SYDNEY : Global mining giant BHP Billiton posted the biggest net profit in Australian corporate history as soaring commodities prices and strong demand from China pushed net profit up 83 percent to 3.51 billion US dollars.

Global miner BHP Billiton posts record net profit as demand soars


Oil prices rose 2 percent yesterday on the back of a rally in heating oil and natural gas futures that was supported by colder weather in the Western Hemisphere.

Crude futures rise on colder weather


Middle East News, Ramallah, Dec 12 (IANS) A top Palestinian official has said the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat could have died of poisoning, but there was  quot;no medical or political proof quot;, reports Xinhua.

Middle East ; Arafat could have died of poisoning, PLO official


AP - Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has emerged from a bloody, two-week showdown with U.S. forces with his militia intact but his heroic image in question.

Bloody Battle Dulls Cleric's Heroic Image (AP)


INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers exercised their option for reserve guard Fred Jones on Thursday, extending his contract through the 2005-06 season.

Pacers exercise option on reserve guard Jones


Sunday #39;s game added further heat to this simmering rivalry: Arsenal, the defending champion and rising power vs. United, the team of the  #39;90s trying to reclaim its dominance; Wenger, the urbane Frenchman vs.

Sports ; Arsenal vs. Manchester United: A feud grows in England


Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - The man convicted of the brutal murder and rape that kept David Milgaard wrongfully imprisoned for 23 years will not be able to appeal his case to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Supreme Court will not hear appeal of convicted killer-rapist Larry Fisher (Canadian Press)


AP - Richard Hamilton caught an inbounds pass under the basket and banked in a short shot with 1.3 seconds left, giving the Detroit Pistons an 78-77 win over Miami on Friday night as the Heat lost for the first time in nine games against Eastern Conference opponents.

Pistons Cool Off Heat 78-77 (AP)


LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar drifted within recent ranges  against the euro on Friday, while moving away from a five week  high versus the yen, as investors remained uncertain about the  near-term outlook for the U.S. economy amid high oil prices.

Dollar Weakens in Yo-Yo Trade


Insurgents fought US troops in running street battles in the capital Saturday, assassinated three Iraqi officials and their driver, and detonated a car bomb in Baghdad #39;s Liberation

Insurgent assault feared in Baghdad


Faced with fresh evidence of rapid warming at the top of the globe, members of the Arctic Council on Wednesday shied from making any commitments to combat the problem.

Arctic Council shies from warming recommendations


WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Regis Corp. (RGS) announced a deal to acquire Hair Club for Men and Women in which it will pay \$210 million.

Regis Corp. in deal to buy Hair Club for Men and Women


A new worm whose payload includes the SDBot trojan tries to install a  quot;sniffer, quot; seeking to use infected computers to capture login and banking information for other computers on the same network.

New Worm Installs Network Traffic Sniffer


Reuters - American expatriates in Germany are\turning out in record numbers for the presidential election,\spurred on by the German public, U.S. military commanders or a\newfound sense that every vote could be decisive.

U.S. Expat Voters Out in Record Numbers in Germany (Reuters)


ATHENS, Greece -- At 14.14 seconds, Robina Muqimyar posted the second-slowest time among 63 women in the 100-meter trials. But she and judo competitor Friba Razayee also have achieved historic firsts -- they

Afghan women blaze a trail


Reuters - European planemaker Airbus reported\progress on Wednesday in plans to allow passengers to use\mobile phones in flight, beginning in 2006.

Airbus Sees Mobile Phone Use on Planes in 2006 (Reuters)


The plan to promote BJ Ryan into a part-time closer had seemingly provided the Baltimore Orioles with an almost flawless late-inning bullpen scenario.

O #39;s Go Down in the 12th


HELSINKI: Nokia, the world #39;s largest mobile phone maker, plans to bring 40 new handsets to the market next year as it seeks to expand its already dominant market share amid increased competition from rivals Motorola, Samsung Electronics and Sony Ericsson.

Nokia plans 40 new models in  #39;05


When Joe Gibbs last coached in the NFL in the 1992 season there were no teams in Jacksonville or Carolina. Much has changed on the sporting landscape since, though with a new season

Gibbs Has Redskins Looking Back to the Future


MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin gave his  blessing on Friday for Russian state energy firms to bid for  oil major YUKOS's assets if bailiffs put them up for sale to  recover a huge back-tax bill.

Putin: State Firms Can Bid for YUKOS


The US presents a new draft UN resolution to put pressure on Sudan to resolve the conflict in the Darfur region.

US steps up pressure over Darfur


Wide receiver Patrick Johnson was smiling when he walked into the Baltimore Ravens #39; locker room after practice on Monday afternoon.

In Return, P. Johnson Signs With the Ravens


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

Novell Files Another Suit Against Microsoft


Gary Bettman and the NHL return to the negotiating table with the players #39; association today in Toronto, but the league is expected to formally reject the offer made by the union last Thursday.

NHL expected to reject union proposal


AP - An audiotape purportedly by key terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi boasts in an apparently recent recording that Islamic holy warriors have humiliated the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

Terror Tape Boasts U.S. Forces Humiliated (AP)


AP - Top ministers from 21 Pacific Rim nations convened high-level talks on free trade and global security Wednesday, while police battled university students protesting the summit and a weekend visit by President Bush.

Pacific Rim Nations Meet on Trade, Security (AP)


David Beckham revealed yesterday he has been offered film parts, but that the leading role he craves most involves England. Beckham is granted his footballing wish tomorrow when he

Beckham puts Hollywood on hold


Australia #39;s hopes of an Olympic Games men #39;s basketball quarter-final berth slumped with a heart-breaking 87-82 loss to Puerto Rico.

Puerto Ricans break Boomers #39; hearts


AP - Disillusioned by officials' failure to improve Bosnia's economy, many voters stayed away from municipal elections on Saturday, while preliminary results indicated that the three nationalist parties were in the lead.

Many Bosnians Stay Away From Elections (AP)


Lawmakers revived a long-stalled effort Wednesday to block state and local governments from taxing Internet connections, in a last-minute agreement to ban the taxes until 2007.

Congress close to renewing ban on Internet access taxes


Bill Belichick yesterday was so effusive in his praise of the Chiefs, who will oppose his Patriots Monday night, that a passerby at his morning news conference might have believed the Kansas City record to be 30-6 instead of 3-6.

Belichick's appraisal? Praise


Ireland held host France to a 0-0 draw Saturday in a World Cup qualifying match at Stade de France. Defender John O #39;Shea missed a great chance to win the match for Ireland midway

Ireland holds host France 0-0 in qualifying


Senior Israeli Cabinet ministers Tuesday approved the payment of cash advances to Jewish settlers who will be removed from their homes under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to leave the Gaza Strip - the government's first concrete step toward withdrawal.

Cabinet OKs Payment to Jewish Settlers


It was splashed on the front page of Greece #39;s mass-circulation To Vima, a left-leaning daily newspaper:  quot;Muslim blessing for the Athens Games.

Security overkill in Athens means more empty seats


Artificial Life, a brazen Hong King Company has invented a new (and I use the next term very loosely) game. For those men without a girl, and who have exhausted every other method of finding companionship, comes the Virtual Girlfriend.

Girlfriend On Your Phone


BAGHDAD/FALLUJA, OCT 23: A suicide car bomb exploded near a US marine base in western Iraq on Saturday, killing 16 Iraqi policemen and wounding up to 40.

Suicide car bombs kill 20 Iraqis


MIT Media Lab officials are engaged in sensitive talks with the Irish government this week over the future of the 4-year-old Media Lab Europe in Dublin, which is facing a funding crunch.

Funding woes threaten MIT's Dublin media lab


AP - Having won more than  #36;2 million each of the last four years, surely Annika Sorenstam could afford to hire someone to paint the inside of her summer home in Lake Tahoe.

Sorenstam Still Queen of LPGA Mountain (AP)


Ford has raised its third-quarter and 2004 profit forecasts because of strength in its financial services business and cost improvements in its car operations.

Ford lifts profit forecasts


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices extended recent heavy losses  on Wednesday ahead of weekly U.S. data expected to show fuel  stocks rising in time for peak winter demand.

Oil Retreat Deepens Ahead of U.S. Data


In the PGA Tour #39;s last full-field tournament of the year, Jeff Sluman and Jonathan Byrd are tied for first after two rounds. Byrd birdied five holes on the back nine

Byrd rides birdies to share of lead


Delta Air Lines Chief Executive Gerald Grinstein said Thursday that even if the carrier #39;s pilots approve a \$1 billion cost-cutting agreement, the airline may still have to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Delta pilots accept pay cut


Siebel Systems Inc. will acquire eDocs Inc. for \$115 million to help customers reduce call center and billing costs.

Siebel to acquire eDocs for \$115 million


Cisco Systems is working with the UK government on a pilot programme to train prison inmates in information and communications technology (ICT) skills.

Cisco brings IT skills to UK prisoners


AP - Laura Diaz is too busy trying to win the Tournament of Champions to worry about qualifying for the season-ending event.

Laura Diaz Leads Tournament of Champions (AP)


Elections to choose a successor to Yasser Arafat will be held on 9 January, the interim president announces.

Palestinian election date named


ZURICH (Reuters) - Venus Williams came through a stiff test  against Serbian schoolgirl Ana Ivanovic on Thursday to book her  place in the Zurich Challenge quarter-finals.

Williams Survives to Set Up Sharapova Clash


Cisco Systems is buying IP-service control vendor P-Cube in a deal valued at \$200 million. P-Cube #39;s products help service providers identify subscribers, classify applications, improve service performance and charge for multiple IP services.

Contact Center Today Cisco Strengthens IP-Service Offerings with P <b>...</b>


The UN is holding events across Asia to encourage the region to adopt free and open source software.

UN drive to boost free software


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

Stocks continue record breaking run


No matter how much sugar Eli Manning tried to sprinkle on yesterday #39;s 27-6 loss to the Eagles, he couldn #39;t cover up the sourness of his own performance.

THE CLINCHER Eagles earn division title by rolling over Giants


AFP - Three foreign United Nations workers kidnapped and held hostage in Afghanistan for three weeks were released, police and officials told AFP.

Three foreign UN hostages released in Afghanistan: police (AFP)


ING Groep NV, the biggest Dutch financial-services company, received a subpoena from New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and said it #39;s cooperating with his insurance market probe.

ING Subpoenaed by Spitzer in Insurance Market Probe (Update2)


British musician and peace activist formerly known as Cat Stevens, who changed his name to Yusuf Islam after conversion to Islam, has signaled a comeback.

Yusuf Islam: Back to Music


TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen remained under strong pressure on  Tuesday after oil prices hit record highs, raising concern  about the impact on Japan's import-dependent economy.

