Tony Blair has signed the new EU constitution as Foreign Secretary Jack Straw indicated any referendum on the treaty will not be held until 2006.

Straw:  #39;No constitution vote until 2006 #39;


U.S. manufacturers benefit greatly from a cheaper dollar, one major reason why the Bush administration has taken a relaxed attitude toward the slide in the U.S. currency.

Upside of a Down Dollar


Canada #39;s rank has fallen in one competitiveness measure and improved in another, according to a Global Competitiveness Report from the World Economic Forum.

Canada #39;s competitiveness score mixed


Reuters - The dollar was stuck in familiar ranges\on Wednesday as the market awaited U.S. employment figures,\while the yen came under pressure from another round of soaring\oil prices.

Dollar Stalls Ahead of Employment Figures (Reuters)


The wide receivers have been the most significant contributors to the Patriots stats, news #39; inactive list this season. Every week quarterback Tom Brady news counts on one of

Gaining advantage: WR Givens steps up game


ONE of the darkest chapters in Frances past resurfaced yesterday as a notorious bugging scandal, dubbed the French Watergate, came to trial more than 20 years after Franois Mitterrand allegedly ordered the first of more than 150 illegal phone taps.

Mitterrand  #39;ordered phone taps to keep love child secret #39;


Prices on cool TVs are dropping as new factories come on line. Is now the time to buy? Doug Gale, a 30-year-old Dallas banker, returned from a vacation to Tokyo and Hong Kong in 2001 raving as much about TV

Flat Chance


The first time Larry Donald told his buddies he was fighting four-time heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield, they thought he was kidding.

Bout vs. Holyfield puts Donald in the spotlight


In what became a walk in the park for the world #39;s number two golfer, Tiger Woods today strolled to his first stroke-play victory since the American Express in October of 2004, when he completed a wire-to-wire victory at the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in

Woods cruises to eight shot victory in Japan


Indonesian police have released a sketch of a man they velieve bought the mini van used in the bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta.

Indonesian police make progress in embassy bomb investigation


WASHINGTON - The FBI is investigating whether a Pentagon analyst fed to Israel secret materials about White House deliberations on Iran. The investigation could strain U.S.-Israeli relations and muddy the Bush administration's Middle East policy...

Israel Denies U.S. Official Gave Secrets


Round two of US wireless industry consolidation is officially under way, with Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc.making the much anticipated announcement that they have agreed to a \$35 billion merger Wednesday, Dec.

New rival for Verizon, Cingular


BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) - British world number four  Tim Henman was knocked out of the quarterfinals of the \$1.26  million Swiss Indoors tournament Friday, falling 7-6, 7-5 to  unseeded Czech Jiri Novak.

Henman Falls to Novak in Basel


Lucious Harris signed Friday with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who hope the New Jersey Nets veteran can strengthen a backcourt weakened by injuries during the playoffs last season.

Cavaliers sign Lucious Harris


AP - Five Indiana Pacers players and five Detroit Pistons fans were expected to be charged with assault Wednesday in a brawl that broke out on the court last month and spilled into the stands at The Palace of Auburn Hills, according to news reports.

Reports: Charges Expected for Five Pacers (AP)


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow on  Friday said higher oil prices were a risk to global growth, but  would not be likely to cause a recession.

Snow: Oil Prices a Risk to Global Growth


The Scottish scientist who created the world #39;s first cloned sheep says he plans to seek permission to clone human tissue. Ian Wilmut, who works at the Roslin Institute

Dolly doc to try cloning humans


The UK's Financial Services Authority launches a formal investigation into Citigroup's

Citigroup faces regulatory probe


JERUSALEM Ariel Sharon may be on the warpath again and the target is Iran. In the past, the Israeli prime minister has focused attention on Iran by claiming that it presents the greatest threat to Israel. More than once, defense officials in Jerusalem ...

Is Israel planning to attack Iran?


Canadian Press - FREDERICTON (CP) - A New Brunswick truck driver arrested in Ontario this week has been accused by police of stealing 50,000 cans of Moosehead beer.

N.B. truck driver accused in heist of 50,000 cans of Moosehead beer (Canadian Press)


The Astros charge into the playoffs with their 18th consecutive home victory, capping an incredible turnaround by beating Colorado 5-3 Sunday to win the NL wild card.

Astros Grab Wild Card


Accessory manufacturer Mad Catz Interactive has decided to create a dance game to go along with their dance pads. MC Groovz Dance Craze will be the first dance game Nintendo GameCube and should hit stores in time for the holiday season.

Mad Catz to release first game


Great digital cameras are in danger of becoming commodity items. We just tested five high-end digital cameras, each with at least a 3X optical zoom, 5 megapixels or more of resolution and a

Digital Contenders All Hotshots


BAGHDAD -- An Iraqi extremist group linked to Al Qaeda said yesterday that it had killed a second American hostage, a day after a video recording showed the insurgents beheading another American captive. The group announced the slaying on an Islamist website in a statement laced with threats against the US presence in Iraq.

Militants say 2d US hostage killed


Israel #39;s top military leader blasted some Jewish religious leaders for urging followers to refuse to follow military orders to evacuate settlements, as part of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s disengagement plans.

Israel Military, Religious Leaders at Odds over Gaza Withdrawal


com December 14, 2004, 11:07 AM PT. Toshiba, whose tiny hard drives power Apple Computer #39;s hit iPod music players, announced that it has produced an 80GB model.

Next step for iPod: 80GB?


Doctors confirm that dioxin poisoned Ukraine's opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko.

KGB legacy of poison politics


HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--China Resources Enterprise Ltd. (0291.HK) said it will issue 57.97 million new shares to its parent China Resources (Holdings) Co.

China Resources To Issue 57.97M Shrs For Supermarket Buys


Qualcomm Incorporated, pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, on October 1 announced the opening of a research and development (R amp;D) center in Hyderabad, India.

Qualcomm opens R amp;D centre in Hyderabad


Before 1984,  before   The Handmaid's Tale,  before either the movie or  the book by  Stephen King, there was Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here.    Lewis' vision of an American descent into Fascism is as fresh and disturbing today  as it was when it was written in 1935.  Check out the full text  online,  and consider with me the continuing relevance of this 69 year old warning.

69 Years Later, Is It Happening Here?


BorgWarner Inc., the biggest US maker of automatic-transmission parts for cars, said it plans to take over Beru AG, valuing the German maker of diesel-engine starting systems at \$795 million.

BorgWarner Makes \$759 Million Takeover Offer for Beru (Update5)


This fortress that Randy Johnson constructed, the one that keeps fans at arm #39;s length and teammates at a respectful distance, is also the reason the man can make a grown bat cry.

It #39;s been a while since it was fun at the ol #39; ballpark


Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has expanded its increasingly popular mobile line of chips, named Sempron. The new processor has higher performance and integrated EVP anti-virus technology.

AMD Shows Off 2005 Mobile Line


Thai academics say policies in the country's south are not working, and call on Thaksin Shinawatra to apologise.

Thai PM under pressure on South


Oracle is warning customers to apply software patches it released in August because of the availability of malicious code that can exploit unpatched vulnerabilities in its software.

Oracle warns of exploits for latest DB flaws


NEW ORLEANS -- Reuben Droughns had his fifth 100-yard game to help the Denver Broncos stay atop the AFC West.

Droughns hits ground running


The presidential ad war online is beginning to look more like a skirmish.

Campaigns Spending Little on Web Ads


Cisco said that its IP Phone allows unconstrained Gigabit Ethernet-enabled bandwidth from the network to desktop phone. Cisco #39;s Catalyst 6500 Supervisor Engine 32 has been enhanced to allow customers to enable

Cisco Enhances Catalyst Switch Range


Haitians surrounded by the destruction of Hurricane Jeanne prayed for the 1,500 dead during church services yesterday and gave thanks

Peacekeepers rushed to Haiti to halt looting


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bankrupt toy seller KB Toys Inc. said  on Tuesday it plans to close 141 to 238 underperforming stores  by the end of January as part of its reorganization effort.

KB Toys to Close Up to 238 Stores


SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea threatened on Saturday to  double the size of its nuclear deterrent if the United States  did not drop what Pyongyang sees as a confrontational policy  aimed at unseating the communist leadership there.

N.Korea Vows to Double Deterrent if No U.S. Change


AFP - Four people died and hundreds were injured when a tornado bore down on a field where a large number of Muslim devotees had gathered to pray in central Bangladesh, police said.

Tornado kills four, injures hundreds in central Bangladesh (AFP)


AP - When Carlos Beltran was traded to the Houston Astros, he already was considered among baseball's top all-around players, one of those rare breeds who can hit, run and play great defense.

Beltran's Hot Bat Leading Astros' Offense (AP)


Teams: North Texas (7-4) vs. Southern Mississippi (6-5) When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Where: New Orleans TV: ESPN At a glance: The Mean Green are really mean, and not green, other than freshman running back Jamario Thomas, who has rushed for 1,709 yards and scored 17 TDs. Thomas is worth watching and is the best running back not involved in the ...

New Orleans Bowl


Newcastle hat-trick hero Alan Shearer tonight stressed his determination to bring a trophy to St James Park. The former England striker netted three times in Newcastles 5-1 defeat of Bnei Sakhnin tonight, sealing a 7-1 aggregate success.

Shearer Eying Silverware


Sun Microsystems, maker of the wildly popular Java programming language, got handed a stunning and potentially expensive defeat in court when a federal jury declared that Sun #39;s Java infringed upon Kodak #39;s intellectual property.

Kodak sues Sun for \$1 billion


One question that arises whenever a player is linked to steroids is,

Finding a Power Stroke When Most Hitters Start to Fade


KnowledgeWharton goes inside the IT conundrum to examine why capital spending--and corporate confidence--remains low.

If this is a tech rebound, pinch me


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

Pfizer to Take \$369 Mln Asbestos Charge


Software giant says the final version will be available next year.

Microsoft Rolls Out MSN Search Beta


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Jay Payton's three-run homer led  the San Diego Padres to a 5-1 win over the San Francisco Giants  in National League play Saturday, despite a 701st career blast  from Barry Bonds.

NL Wrap: Padres Ease Past Giants Despite Bonds Homer


Nikon, the world #39;s biggest maker of equipment used to etch computer-chip circuits onto silicon wafers, said on Wednesday that it would get \$87 million from its European rival ASML Holding to settle a patent suit dating back to 2001.

Nikon to get 145 million in patent case


com November 1, 2004, 4:00 AM PT. ZDNet #39;s survey of IT professionals in October kept upgrading hardware at number two on the businesses radar throughout the year.

Dell takes new stab at blade design


A Muslim rebel attack on an Indian Kashmir police camp left five police and one rebel dead in the region #39;s biggest raid since Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited India last month, police said on Saturday.

Muslim rebels kill 5 police in Kashmir gunbattle


Olympic champion Nicolas Massu defeated Karol Kucera 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 at the CA Trophy tournament on Tuesday.

