InfoWorld - This week #8217;s Wi-Fi Planet Conference and Expo will highlight the increasing variety and sophistication of WLAN technology for the enterprise.

Wi-Fi Planet highlights multichannel access points (InfoWorld)


Four-time champion Liverpool progressed to soccer #39;s Champions League 2-1 on aggregate, overcoming a 1-0 home defeat to AK Graz in the second leg of qualifying.

Liverpool Progresses to Champions League; Monaco, Inter Advance


Hundreds of thousands of people fled China #39;s eastern coast as Typhoon Aere hit the mainland after battering Taiwan. Aere came ashore in Fujian province, south of Shanghai, late Wednesday afternoon.

Typhoon Aere Strikes Eastern China


THE wheels of the managerial merry-go-around have been well and truly greased with the swift sacking of Paul Sturrock at Southampton.

The first to go


OSLO - Kenyan ecologist Wangari Maathai, who yesterday received the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Oslo, said protecting the environment was vital to promote peace and democracy.

Nobel Peace laureate calls for a greener tomorrow


As part of the deal with German financial services provider WestLB AG, about 450 bank workers will move to HP.

HP signs five-year, \$500M IT services deal with German bank


AP - Russia's natural resources minister said Friday that he thought his ministry would give the main production unit of the battered Yukos oil company a three-month warning before pulling its drilling licenses, the Interfax news agency reported.

Report: Russia May Give Yukos Unit Warning (AP)


AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Unilever PLC reported higher earnings for the third quarter Wednesday but said its business suffered from strong competition, weak demand and poor weather, with sales of Ben  amp; Jerry #39;s ice cream and Lipton Tea falling.

Unilever Sales Fall 4 Percent in 3Q


By the end of the century one in 10 species of birds in the world will be extinct and a further 15 per cent will be on the brink, according to one of the largest studies of avian biodiversity.

One in 10 avian species  #39;extinct by end of century #39;


CINCINNATI - Federated Department Stores Inc., the owner of Macy #39;s and Bloomingdale #39;s, said third-quarter profit may be reduced by as much as 4 cents a share after Hurricane Frances forced stores to close and kept shoppers away.

Retail Briefs


AP - Ukraine's two presidential contenders scheduled campaign trips to the same eastern city on Friday, raising fears of more tension ahead of the Dec. 26 repeat of their fraud-marred runoff. Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko hinted his rival was trying to disrupt the vote.

Ukraine Contenders to Visit Same City (AP)


AP - Erik Ainge threw three touchdown passes and Cedric Houston ran for 160 yards and two more scores, leading No. 11 Tennessee to a 42-17 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday night.

No. 11 Tennessee Mows Down La. Tech 42-17 (AP)


Ukrainians cast ballots in a presidential election Sunday that has raised fears of post-election unrest in this ex-Soviet republic, and the opposition complained of election violations just hours into the voting.

Ukrainians vote for president amid fears of rigging and unrest


Boston - Three key Nuggets redeemed themselves Wednesday at the FleetCenter in the time it takes to microwave popcorn. That allowed Denver to atone for its mistake-laden loss at Philadelphia the previous night

Anthony supplies win, atonement


BANGKOK, Thailand (Reuters) - The massive Asian tsunami  relief operation faces absolute chaos and

Tsunami Aid Faces Destruction and Possibly Pirates


AUSTIN - Jason White, the heady Oklahoma quarterback with the two surgically repaired knees, already has ensured his legacy in the Red River Shootout, no matter the outcome of Saturday #39;s game.

Dreams hinge on Okla.-Texas outcome


Morgan Stanley yesterday said it would end a defence against hostile takeovers, change how it compensates top executives and elects board members, and disclose political contributions

Morgan Stanley in governance move


AP - Marshall coach Bob Pruett will not be reprimanded for calling the Ohio State football team

Marshall Coach Apologizes for Remark (AP)


Wanda and Winky, the two Asian elephants that officials at the Detroit Zoo want to send from the northern cold to a southern sanctuary, must go to the Columbus Zoo instead, the accrediting association for the nation #39;s zoos has decided.

Detroit #39;s Elephants Left Out in the Cold


CHICAGO (Reuters) - US Airways Group Inc. <A HREF=

Asset Sales Seen of Limited Use to US Air


Canadian Press - JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - A former general who has pledged to get tough on terrorism and fix the economy was headed for a landslide win over incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri in Indonesia's landmark elections Monday, according to a nationwide sampling of votes.

With anti-terror pledge Indonesian challenger set to win presidential election (Canadian Press)


BAGHDAD -- President Ghazi al-Yawer of Iraq, an influential Sunni Muslim, threw his support yesterday behind holding the Jan. 30 election on time despite insurgent threats he said have paralyzed voter registration in some Sunni areas.

Iraqi president throws support behind Jan. 30 election


An ID card says something about a man. Oh yes...

Home Office seeks spin doctor to sell cuddly ID card brand


GONAIVES, Haiti - The death toll from Tropical Storm Jeanne rose to 573 in Haiti last night as search crews recovered dozens of bodies carried away by flooding or buried by mud, officials said.

Haiti death toll in floods nears 600


French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie warned Monday that without the stabilizing presence of foreign peacekeepers, the Ivory Coast risked erupting into bloodshed akin to

French troops to stay, minister says


France #39;s Sebastien Loeb won his first world rallying title by finishing second in the Rally of France. He succeeded Didier Auriol, who was France #39;s only other world champion a

Loeb takes the world championship


In addition to a holiday-season push, the software giant says it is time to revisit its plans for its ambitious major update.

Microsoft preps XP push, deliberates on Longhorn


ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek sensation Fani Halkia blitzed to  gold in the Olympic women's 400 meters hurdles on Wednesday to  confirm her meteoric rise in the world elite.

Awesome Halkia Stuns Sad Pittman in Hurdles


Myles Walsh stole the spolight in what is normally hailed as the Drew Carey show in Masconomet, as the Chieftains claimed a 28-7 victory over visiting Newburyport (1-5).

Walsh in charge for Masconomet


America #39;s US Olympic Committee is contesting a ruling which could cost Michael Johnson and his 4x400m relay colleagues gold medals from the Sydney Olympics.

US relay squad bids to keep gold


PARIS (Reuters) - The fate of Yasser Arafat was mired in  confusion on Tuesday as Palestinian officials insisted in  public he was clinging to life even as aides said privately the  veteran leader had died at a Paris hospital.

Arafat Dead, Say Palestinian Sources Amid Confusion


ATHENS -- A scientific dig has uncovered four pomegranates believed to be 2,500 years old preserved inside a woven basket nestled inside a bronze vessel, a Greek archeologist said yesterday.

Ancient fruit basket dug up near Athens


By all accounts, Jay Fiedler is a good guy. He signs autographs, performs charity work and always speaks well of others, even the New York Jets.

Fiedler given opportunity to spark winless Dolphins


An international team of astronomers has identified the surviving companion star to the 1572 supernova explosion witnessed by the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe.

Astonomers finger culprit in 1572 supernova


Consumer Reports' effort to rate drugs offers a lesson to pharmaceutical companies.

Which Medications Are Your Best Bets?


WASHINGTON : The United States condemned recent attacks by Sri Lanka #39;s Tamil Tigers as an  quot;assault quot; on the country #39;s fragile peace process and welcomed this week #39;s government overture to the separatist rebels.

US condemns recent Tamil Tiger attacks, welcomes Sri Lankan peace <b>...</b>


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit narrowed  sharply in September, aided by a slide in the value of the  dollar, which helped push exports to record levels, a  government report showed on Wednesday.

Trade Gap Narrows Thanks to Weak Dollar


Univision Communications Inc. said Monday it dropped a lawsuit against Nielsen Media Research Inc. over the firm's new TV rating system, which the Spanish-language broadcaster claimed miscounts its viewers.

Univision Drops Lawsuit Against Nielsen


WASHINGTON NASA administrator Sean O #39;Keefe will meet Thursday with a committee searching for Louisiana State University #39;s next chancellor.

NASA administrator meeting with LSU committee


It's winter again, and that means chili time. There's not much better than coming in out of the cold to a good hot (hot!) bowl of chili, preferably served over macaroni with grated cheddar cheese on top. Now, everyone makes chili differently, so of course no one is actually going to follow my recipe exactly, but that's all right. If you want inferior chili, that's your right as an American. Foreigners, you may be out of luck, but then, do you have any business making chili, anyway? This applies to Californians and New Englanders, too.

Codejack's really hot chili


NEW DELHI: The leaders of India and Pakistan have brightened South Asia #39;s peace hopes with a feel-good first meeting but skirted away from tough issues such as their half-century old conflict over Kashmir, analysts say.

Good feelings at India-Pakistan summit, but road to peace long <b>...</b>


The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday kicked off efforts that could reshape the communications services available to airline passengers.

FCC to consider allowing cell phones on planes


SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- China's second-largest mobile phone company plans to open 3,000 Internet cafes by the end of the year, exerting stronger state control over a sector once dominated by private enterprise, state-run radio reported Tuesday.    China Unicom already operates 400 Internet cafes in China and plans to start up as many as 200 more by year's end, China Radio International reported...

China to Build 3,000 New Internet Cafes


(Stamford-AP, Oct. 18, 2004 10:40 AM) _ Stamford-based Thomson Financial says on of its units is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SEC investigates Thomson Financial unit


IBM Corp. has agreed to buy Montreal software developer Systemcorp ALG for an undisclosed sum, the companies said Tuesday.

IBM buys Canadian project portfolio management vendor


Robert McTeer, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, is leaving after 13 years to become chancellor of the Texas A amp;M System.

Giant loss for Fed, big A amp;M gain


BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan  urged the European Union on Thursday to open its doors to  non-Christians after French President Jacques Chirac made a  vibrant appeal to bring Turkey into the EU.

EU Leaders Poised to Offer Entry Talks to Turkey


AP - Justine Henin-Hardenne lost her U.S. Open title and her No. 1 ranking Monday night. The defending champion was upset by Nadia Petrova 6-3, 6-2 Monday night in the fourth round, the earliest the Open's top-seeded woman has lost since Billie Jean King went out in the third round in 1973.

Petrova Upsets Defending U.S. Open Champ (AP)


United Airlines #39; parent company posted a \$274 million third-quarter loss and reiterated its need to slash labor costs. The company said that in the fourth quarter it may not be able to comply with a covenant

United, Frontier report losses


NAJAF, Iraq - Rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr agreed Thursday to a peace deal presented by top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani to end three weeks of fighting in the holy city of Najaf, according to a top aide to al-Sistani.    Al-Sistani, the most influential cleric among Iraq's Shiite majority, reached the deal in direct talks with al-Sadr in the evening, only hours after making a dramatic return to Najaf...

Aide: Al-Sistani Brokers Najaf Peace Deal


Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn believes an early exit from the Champions League this week would be a disaster for the club.