Yen Pressured by Rising Oil Prices


AP - Prosecutors in the Kobe Bryant case spent nearly  #36;400,000 trying to get the NBA star convicted of raping a woman at a Vail-area resort last summer, documents show.

Colo.'s Tab in Kobe Case Nearly  #36;400,000 (AP)


When you #39;re part of a team that has just captured its first World Series title in 86 years, it #39;s easy to get a little too caught up in the moment.

Red Sox primed for encore


Canadian Press - WASHINGTON (CP) - President George W. Bush left early Tuesday for his first official visit to Canada since he was re-elected in an effort to forge friendlier ties.

Bush leaves for overnight trip to Canada in effort to force closer ties (Canadian Press)


The Chinese government declared Wednesday that a conciliatory proposal made Sunday by President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan was fraudulent, intended only to fool Taiwanese voters and international opinion.

Chinese Government Delcares Taiwan Proposal Fraudulent


MARK COLVIN: The Prime Minister, John Howard, is under pressure this afternoon to explain his claims that interest rates would be higher under a Labor government.

Howard pressured over interest rates claim


Hundreds of workers at an Opel car plant in Germany kept up a protest outside the factory gates Sunday against plans by parent company General Motors for thousands of job cuts, demanding assurances that there will be no compulsory layoffs.

Update 3: Workers at German Plant Keep Up Protest


France has completed the evacuation of 5 000 Westerners and others from violence-torn Ivory Coast as Africans - with no hope of such rescue - have fled into neighbouring countries.

Thousands of Westerns flee Ivory Coast drama


Tony Blair talks to business leaders about new proposals for a major shake-up of the English exam system.

Blair defends new exam proposals


MOSCOW - Russia offered more than \$10 million for information that helps

Russia Offers Reward for Rebel Information


EA #39;s newest version of top title sells 1.3 million copies in first week, holding off competition. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -  quot;Madden NFL 2005, quot; the latest version of Electronic Arts Inc.

Boom! Big kickoff for  #39;Madden 2005 #39;


Microsoft was close to a deal with the European Commission earlier this year which would have revealed more of its secrets than it has now been ordered to hand over, a court was told yesterday.

Microsoft fights EU Windows curbs


Much of the science from NASA #39;s Genesis space capsule, which crashed in Utah on 8 September, will probably be salvaged, mission scientists say.

Crashed capsule may still reveal solar secrets


A former assistant treasurer at Enron Corp. (ENRNQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud on Tuesday and will cooperate with

Former Enron asst treasurer strikes plea deal


The Russian-backed Midland Formula One team planned for 2006 has hired the grandson of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin as marketing director, Kommersant daily newspaper said on Wednesday.

Yeltsin grandson joins Russian Midland F1 team


Microsoft on Monday announced it would start charging users to access their Hotmail accounts from the Outlook or Outlook Express e-mail clients.

Microsoft Charges For Hotmail-Outlook Connection


As part of its new advance warning policy, Microsoft on Thursday said next week #39;s regularly-scheduled patch day will feature five fixes for Windows, none of them more severe than  quot;Important.

Microsoft Readies Five Windows Fixes


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

Target Posts Higher Quarterly Profit


SPACE.com - A large planet-like object out in the realm of Pluto shows signs of either a relatively recent collision or perhaps volcanic activity, astronomers said today.

Volcanic Activity Possible on Object Beyond Neptune (SPACE.com)


The High Court at Auckland today ruled against the proposed tie-up of Air New Zealand and its Australian competitor Qantas. Air NZ and Qantas were appealing an earlier Commerce Commission ruling that blocked their proposed alliance.

High court rules against Air NZ-Qantas tie up


A MASSIVE explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand today killed 14 people, including a 4-year-old boy, and injured two others, a police official said.

Blast at fireworks factory


WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry are set to face off for their third and final debate Wednesday, when the candidates turn from foreign policy to domestic issues.

Bush, Kerry ready for final face-off Wednesday in Arizona


In a move to protect Spain #39;s image and bid for the 2012 Olympics, Spanish leaders stressed that its citizens and sports fans are not racist.

Spanish leaders denounce racial taunts by soccer fans


Canada cut the premium it plans to charge workers and companies for unemployment insurance in 2005 by 7 cents, the smallest reduction since the government started lowering the rates a decade ago.

Canada Cuts Unemployment Premium by Smallest Amount Since 1995


Pau Gasol has been in the NBA for three seasons. That #39;s been long enough for the 7-foot Spaniard to realize he wants to keep working with Jerry West and Hubie Brown.

Gasol gets six more years to play for West, Brown


roundup Plus: Web services outfits merge...Microsoft sets holiday Xbox bundle...PalmSource settles Digeo patent suit...Maxtor loses its CFO, again.

Briefly: BEA mobilizes corporate data


Photographers can shoot, store and print digital photos without requiring a computer connection.

Olympus debuts modular digital photo system


BusinessWeek Online - For 35 years, Advanced Micro Devices Inc.  stood in the shadow of archrival Intel Corp.  AMD churned out lower-priced clones of the tech leader's chips and occasionally enjoyed a hit that helped boost its meager profits. But bad times easily outweighed the good. Again and again, Intel used its manufacturing muscle and pricing power to stymie AMD's ambitions, preventing it from gaining a foothold in lucrative markets such as servers and corporate PCs.

Suddenly, It's AMD Inside (BusinessWeek Online)


AP - Defending champion Nicolas Massu was upset by Filippo Volandri 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 Friday in the quarterfinals of the Campionati Internazionali di Sicilia.

Volandri Upsets Massu in Palermo (AP)


Federal regulators have proposed allowing cell phones to be used on airplanes, and took steps toward bringing high-speed wireless Internet connections to passengers #39; seats.

Feds move on wireless Web, cell phones in flight


WASHINGTON: New data yesterday showed US inflation in check, with consumer prices up a modest 0.1 per cent in August, giving the Federal Reserve room go slow on boosting interest rates.

US inflation rate in check


Reuters - California Gov. Arnold\Schwarzenegger signed an anti-spyware bill on Tuesday banning\unauthorized installation of deceptive software that hides in\personal computers and secretly monitors user activity.

Schwarzenegger Signs California Anti-Spyware Bill (Reuters)


A state of alert is ordered as swarms of locusts from Africa arrive in Spain's Canary Islands.

Locust alert in Canary Islands


The Royal Society launches a scientific investigation into the rising acidity of the Earth's oceans.

Probe into rising ocean acidity


SiliconValley.com - IBM today plans to disclose details of a project to put a supercomputer on a chip.

IBM project puts supercomputer on a chip (SiliconValley.com)


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

The U.S. Gives Mia Hamm a Golden Farewell


SPAIN #39;S Prime Minister has accused the government he succeeded of ordering the destruction of all computer records on the March 11 Madrid train bombings in an attempt to influence the outcome of the election held three days later.

Ex-PM  #39;erased #39; Madrid blast files


COLOMBIA: In eight thunderous explosions, Colombia blew up its remaining 6,800 stockpiled land mines, winning the praise of Jordans visiting Queen Noor who said the move took courage given that the nation is still fighting an internal conflict.

Colombia destroys stockpiled land mines


Quarterback Aaron Polanco scores three touchdowns and rushes for 143 yards Saturday to lead Navy to a 28-24 win over Northeastern.

Polanco Propels Mids


The Australian Defence Force must defend and project across an air-sea gap. This requires long range autonomous strike weaponry. The Joint Strike Fighter does not solve this issue and detrimentally places added pressure on Australia's limited force of aerial refuelling assets. The world's defence manufacturers are not creating strike platforms that solve Australian needs. For this reason, Australia needs to look to other nations with similar defence needs. In this case, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all face defending an air-sea gap. Australia should enter a partnership with these nations to create a strike fighter that satisfies the strategic needs of defending an air-sea gap. The benefits of such a partnership will be many.

The Austral-Asian Strike Fighter


SAN FRANCISCO -- The number of companies building and designing microprocessors is likely to shrink by approximately 40 percent over the next 10 years, analysts from Gartner Inc. predicted at the research firm's Semiconductor Industry Summit conference here in San Francisco Tuesday.

Tough times ahead for semiconductor business


WASHINGTON : Soaring oil prices should inflict less damage on US economic growth and inflation than the 1970s oil shock, Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan revealed.

Greenspan says oil price agony milder than in 1970s


Bill Stone has invented diving gear and roving robots to explore the deepest -- and deadliest -- caves on Earth. In the icy water 4,500 feet below Mexico, he had to figure out how to bring his dead friend home. By Jeffrey M. O'Brien from Wired magazine.

To Hell and Back


Barry Bonds is three home runs away from joining Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth in baseball #39;s 700 club. Bonds hit his 697th homer in the San Francisco Giants #39; 18-7 home victory over Arizona on Friday night, a two

Bonds hits No. 697, Giants rout Diamondbacks


With few top-shelf teams this season, several factors are contributing to a shortage of quality, well-played NFL games.

Good Show, But Not Great


increasing, marketing director for world number four gold miner Harmony (HAR) Ferdi Dippenaar said on Wednesday. However, Dippenaar wouldn #39;t disclosure the exact level of acceptances received from Gold Fields #39; shareholders.

#39;Gold Fields acceptances up #39;


A Russian governor has become the first to break ranks over Kremlin plans to abolish elected regional heads and replace them with appointees, attacking the proposals as  quot;undemocratic and unconstitutional quot;.

Putin #39;s reforms are undemocratic says governor


AP - The Israeli army believes that al-Qaida carried out three car bombings in Egypt last week that killed at least 34 people, Israel's military chief said Tuesday.

Israeli Army: al-Qaida Behind Egypt Blasts (AP)


DUBAI:  quot;Our main mission: push our children to the battlefield, like Al-Khansaa, quot; declares Umm Raad al-Tamimi in a newly-launched online magazine teaching women how to contribute to jihad, or holy war.

New Internet magazine grooms women for jihad


Athens, Greece (Sports Network) - Nia Abdallah won the first United States medal ever in women #39;s taekwondo Friday, fighting her way through three rounds before falling in the under-57kg gold medal match and earning a silver.

Abdallah wins first US women #39;s taekwondo medal


Norfolk County Treasurer Joseph Connolly makes \$89,000 a year. His wife, Elaine, has a hotel job, and they own a home in Weymouth. Connolly also has two part-time jobs, one of them a seat on the Weymouth City Council, another teaching at Curry College. By most standards this family would be considered well off.

Facing putting the children through college


Japan hustled, hurled, homered--and what would it be if it didn #39;t bunt a few times--to a face-saving Olympic bronze medal in baseball.

ATHENS OLYMPICS 2004 / Japan bags bronze medal


Manchester United fans still celebrating yesterday #39;s victory over Arsenal received what most would regard as even better news today - the club has ended takeover talks with Malcolm Glazer.

