Warning that film piracy represents the greatest economic threat to the movie industry in its 100 year-plus history, the Motion Picture Association of America announced Thursday that it plans

MPAA to sue Net pirates


Lawyers acting for Michael Jackson in the child molestation case bid to have prosecutor removed.

Jackson bid to remove prosecutor


The Zimbabwean state could take a 50 stake in the country's leading mining companies to crack down on what it claims is illegal use of export earnings.

Mugabe to seek mining shares


- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is gearing up for the most critical stage yet of its operation to deliver food assistance to hundreds of thousands of people affected by conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan. As the rainy season ...

WFP Tackles  #39;Critical Six Weeks #39; in Darfur with Up-Scaling of Air Operations


Green was the colour as always here yesterday, as a thousand Barbour jackets mixed with a thousand more country tweeds, but for one afternoon at least claret and blue ran it a close second.

Best Mate does enough to remain the punters #39; friend


TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei rose 0.3 percent by midday  on Tuesday as another jump in U.S. technology shares fueled  buying of local peers such as Tokyo Electron Ltd. and earnings  optimism again buoyed some miners.

Techs, Miners Help Nikkei Rise 0.3 Pct


Arsenal gained a 1-1 tie with nine men against a Champions League group winner yet still came home to negative headlines. Thierry Henry scored a quality goal for an equalizer at PSV Eindhoven

Gunners go to Liverpool stung by more negative headlines


VANCOUVER (CP) - Ainsworth Lumber Co. has agreed to pay \$457.5 million US to buy three wood-panel manufacturing plants and a related power plant in Minnesota from Potlatch Corp.

Ainsworth Lumber to pay \$457.5 million US for three US wood panel <b>...</b>


Russia's Red Army choir sings and Cossacks dance for a delighted Pope John Paul II in the heart of the Vatican.

Red Army choir performs for Pope


LOS ANGELES - Howard Stern #39;s move to Sirius Satellite Radio will unlock the one key regulatory advantage possessed by the satellite radio industry: Stern can finally say exactly what he wants on the air.

Freedom Of Speech On Satellite Radio


Russia and France are on track for a meeting in the Fed Cup final in Moscow after both teams took 2-0 leads following the first day of their respective semi-finals.

Russia, France 2-0 up


The Asian Development Bank (ADB) upgraded its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines from 5 to 5.5, it was learned Wednesday.

ADB upgrades RP #39;s GDP growth forecast


A deal to restore devolution in Northern Ireland will not be signed, DUP leader Ian Paisley confirms.

Paisley rules out devolution deal


Reuters - The U.N. Security Council was\set Friday to adopt a Russian-drafted resolution that seeks to\expand the prosecution and extradition of terrorist groups and\individuals, such as Chechen separatist leaders.

UN Council Ready to Adopt New Anti-Terror Measure (Reuters)


TORONTO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court upheld  a patent infringement finding against BlackBerry e-mail device  maker Research In Motion Ltd. <A HREF=

RIM Patent Suit Partly Upheld


AP - It was win and in for Jeremy Mayfield, who couldn't hide his excitement when NASCAR chairman Brian France stopped to congratulate him on racing his way into the playoffs.

Mayfield Races Into NASCAR Playoffs (AP)


Australia is expected to clinch its Davis Cup relegation tie against Morocco in Perth today when doubles partners Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge take to the court.

Australia in for Davis Cup kill


Burt Rutan, the man behind X-Prize winner SpaceShipOne, says the craft will not be used for scientific space experiments.

'No experiments' for SpaceShipOne


GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave  the go-ahead on Thursday for troops to withdraw from parts of  northern Gaza, media reports said, shortly after they killed  the 100th Palestinian in the largest Gaza offensive in four  years.

Reports: Sharon Approves North Gaza Pullback


BAGHDAD -- A judge has dismissed counterfeiting charges against a senior political figure once considered a front-runner to become Iraq's leader, authorities said yesterday.

Iraqi judge dismisses case against Chalabi


Scientists have obtained their best measurement yet of the size and contents of a neutron star, an ultra-dense object containing the strangest and rarest matter in the Universe.

Scientists Gain Glimpse of Bizarre Matter in a Neutron Star


AP - Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ignored advice to throw out a flawed felon voter list before it went out to county election offices despite warnings from state officials, according to a published report Saturday.

Paper: Jeb Bush Ignored Felon List Advice (AP)


A militant group threatening to kill three United Nations hostages including a British woman said today it was talking to the Afghan government about its demand to free Taliban prisoners.

Briton #39;s Kidnappers  #39;Negotiating with Afghan Government #39;


More than 30 years after the last Apollo mission, European scientists have made it to the moon. Their experimental Smart-1 probe, powered by a revolutionary Star Trek-style thruster, has entered into orbit around the lunar surface.

After 13-month flight, Europe arrives at the moon


AP - U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen shot a 7-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead Tuesday over PGA champion Vijay Singh in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Goosen Leads Grand Slam by One Stroke (AP)


A US advisory panel on Friday will review data on an experimental drug that is injected into the eye to stop vision loss in elderly patients at risk of going blind.

FDA to Review Eyetech, Pfizer Eye Drug


Iraq: US planes pounded Najaf #39;s cemetery and historic centre near the Imam Ali shrine on Monday, dimming hopes of a peaceful end to a near three-week stand-off between US-led Iraqi troops and Shiite militia.

US planes bomb Najaf, hopes of peace fade


Former Celtics player Chris Herren was arrested Friday on drug charges after passing out in his car and hitting a doughnut shop in Portsmouth, R.I., police said.

Herren charged after car crash


For the first time, scientists have created a genetic map of a cow, providing researchers a new tool to reduce animal disease and improve the nutrition of beef and dairy products

Scientists Create Genetic Map of Cattle


SAN FRANCISCO -- For only the second time in school history, Navy is going to a bowl in back-to-back seasons. Naval Academy athletic director Chet Gladchuk announced Monday that the team has accepted an invitation

Navy went to the EV1.net Houston Bowl last year


New InterConnect 2004 software automatically updates contact info.

Microsoft Sends Digital Business Cards


Reuters - Japan's largest mobile operator, NTT\DoCoMo Inc. (9437.T), unveiled on Wednesday a new line of\advanced mobile phones with stereo-quality surround sound,\high-resolution digital cameras, and a special chip that allows\owners to use their phones as a debit card.

Japan's Docomo Unveils 3G Phones with 3D Sound (Reuters)


Motorsport.com. Momentum is a funny thing in racing. It #39;s not something that you can see or hear. It #39;s not easy to put your finger on exactly when it starts.

Jeff Gordon has momentum


Liverpool, England (Sports Network) - Antonio Nunez arrived at Liverpool Tuesday as part of the deal that sent Michael Owen to Spanish giant Real Madrid.

Nunez officially joins Liverpool


The US Treasury Department #39;s under secretary for domestic finance, Brian Roseboro, will resign resign effective Dec. 31, the department said on Monday.

UPDATE 1-US Treasury #39;s Roseboro to step down Dec 31


Security managers in government agencies are most worried about patches and the poor quality of commercial software, a survey finds.

Patches cause headaches for Fed managers


Reuters - AstraZeneca Plc. said on Wednesday a new\study in Japan showed a higher rate of a potentially fatal side\effect in patients taking its lung cancer pill Iressa than that\demonstrated in an earlier analysis.

Astra Cancer Drug Tied to More Pneumonia (Reuters)


Bowing to the growing popularity of the Secure Digital memory card standard, Nokia has signed a licensing agreement to use SD cards in its cell phones.

Nokia Signs Up for SD Memory Card


The New York Yankees are struggling to score and their once-huge lead in the AL East is suddenly shrinking. Manager Joe Torre refuses to panic just yet...

Angels Beat Yanks, Bosox Closer in AL EAST


Eden Prairie, MN (Sports Network) - Minnesota Vikings running back Michael Bennett is expected to miss at least two more games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday.

Vikings #39; Bennett to remain sidelined


Hospital officials in Iraq say police have found the bodies of a man and a woman south of Baghdad. Both appeared to be Westerners, but neither had identification.

Bodies of Man and Woman Found Near Iraqi Capital


Reuters - The United States could lose its war on terrorism unless it deals with the poverty and political disputes that give rise to militant extremism, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said in an interview on Monday.

Musharraf says U.S. must address root of terrorism (Reuters)


Intel on Thursday introduced tri-mode Wi-Fi support for its Centrino mobile-processor platform, as well as software to make it easier for businesses to set up a wireless connection to any available network at maximum speed.

Intel Offers Three-Way Wi-Fi Support


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were set to open higher on  Tuesday after a long holiday weekend, with U.S. oil prices  falling more than a dollar and Seagate Technology <A HREF=

Stocks Set to Open Up as Oil Prices Fall


InfoWorld - BURLINGAME, CALIF.-- BEA Systems is expanding the open source Beehive initiative but still has no plans to participate in the Eclipse open source tools organization, despite the embrace of Beehive by Eclipse.

BEA buzzing about Beehive (InfoWorld)


AP - European Union foreign ministers called Monday for the United Nations to

EU Calls for U.N. Investigation on Sudan (AP)


A jury in Siberia found a Russian scientist guilty Friday of illegally passing documents to China, the latest ruling in a lengthy case in which the defendant was first acquitted, then ordered retried.

Russian Jury Convicts Scientist in Retrial


LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Jamaica striker Ricardo Fuller has joined Portsmouth from Preston North End on a two-year contract, the Premier League club said on Friday.

Jamaica #39;s Fuller joins Portsmouth


WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is under increasing fire for its handling of the prison abuse investigation, as some retired military officers call for an independent commission to get to the bottom of the four-month-old scandal.    Their appeal came a day before Thursday's hearings by the Senate and House armed services panels, which were reviewing the two latest reports ordered by the Defense Department...

Retired Pentagon Brass Seek Abuse Probe


JAKARTA (Reuters) - Non-OPEC oil exporters should consider  increasing output to cool record crude prices, OPEC President  Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Sunday.

Non-OPEC Nations Should Up Output-Purnomo


SPRINGFIELD (Illinois): Christina Kim celebrated her parents silver wedding anniversary by firing a 62, matching her career best, here Thursday to take the first-round lead in the \$1.

Kim fires 62 to take first-round lead


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's oil ministry has awarded the  country's first post-war oilfield development contracts to  Turkish and Canadian firms, an oil official said on Thursday.

Iraq Awards First Post-War Oilfield Contracts


Outlook: Tommy Armour III broke the PGA #39;s 72-hole scoring record last year with a 26-under par 254. Justin Leonard had back-to-back wins here in 2000-01, and Loren Roberts has finished first and second here in 2002-03.

Golf calendar


CHICAGO -- After a decade-long court fight, printing giant RR Donnelley  amp; Sons Co. has agreed to pay \$15 million to settle a race discrimination lawsuit filed by black workers at a now-closed plant.

