Russia's upper house backs Kyoto Russia's upper house of parliament votes to ratify the international treaty on climate change.


OPEC asks US to use oil reserves JAKARTA, Indonesia -- The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has asked the United States to use its strategic petroleum reserves to help reduce oil prices, the cartel #39;s president said Wednesday.


Weather dampens Unilever sales Unilever, the consumer products giant, said today that profits had slipped during the third quarter - as had sales of its top 400 brands.


Comcast Posts Profit; Hi-Speed Subs Rise (Reuters) Reuters - Comcast Corp., the largest U.S. cable\operator, on Wednesday posted a third quarter profit, boosted\by high-speed Internet customer gains that offset slower growth\in basic video subscribers.


Mortgage Applications Off in Oct. 22 Week (Reuters) Reuters - New applications for U.S. home loans\fell last week even as average 30-year mortgage rates decreased\from the previous week, an industry group said on Wednesday.


Cassini snapshots murky moon Titan The Cassini probe got the first close-up photos of Saturn #39;s murky moon Titan on Tuesday and began sending them back to Earth. This image is one of the closest ever taken of Saturn #39;s hazy moon Titan.


Moon will play hide and seek with us tonight To tune in, turn off that TV and head outside about 8:45 tonight, because the best show of the evening is going to be hanging in the sky.


Milosevic Defense Team Asks to Withdraw from Case Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic #39;s two court-assigned defense lawyers have asked to be withdrawn from his case, The Hague war crimes tribunal said Wednesday.


Arafat doctors say he doesn #39;t have cancer RAMALLAH, West Bank Yasser Arafat #39;s doctors have been looking over the results of his blood tests and they #39;re ruling out cancer.


Stocks Headed Lower; Oil Holds Above \$55  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a lower  market open on Wednesday as investors appear to be pulling back  after Tuesday's rally, with oil prices holding above \$55 a  barrel.


Mortgage Applications Off in Oct. 22 Week  NEW YORK (Reuters) - New applications for U.S. home loans  fell last week even as average 30-year mortgage rates decreased  from the previous week, an industry group said on Wednesday.


Blockbuster Posts Big Loss on Charge (Reuters) Reuters - Blockbuster Inc.  on Wednesday\posted a  #36;1.42 billion quarterly loss due to a charge, while\profit from its operations slid due to higher marketing costs,\falling rental demand and escalating competition.


Cingular hopes to simplify pricing (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - Cingular said it closed its  #36;41 billion purchase AT amp;T Wireless on Tuesday. Cingular received approval for the deal earlier in the day from the Federal Communications Commission. The Department of Justice approved the acquisition on Monday.


Oracle gets Europe's approval to buy PeopleSoft (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - The European Commission on Tuesday cleared Oracle's hostile  #36;7.7 billion bid for rival business-software maker PeopleSoft, lowering the last antitrust hurdle to the contested deal. "There is an absence of sufficient evidence of competitive harm," regulators said in a statement.


Iran's Clerics Lean Towards Kerry to Ease Pressure (Reuters) Reuters - Iranian officials like to portray U.S.\presidential elections as a choice between bad and worse but\there is little doubt they would prefer Democratic challenger\John Kerry to win next week.


Child porn threat to betting site Criminals threaten to send out a flood of child pornography e-mails purporting to come from UK gambling website Blue Square.


US consumer confidence declines for third straight month NEW YORK, October 27 (newratings.com) - US consumer confidence has declined to a seven-month low this month on persisting job concerns, according to the Conference Board.


Abbey  #39;distracted #39; by Santander tie-up Abbey National admitted today that progress in recent months had been disrupted as a result of its planned takeover by Spain #39;s largest bank.


Mitterrand furniture sale to help son in distress (AFP) AFP - A Paris auction of furniture belonging to late French president Francois Mitterrand has raised 80,200 euros (102,000 dollars), most of which is to go to help a son of the former leader who is drowning under waves of criminal allegations.


Cassini beams close-up images of Saturn #39;s giant moon Titan The US-European spacecraft Cassini has begun beaming close-up images of Saturn #39;s giant moon Titan to Earth. Cassini reached the point of closest approach, 1,198 km, at 10.


Grand Theft tipped to top games chart When the violent video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas hits stores on Tuesday, its sales could eclipse Hollywood #39;s most successful films, even as it draws the ire of critics.


Eagles #39; Westbrook Could Miss Some Time PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - Eagles running back Brian Westbrook could miss some time with a broken rib, a Philadelphia television station reported Tuesday night.


C-USA to undergo transition Across the country, college basketball coaches and media members are meeting at conference media days. In Birmingham, Ala., the University of Kentucky #39;s Tubby Smith and other Southeastern


FA:  #39;Keegan charged over ref rage #39; The FA has attempted to clarify the charge being levelled against Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan. Keegan himself appeared confused about the precise nature of the charge yesterday when he revealed he would


US balks at Mush #39;s Kashmir proposal Pakistan #39;s President Pervez Musharraf surprised many by suddenly suggesting new proposals to resolve the more than 50-year dispute over Kashmir and Jammu.


Arafat in good health, doctor says The private doctor said Wednesday Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is in good health and tests showed his stomach is normal. Ashraf Kurdi, a neurologist and former Jordanian


S.Korea Probes DMZ But Some Doubt Defector Fled  SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea conducted a follow-up  investigation Wednesday into holes cut in fences in the  Demilitarised Zone border, but diplomatic sources questioned  whether a civilian defected to the North as Seoul has said.


Dell angles for the best seat in the living room PC maker wants to be your supplier of high-end home electronics as well as installation services and, someday, movies.


Warner Chilcott Backs 1.6BN Takeover Drugs group Warner Chilcott today gave its blessing to a 1.62 billion takeover by a private equity consortium. Directors of Warner announced they were recommending an


Quiet period rule on table; hedge fund supervision OKd Federal regulators proposed Tuesday to loosen the  quot;quiet period quot; rule, a Depression-era regulation meant to prevent companies poised to sell stock or bonds to the public from promoting the securities.


Millwall: We #39;re not to blame The FA confirmed today that they will launch an investigation into the incidents, which began late in the second half as away fans alleged Millwall supporters had made taunts about the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.


Kashmiri militant leader criticises Musharraf plan (Reuters) Reuters - The head of a leading Kashmiri guerrilla group on Wednesday criticised President Pervez Musharraf's proposals to end the decades-old Kashmir dispute with India, saying it was a sign of weakness.


Cricket: Aussies dominate India Australia tighten their grip on the third Test and the series after dominating India on day two in Nagpur.


Football: Navy marches over Army for 42-13 victory Ross, in his first season at West Point, stated matter-of-factly that Navy had surpassed Army on the football field and that his program had a lot of catching up to do.


Taiwan AU's profit shrink sharply in third quarter amid dim outlook (AFP) AFP - AU Optronics Corp, the world's third largest flat-panel maker, said its net profit in the third quarter plunged to 4.13 billion Taiwan dollars (122.6 million US) from 14.39 billion in the second.


ND adrift after sudden decision As night fell last Sunday, the drowsy effects of a long holiday weekend spread across the University of Notre Dame campus like a yawn.


Amnesty Condemns U.S. for War on Terror Torture  LONDON (Reuters) - The United States has manifestly failed  to uphold obligations to reject torture and cruel, inhuman or  degrading behavior in the "war on terror" launched after Sept.  11, 2001, Amnesty International said Wednesday.


E-Voting Firms Reveal Software to Feds The nation's largest voting machine companies are submitting millions of lines of code to the National Software Reference Library to address sharp criticism from computer scientists about the secret software used in elections.


New Supercomputer Claims to Be Fastest The builders of a new NASA supercomputer claim the 10,240-processor machine is the fastest in the world - an exciting prospect for researchers even if the speed title has yet to be officially bestowed.


Apple Rolls Out IPod Photo, Rocks with U2
\

 By Duncan Martell

 SAN JOSE, Calif. (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. rolled out\on Tuesday a new iPod that allows users to view and share\photos as it opened nine new iTunes music stores in Europe, \spurring its rivalry with Microsoft Corp. and others.


High Oil Prices Might Be A Blessing In Disguise The absolute price of oil has reached a new high. The growth     of the economies in China, India and the rest of Asia are increasing the demand     for oil. There are production problems in Venezuela (strikes and sabotage), Norway (strikes), Nigeria (civil war), Iraq (sabotage) and Russia (internal politics). Hurricane Ivan and other hurricanes this year disrupted     production in the Gulf of Mexico and transportation of oil in the Atlantic.     In the next decade Eastern Europe will also require more oil to feed its growing economies. The price of crude oil has led to     prices of above \$55 a barrel and lifted heating oil to a record and     natural gas to a 20-month high. Though prices may eventually fall a bit, they are likely to remain higher than we were once     accustomed.    However, all is not gloom and doom.


Oil, Gas Prices Lift Amerada Hess Profit  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Amerada Hess Corp. AHC.N on  Wednesday reported higher quarterly profit, spurred by record  oil and gas prices.


Apple launches new iPod versions - Photo and U2 Special NEW YORK, October 27 (newratings.com) - Apple Computer (AAPL.NAS) has introduced a new version of its popular iPod digital music player, iPod Photo, with a capacity of 25,000 digital pictures and 15,000 songs.


Life (Insurance) Is Cheap -- for Now The cost of term life insurance has never been cheaper. On that, industry experts agree. Over the past decade the price of term life insurance, the plain vanilla type that offers coverage only for a set number


World energy demand to rise 60 by 30 London: World energy demand is expected to rise by some 60 per cent by 2030, two-thirds of which will come from developing countries such as China and India, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday.


Friend to testify in court about OJ Simpson #39;s finances SANTA MONICA, Calif. One of OJ Simpson #39;s friends is being ordered to testify about the former football star #39;s finances. The order to appear in court was issued yesterday at the request of Fred Goldman, whose


San Francisco hotels continue lockout of unionized workers SAN FRANCISCO Fourteen hotels in San Francisco are ignoring the mayor #39;s call for a cooling-off period and are still locking out unionized workers.


JPMorgan, CSFB to Buy UK Drugmaker Warner Chilcott (Update2) A group led by JPMorgan Chase  amp; Co. agreed to buy UK drugmaker Warner Chilcott Plc for 1.62 billion pounds (\$3 billion), outbidding two other private equity firms.


Cassini takes first close-ups of Titan The Cassini spacecraft has sent back the first detailed pictures of the Saturns largest moon, Titan, showing a sharply-defined but nevertheless mysterious landscape of light and dark regions.


World Series #39; Game 4 vs. total eclipse of the moon tonight The nation may be more divided tonight than most Americans realize as baseball fans and sky watchers pursue their choice of pastimes: watching Game 4 of the World Series or one of the best total lunar eclipses in years.


