GOP Voter Drive Accused of Tossing Cards (AP) AP - In several battleground states across the country, a consulting firm funded by the Republican National Committee has been accused of deceiving would-be voters and destroying Democratic voter registration cards.


Wife Invokes Supreme Court to Tout Kerry (AP) AP - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry would appoint Supreme Court justices who would safeguard a half-century of civil rights gains, his wife said Friday.


Ex-Citigroup Executives May Face SEC Charges Citigroup said today that federal regulators had warned the bank that an investigation of its asset management unit could result in an enforcement action against the executive who ran the division until this week.


No Kidde-ing: UTC Tries Direct Approach United States engineering giant UTC has vowed to battle on in its attempts to buy fire extinguisher maker Kidde. The group, whose 1.


Canadian company to create 310 jobs at Muncie drivetrain plant MUNCIE, Ind. - Auto parts supplier Magna International Inc. will build a \$73 million factory to produce powertrain components for General Motors Corp.


2007 Solheim Cup to be played in Halmstad, Sweden The biennial Solheim Cup will return to Sweden in 2007 organizers said Friday, where the event will be played in Halmstad. The coastal city is 309 miles southwest of the capital, Stockholm.


Kidnapped CARE director urges British forces to leave Iraq CAIRO - The kidnapped director of CARE International in Iraq tearfully urged British forces to withdraw from Iraq in a videotape broadcast Friday by Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite television news channel.


Haiti Accused of Making Illegal Arrests (AP) AP - Human rights violations common under the government of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide still exist under Haiti's new U.S.-backed regime, a leading human rights lawyer said Friday.


Nigeria misses UN deadline to pull troops out of oilfields claimed by Cameroon (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - Nigeria failed to agree with Cameroon on a promised troop-pullout from disputed territory in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea on Friday, a month after a UN-backed deadline for its hand-over to Cameroon passed.


Scions of Utah Royalty Vie for Governor (AP) AP - SALT LAKE CITY  #151; The race for governor of Utah is a contest between two men from families that might be the closest thing to royalty in this state.


Convicted Sex Offender Can Stay on Ballot (AP) AP - A Green Party candidate for Congress can stay on the ballot despite being on probation for a sex offense conviction, the state attorney's general office said Friday.


Kernan Campaign Benefits from Jobs Announcement (Muncie) - Jobs remain the top issue in the race for governor, and Democrat Joe Kernan, who has been the target of criticism for his job creation efforts, is fighting back today on two fronts.


Waltrip washed out of truck race by rain Rain washed out qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday, causing the field to be set by owner points and leaving Darrell Waltrip out of the field.


Ferrari on Top in Practice for Brazil GP Rubens Barrichello set the pace Friday in his native city, just ahead of Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher, as the two took the top times in practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix.


Barrichello Fires Up the Fans in Brazil

 By Alan Baldwin

 SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello fired uphis passionate home crowd on Friday with the fastest lap inpractice for Sunday's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.


Formula One Gets Big Technical Changes Formula One's governing body imposed sweeping technical changes Friday designed to slash costs and improve the qualify of racing starting next year.


Keenan McCardell Could Start for Chargers (AP) AP - Newly acquired wide receiver Keenan McCardell will make his season debut on Sunday and might even start for the San Diego Chargers in their road game against the Carolina Panthers.


Grand Theft Auto ... Stolen! First it was Halo 2. Now the newest version of Grand Theft Auto has been leaked to the Internet. Rockstar Games #39; latest entry in its highly successful crime/action series, San Andreas, is scheduled for an


Battling Broadhurst back in vintage form The joys of fatherhood have been put aside for Paul Broadhurst this week, and the West Midlander #39;s one-month-old son, Aaron, will have to wait at least two more days before getting a cuddle.


Castro remains awake in surgery to repair shattered kneecap His kneecap shattered and his arm broken after a nasty fall, Fidel Castro refused to let doctors put him to sleep during surgery, showing his determination not to lose control of his nation #39;s affairs, if even for a moment.