Printing giant ends discrimination case


Anil Kumble led a fightback by India, trailing 1-0 in the four-match cricket series, as Australia slumped to 235 all out on the first day of the second Test.

India Rallies as Australia Slumps; Warne Ties Record (Update1)


The change to flash memory from DRAM (dynamic RAM) for PalmOne's new Treo 650 smart phone appears to have had the unintended consequence of reducing the amount of memory that is actually available to users. As a result, PalmOne plans to offer a free 128MB expansion card to Treo 650 purchasers to get around the problem, the company said Monday.

New file system constrains Treo 650 storage capacity


MandrakeSoft co-founder Gal Duval has announced the release of 32-bit Mandrake Linux 10.1 Official. 64-Bit Mandrake Linux 10.1 might be ready as early as next week.

Mandrake Linux 10.1 Official


Firefox, the ass-kicking Mozilla Web browser, is just out of beta with a  quot;preview release. quot; It #39;s slim, it #39;s fast, and it #39;s feature-rich -- but can it possibly threaten the worldwide dominance of Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer?

The Firefox Throwdown


Dude, where #39;s my boom? That #39;s a question a lot of Hous- tonians are asking as oil crowds the \$50-a-barrel mark. Where #39;s the frenetic hiring as oil companies staff up for the good times?

Lavish times in oil patch? Not a chance


Microsoft Corp. released 10 security fixes for various products yesterday, including seven that fix flaws the company said pose the highest threat to users.

10 security fixes are released by Microsoft


BERKELEY, Calif. (Sports Network) - JJ Arrington rushed for 169 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries to lead No. 4 California to a convincing 41-6 win over Stanford in The Big Game at Memorial Stadium.

Fourth-Ranked California Routs Stanford


USATODAY.com - The youth vote, perhaps the most elusive quarry in U.S. politics, is being Rocked, Smacked Down, Rapped and otherwise goosed by everyone from blinged-out rappers to Harvard professors to the League of Women Voters.

The youth vote: Hard to tell how it will turn out (USATODAY.com)


ATHENS -- I have not come to bury the Americans. I have come to praise the Argentines.

Elimination perfectly executed


AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. Dec 10, 2004 - Air Force guard Dan Nwaelele will play Saturday against No. 3 Georgia Tech after being cleared of allegations that he cheated academically.

Air Force Clears Athlete of Cheating


NASA is preparing to launch a nimble spacecraft to detect the most violent explosions in the cosmos and study their afterglow for hints of their origin.

NASA to hunt gamma bursts


American Express has said that it expects to record a pre-tax charge in the fourth quarter of 2004 of approximately \$100 million to \$120 million in connection with various restructuring activities that it is undertaking within certain business units and

American Express to cut 2,000 jobs in restructuring


Zimbabwe denies British journalists entry - but England's tour still looks set to go ahead.

Zimbabwe bans cricket journalists


British rowing is entering an exciting new era following the retirement of Matthew Pinsent, according to several of the sport #39;s leading figures.

British rowing approaches new era


AP - Toronto New York Yankees (7:05 p.m. EDT). Javier Vazquez goes for his 15th win for the AL East-leading Yankees.

Baseball Today (AP)


AFP - Australia has failed to obtain a leaked Red Cross report alleging that terrorist suspects held at a US military camp in Cuba were tortured, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.

Australia fails to obtain ICRC report on alleged torture at Guantanamo (AFP)


Former lightweight champion Paul Spadafora was charged with public drunkenness and acting dangerously in a car, his third arrest in less than a year.

Spadafora charged with public drunkenness


Canadian Press - LONDON (AP) - British defence contractor BAE Systems PLC said Monday it is buying DigitalNet Holdings Inc., a U.S. maker of secure computer networks and a leading information-technology supplier to the Pentagon.

British defence contractor BAE agrees to buy DigitalNet for  #36;600 million US (Canadian Press)


Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will have to increase their funding of mortgages for low- and moderate-income home buyers, under a new rule the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced yesterday.

HUD Sets New Goals For Fannie, Freddie


Major League Baseball is expected to announce tomorrow that the Montreal Expos will move to the District, and anticipation yesterday surged in Washington that the city #39;s 33-year baseball drought is finally at an end.

Expos likely to come to District


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's security cabinet approved  cash advances on Tuesday to entice Gaza settlers to evacuate  their homes, while police investigated death threats against  Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sparked by his pullout plan.

Israeli Settler Pay Approved, Sharon Faces Threats


PHUKET, Thailand (Reuters) - Thai police ordered foreign  families and friends on Monday to stay away from tsunami-hit  areas, including temporary morgues in Buddhist temples where  they have searched for missing loved ones.

Thais Order Kin of Foreigners Away from Morgues


Company shows off labor-saving data center technology at Palo Alto research lab.

HP developing 'smart rack' to ease data center work


Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals declined to offer arbitration to veteran outfielder Juan Gonzalez and three others on Tuesday, effectively cutting them loose.

Royals decline to offer arbitration to Gonzalez, Randa


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Alcoa, Diversified Utility  amp; Energy Trusts and Alinta have agreed to buy Epic Energy #39;s Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline in Western Australia for \$1.

Alcoa, others buying pipeline for \$1.3B


A Greek judoka, who 17 days ago jumped off a balcony after a row with her boyfriend hours before she was due to go into the athletes #39; Olympic village for the Athens Games, has died in hospital.

Greek athlete dies after fall


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock futures rose on Monday, pointing  to a solid start to the New Year, as oil prices tumbled more  than a dollar and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. <A HREF=

Stocks Set for Firm Start to '05


ANAHEIM -- If the Houston Astros had their druthers, Carlos Beltran and Roger Clemens would already be signed for next year, Wade Miller and Andy Pettitte would report to Spring Training in the best physical conditions of their careers and Lance Berkman

Phil Garner likes the Astros #39; chances of re-signing Carlos Beltran <b>...</b>


AP - Highly touted freshman Sean Singletary scored 15 points and made several other huge plays Sunday night, leading Virginia to a 78-60 victory against No. 10 Arizona.

Virginia Upsets No. 10 Arizona 78-60 (AP)


TAMPA, Fla. (Sports Network) - Tyler Palko threw for a  career-high 411 yards and five touchdowns, leading 19th-ranked  Pittsburgh to a 43-14 drubbing of South Florida at Raymond  James Stadium.

Palko Throws for 5 TDs as No. 19 Pitt Routs South Florida


France says it has stepped up its efforts to free two French journalists being held hostage by Iraqi militants who are demanding an end to a ban on Islamic headscarves in French schools.

France scrambles to free kidnapped journalists


Online phishing schemes more than doubled last month, leaving financial institutions struggling to rebuff attempts to steal private account information from customers, according to the Anti-Phishing Working Group.

Phishing spreads net wider


It is not exactly illegal now, but  quot;floating quot; a check could get students into trouble much sooner since Oct. 27. The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act revolutionized the way American banks process paper

New act changes check-cashing procedures


Southwest Airlines of Dallas said Monday it will eliminate 88 scheduled flights to free up planes for more profitable routes. The discount carrier said the schedule change should

Southwest to cut 88 flights


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

Sony Abandons Copy-Control Music CDs (AP)


Oxford finally got their hands on the silverware by beating Cambridge 18-11 in the 123rd Varsity rugby union match at Twickenham on Tuesday.

Rugby-Oxford triumph 18-11 in 123rd Varsity match


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

Comdial extends SIP to branch offices


By staff writers. TIGER Woods has stepped off the first tee on the life course that is marriage, saying  quot;I do quot; to his model fiancee Elin Nordegren overnight.

Tiger roars  #39;I do #39; to model wife


AP - Internet users are doing far fewer searches for sex and pornography and more for e-commerce and business than they were seven years ago, University of Pittsburgh and Penn State researchers say in a new book.

Experts: Web Searches for Sex Declining (AP)


Superman comes top of a public vote to find the greatest fictional superhero of all time.

Superman is 'greatest superhero'


The European Space Agency #39;s probe, Mars Express, may have found new evidence that points to the possibility of present life on Mars.

Water And Methane Find Points To Life On Mars?


Guy Melamed admits that when he first came to Boston College, he'd get fidgety during class.

Game speaks volumes for Melamed


ISLAMABAD : Pakistani forces have killed  quot;a few quot; militants in operations to flush out Al-Qaeda linked rebels in the northwestern tribal region near the border with Afghanistan, the military said Saturday.

Pakistan army says Al-Qaeda-linked militants killed near Afghan <b>...</b>


BEIJING: Chinese insurers have been given the green light to invest in stocks, potentially boosting liquidity by nearly 60 billion yuan (7.

Chinese insurers get green light to invest in stocks


. I understand that Microsoft #39;s Service Pack 2 for Windows XP, a new update, includes improved firewall protection. I currently use Norton Personal Firewall; will any incompatibility result when both firewalls are installed, and is one ...

Firewall Protection Without the Conflicts


Reuters - Financier Carl Icahn on Friday\offered to buy the shares of generic drugmaker Mylan\Laboratories  that he does not already own for  #36;4.9\billion, or  #36;20 a share, according to a government filing.

Icahn Offers Nearly  #36;5 Bln for Mylan Labs (Reuters)


MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday it would go ahead  and sell Yuganskneftegaz, the main oil production unit of  YUKOS, despite a U.S. bankruptcy court order seeking to block  Sunday's auction for 10 days.

Russia to U.S. Court: YUKOS Not Your Worry


NASA Administrator Sean O #39;Keefe issued a statement regarding the damage left behind at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Frances.

Space/Astronomy Blog Archives


Reuters - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon\said in an interview published on Sunday that he was ready to\meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and try to coordinate a\Gaza pullout with a new Palestinian government.

Sharon and Abbas Say They Ready to Meet - Newsweek (Reuters)


PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin served notice today that Russia intended to remain a major nuclear power by deploying a new weapon in the coming years that other states lack and are unlikely to develop in the near future.

New nukes system for Russia


SPORTS NETWORK - Chad Pennington threw three touchdown passes to lead the New York Jets to a 41-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Giants Stadium.

Jets cruise over dreadful Dolphins


Federal prosecutors are charging a Las Vegas company with making more than 300,000 telemarketing calls to consumers on the national do-not-call list.

Telemarketer allegedly made more than 300,000 illegal calls


WAL-MART Stores, the worlds largest retailer and owner of Asda supermarkets, said sales at stores open at least a year rose 2.4 per cent in September, slightly higher than its preliminary report but still towards the low end of its forecast range.

Wal-Mart sees sales up 2.4


DENVER - (BUSINESS WIRE) -ct. 27, 2004  -xima Technology today announced Centauri Business Service Manager(TM) software as an integral element of Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW) much-heralded

Proxima Technology Teams with Sun Microsystems on N1 Grid


IBM #39;s (IBM) decision to drop cash-balance plans for new hires could put pressure on other companies to close similar programs amid lawsuits and attacks from critics who say the plans hurt older workers.