United ends Glazer talks


Big-time college athletic departments who assert that their teams #39; success leads to increased alumni donations and a better applicant pool have created an  quot;arms

Athletics not worth the price


AP - Jamal Crawford banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the New York Knicks to their first road win of the season, 93-92 over the reeling Houston Rockets on Thursday night.

Knicks Nudge Rockets 93-92 at Buzzer (AP)


London - Angry Newcastle boss Graeme Souness on Tuesday told fiery Welsh striker Craig Bellamy to keep his mouth shut after the Geordies #39; coach found himself on the receiving end of a four-letter tirade at Charlton at the weekend.

#39;Keep your mouth shut #39;


United Airlines said it must cut an another \$2 billion in costs, including an end to all employee pension plans, to exit bankruptcy.

United Air whacks pay, ends pensons


Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer warned on Thursday that Linux may not really be free given the intellectual-property risks that could be posed by the open-source operating system.

Ballmer attacks Linux on patent front


The European Parliament is to vote on whether to approve the new executive commission team on Thursday. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Wednesday urged parliament to back his revised choice.

Revamped EU team faces vote


Ballard Power Systems (BLD.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) shares rose 20 percent on Tuesday on news it had delivered fuel cell-powered vehicles for a US Department of Energy program while an upbeat survey on the fuel sector

RPT-Ballard shares jump on US delivery, sector survey


Google IPO and Effect on Venture Capital Industry\\Will the Google IPO have any impact on the Venture Capital market?  FundingPost surveyed 32 Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors for their opinions.  FundingPost is happy to share these responses from leading venture investors as it should help guide CEOs of ...


Four men have been arrested on suspicion of terrorist offences as part of a planned operation by the Metropolitan Police. The men are suspected of attempting to buy radioactive material for

Four held as raid uncovers  #39;plot to buy dirty bomb #39;


AP - The State Department reminded Americans Friday of the dangers of traveling in Iraq, a day after two American construction workers were kidnapped from their home in Baghdad.

Government Warns Americans of Iraq Travel (AP)


The high and low ends of the fiberglass fashion world seem to be converging on one focal point: a bigger, sexy derriere.

Store Mannequins Can Now Breathe Out


While Microsoft and Google dominate Internet browsing and search, smaller companies offer worthy alternatives.

Tinker With Your Computer, and Reap the Rewards


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employers added to payrolls at  the fastest clip in seven months in October, the Labor  Department said on Friday, spurred by rebuilding in the  hurricane-battered Southeast and brisk hiring in service  industries.

October Hiring at a Seven-Month Peak


Sprint Corp., the telecommunications giant, said yesterday it will cut 700 jobs in its business solutions division as it stops selling business long distance services outside of package deals. The cuts represent 7.8 percent of the division's workforce.

Sprint to cut 700 jobs as it trims back service


AP - Curtis Stinson scored 30 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18.6 seconds left, and Jared Homan followed with a big defensive play, lifting Iowa State to an 81-79 victory over No. 19 Virginia on Monday night.

Iowa St. Nips No. 19 Virginia 81-79 (AP)


The Montreal Expos would be renamed the Washington Nationals if the proposed move of the franchise is approved by baseball owners.

Expos become Nationals, but not before a fight


President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheik Zayed bin Sultan al-Nayahan -- who united seven feuding sheikhdoms and used oil revenues to

UAE founder Sheikh Zayed dies


08.12.04 - By Paul Ruby - thepaulrubyhotmail.com -Although I do not agree with The Ring Magazines decision to anoint Vitali Klitschko as Heavyweight Champion of the World, I must admit I believe he is superior to every other heavyweight on the planet.

Can Williams Derail the Klitschko Express?


If interest rates go up, you may think you will suffer if you have a loan and benefit if you have bank deposits. However, the interest rate effect could play out quite differently.

Beware of the lazy banker


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Personal computer maker Gateway  Inc. <A HREF=

Gateway's Quarterly Loss Narrows


NEW YORK: President Pervez Musharraf has called his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh historic for India, Pakistan relations, in an interview to US television.

Musharraf calls meeting with Manmohan a success


Exclusive Opteron is go go go

Sun Thumper server plans leaked to <cite>The Reg</cite>


Sri Lanka cricket captain Marvan Atapattu wants to finish off Zimbabwe in  quot;good fashion quot; Monday when the two teams meet in a limited-overs international of triangular series.

Atapattu: No complacency vs. Zimbabwe


The United States and Europe are edging toward their biggest trade dispute everand Washington shouldn #39;t blink. The dispute involves competition between Boeing and

No Free Launch


Nokia has launched a program to help consumers spot counterfeit mobile phone batteries. The company has begun labeling batteries with holographic labels containing a series of symbols and a 20-digit authentication code hidden under a scratch-off area.

Nokia Targets Fake Phone Batteries


An environmental group says earth #39;s people are using up the planet faster than it can restore itself and the west is the chief culprit.

Consumption Of Resources Focus of Report


Wild populations of Australian dingoes may go extinct within 50 years unless steps are taken to prevent crossbreeding with domestic dogs, scientists and conservationists say.

Does Extinction Loom for Australia's Wild Dingoes?


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

Strong Quake Jolts Northern Japan


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

Tupperware Posts Profit, Narrows '04 View


Orange has unveiled its third-generation (3G) mobile phones in the UK after a long-delayed commercial launch.

Orange 3G phones launched in UK


Not even a deafening din from the voices of over 30,000 Detroiters could prevent Europe from taking a record 6.5 - 1.5 lead after the first day of the 35th Ryder Cup at the Oakland Hills Country Club yesterday.

Europe take charge after making history


RALEIGH, NC Miami quarterback Broke Berlne tied a school record with five touchdown passes and Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for another score in fourth-ranked Miami #39;s 45-to-31 win over NC State.

(4) Miami 45 NC State 31


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Jay Payton's three-run homer led  the San Diego Padres to a 5-1 win over the San Francisco Giants  in National League play on Saturday, despite a 701st career  blast from Barry Bonds.

NL Wrap: Padres Pass Giants Despite Bonds Homer


FORT WORTH, Texas -- American Airlines says more job cuts are on the way after the airline had already planned about 1,000 layoffs.

American Airlines Says More Job Cuts Arriving


Reuters - Vice President Dick Cheney and\Democrat John Edwards wielded stilettos rather than clubs in\their vice presidential debate on Tuesday, keeping their\emotions under tight control while still delivering fierce\personal attacks on each another.

Cheney, Edwards Controlled in Aggressive Debate (Reuters)


Plus: Gateway trims loss in third quarter...EDS delays earnings...Amazon outlook disappoints...PeopleSoft exceeds targets.

Earnings alert: Cell phone unit shores up Verizon


Oil prices surged to new record highs on Monday near \$50 for US crude as Nigeria emerged as the latest focus for worries about supply security on world energy markets.

UPDATE 8-US oil near \$50, supply fears shift to Nigeria


A Dutch steelmaker led by billionaire Lakshmi Mittal is buying U.S.-based International Steel Group Inc. for about \$4.5 billion in cash and stock in a deal that would make it one of the largest steel companies in the world.

Dutch Steelmaker Buying ISG in \$4.5B Deal


Crude oil futures were little changed after surging 4.5 percent yesterday, the biggest increase in two months, as the US Energy Department reported a bigger-than- expected decline in the country #39;s oil supplies.

Crude Oil Little Changed After Surging on US Supply Decline


Jim Melonas wants you to forget the dozen passwords you use to log in to your employer's computer systems and applications, your online banking account and your e-mail, and concentrate on remembering that attractive face in the top right corner.

Real User Recognizes a New Take on Security


Treasury Secretary John Snow pledged to reduce the US budget deficit, blamed by Europeans for the euro #39;s gains against the dollar and cited as a risk to global growth by ministers from 20 industrial and emerging economies.

US Pledges to Cut Deficit as G-20 Sees Growth Risks (Update1)


Reuters - Winter will be warmer than normal in\the U.S. Western and Plains states and colder than usual in the\Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, but the return of El Nino\is making it hard for forecasters to hazard a guess for much of\the country, meteorologists said on Wednesday.

Winter Weather Outlook Mixed, El Nino Looms (Reuters)


NEW YORK - A slowdown in economic growth and oil prices hovering around \$48 per barrel renewed fears of disappointing third-quarter earnings Thursday and kept stocks mixed.    In late morning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 39.53, or 0.4 percent, to 10,069.65, one day after the index lost more than 135 points...

Unemployment, Oil News Keep Stocks Mixed


Netizens often like to compare the settlement of the Internet with that of the American West. The explorers charted new territory, observes product developer Chad Harrington of Zone Labs, a San Francisco-based

Dangerous Days on the World Wild Web


Since early adolescence, I #39;ve had a dream. OK, two dreams. But I should probably stick to talking about the one that doesn #39;t involve Elle MacPherson.

Olson: Hoping to preserve the joy of Sox


China has closed 1,600 internet cafes and fined operators a total of \$12 million for letting children play violent games and for other violations, the government said.

China Cracks Down on I-Cafes


THE bombing of our embassy underlines the magnitude of the long-term strategic challenge Australia faces in Southeast Asia. It marks the first time Australia has been directly targeted in a terrorist attack in the region.

Patrick Walters: Countering menace of JI a priority strategic <b>...</b>


Eight conservation groups are fighting the US government over a plan to poison thousands of prairie dogs in the grasslands of South Dakota, saying wildlife should not take a backseat to ranching interests.

Groups Fight US Plan to Kill Prairie Dogs


SCO, the ever-popular Unix company, has come under attack from hackers once again. This time they have replaced the front page of SCO #39;s Web site with their own version that parodies SCO #39;s legal battles over Linux.

SCO Web site attacked again


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Star-struck Wall Street gave a  dazzling welcome to DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. on Thursday,  sending shares of the animated film maker up more than 35  percent in their market debut.

DreamWorks Animation Charms Wall Street


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The story headlined

ADVISORY: Levi Strauss Story Withdrawn


AP - Atlanta Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney sprained his right knee in practice on Sunday when a lineman rolled on his leg.

Falcons' Kerney Sprains Knee in Practice (AP)


The Bowl Championship Series standings -- college football #39;s week-to-week barometer of who #39;s in line to play for the national title, and who could end up with the remaining berths in major bowls -- offered another puzzle yesterday with the release of the

Oklahoma Moves Past Miami to No. 2 in BCS


From the 18th green at Oakland Hills to an Irish bar in Detroit, where Padraig Harrington met up with his cousin, Joey, the quarterback of the Detroit Loins who also won on Sunday

We are no longer underdogs, says Montgomerie


TROUBLED New Zealand electricity distributor Vector has agreed to buy Australian Gas Light #39;s 66.05 per cent stake in New Zealand gas pipelines operator NGC Holdings.