Arsenal exit  #39;would be disaster #39;


Ruud van Nistelrooy and Alex Ferguson led the praise for Wayne Rooney #39;s three-goal debut performance for Manchester United. Van Nistelrooy, who set up the first of Rooney #39;s goals in Tuesday night #39;s

Van Nistelrooy, Ferguson, Daum, Giggs lead the praise for hat <b>...</b>


The State Technology Office plans to cancel two multimillion-dollar contracts, now that several investigations have discovered two companies were given unfair advantages.

State cancels two technology contracts


Hewlett-Packard will resell PathScale's compiling tools for high-performing clusters.

HP to sell PathScale compilers


Ex-employees of company called Voters Outreach of America AKA America Votes claim that voter registrations in Las Vegas have been trashed.     The article recommends that people make sure they're registered to vote. If you're a victim of the fraudulent voter registration that is rife in the prelude to this election you should insist on your right to make a provisional (or affidavit) vote at the polls as guaranteed by the Help America Vote Act of 2002.    Voters Outreach of America has reportedly moved on to Oregon presumably to do the same thing.

Voter Registrations in Las Vegas Possibly Trashed


I always get a kick out of the annual list published by Forbes singling out the richest people in the country. It #39;s almost as amusing as those on the list bickering over their placement.

Big, Beefy Billionaires


The Mavericks are 4-3 on the road this season...The Spurs have won 18 straight regular-season home games dating back to last year...Dallas had a season-low eight assists. San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - Tim

NBA Game Summary - Dallas at San Antonio


In yet another move in the legitimate digital music market, BT and Blueprint have jointly developed a new service based on Blueprints Open Royalty Gateway (ORG) and Song Centre software that allows copyright holders to take more control of their

BT And Blueprint Jointly Develop Innovative Music Distribution <b>...</b>


You share a pepperoni pizza. You even share a Nobel Peace Prize. You do not share the NFL MVP Award.

No debate, it's Manning


ATHENS -- In the first major public demonstration since the start of the Olympics, thousands of protesters clashed with police who stopped them from marching on the United States Embassy to protest the war in Iraq and Secretary of State Colin Powell's scheduled visit to Greece.

Thousands protest Iraq war, Powell visit


Chip maker offers few details about its plans for dual-core server processors.

Intel Silent on Jayhawk Replacement


Nobel Peace show host Oprah Winfrey smiles in the Oslo Town Hall where Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai of Kenya is to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, Friday, Dec. 10, 2004.

Oprah, Cruise to Co-Host Nobel Concert


In an all Russian semi-final on Saturday, US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova beat reigning Wimbledon queen Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-2 in the inaugural 585,000 dollar China Open.

Kuznetsova beats Sharapova in China Open


TORONTO (Sports Network) - The Portland Trail Blazers fined  forward Zach Randolph for missing the team flight to Toronto,  where they will meet the Raptors Sunday afternoon.

Blazers Fine Randolph for Missing Team Flight


A rebel leader in Sudan #39;s Darfur region has said his group will fully respect a truce with Khartoum, countering earlier statements by a spokesman declaring the agreement null and void.

Sudan rebel leader vows to respect truce


Reuters - Hungary on Wednesday ordered food\retailers to withdraw all products containing paprika, the\fiery red spice that is an essential ingredient in the\Hungarian national dish, goulash.

Hungary Bans Paprika; National Dish a Health Risk (Reuters)


Turkey #39;s downward trend on the Corruption Perceptions Index over the last four years has stopped. Its grade rose from 3.1 to 3.2 this year.

Turkey Corrects Its Corruption Report


The bank cites errors, puts two top executives on leave and delays its third-quarter report. By JOHN HIELSCHER. SunTrust Banks Inc.

SunTrust to restate its 2004 earnings


Nokia will now be adding a small hologram to all batteries it produces for its mobile phones, in an effort to combat counterfeit batteries.

Nokia makes counterfeiting batteries harder


NewsFactor - With a belief that less is more, Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has taken the wraps off its iMac G5, featuring a new design that integrates the entire computer into the flat-panel display.

iMac G5 Debuts as World's Thinnest Desktop (NewsFactor)


Despite widespread attention, Ken Dunham, Director of Malicious Code at iDefense, characterizes the Linux Trojan as a low threat.  quot;It looks like there was a low volume of e-mails that spread over a period of several days, quot; he said.

E-Mail Scam Targets Red Hat Users


The lab home of Linux founder Linus Torvalds hires an intellectual-property attorney and says hello to Beijing.

OSDL hires lawyer, opens China office


Sharing movie files is not as prevalent as sharing music, partly because it takes a lot of bandwidth to download even a poor copy of a two-hour film.

MPAA Hatches Plan To Sue Movie File-Sharers


IM DNWFM, WFU?<br> If you're an avid instant messenger, you probably know what I mean:

Instant Messaging Is Growing Up, Going to Work


The Australian government has warned that terrorists could be preparing to carry out an attack in Indonesia, possibly targeting a Hilton hotel.

Australia alert on Indonesia attack


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Militants pounded central Baghdad on Sunday with one of their most intense mortar barrages ever, targeting the Green Zone and destroying a U.S. vehicle along a major street...

At Least 13 Killed in Baghdad Fighting


Reuters - Yum Brands Inc.  on Tuesday\said quarterly earnings rose 13 percent and raised its profit\forecast for the year as strong sales at its fast-food chains\helped offset a run-up in commodity costs.

Yum Profit Up, Raises View (Reuters)


An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 and several aftershocks hit northern Japan on Saturday, killing at least three people and injuring more than 250 while knocking

Strong Quake Kills at Least 3 in Northern Japan


Defense contractor Raytheon Co. said Wednesday that it purchased privately held Photon Research Associates Inc., a provider of physics-based modeling services for government customers.

Raytheon Buys Photon Research Associates


ATHENS, Greece - Under a well-timed full moon to conclude a near-cloudless three weeks, the 2004 Summer Olympics came to an end Sunday night with music, dancing and the last of nearly 1,000 medals.

Peaceful Olympics closes with 102 US medals


BEIJING, China (AP) -- A section of a Chinese scientific satellite that was returning from orbit crashed into an apartment building, wrecking the top floor but causing no injuries, a newspaper said Sunday.    The capsule crashed into the four-story building Friday in Penglai, a village in the southwestern province of Sichuan, the Tianfu Morning News said...

Chinese Satellite Crashes Into House


Mark Ontonio Kelly, 20, is accused of killing the 14-year-old in the early hours of last Saturday as she returned home with friends from Nottinghams annual Goose Fair.

Danielle accused in court


Worldwide mobile phone sales exceeded 156.4 million units in the second quarter of 2004, a 35 percent increase over the second quarter of 2003, according to a report released this week by Gartner Inc.

Worldwide mobile phone market posts healthy gains


Europeans are a step closer to having television on their mobile phones: Two groups of companies said they would push forward with consumer trials and establish a standard for the technology.

Cell Phone TV Is Coming


A simulcast music exchange at Carnegie Hall on Saturday showed how technology can transform social studies and musical collaboration.

Culturally Worlds Apart, Children Touch Musically


In recent testing by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Alberta teens placed in the top three for their scores in math, reading and science.

Alberta teens excel in international testing


Chelsea star Mateja Kezman was almost blinded when a coin was thrown at him as another London football match was plunged into violence.

Kezman nearly blinded by thugs


Rodgers, who matched an NCAA record by completing 23 consecutive passes, threw an incomplete pass on 4th-and-goal with 1:16 left as No.

USC barely holds off California


Today's close passage of the relatively large asteroid, Toutatis, has presented astronomers with a new ruler to measure solar system distances. By using two telescopes separated by hundreds of miles, the classic parallax method validates the asteroid's orbital path...

Calculating the Precise Distance to Doomsday


TORONTO (CP) - The Canadian dollar topped 81 cents US Friday for the first time since the autumn of 1992 as the price of oil hit new records and the American dollar weakened.

Loonie vaults over 81 cents to 12-year high on US\$ weakness, high <b>...</b>


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq may modify plans for its first  free election to give people more time to vote next month,  officials said on Wednesday as suicide bombers and gunmen again  struck Sunni Muslim towns north and west of the capital.

Iraqis May Extend Election Amid Violence


New entry-level workgroup storage devices start at \$3,000.

IBM Rolls Out Arrays, Tries Again on iSCSI


A car bomb exploded north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad today, killing two people and injuring four others, including a deputy provincial governor, police said.

Car bomb kills two in Baghdad


Merrill Lynch  amp; Co. (MER.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday said third-quarter profit fell 8 percent, hurt by reduced investment banking and trading.

Merrill Profit Falls, Beats Expectations


Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona walked into his clubhouse Thursday morning and it was the same place he #39;s enjoyed all season.

Boston Facing Monster Challenge


TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar rose against the euro and the  yen on Wednesday as traders cashed in on the currency's recent  weakness in the belief that massive dollar-selling would slow  heading into the year-end.

Dollar Rises Against Euro and Yen


Public broadcaster SABC apologises after news bulletin shows footage of American beheaded in Iraq.

S African TV in beheading blunder


CARSON, Calif. - (Sports Network) - D.C. United completed  its return to glory Sunday, winning its fourth Major League  Soccer championship in nine seasons with a wildly entertaining  3-2 victory against the Kansas City Wizards at the Home Depot  Center in Carson, Calif. United's triumph in MLS Cup 2004  before 25,797 at the Home Depot Center was its first since  1999, when it capped a run of appearances in the first four MLS  title games with a then-third championship.

Soccer: D.C. United Take MLS Title Over Kansas City


The Liberty tied a franchise playoff record with nine three-pointers Friday night in a 75-62 victory over the Detroit Shock in Game 1 of the opening round of the WNBA playoffs.

New York Goes Deep, Gets Jump on Detroit


Dale Earnhardt Jr. responds to the NASCAR penalty that knocked him out of the Nextel Cup lead and says the punishment was too severe.

Earnhardt Jr. Speaks Out


NEW YORK (Reuters) - When the violent video game

'Grand Theft Auto' Seen Breaking Games Sales Record


Many emerging market businesses will soon have access to the IBM Rational software development platform for the first time, through the open source Eclipse development framework.

IBM Announces New Development Platform


Braving some of the world's coldest temperatures and wickedest winds, researchers are drilling ice cores in Antarctica to answer questions about global climate change.

To Forecast Climate Change, Scientists Core Antarctic Ice


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Intel Corp. <A HREF=

Before-the-Bell: Intel Shares Fall


Bombs have exploded at three banks in the Argentine capital, two owned by US giant Citibank, killing one man and injuring a bomb disposal expert - but police said the identity of the attackers remained a mystery.

