A series of bomb blasts have killed 20 people and wounded more than 50 in northeastern India. This is the deadliest attack since a ceasefire with the main separatist group in Nagaland began seven years ago.

Blasts kill 20 in northeast India


Chelsea #39;s assault on an unprecedented quadruple gained momentum at Craven Cottage when Frank Lampard #39;s 88th-minute goal sealed their place in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.

Lampard strikes again


Charlotte opens the game with a WNBA-record 21 straight points in the Sting's 60-50 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday night.

Sting Pound Lynx Early


AP - Western Mexico's

Mexico's 'Volcano of Fire' Spews Lava (AP)


HANOVER, N.H. -- The domination continues. The University of New Hampshire, ranked No. 15, won its fifth straight Granite Bowl over Dartmouth yesterday, pummeling the Big Green, 45-24.

Wildcats bowl over Dartmouth -- again


Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Dell joined a host of electronics makers Thursday in an effort to promote a unified code of socially responsible business practices across the world.

Ethics code written to reprogram tech industry


People in Ghana are closely following the vote counting after Tuesday #39;s election, with final results expected late Wednesday. After waiting patiently in line Tuesday to cast votes in their fourth consecutive

Ghana Waits for Official Results from Tuesday #39;s Election


COLOMBO - Sri Lankas president Chandrika Kumaratunga offered to revive stalled peace talks with the Tamil Tigers in a message conveyed to rebels by Norways foreign minister Jan Petersen, her office said on Thursday.

Norway FM takes peace message to Tamil Tigers


quot;Why take risk to achieve an average return? quot; So asks reader RD of Houston. He wants what all of us want - superior performance.

Major index funds score better than average


Only six years ago, all of this was unimaginable. Brigham Young, playing football at Boise State as a three-touchdown underdog. The Broncos, ranked in the Top 25 with ambitions of going unbeaten.

Underdog Y. shows signs of life despite narrow loss


The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Tuesday that IOC President Jacques Rogge has set up a Disciplinary Commission to investigate remarks on ABCs 20/20 Friday, made by Victor Conte, head of the California-based Balco laboratory, on ABC

IOC Sets Up Disciplinary Commission To Investigate Jones Doping <b>...</b>


Subscribers to Moveon.org #39;s mailing lists may have found their interest in the anti-Bush political site a matter of public record.

Moveon.org subscriber-data leaked through search


Turkish newspapers were for the most part jubilant Wednesday after a government-opposition deal resulted in the axing Tuesday of a motion to make adultery a jailable offense in the country #39;s new penal code.

Turkish press jubilant over axed adultery project


An American civil rights group filed a criminal complaint in Germany on Tuesday alleging Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other US officials condoned torture and human rights violations at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

GERMAN COURTS: NY-based rights group pushes war crimes probe


Sharon is not Charles de Gaulle. He is as far away as ever from the conviction that Israel must recognize the national rights of the Palestinian people and withdraw from territories occupied in 1967, let alone

Sharon is no De Gaulle


AS the West Indies players gather in Barbados for their three-week camp ahead of the short tour to Australia, an official of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has warned the players to expect

Expect more discipline, warns Windies #39; CEO


Clashes with separatists in the breakaway region of South Ossetia kill two Georgian soldiers.

Two die in South Ossetia fighting


Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat #39;s passing away last week lowered the curtain for his half-century efforts of Palestinian liberation, but the Middle East peace process continued and arrived at a new crossroad.

Pits still ahead for post-Arafat Mideast peace process


AP - The Southern chorus frog has been found in southeastern Virginia, far outside its previously known range. The animal had never before been reported north of Beaufort County, N.C., about 125 miles to the south.

Chorus Frog Found Croaking in Virginia (AP)


AP - Azy and Indah are about to go off to school, but they certainly are not ordinary students. They're orangutans, long-limbed, long-haired, bright-eyed primates who will become the first residents of the Great Ape Trust of Iowa, where Rob Shumaker and his associates will study their behavior and learning capabilities.

Ape Learning Center Welcoming 'Students' (AP)


The Bank of England #39;s Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to keep interest rates steady at 4.75 percent earlier this month, but analysts say another

Interest rates may rise in November


As bruising and violent as most Sundays are around the NFL, it's hard to top last week's for physical pain.

Is there a doctor in the house?


In a statement today supermarket chain Sainsbury said it expected first-half profits to drop nearly two-thirds compared with last year as a result of loss of market share.

Sainsbury profits to drop by two thirds


TRIPOLI: Libya signed a deal yesterday to pay \$35 million (BD13m) in compensation to mainly German victims of a Berlin nightclub bombing 18 years ago.

\$35m Libyan payout for blast victims


A new round of lawsuits aimed at prolific Internet song-swappers could be announced as early as Thursday as music executives meet in London to discuss the next step in their global war on Internet piracy.

File swappers face new antipiracy push


DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. set its planned initial public offering on Tuesday at 29 million Class A common shares at an estimated price of \$23 to \$25 per share, which could bring in more than \$600 million for the company.

DreamWorks sets \$23-\$25 a share IPO


Alvin Pearman runs for a career-high 223 yards and a touchdown Saturday, and No. 14 Virginia piles up 511 yards of offense in a 37-16 win over Duke.

Cavs Bury Blue Devils


Tokyo stocks slid for a seventh straight session Monday to a five-and-a-half week low due to concerns about rising oil prices. The US dollar was higher against the Japanese yen.

Update 3: Tokyo Stocks Edge Lower, Dollar Higher


Lleyton Hewitt of Australia moved into the quarterfinals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Alejandro Falla of Colombia in Washington.

Hewitt advances


Subaru #39;s Petter Solberg has extended his lead in the Rally Japan to 46.4 seconds after dominating the action on the second morning.

SOLBERG STORMS CLEAR OF RIVALS


The Oakland Raiders cornerback read Brad Johnson #39;s intent, raced back toward him as the Tampa Bay play developed, picked off the pass in the left flat and skirted untouched 32 yards down the sideline for a third-quarter touchdown.

Gruden deal now pays off against Bucs


DENVER - On a day when Colorado pitching dominated at Coors Field, a bloop single by Jeromy Burnitz gave the Rockies a doubleheader sweep.

Rockies 7, Diamondbacks 1; Rockies 2, Diamondbacks 1, 10 innings


<cite>PC Welt</cite> looks under the hood

Windows Media Player sound files 'edited with warez'


between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve last year, The Salvation Army raised nearly \$40,000 from its signature Christmas kettles at five local Target stores.

Target stores tell Salvation Army to retreat


This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half. PalmSource said on Tuesday that it is releasing the e-mail application interface needed

PalmSource #39;s BlackBerry effort bears fruit


Opposition Leader Mark Latham shrugged off the results of a new poll which showed the coalition would have easily won an election this weekend.

Latham shrugs off poll result


com. Intel on Wednesday added a faster Pentium M processor to its Centrino chip-set bundle for laptops. The Pentium M 765 runs at 2.1GHz, packs 2MB of Level 2 cache, and uses Intel #39;s power-saving technologies to extend battery life, said Intel.

Intel Bumps Speed Of Fastest Centrino


Nokia has unveiled a system for hosting, delivering and charging for entertainment and application content for mobile phones, called Preminet.

Nokia woos operators with Preminet


Reuters - U.S. colleges and universities are\increasingly giving students free access to download services\like Roxio Inc.'s Napster to discourage illegal song copying,\the recording industry said Tuesday.

Twenty Schools Sign Up for Legal Song Downloads (Reuters)


Patches released for flaws in software package that lets Windows files and printers be shared by Unix and Linux systems.

Samba servers vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks


Fast Forward columnist Rob Pegoraro will be online to host his second discussion on The Washington Post's holiday tech buying guide and answer your personal tech questions.

Holiday Tech Buying Guide


TORONTO (CP) - Rogers Communications Inc. and its mobile phone division Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. said Friday they are raising a total of \$2.

Rogers to raise nearly \$2.8 billion US in private financing to pay <b>...</b>


Striving to keep pace with crossover-minded rivals, cable operator Charter Communications (CHTR:Nasdaq - news - research) hammered out phone-service arrangements with two big carriers and a consultant.

Charter Sets Phone Service Deal


Revlon Inc. #39;s third-quarter loss widened amid a 7 percent drop in sales as the cosmetics giant completed an ambitious refinancing effort.

Revlon #39;s loss widens in third quarter


Wily Mo Pena hit two home runs Saturday to give the Cincinnati Reds a 6-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs. D #39;Angelo Jimenez also homered for the Reds, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

MLB: Cincinnati 6, Chicago Cubs 5


AP - Tokyo stocks opened lower Thursday following Wall Street's weakness. The dollar was higher against the Japanese yen.

Tokyo Stocks Open Lower (AP)


NASA will attempt to set the world speed record for an air-intake engine tomorrow. The X-43A Hyper-X is a supersonic ramjet that may lead to more efficient launch vehicles and missiles in the future.

Ramjet aims at record Mach 10 speed


BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Colombia said on Friday that a  top Marxist guerrilla leader may avoid extradition to the  United States if his rebel group frees 63 hostages, including  three Americans and one German.

Colombia Says Rebel Leader May Avoid Extradition


Sorting out which MP3 player is best, how to select a gaming console or making sense of high-tech TVs can become as much a chore as decorating your house for the holidays. Enter the ever-popular tech gadget gift buying guide. <FONT face=

Our Holiday Guide to ... Holiday Guides


The flare-up of violence in the Ivory Coast - which has seen 300 British troops sent in to evacuate British nationals -ould spread across West Africa and plunge the region back into conflict, a senior UN official has warned.

Ivory Coast strife could spread across West Africa, says UN


Computer-security experts, including former government officials, urged the Bush administration on Tuesday to devote more effort to strengthening defenses against viruses, hackers and other online threats.

Experts Push for More Computer Security Efforts


America's Katie Smith reinjures her right knee early in a dominating 100-62 women's basketball victory over China on Sunday.

Women's Hoops Cruises


Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, already ruled out of Wednesday #39;s Champions League match against Panathinaikos, is a major doubt for Sunday #39;s Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Arsenal captain Vieira doubtful for United clash


quot;What a Choke, #39; #39;  quot;Hell Freezes Over, #39; #39;  quot;Damned Yankees, #39; #39; and  quot;Monumental Collapse #39; #39; were found on the front and back pages of Thursday #39;s New York newspapers.

Better bet the Boss will be rebuilding his empire


The Honda pilot snatched provisional pole in first qualifying Friday. Today, he hopes to confirm, adding a little spice to the end of a season that saw him lose the 2004 title to Yamaha rider Rossi by a frustrating 35 points.

Gibernau on home turf


Reuters - Afghan President Hamid Karzai\abruptly canceled a speech to a state-run think tank in\Pakistan on Tuesday, but officials denied security was a\reason.

