear talks


SPACE.com - New observations of dust around young stars suggests collisions of large asteroid-like objects and fledgling planets are frequent. But that doesn't likely stop the formation of rocky planets like Earth, a process that may well be common, the results suggest.

How Planets Form: 'It's a Mess Out There' (SPACE.com)


All guys he played with in San Francisco. All guys who made up one of the greatest offenses in NFL history. All guys who remind him of what he has now.

A hit in Motown


Privacy advocates say that new passports that carry information about the traveler in a computer chip will be vulnerable to electronic snooping.

New High-Tech Passports Raise Snooping Concerns


The present policy of not allowing a foreign carrier to hold stake in domestic airlines has put a question mark on Virgin Atlantic chief Richard Branson #39;s plans to acquire equity in private Indian airline companies.

Virgin plans may clash with govt policy


Computer Associates International on Monday kicked off its entry into open-source software with the release of its Ingres r3 database.

CA sets Ingres database free


washingtonpost.com - Oracle may be breathing fire down its neck with an ongoing hostile takeover effort, but PeopleSoft is trying to withstand the siege and stay independent. The business software company has struck a pact with IBM to woo customers and bolster its business, although there's plenty of debate over whether Big Blue will pull off a dramatic rescue.

PeopleSoft's Knightly Quest (washingtonpost.com)


Big Blue adds

IBM expands China research site in mid-market push


Serbia's government seeks support from parliament for its 2005 budget, which includes tax breaks, more welfare benefits and a

Serbia seeks support for budget


Oil futures fell yesterday after Iraq, the sixth-largest supplier to the United States, boosted shipments to tankers to normal rates for the first time in two weeks.

Iraq output rises; oil futures fall


INDIANAPOLIS -- With a package of academic reforms in place, the NCAA #39;s next crusade will address what its president calls a dangerous drift toward professionalism and sports entertainment.

#39;Escalation of success #39; is groundwork for disaster


The United Nations rushed hundreds more peacekeepers to storm-ravaged Gonaves on Monday to stem looting, while hundreds of weary Haitians lined up for

Looters Impede Aid to Haiti; UN Sending More Troops


AP - Once again, the Seattle Seahawks won with their dominant defense. This time, they ended an NFL record streak. Matt Hasselbeck threw for 254 yards with two touchdowns, Shaun Alexander scored three TDs and Seattle's defense was magnificent in a 34-0 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Seahawks Shut Down Winless 49ers 34-0 (AP)


From the thriving centre of Kabul to remote mountain villages, Afghans go to the polls on Saturday still under the shadow of the old regimes.

Afghanistan hits fever pitch as warlords turn  #39;democrat #39;


SYDNEY : Rescue teams struggled Monday to prevent a pod of about 20 whales beaching in an area off Australia #39;s south coast where 80 whales and dolphins died after stranding themselves at the weekend.

Rescuers try to save whales after 80 die in mass stranding off <b>...</b>


At least three American nationals involved in the training of Afghanistan #39;s new police force were killed Sunday in a powerful blast in Kabul that also killed at least two Afghans, a defense ministry official told Reuters.

Three Americans, Two Afghans Killed in Kabul Blast


AP - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called on Muslim countries Friday to hold an urgent meeting to discuss the

Iran Urges Meeting on Iraq 'Catastrophe' (AP)


A kidnapped American journalist was released Sunday after the intervention of the cleric Moktada al-Sadr, even as his Shiite militia engaged

Reporter Freed as Rebel Cleric Brokers a Deal


Europe #39;s top coaches may like to be seen to disagree with each other in public, but they are all united on the topic of this season #39;s Champions League.

Champions League to provide upsets


Charla Moseley shops at Gap stores for every member of her family: her 13-year-old daughter, 18-year-old son and her youngest boy, 6. The 38-year-old art organization manager

Bridging a generational Gap


With a fall in oil prices easing inflation concerns, the Federal Reserve is expected to continue its easy-does-it approach to raising interest rates, boosting a key rate by a moderate quarter-point at its final meeting of the year today.

Fed seen raising key rate 0.25


A major pharmaceutical company accused by Attorney General Eliot Spitzer of concealing negative information about an antidepressant agreed yesterday to publicly disclose clinical study data.

Drug Company Settles NY Fraud Charge for \$2.5 Million


Kofi Annan willl seek \$1.5bn to deal with what the UN calls the world's forgotten emergencies, many in Africa.

UN in 'forgotten crises' appeal


Brazilian peacekeepers forced their way into a compound seized by former soldiers who ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and said they had reached an agreement for the rebels to leave the premises unarmed.

Ex-Soldiers Agree to Leave Aristide Estate


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest  publicly traded oil company, on Thursday said quarterly profit  surged 56 percent, driven by soaring oil prices and strong  results from refining operations.

Exxon Mobil Profit Up 56 Pct, Stock Off


BOISE, Idaho - It #39;s all a little funky. In a city where a cosmopolitan feel meets Jeeps and jean jackets, the football coach is reclining comfortably in his office outside the football stadium, the one with

Coach Hawkins the ringmaster of Boise #39;s biggest show


LONDON, England -- Jose Mourinho #39;s new club Chelsea defeated his old side Porto 3-1 to leave the European champions with an uphill battle to qualify from Group H of the Champions League.

Chelsea overpower champions Porto


US Airways wants a bankruptcy judge to impose temporary wage and other cost cuts on its union workers, warning that it only has enough cash to operate through January.

US Airways seeks union cuts


However, a sluggish rise in incomes in July raised concerns that spending might fizzle again soon if it is not supported by more substantive growth in jobs and wages.

Consumer Spending Up 0.8 Percent in July


Venezuela announced a dramatic increase in royalties for foreign oil companies operating in the petroleum-rich country, El Nacional reported Monday.

Venezuela jacks up oil royalties


The Arlington government contractor said in a statement that the 58-year-old Johnson, its second in command, is leaving  quot;to pursue personal interests and spend more time with his family and

Johnson Will Retire Nov. 1 As CACI #39;s No. 2 Executive


Asier del Horno's early goal gives Spain victory in an ill-tempered friendly.

Football: Spain 1-0 England


AP - Gabe Kapler became the first player to leave the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants in Tokyo.

Kapler First to Bolt World Series Champs (AP)


The first day of the Davis Cup final between Spain and the United States made history as a record 27,200 spectators took their seats under the temporary roof in the Estadio Olimpico.

On a Slow Court, Spain Is Quicker


Dell and Novell today announced plans to offer Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 on Dell's single- and dual-processor PowerEdge servers worldwide.

Dell, Novell expand partnership to push Linux


KOHLER, Wisconsin (Reuters) - American Justin Leonard  stayed on track for his second major title in the U.S. PGA  Championship final round on Sunday, moving two shots clear with  nine holes to play.

Leonard Forges Two Clear with Nine to Play at PGA


AP - John Kerry suggested Saturday night that Republicans may try to keep black voters from casting their ballots to help President Bush win in November.

Kerry Hints GOP May Suppress Black Votes (AP)


When Smarty Jones was retired following the Triple Crown, it took some sizzle out of the racing scene. But one doesn't have to be an insider to appreciate the field for the \$4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Lone Star Park Oct. 30. It may not be the Kentucky Derby, but a field doesn't get any better than this.

Fields are stocked for Breeders' Cup


The European Union is moving closer to settling its long-running antitrust case against Coca-Cola Co., having judged the beverage giant #39;s offer to modify distribution

EU reportedly closer to settling antitrust case with Coca-Cola