MOSCOW - The recorders extracted from the wreckage of two planes that crashed nearly simultaneously have not revealed reliable information on the disasters' causes, a top Russian official was quoted as saying Thursday.    Vladimir Yakovlev, the Russian president's envoy for the southern region, where one of the planes crashed, also said that the main theory about the catastrophe

Russian Flight Recorders Reveal Little


FedEx Kinko's yesterday launched a Web-based tool geared toward mobile professionals and small businesses that allows Microsoft Windows users to connect to FedEx Kinko's printing centers.

Brief: FedEx Kinko's launches Internet-based print options


As expected, Intel has introduced a 3.8GHz Pentium 4 processor in what could represent the end of an era for the chip maker. The Pentium 4 570 processor at 3.8GHz will have the fastest clock speed of any processor

Pentium 4 Reaches the Speed Limit


Hollywood film studios have pledged support for one of the competing formats battling for primacy in the DVD market. The group supporting the HD DVD optical disc format for high-definition video is vying with the rival Blu-ray Disc format .

Hollywood backs HD DVD


Iran stressed Sunday its commitment to voluntary suspension of uranium enrichment, but warned against hauling Tehran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

Iran #39;s Asefi: No plan to quit NPT


In a meeting of the cinematic with the scientific, Hollywood helicopter stunt pilots will try to snatch a returning NASA space probe out of the air before it hits the ground.

Hollywood to Help NASA Catch Space Probe


SERVICE AND software outfit IBM says that Internet attacks directed at the networks rose 27 per cent in September over July and August.

Web attacks up by a third


Threats from Maoist rebels in Nepal brought business in the Himalayan kingdom to a halt yesterday, as traffic blockades kept supplies from the capital, Kathmandu. There is only about 10 weeks #39; worth of food in the city, and many travellers ...

Nepal closes for business as Maoist blockades cut off capital


A graphic account of how bullies use the medium to harass their victims featured in The New York Times on Thursday. Eighth-grade student Amanda Marcuson reported some classmates to authorities at her new school

Teen bullies take to cyber terror


Reuters - U.S. consumer prices rose an\as-expected 0.2 percent last month, a government report showed\on Tuesday, but a sharp jump in lodging costs helped push core\inflation up at its fastest pace in five months.

U.S. Core Inflation Hotter Than Expected (Reuters)


Supporters of Ukraine's PM announce a vote for autonomy, upping the stakes in the disputed election.

Ukrainian region seeks autonomy


Hard drive maker Seagate has begun shipping what it claims is the world #39;s highest capacity PC hard drive: a 400GB beast that #39;s also the first drive of its class to hold up to 133GB on a single platter.

Seagate ships  #39;world first #39; 400GB PC HDDs


Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren hailed as something special his sides stunning UEFA Cup victory over Lazio. Two goals from Bolo Zenden, one either side of half-time, crowned

#39;Special #39; Win for Boro


Jose Mourinho has admitted that he wants to win the Carling Cup and does not see the competition as a hindrance. The Chelsea boss saw a strong line-up battle for a 2-1 victory against west London neighbours

Mourinho wants Carling Cup glory


AT amp;T #39;s chief information officer Hossein Eslambolchi has set up a team to assess Windows operating system alternatives and will make a final decision by 2006.

AT amp;T Considering Mac OS X, Linux


The Air Force is scheduled to launch a new Delta 4 rocket here Saturday afternoon in a test that will help determine whether it can become a  quot;heavy lift

Air Force Set for Test Flight of New Rocket


UTStarcom Inc. on Tuesday said its third-quarter profit plummeted, but beat Wall Street expectations. The networking products company reported earnings of \$5 million, or 4 cents per share, down from \$59.

UTStarcom 3Q Profit Down, Beats Estimate


Medical ethicists are concerned that the \$3 billion that California approved for embryonic stem cell research could become a bonanza for private profiteers.

California's New Stem-Cell Initiative Is Already Raising Concerns


CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela on Tuesday reacted  warmly to a U.S. overture seeking better relations, but urged  Washington to recognize that left-wing President Hugo Chavez's  government was democratic, stable and independent.

Venezuela Welcomes U.S. Overture to Improve Ties


DETROIT - If this was a yardstick game, the kind a team measures itself by, then the Detroit Lions need some more of them. There were more than 36 inches of separation between the Lions and the Philadelphia

Lions don #39;t measure up Eagles too much for Detroit


AFP - Belgium's far-right Vlaams Blok formally dissolved itself and relaunched under a new name, after a court ruling banning the party, one of the most successful anti-immigrant forces in Europe.

Belgian far-right reborn after court slap (AFP)


DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. <A HREF=

GM, Ford Cut Production; U.S. Sales Fall


MacCentral - Internet Service Provider (ISP) EarthLink on Monday launched TotalAccess 2005 for Macintosh, a new version of the access software EarthLink offers its subscribers. It works with EarthLink's broadband and dialup services and is available for download now. ...

New EarthLink Mac software fights phishing scams (MacCentral)


BRUSSELS (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac said  on Friday he had not refused to meet Iraqi interim Prime  Minister Iyad Allawi after reports he was snubbing the Iraqi  leader by leaving an EU meeting in Brussels early.

Chirac Denies He Refused to See Iraq's Allawi


The University of Colorado has logged its lowest graduation rate for student athletes in five years, according to a report released Monday by the NCAA.

Graduation rate falls for CU athletes


Believe it, New England -- the Boston Red Sox are in the World Series. And they got there with the most unbelievable comeback of all, with four sweet swings after decades of defeat, shaming the dreaded New York Yankees.

Boston Red Sox make history


TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei hit a one-month low on  Wednesday as investors sold a broad range of shares, extending  losses from the day before when poor Japanese industrial output  data put a damper on the economy's outlook.

Japan's Nikkei Hits a One-Month Low


At least 22 people have been killed in back-to-back bombings in Egyptian resorts packed with Israeli tourists, and Israel says it appears to be the work of al Qaeda.

Egypt bomb blasts kill 22


Iran on Sunday has refused to accept a European nuclear proposal, terming it as  quot;unbalanced. quot;. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said Sunday that the proposal asking Iran to stop uranium enrichment activities

Iran says European nuclear proposal unacceptable


Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus Group has unveiled the first profit in its five-year history for the first half of the year and says restructuring, strong demand and higher steel prices are keeping its outlook positive.

Corus swings to profit


Microsoft continues its battle to dominate digital music distribution, with news it plans to make its music services available to mobiles before Apple does.

Microsoft makes music mobile moves


Japan's deadliest storm in more than a decade unleashed flash floods that washed away entire hillsides, killing 55 people and leaving at least 24 people missing before it veered east into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday.

Deadly Typhoon Claims 55 Lives in Japan


(Sports Network) - Rashard Lewis scored 22 points to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 103-95 win over the Indiana Pacers at KeyArena.

Seattle SuperSonics Team Report - November 29


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of mobile home manufacturers  soared on Monday on hopes of increased business after the  destruction Hurricane Charley wreaked in Florida over the  weekend, an analyst said.

Charley Sends Mobile Home Stocks Soaring


Paris, France (Sports Network) - AC Milan and Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko was named the European Footballer of the Year Monday.

Shevchenko nets European Footballer of Year award


The Red Sox will make one roster change for the start of the American League Championship Series, adding a veteran reliever in Ramiro Mendoza who is no stranger to postseason

Notes: Mendoza added to roster


MOSCOW -- Russia is developing a new nuclear missile system unlike any weapon held by other countries, President Vladimir Putin announced yesterday, in a move that could serve as a message to the United States as Washington pushes forward with a missile defense system.

Russia touts plans for missile system


DENVER -- Earl Boykins scored 22 points to help the Denver Nuggets overcome the absence of Carmelo Anthony and defeat the New Orleans Hornets 76-67 on Monday.

Nuggets win without Carmelo


CHIP FIRM AMD said it is demonstrating a fourway Opteron server using dual processor cores. 90 nanometre technology and silicon on insulator (SOI) technology.

AMD shows off fourway dual core CPU server


AP - Doctors are performing amputations without electricity or running water while waste from this city's shattered sewage system contaminates mud and floodwaters, infecting wounds that threaten to turn gangrenous.

Haiti Doctors Operate Without Electricity (AP)


The US says it is preparing a new UN resolution to deal with the crisis in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan.

US plans new resolution on Darfur


The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head, Mohammad ElBaradei, on Monday expressed his hope that suspension of uranium enrichment will be included in the preliminary Iran-EU agreement.

IAEA chief hopes Iran suspend enrichment process


Former world number one Marat Safin won his first title since the Paris Masters in 2002 on Sunday with a 6-2 6-4 6-3 victory over Argentine David Nalbandian at the Casa de Campo in Madrid.

Safin masters Nalbandian in Madrid


MySQL AB, developer of the world #39;s most popular open source database, today announced the general availability of MySQL 4.1.

MySQL Version 4.1 Certified as Production Ready


According to the International Ice Hockey Federation, 276 N.H.L. players have signed with European teams. Could hockey be headed for a new world order?

Skating to Europe and Playing On


AP - This squirrelly newcomer caused quite a stir at Jacobs Field. A brown squirrel ran onto the field in the bottom of the third inning Wednesday night and ran circles around the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians.

Squirrel Runs Circles Around Yanks, Tribe (AP)


An auto-body repair chain with several locations in San Diego County agreed yesterday to pay \$5.8 million to settle a consumer fraud lawsuit alleging that it charged customers for work it never performed.

Auto-body chain settles fraud suit


OSLO, Norway - Oslos Munch Museum could remain closed until June 2005 while officials upgrade its security system following a brazen daylight robbery in August of two Edvard Munch masterpieces.

Munch Museum will stay closed until 05


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

Global miner BHP Billiton posts record net profit as demand soars (AFP)


Trends in Iraq seem to be moving in two different directions these days. The guerrilla war between the United States and insurgents continues, with mounting clashes and casualties.

The Holes in a  #39;Shia Strategy #39;


AP - Federal regulators have accused University of California researchers of mistreating animals used in medical experiments over a three-year period, according to a complaint made public Tuesday by an animal-rights group.

U.S. Accuses Researchers of Animal Abuse (AP)


Following approval from two U.S. government agencies, Cingular Wireless LLC has completed the \$41 billion acquisition of AT T Wireless Services Inc., creating the nation's largest wireless carrier.

Cingular completes AT T Wireless acquisition


All of the human embryonic stem cells available to federally funded scientists under President Bush #39;s three-year-old research policy share a previously unrecognized trait that

Usefulness of available stem cells questioned


AP - The NFL will not fine Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor after looking into allegations that a Cincinnati player was spit on during Sunday's game.

Redskins' Taylor Cleared in Spit Incident (AP)


LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - To the joy of couch potatoes nationwide who resent rushing to the video store to return movies, video rental giant Blockbuster says it will do away with the dreaded late fees.