Karzai Cancels Pakistan Speech, But Risk Fears Denied (Reuters)


The inaugural night of Uefa Cup group football produced handsome victories for Stuttgart - who beat Beveren 5-1 -enit St Petersburg  - thrashed AEK Athens 5-1  Ra-rs  5-0 -ners in Poland  and Fe-oord, who triumphed 3-0 over Hearts

Uefa Cup Wrap: Aachen Stun Lille, Big Wins For Stuttgart, Zenit,


SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp., whose software runs about 95 percent of personal computers worldwide, has delayed the next version of its Windows PC operating system until late 2006 because engineers took time away from the project to improve the security of

Microsoft pushes back release of its next version of Windows


STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Top seed Andre Agassi marched into  the Stockholm Open semifinals Friday, beating Spanish eighth  seed Fernando Verdasco 7-6, 6-2 in his hardest match of the  tournament.

Agassi Tames Verdasco as Johansson Quits


In this artist #39;s concept released by NASA, a ring of dusty debris is seen around a star. NASA #39;s Spitzer Space Telescope found rings of dust around planet-bearing stars, an important confirmation of theories

NASA Telescopes Find Dust Rings Around


Nortel Networks Corp., which plans to shed some light tomorrow morning on its financial performance for the first half of the year, hinted yesterday that those long-awaited results could be short on details.

Nortel hints it won #39;t tell all


Real Madrid is not planning to transfer Fernando Morientes, the club said in a statement Thursday, denying suggestions the striker was poised to move to Liverpool.

Madrid says Morientes not for sale


Reuters - Japan's Nintendo Co. Ltd. struck the\first blow in what is set to be an all-out war with Sony Corp.\for the lucrative handheld game console market, aggressively\pricing its new dual-screen model at  #36;149.99 and setting its\U.S. launch date for Nov. 21.

Nintendo, Sony Square Off in Handheld Game Market (Reuters)


AP - 1912  #151; Joe Wood of the Boston Red Sox pitched his 16th consecutive victory to tie Walter Johnson's record as he beat the St. Louis Browns 2-1.

This Date in Baseball for Sept. 15 (AP)


LAS VEGAS - Hotel heiress Nicky Hilton married a New York money manager before dawn Sunday in an impromptu ceremony, according to court filings obtained by The Associated Press.    Hilton, 20, married Todd Andrew Meister, 33, at the Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, according a Clark County marriage license...

Nicky Hilton Marries in Vegas


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Shopping.com <A HREF=

Shopping.com Shares Up 52 Pct in Debut


HALIFAXNot much is left after the early morning crash of a jumbo cargo jet but a broken, burned-out metal carcass and a Harry Potter novel.

Jet crashes on takeoff in Halifax, killing seven


LONDON, England -- Prince Harry was hit in the face by a camera during an overnight scuffle outside a nightclub that left a photographer with a cut lip.

Prince Harry hit in face by camera


AP - A former NASA inspector has been accused of lying about inspecting crucial parts on the space shuttle Discovery before and after the Columbia disaster that killed seven astronauts and grounded the entire orbiter fleet.

NASA Inspector's Shuttle Checks Questioned (AP)


AP - The National League's best offense is off to a feeble start in the World Series, and the St. Louis Cardinals' chances are sagging along with it.

Lack of Clutch Hitting Hurts Cards Again (AP)


Reuters - Bank of America Corp.  on\Thursday said it would increase the number of jobs it will cut\by 36 percent to 17,000 after its acquisition of FleetBoston\Financial as it simplifies operations.

Bank of America to Cut 4,500 More Jobs (Reuters)


New Delhi, Oct. 25: Visiting Myanmar military ruler Senior General Than Shwe today told his hosts his country will not allow its soil to be used by Northeast insurgents against Indian interests.

Manmohan Singh greets Than Shwe at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. <b>...</b>


A British soldier appeared in court today charged with the murder of a man in Iraq. Kevin Lee Williams, 21, was granted bail at a brief hearing at Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London.

British soldier charged with murdering Iraqi


Gordon Brown was at it again at the Labour Party conference in Brighton yesterday, boasting of the fiscal and monetary stability he and his policies have introduced into the UK economy.

Jeremy Warner #39;s Outlook: The pensions blot on Chancellor #39;s <b>...</b>


The ranks of the unemployed in Germany increased in October for the ninth straight month, the Federal Labour Agency said today in a report that threatened government efforts to shrink the public deficit.

Jobless numbers increase again in Germany


Oil futures prices fell Wednesday after an American government report showed US supplies of crude rising sharply, allowing traders to shrug off the fact that inventories of heating oil are still tight.

Crude oil futures fall below \$49 US a barrel as oil supplies grow


Hamilton, 46, had a biopsy at the Cleveland Clinic, and doctors expected to release him from the hospital today, publicist Michael Sterling said Thursday.

FIGURE SKATING


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans lining up to  claim an initial week of jobless aid climbed more than expected  last week, primarily because of hurricanes that have battered  Florida, putting many people out of work, the government said  on Thursday.

Hurricane Impact Drives Up Jobless Claims


Organizations representing 60,000 United Nations employees are urging Secretary-General Kofi Annan to pull all UN staff out of Iraq.

Annan Urged to Pull All UN Staff Out of Iraq


NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Eliot  Spitzer is launching a suit against several prominent  participants in the insurance industry, including AIG and  broker Marsh   McLennan Cos. <A HREF=

NY AG to Sue Insurers for Manipulation


Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Sports Network) - Ajax defender Hatem Trabelsi finally ended his holdout by signing a new two-year contract on Friday.

Ajax finally comes to terms with Trabelsi


When was the last time you read a good mystery novel, or munched popcorn while watching a mystery flick at your local theater? Odds are, either of these entertainments set you back at least \$10 and lasted a few hours.

Titan: A Good Mystery


Sven-Goran Eriksson is relishing the selection dilemma posed by the long-awaited return of Rio Ferdinand to the England squad ahead of next weekends World Cup qualifier against Wales.

Eriksson Spoilt for Choice


AFP - Prosecutors issued assault and battery charges against five National Basketball Association players and five spectators who fought in a November 19 brawl.

Five players among 10 men facing assault charges in NBA brawl (AFP)


Move is the latest setback for the chip Intel once billed as an industry standard.

HP Drops Itanium 2 Workstations


Hundreds of carabinieri police are taking part in an operation to crush a wave of mafia killings in Naples.

Naples police in huge mafia swoop


By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter    HealthDayNews -- Contrary to popular belief, not all kids who are allergic to insect stings outgrow their sensitivity.    Some people whose allergies left them in fear of bees, wasps, and the like as children still react to their stings as adults, but a new study offers relief: Allergy shots given in childhood can protect them for up to 20 years...

Sting of Bug Bites Can Linger Into Adulthood


Hubie Brown said he stepped down as the coach of the Memphis Grizzlies for two reasons: He lost his spirit, and because of medical issues he wants kept private.

Brown cites lost spirit, medical issues, as reasons for retirement


The Mozilla Foundation has unveiled the most complete preview version yet of its stand-alone e-mail application. The release comes only weeks after the launch of its Firefox browser version 1.0, and is part

Mozilla Previews Thunderbird E-Mail App


A Houston jury Wednesday acquitted a former Enron accountant but found five other defendants guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy. The jury cleared Sheila Kahanek of all charges

Five convicted in Enron trial in Houston


It sure isn #39;t the kind of a report an incumbent mayor seeking to hold onto his job wants to have come out six weeks before an election: On Sept.

San Diego #39;s Sea of Fiscal Woes


Washington Post staff writer Justin Blum will be online to answer your questions on soaring oil prices, their causes and their effects.

Oil Prices


AP - A powerful typhoon sliced through the Philippines Friday, forcing more than 160,000 people to flee their homes to higher ground even as rescuers struggled to find the missing from an earlier storm that killed more than 420 people.

Typhoon Forces Evacuation in Philippines (AP)


TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Toppan Printing Co. Ltd. said on  Tuesday it would buy DuPont Photomasks Inc., a U.S.-based maker  of glass plates used in chip production, for 71 billion yen  (\$640 million).

Japan's Toppan to Buy DuPont Photomasks


Two Marines were killed in Iraq #39;s volatile Anbar province, the military said today. A military statement said two Marines assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary

Two Marines, one soldier killed in Iraq


DOHA, Nov 14 (AFP) - Two female relatives of Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi kidnapped last week in Baghdad have been released while the third, his cousin, is still being held hostage, Al-Jazeera television reported Sunday.

Iraq PM #39;s two female relatives released: Al-Jazeera


QRS received five unsolicited offers throughout the summer, one from a shareholder of the company. But Inovis won the deal with a \$7-per-share offer.

QRS Spurns JDA, Chooses Inovis


THE Dutch secret service has been infiltrated by an Islamic extremist linked to the killer of Theo van Gogh, the Dutch film-maker whose murder has accelerated Hollands transformation from one of Europes most tolerant countries into a society

Muslim mole panics Dutch secret service


Konami revealed that plans for Metal Gear Solid 4 are already on the way. Konami Computer Entertainment Japan #39;s President, Motoyuki Yoshioka, said:  quot;We already have ideas in our mind on what the fourth release

Metal Gear Solid 4 Confirmed


Saddam Hussein hid behind ambiguities and evasions about whether Iraq possessed illicit weapons, partly as a deterrent to Iran.

Saddam Hussein Sowed Confusion About Iraq's Arsenal as a Tactic of War


The final cost of the Athens Olympics soared to about \$11.6 billion -- at least \$3.1 billion more than originally estimated. The figure did not include transportation projects such as the new tram line, suburban

Sports briefs November 12, 2004


MUMBAI: The redrawing of lines of authority in Reliance seems to have sparked off the current discord between the two Ambani brothers.

Item No 17: Mukesh got authority over all directors


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toys R Us Inc. <A HREF=

Toys R Us Posts Second-Quarter Profit


LONDON, November 21 (IslamOnline.net  amp; News Agencies) - Britain will adopt a set of tightened anti-terror laws in case Prime Minister Tony Blair #39;s Labor Party wins the general elections, due next year, the home secretary said on Sunday, November 21.

Britain to Tighten Anti-Terror Laws


Reuters - Arab nations want the U.N.\Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding Israel stop a\major offensive in the Gaza Strip, but the United States raised\objections at an emergency meeting on Monday.

Arab Nations at UN Demand Israel Stop Gaza Attacks (Reuters)


Television footage aired over the weekend showed a group of Rwandan soldiers dancing and clapping their hands. With AK-47 assault rifles firmly strapped across their shoulders, the 150 troops sported green berets adorned with African Union badges as they ...

Sudan: Foreign Troops Run Gauntlet of Government Displeasure


Stephen Parry comes a brilliant third behind Michael Phelps in the men's 200m butterfly.

