SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean government scientists  conducted unsanctioned uranium enrichment tests three times in  2000 but they were repeated procedures of a single experiment,  a spokesman at the state-run atomic research center said on  Sunday.

South Korean Lab Says Uranium Test Repeated 3 Times


AP - Top-seeded Vincent Spadea and second-seeded Mardy Fish won Tuesday night in the first round of the Millennium International Tennis Championships on Tuesday night.

Fish, Spadea Win in Delray Beach (AP)


MOSCOW: Attacks by Chechen militants in Grozny, left 22 people dead including policemen and injured several others. Several Chechen guerrillas attacked a police station and polling station in the north of

22 killed, several injured in Chechen separatist attack in Grozny


A predicted slowdown in future market growth has taken the shine off Ericsson AB #39;s (Nasdaq: ERICY - message board) impressive third quarter results today, sending its share price spiraling down (see Ericsson Ups Q3 Profit).

Ericsson Warns on Growth


HOUSTON - Stress response proteins present on the outside of cancer cells offer a promising target for a novel drug  quot;guidance system, quot; say researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Targeting stress response proteins on breast, prostate tumor cells <b>...</b>


Will that be cash or charge? That #39;s the question American Express (nyse: AXP - news - people ) will be asking Visa and MasterCard as it prepares to file a suit against the two largest card associations in

Chenault: American Express Charges After Visa, MasterCard <b>...</b>


To Palestinians, Yasser Arafat was  quot;Mr Palestine quot;, a historical figure who embodied the Palestinian nationalist movement.

The two Yasser Arafats


Mark Buehrle pitched a four-hitter for his fourth complete game of the season, leading the Chicago White Sox over the Kansas City Royals 9-2 Thursday night.

White Sox 9, Royals 2


Catie Whelan of Weymouth has little problem getting her kicks in. A catalyst behind the No. 10 Wildcats' offense, she is the reason the team sports a 9-1-2 mark in the competitive Bay State Conference. The senior talks about broken shins and macaroni in this week's

Catie Whelan


AP - Ramon Vazquez and Ramon Hernandez each hit a three-run homer for the San Diego Padres, and Adam Eaton beat Los Angeles for the fourth time this season in a 9-4 victory Tuesday night that cut the Dodgers' NL West lead to 1 1/2 games over San Francisco.

Padres Defeat Dodgers 9-4 (AP)


AP - The State Department said Thursday it expects continued progress in Pakistan toward democratic rule, showing no concern about moves to allow President Pervez Musharraf to remain on as army chief.

U.S. Accepts Musharraf Decision (AP)


As Iran announces it is resuming its nuclear program, we speak with Iranian-born author and former diplomat Mansour Farhang about the increasing tensions in the United States towards Tehran.

Is US Rhetoric Fuelling Iran #39;s Nuclear Program?


The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) will announce it is taking legal action against illegal internet file-sharers for the first time today.

Internet file-sharers under fire


Manchester City chairman John Wardle says he would consider a bid for want-away striker Nicolas Anelka.  quot;If a bid comes in for Nicolas then, after speaking to the board, I will speak to Kevin Keegan, quot; said Wardle.

Man City Would Consider Anelka Bid


Online retail sales continue to show significant growth, according to the latest figures released by the US Department of Commerce.

Online retail sales continue to surge


Stock options and a sales gimmick go unnoticed as the software maker reports impressive results.

PeopleSoft's Prevarication


Priced at \$249.99, it can play MP3, WMA and WAV-encoded music files.

Archos intros 'world's smallest' 20GB music player


AP - Maurice Greene grabbed the baton and accelerated toward the finish, blowing past a Nigerian and reeling in Britain's Mark Lewis-Francis. But even the self-proclaimed greatest sprinter of all time could not make up for a sloppy handoff earlier in the race Saturday, and his chest crossed the line just a hair behind the Brit's. The Americans were forced to settle for silver by an excruciating hundredth of a second.

Another Bad Handoff Dooms U.S. Relay Team (AP)


NEC Corp. has developed a method of positioning tiny tubes of carbon in a way that, 10 years from now, will make circuits run faster and consume less power than the fastest and most powerful silicon chips, the company said on Thursday.

NEC positions carbon nanotubes for prime time


BRASILIA, Nov 6 (AFP) - Brazil welcomed Russia #39;s signing of the UN #39;s Kyoto climate change treaty, an environment ministry statement said Saturday.

Brazil hails Russia #39;s signing of Kyoto climate pact


RUSSIAN investigators have found explosive residue on the wreckage of the second of two airliners which crashed at almost the same time, a security spokesman said yesterday.

Evidence on second plane backs terror fear


Isotopes of lead and polonium could help scientists to form more accurate estimates of when people have died.

Isotopes could improve forensics


TAIPEI (Reuters) - The pro-independence party of Taiwan  President Chen Shui-bian suffered a surprise defeat in weekend  legislative elections that could ease tensions with China but  paralyze government on the democratic island.

Chen's Taiwan Poll Loss Seen Easing China Strains


PARIS -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died early today at a French military hospital where he had lingered in a coma between life and death for the last week. He was 75.

Palestinian leader Arafat dies at 75


Alan Horton, senior vice president of newspapers for EW Scripps Co., will retire from the company Dec. 31,. Horton, 61, has been affiliated with Scripps since 1965, when he took his first job out of college as a reporter for The Cincinnati Post.

Scripps senior newspaper VP to retire


The threatened sanctions championed by the United States and the European Union (EU) on Sudan could not help solve the crisis in the African country, saida leading Chinese newspaper Thursday.

Sanctions cannot solve crisis in Sudan


Britain is considering moving some of its troops in Iraq outside their normal area of operations in order to help bolster the American antiterrorist offensive, the British defense secretary, Geoff Hoon, said today.

Britain Considers Spreading Forces Throughout Iraq


Five outs -- five measly outs. That #39;s how close the Boston Red Sox came to going to the World Series last year and perhaps ending an 85-year championship drought.

Red Sox counting on Schilling, Pedro against Angels


AP - Michael Finley capped his 27-point night with a 17-foot jumper with 3.2 seconds left to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 94-93 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.

Mavericks Edge Bulls 94-93 (AP)


The US State Department lauded Pakistan #39;s killing of a top al-Qaida member, but said more was needed. It #39;s an important development, department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said.

US hails al-Qaida death, but wants more


Oil giant BP reports buoyant trading in the third quarter, with production up by 11, on the back of soaring crude prices.

Oil prices boosting BP's fortunes


Hewlett-Packard said Friday that it would start selling its version of the iPod digital music player next month and would unveil flat-panel televisions, media-enhanced computers and photo printers.

HP to start selling its iPod


Mainland shares may decline after the government #39;s takeover of Hantang Securities and three brokerages controlled by failed investment company Xinjiang D #39;Long Group because of worries about other crackdowns to come, market analyst Thomas Zhang said.

Broker woes to scare investors


Tokyo stocks rebounded Friday on bargain-hunting in select blue chips, real estate and banking issues. The US dollar was higher against the Japanese yen.

Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Rebound on Bargain Hunting


The US State Department Friday reiterated the need for free and fair elections in Ukraine and urged Russia to support such a process.

US urgres free, fair Ukraine vote


The countrys gross domestic product (GDP) rose 6.2 percent in the second quarter of the year, while gross national product (GNP) went up by 5.7 percent despite the rising world oil prices.

Economy posts 6.2 growth in second quarter


A car bomb attack Wednesday in Baghdad targeting Iraqi police recruits has killed at least five people and wounded at least 47 others, Iraqi police said.

Car bomb targets Iraqi police


He was the dumbest guy in New England. Terry Fran-coma. Gomer Pyle in the dugout. Chewing that giant wad of stuff, making it look like he had a golf ball in his cheek. Not bunting. Not playing smallball. And taking the blame for every mistake his players made.

Manager's image is sharper


By LINDA A. JOHNSON     (AP) -- The way a girl grows during adolescence and even in the womb may play an important, if murky, role in her risk of breast cancer later in life, a study suggests...

Study Shows Adolescence Affects Breast Cancer


WORLD No. 1 Roger Federer sees his title defence at the ATP Masters Cup in Houston as the start of his 2005 campaign rather than the end of a season that saw him capture three Grand Slam crowns.

Federer #39;s fresh start


AP - Congressional negotiators have reached agreement on major changes in special education, aiming to boost discipline in class, better identify children with disabilities, get help to students earlier and reduce lawsuits by parents.

Congress Ready to Update Special Ed Law (AP)


Unemployment in Australia sinks to the lowest level since 1978, giving a further boost to the re-elected government of John Howard.

Australia jobless at 26-year low


IBM next month will finish transitioning its core pSeries and iSeries server lines to the Power5 chip when it starts shipping three new high-end systems, two of which support as many as 64 processors.

IBM Transitions to Power5


AP - Mike Alstott will be sidelined at least a month after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during Tampa Bay's 19-7 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Alstott Out Four Weeks With Sprained Knee (AP)


The software giant's CFO says a target as big as SAP is less likely, but some big buys could be in Microsoft's future.

Microsoft eyes larger acquisitions


People who use public or workplace computers for e-mail, instant messaging and Web searching have a new security risk to worry about: Google #39;s free new tool that indexes a PC #39;s contents for quickly locating data.

Google #39;s new PC search tool poses risks


When a huge upset happens, the easy tendency is to assume that the game was a fluke, that if repeated several times, the result would be drastically different.

Instant Analysis: Upsets  amp; more


British Airways today reported further progress in its recovery as it made a half-year pre-tax profit of 335m, but said higher fuel costs remained a concern.

British Airways profits soar


Wal-Mart said Saturday that higher shopper traffic in the past week raised its comparable-store sales above the previous year. Free!

Wal-Mart says weekly traffic rose


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. housing starts unexpectedly  rose 0.6 percent in August to their highest level in five  months as low mortgage rates encouraged construction, but  permits fell more than anticipated, a government report showed  on Tuesday.

Housing Starts Rise Unexpectedly


AP - Following a procession through the streets of the city's historic district, religious figures and Cuban government officials on Sunday laid down the first stone of what will become the island's first-ever Russian Orthodox church.

Historic Cuban Church Begins Construction (AP)


CHICAGO/PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Health care and consumer  products maker Johnson   Johnson is in negotiations to acquire  medical-device maker Guidant Corp., sources familiar with the  situation said on Tuesday.

J J in Talks to Buy Guidant - Sources


They were unwieldy pond-dwelling predators with long necks that didn #39;t have enough joints and neck ribs that must have kept their heads practically immobile.

Ancient Reptile Used Neck to Suck Up Prey


Industrial conglomerate Honeywell International on Wednesday said it has filed a lawsuit against 34 electronics companies including Apple Computer and Eastman Kodak, claiming patent infringement of its liquid crystal display technology.

Honeywell LCD suit targets Apple, others


Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Saturday sales at stores open at least a year rose 2.3 percent in September, according to its preliminary tally, helped by sales of bedding, electronics, food and pet supplies.

