USATODAY.com - In the final days before shareholders decide on Oracle's takeover bid for rival software maker PeopleSoft,  PeopleSoft is bracing for the worst. Oracle officials say they won't know until shortly before a  Nov. 19 deadline if a majority of PeopleSoft shareholders support the  #36;8.8 billion offer.

PeopleSoft board prepares for worst (USATODAY.com)


1000 up and still counting. Sir Alex Fergusons achievement is quite remarkable given the fickle nature of football fans and more importantly football boards in the modern game.

Sir Alex Ferguson manages Manchester United for the 1000th time <b>...</b>


The genetic map of a type of teeny-weeny ocean algae could have a big impact on how scientists try to protect the Earth #39;s oceans from greenhouse gases.

Secrets of the CO 2 Eaters


An MIT inventor bent on public service creates practical solutions to life-threatening problems around the world. Her approach: be a master of the obvious. Second in a series profiling this year's MacArthur 'genius award' winners. By Kari Lynn Dean.

A MacGyver for the Third World


AP - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says he would discontinue the color-coded terror alerts issued by the Department of Homeland Security and find

Kerry Said to Discontinue Terror Alerts (AP)


Banned separatist party Batasuna is expected to call for an end to violence in the campaign for Basque independence.

Basque party 'to call for peace'


An emergency motion was filed Friday the 13th of August in US District Court of Eastern Michigan, Compuware said that IBM failed to provide essential evidence, which includes several pieces of disputed software source code, until after the case #39;s ...

Compuware asks court to sanction IBM


: Two bombs exploded Friday near a teashop and wounded 20 people in southern Thailand, police said, asviolence continued unabated in the Muslim-majority region whereresidents are seething over the deaths of 78 men while in

Two bombs explode in Thailand injuring 20


German prosecutors say a teenager has confessed to creating the virulent Sasser computer virus. Authorities say Sven Jaschan is believed also to be responsible for the Netsky virus.

Youth admits to creating computer virus


Milton Bradley was back in the Los Angeles Dodgers #39; lineup Thursday, going 2 for 3 with a home run, double and walk in an 8-3 loss to St.

Footage of Bradley confrontation erased


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Battery maker Rayovac Corp. <A HREF=

Rayovac to Buy United Ind. for \$476 Mln


When Juan Jose Perez, an Ohio delegate, formally placed George W. Bush's name in nomination for president Monday, two men stood by to make sure there were no mistakes.

Industry Advocates Play Key Convention Roles


No matter what you want to believe, they simply do not take the losses home like you do. Certainly, they do not bring them back the next day, not the Red Sox stats, schedule nor

The short of it, teams are equal


Rogers Wireless Communications positioned itself to become Canada's largest wireless service provider with a bid for the feisty market upstart, Microcell Telecommunications.

Rogers Wireless Makes Bid for Upstart Canadian Rival


update A federal appeals court affirmed that Research In Motion has infringed on holding company NTP #39;s patents but can continue selling its products in the United States pending a district court #39;s decision.

Appeals court: RIM violated patents


Software giant Microsoft Corp. developed policies to destroy internal e-mails and other documents crucial to ongoing lawsuits, according to a motion filed by a California software company.

Burst: Microsoft policy led to critical e-mails #39; destruction


The Bush administration is preparing with European allies to help the Palestinian Authority organize January elections and improve its security forces to crack down on

US, Allies Drawing Up Plans to Aid Palestinians


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Thursday  delivered a stinging blow to the anti-piracy efforts of major  movie studios and music companies, ruling that several online  file-sharing software companies are not liable for copyright  infringement.

Court Rejects Movie, Music Makers' Piracy Claims


Booming China has been urged to help its poorer neighbours by Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who said a larger role by the nascent giant could boost development and improve regional security.

China urged not to forget poorer neighbours


It took about two-and-a-half hours before one of Monday nights protagonists finally made his mark. Fortunately for the Eagles, the one who did played for them.

Eagles Contain Moss, Top Vikings, 27-16


Canadian Press - HALIFAX (CP) - It's time for U.S. President George Bush to begin repairing the rift with Canada and other countries opposed to the war in Iraq, says former prime minister Brian Mulroney.

Mulroney urges Bush to repair damaged relations with Canada, world (Canadian Press)


Supporters and critics of Russia #39;s president are demonstrating in Moscow, with both groups calling attention to Kremlin plans to consolidate power.

Putin Critics, Supporters Demonstrate in Russian Capital


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The first week of the U.S. Open  concludes Sunday with Andy Roddick and Serena Williams the star  attractions at Flushing Meadows.

Roddick and Williams to Star on Sunday at U.S. Open


Russian President Vladimir Putin has postponed his planned visit to Turkey amid the hostage crisis at a school in southern Russia, the Kremlin said Thursday.

Putin postpones trip to Turkey amid hostage crisis


HANOI, Vietnam (Reuters) - An Asia-Europe forum accepted  Myanmar and 12 other new members Thursday ahead of a summit  strained by Yangon's human rights record and detention of  democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Asia-Europe Forum Grows, Myanmar Irritates


For anyone who misses the late  #39;90s, there #39;s an easy way to get a flashback fix. Check out Google #39;s stock. Shares of the Internet search engine Monday soared another \$14.

Google stock shoots, scores, up 120 from IPO


Earthwind Moreland signed with the Patriots Aug. 5, but University of Massachusetts football fans may have heard of him before that. He was a starting cornerback for the Georgia Southern squad that entered the 1998 Division 1-AA national championship game undefeated and then lost to the Minutemen, 55-43.

Old college try from Moreland


Bayer forged an alliance for its struggling pharmaceuticals business with American drug manufacturer Schering-Plough yesterday, cutting costs and marking another step in the German company #39;s transformation.

Bayer refit leads to US sales pact


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A huge explosion tore through a crowded  market close to the west Baghdad police headquarters on  Tuesday, killing at least 47 people in the deadliest single  attack in the capital in six months.

Blast in Baghdad Rebel District Kills at Least 47


US Airways Group Inc. and its pilots union said they may agree by today on a plan to cut \$295 million in wages and benefits to help the carrier avoid a second bankruptcy filing.

US Airways, pilots say they #39;re close to a deal on cutting wages


Reuters - U.S. consumer sentiment stagnated in\early September, according to a survey released on Friday, as\doubts about the economy and the job market persisted.

US Sept Consumer Sentiment Barely Budges (Reuters)


GLASGOW, Scotland Nov 1, 2004 - Berti Vogts resigned as coach of Scotland #39;s national soccer team Monday, citing rude fans. Vogts, a German, held the job for 2 1/2 years, going 9-16-7 and failing to qualify for this year #39;s European Championship.

Scotland Coach Vogts Quits, Citing Fans


AP - Hate it when you fill 'er up and, five minutes later, spot another station selling gas for a nickel a gallon cheaper?

Web Site Helps Compare Gasoline Prices (AP)


Germany #39;s Infineon Technologies AG has agreed to plead guilty to charges of price-fixing and pay a \$160 million fine as part of a US investigation into the computer-memory chip industry, US antitrust authorities said Wednesday.

Infineon to plead guilty in memory chip case


HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro tripped and  fractured his left knee and right arm in a tumble captured on  live television, the government said on Thursday.

Castro Breaks Knee in Public Fall


The Zafi.d worm seems to have done its worst, security experts say, but they urged users to remain on guard through the holidays for more seasonal shenanigans.

Zafi Slows, But Experts Urge Vigilance


By LINDSEY TANNER    CHICAGO (AP) -- Men with prostate cancer that doesn't appear to have spread have better survival chances when they get short-term hormone treatment along with standard radiation, rather than radiation alone, a small study found.    Almost five years after treatment, six men in the radiation-only study group died of prostate cancer; none of the men who got combined treatment died of prostate cancer...

Radiation and Drug Combo Help With Prostate Cancer


KANSAS CITY, Mo.  With their 34-31 victory Sunday, the San Diego Chargers showed why they keep winning. The Kansas City Chiefs showed why they continue to lose.

Big plays give Chargers edge


AP - Harrison Frazar took some time off to rest and find a way to make golf fun again. For the second week in a row it paid off with a share of the first-round lead, though he had to share it with six others in the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas.

Frazar, Six Others Share Lead in Vegas (AP)


Cisco Systems is teaming up with researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop new communications technology that the company hopes to ultimately turn into products.

Cisco, MIT look from lab to market


HOUSTON (Reuters) - World number one and defending champion  Roger Federer won an epic 20-18 tie-break to seal a 6-3, 7-6  win over Marat Safin on Saturday and place in the Masters Cup  final.

Federer Wins Epic Tie-Break to Reach Masters Final


COMMACK - Luis Horna ended the unbeaten Long Island reign of two-time champion Paradorn Srichaphan, outlasting him 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) to advance to the final of the \$380,000 ATP event on Saturday.

Horna to face Hewitt in finals


Liverpool, England (Sports Network) - Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia pulled his hamstring during Tuesday #39;s 1-0 loss to Monaco in Champions League action and will be out of action for about a month.

Luis Garcia becomes latest Liverpool casualty


Shares of mail-order DVD rental company Netflix plunged Thursday after it warned that it was slashing its subscription price in anticipation of Amazon.

Netflix stock drops on anticipation of Amazon competition


Merck  amp; Co. #39;s Vioxx painkiller showed heart risk in studies four years before the drug was recalled, and it should have been pulled from the market then, according to a study published in the medical journal Lancet.

Merck should have pulled Vioxx in 2000, study concludes


DaimlerChrysler #39;s flagship Mercedes Car Group intends to regain peak profit levels within the next few years after operating profit dips in 2004, division had Juergen Hubbert said on Thursday.

Mercedes: Years to Regain Peak Profit


Providers of Internet-based phone services, such as Overland Park-based Nuvio Corp. and Time Warner Cable, notched a victory Tuesday when the Federal Communications Commission said states could not regulate the futuristic service.

FCC denies states control of VoIP


Iraq #39;s Deputy Prime Minister pleaded with donors today to fulfill pledges of aid for the reconstruction of his war-ravaged nation.

Iraqi Deputy PM pleads for aid


Computers with AMD #39;s Opteron processor will soon be able to take advantage of the same power management technology the company has already built into its laptop and desktop microchips.

AMD to switch on better Opteron power management


HOUSTON - A 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series reinforced Julian Tavarez #39;s belief that St. Louis is better than Houston despite not having faced aces Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt.

Tavarez says Cards are better


Trend Micro report validates concern in security industry that malicious hackers are more interested in money than fame.

Virus report points to profit-hungry hackers


ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada - Packing ferocious winds, Hurricane Ivan made a direct hit on Grenada Tuesday, blasting apart scores of homes and forcing hundreds of evacuations before growing even stronger as it moved in Jamaica's direction...

