DULLES, Va. (AP) -- America Online announced the launch of an online shopping site it says will provide an easy and fast way to compare products from thousands of online merchants...

AOL Launching New Shopping Site


LOS ANGELES - Courtney Love pleaded innocent Friday to a felony assault charge for allegedly attacking a woman with a liquor bottle at her ex-boyfriend's home in April.    The mercurial rocker, wearing a long black dress, was composed in court, responding to Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Dennis Mulcahy's questions with

Courtney Love Pleads Innocent to Assault


One million copies of the new Band Aid single will be sent to record shops in time for its UK release on Monday. Robbie Williams and Dido are among the stars on a new version of charity song Do They Know It #39;s Christmas?

Stores to stock 1m Band Aid CDs


AFP - French President Jacques Chirac said that he would immediately dispatch his foreign minister to the Middle East to help negotiate the release of two French journalists kidnapped in Iraq.

Chirac sends foreign minister to Middle East to negotiate on Iraq hostages (AFP)


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Smithfield Foods Inc. <A HREF=

Smithfield Foods Profit High on the Hogs


AP - Bronze is the best the American men's basketball team can do, and the reason is simple: They were beaten by a better team, Argentina. Manu Ginobili scored 29 points to lead his nation to another victory over the country that used to dominate the sport, an 89-81 win in the Olympic semifinals Friday night.

Argentina Completes Dream Team's Downfall (AP)


A UN Middle East expert Monday asked world leaders to continue Yasser Arafat #39;s efforts to negotiate an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Arafat left Middle East peace foundations


The executions of four young men in a slum stronghold of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide brought to at least 79 the number killed in a month of violence in Haiti #39;s capital.

79 Haiti Deaths Tallied in Violent Month


Kalamazoo-area Kmart customers say that store #39;s merger with Sears could mean stiff competition for retail powerhouses such as Wal-Mart.

Local shoppers hope for wider selection and better quality


AP - Still picking up the pieces after Hurricane Frances, NASA braced on Thursday for the even more menacing Ivan, hurriedly moving mangled strips of aluminum siding and exposed equipment into the hangar that once housed the wreckage of space shuttle Columbia.

NASA Securing Space Center for Ivan (AP)


Delta Air Lines says its pilots union decided to get back retired pilots of the company in order not to cancel flights as Delta already suffers huge losses.

Delta pilots back, executive payroll cut


Editors Note: The following special report was compiled by the editors of Corn and Soybean Digest, a sister publication of Delta Farm Press.

Rust Is Here; Get Ready To Respond


The Cardinals, however, were driving as the quarter ended with a first down at the 49ers 16. On the last play of the quarter, tookie Larry Fitzgerald made a great leaping catch for a 24-yard gain.

Quarter-by-quarter updates


Maria Sharapova suffered a harsh introduction Saturday to the expectations that will stalk her for the rest of her career. After a third-round loss at the US

No Strawberries and Cream: Sharapova Ousted by Pierce


MUNICH, Germany (AFP) - Having qualified for the last sixteen of the Champions League German powerhouse Bayern Munich are determined to repeat their 2001 success to prove they are back as a force in European football.

Bayern keen to restore European reputation


T.J. Duckett set a team record by rushing for four touchdowns and the Atlanta Falcons clinched just the third division title in franchise history, wrapping up the NFC South with a 35-10 rout of the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Falcons Top Raiders, Win NFC South Title


AP - Microsoft Corp. shareholders on Tuesday approved changes to the company's stock compensation plans, clearing the way for the software giant to award a one-time,  #36;3-per-share dividend that will cost the company an estimated  #36;32 billion.

Microsoft Shareholders OK Stock Changes (AP)


Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe #39;s president, has rejected a request from Equatorial Guinea for the extradition of 70 alleged mercenaries accused of plotting a coup in the west African country.

Mugabe refuses extradition


The two top US toymakers, citing uncertainty in the economy and the retail sector, posted disappointing third-quarter results on Monday, and lowered expectations for the crucial Thanksgiving-to-Christmas season.

US toymakers pessimistic on outlook NEW YORK, Oct 18 (Reuters) <b>...</b>


Swedish star Annika Sorenstam shot a six-under-par 66 in Thursday #39;s first round at the season-ending \$1-million ADT Championship.

Sorenstam takes early lead


Butch Davis resigned as coach of the Cleveland Browns after a five-game losing streak dropped the team into last place. Davis, 53, compiled a 24-36 record in almost four seasons with the Browns.

Browns Coach Butch Davis Resigns After Fifth Straight Loss


Oil prices soared to another record high of almost 55 US dollars a barrel on Thursday as Washington reported another fall in heating fuel stocks before winter.

Oil prices hit fresh record


The two gunmen who had hijacked an Athens-bound commuter bus surrendered to the authorities and released their six remaining captives.

Hostage Takers Give Up After 18-Hour Standoff on Bus in Greece


In the latest act of Napa Valley #39;s continuing King Lear saga, Robert Mondavi Corp. said Tuesday it plans to sell off its luxury wine brands, including the original Robert Mondavi Winery that made the company famous.

Mondavi to sell off luxury wine brands


Altria Group Inc. (MO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has begun preparing itself for a possible break-up, once tobacco lawsuit hurdles are cleared, to realize fair value for

Altria Prepares Possible Split, Shares Up


BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide attacker exploded a car bomb Thursday outside the mayor's office in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad, killing at least two people and wounding 60, including at four U.S. soldiers, Iraqi and coalition officials said...

Car Bomb in Iraq Kills Two, Wounds 60


Dulance Shopping Search Offers Product RSS Feeds\\Dulance, Inc. today announced the launch of its comparison shopping service in RSS (Real Simple Syndication) format.  Dulance is the first search engine to use RSS technology to facilitate reserve price shopping.  The new feature effectively transforms any third-party RSS reader into ...


KEY WEST, Fla. - The only whooshing sound Hurricane Ivan stirred in the Keys and populous South Florida on Sunday was a sigh of relief from residents no longer fearful the 150-mph storm would make a direct hit...

Ivan Won't Make Direct Hit on Fla. Keys


LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Anglo-Aussie miner BHP Billiton (BHP) (UK:BLT) climbed 2.8 percent to lead FTSE 100 components after it increased its share buyback to A\$2.27 billion (US\$1.78 billion) from the A\$1 billion to A\$1.5 billion it had predicted it would buy

BHP Billiton leads London on bigger share buyback


Bryan Randall is wrapping up his career at Virginia Tech in style, and with the biggest stakes in front of him. Randall threw two second-half touchdowns and the Hokies

ACC: Title in reach of Hokies


ORLANDO - Missing: The University of Central Florida football team #39;s defense. If found, please contact head coach George O #39;Leary.

Overwhelmed UCF no match for West Virginia


The president of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has announced that the US recognised his country simply as  quot;Macedonia quot; with the approval of US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

US Recognises Macedonia State, Greece Protests


AFP - A victory for Barack Obama in his battle for the US senate in the state of Illinois could spell hope for his ancestral Kenyan farming community, fractured by AIDS, years of poverty and illiteracy, villagers hope.

In US senate race, AIDS-ravaged Kenyan village roots for native son (AFP)


TOKYO Motorola and NTT DoCoMo said on Wednesday that they would jointly develop third-generation cellphones, giving the American company an important foothold in the Japanese market.

Motorola takes step into Japan market


Sony began selling the new PSP Playstation Portable yesterday in Japan. The company says it will ship 500,000 units of the console, which plays music, videos and games by the end of the year.

Sony Debuts PSP To Challenge Nintendo


Indiana Pacers players will be charged for fighting with fans during the Nov. 19 brawl at the end of a game against the Detroit Pistons, Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca told The Detroit News.

Pacers will be charged


COLES Myer will belatedly enter the takeover contest for Australian Leisure  amp; Hospitality today with a bid that will trump arch-rival Woolworths.

Woolies, Coles to compete for ALH


The soaring cost of the 2004 Olympic Games looks set to drive Greece deep into debt, its prime minister warns.

Greek debt spirals after Olympics


Brian Lara hopes his improving West Indies can raise their game again on the way to the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy. Lara is not about to get carried away with yesterday #39;s predictable landslide

WINDIES PERFORMANCE GIVES LARA HOPE


Reuters - President Bush and a top\adviser have long-standing ties to people behind advertisements\claiming Sen. John Kerry lied about his war record, but the\campaign denied any part in the ads on Friday and criticized\Kerry for

White House Says It Is Not Behind Attack Ads (Reuters)


More than 90 people in Brazil face possible charges after a two-year inquiry into money laundering.

Brazil corruption charges urged


SEOUL (Dow Jones)--A precipitous fall in prices for flash-memory chips and anticipated demand for next-generation DDR2 dynamic random access memory chips has spurred Samsung Electronics Co.

Asia DRAM Report:Samsung Elec To Up DRAM Output Vs Flash


A number of Philadelphia newspapers reported earlier in the day that the firing was imminent and would likely come at the end of the season, but general manager Ed Wade made it official early Saturday evening.

Bowa Fired in Philly


HOUSTON (Reuters) - Roger Clemens pitched seven gritty  innings and Houston batters belted three home runs as the  Astros beat the St Louis Cardinals 5-2 in Game Three of the  National League Championship Series Saturday.

Clemens Pitches Astros Back Into NLCS Series


RAFAEL Benitez must gamble with Liverpools Champions League prospects tonight but lacks the ammunition to make it a fair fight.

Liverpool short of firepower for crucial encounter


World champion pairs skater Tatiana Totmianina is listed in good condition at a Pittsburgh hospital after falling headfirst at a Skate America competition yesterday.

Skate America


Seventy men held in Zimbabwe accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea will not be extradited.

'Mercenaries' avoid deportation


Sammy Sosa homered for the first time in more than two weeks and Derrek Lee drove in three runs to lead the Cubs to a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates last night in Chicago.

Home fun in Chicago


Wholesale prices increased 0.5 percent in November, reflecting the biggest jump in natural gas costs since March 2003, the Labor Department said yesterday.

Wholesale Prices Rose 0.5 in November


Reuters - (Gene Emery is a columnist who covers science and\technology. His Internet address is GEmery(at)Cox.net. Any\opinions in the column are his alone.)

Programs: 'Evil Genius' Brings Out Your Inner Villain (Reuters)


With an eye towards making mobile devices and the commerce services that run over them more secure, NTT DoCoMo Inc., Intel Corp. and IBM Corp. on Wednesday published a jointly developed security specification called the Trusted Mobile Platform.

NTT DoCoMo, IBM, Intel team to secure mobile devices


Kurt Busch has been doing everything right in his bid for his first Nextel Cup championship. He now has one big hurdle to clear entering Sunday #39;s Ford 400.

Busch the man to beat for NASCAR title


BOTH PRESIDENTIAL candidates want you to think they have a serious plan to deal with the budget deficit. President Bush and Democratic nominee John F. Kerry each promise to cut it in half in the next several years.

