Reuters - Nearly three years after Enron Corp.'s\ dramatic collapse into bankruptcy, the first\criminal trial against the disgraced energy company's former\employees is set to kick off on Monday.

First Enron Criminal Case Set for Trial (Reuters)


Yoshihiro Inoue used the Winny program at his home in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan on September 24 and 25 last year and enabled general computer users to download the Hollywood film  quot;A Beautiful Mind quot; and another movie on the Internet, the ruling said

Man Gets Jail Term for Using Net File-Sharing Software


London - An international music industry group said on Thursday it was launching hundreds of lawsuits across Europe accusing people of piracy for illegally sharing music on the internet.

Clampdown on music pirates


CARACAS, VENEZUELA - More than 100 curators and scientists will gather at a Venezuelan university Thursday to explore how biotechnology can help preserve art and artifacts in tropical climates.

Biotechnology conference to explore preservation of tropical art


Honda Motor Co. said Wednesday that US sales rose 10.2 percent in October, boosted by higher truck sales. The automaker sold 110,502 vehicles during the month, up from 100,270 vehicles in October 2003.

Honda #39;s October Sales Rise 10.2 Percent


This is definitely not the closest that Washington has come to getting a major league team to return to the District. In early 1974, Topps ran off baseball cards of 15 San Diego Padres, including

The District #39;s Play at the Plate Is Going to Be Very Close


Charles F. Wurster is professor emeritus of environmental sciences at Stony Brook University and is a member of the board of Environmental Defense, a nonprofit organization.

Kyoto protocol doesn #39;t have to be out of our reach


AP - Bears cornerback Todd McMillon just laughed when asked if he could guess what the Minnesota Vikings were thinking about the injuries that have devastated Chicago's secondary.

Bears' Secondary Forced to Play Hurt (AP)


Supermarket giant Tesco launches a new digital download store today, becoming the latest entrant in the music downloading market - a 25m a year business dominated by Apple #39;s iTunes.

Tesco challenges iTunes #39; domination


AP - Maurice Taylor, left on the court despite picking up three early fouls, made three straight shots to snap Houston out of an early offensive funk in the Rockets' 80-69 victory Monday night over the New Jersey Nets.

Taylor and Rockets Rally Past Nets 80-69 (AP)


Alien star turns space tourist

Sigourney Weaver books flight with Virgin Galactica


In June 1998, Merck was falling behind in a high-stakes race to get Vioxx on the market ahead of its rivals, and Edward Scolnick, the company #39;s chief scientist, was showing the strain.

E-mails highlight Vioxx concerns


Nine Law Lords are set to a make a major ruling on the extent to which the government can restrict human rights in its bid to combat terrorism.

Ruling due on terror detentions


BELGRADE (Reuters) - A feared

Road Rage Was Behind Serb 'Assassination' Scare


The murder created a South African icon. On Sept. 12, 1998, a crowd of young men fatally beat Gugu Dlamini, 36, in her village in rural KwaZulu-Natal province after she revealed that she carried HIV.

To Provoke and to Heal


European researchers can now use a new supercomputing network to help them in their work.  quot;We have just completed testing, quot; said David Henty with the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre, a member

IBM drives Euro-supercomputer grid


It took Deion Branch nine weeks to get his  quot;breath quot; back but when he did he left the Kansas City Chiefs breathless.

Branch return breathtaking


AFP - US Secretary of State Colin Powell will tell a Senate panel whether the United States believes genocide is being committed in the western Sudanese region of Darfur, the State Department said.

Powell to say Thursday if Darfur deaths are genocide (AFP)


Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich is out indefinitely after spraining his lateral collateral ligament in his left knee in Sunday #39;s 20-6 loss to Houston.

Jaguars quarterback out indefinitely


com December 15, 2004, 2:07 PM PT. Sales of new and used PCs running the Linux operating system will reach \$10 billion by 2008, market researcher IDC predicted Wednesday.

IDC: Linux PC sales to hit \$10 billion in 2008


Mia Hamm and the rest of the Fab Five of women #39;s soccer from the United States had just enough left in their thirtysomething legs for one more title, beating Brazil 2-1 on Thursday in extra time to win the Olympic gold medal in their final

United States tops Brazil 2-1 in extra time to win gold medal in <b>...</b>


com September 19, 2004, 3:00 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half.

Microsoft lets governments into Office


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks gained on Monday as oil  prices dipped after reports of victory for the Venezuelan  president in a referendum on his rule eased fears about the  country's oil exports.

Stocks Gain as Oil Prices Ease


HABBANIYA, Iraq -- As winter sets in, Iraqi families who fled the US-led attack on Fallujah for a lakeside resort upriver wish their holiday there would come to an end.

Residents anxious to return


WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd. (FCG.YY) said Thursday its takeover offer for Australian-based National Foods (NFD.

NZ Fonterra Says National Foods Offer Generous And Full-2


Scotland #39;s Alastair Forsyth will take a three-stroke lead over Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter into the final round of the Volvo Masters today.

Forsyth holds on as season reaches a thunderous end


GAZA CITY, 29 November 2004 - Palestine Liberation Organization chief Mahmoud Abbas won the endorsement of one of the main Palestinian armed factions yesterday before pledging to stop anyone but the official security forces from carrying weapons.

Abbas Wins Backing of Brigades


Reuters - World finance ministers gathered\under heavy guard on Sunday to discuss efforts to fight terror\financing while warning the world must stay focused on the\economic recovery and fight against poverty.

Finance Leaders Tackle Terror Financing (Reuters)


Newspaper says largest US discount carrier could boost annual revenue by \$60 million as a result. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Inc.

Southwest to cut 88 flights in October


Henry Bibby was fired as Southern California #39;s basketball coach Monday, just four games into his ninth season. The Trojans, beset by some player dissension, are 2-2.

USC fires basketball coach Henry Bibby


NABLUS, 22 November 2004 - More than 80 percent of Palestinians believe that veteran leader Yasser Arafat died as a result of poisoning and not from natural causes, a poll published yesterday revealed.

Palestinians Believe Arafat Was Poisoned: Poll


SPACE.com - For military and intelligence communities, outer space has become a highground, hide-and-seek arena -- a kind of

Anatomy of a Spy Satellite (SPACE.com)


Reuters - The United States, Germany and other G7\nations agreed on Saturday to write off up to 80 percent of\Iraq's  #36;120 billion foreign debt in a move that could pave the\way for a wider international accord, officials said.

U.S., G7 Allies Agree on Iraq Debt Relief (Reuters)


Red Sox ace Curt Schilling said his right ankle isn #39;t recovering from surgery as quickly as he expected and he doesn #39;t think he #39;ll be ready to pitch by Opening Day.

Schilling says he likely won #39;t be ready by Opening Day


The Hubble Space Telescope has looked into a bubble of gas and dust being inflated by a young star's particles.

Hubble peers at celestial bubble


He was leading a procession of Olympic shot-putters, thick-bodied, thick-necked men who were about to enter a dirt-floored den of antiquity, and be immersed in history that was as palpable as the crumbling columns and fading marble slabs.

Nelson #39;s day left in ruins


SEOUL A group of foreign diplomats was escorted Thursday to the site of a recent huge blast in North Korea, a diplomat here said on condition of anonymity.

Envoys view North Korean blast site


AFP - Treasurer Peter Costello has been accused of preparing to break big-spending election promises by playing down official predictions of strong economic growth as the government moved towards outright control of both houses of Parliament.

Australian govt says pre-election economic forecasts too optimistic (AFP)


Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. said Thursday its profit fell 20 percent in the third quarter, as volume was hurt by bad weather, a sluggish retail environment and a turn away from regular soft drinks.

Update 1: Coca-Cola Enterprises #39; Profit Falls


07.12.04 - By Marcus Wood: July 30th 2004 Danny Williams knocked out Mike Tyson in the fourth round in Louisville, USA. Fast forward four months and Danny Williams is preparing to fight reigning WBC world champion Vitali Klitschko as a direct result.

Vitali Klitschko vs. Danny Williams: Nothing to lose for Williams!


The Sudanese Government has expelled the head of Save the Children from the country and threatened the director of Oxfam with a similar fate today.

Head of British charity expelled from Sudan


After missing the first four games of the season with a hamstring injury, Northborough's Sarah Callaghan has returned to the Tufts University women's soccer team.

Callaghan back on Tufts soccer field


Chandra X-Ray Observatory -- A nearby galaxy cluster is facing an intergalactic headwind as it is pulled by an underlying superstructure of dark matter, according to new evidence from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.     Astronomers think that most of the matter in the universe is concentrated in long large filaments of dark matter and that galaxy clusters are formed where these filaments intersect...

Motions in Nearby Galaxy Cluster Reveal Hidden Superstructure


Tory MP Boris Johnson's political career is not over despite his sacking, say his friends and father.

Sacked Boris 'will bounce back'


Spanish anthropologists, intrigued by a single fossil tooth found near a Catalonian village, dug up more of the animal #39;s stony skeleton and announced they have discovered what may be the last common ancestor of all the world #39;s living great apes

Fossil find may be the father of us all


Eli Manning had a chance, after a shaky start and a resurgent second half, to drive the Giants to a winning touchdown, but fell short in the final minute.

Present Imperfect, Future Is Manning


NEW YORK An unexpected jump in unemployment claims and rising oil prices have stocks losing ground. Also, tech stocks are tumbling on poor sales forecasts from a pair of semiconductor makers.

Stocks fall on worrisome news


Burma #39;s ruling military junta has placed Aung San Suu Kyi, the country #39;s charismatic opposition leader, under an additional year of house arrest, dashing hopes

Burma Extends Suu Kyi #39;s Detention


ATHENS, Greece -- Matt Emmons hit just about everything he aimed at Sunday. And it cost him his second gold medal. The US shooter had a commanding lead in the Olympic 50-meter three-position rifle competition

Wrong target costs gold


It adds CRM functionality but faces competition from hosted services.

Best Software overhauls Act, unveils premium edition


Islamabad - Pakistan has assured India Pakistani forces will not seize a disputed glacier high in the Himalayas if Indian troops were to withdraw from it, a Pakistani newspaper said on Sunday.

Report: Pakistan makes India offer on glacier


AP - Many undecided voters liked what they saw from John Kerry and were more than a little concerned about President Bush's performance in the first presidential debate  #151; but they still had questions about what Kerry would do in Iraq.

Kerry Lures Persuadable Voters in Debate (AP)


Question 1: How many weeks did it take for the BCS to once again prove it was a fraud? One. Let #39;s pretend for a minute that this was December 6th and not October 19th.

10 Questions for College Football


GONAVES, HaitiTropical storm Jeanne swept northern Haiti with flash floods, killing at least 90 people and leaving dozens of families huddled on rooftops before pushing into the Atlantic east of the Bahamas, officials said.

Storm Jeanne death toll at 100


The global economy should register its strongest growth in 30 years in 2004 despite soaring oil prices, which are expected to restrain the US expansion a bit, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday.

