Panathinaikos 2 Arsenal 2 WHAT could prove to be one of the most notable weeks in the life of Arsne Wenger, the Arsenal manager, got off to a poor start here last night when his side twice relinquished the lead against Panathinaikos in a scrappy Champions League encounter.


Roundup: US fights to keep relay gold medals The US Olympic Committee is contesting an international ruling that could cost Michael Johnson and the rest of the US 1,600-meter relay team their gold medals from the Sydney Olympics.


Zwick throws on sideline, Smith gets most of action at OSU <b>...</b> Injured Ohio State quarterback Justin Zwick threw on the side, but did not take any snaps during practice Wednesday. Coach Jim Tressel said Zwick is making progress but still had some pain from a shoulder


Cabinet set to agree troop movement, but delay likely The cabinet is expected to agree in principle today to a request from George Bush #39;s military commanders for British troops to be redeployed to the so-called  quot;triangle of death quot; near Baghdad.


Expulsions in France test truce over scarves PARIS A fragile truce between the government and Islamic organizations in France over the country #39;s ban of Muslim head scarves in public schools appeared to hold Wednesday even though five female students have been expelled from schools for refusing to


Typhoon Kills 30 in Japan, at Least 40 Missing (Reuters) Reuters - Rescuers across Japan were searching\Thursday for 40 people missing after a powerful typhoon raked\the country with heavy rains and high winds, killing at least\30 in floods and landslides.


NEC Shoots to Regain Supercomputer Title (PC World) PC World - SX-8 system estimated to be almost twice as fast as IBM titleholder.


Spitzer #39;s probe likely to spread NEW YORK: New York Attorney-General Eliot Spitzer sued Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos, the world #39;s No 1 insurance broker, last Thursday, for steering unsuspecting clients to certain insurers in exchange for lucrative payoffs, wiping out nearly a quarter of Marsh #39;s


EBay Third-Quarter Net Surges 77 as Listings Rise (Update2) EBay Inc., the world #39;s largest Internet auctioneer, said third-quarter earnings surged 77 percent as the number of listings rose and the company expanded its PayPal e-mail payment service in Europe.


Disney board  #39;nodded through agent #39;s hiring #39; Walt Disney #39;s board of directors did not even meet to discuss the hiring of Michael Ovitz, a leading Hollywood talent agent at the centre of a major trial, it was alleged yesterday.


US argues for federal VoIP rules AMERICA #39;s chief communications regulator will seek broad regulatory authority for the US federal government over internet-based telephone services to avoid stifling the emerging market.


Supercomputer sweepstakes heat up with new NEC entry TOKYO - NEC Corp. has begun marketing the SX-8, its latest entry in the supercomputer sweepstakes. The vector supercomputer features peak processing performance of 65 teraflops, which according to NEC tops rival IBM Corp.


Lehmann howlers rob Arsenal Lehmann, who was at fault in two matches in the tournament last season, was blundering again with the German set to take the rap for both Greek goals.


FA make early start to Mutu inquiries An informal hearing of the Football Association on the positive drug test of Adrian Mutu is likely to be held tomorrow and it will be attended by the player #39;s representative and the Professional Footballers Association.


Lift-off for Owen If Michael Owen had any regrets after scoring his first Real Madrid goal it was just that the timing might have been better. After all, he said,  quot;it could have come sooner quot;.


USOC Fights for US Relay Olympic Gold The US Olympic Committee is contesting an international ruling which could cost Michael Johnson and the rest of the US 1,600-meter relay team their gold medals from the Sydney Olympics.


Israel moves to impede UN relief to Palestinians Israel has mounted a political campaign based on lies against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), alleging that it has aided Palestinian terrorists.


Analysts: AMD Beating Intel in Chip Design Analysts #39; assessments came after Intel announced last week that it was scrapping plans to develop a 4-gigahertz version of its Pentium 4 chip.


NEC develops fast computer TOKYO NEC, Japan #39;s biggest seller of personal computers, said Wednesday that it had developed the world #39;s fastest supercomputer, with almost double the speed of International Business Machines #39; fastest machine.


Shakhtar all but eliminates Celtic from Champions League Brazilian midfielder Francelino Matuzalem scored twice in a five-minute span as Shakhtar Donetsk beat Celtic Glasgow 3-0 to maintain its slim hopes of progressing from Champions League Group F.


EU, Mercosur Fail to Reach Trade Deal The European Union and the four-nation South American Mercosur customs bloc failed to reach a deal to create the world #39;s biggest free-trade area, negotiators said late on Wednesday.


Disney Trial in Georgetown, DE October 20, 2004 - A lawsuit by shareholders against the Walt Disney Company looks like it #39;ll have all the trappings of a high-profile Hollywood legal drama.


UPDATE 1-Australia #39;s Computershare buys US EquiServe Australian financial software group Computershare Ltd. (CPU.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) has agreed to buy US share registrar EquiServe for \$292 million from DST Systems Inc.


Liberty Alliance holdout IBM ends resistance and joins OCTOBER 20, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - IBM has become the latest company to join the Liberty Alliance, a global consortium aimed at developing standards for managing user identities.


British officials call emergency meeting LONDON: British Grand Prix organisers will stage an emergency meeting today aimed at blocking Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone #39;s plans to scrap the race.


UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REPORTS Two goals from Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic kept Werder Bremen #39;s Group G hopes very much alive. Anderlecht went ahead through Christian Wilhelmsson near the half-hour but Klasnic struck either side of the


Coleman reportedly swerved to avoid a deer FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman swerved to avoid a deer and flipped his luxury vehicle, authorities said Wednesday.


Straight dealers! BAHRAIN is one of the most corruption-free countries in the Arab world, according to an international report. It also ranks well globally, coming in at 34th out of 146 places listed in the Transparency International (TI) report.


Shahab-3 missile tested TEHRAN: Iran carried out a new test yesterday of its upgraded Shahab-3 ballistic missile, which it says has a range of at least 2,000 kilometres, Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani said.


Computer Associates Results Top View  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Software maker Computer  Associates  International Ltd. CA.N, on Wednesday posted  better-than-expected quarterly results and said full-year  earnings will exceed Wall Street estimates, aided by  cost-cutting.


USC, Okla. Go Wire-To-Wire Atop AP Poll (AP) AP - Southern California and Oklahoma ended the regular season the same way they began it in The Associated Press Top 25: The Trojans are No. 1, and the Sooners No. 2.


Japan's Nikkei Share Average Opens Lower  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average opened lower  on Thursday amid worries over higher oil prices and their  possible impact on global economies, but the downside was  supported by bargain hunting following recent sharp losses.


Mariners Hire Mike Hargrove as Manager Mike Hargrove, who has 13 seasons of managerial experience with the Orioles and Cleveland Indians, agreed to a three-year deal with Seattle.


California discloses massive ID theft The state of California has warned residents that their personal data may have been stolen from computers at the University of California, Berkeley, after a database used by researchers there was compromised by hackers.


Cards Beat Astros 6-4 to Force NLCS Game 7 (AP) AP - Jim Edmonds blasted a two-run homer in the 12th inning and the rejuvenated St. Louis Cardinals forced the NL championship series to Game 7, beating the Houston Astros 6-4 Wednesday to even it at 3-all.


J.P. Morgan Chase Profit Falls 13 Percent (Reuters) Reuters - J.P. Morgan Chase   Co.  posted\lower third-quarter earnings on Wednesday, missing analysts'\forecasts, on costs from its  #36;58 billion purchase of Bank One\Corp. and lower bond trading revenue.


Computer Associates Results Top View (Reuters) Reuters - Software maker Computer  Associates\International Ltd. , on Wednesday posted\better-than-expected quarterly results and said full-year\earnings will exceed Wall Street estimates, aided by\cost-cutting.


Deal Reached to Keep Pro Bowl in Hawaii (AP) AP - The Pro Bowl will remain in Hawaii through 2009 after the state and the NFL reached agreement on a new contract Wednesday.


Pfizer Profit Up, Warns of Patent Lapses (Reuters) Reuters - Pfizer Inc.  on Wednesday said\third-quarter earnings rose on higher sales of cholesterol and\arthritis drugs, but the company cautioned that 2005 results\will likely be hurt by generic competition for four other\popular medicines.


Timberwolves Griffin suspended by NBA for three games (AFP) AFP - Embattled Minnesota Timberwolves player Eddie Griffin was suspended for the first three games of the 2004-05 season, the National Basketball Association announced.


Wine Case Goes to High Court Ann Heidig fulfilled a dream when she started her own winery in Central Virginia. She produces only 5,000 cases of wine a year -oo few to attract a wholesale


Mets Adviser Chuck Hiller Dies at 70 (AP) AP - Chuck Hiller, who hit the National League's first grand slam in the World Series, has died. He was 70.


EU, Mercosur Fail to Reach Trade Deal  LISBON (Reuters) - The European Union and the four-nation  South American Mercosur customs bloc failed to reach a deal to  create the world's biggest free-trade area, negotiators said  late on Wednesday.


PM backs curfews and booze bans ALCOHOL bans and curfews could be the answer to lagging living standards for Aborigines, Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday.


How army briefing to families left No 10 on the back foot It was a week ago that it was first disclosed that soldiers from the Black Watch regiment had been told to prepare to deploy to an area south of Baghdad to help out the Americans planning a fresh assault on Falluja.


Google Targets 370,000 More Advertisers -- Newspaper (Reuters) Reuters - Google Inc. , the No. 1\Web search company that recently went public and said it will\not issue financial forecasts, expects to add 372,050\advertiser accounts by 2008, the San Francisco Chronicle\reported on Wednesday.


Two dead in Japan as typhoon wreaks havoc Typhoon Tokage hit western Japan today, killing at least two people and snarling transport as it lashed the country with heavy rains that set off landslides and forced thousands to evacuate.


Toshiba aims to launch laptops with next-generation DVD drives in 2005 (AFP) AFP - Major Japanese computer maker Toshiba Corp. said it is aiming to sell laptop computers loaded with its next generation DVD drive by next year.


Cheney Got Flu Shot, Aides Say, Citing Heart Issue (Reuters) Reuters - Vice President Dick Cheney has\received a flu shot, aides said on Wednesday, citing his\history of heart disease as a reason to qualify for a shot\during a national shortage.


Cardinals Take Astros the Distance Jim Edmonds blasted a two-run homer in the 12th inning and the rejuvenated St. Louis Cardinals beat the Astros, 6-4, to force the N.L.C.S. to Game 7.


Coughlin's Attention to Special Teams Pays Off for Giants In contrast to Jim Fassel's ambivalence to special teams, Tom Coughlin devotes considerable time and energy to them. And it is clear his interest is heartfelt.