Massu Defeats Kucera at CA Trophy


NEW YORK -- The top US arms inspector accused the former head of the \$60 billion UN oil-for-food program of accepting bribes in the form of vouchers for Iraqi oil sales from Saddam Hussein's government while running the program, according to a report released yesterday.

Ex-head of oil-for-food program accused of accepting bribes


Vince Carter had everything a basketball player could want: A fat contract, highlight-reel talent and an entire nation that had anointed him as its favorite athlete not on ice skates.

Nets: A STAR RISES, FADES IN CANADA


Net surfers outside the U.S. interested in U.S. President George Bush's re-election strategy aren't currently able to learn about it from his campaign Web site. Visitors from a number of international locations reported hitting

Bush campaign Web site blocks overseas visits


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Aug. 26 -- The kidnappers of Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni, taken hostage in Iraq, said they had killed him, al-Jazeera television reported Thursday.

Kidnappers Claim to Kill Journalist


PC World - Handling of images could allow an attacker to take over your PC.

Microsoft Warns of Critical JPEG Flaw (PC World)


Russian oil major YUKOS said on Wednesday it had filed for bankruptcy protection in a US court and would seek an order from the court to halt the Dec. 19 sale by the Russian state of its main oil unit.

YUKOS Files for US Bankruptcy


One afternoon in August, about 100 passengers were sitting on a sightseeing boat, cruising down the Chicago River to look at some of the city #39;s most vaunted architectural gems.

City #39;s surveillance cameras are making Chicago safer


Russia may auction 76.8 percent of the capital of Yukos #39; major subsidiary of Yuganskneftegaz by the end of this month to cover the oil giant #39;s multi-billion-dollar back taxes bill, Interfax news agency reported Thursday.

Russia may sell 76.8 percent of Yukos core production unit: report


Kevin Hamilton scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half and Holy Cross held Fordham scoreless over the final five minutes for a 53-39 victory last night in New York.

Hamilton's late surge powers Holy Cross


Svetlana Kuznetsova powered to her first grand slam title by beating fellow Russian Elena Dementieva 6-3 7-5 in the final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows on Saturday.

UPDATE 2-Open-Kuznetsova overpowers Dementieva in final


Mexico has chosen Canada #39;s Nova Chemicals Corp. as a  quot;strategic partner quot; to develop the Phoenix petrochemical project, and prop up a struggling national energy industry with billion-dollar investments.

Mexico lands partner for petrochemical site


Ryan Giggs joined elite company when he made his 600th appearance for Manchester United in their Premiership victory over Liverpool.

Giggs now enrolled in United 600 club


Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Peyton Manning continued his amazing season, tying a career-high with six touchdown passes, as Indianapolis trounced Detroit, 41-9, in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field.

NFL Game Summary - Indianapolis at Detroit


BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri  submitted his cabinet's resignation Wednesday and said he would  not form a new government.

Lebanon PM Resigns, Says Will Not Head New Govt.


9 September 2004 -- Russian police in St. Petersburg said today they found explosives, detonators, and a gun in a cinema which was closed for renovation.

Police Find Explosives In St. Petersburg Cinema


Ricky Williams's attorney met with NFL officials to discuss the tailback's desire to return from his brief retirement.

NFL, Attorneys Meet


LAKE LOUISE, Alberta -- American Bode Miller held off the legendary Hermann Maeir to win his third successive World Cup race and join a select ban of skiing greats.

Miller denies Maier to join greats


Sun Microsystems is looking to make life easier for Java developers by seeking a common ground on a data persistence model.

Sun seeks data persistence model for Java


Violence marred Iraq #39;s first official day of parliamentary election campaigning Wednesday as interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi announced his candidacy for the Jan. 30

Explosion marks first day of Iraq campaigns


ABUJA: African Union-brokered peace talks between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebel leaders bogged down again Tuesday, barely 10 minutes after delegates resumed negotiations following a three-day pause.

Peace talks on Sudan #39;s Darfur halted again


UN peacekeepers try for a second day to control protests by supporters of deposed President Aristide.

UN struggles with Haiti violence


ZURICH, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Top Swiss telecoms group Swisscom (SCMN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) confirmed takeover talks with neighbouring Telekom Austria (TELA.VI: Quote, Profile, Research) had ended without result, the group said on Thursday, crushing ...

Swisscom confirms Telekom Austria talks have ended


A moderate rise in August payrolls sealed expectations on Friday that the Federal Reserve will continue its rate-hike campaign in September without a pause.

Jobs Data Give Fed Green Light for Sept Rate Hike


US communications regulators insisted on Thursday that the United States was making progress in rolling out high-speed Internet service, despite falling further behind other countries.

FCC says US getting its broadband act together


Arab newspaper highlighted and commented on PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas #39; apology to Kuwait for the Palestinian position on Iraq #39;s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, angered by what it saw as the PLO #39;s support of the invasion.

Arab press roundup: December 13, 2004


AP - Minnesota will play in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31, the Golden Gophers' third straight postseason appearance.

Minn. to Play in Music City Bowl in Tenn. (AP)


India today assured the visiting Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba that it would render all possible assistance to Kathmandu in tackling the Maoist insurgency.

India, Nepal discuss Maoist threat


AUSSIE Troy Bayliss says world champion Valentino Rossi will be unbeatable in today #39;s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix even though Spain #39;s Sete Gibernau has pole position.

Aussie tips Rossi to conquer lsland


Success at the Games could boost the popularity of a sport unfamiliar to Greeks.

Greek baseball team, made in the USA


After doctors performed a kind of transplant surgery on mothers eggs, 20 babies were born to women for whom IVF had not worked.

New eggs surgery prodedure brings 20 babies, and many questions


The male meadow vole faces a big problem: How can it become a father when a female is likely to mate with every other male in the neighborhood?

Voles Use Their Noses To Win Sperm Wars


AP - Venezuela's oil industry will enter a new period of stability and growth after Sunday's referendum on Hugo Chavez's presidency, the president of the state-run oil company said Sunday.

Venezuela Oil Official Predicts Stability (AP)


Roy Oswalt became the National League's first 17-game winner and the Astros extended their winning streak to 11 games with a 9-7 victory over the Cincinnati Reds last night in Houston.

Oswalt, Astros on a roll


India successfully test-fires a naval version of its Prithvi-III nuclear-capable missile, defence sources say.

India tests medium-range missile


Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Barclays Plc, the UK #39;s third-biggest lender by assets, agreed to buy the US credit card business of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce for \$293 million to expand into the world #39;s biggest credit card market.

Barclays Buys CIBC US Credit Card Unit for \$293 Mln (Update5)


Qwest Communications International Inc. (QN: Quote, Profile, Research) , the No. 4 US local telephone company, on Thursday reported a third-quarter loss as it settled

UPDATE 2-Qwest posts quarterly loss after SEC settlement


NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq, Nov 6 (AFP) - US war planes struck suspected rebel targets in Iraq #39;s flashpoint cities of Fallujah and Ramadi over 24 hours, the military said Saturday, as the threat of all-out action loomed.

US war planes batter Iraqi badlands amid fears of full-scale <b>...</b>


WASHINGTON -- The billionaire chairman of an insurance company describes members of the group as  quot;terrorists. quot; To the head of a national wholesalers group, they seem like  quot;predators. quot;

Firms target trial lawyers


The fan who caught Barry Bonds' 700th homer is being sued by another man who says he was the rightful owner of the prized ball.

Battle Continues


A recording-industry trade group said Thursday it had filed a new round of lawsuits against 762 people it suspects of distributing its songs for free over Internet  quot;peer to peer quot; networks like Kazaa and eDonkey.

762 More sued by the RIAA


At least four Palestinians were killed in a raid carried out by the Israeli occupation forces yesterday against Jenin city in the West Bank, according to medical and security sources.

11 Palestinians killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank


LONDON Edward Meyer, the 77-year-old chairman of Grey Global Group, was philosophical last week when asked why he had decided to sell the company to WPP Group, one of the sprawling, publicly traded holding companies that increasingly dominate the

On Advertising: Grey sale marks end of an era


Northern Rock says its full-year profit will at least meet analysts #39; consensus forecast due to continued strong lending. The bank NRK.

Northern Rock upbeat on profits


Brazil's President Luiz Inacio da Silva is weakened as two parties withdraw from his governing coalition.

Political blow for Brazil's Lula


AP - The nation's cellular companies have agreed on a common standard for multimedia messaging that should enable mobile phone users to exchange photos, video and audio clips just as they do e-mail, regardless of their wireless carrier.

Cellular Companies Agree on Standards (AP)


Marines in Fallujah shot and killed an insurgent who opened fire on them while faking dead Sunday, the 1st Marine Division announced Monday.

Insurgent was faking death


A proposed Pennsylvania law on its way to the governor's desk could pose a hurdle for Philadelphia's ambitious plan to provide broadband Wi-Fi service throughout the city by mid-2006.

Law may snag Philadelphia Wi-Fi rollout


It seems like a cool idea -unglasses with a built-in digital music player and speakers. No headphone cables to untangle as with most portable players.

Sunglasses-plus-MP3 player are anything but a bargain


The potentially faulty machines were sold under the Lexmark, IBM and Dell brands. The company has recalled these products because they could short circuit and potentially give users an electric shock.

Lexmark recalls 39,431 printers


In the weeks leading up to these Olympic Games, American Nia Abdallah wasn #39;t even on the radar screen of international taekwondo.

Silver surprise for US #39;s Abdallah


Financially troubled game publisher Acclaim Entertainment was expected to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection this week, after laying off more than 600 employees, according to sources closes to the company #39;s management.

Game publisher Acclaim on verge of bankruptcy?


AFP - None of the European Union's 10 new member states yet fulfils the criteria for joining Europe's single currency, the European Commission said in a report.

EU newcomers not yet ready to join euro: Brussels (AFP)


Federal safety regulators have asked DaimlerChrysler AG to recall 600,000 Dodge Durango and Dakota trucks because their wheels could fall off, a Chrysler spokesman confirmed Thursday.

Federal safety agency asks for recall of Durango, Dakota


com. In a signal from the European Commission that it is stepping up its investigation into possible illegal business practices by Intel, the commission is asking four European countries why they

European Union Steps Up Probe Of Intel


A suicide car bomber linked to al-Qaida killed 13 people just outside Baghdads Green Zone today, the first anniversary of Saddam Husseins capture.

Bomb kills 13 in Baghdad


Jerry Rice still wants to run down the middle of a football field, dodging tacklers at an age when many athletes have scrambled to new careers.

Rice Eager to Show Seahawks He #39;s Still Young Enough


The Justice Department is being asked to investigate new Northwest Airlines fees that added \$7.50 to the cost of a round-trip ticket purchased through systems used by travel agents.

