AP - Peace talks between the Sudanese government and two rebel factions from the troubled Darfur region hit an impasse, and the sides agreed to break for at least three weeks before resuming efforts, one rebel faction said Wednesday.

Sudanese Peace Talks Hit Impasse (AP)


AP - A military plane crashed into a mountain in central Venezuela, killing 25 people, including five children, the air force rescue team said in a statement Saturday.

25 People Killed in Venezuela Plane Crash (AP)


THE remainder of Berti Vogtss contract surely became as unfulfillable as the dream of World Cup qualification when Scotland failed to secure the victory that had been considered imperative here in Chisinau last night.

Pitiful draw leaves Vogts in dire straits


NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 22: The dollar slipped against the euro on Monday in thin trading after a weekend meeting of the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers in Berlin offered no concrete measures to stem the dollar #39;s decline.

Dollar dips against euro as G20 offers no reprieve


A five-year-old victim of a Tunisian bomb attack brings a case against  Europe's biggest travel agency, TUI.

Blast victim sues German agency


AP - A claim of responsibility for the downing of two Russian planes appeared on a Web site known for militant Muslim comment Friday.

Militant Group Says It Downed Russian Jets (AP)


South Korea on Monday imposed a temporary import ban on plasma display panels made by Matsushita, the Japanese consumer electronics maker, after LG Electronics complained its rival had violated its intellectual property rights.

S Korea bans imports of Matsushita plasma panels


World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko will defend his title against Britain #39;s Danny Williams in New York on December 11, Williams #39;s promoter said on Thursday.

Williams to Fight World Champion Klitschko in New York


Elena Dementieva fought back from an atrocious start against fellow Russian Elena Bovina to win the Gaz de France Stars tournament in Belgium.

Dementieva hits back to win


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - As U.S. forces bore down on Baghdad in  April last year, the first objective they took before the  assault on the capital itself was the airport.

Baghdad's Airport Road Symbol of U.S. Frustration


According to official data from National Statistics, retail sales rose 0.6 pct in August from July for a 6.5 pct annual increase. The figures were well above expectations of a 0.2 pct decline and a 5.8 pct gain respectively.

UK retail sales rebound in Aug; up 0.6 pct from July to beat <b>...</b>


BASEBALL Boston (AL): Activated P Scott Williamson from the 60-day disabled list; designated INF Earl Snyder for assignment. Houston (NL): Activated P Dan Miceli from the 15-day DL.

Transactions


Insurgents threatening to kill three kidnapped UN workers said Sunday they have handed over a list of 26 prisoners, some possibly held by the United States at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who they would take in exchange for the hostages.

Afghan rebels seek release of Guantanamo prisoners in return for <b>...</b>


BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri  resigned Wednesday, declining to form a new government that  will face international pressure over Syria's interference in  Lebanese affairs.

Lebanon PM Resigns, Says Will Not Head New Govt


MIAMI - The Chicago Cubs' 24-hour visit to Miami included a brief stay atop the NL wild-card race. Then they lost their lead because they couldn't beat David Weathers...

Marlins Beat Cubs 5-2 to Split Twinbill


Reuters - The last Atlas 2 rocket was\launched on Tuesday, putting a national security satellite into\orbit after four days of delays caused mostly by stormy\weather.

Rocket Launches with U.S. Security Satellite (Reuters)


Indonesian prosecutors on Friday formally charged Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba #39;asyir with ordering his followers to launch a suicide attack on the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta in August last year.

Baasyir to face formal terror trial


SF AIRPORT -- Citing high fuel prices and worsening industry conditions, two airlines announced impending labor cuts while another sat poised to file for bankruptcy.

Airlines brace for crisis


Russian troops stormed a school in the country #39;s south, after hostages started fleeing the building where armed terrorists had been holding as many as 1,500 people captive for two days in Beslan, North Ossetia.

Russian Troops Storm School as Hostages Break Out (Update1)


NASHVILLE -- Billy Volek threw for 175 yards and a touchdown before being knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter, and the Tennessee Titans held on for a 24-19 victory over the Detroit Lions yesterday to snap a five-game skid.

Titans close out season on a high


Coolbrands International Inc. (COBa.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday its results for fiscal 2004 would be higher than the previous year, but the guidance missed expectations

UPDATE 2-Coolbrands shares melt as guidance disappoints


AP - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov pledged Friday that Russia would keep meeting its oil export commitments to China, an apparent reference to fears that a cut in production at the beleaguered Yukos oil company could harm Beijing.

PM Pledges Russia Will Meet Oil Goals (AP)


Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has done it again. For at least the fourth time this year, he has touched the electrified third rail of American politics - Social Security.

Update 13: Greenspan Sounds Alert on Social Security


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Suicide bombers struck Iraqi security targets yesterday north and west of Baghdad, killing 22 Iraqis, officials said.

Suicide bomb kills 22


Good riddance! Tuesday #39;s the last day of the 2004 hurricane season -- a day of relief for millions of Florida residents battered by four punishing hurricanes.

Hurricane Season Ends


BAGHDAD -- These days the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq is talking less and less about Islam and not at all about revolution.

Former guerrillas now hope to make mark at ballot box


Valentino Rossi clinched his fourth straight MotoGP world championship, winning the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. The 25-year-old Yamaha racer, an eight-time winner this season, passed Spain #39;s Sete Giberneau

Rossi clinches MotoGP title with Australian win


Top seed and home favourite Marat Safin was bundled out of the Kremlin Cup in the second round 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 by unseeded Czech Radek Stepanek.

Russian favourite Safin stumbles in Kremlin Cup


MOSCOW, Aug. 28 -- His government had just suffered one of Russia's worst terrorist attacks, apparently stemming from a war he has  neither won nor ended. Then he attempted what critics considered a clumsy coverup  before a key election.

Plane Crashes Won't Hurt Putin In Chechen Vote


COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Florida State coach Bobby Bowden had seen enough trouble the previous two times his Seminoles strayed from home this season to know they weren #39;t invincible.

Terps Catch Seminoles By Surprise


Hacker web sites are claiming to have posted proof-of-concept exploit code for the latest critical Microsoft Corp software vulnerability, which is sometimes a precursor to broader attacks using a worm.

Microsoft JPEG exploit reported


Johnny Damon speaks the truth. Quoth the hairy one after Game 5,  quot;We #39;re going in there with no pressure. It #39;s something we #39;re not supposed to do.

Observations on another Yankees-Red Sox epic series heading into <b>...</b>


Six directors at Reliance Energy resign amid a growing family row over ownership of India's largest private company.

Directors retreat from Reliance


Once comfortable leaders in the AL East, the New York Yankees suddenly find themselves in a potentially disastrous tailspin. Theyll ask unbeaten Orlando Hernandez to help them recover from the worst loss

Can El Duque stop the bleeding?


Reuters - Whether as loan guarantees for a\shop in Ohio or a grant for a Florida power plant, the Bush\administration is showering hundreds of millions of dollars in\federal money on toss-up states in the presidential election.

States See Federal Largesse as Election Nears (Reuters)


After 10 days of deliberation, the South Korean delegation to the Athens Olympics finally filed a petition on the case of Yang Tae-young, bronze medallist in the mens gymnastics individual

South Korea Files Petition on Scoring Error With CAS


Saturday #39;s Chevy Rock  amp; Roll 400 at RIR was the season #39;s 26th event, the last chance for drivers to qualify for the 10-race Chase, NASCAR #39;s version of team-sport playoffs.

The  #39;Chase #39; brings new drama to NASCAR


Islamabad, Oct 12 (PTI) Pakistan today  quot;successfully quot; carried out yet another test of its intermediate range ballistic missile  #39;Hataf-V #39;, with a strike range of 1500 km capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads and targetting most of the

Pak test fires medium range missile  #39;Hataf-V #39;


Reuters - Software security companies and\handset makers, including Finland's Nokia (NOK1V.HE), are\gearing up to launch products intended to secure cell phones\from variants of the Internet viruses that have become a\scourge for personal computer users.

Handset Makers Raising Virus Defenses (Reuters)


Tuesday, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced a strategy of bringing digital entertainment to users in the home, at the office, or on the go.

Microsoft #39;s Strategy: Be Apple


Slugger Mike Sweeney, much like the Royals #39; season, is gone. The four-time All-Star first baseman left the team and flew back home to California after Monday night #39;s game against the Devil Rays.

Notes: Sweeney #39;s season finished


Nokia #39;s latest smartphone, the 7710, takes a widescreen approach to helping users be productive on the move. The device was launched at the mobile phone maker #39;s Mobility Conference in Monaco in Tuesday.

Nokia #39;s latest smartphone gives a widescreen view


LONDON (Reuters) - Why take three days over something that  can be done perfectly well in two, particularly if you want to  cut costs and give fans more for their money?

Typhoon Shows F1 That Three Can Go Into Two


Zurich, Switzerland (Sports Network) - Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova highlighted Monday #39;s first-round winners, while former top-10 star Mary Pierce of France was among the losers at the \$1.

Hantuchova wins; Pierce loses in Zurich


The US Treasury Department on Monday postponed announcing a four-week bill auction to avoid piercing the limit on federal borrowing, and said

UPDATE 2-US Treasury: Debt limit must be raised this week


Oct. 27 (BCN) - Fremont Boulevard was reopened at approximately 4:30 am after a water main break flooded an estimated ten million gallons of water over Fremont #39;s Centerville District Tuesday night, according to the Alameda County Water District.

Major Water Main Break Floods Street


Internet users at home are not nearly as safe online as they believe, according to a nationwide inspection by researchers. They found most consumers have no firewall protection, outdated antivirus software and dozens of spyware programs secretly running on their computers.

Security for Internet Users Deemed Weak


Thanks to Claudia Rosett, an enterprising reporter writing in The New York Sun, the world now knows that some information put out by Secretary General Kofi Annan about his son #39;s involvement with a Swiss inspection company at the heart of the UN oil-for

William Safire:  #39;My Son, My Son


New Delhi and Islamabad met Monday on a variety of issues including a proposed pipeline to transfer gas from Iran to India through Pakistan.

India, Pakistan gas connection


UPDATE 1-Cricket-India call up Bhandari for injured Balaji September 10, 2004 13:29:44 NEW DELHI, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Indian medium-pacer Amit Bhandari will replace seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji, who was ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy with an

Zimbabwe #39;s Panyangara bowls seven wides in first over


\

 By Franklin Paul

 NEW YORK (Reuters) - Gateway Inc. <GTW.N> on Monday said it\would return to its roots as a personal computer company,\backing off on an aggressive strategy of expanding into TVs,\digital cameras and other gadgets in a move to return to\profitability.

Gateway Shifts Back to Personal Computers


TOKYO - Sony Corp. is banking on the \$3 billion deal to acquire Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc...

Sony Banking on MGM Deal to Boost Profits


Michael Eisner plans to step down as Walt Disney Co. #39;s chief executive when his contract expires in September 2006, the Wall Street Journal said on Friday.