Police: Coleman Flipped Car to Avoid Deer (AP) AP - Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman swerved to avoid a deer and flipped his luxury vehicle, authorities said Wednesday, finally revealing details of a mysterious wreck last weekend.


Security Tight for Sharon Amid Gaza Vote (AP) AP - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made a dramatic entrance into Israel's parliament Wednesday surrounded by a large phalanx of bodyguards, as security officials voiced concern for his safety before a parliamentary vote on his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.


Lucent Says Earnings More Than Triple (Reuters) Reuters - Lucent Technologies Inc. , among\the world's largest makers of telecommunications equipment, on\Wednesday said its fourth-quarter earnings more than tripled,\helped by improving demand in products for wireless networks\and a growing service business.


Online intrusion risks large identity cache Time to call the credit bureaus? Almost 1.4 million records containing the personal information of Californians likely stolen.


W. Hoops looks for record third Big 5 victory By jeff fisher. After its historic victory last night against Saint Joseph #39;s, the Penn women #39;s basketball team will face an even bigger challenge against another city rival.


Oil back above \$55 as US winter stocks drop LONDON: Oil prices charged back up to \$55 a barrel yesterday as a fresh fall in US heating oil stocks stoked worries over winter supplies.


Mercosur, Ancom create world #39;s fifth largest trade bloc The Common Market of the South (Mercosur) and the Andean Community (Ancom) signed a trade agreement here Monday to create the world #39;s fifth largest trade bloc.


Court rejects FT damage claim LONDON A judge rejected a claim Wednesday for a record 230.5 million in special damages in a libel case against the Financial Times newspaper that is being pursued by the London-based brokerage firm Collins Stewart Tullett.


Human genes  #39;overestimated #39; MAN may have as few as 20,000 genes, just a fraction of previous estimates, an international consortium of scientists say in a report to be released today.


Windows Server Roadmap Gets Down to Specifics During a series of recent media briefings, Microsoft began to give out nitty gritty details about specific timetables for the betas, SDKs and release candidates that will lead to the next round of Windows server operating systems.


Cricket: Franklin cements place in record books DHAKA - It took James Franklin less than 10 minutes to achieve what a New Zealand cricketer hasn #39;t been able to master in 28 years.


Agassi Back to Winning Ways, Nadal Impresses Andre Agassi returned to action with a 7-6, 6-3, victory over Belarussian Max Mirnyi to reach the third round of the Madrid Masters on Tuesday.


Boeheim waiting to let Edelin practice SYRACUSE, NY -- The NCAA has granted the waiver petition of Syracuse junior men #39;s basketball player Billy Edelin. He is immediately eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics.


PM: Were monitoring Myanmar situation JAKARTA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he has no idea if the detention of Myanmar Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt will affect the democratic process in the country.


No. 11 Michigan St. Rebounds with Win Over George Mason WASHINGTON (Sports Network) - Maurice Ager scored 13 points to lead 11th-ranked Michigan State to a 66-60 win over George Mason in the consolation game of the BB amp;T Classic from the MCI Center.


Far from  #39;roid to ruin In many ways, in fact, this probably isn #39;t even as scandalous as the late, great Collusion Fiasco back in the 1980s. But now that we #39;ve got that out of the way, there #39;s still no denying that


Vikings Receivers Fill in Well for Moss (AP) AP - No. 84 was back at practice for the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday.


Colorado Man Gets Web-Arranged Kidney Transplant (Reuters) Reuters - A 58-year-old Colorado man received a\new kidney on Wednesday in the first transplant operation in\the United States using an organ found on a private Web site,\hospital officials said.


Humans May Need Fewer Genes Than Thought (AP) AP - In a blow to human vanity, researchers now say that people have about the same number of genes as a small flowering plant or a tiny worm. The new estimate is down sharply from just three years ago.


Scientists Complete More Tests at Hanford (AP) AP - Scientists have completed another round of tests on a process that would turn nuclear waste stored in underground tanks at the Hanford nuclear site into glass for long-term disposal.


Roddick loses second singles match SEVILLE, Spain -- Spain won the Davis Cup title Sunday, taking an insurmountable lead against the United States when Carlos Moya beat Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5) for the American star #39;s second loss in this final.


Edelin Cleared to Play The NCAA has granted the academic waiver petition of Syracuse junior guard Billy Edelin, making him immediately eligible to play for the Orange.


NFL, Williams to Meet Retired Miami tailback Ricky Williams and his attorney have scheduled a meeting with the NFL to discuss the possibility of the former Heisman trophy winner's return.


Marsh woes deepen after credit lines are threatened Marsh  amp; McLennan, the US insurance broker accused of rigging the market to win bogus fees from customers, yesterday warned lines of credit from lenders


ATA #39;s cash situation worsening ATA Airlines Inc. #39;s cash crunch has worsened since August, the Indianapolis carrier #39;s owner warned investors today, raising concerns among analysts that a bankruptcy protection filing may be near.


Europeans Fail to Agree on Tax Breaks European Union finance ministers failed early Thursday to agree on tax breaks to ease the impact of high oil prices despite sharp prodding from France and dire warnings that they are threatening economic growth.


Houston's Bullpen Blows Game Again (AP) AP - Dan Miceli hardly had to turn around to watch the flight of the ball. The sound coming off Jim Edmonds' bat was all too familiar.


Kicking and screaming It appears software vendors and their customers are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to newfangled licensing techniques.


Syracuse #39;s Edelin cleared to play by NCAA Syracuse, NY (Sports Network) - Syracuse junior point guard Billy Edelin has been granted the academic waiver petition by the NCAA, making him eligible to play immediately for the Orange.


Typhoon kills 21, leaves trail of havoc At least 21 people were dead Wednesday as massive Typhoon Tokage churned north across the Japanese archipelago after hitting Kochi Prefecture.


US frowns on reported European nuclear offer to Iran (AFP) AFP - The United States said it would be  quot;concerned quot; by Iran's acquisition of any new nuclear technology, signaling opposition to a reported European offer to give Tehran a light-water reactor it proves it is not secretly developing atomic weapons.


Briefly: Quantum to buy tape rival Certance roundup Plus: RealNetworks loss widens on litigation...SmartDisk expands hard-drive line...Target to sell TiVo DVRs.


Look who #39;s talking In promoting the disengagement plan, that confrontational man, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, has already caused great suffering, anger and destruction - just look at the tremendous commotion already happening.


Google Takes On Your Desktop Google has just introduced its latest invention: software that applies its search technology to what is on your own hard drive.


Countrywide Posts 47 Pct Drop in Earnings  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Countrywide Financial Corp. on  Wednesday posted a 47 percent drop in quarterly earnings and  cut its outlook as mortgage refinancings fell and interest  rates climbed, sparking a broad sell-off in mortgage company  stocks.


Europe #39;s New Members Not Ready for the Euro Six months after the European Union admitted 10 new members, capping their journey from Communism to the free market, they got a blunt reminder that the club #39;s inner sanctum


Online intrusion risks large identity cache com October 20, 2004, 5:36 PM PT. Cyber threats, chiefly viruses like NetSky and Sasser, make security an ongoing concern as it holds steady over software infrastructure as the third top priority.


Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas jacked Less than a week before its release, the wildly anticipated crime game has itself been stolen and republished on the internet. Less than a week after a pirated version of Halo 2 began appearing on the Web, another


REVIEW: Local PC Search Not Perfect (AP) AP - If you want to find a needle of information in the seemingly endless haystack that is the Web, just punch a few words into your favorite Internet search engine. But if you want to pull up a file from your PC's hard drive, good luck.


China Mine Blast Kills at Least 56, 100 Missing (Reuters) Reuters - A gas explosion in a crowded coal mine\in central China has killed 56 people and left 100 missing, the\Xinhua news agency said Thursday.


Anger at taking of CARE chief CARE Australia vowed yesterday to take every possible step to secure the release of an aid worker kidnapped in Baghdad. Margaret Hassan, the head of the charity #39;s operations in Iraq, who is employed by CARE


Citigroup purge costs Britain #39;s great survivor his job Citigroup, the global banking company, yesterday ousted three of its most senior executives in an attempt to restore its battered reputation in Japan.


Dollar slips agianst the pound LONDON : The pound was higher against the dollar after the minutes of the Bank of England #39;s (BoE) last rate setting deliberations revealed a dovish stance.


Gucci chief fired after row about strategy The boss of the Gucci fashion label was fired abruptly yesterday - just one day after a US fashion magazine claimed he was preparing to resign.


EU-Mercosur Free trade talks extended into 2005 Slow-moving talks between the European Union and the four-nation South American Mercosur trade bloc, aimed at building the world #39;s largest free-trade area, will be extended beyond the October 31 deadline into next year, negotiators at talks here announced


Pound falls on hints that interest rates have peaked The pound tumbled to a nine-month low against the euro yesterday after the publication of October #39;s minutes of the monetary policy committee showed there had been no discussion of a possible rate increase, fuelling speculation that interest rates have


HIT fires chief who pulled off US deal HIT Entertainment, the company behind children #39;s television character Bob the Builder, fired its chief executive yesterday and warned of a difficult trading environment next year.


Online Tracking Firm: Kazaa Losing Users (AP) AP - Kazaa's long-standing position as the most popular online file-sharing software appears to be over. Last month, the daily average of file-swappers on the FastTrack peer-to-peer network, which includes Kazaa and related programs, was surpassed for the first time by users on the eDonkey/Overnet network, according to online tracking firm BayTSP Inc.


Tokyo Stocks Higher in Early Trading (AP) AP - Tokyo's benchmark stock index was higher Thursday morning as investors bought stock futures in a technical bounce, but trade was largely directionless after Wall Street's mixed performance. The dollar was slightly higher against the Japanese yen.


Microsoft Distributes XP Security Update (AP) AP - Microsoft Corp. says it has distributed about 106 million copies of its major security update for the Windows XP operating system.


Dollar Dangles Near Multi-Month Lows  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar dangled near multi-month lows  on Thursday as a rebound in oil prices aggravated worries about  the outlook for the U.S. economy and its yawning current  account deficit.


Chelsea boss salutes Terry JOSE MOURINHO today hailed John Terry as a lynchpin of of Chelsea #39;s drive for Champions League glory. The England defender #39;s third goal of the tournament helped the Londoners make light of their striker crisis with this Satmford Bridge win.


Button enjoys the best of both worlds as Williams look to 2006 The most significant comment on yesterday #39;s decision by the formula one contracts recognition board about Jenson Button came in the Williams team #39;s official press release.


Sharapova extends winning streak in Zurich Challenge Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia stretched her winning streak to 10 matches with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in the second round of the Zurich Challenge on Wednesday.


