AP - Six years after the Supreme Court took away the president's ability to veto specific parts of legislation, President Bush is asking Congress to bring back the line-item veto to let him make precision strikes against projects and tax provisions he doesn't like.

Bush Wants Line-Item Veto to Be Revived (AP)


Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday said it has offered to buy Robert Mondavi Corp. (MOND.O: Quote, Profile, Research) for about \$970 million, looking to add to its wine portfolio.

Constellation Offers to Buy Mondavi


Forbes.com - At its Twinsburg, Ohio plant (below), Rockwell uses its own Logix controllers to make the 2.5 million circuit boards per year that power them. On one line, sensors scan boards as they move along a conveyor; if a match is found, a controller inches the conveyor forward. The same controller tracks the temperature of an oven used to cure the glue between the electronics and the board, adjusting the speed of the oven's conveyor based on the reading. All the controllers are lashed to an enterprise-management program that spits out productivity readings every two hours and looks for bottlenecks. ...

Productivity's Battleground (Forbes.com)


US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer pays 17m to increase his stake in Manchester Utd for the second time in four days.

Glazer increases stake in Man Utd


Toshiba said it will launch a recall to exchange a memory module that may cause data corruption in 26 notebook PC models. The components, procured from unidentified third parties, may potentially

Memory Problem Prompts Toshiba Notebook Recall


Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. said on Thursday a trial of its experimental drug for Crohn #39;s disease did not work in a late stage clinical trial.

Isis Drug Fails to Work in Crohn #39;s Disease


Northwestern characterizes its offense as a spread formation, but dont expect to see too many familiarities with the kind of spread offense Purdue uses.

Wildcats offense will give Boilers a good challenge


In the final moments of DC United #39;s 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Wizards in yesterday #39;s MLS Cup, coach Peter Nowak paced the sideline

DC United captures record 4th MLS Cup


A U.S. appeals court issued a mixed ruling Tuesday in a patent dispute between Research in Motion(RIM) and NTP, upholding a decision that RIM infringed upon patents held by NTP, but vacating an injunction ordered by a lower court and sending the case back for further deliberations.

Court lifts RIM injunction, but finds infringement


Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. CLEVELAND, United States of America -- LeBron James scored 33 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 16 to spark

LeBron scores 33 as Cavaliers rip Golden State


China #39;s leading trade union group says it will help multinationals in China including Wal-Mart to set up their own trade unions as soon as possible.

China lauds Wal-Mart #39;s union decision


_ In Baghdad, militants attacked two churches with car bombs and set off blasts at a hospital, killing at least six people and injuring about 80 others.

Iraq Baghdad Violence


AP - Honduran children hunting rabbits who were running from a burning sugarcane field were caught in the blaze themselves. Thirteen youngsters were killed, and a man and a 14th child were severely burned.

Thirteen Children Die in Honduras Fire (AP)


At least four Israeli soldiers were killed and eight wounded on Sunday in a Palestinian bomb attack on an Israeli checkpoint at the Rafah border terminal on the southern Gaza Strip border with Egypt.

Four die in bombing of Israeli checkpoint


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -  Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.  <A HREF=

Krispy Kreme's Board Members Lead Probe


Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe called for unity on Thursday amid rare public jostling within his ruling ZANU-PF party over who will eventually succeed the controversial 80-year-old leader.

Mugabe Urges Party Unity Amid Succession Struggle


Pakistan #39;s UN ambassador fired back at allegations that his country was aiding Taliban and other elements trying to undermine neighbouring Afghanistan and its presidential election.

Pakistan denies blame for Afghan violence


Security screeners at a US airport spot but then lose a bag containing a fake bomb, in a training blunder.

US airport security loses 'bomb'


Reuters - Burning of the Amazon and\other forests accounts for three quarters of Brazil's\greenhouse gas emissions and has made the country one of the\world's leading polluters, a long-delayed government report\showed on Wednesday.

Amazon Burning Makes Brazil a Leading Polluter (Reuters)


UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi  Annan intends to tell world leaders on Tuesday to respect human  life, whether civilians or prisoners of war in Iraq, villagers  in Sudan or children in northern Uganda or Russia.

Annan to Urge World Leaders to Respect Human Life


AP - Ron Artest was back in the starting lineup for the Indiana Pacers on Friday night after being benched for two games for asking for time off because of his busy schedule.

Pacers Allow Artest to Return to Lineup (AP)


France #39;s public deficit will drop by about euro10 billion (US\$12 billion) in 2005 to conform with European Union rules, the French prime minister said in an interview.

PM: France Will Conform to Deficit Rules


When you #39;re a company under the watchful eye of governments around the globe for being the 800-pound gorilla of the computer industry, it helps to play nice.

Microsoft #39;s Open Sesame Moment


JERUSALEM Aug 20 - Humiliated by his own party and under pressure from the opposition to call new elections, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon appears in no position to ensure the implementation of his Gaza pullout plan.

Hobbled Sharon #39;s options limited despite vow to implement Gaza <b>...</b>


And Mike Ramsay, TiVo's CEO, resigns from his board position at Netflix to avoid conflicts of interest.

TiVo, Netflix sign movies-on-demand deal


It was the longest postseason series ever, 29 hours and 7 minutes of theater that shook the psyches of two of baseball #39;s bedrock franchises.

Thoughts of How and Why for Yanks


JAPANESE TIN maker NEC has released a mass produced supercomputer computer which it claims knocks the socks off Big Blue #39;s Blue Gene/L.

Supercomputer hits the shops


The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is visiting Kashmir for the first time since taking office, as some of its troops withdraw from Indian-administered Kashmir.

Kashmir withdrawal: Your views


Tommy Docherty believes the future looks grim for the Scotland national team - no matter who succeeds Berti Vogts. Former Manchester United manager Docherty was not the least bit surprised when Vogts resigned from his post on Monday.

SCOTS HAMPERED BY LACK OF TALENT - DOC


BEIJING (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell will  urge China Monday to exert its influence over North Korea to  resume six-party negotiations on scrapping its suspected  nuclear weapons program.

U.S. to Urge China to Push for More N.Korea Talks


LinuxWorld Dirac attack

BBC wants help developing open source video codec


Taiwan votes Saturday in high-stakes legislative elections likely to reinforce President Chen Shui-bian #39;s drive to bestow more trappings of independence on this self

Taiwanese Vote Today May Boost Separatism


British officials were on diplomatic tenterhooks as they awaited the arrival on Thursday of French President Jacques Chirac for a two-day state visit to Britain.

Chirac, Blair hope to put bad blood behind them


Great Britain #39;s stormy recent Davis Cup history continued today with bad weather delaying their World Group play-off against Austria in Portschach.

WEATHER DELAYS BRITAIN #39;S DAVIS CUP BID


Microsoft and Cisco Systems today said they will share security and network health technologies in an effort to stop, isolate and eliminate viruses and other malicious software on Windows-based networks.

Microsoft, Cisco Partner on Security Improvements


A power failure at a London facility of Reuters Group Plc prevented Standard  amp; Poor #39;s from providing quotes on Canada #39;s benchmark stock indexes, including the S amp;P/TSX Composite Index and the S amp;P/TSX 60 index, Reuters said.

Canadian Stock-Index Quotes Halted Amid Power Failure (Update2)


Reuters - South Korea sees no need to rush into a\further round of talks on the North's nuclear weapons\ambitions, President Roh Moo-hyun said on Wednesday.

S.Korea's Roh Says No Need to Rush North Atom Talks (Reuters)


Global semiconductor sales growth slowed to 1 percent in August as electronics makers reacted to growing inventories in Asia by limiting orders of chips, an industry trade group said on Thursday.

August Chip Sales Growth Slows on High Inventory


Determined to avoid a repeat of the construction delays that threatened the Athens Games, Olympic officials arrived in Beijing on Wednesday.

IOC urges Beijing to get ready for 2008


Middlesbrough were denied the point they needed to move into the knockout stage of the Uefa Cup by a classy Villarreal side. A defensive Boro were soon on the back foot and keeper Mark Schwarzer made three fine first-half stops.

Villarreal 2-0 Middlesbrough


By Simon English, Malcolm Moore and Yvette Essen (Filed: 04/11/2004). Wall Street cheered the election victory of President George W Bush yesterday as investors bet lower taxes on profits would lead to a stock market boom.

Bush win brings hope of stock market boom


An assistant manager at one of Costco #39;s Colorado warehouses filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against the Issaquah-based company yesterday, alleging that it overlooks women for promotion.

Costco faces sex discrimination suit


UK scientists have developed a process for making hydrogen from sunflower oil which could prove an important future source of eco-friendly energy.

Sunflower oil boost to car future


A new micro-generator developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology holds promise for micro-generator technology #39;s future in electronics devices.

Micro-generators rev up the power


For almost seven days, they drifted off the Cornish coast in a tiny inflatable raft, at the mercy of rough seas, battered by huge waves and high winds.

Crew of 5 rescued after week in life raft


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

Dell Cuts Prices on Many U.S. Corporate Products


House prices grew by just 0.1 in August, their weakest in almost three years, the Nationwide said yesterday, providing further evidence that the house price boom has hit the buffers.

Interest rates start to bite as house price growth slows to three <b>...</b>


LONDON (Reuters) - High-flying oil climbed back toward \$50  a barrel on Thursday, with worries over the security of  Nigerian supply supporting prices despite a surprise build in  U.S. crude inventories.

Oil Nears \$50 on Nigeria Supply Worries


Britains most famous football club, Manchester United, has been approached in a potential takeover bid. Although the identity of the bidder has not been revealed, most suspect Malcolm Glazer to be behind the move.

Manchester United on the transfer list with takeover bid


Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and

Cuba starts 'huge' military drill


BEIJING, China -- Torrential floods in southwest China have killed as many as 100 people prompting officials to call in the military to help rescue scores of people and locate dozens of missing.

Army aid as China floods kill 100


AP - Todd Walker homered and drove in four runs, Carlos Zambrano won his fourth straight decision and the Chicago Cubs extended their lead in the NL wild-card race with a 12-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

Cubs Extend Lead in NL Wild-Card Race (AP)


Experts have identified an array of problems at the Salem nuclear power station, one of the country's largest.

Nuclear Plant in New Jersey Draws Censure


AP - Kurdish Iranians in poor border towns are taking advantage of the porous boundary with Iraq to sneak into the country for coveted items  #151; like alcohol  #151; to sell back home.

Porous Border Helps Iranian Smugglers (AP)


Don't take the headlines too seriously, because they're long on facts, short on truth, and they just don't matter.

Of Bobbleheads and the Beast


The United States supports a  quot;strong dollar, quot; Treasury Secretary John Snow said, while suggesting the Bush administration will not act to boost its value. His comments sent the currency plunging to a record low against the euro.