CEO Eisner to Step Down in Sept 2006 -WSJ


AP - Lauren Jackson scored 23 points and the Seattle Storm forced a decisive third game in the Western Conference finals, beating the Sacramento Monarchs 66-54 Sunday night.

Storm Defeat Monarchs 66-54 (AP)


Dan Marino, one-time recordsetting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins but now an analyst for CBS sports, tried in an interview earlier this season to get Colts quarterback Peyton Manning

Inside the NFL - Manning playing as well as any quarterback ever


Walt Disney Co Chief Executive Michael\Eisner will retire in September 2006, when his contract expires, the company said on Friday.

Disney Says CEO Eisner to Retire


Arsene Wenger will summon the spirit of Christmas past as he prepares Arsenal for the most critical week of their season. The specific Christmas he has in mind was just seven

Wenger looking for that spirit of Christmas past


AP - For at least a decade, phone companies have been promising to rewire America with fiber-optic cables. Now, with a romp of regulatory victories in hand, the regional Bells say they're free to make good on that ambitious plan to bring lightning-fast Web and TV services to all the nation's homes.

Bells Look to Fiber After Regulatory Wins (AP)


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices held firm on Tuesday as China  showed no let-up in its strong import growth and U.S. Gulf  producers reported damage to offshore rigs from Hurricane Ivan.

Oil Holds Above \$46 Supply Worries Linger


Nature is fighting back in response to female promiscuity by producing a biological  #39;sperm #39; chastity belt, say US scientists.

Sperm #39;s solution to promiscuity


THE ADVENTURE: Whooping cranes are making their migration from Wisconsin to Florida, guided by an ultralight plane and pilots dressed to look like cranes.

Ultralights get in the way of whooping crane migration


AP - In the tumult of the visitors' clubhouse at Yankee Stadium, champagne pouring all around him, Theo Epstein held a beer.

Boston's Epstein on Verge of First Title (AP)


AP - The Miami Dolphins have asked Ricky Williams to return  #36;8.6 million they say the running back owes the team because he has decided to retire.

Dolphins Ask Williams for  #36;8.6 Million (AP)


The European Union has agreed to lift its long standing sanctions against trade with Libya. The move was taken today by foreign ministers of the 25 member union.

EU agrees to lift sanctions on Libya


California plans to sue the Bush administration over its plans to expand significantly the amount of logging allowed in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the state #39;s Democratic attorney general said on Friday.

Calif. to Sue Over Sierra Nevada Logging Expansion


BEAVER CREEK - Most individuals wouldn #39;t be able to turn a steering wheel 63 times in less than a minute. Try it on skis. Some racers in Sunday #39;s Birds of Prey slalom didn #39;t even make it through the first

Austrians, Italian prevail in slalom


AP - This isn't your typical, humdrum, slate-colored computer. Not only is the PC known as the hip-e almost all white, but its screen and keyboard are framed in fuzzy pink fur. Or a leopard skin design. Or a graffiti-themed pattern.

New PC Is Created Just for Teenagers (AP)


Shareholders of Belgian brewer Interbrew SA gave unanimous backing Friday to the linkup of their family company with Brazil #39;s Ambev to form the world #39;s largest brewer by volume.

Update 1: Interbrew Shareholders Back Ambev Linkup


A month after a previous deal fell apart, Donald Trump announced a plan yesterday that he hopes will give his casino company a second act and make it a contender in Atlantic City once again.

Trump cuts new deal to lessen debt load


Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva urged the international community on Monday to harness globalization and turn it into a positive force for all peoples of the world.

Brazilian president calls for harnessing globalization


A two-man delegation from Britain #39;s biggest Muslim group arrived in Iraq yesterday on a quest to free British hostage Kenneth Bigley, seized by Islamic militants Sept.

Muslims travel to Iraq seeking British hostage #39;s release


TOKYO - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc entered the handheld video game market Sunday with the sale of its new PlayStation Portable, pitting it against competitors ahead of the holiday sales period.

Sony #39;s PlayStation Portable goes on sale


AP - With the New York Yankees' starting rotation struggling, the team's offense matched its biggest performance of the season. Tony Clark homered three times, Ruben Sierra hit his 300th career homer, and Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez also connected to lead the Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays 18-6 Sunday.

Clark Homers 3 Times in Yankees' Rout (AP)


When it comes to storage technology, there are a number of vendors pushing back the frontiers in what is possible. This week Hitachi Data Systems (HDS), one of the giants in this extremely competitive space

HDS Launches TagmaStore


Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON  #8212; As he leaves the Capitol after taking the oath of office Jan. 20, President Bush is expected to exercise a familiar presidential prerogative  #8212; reviewing the troops.

Military Will March Front and Center at Inaugural Festivities (Los Angeles Times)


Apple introduces a new flat-screen iMac in Paris that looks more like an iPod than a Luxo-lamp. Starting at \$1,300, the new model has Parisian Mac nuts saying 'oui.'

Paris Says Bonjour to New IMac


GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Israeli helicopters attacked a Hamas training field early Tuesday, killing at least 13 Palestinians and wounding 25 in the bloodiest strike in Gaza in months, officials from both sides said. Most of the casualties were members of the anti-Israeli militant group...

Explosions Kill at Least 13 in Gaza City


AP - Georgia is likely to have a dismal season on the basketball court.

Expectations Low for Georgia Basketball (AP)


Match of the week in the Champions #39; League features two clubs that have won eight Champions #39; Cups between them, the powerhouses of Germany and the Netherlands, Bayern Munich versus Ajax Amsterdam.

CL Preview: Bayern - Ajax


Tottenham Hotspur will hold a press conference at White Hart Lane this afternoon when they are expected to confirm the appointment of Martin Jol as the permanent successor to Jacques Santini.

Spurs announcement expected


WASHINGTON -- A debate is brewing at the highest levels of the Bush administration over whether to adopt a tougher stance toward Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, who has systematically rolled back democratic freedoms and tried to snuff out democracy in weak neighboring states with little American opposition, according to US officials and policy analysts.

At White House, harder line with Putin considered


This has been another month of growth for manufacturing and the economy in general, although the latest monthly report on business from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) indicates that the rate of manufacturing growth is slowing down.

Manufacturing Growth Slowing


BLOOMFIELD HILLS (Reuters) - Holders Europe began to peg  back a fast start by the United States as the 35th Ryder Cup  approached its climax in the last-day singles on Sunday.

Europe Rally After U.S. Take Early Charge


While its neighbors, software infrastructure and hardware upgrades, switched places this month, security held its spot at number three.

Antispam campaign bites the dust


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Reuters) - Agricultural chemicals maker  Monsanto Co. <A HREF=

Monsanto Posts Loss, Herbicide Sales Drop


The rookie had 198 rushing yards and three touchdowns, helping Dallas erase a 10-point deficit with less than 3 minutes to play as the Cowboys stunned the Seattle Seahawks 43-39 on Monday night.

Dallas rally shocks Seattle


Company remains on track to ship desktop and server chips in 2005.

AMD Shows First Dual-Core Processor


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan early Monday test-fired its indigenously developed short-range nuclear-capable Ghaznavi missile, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

N-capable Ghaznavi missile test-fired


Israel is expected to ask Egypt Wednesday to deploy troops deep in the Sinai to combat arms smuggling, and not to suffice with enhancing its patrols along its border with the Gaza Strip.

Arms smuggling to Gaza on agenda of talks with Egyptian foreign <b>...</b>


SHOAIB Akhtar completed a first-round knockout of his rival Matthew Hayden yesterday in a hell-raising opening to the Australia-Pakistan Test series in Perth.

It was him


With the season hanging in the balance, Everett did what Everett does. Coach John DiBiaso put the ball in Matt Nuzzo's hands, and the senior quarterback ran for 161 yards and two touchdowns as the Crimson Tide pulled away from Cambridge, 31-12, to win the Greater Boston League title yesterday at Tufts University.

Everett, Nuzzo perfect


IBM's p5-575, a specialized server geared for high-performance computing, has eight 1.9GHz Power5 processors.

Photo: IBM's p5-575 server


Santander Central Hispano SA, which last month offered 8.2 billion pounds (\$14.9 billion) to buy the UK mortgage lender Abbey National Plc, said it will eliminate 3,000 jobs at the British company.

Santander to Cut 3,000 Jobs at Abbey After Takeover (Update1)


Egypt yesterday freed an Israeli convicted of spying, in exchange for the release of six Egyptian detainees in a prisoner swap that signaled warmer ties between the countries.

Egypt frees Israeli in prisoner swap


As Russia held a day of mourning Thursday for the 89 people who died when two airliners went down, speculation continued to swirl around the cause of the near-simultaneous crashes.

Rumors Rife, But Few Clues To Russia #39;s Twin Air Crash


NEW YORK : San Francisco #39;s Barry Bonds, whose Major League Baseball feats have been dogged by unproven steroid suspicions, became the oldest player to win the National League Most Valuable Player award.

Baseball: Bonds wins seventh MVP award


Somali presidential candidate Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed, left, stands next to an unidentified election official, just after he had taken an oath on the Quran to abide by the election results, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004

Ex-Army Officer Elected Somalian President


J.L. Lewis gets off to his best start ever on the PGA Tour, shooting a 10-under-par 62 for a two-shot lead after the first round of the Funai Classic at Disney.

Lewis Shoots to First


A controversial \$308 million deal to broadcast India #39;s home cricket matches fell through on Tuesday after the country #39;s cricket board said there was no binding contract and it may re-tender the rights.

Indian TV Rights Up for Grabs Again


The worlds dominant chewing-gum maker is looking to extend its marketing might to candy. Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. said Monday that it has agreed to buy the

Wrigley adds Altoids, Life Savers to lineup


Dennis Hastert, the speaker of the House, is the man President Bush is counting on to enact an ambitious second-term agenda.

Quietly but Firmly, Hastert Asserts His Power


The International Cricket Council #39;s racism inquiry in Harare ended in a shambles on Thursday with the two-man panel unable to crack the deadlock between the rebel white players and the Zimbabwe Cricket Board.

Cricket racism probe drama


AP - Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet is questionable for Sunday's game against Buffalo with a sore lower back.

Chrebet Questionable for Bills Game (AP)


Japan's highest court removes a key obstacle to a proposed merger between UFJ bank and rival Mitsubishi Financial.

Japan bank mega-merger on track


SBC Communications Inc., the second-largest local phone company in the United States, said Monday it will offer wireless Internet service for \$1.

SBC Offers \$1.99 Per Month Wi-Fi Add-On


The more that Isiah Thomas insisted yesterday he will never coach the Knicks, the more you wanted to ask,  quot;Well, why would you?

Isiah calls it all, except own number


AP - The bullet-riddled body of a kidnapped Turkish engineer was found Wednesday in eastern Afghanistan, a day after he was snatched with his driver and interpreter by a band of armed men, officials said.