The Choice on the Deficit


AP - The U.S. Embassy in Laos warned Friday that insurgents may launch bomb attacks in several parts of the communist country during next month's regional summit in the capital.

U.S. Embassy Says Laos Attacks Possible (AP)


AP - Three straight late-season stumbles have taken the luster off Virginia Tech. Now the Hokies are looking to get it back, and there's no better way to do that than to knock off No. 1 Southern California.

Virginia Tech Seeks Luster Against USC (AP)


ISP's customers have a new option for obtaining their e-mail on the go.

EarthLink Takes a Bite of BlackBerry


A translator employed by San Diego #39;s Titan Corp. was beheaded in Iraq yesterday by insurgents who also beheaded a Turkish contractor working at a US air base.

Translator hired by Titan beheaded by insurgents


The Calgary-based energy company said Thursday in filings with Canadian and US regulators that Ottawa intends to sell all of its shares to investors in Canada, the United States and internationally.

Feds to Sell 49 Million Shares in Petro-Canada


TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran is ready to prove to the world it  is not producing atomic weapons provided the West recognizes  the Islamic Republic's right to peaceful nuclear technology,  President Mohammad Khatami said Wednesday.

Iran Says It's Ready to Prove Not Pursuing Nuke Weapons


Next-generation DVD specification approved, clearing way for manufacturers to produce read-only disks.

Blu-ray Disc spec approved


MOSCOW The Russian Olympic Committee has asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to strip Tyler Hamilton of his Olympic cycling gold medal and award it to Vyacheslav Ekimov.

Russians seek Hamilton #39;s gold


Reuters - Delta Air Lines Inc.  on Friday\forecast a much wider third-quarter loss than Wall Street had\estimated because of weak domestic fares and a spike in fuel\costs, driven by record-high oil prices.

Delta Air Lines Sees Loss Mushrooming (Reuters)


THIS was not the plan Sir Alex Ferguson had in mind for suppressing Wayne Rooney fever. The Manchester United boss has no doubt been wincing at the Rooney hysteria following his sensational debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce.

Fergie Roo-ing Wayne #39;s debut


Ask university students about the practical way to get a job these days, and the answer comes back quickly: Study Chinese.  quot;A few years ago, the most popular major was English language and literature.

S. Korea warms to China as alternative to the US


ATHENS (Reuters) - World 200 meters champion John Capel did  not run on the United States 4x100 meters relay team in  Friday's Olympic semi-finals because of a positive test for  marijuana, U.S. head men's coach George Williams said on  Saturday.

Capel Taken Off U.S. Relay After Positive Pot Test


Brazilian media giant Globo has reached a tentative agreement with creditors on terms of a deal to restructure US\$1.3 billion of debt it racked up during the 1990s.

Brazil #39;s Globo Media Empire Reaches Deal


France #39;s interior minister demanded Sunday the release of two French journalists believed kidnapped by Islamic militants in Iraq.

France demands release of hostages


SEATTLE - The molten rock rising inside Mount St. Helens is giving the peak an eerie red glow at night...

Lava Gives Mount St. Helens Eerie Glow


Two weeks ago, Arsenal was riding a record unbeaten streak. Now, the Gunners can #39;t seem to win a game, and Chelsea has emerged as English soccer #39;s dominant side.

Chelsea replacing Arsenal as the team to beat


JOHANNESBURG : South Africa #39;s Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd. said it would bid for control of Gold Fields Ltd, valuing it at 8.1 billion dollars (6.

South Africa #39;s Harmony Gold to bid for GFI to create world leader


A 21-year-old Michigan man who tried to steal credit card numbers from a national hardware store chain is sentenced to nine years in federal prison.

News: Long prison term for Lowe's wi-fi hacker


New York, NY (Sports Network) - Amado Guevara was announced as Major League Soccer #39;s 2004 Honda Most Valuable Player on Thursday in Anaheim, California.

Guevara honored as MLS MVP


Ten years after the Irish Republican Army #39;s momentous cease-fire, negotiations resumed Wednesday in hope of reviving a Catholic-Protestant administration

Talks Resume In Bid For N. Ireland Gov #39;t


BAGHDAD -- For the first time since a US-led offensive devastated Fallujah, a Red Cross team entered the city and met with Iraqi technicians and engineers to discuss sewage and water treatment needs, a group spokesman said yesterday.

Red Cross gets first look at war-ravaged Fallujah


UNITED NATIONS, New York For years, Kofi Annan was seen at the United Nations as a Mandela-like figure, a statesman who brought a serene sense of personal confidence and institutional steadiness to the task of settling conflict and a person frequently

Annan is teetering on his pedestal


A long-necked sea reptile that lived millions of years ago in what is now China may have used its stiff neck to sneak up on unsuspecting prey and suck them in, scientists said on Friday.

Long-Necked Sea Monster Snuck Up on Victims


Now that we #39;ve beaten Warrior Within, we return to ask Ubisoft some final questions. November 22, 2004 - Prince of Persia: Warrior Within ships December 2 for Xbox, PS2, GameCube, and PC.

Prince of Persia: The Final Interview


quot;As of right now, the chances of his participating are 50-50, quot; Johan Bruyneel, Armstrong #39;s longtime directeur sportif at US Postal and now at new title sponsor Discovery Channel, said at a presentation ceremony for the 2005 Tour in Paris Thursday.

Looking for Lance


Auburn running back Carnell Williams (24) sprints past a Mississippi defender on his way to a 4th quarter 29-yard touchdown run in Oxford, Miss.

Auburn Moves Into Third Place in BCS


LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Roddick cracked a 155 mph delivery,  two mph quicker than his own fastest serve record, to help push  the U.S. into a 2-0 lead over Belarus in their Davis Cup  semi-final on Friday.

U.S., France on Top in Davis Cup Semis


AP - Receiver Bobby Engram's left ankle sprain is worse than initially believed, Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday.

Engram's Ankle Injury Is Slow to Heal (AP)


By BRUCE MEYERSON    NEW YORK (AP) -- A new cellular application promises to help vision-impaired people who can't read the screen of a mobile phone. It responds to spoken commands with voice recognition technology and reads back menu options, text messages, and other information to the user...

Cingular Wireless Makes Phone for Vision-Impaired


Britain's Kelly Holmes makes Olympic history by adding 1500m gold to her 800m title.

Golden double for Holmes


Intel users will be able to use nVidia graphics hardware in the future after a surprise announcement from the two companies. The deal will be welcomed by users who will be able to use nVidia #39;s nForce platform

AMD loses nVidia monopoly


It should have been obvious to the Giants from the first series of the game yesterday that they were going to have problems containing the Detroit Lions.

Giants: Harrington renders  #39;D #39; useless


The televized debate between presidential candidates Adrian Nastase and Traian Basescu didn #39;t have a winner from the very beginning.

The last presidential match


Herv Gaymard, France #39;s new finance minister, yesterday made his first move towards reducing the state #39;s hefty budget deficit by selling almost half of the government #39;s holding in Air France-KLM for a total of 682m (\$906m).

French government cuts stake in Air France-KLM


Bachelor, Master and Post-Grad degrees online from accredited colleges and universities. Business, Education, IT, Healthcare, more. Browse by degree or program. Request info and get started today.

ADV: Distance Learning Directory - Online Degrees


A 'magic carpet' to take children around the world is one of the projects that has won a community net award.

Broadband offers magical journey


The Bush-Cheney reelection campaign has barred people outside the United States from viewing its Web site following an electronic attack that took down the campaign's Internet address for six hours last week, according to computer security experts.\

News: Bush Web Site Bars Overseas Visitors


CAIRO - Egypt raised the possibility Tuesday of returning an ambassador to Israel soon, according to the official Mena news agency, a move that would signal a revival of full diplomatic ties after a four-year break.

Egypt eyes possible return of ambassador to Israel


Verizon Communications Inc. said today it has signed a deal to sell its Canadian directory operations to investment firm Bain Capital in a deal worth \$1.

Verizon sells Canadian directory operations


Windows shops that want to build a product lifecycle management strategy now have the assurance that Microsoft will be more closely aligned with one of the PLM industry #39;s largest manufacturing application vendors.

Product lifecycles get the Windows treatment


Mariano Rivera #39;s celebration of the Yankees #39; Division Series win was muted on Saturday night, as the closer learned after the game of an accident at his home in Panama.

Yankees closer expected to play in ALCS


Ukraine's outgoing president warns against disorder ahead of a close election to choose his successor.

Kuchma warns over Ukraine chaos


After years of preparation and US\$325 million of investment, Shanghai is ready to host the Formula One Grand Prix for the first time this weekend, on September 26.

And they #39;re ready ...


Blog Declared Word of the Year\\US Dictionary Merriam-Webster rsquo;s has announced that the word  #8220;blog #8221; is their word of the year in their annual pronouncement of the Top 10 words of 2004, which also bizarrely included the words cicada and defenestration. Webster rsquo;s defines a blog as  #8220;a Web site that contains ...

Blog Declared Word of the Year


Listen up as CEO Reed Hastings talks to our radio team about his firm.

Netflix Exclusive on Fool Radio


CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Paul Brown would have been impressed at the offensive output of his two former teams. Carson Palmer threw a career-high four touchdowns and Rudi Johnson rushed for a career-best 202

Bengals win shootout with Browns


American jets and artillery batteries launched attacks on the insurgent-held city of Fallujah yesterday, hitting targets in the run-up to what could be a major assault on the Sunni- dominated town.

US jets, artillery hit Fallujah


AP - A scientific dig has uncovered four pomegranates believed to be 2,500 years old preserved inside a woven basket nestled in a bronze vessel, a Greek archaeologist said Friday.

2,500-Year-Old Pomegranate Found in Greece (AP)


Healthy at last, Justine Henin-Hardenne is back at the top of her game. And she has a gold medal to prove it. In a No. 1 vs. No. 2 final that wasn #39;t really close, the top-ranked Henin-Hardenne overwhelmed

Henin-Hardenne beats Mauresmo; Gonzalez #39;s long day yields gold <b>...</b>


Venture capital investing declined during the quarter ended Sept. 30, nationally and in Florida. But industry experts say the drop doesn #39;t necessarily reflect an alarming trend.

Risk capital drop raises few alarms


About 70,000 displaced people are thought to have died in Sudan #39;s Darfur region since March, mainly from disease and malnutrition, a UN official says.

#39;70,000 Darfur dead #39; since March


or Web-based distributed authoring and versioning -- allows Hotmail users to write scripts that use e-mail clients, such as Outlook, to address and send many e-mails quickly.

Hotmail Hopes To Block Spam with New Fee


As Hong Kong wraps up a hotly contested legislative campaign, China #39;s presence looms large amid charges it marred the contest with dirty tricks while at the same time trying to woo voters with a charm offensive.

As Hong Kong Prepares for Election


NewsFactor - With two new Athlon 64 chips, AMD (NYSE: AMD) continues to push industry giant Intel\in the battle for position in the desktop-processor space. AMD has\launched the Athlon 64 FX-55 and Athlon 64 4000, with an eye on carving\a bigger niche in high-performance personal computing.