US urged to probe Northwest Airlines fees


Comcast Corp. (CMCSA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest US cable operator, on Wednesday posted a quarterly profit that fell short of Wall Street forecasts but reported

Comcast High-Speed Customers Up Strongly


LONDON (AFX) - Smiths Group PLC, the UK aerospace-to-medical-products maker, is in advanced talks to buy US healthcare group Medex for close to 1 bln usd (517 mln stg) the Sunday Telegraph reported without citing its source.

Smiths in talks to buy US medical device co Medex for nearly \$1B


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. <A HREF=

Cooper Tire Selling Auto Parts Unit


Enron Corp. #39;s interim chief executive has asked a federal bankruptcy judge to award his firm a \$25 million  quot;success fee quot; for stabilizing the fallen Houston energy giant.

Interim Chief At Enron Asks for \$25 Million


While Apple is cruising along, other computer outfits are frantically trying to crack the consumer-electronics nut. Dell (DELL ), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ ) and, yes, even Gateway (GTW ) are all pushing new products

iPod is the only clear winner?


SAN FRANCISCO, SEPTEMBER 22: Peoplesoft Inc will push ahead with a new marketing alliance and other initiatives in the face of a court ruling that raises the chance that Oracle Corps \$7.

PeopleSoft, IBM tie up, thumb nose at Oracle


CHICAGO A judge in Chicago has ruled that the Pritzker family #39;s plan to carve up its estimated 15-(B)billion-dollar empire will be conducted in open court.

Judge rules Pritzker case to take place in open court


Microsoft wants to release its Longhorn client operating system in 2006 in order to  quot;appease quot; the customers that have bought into its Software Assurance licensing package, according to analyst Gartner.

Licensing  #39;appeasement #39; triggered Longhorn change


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian shares rallied on Thursday,  with Taiwan jumping more than 3 percent, as technology issues  chased a rise in their U.S. peers and investors showed  resilience to record oil prices.

Techs Lead Stocks Rally as Oil Sets High


LONDON (Reuters) - Rundown land surrounding London's  Wembley Stadium will be transformed into a glitzy \$600 million  gambling resort in a joint venture between U.S. group Caesars  Entertainment and Britain's Quintain Estates.

Vegas Comes to Wembley with Casino Plan


LPGA Event: John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic Site: Cedar Ridge Country Club (6,545 yards, par 71), Broken Arrow, Okla. Schedule: Tomorrow-Sunday. Purse: \$1 million. Winner's share: \$150,000. Television: The Golf Channel (tomorrow, 4:30-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 4:30-7 p.m.). Last year: Karrie Webb won her lone 2003 title, a nine-stroke victory on the Tulsa Country Club course. Last week: Cristie Kerr won ...

Pro tours: The stops and the talk


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. chain store retail sales slipped  during the Thanksgiving holiday week, as consumers took  advantage of discounted merchandise, a retail report said on  Tuesday.

Chain Store Sales Slipped Latest Week


London - Manchester City wasted numerous chances to score on Saturday as Southampton held them to a 0-0 draw in the Premier League.

City spurn chances in draw


The Carolina Panthers announced Monday that running back DeShaun Foster will undergo season-ending surgery and be placed on injured reserve.

Season over for DeShaun Foster


Ogo is the first wireless messaging device to provide instant messaging (IM) and e-mail from all three leading providers - AOL, MSN, and Yahoo!

AT amp;T unveis the Ogo, a dedicate messaging device


The beta version of MSN Spaces, web-logging service that enables consumers to create their own personal place on the web has been launched for current users of Hotmail or MSN webmail services.

Microsoft discovers blogging


Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld made a surprise visit to Iraq today, as two car bombs shook Baghdad, killing at least 10 people, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.

At Least 10 Killed in Bombings in Baghdad


The route of the 2005 Tour de France was announced yesterday, and the changes look set to test the dominance of the reigning champion, Lance Armstrong.

Cycling: Tougher Tour for Armstrong


PC World - Success of alternative apps like Firefox may be putting pressure on the software giant.

Will Microsoft Makes Its Browser Better? (PC World)


Iraq has overshadowed the start of Tony Blair #39;s Labour Party conference despite the prime minister #39;s efforts to turn attention to the domestic agenda ahead of a general election expected next year.

Iraq dogs Blair as party conference starts


OTTAWA (Reuters) - Thomson Corp. <A HREF=

Thomson to Sell Media Group for \$350 Mln


US stocks were set to move slightly higher at the open on Friday with a \$1 billion share buyback at Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) supporting

US Stocks Set for Slightly Firmer Open


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices rose a slight  0.1 percent in August while activity at mid-Atlantic factories  slumped this month, according to reports on Thursday seen  boosting chances of a pause later this year in the Federal  Reserve's drive to raise interest rates.

Inflation Mild,Mid-Atlantic Factories Off


LJUBLJANA, Slovenia The Montenegrin members of a Yugoslav government panel set up to improve relations with The Hague resigned Thursday to protest what they described as Serbia #39;s failure to hand over suspected war criminals to the international war crimes

Montenegro quits Hague panel in protest


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales increased by 0.1  percent in November, the Commerce Department said on Monday,  slightly stronger than expectations, while the previous month  was revised sharply higher.

Retail Sales Edge Up Slightly, Cars Down


Greek and British police have cracked a multimillion-dollar illegal software sales ring, arresting two people and seizing thousands of pirated high-tech software programs.

Greek, British police break illegal software ring


Davy Arnaud scored his ninth goal of the season in the 66th minute to give the Kansas City Wizards a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution on Saturday night.

Wizards End Skid


Amid mixed indications of software industry's health, polled tech execs predict spending rise.

Execs upbeat on IT spending


_ Oracle Corp. finally scooped up bitter rival PeopleSoft Inc. after 18 months of legal and verbal strife, ending a nasty feud with a \$10.3 billion deal that promises to shake up the business software industry.

Bitter Takeover Saga Ends In \$10.3 Billion Deal


World champion Michael Schumacher failed to score a goal at Madrid #39;s Santiago Bernabeu (Spain) soccer stadium - recently evacuated after a bomb scare - on Tuesday night.

Schu doesn #39;t score


Increased life expectancy, higher taxes, falling investment returns and Government tinkering have all contributed to the mess our pensions system is in today.

Mind the gap - time is running out


Twelfth-ranked Michigan, trailing 27-10 with a little less than nine minutes left in the game, stormed back to win in thrilling, edge-of-your-seat fashion, 45-37 in triple overtime Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

Edwards catches MSU


The company ponies up \$3 billion for key spectrum in buying out bankrupt NextWave Telecom.

Verizon Catches the NextWave


AUBURN, Ala. -- Jason Campbell passed for 201 yards and two touchdowns, including a school-record 87-yarder to Silas Daniels, leading No. 6 Auburn past Louisiana Tech, 52-7, yesterday.

Auburn improves to 6-0


BRUSSELS - The European Union agreed on Wednesday to lift its arms embargo on Libya after pressure from Italy, which wants to help the North African country tackle illegal migrants, an EU diplomatic source said.

EU agrees to lift Libya arms embargo


Allied Domecq, the world #39;s second-biggest spirits company, says its annual earnings will show growth, led by a strong performance of its top spirit brands.

Allied Domecq sees earnings growing


AFP - Under pressure in the polls as he enters the final stretch in his race for the White House, Senator John Kerry turned to Democratic heavy-hitter former president Bill Clinton for help from his hospital bed.

Ailing Clinton urges Kerry to bolster election attacks (AFP)


Sales of portable digital audio players like Apple Computer Inc. #39;s trendy iPod are booming and are expected to generate \$58 billion in revenue worldwide by 2008, according to a research report released Tuesday.

Strong sales forecast for digital audio players


washingtonpost.com - Verizon Communications Inc., the nation's largest telephone company, announced yesterday it is digging up streets and stringing wire in six states, including Washington's Maryland and Virginia suburbs, to build a new fiber-optic network that will deliver high-speed Internet service and cable-style television to homes and businesses.

Verizon Betting on  A Bundle (washingtonpost.com)


Nokia Corp., the world #39;s largest mobile phone maker, plans to bring 40 new handsets to the market next year as it seeks to expand its already dominant market share amid increased competition from rivals Motorola Inc.

Nokia Plans 40 New Handsets for 2005


Opinion: Is Microsoft getting ready to explore intellectual property lawsuits against Linux and open-source software? If you can #39;t beat them, sue them?

Is Microsoft Taking Legal Aim at Linux?


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Private weather forecaster EarthSat  updated its winter weather outlook on Wednesday to slightly  milder than its forecast three weeks ago, but it is still  calling for this winter to be colder than last year's.

This Winter to Be Colder Than Last Year's


For more than a year, Apple Computers Inc. enjoyed singular success selling songs exclusively to users of its iPod portable music player. Now, it's got rival RealNetworks Inc. trying to lure iTunes customers away.

Rival Targets Apple's ITunes Customers


MILAN September 15 (SW) - Werder Bremens Valerian Ismael earned himself an unenviable place in Champions League record books after only five minutes of his teams 2-0 defeat at Inter when the French defender became the recipient of the fastest

Werder Bremen #39;s Ismael claims unwanted record


Virtual reality techniques are helping Danish doctors diagnose heart defects in newborn babies.

Virtual 3D heart to treat babies


NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Clippers forward  Elton Brand was suspended Tuesday for one game by the NBA for  shoving Charlotte's Emeka Okafor during the fourth quarter of  Monday night's game.

Clippers' Brand Suspended One Game


ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Donald Trump is trying to make a deal after the proposed bailout of his cash-strapped casino company was shelved by  quot;mutual agreement.

Bailout plan shelved for Donald Trump #39;s casinos


Right-to-die issues receive a lot of attention, but less is known about those with A.L.S., or Lou Gehrig's disease, who want to live.

Living for Today, Locked in a Paralyzed Body


AP - President Bush and Democratic Sen. John Kerry have starkly different economic priorities with a common thread: price tags exceeding  #36;1 trillion that could pump already huge deficits skyward over the next decade.

Bush, Kerry Economic Budgets Exceed  #36;1T (AP)


A US soldier was killed yesterday by a homemade bomb and four US Marines died Friday in three separate incidents, the military announced yesterday.

5 troops killed fighting in Iraq


Jim Kelley wondered how some South Buffalo kid with unpretentious dreams of covering hockey for his hometown paper could ever have anything in common with such legends as Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy.

Kelley joins hockey #39;s best in Hall of Fame


Molik, who beat Sharapova in the final, was Australia #39;s first champion of a WTA Tier I event and proved that you can be 20-something and breakthrough.

Road to LA: Hang on a minute!


Paleontologiosts from the Miguel Crusafont Institute of Paleontology and the Diputacisn de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain have found a fossil of a new ape species called Pierolapithecus catalaunicus, or its close relative that might have been the last

Fossil of last great ape ancestor found


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- The starting date of PeopleSoft #39;s billion dollar damages lawsuit against Oracle in a California state court has been pushed back to Jan. 10 from Nov. 1. Free!