IBM #39;s cash-balance move could start trend


Microsoft is behind schedule in complying with a court order to document its proprietary communications protocols, according to US authorities monitoring its behaviour.

Microsoft delays on antitrust compliance requirements


Three beheaded bodies were found Wednesday on a road north of Baghdad, authorities said. There were no documents on the bodies discovered on the road near Dijiel, about 25 miles north of Baghdad, said Col.

Three beheaded bodies discovered on a road north of Baghdad


Canadian Press - FREDERICTON (CP) - New Brunswick hospital workers are adopting an in-your-face strategy in their fight for higher wages by saying they will begin their strike Monday in Premier Bernard Lord's Moncton riding.

N.B. hospital workers plan to take strike to premier's riding on first day (Canadian Press)


Ministers and officials from the 21 Asia and Pacific Rim economies continue their work in Santiago, Chile, in preparation for the two-day summit of leaders from APEC - the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

APEC Ministers Prepare for Two-Day Summit


WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve, wanting to keep inflation at bay, is expected to boost short-term interest rates today for the third time this year, a move that would come in the final stretch of the presidential campaign.

Fed poised to raise rates third time in  #39;04


Japan #39;s Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 39.75, or 0.4 percent, to 10,731.67 at 9:02 am in Tokyo. The broader Topix index dropped 3.93, or 0.4 percent, to 1081.

Japan #39;s Nikkei Average, Topix Fall; DoCoMo, Canon Lead Decline


That there are problems between the Ambani brothers is not news, but Mukesh Ambanis admission that there could be a change in the equity pattern of the Reliance group caused the share prices of Reliance companies to drift downwards.

Cracks in the first family of business


Detroit running back Artose Pinner rushes up the middle against Houston linebacker and former North Eugene standtou Kailee Wong (right) for a 5-yard gain in the fourth quarter Sunday in Detroit.

Lions beat Texans, move to 2-0


A 7200rpm unit that's as fast as a 10,000rpm job, apparently

Seagate ships 'world first' 400GB PC HDDs


AP - Hanes is entering the lucrative consumer market of the world's most populous nation, China.

Hanes Opens Unmentionables Market in China (AP)


TEHRAN (Reuters) - Kidnappers holding an Iranian diplomat  in Iraq will

TV: Iraqi Kidnappers of Iran Envoy Want POWs Freed


New strategies to confront global warming took center stage in Buenos Aires on Monday, where thousands of environmentalists and government policy-makers gathered for an international conference on climate change.

Groups Meet to Discuss Climate Change


AP - A Polish woman who was abducted last month from her apartment in Baghdad has been freed, the Polish prime minister said Saturday.

Polish Woman Held Hostage in Iraq Freed (AP)


GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Reuters) - Azeri, Horse of the Year  in 2002 and a near certainty for the Distaff Race in the  Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park Saturday, is to run instead in  the tougher but much more prestigious \$4 million Classic.

Azeri in a Breeders' Cup Classic Gamble


Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat on Monday hinted that Israel was behind the suicide attacks in Sinai and said the PA was holding contacts with the Egyptian government on the issue.

PA: It #39;s  #39;peculiar #39; Israel didn #39;t inform us of Sinai warnings


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors may pack up and leave next  week as the Republican National Convention comes to New York  and many on Wall Street take a vacation, draining U.S. markets  of volume and leaving stocks flopping around with little  direction.

Investors Take a Holiday


Multifunction devices, workgroup printers, and a new digital pen debut.

HP Unveils an Array of Printing Products


Seattle #39;s young defense hasn #39;t been the same since collapsing in the fourth quarter of an October loss to St. Louis. For good measure, the Seahawks did it again against the Dallas Cowboys.

Seattle burned again by fourth-quarter collapse


Diego Maradona was rushed to hospital in the early hours of today, according to reports in Argentina. The former World Cup winner is currently undergoing lengthy treatment to cure a long-standing drug problem

Maradona  quot;Rushed Back to Hospital quot;


Reuters - As many as half of the Viagra\anti-impotence pills sold on the Internet could be counterfeit,\British scientists said on Tuesday.

Half of Internet Viagra Could Be Fake - Study (Reuters)


WASHINGTON -- The Senate passed a far-reaching, \$136 billion corporate tax package today that cuts taxes for businesses ranging from film companies to bow and arrow makers while closing tax loopholes and bringing US exporters in line with international

\$136 billion corporate tax bill OK #39;d


Since two Chinese engineers were kidnapped in Pakistan #39;s western tribal belt last month, the country #39;s military has been hunting for Abdullah Mahsud, the master

Hunting kidnapper in Pakistan #39;s tribal area


Virus writers are targeting Symbian-based cell phones with a Trojan horse that kills off system applications and replaces their icons with images of skulls.

Skulls program kills cell phone apps


THERE is nothing more self-righteous than a modern paparazzo with a split lip, garnered in the course of his slightly weird trade.

In Harry #39;s game, everyone has to stick to the rules


The Dutch police authorities have arrested eight suspects concerning the killing of the famous film maker Theo van Gogh, Radio Netherlands reported Wednesday.

Dutch police arrest 8 in filmmaker murder probe


Eredivisie leader PSV Eindhoven #39;s match at ADO Den Haag was abandoned late in the second half due to crowd trouble while Ajax suffered a shock home defeat on Saturday.

PSV match abandoned


Negative changes include a shorter season for oil and gas development due to soggy tundra and rising seas due to the melting of ice sheets.

Climate Change Melts Arctic Ice


TOKYO (CBS.MW) -- Japan #39;s Toshiba Corp. said Tuesday it has field suit against South Korea #39;s Hynix Semiconductor Inc. in Japan and the United States, alleging infringement of Toshiba #39;s semiconductor flash memory patents.

Toshiba seeks damage against Hynix


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures rose on Thursday,  pointing to a higher market open, as oil prices fell toward \$48  a barrel and Wall Street seemed encouraged that the Federal  Reserve would not accelerate its pace of interest rate hikes.

Stocks Headed Higher; Fed Outlook Pleases


Iran's supreme leader threatened Wednesday to pull out of negotiations if European countries press their demand for total suspension of uranium enrichment, as a new round of talks ended without an agreement to avert the possible threat of U.N. sanctions.

Iranian Leader Rules Out Halt in Uranium Enrichment


TORONTO - A few years back, Zhang Yimou was a bit miffed that fellow filmmaker Ang Lee was faster on the draw in elevating the martial-arts epic to serious cinema. But now that Lee's

Zhang Readies Another Martial-Arts Saga


Sports India, Cricket: Mumbai, Nov 4 : Spinners Anil Kumble and Murli Kartik Thursday bowled well to restrict Australia #39;s first innings to 203, a lead of 99, and make up for another Indian batting collapse on the second day of the fourth and final

Kumble, Kartik check Australia after Indian batting collapse:


Reuters - Halliburton Co. , beset by\controversy over its work in Iraq, plans to shed its KBR\engineering and construction unit if the oilfield services\company's share performance does not match its peers, it said\on Thursday.

Halliburton May Separate KBR Unit (Reuters)


Reuters - In an unprecedented departure from

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


Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Anaheim Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero was drilled on the left side of his head by a pitch from Mariners pitcher Ryan Franklin, forcing him out of Monday #39;s game in the first inning.

Vlad beaned in head during Angels game


The US must make innovation the top national priority or risk ceding its role as the worlds foremost economic power, an organisation of top business and academic leaders warned on Wednesday.

US must make R amp;D priority, business leaders warn


One example: A remote control that looks like a flip phone. Also, can Triluminos improve your picture?

Sony hones its TV efforts


ATHENS (Reuters) - Hungarian Olympic discus champion Robert  Fazekas will lose his gold medal and be expelled from the Games  after being caught trying to tamper with a urine sample, an  International Olympic Committee source said Tuesday.

Olympic Discus Champion Thrown Out of Games


Baseball fans wanting to take their minds off a playoff not involving the Yankees can still find an October classic in the sky. The last total lunar eclipse in North America until March 2007

Lunar eclipse coming Wednesday night


The spectre of a Manchester United takeover by American businessman Malcolm Glazer edged closer last night when sources close to the multi-millionaire said that he could trigger a

Glazer in position for takeover


A blast in a Shiite Muslim mosque in eastern Pakistan on Friday killed at least 15 people and left dozens injured. The blast occurred when the Friday prayers were on at the Mistri Abdullah Imambargah mosque in Sialkot.

Blast in Pak mosque kills 15


Holding a US flag he carried into space, SpaceShipOne pilot Brian Binnie salutes the crowd as a band plays the National Anthem as the spacecraft is towed down a taxiway after soaring into space in its quest to win the Ansari X Prize at Mojave, Calif

Rocket #39;s success propels chances of space tourism


Bill Cowher is no longer 0-for-Texas. He beat Dallas for the first time, running his record against the Cowboys to 1-2. That leaves the Houston Texans as the only team in the NFL a Cowher team has not beaten.

Pittsburgh Steelers Notes


HONG KONG China Netcom Group (Hong Kong), controlled by the second-largest fixed-line phone operator in China, has filed with US regulators to raise as much as \$1.

China Netcom files for IPO


Kraft Foods Inc. Thursday stood by its previously lowered earnings forecast for the calendar year and said new products including its 100-calorie snack packs would help drive growth in the second half.

Kraft affirms 2004 profit forecast


Former Walt Disney Co. President Michael Ovitz defended his tenure in the job, testifying that efforts to improve and expand the No.

Ex-Disney President Ovitz Says Eisner Was Obstacle (Update4)


Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. China #39;s largest carmaker, yesterday reached a final contract with creditors of Ssangyong Motor Co.

Shanghai Auto signs deal to buy Ssangyong Motor


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped nearly two dollars  on Thursday after the U.S. government said crude stocks fell to  a fresh five-month low last week and distillate fuel  inventories barely grew ahead of winter.

Oil Spurts Up as U.S. Inventories Dwindle


The Cassini spacecraft has discovered two new moons at Saturn that may be the smallest bodies seen so far around the ringed planet, according to a NASA press release.

This information has been provided by the State Statistics Committee


Thornbugs communicate by vibrating the branches they live on. Now scientists are discovering just what the bugs are

Insect Vibrations Tell of Good Times and Bad


Evidence from busy rovers suggests one-time presence of water, but system reboots almost dried up the sea of data.

On red planet of life, blue screens of death


GmailFS provides a mountable Linux filesystem which uses your Gmail account as its storage medium. GmailFS is a Python application and uses the FUSE userland filesystem infrastructure to help provide the filesystem, and libgmail to communicate with Gmail.\\GmailFS supports most file operations such as read, write, open, close, stat, symlink, ...