Hurricane Ivan Damages Parts of Barbados


SpectraSite isn #39;t in the room, but the Cary company could have much at stake in the merger talks between Nextel and Sprint. The two mobile-phone companies are discussing a

Merger #39;s effect on SpectraSite likely  #39;not a major negative #39;


Various media outlets, including mlb.com and ESPN Radio 1000, are reporting the Cubs have docked their superstar a day #39;s pay for leaving last Sunday #39;s Cubs-Braves game well before it ended.

Sosa #39;s costly departure


The Philippines may have its long-term debt ratings cut by Moody #39;s Investors Service, which cited the government #39;s budget deficit and debt.

Moody #39;s May Cut Philippine Ratings on Budget Deficit (Update1)


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of new U.S. jobs soared  at the sharpest rate in seven months in October, the government  reported on Friday, helped by a surge in construction activity  as hurricane-racked areas in the Southeast were rebuilt.

Job Gains Strongest in Seven Months


A common condition affecting fertility in women may be linked to migraine, new research reveals. The work could also help scientists understand the origins of migraine.

Common fertility condition linked to migraines


By MARGARET LILLARD     MORRISVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- The scents of molasses, sugar and ginger hang in the air like an invitation to sin as Lee Tobin shows off his new bakery...

Whole Foods Creates New Gluten-Free Product Line


AP - Leaving their orbiting outpost unmanned, the international space station's two astronauts floated outside on a spacewalk Friday and plugged in new antennas and replaced a worn-out piece of cooling equipment.

Spacewalking Astronauts Replace Equipment (AP)


German authorities have deported the organizer of a controversial Islamic conference planned for next month in Berlin. The conference planner was deported to his home country of Lebanon Saturday, after his

Germany Deports Organizer of Islamic Conference


IDF Fall '04 Welcome Whitefield

Intel admits Itanium pains, plots server future


A string of bomb and gun attacks in northeastern India continued for a second day Sunday as blasts in a crowded market, a tea plantation and elsewhere killed three people and wounded another 18.

More bombs in India, 53 now dead


With a defiant streak across the sky, the fastest plane in the world broke its own speed record before plunging into the sea for the last time.

Scramjet breaks own speed record on final flight


Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will line up its newly developed fighter aircraft, including the first Sukhoi 30 Mk1 that it assembled for the Indian Air Force (IAF), when the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, visits its Bangalore complex on

HAL to showcase its wares for Putin


BAE Systems, Europes biggest defence firm, yesterday announced the planned \$600 million (334m) takeover of a leading US supplier of secure computer networks to the Pentagon.

BAE unveils \$600m takeover deal as it targets growth in US


Up to 80 pilot whales and bottle nose dolphins died after a mass stranding on King Island off Tasmania, Australia. The number of dead mammals is lower than that in earlier

Up to 80 whales, dolphins die on Australia #39;s southeast coast


AP - Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed delegates Monday to the Republican National Convention, proclaiming the city has fully recovered from the World Trade Center attacks and thanking Republicans for choosing New York.

Bloomberg to Delegates: New York Is Back (AP)


Conspicuous by their silence, US retailers and apparel makers are waiting on the sidelines while domestic textile companies take what may be their last stabs at preserving limits on imports of garments made in China.

Apparel makers, retailers question textile quota focus


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar shot up against the yen on  Friday following a surprisingly weak figure for Japanese  revised gross domestic product in the second quarter that  raised concerns Japan's economy may be slowing.

Dollar Shoots Up Vs Yen on Weak Japan GDP


Government service firms often leaped before they looked as they scrambled to buy their way into the booming intelligence and anti-terrorism field.  <FONT face=

Post-9/11 Mergers Brought Problems


A pairing that US captain Hal Sutton said was two years in the making was two holes in the breaking during the first day of the 35th Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills Country Club #39;s South Course.

European dominance


AFP - Online travel agent and retailer Lastminute.com said its chairman, Allan Leighton, will step down in January 2005 and be replaced by Brian Collie, currently a non-executive director.

Lastminute.com chairman Allan Leighton to step down (AFP)


If you had to ask what

Sony Goes Ultra-Upscale


House prices fell for the second month running during August as the market continued to feel the effects of rising interest rates, figures show.

Property prices continue to drop


AP - The biggest home run in rookie Bobby Crosby's career gave the Oakland Athletics a dramatic victory and set up a winner-take-all AL West showdown with the Anaheim Angels.

A's, Angels Set for Winner-Take-All Series (AP)


One of the architects of Africa #39;s home-grown plan for economic development has launched a scathing attack on its achievements.

Africa #39;s big plan  #39;disappointing #39;


PROVO, Utah - Brigham Young University revamped its athletic department Wednesday, but said the move was made after a months-long internal review rather than as a reaction to the recent sexual abuse allegations that have rocked the steadfast Mormon

BYU doesn #39;t renew contracts of men #39;s, women #39;s athletic directors


GONAIVES, Haiti - Rescuers pulled bodies from receding floodwaters Monday that had raged through parts of Haiti's third-largest city, swept people from their homes and forced survivors to spend the night in trees, atop cars and on rooftops. The rapidly rising death toll from Tropical Storm Jeanne's weekend devastation stood at 241...

Floods Kill at Least 241 in Haiti


A cell phone is on the way that reportedly is so smart it can predict what you are about to do. According to research in the journal New Scientist, the phone learns about the things

New cell phone can predict your next move


OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - Bartolo Colon pitched seven  shutout innings and Alfredo Amezaga hit a grand slam home run  as the Anaheim Angels trounced the Oakland Athletics 10-0 in  their American League West showdown series opener Friday.

AL Wrap: Angels Thump Athletics to Near Playoffs


AP - When radio shock jocks Opie and Anthony considered their next career move after two firings in four years, the twisted twosome was ready to feign rehabilitation. Or at least that was the plan when they sat down with satellite radio executives.

Shock Jocks Boost Satellite Radio Profile (AP)


Taipei - Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Taipei Saturday afternoon, urging the local government to scrap a historical high US weapons package, which the protesters complained would trigger a bitter arms race with the Chinese mainland and

Taiwan people protest Chen #39;s arms purchase


TEHRAN, Iran - Iran has produced

AP: Iran Moves Toward Nuclear Production


The German authorities have arrested a fourth man in connection with a suspected plan to attack the Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi during a visit to Berlin earlier this week.

Another attack suspect arrested


I wish I weren #39;t old enough to remember the old Who classic,  quot;Pictures of Lily, quot; and I #39;m sure the management at Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) would like to forget the last few weeks.

Pictures of Lilly


Media giant would pay \$750M to settle wide-ranging allegations of accounting irregularities at Va.-based America Online.
<FONT face=

Time Warner Nears Deal Over AOL Accounting


Reuters - The head of Peru's Congress on\Wednesday urged the region's top rights court not to order the\freedom of a New Yorker jailed for collaboration with leftist\rebels, saying it had to realize

Peru Lawmakers Urge Court: Don't Free Berenson (Reuters)


After 18 months of heated rhetoric, antitrust judgments and a few billion dollars more, Oracle Corp. #39;s hostile bid for smaller rival PeopleSoft Inc.

Oracle still in fight for PeopleSoft despite shareholder support


Blackburn Rovers are poised to sign French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff, who was released by Bolton in the close-season, the English Premiership soccer club said.

Blackburn set to sign French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff


AMSTERDAM/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal  on Monday agreed to buy International Steel Group Inc. <A HREF=

Mittal Family Forges \$17.8 Bln Steel Deal


A former advisor to the South Africa's deputy president pleads not guilty to charges of fraud and corruption.

Former SA official denies graft


According to a Samsung release, the device is the most advanced graphics double-data-rate synchronous DRAM available for graphics card makers, as well as game console manufacturers.

Samsung Doubles Memory Density


A minister hails progress on e-commerce after a study suggests UK firms are the third most sophisticated users of IT.

UK firms 'embracing e-commerce'


IBM (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday its workhorse commercial computers have smashed the industry #39;s most demanding tests, which analysts said creates

IBM Says It Swamps Rivals in Key UNIX Computer Test


The US economy continued to grow in the early fall despite being buffeted by rising energy costs and hurricanes, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday, providing its last snapshot of business conditions before Election Day.

Fed Reports Continuing Economic Growth


The Seattle Mariners #39; Ichiro Suzuki has broken one of baseball #39;s oldest hitting records - most base hits in a season, set 84 years ago by Hall of Famer George Sisler.

MLB: Suzuki Breaks Most Base Hits Record


Search enabler Google says it has acquired digital mapping company Keyhole for an undisclosed sum. Keyhole maintains a multiterabyte database of digital images of geographic locations, culled from satellite and aerial snapshots.

Google Buys Digital Mapping Company


MONTREAL (CP) - Molson Inc. may have removed the last obstacle to its proposed merger with Colorado beer maker Adolph Coors Co. on Friday, after it agreed to fork out a premium of \$3.

Investor not impressed with Molson dividend for Coors merger <b>...</b>


FedEx said today that it will use software from Opsware Inc. to help it make the most of its IT resources.

Brief: FedEx taps Opsware to automate global data center operations


Could Google be on the verge of creating its own Web browser, or is the guessing game about the company #39;s post-IPO plans spinning out of control?

Google as Browser?


Group proposes outsourcing to underutilized, lower-cost IT workers in outlying areas of the U.S. rather than offshore.

Keeping IT work close to home


Lycos is caught in a tit-for-tat struggle with spammers, just days after releasing a free screen saver software program that uses computer down time to swamp Web sites associated with spam campaigns.

Lycos, spammers trade blows over screensaver


Time Warner Inc. announced that it has set aside \$500 million in legal reserves in connection with a government probe and that it will restate its financial results for 2000, 2001, and possibly 2002.

AOL Accounting, Time Warner Restatement


Description: Marsh  amp; McLennan CEO Jeffrey Greenberg steps down, according to a Wall Street Journal online report. Greenberg #39;s exit comes a little more than a week after his firm was named in a bid-rigging inquiry.

Insurance Exec Resigns over Spitzer Suit


Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain apologized for flawed intelligence but not for removing Saddam Hussein.

Blair Offers His Party a Qualified Apology for Iraq War


VIENTIANE, Laos: China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to make substantial progress in advancing the free trade area (FTA) at their summit to be held here today.

ASEAN links push free trade


NEW DELHI - The United Nations Conference on Trade  amp; Development (UNCTAD) on Wednesday placed India among the top four Asian foreign direct investment (FDI) destinations and said it will get more foreign investment flows as the global economy rebounds

India among top four FDI destinations in Asia


Germany #39;s Carl Zeiss, which makes binoculars, microscopes and lenses for Hasselblad cameras, said yesterday it had joined with private equity firm EQT to acquire California

Carl Zeiss in \$1.1bn deal to purchase Sola


The second-seeded Fish gave away a lead in a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Ricardo Mello of Brazil on Wednesday night in a second-round match at the \$380,000 Millennium International tennis tournament.