One killed in Buenos Aires bank attacks


Boeing (nyse: BA - news - people ) Chief Executive Harry Stonecipher is keeping the faith. On Monday, the head of the aerospace and military contractor insists he #39;s confident his firm will ultimately win out

Stonecipher: Boeing Will Win US Air-Tanker Deal In The End


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Electronic Data Systems  on Tuesday  made a voluntary early retirement offer to about 9,200 U.S.  employees as part of its plan to reduce up to 20,000 jobs over  the next two years to cut its costs.

EDS Sets Voluntary Retirement Offer


An attempt to block the Bush administration's proposed changes in overtime rules was killed before the 2005 spending bill received final congressional approval over the weekend.

Attempt to Block Rule On Overtime Thwarted


They haven't hit the way they can, or pitched the way they should, or executed fundamentals the way good teams are expected to in October.

Down to their last prayer


ATHENS (PL). Unexpectedly, but justly so, shot putter Yumisleidi Cumb has become the first gold medalist for Cuba at the 28th Olympic Games in Athens after Russian Irina Korzhanenko tested positive for drugs.

Gold medal for Cuban Yumisledi Cumb


Good grief, the entertainment industry #39;s content cartel just won #39;t give up. Copyright owners, recording artists, publishing houses, attorneys--you name  #39;em, they #39;re lining up to file amicus briefs supporting

It #39;s The Business Model That #39;s To Blame, Not The File Sharing <b>...</b>


JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's  coalition faced possible collapse on Wednesday as a budget vote  was 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


Reuters - Bengie Molina had four hits, including\a three-run homer, as the Anaheim Angels completed a three-game\series sweep of the New York Yankees with a 4-3 win on Sunday.

AL Wrap: Molina Leads Angels to Sweep of Yankees (Reuters)


AP - Comparison of some provisions in the House and Senate bills with the recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission:

Key Provisions of the Intelligence Bills (AP)


AP - South Korea must not conduct any more nuclear experiments without notifying the United Nations, because any secret nuclear activity, however small, is a matter of

S. Korea Told Not to Conduct Nuke Tests (AP)


An extinct ape that lived 13 million years ago has been identified as the leading contender for the title of last common ancestor of humans and all great apes alive today.

Fossilised ape skeleton could be evolution #39;s missing link


#39;Nicky Butt will miss Newcastle United #39;s next three European matches as punishment for his sending-off against Bnei Sakhnin in the Uefa Cup first-round tie.

Story by editor


A joint venture between Japan #39;s Suzuki Motor Corp. and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. has recalled 157,480 Alto model cars, Changan Automobile said Thursday.

Suzuki Motor Corp RecallS 157,480 Altos


com staff writers. The 2004 World Series by Nissan champion stunned the competition and the crowd at the Stade de France in Paris to walk away with the Race of Champions trophy.

Kovalainen stuns competition in


The Federal Reserve #39;s policy year was fittingly capped on Dec. 14 with another quarter-point rate hike. This widely expected move by the Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed #39;s rate-setting arm, lifted the Fed funds rate to 2.25.

Fuel Didn #39;t Fire Up Rate Hikes


LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar fell two thirds of a percent  against the yen to within sight of seven-month lows and edged  toward recent record lows against the euro on Friday as worries  persisted about the U.S. current account deficit.

Dollar Slides Versus Yen


Qwest Communications International Inc., the regional telecommunications company, agreed Thursday to pay \$250 million to settle allegations that it engaged in  quot;massive financial fraud quot; by improperly booking \$3.

Update 6: Qwest to Pay \$250M to Settle SEC Charges


Kodak Versamark #39;s parent company, Eastman Kodak Co., reported Tuesday it plans to eliminate almost 900 jobs this year in a restructuring of its overseas operations.

Kodak cutting 900 jobs overseas


Reuters - Mozart started listening to music before\he was born -- and by age 4 was already beginning to compose\his own.

Musician Urges Parents to Tune in to Mozart Effect (Reuters)


Ministers are facing questions about how they knew about an alleged coup plot in Africa weeks before mercenaries were arrested for planning it.

Straw questioned on Guinea  #39;plot #39;


US insurance broker Marsh   McLennan is set to avoid criminal charges after it announces a wide-ranging reform of the way it does business.

Marsh to escape criminal charges


Japan sent two destroyers and a surveillance airplane to the Sea of Japan on Thursday, American and Japanese government officials said, after the United States and Japan detected

Japan Raises Defenses on Signs North Korea Plans Missile Test


(Sports Network) - Two of the top teams in the American League tangle in a possible American League Division Series preview tonight, as the West-leading Oakland Athletics host the wild card-leading Boston Red Sox for the first of a three-game set at the

Boston Red Sox Team Report - September 6


NATIONAL Foods hauled up the auction flag yesterday signalling that the Australian dairy giant could change hands for \$1.81 billion.

Natfoods  #39;worth more #39;


BRUSSELS -- The European Commission has issued a formal set of objections to Microsoft Corp. and Time Warner Inc. taking control of ContentGuard Holdings Inc., a digital rights management (DRM) company, according to sources familiar with the case.

EU objects to Microsoft-Time Warner ContentGuard deal


New York Yankees starter Jon Lieber, center, hands off the ball to manager Joe torre, left, as he leaves the game against the Boston Red Sox in the in the 8th inning of the game 2 of the American League championship series at Yankee Stadium in New York

Yanks Go Up 2-0; Cardinals Win Opener


Cisco Systems has finalized an agreement to purchase privately held BCN Systems, a provider of networking software design. Under the terms of the agreement, Cisco will pay approximately \$34 million in cash for BCN. The price could increase by as much as \$122 million if BCN meets certain development and product milestones. BCN's architecture will be incorporated across Cisco's broad routing portfolio and will support Cisco's delivery of next-generation data, voice, and video services over a converged network.

In Brief: Cisco acquires startup BCN Systems


The moment of truth was approaching for Turkey #39;s bid to join the European Union, EU enlargement chief Guenter Verheugen said Monday, as European leaders prepare to decide whether to open membership talks with the mainly Muslim country.

Turkey #39;s EU bid nearing moment of truth, enlargement chief says


Unwritten assurances from Enron Corp. to keep trying to sell Merrill Lynch  amp; Co. #39;s \$7 million interest in three power-generating barges wasn #39;ta  quot;legal impediment quot; to making that investment, an in-house lawyer for the brokerage testified Monday.

Update 1: Defense Begins Case in Enron Barge Trial


Astronomers have discovered the three lightest planets known outside the solar system, moving researchers closer to the goal of finding extrasolar planets that resemble Earth.

Rocky Road: Planet hunting gets closer to Earth


Mercedes-Benz USA, a unit of DaimlerChrysler AG, posted a slight increase in September sales Friday, in a month with one more selling day that the year before.

Mercedes-Benz Posts Slight Sales Increase


NEW DELHI: Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Sunday said truck operators and owners, who are on strike protesting the imposition of service tax, have been wrongly advised and misguided by goods transport agents even as the government

Transport owners wrongly advised: FM


Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard urged caution following an emphatic 3-0 victory over Real Madrid, maintaining the Spanish league title race is still far from decided.

Barcelona coach urges caution despite victory over Madrid


KINSHASA (Reuters) - Militia loyal to the Congolese  government captured the main base used by rebels waging an  uprising in the east of the country after a week-long offensive  by government troops, a militia commander said Monday.

Congo Government Loyalists Say Capture Rebel Base


The former president hosts an international conference in Prague on promoting democracy in Cuba.

Havel hails anti-Castro activists


Robin Soderling got the better of fellow Swede Joachim Johansson in the Lyon Grand Prix quarter-finals. Soderling triumphed 6-3 6-4 against Johansson, the fourth seed and US Open semi-finalist.

Johansson falls in Lyon


Its official; Real Madrid is in a crisis after slumping to a 1-0 defeat away to Espanyol. The loss is Madrids second of the week as they were humiliated on Wednesday by Bayer Leverkusen in Champions League play.

Real Madrid Shocked By Espanyol


A memo issued last summer by a U.S. Army military intelligence officer appealed for suggestions on how to extract information from prisoners in Iraq and called for tougher means of getting intelligence.

Memo Appealed for Ways To Break Iraqi Detainees


A leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas announced Wednesday that its members will boycott presidential elections scheduled for January 9, reports the Associated Press.

Hamas to boycott elections


Steve Spurrier takes over at South Carolina on Tuesday, returning to the college ranks after a three-year absence, and replacing Lou Holtz.

S. Carolina Gets Spurrier


IBM is set to begin offering a range of new services designed to bring the benefits of radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems to industrial firms and mid-size businesses.

IBM expands RFID services for manufacturers


AP - France's foreign minister indicated Tuesday that his country has no intention of publishing Yasser Arafat's medical records and will leave the decision about what to do with them up to his family.

France Won't Publish Arafat Medical Records (AP)


The Mets snap an 11-game losing streak while stopping the Marlins' franchise record-tying nine-game winning streak with a 4-0 victory.

Mets End Losing Skid


Leaders of an Asia-Europe grouping urged new member Myanmar on Friday to improve its rights record and pursue democratic reforms but a final statement is unlikely to call

Myanmar Casts Shadow Over Asia-Europe Summit


Workers' productivity increased at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the spring, the smallest gain since late 2002, reflecting the economy's slowdown.

Productivity Growth Falls to 18-Month Low


AP - The tumultuous rookie season of Washington Redskins rookie Sean Taylor hit a new low in the early hours Thursday when he was arrested on a drunken driving charge.

Redskins' Taylor Arrested on DWI Charge (AP)


Desktop search means a new battle for dominance between a wide field of competitors, and the warfare has begin. The technology promises users an incredibly fast way to search for data on their drives.

#39;Apple copies Windows #39; claim launches desktop wars


Tony Blair will undergo a catheter ablation operation which will correct his heart #39;s abnormal rhythm - a condition the Prime Minister has suffered from in the past.

Routine operation but more evidence of heart trouble


Hollinger International Inc. said Tuesday that it had found cases of inflated circulation at some of its newspapers, including the Jerusalem Post, in addition to previously disclosed problems at the Chicago Sun-Times.

More circulation woes at Hollinger


Win or lose last night, the Yankees were committed to starting Orlando Hernandez in Game 4 tonight.

Decision to start El Duque final


SAN FRANCISCO Computer scientist Bob Evans, who helped popularize personal computing, has died. He was 77. His son Doug said Evans died Thursday of heart failure at his home in the San Francisco of Hillsborough.

Bob Evans, IBM scientist who helped popularize computers, dies


LONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Ernie Els has set his sights on an improved putting display at this week #39;s WGC-NEC Invitational in Akron, Ohio after the disappointment of tying for fourth at the US PGA Championship on Sunday.

Els targets improved putting after Whistling Straits woes


As President Bush stumped through the 2000 battleground state of Florida, Senator John Kerry sought to expand turnout among the growing Hispanic population in the Southwest.