Vector lights up at AGL #39;s NGC sale


Server-based computing firm Citrix yesterday announced a deal to acquire SSL VPN vendor Net6 for approximately \$50m cash. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.

Citrix buys Net6


Reuters - President Bush received a potential\boost on Friday in his bid for re-election when a court ruled\that independent candidate Ralph Nader, who experts believe\helped Bush win four years ago, be placed on Florida's\presidential ballot.

Judges Rule for Nader in Election Boost for Bush (Reuters)


The seriousness of an already critical flaw in the way a Microsoft component processes JPEG files got ratcheted up a notch this week as exploit code began circulating.

Exploit Code Circulating for JPEG Flaw


PC World #39;s counterpart in Germany, PC Welt, published a short story today detailing how Windows XP computers running Service Pack 2 may be inadvertently sharing files on their hard drive with more people than they might like.

Enter your e-mail:


Royal Philips Electronics said on Wednesday that it would take a \$752 million charge in the fourth quarter to reduce the value of its stake in MedQuist

Philips to Reduce Value of Stake in MedQuist


A landslide triggered by Typhoon Aere buried a mountain village in northern Taiwan yesterday, with the fate of at least 20 residents unknown, the government #39;s disaster relief center said.

Village missing after landslide


An agreed bid for aiports operator TBI was the most notable feature for investors in a flat open to trading in London on Wednesday.

Tomkins in focus in quiet start to London trading


End-to-end systems seen as next evolution in network defense, but incompatible products could hurt customers.

Cisco, Microsoft in security showdown


Teen faces prison for unleashing malicious variant of MS Blaster worm last year.

Blaster Author Pleads Guilty


Reuters - U.S. forces expect to be\positioned throughout the last remaining guerrilla stronghold\in Falluja by Tuesday, a Marine officer said on Saturday.

U.S. Forces in Falluja Close on Guerrilla Stronghold (Reuters)


ISLAMABAD, Aug. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- A Pakistani religious leader, allegedly linked with the al-Qaeda terrorist network, has died here in police custody, local media reported Thursday.

Terror suspect killed during interrogation in Pakistan


Cox Communications Inc. is a step closer to going private, with the cable giant #39;s board of directors forming a special committee of independent directors to consider the Cox Enterprises Inc. proposal to take the company private in a \$7.9 billion buyout.

Cox directors look at proposed buyout


AP - Israel will not launch attacks or raids against Palestinians if the situation remains calm and it is not provoked, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday.

Israel Vows Mideast Peace Unless Provoked (AP)


Mahmoud Abbas apologises to Kuwait for the Palestinians' support of Saddam Hussein's invasion in 1990.

Abbas apology to Kuwait over Iraq


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices held above \$46 a  barrel on Tuesday on worries of a major supply disruption at a  time when producers are pumping at full tilt to meet strong  demand.

U.S. Oil Holds Above \$46 on Supply Fears


SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Colorado Group Ltd. (CDO.AU), an Australian footwear and clothing retailer, said Monday it expects net profit for the fiscal year ending Jan. 29 to be over 30 higher than that of a year earlier.

Australia #39;s Colorado Sees FY Net Up In Excess Of 30


The company that has been synonymous with the term  quot;PC quot; since it was first created is getting out of the PC business. According to a report in the New York Times, IBM is in talks with China #39;s largest maker

IBM Said to Be Leaving the PC Business


AP - Goaltender Martin Brodeur has a sore wrist but hopes to play for Canada on Saturday against the Czech Republic in the World Cup of Hockey semifinals.

Brodeur Hopes to Play Despite Sore Wrist (AP)


TechWeb - Microsoft ships Virtual PC for Mac, version 7.

Microsoft Ships Virtual Machine For Mac (TechWeb)


Two Israelis and one American won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on how a cell breaks down proteins that are damaged or have outlived their usefulness.

Study of Cell Breakdown Captures Nobel


MOSCOW - Russia #39;s Yukos oil company is suspending oil exports to the Chinese National Petroleum Corp. because it cannot afford to pay transport expenses, a news agency reported Sunday.

Yukos Said to Halt Some Exports to China


With speculation over big name coaches running wild, Real Madrid executive Jose Luis Cerrano insisted that the club were set to ride out the season with Mariano Garcia Remon.

Real Stand By Remon For Now


quot;NVIDIA #39;s SLI tech is about as cool as it gets, and I wanted to see what happens when you pair up a couple of GeForce 6800 Ultra cards for a PC graphics solution

NVIDIA SLI on two GeForce 6800 Ultras


I don #39;t know how many times I #39;ve heard the question asked of Dell Computer and, similarly, I don #39;t know how many times I #39;ve heard the same answer.

Dell answers the question


AP - Brian Jordan hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning and the Texas Rangers extended their winning streak to four games with a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.

Streaking Rangers Hold Off Indians 5-2 (AP)


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A divided U.S. federal appeals court  panel on Wednesday expressed skepticism about whether the  government had the power to force cigarette makers to pay  billions of dollars in past profits as part of its racketeering  case against the industry.

Top Judges Have Doubts on Tobacco Penalty


SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - President Luiz Inacio Lula da  Silva's Workers' Party (PT) won the mayoralty of six state  capitals in Sunday's municipal vote but was forced into a  run-off to defend its hold on the race's biggest prize, the  city of Sao Paulo.

Brazil's Ruling Party Faces Sao Paulo Run-Off Vote


A test of the planned US anti-missile defence shield fails in the first mission in almost two years.

Missile defence shield test fails


American Bode Miller takes the opening World Cup downhill race of the season on Saturday, his first World Cup downhill victory of his career.

Miller Wins Downhill


Sanyo Electric, an established maker of optical drives and components, will produce both components and players for the blue-laser-based HD-DVD format, the company says.

Sanyo to Produce HD-DVD Players


AP - The upstart Houston Texans proved they're never out of any game. The Minnesota Vikings and quarterback Daunte Culpepper showed them what it takes to close one out.

Vikings Sack Texans 34-28 in Overtime (AP)


AP - Iraq's Electoral Commission on Sunday said that national elections will be held Jan. 30.

Panel Says Iraq to Hold Elections Jan. 30 (AP)


Nortel Networks has again delayed posting its long-awaited restated financial results, moving its target release date to mid-November.

Nortel again delays earnings restatements


MONTREAL (CP) - Air Canada shares go back up on the board of the Toronto Stock Exchange on Monday, as investors wonder if the airline will do any better than during its first 16 tumultuous years as a private-sector corporation.

Analyst says new Air Canada a good short-term buy, but be careful


The overall market revenue for Linux desktops, servers and packaged software will exceed \$35bn by 2008, research published today has claimed.

Linux market to exceed \$35bn by 2008


AP - Former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams says he misses football but would only play one more season if he returns to the NFL.

Williams Says He'd Play Only One More Year (AP)


QB overcomes his own turnovers and New England wins its 20th game in a row. FOXBORO, Mass. -- Tom Brady lost a fumble and his helmet -- but not the streak.

Patriots, Brady keep winning streak alive


Napster creator Shawn Fanning introduces a new licensed file-sharing service with unlimited choice of tracks.

Napster creator reveals next step


AT LEAST 22 people were killed and dozens more missing after a boat carrying would-be immigrants to Italy capsized in the Mediterranean, reports said today.

Boat people killed in capsize tragedy


For weeks, months - really for two years - Butch Davis has talked about little else but spilled guts, effort and heart in his postgame press conferences.

Empty feelings


NEW YORK - The New York Yankees can achieve two milestones with one more victory: clinching their seventh straight AL East title and reaching 100 wins in three straight seasons for the first time.

Numbers point to NY


Try to forget the basketball brawl and this year's other disturbing moments in sports. It's time to say thanks to some of the people who have made sports a better place.

Thanksgiving Thank-You Notes Despite a Tumultuous Year


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug  Administration failed the public in its oversight of Merck   Co  Inc.'s <A HREF=

Congress Told FDA Failed Public on Vioxx


The Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday filed a civil lawsuit alleging that media baron Conrad M. Black fraudulently diverted millions of dollars from Hollinger International Inc.

SEC Files Civil Suit Against Former Hollinger Executives


Game invites users to play the role of JFK #39;s assassin, causing some observers to wonder whether video games have gone too far.

JFK Reloaded Game Causes Controversy


The Apache Software Foundation, which now relies on volunteers to stay in operation, may soon have full-time, paid employees, including an executive director.

Apache Software Foundation may hire full-time, paid staff


Investors paid more attention to the weather than to Wall Street last week, and with good reason. Hurricane Ivan sent oil prices back to their highest levels in almost a month, grounded the planes of beleaguered

Markets Await the Fed #39;s Next Move


One of the most powerful rockets since The Boeing Co. #39;s Saturn 5 hurled astronauts to the moon more than three decades ago is set to blast away from Cape Canaveral today, weather permitting.

Huge Boeing rocket prepared for liftoff today


The showcase for the world's athletes doesn't produce marquee names for advertisers.

Olympics: No Ad Bonanza


British soldiers in central Iraq and Basra came under renewed attack from insurgents yesterday, as British commanders set out in detail the role which the Black Watch regiment will play in the forthcoming assault US assault on Fallujah.

Shells Land Near Black Watch Base


The incumbent Afghan leader Hamid Karzai has emerged as the winner of Afghanistan #39;s first-ever presidential election marred by irregularities, head of the joint UN-Afghan election commission announced here Wednesday.

Karzai elected Afghan president


ATHENS, Greece - The preliminaries in the 100 meters were perhaps just a sample of what's to come Sunday, when a talented group of qualifiers - including Americans Shawn Crawford, Justin Gatlin and defending champion Maurice Greene - will try to turn their competition into the fastest show at the Athens Games.    Five men broke 10 seconds in qualifying Saturday, led by Crawford's time of 9.89...

Athens Track Set for Sizzling Men's 100


America's Justin Gatlin runa the race of his life, barely holding off the field Sunday to win the 100 meters in 9.85 seconds.

Gatlin Wins 100 Sprint


Yahoo has sprung a surprise in the Internet world with its new offering: Yahoo search engine on mobile. With this mobile users can access yahoo search with their mobile phones.

Now, Yahoo search on mobile


LONDON (Reuters) - High-flying oil prices held above \$54 a  barrel on Tuesday as concern lingered over the thin state of  heating oil supplies ahead of the northern winter.

Oil Prices Hold Above \$54 as Winter Looms


The Associated Press By Ted Bridis

News: Bush prepares for possible shutdown of GPS network in national crisis


Yasser Arafat's top officials plan to travel to Paris to assess the exact condition of their ailing leader.

Palestinian heads to visit Arafat


Napster developer Shawn Fanning is back with a new file-sharing program -- but this time it #39;s legit. Without revealing all the details of his new venture, Snocap, Inc.

Napster Founder Returns


LONDON: Sri Lanka survived a scare as they nearly lost their opening match of the Champions Trophy at the hands of Zimbabwe at The Oval.