Body of Turk Engineer Found in Afghanistan (AP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Growth in the vast U.S. services  sector slowed in August although managers seemed more willing  to hire new workers, according to an industry survey published  on Friday.

U.S. Services Growth Slower in August


I #39;ve been running a new Windows XP computer from Microsoft all week. It boots up quickly and runs smoothly. I #39;m very impressed.

Virtual PC opens window on Mac


AP - Carnie Wilson, whose gastric bypass surgery five years ago was broadcast on the Internet, is expecting her first child.

Carnie Wilson Says She's Pregnant (AP)


Tony Smith of The Register (UK) has published a look at Freescale #39;s upcoming smaller, faster G4 processor. Freescale is the name of Motorola #39;s spun-off

Freescale To Launch Smaller, Faster G4 Processor


Cisco Systems and Microsoft have announced a collaborative effort designed to bridge a divide between their emerging network access-control architectures.

Cisco, Microsoft bridge security gap


One of the past snags in gaining acceptance of PC components in couch-potato HQ has been the difficulty of integrating them into a home entertainment network.

Microsoft Gets Comfy in the Living Room


AP - Four Americans killed in bombings in the Green Zone in Baghdad on Thursday were all employees of the private U.S. security firm DynCorp, a U.S. official said Thursday.

U.S.: Baghdad Blasts Kill Four Americans (AP)


A suicide car bomber plowed into a Shiite mosque in Baghdad after dawn prayers on Friday, killing 14 people and stoking fears that sectarian divisions over when to hold elections could bring further bloodshed.

Renewed violence shatters lull in Baghdad


(CBS) Lets face it: I know I have a problem. A few years ago, I started converting all my music CDs into MP3 files (and AAC files for my iPod), and realize now that by any standard of sanity, Im clearly unwell.

I Love iPod


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Discount retailer Kmart Holding Corp.  will buy department store operator Sears, Roebuck   Co. in a  \$11.5 billion deal unveiled on Wednesday, creating the  third-largest U.S. retailer.

Kmart to Buy Sears in \$11.5 Billion Deal


RAMALLAH - New PLO chairman Mahmud Abbas called for an end to the armed uprising, as Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza yesterday in the aftermath of the most lethal Palestinian attack since Yasser Arafat #39;s death.

Abbas opposes use of arms


Financial companies were under scrutiny Friday after Sen. John Kerry vowed to push for legislation that would curb credit card fees and protect homebuyers from unfair lending practices.

Credit Issuers Shares Dented by Kerry Plan


Sears, Roebuck  amp; Co (SN: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest US department store chain, on Thursday posted a third-quarter loss as its sales continued to slide, prompting the company to cut its full-year profit forecast.

Sears Posts a Loss, Cuts Year Outlook


Finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of 20 countries (G20) kicked off a two-day meeting here Saturday to assess the current economic situation and global growth prospects.

G20 to debate on world economic growth


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Network equipment maker Juniper  Networks Inc. <A HREF=

Juniper Earnings Rise


A satellite tracking project shows the ocean hotspots where albatrosses come into conflict with longline trawlers.

Satellites track albatross flight


Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho dismissed criticism that the club lacked a scoring edge after their 4-0 win over Blackburn Rovers. Eidur Gudjohnsen scored a hat-trick as Chelsea took their Premiership tally this season from eight goals to 12.

Mourinho rejects Chelsea critics


England captain Michael Vaughan hit 74, but India #39;s bowlers delivered a consolation victory in the third and final NatWest Challenge one-day cricket international at Lord #39;s.

Indian bowlers too good for England


Says buy will improve consulting contacts and provide products to help recover lost passwords and improve site security.

Symantec to acquire security firm stake


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces have launched a major  offensive on the rebel stronghold of Samarra after a series of  horrific car bombings in Baghdad on Thursday that killed 41  people, mostly children.

U.S. Launches Assault on Rebel-Held Iraqi Town


The UK #39;s second largest pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, yesterday admitted another setback in the development of some of its drugs, as it delayed the expected launch of diabetes treatment Galida for a year.

Diabetes delay adds to AstraZeneca #39;s ills


David Hockney's controversial theory that early Renaissance painters used cameralike devices has been challenged by researchers using digital techniques.

Computer People Reopen Art History Dispute


Scientists have made a world-first discovery which is a step towards using environmentally-friendly hydrogen to power our cars. A team from the Universities of Newcastle upon Tyne and Liverpool in the UK, who

A step towards pollution-free cars


Group is asking the Supreme Court to overturn decision in favor of file-swapping networks.

MPAA Revives P-to-P Lawsuit


Top Internet service providers began a second coordinated legal blitz against spammers yesterday, filing seven lawsuits under the CAN-SPAM Act.

Big ISPs File Second Round of CAN-SPAM Suits


If you use shared or public computers, you have a new privacy risk to consider: Google Desktop Search.\

Does Google desktop search pose risks?


A military police investigation was ordered yesterday by the Israeli Chief of Staff into allegations that soldiers had tampered with the bodies of dead Palestinians and posed for photographs with the corpses.

Israeli soldiers accused of tampering with corpses


KABUL: The Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies were stepping up plans to disrupt Afghanistans first direct presidential election on Oct 9, the head of the US-led coalition said on Saturday.

REGION: Taliban stepping up plans to disrupt elections: US


The Federal Reserve boosted a key short-term interest rate by one-quarter percentage point Wednesday, the fourth increase this year.

Federal Reserve Raises Key Interest Rate


Via Technologies announces new product that brings PCI Express input-output to computers running AMD chips.

Via brings PCI Express to AMD-based computers


Despite missing half his fairways and a half-dozen putts inside 12 feet, Vijay Singh grinds out a 1-under 69 to stay within three shots of the lead at the Tour Championship.

Singh Hangs Close


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Publisher and broadcaster Tribune Co.  <A HREF=

Tribune Won't Meet Wall St. Expectations


Point guard Devin Harris #39; play in the preseason has impressed Mavericks coach Don Nelson enough to start the rookie from Wisconsin.

Rookie among Mavs #39; starting five


p2pnet.net News:- Wurld Media, which, among other things, boasts its,  quot;partnered with the USArmy, quot; says it #39;s struck a deal with three of the Big Four record label cartel members to peddle their  #39;product #39; through what it calls a peer-to-peer service

Corporate p2p network?


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices climbed for the third  straight day on Wednesday as U.S. government reported a fall in  heating oil stocks and cold weather gripped the U.S. Northeast,  the world's biggest heating fuel market.

Oil Up 4 Pct., U.S. Heating Oil Stocks Fall


Shares of auto parts supplier Visteon Corp. (VC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) fell 15 percent to near a 10-month low on Friday after it warned that production cuts by major customer Ford Motor Co.

Visteon shares fall 15 pct after outlook warning


Ian Previte, a drifter, has been found guilty of murdering 19-year-old British backpacker Caroline Stuttle in Bundaberg, Australia, April 10, 2002.

Man sentenced to life for backpacker murder


A passenger train derailed and plunged into a ravine in the northern Philippines early Friday, killing at least six people and injuring 50 others, police said.

Train derailment in Philippines kills 6


JERUSALEM, 20 October 2004 - Palestinian Authority officials remain doubtful that the Israeli prime ministers plan to withdraw from Gaza will go ahead given the fierce opposition the project has stirred among extreme right-wingers and Jewish illegal

PA Remains Doubtful Over Gaza Pullout


At least 26 people die in clashes between security forces and Maoists in western Nepal, the army says.

Fresh clashes in Nepal 'kill 26'


AP - Internet downloads are nothing new when it comes to buying music and software online. So why does video game shopping still mostly involve either shlepping to a store or waiting for the delivery truck after you order online?

On-Demand Video Game Services Vary (AP)


washingtonpost.com - Microsoft might be king of the software world, but it's having to play catch up in the increasingly important world of Internet and desktop search, chasing the substantial leads of Google, Yahoo and others.

Is Google the Next Netscape? (washingtonpost.com)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Countrywide Financial Corp. <A HREF=

Countrywide Results Spark Sector Selloff


Bad weeks happen to everybody. But Florida coach Ron Zook can retire the award for the season. All that happened to Zook, who had to endure the sting of a fireronzook.com website in his first season replacing Steve Spurrier as Gators coach, was a confrontation in a fraternity house, a lukewarm vote of confidence by the school president, and a ...

Zook wary of hook


Sun Microsystems Inc. has found one more way to cozy up to users of Microsoft Corp. products without actually shipping the Windows operating system on its computers.

Sun gets Microsoft-friendly with promotion


You share a pepperoni pizza. You even share a Nobel Peace Prize. You do not share the NFL MVP Award. Doesn #39;t the title alone preclude splitting such a superlative?

No debate, it #39;s Manning


The trial of Sir Mark Thatcher in South Africa on charges that he helped finance a failed coup in Equatorial Guinea has been postponed until 8 April next year.

Thatcher #39;s Cape Town trial postponed


Reuters - South Korea Monday shrugged off North\Korean criticism of the South's experiments with nuclear\materials as familiar posturing that would not rule out the\mercurial communist North's return to atomic arms talks.

N.Korea Seen Using South Atomic Issue to Stall Talks (Reuters)


DAVID BLUNKETT, who dramatically quit as Home Secretary last night, has told how he sacrificed his career for the sake of his two-year-old love child.

I sacrificed career for little boy #39;s sake


CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo  Chavez pressed for a new anti-terrorism proposal on Saturday  after a car bomb killed a top state prosecutor investigating  opponents accused of backing a 2002 coup against him.

Chavez Pushes Anti-Terrorism Plan After Bomb Attack


The question of what #39;s up between coach Larry Brown and nailed-to-the-bench young forward Carmelo Anthony is not, to be sure, the most important one facing the United States men #39;s basketball team. The team #39;s poor shooting -- after going 3-for-17 in ...

Casual approach, shot selection land Anthony seat on Team USA bench


Tim Carter, the Giants #39; speedy but injury-bedeviled wide receiver, fractured his hip in Sunday #39;s victory over the Cowboys and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Tim Carter out for season


England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson says a decent start to the World Cup qualifying campaign is vital.

Football: England start campaign


The European Jetmaker Has Long Skirted Subsidy Rules. Now Washington #39;s WTO Complaint Will Drag That Abuse Into The Light Of Day.

Finally, A Boeing-Airbus Showdown


UBS said Tuesday that it would buy Charles Schwab #39;s market making, research and institutional trading unit for \$265 million in cash.

UBS to buy Schwab #39;s trading unit


Ziff Davis - There are lots of good reasons for 'net anonymity.

Don't Fear Internet Anonymity Tools (Ziff Davis)


The US Supreme Court will soon decide whether Michigan wine drinkers should be able to buy a case of California merlot or Virginia chardonnay directly from the vintners.

Court could allow out-of-state wine to flow into Michigan


Link Exchange Scams\\Do you ever exchange links with other Web sites? I am sure most of you that do this, look to see if your links are actually on the pages that you exchanged with. In addition, I assume that you check to make sure that the links do not ...