Dollar hits new low on Snow speech


AP - Insurgents in Iraq have kidnapped more than 160 foreigners. Those held are:

More Than 160 Taken Hostage in Iraq (AP)


A study published today shows that a sign language that emerged over two decades ago now counts as a true language. It began in a school for the deaf in Managua, Nicaragua, founded in 1977.

Deaf children invent a new sign language


AP - The Miami Dolphins' coaching search will include more than one candidate, even though LSU's Nick Saban remains the front-runner.

Saban to Have Competition in Coach Search (AP)


For the first half of the Eagles #39; game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, Donovan McNabb looked like a quarterback with a hangover from last week #39;s victory on

McNabb Tosses Aside Sluggish Start and Lifts Philadelphia


TORONTO (CP) - Conrad Black plans to retire as Hollinger Inc. #39;s chairman and chief executive  quot;within a matter of days, quot; a spokesman for the embattled press baron said in a statement Friday.

Black to leave Hollinger Inc. board, stock soars on privatization <b>...</b>


Japan #39;s baseball players are likely to decide not to strike again with club representatives set to accept their demand to allow a new league team from next season.

BASEBALL STRIKE REPRIEVE?


A car bomb exploded outside a restaurant in a busy commercial area of Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least 11 people and wounding 40, police and hospital officials said.

Car Bomb in Baghdad Kills at Least 11


A \$239 million satellite toppled to a factory floor last year because nobody bothered to check that it was secure before moving it, according to a NASA investigation board's report on the mishap.

Satellite Mishap Blamed on Human Error


AP - New documents unearthed in the midst of the presidential campaign fill in some blanks but raise other questions about the sometimes mysterious and spotty story of President Bush's military service during Vietnam when he won a coveted spot in the Texas Air National Guard and avoided the war.

Questions Raised About Bush Guard Service (AP)


A US lawmaker marries the daughter of Guatemala's ex-military ruler at a closely-guarded ceremony.

US son-in-law for ex-coup leader


AFP - Chelsea's drive to claim the club's first English title in half a century gathered pace as Newcastle were blown away by a late four-goal blitz at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea go for the jugular (AFP)


AMMAN: The leader of the most active insurgency group in Iraq, Tawhid and Jihad, has been killed in a US airstrike, his father and Islamic scholars said yesterday.

us using yassin-style executions in iraq?


FORT PIERCE, Fla. - Hurricane Frances' wind and water whacked swaths of Florida with fire-hose force Sunday, submerging entire roadways and tearing off rooftops before weakening to a tropical storm and crawling inland with heavy rain...

Frances Floods Florida, Leaves Four Dead


LOS ANGELES NASA #39;s Mars rovers continue to perform, working three times longer than their designed lives and prompting controllers to give them additional chores.

One Mars rover plots crater  quot;escape, quot; while twin keeps climbing <b>...</b>


Computer Associates on Monday announced it is upgrading and consolidating its storage management software line. The computer software giant is offering 13 new versions of its BrightStor storage management line and also announced a new product in a move to better compete with rivals EMC and Veritas Software.

CA polishes up BrightStor products


AP - A shifting channel eroding the end of a beach may be helping the threatened Morris Island Lighthouse.

Shifting Channel May Benefit Lighthouse (AP)


With the PGA Tour #39;s major championships concluded for 2004, we look for other story lines to sustain the golf season. The back nine: ...

Season far from running course


Since its debut in 2001 as an XBox launch title, Halo has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. In doing so, it has received critical acclaim from reviewers and avid gamers alike.

Halo 2 Exceeds Expectations


The third round of peace talks aimedat ending a 22-month-old crisis in Sudan #39;s troubled Darfur region has been suspended after the rebels accused government forces of continuing attacking them.

Update: Darfur peace talks suspended as rebels pull out


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday, hit by a  sharp drop in technology shares following a slew of sales  warnings from semiconductor makers, and as oil prices rose  nearly \$1 a barrel.

Tech Stocks Tumble After Chip Makers Warn


IBM is trying to use SCO as a punching bag this week as Big Blue fires off another motion for partial summary judgment in its legal slugfest over Linux and Unix copyright issues.

IBM #39;s New Motion on Linux Aims to  #39;Call SCO #39;s Bluff #39;


With a specialized version of Windows XP Embedded, the software maker wants to get its fingers in the till.\

Microsoft hears jingle of cash register software


As part of its goal to promote access to broadband services for all Americans and to encourage new facilities based broadband platforms, the Federal Communications Commission today adopted changes to Part 15 of its rules to encourage the development of

FCC Approves Broadband Over Power Line Rules


GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - A Yemeni poet accused of crafting al-Qaida propaganda admitted he is a member of Osama bin Laden's terror network in a dramatic appearance Thursday before a U.S. military commission...

Yemeni Poet Says He Is al-Qaida Member


An Elephant writes  quot;Groklaw is reporting, based on a ZDNet UK story, that Sun #39;s strategy for survival in the near future is based on trying to equate Linux with Red Hat, and then attack Red Hat as too small to support enterprises.

Is Sun Turning against Linux and Red Hat?


EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- All-Pro Michael Strahan will miss the rest of the season with a torn muscle in his chest, leaving the New York Giants without both starting defensive ends.

Strahan, Pennington, Leftwich sidelined by injuries


New Zealand #39;s  quot;friends quot; in Washington will soon make another push to have the administration consider a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and NZ, Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday.

NZ  #39;friends #39; to push for free trade with US


To all who have been fired or laid off: This is life. Get over it (''Hundreds laid off at Fleet offices, quot; Aug. 19). Free markets allow for such things and when this merger happened, not a soul outside of the public relations people for the bank thought that this merger would take place without the loss of many positions. After ...

Banks didn't merge to create more jobs


The European Union said Tuesday it will accept cuts in subsidies for Airbus Industries only if Washington reduces aid for its main trans-Atlantic competitor, Boeing Co.

Update 2: EU Is Willing to Cut Airbus Subsidies


Reuters - The Atlanta Hawks waived center\Jelani McCoy Tuesday and activated guard Royal Ivey from the\injured list.

Hawks Waive McCoy; Activate Ivey (Reuters)


VICTORIA - A stunning surprise for BC consumers: the provincial sales tax is going back to seven per cent from 7.5 per cent. Finance Minister Gary Collins made the announcement Wednesday in the legislature.

Surprise! Sales tax rolled back


If you think Americans are pet-crazy, consider new research that finds ancient Egyptians embalmed their animals with as much care as they did humans.

Egyptians wanted pets to join them in paradise


AP - AIDS demonstrators disrupted a Republican youth gathering on the floor of the party convention Wednesday, shortly after President Bush's twin daughters left the stage.

AIDS Activists Disrupt Convention Event (AP)


AP - 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 (AP)


Reuters - Stalking teddy bears and towels\before retiring to harass the family dog, 12-week-old cheetah\cub Bunjee was blissfully unconcerned by the cameras trailing\him around the Heidenreichs' house.

Cheetahs Flourish on Spanish Plain (Reuters)


Kampala - Ugandan helicopter gunships and ground troops attacked a rebel hideout in southern Sudan, killing at least 25 insurgents and capturing seven others, an army spokesperson said on Sunday.

Ugandan troops kill insurgents in Sudan


Korea's new facility could stimulate biotech research in Asia and lower costs for biotech companies.

Korea's Biotech Bet


Colombo, Nov 28 : The Sri Lankan government today asked the Tamil Tigers to work for a negotiated political settlement to the decades-old ethnic strife, a day after LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran threatened to go back to war.

Tamil minister asks Tigers not to go back to war :


Google #39;s long-awaited public offering finally made it to the street, but the search is still on for Microsoft #39;s Windows update.

Google #39;s ups and downs


Los Angeles - US software behemoth Microsoft on Tuesday unveiled a new technological assault that will bring music, movies and television into consumers #39; living rooms via their home computers.

Microsoft makes itself at home


General Electric Co., the world #39;s biggest company by market value, will buy back as much as \$15 billion in stock and raise its dividend as Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt #39;s growth strategy generates more cash and profit.

GE to Buy Back \$15 Bln in Stock, Raise Dividend (Update4)


Networking giant Cisco Systems this week announced plans for increased investment in Asia, including a new research and development facility in China and a venture investment program in India.

Cisco to invest more heavily in Asia


AP - The day after the San Diego Chargers assured themselves of their first winning season since 1995, LaDainian Tomlinson made a pitch for the front office to bring back quarterback Drew Brees next year.

Tomlinson Says Chargers Want Brees Back (AP)


AT T Corp. Wednesday announced a number of VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) initiatives, such as a program to develop common standards for the technology and an expansion of its international VOIP remote worker pilot project. But as the company tries to draw more corporate users to VOIP, its own research, also published Wednesday, showed that concerns about the quality of service continue to dog the market as a whole.

AT T woos international markets with VOIP projects


Companies that need to move storage data over long distances quickly and securely now have more options with the introduction of the MDS 9000 Multiprotocol Services Module and 9216i fabric switch from Cisco Systems Inc.

Cisco #39;s New Offerings Enhance SAN Extensions


Lawyers for Michigan and New York argued yesterday that the direct shipping bans are not discriminatory because the Constitution #39;s 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition in 1933, also permits states to regulate the alcohol industry.

Justices Hear Cases on Shipping Wine


Hong Kong stocks closed at a fresh eight-month high Friday, boosted by a cut in local interest rates and overnight gains on Wall Street.

Hong Kong Shares Close Higher


Detainees released from Guantanamo Bay have been recaptured or killed fighting U.S. forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Detainees Returning to Conflicts From Cuba


The CIA declines to comment on a report that senior al-Qaeda suspects are being held in Jordan.

Al-Qaeda figures 'held in Jordan'


Cingular Wireless marked the completion of its \$41 billion takeover of AT amp;T Wireless Services Inc. by immediately expanding unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling between the two networks. Subscribers of the original Cingular and AT amp;T Wireless who have had plans that gave them unlimited calls to fellow subscribers now also get free unlimited calls to subscribers of the other carrier. Cingular is now ...

Mobile phone customers get connected


Scientists map enormous impact craters hidden under the Antarctic ice sheet using satellite technology.

Antarctic craters reveal strike


Tens of thousands of Windows PCs are being hijacked daily to spread spam and viruses, a study shows.

Net security threats growing fast


THE Greek government has appealed for calm, fearing a public backlash against immigrants living in the country following the bus hijacking by two Albanian gunmen.

Greece fears racist backlash


A South African on trial in Equatorial Guinea for plotting a coup said on Monday he had been tortured and two defendants said they were forced to sign confessions

quot;Mercenary quot; says tortured in Equatorial Guinea jail


AP - Patrick Kerney had rather modest expectations when he went off to college.