Products unveiled at storage networking show Several storage suppliers are adding to their arsenal of products and technologies aimed at IT managers dealing with the explosion of data storage at Storage Networking World in Orlando this week.


Web-searching giant now lets users browse their own PCs It should be as easy to search a computer as it is to search the Web. And Google, the current king of Web-searching, recently introduced a new desktop program for Windows


Pedro dazzles; Sox up 3-0 The celebration could come tonight. And then the church bells can ring, the car horns can blare, the corked bottles of champagne gathering dust since 1986 can be popped, and the hallelujahs


Wenger extends Arsenal contract until 2008 Manager Arsene Wenger has extended his contract at Arsenal until May 2008, the English champions said on Wednesday. Wenger, 55, arrived at Highbury in 1996 and has led the London


Fleming double ton CAPTAIN Stephen Fleming struck a fine double-century as New Zealand looked on their way to notching up another win over Bangladesh in the second and final Test in Chittagong today.


Wolfsburg gear up for Munich showdown HAMBURG - Frontrunners VfL Wolfsburg travel to third-placed Bayern Munich in one of two major midweek Bundesliga showdowns and will not be afraid of the Bavarians although they have never won there.


UPDATE 3-Pinpoint McGrath puts Australia in command Glenn McGrath celebrated his 100th test by grabbing two key wickets and putting Australia on course for a rare series victory in India on the second day of the third test on Wednesday.


IOC Urges Beijing Not to Copy Athens The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged Beijing to ensure the city is ready to host the 2008 Games well in advance, an official said on Wednesday.


British troops on the move in Iraq Some 850 of Britain #39;s Black Watch troops set out from the southern Iraqi city of Basra Wednesday to replace US troops south of Baghdad.


Jimenez victorious at Omega Hong Kong Open Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed his fifth title of the year when he outgunned Padraig Harrington of Ireland and South African James Kingston to lift the US\$800,000 Omega Hong Kong Open by one stroke after a thrilling final round today.


Classy McGrath puts Australia on top in third India Test (AFP) AFP - Glenn McGrath destroyed India's top order in his 100th Test match here to bring world champions Australia closer to their first series win on Indian soil in 35 years.


Last Chance Until 2007: Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight! (SPACE.com) SPACE.com - Skywatchers on half the planet are gearing up to watch Earth's shadow consume a blood-red Moon tonight in the last total lunar eclipse until 2007.


Kerry Promises 'A More Balanced' NASA (SPACE.com) SPACE.com - WASHINGTON -- One week before the U.S. elections, \Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is blasting \President George W. Bush's space exploration vision as a purely political \stunt that threatens to gut other NASA programs.


Taiwan's UMC sees higher profit on strong demand United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), the world's second-largest contract chip maker, announced Wednesday that strong demand and higher capacity helped its net income for the third quarter more than double from the same period a year ago.


Berlin cheers winning bid for 2009 championships Berlin was celebrating on Sunday after winning its bid to host the 2009 world athletics championships, a decision that capped a week of triumph for Germany #39;s capital city.


Defendants Accused of Sending Spam (AP Financial News) AP Financial News - Three people who allegedly sent America Online customers millions of junk e-mail messages touting penny stocks and other Internet gimmicks went on trial Tuesday in the nation's first such felony case.


Kerr McGee Posts a Drop in Profit  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil and gas producer Kerr-McGee Corp.  KMG.N on Wednesday reported a fall in quarterly profit,  citing a writedown related to a pigment plant and higher  environmental charges.


England set Zimbabwe 262 victory target BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (AFP) - England captain Michael Vaughan and Geraint Jones put in a superb 150 partnership on their way to setting Zimbabwe a 262 target to avoid a 4-0 series whitewash.


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


After the battle comes the war The three-way battle for Warner Chilcott reached a new pitch this morning when the company recommended a 1.6 billion bid tabled by a US-led private equity team.


Credit demand helps ANZ profit leap 18 AUSTRALIA and New Zealand Banking Group has seen its second-half profit jump 18 per cent following the acquisition of New Zealands biggest bank, coupled with a strong demand for credit.


Alcoa, BHP to sell Integris Metals SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Alcoa Inc. and Australia #39;s BHP Billiton have agreed to sell Integris Metals to Ryerson Tull for \$410 million in cash, plus assumption of \$250 million in debt, the companies said late Tuesday.


Shoaib may miss Sri Lanka test with shoulder injury Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar may miss the second test against Sri Lanka starting on Thursday because of a shoulder injury.  quot;I have acute pain in my right shoulder which is very stiff.


Japanese PM stands firm on hostage demand Japan #39;s prime minister today refused to bend to demands by militants who have taken a Japanese civilian hostage in Iraq and threatened to behead him unless Tokyo withdraws its soldiers.


Union threatens Zimbabwe blockade after deportation South Africa #39;s main labour federation is threatening to blockade a border crossing with Zimbabwe after President Robert Mugabe #39;s Government deported a union fact-finding team accused of aiding his enemies.


Defendants Accused of Sending Spam (AP) AP - Three people who allegedly sent America Online customers millions of junk e-mail messages touting penny stocks and other Internet gimmicks went on trial Tuesday in the nation's first such felony case.


New Crop of Portable Players Nips at IPod (AP) AP - At least a dozen portable music players are angling to steal sales away from Apple Computer Inc.'s wildly popular line of iPods this holiday season. In the past month alone, five companies have unveiled their iPod challengers  #151; pocket-sized players with hard disks that can store anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 songs.


Iran to respond to EU nuclear offer, diplomats pessimistic (AFP) AFP - Iran returned to talks with Europe's three heavyweight countries aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over its nuclear program, although diplomats were sceptical of a breakthrough.


Biotech Firm Promises Hypo-Allergenic Cats The biotechnology revolution is shaking up the pet world. First came a cloned cat. Then came the fish genetically engineered to glow. Now, a Los Angeles company is exploiting the latest in biotechnology to create cats genetically engineered to be nearly free from the allergy-causing proteins that plague millions of people.


Comcast Up, Blockbuster Off Before Bell  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Comcast Corp. CMCSA.O rose  2 percent before the bell on Wednesday after the largest U.S.  cable operator posted a quarterly profit below Wall Street  estimates but reported better-than-expected gains in high-speed  Internet customers.


Comcast High-Speed Customers Up Strongly  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Comcast Corp. CMCSA.O, the largest  U.S. cable operator, on Wednesday posted a quarterly profit  that fell short of Wall Street forecasts but reported  better-than-expected gains in high-speed Internet customers.


P G Profit Climbs, Outlook Maintained  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Procter   Gamble Co. PG.N on  Wednesday said quarterly profit jumped 14 percent, boosted by  strong sales and a gain from the recent divestiture of its  juice business.


Increased Sales Power Tool Company Profit  ATLANTA (Reuters) - Black   Decker Corp. BDK.N on  Wednesday reported a 51 percent increase in third-quarter  profit, topping estimates, as sales and profit margins improved  in power tools and home hardware.


Comcast Up, Blockbuster Off Before Bell (Reuters) Reuters - Shares of Comcast Corp.  rose\2 percent before the bell on Wednesday after the largest U.S.\cable operator posted a quarterly profit below Wall Street\estimates but reported better-than-expected gains in high-speed\Internet customers.


Durable Goods Orders Up 0.2 Percent  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. orders for long-lasting durable  goods rose by a smaller-than-expected 0.2 percent in September,  held back by another sharp fall in commercial aircraft,  government data showed on Wednesday.


Northrop Third-Quarter Profit Rises  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Northrop Grumman Corp. NOC.N  reported higher third-quarter earnings on Wednesday and an 11  percent increase in sales on strength in its mission systems,  integrated systems, ships and space technology businesses.


NTT DoCoMo, IBM, Intel team to secure mobile devices With an eye towards making mobile devices and the commerce services that run over them more secure, NTT DoCoMo Inc., Intel Corp. and IBM Corp. on Wednesday published a jointly developed security specification called the Trusted Mobile Platform.


Profit Climbs at Procter and Gamble Procter   Gamble, the consumer products company, said quarterly profit jumped 14 percent, boosted by strong sales and a gain from the sale of its juice business.


Germans seek savings through Linux in tough economic times  FRANKFURT, Germany-- Tough economic times in Germany have made Linux and other open source software products appear tantalizing to local businesses. Yet many remain hesitant to dump their Microsoft Corp. software completely, if for no other reasons than it performs relatively well, and nearly everyone in corporate Germany uses it. That was the general impression from speakers delivering presentations Tuesday at the LinuxWorld conference in Frankfurt.


ConocoPhillips Third-Quarter Profit Rises  NEW YORK (Reuters) - ConocoPhillips COP.N, the No. 3 U.S.  oil company, on Wednesday reported a rise in quarterly profit,  boosted by soaring oil and gas prices.


Durable Goods Up on Communications Demand (AP) AP - Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket durable goods, propelled by a jump in demand for communications equipment, edged up 0.2 percent in September.


Three on Trial in Loudoun in Felony Spam Case (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - A North Carolina man and his two confederates illegally flooded America Online e-mail accounts in July 2003 with millions of advertisements hawking penny stocks and work-from-home schemes, Virginia prosecutors told jurors yesterday.


Neville Calls for  #39;Ruthless Streak #39; Gary Neville congratulated his Manchester United team-mates on their second successive three-goal Barclays Premiership win - but then told them Chelsea and Arsenal will not start


Santander Posts 64 Percent Profit Rise Santander Central Hispano SA said Wednesday that net profit for the third quarter nearly doubled to euro1.17 billion (\$1.49 billion), with much of the gain coming from the sale of its stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland.


Cassini Orbiter Gets Closeup Shots Oct. 27 - Scientists are getting a closer look at one of the most mysterious moons in space, Saturn #39;s largest moon, Titan. The Cassini orbiter flew within 750 miles of the cloud covered moon Tuesday.


Walker not interested in rival series Motorsport.com. Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker doubts that the Grand Prix World Championship (GPWC) will come to much and claimed he will stick with Formula One.


Arizona, Stanford favored to share conference crown UCLA is placed third in the Pac-10 preseason women #39;s basketball media poll; Quinn a preseason all-conference pick. By Janie McCauley.


#39;Perfect #39; opportunity Trainer D. Wayne Lukas announced yesterday he will enter champion mare Azeri against the males in Saturday #39;s Breeders #39; Cup Classic at


Broncos #39; Griffin reportedly out for season Denver Broncos running back Quentin Griffin will miss the rest of the season after an MRI showed he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Monday night #39;s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, according to a published report.


Three survive four-day ordeal as strong tremor rattles quake-hit <b>...</b> TOKYO : A woman and two young children buried for four days after a deadly earthquake in central Japan have been pulled alive from the rubble Wednesday as another powerful temblor rocked the region.


Iran to respond to European offer as nuclear talks resume VIENNA : Iran began talks with the European Union #39;s three heavyweight nations to give its response to an offer to avoid possible UN sanctions by indefinitely suspending uranium enrichment, a French diplomat said.