Google Hack for Using GMail for File System Storage


Iraqi insurgents attacked a U.S. convoy with a car bomb in the northern city of Mosul and killed an American soldier with a roadside bomb near Baghdad, Iraqi and U.S. authorities reported today.

U.S., Iraqi Forces Open New Offensive


SEQUENTIAL server revenue at Sun Microsystems has grown faster than the overall market, the firm claimed today. Citing a Gartner Dataquest report, Sun claimed that in the second calendar quarter of this year

Sun claims Opteron sales outpace Itanium


Scientists have shown that it is possible to vanish into a pile of completely dry sand just as easily as traditional quicksand.

Beware! Sand in This Physics Lab May Eat You Alive


Ron Artest asks the public to

Artest Says 'Move On'


RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - A Palestinian cabinet  minister told Israel on Friday

Palestinian Minister to Israel: We Want Peace


So, did Robin Van Persie deserve to get a red card for his tussle with Kieran Richardson? After viewing the incident a number of times from a series of different angles and hearing the views from a raft of

Evidence of apathy


DHAKA : Bangladesh was brought to a standstill by the third general strike in a week called by the main opposition Awami League to protest against a deadly attack on a rally, police and witnesses said.

Bangladesh gripped by third strike after deadly grenade attack


NEW YORK -- Vladimir Guerrero left the Montreal Expos after eight seasons, and in his first year with the Anaheim Angels he #39;s been selected the American League Most Valuable Player.

Anaheim #39;s Guerrero Named AL MVP


Microsoft #39;s Steve Ballmer argued that the true amount of shifting from Microsoft to Linux in places like Europe and Asia has been overstated in the media.

Microsoft Feeling Heat from the Penguin


SAN FRANCISCO--Yahoo added a search feature for cell phones Tuesday, just a few weeks after rival Google launched one of its own. While Google SMS (Short Message Service) uses text-only messages to deliver

Yahoo battles Google for the cell phone


SUMMIT COUNTY - The Colorado Intermountain Fixed Guideway Authority (CIFGA) has released its final report saying magnetic levitation could be a viable transit alternative from Denver to Eagle County.

Transit alternative would be costly


Iraq #39;s fragile political settlement appeared to be on the brink of collapse last night, with Sunnis, Shias and Kurds divided over whether elections can take place in January as planned.

Insurgency threatens Iraq election


The public is being asked to help with a major survey into Britain's owl population.

Survey plea to save stricken owls


ATHENS (Reuters) - A diplomatic wrangle of Olympic  proportions was avoided Sunday when Iranian world judo champion  Arash Miresmaeili failed to make the weight for his clash with  an Israeli opponent.

Iranian Will Not Meet Israeli in Olympics Due to Weight


Everton manager David Moyes has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2009. The 41-year-old Scot has steered the Toffees to third place in the Barclays Premiership table despite last

New Goodison contract for Moyes


Gary Caldwell insists he is confident Scotland can overcome their injury problems to secure the right results against Norway and Moldova.

Caldwell Confident Despite Injury Woes


SAN FRANCISCO - Kim Polese, the woman who coined the term

Kim Polese returns as head of SpikeSource


MONTREAL -- The buzzards, now bored, are once again circling Olympic Stadium, waiting for the hammer, not cement, to fall on the unloved Expos.

Buzzards overhead


US consumer confidence hits a seven month low ahead of next week's presidential election.

US consumer confidence dips again


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

Pfizer Affirms 2004 Forecast


Southern stars: 3000 metres women #39;s pursuit gold medallist Sarah Ulmer, right, hug #39;s Australia #39;s silver medallist Katie Mactier after beating her in a record breaking final.

Record-breaking Kiwi relegates Mactier to silver


The annual cap of 65,000 new H-1B visas for the fiscal year just started has been met, CNET News.com has learned.

H-1B visa limit for 2005 already reached


Reuters - OPEC oil producers and Chancellor\Schroeder of Germany, which is a prominent consumer, agree that\the remorseless rise in the price of crude has so far had\little impact on global economic growth.

Economies Not Yet Dented by Oil Prices (Reuters)


While US President George W. Bush repeated his concerns over the nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran, the US Department of State backed Secretary of State Colin Powell #39;s remarks that  quot;Iran has been developing rocket systems capable of carrying

US State Department: Iranian Intelligence is Strong


DENVER - In a last-minute flurry of accusations before their final debate, John Kerry tried to tie President Bush to record oil prices while the president charged that his Democratic opponent has totally misunderstood the war on terror.    On the way to the debate that will range over domestic issues from the economy to health care, Bush is reaching out to military supporters in Colorado Springs, where the war in Iraq is the chief concern...

Bush, Kerry Talk Tough Before Last Debate


The BBC leads the nominations for the Bafta Interactive Awards, including one for the Radio Times website.

New media battle for Bafta awards


Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver/kick returner Frank Murphy will miss the remainder of the season after rupturing his left Achilles #39; tendon in Sunday #39;s 16-13 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Bucs lose KR Murphy for season


Reuters - The NBA announced on Tuesday\that the 55th annual All-Star Game will be played in Houston's\Toyota Center during the 2006 season.

Houston to Host 2006 NBA All-Star Game (Reuters)


Planning for Israel #39;s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is at an advanced stage and the army is awaiting only the order to go ahead, the Israeli army chief said on Thursday.

Army chief says planning advanced for Gaza pullout


By Holly VanScoy, HealthDay Reporter    Doctors are combining time-honored therapies with conventional treatments     HealthDayNews -- In medical circles, what was once considered either old-fashioned or

Alternative Medicine Slips Into the Mainstream


Two car bombs killed seven Iraqi national guardsmen and a rocket barrage hit a police academy Monday as insurgents kept up their offensive to subdue Iraq #39;s beleaguered security forces.

US Jets Pound Militant Positions in Iraq


The Bush administration says the new International Atomic Energy Agency resolution on Iran shows that Tehran is increasingly isolated over its nuclear program.

US Says Iran Increasingly Isolated, Pressured, on Nuclear Issue


 By Andrei Khalip

 RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - The United Nations andBrazil moved on Monday to break a months-long deadlock overinspections to verify Latin America's largest nation is notdiverting enriched uranium for weapons.

Brazil and UN Try to Solve Nuke Impasse


France, Spain and Italy are sending water-bomber planes to Morocco to fight a major forest fire .

Europe helps tackle Morocco fires


A man who lived for 147 days on a mechanical heart made by Danvers-based Abiomed Inc. died because of complications related to the device, officials said yesterday.

Patient dies as mechanical heart fails


New Delhi: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on Wednesday hiked foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the civil aviation sector from 40 to 49 per cent but barred foreign airlines from holding stakes.

Govt tackles Left parties, hikes FDI cap in aviation to 49


ASP NetSuite this week unveiled the latest version of its hosted applications suite with a focus on  quot;upsell quot; and e-commerce functionality.

NetSuite Urges Users to Upsell


The city of Paris intends to reduce its dependence on software suppliers with  quot;de facto monopolies quot;, but considers an immediate switch of its 17,000 desktops to open-source software too costly.

Paris considers Linux move


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's  coalition reeled toward collapse on Wednesday over a budget  vote likely to force him to remake his government or call  elections that would imperil his Gaza withdrawal plan.

Israeli Coalition on Verge of Collapse Over Budget


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

GM, Ford Raise U.S. Sales Incentives


AP - Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman swerved to avoid a deer and flipped his luxury vehicle, authorities said Wednesday, finally revealing details of a mysterious wreck last weekend.

Police: Coleman Flipped Car to Avoid Deer (AP)


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Williams-Sonoma Inc. <A HREF=

Williams-Sonoma Lowers 4th-Qtr. Forecast


House prices rose by just 0.2 in September as the market continued to show signs of slowing down. It follows a rise of just 0.1 during August, said the Nationwide Building Society.

House Price Rises Slowing Down - Survey


Oil futures cooled on Monday, giving investors a brief reprieve from record-high prices amid word that Iraqi oil exports have returned to normal for the first time in two weeks.

Oil prices cool


Al Qaeda member surrenders


Staff at Berlin #39;s internationally renowned zoo were working to restore public confidence yesterday after a 110kg South American bear escaped from its enclosure and spent more than half an hour frolicking in a children #39;s playground before being knocked out

Bear escapes zoo to frolic in children #39;s playground


AP - The Illinois Republican Party left U.S. Senate candidate Alan Keyes off a campaign mailer that touted

Illinois GOP Skips Keyes in Promotion (AP)


Greek authorities dealt with more than 700 security scares during the Athens Games, including a bomb hoax before the opening ceremony and a propane leak at a luxury hotel that was hosting hundreds of representatives from major Olympic sponsors.

Greek police detail security threats during Olympic games


Letters Just you try battling the pigopolists, mate

We're not so inEFFectual


World number one and defending champion Vijay Singh was stalking joint leaders Tom Lehman and Briny Baird after the third round of the \$4.

UPDATE 1-Singh turns up heat on joint leaders Lehman, Baird


WOOLWORTHS and joint venture partner Victorian pubs owner Bruce Mathieson have until 7pm today to withdraw or extend their bid for Australian Leisure and Hospitality.

Woolies faces deadline on ALH


NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar posted gains against the  euro on Tuesday, digesting a slew of U.S. economic data that  failed to substantially alter expectations for Federal Reserve  interest rate hikes.

Dollar Gains on Euro After Muted U.S. CPI


Ravens running back Jamal Lewis will likely miss Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a game that has playoff implications.

J. Lewis Out Again


CHARLOTTE, NC Jake Delhomme (del-OHM #39;) threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keary Colbert with 20 seconds remaining to give Carolina a 21-to-14 victory over Tampa Bay.

Panthers 21 Buccaneers 14


MACKAY, AUSTRALIA - A vibrating sex toy tossed in a garbage can shut down operations at an Australian airport for about an hour on Monday.

Vibrating sex toy shuts Australian airport


The Iraqi government said it would release one of the female prisoners whose freedom is being demanded by Islamic militant kidnappers who are threatening to kill a third Western hostage.

Iraq Officials to Free Woman Prisoner


The Swedish company Gambro AB will sell its Lakewood-based division to a California company for \$3.05 billion in cash. The division, Gambro Healthcare US, operates clinics for patients undergoing kidney dialysis and has 565 clinics and 43,200 patients.

Lakewood company in \$3B deal


Israeli troops shoot dead a mentally ill Palestinian during a raid in Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.

Disabled man dies in Israeli raid


Oregon State suspends four players for the Insight Bowl against Notre Dame on Dec. 28.

