WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With oil near \$50 a barrel, the Bush  administration said on Thursday it would negotiate with  refineries that want to borrow oil from the federal emergency  stockpile to offset supplies disrupted by Hurricane Ivan.

Gov't Set to Make Oil Loans to Refiners


New York AG is investigating the timing of a sale by Thomas Marra; company reports higher 3Q. NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.

Hartford executive #39;s stock sale probed


Australia defied a late rally by New Zealand to win the second of three one-day cricket internationals in Sydney by 17 runs and set up a deciding match at Brisbane on Friday.

Australia Beats NZ in One-Day Cricket Match to Tie Series 1-1


PALACE #39;S leading goal-scorer Andy Johnson was jubilant last night after giving the Eagles Premiership lift-off. The Selhurst Park forward drew first blood eight minutes after half-time with his fifth league goal of the season.

EAGLES TAKE OFF AT LAST


Odd, I don #39;t recall registering as a Republican ... : Looks like the e-voting machines used in Tuesday #39;s election weren #39;t as problem-free as their manufacturers would have us beleive.

You mean we can alienate customers AND throw money down a rathole? <b>...</b>


With a little more than 34 seconds to go last night, Portland #39;s Ruben Patterson brought his left forearm down across Paul Pierce news #39;s face in rebound traffic, bringing major pain to Pierce #39;s surgically repaired mouth.

Tooth and nail: Pierce, C #39;s bite Blazers at buzzer


UCONN (5-2) vs. SYRACUSE (3-4) When, where: Tomorrow, 1:30 p.m., at Syracuse, N.Y. Last season: First meeting. Comments: UConn is coming off a 45-31 victory against Temple. Dan Orlovsky became UConn's career leader in TD passes. He was 18 of 26 for 260 yards, with two TDs and one interception. LBs Maurice Lloyd and Alfred Fincher combined for 29 tackles ...

Key New England games


DUBAI (Reuters) - Militants in Iraq said they have killed  Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni, who went missing after being  ambushed on the road between Baghdad and Najaf, Al Jazeera  reported Thursday.

Kidnappers Say They Have Killed Italian Hostage --TV


PepsiCo Inc. (PEP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will pay \$750 million for General Mills Inc. #39;s (GIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 40.5 percent stake in their Snack Ventures Europe joint venture, the companies said on Monday.

PepsiCo Buys General Mills Joint Venture


AP - The PGA Tour has always had an impeccable sense of timing when it comes to negotiating television contracts.

Woods' Play May Influence New TV Golf Deal (AP)


AFP - The Bank of Canada boosted its overnight rate by a quarter-point to 2.5 percent, and suggested more hikes are coming in the near future.

Bank of Canada pushes up base rate by quarter-point to 2.5 pct (AFP)


SEATTLE (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp., the world's largest  coffee-shop chain, on Wednesday said sales at stores open at  least a year rose 8 percent in August, the first time growth  fell below double-digits in nine months.

Starbucks Aug. Same-Store Sales Up 8 Pct


AP - Japan and North Korea held a second day of talks Sunday in a dispute over Japanese nationals abducted by the North decades ago. Japan seized the occasion to express concern North Korea might be planning a missile test, a newspaper reported.

N. Korea, Japan Hold Talks on Abductees (AP)


BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The head of UAL Corp.'s United  Airlines said on Thursday the airline's restructuring plan  would lead to a significant number of job losses, but it was  not clear how many.

United Airlines Sees More Job Losses


JERUSALEM - Tens of thousands of Jewish settlers and their backers demonstrated in Jerusalem on Sunday against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to evacuate all settlements from Gaza and four West Bank enclaves in a rally held against a backdrop of assassination threats and warnings of civil war.    The withdrawal plan has upset the Israeli political scene since it was announced last year, turning Sharon's backers into opponents and detractors into supporters...

Thousands Protest Gaza Evacuation Plan


The result cheered the beef industry, which had braced itself to hear that a second case of mad cow disease had been discovered in the U.S.

USDA Rules Out Mad Cow Disease in Animal


Pakistan #39;s economic czar Shaukat Aziz was sworn in as prime minister Saturday and said his government #39;s greatest challenge would be combatting terrorism and maintaining law and order.

Musharraf Ally Sworn in As Pakistan PM


AMMAN, Jordan (Reuters) - A group of militants was summoned  Sunday and formally charged for their alleged role in a  thwarted chemical attack using suicide bombers, judicial  sources said ahead of a trial which should begin in November.

Jordan Indicts Zarqawi in Foiled Chemical Plot


HARMONY is set to become the world #39;s biggest gold producing mining company in just four months. This week Harmony moved closer to successfully concluding its hostile bid for rival Gold Fields.

Harmony Grabs Hold of Gold Fields


KABUL, Afghanistan - The vote tally under way on Friday in Afghanistans landmark election was widely expected to yield an election victory for US -backed interim leader Hamid Karzai, which would install him as the war-ravaged countrys first

Vote counting under way in Afghan election, Karzai expected to win


BOISE, Idaho (Ticker) -- Tyler Jones and Jared Zabransky helped No. 16 Boise State extend some impressive streaks. Jones kicked four field goals and Zabransky ran for a touchdown and threw for another as the

Boise St. Broncos


Pakistan #39;s Shoaib Malik could play in the first Test against Australia starting on Thursday as he waits for results of tests on his bowling action.

Pakistan #39;s Malik awaits results


An independent investigator who will study claims that Home Secretary David Blunkett abused his position is to be named.

Blunkett investigator to be named


The economy grew at an annual rate of 3.7 percent in the summer as a big rebound in auto sales offset weakness from an exploding trade deficit, soaring oil prices and the Florida hurricanes, the government reported Friday.

Summer growth carries economy


The European Commission is not expected to make any decision on Santander Central Hispano #39;s bid for Abbey National until the end of next week.

EU decision on Abbey expected next week


Interior Ministry officials had earlier said the blast on Tuesday was caused by a car bomb. At least five cars were ...

Seven dead in Baghdad blast


With Microsoft Corp. shareholders on the verge of collectively receiving \$32 billion in cash from the software maker's special \$3 dividend, investors are wondering what's ahead for one of Wall Street's most popular stocks.

Whither Microsoft?


Printer and PC maker Hewlett-Packard Co. said Monday it bought \$1.3 million in common shares back from Merrill Lynch and its board approved the buyback of an additional \$3 billion in shares.

HP boosts share repurchase plan


Walgreen Co. increased its fourth-quarter profits by 18 percent despite slower growth in prescription drug sales industrywide, taking market share from competitors as it gains ground on the biggest US retailers.

Update 4: Walgreen Earnings Rise 18 Percent in 4Q


After years of delays, U.S. wireless carriers are unveiling third generation phone networks. The carriers will soon find out whether the time and money were actually worth it.

In U.S. Market, Cellphone Users Are Often All Talk


Cisco Systems Inc. Chief Executive Officer John Chambers said sales growth will slow this quarter and it #39;s too early to say #39; #39; whether customers are becoming more optimistic about the economy.

Cisco #39;s Chambers Forecasts Slowing Second-Quarter Sales Growth


The  quot;Iranian Hercules quot; Hossein Rezazadeh extended his reign as the world #39;s strongest man this morning, defending his super-heavyweight Olympic weightlifting gold medal with a jaw-dropping display of strength.

Rezazadeh reigns as world #39;s strongest man


What do women want? Luciano Manganella, the owner of the trendy Boston women's boutique JasmineSola, has a pretty good idea. And now after 34 years in business, he's plotting a major expansion.

Fashioning a new strategy


BAGHDAD : France held its breath for two of its reporters kidnapped in Iraq, while the war-torn country #39;s ailing economy was dealt a massive blow after a key export pipeline suffered its biggest post-war attack.

French hostage crisis drags on, Iraq #39;s northern oil exports halted


AP - Two University of Wyoming researchers are working on developing a test to diagnose altitude sickness in cattle. Cattle under a year old are especially susceptible to altitude sickness above 5,000 feet. But the condition, called brisket, can only be diagnosed by inserting a probe into the jugular vein and measuring blood pressure in the heart and lung.

Researchers Study Cattle Altitude Sickness (AP)


It #39;s official. Microsoft recently stated definitivelyand contrary to rumorsthat there will be no new versions of Internet Explorer for users of older versions of Windows.

IE Strategy Backfires


As if the Palestinian Authority was the pinnacle of good governance, with a shining proud record of the all-encompassing democracy, fiscal transparency and national unity, until Marwan Barghouti, the spoiler emerged from his prison cell and wickedly

Barghouti: A High Profile Expression of Rift in Fatah


Key members of Congress and the 9/11 commission make it clear that a federal board to protect civil liberties in the age of terrorism is not optional. But they're struggling to figure out how to establish it. By Ryan Singel.

Congress Wants Rights Board


Union delegates gather for the annual TUC conference in Brighton for what could be the last congress before the general election.

TUC gather ahead of national poll


INDIANAPOLIS - Another improbable win has the Pacers brimming with confidence. And Indiana has Jamaal Tinsley to thank for that. The guard scored 20 points, recorded 14 assists and grabbed seven rebounds to

Pacers 106, T-wolves 102


Anything is possible for England now. The Champions Trophy, South Africa this winter, the World Cup, the Ashes next summer, global domination, all those things that once

Flintoff brings a golden hue to autumn


PC World - More PCs run the alternative OS, but many will end up with a pirated version of Windows, report says.

Is Piracy Pushing Linux Sales? (PC World)


ALMOST 24 hours after an insurgent group said it had captured two Australian security guards in Iraq, the Government was still unable to confirm or deny the claim.

Checks on hostage claim


The battle for control of Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality Group erupted into an unseemly free-for-all yesterday as Woolworths set a tight four-hour deadline for fund managers to deal themselves

ALH extension buys time for all


AP - Steve Spurrier declined to talk about replacing the retiring Lou Holtz at South Carolina on Saturday, saying only he feels as if he has some coaching left in him and that nothing was official.

Spurrier Keeps Quiet About S. Carolina Job (AP)


Lee Scott Jr., the chief executive of Wal-Mart Stores, was speaking the other day about old times at the company #39;s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The boys from Bentonville feel the need to be loved


SAN FRANCISCO -- The Salvation Army is counting on tech-savvy Bay Area residents to help the organization meet its holiday fundraising goals with as much clicking of the mouse as clinking of coins.

Salvation Army Seeks Online Holiday Donations


Shawn Green can sit out today knowing he was already a huge help to the Los Angeles Dodgers during their crucial series against San Francisco.

LA up 2-1/2 games in West


Wachovia Corp. said Thursday that Don McMullen Jr., head of its capital management unit, is retiring at year-end. He will be replaced by David Carroll, 47, who has led the company #39;s merger integrations and corporate marketing.

Wachovia exec McMullen retires


RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Yasser Arafat has a large gallstone, a Palestinian hospital official said yesterday, as the weakened Palestinian leader broke his Ramadan fast and underwent more medical tests at the urging of his doctors.