AMD Builds on Athlon 64 Platform (NewsFactor)


The countdown is underway for the next flyby of the Saturian moon Titan for Monday, December 13, 2004 by the Cassini spacecraft expected to yield more detailed imaging

December 13 Titan Flyby Prelude to Landing


MacCentral - Apple on Wednesday introduced the iTunes Affiliate Program. The\program pays 5 percent commissions to affiliate Web sites by offering direct\links to a any song, album or artist on iTunes. Sites who are accepted as\affiliates can download Apple-made marketing materials and are eligible to\apply to the Apple Store Affiliate program as well. And applicants who sign\up through September 15, 2004 are also eligible to win one of five iPod\minis.

Apple offers iTunes Affiliate Program (MacCentral)


A board investigating the crash of NASA #39;s Genesis spacecraft has found the design for a key system was drawn backward. The result: improper orientation of switches that were supposed to detect its entry into

Genesis mishap probe focuses on backward design drawing


LONDON (Reuters) - World 100 meters record holder Tim  Montgomery will appear before the Court of Arbitration for  Sport (CAS) in San Francisco in the first week of November for  a hearing over a possible life ban for doping.

Montgomery Doping Hearing Set for Early November


Civil liberties and privacy advocacy groups often have the effect of stopping technological innovation when they protest the use of new technologies for domestic security, a technology expert at a Washington, D.C., think tank said Wednesday.

Panel: Let domestic security technology move forward


eonard Robinson, who put in 30 years as a mechanic at Pan American World Airways, has a message for his counterparts at US Airways, Delta, United and other struggling airlines pressing

A Shrinking Airline Industry Offers Limited Options


Rick Fox made it official yesterday: He will not be coming through any door to have a second go-round with the Celtics. As shockers go, this one is slightly behind  quot;Dewey Defeats Truman. quot;

Injuries prevent Fox from continuing career


Since its inception in 1986, when Boris Becker won the title, the Paris Indoor Open has never been successfully defended and Tim Henman, the most jubilant of winners last year, came nowhere near this time, losing 7-5, 6-1 to Russia #39;s Mikhail Youzhny in

Houston no problem so Henman takes off


The Senate could take action this week on a bill that would make it easier to sue

U.S. Senate to Weigh Bill Targeting Web Song Swaps


The Department of Labor reached a settlement with a contractor for the Target Corporation had not paid overtime to hundreds of immigrant janitors who often worked seven nights a week.

U.S. Wins \$1.9 Million in Back Pay for Janitors


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices charged back up to \$55 a  barrel on Wednesday as a fresh fall in U.S. heating oil stocks  stoked worries over winter supplies.

Oil Flies Back to \$55, Winter Stocks Fall


NASA will try this morning to set a speed record of Mach 10 -- that #39;s 11.2 thousand kilometres an hour -- with an unmanned hypersonic jet.

NASA Aims for Mach 10


TheDeal.com - A commissioner said the agency would rule on the wireless merger within weeks, allowing an October closing.

FCC nears Cingular, AT amp;T decision (TheDeal.com)


The Renault driver won the Race of Champions at the Stade de France last weekend against illustrious opposition!

Heikki, champion of champions!


AFP - Japan's top mobile operator NTT DoCoMo said it was launching its i-mode Internet service in Russia and three other former Soviet republics through an agreement with Russia's largest provider Mobile TeleSystems (MTS).

Japan's i-mode Internet mobile service to enter Russia (AFP)


Retailer Kmart Holdings Corp. (KMRT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday finalized a deal to sell 18 of its stores to Home Depot Inc.

KMart to Sell 18 Stores to Home Depot


REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Oracle is increasing the stakes in its hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft. Oracle has increased its cash offer for PeopleSoft shares from 21 dollars a share to 24 dollars a share.

Oracle increases its offer price for PeopleSoft


AIG will return \$46m in fees it earned on three off-balance-sheet vehicles set up for PNC Financial as part of a settlement with regulators announced this week.

AIG pledges to return \$46m in fees


Pfizer Inc., the world #39;s largest drugmaker, agreed to pay \$430 million to resolve personal-injury claims against a subsidiary that sold products containing asbestos in the 1970s.

Pfizer to Pay \$430 Million to Settle Asbestos Claims (Update3)


Workers at Volkswagen #39;s Mexico plant agreed to end their three-day-old strike and accept a pay package close to the company #39;s original offer, officials said after talks that stretched into the early hours of Saturday.

Workers at Mexico #39;s Volkswagen plant end strike, accept 4.5 wage <b>...</b>


Howard Stern, one of the most popular but polarizing personalities in radio, has proclaimed his emancipation from the decency czars of the Federal Communications Commission.

Shock Jock Dodges Censors With Move To Satellite Radio


AP - NASA has awarded control of its DC-8 research aircraft to the Upper Midwest Space Consortium at the University of North Dakota, a move officials say will create new jobs at the university and give it added national prestige.

N.D. Consortium Wins NASA Research Job (AP)


Miami Dolphins general manager Rick Spielman said yesterday he's been assured by owner Wayne Huizenga he will return in that role next season.

Spielman says he'll be back


TRIPOLI : Libya set out the contractual framework and tendering terms for oil exploration rights to 15 blocs around the vast desert country as it switches to a transparent bidding process to woo foreign investment for its sanctions-ravaged industry.

Libya changes to bidding to woo investment for sanctions-hit oil <b>...</b>


Update: Growth of the new lava dome inside Mount St. Helens #39; crater continued Saturday. Under current conditions, small lahars, or volcanic debris flows, could suddenly descend the Toutle River valley if they

Volcano Watch


It now feels amazing how we have lived without this particular feature since ages now. Google introduced desktop searching to the world in spite of the fact lesser-known products existed since a long time.

MSN Desktop Search is quite capable


Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Thursday expressed confidence in the country #39;s economy outlook and called all sectors not to be off the track in the major economic reforms.

Arroyo cheers on Philippine economy outlook


Publicity from a salmonella outbreak has put a West Virginia produce company out of business, even though inspections found no trace of the bacteria at the plant.

Company closes after salmonella outbreak


CAIRO, Egypt -- A string of explosions Thursday rocked the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, where Israelis have been celebrating the end of a Jewish holiday.

Three Explosions Reported In Egyptian Resort Areas


I #39;ve heard that some people will now have free access to their credit reports. How do I get mine? Whether or not you can get a free credit report depends on where you live.

Get Your Free Credit Report


The US economy has pulled out of a midyear pause and should grow well for the rest of 2004, Federal Reserve Governor Susan Bies said on Saturday, adding that

UPDATE 1-Fed #39;s Bies upbeat on US economy, stern on spending


NEW YORK - Gary Sheffield hit an RBI single, and the New York Yankees took a 1-0 lead over Pedro Martinez and the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the AL championship series Wednesday night.    New York starter Jon Lieber allowed only one hit and a walk, stifling Boston's sluggers just as Mike Mussina did the night before...

Yankees Lead BoSox 1-0 in Game 2 of ALCS


The Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, will claim a place in history as tremendous successes. But to get the rovers ready for launch, mission team members had to push themselves to their limits. MER Principal Investigator Steve Squyres explains how they handled the challenge.

Mission to Mars: Risky Business


Electronic Arts has revealed that it #39;s working on a new game in the Command  amp; Conquer: Red Alert series in an email sent to fan site operators by VP and executive producer Mark Skaggs.

EA working on new C amp;C Red Alert game


British Airways passengers face further misery as the airline cancels 30 flights on Tuesday because of staff shortages.

BA flight chaos enters second day


A DEPUTY to US-backed President Hamid Karzai escaped a roadside bombing in northern Afghanistan today, just four days after Mr Karzai himself was targeted as he attempted to hit

Afghan deputy escapes blast


Apple #39;s announcement last week of the iTunes Affiliate Program, iTunes on Campus, and the iTunes Volume Discount program represents the next escalation in what is turning into a heated battle for control of the Internet music services (which is somewhat

Internet Music Battles Heat Up


JERUSALEM - The Israeli government issued bids Tuesday for 1,000 new homes in Jewish West Bank settlements, insisting the construction has Washington's tacit approval even though it violates a U.S.-backed peace plan.    U.S...

Israel Ends West Bank Construction Freeze


HAMISH ROBERTSON: Staying with computers, that world was opened up to many people, especially those with disabilities, by the invention of voice recognition technology.

New computer technology replaces mouse control with facial <b>...</b>


AFP - French auto giant Renault SA said it will invest some 570 million dollars in South Korea over the next three years as part of its global strategy to become a key player in Asia.

France's Renault to invest 570 million dollars in South Korea (AFP)


Company will break its promise to deliver a speedier chip, shifts focus to dual-core designs. Intel has confirmed its near-term plans for its desktop processors before it reaches the multicore era.

Intel Shelves Plans for 4-GHz P4


AP - America's trade deficit swelled to an all-time high of  #36;55.5 billion in October as imports  #151; including those from China  #151; surged to the loftiest levels on record. Skyrocketing crude-oil prices also contributed to the yawning trade gap.

U.S. Trade Deficit Swells to Record  #36;55.5B (AP)


Suicide bombings yesterday in Baghdad and Mosul killed 14 people and wounded more than 60, many of them policemen, worsening a surge of violence across Iraq.

Fourteen die as suicide bombs rock Baghdad and Mosul


Review Quite a tempting package?

ATI Radeon Xpress 200G reference board


NEW YORK, September 10 (New Ratings) - Oracle Corp (ORCL.NAS) won the antitrust suit yesterday for its hostile takeover bid for rival PeopleSoft Inc (PSFT), the world #39;s second largest provider of enterprise application software.

Oracle wins antitrust lawsuit for PeopleSoft takeover


To say that Roger Federer has come a long way is something of an under-statement but that fact rang home with a great clarity when he beat the 19-year-old Marcos Baghadatis from Cyprus 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the third round at the US Open.

Federer rolls on


Reuters - Environmental experts Friday\welcomed a hint of a softening in U.S. skepticism about global\warming but saw little chance President Bush might rejoin\international efforts to cap greenhouse gases.

Experts Welcome, But Doubt, Bush Climate Softening (Reuters)


Briton Jenson Button will have to wait until mid-October to find out whether he drives for Williams or BAR next year. Button has spent the past three seasons with BAR, but in August revealed he has signed

Button decision delayed until next month


The vendor adds to its growing list of spam lawsuits one aimed at a service provider that hosts spammers. By Thomas Claburn. Cheapbulletproof.

Microsoft Ups The Spam War Ante


Image: This map shows the estimated lower limit of the water content of the upper meter of Martian soil.  quot;Odyssey has accomplished all of its mission-success criteria, quot; said Dr.

Mars Odyssey Begins Overtime After Successful Mission


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Is Apple Computer Inc. <A HREF=

Apple Fan Sites Buzz with Talk of Photo-Ready iPod


(12/17/04)-- A newly released audio recording sounds like Osama bin Laden, and the intelligence community has  quot;high confidence quot; that it is.