Beavers Suspend Four


American-led forces backed by warplanes tightened their grip on the Iraqi rebel stronghold of Samarra yesterday, saying they had killed 125 militants in one of the largest offensives since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

US SLAMS REBELS


The business sentiment index in the domestic economy has finally showed a mild upturn in the last four months. The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) reported Sunday that,  quot;According to a survey conducted

Business Sentiment Improves for First Time in Four Months


A couple of the somebodies around here are going to walk away from Flushing Meadow with a million bucks apiece in their petty cash stash. You can call them champ.

'Zippy' chipper despite loss


MacCentral - It's a little after 5 p.m. on a Friday evening in early December and Apple Computer Inc.'s store in Tokyo's Ginza district is bustling. The store opened just over a year ago as Apple's first retail location outside of the U.S. and it's a been a good year, said the manager of the company's Japanese retail operations in an recent interview.

Apple's Tokyo store turns one year old (MacCentral)


HACKENSACK, NJ - With one deal, Cendant Corp. is moving from an also-ran to one of the top players in the booming online travel business.

Cendant to pay \$1.25 billion for Orbitz


New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer will file a lawsuit as early as Friday against an insurance company, the second suit stemming from his sweeping probe into bid-rigging in the industry, Spitzer told Reuters on Friday.

New York #39;s Spitzer Says May Sue Insurer


Calcutta: Shahid Afridi felt that the Saturday one-dayer between the arch-rivals will be a close one with no clear favourites. Any team can win on the day, the Pakistani allrounder said at a city hotel on Thursday.

Afridi: No clear favourites


Once Mississippi State started rolling, New Orleans was no match for the 20th-ranked Bulldogs. Shane Power scored 17 points and Mississippi State extended its road winning streak to 13 games

No. 20 Mississippi St. 74, New Orleans 59


The FDA found serious problems of bacterial contamination 16 months before Britain closed the site.

U.S. Knew Last Year of Flu Vaccine Problems


WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Construction of new homes recovered in July, as US homebuilders started homes at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.978 million, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

Building permits increase 5.7, reversing June downturn


Troubled mutual insurer Equitable Life says it is making  quot;steady and sustained progress quot; to restore its finances. Publishing its half-yearly results, the society said there had been  quot;no material change quot; in its capital reserve, now standing at 532m.

Equitable makes  #39;steady progress #39;


\\The PeerFear blog is built on top of a custom CMS that I wrote about two years\ago.  It doesn't support Atom, trackbacks, and some people report problems when\posting from IE.\\I installed Moveable Type but to be honest I am less than thrilled.  It doesn't\support category RSS feeds and I can't associate images for categories like I'm\currently doing.\\So it appears I'm stuck... \\Anyone have any feedback?  Maybe I should install one of the OSS blogging tools.\\

Install Moveable Type?


Sprint Corp., the telecommunications giant, said yesterday it will cut 700 jobs in its business solutions division as it stops selling business long distance services outside of package deals.

Sprint to cut 700 jobs as it trims back service


Sean Harrigan, a longtime union official and one of the nation's most outspoken advocates for corporate governance reform, was ousted yesterday from his post as president of the \$177 billion California Public Employees Retirement System.

Calpers replaces activist president


European Space Agency -- Cool your product from 22 C to 2 C in just two minutes with no electricity, simply by 100 natural evaporation, using an advanced simulation technique from Europe's Ariane launcher.

Space Technology Creates New Era in Cosmetics


DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. - Coventry Health Care Inc. is buying managed health care company First Health Group Corp. for \$1.8 billion in cash and stock in a deal that would create a national health benefits company

Coventry Health Buys First Health Group


Jennifer Wilson, vice president of marketing and data at e-mail performance management firm Return Path, said there is still plenty of interest in new e-mail services.

ICQmail To Launch Premium E-Mail Service


Cape Town - Three of seven crew, who died when a cargo plane crashed in Halifax, Canada, lived in South Africa. Four of the dead crew members were British nationals, two living in South Africa and two in Zimbabwe.

Jet broke up, burst into flames


AFP - The founder of radical Islamist group Ansar al-Islam was questioned in Oslo by German police ahead of the arrests in Germany of three men suspected of plotting to attack visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allaiwi.

Exiled Ansar founder could be linked to Allawi attack plot (AFP)


Bob Huggins was reinstated as men #39;s basketball coach at the University of Cincinnati. Huggins, 50, was suspended with pay in June after he was arrested for driving under the influence.

Huggins back at Cincinnati


Softbank Corp., Dentsu Inc. and Nippon Meat Packers Inc. will be added to the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, the compiler of the 55-year-old benchmark said.

Softbank, Dentsu, Nippon Meat to Join Nikkei 225 Next Month


ATHENS, Greece -- It #39;s over. The US men #39;s basketball team #39;s run in the Olympics. The US dominance in the sport at all.

Gold turns to dust


Each week we present reports about science. These are about many different subjects. They can be about volcanoes exploding, developments of improved farm crops, archeology, space, new treatments for diseases.

SCIENCE IN THE NEWS


CAIRO, Egypt - Three explosions shook popular resorts on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where Israelis were vacationing Thursday night at the close of a Jewish holiday, Egyptian officials and witnesses said.    The first blast, about 10 p.m., shook the Hilton hotel in the Taba resort, only yards from the Israeli border...

Blast Kills 23 on Egypt-Israeli Border


CAIRO (Reuters) - Swarms of pink locusts swept through the  Egyptian capital on Wednesday, evoking the biblical description  of the plagues which struck in the time of Moses.

Pink Locusts from North Africa Swarm Through Cairo


NewsFactor - Advanced Micro Devices is making a push to beat Intel in the development of dual core microprocessors based on x86 chips. \On Tuesday, AMD (NYSE: AMD) unveiled a prototype dual-core Opteron processor running in a Hewlett-Packard ProLiant server.

AMD's Next Rabbit Out of the Hat: Dual Core (NewsFactor)


Americans Aquil Abdullah and Henry Nuzum row their double scull furiously down the stretch to cross the line in a dead heat with Norway on Wednesday, winning both teams a spot in a rare seven-boat final.

U.S. Rowers Advance


NewsFactor - Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has issued a warning related to potential problems with the\batteries in some 28,000 of its 15-inch PowerBook G4 laptop computers,\telling customers that the batteries may pose a fire hazard due to\overheating.

Apple Recalls 28,000 PowerBook Batteries Due to Overheating Concern (NewsFactor)


The Yankees have won 10 of 12 this year against Toronto, which has lost five straight and 18 of 24.

Notables


AP - Harvard University is planning a major expansion of its engineering program, including a 67 percent increase in the size of the faculty and the possible establishment of a separate school.

Harvard Plans Major Engineering Expansion (AP)


In moments of crisis, it can be comforting to know that there is someone worse off. It may be a small crumb, but it is one that both Real Madrid and AS Roma cling to gratefully as they

Crisis summit for clubs in turmoil


Diageo, the world's biggest spirits company, is selling most of its 20 stake in US food company General Mills to ease its 4.5bn (\$8bn) debt burden.

Diageo says Cheerio to US stake


Boston clinch the World Series title after beating St Louis 3-0 in the fourth game to win 4-0.

Baseball: Boston win World Series


Americas biggest corporations are increas- ingly funneling profits earned in the United States to tax havens around the globe, accord- ing to a new study.

Foreign Tax Havens Costly to U.S., Study Says


University of Colorado Regent Jim Martin said Thursday the university must take swift, sure action to restore public trust after the disclosure of a critical audit of a fund-raising organization and a private football camp run by head

Regent: CU needs to restore confidence


Mobile Digital Media (MDM) in introducing new mobile travel solutions offered on a CD-ROM for Palm OS, Windows Mobile and Nokia Series 60 mobile phones.

MDM announces Directions on-the-go


World No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 2 Andy Roddick showed why they are a level above the rest of the players on the ATP on Saturday, both gutting out three-set wins at the ATP stop in Bangkok to set up a renewal of their rivalry for the Sunday final.

Federer, Roddick Clash Again at ATP Bangkok


JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Harmony Gold Mining says it will try to block Gold Fields International #39;s merger proposal with Toronto-based Iamgold, despite a South African court ruling prohibiting it from doing so.

Battle over Gold Fields-Iamgold merger heats up


Sven Jaschan, who may face five years in prison for spreading the Netsky and Sasser worms, is now working in IT security. Photo: AFP.

Cheap thrills


HOUSTON -- David Carr threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns and Domanick Davis rushed for a season-high 129 yards and a score to help the Houston Texans rally from an 18-point deficit yesterday in a 31-21 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Texans sweep past Titans


The three Black Watch soldiers killed in a suicide bomb attack in central Iraq are named.

Dead Black Watch soldiers named


Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has reached an agreement with the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani that grants his freedom from murder charges and secures peace in war-torn Najaf, al-Sistani aides said on Thursday.

Clerics agree Najaf peace deal


Gartner researchers believe that as many as 50 of the IT operational jobs in the U.S. could disappear over the next two decades because of coming improvements in data center technologies.

Gartner: Half of U.S. IT operations jobs to vanish in 20 years


Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Inc. (HGST) and Intel Corp. are pushing the development of an interface technology that they hope will smooth the adoption of compact hard-disk drives (HDDs) into mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and digital music players, the companies said on Friday.

Hitachi and Intel join on mobile phone drives


Reid, entering his sixth season in Philadelphia, has led the Eagles to three consecutive losses in the NFC championship game. He is in the third year of

Reid gets four-year extension through 2010


Shell has pledged to spend more cash on finding oil and gas over the next three years as the world #39;s No.3 oil company admitted that its production was likely to be flat until 2009.

Shell spends big to recoup  #39;lost #39; oil


IRISH stayer Vinnie Roe firmed from \$6 to \$5.50 for this afternoon #39;s Melbourne Cup as a storm reached Flemington bringing strong winds and rain.

Vinnie firms as storm strikes Flemington


AP - Americans David J. Gross, H. David Politzer and Frank Wilczek won the 2004 Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for their explanation of the force that binds particles inside the atomic nucleus.

Three Americans Share Nobel Physics Prize (AP)


Italian authorities said Thursday they had no information allowing them to confirm the execution of two Italian hostages being held in Iraq.

Website claims Italian hostages dead


The election might be over, but Pennsylvania will remain a battleground state at least until Nov. 7, when Super Bowl candidates Pittsburgh and Philadelphia collide in Heinz Field.

New Staley to face old teammates


(Jerusalem-AP) Nov. 14, 2004 - Palestinian security forces in the West Bank will no longer be allowed to carry weapons in public. That #39;s what Israel #39;s army chief has told the Israeli Cabinet.

Israeli army to reinstate ban on armed Palestinian security forces


Honda's new, improved Asimo robot is able to run, interact with people and shake his hips.

Humanoid robot learns how to run


AP - When it comes to communication, commercial airline passengers go from the Internet Age to the Stone Age once a plane takes off.