Paying China for pressuring Pyongyang The use of pressure tactics is one of the ancient principles of diplomacy. Not many nations practice it as effectively as the United States, the lone superpower.


Chirac says Turkey #39;s EU bid  #39;not a done deal #39; PARIS : French President Jacques Chirac said Wednesday that Turkey #39;s EU membership bid was  quot;not a done deal, quot; although he believed it was in Europe #39;s best interests, a government spokesman reported after a cabinet meeting.


Web Server Takedown Called Speech Threat Devin Theriot-Orr, a member a feisty group of reporter-activists called Indymedia, was surprised when two FBI agents showed up at his Seattle law office, saying the visit was a "courtesy call" on behalf of Swiss authorities.


Apple launch new iPod APPLE launched the IPOD PHOTO in the US yesterday (October 26), allowing users to take their entire digital photo library on the move.


Cassini takes a close look at Titan The international Cassini spacecraft began unveiling Saturn #39;s mysterious sidekick Titan with a stream of increasingly sharp pictures of the surface taken during a flyby within 745 miles (1,198 kilometers) of the hazy moon.


Last Chance Until 2007: Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight! Skywatchers on half the planet are gearing up to watch Earth #39;s shadow consume a blood-red Moon tonight in the last total lunar eclipse until 2007.


Sony Announces PlayStation Portable Price (AP) AP - Sony Corp. announced a price more fitting of a video-game machine than a slick movie-playing gadget for its new PlayStation Portable  #151; 19,800 yen ( #36;186).


Davidoff Swiss Indoors, Basel British number one Tim Henman is currently facing world number 80 Anthony Dupuis of France at the Davidoff Swiss Indoors event in Basel.


Gaza withdrawal a victory - Hamas Israel #39;s planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, which won parliamentary approval Tuesday, will prove to be a victory for the Palestinian resistance against occupation, the militant Hamas movement said on Wednesday.


Durable Goods Orders Edge Up in September (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. orders for long-lasting durable\goods rose by a smaller-than-expected 0.2 percent in September,\held back by another sharp fall in commercial aircraft,\government data showed on Wednesday.


Powell Remarks Stir Up China Secretary of State Colin L. Powell was in China less than 24 hours this week, but that was enough to stir up a diplomatic tempest with some unorthodox and apparently unintended remarks about U.S. policy on Taiwan.


Durable Goods Orders Edge Up in September  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. orders for long-lasting durable  goods rose by a smaller-than-expected 0.2 percent in September,  held back by another sharp fall in commercial aircraft,  government data showed on Wednesday.


Boeing Quarterly Earnings Jump 78 Percent  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co. BA.N on Wednesday topped  expectations with a 78 percent jump in quarterly profit on  strength in its defense operations, and raised its earnings  forecast for 2004.


P G's Earnings Climb, Maintains Outlook  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Procter   Gamble Co. PG.N on  Wednesday said quarterly profit rose 14 percent, boosted by  strong sales and a gain from the recent sale of its juice  business.


Cingular, AT amp;T complete merger Cingular Wireless today announced it has completed its previously announced merger with AT amp;T Wireless, creating the nation #39;s biggest wireless carrier with the


OPEC asks US to tap oil reserves JAKARTA The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has called on the United States to dip into its strategic petroleum reserve to help deflate oil prices, the cartel #39;s president said Wednesday.


Comcast High-Speed Customers Up Strongly Comcast Corp. (CMCSA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , the largest US cable operator, on Wednesday posted a quarterly profit that fell short of Wall Street forecasts but reported


Ovitz tells trial Eisner undercut him at Disney GEORGETOWN, Delaware Michael Ovitz, the former president of Walt Disney, has vigorously defended his 14-month tenure, saying his efforts to expand and improve the company were undercut at nearly every turn by recalcitrant senior executives and the man who


Former US attorney to probe Boston police pepper ball shooting An independent panel headed by former US Attorney Donald K. Stern will investigate the death of a college student who was shot by police using pepper pellet guns to subdue rowdy Red Sox fans after the team won the American League pennant.


Google Market Value Tops Yahoo Google Market Value Tops Yahoo\\Google market value surges past \$50B, tops Yahoo so now they're worth more in dollar value than Yahoo. That goes right in line with being worth more in search value and relevance. I've written before that Yahoo has their fingers in so many pies that they ...


NASA Claims New Supercomputer Is World's Fastest The cluster of 20 computers working as one will be used to speed up spacecraft design, environmental prediction and other research.


Micron Sees Robust DRAM Memory Chip Demand in 2005 (Reuters) Reuters - Computer memory chip maker Micron\said on Wednesday it had indications that demand for DRAM\memory chips, used mainly in personal computers, would be\robust enough to soak up rising supply in 2005.


VMware previews virtual server Hoping to keep the heat on archrival Microsoft, VMware on Wednesday will give developers a glimpse of an early version of its Virtual SMP product that allows a single virtual machine to work with as many as four processors, which in turn can more effectively drive mission-critical applications.


SAP, HP team on hosted ERP offering German software giant SAP AG is teaming with Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) to offer midmarket companies in the U.S. a hosted software offering that includes applications, maintenance, services, and support for a monthly fee.


Global Markets: U.S. Treasuries Pare Gains  LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasuries pared gains on Wednesday  as investors read the latest U.S. durable goods orders as  mildly positive despite lower-than-expected headline numbers.


VMware previews virtual server (InfoWorld) InfoWorld - Hoping to keep the heat on archrival Microsoft, VMware on Wednesday will give developers a glimpse of an early version of its Virtual SMP product that allows a single virtual machine to work with as many as four processors, which in turn can more effectively drive mission-critical applications.


British Troops Head North for Mission Near Baghdad  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - British troops rolled north from Basra  Wednesday to take over a deadly area near Baghdad and free up  U.S. troops for a widely expected attack on Falluja.


OPEC urges the US to use emergency oil reserves NEW YORK, October 27 (newratings.com) - The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has asked the US government to release oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to help ease the rising oil prices.


Boeing Quarterly Earnings Jump 78 Percent Boeing Co. (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday topped expectations with a 78 percent jump in quarterly profit on strength in its defense operations, and raised its earnings forecast for 2004.


Santander Net Soars on Consumer Banking, Stake Sale (Update5) Santander Central Hispano SA, the largest bank in Spain and Latin America, almost doubled third- quarter profit on gains at its European consumer lending business and the sale of a stake in Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc.


Kerr McGee Posts a Drop in Profit Oil and gas producer Kerr-McGee Corp. (KMG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday reported a fall in quarterly profit, citing a writedown related to a pigment plant and higher environmental charges.


Micron Sees Robust DRAM Memory Chip Demand in 2005  AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Computer memory chip maker Micron  said on Wednesday it had indications that demand for DRAM  memory chips, used mainly in personal computers, would be  robust enough to soak up rising supply in 2005.


Apple launches 60GB, 40GB iPod Photo At a special music event featuring Bono and The Edge from U2, Apple yesterday unveiled the iPod Photo with a colour screen, available immediately in 40GB or 60GB versions.


Total lunar eclipse comes out tonight A total lunar eclipse expected to create views of a blood-red moon will be visible tonight throughout most of North America - weather permitting.


Top supercomputer race continues with Nasa/SGI box Engineers at Nasa #39;s Ames Research Center have staked their claim have built the world #39;s fastest supercomputer. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Nasa #39;s supercomputing facility, the US space agency unveiled its


Sun, Microsoft Cite Progress, Not Perfection Microsoft and Sun Microsystems say they are warming up to each other, but it will take more time to deliver on the grand promises of platform interoperability announced last spring.


2 shooters said to be untrained By Donovan Slack and Shelley Murphy, Globe Staff  October 27, 2004. Two officers who fired pepper-pellet guns near where a 21-year-old college student was fatally shot last week were not trained to use the


Cardinals top pick in C-USA Conference USA men #39;s basketball coaches said they expected a very close and difficult conference race, but that #39;s not how they voted.


Bungling Bengals Play Running Broncos CINCINNATI Oct 25, 2004 - Terrell Davis. Olandis Gary. Mike Anderson. Clinton Portis. Reuben Droughns. Seems like just about anybody can run for 100 yards in the Denver Broncos #39; system.


Coach praises Lankans for Aus-like fightback Karachi: Sri Lanka #39;s Australian coach John Dyson said his side had started to emulate some of the gritty toughness of world champions Australia and was putting its new attitude to good use against Pakistan.


Baltimore starts trash talk early The Eagles won #39;t even begin their preparations for Sunday #39;s game against the Baltimore Ravens until the players return to practice today, but Ravens linebacker Edgerton Hartwell already has fired the first salvos.


Treasuries Look Past Data to Oil, Auction  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Treasuries prices clung to modest  gains on Wednesday as the market looked past mixed data on U.S.  business investment to focus on high oil prices and an auction  of new government debt.


Japan #39;s PM determined to face down Iraq hostage-takers TOKYO : Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has vowed not to pull out its troops in Iraq, despite reports that another of its national has been taken hostage.


Boy rescued after 4 days in Japan quake rubble Shaken by a string of deadly earthquakes and aftershocks, Japan is in the grips of an unlikely rescue saga. Rescue teams working in Nagaoka, one of the city #39;s worst-hit by the initial earthquake on Saturday


India at bottom half of media freedom index New Delhi: India, the world #39;s largest democracy, ranks 120th in the media freedom index of 167 countries with Denmark on top and North Korea at the bottom.


Dell tightens Linux ties Novell's SuSE software is set to join Red Hat as a server option. Also: Is AMD in Dell's future?


Photos: SGI's Columbia supercomputer SGI's supercomputer sets a public record which has been eclipsed by a faster result yet to be announced.


Unilever 3Q earnings rise Food and consumer goods giant Unilever reported a three percent rise in third-quarter net profits, but warned it was reviewing its targets until 2010.


Kerr-McGee 3Q Profit Down on Charge Kerr-McGee Corp. on Wednesday said its third-quarter profit slid on a charge related to the shutdown of a pigment plant and higher environmental and capital expenses.


Apple launches new iPod; rolls out download stores in Europe  amp; <b>...</b> Apple has unveiled a new addition to the hugely successful iPod range, giving users more hard disc space and a colour screen for picture viewing.


Ferriss gave BoSox boost in 1946 Series Fifty-eight years removed from pitching a shutout in Game 3 of the 1946 World Series, Mississippi #39;s Boo Ferriss was in St. Louis for Game 3 of the 2004 Series Tuesday night.


Europeans resume talks with Iran to avoid UN sanctions VIENNA, Austria European negotiators are making a last attempt to get Iran to stop enriching uranium so that it can avoid UN sanctions.


Programs: Dubious Lure of Two Fishing Simulations  PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Reuters) - If someone gives you a copy of  "Rapala Pro Fishing," throw it back.