Fish falls early again


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices held steady near \$47 a barrel  on Wednesday a day after setting yet another record when the  United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, said inflation  had stayed in check despite rising energy costs.

Oil Prices Hold Near \$47 on Iraq Threat


Maurice Wilkins, 88, a Nobel Prize winner whose role in discovering the double helix structure of DNA has been overshadowed by more-celebrated colleagues for the past half-century, died Oct. 5 in a London hospital.

Maurice Wilkins, DNA Pioneer, Dies at 88


BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Arab news network Al-Jazeera showed footage Thursday of 10 new hostages seized in Iraq by militants.    Al-Jazeera said the 10 - six Iraqis, two Lebanese and two Indonesian women - were taken by The Islamic Army in Iraq...

Footage Shows 10 New Hostages in Iraq


Digital music player maker Creative has pledged to spend \$100m to out-market Apple in a bid to take the market away from the iPod.

Creative declares  #39;war #39; on Apple #39;s iPod


But that #39;s OK. Because after a 31-14 rout of the St. Louis Rams, they can #39;t be called total losers either. It was a whole team effort, #39; #39; said quarterback Jay Fiedler

Dolphins Break Through, Rip Rams For First Win


UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian  made his case for U.N. membership in an unusual satellite news  conference on Wednesday, saying his country was the victim of

Taiwan President Makes Personal Appeal for UN Seat


The shouts of astonishment and outrage echoed from every part of the country yesterday as Canadians contemplated the newly announced federal government budget surplus: \$9.

Federal surplus is good news


LOS ANGELES - It's been a rough month for hotel heiress Paris Hilton. First, her Hollywood Hills home was burglarized and now her pet Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, has disappeared...

Hilton Offers Reward for Lost Chihuahua


Justin Langer plans to heap more misery on Pakistan after his opening-day unbeaten century revived Australia in the first Test at the Waca.

Langer looking to  #39;hurt #39; Pakistan


Baghdad: At least 49 people were killed, most of them children, in a series of devastating car bombs that left a trail of carnage in Baghdad and northern Iraq on Thursday, medics and the US military said.

Scores of kids die in Baghdad car blasts


US and Iraqi forces raid mosques in Ramadi, after an overnight air strike on a popular restaurant in Falluja.

US and Iraqis raid Sunni centres


The hunger strike by thousands of security prisoners (called  quot;prisoners of war quot; by the Palestinians) could become a difficult, complex affair.

The hunger strike #39;s resonance


An emerging trend in application management software is the capability to view distributed applications, deployed on many tiers, as a single entity. Putting the new approach to work, management software vendor Motive will launch three products to help manage distributed applications: Motive Profile, Motive Triage, and Motive Resolution.

Motive gives single view of distributed apps


Search technology for images may lead to a way to search handwritten manuscripts.

A New Script for Searching Texts Written by Hand


Reuters - Thousands of civilians have fled\their homes after clashes in the east of the Democratic\Republic of Congo, the United Nations said on Friday, but it\was unclear who was behind the violence.

Thousands Uprooted by Clashes in East Congo -U.N. (Reuters)


palmOne has released a modified version of its VersaMail 2.7 e-mail application for the its Treo 600 communicator. Although released last year the Treo 600 did not

VersaMail for the Treo 600


The Red Sox trotted out Berge Avadanian to make the ceremonial  quot;Play Ball quot; announcement before Game 5 of the American League Championship Series last night at Fenway Park.

Hoping for a miracle on grass


Hedge fund managers are famously independent, often having quit the corporate world to escape bosses and bureaucracy. But as the hedge fund industry #39;s assets

Hedge fund managers seek safety in corporate arms


icrosoft laid out its plan yesterday for shipping the next version of its Windows operating system for personal computers in 2006, but to meet its timetable the company has scaled back its technological ambitions for the product.

Next Version of Windows for PC #39;s to Ship in 2006


Now that the 2004 major league season is officially over, baseball fans typically gravitate to another sport to get them through the winter,     until spring training comes around the next year.      However, I see this downtime as the perfect opportunity for fans, young and old, to get themselves acquainted with how to score a baseball     game, in preparation for the coming season.  This article will introduce the reader to how to score a baseball game for themselves.

An Introduction to Scoring Baseball Games


An 86-yard touchdown run from Steve Clark in the first quarter provided Falmouth all the scoring it needed as the Clippers defeated Barnstable, 7-0, yesterday for their eighth shutout of the season.

Falmouth shows zero tolerance


Maria Sharapova of Russia screams after missing a shot in her match against Vera Zvonareva of Russia at the WTA Championships in Los Angeles, Friday, Nov. 12, 2004.

No. 1 Davenport Upset at WTA, Sharapova Wins


GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces hunting Palestinian  militants shelled a Gaza Strip refugee camp on Friday, killing  at least three people and wounding several others, witnesses  and medical officials said.

Israeli Shelling Kills 3 in Gaza Camp -Witnesses


The serene world of higher education looks distinctly different when viewed from Capitol Hill.

College Fight For Influence Gets a Little Nasty


Job opportunities in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are expected to be among the best in the country during the last three months of 2004, according to a national survey of businesses and other employers by Manpower Inc.

Survey: Region job outlook among tops in US


AFP - Florida's orange production is expected to plunge 27 percent from a year ago in the wake of four hurricanes that lashed the state in August and September, the US Agriculture Department said.

Florida orange production expected to plunge (AFP)


Gary L. Pilgrim and Harold J. Baxter, founders of a tech-based mutual fund that blazed and then fizzled in the 1990s, agreed yesterday to pay \$160 million to settle

Fund Founders to Settle, Pay \$160 M


SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea conducted a follow-up  investigation Wednesday into holes cut in fences in the  Demilitarised Zone border, but diplomatic sources questioned  whether a civilian defected to the North as Seoul has said.

S.Korea Probes DMZ But Some Doubt Defector Fled


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Talk of a trade between the Toronto Raptors and the Portland Trail Blazers involving marquee players Vince Carter and Shareef Abdur-Rahim is  quot;more than just a rumour, quot; says a source close to the Trail Blazers.

Raptors shipping Carter to Blazers: report


Stockland, Australia #39;s fourth-biggest property trust, offered to buy General Property Trust for A\$7.5 billion (\$5.7 billion) in stock in an attempt to foil a rival bid by Lend Lease Corp.

Stockland Bids A\$7.5 Bln for General Property Trust (Update1)


Actuate Corp. announced that it has joined the Eclipse Foundation, the organization focused on delivering an open source development environment, and has launched a new Eclipse project to focus on open-source business intelligence and reporting tools.

Actuate Joins Eclipse; Starts Open Source BI Project


Martial law has been imposed in parts of the Chinese province of Henan after ethnic clashes in which witnesses say several people were killed.

#39;Ethnic violence #39; in China region


AP - A surprise fight over breast cancer threatens to eclipse tobacco and trade as issues in the final week of a down-to-the-wire fight for the North Carolina seat in the U.S. Senate being vacated by Democratic running mate John Edwards.

Cancer Dominates N.C. Senate Campaign (AP)


quot;Given the increase in attacks since April and in the context of an elevated terrorist threat, travelers planning to go to the kingdom are advised to delay their trip for the moment except for imperative professional reasons, quot; the French Foreign Ministry

France advises its citizens against travelling to Saudi Arabia


AMSTERDAM (AFX) - ASML Holding NV and Nikon Corp said they reached a tentative agreement on settlement terms for Nikon #39;s case of alleged patent infringement against ASML.

ASML, Nikon agree draft settlement of patent infringement dispute


THE OLYMPICS may have returned to the land of their birth, but even as these games wind down, the stadiums in Athens remain eerily empty.

Ode to ancient Games, nudity and all


Democrats are vowing to roll back a sharp increase in premiums announced this month, and the Bush campaign is seeking to blame lawmakers for the rise.

Medicare Costs Are New Focus for Candidates


Attacks against Web-services applications are expected to increase, analysts warn, and network security managers may not be prepared.

NetContinuum Bolsters Web-Services Security


Members of the Sinhala and Tamil communities have clashed again in eastern Sri Lanka after a grenade attack on a bus left one person dead.

Sri Lanka attack raises tension


Seattle and Denver have built baseball stadia that exemplify the vastly different results that come with new entertainment center construction.

New Parks Offer Lessons


By Martyn Williams, IDG News Service and Paul Kallender, IDG News Service. The group supporting the HD-DVD optical disc format for high-definition video has received a boost in its battle against the rival

HD-DVD picks up Hollywood support


Prince Charles' spokesman says Prince Harry will not apologise to a photographer he scuffled with.

No Harry apology to photographer


Jet Propulsion Lab -- Saturn's ring shadows appear wrapped in a harmonious symphony with the planet in this color view from the Cassini spacecraft.     Saturn and its rings would nearly fill the space between Earth and the Moon...

Strings of Shadowy Rings Drape Saturn


Top executives from the two companies plan to host a press conference and webcast in late December or January as part of a monthlong interoperability webcast series put on by Microsoft.

Microsoft and Sun plan webcast to detail cooperation


When Michael Jordan led the first NBA-studded  quot;Dream Team quot; into the Olympics in 1992, the hope was that their dazzling displays of basketball would inspire others to play better and bridge the gap with the Americans.

NBA Commissioner Defends US Team Amid Criticism


AP - A federal judge has imposed the maximum fine of  #36;300,000 against a former member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences who allegedly leaked

Man Fined  #36;300K for Leaking 'Screeners' (AP)


Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it agreed to buy rival health plan First Health Group Corp.

Coventry Health to Buy First Health


An appeals court ruling shows that the Justice Department has at least one witness in its developing antitrust case.

Government finds witness in RAM price-fixing probe


Omar Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan, Christian Aid is calling for radical new measures to end the crisis in Sudan. Christian Aid is calling for a change in the mandate of the African Union monitors in Darfur.

Attacks against civilians in Darfur


MANILA -- Philippine President Arroyo vowed Tuesday the country will never default on its debt repayments, as she found herself embroiled in a public row with key economic advisers following her declaration that Manila was in a  quot;fiscal crisis quot;.

RP will never default on debts, Arroyo vows (10:30 am)


Fix prevents users from sharing their files and printers with the entire Internet.

Microsoft Fixes 'Critical' XP Firewall Issue


Britain #39;s leading academic institution is backing an international campaign to stop the US securing an international ban on all forms of human cloning.

Royal body opposes anti-cloning bid


Australian dairy group National Foods says its shares are worth up to 22 more than a hostile \$A1.6 billion takeover offer by New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra.

Fonterra bid too low say Aussies


GAZA (Reuters) - An Israeli missile hit the house of a  local Islamic Jihad leader in a refugee camp in the southern  Gaza Strip on Monday, wounding at least two people, Palestinian  medics said.