Sri Lanka defeats Zimbabwe


ACCUSED Australian Taliban fighter David Hicks was charged with war crimes by a US military tribunal today after meeting his father for the first time in five years.

Hicks charged with war crimes


Yahoo Games and GameSpot Partner for Gaming Content\\Yahoo Games and GameSpot a web source for unbiased gaming information, today announced a partnership through which GameSpot's comprehensive PC and video game content offering will be provided to Yahoo Games users, starting in the first quarter of 2005.\\As video games become increasingly ...


Passenger vehicle sales should strengthen nearly 20 percent by the end of the decade to about 70 million vehicles annually, spurred by growth not only in developing markets

BMW Sees Strong Industry Sales Growth


John Q. Hammons is cooperating with a proposal by a Spanish company to take over the hotel magnates public business in a deal worth an estimated \$64 million.

Hammons merger eyed


Grace Park shot a 7-under 65 Sunday to win the CJ Nine Bridges Classic, beating top-ranked Annika Sorenstam by five strokes. Park, the South Korean star coming off a final-round collapse two weeks ago in the

South Korea #39;s Grace Park wins CJ Nine Bridges Classic


ATHENS (Reuters) - Venus Williams's bid for a second  successive Olympic doubles tennis gold ended on Monday when she  and stand-in partner Chanda Rubin lost 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 to Chinese  eighth seeds Li Ting and Sun Tian Tian in the first round.

Chinese End Venus's Doubles Bid


The Matrix Online will benefit from the voice talents and likenesses of many of the movie trilogy #39;s original cast, Warner Bros.

Matrix cast to lend voice talent to Matrix Online


AP - Japanese electronics maker Toshiba Corp. is getting support from four Hollywood studios for its next-generation DVD format which is expected to be used in players, recorders and other products that go on the market late in 2005.

Hollywood Backs Toshiba on DVD Format (AP)


USATODAY.com - IBM and the rest of the tech industry might have a better year than most onlookers expected. IBM's third-quarter earnings rose 15 from a year earlier, to  #36;1.17 a share, excluding a one-time  #36;320 million charge to settle a lawsuit over its pension plan. That beat analysts' average estimate by 3 cents a share.

IBM beats estimates, a positive sign for industry (USATODAY.com)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar remained under pressure  against the euro on Wednesday, after falling to a record low in  a selloff that followed a report on a narrowing U.S. trade gap.

Dollar Falls to New Low Vs Euro


The Associated Press By Michael Liedtke

News: Symantec snaps up Veritas Software for \$13.5 billion in stock


ORLANDO, Fla. - The oak tree in Ilyse Kusnetz's back yard caused one headache when it crashed into her house during Hurricane Charley...

Price-Gouging New Worry in Charley's Wake


Seagate Technology has started shipping a 400GB hard disk drive for PCs that offers performance closer to that of a 10,000-rpm drive than that of a 7,200 rpm.

Seagate ships 400GB hard disk drive


AP - An Indonesian court on Tuesday sentenced the younger brother of alleged Southeast Asian terror leader Hambali to four years in jail on charges of helping finance last year's bombing of the J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta.

Hambali's Brother Convicted in Indonesia (AP)


It was Monday Night Football the way it was meant to be played, minus Nicollette Sheridan.

A fortunate change


The International Atomic Energy Agency adopted a resolution today welcoming Iran's suspension of its nuclear program but said it would continue to monitor it.

U.N. Agency Welcomes Iran's Nuclear Halt


A growing number of companies are reporting on their social and environmental impact  but many neglect the environment footprint of their supply chain.

Green reports shun supply chain


LONDON: Pakistan #39;s President Pervez Musharraf, in London for talks yesterday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said the world is  quot;absolutely quot; less safe because it is failing to tackle the core causes of terrorism.

Roots of terrorism  #39;ignored #39;


A new video game allows players to simulate the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. The release of  quot;JFK Reloaded quot; is timed to coincide with the 41st anniversary of Kennedy #39;s murder in Dallas and

New game recreates JFK assassination


A top NASA official said Thursday that scientists examining the remains of the crashed Genesis space capsule have peeked inside a broken canister containing atoms

NASA Hopes Data Can Be Salvaged From Crashed Craft


AFP - Former US president Jimmy Carter expressed fears that there could be vote cheating in battleground states in the US election on November 2.

Carter worried about US election (AFP)


Paris 2012 moved quickly Thursday to deny the critics from their rivals of taking the advantage of embassies to promote their bid of 2012 Olympics.

Paris denies embassy #39;s efforts for bidding 2012 Olympics


AP - Scientists will use advanced technology never before deployed beneath the sea as they try to discover new creatures, behaviors and phenomena in a 10-day expedition to the Gulf of Mexico's deepest reaches.

Expedition to Probe Gulf of Mexico (AP)


Already having set a single-season record for prizemoney, he became the game #39;s first \$10m man as the \$900,000 first prize pushed his 2004 earnings to \$10.

Vijay breaks \$10m mark


Mayor Gavin Newsom stepped up the pressure on hotel owners in the San Francisco hotel labor dispute Sunday, issuing a formal letter asking the two sides to adopt a 90-day cooling-off period that would bring workers back to their jobs while negotiations

Mayor gets tough on hotel dispute He issues a formal request for a <b>...</b>


The Red Sox yesterday received preliminary approval from the Boston Landmarks Commission to expand Fenway Park's capacity by 10 percent, presenting the club's most specific designs yet on how it would add about 1,000 seats as well as extra standing room.

Red Sox seek approval to expand Fenway capacity by 10


Chris Leak throws a touchdown as Florida upsets No. 10 Florida State, 20-13, in Ron Zook's last game as coach. It is the Gators first win in Tallahassee since 1986.

Gators Shock 'Noles


Reuters - Robust U.S. economic growth will\likely continue into 2005, but authorities should cut the\budget deficit to reduce the risk to growth, International\Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo Rato said.

IMF Sees Robust U.S. Growth (Reuters)


ARSENAL are proving even more adept at throwing leads than pizzas. This was the third time in four Champions League matches that they have allowed two points

Cygan #39;s error puts Arsenal in another spot of bother


The busiest hurricane season in years chased tourists from the South Carolina coast last summer. But in recent weeks, as hurricane season passes, tourists are again returning.

Charleston tourism brisk after busy hurricane season


Reuters - U.S. telephone and cable companies\saw the growth of high-speed Internet services slow in the\second quarter to the lowest rate in a year, an industry\research firm said on Tuesday.

U.S. Broadband Growth Slows - Analyst (Reuters)


BANGKOK (Reuters) - Myanmar's prime minister has been  ousted and put under house arrest after a lengthy power  struggle in which hard-liners in the military government appear  to have come out on top, Thai officials and diplomats said on  Tuesday.

Thai Govt.: Myanmar PM Ousted, Under House Arrest


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

EBay Adds 'Want It Now' Feature


11.15.04 - By JB Reather -reathercox.net - Battle for Supremacy? Battle for Mediocrity was more like it. With four heavyweight bouts on the card, I naively expected to see at least one exciting fight in this heavyweight smorgasbord.

Battle for Mediocrity  Don Kings Heavyweight Extravaganza


Ricky Ponting hailed two outstanding days of pressure cricket for delivering one of Australia #39;s biggest Test victories over New Zealand, inside four days at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Ponting hails mighty turnaround


Shares of Datawest Solutions Inc. (DS.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) rose on Thursday after the Canadian maker of software for banks said it would be bought by rival Open Solutions Inc.

Datawest shares soar on bid by Open Solutions


Russian duo Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova have extended their hot US Open form to set up a semi-final showdown at the Wismilak WTA tournament in Bali.

Russian showdown


Microsoft #39;s Bill Gates barnstormed the Bay Area on Friday, making three public appearances to discuss the future of technology and his own philanthropic efforts.

Gates opens up


WALL STREET analysts last night said a second experimental pain killer under development by Merck, the American drugs maker, could be delayed until 2007, after regulators asked for more information on the medicines safety.

Second Merck drug faces inquiry


President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was headed for an almost certain five-year extension of his mandate when Tunisians voted in presidential and parliamentary elections yesterday.

President likely to win again


FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- A military judge ruled yesterday that prosecutors in the court-martial of Private First Class Lynndie England may use a pair of statements she gave describing the posing of naked Iraqi prisoners as ''joking around, having fun. quot;

Judge allows early statements in abuse case


Coach Dennis Erickson is in no hurry to leave the San Francisco 49ers just yet. Erickson responded to the circling rumors about his future Monday, saying he thinks he #39;ll still be employed by the 2-11 Niners at least until January.

Erickson plans to stick with Niners for now


Visiting Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday welcomed an offer from Israel to help in combating militant groups, but said any counterterrorism alliance would not be exclusive and would have to include Arab countries.

Israeli Counterterror Help Welcomed


The government of Russian president Vladimir Putin has seized on the events around the armed takeover of a school in Beslan, a town in the southern republic of Ossetia, to broaden its antiterrorism

Russian troops end hostage crisis with bloody raid; 338 die in <b>...</b>


A test of his sore right ankle finds him ready to go, if Red Sox can win Game 5 today. BOSTON - Boston ace Curt Schilling was cleared to pitch a possible Game 6 of the AL Championship Series against the Yankees

MLB: Schilling cleared for Game 6


In August in River Falls, Wis., it was raining. A feeling of unease came over Dick Vermeil. Coaches are sensitive to what others would regard as of little importance, none more so perhaps than the emotional Vermeil.

What happened to the Chiefs?


LONDON: Coach Jose Mourinho began his quest for a second successive Champions League title in the best way possible when his Chelsea side beat Paris St Germain 3-0 in their opening Group H match on Tuesday.

Chelsea off to a flyer


GIANT SEMI foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) warned that while business is steady, its customers are dealing with rising levels of stock.

TSMC warns of inventory build up


InfoWorld - Sleepycat Software this week announced the general availability of Berkeley DB XML 2.0, a major upgrade to its open source database for telecommunication infrastructure and enterprise data centers. This release adds support for XQuery 1.0, an emerging standard for XML data access, as well as improvements in performance and usability. Other enhancements include support for XPath 2.0, which allows the selection of a portion of an XML document, and support for the PHP API, which enables developers using the PHP scripting languages to work with XML documents.

In Brief: Sleepycat releases Berkeley DB XML 2.0 (InfoWorld)


Microsoft says it has distributed about 106 million copies of its major security update for the Windows XP operating system. Microsoft completed work on the update

Microsoft distributes XP security update


Cable  amp; Wireless drew a line under 50 years of corporate history yesterday by announcing it was relocating its London head office to Bracknell while unveiling a new organisational

Cable  amp; Wireless slashes jobs but rewards investors


AFP - Australian security chiefs prepared for a key security meeting to take stock of Thursday's bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta, as a top police official warned of a second suicide bomb team operating in Indonesia.