PeopleSoft, Oracle jury trial delayed


There's change in store for Thomas Jefferson - on the nickel that is. He's getting his first makeover since being put on the coin in 1938.

U.S. Mint Unveils New Designs for Nickel


Reuters - A wall of thick smoke blocked rescuers\on Monday from 141 Chinese miners trapped after a gas explosion\in a coal mine in northern China that killed at least 25, and\officials saw scant hope of finding more survivors.

Wall of Smoke Stalls Chinese Rescue, Hope Fades (Reuters)


SPACE.com - When was the last time you read a good mystery novel, or munched popcorn while watching a mystery flick at your local theater? Odds are, either of these entertainments set you back at least  #36;10 and lasted a few hours. For a lesser price, we're all participating in cracking a real mystery #x2014;what's beneath the clouds that cover Saturn's moon, Titan?

Titan: A Good Mystery (SPACE.com)


MIDWAY, Ky. -- Silver Charm, who barely missed winning the Triple Crown in 1997, was sold to the Japan Racing Association and will stand at stud in that country next year.

#39;97 Triple Crown contender will be stud overseas


After SpaceShipOne and its veteran pilot survived a whirling, nail-biting ascent Wednesday, the pioneering team that pulled off the private space journey could be just days from a second trip that would guarantee a multimillion-dollar bounty.

Courtesy KHOU-TV


NATICK, Mass. - Boston Scientific Corp. violated its agreement with an Israeli company and acted in  quot;bad faith quot; when it set up a secret stent-making operation in Ireland, according to a federal judge who ordered the companies to reach a settlement.

Judge: Boston Scientific Violated Deal


Southeast Asian foreign ministers are finalizing a free trade agreement with China and a score of other accords in preparation for a summit meeting in Laos beginning Monday.

Southeast Asian Foreign Ministers Prepare for ASEAN Summit


Reuters - Former Dolphins running back Ricky\Williams was ordered by an arbitrator Friday to pay a huge sum\of money to Miami, which filed a grievance against the star\after he retired just prior to training camp this season.

Report: Dolphins Win Grievance Against Williams (Reuters)


Republicans are preparing to offer President Bush to the voters based in large measure on his response to 9/11.

Republican Convention Opens as Delegates Adopt Platform


Cleveland Browns running back Lee Suggs has been cleared by doctors to return to practice this week. However, there is still some haziness about his medical condition.

Suggs to Practice


AP - Larry O'Bannon scored a season-high 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead No. 13 Louisville to an 85-51 victory over North Carolina A amp;T on Tuesday night.

No. 13 Louisville Tops N.C. A T, 85-51 (AP)


Reuters - Oracle Corp.  can\celebrate a ruling by a U.S. judge that it can take over\archrival PeopleSoft Inc. , but analysts say the\world's second biggest software maker has a battery of other\barriers to overcome before a deal is clinched.

Despite Win, More Hurdles for Oracle (Reuters)


A few problems on your credit report can boost your auto insurance premiums.

Credit Dings = Insurance Woes


BANGALORE: Russian President Vladimir Putin, on a visit to the Infosys campus on Sunday, said that India and Russia should work together on innovative new technologies, with the younger generation taking the lead.

Putin keeps IT-date with Infosys


Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV), four less-developed countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), on Sunday vowed tofurther their sub-regional

4 ASEAN nations vow to further sub-regional cooperation


Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) held on to its lead in the disk storage systems market in the second quarter, but saw a decline in revenue and market share, according to a survey by market researcher IDC published Friday.

Storage market grows, HP's share shrinks


Matt Morris pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out a season-high 11, as the St Louis Cardinals blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 in a showdown between two division leaders at Busch Stadium on Friday.

NL Wrap: Morris Shuts Out Dodgers as Cards Keep Winning


Jurors began deliberating Thursday in the first criminal trial to emerge from Enron Corp. #39;s 2001 collapse. The jury of six men and six women deliberated less than an hour late Thursday after hearing lengthy

Update 3: Jury Begins Deliberating Enron Barge Case


Millions of people will buy or receive Apple Computers iPod digital-music players this holiday season. They are beautifully designed and easy to use.

Seeking a little iPod 101? A few tips on this hot gift


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Authorities kept a main oil pipeline in  southern Iraq shut on Sunday rather than risk it being  attacked, restricting the country's exports to half normal  levels, a South Oil Official said.

Iraq Keeps South Oil Pipeline Shut


An attempt by Israel to launch a sophisticated spy satellite into space failed Monday afternoon, the Defense Ministry announced. According to a statement, the rocket, known as a Shavit I, failed in its third stage.

Launch of Ofek 6 fails


quot;Although our revenue growth rate increased in the third quarter of 2004 compared to the second quarter of 2004, our revenue growth rate has generally declined, and we expect it will continue

Google Warns of Slowing Growth


Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane was charged with assault and criminal damage Tuesday over an alleged confrontation with a 16-year-old boy, Manchester police said.

Man United midfielder Roy Keane charged with assault


While the Mets brain trust huddled in organizational meetings at a Westchester County resort for a second consecutive day, left-hander Al Leiter appears close to accepting a contract offer from the Florida Marlins.

Baseball notebook: Leiter, Marlins close to a deal


Activision #39;s Doom 3, which launched earlier this month, wasn #39;t on store shelves for three days before players started creating their own modifications - known as mods -o the game.

Fans rush to create mods for long-awaited  #39;Doom 3 #39;


Experts say viruses don't pose a serious risk to handheld devices--yet.

Trend Micro Gives Away Mobile Antivirus App


Silicon Graphics plans to announce a new Linux computer Nov. 1, a machine that uses Intel's newest Itanium 2.

SGI to upgrade high-end Linux servers next week


OTTAWA (CP) - It may be a bit early to take this promise to the bank, but Finance Minister Ralph Goodale says he wants to bring in more personal and business tax cuts.

Tax cuts coming for modest-income families, business, says finance <b>...</b>


The trek down the Great River Road ends in an anticlimax of old shacks and weathered boats, but that doesn't mean the trip is disappointing. Michelle Delio reports from Venice, Louisiana.

End of the Road Is Nowhere


Reuters - Publisher and broadcaster Tribune Co.\ on Wednesday said third-quarter earnings would lag Wall\Street estimates because of lower-than-expected publishing and\broadcasting revenue.

Tribune Profit Seen Below Wall St. Views (Reuters)


Reuters - Former All-Pro quarterbacks\Dan Marino and Steve Young, both first-year eligible\candidates, head a list of 89 former players, coaches, and\contributors who comprise a list of preliminary nominees for\enshrinement to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2005.

Marino and Young Head Hall of Fame Nomination List (Reuters)


GOALS in either half from Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy lifted the Dutch in this World Cup qualifier today. Marco van Basten #39;s blundering side got off to a slow start and were put to the test

Van Nistelrooy fires Dutch


PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition leader  Morgan Tsvangirai urged southern African countries on Tuesday  to put pressure on President Robert Mugabe to conduct free and  fair parliamentary elections in March.

Opposition Leader Urges Region Pressure on Mugabe


AP - People interested in an out-of-this-world post-death experience can

Company Offers 'Space Memorial Services' (AP)


Turkey #39;s leaders distanced themselves from a proposal to outlaw adultery after the opposition came out against it and western governments made clear enacting the law would

Turkey Backs Off Plan to Outlaw Adultery


AFP - The lavish wedding of the heir to oil-rich Brunei's throne this week underscores the enduring importance of royal families in some Asian countries despite rapid modernisation.

Brunei wedding showcases royalty's enduring role in Asia (AFP)


AFP - Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes has announced that he and his centre-right cabinet had submitted their resignations, the day after the nation's socialist president announced he would dissolve parliament and call an early vote.

Portuguese government resigns after snap vote call (AFP)


Venus Williams and Chanda Rubin lose to Li Ting and Sun Tian Tian of China in the first round of the doubles tournament.

V. Williams, Rubin Lose


The intracity football debate between Los Angeles #39; most distinguished schools of higher learning, USC and UCLA, started off as expected Saturday afternoon, as the Trojans #39; extraordinary sophomore

USC on track despite Bruin power


Asif Ali Zardari, husband of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was granted bail in a corruption case by the Supreme Court on Monday, paving the way for his release after eight years in jail, lawyers said.

Benazir Bhutto #39;s husband granted bail


QUESTIONS WERE ASKED ABOUT Sam Allardyces ambition when, having spent years bemoaning the lack of opportunities for British managers, he politely told Newcastle United to look elsewhere in their search for a successor to Sir Bobby Robson.

First defeat tastes so sour for Souness


Canadian Press - FREDERICTON (CP) - New Brunswick's striking hospital workers have  narrowly voted for a new four-year contract.

N.B. hospital workers narrowly accept tentative contract with province (Canadian Press)


Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich will not compete in Wednesday #39;s time trial of the world cycling championships in Italy because of a stomach problem.

Ullrich out of world championships time trial


Westford over Acton-Boxboro -- This week at the Discovery Museum, check out the exhibit,  quot;Overcoming spectrophobia. quot;

This week's picks


SEOUL : South Korea #39;s Constitutional Court has derailed President Roh Moo-Hyun #39;s plan to relocate the country #39;s capital from Seoul, saying the move was unconstitutional.

South Korean court blocks relocation of capital


Marat Safin wins the Madrid Masters to edge ahead of Tim Henman in the race for the Masters Cup.

Tennis: Safin wins Madrid Masters


Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt his side were too cautious after a disappointing 1-1 draw away to Norwegian side Rosenborg in the Champions League.

WENGER LET DOWN BY GUNNERS DRAW


Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday reported a wider quarterly loss on soaring fuel prices and weak domestic airfares, and said

Delta Air Lines Posts a Larger Loss


AFP - Police arrested four men in London under Britain's anti-terrorist law, as a Sunday newspaper claimed it had infiltrated a gang trying to buy radioactive material for a  quot;dirty bomb quot;.

Four terror suspects held in London amid 'dirty bomb' report (AFP)


Before we go any further, stop saying Mini Mouse like youre Mini Me. Stop it. Thats no longer allowed in the cubicles of America.

IOGEARs new Wireless Bluetooth Mini Mouse


The United States embassy in Damascus, Syria, says it has temporarily closed its doors to the public to re-evaluate its security but would not say if it is the target of a specific threat.

US #39;s Syria embassy temporarily closed


Google Lowers IPO Price, Limits Shares\\Google's IPO wasn't as popular as expected, apparently not as many fish bit at the Dutch Auction bait.  Google will be lowering its estimated price range to between \$85 and \$95 per share, down from its earlier prediction of \$108 and \$135 per share ...

Google Lowers IPO Price, Limits Shares


A remote Mars life-detection strategy is being tested in the fjords of Scandanavia, with a goal of eventually identifying even a single biological cell hiding in the rugged landscape.