Israeli Missile Hits House of Local Militant -Medics


WASHINGTON - Deutsche Bank Securities has agreed to pay \$87.5 million to settle allegations that it issued stock research that was biased by its investment banking business, regulators announced Thursday as part of a crackdown on conflicts of interest on

Around The Nation


In an effort to combat (now common) counterfeit batteries, Nokia has launched a new program that will allow consumers to accurately tell if a battery is made by Nokia.

Nokia combats counterfeit batteries


Faster, Pussycat! Buy! Buy! That's a play on the title of one of schlockmeister Russ Meyer's most famous movies, ''Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! quot; But it might as well be the generic title for any number of Christmas retail stories pouring into the nation's newspapers, magazines, and television news shows at this time of year.

At holidays,shop talk is ever-present


NEW YORK - Oil prices climbed close to \$51 per barrel and pushed stocks slightly lower Tuesday as investors worried that rising energy costs would dampen a widely expected fourth quarter rally.    Wall Street was uneasy but not panicky as a barrel of light crude was quoted at a record high \$50.80, up 89 cents, on the New York Mercantile Exchange...

Stocks Move Lower As Oil Prices Rise


AP - With political fund raising, campaign advertising and organizing taking place in full swing over the Internet, it may just be a matter of time before the Federal Election Commission joins the action.

FEC May Regulate Web Political Activity (AP)


The Spanish Football Federation led the way, sending a letter of apology to the Football Association. General secretary Jorge P Arias condemned the fans #39; behaviour and reiterated his federation #39;s position against racism in football.

Spanish offer a token of regret


Monster


VANCOUVER (CP) - With his assault trial set to start in exactly a month, a report surfaced Friday that Vancouver Canucks star Todd Bertuzzi may be close to a plea bargain with BC prosecutors.

Media reports say Crown, Bertuzzi lawyers close to plea bargain on <b>...</b>


Ryan Giggs will returns from suspension for Wales #39; crucial World Cup qualifier against England at Old Trafford. Giggs is in the squad for the game against Sven-Goran Eriksson #39;s side on Oct 9 and the Cardiff clash with Poland on Oct 13.

Giggs returns to face England


Liberty Mutual Group has been subpoenaed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the first local insurer to be caught up in the prosecutor's fast-widening probe into the insurance industry's sales practices.

Liberty Mutual probed


Porto FC of Portugal won the European/South American Cup, beating Once Caldas, from Colombia, 8-7 on penalty kicks after the game, including the additional time, ended in a 0-0 draw.

Porto Wins European/South American Cup


Ford Motor Co. CEO Bill Ford Jr. plans to revive his push to make the automaker more environmentally friendly now that he no longer has to deal with a financial crisis, Newsweek reported.

AUTO INDUSTRY REPORT: Ford CEO has new goal


_ Four-time Olympic medalist Stephan Eberharter is retiring from competitive skiing after 16 years on the World Cup circuit. The 35-year-old Austrian was the runner-up in last season #39;s overall World Cup standings.

Eberharter Retires


Human error caused the crash that left 80 percent of staff without access to benefits payment processing systems at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) last month, supplier EDS has acknowledged.

Crash in Benefits System Caused by Human Error


VIENTIANE : Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win could not confirm reports that his government had extended democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi #39;s period of house arrest by a year, Thailand #39;s prime minister said.

Myanmar #39;s PM  quot;yet to confirm quot; Suu Kyi #39;s extended detention


Many holiday shoppers are struggling to find one of the most explosively popular gifts in years: Apple's iPod digital music player that stores 5,000 songs in a device no bigger than a deck of cards.

IPod demand white-hot


AFP - The captain of the crippled Canadian submarine Chicoutimi, back in a Scottish port after a fatal onboard fire, said the boat was ready to go to sea when it left harbour eight days ago.

Crippled Canadian submarine was sea-worthy: skipper (AFP)


Microsoft Corp., the world #39;s largest software maker, asked a European Union court to suspend an order by antitrust regulators forcing it to disclose information on the inner workings of its Windows product to competitors.

Microsoft Asks EU Court to Suspend Antitrust Ruling (Update1)


quot;80 of Americans could correctly name the first President Bush #39;s pet dog Millie, but only 15 knew that both President Bush and the challenger, Bill Clinton, favoured the death penalty quot; Link.

The Matrix Online finds its voice


Ziff Davis - The Free Standards Group's updated standard will improve Linux code portability and interoperability, developers say, and reduce the worry of platform fragmentation.

Open-Source Developers Cheer New Linux Base Standard (Ziff Davis)


AFP - Malaysian emergency services rushed to the tightly-guarded US embassy in Kuala Lumpur after a powder which police said could be anthrax was found in a letter.

US embassy in Malaysia in 'anthrax scare' (AFP)


The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has warned of security vulnerabilities in its implementation of Kerberos that could allow attackers free access to protected systems. Users of MIT Kerberos 5 are urged to apply patches immediately.

Kerberos critical hole allows system access


Mike Hargrove was hired Wednesday to manage the Seattle Mariners and turn around the team after its worst season in 12 years.

Mariners Hire Hargrove as Manager


Paramilitary police killed a suspected top al-Qaida operative Sunday in a four-hour gunbattle at a house in southern Pakistan that also led to the arrest of two other men, the information minister said.

Al-Qaida suspect killed in Pakistan raid


EBay Inc., the world #39;s largest online marketplace, on Wednesday posted a quarterly profit that rose 77 percent from a year ago, fueled by strong back-to-school shopping

EBay Reports Sharply Higher Profit


Reuters - Movie director Spike Lee has won his\cybersquatting case against a Philippines-based operator who\misused the domain name, spikelee.com, to redirect surfers to a\pornographic Web site, arbitrators ruled Friday.

Spike Lee Wins Cybersquatting Case Vs. Porn Site (Reuters)


British Airways chief executive Rod Eddington admits the airline

BA boss admits 'we got it wrong'


If you want a car that keeps its value, buy one of these. And don #39;t buy it in orange. By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN/Money staff writer.

Top resale value cars


Los Angeles - A  quot;trigger-happy quot; street gangster killed the sister of US tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams as he defended a Los Angeles crack house from gangland rivals, a court heard on Monday.

Gangster shot Williams #39;s sister, court hears


AP - Maybe Pittsburgh has finally discovered how to wear down playmaking West Virginia quarterback Rasheed Marshall: Tire him out before the game.

Pitt Looks to Upset No. 21 West Virginia (AP)


New Delhi - India test-fired a short-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead off its eastern coast on Sunday, an Indian news agency reported.

India test fires nuclear-capable missile


The Editors: Larry Donald easily out maneuvered and out punching former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. Atlanta, Georgia #39;s former four-time champion was never in the fight, never a threat to

Holyfield embarrassed by Donald


By ALLISON LINN    SEATTLE (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), hoping to take a bite out of Apple Computer Inc...

Microsoft Taking on Apple's iTunes Music Store


England #39;s Simon Khan, runner-up to Sergio Garcia in Majorca two weeks ago, made a horror start to his first Volvo Masters at Valderrama today.

KHAN-AGE


cycle of devastation

Nepal's king calls for end to


Richmond, VA (Sports Network) - Ryan Newman earned the pole for Saturday night #39;s Chevy Rock  amp; Roll 400. The No.12 Penske Dodge circled the 0.750-mile Richmond International Raceway short track in 20.

The race for The Chase begins at Richmond


Microsoft recently launched a  #39;Get the Facts #39; ad campaign telling consumers Linux isn #39;t cheaper than Windows. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) thinks they should get the facts too -- but it #39;s warned Microsoft to make sure its are straight first.

Advertising watchdog reprimands Microsoft over  #39;facts #39;


The Green Bay Packers dealt the Carolina Panthers a defeat now familiar to Super Bowl losers. Ahman Green ran up, down, and all over the

Super letdown sinks Panthers


ISLAMABAD, Pakistan Pakistani security forces killed about 100 Qaeda terrorists during a recent military operation in tribal areas near Afghanistan, state-run television quoted Pakistan #39;s president as saying.

100 Qaeda deaths reported


Reuters - Apple Computer Inc.  shares\jumped as much as 16 percent on Monday, to their highest level\in more than 4 years, after a Wall Street analyst nearly\doubled his price target on the stock.

Apple Up After Analysts Raise Target (Reuters)


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hotel workers in Washington D.C.,  San Francisco and Los Angeles on Sunday held out the threat of  a strike, but have told management they will resume contract  talks, a D.C. union official said.

Hotel Workers in Three Cities May Strike


PARIS, Oct 20 (AFP) - France #39;s co-sponsorship of a UN resolution ordering Syria to pull its troops out of Lebanon reveals an accumulation of ill will between the two countries, analysts say.

Franco-Syrian relations stalled by hostility


DETROIT Despite a crop of new car models and a generous supply of rebates, sales fell for Ford Motor and General Motors in November.

Ford and GM struggle as sales slip


NEW YORK (Dow Jones/AP) _ The New York state comptroller sued Merck  amp; Co., claiming the drug maker hid certain risks associated with the painkiller Vioxx.

Merck sued by New York fund over Vioxx issue


Thousands of Colombia's indigenous Indians call on rebels and paramilitaries to respect their lands.

Colombia Indians rally for peace


Internet telephony provider Skype Technologies has released a final version of its peer-to-peer (define) VoIP (define) software for Wi-Fi-enabled Pocket PC devices.

Skype Puts VoIP on PDAs


(CBS/AP) It #39;s possible you may have looked at a  quot;blog quot; to help make your decision whether re-elect the  quot;incumbent quot; during the recent  quot;electoral quot; process.

#39;Blog #39; Is Runaway Word Of Year


The dot-bomb survivor is down to its last \$700,000. Also: Viacom partners with a second Chinese media company   hellip;. Boeing downplays the speed of the airplane market's recovery   hellip;. and more.

Commerce One Sinking Fast


As joyous fans celebrated by honking car horns in Caracas, Johan Santana sounded overwhelmed. He became the first Venezuelan to win a Cy Young Award, and not only that, he was a unanimous choice.

Santana Unanimous Pick for AL Cy Young


Amaze your friends as CD-quality music comes out of your little plastic computer speakers! Then, pay us - monthly - even if you dont listen to anything, and even if you would rather listen to it on your portable music player.

New Virgin Digital Music Club offers subscription service


The nation #39;s accounting rulemaker decided yesterday that companies will have to begin deducting the value of stock options from their profits next year, reining

Firms told to omit options from profit


THERE were fresh fears over petrol prices today after saboteurs attacked a number of pipelines in southern Iraq. The latest attacks add further pressure on petrol companies to raise prices at the pumps in order to protect their investment.

Iraq oil line attacks spark price rise fear


LONDON (Reuters) - Yusuf Islam, the singer-song writer  formerly known as Cat Stevens, Friday demanded an inquiry into  why the United States labeled him a security risk and deported  him.

