BOSTON - Curt Schilling became the first 20-game winner in the major leagues this season, reaching the mark for the third time in four years and leading the Boston Red Sox to an 11-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Thursday night.    Kevin Millar and Johnny Damon each homered and drove in four runs, and Boston moved within 3 1/2 games of the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East...

Schilling Gets 20th As Red Sox Beat D-Rays


Dutch engineers stitch together hundreds of images to create a photo with 2.5 billion pixels.<br /> Photo: Giant digital image

World's biggest digital pic


NEW YORK - US stocks slid on Thursday, ending four days of gains as oil prices continued their march higher, but Google Inc. created a buzz as shares of the internet search company surged on their debut.

US stocks: Market dips as oil rises and Google shines


An Algerian-born man attacked two pilots and a passenger with an axe on a domestic Norwegian flight on Wednesday in an unexplained assault that police said could be linked to his asylum status.

Wounded Pilots Land Norway Plane After Axe Attack


Server shipments and revenue increased in the second quarter as Sun Microsystems Inc. and Dell Inc. gained market share at the expense of Hewlett-Packard Co.

Gartner: Q2 server shipments up on Sun, Dell strength


\\We have a few domains hosted on Network Solutions.  For one reason or another we\were in a hurry and just used NetSol as our registrar.  BIG mistake!\\They are one *pathetic* organization!\\They are a DNS company.  That's what they DO!  Their DNS admin only allows 10\IPs. Of course they don't tell you this when you signup.  You only find out that\the UI doesn't allow for additional IPs until try to add them.\\To add insult to injury when you try to move AWAY from NetSol by changing your\primary and secondary they drop your IP configuration immediately.  You're just\out of luck if there are clients which have cached your primary and secondary\DNS servers.\

Network Solutions is Pathetic


TABA: Rescue workers sifted through the wreckage of an Egyptian Red Sea hotel yesterday, hoping to find survivors after a series of three bombs targeting Israeli tourists in the Sinai Peninsula killed at least 33 people.

Rescuers search for Sinai blasts survivors


AP - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Thursday urged Democrats to stop blocking President Bush's federal court nominees and hinted that he may try to change Senate rules to thwart their delaying tactics.

Frist Urges Democrats to Stop Filibusters (AP)


FALLUJA (Reuters) - A battle erupted near a mosque in  northwest Falluja on Friday just hours after U.S. Marines said  insurgents were now trapped in the south of the city.

Falluja Battle Erupts, Clashes in Baghdad


After talking up its new line of blade servers for months, Dell went ahead today and delivered some product. Dell, not surprisingly, is touting its new blade server as a space and cost-saving improvement over standard 1U rack servers.

Dell reenters the blade-o-sphere


Bee Staff Writer. The University of California, negotiating on behalf of Enron Corp. investors, reached a \$222.5 million settlement Friday with the Lehman Brothers brokerage firm over its part in the multibillion-dollar Enron debacle.

UC settles one Enron suit


Microsoft withdrew from a United Nations software standards group for commerce, citing

Microsoft Quits a U.N. Standards Group


The 15th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution that toppled the Communist Party is marked by Czechs.

Czechs recall Velvet Revolution


British tourists returning from the Caribbean after witnessing Hurricane Ivan's 150mph winds describe their ordeal.

Hurricane terror for UK tourists


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Major League Baseball has approved  the creation of a national cable television channel devoted to  America's favorite pastime, but regular-season games may be  confined to the dugouts for the network's first year, a top  league official said on Friday.

Major League Approves Baseball Channel for TV


Daniela Vanegas, a bright-eyed girl with thick, dark tresses, was kidnapped almost a year ago as she boarded her school bus in Bogota.

Dad ID's Kidnapped Daughter in Colombia


The Wi-Fi Alliance got its next certification program off to a flying start, issuing WPA2 badges to a bunch of products that comply with the 802.

Wi-Fi products get security certificate


Major League Baseball announced yesterday that it would receive up to \$650 million over the next 11 years from XM Satellite Radio to beam locally produced games, like the Mets #39; WFAN broadcasts, to a national audience.

XM Buys Baseball #39;s Satellite Radio Rights


Recently, a new meta search engine was launched under the name of Info.com. For those unaware, meta search engines pool the results of other search engines (Google, Yahoo) into a single result set.

Info.com: Consumer Focused Meta Search


DALLAS -- Blockbuster Inc. , facing new attacks from big retailers and online operators, has offered \$700 million for rival Hollywood Entertainment Corp. in a bid to combine the two biggest players in the movie-rental industry.

Blockbuster offers \$700m for rival


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Todd Eberhard, a former New York  stockbroker and financial television personality, pleaded  guilty on Tuesday to cheating his clients out of millions of  dollars while generating excessive commissions for himself.

Former Broker Admits Cheating Clients


AP - Fire retardants used worldwide in manufacturing vehicle parts and computers have been found in Puget Sound orcas, raising new concerns about the long-term health of the region's killer whales, a new Canadian study shows.

Fire Retardant Found in Puget Sound Orcas (AP)


AP - Six in 10 Americans say there should be a mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court justices, according to an Associated Press poll.

Poll: Most Support Justice Retirement Age (AP)


A NATIONAL Guard F-16 fighter jet on a night training mission has turned its guns on an elementary school and strafed it with 25 rounds of ammunition.

F-16 fighter jet attacks school


Reuters - U.S. investment bank Citigroup is set to\bid for UK stockbroker Cazenove , challenging rivals JP\Morgan  and Lehman Brothers  for the City's most\venerable institution, the Observer reported.

Report: Citigroup to Bid for Cazenove (Reuters)


In the 17 months SCO Group has waged its multiple-lawsuit war over its alleged rights to Linux, Groklaw has been the festering thorn in the Utah software company #39;s side.

SCO plans Web site for legal filings


It was a shot that rang out around the Premiership, delighting Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United, and darkening the gloomy mood of the champions, Arsenal.

Young gun shoots down Arsenal


Mustafa Shakur scores 23 points and Ivan Radenovic 20 in 10th-ranked Arizona's often-sloppy 80-69 victory over San Diego Tuesday.

Arizona Stops San Diego


washingtonpost.com - The tech sector can't pop open the bubbly yet, since pink slips are flying and shipping jobs overseas is as en vogue as 1980s fashion trends. But there are signs of growth that give reason to at least put the champagne on ice, with PC sales rising and small businesses planning to plunk down serious cash on technology purchases, according to a new batch of studies.

Tech Sector's Mixed Signals (washingtonpost.com)


Aramis Ramirez tied the club record with 14 total bases. His three homers gave the Cubs a franchise-record 213 this season, topping the 1998 club.

NL notables


Accounting giant KMPG LLP will pay \$10 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges of improper conduct in the firm #39;s audit of the financial statements of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.

KPMG to Pay \$10M to Settle SEC Charges


Johnny Herbert feels the next generation of British Formula One stars will miss out after their home grand prix was axed from the calendar.

SILVERSTONE BIG LOSS TO BRITISH DRIVERS - HERBERT


NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 24: Senior General Than Shwe, head of the Myanmar regime, arrived in New Delhi today to start a visit that marks a high point in Indias decade-long effort to politically engage Yangons military rulers.

Myanmar ruler, key to NE terror fight, arrives to red carpet <b>...</b>


The CD will remain the most popular music format till the end of the decade, according to a new survey. The report also states that Europe will buy over 570m worth of digital downloads in 2009, but technology

Hear William Shatner #39;s sensational version of Pulp #39;s  #39;Common <b>...</b>


Four U.S. soldiers were killed late Tuesday and early Wednesday by separate roadside bombs detonated near their convoys, the military announced.

Four U.S. Soldiers Killed in Bomb Attack


AP - Two powerful congressional chairmen, one who had opposed legislation to revamp the nation's intelligence agencies, endorsed a compromise Monday and moved a bill endorsed by President Bush closer to approval.

Lawmakers Back Compromise on Intel Bill (AP)


AP - Hawaii's Timmy Chang threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns and moved into second place on the NCAA's career passing yardage list as the Warriors defeated Tulsa 44-16 Saturday night.

Hawaii's Chang Second on NCAA Pass List (AP)


quot;JFK Reloaded quot; from Scottish videogame company Traffic Games lets you become Lee Harvey Oswald and recreate the assassination of JFK.

New Video Game Lets You Kill JFK


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revealed that he is still weighing up whether to defend his outspoken attack on Ruud van Nistelrooy as he looked to a bright future with his Carling Cup youngsters.

Wenger still considering options


AP - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova overpowered Mashona Washington 6-0, 6-1 on Saturday to win the Japan Open for the second straight year.

Wimbledon Champ Sharapova Wins Japan Open (AP)


LONDON (Reuters) - BP Plc's oil and gas production rose 11  percent on the year in the third quarter but analysts expect  strong earnings for the quarter to be mainly due to runaway oil  prices rather than BP's record in finding oil.

BP Relies on Russia for Higher Production


TOKYO - Sony Corp is attempting to claw back market share of the domestic flat-panel TV market with the launch of eight new televisions.

Sony tries to win back flat-panel TV market


Sun Microsystems will create an open-source project around its Solaris 10 operating system by the end of the year, company executives said Monday.

#39;Open Source Solaris #39; to debut this year


In the first national referendum on an issue that has divided both the European Union and the United States, Swiss voters have backed proposals to allow stem-cell research.

Swiss Voters Back Stem-Cell Research


Shares of Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) rose to historic highs on Friday after Smith Barney raised its rating on the company, arguing that oil prices would

UPDATE 1-Marathon shares hit record high after upgrade


Smart cards are on the rise in Japan, using computer chips with an antenna embedded in them to allow people to pay for purchases or unlock doors with a simple flick of their cards.

Japan #39;s Matsushita developing memory cards with  #39;smart #39; chip <b>...</b>


Scottish champions Celtic saw their three-year unbeaten home record in Europe broken Tuesday as they lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the Champions League Group F opener.

Barcelona, Milan lead Group F with first round victories


Souness resigned from Blackburn Rovers yesterday after informing his players of the decision on the morning before training. Souness said:  quot;I #39;m sad to be leaving but I #39;m excited.

Newcastle to unveil Souness today


CLEVELAND - After lashing out at each other for months from a distance, the two vice presidential candidates are meeting face to face Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University for their only debate before the Nov. 2 election...

Cheney, Edwards to Meet in Only Debate


quot;I #39;ll be leaving Israel and the occupied territories more optimistic than when I came, quot; Straw said. Much of Straw #39;s agenda focused on upcoming Palestinian elections to choose a successor to Arafat.

Middle East ; Straw upbeat on renewed Mideast peace efforts


Reuters - An explosion at a southwest Houston\chemical plant was felt as far as 15 miles away on Friday\night, witnesses told Reuters.

Chemical Plant Explosion Rocks Houston (Reuters)


This discovery was made possible by the unprecedented accuracy of the HARPS spectrograph on ESO #39;s 3.6-m telescope at La Silla, which allows radial velocities to be measured with a precision better than 1 m/s.