Australia holds security meeting as warns of second suicide bomb team (AFP)


MUSCAT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hizbollah guerrilla group has  provided Israel with information on the fate of a missing  Israeli airman, a move that will finalize prisoner exchange  talks within weeks, a Omani newspaper said on Friday.

Hizbollah, Israel to Conclude Prisoner Swap-Paper


MICHAEL Owen rescued Real Madrid once again as they struggled to overcome a defiant Getafe in the lesser-known Madrid derby at the Bernabeu.

Owen: Real saviour with 4 goals in 4 matches


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans lining up to  claim an initial week of jobless aid rose less than expected  last week, according to a report on Thursday that the Labor  Department said was unaffected by recent hurricanes.

Jobless Claims Up Less Than Expected


The Dow Jones industrial average is up 32 points. Decliners on the New York Stock Exchange hold an eight-to-seven lead over advancers.

Stocks narrowly mixed..


Iran #39;s top nuclear negotiator says Tehran will never completely abandon its uranium enrichment activities. At a news conference on Tuesday, Hasan Rohani said the current suspension will last only as long as negotiations continue with Europe.

Iran won #39;t abandon nuclear program


com. Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel talks with running back Maurice Clarett during the 2002 Michigan game. With apologies to immortal running back Red Grange, at least

Jefferson unfazed by Clarett #39;s barbs


JERUSALEM - A top aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was quoted as saying Wednesday that Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is intended to block Palestinian statehood indefinitely and claimed the policy had U.S. backing...

Aide: Gaza Plan Aims to Block Statehood


Reuters - TiVo Inc., maker of television\recording technology, on Monday said it has started shipping\

TiVo Upgrade Shifts TV Shows to Computer Laptop (Reuters)


Con il comunicato stampa che trovate qui sotto, ATI ha annunciato  quot;HyperMemory quot; una tecnologia che grazie a particolari algoritmi consente un veloce scambio di dati tra la scheda grafica e la memoria ram di sistema.

ATI annuncia nuova tecnologia  quot;HyperMemory quot;


MIAMI -- Just when the Miami Dolphins season couldn #39;t get any weirder, it did -- Ricky Williams is ready to come back to the Fins.

Agent: Ricky Williams Wants To Return To Fins


The Russian government has issued a new threat to strip Yukos oil of its production licenses, the Moscow Times reported Monday. Natural Resources Minister Yury Trutnev said

Kremlin hits new Yukos with new threat


Chad asks the IMF for a loan to pay for looking after more than 100,000 refugees from conflict-torn Darfur in western Sudan.

Chad seeks refugee aid from IMF


Drew Brees was selected the starting quarterback of the San Diego Chargers on Monday, a move that was expected after he followed last season #39;s miserable performance with a solid exhibition season.

Brees keeps starting job with Chargers


More than 100 people die as US and Iraqi forces launch a major attack to regain control of the town of Samarra.

US pushes to take Iraq rebel town


NEW YORK (Reuters) -  U.S. stocks rose late on Friday  morning in a broad-based advance as oil prices eased and shares  of software company PeopleSoft Inc. <A HREF=

Tech Stocks Gain on Oil Price, PeopleSoft


This season #39;s blockbuster video games give players the opportunity to hijack cars, mow down the walking undead with heavy artillery and ogle topless women.

Video watchdogs say almost all new games are M-rated


The FTSE 100 has raced higher, led by ICI after it issued an upbeat outlook and Shell as investors welcome its streamlined structure and robust results.

Shell and ICI lead FTSE charge


AP - Mississippi State was placed on probation by the NCAA for four years, stripped of eight scholarships over the next two seasons and banned from postseason play this season because of recruiting violations.

NCAA Places Mississippi State on Probation (AP)


Reuters - The United States will help the\millions devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami, but an effort\on the scale of the post-World War II Marshall Plan is probably\not needed, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday.

U.S. to Help Rebuild Tsunami-Stricken Lives -- Powell (Reuters)


After staying up much of the night analyzing the first close-up images of Titan #39;s smog-shrouded surface, groggy scientists acknowledged yesterday that they were befuddled

Cassini spacecraft images of Saturn #39;s moon befuddling


Notre Dame president Rev. Edward Malloy said on Wednesday that he was upset about how his university fired Irish football coach Tyrone Willingham last week.

Malloy  #39;embarrassed #39; by move


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he is keeping tabs on Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips. Wenger said:  quot;He is getting higher every year.

Arsenal boss admits admiration for Man City #39;s SWP


Women employees of Costco Wholesale Corp. filed a sex discrimination class action suit today, alleging that the giant retailer imposes a glass ceiling that prevents women from reaching the top and keeps them in lower paid positions.

Women Employees Sue Costco


Marat Safin, back to his best with a record-equalling third Paris Masters title, hopes to be a match for world No1 Roger Federer next year.

Safin out to catch Federer express


BEIJING The Chinese government said on Monday that it seized two million fake compact discs in the first half of 2004, acting on US pressure to end counterfeiting of software and movies.

China acts on pirated products


Oracle Corp. urged customers to apply software patches it released in August because of the availability of malicious code that can exploit unpatched vulnerabilities in its software.

Oracle warns of exploits for latest DB flaws


roundup Plus: LookSmart buys Furl.net...Pentagon expands access to voting site...Ad campaign touts multimedia cards...T-Mobile sells Sidekick II.

Briefly: Microsoft updates home PC package


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed higher, reviving  their recent rally on Wednesday after Kmart's plan to buy Sears  in a \$10.85 billion deal was announced and computer maker  Hewlett-Packard Co. <A HREF=

Stocks Rise on Sears, HP; Oil Trims Gains


As Peyton Manning zeroes in on Dan Marino #39;s long-standing record of 48 touchdown passes in a season, the comparisons between the two have become inevitable -- one generation #39;s gunslinger giving way to the next.

Manning #39;s ties closer to Fouts than Marino


DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he is ready to reopen negotiations with Israel  quot;without conditions, quot; visiting UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen revealed.

Syria ready to resume Israeli talks  #39;without conditions #39;: UN envoy


PARIS (AP) -- Watch a movie or make a mobile phone call. Soon, in France, you might not be able to do both at once...

France May Allow Jamming of Mobile Phones


Reuters - Powerful regional Afghan commander Ismail\Khan was effectively dismissed as governor of Herat city\Saturday and declined a promotion to the cabinet of President\Hamid Karzai.

Powerful Afghan Governor Sacked, Declines Ministry (Reuters)


The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) today approved the proposal to hike foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in civil aviation sector from 40 to 49 per cent but barred foreign airlines from holding stakes.

Govt hikes FDI cap in aviation to 49


Looking for a miracle with your meal? You may be in luck. A Florida woman is selling what she claims is a miraculous sandwich, and apparently, it's just what some spiritual bidders are craving. Missing Links

Eighth Wonder Bread of the world


SAMARRA, Iraq - Sporadic gunfire echoed through this Sunni Muslim stronghold Saturday as U.S. and Iraqi forces battled pockets of resistance a day after launching what appeared to be the first major push to regain control of a string of cities before elections in January...

U.S., Iraqis Battle Resistance in Samarra


The Milan midfielder believes that the Rossoneri are ready to take on Juventus on Saturday night. Clarence Seedorf will be facing his former coach at Real Madrid, Fabio Capello, this weekend, but hed rather

Seedorf: We Are Ready


Reuters - U.S. stocks opened higher on Thursday,\with oil prices slipping on signs of strong supplies and Wall\Street encouraged that the Federal Reserve seemed unlikely to\accelerate the pace of interest rate hikes.

Stocks Open Higher; Fed Offers Relief (Reuters)


Koi Mil Gaya  #39;s sci-fi plot may not have stretched reality too far. Jadoo the alien, might not have landed on Earth, but it is possible that his kind is trying to get in touch with Earthlings.

Alien Jadoo comes calling


THE Australian dollar continued to trade only slightly stronger today as investors wait for local data due out next week to provide some short term direction.

Dollar trades stronger


Doug LaVelle, owner of Elmira-based LaVelle Vineyards, says his winery and customers would benefit tremendously if he could ship wine directly to consumers in all 50 states.

Justices wade into wine sales


IT WAS a great kick; a wondrous kick; high and long - and executed with Eyes Wide Shut. Scotlands rugby selectors looking for an unshakeable kicker into touch while the opposing pack thunders towards him

Gordon Brown kicks awkward questions over touchline next May


MacCentral - Telecommunications company Sprint on Thursday announced that it has certified Apple's Xserve G5 and QuickTime as mobile multimedia delivery platforms for Sprint's own PCS Vision Multimedia Services. This enables content service providers to use Xserve G5 systems and QuickTime to deliver streaming audio and video clips to Sprint customers whose phones support Sprint's new Vision Multimedia Service. The service provides content from CNN, NBC, Fox Sports, The Weather Channel, E! Entertainment, mFlix and other companies. ...

Sprint certifies QuickTime, Xserve G5 for phone media (MacCentral)


AP - Kenya is pushing for an international ban on trade in lion trophies and skins, arguing that the number of the animals has declined sharply over the years as a result of hunting, loss of habitat and lack of prey.

Kenya Pushes for Ban on Hunting Lions (AP)


CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelans overwhelmingly voted to keep President Hugo Chavez in office, dealing a crushing defeat to a splintered opposition and allowing the leftist leader to convert one of the biggest challenges of his presidency into an even broader mandate to carry on his

Venezuelans Vote to Keep Chavez in Office


Multiplex Group, Westfield Group and the billionaire brothers Simon and David Reuben lodged a formal 585 million-pound (\$1.05 billion) cash offer for Chelsfield Plc, meeting a deadline to win support from the company #39;s owners.

Multiplex, Westfield Lodge \$1 Billion Chelsfield Bid (Update1)


Eight people are dead and two are missing in southern Japan because of heavy rain brought by a typhoon.

Eight dead as typhoon brings heavy rain to southern Japan


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. chain store retail sales fell for  the second week in a row, with customers mostly just window  shopping, a report said on Tuesday.

Chain Store Sales Fall in Latest Week


ALAMEDA, Calif. (Sports Network) - Oakland Raiders wide  receiver Ronald Curry suffered a torn left Achilles' tendon  during Sunday's loss to Kansas City and will miss the remainder  of the season.

Raiders' Curry Done for the Season


When Northwest Airlines Corp. said last week it will charge extra fees for tickets not bought on its Web site, it caused a chain reaction in an industry still grappling with the impact of the Internet.

Surcharge Raises Ire


When it was revealed that developer Rockstar Games #39; Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas would be three times larger than their previous epic,Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, I almost cringed.