101 Early Entries for Breeders #39; Cup Thirteen horses were pre-entered yesterday in the Oct. 30 Breeders #39; Cup Classic, topped by the defending champion, Pleasantly Perfect; Birdstone, the Belmont and Travers winner; Ghostzapper


Bills tackle Sam Adams puts frustrations aside and focuses on <b>...</b> Sam Adams #39; concerns about his role in the Buffalo Bills defensive scheme are suddenly secondary. Whatever frustrations the defensive tackle has can be taken out against Baltimore, his former team, this weekend.


Surprises in new Indonesia line up JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia #39;s new president has named a cabinet line up that includes several surprise choices, appointing professionals and several women to key posts.


Myanmar Prime Minister Behind Attack on Suu Kyi, US Govt Says Myanmar #39;s new prime minister was involved in a decision to attack an opposition rally last May led by Aung San Suu Kyi, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, citing reports received by the US at the time.


Tokyo Stocks Fall on Oil Concern  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese stocks edged lower by  mid-morning on Thursday as concerns over domestic earnings and  the impact on global economies of higher oil prices  overshadowed bargain hunting following the market's recent  sharp losses.


Ministers to decide on troop move A report on the US request to send British troops to an area near Baghdad is set to come before Cabinet.


Bush, Kerry Open Final Month Even in Cash (AP) AP - President Bush and John Kerry began October neck and neck in campaign cash, each with just under half of the  #36;75 million in government money they received to cover campaign costs.


Air India trial witness said motivated by revenge (Reuters) Reuters - A desire for revenge motivated a prosecution witness to tell the Air India bombing trial he had been asked to carry an mysterious suitcase on to an airliner, defense lawyers charged on Wednesday.


AP: Qwest to Pay \$250M Fraud Settlement Qwest Communications has agreed to pay \$250 million to settle a wide-ranging fraud investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, The Associated Press has learned.


Samsung Electronics claims world-first 5-megapixel camera phone SEOUL, Oct 19, 2004 (AFX-Asia via COMTEX) -- SEOUL (AFX) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said it has developed what it claims to be the world #39;s first mobile phone equipped with a 5-megapixel camera.


Terrorist suspects  #39;planned huge blast in Madrid #39; Eight suspected terrorists arrested in Spain this week were planning to bomb the national court in Madrid, police said yesterday. The suicide attack on the building, a nerve


With One Swing, Edmonds Redeems Himself and Cards Jim Edmonds attacked an 0-1 pitch in the bottom of the 12th inning and sent a majestic drive to right field that beat the Houston Astros, 6-4.


American to lay off workers, ground planes after new loss FORT WORTH, Texas _ Wednesday was a tough day for nearly everyone connected with American Airlines. Employees learned more layoffs are in store as the struggling airline cuts back.


EBay Reports Sharply Higher Profit EBay Inc., the world #39;s largest online marketplace, on Wednesday posted a quarterly profit that rose 77 percent from a year ago, fueled by strong back-to-school shopping


Bankrolling Stem-Cell Research with California Dollars  quot;The only possible source for adequate support of our medical schools and medical research is the taxing power of the Federal Government.


Panathinaikos 2 Arsenal 2 JENS LEHMANN was for the high jump last night after his double cock-up in the Olympic city. One howler might have been excused - but two was simply unforgivable.


Chelsea 2 CSKA Moscow 0 But, no, it was no hallucination. The Icelander really had tucked away a 45th-minute header for his first goal since the opening day of the season against Manchester United.


Bernie puts on the pressure Bernie Ecclestone says the British Grand Prix is dead - but we will have to wait and see if that is actually a reality. Cancelling the British Grand Prix would be a major step for Ecclestone as he is sure


Black Caps Aim For 400 The Black Caps are looking to consolidate their advantage on day three of the first cricket test against Bangladesh in Dhaka. New Zealand resumes on Thursday afternoon on 207 for five in reply to the home side #39;s first innings of 177.


Raptors edge Benetton Treviso TORONTO (CP) - Chris Bosh scored 23 points and hauled down nine rebounds to lead the Toronto Raptors to an 86-83 NBA pre-season victory over Italian powerhouse Benetton Treviso on Wednesday.


Typhoon wreaks havoc in Japan TOKYO: Typhoon Tokage has killed at least 15 people and snarled transport as it lashed Japan with heavy rains that set off landslides and forced thousands to flee their homes.


Karzai on course for presidency KABUL, Afghanistan -- More than half the votes have been counted in Afghanistan #39;s landmark election, and President Hamid Karzai is said to be running well ahead of his rivals.


Darfur Rebels Say Peace Talks Delayed (Reuters) Reuters - A new round of peace talks for Sudan's\troubled Darfur region will be delayed by two days because top\rebel delegates have been unable to get to Nigeria for the\negotiations, a rebel leader said.


Darfur Rebels Say Peace Talks Delayed  KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A new round of peace talks for Sudan's  troubled Darfur region will be delayed by two days because top  rebel delegates have been unable to get to Nigeria for the  negotiations, a rebel leader said.


U.S. Cold War-Era Statesman Nitze Dies at Age 97  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Paul Nitze, one of the last leading  U.S. statesmen of the Cold War period and architect of nuclear  deterrence, has died at the age of 97.


Debate Lingering on Decision to Dissolve the Iraqi Military The U.S.-led occupation authority's disbanding of the Iraqi Army over a year ago casts a shadow over the occupation.


Airline FDI is up, onions are set free NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 20: Clearing a slew of measures, the Cabinet today sent out a strong signal that it was all for opening up different sectors.


U2 Back in Black iPod U2 is hoping consumers will find what they are looking for this fall--in the form of a special-edition Apple iPod loaded with the band #39;s new album.


Chelsea 2 - 0 CSKA Moscow If Chelsea owner and CSKA Moscow sponsor Roman Abramovich was in two minds where his loyalties lay at Stamford Bridge last night, Jos Mourinho, with aspirations of winning a second successive European Cup, soon put him straight.


Principals put on spot over British GP Bernie Ecclestone has called a meeting of formula one team principals for 9am tomorrow in the paddock at Sao Paolo #39;s Interlagos circuit to hear what they say about the prospect of the British grand prix being struck from the 2005 world championship


Celtic bottom after defeat to Shaktar It was another hard luck story for Martin ONeills demoralised Scottish champions in the Ukraine tonight as an emphatic Francelino Matuzalem double and exquisite Brandao chip in the second half left their European dreams in tatters.


Chad hopes to emulate Brady The body of work is not substantial enough to consider Chad Pennington a victim of the Belichick factor. Fair or not, Pennington #39;s five-interception game against the .


Raptors 86, Treviso 83 Chris Bosh had 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Toronto Raptors to an 86-83 preseason win over Benetton Treviso on Wednesday night.


Skippered Indians to victory over M #39;s in  #39;95 ALCS com. Nearly 10 years after managing a Cleveland Indians team that knocked Seattle out of its first American League Championship Series, Mike Hargrove has accepted the challenge of getting the Mariners back into the playoffs.


Thousands mourn elusive bandit at Indian funeral Thousands of people in the south Indian city of Chennai have turned out for the funeral of the country #39;s most wanted bandit, Koose Muniswamy Veerappan.


Japanese Stocks Fall  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese stocks fell by midday on  Thursday as concerns over domestic company earnings and the  impact on global economies of higher oil prices overshadowed  bargain hunting following the market's recent sharp losses.


Phased reforms in aviation sector: Patel The Left #39;s displeasure notwithstanding, the Centre plans to go ahead with its plans of allowing more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in key sectors, including aviation.


Unravelling of human code paves way for new treatments TAILORED therapies to target a range of diseases, such as diabetes and breast cancer, may be a step closer after the final draft of the gene-rich part of the  quot;human book of life quot; was published yesterday.


Household chores set to end at last with rise of the robot FOR decades, science fiction has promised a future in which lifes most mundane chores are carried out by robots. Sadly, the clunky, wobbling automatons that have been wheeled out as examples of this brave


Terry and Gudjohnsen keep 100 per cent record intact CHELSEA moved five points clear at the top of Group H last night, continuing their 100 per cent record in the Champions League group stage with a 2-0 win over CSKA Moscow.


Milan rivals steamroller Spain #39;s finest THE Milanese giants flexed their considerable muscles last night, both gaining impressive victories in the Champions League. AC Milan won the glamour clash with Barcelona thanks to Andrei Shevchenkos 31st


FOOTBALL: LUCESCU: I #39;LL SAVE MUTU MADCAP Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu has offered to sign shamed Chelsea star Adrian Mutu. The Romanian international striker is facing a possible two-year ban from football after


Brazilian duo leave Celtic down and out DISASTER in Donetsk would be a catchy title, but it is unlikely that Celtic will be releasing a video of a Champions League match in which some initial bad luck was compounded by subsequent incompetence and disintegration, bringing the Parkhead side their


Belichick Seems to Praise Jets With a Wink and a Nod Those were a handful of observations made Wednesday by New England Coach Bill Belichick, not about his Patriots, winners of 20 straight games, but about the Jets, the surprising owners


Deadly storms leave 18 dead as  #39;Tokage #39; closes in on Tokyo AT LEAST 18 people were killed and 13 others missing yesterday as a powerful storm lashed Japan causing deadly mudslides, flash floods and prompting thousands to flee their homes.


Iran offers nuclear programme pact Iran has offered Europe a compromise plan to resolve a stand-off over its nuclear programme as its president vowed to continue developing Iranian nuclear technology.


China Mine Blast Kills at Least 56, 100 Missing A gas explosion in a crowded coal mine in central China has killed at least 56 people and left scores missing, the Xinhua news agency said Thursday.


Gun crimes 'continuing to rise' Home Office figures are expected to show a rise in firearms offences, but a fall in the number of deaths.


Champing at the Bit The Bison have won four consecutive games, their longest winning streak since 1998, and are anxious to take on defending MEAC champion North Carolina A T on Saturday night.


Big Deal in Raleigh ESPN's "College GameDay" crew will set up camp in Raleigh, N.C., for the first time Saturday as a backdrop to the North Carolina State-Miami game.


Iraqi Faults U.N. on Lack of Staff to Aid in Voting The U.N. has not sent enough election workers to help monitor elections scheduled for January, Iraq's foreign minister charged.


From Troops, a Few Votes for a Quick Way Home U.S. soldiers in Iraq are largely supportive of President Bush, but they also expressed widespread pessimism about the war.


Coming Soon to Your Pocket: High-Definition TV Phones Miniature mobile phones, which already double as cameras, Internet devices and music players, are poised to merge with the largest of home appliances, the television.


Point, Click and Mock on the Wild, Wild Web A mutant form of political animation born of the marriage of video games and Dada photomontage has been gaining ground on the Internet since Sept. 11, 2001.


News Corp move to US gets reluctant boost from major shareholder (AFP) AFP - The chances of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp relocating from Australia to the United States have increased after one of its biggest institutional investors has chosen to abstain from a vote next week on the move.


