Friendster Names Ex-AOL Executive VP of Sales\\Friendster today announced that it has named Charles Barrett as Vice President of Sales, effective immediately. Charlie will oversee all aspects of advertising sales. His first initiatives will include building a world-class national ad sales team and creating new revenue producing programs. In addition, ...


MOSCOW -- Nathalie Dechy and Tatiana Golovin gave France a comfortable 2-0 lead in its Fed Cup semifinal against Spain after winning their opening singles Wednesday.

Dechy, Golovin put France up 2-0 on Spain after singles


Angry fans stopped the final of the men #39;s gymnastics high bar for 10 minutes as they booed judges for a poor score that destroyed Russian Alexei Nemov #39;s chance of a 13th Olympic medal.

Protesting fans stop gym final


In a second round of lawsuits four major US internet service providers (ISPs) are taking on senders of e-mail spam and unwanted commercial messages sent via instant messaging.

Internet service providers file more spam lawsuits


The acquisition will elevate No.3-ranked Oracle to No.2, behind SAP of Germany, the world's biggest maker of business-management software.

Oracle Ups Its Offer and Buys PeopleSoft for \$10.3 Billion


With NASA #39;s broken Genesis capsule stuck in the Utah desert and its shuttle assembly building battered by a hurricane at Cape Canaveral, the US space agency defended its budget and mission on Wednesday.

Genesis Crash Adds to NASA Post-Columbia Troubles


Reuters - Canada has positioned itself ahead of the\United States to regain share in the lucrative Japanese beef\market, thanks to strict new rules aimed at preventing mad cow\disease, Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell said on Wednesday.

Canada Hopes New Beef Rules Will Win Over Japan (Reuters)


NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners #39; Federation has decided not to support the strike call given by All India Motor Transport Congress against levy of a 10 per cent service tax on freight booking agents.

TN lorry owners don #39;t support strike


LAFAYETTE, Colo. - After festooning his house with 17,000 Christmas lights, Alex Komarnitsky wanted more than just drive-by gawkers to be able to enjoy the spectacle.

Interactive Christmas lights an on-line hit


Steve Wigley is being allowed to stay as Southampton #39;s coach, although he lacks a coaching certificate required by the Premier League.

Southampton coach given time to get UEFA licence


Prince Harry was hit in the face with a camera in a scuffle outside a London nightclub on Wednesday night, royal officials said. The prince, third in line to the British throne, also cut a photographer #39;s lip

Prince Harry in nightclub scuffle


PC Mall Inc. spin-off eCost.com Inc. priced its initial public offering at \$5.80 and expects to begin trading on the Nasdaq on Friday, making its debut during a lull for IPOs that is scheduled to last through mid-September.

ECost.com Prices IPO One Week Late


Prince Charles laid a wreath at London #39;s Cenotaph monument Saturday, as part of Britain #39;s Remembrance ceremonies for the country #39;s war dead.

Prince Charles honors UK war dead


Last week when Google came up with its Desktop Search, it promised to make finding files on our desktop a lot less painful. Knowing Google and its other services, I had little doubt that the new tool from their stable would be incredible.

A week using the Google Desktop Search


BAGHDAD - A huge explosion tore through a crowded market close to a Baghdad police headquarters building yesterday, killing at least 47 people in the capital #39;s deadliest single attack in six months.

47 die in bomb attack on Iraqi police building


Jaguar boss Tony Purnell has revealed there is  quot;masses of interest quot; in buying the troubled Formula One team. Purnell, who runs Jaguar a part of his role as chief of Ford #39;s premier performance division, believes

#39;MASSES OF INTEREST #39; IN BUYING JAGUAR TEAM


China has decided to impose duties on its exports of textiles and apparel, a move that could ease worldwide fears that Chinese clothing makers will soon dominate the global market after its liberalization on Jan.

China to Impose Duties on Clothing Exports


washingtonpost.com - COLORADO SPRINGS, Oct. 12 -- As President Bush and Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry prepared for Wednesday night's final debate, the two sides previewed their themes for the domestic-policy showdown, with the incumbent branding Kerry a liberal and the Democrats decrying Bush's job-creation record.

On Debate's Eve, Campaigns Hone Message (washingtonpost.com)


ANOTHER LOSS meant another sleepless night for New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin. It was 3 am Monday morning, less than 12 hours after his team had lost to the Arizona Cardinals

Boy becomes a Manning


Bill Parcells is always toughest on his teams after they win, especially when they win ugly. That means the next eight days could be excruciating for the Dallas Cowboys.

Cowboys 19, Browns 12


Sven-Goran Eriksson has urged David Beckham to think twice before admitting to any on-the-field indiscretions. The England midfielder has come under fire for revealing that he deliberately got booked against Wales.

Beckham gets backing of Eriksson


HARLOTTE, Aug. 19 - Eli Manning was handed his first chance to prove he could be a starting quarterback in the NFL Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers. If Manning #39;s performance was any indication, the Kurt Warner era with the ...

Manning Does His Part to Start a Controversy


MONZA, Italy (Reuters) - Formula One's oldest driver  Olivier Panis announced Thursday he will quit racing at the end  of the season to take up a test role with Toyota.

Panis to Retire as Formula One Driver


p2pnet.net News:- Yahoo says it #39;ll enter the desktop search stakes in the New Year, joining Google, Ask Jeeves, Microsoft #39;s MSN and AOL.

Free Yahoo X1 desktop search


The Renault F1 Teams two technical directors have overseen the final developments for Japan in fine detail. Heres an explanation

R24 and RS24: what you want at Suzuka


AP - More than 76,000 meals and snacks have been served to hurricane-ravaged counties in Florida, with thousands more available from federal, local and private agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Monday.

Hurricane Emergency Aid Set Up in Florida (AP)


Philippine shares closed higher Friday for the fifth straight session, with the main index setting a new 53-month closing high on the country #39;s improving macroeconomic and corporate fundamentals.

Update 1: Philippine Shares Hit New 53-Month High


It was Sept. 15, 1987, and Mario Lemieux scored the winning goal against Russia at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton to capture the Canada Cup.

Lemieux set to face Russia once again


Symantec, a leader in security software, will acquire Veritas, a maker of data storage programs, to create the world's fourth-largest software company.

Symantec to Buy Veritas Software in Deal Worth \$13.5 Billion


While a rapidly changing climate may alter the composition of northern Wisconsin's forests, disturbances such as logging also will play a critical role in how these sylvan ecosystems change over time. (University of Wisconsin-Madison press release)

News: Warmer Weather, Human Disturbances Interact to Change Forests


MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is working on new nuclear missile  systems that other powers do not have in order to protect  itself against future security threats, President Vladimir  Putin said on Wednesday.

Putin Says Russia Working on New Nuclear Systems


Standards body publishes three technical compliance guidlines regarding how attached files exchange data.

WS-I tackles Web services attachments


Microsoft #39;s quarterly results released Thursday make clear that the software maker is becoming a much different company than the one Bill Gates started back in 1975.

Not your father #39;s Microsoft


ATHENS, Greece -- Greek  quot;sirtaki quot; music that starts slow and finishes fast whipped the Olympic Stadium audience into a frenzy Sunday night before the most exciting 10 seconds in sports.

Gatlin dethrones Greene in 100 meters


AP - Blockbuster Inc., facing new attacks from big retailers and online operators, has offered  #36;700 million for rival Hollywood Entertainment Corp. in a bid to combine the two biggest players in the movie-rental industry.

Blockbuster Offers  #36;700M for Rival Chain (AP)


Rubens Barrichello went fastest this afternoon  with a lap 2.7s faster than the 2003 pole position.

Second Free Practice: Setting a fast pace


Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s largest bottler of Coca-Cola soft drinks, on Thursday forecast its earnings in 2005 would be at

Coke Enterprises Outlook Disappoints


DUBAI, UAE - The man who forged the ultramodern United Arab Emirates out of a federation of seven tiny Persian Gulf states has died.

Founder of United Arab Emirates dies


Citigroup has removed three senior executives, including Sir Deryck Maughan, its British-born vice-chairman, following a scandal which has forced the closure of one of the bank #39;s Japanese businesses.

Scandal-hit Citigroup ditches three bosses


NEW YORK - Investors sent stocks falling sharply for a second straight day Thursday as crude oil prices surged near \$55 per barrel and General Motors Corp.'s earnings disappointed the market. The Dow Jones industrial average, having fallen 153 points over two days, dropped back below 10,000...

Stocks Slip on GM Earnings, Higher Oil


US stocks gained yesterday, after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected, while it reassured investors that inflation was in check and indicated the economy was growing at a moderate pace.

Stocks post gains after Fed raises rates


An Indian security team heads for Bangladesh on Monday to assess the situation after a threat to the national cricket squad by an Islamic militant group.

UNDATE 1-Indian officials in B #39;desh to assess cricket threat


This came as groups working with Care announced plans of a protest in Baghdad on Monday demanding Hassan #39;s release. Tahsin Hassan said:  quot;It is painful to see my wife cry.

Hassan #39;s husband makes another appeal


The Sudanese government and the UN migration agency here Saturday signed an agreement ensuring right of return of Darfur displaced.

Sudan, UN agree on right of return of Darfur displaced


A funny thing happened when Dr. Burt A. Adelman, executive vice president for development at Cambridge biotech giant Biogen Idec, bought a fly rod for his son Ian on his 16th birthday.

When it comes to fly-fishing, he's hooked


With the All India Motor Transport Congress rejecting the government #39;s last-minute bid for a negotiated settlement, truck owners have gone on an indefinite strike demanding the scrapping of service tax.

Truckers begin All-India strike


KARACHI, Pakistan, Oct. 14 -- A Chinese engineer was killed and a colleague was rescued Thursday when Pakistani commandos stormed a mud-walled compound in a remote tribal region near Afghanistan, killing five Muslim militants who had held the men hostage, authorities said.

Pakistanis Rescue Hostage; 2nd Dies


SAN FRANCISCO - Sun Microsystems Inc. last week quietly released a version of its Java Desktop System (JDS) software based on the Solaris x86 operating system, a move the company is calling the first step in a long-term strategy to unify the user interface for Sun's Linux and Solaris products, Sun officials said Thursday.

Sun releases JDS for Solaris


US software developer Adobe Systems has released Adobe Acrobat version 7.0, a family of desktop applications that provides a range of document portability capabilities, including converting documents into the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).

Adobe releases new version of Acrobat


Reuters - The American death toll in Iraq\topped 1,000 on Tuesday nearly 18 months after President Bush\launched the war that has become a central issue in the

U.S. Death Toll in Iraq Reaches Grim Milestone (Reuters)


A wind power plant proposed for the shallow waters south of Cape Cod would do no major harm to birds and other marine life and could lead to significant public health benefits

Favorable Report on Mass. Wind Farm


Vouliagmeni, Greece - Watch Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel, think Hermann Maier. Awful crash, unlikely fightback, gold within days. Instant Olympic lore.

