(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees try to move one step closer to a division title when they conclude their critical series with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

New York Yankees Team Report - September 26


The accent betrays his days as a banker in New York. The subject of his opening comments-the possibilities on trade, South Asias poor record on human development despite its rich human potential, etc sounds almost like Manmohan Singh.

No cherries at Pak PMs breakfast


Union members at four BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing plants will vote this week on a tentative contract that would avoid a strike by about 3,400 US workers and end a walkout about 1,100 more employees in Canada.

Vote set on tentative deal between BFGoodrich, labour


World oil prices climbed on Monday as companies operating in the US Gulf of Mexico braced for output disruptions from powerful Hurricane Ivan.

Oil Up as Ivan Threatens US Facilities


The Palestinian president symbolized his people #39;s desire for a homeland, but his corrupt rule and limited vision frustrated their drive for statehood.

Arafat led Palestinians but failed peace quest


The nation #39;s labor markets sputtered again last month as job growth, which surged in October, reverted to the lackluster pace that has marked the recovery for much of the year.

Pace of US job growth slows


When was the last time you heard about the browser wars? Well, they #39;re back. The reason: For the first time in more than seven years, Microsoft (MSFT ) is losing Web browser market share.

A Firefox in IE #39;s Henhouse


Plus: Forbes says Microsoft is A-Rod; Google is Pujols.

News.com Extra: Voting methods under close watch


A top Iranian cleric expressed optimism Friday that Iran #39;s nuclear case might not be referred to the United Nations Security Council, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Iranian cleric upbeat on closure of nuclear case


Dell Inc. said yesterday that it would build its third US manufacturing plant in North Carolina, employing at least 1,500 people within five years. The new facility, scheduled to open in the fall of 2005 at a site to be determined, will produce desktop computers.

Dell to build plant in N.C.


US home buyers may see a slight rise in mortgage rates if housing finance company Fannie Mae, which is mired in an accounting scandal, slows purchases of bonds backed

Fannie Mae #39;s woes may cost home buyers


Struggling Italian airline Alitalia is set to seek one of three domestic partners to help it claw backmarket share, Alitalia #39;s Chairman and CEO Gianfranco Cimoli said on Thursday.

Italian airline company seeks domestic partner


In addition to the hologram label, each Nokia battery will have an authentication code hidden under a scratch-off area on the label.

Nokia Uses Hologram To Identify Batteries


Krispy Kreme has offered to reward students with a doughnut for every A on their report card - up to six per grading period - sparking concern among school officials trying to fight childhood obesity.

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Reward Plan Raises Concerns


Security researchers warned today of a vulnerability in most Web browsers that could allow scammers to launch phishing attacks from pop-up windows on trusted Web sites.

Vulnerability allows scammers to hijack pop-ups


Marat Safin won his first title in two years, beating Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (4), 7-5 Sunday in an all-Russian final. Safin, a former US Open champion who has been struggling since an injury-plagued 2003, advanced to No.

Safin gains first title in two years


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic growth, while  improving, has not hit the pace it was expected to do by now,  Federal Reserve Governor Mark Olson said on Monday.

Fed's Olson Says Economy Still Improving


VANCOUVER: An Ontario judge added another wrinkle to the controversy enveloping Hollinger and press baron Conrad Black, ordering a probe into the firms byzantine finances.

Court seeks probe into Hollinger #39;s fin transactions


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The representative for Hollywood's  major movie studios on Monday said its members have sued two  microchip makers, alleging they sold their products to makers  of equipment that can be used to illegally copy DVDs.

Movie Industry Sues More DVD Chip Makers on Piracy


Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has arrived in Indian administered Kashmir #39;s winter capital of Jammu on the second day of his trip to the area.

India PM to visit Kashmir camp


HOUSTON Continental Airlines has finalized wage and benefit cuts and changed some work rules -- to save money. The action comes as Houston-based Continental seeks to achieve 48 (M) million dollars of 500 (M) million dollars in labor cost cuts.

Continental announces wage, benefit cuts


FRED Hale Sr, documented as the worlds oldest man, has died at the age of 113. Hale died in his sleep on Friday at a hospital in Syracuse, New York, while trying to recover from a bout of pneumonia, his grandson, Fred Hale III said.

World #39;s oldest man dies, 113


AP - One play demonstrated the star Eli Manning can become. Another play, a few minutes later, showed that he's still a rookie.

GOLDBERG: Manning Improves During Game (AP)


Exclusive Zen and the art of paper-based sex

Interview with the pornogami Grand Master


India News  gt; Hyderabad, Dec 16 : A species of monkey previously unknown to science has been discovered in the remote northeastern region of India, according to the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

New species of monkey discovered in Northeastern India :


You probably heard of the new Firefox browser version 1.0 recently released by Mozilla. If you are currently using Internet Explorer or Netscape, you are probably wondering if Firefox is better and why is it better.

The Benefits Of The New Firefox Browser


Russian President Vladimir Putin led world leaders #39; tributes to George W. Bush #39;s victory in the US presidential race, saying it meant Americans had not allowed themselves to be cowed by terrorists.

World Leaders React to Bush Victory


Canadian Press - MONTREAL (CP) - Three groups of Canada Post employees have threatened to strike during next month's annual Christmas rush.

Canada Post workers threaten to strike Dec. 8 during Christmas rush (Canadian Press)


Arsene Wenger accepts that his side #39;s dominance in the Premiership creates expectations in Europe, where they have never gone beyond the semi-finals.

Belief is the key, insists Wenger


BRUSSELS On Friday, Europe #39;s leaders gathered in Rome to sign the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. This was a historic moment.

Toward a united European voice


Palm Desert, CA (Sports Network) - Grace Park continued her scoring frenzy at Bighorn Golf Club on Friday with a five-under 67 to open a four-shot advantage after the second round of the Samsung World Championship.

Park keeps cruising at Bighorn


A famous name once more adorns a European Tour trophy after Stephen Gallacher won the Dunhill Links Championship yesterday at St Andrews.

Gallacher #39;s wedge shot wraps up  #39;dream #39; title


In a bid to further differentiate itself from open-source rivals, Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday said it will expand its indemnification program to cover the vast majority of its customers. The move, experts said, is great marketing but will have little impact on users.

Microsoft to indemnify most users from legal threats


A fire truck prepares to leave after it extinguished a fire, Sunday, 17 Oct, 2004 at Nairobi #39;s Wilson airport after an explosion shook the building.

Kenyan Airport Blast Injures at Least Two


STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Andre Agassi was set to intensify his chase for a place in next month #39;s eight-man Masters Cup, with a Tuesday morning arrival in Sweden to compete as top seed at the 632,750-euro Stockholm Open.

Agassi to begin chase for Masters Cup place


Images of Saturn sent back to Earth by the Cassini spacecraft reveal a newly discovered ring and at least one new moon, scientists say.

Saturn reveals new ring and moon


Reuters - Russia deployed extra troops to guard\dozens of nuclear facilities across the country on Wednesday\after militants seized a school in the south and a suicide bomb\attack in Moscow, the nuclear authority said.

Russia Sends Troops to Guard Nuclear Sites (Reuters)


OAKLAND, Calif. (Sports Network) - Texas Rangers second  baseman Alfonso Soriano left Thursday's 5-4 loss to Oakland  after he injured his left leg, and he might miss the rest of  the season.

Soriano Injured, Could Miss Rest of Season


CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - It has taken six years, but  Chrysler is betting it has improved the quality and style of  its cars to the point where it can win over twice as many  European motorists, its chief executive said.

Chrysler Boss Sets Sights on Europe


In its first reaction to rebel warnings to return to their  quot;freedom struggle quot; unless the 19-month impasse in peace talks was ended by Colombo, the government said the rebel position was unacceptable.

Christmas Cracker


Australia #39;s biggest supplier of fresh milk, National Foods, has posted a net profit of \$68.7 million, an increase of 14 per cent on last financial year.

National Foods posts increased net profit


AFP - Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski urged South Korean companies to step up their investments in his country as President Roh Moo-Hyun wrapped up a two-day visit to Warsaw.

Polish president urges S. Korean firms to boost Polish investments (AFP)


Reuters - US Airways Group Inc.'s (UAIR.O)\chairman said employees must agree to  #36;800 million in new wage\and benefit cuts within 30 days or the airline might be\liquidated, the New York Times said on Thursday, citing an\interview with Chairman David Bronner.

US Airways Chairman: Liquidation Possible (Reuters)


Ferrari may have ended the opening day of the Belgian Grand Prix with the third and eighth fastest times, but there is no panic at the Italian team as the day was routine setup work ahead of Sunday #39;s 44-lap Grand Prix.

Routine day for Michael Schumacher


British Airways #39; chief executive, Rod Eddington, warned yesterday that he was preparing for a long, hard winter as the high cost of fuel eats into the national flag carrier #39;s profits.

BA issues fuel cost warning as profit jumps to 335m


MOSCOW, September 24 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed satisfaction with the tempo of trade turnover growth between Russia and China.

Putin, Jiabao discuss bilateral, international issues


China plans to enact an anti-secession law, the government said Friday, in a move apparently aimed at promoting Beijing #39;s campaign to pressure Taiwan into uniting with the mainland.

China plans to enact anti-secession law


AP - Further proof New York's real estate market is inflated: The city plans to sell space on top of lampposts to wireless phone companies for  #36;21.6 million a year.

N.Y. to Sell Wireless Cos. Lamppost Space (AP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Seagate Technology, the top U.S. maker  of computer hard-disc drives, on Tuesday forecast quarterly  earnings and revenue above Wall Street estimates amid stronger  demand for its products than in the previous quarter.

Seagate Sees Results Above Estimates


Intel Corp., the world #39;s biggest semiconductor maker, said it built a test chip with a new process that creates faster circuits by packing 10 million transistors into an area the size of the tip of a ball-point pen.

Intel Builds Test Chip With New Process to Make Faster Circuits


Abbey National faces a high court challenge to its 9bn takeover by Banco Santander Central Hispano because of concerns about criminal charges faced by executives of the Spanish bank.

Investor tries to block Abbey deal


AP - The recent announcement of plans to add more than 1,800 housing units to West Bank settlements may have sparked world anger, but on the ground it's just business as usual. The fact is  #151; settlement building never stopped.

Plans to Expand Settlements Spark Anger (AP)


Three explosions shook three Egyptian Sinai resorts popular with vacationing Israelis, killing at least 30 people and wounding 100.

3 Bombings at Resort Towns in the Sinai


Libyan singer Ayman al-Aathar has won a Middle East pop contest, edging out Palestinian Ammar Hassan. The Super Star competition was started by the Lebanese TV station Future Television and is filmed in Beirut.

Libyan takes Mid-East pop crown


SEATTLE (Reuters) - Now that digital cameras have overtaken  film cameras in sales, users are beginning to encounter a  familiar problem -- what to do with the bulging image files and  folders filling up computer hard drives?