Kerney Big Reason for Falcons' 4-0 Start (AP)


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Los Angeles Dodgers landed a dandy Thursday in free-agent infielder Jeff Kent. Kent, 36, agreed to a two-year contract, but financial terms were not disclosed.

Kent joins Dodgers for two years


AP - The fossil of what may be one of the earliest baby birds has been found in northeast China.

Ancient Baby Bird Fossil Found in China (AP)


LONDON: Papa Bouba Diop smashed in a stunning late equaliser to give Fulham a deserved 1-1 home draw with Manchester United in the Premiership early this morning.

UNITED HELD


REAL, Philippines (Reuters) - Flood waters receded in the  Philippines on Friday in the wake of a typhoon that killed at  least 35 people, but thousands more remained cut off from help,  hungry and at risk of disease after a week of severe flooding.

Disease Risk Rise After Philippine Typhoon


Reuters - The body of an Egyptian who was\kidnapped in Iraq last month has been found in northern Iraq,\Iraqi police said on Sunday.

Body of Egyptian Hostage Found in Iraq - Police (Reuters)


Bernie Williams sent a drive soaring to left-centre field, raised his right arm in triumph and circled the bases. Pretty soon, he was home - and so were the New York Yankees.

Williams hits two-run homer as the Yankees beat Minnesota 6-4 to <b>...</b>


National Foods Ltd. increased second- half profit by 12 percent as Australia #39;s biggest fresh milk supplier expanded its range of gourmet foods and sold more Pura Classic and other flavored milk drinks in convenience stores.

National Foods 2nd-Half Net Rises 12 on Milk Sales (Update2)


Applied Materials (AMAT: news, chart, profile) shares were off two cents to \$16.05 in trading before the bell Wednesday and had wavered around break-even in late trading Tuesday after the results were announced.

Applied Materials


RAFAEL BENITEZ returns to Spain tonight knowing there is far more at stake than Liverpools Champions League dreams. Benitez is back in his homeland for the first time since joining the Anfield

Beni #39;s Raf luck


The economy #39;s recovery may be a little shaky, but you wouldn #39;t know it from looking at this year #39;s Forbes 400. In this, Forbes #39; 23rd annual ranking of the 400 richest people in America, the combined net worth

The Forbes 400 richest Americans


According to the Telegraph, the Pirah  quot;have little social structure, no art, and they barter instead of using currency. Their language is limited to just 10 consonants and vowels. quot; The only words they have for numbers are  quot;one, quot;  quot;two quot; and  quot;many. quot; ...

Words may limit ideas


Merck  amp; Co. Inc. #39;s Vioxx recall is mushrooming into a product-liability nightmare that erased another \$23 billion of the company #39;s valuation on Monday, but analysts said it will likely withstand the crisis.

Merck Falls as E-Mails Suggest Vioxx Smoking Gun


LAS VEGASBEA Systems Inc. has made significant progress in the development of the Apache Beehive component model, which is designed to help accelerate the development of Web services and SOA (service-oriented architecture) applications.

BEA Releases Enhanced Beehive Open-Source Framework


Wall Street continued its post-election rally yesterday as oil prices dropped by more than \$2 a barrel and President Bush outlined plans for a second term.

Bush, Retailers Drop in Oil Prices Give Markets Boost


Some people cannot fathom the indifference. The revelations about Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds brought a rousing  quot;so what? quot; from the general public, causing waves of journalistic outrage around the country.

Baseball will survive, just like it always has


Reuters - Russia, which provides the only link to\the International Space Station from Earth, named on Saturday\three new crew members to replace the current two-man crew in\October, Interfax news agency reported.

Russia Names New Space Station Crew (Reuters)


Reuters - Drunken revelers at the world's\biggest beer festival this year can purchase a stiff linguistic\pick me-up for when their brains get addled -- a beer and\mustard proof guide to Bavarian slang.

Boozy Oktoberfest Drinkers Get Bavarian Slang Aid (Reuters)


A JOURNALIST kidnapped in Baghdad was probably released because he was Australian and there was no hatred of Australians in the country, Iraq #39;s national security adviser said today.

Nationality saved captured Aussie


The Google vs. Microsoft technology war does not seem to let up. The latest salvo from the MSN camp is a beta edition of its new MSN Desktop Search application.

Round 3 of the desktop search heavyweight championship bout


The new coach of the Georgetown men #39;s basketball team was greeted with chants of  quot;JT3! quot; as he stepped onto the MCI Center court before the Hoyas #39; season opener against Temple last night.

In Opener, Hoyas Are Shut Down


Sony Corp #39;s music unit is abandoning its CDs that use built-in technology that limits copying them, after pushing the program for two years.

Sony Corp abandons copy-control music CDs


A commuter plane crashes as it approached  a Missouri airport, killing at least eight people on board.

'Eight dead' after US plane crash


Reuters - Bribery and negligence by officials\helped Chechen suicide bombers get on board two passenger\planes last month and blow them up, Russia's chief prosecutor\said in an interview published on Wednesday.

Bribes Helped Bombers to Russian Planes -Prosecutor (Reuters)


Marks  amp; Spencer says its sales are continuing to slide, for which it blames a poor performance for its summer clothing lines and homeware products that are too contemporary for its customers.

M amp;S sales slump continues


Excitement on Friday as the holiday shopping season got underway cooled before the weekend #39;s close as cautious shoppers browsed and let many deals pass.

Shoppers fast out of gate


FAST bowler Glenn McGrath has batting trumps Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana in his sights and he has warned Pakistan to expect a rough ride on an old-style Perth pitch this week.

McGrath aims at struggling top order


The bodies of about 160 Congolese Tutsis killed in Burundi during the weekend were buried on Monday, but the impact of the massacre is just beginning to be felt. A former rebel group now in the transitional government in the Democratic Republic of Congo ...

Massacre Threatens to Derail Congolese Peace Process


The 2003 co-national champion USC Trojans, coming off a 12-1 season and a Rose Bowl victory, and the Virginia Tech Hokies, who finished last season 8-5 with an Insight Bowl loss to Cal, meet

USC superior in almost every area


Ultimately, a Visual Studio package will compete with products from IBM's Rational unit. Coders will get a peek next month.

Microsoft to show off Team tools


Fisheries scientists urge zero catches for cod in 2005 in the North Sea, the Irish Sea and west of Scotland.

Scientists maintain fish concern


SPRINT queen Marion Jones says she will sue accused steroid peddler Victor Conte over his allegations that she received banned drugs before winning five medals at the Sydney Olympics.

Marion mad at dope slur


quot;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, quot; \$49.99, www.rockstargames.com/sanandreas/. Format: PlayStation 2. Players: 1-2. Category: Action.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas #39; has few faults


Congress is letting employers hire 20,000 more foreign high-tech workers under a special visa program after businesses reached the annual ceiling on the first day of the government's fiscal year.

More Visas For Foreign Workers


Consumers lost a little of their enthusiasm for auto purchases last month but spent like mad in a number of other areas, including clothing and gasoline, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

Consumers stay in spending mode


BANGKOK: Two bombs exploded in troubled southern Thailand on Monday, injuring a soldier and a civil servant, police said, a day after the government scattered millions of paper doves as a peace gesture.

Bomb blasts wound two in Thailand #39;s south a day after paper dove <b>...</b>


AP - Olympic gold medalist Cael Sanderson was hired as an assistant wrestling coach at Iowa State, where he went 159-0 while winning four NCAA championships.

Sanderson Takes Coaching Job at Iowa Sta (AP)


PONCA CITY, Okla. - Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols will not appeal his state murder convictions for his role in the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building, his attorney said Thursday...

Nichols Declines to Appeal Convictions


That #39;s the summary of the latest BCS standings released on Monday. Cal made the most significant jump, up four spots to No. 4. If the season ended today, the Bears would be automatically qualified for an at-large BCS bowl berth, most likely the Rose.

Latest BCS a feel-good for Cal, upset stomach for Utah


Gov. George Pataki yesterday vetoed a bill that would have taxed cigarettes and gasoline sold to non-Indians from reservations around the state, saying the measure went against his policy of negotiating voluntary solutions with tribes.

Pataki has reservation about taxes


France coach Raymond Domenech made a last-ditch plea with Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram, asking them to rejoin the team for two crucial games.

Domenech pleads with Zidane and Thuram to return - both say no


WASHINGTON The Bush administration has agreed to consider a petition from a coalition of textile manufacturers, along with the union representing their workers, asking that the federal government limit imports from China next year, an action that could

US weighs trade limit for China


BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. - The European team has enjoyed success at the Ryder Cup, but on Friday they must brace for a concerted American assault.

Sutton pairs Tiger, Phil at Ryder Cup


MARKHAM, Ont., Sept. 16 - IBM Canada has announced a suite of services to speed the benefits of radio frequency identification (RFID) systems to industrial companies and mid-market businesses.

IBM Expands RFID offerings


German-American auto maker DaimlerChrysler AG said Thursday it will invest \$210 million to update an assembly plant in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila.

Automaker Invests \$210M in Mexico Plant


FEDERAL authorities have indicted 19 people in the United States and abroad on charges related to a website investigators claimed was one of the largest online centers for trafficking in stolen identity information and credit cards.

US indict 19 on ID theft charges


Michael Owen may still not have tied down a regular starting spot at Real Madrid. But his recent record of five club goals in six games means he is certain to start for his country in the friendly

Beckham back in England hype-fest


Reuters - The dollar idled near seven-month lows\against the yen on Wednesday as traders considered what\officials from the Group of 20 countries might say about recent\weakness in the U.S. currency at an upcoming meeting.

Dollar Stuck Near Lows Ahead of G20 Meet (Reuters)


NewsFactor - Measuring 3.6 x 1.9 x .9 inches and weighing in at 110 grams, the new Sony Ericsson Z500a smartphone from Cingular Wireless enables road warriors to add a variety of highly effective tools to their mobile arsenals. Included are high-speed access to e-mail and the Internet, as well as a push-to-talk capability for instantly contacting fellow workers.

Product Review: Sony-Ericsson Z500a Smartphone (NewsFactor)


Reuters - The dollar softened against the euro\but firmed against the yen on Monday, trading within tight\ranges as dealers refrained from making aggressive bets ahead\of the August U.S. payrolls report later this week.

Dollar Dips Vs European Currencies (Reuters)


TrafficLand Inc. recently released what it calls AirVideo, an add-on to the \$59-a-year traffic-monitoring service it sells. <FONT face=

Service Sends Traffic Images to Cell Phone


NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Portland Trail Blazers head  coach Maurice Cheeks was fined \$7,500 by the league on Monday  for his behavior during this past Friday's game against Utah.