Link Exchange Scams


com November 4, 2004, 10:28 AM PT. This priority retains its ranking at number five as more and more companies deploy Web services to share business logic, data and processes with each other and with clients.

Viacom to bid for Marketwatch


There aren't many players in baseball who can change a game with their speed. But Dave Roberts is certainly among the handful who can, and the Red Sox utility outfielder made his presence felt on the bases in Games 4 and 5.

Roberts's rule: Use his speed


WASHINGTON - The seats and head restraints in many cars fail to offer good protection against neck injuries in rear-end accidents, recent crash test results suggest.

Most cars in whiplash study fail to protect necks: report


After getting knocked around by a pair of South Division teams in its first two Big 12 football games, Iowa State welcomes a little Northern exposure this week.

Iowa State ready to face foes from North Division


Are right-leaning voters spending all their online time on Rushlimbaugh.com? Are left-leaning voters locked into the like-minded Talkingpointsmemo.

Voters see both sides online


Tom Lehman of Scottsdale faces the task of reversing the losing ways of the US Ryder Cup team. Today Lehman will be named captain of the 2006 US team that will challenge the Europeans at the K Club in Kildare

Lehman named Ryder captain


Reuters - Popular California Gov. Arnold\Schwarzenegger said on Wednesday he spurned White House\invitations to campaign more widely for President Bush and has\agreed to just one joint appearance.

Schwarzenegger Says He Won't Travel More for Bush (Reuters)


Tiger Woods enjoyed his three-week honeymoon so much that he considered extending it for a full month and skipping this week #39;s Tour Championship.

Woods considered skipping Tour Championship


KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia found new cases of bird flu today in an infected area that had been under quarantine for three weeks, setting off a new round of culling poultry and screening people to contain the potentially deadly disease.

Malaysia finds more bird flu cases


Singletary stormed to the lead at the top of the stretch and won Saturday #39;s \$1.5 million Breeders #39; Cup Mile at Lone Star Park.

Mile: Singletary sacks field


POIANA BRASOV, Romania NATO defense ministers pledged on Wednesday to speed the deployment of about 300 security instructors to Iraq by the end of the year under a program to field more Iraqi forces to help safeguard the elections in January.

NATO hurrying on Iraq trainers


BOSTON - A state judge upheld a 1913 law that prohibits out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage between residents has been legal since May.    The eight couples who filed the lawsuit - from Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and New York - sought a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the statute, claiming it is inherently discriminatory...

Gay Couples Plan to Appeal Mass. Ruling


Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corp., the world #39;s fifth-largest media company and owner of the Fox broadcast network and Fox News Channel, adopted a plan to thwart any hostile takeover after John Malone #39;s Liberty Media Corp.

Murdoch tries to hold off takeover


MIAMI (Ticker) -- Paul Pierce #39;s first miss from the line came at the wrong time for the Boston Celtics. Pierce, who had made his first eight free throws, split a pair of attempts with a chance to tie the game

Celtics fall to Heat on Pierce #39;s late miss


Strong performances my mobile phone and carpet stores have prompted a surprise rise in retail sales figures, and revived fears that interest rates may yet be raised again this year.

Surge in retail sales revives rates fears


AP - Saddam Hussein's regime made more than  #36;21.3 billion in illegal revenue by subverting the U.N. oil-for-food program  #151; more than double previous estimates, according to congressional investigators.

Probe: Saddam Made  #36;21B From U.N. Program (AP)


A gas explosion may be the country's worst coal-mine accident in recent years.

Mine Blast in China Leaves Over 160 Missing


Palestinian leaders said Monday they had asked for a full report on Yasser Arafat #39;s death in a Paris hospital last week, challenging French laws under which his widow has maintained a veil of secrecy.

Palestinians request French medical report on Arafat #39;s death


Canadian Press - BURNABY, B.C. (CP) - New RCMP recruits should get more training about spousal abuse and more supervision when handling such complaints, a coroner has suggested.

RCMP should get better training to deal with domestic abuse, says coroner (Canadian Press)


IRVING, Texas - The Dallas Cowboys finally got some big plays from the old legs in their running game, only they didnt come from 33-year-old Richie Anderson or 31-year-old Eddie George.

Testaverde #39;s scramble sparks Cowboys


artha Stewart #39;s prison stay for lying about a stock sale will take her to West Virginia, farther from home for the holidays, she said today, than she had hoped.

Martha Stewart to Serve Time in West Virginia


TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Japanese stock indexes edged higher by midmorning Tuesday, building on a strong upward momentum in the previous session after corporate capital spending raised hopes that gross domestic product data will be revised up later in the week.

Nikkei edges up on economic hope


For the bulk of the 89 minutes that the US National Team went without a goal against an inspired Jamaican side, chances were created -- some of the golden opportunity nature -- but none were converted. And it nearly put the Americans behind the proverbial ...

US wings it in Caribbean


The wait for a baseball team is over. The debate over the name begins. With the Montreal Expos headed to the nation #39;s capital, ideas for a suitable nickname for a baseball team at the seat

Name of Washington team to be decided


The head of Marsh  amp; McLennan Companies Inc., the nation #39;s largest insurance broker, resigned Monday, clearing the way for the settlement of bid-rigging charges brought by New York #39;s attorney general.

Marsh  amp; McClennan CEO quits


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. chain store retail sales rose in  the latest week, a report said on Tuesday.

Retail Sales in U.S. Chain Stores Rise


Nissan Motor, the Japanese carmaker, has been forced to stop production at three of its four car assembly plants in Japan for five working days after running out

Nissan Motor stops work at four plants


It #39;s been a lousy fall for grocery shoppers. First the cost of tomatoes set new records, and now those lucky enough to find grapefruits can expect to pay more than \$1 a piece.

First tomatoes, now grapefruit


The cost of building a stadium and renovating RFK Stadium could be \$91 million more than city officials initially estimated, according to an analysis released Wednesday.

Cost Estimate Jumps


Optus says it has achieved more than 250,000 broadband subscribers, as it continues to benefit from an industry-wide surge in popularity for the internet service.

Optus broadband hits 250,000 subscribers


update In order to get the next update of its Windows operating system out the door, Microsoft will delay some of the key improvements that had been planned.

Microsoft revamps its plans for Longhorn


Xerox is saying goodbye to an old slogan as it moves beyond

New Logo and Tagline for Xerox


Forbes.com - We all want to get our way with those toll-free customer service reps. But if you've ever wondered whether it's better to drip honey or cuss bitterly while you're being

Anger Management (Forbes.com)


Cingular Wireless today announced it has completed its previously announced merger with AT amp;T Wireless, creating the nation #39;s biggest wireless carrier with the

Cingular, AT amp;T complete merger


Future of television is coming into focus, revealing new vistas for the industry--but also some zits.

Tuning up for HDTV


OTTAWA - Canada Post is promising that holiday mail will move as usual whether or not their is a mail strike. The post office is reassuring Canadians their Christmas mail won #39;t be affected if administrative, clerical and technical workers go on strike.

Canada Post says possible strike won #39;t stop holiday mail


SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M (Reuters) - U.S. interest rates  should rise to forestall future price pressures, Cleveland Fed  President Sandra Pianalto said on Friday, while conceding that  inflation did not pose a major threat now.

Cleveland Fed Chief: Higher Rates Needed


While Nobel Prizes are given for past performance, other types of inducement prizes are intended to spur innovation. Do they do the job?

Do Good! Win a Prize!


Sydney, December 4: US technical experts will fly to Australia to examine whether song files swapped by users of Kazaa, the world #39;s most popular Internet file-swapping system, can be filtered, a judge hearing a copyright case has ruled.

US experts to examine filtering Web songs: Court


This story was reported by freelance writer Brian Boyd and staff writers Wil Cruz, Robert Kahn, Erik Holm and Dan Janison. At the Newsroom bar on Gerard Street in the Bronx, one block from Yankee Stadium, owner

Yanks fans mourn loss


FOR years they were the bullies of the Premiership playground but now Manchester United are finding that the little guys can fight back.

BYE-BYE BULLIES


AP - Malaysia will send a team of senior agriculture officials to Thailand next week for urgent talks on tightening border controls against the spread of bird flu, which has forced a quarantine of Malaysia's northern Kelantan state.

Malaysia, Thailand to Discuss Bird Flu (AP)


A former  prisoner at the U.S. Navy facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, thought to have forged ties with al Qaeda since his release is leading a militant band whose members kidnapped two Chinese engineers in a lawless region of Pakistan near the Afghan border.

Ex-Detainee Leading Pakistani Militants


AP - Martha Reeves, former lead singer of Martha Reeves  amp; the Vandellas, says eBay left her open to identity theft by posting a contract on its Web site that showed her Social Security number and signature.

Reeves Says EBay May Cause Identity Theft (AP)


AP - Insurgents hammered central Baghdad on Sunday with one of their most intense mortar and rocket barrages ever in the heart of the capital, heralding a day of violence that killed nearly 60 people nationwide as security appeared to spiral out of control.

Surge of Baghdad Violence Leaves 59 Dead (AP)


Will The Incredibles' mighty marketing machine ensure that the film performs beyond all expectations?

Incredible Marketing Muscle


AP - A geologist who spent four years traipsing in and around Frederick has mapped areas most likely to develop sinkholes  #151; depressions in the earth that appear suddenly, swallowing cars and homes.

Md. Geologist Completes Sinkhole Study (AP)


Intense diplomatic efforts are under way to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons programme.

Diplomatic push on N Korea talks


Reuters - Space shuttle Enterprise was\born to be an astronautical bridesmaid, never a bride.

Shuttle Enterprise Takes Center Stage, at Last (Reuters)


WASHINGTON -- A \$120 million fine levied on Royal Dutch/Shell Group by the Securities and Exchange Commission resolves the company's part in the SEC inquiry into the overstatement of oil and gas reserves, but the role of individuals is still under investigation, regulators said yesterday..

Royal Dutch/Shell fined \$120m


The golf season finally enters its winter break this week, and there will be no more action on either the US PGA Tour or the European Tour until January.

TARGET CHALLANGE GOLF LATEST BETTING ODDS NEWS


Reuters - Oil prices extended gains above  #36;41 a\barrel on Tuesday on forecasts of colder temperatures in the\U.S. Northeast, a supply cut by top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia\and disruptions to Iraqi crude exports.

Oil Prices Extend Gains Above  #36;41/barrel (Reuters)


Storage and backup application vendor Veritas Software Corp. is acquiring e-mail archiving vendor KVault Software Ltd. (KVS) to bolster its offerings to customers.

Veritas buys KVault Software in \$225M deal


Reuters - Retailer Payless ShoeSource Inc.\ on Friday posted a quarterly profit, as lower\advertising and payroll expenses and other cost savings offset\decreased sales.

Payless Posts Profit on Cost Control (Reuters)


The latest variant of the Sober virus was released on Friday and has been spreading over the weekend, but antivirus experts say the situation could have been much worse.