Baird Hits the Front in Funai Classic  ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - Briny Baird shot a  six-under-par 66 to grab the lead after the second round of the  \$4.2 million Funai Classic at the Walt Disney Resort on Friday.


Moscow lauded for ratifying Kyoto Environmentalists hail the Russian parliament's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.


Majors' Oldest Park Still Going Strong (AP) AP - There's a new bar on the right-field roof and seats on the left-field wall. In center field, Jimmy Buffet sang "Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude" on the hallowed ground that once was off-limits to concerts.


Report: Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich sells final stake in <b>...</b> Basic Element, the holding company controlled by aluminum baron Oleg Deripaska, is close to acquiring full control of Russia #39;s biggest aluminum maker, Russian Aluminum, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.


Branson plays space invaders in California desert Life in Mojave Town, the windswept and deserted frontier trading post in the Californian desert where the new Virgin Galactic base is located, is far from space age.


Titan Probe to Listen for Thunderstorms The European probe Huygens will listen for alien thunderstorms as it descends through the atmosphere of Saturn #39;s moon, Titan, UniverseToday.


Hewitt love match over A DISTRAUGHT Lleyton Hewitt was last night coming to terms with the end of his engagement to Kim Clijsters. The couple had been planning to marry in February and had even decided a guest list.


Record 2,600 football hooligans get game bans A record 2,596 convicted hooligans have been barred from attending football matches both at home and abroad for up to ten years, the Home Office announced yesterday.


Soccer: Reality bites for Romanian playboy after cocaine test Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu enjoys all the trappings of wealth and celebrity: fast cars, designer clothes, fawning followers and a nod into the glitziest nightclubs.


Broadhurst advances as Baker fails Paul Broadhurst is in the hunt for his first European Tour win for nine years after adding a 65 to his opening 67 in the Madrid Open yesterday.


Fidels fall fails to get US call Havana, Oct. 22 (Agencies): Fidel Castro wont allow himself to be put under general anaesthesia and America wont say get well soon.


Mixed Reaction Among Iraqis Following US Sergeant #39;s Sentencing for <b>...</b> A US military court Thursday sentenced Army Sergeant Ivan Frederick to eight years in prison for his part in the abuse of Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison.


Burma army intelligence  #39;purged #39; A Burmese opposition group says there has been a purge of high-ranking military intelligence officials since the departure of the ex-prime minister.


Lebanon PM Resigns, Says Will Not Head New Govt. Lebanon #39;s Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri resigned Wednesday after the pro-Syrian president #39;s term was extended under what lawmakers called pressure from Damascus.


C #39;Wealth backs Musharraf #39;s intention to continue as Army Chief : Islamabad, Oct 22 : Extending tacit support to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf #39;s intention to continue as the Army Chief despite pledging to quit the post, the Commonwealth today said the move should be considered democratic if Parliament approves it.


Titans Put Cornerback on Injury Report (AP) AP - Cornerback Andre Woolfolk was added to the Tennessee Titans injury report Friday after back spasms forced him to leave practice early.


Brazil Reacts Angrily to Report on Nukes (AP) AP - Brazil on Friday denounced a U.S. magazine report saying Brazil's uranium enrichment plant will give it the potential to build nuclear warheads.


Warped Satellites Prove Einstein Theory -Scientists (Reuters) Reuters - Einstein was right -- again.\Satellites that have been pulled slightly off their orbits show\that the Earth is indeed twisting the fabric of space-time as\it rotates, scientists said on Thursday.


Greenberg son  #39;to stand down at Marsh #39; Jeffrey Greenberg, the chief executive of Marsh  amp; McLennan, the insurance broker accused of rigging the market to make inappropriate fees from customers, was yesterday expected


At Google, Earnings Soar, and Share Price Follows Google Inc. #39;s already soaring stock price rocketed even higher on Thursday after reporting strong growth in its first quarter as a public company, prompting skeptics


Yahoo to scrap online payment service com October 22, 2004, 8:26 AM PT. This priority retains its ranking at number five as more and more companies deploy Web Services to share business logic, data and processes with each other and with clients.