IMF: World economy set for strongest growth in 30 years


Taiwan #39;s schools, businesses and financial markets are closed as typhoon Aere continues moving towards Taipei, the capital. Forecasters say Typhoon Aere is packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers

Typhoon Aere Headed for Northern Taiwan


TiVo #39;s Q2 earnings reflect the high cost of attracting new subscribers to its customer base. The company lost \$10.8 million, or 13 cents a share, on revenue of \$27.

TiVo Earnings Reflect Cost of Customer Acquisition


Reuters - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon\accused far-rightists on Sunday of trying to incite civil war\over his plan to withdraw from the occupied Gaza Strip and\called for measures to curb such groups.

Israel's Sharon Accuses Far-Right of Inciting War (Reuters)


WASHINGTON - A major rewrite of corporate tax law that would end a nasty trade dispute with Europe won approval Wednesday from congressional negotiators after House Republicans beat back efforts to increase regulation of tobacco.

Tobacco regulation deleted from corporate tax bill


----- BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) - The Buffalo Sabres locked up a piece of their future Friday, agreeing to terms with left wing Thomas Vanek on a three-year contract.

Sabres agree to terms with 2003 first-round pick Vanek


Imagine defending US Open champ Andy Roddick reaching his peak eight years from now. Unfathomable. Roddick playing better as a 30-year old than at 22?

Henman making surprising Open run


AP - Yasser Arafat will be buried at the battered West Bank headquarters that had been his virtual prison for the last three years, his aides decided after the Palestinian leader sank deeper into a coma.

Arafat to Be Buried at His West Bank HQ (AP)


Britain yesterday ruled out negotiating with the abductors of a Briton in Iraq, despite a desperate plea for help from the hostage.

I don #39;t deserve to die: Briton #39;s plea to Blair


One of the players held the 28-inch self-described actor, Nelson de la Rosa, in his arms, Pedro #39;s little pal dodging the flowing champagne and buckets of water to find himself in a corner with the button-down Red Sox general manager.

Yankees braced for circus known as dysfunctional Red Sox


Jerome Schneider, the nation's best-known seller of phony offshore banks, said that he helped hundreds of rich Americans evade taxes.

Pioneer of Sham Tax Havens Sits Down for a Pre-Jail Chat


Martha Stewart has been ordered to serve her sentence for lying about a stock sale at the federal prison in Alderson, W.Va.

Martha Stewart Is Said to Serve Time in West Virginia


Prince Harry headed home from Argentina on Friday, royal officials said, amid media reports that shots were fired at the ranch where he was staying.

Prince Harry flies home from Argentina amid reports of shooting


Using its strengths in virtual machine technology, VMWare on Monday unwrapped new beta software for the desktop that allows administrators to more securely deploy and mange work environments outside the corporate network.

VMWare reveals Ace in the hole


BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Third seed Albert Costa and fifth  seeded Russian Nikolay Davidenko were knocked out of the  Romanian Open tennis tournament Monday, losing in the first  round to unseeded opponents.

Costa, Davidenko Bounced in Bucharest


World champion Tom Pappas pulls out of the decathlon Tuesday after injuring his left foot while attempting a pole vault.

Injured Pappas Pulls Out


Iraq #39;s interim prime minister went to Jordan on Tuesday for meetings with tribal figures and other influential Iraqis in a bid to encourage Sunni Muslims to participate in the Jan.

Allawi in Jordan for meetings with influential Iraqis but rules <b>...</b>


The spacecraft passed within 746 miles of Titan #39;s surface and should send back pictures 100 times sharper than past views. Those images are to be released beginning today.

Spacecraft Cassini Zooms in on Saturn #39;s Big Moon


The drug company's experimental treatment for Alzheimer's  failed to prove effective in a big clinical trial. The stock  closed Tuesday at \$45.85 on the New York Stock Exchange before  falling 10 percent in after-hours trading following release of  the trial results.

Stocks to Watch Wednesday


Time Warner #39;s America Online unit is getting ready to fire more than 700 workers next month as part of a cost-cutting effort to combat declining subscriber numbers, according to a published report.

Report: AOL to cut 700 jobs


NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Three college quarterbacks and two running backs, all from undefeated teams, are finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award, officials with the Walter Camp Foundation announced Wednesday.

Three QBs, two RBs compose list


Australia end day four of the first Test needing four wickets to beat India.

Cricket: Australia close on victory


AP - Fidel Castro says the emergence of an Osama bin Laden videotape just ahead of the U.S. presidential election seemed to have been

Castro Raises Doubts About Bin Laden Tape (AP)


PPARC -- A mystery lurking at the centre of our own Milky Way galaxy - an object radiating high-energy gamma rays - has been detected by a team of UK astronomers working with international partners.     Their research, published today (September 22nd) in the Journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, was carried out using the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.), an array of four telescopes, in Namibia, South-West Africa...

High Energy Mystery lurks at the Galactic Center


MADRID, Spain -- Real Madrid #39;s week of misery continued when they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Espanyol, finishing with nine men after the dismissals of Walter Samuel and Michel Salgado.

Two off as Real #39;s misery continues


A report released Thursday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project says US workers are increasingly using instant messaging (IM) in the workplace, with approximately 11 million Americans logging into an IM program daily.

Study: Workers Find IM a Mixed Blessing


AP - As Democrats and Republicans disagreed on the accomplishments of the 108th Congress, one thing is certain: Hundreds of programs  #151; from highway building to welfare reform  #151; are being kept on life support through temporary measures because lawmakers failed to meet deadline after deadline for renewing them.

Congress Wraps Up With Mixed Results (AP)


Reuters - European shares were little changed at\29-month highs on Friday, with Germany's Ifo survey expected to\be an early focus.

European Shares Little Changed (Reuters)


Japanese auto giant Suzuki says it plans to open a new diesel engine factory and a second car assembly plant in India.

Suzuki planning India expansion


KABUL, Afghanistan - Two US soldiers died Monday in a fire-fight with insurgents in a troubled southeastern Afghan province, the American military said.

2 American soldiers killed in Afghan fire-fight


Last week, Search Engine Strategies made its debut in Sweden, drawing attendees from all over Scandinavia, Europe and even Africa and India.

Impressions of Search Engine Strategies Stockholm


Seeking to speed the delivery of new communications services to US airline passengers, the government yesterday paved the way for at least one company to compete

Web access on jets may grow


Bobby Fischer remains in Japan Tuesday night thanks to a last-minute appeal by his lawyers against a deportation order issued just hours earlier.

Bobby Fischer hangs on in Japan


Persistent rain in northern Japan has triggered fears of fresh landslides in the wake of powerful earthquakes which have shaken the region.

Rain prompts Japan quake fears


NORTON -- There was a warm twilight some 10 hours after the golf had begun, and after a day filled with birdies, eagles, and red numbers, it had come down to this: David Duval standing over a 2 1/2-foot putt to make the cut, while in the fairway some 200 yards away, Vijay Singh waited anxiously for a chance to ...

Singh goes low (63) to reach heights


Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unprecedented television appearance in neighboring Ukraine days before presidential elections, endorsing the record of the prime minister, one of two top candidates.

Russia #39;s Putin Lauds Ukraine PM in TV Appearance


DENVER - Carmelo Anthony spent many nights at the Olympics in his hotel room depressed and wanting to go home. The Denver Nuggets star was demoted to the bench during the Athens Games, in which the NBA players

Carmelo can #39;t believe he rode


Tokyo - Toshiba Corp. has developed a 1.8-inch hard disk drive that achieves a 40 Gbyte capacity by employing a perpendicular recording technology for the first time.

New Toshiba hard drive uses perpendicular technology


SPAIN #39;S Banco Santander Central Hispano yesterday revealed plans to speed up its 8.4bn bid for Abbey in an apparent effort to thwart interest from other possible bidders.

Santander moves to speed Abbey acquisition


Lucknow, September 27: The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday said there was no hitch in the inauguration of the Taj Mahotsav in Agra to mark the 350 years of Mughal monument, as it has already obtained the proper permission of the Archaeological Survey

No hitch in inauguration of Taj Mahotsav: Govt


European aircraft maker Airbus SAS has withdrawn its petition to intervene in the European Commission's antitrust case against Microsoft Corp., one week before the software maker is set to have a hearing in its appeal, a Microsoft representative confirmed on Friday.

Airbus withdraws support for Microsoft in EU case


Search Engine Marketing Mistakes Retailers Need to Avoid\\According to a recent survey conducted by Shop.org and Forrester, in 2003, online retail sales jumped 51 to reach \$114 billion with 79 of all online retailers (etailers) were profitable. Online sales are expected to reach 6.6 percent of total retail sales in ...


Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi is close to reaching a plea bargain in his assault case, according to the Vancouver Province.

Report: Bertuzzi near plea bargain


Chelsea have lodged a complaint with Uefa after up to 50 fans were barred from the ground in their Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow.

Chelsea lodge complaint with Uefa


AP - Jewelry retailer Tiffany  amp; Co., dragged down by weaker-than-expected sales in Japan and higher precious metal and diamond costs, recorded a 26 percent drop in third-quarter earnings.

Tiffany Profit Slips on Weak Japan Sales (AP)


FileMaker today began shipping FileMaker Server 7 Advanced, an enhanced version of FileMaker Server 7 that provides advanced web publishing and connectivity options for efficiently managing shared solutions for desktop and web clients.

FileMaker ships FS 7 Advanced, 10M copies


NewsFactor - Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) posted profit of US #36;1.796 billion for its third quarter, up from  #36;1.791 billion a year ago. The company attributed the slight rise to its wireless segment, which brought in an additional 1.7 million wireless customers.

Verizon Wireless Boosts Parent Company (NewsFactor)


ST ANDREWS (Scotland) - Vijay Singh has avoided the  #39;Tiger Slump #39; debate - until now. In fact, the Fijian has come up with a theory about what is wrong with Tiger Woods #39; game: He has not adapted his swing to the changes in his body.

What #39;s gone wrong with Tiger #39;s swing - by Vijay


France scrambled to secure the freedom of two French journalists kidnapped by Iraqi militants who gave Paris until Monday evening to drop its controversial ban on Muslim headscarves in schools.

France Races Against Clock in Iraq Hostage Crisis


Ukraine needs your support. On Sunday December 26, 2004, a re-vote of the run-off for the Presidential Election in Ukraine is planned.  nbsp;Anyone who is over the age of 18 and a citizen of another country (i.e. other than Ukraine) can become an international observer.  nbsp;(Ukrainian citizens can be local observers)  nbsp;The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), in cooperation with the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), has organized international election observers for the first two rounds and are now seeking observers for round three.  nbsp;You do not need to be Canadian to register through the UCC, you may be a citizen of any country except Ukraine.  nbsp;You can make a contribution to democracy in Ukraine and spend the most interesting Christmas ever by coming to Ukraine to observe the elections.