Fourteen Times the Earth - Smallest Ever Extra-Solar Planet <b>...</b>


More than 300,000 people participated in a lottery on Thursday for 3,000 well-paying longshore jobs at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, where shipping volumes are booming, a Pacific Maritime Association spokesman said.

More Than 300,000 Vie for 3,000 LA Port Jobs


LOS ANGELES - If Brian Wilson could change just one thing in life, it wouldn't be the legendary emotional traumas, the insecurities, the drug abuse, the battles with weight or the endless legal conflicts that nearly destroyed him.

Rock's Recluse Wilson Center Stage Again


CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Rite Aid were hurting pretty good early Tuesday, falling about 5 percent after the drugstore chain warned that weak sales trends could bring its fiscal 2005 numbers in well below previous hopes.

Rite-Aid slapped after warning


IBM #39;s new top-end Power5-based Unix server has a commanding lead in a performance test of servers running a large database. A \$16.7 million configuration of the company #39;s eServer p5-595 performed 3.21 million

IBM tops server speed test


But the downside to Senator John Kerry's deliberative style is that his campaign has often moved slowly.

Kerry as the Boss: Always More Questions


Japan #39;s largest automaker Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it has reached an agreement with China FAW Group Corp. to jointly produce Toyota #39;s Prius hybrid-engine cars in China by the end of 2005.

Toyota to make Prius hybrid cars in China


Giants Coach Tom Coughlin announced that rookie quarterback Eli Manning will start ahead of two-time M.V.P. Kurt Warner in Thursday's preseason game against Carolina.

Manning Gets Chance to Start


The International Atomic Energy Agency says 380 tons of powerful conventional explosives are missing from the Al Qaqaa facility south of Baghdad that was supposed to be under American military control.

IAEA: Tons of Iraq explosives missing


PORT-AU-PRINCE: Floods unleashed by Tropical Storm Jeanne ravaged Haiti, killing more than 622 people in this deeply impoverished Caribbean nation, as well as 18 others elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Tropical storm kills over 622 in Haiti


Despite getting less attention than the summit talks at the ongoing Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) here, officials of the Asia Europe Fund (ASEF) are busy carrying out their duties behind the scenes.

ASEF Dedicated to Closer Asia, Europe


Just a week after releasing their all-time sack leader, Tony Brackens , the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday cut three-time Pro Bowler Hugh Douglas , leaving them without their starting defensive ends from last season.

Douglas cut, then lands with Eagles


Kostov said today he is stepping down because of disagreements with one of the ruling coalition #39;s ethnic Albanian partners, the Albanian Union for Integration.

Macedonian Prime Minister Resigns


Ziff Davis - Opinion: It's time for other Linux vendors to follow Red Hat's lead and offer patent infringement protection to their customers.

Time Is Now for Linux Vendors to Protect Users (Ziff Davis)


AP - The number of grizzly bears with cubs in the Yellowstone area appears to be rebounding, which could bolster efforts to remove the animals from the endangered species list, biologists said Friday.

More Grizzlies With Cubs in Yellowstone (AP)


The Olympics are less than a week away and organizers are pulling the pieces together for the Aug. 13 opening.  Dana Vollmer will be one of those tales of courage that come up during the Olympics.

IOC Bans Greek Medallist From Games


NEW YORK, December 15 (newratings.com) - The worlds leading mobile-phone operator, Vodafone Group Plc, denied yesterday that it had approved a bid by its partner, Verizon Communications Inc, for Sprint (FON.

Vodafone denies backing Verizon #39;s bid for Sprint


Index funds aren #39;t splashy. They never lead the  quot;mutual fund of the month quot; lists or get plugged by commentators on the financial news.

Index funds, once considered mediocre, come of age


Yasser Arafat #39;s rule was a disaster for the Palestinians and whole Middle East when he was alive, says Heritage Foundation Middle East expert James Phillips.

Arafat #39;s  #39;politics of grievance #39;


GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands - Hurricane Ivan pummeled the Cayman Islands with floodwaters that swamped homes and fierce winds that ripped off roofs, then strengthened to an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm as it headed for western Cuba on Monday.    The hurricane, one of the strongest on record to hit the region, killed at least 65 people across the Caribbean before reaching the Caymans and threatens millions more people in its projected path...

Hurricane Ivan Rolls Towards Cuba


German state banking group KfW is selling up to 4 billion euros (2.8 billion pounds) worth of shares in Deutsche Telekom, continuing the privatisation of the German phone operator.

German government cuts Deutsche Telekom stake


German President Horst Khler on Wednesday regretted that the African Union-led mission was slow to intervene in Sudan #39;s western Darfur province, where a nearly two-year-old conflict has caused untold suffering.

Khler: African Union Slow in Darfur


PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc. has  eyed a potential acquisition of Sprint Corp. <A HREF=

Verizon: No Imminent Plan for Sprint Bid


LONDON New information is surfacing about a purported escape attempt by doomed British hostage Kenneth Bigley. The Sunday Times says Bigley briefly fled his Iraqi kidnappers on Wednesday after British intelligence helped bribe two of his captors.

Report: Bigley tried fleeing after British intelligence helped <b>...</b>


AFP - Typhoon Aere slammed into China after killing at least 12 people in the region and forcing more than half a million Chinese to evacuate their homes and thousands of fishing boats to return to port.

Typhoon Aere slams into China after claiming 12 lives elsewhere (AFP)


Moscow and Seoul have signed a deal to build a rocket-launch facility in South Korea. It will be built by the end of 2007 in Goheung, South Jeolla province, the Joongang Ilbo newspaper writes.

Russia to Build Space Launch Pad in South Korea


They were expressing their frustration at what turned into the latest of several Games gymnastics judging controversies. In a surreal scene unlike anything gymnastics veterans had ever encountered, jeers and

Angry fans in gymnastics protest


TORONTO (CP) - Arctic governments must cut emissions of carbon dioxide immediately or face the extinction of species, damaging storms and flooding, says the World Wildlife Fund.

Report shows Arctic nations must cut CO2 emissions immediately <b>...</b>


Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Google Inc., on the eve of pricing the second-biggest Internet initial public offering, slashed the value of the sale almost in half amid the worst market for US IPOs in almost two years.

Google Cuts IPO Price by a Quarter to \$85-\$95 a Share (Update7)


AP - The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency Monday endorsed Iran's agreement to suspend all uranium enrichment within a week, the key element of a deal worked out with European countries.

U.N. OKs Iran Deal to Suspend Enrichment (AP)


RMC, the troubled UK building materials group, was swallowed up for 2.3bn yesterday by the world #39;s third-biggest cement producer, Cemex of Mexico.

Mexicans cement 2.3bn RMC bid


Any new plan to replace Air Force tankers will include re-opening bids to companies besides Boeing, according to US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.

Pentagon: any new tanker deal would be opened to competitive <b>...</b>


AP - Jason Kidd is refusing to attend night sessions during the New Jersey Nets' two-a-day practices at training camp, and he doesn't care if the team fines him for it.

Kidd Skipping Night Session, Irking Nets (AP)


Hiroshi Watanabe, Japan #39;s vice finance minister for international affairs, said today Japan and Europe could take  quot;harmonized action quot; to stem the appreciation of their currencies.

Do Not Expect Intervention from Japan


BAGHDAD, Nov 2 (AFP) - At least eight people were killed in a car bombing spree across Iraq Tuesday that targeted symbols of the US-backed government, while hundreds of residents fled the rebel-held city of Fallujah after a night of air raids.

Eight dead in Iraq car bombing spree on US election day


_ Dante Hall, Kansas City #39;s All-Pro kick returner, could only stand on the sideline at practice on Thursday, icing his painfully infected lower lip.

Chiefs #39; Hall Sits Out With Painful Lip


Brillian Corp. , a maker of high-definition televisions based on its own liquid crystal technology, said on Monday that Sears, Roebuck  amp; Co.

Brillian: Sears Ends Agreement to Buy TVs


BRUSSELS -- The European Commission has restarted its investigation into Oracle Corp.'s hostile bid to acquire PeopleSoft Inc. and will issue its judgement by early November at the latest, it said on Thursday.

European Commission restarts clock on Oracle-Peoplesoft


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian share markets slumped on  Wednesday, led by South Korea's POSCO Co. Ltd. and other  steelmakers amid warnings of a drop in prices, and as investors  worried that third-quarter earnings may disappoint.

Asian Shares Lower on Earnings


Daunte Culpepper is this, and Randy Moss is that. The Vikings #39; offense is unstoppable. How the heck do you think you can even slow them down?

Giants un-Daunted


A man helps to push a vehicle stranded on a flooded street in Tokyo in the heavy rain caused by a typhoon Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004. The most powerful typhoon to barrel into Japan #39;s Pacific costline in a decade

Japan Typhoon Kills 2; 5 Remain Missing


Don Tennant, who served most recently as the publication's news editor, was previously chief editor at Computerworld Hong Kong.

Computerworld names new editor in chief


The perennial Olympics pariah, commonly known as the ticket scalper, is having a hard time in Athens. Scalpers normally buy hard-to-get tickets, with hopes of selling them later at highly inflated prices.

Ticket Scalpers Not Doing Good Business in Athens


Patrick Ramsey will start instead of Mark Brunell at quarterback for the Washington Redskins, a move coach Joe Gibbs hopes will end the team #39;s worst scoring drought in seven decades.

Ramsey to start for Redskins against Philly


New York -- Midway through the second half Thursday night against St. Mary #39;s, John Calipari, the coach of 24th-ranked Memphis, turned to an assistant and said,  quot;These guys won #39;t go away.

Memphis gets a battle from Gaels


Iraq #39;s US-backed government said on Tuesday that  quot;major neglect quot; by its American-led allies led to a massacre of 49 army recruits at the weekend.

Iraq Blames US-Led Forces for Army Massacre


SEPTEMBER 28, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. today said they have filed one joint and several separate lawsuits against companies and individuals accusing them of trying to defraud

Microsoft, Amazon file phishing, spamming lawsuits


SAN FRANCISCO/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The living room, once  the most technologically simple part of the average home, is a  high-tech battleground today as the consumer electronics  industry seeks to digitize home entertainment and make it  available anywhere, anytime.

Electronics Industry Battles for the Living Room


BETHESDA, Md. (Reuters) - A U.S. government medical  reviewer told an advisory panel Monday that new findings  confirmed his conclusion months ago that certain  antidepressants increase the chances of suicidal behavior among  children and teens.

Depression Drugs, Suicide Linked, Reviewer Says


JEDDAH/RIYADH: Security forces detained about 14 people on Thursday in Saudi Arabias main cities of Jeddah and Riyadh, deploying in force to confront demonstrations called by a dissident Islamist group against the strictly conservative regime.

14 arrested for anti-government rallies in Jeddah and Riyadh


A senior North Korean official denied reports that the secretive communist state was preparing a missile launch, saying they were pure speculation, Japan #39;s Kyodo news agency reported today.