Finding Life on the Red Planet


Uefa says it will look at Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich #39;s links to CSKA Moscow after the clubs were drawn together in the Champions League.

Abramovich poser for Uefa


SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Volkswagen's car sales in China fell 6  percent in 2004 and will fare little better in 2005 amid a  raging price war and worsening demand from a slowing economy,  executives for its two ventures in the country said on Tuesday.

Volkswagen 2004 China Sales Fall


Microsoft announced a new holiday Xbox package that essentially gives buyers two free sports games and a trial subscription to the Xbox Live online gaming service.

Microsoft sets holiday Xbox bundle


JERUSALEM -- Israel's army chief of staff yesterday condemned a call from scores of rabbis on observant soldiers to refuse to obey orders to evacuate Jewish settlements under next year's planned Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli faults rabbis' urgings on settlements


LG.Philips LCD has reported that mass production at its sixth generation thin-film-transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) plant in Gumi, South Korea, began last month.

LG.Philips ramps sixth-gen TFT plant


The portable gaming device is finally available, and looks to be worth the wait.

We Test Drive Sony's PSP


InfoWorld - Looking to enable transitions between application modeling platforms, IBM this week is making available the IBM Model Transformation Framework (MTF) on its alphaWorks site for previewing technologies.

IBM offers developers modeling transition tool (InfoWorld)


INDIA today tested a short-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead off its eastern coast, defence sources said.

India fires nuclear-ready missile


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 39,400 laser printers made by  Lexmark International Inc. <A HREF=

Lexmark Recalls Laser Printers


Reuters - Citigroup is to revamp its\Japanese private banking unit, creating a local committee to\oversee operations, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Citigroup to Revamp Japan Operations -WSJ (Reuters)


A software upgrade caused some 40,000 computers to crash at the UK government #39;s Department for Work and Pensions last week. The crash of the Windows-based systems took most of the department #39;s computers offline for five working days.

Major IT Crash Hits UK Government Department


Disconsolate China coach Arie Haan stepped down after his team suffered an embarrassing early exit from World Cup qualifying despite thrashing Hong Kong 7-0.

Haan bows out as China suffer World Cup heartbreak


Pope John Paul II yesterday returned two relics taken during the Crusades, who plundered Istanbul (then Constantinople) in 1204, to Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos as a gesture of friendship with the Orthodox Church.

Relics Taken in the Crusades Returned after 8 Centuries


Spanish police have arrested eight suspected Islamic militants. Authorities say they were planning to carry out a terrorist attack in the center of the capital.

Spain Arrests Terror Suspects


Near-bankrupt Alitalia held crucial contract negotiations with unions representing flight attendants and ground staff Wednesday in a last-minute attempt to save the state-controlled airline from collapse.

Alitalia near collapse


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

FedEx to Build 2nd-Largest U.S. Private Solar System


There #39;s only one thing better than riding a halfpipe ramp in  quot;Tony Hawk #39;s Underground 2 quot; - doing it in real life.

Review: New  #39;Hawk #39; game most thorough ever


An Egyptian man suspected of playing a key role in the Madrid train bombings has been handed over to Spain.

Spain handed Madrid bomb suspect


Reuters - African leaders lobbied the\Global Fund for Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria for more money\on Wednesday to solve a cash crunch but were told a new round\of funding was likely to be delayed by several months.

Africa Lobbies for More AIDS, TB, Malaria Funds (Reuters)


Thierry Henry believes he will be blamed if Arsenal fail to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League. Henry will captain the side in place of the suspended Patrick Vieira as the Gunners seek the

Henry fears blame if Gunners fail


Reuters - NASA, recovering from the\four hurricanes that halted work at its Florida spaceport, said\on Friday it has set a launch target in May, 2005, for the\first space shuttle flight since the 2003 Columbia disaster.

NASA Aims for May Space Shuttle Launch (Reuters)


By MARCIA DUNN     CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Still picking up the pieces after Hurricane Frances, NASA braced on Thursday for the even more menacing Ivan, hurriedly moving mangled strips of aluminum siding and exposed equipment into the hangar that once housed the wreckage of space shuttle Columbia...

NASA Securing Space Center for Arrival of Hurricane Ivan


Reuters - Walt Disney Co.'s  ESPN\sports television network is launching its own brand of mobile\phone service in a deal with Sprint Corp.  intended to\lure new users with sports news sent over a next-generation\network, the companies said on Wednesday.

ESPN to Launch Mobile Phone Service in Sprint Deal (Reuters)


Raymond Hines rushed for 193 yards and a one-yard touchdown as James Madison defeated Lehigh, 14-13, in the first round of the Division I-AA playoffs in Bethlehem, Pa., yesterday.

Hines, James Madison Ground Out the Victory


Video cameras with three charge-coupled devices, or C.C.D.'s, can produce broadcast-quality images unattainable with a single-C.C.D. model. A look at four cameras.

In Theaters Soon: 'My Winter Vacation'


Egypt strongly condemned the killing of three of its policemen by Israeli tank fire Thursday, demanding an immediate investigation.

Egypt blasts shooting, requets probe


Delta Air Lines said Wednesday it has revised its 2003 annual report to include a new report by its independent auditor warning that bankruptcy is looming.

Bankruptcy looming at Delta, auditor says


WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court considered Tuesday whether state alcoholic beverage regulations put in place 70 years ago, after Prohibition was lifted, should remain the law of the land in the Internet age.

Court Hears Interstate Wine Sales Case


AP - Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair was released from the hospital Tuesday morning after a two-night stay with a bruised sternum.

McNair Out of Hospital, Resting at Home (AP)


PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - In a ceremony full of pageantry and  hope, King Norodom Sihamoni ascended the Cambodian throne on  Friday, ushering in a new royal era for a country still trying  to draw a line under its bloody, genocidal past.

New Era for Cambodia as King Sihamoni Ascends Throne


Defensive end Chris Canty, who returned for a fifth year at Virginia only after careful deliberation, has been lost for the season with a knee injury.

Cavaliers lose Canty for the season


Australia #39;s women #39;s rowing team was hit by scandal again Thursday when Catriona Oliver walked up to teammate Sally Robbins and slapped her shoulder.

Australian rower Oliver goes slap-happy


AP - President Bush hailed a slight decline in unemployment Friday as reason for his re-election, evidence the

Bush, Kerry Clash Over Latest Jobs Report (AP)


Amazon.com is trying to out-Google the king of Internet search with a new site, A9.com, that puts a fancy face on Google's plain-Jane search results. <FONT face=

Reaching Beyond Google's Basics


Wie Publisher Vivendi Universal gestern Abend in einem offiziellen Presserundbrief mitteilt, hat der hei erwartete Action-Blockbuster Half-Life 2 endlich den Goldstatus erreicht.

Half-Life 2: Release am 16. November


Tehran - Iran has become the latest country to edge towards ditching the ubiquitous Microsoft computer operating system in favour of the open-source Linux solution, even if its refusal to abide by copyright laws means that the Islamic republic does not

Iran poised for Linux invasion


roundup Plus: Vonage users dial 311 for city info...Mozilla makes Japanese push...Macromedia offers Flash video tool.

Briefly: IBM chalks up two health care wins


The sale of iPods is having a ripple effect on the sales of Apple #39;s Macintosh computers leading to a rise in the company #39;s stock price.

iPod Sales Help Apple Stock


Bank of France Governor Christian Noyer on Sunday urged countries to tighten their public finances and implement reforms to help generate non-inflationary growth.

UPDATE 1-ECB #39;s Noyer urges fiscal discipline, reforms


AP - Retired running back Ricky Williams has turned up in an unlikely spot  #151; at a Northern California school for holistic medicine.

Running Back Becomes Holistic Student (AP)


Bowhead whales and boreal owls are among the wide range of research projects proposed for the upcoming year through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game #39;s nongame program.

Nongame studies: Whales to warblers


TORONTO (CP) - Trading in shares of Royal Group Technologies Ltd. remained halted by regulatory order Thursday amid rumours about police and securities commission investigations of the building products maker.

Royal Group Technologies shares remain halted as rumours swirl


In  quot;The Reckoning, quot; his masterful 1986 book on the US auto industry, the journalist David Halberstam criticized the Big Three automakers - General Motors, Ford and Chrysler - and their unionized workers for complacency and shortsightedness that he said

ViewPoints: A new reckoning?


Iran warned America and Israel last night that it was ready to launch pre-emptive strikes to stop them attacking its nuclear facilities.

Iran warns Israel on pre-emptive strikes


Goodbye Social Security, pensions, company health benefits and job security. Let the people decide what to do with their own money, as this new age #39;s popularizers say.

Bush bouncing checks that bolster markets


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices crumbled another 5 percent to  a 12-week low just above \$43 a barrel on Thursday, suffering  the biggest two-day slide since the Gulf War after a rise in  U.S. heating oil stocks triggered furious selling.

Oil Drops Another 5 Pct to 12-Week Low


Reuters - Supporters of rebel Iraqi cleric\Moqtada al-Sadr were fired on as they marched from the town of\Kufa to the city of Najaf on Thursday and several were wounded,\witnesses at the scene said.

Iraqi Sadr Supporters Attacked Near Najaf-Witnesses (Reuters)


It will be hot, but not hostile. It will be a long trip, and there will be no shortcuts as the Patriots prepare for the Arizona Cardinals, who under Dennis Green may not win 10 games but may not lose 10, either.

Turnaround in the cards?


The Indian army says Burmese troops have begun an offensive to flush out Indian rebel bases in their territory.

Burma crackdown on Indian rebels


As the Red Sox ready for a shot at post-season play, a group of batters across town prepares for their own championship finale where they'll face an impressive lineup of -- bowlers.

Without the wicket it wouldn't be cricket


SIMS Group, the world #39;s biggest metal recycler, yesterday posted a 50 per cent jump in full-year net profit to \$112.5 million, buoyed by the Chinese economy #39;s effect on global metal markets.

China demand boosts metal recycler


Some area employers expect to maintain a steady hiring pace during the fourth quarter of 2004, according to a survey released yesterday by Manpower Inc.

Hiring seen improving a bit


Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc., which has restaurants in 41 states, said it will pay \$8.7 million to settle all discrimination lawsuits brought or supported by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Cracker Barrel Settles NAACP Discrimination Lawsuits (Update1)


An Iranian diplomat taken hostage in Iraq last month was released by his captors on Monday but the fate of at least 11 other foreigners, including a Briton threatened with beheading, remained unclear.

Iranian Diplomat Freed in Iraq, Hopes Raised for Others


HANOI (Reuters) - Leaders from Asia and Europe pledged on  Saturday to tackle everything from climate change to terrorism  but dodged calling for the release of Myanmar democracy icon  Aung San Suu Kyi at the end of their two-day summit.

Suu Kyi Proves Tricky Topic for Asia-Europe Summit


NEW YORK (Reuters) - World oil prices surged nearly 4  percent on Friday on worries the U.S. hurricane season would  continue to hamper energy production and imports in the Gulf of  Mexico, delaying vital stock-building ahead of winter.