Japan #39;s Phones Are The Coolest -- And Have The Skimpiest Profits With their home market saturated, Japan #39;s handset makers finally look abroad. Meanwhile, margins have plunged. When NTT Docomo (DCM ) unveiled its latest third-generation mobile phones on Nov. 17, gadget lovers were not disappointed.


U.S. Urged to Use Emergency Oil Reserves  JAKARTA (Reuters) - OPEC's president has taken the  unprecedented step of urging the United States to tap its  emergency crude reserves to bring down world oil prices.


Russia to Test New Soyuz Booster on Oct. 29 (Reuters) Reuters - Russia's military will test a\new-generation rocket booster this week that could eventually\be used to launch civilian cargoes into space, Itar-Tass news\agency said Monday.


Bush site bars overseas visitors People based outside the US have been unable to visit the re-election website of President Bush.


Nations to discuss what to do after Kyoto treaty The ice is melting and the heat is on for international delegates assembling in Buenos Aires this week to find new ways to confront global warming under the 194-nation treaty on climate change.


Stocks Open Near Unchanged; Boeing Up  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened flat on Wednesday,  as Wall Street mulls a mixed batch of earnings reports and  government data showing a smaller-than-expected rise in durable  goods orders.


ConocoPhillips Profit Up on Oil Prices  NEW YORK (Reuters) - ConocoPhillips COP.N, the No. 3 U.S.  oil company, on Wednesday reported a 53 percent jump in  quarterly profit, as soaring oil and gas prices offset the  impact of lower production volumes.


Boeing #39;s quarterly profits increase 78 per cent Boeing Co., the US aerospace giant, reported a 78 per cent jump in third-quarter earnings, buoyed by a strong defence business, and raised its estimate for full-year profits due to a favourable tax outlook.


Saturn moon has scientists howling Close-ups of Titan seen for <b>...</b> Sophisticated cameras aboard the spacecraft Cassini gave Earth-bound watchers the world #39;s first close-up view of Saturn #39;s mysterious, largest moon Titan Tuesday night, as scientists processed striking images from the spacecraft #39;s brief fly-by less than


#39;Grand Theft Auto San Andreas #39; blows away gamers, reaps criticism Scott Wilhelm skipped school, took a day off from work, drove 15 miles and visited five stores - just so he could roam the fake streets of San Andreas and shoot people.


Microsoft Sharpens Its Software Factory Vision VANCOUVER, British ColumbiaIn a speech at the Object-Oriented Programming, Systems, Languages and Applicationsor OOPSLAconference here, Microsoft Corp.


Azeri goes for Breeders #39; Classic Punters and bookmakers alike have been caught on the hop after star American trainer D. Wayne Lukas revealed that Azeri is to tackle the \$4m Breeders #39; Cup Classic in Texas this Saturday.


Chat with Miami CB Antrel Rolle Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, Miami Hurricanes cornerback Antrel Rolle will stop by to take your questions! Rolle has been a consistent force in the Miami secondary, helping hold opposing offenses to just 15.


Owen - in action against Leganes. (Getty Images) Three starts, three goals, three victories. Michael Owen must be wondering what all the fuss was about. The England striker was forced to endure a turbulent start to his Real Madrid career with doubts surrounding his ability to make an impact in Spain.


Mahe makes most of his opportunities Donovan McNabb drops back to pass, dumps the ball off, and his receiver gathers it in and starts darting through traffic down the field.


3 Russian officials charged with negligence in Beslan <b>...</b> The Russian Prosecutor #39;s General Office has charged three officials in southern Russia for negligence in connection with the school hostage crisis in Beslan last month, the Itar-Tass new agency reported on Wednesday.


Battle lines drawn on protection of species Western governors gathered last week to plan with the Bush administration and Congress how to change the Endangered Species Act, the 31-year-old law they say


Insurance sector braces for fallout from probe Eliot Spitzer #39;s probe into bid-rigging and insurance practices is likely to usher in an era of greater transparency, decreased compensation for insurance brokers and revamped business models.


US Urged to Use Emergency Oil Reserves OPEC #39;s president has taken the unprecedented step of urging the United States to tap its emergency crude reserves to bring down world oil prices.


Commission to approve Oracle take-over of PeopleSoft The European Commission is expected today to approve US-based enterprise software firm Oracle #39;s hostile take-over of rival PeopleSoft.


Unilever Sales Fall 4 Percent in 3Q AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Unilever PLC reported higher earnings for the third quarter Wednesday but said its business suffered from strong competition, weak demand and poor weather, with sales of Ben  amp; Jerry #39;s ice cream and Lipton Tea falling.


Kerr McGee Posts a Drop in Profit Oil and gas producer Kerr-McGee Corp. (KMG) on Wednesday reported a fall in quarterly profit, citing a writedown related to a pigment plant and higher environmental charges.


Honda sales hit record but strong yen limits profit growth TOKYO (AFP) - Japan #39;s third-ranked automaker Honda Motor said sales hit a record high in the six months to September but the profit performance was undercut by a stronger yen while record oil prices are a problem going forward, especially in the key US


Manny passes field test with flying colors Granted, Boston #39;s Manny Ramirez isn #39;t much as far as left fielders go. He has the range of a monotone. His throws have been known to spray like champagne.


Tendulkar falls cheaply as Aussies strike Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed for eight on his return to international cricket as world champions Australia left India in deep trouble in the third Test on Wednesday.


THREE-SY FOR OWEN MICHAEL OWEN scored his third goal in three games for Real Madrid to help them to a 2-1 win over Leganes in the first round of the King #39;s Cup.


Human Rights Comment Thai PM Thaksin #39;s Contempt for Human Rights It was yet another black day for Thaksin Shinawatra #39;s premiership. When more than 80 Thais perished at the hands of Thai troops in the deep South on Monday - six in the clash between protesters and security


China rebuffs Powell on talks with Taiwan BEIJING, OCTOBER 25: Chinese officials Monday rebuffed Secretary of State Colin Powells suggestion they use a possibly conciliatory speech by Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian to restart cross-straits discussions, telling him in strong terms that they


Press Freedom Under Threat Most In Asia, Mid-East: Report Paris, Oct. 27 (NNN) : A report from media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RWB) has put Press freedom under most under threat in Asia and the Middle East.


Democracy wins in Afghan election What a difference the ballot makes. The election of Hamid Karzai as the first popularly elected president of Afghanistan is a dramatic affirmation of the power of democracy.


Parliament Visitors No Longer 'Strangers' (AP) AP - Visitors to Parliament are strangers no more. In a bid to modernize Britain's ancient Parliament, legislators voted Tuesday to scrap the 400-year-old tradition of referring to visitors as strangers. Instead, they will be "the public" or "members of the public."


Nigerian woman facing death for adultery to know appeal verdict in two weeks (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - DASS, Nigeria (AP) - An Islamic court in northern Nigeria heard the appeal of a woman challenging a death by stoning sentence for allegedly committing adultery, and the judge said he would issue a verdict in two weeks.


Koizumi Says Japan Will Stay in Iraq (AP) AP - Japan's prime minister, a staunch U.S. ally in Iraq, refused on Wednesday to withdraw Japan's troops from the country, taking a tough stance in the face of demands by militants threatening to behead a Japanese hostage unless the soldiers leave.


Durable Goods Orders Edge Up in September  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. orders for durable goods rose  by a smaller-than-expected 0.2 percent in September, held back  by another sharp fall in commercial aircraft, government data  showed on Wednesday.


Titan Posts Slightly Higher Profit  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Titan Corp. TTN.N, which provides  technology and translating services to the U.S. military, on  Wednesday reported a slightly higher quarterly profit.


America West confirms interest in ATA Airlines Tempe -based America West Airlines confirmed its interest in acquiring ATA Airlines on Tuesday after ATA announced it has filed for bankruptcy protection and has agreed to sell some of its assets to AirTran Airways for \$87.


US Sept durable goods sales rise New orders for US-made durable goods increased 0.2pc in September, held back by a big drop in orders for transportation goods, the US Commerce Department said today.


Novell Promises Continued Support for SuSE Linux (Ziff Davis) Ziff Davis - The company says SuSE Linux Professional will become more of a community desktop, while its upcoming Novell Linux Desktop will target business users.


A Look at Voting Problems, Election Issues (AP) AP - Many states are facing legal challenges over possible voting problems Nov. 2. A look at some of the developments Tuesday and Wednesday:


For SGI supercomputer, a record-setting day With new rankings due soon, SGI, IBM and others jostle for bragging rights. Also: Speedy Mac system gets speedier.


P amp;G Posts Higher Profit, Affirms Outlook Procter  amp; Gamble Co. (PG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday said quarterly profit rose 14 percent, boosted by demand for products like Head  amp; Shoulders shampoo and


Northrop Grumman Profit Surges 51 Percent LOS ANGELES - Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. #39;s third-quarter earnings rose 51 percent due to strength from its mission systems, integrated systems and ships and space technology segments.


Apple introduces iPod Photo, digital  #39;box set #39; Apple has introduced the iPod Photo, a version of the popular digital music player that can hold up to 25,000 digital photos alongside the user #39;s music library and displays them on its colour screen.


Sensabaugh unimpressed with Miami offense Gerald Sensabaugh spent most of North Carolina #39;s week off studying tapes of Miami, and he saw the speed, the talent and the big-play capability.


Newmont Strikes Gold, Profit Up 12.5 Pct  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Newmont Mining Corp. NEM.N, the  world's largest gold miner, on Wednesday said third-quarter  profit rose 12.5 percent on higher gold prices and strong base  metal sales.


Dealer Can Write Off Stolen Drug Money An Australian court ruled Wednesday that a convicted heroin dealer can claim a 220,000 Australian dollar (US\$165 million; euro 129 million) tax deduction for money that was stolen during a drug deal.


Agent Ovitz Defends Tenure at Disney Description: In a closely watched trial in Delaware, former Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz took the stand yesterday to defend his tenure as president of the Walt Disney Company in the mid- #39;90s.


ConocoPhillips Profit Up on Oil Prices ConocoPhillips (COP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the No. 3 US oil company, on Wednesday reported a 53 percent jump in quarterly profit, as soaring oil and gas prices offset the impact of lower production volumes.


Higher IPod Shipments To Boost Apple #39;s Q1 Merrill Lynch raised estimates on Apple Computer (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) after the company unveiled its iPod Photo--earlier than the research firm expected--and announced the iPod U2 special edition.


NASA Probe Takes Pictures Of Saturn Moon LOS ANGELES -- NASA #39;s Cassini spacecraft on Tuesday made its closest pass yet to to Titan, Saturn #39;s largest moon. The spacecraft took the first detailed pictures ever of the moon #39;s surface.