Dutch cyclist #39;s fairytale comeback


More than 1,100 Muslims detained after a riot were freed Saturday, as the government tried to ease anger in Thailand #39;s restive south over the deaths of dozens of accused rioters - including 78 who perished in military custody.

Thailand Releases 1,100 Muslim Detainees


To lure shoppers into their stores, the nation #39;s retailers will again offer LOW LOW LOW prices on a number of gifts and gadgets, as stores throw open their doors at Oh-Dark-Hundred tomorrow and kick off the holiday shopping season.

Angling for Sales, Retailers Set Their Bait


CHICAGO (CBS.MW) - Retail stocks fell Monday after Wal-Mart cut its August sales forecast, casting a pall over expectations for consumer spending during the back-to-school season.

Wal-Mart, Target pull sector into red


Czech Republic football captain Pavel Nedved has announced his retirement from international play. The 32-year-old Nedved said his recurrent knee injury does not allow him to compete for both his club and his country.

Knee Injury Forces Czech Football Captain to Retire


Dell has introduced a new line of blade servers, the PowerEdge 1855 series, equipped with dual Xeon processors. The computer maker says its blades take up less space, cost less and are more economical to operate than traditional servers.

Dell Introduces New Blade Servers


Outgoing US Secretary of State Collin Powell arrived in Israel late Sunday as part of the international efforts to revive the stalled Middle East peace process amid continued violence in the region.

Powell starts new Middle East peace efforts


Canadian Press - CALGARY (CP) - Is Ralph Klein's political antenna broken?

Klein's bizarre start to cakewalk election raises eyebrows in Alberta (Canadian Press)


A MANNED private rocketship burst through the Earth #39;s atmosphere into space today after a hair-raising ascent, putting it half-way towards winning a \$US10 million (\$13.

Craft reaches edge of space


The big scoreboards at Yankee Stadium went dark in the seventh inning Friday night, not that the Yankees were lighting them up, anyway.

Yankees Are Powerless, and Stadium Was, Too


AFP - France's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent of the workforce in August from 9.8 percent in July, data from the Labour Ministry showed several.

French unemployment rises in August (AFP)


FORMER prime minister and doting mother Margaret Thatcher yesterday agreed to bail her son, Sir Mark Thatcher, out of house arrest in Cape Town.

Arise Sir Mark  mum pays


ATA Airlines Inc. #39;s future will fall to one of three bidders Friday while a fourth contender, America West Airlines canceled its buyout interest Thursday.

America West won #39;t bid for ATA


BEN THATCHER was last night playing down what appeared to be a running battle between him and David Beckham on Saturday - at least as far as the England captain was concerned.

Thatcher: It was just handbags with Becks, not aggro


NEW YORK, October 4 (newratings.com) - Paychex #39;s (PAYX.NAS) billionaire founder, B Thomas Golisano, has stepped down from his position as President and CEO of the company.

Paychex #39;s founder CEO resigns


A consortium of European companies, including Linux-distributor Mandrakesoft, has been awarded a three-year, \$8.6 million contract to boost security of the open-source Linux operating system, the companies said Thursday.

European Companies Join In Boosting Linux Security


Consumers could browse through Netflix #39; huge catalog of movies, then download everything but the popcorn into their TiVo digital recording device for immediate viewing.

Applause greets Tivo/Netflix tale


ATLANTA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks signed free  agent guards Kenny Anderson and Jon Barry on Thursday. Terms of  the contracts were not disclosed.

Hawks Ink Free Agents Kenny Anderson, Jon Barry


Already embattled with his ties to the Iraqi Oil for Food scandal, and what some term as the 'Food for Sex' scandal, Kofi Annan has dodged the latest bullet. Well, dodged only in the sense that specific allegations against him was removed at the last minute before passing.    The UN staff union passed a resolution sharply critical of the world body's senior management but expressed support for beleaguered Secretary General Kofi Annan.    An earlier draft of the resolution had strongly worded language about no confidence in senior staff of the United Nations, which has been buffeted by scandals over the past few months.

No Confidence Vote Passes Against UN Top Leadership


British heavyweight Danny Williams , who knocked out Mike Tyson in the fourth round July 30, will meet Vitali Klitschko Dec. 11 at the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Council version of the heavyweight title . . . Willie Randolph interviewed for the Mets' managerial job, and stressed that his many years with the Yankees ...

Williams to meet Klitschko for title


US Airways Group Inc. named a vice president to oversee its restructuring efforts, the airline said Thursday. James Schear will handle US Airways #39; organizational restructuring responsibilities and work with

US Airways names vice president of restructuring


AP - If LeBron James was sending a post-Olympics message to Larry Brown, he wouldn't admit it. Perhaps trying to prove Brown was wrong to bench him in Greece, James scored a career-high 43 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 92-76 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

LeBron James Beats His Olympic Coach (AP)


NEW DELHI: India on Thursday expressed concern over US arms sales to Pakistan, saying the India-Pakistan composite dialogue process poised at a sensitive juncture would be seriously affected.

US weapons for Pakistan will hurt peace talks: India


Business leaders believe the city of Coventry will bounce back despite the disappointment of todays decision by Jaguar to cut hundreds of jobs at its historic Browns Lane plant.

#39;Coventry Will Bounce Back from Jaguar Jobs Blow #39;


LONDON - Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand, whose debut album has been hailed by critics as a masterpiece of pop, won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize.    The Glasgow-based quartet were the favorites among the 12-strong shortlist to take home the award for their self-titled album...

Group Franz Ferdinand Wins Mercury Prize


The starting quarterbacks in tonight #39;s NCAA Division I-AA football championship at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga thought they would be playing for a trophy on a much bigger stage.

For These Quarterbacks, The Smaller the Better


LAS VEGAS -- There is another reason 1992 Olympic champion Oscar De La Hoya is so appropriately called The Golden Boy.

Win, lose Oscar is no gamble


A confidential eight-page memo sent from the NHL to its 30 member clubs indicates the league and its players #39; union remain far apart with negotiations scheduled to resume today.

League memo snubs proposal by players


The California Employees' Retirement System (Calpers) is tendering its 1.5 million PeopleSoft shares to Oracle, giving the hostile suitor a boost in the final days of its takeover bid.

Calpers tenders PeopleSoft shares to Oracle


Opinion Deals with network operators make more sense

MS, Apple pitch music at mobile phone makers


LONDON: The dollar trawled record depths against the euro yesterday, hit by signs that central banks in Russia and elsewhere could step up sales of the ailing US currency to buy euros.

Dollar falls as central banks consider selling


More than a year after the German city of Munich declared its landmark intention to abandon Microsoft Windows in favor of upstart rival Linux, its councilors are finally ready to go ahead with the plan.

Munich to press on with Linux switch


The Houston Astros claimed their 11th straight win, thanks to a 9-7 success over the Cincinnati Reds. Mark Lamb and Carlos Beltran both homered while Roy Oswalt won for the 17th time this season as the Astros

Astros continue winning run


More than 40 percent of the Pentagon's \$900 billion in prime contracts during the past six years have been awarded without competitive bidding, according to a Center for Public Integrity study released Wednesday.
\<FONT face=

No-Bid Defense Contracts Common


AFP - Swedish telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson reported a return to net profit in the third quarter, lifted by healthy growth in its international markets.

Ericsson returns to quarterly profit as world markets show growth (AFP)


AFP - The city hall of the southwestern French city of Bordeaux was damaged by a powerful explosion overnight, witnesses saw.

Powerful blast rocks Bordeaux city hall (AFP)


BEIJING China #39;s Communist Party chief, Hu Jintao, said Wednesday that Western-style democracy was a  quot;blind alley quot; for China and that the one-party state would fight power abuse and corruption by policing itself better.

China #39;s Hu calls democracy  #39;blind alley #39;


AFTER four Olympics competing for two countries, Irina Lashko ended her diving career in Athens without a gold medal. Melbourne-based Lashko, who owns two Olympic silvers and a bronze, finished seventh in

Lashko retires with no gold


Orders for US durable goods -- items meant to last at least three years -- posted a larger-than-expected rise in July, boosted by an increase in demand for passenger

Durable Goods Orders Rise on Plane Demand


Bee Staff Writer. Interstate Bakeries Corp., which operates a bakery in Sacramento and recently closed another here, filed Wednesday for bankruptcy reorganization.

Huge US bakery files Chapter 11


Early results from the Afghan election suggest interim president Hamid Karzai has won enough votes for victory.

Early results show Karzai victory


HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Houston Astros capped a remarkable  late-season turnaround by capturing the National League wild  card playoff berth on Sunday with a 5-3 win over the Colorado  Rockies.

Astros Beat Rockies to Win NL Playoff Spot


The effects of behavior modification programs designed to encourage physical activity last for at least three months after completion of such programs, says a new report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Exercise Pays Off in Long Run


The chief negotiator for the city of Falluja said Monday that he had called off peace talks with the Iraqi government on the orders of guerrillas who control

Iraqi Government #39;s Peace Talks With Falluja Break Off


Security is stepped up in the border town of Bukavu after Rwanda and Burundi said they could send troops into Democratic Republic of Congo.

Invasion alert in DR Congo town


Insurgents blew up a northern oil export pipeline on Tuesday, dealing a severe blow to the national economy, even as car bombs and gun battles across the country

Insurgents Blow Up an Iraqi Oil Pipeline


TOKYO The cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi decided Thursday to extend the mission of Japanese troops in Iraq despite the growing opposition of voters, political opponents and members of his own party.

Koizumi will keep Japanese in Iraq


Dell Inc. on Thursday continued its push beyond the PC into consumer electronics with the introduction of a mini-version of its digital music player that will compete with Apple Computer Inc.

Dell Moves Full Steam Ahead In Consumer Electronics


AFP - Australian customs officers will launch a 24-hour strike from midnight Thursday, disrupting traffic into the nation's major air and sea ports, union leaders said.

Customs strike to disrupt Australia's international air and sea ports (AFP)


The Suez Canal is closed for the first time in 30 years after becoming blocked by a broken down oil tanker.

Broken tanker halts Suez traffic


Google engineers must have breathed a sigh of relief Thursday when rival Microsoft Corp. rolled out a new search engine that proved glitchy and failed to wow reviewers.

Microsoft #39;s Search Falls Far Short of Google #39;s


LONDON (Reuters) - British advertising company WPP Group  Plc. has won the auction for U.S. rival Grey Global, agreeing  to pay about \$1.34 billion, sources familiar with the situation  said on Sunday.

Sources: WPP Buys Grey for \$1.34 Billion


OCTOBER 22, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Tape storage vendor Quantum Corp. announced this week that it has acquired Certance LLC, a maker of a competing tape drive technology for \$60 million in cash.

Quantum buys Certance for \$60M


AP - Boise State impressed Fresno State coach Pat Hill more than any of those big conference teams he has faced the past couple of seasons.