Parry wins butterfly bronze


AFP - Chinese leaders have held several lengthy meetings in the past few weeks to discuss revaluing the yuan but have decided not to tinker with the system in the short term, a press report said.

China sees value of stronger currency (AFP)


The ninth installment of the hit CBS reality series kicks off its tribal warring ways.

Survivor's Mesmerizing Beat


FORMER Japan manager Philippe Troussier was in  quot;advanced talks quot; to become Olympique Marseilles new coach last night as the club president became the latest casualty of the clubs poor form.

Troussier to take over at Marseille


AFP - Cleveland Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund is involved in contract talks to sell the National Basketball Association team, which has become a top NBA contender behind second-year star LeBron James.

Sale nearly set for NBA Cavaliers (AFP)


Four organisations join forces to create a UK centre for marine renewable energy.

UK 'green energy' centre created


The Fed chairman delivers a modestly upbeat prognosis that may signal an interest rate increase before Election Day. BY JEANNINE AVERSA.

Greenspan: Economy gains force


Researchers say they have identified brain cell receptors that appear to be responsible for nicotine addiction, a finding of clear importance for smokers who are desperately trying to kick the habit.

Nicotine Addiction Gene Identified


AFP - Secretary of State Colin Powell clarified that US policy on China and Taiwan has not changed, in an apparent bid to assuage Taipei's concerns over remarks he made in a visit to Beijing.

Powell clarifies no change in US cross-strait policy after protests (AFP)


(Sports Network) - Curt Schilling #39;s career postseason record is 5-1, and when you consider his ERA of 1.66 in those 11 games he is one of the most dominating starters in the playoffs.

Schilling ready to dominate again in playoffs


Samsung says a glut of semiconductors on the market will bring prices down and slow growth in 2005.

Samsung sees chip sales slowing


Canadian Press - KINSHASA, Congo (AP) - UN air and ground patrols have photographed freshly occupied encampments and unidentified well-equipped troops in east Congo, UN officials said Thursday, bolstering suspicions that Rwanda is making good on its threat to send troops into its larger, weaker neighbour.

Sightings by UN patrols bolster suspicions of Rwandan incursion in Congo (Canadian Press)


England #39;s Brian Davis took top spot in the qualifying tournament at PGA West in California, where the leading 30 and ties made it onto the American tour.

Davis tops US qualifying


Health India: Falluja (Iraq), Nov 8 : Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi today gave the go-ahead for a US-led attack on the rebel stronghold of Falluja.

Iraqi PM okay US attack to cleanse Falluja of terrorists:


The death of a fourth Black Watch soldier in Iraq has made the troops more determined to complete their mission, a spokesman says.

Black Watch push on with mission


NEW YORK - The US military and the interim government of Iraq are rapidly losing control of Ramadi, a provincial capital in Iraq located near sister city Fallujah, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

Report: Iraqs Ramadi province near chaos


(Hartford-AP Sept. 23, 2004 2:00 PM) _ The perks paid to retired General Electric Chief Executive Jack Welch have gotten the company in trouble with a federal agency.

SEC says GE violated law over Welch perks


Scores of Hotmail users received a pleasant surprise in their inboxes this week: more free storage. The move comes as Google inches closer to making its Gmail service, which includes a gigabyte of storage, available to the general public. By Joanna Glasner.

Free E-Mail Inboxes Get Fatter


Reuters - The small islands of the northern\Caribbean were on alert on Monday for a close encounter with\powerful Hurricane Frances, while the remnants of Tropical\Storm Gaston limped through North Carolina.

Caribbean Casts Wary Eye on Hurricane Frances (Reuters)


Some may see the Browns #39; straight-up trade of Quincy Morgan for Antonio Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys as an inconsequential swap of two disgruntled receivers.

Morgan traded for  #39;Boys Bryant


Novell has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft, accusing it of unfairly eliminating competition for office productivity applications at the time Novell owned the WordPerfect and Quattro Pro applications.

Novell sues Microsoft over WordPerfect


AP - British troops withdrew on Saturday from radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's main office in the southern city of Basra a day after occupying the building and seizing an arms cache in fighting that killed three and wounded five, the British military and police said.

British Troops Exit Al-Sadr's Iraq Office (AP)


Soccernet #39;s Insider has spent a couple of years lavishing praise on the genius who goes by the name of Thierry Henry, yet the time has come to put some perspective on his achievements.

When the going gets tough...


The United Nations (UN) has said on Monday that, as far as it knows, Iran had not diverted any nuclear materials to a weapons programme - a verdict diplomats said undermined the

Acquittal of Iran nuclear programme qualified


Morningstar Inc., a US research firm used by 3 million investors to decide what mutual funds to buy, said the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the company for publishing incorrect performance data for a fund.

Morningstar Says SEC Is Investigating Data for Fund (Update2)


The notable 18th century pamphleteers remarks addressed the obstacles faced by American colonists seeking to wrest control of their destinies from George III, but in 2004 his words could easily be applied to anyone seeking to wrest control of the

King #39;s heavy-handed grip ripe for KO


Not buying it. Megafinancier Carl Icahn has made it clear: He #39;s still opposed to Mylan Laboratories #39; (nyse: MYL - news - people ) proposed acquisition of King Pharmaceuticals (nyse: KG - news - people ). Despite

Icahn: Scoffs At Mylan-King Pharma Merger In SEC Proxy


BANGALORE - Australia comprehensively beat India on day five of the first cricket test yesterday but Shane Warne remained agonisingly short of Muttiah Muralitharan #39;s world record for the most career wickets.

Cricket: Aussie ecstasy Warne #39;s agony


AFP - Marks and Spencer has been overtaken as Britain's biggest clothing retailer by supermarket giant Asda, which is owned by the world's largest retail store Wal-Mart, industry figures showed.

Marks and Spencer loses crown as Britain's top clothing retailer (AFP)


Three years after the Sept. 11 attacks, more than 120,000 hours of potentially valuable terrorism-related recordings have not yet been translated by linguists at the

FBI Said to Lag on Translations of Terror Tapes


Mr Straw made the admission that MI6 (British intelligence) had finally abandoned its dramatic claim when he told British MPs that the Blair government still supported the

UK/Iraq: 45-minute claim withdrawn


Russia came back from two sets down and saved seven match points against Brazil in the semi-finals of the women #39;s volleyball on Thursday for a spectacular win that put them into their second straight Olympic final.

Stunning comeback puts Russians into volleyball final


World champion Australia faces erratic England in today #39;s semifinals while Pakistan - having beaten traditional rival India - now faces Brian Lara #39;s West Indies, which upset South Africa.

Champions Trophy heats up heading into semifinals


Analysis Premium hand-tuning service available

Microsoft sees bespoke Windows everywhere


IBM is making a big deal out of its announcement of three Power5 processor-based servers. The machines are faster than those built by competitors Hewlett-Packard and Sun.

IBM Goes After High-End Server Market


Travelers on the road from proprietary to open source software won #39;t be driving on an Interstate. Enterprise open source deployments are still uncommon enough that companies

Eight great tips for converting to open source


com September 24, 2004, 7:23 AM PT. IT Management and Web Technology have been fighting neck-to-neck for the fifth spot for the last year.

That #39;s rich: Gates tops Forbes list once again


ADELAIDE, Nov 30: Australia crushed New Zealand by 213 runs on the final day of the second Test to complete a series clean sweep at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Aussies sweep series with 213-run victory over Kiwis


Reuters - Managers of mortgage finance giant\Fannie Mae will defend themselves before Congress on Wednesday\against government findings that they broke accounting rules to\deliver steady earnings growth quarter after quarter.

Fannie Mae to Defend Action to Congress (Reuters)


Yahoo's New Front Page and Shortcuts\\I know this kinda stuff has to happen, but it makes me very sad. Yahoo has a new front page. Go look at it. It's at http://www.yahoo.com. See anything odd about the page? The odd thing I see is that the pointer to the directory ...

Yahoos New Front Page and Shortcuts


A Greek airliner diverted to Ireland by a bomb threat resumed its flight to New York after a search did not find anything suspicious onboard.

Greek airliner resumes flight


AP - As of Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, at least 1,230 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 961 died as a result of hostile action, the Defense Department said. The figures include three military civilians.

A Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq (AP)


Apple Computer #39;s OS X, the operating system in its Macintosh personal computers, is Apple #39;s most Windows-friendly OS to date, but it won #39;t run Windows applications.

Using Windows on Macs


HOUSTON (Reuters) - A team of market forecasters that  correctly predicted the oil bust of the 1980s thinks history  will not repeat itself, at least for now.

Forecasters See No Repeat of 80s Oil Bust


Canadian Press - LAVAL, Que. (CP) - Seven young males were arraigned in court on Friday in the stabbing death of a 19-year-old man last month.

Seven young men arraigned in stabbing death of 19-year-old Quebec teen (Canadian Press)


Two Israelis and an American won the Nobel Prize in  Chemistry yesterday for discovering the method by which cells tag proteins that are defective or have outlived their usefulness and direct them to the cellular machinery that grinds them up into reusable parts.

Israeli, American Chemists Win Nobel


PC World - Motorola will test handsets that include wireless payment functions.

Cell Phones Double as Credit Cards (PC World)


The US trade deficit, propelled by a record foreign oil bill, surged to \$54 billion (R355 billion) in August, the second-highest level in history.

Washington #39;s trade deficit hits record \$54bn level


A bomb explosion outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris slightly injured nine people today, authorities said, in the first terror attack to strike the French capital in years.

Nine hurt in Paris bomb blast


Much of America still needs an interpreter to wade through the interviews at NASCAR races. Theyre so packed with technical talk, car numbers, jargon, good ol boyisms and corporate plugs that by the end

NASCAR fouled up punishment


PARIS - Millions of French students returned to school Thursday as a new law banning Islamic head scarves from classrooms goes into effect amid demands by Islamic radicals holding two French hostages in Iraq that the law be scrapped.    Muslim leaders in France, who had largely opposed the law, urged calm for the return to class...

French Students Face New Head Scarf Ban


Intel is teaming with mobile-phone giant Nokia and software developer Symbian on next-generation mobile phones, or smartphones. Demand for these devices -- which promise Web browsing, multimedia

Intel Pushes Further into Mobile Space


Three men have appeared in court charged with terrorism offences after a newspaper tip-off alleging the suspects tried to buy explosives for a  quot;dirty bomb quot;.

Three remanded on terror charges


Disputes over Microsoft #39;s intellectual-property claims to its Sender ID technology are unlikely to slow the push toward developing a secure e-mail identity, according to e-mail industry representatives.

Sender ID Hiccups Unlikely to Derail E-Mail Identity


Joe Torre had enough to deal with yesterday, what with a rainout and Orlando Hernandez #39;s tired shoulder forcing him to shuffle his starting rotation.