Bush Keeps Focus on Preparedness for Terrorism; Kerry Shifts to a Theme of Hope


Credit Suisse Group, Switzerland #39;s second-largest bank, posted a third-quarter net profit Thursday that was more than five times higher than restated results for the same period a year ago.

Credit Suisse Reports Higher 3Q Net Profit


Graeme Souness got off to a winning Premier League start as Newcastle claimed their first away league victory in 17 attempts. An own goal by David Prutton had Newcastle ahead, Anders Svensson equalised eight

English Premier League match reports


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Texas Instruments Inc. <A HREF=

Texas Instruments Narrows Forecast


The UN asks for extra forces to police storm-hit Gonaives, amid a breakdown in law and order has collapsed.

Unrest hampers Haitian flood aid


Forget ginseng--News.com's Michael Kanellos says a chip in the head could be just the thing to improve your memory power.

Better living--and smarter rats--through chemistry


The Royal Dutch/Shell Group said yesterday that it would sell as much as \$12 billion in assets, spend \$45 billion on new projects and consider some acquisitions as it tries to bolster oil and gas production.

A Strategy for Shell?


Sideways led Golden Globe contenders today with seven nominations, including best musical or comedy film, three acting nominations and best director.

Golden Globe Nominations Are Announced


PROVIDENCE, RI - Scientists believe a 50-million-year record of the Earth #39;s climate lies in an underwater mountain chain in the ice-clogged waters near the North Pole.

Deep in the Arctic, clues on warming


UK budget airline Easyjet sees passenger numbers jump by 24 in August compared with the same month last year

Easyjet reports passenger jump


RAMALLAH, West Bank Yasser Arafat can be buried at his battered headquarters here as the Palestinians requested, the Israeli government decided Wednesday in a gesture to his likely successor, Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel offers burial place for Arafat


Ernst Volgenau, founder of SRA International Inc., said Thursday he will step down as chief executive of the company in January but will continue to serve as chairman of the board.\<FONT face=

SRA Founder to Step Down as CEO


Oracle Corp. may have won a major antitrust fight with the Justice Department last week over its proposed acquisition of PeopleSoft Inc.

Oracle Won #39;t Predict PeopleSoft Acquisition


President Bush used a Monday trip to Des Moines to sign into law an extension of tax benefits that he said will ensure 94 million Americans continue paying lower tax bills next year.

Bush extends tax break law


\Breast cancer is more likely to kill obese women than those of normal weight, research suggests.

Obesity increases cancer threat


WATERTOWN, Mass. -- A unit of General Electric Co. said Wednesday it will buy Ionics Inc. for \$1.1 billion in cash, not counting about \$200 million in debt GE will assume in its purchase of of the water treatment company.

GE unit plans \$1.1 billion purchase of Mass.-based water treatment <b>...</b>


LINCOLN, Neb. -- University of Nebraska-Lincoln nutrition scientist Tim Carr is working on a food additive that would combat cholesterol by combining of two unexpected sources - soybeans and beef tallow...

Scientist Works on Fat Fighting Food Additive


TORONTO -- Sears Canada Inc. has dismissed Mark Cohen as chair and chief executive, citing  quot;strategic differences quot; between him and the board of directors.

Sears fires chief


The turf battle for desktop search is heating up, with Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and now Ask Jeeves all fielding entries. Their strategies vary, but all hope to win the dominant position on personal computer users #39; desktops.

Desktop Search Race Heats Up


THEY labour long hours to write their software, testing and perfecting it. They toil in obscurity, fully aware that they will never get credit for their work.

Microsoft #39;s jumbo patch


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wyeth <A HREF=

Wyeth's Profit Beats Estimates


The Black Watch were tonight heading for the so-called Triangle of Death outside Baghdad to free US Marines for an expected all-out assault on Fallujah.

Black Watch Head for  #39;Triangle of Death #39;


Reuters - Iraq's interim government is\considering nominees for the position of ambassador to the\United States for the first time since the 1991 Gulf War,\deputy foreign minister Hamid al-Bayati said on Thursday.

Iraq Considering Nominees for U.S. Ambassador (Reuters)


AP - Vince Carter wants out of Toronto, but new Raptors' coach Sam Mitchell doesn't think it will be an issue when training camp opens next week.

Raptors Coach Doesn't See Carter As Issue (AP)


Microsoft #39;s decision to scrap plans for Windows 2000 Service Pack 5 has effectively killed all hopes that security enhancements built into Windows XP SP2 will be back-ported to Windows 2000.

Last Stop for Windows 2000: An SP2-Less Update Rollup


Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat remained in a coma Saturday at a French military hospital as concerns heightened over possibilities for his burial and the future of Palestinian leadership.

Arafat in coma as concerns increase over burial


Medical device stocks were in the spotlight Wednesday with Medicare #39;s proposal late Tuesday to expand coverage for implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICDs, bolstering shares of those companies making the devices.

Devices Up on Medicare Decision


Prime Minister John Howard is betting eight years of economic growth and interest rates at a three- decade low will win him a fourth consecutive term in office when 13 million Australians elect a new government tomorrow.

Australia #39;s Howard Stresses Economic Record in Even #39; Election


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The insatiable foreign demand for  dollar holdings would eventually fall as investors diversify,  U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Friday in  remarks that landed hard on the dollar.

Greenspan: Appetite for Dollar to Dwindle


Japanese doctors have used thin sheets of cheek tissue to restore vision in people with a painful eye condition caused by damaged corneas.

Cheek tissue to restore eyesight


Intel Corp. is refreshing its 64-bit Itanium 2 processor line with six new chips based on the Madison core. The new processors represent the last single-core Itanium chips that the Santa Clara, Calif.

Intel Rolls Out Single-Core  #39;Madison #39; Chips


AP - David Beckham scored a spectacular goal on a curling, 25-yard shot to lead England past Wales 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier Saturday, but he wound up with a suspension and broken rib.

Beckham Breaks Rib As England Tops Wales (AP)


MIAMI - Pete Rose is back in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service, which says the baseball great owes nearly \$1 million in unpaid taxes.    The IRS filed a federal tax lien in Broward County on Tuesday alleging that baseball's all-time hits king owes \$973,693.28 in back taxes from 1997 to 2002...

IRS: Rose Owes Nearly \$1M in Unpaid Taxes


Cisco Systems on Tuesday beefed up its switching portfolio with several new and upgraded switches and systems designed to make 10GigE more affordable, increase availability, boost security, and add power over Ethernet features.

Cisco switches add 10GigE features


Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - St. Louis Rams starting cornerback Travis Fisher suffered a broken arm during the first half of the team #39;s 24-7 preseason loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Monday night.

Rams starting CB Fisher breaks arm


OPEC oil producers meeting here this week are likely to clamp down on excess supply has that helped lower prices from record highs and will discuss how much to raise their price target, cartel officials said yesterday.

OPEC likely to push to tighten supply


The remains of a primate that could be the ancestor of humans and all the great apes is discovered.

'Original' great ape discovered


Around 3,000 jobs will be lost at Abbey National if the UK banks takeover by Spains Santander Central Hispano (SCH) goes ahead, it emerged today.

Spanish takeover will mean 3,000 Abbey job cuts


Reuters - U.S. factories picked up their pace in\December, capping off a year of expansion in the manufacturing\industry despite some recent signs of a downturn in employment,\a report showed on Monday.

Manufacturing Picks Up in December (Reuters)


Yellow Roadway Corp. (YELL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday raised its third-quarter earnings outlook, citing higher prices for its services and better cost controls.

UPDATE 1-Yellow Roadway raises 3rd-qtr profit outlook


When Britain and France signed the Entente Cordiale 100 years ago they hoped it would bring to an end centuries of conflict, from the territorial battles of the Middle Ages to colonial disputes of the nineteenth century.

The highs and lows of the Entente Cordiale


KINSHASA, Congo -- United Nations peacekeepers deployed an additional brigade in eastern Congo amid reports that Rwanda was threatening to attack Rwandan rebels based in its huge neighbor, UN officials said yesterday.

Citing threat, UN bolsters unit in Congo


The Rev. Jerry Falwell's Liberty University is part of a movement around the nation that brings a religious perspective to the law.

Giving the Law a Religious Perspective


Germany drops proceedings against ex-Argentine junta officials thought to be involved in the killing of Germans.

Germany drops junta prosecutions


OJIYA, Japan (Reuters) - Thousands of weary and frightened  residents in northern Japan were spending a second night in  shelters, cars or in the open Sunday after Japan's deadliest  earthquake in nine years killed at least 21 people.

Anxious Night Falls on Japan After Quake Kills 21


Amid talk of a possible liquidation, bankrupt US Airways in recent weeks completed a reorganization that eliminated several corporate sales positions while emphasizing newer

US Air Realigns Sales, Delta Pushes Pilots


Stewart Cink made five birdies on his first 10 holes and led by one shot over Rod Pampling before the rain-delayed first round of the NEC Invitational was suspended by darkness Thursday.

Thursday #39;s Golf Capsules


A senior military policewoman found dead in Basra and named last night by the Ministry of Defence is understood to have killed herself.

Sergeant  #39;committed suicide #39;


Investor's Business Daily - Europe's largest wireless carrier, Vodafone Group, this month said it's expanded its 3G high-speed wireless service to more markets -- and cell phone makers cheered.

Mobile Phone Makers Hoping To Get Boost From 3G Rollout (Investor's Business Daily)


Federal and state law enforcement agencies have quietly arrested or charged dozens of people with crimes related to junk e-mail, identity theft and other online scams.

Dozens Charged in Crackdown on Spam and Scams


AP - Health workers met scattered refusals from parents Monday as medical teams deployed door-to-door in this largely Muslim Nigerian state, rushing to inoculate 3.8 children against polio after Muslim leaders lifted their boycott of the vaccine.

Inoculation Teams Deploy in Nigeria (AP)


Electrolux AB, the world #39;s biggest maker of household appliances, said second-half profit will be less than forecast as costs for materials including steel surge.

Electrolux Profit to Miss Forecast on Steel Costs (Update3)


MANNHEIM, Germany Charges were reduced Wednesday against a US military policewoman accused in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.

Charges are reduced for one Abu Ghraib defendant


The company is moving along a dual track -- growth through acquisitions and organic efforts.

Synnex's World Isn't Flat


Congressional Democrats were deeply suspicious when Republican leaders selected Douglas J. Holtz-Eakin to take over the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in early 2003.

As Congressional Budget Chief, Former Bush Economic Aide Isn #39;t <b>...</b>


CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Soccer legend Diego Maradona will return to Cuba to continue his drug rehabilitation with the permission of a federal judge.

Former great Maradona cleared to continue rehab


Hoping to emerge from the shadow of its more popular rivals, Ask Jeeves Inc. is adding new tools for visitors to save and organize links to Web pages they find through the company's online search engine.