Plea to the democratic world: Ukraine needs your support


Former Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk died yesterday morning in a fiery collision with a tractor-trailer near Herkimer, NY, after leading police on

Former Steeler killed in crash


Boeing Co. on Wednesday topped Wall Street expectations with a 78 percent jump in quarterly profit on strength in its defense operations, and raised its earnings forecast for 2004.

Boeing Profit Up 78 Pct., Raises Forecast


exceeding expectations:

Safe injection site visited by 600 users daily


he Rouse Company, the mall developer and manager that has helped reshape the nation #39;s landscape, agreed yesterday to be acquired by General Growth Properties, the big owner of shopping centers, for \$7.

Reshaping a Reshaper of Landscapes


AP - Ray Allen scored 29 points, including a pair of 3-pointers late in the game, as the Seattle SuperSonics ended San Antonio's 21-game home winning streak with a 102-96 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday night.

SuperSonics Top Spurs 102-96 (AP)


AP - California air regulators Friday unanimously approved the world's most stringent rules to reduce auto emissions that contribute to global warming  #151; a move that could affect car and truck buyers from coast to coast.

Calif. OKs World's Toughest Smog Rules (AP)


Workers at the historic Jaguar plant at Browns Lane in Coventry were today anxiously waiting to find out whether Ford would shut down the factory with the loss of 2,000 jobs.

2,000 jobs in peril at Jaguar


STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Thieves, rapists, kidnappers and  hoaxers are preying on tsunami survivors and families of  victims in Asian refugee camps, hospitals and in the home  countries of European tourists hit by the wave.

Criminals Prey on Tsunami Victims Across the World


TIM FIRM Sun has released details of a critical bug in both its Solaris operating system and the Java Desktop System. Affected systems are Solaris 7, 8 and 9 on both the Sparc and x86 platforms, and the JDS

Solaris critically flawed


Reporters have been led to see 15 bodies in a basement in Najaf claimed by Iraqi police to have been used as a religious court by supporters of rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

#39;Mutilated bodies found in Najaf #39; - report


Letters Reg shill disgusts free software fans

Red Hat hates money, which makes it better than Sun


com. If the Braves sweep their doubleheader against the Mets at Turner Field on Tuesday, Braves manager Bobby Cox will become the ninth manager in history to record 2,000 career wins.

Braves eye sweep for skipper


England put on a fantastic display of cricket to beat world champs Australia to the Champions Trophy final. Team skipper Michael Vaughan was named man of the match as England crushed Australia by six wickets.

Cricket: England beat Australia


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices stepped back from this  week's eight percent rout on Friday, holding well above \$50 a  barrel as analysts said it would take more than China's mild  interest rate rise to stem demand growth from the world's  second largest user.

Oil Stems Slide, Uneasy Over China Rates


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc. said on Thursday it  will begin testing a free desktop search service in early  January, following rivals hoping to extend the reach of wildly  profitable search-related advertising.

Yahoo to Begin Testing Desktop Search in January


Microsoft's decision to reposition its .Net Passport identification system comes as Monster.com is dropping support for the authentication service.

Microsoft scales back Passport ambitions


ROME: After winning union backing for job cuts, Alitalia has given formal approval to a four-year business plan aimed at saving the near-bankrupt Italian carrier from collapse.

Near-bankrupt Alitalia approves relaunch plan


(MENAFN) The world #39;s biggest software company, Microsoft Corp, said that its first quarter profits grew to \$2.9 billion as consumers and businesses boosted demand for new computers, AFP reported.

Microsoft earns \$2.9 billion in Q1


Less than 23 months after they said they found everything they needed in Art Howe, the Mets on Wednesday officially admitted they were wrong.

Howe to Go Quietly, but Wilpon Speaks Up


ST. LOUIS The Houston Astros are ahead of St. Louis 2-to-1 over St. Louis after three innings of Game Seven of the National League Championship Series.

Sports: Astros 2 Cardinals 1 after three


The European Central Bank and European finance ministers are unhappy with the Euro #39;s surge. To this end, they vowed to closely monitoring exchange rate swings.

ECB to intervene in euro market


President Olusegun Obasanjo has praised Anglican bishops from Africa for what he called their principled stand against homosexuality.

Gay Ordination: Obasanjo Backs African Bishops


_ A Connecticut man working for a private security company was among several people killed Thursday when two bombs exploded in the tightly guarded area of Baghdad known as the Green Zone.

Connecticut civilian dies in Baghdad blast


While celebrating unprecedented success at the Athens Olympics, China has its sights firmly set on the Beijing Games in four years when they hope to present the country #39;s new face to the world.

Olympic torch heads off to Beijing


AOL is the latest and largest company to back away from Microsoft #39;s Sender ID software, designed to cut spam by identifying the source of the e-mail.

New Blow for Sender ID as AOL Joins Disbelievers


BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - Thousands of Argentines  mourning almost 200 young victims of a rock club fire took to  the streets of Buenos Aires on Monday to protest the  government's safety standards, as the city mayor resisted  pressure to resign.

Argentine Protesters on Streets Over Fatal Fire


Russia has postponed the test launch of a new booster rocket scheduled for Friday, the Defense Ministry said Thursday. The launch of the Soyuz-2 medium-size rocket from Russia #39;s

Russia postpones test launch of new booster rocket


The Radeon Xpress 200 has graphics performance equal to ATI's current entry-level graphics chip, the company says.

ATI launches chipset for AMD desktops


Reuters - Israeli tank fire wounded at least three\Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip early on Wednesday,\witnesses said.

Israeli Tank Fire Hurts 3 in Gaza -- Witnesses (Reuters)


Former investment banker Frank Quattrone on Wednesday requested a court order that would allow him to remain free on bail while he appeals his obstruction of justice conviction.

Quattrone Seeks Bail Until Appeal Ruling


Reuters - Credit Suisse will eventually use one\brand name only and drop the First Boston moniker from its\Credit Suisse First Boston investment banking arm, the bank's\head said on Tuesday.

Credit Suisse to Move to One Brand Name (Reuters)


Alex Ferguson is willing to write Ruud van Nistelrooy out of Manchester Uniteds Premiership title push for the next two months to ensure he is ready for their assault on Europe.

Fergie may rest Ruud until European campaign


MG Rover is on the brink of a 1bn deal with a Chinese company that will help secure the future of its giant Longbridge plant. Under the joint venture with the Shanghai Automotive Corporation, a new company

MG Rover on brink of China deal


AP - NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. was knocked out of first place in the Nextel Cup by a slip of the tongue. Earnhardt was docked 25 points and fined  #36;10,000 by NASCAR on Tuesday for cursing during a TV interview after his victory at Talladega Superspeedway.

Penalty Drops Earnhardt Out of First Place (AP)


Ukraine #39;s Central Election Commission has suspended vote counting from the 31 October presidential election. The opposition says that #39;s because a complete count would reveal that its leader, Viktor Yushchenko

Election Commission Stops Vote Count As Opposition Protests


efore facing an opponent, particularly a top-flight one, Sargis Sargsian sometimes receives advice from Andre Agassi. In a telephone conversation the night before the match, Agassi will

Agassi Handles Friend; Now Faces Tougher Foe


Three Palestinians were killed and other three injured one of them in a critical health condition by the fire of the Israeli occupation forces in al-Salam quarters to the south of Rafah near the border strip with Egypt.

Three Palestinians killed in Rafah; Palestinians blast one Israeli <b>...</b>


House prices in England and Wales fell slightly in August, property research company Hometrack says, offering another sign the market may be cooling in the face of higher interest rates.

Fresh sign of housing market cooling


com October 19, 2004, 4:16 PM PT. With most organizations that planned to move already moved to Microsoft Server 2003, OS migration has dropped to the bottom ranks after making

Unisys signs up Linux allies


Doom 3 combines hectic gameplay with genuine shocks to deliver a deliciously uncomfortable gaming experience.

Doom 3 unleashes hell


LONDON - Crude oil topped the psychological milestone of \$50 per barrel Tuesday for the first time, and a Saudi Arabian oil official said the world's largest petroleum exporter would raise its production capacity by nearly 5 percent in a bid to calm prices.    Analysts said instability in the Middle East, political unrest in Nigeria, Africa's top oil exporter, and damage to U.S...

Crude Oil Prices Top \$50 Per Barrel


With the economy slowly turning up, upgrading hardware has been on businesses radar in the past 12 months as their number two priority.

Nokia debuts new smart phone


MacCentral - Engineers at NEC Corp. have developed a prototype optical disc drive that supports the new HD-DVD format and is also compatible with CD and DVD formats, they said Wednesday.

NEC develops CD, DVD, HD-DVD drive prototype (MacCentral)


The extension of the partnership comes as Avici continues to struggle to win new customers.

Avici extends AT T contract


By S. SRINIVASAN    BANGALORE, India (AP) -- India is rethinking its plan to send a man to the moon by 2015, as the mission would cost a lot of money and yield very little in return, the national space agency said Thursday...

India Rethinks Plan for Manned Moon Mission


LONDON (CBS.MW) -- British bank Barclays on Thursday said it is in talks to buy a majority stake in South African bank ABSA. Free!

Bank confirms talks to obtain control of S. African bank


The prime minister insisted no decision had yet been taken on sending British troops to relieve US allies in Iraq. Repeatedly challenged at prime minister #39;s question time, Mr Blair said it was a military decision

Yesterday in parliament


Sony may be puling its Clie handhelds out of the US and Europe, but that doesn #39;t mean the company has lost all faith in the handheld market.

OLED screens brighten Sony handhelds


AP - Democrat John Edwards kept up a long-distance debate over his

Edwards Cites Layoffs During Bush Years (AP)


The winds of four hurricanes blew through Safeco #39;s third-quarter financials, helping send the Seattle-based insurer to its first quarterly loss in a year.

Four storms poke hole in profit for Safeco


When Americans go to the polls on Nov. 2, Osama bin Laden may still be plotting new 9/11 terror attacks, mocking President George W. Bush #39;s pledge - now three years old -o bring him to justice.

America #39;s divide on stark display


Disappointing earnings from Morgan Stanley (MWD) and oil prices topping \$48 per barrel sent stocks sharply lower Wednesday as investors moved to protect their recent gains.

Stocks drop; Dow off more than 100 points


Myanmar #39;s prime minister was sacked Tuesday by his army colleagues, clouding prospects for the freedom of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and for democracy in the military-led Southeast Asian nation.

Military ousts Myanmar leader


The farms served by the Central Valley Project, the country's largest irrigation system, get about 20 percent of California's water supply.

Water Contract Renewals Stir Debate Between Environmentalists and Farmers in California


Police investigating the Berkshire rail disaster believe the motorist involved may have driven on to the track to commit suicide. Police sources said the man #39;s car looked as if it had been deliberately parked

Train crash may have been due to motorist #39;s suicide bid


Mexico and a US environmental group agreed on a plan to protect 370,000 acres of tropical forest on the Yucatan Peninsula in what officials said Friday was the largest conservation project in the country #39;s history.

