Kellogg appoints Jenness CEO after Gutierrez resigns to join <b>...</b> DETROIT - President Bush #39;s choice of Kellogg chief executive Carlos Gutierrez as commerce secretary leaves the cereal and snack giant without the dynamic leader who has guided its remarkable turnaround.


Disappointing holiday news hurts retail shares Shares in a range of area retailers dipped Monday on disappointing Thanksgiving sales data from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. In addition, ShopperTrak, which tallies sales results from 30,000 stores nationwide, said


Anil sends out another mail, now to RIL Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) employees have got another email. This one went from their vice-chairman, Anil Ambani, on Monday seeking their support for both himself and elder brother and chairman Mukesh Ambani.


Reliant, Dynegy, El Paso Traders Are Indicted by US for Fraud Five former employees of Dynegy Inc., El Paso Corp. and Reliant Energy Inc. were indicted on US charges of reporting bogus energy trades.


Sovereign CFO Hogan to Retire Sovereign Bancorp Inc. on Monday said chief financial officer James D. Hogan will retire from the position after helping the northeastern regional bank grow dramatically through a succession of acquisitions and other financial deals.


Airbus to get go ahead to start marketing A350 Airbus, the European aircraft maker, is expected to receive approval within weeks from its shareholders, EADS and BAE Systems, to start marketing the planned A350 mid


China Automotive Stock Doubles on Pacts Shares of China Automotive Systems Inc. more than doubled in value Monday after the company said it was chosen as the exclusive steering pump supplier for a vehicle made by SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Co.


UnitedHealth Group Buys Definity Health MINNEAPOLIS - UnitedHealth Group said Monday that it will acquire Definity Health Corp. of Minneapolis for \$300 million cash. Definity is best known for offering what are commonly called consumer driven health


Cingular Wireless Loss Is Alltels, MetroPCS Gain In the aftermath of its purchase of AT amp;T Wireless, Cingular Wireless is selling several sets of 10 megahertz wireless licenses to two different carriers.


Loss of Intelsat satellite could threaten sale BETHESDA, Md. The loss of an Intelsat satellite knocked out Internet access for many customers of Starband, a McLean-based provider of online access via satellite.


Russian Official Details Iraqi Debt Deal Iraq will owe Russia between US\$700 million (euro530 million) and US\$1 billion (euro750 million) after the bulk of its debt is forgiven under a deal with international creditors, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin was quoted as saying Monday.


Investors Eye Brokerages 4Q Reports Some of the Wall Street brokerages on tap to report earnings next month might see better-than-expected results as a rebound in the stock market is expected to fuel performance within their equities businesses.


Sony, IBM, Toshiba say powerful chip to start production in 2005 SAN JOSE, Calif. A long-awaited microprocessor developed by IBM, Sony, and Toshiba will go into production next year and start appearing in video game consoles and high-definition T-Vs in 2006.


Microsoft WINS Said To Be Vulnerable Microsoft said Sunday it #39;s looking into reports of a security screw-up in Windows Internet Name Service (WINS), a component of its most popular server software, including Windows NT 4.0 Server, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows Server 2003.


US-Russian Crew Re-Docks Capsule After a 23-minute flight from the Pirs docking port to the Zarya cargo module, Russian Salizhan Sharipov and American Leroy Chiao re-docked the Soyuz TMA-5 spaceship.


Series of earthquakes rattle Mount St. Helens MOUNT St. HELENS, Wash. - Three earthquakes ranging in magnitudes between 2.6 and 2.8 rattled Mount St. Helens Sunday evening and into Monday morning.


iPod adoption rate faster than Sony Walkman Based on one Wall Street analyst #39;s findings, the popularity of Apple #39;s iPod is exceeding that of Sony #39;s Walkman during the 80 #39;s and 90 #39;s.


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


Microsoft Plans Last Windows 2000 Update With Microsoft spending most of its upgrade development time on Windows XP, it was only time before they announced plans to stop updating Windows 2000.


Screensaver tackles spam websites Internet portal Lycos has made a screensaver that endlessly requests data from sites that sell the goods and services mentioned in spam e-mail.


More Leeds United Stories Sebastien Sainsbury is back in the running to take over Leeds just over a fortnight after being told by chairman Gerald Krasner his bid was dead in the water.


Cricket-ICC anti-corruption team to probe Nairobi tournament  Cricket-Kiwis cling on as Aussies go for the jugular 11-29-2004, 09:02 ADELAIDE, Australia, Nov 29 (AFP) - New Zealand kept an eye on the weather to save them as they frustrated Australia #39;s efforts to wrap up another fast-tracked victory in the second


Blue Jays to buy SkyDome for \$21.24 million The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to buy SkyDome, the team #39;s ballpark, for about \$21.24 million. The 50,000-seat stadium, which opened in 1989, cost about \$375 million to construct and was mostly funded by taxpayers.


BCS: Auburn stuck at 3; Texas closing in on Cal com. With less than one week to go until the release of the final BCS standings, USC and Oklahoma are all but assured of going to the Orange Bowl if they both win their final games Saturday


Browns lose LB Andra Davis for season Cleveland Browns linebacker Andra Davis will miss the remainder of the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee during Sunday #39;s loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.


China mine blast toll rises to 50 as hopes for missing workers <b>...</b> CHENJIASHAN MINE, China : The death toll from a blast in a north China coal mine rose to 50 after more than 20 bodies were found as hopes of finding alive another 116 trapped workers all but vanished.


Sharon in a spot George W. Bush is a product of the Wild West myth. He sees himself as the fast-drawing sheriff who kills the bad guys and maintains order in town.


Dalai Lama arrives in Russia ELISTA, Nov. 29. - The Dalai Lama, smiling modestly at his admirers, began his first visit to Russias Buddhists today after Moscow abruptly reversed its refusal to grant the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader entry.


Nairobi Summit Urges More Progress to Ban Land Mines Diplomats from countries that have signed a treaty banning land-mine use, production, stockpiling, and transfer are assessing the accord #39;s impact at a conference in Nairobi.


Aznar denies Iraq link, defends role in wake of Madrid bombings MADRID (AFP) - Former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar rejected the idea that the Madrid train bombings stemmed from his backing for the war in Iraq and told a parliamentary inquiry into the attacks that terrorist groups were inextricably linked.


ACC Ties Record With Seven Top 25 Teams (AP) AP - Virginia moved into The Associated Press' men's college basketball Top 25 Monday, giving the Atlantic Coast Conference a record-tying seven teams in the poll.


Aznar Denies Madrid Bombs Were Linked to Iraq War (Reuters) Reuters - Former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar\said Islamic militants tried to use the Madrid train bombings\to oust the pro-U.S. ruling party from power in Spain, but not\because of its support for the Iraq war.


Source: Stanford Fires Coach Teevens (AP) AP - Stanford football coach Buddy Teevens was fired after three straight losing seasons, an athletic department source said Monday on condition of anonymity.


BoSox OK Deal With Catcher Doug Mirabelli (AP) AP - The Boston Red Sox have reached an agreement with backup catcher Doug Mirabelli, who would become the first of the World Series champions' 16 free agents to re-sign.


Falcons Sign Crumpler to Contract Extension (Reuters) Reuters - The Atlanta Falcons\Monday signed Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler to a six-year\contract extension.


Boggs Heads 2005 Hall of Fame Ballot (Reuters) Reuters - Five-time American\League batting champion Wade Boggs, two-time NL batting champ\Willie McGee and former Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell are\among 12 first-year candidates on the 2005 Baseball Hall of\Fame ballot.


Austrian Men's Team Gets Female Goalie (AP) AP - Barbara Zemann is a banker by trade. Now she's the first female to play for an Austrian men's hockey team.


Boggs Heads 2005 Hall of Fame Ballot  COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (Sports Network) - Five-time American  League batting champion Wade Boggs, two-time NL batting champ  Willie McGee and former Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell are  among 12 first-year candidates on the 2005 Baseball Hall of  Fame ballot.


USC Strengthens BCS No. 1 Hold; Oklahoma No. 2  PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - Southern California and  Oklahoma are still the top teams in the Bowl Championship  Series standings, while Auburn remained third and on the  outside looking in at the national championship game with one  week remaining in the regular season.


Jeff George Signs with Bears  CHICAGO (Sports Network) - After much speculation, the  Chicago Bears officially signed quarterback Jeff George to a  one-year contract on Monday.


Cards' Smith Sidelined; Navarre to Start at QB  TEMPE, Ariz. (Sports Network) - The Arizona Cardinals will  have a new look in their backfield for this Sunday's game  against Detroit because running back Emmitt Smith is sidelined  with a sprained toe and rookie John Navarre will start at  quarterback.


Gatlin, Hayes Earn Jesse Owens Awards  PORTLAND, Ore. (Sports Network) - Olympic medalists Justin  Gatlin and Joanna Hayes Monday were named the winners of the  2004 Jesse Owens Awards by USA Track   Field.


One Month Later, Fight Over Ohio Continues (AP) AP - Nearly a month after John Kerry conceded Ohio to President Bush, complaints and challenges about the balloting are mounting as activists including the Rev. Jesse Jackson demand closer scrutiny to ensure the votes are being counted on the up-and-up.


Aznar Denies Madrid Bombs Were Linked to Iraq War  MADRID (Reuters) - Former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar  said Islamic militants tried to use the Madrid train bombings  to oust the pro-U.S. ruling party from power in Spain, but not  because of its support for the Iraq war.


Ukraine President Bows to Pressure, Backs New Vote  KIEV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Outgoing Ukrainian President  Leonid Kuchma, bowing to mass street protests and international  pressure, on Monday backed a new presidential election to end a  crisis that is tearing the nation apart.


Al Qaeda's Zawahri Says Will Keep Fighting U.S.  DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri  said in a videotape broadcast Monday al Qaeda would continue to  attack the United States until Washington changed its policies  toward the Muslim world.


Crude Futures Trade Above \$49 After Norwegian Supply Snag Crude oil futures rose to within a quarter of \$50 a barrel Monday after a gas leak shut down a North Sea oil production platform and as traders weighed concerns about heating oil supplies against the fact that temperatures have been mild in recent weeks.


Court throws out apartheid cases A New York judge throws out legal cases against more than 30 firms, accused of having aided the apartheid-era South African Government.


Miller, Maier play down talk of rivalry LAKE LOUISE, Alberta - Ken Read says the battle between Bode Miller and Hermann Maier for Alpine skiing World Cup supremacy represents one of the sporting worlds great rivalries.