Smooth criminal


ALEX McLeish, the Rangers manager, will ponder long and hard the importance of this match and how significant the three points secured at Easter Road could turn out to be.

Rangers dig in for a capital victory


Today #39;s second Test against India at Chepauk Stadium should end Warne #39;s agonising ascent to the record for which he needs just two wickets to eclipse Muthiah Muralidaran #39;s world mark of 532.

Warne bows to Lillee


NEW YORK -- Maria Sharapova nearly found out how quickly one can go from diva to disaster. Women #39;s highlights: No. 1 seed Justine Henin-Hardenne def.

US OPEN: Sharapova rallies; Roddick rockets


Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric said on Tuesday that Harry Redknapp, who resigned as manager last week, was innocent of any wrong-doing over agent or transfer fees.

Portsmouth back Redknapp over agents #39; fees claim


A botched relay handoff followed her failure to medal in the long jump yesterday evening, making the Athens experience a wipeout for a woman who won five medals at the Games four years ago.

400 relay disaster completes Jones #39; tumble from heights


(Sports Network) - The anticipation has been building for a year, and finally tonight the rematch will begin, as the Boston Red Sox battle the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

Yankees and Red Sox ready to rumble


If sales from the first weekend of the 2004 holiday shopping season taught retailers anything, it #39;s that there is no such thing as too much promotion.

Holiday spirits are highest for stores that banked on weekend <b>...</b>


AP - With two fruitless negotiating sessions behind them and only one month left before an NHL lockout, the league and the players association will return to the bargaining table Tuesday.

NHL Labor Negotiations Set to Resume (AP)


At the Open World conference, which commenced yesterday in London, Oracle laid out the most comprehensive offering yet of its Business Suite of applications and unveiled new procurement applications for contracts and services.

Oracle #39;s Improved Business Suite


Chennai, Oct. 15. - Virender Sehwag is happy to score a century, rather relieved to be back in form. It was tough coming out of a lean phase and be back in form.

Sehwag shines, Warne creates history


Israeli occupation troops have killed four Palestinians during a raid on the West Bank city of Nablus. Witnesses and medics said three Palestinians, including a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an offshoot

Four Palestinians killed in Israeli raid


Several non-national families in a loyalist area of north Belfast are considering whether to relocate today following overnight racist attacks on their homes.

Racist graffiti painted on homes in Belfast


NEW YORK -- Online advertising executives celebrated the rejuvenation of their industry from its dormancy following the dot-com bust, yet warned that marketers need to tread carefully in how they communicate with consumers.

Ad:tech Celebrates Industry Revival


Like much of the country, trainer D. Wayne Lukas appears to have gotten caught up in watching the World Series of Poker on ESPN. On Tuesday, he pulled an ace out of his sleeve.

Azeri gets opportunity at history


Reuters - Undersea tourists and souvenir\hunters are hastening the decay of the Titanic, says U.S.\explorer Bob Ballard who discovered the world's most famous\shipwreck nearly 20 years ago.

Titanic Finder Fears for Future of Great Wreck (Reuters)


A huge car bomb explosion in Rashid Street in central Baghdad resonated throughout the capital on Friday, causing several casualties, Qatar-based al-Jazeera satellite TV reported.

Huge car bomb explodes in central Baghdad, causing casualties


So you've decided that want to travel to The Capital of Teh Free World to see the sights, and possibly engage in a Constitutionally Protected Protest. You've also decided that it would more convenient, or less expensive, to drive. There are a few things you should be aware of before you come to our fine metro region.

Tourist's Guide To Driving Around Washington D.C.


Bill Gates unveils plans to make Media Center software the centerpiece of the digital home.

Microsoft opens Windows to the home


China shut 1,600 Internet cafes between February and August and imposed \$12.1 million worth of fines for allowing children to play violent or adult-only games and other violations, state media said.

China Closes 1,600 Internet Cafes In Crackdown


AP - Scientists investigating high mortality rates of seals say no fast answer has emerged. Reports of stranded seals have slowed to normal rates in recent weeks, but researchers continue to search for clues about what happened to the harbor seals last summer in Maine.

No Fast Answers in Probe of Seal Deaths (AP)


SiliconValley.com - RedEnvelope, the San Francisco online gift retailer, on Friday fended off a challenge by dissident shareholders unhappy with the its performance -- but has still left some questions unanswered.

RedEnvelope fends off dissident challenge (SiliconValley.com)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Department store operator J.C. Penney  Co. Inc. <A HREF=

J.C. Penney Posts Profit, Sales Strong


ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Hundreds of French citizens fled their  former colony Ivory Coast on Wednesday after days of  anti-French riots and looting in a country once seen as a model  for Africa of post-independence prosperity.

French Citizens Flee Ivory Coast Violence


Maryland will be without leading wide receiver Derrick Fenner when it takes on No. 5 Florida State on Saturday at Byrd Stadium.

Terps Hit Speed Bump


Reuters - A California-based pornographer\said on Monday it has sued Google Inc. , alleging that\its leading Internet search engines are illegally allowing\people to view hijacked versions of its nude photos and to\access its Web site with stolen passwords.

Nude Photo Publisher Perfect 10 Sues Google (Reuters)


Improvement is both the hope and expectation as Maryland enters a bye week before facing a series of dangerous ACC teams.

Terps Take Break


TechWeb - A mediator in the Mambo-Furthermore open-source fracas said Tuesay he is  quot;cautiously optimistic quot; that the two sides can reach a settlement.

Settlement May Be Near In Code-Theft Dispute (TechWeb)


Hurricane-strength winds have lashed Paris and large areas of northern and eastern France, leaving six dead and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of homes.

SIX KILLED AS STORM LASHES FRANCE


What can be done about Greece? Marco van Basten, Holland #39;s controversially appointed coach, yesterday turned his mind from what to do about Finland tonight to how international

Van Basten restoring harmony to Holland


Starbucks has received F.D.A. approval to use recycled paper in their cups. The company says no one else uses recycled paper.

Starbucks Will Use Cups With 10 Recycled Paper


A Venezuelan air force plane has crashed, killing all 25 passengers and crew, aviation officials say. The aircraft came down in bad weather in a mountainous region in Carabobo state, west of the capital, Caracas, Reuters quoted an official as saying.

Venezuela plane crash  #39;kills 25 #39;


ATHENS (Reuters) - Vanderlei de Lima of Brazil was pushed  off the road by a lone protester while leading the men's  Olympic marathon on Sunday.

Marathon Leader Pushed Off Road by Protester


NEW YORK - EMC will announce today that it has closed on the acquisition of Dantz Development, a privately held company that it hopes will give it a toehold in the \$600 million spent by small to mid-size companies on data backup and recovery software.

EMC Would Like This Dantz


An international group led by Lockheed Martin Corp. received a \$3 billion contract yesterday to develop a program that will eventually replace the Patriot missile system.

NATO Awards Missile Work To Lockheed


Movement continues to take place among NHL players -- but it's not toward North American teams nor arenas.

Kovalev heading home


US stocks advanced on Monday as investors showed optimism that corporate earnings reports may come in better than expected, but crude oil prices at a fresh record near \$54 a barrel curbed gains.

CORRECTED: Stocks Rise Before Earnings Blitz


Circuit City (NYSE: CC), like its rival Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), preannounces its sales numbers every quarter. Today, where Circuit City #39;s second quarter was concerned

Same Story at Circuit City


Motorola Inc. said Tuesday it has signed an agreement to acquire MeshNetworks Inc., a privately held developer of wireless networks.

Motorola to Acquire MeshNetworks


The Palestinian militant group Hamas reportedly took responsibility for the near-simultaneous blasts.

Twin Bus Bombings in Israel Kill at Least 15 and Wound Dozens


TORONTO (CP) - Cliff Fletcher says he #39;s entering the Hockey Hall of Fame with elite company.  quot;They are three of the greatest defencemen to ever play the game, quot; the longtime NHL excutive said of Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy.

Defencemen Bourque, Coffey, Murphy to enter Hall with longtime <b>...</b>


SANTIAGO, Chile -- President Bush used his first trip abroad since reelection to press allies yesterday for help in hemming in the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran, nations he considers part of an ''axis of evil. quot;

Bush seeks unity on Iran, North Korea


Tens of thousands of people rallied Tuesday outside the Kremlin in a show of solidarity against terrorism. The demonstration came nearly a week after more than 350 people, many

130,000 in Moscow protest terrorism after deadly siege


Days after collecting a \$536 million antitrust settlement from Microsoft Corp., Novell returned to court Friday to claim the technology giant used its market dominance to shut out WordPerfect and other software in the mid-1990s.

Suit claims Microsoft hurt Novell


one-and-a-half games better than the defending NFC West champ Rams. St. Louis. home-and-homes in each of the last two seasons. In 2003, Seattle won the home.

to Qwest Field.


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc. <A HREF=

Caterpillar Sees 25-30 Pct. Revenue Rise


When you are as emotional as 24-year-old Luis Horna of Peru, things like courtside noises, forehands that drop off the net cord, and which ball you choose to serve with matter.

Hewitt serves notice heading to Open


Tournament officials of the 84 Lumber Classic confirmed on Tuesday that Woods has withdrawn from the event, which is scheduled to begin Thursday.

Woods withdraws from 84 Lumber Classic


LAST LABOR DAY, we took note of the jobless recovery. At that time, almost two years after the relatively short 2001 recession had been declared over, the American economy still was losing jobs.

The missing million


Firm will pay some transition costs for companies that want to move from the NetWare OS onto servers running Windows.

Microsoft offers goodies to lure Novell customers


Hoping to keep more internet users in its branded universe, Microsoft has become the latest company to offer blogging to the masses.

MSN Lets You Blog


DAMBULLA: Marvan Atapattu slammed a solid 97 not out on a difficult pitch as Sri Lanka wrapped up the one-day cricket series with a four-wicket victory over South Africa in the third match on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka clinch series


Sylvain Wiltord #39;s second half goal gave Olympique Lyon a 2-1 win over Sparta Prague on Tuesday and handed the French side their first win in Group D of the Champions League.

Sparta Prague 1-2 Lyon: FT Report


Finland #39;s Tanja Poutiainen won for the second time in three races at Aspen Mountain, beating Italy #39;s Manuela Moelgg by more than a second in a World Cup slalom on Sunday.

Poutiainen wins again in Aspen


A corporate dealmaker and former Tory Party treasurer is reportedly planning a 5bn takeover bid for struggling supermarket chain Sainsbury #39;s.

Takeover Bid For Struggling Sainsbury #39;s


AFP - Managers and workers representatives at German car maker Opel are set to meet Monday after a weekend vigil by employees protesting against the plans of parent company General Motors to cut thousands of jobs.

Opel managers and workers reps to meet, stoppages set to continue (AFP)


Stephanie Higgs scores 16 points to lead Georgia Tech to a 55-49 upset of No. 6 Georgia, which shot just 29 percent Friday night in Atlanta and lost for the second time in a week.