At least Brown #39;s spirits seem good


TOKYO -- Cisco Systems will open a Tokyo-based research and development center focusing on Internet software and routing technologies in February 2005, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

Cisco to open R D center in Japan next February


China #39;s key inflation indicator remained at 5.3 percent in August, the government reported Monday, in the latest release of data suggesting economic planners might take further action to slow the booming economy.

Update 1: China Eyes More Measures to Slow Economy


whose face has become famous as police have sought for more than a week to identify him -- finally has a name. Auburn Hills police said Monday that

Lawyer IDs fan accused of throwing Palace chair


AP - Hundreds of Pakistanis jailed for fighting alongside the Taliban were released from an Afghan prison Sunday  #151; a major gesture meant to better strained relations between the neighboring countries.

Afghan Prison Releases 363 Pakistanis (AP)


Four men were sentenced to termed imprisonment Thursday in Beijing for creating and profiting from pornographic websites, reported China Daily on Thursday.

Four sentenced for web porn in Beijing


Eighteen months after it began, the bitter and bizarre takeover battle is over. The new challenge: Make this \$10.3 billion deal work.

Finally, Oracle Nails PeopleSoft


(CBS/AP) Iraq #39;s interim government and rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have both agreed to a peace deal presented by top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani to end three weeks of fighting in the holy city of Najaf.

Najaf Peace Accord Reported


AP - Thomas Levet shot a 9-under-par 63 Saturday and shared the third-round lead with Miguel Angel Jimenez at the BMW International Open, where a half-dozen players are vying for European Ryder Cup berths.

Levet, Jimenez Share Lead at BMW Open (AP)


Reuters - Floods and landslides caused\by heavy rains killed at least 26 people in the northern\Philippines, disaster officials said Tuesday, a week after\storms left about 160 dead or missing.

Fresh Philippine Flooding Kills at Least 26 (Reuters)


If the Jets #39; West Side stadium proposal somehow loses state financing, the city has got its back. City officials have agreed to assume the state #39;s \$300 million contribution to the proposed

City poised to give


Federal authorities raided three Washington, D.C.-area video game stores and arrested two people for modifying video game consoles to play pirated video games, a video game industry group said Wednesday.

D.C.-Area Video Game Stores Targeted in Piracy Raid


Reuters - Back at the start of the year the\stock market's big players had the October employment report\circled in red.

Hurricanes Blow Economy Off Radar (Reuters)


Corel Corporation has bought Jasc Software, the publishers of the highly rated Paintshop Pro graphics software. The buy out strengthens Corel #39;s already strong presence in the PC graphics market - particularly

Corel buys Paint Shop Pro maker Jasc


Experts everywhere say Utahs Urban Meyer is the front-runner to replace Notre Dame football coach Tyrone Willingham, who was fired Tuesday.

Perhaps only heaven can help return Notre Dame to glory days


Nintendo Co. returned to profit in the first half of the fiscal year from the same period a year ago as the Japanese video-game maker erased foreign exchange losses and earned more from game sales.

Nintendo Returns to Profit in First Half


AP - Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Troy Walters broke his left arm on the first series of Saturday night's preseason game against the New York Jets.

Colts WR Walters Breaks Left Arm Vs. Jets (AP)


FALLUJAH, Iraq: US airstrikes on rebel-held Fallujah left 15 dead while an insurgent attack in another Sunni Arab town killed 10 more, as Britain and Egypt stepped up efforts Sunday to secure the release of hostages in Iraq.

Dozens killed in Iraq violence


BRUSSELS, August 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Eurozone annual inflation fell from 2.4 percent in June to 2.3 percent in July 2004, the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), reported on Wednesday.

Eurozone inflation rate falls in July


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

Office Depot Chairman, CEO Nelson Resigns


The US economy should grow about 4 percent next year, giving the Federal Reserve room to continue raising interest rates at a measured pace, Philadelphia

UPDATE 2-Fed #39;s Santomero sees solid growth, measured hikes


WASHINGTON - The Congressional Budget Office is projecting that this election-year's federal deficit will reach \$422 billion, congressional aides said Tuesday, the highest ever, yet a smaller shortfall than analysts predicted earlier this year.    The figure, provided by aides who spoke on condition of anonymity, is sure to provide political fodder for both parties during the remaining two months of the presidential and congressional campaigns...

CBO Projects \$442 Billion Federal Deficit


There were a lot of press releases yesterday announcing support Microsoft #39;s Windows XP Media Center 2005. Companies like ATI and NVIDIA announced their products were designed to work with this new operating system.

Media Center 2005


You don't need to get mauled at the mall anymore. Online storefronts are here to save the day.

Black Friday's Fade to Gray


AFP - A state of civil emergency in the rebellion-hit Indonesian province of Aceh has been formally extended by six month, as the country's president pledged to end violence there without foreign help.

Indonesia's Yudhoyono rejects foreign help to solve Aceh conflict (AFP)


Chris Byrd, John Ruiz, Lamon Brewster, and Vitali Klitschko all hold a fraction of the undisputed heavyweight crown, but which of these pugilists can claim legitimately that he is the one true champion?

Klitschko a  #39;Cut #39; Above the Rest


Ninth-grade biology teachers in Dover, Pa., must include  #39;intelligent design #39; in their instruction. Observers say it is a sign of what #39;s to come.

God or science?


Democrat John Kerry said Tuesday that President Bush  #39; #39;didn #39;t talk reality at the United Nations #39; #39; and pressed him to answer questions about policies that Kerry said have made Iraq a violent mess.

Kerry says Bush trying to shift topic


DAVID COULTHARD is set to join a short list to drive for the new Red Bull team. The Scot is looking for a drive after McLaren axed him.

MOTOR RACING: COUL FOR BULL


The head of the International Monetary Fund says the world economy is at its strongest point for five years.

World economy 'in good health'


Bill Gates may be the world #39;s most generous philanthropist, but the technical teams under his charge may well experience the uncharitable side of his nature today.

Microsoft v Google Times Online #39;s verdict


SHARM EL-SHEIKH: Bahrain last night reiterated His Majesty King Hamad #39;s offer to host an Iraqi political multi-sectarian conference in Manama.

Bahrain renews Iraqi talks offer


The pursuit of Wayne Rooney became serious last night as Everton confirmed Manchester United had tabled a 20m bid for the England striker.

Ferguson in bid for  #39;fabulous #39; Rooney


U.S. senators are debating a controversial measure to exempt foreign student graduates from the cap on H-1B visas.

Senate weighing work-visa changes


SYDNEY - One of seven men facing trial for sex crimes against underage girls on the remote British territory of Pitcairn in the South Pacific has pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual assault, the Australian newspaper reported Tuesday.

Pitcairn Islander pleads guilty to sex crime charges


Fighting power with power Thursday night, Joachim Johansson ended Andy Roddick's bid to repeat as United States Open champion.

Roddick's Comeback Falls Short


Mondlane will join in some eight million Mozambicans Wednesday morning to cast a ballot for their future -- a new president will be chosen to lead the country for the next five years.

Mozambicans hope elections to bring better life, no matter who <b>...</b>


Microsoft Corp. finally came through with Halo 2 and ended the waiting period of millions of gamers worldwide today by announcing Halo 2 in the market.

Microsoft launches Halo 2


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - After spending the last seven seasons with the New York Mets, Al Leiter was feeling a little nostalgic. Leiter signed a one-year contract with the Florida Marlins, a team he helped lead to a World Series title in 1997.

Marlins welcome back Leiter


Militants threaten to execute three Western hostages unless all female Iraqi prisoners are set free.

Deadline threat for Iraq hostages


NEW DELHI: Local golf fans are in for a treat: For the first time ever, the sport #39;s top-ranked player will be in India. Vijay Singh, who recently dethroned Tiger Woods as No.

Coming soon: Awesome 4some, starring Vijay Singh


That is the bottom line for initiatives undertaken by the United States, United Nations, African Union, the Arab League, and any other international actors trying to resolve the current

An African tragedy


PATTANI, Thailand, December 5 (IslamOnline.net  amp; News Agencies) - A fleet of military and civil aircraft and helicopters dropped Sunday, December 5, some 120 million paper birds across Thailands troubled Muslim-majority south, described by activists as

Peace Doves Dropped on South Thailand


AP - President Bush made a fresh push Saturday for a new Social Security plan in which Americans would be allowed to channel a small portion of their income into

Bush Pushes for Social Security Overhaul (AP)


The deal calls for the withdrawal of Moktada al-Sadr's fighters from the Imam Ali shrine and a pullback of U.S. forces.

Tentative Accord Reached in Najaf to End Fighting


Instinct took over when Chauncey Billups grabbed a long rebound with 4.9 seconds left. Normally, he #39;d call a timeout and let coach Larry Brown design the final play.

Billups keys Pistons win at MSG


When does a college quarterback know he #39;s arrived? Is it when history is made? When Tennessee quarterback Brent Schaeffer started in the Vols #39; 42-17 win against UNLV two weeks

Tennessee #39;s freshman QBs make good first impression


Reuters - Online DVD renter Netflix Inc.\ on Monday pledged to stick to a costly plan to double\its subscriber base by next year despite a price war with rival\video chain Blockbuster Inc. that analysts warn could\threaten its future.

Netflix Sticks to Guns in Online DVD Rental Fight (Reuters)


McDonald #39;s Corp. said Thursday that global comparable-restaurant sales, or sales at restaurants open at least 13 months, rose 4.2 percent in November.

McDonald #39;s Same-Store Sales Rise in Nov.


The movie pitches, Letterman -- no, Leno -- the unending media requests, the book deals, surely the line is forming on the right for Paul Hamm.

Hamm-dinger Gymnast comes back from 12th place to win


IBM will pay out \$320 million to settle part of a class-action lawsuit relating to its pension plan. The settlement does not, however, address the critical issue of whether the companys controversial cash

IBM Pays Out in Cash-Balance Case


Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi has appealed for the release of British engineer Kenneth Bigley, who was taken hostage in Iraq three weeks ago.

Gadhafi Appeals for Freedom of British Hostage in Iraq


BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - Darren Clarke and  Miguel Angel Jimenez sealed Europe's first point in the opening  Ryder Cup fourball matches against the United States Friday,  beating Davis Love III and Chad Campbell 5   4.

Ryder Cup: Europe Clinches the First Point


FORMER Test off-spinner Ashley Mallett has claimed Australia #39;s historic series win in India was due to the fact Steve Waugh was no longer captain of the team.

Mallett gives Waugh Indian curry


Maurice Clarett's contentions in an ESPN the Magazine article were dismissed by the Ohio State athletic director as issues the university had already dealt with.

Clarett Accuses Ohio State of N.C.A.A. Violations


India is unlikely to respond to any major bilateral issues during Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz #39;s two-day visit to New Delhi starting Tuesday.