No. 18 Boise St. Keeps Win Streak Going (AP)


Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz still needs a bit of time to make a decision about his driver line-up for the upcoming season. The Austrian recently took over the Jaguar Formula One team.

The race is on for Red Bull seats


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Altiris Inc. <A HREF=

Altiris Falls 7 Percent Before Bell


Consumer prices remain in line, boosting bond prices; dollar flat vs. euro, down against yen. NEW YORK (Reuters) - US Treasury prices rose slightly Thursday after a key economic report pointed to tame inflation

Benign inflation lifts bonds


US and Iraqi forces secured more than three quarters of Mosul #39;s police stations as calm prevailed following last week #39;s flare up in violence that saw insurgents raid police buildings in the city, the US military said.

Mosul Forces Secure 75 Percent of Police Stations, US Says


Will the company's next PC look like a Christmas tree? A patent filing sheds some light.

Apple hints at colorful computer plans


Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd. on Tuesday lowered its fourth-quarter expectations as it becomes the latest chip maker to express concerns about weaker demand from customers.

Chartered Semi Lowers 4Q Outlook


LONDON - Flu shot shipments by a major vaccine supplier were blocked by British health authorities Tuesday just ahead of the flu season, immediately raising worries that there will be enough vaccine this year.

Flu Vaccine Maker's Shipments Suspended


DIVISION 1-AA POLL Balloting conducted by the Sports Network, with first-place votes in parentheses, records, total points and last week's ranking. W-L Pts LW 1. Southern Ill. (85) 5-1 2,620 1 2. Ga. Southern (17) 5-1 2,523 3 3. Delaware (1) 4-1 2,342 4 4. Western Ky. (2) 4-1 2,277 6 5. Montana 5-1 2,081 7 6. Wofford 4-1 1,932 ...

DIVISION 1-AA POLL


Merck said lost Vioxx sales and estimated customer returns totaled \$492 million in the third quarter, and the recall slashed net income by about \$553 million.

Merck Profit Falls 29 Percent on Vioxx


Samsung mobile phones look set to double as m-wallets as the mobile phone manufacturer signs a Near Field Communication chip deal with Philips.

Samsung phones to double as wallets


By Brian Krebs, Special To The Washington Post  August 30, 2004. Microsoft Corp. #39;s decision to release a major upgrade for its flagship operating system in the same month that hundreds of thousands of students

Colleges fear XP update will jam networks


Merck  amp; Co. #39;s decision to pull its Vioxx anti-arthritis drug from the markets due to severe side effects left pharmaceutical sector mixed Thursday.

Update 1: Merck a Drag on Drug Sector


GAINESVILLE -- The young Florida Gators needed to grow up all at once here Saturday night. They weren #39;t ready to. They didn #39;t know how.

UF gets lesson in growing up


Microsoft corporate Vice President Tom Button said his companu and Intel want consumers to realize how PCs can help them get the most out of their entertainment experiences, from digital movies and music to photos and TV programs.

Intel, Microsoft To Debut  #39;Digital Joy #39; Campaign


Scottie Pippen played the sidekick to basketball's greatest star, creating a partnership the Chicago Bulls parlayed into an NBA dynasty with six titles in the 1990s.

Pippen makes one final smooth move


O2 has unveiled two new devices that aim to build on the success of the popular xda II handheld/mobile phone. O2 #39;s new xda IIs will be available in the UK and Ireland on 1 November at a cost of around 449 (inc.

O2 announces two new xda devices


The African Union on Friday hailed the convening of the inaugural summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region as an important event in history.

Summit day important in African history: AU official


European Justice and Home Affairs ministers are to start talks on whether asylum seekers could be processed outside the EU.

EU chiefs to discuss asylum camps


Andrew Flintoff and Marcus Trescothick will miss England's controversial tour of Zimbabwe.

Cricket: England name squad


LONDON: World oil prices rose yesterday on concerns over the possibility of further unrest in major producer Iraq despite a ceasefire in Najaf, where fighting has raged for weeks, traders said.

Oil prices climb as fears over Iraq turmoil loom


AP - Alicia Molik came back to beat French teen Tatiana Golovin 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the SEAT Open quarterfinals Friday, moving closer to winning her second WTA Tour title in two weeks.

Molik Beats Golovin in SEAT Open Quarters (AP)


Australia #39;s Mat Mladin completed a winning double at the penultimate round of this year #39;s American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship after taking

Mladin Release From Road Atlanta


SAN FRANCISCO -- IBM on Tuesday released a series of new products and services in its Workplace productivity software lineup. IBM Workplace blends collaborative tools from Lotus Notes/Domino with WebSphere Portal and Everyplace technologies.

IBM trots out new Workplace products


Members of a federal loan board said they felt United Airlines bid for \$1.6 billion in assistance was based on a faulty business plan.

Some Light Shed on Panel Decision to Deny Aid to United


US Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) Acting Commissioner Lester Crawford on Friday agreed to meet with a top Republican lawmaker about the agency #39;s handling of safety concerns over Merck  amp; Co Inc.

FDA Chief to Meet with Top Lawmaker Regarding Vioxx


Reuters - Blockbuster Inc. , the largest\U.S. video rental chain, on Thursday said it has contacted\Hollywood Entertainment Corp.  about acquiring its top\rival for  #36;700 million.

Blockbuster Interested in Hollywood Chain (Reuters)


The company expands its server software for creating slick interfaces for Web applications.

Macromedia stretches Flex's features


At first glance, it might seem like the simple extension of a standard tool in the fight against the bad guys. But in fact, wiretapping Internet phones to monitor criminals and terrorists is

The Call Is Cheap. The Wiretap Is Extra.


Its often been said in recent weeks that you cant negotiate with terrorists. Morally thats right: in the case of the Jordanian Abu Muab alZarqawi and his Tawhid  amp; Jihad interlopersgroup, the statement is also fact.

What alZarqawi knows


Zayani Motors, the Kingdom #39;s exclusive dealer for Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck  amp; Buses Corp (MFTBC), are pleased to introduce the New Generation Canter.

Zayani Motors introduces the New Generation Canter from Mitsubishi <b>...</b>


ANDY Flintoff is one of those rare sportsmen who can enhance his stature simply by not playing. India captain Saurav Ganguly tried to put his finger on it at Lord #39;s, explaining:  quot;England are a far different side without him.

England panic without hero


SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - Members of the board of  Calpers, the biggest U.S. pension fund, voted on Monday to  demand that major car makers meet with them to defend their  lawsuit against California's new air quality regulations to  reduce exhaust emissions from cars and trucks.

Calpers to Press Carmakers on Lawsuit


Rookie Scott Kazmir outpitched Pedro Martinez to lead the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over Boston 5-2 Tuesday night and sent the Red Sox to consecutive losses for the first time in more than five weeks.

Devil Rays 5, Red Sox 2


There may have been more to Kyle Orton #39;s departure from Saturday #39;s game at Northwestern than just a left hip flexor. Listen to Purdue head coach Joe Tiller, and it sounds as if Orton #39;s physical

Northwestern Notebook


AP - As of Friday, Sept. 17, 2004, 1,027 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 777 died as a result of hostile action and 250 died of non-hostile causes. The figures include three military civilians.

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


Fans who can't get enough of

Yahoo Makes a Deal With The Donald


In a hotel suite in Las Vegas a couple of days ago a fighter unpacked the bags he had carried down from the drab suburban bungalow that had been his rented home.

Time for Williams to check his ego into a penthouse suite


Pulte Homes, the owner of Phoenix-based Del Webb, Tuesday announced a profit warning for the third quarter. Citing poor sales in Las Vegas, Pulte now expects third quarter earnings from continuing operations

Pulte drops earnings expectations


Navy already has caught the attention of several bowl game officials and hopes a strong performance against Rutgers on Saturday will cement its chances of postseason play.

Trying to Notch a Berth


U.S. warplanes continued pounding targets in Fallujah today, in an attempt to disrupt what the military said were preparations for terrorist attacks coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

U.S. Intensifies Assault on Fallujah


: Government troops and separatist rebels in Aceh clashed Monday as voters in the province took part in presidential elections. Two soldiers and three guerillas died in the fighting, the military said.

Five dead in Aceh as rebels battle govt troops


Satellite television broadcast company DirecTV Group Inc. said Monday that it plans to purchase stakes in Sky Brasil, Sky Mexico and Sky Multi-Country Partners from News Corp., Liberty Media Corp. and others for \$579 million in cash, as part of a reorganization of the company's Latin American operations.

DirecTV Reorganizes L. America Operations


A shadowy Islamic organisation yesterday claimed it had decapitated two Italian women kidnapped in Baghdad a fortnight ago, promising to show the event on the internet.

Islamic group says it has beheaded two Italians


By staff writers and wires. MULTIPLEX Group has offered \$1.33 billion to takeover Ronin Property Group in one of the latest moves of consolidation in the listed property trust sector.

Multiplex moves on Ronin


Newly named AirTight Networks picks up funding, appoints new execs and board members.

Wibhu changes name, lands \$10.25 million


NEW DELHI -- One day after Pakistan's president proposed a demilitarization of the violence-racked Himalayan region of Kashmir, India's response was notably lukewarm, with an official making clear the proposal should not have been made first to reporters.

India lukewarm on Kashmir proposal


The Dalai Lama arrived in Elista, the capital of the Russian internal republic of Kalmykia, on Monday. Dalai Lama XIV did not plan any meetings on his first day in Russia.

Dalai Lama Arrives in Russia


NEW YORK, October 25 (newratings.com) - Citigroup Global Markets Inc has been censured and asked to pay a fine of \$250,000 by the NASD (National Association of the Securities Dealers), for allegedly distributing inappropriate hedge fund sales literature

Citigroup unit fined and censured by NASD


The hearing over the men #39;s gymnastics gold medal from the Athens Olympics adjourned today without a decision. The general secretary of the Court of Arbitration for Sport said he hopes there will be a decision within two weeks.

No decision after gymnastics hearing


After two days of discussion, the Knesset approved Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s withdrawal plan yesterday. The plan envisages the Israeli army #39;s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the West Bank.

Israel #39;s Knesset Approves Gaza Withdrawal


HOUSTON - Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre got a chance to work his fourth-quarter magic at Reliant Stadium for the first time in his career Sunday night -nd work it he did.

Longwell barely makes game-winning field goal


Halo 2 proves heaven-sent as Microsoft racks up big-time sales and game fans burn the midnight oil.

This week in game news


ARSENAL #39;S Brazilian World Cup winning midfielder Gilberto Silva is set to be out for at least a month with a back injury, the Premiership leaders said.

Silva out for a month


Company is developing a fiber network that will deliver TV and data to homes.

SBC Tunes Into IP-Based TV


AP - Republican Sen.-elect Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, a politician and an obstetrician, wants to deliver more babies after he takes office Jan. 4, a request apparently at odds with Senate conflict-of-interest rules.