PluggedIn: Software Tackles Digital Photo Proliferation


Major record corporations say that a licensed file-sharing system could bolster their position in their fight against piracy as well as increase digital music sales.

Music Industry Turns to Napster Creator for Help


SPACE.com - Canadian rocketeers hoping\to launch a privately built spacecraft from the small Saskatchewan town of\Kindersley met with community officials Thursday, updating residents on the\mission's progress and reaffirming their intent to fly.

A da Vinci Project Update for Canadian Town (SPACE.com)


Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said he is impressed with the progress made on preparing for elections in Iraq. After meeting with the country #39;s independent electoral commission, Mr Straw said he was  quot;encouraged quot; by the technical progress being made.

Straw upbeat over Iraq elections


Fresh from being released from federal prison last May, former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe has set up his first comeback bout for Sept. 25

Bowe Re-Enters Ring


TOKYO : Scandal-hit Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors interim net loss nearly doubled to 146.16 billion yen (1.38 billion dollars) and is to downgrade its full-year earnings forecast.

Struggling Mitsubishi Motors slips deeper into loss


The punishment of Ron Artest by David Stern has convinced players' union head Billy Hunter that Stern's power needs to be addressed in current labor talks.

NBA's Action Rankles Union


Sigmund Freud may have been right all along. Dreams really could be our unconscious minds giving us a glimpse of our deepest, darkest desires.

Sweet dreams are made of this ... have we solved the Freudian <b>...</b>


In southern Thailand where unemployment is high, thousands of people have been spending the past couple of weeks collecting paper cranes fired at their villages and towns from the air.

Thailand: Origami Politics Wont Do


Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the National Football League Players Association, told the league #39;s ownership and management council Wednesday that the eight

Union Challenges NFL Revenue Plan


AP - From teaming up with a rock band to selling restaurant gift cards online, it isn't Ben Franklin's post office any more. The U.S. Postal Service is battling to keep its place in electronic America by going on the Internet.

Postal Service Trying to Stay Competitive (AP)


TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's negotiations with the European  Union over a deal which would spare Tehran from possible U.N.  sanctions are in their final stages, Iran's Foreign Minister  Kamal Kharrazi said Saturday.

Iran-EU Nuke Negotiations in Final Stages-Kharrazi


Unilever shares have fallen 5.7 after the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant issued a surprise profits warning. Unilever said sales of ice cream and its tea drinks were  quot;substantially lower quot; in July and August due to very poor weather in northern Europe.

Unilever shares fall on warning


STUART, Fla. - Hurricane Jeanne barreled up Florida's Atlantic Coast early Sunday with 120-mph winds and drenching rains, unceremoniously putting the weather-weary state in the record books...

Jeanne Hits Fla. Coast With 120-Mph Winds


LONDON - Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned the killers of British hostage Kenneth Bigley as barbaric, and most of the victims relatives praised his handling of the crisis.

Britain mourns hostage murdered in Iraq


Nintendo Co., the world #39;s biggest maker of hand-held game machines, raised its shipment forecast for its new handheld console by 40 percent for this year on demand from the US and female gamers in Japan.

Nintendo Raises DS Target on Demand From US, Women (Update1)


Manila - The Philippines was in the midst of a fiscal crisis and the public should be prepared to make sacrifices, President Gloria Arroyo said yesterday.

Philippines may face Argentine-style crisis


Undisputed middleweight king Bernard  quot;The Executioner quot; Hopkins told Boxingtalk.com,  quot;It #39;s Sunday evening and I just got back home, we just finished helping Frank Cappucino.

** For the latest news, please refresh this page regularly **


Dell and Microsoft are to combine their patch management programs, making it easier for users to secure their servers. Dell will combine its OpenManage 4 server management software with Microsoft #39;s installation

Dell and Microsoft collaborate to reduce patch work.


BALTIMORE - At the end of the year, when the Baltimore Ravens evaluate their season, they will not focus on -r even remember  - first-half scoring drives in the second game of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Two crucial series of events help Ravens regain form


PARIS (AFP) - Italian Serie A strugglers Parma gave Pietro Carmignani a reason to smile on his return to his old job with a 3-2 win over Besiktas which guaranteed them a place in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.

Parma late show secures UEFA Cup survival


We should be using probes to look for life in space instead of radio signals, say scientists.

Alien probe 'best way to find ET'


By israelinsider staff September 27, 2004. An Israeli Druze citizen employed by CNN was kidnapped in Gaza City on Monday evening, by five armed Palestinians.

Palestinians kidnap Israeli, a CNN producer, in Gaza City


Five officials of a unit of US-based gold miner Newmont Mining Corp accused of dumping toxic waste in Indonesia are to be released from jail after being held for more than a month.

Indonesia frees mining officials in pollution case


The planned \$3 billion deal would give Sony a library of more than 4,100 titles. Also: Vivendi says its recovery is almost complete, despite large losses   hellip;. Canon and Toshiba team up to produce next-generation flat display panels   hellip;. and more.

Sony Close to Acquiring MGM


Matt Daniels had a homer and four RBIs, and tossed a two-hitter to lead Richmond, Texas, to a 13-1 win over Preston, Md., at the Little League World Series on Tuesday.

Preston Bows Out


POLAND WASHINGTON -- The prime minister of Poland told his Parliament yesterday that he would begin reducing the number of Polish troops in Iraq in January, another blow to the US-led coalition that has lost nearly a third of its members this year. Addressing legislators before a vote of confidence, Prime Minister Marek Belka promised, ''We will not remain in ...

Warsaw official vowstroop cuts in Iraq


Indias indigenously built Agni II missile was successfully test-fired again from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)s missile testing range at the Wheelers Island in the Bay of Bengal off the Orissa coast on Sunday afternoon.

Agni II missile test-fired again


Archivists who want to digitize 'orphan works' -- books, movies and films that are no longer commercially viable but remain under copyright -- lose a court battle. But they vow to continue the war to rebalance copyright law. By Katie Dean.

Fight for Public Domain Goes On


Australia #39;s unemployment rate dropped for the second straight month to 5.6 percent in September, the government said Thursday.

Australia Unemployment Dips for 2nd Month


KIEV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine's outgoing leader denied  on Tuesday he had agreed on concessions with his opponents to  end a crisis that has plunged the country into turmoil and  driven a wedge between Russia and the West.

Ukraine in Turmoil as Agreement Crumbles


German computer chipmaker Infineon Technologies AG has agreed to plead guilty to price fixing and will pay a \$160 million fine, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

chipmaker Infineon admits price fixing


MOSCOW (Reuters) - A heavily armed gang seized up to 400  hostages at a Russian school near Chechnya Wednesday and  threatened to shoot dead 50 children for any one of their  comrades killed, a senior local official said.

Armed Group Seizes Russian School, Talks Start


Violence erupted again yesterday in Port-au-Prince, one day after three policemen were killed in a clash with protesters demanding the return of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Riots by Aristide supporters erupt for second day in Haiti


OAKLAND, Calif. -- Gil Meche continue his amazing transformation last night in the Coliseum, limiting the A #39;s to two runs in 6 2/3 innings as the Mariners beat Oakland 7-2.

Ichiro: Two more hits


The database king extends its offer for PeopleSoft for the 10th time. Is there any profit left for investors?

Oracle Won't Quit


David Nalbandian, Nicolas Massu and Rainer Schuettler - the top three seeds - all lost on Friday in the quarter-finals of the indoor hardcourt event in Vienna.

SEEDED TRIO BOW OUT


AP - President Bush has chosen former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik, who helped direct the emergency response to the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes against the Twin Towers, to lead the Homeland Security Department, charged with safeguarding Americans from future attack, administration officials said Thursday.

Kerik Named to Lead Homeland Security (AP)


SanDisk this week announced a series of CF (CompactFlash) cards that double the read and write speeds of its fastest flash cards available today, as well as an 8GB version of its Ultra II CF Type 1 flash memory card.

SanDisk Flashes New Memory Cards


Reuters - Oil is still king on Wall Street --\and if you don't believe it, just take a look at this year's\stock market charts.

Stock Market Rally Fueled by Cheaper Oil (Reuters)


Michael Owen continued to profit in the Primera Liga with his sixth goal in eight games for Real Madrid while England team-mate David Beckham allayed concerns over his fitness by starting against Albacete tonight.

Owen Profits in Real Romp


VANCOUVER - Vancouver-based ID Biomedical has decided not to sell 1.2 million flu shots to the US after all - and will keep the vaccine in Canada, at the request of the federal government.

BC company kills deal to export flu shots


Insurgent attacks and clashes killed 45 people in the Iraqi city of Baquba on Tuesday, a hospital morgue official said. Guerrillas attacked three police stations and a river bridge

Rebels Kill 45 in Attacks in Iraq #39;s Baquba


Microsoft and Intel have joined forces in the hope of advancing a strategy both companies have been plotting for some time, saying they will work together to promote cutting edge digital home entertainment options.

Microsoft, Intel Ads Coming to a Screen Near You


PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2004--Enfora LP, leader des solutions de donnes sans fil, a annonc ce jour le lancement d #39;une nouvelle gamme d #39;accessoires Wireless Portfolio(TM) pour la prise en

Presse Economique / Telecommunications


Officials with Canada #39;s top TV broadcasters said they expect regulators soon will allow them access to the free-spending prescription drug industry.

Networks seek okay for drug ads on TV


NEW YORK (Reuters) - New applications for U.S. home loans  rose last week to their highest level in four months even  though mortgage rates ticked upward from their recent lows, an  industry group said on Wednesday.

Mortgage Applications at 4-Month High


KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine begins preparing on Saturday for a  new election after its highest court annulled a rigged poll,  breaking a political deadlock and triggering a night of  ecstatic street celebrations in Kiev.

Kiev Parties as Court Orders Re-Run of Rigged Poll


SN30952 writes  quot;An adult sex toy shut down a key regional airport for almost an hour today when it was mistaken for a bomb, Queensland police said.

Vibrator shuts down Mackay airport


More than 35 Enquirer readers have called or e-mailed comments about the five drugs that were criticized Thursday by an expert with the US Food and Drug Administration.

Comments from readers about Vioxx


Reigning synchronized 3m springboard Olympic champion Guo Jingjing breezed to the individual title for her second Olympic gold here Thursday in the diving pool.

Guo takes second gold in women #39;s 3m springboard


CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury prices rallied on  Wednesday in response to rising oil prices, weak equities and  lower inflation prospects.

Treasuries Drive Higher on Oil Prices


Millions of Muslims prayed together for peace and harmony on a riverbank near the Bangladeshi capital on Sunday, concluding an annual assembly that is considered one of the world #39;s largest Islamic gatherings.