Oil Lifted 4 Percent by Ivan Supply Crimp


Yesterday afternoon at Qwest Field, the Rams took a pin-it-to-the-wall word and brought it to life as they erased a 17-point deficit in less than nine minutes to beat the Seahawks 33-27 in overtime.

Rams refused to give up


SPACE.com - Donald Machholz of Colfax, \  California, an optician who has been interested in astronomy since age eight, \  discovered nine comets from 1978 through 1994. He has since spent 1,457 hours \  scanning the skies for other comets, without any luck.

Newfound Comet Set for Winter Display (SPACE.com)


ATHENS, GREECE - The crowd danced and sang and chanted  quot;Hellas, Hellas, Hellas quot; and a taunting refrain of  quot;Puerto Rico quot; loud enough to stir the ancients or heal Lamar Odom #39;s pained and poisoned stomach.

Americans rebound to eke out win over Greece


The Boeing Co. #39;s finance unit yesterday reached an agreement with Hawaiian Airlines Inc. that allows the airline to keep using 14 Boeing planes as it tries to exit bankruptcy.

Business Digest


AP - About 300 Syrian soldiers in a convoy of trucks and armored vehicles crossed the Lebanese border into Syria early Thursday, Lebanese security officials said.

Small Syrian Force Withdraws From Lebanon (AP)


AP - A college student celebrating the Red Sox come-from-behind victory over the New York Yankees was killed after a police officer called in to control the rowdy crowd shot her in the eye with what was designed to be a non-lethal projectile.

Red Sox Fan Killed by Police Projectile (AP)


Jacksonville, Fla. - Mike Shanahan blew it. All the heartbreak, all the cursing and all the regret resulting from a shocking 7-6 loss to Jacksonville could have been avoided with better judgment by the Broncos.

Offense shouldn #39;t be trusted


Fujitsu Limited, Hitachi, Ltd., and NEC Corporation have released their jointly developed messaging software as open source. This software implements the Web Services Reliability (WS-Reliability) standard, a

Leading IT Vendors Release Messaging Software


Jobless numbers drop by 16,000 between May and July,  according to official figures.

Fall in UK's unemployment total


Nick Dougherty was once a Walker Cup star and, on leaving the unpaid ranks, proved a very promising young professional. Now the Ryder Cup beckons, and why not, given that he shared the Walker Cup experience with Luke Donald?

Dougherty puts clubbing first


TechWeb - Apple Computer Inc. released a security patch for its Mac OS X iChat instant messaging client.

Apple Ships Security Patch For iChat (TechWeb)


New York, August 31: US technology executives are increasingly optimistic about the business climate, although plans for increased technology spending remain modest, according to a study released on Monday.

US tech execs more optimistic about spending: Study


A Justice Department proposal to require more stringent record-keeping of porn stars' identities draws fire from webmasters who run adult sites. If enacted, they say, the regs may make it tough for them to stay in business. By Xeni Jardin.

Porn Law Draws Adult Sites' Ire


gardel writes  quot;Voxilla reports that a VoIP price war was declared today. An announcement that AT amp;T would drop its prices for its CallVantage Service from \$34.

VoIP Price War Declared


The publishers of Photoshop whip up another impossible looking earnings score.

Still Building at Adobe


Sales of downloaded digital music in Europe will continue to grow steadily in the next five years, but will not replace the CD anytime soon.

The CD is king


The electronic currency site that the Source Code Club said it will use to accept payment for Cisco Systems Inc. #39;s firewall source code is confident it can track down the perpetrators.

E-gold Tracks Cisco Code Thief


AP - Using a makeshift roster a night after brawling with fans, the Indiana Pacers pressed the Orlando Magic until the very end. Limited to just six players because of suspensions and injuries, the Pacers stayed close before dropping an 86-83 decision to Orlando on Saturday night.

Pacers Hang Tough Minus Suspended Players (AP)


Suspected Maoist rebels shot and wounded a policeman and detonated two powerful bombs in Katmandu on Friday to reinforce a blockade of the Nepali capital to press for the release of jailed guerrillas.

Rebels Explode Two Bombs in Katmandu


LAWRENCE, Kan. (Sports Network) - Wayne Simien scored 14  points with 10 rebounds to lead No. 2 Kansas over Nevada,  85-52, at Allen Fieldhouse.

College Basketball: Kansas, Oklahoma State Win


Three Kosovo Albanians are going on trial at the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague.

Kosovan war crimes trial begins


Pfizer Inc. on Friday said two small clinical trials showed heart bypass surgery patients taking Bextra, an anti-inflammatory in the same class as the recently withdrawn

Pfizer Says Bextra, Heart Problems Linked


OAO Yukos Oil Co., Russia #39;s biggest oil exporter, will cut deliveries to China #39;s biggest oil company next month after a government freeze on its bank accounts prevented it from paying railway bills.

Yukos Cuts China National Petroleum #39;s Oil Supplies (Update2)


TORONTO (CP) - Scrambling to deal with a potentially serious breach of client privacy, CIBC said late Friday it is ordering all employees to stop using the bank #39;s internal fax system to send customer information between branches or offices.

CIBC orders companywide halt to faxes with customer info until <b>...</b>


PARIS (Reuters) - Palestinian leaders headed for Paris on  Monday to see critically ill President Yasser Arafat at a  French military hospital despite a scathing attack by his wife  who accused them of plotting to

Palestinians to See Arafat Despite Wife's Fury


\

 By Emily Kaiser

 CHICAGO (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. <WMT.N> lowered\its August sales forecast on Monday because of disappointing\back-to-school demand, casting doubt on the strength of U.S.\consumer spending in a key shopping season.

Wal-Mart Cuts Sales View; Stock Dips


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Homebuilders are set for trouble  ahead, with next year's earnings from four of the leading  housing companies set to run lower than Wall Street expects,  according to a hedge fund manager quoted in the latest edition  of Barron's.

Report: Housing Industry Set for Trouble


Macquarie Infrastructure Group on Monday confirmed it had been selected as preferred bidder for 100 per cent of the Chicago Skyway toll bridge concession.

MIG wins bid for US toll bridge


WASHINGTON -- NASA #39;s director has turned in his resignation, ending three years marked by a space tragedy and extra scrutiny of the space agency.

NASA #39;s O #39;Keefe Turns In Resignation


This time it was Jim Edmonds #39; turn to get the hero #39;s welcome, his joyous St. Louis Cardinals teammates surrounding him as he tried to touch home plate.

Edmonds, Cardinals force Game 7


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

Russia Launches Inquiry Into School Siege


Rafael Benitez #39;s Anfield revolution gathered pace today when the Liverpool manager unveiled one new signing and revealed he was close to completing a deal for another.

Alonso Next in at Anfield


TORONTO (CP) - Canada #39;s big banks are increasing mortgage rates following a decision by the Bank of Canada to raise its overnight rate by one-quarter of a percentage point to 2.25 per cent.

Mortgage rates at Canadian banks headed higher after Bank of <b>...</b>


The Sears Roebuck and Co. PR team had its cue cards close at hand on Monday, ready to read off rote answers to some of the more delicate but obvious concerns related to the arrival of Luis Padilla as the retailing giant #39;s new president of merchandising.

New hire amounts to Sears shakeup


Google Inc. (GOOG) will close the registration process for its IPO auction Thursday, setting the stage for the online search engine leader's hotly anticipated stock market debut. Google plans to launch an unusual auction to sell 25.7 million shares shortly after closing the registration.

Google Sets Date for IPO


SYDNEY (Reuters) - British Airways Plc. plans to sell its  A\$1.12 billion (\$773 million) stake in Australia's Qantas  Airways Ltd. in the next two days to cut debt and take  advantage of future consolidation in Europe.

BA to Sell \$773 Million Qantas Stake


Argentina, Denmark, Greece, Japan and Tanzania on Friday won coveted two-year terms on the UN Security Council at a time when pressure is mounting to expand the powerful 15-nation body.

Five Nations Win Seats on UN Security Council


More than 100,000 people are expected in central Moscow at an  quot;anti-terror quot; rally amid mounting rage across the country over the bloody hostage siege in southern Russia.

Angry Russians rally over siege


SOFTWARE HACKERS are using snaps which they claim show David Beckham in a compromising position to infect people #39;s computers. Beckham, who apparently plays football, and is married to a member of a popular

Hackers use Beckham bait


NBA Japan introduced the newest member of the Phoenix Suns, Yuta Tabuse, at a press conference held in Tokyo. The following is the complete transcript, translated into English, including remarks from NBA Japan #39;s

Yuta Tabuse Press Conference Transcript


Willis McGahee has emerged as the Buffalo Bills starting running back based on his ability to provide more of a spark to a sputtering offence.

Bills look to McGahee for a spark


In an effort to educate the nation's neediest children on nutrition, a new project uses the familiar medium of video games to broadcast its message. The Fantastic Food Challenge, a package of four computer games, is designed to teach people who get nutrition aid such as federal food stamps how to make better use of their food.

New Computer Games Teach Nutrition to Needy


\\I was wondering today how many terabytes could have been saved over the years if\URLs would automatically base64 their integer values.\\232 is 2147483647\\Which is 10 bytes.  \\Of course if you base64 encode those values this leaves you with:\\f____w\\Which is only 6 bytes.  Thats a 40 savings!\\

Won't Someone PLEASE Think of the Bytes!?


A group of state, federal, and Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff engineers issued a confidential report in 1997 which concluded that miles of Big Dig tunnel walls were waterproofed with products

Alarm was sounded seven years ago on dig #39;s leak problems


A car bomb blew up in the western Iraqi town of Anah on Wednesday, killing several people, witnesses said. The blast targeted a recruits queued at National Guards building in the town, some 260 km west of Baghdad.

Car bomb explodes in Iraqi town, several killed


A group of nine North Koreans who entered the Shanghai American School in China earlier this week in an apparent bid for asylum were handed over to police, it was revealed today.

Asylum Bid Koreans Handed over to Chinese Police


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley  <A HREF=

Morgan Stanley Profit Falls, Shares Drop


Reuters - Business software maker Oracle\Corp.  on Friday said it will release its\second-quarter earnings before U.S. markets open on Monday,\instead of Thursday, due to issues related to its takeover bid\for PeopleSoft Inc. that may come up in court later on Monday.

Oracle Moves Earnings Forward to Monday (Reuters)


Many of Brazil's biggest companies riding high at home are increasingly flexing their muscles on the international stage.

Corporations in Brazil Shed Stay-at-Home Tradition


In 2002, China Aviation Oil (Singapore) was named Singapore #39;s most transparent company by the island #39;s Securities Investors Association.

Commentary: Is China on the verge of its own Enron scandal?


Evans led a team that developed a new class of mainframe computers that allowed different applications to be run simultaneously.