Wal-Mart sales at low end of forecast


High street and shopping mall retail chain Dixons Group, the UK #39;s largest consumer electronics and equipment retailer, has warned that sales and profits have waned in the last quarter.

Dixons and Sainsbury #39;s interims reveal lower sales


MONTREAL (Reuters) - Analysts chopped their fourth-quarter  profit estimates for WestJet Airlines Ltd. <A HREF=

WestJet Estimates Cut on Load Factor Woes


Hawaiian Airlines now offers baggage pickup from your home, office, or anywhere.

Airline Eliminates Check-In Hassle


VIENNA (Reuters) - U.S. and European negotiators moved  closer to a deal on a resolution on Iran's nuclear program that  could trigger a November showdown, Western diplomats close to  the talks said Wednesday.

Diplomats: Europeans, U.S. Closer to Iran Nuke Deal


The 2004 Geminid meteor shower is underway. Midnight sky watchers this weekend sawbright meteors shooting out of the constellation Geminid--at least a few per hour.

The Geminid Meteor Shower


It's up; it's down. It takes off like a rocket, but later sinks like a stone.

An irregular heartbeat


PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)5 Octobre 2004--CNF Inc (NYSE:CNF) a annonc aujourd #39;hui un accord dfinitif avec UPS. Selon les termes de l #39;accord UPS va racheter la division de fret Menlo Worldwide

UPS va racheter la division Menlo Worldwide Forwarding de CNF


LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices were higher on  Friday, cementing gains made the previous day, in the face of  growing speculation that the pace of U.S. interest rate hikes  could slow.

U.S. Treasuries on Firm Footing


GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - People braved a steady drizzle  to come out to vote in a remote northeast Indian state on  Thursday, as troops guarded polling stations in an election  being held under the shadow of violence.

Northeast Indian State Votes Amid Tight Security


Sony warns that it does not expect profits at its home electronics business to recover  in the normally busy Christmas season.

Sony warning on Christmas sales


The vote would send the intelligence overhaul bill to the Senate, which is expected to pass it on Wednesday.

House Expected to Pass Intelligence Bill This Evening


Reuters - Shares of Kmart Holding Corp. \hit an all-time high on Tuesday after an analyst raised his\price target on the stock to  #36;101 from  #36;85 a share.

KMart at New High; Price Target Raised (Reuters)


BERLIN : The Group of 20 finance chiefs have shunned action to halt the dollar slide, leaving Europe isolated at the end of a forum here and facing an almost certain further strengthening of the euro.

No relief for Europe as G20 shuns action to halt dollar slide


Microsoft is developing a front-end application for its upcoming Live Communications Server (LCS) 2005 instant messaging server that links LCS 2005 with end-users #39; telephones.

Microsoft announces Istanbul LCS client


British Atlantic Survey -- Large colonies of micro-organisms living under rocks have been discovered in the most hostile and extreme regions of the Arctic and Antarctic  giving new insights on survival of life on other planets.     Reporting in this week's Nature, scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveal their surprise findings that rock-dwelling micro-organisms can photosynthesise and store carbon just as much as the plants, lichens and mosses that live above ground...

New Signs of Life Found at the Poles


BOSTON - In the 1970s, rape crisis counselors celebrated when states began to pass laws designed to stop lawyers from discrediting victims with salacious details about their sex lives.    But three decades later, after all 50 states approved such rape shield laws, the Kobe Bryant case has shown that even those protections are not enough to prevent the most intimate details of an alleged victim's life from becoming public and sometimes even fair game for prosecutors...

Bryant Case Could Chill Rape Reports


After quite a few of negotiations, China #39;s non-state-run Joyo.com Ltd. has finally reached a deal with Amazon.com Inc., the US E-commerce giant, which possibly meant a beginning

Amazon \$75m purchases Chinese Joyo


Firm set to release its first Linux desktop package since acquiring SuSE Linux and Ximian. Will it unseat Microsoft Office?

Novell rejoins desktop fight, with Linux as ally


Kansai Electric Power #39;s nuclear power plant in Fukui, Japan, was searched by police Saturday during an investigation into an Aug. 9 mishap.

Japanese nuclear plant searched


The US is responsible for most of the spam e-mails that fill up computer inboxes, says a report.

US tops league of e-mail spammers


AP - No. 23 Oklahoma State has a plan to halt Texas Tech's prolific passing attack.

Tech's Passing Attack Meets OSU's Rushinng (AP)


Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- It #39;s time for the Bank of England to take a breather, chill out and learn to stop worrying about the ghost of inflation past.

Bank of England Should Take a Breather at 4.75


AP - Mizuki Noguchi of Japan held on for the gold and American Deena Kastor used a late burst for a stunning bronze medal finish Sunday night in the Olympic marathon. Kastor's third place gave the United States its first marathon medal since Joan Benoit's gold in Los Angeles 20 years ago.

Japanese Woman Wins Marathon; Kastor Third (AP)


LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Kidde, the British fire safety equipment maker, surged for a second day on Friday on speculation investors will see an improvement to a 1.3 billion pound (\$2.

United Tech seeking holder support for its bid


US Airways also said it would reduce or stop contributions to some employee retirement plans and would end its commitment to keep 279 aircraft in its fleet.

US Airways to Ask Court to Cut Union Workers' Pay 23


AP - Memphis Grizzlies reserve guard Antonio Burks will be sidelined at least six weeks with a broken right pinkie finger.

Grizzlies' Burks Breaks Right Pinkie (AP)


Gordon Corera looks at how Osama Bin Laden's terror network has made the most of modern communications.

A web wise terror network


The tenth crew of the International Space Station (ISS) made a short spaceflight early Monday to move a Russian lifeboat to a new docking port and prepare the station for a pair of upcoming spacewalks.

ISS Crew Successfully Redocks Soyuz Spacecraft


Two of the region #39;s best-known retail brands -- Costco Wholesale Corp. and Nordstrom Inc. -- bucked a national trend of lukewarm sales in September and posted significant gains over the same period last year.

Nordstrom and Costco dodge September #39;s retail doldrums


Orders for long-lasting US-made goods unexpectedly slipped 0.4 percent last month as demand for computers, cars and civilian aircraft slumped, a government report showed on Wednesday.

Durable Goods Orders Slip Unexpectedly


The first images crafted to contain a malicious program that can take control of a PC have been found on the net. Security experts have been expecting such images to turn up after Microsoft revealed a weakness

Looming peril of poison porn pics


Why can't they just get along? David Platt, the scientist and controversy-magnet who runs Pro Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Newton, doesn't see eye to eye with his old employer, GlycoGenesys Inc. of Boston, on just about any subject. Certainly not chemistry or patents.

Battling biotechs


By LINDA A. JOHNSON    (AP) -- New research shows that teenagers who grow up in heavy air pollution have reduced lung capacity, putting them at risk for illness and premature death as adults...

Study Shows Dirty Air Lowers Lung Capacity


The City Council has passed a modified version of a plan to use public funds to create a black business district in the city, voting to eliminate a requirement that only blacks get loans.

Detroit council drops blacks-only loans in African Town plan


FTC alleges that Sanford Wallace distributed spyware that created pop-up ads on victims #39; computers in order to sell his company #39;s anti-spyware software.

FTC Sues Alleged Spyware Distributor


SIR JACKIE Stewart is optimistic that Silverstone can take its place on next years Formula One calendar. Talks between Formula One chiefs and Silverstones owners are understood to be at an advanced stage

Silverstone date can be saved - Sir Jackie


MEXICO CITY (Dow Jones/AP) -- DaimlerChrysler AG said Thursday it plans to spend \$210 million to update one of its assembly plants in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila.

DaimlerChrysler Invests \$210 million in Mexican plant


BENTONVILLE, Ark. Aug. 23, 2004 - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world #39;s biggest retailer, lowered its sales forecast for August, citing Hurricane Charley #39;s swipe across Florida and slower than expected back-to-school sales.

Wal-Mart Lowers August Sales Forecast


BRUSSELS European Union nations agreed Monday to create about a dozen elite battle groups to intervene in international crises, in what defense ministers called an important step in extending the bloc #39;s military reach.

EU agrees to develop battle group crisis teams


The Labor Department said Friday that U.S. employers added 112,000 new jobs overall in November as the unemployment rate dropped to 5.4 percent.

Nov. Job Creation Number Lower Than Expected


VAL GARDENA, Italy (AFP) - Austria #39;s Michael Walchhofer won the men #39;s World Cup super-G ahead of countrymen Hermann Maier and Benjamin Raich for his first victory in the discipline.

Austria #39;s Walchhofer wins men #39;s World Cup super-G


HOPING to attract more developers worldwide, Sun Microsystems is giving away its latest operating system, Solaris 10, after spending years of development and investing roughly 500 million dollars into the software.

Sun Microsystems to give away new operating system


Germany's third-largest city decided to equip 14,000 computers with Linux and other open-source office apps, despite concerns about patent infringements raised in the debate over new European Union patent laws.

Munich migrates to Linux despite EU debate


Sri Lanka #39;s main foreign donors have warned that some members of the ruling coalition are undermining the peace process aimed at ending the decades-long civil war.

Sri Lanka urged to offer more support to Norway peace efforts


Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - For George W. Bush, who has defined his presidency in terms of fighting terror, national security is a must which trumps almost all other issues.

Anti-terrorism, security issues likely to be key agenda items in Bush visit (Canadian Press)


The chip originally was to be released in the second half of this year, helping the microprocessor giant in its big push into the consumer electronics market.

No Intel Inside TV


Cricket-Australia a tough test for Pakistan batsmen, says coach November 2, 2004 09:14:15 KARACHI, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Pakistan #39;s batsmen will need to be mentally tough in Australia this month to combat the likes of Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie

New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 138 runs in one-dayer


Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira and Manchester United skipper Roy Keane are both battling to be fit for Sunday #39;s Premiership showdown at Old Trafford.

Keane and Vieira in OT fitness race


After all the sound and fury about the initial public offering of on-line search kingpin Google Inc. - a decidedly bumpy process filled with gaffes, and accompanied by oceans of commentary -nvestors are left with two major questions.

Google #39;s IPO: Success or failure?


GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli leader Ariel Sharon vowed on  Sunday to widen an offensive into Gaza which has killed at  least 50 Palestinians until militants stop firing rockets that  have fueled criticism of his plan to abandon the occupied  strip.

Sharon Vows to Expand Gaza Raid, Toll Hits 50


TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average edged down 0.25  percent by midsession on Tuesday as falls in recent gainers  such as banks and oil stocks offset gains in some exporters  after a retreat in oil prices eased fears about the global  economy.

Nikkei Eases, Lower Oil Prices Help


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures rose on Tuesday,  pointing to a higher market open, on retreating oil prices and  stronger-than-expected earnings from technology bellwethers  International Business Machines Corp. <A HREF=

Wall St. Set to Climb on Strong Earnings


Most IT Managers won #39;t question the importance of security, but this priority has been sliding between the third and fourth most important focus for companies.