FCC Mulls Wireless Internet Access on Jets (AP)


A year ago, the Chargers were the NFL #39;s worst team and missed the playoffs for the eighth straight season. Now they #39;ve won as many games as they did all of last year, improving to 4-3 with a 17-6 road win

Chargers opening eyes with 4-3 start


Scottish football (soccer) coach Graeme Souness is quitting the English Premiership #39;s Blackburn Rovers to become the manager of the Newcastle United squad.

Graeme Souness is Quitting English Premiership #39;s Blackburn Rovers


The threat of execution hung over a Briton and two American hostages as their Islamic militant captors #39; 48-hour deadline for the US-led coalition to free all Iraqi female detainees was due to expire on Monday.

Time running out for Iraq hostages


ST GEORGE Bank has continued to post big gains from its lending with the Sydney based company producing an 18 per cent lift in after tax profit to \$717 million.

St George lifted by lending


England #39;s Lee Westwood leads South Africa #39;s Retief Goosen by one shot going into the final day of the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City.

Westwood leads Goosen


Detroits big rebates and interest-free financing deals have strengthened car sales for the last three years. But they have also eroded the resale value of many American automotive brands.

Dude, Where's My Resale Value?


Suspected Maoist rebels today shot and wounded a policeman and detonated two powerful bombs in Kathmandu as the blockade of the Nepalese capital entered its third day.

Bomb blasts hit Kathmandu


Reuters - NASA officials on Monday postponed\for a day the launch of an unmanned experimental jet that would\have attempted to shoot out across the Pacific Ocean at a\record speed of more than 7,000 mph after an apparent glitch\with its electronics systems.

NASA Postpones Launch of Super-Fast Jet to Tuesday (Reuters)


SEOUL, South Korea - A huge mushroom cloud that reportedly billowed up from North Korea was not caused by a nuclear explosion, South Korean and U.S. officials said Sunday, but they said the cause was a mystery...

Nations: N. Korea Cloud Isn't Nuke Blast


The Arab news network Al-Jazeera showed video Thursday of 10 new hostages seized in Iraq by militants. Al-Jazeera said the 10 -- six Iraqis, two Lebanese and two Indonesian

Footage Shows 10 New Hostages in Iraq


South of Canyonville, you could be delayed up to an hour each way due to road and bridge repairs. Other than that, you should have no more trouble than usual driving around Oregon on a Thanksgiving

Millions to travel for turkey


First Apple put some color on the iPod, when it offered the iPod mini in a palette of pastel hues, and now it has put some color inside it, in the form of the new iPod Photo.

Photos Plus Music Equals an Expensive iPod


HAVING overtaken Tiger Woods as the world #39;s premier golfer, Vijay Singh pushed Woods further into his wake yesterday (AEST) by claiming the PGA Tour #39;s single-season money record.

Singh has Tiger running scared


AP - Tailback Lydell Ross is back with Ohio State but it is unclear whether he will play Saturday against Penn State.

Ross to Dress for Buckeyes on Saturday (AP)


President Jacques Chirac and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will discuss Turkey #39;s EU membership bid on Tuesday as strong advocates of entry talks, but analysts say questions remain on their stance due to domestic opposition.

Turkey on Chirac-Schroeder agenda


PARIS, Aug 26 (AFP) - Vivendi Universal will create 2,100 jobs over five years as part of a deal agreed with the French government allowing the French media and communications group to book tax credits under a new regime, the finance ministry said Thursday

Vivendi tax credit deal amounts to jobs in France


The British Phonographic Industry threatens tough action.  quot;We will get IP addresses and names, quot; a spokesperson said.  quot;P2P users have a misconception that they are anonymous, but they are not.

British P2P File Sharers Face Legal Action


We are entering a very dangerous time. Everyone has their own gun and there is no one person in control.. BY ANDREW METZ. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- The young men wore hostile expressions and carried guns

Gaza out of control


KOLKATA: Battlelines are drawn for the BCCI presidential election at cricket #39;s top bodys crucial annual general meeting here on Wednesday.

No consensus candidate found, Pawar in fray


Houston Astros: The Astros re-signed utility infielder Jose Vizcaino to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Vizcaino made \$1.2 million last year.

Vizcaino gets one-year deal


By EDDIE PELLS    (AP) -- It might be time for workout warriors to stack a couple more weight plates onto the pile. A recent study showed that many inexperienced weightlifters don't come close to pumping enough iron to change the shape of their muscles, or really get any benefit at all...

Study Shows Weightlifters Don't Lift Enough


United Airlines management says it is  quot;substantially accelerating quot; its restructuring plans to add lucrative international routes, strengthen its hubs, and cut back on other domestic service.

United Airlines: We #39;ll strength hubs, pull back elsewhere


Amid protests from womens groups and warnings from the EU, Turkeys government agreed to measures that would appear to scuttle its plans to introduce legislation making adultery a crime.

EU Forces Turkey to Backtrack on Adultery


Server shipments and revenue increased in the second quarter, as Sun Microsystems and Dell gained market share at the expense of Hewlett-Packard and IBM, according to research recently released by Gartner.

Sun, Dell Lead Server Sales


The bodies of nine people, including three federal agents, were discovered at a pair of sites outside Cancun, a Mexican resort city that lies near a route used to smuggle cocaine from Colombia to America's streets.

Nine Bodies Found in Cancun


Troubled retailer Toys  quot;R quot; Us Inc. reported Monday that the company swung to a profit in the latest second quarter, compared with a loss in the year-ago period.

Toys  #39;R #39; Us Swings to 2Q Profit


About 15 rebels have been killed by Iraqi and US forces over a 24-hour period in Mosul, while the United States plans Friday to further strengthen troops in Iraq.

15 rebels killed in Iraq #39;s Mosul while US plans to beef up forces


AFP - Three of the nine Canadian sailors injured when their newly-delivered, British-built submarine caught fire in the North Atlantic were airlifted Wednesday to hospital in northwest Ireland, officials said.

Three injured Canadian submariners airlifted to Ireland (AFP)


A Canadian was forced to delay its first launch in the X Prize competition, an international race to put civilians into space. First prize is US\$10 million.

Canadian X Prize Team Postpones Launch


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli soldiers shot dead a  Palestinian gunman in the Gaza Strip Sunday as he approached  the border fence with Israel, the army said.

Israeli Army Kills Gunman in Gaza Strip


The Wizards can point to their defense as the main reason why they have lost four of their last five games.

Defending Nobody


This article was reported by Lee Jenkins, Juliet Macur and Bill Pennington and written by Mr. Jenkins. During a year that baseball would like to forget, the scene was set for its free fall.

Another Chance for Baseball to Settle Its Score With Drugs


AP - The Bush administration urged the Myanmar government on Thursday to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, saying a failure to do so would represent

White House Urges Myanmar to Free Suu Kyi (AP)


Signaling for the first time publicly that he might be persuaded to drop his opposition to a team in Washington, DC, Orioles owner Peter Angelos said he could go along if a deal is struck to protect his franchise and Maryland #39;s investment in Oriole Park

Expos #39; move to DC appears imminent


9 September 2004 -- Iraqi President Ghazi Ajil al-Yawir met today with German leaders and renewed a call for Iraq #39;s foreign debt to be forgiven.

Iraqi President Calls Debt Relief


The showdown between Myanmar #39;s military regime and the European Union at the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of Asian and European leaders has been propelled into one

Myanmar, EU draw lines in the sand


A PREDATORY robot devised by British scientists could generate its own energy by catching and digesting flies. Called EcoBot II, the creation is part of a drive to make  quot;forget and release quot; robots that could

Fly-eating robot takes first slow steps towards danger zone


AP - One year ago, twin Egyptian boys born joined at the tops of their heads were separated after a 34-hour procedure that doctors warned could have resulted in the death of one or both.

Formerly Conjoined Egyptian Twins Doing OK (AP)


The Palestinian economy is in crisis, performing well below its potential, the World Bank says.

Palestinian economy in decline


Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned with TCDD, the most harmful known dioxin and one contained in Agent Orange, a scientist who analyzed his blood said yesterday.

Scientists pinpoint Yushchenko poison


Washington, DC, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- The US Commerce Department said Tuesday a dip in mortgage rates helped boost home-building activity in July 8.3 percent after falling 7.7 percent in June.

Housing starts jump 8.3 percent


AP - Hamid Karzai clinched a majority of the votes cast in Afghanistan's first presidential election, near-complete results showed Sunday, leaving him all but certain of becoming his war-wrecked nation's first democratically elected leader.

Karzai Clinches Majority in Afghan Vote (AP)


SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Just one day after an Australian government inquiry handed down a damning report on James Hardie Industries NV #39;s (JHX) inadequate funding for victims

UPDATE: Investors Favor James Hardie Despite Findings


With their 64-bit chip war running at full tilt, rivals Intel and AMD (Quote, Chart) are bolstering efforts on their value-priced lineups.

Intel and AMD Keep Value Battle Alive


CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry came to the heart of a conservative state hit hard by job losses over the past four years to tout his plan for curbing the export of jobs by cutting corporate taxes and enforcing trade agreements...

Kerry Takes Job Creation Message to N.C.


A military leader of the radical Palestinian group Hamas who was at the top of Israels most wanted list, has been killed in an air strike on Gaza City.

ISRAELI MISSILE KILLS HAMAS LEADER


AP - Nearly 8 million mobile phone users have switched carriers and kept their cell numbers since a new rule allowing that flexibility went into effect one year ago, the Federal Communications Commission disclosed Tuesday.

FCC: 8M Wireless Users Keep Cell Numbers (AP)


VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog begins a  meeting Monday to consider a European draft resolution on  Iran's atomic program, which Washington says is a cover for  developing a nuclear weapon.

UN Meets on Iran Nuclear Plans Amid Bomb Fears


NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 9: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that India was ready to do more in taking forward the peace process with Pakistan if President Musharraf were to stick to his commitment on checking cross

PM to Rumsfeld: we can do a lot more if Pak builds on trust


The Salvation Army holds its annual Kettle Kick-Off this evening in downtown St. Paul with the lighting of a giant kettle. The Salvation Army plans to announce a \$7 million Christmas fund-raising goal.

Kettle Campaign Kicks Off Tonight


With No. 14 Minnesota trying to become the seventh Big Ten member to earn a Bowl Championship Series berth, it #39;s a good time to point out that - in an age of conference expansion - staying small has its advantages.

League setup aids Big Ten in BCS


A last-ditch \$3 million ad campaign for Proposition 72 features Wal-Mart as a health-insurance miser. The ads even led Wal-Mart to contribute to the  quot;no quot; campaign  quot;to defend (its) honor.

Wal-Mart study shows clear bias


Unemployment declined last month in eight of 10 states that are hotly contested in the presidential race, including Ohio where job losses and a struggling economy have boosted Democrat John Kerry #39;s election hopes.