Coca-Cola to share its fridges Coca-Cola will open its fridges to its rivals after it reached a landmark antitrust settlement on Tuesday with the European Union, China Radio International reported on Thursday.


Cabinet hikes aviation FDI cap to 49 pc NEW DELHI: The UPA government on Wednesday hiked the foreign equity limit in domestic airlines from 40 per cent to 49 per cent, but maintained the ban on international airlines from buying equity in the Indian carriers, even indirectly.


XM Buys Baseball #39;s Satellite Radio Rights Major League Baseball announced yesterday that it would receive up to \$650 million over the next 11 years from XM Satellite Radio to beam locally produced games, like the Mets #39; WFAN broadcasts, to a national audience.


Sergeant in Abu Ghraib Case Pleads Guilty to 8 Counts The highest-ranking Army reservist charged in the Abu Ghraib scandal pleaded guilty on Wednesday to eight counts of abusing prisoners and described in graphic


Aust, Iraq work for Hassan #39;s release Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says the Government will provide any help it can to secure the release of CARE International #39;s director in Iraq, Margaret Hassan, who was taken hostage in Baghdad this week.


Australia asks Singapore to spare life of drug smuggler (AFP) AFP - Australia will appeal directly to Singapore's president to spare the life of a Vietnamese-Australian facing execution for smuggling heroin into the city-state, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.


Typhoon Kills 44 in Japan, Deadliest in a Decade  TOKYO (Reuters) - Rescuers were searching through rubble  for survivors on Thursday after Japan's deadliest typhoon in a  decade triggered floods and landslides that killed at least 44  people and left 36 missing.


Garcia Marquez Has Last Laugh on Book Pirates

 By Alistair Bell

 MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Latin American literary giantGabriel Garcia Marquez has unintentionally won the last laughon copyright pirates by changing the ending of his latest book,the Nobel laureate's first novel in 10 years.


EU Approves Eight National Emissions Trading Plans (Reuters) Reuters - The European Commission moved forward\with a landmark emissions trading system on Wednesday by\approving eight national plans that allocate how much carbon\dioxide (CO2) industrial plants are allowed to emit.


The Real Consequences of Pension Projections The S.E.C. is examining whether corporations alter projections for health care costs, pension plan returns and other factors as a way of manipulating earnings.


S.E.C. Makes Its Point on Small Errors, and Auditor Pays \$10 Million Auditors must pay attention to what Wall Street thinks is important about a company's performance and consider those figures no matter how small they are, the S.E.C. said on Wednesday.


Mac OS X Tip of the Week: Organize with Comments Learn how to use Comments to help you keep track of your files in Finder windows by checking out the latest Mac OS X killer tip at the Apple Pro/ site. Oct 20


SEC Makes Its Point on Small Errors, and Auditor Pays \$10 Million Auditors must pay attention to what Wall Street thinks is important about a company #39;s performance and consider those figures no matter how small they are, the Securities and Exchange Commission


Rockstar Speaks on San Andreas Piracy Take-Two means serious business regarding the recent string of illegal content sharing on the net. October 20, 2004 - As several of our readers are no doubt aware by now, an illegal version of Grand Theft


Eyes of Texas are upon them This may be Lone Star Park, but more than a few stars big and bright will be deep in the heart of Texas on Oct. 30 for the 21st Breeders #39; Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.


Mortgage loan fall points to slowdown MORTGAGE lending fell again last month, a further sign that the housing bubble has burst. About 25.4bn was lent by banks and building societies last month, down 4 on August and the second monthly fall in


EU, Mercosur fail to reach trade pact, deadline extended The European Union (EU) and the South American Mercosur trade bloc failed to reach an agreement aimed at creating the world #39;s largest free trade area, negotiatorssaid late on Wednesday.


Samsung unveils 5-megapixel camera phone Samsung Electronics Co. yesterday unveiled the industry #39;s first 5-megapixel camera phone, which the company claims has similar picture quality as a high-end digital camera.


Formula One #39;s BAR-Honda wins contract dispute with Jenson Button BAR-Honda won a contract dispute Wednesday to keep Jenson Button as its driver for next season. Button drove for BAR-Honda this season, but said several months ago he had signed a contract to join Williams-BMW for 2005.


Horna scores upset win over Ferrero MADRID: Defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero was eliminated by Luis Horna of Peru 6-3, 6-1 in the second round of the Madrid Masters last night.


Focus shifts to bandit booty Bangalore, Oct. 20: Veerappans booty, amassed over 30 years and tucked away in 6,000 sq km of dense forest along the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, could be up for grabs.


Two Illini Football Players Plead Guilty (AP) AP - Two University of Illinois football players will serve eight-day jail sentences when the season ends after pleading guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor battery charges stemming from a barroom brawl.


Malaysian Company to Bid for Contract Malaysia Airports Holding Ltd. and an Indian partner will jointly bid to redevelop and operate New Delhi #39;s Indira Gandhi International Airport, a newspaper reported Thursday.


Defender Terry Scores Again to Ease Chelsea #39;s Attacking Woes John Terry made up for Chelsea #39;s attacking deficiencies by scoring in a third straight Champions League match and helping shut out CSKA Moscow in a 2-0 win.


Sportsview: La Russa Enhances Legacy (AP) AP - He's been called the smartest man in baseball. Yet Tony La Russa was feeling anything but that as he stood on the top step of the St. Louis dugout in the 12th inning Wednesday night, craning his neck to watch Jim Edmonds' game-winning home run disappear over the Cards' bullpen in right-center field.


W.N.B.A. President to Step Down Val Ackerman, the president of the Women's National Basketball Association since its inception, has decided to step down beginning next year.


China Mine Blast Kills at Least 56, Scores Missing  BEIJING (Reuters) - A gas explosion in a crowded coal mine  in central China has killed at least 56 people and left scores  missing, the Xinhua news agency said on Thursday.


James Scores 16 in Cavs' Win Over Bobcats (AP) AP - LeBron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao had 16 points apiece, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to a 103-77 NBA exhibition victory Wednesday night over the expansion Charlotte Bobcats.


Islamic Leader Calls for Iraq Resistance (AP) AP - In his most public support of militant Islamists, the leader of Egypt's outlawed Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday called on Iraqis and Palestinians to step up their resistance against the United States and Israel.


Samsung Introduces First 5-Megapixel Camera Phone Samsung is turning up the heat in the mobile camera phone market with the introduction of the world #39;s first mobile phone with a 5-megapixel camera onboard.


Blair #39;s pledge on Hassan worries her colleagues BAGHDAD - Iraqi colleagues of kidnapped aid worker Margaret Hassan say they are deeply worried that Tony Blair #39;s repeated pledge to  #39;save #39; her is, in fact, putting her life in increased danger.


First fall in loans since 2000 shows bubble has burst PREDICTIONS that the housing bubble has finally burst were confirmed yesterday by figures revealing the first year-on-year drop in mortgage lending for four years.


First Profit Since 2000 For Lucent Lucent Technologies Inc, the nation #39;s leading telecommunications-equipment maker, recorded its first annual profit since 2000, fueled by rapid growth in its wireless telephone division, the company announced yesterday.


Online Search Universe Is Expanding To get an idea of how hot Web search is, go talk to Raul Valdes-Perez, a Carnegie Mellon University professor who is leading a search technology start-up called Vivisimo Inc.


Sports: Red Sox 8 Yankees 3 after 7 NEW YORK After being stymied by Boston starter Derek Lowe for six innings, the New York Yankees struck for two runs against Pedro Martinez in a rare relief appearance.


Button left frustrated as F1 board tell him to stay put Jenson Button has lost out in his bid to switch from BAR to Williams after the Formula One Contract Recognition Board decided he had to stay at his current team.


Iran Defiance Threatens Euro Bid to End Nuclear Row Iran again vowed to continue enriching uranium, in a potential setback to a European plan to ease the nuclear standoff with Tehran by offering sales of nuclear fuel and a trade deal as incentives.


Record-Breaking Red Sox Clinch World Series Berth  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox crushed the New  York Yankees 10-3 Wednesday to complete an historic comeback  victory over their arch-rivals by four games to three in the  American League Championship Series.


Lucent Says Earnings More Than Triple Lucent Technologies Inc. (LU.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , among the world #39;s largest makers of telecommunications equipment, on Wednesday said its fourth-quarter earnings


Record-Breaking Red Sox Clinch World Series Berth (Reuters) Reuters - The Boston Red Sox crushed the New\York Yankees 10-3 Wednesday to complete an historic comeback\victory over their arch-rivals by four games to three in the\American League Championship Series.


Music  #39;handhelds #39; are going visual Hand-held entertainment gizmos don #39;t just play music anymore. They have morphed into general-purpose devices that display photos on full-color screens and, in some cases, even play video.


With One Life to Live, the Red Sox Want It Now The Red Sox will either complete an amazing comeback tonight as the first team to rebound from a 3-0 deficit in postseason history, or the Yankees will stop them.


Boston: Dazed, Amazed In just a week, fans in Boston have experienced emotions ranging from despair to elation as the Red Sox come back to win four straight games and advance to the World Series.


Final death toll in China mine blast likely to reach 148: official (AFP) AFP - The final death toll from a coal mine explosion in central China is likely to rise from 56 to 148, as those still trapped have little chance of survival, an official in charge of work safety says.


Retaining Traffic after a Web Site Redesign Your site gets great traffic from search engines, and yet it needs a new design.  How can you freshen up a site without risking a decline in rankings and a loss of traffic from search engines?


Damon Snaps Slump With Two Home Runs (AP) AP - Johnny Damon stayed positive throughout the AL championship series, confident he would break out of his terrible slump.


Law protecting species studied LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Western governors convening a two-day summit on the federal Endangered Species Act heard a list of complaints: Too few plants and animals saved.


States, DC Join In Insurer Probes Insurance commissioners nationwide, including those from Virginia, Maryland and the District, waded into the growing industry scandal yesterday, holding a teleconference to coordinate


Can eBay Keep the Mojo Going? With eBay #39;s stock lingering near an all-time high of \$96.60, investors have been holding their collective breath since the third quarter closed Sept.


KPMG to Pay \$10 Million to Settle Charges Over Gemstar Audits KPMG LLP yesterday agreed to pay \$10 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that the firm and four accountants engaged in improper professional conduct, leading to repeated


Huizenga sells Boca Resorts for \$1.25 billion H. Wayne Huizenga sold Boca Resorts Inc., whose properties include Boca Raton Hotel  amp; Club, Hyatt Pier 66 and the Radisson Bahia Mar, to a New York-based private investment group Wednesday for \$1.


Dollar at 3-Mth Low Vs Yen on Econ Woes (Reuters) Reuters - The dollar fell to a fresh three-month\low against the yen on Thursday as traders worried about the\U.S. economic outlook and the yawning trade deficit.