N.Korea calls missile launch reports  quot;speculation quot;


LITTLE more than six months after the latest regime change in Haiti, heads are beginning to rollliterally. More than two weeks of street violence in the slums of the capital, Port-au-Prince, have claimed

Gang violence builds up in Haiti


The ink #39;s not yet dry on the PSP price tags, but the fallout from yesterday #39;s surprising announcements has already begun. Bloomberg Japan reported today on Nintendo #39;s reaction to Sony #39;s price point for the

Nintendo and Sony execs trade barbs over PSP/DS battle


After chasing the Athletics all September, the Angels scored three times in the eighth inning to beat Oakland 5-4 Saturday and clinch their first division title in 18 years.

Love  amp; Romance with Sue McGarvey


Paychecks stay the same for the top two, but compensation changes for other Microsoft workers as stock grants replace options.\

Gates', Ballmer's pay holding around \$900,000


PHILADELPHIA - Andy Reid sold hot dogs to supplement his income as an assistant coach at San Francisco State 20 years ago.    Reid can afford to buy out that hot dog vendor now...

Eagles Extend Coach's Contract Four Years


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A decapitated body wrapped in an American flag and found in an insurgent-controlled section of Baghdad was that of a Japanese man kidnapped by Islamic militants, a Japanese official said Sunday.

Japan says decapitated body is that of kidnapped tourist


Indonesian media reports said the man alleged to be the field coordinator behind the bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta has been arrested.

Report: Man in Jakarta bombing arrested


ST. LOUIS, Missouri This was for the believers. For Ted Williams and for Yaz and all the others who spent a career beneath a boulder that kept rolling down a hill.

Red Sox end wait with surprising ease


Sprint Corp. on Tuesday said its third-quarter loss widened because of a previously disclosed asset impairment, but the company reported growth in wireless services and said it benefited from cash contributions from local and long distance services.

Sprint #39;s 3Q Loss Widens on Charge


Tracy McGrady had 25 points and Yao Ming scored 23 to lead the Houston Rockets past the Atlanta Hawks 92-69 on Wednesday night. It was the biggest blowout of the season for Houston, which won for the fourth time in five games.

Rockets 92, Hawks 69


Chaz Carr scored 25 points to lead Boston University to a 73-68 win over Rhode Island last night in a nonconference game at Kingston, R.I.

Carr helps BU drive past URI


After bolting to a 4-0 record and its highest ranking in five years against opponents with a collective 7-13 record, Virginia begins its football season

Virginia opens ACC vs. nemesis Clemson


One of the principal defendants in the Pitcairn Island sex abuse trials pleaded guilty to three charges yesterday but claimed to have been  quot;in love quot; with a 13-year-old girl with whom he had a long affair.

Pitcairn father  #39;fell in love #39; with 13-year-old


US Airways is dangerously close to its second Chapter 11 filing in two years, a bankruptcy that could cripple the airline and its frequent fliers if it fails to cut costs severely.

US Airways passengers check options


Please help me. Please help me, said a terrified Hassan, breaking down in tears and burying her face in a tissue. She said she might be killed like British hostage Kenneth Bigley, who was beheaded by his captors earlier this month.

Kidnapped aid worker makes plea in video


MIAMI -- The outlook for South Florida and the Florida Keys improved considerably Saturday as Hurricane Ivan unexpectedly jogged west near Jamaica and forecasters kept moving the storm #39;s projected track farther over the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida relieved as Ivan shifts


Yahoo! has announced the debut of a new suite of search services for mobile users at the CTIA conference. This new search offering enables mobile consumers to search for local information, images and Web resources on mobile devices.

Yahoo Builds New Mobile Portal


When bankrupt cable operator Adelphia Communications begins eyeing bids for some or all of its cable systems, one heavyweight contender is likely to be a joint offer from Comcast Corp.

Adelphia Mulling Offer from Time Warner-Comcast


quot;Dont you guys ever get tired of that angle? quot; asked Patriots tight end Christian Fauria when approached about the NFLs declaration during the offseason that its officials will call illegal contact and defensive holding in the passing game more

Emphasis points to Pats


One of three sailors injured in a fire that disabled a Canadian submarine off the coast of Ireland has died, Prime Minister Paul Martin said Wednesday.

Sailor dies after sub rescue


LONDON -- Boudewijn Zenden scored twice as European rookie Middlesbrough beat Lazio 2-0 in the group stage of the UEFA Cup yesterday.

#39;Boro, Magpies notch UEFA group wins


Intel Corp. #39;s dual-core strategy for mobile processors became a little clearer this week at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, but questions remain

Intel offers few details on dual-core plans


Shares of food makers were mixed in Monday trading after Campbell Soup Co., the world #39;s largest soupmaker, said its first-quarter profit grew 9 percent on stronger sales of its popular condensed soups.

Food Stocks Mixed on Campbell Report


The Nokia 9500 Communicator is the first mobile device operating in both cellular and wireless LAN networks to receive this qualification.

Nokia 9500 Communicator receives Wi-Fi Certification


com October 22, 2004, 8:26 AM PT. This priority retains its ranking at number five as more and more companies deploy Web Services to share business logic, data and processes with each other and with clients.

Yahoo to scrap online payment service


Prosecutors dropped sexual assault charges against two high school football players accused of raping a 15-year-old schoolmate. Charges against the boys, ages 15 and 17, were dropped Wednesday.

NJ Drops Rape Charges Against 2 Teens


WOOLWORTHS yesterday hit back at rejuvenated competitor Coles Myer with a 13 per cent jump in full-year net profit and a belief it can replicate the performance in the coming year.

Woolies in top-shelf profit


Royal Dutch/Shell, one of the world #39;s largest oil companies, agreed yesterday to pay \$120 million in penalties to settle charges of corporate fraud with the Securities and Exchange Commission for overstating its oil reserves.

Shell Settles Corporate Fraud Charges for \$120 Million


ATHENS, Greece Aug. 27, 2004 - The US men #39;s basketball team will go home from the Olympics without a gold medal for the first time since it began using NBA players after the Americans were beaten soundly by Argentina 89-81 in the semifinals Friday.

Dream Team Beaten by Argentina 89-81


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co. <A HREF=

Coca-Cola: Second Half to Lag Street View


AP - Mayor Richard Daley's son, whose name and MBA from one of the nation's most prestigious universities would have opened doors to a lucrative career, has instead joined the Army and could be sent off to the battlefields of Iraq or Afghanistan.

Chicago Mayor's Son Enlists in Army at 29 (AP)


France knew no parties and no religious controversy, only republicans and patriots. As in times of war, this otherwise highly divided nation, with its many social, ethnic and religious

#39;No Blood on Our Headscarf #39;


The channel may benefit from controversial European Union (EU) proposals to increase import tax duty on TFT monitors, according to resellers.

Monitor duty is welcomed


CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Despite a recent rash of injuries, the University of Miami #39;s 12th-ranked football team conducted a normal Tuesday practice with full-contact work at the Greentree Practice Fields.

Hurricanes Strap on the Pads for Tuesday Workout


Three things all Yankees baseball people were on the same page about at their Tampa meeting with George Steinbrenner: 1) Going for Carlos Beltran.

Yankees sort through wreckage


AP - Linked in the past to sex crimes in East Timor, and prostitution in Cambodia and Kosovo, U.N. peacekeepers have now been accused of sexually abusing the very population they were deployed to protect in Congo.

U.N. Battles Sex Abuse by Peacekeepers (AP)


Val Gardena, Italy (Friday, December 17, 2004) - Michael Walchhofer led Austrians to fill the podium in today #39;s World Cup Super G in the Italian ski resort of Val Gardena.

Austrians Sweep Podium in Val Gardena Super G


AP - Cubans hit hard by hurricane Charley will receive  #36;50,000 in U.S. assistance, the State Department said Friday.

U.S. to Give Cuba  #36;50,000 Hurricane Aid (AP)


Shares of CACI International Inc. surged nearly 14 percent Thursday after the company, which provided private interrogators at Abu Ghraib prison and elsewhere in Iraq, reported a 56 percent jump in earnings.

CACI Shares Climb on Positive Earnings


As companies ramp up open-source deployments, expertise is in high demand and short supply. The costs of developing talent can add up.

In Search Of Open-Source Experts


The fury about Northwest Airlines #39; new ticket fees is the latest battle in a bigger war between the financially struggling airline industry and dominant players in the business of travel reservations.

Ticket fee feud


When a person suffers from eye ailments today, nine times out of ten, he will be prescribed eye drops to treat his illness or relieve his discomfort.

Drug-loaded contact lenses to treat eye diseases


Crofton Rhodes gets called a ''geek quot; a dozen times a day, but he doesn't mind.

More fiftysomethings turn to franchises


Baseball #39;s steroid scandal could be seen coming six years ago. The Olympics have feared the one unfolding now for two decades.

A scandal years in the making unfolds


Sony revealed new details on Monday on the chip that will power the next PlayStation and said development is on track to deliver products based on the chip next year.

PlayStation 3 chip to debut in IBM desktop


AP - Colombian government officials said Friday they need support from the international community to assist in the planned demobilization of thousands of right-wing paramilitary fighters.

Colombia Seeks Help Demobilizing Militias (AP)


AP - Joey Graham scored 25 points, John Lucas III added 17 and No. 6 Oklahoma State recovered from another subpar first half to beat Sam Houston State 73-57 on Saturday night.

No. 6 Okla. St. Beats Sam Houston St. (AP)


quot;Halo 2, quot; the follow-up to the 2001 best-selling video game,  quot;Halo: Combat Evolved, quot; will be released Tuesday nationwide for the Microsoft Xbox video game console.

#39;Halo 2 #39; hits stores Tuesday


The International Monetary Fund announced that the council of governments, stakeholders in the Fund #39;s capital approved yesterday to provide an urgent aid for Iraq estimated at \$ 436 million and representing the first loan from the Fund for Baghdad.

The first loan from the IMF for Iraq


It #39;s not exactly an earth-shaking development but I expect that Wired News #39; very public announcement that it would no longer capitalize  quot;Internet, quot;  quot;Web quot; or  quot;Net quot; will provoke some discussion and debate in online publishing circles.

The  #39;i #39; in  #39;Internet #39;


Clinton Portis took the handoff and sped down the right sideline, past Coach Joe Gibbs, for a 64-yard touchdown in the signal moment in the Redskins' victory.

Gibbs Shows How to Go Home Again


Now the real work begins. As a July date for the British Grand Prix appeared on the provisional calendar for the 2005 Formula One season in Paris yesterday, a 21-page document landed on the

Lawyers pick at Silverstone deal


Now what? Was winning the World Series truly the last hurrah for franchise players Pedro Martinez and Jason Varitek and more than a dozen teammates, including Derek Lowe and Orlando Cabrera , who are eligible for free agency?