Schalk faces media frenzy London - The long-awaited clash between the Barbarians and the All Blacks in Cardiff on Saturday has been given a huge shot in the arm with the news that the Springboks have given the world #39;s best rugby player, flanker Schalk Burger, permission to play


Blue Jays agree to buy SkyDome The Toronto Blue Jays are buying the stadium they #39;ve been playing in for 16 years. The baseball team announced Monday it has reached an agreement to purchase the SkyDome from Sportsco International.


Falcons sign Crumpler to contract extension Flowery Branch, GA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Falcons Monday signed Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler to a six-year contract extension.


Cavs place Scott Williams on injured list Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Cavaliers placed forward/center Scott Williams on the injured list with patella tendinitis in his left knee.


Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Medical Use of Marijuana While it is risky to predict how the justices will decide, some expressed skepticism today about the case.


U-Va. Nears Bowl Bid The ACC is close to finalizing a deal that would send Virginia to the Dec. 28 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., where they would likely play Oklahoma State.


Is Santa Skipping Wal-Mart? Plus, few defectors in the wireless war, and Overstock's locked and loaded.


UnitedHealth Getting Healthier UnitedHealth Group buys Definity Health, which offers consumer-driven options.


China  GM = 100 Gain When was the last time a consumer cyclical stock in the auto and truck parts segment soared over 100 in a single day? Today. China Automotive Systems (Nasdaq: CAAS) announced today that its 51


Univision, Nielsen Drop People Meters #39; Litigation (Update1) Univision Television Group dropped a suit seeking to stop Nielsen Media Research Inc. from using a new television ratings system in Los Angeles that Univision said undercounts Hispanic viewers.


Russia slashes \$9 billion from Iraq debt Russia will slash at least \$9.5 billion of Iraq #39;s debt to Moscow, Interfax news agency reported Monday. Iraq #39;s debt to Russia will be reduced to \$700 million to \$1 billion


Investing in Car Culture Jeff Hwang is back from a car show with three investment ideas, presented in a two-part series.


Kazaa Trial Starts Down Under A closely watched trial that could have far-reaching implications for the person-to-person (P2P) industry has gotten underway in Australia, where the entertainment industry is seeking to prove


Toshiba Wins HD DVD Support from 4 in Hollywood Toshiba Corp. (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said it had won support for the HD DVD optical disc standard from four Hollywood studios, advancing


Musharraf Sees 'Light at End of Tunnel' with India

 BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - Pakistani President PervezMusharraf said on Monday there were prospects for resolving alldisputes with India, including over Kashmir, through peacetalks now under way.


Trump's Rough Edge The Apprentice candidates get caffeinated and catty and make the cola wars look like tea time.


French conservatives vie for party loyalty A close ally of President Jacques Chirac was appointed Monday to head France #39;s powerful Finance Ministry, in a signal the French President has no intention of serving as lame duck


Wi-Fi Planet highlights multichannel access points This weeks Wi-Fi Planet Conference and Expo will highlight the increasing variety and sophistication of WLAN technology for the enterprise.


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


FCC threatens to investigate SBC SBC Communications Inc., the second-biggest US local telephone company, was warned by the top communications regulator against using tariffs on Internet phone calls to hamper competition.


Bennett agrees to contract Catcher Gary Bennett agreed Monday to a one-year contract with the Washington-bound Expos. Bennett, 32, fulfills the team #39;s need for a backup to Brian Schneider.


Bears, Cardinals latest to jump starters Another week in the NFL and, as has been the case lately, another week of quarterback roulette. As anticipated, three-year veteran Chad Hutchinson will start Sunday for the Chicago Bears


Packers Glad They Get Rams at Lambeau The Green Bay Packers finally have the St. Louis Rams right where they want them: at Lambeau Field, on grass, in freezing weather.


Eta train bomb theory gathers pace Nine months after 191 people were killed by radical Islamists in the Madrid train bombings, a right-wing conspiracy theory which claims the Basque separatist group Eta must have been involved is beginning to take root.


Kazaa owner in Australian copyright battle Sharman Networks, distributor of the software behind popular peer-to-peer service Kazaa, went on trial in Australia today, in the latest copyright battle between the music industry and file-sharing service providers.


Canada #39;s current account surplus shrinks OTTAWA - Canada #39;s current account surplus showed the first drop in almost two years in the third quarter, Statistics Canada said Monday.


US-Russian crew re-docks spaceship at space station The crew of the international space station has successfully re-docked a spaceship at a new port. Today #39;s maneuver is in preparation for two upcoming spacewalks.


Falcons Sign Crumpler to Contract Extension  FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Falcons  Monday signed Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler to a six-year  contract extension.


Bush Picks Kellogg CEO for Commerce (Reuters) Reuters - President Bush on Monday chose\Carlos Gutierrez, the Cuban-born CEO of Kellogg Co , as\his nominee to be commerce secretary, his second selection of a\Hispanic for a second-term Cabinet.


GM, Ford See Weak Sales, Production Cuts (Reuters) Reuters - General Motors Corp.  and Ford\Motor Co.  are expected to announce further cuts in\vehicle production levels this week as they move to trim\inventories of unsold cars and trucks following weak sales,\analysts said.


Saudi Arabia insists high oil prices no threat to world economic growth (AFP) AFP - Red-hot oil prices during 2004, stoked by a surge in global demand and worries about disruptions to supplies, are not harming world economic growth, Saudi Arabia's oil minister Ali al-Nuaimi insisted.


Oil Up on Winter Worries, Norway Outage  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices rose Monday as a gas leak  closed a large Norwegian North Sea oil field and the threat of  a colder-than-normal U.S. winter fueled worries about low  heating oil stocks.


Blue Chips Edge Down, Apple Lifts Tech  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Blue-chip stocks fell slightly on  Monday after No. 1 retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT.N  reported lower-than-expected Thanksgiving sales, while  technology shares were lifted by a rally in Apple Computer Inc.  AAPL.O.


Willis Hires Top Marsh Exec, Stock Rises  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurance broker Willis Group Holdings  Ltd. WSH.N on Monday said it hired a top executive from  embattled rival Marsh   McLennan Cos. Inc. MMC.N.


Bombardier Falls After Ebersol Jet Crash  MONTREAL (Reuters) - Shares of Bombardier Inc. BBDb.TO  fell 4 percent to a year low on Monday, one day after a fatal  crash involving one of its business jets.


Treasuries Trip Lower  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury debt took a nosedive on  Monday as the breaking of key technical levels added momentum  to an early burst of speculative selling.


US vows to stick to dollar policy Sharp falls on the currency markets have not jolted Washington's commitment to a strong dollar, the Treasury says.


Wal-Mart Falls 3 Pct on Forecast Cut Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) shares fell 3 percent early Monday after the world #39;s biggest retailer cut its November sales forecast, casting a shadow over hopes for a bumper holiday shopping season.


Singapore and S. Korea in trade pact VIENTIANE, Laos South Korea and Singapore have concluded a free trade agreement at a regional summit meeting in Laos, the South Korean government announced on Monday.


Russia hopes to repay \$10 bn foreign debt in 2005 Russia hopes to repay early \$10 billion or more in debts to the Paris Club of sovereign lenders and the IMF next year, a Finance Ministry source told Reuters on Monday.


Sony Discloses Details on Computer Chip (AP) AP - A long-awaited microprocessor developed by IBM Corp., Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. will go into early production next year and start appearing in video game consoles, high-definition TVs and home servers in 2006, the companies said Monday.


Firefox browser sees surge in use A sudden, measurable decline in market share in any product over the course of a few months says something, even if that product is one whose producer still holds about 90 of the market in question.


Space Station Crew Clears Path for Space Walks The crew of the International Space Station Monday repositioned their Soyuz rescue capsule to clear the way for two space walks planned in the coming weeks.


PalmOne moves to ease Treo 650 memory gripes In an effort to address customer complaints about the Treo 650 #39;s memory capacity, handheld maker PalmOne will provide a software update for the smart phone #39;s memory.


Microsoft opts against SP5 for Windows 2000 com November 29, 2004, 1:22 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been enterprise directories for several months, but for many IT managers, ERP (enterprise resource planning) and open source initiatives are on the horizon.


Henry favoured for FIFA award Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Andrei Shevchenko are set to fight it out for the honour of being named as the FIFA World Player of the Year next month.


Three into two Three into two rarely goes. Graeme Souness has done his best to test that theory by playing Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert together, but the striking situation at Newcastle has only reinforced that adage.


Woolmer says Pakistan aim to surprise Australia Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer says captain Inzamam-ul-Haq #39;s young side will rely on talent to overcome inexperience in the upcoming three-test series against Australia.


Red Sox reach agreement with catcher Doug Mirabelli The Boston Red Sox have reached an agreement with backup catcher Doug Mirabelli, who would become the first of the World Series champions #39; 16 free agents to re-sign.


Google Desktop Search Add-On Brings Battle Closer to Microsoft (NewsFactor) NewsFactor - Google has developed an add-on for the desktop search tool it unveiled last month. Called gdSuite, it gives its search function a Windows-like interface, Gartner research director Allen Weiner tells NewsFactor.


Studios Support Toshiba's DVD Format (NewsFactor) NewsFactor - It is a race that echoes the Beta versus VHS format competition of the 1980s. Only this time the technology is high-definition DVDs, and the stakes are even higher.


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


FSF Faces New GPL Challenges (Ziff Davis) Ziff Davis - After 13 years, the Free Software Foundation will update the GPL, and the to-do list is a long one.


Major I.T. Crash Hits UK Government Department (NewsFactor) NewsFactor - A routine software upgrade of Microsoft-based desktop computers led to the crash of around 40,000 machines at the UK government's Department for Work and Pensions last week.


Research: PC Market Poised for Shakeup (NewsFactor) NewsFactor - Three top 10 PC manufacturers -- \IBM (NYSE: IBM), Hewlett-Packard and one unnamed company -- may abandon the market in the next three years as consolidation takes hold, according to recent research from Gartner.


Brain Scan Shows Differences in Truth, Lying (Reuters) Reuters - Brain scans show that the brains of\people who are lying look very different from those of people\who are telling the truth, U.S. researchers said on Monday.


Tiny Fuel Particles Cause Heart Attacks, Group Says (Reuters) Reuters - Tiny air-born particles released by\burning fossil fuels are reducing the average human life span\across Europe and North America by eight months, a leading\research body said on Monday.


How Collisions Shaped an Asteroid (SPACE.com) SPACE.com - Next Fourth of July, NASA will slam a heavy probe the size of a garbage can \  into a comet, purposely carving a football-field sized crater for inspection. \  As for nbsp;what exactly nbsp;will happen, nbsp;however, nobody really knows.


Coral Thrives on Sunken WWII Ships in Gulf (AP) AP - A University of Alabama scientist and other researchers have found coral growing at extreme depths in the Gulf of Mexico  #151; on several ships sunk during World War II by Nazi submarines.