Arafat has gallstone, hospital official says


HONG KONG -- Consumers have been promised a lot from the high-speed 3G (third generation) cellular networks being rolled out around the world, but is there much in it for businesses?

3G: Anything in it for businesses?


Muslim cleric Abu Hamza, held last week on suspicion of being involved in\terror offences, has been de-arrested, Scotland Yard says.

Muslim cleric Hamza de-arrested


The fashion conscious women of Roman Britain used a tin-based foundation to get a pale and appealing look. The evidence comes from a sealed pot of ointment found at an archaeological dig in Southwark, south London, last year.

Roman cosmetic secrets revealed


French and German business leaders, headed by Cie. de Saint-Gobain SA Chief Executive Jean-Louis Beffa and ThyssenKrupp AG supervisory board chairman Gerhard Cromme, will form a working

German, French Business Leaders to Discuss Industry Cooperation


BT Group PLC said Monday it is buying U.S.-based Infonet Services Corp., in a deal that values the company at \$965 million.

BT to Buy Infonet in Deal Worth About \$1B


AFP - Moves by Internet search giant Google to create a global virtual library could signal a communications revolution on a par with Johann Gutenberg and the invention of moveable type in the 15th century.

Global library heralds new information era (AFP)


Police in Kashmir fired tear gas and used batons Wednesday to disperse thousands of people protesting the alleged rape of a woman and her daughter by soldiers.

Thousands in Kashmir protest alleged rape


The sounds of the holiday season are a joyous cacophony of loving banter, caroling and children #39;s laughter. Thanks to the classic film  quot;It #39;s a Wonderful Life, quot; everyone knows that every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.

Salvation Army seeks volunteers


Mr Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science and Technology; Mr Kenneth I. Juster, Under Secretary of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, US Department of Commerce; and Mr Harris Miller, President, Information Technology Association of America; at The India

US industry wants H1B visa cap revisited


Rome, Italy (Sports Network) - AC Milan won 1-0 at Cagliari Sunday as a crucial week lies ahead for the Italian giants. Milan rested many of its regulars including Jaap Stam and Hernan Crespo because of a

AC Milan gains momentum


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military freed a top aide to  rebel Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Thursday in a gesture  that could help the interim government's efforts to calm  rebel-held strongholds before elections due in January.

Sadr Aide Freed as Iraq Seeks Pre-Election Calm


The leading specialty women's clothier trounces expectations and sees more opportunity in the future.

Chico's The Man


Large-sized LCD panel pricing fell faster than expected last month, due to disappointing demand, rising supply and swelling inventories that created a near-term headache for suppliers, but also paved the way for stronger sales during Q4, according to

LCD Prices Fell More Than Expected in August


Hawaii coach Riley Wallace will be released from the hospital Thursday after having a stent inserted Wednesday into an artery that was 90 percent blocked, according to assistant coach Bob Nash.

Coach had stent inserted Wednesday


Dr. Marcia Angell's case against drug companies and their business practices is tough, persuasive and troubling.

Indicting the Drug Industry's Practices


Copernic Unleashes Desktop Search Tool\\Copernic Technologies Inc. today announced Copernic Desktop Search(TM) (CDS(TM)),

Copernic Unleashes Desktop Search Tool


The worst kept secret in Scottish football was revealed on Thursday when Walter Smith was named as the new national manager. From the moment Berti Vogts #39; miserable tenure in charge of Scotland ended, the former

Can Smith work Scottish wonders?


Far EasTone Telecommunications Co () projects earnings to expand mildly next year as the company #39;s planned third-generation (3G) mobile service is not expected to stimulate business

Far EasTone says pickings slim


Saboteurs on Saturday set fire arefined oil products pipeline in northern Iraq as they kept uprelentless attacks on Iraq #39;s oil production industry, Dubai-basedal-Arabiya TV reported.

Saboteurs attack Iraq #39;s northern oil pipeline


NEW YORK - Stocks moved modestly higher Monday as investors discounted another technology profit warning and focused instead on positive outlooks for third- and fourth-quarter earnings.    While some investors were concerned that rising energy prices and the summer's economic slowdown would undermine third-quarter results for many companies, a new report by J.P...

Stocks Climb As Profit Worries Ease


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as  inflation data suggesting the Federal Reserve will not hurry to  raise interest rates encouraged investors and oil prices  slipped as some refineries restarted after Hurricane Ivan.

Stocks Rise as Oil Price Dips After Ivan


Madison City Councilwoman Cynthia McCollum played a key role in the National League of Cities #39; negotiations with eBay to limit the use of racially derogatory words on listings on eBay #39;s Web site.

eBay to clean up racial slurs


So a few weeks ago, the two astronauts who live there tossed out some useless junk, like so many old hubcaps for the trash heap. And the throwing-away - done during a recent spacewalk -as

Reaching the limits of space inside the space station


MIAMI (Sports Network) - Brock Berlin completed 13-of-19  passes for a career-high 361 yards along with four touchdowns,  while Roscoe Parrish hauled in five passes for 141 yards as  12th-ranked Miami-Florida routed Wake Forest. 52-7, at the  Orange Bowl.

12th-Ranked Miami Pounds Wake Forest


NASA -- Riding like the tip of a spear on its modified Pegasus booster rocket, NASA's third X-43A hypersonic scramjet research vehicle took to the skies today for a captive-carry flight, remaining attached to its B-52B mothership aircraft.     Serving as a final in-flight check-out of the research vehicle and booster rocket combination prior to the actual launch and free-flight, the successful mission paves the way for launch day, tentatively scheduled for later this Fall...

X-43A Scramjet Primed for Mach 10


IT services company Synstar plc, of Bracknell, England, has been acquired by Hewlett-Packard Co., of Palo Alto, for about \$293.3 million.

Hewlett-Packard buys Synstar


Nominating a successor to Fed chairman Alan Greenspan could be President Bush's biggest economic decision next year.

The Successor to Greenspan Has a Very Tough Act to Follow


ST. LOUIS -- Over the last three years, the New England Patriots have defined the word  quot;team. quot; Yesterday they redefined it and along the way embarrassed an ill-prepared team that couldn't execute, the St. Louis Rams, 40-22, at the Edward Jones Dome.

Foolproof performance


The company axes 400 jobs, joining other hard drive makers in eliminating staff.

Hitachi cuts 10 percent of U.S. work force


AP - Calling it a matter of urgency, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday North Korea should resume participation in nuclear disarmament talks and set aside its concerns about new

Powell Spurns Conditions by North Korea (AP)


BELFAST: More than 1,200 Northern Ireland families fled their homes last year because of intimidation from paramilitary groups or sectarian mobs, the housing authority said yesterday.

Mobs  #39;drive out Ulster families #39;


Iraqis reacted with astonishment and derision yesterday to a claim made by the interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, before the US Congress that 14 or 15 out of Iraq #39;s 18 provinces  quot;are completely safe.

Allawi safety claims  #39;out of touch with reality #39; say Iraqis


Former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu apologized Tuesday for his positive cocaine test and said he will turn down an offer to become an assistant coach for the Romanian national team.

Mutu apologizes, turns down offer to become Romanian assistant <b>...</b>


Canadian Press - ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) - Kazakhstan's oil minister said Friday the government wants to buy British Gas's entire stake in a project to develop a giant oil field in the Caspian Sea, according to a news report.

Kazakh government seeks to buy British Gas stake in huge oil project (Canadian Press)


The mass-mailing Christmas e-card virus Zafi.D is clogging huge amounts of bandwidth and now accounts for one in 15 of all e-mails, antivirus companies said on Thursday.

Zafi worm proves a holiday pest


Tennessee has three interceptions Saturday, including one in its own end zone and another returned 37 yards for a touchdown by Lamont Thompson, to down Miami, 17-7.

Titans Topple Dolphins


At least 12 people have been confirmed killed by Typhoon Aere, 17 remain unaccounted for, and 86 others were injured as it swept across northern Taiwan earlier this week, according to a post-typhoon damage control report by the Interior Ministry yesterday

Twelve bodies found in post-storm search


BUDAPEST, Hungary (Reuters) - Hungary #39;s ruling Socialists dumped Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy Thursday, in an attempt to strengthen their hold on a government which has slipped despite a stronger economy and entry into ...

Hungary #39;s Socialists Dump PM, Forint Falls


Despite burgeoning demand for hybrids, carmakers remain conservative about manufacturing them. So, if you want one, be prepared to wait. By John Gartner.

Wheels of Progress Turn Slowly


AFP - Typhoon Aere pounded northern Taiwan with heavy rain and powerful winds triggering landslides and causing widespread disruption to transport, and leaving at least seven people feared dead.

China braces for Typhoon Aere after seven feared dead in Taiwan, Japan (AFP)


TOKYO, Japan -- Japanese electronics giant NEC Corp., said it has begun selling the worlds fastest supercomputer. NEC claimed its SX-8 is the most powerful vector-type supercomputer, with a sustainable

NEC launches worlds fastest supercomputer


The digital media software developer deserves more attention from investors.

Give Sonic Solutions More Play


HAMBURG - German Jewish leader Paul Spiegel said he was  quot;dismayed and outraged quot; over UEFA #39;s decision to play a Champions League match in Tel Aviv as Jewish New Year festivities begin.

German Jewish leader lambasts UEFA over Champions League match


A Greek court has given a former Irish priest a suspended 12-month jail sentence and a 3,000 euro (2,000 pound) fine for pushing a leading Olympic marathon runner off the road, a court source says.

Marathon gatecrasher given suspended sentence


Embattled Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. has lost more than a dozen brokers in the past six weeks, since Attorney General Eliot Spitzer charged them with bid-rigging and the stock price fell by 40 percent.

WILLIS SNAGS MARSH STARS


The Apache Foundation pulls support for the antispam technology because of Microsoft's license requirements.

Apache, open-source groups wary of Sender ID


The move will delay the reduction in reported profits for many companies, and may give them more time to lobby Congress to stop the rule from taking effect at all.

Audit Board Delays Rule on Options as Expenses


Secretary of State Colin Powell told a gathering of Islamic leaders yesterday that they must join hands with industrialized countries on political and economic reforms to ease the  quot;despair and frustration quot; that afflicts much of the region.

Powell urges reform in Islamic countries


NTT DoCoMo has successfully completed a high-speed packet transmission with 1GB/s data rate in the downlink using the 4G mobile communication radio access equipment, the company reports.

DoCoMo Tests 4G Equipment


The arrival of Jeanne, the fourth powerful hurricane to slam into Florida in two months, makes it likely that 2004 will be the costliest hurricane season in U.S. history.

2004 Hurricane Season May Be Costliest on Record


Marks  amp; Spencer is no longer the UKs largest clothing retailer after losing its crown to supermarket chain Asda, it was reported today.