Blockbuster Cans Late Fees, Keeps Due Dates


European antitrust regulators have announced they will conduct an in-depth investigation into a plan by Microsoft and Time Warner to acquire digital rights management company ContentGuard, a move that #39;s seen as a setback for the deal.

EU will probe Microsoft, Time Warner buy


before it hatched and which could shed light on the relationship between dinosaurs and birds. behaviour like caring for helpless young first began to evolve.

Bird fossil may show dinosaur link


The former President of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, calls for free and fair elections in his country.

Aristide 'wants Haiti elections'


Ziff Davis - The company says

IBM Releases DB2 Information Integrator (Ziff Davis)


MINNEAPOLIS -- The NBA suspended Timberwolves swingman Latrell Sprewell on Tuesday for one game without pay after reviewing comments he made to a female heckler during Minnesota #39;s overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

Comment was picked up by courtside microphone


US stocks ended mixed today as only the tech-heavy Nasdaq managed to make gains in the face of higher crude oil prices and a rash of broker downgrades targeting some high-profile Dow shares.

Tech Stocks Withstand Downgrades as Blue Chips Wilt


IRAQ #39;S interim Prime Minister yesterday delivered another blow to President Bush just a week before the US election when he blamed American-led forces for

Allawi charge is boost for Kerry


FedEx CEO Frederick W. Smith was named today by the Business Roundtable to chair the group's security task force.

FedEx CEO to lead industry security task force


A Connecticut businessman took his quixotic crusade against the New England Patriots to the Internet yesterday, launching a website to build support among season ticket holders for arbitration in ticket revocation disputes and the ability to transfer tickets to a friend or family member.

Businessman takes fight over Pats tickets online


Northwest Airlines Corp. Chief Executive Richard H. Anderson is resigning and will be replaced by President Douglas M. Steenland at a time when the company is seeking employee concessions to stem losses.

Northwest Says Anderson Resigns to Join UnitedHealth (Update1)


AP - A celebration marking Paris' 60th anniversary of its liberation from Nazi Germany is planned next week. But nothing official was planned for a more somber anniversary Wednesday  #151; the liberation of a Jewish detention camp outside Paris that ended one of the most shameful episodes in modern French history.

Paris Remembers Jewish Detention Camp (AP)


Newmont Mining Corp. on Wednesday said its third-quarter profit rose on increased gold prices. Quarterly profit rose to \$128.7 million, or 29 cents per share, up from \$114.

Newmont Mining 3Q Profit Up on Gold Prices


Reuters - Sprint Corp. (FON.N) said on  Friday\it made a deal that will let it nearly double the number of\places it offers short-range wireless Internet connections.

Sprint, SBC in Short-Range Wireless Roaming Deal (Reuters)


ALAN SHEARER last night stepped into the ward of words between Craig Bellamy and Newcastle over Wayne Rooney by saying,  quot;Let #39;s go out and sign him.

Shearer: Toon have to go out and sign Rooney


The new version of Ernie - the number cruncher which selects premium bond prizes - is to be unveiled on Tuesday.

New Ernie machine to make debut


VIENNA, Austria - A U.S. official expressed alarm Thursday about a possible nuclear-weapons related test site in Iran and accused the U.N...

U.S. Alarmed Over Suspected Iran Nuke Site


Hours before Secretary of State Colin Powell was to arrive in Athens, Greece #39;s communist party draped a large banner protesting his visit over a side of the ancient Acropolis hill near the Parthenon.

Protest banner unfurled before Powell visit


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp. <A HREF=

Intel Says It's Recovered from Missteps


BAGRAM, Afghanistan - The trail has gone cold in the hunt for suspected Sept. 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden three years after the audacious attacks, but the al-Qaida chief and his No...

U.S.: Bin Laden Likely Issuing Orders


An unmanned Nasa jet screamed into the record books high over the Pacific Ocean by reaching speeds of almost 7000 mph, brightening hopes that humans might one day be able to fly across a continent in minutes instead of hours.

Nasas scramjet breaks speed record at 7000mph


Talk about bad timing. SOHU #39;s (Nasdaq: SOHU) earnings release yesterday came on the heels of news that the Chinese central bank increased interest rates.

SOHU So Hurt by Suspension


The Israeli Labor Federation Histadrut announced an end to the nationwide public sector strike Wednesday noon and ordered strikers to return to work.

Israeli Labor Union announces end to public sector strike


Looking to outdo rival Microsoft, IBM plans to ship a new bundle of development tools that can simplify how software gets built.

IBM sets date for new tools bundle


The ending was so sudden on the crowded back curve, so unexpectedly futile, that it seemed only fitting to Marion Jones after the year she has had.

TRACK AND FIELD A Bungled Pass Costs US in Relay


First, we had Pete Rose betting on baseball. Then we had Pete Rose betting on baseball, the report. Then we had 14 years of Pete Rose denying that he bet on baseball.

#39;Hustle #39; neglects passion for game


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

ConAgra Profit Falls as Prices Rise


US drugs giant Merck  amp; Co Inc. should have pulled its Vioxx painkiller from the market four years ago, because data showing it raised the risk of heart attacks has existed since 2000, Swiss scientists said on Friday.

Merck Should Have Pulled Vioxx in 2000 -Study


roundup Plus: Linux release features Windows support...Gmail delivered to desktops...Chinadotcom mobile services suspended...Maker of disposable RFID tags gets millions...Mitsubishi expands solar production.

Briefly: More money for fuel cells


Gonzaga's Don Smith, one of the area's most successful area soccer coaches over the past two decades, will retire at the end of the season.

Gonzaga Coach Leaving


As you #39;re reading this, the Cassini-Huygens space mission is settling into orbit around the planet Saturn. The capstone of the mission comes in January when the Huygens lander will seperate from the Cassini

JT Juice for 11-6


The 69-year-old founder of Peru #39;s Maoist Shining Path terrorist movement, which paralyzed the country for more than two decades, faced a civilian court Friday for the first time since he was arrested more than 12 years ago.

Peru retries notorious rebel leader


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Quentin Richardson poured in 37  points, including eight three-pointers, and Shawn Marion added  16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 121-99  thrashing of the host Portland Trail Blazers Sunday.

NBA Wrap: Suns Scorch Trail Blazers, Kings Beat Celtics


French side Lille was upset 1-0 by a German second-division club. Feyenoord beat Scottish Hearts 3-0, Stuttgart downed Belgium #39;s Beveren 5-1 and the Rangers defeated Poland #39;s Amica Wronki 5-1.

Feyenoord, Stuttgart, Rangers have easy wins, Lille upset, Lazio <b>...</b>


Several explosions went off in the Iraqi Oil Ministry compound in central Baghdad on Saturday and witnesses said the explosions were probably caused by a mortar attack.

Iraq #39;s Oil Ministry hit by explosions


Finland retained its hold at the top of the world's economies in the survey with Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland also in the top 10.

Nordic Nations Prevail in Surveys of World's Hot Economies


NEW YORK - Investors were unmoved by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's improved assessment of the economy, and stocks remained mixed Wednesday in light trading.    While Greenspan said the economy has

Stocks Mixed on Greenspan's Assessment


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Wyeth <A HREF=

Wyeth, Pfizer Fall on Downgrades


PASADENA, CALIF. - Scientists are examining the first close-up pictures of the surface of Saturn #39;s mysterious moon, Titan. The Cassini spacecraft has sent several high-resolution images of Titan #39;s dark and

Cassini beams back close-ups of Titan


Jason White threw for four touchdowns, two each to Travis Wilson and Mark Clayton, and No. 2 Oklahoma overcame its own mistakes to beat Kansas State 31-21 Saturday.

No. 2 Oklahoma 31, Kansas St. 21


In debate, participants often present ethics as an overriding consideration.  nbsp;Sometimes, ethics is referenced by several  nbsp;participants in support of contradictory positions.  nbsp;When this happens debate tends to stall, as participants lack a framework for resolving their varying ethical valuations.  nbsp;In the interest of keeping K5 flamewars running smoothly, below is an attempt to outline what such a framework might look like.

Ethics in Practice


Athens, Aug 20. (PTI):In a belated damage-control exercise, the Indian Olympic Association today announced setting up of a Committee to probe into the Olympic Games doping scandal and suggest stringent measures to curb the menace.

IOA sets up committee to probe dope scandal


Circuit City Stores Inc., the No. 2 US electronics chain, said yesterday its second-quarter loss narrowed to \$11.9 million as the company sold more plasma-screen televisions and benefited from the acquisition of a Canadian retailer.

Circuit City reports smaller second-quarter loss


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

AOL Launching New Online Shopping Site (AP)


MILWAUKEE, United States : Barry Bonds banged out three hits, but failed to join Major League Baseball #39;s exclusive 700 home run club as the San Francisco Giants wrapped up a series against the Brewers.

Baseball: Bonds #39;s pursuit of 700th homer to continue at home


By Sergio Zyman. The guy who managed the introduction of New Coke now assesses it as  quot;a classic example of lazy business growth strategy.

Business Books: Coke guru critiques growth via innovation


LONDON, November 4 (newratings.com) - European aerospace giant, EADS (EAD.ETR), has raised its full-year earnings outlook for 2004, after the company #39;s third-quarter profits more than tripled this year.

EADS posts robust 3Q profit growth; ups full-year outlook


AP - Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, looking to extend to her streak of winning a tournament to eight years, shot a 5-under 66 Friday and took a one-stroke lead over Christina Kim after two rounds of the LPGA Longs Drugs Challenge.

Inkster Leads LPGA Longs Drugs Challenge (AP)


When defensive end Darryl Tapp gets his hands on something, it #39;s almost impossible to get him to let it go. That includes quarterbacks, running backs and an important piece of Virginia Tech tradition.

Tapp Has a Firm Grip On Hokies #39; Lunch Pail


HONG KONG China Power International Development, a unit of China #39;s fifth-biggest electricity generator, is seeking as much as 2.57 billion Hong Kong dollars, or \$330 million, in an initial public offering of stock, bankers involved in the sale said Monday

China Power set to float stock


The San Francisco Giants moved within a half-game of first-place Los Angeles in the NL West and maintained a half-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card race by beating the Houston Astros 5-1 Wednesday night. The Giants are 9-1 in their last 10 games, with Noah Lowry winning three times...

Giants Pull to Within 1/2 Game of 1st


Blue Gene L leads the group followed by SGI #39;s NASA installation and NEC #39;s Earth Simulator Center in the third position. NEW YORK: IBM, the world #39;s biggest computer maker, has regained its position at the head

IBM regains No.1 supercomputer rank


Ukrainians began casting their ballot Sunday in the presidential election to choose a successor to President Leonid Kuchma. A total of 24 candidates were on the ballot to succeed

Ukraine #39;s presidential election begins


WHAT could prove to be one of the most notable weeks in the life of Arsne Wenger, the Arsenal manager, got off to a poor start here last night when his side twice relinquished the lead against Panathinaikos in a scrappy Champions League encounter.