No bilateral talks during Aziz #39;s visit


While the US software giant Microsoft has achieved almost sweeping victories in government procurement projects in several Chinese provinces and municipalities, the process

Microsoft #39;s procurement deals arouse concern


t has been an uninspiring United States Open for the American men, who fell apart with remarkable alacrity in the first week of the tournament.

Roddick Continues to Show His Dominance


Beijing, Oct. 28 (PTI): China today raised its interest rates for the first time in nine years to consolidate macro economic adjustment and ensure healthy growth of the economy, the apex bank said here.

China raises interest rates for first time in nine years


p2pnet.net OT News:- Humans currently consume 20 more natural resources than the earth can produce, says a new report that examines the ecological effect of modern consumption patterns on natural resources.

Living Planet Report


AFP - Two proposed resolutions condemning widespread rights abuses in Sudan and Zimbabwe failed to pass a UN committee, mired in debate between African and western nations.

Motions against Sudan, Zimbabwe fail in UN committee (AFP)


Reuters - The House of Representatives on\Saturday passed a  #36;32 billion bill funding homeland security\programs this year after days of political fighting over the\measure.

House Backs  #36;32 Bln Homeland Security Bill (Reuters)


AP - A Soyuz capsule carrying a U.S.-Russian crew back to Earth following six months at the international space station hurtled through the Earth's atmosphere and landed safely and on target in Kazakhstan Saturday evening.

U.S.-Russia Space Crew Lands on Earth (AP)


CousinLarry writes  quot;Online  #39;university #39; Trinity Southern University (Google cache of disabled site homepage) has been sued by the state of Pennsylvania.

PA Sues Online  #39;University #39; For Spamming


While Mark McGwire avoids the spotlight and Barry Bonds closes in on 700 home runs, Sammy Sosa struggles to remain the forceful player around whom the Cubs revolve.

His Sweet Spot Gone Sour, Sosa Takes a Dose of Boos


WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- The economy grew in most regions of the United States in September and early October, despite signs that higher energy costs are beginning to bite, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.

Beige Book shows growth, despite energy tab


London equities opened in positive territory on Thursday as a raft of bid news helped lift sentiment on the market. The FTSE 100 started trade up 0.3 per cent at 4,740.1 and the mid-cap FTSE 250 stayed flat at 6,755.7.

London opens with gains on bid flurry


BERLIN - Germanys governing Social Democrats avoided major losses in local elections Sunday in the countrys most populous state, while the conservative opposition lost votes but stayed well ahead in a traditional stronghold for Chancellor Gerhard

German leaders avoid big losses in electoral test


The \$80 million penalties against the founders of Pilgrim Baxter are the largest imposed on individuals since investigations began last fall into improper trading at some mutual fund companies.

2 Fund Managers to Pay \$80 Million Settlements


About 300 Syrian soldiers in a convoy of trucks and armored vehicles returned home from Lebanon on Thursday, part of a wider redeployment of forces that the United States described as encouraging.

Small Syrian force withdraws from Lebanon


Software company Oracle (ORCL) said Wednesday it plans to nominate four candidates for election in 2005 to the board of its rival and takeover target PeopleSoft (PSFT).

Oracle to nominate four PeopleSoft directors


Responding to a tough insurance industry crash test, automakers are making major strides to improve the safety of family sedans, according to new data released Sunday.

Automakers improve side-impact protection


Greece is a safe destination, a modern European Country that organised technically excellent Olympic Games with a human dimension.

How Greece is perceived by the citizens of five major countries


TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Sony Corp. does not expect a  sharp recovery in the profitability of its home electronics  business during the crucial October to December quarter, citing  high costs to develop flat-panel televisions and a shrinking  market for home audio goods.

Sony Cautious on Home Electronics Profit


Reuters - Top U.S. life insurer MetLife Inc.\ said on Friday it had received several subpoenas from

Insurance Probe Drives Down Stocks (Reuters)


AP - The Sierra Club alleges in a lawsuit that the Bush administration changed a rule so oil and gas producers could more easily drill under national parks from outside their boundaries.

U.S. Accused of Changing Drilling Rule (AP)


THOUSANDS of South African Bushmen are to receive a royalty windfall after a Cambridgeshire company yesterday signed a deal with Unilever to develop one of their bush plants into a slimming aid.

Desert plant offers rich pickings for Bushmen


TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary  magnitude of 6.8 and two big aftershocks hit northern Japan on  Saturday, derailing a train, triggering at least one landslide  and causing widespread power outages, media reported.

Strong Quake, Aftershocks Hit Northern Japan


AFP - Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry's campaign has formally alleged that a group attacking his Vietnam war record had illegal ties to US President George W. Bush's re-election bid.

Kerry accuses Vietnam critics of illegal ties to Bush campaign (AFP)


AP - Microsoft Corp. is starting to ramp up distribution of its massive security update for the Windows XP operating system, but analysts say they still expect the company to move at a relatively slow pace to avoid widespread glitches.

Microsoft Expands Windows Update Release (AP)


Diplomats from eight countries are on their way to the site of a mysterious blast in North Korea that sparked speculation a nuclear test had taken place.

Group visits N. Korea blast site


Taiwan #39;s flagship PC company Acer Inc. has announced it will have a foreigner serving as president starting 2005, a bold change for a 28-year-old Taiwanese brand that is roaring its way across multiple geographies and cultures.

Acer appoints Italian as new president


com. The most storied Buckeye football player in recent memory -- some say for the wrong reasons -- Maurice Clarett has lashed out against Ohio State, claiming he was a

Ohio State fans react to Clarett #39;s accusations


Helping the poor-shooting Nuggets get well with bad defense, the Pistons fell to 1-1 on their western trip, losing, 117-109, Thursday night at the Pepsi Center.

Nuggets knock Pistons


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt Disney Chief Executive Michael  Eisner on Friday said he will step down from the media  conglomerate in 2006, aiming to end his two-decade reign on his  own terms after a shareholder revolt nearly cut it short  earlier this year.

Disney's Eisner to Step Down in Sept 2006


AP - Phil Nevin hit a three-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning, and the Padres rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Colorado Rockies 7-6 Friday night.

Padres Rally to Beat Rockies 7-6 (AP)


NEW YORK : The latest twists and turns from Hurricane Ivan prompted renewed concerns Monday about oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, pushing futures prices sharply higher on global markets.

Hurricane Ivan #39;s twists force oil prices higher


AFP - Taiwan's leading telecom operator, Chunghwa Telecom, said it had a net profit of 43.45 billion Taiwan dollars (1.32 billion US) in the 10 months to October or 4.0 percent ahead of its full year target of 41.58 billion dollars.

Chunghwa Telecom earnings ahead of forecast (AFP)


A report by a kids #39; group says more than half of the children in the world are suffering because of the effects of war, poverty and the HIV virus.

One billion kids  #39;miss childhood #39;


Rap star Jay-Z, who has little corporate experience, will become the chief executive for one of Universal's biggest divisions.

Jay-Z to Head Def Jam Recordings Label


AP - The militant group Hamas will accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and a long-term truce with Israel, a leader said Friday, apparently softening Hamas' hardline stance and boosting hopes for renewed peace efforts after Yasser Arafat's death.

Hamas May Accept Statehood in West Bank (AP)


Despite perceptions to the contrary, index mutual funds really aren #39;t all alike. They don #39;t all invest in the same stocks or bonds, and they certainly don #39;t all come with the same low expenses.

Index funds adjust fees to lure customers


The epic script of the Middle East conflict could have had Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, kaffiyeh-clad and armed, emerge from his junkyard compound as a born-again peacemaker or guns blazing in martyrdom.

Between chaos and progress


Norton Reamer, a man with a third act, is back in business. Reamer, once the head of Putnam Investments and later the founder of United Asset Management Corp. in Boston, is in charge of a new company aimed at financing private money-management firms. Asset Management Finance Corp. pitches a new spin on an old concept that once built his UAM ...

Back in the game


Vodafone Group Plc, the world #39;s largest mobile-phone operator, expects cost cuts and bulk-order savings to boost earnings by more than a third before 2008, as the company reins in spending from Germany to Albania.

Vodafone Expects Cost Cuts, Savings to Boost Earnings (Update2)


Jim Tracy and the Los Angeles Dodgers would not allow Barry Bonds to beat them on Friday night, even to the chagrin of Eric Gagne.

Rewind: Giants vs. Dodgers, Game #2


When I ordered Christmas presents last week from L.L. Bean's 295-page holiday catalog, I visited the Web site because I thought it might offer bargains and be as quick as a phone call.<FONT face=

Holiday Forecast: Online Sales to Grow


(CBS/AP) The first private manned rocket to reach space soared toward the edge of the atmosphere again in an unexpectedly bumpy ride Wednesday in the first half of a bid to earn a \$10 million prize.

Space Flight Bumpy, But Successful


AP - France stepped up security Friday morning at a military hospital outside Paris where Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will be taken for treatment.

Security Tightened in Paris for Arafat (AP)


ATHENS, Greece - Hicham El Guerrouj became the first man in 80 years to sweep the 1,500 and 5,000 meters at an Olympics, holding up two fingers in triumph after winning the 5,000 Saturday night in an all-out sprint down the final straightaway.

El Guerrouj Completes Rare Distance Double


Russia could make early repayment next year of up to \$10bn worth of its \$48bn of foreign debt to the Paris Club of sovereign lenders, Alexei Kudrin, finance minister, announced on Monday.

Russia could repay \$10bn of debt early


A Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group (MCG) led consortium (Consortium), in which Macquarie Bank Limited (MBL) has an approximate 13 interest, today announced it has been selected as the successful bidder for the acquisition of National

Macquarie led consortium acquires UK #39;s ntl Broadcast


The International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors meets behind closed doors Monday to discuss whether failures by Iran and South Korea to fully declare nuclear experiments should go to the United Nations Security Council.

IAEA Considers Action on Failures to Report Nuclear Activities


Reuters - A freak tie result in the\presidential election could mean the House of Representatives\would choose the next president, a scenario that would favor\Republican incumbent George W. Bush.

Tied Presidential Election Could Be Mother of All Messes (Reuters)


Maddux threw seven shutout innings for his 302nd career win, and Baker got his 1,000th victory as a manager in Chicagos 5-2 win over the Montreal Expos on Monday night.

Slumping Cubs get boost from Maddux


DEKALB -- Toledo doesn #39;t just beat Northern Illinois University. It torments the Huskies. Teases their defense. NIU gets the Rockets right where it wants them.

Toledo frustrates Huskies


Iran's conservative-dominated parliament votes to sack Transport Minister Ahmad Khorram.

Iran's parliament sacks minister


Company cites better-than-expected performance from its recent acquisition of wireless content provider Jamba.

VeriSign to bump up forecast


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Merck #39;s withdrawal of its arthritis treatment sent the stock tumbling more than 25 percent and pushed the Dow into deeply negative territory at the open Thursday.