Tech Stings Bulldogs


HOUSTON, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. today announced that its pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) ratified a new labor agreement.

ExpressJet Pilots Ratify Labor Agreement


quot;Our goal remains a new agreement benefitial to both sides, quot; says a senior official from Trade Representative Robert Zoellick #39;s office -- dismissing suggestions that the US action against the

US Still Wants Aircraft Deal with EU


Company's interim leader acknowledges criticism by investors and analysts that the company has been slow to adapt to changes in the market in recent years.
<FONT face=

BearingPoint May Strive for Adaptability


Baseball and Peter Angelos have not agreed on compensation to offset the impact of a Washington team on the Baltimore franchise.

Angelos, MLB at Odds


Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an epic homage to the West Coast gang culture of the early 1990s. Yes, parents, there's way too much violence and profanity here for the kids. For those of us 18 and older, though, it's among the best video games this year.

'San Andreas' Among Best Games


AP - Armed assailants attacked a convoy of Turkish trucks delivering supplies to U.S. forces in Iraq and took two Turkish drivers hostage, their company said Monday.

2 More Turkish Men Taken Hostage in Iraq (AP)


Investors cheered by falling oil prices and an improving job picture sent stocks higher Tuesday, hoping that the news signals a renewal of economic strength and a fall rally in stocks.

Stocks Climb Higher As Oil Prices Slip


AP - Searching for victims or survivors, the young man in a black T-shirt swung a sledgehammer into a slab of concrete perched atop debris  #151; all that was left of a house blasted by U.S. warplanes. Nine people, two of them children, died in the ruins.

Fallujah May Be Toughest City to Retake (AP)


A World Health Organization official has warned of the likelihood of more human deaths from the bird flu virus, after the death of a teenage boy in Thailand this week.

WHO Warns Of More Human Deaths After Bird Flu #39;s Latest Victim In <b>...</b>


Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin shone in Sweden #39;s opening 5-2 win over Germany at the World Cup of Hockey Tuesday, scoring once and providing two assists in a match with contrasting team tactics.

Sweden Opens Hockey World Cup with Win Over Germany


As drug advertising aimed directly at consumers becomes more widespread and controversial, the issue will likely have political implications.

Questions on the \$3.8 Billion Drug Ad Business


Excerpts from the citation awarding the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize to Kenyan Wangari Maathai for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy and peace.

Excerpts From Citation for Peace Prize


SPACE.com - DENVER, Colo. -- The next spacecraft destined for nbsp;Mars is rapidly coming together nbsp;here on Earth -- an interplanetary probe that carries the most powerful instruments ever sent to the red planet.

Red Planet Bound: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (SPACE.com)


WASHINGTON - Addressing questions that have lingered for years, newly unearthed memos state that George W. Bush failed to meet standards of the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam war, that he refused a direct order and that his superiors were in a state of turmoil over how to evaluate his performance after he was suspended from flying...

Memos: Bush Refused Order While in Guard


AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Stewart Cink was on the verge of  his fourth career win after shooting a two-under-par 68 for a  five-shot lead in the third round of the \$7 million NEC  Invitational Saturday.

Cink Takes Commanding Lead Over Woods at NEC


Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara Sunday scored in contrasting style to guide the West Indies to a five-wicket win over South Africa and into the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.

West Indies enter Champions Trophy semi-finals


STOCKHOLM, Nov 1 (AFP) - Prime ministers of the five Nordic countries meeting here on Monday said they were worried by a US warning of potential terror attacks in the region, but claimed that security was high enough to ward off the threat.

Nordic leaders say US terror alert serious but security already <b>...</b>


AP - Nestle SA said Wednesday it is considering selling French mineral water brand Perrier after a trade union blocked a plan to cut almost 800 jobs.

Nestle Considering Perrier Sale (AP)


IBM and the Spanish government have introduced a new supercomputer they hope will be the most powerful in Europe, and one of the 10 most powerful in the world.

Europe #39;s most powerful supercomputer unveiled


AMMAN, Sept. 15. - The owner of a Jordanian truck company announced today that he had ordered its Iraq operations stopped in a bid to save the life of a driver held hostage by a militant group.

Jordanian employer of hostage agrees to pull out of Iraq


\Terror suspects held at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay must be allowed to meet privately with their lawyers, a federal judge has ruled.

Terror suspects win privacy right


ATHENS, Greece -- The decisive move in the Olympic women #39;s soccer tournament was soaring toward the head of Abby Wambach when the ball and a thought arrived at her noggin about the same time.

Soccer veterans grab gold in finale


Canadian Press - OJIYA, Japan (AP) - Military helicopters evacuated earthquake victims from a wrecked village and traumatized residents huddled in shelters and salvaged belongings from flattened homes Sunday in the aftermath of a string of earthquakes in northern Japan that killed at least 16 people and injured a reported 900 others.

Helicopters evacuate Japanese villagers after earthquakes kill at least 16 (Canadian Press)


OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- After 159 games, the Anaheim Angels and the Oakland Athletics are down to a best-of-three series at Network Associates Coliseum for the American League West Division title.

A. Melhuse, C


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Marsh   McLennan Cos. <A HREF=

Marsh   McLennan to Cut 3,000 Jobs


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. retailers are expected to post  modest November sales this week, with No. 1 retailer Wal-Mart  Stores Inc. <A HREF=

Retailers Seen Posting Modest Nov. Sales


About one in three Americans think it #39;s more likely they #39;ll be audited by the IRS or win the lottery than fall victim to a virus or worm, the non-profit National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) said Friday as it released the results of a September survey.

Third Of Americans Think Viruses Won #39;t Strike Them


BAGHDADGunmen kidnapped two Italian women working for an aid agency and two Iraqis in broad daylight in central Baghdad yesterday.

Italian women kidnapped in raid on relief agency


Philadelphia 76ers: Philadelphia 76ers center Todd MacCulloch retired Wednesday, ending an attempted comeback from foot problems that sidelined him the last 1 seasons.

Sixers center hasn #39;t played since  #39;03


A Food and Drug Administration official who sought to estimate the harm done to patients by side effects of the painkiller Vioxx said yesterday that his supervisors tried to suppress his conclusions, according to Sen.

FDA Official Alleges Pressure to Suppress Vioxx Findings


Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Cantor Fitzgerald LP, one of the two largest Treasury bond brokers, will split off its original business of person-to-person sales to focus on more profitable activities such as institutional equity sales and trading.

Cantor Fitzgerald to Split Off Voice-Broking Unit (Update5)


Seismologists warned the public to be on guard against aftershocks yesterday after the strongest quake to hit Taiwan in five years shook the island, causing tall buildings to sway and shutting down the capital #39;s Mass Rapid Transit system for 1 hour during

Strongest quake in five years hits Taiwan


With sales of digital music players skyrocketing, is it any wonder that hardware makers are scrambling to create the next big portable entertainment gizmo?

Music plus movies, on one player


Brockton city officials, irritated by the logistical nightmare that plagued fans at both Super Bowl venues and questioning gate receipt totals for the six games, has taken aim at the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Brockton mayor questions MIAA


AP - Dee Brown will have to wait another day to face the Detroit Tigers.

Royals-Tigers Game Postponed by Rain (AP)


LONDON (Reuters) - European stock markets scaled near-2-1/2  year highs on Friday after strong overnight gains on Wall  Street as the euro held off from mounting another assault on  \$1.30 and as oil prices traded below \$48 a barrel.

European Shares Extend Multi-Year Highs


Optimism has been tempered by years of negotiations and legislative delays; many Cambodians lost hope long ago.

Cambodia tribunal may pave way for judicial reform


After a meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schrder, French President Jacques Chirac said Friday he supports a change to his country #39;s constitution to allow for a referendum on Turkish EU membership.

Chirac Backs French Vote on Turkey


AP - George Washington's weekend has to rank among the best in school history. The Colonials beat two Top 25 teams in winning the BB amp;T Classic and have won five straight since a season-opening loss to top-ranked Wake Forest.

George Washington Upsets No. 12 Maryland (AP)


The current tales of the Red Sox have them winning the World Series, then doing weird things to reconfigure their championship team. Hello, David; bye bye, Pedro.

After His Star Turn, Martnez Exits Stage Left


Clashes between US troops and Sadr militiamen escalated Thursday, as the US surrounded Najaf for possible siege.

Najaf battle a crucial test for Allawi


Chen Jiulin, former CEO of China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corp., returned to Singapore on December 8 to help investigate the company #39;s huge-sum losses on derivatives trades.

Former CEO of China Aviation Oil (Singapore) returns to Singapore


Roxio bought the Napster name in a bankruptcy auction two years ago. Now, the company dumps its CD-burning software business to concentrate on selling and delivering music over the web under the Napster name.

Reincarnated Napster Goes Public


Letters Readers drive stake through parents' group

Buffy the Censor Slayer


LONDON, England -- Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has voiced concerns about the deal that sent England striker Wayne Rooney from Everton to Manchester United, claiming the contract could cause a conflict of interest.

Wenger concerned by Rooney deal


Conrad M. Black, the former head of Hollinger International, said yesterday that he planned to file a libel lawsuit against members of a company committee who accused him of taking more than \$380 million in improper payments.

Black Plans to Sue Hollinger for Libel


With more than 3 million Bluetooth-enabled products shipping every week and analyst predictions that 13 percent of mobile phones sold worldwide this year will include the short-range wireless technology, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group has laid out a

Bluetooth roadmap includes performance, security


Nasa gives details of a space mission to crash a projectile into a comet and peel away its outer skin to look inside.

Comet mission set for 2005 launch


BOMBAY (AFP) - Reliance Industries Ltd, the petrochemical flagship of India #39;s largest private sector company, said second quarter net profit jumped 39 percent against a backdrop of surging oil product prices.

India #39;s Reliance Industries second quarter profit up 39 percent


Since before vice presidential candidate John Edwards brought attention to the South's vanished textile mills, ex-mill workers and historians have been working to save the mills' legacy.

In U.S. South, Textile Mills Gone but Not Forgotten


The United Kingdom #39;s Advertising Standards Authority, a self-regulating agency for the advertising industry, upheld complaints alleging that a Microsoft Corp.

Tech Briefs


Sochi. (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko announced they have set a new deadline - January 1, 2006 - for the introduction of a common currency in their nations.

Russia, Belarus set new deadline for common currency


The PlayStation Portable, or PSP, goes on sale in Japan on December 12th. Prices for the United States and Europe are still undecided, although overseas sales are

Sony Announces PlayStation Portable Price


WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (AFP) - Orders for  quot;big-ticket quot; durable US goods rose by a weaker than expected margin in September, hit by plummeting aircraft demand, government figures showed Wednesday.

US big-ticket orders rise, plane orders descend