Now, NASA supercomputer is  #39;fastest #39; The Unites States space agency NASA has unveiled the world #39;s fastest supercomputer at its Ames Research Centre in California, where India-born astronaut Kalpana Chawla worked for years, in honour of the seven crew members of spacecraft Columbia which


Tiny human is big news Paris - In one of the most spectacular fossil finds in decades, anthropologists say they have found the bones of a tiny human who is a twig in mankind #39;s family tree.


Scoring streak cheers Owen Real Madrid striker Michael Owen is delighted by the scoring streak which has brought him three game-winning goals in as many matches, news reports said Wednesday.


#39;Miami is scary #39; CHAPEL HILL, NC - North Carolina will likely have the services of four-year starting quarterback Darian Durant when it meets fourth-ranked Miami on Saturday.


Toddler rescued from rubble A two-year-old boy was pulled alive from the rubble today after nearly four days under a landslide caused by the earthquake that devastated northern Japan.


Right Whales Return to Georgia Coast Early (AP) AP - North Atlantic right whales are returning to their calving grounds off the coast of Georgia early this year.


Blair: 'Casinos will bring jobs' Allowing dozens of casinos to be built in the UK would bring investment and thousands of jobs, Tony Blair says.


NBA suspends Grizzlies Wright for season opener (AFP) AFP - Lorenzen Wright will sit out the Memphis Grizzlies season opener after receiving a one-game suspension.


Mexico's Femsa Brews 53 Pct. Profit Rise  MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's Femsa, Latin America's top  bottler and brewer, posted a 53 percent jump in quarterly  earnings driven by rising beer sales, expansion of its  convenience store chain and a stronger peso.


ANZ Banking Prices C\$100M 4 Four-Year Bond At 99.98 LONDON (Dow Jones)--Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (ANZ) has priced aC\$100 million four-year bond with the following terms, lead manager TD Securities said Wednesday: Amount: C\$100 million Maturity: Nov.


US big-ticket orders rise, plane orders descend WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (AFP) - Orders for  quot;big-ticket quot; durable US goods rose by a weaker than expected margin in September, hit by plummeting aircraft demand, government figures showed Wednesday.


Tax Break for Drug Dealer Whose Cash Was Stolen A heroin dealer can claim a 90,000 tax deduction for cash that was stolen during a drugs transaction, an court ruled today. The Australian Taxation Office lost a bid in the High Court to overturn a lower


Google en el mercado The internet search engine Google has released its first set of results since the company floated on the stock market two months ago.


A giant step for humanoids THE discovery by Australian scientists on the Indonesian island of Flores of an entirely new humanoid species - colloquially dubbed  quot;hobbits quot; because of their diminutive stature -uts a new piece in place in the long scientific mission to understand


Lukas Betting on Azeri in Breeders #39; Cup The king of Breeders #39; Cup trainers is pursuing his record 18th victory on horse racing #39;s biggest stage in a surprising way.


Fear and pride from Black Watch In a swirl of dust, the first convoy moved out of the Black Watch base near Basra and headed north. Warrior armoured fighting vehicles were transported on low loaders while some troops moved in


Iran #39;s heavy water plant to be operational within month: official TEHRAN, Oct 27 (AFP) - Iran said Wednesday a heavy water plant will go online within a month near the central city of Arak, despite international pressure for Tehran to suspend such nuclear-related activities.


Earth to See Total Eclipse of the Moon (AP) AP - Earthlings are about to be treated to a total lunar eclipse, just in time for Halloween. For more than an hour Wednesday night, the moon will be covered entirely by Earth's shadow and resemble a glowing pumpkin.


Cuban Tree Frogs Moving Toward S.C. (AP) AP - Everything from fire ants and coyotes to armadillos, lionfish and beach kudzu have made new homes in South Carolina over the years. So can the Cuban tree frog be far behind?


IOC Urges Beijing to Get Ready for 2008 (AP) AP - The IOC has a word of advice for organizers of the 2008 Olympics  #151; prepare. Determined to avoid a repeat of the construction delays that threatened the Athens Games, Olympic officials arrived in Beijing on Wednesday.


Apple's Photo Finish The new iPod Photo is surely cool, but it's Apple's new music deal with U2 that might set off big waves in the e-music business. -washingtonpost.com


Procter   Gamble Weigh on Blue Chips  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. blue-chip stocks fell on  Wednesday as earnings and outlooks from two consumer products  giants failed to excite markets.


Dell talks home economics--and more Look for more consumer electronics products and services from the PC behemoth. Also: SuSE Linux for Dell servers.


OPEC to U.S. - Use Emergency Oil Reserves (Reuters) Reuters - OPEC took the unprecedented step of\urging the United States to tap its emergency crude reserves to\bring down world oil prices.


Titan Posts Slightly Higher Profit (Reuters) Reuters - Titan Corp. , which provides\technology and translating services to the U.S. military, on\Wednesday reported a slightly higher quarterly profit.


Blockbuster Posts Big Loss, COO Resigns  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Blockbuster Inc. BBI.N on Wednesday  posted a quarterly operating profit well below analysts'  estimates even before \$1.5 billion in one-time charges, as it  faced falling movie rental demand and higher costs to counter  competition.


Weapons sales boost Boeing profit US aircraft and defence company Boeing reports a 78 jump in quarterly profits, driven by increased demand for equipment from the armed forces.


Ailing Serena Crashes Out  VIENNA (Reuters) - Serena Williams looked so ill she could  barley lift her racket at times as she suffered a 7-6, 6-2  defeat to Russian qualifier Alina Jidkova in the second round  of the Linz Open WTA tournament Wednesday.


Ballesteros Under Tour Probe for Alleged Assault  SOTOGRANDE, Spain (Reuters) - Severiano Ballesteros is to  be investigated by the European Tour following an alleged  assault on one of the tour's tournament directors at his home  course Pedrena.


OPEC Urges U.S. to Use Emergency Oil Reserves
\

 By Muklis Ali

 JAKARTA (Reuters) - OPEC took the unprecedented step of\urging the United States to tap its emergency crude reserves to\bring down world oil prices.


In Spitzer #39;s office, hours of drudgery, moments of  #39;gotcha! #39; One of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer #39;s investigators was perusing a stack of subpoenaed documents in a Manhattan office last month when he let out a yelp, slammed down his coffee and sprinted down the corridor.


Nortel Won #39;t File Results by End of Month Canadian telecom equipment maker Nortel Networks Corp. said Wednesday that it won #39;t be able to file financial restatements to correct accounting irregularities by the end of October, as originally expected.


Newmont Mining 3Q Profit Up on Gold Prices Newmont Mining Corp. on Wednesday said its third-quarter profit rose on increased gold prices. Quarterly profit rose to \$128.7 million, or 29 cents per share, up from \$114.


New Home Sales Surge, Durable Goods Up Orders to US factories for big-ticket durable goods edged up 0.2 percent in September while sales of new homes surged to the third highest monthly level on record.


Ryerson Tull to Buy Integris Metals Metal processor Ryerson Tull Inc. on Wednesday said it agreed to acquire Integris Metals Inc., a joint venture of aluminum producer Alcoa Inc.


At Disney, Ovitzworked And Unditzpaid NEW YORK - A lot of people say Michael Ovitz was overpaid at Walt Disney Company. These critics dwell on the superficial, noting, for instance, that he worked at the company just 14 months and was paid \$140 million when he quit.


Sirius misses Street #39;s target Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. reported a wider-than-anticipated loss in the third quarter as higher costs related to programming initiatives and customer acquisition offset revenue gains.


Pacific Hydro lures bidders PACIFIC Hydro shares yesterday caught an updraught that sent them more than 20 per cent higher after the wind farmer moved to flush out a bidder.


Japan automaker hikes FY forecast TOKYO (CBS.MW) - Japan #39;s third-largest automaker Honda Motor Co. said Wednesday its first-half net profit rose 0.9 percent to 241.


News.com Extra: First blood in the new DVD war Also: Howard Stern confronts Michael Powell on the air.


Serena Blames Headache for Linz Upset (AP) AP - Serena Williams blamed a headache for her poor play in a 7-6 (5), 6-3 upset loss to qualifier Alina Jidkova in the second round of the Generali Ladies Open.


Titans First Close-Up Cassini-Huygens, the joint NASA/ESA/ASI space mission has successfully made a close encounter with Saturns moon, Titan. This was confirmed in the early hours of this morning as the first information and


ITunes coming to Canada in November TORONTO (CP) -- Canadian music lovers who #39;ve been itching to get into the ITunes online music store will have the chance next month.


Total Lunar Eclipse to Be Visible Over Series, Most of World At least one thing will happen during 2004 #39;s World Series that #39;s never happened before -- a total lunar eclipse. The moon will begin slipping into the Earth #39;s shadow at about 9:14 pm


MP3 Players At The Right Size And Price NEW YORK - It #39;s not lack of choice that is the problem when trying to choose a digital music player, it #39;s rather the opposite.


SanDisk doubles capacity of memory cards SanDisk has announced it is doubling the current maximum capacities of a range of its cards. SanDisk #39;s Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick PRO Duo and SD cards are now available in 4GB, 1GB and 2GB capacities ranging in price from \$199 - \$799.


Cool Batman Photo! In related news, it was announced yesterday that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, DC Comics and Electronic Arts will bring a Batman Begins videogame tie-in.


Stocks Up as Oil Drops Sharply  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rebounded on Wednesday  morning after the government reported a bigger-than-expected  rise in crude oil inventories last week, triggering a sharp  slide in oil prices.


IOC urges Beijing to get ready for 2008 Determined to avoid a repeat of the construction delays that threatened the Athens Games, Olympic officials arrived in Beijing on Wednesday.


West Brom look to knight for Premiership rescue English Premiership strugglers West Bromwich Albion have refused to comment on reports they have approached former Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson as a replacement for Gary Megson.


Radcliffe returns PAULA RADCLIFFE will make her first competitive appearance since failing to complete the marathon and 10,000 metres at the Athens Olympics at next month #39;s New York marathon.


Fans Blame Each Other for New Den Violence Millwall and Liverpool fans have blamed each other for the violence which marred the Carling Cup third-round tie at The New Den. Lions supporters have denied chants


Fallen student, fan mourned Victoria  quot;Torie quot; Snelgrove, the college student fatally injured by a pepper-spray projectile during a Red Sox celebration last week, was laid


Comcast Posts Profit, Gains Customers  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Comcast Corp. CMCSA.O, the largest  U.S. cable operator, on Wednesday posted a third quarter profit  on better-than-expected gains in high-speed Internet customers  and raised its full-year outlook for subscriber growth.


Militants Release Video of Japanese Hostage The country #39;s most feared militant group released a video today showing a frightened young Japanese civilian saying he would be beheaded if Japan did not withdraw its troops from Iraq.


Kashmiris rally on 57th anniversary of Indian invasion MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan-controlled Kashmir - Thousands of people in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir demonstrated Wednesday to mark the black day 57 years ago when India deployed troops in the Himalayan region.