M amp;S overtaken as top UK clothes retailer


Top executives at the Russian oil company Yukos, including two Americans, have left Russia, saying they fear persecution as a result of the company #39;s continuing dispute with the Kremlin.

Top Yukos Executives, Including 2 Americans, Flee Russia


AP - Jason Campbell threw for three touchdowns and accounted for more than 400 yards, leading No. 3 Auburn to a 38-28 victory over 15th-ranked Tennessee in the SEC championship game Saturday night.

No. 3 Auburn Wins SEC Championship (AP)


Roger Clemens got his 326th win to tie Eddie Plank for 11th on the career list and the Astros hit four first-inning home runs to beat the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2, yesterday in Houston and move into the wild-card lead with their 12th straight win.

Clemens, Houston stay hot


Vodafone, which has some 330,000 customers in Queensland or about 10 of the state #39;s mobile market, hopes the promotion will add 150,000 new customers or nearly 1 of Australia #39;s 16 million mobile telephone users.

Vodafone Plans Joint Australia 3G Rollout


The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in conjunction with several major drug companies, is working on an initiative that would involve fitting medicine bottles with tiny antennas to prevent fraud and counterfeiting, the New York Times reported Nov. 15.

FDA Plans to Tag Certain Medicines to Prevent Fraud


Reuters - Four explosions were reported at petrol\stations in the Madrid area on Friday, Spanish radio stations\said, following a phone warning in the name of the armed Basque\separatist group ETA to a Basque newspaper.

Explosions in Madrid After ETA Bomb Threat - Radio (Reuters)


LONDON - Oil prices hovered near \$50 per barrel Tuesday after a Saudi Arabian oil official said the world's largest petroleum exporter would raise its production capacity by nearly 5 percent in a bid to calm markets.    Light sweet crude for November delivery was up 16 cents at \$49.80 per barrel in late morning trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, retreating from the \$50.47 high reached in overnight electronic trade...

Crude Oil Prices Approach \$50 a Barrel


Startup consumer electronics company ROC Digital on Monday unveiled its Rocbox line of digital music players, further expanding the \$350 million hip-hop generation properties of music mogul Damon Dash.

Rap Mogul Damon Dash Launches Electronics Entity


The Australian government announced on Thursday a project worth 350-450 million dollars (245-315 million US dollars) to equip air force aircraft with long range missiles capable of destroying land and sea targets.

Australia to buy long range missiles for air force


A video of what appears to be British hostage Kenneth Bigley was posted on an Islamic website on Wednesday showing him weeping and pleading for British Prime Minister Tony Blair to help save his life.

Bigley pleads for Blair #39;s help


A new report into the failure of the Beagle mission to Mars has concluded that the failure can be linked to the Government #39;s failure to commit money early enough.

Funding problems led to Beagle failure


Canadian Press - LA ROCHE-SUR-YON, France (AP) - A 16-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped and then murdered by jilted boyfriend 27 years her senior whom he originally met after accidentally sending a text message to his cellphone, a public prosecutor said Sunday.

Relationship begun with mis-addressed telephone text message ends in murder (Canadian Press)


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices struck a fresh record high  above \$47.50 a barrel on Thursday as fresh evidence of demand  growth in China and India underlined how rising appetite for  oil is straining the world's supply system.

Oil Hits Record on China, India Demand


The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland made that announcement today. Hamm received gold in the gymnastics all-around at the Athens Olympics.

AMERICAN GYMNIST PAUL HAMM WILL KEEP HIS GOLD MEDAL


With more conservatives in power, the Federal Communications Commission may become more forceful about indecency fines. The agency may even try to expand its jurisdiction into cable TV, satellite radio and the internet. By Randy Dotinga.

FCC Crackdown Could Spread


To see the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line in action is like watching one giant shell game, with large, mobile men sliding from side to side, hiding Priest Holmes in the backfield.

The Fall Hunt Is On at Arrowhead


Andy Roddick surged into the third round of the Paris Masters with a 6-2, 6-2 rout of Armenia #39;s Sargis Sargsian on Wednesday in his first match since late September.

Roddick reaches third round at Paris Masters


LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, the world #39;s largest luxury-goods maker, said first-half profit rose 49 percent as travelers returned to its Asian airport stores and US shoppers bought more champagne and cognac.

LVMH First-Half Profit Advances 49 on Airport Stores (Update1)


Namibia  and South Africa are told at a Bangkok summit they can each kill five endangered black rhinos per year.

Limited black rhino hunt approved


ATHENS (Reuters) - The United States ran their preliminary  round record to a perfect 5-0 with a 100-62 drubbing of China  at the women's Olympic basketball tournament on Sunday,  remaining on course for a third consecutive gold medal.

Basketball: U.S. Women Win Again, Greece Qualify


Israelis were up at dawn Friday, just to see live television coverage of Yasser Arafat leaving his compound in Ramallah and flying out of the Middle East.

Guarded hopes in Israel


Last spring, Kris Thorsness got to thinking about her former teammates on the 1984 US Olympic gold-medal winning rowing team. When the team got together before those Games, they put on skits  quot;to break the tension, quot; and Thorsness remembered that the skit she was involved in was about a 20-year reunion. Why not bring it to life? she figured.

'84 US women's team united in cancer fight


Andrea Pirlo #39;s superb 20th minute strike gave Italian champions AC Milan a 1-0 win at Cagliari to keep them within three points of Serie A leaders Juventus.

Pirlo #39;s strike gives Milan victory


For years, doctors have been relying on a vague nondiagnosis known by the acronym Ednos: eating disorder not otherwise specified.

Sorry. Your Eating Disorder Doesn't Meet Our Criteria.


Chicago Tribune - Despite Republican victories in the elections this week, much of President Bush's agenda faces considerable head winds in Congress, particularly the Senate.

Senate can limit Bush plans (Chicago Tribune)


Frank Quattrone, a former star investment banker who once earned \$120 million in a year, will be sentenced on Wednesday for obstructing a federal investigation into some

Quattrone, once a star banker, faces sentencing


CHELSEA moved five points clear at the top of Group H last night, continuing their 100 per cent record in the Champions League group stage with a 2-0 win over CSKA Moscow.

Terry and Gudjohnsen keep 100 per cent record intact


AP - The only birdie Vijay Singh made all day was the only one that mattered. All but counted out of the PGA Championship with a putter that failed him, Singh took advantage of a late collapse by Justin Leonard to get into a three-way playoff Sunday at Whistling Straits, then made the only birdie over the three extra holes to win the final major of the year.

Singh Wins PGA Championship in Playoff (AP)


Scotland rugby coach Matt Williams will be forced to name a side from a squad missing nine of his England-based players for the upcoming Test against Australia at Murrayfield.

Scots missing stars


AP - The bobwhite quail, which is disappearing in the Southeast, can make a comeback and add millions of dollars to the rural economy if landowners are willing to make changes in the way they manage their crops and timber to protect the birds' habitat, biologists say.

Biologists Concerned About Bobwhite Quail (AP)


AFP - Al-Qaeda financed the bomb attacks against two synagogues and the British Consulate in Istanbul that killed a total of 63 people in November 2003, one of the suspects told a court.

Suspect in Istanbul bomb trial says Al-Qaeda financed attacks (AFP)


NEW YORK - Investors sent stocks mostly lower Thursday after Merck   Co. said it would be forced to remove its best-selling Vioxx arthritis drug from the market due to serious health risks...

Stocks Decline on Merck's Vioxx Woes


An animal rights group claimed Tuesday Japan has illegally killed hundreds of whales in an Australian whale sanctuary and launched legal action aimed at stopping the hunt.

Conservationists claim Japan has illegally killed whales in <b>...</b>


NEW YORK : Anaheim Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero was named baseball #39;s American League Most Valuable Player in his first year after jumping from the National League.

Baseball: Anaheim #39;s Guerrero named American League MVP


Manfred Gerdes, SCEE German Managing Director, may have made a blunder. He recently confirmed that Sony #39;s Playstation Portable (PSP) will launch in Japan with a price tag of 33,000 yen.

Japanese PSP Price Rele


JDS Uniphase Corp., a maker of fiber-optic equipment, on Wednesday posted a deeper loss for the first quarter despite sharply higher revenue.

JDS Uniphase Posts Deeper 1Q Loss


Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf is under police investigation for spitting at a child fan. Cleveland police said they were investigating an incident towards the end of Bolton #39;s

Police investigate Diouf incident


Stocks staged a modest rally Wednesday as Wall Street embraced President Bush #39;s reelection and cheered the absence of a prolonged legal fight for the White House.

Markets Join Victory Rally


TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of  5.9 jolted northern Japan on Monday in the latest aftershock to  hit a region struck by a deadly tremor last month.

Strong Earthquake Jolts Northern Japan


EMC has appointed Jeff Nick, the former chief architect of IBM #39;s grid computing initiative, as its senior vice-president and chief technology officer (CTO).

EMC hires ex-IBM grid guru for CTO role


AP - With the AFC West champion San Diego Chargers already having clinched the AFC's fourth playoff seed, Pro Bowlers Drew Brees, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates were held out of Sunday's game against Kansas City.

Chargers' Brees and Tomlinson Inactive (AP)


TEAM GB boxing coach Terry Edwards has described teenage sensation Amir Khan as one of the most talented British boxers to emerge so far this decade - and one of the most relaxed.

Backley scrapes Edward praises Khan for taking acclaim in his <b>...</b>


Romania's president-elect  warns he may call fresh elections if his alliance fails to form a new government.

Romania winner threatens new poll


Lehman Brothers analyst Blake Bath said in a research note earlier this week that SBC might reduce its workforce by 10,000 to 20,000 to bring its costs in line with those at other dominant local telephone companies, such as Verizon Communications Inc.

Business ; SBC May Cut More Than 10,000 Jobs


Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels dismiss new government proposals to restart peace talks.

Tamil Tigers reject peace plans


Yahoo Inc. is launching its first public beta of a travel search engine based on its recent acquisition of online travel company FareChase Inc.

Yahoo Tests Travel Search Engine


ISLAMABAD, Pakistan The eagerly awaited first meeting between President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India will be held Friday in New York, a Pakistani official said Monday.

Musharraf and Singh meet Friday


LONDON (Reuters) - Shares in global news and information  provider Reuters Group Plc rose to their highest level since  April after a report Thursday that the firm may sell its U.S.  electronic trading subsidiary, dealers said.

Reuters Up on Report Instinet Up for Sale


Ruud van Nistelrooy scored all four goals Wednesday as Manchester United defeated Sparta Prague 4-1, improving the Red Devils to eight points in four games in Group D. Support your

Manchester United stops Sparta Prague


BRUSSELS The European Union took a huge step towards its most controversial enlargement to date late Thursday night by agreeing to open membership negotiations with Turkey, although with strict conditions.

At summit, a deal on membership talks


For Texas coach Mack Brown, all the carnival rides at the annual Texas State Fair are a  quot;House of Horrors. quot;. Just when you thought there were no more painful ways for Brown to lose to Oklahoma, he found one.