Experts think bin Laden tape authentic


Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati #39;s hopes of qualifying for next week #39;s lucrative season finale were crushed by quarter-final defeats at the Advanta Championships in Philadelphia on Friday.

Venus, Capriati end season with defeats


WASHINGTON - The White House has drafted executive orders aimed at implementing the Sept. 11 commission's recommendations for a more powerful intelligence director and a new national counterterrorism center...

White House Proposes Intelligence Changes


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Deere   Co. <A HREF=

Profits Up for Farm Equipment Maker Deere


BEIJING (Reuters) - Russian Mikhail Youzhny upset sixth  seed Paradorn Srichaphan 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the  final of the China Open.

Youzhny Upsets Paradorn to Reach Beijing Final


A five-game stretch of ACC games, which begins Thursday against Georgia Tech, should show how much the young Hokies have grown since August.

Beamer Sees Gains


JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - South African mining group Harmony has lost the latest round in a hostile takeover of rival Gold Fields when a court rejected an urgent attempt to appeal against a ruling frustrating its bid to create the world #39;s largest gold producer

Harmony loses latest round in hostile takeover bid


Reuters - It began about a decade ago as an\e-mail newsletter from Craig telling friends about upcoming\events in San Francisco, and grew so popular it is now a\full-fledged online community with information on jobs,\apartments, even dating.

Livewire: Craigslist Thrives on Service, Profits (Reuters)


After the Patriots placed Adrian Klemm (foot) on injured reserve Wednesday, the situation at tackle became such that Brandon Gorin will likely see his role expanded after being inactive for the first two games of the season.

Gorin is next in line


AP - Handheld computer maker PalmOne Inc. unveiled Monday a new memory-packed personal digital assistant that can double as a portable data storage drive.

Palm Introduces a Memory-Packed Organizer (AP)


Reuters - Pakistan urged

Pakistan calls for courage in India peace talks (Reuters)


SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 2004--AMD (NYSE:AMD) a clbr aujourd #39;hui le premier anniversaire de son alliance stratgique avec Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Presse Economique / Technologique


KUALA LUMPUR : A Malaysian woman has overcome 17 scorpion bites to set a new world record by spending 36 days in a glass cage with 6,069 of the poisonous arachnids.

Malaysian woman reclaims  quot;Scorpion Queen quot; title with new world <b>...</b>


COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Few people took notice when Sony Electronics Inc. opened a tiny storefront last year here at South Coast Plaza, a swanky mall south of Los Angeles.

Retailers are wary about Sony stores


Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is set to become Indonesia #39;s next president. The former general has been projected as the landslide winner of this week #39;s presidential ballot.

A new broom in Jakarta


NASA delayed a test of its X-43 unmanned aircraft after its preflight checkout took longer than expected and pushed the takeoff bck until too late in the day.

Flight of X-43 delayed


VMware, the EMC subsidiary whose software lets a computer run multiple operating systems simultaneously in separate  quot;virtual machines, quot; has grown a step more ambitious.

VMware aims for four-processor abilities


AP - The House on Thursday passed the second bill in three days that would outlaw

Bill Imposes Prison Time Over 'Spyware' (AP)


Water once covered thousands of square miles of Mars, creating an ancient environment that hints at the possibility that life might be present there yet today, scientists reported.

Mars Once Ripe for Life, Rovers Discover


MADRID, Nov 28 (SW) - A few magic minutes early in the second half were enough for Real Madrid to decide their home match against Levante.

Spain: Madrid and Valencia both win and consolidate their <b>...</b>


Costlier imported oil is bound to have some negative economic impact on the US economy, but it does not mean policymakers can lose sight of their long-term goal of keeping inflation under control, Federal Reserve Governor

UPDATE 1-Fed #39;s Gramlich: Impact from costlier oil inevitable


A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has trapped 187 miners, the official Xinhua news agency said on Sunday. The blast tore through the state-run Chenjiashan

China Coal Mine Blast Traps 187 Miners -Xinhua


WASHINGTON: An ageing US population will strain public finances and hurt the economy without swift fixes to the social safety net, such as raising the age for full retirement benefits, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said yesterday.

Payments for retirees  #39;will strain US economy #39;


Reuters - European shares posted their best levels\in nearly two weeks, led by pleasing restructuring and earnings\news from oil giant Royal Dutch/Shell, but sharp losses among\basic producers capped market gains.

Shell Fuels Gains in European Shares (Reuters)


People fed up with the proliferation of credit cards, IDs and key cards that fill their wallets to bulging may soon have an alternative.

Trade Your Wallet for Wireless


Scientists and wildlife officials are continuing to search for what may have caused a series of mass strandings which have left 169 whales and dolphins dead on Australian and New Zealand beaches in the past three days.

Whale beachings stump officials


washingtonpost.com - To get an idea of how Windows got to be such a mess, think of it as a house that was built on an island in the middle of a lake, deep in the countryside.

'SP2' a Must For XP Users (washingtonpost.com)


NOVEMBER 12, 2004 -- The union representing Delta Air Lines #39; pilots yesterday announced its membership had widely approved an agreement that cuts the carrier #39;s labor costs by \$1 billion annually.

Pilots Playing Ball, Sign Delta Pact


US authorities have shut down 20 independent news websites run by the Independent Media Center (Indymedia) and seized two UK-based web servers.

Authorities shut down UK-based news websites


LONDON : Royal Dutch/Shell announced radical plans to merge its separate holding companies in an overhaul of its corporate governance structures after a review triggered by its oil reserves scandal.

Shell to become one company, scrap dual boards


NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - A radical Iraqi cleric leading a  Shi'ite uprising agreed on Wednesday to disarm his militia and  leave one of the country's holiest Islamic shrines after  warnings of an onslaught by government forces.

Iraq Cleric Agrees to End Uprising, Fighting Rages On


Jeremy Mayfield needs more than a victory at Dover International Speedway to get back in the thick of the Nextel Cup championship race.

Mayfield Chasing Win


Frank Vana Jr. is the lone remaining Massachusetts entry in the US Amateur Championship after three days of play at a demanding Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Vana remains in hunt


Centrica, the owner of British Gas, has lost nearly 1 million customers this year after rising fuel costs forced it to increase energy bills.

Centrica hit by warning of margin pressure at British Gas


On the cross rates it was at 60.1 euro cents, 81.29 Japanese yen, 42.17 pence sterling, and 1.105 New Zealand dollars. On Wall Street stocks have jumped on news of a merger between retailers Kmart and Sears

Aussie dollar reaches nine-month high


The US-Russian space crew due to blast off Thursday say they expect six  quot;pleasant quot; months in orbit, despite a technical glitch that has twice delayed the launch.

Fresh ISS Crew Sees  #39;Pleasant #39; Trip Despite Glitch


Tim Henman was due to began his bid for a third Swiss Indoors title in Basel today as the top-ranked player following the withdrawal of Roger Federer with a thigh injury.

Henman in Basel brush


Israel has ruled out releasing jailed Marwan Barghouti, a leading Palestinian figure who is widely seen as the strongest candidate to succeed Yasser Arafat.

Potential Arafat Successor to Remain in Israeli Prison


Real Madrid paid the price for their midweek Champions League exertions as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Deportivo Coruna in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

Real run out of gas against Deportivo


PC World - ThinkPad T42 series notebooks now feature an embedded fingerprint reader.

IBM Puts Security at Your Fingertips (PC World)


To beat Hurricane Jeanne to Florida and protect any players who fear such flying, the Steelers moved up their Miami flight plans to dinnertime tonight -- some 20 hours ahead of their original schedule.

Steelers decide to fly south early to beat hurricane delays


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar edged lower on Tuesday,  although it rose against the Canadian dollar after Canada's  central bank signaled its strong currency would eventually  affect domestic demand and prevent rate hikes.

Dollar Off, But Climbs vs Canadian Dollar


Matt Hasselbeck never performed like this last season. Seattle #39;s defense, slowed by injuries, didn #39;t look so vulnerable through the first three weeks.

After three-game skid, Holmgren looks for answers


NEW DELHI, SEPT 30: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday countered the Union governments argument in the Supreme Court that the cricket board represents the state.

BCCI likens cricket to beauty pageants


WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry sought to make President Bush pay a political price Monday for the expiration of a partial assault weapons ban, but other Democrats reacted warily on an issue that has hurt the party in recent elections...

Kerry Bashes Bush on Assault Weapons Ban


Two cartoon characters named Neve and Gliz, representing a ball of snow and block of ice, are the mascot for the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.

Mascots for Turin Winter Olympics unveiled


MUNICH, Germany : German electronics giant Siemens said that its Siemens Business Services unit had signed a 2.7-billion-euro (3.3-billion-dollar) contract to supply technology services to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Siemens wins 2.7-bln-euro services contract from BBC


The store covers two floors on London #39;s upscale Regent Street. Apple said the store has the largest single sales floor of any Apple retail store and a 14-meter long Genius Bar with 20 stools.

London Apple Store Opens to Media


The top U.S. maker of computer hard-disc drives forecast  quarterly sales and earnings above Wall Street estimates amid  stronger demand for its products.

Stocks to Watch Tuesday


Search Engines Can Read Macromedia FLASH SDK \\Macromedia has solved what was likely one of its biggest problems. As of this month, FLASH files (.SWF) can now be read and indexed by search engine spiders. Until now, the general rule was that spiders could not extract data from .SWF files. ...


Crude futures prices fell slightly on Friday, capping off a 5 percent decline from a week ago, as worries about low winter fuel inventories dissipate amid rising oil supplies.

Oil Finishes Week Below \$50 Per Barrel


As Boise State has proved in finishing its regular season 11-0, its program has transcended a quirky marketing gimmick: the installation of its blue turf.

From Turf to Team, Boise State Takes Unconventional Approach


The Hang Seng Index slipped 15.65 points, or 0.1 percent, to 13,886.16. On Friday, the index had slumped 107.01 points, or 0.8 percent.

Hong Kong Shares Close Little Changed


PC World - Users can now access search engine from their cell phones.

Yahoo Search Goes Mobile (PC World)


As the new European Commission (EC) started to take up office on Monday, it was still overshadowed by quarrels over French European Commissioner Jacques Barrot #39;s conviction.

EU commission overshadowed by dispute on commissioner #39;s conviction


Crude oil prices briefly hit an all-time high of \$50.69 on Tuesday as worries persisted over supply and unrest in key producers.

Crude Oil Prices Surged Above \$50 a Barrel


Talk intensifies that oil company will sell its key Siberian unit for low price to pay back taxes. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Shares of Russian oil company Yukos fell Monday as fears intensified that the firm #39;s key

Yukos plunges on fears of asset sales


Reuters - Albertsons Inc. , the No. 2\U.S. grocer, on Tuesday reported a substantial drop in its\quarterly profit as heavy promotions to revive its Southern\California sales after a strike bit into its profit.