Dow gets Merck #39;d


Imprisoned homemaking mogul Martha Stewart has asked the company she founded, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., to reimburse her for \$3.

Martha Stewart asks company to pitch in on legal bills


DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. reported disappointing US sales yesterday, prompting the nation's two largest automakers to cut planned vehicle production in the fourth quarter, which could hurt profits.

GM, Ford sales decline


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Head coach Dave Wannstedt resigned from the struggling Miami Dolphins Tuesday morning, ending a frustrating season that began with the retirement of star running back Ricky Williams before training camp.

Miami coach Wannstedt steps down


Although the Mets' manager is not an orator, he apparently gave his team a reason to keep playing Friday night.

Responding to Howe, Mets Decide Not to Go Quietly


For more than three quarters on Sunday, it appeared as if the Jets wouldnt find the end zone if it was loaded with uranium and Quincy Carter was armed with a Geiger counter.

Jets (Eventually) Down Browns, 10-7


Chinese President Hu Jintao #39;s accession to full power and the final retirement of former President Jiang Zemin is being hailed as the start of a new era in Chinese politics.

Power Shift In China Raises Hope of Better Living Standards, But <b>...</b>


As the chants of  quot;Bobby, Bobby, Bobby quot; sounded throughout Turner Field on Wednesday afternoon, the man who was the target of these cheers didn #39;t know how to react.

Cox modest about milestone


New European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson called on Tuesday for a fresh start in EU-US trade relations, which had been through a difficult path in the last few years.

EU calls for fresh start in transatlantic trade relations


ITALIAN football faced one of the biggest scandals in its scarred history yesterday, after a Turin judge found the Juventus doctor, Riccardo Agricola, guilty of administering banned drugs to some of the worlds leading players during the 1990s.

Juventus guilty of drug abuse


THE LABOR Department #39;s trumpeting of its new regulations governing overtime, which go into effect next week, sounds a little tinny.

Workplace beware


THE dollar sell-off gained fresh momentum in latest trading with the greenback tumbling to its lowest level for nine years against the currencies of its main trading partners.

Euro soars as dollar nosedives


Defensive back Mike McKenzie of Green Bay was traded Monday to the New Orleans Saints. The Saints gave up a second-round pick in 2005 and third-string quarterback JT O #39;Sullivan for McKenzie and a future draft choice.

Packers trade Mike McKenzie to Saints


France #39;s coach Raymond Domenech opted for an experimental midfield on Thursday when he named his side to take on Ireland in a World Cup qualifier this weekend.

Domenech names experimental midfield for Ireland


Overdue debtors beware: You may not be able to rely on Caller ID to screen out those annoying bill collectors much longer. A California entrepreneur has a plan to bring the hacker technique of Caller ID spoofing

US website offers Caller ID falsification service


The company's \$41 billion merger with AT T Wireless poses it with the challenge of stitching together networks, billing systems and customer-care operations without inconveniencing customers.<FONT face=

Cellular Union Wins Final Approval


Cliches and elbows were out in force yesterday.  quot;I honestly didn #39;t see it, quot; said Celtic manager Martin O #39;Neill, but Caley coach John Robertson did.

Juanjo #39;s early exit paves way for Celtic joy


Talk of a strike against US Airways escalated yesterday as the troubled carrier continued negotiations with three unions over concessions in advance of tomorrow #39;s bankruptcy

Strike talk heats up as hearing on US Airways labor contracts <b>...</b>


REAL, Philippines (Reuters) - Residents of flood-hit  Philippine towns scrambled to higher ground Thursday as the  most powerful typhoon this year threatened to cause more  destruction after floods and landslides killed up to 600  people.

Flood-Hit Filipinos Seek Safety as Typhoon Nears


Zimbabwe #39;s Movement for Democratic Change has hailed the acquittal of its leader Morgan Tsvangirai on treason charges as a victory for the people of that country.

Tsvangirai acquittal a victory: MDC


Although revenue slipped during the past quarter, rising software license sales and higher earnings have i2 Technologies Inc. officials hopeful about the future.

Brief: I2 reports Q3 profit


Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today that he wanted to begin withdrawing Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip next May or June and complete the pullout within three months.

Sharon Offers a Date for Settler Withdrawal From Gaza


US Federal Reserve officials are growing more confident about the economic outlook. The economy, which grew at a 3.9 per cent annualised rate in the third quarter and is expanding

US Fed confidence in outlook grows


Opinion: Microsoft #39;s global battles, such as its appeals hearing that #39;s about to start in Luxembourg, should teach regulators that they need to address the company #39;s behavior before it creates problems.

It #39;s Too Late to Sway Microsoft in EU


US authorities have approved the use of Taser stun guns on commercial flights to and from the United States, the manufacturer has said.

US approves stun guns for international flights


Canadian Press - LACOLLE, Que. (CP) - Several hundred seniors from northern New York state  boarded buses and arrived in this Canadian border community on Friday to pay  #36;25 US each for their flu shots.

Americans from Plattsburgh come to Quebec to get their flu shots (Canadian Press)


Daring motorcycle messengers seem immune to delays in South America's largest city.

Pedestrians and Drivers Beware! Motoboys Are in a Hurry


Boston #146;s educational publishing cluster will be growing as Pearson #146;s school publishing group prepares to move 500 employees from Needham to 100,000 square feet of renovated space on the top two floors of the Newbry building at 501 Boylston St. in the Back Bay.

Pearson to relocate employees to Boston


Police in Auburn Hills, Mich., believe they know the identity of the man who threw a chair in a brawl between players and fans during the Pacers-Pistons game on Nov. 19.

Police Say They #39;ve Identified Man Who Threw Chair in Pistons <b>...</b>


One thing about the up-and-down world of the NFL: You can't shy away from teams coming off bad performances, because that would leave you with no one to pick.

But seriously, folks


AP - A high North Korean official dismissed reports his government was preparing to test fire a long-range missile as

Report: N. Korea Dismisses Missile Reports (AP)


A European Space Agency rocket entered moon orbit Monday in a unique mission using a pioneering power plant. The s-called SMART-1 spacecraft blasted off from Kourou, French Guiana, Sept.

Ion propulsion rocket gets to the Moon


A senior work safety official saidhere Thursday morning that there is slim hope for the 148 trapped coal miners in central China #39;s coal mine blast to be rescued alive.

148 trapped coal miners feared dead


Reuters - A rocket attack and a remote control bomb killed two Pakistani paramilitary soldiers and wounded 11 in the western tribal regions where troops are hunting al Qaeda-linked militants, officials said on Sunday.

Rocket, bomb kill two Pakistani soldiers (Reuters)


UMW professor says people should not expect quick, dramatic change in dynamics following death of longtime leader. As Palestinians mourn the death of their leader, Yasser Arafat, attention is shifting to who

Local thoughts on Arafat


Nokia, the world #39;s largest mobile phone maker, this week took legal action against two European manufacturers for allegedly infringing on technology patents and registered designs.

Nokia sues over patent and registered designs


As of Saturday, the end of the swimming competitions, he had eight medals: Six gold and two bronze. In comparison, Canada has won two silver and a bronze.

US swimmer Phelps puts on show for the ages


Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has begun producing a smart card IC (integrated circuit) chip that the company claims contains a larger amount of erasable and programmable memory than those of competitors, it said in a statement on Tuesday.

Samsung develops high-capacity smart card chip


90 mins: And so the curtain comes down on a match of very fine margins. Not an epic by any stretch of the imagination but both teams worked extremely hard but never really showed enough craft to open the opposition defence.

49 min: El Karkouri scores the winner (Getty Images)


As Newcastle United #39;s new boss Graeme Souness sets out to bring harmony to a troubled St James Park, where factionalism and conflict have been the order of the day in recent times, he could do worse than look to tomorrow night #39;s Uefa Cup opponents for a

More than just a game


Nintendo says it already has sold 500,000 of its newly released Nintendo DS handheld gaming systems, about 90 percent of the inventory shipped to the United States.

Nintendo Sells Half a Million DS Handhelds


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brokerage firm A.G. Edwards Inc.  <A HREF=

AG Edwards Profit Misses Forecasts


BOSTON (Reuters) - Giddiness. Paranoia. Arrogance. Caution.  All were on display on Wednesday in Boston as the supposedly  cursed Red Sox moved within one victory of a baseball  championship that has eluded them for 86 years.

Hubris, Caution in Boston as Red Sox Eye Victory


Brandon Backe hit the first home run by an Astros pitcher since Ron Villone smacked one Aug. 15, 2003.

NL notables


Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova and top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt both struggled to three-set victories at the Japan Open on Wednesday.

Sharapova, Hewitt struggle but win at Japan Open


The 49ers rehearse the end-around run to Arnaz Battle so often that they never doubted the play would work.  #39; #39;We practice and practice and practice and practice that play, #39; #39; coach Dennis Erickson said.

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS


Oracle later this year plans a major entrance to the content management space with a new product tied to its Collaboration Suite  offering.

Oracle readies content management 'Tsunami'


GPS is invading recreational sports. Under clear skies, those signals beaming to earth from satellites can find you on a hilly running trail, in a kayak on the ocean, or on a green fairway where you're trying to fade a 230-yard drive into the wind.

Space-age sport


Greenspan's moderately upbeat forecast today is likely to cement expectations that the central bank will raise interest rates for a third time in two weeks.

Greenspan Says Economic Expansion Was Slowed by Oil Prices


AP - A hand recount of ballots cast using optical scanning technology gave a Democrat enough extra votes to bump a Republican from victory in a county commissioner's race.

Computer Glitch Changes Election Result (AP)


Police in Brazil arrest three men on suspicion of murder, following a violent confrontation over land rights.

Three held over Brazil land clash


LONDON - Google could be planning to launch a web browser to challenge the dominance of Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer, according to widespread industry speculation.

Google rumoured to be planning Internet Explorer rival


Our favorite genre-busters will roll, creep, slither, bounce, and wriggle their way into your free time--if you give them a try.

The Weirdest Games of 2004


The defending AFC North champs found their stride Sunday, and it had a lot to do with the broad-shouldered back who leaves tacklers wide-eyed and empty-handed.

Ravens 23, Bengals 9


Israel #39;s plan to quit the Gaza Strip could kick-start a stalled drive towards Palestinian statehood, one of its architects said on Wednesday.

Gaza plan could revive road map-Israeli strategist


The District of Columbia ranks ahead of all 50 states in women's median wage, while Maryland is a close second and Virginia ranks eighth, according to a new state-by-state report on the status of women.

D.C. Tops Nation In Women's Pay, Equity With Men


World number two Andy Roddick is set to hook up with his US Davis Cup assistant coach after firing Brad Gilbert at the weekend. Roddick, whom Gilbert steered to a maiden

Roddick Set to Link Up with Low-Key Coach


LLEYTON HEWITT further fine-tuned his game ahead of the US Open with a convincing 6-3 6-4 win over Gilles Muller to capture the Washington Open today.