New GTA: San Andreas Tr Rockstar has released a new trailer for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas just before its release next week. The trailer shows more of the same drive-by shootings, but one tid-bit of information we didn #39;t know


Nintendo DS Box Art The full archive of completed, final boxes for Nintendo #39;s launch line-up. All in glorious high resolution. October 20, 2004 - Every day brings us one day closer to the launch of the Nintendo DS system.


Einstein #39;s Warped View of Space Confirmed Earth #39;s spin warps space around the planet, according to a new study that confirms a key prediction of Einstein #39;s general theory of relativity.


AFTER A LONG WAIT, BUTTON STAYS AT BAR Just weeks ago, British driver Jenson Button announced that he would leave BAR.Honda team in 2005 for BMW Williams. Both teams went to court, but Button did not get his way.


HENMAN WARY OF LJUBICIC #39;S POWER Tim Henman is well aware of the potential damage which his next opponent Ivan Ljubicic could cause in the third round of the Madrid Masters Series.


Kosovo's ramshackle economy threatens fragile stability (AFP) AFP - The general election in Kosovo this weekend will mark another step on the path of democratic reform, but five years after NATO and the UN took control of the province, the ramshackle economy remains a major threat to stability, analysts say.


Europes big three gives Iran last chance to come clean on <b>...</b> VIENNA - Europes three main states were Thursday to give Iran a last chance to reassure the world it is not secretly developing atomic weapons, offering valuable nuclear technology as a carrot and possible UN sanctions as the stick.


Coal mine blast leaves 56 dead, nearly 100 missing in central <b>...</b> BEIJING - At least 56 workers were killed and nearly 100 were missing feared dead after one of the worst coal mine disasters in Chinas recent history, officials said Thursday.


Red Sox' Anguish and Yankees' Mystique and Aura Dissolve in Game 7 With a barrage of four home runs the Boston Red Sox eliminated the Yankees with a 10-3 victory in Game 7 of the A.L.C.S. at Yankee Stadium.


Boston Responds to Rodriguez's Slap With Knockout Punch of Its Own The Slap. That is what most of New England will gleefully remember about Alex Rodriguez now that the Boston Red Sox have shocked the Yankees.


GBA SP invades China Nintendo and iQue to release Game Boy Advance SP later this month in 21 different cities in China. TOKYO--Nintendo has announced that it will launch the Game Boy Advance SP in China on October 27, Bloomberg Japan reports today.


BUTTON DESTINED FOR WILLIAMS RETURN Williams are likely to call on Jenson Button in 2006 despite losing their battle to sign the Englishman for next season. Button had signed a contract with Williams, claiming his previously-agreed deal with BAR was no longer valid due to a loophole.


Agassi after 18th Masters title with victory in Madrid Second-seeded Andre Agassi, looking for his 18th masters title, edged Max Mirnyi of Belarus 7-6 (5), 6-3 Tuesday in the second round of the US\$3 million Madrid Masters.


MLB announces 11-year deal with XM Satellite Radio com. Major League Baseball has expanded its availability to fans everywhere in yet another important way, announcing on Wednesday an 11-year, \$650 million agreement with XM Satellite Radio


Negotiation offer on Iraq hostage THE Australian Government might help plead for the release of kidnapped CARE Australia worker Margaret Hassan, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.


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


PA Remains Doubtful Over Gaza Pullout JERUSALEM, 20 October 2004 - Palestinian Authority officials remain doubtful that the Israeli prime ministers plan to withdraw from Gaza will go ahead given the fierce opposition the project has stirred among extreme right-wingers and Jewish illegal


Typhoon Tokage Kills at Least 51 in Japan (AP) AP - Japan's deadliest storm in more than a decade unleashed flash floods that washed away hillsides, killing up to 51 people before it veered east into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday. At least 30 people were missing.


Richardson Leads Suns Over Jazz 108-67 (AP) AP - Quentin Richardson scored 16 points and Joe Johnson had 14, leading the undefeated Phoenix Suns to their fourth exhibition victory, 108-67 Wednesday night over the undermanned Utah Jazz.


Eight great tips for converting to open source Travelers on the road from proprietary to open source software won #39;t be driving on an Interstate. Enterprise open source deployments are still uncommon enough that companies


USOC Appeals on 2000 Relay Team #39;s Behalf The US Olympic Committee has filed an appeal with the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to block a decision that would strip Michael Johnson and the rest of the US men #39;s 4x400 relay team members of their 2000 Olympic gold medals because of


WNBA President to Step Down Val Ackerman, the president of the Women #39;s National Basketball Association since its inception in 1996, has decided to step down beginning next year to spend more time with her family, several


First school expulsions linked to new law banning religious signs PARIS Two Muslim girls who refuse to remove their head scarves in school are being expelled for violating a law banning religious symbols from schools.


FT defamation case founders London - The bulk of a brokerage firm #39;s 240 million (R2.7 billion) damages claim against the Financial Times (FT) could not proceed, a judge ruled yesterday.


Robotic Revolution The use of robots around the home to mow lawns, vacuum floors, pull guard duty and perform other chores is likely to increase sevenfold by 2007, says a new UN survey, which credits dropping prices for the robot boom.


Big Game Is a Big Deal in Raleigh ESPN #39;s  quot;College GameDay quot; crew will set up camp in Raleigh, NC, for the first time Saturday as a backdrop to the North Carolina State-Miami game.


First Profit Since 2000 For Lucent Telecommunications-equipment maker recorded its first annual profit fueled by rapid growth in its wireless telephone division.
-The Washington Post


Online Search Universe Is Expanding Several firms have released new services in the past year. Each offers its own innovative wrinkle with features that the search king, Google, lacks. -Leslie Walker


Innovators Find Alternative To Venture Capital When Paul Brewer, co-founder of high-tech security company ObjectVideo, gave speeches to business school students about how to find funding, he used to focus about 80 percent of his talk on the art of landing venture capital. Now he spends most of his time on how to attract federal government funding, especially through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The managers of the program are more daring than venture capitalists, said Brewer, because they are more likely to fund an idea at its inception, before it has proved anything.


Defense Work Gives CACI Boost In Earnings  Lucrative Defense Department contracts, gained partly through acquisitions, helped boost CACI International Inc.'s first-quarter revenue and profit.


DEA Disavows Support Of Painkiller Guidelines Federal officials say they rescinded support for the directive because the document was flawed in addressing the contentious question of when and how doctors can prescribe painkillers without risking prosecution.


Getting the Word on Intellectual Law From the Top  Many of them had heard the lectures from authority figures before: Don't illegally download songs and games from the Internet because people make their livings selling those products, stealing is a crime, every crime has unseen consequences, and so on.


Kerry Looks to Avoid Gore Recount Errors (AP) AP - Sen. John Kerry, bracing for a potential fight over election results, will not hesitate to declare victory Nov. 2 and defend it, advisers say. He also will be prepared to name a national security team before knowing whether he's secured the presidency.


KPMG to Pay \$10 Million to Settle Charges Over Gemstar Audits  KPMG LLP yesterday agreed to pay \$10 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that the firm and four accountants engaged in improper professional conduct, leading to repeated audit failures at client Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.


General Dynamics Posts Profit  Defense contractor General Dynamics Corp. reported a 23 percent jump in profit in its third quarter yesterday despite escalating costs on a contract to build commercial oil tankers.


Computershare shares soar Computershare Ltd shares have soared after its acquisition of leading American registry group EquiServe which pushed the Melbourne-based company onto the world stage.


Microsoft: 106 Million Downloads of Windows XP SP2 distribute 100 million copies of Windows XP Service Pack 2 within two months of the critical security update #39;s release. On Wednesday, Microsoft declared success.


Enjoying a Visit To Boston (Un)Common My father-in-law, Irving  quot;Sheik quot; Karelis, was born in 1920 in New England, the very year the Red Sox sent Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees.


Astros bullpen steps up until Miceli slips up His bullpen had already squeezed out 8 2/3 shutout innings and Dan Miceli was still available, making it logical for Houston Astros manager Phil Garner to take a chance


Motorsport: BAR win contract tug-of-war over Button SAO PAULO - Briton Jenson Button will drive for BAR next year but is likely to join Williams in 2006 after Formula One #39;s Contract Recognition Board (CRB) ended a tug-of-war between the teams today.


SGI works on Linux performance software SGI begins work on an open-source version of a development tool for high-performance computing programmers.


Nigeria 3rd Most Corrupt Country - TI It may take 146 years for Nigeria to wipe out corruption from its system going by the latest report by Transparency International (TI) which gave the country the third position among the most corrupt countries of the world.


'Office' Promo Takes Wing with United (Reuters) Reuters - The stationary life of\acclaimed British sitcom "The Office" is taking flight in a DVD\promotional campaign with United Airlines beginning next month.


Sun expands pay-as-you go supercomputing Sun adds several business partners to a plan to offer supercomputing centers that customers can pay to use according power consumed.


KPMG hit with record 10 million dollar SEC fine over Gemstar <b>...</b> WASHINGTON : The US Securities and Exchange Commission said that accounting firm KPMG had agreed to pay a record 10 million dollar sum to settle its  quot;improper quot; audits of Gemstar-TV Guide International.


Disney to  #39;give away #39; its stores Disney reached a deal on Wednesday to sell its struggling nationwide chain of retail stores to the Children #39;s Place, the children #39;s clothing merchant.


GTA: San Andreas Website Update Today, the official website for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was updated. Included in the update is a new official trailer. The easily offended (and those underage) should be warned: it #39;s set to 2Pac #39;s I Don #39;t Give aF***, uncensored.


quot;Daniel Egger Voted 2004  quot;Agenda Setter quot; for Role in Advancing <b>...</b> Open Source Risk Management (OSRM), the only vendor-neutral provider of Open Source risk mitigation and warranty solutions, today announced that OSRM founder and chairman Daniel Egger was designated  quot;one of the 50 most influential individuals in tech


Earth warps space surrounding it Earth #39;s spin warps space around the planet, according to a new study that confirms a key prediction of Einstein #39;s general theory of relativity.


Stephen Dunn/Getty Images com. On a chilly, gray afternoon in St. Louis, Busch Stadium erupted on the sweet Jim Edmonds home run swing the Cardinals #39; faithful have come to know so well.


A forward pass With yesterday #39;s report on its athletic department violations completed, the University of Washington says it is pleased to be able to move forward.


Friedgen #39;s QB call: Gametime Terrapin quarterbacks Joel Statham and Jordan Steffy will compete the remainder of the week to start Saturday at Clemson. Coach Ralph Friedgen said yesterday his choice will be a  quot;game-time quot; decision.