Portland Head Coach Cheeks Receives Fine


A GIANT roared, a nation was crushed and debate over the ethics of an ancient game flared at the Gabba yesterday. After a sluggish start to the first Test Australia flexed their

Down and out


AP - Veteran umpire Ed Montague will call balls and strikes in Game 1 of the World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Veteran Umpire Montague to Call Game 1 (AP)


Russian gas company Gazprom rallied again Wednesday as investors said the upcoming easing of share ownership rules would make it a must-have stock in emerging markets portfolios.

Russia #39;s Gazprom rallies anew


AP - Attacks against Jews have increased in Australia, a report by a major Jewish organization released Sunday showed.

Austrialia Attacks Against Jews Increasing (AP)


THE fridge magnet and associated bumf the Howard Government distributed in 2003 said nothing about Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Osama bin Laden #39;s military commander and architect of the September 11 attacks.

Alert and alarmed


Reuters - Carolina\Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith underwent successful surgery\on his broken left leg Tuesday and needs at least eight weeks\to rehab.

Carolina WR Smith Undergoes Surgery (Reuters)


NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 30: Chances of a judicial intervention before the start of the India-Australia cricket series receded today, as the Supreme Court remained engrossed in the legal debate on whether the BCCI should be treated as an authority of

Zee looks on as BCCI, Govt fight it out at apex court


Reuters - American International Group Inc.\, the world's largest insurer by market value, on Monday\said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission may take civil\action against it for issuing

SEC May Charge That AIG Lied to Investors (Reuters)


For starters, the Pistons played well enough to win their season opener Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets. But down the road, they will need more help off the bench.

Pistons are solid in season debut


White settlers are using the judicial system to try to evict Indians from parts of a reservation in the Amazon.

Brazilians Battle Indians: 'This Land Is Our Land'


AP - Surprise, surprise. Look who's above .500 and talking about making a playoff push. None other than the San Diego Chargers.

Chargers Opening Eyes With 4-3 Start (AP)


AP - A benefit concert by the Boss is bringing out big bids on eBay. But some people offering tickets at several times their face value for an intimate performance Sunday by Bruce Springsteen may be running afoul of anti-scalping laws. The face value of the tickets is  #36;100 each.

Ebay May Be Afoul of Scalping Law in N.J. (AP)


FORMER chairman of frozen food supermarket chain Iceland, Malcolm Walker, is being linked to a possible buy- back of the business, now trading as part of the Big Food Group.

Walker may buy back Iceland stores


The International Monetary Fund may release to Kenya a \$35 million loan in December after the country reins in spending on salaries and sets up an anti-corruption commission, a fund official said Friday.

IMF May Lend Kenya \$35 Million


Senator Kerry leveled his charges in a speech prepared for delivery later today before the National Guard Association in Las Vegas.

Kerry Accuses Bush of Hiding the Truth About Iraq


ING Group NV will sell its Atlanta-based life insurance business to Britain #39;s Prudential PLC in a \$256.8 million deal designed to realign the Dutch financial services giant #39;s international operations.

ING Sells Insurance Unit to Prudential


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude prices near record highs will  again mute any advance in U.S. stocks at the market's open on  Thursday, but investors will get a diversion as Google Inc.  <A HREF=

Stocks Seen Little Changed, Oil Weighs


Faced with as difficult a set of decisions as any European captain has had to deal with, Bernhard Langer added Colin Montgomerie and Luke Donald as wild-card selections for the team

Montgomerie and Donald selected for Ryder Cup


The French government plans to merge Airbus parent EADS with defense company Thales to create a new European giant to rival Boeing Co.

Update 2: French Gov #39;t May Link EADS With Thales


AP - The San Francisco Giants and catcher Mike Matheny agreed to a  #36;10.5 million three-year contract Monday, the latest move to upgrade the team's defense.

Giants Agree to 3-Year Deal With Matheny (AP)


In a splendorous ceremony atop a hill that was once the center of the Roman empire, 25 European heads of government signed the European Union #39;s first constitution Friday, but for

25 nations sign first constitution for EU


GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said his  people should drop their weapons in the struggle for a state,  marking out a clear change of strategy for peace with Israel  after Yasser Arafat's death last month.

Abbas Calls on Palestinians to Drop Armed Struggle


LOS ANGELES -- Picked apart all afternoon by uncannily accurate California quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the USC defense chose the game #39;s biggest moment to make the game #39;s biggest stand.

In the end, Trojans #39; defense is up to the test


NEW YORK -- So maybe everybody got a little too carried away with this Red Sox resurgence. Maybe we forgot who these guys really are.

Bombers show Red Sox why they remain the team to beat


AP - John Kerry criticized President Bush on Friday for failing to capture Osama bin Laden as a new videotape of the terrorist leader surfaced just before the election. Bush accused the Democrat of

Bin Laden Videotape Fires Up Bush, Kerry (AP)


Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc., the second-largest US doughnut maker, had a fiscal third- quarter loss of \$3 million, or 5 cents a share, compared with net income of \$14.5 million, or 23 cents, a year earlier.

Krispy Kreme Posts Loss, Scraps Sales Forecast (Update1)


UNITED NATIONS UN chief Kofi Annan says he #39;s  quot;disappointed quot; to learn his son was getting 30-thousand dollars a year from a company with an oil-for-food contract in Iraq.

Annan  #39;disappointed #39; his son received 30-thousand a year from <b>...</b>


When Internet search engine company Google, Inc., of Mountain View, begins to sell shares to the general public -- something expected to happen later this week -- the initial price is expected to be between \$85 and \$95 per share. The company had earlier ...

Google lowers price range, number of shares, for its IPO


Fifteen percent, then 15.5 percent, and now 15.8 percent. AMD is gaining back lost ground, Mercury Research says.

AMD's slow but steady market share gains


SAN FRANCISCO (Sports Network) - San Francisco linebacker  Julian Peterson left Sunday's game against Arizona late in the  first quarter with a torn left Achilles' tendon.

Niners LB Peterson Tears Achilles' Tendon


As the American sliced to victory in Tuesday night #39;s final of the women #39;s 100-meter hurdles at the Athens Olympics, a crash early in the race had taken out two of her main rivals.

ATHENS OLYMPICS 2003 / Hayes captures bizarre 100-meter hurdles <b>...</b>


Have children lost their fondness for Lego #39;s colourful plastic building bricks in this age of high-tech, interactive computer games and electronic gadgetry?

For crisis-ridden Lego, toymaking is anything but child #39;s play


Hollywood film studios are to sue people who swap pirated copies of films over the internet. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) said the civil suits would seek damages of up to \$30,000 (16,300) per film.

Studios to sue net movie swappers


Livingston, Scotland (Sports Network) - Livingston hired former Scotland and Rangers defender Richard Gough to be its new head coach on Tuesday.

Gough named new Livingston boss


LONDON (Reuters) - The euro hovered near two-month highs on  Friday as key U.S. data loomed and as traders awaited a Group  of Seven meeting of finance ministers, while oil-fired  inflation fears lifted gold close to a 5-1/2 month high.

Dollar Vulnerable, Gold Lifted


Fred Taylor calls Byron Leftwich the most positive person he #39;s ever met. But unless the game is on the line, Mr. Positive has had a difficult time gaining yards on offense this season until the final seconds.

Jags get offense clicking in second half


AP - Egypt's antiquities chief on Thursday revealed a 2,500-year-old hidden tomb under the shadow of one of Giza's three giant pyramids, containing 400 pinkie-finger-sized statues and six coffin-sized niches carved into granite rock.

2,500-Year-Old Hidden Tomb Found in Egypt (AP)


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In an unprecedented departure from  NATO practice, several alliance members will not allow their  own officers assigned to NATO's two command centers to  participate in its first collective postwar mission in Iraq, a  senior U.S. official said on Friday.

Some NATO Members Balk at Joining Iraq Mission, U.S. Says


Cash'n'Carrion Final clearance at 9 inc VAT and P amp;P

Last shout on the Inova Microlight keyring


Reuters - France has ordered more troops to Ivory\Coast to protect French citizens after nine French soldiers and\a U.S. aid worker were killed in a government bombing raid and\Ivory Coast troops fired on French forces.

France Dispatches More Troops to Ivory Coast (Reuters)


The team examined samples from four animal mummiestwo hawks, a cat, and an ibisdating from 818 BC to 343 BC The mummies are housed in the collection of the Liverpool Museum in Liverpool, England.

Egyptian Animals Were Mummified Same Way as Humans


With an Oracle buyout looking likely, software-maintenance start-up TomorrowNow's phone is ringing off the hook.

A 'Plan B' for PeopleSoft customers


The organization will let fans help call the shots on an upcoming pay-per-view event.

WWE's Customizable PPV


Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took the company #39;s anti-Linux campaign to its IT executive e-mail list on Wednesday afternoon, with a 2,600-word message that restated Microsoft #39;s well-worn case against open source software.

Ballmer Takes Anti-Linux Campaign to IT Executive E-mail List


Kofi Annan's reluctance to commit staff members to Iraq in large numbers and a series of comments he has made about the war have strained relations with the Bush administration.

U.S. and U.N. Renew Quarrel Over Iraq


Maverick Labour MP Austin Mitchell today offered to use his photographic skills to end the impasse in the Northern Ireland peace process.

MP Offers to Photograph IRA Decommissioning


Drug-distributor AmerisourceBergen Corp., following in a rival #39;s footsteps, warned that lower-than-expected increases in drug prices will hit earnings for the quarter and fiscal year ended Sept.

AmerisourceBergen Cites Lowers Outlook


Inter Milan beat Anderlecht 3-1 away to open a three-point lead in Champions League Group G on Wednesday. Obafemi Martins put Inter ahead in the ninth minute when he turned in a low left cross from fellow striker Adriano.

Inter crush Anderlecht 3-1 to lead group by three points


roundup Plus: Microsoft updates home PC package...LookSmart buys Furl.net...Microsoft tweaks volume-licensing program...Pentagon expands access to voting site.

Briefly: Jail time for California swappers?


Ahead of the UN General Assembly annual session, nearly 50 world leaders and the United Nations on Monday raised concerns about the rising gap between rich and the poor, but disagreed with United States on the strategy to fight poverty.

Rich, poor gap worries world leaders


Security forces in Nigeria say they have killed 27 Muslim militants who staged attacks in the north east.

Nigeria police 'kill 27 Taleban'


Reuters - ChevronTexaco Corp., the No. 2\U.S. oil company, on Friday reported a rise in quarterly\profit, pumped up by record oil and gas prices and gains on\asset sales.

Oil, Gas Prices Help Chevron Earnings (Reuters)


(Sports Network) - The Dallas Mavericks were knocked off by the Seattle SuperSonics, 107-102, at American Airlines Center. Dirk Nowitzki tallied 27 points and seven rebounds for the Mavs, who have dropped two of three.

Dallas Mavericks Team Report - December 10


Hong Kong democrats made only modest gains in elections for the territorys legislative council yesterday, leaving pro-Beijing parties with an overall majority.