Ask Jeeves Hoping to Outshine Google


The Mozilla Foundation is back at it. Following its recent launch of its Firefox 1.0 browser that ignited heavy interest, the organization this week launched the Thunderbird open-source e-mail client.

Can Thunderbird ride the Firefox wave?


Even as smaller countries of the 10-member Asean grouping have expressed reservations about the proposed Free Trade Area (FTA) with China as it will put them at a great disadvantage, efforts are on to remove their misgivings.

Efforts to remove fear of China among Asean


Connecticut Sun shooting guard Nykesha Sales was the team's leading scorer this season, averaging 15.2 points. She scored in double figures 26 times, and in her six years in the WNBA, has scored almost 2,800 points.

Sales is hoping to close the deal


Barry Bonds underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday and is expected to be at full strength when the San Francisco Giants open spring training in February.

Bonds undergoes arthroscopic surgery on left knee


First Command Financial Planning Inc., a company that sold high-fee mutual funds to military officers, has agreed to pay \$12 million to settle regulators #39; charges that it used misleading sales material to promote the funds, it was announced Wednesday.

First Command Paying \$12M in Accords


AP - Marko Jaric scored 23 points to lead Los Angeles' balanced scoring and the Clippers beat New Jersey 101-88 Thursday night to run the Nets' losing streak to seven games.

Clippers Beat Nets 101-88 (AP)


AP - Playing tight end for Tom Coughlin has taken the fun and the big play out of football for two-time Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants.

Shockey Struggling With New Giants Offense (AP)


Tim Frisby, a 39-year-old father of six and 20-year Army veteran, will be part of South Carolina's 105-man squad dressing for Saturday's home game against Troy.

Now Playing: The Old Man and the Football Team


International Data Corp. said growth in demand for Linux servers in Europe is expected to almost double by 2008. Microsoft is fighting back by cutting prices and through publicity campaigns that claim that

Paris Weighs Shift to Linux from Microsoft


A VOIP (voice over IP) service offered by Vonage Holdings Inc. is not subject to the public utility regulations of individual U.S. states, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) declared Tuesday.

FCC frees VOIP service from state regulation


For the three months ending Sept. 30, Coke said it earned \$935 million compared to a profit of \$1.22 billion a year earlier. ATLANTA - The Coca-Cola Co.

Coke reports drop in profits


TheDeal.com - The Boca Raton, Fla., venture capital firm hopes to get  #36;210 million or more for the teenage apparel retailer.

Sun Capital putting Anchor on block (TheDeal.com)


Pennsylvania Turnpike managers and temporary workers held out their hands again yesterday to collect tolls from shoppers, football fans and end-of-Thankgiving weekend

Strike doesn #39;t paralyze turnpike


com October 12, 2004, 12:23 PM PT. Wired  amp; Wireless continues its reign at the top spot among IT priorities due to widespread IP telephony and wireless deployment.

Will your phone become your credit card?


NEW YORK - IBM is claiming unofficial bragging rights as owner of the world #39;s fastest supercomputer. IBM says its still-unfinished  quot;BlueGene System quot; can sustain speeds of 36 teraflops.

IBM says supercomputer breaks speed record


The Nets #39; plan was a by-committee defensive attack on Dirk Nowitzki. The committee lost. But it wasn #39;t just Nowitzki #39;s 31 points that buried the Nets, 94-78, on Saturday afternoon at Continental Arena.

Offense a horror for Nets


AP - Boxing great Muhammad Ali asked Congress on Thursday to create a U.S. Boxing Commission, saying oversight by the federal government is needed to protect boxers from exploitation and injury.

Ali Calls for U.S. Boxing Commission (AP)


BRUSSELS/BERLIN - International air freight company DHL - owned by Deutsche Post AG - plans to quit Brussels as its night- flight hub and is eyeing airports in France and Germany, the company confirmed Thursday in a statement.

German air freight company DHL to close Brussels hub


Health India: Washington, Dec 17: A new study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that the human eye is unable to detect an offside position during a football match.

Human eyes can #39;t detect offside position in sports:


Intel has rejigged its Pentium 4 processor pricing - hyper-threading desktop models, mobile models and the new Pentium 4 chips with 64-bit extensions have all been cut.

Intel cuts prices across Pentium 4 range


MONTREAL: Media tycoon Conrad Black resigned as chairman and CEO of Hollinger, the Canadian holding company for the media empire he built, a company statement said.

Black steps down as Hollinger CEO


MAFIA investigators christened him The Ambassador. After a seven-year trial in the bunker of a Palermo jail, Sicilian senator Marcello Dell #39;Utri, an old friend and political patron of Italian Prime Minister

Mob rule takes a hit as Italy fights back


Allmerica Financial Corp.'s third-quarter earnings rose 55 percent, and the property and casualty operations reported ''solid quot; pretax segment earnings for the period despite being hurt by catastrophe losses primarily related to hurricanes in the Southeast. The Worcester insurance and financial services holding company said earnings were \$17.7 million, or 33 cents a share, for the quarter, up from net income ...

Insurer's earnings up 55 in 3d quarter


Cavaliers 99, Warriors 88: LeBron James scored 33 points and Cleveland beat visiting Golden State last night to move over .500 for the first time in more than three years with its fourth straight win.

NBA Roundup


AP - Kejuan Jones ran left, ran right and ran himself ragged.

Oklahoma Balances Offense With Rushing (AP)


American golfer Stewart Cink has the lead after completing the rain-delayed second round of the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational tournament in Akron, Ohio.

Golf: Stewart Cink Leads NEC Invitational


Cosmetically altered mutual funds don't make sense -- and they're ugly, too.

Window Dressing for Nudists


DECEMBER 08, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - They #39;re coming to mobile phones -- those nasty viruses, worms and Trojan Horses that have, on more than one occasion, crippled PCs.

Mobile phones: An ear full of worms


New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin wants to talk with Barrett Green before discussing the status of the benched linebacker for this week #39;s game with Minnesota.

Coughlin to meet with Green


TWO Palestinian security service members and a civilian were killed in three Israeli missile strikes in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security sources said today.

Three killed, 20 hurt in strikes


Iran has rejected a European Union proposal to stop its uranium enrichment programme as  quot;unbalanced quot;, increasing the likelihood of the United Nations imposing sanctions on Tehran.

Iran rejects EU move to halt nuclear plans


Reuters - An emerging wireless\communications technology called WiMAX, which can blanket\entire cities with high-speed Internet connections, will rival\DSL and cable as the preferred way to connect homes and\businesses to the Internet, Intel Corp. said on Tuesday.

Wireless Technology to Rival Cable, DSL - Intel (Reuters)


Union delegates, asbestos victims and workers are marching from Melbourne #39;s Trades Hall to the Stock Exchange, calling on James Hardie to provide sufficient funds for asbestos victims.

Marchers demand James Hardie funds


ROME The survival of Italy #39;s flag carrier will be at stake on Monday when Alitalia meets its unions to reveal how many jobs it intends to cut in a restructuring aimed at averting collapse.

Crisis talks at Alitalia


AP - At this rate, Tiger Woods probably can't wait for the 2005 season to start. Woods turned in his most complete round of a difficult year Sunday, missing only two fairways and one green in closing with a 5-under 66 for a two-shot victory over Padraig Harrington in the Target World Challenge.

Tiger Woods Wins Target World Challenge (AP)


AMD, Dell, Intel, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems have joined forces on Web Services Management, a new specification that promises to simplify systems management.

IT Heavyweights Drive New Web-Services Spec


WALTHAM -- Certain programs are expected to compete for championships every year in local high school sports, such as Catholic Memorial in ice hockey and Everett in football.

Walpole's victory feels like old times


NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks surged on Wednesday as  steep oil prices, which have held investor enthusiasm for  stocks in check for months, eased almost 5 percent after a  higher-than-expected rise in crude inventories last week.  NYMEX December crude <A HREF=

Wall Street Jumps as Oil Prices Fall


Rising broadband penetration is keeping equipment makers for Internet phone service on their toes in light of their aggression participation in the upcoming Taipei telecom show, event organizers said yesterday.

Internet phone service seen as growth industry


British number one Tim Henman is ready to seek revenge over Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic at the Davidoff Swiss Indoors event in Basel, having lost their last encounter in the first round of the Olympics in Athens.

Davidoff Swiss Indoors, Basel


The  quot;Make Love Not Spam quot; screensaver has been temporarily pulled while Lycos deals with hosting and management issues, according to a company spokesman.

Lycos Withdraws Spam Screensaver


By ELIZABETH ZUCKERMAN    PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (AP) -- A university study has found Taiwan and Singapore now lead the United States and Canada in providing government services online.    The Brown University survey, in its fourth year, measures the online performance of government in 198 countries...

Taiwan, Singapore Lead Gov't Online


Going into 2004, experts were pointing to this as a turnaround year for the airline industry after three years of misery. No more.

Airline experts agree on one thing: change


The Chalone Wine Group Ltd. (CHLN.O: Quote, Profile, Research) a US winemaker, on Monday rejected an existing buyout offer from French luxury wine maker Domaines Barons de Rothschild, saying it was now entertaining a better offer.

Vintner Chalone Spurns Rothchild,Stock Up


AFP - A 21-year-old Muslim woman is a proving a trailblazer in more ways than one as she takes part in an ambitious drive to bring the Internet to a conservative part of southern India.

Conservative Muslim Indian district embraces e-literacy (AFP)


AP - The Miami Heat are atop their division, own the best in-conference record among teams in the East and have won twice as many games as they've lost.

Improved Heat Not Content With Start (AP)


AP - Detroit mortgage magnate Dan Gilbert has reached agreement with owner Gordon Gund to buy the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have risen from the NBA's depths to unprecedented popularity since the arrival of star LeBron James.

Gilbert Reaches Deal to Buy Cavaliers (AP)


FOXBOROUGH -- With Dolphins placekicker Olindo Mare out with a right calf injury, return specialist Wes Welker knew there was a possibility he would be called upon to kick in yesterday's game against the Patriots -- even though he had not done so regularly since high school.

Welker put his best foot forward in emergency


Atari wants to take you back in time, and to get there, you can ride a

Atari to Reissue Scores of Old Games


ATHENS, Greece The Dominican Republic has its first Olympic gold medal. Felix Sanchez won the men #39;s 400 meter hurdles in 47-point-63 seconds.

Sports: Sanchez wins 400 hurdles


Contradicting fears that the semiconductor industrys pace of development is slowing, Intel Corp. announced it has achieved a milestone in shrinking the size of

Intel announces milestone in shrinking chips


Residue of the same type of explosive found in the wreckage of one of two Russian airliners that crashed last week has been found in the second, authorities said Saturday.

Explosive traces found in 2nd Russian wreckage


LAHORE: A group of 16 Pakistani journalists crossed the Wagah border on Sunday on their way to Srinagar to see the situation in Kashmir themselves.