Mexico announces historic rain forest plan


US software giant Oracle #39;s \$9.2bn (4.9bn) bid for rival Peoplesoft was hanging in the balance on Friday as investors pondered its takeover offer.

Peoplesoft bid hangs in balance


Dell has belatedly joined its competitors in offering blade servers with the launch in Paris on Monday afternoon of the PowerEdge 1855.

Dell joins blade server fray


Microsoft #39;s Windows Server team has issued a road map for server products in 2005, indicating no changes to the most recent projected delivery dates for the next version of Windows Server 2003 and beyond.

Future path of Windows Server outlined


JERUSALEM Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned on Sunday that Israel would retaliate against Palestinian rockets, even if they were fired from civilian areas, and an arms manufacturer said Israel had installed a radar system in a border town to warn of such

Sharon takes hard line on Palestinian rockets


Just two days after New York #39;s Museum of Modern Art closed its spectacularly successful temporary exhibit in Berlin, the spotlight turned to another attention-grabbing art display in the German

Flick exhibit stuns and irritates


Reuters - Spanish bank Santander claimed\victory for its 8.7 billion pound ( #36;15.6 billion) agreed\takeover of Britain's Abbey National after its most likely\rival, UK bank HBOS, pulled out of the race.

Spain's SCH Wins British Bank for  #36;16 Bln (Reuters)


Walgreen says its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings topped forecasts, rising 18 percent on higher prescription sales at stores open at least one year.

Walgreen posts higher quarterly profit


Thirty years ago, first-year graduate students boarded a crowded train and asked someone for a seat. What happens when you repeat the experiment?

'Excuse Me. May I Have Your Seat?'


Bryan Habana scored two intercept tries in his first start and Jaco van der Westhuyzen collected a try and three drop goals Saturday as Tri Nations champion South Africa outplayed Scotland 45-10 at Murrayfield.

Habana scores two tries as Springboks outplay Scots 45-10 in rugby


Hyatt broadened its high-end hotel brand Thursday by purchasing the 143-hotel AmeriSuites chain for \$600 million. The acquisition from private equity investor Blackstone Group increases Hyatt #39;s existing 90,000

Hyatt buys AmeriSuites chain for \$600 million


The Red Sox have company atop the wild-card standings. In Arlington, Texas, Laynce Nix homered and drove in three runs, including a tiebreaking sacrifice fly, and the Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 6-2, yesterday to sweep the three-game series.

Texas goes wild


T-Mobile USA today released a new secure encrypted Connection Manager that will enable users to login to any of the 4700 nationwide HotSpot wireless networks.

T-Mobile Secures Wi-Fi HotSpots


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks are set to open lower on  Wednesday after crude oil pushed to a fresh high overnight and  Google Inc. slashed its initial public offering price, which  appeared to dampen investor sentiment.

Stocks Set to Open Lower as Oil Hits High


Union Pacific, once the jewel in Rocco DiSpirito's crown, will close at the end of the year.

Rocco DiSpirito Is Out at Union Pacific


Helicopters delivered food to survivors and picked up the sick and injured on Friday as flash floods began to recede. More than 650 people were killed and nearly 400 are missing in the disaster, which was triggered by back-to-back storms.

Floods Recede in Philippines


AP - Ichiro Suzuki got one hit and plenty of help in knocking Oakland out of first place. Suzuki's fifth-inning single gave him 255 hits, two shy of George Sisler's 84-year-old major league record, and the Seattle Mariners sent the Athletics into second place in the AL West for the first time since Aug. 5 with a 4-2 victory Wednesday night.

Mariners Defeat Athletics 4-2 (AP)


The Asian Development Bank has revised up its economic growth forecast for Hong Kong this year to 7.5 per cent from the 6 per cent it projected in April, due to stronger than expected retail sales and the surge in tourist arrivals.

Growth forecast revised up to 7.5pc


Kobe Bryant would love to have Karl Malone back with the Los Angeles Lakers, and believes comments he made in a recent radio interview were misunderstood.

Bryant surprised by Malone #39;s reaction


THE brave lads of the Black Watch yesterday began their treacherous journey north through Iraq. Scores of troops left their temporary home in Basra - one of Saddam Hussein #39;s old palaces, now

SCOTS IN THE FIRING LINE: PIN-UP AND A AT  #39;EM BOYS


WASHINGTON - Victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks have received \$38.1 billion US in compensation so far from insurance companies, the US government and charities, according to a study released Monday by the Rand Institute for Civil Justice.

9/11 victims collect \$38.1 billion US in compensation


RALEIGH, NC - The head of RBC Centura Bank has stepped down, and his successor will run the bank out of Raleigh rather than Rocky Mount, where the bank is based.

RBC Centura CEO steps down


Pakistan has arrested up to six people, including an Egyptian national, suspected of planning major attacks in the capital Islamabad, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Saturday.

Pakistan Says Holds Suspects Planning Major Attacks


MANCHESTER United have finally got their hands on Wayne Rooney after nearly a week a tense negotiations concluded with the club agreeing a transfer fee with his current club Everton.

Man Utd sign Rooney


RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- A Saudi judge postponed the trial of three advocates seeking democratic overhauls yesterday after their supporters, in a rare show of public dissent, demonstrated for access and then protested loudly once allowed into court.

Trial of Saudis proposing democracy postponed amid protest


JOHANNESBURG (Dow Jones)--South Africa #39;s Securities Regulation Panel will next week hear objections from Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI) to the takeover offer the company received earlier this week from Harmony Gold Mining Co.

Securities Regulation Panel To Rule On Gold Fields Offer


Sony said it will make half the console #39;s components, compared with 40 percent for the PlayStation 2, to set itself apart from competitors.

Sony debuts PSP game console in Japan


At its height, the combined AOL and Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) company market capitalization exceeded \$350 billion. When AOL used its big, bloated equity to buy Time Warner, the company offered Time Warner shareholders

AOL: Is Half a Billion Enough?


Anticipating Harvard University's expansion in Allston, the owner of the Sports Depot pub-style restaurant last week bought longtime neighbor Able Rug's real estate -- a 19th-century slap-dash warehouse-style building and a parking lot -- for \$1.25 million.

Sports Depot makes a strategic play


Gold Fields #39; latest legal bid to prevent a hostile takeover by South African rival Harmony was thrown out by regulators yesterday in another blow to its defence strategy.

Gold Fields loses again


BENQ #39;S new digital music player line, the Joybee 180, comes in three different designs, each with an additional cover you can swop around.

Geek notes


Hungary will withdraw its 300 troops from Iraq by March 31 next year, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said here Wednesday as US President George W. Bush, who led the invasion of Iraq, won re-election to a second four-year term.

Hungary to withdraw troops from Iraq by March 2005


Second-largest US provider will buy wavelength portions from NextWave Telecom, which is emerging from bankruptcy. By Ken Belson. Verizon Wireless said Friday that it would pay \$3 billion for the spectrum licenses

Verizon to buy more licenses


A consortium of companies wants to build on the progress of the Serial ATA hard drive interface in PCs by creating a similar offering for consumer electronics devices.

A new handshake for mini hard drives?


Apple is voluntarily recalling certain lithium ion rechargeable batteries that were sold worldwide from January 2004 through August 2004 for use with 15-inch PowerBook G4 (Aluminum) notebook computers. The affected batteries could overheat, posing a fire hazard. Aug 19

15-inch PowerBook G4 Battery Exchange


Reuters - Hackers on Tuesday attacked a Web site of\an al Qaeda-linked group that beheaded two U.S. hostages in\Iraq, rerouting visitors to a page showing a penguin toting a\machine-gun and warning against hosting such sites.

Hackers Attack Web Site of Qaeda-Linked Iraq Group (Reuters)


Talks between US Airways (UAIR.O: Quote, Profile, Research) and the airline #39;s pilots union over a new round of concessions broke down on Monday, the union said.

Union: US Air Talks with Pilots Break Off


COLLADO VILLALBA, Spain (Reuters) - Spain's Constantino  Zaballa, riding for the Saunier Duval team, broke away early in  the day for an easy win in Friday's 19th stage of the Tour of  Spain over Avila and Collado Villalba.

Zaballa in Breakaway Stage Win


WORCESTER -- Holy Cross's first meeting with San Diego, last year, was a wild one out West, won by the Toreros, 46-45, in double overtime.

Toreros win fight to finish


Major economic powers agreed Sunday to write off more than \$31 billion in debt for Iraq in a deal that boosted U.S. efforts to help put the Iraqi economy back on its feet.

Group Agrees to Reduce Iraqi Debt


ATLANTA - The Killer B's are back to try again, facing a familiar nemesis. Who knows? This might be the last chance for Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell to show they can come through when it matters most...

Astros Killer Bs Running Out of Chances


Insurgents fired mortars at an Iraqi National Guard headquarters north of Baghdad. The Defense Ministry says four people were killed and dozens of others were injured.

Insurgents Kill 4 National Guards in Baghdad, Aid Worker Kidnapped


American and Iraqi forces once again fought with Insurgents in the cities of Falluja and Tall  #39;Afar, killing dozens of Iraqis in airstrikes and gunbattles.

Dozens More Killed In New Fighting In Iraq


By DIEDTRA HENDERSON    WASHINGTON (AP) -- The first device to remove blood clots from the brains of people suffering strokes - a new treatment option that could save lives and shave the \$53 billion annual bill to treat strokes, has been approved by the government.    In 80 percent of strokes, a blood vessel in the brain becomes clogged by a blood clot, increasing the chance of severe disability or death...

FDA Approves New Device to Clear Blood Clots


Red Bull Racing say they want to sign David Coulthard so that they have an experienced driver for their first Formula One season next year.

Red Bull target Coulthard


Next stop, fifty bucks. Analysts said crude futures could climb that high today, pushed to the psychological barrier of \$50 US a barrel by speculative buying amid escalating threats to Iraq #39;s oil infrastructure.

Oil barrels toward \$50


HALIFAX - Fruit flies, the common pests that swarm over compost bins, may hold the key to cloning mammals successfully, say Canadian scientists who #39;ve cloned the insects.

Halifax team first to clone insect


Reuters - Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric headed\for Najaf on Thursday to try to get rebels inside a holy shrine\to leave and bring an end to three weeks of bloody fighting\that has killed hundreds.

Iraq's Sistani Begins Journey to Najaf-Witnesses (Reuters)


EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ --Richard Jefferson scored 26 points and hit a go-ahead jumper with seven seconds left to lift the New Jersey Nets to an 88-86 win over the Toronto Raptors at Continental Airlines Arena.

NBA Today: Jefferson, Kidd Rock Raptors


Defense: Ken Lucas. His biggest play was his first one. The fourth-year cornerback intercepted a Ken Dorsey pass that kissed off the hands of wide receiver Rashaun Woods and returned it 25 yards to set up the Seahawks #39; first score.