Nothing doing again for Texas


PC shipments have started to ease off, as expected, but the worldwide PC market remained fairly strong in the third quarter, according to research from IDC and Gartner released Monday.

Businesses keep Q3 PC growth on track


Australia #39;s Allana Slater finished last as the women #39;s gymnastics beam final was won by Romania #39;s Catalina Ponor this morning.

Slater tumbles in beam final


World News, HO CHI MINH CITY, A United Airlines plane has landed in Vietnam #39;s Ho Chi Minh City, the first commercial American airliner to fly to the country since the Vietnam War.

World ; First US flight in Vietnam since 1975


CLEVELAND -- Former Bulls guard Ron Harper sat courtside at Gund Arena on Saturday night, shaking his head and laughing in disbelief at what has become of the team he helped win the last three of their six championships.

It #39;s back to business as usual


com. Last season, the Cubs were 27-17 in one-run games and won the National League Central Division. This year, the Cubs are 19-28 in those situations and fighting to stay alive in the Wild Card race.

Blown save in ninth leads to loss on homer in 12th


AP - The chief scientist at the National Aquarium in Baltimore has launched a review of the dolphin breeding program after the death of a 4-month-old dolphin.

Aquarium Reviews Death of Dolphin (AP)


ST ANDREWS, Scotland, Oct 9 : Ernie Els admitted to having a few slip-ups on his third round at the Dunhill Championship which left him with a small mountain to climb in Sunday #39;s final round.

Golf: Els rues missed putts at Dunhill Championship


Redskins decided to rebuild their once-proud NFC East teams, they went to the recycling bin. The Redskins brought back Joe Gibbs, the man who led them to three Super Bowls before leaving to make a dent in NASCAR.

Old school coaches hope to revive the New York Giants and <b>...</b>


COLES Myer chief executive John Fletcher wants to expand the retail giant #39;s customer offering to include financial planning services.

Coles eyes financial planning services


Defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan overpowered Swede Joachim Johansson 3-6 7-6 6-3 to reach the final four of the Long Island Cup in Commack of New Yorkon Friday.

Paradorn edges out Johansson to reach the last four in Long Island


A Food and Drug Administration reexamination of data linking the pediatric use of some antidepressants to increased suicidal tendencies has once again found a connection, and the agency is

FDA Alters Tack on Children and Antidepressants


Foreign ministers of the European Union have called for the United Nations to immediately probe whether atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan are genocide.

EU Presses United Nations on Genocide Question in Darfur


Nortel Networks Corp. said on Monday the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told\the company it will begin a criminal investigation into

Nortel Says Canada Plans Accounting Probe


A panel admonished Representative Tom DeLay for improperly trying to win the vote of a lawmaker during a floor fight over a bill.

House Ethics Panel Says DeLay Tried to Trade Favor for a Vote


AP - Chris Simms will make his first pro start at quarterback for the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, replacing Brad Johnson.

Simms Will Make First Pro Start for Bucs (AP)


The African Union agrees to strenghten its force in Sudan's Darfur region from under 400 to more than 3,000.

Go ahead for more Darfur troops


Macromedia on Monday will introduce an upgrade to its Flex presentation server and framework for building rich Internet applications, with improvements in data display, visualization, styling, and performance.

Macromedia upgrading Flex presentation server


Mozilla #39;s Firefox browser continues to steal market share form Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer around the globe. According to a report released by a German Internet

Internet Explorer market share drops below 90 percent in Europe


GOLF, as someone once said with a stunning lack of humour, can be a funny old game. Not always though. This week at least, Paul Casey hasnt spent a lot of time laughing.

Speak no evil, just in Casey


Former Computer Associates International Inc. Chief Executive Sanjay Kumar was charged with directing a \$2.2 billion accounting fraud, and the company agreed to pay \$225 million to avoid prosecution and settle a regulatory suit.

Computer Associates Settles Charges, Kumar Indicted (Update4)


A GROUP of scientists from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland have issued a joint statement clearing mobile phones from those who accuse them of dosing you with killer radiation.

Mobile phones are safe say Nordic boffins


It #39;s been a number of years since I headed out to college in New England and discovered the Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) brand.

Polo Ralph Lauren #39;s Wholesale Gain


TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen was back under pressure on  Thursday from oil prices and as market players awaited the Bank  of Japan's quarterly survey of corporate sentiment.

Yen Back Under Pressure; Oil, Tankan Eyed


Sunday #39;s departure of Jiang Zemin as head of China #39;s military was a surprise, though rumors of a power struggle with

China #39;s Hu takes Army reins


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A key forecasting gauge of future  U.S. economic activity fell for a fifth straight month in  October, a private research firm said on Thursday.

Leading Indicators Down for 5th Month


Making her first appearance in the season-ending tournament, Zvonareva committed 25 errors and never had a break point against Mauresmo #39;s serve.

Mauresmo, Sharapova and Williams win


General Motors Corp. on Tuesday said it will lay off about 950 workers at its Linden, New Jersey, truck plant early next year and cease production of the two sport utility vehicles manufactured at the facility.

GM to Lay Off 950 at New Jersey Truck Plant


Tery Holland, former athletic director at the University of Virginia was named Tuesday to that post at East Carolina University. Holland signed a five-year deal with ECU starting Oct.

Holland named AD at East Carolina


A highly critical and unpatched security hole in Microsoft #39;s ubiquitous Word software could be used to launch a denial of service attack and give system access.

Word mangled by unpatched security hole


New world No.1 Vijay Singh has blamed Tiger Woods #39;s form slide on his failure to adjust his golf swing. According to Singh, who has won eight times on the US PGA Tour this year including five of his past six

Vijay #39;s has swing solution for Tiger


Those caught for  #39;serious offenses #39; could now face life imprisonment while less serious cases could result in compulsory surveillance, detainment, taking into custody by the police.

Man gets life imprisonment for p0rn


By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter    HealthDayNews -- Nursing home residents who take daily doses of vitamin E appear to be less likely to develop certain respiratory infections, a new study finds.    The protective effect was most pronounced with upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold...

Vitamin E Thwarts Colds in the Elderly


Reuters - Police have found five decapitated\bodies of Iraqis in northern Iraqi cities, police and hospital\officials said on Tuesday.

Iraqi Police Discover Five Decapitated Iraqis (Reuters)


LONDON (CBS.MW) -- South African mining group Harmony (UK:HRM) said it would  quot;shortly post quot; a proposed \$8.1 billion, stock-based takeover of South African miner Gold Fields (GFI) .

Harmony seeks to buy Gold Fields in \$8.1 billion deal


The United States has circulated a draft resolution to other Security Council members demanding that Syrian forces withdraw  quot;without delay quot; from Lebanon.

US drafts resolution demanding Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon


THE stock market continued on its bullish performance by noon today, extending recent record highs with BHP Billiton in the vanguard.

Market on record run


Former general Susilo Bambang is heading for a landslide win against incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri in Indonesia #39;s first direct presidential election.

SBY HEADS FOR LANDSLIDE WIN


GARDEZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid  Karzai aborted an election campaign trip to the southeast  province of Gardez on Thursday after a rocket exploded just  before he was due to land by helicopter.

Afghan President Aborts Trip After Rocket Attack


US jets pounded parts of Fallujah on Thursday, targeting insurgents in a city where American forces were said to be gearing up for a major offensive.

US jets hit Fallujah ahead of expected offensive; residents report <b>...</b>


AIR New Zealand faces being further squeezed on trans-Tasman fares as a result of the ban on its planned alliance with Qantas. Industry analysts last night dismissed claims that Air NZ and Qantas could still work together using informal ties.

Fares pressure rises on Air NZ


Second-half substitute Brian Ching scored the first goal of his international career in the 89th minute to give the United States national soccer team a 1-1 come-from-behind draw against Jamaica in Kingston.

Football: US-Jamaica CONCACAF Semifinal Qualifier Ends in Draw


GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands Sept. 13, 2004 - A strengthened Hurricane Ivan headed toward the tip of western Cuba with 160 mph winds Monday after pummeling the Cayman Islands with flooding that swamped homes and fierce winds that ripped off roofs.

Hurricane Ivan Rolls Towards Cuba


Islamabad, Oct 22 : Extending tacit support to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf #39;s intention to continue as the Army Chief despite pledging to quit the post, the Commonwealth today said the move should be considered democratic if Parliament approves it.

C #39;Wealth backs Musharraf #39;s intention to continue as Army Chief :


Description: NPR #39;s Robert Siegel talks with our regular sports commentator Stefan Fatsis of The Wall Street Journal about Major League baseball.

Baseball: Economics and the Playoffs


Frank Arnesen, the Tottenham sporting director, has refuted suggestions that Jacques Santini #39;s surprise resignation was for anything other than the personal reasons already cited.

Arnesen denies Santini rift


(Sports Network) - The two top teams in the National League West will begin a gigantic three-game series tonight, as the San Francisco Giants take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at SBC Park.

San Francisco Giants Team Report - September 24


The Colombian poison-dart frog and six South Pacific bird species use the same rare neurotoxin in their skin and feathers. Now researchers say the animals may eat beetles to obtain the poison.

Toxic Frogs, Birds May Get Their Poison From Beetles


You change the oil in your car every 5,000 miles or so. You clean your house every week or two. Your PC needs regular maintenance as well -- especially if you #39;re using

Programs: a Checklist for Tuning Up Your PC


LONDON - MSN is upping the stakes in the battle for online and desktop domination with the launch of a new set of communication services to include blogging and picture sharing.

MSN is latest to move into world of blogging services


AP - Scott McCarron made four birdies in 12 holes, moving into a four-way tie for the lead in the second round of the Reno-Tahoe Open on Friday before thunderstorms forced play to be suspended.

Four Tied for Lead at Reno-Tahoe Open (AP)


AP - The last Republican presidential candidate to win Wisconsin was Ronald Reagan in 1984, but the state grows more GOP-friendly every year.

Notes, Quotes From 2004 Campaign in Wis. (AP)


like that elegant strike against Wales on Saturday - he has a tempestuous streak running through that hot head of his. A streak of recklessness which - once again - has landed him in trouble.

Blue-eyed boy


While most of his players quietly shuffled into the clubhouse, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen remained in the dugout Monday night and watched the rival Twins celebrate.

Twins make it official


Before she contracted a debilitating virus that took her off the tour for most of the past 4 1/2 months, defending US Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne was about a tightly wound person as you could find.

Revitalized Henin-Hardenne eyes New York run


National Foods Ltd., Australia #39;s biggest fresh milk supplier, increased second-half profit by 12 percent after selling more specialty cheeses and gourmet foods.