Study:  #39;Phishing #39; scams net \$500 million


Southampton have again dismissed rumours that former manager Glenn Hoddle was being lined up for a return to the club. Morning press reports suggested that head coach Steve Wigley could be forced to make way

SAINTS SMASH HODDLE TALK


The Indians #39; bullpen has struggled this season, 27 blown saves in 58 opportunities, but it was impeccable on Wednesday night. Five Cleveland relievers combined

Indians clean up with sweep


IBM and Cisco have extended their global security alliance through the integration of IBM Tivoli software with Cisco Network Admission Control technologies to help enterprises automatically comply with security policies, then quarantine and remediate at

IBM and Cisco automate enterprise security


RealNetworks says it increased its share of the online music market after halving the price of tunes.

Real sells 3m tracks at a loss


GUANGZHOU, China - In southern China, it doesnt matter if an animal is an endangered species. As long as it walks, wriggles or jumps, its good enough for the pot.

Endangered animals a business in south China


The Bank of Japan #39;s quarterly survey of business confidence confirmed that the world #39;s second-largest economy is recovering at a steady pace, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Heizo Takenaka said.

Takenaka Says Tankan Confirms Japan #39;s Steady Economic Recovery


In rationalizing the decision to enter Azeri in the \$4-million Breeders Cup Classic (G1), trainer D. Wayne Lukas emphasized his past success in starting females against males.

Lukas emphasizes his past success with females against males


LOS ANGELES - Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles are celebrating the anniversary of the first message sent over what would eventually become the internet.

#39;Lo #39; and behold! The internet turns 35


This was the event Michael Phelps didn't really need to compete in if his goal was to win eight golds. He probably would have had a better chance somewhere else.

Phelps's chase of Spitz mark? It's history


Hurricane Frances may have almost doubled the estimated recovery cost for Florida as relief officials gear up to deal with

Florida storms cutting a wide economic path


Demo shows the chip running a Java applet, a browser and displaying some video at the same time.

NEC develops multicore cell phone processor


SEOUL Sovereign Asset Management, the largest shareholder of SK Corp., said Sunday that it would take legal action after directors of South Korea #39;s biggest oil refiner refused a request for an extraordinary general meeting.

SK Corp. faces legal challenge


England teenage star Wayne Rooney looks set to make his eagerly-awaited Manchester United debut in Champions League action against Fenerbahce though England teammates at Real Madrid David Beckham and Michael Owen are doubts for the Spanish giants #39; clash

Rooney eyes Champions League dream


VIENNA (Reuters) - Nearly 380 tons of explosives are  missing from a site near Baghdad that was part of Saddam  Hussein's dismantled atom bomb program but was never secured by  the U.S. military, the United Nations said Monday.

U.N.: Explosives Missing from Former Iraq Atomic Site


Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday proposed the state ban the sale and rental of violent and sexually explicit video games for children under 18, a restriction that has failed so far elsewhere in the country.

Illinois Governor Wants Ban on Graphic Video Games


Nokia Oyj, the world #39;s largest mobile- phone maker, said profit may drop for a second straight quarter. Earnings fell 20 percent in the three months ended in September because the company cut prices to regain market share.

Nokia Says Profit Will Keep Falling as Prices Drop (Update5)


There #39;s a common misconception in the world of sports often voiced by beer-toting fans as if it were defensible in a court of law.

Beer-swilling idiots should bear most of the blame


AP - New England's bitterly cold winters may be hard on people, but they have been even harder on an Asian insect that's threatening to destroy hemlocks, one of the signature trees of the region's forests.

Cold Winters Slow Northeast Hemlock Pest (AP)


Anil Ambani resigns from the petrochemical unit of Indian giant Reliance, renewing rumours of a management feud with elder brother Mukesh.

Reliance unit loses Anil Ambani


The Dow Jones industrial average fell on Friday after Pfizer Inc. (PFE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) shares opened nearly 19 percent down on trial data for its popular arthritis drug Celebrex that showed increased risk of heart attack.

Pfizer News Sends Blue Chips Down


France will not revoke a law banning Muslim head scarves in public schools despite demands by a militant Islamic group holding two French journalists hostage in Iraq, the government spokesman said Monday.

France says it will not repeal head scarf law


After saying earlier this month they had withdrawn their offer to top draft choice Justin Verlander, the Tigers announced Friday they had signed the Old Dominion right-hander to a five-year contract.

Change-up: Tigers sign top draft pick Verlander


With streamlined multifunction device, tech giant aims to gain ground in business copier market.\

HP unveils low-cost corporate copier


The United Nation #39;s top peacekeeping official says there is  quot;real danger quot; of a new war in central Africa following the massacre of Congolese refugees in Burundi.

UN Official Warns of  #39;Spiral of Violence #39; Following Burundi Massacre


_ Peyton Manning threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns as Indianapolis beat Tennessee 31-to-17. Nick Harper intercepted Steve McNair #39;s pass in the end zone as the Colts rallied to win with 21 points in the fourth quarter.

NFL: Colts/Titans


Kilpsch's \$100 ProMedia Ultra 2.0 speakers put desktop-quality sound in a package you can lug around.

First Look: Portable Speakers Pack Punch


Mizuho Financial Group Inc., the world #39;s second-largest bank by assets, said first-half profit fell 8 percent after it failed to earn sufficient fee income to make up for reduced gains from stock investments.

Mizuho 1st-Half Profit Falls 8 on Fewer Stock Gains (Update1)


AP - Under friendly fire, Sen. John Kerry likely will donate a substantial portion of his excess presidential campaign cash to help elect Democratic candidates in 2005 and 2006, advisers said Thursday.

Kerry to Give Dems Leftover Campaign Cash (AP)


Trying to comprehend how Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James can be so good, so young. On Saturday night at Gund Arena, James became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 2,000 points for his career.

James gives Bulls taste of his artistry


The player swinging for the most storied record in baseball is being linked more than ever to what could be the sport #39;s biggest scandal since the Chicago White Sox threw the 1919 World Series.

Baseball in Bonds quandary


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a lower  market open on Thursday, weighed down by rising oil prices and  a crop of warnings in the chip sector.

Stock Futures Point to Lower Market Open


ABUJA (Reuters) - Darfur rebels said on Thursday that peace  talks with the Sudan government had reached a stalemate and  were on the verge of collapse.

Darfur Rebels Say Peace Talks on Last Legs


A car bomb has exploded north of the Iraqi capital, killing two people and injuring four others, including the deputy provincial governor of Diyala.

Car blast targets Iraqi official


Reuters - America Online on Friday said it plans\to launch an online travel tickets comparison site available to\non-subscribers, as part of a long-term strategy to bolster\services for consumers who don't actually pay them for monthly\service.

AOL Searches for Ad Dollars in New Travel Site (Reuters)


Reuters - Motorola Inc., the world's\second-largest mobile phone maker, said on Tuesday it expects\to sustain strong sales growth in the second half of 2004\thanks to new handsets with innovative designs and features.

Motorola Expects Strong Sales Growth (Reuters)


Walking upright has long been accepted as one of the fundamental abilities that separated early human ancestors apart from their ape cousins.

Humans Ran Into Evolution


Virgin Group chief Richard Branson said yesterday he has earmarked US\$300 million for a cellular phone joint venture on the Chinese mainland, the world #39;s largest mobile market by users.

Virgin eyes mobile JV in China


President Hugo Chavez is riding high after his overwhelming victory in a recall vote this week, but analysts say his triumph may have limited impact on the deep economic and political problems threatening this major oil-producing country.

What Next for Venezuela?


Sewage and rabid animals are hindering the return of refugees to the battered Iraqi city, the US military says.

Disease risk stops Falluja return


AP - Ralph Nader is back on Florida's ballot  #151; probably for good this time.

Fla. Supreme Court Puts Nader on Ballot (AP)


A message on a dry-erase board greeted the Cubs in their clubhouse Monday and explained how they should approach the final days of the regular season.

Just in time the Cubs put it all together in win over Reds


AP - President Vladimir Putin says he will fight terror by consolidating security agencies and further tightening political control over the country. But his tough tactics risk alienating the public support he needs, and allies abroad seem to be ignoring his pleas to crack down on Chechen separatists.

Putin Tactics Unlikely to Stem Terrorism (AP)


Italian Formula One driver Jarno Trulli will drive for Toyota #39;s Formula One team next year. Toyota said Trulli, who was released by Renault this week, signed a two-year deal and will be paired with Germany #39;s Ralf Schumacher next year.

F1: Trulli to Drive for Toyota Team Next Year


HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe ruled out any regime change in this southern African country as his ruling ZANU-PF party held a congress to renew the party #39;s leadership.

Zimbabwe #39;s Mugabe rules out regime change; slams Britain


PC World - Certain ThinkPad power adapters pose a fire danger, company warns.

IBM Recalls Notebook Power Cords (PC World)


Few in the tech world need an introduction to Napster #39;s founder, the college dropout whose revolutionary file-swapping technology shook the foundations of the \$11 billion record industry.

Fanning #39;s new swap shop


AdWeek.com - Euro RSCG 4D executive creative director Arthur Ceria is joining OgilvyOne's San Francisco office, which opened last Tuesday to service the Yahoo! online advertising account, a new assignment, the agency said.

Dating Site Seeks Lasting Impression (AdWeek.com)


Redknapp and his No2 Jim Smith resigned from Portsmouth yesterday, leaving controversial new director Velimir Zajec in temporary control.

Strachan early favourite for Portsmouth job


AP - Tampa Bay's sputtering offense suffered a major blow Monday when the team learned receiver Joey Galloway will miss four to six weeks after aggravating a groin injury.

Bucs' Galloway Will Miss Four to Six Weeks (AP)


A spokesman for China #39;s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in Beijing Friday that the 9.7 percent increase of consumption in the first three quarters this year is  quot;encouraging quot;.

9.7 consumption increase  quot;encouraging quot;


A federal bankruptcy judge on Friday agreed to consider a motion by United Airlines to cancel its union contracts to save \$725 million annually.

Judge to Mull UAL Bid to Void Labor Pacts


Rupert Murdoch moved to ward off any hostile bid for News Corporation, introducing a controversial  quot;poison pill quot;. The move was aimed at John Malone #39;s Liberty Media, which plans to raise its voting stake in News Corp.

The week that was


Bankrupt Interstate Bakeries Corp. (IBC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , maker of Hostess Twinkies and Wonder Bread, received court approval on Thursday to incur new debt

Court approves Interstate Bakeries financing


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

Exxon Profit Soars on Record Oil Prices


The last time I met Marwan Barghouti, along with other notable Palestinians, I joked how impressive it was to see so many leading minds of the Palestinians together.

Outside View: In Arafat #39;s footsteps


(IsraelNN.com) Officials in Jerusalem responding to statements quoting Syrian President Bashar el-Assad report there is nothing new in Syrias position.