Seahawks Slant


North Korea said today it could resume six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons programmes if the US agrees to change its policy toward the communist state.

North Korea Demands Change in US Policy


US aircraft carried out a third set of air strikes on Fallujah, reportedly targeting a meeting of suspected loyal activist to Abu Musab al Zarqawi.

Fallujah: US attacks kill 15


DENVER - Qwest communications agreed to settle a federal fraud investigation Friday, according to a union official. A company spokesman declined to comment.

Qwest reportedly reaches agreement with SEC on fraud investigation


The percentage of online sales for movie tickets tripled in the past three years, and growth should continue at least through 2008, the most recent data from Jupiter Research show.
<FONT face=

Online Ticketing


Long before President Bush ever put 'hydrogen' and 'economy' together in a sentence, a group of students at the University of California, Los Angeles, were revving the engine on their hydrogen-powered Gremlin. By Amit Asaravala.

Nice Ride: The Hydrogen Gremlin


New Delhi: India, the world #39;s largest democracy, ranks 120th in the media freedom index of 167 countries with Denmark on top and North Korea at the bottom.

India at bottom half of media freedom index


AFP - Vice President Dick Cheney will square off with his Democratic rival John Edwards in a televised debate Tuesday that suddenly takes on importance for the Republicans after George W. Bush's tepid showing last week.

Vice presidential debate takes on new importance (AFP)


London-based Vodafone has finally rolled out its mass-market third-generation (or 3G) mobile telephone services after a four-year wait, billions of pounds spent on licences and numerous delays.

Vodafone finally launches 3G mobile


Updated Down for four days and counting...

DWP kills 60k PCs in Windows XP upgrade lash-up


October 24, 2004 - GameSpot have posted up a final preview of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, hitting the PS2 this week and the PC next year.

GTA: San Andreas Preview


AP - Norwegian scientists who explored the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean said Thursday their findings  #151; including what appear to be new species of fish and squid  #151; could be used to protect marine ecosystems worldwide.

Marine Expedition Finds New Species (AP)


WASHINGTON - About two-thirds of Food and Drug Administration scientists are less than fully confident in the agency #39;s monitoring of the safety of prescription drugs now being sold, according to an FDA internal survey.

Survey Shows Lack of Confidence at FDA


Gary Sheffield admitted to unknowingly using an illegal steroid during the 2002 season, becoming the first Major Leaguer involved in the BALCO investigation to do so.

Sheffield unknowingly used steroid


BESLAN, Russia - Attackers wrapped in suicide-bomb belts raided a school in a region bordering Chechnya, seizing up to 400 hostages - including scores of students welcoming the new school year - and threatening to kill captives or blow up the building if it was stormed by encircling Russian troops.    Authorities established contact with the hostage-takers hours after the raid Wednesday, which officials said left at least two people dead in the latest assault in a country the defense minister said has been challenged by a declaration of terrorist war...

Contact Made With Hostage-Takers in Russia


Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and his cabinet have resigned after weeks of political uncertainty. He submitted the resignation to President Emile Lahoud during a brief meeting at the presidential palace.

Lebanese PM and cabinet resign


Rome, Dec. 1 (NNN) : Italy was on Tuesday virtually crippled as millions of workers staged a one-day walk-out against the economic policies of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Italy Hit By Nationwide Strike Of Workers


Long lines greet release of Xbox game sequel. Also: The transformative powers of

'Halo 2': Heaven-sent for game players?


Former United States President Bill Clinton speaks at the conclusion of a forum titled New Thinking on Energy Policy: Meeting the Challenges of Security, Development, and Climate Change, at New York University in New York, Monday, Dec. 6, 2004.

Bill Clinton Helps Launch Search Engine


For a long time there have been rumors going around about Project Ocean, a project by Google to index all the pre-1923 content in the Stanford Library.

Google Planning To Index Entire Libraries


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hideki Matsui hit a sacrifice fly to  score Derek Jeter in the bottom of the 12th inning, giving the  New York Yankees a dramatic 7-6 victory over the Minnesota  Twins in the American League Divisional Series Wednesday.

Yankees Take Dramatic 12-Inning Victory Over Twins


SiliconValley.com - A group called JGR Acquisition made the winning,  #36;15.5 million bid Monday for a batch of obscure but potentially important patents covering technologies for Internet business transactions.

Internet patents sold at S.F. auction (SiliconValley.com)


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue-chip stocks fell on  Wednesday after Honeywell International Inc. <A HREF=

Blue Chips Slip as Earns, Oil Take Toll


Reuters - A bold, innovative insurgency has\become more effective against U.S. supply lines in Iraq and\explosive attacks have slowed military operations there, a\senior American general said on Wednesday.

Iraq Insurgency Growing 'More Effective'-US General (Reuters)


com. Alex Rodriguez had yet to prove to Yankees fans that he was worth his hefty price tag before this American League Division Series against the Twins.

Press Row: A-Rod earns his stripes


AUSTRALIAS Andre Stolz last night edged past Tom Lehman, Tag Ridings and Harrison Frazar to win his first career title on the PGA Tour.

Stolz strikes it rich with first victory in Las Vegas


A federal judge dismissed Hollinger International Inc. #39;s \$1.25 billion racketeering suit accusing former Chief Executive Conrad Black and businesses he controls of looting more than \$380 million from the company.

Hollinger International Suit Against Black Dismissed (Update5)


AP - PalmSource Inc. has finally answered the smart-phone call. The maker of Palm operating systems for handheld computers plans to introduce Tuesday its first version designed specifically for so-called smart phones.

New Palm System Targets Smart Phones (AP)


AP - The top U.S. official in Baghdad said Monday that nationwide elections would be held in Iraq early next year as scheduled regardless of how large a U.N. presence the world body manages to send to oversee the vote.

Envoy: Iraq Elections to Happen on Time (AP)


First, the son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was caught in his pyjamas when police raided his Cape Town home. Then he was robbed in a holding cell while waiting to be charged with helping finance a foiled coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea.

Bad Hair Day for Sir Mark


Gustavo Chacin walked into Yankee Stadium for the first time, looked around at the fans and the monuments and the pinstripes, and felt like any other nervous rookie.

Blue Jays #39; Chacin wins debut in Yankee Stadium


South Africa held off Australia 23-19 in a dramatic finale and won the Tri-Nations rugby title for the first time since 1998 on Saturday at King #39;s Park.

South Africa wins Tri-Nations rugby


Oil prices surged closer to \$50 a barrel after hitting yet another record high in the US yesterday, as confusion reigned over the fate of Najaf, sparking fresh fears about Iraq #39;s oil supplies.

Oil prices slip back after coming close to \$50 level


A laboratory for the manufacture of chemical weapons has been found in Falluja, an Iraqi minister said on Thursday, but Marines in the city said they were not aware of any such discovery.

Chemical Weapons Lab Found in Falluja: Iraq Minister


Top-seeded Andre Agassi beat Spain #39;s Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (4), 6-2 yesterday to reach the Stockholm Open semifinals for the first time.

SPORTS BRIEFS


Celtic suffered their first defeat of the Scottish Premier League season on Wednesday when John Stewart grabbed a goal in injury time to complete a 3-2 win for Aberdeen.

Football: Aberdeen beat Celtic 3-2 via last gasp goal


Secretary of State Colin Powell canceled his trip to Greece at the last minute partly because of concern his presence -- expected to be met with anti-war protests -- might have disrupted the closing ceremony at the Olympics, State Department officials

With protesters waiting, Powell cancels trip to Olympics


KATHMANDU : Relatives of 12 Nepalese workers missing in Iraq were desperately seeking information after an Islamist website showed alleged pictures of them in captivity.

Impoverished families of Nepal hostages in Iraq desperate for <b>...</b>


ATHENS, Greece -- The Americans were staggered by emotions, never by opponents. It took a gold medal to knock them down. Laura Berg got a head start.

This medal is for you, sweet Sue


Reuters - President Bush, facing growing\anger among senior citizens over the high cost of prescription\drugs and a virtual revolt by some states, conceded on\Wednesday it

Bush Says Importing Medicines 'Makes Sense' if Safe (Reuters)


New York Times Co. (NYT) on Monday forecast third-quarter and full-year earnings below Wall Street #39;s average estimates, citing lower-than-expected revenue so far in September.

NY Times Cuts  #39;04 Profit Targets


St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Jim Edmonds homered and delivered the go- ahead run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly, leading the St.

National League Game Summary - Houston at St. Louis


Civil liberties groups made common cause today with the Justice Department, a traditional target of their lawsuits, by filing court papers supporting the government #39;s appeal of a court ruling that said internet service providers are allowed to snoop on

Strange Bedfellows in E-Mail Case


Sixty Chinese miners are trapped underground after fire swept through a series of iron mines in northern Hebei Province, Xinhua news agency says.

Sixty Chinese miners trapped after fire


washingtonpost.com - Google is already viewed by many as the king of search engines, but the newly public company is continuing to launch new services to keep its crown safe from competitors.

Google Books It to the Finish Line (washingtonpost.com)


The prime witness in an alleged coup plot in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea repudiated his confession Tuesday, saying it was coerced by interrogators who threatened him with death.

Witness recants


German canoeist Birgit Fischer at 42, is on the verge of becoming one of the greatest Olympians of all time - and she has not rule out competing again at Beijing.

Canoeing champ looking to Beijing


Wells Fargo  amp; Co., the fifth-largest bank in the United States, said Tuesday that third-quarter earnings increased 12 percent on strong consumer lending growth, but failed to meet Wall Street expectations on flat revenue.

Wells Fargo Posts Higher 3Q Profit


Reuters - Hotel owner Host Marriott Corp.\ on Wednesday said its third-quarter loss narrowed as\revenue per room rose, driven by an increase in room rates.

Host Marriott Quarterly Loss Narrows (Reuters)


Manager Rafael Benitez is opposed to Liverpool sharing their proposed new stadium with city rivals Everton. Officials from the two Premier League clubs

UPDATE 1-Liverpool manager against Everton ground-share


Canadian Press - BANFF, Alta. (CP) - Parks Canada brass from Ottawa are trading their three-piece suits for park uniforms to help relieve managers in Alberta who have been working without a break since a strike began over a week ago.

Parks Canada sends managers from Ottawa to Alberta to help during strike (Canadian Press)


Government officials, already concerned that Air Jamaica is buckling under the weight of record high fuel prices, are growing increasingly uneasy with the costs to the national carrier of its pilots.

Air J pilots pay bill poses danger to airline, says official


LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar slid back toward last week's  record low against the euro on Monday after a weekend meeting  of world finance chiefs ended with no agreement to stem the  greenback's decline.

Dollar Continues Slide Vs Euro


Ziff Davis - The latest version of its Microsoft Operations Manager includes 20 new Microsoft Management Packs that encapsulate intimate knowledge about how specific applications should work, with the aims of cutting operational cost and complexity.