Millions gather for mass prayer outside Bangladeshi capital


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents detonated at least two bombs  near a U.S. military convoy in southern Baghdad on Thursday,  killing at least 16 people, while a suicide bomber killed two  Iraqi police and a U.S. soldier west of the capital.

Bomb Blasts in Baghdad Kill at Least 16 -Police


The NASA turbojet notoriously known as the  quot;Vomit Comet quot; for its use in training astronauts for weightlessness made its final flight Friday.

Plane #39;s exit chokes  #39;em


Washington - Casting aside fears about weak job creation and tepid holiday sales, the US appeared set to raise interest rates tomorrow for the fifth consecutive time.

US gears up for another increase in interest rates


The other day I spotted a  quot;Going Out of Business quot; sign stretched across the window of a Stride Rite (NYSE: SRR) store. Upon further investigation, I learned that the franchised

Stride Rite Tries to Gain Traction


Stocks bobbed higher Monday morning after two sessions of heavy selling driven by surging oil prices and a disappointing employment report.

Stocks Open Up After Poor Jobs Report


During a series of recent media briefings, Microsoft began to give out nitty gritty details about specific timetables for the betas, SDKs and release candidates that will lead to the next round of Windows server operating systems.

Windows Server Roadmap Gets Down to Specifics


WASHINGTON (AFP) - A weaker-than-anticipated report on the US labor market, showing just 112,000 jobs added in November, cast fresh doubts over the pace of growth of the world #39;s largest economy.

Weak employment report casts doubts over US economic strength


Judging by the statements of those who have the power to decide, an election will be held in Iraq on January 31 - come what may. Despite calls for a six-month delay from Iraqi political parties involved

A High-Risk Election in Iraq


Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday said that it is looking for ways to work more closely with developers of the Open Office open source project, while at the same time, apparently reserving the right to sue them, according to a legal agreement between Microsoft and Open Office's major sponsor, Sun Microsystems Inc., made public this week.

Sun-Microsoft deal raises Open Office questions


FLORIDIANS today began to clean up after their third hurricane in five weeks, while Alabamans looked to rebuild their condos and beach homes along the coast.

Counting cost of hurricanes


Boston- Maybe this really is the Red Sox #39;s year. If it isn #39;t, explain how they could win a game like the one they did Saturday night?

Round 1: Red Sox


Derrek Lee #39;s 10th-inning single scored Mark Grudzielanek with the winning run, clinching the red-hot Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the host New York Mets in the National League Friday.

NL Wrap: Cubs Maintain Wild-Card Lead with Win


The advertising market will be stronger in 2005 than previously thought, ad industry experts say.

Ad spend to rise further in 2005


More than 200 detainees were released Sunday from Abu Ghraib prison after a security review deemed them no longer a threat, the U.S. military said.

Group of Abu Ghraib Detainees Freed


Basel - Two-time Swiss Indoors champion Tim Henman bounced back from his disappointing Madrid Masters performance last week to ease through his first round match at the ATP event here on Wednesday, overwhelming Frenchman Antony Dupuis 6-3, 6-4.

Energised Henman downs Dupuis


In this photo released by the Philippine Air Force, shows uprooted trees littered near a swollen river after it was hit by a storm in Infanta town, Quezon province, eastern Philippines on Tuesday Nov. 30, 2004.

Philippines Landslides, Flash Floods Kill Hundreds


DENVER -- A Denver judge has approved a settlement in a class-action lawsuit challenging billing practices at AT amp;T Wireless. The settlement affects up to 3 million current and former subscribers, most of whom

AT amp;T Wireless Settles Lawsuit Over Billing Practices


SBC Communications said Monday that it is now offering its Wi-Fi service for a special rate to its DSL subscribers. The company said subscribers of the SBC Yahoo broadband service can access the FreedomLink

SBC opens up Wi-Fi roaming


If you say you #39;re going to sell your old car for \$12,000, and you end up selling it for \$8,000, are you a success or a failure?

Google Wins Fans With IPO Gains


SHANGHAI (Ticker) - Third seed Guillermo Canas of Argentina became the first seeded player to reach the second round of the Heineken Open Shanghai.

Canas advances in Shanghai, Ferrero out


Roar down city streets in the upcoming

Advertisements Insinuated Into Video Games


While hes spent the past several seasons in New England winning two Superbowl championships and looks poised to a third, Weis may have hoped that success would have lead to an NFL head coaching job.

Weis Finds New Home With Notre Dame


The last time Adam Vinatieri faced the Miami Dolphins, in a 24-10 victory Oct. 10 at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots kicker missed a 47-yard attempt wide right to end a string of seven consecutive successful field goal tries.

Vinatieri not kicking himself


Citigroup Inc., the world #39;s largest bank, said the Securities and Exchange Commission may take enforcement action against Thomas Jones, the investment- management chief who is leaving the company.

Citigroup Says SEC May Take Action Against Jones (Update6)


Google Search Index Booms to 8 Billion\\Google had something up their sleeve. It seems that whenever a competitor does something big, such as MSN announcing the beta launch of their new search engine, Google has to

Google Search Index Booms to 8 Billion


Local residents arrive to examine a destroyed building in the center of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday morning, Oct. 12, 2004 following an US air strike.

US and Iraqi Forces Raid Ramadi Mosques


An Islamic militant wanted in the murder of American Journalist Daniel Pearl was discovered running a clothing shop near the Indian border and killed in a shootout with police, Pakistani authorities said Wednesday.

Militant Wanted in Pearl Abduction Killed


Mobile phone tunes are considered by many to be a curse of modern life, but for users of some Siemens handsets they could be a positive hazard to health, the German engineering giant warned on Thursday.

Siemens Warns Loud Phone Tune Could Damage Hearing


WPP Group Plc, the world #39;s second- largest marketing and advertising company, said it won the bidding for Grey Global Group Inc.

WPP Wins Bidding for Grey, Beating Havas, Hellman (Update3)


A Basque nationalist party banned by Spain as ETA #39;s political wing unveiled a plan to end the long-running conflict in the region on Sunday, saying it wanted to launch a peace process.

Banned Basque Party Calls for Peace Talks


AP - Richard Hamilton scored 21 points and the Detroit Pistons held Cleveland to a six-point third quarter and almost held LeBron James scoreless in the second half in an 81-69 win Thursday night.

Pistons Top Cavaliers 81-69 (AP)


AP - At Moscow's biggest international airport, people cannot even enter the building without passing through metal detectors. But such tough security contrasts with domestic flights that lack reinforced cockpit doors and funding for other basic safeguards.

Airline Security Said Tight in Russia (AP)


Rarely has the impotence of the international community #39;s response to the crisis in Sudan #39;s Darfur province been so exposed as during the past week.

Impotence Rules in the UN Response


Wednesday night in the Olympic Stadium, a 25-year-old Greek woman named Fani Halkia won the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles as more than 60,000 fans, many of them flag-waving countrymen, went wild.

Cloud of doubt cast over Halkia #39;s feel-good win


NEW YORK - Top-ranked shock jock Howard Stern says he is leaving Infinity Broadcasting Corp. to join Sirius satellite radio, beginning in January 2006, where he'll get the national audience he has coveted...

Stern to Join Sirius Satellite Radio


The Securities and Exchange Commission unanimously proposed  rules yesterday that would require a majority of board members at the nation's stock exchanges to be independent from management, and compel exchanges to disclose how much they pay their  five top executives.

SEC Backs Stock Market Rules


Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer has a serious rival in the long-awaited Firefox 1.0 web browser, which has just been released. Few people get excited when some new software is released, especially when the program is not a game or a music or movie player.

Firefox 1.0 Released


REAL, QuezonHelicopters delivered food to famished survivors and picked up casualties as the weather cleared Saturday in villages ravaged by back-to-back storms that slammed into Northeastern Luzon.

Relief goods airlifted to stricken areas as weather begins to <b>...</b>


THE mayor of remote Pitcairn and his son were among five men convicted yesterday of raping and sexually assaulting young girls over 40 years.

RAPE SHAME OF THE BOUNTY ISLAND CHIEFS


AP - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, fending off Republican demands for his resignation over alleged corruption, said Thursday he will expand U.N. support for Iraqi elections if need be. He said he was not offended that President Bush did not ask to see him during this visit to Washington.

Annan Tells Powell U.N. Will Aid Iraq Vote (AP)


Conrad Black has raised the stakes in a libel action, threatening to file a \$1.1-billion suit against the authors of a 500-page tale of his alleged  quot;corporate kleptocracy quot; at Hollinger International Inc.

Black threatens to raise libel suit to \$1.1-billion


Gymnastics officials asked Paul Hamm to give up his gold medal as the ultimate show of sportsmanship, but the U.S.O.C. told them to take responsibility for their own mistakes.

Gymnastics Group Asks Hamm to Give Up Gold


Mojave, Calif. - A team of pilots and aerospace engineers on Wednesday took the first step toward a \$10 million prize by sending its rocket plane 64 miles above the Mojave Desert.

KU grad #39;s team nears \$10 million rocket prize


NEW YORK - Boston Red Sox pitcher Pedro Astacio and New York Yankees pitcher Brad Halsey were each suspended Tuesday for three games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball after being ejected from Bostons 11-4 win over the weekend.

BoSox #39;s Astacio, Yanks #39; Halsey suspended


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Houston Rockets welcomed aboard reigning scoring champion Tracy McGrady with open arms and an open wallet.

Rockets give \$83 million to McGrady


CINCINNATI (Sports Network) - Cincinnati Bengals wide  receiver Peter Warrick is doubtful for Sunday's game against  Cleveland because of a shin injury.

Warrick Doubtful for Sunday


Just in case your powers been out for, oh, about eight months now, heres some exciting news for you: U2 have a new record coming out.

U2 Whining Like A Small Child:  quot;Pay Attention To Meeee quot;


AFP - Microsoft launched its own Internet search engine in a move aimed at challenging market leaders Google and Yahoo.

Microsoft launches search engine (AFP)


The Securities and Exchange Commission is considering whether to abandon an unpopular proposal that was designed in part to curtail improper mutual fund trading, according to a published report Thursday.

SEC may backtrack on fund regulation


Copper prices may recover this week from the biggest five-day drop since July 1999 as demand keeps growing in China, the world #39;s largest user of the metal, a survey of traders and analysts showed.

Copper May Recover After Worst Week in 5 Years, Survey Shows


Reuters - Former Enron Corp.  Chairman\Ken Lay and former chief executive Jeffrey Skilling asked a\federal court to move their trial out of Houston, arguing in a\filing on Monday that any jury in Enron's hometown would be\biased.

Former Enron Execs Seek to Move Trial (Reuters)


Chandler, AZ (Sports Network) - Chris Nallen closed with a one-under 71 on Sunday, but it was more than enough to win the Gila River Golf Classic.