End of Series will bring a lot of questions


DEEP in the heart of the Indian subcontinent, the Australian Test side last night was celebrating an historic victory, having conquered cricket #39;s final frontier with a Test to spare.

Cricket #39;s final frontier conquered


Testimony from a PeopleSoft board member has indicated that the company had been thinking about removing deposed CEO Craig Conway for some time.

Conway #39;s head was on PeopleSoft block for weeks


AP - It's part of an intensifying car rental rumble: As Enterprise Rent-A-Car increases its visibility at airports, longtime airport leader Hertz is muscling into America's neighborhoods, Enterprise's closely guarded turf.

Rent-A-Car Cos. Expanding to Face Rivals (AP)


Linux e-mail and calendaring vendor Scalix has joined the nonprofit Open Source Development Labs to help push the implementation of desktop Linux.

Open-source e-mail vendor Scalix joins OSDL


A general strike called to protest a recent grenade attack that killed 20 people at an opposition political rally brought Bangladesh to a near standstill Monday.

Strike to protest fatal grenade attack at political rally cripples <b>...</b>


The Boxers were supposed to be vulnerable, coming off their first loss of the season at the hands of Xaverian.

Brockton upends St. John's Prep


The European Union said Wednesday it had extended a ban on imports of chicken meat and pet birds from several Asian countries hit by avian flu to March 31 next year.

EU extends ban on Asian poultry imports


France's president orders his forces to destroy any planes breaking Ivory Coast's truce after eight French deaths.

France targets Ivorian air force


First Reserve Corp., the largest private buyout firm specializing in energy-industry investments, agreed to buy a unit from Ingersoll-Rand Co.

First Reserve to Buy Ingersoll-Rand Unit for \$1.2 Bln (Update1)


WASHINGTON - On the day the Montreal Expos got a new name, they also bolstered the offense with the acquisition of outfielder Jose Guillen from the Angels.

New team name coming Monday; Guillen acquired from Angels


AFP - British artists Damien Hirst and David Hockney are to make gifts of some of their paintings to the Tate Gallery in London, which can no longer afford such works, its director Nicholas Serota said.

London's penniless Tate Gallery welcomes gifts,legacies (AFP)


OAUG (Oracle Applications Users Group) president Patricia Dues said today that the organization is in the midst of plans to support PeopleSoft users and the PeopleSoft user group.

Oracle user group to welcome PeopleSoft users


Applied Materials Inc., the world #39;s biggest maker of semiconductor-production equipment, said fourth- quarter profit rose to its highest level in four years on demand from chipmakers for new machines.

Applied Materials 4th-Qtr Profit Rises to Highest in Four Years


Find.com, a business search engine (www.find.com), today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with MarketResearch.com Inc., the leading online source for global market intelligence reports. Under the terms of the strategic partnership, MarketResearch.com, which offers more than 80,000 reports from over 350 research firms and consultancies worldwide, ...

Find.com Business Search Engine Adds MarketResearch Content


Ask Jeeves yesterday joined Microsoft in introducing a beta desktop search application. Ask Jeeves states that its Desktop Search makes it easy for people to find information on their computers or the Internet.

Ask Jeeves Introduces Yet Another Desktop Search Tool


Sweden held off a furious third-period comeback by the Czech Republic for a 4-3 win, clinching home-ice advantage in the World Cup of Hockey quarterfinals.

Sweden Beats Czeck in Hockey World Cup


A preliminary court hearing into the collapse of food firm Parmalat, Italy's biggest ever corporate scandal, begins on Tuesday.

Italy gears up for Parmalat trial


World number one Roger Federer thumped Andy Roddick 6-4 6-0 for his tenth title of the season at the Thailand Open in Bangkok on Sunday.

Federer thumps Roddick for Bangkok title


Coffee shop giant Starbucks said it was launching the first of its  quot;music bars quot; where customers can listen to digital recordings and burn their own CDs.

Starbucks launches first of  quot;music bars quot; for CD burning


Malaysia #39;s highest court yesterday declined to overturn a conviction for corruption against former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

For Anwar, the top prize is still as elusive as ever


Mathew Sinclair and Jacob Oram completed half-centuries to help New Zealand recover from an early batting collapse and reach 250 for seven at the end of the opening

UPDATE 3-Kiwis fight back against Australia


World number one and defending champion Roger Federer of Switzerland was grouped with Australia #39;s Lleyton Hewitt in the draw on Wednesday for the season-ending ATP Tennis Masters Cup.

Federer Drawn with Hewitt, Roddick Up Against Safin


Oil prices hit a one-month high of \$47 a barrel yesterday as traders worried that US petroleum inventories had drawn down heavily due to Hurricane Ivan.

Supply worries lift oil prices


The UK newspaper The Guardian has undertaken a campaign urging its readers to write US voters in Clark County, Ohio and urge them to vote against President George W. Bush in the US presidential elections.  They call this campaign Operation Clark County.

The worst sides of two nations on display


By SHARON THEIMER    NEW YORK (AP) -- The pharmaceutical industry, fighting to defeat proposals that would give U.S. patients easier access to cheaper Canadian drugs, is making the most of its chance for face time with lawmakers at the GOP convention...

Drug Companies Wooing GOP Politicians at RNC


US Airways and its largest lender yesterday struck a new financing arrangement that could free up \$140 million while the strapped airline remains in bankruptcy -- but only if holdout unions agree to major cost cuts.

US Airways lands GE financing deal


England captain Jonny Wilkinson has been ruled out for four to six weeks with a haematoma in his right arm. The Newcastle fly-half looks certain to miss England #39;s game against Canada on 13 November, plus the

Wilkinson to miss England games


A crucial legal ruling in Oracle #39;s takeover bid for Peoplesoft has been delayed after a judge said he needs to hear further evidence in the case.

Ruling delayed in Peoplesoft case


IBM and officials from some of the world #39;s leading science, education, and philanthropic organizations Tuesday launched a global grid computing project aimed at harnessing unused global computing power to help solve a variety of health issues and other

Donate Your PC #39;s Spare Time to Help the World


Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio calls an early general election to end

Portugal faces general election


BOSTON -- A year ago, the anticipated press conference to herald the arrival of Nomar Garciaparras replacement at shortstop never happened.

Red Sox introduce Renteria to Boston


AP - In another twist to Google Inc.'s public stock offering, the Internet search company said federal regulators have opened an informal inquiry into its failure to register millions of shares.

SEC Opens Inquiry Into Google Stock Issue (AP)


Internet phone service Vonage on Tuesday said it has struck a deal with Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) to sell Vonage-ready equipment at hundreds of retail stores in a bid to boost new subscriptions.

Vonage in Deal with Cisco in Subscriber Push


LOS ANGELES - Gas prices nudged upward about half a penny in the last two weeks after dropping more than 20 cents since May 21, but another price spike is not expected due to a decline in crude oil prices, an industry analyst said Sunday.    The combined national average for all grades of gasoline was \$1.91, said Trilby Lundberg, who publishes the semimonthly Lundberg Survey...

Gas Price Drop Ends; No Spike Expected


Rescue workers pulled more bodies out of a mine shaft choked with toxic fumes Friday as the death toll in China #39;s worst mining accident this year rose to 66, with 82 workers missing and feared dead.

Death toll rises to 66 from Chinese coal mine explosion as <b>...</b>


Yesterday, Novell shipped its Linux Desktop 9 product, the software maker #39;s attempt to unseat Windows on business PCs. Developed with SUSE underpinnings and based on Kernel 2.6, Novell liberally sprinkled

Novell: Time for Desktop Linux


HOUSTON (Reuters) - Nearly three years after Enron Corp.'s  <A HREF=

First Enron Criminal Case Set for Trial


HP has stopped selling workstations based on Intel #39;s Itanium 2 microprocessor, a company spokeswoman confirmed Friday. Citing market conditions, the company ceased selling workstations based on the 64-bit processors on Sept.

HP drops Itanium workstations


Microsoft Corp. 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

Microsoft unveils Windows XP for India


Two bombs have rocked southern Thailand on Friday, wounding at least 20 people, as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed there would be no cover up over the deaths of at least 85 Muslim detainees in the volatile region.

Twin bombs rock southern Thailand


The chairman of US Airways, David G. Bronner, said Wednesday that its employees must agree to a third round of wage and benefit cuts worth \$800 million in the next 30 days or the airline could be liquidated.

US Airways chairman says airline could face liquidation


roundup Virgin introduces a tiny music player, and Dell could be ready to unveil its own

Taking aim at iPods, cell phones


A jury has decided that the destruction of the World Trade Center was two events, meaning leaseholder Larry Silverstein can collect twice from insurance companies.

World Trade Center Leaseholder Gets Boost From Federal Jury


These images, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, show part of a heavily eroded impact crater at Solis Planum, in the Thaumasia region of the southern hemisphere.

Martian Mesas in Stunning Detail


Mark Foster has called on national performance director Bill Sweetenham to moderate his approach after returning to the British team following his Olympic exile.

FOSTER WANTS SWEETENHAM TO MODERATE APPROACH


AP - The New Jersey Nets are not going to trade All-Star point guard Jason Kidd unless they get a deal that makes them a better team, chief executive Rod Thorn said Thursday.

Nets Chief Throws Cold Water on Kidd Trade (AP)


AC Milan closed the gap on leaders Juventus to four points on Sunday after receiving a helping hand from city-rivals Internazionale.

Milan close in on Juve


com. Labeling 2005 a  quot;breakout year quot; for its server operating-system line, Microsoft on Monday laid out a revised road map for Windows Server 2003 that promised the release of the second edition in the last half and a service pack in the first.

Microsoft: 2005  #39;Breakout Year #39; For Windows Server


Ever since Enron collapsed, a seemingly endless parade of America #39;s largest companies have been caught manipulating their numbers, more than a few of them criminally.

Time for US to spank Fannie


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Albert Pujols cracked his 40th home  run of the season and reached 100 RBI for the fourth straight  year to help the St Louis Cardinals blank the host Pittsburgh  Pirates 4-0 in the National League Sunday.

NL Wrap: Pujols Hits 40th Homer, Reaches 100 RBI for Cards


RealNetworks seems to have had a very popular promotion in celebration of its new Harmony technology, which allows consumers to download songs bought at the RealPlayer Music Store and transfer them to popular portable devices, including iPods.

RealPlayer Music Store promotion leads to 3 million songs sold


MONTREAL (CP) - Air Canada, due to emerge from bankruptcy-court protection this week, announced a revised deal with aircraft maker Bombardier on Monday that includes fewer firm orders.

Air Canada announces deal to buy at least 30 Bombardier regional <b>...</b>


French President Jacques Chirac has urged all sides in Ivory Coast #39;s crisis to resume talks as he opened a summit of French-speaking countries snubbed by the Ivorian delegation.

Chirac urges resumption of Ivory Coast peace talks


TORONTO : The National Hockey League slid closer towards losing a season to a labor dispute for the first time, as players rejected a new bid by management to end a three-month lockout.