Microsoft Releases MOM 2005 to Manufacturing (Ziff Davis)


Dell president and chief executive officer Kevin Rollins indicated that the company is considering including Advanced Micro Devices processors in its server roster in the foreseeable future.

Dell closer to using AMD chips


The Greek Parliament received a report Tuesday which examined state funding for a business owned by Christos Tsekos, the former coach of Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, who are themselves under investigation for avoiding drug tests

Aftermath Of Athens 2004 Sports Scandal


SYDNEY - Australia has announced plans to acquire long-range cruise missiles that will give its defence force the  #39;most lethal capacity #39; for air combat in the region.

Australia acquiring long-range missiles


Unwilling to sit back and let Oracle (Quote, Chart) grab all of the attention this week, BEA Systems (Quote, Chart) said a beta of its new application server, WebLogic Server 9.0, will be available for download next week.

BEA #39;s Devil of an App Server


The event educated families on the adoption process. More than 100- thousand children in the US are waiting to be adopted. Kathy Searle/ Utah Director of Adoption Exchange:  quot;We want to give hope to children

Adoption Awareness Month Begins


AP - It started with a robbery, but the gang that burst into a branch of Al-Habib Bank in this teeming port city had no interest in striking it rich, and the university graduate driving the getaway car was just getting started on a master plan for terror.

AP: Militants Funding Terror With Heists (AP)


Italy says it has no intention of withdrawing its 3,000 troops from Iraq in the face of demands from kidnappers who have seized an Italian journalist.

Italian troops  #39;to stay in Iraq #39;


AP - CBS News mounted an aggressive defense Friday of its report about President Bush's service in the Air National Guard, with anchor Dan Rather saying broadcast memos questioned by forensic experts came from

CBS Defends Report on Bush Guard Memos (AP)


Valencia #39;s Miguel Angel Angulo apologized Thursday for his bad behaviour during his team #39;s stormy Champions League match with Werder Bremen and said he was prepared to suffer the consequences of his actions.

Angulo apologizes for conduct in Champions League game


A once-ailing heavy industry is now in heavy demand. The next step? Global consolidation. For the last decade, much of the West #39;s steel industry has been in the doldrums.

Steel #39;s New Spring


PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- Pakistani intelligence agents arrested a Libyan on suspicion of having links to Al Qaeda after raiding a home on the outskirts of this northwestern city yesterday, security officials said.

Pakistan arrests Libyan suspected of Qaeda ties


New York (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The UN Security Council narrowly approved a US-French resolution late Thursday aimed for an immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces - an indirect reference to 17.

UN resolution calls for immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces <b>...</b>


DHAKA: A mob torched a train in central Bangladesh yesterday as anger over a grenade attack which killed 19 people and narrowly missed opposition leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed erupted in violence and protests, officials said.

Train set on fire by mob


Lucent Technologies Inc. reported higher-than-expected fourth quarter sales on Wednesday, boosted in part by several large contracts, especially in its wireless segment, as well as increased demand for VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol), high-speed data and broadband access.

Wireless contracts aid Lucent's quarterly profit streak


Canada #39;s government launched the sale of its remaining C\$3 billion (\$2.3 billion) stake in Petro-Canada (PCA.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) (PCZ.

UPDATE 2-Ottawa launches sale of Petro-Canada stake


LUCKNOW: India #39;s top court has opened the country #39;s most famous monument, the Taj Mahal, to night viewing, allowing visitors to gaze at the dazzling marble monument by moonlight for the first time in two decades.

Taj night visits approved


AstraZeneca will have to take a charge against 2004 earnings after US regulators rejected its new anti-clotting drug Exanta, but a company spokesman has declined to say how large it will be.

AstraZeneca to take earnings hit on drug rejection


Super prospect Jeremy Reed and right-hander Aaron Taylor, who is making a comeback from surgery, were among four minor-leaguers called up by the Seattle Mariners on Monday.

Seattle calls up four from minors - including prospect Jeremy Reed


Chinese palaeontologists say they have found feathers on the fossilised legs of a primitive bird, which back controversial theories that birds descended from four-limbed dinosaurs.

Fossil feathers add weight to evolution theory


Reuters - Kosovo counted\votes for a new parliament on Sunday after an election that\exposed Albanian apathy and defiance from the Serb minority in\a province taken over by the United Nations five years ago.

Kosovo Vote No Magic Wand for Independence (Reuters)


Reuters - Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will become\the first Spanish prime minister to be questioned by a\parliamentary commission on Monday when he gives his version of\events surrounding the Madrid train bombings.

Spanish Leader Faces Grilling on Train Bombings (Reuters)


At least 6 Palestinians were killed and 24 were wounded today in an Israeli army raid near Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. The raid was designed to end days of mortar

At Least 6 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Raid on Gaza


The Little Engine That Could simply couldn #39;t any longer. Olivier Rochus, who stood much taller than his 5-foot-5-inch frame in two big

Rochus runs aground in 5-set loss to Hrbaty


The five top US defense contractors, communications companies joined on Tuesday with some European rivals to develop technology standards that will allow better communication among future weapons systems.

Defense, IT Companies Form Standards Group


BELFAST, Northern Ireland (Reuters) - A major push to seal  a political settlement for the turbulent British province of  Northern Ireland stalled at the last moment Wednesday over  demands for photographic evidence of IRA guerrillas scrapping  their arms.

N.Irish Deal Stalls Over IRA Arms Pictures


BRITISH drugs company GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to make public information about its clinical drug trials following accusations it misled doctors about the safety of an anti-depressant for children.

GSK to go public on trials


AFP - With the insurgency in Iraq showing no signs of abating as US election day nears, the British government agreed to a request to redeploy 850 crack troops to a volatile area to the west of Baghdad.

Britain agrees to US call to move troops close to Baghdad (AFP)


DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka : Little-known spinner Rangana Herath grabbed three wickets as Sri Lanka boosted their chances of wrapping up the one-day series when they restricted South Africa to a modest 191 in the third match here.

Cricket: Herath puts South Africa in spin


Maryland #39;s long-shot hopes for a bowl bid and winning season ended with the worst loss in coach Ralph Friedgen #39;s four seasons.

Blowout crushes Terps #39; bowl bid


India #39;s most wanted fugitive, accused of more than 100 murders and on the run for decades, has been shot dead after driving into an elaborate police trap.

Notorious Indian criminal killed


The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, or Check 21, will supposedly revolutionize the check-clearing process. It is the most significant change since banks actually started clearing checks.

Check 21: A classic case of risk


LOS ANGELES - Total one-day sales figures were expected Wednesday for the DVD of Mel Gibson's biblical epic

1-Day Figures Due for 'Passion' DVD Sales


AFP - Lawyers for Australian terror suspect Mamdouh Habib were confident he would soon be released from the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Lawyers say Australian terror suspect likely to be freed from Guantanamo (AFP)


General partner and avid baseball card collector Ken Kendrick happily raised a baseball card of Wally Backman vigorously sliding into an opposing catcher.

Backman not one to back down


AP - Insurgents battling U.S. and Iraqi forces in the northern city of Mosul have been trying to drag the Kurdish minority into their fight and set off a sectarian war, Kurdish and Arab officials say.

Militants Try to Stir Arab-Kurd Violence (AP)


London - Senegal World Cup striker El Hadji Diouf will miss Bolton #39;s next three games after he admitted a misconduct charge on Tuesday for spitting in an opponent #39;s face.

Diouf suspended for spitting


Over the last year, a Globe reporter and photographer spent many weeks with three children in Uganda, Nigeria, and Swaziland. The children and their relatives gave permission for the journalists to document their lives and tell their stories. Most of the key events recounted in these stories were directly observed, the dialogue directly heard. Where reconstruction of events was necessary, ...

About the series


If a technology currently in development pans out, one handset could work on multiple cellular networks.

Building a Global Phone


Reuters - A radical cleric prepared to hand\control of a shrine at the heart of a Shi'ite uprising in Iraq\to religious authorities on Friday, but still rejected demands\by the interim prime minister to disband his militia.

Iraq's Sadr Prepares to Hand Over Najaf Shrine (Reuters)


Chelsea beat Porto 3-1 in European soccer #39;s Champions League, giving coach Jose Mourinho a victory over the team he led to the title last season.

Mourinho #39;s Chelsea Beats Porto in Champions League (Update1)


AP - Donnie Edwards intercepted Brian Griese's pass and returned it 30 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:09 left and the Chargers beat Tampa Bay 31-24 on Sunday, their seventh straight victory.

Chargers Top Buccaneers, Win 7th Straight (AP)


INDIANAPOLIS -- Olympic swimmer Katie Hoff finished third in a race Sunday night at the Short Course World Championships in Indianapolis.

Katie Hoff Finishes Third In Short Course Worlds


Uefa insisted last night that security will not be a problem when Middlesbrough and Newcastle supporters join those of Arsenal in Athens this month to play European matches against three Greek clubs.

Fears over fixture clash


A general director of China #39;s space program says the development of the Shenzhou VI, which is to be launched next autumn, is progressing smoothly.

Development of Shenzhou VI makes headway


Online search engine upstart Vivisimo Inc. is setting out to persuade the masses that Google Inc. #39;s vaunted technology isn #39;t the most efficient way to find things on the Internet.

Search upstart launches new site


(12/13/04)The Allen Institute for Brain Science (AIBS) has released its first dataset of gene expression data in the brain for nearly 2,000 mouse genes - the first public release of the Allen Brain Atlas initiative.

Allen Institute Debuts  #39;Google for Gene Activity #39;


NEW YORK (Reuters) - President Bush on Monday formally  ended the broad U.S. trade embargo on Libya to reward it for  giving up weapons of mass destruction but left in place some  U.S. terrorism-related sanctions.

Bush Scraps Trade Embargo on Libya in WMD Reward


TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average fell around 0.8  percent by mid-afternoon on Tuesday after industrial output  data sapped investor appetite for tech issues and profit-taking  hit recent gainers such as Nippon Steel Corp.

Nikkei Slips 0.8 Pct on Data


LOS ANGELES - One film provides a positive message of unity. Another dramatizes the president's difficult days...

Sept. 11 DVDs Present Nation in Mourning


Ziff Davis - The long wait for a decision in the government's antitrust trial against Oracle has prompted the company to extend the deadline yet again for its  #36;7.7 billion attempted buyout of PeopleSoft.

Oracle Sets New PeopleSoft Buyout Deadline (Ziff Davis)


Hamid Karzai becomes Afghanistan #39;s first democratically elected president today at an inauguration ceremony in the capital Kabul, as the United Nations said warlords and drug trafficking threaten the country #39;s security.