Jerusalem Unimpressed with Assads Statements


KOHLER, Wis. (Reuters) - British Open champion Todd  Hamilton made the first significant move in the U.S. PGA  Championship final round Sunday as overnight pacesetter Vijay  Singh prepared for an afternoon tee-off.

Hamilton Sets Early Pace as Woods Struggles


An Iraqi official today said the government will release one of two women scientists being held prisoner for working on Saddam Husseins chemical weapons program.

Iraqi Officials Say Prisoner Will Be Freed


It's a noble concept that was designed to bridge the digital divide, but reports of fraud and lackluster oversight at the E-Rate program have caused it to be put on ice and now some educators and librarians are scrambling.\ <FONT face=

School House Shock


By MARGARET STAFFORD     KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- At a growing number of health clubs, gyms and YMCAs across the country, the treadmills and barbells aren't just for adults anymore...

Teens and 'Tweens' Invade Health Clubs


Reuters - France's police minister vowed on Monday\to punish officers who planted explosives in an unwitting plane\passenger's luggage to test their sniffer dogs but then lost\the

France to Punish Police for Bungled Bomb Exercise (Reuters)


Stocks rose today as investors digested a jump in the second-quarter gross domestic product and kept a close eye on lower oil prices.

Stocks Are Higher on Latest Economic Growth Reading


Ryan Klesko singled in the go-ahead run with no outs in the eighth inning and the San Diego Padres beat St. Louis 7-3 on Monday night to keep alive their slim playoff hopes and end the Cardinals #39; nine-game winning streak.

Padres stop St. Louis, stay in wild-card hunt


Washington forces a sloppy New Orleans team into 33 turnovers and claims an easy 88-69 victory Sunday at MCI Center.

Wizards Pound Hornets


The 25 European Union leaders on Friday signed the EU #39;s first constitution that aims to boost the union #39;s presence on the world stage but will face a tough ratification test at the hands of European parliaments and voters before it can take effect.

EU leaders sign first constitution


Aboriginal sports star Michael Long highlights discrimination and poverty during talks with Australia's PM John Howard.

Howard meets Aboriginal star


Michael Pittman scores three touchdowns as Tampa Bay holds off the Chiefs, 34-31, on Sunday, putting both squads at 3-5.

Pittman Pops Chiefs


Karachi: Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar was ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka starting Thursday after suffering a shoulder injury during training.

Akhtar to miss second Test against Sri Lanka


Three years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission cannot independently verify that every nuclear power plant is taking required safeguards to protect

Officials Can #39;t Say Nukes Safe From Terror


The incumbent Afghanistan #39;s President Hamid Karzai has led the country #39;s first-ever polls by over 75 percent of the votes counted by Saturday noon, Afghan election commission website said.

Karzai leads in Afghanistan #39;s first-ever polls


A new report says a genetic profiling test already on the market accurately predicts which breast cancer patients will benefit from chemotherapy -- and who won't. It could help 80,000 women a year make better choices about their treatment.

Chemo: Testing Who Will Benefit


In Maryland, requests from state's largest malpractice insurer to raise premiums an average of 41 percent has triggered a fierce debate.

Malpractice Insurers Face a Tough Market


A US envoy said Sunday that American military experts might work alongside Syrians to stop militants crossing the Syrian-Iraqi border to fight coalition forces.

US may help Syria with Iraqi border security


NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - An experimental diet drug helped  people lose nearly four times as much weight as a placebo in an  eagerly anticipated two-year trial, researchers said on  Tuesday.

Sanofi Diet Drug Impressive in 2-Year Study


Delta Air Lines is planning to cut 7,000 jobs, or about 10 of its workforce, as the US carrier fights to avoid bankruptcy.

Delta plans to cut 10 of staff


Taquan Dean scored 22 points, Francisco Garcia added 19 and No. 13 Louisville withstood a late rally to beat Florida 74-70 Saturday.

No. 13 Louisville 74, Florida 70


RUESSELSHEIM - General Motors faced massive demonstrations at its sites around Europe on Tuesday with worker representatives reporting a turnout of some 50,000 to protest against the company #39;s massive job reduction plans.

Industrial confrontation at GM Europe escalates


World News: A Polish woman held hostage in Iraq since late October has been set free and flown back to Warsaw reports BBC. BBC also says making a surprise appearance at a press conference alongside the Polish

Woman hostage is released in Iraq:


Workers used dump trucks to empty more than 100 bodies into a 14-foot-deep mass grave yesterday, as officials struggled to deal with the corpses of hundreds of Haitian flooding victims.

Flood of horrors in Haiti


At a certain point, usually after the night terrors start, I realize I absolutely have to write a column about Some Great Topic. And when I haven #39;t been creative enough to think of Some Great Topic, rather

Stuff That Crossed My Mind


A Volkswagen worker protests with a sign reading  quot;Captain Hartz, it #39;s a trip on the Titanic for us quot; during a warning strike at the Volkswagen factory in Hanover, northern Germany, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004.

Volkswagen, German Union OK Pay Freeze


The purchase makes it one of the top three leading players in the international undersea capacity business, alongside Global Crossing Holdings Ltd.

VSNL Buys Tyco #39;s Subsea Network


quot;They #39;ve closed down the observatory there for a while, just to be safe, quot; Alice Johnston said. The observatory is the Johnston Ridge Observatory on Johnston Ridge, about 5 miles from the volcano.

Volcano stirrings carry memories of son killed there 24 years ago


AFP - British mobile telephone giant Vodafone reported a two percent fall in half-year underlying profits as the group added 7.4 million new customers.

Vodafone interim profits dip, dividend hiked (AFP)


Information from a man caught in a vehicle loaded with explosives led to the arrests of two senior Taliban military commanders believed to be responsible for a series of terror attacks in southern Afghanistan, an official said yesterday.

Taliban suspects arrested


No, these aren #39;t allegations against University of Florida football players; they #39;re allegations against the University of Florida football coach.

A failure to communicate


Weather permitting, Marylanders will be able to witness a rare lunar eclipse tonight. What makes this eclipse so rare is it #39;s length.

Lunar Eclipse


The Ladies European Tour has announced that the 2007 Solheim Cup will be staged at Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden. It follows a Swedish success in the 2003 event, which was held at Barseback Country Club and

Solheim Cup handed Swedish return


Lauren Jackson scored 14 points to lead the visiting Seattle Storm over the Minnesota Lynx 70-58 Saturday, marking the Storm #39;s first playoff win in franchise history.

Storm #39;s playoff victory 1st in franchise history


The Orioles announce Monday that they will not bring scouting director Tony DeMacio back after this season, signaling a possible front-office shakeup.

O's Oust Head Scout


Members of the leading British Four-Kings clan are moving to Korea to live the life of pro gamers.

UK gamers aim to take Korea


The US military says it will keep its European command in Germany amid plans for a broader pull-out.

Key US forces to stay in Germany


From the beginning, Eagle County, Colo., district attorney Mark Hurlbert insisted that the sexual-assault charge he filed against Kobe Bryant had nothing to do with the celebrity of the Los Angeles Lakers #39; star.

Kobe Rebounds


Millionaire executive Martha Stewart announced Wednesday that she decided to begin her prison sentence for lying about a stock trade as soon as possible.

Martha wants to go to jail now


The US Fish and Wildlife Service has fired a biologist who publicly accused the agency of using bad science to approve construction projects in panther habitat.

Vocal biologist fired from wildlife agency


Reuters - Shares of newly public Google\Inc.  on Tuesday hit a new high and posted  their\largest single-day percentage gain after five investment banks\issued bullish reports on the leading Web search provider.

Google Shares Hit New High (Reuters)


Dodgers owner says he #39;s not upset about player #39;s heated exchange with Times writer nor does he consider it a serious blowup.

Bradley won #39;t be disciplined for slur


SCIENTISTS believe they have finally worked out what makes the Earth sing. They have long been mystified by a constant deep drone, far below the range of the human ear, which has been picked up by seismic equipment.

HUM.. WHY THE EARTH #39;S SINGING


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Four-time Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent announced his retirement from the sport on Tuesday. Pinsent, 34, captured his most recent gold medal by winning the coxless fours event in Athens this past August.

British rower Pinsent retires


New versions of the MyDoom worm that began spreading late Monday afternoon are among the fastest-ever exploits of an unpatched Microsoft vulnerability, security experts said Tuesday.

New MyDoom Worms Exploit Unpatched IE Bug


New Internet-based technology could soon turn regular computer users into armchair spies, a Canadian inventor said on Monday. Vincent Tao, an engineer at Toronto #39;s York University, said he has invented a mapping

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


Ziff Davis - Opinion: A device using GSM/GPS wireless that reports your car's wherabouts #151;which is in pilot testing for a British insurance company #151;is the latest example of a technology marvel that brings a serious loss of privacy.

Car-Tracking Device Trades Privacy for Dollars (Ziff Davis)


General Electric Co., the world #39;s largest company by market value, said third-quarter profit rose 11 percent as acquisitions and economic growth spurred the biggest sales increase since Jeffrey Immelt succeeded Jack Welch.

Sales surge lift GE profit


Jet Propulsion Lab -- As NASA's Spirit and Opportunity resumed reliable contact with Earth, after a period when Mars passed nearly behind the sun, the space agency extended funding for an additional six months of rover operations, as long as they keep working.     Both rovers successfully completed their primary three-month missions on the surface of Mars in April and have already added about five months of bonus exploration during the first extension of their missions...

Rover Missions Renewed as Mars Emerges from Behind Sun


AP - A Senate committee voted Wednesday to boost funds for battling AIDS and other diseases in poor nations but provided less than half what President Bush wanted for prodding countries to adopt democratic reforms.

Senate Panel Votes to Raise AIDS Funding (AP)


MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 1: India Inc is stepping up acquisitions abroad. In its latest shopping abroad, Tata group firm Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) has signed an agreement to buy Bermuda-based Tyco Global Network

VSNL buys out Tyco unit for \$130 mn


Sudanese officials and leaders of two rebel groups opened talks Monday in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, in an effort to end the fighting in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

Sudan Peace Talks Open in Nigeria


A Japanese hostage has been beheaded in Iraq, Japanese officials said on Sunday, but Tokyo vowed it would keep its troops in the country on their reconstruction mission.

Japan Vows to Stay in Iraq After Hostage Beheaded


Vivendi Universal SA, owner of the world #39;s largest music company, plans to sell a 15 percent stake in Veolia Environnement SA to cut debt and focus on media and mobile-phone businesses.

Vivendi to Sell 15 Stake in Veolia to Reduce Debt (Update3)


AP - J.J. Redick had 20 of his 24 points in the second half and role player Lee Melchionni made two clutch 3-pointers, helping No. 6 Duke rally past Clemson 62-54 Sunday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.

No. 6 Duke Rallies Past Clemson, 62-54 (AP)


A SECOND paper trail in the Home Office blew apart David Blunketts defence that his only involvement with his nannys visa application was to check that it was correct.