National Foods 2nd-Half Profit Rises 12 on Gourmet Food Sales


THE HAGUE (THE NETHERLANDS): Assuring foreign investors of continuity in policies and that India will never become an  quot;international liability, quot; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there was no question of going back on the economic reforms initiated 13

No going back on reforms: PM


Manchester United #39;s performances have been a let-down over the past 18 months but Old Trafford old-boy Karel Poborsky is certain a massive change in fortune will not be long in coming.

DON #39;T WRITE OFF UNITED - POBORSKY


* Abraham Nunez, Royals, hit his second grand slam in two weeks to lead Kansas City over Seattle 7-3. * Aaron Harang, Reds, limited St.

Baseball Today


PHOENIX -- A 5-9 point guard who mixes off-court humility with an on-court flair for no-look, fast-break passes is the first Japanese-born player to make an NBA roster.

Japanese point guard makes NBA history


US fashion company Tommy Hilfiger Corporation and German designer Karl Lagerfeld, in a surprise move, have teamed up to build Mr Lagerfeld #39;s brands on a worldwide basis.

USA : Tommy Hilfiger buys Karl Lagerfeld brands


Hoping to accelerate the acceptance of blade servers, IBM and Intel on Thursday will lay bare their jointly developed technical specifications for its BladeCenter platform that will allow developers to customize add-on products and solutions.

IBM, Intel open up blade server specs


Turkey #39;s ruling party confirmed on Wednesday it had shelved plans to outlaw adultery that had infuriated women #39;s rights groups and upset the European Union Ankara aspires to join.

Turk Ruling Party Confirms Adultery Plan Shelved


Karam Ibrahim of Egypt clinched the gold in wrestling men #39;s Greco-Roman 96kg category at the Athens Olympics on August 26 by defeating Ramaz Nozadze of Georgia 12-1.

Egyptian Ibrahim takes wrestling men #39;s 96kg Greco-Roman gold


The Senate is expected to follow the lead of the House and pass a major overhaul of corporate tax law that would dole out \$136 billion in new tax breaks to a wide array of US companies and provide a \$10.

Update 2: Corporate Tax Law Overhaul Passage Likely


PC World - The companies could have been partners, but are now music rivals, report says.

Did Apple Offer Sony an ITunes Deal? (PC World)


Reuters - Reynolds American Inc. , parent\of the No. 2 U.S. cigarette company, on Wednesday forecast 2004\profit of  #36;5.75 to  #36;6.05 a share, its first forecast since the\company was formed at the end of July.

1st Profit Forecast for Reynolds American (Reuters)


Union and hotel officials met Tuesday for the first full day of negotiations in two weeks. But they said they did not come closer to a deal on a contract for 3,800 hotel workers at 14 hotels in the District who have been working without one since Sept. 15.

Union, Hotels Still Deadlocked


VIENNA -- The United States and most other nations at a meeting of the UN atomic watchdog agency agreed yesterday on a resolution meant to curb Iran's access to technology that could be used for nuclear weapons, and indirectly set a deadline for Tehran to meet their demands.

Agreement reached on Iran resolution


After winning union acceptance of job cuts, Alitalia gave formal approval Monday to a four-year business plan aimed at saving the near-bankrupt Italian airline from collapse.

Alitalia board approves relaunch plan: 3,700 employees to be <b>...</b>


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

Sabre Buys Reservation Services Company


Basketball superstar Yao Ming marched singularly as he carried China #39;s flag into the Athens Olympics opening ceremony, several steps ahead of the Chinese delegation, his 7-foot-5 frame towering above the scene.

China begins to exert strength


A car bomb targeting a US military convoy exploded near the Australian Embassy Monday, killing at least two people, police and the Iraqi Interior Ministry said.

Bomb blast explodes near Australian Embassy in Baghdad, killing 2 <b>...</b>


Tunisian polls closed Sunday in presidential and parliamentary elections widely expected to be won by the incumbent president and his party.

Polls close in Tunisia


Dogs can be trained to sniff out bladder cancer, scientists say they have proven for the first time.

Dogs 'sniff out' bladder cancer


FEAR of public blame is making company boards more cautious and it could cost them profits, veteran business figure John Ralph warned today.

Ralph fires risk warning


Eleven school districts filed a lawsuit Thursday aimed at forcing the state to pay more for special education. The school districts, including Bethel and Federal Way, collectively represent more than 20,000 special-education students.

Schools sue over special-ed funding


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

Stocks Soar on Energy Inventory Buildup


Pedro Martinez pulls Boston within 2 1/2 games of the New York Yankees in the AL East after shutting out Texas 2-0 Friday night.

Red Sox Still Rolling


(CBS/AP) Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday that he would push ahead with a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip despite a stinging setback to the plan from his Likud Party.

Challenges Face Mideast Leaders


Attorneys for NBA star Kobe Bryant have asked the judge to dismiss the sexual assault charge against him with opening statements less than a week away, a court official said Wednesday.

Bryant's Attorneys Ask for Dismissal


US Secretary of State Colin Powell voiced displeasure on Monday at Sudan #39;s movement of camps for people who fled their homes in Darfur.

Powell unhappy at Sudan #39;s Darfur camp relocations


European antitrust regulators extend their review of Microsoft-Time Warner deal. Also: Gateway plans to sell desktops at CompUSA   hellip;. Vodafone's Japanese unit headhunts an executive from rival NTT DoCoMo   hellip;. and more.

No Respite for Microsoft


ANKARA, Sept 8 (AFP) - A huge fire swept through a copper mine in northern Turkey on Wednesday, killing at least 19 workers and injuring a further 17, a local official there said.

Nineteen Dead, 17 Injured In Turkish Mine Tunnel Fire


London - Europe s first lunar spacecraft SMART-1 is set to move into orbit around the Moon on Monday the 15 November 2004 . The craft has already reached the gateway of the Moon, the area where from its gravity dominates the Earth.

Lunar Spacecraft SMART-1 ready to orbit around the Moon


BUCHAREST - The presidential election in Romania is too close to call. Both candidates are claiming victory after exit polls showed a virtual dead heat.

Romanian presidential election too close to call


CARSON, Calif -- Peter Nowak had an empty feeling when he left the MLS Cup four years ago. He was beaming this time.

Glory day for Nowak and United


The much-discussed convergence of computers and home entertainment took a big step toward fruition with an October 12 announcement by Microsoft Corporation.

Digital Home Edges Nearer


The World Series champion Boston Red Sox raised their ticket prices by an average of 7 percent for next year, with the price of field boxes increasing by \$10 to \$85.

Boston Red Sox Ticket Prices Up 7 Percent


US manufacturing expanded at a slower pace in August as fewer companies reported an increase in orders and production. Construction spending rose to a record in July, private and government reports showed.

US Economy: Manufacturing Expands at Slower Pace (Update2)


At a charity auction in New Jersey last weekend, baseball memorabilia dealer Warren Heller was approached by a man with an unusual but topical request.

Price of cards to be shuffled


CANNES, FRANCE-- Protect your intellectual property (IP) now or risk having your business sacked by open souce-touting bandits, The SCO Group Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Darl McBride warned an audience of tech industry leaders, analysts, and investors at the Etre conference here on Tuesday.

SCO's McBride warns of open source 'wild west'


Sun adds several business partners to a plan to offer supercomputing centers that customers can pay to use according power consumed.

Sun expands pay-as-you go supercomputing


Go east, young man. Intel (nasdaq: INTC - news - people ) Chief Executive Craig Barrett is traversing India. The CEO #39;s two-day trek will include a review of the chipmaker #39;s design center in bustling Bangalore

Barrett: CEO Tours Intel India Unit, Sees Revenue Rise


Company outlines plans for Yonah notebook processor, demonstrates desktop chip.

Intel's Dual-Core Chips Debut


The latest version of the Induce Act, headed for markup this week, is basically the same as the first version, critics say. It could mean trouble for companies that had no intention of inducing copyright infringement. By Katie Dean.

New Induce Act Alarms Foes


BEAVER CREEK - Ski racing requires a rare blend of fearlessness, stellar reactions and bionic will - the latter being vital to longevity.

American giant: Schlopy snares sixth


David Coulthard #39;s Formula One prospects have received a boost with news of a test with the Red Bull team at Jerez in Spain. Coulthard, who has no confirmed seat for 2005 after

Coulthard tests for Red Bull


Chips such as the Athlon 64 FX and Intel #39;s Pentium 4 Extreme Edition populate the very top of the desktop market, appearing mainly in game machines fitted with the latest graphics cards and high-performance storage systems to render games with the

Faster AMD Athlon 64 #39;s On The Way


A grilled-cheese sandwich said to bear the image of the Virgin Mary has been sold for \$28,000 in an eBay auction, according to the online casino that bought it from a woman in Hollywood, Fla.

\$28,000 for mother of all sandwiches


The business-internet firm plans to announce Friday the latest move in a recent buying spree, a deal the company said will give it 2,400 new business customers for its high-speed Internet service.<FONT face=

D.C.'s Cogent  Expands in 23 Markets


Reuters - A top environmental group said on\Thursday it had agreed to probe an oil and gas project led by\Royal Dutch/Shell off the Russian far east coast because of\fears it threatens endangered whales.

Russian Oil Project to Be Vetted for Whale Threat (Reuters)


Consumer prices rose just 0.1 percent in August, a sign that inflation poses no immediate risk to the economy.

Consumer Prices Climb; Jobless Claims Up


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Two spectators accused of taking part in last month #39;s NBA brawl are now banned from attending Detroit Pistons games and other events.

Pistons ban 2 fans following brawl


OAKLAND, Calif. Texas reliever Frank Francisco has been arrested by Oakland police on a charge of aggravated battery. He threw a chair into the stands during the ninth inning of last night #39;s game in Oakland, injuring two spectators.

Sports: Rangers reliever arrested over stadium incident


Hundreds of British troops raided houses of suspected Saddam Hussein loyalists Thursday in the latest phase of a US-led operation to crack down on guerrilla strongholds in the lawless territory south of Baghdad.

British Troops Raid Rebel Stronghold South of Baghdad


Andriy Shevchenko believes the European Footballer of the Year award crowns a  quot;beautiful year quot; and the Ukrainian has every right to get a little emotional.

NEWSMAKER-Shevchenko #39;s goals and hard work earn reward


Already the revelation of the Olympic boxing tournament, Amir Khan can only improve and might become one of the sport #39;s greatest names, the Briton #39;s coach says.

Coach says Khan will only get better


Former Scotland manager Craig Brown insists Berti Vogts is not to blame for a lack of motivation in the international team. The future of the German is the subject of intense speculation with the Scottish

Don #39;t Blame Berti - Brown


Rubens Barrichello took advantage of a warm afternoon track in his native city to record the fastest time in practice Friday for the Brazilian Grand Prix, edging out Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher as the pair set the pace for

Ferrari on top in practice for Brazilian GP


ATHENS (Reuters) - The United States softball team came  into Athens on a simple mission -- take home their third  straight gold medal or call the trip to the Olympics a failure.