ISS Crew Successfully Redocks Soyuz Spacecraft (SPACE.com) SPACE.com - The tenth crew of the \International Space Station (ISS) made a short spaceflight early Monday to move a Russian lifeboat \to a new docking port and prepare the station for a pair of upcoming spacewalks.


Sudan Delays Expulsion of British Aid Agency Heads  KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan decided to postpone a decision  to expel the country heads of two British aid agencies on  Monday, citing administrative difficulties and humanitarian  grounds, the state minister for humanitarian affairs said.


Orange Revolution After many years under the rule of the corrupted government there is a new  hope for Ukraine: the new presidential elections. Among 28 candidates the   2 primary are the opposition candidate Victor Yushchenko (reformer which   served as the Prime Minister in the past and was allegedly poisoned 1 month  before the first tour of the elections) and the government's candidate Victor  Yanukovich (twice convicted in the past of rape and organized robbery,   currently serving as the Prime Minister, having strong ties with mafia clans   and holding in iron fist authorities across Ukraine).


Sony, IBM, Toshiba Give Details of 'Cell' Chip  TOKYO (Reuters) - IBM IBM.N, Sony Corp. 6758.T and  Toshiba Corp. 6502.T on Monday revealed their plans for the  powerful new "Cell" processor the three are jointly producing  to run next-generation computers, game consoles and  televisions.


Toshiba Wins HD DVD Support from 4 in Hollywood  TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp. 6502.T on Monday said it  had won support for the HD DVD optical disc standard from four  Hollywood studios, advancing its cause in the battle for the  next-generation DVD.


Sun Micro Agrees to Buy Closely Held SevenSpace  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sun Microsystems Inc. SUNW.O  has agreed to acquire closely held SevenSpace Inc., adding to  Sun's managed services offerings, the network computer maker  said on Monday.


The Moon Eclipses Jupiter Mark your calendar. On Tuesday, Dec. 7th, about an hour before sunrise, the crescent Moon will eclipse Jupiter.


Dollar Worries Send Dow to Close Down 46 Stocks finished mixed in a volatile session Monday as investors worried that the continued fall of the US dollar would spur inflation and hurt the overall economy.


SCO Web site hack mocks company #39;s legal claims Malicious hackers have compromised The SCO Group #39;s Web page twice in as many days, posting messages that appear to mock the company #39;s claims to own parts of the Linux operating system.


World Cup skiing Miller #39;s career headed downhill AKE LOUISE, Alberta - World Cup leader Bode Miller gave up one-hundredth of a second through the first interval yesterday then stormed through a 2-mile downhill course to win by nearly a full second.


Thailand urges global landmine fund at first review of <b>...</b> Thailand called for a global fund to finance landmine removal and aid for victims Monday at the first five-year review of the international treaty to ban landmines.


2005 Predictions \\It turns out that the only prediction I made in 2004 isn't going to come true.\\I bet  that Dell would ship a version of Linux.  I doubt they will now.\Honestly they seemed like the leading candidate considering their entry into the\MP3 market at the time.\\I still think that sooner or later someone is going to pull their head out of\the sand and realize how amazing Linux could be as a desktop.  All they have to\do is turn the OS into an appliance and bundle Open Office.  You'll then have a\niche somewhere between OSX and Windows.\\There are still some fatal flaws here.  You can't go into Walmart and buy\software for Linux. Maybe this is the nail in the coffin.  I don't know.  Maybe\it will  ...\\


New Treo 650 file system cuts storage capacity PalmOne plans to offer a free 128MB expansion card to Treo 650 owners because a new file system used for the handheld actually offers less memory for data storage than was available on the older Treo 600.


U.K.'s Blair tries to allay fears over ID card database The Identity Cards Bill, published today, seeks to create by 2010 a system of ID cards with embedded chips that carry personal information and biometric identifiers.


Q A: John Swainson, CA's new CEO, lays out his priorities John Swainson, named CEO-elect of Computer Associates last week, spoke with Computerworld about his new job, the future of CA World, his review of CA management products and ethics reforms.


Study: High-tech firms praised for online customer respect While many high-tech firms scored well in a new study of how they treat customers online, more than a third of the surveyed companies still share personal data without permission.


Hackers force creation of more IT security jobs Security specialists are now in great demand, thanks to a boom in malicious attacks on computer systems by hackers and viruses, and an array of new communications technologies that carry new security risks.


SCO Web site hack mocks company's legal claims Hackers compromised The SCO Group's Web page today and yesterday and posted messages apparently mocking the company's claims that it owns parts of the Linux operating system.


Satellite failure hits U.S. broadband services The failure of the Intelsat Americas-7 communications satellite yesterday knocked out broadband services supplied by StarBand Communications Inc.


Microsoft and Sun plan webcast to detail cooperation Top executives from the two companies plan to host a press conference and webcast in late December or January as part of a monthlong interoperability webcast series put on by Microsoft.


Ask a Premier 100 IT Leader: Dan Agronow Dan Agronow, vice president of technology at The Weather Channel Interactive Inc., answers readers' questions about new job opportunities and skills development.


U.K. government hit with another large computer failure As many as 80,000 civil servants at the U.K.'s Department of Work and Pensions had to deal with what is being described as the biggest computer crash in government history on Monday.


First Look: Portable Speakers Pack Punch Kilpsch's \$100 ProMedia Ultra 2.0 speakers put desktop-quality sound in a package you can lug around.


Byrd in hand too much for Bush ZURICH: The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of WTO has authorised seven countries, including India, to impose trade sanctions up to \$150 million on the United States for its non-compliance with the WTO ruling that found the US Byrd Amendment on anti-dumping


SCO Web site attacked again SCO, the ever-popular Unix company, has come under attack from hackers once again. This time they have replaced the front page of SCO #39;s Web site with their own version that parodies SCO #39;s legal battles over Linux.


New league, same stakes for Hokies, Canes CORAL GABLES, Fla. - After years of battling for supremacy in the Big East, Miami and Virginia Tech will now do the same in the Atlantic Conference Coast.


Progress made, but much to do to reach mine-free world, summit <b>...</b> NAIROBI : Much has been done to rid the world of landmines since a ban was born in 1997, but major challenges, many of them financial, must be overcome to wipe the devices off the planet, a conference in Nairobi heard.


Yahoo Searchs Slurp and How to Write for It Yahoo Search's Slurp and How to Write for It\\As the world's second most popular search tool, Yahoo moves a tremendous amount of traffic and is a very credible alternative to Google. Yahoo receives over 2.76 billion page views per day from hundreds of millions of unique users. It boasts over ...


Dark Side of Kazaa and Other P2P File Sharing Programs Dark Side of Kazaa and Other P2P File Sharing Programs\\P2P file sharing programs are free. Period. But there are P2P scam sites out there that want you to pay them instead. P2P scam sites are rogue companies that have set up shop to fleece unsuspecting music downloaders looking for file ...


iMac G5: Ultimate Computer Reviewing the iMac G5, Steve Rea writes for TechNY.com,  #147;Apple has created a small, powerful, aesthetically appealing, innovated, creative, workable, user friendly, attractive, reliable computer that everyone can use. The ultimate Internet machine. The ultimate music machine. The ultimate graphics machine. The ultimate computing machine. #148; Nov 29


US Maintains Dollar Policy, Official Says (Reuters) Reuters - America has not changed its strong\dollar policy and still expects China to make its own currency\more flexible, a Treasury official said on Monday, shrugging\off comments from Beijing that had jolted markets.


Bush selects Kellogg executive to head Commerce Department President Bush announced Monday the nomination of Kellogg Co. Chairman and CEO Carlos Gutierrez to be secretary of Commerce, calling him  quot;an experienced manager and an innovative


With Thanksgiving Over, Xmas Could Be Next NEW YORK - The holiday selling season got off to a strong start this weekend, which means...actually, it may not mean anything at all.


Korean FTA concludes, progress with India FROM today, almost 75 per cent of Singapore #39;s domestic exports to South Korea, which amount to more than \$3 billion, will enjoy immediate tariff elimination.


Royal Group Removes Chairman De Zen, Dunsmuir, Goegan (Update3) Royal Group Technologies Ltd. fired Chairman Vic De Zen and Chief Executive Douglas Dunsmuir, targets of a police probe, after finding they failed to disclose their interest in a parcel of land sold to the company in 1998.


Studios taking sides in fight for successor to the DVD LOS ANGELES Three top Hollywood studios are throwing their considerable weight behind one of two competing formats for the next generation of high-definition DV-Ds, citing in part the need to stem rampant piracy.


George Thankful for Opportunity With Bears (AP) AP - Talent was never Jeff George's problem. His personality, well, that's a different story.


Ht Rotherham 0 Leeds 0 Leeds refused to let the latest off-field drama overshadow their performance as they made Rotherham appear relegation certainties after handing Ronnie Moores side a first-half lesson at Millmoor.


West Virginia invited to Gator Bowl again Jacksonville, FL (Sports Network) - It looks like West Virginia will be headed to the Gator Bowl, again. Following consecutive losses that dropped them out of the national rankings, the Mountaineers (8-3, 4


Mirabelli, Red Sox reach terms: report CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Catcher Doug Mirabelli reportedly is the first of 16 free agents to re-sign with the World Series champion Boston Red Sox.


Vols Keep Promise of Rematch With Auburn (AP) AP - Tennessee kept its promise. The 15th-ranked Volunteers pledged after losing 34-10 to Auburn in October that they would face the Tigers again in the Southeastern Conference championship. And the Vols will on Saturday in the Georgia Dome.


UN Agency Welcomes Iran #39;s Suspension of Nuclear Program The 35 countries of the United Nations nuclear agency board, including the United States, passed a long-awaited resolution today welcoming Iran #39;s total freeze of a sensitive part of its nuclear program.


Amnesty for rein on MNCs New Delhi, Nov. 29: Amnesty International, Greenpeace and other non-governmental organisations are working towards establishing a legal framework to make multinational corporations more accountable to peoples needs.


Tom Brokaw: Events And Leaders Of Our Time NEW YORK -- In his long career at NBC, Tom Brokaw has covered some of the remarkable events and extraordinary figures who have shaped the last quarter-century.


Bush names new commerce secretary, expects to change economic team US President George W. Bush on Monday chose Carlos Gutierrez as his new commerce secretary to succeed Donald Evans, who announced his resignation shortly after Bush won reelection early this month.


China says speculation imperils yuan reforms BEIJING, NOVEMBER 29: Chinas central bank slammed speculators in the foreign exchange market on Monday, saying those pouring money into the yuan currency in search of profits could undermine efforts to make it more flexible.