Panathinaikos 2 Arsenal 2


BEA Systems Inc. on Monday unveiled an all-in-one package of products that make it easier for independent software vendors to build and install web applications on BEA #39;s Java-based platform.

BEA Systems Ships All-In-One App Platform For ISVs


US stocks opened flat on Friday as Wall Street pulled back after a big rally in the previous session, with shares of computer maker Dell Inc.

Stocks Open Little Changed


THE British publics opposition to the war in Iraq has risen to record levels amid signs that the continued violence could be a major factor in next years expected general election.

British hostility to the war deepens as another Black Watch <b>...</b>


How can yesterday's biotech winners lead you to today's top performers?

Biotech's 5 Baggers


AKRON, Ohio  Vijay Singh can make official this week what most already believe: That he, not Tiger Woods, is the world #39;s No. 1 player.

Singh could overtake Woods as No. 1


A Jordanian who disappeared in Iraq two weeks ago and was believed to have been kidnapped has been freed and is in the custody of Iraqi police, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali al-Ayed told reporters yesterday.

Jordanian hostage freed in Iraq


Two Buddhist men have been shot dead by unidentified assailants in Thailand #39; s south, hours before a trip by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to the region, police said.

Thai unrest intensifies


Google Reports \$805 Million in Gross Revenues for Third Quarter\\Google (GOOG on the stock market) today announced financial results for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2004. Total revenue in the quarter totaled a record \$805.9 million, representing a 15 percent increase over the second quarter of 2004 and a 105 ...


Despite four decades of trying and some 40 space probes, the question of whether there #39;s life on Mars remains as elusive as ever.

Life could exist below Mars surface, scientist says here


Theresa Cibulka hit Mile 18 of the New York City Marathon last year and felt as if she would never reach the finish line. She could feel the pain in her cramped legs. She was ready to quit.

Like Good Sneakers, a Cellphone Is a Must


Prime Minister Tony Blair renewed his pledge to work with President Bush on the war on terrorism and to revitalize the Middle East peace process Wednesday, expressing hope that the

Blair Congratulates Bush on Re-Election


China needs to do more to control spending on construction, factories and other  quot;fixed assets quot; to curb growth and cool inflation, state media reported Monday, citing top government officials.

Update 1: China Needs to Do More to Control Spending


KABUL (Reuters) - A leading rights group urged Afghan  President Hamid Karzai on Saturday to sideline warlords  implicated in rights abuses and strengthen the rule of law when  he announces a new cabinet after being sworn in next week.

Rights Watch Urges Karzai to Sideline Warlords


Wal-Mart sees August same-store revenues up 2 to 4. How should investors view this statistical range?

Wal-Mart's Taxing Comps


Canadian Press - DUNCAN, B.C. (CP) - A two-page publication ban signed by a B.C. Supreme Court justice was taped to the doors of a courtroom Monday where a Victoria woman is facing charges of helping two women commit suicide.

Sweeping ban imposed on trial of B.C. woman accused of assisting suicide (Canadian Press)


VIENNA: A US official expressed alarm Thursday that Iran might have a test site for nuclear weapons technology and pressed the UN nuclear watchdog agency to take a tougher position on the issue.

US presses atomic energy agency for strong stand on Iran


A new set of offerings formed with the expansion of the IBM Virtualization Center has a distinct Linux flavor, including an online  quot;how to quot; guide for porting from Windows, Unix or Linux to Linux on Power5.

IBM center gives partners a Linux playground


AP - Defying President Bush, Reps. Duncan Hunter and James Sensenbrenner  #151; who led opposition dooming legislation based on the Sept. 11 commission's recommendations  #151; said they won't change their minds without Senate concessions.

GOP Congressmen Defiant on Intel Bill (AP)


SARASOTA, Fla. - The devastation brought on by Hurricane Charley has been especially painful for an elderly population that is among the largest in the nation...

Groups Try to Aid Elderly Charley Victims


AP - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi replaced key ministers and ruling party leaders in a shuffle Monday aimed at solidifying his power and building momentum for his troubled reforms program.

Japanese Leader Reshuffles Cabinet (AP)


A senior US official said on Wednesday deals should not be done with hostage-takers ahead of the latest deadline set by Afghan Islamic militants who have threatened to kill three kidnapped UN workers.

US rules out deals with Afghan kidnappers


The Army National Guard has failed for two months to meet its recruiting quotas, falling about 30 percent below its overall target.

Guard Reports Serious Decline in New Recruits


HIGH street giant Boots reported a cooling in sales growth today after disappointing summer weather stalled demand for suncare products.

Soggy summer hits Boots #39; sales growth


Some 100,000 Liberians, who fled 14 years of war, are being sent home a year after the fighting ended.

Liberia refugees return home


The British hostage held in Iraq by a militant group led by al-Qaida ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed Friday, pan-Arab Abu Dhabi TV reported.

British hostage killed in Iraq: TV


BIRMINGHAM, England Tinashe Panyangara might just be the future of Zimbabwean cricket. The 18-year old fast bowler #39;s talent was demonstrated earlier this year in the under-19 World Cup, when his six wickets ensured an astonishing win over Australia.

Cricket: Pressure for young Zimbabwean bowler


AP - He wears No. 84, gives defensive backs fits with his deep-ball prowess and leads the league in yards receiving. He's sure he'll make his mark on the big showdown Sunday between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. Not Randy Moss. Javon Walker.

Javon Walker Has Arrived for Packers (AP)


Abdel Sattar Qassem, a Nablus academic and political outsider, on Wednesday announced his decision to run in the upcoming election for the chairmanship of the Palestinian Authority.

Nablus academic runs to succeed Arafat


Many vendors join the effort, but IBM and BEA Systems choose not to participate, leading to harsh words from Sun executive.

Java integration spec pushed


A consistent theme among many people in PDA forums around the Internet lately has been that Palm OS based PDAs are not making the effort to cater to the need for more useful features (for example, there is only one current PDA model that includes Wifi

Editorial: Changing Times, Changing PDA


AP - Businesses and government agencies must re-examine the growing threat of cyberterrorism to automated computer systems running power grids, dams and other industrial facilities, security experts said Tuesday.

Experts Say Control Systems Vulnerable (AP)


Google Inc. said on Thursday it fixed a flaw in its site that could allow outsiders to launch phishing attacks based on Google #39;s familiar interface, and is working on a second fix for another similar vulnerability.

Another Phishing Hole Found in Google


To celebrate the hardware completion of the next orbiter to Venus, the European team of scientists hope toasting to a toasty planet will broaden astrobiology's view of our neighbor. Because on the surface, Venus is hot enough to melt lead...

Taking the Express Train to Venus


LONDON (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee will  donate \$1 million to aid victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

IOC Pledges \$1 Million to Tsunami Victims


AirAsia, one of Southeast Asia #39;s biggest low-cost airlines, said Thursday it would buy 40 Airbus A320 aircraft and take options on 40 more.

AirAsia choses Airbus over Boeing


DHARMAPURI: After hunting down his prize catch, Tamil Nadu Special Task Force chief K. Vijaykumar rushed straight to the Bannari Amman temple in Sathyamangalam in Erode district.

TN STF chief keeps vow, tonsures head


HOUSTON - Executives of Continental Airlines Inc. on Tuesday reported a \$16 million third-quarter loss, which includes \$22 million in special charges related to retirement of leased MD-80 aircraft.

Continental posts third-quarter loss


Richard Branson #39;s Virgin Group has become the latest company to throw its hat into the online music ring by launching the Virgin Digital service.

Virgin launches new digital music service


COLUMBUS, Ohio - A suspected arson fire raced through an apartment complex in suburban Columbus on Sunday, killing 10 people who lived in the same apartment and forcing others to jump from third-story windows to escape.    At least 53 people were left homeless by the blaze in Prairie Township, which destroyed the building's roof and third floor, melted siding and left its wooden skeleton exposed...

Arson Suspected in Ohio Fire, Killing 10


You don #39;t really believe Pedro Martinez is going to pitch for the Yankees, do you? Don #39;t forget about Pedro #39;s working hours on his non-pitching days.

Some tolling thoughts


ATHENS (Reuters) - Ian Thorpe became Australia's greatest  Olympian and staked a claim to being the best swimmer of his  generation when he won

Thorpe Reigns Supreme in Athens Pool, Phelps Grabs Bronze


Although the Phoenix City Council banned the downloading of Internet pornography Wednesday, officials aren #39;t sure when filters would be installed on library computers.

Next step: Anti-porn filters


skillio writes  quot;Everyone #39;s favorite OS maven, Bill Gates, announced a release date for Longhorn on Friday. He confirms what many had suspected - Microsoft will attempt to complete this release in calendar year 2006.

Longhorn to be Released in 2006, Sans WinFS


A senior aide to Yasser Arafat said early Sunday the ailing Palestinian leader was not comatose but still in intensive care, adding to the confusion about his fragile health.

Arafat not comatose but still in intensive care, spokesman says


FORMER Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu was banned seven months and fined 20,000 (\$61,000) by the Football Association yesterday for failing a drugs test.

Out for 7 months


ATLANTA (AP)--Telecommunications firm BellSouth Corp. said Wednesday that the new terms of its tentative labor agreement will change how the company #39;s contribution to retiree medical benefits is calculated and will boost benefit expenses by \$3.3 billion.

BellSouth Sees Higher Benefits Expense


Iran says it is ready to offer new proposals to meet international concern about its nuclear programme.

Iran 'to unveil new nuclear deal'


AFP - Egypt is ready to let foreign companies manage state-owned businesses but will not give up control of those it sees as strategic, President Hosni Mubarak's spokesman said.

Egypt to let foreign companies manage state enterprises (AFP)


CEO weighs in on Linux, EU regulators, music pirates and

Ballmer takes on the troublemakers


com December 9, 2004, 9:37 AM PT. Video game systems maker Nintendo said it will increase North American shipments of its popular DS handheld by 40 percent in order to address a shortage of the devices.

Nintendo zaps handheld video game shortage


AP - In West Virginia mine country, television ads say President Bush has

Political Ads Tailored to Local Issues (AP)


The rate at which personal computers are being hijacked by hackers rocketed in the first half of 2004, reveals a new report. An average of 30,000 computers per day were turned into enslaved zombies, compared with just 2000 per day in 2003.

Thousands of zombie PCs created daily


BANGKOK (Reuters) - Suspected Muslim militants beheaded an  elderly man in Thailand's south in revenge for the deaths of 85  Muslim protesters last month, the second Buddhist decapitated  in a week, police said on Tuesday.

