Queen Elizabeth II Opens Climate Forum Britain #39;s Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, left, arrive in Potsdam near Berlin after a ride in a interurban train Wednesday Nov. 3, 2004.


Crude oil futures fall below \$49 US a barrel as oil supplies grow Oil futures prices fell Wednesday after an American government report showed US supplies of crude rising sharply, allowing traders to shrug off the fact that inventories of heating oil are still tight.


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


Ford unit sales slip 5 in October SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - Ford Motor on Wednesday was the first of the major automakers to turn in October US sales results, reporting that unit sales slipped 5 percent.


Ford sales off again in October, but company bullish on new <b>...</b> Ford Motor Co., which is just unveiling a wave of new sedans, reported today that sales of its cars and light trucks declined 5 percent in October compared with the same month a year ago.


Stem Cell Companies Fall Amid Biotech Rise While most biotechnology stocks rose Wednesday, shares of major stem cell researchers fell sharply as George W. Bush #39;s victory in the presidential election was confirmed.


Nokia Near Field Communications By guest contributor Josh Pereira. Nokia announced today their latest development in mobile communications, the Nokia NFC Shell (NFC standing for  quot;Near Field Communications quot;).


San Andreas Steals UK Record November 03, 2004 - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas set a new record by selling 677,000 copies in the first weekend of sales in the UK.


Yeast rises to CFL top again Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Wide receiver Craig Yeast of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was among the CFL Players recognized Wednesday for his outstanding performance in Week 20.


World Leaders React to Bush Victory Russian President Vladimir Putin led world leaders #39; tributes to George W. Bush #39;s victory in the US presidential race, saying it meant Americans had not allowed themselves to be cowed by terrorists.


Man jumps into lions #39; den, tries to  #39;save #39; them TAIPEI, Taiwan - A man jumped into the lions #39; enclosure at the Taipei Zoo and shouted  quot;Jesus will save you quot; before being bitten Wednesday.


German Leader Seeks New Start From Bush Germany #39;s interior minister said it was time to put aside differences with the United States over Iraq and look to the future as President Bush won a second term, but another


Time Warner profits hit by big legal reserve Time Warner Inc., the world #39;s largest media company, edged past Street estimates by a penny in its third-quarter results released Wednesday despite the creation of a big cash reserve related to its troubled AOL Internet unit.


New Charges Filed in Philadelphia Graft Scandal Federal prosecutors announced more charges on Wednesday in a Philadelphia corruption scandal whose defendants include the former city treasurer, a prominent supporter


Honda #39;s October Sales Rise 10.2 Percent Honda Motor Co. said Wednesday that US sales rose 10.2 percent in October, boosted by higher truck sales. The automaker sold 110,502 vehicles during the month, up from 100,270 vehicles in October 2003.


Ford Sales Drop 5 Percent in October Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday that US sales fell 5 percent in October from a year ago as car sales continued to decline and truck sales increased slightly.


Schwartz: Sun COO Says Solaris Good For Open-Source Market Sun Microsystems (nasdaq: SUNW - news - people ) officials indirectly confirmed what many suspected: Linux is not its open-source panacea.


Apple trims music purchases to iTunes 4.5 or higher Apple Computer Inc. on Wednesday encouraged users of its iTunes jukebox software to upgrade to the latest version, available from the company #39;s Web site.


Flatley, Rogers on bench for Australia for rugby Test against <b>...</b> Back from injury, Elton Flatley and Mat Rogers will join Wendell Sailor on the bench when Australia opens its Northern Hemisphere rugby tour against Scotland on Saturday.


Eight Arrested after Murder of Filmmaker Police arrested eight suspected Islamic radicals as part of investigations into the brutal killing of outspoken Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, Dutch prosecutors said today.


Senior EU official congratulates Karzai on electoral victory European Union (EU) foreign policychief Javier Solana wrote on Wednesday to the incumbent Afghan leader Hamid Karzai congratulating him on his victory in the firstdirect presidential elections in Afghanistan.


UN chief congratulates Bush on re-election United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday congratulated US President George W. Bush on his re-election and hoped to maintain  quot;positive and productive quot; relations


Time Warner Sets Aside Legal Reserve Time Warner said today it is establishing a \$500 million legal reserve stemming from the on-going federal probes of its America Online unit and plans to restate the accounting for its stake


Oil Rises After Kerry Concedes US Presidential Race to Bush Crude oil rose, erasing a 2 percent loss, after Senator John Kerry conceded the US presidential race to George W. Bush. The re-election of Bush means the US is likely to keep adding oil to its Strategic Petroleum Reserve.


Ford, GM October Sales Skid Daimler #39;s sales rose 4.7 to 188,492 vehicles from 185,535 a year ago. Year-to-date, sales were up 3 to 1.8 million, while US sales at its Mercedes-Benz unit slipped to 18,323 from 19,273.


Online Travel Sites Post Profits IAC/InterActiveCorp , owner of the online travel service Expedia.com, on Wednesday posted a sharp rise in third-quarter earnings, saying it kept marketing costs in check during the quarter to boost the bottom line.


Estee Lauder, Beauty Queen? Estee Lauder (NYSE: EL) didn #39;t need much of a makeover today. The cosmetics purveyor experienced particular sales strength in Europe and was enthusiastic about the coming year.


UPDATE 1-GM, Ford October US sales fall, Chrysler up General Motors Corp. (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Ford Motor Co. (FN: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday posted weaker US vehicle sales for October after


Ford reports decline in monthly auto sales Ford Motor Co. reported Wednesday that the company had a 5 percent decline in sales during October, including declines in sales of each of the three lines of sport-utility vehicles that are made in Louisville.


Napster brings digital subscription music content to Windows <b>...</b> Napster announced that its portable music subscription service  quot;Napster To Go quot; is available for users of the new AT amp;T Wireless based Audiovox SMT5600 Smartphone.


Internet Explorer #39;s Still-Huge Share Keeps Falling Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer #39;s share of the browser universe slipped nearly a full percentage point since September, giving more hope to open-source rivals such as Mozilla #39;s Firefox that the trend is not a fluke.


Strange Bedfellows  Handango Selected As Preminet Key Content <b>...</b> Given that Handango have a catalog of applications that they sell through a range of store fronts hosted for operators and Nokias Preminet does pretty much the same thing todays announcement seems just a little odd.


Tigers lose scholarship, recruiting on road COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The NCAA has handed down additional minor penalties to the University of Missouri in the wake of a spate of secondary rules violations, ESPN.


Eight arrested in Dutch filmmaker #39;s murder AMSTERDAM Prosecutors in the Netherlands say police have arrested eight suspected Islamic radicals in connection with the murder of an outspoken filmmaker.


Iraqi officer beheaded, US citizen captured BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen kidnapped a Lebanese-American businessman, the second US citizen seized this week in Baghdad, officials said Wednesday.


Revenge Attacks Feared Across Thailand BANGKOK, November 3 (IslamOnline.net  amp; News Agencies) - Amid mounting fears of spreading violence across Thailand over the killings of scores of Thai Muslims by security forces, a local Buddhist official was beheaded in what seems a revenge act for the


Ford #39;s US Auto Sales Fall 5 to 268,474 in October (Update1) Ford Motor Co., the second-largest US automaker, said its US sales of cars and trucks fell 5 percent in October. The 268,474 vehicles sold included a decline of 20 percent from a year


UPDATE 2-US Treasury to sell \$51 bln next wk;warns on limit The US Treasury Department on Wednesday said it would sell \$51 billion in notes at its quarterly  quot;refunding quot; auctions next week, and warned it was running out of room to maneuver around the federal debt limit.


NHL cancels All-Star Game New York, NY (Sports Network) - With no sign that the lockout of its players will end in the near future, the National Hockey League has cancelled the 2005 All-Star Game.


Report: Stottlemyre not returning to NY NEW YORK (Ticker) - It appears Joe Torre will not have Mel Stottlemyre at his side in 2005. The New York Times is reporting that Stottlemyre, who has served as the pitching coach of the New York Yankees under Torre since 1996, has decided not to return.


Dutch fear loss of tolerance When the populist politician Pim Fortuyn was assassinated two years ago, it was said the Netherlands had lost its innocence. By comparison, film maker Theo van Gogh #39;s murder has evoked sensations of dj vu, rather than disbelief.


Bush win would mean victory over terror: Putin MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said that a win by George W. Bush in the US election would mean victory over terror.


AOL Plagues Time Warner The 5-year chart for Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) fails to show the fantastic success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Harry Potter series of films.


Enterasys code for sale on Web #39;s black market Enterasys Networks Inc. #39;s secret sauce is reportedly back on the black market, after an anonymous person or group calling itself the Source Code Club offered to sell some of its software code for \$16,000.


IE Gets Spanked By Firefox Microsoft continues to take its browser dominance for granted, and it #39;s starting to get spanked as a result. The market share of Internet Explorer has been slipping since June, and the latest figures show that the decline continues.


NHL cancels All-Star Weekend The NHL lockout forced the cancellation of this season #39;s All-Star game, scheduled to be held in Atlanta in February. Wednesday #39;s announcement that the midseason showcase would not be held came on the 49th


PGA Taps Tom PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Tom Lehman, a member of three Ryder Cup Teams and winner of the 1996 British Open Championship, has been selected by The Professional Golfers #39; Association of America to captain the 2006 US Ryder Cup Team.


Pistons forward McDyess fined \$5,000 New York, NY (Sports Network) - Pistons forward Antonio McDyess was fined \$5,000 Wednesday for kicking a basketball into the crowd during Detroit #39;s season-opening win over the Houston Rockets.


Schools shut in southern Thailand Fears that Buddhist schools in southern Thailand may be targeted by Islamic separatists have led some to shut. Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik said he had warned Buddhist teachers in the mainly Muslim


Liberia #39;s ex-warring parties disband Three former warring factions in Liberia Wednesday officially disbanded at a ceremony in the capital of Monrovia. The UN Mission in Liberia said in a statement issued in


Five execs convicted in Enron barge case A jury has convicted four former Merrill Lynch (MER) executives and a former midlevel Enron (ENRNQ) finance executive of conspiracy and fraud for helping push


Report warns of larger impact on Arctic from human-made warming The Arctic is experiencing the effects of human-induced climate change, according to a four-year report commissioned by eight nations with territory in the region.


Two Guilty in First Felony Spam Conviction LEESBURG, Va. - A brother and sister who sent unsolicited junk e-mail to millions of America Online customers were convicted Wednesday in the nation #39;s first felony prosecution of distributors of spam.