Hewitt ends drought


The ruling was a setback for regulators seeking to strip the compensation of a former Freddie Mac chief executive for his alleged role in the company's accounting scandal.

Judge Rules \$60 Million Can't Be Withheld From Ex-Freddie Mac Chief


Americas Amber Alert News Center(BEIJING China) AP--BEIJING -- Chinese police have detained a man accused of hacking to death as many as nine boys as they slept in a high school dormitory in central China.

Chinese Police Detain Man In Bloody Knife Attack At School


INDIANAPOLIS: Michael Phelps made a winning return to the pool at the world short course championships today, capturing the 200m freestyle title and the first of a possible six gold medals.

Phelps makes winning return at world championships


LONDON, Dec. 7 -- The BBC, the world's largest public broadcasting company, announced plans Tuesday for some of the biggest budget cuts in its 82-year history, slashing at least 10 percent of its staff and more than \$620 million in annual spending.

BBC Schedules Major Cuts in Payroll, Budget


Spain has taken the lead at the World Golf Championships in Seville with Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez combining for an 11-under-par 61 in the third round to pull one shot ahead of England.

Spain grabs lead at World Golf Championships


Designed as a result of Microsofts ongoing collaborations with international governments, Windows XP Starter Edition Pilot Program is part of Microsofts comprehensive commitment to enable individuals, communities and countries to gain access to the

India Added To Windows XP Starter Edition Roster


AP - Russia's parliament is moving toward a vote this month on the Kyoto Protocol, action that could bring the international treaty on climate change into effect after years of delay, the deputy prime minister said Monday.

Russian Expects Vote on Kyoto Treaty (AP)


CAIRO, December 6 (IslamOnline.net  amp; News Agencies) - Despite the Egyptian official denial of any deals behind the release of six Egyptian students detained in Israel and convicted Israeli spy Azzam Azzam, opposition figures and people lambasted what

Egyptians Irked by Prisoner Swap Deal


AFP - Eurozone figures to be released this week should show business confidence beginning to slide again owing to concern over slowing growth and the strong euro, economists said.

Eurozone data to show sliding business confidence: economists (AFP)


Santander Central Hispano SA, the biggest bank in Spain and Latin America, denied a press report that it may withdraw its 8.2 billion-pound (\$14.

Santander Says Abbey Bid Probe Wouldn #39;t Deter Offer (Update1)


The stiletto-heel shoe specialist Jimmy Choo changed hands on Friday, when the private equity company Hicks, Muse, Tate  amp; Furst purchased a controlling stake in the company, valuing it at 101 million (\$188 million).

Equity Firm to Take Over Shoe Retailer


Tokyo, Aug. 23 (Jiji Press)--NTT DoCoMo firmed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Monday morning following a media report that it will start procuring mobile phone handsets made by Motorola Inc.

NTT DoCoMo Rises on TSE on Reported Deal with Motorola


AP - Colorado will have more to remember about this season than just scandal and turmoil  #151; most notably, a trip to the Big 12 title game that seemed nearly impossible just a few weeks ago.

Colorado Set to Play in Big 12 Title Game (AP)


Model Elizabeth Jagger, daughter of rocker Mick Jagger, is seen on the catwalk during London Fashion Week. Picture:AP. People watchers and pure clothes junkies flocked to London Fashion Week today to see well

Clothes junkies flock


NEW YORK - Stocks bobbed higher at Monday's open after two sessions of heavy selling driven by surging oil prices and a disappointing employment report.    The Dow Jones industrial average was up 27.36, or 0.3 percent, at 10,082.56...

Stocks Open Up After Poor Jobs Report


ALDERSON, W.Va. - Martha Stewart reported to prison early Friday to begin serving a five-month sentence for lying about a stock sale, the federal Bureau of Prisons said...

Martha Stewart Reports to Prison in W.Va.


There are always trade-offs to every place people choose to live. If you live in New York, it #39;s too expensive. If you live in Montana, it #39;s too remote. If you live in Florida, you #39;re going to be slammed with hurricanes all the time.

The Aftermath Of Charley: The Most Expensive States To Insure Your Home


ABU DHABI (Reuters) - OPEC vowed Sunday to do what it can  to deflate record high oil prices that have soared above \$53 a  barrel, and top exporter Saudi Arabia promised to keep the  world supplied with as much oil as it needs.

Saudi Vows to Guarantee Oil Supplies


Cuba and Panama agree to restore ties after having talks on the sidelines of the Ibero-American summit.

Cuba and Panama restore ties


University of Pennsylvania researchers have figured out how to produce a continuous supply of sperm stem cells from mice, a technique that could one day be used to save endangered species or treat infertility in men.

The Philadelphia Inquirer


US STOCKS rose yesterday as investors were perked up by the Federal Reserves upbeat assessment of the economy and a continued drop in crude oil futures.

Wall Street takes heart from Fed #39;s upbeat economic outlook


JERUSALEM : The UN Security Council was set to vote on a draft resolution calling for Israel to pull its troops out of Gaza after a huge onslaught that has left almost 80 Palestinians dead in less than a week.

UN set to vote on Gaza resolution as Powell calls for end to raids


Apple, in cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, said it would voluntarily recall about 28,000 rechargeable batteries used in its 15-inch PowerBook G4 notebooks.

Apple Recalls Batch of PowerBook Batteries


One of the rarest birds on Earth came closer to being wiped out - if not already extinct - with the death of one of the last three believed to exist, officials said.

Death of Rare Bird Leaves Future Uncertain


MacCentral - Apple Computer Inc. on Thursday released its December security update. The 12.7MB download consists of several updated components including Apache, AppKit, HIToolbox, Kerberos, Postfix, PSNormalizer, Safari and Terminal.

Apple releases December Security Update (MacCentral)


TORONTO (Reuters) - It is Saturday and time for

NHL: Canadians Find Saturday Night Lacking Fever


Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon won an  quot;historic quot; vote in the Knesset Tuesday evening for his disengagement plan, but the uprooting of Jewish communities in Gaza is still far from a done deal after Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu immediately led a

Netanyahu Presses for Referendum After Knesset Approves Gaza <b>...</b>


State insurance commissioners in the southeast and across the US consulted with each other during a conference call and will soon form a steering committee to coordinate a multi-state effort to investigate whether or not rigged bids and price fixing are a

NAIC Conference Call Places State Insurance Investigations On Hold


How to Research Keywords for Search Engine Marketing\\The core element of any type of marketing utilizing the search engines is the keyword. Why is it so important? In terms of general marketing principles keyword search is equivalent to targeting a niche. It can help you focus your advertisements on certain ...


The database maker confirmed on Thursday that it plans to start releasing patches on a specific day each month. The move mimics Microsoft #39;s decision last October to release patches for its software on the second Tuesday of each month.

Your regularly scheduled software patch


Alicia Molik #39;s winning run has come to a halt at the quarter final stage of the Advanta Championships in Philadelphia. Molik had beaten Maria Sharapova in the Swisccom Challenge final a fortnight ago but couldn

Molik runs cold


Denver Broncos running back Quentin Griffin will miss the rest of the season after an MRI showed he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Monday night #39;s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, according to a published report.

Broncos #39; Griffin reportedly out for season


roundup Plus: PC shipments up, but revenue less so, study says...BEA mobilizes corporate data...Web services outfits merge...Microsoft sets holiday Xbox bundle...PalmSource settles Digeo patent suit.

Briefly: HP to sell Voltaire's InfiniBand switch


Moscow, Russia (Sports Network) - Russia and France will meet for the Fed Cup title this weekend at Krylatskoe Ice Stadium in a rematch of last year #39;s semifinals.

Russia meets defending champ France for Fed Cup title


CAIRO (AFP) - OPEC ministers played down the significance of an indifferent market reaction to their output cut to shore-up sliding oil prices, insisting that prices would climb again next week.

OPEC ministers unfazed by oil price drop after output cut


com September 20, 2004, 9:38 AM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.

JBoss ships J2EE app server


The first close-up pictures of Titan, one of the most enigmatic bodies in the solar system, parted the veil of its smoggy atmosphere Wednesday but managed to deepen questions about the Saturnian moon #39;s icy surface.

Titan close-up only adds to mystery


West McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen will start tomorrow #39;s Italian Grand Prix at Monza from seventh position whilst team mate David Coulthard is in tenth place for the last European race of the 2004 season.

Italian GP Qualifying: McLaren


GREAT Britain #39;s Paula Radcliffe #39;s dropped out of the Olympic Games women #39;s 10,000m with eight laps still to go this morning having made a late decision to compete.

Radcliffe drops out again


Jacques Santini steps down as Tottenham manager for

Football: Spurs manager resigns


In the next few weeks, consumers will start receiving notices from banks and other financial institutions about changes to their checking accounts.

Consumers to See Notices on Check Changes


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co. <A HREF=

Disney Says Expanding Video Game Investment


The Blue Gene/L system performed just over 36,000 billion calculations a second during tests at IBM #39;s Rochester office in Minnesota, the company announced on 29 September.

IBM claims supercomputer speed record


Reuters - A weak El Nino, the weather anomaly\that distorts wind and rainfall patterns worldwide, is expected\to develop and affect the United States this fall and winter,\U.S. government weather experts said on Thursday.

Weak El Nino Seen Affecting U.S. This Fall, Winter (Reuters)


The Google Playboy Interview In Its Entirety\\The infamous Playboy Interview of Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the Google Guys, is now not only available on newsstands all over the country, but also on the Security Exchange Commission's website because of a possible SEC violation. Now, it will be more difficult ...

The Playboy Google Interview


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Treasuries prices trimmed overnight  gains on Friday after data on U.S. retail sales showed  underlying strength in consumption heading into the  fourth  quarter.

Treasuries Deflated, Consumption Holds Up


Exit polls showing a tight race for the White House kept markets in suspense on Wednesday, with US stock futures and the dollar inching up as President Bush led in early counting.

Global Markets: Stocks, Dollar Inch Up


Reuters - RealNetworks Inc.  is ending\its 49 cent-per-song music download service but will keep the\promotional prices in place for top 10 songs, the Internet\media and software company said on Thursday.

RealNetworks Sells 3 Mln Songs, Ends Download Promo (Reuters)


espite a four-tournament victory streak heading into the United States Open, Lindsay Davenport received a reminder today that her momentum could stop at any time.

Davenport Finds an Open Win Is No Sure Thing


Maybe you can live -- and die -- without them. Wealthy Americans often use a fistful of trusts to slash estate taxes, avoid probate, and control how their money is divvied up. But if your worldly assets are shy of seven figures -- meaning you're unlikely to get hit with estate taxes -- you may want to consider some cut-rate ...