Journalists team leaves for India


A new worm can spy on users by hijacking their Web cameras, a security firm warned Monday. The Rbot.gr worm -- the latest in a long line of similar worms; one security firm estimates that more

New Worm Hijacks Webcams


The days of relying on shrinking transistors to achieve performance gains are over, and the chip industry needs to enter a new era of innovation where system-level features are just as important as thinner transistor gates, said IBM Corp.

IBM #39;s Meyerson: Chip industry needs a  #39;Plan B #39;


Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is expected to name former ABC Entertainment President Susan Lyne as its new chief executive, replacing Sharon Patrick, according to a report on New York Magazines Web site on Thursday.

Martha Stewart Living to replace CEO


FALLUJAH, Iraq (AFP) - At least 15 people were killed as US jets spearheaded yet another assault on alleged Al-Qaeda fighters in Fallujah while Iraq #39;s premier warned that key elections may be delayed in areas of unrest.

15 Killed In US Strike On Iraqi Hotspot Of Fallujah


Research in Motion (RIMM ) started a revolution five years ago when it rolled out the first BlackBerry wireless e-mail device. The BlackBerry keyboard seemed too small to be usable, until you tried it.

BlackBerry: Born Again For the Mass Market


AP - Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick wants the NFL to amend the rule that forbids running back Jamal Lewis from appearing at the team's training complex during his two-week suspension.

Billick Wants Lewis Practicing With Ravens (AP)


Sports India, Cricket: New Delhi, Dec 11 : After 15 years in international cricket and having overcome serious toe, ankle, back and elbow injuries, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar Friday equalled Sunil Gavaskar #39;s world record of 34 centuries - and

Tendulkar: Records galore for humble human being (PROFILE):


Moscow - Russian newspapers lavished praise on Wednesday on 17-year-old Russian tennis sensation Maria Sharapova, saying her triumph over Serena Williams in the finals of the WTA Tour Championships was a victory for the history books and for her native

Russian press hails Sharapova


The Australian Council of Super Investors was one group that had urged News Corp to include major provisions of Australian corporate law in its proposed new US constitution in order to protect Australian shareholders.

News Ltd bows to shareholder demands over move to US


Svetlana Kuznetsova, fresh off her championship at the US Open, defeated Australian qualifier Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-4 Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Wismilak International.

Kuznetsova, Petrova advance at Wismilak


Reuters - What are the words used by\indigenous peoples in the Arctic for

As Ice Thaws, Arctic Peoples at Loss for Words (Reuters)


TORONTO - Rising costs at its US operations pulled down third-quarter earnings at Cott Corp., the soft drink company reported Wednesday.

Cott Q3 earnings slip; company cuts guidance


Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko speaks to members of the media during a press conference in Kiev, in this Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 file photo.

AP: Yushchenko Sure Gov #39;t Poisoned Him


The Canadian government moved forward with plans to sell its C\$3.04 billion (\$2.36 billion) stake in Petro-Canada, as the oil company filed offering documents with US and Canadian regulators.

Canada #39;s C\$3 Bln Petro-Canada Stake Is Filed for Sale (Update1)


LONDON, England -- One of the fiercest rivalries in world football could be set to one side under possible plans for Premier League Liverpool and Everton to share a ground.

Ground share meeting on Merseyside


Italy #39;s Stefano Baldini surged ahead with two miles to go and won the Olympic marathon Sunday while American Meb Keflezighi finished a surprising second in a

Marathon has weird intrusion


Who #39;s afraid of Wal-Mart? Specialty retailers and chains with unique lines are thriving by offering shoppers what the big-box stores can #39;t.

Retail #39;s Little Guys Come Back


Software maker has its eye on consumers who might be ready to make the switch from Windows.

Novell spiffs up its desktop Linux software


US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Tuesday that he did not foresee big price distortions developing in home prices and said Americans were handling their debts well.

Greenspan Tries to Soothe Housing Worries


AP - Miami defensive tackle Santonio Thomas and right guard Tyler McMeans both might miss the remainder of the season because of knee injuries.

Two Miami Linemen Could Be Out for Season (AP)


Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian as he approached a security fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip, Israeli military sources said today.

Soldiers kill Palestinian near Gaza-Israel fence


Venezuela #39;s president said Thursday he supports keeping OPEC oil production at current levels, contracting comments by his energy minister who said last week that Venezuela would support a production cut.

Venezuelan president says OPEC output OK as is, \$30 US a floor <b>...</b>


Thirteen years after leading the charge to diversify Boston's corporations, Benaree Wiley, president and chief executive of The Partnership, is stepping down to devote more time to personal interests.

Chief of Partnership to resign


USATODAY.com - I'm guessing the founders of a San Francisco start-up called OQO are bummed that Microsoft long ago snagged the name Pocket PC for its personal digital assistants. Because Pocket PC might be the ideal moniker for OQO's new model 01

OQO pocket-size Windows XP PC clever but could be better (USATODAY.com)


NEW YORK, November 4 (newratings.com) - SBC Communications Inc (SBC.NYS) and BellSouth Corporation (BLS) have agreed to acquire the online directory publisher, www.

BellSouth, SBC in new JV; to buy YellowPages.com


NEW YORK, December 8 (newratings.com) - Merck  amp; Co (MRK.NYS) has guided to lower-than-expected 2005 earnings due to the withdrawal of its blockbuster arthritis drug, Vioxx, and increased generic competition for its cholesterol drug, Zocor.

Merck guides to lower-than-expected 2005 earnings


To get next version of Windows out on time, company to delay some planned features, sources say.

Microsoft overhauls Longhorn plans


Police have been granted more time to question radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri under the Terrorism Act.

Police get cleric quiz extension


Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers said today that his company plans to offer twice as many new products this year as ever before.

Cisco plans to accelerate new product offerings


The United States welcomed on Thursday Japan #39;s decision to extend the deployment of its forces in Iraq for an additional 12 months.

US welcomes Japan #39;s decision to extend forces in Iraq


Wireless phone service is one of the great bargains of the modern age. When The Post began its annual comparison of cellular calling plans in 1998, \$40 bought a lousy 100 minutes of talk time a month.

How to Make The Right Call On Cell Plans


Tony Li helped develop some of the most sophisticated Internet Protocol routers in the world for Cisco and Juniper. Now he's ready to dish on his ex-employers.

Routing's rock star


California #39;s insurance commissioner Tuesday dropped his opposition to Anthem Inc. #39;s proposed \$18.4 billion purchase of WellPoint Health Networks Inc.

Anthem merger closer to reality


STAMFORD, Conn. -- General Electric Co. #39;s third-quarter earnings rose 11 percent and revenue jumped 15 percent as orders rose sharply, the company said Friday.

GE earnings up 11 percent in third quarter


Florida residents today began cleaning up and surveying the losses caused by Hurricane Frances, the most powerful storm in 55 years to hit the state #39;s central eastern coast.

Florida Begins Cleanup as More Than 2.5 Mln Still Without Power


AP - Four homeless men were bludgeoned to death and six were in critical condition on Friday following early morning attacks by unknown assailants in downtown streets of Sao Paulo, a police spokesman said.

Four Dead After Attack on Homeless Man (AP)


Natalia Rudiak of Carrick could not figure out why her trusted laptop was acting sluggish and sometimes unresponsive. Then it crashed, and she was forced to find

What #39;s inside your computer? Study finds spyware, viruses <b>...</b>


Cash has never been so cool. Usher Raymond IV, the 25-year-old R amp;B singer who has been dubbed the king of pop, launched the Usher Debit MasterCard late last month. The sleek black card, which features the artist's face, has been passed out to concertgoers during his nationwide ''The Truth Tour. quot; The card is also available through a website, ushermc.com.

In place of dollars, a cool change


AFP - Shaquille O'Neal making his home debut for Miami before a record crowd, scored 17 points and created plenty of chances for his teammates as the Heat defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 92-86 in a National Basketball Association Game.

Shaq a big draw in home debut for Heat (AFP)


On homecoming day, there is always added incentive for the home team to outperform the visitors. That incentive is not lost when the visiting team happens to be riding a 15-game winning streak.

BB amp;N kicks away Middlesex streak


SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Lazard, the last major privately held European investment bank, filed late Friday with US regulators to raise up to \$850 million in an initial public offering, apparently a victory for dealmaker Bruce Wasserstein.

Offering could bring in \$850 million; Wasserstein prevails


The number of Japanese homeless is on the rise, and cultural attitudes about age are exacerbating the situation.

Japan's homeless face ageism


Nortel Networks Corp. will lay off approximately 1,400 employees in the US and about 950 in Canada, with those employees to be notified by the end of June 2005, the network equipment vendor said in a regulatory

Nortel details plans to lay off 3,250 employees


Several South African mercenaries have agreed to testify against the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Sir Mark Thatcher.

Mercenaries to testify against Thatcher in coup case


MIAMI (Sports Network) - Frank Gore scored on an 18-yard  touchdown run in overtime, as No. 5 Miami-Florida outlasted  fourth-ranked and arch-rival Florida State, 16-10, at the  Orange Bowl in the season-opener for both teams.

No. 5 Miami Rebounds to Beat FSU in Overtime


The country dining chain is weathering cost increases better than its rivals.

Cracker Barrel Rolling


US entertainment giant Time Warner Inc. said Monday it has withdrawn its bid to buy Hollywood movie studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) after they failed to agree on a price.

Time Warner announces withdrawal of bid for MGM


BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip - Israeli tanks and bulldozers pulled back from this Palestinian town Thursday, after tearing up roads, flattening strawberry greenhouses and knocking down walls of dozens of houses in what residents said was the most devastating raid in four years of fighting.    The two-day foray into Beit Lahiya was part of a major Israeli military offensive in the northern Gaza Strip, now in its third week...

Israel Presses Offensive in Northern Gaza


AFP - The United States is pushing Japan to become a base for a force that can deploy to the Middle East, a move that exceeds the bounds of their current security alliance, a report said.

US pushing Japan to be base for force extending reach to Middle East: report (AFP)


Letters And cheap tinsel worries wifi fans

Ratty pilots worry sci-fi fans


IBM hopes to ease the minds of roving execs by adding yet another layer of security to its ThinkPad notebooks. Mirroring Microsoft #39;s  quot;biometrics for the desktop quot; move, IBM has added fingerprint readers to

IBM ThinkPads Get Biometric Access Tech


Microsoft sources said Wednesday that a British regulatory agency #39;s objections to an anti-Linux advertisement published as part of its controversial  quot;Get the Facts quot; campaign are moot because the ad is no longer running.

Microsoft Dismisses British Objections to Anti-Linux Ad


The run-up to the U.S.\presidential election is casting the spotlight on a new crop of\Web sites for political-minded singles who are seeking Mr. or\Ms. Right ... or Left.