Another Buddhist Beheaded in Thai South Revenge


Amelie Mauresmo played much more like someone serious about winning her first Grand Slam title and reaching No. 1. Showing little of the rust or fatigue displayed in her previous match, the second-seeded Mauresmo easily beat No.

Mauresmo, Sugiyama reach Open #39;s fourth round; Massu fined


Irelands government has granted British hostage, Kenneth Bigley, an Irish passport; responding to his family #39;s calls which hopes that stressing his Irish origin will convince his kidnappers to release him.

Irish passport given to Bigley to save his life


Deepening a rift over global warming policy, some European partners are accusing the Bush administration of trying to weaken a report that warns the Arctic is warming almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet.

US in new warming battle  over Arctic


ATA Airlines founder J. George Mikelsons was driving to Chicago from Indianapolis when the life-saving phone call came through for his troubled airline.

ATA sees Southwest as a savior


The State Department yesterday endorsed a Senate investigation into possible fraud in the United Nations oil-for-food program while sidestepping a senator #39;s

Probe of UN oil-for-food cheating endorsed


JAKARTA (Reuters) - Former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono  has triumphed over incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri in  Indonesia's first direct presidential vote, but now must  deliver promised tighter security, better government and more  jobs.

Ex-General Defeats Indonesia's Megawati, Test Awaits


The US job market brightened modestly in August as employers added 144,000 workers to payrolls and weak hiring tallies for the two prior months were revised up, the Labor Department said on Friday.

Job Picture Brightens, More Aug Hiring


CHICAGO - Chased out of Florida by Hurricane Ivan, the Marlins were forced to play a home game on the road and still cut their gap in the NL wild-card race. Florida rallied with six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, taking advantage of four Montreal errors to beat the Expos 6-3 Monday at U.S...

Marlins Win at Temporary Home in Chicago


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were lower on Tuesday as  health insurers' shares fell on worry that a probe by New York  Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is widening and will hit the  entire industry.

Stocks Decline; Health Insurers Weigh


California Attorney General Bill Lockyer will move forward with a false-claims lawsuit against the electronic voting-machine maker. The Golden State accuses Diebold of installing electronic voting systems that were not tested or approved.

State to Slam Diebold With Suit


AP - The NASA spacecraft that smashed into the Utah desert last month while bringing home fragile samples of the sun may have been doomed by engineering drawings that had been done backwards, an investigating board said Friday.

Backward Drawings May Have Doomed Genesis (AP)


KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Maoist rebels kept vehicles off roads leading to Nepal #39;s capital for a second day on Thursday and residents said fuel was being rationed and food prices had begun to rise.

Maoist Rebel Blockade Begins to Pinch Nepal Capital


Wake Forest will put the No. 1 men #39;s basketball ranking on the line against an Arizona team anxious to atone for an early misstep when they meet Friday night in the Preseason National

Arizona challenges No. 1 Wake Forest


The Red Sox will honor their top minor league players in a ceremony before tonight's game against the Devil Rays. Among those cited will be a player in a Sox uniform -- outfielder Adam Hyzdu, named Triple A Pawtucket's Player of the Year after leading the International League with a .413 on-base percentage.

Minor leaguers to be honored


Despite rapid growth in recent years, China #39;s leather industry still needs to improve the competitiveness to better weather possible impacts from growing international trade barriers, senior industry officials said.

Leather industry under threat


AFP - South African President Thabo Mbeki started new peace talks with various Ivory Coast groups, as European Union delegates urged all parties to find a peaceful solution to the two-year crisis wracking the divided west African nation.

Mbeki into new discussions in Ivory Coast, EU urges peace (AFP)


CSSI Inc. of Washington  was picked by the United States and the United Nations to carve out more airspace in the crowded sky.

CSSI to Make Its Way in the Sky


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Veritas Software Corp. <A HREF=

Veritas Rises on Symantec Merger Report


BP Plc, Europe #39;s largest oil company, said it evacuated 500 non-essential workers from offshore rigs near Trinidad and Tobago as Hurricane Ivan approached the Caribbean country.

BP, BHP Evacuate Crews From Trinidad Rigs; Ivan Nears (Update2)


Last month was awful for the airlines because of factors like weather and the fact that kids go back to school earlier than they used to.

A Bad August Worsens Airline Financial Woes


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Google extended gains from last week, even though the company #39;s float is set to more than double Tuesday.

Online ads on track to hit record; Dow buys MarketWatch


Motorsport.com. The titles may be wrapped up for Michael Schumacher and Ferrari but the 2004 champion is keen to notch up another victory at the penultimate race of the season.

Schumacher aiming for Suzuka victory


Should the Angels fail to make the playoffs by the slimmest of margins, they will look back and remember a handful of games and a group of antagonists, both likely and unlikely, that led to their demise.

Ichiro, Winn sting Halos


An affiliate of Colony Capital has agreed to buy four properties from Caesars Entertainment Inc. and Harrah #39;s Entertainment Inc.

LA Firm agrees to buy Harrah #39;s, Caesars properties


One young Palestinian woman was killed in Gaza by the bullets of the Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank on Friday evening.

Palestinian woman killed in Nablus, Palestinians attack Israeli <b>...</b>


PC World - Sharp's LL-151-3D offers stereoscopic mode for viewing 3D models, but it'll cost you.

First Look: LCD Adds a Dimension to the Desktop (PC World)


Wellington City Council will this week start replacing 1300 parking meters with 300 pay-and-display machines that can accept payments from mobile phones or credit cards.

TXT-to-pay parking gets green light


Bobby Cox became just the ninth manager in to win 2,000 games when the Atlanta Braves scored four runs in the seventh inning and beat the Mets on Wednesday.

Cox Wins 2,000 Games as Braves Beat Mets


Holger Dyroff, vice president of product management for SuSE Linux at Novell, said in a statement:  quot;Novell #39;s SuSE Linux Enterprise Server is the right platform to benefit from the advantages

Sun, Novell and Red Hat Back AMD Dual-Core Chips


All 10 people aboard a twin-engine plane owned by stock car racing team Hendrick Motorsports were killed Sunday when the plane crashed outside Martinsville, Virginia, according to a nearby funeral home.

Report: All 10 on NASCAR team plane die in crash


BEIJING A man with a knife broke into a high school dormitory and killed eight students in the deadliest of a series of such attacks at Chinese schools in recent months, the government said Friday.

8 killed in knife attack at Chinese high school


Taiwanese chipmaker dangles open-source software to lure in programmer interest.

Via gives away disk-scrubbing software


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks are poised to fall for a  second-straight day on Friday on concerns the economy and  corporate profits will slow after crude futures touched another  record and inched toward \$50 per barrel.

Stocks Set to Fall Amid High Oil Price


NEW ORLEANS (Sports Network) - Auburn's defense solidified  its status as one of the nation's toughest, despite a late-game  scare, and the Tigers completed the first perfect season in  school history with a 16-13 Sugar Bowl victory over Virginia  Tech on Monday night.

Auburn Defeats Virginia Tech in Sugar Bowl


The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived in South Korea on Sunday amid concerns over the country #39;s past nuclear experiments.

IAEA chief arrives in South Korea amid concerns over nuclear <b>...</b>


PANAMA CITY, Panama Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera will return to the club in time for game one of the American League Championship Series against Boston Tuesday night.

Yanks closer due back for ALCS


US warplanes have launched sustained and fierce attacks on the rebel-held Iraqi town of Fallujah, witnesses said. They said explosions could be heard in the attacks, a day after interim Prime Minister Iyad

US launches air strikes on Fallujah


One of the worlds most bizarre scientific collections has gone on show. From a homemade iron lung to ancient dentists chairs and antique operating tables, it comprises part of the 170,000-odd items in the storerooms of Londons Science Museum.

Science oddities go on display


A British Army helicopter crashed in the Czech Republic during a military exercise, Czech Army spokeswoman Sabina Introvicova said.

UK Helicopter Crashes in Czech Republic, Crew Reported Dead


Eight EBay sellers were ordered to pay nearly \$90,000 US in restitution and fines after admitting they bid up products online to inflate the prices.

EBay bid-riggers hit with big fines


Indonesia #39;s new president has sworn in his cabinet, a day after his inauguration. But some of the names in the new administration have raised concerns among observers that politics might have won out over practicalities.

Indonesia #39;s Yudhoyono Swears in New Cabinet with Some Surprises


AP - Rafael Palmeiro didn't return to Texas a bitter man. There are too many good memories at the place he called home the past five seasons, and where he hit his 500th homer last year.

Palmeiro Not Bitter Back in Texas (AP)


The way Larry Lester sees it, there wouldn't be any ups without the downs. The triumphant highs just wouldn't be worth savoring without first having experienced the devastating lows.

Receiver refused to lose grip


Google has one of the worst corporate governance of any company in the S amp;P 500 index according to a highly respected advisory group.

Google #39;s Corporate Governance Score Is  quot;Pretty Darn Awful quot;


Reuters - China\offered a rare glimpse of its manned space flight center\Wednesday, drawing back -- if only slightly -- the veil of\secrecy around China's ambitions in outer space.

One Small Step as China Opens Space Center (Reuters)


San Diego faces the possibility of a bankruptcy filing because of a shortfall in its pension fund, but the practice is commonplace among other cities.

Budget Use of Pensions Sows Trouble in San Diego


The US pledges \$20m to help Palestinians out of a financial crisis - a rare direct payment from Washington.

US pledges \$20m to Palestinians


DALLAS (Reuters) - Continental Airlines <A HREF=

Fuel, Charges Push Continental to Loss


The telemarketer at the other end of Orlando Castelblanco #39;s line promised to reduce the consumer #39;s credit card debt by at least \$2,500 and get his 20 percent -- and growing -- interest rates down to single digits.

FTC looks into debt-aid firms


When it comes to forests, air pollution is not an equal opportunity hazard. While dirty air spreads across large areas of the New England region, it's more scattered in the southeastern part of the United States. (University of Wisconsin-Madison press release)

News: New England Forests at Greater Risk from Air Pollution


Reuters - It is 45 years since Tibet's\god-king, the Dalai Lama, fled his homeland on horseback as\Chinese shells rained down on his capital. Many Tibetans do not\expect to see him again, or not in his current incarnation.

Tibetans Say Dalai Lama May Not Return in This Life (Reuters)


The United States and the European Union have taken their fight over billions of dollars in subsidies for Airbus and Boeing to the World Trade Organisation.

US and EU face off over aerospace subsidies


It #39;s back -- the season of peace, good fellowship, and digital marvels. The Entertainment Software Association reckons that nearly one third of all Americans will give a computer game as a Christmas gift in 2004.

Get your game on


Eastman Kodak Co. will return to US District Court next week to seek \$1 billion in damages from Sun Microsystems Inc. now that a federal jury has ruled in its favor in a dispute over the Java computer language.