Karzai to Become Afghan President; UN Says Security Threatened


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Greeting card maker American Greetings  Corp. <A HREF=

American Greetings Reverses Year-Ago Loss


The veteran guardians of the wall, who are called at all times to rally round the hasbara flag when the enemy once again brings up the anti-Israel canard regarding the application of the

Applying the Geneva Convention


AFP - Pubs owner Punch Taverns said it had bought InnSpired Group, which operates more than 1,000 pubs, in a deal worth 335 million pounds (490 million euros, 599 million dollars) including debt.

Punch Taverns buys another 1,000 pubs (AFP)


SACKED Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski has conceded his departure was  quot;sensible quot; for the company and its shareholders.

Sacking  #39;sensible #39;: Ziggy


Oil prices surge past a record \$55 per a barrel in Asian trade, amid concerns over winter fuel supplies.

Oil sees new high in Asia trade


Reuters - New York Attorney General Eliot\Spitzer on Thursday sued Marsh   McLennan Cos., the world's No.\1 insurance broker, for steering unsuspecting clients to\certain insurers in exchange for lucrative payoffs, sending\Marsh's stock plummeting.

New York's Spitzer Sues Insurance Broker (Reuters)


MySQL developers turn to an unlikely source for database tool: Microsoft. Also: SGI visualizes Linux, and the return of Java veteran Kim Polese.

Shifts and shake-ups in open source


The tiniest blood vessels of the eye can provide a glimpse that may warn of future high blood pressure, Australian researchers report. That finding comes from a computerized analysis of special camera images of the retina, an experimental technique.

The Eyes Are the Window to Hypertension


Chinese makers and distributors of pornographic materials sent through the Internet, cellphones and other communication devices will face penalties as severe as life imprisonment under new rules that take effect Monday.

China vows tougher penalties, up to life in prison, for Internet <b>...</b>


Reuters - Natural disasters killed 76,806 people\in 2003, three times the number of victims in 2002, a rise due\in part to extremes in the global climate, the world's largest\humanitarian body said on Thursday.

Disaster Toll Tripled in 2003 Amid Quakes, Heatwave (Reuters)


quot;Americans also have no right to raise something like this, quot; he said, adding that Iran had never used its nuclear power program for weapons production.

Middle East ; Iran Rules Out Complete Nuclear Dismantling


Liberty Mutual Group, the second-largest international insurer based in the United States, bought an office and retail building across the street from its headquarters in Boston for about \$28 million. The building, at 330 Stuart St., has 105,000 square feet of space, Liberty Mutual said. The seller was the Massachusetts Higher Education Assistance Corp. Liberty Mutual plans to renovate the ...

Insurer acquires 330 Stuart St. for \$28m


Newcastle manager Graeme Souness has been handed a one-match touchline ban after being sent from the dugout during his side #39;s defeat at Fulham last month.

Souness - handed one-match ban (Getty Images)


Listen to the voice of wisdom:  quot;It's early. quot; The speaker? Marcus Banks. He appears to have learned quite a bit in a very short period.

This Banks providing top interest


Britain #39;s Luke Donald repaid Bernhard Langer faith in him by winning the European Masters on Sunday the week after the European Ryder Cup captain handed him a wild-card.

Donald clinches European Masters title by five strokes


LONDON, Oct 13 (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday rejected charges from the Conservative opposition that he  quot;misrepresented quot; intelligence used to make the case for invading Iraq.

Blair rejects allegation he  quot;misrepresented quot; intelligence on Iraq <b>...</b>


KABUL (Reuters) - An Afghan vice president survived an  assassination attempt Monday when a remotely controlled device  was detonated near his convoy, while two soldiers from the  U.S.-led coalition were killed in a separate gunbattle.

Afghan Vice President Survives Attack


Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted on Tuesday that he had not been approached by Real Madrid to take over as their new coach. Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted on Tuesday that he had not been approached by Real Madrid to take over as their new coach.

No approach from Real - Eriksson


But the company's guidance for next year failed to top Wall Street's estimates, and its shares fell in after-hours trading.

Amazon's Profit Triples, Driven by Free Shipping


Search Engine Friendly Blog URL's and other Word Tricks\\When writing a blog, particularly for the first time, the last thing many bloggers consider is the use of Search Engine Friendly (SEF) Blog URL's. SEF Blog URL's are an important tool for driving traffic to your blog utilising the billions of ...

Search Engine Friendly Blog URLs and other Word Tricks


Intel, looking to maintain mind share and market share in the mobile PC space, said Thursday it will begin shipping new, tri-band wireless functionality in its Centrino platform next month and will boost software and security support.

Intel Strikes Up Tri-Band Wireless Technology For Centrino


Analyst Gartner is predicting radical change will occur as organisations realise that IT must act as a key driver for business change.

IT must act as driver for change, says Gartner


To prevent public interest issues being overlooked

Consumer, privacy groups demand seat at Kazaa trial


Having denied rumours for the past week that the Scot would run for them, Red Bull finally came clean first thing on Wednesday morning.

FIRST PICS - DC TESTS FOR RED BULL


Arun Gandhi, grandson of late Indian Prime Minister Mahatma Gandhi, ended a solidarity trip to the West Bank on Sunday, saying the only option for the Palestinians is non-violent resistance.

Gandhi #39;s grandson ends visit to W. Bank


Jurors began deliberations in the trial of six former Enron Corp. and Merrill Lynch  amp; Co. executives accused of fraud and conspiracy in the energy trader #39;s 1999 sale of three power-generating barges.

Jury Gets Enron, Merrill Lynch Case


Workers at Sri Lanka's main oil company end a two-day strike, held in protest at government plans to sell more of the company.

Sri Lanka hit by oil strike


WASHINGTON, DEC 13: The United States said on Monday it would continue to restrict imports of some textile and clothing products after a decades-old quota system expires in a few weeks, while China, under pressure from Washington, said it would slap a tax

US, China taking action on textile trade


quot;We are the World #39; #39; was the theme of the track and field competition on the last full day of activity at the 2004 Olympic Games as 14 countries other than the United States won medals at Olympic Stadium.

El Guerrouj is doubly good Distance king, Great Britain #39;s Holmes <b>...</b>


Security researchers inspecting a new update to Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP found two software flaws that could allow virus writers and malicious hackers to sidestep new security features in the operating system.

Researchers find holes in XP SP2


ALBANY, NY -- New York state officials say they expect two insurance company executives to plead guilty in a corruption probe into bid-rigging in the insurance brokerage industry.

Spitzer Targets Insurance Brokerage Industry


Julius Jones scored on a 17-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds left as the Dallas Cowboys scored two touchdowns in the last two minutes to stun the Seattle Seahawks 43-39 in the National Football League Monday.

Jones Leads Cowboys to Stunning Win Over Seahawks


AP - Insurgents stepped up attacks on Iraq's fledgling security forces, killing seven Iraqi police and guardsmen Monday in a suicide bombing hours after storming a police station north of the capital. The military reported five new U.S. deaths.

Insurgents Kill 7 Iraqi Security Forces (AP)


AP - The possibility of terrorist attacks at sports events should not stop fans from going to stadiums, Europe's anti-terror chief said Tuesday.

Anti-Terror Chief Encourages Fans (AP)


Microsoft technology specialists can get up to 35 percent off Windows-certified Opteron servers and workstations.

Sun dangles discounts for Microsoft techs


It took 20 years from conception to today, but the world #39;s most powerful telescope was finally dedicated. Though it won #39;t be fully operational until next year, Friday #39;s dedication a historic milestone.

Most Powerful Optical Telescope Finally Dedicated


Danish league players suspended their weeklong strike on Wednesday, allowing the Brondby and Aalborg clubs to field their full squads for Thursday #39;s UEFA Cup matches.

Danish player strike is called off


Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Peyton Manning threw four touchdown passes and Edgerrin James ran for 204 yards with a score, as the Indianapolis Colts rolled to a 41-10 victory over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

Grin and Bear it: Manning and James lead Colts to another rout


UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Wednesday urged further dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve issues, including the question of Jammu and Kashmir.

UN welcomes India-Pakistan talks


PalmSource today welcomed the third Palm Powered smartphone from GSPDA, the Xplore M28. Alpha Tech Mobile Sdn Bhd is distributing the Palm Powered Xplore M28 smartphone in Malaysia.

GSPDA M28 Palm OS Smartphone Hits Asia


AFP - The Palestinian economy remained mired in deep recession in the four years since the Intifada began in September 2000, in part because of frequent closures at the Israeli border, a new World Bank report said.

Border closures disrupt Palestinian economy: World Bank (AFP)


BERLIN -- A US tank company commander accused of killing a critically wounded Iraqi driver for radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will be court-martialed, an Army spokesman said yesterday.

Court-martial set in shooting of Iraqi


A former Bush campaign official has been charged with plotting to jam the phone networks of political opponents during the November 2002 election.\

News: Senior Republican charged in phone jamming plot


WELLINGTON: National carrier Air New Zealand said yesterday the Australian Competition Tribunal has approved a proposed alliance with Qantas Airways Ltd, despite its rejection in New Zealand.

Air NZ: Aussie regulator granted alliance appeal


CAIRO (Reuters) - OPEC oil producers said Thursday that  Friday's ministerial meeting would rein in oversupply to  bolster falling prices and that the cartel would have to reduce  output quotas early next year.

OPEC Warns Oil Supply Cuts Needed for 2005


MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- After losing their first four games, the Memphis Grizzlies powered their way to a second consecutive win.

Grizzlies power past Warriors


Storage management offerings on tap from Microsoft Corp. and Veritas Software Corp. aim to extend data replication, archiving and indexing capabilities to accelerate backup and recovery operations.

Veritas, Microsoft Give Backup a Speed Boost


ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek police surrounded a bus carrying  26 passengers that was seized by two armed hijackers along a  highway from an Athens suburb on Wednesday, police said.

Greek Police Surround Hijacked Bus Near Athens


Juniper Networks is making a big push into SSL security. The company on Monday updated its NetScreen Secure Access SSL VPNsecurity appliance that further integrates it with end-point security software packages. Juniper also announced a new initiative with several companies to provide better security across a network.

Juniper adds security software support


NEW YORK Roger Clemens could have ended his career last year in the World Series -- just like Sandy Koufax (KOH #39;-faks) did in 1966.

Clemens wins record seventh Cy Young Award


PERTH, Australia (AFP) - The Pakistan pace duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami will get their first crack at an Australian Test batsman so far on this tour when they take on a Chairman #39;s XI captained by Justin Langer in a limited overs match here.

Cricket-Pakistan get first crack at Aussie Test bat


HONG KONG : Brewing giant SABMiller has said that China Resources Breweries Ltd., a joint venture in which it has a 49-percent stake, has bought the Chinese brewing interests of Australian brewer Lion Nathan for 154 million dollars.

SABMiller venture buys Lion Nathan #39;s China interest for US\$154m


Congo-based Rwandan rebels, under threat of imminent attack by Rwanda, repeated an allegation Tuesday that Rwandan troops had crossed the border in recent days to seize the vast country #39;s mineral-rich east.