Possible Source of Cosmic Rays Found com Staff. Astronomers have produced the first truly useful image ever of something in space using gamma rays. It #39;s a picture only an astronomer could love, but it appears to help solve a century-long mystery.


HP, Brocade Integrate SAN Switching, Blade Architecture IT managers concerned about deploying blade technology into heterogeneous environments may have an easier time of it with the recent announcement that Brocade #39;s SAN (storage area network


Roddick reaches third round at Paris Masters Andy Roddick surged into the third round of the Paris Masters with a 6-2, 6-2 rout of Armenia #39;s Sargis Sargsian on Wednesday in his first match since late September.


NHL cancels 2005 All-Star Game NEW YORK (Ticker) - With the season spiraling toward oblivion, the National Hockey League moved one step closer Wednesday. With no sign of an agreement between the league and the players association on the


Birdstone retires after injury Elmont. NY (Sports Network) - Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone has been retired because of a bone chip in his left front ankle. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the husband of owner Marylou Whitney.


Transsexual Golfer Qualifies For European Tour TARANTO, Italy -- A 37-year-old Dane has become the first transsexual golfer to qualify for the Ladies European Tour. Mianne Bagger said she #39;s naturally delighted to be able to finally fulfill a childhood ambition.


Sheikh Maktoum to serve as interim UAE president Following the death on Monday of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum will serve as interim leader of the country that has become an international innovator


African Union: Sudan forces bulldozed Darfur refugee camp Sudanese security forces bulldozed a refugee camp after forcing thousands of conflict-weary Darfur villagers to another camp, an African Union official said Wednesday.


Hungary Plans to Withdraw Troops From Iraq Hungary #39;s government will ask lawmakers to keep its 300 troops in Iraq for an extra three months before pulling them out by March 31, the country #39;s new prime minister said Wednesday.


Napster offers service to AT amp;T Wireless users Napster on Wednesday said that Napster to Go, its fledgling portable music service, is now available to AT amp;T Wireless subscribers who use the Audiovox SMT5600 smart phone.


Dutch Murder Suspect Had Possible Islamist Ties The man suspected of killing a Dutch filmmaker critical of Islam was probably driven by extremist Islamist motives and was already known to the national security service, the government said on Wednesday.


Karzai declared winner of Afghan election KABUL, Afghanistan -- Hamid Karzai was officially declared Afghanistan #39;s first-ever popularly elected president today after a weeks-long fraud probe found no reason to overturn his landslide victory.


Hungarians to withdraw from Iraq Hungary will withdraw its 300 noncombat troops from Iraq by March 31, the countrys new prime minister said today, contending that staying longer would be an  quot;impossibility.


Jury reaches verdict in Enron-Merrill trial A Houston jury has reached a verdict Wednesday in the conspiracy and fraud trial of six defendants connected to a sham deal to illicitly boost Enron Corp.


Defense Stocks Rise on Bush Election Win Defense stocks soared to 52-week highs Wednesday morning as George W. Bush was poised to make a speech accepting re-election, a situation promising continued spending on overseas warfare.


Ameren Seeks to Slash Workforce ST. LOUIS - Utility holding company Ameren Corp. announced plans Wednesday to reduce its payroll by offering 950 union and management employees financial incentives to leave.


Services sector up, manufacturing down An industry survey said growth in the vast US services sector expanded in October, with a slight rise in the employment index. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said orders placed with US factories fell for


Update 1: Orbitz Profit Soars on Revenue Surge Orbitz Inc., the Internet travel agency that is being bought by Cendant Corp., Wednesday posted a 30 percent jump in third-quarter profit, aided by a surge in hotel business.


NHS strikes money-saving IT deal The NHS has struck a discounted deal with computer giant Microsoft to renew its licence for desktop products. The Department of Health said the deal would save the NHS 330m on the current terms.


2 guilty in nation #39;s first felony spam case A brother and sister who sent unsolicited junk e-mail to millions of America Online customers were convicted Wednesday in the nation #39;s first felony prosecution of distributors of spam.


Open Source Solaris Stalls If you were expecting a sneak peak of an open source Solaris or to buy the new commercial version next week, don #39;t hold your breath.


Ancient Roman cosmetics resembled modern moisturizer LONDON - Fashionable women in ancient Rome applied a beauty cream that wasn #39;t all that different from today #39;s cosmetics, researchers say.


Possible origin of cosmic rays revealed with gamma rays An international team of astronomers has produced the first ever image of an astronomical object using high energy gamma rays, helping to solve a 100 year old mystery - an origin of cosmic rays.


Hewlett-Packard Adds High-Speed Switch To Its Blade Servers Hewlett-Packard is looking to jump into the lead in the growing server-blade market--at least temporarily--with its announcement Wednesday that it will integrate Brocade Communications Systems


NHL Cancels All-Star Weekend The NHL lockout forced the cancellation of this season #39;s All-Star game, scheduled to be held in Atlanta in February. No regular-season games have been played since the season was scheduled to begin on Oct.


Belmont Stakes winner retires NEW YORK The horse that spoiled  quot;Smarty Jones #39; quot; bid for the Triple Crown is being retired from racing. Belmont Stakes winner  quot;Birdstone quot; was retired today after chipping a bone in his left front ankle during the Breeders #39; Cup Classic.


Lawyers For Florida Smokers Ask Justices To Punish Tobacco <b>...</b> billion dollar class-action verdict. It was the largest award ever by an American jury. The smokers #39; lawyers, however, say the justices should reduce the amount if they think it is too large as long as they


Ancient Roman Cream Used for Beauty Nov. 3, 2004 - Beauty creams used by the ladies of ancient Rome were not far different from those applied to today #39;s fair skins, to judge by a discovery in the remains of a Roman temple in London dating from the 2nd century AD.


Apple blocks music sales to older iTunes On Wednesday, Apple will stop allowing people running version 4.2 to purchase songs from the iTunes Music Store.  quot;As of today, customers will need to use one of the three most recent versions of iTunes -- 4.7


NHL Lockout Forces All-Star Cancellation NEW YORK Nov 3, 2004 - In another sign the NHL season is slipping away, the league canceled its All-Star game Wednesday because of the lockout.


Roe named ahead of Lyons for Scotland Test Queensland Reds #39; number eight John Roe will make his starting debut for the Wallabies in Saturday #39;s first Test against Scotland at Murrayfield.


New blow for Arsenal ARSENAL defender Sol Campbell, who has missed the past two games with an Achilles injury, has now been ruled out for a further three weeks.


Eight Held in Dutch Filmmaker #39;s Slaying Police arrested eight more suspected Islamic radicals Wednesday in the slaying of a Dutch filmmaker who criticized Muslim customs.


Iran can make the bomb, but doesn #39;t want to: Iranian official Iran has the capacity to produce nuclear weapons but does not intend doing so, a senior Iranian official said here Wednesday.  quot;We do not intend making nuclear weapons, quot; said Ali Akbar Soltan, deputy director


EDS Postpones Third-Quarter Release Electronic Data Systems Corp., a provider of outsourced computer services, said Wednesday that it is further delaying the release of its third-quarter earnings pending a review of charges related to its Navy Marine Corps Intranet account.


Florida Top Court Focuses on Tobacco Class Action Florida Supreme Court judges on Wednesday questioned attorneys for smokers and cigarette companies on whether a case involving thousands of smokers can properly be tried as a class action.


More encroachment on Microsoft Already facing a threat to its Windows operating system dominance from the open source Linux platform, Microsoft can #39;t be too thrilled to find out this week that its Internet Explorer browser is losing market share to the open source Mozilla offering.


Superb Van Nistelrooy sinks Sparta Ruud van Nistelrooy scored all four goals as Manchester United demolished Sparta Prague 4-1 in Wednesday #39;s Champions League Group D match.


With rings and belts, Pistons begin defense of title BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) - With championship belts to go with their rings, the Detroit Pistons scored a late unanimous decision in their first title defense.


Report: Stottlemyre to retire? Mel Stottlemyre has not officially told the Yankees whether he plans to return for a 10th season as the team #39;s pitching coach, but one published report on Wednesday indicated


Birdstone retired to stud Birdstone, who denied Smarty Jones the Triple Crown by beating him in the Belmont Stakes, has been retired from racing due to an ankle injury his connections announced Wednesday.


Pistons #39; McDyess fined \$5,000 US CBC SPORTS ONLINE - It took Detroit Pistons forward Antonio McDyess one game to get in trouble with the National Basketball Association.


Missouri hit with probation, scholarship loss Missouri #39;s basketball team was placed on three years #39; probation Wednesday for NCAA recruiting violations but avoided a ban on postseason play.


Leaders Attend UAE President #39;s Funeral The United Arab Emirates appointed Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as its president Wednesday, hours after burying his father in a funeral that attracted thousands of mourners and nine heads of state to this desert nation on the Arabian Peninsula.


World governments hope for policy changes from 2nd Bush <b>...</b> US allies alienated by President George W. Bush #39;s first four years in power indicated Wednesday they would seek from Day 1 to get the new White House to listen more to outside opinion.


EDS Might Miss Results Filing Deadline Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , a technology services provider under government investigation, on Wednesday said it might miss its deadline to file third


Five convicted in Enron trial in Houston A Houston jury Wednesday acquitted a former Enron accountant but found five other defendants guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy. The jury cleared Sheila Kahanek of all charges


Britain #39;s National Health Service Gets Money-Saving Deal from <b>...</b> A  quot;landmark agreement quot; with Microsoft to renew the NHS #39; license for desktop software would save an estimated \$608 million.


Beagle Team Unveil Potential Successor to Failed Mars Mission The team behind Beagle 2, the failed mission to land on Mars and search for life, has unveiled potential plans for a successor, it emerged today.


Missouri basketball program sanctioned by NCAA Columbia, MO (Sports Network) - The Missouri basketball program has been placed on probation for three years and will face limits on recruiting, scholarships and official visits for violating NCAA rules.


Jones, Edmonds both win seventh After having his 13-year winning streak broken last season, Greg Maddux returned to a familiar position Wednesday when he earned the Rawlings Gold Glove Award as the National League #39;s best fielding pitcher.


Karzai win chance to cleanse government overthrew the Taliban militia in late 2001 for refusing to handover al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. coalitions with main rivals, characterised as regional strongmen who rely on ethnic loyalties and private militias.


World leaders hope for fresh start with Bush With a few notable exceptions, world leaders #39; reaction to George W. Bush #39;s electoral victory has been muted. As he declared victory on Wednesday afternoon, Bush said he is proud of his active international


Prodi Congratulates Bush, Urges Steps to Collective Security #39; European Commission President Romano Prodi urged US President George W. Bush to use his second term to promote collective security #39; #39; after the transatlantic clashes over the Iraq war.