Nallen rolls to record win


Claudio Ranieri #39;s honeymoon at Valencia is over after they were thrashed 5-1 at home by Inter Milan in the Champions League last night.

Ranieri honeymoon over after Valencia mauling


AP - The District of Columbia Council approved financing a ballpark for the Washington-bound Expos after voting Tuesday to cap funding at  #36;630 million.

D.C. Council OKs Park for Incoming Expos (AP)


Instant messaging (IM) is gaining slow prominence in the workplace, but the application is used for a variety of reasons. An early 2004 study of more than 2,200 US adults from Pew Internet  amp; American Life

Workplaces Slowly Adopt IM


Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Tice said yesterday that there are only two or three college coaching jobs that might lure him away from the NFL.

Tice: UW job could lure him from NFL


SEOUL - President Roh Moo Hyun made a surprise visit Wednesday to South Korean troops stationed in northern Iraq, the Blue House presidential office announced.

S Korean president visits troops in Iraq


Reuters - U.S. business inventories grew by\more than expected in July and the previous month was revised\higher, government data showed on Wednesday, delivering the\strongest two-month performance in nearly five years.

Business Inventories Grew in July (Reuters)


Nintendo #39;s press conferences at the Los Angeles Electronic Entertainment Expo have always been more raucous than those of its competitors.

Legend of the Fall


For better or worse, Ellis Burks has all but committed to trying at all costs to help the Red Sox before the season ends. Burks, one of the game's most prolific righthanded hitters before two surgeries this season set him back, said he plans to decide by next week whether to try to play again this season. And, ...

Burks still fighting for another chance to play


Spain's Carlos Moya says Davis Cup victory over the USA is

Tennis: Moya thrilled at win


MOSCOW - Russia #39;s upper house of Parliament on Wednesday ratified the Kyoto Protocol, sending it to President Vladimir Putin for the final stamp of approval.

Russia #39;s Parliament ratifies Kyoto


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks advanced on Wednesday as  Internet and semiconductor companies led technology shares  higher and crude oil retreated from record high prices.

U.S. Stocks End Higher


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar firmed on Wednesday as  investors awaited comments from the Federal Reserve chief that  are expected to point to further rises in U.S. interest rates  this year.

Dollar Firms Ahead of Greenspan Testimony


FALLUJAH, Iraq : US troops and insurgents battled on the edge of rebel-held Fallujah and nine policemen were killed in an ambush, as UN chief Kofi Annan said he did not think the invasion of Iraq had made the world a safer place.

US troops, insurgents fight around Iraqi rebel city of Fallujah


New Zealanders are being warned against travelling to Indonesia, including Bali, over the Christmas and New Year period after the Government received reports terrorists were planning an attack.

Beware of terror in Indonesia, travellers told


Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - The Memphis Grizzlies signed All-Star forward Pau Gasol to a multi-year contract on Friday. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Memphis re-signs Gasol to multi-year deal


LARRY ELLISON, the chief executive of Oracle, has raised his offer to buy PeopleSoft by more than \$1 billion, marking what could be the final salvo in a 17-month bidding war.

Oracle seeks to clinch PeopleSoft with extra \$1bn


Leaders of Japan and South Korea have jointly urged North Korea to return to talks aimed at ending its nuclear weapons program. They agreed that imposing economic sanctions now on Pyongyang would thwart such efforts.

South Korea and Japan urge Pyongyang to resume nuclear talks


Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori on Thursday rejected his successor's call, made at the United Nations, for world leaders to press Japan to extradite him to face corruption charges and allegations of involvement in death squad massacres, according to a statement broadcast by news media here.

Peru Ex-President Rejects Extradition Call


NFL rushing and scoring leader Priest Holmes was out for Sunday #39;s game against the New Orleans Saints because of a knee injury and replaced by Derrick Blaylock.

Holmes out for Chiefs-Saints game


AP - The United States may be able to reduce its troop levels in Iraq after the January elections if security improves and Iraqi government forces continue to expand and improve, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Sunday. Meanwhile, car bombers struck twice in rapid succession in the capital Sunday, killing at least 11 people including an American soldier.

Car Bombs Kill 11 As Rumsfeld Visits Iraq (AP)


Celtic manager Martin O #39;Neill has rubbished talks of a crisis after his side came in for criticism recently. With the success he has had since his arrival he has become immune to having his team scrutinised following defeat.

Celtic v Inverness CT


For the first time in his career, Vijay Singh will enter a tournament as the No. 1 player in the world golf ranking. That status will not change his approach, however.

Singh Makes It to Top and Is Hoping to Stay


Site news All the news - just how you like it

New <cite>Reg</cite> newsletter redefines choice paradigm


Britain #39;s Prince Harry was hit in the face with a camera during a scuffle with a photographer outside a London nightclub early Thursday, a royal official said.

Prince Harry Scuffles With Photographer


MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA -- While SpaceShipOnes wispy contrail from sky to space quickly vanished into the thin desert air here, Mondays flight at Mojave Spaceport left a solid line in the sand -- to create a  quot;new space age quot; of personal space travel.

Brave New World? Next Steps Planned for Private Space Travel


LONDON: All Nokia smart phones need to be on a watch out now, as a malicious wallpaper programme which hijacks the main page of the 7610 handset is on the prowl.

Nokia smart phones under attack


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Fred Gibson promised Georgia fans a really big game. He didn #39;t deliver. The Bulldogs will have to settle for the biggest catch of Saturday #39;s 31-24 win over Florida.

Not a Huge Game, but a Huge Catch


Even with its MVP forward and All-Star point guard, the Storm was a flawed team. It was predictable, relying too heavily on the tandem of Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird.

quot;Other quot; starters chip in for Storm


AP - Martina Navratilova's long, illustrious career will end without an Olympic medal. The 47-year-old Navratilova and Lisa Raymond lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Thursday night to fifth-seeded Shinobu Asagoe and Ai Sugiyama of Japan in the quarterfinals, one step shy of the medal round.

Navratilova Loses; Fish, Dent Advance (AP)


AFP - The Florida Supreme Court has ruled Ralph Nader can appear on state ballots as a presidential candidate, increasing the chance the maverick contender will again influence the outcome of the presidential election.

Florida Supreme Court puts Nader on state ballot (AFP)


The Enterprise Grid Alliance, whose mission is to push the adoption of grid computing, is working on standards and specifications to make it easier to deploy vendor products in a grid environment, according to EGA President Donald Deutsch.

Q A: Grid Alliance president on winning enterprise converts


NHL World Stars #39; Mattias Norstroen, right, fights for the puck with Russia #39;s Alexey Kovalev during an exhibition match between NHL World Stars and Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004.

Russians Beat NHL World Stars 5-4


Israeli politicians have voted for a plan for Jewish settlers to leave a piece of land called the Gaza Strip. Israel has occupied the Strip, which is home to millions of Palestinians, since a war in 1967, and

Israelis vote to pull out of Gaza


SPACE.com - A rare and spectacular event will occur in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 7 when the brilliant planet Jupiter and three of its largest satellites pass behind Earth's Moon.

Rare Event: Jupiter to Hide Behind the Moon (SPACE.com)


AFP - With more than half the ballots in Afghanistan's presidential election counted and outright triumph virtually assured for incumbent Hamid Karzai, attention turned to when the winner can be declared and how the losers will react.

Karzai victory almost sealed, opposition awaits inquiry (AFP)


PLANS by al-Qaeda terrorists to crash aircraft into Canary Wharf and at Heathrow have been thwarted by the security services, it was claimed last night.

London  #39;terror plots #39; thwarted


The chief executive of British Airways, Rod Eddington, says he will carry out an investigation into the staff shortages that caused flight cancellations this week.

BA launches inquiry


com. Apple Computer Inc. has still not properly fixed the HFS filesystem named fork vulnerability discovered last week, according to the company that first noticed it, NetSec Inc.

Apple web hole still open


AP - President Bush on Monday told the Pentagon to make two U.S. transport planes available to aid African peacekeeping forces seeking to end a humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

Bush Wants Cargo Planes to Aid Sudan (AP)


A federal appeals court affirmed that Research In Motion, which makes the popular Blackberry, 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.

RIM loses patent case


which spreads through e-mail that appears to contain a holiday greeting -- infected as many as 10 percent of all e-mail traffic at one point this week.

Zafi.D Infects 1 in 10 E-mails


Reuters - U.S. consumer spending rose a\sharper-than-expected 0.7 percent in October, but rising food\and energy prices ate up much of that gain, a government report\showed on Wednesday.

Consumer Spending Stronger Than Expected (Reuters)


GALESBURG - Knox County State #39;s Attorney Paul Mangieri, discussing a lawsuit he plans to file against Maytag Corp., said Tuesday he was shocked when the company announced in October 2002 it was closing the Galesburg Refrigeration Products ...

Taxing bodies must approve lawsuit


Microsoft #39;s (Quote, Chart) newest digital entertainment campaign got some play today, as the company announced its latest move into your home on the back of Windows XP Media Center 2005.

Microsoft Renews Play for Digital Home


AP - A former Nazi concentration camp guard whose appeal of a deportation order was turned down by the U.S. Supreme Court is not in good health and doesn't fully comprehend the legal issues, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Ex-Nazi's Fate Uncertain After Ruling (AP)


Wavesat Inc., a developer of broadband wireless chips, said today it has delivered the first-ever WiMAX chip, the DM256. The company is planning to make the chips generally available early next month.

Wavesat Says Its Created First WiMAX Chip


Many pundits have posited that the United States needs better identity cards and, in some cases, have argued for national identity cards.

No, no, national ID


BESLAN, Russia - Commandos stormed a school in southern Russia where hundreds of hostages had been held for three days, and dozens of hostages fled the building, some bloodied and screaming.    Exchanges of gunfire rang out and a large plume of smoke rose over the school as troops clashed with the militants...

Forces Storm Russia School With Hostages


Reuters - South Korea said on Tuesday it\asked the United States to accept another year's delay in the\drafting of a divisive treaty banning human cloning to allow\time for a U.N. conference on the pros and cons of embryonic\stem cell research.

S. Korea Backs U.N. Meeting on Stem Cell Research (Reuters)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - ING US Financial Services said late on Tuesday it will withdraw about \$5 billion from Janus Capital Group Inc. funds by year-end.

ING to Withdraw \$5 Bln from Janus Funds


TOKYO Japan #39;s once-robust recovery slowed to a near standstill in the third quarter as consumer spending weakened more than expected, according to revised growth figures released on Wednesday.

In Japan, recovery is stalling


No, I #39;m not referring to the uproar over ABC #39;s  quot;Desperate Housewives quot; promo that included Owens and aired before Monday Night Football this week.

TO solution: Don #39;t show TD antics


Description: US and Iraqi government troops raid one of Baghdad #39;s main Sunni Muslim mosques, killing several Iraqis. The Iraqi government has ordered the arrest of Muslim clerics accused of inciting violence and supporting the Iraqi insurgency.