Kodak wins Java lawsuit


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon  said Thursday he would seek a governing coalition with Shimon  Peres's Labor Party and pledged to press ahead with a planned  Gaza pullout.

Sharon Says Will Seek Coalition with Labor


DreamWorks Animation Studios said Wednesday it would postpone the release of  quot;Shrek 3 quot; to May 2007 from November 2006. The announcement came a day after

#39;Shrek 3 #39; Hibernating Until  #39;07


ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Top generals in Ivory Coast pledged on  Monday to work with France to establish stability in the  world's top cocoa grower after three days of violent  anti-French riots in the main city Abidjan.

Ivory Coast's Army Calls for Calm After Riots


It is common for a merger battle to involve a healthy dose of public posturing on issues such as price and logistics. But while such maneuvering typically plays out in the media, or during analyst forums, it #39;s rare to see it happen in a courtroom.

Trial turns into bid dance


Lower bad loan provisions helped Credit Agricole SA #39;s third-quarter profit to rise 71 percent, the French bank said Wednesday.

Debt Quality Boosts Credit Agricole in 3Q


Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Chinas top ethylene producer, said Sunday its nine-month net profit almost tripled due to rising demand for petrochemcial products from the countrys booming economy.

Strong demand lifts Shanghai Petrochemical net


Haiti's death toll from last month's floods caused by tropical storm Jeanne rises to nearly 2,000, officials say.

Steep rise in Haiti storm deaths


A lockout of the NHL #39;s players, the second in the past 10 years, officially commenced Wednesday at 10:01 pm It was a motion declared by commissioner Gary Bettman Wednesday

Owners put the NHL on ice


Iraq #39;s new prime minister, in his debut appearance before the UN General Assembly, appealed to world governments on Friday to put aside their differences over the war and help Baghdad rebuild.

Iraq PM Asks UN States to Put the War Behind Them


SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. filed nine new lawsuits  against spammers who send unsolicited e-mail, including an  e-mail marketing Web hosting company, the world's largest  software maker said on Thursday

Microsoft Sues Web Hoster, Others Over Spam


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

Dollar Down But Seen in Ranges (Reuters)


Indonesia #39;s new president has sworn in his cabinet, a day after his inauguration. But some of the names in the new administration have raised concerns among observers that politics might have won out over practicalities.

Indonesia #39;s President Swears in New Cabinet


Congress last night passed legislation extending some of President Bush #39;s most-popular middle-class tax cuts - giving Mr. Bush a win heading into the final campaign stretch before Election Day.

Congress extends Bush tax cuts for middle class


Iraq's interim president warned today against Iranian meddling in Iraqi politics ahead of elections next month and said his countrymen must reject religious government.

Yawar Warns Iran Against Meddling in Iraq


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Japanese leaders on Sunday insisted they would not cut short their troops deployment in Iraq despite the discovery of the body of a Japanese backpacker killed by Islamic militants.

Japan vows to stay in Iraq despite killing


U.S. regulators open a public comment period on a plan to wire broadband and VoIP systems for law enforcement surveillance.\

News: Feds invite comment on Internet wiretaps


WHEN quarterback Quincy Carter was unexpectedly released by the Dallas Cowboys during training camp, his departure was surrounded by whispers, never officially confirmed, that he had failed a drug test.

Carter #39;s Subtle Mistake Costs the Jets a Game


NORFOLK -- Gov. Mark Warner used his time in front of an audience of high-powered decision-makers at the commonwealth #39;s annual tech conference Monday to pitch Virginia as a technology-savvy state.

Warner offers sales pitch for state


The EU's Javier Solana and other envoys go to Ukraine to try to mediate in the crisis over the disputed election.

Envoys bid to end Ukraine crisis


Numbers of people using hand-held mobile phones is believed to be rising again in spite of tough new legislation.

Drivers 'carry on using mobiles'


Masco Corp., the parent company of Carmel, Ind.-based Delta Faucet Co., said third-quarter net income rose 13 percent as a surge in home sales boosted sales of paints, cabinets and other home-improvement supplies.

Profit jumps 13 percent for Delta Faucet parent


Payment system Paypal announces a tie-up with Apple's iTunes as it continues to secure new business with online retailers.

PayPal and Apple iTunes link-up


The Mount St Helens volcano in the US state of Washington has erupted its largest steam and ash cloud since its resurgence in activity last month.

Mount St Helens throws up ash


The dollar edged up against the yen and steadied against the euro on Friday, but kept within sight of multi-month lows hit this week on worries about the US economy and its ability to attract global investors.

Dollar Stabilizes Above Recent Lows


A strong earthquake rocked Costa Rica during the weekend, killing eight people and shaking the Central American nation during the Ibero-American summit.

Costa Rica: Earthquake kills eight


Taliban gunmen crept up to an Afghan government office under cover of darkness early Wednesday and launched a battle that left three Afghan soldiers and four attackers dead, police said.

Attackers Kill Three Afghan Soldiers


AP - The judge who must decide whether PeopleSoft Inc.'s corporate takeover defenses will stand up against a hostile takeover attempt by Oracle Corp. said Friday the latest revision of a key defense was

Judge Says PeopleSoft's Revision 'Closer' (AP)


Danny Leon hit a two-run homer, and Tyler Carp and John Lister added solo homers to lead California (1-0) to a 9-2 victory over North Carolina (1-1) yesterday in the Little League World Series at South Williamsport, Pa. The runs came quickly. California batted around in the third inning to take a 6-0 lead. Leon's shot to center and Lister's ...

California overpowers N. Carolina


The latest contender, Flash OFDM technology carries data 10 times faster and is cheaper than 3G phone networks. AMSTERDAM: Europe #39;s second largest mobile carrier T-Mobile said it had started the continent #39;s

3G gets jittery with new super fast rival


AFP - Canadian Defense Minister Bill Graham will be in Britain Monday, one day after the British-built Canadian submarine HMCS Chicoutimi was towed to port in Scotland after it was crippled five days earlier by an electrical fire off the coast of Ireland.

Canadian defense minister travels to Britain over crippled sub affair (AFP)


Libya has signed an agreement to pay \$35-million (US) in compensation for non-American victims in the 1986 bombing of a discotheque in West Berlin, the latest step in the country #39;s

Libya to pay victims of Berlin disco attack


The doors are spinning again for the Mets and it is troubling to the veteran pitcher Tom Glavine, who has not had much to feel good about since signing with the team.

Glavine Fears Mets' Shakeup Reveals Instability


But many Wall Street traders went home last night feeling out of sorts, having hammered stocks nearly 19 points into the red, on early reports that John F. Kerry had taken the lead in the exit polls.

Election uncertainty trips Dow


As Spirit and Opportunity continue their treks through the Martian winter -- still on duty nearly a year after their arrivals, back down on Earth, NASA is already planning the robot rover that will follow them.

Mars Science Laboratory


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen hit  back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning to lead the St  Louis Cardinals to a 6-4 win over the Houston Astros in Game  Two of the NL Championship Series at Busch Stadium on Thursday.

Homers by Pujols, Rolen Power Cards to Victory


AP - The Bush administration released a new economic forecast for 2005 in which it boosted growth forecasts slightly from a year ago but cut back sharply on its estimates of new jobs.

White House Expects Steady Economic Growth (AP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks edged lower on Monday as  interest rates and a weakening dollar took center stage now  that the presidential election is over and investors took  profits after last week's rally.

Stocks Slip, Focus on Weak Dollar


LONDON: Asian countries are at great risk from AIDS, but countries like Pakistan, where prevalence is low, can ward off potential epidemics through prevention programmes if they act quickly, the United Nations reported on Tuesday.

Pakistan must act to prevent AIDS: UNAIDS


Second seed Jiri Novak and number three Guillermo Canas will meet in the Heineken Open semi-finals in Shanghai after both posted straight-sets victories on Friday.

NOVAK AND CANAS SET UP SHOWDOWN


Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and coach Jose Mourinho are convinced that Paris St Germain can bounce back from their crushing home defeat to the London side.

CHELSEA DUO PAY CREDIT TO PSG


Business News, MELBOURNE, Financial group HHG has agreed to sell its life insurance business, including Pearl, National Provident Life and London Life, for 1.025 billion pounds to Life Company Investor Group, and plans to return 875 million pounds of the

Business ; HHG sells life insurance arm


Gold futures hit a 16-year high Monday, continuing a bull run that has gold companies  quot;living the dream, #39; #39; according to one industry analyst.

Gold hits 16-year high on weakness of US\$


AFP - Taiwan claimed a diplomatic victory over rival Beijing by establishing full relations with Vanuatu, a small Pacific nation that less than two months ago pledged its allegiance to mainland China.

Taiwan establishes diplomatic ties with Vanuatu in snub to China (AFP)


Electronic document giant Adobe Systems says it will partner with digital certificate company GeoTrust to provide technology to allow documents that use Adobe #39;s popular Portable Document Format to be digitally certified.

Adobe Does Document Security


NEW YORK Marsh  amp; McLennan has a good chance of surviving despite the departure of Jeffrey Greenberg, its chief executive, as long as its outside directors understand that removing Greenberg is not the last but the first change they will have to make.

The future of Marsh depends on Spitzer


Microsoft Corp. disclosed plans Thursday to offer frustrated users of its Windows software new tools within 30 days to remove spyware programs secretly running on computers. But it might cost extra in coming months.

Microsoft Software to Remove Spyware


A city councilor is proposing stiffer penalties for crimes committed around Boston sports events, in a measure aimed at deterring game-related violence and vandalism.

Game time violence penalties proposed


Manchester United is confident they can catch up nine points on Premier League leader Chelsea. First they have to win their third match in a row for the first time this season.

Man United confident of catching up on Chelsea


RIYADH, 16 September 2004 - Suspected terrorists gunned down a Briton near a major supermarket in the eastern part of Riyadh yesterday.

British National Shot Dead in Riyadh


 By Megan Davies

 NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. technology stocks gained onThursday after bellwether Nokia raised its earnings forecast,but blue chips slipped as oil prices climbed almost \$2 perbarrel, increasing concerns about future corporate profits.

Tech Stocks End Higher, Oil Prices Climb


kevcol writes  quot;The San Francisco Chronicle has an excellent interview with Intel #39;s CEO Craig Barrett who retires next year.