U.S. Grabs the Gold in Softball


Reuters - A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.6\hit Manila in the Philippines overnight, the U.S. Geological\Survey's earthquake center in Golden, Colorado reported on\Friday.

Strong Quake Reported in Philippines - U.S. Agency (Reuters)


Do-it-yourself phishing kits are being made available for download free of charge from the internet, security watchers have warned.

DIY phishing kits found on the internet


LOS ANGELES A Los Angeles-based investment firm has agreed to buy four properties from Las Vegas-based Caesars and Harrah #39;s Entertainment for a total of 1-point-24 (b) billion dollars.

LA Firm agrees to buy Harrah #39;s, Caesars properties


A PIECE of shrapnel remains lodged in the brain of the five-year-old girl badly hurt in Thursday #39;s Jakarta bombing, and her doctors said she was almost certain to be paralysed.

Piece of shrapnel still lodged in girl #39;s brain


Carlos Zambrano pitched 7 1-3 shutout innings to outduel Oliver Perez and beat Pittsburgh for the fifth straight time this season, carrying the Chicago Cubs to a 1-0 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday night.

NL Capsules


Mourners in Indonesia, Australia and around the world have been remembering those who died in the Bali nightclub bombings exactly two years ago.

Bali bombing victims remembered


Michael Schumacher even sets records by finishing second. He was runner-up to Kimi Raikkonen in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps yesterday, only the second time in 14 races this season Schumacher did not win. But he did score enough points to clinch an unprecedented seventh Formula One drivers' title.

Schumacher beaten, but clinches crown


AP - European soccer authorities opened an investigation into racist abuse by Spanish fans at this week's Champions League game.

European Soccer to Investigate Racism (AP)


Halliburton Co. on Tuesday blamed politics for a US Army decision to not grant the company more time to resolve a billing dispute in which the Pentagon contends the company did not adequately account for some \$1.8 billion of work done in the Middle East.

Halliburton Says Army Can Withold Payments


Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Friday that Australia is unlikely to sign a non-aggression treaty with the members of the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN).

Australia unlikely to sign non-aggression pact with ASEAN <b>...</b>


Ember, a start-up developing chips for ZigBee, gets money from Paul Allen's venture fund. Bob Metcalfe comes aboard as chairman.

Paul Allen funds wireless chip start-up


Albert Pujols of the Cardinals became the fourth player to start his major league career with four straight seasons with at least 100 RBIs, joining Hall of Famers Al Simmons , Joe DiMaggio , and Ted Williams .

NL Notables


October 18, 2004 - Tecmo announced today that Dead or Alive Ultimate has officially gone gold. This means, of course, that production work on the deluxe, Live-enabled, Xbox-exclusive DOA extravaganza is now complete.

The Fight is Finished


Say what you want about the recording industry #39;s take-no-prisoners approach to combating online piracy. At least when the music czars go after someone, they target persons suspected of trading

Hollywood #39;s One Strike Policy


US Airways #39; pilots union said Thursday that the airline plans to file a motion in bankruptcy court on Friday seeking immediate cost reductions, including pay cuts, from US Airways #39; labor unions.

US Airways #39; pilots union to oppose wage cuts


Wali Lundy runs for three touchdowns for the third straight game and Marques Hagans threw two scoring passes to Heath Miller as Virginia stifled Akron, 51-0, Saturday.

Cavaliers Flatten Zips


com September 22, 2004, 5:04 PM PT. With the economy slowly turning up, upgrading hardware has been on businesses radar in the past 12 months as their number two priority.

Ad campaign touts multimedia cards


A car bomb exploded outside the Chechen capital #39;s main hospital Sunday, wounding 15 people in an attack apparently targeting members of a security force headed by the son of Chechnya #39;s slain Kremlin-backed president, emergency officials said.

Car bomb targeting Chechen security force injures 15?(updated PM5 <b>...</b>


AP - Black actors including LeVar Burton and Alfre Woodard will join members of Congress crisscrossing Florida by bus this weekend to try to get out the vote for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Famous Blacks Get Out the Vote in Florida (AP)


and regular readers know Im as loath to offend anyone as dogs are to smell disgusting things -d ask, Who needs the World Series?

It doesn #39;t get any better


(Article Central) Software giant Microsoft Corp. introduced a beta version of its new MSN Toolbar Suite, with new desktop search functionality that allows users to find almost any type of document, media file

Microsoft Adds Desktop to MSN Toolbar


FOXBORO, Mass. - Sage Rosenfels didn #39;t get a chance to be the backup kicker Sunday, but he might get a chance to play quarterback next week.

Rosenfels might start against Bills


Bank of America Corp. laid off an unspecified number of employees Wednesday at hundreds of Fleet Bank branches, a byproduct of the merger of the two banks, a company spokeswoman said.

Update 3: Bank of America Cuts Some Fleet Workers


Microsoft began its appeal yesterday against a \$565m judgment that it infringed on a patent held by Eolas, a University of California spin-off.

MS Eolas appeal begins


SACHIN Tendulkar will today be named in India #39;s first Test squad but is considered only a rough chance of playing in a match again threatened by a television wrangle.

CRICKET: Tendulkar in frame for first Test


Shares of La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co. plunged more than 50 percent Friday after the Food and Drug Administration told the drug developer it needs to conduct another study of its lead drug candidate, a lupus treatment called Riquent, prior to approval.

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Shares Plunge


Three Iraqis have been killed in clashes in Ramadi while six Iraqi civilians and two US soldiers were wounded after a bomb targeting a US convoy exploded in southern Baghdad.

Clashes before Hoon #39;s visit to Iraq


Reuters - A China Eastern commuter plane crashed\into a frozen lake seconds after takeoff in Inner Mongolia on\Sunday, killing 53 people on board and one on the ground, the\airline and state media said.

China Plane Crashes Into Frozen Lake, Killing 54 (Reuters)


After Microsoft announced a flaw (nicknamed the JPEG of Death) in Windows #39; handling of JPEG images, a Trojan horse that exploits this flaw, has been found looming around pornographic sites.

JPEG of Death Turns Erotic


The operating system that powers the lion #39;s share of servers is losing ground to Windows and Linux. Unix is losing so much ground that IT research firm IDC is predicting Windows will take over as the dominant server operating system by the year 2008.

Is Unix Coughing Up Ground?


Then he hit a mistake out of the park in the top of the 11th inning and put Anaheim back in sole possession of first place in the American League West.

Glaus #39; HR lifts Angels back into first place


LONDON (Ticker) - American gold medal-winning sprinter Marion Jones has denied new allegations she has used performance-enhancing drugs.

Marion Jones denies new allegations


The Wachovia Corporation agreed to pay a \$37 million civil fine Thursday to settle federal regulators #39; accusations that the company violated disclosure rules

Wachovia to Pay \$37 Million SEC Fine


Northern Arizona #39;s downgrade on a federal drought map from an  quot;extreme quot; designation to  quot;severe quot; could mean healthier winter vegetation, better stream flow and more moisture - at least in the short term, experts say.

Rainfall moves northern Arizona down drought scale


Investors are finally figuring out that Krispy Kreme Doughnuts' shares are just like its doughnuts: Get 'em while they're hot because they can go stale in a hurry.

Krispy Kreme's Failings Tough To Glaze Over


AFP - Influential US Republican Senator John McCain blasted the Central Intelligence Agency as a  quot;dysfunctional quot; and  quot;rogue quot; organization that needs to be reformed.

Top US senator slams 'dysfunctional' CIA (AFP)


Lingering concerns about the job market, geopolitical turmoil and soaring energy prices did unexpected harm to consumer confidence in August, according to a report from an independent economic watchdog.

Consumer Confidence Skids


Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes that his side have every chance of making the Champions League knockout stage tonight. The Spaniard is confident that the Reds can claim the 1-0 or two-goal win against

Benitez keeps eye on the prize


MOJAVE, Calif. Oct. 4, 2004 - A stubby rocket plane was slung from the belly of a carrier plane toward space Monday in the final leg of a trip toward the edge of the Earth #39;s atmosphere and a \$10 million prize.

SpaceShipOne Soars to Space for \$10M Prize


AP - After two weeks of terrorist violence in Russia, the State Department urged Americans visiting or living there to

State Dept.: More Russia Terrorism Likely (AP)


Waves over 20m high are getting bigger, more frequent and are eroding Britain's Atlantic coast, experts say.

Huge waves erode British coast


PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Reuters) - Malaysian dissident  politician Anwar Ibrahim failed on Wednesday in a final court  bid to erase his criminal record and free himself of a ban on  holding political office, but he vowed not to be silenced.

Malaysia's Anwar Loses Bid to Lift Political Ban


Citrix Systems, Inc. a global leader in access infrastructure solutions has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Net6 Inc.

Citrix Acquires Net6 For \$50m


Merck  amp; Co. CEO Ray Gilmartin said the embattled drugmaker will  quot;absolutely survive quot; the fallout caused by its decision to pull the arthritis drug Vioxx off the

Merck CEO vows firm will survive Vioxx recall


Medical files showed tests performed on Yasser Arafat #39;s body found no evidence the Palestinian leader was poisoned. Arafat #39;s medical records were released to his nephew, Nasser al-Kidwa, on Monday despite objections from Arafat #39;s widow Suha.

Arafat #39;s medical records show  #39;no poison #39;


Computer Associates will install an SAP ERP system to replace a collection of homegrown accounting systems. Accenture will help with the implementation.

CA picks SAP for ERP rollout


NEW YORK - Select Comfort Corp. stock fell after the bed maker lowered is sales forecast, citing slow sales during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Select Comfort down; lowers sales expectations


A top Israeli official says the significance of withdrawing from Gaza is to stop a political settlement with Palestinians.

Sharon plan 'blocked peace talks'


LONDON As a deadline for bids drew near, Grey Global, the New York-based advertising and marketing company, was expected to receive at least two bids to buy the company, with a possible third offer still uncertain, people briefed on the process said

Grey Global awaiting bidders


Colombo - Sri Lanka #39;s World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga on Friday congratulated his old foe Shane Warne on becoming the world #39;s highest Test wicket-taker, but predicted his glory will be short-lived.

#39;Warne #39;s glory short-lived #39;


The Supreme Court considered Wednesday how much retirement savings people can shield when they file for bankruptcy, an important question as more Americans go into debt.

Supreme Court ponders IRA-bankruptcy case


Integrated circuit maker National Semiconductor Corp. said Tuesday that it will sell its imaging unit to photo equipment maker Eastman Kodak Co.

National Semiconductor Sells Imaging Unit


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Hamas leaders have apparently quit  Damascus following Israeli threats to target them for  assassination in retaliation for a Palestinian double suicide  bombing last week, Israel's defense minister said on Monday.

Hamas Leaders Apparently Quit Damascus, Says Israel


Thousands of Rwandan troops have crossed into the remote forested hills of east Congo, a Western diplomat said Monday, in an account supported by park rangers and local chiefs near the border of the two neighbors and wartime enemies.