Coburn Wants to Keep Delivering Babies (AP)


AFP - Sudan's government defiantly dismissed a UN deadline for it to disarm its proxy militia in the Darfur region, insisting it would resolve the conflict there through ongoing African Union peace talks.

Africa puts hope in Darfur talks as Sudan dismisses UN ultimatum (AFP)


ISLAMABAD : Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon emerged from a meeting with Pervez Musharraf saying Pakistan #39;s parliament and judiciary should solve a row over the president #39;s efforts to remain army chief.

Commonwealth chief says parliament, courts should solve Musharraf <b>...</b>


VIRGINIA WATER (England) - Titleholder Ernie Els overcame a dismal putting performance to forge a 3-up lead over an injured Padraig Harrington on Saturday after 18 holes of their World Match Play semi-final.

Els, Westwood lead World Match Play s-finals


THE GAZETTE. ATHENS, Greece - Moments after wrestler Rulon Gardner won an Olympic bronze medal Wednesday, beating an opponent 4 inches taller and 10 years younger, he had another task to perform.

Walking away


Oil prices went down and stock prices went up, pushing blue chip stocks to their third straight weekly gain. All the major stock market indexes moved up, although it was one of the lightest trading weeks of

The day on Wall Street: As oil price drops, Dow advances for third <b>...</b>


PeopleSoft Inc. said Friday it had fired CEO Craig Conway, raising the possibility that the company, which until now has fought fiercely for its independence, will succumb to Oracle Corp.

CEO #39;s firing rocks world of tech Longtime Oracle target PeopleSoft <b>...</b>


Its never too soon to worry. And when it comes to RFID and its related technologies, you might want to start now. Between private sector and government mandates, both large and midtier companies can count on being required to have what some call edge-to-edge visibility for any shipped product in the near future.

The cost of safe commerce


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The head of the BALCO lab at the  center of a global steroid scandal said in an interview to be  aired on Friday that he witnessed track star Marion Jones using  steroids in a drug program he devised.

BALCO Head Says Helped Marion Jones Use Steroids


ATHENS: Mia Hamm is primed to end her illustrious career with an Olympic gold medal when the powerful US team take on Brazil in the womens final on Thursday (today).

Hamm sets sights on golden finale


AP - Yoshikazu Ogawa stood outside the pile of rubble that was once his home, poking around the plaster and wood that had suddenly come crashing down on his two minivans when a series of earthquakes hit northern Japan, killing at least 23 people and injuring some 2,000.

Japan Earthquakes Leave at Least 23 Dead (AP)


You know how sometimes you find a product or service and just have to evangelize it to everyone you know? Maybe you really like the Braun Oral-B electric toothbrush.

Firefox: The revolution begins here


Intel originally announced it had developed chip technology for high-definition big-screen televisions at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in January. It originally expected that it would ship the TV chip by the end of the year, but ...

Another Product Delay at Intel


AP - The last time the nation's capital was home to the national pastime, the game was literally a riot.

Baseball's Return to D.C. Long Time Coming (AP)


Don't bother with the small stuff. Here's what really matters to your lender.

Six Tips for a Clean Credit Record


Striving to reignite interest in Windows XP, Microsoft plans to unveil the latest version of its Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system today.

MS details Windows XP Media Center 2005


Offensive tackle Orlando Pace signed a 1-year contract Sunday night worth \$7.02 million as the St. Louis Rams #39; franchise player, according to the St.

Pace reportedly signs 1-year deal with Rams


com October 4, 2004, 11:57 AM PT. Twentieth Century Fox has joined a group developing one of two formats being promoted as a next-generation DVD technology.

Fox joins Blu-ray group


SAN FRANCISCO -- A high-tech consortium led by Intel (Quote, Chart) and HP (Quote, Chart) is looking to capitalize on an additional layer of protocol services they claim will streamline Internet traffic.

Intel, HP to Commercialize PlanetLab


Australia #39;s S amp;P/ASX 200 Index had its biggest drop in three months, led by BHP Billiton, on concern record high oil prices will slow global economic growth and demand for commodities.

Australian Stock Index Falls, Led by BHP Billiton (Correct)


The University of Tasmania will be part of a mission to Saturn #39;s largest moon in the new year. The university #39;s two radio telescopes will track the space probe Huygens as it decends into the moon #39;s atmosphere.

Tas university to play role in Saturn mission


Time Warner, the world #39;s largest media company, on Wednesday said third-quarter profit fell as it established a \$500m legal reserve and it will restate results for its AOL Europe unit prior to 2002.

Time Warner net slips on legal reserve Reuters, New York <b>...</b>


AP - New uniform, same Shaq. It took Shaquille O'Neal a mere 22 minutes to show how several NBA norms remain the same despite his recent change of address. Specifically, he can still dominate Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo, and his touch around the basket is as good as his foul shooting is poor.

Heat Loses to Rockets but Shaq Dominates (AP)


TORONTO - The trade that might have transformed Toronto and Portland didn #39;t materialize before last night #39;s game, which left the Sonics wondering if they #39;d face a fractured Raptors team or one hardened by adversity.

Notebook: Emotions run high in Toronto


The DHL parcel delivery service said Thursday it was pulling its intercontinental hub - and thousands of jobs - out of Belgium because authorities refused to accept an increase in noisy night flights.

Update 3: DHL Pulls International Hub From Brussels


Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently said the double standards in dealing with terrorism are  quot;disastrous for global security  quot; and  quot;the indulgent and

Russia criticizes  quot;double standards quot; in combating terrorism


The most pervasive problem in running IT is not a specific technology issue at all. Its dealing with bad vendors. Even if you have been able to reduce your IT operation down to a pure open source environment on the software side, hardware still must be purchased through commercial channels. In the post-boom IT age, the power has supposedly shifted from vendor to buyer, but IT managers continue to be manipulated by vendors who dont always act in the customers best interest. To keep vendors in line, IT managers need to stay on the ball  and punish bad behavior when it occurs by finding new suppliers.

When good vendors go bad


KABUL, Afghanistan -- A bomb ripped through a US patrol in southern Afghanistan yesterday, killing two American soldiers and wounding another, a reminder of the country's insecurity after a newly resolved hostage drama.

Blast near Afghan town kills 2 US troops


Two astronauts who spent half a year aboard the International Space Station returned safely on Saturday to the steppes of Kazakhstan in the pre-dawn darkness.

Two Back on Earth After Six Months on Space Station


The Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World concluded here Friday with 144 states that have banned antipersonnel mines reaffirming their commitments to end sufferingcaused by the deadly weapons.

Nairobi summit reaffirms commitments to end landmine-caused <b>...</b>


Bombers infiltrated the fortified Green Zone district that houses US and Iraqi leaders yesterday and killed at least six people, including four Americans, in simultaneous lunchtime

Bombers infiltrate Green Zone; blasts kill 6


German software giant SAP AG is teaming with Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) to offer midmarket companies in the U.S. a hosted software offering that includes applications, maintenance, services, and support for a monthly fee.

SAP, HP team on hosted ERP offering


Boston Scientific Corp. on Wednesday said US drug regulators inspected the Natick-based company #39;s Ireland plant that makes Taxus drug-coated stents and gave the facility a clean bill of health.

Boston Scientific says FDA clears Ireland plant


The staff at the Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse knows many of the homeless men and women who roam Boston's streets once served in the armed forces. For years, the small Roxbury nonprofit has helped by finding them jobs.

Mergers pinching smaller nonprofits


Within 24 hours of capturing Wayne Rooney, Manchester United swelled with the kind of pride and proclamations of impending success not seen since that night at the Camp Nou.

Boy wonders arrival leaves Fergie with tricky balancing act


Reuters - Former Computer Associates\International Inc.  Chief Executive Sanjay Kumar pleaded\not guilty on Thursday to charges of securities fraud and\obstruction of justice stemming from a two-year investigation\into accounting fraud at the software company.

Ex-CA Chief Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud (Reuters)


Charles Schwab Corp., the world #39;s largest discount broker, said Thursday that it will merge 19 branch offices in certain cities into other branches in mid-December in a move to rebalance branch resources.

Charles Schwab to Merge 19 Offices


MOSCOW -- Lindsay Davenport will take over the No. 1 spot from Amelie Mauresmo when the rankings are released next week after reaching the Kremlin Cup quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Dinara Safina on Thursday.

American #39;s victory will oust idle Mauresmo


For guys who have been striking out in the love department, a Hong Kong company has developed a virtual girlfriend for new cell phones with video screens.

Virtual Girl


Office Depot Inc., the world #39;s No. 2 office-supplies retailer, removed its chairman and chief executive, Bruce Nelson, after sales declined at its older stores in 14 of the past 16 quarters.

Office Depot removes chief after sales drop


Lenovo Group Ltd. agreed to pay \$1.25 billion for International Business Machines Corp. #39;s personal computer business, making the Chinese company the world #39;s third- largest PC maker and giving it a globally recognized brand.

Lenovo Buys IBM #39;s PC Business for \$1.25 Billion (Update7)


NEW YORK - A drop in oil prices and upbeat outlooks from Wal-Mart and Lowe's prompted new bargain-hunting on Wall Street Monday, sending stocks sharply higher. The Dow climbed more than 110 points in morning trading...

Stocks Sharply Higher on Dip in Oil Prices


In one year, Jeff Weaver has gone from being unwanted by the Yankees to being desperately needed by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Different Team, Different Weaver


Carlos Beltran drives in five runs to carry the Astros to a 12-3 rout of the Braves in Game 5 of their first-round NL playoff series.

Beltran, Astros Advance


BAGHDAD A US jet fired missiles on Friday in the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Falluja, the fourth day of attacks on the city where US and Iraqi troops have no control, officials said.

US strikes Falluja again in its fourth day of attacks


An electric miniature motorcycle called the Honda <A HREF=

Honda's Minimoto Maxii Tops Kids' Wish Lists-Yahoo


Tottenham sporting director Frank Arnesen has denied that coach Jacques Santini #39;s sudden departure was the result of a clash of personalities.

Arnesen denies rift with Santini


The emulation software works with Apple computers that use the G5 processor.

Microsoft ships Virtual PC 7


Move is the latest setback for the chip Intel once billed as an industry standard. Hewlett-Packard has stopped selling workstations based on Intel #39;s Itanium 2 microprocessor, a company spokesperson confirms.

HP Drops Itanium 2 Workstations


LONDON - The British government has fired 19 civil servants and disciplined more than 200 in an unprecedented crackdown on viewing internet porn at work, officials say.

Public servants sacked for viewing internet porn at work


Tobacco company Reynolds American Inc., reporting earnings for the first time since the combination of RJ Reynolds and the US operations of Brown  amp; Williamson Tobacco, on Monday

Reynolds Reports 1st Earnings Since Merger


US President George Bush pays tribute to US soldiers killed in Iraq as the death toll tops 1,000.