TV Drives Up News Corp. Earnings Earnings at News Corp., the media conglomerate run by Rupert Murdoch, rose 27 percent in the latest quarter on stronger results from broadcast television, cable networks and newspapers, the company reported Wednesday.


Orbitz Profit Soars on Revenue Surge Orbitz Inc., the Internet travel agency that is being bought by Cendant Corp., Wednesday posted a 30 percent jump in third-quarter profit, aided by a surge in hotel business.


Mercedes in 3Q Is Ugly Duckling to Chrysler #39;s Swan Daimler-Benz #39;s \$34 billion acquisition of Chrysler Corp. in 1999, having wiped out substantial shareholder value, finally may be starting to justify the rationale of its architects.


New Charges Filed in Philadelphia Probe A federal grand jury filed more charges Wednesday against the city #39;s former treasurer and a top mayoral fund-raiser in a broad corruption probe that involved FBI wiretapping


Spammer Jailed, Fines Issued In Landmark Case Nov 03, 2004 -- A Loudoun County Circuit Court jury convicted a brother and sister from North Carolina on three counts each of sending spam and acquitted the third co-defendant in the nations first felony spam trial that ended Wednesday.


Bomb and arson investigators call device a  #39;dud #39; Chicago Cubs: A groundskeeper found a rusted, hollowed-out shell of a grenade in the right field turf of Chicago #39;s Wrigley Field.


Bayern Munich 0-1 Juventus: FT Report MUNICH, November 3 (Champions League) - Captain fantastic Alessandro Del Piero scored the only goal of the game to earn Juventus a hard-fought Champions League win at Bayern Munich and a place in the knockout stages.


Memphis Rout Still Stings for Louisville Memphis Rout Still Stings for No. 14 Louisville; Coach Petrino Vows to Have Team Better Prepared. NASHVILLE, Tenn. Nov 3, 2004 - Louisville #39;s 30-point loss at home to Memphis last season is still a painful memory for the Cardinals.


Grim Reminder for Bush as Iraq Savagery Continues Gunmen in Iraq kidnapped a Lebanese-American businessman today - the second US citizen seized this week in Baghdad -s the countrys almost daily routine of kidnapping and murder continued.


Five Convicted in Enron-Merrill Trial A former Enron Corp. executive and four former Merrill Lynch bankers were found guilty on Wednesday of conspiracy and fraud for the bankrupt energy company #39;s sale of electricity barges to Merrill Lynch in 1999.


New Google Stock Supply in 2005 Threatens Rally A flood of Google Inc. shares that could dwarf the size of the Internet search company #39;s initial public offering will become free to trade in the next few months


Credence to Close Two Sites, Cut Jobs Credence Systems Corp., a maker of chip-testing equipment, on Wednesday said it plans to shut down two testing facilities and eliminate about 8 percent of its work force as it reshuffles its operations.


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


Real fights back to earn draw in Kiev Real Madrid fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Dynamo Kiev in their Champions League match on Wednesday, leaving the Group B wide open with two rounds remaining.


Vieira: Its Still In Our Hands After Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Panathinaikos at Highbury on Tuesday night, captain leaving them three points behind Group E leaders PSV Eindhoven with two games left to play, captain Patrick Vieira said:  quot;A draw is better than nothing.


DC City Council Weighs Revised Baseball Plan Washington, DC, City Council committees will consider a revised stadium funding package on Wednesday that includes a \$450 million community investment fund financed with bonds, according to the mayor #39;s staff.


Dutch police arrest 8 in filmmaker murder probe The Dutch police authorities have arrested eight suspects concerning the killing of the famous film maker Theo van Gogh, Radio Netherlands reported Wednesday.


Blair Congratulates Bush on Re-Election Prime Minister Tony Blair renewed his pledge to work with President Bush on the war on terrorism and to revitalize the Middle East peace process Wednesday, expressing hope that the


Kidnappers grab second US citizen in a week Gunmen kidnapped a Lebanese-American businessman -he second US citizen seized this week in Baghdad  - militants released a tape Wednesday showing the beheading


Ukraine makes a crucial choice A mid the clamor and confusion of the US elections, it is easy to forget that ballots are being held elsewhere in the world. This week Ukraine held a presidential election, and while the outcome will not shape


Five convicted in first Enron trial FOUR Merrill Lynch bankers and a mid-level Enron executive were last night found guilty of conspiracy and fraud in the first criminal trial since the collapse of the energy trading giant three years ago.


Update 1: Andrx Misses Forecast on Drug Delays Andrx Corp. #39;s third-quarter results missed projections, as the launch of some generic products was delayed and the company #39;s exclusivity rights to two drugs expired.


Goldman, Ford settle IPO allocation dispute Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Ford Motor Co. (FN: Quote, Profile, Research) agreed on Wednesday to settle a shareholder lawsuit accusing Ford Chairman


Manchester United stops Sparta Prague Ruud van Nistelrooy scored all four goals Wednesday as Manchester United defeated Sparta Prague 4-1, improving the Red Devils to eight points in four games in Group D. Support your


WRAPUP1-Juventus and Lyon qualify for knockout phase Juventus and Olympique Lyon joined Chelsea and Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League after both scored late goals to seal their places on Wednesday.


Benitez delighted with Liverpool step forward Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said his team turned in a near-perfect performance, re-igniting their bid for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a valuable 1-0 win at Deportivo Coruna.


Arafat #39;s health worsening, aides in Paris say Speaking from France, Palestinian officials say leader Yasser Arafat took a turn for the worse late Wednesday. He #39;s been in a Paris hospital since last Friday.


Labor chief asked: Why are OFWs still in Iraq? Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. LABOR Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas should explain why there are still Filipino workers in Iraq


NMCI delays EDS earnings again EDS officials delayed releasing the company #39;s earnings report for the second time in two weeks pending completion of a previously announced evaluation of EDS #39; Navy Marine Corps Intranet contract by an outside auditor and company officials.


CCA Reports Profits Drop Corrections Corporation of America reported a drop in third-quarter profits Wednesday because of higher taxes, but the nation #39;s largest private prison company still beat analysts #39; expectations.


Penn National to Buy Argosy Casino operator Penn National Gaming Inc. is buying Argosy Gaming Co. in a stock purchase deal worth about \$2.2 billion, including about \$805 million in long-term debt, the companies said Wednesday.


Andrx income flat, below forecast LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) - Andrx said Wednesday that its earnings were flat with last year #39;s and far short of what had been expected.


Arctic Ice Cap Warming Rate Accelerates A study conducted by the Arctic Council which consists of about 300 internationals researches, have stated that the ice cap is warming at twice the global rate.


Andruw earns seventh Gold Glove Andruw Jones has notched another Gold Glove Award and further enhanced the resume of a player many consider to be one of the greatest defensive players of all time.


Lehman named as American Ryder captain Tom Lehman has been given the job of leading the 2006 American Ryder Cup team as the try to restore some pride after their heaviest ever Ryder Cup defeat.


NHL Lockout Glance NEGOTIATIONS: The NHL and the players association haven #39;t held a negotiating session since Sept. 9 -- one week before the lockout was imposed, but NHLPA senior director Ted Saskin met with Bill Daly, the NHL #39;s chief legal officer on Oct. 26 in New York.


Mixed reactions in Mid-East THE prospect of George W. Bush spending four more years in the White House drew mixed reactions and a dose of caution in the troubled Middle East today.


Wall Street stocks soar as investors cheer Bush #39;s re-election Wall Street celebrated President Bush #39;s re-election with a strong rally Wednesday, surging higher as investors welcomed the Republican #39;s victory.


Your source code, for sale Well, maybe not yet. But what does the future hold for those who consider their source code an important proprietary asset? Halloween this year featured more scary stuff than just ghosts and ghouls.


Arafat #39;s Health Suffers Setback - Envoy Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat #39;s health has suffered a setback and doctors are carrying out more tests to discover why, Palestinian envoy Leila Shahid told Reuters on Wednesday.


UK Prime Minister Blair Warmly #39; Congratulates President Bush UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said he warmly congratulated #39; #39; US President George W. Bush on winning a second term, and urged him to revitalize the Middle East peace process.


US forces pound Falluja US forces have stepped up pressure on Iraqi fighters in Falluja, using AC-130 aircraft and tanks to pound eastern and northwestern areas of the town.


Somalia Names New Prime Minister Somalia #39;s new prime minister is Ali Mohamed Ghedi, a Member of Parliament from the capital, Mogadishu. Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed announced the appointment at a news conference in Nairobi.


YUKOS shareholders to consider bankruptcy The Board of Directors of YUKOS Oil Company will call an emergency shareholders meeting to consider whether the company should file for bankruptcy or be liquidated, YUKOS Chief Executive Officer Stephen Theede told reporters on Wednesday.


The Roman road to beauty Call it the Maximus factor. Archaeologists working at the site of an old Roman temple near Guy #39;s hospital in London have uncovered a pot of cosmetic cream dating back to AD2.


Napster To Be Available On AT amp;T Wireless Infosync is reporting that Napster will be available through AT amp;T/Cingular wireless services for \$14.99/month.  quot;Napster today announced that Napster To Go, the first portable music subscription service for


Salesforce.com Adds Customization, Partners Customer relationship management (CRM) specialist Salesforce.com is adding customization features to its hosted suite as well as increasing its reliance on partners to develop complementary applications.


Dalhousie scientists first to clone insects Hoping other scientists might apply their findings to humans, a team of researchers in Halifax has announced they #39;ve become first in the world to successfully clone insects.


Google Brings Search Technology to the Desktop With Google Desktop Search, users can sift through their e-mail, files, Web history and chats to find information in the same way they search the Internet.


Champions League: Group E - roundup including a tale of 2 <b>...</b> It was a tale of two penalties at Highbury, where Arsenal could only manage a 1-1 draw against Panathinaikos. Henry converted Arsenal #39;s spot-kick to open the scoring on 16 minutes, but Basinas failed to deliver


Missing sample could save showjumper #39;s Olympic gold Cian O #39;Connor, the Irish showjumper whose Olympics-winning horse tested positive for a banned substance, could now hold on to his gold medal following the sensational news that a portion of the horse #39;s sample has been stolen.


Thursday #39;s preview Points: Though Louisville is just reaching the midpoint in its Conference USA schedule, this might be the toughest remaining road game in its quest for the league title.


Hostage release drive continues Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Filipino Angelito Nayan and Kosovan Shqipe Habibi were kidnapped in the Afghan capital, Kabul, last week.