Arranging trust benefits minus the expense


P-Cube develops service control platforms, which help service providers identify subscribers, classify applications, improve service performance and charge for multiple services without costly infrastructure upgrades, Cisco said.

Cisco Systems Acquires P-Cube


Governor Rod Blagojevich seeks law to punish those who sell violent and sexually explicit games to minors. It #39;s as if the Governor of Illinois never heard of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

Illinois Governor proposing ga


Nextel agreed not to oppose Verizon Wireless #39; use of the term  quot;push-to-talk quot; when marketing a competing walkie-talkie service.

Nextel, Verizon Set Aside Differences


AFP - Afghanistan's presidential vote count neared its end with Hamid Karzai edging closer to victory, but a weekend suicide blast in Kabul offered a deadly reminder of the dangers facing the war-weary nation.

Afghan election count nears end as suicide bomb reminds of dangers (AFP)


AP - Just a day before an international deadline, Iran agreed Sunday not to test any centrifuges as part of a total suspension of nuclear activities that can yield uranium for atomic weapons. Diplomats described the about-face as an effort to avoid possible U.N. sanctions.

Iran Says It Will Stop Uranium Enrichment (AP)


After years of double-digit cost increases, employers are seeing a significant slowing in the rate of growth in what they pay for employee health insurance.

Growth Rate in Health Cost to Employers Slowed in '04


ATHENS - Olympic organizers have increased security inside all sports venues today after a Canadian, whose body was emblazoned with the name of an Internet casino, climbed out of the stands and jumped off one of the boards into the pool.

Canadian poolcrasher prompts tighter security


The Mozilla group expects to run a thank-you ad in the New York Times by Christmas as new market share numbers showed continued progress against Microsoft.

Firefox ad readied as market share increases


Even if indicted BALCO chief Victor Conte has the doping goods on sprinter Marion Jones, it #39;s unclear whether the International Olympic Committee can revoke the five medals she won in Sydney in 2000.

Time on Jones #39;s side


COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith threw for two touchdowns, Antonio Pittman rushed for one touchdown and kicker Mike Nugent converted three field goal tries to lead the Buckeyes to a 30-7 victory over Indiana Saturday in front of 104,538

Ohio State Beats Indiana, 30-7


The global airline industry stands to incur losses of between USD\$3 billion and USD\$4 billion this year as surging oil prices wipe out any hope of profit created by rising passenger traffic, the International Air Transport Association said on Monday.

IATA Says Airline Fuel Bill Up USD\$10 Billion


Does the gaming company have anything that anybody else would actually want?

What About Isle of Capri?


MOJAVE, CALIF: Completing the first leg of a quest for a \$10 million prize, a test pilot took a privately financed plane past the cusp of space on Wednesday morning in a flight that had equal measures of white-knuckle moments and triumph.

Private craft rockets past edge of space


HOUSTON (Reuters) - Carlos Beltran's record-tying eighth  post-season home run capped the Houston Astros' 6-5 comeback  win over the St. Louis Cardinals to even the National League  Championship Series at two games apiece Sunday.

Record-Tying Beltran Blasts Astros Into Tie


Starbucks Corp. (SBUX.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday said sales at stores open at least 13 months rose 13 percent in November, helped by the coffee shop chain #39;s early launch

Starbucks Sales Up 13 Pct, Shares Rise


The District of Columbia government, which long has struggled against an image of inefficiency, has begun cleaning out its closets with one of the most up-to-date instruments of modern electronic commerce.

District Uses Cyberspace To Tidy Up


WARSAW, Poland Poland #39;s defense minister says his country should pull its troops out of Iraq at the end of 2005. It #39;s the first official indication of when the country may leave Iraq.

Polish defense minister says Polish troops should leave Iraq at <b>...</b>


Vauxhall car workers were today told to check before arriving for their shift amid expectations that production will be halted because of a shortage of components caused by a strike in Germany.

Vauxhall Plant Set to Face Parts Shortage


Minnesota Timberwolves Latrell Sprewell #39;s profane comments, made to a female heckler, are being reviewed by NBA officials. The Star Tribune reported Tuesday that Sprewell #39;s

NBA to review Sprewell #39;s comments against female


A week after members of the Motion Picture Association of America filed 11 lawsuits against hundreds of people they accused of using file-sharing networks to share copies of movies, a US District Court judge found the process improper and ordered the

Judge Blocks MPAA #39;s Mass Suits


AP - Dozens of chimpanzees from a Dutch laboratory face a housing crisis after plans for their early retirement on the Spanish coast collapsed because of residents' fears they would carry infectious diseases.

Chimps From Dutch Lab Face Housing Crisis (AP)


John Kerry's campaign boosts spending on online ads in the final month of the election season, trying to maintain the momentum he gained from the first debate. It's surprising the campaigns haven't spent more online, experts say. By Louise Witt.

Kerry Campaign Dumps Cash on Web


Spain #39;s Anti-Violence Commission have asked the country #39;s football federation to open a disciplinary case against national team coach Luis Aragones.

Spain coach faces investigation


Schinias, Greece - Two-time Olympic silver medalist Caroline Brunet of Lac Beauport, Que., advanced directly to the 500-metre K-1 Olympic final by winning her heat during Tuesday #39;s canoe-kayak flatwater qualifying.

Brunet advances to K-1 final


SALISBURY, Md. -- A trial date has been set in Salisbury for Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. He #39;s scheduled to appear in District Court on Dec. 29.

Trial Date Set For Michael Phelps


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ben Broussard belted a two-run homer  in the third inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 5-2 win  over the Minnesota Twins to salvage a split of a unique  doubleheader on the final day of the American League regular  season.

AL Wrap: Indians, Twins Split Doubleheader to End Season


SEPTEMBER 20, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - VMware Inc. released today a virtualization tool for PCs it says will cut hardware and maintenance costs for users such as independent contractors that support third parties on their networks.

VMware releases virtualization tool for PCs


A three-year roadmap for Bluetooth short-range wireless technology will triple bandwidth and allow users to simultaneously multicast signals to seven others.

Roadmap boosts Bluetooth bandwidth


Microsoft has tailored its Windows XP Starter Edition for the Indian market, giving it a Hindi interface, as well as help and training resources in that language.

Budget Windows Goes to India


The Houston Astros, who are battling for a wild-card playoff spot, powered their way to a season-best sixth straight victory yesterday.

BASEBALL ROUNDUP Astros Apply Power in a Drive for More


AP - One morning 20 years ago, Alec Jeffreys stumbled upon DNA fingerprinting, identifying the patterns of genetic material that are unique to almost every individual. The discovery revolutionized everything from criminal investigations to family law.

DNA Fingerprint Discoverer Has Concerns (AP)


A US appeals court ruled this week that a lower tribunal had no right to decide a case brought against US internet giant Yahoo by two French groups trying to halt online sales of Nazi memorabilia. Documents showed on Wednesday that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ...

Yahoo Nazi Memorabilia Ruling Overturned


The long and sordid story of Intel #39;s flagship 64-bit CPU, Itanium, took another twist today, and from an unexpected source. Citing poor sales demand, Hewlett-Packard will discontinue sales and development of its own Itanium 2-based workstation line.

HP discontinues Itanium workstation sales


Chip designer ARM Holdings yesterday made its biggest ever acquisition, buying US rival Artisan Components for \$913m (502m). But investors balked at the high price and sent its shares crashing more than 18.

ARM falls 18 on US deal


Microsoft Corp. will be ready to comply with the European Commission #39;s demands for changes to its Windows operating systems if a European court rejects its request for the measures to be suspended, a spokesman for the company said Monday.

Microsoft is ready to remove media player for EU


Insurgents launched several strikes on Saturday, with the deadliest attack occurring outside a Marine base in western Iraq.

Rebel Attacks Kill 18 Iraqis; G.I.'s Injured


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

What a Story Lice Can Tell


Last year a man in Canada was arrested for downloading child pornography onto his laptop, but he used someone else's wireless access point to access the illegal material.

News: Tunable surfaces prevent Wi-Fi leaks


RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK - Cisco Systems is acquiring a California-based network management appliance developer for approximately \$16 million in cash.

Cisco Pays \$16M To Acquire Network Management Firm


With most states reporting massive new voter registrations and many political observers worrying about potential voter confusion and allegations of fraud on Nov.2, one organization has created a web-based tool to answer questions and provide information.

Web-Based Tool Helps Voters Find Polls


Marat Safin lost his temper and his quarterfinal at the St. Petersburg Open on Friday, getting surprised by seventh-seeded Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-1 after protesting a line call.

Angry Safin Upset by Call, Llodra


Media company Belo Corp. said yesterday that it will cut 250 jobs, mostly at its Dallas newspaper and TV station. A company spokesman said cuts will be made across Belo #39;s operations,, though

Belo #39;s cutbacks will hit the heart of Texas: Providence Journal <b>...</b>


BAGHDAD - A pair of car bomb attacks left at least a dozen people dead in Iraq Tuesday. At least eight died when a car full of explosives crashed into a concrete blast barrier around the Education Ministry building in Baghdad.

Car bombs claim a dozen lives in Iraq


THE rise in the price of crude oil over the last several months has brought the 11 members of Opec an unprecedented windfall, so much so it has revealed some cracks within what was supposedly the cartel #39;s public unity on prices.

Opec #39;s new cash pile


ATA Airlines parent ATA Holdings Corp. filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy law late Tuesday, and two other airlines immediately showed interest in ATA assets.

ATA Airlines enters receivership


HP is to unveil a range of products including its version of the iPod digital music player. The company will roll out a 42-inch high-definition plasma television, a DVD home theater projector, new Photosmart printers and an entertainment notebook PC.

Apple iPod from HP


By MARILYNN MARCHIONE    PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Doctors are reporting two advances that may give women with cancer safer ways to preserve their ability to have children without compromising their chances of beating the disease.    One involves a new way to help women store up eggs before having cancer treatments that often leave them infertile...

Advances May Help Preserve Fertility


NEW YORK, August 18 (New Ratings)  Crude oil prices reached new record high levels today, following the US Energy Department report regarding the expanded operations by the US refineries and increased gasoline demand for this year.

Crude oil crosses the \$47 per barrel mark


Italian police investigating allegations that the six-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong intimidated a key witness in the trial of his trainer on drugs charges have passed a dossier of rider interviews to a prosecutor in Lucca, who will decide

Armstrong hits out at Italian investigation


The Redskins, struggling on offense but with no plans to change quarterbacks, and Lions are underway in Detroit. The Lions won the toss and took the ball, and quickly got a first down on a 17-yard reception

Redskins, Lions Underway


CAIRO - Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi #39;s cousin, Ghazi Allawi, has been released by his kidnappers, Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite television reported Sunday.

Iraqi PM Allawi #39;s cousin freed