Small steps


NEW YORK - With quavering voices, parents and grandparents of those killed at the World Trade Center slowly read the names of the victims early Saturday to mark the third anniversary of the attacks that brought down the twin towers.    Moments of silence were observed at 8:46 and 9:03 a.m., the times two planes slammed into the trade center towers on Sept...

Families Mark Third Anniversary of 9/11


Vince Carter paused and thought. The last time he made a winning shot? He shakes his head and remembers, when Muggsy Bogues was still a little Raptor and Dell Curry was arching gorgeous jumpers from the perimeter.

Rollin #39; rollin #39; rollin #39;


LONDON : Irish no-frills airline Ryanair said it had signed a 10-year engine maintenance deal with GE Engine Services, a division of US-based conglomerate General Electric.

Ryanair signs engine maintenance deal with General Electric


AP - Approaching Hurricane Ivan has led to postponement of the game Thursday night between 10th-ranked California and Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Cal's athletic director said Monday.

Storm Delays Southern Miss-Cal Game (AP)


Napster founder Shawn Fanning has returned to the online downloading arena with the approval of some significant members of the music industry.

Napster Back In Music Scene


Prudential Equity Group maintained an  quot;overweight quot; rating and a \$26 target price for Check Point Software Technologies (nasdaq: CHKP - news - people ).  quot;The company suggested that although InterSpect might

Larger Customer Deals To Boost Check Point


WASHINGTON - Washington DC Council chairman Linda Cropp challenged Major League Baseball officials Thursday to extend the deadline for the city to approve a stadium financing package for a few months so the city can find private money to add to the deal.

Major League Baseball Notes: DC official pleads for more time


Reuters - Swimming is already out for tourists visiting Rome's Trevi\Fountain, but an Italian woman was surprised to discover so was pointing out the\sights at the landmark made famous by screen diva Anita Ekberg.

Psst...don't tell, but this is Rome (Reuters)


Orlando Cabrera hit a run-scoring double off the Green Monster in the ninth inning on reliever Justin Speier #39;s second pitch of the game, giving the Boston Red Sox a 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

AL Capsules


Hasselt, Belgium (Sports Network) - Kim Clijsters retired in her semifinal match Saturday in the Gaz de France Stars tennis tournament with a wrist injury.

Injury forces Clijsters to retire in Belgium


Reuters - The U.S. Supreme Court said on\Friday it would decide what regulations should apply to\high-speed broadband Internet service offered by cable\companies like Time Warner Inc., a key case that could decide\whether such lines must be opened to competitors.

Supreme Court to Decide Cable Internet Case (Reuters)


The rebirth of Brian Griese couldnt have come at a better time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Griese, the second-string quarterback on game-day was called in to relieve an injured Chris Simms in the first-quarter.

Bucs Use All They Have For Win


PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI - Brazil routed a weak Haitian team 6-0 Wednesday in an exhibition game aimed at promoting peace in the Caribbean country.

Brazil beats Haiti as nations play for peace


Asian stocks rose after oil prices fell from a record on Friday, easing concern higher energy costs will damp consumer spending and corporate profits.

Asian Stocks Rise as Oil Drops From Record; Honda Leads Advance


Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he is determined to keep up Italy #39;s efforts in Iraq despite the execution of an Italian hostage.

Italy maintains commitment to Iraq despite killing of hostage


Shuttle astronauts would do a better job of upgrading NASA (news - web sites) #39;s aging Hubble Space Telescope (news - web sites) than space-faring robots -- with

Astronauts, Not Robots Should Upgrade Hubble-Panel


Rangers midfielder Stephen Hughes insists manager Alex McLeish will lose no time in stamping out his sides unfortunate new habit of conceding early goals.

MCLEISH WILL STAMP OUT SLIP-UPS - HUGHES


LEESBURG, Va. - A brother and sister who sent unsolicited junk e-mail to millions of America Online customers were convicted Wednesday in the nation #39;s first felony prosecution of distributors of spam.

Two Guilty in First Felony Spam Conviction


The new model of Research In Motion's popular BlackBerry e-mail device includes a quad-band phone and Bluetooth.

RIM releases new BlackBerry in U.S., European markets


Scotland #39;s John and Sinead Kerr finished fifth in the prestigious Skate America competition in Pittsburg yesterday. It was the Livingston-based brother and sister combination #39;s best-ever result in an international

Ice Skating: Poise and protest but Kerrs happy with fifth


An influential group of Sunni Muslim clerics on Tuesday urged Iraqis to boycott the first democratic election in decades in protest at a US-led offensive against the rebel-held city of Falluja.

Iraq #39;s Sunni Clerics Call for Election Boycott


Oracle #39;s hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft has sparked plenty of fireworks over the past 18 months. It also has highlighted a more subtle dilemma: Oracle #39;s struggles to expand in a maturing software industry.

Oracle plots course for growth


TORONTO (Reuters) - Hopes for an NHL season were left  hanging by a thread Thursday as players presented a proposal  that included a massive 24 percent rollback in salaries but did  not address owners' main demand for cost certainty.

Players Offer to Slash Salaries to Save NHL Season


The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday it expects to resume formal loan talks with Argentina after completion of the country #39;s debt exchange deal, delayed last week and now scheduled for Jan. 17.

UPDATE 1-IMF says talks with Argentina to follow debt swap


Nearly 380 tons of explosives are missing from a site near Baghdad that was part of Saddam Hussein #39;s dismantled atom bomb program but was never secured by the US military, the United Nations said Monday.

UN: Explosives Missing from Former Iraq Atomic Site


Wal-Mart Stores Inc. #39;s disappointing sales forecast sent stocks fluctuating Monday as investors #39; concerns about a slowing economy eclipsed their relief over a drop in oil prices.

Wal-Mart Sales Slump Keeps Stocks Muddled


A month before the video game's scheduled release this coming Tuesday, illegal copies of the hot sci-fi action title

Trio of Hot New Games Victimized by Piracy


The heads of auto giants Fiat SpA and General Motors Corp. meet in Switzerland on Tuesday to discuss the possible sale of Fiat #39;s auto business.

Fiat, GM CEOs Meet to Talk Possible Sale


Former Computer Associates International Inc. chairman and chief executive Sanjay Kumar has been charged with securities fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice in connection with a multibillion dollar accounting scandal at the software company.

Computer Associates to Pay \$225 Over Accounting Scandal


MOSCOW -- Russian oil company Yukos suffered a fresh setback yesterday in its survival struggle against multibillion-dollar tax bills when one of its appeals was thrown out and another adjourned by a Moscow court.

Yukos suffers another setback


LONDON: British insurance major Royal  amp; Sun Alliance (RSA) has announced that it would shift as many as 1,100 jobs from Britain to India in the next two years.

More British jobs to be outsourced to India


U.S. trade authorities said Wednesday they will file a complaint against the European Union to the World Trade Organization, contesting what they regard as billions of dollars in unfair subsidies provided to aircraft company Airbus by European governments.

U.S. Filing Complaint on Airbus Subsidies


Boasting a stingy defense and excellent special teams play, Bishop Feehan captured a Division 2A Super Bowl berth yesterday and the chance to win a fourth consecutive title.

Feehan thwarts Bourne's speedsters


A video grab image on an Islamist internet site shows American hostage Eugene Armstrong prior to his execution September 20, 2004.

American hostage killed in Iraq


Singapore and India have concluded their ninth round of negotiations on a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA), which will no doubt expand economic cooperation between the two countries.

Singapore, India conclude 9th round of trade talks


President Chen resigns as DPP chairman in Taiwan, in a move which could signal a new drive to find consensus.

Taiwan's Chen quits party post


BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese divers searching an icy lake  have recovered the two flight recorders from a commuter jet  that crashed seconds after takeoff killing 54 people, Xinhua  news agency said Wednesday.

Black Boxes Recovered from China Lake Crash Site


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Record oil prices have taken a

Greenspan Says U.S Can Weather Record Oil


Bangkok, Thailand (Sports Network) - Former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson of Sweden upended sixth-seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in Monday #39;s opening-round action at the \$550,000 Thailand Open.

Johansson ousts Lopez in Bangkok


HAMISH ROBERTSON: The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, sparked quite an argument last week with his comments in Beijing about whether Australia would side with the United States in any war over Taiwan.

A balancing act: Australia #39;s diplomatic relations


NASA officials held an international workshop last week in Washington DC, with representatives from China, the European Union, and 17 other countries to consider opportunities and possible collaborations

NASA Concludes First International Workshop in Support of US  #39; <b>...</b>


Americans aren't more inventive than other people, but they innovate. A PBS documentary airing this week details how Americans create new industries with their inventions -- an additional step that makes all the difference. By Jason Silverman.

Meet the People Who Made America


Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho fired a broadside at referee Rob Styles for his decision not to award a penalty when Didier Drogba was brought down under a challenge from Ulises de la Cruz.

Mourinho Fumes At Referee


Hundreds of Arab and Muslim leaders and officials participated Friday in the funeral procession of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Cairo.

Leaders join Arafat funeral procession


Police take cover as they surround a bus in eastern Athens early Wednesday Dec. 15, 2004. A Greek public bus with about 27 people aboard was hijacked and shots were fired at police.

Greek Bus With 26 on Board Hijacked


quot;Coach called me over the summer and asked me if I was working hard, quot; Carney said.  quot;I guess I showed him what I did all through the summer tonight.

No. 24 Memphis 81, Saint Mary #39;s 66


CORVALLIS, Ore. - Thirty-seven years ago, a top-ranked USC team came to this Pacific 10 Conference outpost and could not overcome a muddy field in a stunning loss to Oregon State.

Trojans overcome mistakes, weather to rally past Beavers


WASHINGTON (AFX) -- The US has filed a case with the World Trade Organization alleging that the European Union provides unfair government funding to Airbus, United States Trade Representative Robert Zoellick announced Wednesday.

US files WTO case vs EU for Airbus subsidies


Pierre Pierce hit a 25-foot jumper with 44 seconds left to give Iowa the lead for good, and the Hawkeyes beat No. 15 Texas, 82-80, last night in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational.

Iowa upends No. 15 Texas


MILAN, Italy (Reuters) - Merloni shares fell more than 10  percent on Friday after the Italian home appliance maker cut  its 2004 profit forecast, blaming weak demand and high prices  for steel and oil.

Italian Appliance Maker Cuts Outlook


Seattle Internet service provider Speakeasy has received an investment from Intel to test a new technology that could provide wireless Internet coverage to entire cities or counties.

Speakeasy gets money from Intel for WiMax


A man has eaten his first solid meal in nine years after his face was rebuilt using a pioneering jaw-bone graft.

New jaw grown on patient's back


Leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific states pledge to bolster anti-terrorism measures and efforts to lower trade barriers.