Bushs victory eases fears over trade SINGAPORE: Asian business circles reacted with relief Wednesday to the apparent re-election of President George W Bush, which eased fears of US protectionism, but some were concerned about his impact on the regions political stability.


Ailing smokers ask Florida justices to restore \$145 billion award Sick Florida smokers urged the state #39;s highest court Wednesday to punish the tobacco industry for  quot;fraud and deceit quot; by restoring a \$145 billion class-action award, the largest ever by an American jury.


Global Stocks Rally, Oil Up as Bush Wins US stocks climbed while bonds fell and the dollar lost ground against the euro on Wednesday as Republican President Bush won re-election in a tight race.


Update 1: Qualcomm Net Up 35 Percent Qualcomm Inc. #39;s earnings rose 35 percent on continued sales growth in its fiscal fourth quarter, but the cell-phone technology company projected earnings for the new fiscal year below Wall Street #39;s views.


Relocated News Corp boosts profit Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corporation, basking in the glow of its successful shift to the United States, has unveiled a 27 per cent rise in first quarter profit and declared it is on the cusp of a new and more profitable era.


Source Code Club: Hacker Hoax or Cisco Headache? Source Code Club #39;s last attempt to cash in on other people #39;s intellectual property targeted Enterasys Network #39;s Dragon intrusion detection system, which SCC offered for \$16,000, and Napster #39;s


Hearts in the right place for Robertson JOHN ROBERTSON used to offer a nice line in self-deprecation when he played for Heart of Midlothian. It aint over until the fat striker scores, was the way that the Edinburgh clubs


Own goal ensures a happy return to Spain for Bentez IT REMAINS a source of bemusement in Spain that Rafael Bentez, having led Valencia to the championship last spring, chose to up sticks and pursue the challenge of restoring Liverpool to their former glories.


Eagles #39; Westbrook practices; status not certain PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 3, 2004) -- Brian Westbrook returned to practice, but he remains questionable for Philadelphia #39;s game against Pittsburgh on Nov. 7. The running back missed the Eagles #39; 15-10 victory against Baltimore last week because of a cracked rib.


Victory spells trouble for US-Europe relations VIENNA: George W Bushs victory in the US presidential election is likely to prolong and even widen the trans-Atlantic rift, adding new urgency to a growing sense in Europe of the need for a balance to US might.


Former Merrill Executives Convicted in Enron Scam A jury convicted four former Merrill Lynch (MER:NYSE - news - research) executives and a former Enron employee of conspiracy and fraud in the first criminal trial involving employees of Wall Street and the once-beleaguered company.


Merger could make Penn National 3rd largest casino operator By VICKI SMITH, Associated Press Writer, The Associated Press. Penn National, based in Wyomissing, Pa., will pay \$47 per share for Argosy stock, or about 15 percent more than Wednesday #39;s closing price and assume \$805 million of Argosy #39;s long-term debt.


Europeans to send another Beagle to Mars London - The British team behind the ill-fated Beagle 2 probe to Mars, which vanished without trace in December 2003 while attempting to land on the Red Planet, unveiled plans on Wednesday for a possible successor mission.


quot;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas quot; You carjack a taxi and say to the cabby,  quot;I know it seems bad, but it could be worse. quot; Then, you carjack a cop car and explain to the officer,  quot;Blame society.


Report: Stottlemyre won #39;t return Mel Stottlemyre won #39;t return as pitching coach of the Yankees, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Stottlemyre has been the pitching coach since manager Joe Torre was hired before the


Arafat #39;s condition deteriorates The French doctors treating Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat say his health has suffered a setback and they are carrying out more tests to discover why.


UAE Supreme Council elects Khalifa as president The Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday evening unanimously elected Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the new president of the UAE, the official Emirates news agency WAM reported Wednesday.


Karzai elected Afghan president The incumbent Afghan leader Hamid Karzai has emerged as the winner of Afghanistan #39;s first-ever presidential election marred by irregularities, head of the joint UN-Afghan election commission announced here Wednesday.


Queen Elizabeth praises Germany #39;s achievements POTSDAM, Germany Queen Elizabeth II opened a conference on climate change Wednesday and praised the progress made by Germany #39;s formerly communist East.


Hungary to remove its troops from Iraq BERLIN Hungary announced Wednesday that it would withdraw its 300 troops from Iraq, becoming the latest country in the 32-member US-led coalition to bow to public pressure and prepare to bring its soldiers home.


EU failed to become the world #39;s most competitive economy, report <b>...</b> BRUSSELS Europe #39;s efforts to become the world #39;s most competitive economy have failed, and the European social model faces collapse unless the Continent #39;s governments stimulate growth and create more jobs, according to a report published Wednesday.


Hunters kill last brown bear Hunters have shot dead the last female brown bear native to the Pyrenees, condemning the species to extinction and causing an  quot;environmental catastrophe quot; for France, the government said.


Stocks rise, bonds slide as investors bet on Bush SINGAPORE, NOV 3: Investors grew confident on Wednesday that President George W Bush would win re-election, pushing up US stock futures and the dollar, after TV networks said he had won the key swing state of Ohio.


Update 1: TV Drives Up News Corp. Earnings Earnings at News Corp., the media conglomerate run by Rupert Murdoch, rose 27 percent in the latest quarter on stronger results from broadcast television, cable networks and newspapers, the company reported Wednesday.


UPDATE 2-Mondavi agrees to be bought by Constellation Robert Mondavi Corp. (MOND.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday agreed to be acquired by Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the


Tin of Ancient Roman Cosmetic Cream Found in UK When it comes to cosmetics, the ancient Romans knew what they were doing. Scientists have unearthed a small tin canister dating back to the middle of the second century


Intermec Offers Up RFID Patents For Free Intermec Technologies Inc. has agreed to waive intellectual-property licensing fees for 60 days on 14 patents in hopes of spurring more companies to build prototypes based next-generation standards for radio-frequency identification.


FOOTBALL: I DON #39;T CARE IF IT #39;S TYNECASTLE OR MURRAYFIELD I #39;D BOSS <b>...</b> THEY named a suite after John Robertson when he ended his 16-year association with Hearts in the summer of 1998. Many thought they should have erected a statue.


Roddick and Safin through in Paris Andy Roddick and Marat Safin sprinkled a little stardust over the Paris Masters overnight, as the American and Russian crowd-pullers both raced into the third round.


Transsexual drives off to score a first on the golf course Golf is not a sport renowned for being at ease with gender issues. Many of the game #39;s great clubs refuse to admit women, and the occasional inclusion of women in men #39;s professional tournaments has caused consternation from Arran to Augusta.


Car bombing hits US checkpoint in Baghdad A car bomb explosion rattled Wednesday morning a US military checkpoint on a highway leading to Baghdad #39;s airport, the US military said in a statement.


Gloom for EU growth targets Former Dutch prime minister Wim Kok has delivered a damning report on Europe #39;s growth and competitiveness, warning that it will be  quot;extremely difficult quot; for the EU to meet its 2010 targets.


Penn National to acquire Argosy in \$1.4 billion deal CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Penn National Gaming Inc. is acquiring Argosy Gaming Co. for \$1.4 billion cash in an effort to turn itself into the nation #39;s third-largest operator of gambling properties.


NZ Fonterra Says National Foods Offer Generous And Full-2 WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd. (FCG.YY) said Thursday its takeover offer for Australian-based National Foods (NFD.


Microsoft browser market share slips slightly SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. #39;s share of the browser market slipped slightly in recent months but still dominated with 92.9 per cent, an internet analytics firm said.


Garner to Stay on as Astros Manager The Houston Astros are to retain Phil Garner as manager, a reward for his mid-season rescue act which led the team to the playoffs.


Palestinian sources: No change in Arafat #39;s condition A source close to Yasser Arafat denied reports Wednesday that the Palestinian leader #39;s condition has deteriorated sharply, but another official acknowledged that his condition remained  quot;difficult.


Fonterra Says Offer for National Foods Is Generous #39; (Update1) Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd., the world #39;s biggest dairy exporter, said its A\$1.34 billion (\$1.01 billion) offer for the rest of National Foods Ltd.


Five convicted in Enron barge case A JURY in Houston, Texas, today delivered criminal convictions against four bankers and an Enron executive in a case stemming from a money-losing project of electricity-generating barges off the coast of Nigeria.


Foreign retailers #39; enclosure of land competition in China It is reported that another  quot;Champion Supermarket quot; of French retailer Carrefour will open soon in Guangming Village, Haidian District in Beijing.


PolyMedica to Settle Justice Probe Medical products supplier PolyMedica Corp. reported Wednesday it reached a tentative settlement with the Justice Department for \$35 million over an investigation into Medicare practices.


Soccer: Raul, Figo save Real #39;s blushes as Dynamo light up Kiev KIEV : Spanish giants Real Madrid came back from a two-goal deficit for the second time this season in the Champions League to draw 2-2 with Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kiev in their Group B clash.


French Open winner first seed to fall at Paris Masters PARIS: Gaston Gaudio had no reason to celebrate on his return to Paris after his French Open victory, losing 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 to Spaniard Feliciano Lopez at the Paris Masters yesterday.


Karzai is formally declared victor in the Afghan elections KABUL Hamid Karzai was formally announced the winner of the Oct. 9 presidential election by Afghanistan #39;s electoral board Wednesday after an international panel announced that irregularities it had investigated


Enron barge jury not finished yet HOUSTON - Jurors still have work to do after convicting several former Wall Street bankers and a former Enron Corp. finance executive Wednesday of conspiring to push through a sham deal.


Cisco, MIT look from lab to market Cisco Systems is teaming up with researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop new communications technology that the company hopes to ultimately turn into products.


Napster To Go invades AT amp;T Wireless cellphone Music subscription service Napster announced today they had inked a deal with AT amp;T Wireless to make the Napster To Go portable music service available to owners of the cellular provider #39;s new Audiovox SMT 5600 Smartphone.


Dynasty Warriors PSP November 03, 2004 - The addictive brutality and enveloping strategy of the Dynasty Warriors has always seemed perfect for a portable, making the PSP edition of the series easily one of the most anticipated games for the PlayStation Portable system so far.


Sonic Mega Collection Plus November 03, 2004 - Sonic Mega Collection Plus is perhaps one of the best compilations you could ask for. At a mere \$20, gamers can enjoy 20 classic games.


Origin of Cosmic Rays Revealed neutron_p writes  quot;An international team of astronomers has produced the first ever image of an astronomical object using high energy gamma rays, helping to solve a 100 year old mystery - an origin of cosmic rays.


Strong earthquake shakes northern Japan A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.2 has shaken northern Japan in the same region that was hit by a deadly tremor last month, but there are no immediate reports of damage or injuries.