Pre-Retirement Interview With Intel CEO Barrett


ChevronTexaco #39;s (CVX) third-quarter profit improved 62 as the oil giant continued to cash in on record-high oil prices. The company said Friday that

ChevronTexaco #39;s 3Q profit soars 62


Lauren Jackson shoots over an opponent during Seattle #39;s first-round finals sweep of the Minnesota Lynx. Photo: AP. Lauren Jackson is on track to win women #39;s professional basketball #39;s ultimate

Lynx no match for Jackson #39;s perfect Storm


Johnson   Johnson's \$25.4 billion takeover of Guidant Corp. and the \$35 billion union of Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc. are leading the busiest quarter for mergers in more than four years.
 <FONT face=

Merger Activity Hits Record High


US oil company is looking to buy up to 25 stake in the Russian oil giant, source says. MOSCOW (Reuters) - US oil major ConocoPhillips is seeking to buy up to 25 percent in Russian oil giant Lukoil, booking

Conoco may seek stake in Lukoil


TEHRAN (Reuters) - The world must recognize Iran's right to  enrich uranium for fueling power stations, Iranian President  Mohammad Khatami said on Wednesday, responding to a U.N. call  for Iran to suspend enrichment-related activities.

Iran Calls on World to Recognize Its Atomic Rights


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

RadioShack Profits as Wireless Sales Jump


Smithfield Foods Inc., the world #39;s largest hog producer, said profit in the fiscal first quarter more than doubled as livestock prices and pork demand surged.

Smithfield #39;s Net Doubles as Pork Demand, Prices Gain (Update4)


Heading into extra innings on Saturday, both the Phillies and Mets collected nine runs on 11 hits, a fitting tribute on what became an otherwise bizarre day at Shea Stadium.

Major League Baseball News


US Airways pilots resumed negotiations Wednesday with management on a new labor contract with the bankrupt airline, even as the company made clear that it will now be seeking greater concessions.

US Airways Pilots Resume Negotiations


Japan #39;s NTT DoCoMo has released a dual-mode phone that works on both 3G FOMA cellular networks and wireless local area networks.

NTT DoCoMo Launches Wi-Fi 3G Cell Phone


The Football Association will review Arsene Wenger #39;s comments about the referee of Sunday #39;s 2-0 defeat by Manchester United and investigate reports that United manager Alex Ferguson was pelted with soup in the tunnel.

Wenger #39;s referee comments to be investigated by FA


Qualcomm shares fell yesterday after the wireless technology giant said it may change the way it accounts for royalties on its financial statements.

Accounting news sends stock down


BRUSSELS India is to open talks Monday to forge a strategic partnership with the European Union, a status so far restricted to just five big countries.

India-EU partnership talks begin


has pleaded not guilty to 166 criminal charges and a trial was tentatively set for December 1. not speak at his arraignment in federal court on Friday, nor as he left the Orlando courthouse.

Ex-NASA worker in shuttle probe


BEIJING China on Wednesday opened its ancient capital of Xi #39;an and an industrial city in the northeast to overseas banks, a year earlier than planned, as it eases restrictions on their expansion.

China opens cities early to foreign lenders


THE bankrupt Italian food group Parmalat said today its special administrator Enrico Bondi has filed a US lawsuit against Bank of America.

Parmalat files US lawsuit


Ian Paisley is almost certain to sign a historic agreement that would see his Democratic Unionists sharing power in Ulster with Sinn Fein.

Paisley  #39;on verge of pact with Sinn Fein #39;


The day after the Genesis space capsule crashes in the Utah desert, NASA technicians comb through the wreckage hoping to salvage something from the \$264 million mission. Amit Asaravala reports from Salt Lake City.

NASA Searches Genesis Wreckage


5 October 2004 -- Afghan Transitional Administration Chairman Hamid Karzai traveled to a campaign rally outside Kabul today, four days ahead of Afghanistan #39;s presidential election.

Karzai Travels To Campaign Rally Outside Kabul


SEEKING to head off a challenge from video-game rival Sony Corp, Nintendo said on Tuesday that its dual-screen (DS) Game Boy player will hit stores in the United States just in time for the crucial holiday shopping season.

Nov launch for dual-screen Game Boy


Reuters - Venezuelan President Hugo\Chavez has survived a referendum to recall him, according to\results released by electoral authorities on Monday with 94\percent of the vote counted.

Chavez Wins Venezuela Referendum-Official Results (Reuters)


LONDON, Sep 17 (IranMania) - Iran #39;s powerful former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani warned Friday that the International Atomic Energy Agencymay have to  quot;beg quot; for Tehran #39;s cooperation if it bows to US pressure.

#39;IAEA may have to  quot;beg quot; Iran for more cooperation #39;


El Paso #39;s Jennifer Han won her fourth national championship at the National Golden Gloves boxing tournament Saturday in Chicago, earning a decision against Jennifer Barber of California in their 125-pound title bout.

In brief: Han wins another title at Golden Gloves event


Shares of biotech company Biomira Inc. soared as it and a development partner, German drug maker Merck KGaA, reported Friday that the median survival in a study involving a lung cancer vaccine has yet to be reached after 23 months in a subset of patients.

Biomira Shares Skyrocket on Promising Data


ABIDJAN (Reuters) - French troops traded fire with gunmen  who attacked them in northern Ivory Coast on Tuesday, the  French army said -- the latest challenge to peacekeepers  shoring up a peace deal in the divided West African country.

French Soldiers Clash with Gunmen in Ivory Coast


Weary of fielding questions about his role in the postseason, Pedro Martinez asked the Red Sox before Tuesday #39;s game against the Devil Rays to reveal their plans.

Schilling gets call for Game 1


Microsoft has set a firmer date for the release of its desktop search software, after Google launched a test version of its rival program for scouring a PC #39;s hard drive.

Microsoft fixes date for desktop search tool


Whether or not the machines are ready for the election - or the electorate ready for the machines - there is no turning back.

Ready or Not (and Maybe Not), Electronic Voting Goes National


Tim Cahill says he feels Australia deserved to win last night #39;s international match with Norway at Craven Cottage. Norway took the lead through Steffen Iversen shortly before half-time, before Tim Cahill and

Cahill felt Aussies deserved win


Google Inc. won a major legal victory yesterday when a federal judge ruled that the search engine's advertising policy does not violate federal trademark laws.

Google wins trademark ruling over online advertising policy


Veritas Software Corp. (VRTS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest independent US storage software provider, will buy e-mail backup company KVault Software Ltd.

UPDATE 2-Veritas to buy e-mail archive company KVault


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Technology stocks rose on Monday as  semiconductor companies returned to favor on Wall Street, led  by Intel Corp.<A HREF=

Tech Stocks Higher as Intel Lifts Market


Indonesian police investigating the bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta last week have made their first arrests. They have taken into custody a couple suspected of having links to the attack #39;s alleged

First arrests made over Australian embassy bombing in Jakarta


The alleged leader of Southeast Asia #39;s most dangerous Islamic militant group has gone on trial in Indonesia charged with terrorist offenses that carry the death penalty.

Alleged Terror Leader Goes On Trial In Indonesia


An audit found improvement in the Environmental Protection Agency #39;s recent budgets, including a reduction of the Superfund deficit from \$82.7 million to \$7.6 million in 2004.

EPA budget audit finds improvement


England captain David Beckham has apologised for deliberately getting himself booked, and while coach Sven-Goran Eriksson wants the matter put to bed, FIFA president Sepp Blatter says disciplinary action may be taken against the midfielder.

Becks sorry, may still be punished


AP - Jay Nolly saved two penalty kicks and Indiana won its second straight NCAA Men's College Cup title Sunday, beating UC Santa Barbara in a penalty kick shootout.

Indiana Wins 2nd Men's College Cup Title (AP)


The first weekend of holiday shopping went from red-hot to dead white, as a storm that delivered freezing, snowy weather across Colorado kept consumers at home.

Storm pulls wet blanket over holiday sales


After going nearly three months without speaking, the NHL has accepted an invitation from its locked-out union to meet next Thursday and Friday in Toronto.

NHL, union agree to meet next week


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Employers announced 104,530 job cuts last month, capping the worst three months for cutbacks since early 2002, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray  amp; Christmas Inc.

Job cutting worst in 2-1/2 years


America Online will have a desktop search capability in a new browser the company is now beta-testing, an AOL spokesperson says. The spokeswoman declined to provide more details about the desktop searching

AOL Tests Desktop Search


ATHENS, Greece -- Larry Brown was despondent, the head of the US selection committee was defensive and an irritated Allen Iverson was hanging up on callers who asked what went wrong.

Aftershock: Brown rips team #39;s lack of effort


Echoing the Justice Department #39;s consent Monday, the Federal Communications Commission Tuesday granted approval of the \$41 billion buyout under the condition that Cingular divest itself of some network assets.

Cingular Deal Wins FCC Backing


FRANCE and Britain led strong European condemnation of today #39;s car bomb attack which killed at least eight people outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta, with several governments pledging to pursue joint efforts to root out international terrorism.

Europe condemns Jakarta bombing


WASHINGTON: The US trade gap widened nearly 9 per cent in October to a record \$US55.5 billion (\$NZ79.13b) as sky-high oil prices helped propel imports into new territory, while industrial output rose as expected in November.

US trade gap widens further in October


RAMALLAH, West Bank - Marwan Barghouti, the imprisoned leader of the Palestinian uprising, is dropping out the Jan. 9 election to replace Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestinian Authority, his campaign manager said Sunday.

Barghouti withdraws from race replace Arafat


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors are heading into a quarter  that will likely favor small- and mid-cap stocks as corporate  profits rise and businesses rush to take advantage of a tax  break designed to give a lift to small manufacturers.

Stocks to Gain from Tax-Related Spending?


General Motors Corp. offered German workers generous buyouts Thursday to pave the way for up to 12,000 job cuts in Europe, where the world #39;s largest automaker is struggling to end years of losses amid fierce competition and weak demand.

Update 4: GM Europe Offers Generous Buyouts in Deal


Reuters - U.S. stocks were little changed on\Tuesday as a sharp drop in consumer confidence in August\stirred fresh doubt about the economy and expectations for\Intel to pull in its quarterly revenue forecast weighed on\technology stocks.

Stocks Unchanged, Intel Weighs on Nasdaq (Reuters)


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

Ford to Expand Offering of Sirius Radio


The last time the Angels played the Texas Rangers, they dropped two consecutive shutouts at home in their most agonizing lost weekend of the season.

Figgins does it all at the end


The Charles Schwab Corporation said yeserday that it would reduce commissions on most online trades by a third as it strives to retain customers.

Schwab to Cut Most Online Trade Commissions by One-Third


Rafael Benitez is without Luis Garcia for up to a month as his injury list lengthened last night. Garcia suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the 1-0 Champions League defeat at Monaco and will be sidelined until around Christmas time.

More injury woe for Liverpool boss


Barry Bonds won his record seventh Most Valuable Player award Monday, putting him back in another batter #39;s box, where the national media peppered him with

Bonds MVP for seventh time


EL FASHER, Sudan, Oct 30 (AFP) -- Sixty-five Rwandan troops arrived in the the Darfur town of El Fasher as part of a growing African Union (AU) military mission charged with monitoring a shaky ceasefire in the troubled region of western Sudan, an AFP

Rwanda sends reinforcements to African Union mission in Darfur


AP - Both of Washington's potential new governors have experienced the uncomfortable sensation of reading their own political obituaries.