Virus chaos thwarted by poor social engineering


AP - Tennessee cornerback Samari Rolle doesn't think the joke was very funny. Someone, he suspects a coach he won't identify, placed a bottle of Pepto-Bismol in his locker along with a photo of Cincinnati receiver Chad Johnson featuring the words:

Titans CB Rolle Gets Antacid Gag (AP)


AP - The lawyer for the adoptive mother of seven children found malnourished in a Nigerian orphanage agreed Thursday to allow the kids to remain in state foster care.

Kids Found in Africa Stay in Foster Care (AP)


When it comes to searching, more is not always better. Data experts are honing topic maps to better classify the information that's out there. By John Gartner.

Searching Smarter, Not Harder


The Iraqi Red Crescent ambulance that was hit in the US airstrike in Fallujah. (AFP). At least 20 people were killed and dozens wounded when US warplanes struck Fallujah yesterday.

20 Iraqis Killed, 29 Injured, in US Air Attack on Falluja Monday <b>...</b>


Masayoshi Son is a soft-spoken man with a mild manner and a polite smile that belies his grand ambitions. (Softbank)

Softbank chief #39;s hard-nosed ambitions


French freelance photographer Nicolas Reynard, who had worked for the National Geographic Society several times, died yesterday. The seaplane in which he was traveling crashed in the Negro River near Manaus in northern Brazil.

Geographic Photographer Dies in Amazon Plane Crash


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A powerful group of Sunni Muslim  clerics threatened Sunday to call a boycott of Iraq's first  free elections in decades if U.S. forces launch a  widely-expected assault on the rebel stronghold of Falluja.

Iraq's Sunni Clerics Threaten Election Boycott


On a continent that absorbs 75 percent of the world #39;s UN peacekeeping forces and budget, Ivory Coast #39;s violent downward spiral threatens hard-won gains against West Africa #39;s devastating civil wars of the 1990s.

The world will feel Ivory Coast #39;s pain


AP - Richard Gasquet of France upset seventh-seeded Dennis van Scheppingen of the Netherlands 6-3, 7-6 (5) Monday in the first round of the ATP Open de Moselle.

Gasquet Upset Winner in France (AP)


NORTHAMPTON -- Zippy Chippy, thoroughbred racing's all-time loser, lost his 100th race in 100 career starts yesterday, finishing last in an eight-horse field at the Three-County Fairgrounds in Northampton.

Story of a century: Zippy' loses 100th


Reuters - Illinois residents will soon gain\access to lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, the United\Kingdom and Ireland, sidestepping U.S. regulators' objections\to imported drugs, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said on Tuesday.

Illinois Helps Residents Import Drugs (Reuters)


British Airways Plc Chief Executive Rod Eddington has launched an investigation into last week #39;s flight delays and cancellations that stranded thousands of passengers, the Observer

BA chief to probe delays


Just hours after President Vladimir Putin sent Gazprom shares soaring by indicating he backed ending the long-derided dual trading system for the gas giant #39;s shares

Gazprom Restrictions May Stay


TOKYO - Toshiba Corp. and NEC Corp. said they are backing the HD DVD format over the rival Blu-ray Disc scheme, announcing plans here on Wednesday (Oct. 20) to launch new notebook computers in 2005 with HD DVD drives.

Toshiba, NEC plan HD DVD notebooks in 2005


AP - Jewelry retailer Zale Corp. said its loss widened to  #36;10.9 million in its third quarter despite a slight rise in revenue.

Zale Reports Wider Third-Quarter Loss (AP)


SHIPKA, BulgariaA Bulgarian archaeologist has unearthed a 2,400-year-old golden mask in the tomb of an ancient Thracian king  a find he says is unrivalled in the study of classical antiquity.

Golden mask sensational #39;


AP - The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Thursday that a top staffer overseeing the  #36;7.6 trillion mutual-fund industry will step down for a private-sector position.

SEC: Staffer Heading to Private-Sector Job (AP)


The scoop: Finally! For the first time in this championships, the team that scored first did NOT win the game. Nursing a 1-0 lead starting the third period, the USA surrendered two third-period goals and lost

World Cup of Hockey 2004 - semifinal games, St. Paul and Toronto


EUROPEAN FOOTBALL: Newcastle climbed just one place to eighth instead of five spots to fourth because of a 1-1 tie with Charlton. Rangers beat Motherwell 2-0.

Newcastle and Charlton battle to draw


Reuters - Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes\to help the New England Patriots set a record for consecutive\victories by downing the winless Miami Dolphins 24-10 in\Foxboro Sunday.

Brady Helps Patriots Win Record 19th Straight (Reuters)


The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given Argentina a one-year extension on repaying \$US1.1 billion (\$A1.58 billion) in debt.

IMF gives Argentina one-year reprieve


AP - Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has fallen out with some of his lieutenants, who blame him for the rebels' failure to disrupt the landmark Afghan presidential election, the U.S. military said Wednesday.

U.S. Claims Taliban Rift Helps Karzai (AP)


Wall Street bounded higher for the second straight day yesterday as investors reveled in sharply falling oil prices and the probusiness agenda of the second Bush administration.

Markets surge on oil drop, election


US IT spending will grow by seven per cent next year, according to a study out yesterday from IT analysts Forrester Research. Forrester predicts that spending on IT goods, services, and staff will remain at seven per cent over the next three years.

US IT spend to mark modest growth


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Health and Human Services  Department said on Tuesday it had ordered 2 million doses of  avian influenza vaccine from Aventis Pasteur Inc.   .

HHS Orders Avian Flu Vaccine from Aventis


ISLAMABAD : Pakistan formally declared Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz the winner of two by-elections held to clear his path to the prime ministership.

Pakistan #39;s PM-designate declared winner in two by-elections


Three Bulgarians face a Greek court, accused of locking up a  pregnant girl in an Athens flat to sell her baby.

Bulgarian 'baby smugglers' held


AP - Sen. Arlen Specter gained ground Tuesday toward winning the Senate Judiciary Committee chairmanship, which was thrown into doubt after he said judges who oppose abortion rights would face confirmation problems.

Specter Gets Hatch Support to Chair Panel (AP)


Carlos Gutierrez, whose family fled Castro, will head administration efforts to revive the manufacturing sector. By Associated Press.

Kellogg #39;s Cuban-born CEO to lead Commerce


BRUSSELS, Belgium - The future of controversial European Union legislation that would allow for some software patents was in doubt Thursday after the Polish government switched sides, saying the directive could hurt small and medium-sized businesses.

Future of EU Patent Legislation in Doubt


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Pollen from genetically engineered grass floated more than 12 miles from experimental plots and bred with conventional plants, raising concerns that the biotechnology industry can't control the

Biotech Grass Breeding Raises Concerns


The disclosure this week that a Singapore-listed company controlled by a Chinese state-owned enterprise lost \$550 million in derivatives transactions

Trading Losses at Chinese Firm Coming to Light


KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running  mate for Saturday's historic presidential election escaped  unhurt Wednesday when a mine exploded under his convoy in the  remote northeast of the country.  Vice presidential candidate Ahmad Zia Masood, the brother of  assassinated resistance hero Ahmad Shah Masood, had gone to  Faizabad, the capital of mountainous Badakhshan province, for a  campaign rally.

Karzai's Running Mate Escapes Afghan Mine Blast


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar edged higher on Thursday  after a report showed first-time claims for U.S. unemployment  dropped steeply, but traders said its significance for Friday's  widely anticipated payrolls report was limited.

Dollar Up on Jobless Data


It #39;s the mildest of mild winters down here in the south of Italy and, last weekend at Bcoli, a pretty suburb by the seaside west of Naples, the customers of Pizzeria  quot;Da Enrico quot; were making the most of it.

#39;The blood is running #39;: Mafia wars erupt again


Washington Roundup Telcos 1: states 0

No state regs, taxes for VoIP, FCC says


Management and pilots break off talks, making liquidation more likely.

US Airways: More Turbulence Ahead?


MANCHESTER United yesterday reported lower annual profits of 27.9m as it warned future results would be affected by a drop in media revenues.

Manchester United profits slip to 28m


AP - Angel Raich tried dozens of prescription medicines to ease the pain of a brain tumor and other illnesses before she took up another drug: pot.

High Court to Hear Medical Marijuana Issue (AP)


AP - Henrik Stenson of Sweden shot a 6-under-par 66 Sunday to win The Heritage by four strokes over Carlos Rodiles of Spain.

Stenson Wins Heritage by Four Strokes (AP)


Consumer confidence among Arizonans remained stronger in October than in the rest of the nation, but the outlook six months from now is much less promising, according to a statewide survey that was released today.

Consumer confidence still strong


Investment bank misses estimates as trading income plunges, other units fail to pick up the slack. By Rob Cox, Breakingviews. LONDON (Breakingviews) - Morgan Stanley is the first to slip.

Morgan Stanley cracks in 3Q


Paris, Nov. 17: Doctors who treated Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, believe he died of a blood condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and have ruled out poisoning, Le Monde newspaper reported today.

Arafat died of clotting disorder -- Le Monde


Security researchers are warning of another pair of vulnerabilities in Microsoft Corp. #39;s Internet Explorer browser affecting users on fully patched Windows XP Service Pack 2 systems.

Two More IE Holes Surface


AP - A look at efforts by the Democrats and the Republicans to register new voters in battleground states:

New Voters Sign Up in Battleground States (AP)


H M, the 57-year-old cheap-and-trendy clothing giant, has been moving into new areas of Europe, while it is still striving to meet its financial goals in the U.S.

H M Keeps Up the Expansion, but Some Analysts See Weak Links


Geriatric rocker Paul McCartney has been tapped to headline the halftime show of Fox #39;s telecast of Super Bowl XXXIX.  quot;There #39;s nothing bigger then being asked to perform at the Super Bowl, quot; McCartney says in a statement.

Paul McCartney: The Un-Janet


Frustrated doctors say they too often find themselves jury-rigging adult medical devices to fit children's tiny bodies and special needs. Now pediatric experts have begun a major push to fill the gap.

Doctors Need More Medical Devices for Babies


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Militants who beheaded an American  hostage in Iraq said they would kill another U.S. captive and a  Briton on Tuesday if their demands were not met.

Deadline Looms for American, British Captives in Iraq


AP - Tiffany Porter-Talbert scored 24 points, and Western Kentucky rallied to upset No. 14 Vanderbilt 85-77 Thursday night.

W. Kentucky Upsets No. 14 Vanderbilt 85-77 (AP)


HE was not at the Ryder Cup and he has yet to figure prominently at a major, but Graeme McDowell is starting to become a real force in European golf.

McDowell starting to make his mark on European golf


This holiday season, a dozen major retailers are banking on the choppy, pulsating sound of remixed Christmas classics to help lure young shoppers and keep them spending.

Putting a Twist on Christmas


CROMWELL, Connecticut (Reuters) - Woody Austin birdied the  first hole of a sudden-death playoff against fellow American  Tim Herron to win the \$4.2 million Buick Championship on  Sunday.