Budd inquiry uncovered the crucial second paper trail


Circuit City Stores Inc. (CC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday reported a narrower quarterly loss as it kept a tight rein on expenses and sales of digital

UPDATE 2-Circuit City loss narrows, stock jumps


BATON ROUGE, La. - A state judge Tuesday threw out a Louisiana constitutional amendment banning gay marriage...

Amendment Banning La. Gay Marriage Tossed


Oil prices fell 3.5 to a three-month low yesterday as mild winter weather sapped demand in the US Northeast, the world #39;s largest heating oil market.

Oil falls to 3-month low on mild US weather


Four US soldiers charged with abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison face pretrial hearings before an American military judge in Germany.

Four US soldiers in Abu Ghraib prisoner scandal face pretrial <b>...</b>


The campaign, dubbed  quot;Digital Joy, quot; will cost the companies tens of millions of dollars for its duration in the US to the end of 2004.

Relax with your PC, urges  #39;Joy #39; campaign


Google has fixed a security flaw in its Gmail web-based e-mail service that allowed attackers to hijack users #39; e-mail accounts.

Google plugs hole exposing Gmail mail-boxes


Berlin, Germany - Soon after claiming athletics #39; biggest single financial award this year, Christian Olsson offered perhaps the understatement of the year.

It definitely wasn #39;t easy


Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said on Tuesday that he #39;s hoping time will heal some of the wounds created by Sammy Sosa #39;s early exit from the season finale and

Hendry to discipline Sosa


The industry heavyweights want to ease a major

Dell, Microsoft make a patch pact for servers


After a 13-month journey, a tiny spacecraft the size of a washing machine, driven by  quot;Star Trek quot; technology, will begin to orbit the moon on Monday night.

quot;SMART-1 quot; at  quot;gateway quot; to the moon


An intruder who cracked a U.C. Berkeley research system in August had access to private data on 1.4 million caregivers and beneficiaries participating in a state social program. \

News: California reports massive data breach


China will launch its lunar orbiter Chang #39;e 1 to explore the moon #39;s environment and study the thickness of its soil by the end of 2007, according to a senior Chinese space expert in India.

China to launch lunar orbiter by Late 2007


Michael Schumacher hopes he will go down in history as the only Formula One driver to have claimed a pole position and race win on the same day.

SCHUMACHER MAKES ANOTHER MARK ON HISTORY


The Indiana Pacers have told law enforcement officials in Michigan that players will not submit to interviews as part of the investigation into the Nov. 19 brawl.

Pacers Won't Comply With Police Request


ON THE ROMANCE OF THE TRADITIONAL STORE  quot;Some of the nostalgia stuff that people hark back to is lore and not fact. quot;. ON REACHING YOUNGER SHOPPERS  quot;They say that kids don #39;t want to shop where their parents shop.

MACY #39;S WEST


Taiwan #39;s ruling Democratic Progressive party has promised to pass sweeping economic and political reforms if it gains control of the legislature for the first time in Saturday #39;s election.

Taiwans DPP vows sweeping reforms with victory


Toshiba and Memory-Tech announced they developed a dual-layer DVD disc. This wouldn #39;t be newsworthy unless the disc is able to contain two formats: HD DVD and DVD formats.

Toshiba and Memory-Tech go Dual-Format DVD.


BEIJING (Reuters) - China battled on Wednesday to keep alive six-way talks on dismantling North Korea #39;s nuclear programs, saying it hoped all parties would stay calm and flexible and resume negotiations despite inevitable problems.

China Battles to Keep N.Korea Nuclear Talks Alive


Robert Korzeniowski of Poland added to his record collection of gold medals in race walking with his unprecedented third consecutive Olympic victory Friday in the 50-kilometer walk.

Polish walker wins fourth Olympic gold


Defeating one of three teams that beat them earlier in the tournament, the U.S. men's basketball team tops Lithuania, 104-96.

U.S. Salvages Bronze


Insurance payouts for Hurricane Frances look set to reach \$4.4bn, making it the fourth most expensive storm in US history.

Heavy cost of Hurricane Frances


Japan #39;s Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell for the first day in four. Nintendo Co. and Sharp Co. slid after brokerages cut ratings on the companies on concern that earnings growth may slow.

Japan #39;s Nikkei Falls; Nintendo, Sharp Drop on Earnings Concern


Wal-Mart is reducing its forecast for same store sales for the month of August. It is blaming store closures caused by Hurricane Charley last week.

Wal-Mart lowers August sales forecast


AMERICAN marines today blocked all roads around Fallujah as they prepared to launch a massive assault on the rebel-held Iraqi city.

US marines prepare to storm rebel city


ISRAEL #39;S deadly offensive in northern Gaza entered its ninth day with the Government vowing to press on until Palestinian rocket fire stopped.

Gaza battle rages


Reuters - U.S. troops have secured control\over the whole of rebellious Falluja, a Marine officer said on\Monday, with more than 1,000 insurgents taken prisoner.

U.S. Military Says Has 100 Pct Control of Falluja (Reuters)


Eagles coach Andy Reid said he missed what Terrell Owens did in the end zone when he scored the touchdown that would win the game for the Eagles on Sunday.

Owens shows Ravens what they #39;re missing


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares in Home Depot Inc. <A HREF=

Home Depot Rises Before the Bell


If you want to know what it feels like to be a salmon struggling upstream, or a migratory bird flapping south in the face of a stiff headwind, just try starting a consumer technology business in Boston.

Boston's technology takes corporate, not consumer, tilt


TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Japanese stock indexes rose by midmorning Friday after the central bank #39;s closely watched tankan business sentiment survey showed a better-than-expected confidence among large manufacturers.

Nikkei sharply up on strong tankan


BOUAKE, Ivory Coast (Reuters) - U.N. peacekeepers in Ivory  Coast fired into the air and French soldiers blasted teargas to  disperse stone-throwing demonstrators in the rebel-held town of  Bouake on Monday, peacekeepers said.

Marchers Attack French, U.N. Troops in Ivory Coast


THENS, Aug. 19  The two finalists in the men #39;s archery strode out this afternoon and took their positions side-by-by side between the twin columns topped with the two-faced busts of Hermes that mark the start and finish lines in the ...

Precision and Pressure in a Classic Stadium


Two of the Ford Motor Company #39;s most senior executives retired on Thursday in a sign that the company #39;s deep financial crisis has abated, though serious challenges remain.

Turnaround Progress Seen, 2 Executives to Leave Ford


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Pentagon death toll in Iraq reached  at least 1,002 Wednesday nearly 18 months after the U.S.-led  invasion, as the brazen abduction of two Italian women aid  workers in central Baghdad sparked a new hostage crisis.

U.S. Deaths in Iraq Top 1,000; Italian Women Held


Britain is to send a minister for the first time to the reclusive communist state of North Korea to press for action over the issue of nuclear weaponry and to improve its human rights record.

Foreign Office team to visit North Korea


AFP - Insurer Royal and Sun Alliance became the latest high-profile British firm to announce a mass transfer of jobs to India, saying it plans to move 1,100 positions there by 2006, saving the group 10 million pounds annually (14.5 million euros, 18.0 million dollars).

Royal and Sun Alliance to move 1,100 jobs to India (AFP)


Singapore says it hopes to double manufacturing output in 15 years as regional competition heats up from lower-cost rivals such as fast-growing China and India.

Singapore wants to double manufacturing in 15 years


KABUL -- A doctor helping organize Afghan elections died yesterday along with four other civilians when an explosion tore through their vehicle, police said.

Five civilians die in vehicle blast


Rocky Mountain vacation resorts said their advance ski season sales are up from a year ago, while Texas retailers reported a recent run on high-definition televisions.

Income, Consumer Spending Up


AP - Two Japanese electronics makers reported improved fiscal first-half earnings Friday, with profits at Hitachi Ltd. surging nearly eight-fold, while Toshiba Corp. rebounded to profitability from a loss the previous year.

Earnings of Electronics Makers Improve (AP)


Madrid - Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said on Monday he had accepted Jose Antonio Camacho #39;s resignation as coach and appointed his deputy Mariano Garcia Remon in a caretaker role.

Real coach Camacho quits


HELSINKI - Internet security experts are warning about a mass-mailing worm with the subject line  quot;Merry Christmas quot; or  quot;Happy Holidays.

Internet worm disguises itself as e-Christmas card


Business software maker PeopleSoft Inc. said Monday that it expects third-quarter revenue to range between \$680 million and \$695 million, above average Wall Street estimates of \$651.

PeopleSoft Expects Sales Above Estimates


By DAVE CARPENTER    NORTHFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- These are the times that try cookie makers' sales...

Kraft Foods Orders Up Healthier Array of Snacks


AP - With 6,000 characters to memorize, Westerners shudder at the idea reading even the most basic street signs and instructions in Chinese. A new set of brain images shows why: Reading English-style alphabets and Chinese characters use very different parts of the brain.

Dyslexia Not the Same in Every Culture (AP)


Following are brief profiles of the leading candidates in Afghanistan #39;s first direct presidential election to be held on Saturday.

Backgrounder: Leading candidates in Afghan election


Members of the Mojave Aerospace Ventures team: (from left) Peter Diamandis, Paul Allen, Burt Rutan, pilot Brian Binnie and Richard Branson celebrate with champagne after SpaceShipOne #39;s second suborbital flight in early October.

A glimpse of SpaceShipOne #39;s historic flights


HOUSTON - Top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland won a record 13th straight final Sunday, beating Australian Lleyton Hewitt, 6-3, 6-2, in the title match of the Association of Tennis Professionals Masters Cup.

Record 13th straight mens title


(Sports Network) - Boston Red Sox fans know all too well of past failure, but there #39;s a different aura this year, and it seems their long-standing curse of not winning a World Series since 1918 may finally disappear.

Red Sox back in ALCS and on a mission


A spectacular second-innings collapse by Canada enabled Scotland to win the inaugural ICC Intercontinental Cup final at Sharjah by an innings and 84 runs with more than a day to spare.

Scotland wins Intercontinental Cup


Reuters - Shares of Medtronic Inc.  on\Thursday sank 7 percent to their lowest level in more than\three months after the medical device maker posted\weaker-than-expected growth in one of its key business units,\sparking at least three broker downgrades.

Broker Downgrades Sink Medtronic (Reuters)


Southwest Airlines, the biggest and richest low-fare airline, was the apparent winner Thursday in the bidding war for ATA Airlines, another low-fare carrier that sought bankruptcy protection this autumn.

Briefs: Southwest has top bid for ATA


Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod music player continues to help the company grow revenue at dizzying rates, leading Apple to its highest fourth-quarter revenue in nine years, the company said Wednesday.

Apple posts highest Q4 revenue in almost a decade


Prime Minister Ayad Allawi #39;s office confirmed Monday that two of his female relatives who were kidnapped last week have been released.