Rwandan troop incursion prompts Congo to respond


Andre Agassi's a bit skeptical about fashion models in skimpy outfits replacing ball boys at the Madrid Masters.

Catwalk to Hard Court


Rising sales of core spirit brands have helped drinks giant Allied Domecq report a rise in annual profits. The owner of Courvoisier cognac and Beefeater gin said full-year pre-tax profits before exceptional items rose 6 to 521m (\$942.

Malibu maker sees profits climb


FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces have trapped  insurgents in southern Falluja, Marines said on Friday, the  fourth day of an assault that has killed

U.S. Forces Say Rebels Trapped in Southern Falluja


Word is flooding the internet this morning that copies of the highly anticipated Halo 2 have been pirated and are appearing on newsgroups and peer-to-peer networks as of Wednesday night.

Halo 2 Pirated


AP - 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.

U.S. Assault Weapons Ban Set to Expire (AP)


The 20-year wait is over. America has its new Mary Lou, and her name is Carly Patterson. The 16-year-old dynamo beat Russian superstar Svetlana Khorkina to give the United States another Olympic all-around champion Thursday night, closing with a dazzling ...

American Patterson overcomes Russian for all-around Olympic title


Annual global semiconductor sales growth will probably fall by half in 2005 and memory chip sales could collapse as a supply glut saps prices, world-leading memory chip maker Samsung Electronics said on Monday.

Samsung expects to see  #39;05 chip growth halved


NEWCASTLE : Everton underlined their re-emergence as an English Premiership force after Lee Carsley struck a stunning equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United.

Soccer: Carsley equaliser frustrates Newcastle


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Don #39;t expect higher gas prices to dull gift-giving this year: Consumers plan to spend a bit more on holiday gifts and merchandise, according to a survey released Wednesday.

Shoppers to boost holiday spending


AOL will continue to include Sender ID data in outgoing mail to enable ISPs and others that use it to identify where messages originate.

AOL Dumps Microsoft #39;s Spam Filter Standard


A woman accused of stalking Catherine Zeta Jones owned a book signed by the actress, a court hears.

Zeta 'stalker kept signed book'


PARIS, Nov 18 (AFP) - Family members of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat are preparing a request to obtain medical files detailing his illness and cause of death, which France will grant, the French defense ministry announced Thursday.

Arafat family to get medical file on cause of death


AP - Jason Richardson scored 24 points to help the Golden State Warriors keep the Charlotte Bobcats winless on the road with a 99-87 victory on Sunday night.

Warriors Overpower Bobcats 99-87 (AP)


An alleged Islamic radical accused of killing Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh will be tried on terrorism charges, prosecutors said Friday.

Terror Charges In Van Gogh Slay


The Canadian telecom equipment maker has issued its first post-accounting-scandal financial update. So far, so good ...

Nortel Turns a Tiny Corner


SAN DIEGO -- Music mogul Clive Davis has some advice for retailers looking to persuade music fans to return to traditional record shops: Make shopping more fun.

Music stores lack excitement, executive says


India #39;s two-Test series in Bangladesh will go ahead after concerns over security issues were allayed. A militant group had vowed to kill the Indian players if they came to Dhaka but that threat has now been dismissed as a hoax.

INDIA TOUR GIVEN GO-AHEAD


Milton Bradley became the latest Major League Baseball player to go after the people who pay to see him perform. In the same month that Texas pitcher Frank Francisco was

Dodgers #39; Bradley Ejected for Throwing Bottle


Israel #39;s first Olympic gold medallist has dedicated his victory to his 11 countrymen killed in the Munich massacre of 1972, vowing he would visit their memorial to show them his medal.

Israeli dedicates first gold to Munich victims


For about \$10 million, city officials believe they can turn all 135 square miles of Philadelphia into the world #39;s largest wireless Internet hot spot.

Philadelphia is at forefront of wireless for all


California Controller Steve Westly on Monday said he would ask fellow members of the board of Calpers, the biggest US pension fund, to pressure automakers to adopt rather than file lawsuits against the state #39;s new

Calif. controller asks Calpers to press automakers


Anyone who was concerned that Internet search giant Google would be hampered by going public in August can breathe easy as Google announces, in its first financial results since floating on the stock market, that its profits have more than doubled.

Google #39;s Profit Growth Continues


US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday the United States would provide financial assistance to African Union troops on a proposed mission to end the looting and killing in western Sudan.

US willing to help to Sudan mission


AP - Kerry Collins' one completion covered almost as many yards as Rich Gannon's seven. That's one reason why he might be a better fit in the Oakland Raiders' new offense. Collins' 89-yard scoring strike to Doug Gabriel in the third quarter was the biggest play of the game before the Dallas Cowboys rallied to beat Oakland 21-20 on Tony Romo's 1-yard keeper with six seconds left Saturday night.

Cowboys Rally to Beat Raiders, 21-20 (AP)


Computer Associates said Monday it acquired PestPatrol, a firm marketing anti-spyware software to enterprises, small businesses and individual consumers.

CA buys PestPatrol anti-spyware developer


WORK by a British scientist may show that humans were not responsible for the bison almost becoming extinct in the 19th century, it was disclosed yesterday.

Climate may have been bison #39;s main killer, not man


Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has no regrets about fielding a second-string side against Fenerbahce. Sanli Tuncay #39;s second-half hat-trick consigned the Red Devils to a 3-0 defeat in Istanbul

Fergie stands by selection policy


London Metal Exchange (LME) copper recouped earlier losses to finish Wednesday #39;s open outcry trade unchanged, getting little direction from a mixed set of US economic data.

Copper recoups losses


Burnley boss Steve Cotterill will be without two key players for the Carling Cup third round clash with Aston Villa. Former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair will miss out through suspension after picking up

Burnley v Aston Villa


Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Adewale Ogunleye was credited with a safety in overtime to end the game, accounting for two of the Chicago Bears #39; 16 points scored on either defense or special teams in a 19-17 victory over Tennessee.

NFL Game Summary - Chicago at Tennessee


NEW YORK - Derek Jeter hit a leadoff home run, Jon Lieber pitched into the eighth inning and the New York Yankees clinched their 10th consecutive trip to the postseason with a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Thursday.    John Flaherty also homered for the Yankees (96-57), who are assured of no worse than a wild-card berth...

Yankees Clinch 10th Straight Playoff Spot


Desktop Search from AOL, Google  #038; Others\\Search engines, portals and browser systems are trying to get off of the Internet and your desktop and into your hard drives, email, and private files. By taking advantage of a basically lame Windows Search tool used by Microsoft since the dawn of MS ...

Desktop Search from AOL, Google   Others


Veterans of Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia have teamed to launch a new travel search company, Kayak.com, a public beta of which launched this week.

Travel Vets Launch Beta of  #39;Google for Travel #39;


Oil prices held firm Friday after pipeline sabotage in northern Iraq kept up supply fears that have revived a powerful price rally.

Oil holds firm above \$44


UN troops and Haitian police seal off a house in Port-au-Prince occupied by former members of the army.

UN troops surround Aristide house


NewsFactor - Samsung Electronics and \Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) have formed an alliance to put near-field communication (NFC) technology in future \cell phone models from Samsung, giving users the ability to use their \mobile phones to make credit-card or debit-card payments. The companies said that Samsung plans to incorporate NFC in other devices as well.

Samsung, Philips Partner for Cell-Phone Payments (NewsFactor)


Google Inc., the leader in online search engines, is setting out to make better sense of all the scholarly work stored on the Web.

Google engineers new scholarly search


UAL (UALAQ.OB:OTC BB - news - research) and US Airways (UAIRQ.OB:OTC BB - news - research) weighed in with hefty third-quarter losses Thursday as industry overcapacity and stratospheric fuel prices continued to generate red ink while the carriers operated

US Airways, UAL #39;s United Post Big Losses


General Motors Corp. will close a Baltimore assembly plant next year that employs about 1,100 people and makes two van models that are being discontinued, a spokesman for the world's biggest automaker said Tuesday.

GM to Close Md. Assembly Plant in 2005


KINGSTON, Jamaica - Hurricane Ivan lashed Jamaica with monstrous waves, driving rain and winds nearing 155 mph Saturday, killing at least five people as it washed away homes and tore roofs off houses and trees from the ground but unexpectedly spared the island from a direct hit.    In the storm's wake, authorities in hard-hit Grenada found another eight bodies, raising the toll on the island to 34 dead and the toll across the Caribbean to 50...

Ivan Pummels Jamaica; 50 Dead in Caribbean


The first criminal trial against any former Enron Corp. employees is scheduled to begin today in Houston. The case is against two ex-Enron workers and four former Merrill Lynch  amp; Co.

First Enron criminal trail gets under way


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - SBC Communications <A HREF=

SBC Gives Microsoft \$400 Mln Internet TV Deal


McDonald #39;s Corp. Chief Executive Officer Charlie Bell, who underwent colorectal cancer surgery in May, said Tuesday he was back in the hospital for continued treatment.

McDonald #39;s CEO gets new chemotherapy


The tech giants are injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into RFID technology, which aims to advance the tracking of items from ho-hum bar codes to smart tags packed with data.   <FONT face=

IBM, HP Chasing Tag Technology


AP - Two congressional Republicans who blame the federal government for meager education funding in the West said Monday they want to tax the federal government's vast landholdings across 12 Western states.

Congressman Want to Tax Federal Gov't (AP)


Early holiday wishes. Sirius Satellite Radio (nasdaq: SIRI - news - people ) is looking to unwrap its blockbuster gift a year ahead of schedule.

Stern: Sirius Wants Him Now, But No Plans To Jump Gun


Chicago #39;s Buildings Commission is letting baseball take place as scheduled Monday night at Wrigley Field. The commission says inspectors found  quot;no evidence of shoddy repairs quot; at the Cubs #39; ballpark.

City: Cubs Ballpark Is OK To Play


Reuters - Torrential rains brought fresh hardship to tsunami survivors in eastern Sri Lanka on Sunday, flooding refugee camps, forcing the evacuation of at least one and leaving others dotted with stagnant pools.

Rains bring new misery to Sri Lanka tsunami victims (Reuters)


Malaysia #39;s budget carrier AirAsia is set to launch the country #39;s biggest initial public offering this year, energizing its bid to increase its fleet nearly fourfold and challenge Asia #39;s established airlines on lucrative routes.

Malaysia #39;s AirAsia Ready to Go Public


If the NHL and NHL Players #39; Association do reach a negotiated settlement this season, or next summer, or any time after that, a hard individual team salary cap will not be part of it.

Guaranteed contracts: the truth


Toyota, General Motors and seven other automakers filed suit on Tuesday to block California #39;s new greenhouse gas regulation, which was approved by the state in its final form in September.

Automakers draw battleline with California


NEW YORK - Stocks inched higher in quiet trading Wednesday as a pair of government reports offered conflicting signals about the economy and oil prices declined.    Despite the modest rise in share prices, investors have been in no hurry to commit new money to stocks...