British Military Begins Deployment North Toward Baghdad Basra, Iraq -- The British military says its troops have begun heading north to Baghdad from their base in southern Iraq. Large flatbed trucks can be seen carrying armored British vehicles up a road through Iraq #39;s southern desert.


Lebanon rejects US criticism of cabinet Lebanon Wednesday rejected US criticism Syria dictated the make-up of the the new 30-member government of Premier Omar Karami. Information Minister Elie Ferzili said after


Mortgage Applications Fall  NEW YORK (Reuters) - New applications for U.S. home loans  eased last week even though average 30-year mortgage rates  decreased, an industry group said on Wednesday.


Nortel Restatements Delayed to November  OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp. NT.TO, one of  the world's largest makers of telecoms equipment, said on  Wednesday it would miss by about two weeks its end of October  deadline to release long-awaited restated financial results.


Dell plays price card with Novell Linux Company becomes last of the four major server sellers to fully support Novell's SuSE Linux.


EU, Iran Nuclear Talks End, No Immediate Comment  VIENNA (Reuters) - Talks between Iranian negotiators and  French, British and German officials aimed at freezing Tehran's  uranium enrichment program ended Wednesday with no immediate  word of a result.


Japan to Keep Troops in Iraq Despite Hostage-Taking  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's prime minister insisted Wednesday  that Japan would not withdraw its troops from Iraq despite a  threat by a militant group to behead a Japanese hostage unless  Tokyo pulled them out.


Dell to pre-install Suse Linux on servers Dell Inc. will install Novell Inc.'s Suse Linux operating system on Dell PowerEdge servers as part of a worldwide agreement, the companies announced Wednesday at the LinuxWorld conference in Frankfurt, Germany.


Are Cheaper Flat-Panel TVs On The Way? IFire aims to displace LCD TVs with its lower-cost display technology.


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


Berlin Philharmonic to tour Japan for first time with Rattle (AFP) AFP - The Berlin Philharmonic and British conductor Simon Rattle will set off on a tour of Japan this weekend, the orchestra said.


Apple's Photo Finish (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - The Internet rumor mill had it right several weeks ago when whispers circulated that Apple was readying a retooled iPod music player and had entered into a special promotional deal with the mega-famous rock band U2.  Yesterday brought confirmation of both, with most of the media focusing in on the official news that the quirky computer-company-turned-digital-entertainment-pacesetter has given its portable music player the ability to store digital images.


CAE wins contract to sell flight simulator to China Eastern Airlines (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - MONTREAL (CP) - CAE Inc. has won a  #36;23 million contract to provide China Eastern Airlines with a flight simulator to help train pilots to fly Airbus jets.


Conflicted Evangelicals Could Cost Bush Votes (Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles Times - BROOKFIELD, Wis.  #8212; With their ardent, Bible-based opposition to abortion and gay marriage, evangelical Christians are a key target of the massive Republican get-out-the-vote drive heading into next week's election. Party leaders consider conservative Christians to be as near a lock for President Bush as any group can be.


Trick or Trump? The Donald heads off a bankruptcy with yet another re-capitalization, but the stock remains among the walking dead.


Which Is Worse: A Broken Hip or the Bill? America is "very concerned" about healthcare in retirement. That's okay with us.


Apple Opens EU iTunes, Unveils iPod Photo Apple Opens EU iTunes, Unveils iPod Photo\\Apple is still leading the pack in taking a bite out of online music shopping search with the news that they have launched a European iTunes online music store. Shortly before Apple's special music event on Tuesday featuring Bono and The Edge from U2, ...


Turkey aids Syria on border fire Turkey sends army planes and helicopters to help extinguish a forest fire in neighbouring Syria.


Oil Tumbles 3 Pct as Crude Stocks Build  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell heavily from near record  peaks on Wednesday after a sharp build in U.S. crude oil stocks  spurred traders to take profits from a fierce rally.


UPDATE 1-IMF says talks with Argentina to follow debt swap The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday it expects to resume formal loan talks with Argentina after completion of the country #39;s debt exchange deal, delayed last week and now scheduled for Jan. 17.


Update 6: Winter Fuel Supply Worries Continue on Data Concerns about winter fuel supplies were heightened Wednesday after a report showed US inventories of distillate, which includes heating oil, shrank for the sixth straight week.


Mid-East power to grow as oil surges SOARING global energy demand will leave the West increasingly in thrall to the Middle East, the world #39;s energy watchdog has warned.


Google Buys Digital Mapping Company Google Inc. said Wednesday that it acquired Keyhole Corp., a Mountain View, Calif.-based company that combines a database of mapping information and images collected from satellites and airplanes with software.


Blockbuster Posts Big Loss, COO Resigns Blockbuster Inc. (BBI.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday posted a quarterly operating profit well below analysts #39; estimates even before \$1.


US durable goods orders weaker than expected Orders for big-ticket manufactured goods from US factories eked out a tepid gain in September, according to a report Wednesday, offering a mixed view of the nation #39;s recovering economy.


Pacific Hydro Appoints Advisers for Possible Sale (Update2) Pacific Hydro Ltd., Australia #39;s biggest listed renewable energy company, hired advisers after receiving approaches that may lead to a takeover.


U.S. Official: Lebanese Govt. 'Made in Damascus' (Reuters) Reuters - Lebanon's new government was "made in\Damascus" in defiance of a U.N. resolution calling for an end\to Syria's interference in Lebanese affairs, a senior U.S.\official was quoted on Wednesday as saying.


NASA feels the need for speed US space agency NASA unveiled a new computer yesterday that its creators claim is the fastest in the world. Project Columbia, named for the space shuttle that was destroyed early last year, cost \$US50million


SanDisk doubles memory card capacities SanDisk on Tuesday announced new flash memory cards with higher capacities, designed to fit into consumer gizmos like digital cameras, camcorders and cell phones.


Dell plays price card with Novell Linux com October 27, 2004, 8:05 AM PT. ZDNet #39;s survey of IT professionals in October kept upgrading hardware at number two on the businesses radar throughout the year.


More Details: Batman Begins We #39;ve uncovered some additional info on the upcoming Electronic Arts #39; title. Looks like this won #39;t be another Catwoman.


Microsoft details new domain-specific modeling tools Microsoft has announced a new framework and tool for Visual Studio Team System to support the creation of service-oriented applications for various vertical industries.


Intel polishes first Flash development kit for mobiles Intel has unveiled its first Flash Software Developer Kit (SDK) for mobiles, promising that the Flash Data Integrator 6.0 (Intel FDI) will help developers boost performance of advanced applications for multimedia smartphones.


Red Sox on verge of World Series title CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Boston Red Sox are one win away from ending The Curse and wiping out 86 years of frustration. After becoming the first team to erase a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series, the


IOC tells Beijing not to complete Olympic venues too late The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday said 2008 Games host Beijing should take care not to complete its venues too late, two months after it advised the city not to finish them too early.


Fast bowlers revel in strangely conducive conditions BY any measure, this was an extraordinary spectacle. On a warm winter #39;s day in the geographical centre of India, elite batsmen on the most verdant of grounds had cause to duck, sway and weave against the rising ball.


WVU hoops ninth in preseason poll NEW YORK -- Two wins in last season #39;s NIT and five returning starters apparently get you just one thing in Big East Conference basketball.


Kerry slams Cheney as "Minister of Disinformation" over weapons drama (AFP) AFP - John Kerry slammed Vice President Dick Cheney as  quot;Minister of Disinformation, quot; and accused the White House of  quot;dodging and bobbing and weaving quot; to evade blame over missing explosives in Iraq.


U.S. Official: Lebanese Govt. 'Made in Damascus'  BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's new government was "made in  Damascus" in defiance of a U.N. resolution calling for an end  to Syria's interference in Lebanese affairs, a senior U.S.  official was quoted on Wednesday as saying.


Attack of the Killer Fees Lenders have concocted a frightening brew of fees. Are there fang marks on your wallet?


Number of NHL Players in Europe Hits 231 (AP) AP - Toronto's Nik Antropov, Philadelphia's Michal Handzus and Pittsburgh's Steve McKenna became the latest NHL players to head to Europe during the lockout.


He Shoots, You Score The season hasn't even begun and the Wizards are already giving us these nuggets: their hot new dating service, a brawl with the Bulls and Kwame just being Kwame.


Big East Picks Syracuse Hoops in Preseason Syracuse was the runaway preseason pick of Big East coaches Wednesday on the strength of a team that has all its starters back after reaching the round of 16 last season.


Number of NHL Players in Europe Hits 231 Toronto's Nik Antropov, Philadelphia's Michal Handzus and Pittsburgh's Steve McKenna became the latest NHL players to head to Europe during the lockout.


IATA: World Air Travel Continues Recovery (AP) AP - Global air passenger traffic continued a steady rise in the first nine months of this year, rising 17.7 percent from the same period in 2003, the International Air Transport Association said Wednesday.


World Cup Refs to Get More Training (AP) AP - Referees at the 2006 World Cup will begin a training program next year in what FIFA hopes will assure top officiating during the showcase event in Germany.


Priest Who Disrupted Olympics in Abuse Trial  LONDON (Reuters) - A former Irish priest famous for stunts  that disrupted the marathon at the Athens Olympics and  Britain's Grand Prix denied charges on Wednesday of indecency  with a schoolgirl.


News: Big.biz struggles against security threats Most large companies are struggling to protect themselves against security threats, a survey from security consultancy NetSec published today reveals.\


Nortel Restatements Delayed to November Nortel Networks Corp. (NT.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) , one of the world #39;s largest makers of telecoms equipment, said on Wednesday it would miss by about two weeks its end of October deadline


Apple Launches U2 iPod Apple Inc. announced that it has signed a deal with U2 and Universal Music Group to sell a  quot;special quot; iPod that will include U2 #39;s new album.


Cassini unveils mysterious Saturn moon Titan NASA scientists are poring over the latest pictures unveiling Saturn #39;s mysterious moon Titan. The images show distinct dark and bright surface areas.


Apple Extends iTunes to Europe The EU iTunes Music Store retains the same features and per-song price of 99 euro cents, established in June for customers in UK, Germany and France.


Video game release prompts warning TORONTO -- Ontario #39;s consumer minister is putting parents on notice about the newest video game sensation to hit store shelves.


Dizzy spell dazzles India THE improbable dream is almost reality. Glenn McGrath, brilliantly leading the charge in his 100th Test, yesterday joined pace partner Jason Gillespie in choking the life out of India #39;s underachieving top order in the third Test.


Westbrook Injury Leaves Eagles Thin at RB Tailback Brian Westbrook joined quarterback Donovan McNabb and wide receiver Terrell Owens on the list of the Philadelphia Eagles #39; seemingly irreplaceable offensive players when the club lost


Thai PM Defiant Amid Anger Over Deaths Thai-Muslim citizens check for names their relatives who died after the Monday #39;s riot erected outside a military camp in Pattani province, southern Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004.