Customs strike to disrupt Australia's international air and sea ports (AFP) AFP - Australian customs officers will launch a 24-hour strike from midnight Thursday, disrupting traffic into the nation's major air and sea ports, union leaders said.


148 trapped coal miners feared dead A senior work safety official saidhere Thursday morning that there is slim hope for the 148 trapped coal miners in central China #39;s coal mine blast to be rescued alive.


Israeli army chief stalls rabbis instigated mutiny JERUSALEM: Israeli military authorities have launched a fierce counter-attack to calls by right-wing rabbis who have urged soldiers to disobey any orders to uproot settlers from the Gaza Strip.


Trump Hotels Said to Reach Deal to Avoid Bankruptcy Trump Hotels has reached a preliminary agreement with its investors to restructure \$1.8 billion in debt, fending off a possible bankruptcy filing.


Profit Off 13 at J.P. Morgan; Trading Cited as Weak Spot The nation's second-largest bank attributing the weaker performance to poor results in fixed-income trading.


Sun expands pay-as-you go supercomputing roundup Plus: SGI works on Linux performance software...Good Technology supported by HP, Samsung...RealNetworks loss widens on litigation.


Tokyo Stocks Weak, Dollar Hurts Exporters  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.69 percent  by mid-afternoon on Thursday as a fall in the dollar further  weakened investor confidence over company earnings, prompting  selling on exporters such as Canon Inc.


Little Saigon Voters Not Embracing Kerry (AP) AP - In the teeming markets and cafes of Little Saigon, generational changes and misgivings over his policies have weakened President Bush's support among Vietnamese-Americans. Still, few are embracing his Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry.


Football: Holders Porto face exit Holders Porto face an uphill struggle to qualify, plus a round-up of Wednesday's Champions League action.


Coca-Cola #39;s Isdell Moves to Slow Price Increases as Pepsi Gains Coca-Cola Co. raised the average price of soft drinks last quarter, prompting consumers to switch to less costly PepsiCo Inc. drinks and store brands like Wal-Mart Stores Inc.


Swatch announces new Swatch Smart Watch with MSN Direct Service Swatch has joined with MSN Direct, a division of Microsoft Corp. to launch a new watch known as Paparazzi. With four new multicolored styles, Paparazzi offers wearers some exclusive entertainment information and the opportunity to meet celebrities.


Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) - Leaked to the web That #39;s right. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has become the latest victim of piracy, with illegal copies of the game, its manual, and its cover appearing on various Web sites.


HORSE RACING NOTEBOOK Azeri going out with flare From Horse of the Year in 2003, to her owner Michael Paulson being scrutinized for not retiring her. Paulson had also taken some heat for transferring training duties from Laura DeSeroux to D. Wayne Lukas last winter.


ON SOCCER Next generation of stars leads US team to city When the US women #39;s national team won the gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games, it was the swan song for legends Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett, and Julie Foudy.


Former Aeros bite old teammates The Aeros got a painful reminder of the prowess of a pair of their former teammates Wednesday night. They saw two of their former players combine for a goal and two assists


Death toll rises to 48 in Japan #39;s typhoon strike Typhoon No. 23 has killed at least 48 people and left 33 missing as of Thursday noon, the NHK TV station of Japan reported Thursday.


Bush Predicted No Iraq Casualties, Robertson Says The Rev. Pat Robertson said President Bush dismissed his warning that the United States would suffer heavy casualties in Iraq and told the television evangelist just before the beginning of the war that "we're not going to have any casualties."


Typhoon Kills 55 in Japan, Deadliest in a Decade  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's deadliest typhoon in more than a  decade killed at least 55 people, officials said on Thursday as  rescuers searched frantically for 33 still missing in floods  and landslides.


Oil Back Up to  #36;55 on U.S. Winter Stocks (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices charged back up to  #36;55 a\barrel on Wednesday as a fresh fall in U.S. heating oil stocks\stoked worries over winter supplies.


State regulator plans to investigate all relevant areas SACRAMENTO, CALIF. - California #39;s top insurance regulator said Wednesday that he will be filing a civil suit shortly in the widening scandal over insurance industry sales practices.


Update 1: Siebel Systems Swings to 3Q Profit Software maker Siebel Systems Inc. on Wednesday said its third-quarter results swung to a profit on improved licensing revenue. The company reported earnings of \$19.


Voluntary response key to BCA grading The grade on the report card was  quot;F. quot; The University of Nevada was one of four colleges that failed to meet the standards for a football coaching search as outlined by the Black Coaches Association.


Singh has a few more goals Vijay Singh #39;s next milestone on his record rise atop the PGA Tour #39;s money list should be as easy to reach as loose change under the sofa cushions.


U.S. Claims Taliban Rift Helps Karzai (AP) AP - Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has fallen out with some of his lieutenants, who blame him for the rebels' failure to disrupt the landmark Afghan presidential election, the U.S. military said Wednesday.


Broker #39;s Directors Used Partnerships for Private Profits Board members and senior executives of Marsh  amp; McLennan, the giant insurance broker that has been accused of cheating customers, put millions of dollars into a partnership that profited by


Iran Vows to Continue Enriching Uranium (AP) AP - Iran vowed anew to continue enriching uranium, dealing a potential setback to a European plan to ease the nuclear standoff with Tehran by offering sales of nuclear fuel and a trade deal as incentives.


Boston Red Sox make history Believe it, New England -- the Boston Red Sox are in the World Series. And they got there with the most unbelievable comeback of all, with four sweet swings after decades of defeat, shaming the dreaded New York Yankees.


Ecclestone #39;s Formula One Hold Menaced by Lawsuits, Tobacco Ban Bernie Ecclestone, the 73-year-old former used-car dealer who became a billionaire by managing Formula One motor racing, faces a revolt by business partners and team owners that may end his grip on the sport after 23 years.


JETS RESIST HYPE OF PATS MATCH Herman Edwards certainly wasn #39;t yesterday, when he stood before his 5-0 team and - in his own motivational style -tressed that Sunday #39;s smackdown against the 5-0 Patriots in Foxboro is not Armageddon.


ESPN GOES TO FIGHTS boxing game. ESPN is teaming up with Main Events to hold two PPV events, seven Friday Night Fight cards and three  quot;special quot; cards that would be exclusive of Friday Night Fights.


North Korea Says Prospects Gloomy for Nuclear Talks  SEOUL (Reuters) - The prospects for more six-party talks on  North Korea's nuclear programs are gloomy because the United  States has pushed the negotiations to a stalemate, the North's  official KCNA news agency said on Thursday.


A Wise Decision Brings Boston Home The Boston Red Sox are going to the World Series, and the Yankees aren't, because Joe Torre selected the wrong pitchers and Terry Francona chose the right pitcher.


Brown, Vazquez Flop for Yanks in Game 7 (AP) AP - Kevin Brown had a chance to claim a place in Yankees postseason history with his start in Game 7 of the AL championship series.


Disney Directors on Trial for a Payout Directors of the Walt Disney Company went on trial Wednesday on shareholder accusations that they rubber-stamped a decision by the chief executive, Michael D. Eisner


Business briefs, October 21 AT amp;T Corp. Chief Executive Officer David Dorman is accelerating his plan to shed 20 percent of the telephone company #39;s work force in an effort to reduce costs and stem a slide in profit.


EU ministers disagree on fuel tax breaks European Union finance ministers failed early today to agree on tax breaks to ease the impact of high oil prices, despite sharp prodding from France and dire warnings that they were threatening economic growth.


Hacker exposes private data at UC Computer held personal files on <b>...</b> In a potentially huge computer security breach, a hacker broke into a computer at UC Berkeley containing Social Security numbers and other personal data for about 600,000 Californians, the university said Wednesday.


A Misplaced Bet On Khin Nyunt The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has gone out of its way to protect Burma in regional and international arenas, believing - wrongly, of course - that peer pressure might in some way help transform this dictatorial pariah-state into an


Australian PM to crackdown on unions (AFP) AFP - Australian Prime Minister John Howard has vowed to use his government's expanded control over parliament to push through industrial relations, laws which unions said would be the most restrictive in the western world.


Bid to end EU commissioner row The incoming European Commission president is to meet parliament heads to defuse the crisis over his proposed justice commissioner.


Japan exports hit record levels Exports from Japan hit their highest level for more than 50 years in September, but rising oil prices and imports could spell trouble ahead.


Transplant Arranged via the Internet Is Completed Surgeons completed a kidney transplant Wednesday in what is believed to be the first operation where the donor and recipient met through a commercial Web site.


Business ; Tokyo Stocks Weak, Dollar Hurts Exporters Business News, TOKYO - Japan #39;s Nikkei average fell 0.69 percent by mid-afternoon on Thursday as a fall in the dollar further weakened investor confidence over company earnings, prompting selling on exporters such as Canon Inc.


Peres voices optimism on Gaza withdrawal Facing a major parliamentary vote next week on a plan for Israelis to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, Israeli opposition leader Shimon Peres


Armed Men Attack Baghdad Bus, at Least 4 Dead (Reuters) Reuters - Gunmen attacked a bus carrying Baghdad\airport employees to work on Thursday, killing at least four\people and wounding several others, including the driver, an\airport employee said.


Japan cleans up as deadliest typhoon in decade kills at least 54 (AFP) AFP - Japan teams are searching for survivors after the country's deadliest typhoon in more than a decade killed at least 54 people as it crushed houses, overturned trains and left passengers stranded on flooded highways.


EU-25 among least corrupt in global index Corruption is rampant in sixty countries of the world and the public sector continues to be plagued by bribery, says a report by a respected global corruption watchdog.


U.N. to Debate Anti-Cloning Treaty (AP) AP - The highly contentious issue of cloning is back on the U.N. agenda, with support among member states for a treaty banning human cloning but divisions over the use of human embryos for medical research.


Armed Men Attack Baghdad Bus, at Least 4 Dead  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Gunmen attacked a bus carrying Baghdad  airport employees to work on Thursday, killing at least four  people and wounding several others, including the driver, an  airport employee said.


California joins insurance industry crackdown California #39;s insurance regulator has unveiled new rules to prevent brokers from taking secret commissions to steer customers to certain policies.


Bleak picture from US airline results Major US airlines yesterday reported heavy third quarter losses, under pressure from record fuel prices and fierce competition with budget carriers.


Slowing house market quiets lending Mortgage lending has declined for the second consecutive month as a result of the slowing housing market, says the Council of Mortgage Lenders.


Children #39;s Place to acquire Disney stores Kid #39;s clothing retailer Children #39;s Place agreed to buy Disney #39;s 313 North American retail stores, the companies said yesterday.


Morrison says Safeway sales still sinking William Morrison Supermarkets says sales have continued to decline at its newly-acquired Safeway stores which have not yet been converted to the Morrisons brand, but sales at converted stores are up.