Music groups launch test case against website The music industry on Monday launched a test case against Kazaa, one of the world #39;s largest file-sharing websites, in a bid to stem rampant internet piracy.


It Just Had To Be It just had to be. After a year in which the Russian women had taken the grand slam circuit by storm (three out of four major championships is a decent enough result for any nation), they rounded off their


Leeds fall to Yorkshire rivals Martin McIntosh finally brought an end to Rotherhams season-long humiliation as Leeds were embarrassed by a side who had previously failed to win a Coca-Cola Championship game this season.


Bennett bolts Brewers for Nationals CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Free-agent catcher Gary Bennett agreed Monday to a one-year contract worth \$750,000 US with the Washington-bound Expos.


Rescuers confident of saving second pod Rescue teams are confident of saving most surviving whales from a pod beached off Tasmania #39;s east coast - the second mass stranding in Tasmanian waters in 24 hours.


Aznar Denies Madrid Bombs Were Linked to Iraq War Former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said Islamic militants tried to use the Madrid train bombings to oust the pro-US ruling party from power in Spain, but not because of its support for the Iraq war.


'Blue Monday' Kicks Off Online Shopping Season (Reuters) Reuters - Though U.S. consumers spent the\weekend setting records at brick-and-mortar stores for Black\Friday, they returned to work on Monday to set "Blue Monday"\shopping records online.


Univision Drops Lawsuit Against Nielsen 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.


Update 1: Kellogg Appoints Jenness As Its New CEO Kellogg Co., the nation #39;s largest cereal maker, appointed a board member with decades of branding experience to succeed chairman and chief executive Carlos Gutierrez, a dynamic leader who guided the maker of Pop-Tarts, Frosted Flakes and Cheeze-It


Wal-Mart shares fall on poor holiday sales Shares in Wal-Mart fell more than three per cent in New York on Monday, after the giant discount retailer cut its forecast for November same-store sales


Saudi Arabia insists high oil prices no threat to world economic <b>...</b> LONDON (AFP) - Red-hot oil prices during 2004, stoked by a surge in global demand and worries about disruptions to supplies, are not harming world economic growth, Saudi Arabia #39;s oil minister Ali al-Nuaimi insisted.


US Promises Compliance with WTO Rules The WTO gave the go-ahead to countries in Europe and elsewhere to impose punitive duties on US exports. The United States has failed to repeal a trade law that protects the US Steel industry, according to WTO.


UPDATE 1-Canadian court OKs Deutsche Bank plan for Stelco An Ontario court approved Deutsche Bank AG #39;s (DBKGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) bailout plan for Stelco Inc. (STEa.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday, a bid that serves as


Russia could repay \$10bn of debt early Russia could make early repayment next year of up to \$10bn worth of its \$48bn of foreign debt to the Paris Club of sovereign lenders, Alexei Kudrin, finance minister, announced on Monday.


TriQuint to Eliminate 200 Jobs TriQuint Semiconductor Inc. said Monday that it is cutting about 200 jobs as part of a plan to save \$18 million per year by restructuring its optoelectronics business.


Supreme Court won #39;t review super aspirin #39; #39; patent dispute The University of Rochester #39;s costly effort to reap billions of dollars in royalties from a new class of  quot;super aspirin quot; ran into a dead end Monday.


PlayStation 3 chip on track Sony revealed new details Monday on the chip that will power the next version of its PlayStation video game machine and said development is on track to deliver products based on the chip next year.


SCO Web site hack is like breaking in A gut reaction to news that hackers broke into The SCO Group #39;s Web site and mocked its claims to own parts of the Linux operating system might be a feeling that SCO brought it on itself by trying to constrain the open source movement through its legal


Sun acquisition to boost IT services portfolio Sun has agreed to purchase Ashburn, Va., IT services company SevenSpace, the companies announced Monday. With the purchase, Sun takes a further step away from its traditional focus on supporting only its Solaris


Cicadas, an Elixir for the Earth Those buzzing hordes of cicadas that come up from underground every 13 or 17 years may be a nuisance for people, but for birds and small animals they are an all-you-can-eat buffet.


Microsoft, Sun to Talk Interop Microsoft (Quote, Chart) and Sun (Quote, Chart) are scheduled to talk about their platform compatibility, spokespersons with both companies said Monday.


Lycos App Lets Users Exact Revenge on Spammers Lycos Europe launched a free screensaver that deliberately clogs spam servers. The  quot;Make Love Not Spam quot; screensaver, available in both Mac and PC formats, sends HTTP requests to a list of servers that Lycos


Creative Zen Micro 5GB music player Reg review Some market watchers say that mobile phones will eventually supersede standalone MP3 players. Creative #39;s latest device certainly anticipates such a move, in design if not functionality.


Smith still waiting to be offered Scotland manager #39;s job THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL Association refused to break cover yesterday and reveal the identity of the man who will succeed Berti Vogts, even though there was a clamour to claim that Walter Smith has the job all tied up.


Another defeat stares at Kiwis Adelaide, November 29: Australia set New Zealand 464 to win then ripped through the touring sides top order to leave the Kiwis struggling on 149 for five at the close of the fourth days play in the second test on Monday.


Clemson, South Carolina players suspended for fight Six Clemson players and six South Carolina players were suspended one game by their conferences on Monday for participating in a brawl during a game between the in-state rivals on Nov. 20.


Dow Ends Lower as Wal-Mart Sales Drag  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Blue chips ended lower on Monday,  under pressure from disappointing Thanksgiving sales from No. 1  retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT.N, while tech stocks drew  support from Apple Computer Inc. AAPL.O and drove the Nasdaq  to its highest close in 10 months.


Brazil's Trade Surplus Is Biggest Ever Brazil racked up its biggest trade surplus in history last year, but the country's export boom of everything from soybeans to automobiles is expected to ease in 2005.


Chinese officials have little hope for trapped miners BEIJING - Authorities in Central China are holding out little hope of finding alive the 116 men trapped in a coal mine in Shaanxi province.


Myanmar Junta #39;s Detention of Suu Kyi Leaves US Disappointed #39; Myanmar #39;s military rulers should end the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and allow her National League for Democracy to operate, the US State Department said.


Bush Picks Kellogg CEO as Commerce Chief  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Monday chose  Carlos Gutierrez, the Cuban-born CEO of Kellogg Co, as his  nominee to be commerce secretary, his second selection of a  Hispanic for a second-term Cabinet.


ADV: Investment Letter Performance Leaders Looking for independent stock research with results?  Fredhager.com portfolio B was up 187 #37; in 2003.  Hager is setting the pace for performance again in 2004.


Five Former Natural Gas Traders Charged  HOUSTON (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors on Monday charged  five former natural gas traders with reporting fake prices to  industry publications in a bid to manipulate commodity prices.


Willis Hires Top Marsh Executive  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurance broker Willis Group Holdings  Ltd. WSH.N on Monday said it hired a top executive from  embattled rival Marsh   McLennan Cos. Inc. MMC.N


Oil Rises After Norwegian Platforms Shut Because of Gas Leak Crude oil in New York rose for a fifth session as a gas leak closed two North Sea oil platforms, causing the shutdown of 205,000 barrels a day of production.


Merck moves to protect top officers Merck said Monday that its board had adopted a plan that would pay hefty severance packages to about 230 employees if the company were acquired or a proxy fight ended in the board being replaced.


Five Former Natural Gas Traders Charged Federal prosecutors on Monday charged five former natural gas traders with reporting fake prices to industry publications in a bid to manipulate commodity prices.


Wall Street stocks end mixed following sales warning from Wal-Mart NEW YORK : US stocks closed mixed as a warning over November sales from retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc cast a shadow over Wall Street, sparking fears that Christmas shoppers might spend less than expected.


Bush supports strong US dollar US President George W Bush #39;s administration supported a  quot;strong (US) dollar quot; while trusting the market to set its value, Treasury Department spokesman Tony Fratto said today.


TechBrief: A new chip on the block Sony, IBM and Toshiba on Monday disclosed some of the first details of their Cell chip, jointly developed by the three companies, that will form the basis of the next generation of PlayStation game consoles.


Sun snacks on SevenSpace #39;s software services Sun Microsystems today made a somewhat unusual move by acquiring a small software outsourcing firm - SevenSpace. Sun is looking to have SevenSpace operate as part of its managed services business.


Celtics #39; West breaks right hand CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Delonte West of the Boston Celtics is sidelined indefinitely because of a broken right hand. West, 21, suffered the injury during the second quarter of Sunday #39;s 106-104 setback at Miami.


UN chief names troubleshooter The UN secretary general chooses his new chief of staff to help reform the world body at a difficult stage.


Bush picks Hispanic executive as commerce secretary WASHINGTON: President George W. Bush on Monday nominated the Cuban-born chief executive of the food giant Kellogg to serve as commerce secretary and to promote US business at a time  quot;of historic opportunity for our changing economy.


Retailers Seen Posting Modest Nov. Sales US retailers are expected to post modest November sales this week, with No. 1 retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) already cutting its holiday


Tsunami survivor rescued at sea An Indonesian woman swept to sea by the tsunami is rescued by a passing ship after five days adrift.


A time of testing for global democracy Votes this month could mark advances in the Middle East, but history shows that democracy requires time, commitment.


Redknapp #39;s final straw Claims that Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric fell out with former manager Harry Redknapp over the money paid to agents involved in transfers were denied yesterday by Jim Smith, Redknapp #39;s assistant.


Sharon survives no-confidence votes Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has narrowly survived three parliamentary no-confidence votes sponsored by left-wing and religious opposition parties over deepening poverty in Israel.


Suu Kyi #39;s house arrest extended Burma #39;s opposition party says its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has had her house arrest extended for another 12 months until September next year.


Bush to ask for help in Afghanistan and Iraq, sources say (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - U.S. President George W. Bush will ask for Canadian help in Afghanistan and Iraq when he arrives on Parliament Hill on Tuesday and sources say he'll get it - eventually.


Photo: Bashing bioterror "Hazmat:Hotzone" is a networked multiplayer simulation that trains first responders to a terrorist attack.


Dollar little moved against euro as US reiterates belief in  #39; <b>...</b> NEW YORK (AFP) - The US dollar was little changed against the euro on Monday, after it slumped to a historic low against the European currency at the end of last week, as the markets awaited the release of fresh US economic data in the coming week.


After Bell: Hot Topic Falls, Micromuse Up Shares of clothing retailer Hot Topic (HOTT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) fell nearly 10 percent in extended-hours trading on Monday after it cut its fourth-quarter earnings forecast, citing lackluster sales of accessories.


Traders decrease yuan bets HONG KONG Traders on Monday decreased bets that the yuan would be allowed to strengthen after Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China said increasing speculation in the currency would delay an easing of its fixed exchange rate to the US dollar.