Austin Wins Buick Championship in Sudden Death


SEPTEMBER 20, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - An antispam technology proposed by Microsoft Corp. as a standard way of identifying the senders of e-mail messages suffered a blow this month when a group within the

IETF Panel Deals Setback to Microsoft #39;s Spam Proposal


AP - Sen. Arlen Specter is working the phones and embarking on a media blitz in an attempt to cement his standing as future chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the face of demands from conservatives that he be passed over.

Specter, Opponents Press Senate Leaders (AP)


For the Los Angeles-Seattle based music duo, keeping your name means promoting the mail service.

Postal Service Tale: Indie Rock, Snail Mail and Trademark Law


The Redskins have allowed nine sacks in the past two games -- a particularly large number for a Joe Gibbs-coached team.

Protection Is Issue


PC World - High-speed Internet access is becoming more and more popular, study shows.

DSL Leads the Broadband Boom (PC World)


The following is a verbatim copy of a open letter to the Linux community issued by PalmSource. Read on for more information about the new acquisition and FAQs about how PalmSource will use the new resources and the new Palm OS Cobalt version of Linux.

An open letter to the Linux community from PalmSource


BCS critics often vent frustration by omitting that middle letter. Not this time. It is needed. After Sunday, it #39;s clear what the C really signifies.

Thankfully, the BCS got it right this time


When was the last time you heard about a company more than doubling its profit from the previous year, but an error in judgment restrained that profit?

Smithfield Doesn #39;t Go Whole Hog


AMD has raised the stakes with Intel as the pair prepare to do battle over dual-core processors following last week #39;s demonstration of a dual-core x86 Opteron.

AMD dual-core design fuels chip race with Intel


KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's historic presidential vote,  which was held with great enthusiasm but ended in turmoil after  most candidates announced a boycott, was mostly fair,  independent observers said Sunday.

Afghan Polls Fair Despite Ink Fiasco -Monitors


Basel, Switzerland (Sports Network) - World No. 1 star Roger Federer was forced to pull out of his hometown Swiss Indoors tennis event after suffering a thigh injury while warming up on Tuesday.

Injured Federer pulls out of hometown tourney


Following the revelation that Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi used steroids, some government officials began demanding that major league baseball adopt a stricter steroid policy.

Government Legislation: A Bad Idea for Baseball


NewsFactor - Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW) today came out swinging with the launch of the latest\Solaris operating system, announcing that the new and improved\Unix-based software would be offered for free.

Sun Rolls Out Solaris 10 (NewsFactor)


President Bush defended his decision to invade Iraq, while John Kerry said that Mr. Bush lacked the record to justify re-election.

Bush and Kerry Trade Attacks in Their Second Presidential Debate


American Justin Gatlin shot to victory in the Olympic 100 meters final on Sunday in an atmosphere of fevered excitement. Gatlin flew across the line in 9.85 seconds, one

Gatlin Takes 100 Meter Gold


The Securities and Exchange Commission will propose soon a plan to tighten governance at the nation #39;s stock exchanges to ensure they are serving the public interest, SEC Chairman William Donaldson said Friday.

SEC to Propose Tigher Exchange Governance


Reuters - Although saved last week with Russian\help, the Kyoto pact on global warming offers too little to\arrest climate change and governments should adopt more radical\solutions, the top U.N. climate expert said.

Kyoto Too Little to Fix Warming - UN Climate Chief (Reuters)


Millions of Americans who are already trying to fight off unwanted electronic mail from direct marketers are about to get deluged by another source: politicians and lobbying groups.

Consultants Deliver Politics To Voters' Inboxes, at a Price


Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for leading a campaign to plant tens of millions of trees across Africa to slow deforestation.

Kenyan environmentalist wins Nobel Peace Prize


Groups tied to Abu Musab Zarqawi claim a major car bombing Tuesday, taking Westerners as hostages. By Howard LaFranchi. BAGHDAD - When a disciplined group of uniformed men kidnapped two Italian aid workers

Abductions in Iraq a big business


A host of high-tech big wheels, from information technology leaders to inventors and visionaries from across the region, are slated to converge for a summit in Portsmouth on Oct. 14 and 15.

Summit attracts top tech leaders


Reuters - President Bush is expected to give\an outline of his vision for a Middle East without Yasser\Arafat on Friday, with his most loyal ally Tony Blair by his\side.

Bush, Blair to Discuss Life After Arafat (Reuters)


VIENNA : Europe #39;s three heavyweight states are to give Iran a last chance prove it is not secretly developing atomic weapons, offering valuable nuclear technology as a carrot and possible UN sanctions as the stick.

European heavyweights give Iran last chance to come clean on <b>...</b>


LONDON (Reuters) - World oil prices slid \$3 a barrel on  Wednesday, shedding nearly 7 percent, as a larger-than-expected  build in U.S. heating stocks soothed worries about a winter  fuel deficit.

Oil Falls \$3, Winter Fuel Inventories Up


Jerusalem - The Israeli cabinet on Sunday approved as expected Premier Ariel Sharon #39;s controversial plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip, paying compensation to those leaving but punishing those trying to stay on.

Cabinet approves Gaza pullout


Japanese game giant Nintendo announced Tuesday that its forthcoming DS (short for Dual Screen) portable game system will launch in the United States on Nov. 21 for a retail price of \$149.

Nintendo to launch DS game system in November


Skyscrapers that power themselves through wind and solar energy collected on their roofs are named in the winning designs in a competition aimed at creating a greener modern city.

The greening of Ground Zero


AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- Ben Wallace and the Detroit Pistons displayed the type of suffocating defense that led them to the NBA title last season.

Cavs smothered by Pistons #39; defence


It says much for the progress made by Jose Antonio Reyes that the Spain international has become an important part of Arsenal #39;s bid to win the Champions League which continues tonight against Rosenborg.

Arsenal delight at rise of Reyes


Denmark #39;s first ever soccer strike was called off Thursday according to the players #39; and clubs #39; representatives, who refused to release details of the agreement.

Denmark soccer strike ends but parties refuse to disclose deal


AP - A red-footed falcon spotted for the first time in North America is enticing birdwatchers to Martha's Vineyard.

Red-Footed Falcon Sighted in Mass. (AP)


A report predicts one third of all hard drives will be in consumer electronics devices by 2008.

Hard drives to accelerate into gadgets


Harrison Frazar took some time off to rest and find a way to make golf fun again. For the second week in a row it paid off with a share of the first-round lead, though he

Frazar, six others share lead in Vegas


Spain #39;s Roberto Heras of the Liberty Seguros team won the Tour of Spain for a record-equaling third time when he held off second-placed Santiago Perez in the final stage.

Record-tying Vuelta win for Heras


Sony is finally out with their first direct assault on the famed Apple iPod digital music player. As reported earlier, Sony has gone ahead and released their first MP3 supported Walkman.

Sony Walkman takes on iPod


The economy created 337,000 new jobs in October, nearly double the 169,000 that Wall Street was expecting. The overall unemployment rate rose marginally to 5.5 percent from 5.4 percent.

Economy Added Far More Jobs Than Expected in October


Prosecutors in the Kobe Bryant rape case will ask a judge on Wednesday to drop the rape charge against the basketball player, a source close to the case said.

Prosecutor to drop rape charge against Kobe Bryant


This one lacked the pathos of Sunday #39;s marathon but it was another sad and bewildering early departure for Paula Radcliffe, who managed only 16 circuits in the 25-lap women #39;s 10,000 metres

Radcliffe breaks down again


ATHENS -- Mia Hamm will carry the flag for the US in tonight's closing ceremonies after being chosen in a vote of team members.

Leading role for Hamm


British Airways is to raise its fuel surcharge as a result of the continuing increase in the price of oil.

BA's fuel surcharge to increase


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

Snap-On Sees Profit Below Estimates


ATHENS -- Shawn Hill #39;s Olympics are over, but it remains to be seen if he will bring back a medal from Athens. The 23-year-old Mississauga pitcher tossed six quality innings in Canada #39;s 8-5 loss to Cuba on Tuesday night, ending up with a no decision.

Bronze possible for Hill


AP - Allen Iverson waited his entire NBA career to make a buzzer-beating shot. Grant Hill waited four long years just to get back to full strength.

Iverson Hits First Buzzer-Beater for 76ers (AP)


Tim Henman believes the Houston venue for the Tennis Masters Cup will see the British number one at the top of his form. Henman takes on American Andy Roddick on Tuesday in his first match after Marat Safin

Henman Impressed in Houston


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Short-sellers, Wall Street's dwindling  band of ultra-cynics, are seeing green again.

Wall St. Bears Claw Back Into the Black


WAIT a minute! Just because the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees does not mean the  quot;Curse of the Bambino quot; has ended.

Sorry, Bosox fans, the curse lives


Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday he still considers Iraq #39;s southern city of Samawah as a  quot;noncombat quot; region despite the Iraqi government had announced a state

Koizumi insists Samawah  quot;noncombat quot; zone


Ryan Newman resuscitates his fragile title hopes by winning the MBNA America 400 on another day of dizzying scoreboard watching.

Newman Wins at Dover


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

UAL Sets Salary Cuts; Aims for Savings


To the roll call of corporate scandals in recent years - a list of greed and shame that includes Enron, WorldCom, Tyco and others -he name of newspaper group Hollinger International may soon be added.

Time for Black to resign his peerage


US Treasury prices fell on Monday despite a solid three-year note auction as the bearish tide that followed last week #39;s robust jobs report continued to sweep the market lower.

Treasuries drop, Fed worries outweigh strong sale


Mexican cement company Cemex SA said Monday it has signed a letter of intent to sell two cement plants in the US to Brazil #39;s Grupo Votorantim for US\$400 million (euro308 million.

Mexico #39;s Cemex May Sell Two US Plants


Agency to publish draft guidelines that would encourage companies to submit voluntary safety evaluations of bioengineered crops that sometimes drift and cross-pollinate with nearby plants.
<FONT face=

FDA to Issue Guidelines On Biotech Food


The regulator for the UKs communications industries today set out details of its approach to new voice services such as Internet Telephony.

UK watchdog sets out VoIP policy


Office Depot Inc. warned Tuesday of weaker-than-expected profits for the rest of the year because of disruptions from the string of hurricanes in Florida and poor sales in the rest of North America and in Europe.

Office Depot cuts profit forecast


Rockwell Collins Inc., the maker of aircraft electronics, said its income rose 18 percent in the latest quarter, helped by strong sales to the military.

Update 1: Rockwell Collins Profit Up on Contracts


Growth at foundry United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) continues to outpace that at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which ended its record-sales streak in September.

UMC continues to grow faster than TSMC


In the years since Mount St. Helens last erupted, technology has completely revolutionized volcano science.

At Mount St. Helens, the Big Eruption Is of Data, Not Lava


Reuters - California pollution regulators\conducted a review on Thursday of a far-reaching proposal to\order the automobile industry to cut greenhouse gas emissions\from new cars and trucks sold in the state.