French September Consumer Spending Unexpectedly Falls (Update1) Household spending in France, Europe #39;s third-largest economy, unexpectedly fell in September, hurt by unemployment and rising oil prices.


Planetary scientist Donahue dies at 83 Thomas M. Donahue, one of the country #39;s leading space and planetary scientists and a pioneer of space exploration, died Saturday of complications following heart surgery.


Clemens #39; moment arrives in NLCS The lure of this moment is what made his retirement so short. A pennant on the line, an adopted city #39;s heart in his hands, a hostile stadium and swarming opponent.


Garcia-Owens feud to hit field BEREA, Ohio  Someday, Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens may connect again. But not this week. Sunday, when the Cleveland Browns host the Philadelphia Eagles, Garcia and Owens will be in as close proximity as


Wetterich seeks more secure card Brett Wetterich is perched on a precarious ledge on the Nationwide Tour money list in his bid to win a PGA Tour card with the Miccosukee Championship beginning today in Miami.


Terror suspects win privacy right \Terror suspects held at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay must be allowed to meet privately with their lawyers, a federal judge has ruled.


Singapore Dumps Microsoft, Goes Open Source (TechWeb) TechWeb - The Defense Ministry of Singapore, the latest government agency to spurn Microsoft for open source, said this week that it's turning to the OpenOffice application suite rather than updating Microsoft Office.


Solidarity sit-in They clean hotel rooms, tend bars, cook meals, and wait tables at many of Boston's prestigious hotels and universities, an army of mostly immigrant and low-wage workers that labors behind the scenes.


Heebner's crystal ball You're probably a stock market investor if you feel sure the past five years have been dragging on for at least a decade.


State hits insurer's fee to consultant The executive director of the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission, which buys health, life, and disability coverage for more than a quarter-million state employees and retirees and their families, said yesterday she demanded that one of the commission's insurance consultants return a six-figure payment it received from UnumProvident Corp. in connection with \$26 million in life-insurance business UnumProvident has with the ...


Statewide medical records planned Blue Cross  amp; Blue Shield of Massachusetts plans to spend about \$50 million to electronically link doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers in three Massachusetts communities, allowing them to share and access patients' medical records.


Poised to cash in on 'magic shoe' Curt Schilling's masterful performance in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series isn't just the stuff that makes baseball legend. It's also the stuff that sells shoes.


Get ready for a robot invasion, UN report says The use of robots to mow lawns, vacuum floors, and perform other household chores is set to surge sevenfold by 2007, says a United Nations survey, which credits dropping prices for the robot boom.


Citigroup ousts three after banking scandal Citigroup Inc. , the financial services giant, said yesterday that it was removing three senior executives in the wake of a banking scandal in Japan.


Insurance probe widens; Marsh suspends 4 California's top insurance regulator said yesterday that he will file a civil suit shortly in the widening scandal over insurance industry sales practices.


KPMG settles with regulators over Gemstar-TV Guide audits KPMG will pay \$10 million -- the largest payment ever by an accounting firm in a Securities and Exchange Commission action -- to settle charges of improper conduct while auditing Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. , the SEC said yesterday.


Miracle workers It came to this: A tumultuous 243 days after they began to gather for spring training, the Red Sox last night had a chance to change history.


A World Series party NEW YORK --Forevermore, the date goes into the New England calendar as an official no-school/no-work/no-mail-delivery holiday in Red Sox Nation.


Story is too good for words Every once in a while an Oscar winner gets up there and wings an acceptance speech because  quot;I never thought I'd win, so I didn't prepare anything. quot;


Hargrove lands Mariners job over Little and others Mike Hargrove knows just what he's getting into as the new manager of the last-place Seattle Mariners.


Edmonds, Cardinals have a blast ST. LOUIS -- Don't look now, but there's a bit of drama building in the  quot;other quot; League Championship Series.


MVP Ortiz shouldered the load Pucker up, New Englanders. Soaked in champagne and grateful for one player as much as any other, Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino said of David Ortiz after the club clinched its 11th American League pennant,  quot;He has such big shoulders and he carries this team on the field and off the field. We're extraordinarily fortunate, ...


Morgan magic It may go down as one of the most innovative, quick-fix medical procedures in the history of postseason baseball, and it may have been possible only because the doctor who brainstormed the breakthrough first tested his technique on human cadaver legs.


Newest Yankees fail to deliver They had just been on the bottom side of the greatest el foldo in major league baseball playoff history. Maybe at some point down the road, that will irk the Yankees.


Martinez gets chance to help It wasn't the eighth inning of a Game 7 in Yankee Stadium with the Sox clinging to a lead, but it was close.


Fans keeping watchful eye Even as local TV people marveled yesterday at Boston's 49.8 rating (70 audience share) for Tuesday night's Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, speculation had begun about what kind of number last night's Game 7 would earn.


Series proves baseball in October has no rival For all the polls that show how football is now America's most popular game, the Yankees-Red Sox showdown for the American League pennant is this year's sweet reminder that October baseball is the best game, the best theater in sports for moments to remember.


Ace's gritty performance won't soon be forgotten Sixteen hours later, it seemed even more remarkable than when it was actually unfolding. Curt Schilling's gritty performance in Tuesday's 4-2 win in Game 6 over the Yankees, pitching with a dislocated tendon that was sutured to his skin, is already being spoken in the same breath as some of the historic postseason feats involving injured stars. ...


Foulke's closing act deserving of ovation When general manager Theo Epstein was putting the pieces of this Red Sox team together last winter, he asked then-managerial candidate Terry Francona about Keith Foulke, one of the prized relievers on the free agent market.


Giving up was never in this group's nature NEW YORK -- What manner of mettle separates these 2004 Red Sox from the 25 teams that preceded them in spotting adversaries a 3-0 series lead in the postseason, in refusing to go quietly into that good night?


Law's specialty: pick-off plays Ty Law tied the Patriots' all-time record for interceptions last Sunday when he made a diving catch for the 36th pick of his career, but there are other things he wants. Like Michael Haynes's arms and legs.


Time has been on Gay's side Rookie cornerback Randall Gay has had increased playing time the last two weeks in sub packages against the pass, and Ty Law has taken notice.


A new line on Davis Following the Celtics' 95-92 loss to the Bulls Tuesday night, Ricky Davis scanned the box score and shook his head.


BC seniors eye Irish sweepstakes There was a time when beating Holy Cross made the season for Boston College. Those who remember that era never dreamed there would be a BC senior class with a chance to sweep four games from national power Notre Dame.


Experience on Dragons' side For 34 years, Foster Cass patrolled the sidelines for the Duxbury boys' soccer team. After a brief retirement last year, Cass returned to Duxbury yesterday, this time as coach of Pembroke (5-10), in its first year as a high school.


US cites Taliban rift in sabotage failure KABUL, Afghanistan -- Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has fallen out with some of his lieutenants, who blame him for the rebels' failure to disrupt the landmark Afghan presidential election, the US military said yesterday.


Prime minister resigns in Lebanon AMMAN, Jordan -- Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon resigned yesterday in a sign of deepening divisions within Lebanon's fragile government over the decisive role that Syria, its larger and more powerful neighbor, plays in its political life.


Russians eyed in abductions ARGUN, Russia -- Just before sunrise one morning this month, a dozen armed men in camouflage uniforms and black masks burst into the house of Zalpa Mintayeva, shouting, ''Do you have a man at home? quot;


No scenario seen for draft of health care workers WASHINGTON -- No war or other national emergency would overwhelm the military's medical care system and require a draft of civilian health care workers, a senior Pentagon official said yesterday.


STATES GANGING UP ON INSURERS Already reeling from Attorney General Eliot Spitzer #39;s no-holds-barred probe, insurers can now look forward to dozens of additional investigators from their state regulator giving their books a once over.


Citigroup ousts three after banking scandal Citigroup Inc., the financial services giant, said yesterday that it was removing three senior executives in the wake of a banking scandal in Japan.


Big 3 report \$911M loss Delta Air Lines will virtually eliminate its hub in Dallas that once was key to its long-term strategy. American Airlines will shutter its operations at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Bohemia.


Sales, subscribers rise for Cingular Wireless Atlanta-based Cingular Wireless, on the cusp of closing its acquisition of AT amp;T Wireless, reported third-quarter results yesterday that showed higher sales and a slight decrease in operating income.


Millions galore in Glenmorangie sale THE clan Macdonald are in line for a 150m windfall following the sale of the world-renowned Scotch whisky maker to Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy.


Yahoo Japan Q2 profit rises 46.2 TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Yahoo Japan said Wednesday its second-quarter net profit rose 46.2 percent from a year earlier, helped by advertising sales and growth of its online auction services.


Update 1: Feds Probe UC Berkeley Hacker Attack Authorities are trying to determine how a hacker gained access to a University of California computer that contained personal information for up to 600,000 state residents.


Sharp kills penguin-based PDAs JAPANESE GIANT Sharp has pulled the plug on its Linux-based PDAs in the United States as no-one seems to want them. The company said that it will continue to sell them in Japan where they sell like hot cakes


Human Gene Total Falls Below 25,000 A new and perhaps final report from the international consortium of laboratories that decoded the human genome has revised the estimated number of human genes sharply downward.


New biography describes Audubon #39;s magnetism, obsession He was the 19th-century version of a performance artist, a buckskin-clad faux-frontiersman whose lean and hungry look set drawing-room society all atwitter.


Bridgestone to release paper-thin-display price tags in 2005 Japan-based tire manufacturer Bridgestone plans to release a monochrome paper-thin display for use as tags, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News.


Edmonds, Cardinals force Game 7 This time it was Jim Edmonds #39; turn to get the hero #39;s welcome, his joyous St. Louis Cardinals teammates surrounding him as he tried to touch home plate.


Henman fires amid models furore Tim Henman, in common with Michael Owen, has found the target here at last. The British No 1, beaten in his opening matches on two previous visits to the Madrid Masters, defeated Albert Costa, of Spain, yesterday, 6-4, 6-2.


Romanian FA chief blasts Mutu Adrian Mutu has been accused of getting carried away with his fame and fortune by the president of the Romanian Football Association.


BUZZ: New privacy concerns People who use public or workplace computers for e-mail, instant messaging and Web searching have a new privacy risk to worry about: Google #39;s free tool that indexes a PC #39;s contents for quickly locating data.


Summary: Europeans make Iran offer THE OFFER: Britain, France and Germany are offering Iran a trade agreement and the chance to buy nuclear fuel in exchange for a promise to suspend enrichment of uranium.


Rescue workers in China continue search for 148 missing miners Officials in China are holding few hopes for the survival of 148 miners trapped after a coal mine explosion. So far, 56 people are confirmed to have died in the blast in Henan province and rescue work is continuing.