Recount Begins in Wash. Governor's Race (AP)


Ziff Davis - Microsoft's omission of WinFS from the Longhorn version of Windows may open options for open-source competitors to the forthcoming operating system.

'Longhorn' Delay Is Linux Gain (Ziff Davis)


Trevor Baylis, the veteran inventor famous for creating the Freeplay clockwork radio, is planning to float his company on the stock market.

Veteran inventor in market float


The bad news just keeps pouring in for mutual fund manager Janus Capital Group (NYSE: JNS). Yesterday, the Denver-based firm reported that European banker ING Group (NYSE: ING) will pull \$5 billion from its mutual funds, or ...

Janus Loses \$5 Billion


The European Commission on Monday fine-tuned a crunch report on Turkey #39;s bid to join the EU, expected to give a green light but warn of a long road ahead, as Ankara demanded that no special conditions be set.

EU fine-tunes crunch report on Turkey #39;s membership bid


LONDON, November 9 (newratings.com) - The German semiconductor company, Infineon Technologies (IFX.ETR), has projected a downturn in the semiconductor industry next year, after reporting a 10 y/y decline in its profits for the fourth fiscal quarter.

Infineon posts 4Q profit decline; sees chip market downturn ahead


AP - Liu Wei, a starting guard for the Chinese national team, was among three players released by the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Sacramento Kings Release Liu, Two Others (AP)


Jonathan Schwartz looks to an open-source future, while Scott McNealy shows off the upcoming

Photos: Sun execs talk tech


Reuters - More than one of every five UK\households has a broadband connection, according to a new study\on Monday, indicating that falling prices have made Britain one\of the fastest growing markets for high-speed Internet access.

The Broadband Market Rises in the UK (Reuters)


AP - A pair of top executives in charge of the networks division at mobile phone giant Nokia Corp. are leaving the company for personal reasons, the Finnish company said Friday.

Baldauf, Bergqvist to Leave Nokia Posts (AP)


AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - U.S. computer company Hewlett-Packard  said on Wednesday it was expanding a built-to-order system for  personal computers and other high volume computer products,  similar to rival Dell.

INTERVIEW: HP Tries Built-To-Order PCs


Reuters - Oil prices tiptoed lower on Tuesday,\marking a fourth day of losses as worries over potential supply\shortfalls ahead of winter faded and Nigerian unions called off\a strike that could have disrupted exports.

Oil Down Again; U.S. Crude Stocks Seen Up (Reuters)


The Pittsburgh Steelers are accomplishing feats never seen in the NFL, largely because of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers combined their new quarterback with a touch of the old - Jerome

Sunday #39;s NFL Roundup


By staff writers and wires. AUSTRALIAN company profits jumped 10.3 per cent in the June quarter thanks to robust consumer and business spending that will boost economic growth outcomes and the electoral prospects of the Howard Government.

Bumper profits, but debt blows out


An American and a British law firm, both of which have expanded rapidly, announced a merger yesterday to form one of the largest corporate law firms.

2 Big Law Firms to Merge


Intel plans to use novel materials and manufacturing processes to develop smaller and faster computer chips once current technologies no longer do the trick.

Intel Targets Nanotechnology for Future Chip Development


The Wallabies have gained a massive boost with skipper George Gregan making himself available for the coming European rugby tour. The halfback, however, has left the door open to quit the tour should his son #39;s

Gregan to tour with Wallabies


NEW YORK Despite nervousness over the presidential election, Wall Street extended its rally on Tuesday, pushing stocks higher as investors welcomed a drop in oil prices to below \$50 per barrel.

Stocks: Rally continues despite election-day jitters


Ahmed Qureia, the Palestinian prime minister, has appealed to all political and military factions to avoid violence while Yasser Arafat lies critically ill in a French military hospital - and after he dies.

Hamas agrees to avoid infighting


AP - The Boston Red Sox will try to get Curt Schilling ready for another World Series start. They certainly hope they don't need to use him.

Sox Hope They Won't Need Schilling Again (AP)


AFP - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw left London for Sudan, where he was to discuss the crisis in war-torn Darfur with President Omar al-Beshir and senior officials.

British FM leaves for Darfur visit (AFP)


The online giant is quietly calling on beta testers to try out its take on VoIP.

AOL testing Net phone service


Insurgents pressed their campaign against Iraqi security forces, killing 18 members of the Iraqi National Guard and a civilian.

19 Iraqis Killed in Car Bombing


LONDON (Reuters) - World oil prices rose sharply again on  Thursday after Russian oil giant YUKOS said a Moscow court's  decision to effectively freeze its bank accounts threatened its  ability to continue production.

Oil Up on Russia, Iraq Supply Concerns


Reuters - India's home test series against Australia next month will be telecast on Sony television, and live pictures produced by TEN Sports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Thursday.

BCCI says Sony to telecast Australia test series (Reuters)


AP - The ATP Tour will supply players with nutritional supplements checked by a WADA-affiliated laboratory starting next season.

ATP Tour to Give Nutritional Supplements (AP)


NEW YORK: Global computer server sales rose 5.5 per cent in the third quarter to \$11.5 billion (6.2 billion) from a year ago, but growth was flat in dollar terms from the second quarter, market research firm IDC has said.

Global server sales up 5.5 in Q3


Energy-poor South Korea is expected to raise its energy independency as the government has agreed to join oil field and uranium development projects in Kazakhstan.

S. Korea to Secure 600-800 Mil. Barrels of Oil From Kazakhstan


PARIS (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. <A HREF=

Microsoft, Dassault Systemes in Strategic Alliance


In the global aerospace race, Europe has stolen a march on the United States, winning a flurry of contracts for Airbus planes and developing a new midsize jet to compete with Boeing.

Aviation Fight Mirrors Larger French-German Rivalry


This November, Eileen Rivera Ley, 41, will vote by herself for the first time. Blind voters in Maryland and several other states will use electronic voting machines equipped with technology that allows the disabled to vote independently.

Disabled Are Pleased With E-Voting


Wal-Mart asked an appeals court to overturn a ruling allowing 1.6 million female workers seeking billions of dollars in back pay to sue the company for discrimination as a group.

Wal-Mart asks for reversal of ruling in workers #39; suit


Tokyo #39;s Nikkei average fell 0.46 percent by late Tuesday, setting the stage for an eighth straight day of losses after oil prices topped \$50 a barrel, fanning concerns about Japan Inc #39;s prospects.

Nikkei Poised to Fall for 8th Day


TD Bank has reported  quot;solid, broad-based results quot; with a 17 per cent rise in quarterly earnings and a dividend increase - along with a \$3.

TD posts profit rise, buys Banknorth stake


BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Airbus <A HREF=

Airbus Withdraws Microsoft Backing-Source


AP - Sony BMG Music Entertainment and online peer-to-peer software distributor Grokster are working on a new venture that is expected to offer paid and free song downloads over the Internet, sources say.

Sources: Sony Eyes File-Sharing Venture (AP)


Department store group Sears and discount retailer Kmart say they are to merge in a \$11bn deal, becoming the US's third largest retailer.

Retail giants merge in \$11bn deal


BEIJING, Dec. 14 -- Ten percent of all bird species are set to go extinct by the end of this century, US researchers said on Monday.

Ten percent birds disappear by 2100: study


A price tag has been attached to Brad Halsey #39;s brushback pitch to Boston #39;s Dave Roberts and subsequent ejection in the bottom of the eighth inning of the Yankees #39; 11-4 loss at Fenway on Sunday.

Fined and suspended


By committing to change, he goes from special teams to starter. BY JOHN HEUSER. Plenty of Wolverines are  quot;battling to start quot; at certain positions, or  quot;challenging for time quot; at others.

Michigan #39;s Manning leads by example


Reuters - U.S. Treasury prices drifted lower on\Wednesday in generally subdued trade, with some focus on the\day's economic numbers.

US Treasuries Drift Lower, Data in Sight (Reuters)


Michael Vick runs for 104 yards and threw two first-half touchdown passes to Alge Crumpler to lead the Falcons to a 14-10 triumph over the Giants on Sunday.

Vick Runs Past Giants


NEW DELHI: The Indian security team has ruled against Chittagong as the venue of the second Test match as well as the first of the three one-dayers with Bangladesh.

#39;Hold 2nd Test in Dhaka as well #39;


As she climbed the final obstacle to her first-ever marathon victory, Constantina Tomescu-Dita couldn #39;t help looking back - back to her past, back to the ghosts that have plagued her time and time again.

Nobody catches Tomescu-Dita this time


Panasonic put another nail in the VCR #39;s coffin this week when it announced a digital video recorder that can store 700 hours (nearly an entire month) of programming on its 400GB hard drive.

Enter your e-mail:


Often pigeonholed as just a seller of televisions and DVD players, Royal Philips Electronics said Tuesday that its third-quarter profit surged despite

Philips Posts Best Quarterly Results in Four Years


AP - Kobe Bryant scored the Lakers' first 14 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 42, carrying Los Angeles to a 99-91 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.

Lakers Beat Nuggets, 99-91 (AP)


AP - Manny Ramirez homered twice, Curt Schilling moved into a tie for the major league lead with 17 wins and the streaking Boston Red Sox beat the Anaheim Angels 10-7 Tuesday night.

Red Sox Hold Off Angels 10-7 (AP)


Siebel Systems is mounting an effort to alleviate a major hassle that comes with licensing its customer information systems -- the labour-intensive task of tuning and tending to its software in complex computing environments.

Siebel enters Motive alliance


Jeffrey Nick, an IBM veteran who helped design the company's on-demand computing initiative and led its grid computing strategy, has been named EMC's new CTO.

EMC taps longtime IBM veteran Jeffrey Nick for CTO position


ST. LOUIS -- So I have this idea for a new reality TV show. Kind of a Survivor/Apprentice/Benefactor/Wife Swap thing, except without the competition part.

I #39;m telling ya, couch potato-ing the Division series gets no <b>...</b>


Foods giant Unilever is to close one of its Birds Eye factories with the loss of 600 jobs in an effort to cut costs, as two other companies also revealed job cuts in the UK.

Birds Eye jobs among 1,400 to go in cost cuts


LONDON - It has long been suspected that man's best friend has a special ability to sense when something is wrong with us. Now the first experiment to verify that scientifically has demonstrated that dogs are able to smell cancer...

Study Shows Dogs Able to Smell Cancer


Afghan and international forces laid a security ring around Kabul on Monday in preparation for the inauguration of Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan #39;s first popularly elected

Security tight for Afghan inauguration


House price growth continued to show signs of slowing down during September the latest figures have shown. The average cost of a home increased by 0.2 per cent during the month, following growth of only 0.1

House price growth continues to slow down


Real Madrid were in rueful mood after missing out on securing a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bayer Leverkusen at the Bernabeu.