Singer Cat Stevens Demands Probe Into Deportation


Crude oil may fall next week as Gulf of Mexico production rebounds and tanker shipments resume after Hurricane Ivan, according to a Bloomberg News survey of traders and analysts.

Crude Oil May Fall as Output Rebounds, Survey Says (Update1)


By MARTHA IRVINE    CHICAGO (AP) -- Some see easy access to emergency contraception as a way to drastically reduce teen pregnancy, already on the decline since the early 1990s. Others worry that its long-term effects on young women are unknown or argue that the drug, also known as the

FDA Considers Morning-After Pill for Teens


Baseball commissioner Bud Selig schedules a conference call for Friday for owners to vote on the proposed move of the Montreal Expos to Washington.

MLB Owners to Vote


The San Diego Chargers #39; home game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday will not be shown on local TV because 9,500 general admission tickets remained unsold at Thursday #39;s deadline.

Saints-Chargers game blacked out


Investors looked past a spike in oil prices yesterday, sending stocks higher on the strength of Ford #39;s bullish profit outlook.

Wall Street upbeat despite oil-price rise


AP - Marcus Thames drove in three runs, and Nate Robertson pitched eight strong innings in the Detroit Tigers' 5-4 victory over the slumping Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

Tigers Squeak by Slumping White Sox 5-4 (AP)


London: NRI business tycoon Lakshmi N. Mittal-owned Ispat International on Monday emerged as world #39;s largest steelmaker as it announced its merger with The Netherlands-based LNM Holdings and US International Steel Group to form Mittal Steel Corporation.

Mittal Steel emerges world #39;s largest steelmaker


An eight-year-old Thai girl and a dog were confirmed to have been infected with Asia #39;s deadly bird flu on Sunday as the country battled a second major outbreak of the virus this year, authorities said.

Dog with bird flu sparks new fears


BAGHDAD -- Interim President Ghazi al-Yawer demanded more help from the United Nations ahead of the country's Jan. 30 elections, saying yesterday that poor security was no excuse for the world body to stay away.

Yawer demands help from UN for elections


Northern Europe and key Asian countries remained home to the most competitive economies worldwide, cementing their ranks among the top 10 in an annual survey of business leaders by the World Economic Forum. Finland retained the top spot for the third time in the last four years, followed by the United States.

Finland, US ranked top economies


DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. <A HREF=

Ford Halts Plant Output for Lack of Parts


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Maxim Pharmaceuticals Inc. <A HREF=

Maxim Plunges, Colgate Slips in Pre-Trade


A self-professed guru of offshore tax havens was sentenced to six months in prison Monday for conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service after prosecutors urged a

Offshore tax guru sentenced to six months


GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces seized control of parts of  the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, a day after soldiers  killed 14 Hamas fighters in the deadliest strike against the  leading Palestinian militant group.

Israeli Forces Seize Control of Parts of North Gaza


The US Space Agency #39;s Cassini spacecraft has discovered two new moons around Saturn - bringing the planet #39;s count to 33. NASA said Monday the images of the two, small moons were taken June 1.

Cassini Spacecraft Discovers 2 New Moons Around Saturn


A Territorian yesterday told how he watched in horror as two sharks savaged a man to death at a popular beach. Chris Niemoeller had been swimming near the same spot minutes earlier.

It could have been me


Celebrex, the nation #39;s leading painkiller, raises the risk of heart attack when taken at very high doses, the drug #39;s maker said Friday in the latest blow to a class of powerful and widely touted drugs.

Pfizer finds heart attack risk with Celebrex, plans to continue to <b>...</b>


Amnesty International says tens of thousands people still suffer appalling illnesses from one of the world #39;s worst industrial disasters that struck the central Indian city of Bhopal 20 years ago.

Amnesty Int #39;l: Bhopal Gas Leak Victims Still Suffer 20 Years Later


Nearly 1,000 police and federal agents tore through a town outside Mexico City, smashing gates and breaking down doors in a hunt for the leaders of a vigilante mob that burned two federal agents to death.

Police Raid Mexico City Neighborhood


New York Attorney General has subpoened major players in the Washington area insurance market as part of an investigation into steering and bid-rigging.

Insurance Probe Hits Home in D.C. Region


Street Musicians perform on a makeshift stage with a portrait of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004.

Yudhoyono faces power struggle in parliament


In a season full of free passes, Barry Bonds just got one more. He received the 2004 National League Most Valuable Player Award on Monday because of something resembling the presumption of innocence, which

Bonds presumed innocent, and great MVP voters focus on slugger #39;s <b>...</b>


If you want to know what happens when a country cedes its foreign policy to the United Nations, as Canada has done, all you have to do is look at Sudan.

Canada #39;s voice lost amid UN gnashing


washingtonpost.com - The launch of the Microsoft digital-music store takes direct aim at Apple Computer's dominant iTunes service, setting off a battle of the bands between the online music sellers and their rock-star frontmen -- Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

Microsoft Steps Into The Ring (washingtonpost.com)


AC MILAN striker Andriy Shevchenko gave his strife-torn country Ukraine some reason for celebration when he was named European footballer of the year for 2004 yesterday.

Shevchenko eases Ukraine pain


Top seed Serena Williams battled her way into the China Open final yesterday, overcoming two service breaks to defeat Vera Zvonareva of Russia, 6-2, 6-3.

Williams wins, faces Russian in Beijing final


Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, arriving in Israel for his first visit in a year and a half, said Sunday that he would work with Palestinian leaders to come up

Powell to Seek US Aid for Palestinians


Part of the B-sample of a show jumping horse that won Ireland #39;s only gold medal at the Athens Olympics has been stolen, the International Equestrian Federation said yesterday.

Drugs in sport: Olympic horse #39;s urine sample stolen


SEATTLE -- Small earthquakes at the rate of one or two a minute yesterday had seismologists keeping a close watch on Mount St. Helens.

Volcano puzzles scientists


NASCAR points leader Kurt Busch is all smiles as he walks back to his garage after winning the pole position on Friday at the Homestead Miami International Speedway in Homestead, Fla.

Busch the man to beat for title


TORONTO (CP) - The Raptors placed Vince Carter on the injured list Friday with a strained left Achilles tendon. The guard/forward injured his Achilles in the first minute of the second half of Toronto #39;s loss at Detroit on Wednesday night.

Carter placed on injured list with strained Achilles tendon


Hungarian weightlifter Ferenc Gyurkovics was stripped of his silver medal and kicked out of the Olympics on Saturday for using steroids. Puerto Rican wrestler Mabel Fonseca was also expelled for a positive drug test.

Hungarian Weightlifter Stripped of Silver


STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Taylor Stubblefield caught a 40-yard touchdown pass and became the Big Ten's career receptions leader as No. 9 Purdue held on to beat Penn State, 20-13, yesterday.

Purdue's win isn't pretty


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - British terror suspects arrested in  August were trying to construct a dirty bomb and planned to  attack targets in London, including the Heathrow Express  airport rail line, Time magazine reported.

UK Terror Suspects Were Building Dirty Bomb - Time


PARIS : French media giant Vivendi Universal reported a surge in its net loss so far this year but forecast a sharp turnaround in its finances for all of 2004.

Vivendi Universal sees better days ahead in 2004


American tennis player Andre Agassi serve to his fellow countryman Vincent Spadea during his ATP Masters series tennis match in Madrid, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004.

Agassi Makes Madrid Masters Quarterfinals


AP - The Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-hander Chad Gaudin from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for catcher Kevin Cash in the first transaction completed Sunday at the winter meetings.

Blue Jays, Devil Rays Swap Two Players (AP)


ATHENS, Greece -- The world record was like graffiti on a masterpiece, a reminder of a sport #39;s dark past.

Record-breaking night


The first head of the Department of Homeland Security forges a single organization, but spearheaded some questionable initiatives.

Ridge leaves mixed legacy


Aon Corp. said Thursday its third-quarter earnings fell because of  quot;softening market conditions quot; that, along with the halt of contingent commissions, led it withdraw its guidance for the full year.

Aon sees profit dip in 3Q


03.10.04 - Las Vegas, NV. -- Brains versus Brawns is what many were billing this fight, but in the end it was blood that won out. The 10-round main event fight from Caesars Palace which was featured on SHOWTIME

Unfinished Business! - Accidental head-butt sends fight to the <b>...</b>


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar retested record lows against  the euro on Monday as traders continued to shun the U.S.  currency on concerns about bloated deficits in the United  States.

Dollar Retests Record Lows Vs Euro


Santiago - Chilean anti-riot police fired water-cannon and tear gas on Friday at bands of stone-throwing protesters in a massive rally against a major Asia-Pacific summit.

Santiago march turns violent


Russian prosecutors continued their onslaught against the country #39;s largest oil producer on Thursday, raiding the accounting division of Yukos and seizing documents.

Yukos accounting division raided; Russian official warns of money <b>...</b>


Italy has sunk down the list of the world #39;s most competitive countries because of bureaucracy, infrastructures and high taxes, a report by the World Economic Forum has revealed.

Italy slips down competitive list while Nordic countries remain <b>...</b>


BEERSHEBA, Israel -- Beersheba is a city of humble origins. Once known as a biblical oasis, it became in its later incarnation a desert backwater.

Chess masters bloom in ancient desert city


Former Red Sox righthander Carl Mays died in 1971, the year Pedro Martinez, Kevin Millar, and Bill Mueller were born. When Mays died, Manny Ramirez was but a twinkle in his parents #39; eyes.

Full steam ahead


Clemson, SC -- Reggie Merriweather rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries as the Clemson Tigers defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks, 29-7, in a non-conference affair at Clemson Memorial Stadium.

NCAA Game Summary - South Carolina At Clemson


SPACE.com - An expedition of Russian researchers claims to have found evidence that an \  alien spaceship had something to do with a huge explosion over Siberia in 1908. \  Experts in asteroids and comets have long said the massive blast was caused \  by a space rock.

Russian Alien Spaceship Claims Raise Eyebrows, Skepticism (SPACE.com)


Yankees pitcher Kevin Brown was more animated than usual on the eve of the start that could turn his misguided September punch into an almost amusing memory.

Yankees Still Pondering the Enigmatic Brown


An innovative engine that compresses air by its shape alone to reach hypersonic speeds will attempt to break its own record next week with a test flight over the Pacific Ocean.

NASA To Try for Scramjet Speed Record


Television and radio stations in Israel cut away from their midday programming. News Web sites were updated faster than even the nimblest of fingers could press  quot;refresh.

Israeli wins country #39;s first Olympic gold


GONAIVES, Haiti (Reuters) - Survivors of devastating  flooding in Haiti wandered mud-clogged streets in search of  food on Tuesday as officials said 662 people had been killed  and more than 1,000 were missing.

Haiti Flood Death Toll Rising, Hundreds Missing


Sudan has agreed to African Union (AU) plans to deploy an enlarged force of 3,500 troops to the troubled Darfur region, an AU official for conflict management told Reuters on Friday.