Web Aids Search for the Right -- or Left -- Mate


A Palestinian pollster says Yasser Arafat #39;s death will not leave a political vacuum because others effectively replaced him years ago.

Poll: Arafat lost real power years ago


NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. tanks rumbled to within 800  meters (yards) of a holy shrine in the Iraqi city of Najaf on  Sunday as fierce clashes with Shi'ite rebels in a nearby town  killed at least 40 Iraqis, officials said.

U.S. Tanks Move Toward Najaf Shrine, Clashes Kill 40


Yahoo! is planning to launch its own online music service later this year, despite its \$160m purchase of Musicmatch announced this week, according to music industry sources.

Yahoo! takes two-pronged approach to digital music


A private airplane carrying members of one of NASCARs most successful teams crashed Sunday afternoon in Bull Mountain near Blue Ridge Regional Airport.

Executives of top NASCAR team killed in plane crash


Reuters - A coalition of 125 scientific\and patients' groups urged the United Nations on Wednesday to\reject a global ban on stem cell research sought by the Bush\administration and more than 50 other countries.

Scientists, Patients Fight UN Stem Cell Study Ban (Reuters)


RAWALPINDI : President General Pervez Musharraf has called for identifying the regions, demilitarize them and change their status before a possible resolution of Kashmir issue.

Musharraf for identifying regions, demilitarization before <b>...</b>


In a copyright-infringement trial under way this week in an Australian federal court, music industry representatives say they plan to make public the secretive ownership structure of the Kazaa file-trading network. By Patrick Gray.

Trial to Unmask Kazaa Owners


An Israeli helicopter fired a missile at a car in Gaza City late Sunday, residents said, killing a senior Hamas militant leader, the latest Israeli attack in the territory it plans to leave next year.

Israeli Missile Reportedly Kills Hamas Militant Leader


BEIJING, Aug.18(Xinhuanet) -- NASA #39;s Cassini spacecraft has spied two new moons around the satellite-rich Saturn.

Cassini found two little Saturn moons


The growing mystery surrounding doping allegations against Ireland #39;s gold medal-winning showjumper Cian O #39;Connor took another twist yesterday after a batch of documents was stolen from the headquarters of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland in an early

Irish mystery deepens


Ask Jeeveswill launch a test version of its desktop search tool on Wednesday, following the launch of similar tools by rivals Microsofton Monday and Google in October, and ahead of expected entries from America Online(AOL) and Yahoo.

Ask Jeeves to unveil desktop search tool


WASHINGTON - Federal regulators on Tuesday proposed a plan to strengthen governance at the nation #39;s stock exchanges and move them toward separating their self-policing function from their business operations to ensure that they serve investors #39; interest.

SEC proposes plan to strengthen governance at stock exchanges


Flu vaccine maker Chiron Corp. (CHIR.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday announced that Richard Wills has resigned from the company #39;s board of directors, effective immediately.

Chiron: Richard Wills Resigns from Board


AFP - The world must take immediate action against the real threat of nuclear terrorism to prevent a September 11-style outrage, the head of the UN's atomic energy watchdog agency warned.

UN nuclear watchdog chief says nuclear terrorism a real threat (AFP)


State Department officials will meet a fall deadline for a congressionally mandated program for issuing visas with biometric indicators, but a Government Accountability Office report indicated that federal officials haven #39;t provided comprehensive

State on track for biometrics


The real estate and travel company says it will continue to look for a buyer of its mortgage business.

Cendant breaks off mortgage unit talks


Security flaw involving JPEG files affects at least a dozen Microsoft software applications and operating systems.

Major graphics flaw threatens Windows PCs


Dubai, Oct. 4 (NNN): At least 13 Palestinians were killed as Israel continued its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, with an air strike in the north, during the past 24 hours.

13 More Killed In On-going Gaza Violence


AP - With Kobe Bryant's sexual assault trial scheduled to begin in less than two weeks, speculation is mounting that prosecutors are looking for a way to dismiss the charge after a series of setbacks.

Kobe Bryant Due Back in Court Monday (AP)


BHP Billiton #39;s Australian investors will collect \$1.5 billion from a buyback announced by the global miner yesterday. But the move will leave foreigners with a stronger presence on the BHP share register because they can #39;t participate.

Buyback will cost BHP \$1.5b


By MATTHEW FORDAHL    SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- A \$239 million satellite toppled to a factory floor last year because nobody bothered to check that it was secure before moving it, according to a NASA investigation board's report on the mishap...

NOAA Satellite Mishap Blamed on Human Error


Hitachi Data Systems on Tuesday announced a new enterprise storage lineup with new features such as a virtualization that allows customers to manage up to 32 Petabytes (PB) of internal and external storage.

Hitachi upgrades storage line


Reporters Without Borders, an international media watchdog organization, is accusing Google of being complicit in China #39;s censorship of Google News sites.

Chinese Blocking Google News, Says Watchdog Group


Two of the Ford Motor Company's most senior executives retired in a sign that the company's deep financial crisis has abated, though serious challenges remain.

Turnaround Progress Seen, 2 Executives to Leave Ford


LONDON: A British television channel is looking for volunteers for a documentary which will look into dead bodies during the process of decomposition.

Over their dead bodies


Sven Jaschan has been charged with computer sabotage, data manipulation and disruption of public systems. More than 143 Sasser victims have contacted prosecutors to report the damage they suffered in the vague hope of compensation.

Sasser teen charged


Hey, Lance Armstrong, the company that owes you \$5 million US for winning your sixth Tour de France doesn #39;t want to pay because of doping allegations.

Lance is all talk


PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Shopping for a veteran catcher after trading Jason Kendall last month, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Benito Santiago from the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.

Pirates acquire Santiago from Royals


The drive also features a unique vertical design for easy placement and portability, and offers connectivity with both i.LINK and hi-speed USB digital interfaces.

Sony Woos Mac Users with DVD Burner


BOMBAY -- For centuries, this city has been the citadel where Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest religions, has persevered in the face of overwhelming odds.

Shrinking population threatens an ancient faith


Hamid Karzai formally accepted his election as president of Afghanistan Thursday, a day after a joint UN-Afghan electoral board proclaimed him the victor in the October 9 vote, and said he would not condone the existence of  quot;private militia forces

Karzai pledges to check warlords


CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez survived a referendum to oust him, according to results Monday, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and other election observers urged the opposition to accept the vote, deflating claims of fraud...

Carter Endorses Chavez Win in Venezuela


India resume batting on third day of second Test against Australia in Chennai from the score of 291 for six. India has a lead of 56 runs, but they will be hoping to extend it on a pitch where batting last will be a huge challenge.

India looking to extend lead


United Airlines, seeking to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, yesterday said it has reached a tentative agreement with its pilots - the first of four major unions to settle with the nation #39;s second-largest carrier.

Pilots reach agreement


China's central bank yesterday raised interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade, signaling deepening unease with the breakneck pace of development and an intent to reign in a construction boom now sowing fears of runaway inflation.

China hikes rates to cool growth


AP - NATO diplomats and Russia's ambassador to the alliance pledged to remain united in the fight against terror Tuesday, condemning that attack on a Russian school that left more than 350 people dead.

NATO, Russia United Against Terrorism (AP)


SHELL Malaysia #39;s Jintan field, located about 275km north west of Bintulu, offshore Sarawak, came onstream on Aug 31. Jintan is the second gas field brought into production, following Serai which came onstream

Shell Malaysias Jintan gas field starts work


Ryanair, the Irish no-frills airline, said net profit rose 15 percent for the quarter to September, adding it was well-placed to combat the threat of record high oil prices and fierce competition.

Ryanair sees profits rise 15 percent


Ziff Davis - After joining the Eclipse Foundation, the company launches a project to create open-source business intelligence and reporting tools.

Actuate Joins Eclipse, Starts Open-Source BI Project (Ziff Davis)


Kurt Busch, last in the qualifying line and first in the NASCAR Nextel Cup points, waited out 54 other drivers Friday and then won the pole for the season-ending Ford 400, which will determine the 2004 champion.

Busch wins pole for season-ending race


Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer will be in India next week, the latest in a series of periodic visits to the country.

Business Digest


The MIT Technology Review, which was introduced in 1899, is getting a makeover to help attract readers and advertisers.

M.I.T. Technology Review Adopts More Serious Tone


Reuters - Pakistan has arrested a Yemeni\national who is an important figure in al Qaeda's new\leadership and another foreign national who is one of the\network's communications specialists, officials said on\Wednesday.

Pakistan Says Holding Yemeni 'Qaeda Leader' (Reuters)


DaimlerChrysler AG, the world #39;s fifth- biggest carmaker, reported a third-quarter profit as Chrysler #39;s US sales rose. Volkswagen AG #39;s earnings fell a seventh quarter in a row on higher sales incentives while Fiat SpA #39;s loss widened.

DaimlerChrysler Returns to Profit; VW Reports Decline (Update1)


As soon as Sandy Barbour arrived as Cal #39;s athletic director in September, she knew she would be judged by one criterion: Could she keep Jeff Tedford?

Barbour makes decisive move Donors come up with much of the money


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Sports Network) - New York Giants  safety Shaun Williams was placed on injured reserve Wednesday  due to a left knee injury.

Giants Place Shaun Williams on IR


Former Kenya captain Maurice Odumbe receives a five-year ban for receiving money to fix a match.

Odumbe handed five-year ban


AP - John Kerry raised  #36;2 million for Democrats in just a few hours Saturday, making two stops in this understated and elegant vacation destination for the Northeastern well-to-do.

Kerry Raises  #36;2M for Democrats in N.Y. (AP)


UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Monday he was  quot;very disappointed and surprised quot; that his son had continued to receive payments until this February from a firm that had a contract with Iraq #39;s oil-for-food program, the subject of numerous

Son #39;s Payments on Deal Disappoint Annan


Crude oil futures were little changed after falling yesterday for the seventh day in eight as Iraqi exports rose and Russia said it would increase output this year.

Crude Oil Little Changed After Falling on Rising Iraqi Output


Loren Woods had 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, and Vince Carter scored 7 of 12 points in the final three minutes to help the Raptors improve to 2-0 with a 101-89 victory over the Detroit Pistons last night in Toronto. Chris Bosh led a balanced Toronto attack with 18 points. Six Raptors players reached double figures. Richard Hamilton ...

Woods's 17 pace Raptors victory


Opinion: There are only two Web servers that matter. While two-thirds of domains run Apache, Web server share numbers show that Microsoft #39;s IIS is also a respectable choice.

IIS Rounds the Security Corner


ST. LOUIS -- Red Sox Nation is ready to rally behind its team again as the Red Sox take a 2-0 lead to St. Louis tonight in Game 3 of the World Series.

Sox Prepare For Game 3 In St. Louis


Colorado astronomers hailed a National Academy of Sciences report Wednesday that urges NASA to send shuttle astronauts - not a robot - to save the aging Hubble Space Telescope.