Real rue missed opportunity against Leverkusen


Yum Brands Inc. said Thursday sales at US restaurants open at least a year, or same-store sales, rose 5 percent in the four weeks ended Sept.

Taco Bell boosts Yum #39;s August sales


Reuters - Walgreen Co. , one of the\largest U.S. drugstore chain operators, on Monday posted a 30.5\percent jump in quarterly profit, boosted by increased sales of\prescription drugs.

Walgreen Quarterly Profit Rises (Reuters)


BEIJING (Reuters) - Floods and landslides have killed 76  people in southwest China in the past four days and washed away  homes and roads, knocked down power lines and cut off at least  one city, state media said on Monday.

Floods Kill 76 in China, No Let-Up in Sight


The Russian Cabinet on Thursday approved the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on combating global warming, clearing the way for parliament #39;s vote on the pact, which needs Russia #39;s support to take effect, the Interfax news agency reported.

Russia Moves On Global Warming


AP - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer said he wasn't sure he was being truly impartial when the high court was asked to settle the disputed 2000 presidential vote in Florida.

Breyer Questions Impartiality on Ruling (AP)


AP - Lang Campbell played like an All-American even against major college competition.

QB Lang Campbell Leads I-AA All-Americans (AP)


MOSCOW - The militants who raided a school in southern Russia last week were led by a man dubbed the Colonel, who enforced obedience by killing three fellow attackers - two by detonating the explosives they had strapped to their bodies.    Two days later, the attackers were moving the explosives they rigged around the gym where hundreds of hostages were held, and a bomb went off accidentally...

Russia: Accidental Blast Led to Siege End


Review Stuck between rock, hard place?

Sapphire Hybrid X700 Pro graphics card


Climate change demands Britain consider building new nuclear power plants, says Lord May, the Royal Society president.

UK needs 'more nuclear stations'


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

P G Profit Climbs, Outlook Maintained


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

On-Demand Video Game Services Vary


NAHANT, Mass.--Joseph Ayers was crouched over a laptop in a cool cinder block shed barely big enough to house a ride-on lawn mower, watching a boxy-shelled black lobster through a rectangular acrylic window.

They #39;re robots? Those beasts!


SAS unveiled on Monday a forecasting tool, SAS High-Performance Forecasting, targeted at industries that do large volumes of forecasts.

SAS launches automated forecasting tool


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar stayed in tight ranges on  Tuesday as the market looked beyond a widely expected U.S.  interest rate raise later in the day and focused on what the  Fed would say about the possibility of further increases.

Dollar Stuck, Market Eyes FOMC Statement


Israeli troops on Tuesday shot and killed two Palestinians who entered an unauthorized area in the Gaza Strip, military sources said.

Israeli Forces Kill 3 Palestinians


US stocks rose this week after reports showed the economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter and manufacturing expanded in September for a 16th straight month.

US Stocks Rise in Week; S amp;P 500 Gains for 7th Week in Eight


Facing increased fuel prices, more Americans are choosing tankless water heating units, despite higher upfront costs.

The Rise of the Bottomless Hot Water Heaters


President Alvaro Uribe has accelerated a program that redistributes land confiscated from narcotraffickers.

Colombia's poor inherit drug estates


ON-LOAN Liverpool striker El Hadji Diouf is facing a three-match ban after his latest spitting controversy drew widespread disgust from the football world.

Diouf set for ban following spit fury


AP - Bambooflat island is only a 20 minute ferry ride from the capital of this Indian archipelago, yet no relief for the tsunami victims had arrived by Saturday, leaving some 2,000 families angry and desperate for humanitarian aid.

Indian Ocean Island Pleads for Relief (AP)


Ask Jeeves and Lycos Enter the Search Engine Optimization Field\\In a highly surprising move, two well known smaller search engines have entered the organic search engine optimization market!  Ask Jeeves and Lycos are both offering services in a sector has traditionally maintained a symbiotic but arm's-length relationship with search ...


MELBOURNE, Australia -- If former Australian Davis Cup player Scott Draper has an early exit from next month #39;s Australian Open tennis championships, he can always put away his racket and pull out the golf clubs.

Tennis player earns card for Australasian Tour


Boston Red Sox #39;s catcher Jason Varitek jumps into the arms of pitcher Keith Foulke after beating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 to win the World Series Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004, in St.

#39;Fever Pitch #39; Gets World Series Footage


The dollar sank Monday to within half a cent of last week #39;s record low against the euro after a weekend meeting of world finance chiefs ended with no agreement to stem the greenback #39;s decline.

Dollar hovers near record low


Reuters - Microsoft Corp. warned Asian\governments on Thursday they could face patent lawsuits for\using the Linux operating system instead of its Windows\software.

Microsoft Warns Asian Governments of Linux Lawsuits (Reuters)


It stopped its MGM bid -- again -- citing financial discipline. But even if Sony buys the studio, problems may emerge down the road.

Time Warner: Lights, Camera, Inaction


A group threatening to kill three kidnapped foreigners working for the United Nations in Afghanistan has denied extending the deadline for the United States to release all Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners.

Afghan kidnappers deny deadline extension


Description: Researchers report this week that they have found the remains of a group of small hominids that may be a new species of human -- one that may have existed on an island near Indonesia as late as 14,000 years ago.

New Human Species Discovered


Users should install the critical fix as soon as possible, software giant says.

Microsoft Issues Special Patch for IE Hole


Massive database holds info on millions of voters, and is used to get people to the polls.

GOP Voter Vault Shipped Overseas


AP - WASHINGTON  #151; House Republicans sought Tuesday to quash an undying Internet rumor that the government will reinstate a military draft after the election, hoping with a vote to kill legislation that would do it, and the rumor as well.

House GOP Seeks to Quash Draft Rumor (AP)


Intel is drawing the curtain on some of its future research projects to continue making transistors smaller, faster, and less power-hungry out as far as 2020.

Intel Prepares for the future


Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, suffered a massive blow to his project to withdraw from settlements in the Gaza Strip last night when his party refused to allow him to invite new partners into the government who might have backed his plans.

Sharon loses crucial party vote


AP - Two-time major champion Dottie Pepper is moving to the broadcast booth next year, signing a contract with The Golf Channel to be a lead analyst for its tournament coverage.

Dottie Pepper to Join Golf Channel Next Year (AP)


Toshiba has accused Hynix of infringing its DRAM and Flash patents, and has begun legal proceedings against its South Korean rival in the US and Japanese courts.

Toshiba takes Hynix to task in patent clash


Prince Bernhard, one of the most charismatic members of the Dutch royal family, dies at the age of 93.

Netherlands' Prince Bernhard dies


In the wake of reports that Koh Young-hee, the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, passed away earlier this month, experts are attempting to weigh the impact her death could have on

Koh #39;s Death Triggers Speculation on NK Successor


SPACE.com - DENVER, COLORADO -- Those twin robots hard at work on Mars have transmitted teasing views that reinforce the prospect that microbial life may exist on the red planet.

Life on Mars Likely, Scientist Claims (SPACE.com)


NEW DELHI : Top Indian and Pakistani officials approved proposals to break the impasse over Kashmir and strengthen ties on the eve of a meeting between the rival states #39; foreign ministers.

India, Pakistan approve key proposals ahead of ministers #39; meeting


AP - Russia's Federal Space Agency and NASA have approved the crew of the next mission to the international space station, a Russian agency spokesman said Tuesday.

Russia, NASA OK Space Station's Next Crew (AP)


Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, right, hangs on to Milwaukee Bucks center Zendon Hamilton (31) while fouling on a dunk in the second half in Boston, Wednesday Dec. 1, 2005.

Celtics 101 Edge Bucks 101-100


A toolkit designed to exploit a recently-disclosed Microsoft JPEG vulnerability has been released onto the net.\

News: JPEG exploit toolkit spotted online


The battle lines between two leading wireless broadband technologies were drawn more clearly this week as the major proponents of each approach announced that a large hardware company had joined their camp.

Two Wireless Broadband Standards Get A Boost


Neuroscientists and biomedical engineers have become increasingly adept at making devices that translate people's thoughts into actions -- a potential boon for paralyzed patients.

Mind Over Matter


Iran #39;s senior nuclear official said that the Islamic republic might resume the suspension of uranium enrichment as requested by the European Union in an attempt to end a standoff over its nuclear program.

Iran may continue suspension of uranium enrichment


As the Broncos hope to learn more about the return of one standout defensive player this week, they will have to deal with the loss of another defensive leader.

Safety sidelined by stress fracture


Fourth-string quarterback Seneca Wallace led Seattle on two touchdown drives as the Seahawks defeated the Packers, 21-3, on Monday night.

Seahawks Stuff Packers


Reuters - Shi'ite fighters left the Imam Ali\Mosque in Najaf Friday and began turning in their weapons,\after tens of thousands of pilgrims celebrated a peace\agreement that ended a bloody rebellion.

Iraqi Rebels Leave Najaf Shrine, Hand in Weapons (Reuters)


Reuters - Alaska's Aleutian Island chain, where\a broken cargo ship has been leaking fuel oil for five days,\needs the type of environmental protections that are given to\better-known areas, a marine wildlife activist said on Monday.

Aleutian Spill Shows Area's Vulnerability (Reuters)


ObjectWeb will begin distributing an open source BPEL server in the coming weeks, expanding the available options for a middleware technology used to link several applications and data sources into a larger business process. It will be the second open source BPEL server released in recent weeks.

ObjectWeb plans open source BPEL server


A new extra-solar planet has been identified orbiting a star 500 light years from our solar system. The discovery was made by a team using a four-inch diameter telescope to make their observations - a size

Small  #39;scope spots big planet


The Bowl Championship Series standings underwent a shakeup yesterday, but the top two teams -- Southern California and Oklahoma -- remained the same.

BCS Is Shaken by Upsets, But Top Two Stay in Place


Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday reported record fourth-quarter homebuilding sales and backlog, citing a growing population of affluent buyers.

UPDATE 4-Toll posts strong 4th-quarter homebuilding sales


Mozilla's new web browser is smart, fast and user-friendly while offering a slew of advanced, customizable functions. By Michelle Delio.

Firefox 1.0 Makes Flashy Debut


French and Ivory Coast military commanders appealed for calm Monday in Abidjan, as government supporters, whipped into a frenzy by reports that French tanks were

Ivoirian Throngs Assemble to Shield President From the French


The boards of both the US telecoms giant Sprint Corp and mobile phone operator Nextel Communications Inc have announced their intention to create the third largest mobile operator in the US, in a deal worth \$35 billion.

Sprint buys Nextel for \$35 billion


The US military in Iraq has denied reports that the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is on hunger strike. But a spokesman told the BBC that some of his former aides who are also in custody, including  quot;Chemical

US denies Saddam on hunger strike