Calif. Air Board Prepares to Vote on Car Emissions (Reuters)


TODAY #39;S Newspoll was no guarantee of victory for the Coalition and the election result would be close, Prime Minister John Howard said.

Poll no guarantee of victory: PM


In an effort to avoid bankruptcy Delta Air Lines Inc. announced that it is eliminating  7,000 jobs, closing its Texas hub and seeking wage concessions from its pilots.

Delta to Cut Workforce by 10 Percent


SunGard Data Systems Inc. plans to split into two companies, spinning off a disaster recovery services unit using a tax-free distribution of shares to stockholders, the software and services vendor said Monday.

SunGard will spin off disaster recovery unit


ATI today added the X850 series of graphics processors as a new high-end version for its desktop product line. The X800-XL takes the X800 family to an entry level price point.

ATI launches X850, X800-XL graphics processors


Circuit City Stores Inc. reported a smaller quarterly loss Friday as it kept a tight rein on expenses and demand increased for digital televisions, notebook computers and other popular products.

Circuit City loss below forecasts


AP - The Justice Department has made a series of arrests against purveyors of e-mail

Over 100 Arrested in U.S. Spam Crackdown (AP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks advanced on Wednesday  after Kmart's plan to buy Sears in an \$11.5 billion  deal was  announced and computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co. <A HREF=

Stocks Gain on Sears Deal, But Trim Gains


The price of crude oil falls by more than a dollar in New York, as mild weather in northern US states eases demand for heating oil.

Oil price down on warm US weather


Auckland International Airport has reported a 13 increase in annual net profit, buoyed by strong growth in passenger numbers and a 30 increase in international seat capacity.

Auckland airport profit up 13


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices fell below \$43 on  Monday on continued profit-taking as producer-group OPEC eyed  increases in the coming months in its tight spare capacity,  countering worries over stumbling Iraqi oil exports.

Oil Slips Below \$43 a Barrel


Hundreds gathered in Birmingham yesterday to mark the 30th anniversary of one of Britain #39;s most gruesome terrorist attacks, the bombing of two city centre pubs which killed 21 and seriously injured 160.

IRA fails to say sorry for Birmingham pub bombs


BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - Burning of the Amazon and  other forests accounts for three quarters of Brazil's  greenhouse gas emissions and has made the country one of the  world's leading polluters, a long-delayed government report  showed on Wednesday.

Amazon Burning Makes Brazil a Leading Polluter


When it comes to covering politics, journalists often fall into the 'he said, she said' trap without taking the time to delve into the details. The nonpartisan FactCheck.org jumps into the informational breach. By Louise Witt.

Finding Truth on the Internet


Milwaukee Bucks #39; Erick Strickland is fouled by New Orleans Hornets #39; Lee Nailon as he puts up a shot during the fourth quarter Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004, in Milwaukee.

Bucks Edge Past Hornets 94-91


Bocada Inc. is releasing an upgrade of its backup reporting software tailored to help CIOs and other executives meet business goals and achieve regulatory compliance.

Bocada upgrades backup reporting software for SLAs


AP - The Philadelphia Phillies are wasting no time trying to replace Larry Bowa, setting up interviews with former managers Don Baylor, Charlie Manuel and Grady Little for next week.

Phillies Eye Baylor, Manuel and Little (AP)


Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood admitted he had initially been angered by the four extra minutes which allowed his team a shock 3-2 win at Celtic.

O #39;Neill - dealt double blow. (Getty Images)


BACK in 1959, the seven men chosen to be the first Americans in space were trained on what Nasa called airborne microgravity missions.

Enter the ultimate ego trip


AFP - British yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur set sail in an attempt to set a new solo round-the-world record.

MacArthur sets sail on solo round-the-world challenge (AFP)


Britain #39;s broadband access charges are still too high and need to be slashed further to bring them in line with other nations, the UK #39;s media and telecoms regulator said Thursday.

Regulator: British Broadband Prices Still Too High


Materials company Pvaxx Research   Development has developed a plastic-looking polymer that degrades into soil when discarded, feeding a sunflower seed contained in a phone cover developed in conjunction with the polymer.

Scientists make phone that turns into a sunflower


Memo says offering has support, muting talk that some fear IPO will give bank head too much power. LONDON (Reuters) - Head of Lazard Bruce Wasserstein has  quot;near unanimous support quot; from the working partners

Partners said to support Lazard IPO


Motorola, No. 2 maker of mobile telephones, and NTT DoCoMo, the world #39;s second-largest wireless carrier, will jointly develop handsets to attract business customers in Japan.

Motorola, DoCoMo teaming up to develop new phones


washingtonpost.com - Talk about a great day for Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison.

PeopleSoft v. Oracle: Game Over? (washingtonpost.com)


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Shares of medical device maker Guidant  Corp. <A HREF=

Guidant Shares Up on J J Deal Report


SPACE.com - Astronomers sifting through \the radiation signals emanating from a distant black hole have separated the \emission into its two component parts, a key step in understanding how such \massive objects work.

Astronomers Untangle Black Hole Radiation (SPACE.com)


Business users can postpone SP2 installation to complete testing its effect on other programs.

Microsoft Delays Automatic Win XP Updates


Bonds of Bombardier Inc., the world #39;s biggest maker of train equipment, declined after Moody #39;s Investors Service cut its credit rating two levels to junk.

Bombardier Bonds Weaken After Moody #39;s Reduces Rating to Junk


A new law takes effect today that #39;s sure to have a positive impact on the nation #39;s payment system. It #39;s also likely to have an impact on those who pull out a checkbook when it #39;s time to pay the bills.

Faster check-clearing benefits all of us


Reuters - National joy in Italy at the safe return\of two aid workers held hostage in Iraq gave way in some\quarters on Wednesday to concern that Rome had paid a ransom\for the women's freedom.

Ransom Concern Clouds Return of Italian Hostages (Reuters)


COPENHAGEN - Microsoft Corp. wrapped up its IT Forum in Copenhagen this week by singing the praises of new management tools that are part of a long-term vision for reducing IT complexity. But behind its more vocal announcements there emerged another significant tune, one that suggested that the software maker will have to be more willing to play with platforms from other companies in order to deliver its new strategy.

MS strategy pushes it to cross-platform support


An IT director reports on problems associated with a move to Linux.

What it's like to switch to open-source


The top-seeded Belgian was upset in the fourth round of the year #39;s last Grand Slam tournament by 14th-seeded Nadia Petrova 6-3, 6-2.

Defending champ upset by Petrova


Iraq #39;s president, an influential Sunni Muslim, threw his support Wednesday behind holding the Jan. 30 election on time despite insurgent threats he said have paralyzed voter

Iraqi President Backs Jan. 30 Elections


AP - The city's decision to deny a permit to protesters for a rally on Central Park's Great Lawn on the weekend before the Republican National Convention is about preserving the lawn, not suppressing speech, lawyers for the city said in federal court Friday.

NYC Denies All Central Park Rally Permits (AP)


Canadian Press - STAVANGER, Norway (AP) - The Norwegian Shipowners Association threatened on Monday to lock out more oil and gas rig workers, a move analysts said could result in a near shutdown of the third-largest petroleum exporter's production and drive world oil prices even higher.

Norway's Shipowners plans to expand lockout, government orders talks (Canadian Press)


Windows XP Media Center 2005 connects smoothly with video and audio equipment.

New Media Center OS Plays Well


 By Charles Aldinger

 QUITO, Ecuador (Reuters) - All of Latin America mustrealize that terrorism is a growing threat in the Americas andthat the only way to defeat extremist guerrillas like al Qaedais to join ranks, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said onTuesday.

Rumsfeld Urges Latin America to Unite in Terror War


AP - If environmental policy were scored like grade-school spelling tests, New England's mercury reduction efforts wouldn't get any gold stars.

Group: New England Not Reducing Mercury (AP)


NEW YORK - Andy Roddick, Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Lleyton Hewitt and Amelie Mauresmo are all in action Friday at the U.S. Open...

Roddick, Capriati Highlight U.S. Open


Attempting to ward off a second bankruptcy filing, management and pilots of US Airways (Nasdaq: UAIR) took discussions of concessions that might keep the airline afloat through this past weekend.

US Airways: More Turbulence Ahead?


Typhoon Ma-on is due to hit Suzuka in the next few hours and the race organisers have decided to cancel Saturdays two free practice sessions and qualifying as a result. What a weekend

Suzuka : Saturday cancelled!


Indianapolis, Dec. 16 - Southwest Airlines says ATA Airlines had accepted its bid for the bankrupt carriers #39; operations at Chicago #39;s Midway airport.

ATA likely to accept Southwest bid


Dean McCarron of Mercury Research said console designers are focusing on multicore, multi-threading technology that can allow multiple programs to run efficiently at the same time.

Sony Taps nVidia for  #39;Cell #39; Console Graphics


MAMARONECK, NY (CP) - NCAA champion Ryan Moore and Canadian James Allenby were among 32 golfers who advanced with match-play victories Wednesday at the US Amateur.

Canadian Allenby, NCAA champion Moore advance at US Amateur golf event


Because, while the Eagles are certain to stumble at some point during the regular season, it seems inconceivable that they will falter against a team with as many offensive problems as Baltimore has right now.

Eagles #39; offense is too talented


Australia's PM says he will not negotiate with terrorists who claim to have taken two Australians hostage.

Australia defies Iraq kidnap claim


Ernie Banks was 35 when Cubs manager Leo Durocher first tried to bench him. Banks was starting to age and was struggling during spring training in 1966.

Ernie and Sammy: Opposites, a fact


The European Union needs to take action if it is to meet its goal of outpacing the US economy by 2010, a report says. The document leaked to the Reuters news agency and due out later on Wednesday says that

EU must stoke growth, report says


East Carolina introduced former South Carolina assistant Skip Holtz as its head football coach on Friday, welcoming him as the man to lead the program  quot;into a new era.

Holtz introduced as East Carolina #39;s football coach


BAGHDAD : Iraq #39;s interim President Ghazi al-Yawar, ahead of a meeting with US President George W. Bush, rejected any delay to January 30 polls, saying postponement would hand victory to the  quot;forces of darkness quot;.

Amid unrest, Iraq president says vote delay would aid  quot;forces of <b>...</b>


Thousands of Filipinos have returned to washed-out homes after four deadly storms in two weeks left more than 1,000 people dead or missing, as emergency supplies ran low and fears of disease grew.

Filipinos return to devastated homes


BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - U.S. Ryder Cup fans  were again denied the chance to see world number four Phil  Mickelson in practice Thursday, 24 hours before golf's most  intense team event gets under way at Oakland Hills.

Mickelson Again Missing for Final Ryder Practice


BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Army general who once ran detention operations in Iraq said a

General Blames Prison Abuse on Commanders


Sudan said it had lifted all restrictions on aid workers and revoked a state of emergency in the troubled North Darfur state on Saturday, after rebels pulled out from a town they occupied last week.