Rebels Again Say Rwanda Troops Enter Congo


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Eli Lilly and Co. <A HREF=

Lilly Profit Rises on Sales of Key Drugs


The graphics library, an alternative to Microsoft's DirectX, gets new features designed to add razzle-dazzle to PC games.

OpenGL updates graphics code


Bangladesh's exports have risen by more than a quarter, boosted by clothing sales, a government report says.

Textiles boost Bangladesh exports


BEIJING - More than 140 miners remained trapped in the tunnels and shafts of a coal mine in central China after an explosion Sunday that killed 25 of their colleagues, the government said.

140 still trapped in mine in China blast; 25 dead


London - Ivory Coast is incapable of staging elections which were called for under a now moribund peace deal signed less than two years ago, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade said in a Financial Times interview published on Tuesday.

I Coast polls  #39;impossible #39;


After being in the news more times than I have actually watched the news, the discussion about how bad are violent video games for minors, is back in session.

Violent video games get shot again.


Crude oil futures begin to factor in colder weather in the US Northeast and OPEC decision to cut production to keep the prices high.

Oil price in suspense about the impact of OPEC output cuts


MOSCOW - Police stopped a man driving a car wired with land mines and explosives in downtown Moscow early Saturday, Russian security officials said.    The man, detained by Moscow police around 1 a.m., told police he had been paid \$1,000 to park two cars with explosives in them along a Moscow street frequently used by top government officials, said the duty officer at the Federal Security Service...

Russians Stop Car Wired With Explosives


UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The world must not neglect  Afghanistan now that its presidential election is over because  upcoming parliamentary and local elections will be far harder  to manage, a top U.N. official said on Tuesday.

Afghans Need More Help as Next Elections Near -UN


quot;All right, vacation #39;s over, quot; he told the Lions players Monday.  quot;Now, wire in. Go to work. quot;. And, although he didn #39;t say it, he might have included one more thought: Heal faster.

Lions #39; injuries improve, but ...


The transformation of my musical life happened slowly. I used to bring an envelope of CDs to work and play them through my computer #39;s CD-ROM drive.

Introducing Playlist


SAO PAULO: Brazil set off for the midweek friendly in Germany without Ronaldo on Sunday after he was given permission to stay behind for an engagement dinner with his girlfriend.

Ronaldo stays in Brazil for engagement


Chelsea take on Barcelona, Real Madrid face Juventus and AC Milan return to Manchester, scene of their 2003 European Cup triumph, following Friday #39;s draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League.

WRAPUP-1-Glamour ties dominate Champions League draw


Softbank, which acquired Japan Telecom this summer, today complained that its plan to offer mobile phone service could be thwarted by the government #39;s refusal to provide the necessary bandwidth.

Softbank Protests 3G Service Bandwidth Allocation


Expanded editing features will be included in new versions of Acrobat and Reader, which are due for release by year's end.

Adobe to update PDF tools


AP - Dallas Mavericks center Erick Dampier left Tuesday night's game against Phoenix with strained hip, then guard Jason Terry was lost to a sprained ankle.

Mavs Lose Injured Dampier, Terry (AP)


AP - John Smoltz, Adam LaRoche and J.D. Drew saved the Atlanta Braves from another quick playoff exit. The Braves pounced on Houston's bullpen as soon as Roger Clemens was gone, rallying from a three-run deficit for a 6-5 victory Sunday that tied the best-of-five NL series at two games apiece.

Braves Beat Astros 6-5 to Force Fifth Game (AP)


Steven Heyer, former president of Coca-Cola (KO) who left after being denied the chief executive slot in May, will take the helm of Starwood Hotels  amp; Resorts Worldwide (HOT), the company said Tuesday.

Starwood taps former Coke exec as CEO


A security flaw in the way many Microsoft Corp. applications process JPEG images could allow an attacker to gain control over a computer running the software, Microsoft warned Tuesday.

JPEG handling flaw threatens PCs, Microsoft warns


The Israeli Knesset last night dealt a staggering political blow to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, rejecting on a 53-44 vote his report on the

Sharon gets a setback in parliament


The United States, the European Union and Russia urged Iran Monday to comply with the UN nuclear watchdog #39;s demand that it halt all activities linked to uranium enrichment, after Tehran rejected the call.

Big Powers Urge Iran to Heed UN Nuke Freeze Demand


Palm Harbor, FL (Sports Network) - Vijay Singh, the top-ranked player in the world, moved a step closer to his ninth victory of the season on Saturday as he posted a four-under 67 to take the 54-hole lead of the Chrysler Championship.

Another week, another lead for Singh


Maryland opens its season against Division II Bryant University, instead of a club team, after a new NCAA rule prohibiting those exhibitions.

No More Clubbing


Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath has denied reports that President Yasser Arafat is dead, adding that Islam did not allow for him to be taken off life-support.

No euthanasia for Arafat: Shaath


A bomb threat has prompted a Greek Olympic Airlines passenger plane to make an emergency landing, escorted by British Tornado jets, at Stansted Airport.

Bomb alert diverts Greek plane to Stansted


com October 29, 2004, 12:02 PM PT. ZDNet #39;s survey of IT professionals in October kept upgrading hardware at number two on the businesses radar throughout the year.

Intel to debut new Itaniums Nov. 8


AP - Washington state's resident killer whales, with two newborns in tow, dodged a potentially lethal roadblock in their voyage south to feast on a healthy run of chum salmon, experts say.

Washington Orca Population Heads South (AP)


The Mozilla Foundation #39;s new Thunderbird E-mail client, released last week, is positioned as a simple-but-secure alternative to Microsoft #39;s widely used Outlook Express.

Opening The Desktop


Chinas fixed-asset investment in October was up 26.4 percent from a year earlier, down from the previous month but at a level analysts said was still high enough for Beijing to keep a tight grip on credit.

Chinas fixed-asset investment eases slightly


AP - Sen. Tom Harkin pushed the name-calling in the presidential race to a new level, calling Vice President Dick Cheney a coward for not serving in Vietnam and cowardly for his criticism of John Kerry.

Harkin Calls Cheney Comments 'Cowardly' (AP)


over half the children in the world - suffer extreme deprivation because of war, HIV/AIDS or poverty, according to a report released yesterday by the United Nations Children #39;s Fund.

Unicef Report Says Children in Deprivation Reach a Billion


AFP - Philippine President Gloria Arroyo's government has issued a fresh warning to Filipino job-seekers trying to fly to Iraq despite a government ban.

Philippines issues new warning against job-seekers heading for Iraq (AFP)


TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen fell against the dollar on Friday  following a surprise rise in Japan's unemployment rate, but it  quickly recovered as traders turned their attention to an  upcoming speech from the Federal Reserve chief and U.S. growth  data.

Yen Recovers After Slipping on Japan Data


IBM #39;s campus in Boulder has begun issuing a monthly report on threats to computer networks that has similarities to Uncle Sam #39;s system for warning citizens about the danger of terrorist attacks.

IBM tracking threats to computer networks


Jose Pekerman emerged as favourite to take over as Argentina coach on Wednesday after original first choice Carlos Bianchi turned down the job, Argentina Football Association president Julio Grondona said.

Pekerman looks like favorite to coach Argentina


US department store operator Sears, Roebuck  amp; Co. (SN: Quote, Profile, Research) and discount retailer Kmart Holding Corp. (KMRT.

Sears, KMart to Merge in \$11 Billion Deal


Microsoft Corp. and Intel Corp. are joining forces to conquer US living rooms and make further inroads into the coveted consumer electronics space.

Microsoft, Intel team set to conquer US living rooms


Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , hurt by\sluggish sales over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, on Friday\launched a rare advertising blitz in newspapers around the\United States focusing on its price cuts.

Wal-Mart Launches Rare Newspaper Ad Blitz (Reuters)


Jose Mourinho believes he has enough firepower in Eidur Gudjohnsen and Mateja Kezman to see off the challenge of CSKA Moscow in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho Confident over Strike Duo


Amid the twisted metal and rubble of downtown storefronts and homes, in the side streets where residents tentatively ventured out, and even among the rebels in retreat, the word

Peace returns to Najaf


Hundreds of protesters ransacked and occupied the regional administration building in a southern Russian province Tuesday, demanding the resignation of the

Protesters Ransack Russian Gov #39;t Offices


Cheeky virus writers have put a secret message in the latest versions of the MyDoom e-mail worm asking antivirus vendors for a job.

The Trojan resume: MyDoom authors encode job plea


Alcoa Inc. (AA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s largest aluminum producer, on Thursday warned that third-quarter results would fall far short of

UPDATE 3-Alcoa warns EPS to miss forecasts; shares drop


TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto stock market was sent higher Friday morning by improvements in energy stocks as a two-day slide in oil prices skidded to a stop and signs of strong economic growth.

Stocks mixed as US, Canadian economies improve, oil edges higher


Cingular Wireless will leverage the additional spectrum it gained through the acquisition of AT amp;T Wireless to deploy a third-generation wireless data network based on the global UMTS standard.

Cingular To Roll Out 3G Network


New York Jets defensive end John Abraham, alleged to have violated the terms of his aftercare treatment, will meet with league officials Wednesday to appeal the findings of a recent random test.

Jets end not subject to suspension


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said  Saturday that Israel should expand its massive raid of northern  Gaza, the army's biggest and deadliest offensive in more than  four years of conflict with the Palestinians.

Ariel Sharon Calls for Expansion of Army's Gaza Raid


People who illegally share copyrighted music and movies over the Internet could be jailed for up to five years under a bill approved by a powerful congressional panel Wednesday.\<FONT face=

Panel Moves Against Spyware, Net Piracy


One of the latest additions to St. Louis power-filled lineup helped turn home plate into a launching pad Tuesday at Busch Stadium.

Cardinals come out slugging


AP - Track star Marion Jones filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday against the man whose company is at the center of a federal investigation into illegal steroid use among some of the nation's top athletes.

Marion Jones Sues BALCO Founder (AP)


AP - Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was awarded  #36;2.95 million in arbitration Monday for the upcoming season.

Flames' Kiprusoff Wins Arbitration Case (AP)


Nomar Garciaparra filed for free agency yesterday, two days after the All-Star shortstop #39;s former team, the Boston Red Sox, won the World Series.

Notebook: Nomar decides to become free agent


The  quot;highly criticial quot; vulnerability affects Internet Explorer 5.01, 5.5, and 6 on fully patched PCs running either Windows XP SP1 or the newer SP2.

IE Flaw Affects Windows XP SP2 Systems


Two weeks before the season opener against Brigham Young, sophomore Tom Zbikowski left Notre Dame for a couple of days, reportedly unhappy with his status as the No.

What it means


Portal player Yahoo! will compete with Google and MSN in the desktop search arena, CEO Terry Semel told an audience at a Morgan Stanley investor conference.

Yahoo! Building Desktop Search, More Personalization