Ice Hockey: Talks fail to breach NHL labor deadlock


In the afternoon, Brian Clough, unquestionably one of the greats and unarguably one of the most controversial of football men, died of cancer.

Black armbands for Clough, tears for Liverpool fans


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Oil prices tumbled Wednesday after a report showing a bigger jump in crude oil inventories than traders and analysts had been expecting.

Oil tumbles back below \$54


TORONTO (CP) - Maple Leafs goaltender Ed Belfour is expected to make a complete recovery following back surgery Thursday, says GM John Ferguson.

Quinn relieved that goalie Ed Belfour #39;s back surgery was deemed a <b>...</b>


Andrew Flintoff struck 104 to guide England to a defendable 251 for seven in the Champions Trophy Group D decider with Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl, Southampton on Saturday.

Flintoff century steers England to 251 for seven


This is turning out to be more like a game of snakes and ladders than anything else. Or perhaps an analogy with chess would be better.

Martyn braves heat, takes Test to wire


Mr Geert Linnebank, Editor-in-Chief and Global Head of Content, Reuters; Mr Kiran Karnik, President, Nasscom; and Mr N. Dharam Singh, Chief Minister of Karnataka, at the inauguration of Reuters #39; new facility in Bangalore on Thursday.

Reuters bets big on Bangalore unit


An Israeli helicopter fired a missile early Thursday at a group of militants in northern Gaza during an army operation there, wounding at least one person, witnesses and hospital officials said.

Israeli helicopter fires missile at militants in Gaza


The number of Europeans with broadband has exploded over the past 12 months, with the web eating into TV viewing habits, research suggests.

Broadband challenges TV viewing


The London-based security firm which employed four former Gurkhas killed in a rocket attack on their compound in Baghdad tonight paid tribute to them as brave and professional individuals.

Security Firm Tribute to Ex-Gurkhas Killed by Baghdad Rockets


ATHENS, Greece - Sheryl Swoopes made three big plays at the end - two baskets and another on defense - to help the United States squeeze out a 66-62 semifinal victory over Russia on Friday. Now, only one game stands between the U.S...

U.S. Women Top Russia to Make Hoops Final


A vulnerability in a Java plug-in from Sun Microsystems used by most web browsers poses a risk for users of IE and alternative browsers alike.

News: Poison applet peril affects IE, Opera and Firefox


SHELL #39;S new chief executive Jeroen van der Veer is to be handed a beefed-up pay package as part of the planned merger of the firm #39;s Dutch and British arms.

Bonus bonanza for Shell bosses


China's economic growth slows for a third straight quarter as efforts by the government to rein in booming expansion continue to take hold.

China's economic boom slows down


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday morning  after China's central bank said it was raising interest rates  for the first time in nine years, fueling concerns that global  economic growth may slow.

Stocks Fall as China Raises Rates


REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft has delayed distribution of a security update for users of its Windows XP Professional operating system to give some companies more time to test it, the software company said Tuesday.

Microsoft delays security update for Windows XP Professional


Anti-poaching measures mean Tanzania's rhino populations have a chance to recover, reports Tira Shubart.

The tree-climbing rhino protectors


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wyeth <A HREF=

Wyeth Reverses Last Year's Loss


PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Haiti's death toll from  last month's devastating flooding rose to more than 3,000 on  Tuesday, according to government officials who released what  they believe is the final death tally.

Haiti Flood Death Toll Passes 3,000


The man in charge of Iraq #39;s massive oil sector promised to better protect infrastructure critical to production and exports as saboteurs underscored the difficulty of that task by blowing up a pipeline junction in northern Iraq.

Iraq Pledges to Improve Oil Security


America #39;s two largest automakers said they would reduce production in the first quarter of 2005 after reporting weak November sales.

Ford, General Motors report slow November sales, Japanese makers <b>...</b>


Reuters - The New York Yankees and New\York Mets have reportedly agreed on a deal to swap lefthanded\relievers.

Yankees and Mets Swap Relievers (Reuters)


13.09.04 - Three-division world champion and current #1 WBC heavyweight contender James Toney, deep into preparations for his September 23 bout with Rydell Booker at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, is a man who doesnt mince

James Toney Breakdowns Hopkins/De La Hoya


LONDON -- David Beckham lurches from one crisis to another, and is being ridiculed by British newspapers as an attention-seeking drama queen.

Image takes new hit as Beckham bends rules


AP - Marty Booker spent Monday meeting new teammates and getting used to his new surroundings.

Booker Gives Dolphins Needed Offensive Help (AP)


It might not have been Reggie Miller #39;s last minute heroics, but it still gave the crowd in Worthen Arena something to cheer about.

Pacers push by Wizards


AFP - Large parts of Sydney were left without power for a night after a substation overheated in an unseasonal heatwave, the electricity supply firm said.

Large parts of Sydney without power overnight in blackout (AFP)


Some life insurers and their agents say that improper meddling by senior officers is preventing young soldiers from getting supplemental insurance coverage.

A Deepening Debate on Soldiers and Their Insurers


JERUSALEM: Israel #39;s once-unshakable faith in the morality of the army has been put to the test by a series of recent scandals, one of which saw a soldier empty his weapon into

Scandal-shocked Israelis ask if the army has lost its way


Politicians, industry leaders and environment groups across the world welcomed the news last night that Russia had rejuvenated international efforts to combat climate change by ratifying the Kyoto protocol.

Russia to ratify Kyoto treaty


NewsFactor - SMC's new 802.11g wireless router likely will spark considerable interest because of its inclusion of a USB print server. This feature is attractive to residential households or small businesses that would like to use a single printer across multiple computers.

Product Review: SMC 2804WBRP-G Wireless Barricade G Router (NewsFactor)


Formula One has signed a five-year agreement to hold a race in Cancun starting in 2006, joining NASCAR in heading south of the border.

Cancun to hold Formula One race in 2006


Russia's parliament will launch an inquiry into a school siege that killed over 300 hostages, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, but analysts doubt it will satisfy those who blame the carnage on security services.

Russia Launches Inquiry Into School Siege


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mark Grudzielanek hit two of Chicago #39;s six home runs and Glendon Rusch pitched seven strong innings to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 9-2 pasting of the Astros in Houston on Friday.

Cubs Blast Six Homers in Astros Mauling


Hoping to boost recently slackening sales of its flagship product, Apple Computer Inc. is using the dog days of summer to unveil the redesigned iMac, opening the curtain on its popular desktop computer at the Apple Expo in Paris. <FONT face=

New Apple Gets Shined


AP - RS Investment Management agreed to pay  #36;30 million to settled allegations it allowed

Robertson Stevens Settles Timing Case (AP)


SALISBURY, Md. -- The 11 News I-Team has uncovered more information in connection with the drunken driving arrest of Olympic swim star Michael Phelps.

Source: Phelps Nearly Hit Trooper, Took Breathalyzer Test


NEW YORK -- This was everything Andrew Golota could have hoped for. It was the last, best hope for the Chicagoan to become heavyweight champion of the world.

Knockdowns not enough as Golota loses to Ruiz


Morgan Stanley and Bear Stearns posted drops in quarterly profit yesterday, surprising some investors one day after two other big investment banks reported a rise in earnings.

Two Big Investment Banks Report Drops in Quarterly Profit


Thunderbird is touting its new features, like RSS news and blog reader integration into its e-mail client. Users can scan and sort through hundreds of headlines.

Mozilla Sparks New Fire with Thunderbird E-Mail Client


The US Securities and Exchange Commission voted 3-2 on Tuesday to adopt a rule that for the first time will require hedge fund advisers to register with the agency and submit to SEC examinations.

UPDATE 1-US SEC orders hedge fund adviser registration


Volatile capital markets cited as nanotech firm--losing money and with no products yet--withdraws initial public stock offering.

Nanosys yanks IPO


The French government demanded the release of two journalists kidnapped in Iraq by a group demanding that France rescind a ban on Islamic headscarves in the nation #39;s schools within 48 hours.

France Seeks Return of Reporters in Iraq Amid Headscarf Threat


Allied Waste Industries Inc. (AW.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday cut its 2004 earnings forecast for the second time in three months as investment costs rose, sending its stock down more than 9 percent.

UPDATE 3-Allied Waste again cuts forecast, shares drop


Gmail is all cool and slick, but there is no reason why Gmail #39;s competition can #39;t match its functionality. Since the release of Gmail #39;s beta in April, Yahoo has bought two email companies to bolster Yahoo

The Webmail Wars


ATLANTA (Reuters) - Lowe's Cos. <LOW.N>, the second-largest  home improvement retailer behind Home Depot Inc. <HD.N>, on  Monday said quarterly profit rose, but trailed estimates.

Lowe's Second-Quarter Profit Rises


A maverick California company is poised to launch a bid today to win the \$10 million Ansari X Prize, a global competition expected to spur a  quot;personal spaceflight revolution.

X Prize try today may set history


At least 78 people were suffocated or crushed to death after being arrested and packed into police trucks following a riot in southern Thailand over the detentions of Muslims suspected of giving weapons to Islamic separatists, officials said Tuesday.

78 Die in Military Custody in Thailand


A BRACE of eagles from an inspired Sergio Garcia lit up the World Cup overnight as home-country favourites Spain overhauled a big England halfway lead in the second session of fourballs.

Glorious Garcia inspires charge


Computer security giant Symantec Corp. is buying storage and backup program maker Veritas Software Corp. in a \$13.5 billion deal that will create the world #39;s fourth largest software company.

Update 4: Symantec Agrees to Buy Veritas Software


Search Engine Personalization - The Fallout\\There has been a lot of discussion recently about search engine personalization, with search engines such as Yahoo! and Google experimenting with factoring in profile information to adjust search results based on relevance to a specific user rather than just giving the exact same results ...


Delta Air Lines' pilots union said last night it had reached a tentative pact on concessions that could save the struggling carrier from bankruptcy.

Delta, pilots union agree to concessions package


Programs have evolved to include extensive financial, tax and retirement-planning tools and have split into three versions of increasing capability.
<FONT face=

Quicken, Money Duel to a Draw


AP - Before the shopping malls, before Levittown and Jones Beach, before the traffic jams on the Long Island Expressway, there were the ducks.

Ducks Continue to Thrive in Long Island (AP)


WICHITA, Kan. -- It may fall a shade shy of catching thieves redhanded, but for farmers fed up with methamphetamine cooks filching their fertilizer, staining them pink will do just fine.

Catching Meth Cooks Pink-Handed


Washington coach Keith Gilbertson will resign at the end of the season, The Associated Press learned Monday. A source close to the football program, speaking on condition of anonymity, said

Gilbertson will step down at end of season


AFP - United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, under fire for his part in the controversial Iraqi oil-for-food programme, said in an interview with the Financial Times that he did not intend to resign.

Annan does not intend resigning in wake of oil-for-food scandal: interview (AFP)


From arranged matches to the 8-minute date in the span of one generation. Part 1of three in the series 'The Family Revolution.'