Several Killed in Baghdad Mosque Raid


Verizon Communications on Tuesday launched its Iobi service that merges regular telephone lines with Internet-based features such as voice messages available through e-mail and automatic call forwarding.

Verizon launches Iobi phone manager service


A man is due in court accused of the murder of 14-year-old schoolgirl Danielle Beccan in a drive-by shooting. The teenager died after being shot yards from her home in the St Ann #39;s district of Nottingham as

Man appears in court over Danielle murder


WASHINGTON, Washington, United States of America -- The first known lawsuit against instant-message spam, sometimes called spim, was announced by America Online as part of a campaign to stem unwanted computer messages.

1st lawsuit filed against instant-message spam


Top seed Tim Henman will face Spain #39;s Albert Costa in round two of the Madrid Masters Series tennis eventafter the home hope defeated Georgian Irakli Labadze 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.

Henman to face Costa


AP - Ray Allen scored 20 points and Rashard Lewis added 18, leading the surprising Seattle SuperSonics to their fourth consecutive victory, 108-78 over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

SuperSonics Clobber Kings 108-78 (AP)


A legal row over software ownership could hinder Microsoft #39;s ability to offer products based on technology from its latest acquisition, anti-spyware company Giant Company Software.

Legal questions dog Microsoft buy


UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the Security Council on Thursday to issue  quot;the strongest warning quot; to the forces fighting in Sudan to bring an end to the civil wars there.

UN Security Council to Discuss Sudan


It's time to get down to business for stem-cell scientists and administrators after the tremendous boost they received from the passage of California's Proposition 71. Two advisory board appointments have been made; there are 25 to go. By Kristen Philipkoski.

Show Time for Stem-Cell Science


Lee Westwood ignored temperatures in the high 90s to shoot a 1-under 71 Saturday and take the lead after three rounds of the Nedback Challenge.

Westwood takes lead in Nedbank Challenge


Typhoon  quot;Ma-on quot; has forced the qualifying for Sunday #39;s Japanese Formula One Grand Prix to be rescheduled, F1 officials said Friday.

Japanese F1 Grand Prix qualifying postponed by typhoon


Surgery on the Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling #39;s right ankle apparently has been delayed at least a week because of an irritation in the area of the torn tendon sheath that is to be repaired.

Doctors wait for irritation to disappear


ATHENS (Reuters) - The U.S. swimming team was slow off the  blocks but is heading for home at full speed propelled by  Tuesday's dramatic relay victory, U.S. women's head coach Mark  Schubert said on Wednesday.

American Swimmers Fired Up by Relay Win


KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai was on  course on Tuesday for an outright victory in the country's  historic presidential election with almost a quarter of the  votes counted from the poll 10 days ago.

Quarter of All Afghan Votes Counted; Karzai Ahead


Commercial satellite operator Intelsat Ltd. lost use of one of its satellites Sunday -- a mishap that left some Internet customers without service and could thwart a proposed \$5 billion deal to sell the company to a group of four venture capital firms. <FONT face=

Satellite Failure May Jeopardize Intelsat Deal


Becoming frustrated with source code not aligning in my favorite source editor I decided to hunt  for the best font. In particular, I began to hunt down the available fixed-width or monospaced fonts.    What are monospaced fonts you ask? From Xerox:Monospace fonts (Such as Courier or LetterGothic), or

Finding the Best Programmer's Font


IN THE FIRST presidential debate, George W. Bush asserted that he #39;ll win reelection because he knows how to lead -- and but for an absent prefix, the president might have been revealing his closing-stretch strategy.

Bush #39;s campaign of distortion


Ispat International, the steel producer controlled by the Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, today announced it had agreed to buy LNM Holdings and International Steel Group in

Ispat to create world #39;s largest steelmaker


It was a  quot;distressed quot; Baroness Thatcher who spoke to her troubled son on Friday. Anticipating the media scrum outside her Belgravia home, the former prime minister was surrounded by no fewer

#39;She won #39;t give up on him as long as she draws breath #39;


(New York-AP) Oct. 20, 2004 - For the second straight year, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will go to a seventh game, a winner-take-all battle for the American League pennant.

Red Sox tie series at three games apiece


October 11, 2004 - NVIDIA today has announced the newest card in its GeForce 6 line, the entry-level GeForce 6200. Rounding out the GeForce 6 family, the GF6200 contains the same feature set as its 6800 and

GeForce 6200 Announced


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck   Co. <A HREF=

Merck Profit Falls, Hurt by Vioxx Recall


AP - A top Russian official acknowledged Thursday what many citizens already suspected  #151; that terrorism was the most likely cause of two jetliners crashing minutes apart, a feeling reflected in a newspaper headline warning that

Top Russian Official: Plane Terror Likely (AP)


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

Evolution, as told by the louse


The University of Arizona in Tucson has a dozen faculty members and scores of graduate students who have spent hundreds of thousands of hours working on Cassini-related projects.

UA researchers work on Cassini project


Heading into the first game of a new season, every team has question marks. But in 2004, the Denver Broncos seemed to have more than normal.

Sunday, September 12, 2004 Questions Answered


PARIS (Reuters) - Pope John Paul's visit to Lourdes last  weekend left the Roman Catholic shrine with a 1.2 million euro  (\$1.47 million) deficit because pilgrims keen to get good seats  at his mass rushed past collection boxes.

Pope Visit Leaves Lourdes with Hefty Deficit


AP - The government on Tuesday upheld a ruling that Chinese bedroom furniture was being sold in the United States at unfairly low prices, but it scaled back the level of penalty tariffs.

U.S. Lowers Chinese Furniture Tariffs (AP)


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomb hit a bus packed  with Iraqi National Guards on Sunday, killing 26 people in the  deadliest attack of its kind in four months on Iraqis  cooperating with U.S. forces to secure a Jan. 30 election.

Suicide Bombers Kill 25 Iraqi Troops


NEW YORK Wall Street is sorting through the latest earnings news and stocks are narrowly mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up three points in today #39;s early going.

Stocks are little-changed in the early going


Among the things that have occurred frequently at the 2004 Olympics: Weird happenings, and success by American athletes. In the final event of the Games last night, both were in evidence.

Games cross finish with bizarre twis


OAKLAND, Calif. - Bobby Crosbys sacrifice fly with one out in the ninth scored Erubiel Durazo with the winning run in the Oakland Athletics 6-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.

A #39;s top M #39;s, maintain lead over Angels


Athletic shoemaker says earnings jump on strong demand for its athletic shoes and Converse sneakers. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nike Inc.

Nike trounces forecasts


Reynolds American Inc. , the maker of Camel and Kool cigarettes, on Monday posted a third-quarter profit and raised its expectations for the full year on tax benefits and cost savings.

Reynolds American Raises Outlook


MALCOLM Glazer is to launch a charm offensive to persuade fellow major Manchester United shareholders to back his proposed takeover bid.

Glazer set for charm mission


Matt Schaub threw one of his three touchdown passes to first-round pick Michael Jenkins as the Atlanta Falcons rallied for a 27-24 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in a pre-season game.

Schaub Rallies Falcons


NEW YORK - During a week that CBS was fined \$550,000 for Janet Jackson's Super Bowl flash and its news division had to apologize for shoddy reporting, at least the prime-time ratings gave its executives something to smile about.    CBS handily won the ratings race during the first official week of the new television season, and stuck archrival NBC where it hurts the most: on Thursday night and among young viewers...

CBS Works Past Troubles for Premiere Week


SPACE.com - A partial solar eclipse will take place next week, oddly ending the day before \  it begins.

Solar Eclipse to Start Thursday, End Wednesday! (SPACE.com)


IBM announced Thursday the general availability of the  quot;Stinger quot; version of its DB2 Universal Database, which delivers to database administrators a host of new autonomic database self-management and self-healing capabilities designed to simplify data

IBM DB2 Takes Sting Out of Database Management


Static Control Components scored a big legal win Tuesday after a US appeals court lifted a ban on sales of the Sanford company #39;s rebuilt toner cartridges.

Lexmark loses case on toner


An executive of Bermuda-based insurer ACE Ltd. (ACE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday pleaded guilty to a felony charge connected to New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer #39;s investigation of insurance companies.

ACE executive pleads guilty in New York probe


The F.D.A.'s oversight of a defibrillator may reveal shortcomings in its regulation of medical devices.

Flawed Device Places F.D.A. Under Scrutiny


Century-maker Jacob Oram respected, frustrated and then bludgeoned an all-conquering bowling attack before his own  quot;popgun quot; bowling sent tremors through Australia #39;s top order in the first cricket test today.

Cricket: Ton of class from Oram as NZ keep hopes alive


TORONTO - Lamond Murray scored all 13 of his points in the fourth quarter, helping the Toronto Raptors overcome a 20-point deficit in the second half to beat the San Antonio Spurs 96-91 yesterday.

Raptors rally to drop Spurs


AFP - A bomb alert forced a Virgin Atlantic flight from Hong Kong to London's Heathrow airport to land at Stansted airport, north of the British capital, as a  quot;precautionary measure quot;, officials said.

Bomb alert forces Virgin Atlantic plane to land at Stansted airport (AFP)


Struggling Italian flagship carrier Alitalia signed an agreement overnight with the government and labor unions on helping employees whose jobs will be slashed under a plan to save the airline, news reports said Wednesday.

Update 2: Reports: Alitalia Signs Deal With Italy


LG Electronics Inc., South Korea #39;s second-largest electronics maker, reported third-quarter profit rose 36 percent, better than analysts expected, after selling a record number of mobile phones.

LG Electronics #39; Profit Rises 36 on Handset Sales (Update6)


AP - Andruw Jones hit a two-run homer off Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning and the Atlanta Braves threw out the potential tying run at the plate for the final out Wednesday night, preserving a 6-5 come-from-behind win over the San Diego Padres.

Braves Edge Padres 6-5 (AP)


The EU said yesterday it would end sanctions on US imports in about two months, following the repeal by the US of an illegal export subsidy, and warned the US not to extend

EU to end transatlantic dispute by lifting sanctions on US imports


RANDJESFONTEIN, South Africa : Stand-in captain Marcus Trescothick and the hard-hitting Robert Key took England to a comfortable win in the opening match of their South African tour against a Nicky Oppenheimer XI at the NFO private ground north of

Cricket: Key unlocks Oppenheimer XI attack in England romp


Leading supermarket chain Tesco has launched a music download service, entering a market dominated by Apple Computer #39;s iTunes.

Tesco launches music download business


NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- It sure isn #39;t the Goldilocks Economy of yesteryear -- you know, not too hot, not too cold, but just right.

THE WEEK ON THE STREET


Chris Bosh had 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Toronto Raptors to an 86-83 preseason win over Benetton Treviso on Wednesday night.