California Strike Hits Albertsons' Profit (Reuters)


OJIYA, Japan -- Thousands of residents in northern Japan spent the night outdoors after three powerful earthquakes rattled the region, killing at least 16 people.

Japan awakes to quake devastation


THE judge who presided at opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirais 20-month treason trial in Zimbabwe is a corrupt placeman who last year grabbed a prize white-owned farm for himself.

Why trial result was a Mugabe masterstroke


AP - Browns offensive guard Kelvin Garmon and defensive back Leigh Bodden are out for the season after sustaining injuries in Cleveland's loss on Sunday in Baltimore.

Browns' Garmon Injures Knee (AP)


AP - Dan Dickau scored a career-best 23 points and the New Orleans Hornets won their first home game of the season, 98-89 over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

Hornets Top Warriors 98-89 (AP)


The Beijing municipal government may reconsider its software procurement since it became target of criticism for giving Microsoft the lion #39;s share of a large software purchase order, analysts say.

Beijng may reconsider deals on Microsoft software


Having built a \$1 billion market in illegal, cross-border prescriptions by focusing on American seniors without drug coverage, Canadian Internet pharmacies are setting their sights on minority populations in the United States, especially Latinos, to drive a fresh wave of sales.

Pharmacies in Canada zero in on US Latinos


AP - James Wilhoit kicked a 50-yard field goal with six seconds to go to lift No. 13 Tennessee to a 30-28 victory over 11th-ranked Florida on Saturday night.

No. 13 Tenn. Stuns No. 11 Florida 30-28 (AP)


Smarty Jones has been retired to stud in Kentucky, but his presence is felt among the other top 3-year-old thoroughbreds still racing.

Smarty Jones Casts Shadow Over Field


BRITAIN #39;S Prime Minister Tony Blair hoped to switch attention from the unrelenting bloodshed in Iraq to his campaign for a third term in office with his address today to the Labour Party #39;s annual conference.

Blair to shift focus from Iraq


AP - Antonio McDyess had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Richard Hamilton also scored 19, helping the Detroit Pistons snap a five-game road losing streak with a 93-72 win over the reeling Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.

Pistons Race Past Rockets 93-72 (AP)


Russia and France swept to 5-0 wins Thursday at the Fed Cup semifinals in Moscow, setting up a meeting for the title in the Saturday-Sunday final.

Russia, France Set Final Fed Cup Meeting Saturday


Less than a week after collecting a \$536 million settlement from Microsoft, Novell filed another lawsuit, as expected, accusing the software giant of violating antitrust laws.

Novell files additional lawsuit against Microsoft


Goddard Space Flight Center -- NASA scientists recently successfully radioed artificial intelligence (AI) software to a satellite. They tested the software's ability to find and analyze errors in the spacecraft's systems...

NASA Software Allows Satellites to Troubleshoot in Space


The New York Times on the Web won an award from the Online News Association for commentary by Nicholas Kristof, an Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times.

Online Award to Times Writer


Hundreds of people marched in Katmandu on Sunday, waving banners urging religious tolerance in wake of riots over the killing of 12 Nepalese hostages by Iraqi insurgents.

Hundreds march in Nepal for peace


In a city that prides itself on a drastic reduction in homicides since 1990, a triple homicide has driven home the sudden rise in killings.

Triple Murder in Boston Amid a Grim Statistic: Killings on the Rise


The Florida Marlins have withdrawn their two-year, \$4.75 million offer to Antonio Alfonseca after a herniated disk was found in the pitcher #39;s lower back, the Miami Herald reported Friday.

Herniated disk discovered in pitcher #39;s lower back


Reuters - On the day Major League\Baseball owners delayed the vote to finalize the move of the\Expos to Washington, DC, the club on Thursday signed manager\Frank Robinson to a one-year contract.

Robinson Signs Deal to Manage Expos in DC (Reuters)


Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N) on Monday\maintained its August sales forecast and said demand was\particularly strong in the U.S. Southeast last week as people\stocked up on duct tape, rope and water in preparation for\Hurricane Charley.

Wal-Mart Maintains August Sales Forecast (Reuters)


Dozens of the political action committee's subscriber pages exposed by simple Google search.

Moveon.org subscriber-data leaked through search


The Federal Reserve, wanting to keep inflation at bay, is expected to boost short-term interest rates for a third time this year on Tuesday, a move that would come in the final stretch of the presidential campaign.

Fed Expected to Boost Rates Again


Armed men have seized an Israeli Arab producer working for the CNN television network from a car in Gaza City after asking for him by name.

CNN worker kidnapped in Gaza City


Adobe #39;s version 7 of Acrobat Professional includes some new features meant to improve the ability to collaborate on PDF documents.

Adobe Unveils New Versions of Acrobat, Reader


UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said a US report on Iraqi arms programs shows Saddam Hussein was working to acquire banned weapons in breach of United Nations resolutions, justifying the 2003 war to depose him.

UK #39;s Blair Says Weapons Report Shows Iraq Breached UN Rules


The head of the Palestinian president #39;s office, Tayeb Abdelrahim, says leader Yasser Arafat isn #39;t in a coma and his life is not in danger.

ARAFAT OUT OF DANGER: OFFICIALS


Successful IT often requires as much insight into business as into technology.
ADVERTISEMENT

<img src=

IT's secret sauce


An aging population will put significant stresses on the budget deficit over the next three decades, a problem that could be solved by raising the retirement age, Federal Reserve Chief Alan Greenspan said in a speech Friday.

Greenspan Floats Higher Retirement Age


How the flawed interface design of a police dispatch system became a municipal issue in San Jose.

Wanted by the Police: A Good Interface


AFP - A policeman was killed and four people injured, one a civilian, in two separate ambushes by Islamic militants in Indian Kashmir, police said.

Kashmir policeman killed, four injured in rebel aattacks (AFP)


LONDON (CBS.MW) -- Russian President Vladmir Putin told a group of media executives  quot;the state #39;s goal has not been, is not and will not be quot; to nationalize the country #39;s emabattled oil giant Yukos (YUKOY) , AFX News reported, though said that state firms

Putin says state oil firms could bid for Yukos assets


PASADENA, Calif. NASA thinks its Mars rovers just might keep going and going and going. The space agency has funded another extension of their mission, for an additional six months, if they last.

NASA extends Mars rover mission for another six months


HOBART, Australia Wildlife officers are trying to save about 50 whales and dolphins near the coast of a southern Australian island.

About 100 beached whales and dolphins have died on Australian <b>...</b>


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wine and beer distributor  Constellation Brands Inc. <A HREF=

Constellation Bids \$970 Mln for Mondavi


AFP - German electronics giant Siemens said that financial burdens connected with a technical fault in its new mobile phone handsets were likely to reduce earnings in the final quarter of its business year ending in September.

Siemens warns fourth-quarter earnings to be hit by mobile phone fault (AFP)


Before Harry Redknapp had even been officially unveiled as the new Southampton manager, the first emotive pot shots that invariably accompany the bridging of entrenched football divides had been fired.

Crossing the great divide


AFP - South Korea's Samsung Electronics has developed the world's first mobile phone equipped with a five-megapixel camera.

Samsung develops world's first five-megapixel camera phone (AFP)


The new storage virtualization software is designed with expanded support to virtualize and manage the complete line of currently available EMC disk storage systems.

Big Blue Takes On EMC With Storage Virtualization


ATi presenta la scheda PCI Express ALL-IN-WONDER X600 PRO. La scheda sar disponibile il prossimo mese in Europa e Nord America ed  adatta a chi vuole fare del computer una piattaforma multimediale e non solo adatta agli ultimi games in commercio.

ATi presenta la ALL-IN-WONDER X600 PRO


The first volunteers to sign up for a survey of the endangered juniper shrub in Britain will win a free bottle of gin.

Free gin for UK juniper spotters


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Marsh  amp; McLennan said late Thursday that five directors, who are also executives at the insurance broker, have stepped down from the board.

Directors also delay decision on first-quarter dividend


The average US retail price for regular-grade gasoline rose 4.2 cents the past week to \$2.035 a gallon and diesel reached a record as crude oil rallied to an all- time high.

US Retail Gasoline Prices Rise; Diesel Sets Record (Update1)


News.com reports in the article: Microsoft fixes date for desktop search tool, that the company will offer up a beta release of a desktop search by the end of this year.

Microsoft Desktop Search Beta Coming Soon


His release, when it came, stopped a nation. The stock market soared, pigtails left untended in protest for six years were cut, websites crashed and long queues formed on highways as ecstatic

Anwar #39;s return in Malaysian politics


Chipmaker will pay Big Blue nearly \$300 million, but move should help in competition with Intel.

AMD, IBM extend chip-development deal


Lowell, who could have opted out of his contract because the team hasn #39;t secured new stadium financing, agreed Friday to a revised deal in which the team guarantees the remaining \$25.

AROUND THE HORN: Marlins OK Lowell #39;s deal through 2007


GARDEZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid  Karzai escaped an assassination bid on Thursday when a rocket  was fired at his U.S. military helicopter as it was landing in  the southeastern town of Gardez.

Afghan President Escapes Assassination on Poll Trip


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slipped on Wednesday after  several companies issued profit warnings, while Fed Chairman  Alan Greenspan's remarks that the economy was pulling out of a  summer soft patch did little to quell expectations for a rate  hike later this month.

U.S. Stocks Slip as Profit Warnings Weigh


Bristol-Myers Squibb said its third-quarter profit dipped 16 percent from a year ago to 758 million dollars as the pharmaceutical giant boosted research in the face of expiring patents.

Bristol-Myers Squibb profit slips 16 percent


New York-based Fitch Ratings has assigned an underlying  quot;A quot; rating to Miami-Dade County #39;s \$75 million stormwater utility revenue bonds, series 2004.

Fitch rates Miami-Dade stormwater bonds  #39;A #39;


Small ISPs worry that a FCC decison could take away their ability to offer DSL.

ISPs fear losing broadband rights


The Securities and Exchange Commission has upgraded its investigation of Pro-Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Newton from an informal inquiry to a formal probe, according to the firm's most recent quarterly report to investors. The federal securities watchdog is looking at whether false or misleading statements were made about Pro-Pharmaceuticals, possibly by the company itself.

SEC begins formal investigation of Newton biotech company


A miner survived is examined at a hospital in Fushun, city of northeast China #39;s Liangning Province, Oct. 30, 2004. A sudden poisonous gas gushed at an operation platform of the Xilutian Mine of Fushun Coal Industry Corp.

Poisonous gas gush kills 15 miners


Reuters - Oracle Corp. on Thursday said in a\letter to PeopleSoft Inc. stockholders that it would withdraw\its hostile takeover bid if less than half of PeopleSoft shares\were tendered by the offer's deadline.

PeopleSoft Investors Urged to Tender Shares (Reuters)


In a rare admission, an Intel executive says the Itanium chip family still isn't living up to \expectations.

Itanium not meeting Intel's goals


RAWALPINDI: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Tuesday said President Pervez Musharraf was seeking opinion of the people on the Kashmir issue to find a solution to the long-standing problem.