Yuganskneftegaz won #39;t be able to repay extraction tax on time <b>...</b> Moscow. (Interfax) - Yukos #39;s key production unit Yuganskneftegaz for now will not be able to fulfill the Natural Resources Ministry #39;s claim and repay its debt on the mineral resources extraction tax, Yukos CEO Steven Michael Theede told Interfax.


News Corp Posts Strong Results Ahead of US Move Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corp. Ltd on Wednesday posted a 28 percent rise in quarterly profit as strong results in newspapers, broadcast and cable television countered weaker


PolyMedica reaches tentative \$35 million settlement with <b>...</b> Medical supply company PolyMedica Corp. has reached a tentative \$35 million settlement with the federal government over alleged Medicare fraud.


Ailing smokers ask Florida justices to restore \$145-billion class <b>...</b> Sick Florida smokers urged the state #39;s highest court Wednesday to punish the tobacco industry for  quot;fraud and deceit quot; by restoring a \$145 billion US class-action award, the largest ever by an American jury.


Consumers seen as drivers of longer-term semi growth SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Global semiconductor sales are expected to be flat in 2005, below previous forecasts, and growth won #39;t reach double digits again until 2007, a trade group said late Wednesday.


Roddick reaches 3rd round in Paris Top seed Andy Roddick of the United States beat Sargis Sargsian 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round at the Paris Masters here on Wednesday.


Transsexual tees off on ladies #39; golf tour MIANNE Bagger, the transsexual golfer who prompted a change in the rules to allow her to compete on the professional circuit, made history yesterday by qualifying to play full-time on the Ladies European Tour.


Celtic board must make decision OF THE millions of words the garrulous Martin ONeill has felt the urge to utter since the start of the season, the two he used on the eve of Celtics Champions League showdown with Shakhtar Donetsk carried more significance than all the others put


Lehman to captain America #39;s Ryder  #39;underdogs #39; Tom Lehman, who was last night appointed captain of the 2006 US Ryder Cup team, admitted:  quot;For the first time ever we will be the underdogs.


Forget England, India are No 2, says Merv MUMBAI: India #39;s form slump may have left fans disappointed and the critics carping, but they found support from an unlikely quarter on Wednesday.


Chelsea makes League #39;s last 16 ROMAN Abramovich #39;s face was wreathed in smiles yesterday and he had every reason as the billionaire owner of Premiership side Chelsea saw his team book its place in the last 16 of


Liverpool silence Riazor with gritty win LIVERPOOL revived their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League in emphatic style last night as Rafael Benitez used his inside knowledge of the Spanish game to steer his side to a stunning win over Deportivo La Coruna.


Palestinians say they hope Bush accepts dealing with Arafat in new <b>...</b> An ailing Yasser Arafat congratulated President Bush on his re-election and expressed hope that a second term will spark new life to the Middle East peace process, an aide to the Palestinian leader said Wednesday.


Poland not to withdraw troops from Iraq Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Wednesday that Hungary #39;s decision to pull out of its troops from Iraq will not influence his country.


Queen opens climate summit The Queen is to open a conference on climate change today during her state visit to Germany. The gathering, held at the British embassy in Berlin, will make recommendations on climate change to Prime Minister Tony Blair.


#39;He Hate Me #39; placed on IR Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - The Carolina Panthers placed kick returner/running back Rod Smart on injured reserve Wednesday because of a hyperextended right knee.


Sudan bulldozes Darfur refugee camp SUDANESE security forces bulldozed a refugee camp after forcibly relocating thousands of conflict-weary Darfur villagers, an African Union official said yesterday.


Somali president names prime minister to head reconciliation <b>...</b> : Somalia #39;s new president named a prime minister, choosing a member from another of the four largest clans to preside over what is hoped will be a government of reconciliation in the war-ravaged country.


Time Warner sets up \$500m legal war chest Time Warner has set aside a \$500m (272m) war chest to cover regulatory and legal action over accounting practices at its America Online division.


Enron Barge Jury Not Finished Yet Jurors still have work to do after convicting several former Wall Street bankers and a former Enron Corp. finance executive Wednesday of conspiring to push through a sham deal.


News Corp. Profit Rises 27 on Higher Cable Ad Sales (Update2) News Corp., the media company controlled by Rupert Murdoch, said fiscal first-quarter profit rose 27 percent, partly because advertising sales increased at its cable-television networks including Fox News Channel.


Fonterra does not rule out higher offer for National Foods Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd says it does not want to limit its options on the price it has offered for Australia #39;s National Foods Ltd.


Pennsylvania company offers \$2.2B for Argosy Penn National Gaming Inc. has offered to buy Argosy Gaming Co. in a deal valued at \$2.2 billion that would create the third-largest gaming company in the United States, the companies said after the market closed Wednesday.


Europe losing growth race, says report The EU is in danger of being relegated from the economic super-league because of its failure to match the US and Asia in growth, productivity, innovation and competitiveness, a high-level report warned political leaders yesterday on the eve of their


Roman beauty secrets revealed in 1,800-year-old tin of make-up this was the foundation that fashionable women in Roman London would put on their faces before an evening or day out. Scientists


British scientists plan mission to Mars, again Scientists behind the Beagle 2 mission to Mars unveiled designs yesterday for a successor to the British spacecraft. Plans for the so-called Beagle 3 came to light as scientists outlined


Apple Asks ITunes Users to Upgrade ITunes users must upgrade starting today if they wish to purchase or download songs from the ITunes Music Store, according to Apple.


Source Code Club Reemerges, Offering Cisco Code The Source Code Club is back in business, if you can call it that. The anonymous hacker group first began peddling proprietary source code last July, then disappeared, and now has reemerged


First insects are cloned As if there weren #39;t enough of them in the world already, scientists have succeeded in cloning flies. The identical fruitflies are the first insects ever cloned, says the Canadian team that created them.


Sonic Mega Collection Plus Ships Sega of America today announced that Sonic Mega Collection Plus for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 has shipped to retail outlets across North America.


#39;Unbelievable #39; Ruud hits four RUUD van Nistelrooy scored all four for United in this Champions League game at Old Trafford today. Three poacher #39;s strikes and a coolly executed penalty took the Dutch striker #39;s tally of European goals for United to a phenomenal 35 in 36 matches.


Report: Phillies name Manuel as manager Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - According to a published report, the Philadelphia Phillies have named Charlie Manuel as their 50th manager on Wednesday night.


Cancellation is a serious blow to fans, host city Few hockey purists will bemoan Wednesday #39;s announcement that the National Hockey League has cancelled the 2005 All-Star Game in Atlanta.


Fresh concern raised over Arafat #39;s health The health of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, deteriorated significantly yesterday prompting doctors in France to conduct further tests.


Australia #39;s Howard Says Bush Win a Victory for Terrorism Fight Australian Prime Minister John Howard said the re-election of close ally US President George W. Bush was a victory for the fight against terrorism.


Lion attacks Taiwanese man who jumps A lion mauled a man who jumped into its cage Wednesday at a zoo in Taiwan #39;s capital, yelling religious slogans. Cable TV stations captured the attack in which the man apparently escaped without being seriously injured.


Bush Win Sends Oil Near \$51 a Barrel Oil prices surged more than \$1 on Wednesday as the re-election of President Bush countered the impact of a big increase in spare oil supplies ahead of winter.


Dow Ends Up 101 on President Bush Victory Wall Street celebrated President Bush #39;s re-election with a solid rally Wednesday, surging higher as investors welcomed continuity in Washington and shrugged off higher oil prices.


Chip sales to set record this year Worldwide sales of computer chips are expected to set a record this year, according to the San Jose, Calif.-based trade group Semiconductor Industry Association.


Mozilla Firefox: It is Microsoft vs. Online community It is not everyday that Microsoft feels threatened by something so trivial. But I am pretty sure that they would be terrified of November 9. Well, not exactly they are going to rock the gaming world with


Report: Manuel to helm Phillies The Phillies have reportedly settled on former Indians manager Charlie Manuel to become the team #39;s 50th skipper, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on its Web site Wednesday night.


Transsexual breaks new ground on womens tour Denmark #39;s Mianne Bagger yesterday made history by becoming the first transsexual woman to earn a place on the on next year #39;s Robe di Kappa Ladies #39; European Tour.


Rolen, Matheny also honored for defensive excellence The 2004 Cardinals were the National League #39;s best defensive team by acclamation. Now they have the hardware to back up that assertion.


John Howard congratulates George Bush from Kirribilli house TONY EASTLEY: The Prime Minister, John Howard, spoke to George W. Bush this morning from Kirribilli House in Sydney. The Prime Minister congratulated Mr Bush on his election win.


Bomber Hits Near Baghdad Airport A car bomb exploded at an airport checkpoint, a Lebanese American was reported kidnapped from his home, three headless bodies were found under a bridge and a US soldier was


Scientists Intrigued by Rare Dead Whale BRISBANE, Australia - The body of a whale resembling a giant dolphin that washed up on an eastern Australian beach has intrigued local scientists, who agreed Wednesday that it is rare but are not sure just how rare.


Oct. Sales Slow at GM, Ford General Motors and Ford Motor Co. continued to lose sales ground in October despite the introduction of several new products. Asian automakers continue to pick up ground as Toyota , Nissan, Honda, and Hyundai all posted sales increases.


Click-less phishing scam steals passwords A phishing scam has been detected that doesn #39;t require users to click on a link in order to jeopardise their personal data. Simply opening the email may be enough, according to Messagelabs.


Van Nistelrooy Answers Ferguson With Four More Goals in Europe Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said he had high hopes #39; #39; for Ruud Van Nistelrooy before yesterday #39;s Champions League game against Sparta Prague.


Juventus, Lyon qualify from group stage in Champions League Juventus and Olympique Lyon became the third and fourth teams to reach the knockout stage of the European Champions League on Wednesday.


Hungary to withdraw troops from Iraq by March 2005 Hungary will withdraw its 300 troops from Iraq by March 31 next year, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said here Wednesday as US President George W. Bush, who led the invasion of Iraq, won re-election to a second four-year term.


Time Warner Reserves Funds for AOL Penalty Time Warner said yesterday that it had set aside \$500 million to pay for potential penalties stemming from a government investigation into accounting practices at America Online, a step that


Bush win brings hope of stock market boom By Simon English, Malcolm Moore and Yvette Essen (Filed: 04/11/2004). Wall Street cheered the election victory of President George W Bush yesterday as investors bet lower taxes on profits would lead to a stock market boom.