Unemployment drops in battleground states


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A Superior Court judge on Wednesday ordered the state to rewrite, reprint and redistribute all of its ballots for the Nov. 2 election, saying the wording of a ballot initiative was inaccurate and biased...

Alaska Judge Orders Ballots Reprinted


In Japan, that is. The game player's surprising pricing there may indicate what the U.S. market can expect.

Sony sets price, date for PlayStation Portable


A survey of Internet vulnerabilities shows a sharp jump in attacks on Windows-based personal computers and a marked increase in commercially motivated threats.

Attacks on Windows PC's Grew in First Half of 2004


Former BBC boss Greg Dyke attacks the prime minister over the Iraq war and his treatment of the BBC.

Dyke accuses Blair over Iraq war


American International Group and federal regulators have completed a settlement that calls for the company to pay \$126 million in penalties and restitution and to

AIG and US Complete Big Settlement Agreement


The IBM Blue Gene/L supercomputer is currently being assembled for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Livermore plans to buy a unit four times the current supercomputers size, according to eBCVG.

Teraflop topping IBM supercomputer being assembled


No. 17 Tennessee arrived at No. 3 Georgia on Saturday, coming off a loss to Auburn, while the Bulldogs had thrashed LSU. Not only did the Volunteers drop nine spots in the national rankings

Tennessee earns a little respect defeat of Georgia


The Avaya Video Telephony Solution: Desktop Edition bundles US-based Polycom #39;s ViaVideo II video camera for PCs with Softphone from Avaya.

Avaya, Polycom Unveil Internet Videophone


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices held steady near 7-week lows  on Friday on forecasts for colder-than-normal weather in the  U.S. Northeast.

Oil Prices Hold Near 7-Week Lows


LONDON - Three British soldiers in the Black Watch regiment, the forces moved closer to the Iraqi capital to back up American troops, have been killed in an attack, the government said Thursday.

Minister says three British soldiers killed in Iraq


Kobe Bryant #39;s attorneys abruptly dropped a bid to seal evidence in the NBA star #39;s rape case Monday, saying the details will be leaked anyway and releasing all the documents would reveal

Defense removing push to seal Bryant case evidence


In the wake of leaked grand jury testimony that implicated superstars Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi in the BALCO steroid scandal, Major League Baseball and the Players Association may be close to forging a tougher new policy on drug testing.

Tougher policy in works


LONDON - The government was accused Saturday of  quot;clearly misleading quot; the British public over plans for postwar Iraq after a newspaper reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair was warned a year before the invasion that postwar stability would be difficult.

Documents indicate Blair was warned


Telstra Corp., Australia #39;s biggest phone company, will next year begin cutting the number of workers among its 4,500 middle managers, spokesman Michael Grealy said.

Telstra Plans to Begin Cutting Middle Managers Next Year


Jon Gruden isn #39;t happy, and he admitted as much Monday morning. But at least the Bucs coach can look forward to something. Running back Michael

Offense turns to Pittman


The lavish apartment is, says Kirk Henckels - who finds the super-rich their homes in Manhattan -  quot;definitely the best of the best quot;.

Nice flat Mr Murdoch, yours for \$44m


A group of 44 people, at least some of them North Koreans, entered the Canadian Embassy yesterday, using ladders to scale a spiked fence in what appeared to be one of the biggest recent asylum bids by refugees from the North.

Forty apparent asylum seekers make bid for freedom in PRC


Fifty-three percent of Massachusetts hospitals lost money on operations during the first six months of fiscal 2004, according to a Massachusetts Hospital Association survey. The lobbying group, which surveys its members' financial health yearly, found that, on average, hospitals posted slight losses on operations, but more than made that up on investments and from philanthropy. Operating margins improved slightly from ...

Half of Mass. hospitals lost money


The fat  quot;Bid Books quot; for the 2012 Summer Olympics are in the money-grubbing hands of the International Olympic Committee.

2012 Olympics bids could hinge on politics, economics


Sources inside NASA told CNN Sunday that O #39;Keefe will accept an offer from Louisiana State University to be its chancellor. O #39;Keefe #39;s decision, the sources said, was made for personal and financial reasons

NASA chief to resign


PESHAWAR: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on Friday rejected claims that the four men killed in a raid in North Waziristan on last Monday were local tribesmen.

Locals were not killed in North Waziristan


The Education Secretary Charles Clarke criticised Prince Charles as  quot;old-fashioned quot; after he said the  quot;learning culture quot; gave people hope beyond their capabilities.

Prince Charles right or wrong?


Sales droop as girls flock to cooler  #39;Bratz #39; pack. Is Mattel #39;s comeback too little, too late? By Parija Bhatnagar, CNN/Money staff writer.

Can Mattel save Barbie?


Nokia unveiled three new megapixel handsets this week in a further move towards its long-term bid to take a 40 share of the market.

Nokias smartphones


A team of Washington scientists are pioneering the concept of the Mag-beam as a technology that could significantly shorten the time it takes to travel to other planets. By Lakshmi Sandhana.

Plasma Beam Eyed in Space Travel


com November 30, 2004, 11:48 AM PT. Security continues to hold steady over software as the third top IT priority, with organizations busy coping with cyber threats, keeping up with software

Flaw opens crack in Windows servers


Verizon and Qwest have asked a federal court to force the FCC to drop its price freeze on the fees their competitors pay to connect to their regional networks.

Two Regional Bells Sue To Lift Access-Price Freeze


Forbes.com - Martha and the Vandellas recorded A 1965 Motown classic that began:

Money Out of a Pipeline (Forbes.com)


AP - Ashley Earley scored 22 points  #151; 12 straight in the second half  #151; as No. 15 Vanderbilt defeated Troy 78-50 Sunday for its 48th straight nonconference homecourt victory.

No. 15 Vanderbilt Beats Troy 78-50 (AP)


The world of software development traditionally was a clandestine one, where developers in the bowels of their institution were entrenched in writing thousands of lines of code to meet ever-changing business requirements.

Open Source: Balancing Innovation and Risk


Germany has cleared the way for the extradition to Spain of an Arab businessman long accused by the United States of financing al Qaeda and investigated

Germany Set to Hand Hamburg Qaeda Suspect to Spain


Sammy Sosa was fined \$87,400 -- one day #39;s salary -- for arriving late to the Cubs #39; regular-season finale at Wrigley Field and leaving the game early.

Sosa fined \$87,400 by Cubs


When John P. Reilly told me to think retro, visions of Davy Crockett and coonskin caps danced in my head. I began to imagine a sleigh full of hula hoops and plenty of Silly Putty in this year's bundle of toys.

Under the Tree, 1983


com December 13, 2004, 10:51 AM PT. TippingPoint makes an intrusion prevention appliance called UnityOne that sits on networks and quickly inspects incoming packets to determine whether they are malicious.

3Com beefs up security with \$430M acquisition


Allan Houston, the Knicks' veteran, hopes to play as soon as next Saturday in Charlotte, when the Knicks open a four-game road trip.

Only Drills, but Houston Looks Ready to Return


AFP - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called on the Muslim world and the West to stop blaming each other and start a dialogue between their two different cultures.

Iranian president calls for dialogue between Muslim world and the West (AFP)


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has  begun a criminal investigation into possible wrongdoing at  Riggs Bank, The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing a  letter from the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia to  federal bank regulators.

U.S. Begins Criminal Probe on Riggs-Paper


Hollywood #39;s latest trial of the century, starring Mickey Mouse and the Tinseltown power broker who briefly helped run the Disney empire, will find a home on the Web on Wednesday.

Disney #39;s \$200 million Ovitz trial streams online


Sir Godfrey Hounsfield was a British electrical engineer whose work in creating the CAT scan won him a Nobel Prize.

Sir Godfrey Hounsfield, Who Helped Develop the CAT Scanner, Dies at 84


Turkey seemed to shift geographically Westward on Wednesday, after the European Commission opened the way for it to become a full member of the European Union.

Turkey #39;s continental drift


A day after Africa #39;s senior Greek Orthodox prelate and 16 others died in a helicopter crash in the northern Aegean, the Greek defense minister, Spilios Spiliotopoulos

Greek Defense Minister Quits for Deadly Copter Crash


Reuters - First-round screening tests returned\

USDA: Mad Cow Test Result 'Inconclusive' (Reuters)


Philip Short took four years to write this biography, after completing his much-praised life of Mao Zedong () in 1999. He has trawled deep and wide, reading what are probably

Pol Pot and his change from man to beast


Reuters - Fox Entertainment Group Inc. will\bring a spinoff of its hit television series

Fox to Offer Cell Phone Version of '24' TV Show (Reuters)


This was another depressingly unedifying mismatch. Kenya were abject, sometimes comically naive, in surrendering nine wickets for 27 runs in only 63 balls as they were dismissed for 94, their third-lowest one-day international score.

Malik and Afridi have Kenyans in a spin


The clock kept ticking on the Pedro Martinez stats, news-Red Sox stats, schedule negotiations last night, with all signs pointing to the ace hurler making up his

Pedro poised for his big decision


Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos., the insurance broker sued by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer last month, said five company executives stepped down from the board.

Marsh  amp; McLennan Says Five Executives Leave Board (Update2)


TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average opened up 0.54  percent on Monday with banks and exporters leading the way as a  stronger finish on Wall Street and declining oil prices soothed  worries over the global economic outlook.

Tokyo Stocks Open Up on Banks, Exporters


Robby Gordon, who admitted he intentionally caused an accident last Sunday, has been placed on probation for the remainder of the 2004 Nascar Nextel Cup season.

Crash Gordon Put on Probation


Straka made the surprising admission on the eve of the Champions League match between the two sides at Old Trafford. He said: Manchester United are great.

Mixed Emotions for Sparta Coach


Linux vendor Mandrakesoft is teaming with a consortium of European partners in an effort to win Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 5 (EAL5), the highest security certification for defense and other highly sensitive areas of governmental IT

Mandrakesoft in Bid For EAL5 Certification


Pittsburgh head coach Walt Harris shared a story Sunday night after accepting a BCS Bowl Invitation on national television to play in the Fiesta Bowl on New Years Day against undefeated Utah.

Pitt headed for Tempe to play Utah in Fiesta Bowl


washingtonpost.com - SAN FRANCISCO -- He calls himself Abu Maysara al Iraqi, or father of Maysara the Iraqi, and he's a master at being everywhere and nowhere in the virtual world, constantly switching his online accounts and taking advantage of new technologies to issue his communiqu #233;s to the world.

From a Virtual Shadow, Messages of Terror (washingtonpost.com)


Ebookers, the travel website, is being sold to US hotel and car rental giant Cendant in a 209m deal that means a huge windfall for chief executive Dinesh Dhamija.

Dhamija nets 85m by selling Ebookers


Insurer and fund manager AMP Ltd. , on Wednesday posted a better-than-expected first-half profit on higher investment returns and improved margins, and targeted a stronger performance for the remainder of the year.