Trump said to strike deal to save casinos-NYTimes Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts Inc. (DJTC.OB: Quote, Profile, Research) , struggling to stave off a bankruptcy filing, has reached a preliminary agreement with investors to restructure


Siemens Selects Qualcomm #39;s Chipsets reserved. US digital wireless communications products developer Qualcomm has announced that German handset maker Siemens is to build wireless multimedia handsets based on chipsets from Qualcomm #39;s WCDMA (UMTS) Mobile Station Modem (MSM) portfolio.


Profit rises for Yahoo Japan site TOKYO Yahoo Japan, which operates Japan #39;s most visited Web portal, said Wednesday that profit rose 46 percent during its fiscal second quarter as it sold more advertising.


Google founders tout new projects in Japan The founders of Google Inc., Sergey Brin and Larry Page, flew to Tokyo this week to set up a research and development center and other projects in Japan.


Fla. birds in serious decline Nearly a third of North America #39;s birds are in significant decline, signaling degrading environmental conditions and leaving some Florida species hard-hit, according to a report released this week.


Dell Believes Education Is Best Way To Fight Spyware The computer maker and a nonprofit organization have launched a project to teach people about spyware and how to avoid it. By Thomas Claburn.


New Zealand #39;s McCullum scores maiden test century Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum scored his maiden test century on Thursday to put New Zealand in control of the first test against Bangladesh.


Castro Falls After Speech, but Recovers Cuban President Fidel Castro speaks to Elian Gonzales Wednesday Oct. 20, 2004, in Santa Clara, 300 kms (about 186 miles) east of Havana before a speech to celebrate Cuban Culture Day.


Japan storm kills 31, 40 missing TOKYO -- A powerful typhoon blasted across Japan yesterday, killing at least 31 people, causing deadly mudslides and flash floods and prompting thousands to flee their homes, officials said.


France expels Muslim girls over head scarves France has quietly begun expelling Muslim girls who wear head scarves to public schools in defiance of a new law banning conspicuous religious symbols.


Disney reaches deal for beleaguered retail chain The Children #39;s Place Retail Stores Inc. announced Wednesday it will buy The Walt Disney Co. #39;s flagging retail chain in an effort to become a bigger player in the infant to preteen market.


Company Focus Follow the dinosaurs to airline profits As the big carriers sink into the ooze, their smaller cousins are poised to benefit greatly -- if the big guys #39; trouble doesn #39;t pull them under, too.


Export earnings weigh on Nikkei Tokyo #39;s Nikkei average slipped 0.85 percent to finish at a three-week closing low on Thursday as a fall in the dollar further weakened investors #39; confidence in company earnings, prompting selling of exporters such as Honda Motor.


FCC Chairman Vows To Stop State Regulation of VoIP US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Powell is calling for a hands-off regulatory approach to Voice over IP (VoIP) and has vowed to try to take regulatory control


This Travel Search Site Could Go Far Svetlozar Nestorov #39;s Mobissimo aims to make the Web #39;s massive travel deals and info much more accessible. He #39;s off to a good start.


Study: Many bird species are declining If it seems quiet in your back yard these days, it #39;s probably because so many species of birds have flown the coop, bound south on their migratory journeys.


Henman wary of dangerous Croatian Tim Henman faces a tough task when he meets big-serving Croatian Ivan Ljubicic in the third round of the Madrid Masters on Thursday morning.


Bernie to pull GP plug F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has reportedly lost patience with Silverstone #39;s owners and has moved to have the 2005 British GP scrapped from the calendar.


WRAPUP-1-Milan clubs and Chelsea eye next stage Inter Milan, AC Milan and Chelsea all virtually sealed their places in the knockout phase of the Champions League on Wednesday by maintaining 100 percent starts with their third successive victories.


Cabinet holds talks on troops plan The Cabinet is to discuss plans to send soldiers from the Black Watch to support American forces around Baghdad, amid reports that more British troops could soon be on their way to Iraq.


Blair denies  #39;bailing out Bush #39; charge British Prime Minister Tony Blair has reacted to a barrage of criticism from politicians, analysts and national newspapers for considering a US request to deploy troops in Baghdad.


Nikkei Hits Low, Hurt by Weak Dollar (Reuters) Reuters - Tokyo's Nikkei average lost 0.85 percent\to a three-week closing low on Thursday as a fall in the dollar\further weakened investor confidence in company earnings,\driving exporters such as Honda Motor Co. down.


'Boisterous' Soldier Buried at Arlington  Staff Sgt. Darren J. Cunningham, a 22-year Army veteran who was described by friends and family as gregarious and fun-loving, was buried yesterday under gray skies at Arlington National Cemetery.


Microsoft considering 100-dollar PC San Francisco (dpa) - Microsoft is working toward a bare-bones personal computer that would cost less than 100 dollars and could help stem rampant software piracy in emerging countries, CEO Steve Ballmer said Wednesday, according to tech news service ZDNet


F1: Move put on hold Jenson Button is still planning a return to Williams despite being told yesterday he cannot drive for them in 2005. Button had wanted to return to Williams, where he started his Formula One


Inter Milan, Chelsea and AC Milan keep perfect records Inter Milan, Chelsea and AC Milan maintained their perfect records on Wednesday in the European Champions League group stage on Wednesday.


HE #39;S IN A CLASS OF HIS OWEN SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON has hailed Michael Owen #39;s return to form after the England striker shook off his early season struggles to net his first goal for Real Madrid.


Israelis want peace says visiting minister JOHANNESBURG - A small group of pro-Palestinian supporters were escorted out of the Sandton Convention Centre here during a protest against a visit by Israeli Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday.


Afghan president on course for historic election victory (AFP) AFP - Afghan President Hamid Karzai is on course for a clear victory in the country's historic election, with more than half the votes counted.


Israelis, Palestinians at Odds Over U.S. Election  JERUSALEM (Reuters) - If Israeli settler Rachel Saperstein  could decide the outcome of the U.S. election, President Bush  would beat Democratic challenger John Kerry by a landslide.


FTSE bounces as BHP buoys miners The FTSE 100 index has reclaimed some of its recent losses, led higher by BHP Billiton and Allied Domecq after upbeat news from both.


Fields are stocked for Breeders #39; Cup When Smarty Jones was retired following the Triple Crown, it took some sizzle out of the racing scene. But one doesn #39;t have to be an insider to appreciate the


Neuheisel cleared by NCAA Former Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel looked forward to a return to coaching Wednesday after being cleared by the NCAA of wrongdoing related to his gambling on basketball games.


Iran: Compromise drafted VIENNA, Austria -- Giving Iran one last chance to avoid the threat of UN sanctions, Britain, France and Germany will offer undisclosed incentives at a meeting today in return for assurances that the Tehran regime will suspend uranium enrichment, diplomats


Hope for over 148 missing Chinese miners slim: Official The death toll in one of China #39;s major coal mine disaster is set to rise to 204 with officials nearly giving up hope of finding the missing 148 miners alive in central China #39;s Henan province.


1,300 more British troops for Iraq Britain could send more troops to Iraq before next January #39;s elections, a senior military commander said today. Military chiefs are reported to have


Anti-Gay EU Commissioner Should Quit, Says Kinnock Incoming EU Commissioner Rocco Buttiglione should resign or be stripped of some of his powers, Neil Kinnock said today. Mr Buttiglione has thrown the new Commission


International growth lifts eBay Auction site eBay is enjoying continued growth thanks to increased global sales and the success of PayPal.


Brazil holds '\$30m fraud hackers' Brazilian police say they have arrested more than 50 hackers who stole \$30m through internet fraud.


Insurance chief puts industry on notice Pledging to crack down on  quot;back-room deals quot; in the insurance industry, California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi yesterday moved to block agents and brokers from steering clients to


Morrisons find Safeway hard to digest The supermarket group Morrisons today revealed that Safeway #39;s performance had continued to decline, with like-for-like sales 7.9 per cent lower in the first half.


Yanks came oh-so-close to Series At 12:01 am ET, the Boston (Bleepin #39;) Red Sox erupted in celebration in full view of Yankee Stadium #39;s stone-cold and stone-silent grandstands.


Astros like chances with Clemens Roger Clemens and Brad Lidge give the Houston Astros two reasons to think they will finally punch their ticket to a World Series. Clemens has gone 3-0 against the Cardinals this


Breeders #39; gets list of entries Pleasantly Perfect, defending champion in the \$4 million Classic, was among 101 horses listed in pre-entries announced yesterday for the 21st edition of the Breeders #39; Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on Oct.


Witness says CIA oversaw abuse at Abu Ghraib Witnesses in the trial of a US soldier charged with abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib have told the court that the CIA sometimes directed abuse and orders were received from military command to toughen interrogations.


Parliament Speaker Rues Sharon Policy Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, right, surrounded by an unprecedented number of bodyguards walks inside the Knesset, Israel #39;s parliament, in Jerusalem Wednesday Oct. 20, 2004.


South Korean Court Rules Against Capital Relocation The Constitutional Court of South Korea delivered a major blow to President Roh Moo-hyun today by virtually scuttling his high-profile plan to relocate the national capital away from Seoul.


Today's schedule College field hockey: Tufts at Wheaton, 3:30 p.m.; Smith at Elms, 4 p.m. College soccer: Men -- St. Michael's at Middlebury, 2:30 p.m.; Southern Maine at UNew England, 3 p.m.; UMass-Boston at Emerson, 3:30 p.m.; Husson at Maine Maritime, 7 p.m.


Fields are stocked for Breeders' Cup When Smarty Jones was retired following the Triple Crown, it took some sizzle out of the racing scene. But one doesn't have to be an insider to appreciate the field for the \$4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Lone Star Park Oct. 30. It may not be the Kentucky Derby, but a field doesn't get any better than this.


Heading to the finish line On a cold, raw, drizzly afternoon this week, Sherry Proctor put large containers with about 300 orange and green fluorescent buoys into his Volvo station wagon and took them to the Cambridge Boat House. He and a few others will start dropping them into the water tomorrow, marking the course for the rowers in the Head of the Charles Regatta ...


Transactions BASEBALL Seattle (AL): Named Mike Hargrove manager and agreed to terms on a three-year contract.


Boston bats put hurting on Brown At the time, the decision to start Kevin Brown seemed to make the most sense. It turned out to be an unmitigated disaster.


Blast Wounds Three U.S. Soldiers, Afghan Interpreter (Reuters) Reuters - A roadside bomb exploded in southern\Afghanistan, wounding three U.S. soldiers and an Afghan\interpreter, the U.S. military said on Thursday.


Mouse may be mightier than man HUMANS may have as few as 20,000 genes, just a fraction of previous estimates, an international consortium of scientists say in a report to be released on Thursday.


An all-time Lowe Derek Jeter said Game 7 would test the Yankees #39; mettle, and the heat of survival would reveal what they are made of. What they #39;re not made of is championship stuff.