Bush laments loss of life in Iraq


NEW YORK - Former President Clinton underwent successful heart bypass surgery Monday at a Manhattan hospital and was resting comfortably, his spokesman said. The medical team that performed the procedure at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia planned a 4 p.m...

Bill Clinton Heart Surgery Successful


(New York-WABC, October 1, 2004) - Two million Americans were taking Vioxx. Now that it #39;s been recalled, what are those patients supposed to do?

Vioxx Alternatives: Different, Less Serious, Side Effects


Google watchers abuzz about the search darling #39;s new desktop tool are already betting on its next product: instant chat. Such speculation isn #39;t new, but it #39;s gained legs as some intriguing facts have come to light this week.

Will Google say hello to IM?


The Cubs made a pair of trades yesterday, getting OF Ben Grieve from the Brewers and acquiring backup C Mike DiFelice from the Tigers.

Cubs Get Grieve From Brewers, Backup Catcher From Tigers


Virus writers have latched onto the publicity surrounding football star David Beckham and his sexual escapades and are luring unsuspecting web users to a site that offers a whole lot more than just a couple of Photoshopped pics of David Beckham and his

#39;Saucy Beckham pics #39; used as virus bait


AP - Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket durable goods, propelled by a jump in demand for communications equipment, edged up 0.2 percent in September.

Durable Goods Up on Communications Demand (AP)


bug text As worms proliferated through the first half of the year, attacks gained in sophistication. Also: A start-up fights zombies.

Net threats stir new responses


France coach Raymond Domenech has kept faith with Arsenal duo Thierry Henry and Robert Pires for the World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and Cyprus.

Arsenal duo in France squad


EMC has hired the former chief architect of IBM #39;s grid computing initiative as senior vice president and chief technology officer for the Hopkinton, Mass.

EMC nabs former IBM grid guru for CTO position


Scotland defender Andy Webster insists there is no point dwelling on the defeat to Norway when their World Cup qualification campaign can still be salvaged.

Webster Tells Scotland: Move On


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Researchers at IBM <A HREF=

IBM, AMD Speed Chips, Strain Wafers


HELSINKI (Reuters) - Software security companies and  handset makers, including Finland's Nokia <A HREF=

Handset Makers Raising Virus Defenses


LONDON, November 30 (newratings.com) - Renault SA (RNL.FSE) announced its plans today of investing \$573.1 million (600 billion won) over the next three years in Renault Samsung Motors, the companys South Korean affiliate.

Renault to invest \$573 million in South Korea


The cases, involving credit card fraud, corporate espionage and other offenses, are part of what the Justice Department calls Operation Web Snare.

U.S. Tally in Online-Crime Sweep: 150 Charged


HANOVER - Management at Volkswagen and union leaders Wednesday agreed to a 28-month pay freeze as part of plans by the giant German-based carmaker to drastically cut costs.

Deal reached in Volkswagen labour dispute


It's a relatively recent story, and a familiar one. The Red Sox had two big sluggers in the middle of their lineup -- one a lefthanded hitter, the other a righty, both .300 hitters, one a former MVP, one who would soon be named one. They were the linchpins of a Sox team that had high hopes of playing deep ...

Cleanup crew proving most valuable


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Applied Materials beat Wall Street #39;s third-quarter financial estimates late Tuesday, but shares of the chip equipment company stalled after the company #39;s earnings targets for the fourth quarter came in lower than expected.

Applied shares flat on lower outlook


Not so long ago many Western CEOs couldn #39;t even say what the renminbi was, much less whether it should appreciate. Today China #39;s currency, also known as the yuan, is all the buzz.

Tussle at the Top


Ziff Davis - The Ogo gadget is ready to go for e-mail and IM-happy consumers and teens.

AT T Introduces E-mail, IM Device (Ziff Davis)


TODAY'S GAMES Division 1 CATHOLIC -- St. John's Prep at Malden Catholic, 6. GREATER BOSTON -- Somerville at Malden, 6:30; Cambridge at Medford, 7; Everett at Peabody, 7; Revere at Waltham, 7.

This week's schedule


BAGHDAD, Iraq - A contractor who left Charlotte to work in Iraq is feared to be in the hands of insurgents. Dean Sadek lived on Hanna Court near Sharon Amity Road in east Charlotte before he moved overseas

Hostage in Iraq might be Charlotte man


A powerful car bomb has exploded outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta, killing at least eight people and wounding more than 130 in an attack

Jakarta embassy blast kills eight


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

Genentech Posts 50 Percent Rise in Profit


GONAIVES, Haiti Sept. 23, 2004 - Workers dug new mass graves for corpses that still littered this flood-ravaged city Thursday as the death toll from Tropical Storm Jeanne rose to more than 1,070 and residents

Haiti Storm Death Toll Could Reach 2,000


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

FedEx Raises Forecast, Stock Climbs


AP - Colin Montgomerie held off Tiger Woods to win a one-day Skins event Sunday. Montgomerie finished with nine skins worth  #36;75,000 while Woods had five skins totaling  #36;51,000. South Korea's K.J. Choi also collected  #36;51,000. South Korea's Se Ri Pak, the only woman competing, missed several chances and ended with no skins.

Montgomerie Beats Woods in S. Korean Skins (AP)


IT security experts have warned that a newly intercepted mutant of the infamous mass-mailing Bagle worm, dubbed Bagle.bb, has begun to spread rapidly across the internet.

New Bagle virus declares cyber war


PARIS (Reuters) - Alcatel has expanded its foothold in the  key North American market with the acquisition of a mobile  software provider and a conference technology business for \$277  million.

Alcatel Ups U.S. Business with Acquisitions


Oil futures prices bolted 5 percent higher yesterday, climbing above \$44 a barrel after US government data showed a slight decline in crude and heating oil supplies as colder weather in the Northeast drove up fuel demand.

Oil prices jump after US reports lower supplies


By now, it's clear that the parity in the NFL this season doesn't mean there are a lot of good teams, but rather a lot of bad ones. More teams have losing records, in fact, than winning ones. There are 14 teams at either 4-5 or 3-6, all of whom will tell you they are still in the playoff hunt.

But seriously folks


AP - Japan's anti-monopoly agency raided several top record companies Thursday on suspicion they illegally blocked other firms from offering music ringtone services to mobile phone users.

Japanese Music Companies Are Raided (AP)


AccountingWEB.com - Dec-16-2004 - In a long-awaited and sure-to-be controversial move, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ruled yesterday that companies have to begin expensing for stock options given to employees as part of compensation packages.

FASB Rules that Companies Must Expense Stock Options


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. may again help its  former unit Visteon Corp., but the struggling parts maker has  some hard decisions to make first, Ford Chairman and Chief  Executive Bill Ford Jr. said Wednesday.

Ford May Again Help Parts Maker Visteon


US President George Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun have agreed to accelerate efforts to end the crisis over North Korea #39;s nuclear weapons programs.

US, South Korean Leaders Agree to Press for Action on North Korea


Thomson said Tuesday that it is teaming up with VeriSignto build a digital authorization and authentication service that promises to secure delivery of content such as movies, music, and games.

Thomson, VeriSign to build content security service


Astronomers using telescopes not much larger than the spyglass Galileo wielded 400 years ago have discovered a new Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a bright, distant star.

Simple Telescopes Discover New Planet


Netflix and TiVo are in late-stage talks on a partnership that would let subscribers use the Internet to download Netflix movies directly into their TiVo box, The Post has learned.

NETFLIX, TIVO HOOKUP CLOSE


AP - President Bush signed disaster declarations Thursday to speed federal assistance to hurricane-battered states and is considering a visit to the region, his spokesman said.

Bush Signs Storm Disaster Declarations (AP)


SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Biotechnology company Genentech Inc. received a subpoena from the US Attorney #39;s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania requesting documents related to the promotion

Genentech receives subpoena on Rituxan


Patching is the top concern of security managers in federal government, who feel that commercial software makers aren #39;t putting out a good enough product, according to a survey published Monday.

Patches cause headaches for Fed managers


Chile has begun its security preparations for the upcoming international leaders meeting in Santiago of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation group.

Chile prepares for international summit


Christian Estripeau, a Spokesman for the French hospital where PA Chairman Yasser Arafat is being treated said Saturday afternoon that there  quot;has been no change - for better or for worse - in his condition.

Conflicting reports on Arafat #39;s condition


Granted, Boston #39;s Manny Ramirez isn #39;t much as far as left fielders go. He has the range of a monotone. His throws have been known to spray like champagne.

Manny passes field test with flying colors


Playing with a sprained hand and a major personal distraction, Brett Favre started on a roll and survived a rocky finish. Favre and the Green Bay Packers won their third straight game Sunday, beating the Washington

Packers 28, Redskins 14


In the days before Microsoft Corp. released the hotly anticipated Halo 2 video game for the Xbox game console, some gamers noticed a sudden spike in the number of people being kicked off the company's online game service. That was no coincidence.

Microsoft Cracks Down on Xbox Changes


Alaska Airlines flew 1.25 billion revenue passenger miles during the month, up from 1.09 billion miles flown a year earlier. Monthly load factor rose to 68.

Alaska Airlines: September traffic rose


Brazilian Congress gives the green light to a long awaited overhaul of bankruptcy laws, which it hopes will reduce business and credit costs.

Brazil passes bankruptcy reform


Brewster Kahle, the founder of the Internet Archive, sues the federal government to help 'orphan works' return to the public domain. Pieces of history and culture are caught in a morass of far-reaching copyright laws. By Katie Dean.

Saving the Artistic Orphans


German medical equipment company Fresenius Medical Care AG said Wednesday it has received subpoenas from the US Department of Justice calling on it to hand over documents about hormone-level testing and vitamin D therapies.

German Medical Company Receives Subpoena


Allen Park, MI (Sports Network) - The Detroit Lions placed starting strong safety Brian Walker on injured reserve and released six players Sunday to get down to the NFL #39;s roster limit of 53 players.

Lions place Walker on IR; release six players


USATODAY.com - Vice President Cheney was not campaigning Wednesday, but his suggestion a day earlier that electing John Kerry would risk a

Some see Cheney's terror remark as 'fear strategy' (USATODAY.com)


James McFadden is red carded and Berti Vogts is sent to the stand as Scotland #39;s World Cup qualification hopes suffer another hammer blow.

Iversen Penalty Sinks Ten Man Scotland


You can #39;t rely on the boxscore to quantify the type of impact Derek Jeter had on Game 2 of the Yankees-Twins series. Or the influence he has on his team.

As usual, Jeter does whatever it takes to get  #39;W #39;


AP - The ruling Fatah party chose Mahmoud Abbas as its candidate to replace Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestinian Authority in Jan. 9 elections, a Palestinian official said. Abbas, 69, Arafat's longtime deputy as head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, has already been named head of the PLO.

Fatah Party Chooses Abbas As Its Candidate (AP)


Northern Ireland drug company Warner Chilcott says it has received a takeover approach at a price of 837p per share. This would value the company at more than 1.