Raptors 86, Treviso 83


Apple Computer saw its shares jump 13 percent after it delivered a strong quarterly earnings report. Sales were propelled by burgeoning demand for the iPod digital-music player.

Apple on a Roll in Q4


Office Depot Inc. (ODP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday warned of weaker-than-expected profits for the rest of the year because of disruptions from the string of hurricanes

UPDATE 1-Office Depot warns on profit; hurricanes hurt


BEIJING (Reuters) - Rescue teams scrambling to reach 84  trapped miners after one of China's worst mine disasters in  years pulled two more bodies from the rubble on Friday, leaving  the toll from the blast at 64, state media said.

China Mine Blast Kills 64, Hopes Fade for Survivors


LOS ANGELES - Amare Stoudemire overcame early foul trouble to score 33 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 122-111 for their fourth straight victory on Sunday.

Stoudemire Scores 33 As Suns Top Clippers


Notre Dame has beaten Navy in football in every way, shape and form the last 40 years. The Irish have won in blowouts (41-0 in 1989) and squeakers (27-24 last season).

How long has this been going on?


SEPTEMBER 28, 2004 (REUTERS) - More than a year after Munich declared its intention to abandon Microsoft Windows in favor of open-source rival Linux, city councilors are finally ready to move ahead with the plan.

Munich set to approve Linux despite patent worries


Robot fans cheer news that the

Robo-vacuum wins wall-to-wall praise at confab


Three Americans who helped describe the force that binds together the atomic nucleus were named winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Three Americans Win Nobel for Particle Physics Work


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Erik Ainge threw three touchdown passes and Cedric Houston ran for 160 yards and two more scores, leading No. 11 Tennessee to a 42-17 win over Louisiana Tech last night.

Vols' Ainge takes his shots


KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's presidential election will  be held on time, President Hamid Karzai said on Monday, despite  rival candidates' fears the lack of security was hampering  their campaigns and undermining voting legitimacy.

Karzai Opposes Afghan Poll Delay, Despite Concerns


The Americans survive a poor shooting night to beat Greece 77-71 at the men's Olympic basketball tournament on Tuesday.

Hoops Team Rebounds


World number one Roger Federer struggled through an unexpectedly tough opening win on Tuesday night against outsider Nicolas Thomann, finally grabbing a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory at the \$550,000 Thailand Open.

Ragged Federer moves up


Shares in Google rose \$15.01 or 17.7 percent, to open at \$100.01 its public debut on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The jump was a surprise, given the initial \$85 price of the shares and the unusual style of the sale.

Google shares rise in debut


Microsoft has a massive patch for some of the many bugs and security holes in Windows XP. If you #39;re using Windows XP, you might want to download the software patch and install it.

User, beware of new XP patch


Two of the Cabinet #39;s senior members criticised the Prince of Wales yesterday, saying his views on schools, which emerged during a discrimination case, were old-fashioned, out-dated and wrong.

Ministers criticise Prince #39;s  #39;out-dated #39; views on schooling


One of the first things we did after moving into our old house was to rip out the ancient radiators and put in a modern heating system.

Itsa miracle one would part with a talisman


UK scientists develop a process for making hydrogen from sunflower oil which may become an important future source of eco-friendly energy.

Sunflower oil boost to car future


If there's one thing the Atos Origin SA team understands as lead contractor for the Olympic IT infrastructure, it's that you must learn from your mistakes.

Olympic IT security requires advance planning


GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian militants blew up an Israeli  army post on the Gaza-Egypt border on Sunday, killing at least  four Israeli troops in the deadliest attack since Yasser  Arafat's death a month ago kindled new hopes of peace.

Gaza Militants Kill 4 Israelis, Barghouthi Withdraws


InfoWorld - Mobility will take center stage this week as San Francisco plays host to the Cellular Telecommunications  amp; Internet Association's (CTIA) Wireless I.T.  amp; Entertainment 2004 fall conference.

CTIA shines spotlight on mobile middleware (InfoWorld)


Independent film producer and distributor Lions Gate has a roaring second quarter.

Opening the Lions' Floodgates


For the six drivers who already are guaranteed a spot in NASCAR #39;s 10-race championship chase, Saturday night #39;s Chevy Rock and Roll 400 amounts to nothing more than just another race.

With six spots secure, only four openings remain in the chase


AP - The leader of Nicaragua's leftist Sandinista Front on Monday claimed victory for his party in weekend mayoral elections.

Marenco Likely to Win Nicaragua Elections (AP)


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of wireless carriers Nextel and Sprint rose Thursday after the Wall Street Journal reported that the companies are discussing a merger.

Wall St. Journal says companies are in discussions


AP - Nobel laureate Maurice Wilkins, one of the scientists involved in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA, died Tuesday in London. He was 88.

DNA Pioneer Maurice Wilkins Dies at 88 (AP)


It started early. Again. And all the Red Sox and their fans could do was wonder how bad it would be this time and if the outburst would subside enough to enable the Red Sox to make some noise in the American League Championship Series.

Little worked for Francona


The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) strongly condemned on Wednesday the killing of a 10-year-old schoolgirl by Israeli troops in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis.

UNRWA condemns killing of Palestinian schoolgirl


Top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo of France withdrew from the Kremlin Cup in Moscow yesterday, a day after a thigh injury forced her to quit during a final in Germany against Lindsay Davenport.

The Dotted Line


AP - The U.S. government warned its citizens to keep a low profile Monday after a car bomb hit a private American security firm in the Afghan capital, killing at least seven people, including two Americans.

U.S. Warns Its Citizens in Afghanistan (AP)


News reports from the area Tuesday say at least five people were killed and several others wounded in the blast outside the Education Ministry building in the Azamiyah district of the capital.

Car Bomb in Northern Baghdad Kills Five


Emilio Botin, head of Banco Santander Central Hispano, is today expected to tell union officials that the Spanish bank #39;s 8bn takeover of Abbey National might cause up to 4,500 job losses over three years.

Santander may cut 4,500 jobs as part of 8bn Abbey National <b>...</b>


The nation has always been independent from China. Not for a single day has it been ruled by China. Twenty-three million Taiwanese -- 7.7 times the number of

Singapore #39;s speech ran counter to basic rights


Japanese technology companies Canon and Toshiba said Tuesday that they would invest \$1.82 billion in a joint venture to manufacture advanced flat panel displays.

Canon, Toshiba to team on flat panel displays


ESPN #39;s  quot;College GameDay quot; crew will set up camp in Raleigh, NC, for the first time Saturday as a backdrop to the North Carolina State-Miami game.

Big Game Is a Big Deal in Raleigh


A new variant of the Zafi virus attacks Google, Microsoft, and the Hungarian Prime Minister

Virus variant targets Google


FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. warplanes bombed targets in  Iraq's rebel-held city of Falluja overnight, killing two people  and wounding three, and the U.S. military said it had captured  a wanted militant on Saturday.

US Planes Hit Iraq's Falluja, Zarqawi Man Seized


The so-called weak link of the Raptors #39; starting five battled his Houston Rockets counterpart Yao Ming every step of the way as Toronto prevailed in their regular-season opener, 95-88, in front of 19,800 enthusiastic fans at the Air Canada Centre.

Woods chops down Yao


PARIS (AFP) -- As hopes dimmed that two French journalists held captive in Iraq would be freed soon, French President Jacques Chirac was to discuss the crisis Sunday with his foreign minister, who returned from a mission to the Middle East with no news of

Crisis talks in Paris as concerns grow for kidnapped French <b>...</b>


AP - Hardly at her best, barely beating one of the tour's pesky teens, Serena Williams suddenly found herself face-down at the U.S. Open. Running for a ball she couldn't reach, the six-time Grand Slam champion slipped and planted both palms on court to brace herself. Williams shook the sting out of her hands, beckoned a ball boy to retrieve her fallen racket, then took her sweet time before facing break point. Recomposed, Williams smacked a service winner at 111 mph, an ace just as fast, and forced an error. Just like that, she held serve en route to beating 30th-seeded Tatiana Golovin 7-5, 6-4 Friday night to reach the Open's fourth round.

Serena Reaches Fourth Round of U.S. Open (AP)


Mike Matheny, Edgar Renteria and the St. Louis Cardinals can win with singles, doubles and triples, too. After tying a postseason record with five home runs

Cards Go 2-0 With Small Ball #39;


WASHINGTON, December 15: The Motion Picture Association of America has filed suit against more than 100 file-sharing networks such as BitTorrent, Direct Connect and eDonkey, which allow users to download illegal copies of movies and television shows from

MPAA Bolsters Anti-Piracy Efforts


Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo agreed Saturday to let the national assembly consider a controversial presidential eligibility reform.

Ivorian Pres. to allow reform debate


In order to thwart the growth of this network, the MPAA will be pursuing BitTorrent indexing servers known as trackers. While trackers function somewhat differently than traditional indexing servers found

MPAA Expected to Target BitTorrent Trackers


Michael Owen has emerged as an injury concern for England #39;s World Cup clash with Wales after it was revealed his substitution during Real Madrid #39;s defeat was prompted by a  quot;slight muscle problem.

Injury adds to Owen #39;s woes


KAMPALA, Uganda (Reuters) - Ugandan troops killed nine  Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels after a devastating raid on  the group's headquarters in southern Sudan scattered its main  force, the army said Tuesday.

Ugandan Army Says Nine LRA Rebels Killed


New hard-drive based devices feature color screens, support for WMP 10.

IRiver Unveils Colorful Audio Players


Michael Vick ran for 104 yards and threw two first-half touchdown passes to Alge Crumpler, spoiling Eli Manning's first start.

Manning Falls Short in Debut for Giants


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA #39;s departing boss, Sean O #39;Keefe, said Friday he does not regret canceling the last shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope - or anything else during his three years on the job.

No Regrets, Says Departing NASA Boss


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

Oil-for-Food Investigation: Saddam's Regime Made More Than \$21B


Symantec is to stop classifying a software utility that enables Chinese surfers to view blocked websites as a Trojan horse. The reassessment follows stories earlier this week questioning the designation of

Freegate is not Trojan horse, says Symantec


AFP - More than 10,000 Ivorians have fled to Liberia since the sharp escalation in Ivory Coast's civil war 10 days ago, the UN refugee agency warned.

More than 10,000 Ivorians have fled to Liberia: UNHCR (AFP)


Pedro wasn't talking. The inference is that he would have his arm do all the talking necessary tonight.

Show-me state for Martinez


AP - Details of a new television ad from President Bush to begin airing Tuesday:

AdWatch: New Bush Ad (AP)


Airports operator BAA said it enjoyed its busiest August last month with 14.2 million passengers using its seven airports, an increase of 3.7 on August last year.