Sudan agrees to 3,500 extra AU troops-AU source


Two consumer products giants - Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL) warned Monday of disappointing outlooks as consumer goods firms across the world struggle with a slowdown in spending by shoppers.

Colgate-Palmolive, Unilever warn of disappointments


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Misconduct in the U.S. mutual fund  industry is not limited to fund share trading; it's not even  limited to funds, say market regulators.

Regulators to Widen Mutual Fund Probe


WASHINGTON - A new study listing 46 profitable Fortune 500 companies as getting \$5.4 billion in federal tax refunds last year is being used by Democrats to push for expanding the child tax credit to low-income families who don #39;t pay income taxes.

Liberal groups pan corporate tax breaks


US manufacturing grew more slowly in August, a research group reported yesterday, adding to other signs that the economic expansion continued to lose steam in recent weeks.

Economy Continues Sluggish Expansion


Toronto's Nik Antropov, Philadelphia's Michal Handzus and Pittsburgh's Steve McKenna became the latest NHL players to head to Europe during the lockout.

Number of NHL Players in Europe Hits 231


Reuters - Ray Allen scored a season-high 37\points to carry the Seattle SuperSonics to their seventh\straight victory, a 103-95 win over the 76ers in Philadelphia\Tuesday.

NBA Wrap: Allen Leads Sonics to Seventh Straight (Reuters)


BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - When a team in the United States wins four championships in five years and seven in 10 years, it is labeled a dynasty.

Ryder failures show US must change course


CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox will go for a three-game sweep when they face the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field on Sunday night.

Boston at Chicago Sox, 8:05 PM


Gordon Cooper, one of seven original US astronauts, died yesterday at his home in Ventura, Calif., at age 77. In the 1960s, with the nation determined to prevail in a space race with the Soviet

Gordon Cooper, Mercury Mission Astronaut, Dies at 77


The developing countries will enjoy the strongest economic growth in three decades this year andshould continue to enjoy solid expansion in 2005 and 2006, the World Bank predicted on Tuesday.

Growth in developing countries strongest in 3 decades: WB


For the first time, United Airlines has acknowledged that it is  quot;likely quot; to terminate its pension plans, a move the carrier said it needs to attract financing to emerge from bankruptcy.

United  #39;likely #39; to end pensions


The 2004 Jaguar X-Type got the worst rating of any midsize sedan in side-impact crash tests conducted by the insurance industry.

Jaguar Gets Low Crash Test Score


Older, somewhat run-down with a little rust showing, Allan Houston is like the  #39;57 Mustang collecting dust in your garage. It still runs.

Houston #39;s return is no remedy for Knicks


Despite their 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans yesterday before 61,465 at Ford Field, that remains to be seen. But one thing looks evident early on - rookie wideout Roy Williams, the Lions #39; top draft

Lions roaring: Rookie Williams gives Detroit big lift


Blood swirled in knee-deep floodwaters as workers stacked bodies outside the hospital morgue Tuesday. Carcasses of pigs, goats and dogs and pieces of smashed furniture floated

Haitians Left in Devasting Wake of Jeanne


Oil prices continue to fall back from recent record highs, after a US report showed an unexpectedly large rise in crude stocks in America.

Oil prices fall after US report


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A generation of children grew up  playing Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s <A HREF=

Nintendo Prepares Weekend Launch of New Handheld


The rough and tough Oklahoma State Cowboys pushed Syracuse around for most of the game and then used a late push to beat the Orange 74-60 in the Jimmy V Classic here at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

No. 5 Cowboys #39; physical defense punishes Orange


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tracy McGrady hit a running 3-pointer  with 1.7 seconds left on the clock to give the Houston Rockets  a dramatic 81-80 win over the San Antonio Spurs in National  Basketball Association play Thursday in Houston.

NBA Wrap: McGrady Leads Rockets to Stunning Win


SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's uranium enrichment  experiment four years ago is a

Report: N.Korean Envoy Warns of Nuclear Arms Race


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slipped on Monday, reversing an  early rally, after disappointing U.S. employment data rekindled  investor worries about weak economic growth and lackluster  corporate profits.

Stocks Off as Employment Data Disappoints


F5 Networks and Radware have come to terms in a patent dispute over

Data center firms settle cookie suit


BRUSSELS Amid thinly veiled threats of legal actions, trade negotiators from the European Union and the United States failed here on Thursday to resolve their dispute over the aid that each side gives to their airplane makers.

EU and US can #39;t solve jet dispute


The Salvation Army #39;s red kettles are being banned from collecting outside Target #39;s 1,313 stores nationwide, costing the charitable organization an estimated \$9 million in holiday donations and

Kettle crew not on Target


Britain expects the European Union to start membership talks with Turkey in January, when Luxembourg assumes the EU #39;s rotating presidency, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.

UK #39;s Straw Expects Turkey #39;s Talks With EU to Start in January


You know it #39;s bad when the heaviest hitter on the team in terms of doing damage these past two days turns out to be Kevin Brown, who took the prevailing new theme around Yankee Stadium -  quot;when the goin #39; gets tough, the tough get goin #39;  quot; - just a little

Tough stuff for Yanks just beginning


Tokyo has played host to an exhibition showcasing the latest attractions for gamers.

Tokyo showcases gaming goodies


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar was within reach of a record  low against the euro on Thursday as U.S. capital flows data  fueled worries that a weaker greenback would be needed to help  repair the United States' huge trade imbalance.

Dollar Near Record Low After Inflows Data


Review Does not attempt world domination, but

On the Beastie Boys 'virus' CD


US Vice-President Dick Cheney says a vote for John Kerry would make a terror attack more likely.

Cheney blasts Kerry terror record


Reuters - Voters displaced by\hurricanes or given flawed instructions should be allowed to\cast ballots outside their designated precincts, critics of\Florida's provisional ballot law told the state Supreme Court\on Wednesday.

Florida Supreme Court to Rule on Backup Ballots (Reuters)


AUBURN - Auburn is ranked fourth in the first Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings released today. Southern California is the top-ranked team followed by Miami, Oklahoma and Auburn.

Auburn Ranked Fourth in BCS Standings


The UK government is misleading people by failing to report all the carbon emissions it causes, campaigners say.

UK carbon output 'under-reported'


Presidents George W. Bush of the United States and Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan met Saturday to emphasize that ties between their nations remain strong, despite Islamabad #39;s decision to scale back its search for Osama bin Laden.

Leaders reassure Pakistan-US ties remain strong


ANDY ROBINSON, the man who would be king, has pledged to put the  quot;spark and buzz quot; back into England #39;s misfiring rugby union team.

ROBBO: I #39;LL ELECTRIFY ENGLAND


Roger Clemens pitched seven innings and Carlos Beltran homered, had three hits and scored three runs to help the Houston Astros rout the Atlanta Braves 9-3 in the opening game of their National League Divisional Series Wednesday.

Clemens Helps Astros Take 1-0 Series Lead Over Braves


Spurred by back-to-school sales and politics, spam messages accounted for 82 of all the inbound e-mail processed during August, according to FrontBridge Technologies, an e-mail security firm.

Back-to-school sales, politics spur spam to new heights


A BRITISH consumer has complained to government regulators about the cost of downloading music from Apple #39;s iTunes Music Store.

Brits complain over iTunes prices


Growing up on La Salle Boulevard on Detroit #39;s northwest side in the 1950s, Stephen Ross was not a man of means. Here are some of the top donations made to the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

\$100 MILLION FOR BUSINESS SCHOOL: From humble roots to UM #39;s top <b>...</b>


In the debate over what to do about the growing number of working people in the United States with little or no health insurance, no company may be taking more heat than the country #39;s largest employer, Wal-Mart Stores.

States and rivals attack Wal-Mart health policy


When Sprint and Nextel Communications merge, they will be competing against their much larger rivals, Cingular Wireless and Verizon Wireless.

For Sprint and Nextel, a Battle With Titans


Sharman Networks has called former Napster expert witness Justin Tygar to give his testimony during the ongoing trial against the peer-to-peer software provider for alleged copyright infringement.

Sharman witness: Tech can protect copyright


Mike Lamb homered, drove in four runs and had four hits as the streaking Houston Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-5 in National League play at Minute Maid Park Sunday, their ninth straight victory.

NL Wrap: Lamb on Fire as Astros Roast Slumping Pirates


The MIAA Football Committee yesterday announced the sites that will host postseason football contests. There will be six doubleheaders Tuesday, Nov. 30 at Curry College

Football sites are set


NEW YORK -- Dina Dublon, one of the highest ranking woman executives at JPMorgan Chase  amp; Co., is resigning from her position as chief financial officer and will be replaced by Michael Cavanagh, who currently heads middle market banking.

JP Morgan Chase CFO Dina Dublon resigns


AP - Dozens of scientists plan to converge at the University of Wyoming to talk about West Nile virus, water pollution and other issues related to coal-bed methane drilling.

Group to Talk Coal-Bed Methane Drilling (AP)


VODAFONE, the mobile phone giant, yesterday confirmed it is to reward patient shareholders by doubling its interim dividend following a  quot;robust quot; set of first-half figures.

Vodafone doubles dividend


Makoto Tamada has recorded his second win of the MotoGP season with victory in his home grand prix in Japan. Riding a Honda in the warm and dry conditions, 27-year-old Tamada covered 24 laps in 43 minutes

Local hero Tamada wins Japan GP


LONDON (AFP) - The Football Association has written to UEFA and FIFA to complain about racist abuse suffered by England #39;s black players in an under-21 international against Spain in Madrid on Tuesday night.

English FA lodges protest over abuse of black players in Spain


SPACE.com - DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, UTAH \  -- A NASA spacecraft spun out of control and crashed into the Utah desert this \  morning, putting a disastrous end to a years-long mission to bring back samples \  of the Sun.

Space Probe Fails to Deploy Chute, Slams into Earth (SPACE.com)


MOSCOW The government on Friday set the stage for the resolution of the  quot;Yukos affair, quot; setting an auction date for the prize asset of Yukos, the country #39;s No.

Russia set to auction oil giants prize asset


The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have launched a criminal investigation into the financial accounting practices of network gear maker Nortel Networks Corp. just days before the company is set to release some of its restated financial results.

RCMP initiates Nortel investigation


How has U.S.C. head coach Pete Carroll been able to build a successful program, while his Notre Dame counterpart Tyrone Willingham is 6-4?

Crossing Paths: Notre Dame and U.S.C.


Sears, Roebuck  amp; Co. on Thursday said comparable domestic store revenue rose 2.8 percent in November, surpassing analysts #39; expectations for a decline of 0.3 percent.

Sears Nov. Same-Store Sales Above Views


Signs suggest hope for a possible release of the two French journalists held hostage in Iraq, Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin said Saturday.

France hopeful that journalists will be released


The Constitutional Treaty firmly enshrines fundamental rights in law and makes the EU more democratic, more transparent, and more effective.