Jury Convicts 5 Involved in Enron Deal With Merrill The first criminal trial stemming from the financial dealings at Enron ended yesterday with a raft of convictions, as a federal jury found that five defendants, including four former executives


Constellation Agrees to Acquire Robert Mondavi for \$1 Billion Constellation Brands, which owns a broad portfolio of beer, wine and spirits brands, signed an agreement yesterday to acquire the California wine pioneer, the Robert Mondavi Corporation, for about \$1 billion.


Ford and GM Lose Ground to Imports General Motors and the Ford Motor Company continued to lose ground to import brands last month, despite heavy levels of incentive spending, according to sales results released Wednesday.


Profit at Este Lauder Increases 22 The Este Lauder Companies posted a 22 percent increase in quarterly profit yesterday as higher sales of anti-wrinkle creams, hair-care and cosmetic products offset weaker fragrance purchases.


Ford Settles Investors #39; Suit Over IPO Of Goldman The Ford Motor Company agreed yesterday to settle a lawsuit that accused its chief executive of improperly accepting shares of the initial public offering of the Goldman Sachs Group, which agreed to pay \$13.


Review:  #39;San Andreas #39; Among Best Games  quot;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas quot; is an epic homage to the West Coast gang culture of the early 1990s. Yes, parents, there #39;s way too much violence and profanity here for the kids.


Singh #39;s Year to Remember Will Be Hard to Forget Vijay Singh is probably sorry to see the PGA Tour season ending. When you have dominated like Singh, why wouldn #39;t you want to keep playing?


Aziz, Zia discuss regional cooperation, bilateral issues : World News  gt; Dhaka, Nov 3 : South Asian regional cooperation and bilateral issues including trade and investment figured prominently in talks between visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his Bangladesh counterpart Khaleda Zia here today.


Victory of known entity lifts stocks Stock markets powered ahead while government bonds suffered yesterday as financial markets around the world signalled relief at the emerging clarity, and the result, of the US presidential election.


Chrysler Outpaces Its US Competitors The Chrysler Group, the North American arm of DaimlerChrysler AG, continued on its hot streak last month as the only domestic automaker with increasing US sales.


Decisive Bush re-election victory lifts Wall Street NEW YORK : President George W. Bush #39;s re-election sparked a broad stock rally, as Wall Street welcomed the decisive victory for the candidate seen as the most business-friendly.


Intel devising chip line for consumer electronics Intel is readying a line of consumer electronics chips based on the IA-32 architecture, the design underlying the vast majority of Intel #39;s desktop, notebook and server processors, said Louis Burns, co-general manger of the Desktop Platforms Group at Intel


Centerfielder only Brave honored for defensive play If the Braves have any desire to float Andruw Jones #39; name in trade discussions at next week #39;s major league general managers #39; meetings, they can do it with another accomplishment tacked on his resume.


Rare whale find excites Australian researchers An extremely rare whale with a beak like a dolphin found dead on a Byron Bay beach has excited Australia #39;s marine researchers.


AOL Parent Sets Up \$500 Million Reserve Time Warner Inc. said yesterday that it is creating a \$500 million reserve in response to the federal investigations of its America Online unit and that it also will restate AOL Europe #39;s financial results for 2000 and 2001.


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


HICKSS TRIAL DELAYED The date for Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hickss trial has been pushed back from January 10 to March 15. The trials presiding officer, US Army Colonel Peter Brownback, said the delay would


Sick Florida smokers ask top court to restore \$145 billion damage <b>...</b> Sick Florida smokers yesterday urged Florida #39;s highest court to punish the tobacco industry for  quot;fraud and deceit quot; by restoring a \$145 billion class-action award, the largest ever by a US jury.


Jury Finds 2 Guilty of Felony Spam Two North Carolina residents yesterday became the first people in the nation to be convicted on felony spamming charges after a Loudoun County jury found that they flooded tens of thousands


Roethlisberger in demand Last month, as the owner of Peppi #39;s, Trebec dreamed up the sandwich of ground beef, sausage, scrambled eggs, grilled onions and American cheese.


Blues glide into final 16 EUROPEAN FOOTBALL: The English club was the first to make the cut after defeating CSKA Moscow. AC Milan advanced after overcoming Barcelona 2-1.


Hauritz answers the call... again If you could rewind events back to February 2003, try winding back to Cricket #39;s World Cup. Before Australia bowled a ball in anger, Shane Warne has stole all the headlines, failed a drugs


Former Predators Center Zholtok Dies Minnesota Wild right winger Sergei Zholtok of Latvia, rigth, battles for the puck ahead of Colorado Avalanche left winger Eric Messier, left, in the first period of game 7 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series in Denver in this April 22, 2003


Another citizen of US abducted BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen kidnapped a Lebanese-American businessman and militants released a tape yesterday showing the beheading of an Iraqi officer as a warning to those who deal with  quot;the infidel quot; Americans.


US services sector up as factory orders slip CHICAGO: The huge US services sector expanded in October at a faster rate than expected, but a surprising dip in September factory orders created mixed signals for the US economy, reports showed yesterday.


Bharti, 6 others form Asia-Pacific JV New Delhi: Bharti Tele-Ventures along with six other mobile operators in the South-East Asian region have formed a joint venture company called Bridge Mobile Pte Ltd with an aim to create a common regional cellular infrastructure.


US Wants No Warming Proposal The Bush administration has been working for months to keep an upcoming eight-nation report from endorsing broad policies aimed at curbing global warming, according to domestic and foreign


Review:  #39;Mortal Kombat #39; Adds New Modes Few video games have outraged anti-violence advocates like  quot;Mortal Kombat, quot; which debuted in the arcades more than a decade ago.


Canadian Scientists Successfully Clone Fruit Flies The buzzing. The biting. You #39;d think there were already enough insects in the world to drive you buggy. However, a team of researchers at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia announced yesterday that


Key Witness in India Riot Case Retracts Testimony A landmark trial arising from attacks on Muslims that swept the state of Gujarat in 2002 was thrown into turmoil Wednesday when the government #39;s star witness accused


Election uncertainty trips Dow But many Wall Street traders went home last night feeling out of sorts, having hammered stocks nearly 19 points into the red, on early reports that John F. Kerry had taken the lead in the exit polls.


net-enabled PCs for Rs 14,000 Personal computer manufacturers and broadband companies are keen on expand Internet penetration in the by providing cheaper PCs that offer Net connectivity at prices as low at Rs 14,000.


Intel devising chip line for consumer electronics com November 3, 2004, 12:14 PM PT. Organizations are replacing aging servers with newer more-powerful boxes, often Linux--based, and theyre also investing in storage.


Shaq, Heat get hot start, romp over Nets Shaquille O #39;Neal caught the ball deep in the low post, used his oversized posterior to bump Alonzo Mourning out of the way, then dropped in a layup with no one else around.


NHL cancels all-star game NEW YORK (CP) - The NHL has cancelled the Feb. 12-13 all-star weekend in Atlanta because of the lockout. There #39;s still a chance hockey will resume this year but a shortened season will need all the dates possible


Arabs unhappy at Bush re-election CAIRO: People in the Middle East reacted with resigned disappointment yesterday to US election results that showed President George W Bush winning four more years in power.


Strong earthquake shakes northern Japan A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.2 has shaken northern Japan in the same region that was hit by a deadly tremor last month, but there are no immediate reports of serious injuries or damage.


Time Warner #39;s profit declines NATIONAL COMPANIES The world #39;s largest media company set aside a \$500 million reserve in anticipation of settling government investigations into its bookkeeping.


TCC becomes charter member of Bridge Mobile Alliance Taiwan Cellular Corporation (TCC), the second-largest operator of mobile-phone services in Taiwan, on November 3 joined with six other regional mobile-phone service providers to form the Bridge Mobile Alliance, which will be the largest alliance of its


Drug-Safety Reviewer Says FDA Delayed Vioxx Study Ina series of testy e-mail exchanges with his bosses, a federal drug-safety reviewer contends that an effort to publish his study demonstrating the dangers of Vioxx was delayed and demeaned


New York Knicks MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Kevin Garnett got the Minnesota Timberwolves back in the game and Sam Cassell helped out his big man down the stretch.


Robbo is all Hearts Hearts has named its former goalscoring champion John Robertson as its new manager following the departure of Craig Levein to Leicester.


NBA Game Summary - Miami at New Jersey East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - Dwyane Wade paced a balanced attack with 21 points and Shaquille O #39;Neal added 16 in his Heat debut, leading Miami to an easy 100-77 win over the New Jersey Nets at the Meadowlands.


Yukos Shareholders Will Vote on Filing for Bankruptcy Setting the stage for what could be the final act in the Yukos drama, shareholders in the company will gather next month to vote on whether it should declare bankruptcy, the company #39;s top official said on Wednesday.


News Corp beats estimates Strong sales at newspapers, TV and cable help Rupert Murdoch #39;s media empire post two cents higher. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corp.


Debt cloud looms over GOP plans The ambitious wish list launched by the successful campaigns of President George W. Bush and Congressional Republicans ran smack into the harsh reality Wednesday that the United States is short on cash.


Business Digest Penn National Gaming is buying Argosy Gaming, which operates Indiana #39;s largest riverboat casino, in a stock deal worth \$2.2 billion that includes \$805 million in long-term debt, the companies said yesterday.


Jeremy Warner #39;s Outlook: Bush bets on twins cancelling each other <b>...</b> With President George Bush safely back in the White House, and with no need to face the voters again (American presidents are only allowed two terms), is he not duty bound finally to do something about America #39;s terrible twins - a current account deficit


Hardware news brought to you by IBM AMD announced last Thursday that it has launched an initiative to give 50 percent of the world #39;s population internet connectivity and computing capabilities by 2015, revolving around


Marino says Roethlisberger deserves high praise for impressive <b>...</b> Bill Parcells called Ben Roethlisberger the best rookie quarterback to play in the NFL since Dan Marino. Ben Roethlisberger and Dan Marino in front of the HBO cameras yesterday at the Steelers #39; practice facility.


Heat 100 Nets 77 EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ Miami blew out New Jersey 100-to-77 in Shaquille O #39;Neal #39;s first game with the Heat. O #39;Neal felt good enough to play after being bothered by a strained left hamstring during training camp.


Arafat #39;s health worsens Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat has been rushed to an intensive care unit at the Paris hospital where he is receiving treatment for a blood disorder, but his life is not in danger, his aides say.


Leaders Jostle to Shape Agenda for a New Term President Bush #39;s electoral victory was greeted internationally on Wednesday with a mixture of praise, disappointment and pragmatic resignation as world leaders jostled


Hungary to Withdraw Troops from Iraq by End of March Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said the Hungarian contingent will stay until elections are held in Iraq. He said it was not possible, however, for the troops to remain in the war-torn country past the March pull-out date.