Coulthard has one race to prove his worth David Coulthard has set his sights firmly on a drive for Williams after trailing Juan Pablo Montoya, the man who will replace the Scot in the McLaren line-up next year.


Broadhurst ticks over for Volvo Paul Broadhurst, the former Ryder Cup player, is in the hunt for a first European Tour victory for nine years after yesterday adding a 65 to his opening 67 at Club de Campo in the Madrid Open.


UPDATE 1-Baird keeps Lehman at bay in Funai Classic Briny Baird, seeking his first win on the PGA Tour, fired a six-under-par 66 to grab the lead after the second round of the \$4.2 million Funai Classic at the Walt Disney Resort on Friday.


FEAR FOR GUARDS AS SCOTS GO NORTH BLACK Watch soldiers were on their way to Iraq #39;s worst killing fields last night - and the Scots Guards could follow them. Britain #39;s top general hinted yesterday that UK troops could be based in high-risk areas around Baghdad until well into next year.


Doubts Increase Over Myanmar Democracy Plans Myanmar #39;s military junta has pledged to stick by its  quot;roadmap to democracy, quot; but analysts said on Friday what little credibility the plan had has been shattered by the purge


C #39;wealth boss lays off from criticising Musharraf over uniform <b>...</b> World News: Islamabad, Oct 22 : Commonwealth general secretary Don McKinnon today kept himself away from criticising Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for simultaneously holding the post of Army Chief.


Hunt for Indian bandit #39;s hidden jungle treasure A jungle bandit gunned down by police earlier this week was still tantalising India from beyond the grave yesterday. Treasure hunters were said to be scouring the southern jungles


Toyota May Prepared to Supply Engines to Another Team  SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Toyota could throw a lifeline to  struggling Jordan after saying they would be prepared to supply  a second team with engines next season.


Agency pleads for hostage release Care International appeals on Arabic television for the release of its Iraq director, Margaret Hassan.


UN cuts Cyprus peacekeepers The UN Security Council agrees to reduce by a third its peacekeepers on the divided island of Cyprus.


Uzbek court jails 23 over attacks A court in Uzbekistan sentences 23 people to up to 18 years in jail for their role in a series of atttacks.


Bankrupt Nauru goes to the polls The world's smallest independent country, the Pacific island of Nauru, holds elections on Saturday.


Ex-Costa Rica leader held in jail A court in Costa Rica orders former president Rafael Angel Calderon be held ahead of his trial on corruption charges.


Raids on Ukraine poll opponents Several raids have been carried out on opposition offices in Ukraine just over a week before presidential elections.


Civil servants vote for walkout Britain's largest civil service union votes to stage a one-day strike among its 260,000 members on 5 November.


NetSuite smartens up CRM A rarity among CRM vendors, NetSuite integrates an ERP and accounting backbone directly into its SFA, marketing, and support platform, overcoming back-office deficiencies that often limit CRM effectiveness. Version 10 addresses another common shortcoming in CRM apps: actionable business intelligence.


Open source or outsource? One of the proverbial back stories of IT operations has always been the battle between the "suits" and the "techies." From the techie point of view, the hapless but disturbingly powerful suits are the business guys who put more thought into picking out hundred-dollar silk ties at Nordstrom than they put into million-dollar IT decisions. Worse, the suits gravitate towards outsourcing and service firms that implement big-dollar solutions. Many techies start on the other end of the spectrum with free open source solutions that reflect a substantial DIY ethic. Will the twain ever meet?


United Asks Court to OK Analysis UAL Corp., the parent company of United Airlines, said Friday that it asked the bankruptcy court to approve Bridge Associates to conduct an independent analysis of the troubled carrier #39;s business plan.


Canadian company to create 310 jobs at Munci MUNCIE, Ind. Auto parts supplier Magna International says it will build a 73 (m) million dollar factory in Indiana to produce powertrain components for General Motors.