VIEW: Europes new dawn Jan Peter Balkenende


Disney announced yesterday that it would release its films on Sony #39;s Blu-ray DVD format - a week after three other Hollywood studios backed rival Toshiba #39;s HD-DVD.

Disney backs Sony in DVD format battle


There #39;s going to be a ring ceremony in an NBA city tonight, and by now you probably know it #39;s not going to be in Los Angeles.

Pistons send NBA back to drawing board


Venice's Fenice Opera House hosts its first performance since it was gutted by fire in 1996.

Music strikes up at Venice opera


Up to 15 hazardous chemicals could have their global movement more strictly regulated at a conference in Geneva this week.

Chemical treaty to extend scope


HAVANA -- Just days before the US presidential election, which could alter US-Cuba relations, communist officials were designing deals to buy \$150 million more in US farm products at a trade fair opening today.

Cuba seeks US food trade


HOUSTON -- BJ Services Co., which provides oil-pumping services, Tuesday posted a 42 percent jump in profit for its latest quarter, but warned that fiscal 2005 estimates would fall below Wall Street #39;s expectations.

BJ Services profit jumps 42 percent on drilling surge


Drugs giant Merck  amp; Co. which pulled its blockbuster painkiller Vioxx from shelves in September, is about to become the target of hundreds of plaintiffs #39; lawyers, the New York Times reported on Friday.

Lawyers to Meet Next Week on Merck #39;s Vioxx -NYT


Russian President Vladimir Putin began a three-day visit to India on Friday, his first in two years, seeking to provide new momentum to an old friendship by expanding business, energy and traditional military ties, the Reuters news agency reports.

Putin Arrives in India to Boost Business, Energy, Military Ties


Upset by his team's embarrassing showing against Florida State, Virginia Coach Al Groh has told his starting defenders they will have to earn back their jobs in practice this week.

Groh Warns Defense


Qwest Communications has agreed to pay \$250 million to settle a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into its accounting practices.

Qwest Said to Settle S.E.C. Investigation


Dirak writes  quot;NASA intends to break its own aircraft-speed record for the second time this year by flying X43a scramjet ten times faster than sound.

NASA to Attempt Mach 10 Flight Next Week


The second round of Lithuania's general elections begins, with a Russian tycoon hoping for power.

Lithuanian vote in second phase


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar weakened on Wednesday on  dealers' renewed concern about the ability of the United States  to finance its trade and current account deficits, causing a  recent rebound in the currency to fizzle out.

Dollar Back on the Defensive


quot;It is extremely pleasing to see that additional benefits have already started flowing to both BHP Billiton and its Chinese partners as a result of the Wheelarra joint venture, quot; BHP Billiton Iron Ore president Graeme Hunt said in a statement.

The ore will be produced by the Area C mine which opened last <b>...</b>


AP - Days after he was acquitted in a corruption trial, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi got a warm welcome Wednesday from President Bush, who is grateful to Italy as a rare European ally willing to send troops to Iraq.

Bush Welcomes Scandal-Plagued Berlusconi (AP)


A computer program known as  quot;Skulls quot; with potentially destructive capability aimed at advanced mobile devices was seen as a low threat because it had not targeted consumers, security software maker McAfee Inc.

#39;Skulls #39; Mobile Security Threat Seen Low-McAfee


Microsoft said yesterday that it had finally laid to rest the anti-trust case against it in the United States when it reached an agreement with the Computer  amp; Communications Industry Association, the final group seeking to overturn itssettlement with the

Legal boost for Microsoft


Reuters - The U.N. war crimes prosecutor sent\the first case to the Serbian judiciary Friday in a move that\could warm ties between the Hague-based court and Belgrade.

U.N. War Court Transfers First Case to Serbia (Reuters)


A cosmetic face cream used by fashionable women in ancient Roman times has been analysed by scientists at Bristol University, UK, and now reproduced.

Roman face cream discovered and reproduced


The sound emanating from back-rooms at the Labour Party conference in the Brighton Centre yesterday was the unedifying one of backs being scratched.

Democracy takes a back seat


Friday product launch will count on music player to deliver cool factor to once-stodgy printer maker.

HP's iPod to lead consumer push


Microsoft has found two new security flaws in its software, including a critical hole that could spread viruses using Jpeg graphics.

Microsoft releases critical security patch


GAZA: Israeli troops killed two Palestinian gunmen in Gaza on Tuesday and militants shot dead an Israeli soldier in the West Bank.

2 Palestinians, Israeli killed


one of the richest and most recognizable basketball players in the world, an exclusive resort, an admiring young woman, an alleged rape.

Bryant prosecution troubled from Day 1


One of Labor #39;s challenges is to come up with an electorally acceptable proposal for reform in an inefficient, badly targeted family welfare system.

Labor #39;s task: to get welfare back on track


Australians will go to the polls on Oct. 9, with Prime Minister John Howard campaigning for a fourth term on his record of economic management, low interest rates and national security.

Australia #39;s Howard to Campaign on Record, Latham Pledges Change


Chelsea have asked the Football Association to hold on to Adrian Mutu #39;s registration while the club investigate ways of gaining compensation for sacking the player.

Chelsea plea to FA over Mutu


AFP - The brother of a British engineer held hostage in Iraq said there was a  quot;glimmer of hope quot; after the Iraqi justice ministry pledged to release a female Iraqi scientist, one of two women whose freedom had been demanded by the kidnappers.

Brother sees 'glimmer of hope' for Briton held in Iraq (AFP)


US Airways Group Inc. and its pilots union plan to resume talks on \$295 million in pay and benefit cuts the carrier needs to help avoid a second bankruptcy filing, after each side made a proposal over the weekend.

US Airways, Pilots Union to Resume Concession Talks (Update3)


Brazilian Lucas di Grassi scored his first two wins yesterday in Thruxton in the British F3 championship.

Double win for DiGrassi!


Fabio Capello finished on top as his Juventus defeated former club AS Roma 2-0 last night in a scrappy game. Alessandro Del Piero scored his third goal in his last two matches and Uruguayan Marcelo Zalayeta added an insurance goal.

Capello delighted as Juventus win


French regulators fined Vivendi Universal SA and its former boss Jean-Marie Messier nearly \$1.4 million each on Tuesday for deceiving investors with a litany of inaccurate financial communications issued over a two-year period.

Update 5: Vivendi, Messier Are Fined \$1.35M Each


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

IBM Transitions to Power5 (Ziff Davis)


Fears of labor-related disruptions at US Airways failed to materialize at Pittsburgh or anywhere else in the airline #39;s travel system Wednesday as the nation #39;s busiest travel season began.

#39;Business as usual #39; for US Airways


Blackboard is turning in good growth and rising margins with two hot education software products.

1  1 = Value at Blackboard


While Wilbur Ross celebrates his new honeymoon, he #39;s also toasting his latest deal - an \$80 million bet that reaped a \$4.5 billion payoff in just two years.

BILLIONAIRE #39;S PAYDAY TO GILD GOLDEN YEARS


A minority of analysts say oil is way too high and prices could tumble -- but will they? by Mark Gongloff, CNN/Money senior writer.

Bubble in crude?


Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Steve Ballmer on Thursday warned Asian governments that they could face intellectual rights-infringement lawsuits for using rival open-source operating platforms such as Linux.

Microsoft Threatens Lawsuits Over Linux


LONDON: Mexico #39;s Cemex, the world #39;s third-largest cement maker, has agreed to buy Britain #39;s RMC Group for around 2.3bil (US\$4.

Cemex to buy RMC for US\$4.15bil


TheDeal.com - The offering, which would be the world's largest this year, is now scheduled to float Dec. 20.

HK delays Link REIT by 3 days (TheDeal.com)


MLS and D.C. United are preparing to offer all-star Ryan Nelsen a contract that would make him one of the league's highest-paid defenders.

Trying to Keep Nelsen


ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri on Saturday said the government was awaiting a formal consent from the US government over the nomination of General (retd) Jehangir Karamat as Pakistans new ambassador.

Pakistan awaiting formal US consent for new envoy: Kasuri


CHICAGO (Reuters) - The dollar eased on Friday after an  August decline in U.S. producer prices undermined forecasts for  dollar-boosting Federal Reserve interest rate hikes beyond  September.

Dollar Slips on Weaker Producer Prices


Reuters - Microsoft Corp.  is still\targeting smaller companies for acquisitions, despite\speculation that now-scuttled merger talks with business\software giant SAP AG  signaled a shift in strategy,\Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said on Tuesday.

Microsoft CEO: Merger Strategy Unchanged (Reuters)


Two of Greece's most famous athletes and their coach made their first public appearance here yesterday only to withdraw from the Olympic Games rather than face a panel charged with looking into a possible doping violation.

Withdrawal for Greek sprinters


Bode Miller won a giant slalom WorldCup in Val D #39;Isere, France on Sunday, his fifth victory of the season. Miller, fourth after the first leg, clocked his winning time oftwo minutes

Miller wins World Cup giant slalom


AP - Exports from Iraq's northern oil fields are back to normal after a spate of attacks earlier this month that crippled a key pipeline, the state-run Northern Oil Co. said Tuesday.

Exports From Iraq North Oil Fields Normal (AP)


The number of US mortgage refinancings fell sharply last week suggesting that the refinancing boom may have run its course even as rates eased, economists said.

RPT-UPDATE 2-US mortgage refinancings lose steam despite rates


Asian and European business leaders at a joint forum pushed for greater trade between their regions Thursday, with Asians calling for more transfer of technology to their countries and Europeans demanding greater Asian investment.

Asia, Europe Seek Better Business Ties


Crude oil futures prices fell yesterday as concerns about reduced output in the North Sea were offset by expectations that an upcoming US government report would show rising inventories of heating oil.

Crude falls on hopes for heating oil report


PC World - Certain adapters may pose a risk of fire or electrical shock.

Dell Recalls Laptop Power Cords (PC World)


LONDON, England -- Oil prices have surged to historic levels as a threat of civil war in Nigeria adds to concerns over tight global supplies.

Oil hits high on Nigeria threat


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices slipped on  Wednesday as the market struggled to absorb \$24 billion in new  supply just a few days before a jobs report which could set the  trend for yields for weeks to come.

Treasury Bond Prices Lower


Handhelds that use Windows CE hold 48 percent market share worldwide, up from 41 percent a year ago. What's Palm to do?

Microsoft grabs lead in handheld market


The same three smiling faces that stacked the podium following Fridays World Cup giant slalom were back on top Saturday after the first of two womens slalom races on Aspen Mountain.

Kostelic grabs 20th World Cup victory


A federal study released Monday lowered the number of flights that O #39;Hare International Airport can handle without creating gridlock.

O #39;Hare Airport to get less flights


BEIJING -- John Chambers, the chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Cisco Systems Inc., doesn't care when economists think China is going to become the world's largest economy. He's just thinking about what needs to be done for Cisco to tap into that market.