Bush Picks Kellogg CEO for Commerce Post (AP) AP - President Bush picked Carlos Gutierrez, the chief executive officer of cereal giant Kellogg Co., as commerce secretary Monday, working to build a new economic team to help sell second-term overhauls of Social Security and the tax code.


Sun To Acquire MSP SevenSpace Sun Microsystems Monday expanded its growing managed services business with an agreement to acquire SevenSpace, a small managed services company based in Ashburn, Va.


FSU and West Virginia Headed to Gator Bowl  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Sports Network) - Florida State and West  Virginia will meet in the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day.


Cuba Frees Three Dissidents from Prison  HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba released three imprisoned  dissidents on health grounds on Monday in what opposition  activists called a bid to end a diplomatic standoff with the  European Union.


Push for rule of law in West Bank The return of noted reformer Nabil Amr to Palestinian politics comes at a crucial juncture.


IBM invigorates LTO tape storage LTO (linear tape open)-based drives are invigorating the tape storage market. New third-generation LTO drives from Certance and IBM are powering the trend.


Kingdom to Raise Oil Output Capacity to 12.5m bpd: Naimi JEDDAH, 30 November 2004 - Saudi Arabia plans to raise its oil production capacity to 12.5 million barrels per day from the current 11 million bpd over the next few years, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi said yesterday.


Annan Names New Chief of Staff, Reform Push Seen  UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi  Annan on Monday chose the head of a high-profile U.N. agency as  his new chief of staff to help institute reforms and combat  allegations of scandals.


Falcons sign Alge Crumpler to six-year contract extension After signing a new six-year contract worth about \$26 million, the Pro Bowl tight end caught the winning touchdown pass for the Atlanta Falcons in a victory over New Orleans.


SE Asian Nations Seek Free Trade Zone with Rising China The deal signed at the annual Association of South East Nations (Asean) summit in Laos commits most of the countries to lower tariffs on goods by 2010, with an extension to 2015 for four


Detroit Cops Think They Know Chair Tosser (AP) AP - Police believe they know the identity of the man who threw a chair in a brawl between players and fans during the Indiana-Detroit game on Nov. 19.


Miller's Deal With Brewers Is Finalized (AP) AP - Catcher Damian Miller's  #36;8.75 million, three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers was finalized Monday after team doctors allayed concerns over his health.


Industry doubts Boeing, Lockheed launch team viable Facing increasing budget pressures, the US Air Force is considering asking rivals Boeing Co. (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Lockheed Martin Corp.


Cingular posts \$650M with AT amp;T Says that amount would have been earned for the first 9 months of 2004, before AT amp;T purchase. LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) - Cingular Wireless would have posted a net profit of \$650 million for the first nine months


Ebersol's Son Feared Dead After Crash (AP) AP - The 14-year-old son of NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol was presumed dead Monday after a fiery jet crash that killed two crewmen and left the injured executive and another of his sons begging bystanders for help.


FA to ban spitter Diouf El-Hadji Diouf is expected to receive a three-match ban for spitting in Arjan de Zeeuw #39;s face during Bolton #39;s Premiership match against Portsmouth on Saturday.


Ponting slow to declare Australia #39;s coach John Buchanan was forced to defend his captain Ricky Ponting #39;s decision to delay his declaration until four overs after lunch on the fourth day of the second Test against New Zealand in Adelaide.


A fight destined to become a classic Saturday night #39;s super featherweight title bout between Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales at the MGM Grand Garden Arena is sure to be 2004 #39;s fight of the year and will be included among


Cracknell to take a year off British rowing looks set to lose the services of two of its Olympic champions in the space of 24 hours. Today Matthew Pinsent, who has won four Olympic gold medals, is expected to announce his retirement.


Mayor, Council Prepare For Stadium Vote WASHINGTON -- The delayed decision on a planned \$440 million baseball stadium to house the Washington Nationals appeared close to the necessary seven votes Monday, with District of Columbia Council Chair Linda W. Cropp pledging not to stand in the way.


Cuba Restores Contacts with European Embassies  HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba ended a diplomatic deadlock with  eight European Union nations on Monday in response to proposals  by EU officials to stop inviting dissidents to National Day  receptions in Havana.


US Says Iran Increasingly Isolated, Pressured, on Nuclear Issue The Bush administration says the new International Atomic Energy Agency resolution on Iran shows that Tehran is increasingly isolated over its nuclear program.


Annan  #39;surprised #39; at son #39;s link to oil-for-food scandal The United Nations has revealed that the son of the secretary general, Kofi Annan, worked for a company being investigated in the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal for four years longer than he first admitted.


IAEA Agrees on Plan to Police Iran Nukes (AP) AP - The U.N. nuclear agency agreed Monday on a plan for policing Iran's nuclear programs designed to avoid a showdown at the United Nations. But Iran's representative immediately raised questions about the wording of the pact, and the United States said it retained the right to take the case to the U.N. Security Council on its own.


Resignation of disgraced Fiji VP fails to quell anger over prison release (AFP) AFP - The resignation of disgraced Fiji Vice-President Ratu Jope Seniloli failed to quell anger among opposition leaders and the military over his surprise release from prison after serving just three months of a four-year jail term for his role in a failed 2000 coup.


The JM Smucker Company Announces Strategic Actions ORRVILLE, Ohio, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The JM Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM) today announced several actions to refine its portfolio and improve its cost base as well as service levels in support of its long- term strategy.


LSU Going Miles to Fill Coaching Vacancy  BATON ROUGE, La. (Sports Network) - LSU has named Les Miles  its new head football coach, replacing Nick Saban.


Utah's Smith to Turn Pro  SALT LAKE CITY (Sports Network) - Utah standout quarterback  Alex Smith has apparently decided to take his skills to the  next level, opting to skip his senior season and enter April's  NFL Draft.


IBM Unveils Latest  #39;On-Demand #39; Tech Center com. IBM on Monday unveiled a technology lab for customers looking to test the company #39;s products for managing computer resources based on business demands.


Upgrade downs 80,000 UK government computers Staff at the United Kingdom #39;s Department for Work and Pensions were unable to use their PCs this week after a routine software upgrade knocked out 80 percent of the computers in the sprawling department.


FOOTBALL: I FEAR LOVELL WILL LEAVE US LIKE NOVO JONAY HERNANDEZ fears Dundee striker Steve Lovell could be set to follow Nacho Novo out of Dens Park. Lovell continued his impressive start to the season by shaking off a virus to bag a double


Human rights activist to stand in Egyptian presidential election (AFP) AFP - Egyptian-American sociologist and human rights activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim said he is planning to stand in the process to elect Egypt's next president that kicks off in May.


With ban imminent, Prince William joins fox hunt (AFP) AFP - Britain's Prince William went fox hunting, six weeks before the controversial centuries-old bloodsport is to be banned forever, a spokeswoman said.


Senior Hamas Leader Holds Out Possibility of Cease-Fire with <b>...</b> A senior leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas says his organization will not stand in the way of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement if it is fair for the Palestinians.


Smucker #39;s To Close Salinas Facility In 2005 SALINAS, Calif. -- The JM Smucker Co. announced Monday that it will close its Salinas facility by the end of 2005. The closure is the result of restructuring of operations, company officials said.


IBM opens on-demand lab com November 29, 2004, 4:35 PM PT. This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been enterprise directories for several months, but for many IT managers, ERP (enterprise resource planning


Aung San Suu Kyi still under house arrest The Myanmar government has extended for a third time the house arrest of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the BBC said Monday. U Lwin, a spokesman for Aung #39;s National League


Gold Fields investors snub bid Harmony #39;s bid to create the world #39;s biggest gold miner suffered a blow yesterday when the first part of its offer for South African rival Gold Fields received a lukewarm reception from shareholders.


UPDATE 1-US backs strong dollar, expects Chinese FX reform America has not changed its strong dollar policy and still expects China to make its own currency more flexible, a Treasury official said on Monday, shrugging off comments from Beijing that had jolted markets.


Bombardier shares drop to new lows after third Bombardier jet <b>...</b> MONTREAL (CP) - Shares in Bombardier Inc. fell to new lows Monday, partly due to the crash of another of its jets on Sunday, the third fatal crash of a Bombardier aircraft in two months.


Suicide Bomber Kills 12 in Attack on Iraqi Police (Reuters) Reuters - A suicide car bomber plowed into\policemen waiting to collect their salaries at a police station\west of Ramadi Monday, killing 12 people in the latest\insurgent attack on Iraq's beleaguered security forces.


HD-DVD Gains Three Backers November 29, 2004 - After months of momentum for Blu-ray, HD-DVD has shot back with a big gain - studio support. Toshiba Corp., which has been developing the HD-DVD format, announced it has lined up Warner Bros.


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


James, Marion named NBA Players of the Week NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Forwards LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns on Monday were named the NBA #39;s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week.


Insurgents Kill 7 Iraqi Security Forces (AP) AP - Insurgents stepped up attacks on Iraq's fledgling security forces, killing seven Iraqi police and guardsmen Monday in a suicide bombing hours after storming a police station north of the capital. The military reported five new U.S. deaths.


Gunmen Kill Photojournalist in Mexico (AP) AP - Gunmen killed a newspaper photographer as he and his family ate in a restaurant in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, the home turf of nearly all of Mexico's top drug bosses, authorities said Monday.


Canada to boost defence and security commitments during Bush visit (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Canada may eventually agree to send soldiers to train Iraqi military officers but it won't make any commitments when U.S. President George W. Bush visits the capital on Tuesday.


Al-Qaeda deputy in new tape Ayman al-Zawahri, Osama Bin Laden's suspected right-hand man, appears in a video on Arab TV.


Broncos Game Big for Chargers (AP) AP - It's been a long time since the San Diego Chargers played as big a game as they'll have Sunday, when they host the Denver Broncos.


HP updates Openview to meet business needs Hewlett-Packard will use this week #39;s Software Universe conference in Madrid to announce a revamp of its Openview enterprise systems management software.


MPs demand action on DWP mess MPs are demanding action after a routine software upgrade at the Department for Work and Pensions left 80 of desktop PCs unable to link to core mainframe-based social security systems.


Microsoft offers to replace fake Windows XP Users who fear that their Windows XP software might be counterfeit could get free legitimate replacements from Microsoft under a scheme announced last week.


Even with a patchwork secondary, the Patriots just keep on winning As both the weeks and the wins pile up for the Patriots, the more preposterous it becomes. Already it #39;s as farfetched and fanciful as anything that has happened in the NFL this season, Ben Roethlisberger #39;s magic carpet ride included.


Chirac names ally to replace rival THE French president promoted a staunch ally to replace a popular finance minister, strengthening his hand ahead of an expected struggle for the governing party #39;s 2007 presidential nomination.