Apec pushes for free trade boost


A newly reported security problem in Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) Web browser allows attackers to create a fake Web site that looks exactly like a genuine site.

New IE hole could perfect phishing scams


CHARLOTTE - As Jake Delhomme walked off the field Sunday, he turned to Atlanta Falcons cornerback Kevin Mathis and said, I bet youd like to play against me every week.

Atlanta uses fourth-quarter spurt to drop Panthers


Reuters - Boeing Co.  on Wednesday posted\a 78 percent jump in quarterly earnings that beat Wall Street\forecasts as stronger demand for its military networking and\weapons systems helped offset a decline in commercial airplane\revenue.

Boeing Quarterly Profit Up 78 Percent (Reuters)


Fosters, Australias largest beer and wine maker, has been trying to sell Lensworth, aiming to focus on its beverage business.

Stockland pays A\$825m for Fosters property unit


Michael D. Eisner, the chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, said on Monday that he did not plan to remain on the board or become chairman when he retires in two years.

Disney Chief Rules Out Board Position


NEW YORK (Sports Network) - The NBA showed no mercy on  Sunday, suspending Indiana's Ron Artest for the remainder of  the season for his part in a brawl between the Pacers and the  Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

NBA Suspends Artest for Remainder of Season


BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio - Good news, or bad? President Bush and Democrat John Kerry had differing takes Saturday about the vitality of the nation's jobs market - a question that's heating up this year's race for the White House.    Bush, campaigning in Ohio - a pivotal state that has lost tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs, says a new U.S...

Bush and Kerry Differ on State of Economy


Spain coach Luis Aragones is looking for a huge improvement from his side when they begin their World Cup qualifying campaign with a tricky tie against Bosnia on Wednesday.

PREVIEW-Spain looking for huge improvement against Bosnia


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

Gap Profit Off, Sees More Store Closings


Linux publisher Red Hat Inc. said Tuesday that information-technology consulting firm Unisys Corp. will begin offering a business version of the company #39;s open-source operating system on its servers.

Red Hat, Unisys Announce Partnership


Competitors say they are winning contracts over PeopleSoft because of concern about company's future.

PeopleSoft's customer woes


New Delhi: Making  quot;progress quot; on the composite dialogue process, India and Pakistan agreed on a series of military and other confidence building measures (CBMs) to improve relations but sharply differed on Jammu and Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism

India, Pak agree on CBMs, differ on J amp;K


AP - Tokyo's main stock index ended lower Friday amid profit-taking of technology issues and concerns about soaring oil prices. The U.S. dollar was down against the Japanese yen.

Tokyo Stock Index Ends Lower, Dollar Down (AP)


NEW YORK - Stocks edged higher in early trading Friday as investors tried to uncouple share prices from skyrocketing oil costs, even as crude reached new highs and flirted with \$50 per barrel.    A barrel of light crude was quoted at \$48.97, up 27 cents, on the New York Mercantile Exchange after setting a new intraday record earlier in the session at \$49.40...

Stocks Up Despite Oil Nearing \$50 a Barrel


INDIANAPOLIS An attorney says the parent company of the nation #39;s tenth-largest airline is expected to file for bankruptcy today.

Attorney says ATA expected to file bankruptcy Tuesday


FRANKFURT, GERMANY -- The German subsidiaries of Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) and Novell Inc. are teaming to offer Linux-based products to the country's huge public sector.

HP, SuSE target German public sector


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday after  software maker PeopleSoft Inc. <A HREF=

Stocks Up on PeopleSoft Deal, Retail Data


The US military says an American soldier was killed in attack in eastern Afghanistan, the third US soldier to die in the country this week.

Afghan, US Soldiers Killed in Clashes in Khost Province


JERUSALEM -- From the podium of the Israeli Knesset last week, Shimon Peres, the engineer of the Oslo peace process and leader of the parliamentary opposition, lambasted Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's speech on the state of the nation. Minutes later, in a nearby conference room, he urged his Labor party colleagues not to vote against Sharon's program so as not ...

Pragmatism at heart of Peres's efforts toward peace


Atlanta Hawks forward Al Harrington, middle, is welcomed to Conseco Fieldhouse by Indiana Pacers forward Jonathan Bender, left, and forward Ron Artest before the start of the game in Indianapolis,Wednesday, Nov.17, 2004.

Pacers #39; Bender Out Six Weeks With Injury


Google is pronounced in a variety of ways abroad, reflecting its international popularity. In France, the search engine is  quot;GooGEL quot; while Japanese say  quot;GOOgaru.

Google making its mark worldwide


WALTHAM -- OK, granted, we're not Texas or Florida, and we're not Arkansas, Nebraska, or Alabama, either. In the grand scope of Football America, what we are is quaint.

Best game in town


Given what Sergio Garca has achieved in his career already it is difficult to believe he is only 24 years old. He had a 67 yesterday, four under, to share the Volvo Masters lead with his fellow Spaniard

Garca winds up best in tough going


Google has launched a new feature that tries to guess what people are looking for as they type queries into a search box. Google Suggest quietly debuted this week on the company #39;s Labs site, which showcases

Google Suggests the way to search


Symbian says the Skulls program that disrupts some cell phones might not be a Trojan horse.

Skulls on cell phones don't scare Symbian


Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., stood on the Senate floor Friday and read e-mail exchanges between Boeing Co., executives and Air Force officials that he said revealed an improper

Senator reads Air Force-Boeing e-mail exchanges, demands <b>...</b>


The electronics maker begins sales of wireless television set as it emphasizes advances in the boob tube.

Sony's location-free TV makes local shows portable


Vijay Singh is not satisfied. After dominating the PGA Tour this year the way Tiger Woods used to do it, the Fiji native wants more.

Singh voted PGA player of the year


An Iraqi militant group claims to have beheaded a second American hostage, two days after killing a US civil engineer. The group -- Al-Tawhid wa Al-Jihad, led by Al-Qaeda ally Abu Mus #39;ab al-Zarqawi -- is threatening

Hostage Drama Continues As Another Beheaded Body Is Found


AP - Zimbabwe's government will prohibit African observers from monitoring national parliamentary elections next year if they have close links with Western countries, an official said Friday.

Zimbabwe to Bar Observers From Elections (AP)


AP - The Bush administration opposed security measures for new microchip-equipped passports that privacy advocates contended were needed to prevent identity theft, government snooping or a terror attack, according to State Department documents released Friday.

U.S. Opposes Passport Privacy Protections (AP)


New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms left in the first quarter of Sunday #39;s win against New Orleans with a left shoulder injury.

Simms suffers shoulder injury; Griese leads Bucs to win


LOS ANGELES (Sports Network) - James

Younger Brother of TV Personality Allegedly Killed by Boxer


The 26MB upgrade to version 10.3.6 is available now via the OS #39; Software Update control panel and from Apple #39;s support web site.

Apple ships Mac OS X update


Prison maintenance workers stage a 48-hour strike to protest against a pay deal unions describe as 'insulting'.

Prison workers walk out over pay


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Cleveland Indians first baseman Travis Hafner had successful surgery on his right elbow. Hafner, 27, underwent the procedure, performed Wednesday by Dr.

Indians #39; Hafner has elbow surgery


The Israeli Cabinet approved Sunday the Evacuation-Compensation Law to compensate settlers under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s disengagement plan.

Israeli Cabinet OKs compensation law


A Moscow hospital is filled with a mournful buzz and the activity of people grasping for a way to help six survivors of the three-day hostage-taking at Middle School No. 1.

To Speed Healing, Ossetians Cling Together


FARMERS recovering from the drought of 2002-03 have received some good news and bad: the value of crop and livestock exports is forecast to rise but the price of wool is set to fall.

A mixed crop for battling farms


NEW YORK - The hydrogen fuel station for fuel-cell vehicles that opened Wednesday in Washington, DC, is intended to bring the technology to the attention of lawmakers and show its usefulness and safety for retail use, said Jeremy Bentham, chief executive

Shell Executive:Hydrogen Fuel Station In DC Is Just The Start


as they sought to measure the significance of a purge of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt and his intelligence apparatus last month. The release could be a signal that the generals may be willing to move seriously on political reform, they said.

Myanmar frees number two political prisoner


San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants have scheduled a news conference prior to Tuesday night #39;s game against Houston at which time the club is expected to announce that Barry Bonds will remain under contract through the 2006 season

Bonds to remain with Giants through 2006


Bill Clinton is a man close to 60, with a little pudge and a longtime love of junk food. That fits the stereotype for heart disease. Needing bypass surgery, however, suggests that the former president's disease is relatively extensive, and that's surprising for an active dignitary who presumably has top-notch and timely physical checkups.

Age and Eating Habits Catch Up With President Clinton


WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Wednesday approved bills intended to fight computer spyware and to protect wireless phone customers from potential privacy problems associated with a wireless phone number directory.

Senate panel approves spyware, wireless privacy bills


com October 20, 2004, 12:46 PM PT. There were over 600,000 household service robots in use worldwide in 2003, and more than 4 million new units should join them over the next three

Robo-servants set to sweep into homes


Search giant Google said Wednesday that it has acquired Keyhole, a company specializing in Web-based software that allows people to view satellite images from around the globe.

Google buys satellite image firm Keyhole


The use of genetically modified animals in UK labs continues to grow, official statistics released on Tuesday show.

Modified animals continue trend


A Montgomery County judge has ruled that Maryland's anti-spam law -- one of the first attempts to control junk e-mail advertising -- is unconstitutional because it seeks to regulate commerce outside the state's borders.

Judge Rejects Maryland Spam Law


LA Lakers basketball star Vlade Divac is to pursue plans to buy Serbia's top mineral water firm, reports say.

LA Lakers star eyes Serbian deal


HOUSTON - In a heated game between Central division rivals, the Cubs out slugged the Astros to take the rubber game of the three game series.

Fiesty Cubs Take Series


The Boston Red Sox won their first World Series title in 86 years, completing a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals with a 3-0 victory at Busch Stadium.

Red Sox Erase Curse With First World Series Title Since 1918


In buying the McLean firm, Sabre would get 6,000 small and medium-size hotels as customers, as well as the technology they use to track inventory, book guests online and connect to Internet reservation services, including Sabre's Travelocity.<FONT face=

SynXis to Be Bought for \$40 Million


SPACE.com - Next week brings us the \  return of the famous Leonid Meteor Shower, a meteor display that over the past \  several years has brought great anticipation and excitement to sky watchers \  around the world.

The Leonid Meteor Shower 2004: Modest Peak Expected Nov. 16-19 (SPACE.com)


Insurgents have mounted fresh attacks in Baghdad and a US-Lebanese contractor has become the latest victim of a kidnapping spree in the run-up to a threatened US assault on rebel-held Falluja and Ramadi.