Tech companies building bridges with China


Reuters - Cleveland Browns tight end\Kellen Winslow, defensive end Courtney Brown and cornerback\Daylon McCutcheon all had surgery Tuesday.

Winslow, Two Other Browns Undergo Surgery (Reuters)


A technical problem at Lufthansa forced the German airline to cancel some 29 domestic and European flights on Thursday. Although the German flag carrier #39;s long-haul flights were not affected, further European

Computer Problems Cause Lufthansa Delays


Lenovo Group Limited, a Personal Computer brand in China and across Asia has announced a definitive agreement under which Lenovo will acquire IBM #39;s Personal Computing Division to form the world #39;s third-largest PC business, bringing IBM #39;s enterprise-class

Lenovo to acquire IBM Personal Computing Division


Fresh doubts were raised over the feasibility of holding elections in Iraq yesterday with reports that the already minuscule United Nations team there wants to pull out because of the dangerous security situation.

Election doubt as UN staff ask to pull out


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices ticked higher on Tuesday,  holding above \$42 a barrel as dealers awaited signs of any  renewed cold snap that would revive demand for winter heating  fuels in the United States.

Oil Edges Higher, Watches Weather


HASSELT, Belgium : Russian top seed Elena Dementieva won her first title of 2004 with a 0-6, 6-0, 6-4 victory against compatriot Elena Bovina in the final of the 170,000-dollar tournament.

Tennis: Dementieva clinches first title of season


FOXBOROUGH -- Troy Brown has tried not to be torn by his loyalties to his Patriot teammates. But they have made the versatile 12-year veteran a prized possession in a playful tug-of-war between the offense and defense.

Brown has it double covered


Thirty-two pitches. That's a couple innings for most pitchers -- or two lengthy Johnny Damon at-bats. It amounted to Kevin Brown's entire body of work against the Red Sox Sept. 26. It was not a pretty sight.

Brown feels fortunate to have a hand in series


SANTIAGO -- Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Sunday dismissed Chinese President Hu Jintao #39;s criticism of his controversial visits to Tokyo #39;s Yasukuni Shrine where the war dead, including Class-A war criminals, are enshrined.

Koizumi dismisses Chinese leader #39;s criticism of visits to Yasukuni <b>...</b>


VISTA ----  quot;The biggest shopping day of the year quot; are seven words that can send agoraphobics, those folks with fears of crowds and public places, into panic attacks.

#39;Black Friday #39; brings crowds to local stores


NEW YORKCurt Schilling started Game Seven of the World Series for the Diamondbacks against the Yankees in 2001. Three years later, he finally gets to pitch in the biggest game of his life when he takes

You Wanted The Best, You Got The Best


ChevronTexaco, ordered to pay more than \$41 million to more than 75 Sunburst residents who filed a pollution-liability suit, will file a motion for a new trial in the next month, a company spokesman said.

Texaco to appeal Sunburst ruling


SAN FRANCISCO -- Randy McMichael caught a 15-yard touchdown pass with 10:35 to play, and the 49ers fumbled five times in the fourth quarter of the Miami Dolphins' 24-17 victory yesterday, leaving San Francisco as the league's only one-win team.

Niners hand it to Dolphins


Jay Fiedler threw for one touchdown, Sage Rosenfels threw for another and the Miami Dolphins got a victory in a game they did not want to play, beating the New Orleans Saints 20-19 Friday night.

Dolphins 20, Saints 19


With more than 30m sales under its belt, Grand Theft Auto is one of the most popular video game franchises. But today it is hoping that its new release, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, can break all records

Morality maze for video game that takes no prisoners


BAGHDAD: At least eight people were killed and 45 wounded when two suspected car bombs exploded within minutes of each other outside two churches and a hospital in southern Baghdad last night.

EIGHT DIE AS BOMB EXPLOSIONS HIT BAGHDAD


This is where the Florida Gators were supposed to prove that they #39;ve turned the corner and, for the first time in the post-Spurrier era, were ready to make their first real run at a Southeastern Conference title.

Ray McNulty: Gators suffer crushing blow


JAKARTA (Reuters) - OPEC's president has taken the  unprecedented step of urging the United States to tap its  emergency crude reserves to bring down world oil prices.

U.S. Urged to Use Emergency Oil Reserves


Reuters - Israeli forces launched the sixth day of a\massive offensive in the Gaza Strip early on Tuesday with an\air strike that killed a Palestinian militant and wounded two\others in Jabalya refugee camp.

Israel Kills Militant in 6th Day of Mass Gaza Raid (Reuters)


AP - Shosei Koda did not go to Iraq to distribute aid, reconstruct the country or strike it rich in the oil business. He was not connected with Japan's government or its armed forces.

Japan Shocked, Perplexed Over Iraq Hostage (AP)


CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday activated guard Dajuan Wagner from the injured list. Wagner, 21, missed the last five games with soreness in his right foot.

Cavaliers activate Wagner


Delta Air Lines on Tuesday slashed pay for most workers, and pilots agreed to contract changes that should prevent a wave of pilot retirements from pushing it into bankruptcy protection.

Delta flies toward clouds of Chapter 11


BEIJING (Reuters) - Motorola Inc. said on Friday it plans  to invest \$90 million in a new research facility in Beijing as  the U.S. mobile phone maker fights to wrest back top position  in the domestic handset market.

Motorola to Invest \$90 Million in China R D Center


Why General Motors dropped the Oldsmobile. The four brand  paradoxes GM had to face - the name, the product, image re-positioning, and the consumer - all added up to a brand that had little hope of rebranding.

Oldsmobile: The final parking lot


Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has betrayed his Likud Party, a longtime senior ally wrote to thousands of party faithful Thursday, but the rebuke over the Gaza withdrawal was unlikely

Longtime Ally Decries Sharon #39;s Gaza Plan


A BBC One documentary will be broadcast in both English and Hindi for the first time.

TV in Hindi via the red button


World champion pairs skater Tatiana Totmianina was released from the hospital yesterday, a day after suffering a concussion in a fall during the free skating program at Skate America.

Russian Skater Recovering


THE tweaking of a temperamental hamstring could have ended Darren Lehmann #39;s Test career as he and Damien Martyn yesterday pushed Australia towards Indian glory.

Aussies take control of Test


The US embassy in Haiti was closed on Friday to mark a national call for an end to violence inthe strife-torn country, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a news briefing.

US embassy in Haiti closed to mark day of reflection


Systinet, Amazon, and Altova this week are announcing tools geared toward development of Web services, e-commerce, and XML applications, respectively.

Tools wrap: Web services, e-commerce, XML touted


Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Allen Iverson had 32 points, six rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes of action, as the Philadelphia 76ers edged the Toronto Raptors, 99-97.

NBA Game Summary - Philadelphia at Toronto


European Union antitrust regulators have cleared Oracle Corp #39;s hostile \$US7.7 billion (\$A10.31 billion) bid for rival business software maker PeopleSoft Inc, removing one of the last major hurdles to the contested merger.

Oracle #39;s bid for PeopleSoft cleared


Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Patriots Wednesday signed left tackle Matt Light to a six-year contract extension. As per team policy, financial terms were not released.

Shining Light: New England inks tackle to extension


Microsoft said it would speed up SP2 distribution to meet its self-imposed goals, having distributed just one-fifth of its planned installations a month after launch.

Microsoft to step up SP2 downloads


Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) is expanding its indemnification program for Windows and other software products in order to shield users from legal claims and patent

Microsoft Expands Software Indemnification Program


Australia will consider sending Darren Lehmann home after he hobbled off the VCA Ground with a torn hamstring and uncertain future.

Australia may send Lehmann home


Sudan #39;s government and southern rebels promised on Thursday to complete a peace accord as soon as possible to end a 21-year-old civil war and resolve reconciliation efforts dogged by innumerable delays.

Sudan govt, southern rebels pledge peace accord


Miami Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad had surgery Tuesday for an infection in his right thigh and is expected to miss Sunday #39;s opener against the Tennessee Titans.

Dolphins #39; fullback has thigh surgery


Thirty years of research into the forces that hold everything together pay off grandly for the three Americans, and science moves a step closer to a grand unified theory of the universe.

3 Yanks Share Nobel for Physics


Roger Federer sees off Tim Henman in straight sets to reach the US Open final.

Tennis: Federer beats Henman


Manchester United may have captured the hottest property in world soccer by signing Wayne Rooney, but Lyon believes it has unearthed the new Ronaldo.

Nilmar set to grace European stage against Manchester United


quot;Eat your spinach, quot; Mom used to say.  quot;It will make your muscles grow, power your laptop and recharge your cell phone...  quot;. OK. So nobody #39;s Mom said those last two things. But researchers at the Massachusetts

MIT Works to Power Computers With Spinach


F you #39;re trying to figure out if somebody is a gadget freak, try this simple test: work the phrase  quot;video iPod quot; into a sentence.

From Microsoft, a First Take


MANCHESTER, England -- Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes scored their first league goals of the season to give Manchester United a 2-0 win over Charlton in Alex Ferguson #39;s 999th match in charge.

Giggs and Scholes give United win


Broadband should be available through 99.4 per cent of phone lines by next summer thanks to a technical breakthrough by BT.

Technical breakthrough boosts Broadband Britain


College field hockey: Bryant at Stonehill, 3:30 p.m.; Bentley at Tufts, 4 p.m.; Fitchburg St. at Regis, 4 p.m.; Westfield St. at Framingham St., 4 p.m.; Franklin Pierce at Assumption, 4 p.m.; Babson at Amherst, 4 p.m.; Conn. College at Mt. Holyoke, 4:30 p.m.

Today's schedule


LAUSANNE, Switzerland - The last battle of the Athens Summer Olympics is over. The dispute over who won the men #39;s all-around gymnastics Gold Medal has been resolved, at least officially.

Hamm Gets to Keep Gold Medal


Web surfing has belonged almost exclusively to Microsoft Corp. #39;s Internet Explorer ever since it buried Netscape #39;s pioneering browser.

Firefox takes torch from Microsoft browser


Beginning Monday all editions of the venerable Times of London will be printed in tabloid format, just as the Sun and other not-quite-so-venerable newspapers.

The Times of London to becone a tabloid


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices forged to a record high above  \$55 a barrel on Friday on rising fears of a winter fuel supply  crunch and robust economic growth in China, the world's number  two user.

Oil Hits New Highs Above \$55 a Barrel


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Earthlings are about to be treated to a total lunar eclipse, just in time for Halloween. For more than an hour Wednesday night, the moon will be covered entirely by Earth #39;s shadow and resemble a glowing pumpkin.

Earth to See Total Eclipse of the Moon


At least two Americans died in a blast at the office of an American firm that provides security for President Hamid Karzai.

Blast in Kabul Kills 7 at Compound of a U.S. Contractor