AMP #39;s H1 profit beats expectation


The head of the US space agency, NASA, says private enterprise will play an important role in space in the future. While visiting California, NASA administrator Sean O #39;Keefe watched the launch of the privately

NASA Official Sees Role in Space for Private Companies


ATHENS (Reuters) - Brazil have had two women's teams on the  beach volleyball podium at the last two Olympics and moved a  step closer to a hat-trick Tuesday.

Beach Volleyball: Brazilians Aim for Podium Again


There was a bizarre feeling to events yesterday, hearing two Wales coaches talking about New Zealand looking for a victory, but then, it is an unprecedented situation.

Wales  #39;homecoming #39; adds twist for Henry and Hansen


Touting improved security, availability and network-wide 10 GbE speeds, Cisco today unveiled a slew of upgraded Catalyst switches that are set to ship in December and early 2005.

Cisco Cooks up New Catalysts, GbE IP Phone


An explosion in Turkey's popular Mediterranean resort of Antalya kills one person, reports say.

Fatal blast rocks Turkish resort


Amare Stoudemire had his contract extended Wednesday by the Phoenix Suns who exercised their fourth-year option on the contract.

Suns Extend Stoudemire


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Computer Associates International Inc.  <A HREF=

Computer Associates Names IBM Exec as CEO


KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai  promised Afghans greater security when they go to vote in the  country's first ever democratic election during an independence  day speech on Wednesday.

Karzai Promises Afghans Security for Election


Tony Gonzalez, a former Globe All-Scholastic quarterback from Framingham High School and the Globe's Division 2 high school Player of the Year in 2000, is now a sophomore on the Boston College football team that is off to a 4-1 start.

Former Framingham QB catching on as BC receiver


Two men were banned from events at The Palace for what the Detroit Pistons say is their involvement in last month's NBA brawl. John Green and Charlie Haddad were sent letters informing them of the ban, which also includes events at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Pistons spokesman Matt Dobek said yesterday. The Clarkston site ...

Pistons ban two from arena


A day after coming under regulatory fire for taking incentive fees from insurers, the Marsh   McLennan Companies said that it would halt the practice.

Under Fire, Marsh Stops Taking Fees From Insurers


Somalia's new prime minister may by reappointed, and then put to a vote of confidence, officials say.

Deal to save Somali peace process


Pharmaceutical company Elan has announced a settlement of the class action suit filed by shareholders against the company in early 2002 in relation to its accounting practices.

Elan settles suit and SEC probe


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars now have lost both starting defensive ends for the season. The Jaguars placed Lionel Barnes on injured reserve Friday with a shoulder injury.

Jaguars lose other defensive end for season


The US economy grew more slowly in the second quarter than previously stated, as it struggled under an increasing trade deficit and a slowdown in consumer spending, the Commerce Department said Friday.

GDP growth slower in revision


The auction house Sotheby #39;s said that it would sell contents from the Kennedy house in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and from other family homes in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Virginia.

Sotheby #39;s Hosts JFK Jumble Sale


Free trade agreements are flying around East Asia these days, with even South Asian neighbor India, getting a piece of the action.

Analysis: Asian free trade vogue could heat up


Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc.  sent\an open letter to California residents on Thursday, hoping it\will help the world's largest retailer  overcome resistance to\its plans for expansion in that state.

Wal-Mart Seeks to Repair Image in Calif. (Reuters)


AMHERST -- Revenge was the theme of the night when the University of Massachusetts hosted Colgate at McGuirk Stadium last night.

Colgate given the brushoff


One of the hottest holiday gifts this year is the Apple iPod, the digital-age equivalent of the Sony Walkman. The iPod, which stores music files downloaded

Apple #39;s iPod is a hot item on holiday wish lists this year


DONGGUAN, China -- Heralded by an unprecedented series of walkouts, the first stirrings of unrest have emerged among the millions of youthful migrant workers who supply seemingly inexhaustible cheap labor for the vast expanse of factories in China's booming Pearl River Delta.

Unrest is stirring among Chinese factory workers


KANPUR: Andrew Halls unbeaten knock of 78 helped South Africa make a fine start in their two-Test series against India at the Green Park Stadium here on Saturday.

South Africa in strong position Kanpur Test


Following consultation with senior security officials Thursday afternoon, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz decided to widen the IDF #39;s operation in the northern Gaza Strip in response the increasing attacks generating from the area.

PM expected to approve further operations in Gaza


Takeover talks between two of Manchester United #39;s biggest shareholders and Malcolm Glazer appear to have broken down. It is believed the US businessman has failed to reach a deal with John Magnier and JP McManus

Man United Takeover Talks Break Down


FT.com - International mobile phone manufacturers such as Nokia and Motorola have halted the rapid rise of local rivals in the crucial Chinese market, a victory won largely by revamping distribution chains and introducing new handset designs, market analysts and foreign industry executives said.

Chinese handset makers lose ground (FT.com)


A bomb in south-western Pakistan kills a soldier and injures 14, the latest in a series of attacks.

Bomb kills soldier in Pakistan


In a bid to expand the customer base for its database software, Sybase this week released a free, limited version of its software for deployment on Linux systems.

Sybase Offers Free Database for Linux


Planet-building is dusty work, and now two space telescopes have captured images of cosmic construction materials: disks of dust circling stars about the same size as our sun.

Space Telescopes Spy Dusty Debris of Planets


London - Tens of thousands of flag-waving, cheering Britons took to the streets of central London on Monday to honour their Athens Olympic and Paralympic medal winners.

Britain #39;s Olympic winners parade through London


A delegation from the Muslim Council of Britain is flying to Baghdad in a desperate attempt secure to release of hostage Kenneth Bigley.

Muslim Council joins fight for hostage #39;s life


A British court has ordered Internet service providers to identify 28 people who are allegedly downloading music illegally. The order comes at the request of the British Phonographic Association (BPI), a music industry trade association.

British ISPs must unmask downloaders


Stuck in traffic each morning, 20-year-old Bill Dowd of Keansburg invariably turns on the Howard Stern radio show to hear the DJ #39;s usual assortment of raunchy humor.

Will satellite radio fly?


Reuters - Beauty may not be just in the\eye of the beholder after all because a sense of visual\attraction is hardwired in the brain at birth, a British\scientist said on Monday.

Scientists Show Babies Have Innate Sense of Beauty (Reuters)


MOSCOW (AFP) - The Russian gas giant Gazprom said its board of directors had given its go-ahead for the state-controlled firm to bid for the main production unit of embattled oil group Yukos.

Gazprom board approves Yukos bid


Northern Ireland #39;s political leaders gather at Hillsborough Castle today in a bid to breathe fresh life into the peace process.

Murphy mounts new bid to restore devolved government


General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. said yesterday that they are rushing to adopt a new safety technology called electronic stability control, and together they will make such systems standard on most of their large and mid-size sport-utility vehicles by the end of next year.

GM, Ford Embrace New Systems  For SUV Stability


Virginia Tech just couldn #39;t seem to get going. There were turnovers. There were botched plays. There were missed opportunities.

Randall rallies No. 22 Va. Tech


A militant Islamic group claiming responsibility for kidnapping three foreigners working for the United Nations in Afghanistan has provided proof it has the hostages, diplomatic and security sources said on Saturday.

Afghan Kidnap Group #39;s Claims True, Say Diplomats


On preorders alone, the Nintendo DS is the third best-selling system in Japan this week. TOKYO--The Nintendo DS is the third best-selling video game console for the week of October 11-17, Nikkei BP Consulting reports today.

Japan retailers report big DS preorders


A tiny Pennsylvania telecommunications company is raising the hackles of giants Verizon Wireless and Cingular Wireless LLC, offering consumers unlimited cellphone calls for a \$10 monthly premium by exploiting the carriers' unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling plans.

Wireless plan irks telecom giants


The first Meteosat Second Generation meteorological satellite is today in operational service as Meteosat-8. The data it streams down from 36,000 km over Africa's Gulf of Guinea assist not just European weather forecasters but also numerous scientific teams.

Weather Satellite Serves Scientists and Forecasters


If the Washington Nationals never win a pennant, they have no reason to ever doubt that DC loves them. Yesterday, the District City Council tentatively approved a tab for a publicly financed ballpark that could amount to as much as \$630 million.

Nats get DC #39;s nod


Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison testified yesterday that the business software maker is leaning toward lowering its \$7.7 billion bid for rival PeopleSoft

Ellison testifies in takeover lawsuit


Paris, France (Sports Network) - Marat Safin moved into the final of the BNP Paribas Masters with a straight-set victory over Guillermo Canas on Saturday.

Safin reaches final in Paris


NASD, which is the regulatory arm of the Nasdaq stock market, and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating about two dozen firms, including brokerage firms and mutual fund companies, to determine whether brokers handed out expensive gifts

Regulators study gift-giving firms


LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices eased from new record highs  on Monday as victory for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in a  referendum on his rule eased fears that unrest could upset the  country's oil exports.

Oil Slips from Record High of \$46.30


The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited takes no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in

HK Bourse: Release from Hutchison Whampoa On Connected Deal -8


Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak engaged Persian Gulf leaders Wednesday in an effort to build momentum toward peace in the Middle East, calling for support of the new Palestinian

Mubarak pushes for peace in Middle East


CINCINNATI -- Procter  amp; Gamble Co. said net income rose 14 percent in the first quarter on solid sales growth in all the company #39;s markets.

Procter  amp; Gamble profit up on sales growth


AP - At least 28 lawmakers said they will not take part in talks on forming new government started by Lebanon's president on Thursday, a day after the Cabinet of veteran Prime Minister Rafik Hariri resigned.

28 Lebanese Lawmakers Boycott Talks (AP)


Lara Carroll has qualified fastest for the final of the women #39;s 200m individual medley at the World Short Course Championships in Indianapolis.

Carroll leads Aussie charge in USA


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Prudential Equity Group on Friday  said Cingular Wireless has made a decision on which vendors it  will use for the deployment of its next-generation wireless  network, with Ericsson <A HREF=

Analyst Sees Cingular Awarding Deal Soon


New measures to fight crime and drugs are expected to be at the heart of the Queen's Speech on Tuesday.

Crime tops Queen's Speech agenda


Alex Ferguson sounded a warning note to Chelsea after they maintained their five-point gap at the top of the Barclays Premiership with a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle.

Ferguson issues Blues warning


Allstate Corp. on Wednesday warned its third-quarter profit would be a fraction of Wall Street expectations after the insurance firm said it sees more than \$1 billion in catastrophic losses from recent hurricanes.

Allstate Sees Q3 Well Below Views


The tricky thing about being the team to watch is it's impossible to stay that way for long. Either you become an also-ran or you turn into the team to beat.

Andover now a target