Warner Chilcott gets 837p approach


Iranian striker Vahid Hashemian will not travel to Israel for a Champions League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Iranian misses Israel match


Europe #39;s financial policy makers issued their strongest warnings yet about the dangers of a swooning dollar, and the dollar promptly sank to a new low against the euro.

Europe #39;s Frustration Grows as Dollar Hits Another Low


Auto parts maker Intermet Corp. (INMT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, citing a record rise

UPDATE 1-Intermet files for Chapter 11, cites steel costs


AP - New voters are flooding local election offices with paperwork, registering in significantly higher numbers than four years ago as attention to the presidential election runs high and an array of activist groups recruit would-be voters who could prove critical come Nov. 2.

Flood of New Voters Signing Up (AP)


BUENOS AIRES -- The world's chief climate scientist yesterday disputed the US government's contention that cutbacks in carbon dioxide emissions are not yet warranted to slow the pace of global warming.

Emissions must be cut, says chief UN scientist


MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian oil major YUKOS on Monday cut  its oil output forecast for this year by 4.5 percent and said  it would slash capital expenditure by more than a third due to  its tax dispute with the state.

YUKOS Cuts 2004 Forecast by 4.5 Percent


Someday, after the NHL lockout ends, there will be stories to tell about how this hockey hiatus changed the direction of people's careers. Because things will never be the same.

Announcers cross-checked by NHL lockout


Chip giant Intel announced that it has joined forces with the world #39;s largest handset maker, Nokia, to develop the next generation mobile phone.

Intel, Nokia team up to develop  quot;smart quot; phone


The Taiwan-made AC adapters sold with Dell notebooks can overheat, posing risk of fire and electrical shock.

Millions of Dell power adapters recalled


Spammers are suspected of hacking into and downing Lycoss anti-spam Web site just hours after it went live. The Web site is currently inaccessible and could also be the victim of a DDoS attack.

Spammers hack Lycos #39; anti-spam Web site


Reuters - The breakaway Georgian region\of Abkhazia defiantly voted for a new president on Sunday,\injecting further tension into relations between Georgia and\its former colonial master Russia.

Rebel Region Votes in Defiance of Georgia (Reuters)


Without a question, the  quot;Regatta quot; family of Power4 and Power4 servers put IBM Corp #39;s Unix business in high gear. Just as Unix leaders Sun Microsystems Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co were struggling with product

IBM launches 64-way Power5 Unix servers


AP - When Tom Brady looked downfield last season, his top targets were Deion Branch and Troy Brown. He'll be focusing on other wide receivers Sunday.

Brady's Targets Depleted by Injury (AP)


AP - A man who donated a kidney to a Colorado man he met through a Web site says he should be considered

Internet Kidney Donor Glad He Donated (AP)


That would imply that any of the men in the Smart Ones Smart America competition last night were left standing, and they were not.

Smart Ones Smart America: Frenchman wins despite errors


AP - The Cuban government has resumed formal diplomatic contacts with eight European nations, including France, Germany and Britain, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said Monday.

Cuba Renews Contact With European Nations (AP)


The former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet was placed under house arrest on human rights charges yesterday after a judge in Santiago ruled he was mentally fit to stand trial.

Pinochet arrested on human rights charges


DALLAS Brinker International today says its first-quarter profit fell by more than half from a year earlier. That #39;s despite increased revenues as charges and higher expenses hurt results.

Brinker International reports first-quarter income drop


The US dollar hit an all-time low against the euro Friday, shrugging off positive US employment data and falling on worries about oil prices and concern over the US budget deficit.

Update 7: Dollar Hits All-Time Low Against Euro


Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. said Tuesday that Sirius radio will be available as a factory-installed option in the 2006 BMW 3 Series beginning next summer.

Sirius Available in 2006 BMW 3 Series


Virginia Tech now can proclaim itself the ACC #39;s best team - and no one can argue. The 10th-ranked Hokies capped their inaugural ACC season with the league #39;s outright championship, getting two touchdown passes

Hokies capture ACC title, BCS spot


PARIS (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre  Raffarin met ministers for a crisis meeting on two French  journalists held hostage in Iraq on Monday as efforts to secure  their release threatened to turn into a fiasco.

France Calls Crisis Talks Over Iraq Hostages Farce


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Dozens of international aid agencies  considered quitting Iraq on Wednesday following the abduction  of two Italian women, and as the U.S. military death toll rose  above 1,000.

U.S. Deaths in Iraq Top 1,000, Aid Groups Eye Exit


Company(TM), today introduced the first in a new family of durable enterprise digital assistant (EDA) products specifically designed for business essential applications within the enterprise environment.

Symbol Technologies Launches New Family of Enterprise-Class <b>...</b>


Australia #39;s Karrie Webb shot a terrific final round of seven-under 64, but it proved to be one shot too many as playing partner Christina Kim put together a 65 to win the LPGA Challenge event.

Webb comes up one short


Goaltender Kevin Weekes signed Thursday with the Rangers, who expect the unrestricted free agent to compete for the No. 1 job with Mike Dunham.

Rangers Bolster Goaltending by Adding Weekes


Reuters - With the U.S. presidential race taking a\decidedly bitter turn over John Kerry's Vietnam war record,\U.S. veterans in Hanoi are selling T-shirts supporting his run\for the White House.

Vietnam Vets in Hanoi Back Kerry with T-Shirts (Reuters)


THERE are green ones, yellow ones and even blue ones. But how many beetle-coloured Smarties have you tried? Red Smarties get their bright colour from a dye made from dried and crushed insects.

Beetles used to make Smarties


ATHENS (Reuters) - Two gunmen thought to be Albanians  hijacked a Greek bus with 23 passengers on board on Wednesday  in Athens and demanded a \$1 million ransom and a plane to fly  them to Russia.

Bus Hijackers Hold 11 in Athens, Demand \$1 Million


Gasoline prices are hitting record highs, stocks of winter heating fuel are shrinking and energy costs are slowing the US economy.

Campaigns fail to focus on energy


Ameritrade Holding Corp., a provider of brokerage services for individual investors, said Friday that daily average client trades in November reached 183,000, with 29,000 new accounts opened during the month.

Ameritrade Posts November Client Trades


a huge mass of unruly brown locks perched upon his head that forced him to go up a helmet size -- or Purdue #39;s 4-0 start that has gotten him a little notoriety on campus.

Grover #39;s making name with mane


A California company, PolyFuel, plans to announce that it has achieved a breakthrough in fuel-cell membranes.

Membrane Breakthrough for Fuel Cells


ATHENS (Reuters) - The United States beat world champions  Germany 2-1 in a fierce struggle Monday to reach the final of  the Olympic women's soccer tournament.

U.S.-Brazil Vie for Gold in Women's Soccer


B.J. Elder scores 19 points and Jarrett Jack adds 18 as No. 4 Georgia Tech crushes instate rival Georgia, 87-49, on Sunday night.

Yellow Jackets Romp


Bode Miller #39;s three-race winning streak ended Thursday, but the American still added to his commanding lead in the World Cup overall standings by finishing second to Austria #39;s Stephan Goergl in a Super G.

Miller #39;s winning streak ends at three as Goergl wins Super G


San Diego -- The sports cliche about taking them one game at a time does not apply in a final-week drive for the playoffs. That, the players say, is looking too far ahead.

Giants get push with win Durham has five hits; SF even with Cubs


Shares of Mexico #39;s Cemex slumped on Monday after the world #39;s No. 3 cement maker agreed to buy Britain #39;s RMC Group in the largest ever acquisition by a Mexican firm.

UPDATE 1-Mexico #39;s Cemex shares tumble on RMC deal


Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Olympia, home of the Olympics for more than 12 centuries, hosted a track and field event for the first time in 1,611 years when the shot-putters of the Athens Games arrived at Greece #39;s most sacred sporting site.

Athletes Return to Olympia Home After 1,611 Years (Update3)


AFP - Aid worker Margaret Hassan's apparent murder by her kidnappers in Iraq caused shock and dismay among Australians and employees of the charity group that employed her, CARE Australia.

Australia stunned by murder of aid worker who helped Iraq's poor (AFP)


Crude oil futures fell sharply Tuesday as traders opted to cash in profits after six straight sessions of strong gains in oil market.

Crude oil prices end sharply lower amid profit-taking


Explosions and gunfire shook Najaf today amid fierce battles between US forces and Shiite militants, who remained in control of a revered shrine there as negotiations dragged on for its handover to religious authorities.

Fierce Battles for Control of Holy City


BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will not set  special conditions for Turkey when it decides Wednesday whether  to recommend opening membership talks with Ankara, Commission  President Romano Prodi said Tuesday.

EU's Prodi Says No Special Conditions for Turkey


When the Giants #39; defensive players walked off the field after the Washington Redskins embarrassed them with an easy touchdown drive in the first quarter Sunday

Back to Wall, Giants #39; Defense Turns Fearsome


quot;Skype is expanding the range of complementary platforms to provide consumers with choice and flexibility alongside the quality gains and cost-savings of modern calling, quot; says Skype CEO Niklas Zennstrm.

Skype Launches Free Wireless VoIP


Shares of BJ Services Co. fell more than 5 percent Tuesday morning after the oilfield service provider reported fourth-quarter results and issued a 2005 outlook that fell short of analyst expectations.

BJ Services Shares Fall on 4Q Results


WASHINGTON (Dow Jones/AP) -- Dolby Laboratories Inc., the developer of noise reduction systems for audio equipment, filed Friday to sell up to \$460 million in stock in an initial public offering.

Dolby Labs files for IPO worth up to \$460 million


AP - Jubliant over their Election Day domination, GOP senators say those results prove that Democrats should stay away from filibusters and other tactics they term

Fight Over Judicial Nominees Will Go On (AP)


With their eyes set squarely on the prize, there was no indication from the Red Sox yesterday that they were leading the 100th World Series, 2-0, needing only

Sox have eyes on the big prize


MIAMI : Tech giant Hewlett-Packard unveiled its own branded iPod music player as in introduced a revamped lineup of digital consumer products.

Hewlett-Packard #39;s new iPod highlights new product offerings


British net firms are starting to get tough with firms that drum up trade using junk e-mails.

Net firms set sights on spammers


MANATEE - Two of its airlines are in bankruptcy and a third has avoided - at least temporarily - a similar fate, but Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport could end up benefiting from the tumult, its top executive said Thursday.

Airlines #39; pain is SRQ #39;s gain


Jon Leiber carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning while Alex Rodriguez homered, scored three runs and drove in three more to lead the New York Yankees to a 14-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

AL Wrap: Lieber Dominates as Yankees Thump Red Sox


JAKARTA - Security forces remain on high alert as Indonesians head to the polls in an election that could see the opposition leader become president.

Former general tipped to win Indonesian vote


Indonesia #39;s recently-elected president has visited the country #39;s war-torn province of Aceh, the scene of one of Asia #39;s longest-running separatist rebellions.