Iraq rebels stage fresh attacks


AP - A swing change, not romance, caused Tiger Woods to drop to No. 3 in the world rankings. That's the opinion of Woods' caddie, Steve Williams, who predicts a revival next year.

Caddie: Woods to Return to Top of Game (AP)


With six teams nationally ranked in the top 20, including three in the top four, the ACC remains the preeminent conference of college basketball.

A League by Itself


Looks like Gmail is about to officially offer POP access, according to this message in their support database. This function has already been enabled by lots of third party tools, but has been expected from Google themselves for quite a while.

Google to support POP connection


AFP - An Italian aid worker walked free from the southern Philippines jungle, a day after he was abducted by local gunmen, officials said.

Kidnapped Italian freed in southern Philippines (AFP)


Cornice has countersued hard drive rival Seagate, the maker of micro hard drives said yesterday. In a complaint filed with the US District Court for Delaware, the Cornice asked the court not only to determine that certain Seagate patents are invalid but ...

Cornice countersues Seagate


Michael Phelps led all the way in winning the 200-meter freestyle at the World Short Course Championships on opening night Thursday.

Phelps Opens Big


The Senate approved the measure 92-3 Thursday night less than an hour after it cleared the House by a similarly lopsided 339-65. The measure now goes to Bush for his signature.

Congress Approves Tax Cuts


DENVER -- The second-seeded Los Angeles Galaxy travel to INVESCO Field at Mile High to face the third-seeded Colorado Rapids in the opening game of the 2004 MLS playoffs Friday.

Rapids look for playoff revenge vs. LA


update British regulatory agency Ofcom has begun to map out the future for commercial Net phone services. And while some issues are as yet unresolved, the organization issued a key ruling Monday that was popular among carriers.

British ruling cheers VoIP industry


Plans call for a Linux-based platform that will be usable in multiple environments, including on PCs, servers and PDAs.

France and China form Linux alliance


Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson announces an agreement to secure the first commercial flights into space.

Virgin boss in space tourism bid


FROM RAPPERS and rockers glorifying violence, to babies taking guns to school, to parents punching coaches and refs, to the unapologetic belligerence of the presidency, we are becoming a meaner and angrier nation.

Stern response needed from Stern


The plot: The Anaheim Angels seemed to capture in the final week of the season the swagger they had when they won the 2002 World Series as a wild card.

Boston vs. Anaheim


The company hopes to lure software partners by promising to save them from infrastructure headaches.

BEA packages Web application tools


AP - Hurricane Ivan's storm surge and pounding waves swamped the barrier islands that stand guard along the central Gulf of Mexico coast, eroding their protective sand and causing millions of dollars in damage, coastal experts said.

Group: Ivan Damaged Gulf Barrier Islands (AP)


Grace Park might have made a shaky start on day three of the CJ Nine Bridges event in Korea today, but by the time she had finished the only ones shaking were those who had to follow in her wake.

Grace Park leads them a merry dance in Korea


MacCentral - Dell Inc. took the wraps off its holiday lineup on Thursday, showing new printers, plasma televisions and music players that will soon be available through its Web site.

Dell targets iPod Mini with new MP3 player (MacCentral)


Consumer prices barely budged in August, suggesting that inflation isn #39;t currently a problem for the economy and Federal Reserve policy-makers can stick with a gradual approach to raising interest rates.

Consumer Prices Climb; Jobless Claims Up


By RAJESH MAHAPATRA    NEW DELHI (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) announced Wednesday that it would offer a low-cost, localized version of its Windows XP operating system in India to tap the large market potential in this country of 1 billion people, most of whom do not speak English...

Microsoft Unveils Windows XP Operating System for India


LifePoint Hospitals has agreed to acquire rival Province Healthcare for \$1.125 billion in cash and stock to broaden its geographic reach.

LifePoint to Buy Rival for \$1 Bln


Even as Sanjay Kumar, the former CEO of Computer Associates, was indicted on accounting fraud charges and CA signed agreements with federal officials to avoid prosecution, some users said they're not giving up on the company's software.

CA looks to move on after Kumar's indictment


Oil prices extended recent losses Wednesday in anticipation of that another increase in crude supplies will be accompanied by a rise in heating fuel inventories.

Oil prices still under pressure


Congress is now poised to hand President Bush an election-year tax cut victory after Senate and House of Representatives negotiators on Wednesday night agreed to extend popular tax breaks for children and couples for five years.

Congress Set to Extend Family Tax Cuts


French transport commissioner Jacques Barrot is under pressure to explain to MEPs why he did not mention his involvement in a French political party funding scandal.

Barrot overshadows new EU executive


Time to call the credit bureaus? Almost 1.4 million records containing the personal information of Californians likely stolen.

Online attack puts 1.4 million records at risk


The United States women #39;s soccer team needed only a tie yesterday and that #39;s all it got -- settling for a draw against a team it always had beaten.

US women settle for tie


Eight Marines were killed and nine others wounded west of the capital on Saturday when a suicide car bomb rammed into their convoy, military officials said, making it the deadliest day for the US forces in half a year.

Deadliest day for US in 6 months


Beijing - China planned to boost the development of its nuclear power industry to help meet its growing need for electricity as it made a strategic shift in focus away from coal, an official said yesterday.

China to rely more on nuclear power


The software giant announces several changes and plans for its Virtual PC software, which lets Windows run on Apple machines.

Microsoft patches software for Mac version


Senegal striker El-Hadji Diouf has been hit with a fine of two weeks #39; wages after he spat in the face of Portsmouth #39;s Arjan de Zeeuw during Saturday #39;s Premiership match.

Diouf spit leaves a sour taste for Bolton


The Los Angeles area #39;s black community was the chief victim of a Ponzi scheme that took at least \$8 million from investors, the Securities

SEC: Scheme targeted LA black community


Sony Ericsson today announced a new quad-band PC Card, the GC89, which combines support for GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz with CSD, GPRS, EDGE and Wi-Fi 802.

GC89 to offer quad-band GSM, GPRS, EDGE and Wi-Fi


WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators have raised the possibility of removing the management of mortgage giant Fannie Mae after finding accounting problems they described yesterday as more serious than those that brought the ouster of top executives at rival Freddie Mac .

Fannie Mae leaders face possible ouster


Investment bank Lazard filed yesterday for its long-awaited initial public offering, asking to sell up to \$850 million in stock.

Lazard files long-awaited \$850m IPO plan


Fidelity Investments hasn #39;t given up its opposition to a rule that requires the boards of mutual funds to have an independent chair, and the senior US senator from New Hampshire is backing that effort.

Fidelity still fighting independent chair rule


Sainsbury's is set to create 3,000 jobs as it looks to improve services at its supermarkets, newspapers report.

Sainsbury's 'creating 3,000 jobs'


UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Equipment and materials that  could be used to make nuclear weapons are disappearing from  Iraq but neither Baghdad nor Washington appears to have  noticed, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency reported on Monday.

UN: Iraqi Nuclear-Related Materials Have Vanished


\\Whats wrong with this picture?\\All these URLs return HTTP 200 0K.  The only problem is that none of them\actually exist and they're just HTML error pages.\

Breaking RSS Semantics


A Russian-built cargo spacecraft, Progress 16, had been scheduled to deliver fresh food, water and other supplies to the ISS last month, but the mission was delayed until late December.

Space Station Crew Must Cut Back on Food


The area #39;s three major communication equipment makers said Wednesday they are optimistic about the proposed merger of Sprint Corp.

Local telecoms


EMERYVILLE, Calif. - Pixar Animation Studios said Thursday that third-quarter profit surged 70 percent as revenue continued to climb and said its newest film,  quot;The Incredibles, quot; is posting strong returns.

Pixar reports profits up 70 percent


Gordon McQueen has urged the Scottish Football Association to install Walter Smith as the next Scotland manager. The search now begins for Berti Vogts #39; successor, following the German #39;s surprise decision to resign.

Smith - McQueen #39;s choice to take over (Getty Images)


AP - The Browns placed offensive lineman Kelvin Garmon and defensive back Leigh Bodden on injured reserve Tuesday.

Browns Place Garmon, Bodden on IR (AP)


NEW YORK - We have expanded our list to 200 names from 100 in 2003. To make the top 100 this year required personal wealth of at least \$141 million, against \$100 million last year.

About China #39;s Richest


Scientists are hopeful they can retrieve particles of solar wind from a capsule that crashed in the desert last week. By Peter N. Spotts  Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.

Sun may rise, after all, on faulty space probe


MOSCOW -- Tens of thousands of demonstrators -- many waving banners and flags -- gathered in Moscow #39;s Red Square Tuesday in a show of unity against terrorism after last week #39;s hostage-taking at a school in Beslan in southern Russia.

Russia In Turmoil Over School Killings


Researchers are working on the nose-mouse, and other unorthodox ways of moving a cursor.

A New Rule of Cursor Control: Just Follow Your Nose


Novell chief executive Jack Messman sat down with ZDNet UK on Monday at BrainShare in Barcelona, and gave a typically combative take on the current state of the software industry.

Novell: Linux turns up the heat on Microsoft


Oracle tells a judge the anti-takeover measure is unnecessary and ties the hands of a future board of directors.

Oracle raps PeopleSoft customer refund program


DETROIT (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG <A HREF=

VW's Audi Recalls 28,000 A6 Cars


Cigarette companies have been honest in highlighting the

Tobacco firms deny public misled


Roger Federer was on his way out of Flushing Meadows on Sunday evening and heading back to Manhattan when a small group of excited children stopped him for his autograph.

Federer has world playing catch-up


STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Electrolux, the world's biggest maker  of home appliances, warned on Thursday that soaring steel  prices would hit its second-half profits to the tune of 500  million crowns (\$68 million).

Electrolux Warns Steel to Dent Profits


FISHER  amp; Paykel Appliance Holdings will further expand in the United States, after today announcing the acquisition of US stove and BBQ maker Dynamic Cooking Systems Inc (DCS) for a total of \$NZ83.

Fisher Paykel strategic buy


WITH the impeccable timing that has become his trademark, Henrik Larsson discovered his scoring touch for Barcelona on Saturday night with the second goal in his sides 2-0 win over Sevilla at the Nou Camp.

Larsson lights up Nou Camp, while Braga hold Porto


What once looked a like a promising Denver Nuggets season rapidly is going into the deep freeze. On Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets were crushed by, egads, the Seattle SuperSonics 108-88.

Nuggets in land of the lost


Boost

The Phantom Stock Split


ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The authorities announced a nationwide ban on all political and religious meetings except Friday Prayers after a car bombing early Thursday in the central city of Multan killed 40 people and wounded at least 100.

Pakistan bans meetings after car bomb kills 40


THE Bank of England left its key interest rate at 4.75 per cent yesterday, a decision that was widely expected, after a raft of data that showed the economy was cooling down.