Iraqi officials confirm kidnappers released two of Allawi #39;s female <b>...</b>


WYOMISSING, PA-Penn National Gaming entered into a merger agreement to acquire Alton, IL-based Argosy Gaming Co. for approximately \$2.

Penn National Pays Over \$2B for Argosy Gaming


Italian Alessandro Petacchi scooped the bunch sprint to win Sunday #39;s second stage of the Tour of Spain. German Erik Zabel was second in the 207 k run from Leon to Burgos with Spaniard Oscar Freire finishing third.

Petacchi unstoppable in Tour of Spain


INDIANAPOLIS - Eli Lilly  amp; Co. debuted a Web site Wednesday for clinical trial data on its prescription drugs, including Prozac and its new antidepressant, Cymbalta.

Lilly Debuts Clinical Drug Trial Web Site


Two top-ranking executives of the insurance brokerage unit at Marsh  amp; McLennan Company and the company #39;s general counsel were forced out yesterday as Marsh took another step in reorganizing

Three Executives at Marsh Removed in Reorganization


com November 29, 2004, 1:22 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been enterprise directories for several months, but for many IT managers, ERP (enterprise resource planning) and open source initiatives are on the horizon.

Microsoft opts against SP5 for Windows 2000


The iPod is not  quot;compatible with only iTunes music and vice-versa quot;. You can rip music from any CD you own and any CD you buy through iTunes and load them onto the iPod.

Microsoft takes on iTunes


A study by the American Hotel  amp; Lodging Association says half of US hotel rooms now offer broadband Internet access. By Eric Chabrow.

Survey: More Hotels Adding Broadband Access


The LA Times today has the story (free reg. required ) of a notable Hollywood figure suing Microsoft over an Xbox game:  quot;If this were one of his screenplays, Roger Avary might have sent gun-packing, wisecracking thugs to settle his beef with Bill Gates.

Xbox game lawsuit


Oracle #39;s (nasdaq: ORCL - news - people ) \$10.3 billion blockbuster acquisition of PeopleSoft (nasdaq: PSFT - news - people ) is already yesterday #39;s news.

Symantec, Veritas Reportedly In Talks


Ukrainian government workers resume duties as protesters lift blockades ahead of the presidential vote re-run.

Kiev back to work in protest lull


Canadian Press - BALGONIE, Sask. (CP) - Police combing a Saskatchewan reserve  said Wednesday they've covered about half of the search area without finding any clues to the fate of a young Regina girl missing for two months.

Search half-finished at Saskatchewan reserve, still no clues to Tamra's fate (Canadian Press)


DUBLIN : The kidnappers of aid worker Margaret Hassan threatened to hand her over to the group led by Iraqi militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a new video which also reportedly showed the British-Irish woman in a distressed state.

Aid worker #39;s captors give 48-hour deadline for British troops to <b>...</b>


Reuters - Three court-appointed doctors\examined Chile's former military dictator Augusto Pinochet on\Thursday, a key step that will decide whether the 88-year-old\general will stand trial for human rights abuses.

Court Doctors Examine Pinochet for Trial (Reuters)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Growth Properties Inc. on  Friday said it would buy Rouse Co. for \$7.2 billion, adding  such swank shopping centers as Chicago's Water Tower Place and  Boston's Fanueil Hall to what is already the nation's second  largest mall portfolio.

General Growth to Buy Rouse for \$7.2 Bln


Does language sometimes define the content of thought? Are there people who cannot entertain certain ideas because their language does not have the words to express them?

They Don #39;t Have a Word for It


Jack Mesi was a boxer on the rise until March 13 when several knockdowns brought on subdural hematomas or bleeding on the brain, boxers' No. 1 cause of death.

Health Holds Back Mesi


EAGLE, Colo. -- Jury selection in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case begins in earnest Monday, with attorneys and the judge questioning potential jurors individually behind closed doors.

Lawyers spent weekend scouring questionnaires


A CLAIM by IT experts the Gartner Group that Linux downloads are a cover for piracy has been dismissed by the Open Source Industry Association (OSIA).

Gartner Linux piracy claim is pants


Sudan is allowing armed pro-government groups to operate at least 16 militia camps in the western region of Darfur, a human rights group claims.

Sudan criticised over Janjaweed


The Bush and Kerry campaigns, along with a range of advocacy groups, are concerned with the integrity of voting technology -- particularly in the states where votes matter most. By Jacob Ogles.

E-Vote Fears Soar in Swing States


A fight broke out at a major league baseball game between the Oakland A #39;s and Texas Rangers Monday night, and the incident should spark action to eliminate this problem in the future.

Editorial: Baseball should come down hard on stadium violence


NewsFactor - Anybody who is anybody in the Web-search realm -- and that list now includes Google, Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO), Ask Jeeves (Nasdaq: ASKJ) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) -- is acting quickly to stake a claim on the most lucrative piece of real estate in the search world: personal computer users' desktops.

Desktop Search Race Heats Up (NewsFactor)


Medical products company Abbott Laboratories said Monday it agreed to buy nutrition products company EAS Inc. in a cash-for-stock deal worth about \$320 million.

Abbott to Buy Nutrition Company EAS


Scott Peterson was found guilty of murder today by a California jury for killing his wife, Laci Peterson, and the couples unborn child.

Scott Peterson Convicted of Murdering Wife


Ghana Integrity Initiative, a country branch of Transparency International in Berlin- Germany will today launch the 2004 annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI), a document considered within the anti corruption lobby as the best authority in measuring

GII to Launch Corruption Report Today


Phil Mickelson has a green jacket in his closet to remind him this has been a great year. It just might not seem that way right now.

Great year for Mickelson ending on a sour note


NEW DELHI - India was due to roll out the red carpet Sunday for a visit by Myanmars army strongman General Than Shwe, days after he fired the nations premier who was architect of the regimes roadmap to democracy.

India to welcome Myanmar military strongman who carried out <b>...</b>


Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison reiterated his determination to prevail in a long-running takeover battle with rival business software maker PeopleSoft Inc., predicting the proposed deal will create a more competitive company with improved customer service.

Oracle's Ellison Confident in PeopleSoft


quot;It was something I had to do for my crew, quot; said Dale Earnhardt Jr. after winning the Checker Auto Parts 500.  quot;After I messed up so bad last week, it was important to me to pull this off.

Insider Racing News Archives


Reuters - Mobile service provider Cingular\Wireless, which is buying AT T Wireless Services  Inc. ,\said on Wednesday its third-quarter operating profit fell as\its costs rose.

Costs Rise, Profit Falls at Cingular (Reuters)


KIEV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Outgoing Ukrainian President  Leonid Kuchma, bowing to mass street protests and international  pressure, on Monday backed a new presidential election to end a  crisis that is tearing the nation apart.

Ukraine President Bows to Pressure, Backs New Vote


SEATTLE -- Catcher Pat Borders, a 22-year major league veteran who #39;s spent four seasons with the Seattle Mariners organization, was traded to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.

Seattle swaps veteran catcher to Twins


The scientist who pioneered DNA fingerprinting has warned of the increasing danger of false positives as the use of the technique becomes more widespread.

Delete records, or profile the whole UK, says DNA print pioneer


KIEV, Ukraine (Reuters) - A new Ukrainian poll of some sort  looked increasingly likely as parliament and the Supreme Court  pressed ahead on Thursday with efforts to resolve a national  crisis over a disputed presidential election.

New Ukraine Election Looks Likely Way Out of Crisis


The FCC decides that cable, phone and other companies offering internet-based phone services fall under federal jurisdiction. The company calls the ruling a victory for consumers.

Vonage Dodges State Regulations


SiliconValley.com - Intel suffered another setback Thursday when it canceled a chip for flat-panel television sets.

Intel cancels chip for flat-panel TVs (SiliconValley.com)


We are down to seven unbeaten teams with Bowl Championship Series title game aspirations. Idealistically, all but Boise State have a chance at getting to the Orange Bowl.

Let the games begin


The death toll from yesterday #39;s car-bomb attack in Afghanistan has climbed to eleven -- including three Americans. Taliban rebels are claiming responsibility for the blast outside

Death toll rises in Afghan terror attack


AP - President Hosni Mubarak said reports of a deal with Israel were exaggerated and denied that the Egyptian ambassador would soon return to Tel Aviv, a leading newspaper reported Friday.

Mubarak Denies Israel Deal, Envoy's Return (AP)


Stocks rose modestly in light holiday trading Monday as investors awaited the impending tide of third-quarter profit reports, hopeful the news would override worries about record oil prices and a sputtering recovery.

Stocks Up Ahead of 3Q Earnings Reports


Harley's latest numbers are a lot like the bikes: powerful underneath but not too speedy.

Slow-Cruisin' Harley


You #39;ll soon be forking over an extra 11 cents for a gentrified java. Starbucks (SBUX) says it will raise the average price of its beverages by 11 cents at 4,500 stores in North America Oct.

Starbucks to boost coffee prices in US


AP - Ten days after trading for Gary Payton, the Boston Celtics still have no idea if the nine-time All-Star will ever wear a Celtics' uniform.

Celtics Still Waiting to Hear From Payton (AP)


AP - The U.S. Open will return to Congressional Country Club in 2011.

U.S. Open to Return to Congressional (AP)


Reuters - With its battle to kill the\decade-long U.S. ban on assault weapons won, the National Rifle\Association is now setting its sights on the Nov. 2\presidential and congressional elections.

Victorious on Gun Ban, NRA Looks Toward Elections (Reuters)


Ramallah, West Bank -- A top Palestinian official said Saturday there is no evidence that Israel poisoned Yasser Arafat, but he called for an investigation into the cause of death of the Palestinian leader.

Official: No evidence Arafat was poisoned


Investor's Business Daily - IBM revealed on Monday some milestones in its march to roll out a powerful new chip for consumer devices next year, a product that promises to heat up its rivalry with No. 1 chipmaker Intel.

IBM And Chip Partners Take Aim At Intel (Investor's Business Daily)


Brazil launches its first rocket into space,14 months after a deadly accident killed 21 people.

Brazil launches rocket into space


Quarterback Chad Pennington is scheduled to return to the New York Jets #39; lineup tomorrow against the Houston Texans at Giants Stadium.

Pennington Scheduled To Start for the Jets


Apple is set to unveil a special edition black iPod in collaboration with U2, according to a report on Forbes.com.  quot;Sources close to the group say the U2 edition of the popular digital music player will come

U2 Special Edition iPod


SRINAGAR, Nov. 13 (XinhuaNET) -- Markets are overcrowded, traffic jam is heavy and the shops are jostling with shoppers in the capital city of Srinagar in the Indian-administered Kashmir as theholy Moslem festival of Eid approaches here.

Kashmiris waiting for festival and peace to come


A third of IT managers have admitted that they have  quot;no idea what to expect quot; when deploying Microsoft #39;s Windows XP Service Pack 2, new research has claimed.

One third of IT managers struggling with XP SP2


The Jones Apparel Group, a \$4.3 billion clothing company with a middle-brow reputation, is close to making a deal to buying the Barneys chain.