Stocks Up on Conflicting Economic Reports


October 22 2004 2000CET - Another video on the TV station Al-Jazeera showed Margaret Hassan, the aid worker kidnapped, pleading and crying.

Margaret Hassan shown pleading for her life


AP - There would be no fifth set this time for Todd Martin. Martin announced his retirement Monday after he failed to close out the fourth set in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 loss to No. 31 Fabrice Santoro in the first round of the U.S. Open.

Martin Retires After Losing at U.S. Open (AP)


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli army said it had attacked  the car of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant commander who  was killed in a Gaza City airstrike on Tuesday.

Israel Says It Attacked Islamic Jihad Leader


Moktada al-Sadr, the rebel Shiite cleric, still retained control of a Najaf shrine, though there were signs his grip might be weakening.

Clashes Slow as Cleric's Grip on Mosque Seems to Slip


Four consumer electronics companies are moving into production of a new 64-bit chip for non-PC devices in a bid to address the next generation of broadband services piped into the home.

CE Players Unveil Broadband on a Chip


BOSTON - Sen. John Kerry accused President Bush on Thursday of relying on front groups to challenge his record of valor in Vietnam, asserting,

Kerry: Bush Lets Groups Do 'Dirty Work'


Half of men buying the impotence drug Viagra online are getting counterfeit tablets, study findings suggest. Dr Nic Wilson from the University of London tested Internet-sold samples using a new technique that accurately spots the ingredients of tablets.

Viagra bought online  #39;often fake #39;


Pakistan #39;s President Pervez Musharraf is appealing to moderate Muslims to stand up and confront Islamic extremists who are promoting terrorism.

Musharraf Says Moderates Must Fight Terrorism


WELCOME, NC -- Robby Gordon is apologizing for intentionally causing an accident in Sunday #39;s Nextel Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Robby Gordon Apologizes For New Hampshire Accident


washingtonpost.com - Your name is synonymous with searching the Internet, and you've just raised roughly  #36;1.7 billion from investors by going public. What are you going to do now?

Google Faces Challenge of Public Company Status (washingtonpost.com)


NAJAF, IRAQ - Militant leader Muqtada al-Sadr agreed on Thursday to a peace plan presented by Iraq #39;s most revered Shia cleric, who rode into Najaf hours earlier to try to end the bloody three-week uprising.

Al-Sadr accepts cleric #39;s plan to end Najaf uprising, aide says


An Israeli tank has opened fire and killed three Egyptian police along the Gaza-Egypt border after mistaking them for Palestinian militants planting explosives against Israeli forces, military officials say.

Israel kills 3 Egyptian police by mistake


Bangladesh reports a 28 jump in exports in July, boosted by strong demand in Europe for clothing and other textiles.

Textiles boost Bangladesh exports


EMLYN Hughes. Arguably the greatest player ever to wear a Liverpool shirt, died yesterday from a brain tumour. He had been battling the illness for the last 15 months.

Farewell, Crazy Horse


SPACE.com - A new test that produced methane under conditions mimicking the deep interiors of Earth and Mars lends support to an idea that the gas could theoretically support unseen colonies of microbes on both worlds. And the study hints at the possibility of a potential vast supply of petroleum products.

Life is a Gas: Methane Might Support Underground ET (SPACE.com)


AP - The National Archives, home of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, has dusted off more than 1,000 other relics and put them on public display  #151; including a home movie starring a 1-year-old George W. Bush toddling across a lawn in rompers.

National Archives Opens New Exhibit (AP)


Top seed Lleyton Hewitt was pushed to three sets by a Japanese player for the second day in a row at the \$860,000 Japan Open on Thursday.

Hewitt survives at Japan Open, Sharapova advances


This is the first in a series of articles on SSH in-depth. We start with looking at standard SSH host keys by examining the verification process to ensure you have not been the victim of an attack.

Infocus: SSH Host Key Protection


While Georgia vs. Auburn is the marquee, must-watch game, we #39;re looking elsewhere for this week #39;s best opportunities. We found four, including Oklahoma, which may not let up on poor Nebraska until reaching triple digits.

Take favorites UTEP, Ball State, Tulane


What: The Great Barrier Reef is actually a maze of about 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching along Australia #39;s east coast, from north of Brisbane to Papua New Guinea.

Travel 101: Australia #39;s Great Barrier Reef


Intel is testing a new chip, dubbed  quot;Rosedale, quot; designed for long-distance, high-speed, wireless Internet access (WiMax).

Intel Tests Long-Range Wireless Chip


Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP in Houston has signed a definitive agreement to buy nine refined petroleum products terminals in the Southeast, including one in Greensboro, from Charter Terminal Co.

Houston firm to buy Greensboro petroleum terminal


Ireland's telecom regulator said this week that is taking

Ireland blocks calls to 13 countries to thwart Net scam


Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy closed out their remarkable careers with the U.S. women's soccer team in style Wednesday night, cheered on by droves of young girls in a 5-0 victory over Mexico.

Hamm, Foudy Retire From Women's Soccer


Cambodia #39;s new king has been officially sworn in following the surprise abdication of his father. Norodom Sihamoni, 51, was crowned at a ceremony in the capital Phnom Penh after his father King Norodom Sihanouk #39;s decision to stand down earlier this month.

Cambodia #39;s new king sworn in


Reuters - Rwandan troops arrived in\Darfur Sunday as the first foreign force there, mandated to\protect observers monitoring a shaky cease-fire between the\Sudanese government and rebels in the remote western region.

Rwanda Troops Start AU Mission in Darfur (Reuters)


Australia #39;s largest retailer, Coles Myer, waded into a takeover battle for the pub operator Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group yesterday, offering 1.18 billion Australian dollars (\$856 million) in a bid with a local bank.

Yet Another Bidder Emerges for Australian Pub Operator


AP - A moderate earthquake shook the Pacific coast of Nicaragua early Friday, cracking a few walls and sending frightened residents running into the streets, but there were no reports of injuries.

Moderate Earthquake Rocks Nicaragua (AP)


NASA is counting on a series of preventative measures to get the space shuttle back into flight after the Columbia tragedy in 2003, including tight limits

NASA Shuttle Plans Lack In-Orbit Repair


D.C. United forward Alecko Eskandarian will miss Saturday's match at New England because of a sprained left ankle, but the injury is not severe.

Eskandarian Out


THE Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has announced that Perth have been chosen as the fourth Australian team for the expanded Super 14 rugby competition in the 2006 season.

Perth join Super 14


Rise in oil prices ahead of OPEC meeting, sales forecasts by 2 chipmakers send futures lower. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Stocks will struggle early Thursday due to another rise in oil prices ahead of Friday #39;s

Oil, chips to crimp stocks


NEW DELHI: The telecast rights case for cricket to be played in India from October 2004 to 2008 has taken a turn, with varied offers coming from Zee, ESPN-Star and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

ESPN, Zee Offer Ad Revenue To BCCI


AP - Amelie Mauresmo overcame a slow start to win her first match at No. 1 in the rankings, beating Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 7-5, 6-4 at the Porsche Grand Prix on Thursday.

Mauresmo Wins First Match at No. 1 (AP)


Seattle Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown, a three-time Pro Bowl selecltion, broke his left leg during practice Monday. Head coach Mike Holmgren said doctors believe Brown likely will miss the first four games of the regular season.

Seahawks #39; Brown breaks his leg, expected to miss four games


AP - Young gangsters rampaged through the heart of the Haitian capital, torching cars and firing in the air in what many people feared was a prelude to more violence.

Gangsters Torch Cars in Haiti Capital (AP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street's annual bonuses may rise  10 percent to 15 percent this year, half as much as a year ago,  as revenue growth falls short of earlier expectations, a  leading industry consultant said.

Wall Street Bonuses Likely to Rise


Telstra Corp has announced a \$750 million off-market share buy-back as part of its capital management program. Telstra expects to return \$1.

Telstra announces \$750m share buy back


Jeremy Jaynes of Raleigh, North Carolina, one of the Internet #39;s top-10 spammers, according to watchdogs, was convicted in the first felony spam case -- just up the road from Fool HQ in Loudon County, Virginia.

Spam Scam Lands  #39;Em in the Can


Microsoft is set to announce a renewed assault in his war of the tube, one that builds on the companys greatest strength: Windows.

Microsofts Latest Plan for TV


UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi  Annan on Thursday threw his weight behind a U.S.-drafted  resolution on Sudan's Darfur region, saying the Security  Council should adopt it immediately to stop atrocities.

Annan Backs U.S. on Darfur; Vote Due Saturday


EMI Group PLC, one of the world #39;s biggest music companies, reported a small loss for the first half of its fiscal year Friday but said it expected an improvement in the second half which will reflect the release of several new albums that

EMI reports net loss for first half but says sales on way back up


Reports say Israeli PM Ariel Sharon has given the green light to new homes in West Bank settlements.

Sharon 'backs settlement homes'


NEW YORK - Crude oil prices surged to a new high this morning in European trading, with a barrel fetching as much as \$55.67. Two reasons were offered by wire-service reports--one relatively old, and one brand new.

Now Norway: Oil Finds Another Reason To Rise


AT amp;T have finally released their Ogo handset. The US\$130 (106) device is designed to do one thing well - messaging. The Ogo allows subscribers to send emails, instant messages and text messages, and that #39;s

AT amp;T Release Ogo


Cambodia #39;s new king arrived in the capital of his homeland today to be crowned after the shock abdication of his ageing father, King Norodom Sihanouk.

Cambodia #39;s new king arrives in Phnom Penh


Woodgate, 24, has passed a stringent medical in the Spanish capital and will today sign a four-year deal - with the option of an extra year - at the Bernabeu following his 15.

Woodgate move has Robson #39;s blessing


Jesper Mattsson scored two goals as Farjestad, one of Sweden #39;s top clubs, trounced the Worldstars 6-1 on Thursday. Per Hallberg scored in the first period for Farjestad

Worldstars routed


AP - They washed cars, put up posters and sold T-shirts to raise the money to be here. When it was finally time for Vicente Escobedo to fight, his family and friends welcomed him into the arena by waving his picture and chanting

Escobedo Keeps U.S. Unbeaten in Boxing (AP)


ST. PETERS, Mo. - The origins of the universe could soon be uncovered with the help of silicon and other materials. In 2001, NASA launched a robotic spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Silicon to help explain origins of the universe


IBM (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is reportedly in talks to sell its personal computer business in a deal that could be worth up to \$2 billion and would cap a

IBM Reported to Put Its PC Business Up for Sale


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators investigating Fannie  Mae's accounting practices have sent subpoenas to the No. 1  U.S. mortgage finance company in connection with the probe, a  source familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Feds Subpoena Fannie Mae -Source


Security researchers have uncovered a spoofing flaw in Internet Explorer that could turn out to be the perfect holiday gift for scammers.

New IE Exploit Spoofs Web Sites