Bank holds interest rates steady at 4.75


Two-thirds of scientists working for the US medicines regulator have expressed a lack of confidence in the federal safety monitoring of prescription drugs, according to documents disclosed by two lobby groups.

Doubts over drug safety checks


ALEXANDRIA, Va. Oct. 1, 2004 - A former top Air Force procurement official was sentenced to nine months in prison after admitting for the first time Friday that she helped Boeing Co.

Ex-Air Force Official Sentenced in Case


A top Hong Kong opposition lawmaker said he was barred from entering China yesterday, an incident that may fuel anti-Beijing sentiment in upcoming legislative elections. Law Chi-kwong of the Democratic Party said the mainland government assured him he could visit for six days, in what seemed to be a conciliatory gesture by the authorities, who have branded pro-democracy figures here ...

Lawmaker says he #146;s been barred


China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corp. on Tuesday said four key company officials have surrendered their passports to prosecutors amid a probe into a massive trading loss by the Beijing-backed jet fuel trader.

Update 1: China Aviation Execs Surrender Passports


KABUL : An Afghan court sentenced a man to death for killing three foreign journalists and their Afghan colleague shortly after the fall of the hardline Taliban regime in 2001.

Afghan court sentences man to death for murder of foreign <b>...</b>


FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Henkel, the German soaps and  adhesives group, has shed its 29 percent stake in Clorox,  raising \$2.84 billion to pay for its purchase of U.S.  detergents and cosmetics maker Dial Corp.

Clorox Helps German Soap Maker Buy Dial


Loren Woods has 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds to help the Raptors improve to 2-0 with a 101-89 victory over the Pistons.

Raptors Pound Pistons


Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc., both influential companies, have joined hands in order to take legal action and persue spammers who are targetting these companies and their customers.

Amazon and Microsoft team up to fight spammers


The Patriots-Colts season opener Thursday night did a 26.8 rating (45 share) on Channel 5.

Nationally, it wasn't must-see TV


MILWAUKEE - If anyone questions Shaquille O #39;Neal #39;s position as the most dominant player in the NBA, just check the opinion of those at the Bradley Center Wednesday night.

BUCKS: Shaq #39;s powers Heat to victory


Earlier this year RealNetworks came up with a workaround allowing music downloaded from its store to work on iPods. This was achieved by reverse-engineering Apple #39;s FairPlay technology, and Real named it Harmony (see our previous coverage).

Apple breaks the Harmony


The builders of a new NASA supercomputer claim the 10,240-processor machine is the fastest in the world - an exciting prospect for researchers even if the speed title has yet to be officially bestowed.

New Supercomputer Claims to Be Fastest


Philadelphia officials have laid the groundwork to provide wireless, high-speed Internet access anywhere in the city, but their plan could be scotched under a state bill that could be signed into law on Tuesday.

Philly Broadband Clash Pits City Against Telcos


Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan says the growing US budget deficit could destabilize the economy. Fed Governor Susan Bies says Congress spends like it #39;s dipping into a a cookie jar.

Greenspan, Fed Governors Warn on Spending as Succession Looms


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Drew Tate passed for 328 yards and Kyle Schlicher set a school record with five field goals as No. 19 Iowa overcame a lack of a running game to defeat reeling Minnesota, 29-27, in a Big Ten Conference contest.

Minnesota Golden Gophers


Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays have signed utilityman Frank Menechino to a one-year contract. The deal is worth \$650,000 with an option for 2006.

Blue Jays sign Menechino


Two scientists beat a \$600 million Nasa mission to be first to measure a prediction of Einstein's relativity theory.

Einstein's warp effect measured


Andy Murray will be biting his nails at a hockey game tonight, even if no one in LA will see it. Keith Carney and Sandis Ozolinsh will be skating in Anaheim but not against the Calgary Flames.

Both sides nervous with season on ice


Police thought it was a case of boneheaded teen bragging when the tip came in. But then they found homemade bombs, school blueprints, an assault rifle and shotguns stashed in his basement and attic.

Cops seize weapons from home of teenager


MADRID (Reuters) - Top seed Tim Henman slumped to a 6-4,  4-6, 6-2 defeat by big-serving Croatian Ivan Ljubicic in the  Madrid Masters third round Thursday.

Top Seed Henman Falls to Ljubicic in Madrid


Reuters - Oracle Corp.  Chief\Executive Larry Ellison said on Friday that Oracle has talked\about revising its  #36;21-per-share offer to buy rival PeopleSoft\Inc. , but he dented Wall Street expectations by saying\Oracle has focused more on lowering the bid than raising it.

Ellison Has Talked About Revising PeopleSoft Bid (Reuters)


\

 By John Parry

 NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar dropped to record lows\against the euro on Friday, succumbing to negative sentiment\and erasing all of the U.S. currency's earlier gains following\a robust U.S. October employment report.

Dollar Plunges to Record Low Against Euro


The company's announcement followed workers' refusal to accept \$800 million in wage and benefit cuts to lower costs.

US Airways Files for Bankruptcy Protection; 2nd Time in 2 Years


Google has come to cellphones -- the cheap ones, not just the fancy color-screen models with Web access.

Google finds its way onto cellphones


AUSTRALIA confirmed its berth in the Confederations Cup last night with a 6-0 win over the Solomon Islands at Sydney #39;s Aussie Stadium.

Aussies qualify for Confederations Cup


Austin Kearns tied the game with a two-out double in the ninth inning, then hit a two-run homer in the 12th and the Cincinnati Reds dealt the Chicago Cubs a key loss, 4-3 Wednesday.

Reds 4, Cubs 3, 12 innings


The two-man crew of the International Space Station left its orbital home today, taking a brief ride in a Russian Soyuz capsule to move the craft from one docking port to another.

International Space station crew takes a ride in Soyuz


The discovery adds weight to the long-held theory that the fish possess an internal compass to guide them over long distances. The University of Hawaii biologists reported in Britain #39;s Royal Society journal

Sharks respond to magnetic fields


Plus: Microsoft ready to launch search engine

News.com Extra: Mozilla claims no Google browser in the works


Google drops its price and shares offered. Its magic: turning the hottest IPO in history into a disaster.

What's Google Minus \$10 Billion?


Entries for Thursday, October 21 (18th day of a 26-day meet). Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita. Oak Tree Racing Association, Arcadia, Calif.

Bob Ike #39;s Oak Tree Handicap


Mark Thatcher, arrested in South Africa last week on suspicion of financing an attempted coup in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, was released from house arrest Friday after posting 2 million rand bail.

Thatcher Posts Bail to End S.Africa House Arrest


Housing construction in August jumped to its highest level in five months, a dose of encouraging news for the economy #39;s expansion.

Home building surges


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Monday said  fourth-quarter charges could exceed \$1 billion and it does not  expect 2005 operating results to exceed breakeven as the  hospital operator struggles with fewer patients and bad debt.

Tenet: '05 Results Won't Exceed Breakeven


AP - The U.S.-Russian crew of the international space station successfully re-docked a spaceship at a new port on the station Monday in preparation for two spacewalks early next year, Mission Control said.

U.S.-Russian Crew Re-Docks Spaceship (AP)


SAN FRANCISCO -- Oracle at the OpenWorld conference here on Tuesday is making several product rollouts, including a new version of its database and grid computing enhancements.

OpenWorld Notebook: Database, grid control boosted


CD-burning stations located inside Starbucks Corp. stores finally made their debut in Seattle Monday after six months of design and other delays.

Delayed Starbucks music stores finally debut


AP - Day and night, Dave Sisler is tracking every hit by Ichiro Suzuki. The former big league pitcher tunes in the radio each evening, his wife checks the boxscores in the morning.

Sisler Known Again Thanks to Ichiro (AP)


AFP - Swedish fashion retailer Hennes and Mauritz posted a rise in profits for the third quarter, saying its price-cut strategy had paid off.

Swedish fashion retailer H and M profits rise in third quarter (AFP)


Federal Labor leader Mark Latham is up and walking around this morning and his office says there is every indication he will leave hospital in the next 48 hours.

Latham on the mend


SANTA CLARA, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Oct. 12, 2004 -- Mobile Task Automation Software Provider Unveils Comprehensive Solutions to Help Customers Win in an On Demand World.

Everypath Announces Participation in IBM PartnerWorld Industry <b>...</b>


Johnson  amp; Johnson announced a \$25.4bn (13.1bn) deal yesterday to buy Guidant Corporation, giving the healthcare company a stake in the fast-growing market for devices that regulate heartbeats.

J amp;J takes heart from 13bn deal


AP - The NFL has approached Anaheim city officials about possibly building a stadium complex for an NFL franchise that could begin play as soon as 2008.

NFL Expresses Interest in Anaheim Franchise (AP)


Sterile statistics don't shield a therapist from a sense of failure.

A Patient's Suicide, a Psychiatrist's Pain


AP - If you're still pointing and clicking with the factory-issued mouse that came with your computer  #151; or, heaven forbid, if you're still using your laptop's barbaric touch pad  #151; it's time to upgrade.

Review: New Computer Mice Cutting Edge (AP)


How some companies neglect simple marketing rules in Search Engine Optimization.

Googling Myself to Sleep


The Pentagon backed off its threat to withold its monthly payment of about \$60 million a month from a Halliburton subsidiary, which provides services for troops.

Pentagon Backs Off Halliburton


swight1701 writes  quot;It is being reported that Samsung has shown what it claims is the world #39;s first mobile phone that incorporates a hard drive.

Samsung Introduces Phone With Hard Drive


Shanghai: Rubens Barrichello claimed the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix yesterday, with Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher finishing a hard-luck weekend in 12th place, more than a lap behind.

Chinese sweet and sour for Ferrari team


It was fitting that Grete Waitz, nine-time New York City marathon champion, rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange seconds before 9:30 am yesterday.

Sigh of relief


AP - XM Satellite Radio said Tuesday it will sell a portable satellite radio with a built-in antenna that can record up to five hours of programming.

XM to Sell Portable Receiver for  #36;350 (AP)


ST. LOUIS -- In the best of all worlds for the Red Sox, they would be World Series champions by Saturday, the next time Curt Schilling is scheduled to pitch. Schilling could kick back, savor the victory parade and the avalanche of accolades, and prepare to undergo surgery to repair the dislocated tendon in his right ankle.

Team is mum on ace


USATODAY.com - Craigslist is a giant Internet bulletin board where people buy and sell their stuff, trade humor and political wisdom, look for dates, seek home repair advice, share their poetry and often just rant. Some call the site a public forum. Others call it a classified market. Many call it an obsession.

Web board craigslist makes a name for itself (USATODAY.com)


NEW YORK - DoubleClick, the online advertising and marketing company, has said it has appointed advisers to look at the possibility of selling off all or part of its business.

DoubleClick appoints advisers to look at potential sale