Stock Fund Inflow Slows To  #36;7.17 Bil (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - A tight election and volatile stock market slowed investor enthusiasm for stock mutual funds in October, but their appetite appeared to increase in November.


Chinese PM Redirects Blame for Currency Rates to Washington Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has rejected pressure for exchange rate reforms and criticized the United States for not doing its part to keep the dollar from weakening.


Peru Starts Offensive to Reclaim Siege Town (Reuters) Reuters - Peruvian police and troops on Monday\launched an offensive to retake a police station in a southern\Andean town and end a three-day siege by ex-soldiers demanding\the resignation of unpopular President Alejandro Toledo.


Lehman Brothers Names Christopher M. O #39;Meara Chief Financial <b>...</b> NEW YORK, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lehman Brothers, the global investment bank, today announced that Christopher M. O #39;Meara, 43, has been named Chief Financial Officer.


Sony PlayStation 3 to use Cell chip Sony announced that, in partnership with IBM and Toshiba, it is working on developing a Cell chip, which is designed to deliver high-definition content in an efficient manner.


Sharman turned blind eye to copyright filtering, court told Sharman Networks was able to filter Kazaa to prevent copyright infringement, but instead chose to build a massive user base for advertising revenue, the Federal Court heard on day one of the peer-to-peer provider #39;s widely-anticipated trial.


Government lab, company lead project to develop nuclear fission <b>...</b> SALT LAKE CITY -- If hydrogen created in a nuclear reactor ever winds up fueling cars and homes and businesses decades from now, it might all owe its thanks to a pottery kiln.


SCO Group Web Site Attacked Again Software maker SCO Group has been targeted by hackers once again. This time, the company #39;s Web site was defaced. The attacks began during the long holiday weekend and were first noticed


Sun to buy remote-management firm Sun Microsystems has signed a deal to acquire SevenSpace, a company whose technology is expected to expand Sun #39;s remote-management services beyond what #39;s possible with the computing giant #39;s own equipment.


McGrath keeps up the pressure New Zealand were clinging on for dear life at 149 for five as play came to a close at the Adelaide Oval on the fourth evening. Their main hope was rain, for the fifth-day forecast


Tourists hoping to surprise Aussies at home PAKISTAN cricket coach Bob Woolmer is hoping his new look team can catch Australia by surprise when their three Test series starts next month.


McGee makes debut on Hall of Fame ballot If popularity was part of the criteria, Willie McGee almost certainly would be a first-ballot inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.


Stanley Works buying two security companies NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Dow Jones/AP) _ The Stanley Works agreed to buy Security Group Inc., a maker of locks and access systems, and said it completed the acquisition of Cal-Dor Specialties Inc.


HP rejiggers utility computing line Hewlett-Packard next year will take a fresh approach to its utility computing initiative with a product designed to lower the cost of running corporate computing systems.


Project Aims to Develop Hydrogen Power A government laboratory and a private company announced a \$2.6 million project Monday to develop hydrogen in a nuclear reactor using a process with


Beijng may reconsider deals on Microsoft software The Beijing municipal government may reconsider its software procurement since it became target of criticism for giving Microsoft the lion #39;s share of a large software purchase order, analysts say.


Valve prevails in cyber-cafe rights case Judge rules that VU Games is  quot;not authorized quot; to distribute Valve games in cyber-cafes; other claims, amount of damages remain at issue.


Dragon Quest VIII Playtest November 29, 2004 - IGN picked up Dragon Quest VIII on Saturday along side at least one full percent of the population of Japan, then rushed home to play the game.


Armored Core: Clean Front November 29, 2004 - Being part of the PSP launch doesn #39;t just mean being the first to play PlayStation Portable games. Sure, that part #39;s cool -- as is lording over your friends and family as one of the only


Rowing: Cracknell takes year out to seek new challenges James Cracknell confirmed yesterday that he will be taking a year out from his rowing career, a day before his fellow gold medallist from the Olympic fours at this year #39;s Olympics, Matthew


Burns to stay on as Smith agrees four-year deal with Scotland The Scottish Football Association yesterday made a formal offer to the former Rangers manager and, pending the ratification of his appointment at a board meeting on Thursday, Smith will be officially unveiled as the successor to Berti Vogts on a four-year


Cuban Gov't Releases Several Dissidents (AP) AP - At least three of the original 75 dissidents arrested in a broad crackdown last year were released for health reasons Monday, according to friends, relatives and local rights activists. The surprise move raised hopes for additional releases in the coming days.


Baseball Ace Scout Rex Bowen Dies at 93 (AP) AP - Rex Bowen, the great baseball scout who signed Bill Mazeroski, Maury Wills and Dick Groat, died at 93.


IAEA not to refer Iran #39;s nuclear issue to UN The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Monday afternoon decided that it will not submit Iran #39;s nuclear issue to the UN Security Council for discussion.


Australian PM makes ASEAN debut under pressure to sign non-aggression pact (AFP) AFP - Australian Prime Minister John Howard meets Southeast Asian leaders in Laos under growing pressure to sign a non-aggression pact with them to dispel concern about his policy of pre-emptive strikes.


AP: EPA Looking at Using Tests on People (AP) AP - In setting limits on chemicals in food and water, the Environmental Protection Agency may rely on industry tests that expose people to poisons and raise ethical questions.


Sportsview: Effort Benefits Steelers (AP) AP - All the Buffalo Bills had to do to make the playoffs was beat a Pittsburgh team playing Brian St. Pierre at quarterback, Willie Parker at running back and a bunch of other no-names.


Dollar Rebounds; Tone Cautious on U.S. Jobs  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar rebounded on Monday after  last week's heavy selloff, but analysts were uncertain if the  rally would hold after fresh economic data suggested the  December U.S. jobs report due Friday might not live up to  expectations.


Wells Fargo Takes Control of Strong (AP) AP - Banking giant Wells Fargo  amp; Co. has taken control of embattled mutual fund provider Strong Financial Corp., completing an acquisition negotiated more than seven months ago under the cloud of a financial scandal.


Brazil's Trade Surplus Is Biggest Ever (AP) AP - Brazil racked up its biggest trade surplus in history last year, but the country's export boom of everything from soybeans to automobiles is expected to ease in 2005.


VW considers opening Indian plant Volkswagen confirms it is looking at the possibility of opening an Indian production facility, but insists it has yet to make a final decision.


IBM, Sony, reveal plans for  #39;Cell #39; chip TOKYO - IBM, Sony and Toshiba on Monday announced the first technical details of the widely-anticipated  quot;Cell quot; processor, also known as a  quot;supercomputer on a chip, quot; with Power architecture at its heart.


Are you sitting comfortably? Then let #39;s spy This priority retains its ranking at number five as more and more companies deploy Web services to share business logic, data and processes with each other and with clients.


Smith set for Scotland job but Knox may join Gough WALTER Smith is expected to be named as the new Scotland manager this week but the identity of his assistant remains unclear, with his long-term sidekick Archie Knox wanted by Richard Gough to be the No2 at Livingston.


Gatlin, Hayes win US Jesse Owens Awards Olympic champions Justin Gatlin and Joanna Hayes won the 2004 Jesse Owens Awards by USA Track  amp; Field (USATF) on Monday. The awards, named in honor of the late Olympic great


Warning over US pensions deficit Leading economists say US taxpayers may have to pay for a pensions shortfall at the agency that protects pensions funds.


Annan Says His Son #39;s Payments Created a  #39;Perception Problem #39; The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, said yesterday that he had not known that his son had continued receiving payments until February of this year from a Swiss inspection company


Online Shopping Increases, Malls And Stores Report OK Sales Minneapolis (WCCO) Were you part of the shopping opener this weekend? Malls and department stores report sales were not spectacular.


Halliburton settles insurance dispute Halliburton Co. said Monday a bankruptcy judge approved the final insurance settlement agreements between Halliburton subsidiaries and insurance carriers.


UPDATE 1-Perry acquires 9.89 percent stake in Mylan Labs Investment firm Perry Corp. on Monday said it holds a 9.89 percent stake in Mylan Laboratories Inc. (MYL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , exceeding the holdings of financier Carl


Celtics Beat Magic 117-101 to End Skid (AP) AP - Doc Rivers got his team back on track while gaining a measure of revenge on his old squad, and the Boston Celtics snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Orlando Magic 117-101 on Monday night.


Spot On: Dragon Quest VIII fever hits Japan A years-long phenomenon continues as crowds gather to buy the latest installment of Square Enix #39;s RPG series. TOKYO--When it comes to the popularity of video games in Japan, one of the franchises that can #39;t


Scientists unveil project to extract hydrogen in nuclear reactors If hydrogen created in a nuclear reactor ever winds up fueling cars and homes and businesses decades from now, it might all owe its thanks to a pottery kiln in Salt Lake City.


Government procurement cannot save china #39;sl software industry Recently, the Government Procurement Office of Beijing Municipality issued the Notice of Beijing Municipal Information Office on the Result of the Government Procurement Project for Copyrighted Software Vendors of Computer Operating Systems, Office Suites


DoCoMo, MMO2 to Offer I-Mode Service in UK, Ireland (Update1) NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan #39;s largest mobile-phone operator, and MMO2 Plc will introduce a cellular- phone service in the UK, Ireland and Germany based on the Japanese carrier #39;s i-mode wireless Internet technology.


Score One for Gordon Freeman November 29, 2004 - Valve announced today that it won summary judgement against Vivendi Universal Games in Valve #39;s suit regarding cyber cafe game licensing.


Fratton fracas HARRY REDKNAPP and Milan Mandaric face a sensational public showdown today to thrash out the crisis at Portsmouth. Pompey chairman Mandaric, in a bid to clear the air, has agreed to sit side


US thwarted over Iran This latest IAEA resolution on Iran isn #39;t the result the United States wanted. Its own intense lobbying at successive IAEA Board of Governors meetings has consistently recommended that the


I still believe in Eta train-bomb link, says Aznar The former prime minister of Spain, Jos Mara Aznar, mounted a vigorous defence of his decision to commit troops to Iraq yesterday as he became the first ex-premier to face questioning by a parliamentary commission.


William Safire:  #39;My Son, My Son Thanks to Claudia Rosett, an enterprising reporter writing in The New York Sun, the world now knows that some information put out by Secretary General Kofi Annan about his son #39;s involvement with a Swiss inspection company at the heart of the UN oil-for


Body of NBC Executive's Son Believed Found  MONTROSE, Colo. (Reuters) - The body believed to be that of  NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol's 14-year-old son was  recovered on Monday from under the wreckage of an aircraft that  crashed in western Colorado and killed two others, officials  said.