Black Watch Head for  #39;Triangle of Death #39; The Black Watch were tonight heading for the so-called Triangle of Death outside Baghdad to free US Marines for an expected all-out assault on Fallujah.


Karzai set for election win, mandate to tackle Afghan warlords <b>...</b> His election to a five-year presidential term all but official, Afghan leader Hamid Karzai was already under pressure Wednesday to put the squeeze on the country #39;s powerful warlords and tackle a narcotics industry threatening to overwhelm one


British troops in Iraq head north on risky mission (AFP) AFP - A battle group of British troops rolled out of southern Iraq on a US-requested mission to deadlier areas near Baghdad, in a major political gamble for British Prime Minister Tony Blair.


Minister from Dhaka to call New Delhi, Dec. 4: Bangladesh finance minister S. Saifur Rahman will arrive in India late tonight for a five-day visit and interaction with Indias top political leadership.


Kerry says Bush dodging and weaving with truth on Iraq (AFP) AFP - Democratic presidential contender John Kerry accused President George W. Bush's administration of abandoning its responsibilities in Iraq as the two rivals intensified attacks ahead of the US election.


Tied Presidential Election Could Be Mother of All Messes (Reuters) Reuters - A freak tie result in the\presidential election could mean the House of Representatives\would choose the next president, a scenario that would favor\Republican incumbent George W. Bush.


Oil prices fall as supply fears fade World oil prices plummeted to a near three-month low on Thursday, capping a two-day, 12-percent plunge as fear of a global energy supply crunch evaporated.


Nortel Postpones Restatement Filing to Mid-November (Update2) Nortel Networks Corp. said it will miss a self-imposed October deadline for filing restated results, the second time the telephone equipment maker has delayed the release of its financial statements.


Boeing profit up 78 percent in quarter, upbeat on 2005 CHICAGO, Oct 27 (AFP) - Aviation and defense giant Boeing said Wednesday its third-quarter profit shot up 78 percent from a year ago to 456 million dollars and gave an upbeat forecast for the rest of 2004 and into 2005.


Spacecraft Cassini Zooms in on Saturn #39;s Big Moon The spacecraft passed within 746 miles of Titan #39;s surface and should send back pictures 100 times sharper than past views. Those images are to be released beginning today.


A pregnable fortress The National Stadium in Karachi suddenly seems a less impregnable fortress. Sri Lanka won a Test in Faisalabad after starts of 9 for 3 and 0 for 1, to continue their unbeaten series run in Pakistan.


McDonald #39;s adapts jet for ailing ex-boss AILING former McDonald #39;s chief executive Charlie Bell will fly home to Australia in a company plane specially fitted with medical equipment.


Transatlantic Live Brain Surgery to Be Beamed to UK (Reuters) Reuters - It's not for the squeamish but Britons\with a strong constitution will get a rare opportunity to view\brain surgery as it happens, in an operating room 4,000 miles\away in the United States.


Verizon picks Motorola for video on fiber Verizon Communications is stepping further into video as a way to compete against cable companies.


Java integration spec pushed Sun Microsystems and several other vendors on Wednesday will release an early draft of a specification intended to ease integration of Java-based systems, but IBM and BEA Systems have dropped out of participation in the effort.


IT firms call for patent protection in EU BRUSSELS -- A group of some of the world's leading IT and telecommunications companies have warned that Europe could become a "haven for plagiarism" if the European Parliament fails to agree to allow patent protection for inventions implemented by computer.


Suse warns of hole in Linux kernel Linux distributor Suse has warned of one of the most serious security holes to date in Version 2.6 of the Linux kernel, which could allow attackers to shut down a system running 2.6-based software.


Oil tumbles back below \$54 NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Oil prices tumbled Wednesday after a report showing a bigger jump in crude oil inventories than traders and analysts had been expecting.


BEFORE THE BELL: Boeing Up On Strong 3Q,Boosted Outlook -2 NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Shares of Boeing Co. (BA) rose 3 in the premarket trading session Wednesday, after the aerospace and defense giant reported better-than-expected third


Cassini beams back close-ups of Titan PASADENA, CALIF. - Scientists are examining the first close-up pictures of the surface of Saturn #39;s mysterious moon, Titan. The Cassini spacecraft has sent several high-resolution images of Titan #39;s dark and


SGI Wins Supercomputer Crown for the Moment A new supercomputer named Columbia has claimed the title of world #39;s fastest. The computer, built by Silicon Graphics for NASA at the Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, includes 10,240 Itanium


EA developing tie-in game for Batman Begins Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment has signed a deal with Electronic Arts which will see the giant publisher taking on the creation of videogames based on the forthcoming Batman Begins, which is tipped to be one of the biggest movies of next summer.


Akhtar to miss second Test against Sri Lanka Karachi: Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar was ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka starting Thursday after suffering a shoulder injury during training.


US Official: Lebanese Govt.  #39;Made in Damascus #39; Lebanon #39;s new government was  quot;made in Damascus quot; in defiance of a UN resolution calling for an end to Syria #39;s interference in Lebanese affairs, a senior US official was quoted on Wednesday as saying.


Vienna nuclear talks "very constructive": Iran (AFP) AFP - Iran said its talks with European officials in Vienna on were  quot;very constructive quot;, while insisting on its right to nuclear technology, state television reported.


Extravagant weddings to land Kashmiris in jail (AFP) AFP - Residents in Indian Kashmir will face up to three years in jail for hosting extravagant weddings under new government regulations, officials said.


Java integration spec pushed (InfoWorld) InfoWorld - Sun Microsystems and several other vendors on Wednesday will release an early draft of a specification intended to ease integration of Java-based systems, but IBM and BEA Systems have dropped out of participation in the effort.


US Stocks Rebound as Oil Prices Fall US stocks rebounded on Wednesday morning as oil prices fell sharply after a higher-than-expected rise in crude stocks trumped a drop in distillate inventories.


US new home sales race to third-highest on record New home sales in the United States rose by 3.5 percent in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.21 million units, registering the third highest level on record, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.


Boeing Posts 78 Percent Higher Profit CHICAGO -- Aerospace giant Boeing Co. reported a 78 percent jump in third-quarter earnings, buoyed by a strong defense business, and raised its estimate for full-year profits due to a favorable tax outlook.


BHP to sell US venture BHP Billiton said yesterday it had agreed with joint venture partner Alcoa to sell their 100 per cent stake in Integris Metals to Ryerson Tull of Chicago.


Northrop Third-Quarter Profit Rises Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) reported higher third-quarter earnings on Wednesday and an 11 percent increase in sales on strength in its mission systems, integrated


Sirius posts wider loss amid rising costs NEW YORK (Dow Jones/AP) -- Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. on Wednesday said it posted a wider loss for the third quarter from a year earlier, as higher expenses -- particularly for National Football League programming -- more than offset a surge in revenue.


Apple launches EU iTunes p2pnet.net News:- With news that the real-world p2p file-sharing networks are thriving comes other news that Apple has invaded the European Union with a version of its iTunes corporate music store.


Dell pushes Linux into the data centre Dell is to certify and pre-install Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 on select Dell PowerEdge servers worldwide, the system vendor announced today.


New Game Releases Could Herald  #39;Holiday of Megagames #39; With next-generation game systems not expected until 2006, the video game industry needs blockbuster games to keep business flowing.


Center of the Universe Buschwhacked: Martinez holds listless Cardinals to three hits over seven innings in front of booing St. Louis fans; Red Sox move to within one win of World Series.


Gov't to request higher emissions trading allowance (AFP) AFP - Britain said it planned to ask the European Commission for a somewhat larger share of the greenhouse gas emissions allowances that are to begin trading on an EU carbon market next year.


Al-Zarqawi group kidnaps one Japanese The organization of  quot;Qaida al-Jihad in the Mesopotamia quot; which is led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said it had kidnapped one member of the Japanese forces in Iraq and threatened to execute him if Tokyo will not withdraw its forces from Iraq within 48 hours.


Newmont Strikes Gold, Profit and Costs Up  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The world's largest gold producer,  Newmont Mining Corp. NEM.N, on Wednesday said higher gold  prices drove up quarterly profit by 12.5 percent, even though  it sold less of the precious metal.


Martinez the  Magnificent A baserunning gaffe turns Pedro Martinez into Pedro the magnificent, and now it's simply a matter of when the Red Sox end their eons of pain.


Kerry Wins Fans Abroad with Global Warming Plan (Reuters) Reuters - Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry\has won plaudits abroad for his promises to fight global\warming but could find his hands tied at home if he wins next\week's U.S. elections.


The Envelope, Please... RedEnvelope is still in the red. Do investors have something to cheer about?


Oil Tumbles 3 Pct as U.S. Stocks Build  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell heavily from near record  peaks on Wednesday after a sharp build in U.S. crude stocks  spurred traders to take profits from a fierce rally.


Chrysler to Build Sedans in Austria  DETROIT (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler AG's DCX.N DCXGn.DE  Chrysler division on Wednesday said it will start building its  hot-selling 300C sedan at a plant operated by Magna Steyr in  Graz, Austria, early next year.


Offshoring: An issue that defies easy answers The shipment of jobs overseas is one of the most pressing economic issues of the presidential campaign. Here are 10 key facts of the matter.\


Armitage praises Russia's anti-terror efforts in Moscow visit (AFP) AFP - US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage praised Russia's anti-terror efforts as he laid a wreath at a site of a recent Moscow metro suicide bombing.


Envoy Chides Darfur Negotiators for Lack of Urgency  ABUJA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Warring parties in Sudan's  western Darfur region are showing no urgency in the search for  a political solution to a conflict that has caused a  humanitarian catastrophe, the top U.N. envoy in Sudan said  Wednesday.


Durable Goods Orders, Home Sales Rise  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. durable goods orders rose, with  key components gaining strongly, and single-family homes sales  soared in September, reinforcing views the Federal Reserve will  raise interest rates further this year.


U.S. Stocks Rise as Oil Prices Tumble  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday on  investor relief that oil prices fell sharply after a  higher-than-expected rise in crude stocks last week.


Shuttle Enterprise Takes Center Stage, at Last (Reuters) Reuters - Space shuttle Enterprise was\born to be an astronautical bridesmaid, never a bride.


Boeing Posts Higher Profit, Raises Estimate Aerospace giant Boeing Co. reported a 78 percent jump in third-quarter earnings, buoyed by a strong defense business, and raised its estimate for full-year profits due to a favorable tax outlook.


Price drop prompts oil quota call Opec members call for a cut in rampant over-production as prices oil prices plummet amid warmer US weather.


Cricket: Zimbabwe tour go-ahead English cricket authorities give the national team the go-ahead to tour Zimbabwe.