Indonesian President Visits War-Torn Northern Province


Roma have begun their search for a new coach following the shock resignation of Rudi Voller. Voller quit after Saturday #39;s 3-1 defeat away to Bologna which left the ailing Serie A club languishing in mid-table with just four points from a possible 12.

Roma begin search for Voller #39;s replacement


KEY WEST, Fla. - All tourists and recreational vehicles were urged to evacuate the Florida Keys early Thursday because the powerful Hurricane Ivan could hit the island chain by Sunday...

Fla. Urges New Evacuations As Ivan Nears


AFP - A new skyscraper in London popularly dubbed the  quot;erotic gherkin quot; for its curvaceous shape has won one of Britain's top architecture prizes, organisers announced.

London's 'erotic gherkin' wins top architecture prize (AFP)


BALTIMORE - Astronomy buffs and amateur skywatchers turned out to watch a total lunar eclipse Wednesday night -he last one Earth will get for nearly 2 1/2 years.

Moon puts on total spectacle


AP - Floodwaters from upstream India have swamped some 80 villages in southwestern Bangladesh, marooning at least 65,000 people, officials said Sunday.

Bangladesh Floods Maroon at Least 65,000 (AP)


WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) - The trial pitting software  giant Oracle Corp. <A HREF=

Judge: Oracle, PeopleSoft Drawn Closer


PeopleSoft chief executive Craig Conway wasted no time during his keynote address at the companys annual user conference reassuring customers that an Oracle takeover is not in its future.

PeopleSoft CEO:  #39;Have you ever had a bad dream? #39;


Microsoft Corp. is fighting to expand its online music share and break the hold Apple #39;s iPod has on the market. Microsoft #39;s MSN music service began a free song promotion yesterday sponsored by American Express.

MICROSOFT AIMS AT IPOD MARKET


World oil prices briefly scaled a new high above \$55 a barrel on Monday before falling back as the Norwegian government moved to end a strike that had threatened the country #39;s energy output.

Oil Slips Under \$55 a Barrel


Nintendo has played down the threat from Sony, saying that Nintendo #39;s strength lies in software and the ability to make games that are easy and fun.

Nintendo DS Sales Get Good Start in US, Japan


Ron Ault, the president of the Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO, describes himself as

Blunt Talk on Union Web Site Spotlights Frustration Over Labor Relations Changes


The decision by the Football Association not to throw the book at Rio Ferdinand when the Manchester United defender failed to turn up for a drugs test last year has come back to haunt them.

Mutu reaps reward of Rio fiasco


Retief Goosen fires a 6-under 64 in the final round of the Tour Championship to overtake Tiger Woods's even-par round and win by four strokes.

Goosen Tops Woods


Reuters - The Bush administration has asked\Congress to quickly lift a ban on U.S. Export-Import Bank loans\in Libya and said

Bush Tries to Help U.S. Firms Invest in Libya (Reuters)


The National Stadium in Karachi suddenly seems a less impregnable fortress. Sri Lanka won a Test in Faisalabad after starts of 9 for 3 and 0 for 1, to continue their unbeaten series run in Pakistan.

A pregnable fortress


Tottenham Hotspur defender Dean Richards says there is an  quot;extremely low quot; chance that he has a tumour after a scan had revealed an  quot;abnormality on the brain quot;.

Spurs #39; Richards says chances of tumour  #39;extremely low #39;


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday as a sharp drop  in U.S. consumer confidence in August stirred fresh doubt about  the economy and analysts lowered revenue forecasts for  technology bellwether Intel Corp. <A HREF=

Stocks Fall as Intel Update Awaited


The proposed merger of Sprint and Nextel Communications could face a rocky start as the companies work to run and eventually merge two wireless technologies without breaking the bank or losing customers.

Sprint-Nextel: First Marital Tiff


British Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington Regiment, move toward the center of Basra, southern Iraq, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004, during clashes with armed gunmen.

British Military Begins Deployment in Iraq


AFP - Deutsche Bank said that its bottom-line earnings rose strongly in the third quarter, thanks to a partial improvement in underlying business and lower costs and risk provisions.

Deutsche Bank third quarter at top end of expectations (AFP)


Jeremy Mayfield last night earned a spot in NASCAR #39;s new Chase for the Championship the old-fashioned way. Down to his last chance and with the pressure on, the former Fairgrounds

Mayfield in for Chase, Kahne out


TEL AVIV -- As Yasser Arafat's condition deteriorated in a hospital outside Paris yesterday, an explosive political crisis was brewing in Israel and the occupied territories over where the man who personifies the Palestinian national movement eventually would be buried.

Eventual burial site fuels emotional, political debate


World News: Colombo, Nov 27 : Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran was Saturday dubbed a Hitler by an aide-turned-foe who called for an Indian role in Sri Lanka #39;s fumbling peace process.

Former rebel blasts Prabhakaran, wants India in peace process:


FIVE German tourists who went missing in Algeria #39;s Sahara desert have been found safe and well in the southern Djanet region of the north African country, local police said today.

Five missing German tourists found


Plant a tree, win the Nobel Peace Prize? The world #39;s highest honor, bestowed last week on a Kenyan feminist dynamo most famous for her grass-roots effort to plant some 30 million trees in Africa, has run smack

Seeds of Peace


How can the golfing fraternity not be excited over the PGA Tour's return to the TPC of Boston over Labor Day weekend next year? Not after this year's tournament caused such drama when Vijay Singh shot a 16-under-par 268 for a 3-shot victory over Tiger Woods and Adam Scott to take the World No. 1 ranking away from Woods who ...

Same dates at Norton


BEIJING (AFX) - US technology giant Motorola Inc and Hong Kong-listed monitor maker Proview International Holdings have ended their agreement to jointly develop television sets due to  quot;differences in product marketing strategies and goals for the North

Motorola, Hong Kong-listed Proview end TV manufacturing agreement


Chipmaker becomes first Silicon Valley company to form a mediation partnership with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Intel, EEOC to mediate employment disputes


In a surprise move, PeopleSoft today fired its president and chief executive officer, Craig Conway, citing a

Amid Battle With Oracle, PeopleSoft Fires Its Chief


STEVEN GERRARD appeared to nail his colours to the Liverpool mast when he inspired his team to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League, but Roman Abramovich is steady in his belief that

Chelsea refuse to abandon pursuit of 35m Gerrard


A contractor for the Target Corporation had not paid overtime to hundreds of immigrants who often worked seven nights a week.

Labor Department Wins \$1.9 Million in Back Pay for Janitors


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- In what is considered a victory for Internet phone-service companies, the Federal Communications Commission ruled Tuesday that such services fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government and not individual states.

Commission calls VOIP interstate; other issues open


European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing has said the slowing of euro zone economic growth in the third quarter was temporary and he expects growth rates to pick up again.

Issing says EU growth will pick up soon


Reuters - Shawn Green hit two home runs,\including a grand slam, as Los Angeles defeated the Atlanta\Braves 7-4 in a battle of National League division leaders at\Dodger Stadium Saturday.

NL: Green Homers Lift Los Angeles Past Atlanta (Reuters)


Oil giant Yukos says it is halting two-thirds of its 150,000 barrel a day exports to China because of its financial troubles.

Yukos suspends shipments to China


When the cute pink sheets were finally handed out and the opening round pairings for the 35th Ryder Cup Matches were released Thursday afternoon, the first two

Sutton makes gutsy call in first pairing


Baghdad - Iraqi authorities struggled on Monday to clear up confusion over whether the most wanted member of Saddam Hussein #39;s ousted dictatorship had been nabbed in a shootout north of Baghdad.

Confusion over alleged capture of Hussein ally


Reuters - Israel could end up on a collision\course with the European Union and face sanctions like\apartheid-era South Africa unless the Israeli-Palestinian\conflict is resolved, a confidential government report warns.

Israel, Europe Could Be on Collision Course-Report (Reuters)


AP - U.S. Sen. John McCain said Monday that he has

McCain: 'No Confidence' in Rumsfeld (AP)


Reuters - Authorities in northeast India urged Bangladesh on Monday not to kill about 100 wild elephants that have strayed across the border and gone on a rampage, killing 13 people and injuring dozens more.

India urges Bangladesh not to kill stray elephants (Reuters)


In what may someday may be nicknamed the MacBerry, Information Appliance Associates (IAA) announced this week a product called PocketMac BlackBerry, a synchronization application that will give RIM BlackBerry users the ability to do two-way synching of Mac and RIM data.

Mac-to-BlackBerry synchronization app launched


SYDNEY - Following the spectacular discovery of a new species of human on the remote island of Flores in Indonesia, scientists said yesterday they expect to discover more species of hominoids on neighbouring islands.

Scientists search for more human species


Olympic champions have their parents to thank for their physiology #151;but no one is born a world-record holder. That also requires training, nutrition, desire, and determination.

Nature and Nurture, the Recipe for Olympic Gold


AP - Militants said Wednesday they had kidnapped the brother-in-law of Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan and demanded he end all military operations in the holy city of Najaf, according to a video, Al-Jazeera television reported. The authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified.

Report: Iraqi Official's In-Law Abducted (AP)


KABUL : The deadline set by a Taliban splinter group to execute three foreign UN election workers it claims to be holding captive passed overnight with no word on their fate.

Deadline for kidnapped UN workers in Afghanistan passes without <b>...</b>


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks surged on Tuesday, as  battered insurers rose on confidence a probe of the industry  would end quickly, helping blue chips snap a 5-day streak of  losses.

Stocks Jump; Insurers, Home Builders Help


SALO, Finland (Reuters) - Elcoteq <A HREF=

Elcoteq Focuses on Design to Tap Hefty Demand


A newly intercepted malicious Trojan has begun infecting mobile phones which run the Symbian operating system. Dubbed  quot;Skulls, quot; the Trojan has been detected on Symbian shareware download sites

Symbian Phones Hit with Skulls Trojan


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

Report: Alcan May Sell Unit


ABERDEEN boosted their reputation and brought the championship race alive with a dramatic win at Celtic Park last night. Substitute John Stewart pounced in injury time after poor defending to give Aberdeen

FOOTBALL: DONS PUT BHOYS IN A STEW


Shakedown Saturday came and went. Nothing changed. So the Bowl Championship Series has its annual nightmare. When the final BCS standings are released today, the USC Trojans (12-0) and Oklahoma Sooners (12-0) are expected to be matched in the Jan.

BCS Maintains Its Imperfect World


The British Cayman Islands are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Ivan after it devastated Jamaica, claiming at least 14 lives.

British Caymans braced for Ivan


Hordes of Bostonians, who can no longer be described as

Cursed No More


Most economists agree that the dollar will continue its post-election decline, but there are at least three schools of thought on the nations huge foreign indebtedness.

The Dollar Is Down, but Should Anyone Care?


Nintendo Co. and Sony Corp. (SNE) made separate product announcements Tuesday that the video game giants hope will attract more customers ahead of the highly competitive holiday shopping season.