Love and money reshape family in China


Washington, Oct. 28 (NNN): Since Monday morning, surfers outside the US have been barred from visiting the official re-election site of President George Walker Bush.

Overseas Surfers Barred From Bush Poll Site


In yet another chapter in the sibling rivalry-esque battle between Apple and Real Networks, Apple has announced that the next generation of its iPod music player will actively block Reals attempts to make the player more open.

Apple Smacks Real Down


Spanish authorities won praise Monday for clearing Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in just minutes after receiving a bomb threat - but Real Madrid #39;s president said it set a bad precedent to suspend the match.

Bomb threat raises security concerns; evacuation could set bad <b>...</b>


Detroit Metropolitan Airport has gathered its leftovers, such as watches, bracelets and cell phones, left at the airport and will put them up for auction Saturday.

INDUSTRY REPORT: Aviation -- Metro to hold auction


Weaker-than-expected jobs growth in September has stocks searching for direction. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 15 points in today #39;s early going.

Stocks Decline on Weak Jobs Growth News


President Bush pledged yesterday to work with Congress to reduce the government's huge budget deficit as a key step in assuring the world that his administration supports a strong dollar.

Bush vows to cut deficit


A year ago, the Twins lamented the day off that followed their victory against the Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

Loss from the jaws of victory painful


Chelsea coasted to a 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain thanks to two Didier Drogba goals to open Champions League play in style Tuesday.

Chelsea impresses in opening Champions League match, downs PSG 3-0


A man arrested in Britain in August for allegedly soliciting money and recruiting jihadist fighters using Internet servers in the United States also purchased bombmaking materials and camouflage suits, according to court papers filed by the U.S. attorney in Connecticut yesterday.

British Citizen Indicted on U.S. Terrorism Charges


CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) - Australia plans to create  what it believes will be the most lethal force of fighter jets  in Southeast Asia by equipping its aircraft with long-range  missiles in a move critics said could antagonize neighbors.

Australia Risks Asian Ire with Long-Range Missiles


Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins held their final press conference Wednesday at the MGM Grand to promote their historic Saturday showdown that will ultimately net the winner all four-world titles in the middleweight division.

Boxing News -- 24 hours/day - Reload often!


Reuters - Months of tension in Myanmar's junta\appeared to break into the open on Tuesday amid rumors Prime\Minister Khin Nyunt may have been arrested, Thai officials and\diplomats said.

Rumors of Shakeup in Military-Ruled Myanmar (Reuters)


On the day the Anaheim Angels played for first place, several players crammed onto an L-shaped couch in the visiting clubhouse, turned toward a flat-screen television and pressed their internal mute buttons.

Angels Taking High Road in Pennant Race


A Microsoft-backed proposal for verifying the source of e-mail has been shelved by the Internet engineers working to turn it from specification to standard, in a final blow for antispam technology Sender ID.

Microsoft-backed antispam spec gets filtered out


Mayor Tom Menino must be proud. His Boston Red Sox just won their first World Series in 86 years and his Hyde Park Blue Stars yesterday clinched their first Super Bowl berth in 32 years, defeating O'Bryant, 14-0. Who would have thought?

Blue Stars set to go bowling


BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - A Brazilian court on Friday  barred the lesbian partner of the outgoing mayor of an Amazon  town from trying to succeed her, citing a ban on political  office passing between family members.

Mayor's Lesbian Partner Barred from Race in Brazil


HARRY REDKNAPP has warned Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe to keep his nose out of team affairs. Lowe has gained a reputation for offering advice to his managers, and appears regularly on the

KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT OF IT, LOWE


AP - The University of California system is amassing Nobel Prizes at campuses once noted more for beer bashes and odd mascots than academic excellence.

Nobels Bring Prestige to Calif. Colleges (AP)


## John Magnier and JP McManus are prepared to sell their Manchester United share to bidder Malcolm Glazer if he pays more than 300p for each, a source close to them says.

News Items In Brief


A year ago, gymnasts Courtney Kupets and Annia Hatch wondered if injuries would prevent them from ever competing again. Last night in Athens, they not only competed, but they also excelled on the biggest stage of them all.

Roundup: Kupets and Hatch golden in gymnastics


Some candidates moderated their stance in light of a consensus proclaiming the election, while not problem-free, a success.

Questions About Vote in Afghanistan Fade a Day Later


Hunters have shot dead the last female brown bear native to the Pyrenees, condemning the species to extinction and causing an  quot;environmental catastrophe quot; for France, the government said.

Hunters kill last brown bear


Igor Simutenkov scored on a free kick five minutes into the first overtime period, leading the Kansas City Wizards to a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in the championship match of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Wednesday night.

Wizards 1, Fire 0


A federal judge agreed Tuesday to delay former WorldCom Inc. chief executive Bernard J. Ebbers's trial until January to give his lawyers more time to prepare his defense.
<FONT face=

Ex-WorldCom CEO's Defense Wins Delay


AFP - The pilot of a US military helicopter died after it crashed in western Afghanistan while two US soldiers on other side of the volatile nation were seriously wounded by a bomb, officials said.

US pilot dies, three soldiers injured in separate incidents in Afghanistan (AFP)


Less than a week after winning his first international figure skating medal, Ryan Jahnke of Grosse Pointe Farms will compete at Skate Canada beginning tonight in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Jahnke takes a medal to Skate Canada


ST. PAUL, Minnesota - By keeping it simple, Team USA made head coach Ron Wilson look like a hockey genius last night. Not only did the Americans earn their first victory in the World Cup of Hockey tournament

US finally gets on the board


AP - The Index of Leading Economic Indicators, a widely watched gauge of future economic activity, fell in October for the fifth straight month, suggesting that the economy may be slowing, a private research group reported Thursday.

Leading Indicators Dip Again in October (AP)


GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - Osama bin Laden's chauffeur was arraigned Tuesday at the first U.S. military commission hearings since World War II, appearing at a pretrial session as defense lawyers sought to challenge the process...

Bin Laden Driver Arraigned in Guantanamo


Fleeing Iraqis arrive in Jordan only to find that their old oppressors are thriving in Amman

Salt in Their Wounds


Here #39;s something to ponder when you eat your next chicken wing: A new study says about 60 percent of the genes in the critter you #39;re eating have close cousins in your own DNA.

Chicken genome offers insights into humans


Allen Iverson breaks his right thumb but plans to play anyway Tuesday for the U.S. men's basketball team, which is coming off a loss to Puerto Rico.

Iverson Breaks Thumb


The dispute between Oracle and PeopleSoft will return to the courtroom next month, when the presiding judge will hear more testimony.

Judge Defers Decision in Oracle Takeover Bid


BONN: Deutsche Telekom is bidding 2.9 bn for the 26 it does not own in T-Online International, pulling the internet service back into the fold four years after selling stock to the public.

Deutsche Tele offers 3 bn to buy back T-Online


An alliance says that Wi-Fi Protected Access 2, or WPA2, is a big improvement on earlier wireless security standards.

Wi-Fi group backs brawnier security standard


Thomson Corp., owner of the Westlaw legal-research and First Call financial data services, is selling 54 business publications including the Bond Buyer and American Banker for \$350 million to buyout firm Investcorp SA.

Thomson to Sell Media Unit to Investcorp for \$350 Mln (Update4)


BEIRUT, Lebanon - Three Lebanese men and their Iraqi driver have been kidnapped in Iraq, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry said Sunday, as Iraq's prime minister said his government was working for the release of two Americans and a Briton also being held hostage.    Gunmen snatched the three Lebanese, who worked for a travel agency with a branch in Baghdad, as they drove on the highway between the capital and Fallujah on Friday night, a ministry official said...

Iraq Working for Release of Hostages


Robert Polet, chief executive of the Gucci Group, named company veteran Mark Lee to the post of president and managing director of the Gucci division, moving quickly to

YSL CHIEF REPLACES SANTUCCI AT GUCCI


The Los Angeles Times published an especially vivid account (free reg. required) of yesterday #39;s proceedings at the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg, on the first day of the hearing in which Microsoft

Dueling views in EU case


Even without hitting home runs, the St. Louis Cardinals' potent attack continued to pummel the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-3, Thursday.

Cards Roll, and It's Getting Late Early for Dodgers


NewsFactor - Antivirus software specialist Trend Micro (Nasdaq: TMIC) is extending its expertise to next-generation handheld devices with the launch of Mobile Security, an application aimed at smartphones and PDAs.

Trend Micro Delivers Mobile Security (NewsFactor)


Vonage and Netgear have teamed up to develop broadband telephony products due in time for the holidays, according to sources familiar with the deal.

Netgear, Vonage gear up for VoIP over Wi-Fi


Keith Foulke isn't going to forget the last two nights anytime soon, but he won't be dwelling on them either.

Foulke unfazed by flops


extent of unrest in rural China, fuelled by corruption and a growing gap between rich and poor. the Hui Muslim minority sparked rioting through the weekend.

Rural China reels from violent protests


NEW YORK Stocks edged into positive territory in turbulent trading on Monday as pre-election jitters kept the markets off-balance and investors weighed a mix of US economic data.

Stocks: US data send Wall Street a mixed message


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Roy Disney and shareholder Stanley Gold on Monday urged non-employee members of Walt Disney #39;s (DIS) board to hire an independent executive search team to find a replacement for CEO Michael Eisner.

Roy Disney, Stan Gold want co to hire exec search firm


Toronto - It #39;s getting so late in the game, so to speak, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has offered federal mediation as a last-ditch possibility.

Players reject latest deal


New York #39;s hopes of Super Bowl glory took a blow when both the Giants and the Jets were hit by injuries to leading players on Sunday.

Giants and Jets both injury-hit


This weeks Wi-Fi Planet Conference and Expo will highlight the increasing variety and sophistication of WLAN technology for the enterprise.

Wi-Fi Planet highlights multichannel access points


MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Australian drinks company Foster #39;s Group Ltd. (FGL.AU) said Tuesday that annual net profit rose 73 as gains from the sale of its local pub assets

UPDATE: US Wine Unit Bruises Foster #39;s Annual Earnings


New York State and its bond investors got some good news on Tuesday as Moody #39;s Investors Service said it raised the state #39;s general obligation bond rating to A1 #39; #39; from A2, #39; #39; citing a strengthening economy.

Moody #39;s Raises New York State Bond Rating


Not too long ago, Google Inc. seemed little more than a pesky insect to Microsoft Corp. #39;s 800-pound gorilla. No more. As Google rapidly rolls out new products, the

Microsoft begins to take Google challenge seriously


Australia were on the verge of wrapping up a 2-0 win in the series when New Zealand, chasing 464 for victory, reached lunch at 243 for nine on the fifth day of the second and final test on Tuesday.

Australia on brink of victory


FT.com - NTT DoCoMo, Japan's dominant mobile operator, is planning to offer combined fixed and mobile services to business and residential customers. It is the latest sign of growing global interest in convergence between the two technologies.