President seeking opinion to find Kashmir solution: Rashid


SPACE.com - New images from the Cassini spacecraft reveal undulating kinks in one of the rings and theft of ring dust by a moon. The kinks are seen in greater detail than ever before and the thievery has been photographed for the first time.

Kinks Seen in Theft of Saturn's Ring Material (SPACE.com)


Nobody inside golf thinks Tiger Woods is the best player in the world anymore. Or the second best. Or perhaps even third. But now that truth is painfully official.

Tigers lost his stripes, and everyone knows that now


Tokyo stocks were mixed early Thursday amid profit taking and buying on the back of the US dollar #39;s strength against the Japanese yen.

Update 5: Tokyo Stocks Mixed, Dollar Up Against Yen


Real Madrid have made an official apology to Bayer Leverkusens Roque Junior for the racist taunts a small portion of the Bernabeu crowd dedicated to the Brazlian defender last night.

We Aren #39;tA Racist Club-Real Madrid


Canadian Press - UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States softened its threat of oil sanctions against Sudan on Tuesday to try to get Security Council approval for a resolution pressuring Khartoum to rein in Arab militias accused of attacking civilians in western Darfur.

U.S. softens oil sanctions threat against Sudan in revised UN resolution (Canadian Press)


Afghanistan #39;s President Hamid Karzai says he is deeply disturbed by a bomb attack in the capital Kabul in which at least seven people died.

Karzai  #39;disturbed #39; at Kabul bomb


He refused the offer of a rest in order to lead his players on the controversial visit to the crisis-torn nation. Vaughan and the 14-man squad are due to arrive in Namibia this morning for

I couldn #39;t let team down


Three soldiers of the Black Watch regiment were killed by a suicide car bomb at a checkpoint. One translater was also killed. The attack comes as US forces launched fresh air and artillery strikes on Fallujah

Three British soldiers killed in suicide attack


Red Hat has announced it is changing the way it books support subscription revenue, based on a recommendation from its auditors. The accounting changes prompted the Linux supplier to correct and restate its

Red Hat changes accounting procedures


BEA Systems continues to see an exodus of high-level executives, with Chief Marketing Officer Tod Nielsen exiting this week.

BEA departures continue


Serena Williams of US holds the championship trophy after defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in the inaugural China Open women #39;s final September 26, 2004, in Beijing.

Serena Williams picks China Open title


September 17, 2004 -- Consumer prices rose only 0.1 percent in August, led by a decline in gas and car prices, according to a report released by the Labor Department on Thursday.

Consumer Prices Inch Up; Inflation Fears Continue to Fade


ONE of Americas greatest unsung heroes, an astronaut who touched the stars yet barely scraped the surface of public recognition, is to retire.

To obscurity and beyond for the quiet space hero


In a sign that Iraq contracts did not provide the boon executives had expected from KBR, Halliburton is considering selling it.

Troubled Unit of Halliburton May Go on Block


LONDON -- Britain's foreign secretary and senior officials warned Prime Minister Tony Blair a year before invading Iraq that chaos could follow the toppling of Saddam Hussein, a newspaper reported yesterday.

Prewar caution to Blair alleged


Leading web search engine Google launched a new site for book lovers at the world #39;s largest publishing show on Thursday that will provide a new avenue for sales.

Google launches new site for readers, publishers


Oil prices fell 23 cents to \$46.35 a barrel after Venezuelan Hugo Chavez won a recall referendum, appeasing worried energy markets.

Oil Holds Near Record Level


Northern Irish drugmaker Warner Chilcott has agreed to a 1.62 billion pound takeover by the private equity arms of investment banks CSFB and JP Morgan, spurning two rival suitors.

Warner Chilcott agrees takeover


CALCUTTA: Off spinner Harbhajan Singh took seven wickets as India crushed South Africa by eight wickets to clinch the two-Test series 1-0 yesterday.

Harbhajan spins India to victory


Mediators welcome the return of a Somali warlord to the peace process in neighbouring Kenya.

Boost for Somali peace talks


Reuters - Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday\that eBay Inc. will soon drop support for its Passport service,\originally intended to make the world's biggest software maker\the gatekeeper of Web identities.

eBay to Drop Support for Microsoft's Passport (Reuters)


BAGHDAD - Guerrillas attacked a US patrol north of Baghdad on Monday, killing one 1st Infantry Division soldier, the US military said in a statement.

Guerrillas kill US soldier north of Baghdad


OAKLAND, Calif. -- What little optimism there was before the start of the season has all but faded, and it appears the only record-setting performances by the Bulls this season will be of the dubious variety.

Bulls nearing wrong record


They are young and strong and vibrant, their hair blowing in the wind, their smiles incandescent, their eyes awash with confidence in their own specialness. We call them larger than life. We call them immortal.

Big brother was Brett's inspiration


Unlike US captain Hal Sutton, who kept his pairings for the opening matches of the 35th Ryder Cup guarded like a state secret, it was easy to read into Bernhard Langer's mind-set. All you had to do was track the way the final practice groups were organized by the European captain.

Langer's pairings apparent


AP - Big Blue has brought the title of the world's fastest supercomputer back to the United States for the first time in three years.

IBM System Named Fastest Supercomputer (AP)


SigmaTel's chips claimed to have won Apple's support

Alleged Apple Flash iPod 'partner' signs with Rio


AFP - The family of US soldier Charles Robert Jenkins cheered his release from US military custody in Japan and said they look forward to seeing him for the first time since he defected to North Korea in 1965.

Family of US defector to North Korea eagerly awaits reunion (AFP)


AP - More than a dozen conservation and public health advocacy groups joined on Tuesday to throw their collective support behind further legislative action to prevent global warming.

Groups Join, Seek Action on Global Warming (AP)


Here is the coverage in The New York Times and the New York Law Journal about the denial of United for Peace and Justice's Sunday rally in Central Park (United for Peace and Justice v. Bloomberg, 111893/04), and here is what NY Supreme Court1 Justice Silbermann said:      ... the evidence established that the department's determination was based on entirely content-neutral factors, to wit: that the Great Lawn2 was not an appropriate venue for a demonstration of this magnitude.     ...  The Parks Department appropriately applied content-neutral regulations while leaving plaintiff with a reasonable alternate site.

Does a NY Supreme Court judge say that the Central Park lawn is more important than free speech?


Moscow, Aug 21 (VNA) - Russian Roskosmos space agency will help Malaysia build a space and satellite controlling centre and will help develop Malaysia #39;s space programme, said Russian Federal Space Agency head Anatoly Perminov while meeting his Malaysian

Russia helps Malaysia develop space industry


Over the years, there have been many jokes about NFL standing for No Fun League, demanding uniformity and squelching individuality.

NFL's strong-arm tactics smack of censorship


Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair meet today to try to find a way of breathing new life into the faltering efforts to restore devolution to Northern Ireland.

Ahern and Blair hope to revitalise NI process


We're back, it appears, to this: Derek Lowe is a guy you'd think twice about allowing to park your car, never mind start a playoff game.

Will sinking Lowe resurface in playoffs?


Johan Santana is ready to start against the New York Yankees on short rest. The left-hander told Minnesota Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson on Friday that

Twins #39; Santana to start Game 4 on short rest


The proposed foreign takeover of WMC Resources has attracted more criticism, with concern the mining assets at stake could one day be an issue of national security.

Mayor attacks WMC Resources takeover plan


MARTINSVILLE - The owners are new. The track resurfaced. The railroad is relocating. The souvenir haulers have moved. And that #39;s since April, the last time 63,000 fans watched NASCAR Nextel Cup racing at Martinsville Speedway.

1 race or 2? That could be the question


The brother of the first British female soldier to die in Iraq since the war began said today her family were trying to come to terms with her death.

Family  #39;Devastated #39; by Woman Soldier #39;s Iraq Death


India #39;s leading batsman Sachin Tendulkar conceded on Sunday he was not fully physically fit for Tuesday #39;s third test against Australia but added he was mentally ready for the battle.

UPDATE 1-Tendulkar not fully fit but set for test return


Kidnappers of Maura Villareal, mother of Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina, have demanded a ransom payment of \$15 million, according to Venezuela Electronic News.

Report: \$15M ransom for Urbina #39;s mother


EL SEGUNDO, California (Sports Network) - Los Angeles  Lakers center Vlade Divac is not expected to be ready for the  start of training camp due to a herniated disc in his lower  back.

Divac Sidelined with Back Problem


US forces and Iraqi units last night were preparing to storm rebel strongholds in the northern city of Mosul as fighting wound down in Fallujah.

Guns trained on Mosul


NAJAF, Iraq -- Explosions and gunfire shook Najaf's Old City yesterday in a fierce battle between US forces and Shi'ite militants, as negotiations dragged on for the handover of the shrine that the fighters have used as their stronghold.

Talks drag as fighting shakes Najaf


PITTSBURGH -- US Steel Corp. swung to its third consecutive quarterly profit, helped by higher prices and a tax gain, to beat analysts #39; earnings estimates.

US Steel reports 3rd quarterly profit


Matthias Sammer #39;s Stuttgart went top of the Bundesliga on Saturday after a 2-0 win over the coach #39;s former team. At times efficient, at others exciting, VfB looked the complete package and deserving league leaders.

Stuttgart Claim Top Spot with Win over BVB


Sasa Ilic hits a hat-trick for Partizan Belgrade in a 4-0 win over Egaleo, plus Thursday's other matches.

Football: Uefa Cup round-up


Kashmiris weary of years of violence welcomed on Friday India #39;s surprising offer to reduce the number of its troops in the Himalayan territory, a move that could prompt old foe Pakistan to respond similarly.

Indian peace move brightens hope for Kashmir peace


AP - The five candidates vying to unseat Democratic Rep. Sam Farr of California have little in common  #151; except their office address and the likelihood they will lose.

Barely a Contest Among 53 House Races (AP)


New South Wales, led by leg-spinner Stuart MacGill #39;s 4-57, dismissed New Zealand for 213 Thursday on the opening day of a four-day warmup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

New South Wales starts strongly


LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar rose one percent against the  euro and the yen on Wednesday as investors bought the U.S.  currency back in the run-up to the year-end and eyed the impact  of the dollar's weakness on other economies.

Dollar Rises 1 Percent Against Euro, Yen


Iraq #39;s influential Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS) has accused the US army of hampering efforts to secure the release of two abducted French journalists.

AMS: US actions foiling hostage deal


Palm OS 6.0 (Palm OS Cobalt) hasn #39;t even seen the light of day on any device yet, nor is there any sign it will soon. All the same, PalmSource is steering its unused OS 6.0 onto the Linux platform.

PalmSource to Port Palm OS on top of Linux


MANILA, Philippines -- As the confirmed death toll from devastating storms in the Philippines rises to more than 840, rescuers have pulled at least four survivors from a building that collapsed in mudslides 10 days ago.

Survivors rescued after 10 days


The UK-led Beagle 2 team which tried to put a lander on the surface of Mars last year has published the findings of its own inquiry into what went wrong.