Bob Evans, mainframe pioneer, dies at 77


<i>The Passion of the Christ</i> is a hot DVD, even if the film studios were cast as doubting Thomas' understudies.

Holy DVD!


You don #39;t have to hit Major League Baseball or its Players Association over the head with a bat for them to take baseball #39;s drug problems seriously.

Tackling The Pros: Play Hardball


Google has warned that the rapid revenue growth it experienced in the third quarter may not continue in the fourth quarter and beyond.

Google Warns on Revenue Growth


Defenseman Hal Gill is the latest veteran to drop off the Bruins roster after breaking his left foot during the US team's 3-1 World Cup of Hockey exhibition loss to Canada in Ottawa Wednesday night.

Gill breaks foot in US loss


President Vladimir Putin told the director general of the International Monetary Fund, Rodrigo Rato, on Thursday that Moscow was ready to pay off its debts early because the budget was benefiting from soaring prices for Russia #39;s energy exports.

Briefs: Russia to pay IMF debt early


Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that Mondays postponed game between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays will be made up as part of a doubleheader today, and said the Yankees had withdrawn their request for a forfeit.

Brief Yankees to play 2 today


AP - SEEING RED: The government deficit is so big that the just-passed  #36;388 billion bill financing almost every federal agency in 2005 could be eliminated and there would still be red ink.

Summary Box: Leaner Budget, Stubborn Debt (AP)


Communications equipment maker Tellabs scaled back the size of its purchase of Advanced Fibre Communications (AFC) Tuesday, reaching a new agreement that will drop the price tag on the deal to \$1.

Tellabs scales back AFC buy


TOKYO (Reuters) - Bridgestone Corp. will enter the display  device market with ultra-thin electronic price tags, aiming for  annual sales of 1 billion yen (\$9.23 million) in around two to  three years, Japan's top tire maker said on Wednesday.

Bridgestone to Produce Ultra-Thin Display Devices


In Israel's worst terrorist attack in six months, two buses were hit by suicide bombers Tuesday.

Beersheba bombers skirt the wall


AFP - Bosnian Serb authorities apologized for the first time to relatives of around 8,000 Muslims killed by Serb forces in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, Europe's worst atrocity since World War II.

Bosnian Serbs apologize for Srebrenica massacre (AFP)


AP - The American-Russian crew manning the international space station will redock a spaceship later this month in preparation for spacewalks planned for next year, Russian Mission Control said Friday.

Space Station Crew to Redock Spaceship (AP)


It's not just work that's being outsourced from wealthy nations to poorer ones. These days, online gamers in developing countries are being paid to earn virtual goods that wealthier players are too lazy or unskilled to win on their own. By Laila Weir.

Boring Game? Outsource It


BEIJING, Aug 18 (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday it hoped all six parties taking part in talks on the North Korea nuclear crisis keep calm, remain flexible and continue negotiations despite inevitable difficulties.

China says hopes N.Korea nuclear talks to continue


washingtonpost.com - There's plenty of good news out there in the technology sector, particularly when it comes to e-commerce powerhouses like eBay and Amazon, and portals like Yahoo.

Techs Can't Find Hangover Cure (washingtonpost.com)


Internet giant Yahoo is introducing new search engine tools that will enable users to create personal folders and share their favorite links with others.

Yahoo introducing new search engine tools


Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are flocking to buy Coca-Cola and Pepsi, believing that the sugar in the fizzy drinks kills pests.

Indian farmers turn to Cola to kill pests


I #39;ll give you the synopsis - (Seattle) got a whole bunch of offensive rebounds that I wasn #39;t really happy about. That gave them confidence to stay in the game.

Making Things Difficult


Developments in silicon carbide wafers may lead to a new world of fast, robust electronics.

Breakthrough promises hotter, tougher, faster chips


SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Australian property investor Stockland Group (SGP.AU) said Monday it sought a trading halt on its securities pending the release of a statement  quot;about a proposal involving General Property Trust quot; (GTP).

Australia #39;s Stockland Plans Statement About GPT


NICOSIA: Cyprus has upped the ante in its demands for recognition from Turkey, warning its European Union partners it may otherwise veto the start of accession talks with Ankara, local newspapers reported.

Cyprus warns it could veto Turkey #39;s EU talks


Fears of a slowdown in the US economy today eased as factories reported a jump in orders for costly manufactured goods during July.

US economy boosted by rise in manufacturing orders


New York, NY (Sports Network) - United States men #39;s national team captain and former San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Landon Donovan announced Tuesday he will return to Europe to continue his soccer career and development as a player.

Donovan decides to return to Germany


A loss of power at Dolphins headquarters on Saturday wasn #39;t the only impact Hurricane Frances has made on the franchise. Of the nine players who didn #39;t travel to New Orleans for Friday #39;s 20-19

Frances makes impact on Dolphins


About a dozen brokerage firms are suspected of failing to secure the best available price for stocks they were trading for their customers.

S.E.C. Is Said to Examine Stock Pricing By Big Brokers


Dec 10, 2004: A new web browser security hole has been uncovered by a security firm, which could provide scammers with the means to launch phishing attacks from pop-up windows on genuine, trusted websites.

Ubiquitous browser hole an easy target for scammers


Smart

Pinecone-Inspired


England won their first ever Dubai Sevens title last night, beating Fiji 26-21 in a nail-biter of a final. The visitors went behind early on at the Exiles Club with Kameli Ratuvou going over, but Mike Friday #39;s

England bag first Dubai Sevens title


Two 2-0 teams, Terrell Owens and Steve Mariucci make the Eagles-Lions matchup about as attractive to Bay Area fans as an early-season game not involving the 49ers or Raiders can be.

Check this out


FRANKFURT : As the euro continued to rise against the dollar, speculation intensified over whether the European Central Bank, meeting this week to set interest rates, would feel compelled to act either by intervening directly on the forex markets or by

Rising euro puts ECB in a fix


The first major revamp of the collaboration package includes overhauled support, search and update features.

Microsoft hones SharePoint update


US lifestyle guru Martha Stewart begins a five-month prison term for lying about her investments.

Martha Stewart starts prison term


JABALYA, Gaza (Reuters) - Twenty-eight Palestinians and  three Israelis were killed on Thursday, Gaza's bloodiest day in  four years of conflict, as Israel's army struck back after a  rocket attack killed two Israeli children at a border town.

28 Palestinians, 3 Israelis Die in Gaza Fighting


European planemaker Airbus reported progress on Wednesday in plans to allow passengers to use mobile phones in flight, beginning in 2006.

Airbus Sees Mobile Phones On Planes By 2006


After 57 years of hostility and mutual suspicion, India and Pakistan today made a new beginning in their relations when they decided to consider all possible options for a peaceful negotiated settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue and explore the

PM, Pervez address Kashmir issue


Stocks rallied in quiet trading Wednesday as oil prices fell for a fourth straight session, countering a pair of government reports that gave a mixed picture of the economy.

Dow Closes Up 83 on Lower Oil Prices


AFP - The United States and Europe appeared closer to agreement ahead of a meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog over setting a deadline for Iran to allay suspicions it is secretly making atomic weapons, but Tehran insisted on its right to develop peaceful nuclear technology.

US and Europe draw closer on setting a deadline of Iran nuclear program (AFP)


Reuters - (Gene Emery is a columnist who covers science and\technology. His Internet address is GEmery(at)Cox.net. Any\opinions in the column are his alone.)

Programs: For Stealth Lovers, 'Thief' Is a Steal (Reuters)


PC World - Experts call Marketscore software a privacy threat.

Universities Struggling with SSL-busting Spyware (PC World)


AFP - Australian Prime Minister John Howard called a general election for October 9 with his conservative government trailing well behind the opposition Labor Party in opinion polls.

Australian PM Howard calls general election on October 9 (AFP)


Peja Stojakovic scored 29 points to steer the Sacramento Kings to their eighth victory in nine games, a 98-93 decision over the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday.

NBA Wrap: Stojakovic Powers Kings Past Grizzlies


With the offense rumbling and Jon Lieber in command, the Yankees walloped Boston at misty, wind-whipped Yankee Stadium.

Pouring It on, Yanks Cool Off Sox


Citigroup said yesterday that Sallie L. Krawcheck, the former equity analyst recruited to the bank to clean up its research department, would become its chief financial officer.

Citigroup Job Changes May Be Dress Rehearsal for Top Post in <b>...</b>


Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat makes a rare admission that

Arafat admits 'mistakes' to MPs


China has deported an Australian activist and his American colleague after they campaigned for an improvement in human rights in Tibet by unfurling a banner in Beijing, it was reported today.

China to deport Australian activist


The U.S. failed to persuade the International Atomic Energy Agency that it should refer Iran's suspect nuclear program to the Security Council.

Nuclear Agency's Action on Iran Falls Short of U.S. Goal


AP - The top prosecutor for Sierra Leone's war crimes court on Monday accused former Liberian President Charles Taylor of recruiting fighters in the country he once led and working to destabilize other West African nations. A spokesman for Taylor denied the allegations.

Prosecutor Accuses Former Liberia Leader (AP)


Reuters - U.S. retail sales rose by an\unexpectedly large 1.5 percent in September, propelled by the\sharpest jump in auto sales in nearly three years, according to\a government report on Friday that bodes well for economic\growth in the third quarter.

Retail Sales Up 1.5 Pct., Fueled by Autos (Reuters)


LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has asked English referees to give his players greater protection from what he says are poor tackles.

Benitez calls for tackling clampdown


Global shopping mall owner Westfield Group, Australian developer Multiplex Group and Britain #39;s Reuben brothers have launched a planned 585 million pounds bid for Duelguide, owner of the UK property firm Chelsfield.

Bid launched for property firm Chelsfield


At least four people were killed andmore than 200 others injured in a series of powerful earthquakes in northwestern Japan, mainly in the Niigata Prefecture, on Saturday evening.

Powerful earthquakes in Japan kills 4


The Dutch brewing company Heineken reported a rise in first half sales on Wednesday but said net profit fell 27 percent, due in part to the weaker dollar.

Heineken #39;s Net Profit Falls 27 Percent


Highland Hospitality Corp. a lodging real estate investment trust, said Friday that it bought four hotels from Wyndham International Inc. for \$227 million, plus closing adjustments.

Highland Buys Four Hotels From Wyndham


Nationwide, the UK #39;s largest building society, yesterday warned that more than 40pc of Britons believe they face a retirement of financial hardship, while the Consumers

Britons fear poverty


But Desi Relaford #39;s ninth-inning drive with two runners on and two out settled into the glove of right fielder Gary Matthews Jr.

GAME DAY RECAP Saturday, August 21


The executive who leads Microsoft #39;s government sales effort is leaving to become CEO of a telecommunications company, the software maker said on Tuesday.

Microsoft #39;s government head to jump ship


AP - Quarterback Trent Green was undergoing X-rays of his sore ribs Monday and is listed as questionable for this week's game at Oakland.