BAA enjoys a record August


HAVANA -- There are few places outside of Boston, New York, Houston, and St. Louis where the Major League playoffs are being followed with such keen interest as on this baseball-crazy island. Every day, upwards of 100 men, young and old, pay a visit to the ''Esquina Caliente, quot; or ''hot corner quot; in Havana's Central Park -- a legendary spot under ...

Cuba's baseball fans find ways to tune in


Some 700 US soldiers will be getting orders to ship out to Afghanistan on Friday, amid security concerns in the runup to October elections.

US troop boost for Afghan vote


Two rival Shia militia groups clash in a town in southern Lebanon and army forces are called in to calm the situation.

Shia militias clash in Lebanon


Iraqi forces backed by US and British troops killed 17 gunmen and wounded nine others in battles in the so-called  quot;triangle of death quot; south of Baghdad.

Iraq forces kill 17 in  #39;triangle of death #39;


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

Merrill Cuts Citigroup, Shares Drop


US Secretary of State Colin Powell canceled a visit to Athens to attend the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games because of what the State Department said was more pressing business in Washington.

Powell Cancels Athens Visit for Closing Ceremony After Protest


A controversial EU commission nominee sparks a new row by allegedly saying single mums are

EU nominee in single mothers row


Cisco Systems, the IT systems producer, records a strong start to the year with first quarter profits rising 29.

Solid growth lifts Cisco fortunes


JAKARTA (Dow Jones)--Indonesian shares ended marginally lower Monday as investors, mostly local retails, took profit in select blue chips that rose in the previous seven sessions, dealers said.

Indonesian Shares End Lower On Profit-Taking


A group of US soldiers take legal action to try to prevent the army extending their tours of duty in Iraq.

US troops sue over tours in Iraq


NEW ORLEANS (Sports Network) - New Orleans Hornets guard  Baron Davis is expected to be sidelined one-to-two weeks  because of a lower back injury.

Hornets' Davis Out with Back Injury


AFP - Egypt has decided to increase transit fees for ships using the Suez Canal by an average of three percent next year, the canal authority revealed.

Egypt raises Suez transit fees by three percent in 2005 (AFP)


Johnson  amp; Johnson has agreed to buy Guidant Corp. for \$25.4 billion in cash and stock, the companies said on Wednesday, giving the healthcare products maker a foothold

J amp;J Seals \$25.4 Bln Pact to Buy Guidant


A top NASA official said Thursday that scientists examining the remains of the crashed Genesis space capsule have peeked inside a broken canister containing atoms from the sun and seen some intact collection plates, although others have probably been pureed to dust.

NASA Hopes Data Can Be Salvaged From Crashed Craft


The people behind New York City's bid for the 2012 Summer Games think they have a realistic chance to beat the four European capitals with which they are competing.

New York Hopes to Win Olympics by Dividing Votes


By the time Joel Statham walked into the Gossett Team House cafeteria around 8 pm last night, the delirious crowd had dispersed from the Byrd Stadium field.

For Statham, Sweet Vindication


SINGAPORE China Aviation Oil (Singapore), which this week asked Singapore #39;s high court for protection from creditors after disclosing \$550 million of losses, is being investigated by the Commercial Affairs Department, Singapore #39;s white-collar crime unit

Singapore investigates China firm


Heat waves in Chicago, Paris, and elsewhere in North America and Europe will become more intense, more frequent, and longer lasting in the 21st century, according to a new modeling study by two scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). (NCAR press release)

News: Future Heat Waves: More Severe, More Frequent, and Longer Lasting


NEW YORK, December 15 (newratings.com) - The US Federal Reserve announced yesterday a widely expected quarter point hike in its overnight lending rate, the fifth hike since June this year.

Fed hikes benchmark rate by a quarter point


Martha Stewart will host an hour-long, daily syndicated show with a live audience when she gets out of prison, her company said today.

NBC Gives Martha Stewart an After-Prison Show


The dollar slumps to a new record low against the euro, breaching the \$1.30 level on news of another large trade deficit.

US deficit pushes euro over \$1.30


Trainer Patrick Biancone says the Lion Heart who will try to get 1 1/4 miles in Saturday #39;s Travers is not the same Lion Heart who failed to get the same distance in the Kentucky Derby 17 weeks ago.

This isn #39;t same Lion Heart, trainer says


AP - Maurice Clarett accused Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and his staff of arranging for him to get passing grades, cars, and money for bogus summer jobs. The school immediately denied the claims Tuesday.

Clarett Rips Ohio State Coach, Staff (AP)


The US Labor Department said Thursday the number of workers filing first-time applications for unemployment benefits hit a three-week high last week.

Jobless claims rise to three-week high


Last day of the Champions League group stage kicks off tonight... and theres lots in store. The scenario: Not only does Rafael Benitez #39;s Liverpool side need a win against their Greek opponents, they need

Last day of Champions League kicks off


Company executives said the Security Bulletin Advanced Notification program will be open to everyone, and will be available on Microsoft #39;s TechNet site.

Admins applaud Microsoft #39;s early warning program


AP - The security guards were trying to hustle Mia Hamm off the field, but she was having none of it. Making a U-turn, Hamm headed directly to a group of young fans seated in the stands who were screaming for her autograph.

United States Blanks Mexico 5-0 (AP)


A South African trade union delegation is allowed into Zimbabwe despite being told their visit is not acceptable.

SA unionists defy Zimbabwe ban


MIAMI - An already broiling Miami had even more sizzle on Sunday as MTV brought the annual party known as the Video Music Awards to the city for the first time in the awards' 21-year history.    The change of scenery for the awards, typically held in New York or Los Angeles, helped raise the decadence level at the already raucous, celebrity-soaked affair...

Stars Arrive by Yacht at MTV Video Awards


US warplanes launched sustained and fierce attacks on the rebel-held Iraqi town of Falluja on Thursday, witnesses said. They said explosions could be heard in the attacks, a day after

US Warplanes Pound Iraq #39;s Falluja


TheDeal.com - The performance fibers business makes high-strength polyester fibers at plants in North Carolina and France.

Sun Capital buys Honeywell unit (TheDeal.com)


Timothy Michaud died last May after falling from the tailgate of a Chevrolet pickup and suffering severe head injuries. The 19-year-old from Maine never knew that General Motors Corp.

Despite recalls, too few vehicles being


Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice said that there are two or three college football jobs that could lure him from the NFL, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Washington job reportedly interests Tice


Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer enjoyed his breakthrough game at the expense of the Super Bowl champion Patriots, racking up 179 yards on 12-of-19 passing in a 31-3 triumph on Saturday night.

Palmer Passes Test


Fannie Mae, the largest buyer of US home loans, was accused of securities fraud by Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro, who said the company manipulated its earnings to artificially inflate its stock price.

Ohio Sues Fannie Mae, Alleges Securities Fraud


The string of hurricanes that struck Florida and other states has begun to wash away profit projections made by some Cincinnati-based insurance companies.

Insurers cutting profit estimates


When lobsters flirt or fight they first signal their intention by urinating in one another's faces. Strange facts like this are published in a new book about the little-known life of these familiar crustaceans.

Fear and Loathing in  #133; Lobsterland


The Japanese mainland is under threat from another typhoon - the second in less than two weeks. Typhoon Tokage has been lashing the southern Okinawa islands with heavy rain and winds gusting above 140 kilometres an hour.

Typhoon approaches mainland Japan


Federal regulators proposed a record indecency fine of nearly \$1.2 million Tuesday against Fox Broadcasting Co. for an episode of its reality series

FCC Proposes Record \$1.2 Million  Fine Against Fox


Reuters - Thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan\may have failed to catch Osama bin Laden but they are credited\with encouraging millions of Afghans to register for the\country's historic election in October.

Nearly 10 Million Afghans to Embrace Democracy (Reuters)


AP - The Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed captain Dave Andreychuk to a one-year contract Tuesday.

Lightning Re-Sign Captain Andreychuk (AP)


The recording industry continued its onslaught of lawsuits against illegal filesharers yesterday, filing suit against hundreds of computer users who allegedly make music available online.

RIAA SUES 744 MUSIC PIRATES


AFP - A senior French government official was evacuated from a Haitian hospital after unknown gunmen opened fire, in an apparent attack on the official.

Senior French official evacuated under fire in Haiti (AFP)


AP - FIFA's president criticized England captain David Beckham for deliberately getting himself suspended for a World Cup qualifier and urged the English Football Association to take action.

Beckham Criticized for Suspension (AP)


A submarine that intruded into waters off Japan earlier this week has been identified as Chinese, Japan #39;s top government spokesman Hiroyuki Hosoda said on Friday, adding that Tokyo would protest to Beijing.

Japan to protest to China over intruder submarine


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers confirmed Monday that running back Charlie Garner will miss the rest of the season with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.

Bucs #39; RB Garner out for rest of year


Michael Ovitz #39;s wacky ideas for bonding with employees made it impossible for him to fit in at media giant Disney, according to a former executive.

OVITZ MIND MELD


You're probably a stock market investor if you feel sure the past five years have been dragging on for at least a decade.

Heebner's crystal ball


A way of 'tricking' eggs to divide without being fertilised may aid stem cell and IVF research, say scientists.

Eggs 'fertilised' without sperm


Standard  amp; Poor #39;s on Tuesday lowered the long-term debt ratings on BellSouth Corp. (BLS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , SBC Communications (SBC.

S amp;P cuts debt ratings for SBC, BellSouth, Cingular


BRITAIN #39;s highest court has ruled today that the UK Government cannot detain terror suspects indefinitely without trial. Nine judges in the House of Lords ruled in favour of a group of men jailed without charge for up to three years.

UK government loses terror appeal


The Red Sox pitching rotation is suddenly a shell game. It started out as Curt, Pedro, Bronson, and Wake, with Derek as the odd man out. But then Curt's ankle made headlines, and that's why Derek will pitch for Curt in Game 5. No, wait. Now it's raining, and everyone gets an extra day off, so Pedro might pitch for ...

Changeups can't cross up Varitek


Reuters - Medtronic Inc. (MDT.N) on Wednesday\said its quarterly earnings rose on surprisingly brisk demand\for devices that slow racing heartbeats, offsetting a\weaker-than-expected performance in some of its other\businesses.

Medtronic Net Up on Higher ICD Sales (Reuters)


After Marcos Moreno threw four more interceptions in last week's 14-13 overtime loss at N.C. A T, Bison Coach Ray Petty will start Antoine Hartfield against Norfolk State on Saturday.

Bison Changing QBs


John Kerry said today that because of poor administration planning the war had cost taxpayers \$200 billion.

Kerry, Sharpening Criticism of Bush, Lists Costs of Iraq War


Ogre-sized fans of Shrek 3 will have to wait a bit longer as it #39;s been delayed for six months until 2007. The change of release was ordered by film bosses at the Dreamworks studio.