Argosy sale will form third-largest US gambling firm A Pennsylvania-based casino and racetrack operator will buy the owner of Lawrenceburg #39;s Argosy riverboat casino in a \$2.2 billion deal that will create the third-largest gambling company in the nation.


Defense stocks jump on outcome The Boeing Co. and other defense stocks jumped higher Wednesday, buoyed by expectations that President Bush #39;s re-election would benefit the sector.


Beauty creams then and now - the same Archeologists found a small container with a whitish medicinal or cosmetic cream made up of animal fat, starch and tin oxide. Researchers writing in the November edition of the British magazine Nature say


Wintel, take 2? Companies partner on digital home Intel and Microsoft teamed up to create and tackle the PC world. Next up: the digital-entertainment world. The two companies will announce on Thursday a joint marketing campaign for television, print, cinema


NHL veteran Sergei Zholtok collapses and dies at end of hockey <b>...</b> (CP) - Veteran NHL player Sergei Zholtok died Wednesday of an apparent heart ailment. He was 31. Zholtok was playing hockey fsor the club team in his home city of Riga, the Latvian capital, when he became ill near the end of a game.


Streets of New York on deck for Kastor Even in the immediate afterglow of her bronze medal in the Olympic marathon in August, Deena (Drossin) Kastor was thinking of Sunday #39;s New York City Marathon.


A Bush victory will make life easier, say Italian and Russian <b>...</b> ROME (AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday welcomed the possibility of President George W Bush #39;s re-election as the ballot count in the race for the White House went down to the wire.


Deadline for kidnapped UN workers in Afghanistan passes without <b>...</b> KABUL : The deadline set by a Taliban splinter group to execute three foreign UN election workers it claims to be holding captive passed overnight with no word on their fate.


Indonesia #39;s Bashir Mocks Terror Charges in Court Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir told a court on Thursday his terrorism trial was a joke and mocked prosecutors by challenging them to file more bombing charges against him so the  quot;thrill quot; was complete.


AOL Accounting, Time Warner Restatement Time Warner Inc. announced that it has set aside \$500 million in legal reserves in connection with a government probe and that it will restate its financial results for 2000, 2001, and possibly 2002.


Heat coast to easy win over Nets EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- While Shaquille O #39;Neal was not at full strength in his debut for the Miami Heat, the New Jersey Nets already are looking pretty sick.


Philippine Shares End Down; Profit-Taking In PLDT MANILA (Dow Jones)--Philippine shares ended lower Thursday on last-minute profit-taking in select blue chips led by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.


Lyon, Man U #39;s Ruud put on four-star shows Both Lyon and Manchester United #39;s Ruud van Nistelrooy struck four times in Group D of the Champions League on Wednesday as the French champions downed Fenerbahce 4-2 while the Dutch star #39;s goals saw United to a 4-1 victory over Sparta Prague.


Phillies not likely to hire Leyland If former Pirates manager Jim Leyland returns to the dugout next season, it appears that it won #39;t be with the Philadelphia Phillies.


Oil company man killed in Baghdad violence Baghdad - Rebels mounted fresh attacks in Iraq and kidnappers have seized an American-Lebanese contractor and four Jordanian drivers.


Briton #39;s Kidnappers  #39;Negotiating with Afghan Government #39; A militant group threatening to kill three United Nations hostages including a British woman said today it was talking to the Afghan government about its demand to free Taliban prisoners.


Markets Join Victory Rally Stocks staged a modest rally Wednesday as Wall Street embraced President Bush #39;s reelection and cheered the absence of a prolonged legal fight for the White House.


An Industry-by-Industry Look at the Implications of the Election From Wall Street to Detroit, there were plenty of sighs of relief as it became clear that President Bush had won another term. As one auto executive said,  quot;Bush has been a good president to work with.


Arctic ice melt speeding up p2pnet.net OT News:- The Arctic Ocean could be almost ice-free in summer by the end of the century. Inuit hunters are falling through ice, permafrost is thawing and destabilizing foundations of buildings and


Ancient Roman Cosmetic Face Cream Discovered Researchers at Bristol University, in the UK, have reproduced an ancient Roman cosmetic face cream from a 2000 year-old original, which was discovered intact at an ongoing archaeological dig in London.


Mickelson goes back to Augusta to tune up Phil Mickelson is finishing off a record season for himself this week at The Tour Championship, but mentally he #39;s been through for a while.


Crude Oil Falls After US Supplies Rise More Than Expected Crude oil futures fell after a US Energy Department report showed rising imports boosted inventories by three times the amount analysts forecast.


VW, union reach wage agreement Management and unions at German auto maker Volkswagen reached an agreement on Wednesday that will bring an end to their long-running wage dispute, a union official said.


Markets surge on Bush win Investors on Wednesday roared their approval for President Bush, and the absence of post-election rancor, with the Dow Jones industrial average closing up 101.


Arctic Warming Rapidly, Affecting Global Climate The Arctic is warming rapidly, which in turn is affecting global climate, according to an ACIA assessment to be released next week.


Sachs pays Ford \$13.7M to settle Investment banking giant Goldman Sachs Group Inc. agreed Wednesday to pay Ford Motor Co. \$13.7 million to settle a shareholder lawsuit that was filed last year after a controversial


India 104 all out v Australia - fourth test, lunch  UPDATE 1-Cricket-Boje withdraws from India tour November 3, 2004 16:09:19 DURBAN, South Africa, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Spinner Nicky Boje has withdrawn from South Africa #39;s two-test tour to India later this month because he fears being detained over a match


Should play resume, league would need all available dates for a <b>...</b> NHL officials Wednesday canceled the 2005 All-Star Game, scheduled for Feb. 13 in Atlanta because of the lockout. The weekend All-Star extravaganza was a showcase event for the league.


Depleted Wizards stun Grizzlies Even before it was over, Antawn Jamison and Juan Dixon were limping around the court, trying to relieve aching muscles stretched to the limit.


Answer the call for help in Sudan The world continues to turn a deaf ear to the pleas for help from refugees in Sudan. As the noise of the US presidential election dominated the global stage, chaos and death continued to grip postwar Iraq


Win shows  #39;red states #39; on the rise George W. Bush #39;s victory marks the political ascendancy of  #39; #39;red-state quot; America that backed him strongly four years ago but then served as veritable bulwark


Pepco Plans Average 18 Rise In Residential Rates in District Pepco announced yesterday that it plans to increase residential rates for electricity in the District by an average of about 18 percent beginning Feb. 8. An average residential customer #39;s payment


Apple #39;s iPod Must Beware Woes of Netscape, Nokia People are ready to pay for music if it #39;s made easy, if it #39;s made sexy. #39; #39; Thus U2 lead singer Bono summed up the secret of the success of Apple Computer Inc.


Debutant Hauritz, Gillespie skittle out India for 104 Off spinner Nathan Hauritz grabbed three wickets on his debut after Jason Gillespie had ripped the heart out of the top order as Australia skittled out India for


Sonics sink in opener It happened at the end of the first quarter with Los Angeles leading Seattle by 13 points. It happened again in the second with the Clippers leading 52-36 with 2:39 left in the half.


Randolph hired to manage Mets The New York Mets hired Willie Randolph as their manager Wednesday and planned to introduce him at a news conference Thursday. Randolph, 50, was the bench coach for New York Yankees


Toshiba, TCL to Cooperate on Appliances SHANGHAI, China - Focusing on the fast-growing Chinese market, Japan #39;s Toshiba and major Chinese appliance maker TCL have signed a broad agreement to cooperate in making and marketing appliances in China, the companies said Thursday.


Shenzhou VI space outfits light, removable Space outfits for China #39;s second manned space flight capsule  quot;Shenzhou VI, quot; scheduled to launch in September next year, will be lighter and removable, the Beijing Morning Post reported.


Singh bids to make it an elite PGA foursome The list begins with Byron Nelson and ends with Sam Snead. Ben Hogan is right down the middle, just like when he played. No Arnold Palmer.


Arafat in intensive care unit Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has been rushed into the intensive care unit of a Paris hospital. Mr Arafat #39;s health has deteriorated but aides said the implications were not serious.


Earthquake-Struck Niigata Shaken Again; No Injuries (Update1) Two earthquakes, the first with a preliminary magnitude 5.2, struck Niigata region on the Sea of Japan coast, where repeated quakes have killed at least 37 people and forced tens of thousands


NHS ties up 330million, 900,000 staff, nine-year deal with <b>...</b> The NHShas reached a landmark agreement with Microsoft on the renewal of the licensing of its desktop products in line with the Office of Government Commerce #39;s framework agreement with Microsoft.


China to realise its dream of space tourism in 20 yrs: official Chinese people are expected to realise their dream of space tourism in 20 years with the country conducting research into the commercialisation of space technology, a senior space official has said.


Block party: Kirilenko swats shots as Jazz run past LA Their starting point guard sat injured behind the bench, dressed in a nifty sport coat. Their backup point guard was nowhere to be seen, recovering instead from arthroscopic knee surgery.


Yasser Arafats Health Deteriorates Further Paris, Nov. 4 (NNN): Palestinian officials have said that ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat #39;s health has deteriorated further.


Vietnam-era defector gets 30 days in jail Charles Robert Jenkins, the former US soldier who defected to North Korea, was given a 30-day jail sentence Wednesday by a military judge after testifying about four decades


Five convicted, one acquitted in conspiracy, fraud trial HOUSTON Jurors stung a bit of Wall Street by convicting four former Merrill Lynch and Company executives and a former midlevel Enron finance executive of conspiracy and fraud.


Stocks surge on Bush win Stocks surged Wednesday, with the Dow Jones industrials posting triple-digit gains as investors expressed relief following Sen. John Kerry #39;s concession to President Bush.


Hackers reopen stolen code store CROOKS HAVE reopened their online store to flog the stolen source code of Cisco #39;s PIX firewall software. The Source Code Club were offering the nicked Cisco code for a mungingly cheap \$24,000, also up for


Aides Say Arafat Has Taken Turn for Worse Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, aboard a French hospital plane enroute from Amman, Jordan, to Paris, France, where he will seek medical treatment, in this picture released by the Palestinian Authority Friday Oct. 29, 2004.


Amid fears of coalition #39;s unraveling, Hungary says it will delay <b>...</b> Hungary #39;s prime minister said yesterday that the country #39;s 300 troops stationed in Iraq will return home by the end of March.