Jones Is Said to Be Near a Deal for Barneys


The Nets looked at Tuesday #39;s game as another chance to climb out of the huge hole they created for themselves with their early-season offensive struggles and prove to the Knicks that they haven #39;t overtaken them just yet.

Nets get Knicked up


Iranian movie Beautiful City scoops the main prize at the International Film Festival of India.

Iranian film wins Indian honour


Reuters - The dollar held on to the previous day's\gain on Tuesday, supported by a retreat in oil prices and\upbeat comments on the U.S. economy from Federal Reserve\officials.

Dollar Holds Gains, Fed Comments Help (Reuters)


Reuters - HCA Inc., the largest U.S.\hospital chain, said on Friday its third-quarter earnings fell,\hurt by hurricanes that hit the southeastern U.S. earlier this\year, causing disruption and a drop in admissions at the\company's hospitals in Florida.

HCA Net Falls, Hurt by Florida Hurricanes (Reuters)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks finished Monday  little  changed as crude oil slipped from another record high,  offsetting caution before the U.S. presidential election and  the dollar's broad-based slide.

Stocks Flat as Oil Retreats from Record


AP - The Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins will play games Monday and Tuesday at the Chicago White Sox's stadium after the Marlins were forced to adjust their schedule for the second time this month because of a hurricane.

Expos-Marlins to Play Two Games in Chicago (AP)


Reuters - The recent spike in oil prices has had\some negative impact on the U.S. economy, but the futures\markets suggest that this will be a temporary phenomenon, a top\Fed official said on Sunday.

Oil Price Spike Had Chilling Effect -Fed (Reuters)


TJ Thompson scored 27 points as George Washington upset No. 12 Maryland, 101-92, yesterday in the championship game of the BB amp;T Classic in Washington, the Colonials #39; fifth straight victory.

Maryland is thrown for a loss


The co-founder of game producer WildTangent Inc. is a booming bear of a man who clobbers you with one grand pronouncement after another. <FONT face=

Where the Game Is the Medium


November 15, 2004 -- ABUJA, Nigeria - West African leaders held a crisis summit yesterday over unrest in Ivory Coast, as the beleaguered country #39;s president took a tough stance, sacking his army chief and installing a more hard-line officer in his place

SUMMIT ON IVORY COAST CRISIS


The program, designed to let the agency detect and analyze cases of unauthorized access to taxpayer data, hasn #39;t worked correctly since the IRS took delivery in 2002.

Report Says IRS Software Program Isn #39;t Doing The Job


Music publishers and U.S. commercial\radio station owners said on Monday they had agreed to a new\\$1.7 billion deal to cover licensing rights for music played\over radio airwaves or via radio station Web sites.

Music Publishers Sign Deal on Web Radio


FLANKER Joe Worsley has been ruled out of England #39;s Test with Canada at Twickenham on Sunday (Australian time because of a leg injury.

Worsley misses Canucks


Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW) shareholders have one less headache to medicate thanks to management #39;s wise decision to settle its patent infringement litigation with crusty old Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK).

Sun Drops the Gloves


Bee Staff Writer. In the latest crackdown on conflicts of interest on Wall Street, federal and state regulators said Thursday that they #39;ve obtained a \$100 million settlement from two investment

Banks settle in conflict probe


French troops in Ivory Coast pull back from some of their positions at the main airport in the largest city, Abidjan.

Airport back in Ivory Coast hands


Olympic silver medalist Mardy Fish beat Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4 Monday to reach the second round of the St. Petersburg Open.

Fish Beats Hernych at St. Petersburg


Lebanon urged members of the UN Security Council Thursday to vote against a US-French draft resolution demanding Syrian military withdrawal.

Lebanon slams US-inspired UN draft


AP - The Boston Red Sox looked at the out-of-town scoreboard and could hardly believe what they saw. The New York Yankees were trailing big at home against the Cleveland Indians in what would be the worst loss in the 101-year history of the storied franchise.

Yankees' AL East Lead Drops to 3 1/2 Games (AP)


Sony announced on Tuesday that it is planning to launch a smaller and lighter version of its popular PS2 gaming console in November.

Sony to launch slim PS2 console in November


Blame Bret Culbertson. Just don #39;t let Iowa State coach Dan McCarney hear you do it. In case you don #39;t remember, Culbertson is the freshman kicker whose missed 24-yard field

Big 12 notes


BRUSSELS: A European Union court is set to rule this week on a \$120 billion deal MCI-WorldCom made during the height of the go-go years that still resonates today.

EU ruling on WorldCom this week


MUMBAI, India The bowlers dominated on Thursday as 18 wickets fell on the second day of the final test between India and Australia.

Cricket: Bowlers take control


New York - US stocks closed higher on Wednesday, as the dollar strengthened and shares of Merck  amp; Co. helped lift the Dow after the drugmaker gave a forecast that was not as weak as some on Wall Street had expected.

US stocks: Merck helps lift US stocks higher, dollar up


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

Ford Drops Oracle-based Purchasing System


and they would surely like to - the Knicks could look over their shoulders at mid-November and feel mildly satisfied. In the two-week span from Nov.

For Knicks, 11 Games Down, 71 to Go


Giants coach Tom Coughlin has benched two-time MVP quarterback Kurt Warner and replaced him with Manning. The Giants pulled off a blockbuster trade with San Diego last April to get Manning, the first overall pick in the 2004 draft.

Eli gets the ball


MTV -- whose videos killed the radio star -- knows a threat when it sees one. To keep people from abandoning TV for video games, it's making music videos with popular game characters strutting their stuff to the latest tracks. By Daniel Terdiman.

Music Videos Tap Video Games


In the first inning last night at Fenway Park, Red Sox stats, schedule leadoff hitter Johnny Damon stats, news jump-started his team #39;s offense by hitting a home run to right field.

Damon #39;s play top choice


A FEDERAL judge in Alexandria, Va., will hear opening arguments today in a case that pits Geico against Google. Geico, the auto insurer owned by Berkshire Hathaway, sued Google in May for trademark infringement.

Court Case Pits Google and Geico


Reuters - Grocery chain operator Safeway Inc.\ on Wednesday set a 2005 earnings per share goal that\was below analysts' expectations, with added marketing expenses\and lingering impact from a strike at its Vons stores weighing\on profits.

Safeway Sets Outlook Below Estimates (Reuters)


The handover for the infamous Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich is to take place at 1 pm, Wednesday, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel  amp; Casino in Hollywood.

Hard Rock to display Virgin Mary sandwich


washingtonpost.com - For years, America Online Inc. grew steadily into the nation's biggest Internet service by treating subscribers to exclusive content and services it hoped would produce the sort of captive audience that advertisers crave. But now, with users departing for faster or cheaper online competitors, company officials are re-thinking their

AOL Shifts Strategy to Attract More Advertisers, Users (washingtonpost.com)


British lightweight Amir Khan beats South Korean Baik Jong-sub to secure at least a bronze medal.

Khan guarantees medal


IN THE face of mounting unrest, Graeme Souness remains determined to reverse the declining fortunes of Newcastle United, but he, like his predecessors, has quickly appreciated that management

Demands of Tyneside showing on Souness


MILLWALL chairman Theo Paphitis told yesterday how he called for police protection to escape rioting football fans.  quot;It was like going back in time 20 or 25 years to the bad old days of English football, quot; he said.

MY RIOT HELL


Baghdad, Oct. 24 (NNN): Barely hours after two suicide car bombings near Ramadi and Samarra killed at least 22 Iraqi security officers, the bodies of 49 Iraqi army recruits were found near the town of Baquba

Suicide Bombings Kill 22; Bodies Of 49 Iraqi Soldiers Found


Imperial College London researchers in the UK are developing a new way of storing data that could lead to discs capable of holding 1,000 gigabytes.

DVDs  #39;could hold 100 times more #39;


Sudan on Monday ruled out any notion of self-rule for Darfur and said rebels in the western region would not secure the same concessions agreed with southern rebels after two decades of war.

Sudan says no Darfur self-rule, questions rebel talks


Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - An experiment in Liberal party democracy that degenerated into vicious internal battles has now been cancelled, Prime Minister Paul Martin told his troops Wednesday.

Martin shuts down nomination battles to avoid repeat of bitter Liberal fights (Canadian Press)


Reuters - A final laboratory test has\confirmed an Alberta dairy cow had mad cow disease, the second\case Canada has found in its herd, an industry source briefed\by veterinary officials said on Sunday.

Canada Confirms Second Mad Cow Case (Reuters)


Verizon Wireless said it would pay \$3 billion in cash for the spectrum licenses owned by NextWave Telecom, a move that should expand coverage for new subscribers.

Verizon Wireless Will Pay \$3 Billion for Additional Capacity


LONDON (Reuters) - Eight British terror suspects charged  with conspiracy to commit murder in a plot linked to security  alerts at financial targets in New York, New Jersey and  Washington make their first appearance in court on Wednesday.

British Terror Suspects to Appear in Court


AP - A row over intellectual property claims from Microsoft Corp. has dealt a fatal blow to an ambitious effort by Internet engineers to create a technical standard for curbing junk e-mail.

Anti-Spam Effort Killed Amid Patent Row (AP)


In a bid to save money, Sun Microsystems is postponing its SunNetwork 2004 San Francisco user conference and may merge the event with its JavaOne 2005 developer conference, set for next June.

Sun postpones September user show


Microsoft reiterated on Friday that companies still using Windows NT Server 4 going into 2005 will have to sign up for a custom contract to get support.

Redmond pledges support for NT4, at a price


Shares of Nevsun Resources Ltd. plunged Tuesday as the Vancouver-based mining company searched for reasons behind a government order to stop all work in the African country of Eritrea.

Nevsun plunges


AFP - French Health Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said that there was no reason to suspect poisoning in the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in a Paris hospital last week, in response to a question during a French radio interview.

Arafat death: French minister says no reason to suspect poisoning (AFP)


Chip maker will being testing the emerging, high-speed wireless technology.

Intel Eyes WiMax Wireless


Nearly two years to the day after the most contentious hearing in memory, a divided Securities and Exchange Commission clashed Tuesday over a new rule requiring hedge funds to register with the SEC.

SEC #39;s hedge fund debate intense


When Microsoft Corp. announced last week it was scaling back the feature set for the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, it may have inadvertently given competitors the opening they #39;d been looking for.

#39;Longhorn #39; Delay Is Linux Gain


Secretary of State Colin Powell met on Wednesday with Haitian political leaders and other opponents of ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide in what is likely his last visit to the destitute island nation as the United States' top diplomat.

Powell Meets With Haitian Leaders


Afghan President Hamid Karzai (1st R) meets with three United Nations workers Philippine diplomat Angelito Nayan (1st L), Kosovan Shqipe Hebibi (2nd L) and Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland (3rd L) at the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul, Nov 24

Kaizai hails UN hostages #39; release


Hakim Warrick scored 20 points and Syracuse held Princeton to five free throws over the final 8:41 in a 56-45 victory Friday night in the second round of the Coaches vs.