Nintendo and Sony Make Pushes Before Holidays


The US Department of Agriculture #39;s Animal and Plant Inspection Service on Wednesday confirmed the presence of soybean rust on a soybean leaf samples taken from two plots associated with a Louisiana State University research farm Nov. 6.

USDA Confirms Coybean Rust in United States


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

GM: See Red, Save Green; \$7,500 Cash Back


A landslide destroyed 25 village houses in the southwestern Chinese province of Guizhou on Friday and 65 villagers, asleep at the time, were missing, Xinhua news agency said.

China Landslide Leaves 65 Villagers Missing - Xinhua


The Sudanese government has made progress in meeting UN demands to end the Darfur crisis, Britain #39;s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Tuesday during a trip to the Abu Shouk refugee camp in northern Darfur.

Sudan makes progress over Darfur: Straw


Iraqi troops, searching terrorist hideouts in Fallujah, discovered a chemical weapons laboratory with manuals on manufacturing explosives and toxins - including anthrax.

Terrorists Chemical Weapons Lab Found in Fallujah


About 1,000 people and a media circus flocked to Manhattan #39;s Union Square Thursday where Howard Stern and Sirius Satellite Radio gave away 500 free satellite radios, one-year subscriptions and vouchers for a free radio with a \$142 subscription to Sirius.

Howard Stern and Sirius Pull Off Major Publicity Stunt


It #39;s just another sign that a major battle for the hearts, minds and dollars of young, tech-minded consumers will be fought over music -- who sells it and who gets to play it on what portable gadgets.

Next Online Music War Set to Play


The search continues for the body of a British man who was beheaded after an escape bid. BAGHDAD -- Shiite militia loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agreed yesterday to begin handing in weapons

Al-Sadr forces to turn in weapons


Utes coach Urban Meyer is one of the hottest offensive minds in the nation and Utah will run wild formations with misdirection and trick plays.

SI.com #39;s BJ Schecter breaks down a key Mountain West showdown


A NASA climate expert planned to say in a lecture on Tuesday night that a Bush administration official told him not to discuss the consequences of global warming.

NASA Expert Criticizes Bush on Global Warming Policy


PITTSBURGH (Sports Network) - Pittsburgh Penguins forward  Mark Recchi has signed a contract to play with TPS Turku of the  Finnish Elite League if the NHL season is canceled.

Recchi Signs Conditional Deal to Play in Finland


Marks  amp; Spencer, reporting its fourth straight quarter of falling sales, says food sales slipped slightly in the last two weeks of September but clothing was steady.

M amp;S sales fall for fourth straight quarter


Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s largest bottler of Coca-Cola drinks, on Wednesday cut its earnings forecast due to lower-than-expected

Coke Enterprises Cuts Profit Forecast


Cuban President Fidel Castro put on a brave face after he was injured in a tumble Wednesday night. Although it was not broadcast live on Cuban television, cameras caught Castro #39;s misstep Wednesday night, as

Castro injured in graduation ceremony stumble


AP - Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, at a preplanned dinner with President Bush, offered apologies for the abortive nomination of close associate Bernard Kerik as homeland security secretary, a Giuliani spokeswoman said.

Giuliani Said Apologized to Bush Over Kerik (AP)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Greg Maddux reached the 15-win plateau  for a record 17th straight season and also drove in two runs in  the second inning to power the Chicago Cubs to a 6-3 victory  over the host Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League  Thursday.

NL Wrap: Maddux Hits 15-Win Mark as Cubs Top Bucs


Manchester City midfielder Claudio Reyna could be out for up to another eight weeks after a thigh injury flared up again on his comeback at the weekend, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

US midfielder Reyna out for another six to eight weeks


MADISON, Wisconsin (Sports Network) - John Stocco ran for  two touchdowns and threw for another score to lead fifth-ranked  Wisconsin to a 38-14 win over Minnesota in the Big Ten  Conference at Camp Randall Stadium.

Fifth-Ranked Wisconsin Beats Minnesota


London: Meticulous preparation and attention to detail will characterise Bernhard Langers captaincy when his European team defend the Ryder Cup against the US at Oakland Hills next week.

Stage set for perfectionist Langer


BEIJING, December 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is not concerned about the possible lifting of the embargo on the supply of armaments to China from the EU countries, announced Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov at a press conference in Beijing.

RUSSIA * CHINA * EU * ARMAMENTS * SUPPLY


WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (AFP) - The House of Representatives on Friday approved a ban on taxing Internet access and online sales, which US President George W. Bush is expected to sign, a sponsor of the bill said.

Lawmakers agree to new ban on Internet taxes


com December 2, 2004, 12:29 PM PT. This priority jumped up two spots into second place as CRM returns into the spotlight among top software initiatives alongside directory services and open source.

Microsoft and Sun #39;s difficult dance


This season's flu-shot shortage is enticing companies to enter a market that others have largely abandoned because of poor profits.

Fresh Look at Vaccines


South Africa, New Zealand and Japan have expressed interest in hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the International Rugby Board said on Friday.

ENGLAND RUGBY UNION COACH CLIVE WOODWARD LEAVES RFU HEADQUARTERS <b>...</b>


The Capitals' top pick in last April's draft, Alexander Ovechkin, scores to help Russia down Slovakia, 5-2, on Sunday night.

Caps' Ovechkin Scores


He was known as the deceptively fast, glue-fingered wide receiver who burned New York Giants cornerback Jason Sehorn for a deep touchdown to ignite the Ravens #39; Super Bowl XXXV rout.

Stokley flourishing with Colts


Four men have been arrested on suspicion of terrorist offences following a sting operation organised by a Sunday newspaper, police said last night.

Four held after  #39;sting #39; uncovers alleged dirty bomb conspiracy


The United Arab Emirates began 40 days of mourning today following the death of its founding president, a visionary who helped transform seven tiny states into a high-tech crossroad of gleaming skyscrapers.

UAE begins 40 days of mourning for dead president


An Iraqi delegation is going to Najaf to try to end  a stand-off between US-led forces and Shia militants.

Iraqi peace team to go to Najaf


Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by seven  wickets in the tri-series in Pakistan.

Cricket: Sri Lanka claim first win


The agency is trying to figure out how an embarrassing error eluded the review process, apparently resulting in the crash of the Genesis space capsule in Utah last month.

NASA Reviews Mix-Up That Doomed Capsule


LONDON (Reuters) - The Ferrari that Michael Schumacher  drove to victory in the first five races of the 2004 Formula  One season is to auctioned off at the Italian team's Maranello  headquarters in May.

Schumacher's 2004 Ferrari to Be Auctioned Off


NEW YORK - Oil prices fell for the fifth day in a row last week after word of a peace deal in the embattled Iraqi city of Najaf raised hopes of more reliable oil shipments from the energy-rich country and encouraged a run of profit-taking by big money

Oil Slides, Najaf Peace Deal Struck


AP - Defense officials have authorized the release of a majority of the 22 Chinese Muslims being held at the Guantanamo Bay naval base, the State Department said Thursday.

Chinese Muslims Held at Gitmo to Be Freed (AP)


This Cassini spacecraft wide angle camera view shows a half-lit Saturn, with two dark storms rolling through its southern hemisphere. The image was taken in visible red light on July 19, 2004, at a distance of 6.2 million kilometers (3.9 million miles) ...

Saturn in Red


New boss Martin Jol continued Tottenham #39;s fightback against Jacques Santini as he insisted Spurs had been heading down a  quot;dead-end street quot; under their defence-minded former coach.

Jol - promising to revive Spurs. (Getty Images)


The state treasurer of Massachusetts has threatened to withdraw some state funds from Bank of America because of job cuts and other moves following its acquisition of Fleet Boston Financial Corp.

State treasurer threatens to withdraw some funds from Bank of <b>...</b>


Microsoft is downplaying claims that several new vulnerabilities in Windows XP SP2 were discovered by Finjan Software, but it is looking into the claims anyway.

Microsoft probing reported flaws in Windows XP SP2


AP - A handmade dress worn by Destiny's Child, a poster signed by Jennifer Lopez and a guitar signed by Wyclef Jean are on sale in an MTV internet auction to raise money for hurricane victims in the Caribbean.

MTV Auctioning Pop Artists' Memorabilia (AP)


magine if one company controlled the card catalog of every library in the world. The influence it would have over what people see, read and discuss would be enormous.

More Is Not Necessarily Better


OPEC President Purnomo Yusgiantoro highlighted the impact of the current high oil prices, saying the direct contribution of the increase in global oil prices to the economic slowdown

OPEC: Group Doing All It Can To Stabilize Oil Prices


Relations are deteriorating among insurgents as local fighters negotiate to avoid a U.S.-led military offensive against Fallujah, while foreign fighters press to attack Americans and their Iraqi supporters.

Insurgent Alliance  Is Fraying  in Fallujah


RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinian presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas vowed yesterday never to give up the late Yasser Arafat's bedrock demand that Israel recognize a  quot;right of return quot; of Palestinian refugees.

Abbas vows no retreat from refugee demand


AP - Secretary of State Colin Powell calls it the most promising development in foreign assistance in decades. That is quite a claim for a program that has yet to disburse its first dollar. But it is clear that President Bush's Millennium Challenge Account, first proposed 2 1/2 years ago, represents a fresh approach to helping countries overcome economic backwardness.

Proposed Program Would Remodel Foreign Aid (AP)


Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has acquired GIANT Company Software Inc., a provider of top-rated anti-spyware and Internet security products.

Microsoft Acquires Anti-Spyware Leader GIANT Company


The impossible was merely delayed. An opener from Rivaldo left Liverpool requiring to win by two goals to reach the next phase of the Champions League.

Liverpool defy odds to secure progress


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Nabi Biopharmaceuticals <A HREF=

Nabi Says Vaccine Helped Smokers Quit


Real's recent marketing campaign purporting to promote choice in digital music fails to rally music fans. Instead, the blitz provokes nasty comments from Apple users and cries of hypocrisy from critics. By Katie Dean.

Is Real a Real Hypocrite?


TORONTO -- Martin Brodeur took one for the team. After sitting out yesterday #39;s morning skate, Canada #39;s top goalie chose to bow out of last night #39;s World Cup of Hockey semi-final victory over the Czech Republic because of his left wrist injury.

Ego Czech-ed at door


AP - A buffalo considered sacred by some American Indians because it was born white has died of natural causes at the age of 10, its owner said.

Rare Buffalo, Sacred to Some Indians, Dies (AP)


Oracle's attempt to buy rival software producer Peoplesoft hangs in the balance as investors consider its \$9.2bn takeover offer ahead of Saturday's deadline.

Peoplesoft bid hangs in balance


The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association football committee yesterday announced the sites and matchups for Tuesday's semifinal playoff round. Games will be at college and high school sites, with one thing in common: an artificial playing surface.

MIAA unveils matchups, sites for semifinals