No sequel to Shrek 2 until 2007


Lake Forest, IL (Sports Network) - Chicago Bears standout linebacker Brian Urlacher has been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday #39;s game against Philadelphia.

Urlacher not expected to play Sunday


DALLAS - Nearly a third of American adults have high blood pressure, putting them at greater risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and other problems, according to a new government analysis.    The obesity epidemic and an aging population are to blame, experts say...

Study: 1 in 3 Adults Has Hypertension


Canon USA is introducing a portfolio of new digital photography products, including three PowerShot cameras, a 16.7-megapixel digital single lens reflex model aimed at professionals, and a budget inkjet photo printer.

Canon Rolls Out Digicams, Photo Printer


Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima was tonight involved in the first high-profile security breach of the Olympic Games as a spectator watching the mens marathon accosted the long-time race leader.

Marathon leader attacked, but result stands


The same gas used to blow up balloons could be mined from the Moon #39;s surface and transported to Earth to meet future energy demands, say US scientists.

Moon gas could power your home: scientists


COLUMBIA, SC -- Lou Holtz told his South Carolina staff and players Thursday that he is retiring after this season, clearing the way for Steve Spurrier to take over as the Gamecocks #39; head coach and complete the handoff between two of college football #39;s

Spurrier to take over Gamecocks


AP - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to hold a rare meeting in Nairobi next month to promote a peace agreement between the Sudanese government and southern rebels that the United States says also is crucial to ending the conflict in the Darfur region.

Security Council Votes for Nairobi Meeting (AP)


Retired Delta Air Lines Chief Executive Leo Mullin, who still lives in Atlanta, will be spending more time in New York City serving as senior adviser to the private equity group at Goldman Sachs.

Delta #39;s ex-CEO to take up NY duties


Palestinians medics wheel a wounded man to the Shifa hospital following an Israeli air strike at a car used by Adnan al-Ghoul,a senior member of the Hamas militant group, killing him and another militant, late Thursday Oct. 21, 2004.

Palestinians Shell Gaza Settlements


The United States has again vowed to hunt down Osama bin Laden after intelligence analysts all but confirmed the voice on a new audio recording was that of the al-Qaeda terror chief.

US again vows to hunt bin Laden


OSLO, Oct. 8. - The Kenyan environmental activist, Ms Wangari Maathai, has won the Nobel Peace prize for her work as leader of the Green Belt Movement, which has sought to empower women, improve the environment

Peace Nobel for Kenyan


Jason Giambi has returned to the New York Yankees' clubhouse but is still clueless as to when he will be able to play again.

Giambi Rejoins Yankees


AFP - New rules governing overtime pay kicked in, sparking a politically charged debate over the impact of the new regulations on US workers.

Bush, Kerry camps spar over new overtime pay rules (AFP)


A Polish weapons maker signed a multimillion dollar contract Wednesday to equip the new Iraqi army with helicopters, machine guns and ambulances, a company official said.

Polish Weapons Maker Signs Deal With Iraq


AP - Count Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts among those Boston baseball fans who have waited a lifetime to see the Red Sox win the World Series. President Bush says he's excited, too.

Kerry and Bush Congratulate Red Sox (AP)


ATHENS, Greece - The United States took gold and bronze in the men #39;s Olympic cycling individual time trial on Wednesday with Tyler Hamilton topping the podium and his team Bobby Julich finishing third.

Hamilton takes gold in time trial


Three weeks after surviving an assassination attempt, Pakistan #39;s finance minister, Shaukat Aziz, confirmed his place as the country #39;s next prime minister, after coasting to victory in a byelection.

Minister #39;s poll triumph puts him in line to be Pakistan #39;s next PM


The Supreme Court today overturned a five-figure damage award to an Alexandria man for a local auto dealer #39;s alleged loan scam, ruling that a Richmond-based federal appeals court had wrongly

High Court Overturns Loan Scam Damage Award


The third outing for the Burnout franchise offers jaw-dropping action that is difficult to fault and perilously addictive.

Burnout offers thrills aplenty


BAGHDAD, Oct 25:A car bomb exploded near an Australian military convoy in Baghdad on Monday, killing two Iraqis, as the authorities probed the mass killing of almost 50 new soldiers in one of the bloodiest attacks against the country #39;s fledgling security

WORLD/ASIA


Kurt Busch set a relatively modest goal for Saturday night #39;s Nascar race at Lowe #39;s Motor Speedway. Forget about winning. On arguably his worst track on the Nextel Cup

Johnson Takes the Race, While Others Pursue the Cup


Since emerging from bankruptcy in May 2003, the company has undergone a dramatic turnaround, seen an almost eight-fold increase in its stock price and now plans to buy department store operator Sears, Roebuck (S:NYSE - news - research) for about \$11

Wall Street Doubts Kmart Strategy


WASHINGTON : American consumer prices climbed a moderate 0.2 percent in the month to September, curbed by a slide in energy costs.

US consumer prices rise 0.2 percent in September


JERUSALEM: Israeli soldiers shot dead a 12-year-old Palestinian boy yesterday during confrontations with protesters in a refugee camp in the West Bank town of Jenin, medics said.

Boy, 12, is shot dead by Israelis


Jason Ricks kicked a 28-yard field goal with 55 seconds left and No. 22 Oklahoma State rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Missouri 20-17 on Saturday.

No. 22 Oklahoma State 20, Missouri 17


Two months after Google opened up a whole new market with its desktop search tool, Microsoft has joined the party with the release of its own beta test version.

Microsoft releases desktop search beta


Microsoft #39;s MSN TV division has revealed details of its  quot;MSN TV 2 Internet  amp; Media Player, quot; the broadband-oriented successor to its earlier modem-interfaced WebTV Internet receiver.

Microsoft debuts Windows CE based MSN TV2 STB


OTTAWA (CP) - More moderate gasoline prices at the pump and less expensive cars and trucks helped to slow the annual rise in inflation to 1.9 per cent in August, Statistics Canada said Friday.

August inflation rate drops to 1.9 per cent from 2.3 per cent in <b>...</b>


Fierce fighting in Fallujah forces US marines to call in both tanks, fighter jets for back up. By Pierre Celerier - FALLUJAH, Iraq.

Eight US marines killed in western Iraq


The European Commission has formally notified Microsoft Corp and Time Warner Inc of its objections to the companies #39; proposed joint ownership of ContentGuard Inc.

EC delivers ContentGuard concerns


MANILA When President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared this week that the Philippines was  quot;already in the midst of a fiscal crisis, quot; many thought she was just stating the obvious.

Politics cloud debate on Philippine  #39;crisis #39;


Today, Germans remember the fall of the Berlin wall - an ecstatic night of pure joy when the communist East German government allowed its citizens unhindered access to the bright lights, well-stocked department stores, and warmhearted greetings of

Germany, 15 Years After the Wall


Defense and special teams keep Tampa Bay in it until an interception leads to the winning field goal. By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer.

A look back


Stocks set to start the new week lower as oil futures set yet another record. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The continued upward push of oil prices is likely to send stock prices lower when US markets begin trading Monday.

Bears drive at \$55?


Reuters - The quartet of Middle East\advisers, backing up a plea from President Bush, called on\Israel on Wednesday to impose a freeze on Jewish settlements in\the West Bank and Gaza.

Mideast Quartet Backs Bush on Settlement Freeze (Reuters)


EU approval of the Oracle-PeopleSoft deal would mirror events that have occurred in the United States, where the Justice Department had argued in favor of blocking of the bid but a court in San Francisco overturned the recommendation.

EU Likely To Approve Oracle #39;s Hostile Bid for PeopleSoft


AP - Earl Boykins scored 19 points and the Denver Nuggets forced the Golden State Warriors into 26 turnovers en route to an easy 105-86 victory Friday night in the opener of an NBA preseason doubleheader at Staples Center.

Nuggets Overpower Warriors for 105-86 Win (AP)


Police departments around the country turn to sound-analysis technology to detect and report gunshots. By Amit Asaravala.

Shhh ... Do You Hear Gunfire?


Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq said he #39;d likely rest Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami for Tuesday #39;s limited-overs match against an Australian Chairman #39;s XI as Pakistan continues to ease its pace bowlers into the tour.

Pakistan to rest speed duo


Reuters - Turkey declared that it had fulfilled\all the political criteria for membership talks with the\European Union on Sunday, three days before a recommendation\from the EU's executive that will give Ankara a green light.

Turkey Says EU 'Homework Done,' Green Light Ahead (Reuters)


AP - When Saddam Hussein's lieutenant heard that an oil pipeline had been sabotaged in Qushqia, his order was swift: blow up the village. Under Saddam, nobody messed with oil.

Iraq Oil Infrastructure Losing Billions (AP)


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

Voters Checking Out Other Sides #39; Sites


AFP - As the court case between US Internet giant Yahoo and a French group trying to halt the online sales of Nazi memorabilia entered a new phase this week, experts gathered here stressed how difficult it was to regulate hate speech on the Internet.

Regulating hate speech on the internet remains difficult, experts say (AFP)


For years, experts have argued over who killed President John Kennedy and whether it was the work of a lone gunman. Now, after four decades of endless speculation, a

The conspiracy game: JFK #39;s assassination is turned into computer <b>...</b>


The USA moved one step closer to the final round of World Cup 2006 qualifying in the CONCACAF zone with a rather easy 2-0 win over El Salvador Saturday night in San Salvador.

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING 2006: US close to clinching berth in <b>...</b>


A federal judge dismissed charges against a New York record store owner on Friday who had been selling unauthorized recordings of concerts, saying a law against boot-legging was unconstitutional.

US Judge: Anti-Bootlegging Law Is Unconstitutional


(Article Central) At the Apple Expo in Paris this week, Apple Computer Inc. introduced the new iMac, the latest version of the popular consumer desktop computer.

Apple Introduces New iMac


Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair was inactive for Sunday #39;s game against Indianapolis because of a chest injury.

McNair inactive; Volek starts against Colts


The American and Belgian arms of KPMG International have agreed to pay \$115 million to settle claims of accounting malpractice.

KPMG Units Agree to Pay to Settle Malpractice Suits


Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, died early Thursday morning in a Paris hospital, a French military spokesman announced.

State for Palestinians and Peace With Israel Left Unrealized


Asian stocks rose after President George W. Bush led John Kerry in vote counting in the US presidential election. Exporters such as Samsung Electronics Co.

Asian Stocks Gain as Bush Leads Count; AU Optronics, CNOOC Rise


Manchester United would be as strong as their 1999 European Cup-winning side if they captured England teenager Wayne Rooney, manager Alex Ferguson said.

Rooney would put United up with 1999 side - Ferguson


TOKYO Nissan Motor said on Thursday that a shortage of steel would force it to halt production temporarily at three of its four auto factories in Japan, a highly unusual step the company said was made necessary in part by a surge in demand for steel from

Shortage of steel forces halt at Nissan