Beagle team probes its own loss


Australia #39;s foreign minister says North Korea shows few signs of compromise but insists a negotiated settlement can still resolve the dispute over Pyongyang #39;s nuclear weapons.

Australian Foreign Minister Upbeat on North Korea Nuclear Talks


FALLUJAH - American warplanes struck Iraqi positions in the rebel stronghold of Fallujah Thursday, ahead of an expected assault on the city.

US planes pound Fallujah


DHAKA (Reuters) - Two former policemen convicted of the  rape and killing of a teenager were executed by hanging in a  north Bangladesh jail early on Thursday.

Bangladesh Hangs Two Ex-Policemen for Rape, Murder


Lenovo Group stayed silent Friday about reports it was talking with IBM Corp. about buying the US companys personal computer business, but an executive hinted that the Chinese

Lenovo said to buy IBMs PC business


quot;The bad blood and legal wrangling between Intel and AMD goes back a decade, quot; Jonathan Eunice, an analyst with the research firm Illuminata, told the E-Commerce Times.

EU Expands Intel Favoritism Investigation


Mike Smartt, founder of the BBC News website, picked up his OBE at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

BBC site founder picks up OBE


KABUL, Afghanistan -- US soldiers sprayed a pickup with bullets after it failed to stop at a roadblock in central Afghanistan, killing two women and a man and critically wounding two other people, the latest in a string of civilian deaths at the hands of American forces.

At checkpoint, US forces kill 3 Afghan civilians


Five hours of talks Tuesday brought owners and players no closer to resolving labor disagreements that will lead to a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement ends Sept. 15.

Owners, players talk, but nothing resolved


NASA has launched the fastest-swivelling space observatory ever built to hunt the cosmos for clues to violent celestial explosions that some astronomers believe mark the birth of black holes.

NASA HUNTS BLACK HOLES


Reuters - A U.N. conference endorsed on Tuesday a\proposal to slap controls on trade in the ocean's most feared\predator, the great white shark of

CITES Accepts Protection Plan for 'Jaws' Shark (Reuters)


A total of 45 North Korean refugees tried to seek asylum in the Canadian Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday, with one person arrested by police and 44 others succeeding, paving the way for their deportation to South Korea.

North Korean Refugees Seek Asylum in Canadian Embassy


com October 20, 2004, 2:34 PM PT. According ZDNet #39;s survey of IT professionals in October, application development is the last priority, but nonetheless an important one.

Microsoft sets summer delivery of SQL Server


Gateway Inc. will introduce its first desktops based on Intel Corp.'s new 915G chip set through several retail outlets, the company plans to announce Thursday.

Gateway unveils Grantsdale PCI Express PCs in retail


AP - Free agent closer Bob Wickman agreed to a  #36;2.75 million, one-year deal Wednesday and returned to the Cleveland Indians, whose shaky bullpen without him early last season cost them any chance of winning the AL Central.

Indians Sign Closer Wickman for One Year (AP)


TONY EASTLEY: Japanese carmaker, Mitsubishi Motors, is nothing if not optimistic. In just six months, the battered company has lost more than \$1.

Mitsubishi optimistic despite downhill slide


Delta Air Lines can shift more flying to regional jets but also will have to give furloughed pilots first crack at any new jobs that result, under the tentative agreement union members begin voting on Monday.

Union urges OK of accord


Vijay Singh #39;s magical season marches on after the Fijian claimed claimed his ninth win of the season last night - the most on the PGA Tour in 54 years - as he cruised to a five-stroke victory at the Chrysler Championship.

SINGH ON SONG YET AGAIN


\India says it is to begin a pull-out of some of its troops based in the disputed state of Kashmir on  Wednesday.

India to withdraw Kashmir troops


LONDON (Reuters) - World oil prices fell sharply again on  Tuesday as Iraq restored oil exports and hedge funds continued  the rush to take profits from record highs.

Oil Down Nearly \$8 in 8 Days, Funds Exit


A draft resolution calling for a speedy end to talks on resolving the crisis in Sudan #39;s Darfur region is being examined by UN Security Council members.

Darfur peace push in new UN text


THE sight of Paula Radcliffe crying at the side of the road as her dreams of marathon glory were shattered remains one of the lasting images of the Athens Olympics.

Radcliffe redeemed with marathon win


Nokia has bowed out of the ringtone market following poor sales from its Club Nokia website. Its exit should also smooth relationships with mobile network operators which think that their hardware providers

Nokia exits ringtones


Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has revealed the secret of Jose Mourinho #39;s training ground success so far this season - making the sessions  quot;fun quot; for his players.

Cech -  #39;fun #39; training sessions (Getty Images)


The government of Singapore and Telekom Malaysia Bhd. agreed to buy a 48 percent stake in India #39;s Idea Cellular from three companies for \$390 million to tap into India #39;s wireless market.

Singapore, Telekom Malaysia to Buy Stake in Idea Cellular


APPLE has introduced a new larger-capacity iPod with a colour display as well as a first-of-its-kind digital compendium of the rock band U2 #39;s songs.

Jobs unveils Apple #39;s Photo iPod


TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian diplomat Fereidoun Jahani,  kidnapped in Iraq last month, has been released, the Iranian  embassy in Baghdad said on Monday, adding he was in good health  but tired.

Kidnapped Iranian Diplomat Released in Iraq - TV


Johannesburg - The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Tuesday called on the African National Congress to organise an urgent meeting to discuss the tensions between the two organisations.

Cosatu calls on ANC to end spat


Blogs Are Great for Search Engine Ranking\\Blogs have had a profound effect on communications and marketing since their development and early adoption but are still a mystery to many. According to Google Definitions (enter: define:Blog into Google search window), Blogs can be several things to different people but the simplest ...


LONDON (CBS.MW) -- British insurer Jardine Lloyd Thompson (UK:JLT) saw its shares fall almost 16 percent after it warned it expects fiscal year pretax profit to fall below market estimates and its chief executive quit.

Jardine Lloyd tumbles after warning, CEO resignation


Online retail giant eBay Inc. plans to increase its stake in Internet Auction, South Korea #39;s top online auctioneer, to 85.61 percent, the Korean firm said Wednesday.

eBay to Hike Stake in Local Firm


Scientists say they have developed an effective vaccine against malaria that could be ready for use in six years.

Hopes of malaria vaccine by 2010


Media giant Time Warner will pay approximately \$510 million to settle various fraud charges regarding its America Online (AOL) unit with two US regulatory agencies, the company revealed this morning.

Time Warner to Pay \$510 Million to Settle AOL Charges with US <b>...</b>


Sun puts very early versions of the source code on its Web site so Java programmers could better see and participate in its development.

Sun invites outside involvement with Java 6


Iran sought yesterday to partially roll back its commitment to freeze all uranium enrichment programs, demanding the right to run some equipment that can be used to produce nuclear arms.

Iran wavers on deal to freeze all uranium enrichment


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - EBay Inc., <A HREF=

EBay Reports Sharply Higher Profit


AFP - US-based Microsoft Corp will introduce a low-cost version of its Windows XP operating system in India in early 2005 in a bid to capture a market of millions of households.

Microsoft launches low-cost Windows in India to woo first-time PC users (AFP)


TELSTRA will remain firmly in Australian hands even after the Government sells its shares in the company, Treasurer Mr Peter Costello said yesterday.

Telstra to stay in Aussie hands


CMS Energy Corp., the holding company for utility Consumers Energy, said Tuesday that it plans to offer \$200 million of convertible senior notes due 2024, subject to market conditions.

CMS Energy to Offer \$200 Million Notes


When Sun Microsystems (Quote, Chart) President and COO Jonathan Schwartz made his pitch to financial services customers at an event in New York Tuesday, he provoked a lot of discussion among the analyst community.

Sun Gives Analysts Food for Thought


AP - Terry Tiffee hit a go-ahead two-run double in his major league debut to give the Minnesota Twins a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers Wednesday night.

Twins Trip Rangers 4-2 (AP)


MODERATOR: Welcome everyone to today #39;s press conference. We have a lineup with thrilling racing that #39;s delivered six different winners in 13 races along with an incredibly talented crop of rookies this year that will indeed be the future of our series.

Champ Car Rumors F1 News


The Boston Red Sox, who haven #39;t won baseball #39;s World Series since 1918, are favored to beat the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series by Las Vegas oddsmakers and futures traders.

Red Sox Favored Over Yankees in Las Vegas, by Futures Traders


Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. SYDNEY, Australia -- The last remaining Australian aid agency in Iraq announced Friday it is pulling out following

Last Australian aid group in Iraq leaves after latest deaths


Peyton Manning threw for 393 yards and five first-half touchdowns and the Indianapolis Colts beat the Green Bay Packers 45-31 in a wild, high-scoring game on Sunday.

Manning outguns Favre


AP - Brett Tomko allowed one run in six innings for his first win in nearly a month and helped San Francisco complete a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies with a 3-1 victory Sunday.

Giants Top Phillies 3-1 to Finish Sweep (AP)


Amateur radio operators expressed cautious optimism about new rules for the transmission of broadband Internet access over power lines.

Radio operators OK rules on Net over power lines


With a laugh Vitali Klitschko admits he will never forget the day he met Danny Williams for the first time, at a bizarre press conference at the Labour Party #39;s Millbank headquarters to publicise a World Boxing Organisation title fight between the

Klitschko feels weight of a nation


The latest official preliminary results from Afghanistan #39;s 9 October 9 presidential election show transitional leader Hamid Karzai has won the clear majority needed for an outright first-round victory.

Karzai Seen Winning Outright First-Round Victory


washingtonpost.com - RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 8 -- During an IBM employee meeting here Wednesday, a worker got up and asked a question that perhaps only 10 years ago would have been unthinkable: If he wanted to keep his job helping to design some of the world's most advanced computers, would he have to move to China?

IBM Reassures Workers After Milestone China Deal (washingtonpost.com)


Toshiba will release the new PCs under its high-end Qosmio brand and plans to ship one million units in the first year to Europe, the US and China, as well as Japan.

Toshiba To Offer Laptops with HD-DVD in 2005


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - US Open champion Retief Goosen was the only winner on a rainy opening day of the World Match Play Championship on Thursday, beating Jeff Maggert by a record 12 and 11.

Goosen wins in Match Play; matches suspended by darkness


The iPod Photo carries an entire music and photo library, with a maximum capacity of 60GB. The device holds up to 25,000 digital photos as well as the music library.

Apple delivers 60GB iPod Photo


In the international party atmosphere of the Olympic Games, the Greek gay scene is finally coming out of the closet. After decades in the shadows of a macho society, the

Athens gay scene out for the Games


Billionaire investor Carl Icahn and a group of investors are opposing yet another corporate takeover. The investors, led by Icahn, have accumulated a 7 percent stake in Mylan Laboratories Inc.

Icahn attempting to block another corporate takeover


Windows XP is a safe and secure operating system. Really, it is--as long as you don #39;t connect it to the Internet. To be fair, other operating systems, including Linux and Mac OS X, are vulnerable to online attacks, too.