Chiefs QB Trent Green Questionable (AP)


Terry Tiffee hit a go-ahead two-run double in his major league debut to give the Minnesota Twins a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers Wednesday night.

Twins 4, Rangers 2


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury debt prices took a hit  on Wednesday as lackluster interest in new five-year notes left  investors skittish just two days before the crucial September  jobs report.

U.S. Treasury Debt Prices Take a Hit


The US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said at a meeting of the American Bankers Association in New York on Tuesday the increasing number of bank mergers underlines new opportunity for the financial sector to recover.

Greenspan points bank mergers as stability factor


Squeezed by budget constraints, the Navy is proposing significant cuts in its shipbuilding program that could batter the struggling industry.

Navy Plans to Buy Fewer Ships


AP - The future of controversial European Union legislation that would allow for some software patents was in doubt Thursday after the Polish government switched sides, saying the directive could hurt small and medium-sized businesses.

Future of EU Patent Legislation in Doubt (AP)


DAVIE  The preseason debate over quarterbacks has seemingly boiled down to whether Jay Fiedler is able to withstand the pain of a cracked rib or AJ Feeley can stand under center with a clear head.

Sage may be next on stage for Dolphins


British carmaker Jaguar will cut production by some 15,000 units over the rest of 2004 amid slack demand, a Jaguar spokesman said on Friday.

Jaguar to Cut Output Amid Slack Demand


Reuters - The New York Jets\solved their backup quarterback problems by signing Quincy\Carter, who was recently released by the Dallas Cowboys. Terms\of the deal were not announced.

Quincy Carter Finds a Home with the Jets (Reuters)


A clever species of owl, baits its lair with dung to attract tasty beetles. The burrowing owl has long been known for its preference for dung beetles; the insect accounts for nearly two-thirds of the bird #39;s diet.

Owls use dung to  quot;fish quot; for beetles


The discovery of remains of a tiny human closely related to man on the remote Indonesian island of Flores and tales of Hobbit-like creatures who still roam its jungles have triggered an influx of visitors in search of a fabled lost world.

Hobbits #39; boost tourism figures


Reuters - A suicide car bomber attacked a police\convoy in Baghdad on Friday as guerrillas kept pressure on\Iraq's U.S.-backed security forces despite a bloody rout of\insurgents in the Sunni Muslim bastion of Falluja.

Bomber Targets Baghdad Police, Troops Raid Mosque (Reuters)


A hike in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices was postponed yet again by the government today. The decision was taken after pressure from the Left, which wanted the price hike to be put off till after the

Govt postpones fuel price hike


et Seal Inc., a retailer of clothing for young women, said yesterday that its second-quarter loss widened after the company recorded a \$75.5 million expense to write down the value of certain assets.

Loss Widens at Wet Seal


Shares of mail-order DVD rental company Netflix Inc. plunged Thursday after it warned that it was slashing its subscription price in anticipation of Amazon.com Inc. entering an already crowded market.

Netflix Anticipates Amazon DVD-Rental Service


Vijay Singh is making the game look easy by winning tournament after tournament, and millions upon millions of dollars, while chasing Tiger Woods #39; season money record.

Roundup: Singh takes lead into final round


The adoption of a specific numerical target for inflation would likely do little to improve monetary policy in the United States and could hurt, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson said on Friday.

UPDATE 1-Fed #39;s No 2 says US doesn #39;t need inflation target


The shift would in all probability save the company more than 10 million pounds a year. The jobs would range from front and back office functions, including call centre posts.

UKS INSURANCE MAJOR TO OUTSOURCE 1,100 JOBS TO INDIA


Airbus questions EU's ruling against Microsoft, which could affect other industries.

European Antitrust Probe Questioned


Reuters - A former Enron executive currently\serving a prison term testified in the first Enron criminal\trial on Wednesday that he worked on a secret deal with Merrill\Lynch to fraudulently boost the disgraced energy giant's\profits.

Jailed Ex-Enron Exec: Merrill Deal Bogus (Reuters)


Topping the list of new models is a \$999 color laser multifunction printer.

Canon Unveils a Cavalcade of Printers


The number of new people claiming for jobless benefits in the United States declined sharply last week, a sign that the recovery in the US labor marketmay be strengthening.

US jobless claims down to lowest level in about two months


MUMBAI: Satellite television provider, Direc TV in a regulatory filing on Friday said that it may take up to \$1.6 billion in pre - tax charges to write down the value of satellites it would use for broadcasting instead of high-speed data services.

Net via satellite effort to be written off by Direc TV


Reuters - Shares of SuperGen Inc. \jumped more than 24 percent in trading before the market opened\on Wednesday after MGI Pharma Inc.  said it would take\a  #36;40 million stake in the company as part of a cancer drug\license deal.

Before-the-Bell: SuperGen Shares Soar (Reuters)


Reuters - A leading index of the U.S. economy\dipped in the latest week, and a continued lack of growth in\the data shows no end in sight to the current slowdown, a\report showed on Friday.

Economic Gauge Dips, Slowdown Continues (Reuters)


European Union Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said Santander Central Hispano SA #39;s bid for Abbey National Plc would boost the integration of the European banking market if it succeeds

Monti Says Santander Abbey Bid Would Boost to Bank Integration


Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat greets wellwishers prior to his departure from the West Bank town of Ramallah in this picture released by the Palestinian Authority Friday Oct. 29, 2004.

Arafat May Be Suffering From Leukemia


UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A mine in the Democratic  Republic of Congo that provided uranium for the U.S. atomic  bombs dropped on Japan in 1945 -- the first nuclear weapons  used in warfare -- is too dangerous to reopen, the United  Nations said on Tuesday.

Congo Mine, Source of Atom Bombs, Stays Shut -UN


It seems that fast food is in style. Favorites McDonald #39;s (NYSE: MCD) and Wendy #39;s (NYSE: WEN) had already posted positive August sales comps; Yum!

A Taste of Yum! Wins the World Over


House prices in Britain fell at their steepest pace in nine years in the three months to September,adding to evidence that the property market is cooling and decreasing the possibility

British house prices record sharpest fall in 9 years


A US request for British troops to move up to Baghdad to allow American forces to be pulled out for a possible attack on Fallujah is prompting fears from both troops and politicians

UK troop plan for Baghdad stirs fears


Republicans also said they would seek to turn any disruptions at the convention to their advantage, by portraying protests as Democratic-sanctioned displays of disrespect for a sitting president.

G.O.P. Vows to Offer Detailed Agenda at Its Convention


Carl Pavano decides he wants to pitch for the Yankees, and his agent and New York close in on a four-year contract worth about \$39 million.

Pavano Picks Yankees


ATHENS -- Vicente Escobedo learned a hard lesson yesterday at Peristeri Boxing Hall. He learned you have to be ready when your moment arrives or you will chase your dream all night without ever reaching it.

In a flash, Escobedo's dream is over


As computers and hand-held electronic gadgets eat into sales, this holiday season promises to be an especially competitive one for toymakers.

A Look at the Toys of Christmas (Near) Future


Israel #39;s cabinet agreed on Sunday to free dozens of Palestinian prisoners in a move meant to show goodwill ahead of elections to replace Yasser Arafat, officials said.

Israel Cabinet Agrees to Free Jailed Palestinians


AP - Texas Rangers pitcher Frank Francisco was suspended for the rest of the season and two teammates and a coach were suspended Friday after he threw a chair that hit a woman and broke her nose during a game against the Oakland Athletics earlier this week.

Rangers Reliever Suspended for Fan Fight (AP)


MAKE hay while the sun shines, they say. Or, in the oil majors case, pump oil while the price rockets. BP yesterday, and no doubt Shell tomorrow, are doing just that, with profits going through the roof

Oil majors cash in as price hikes mean soaring profits


Pakistan #39;s former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, has demanded the right to return from exile, one day after her husband was freed on bail after eight years in prison.

Former Pakistani PM wants to end exile


French media giant Vivendi Universal reported a second quarter net loss of 1.852 billion euros (2.3 billion dollars), six times larger than the 313-million-euro shortfall in the same period last year.

Vivendi Universal reports big loss in second quarter


Reuters - One of the world's most bizarre\scientific collections went on show on Thursday.

Science Oddities Are Revealed to the British Public (Reuters)


Spa is among the most demanding circuits for the engine, and Rob White explains the challenge of this unusual circuit.

Rob White acknowledges Spa is a tough test for the V10


When Margaret Hassan was kidnapped in October, her car was waved down by two men in Iraqi police uniforms. Gunmen surrounded the car and dragged Ms Hassan #39;s driver and unarmed guard from their seats.

Iraq #39;s tireless worker killed in the country she loved


When it comes to timing, the Patriots can't get a break. When they were making their great stretch drive through the best teams in the NFL last winter on their way to winning their second Super Bowl in three years, they often were overshadowed by a team not even playing at the time.

Patriots on the lookout for a time-share


PRAGUE : Juventus star Pavel Nedved has told the Czech Republic football federation he has retired at the age of 32 from international soccer after winning 83 caps.

Soccer: Nedved calls time on Czechs


AP - Alonzo Mourning played for the New Jersey Nets on Thursday night for first time since a kidney transplant in December.

Mourning Plays 10 Months After Transplant (AP)


Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - The Indiana Pacers try to win their second straight game tonight, as they host Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third of a four-game homestand at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Garnett, Timberwolves visit Pacers


In another product postpone-ment, semiconductor giant Intel Corp said it won #39;t be offering a chip for projection TVs by the end of this year as it had announced earlier this year.

Intel backtracks on offering chips for projection TVs now


Reuters - Brad Grey, executive producer of the\hit television show

Grey Seen as Leading Paramount Candidate (Reuters)


AP - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake jolted the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Saturday, the Puerto Rico Seismic Network said.

Earthquake Shakes Caribbean Territories (AP)


Firefox Toolbar: A set of search toolbars for Mozilla users\\Yet another search toolbar! But fortunately unlike most Internet Explorer only toolbars it is for the users of the alternate open source browser Firefox and Mozilla. Firefox Toolbar is a set of free toolbars made by a company called Vpop Technologies ...


AP - Dwyane Wade scored 25 points and the Miami Heat remained unbeaten against Eastern Conference opponents by beating the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers 93-83 Sunday night.

Heat Top 76ers, Stay Unbeaten in East (AP)


Astana - New York. October 20. KAZINFORM quotes Reuters -- Three top Citigroup Inc. executives, including Vice Chairman Deryck Maughan, are leaving the financial services giant in the wake of a scandal at its Japanese private banking unit.

Japan probe claims Citigroup trio


AP - The Green Bay Packers activated cornerback Mike McKenzie and waived tight end Sean McHugh on Saturday.

Packers Activate Cornerback McKenzie (AP)


There is little cause for celebration in the stock market these days, but investors in value-focused mutual funds have reason to feel a bit smug -- if only because they've lost less than the folks who stuck with growth.

In a Down Market, Head Toward Value Funds