Sudan Lifts State of Emergency in North Darfur


Turkey #39;s Parliament approved a sweeping revision of the country #39;s penal code today to bring it closer to European Union norms, a step aimed at enhancing Turkish membership in the 25-nation bloc.

Turkey Approves Revision of Penal Code


Iraq may modify plans for its first free election to give people more time to vote next month, officials said on Wednesday as suicide bombers and gunmen again struck Sunni Muslim towns north and west of the capital.

Iraqis may extend election amid violence


The Illinois rushing offense and the Purdue passing offense dueled in the Big Ten opener for both schools on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

Orton Engineers Purdue Victory Over Illinois


Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness says striker Craig Bellamy needs to  quot;sort himself out quot; after swearing at the team chief for taking him off in Sunday #39;s 1-1 draw with Charlton.

Souness ready to sort out players


The uphill battle the Red Sox face against the Yankees is nothing new to Boston fans.

Feeling Their Pain


With eBay #39;s stock lingering near an all-time high of \$96.60, investors have been holding their collective breath since the third quarter closed Sept.

Can eBay Keep the Mojo Going?


AP - Just about everybody wants to have their say in this presidential election. From evangelical preachers who claim

More Smaller Groups Airing Political Ads (AP)


Four Infineon executives will serve jail time after pleading guilty to being part of an  quot;international conspiracy quot; to fix the price of computer memory, the US Department of Justice announced today.

Four Infineon execs heading to jail on price-fixing charges


Myanmar #39;s ruling military junta announced Saturday that more than 5,000 prisoners have had their sentences suspended and will be freed from various prisons around the

Myanmar to Release More Prisoners


AP - President Bush presented Congress on Thursday with legislation to create a strong national intelligence director with authority to control the nonmilitary portions of the nation's intelligence budget.

Bush Sends Intelligence Bill to Congress (AP)


The new boss of US insurance broker Marsh  amp; McLennan said he is confident of settling the charges brought by New York Attorney-General Eliot Spitzer.

Marsh CEO sees Spitzer settlement


The White House expressed sympathy Wednesday night for the family of Margaret Hassan, the British aid worker who was kidnapped in Iraq and is believed to have been killed.

White House praises British aid worker believed killed in Iraq


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez won backing from 58 percent of voters, with 94 percent of electoral rolls counted, in a referendum on whether to recall him.

Chavez Claims Victory in Referendum on His Rule


BEIJING - China yesterday slammed Taiwanese Premier Yu Shyi-kun for threatening to fire missiles at Shanghai in the event of an attack by the mainland.

China blasts Taiwan PM #39;s threat of missile strike


AP - The Mars rover Spirit found a mineral linked to water during its exploration of the Red Planet, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said Monday.

Mars Rovers See Water-Linked Mineral (AP)


John Kerry has held 10

Front-Porch Chat: Birth of a Kerry Campaign Tactic


AFP - No changes are being made to the programme for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's visit to Libya this week despite Islamist threats, Italian government sources said.

Berlusconi visit to Libya to proceed despite Islamist threats (AFP)


The losing team made the news Monday in Olympic softball #39;s gold medal game. It scored a run. With Crystl Bustos hitting two shots that would have dented the outfield fence had

US softball team snares gold


Two Australian security contractors yesterday became the latest foreigners to be kidnapped in Iraq after militants apparently ambushed their convoy on a road outside Baghdad.

Australian contractors kidnapped in Iraq


About 4.4 million now under recall; firm says units can overheat, possibly causing fire or shock. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Dell Inc.

Dell expands AC adapter recall


European officials, blaming US deficits for a surge in the euro, are unlikely to persuade Treasury Secretary John Snow to help support the dollar when the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers meet in Berlin.

Europe gains no US aid to support dollar


For the second time in a year, telecommunications equipment maker Lucent Technologies Inc. is reducing benefits promised to thousands of its retirees.

Update 3: Lucent Cuts Retirees #39; Health Benefits


Alaska Air Group, the parent of Alaska Airlines, on Thursday reported a quarterly profit, even as high fuel prices cut into earnings at rival carriers.

Alaska Air Posts Quarterly Profit


SEATTLE -- Gather the young ones around the breakfast table and remind them to watch closely. They may not witness anything like the show the Dominican dandies -- Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz -- are staging for another generation. Oh, the kids also may want to keep an eye on Curt Schilling.

Deep impact


IBM hopes to give a boost to large-scale public grid computing projects with the launch of the new  quot;World Community Grid. quot;.

IBM Launches Public Grid Computing Project


ARIZONA at ATLANTA Time: 1 p.m. Line: Falcons by 10. Records: Cardinals 0-2, Falcons 2-0. Vs. spread: Cardinals 1-1, Falcons 1-1. Series: Cardinals lead, 13-8. Comments: Raise your hand if you thought the Falcons would be undefeated. If rookie coach Jim Mora Jr.'s troops win today, they'll be 3-0 for the first time since 1986 . . . The storyline ...

NFL update: Week 3


A new version of the worm that spread from infected Microsoft Corp. Internet Information Services (IIS) Web servers in June has been identified and is using instant messages (IMs) and infected Web sites in Russia, Uruguay and the U.S. to spread itself, according to one security company.

New worm uses IM to lure victims


Reuters - Maxim Pharmaceuticals Inc.\ said a trial to confirm the benefit of its Ceplene\drug failed to show an improvement in survival rates for\patients with liver cancer, sending its shares plunging on\Monday.

Maxim Dives 61 Pct on Drug Trial Result (Reuters)


THE previous time that Steven Gerrard was in Monaco, it was three years ago as the tyro at the heart of a Liverpool team contesting the European Super Cup final, which would yield his fifth winners medal in a heady six-month period.

Liverpool bank on Gerrard to provide winning return


Needing 1 more homer to join only Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth in baseball #39;s version of the 700 Club, Bonds went 0-for-2 with 2 walks in the Giants #39; 3-2 victory over the Brewers on Tuesday night at Miller Park.

A walk-through for Bonds


Hobbit


HOUSTON - International space station crew members may have to abandon the outpost later this year if astronauts can #39;t fix oxygen supply problems, a NASA official said.

Malfunctioning oxygen generator may force space station to be <b>...</b>


NEW ORLEANS (Sports Network) - New Orleans' Steve Gleason  was fined \$5,000 by the NFL on Wednesday for punching the  Panthers' Kemp Rasmussen during last Sunday's 32-21 loss to  Carolina.

New Orleans' Gleason No Saint; Fined by NFL


Adrian Mutu will meet his Chelsea bosses on Monday after allegations that he failed a drug test.

Football: Mutu crisis talks


ATHENS - American gymnast Paul Hamm apparently has no intention of voluntarily giving up his Olympic gold medal in the men #39;s all-around competition.

Hamm rebuffs FIG request


Perhaps perspective had returned to the Ryder Cup after the unfortunate fan abuse directed at the European team at The Country Club near Boston in 1999 and the inappropriate celebration by American

Europe #39;s spirit may overwhelm that of the American side


pardon the pun -- and for good reason. Web surfers looking for a reliable alternative to Microsoft #39;s (Nasdaq: MSFT) Internet Explorer have been busy over the last

Mozilla Outfoxing Microsoft


WASHINGTON -- Oil prices fell sharply yesterday after the US government reported US inventories of crude rose 3.4 million barrels last week, surprising many traders and analysts who had expected to see supplies shrink due to lingering output problems in

Crude oil inventory increases


THE Red Cross yesterday launched a blistering attack on both sides in the war in Iraq. The organisation blasted US troops and Iraqi rebels for their  quot;utter contempt for humanity quot; as the country continues to be torn apart by violence.

CRISIS IN IRAQ: THERE #39;S NO HUMANITY


Day six of the Olympics will see Great Britain's Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms go for gold in badminton.

Day Six preview


ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Reuters) - US Airways Group Inc. <A HREF=

US Airways Files for Ch. 11 Bankruptcy


European Union aid commissioner Poul Nielson said Tuesday he was  quot;appalled quot; at the abduction of the British-born head of CARE International #39;s Iraq operations, Margaret Hassan.

EU aid chief condemns kidnap of CARE director in Iraq


AP - Authorities are investigating whether bettors at New York's top thoroughbred tracks were properly informed when jockeys came in overweight at races, a source familiar with the probe told The Associated Press.

Source: New Warrants for NYRA Tracks (AP)


Guillermo Canas held a 2-1 career record against Andy Roddick, until yesterday. Until yesterday, Canas had never faced Roddick in a major.

See you in the semis


Computer Associates (Quote, Chart) said it would cut 800 employees from its payroll in order to save \$70 million per year. The move is part of the Islandia, NY-based management software maker #39;s plan to streamline operations.

Computer Associates To Cut 5 of Workforce


MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia was preparing to take preventive action against terrorists, the Interfax news agency reported.    Putin said that

Putin Threatens Preventive Terror Actions


A top US military official in charge of the Middle East says coalition forces will do all they can to ensure Iraqi elections set for late January will go ahead.

Iraqi Insurgency Continues to Overshadow January Election <b>...</b>


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar fell against the euro and the  yen on Wednesday in the wake of comments from the European  Central Bank president suggesting the ECB was unlikely to  intervene to stem the euro's rise.

Dollar Down But Seen in Ranges


BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- European antitrust regulators said Monday they have extended their review of a deal between Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Time Warner Inc...

European Union Extends Microsoft-Time Warner Review


Manchester United this morning revealed how the contingent payments to Everton for Wayne Rooney will be structured in a statement to the Stock Exchange.

United Reveal Rooney Deal Payments


The economy added 112,000 payroll jobs in November, the Labor Department reported today, far fewer than the month before and not enough to keep up with average increases in the adult population.

Job Growth Is Well Below Wall Street Forecasts


TALLADEGA -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. begins his last week at age 29 today, and  quot;Little E quot; is laying plans for the future. The most immediate include a strategy for today #39;s EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway

Growing up with Little E #39;


O #39;Neal lashed out at his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate again during a photo shoot in Florida.  quot;The guy #39;s a joke, quot; O #39;Neal was quoted as saying in the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel on Friday.

Angry Shaq on Kobe:  #39;He #39;s a joke ... a clown #39;


Arsene Wenger faces a difficult choice over whether to keep faith with keeper Manuel Almunia or bring back Jens Lehmann for tomorrow #39;s crunch Champions League match with Rosenborg.

Wenger faces tough choice over Lehmann


Plus: IBM net income inches higher, despite legal bill...Nokia sees lower profit but strong sales...Adobe strong despite drop.

Earnings alert: EMC issues sunny report


DAMASCUS, Dec 13 (AFP) - A car belonging to a Palestinian exploded in a residential district of Damascus on Monday, in what the Syrian authorities said was an  quot;act of sabotage.

Car explodes in  quot;act of sabotage quot; in Damascus


The UN mission says it needs extra troops to continue to maintain order in Ivory Coast which has seen renewed fighting between rival factions.

UN seeks more I Coast troops