Seven people killed in Thailand #39;s restive south in escalation of <b>...</b> BANGKOK : At least seven people have been killed in separate attacks in Thailand #39;s restive south in the last 24 hours, police said amid a spate of violence following the deaths of 87 Muslims last week.


Sigh of relief It was fitting that Grete Waitz, nine-time New York City marathon champion, rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange seconds before 9:30 am yesterday.


India test-fires new supersonic missile NEW DELHI: India test-fired a supersonic cruise missile yesterday, launching it off the Indian coast, a local news agency reported.


Five executives convicted of fraud in Enron barge case Former Merrill Lynch  amp; Co. executive Daniel Bayly, right, leaves the federal courthouse after being convicted of conspiracy and wire fraud on Wednesday in Houston.


Goldman settles suit involving IPO offer to Bill Ford Goldman Sachs Group Inc. agreed Wednesday to pay \$13.4 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it unfairly offered shares in its initial public offering to Ford Motor Co.


Bush seen keeping economic team for now WASHINGTON - President Bush, re-elected on Tuesday, is likely to stick closely to the status quo in his economic team, leaving it up to top officials such as Treasury Secretary John Snow whether to stay or to go.


Source: Movie industry to sue computer users LOS ANGELES A source says Hollywood movie studios are preparing to sue computer users they say are illegally distributing movies online.


Arab world #39;s reaction to Bush #39;s reelection Leaders in the Arab world have congratulated incumbent US President George W. Bush on his re-election. Arab League chief Amr Moussa hopes Bush will actively push forward the


S Thailand hit by fresh violence Thailand troubled south remains tense after a series of violent incidents left at least seven people dead. The killings came a week after 85 Muslims were killed when a protest turned violent, many of them suffocated while in police custody.


Contract Called for Payout, Ex-Disney Officer Testifies The former director of the Walt Disney Company who helped negotiate the contract of Michael S. Ovitz, its former president, said the uproar after Mr.


Le rapport Kok suscite des ractions mitiges The high level expert group chaired by former Dutch prime minister Wim Kok has presented its review of the Lisbon strategy to the European Commission on 3 November 2004.


October auto sales US consumers bought only 29,000 more new cars and trucks in October than they did last year, but the companies expect sales to flourish now that the divisive and distracting US presidential race is over.


US-bound News Corp posts strong Q1 profits Media giant News Corp today posted a 27 rise in first quarter net profit today, prompting chief Rupert Murdoch to declare that the US-bound company is on the cusp of a new era of prosperity.


Hilfiger Sales and Net Fall Amid Inquiry More bad news poured out of the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation yesterday, as the clothing company - facing an investigation by the United States attorney #39;s office in Manhattan - reported disappointing sales and declining operating margins.


Piracy suits to be filed Hollywood #39;s movie studios will announce today that hundreds of copyright infringement lawsuits will be filed against people they allege are illegally distributing feature films online, a


Ruud response delights Ferguson Ruud van Nistelrooy #39;s reward for the four-goal display that got Manchester United #39;s Champions League campaign back on track was a suggestion from his manager that the Dutchman now deserved to be bracketed alongside Europe #39;s all-time greats.


Pistons #39; bench absent in victory For starters, the Detroit Pistons played well enough to win their season opener Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets. But down the road, they will need more help off the bench.


Mets Going with Randolph FLUSHING, NY, (Sports Network) - The New York Mets are bringing Willie Randolph across town from the Bronx to be their 18th manager.


Golf Notebook:  #39;Deadened #39; ball revisited The world #39;s top professional players might soon have to use a  quot;deadened quot; golf ball to counter more athletic golfers hitting longer shots each year, US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said.


Wenger: Euro failure spells disaster for Arsenal Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted failure to progress in the Champions League this season would be a financial disaster for the club.


All-Star Game canceled The NHL yesterday canceled the 2005 All-Star Game in Atlanta, an aggressive step toward canceling the 2004-05 season. The move was made 49 days into this year #39;s lockout, which is a bit of a surprise.


Arafat in intensive care Yasser Arafat on Thursday was in intensive care undergoing fresh tests after his condition took a sudden turn for the worse, Palestinian officials said.


Hungary to remove 300 troops In a blow to the US effort to hold the Iraq multinational forces together, Hungary announced yesterday that it will withdraw its 300 noncombat troops by the end of March.


Talks to be held for UN kidnappers An Afghan militant group that abducted three UN workers a week ago say that the government and the United Nations have agreed to start formal negotiations for their release.


PM leaves for EU summit Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi left for Brussels yesterday to take part in a two-day summit of EU leaders starting this afternoon. This morning he will be at a meeting of the European People #39;s Party at Meise


CEO of American Airlines warns of more job cuts DALLAS - American Airlines, struggling to compete with lower-overhead carriers, will cut more jobs to reduce costs, chief executive Gerard Arpey said Wednesday.


Steel yourself for  #39;Grand Theft Auto #39;  quot;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas quot; revved into stores last week, promising its millions of fans another round of electronic mayhem.


TO rips R. Lewis again OWINGS MILLS -- Terrell Owens wasn #39;t done ridiculing Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, expanding his histrionics beyond mocking Lewis #39; trademark dance.


Afghan kidnappers delay execution In Afghanistan, the militant group holding three UN workers, has extended the Wednesday night deadline, for their threatened execution.


Queen visits Berlin war graves TO THE British, it was a war cemetery. To the villagers of Stahnsdorf in the former East Germany, its annual Remembrance Day service was their window to freedom.


TW profit slips 8 Time Warner has set aside \$500 million in legal reserves to cover the possible outcome of government investigations into America Online #39;s past accounting problems, the media giant said yesterday.


Argosy is merger target ALTON -- Argosy Gaming Co., owner of the Alton Belle Casino, announced a merger agreement Wednesday with Penn National Gaming Inc.


CEO warns of more job cuts at American Airlines American Airlines, struggling to compete with lower-overhead carriers, will cut more jobs to reduce costs, Chief Executive Gerard Arpey said Wednesday.


Mining firm seeks cyanide alternative Golden-based Canyon Resources lost a bid to use the substance at a huge gold deposit in Montana. Golden-based gold mining firm Canyon Resources Corp.


Mazda to share Fords hybrid SUV Mazda will soon introduce the hybrid version of the Mazda Tribute, which is a shared platform with the Ford Escape. From the sound of it, this should be coming to market for the 2006 model year.


Swansong for big guns ATLANTA -- The big guns are all lined up for one last PGA Tour cash-grab, but it #39;s tough even for the best golfers in the world to keep their eyes on the prize.


Hauritz can #39;t wait Nathan Hauritz says the persistent Mumbai rain is only heightening his excitement before he bowls his first ball in Test cricket in the fourth Test.


FOOTBALL: TOTTI IN STAMP SHAME A LAST-GASP equaliser by striker Vincenzo Montella threw AS Roma a Champions League lifeline when they drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen in a Group B match behind closed doors at the Olympic Stadium.


TO gets another crack at Lewis THIS WEEK, there is no grudge match looming for Terrell Owens. But it isn #39;t too late to rekindle last week #39;s controversy. TO began yesterday #39;s weekly media session noting support he #39;d received


Defiant Sprewell holds court Latrell Sprewell was beginning to make a little sense last night until a final thought bypassed his brain. He wants a contract extension in the worst possible way and keeps


Magic Unveil A New Look Tracy McGrady was traded to Houston in the offseason. He was the guy who could score 50 points a night, but his team would lose by 20.


Kirilenko sparks Jazz with 8 blocks There are so many new faces, it #39;s hard to keep them all straight. But despite all the upheaval, all the contracts and controversy that so dominated the summer, Jerry Sloan believes the sheer


Europe cautiously optimistic about 2nd Bush term President Bush #39;s biggest adversaries from  quot;Old Europe quot; extended a hand of friendship as the world greeted his re-election with a mixture of hope and disappointment.


GAZA WITHDRAWAL PLAN EDGES FORWARD Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s controversial plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip has taken another step forward as MPs approved a multi-million dollar bill to compensate uprooted settlers.


Five convicted of fraud in barge case A jury convicted five and acquitted one of six former Enron and Merrill Lynch employees yesterday in the first prosecution arising from the accounting fraud that led to the energy trader #39;s collapse.


Bothell #39;s Sonus to buy French biotech firm In a bit of hockey lingo borrowed by the biotech industry, Sonus Pharmaceuticals just gave itself more  quot;shots on goal. quot;.


EADS Triples 3rd-Quarter Profit, Raises 2004 Forecast (Update2) European Aeronautic, Defense  amp; Space Co., Europe #39;s largest aerospace company, more than tripled third- quarter net income and raised its 2004 earnings forecast because Airbus delivered more planes and the space unit posted a profit.


Microsoft, Intel unite in holiday ad blitz to spread joy of PCs That #39;s the theme of a marketing blitz the technology giants are launching this week to educate consumers about new digital-entertainment-oriented PCs.


Cisco PIX Source Code Held at Gunpoint The sourcecode to Ciscos industry leading PIX firewall system was recently stolen and put up for sale by malicious hackers under the guise of The Source Code Club.


Intermec suspends radio-tag patent claims Intermec, the Everett company that makes radio-frequency sensor devices, said yesterday it agreed to temporarily suspend its claims for intellectual-property licenses as part of a new standard.


All-Star Game canceled In another sign the NHL season is slipping away, the league canceled its All-Star Game because of the lockout. The season was supposed to have begun Oct. 13.


As the government declares a three-day mourning Yemen grieves loss <b>...</b> In an official message broadcast on national TV and official news agency Saba, Yemens president conveyed his condolences to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the demise of its president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Aal Nahyan, who died at the age of 90


House market has worst month since 2000 House prices fell by 1.1 per cent last month, their worst performance in four years, Halifax, Britain #39;s biggest mortgage lender, has said.


Penn National to buy Argosy Gaming Merger will make buyer No. 3 in marketMerger to make Penn National 3rd biggest casino operator. BILOXI - Penn National Gaming Inc.


Navy charge delays EDS earnings EDS, which initially delayed its earnings release on 25 October, said the latest delay comes because it and auditor KPMG need time to finish assessing  quot;the timing and amount of the (charge) quot;.


Circulation investigation hits Times A wide-reaching federal investigation into newspaper circulation practices has knocked on the door of a fourth New York daily - The New York Times.


Roman face cream discovered and reproduced A cosmetic face cream used by fashionable women in ancient Roman times has been analysed by scientists at Bristol University, UK, and now reproduced.


Source: Movie industry to sue computer users LOS ANGELES A source says Hollywood studios are preparing to file copyright infringement lawsuits against people they say are illegally sharing movies online.