Report urging manned Hubble mission praised


Over a dozen people were killed and nearly 300 injured in a bomb and grenade attack on a public rally in the heart of the city that was being addressed by Awami League leader and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bomb attack on Hasina


Description: After months of stalemate and the loss of 400 games, players make a new offer to the National Hockey League involving acceptance of a 24 percent salary cut.

NHL Fans Get a Ray of Hope in Ongoing Lockout


Fresh from a victory over its rivals in the Supreme Court, American Express now wants Visa and MasterCard to show it the money. American Express hired hot-shot lawyer David Boies, who headed

Am Exp suing for billions


MOJAVE, California: SpaceShipOne landed safely in the California desert yesterday after a wild corkscrew-like ascent into space, and is now a step closer to a \$10 million (BD3.

SpaceShipOne lands


Nepal #39;s communist insurgency has been flexing its muscles, with a successful blockade of the capital Kathmandu. Experts say the Maoists have modeled themselves on Peru #39;s Shining Path, using violence to end Nepal #39;s rigid caste system.

Experts Say Nepal Rebels #39; Plan Resembles Peru #39;s Shining Path


Sri Lanka #39;s army has closed off entry points to areas controlled by Tamil Tiger rebels for the first day since a 2002 ceasefire after Red Cross officials said they feared for their safety amid sporadic violence.

Sri Lanka shuts rebel border


Peter Sauber says he has no regrets signing former world champion Jacques Villeneuve for next season. The Canadian was asked to fill in for Jarno Trulli in the final three races of the season by Renault, who

Sauber has no regrets signing Villeneuve


The areas of the brain involved in learning fears have been known, but new research now identifies the areas involved in extinguishing those fears. The amygdala is a key in both learning and unlearning fears.

Part of Brain That Extinguishes Fears Found


Someone wearing an old Soviet sweater sat in Section 215, and a big, white banner stretched across his entire row. In red letters, it said:  quot;MIRACLE IS OVER.

USA 5, RUSSIA 3: Minor miracle -- Tkachuk #39;s four goals carry USA <b>...</b>


AFP - All-party talks to revive Northern Ireland's peace process began after two years of stalemate, as Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams predicted a deal despite an alleged spying incident.

Crunch talks for Northern Ireland get under way (AFP)


US claims for jobless benefits jumped last week, while consumer spending was unexpectedly flat in August as shoppers closed their wallets after splashing out the previous month, the government said on Thursday.

US Jobless Claims Up, Consumption Flat


USATODAY.com - The ACLU wants access to law enforcement files that it believes will shed light on how government anti-terrorism task forces have been monitoring human rights groups and individuals.

Anti-terrorism methods draw ACLU scrutiny (USATODAY.com)


The Transportation Security Administration yesterday said it would resume plans to seek bids for a large technology maintenance contract, ending consideration of a proposal to give the work to an Alaska Native Corporation without competition.

TSA Reconsiders Technology Contract


The privately held company today released free desktop search software in a move some see as a test of the product's market viability in what is becoming a crowded field.

Copernic desktop search takes aim at Microsoft


roundupThere's no question retailers love RFID. But will problems of privacy and unreliability prove to be too great?

Tracking RFID--it's everywhere


Athens - Alexandre Despatie of Laval, Que., is in third place heading into Tuesday afternoon #39;s three-metre springboard diving final, advancing easily out of the morning semi-final, although teammate Philippe Comtois of Montreal failed to qualify.

Despatie heads into final


Bank of America Corp. chairman Chad Gifford has sold about \$17 million worth of stock in the bank and used the proceeds to buy even more stock in the North Carolina company, executives said.

Gifford puts stock proceeds to work


A total eclipse of the Moon will occur overnight Wednesday, an event that can turn Earth #39;s satellite to a colourful shade ranging from deep red to dark brown and sometimes an existential grey.

Shaded moon will be last eclipse of 2004


DETROIT - Steve Yzermans reign as the longest serving captain in NHL history is not over yet. The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday re-signed Yzerman to a one-year contract, ensuring the veteran center his 19th year as team captain.

Red Wings re-sign Yzerman to 1-year deal


Katie King #39;s second-period goal lifted the United States into a 1-1 tie with Canada on Thursday night in the Four Nations Cup international women #39;s hockey tournament in Burlington, Vt.

Sports Briefs


US researchers show that a computer can be controlled by the brain without the need for implants.

'Brainwave' cap controls computer


A Singapore Airlines plane flying to New York from Frankfurt has been diverted to Manchester airport after a bomb threat. The Boeing 747-400 landed safely at around 11.

Bomb scare forces Singapore plane to UK


Soccer is a sport with a field 80 yards wide by 120 yards long, and 22 players running for 90 minutes. Often times the only players that stand out are the ones that put up  #39;big #39; numbers, scoring goals and setting up others.

O #39;Rourke more then stats and hairstyles


Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer increased his stake in Manchester United to 25.5 percent Friday as he pursues a possible takeover of the world #39;s richest soccer club.

Glazer increases stake in United to 25 percent


AFP - US President George W. Bush campaigned in Florida ahead of his party's convention, on top in the polls but battered by negative economic news and a situation in Iraq he admits he miscalculated.

Bush on top ahead of Republican convention, despite Iraq, economic woes (AFP)


Near the end of a very good year for his mutual funds, Ron Baron is talking about cutting his losers.

Successful fund shifts strategy, targets losses


SINGAPORE: The mainland #39;s plan to buy Canadian mining giant Noranda for some US\$5 billion is just the beginning of an overseas acquisition march fuelled by swollen foreign exchange reserves and a need to secure natural resources.

Cash-rich, commodity-starved mainland goes shopping overseas


Sifting through millions of documents to locate a valuable few is tedious enough, but what happens when those files are scattered across different repositories?

IBM Unmasks Masala for Speedy Search


Coach Jose Mourinho began his quest for a second successive title in the best way possible when his Chelsea side beat Paris St Germain 3-0 in their opening group H match yesterday.

Soccer: Big teams off to winning start in Champions League


Equatorial Guinea might seek the extradition of Mark Thatcher from South Africa where he is charged with bankrolling a coup attempt, The Sun said Thursday.

Eq. Guinea might seek Thatcher extradition


BEIJING: At least 56 workers were killed and a further 100 were trapped after one of the worst coalmine disasters in China #39;s recent history, an official said Thursday.

Coalmine blast leaves 56 dead, 100 trapped in central China


The UK is responsible for almost 30 more carbon dioxide than it reports, the conservation organisation WWF says. WWF #39;s Living Planet Report 2004 says Britain counts only CO2 emitted by UK industry, power plants and vehicles.

UK carbon output  #39;under-reported #39;


AP - Bill Nicholson, who coached Tottenham in its glory days of the 1960s and 1970s, died Saturday after a long illness. He was 85. Nicholson's death at a hospital in Hertfordshire, outside London, was announced on Tottenham's Web site on behalf of his family.

Former Tottenham Coach Bill Nicholson Dies (AP)


The US economy grew more slowly in the second quarter than first thought amid shrinking corporate profits and higher imports, the government said on Friday in a report

US Second-Quarter GDP Downgraded


Dell has cut prices on a number of products geared to enterprises. The PowerEdge 4600 dual-processor server price tag has been trimmed by about 22 percent, now starting as low as \$4,194.

Dell Cuts Prices on Enterprise Hardware


Nextel Communications said earnings and subscriber growth for the full year would exceed initial estimates.

Nextel's Profit Rose by 69 in 3rd Quarter


Chris Webber had a triple-double to help Sacramento win its first game of the season and hand Toronto its first loss. Webber had 21 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists -- his 18th

UNDATED: fourth quarter.


Stock markets traded lower this afternoon as the price of crude oil shot up on the latest US supply report while investors were frustrated at a series of corporate earnings disappointments, warnings and downgrades.

Markets sink amid warnings, rising oil prices


In NEW YORK item, please read headline as UPDATE 1-Franklin Resources in \$20 million SEC settlement, not \$21 million. A corrected version follows.

CORRECTED - UPDATE 1-Franklin Resources in \$20 million SEC <b>...</b>


AP - Ten years after the Irish Republican Army's momentous cease-fire, negotiations resumed Wednesday in hope of reviving a Catholic-Protestant administration, an elusive goal of Northern Ireland's hard-fought peace process.

Talks Resume in Bid for N. Ireland Gov't (AP)


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Goodyear Tire   Rubber Co. <A HREF=

Goodyear to Cut 340 Jobs, Take Charge


AFP - Glenn McGrath scalped four wickets and Justin Langer hit a century here to lead Australia's preparations for next week's Test series against India.

McGrath and Langer shine in drawn India tour opener (AFP)


BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Six people were hurt and twohospitals evacuated after a strong earthquake shook a largepart of western Colombia on Monday, the government said.

Strong Quake Injures Six in Colombia


The government yesterday recognised the ceasefire of Northern Ireland #39;s largest loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Defence Association, in an attempt to boost the Northern Ireland peace process.

Government brings UDA in from the cold


The Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers added fireworks to Sunday #39;s action with an explosive start, which included 412 yards of total offense and 35 points scored... in the first quarter alone. Colts

NFL News, Notes, and One Liners


Former alcoholic and functional illiterate George W. Bush has won re-election and will retain his office as 43th President of the United States of America, despite a proven inability to pronounce the word

George Walker Bush, Jr., Re-elected President of the United States


An Iraqi militant group loyal to al Qaida beheaded a kidnapped Turkish driver and showed the execution video on its website Monday.

Website video shows beheading of Turkish driver


Reuters - Low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways Corp.\ on Thursday said third-quarter earnings fell 71\percent as it struggled with skyrocketing fuel prices and tough\competition.

JetBlue Profit Down 71 Percent (Reuters)


quot;Every PC maker has to deal with this, one way or another, quot; International Data Corp. analyst Roger Kay said. The problem is that it #39;s difficult to make money on PCs today, given how cutthroat competition has driven down prices.

IBM Sale Reflects Unease in Personal Computer Sector


Intel officials said yesterday that the company's fourth-quarter revenue will total between \$9.3 billion and \$9.5 billion, pushed up by demand for its desktop, notebook and server processors.

Intel to exceed previous Q4 expectations


Variety - NEW YORK -- Shares in Sirius Satellite Radio surged for a second day as investors flocked to the satcaster in the wake of the Howard Stern deal.

Sirius goes stellar (Variety)


There is an unfair notion that England are a one-man team and it gained credence here yesterday when they looked distinctly ordinary without Andrew Flintoff #39;s muscular and multi-skilled ability.

Flintoff #39;s absence makes the heart grow fonder


The humanitarian agency, Oxfam, predicts that 45 million children will die in the next decade because rich countries have failed to meet their aid promises.

Oxfam says 45 million children at risk if aid not provided