DoCoMo strategists focus on convergence (FT.com)


No. 7 Michigan (9-1) at Ohio State (6-4): 1 pm today. TV: WTAE. ... Ohio State is down, but this is still one of the rivalry games on rivalry weekend and it still has Big Ten implications.

Gameday News  amp; Notes: 11/20/04


STEVEN PRESSLEY enjoyed some rare old tussles against John Robertson during the Gorgie legends playing career - now the Hearts skipper cant wait to work with the new Tynecastle boss.

Elvis sure hero will be a hit at Tynecastle


By Carilyn Shropshire, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette / Scripps Howard News Service. Natalia Rudiak of Carrick could not figure out why her trusted laptop was acting sluggish and sometimes unresponsive.

Study finds spyware, viruses everywhere


KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan security forces  have captured Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar's personal  security chief as he traveled in a van to the southern city of  Kandahar, provincial officials told Reuters on Tuesday.

Afghan Forces Catch Mullah Omar's Security Chief


Manchester United footballer Roy Keane today denied assaulting a 16-year-old boy, causing criminal damage, and using threatening or abusive behaviour when he appeared before magistrates in Trafford, Greater Manchester.

Footballer Denies Assault Charge


A US human rights group has filed a criminal complaint in Germany against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld accusing him and other senior US officials of war crimes and torture at Baghdad #39;s Abu Ghraib prison.

Human rights group sues Rumsfeld for alleged war crimes


UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - US President George W. Bush and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan were set to trade barbs on the opening day of the two-week session of the UN General Assembly, with the aftershocks of the Iraq war still at the top of the

Shadow Of Iraq Hangs Over UN Meet


BHOPAL (India): At least 14 people were killed on Friday in a fierce gunbattle between bandits and villagers in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, officials here said.

14 die as villagers battle bandits in India


AP - The next chapter in the global legal battle between the recording industry and file-sharing services is due to unfold here Monday when the owners of the hugely popular Kazaa software go on trial on civil copyright infringement charges.

Recording Industry, File-Share Face Off (AP)


SPACE.com - A new report released by an American\Physical Society (APS) Special Committee on NASA Funding for Astrophysics has\questioned the space agency's Moon, Mars and Beyond initiative. The APS\assessment warns that t  he cost of overcoming technological\challenges to make real the plan could far exceed budgetary projections and that\numerous nbsp;approved science programs could be jeopardized.

NASA's Moon-Mars Initiative Harms Science: American Physical Society Report (SPACE.com)


AFP - Japan's Crown Princess Masako, the former career woman who has kept out of the public eye for a year due to stress, promised on her 41st birthday she would try to get back to her official duties soon.

Japan's stressed crown princess pledges early return to official duties (AFP)


HOUSTON (Sports Network) - The Houston Rockets exercised  the fourth-year option on center Yao Ming's contract on  Thursday.

Rockets Exercise Contract on Yao


TOP-seeded American Vincent Spadea cruised past compatriot James Blake 6-3 6-1 here to reach the quarter-finals of the Millennium International tournament today.

Spadea cruises into quarters


A Soyuz spacecraft with a replacement crew for the International Space Station docked safely with the orbiting complex early today.

A New Crew Arrives At the Space Station


STRASBOURG, France -- The president-elect of the European Commission withdrew his proposed EU executive team yesterday to avoid an unprecedented European Parliament defeat, plunging the 25-nation bloc into political turmoil.

EU's Barroso pulls commission


Brazilian Adriano scored two wonderful goals as Inter Milan beat Udinese 3-1 in Serie A on Sunday while a superb Andrea Pirlo strike gave AC Milan a 1-0 win at Cagliari.

UPDATE 1-Amazing Adriano fires Inter to victory


AP - Business software maker PeopleSoft Inc. strengthened its ties with technology giant IBM Corp. on Tuesday, hoping to boost its recently sagging sales as it continues to fight Oracle Corp.'s  #36;7.7 billion hostile takeover bid.

Software Co. PeopleSoft Tightens IBM Ties (AP)


Israeli forces fired rockets at the Gaza City on Monday, responding to an earlier attack launched by Hamas movement against an army post.

Israeli forces launch air raid on Gaza city


Reuters - Stari Grad bay on the\island of Hvar is one of the most charming resorts in Croatia.\But beneath the quiet surface of the southern Adriatic an\aggressive tropical algae is threatening the sea's eco-system.

Algae Threatens Croatian Adriatic (Reuters)


Politically charged phrase disappearing as firms cook up new terms to describe sending work to cheaper labor markets.

Can you say 'offshore' anymore?


Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said here on Monday that his government is open to the idea of granting some sort of autonomy to the western Darfur region where

Interview: Minister says Sudan open to idea of autonomy in Darfur


AP - Rookie Vaughn Taylor claimed his first PGA Tour victory Sunday, rolling in an 11-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to win a four-way playoff at the Reno-Tahoe Open.

Rookie Taylor Wins Playoff at Reno-Tahoe (AP)


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar struggled to extend gains  against the euro in rangebound trade on Tuesday after  recovering from multi-week lows on bigger-than-expected capital  inflows into the United States.

Dollar Struggles to Extend Gains


The Financial Services Agency filed a criminal complaint Thursday against UFJ Bank and three former bank executives for interfering in an inspection last autumn.

FSA files criminal complaint against UFJ


DUBLIN (Reuters) - Waterford Crystal, the horse Cian  O'Connor rode to win Ireland's only gold medal at the Athens  Olympics, failed a dope test after the individual show jumping  competition.

Irish Gold Medal-Winning Horse Fails Dope Test


Marks  amp; Spencer Group Plc, the UK #39;s largest clothing retailer, said first-half earnings fell as much as 12 percent after sales declined for a fourth straight quarter.

Marks  amp; Spencer First-Half Profit Fell as Much as 12 (Update1)


Yasser Arafat died as he lived: amid confusion, intrigue and farce. His fatal ailment was described first as a stomach flu, then an unknown blood disorder or liver condition and, finally, a brain haemorrhage.

Arafat #39;s ultimate failure was that he never dared to let go of the <b>...</b>


Reuters - The European Union and its  allies got\the go-ahead on Tuesday to impose some  #36;150 million in\sanctions on U.S. goods in a dispute that could stir trade\tensions ahead of the U.S. elections.

WTO OKs Trade Sanctions Against U.S. (Reuters)


MILLAU, France -- French citizens and officials are celebrating a roadway bridge considered to be the world #39;s tallest. One of the Millau bridge #39;s pillars reaches more than 1,100 feet into the air, making it more than 50 feet taller than the Eiffel Tower.

France Unveils World #39;s Tallest Bridge


Andre Agassi returned to action with a 7-6, 6-3, victory over Belarussian Max Mirnyi to reach the third round of the Madrid Masters on Tuesday.

Agassi Back to Winning Ways, Nadal Impresses


Take one part hype, two parts anticipation and a pinch of trepidation. Sprinkle with salt and stir in bad blood. Chill for five days as a hurricane blows through.

Season may hinge on tonight


Scientists at Bangor University believe a blind man possesses a

Blind man 'sees' emotions


CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed making it a crime Thursday to sell violent or sexually explicit video games to minors, a step other states have tried with little success.

Governor wants ban on sale of violent video games to minors


The chief of the World Anti-Doping Agency says drug allegations surrounding US Olympic sprint champion Marion Jones could become a turning point in efforts to rid sports of drugs.

WADA Chief: Marion Jones Could be Turning Point in Effort to Rid <b>...</b>


Sergio Garcia lived up to his billing as pre-tournament favourite perfectly when he cruised to victory in the Mallorca Classic at Pula Golf Club, the 24 year old Spaniard notching his fifth European Tour International Schedule title in his 69th event.

Choose a topic from the pull-down menu:


Global grocery retailer Ahold NV has agreed to a settlement of civil fraud charges over an alleged \$1 billion overstatement of earnings in a deal with U.S. regulators that does not fine the company.

Ahold, Former Executives Settle SEC Charges


Northern Ireland has taken another small step in the slow march towards restoring home rule this weekend with tacit promises from the IRA to end militant activity once and for all.

Government not guns the Irish sticking point


Thousands of police patrolled a tense town today after street fights between members of the countrys main ethnic group and a Muslim minority left seven people dead and 42 injured.

Seven Dead in Riot


BBC correspondents record events in the Middle East and their thoughts as the funeral of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat takes place.

BBC reporters' log


AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Twice in one month the biggest Dutch  newspaper published front-page pictures shot by amateur  photographers using their mobile phones, showing how advances  in technology can assist traditional media in gathering news.

Cell Phones Increasingly Used to Snap the News


Washington, Sept. 24 (NNN): William  #39;Bill #39; Henry Gates, founder of software giant Microsoft, continued to be the richest man in America for the eleventh year in a row, according to Forbes magazine.

Gates Richest American 11th Year In A Row


FALLUJAH, Iraq -- The first time Jose Ramirez saw a human body ripped apart by a rocket, it took hours for him to regain his composure. Nothing in his training as a Navy medical corpsman had prepared him for the sight of the dead Marine brought in September to the military field hospital outside Fallujah.

Medics Testify to Fallujah's Horrors


At the Mall, Mixing Popcorn and Religion


OK, maybe after today #39;s announcement, and Justin King #39;s 400 million revival plan for the struggling supermarket chain, it is hard to vindicate the decisions of his predecessor.

Haunted by the ghost in the machine


ORLANDO, Fla. -- Southern California senior Matt Grootegoed on Thursday was named one of three finalists for the Butkus Award, which is presented to the nation #39;s top college linebacker.

Texas #39; Johnson was a finalist in 2003


Researchers have sequenced the genome of the red jungle fowl, an early version of what we know today as the chicken, giving scientists new insight to many human diseases and possibly avian flu.

This Genome Is Fowl


AP - Grant Hill scored 32 points, his most in 4 1/2 years, and Steve Francis had 33 points and 11 assists, both season highs, to lead the Orlando Magic over the Utah Jazz 107-92 on Wednesday night.

Hill Scores 32 Points, Magic Outgun Jazz (AP)


PC World - The search engine's toolbar is included in new Windows XP

Google to Help Microsoft Promote Windows (PC World)


Cingular Wireless announced plans to upgrade its high-speed data network, allowing faster downloads on many home broadband connections.

Cingular to Upgrade Data Network


Palestinian presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas has pledged to honour Yasser Arafat #39;s wishes and fight for the  quot;right of return quot; of Palestinian refugees to Israel.

Abbas to defend rights of Palestinian refugees


The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee yesterday called on the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate alleged attempts to discredit a Food and Drug Administration whistle-blower.

Probe Urged Of Allegations Against FDA


Company also unveils a device that allows digital photographers to bypass the PC.

SanDisk Flashes New Memory Cards


EASTMAN Kodak is in line for a \$1.06bn (580m) payout after winning a controversial patent lawsuit against Sun Microsystems. A jury has ruled that Sun #39;s Java software infringes several software patents that Eastman Kodak bought in 1997.