No. 6 Syracuse 56, Princeton 45


Stem Cell Sciences, an Australian biotechnology company which recently moved its headquarters to Edinburgh, Scotland, is offering scientists worldwide, unconditional access to a new embryonic stem-cell line.

Australian-Scottish Stem Cell Sciences Offers Researchers Free <b>...</b>


Last Thursday Google released a version of its online search for your computer. I wanted to test-drive it before reporting. Knowing the excruciating delays using Windows Search, I can say after only a weekend

Google Desktop


WASHINGTON -- US Airways Group Inc. and its pilots union broke off talks on reduced pay and benefits the airline is seeking to avoid a bankruptcy filing, with the union agreeing to take the latest company proposal to its leaders this week.

US Airways, pilots union break off talks


BANGKOK (Reuters) - Top seeds Roger Federer and Andy  Roddick reached the Thailand Open semi-finals with  straight-sets wins on Friday.

Federer and Roddick Ease Into Thailand Semi-Finals


LONDON -- Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived home yesterday after undergoing a successful operation to correct an irregular heartbeat.

Blair to return to work after successful surgery


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Pitcher Brad Radke and the Minnesota Twins reached terms Tuesday on a two-year, \$18-million US contract.  quot;I think it turned out for the best for both sides, quot; Radke said.

Twins keep Radke, Blanco to Cubs


Danielle Rhoades still remembers the taste of debt: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and tuna fish. That #39;s mainly what she subsisted on for a year - after living more extravagantly during her first year

A monkey off their back


Wales #39; Stephen Dodd shot a 2-under 70 in cold and rainy conditions Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the China Open, the first event of the 2005 PGA European Tour schedule.

Dodd leads chilly China Open


LONDON (Reuters) - The 50th season of European club  competition reaches a defining moment this Friday when the draw  for the first knockout stage of the Champions League takes  place at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Pretenders to Europe Crown About to Learn Their Fate


: The trial of Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba #39;asyir, the alleged spiritual leader of Southeast Asian terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah, has been adjourned for a week until Nov. 4, the presiding judge Soedarto said on Thursday.

Judge adjourns Ba #39;asyir #39;s trial until Nov. 4


Afghan President Hamid Karzai #39;s deputies campaigned for him on Saturday ahead of presidential elections seven days later, while the candidate himself prepared to fly to Germany to collect an international award.

Afghan campaign picks up as Karzai heads for Berlin


Manufacturing in the nation accelerated in August and September, supporting Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan #39;s view that the economy  quot;regained some traction.

Manufacturing accelerates


The 1,600 workers at a Ford Motor Co. plant in Minnesota will be furloughed for three weeks as Ford cuts production of the Ranger pickup truck.

1,600 Ford workers to be furloughed


Internet users may soon see two new domain name suffixes in their browser window:

ICANN moves closer to approving .post, .travel domains


More than most people, Ed Colligan is well acquainted with the ups and downs that punctuate the handheld-device market. Along with Jeff Hawkins and Donna Dubinsky, Colligan was part of the troika that left Palm to found rival Handspring.

PalmOne #39;s next moves


MONCKS CORNER - Integral Systems of Lanham, Md., said Wednesday it had agreed to sell assets of its antenna systems division in Moncks Corner to LJT  amp; Associates of Montgomery, Ala.

Moncks Corner facility has new owner


Reuters - Oracle Corp  is likely to win\clearance from the European Commission for its hostile takeover\of rival software firm PeopleSoft Inc. , a source close\to the situation said on Friday.

EU Likely to Clear Oracle Deal-Source (Reuters)


Reuters - The U.N.'s counterterrorism body said\Wednesday countries may be reluctant to show it all their\intelligence but that was the only way the United Nations could\help prevent future terror attacks.

U.N. Anti-Terror Head Wants More Intelligence Sharing (Reuters)


NASA -- NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft has arrived in Florida to begin final preparations for a launch on Dec. 30, 2004...

Deep Impact Arrives in Florida to Prepare for Launch


For Roger Federer, simple equates to sanity. Simple is his stated game plan. He has put a box around his life, and only the important things are allowed in.

Federer seeks grand finale to season


AP - Julius Hodge bounced back from a brief benching to finish with 17 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, helping No. 16 North Carolina State hold off pesky Manhattan 76-60 Sunday night.

No. 16 N.C. State Beats Manhattan, 76-60 (AP)


At least 20 people were killed in three bomb blasts Saturday in northeastern India, CNN reported. Besides the 20 dead, about 65 people were injured in the explosions, one of

Twenty dead from India bomb blasts


Michael Schumacher blew away the rest of the Formula 1 field to win the Japanese Grand Prix for a sixth time on Sunday. Only brother Ralf Schumacher could match his pace to finish a distant second while BAR

Michael Schumacher wins the Japanese Grand Prix


As the new iMac G5 makes its way to customers, Apple has added an iMac G5 Troubleshooting Assistant to its online support area. The system starts with broad issues, such as  quot;When I press

Apple launches iMac G5 Troubleshooting Assistant


AP - Rashard Lewis brought his game at both ends, scoring 23 points and blocking five shots, leading the Seattle SuperSonics to a 106-85 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

SuperSonics Ground Hawks 106-85 (AP)


AFP - The Charlotte Bobcats signed shooting guard Steve Smith, a National Basketball Association veteran who brings a wealth of experience to the expansion team.

NBA's young Bobcats add experience in Smith (AFP)


NEW YORK (Dow Jones)-- Sears Roebuck  amp; Co. (S) today unveiled its softer side on the Web for the first time as part of an effort to steer its faltering apparel business in the right direction.

Sears Begins Selling Apparel, Home Fashions Online


A CLOSE political ally and business associate of Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi was jailed for nine years yesterday for colluding with the Mafia.

SILVIO #39;S PAL IS JAILED


A spectator with an especially intimate view of human evolution is beginning to tell its story and has so far divulged two quite unexpected findings.

Evolution as told by the louse


AP - Geologist David Johnston wouldn't have died on Mount St. Helens today. New equipment developed since the 1980 eruption of the volcano has made it possible for volcanologists to take better measurements without hiking up the volatile mountain, a requirement 24 years ago that cost Johnson his life.

New Technology Helping Volcanologists (AP)


Sen. John McCain reiterates the committment of Congress to force Major League Baseball to address their steroid abuse policies.

McCain Wants Changes


PC World - LinuxWorld Expo came to San Francisco, and our columnist managed to ignore most of the show. Read on to see what did catch his eye.

Free Agent: Where the Geeks Are Taking Us (PC World)


LeapFrog Enterprises Inc., a developer of technology-based educational products, on Monday lowered third-quarter and full-year profit expectations, citing difficult market conditions.

LeapFrog Warns on 3Q, Year Profit View


A team of NASA (news - web sites) scientists, navigators and helicopter stunt pilots is ready to snatch a space sample canister out of the sky next month when the Genesis spacecraft returns to Earth.

NASA Researchers, Stunt Pilots Prepare for Genesis Probe #39;s Return


England #39;s Luke Donald gave the European Ryder Cup team a boost after securing a runaway victory in the European Masters at Crans Sur Sierre in Switzerland.

Donald takes European Masters title


NEW YORK - Fox News Channel traded accusations Wednesday with one of the producers of Bill O'Reilly's show, with the woman alleging that the commentator had phone sex with her against her wishes three times. Fox in a claim of its own dismissed the sexual harassment complaint as a politically motivated extortion attempt...

Producer Sues O'Reilly for Harassment


WASHINGTON -- US Marines fired a pistol in a mock execution involving four young Iraqi looters and shocked another Iraqi detainee with an electric transformer until he ''danced, quot; a document made public yesterday showed.

Documents detail abuse of detainees


It was about the Yankees taking care of business, or maybe it was about the Boston Red Sox not taking care of business -gain. One Red Sox fan outside the Yankees #39; clubhouse was

Yankees give Boston more of the same


RUPERT Murdoch has played down the prospect of a big media deal after The News Corporation Ltd completes its historic shift to the US, while reaffirming expectations for 2005 earnings despite a weaker US TV advertising market.

News secures historic vote


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Wyatt Sexton threw three touchdown passes in his starting debut and Leon Washington ran for 153 yards and a touchdown as No. 9 Florida State defeated North Carolina, 38-16, yesterday.

Sexton's first start a success


AFP - The pilot of a US military Black Hawk helicopter died when the aircraft crashed near Afghanistan's western city of Herat, a United Nations spokesman said.

Pilot dies after US chopper crashes in Afghanistan (AFP)


Western oil companies are running out of likely places to look, and significant finds are becoming rarer.

Oil Explorers Searching Ever More Remote Areas


William C. Van Faasen, chief executive of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, earned \$2.4 million last year, once again making him far and away the highest paid head of any of the state's big health insurers.

Van Faasen tops in pay; Baker sees big leap


Welders cut through metal and soldiers pulled bodies from the crushed cars of two trains that collided head-on Tuesday in northern India, killing 31 people.

31 die as trains collide in India


SunGard Data Systems Inc., whose software handles most of the Nasdaq Stock Market trades, said it will spin off its division that helps information-technology dependent businesses keep access to their information.

SunGard to Spin Off Its Information Services Business (Update1)


AP - David Wells made the surprising decision to sign with the Boston Red Sox, Carl Pavano picked the New York Yankees and Roger Clemens narrowed his choices to the Houston Astros or retirement.

Red Sox Sign Wells; Pavano Courts Yanks (AP)


Time Warner Inc. (TWX) on Wednesday posted an 8 percent drop in quarterly net profit as it set up a \$500 million legal reserve related to accounting probes at its America

Time Warner Profit Falls on Legal Reserve


Chip giant Intel and graphics processor vendor Nvidia said Friday they have inked a wide-ranging technology sharing pact that, among other things, will let Nvidia use Intel #39;s front-side bus technology.

Intel, Nvidia Sign Cross-Licensing Pact


Lazard LLC said it #39;s completing an agreement between Bruce Wasserstein, who runs the company, and Chairman Michel David-Weill to take the world #39;s biggest closely held investment bank public by the end of next year.

Wasserstein, David-Weill Completing Lazard IPO Accord (Update1)


Olympics: Despite doubts and fears that the facilities would not be ready in time and drugs scandals before the Games had even started, we have witnessed a memorable Olympics for all the right reasons.

Testing Positive


THE Test series between India and Australia is in danger of being blacked out after a court wrangle over awarding \$US308 million (\$443.

Court battle threatens TV deal


On target and on fire, the US men #39;s 100-meter sprinters scorched the Olympic Stadium #39;s fast track through two rounds yesterday to advance to today #39;s

US men hot-foot it in heats


Santander, the Spanish bank bidding 8bn for the UK's Abbey, is selling half its stake in rival Royal Bank of Scotland.

Abbey suitor sells stake in RBS