Son's Payments on Deal Disappoint Annan (AP) AP - Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Monday he was "very disappointed and surprised" that his son had continued to receive payments until this February from a firm that had a contract with Iraq's oil-for-food program, the subject of numerous corruption investigations.


Fresh Floods Kill at Least 26 in the Philippines  MANILA (Reuters) - Floods and landslides caused by heavy  rains killed at least 26 people in the northern and central  Philippines, disaster officials said on Tuesday, a week after  storms left about 160 dead or missing.


Yushchenko seeks confidence vote Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko pursues a vote in parliament, as the crisis in Ukraine continues.


Reeling Merck Offers Officers a Bonus Deal With its stock plunging, the drug giant Merck has adopted a plan that could give its top executives big bonuses if the company is taken over.


Kellogg appoints Jenness CEO after Gutierrez resigns to join <b>...</b> DETROIT Kellogg has appointed James Jenness as chairman and chief executive, following the resignation of Carlos Gutierrez. The cereal maker #39;s board of directors elected the 58-year-old Jenness during a special meeting.


Intelsat buy-out to be reviewed The proposed \$5bn buy-out of Intelsat will be renegotiated after one of its satellites malfunctioned causing disruption to the services of Playboy, the spacecraft #39;s anchor tenant.


Halliburton Units Win Approval of Asbestos Settlement (Update1) Halliburton Co., the world #39;s largest oilfield-services company, said a bankruptcy judge approved a \$1.5 billion settlement of asbestos claims between two of its subsidiaries and insurers.


Biffa upturn helps to steady Severn Severn Trent, the UK water and waste group, saw first-half profits hit by the weak US dollar, as well as a 15m pension fund charge.


Beijing signs pact for Asean trade VIENTIANE, Laos China moved yet another step closer in cementing its economic and diplomatic relationships with Southeast Asia today when Prime Minister Wen Jiabao signed a trade accord at a regional summit that calls for zero tariffs on a wide range of


Aznar stands by his claim of Eta link to bombings Jos Mara Aznar, Spain #39;s former prime minister, accused the Socialist government yesterday of failing to investigate suspected links between Islamic terrorists and Basque separatists.


Suicide bomber kills 12 in attack on Iraqi police BAGHDAD: A suicide car bomber ploughed into policemen waiting to collect their salaries at a police station west of Ramadi overnight (NZT), killing 12 people in the latest insurgent attack on Iraq #39;s beleaguered security forces.


The Process of Picking a Winner Poses Issues The college football season enters its final weekend on Saturday, but the suspense surrounding the Heisman Trophy is already gone.


TA agrees to acquire Bulgaria #39;s MobilTel Telekom Austria yesterday said it had agreed to buy MobilTel, Bulgaria #39;s leading mobile telephone operator, in a step widely seen as preparing the way for a big share placement in the Austrian group.


Pension hit adds to woes at Severn Severn Trent said last night it was still investigating alleged wrongdoing by its staff as it reported a 6.5 slump in first-half profits and predicted lower second-half growth from its services side.


Stanley buying Indianapolis lock firm NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- The Stanley Works has agreed to buy Indianapolis-based Security Group Inc., a maker of locks and access systems.


Martha Stewart subscribers renewing at brisk pace New York (Dow Jones) -- Readers of Martha Stewart #39;s flagship magazine are renewing their subscriptions at a pace well ahead of industry norms.


Body of NBC TV exec #39;s son believed found GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Moments after surviving a horrific plane crash, Charles Ebersol frantically begged bystanders for help in rescuing his kid brother from the wreckage:  quot;Can you please help get him


Oil Down 3 Pct as U.S. Winter Stays Mild  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices slid 3 percent on Monday on  expectations that more mild U.S. weather at the start of the  New Year will limit heating oil demand.


Hollywood snubs Sony #39;s new DVD format By Michiyo Nakamoto in Tokyo and Scott Morrison in San Francisco. Sony has suffered a big setback in its bid to set the standard for next-generation DVDs as four Hollywood studios announced they would support a rival technology backed by Toshiba.


Turn yourself into a diamond: tips on having a good life A think tank of British scientists has come up with a new way of quickening the intellect -- a brain-taxing spin on the old formula of 100 things to do before you die.


Bode Miller takes super-G event American Bode Miller won his first World Cup super-giant slalom Sunday, making him the first man to open an Alpine World Cup season with victories in three different disciplines and just the fifth skier to win a World Cup race in all four disciplines.


NCAA Game Summary - Purdue at North Carolina State Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Julius Hodge scored 22 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead 16th-ranked North Carolina State to a 60-53 victory over Purdue in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at the RBC Center.


Chirac gathers his loyalists Herv Gaymard, France #39;s agriculture minister and an ally of President Jacques Chirac, yesterday became the finance minister after Nicolas Sarkozy left to pursue presidential ambitions.


UK ; Northern Irish parties scramble to seal deal UK News, LONDON - Gerry Adams, the head of the IRA #39;s political ally has held unprecedented talks with Northern Ireland #39;s police chief amid frantic efforts to seal a lasting settlement in the London-ruled province.


Whales and dolphins beached in Australia More than 120 whales and dolphins died after swimming on to beaches on two southern Australian islands, where rescue teams were yesterday desperately trying to prevent others becoming stranded.


Lapid Angrily Questions the Rabbis Decision to Vote for the Budget (IsraelNN.com) Addressing a Shinui faction meeting on Monday, party leader Minister of Justice Tommy Lapid angrily questioned how rabbis can be opposed to the Gaza Disengagement Plan while instructing United Torah Judaism to vote in favor of the state


Dollar Higher Vs Yen  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar rose against the yen on  Tuesday on weaker than expected Japanese output figures, but  traders said that recent heavy selling of the U.S. currency had  not ended.


Bush Nominates Kellogg Executive for Commerce Secretary President Bush on Monday nominated Carlos M. Gutierrez, among the most prominent Hispanic business executives in the United States, to be his commerce secretary


Packers Lead Rams 7-0 After One Quarter (AP) AP - Brett Favre started his 200th straight regular season game Monday night, but it was Green Bay's defense that gave the Packers a 7-0 first-quarter lead over the St. Louis Rams.


Sony, Partners Offer Glimpse Of  #39;Cell #39; Chip IBM, Sony Corp., Sony Computer Entertainment and Toshiba Corp. said Monday that the companies had  quot;powered on quot; the first workstation designed around the collaboratively designed  quot;Cell quot; processor, which will begin pilot production next year.


Valve Wins Round One Back in September we reported on the legal battle between Valve and Vivendi surrounding the  quot;cyber cafs quot; issue where Valve served Sierra On-Line, the then-Half-Life publisher, in August 2002, suing for copyright infringement in violation of the


Celtics 117, Magic 101 Doc Rivers got his team back on track while gaining a measure of revenge on his old squad, and the Boston Celtics snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Orlando Magic 117-101 on Monday night.


US Calls on UN Chief to Release All Oil-for-Food Facts Washington #39;s ambassador to the United Nations has urged Secretary-General Kofi Annan to promptly release all information concerning the scandal-ridden Iraq oil-for-food program.


Pakistan Test Fires Ghaznavi Missile ISLAMABAD, Pakistan : Nov 30 (SADA) - Pakistan conducted a test of its nuclear- capable ballistic missile on Monday as part of efforts to boost its defenses, the state-run television reported.


Retailers Post Unimpressive Holiday Sales (AP) AP - The holiday shopping season got off to a modest start after bargain-hunters jammed malls on Friday for early bird specials but did less buying the rest of the weekend after the sales ended.


Pilots and Makers of Copters Defy the Aviation Slump In an aviation world of bankrupt airlines and despondent employees, the helicopter business is a relatively happy and optimistic niche.


Unilateral action can stop the dollar #39;s slide The dollar has been trading at, or close to, its all-time low in European currency markets, prompting calls for the European Central Bank to intervene to stop the dollar #39;s slide against the euro.


Bush Taps Kellogg CEO Gutierrez as New Commerce Secretary WASHINGTON - President Bush (search) prepared Monday to name his nominee to head the Commerce Department (search), and he is expected to revamp his economic team in the near future.


Yukos Chief Plans Return To Russia The American chief executive of Yukos, the embattled oil producer whose top executives left Russia a week ago because they feared government prosecution, said yesterday that he  quot;fully intends


Four Studios Give Backing to a Format for DVD #39;s A group of companies led by the Toshiba Corporation made a major advance in the effort to define a new DVD standard as Paramount and three other Hollywood studios announced on


Australia on brink of victory Australia were on the verge of wrapping up a 2-0 win in the series when New Zealand, chasing 464 for victory, reached lunch at 243 for nine on the fifth day of the second and final test on Tuesday.


Strawberry And Boggs Are On Hall Ballot Wade Boggs, a five-time American League batting champion, and Darryl Strawberry, an eight-time All-Star, are among 12 players who will appear on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.


Pacers Won #39;t Comply With Police Request The Indiana Pacers have told law enforcement officials in Michigan that Pacers players will not submit to interviews as part of the investigation into the brawl that


Myanmar #39;s PM  quot;yet to confirm quot; Suu Kyi #39;s extended detention VIENTIANE : Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win could not confirm reports that his government had extended democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi #39;s period of house arrest by a year, Thailand #39;s prime minister said.


Bhopal Victims Not Fully Paid, Rights Group Says Almost 20 years after the world #39;s worst industrial disaster, a gas leak from a Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal that immediately killed 7,000 people and


Pacers Won't Comply With Police Request The Indiana Pacers have told law enforcement officials in Michigan that players will not submit to interviews as part of the investigation into the Nov. 19 brawl.


Update 1: Ex-Disney Director Testifies About Eisner A former Walt Disney Co. director testified Monday that Disney chief executive Michael Eisner told her in a December 1996 telephone conversation that then-Disney President Michael Ovitz was being fired and was eligible for a large severance package.


Hollywood Steps Into Video Format Fight (AP) AP - Three top Hollywood studios are throwing their considerable weight behind one of two competing formats for the next generation of DVDs, citing in part the need to stem piracy.


Online Retailers See Thanksgiving Surge (AP) AP - Computer-savvy consumers did plenty of online shopping over the Thanksgiving weekend, giving companies like Amazon.com and walmart.com the same kickoff to the holiday season as department stores and malls had.


Industry Claims Kazaa Copyright Pirate An Australian federal court has been told that Sharman Networks, the developer of file swapping technology Kazaa, is the largest music piracy system ever seen.


Mexico's Fox Vows Justice in Mob Slayings (AP) AP - President Vicente Fox on Monday promised the relatives of a federal police officer burned alive by an angry mob that he would ensure those responsible for the killing are punished and that police authorities who failed to come to his aid would be investigated.