'Hobbit' joins human family tree The discovery of remains belonging to a tiny species of ancient human has been hailed as one of the most sensational finds of its type in decades.


Oil price hits record high of \$55.45 New York #39;s main crude oil contract shot to a record high of \$55.45 a barrel on Friday amid deepening concern over US stocks of winter heating fuel.


Nortel delays reporting, again OTTAWA - Nortel Networks has announced that it #39;s once again delaying the release of financial reports. The company is currently reviewing its accounting for the past four years.


Real Estate Boom Continues A surprisingly large number of Americans took advantage of low mortgage rates to buy new homes in September, signaling continued strength in the real estate market.


Planes pull US durable orders lower Orders for  #39;big-ticket #39; goods in the US crept up by a smaller than expected margin in September, hit by a sharp fall in demand for planes, government figures showed today.


Earth to see total eclipse of the moon Trick-or-treaters can expect an early Halloween treat on Wednesday night, when a total lunar eclipse makes the moon look like a glowing pumpkin.


Novell To Offer SuSE On Dell Servers Novell plans to make its SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 software available direct from Dell on factory-loaded Dell servers. The companies said Wednesday that beginning in 2005, customers buying Dell #39;s PowerEdge


Puretunes.com settles Record Companies #39; Copyright Infringement <b>...</b> LOS ANGELES (IFPI) - The company and operators behind the Puretunes.com website, an online service which formerly sold unauthorized unlimited music downloads, have agreed to an out-of-court settlement of a copyright infringement lawsuit brought last year


Bush voted "Movie Villain of the Year" (Reuters) Reuters - President George W. Bush may see himself as defender of democracy and compassionate\conservatism but film fans have voted him "Movie Villain of the Year".


Your Verdict: OT aftermath It might not have been a classic in straight footballing terms, but as a spectacle it certainly lived up to the hype, and the fallout from that match at Old Trafford last Sunday has kept the inmates here at Soccernet Towers thoroughly entertained.


FIFA hands out suspensions to Belgium players Goor and Deflandre World soccer #39;s governing body has handed out suspensions to Belgian internationals Bart Goor and Erik Deflandre after they were sent off in a recent World Cup qualifier against Spain, FIFA said Wednesday.


Biancone Says Azeri Will Win Classic There are at least two trainers who think the correct move with Azeri is to run in the Breeders #39; Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr.


Chirac says Turkey #39;s EU bid  #39;not a done deal #39; PARIS, Oct 27 (AFP) - French President Jacques Chirac said Wednesday that Turkey #39;s EU membership bid was  quot;not a done deal, quot; although he believed it was in Europe #39;s best interests, a government spokesman reported after a cabinet meeting.


Real, KDE Patch Security Flaws (Ziff Davis) Ziff Davis - Holes in KOffice and RealPlayer allow attackers to take over a user's system.


Scientists Find Prehistoric Dwarf Skeleton (AP) AP - In a breathtaking discovery, scientists working on a remote Indonesian island say they have uncovered the bones of a human dwarf species marooned for eons while modern man rapidly colonized the rest of the planet.


British Troops Head North for Mission Near Baghdad  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - British troops rolled north from Basra  Wednesday to take over a deadly area near Baghdad and free up  U.S. troops for a widely expected attack on the rebel-held city  of Falluja.


EDS offers early retirement to U.S. staffers MIAMI - Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS) offered voluntary early retirement options to about 9,200, or 17 percent, of its U.S. employees, as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce costs, the company said Tuesday.


Midway losing ATA to bankruptcy Tribune staff reporters Geoff Daugherty, Susan Chandler and Gary Washburn contributed to this story. Its financial situation steadily deteriorating, the parent of ATA


Comcast Q3 profits about what analysts expected Comcast Corp. posted strong growth in high-speed Internet and digital cable customers during the third quarter. The Philadelphia-based cable TV and programming company #39;s profit was slightly below estimates and its revenue was slightly above them.


Sirius Losses Adding Up For its third quarter ended Sept. 30, the New York satellite radio broadcaster lost \$169 million, or 14 cents a share. That compares with a year-ago loss of \$107 million, or 11 cents a share.


Oil Prices Boost Profit at ConocoPhillips (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices at record highs sent\quarterly profits up at ConocoPhillips  and two other\top U.S. producers on Wednesday.


Dell moves closer to Linux with SuSE deal Dell and Novell have reached an agreement that will see Novell SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 receive certification on a selection of Dell PowerEdge servers.


Roundup: Penn State QB Mills may miss OSU game Penn State starting quarterback Zack Mills may not play Saturday against Ohio State because of the lingering effects of a concussion.


Catch me if you can By Will Lloyd. The college football season is two-thirds complete, yet it #39;s the last third of it that is sure to bring excitement and surprises, especially in the race to win the Heisman Trophy.


Officers Called Negligent on School Plot (AP) AP - Prosecutors have charged three police officers with criminal negligence in the seizure last month of more than 1,000 hostages in a school in Beslan, officials said Wednesday.


Edwards: Bush Leads by 'Fear and Failure' (AP) AP - Sen. John Edwards scolded President Bush on Wednesday for invoking the names of Democratic presidents and accused Bush of leading by "fear and failure."


9-Term Mayor in East Chicago, Ind., Loses (AP) AP - Mayor Robert Pastrick will not finish his ninth term in office after conceding defeat in a court-mandated special Democratic primary ordered because of corruption allegations.


Study: Few corporations use anti-spyware tools A third of respondents said that spyware has been on the rise in the past six months.


Prince Charles views reconstruction of Al-Aqsa pulpit in Jordan (AFP) AFP - Britain's Prince Charles got a first-hand glimpse of the recreation of a pulpit for Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque on the second day of a visit to Jordan.


Oil Stumbles Over \$2 as U.S. Stocks Build  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell from near record peaks  on Wednesday after a sharp build in U.S. crude stocks spurred  traders to take profits.


Protesters Weld Shut Entrance to Brazil Nuclear HQ (Reuters) Reuters - Greenpeace activists\welded shut the entrance to the headquarters of Brazil's state\nuclear power company on Tuesday and chained themselves\together in front of the building.


Summary: Human Ancestor Discovered (AP) AP - THE DISCOVERY: The bones of a human dwarf species marooned on the remote Indonesian island of Flores between 95,000 and 12,000 years ago while modern humans rapidly developed elsewhere.


US rolls out most expensive jet The US brings into service the first FA-22 Raptor, a stealth fighter rated as the most expensive jet in military history.


Ravens' Ogden to Miss Three to Four Weeks (AP) AP - Baltimore Ravens tackle Jonathan Ogden is expected to miss three to four weeks with a pulled left hamstring, although the 2003 All-Pro player intends to shorten his absence by adhering to a rigorous rehabilitation program.


Bush Says Kerry Exploits Uncertainty on Lost Explosives The president addressed the issue for the first time today, signaling that he saw its potential to hurt him on Nov. 2.


Boeing #39;s quarterly profits increase 78 per cent, raises 2004 <b>...</b> US aerospace giant Boeing Co. reported a 78 per cent jump in third-quarter profits, buoyed by a strong defence business, as the company raised its estimate for full-year profits because of a favourable tax outlook.


Apple iTunes Rocks Europe  quot;We #39;re excited to bring the iTunes Music Store to even more music fans across Europe, and with this expansion we now reach customers in almost 70 percent of the global music market, quot; Apple #39;s Vice President of Applications Eddy Cue said.


quot;Hobbit quot; Discovered: Tiny Human Ancestor Found in Asia The skeleton was found in the same sediment deposits on Flores that have also been found to contain stone tools and the bones of dwarf elephants, giant rodents, and Komodo dragons.


Could eclipse bring something spooky? IR Feature Writer - 10/27/04. How superstitious are you? A little? Not at all? When the Earth #39;s shadow overtakes the moon tonight starting at 6:06 pm, superstition, in all its mystery, may be lurking just around the corner.


Google to back Microsoft browser foe? The Web is filling up with rumors about an alliance between search giant and browser maker Firefox. LONDON (Reuters) - The Firefox browser is looking for allies in its quest to challenge Microsoft #39;s dominant


AOL Returns to Sender ID Support October 27, 2004 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- According to a report by Internetnews.com, America Online (aol.com) has reversed course and returned to the Microsoft-backed (microsoft.


Expedition 9 Lands Safely Summary - (Oct 24, 2004) The ninth crew to man the International Space Station safely returned to Earth on Saturday. Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA Science Officer Mike Fincke landed in the steppes of


Owen Beaming From Real Big Week Real Madrid forward Michael Owen was in the mood to celebrate after his midweek goal against Leganes completed a rare seven day hat trick of scoring La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey winners.


Argos rule weekly CFL awards CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Led by linebacker Mike O #39;Shea and kick return specialist Bashir Levingston, the Toronto Argonauts dominated voting for this week #39;s CFL player of the week awards.


Packers #39; Green highlights NFC Players of the Week New York, NY (Sports Network) - Green Bay Packers running back Ahman Green, Detroit Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers and Arizona Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers were named the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 7 of


Gators ready to  #39;circle the wagons #39; Motivating college athletes to maintain a similar level of intensity during each and every game is one of biggest challenges for a college football coach.


The China Post The Asian Wall Street Journal yesterday described US Secretary of State Colin Powell #39;s support of Taiwan #39;s eventual reunification with China as a  quot;slip-up, quot; when most Taiwanese have rejected it.


Blockbuster Posts Loss. Shares Plunge  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Blockbuster Inc. BBI.N on Wednesday  posted a quarterly operating profit well below analysts'  estimates even before \$1.5 billion in one-time charges, as it  faced falling movie rental demand and higher costs to counter  competition.


10 facts you should know about outsourcing The shipment of jobs overseas is one of the most pressing economic issues of the presidential campaign. Here are 10 key facts of the matter.\


Inside Dell's manufacturing mecca For manufacturing fanatics, a tour of Dell's facility is sort of like visiting Stonehenge. Here's where direct fulfillment took flight.


Egypt authorizes new party for only third time in 27 years (AFP) AFP - The government approved the creation of a political party headed by a young ambitious lawyer, in only the third time that a new party was authorized in Egypt in almost three decades.


Georgia makes secret wealth offer Georgia's new president is offering a tax amnesty for people who hid earnings under the previous regime in an effort to boost the country's crumbling economy.


Flying Finn Given Two Years for Aggravated Assault  HELSINKI (Reuters) - Former Finnish ski jumping star Matti  Nykanen was sentenced to 2 years in jail after a court found  him guilty of aggravated assault on Wednesday, the chief  prosecutor said.


Google snaps up digital mapping company Search enabler Google Inc. said Wednesday it acquired digital mapping company Keyhole Corp. for an undisclosed sum.


Google buys map provider Keyhole Internet search company Google Inc. has acquired Keyhole Corp., a supplier of online satellite maps that allow users to zoom down to street level to specific locations, Google said Wednesday.