Tweak Windows XP SP2 Security to Your Advantage


Ouch. That #39;s gotta hurt. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) has crashed into third place in the global mobile handset market behind Samsung.

Motorola Slips


Vladimir Guerrero provided an instant return on Anaheim #39;s five-year, \$70 million, free-agent investment, and Tuesday was named the American League MVP by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Late run propels Guerrero to MVP


England Under-21 coach Peter Taylor hailed Wayne Rooney as the standard-bearer for a new generation of domestic talent. Taylor believes it is up to the country #39;s other best young players to follow Rooney #39;s lead.

Taylor: Wayne #39;s leading the way


AP - Chicago Fire midfielder Chris Armas will be out for four to six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Fire Midfielder Armas Has Knee Surgery (AP)


The online auto marketer hits a rough patch in the road, deflating its profit outlook.

What's That Smell, Autobytel?


Google will introduce POP3 (Post Office Protocol) support in the next few weeks for Gmail users, allowing them to download their email from the service using mail clients.

Google delivers POP3 Gmail


Middlesbrough secured a victory at home to Lazio, while Newcastle was also too good for Dynamo Tbilisi as the UEFA Cup action continued across Europe.

Boro sinks Lazio


An Italian prosecutor asked a court yesterday to sentence Silvio Berlusconi to eight years in jail for bribing judges as the prime minister #39;s four-year corruption trial reached its closing stages.

Prosecutor seeks 8 years in jail for Berlusconi


MOSCOW, October 7 (Itar-Tass) - The State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament will ratify the Kyoto Protocol, but to make this decision, lawmakers want the government to present  quot;rather convincing arguments and figures, quot; a number of

Duma wants convincing arguments for Kyoto ratification


Analysts gave a broad thumbs-up on Friday to Toronto-Dominion Bank #39;s (TD.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) \$3.8 billion acquisition of a majority stake in Banknorth Group Inc.

Analysts give thumbs-up to TD-Banknorth deal


Kenyon Martin made it clear Sunday that he did not hold Rod Thorn responsible for his departure after he spent his first four N.B.A. seasons with the Nets.

Martin Says His Trade Isn't the Fault of Thorn


Reuters - Infosys Technologies Ltd., India's\second-largest software services company, posted its biggest\quarterly profit jump in three years on increased outsourcing\by telecoms and financial companies.

Infosys Profit Growth Best in Three Years (Reuters)


ATHENS (Reuters) - The United States gave Hall of Famer Mia  Hamm the perfect send-off on Thursday, beating Brazil 2-1 to  win Olympic gold in the women's soccer tournament.

The U.S. Gives Mia Hamm a Golden Farewell


Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley expects to miss 2-to-4 weeks with a shoulder injury.  quot;I #39;ve seen better days, quot; Wheatley told Sacramento radio station KHTK on Wednesday.

Wheatley expects to miss 2-to-4 weeks with shoulder injury


Viacom Inc. (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (VIA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said its quarterly profit from continuing operations rose 12 percent

UPDATE 4-Viacom posts profit; sets \$8 billion buyback


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.

Eisner to Step Down as CEO in 2006 -WSJ


A French legal inquiry into the July 2000 Concorde crash near Paris has placed much of the blame on the American carrier, Continental Airlines.

Concorde crash  #39;due to US firm #39;


Islamic militants are still holding two Chinese engineers they kidnapped in Pakistan and have threatened to kill them if attacked by security forces, a member of a team seeking the captives #39; release said on Sunday.

Militants still hold Chinese hostages


BANGALORE: Google Bangalore, the first R amp;D centre outside the US of the number one internet search engine, is to be an ideas centre, said the fab-two who set up the company six years ago.

Google B #39;lore to be  #39;ideas #39; centre


OSLO, Norway - Armed, masked thieves burst into a lightly guarded Oslo museum Sunday and snatched the Edvard Munch masterpiece

Munch's Iconic 'Scream' Stolen in Norway


Hoping to add some momentum to its Workplace platform strategy IBM has launched an online developer resource center that gives software developers ready access to tools to help create products and services that will exploit the platform.

IBM wins developer support to build Workplace momentum


DES MOINES, Iowa - Warning lights flashed atop four police cars as the caravan wound its way up the driveway in a procession fit for a foreign potentate. At long last, Azy and Indah had arrived...

Two Apes Arrive at Education Center


Seattle, October 19: Microsoft Corp and Cisco Systems Inc on Monday said they would work more closely to make their products work more reliably with each other.

Microsoft, Cisco tie up to coordinate technologies


Ford confirmed on Monday that Red Bull had bought their Formula One team and that their engine manufacturer Cosworth had been sold to the owners of the Champ Car series.

Ford confirm sale of Jaguar F1 team, Cosworth


Q: I have Windows 98 and want the Internet Explorer upgrades (such as the built-in pop up advertisement blocker) that came with Service Pack 2. When will Microsoft release versions for all Windows users?

Ask Kim Komando


Middle East News, Three Palestinian fighters were injured in an Israeli missile strike on their car in the southern Gaza Strip, witnesses and medics said on Thursday.

Middle East ; Israeli airstrike wounds three Palestinians in Gaza


More than 10,000 British Airways staff will be balloted by their unions this week over a last-ditch pay deal that has lifted the threat of bank holiday travel chaos at Heathrow.

Airport workers strike BA pay deal


Santiago (VNA) - The two-day summit meeting of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum closed in Chile on Sunday, declaring their concerted efforts to ensure sustainable growth, trade and security.

Asia-Pacific leaders close summit


AFP - Asian and European leaders were to wrap up summit talks here by calling for the United Nations to lead the fight against terrorism while largely side-stepping a rift over military-ruled Myanmar.

European, Asian leaders wrap up summit, sidestep Myanmar issue (AFP)


Two of Germany's biggest banks, Postbank and Deutsche Bank, were the targets of coordinated phishing attacks last week.

Big German banks hit by phishing attacks


The conspiracy theorists are already concocting potential plots. They speculate whether an out-of-contention driver would sabotage someone in the top 10, how teamwork might make an

Actually, they #39;re all in the chase


Scientists in the United States and regulatory agencies in Europe on Wednesdsay questioned whether Celebrex and other pain relievers might raise the same risk of heart problems as those blamed on the arthritis medicine Vioxx.

Drugs Other Than Vioxx May Raise Heart Risks


FOXBORO -- The New England Patriots usually count on veterans to make plays down the stretch in games like this. On Sunday, they turned to an enigmatic -- but incredibly fast -- wide receiver instead.

New England scores when it counts


AP - The way Florida's offense is playing, you'd think Steve Spurrier was coaching the Gators again.

Florida Gators Returning to Big-Play Ways (AP)


After Red Herring sank into the dot-com morass last year, Tony Perkins considered resurrecting the magazine that helped establish him as a Silicon Valley sage. He changed his mind when his college-age daughter scoffed and told him

High-Tech Publisher Tries 'Blogozine'


MILAN: Michael Schumacher escaped unhurt after a heavy crash in testing at Monza on Thursday, days after the Ferrari driver won an unprecedented seventh Formula One title.

Lucky escape for Schuey


Schools are spending a fortune on technology in the hopes of gaining relevance with Generation I.  Bad news--they've already lost.

A Computer In Every Classroom


In beach shorts and black armbands, mourners met on Tuesday under blue Bali skies for an emotional ceremony to remember 202 people killed two years ago when bombs tore through the heart of Indonesia #39;s resort island.

Bali blast remembered two years later


November 01, 2004 - Intel have launched a 3.46GHz version of their gamer targeted Pentium 4 Extreme Edition. Nice name guys! :P However, reviews aren #39;t too peachy overall, check this out from CNet: One snag

Intel Launches 3.46GHZ P4 EE


Auburn #39;s domination of Georgia on the heels of two narrow escapes by Oklahoma (vs. Oklahoma State and Texas A amp;M) has apparently prompted a significant number of voters to change their minds about which team should be ranked No.

It may all come down to the computers


helps a man carry his infant son, wrapped in plastic to shield him from the rain November 30, as they use an improvised ladder to cross a fallen concrete bridge in eastern Philippine town of General Nakar.

Nearly 340 people killed as storm slams E Philippines


An unpatched security vulnerability in popular older versions of Microsoft Word poses a severe threat to users, security reporting firm Secunia warned yesterday.

Word open to exploit


Oracle nominated four candidates to serve as directors of PeopleSoft #39;s board and said it would fight for control of the company at its annual meeting next year.

Oracle wages proxy battle for control of PeopleSoft


NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Shares of Boeing Co. (BA) rose 3 in the premarket trading session Wednesday, after the aerospace and defense giant reported better-than-expected third

BEFORE THE BELL: Boeing Up On Strong 3Q,Boosted Outlook -2


BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Monroe County Coroner David Toumey was hospitalized with a leg wound after accidentally shooting himself while trying to demonstrate gun safety...

Coroner Discussing Gun Safety Shoots Self


After caring for patients for 40 years, an Atlanta hospital now is tending to its own wounds. Southwest Hospital and Medical Center, which this month filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, seeks a financial

Southwest Hospital and Medical Center fights for life


Opener Justin Langer has been dismissed after the tea break but Australia have already built a big lead over India on day three of the third Test in Nagpur.

Langer goes after tea


Reuters - Democratic candidate John Kerry\unleashed a harsh indictment of President Bush's economic\stewardship on Wednesday and urged his Republican rival to take\responsibility instead of playing the victim.

Democrat Kerry Slams Bush's 'Excuse Presidency' (Reuters)


The price range for the shares is for institutional clients and excludes brokerage fees. It values Hutchison Telecom at between US\$3.

Hutchison Whampoa Unit Expects To Raise Up to 1.13 Billion in IPO


Blame a chair umpire named Mariana Alves for professional tennis going to the use of instant replay, because it #39;s coming. When you screw up as badly as Alves did Tuesday night at the US Open

Tennis Needs Instant Replay


PAULA RADCLIFFE last night paid tribute to the  quot;incredible support quot; which helped her overcome her Olympic nightmare. Radcliffe fought back from her Athens heartbreak to win the New York Marathon

BRITISH PEOPLE HELPED ME WIN IN NEW YORK


Intel creates a more powerful memory chip without increasing its size, confounding warnings that the firm had hit its technical limits.

Intel in new chip breakthrough


AP - Taxi driver Manuel Pircolos is fuming. At a dead-stop in traffic, he chain smokes, drums his fingers on the dashboard, and sums up life behind the wheel.

Athens Slides Back Into Traffic Anarchy (AP)


Microsoft and Polycom Inc. disclosed plans to integrate their products to give PC users new options for audio and video conferencing.

Microsoft And Polycom Strike Desktop Conferencing Pact


Real Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Remon admitted he was nervous after AS Roma went 2-0 ahead on Tuesday night. But Garcia Remon remained calm and saw his Real charges triumph 4-2 in an exciting night at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid coach: We #39;re on right track