AUSTRALIA CLOSE TO VICTORY Australia need just one wicket to claim victory over New Zealand in the second Test in Adelaide. The tourists had lunch on day five on 243 for nine, chasing 464 to win - a Test record for a team batting last


Honda's Minimoto Maxii Tops Kids' Wish Lists-Yahoo (Reuters) Reuters - Video games are so last\Christmas. This year, kids want wheels.


Asean abandons move to censure Burma over human rights abuses South-east Asian govern-ments yesterday abandoned attempts to censure Burma publicly for its human rights abuses, with officials admitting in private that they


Paisley appears ready to compromise to secure place in history Ian Paisley has made a career out of obstructing efforts to find a political accommodation between Northern Ireland #39;s warring communities.


Dalai Lama arrives in Southern Russian Buddhist Republic Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived in Elista, the capital of south Russian Buddhist region of Kalmykia, on his first trip to Russia, which Moscow terms as a  #39;pastoral visit #39;.


'Skulls' Mobile Security Threat Seen Low-McAfee (Reuters) Reuters - A computer program known as\"Skulls" with potentially destructive capability aimed at\advanced mobile devices was seen as a low threat because it had\not targeted consumers, security software maker McAfee Inc.\said on Monday.


IBM And Chip Partners Take Aim At Intel (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - IBM revealed on Monday some milestones in its march to roll out a powerful new chip for consumer devices next year, a product that promises to heat up its rivalry with No. 1 chipmaker Intel.


Booming China Awash in 'Out of Control' Acid Rain (Reuters) Reuters - China's explosive economic growth is\outpacing environmental protection efforts, leaving the country\awash in "out of control" acid rain, the China Daily said\Tuesday.


Project Aims to Develop Hydrogen Power (AP) AP - A government laboratory and a private company announced a  #36;2.6 million project Monday to develop hydrogen in a nuclear reactor using a process with the potential to one day trim the country's reliance on fossil fuels.


Witness Deferred to Eisner on Ovitz Firing A former director of the Walt Disney Company, Richard A. Nunis, testified Monday that he deferred to the decision of Michael D. Eisner, the chief


US-based Stanley Works buying two security companies Stanley Works has agreed to buy Security Group Inc., a maker of locks and access systems, and said it completed the acquisition of Cal-Dor Specialties Inc.


Halliburton says court approves insurance accords Halliburton Co. (HAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday a bankruptcy judge approved the final insurance settlement agreements between Halliburton subsidiaries and insurance carriers.


Canadian Inventor Lets Everyone Be an Armchair Spy New Internet-based technology could soon turn regular computer users into armchair spies, a Canadian inventor said on Monday. Vincent Tao, an engineer at Toronto #39;s York


Setback for Microsoft as Beijing scraps deal Beijing #39;s city government has cancelled a controversial purchase of Rmb29m (\$3.5m, 2.6m, 1.8m) of software from Microsoft after local rivals complained about the way the deal was handled.


Game Recreates JFK #39;s Assassination NEW YORK - Just in time for Monday #39;s 41st anniversary of President John F. Kennedy #39;s assassination, a tasteless Internet game is being launched that lets players be Lee Harvey Oswald.


Monday #39;s Top 25 Capsules John Lucas scored 24 points to lead No. 6 Oklahoma State to a 76-57 victory over SMU on Monday night. Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton won for the 759th time, tying Ed Diddle for eighth place on the Division I career list.


Rison Given Option for Release Former Pro Bowl receiver Andre Rison was given the option of paying \$10,000 to get out of jail after spending almost a month locked up for failing to pay child support.


China Agonizes as Hope Vanishes for Missing Miners Investigators have determined that back-to-back coal-dust and gas blasts ripped through a mine in northern China killing at least 50 workers and leaving more than 110 trapped and feared dead, said reports on Tuesday.


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


Shouldering a Giant Load Giants rookie quarterback Eli Manning will take an 0-2 record as a pro starter into Sunday's game against the Redskins at FedEx Field.


'Skulls' Mobile Security Threat Seen Low-McAfee  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A computer program known as  "Skulls" with potentially destructive capability aimed at  advanced mobile devices was seen as a low threat because it had  not targeted consumers, security software maker McAfee Inc.  said on Monday.


Hot Stove Warms D.C. With the Redskins sputtering through another disappointing season, the area can now enjoy a new diversion: offseason baseball maneuvering.


Cricket: Australia finish off NZ Australia secure a 213-run win to seal a 2-0 Test series win over New Zealand.


Still Waiting on a Bowl The Peach Bowl has released Virgnia from consideration, and is expected to announce that it will invite the loser of Saturday's Miami-Virginia Tech game to play Florida on New Year's Day.


Sony Takes on iPod with New Hard Disk Walkman  AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Sony Corp 6758.T unveiled its first  MP3-compatible, hard disk Walkman music player on Tuesday in an  attempt to recover ground lost to Apple Computer's AAPL.O  iPod.


The Latest BCS Drama The real drama of the latest BCS standings -- the last before the final rankings are issued Sunday -- was the razor-thin margin separating No. 4 California and No. 5 Texas.


Canadian Inventor Lets Everyone Be an Armchair Spy  TORONTO (Reuters) - New Internet-based technology could  soon turn regular computer users into armchair spies, a  Canadian inventor said on Monday.


Hughes Scores Huge Wizards guard Larry Hughes is on pace to finish with career-highs in all major categories, keying the Wizards' early-season success.


Goals Still in View The Ravens are focusing on the positives following a 24-3 loss to the Patriots. Baltimore is still in playoff position and faces two losing teams in the next two weeks.


Toshiba Wins HD DVD Support from 4 in Hollywood  TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp. on Monday said it had won  support for the HD DVD optical disc standard from four  Hollywood studios, advancing its cause in the battle for the  next-generation DVD.


Wolfpack Edge Purdue Julius Hodge scores 22 points to lead No. 16 North Carolina State past Purdue, 60-53, Monday night in Raleigh. The Wolfpack improve to 5-0 with the victory.


Lawyers Not Close Lawyers on both sides of Atlanta's Dany Heatley's vehicular homicide case said Monday they are not close to agreeing on a plea deal that would keep his case from going before a jury.


Bradley in Trouble Again Dodgers outfielder Milton Bradley is charged with disorderly conduct after interfering with a traffic stop near Akron, Ohio.


Celtics Snap Skid Boston coach Doc Rivers gets a measure of revenge on his old squad as the Celtics beat the Magic, 117-101, Monday night for their first win in five games.


States' Rights Defense Falters in Medical Marijuana Case Justices expressed little inclination to view drug policy as an issue by which states can displace regulation of homegrown marijuana.


U.S. Officials Build a Powerful Partnership in Iraq Much of the U.S. strategy in Iraq has become balancing a military campaign with diplomatic maneuvering and economic assistance.


Satellite Failure May Jeopardize Intelsat Deal Commercial satellite operator Intelsat Ltd. lost use of one of its satellites Sunday -- a mishap that left some Internet customers without service and could thwart a proposed \$5 billion deal to sell the company to a group of four venture capital firms. -The Washington Post


Sundance Opens Competition to Foreign Films

 By Bob Tourtellotte

 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Sundance Film Festival, thepremier U.S. showcase for independent cinema, named the filmson Monday that will compete at its 2005 festival in January,including documentaries energy company Enron and Peru'sfugitive president, Alberto Fujimori.


New File System Constrains Treo 650 Storage Capacity PalmOne will offer a free memory card to address the problem.


Sony, IBM, and Toshiba Reveal Additional Details on Cell Chip Initial versions of PlayStation 3 chip will not be produced with a cutting-edge chip-making technology.


IBM, Sony and Toshiba Unveil Cell Processor IBM, Sony and Toshiba unveiled some of the key concepts of their jointly developed advanced microprocessor, code-named Cell, which is aimed at next-generation computing applications and digital consumer electronics.


Australia Beats New Zealand, Seals Sweep of Test Cricket Wins Australia beat New Zealand by 213 runs in the second cricket Test at Adelaide to clinch a 2-0 series victory and complete a winning record against all nine teams at the sport #39;s elite level.


Hip-Hop's New World to Conquer: Your Phone At the top of Billboard magazine's Hot Ringtones chart: Snoop Dogg and Pharrell's "Drop It Like It's Hot."


Around the World, With 13 Fuel Tanks and a Single Seat The GlobalFlyer, a single-seat airplane designed to make the first solo, nonstop, unrefueled flight around the world, is a feat of engineering.


Four Studios Give Backing to a Format for DVD's Four Hollywood studios announced that they would release films in the group's high-definition DVD format by the end of next year, an advance in the effort to define a new DVD standard.


Ad Spending Rises, Particularly on the Net A report on advertising spending showed strong growth across most media in the first nine months of the year, with Internet advertising increasing the most.


Judge Dismisses Suit Against Oracle Officers A judge dismissed a lawsuit against two officers of the Oracle Corporation that accused them of insider trading before the company announced an earnings shortfall in 2001.


NTT DoCoMo, Mm02 Sign Deal Japan #39;s top cell phone operator NTT DoCoMo Inc. and major British mobile carrier mm02 plc reached an agreement that will allow mobile telephone users in Britain, Germany, and Ireland to surf the Internet on the handsets, DoCoMo said Tuesday.


Now everyone can spy TORONTO: New internet-based technology could soon turn regular computer users into armchair spies, a Canadian inventor says. Vincent Tao, an engineer at Toronto #39;s York University said he has invented a mapping


Skulls program carries Cabir worm into phones Virus writers have unleashed a second version of the  quot;Skulls quot; Trojan horse and packaged it with a cell phone virus, a security company has warned.


Plucky tail can #39;t save Kiwis Australia finished off a clinical 213-run win over New Zealand just after lunch Tuesday on the fifth day of the second cricket test to secure a series sweep.


Police Say They #39;ve Identified Man Who Threw Chair in Pistons <b>...</b> Police in Auburn Hills, Mich., believe they know the identity of the man who threw a chair in a brawl between players and fans during the Pacers-Pistons game on Nov. 19.


USC, Oklahoma Retain Positions Southern California and Oklahoma stayed on course for a clash over college football #39;s national title at the Jan. 4 Orange Bowl yesterday after putting more distance between their respective No.


QB Shuffle For Cards And Bears Two games after abruptly benching Josh McCown in favor of Shaun King, Green announced yesterday that John Navarre, a rookie from the University of Michigan, will start Sunday #39;s game at Detroit.


India ; 20 years on, Bhopal #39;s gas tragedy continues India News, Bhopal, That cold night 20 years ago in this capital of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh changed Chiraunji Bai #39;s life forever, just as it did for tens of thousands of others.


Son #39;s Payments on Deal Disappoint Annan 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