Kodak may scoop 580m in court win


AFP - Myanmar army strongman General Than Shwe was due to meet Indian premier Manmohan Singh, leader of the world's biggest democracy, in New Delhi as the neighbouring nations sought stronger ties.

Myanmar army strongman to meet Indian premier on 'historic' visit (AFP)


Limited to just six players because of suspensions and injuries, the Pacers take the Magic to the final moments before dropping a 86-83 decision on Saturday.

'Pacers Lite' Lose Late


LIVERPOOL hero Florent Sinama Pongolle wants boss Rafael Benitez to stick with the youngsters for next months Carling Cup semi against Watford.

Pongo #39;s backing the kids


US software giant Microsoft is aiming to get its audio and video software into mobile phones before it is beaten to the 650-million-handsets-a-year market by rivals like Apple.

Microsoft Sees Music Opportunity in Cell Phones


Thousands of Italians marched silently through Rome in a candlelit procession on Friday to demand the release of two female aid workers seized in Baghdad.

Thousands Demonstrate in Rome for Italian Hostages


The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall Thursday of Amana, Trane and American Standard combination air conditioner/heat pumps that can overheat and catch fire.

Fire risk prompts air conditioner recall


Portugal has warned that a floating Dutch abortion clinic will not be allowed to enter its waters. The clinic offers the abortion pill in international waters to women in countries where it is illegal or restricted.

Portugal bars abortion ship


web sites) #39;s heart prob lem will make it even harder for John Kerry (news - web sites) to recover from his dramatic slippage in the polls, nervous New York Democrats said over the weekend.

BUBBA #39;S ILLNESS BAD NEWS FOR JOHN


Few in the tech world need an introduction to Napster #39;s founder, the college dropout whose revolutionary file-swapping technology shook the foundations of the \$11bn record industry.

Legal peer-to-peer services: Gimmick or Genius?


Nortel Networks Corp. said the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange won #39;t commence suspension or delisting actions because of the company #39;s delay in filing certain financial reports.

Nortel Says Exchanges Don #39;t Take Delisting Action (Update1)


AT amp;T Corp. and Internet telephone provider Vonage said on Thursday they were cutting prices for their residential Internet calling services by \$5 per month, the strongest

AT amp;T, Vonage Cut Prices on Internet Calling


Reuters - U.S. regulators are set to give\Cingular Wireless final approval for its  #36;41 billion purchase\of AT T Wireless Services Inc.  on Monday, on condition\that it sells assets including wireless airwaves in more than\16 markets, according to a source close to the deal.

Cingular/AWE Deal to Get Conditional OK (Reuters)


SourceLabs has raised \$3.5 million in a first round of funding from Ignition Partners and Index Ventures. The Seattle startup, which was founded earlier this year, will help companies integrate and deploy open source software.

Tech Briefs


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped from a four-month low  on Wednesday as slow growth in U.S. heating fuel inventories  heightened fears for tight winter supplies.

Oil Rebounds on Winter Supply Worries


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices touched a new  three-month low on Wednesday as mild winter weather in the  United States and expectations of a rise in heating fuel stocks  kept the downward pressure on the market.

Oil Prices Touch a New Three-Month Low


OFFENSE: Expect the Cardinals, so powerful and varied in skill, to average five-plus runs. But this is no mismatch. Houston #39;s attack is hotter and healthier.

Astros vs. Cardinals preview


DOHA (Reuters) - World number one Roger Federer made a  surprise announcement Tuesday when he revealed that Australian  Tony Roche will be his new coach on a part-time basis.

Federer Names Roche as Part-Time Coach


Congress Wednesday cleared the way to keep access to the Internet largely free from taxes for the next three years, breaking a year-long deadlock. <FONT face=

Moratorium on Web Tax Advances


A national survey in Australia shows worrying levels of alcohol consumption among the country's teenagers.

Australian teenage drinking scare


It's a frustrated commuter's escapist fantasy: literally lifting your car out of a clogged highway and soaring through the skies, landing just in time to motor into your driveway. NASA and Boeing are planning to make this fantasy a reality.

NASA and Boeing Push for Flying Cars


Ohio State has imposed a one-year postseason ban on its men's basketball team after the university admits former coach Jim O'Brien gave a recruit \$6,000.

Ohio State Banned


ATHENS -- With Mardy Fish leading two sets to one against an opponent who seemed to be weakening and perhaps coming up lame, the gold medal match was his to lose yesterday.

Fish founders late, settles for silver


THOUSANDS of construction workers and victims of asbestos were today making their way through central Sydney to rally outside a general meeting of James Hardie shareholders.

Thousands in asbestos rally


Officials from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the British Office of Fair Trading (OFT) hosted the first international meeting of spam enforcement agencies today in London.

International Conference Focuses on Spam


AP - All former U.S. prisoners of war who suffer from heart disease or stroke will receive government health care benefits without having to prove the ailments were linked to their captivity, Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi said Saturday night.

VA Improves Health Benefits for Ex-POWs (AP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lindsay Davenport exited the U.S. Open  disappointed but not downhearted after her hopes of a second  title were ended in the semi-finals by Russian Svetlana  Kuznetsova 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Friday.

No Hasty Decisions on Future for Beaten Davenport


Shares in OSI Pharmaceuticals (OSIP :Nasdaq - news - research) and Genentech (DNA :Nasdaq - news - research) jumped Friday after AstraZeneca (AZN :NYSE - news - research) said new medical data showed its lung cancer drug Iressa provided no survival

OSI Pharma Soars on AstraZeneca #39;s Loss


Says new research shows that it remains the top server computer vendor. But HP trumpets leadership in

IBM lays claim to extension of server reign


Sun Microsystems on Tuesday took what it says are early steps toward a future in which computing power is sold as a commodity like electricity.

Sun foresees global pool of computing power


SEPTEMBER 16, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Microsoft Corp. yesterday said it is looking to work more closely with developers of the Open Office open-source project.

Sun-Microsoft deal raises Open Office questions


Ziff Davis - With a common goal of providing a more constant, smoother and faster development cycle, new technologies are being put directly into Linux kernel 2.6.x.

Linux Camp Takes New Tack on Kernel (Ziff Davis)


THE nation is deeply divided. The voters are intolerant of opposing views. Yet there has been much joy in Houston, a city whose baseball team finally advanced in the playoffs and came within one game of being in the World Series.

Big leagues


British-based mobile phone giant Vodafone Group said Tuesday that it was not in talks with US partner Verizon Communications about a possible bid for US rival Sprint.

Vodafone not in talks with Verizon about Sprint


MOSCOW: Tax authorities in Russia have handed Yukos, Russia #39;s largest oil producer, a \$4.2-billion tax bill for 2001, higher than the \$3.

Yukos handed \$4.2-bn tax bill


Reuters - The head of Nigeria's ruling party\launched an unprecedented attack on President Olusegun Obasanjo\in a letter published on Saturday, warning him that his\government was unpopular and heading for collapse.

Nigerian Party Chief Slams President (Reuters)


Former track superstar Marion Jones was  quot;without a doubt quot; a drugs cheat, according to the man who says he devised Jones #39; program for use of banned performance-enhancing drugs before she won five gold medals at the 2000 Olympics.

BALCO fallout continues


Classic FM owner GWR and Capital Radio are to merge in a deal creating a company with a 36 share of the UK commercial radio audience.

Radio Companies to Merge


BEIJING (Reuters) - Rescue workers have recovered the  bodies of 49 Chinese miners killed when fire swept through an  iron mine complex in the northern province of Hebei, the State  Administration of Work Safety said on Monday.

China Iron Mine Fire Death Toll Rises to 49


SBC Communications Inc. (SBC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) filed on Monday to sell up to \$15.5 billion of debt and stock, mainly to fund the purchase of AT amp;T Wireless Services

UPDATE 2-SBC Communications files \$15.5 bln mixed shelf


Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Gisela Dulko of Argentina posted a straight- set victory over Hungarian Aniko Kapros in the first round of the \$585,000 China Open.

Dulko an easy winner in Beijing


This season #39;s FA Cup semi-finals will be held at Cardiff #39;s Millennium Stadium, the Football Association said on Wednesday.

FA Cup semi-finals to be played in Cardiff


Iran #39;s chief nuclear negotiator said Tuesday that Iran would suspend its uranium enrichment activities for only a few months while negotiations with Europe for a longer-term

Iran Says It Will Suspend but Not End Its Uranium Program


If Russian businesses are helping fund the election campaign of President Vladimir Putin #39;s favored candidate in Ukraine #39;s presidential election at the Kremlin #39;s behest, as some political analysts suspect, those businesses may be better off betting on the

Businesses Bet on Ukraine #39;s Future


India News  gt; New Delhi, Aug 17 : For the first time since Sri Lanka #39;s peace process got under way in February 2002, Tamil Tiger guerrillas have come under flak from the West amid growing signs of a revival of the armed conflict.

Tamil Tigers are unlikely to change their stripes (NEWS ANALYSIS) :


AP - German authorities Saturday arrested a fourth man on suspicion of involvement in an al-Qaida-linked group's alleged plot to attack Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi during his visit to Berlin this week.

Germany Arrests 4th Suspect in Allawi Plot (AP)


Shares of Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) slid more than 3 percent in premarket trading on Wednesday after reporting that sales of its Taxus stent slowed

UPDATE 1-Before the Bell-Boston Scientific falls


InfoWorld - Fresh from introducing a major upgrade to the Java platform, Sun Microsystems officials on Thursday revealed some details of the next release of Java, code-named  #8220;Mustang #8221; and expected in Spring 2006.

Sun to drive Mustang as future release of Java (InfoWorld)


Yellow Roadway (YELL:Nasdaq - news - research) boosted its third-quarter earnings guidance to \$1.30 to \$1.35 a share, a dime better than its previous forecast.

Yellow Roadway Ups Guidance


WASHINGTON - Seeking to bolster its credentials on global warming, the United States signed an agreement yesterday with 13 other nations that calls for investing up to \$53 million in companies that could profitably control emissions of methane, a

US signs \$53M deal to control methane gas


Oracle won a key legal victory in its quest to buy PeopleSoft last week, but the grueling war for control of its software rival is far from over, industry analysts say.

Oracle wins PeopleSoft battle, but war not at end


AP - Sure, Kansas often grabs a spot in the upper half of the AP preseason college basketball poll, but the school hasn't been No. 1 since a player named Wilt Chamberlain suited up for the Jayhawks in the 1950s.

Kansas Hoops Takes Preseason No. 1 Spot (AP)


SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (Reuters) - A Basque nationalist party  banned by Spain as ETA's political wing unveiled a plan to end  the long-running conflict in the region on Sunday, saying it  wanted to launch a peace process.

Banned Basque Party Calls for Peace Talks


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

Texas Instruments Trims Revenue Estimates