Sox Fan's Death Raises Questions on Force (AP) AP - The death of a college student from a pepper-spray-filled projectile sparked anger and questions Friday about whether police used too much force to break up rowdy Red Sox revelers outside Fenway Park.


Yahoo to close online payment service SAN FRANCISCO - Yahoo Inc. in November will close PayDirect, its online payments service that aimed to compete with eBay Inc. #39;s PayPal, the company said Friday.


A Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq (AP) AP - As of Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, at least 1,104 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 844 died as a result of hostile action, according to the Defense Department. The figures include three military civilians.


Bush Signs  #36;136B Corporate Tax Cut Bill (AP) AP - President Bush showered  #36;136 billion in new tax breaks on businesses, farmers and other groups Friday, quietly signing the most sweeping rewrite of corporate tax law in nearly two decades.


Canada to Protect Slug, Whale, Endangered Species (Reuters) Reuters - The North Atlantic\right whale, western wolverine and the dromedary jumping-slug\on Canada's Pacific coast will soon share a dubious\distinction.


Boston Hopes to Make Believers Out of Skeptics (Reuters) Reuters - The Boston Red Sox created history, now\they will try to make believers out of skeptics as baseball's\perennial also-rans take on the St Louis Cardinals in a bid to\earn their first World Series title since 1918.


Boston Hopes to Make Believers Out of Skeptics  BOSTON (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox created history, now  they will try to make believers out of skeptics as baseball's  perennial also-rans take on the St Louis Cardinals in a bid to  earn their first World Series title since 1918.


Autodiscovery Hall of Shame \\"As part of the Jakarta Commons Feed Parser, I have created a Wiki page that\details autodiscovery support/non-support, syndication formats, and the common\locations of all syndication files across all of the major blogging services:"\\Brad created  a great "Hall of Shame" for blog services which don't use\autodiscovery or have problems with feed subscription.\\Shame. Shame. Shame!\\


FOAI Lands FAA Conversations \\"In response to its FOIA request, EPIC has received from the Federal Aviation\Administration (FAA) transcripts (pdf) and audio recordings concerning the\request by the office of US House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay\(R-TX) to the FAA regarding the May 2003 search for the plane owned by Texas\State Representative Pete Laney (Tail Number N711RD)."\\"The May 12, 2003 audio recording of telephone conversations between the FAA's\Washington Operations Center and various FAA field employees clearly indicate\that the FAA employees were misled into believing that the request from DeLay's\office was part of 1) a formal Congressional investigation; 2) a formal\Congressional inquiry; a ...\\


Integrity of Florida E-Voting in Doubt (AP) AP - With polls showing nearly equal numbers of Florida voters for President Bush and Sen. John Kerry, the election's outcome may again hinge on a Florida recount. And the more that Floridians learn about how voting machines work, the more they question whether the 15 counties with paperless voting systems can accurately count and recount votes.


UN Declines to Train Iraqis for Saddam Trial  UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations has rejected  a request from Iraqi leaders to train some 30 judges and  prosecutors who would be trying former President Saddam  Hussein, in part because Baghdad has the death penalty, a U.N.  spokesman said on Friday.


Vulnerability hits Java for cell phones Researcher finds two flaws that under unusual circumstances could let a malicious program read private data or render a phone unusable.


Williams to Start Game 1 for Cardinals (AP) AP - Woody Williams is a constant in a St. Louis Cardinals rotation that manager Tony La Russa keeps juggling. The right-hander will make his third straight series-opening start in Game 1 of the World Series on Saturday night.


British economic growth slows in third quarter British economic growth in the third quarter slowed to 0.4 percent, its weakest growth rate in 18months, largely due to a decline in industrial production.


Icelandair lands 8.4 of easyJet THE Viking invasion of the UK gathered momentum last night when Icelandair confirmed that it had spent about 50 million building an 8.4 per cent stake in easyJet.


United hires consultant to review plans; union suit dropped The move is a step sought by two unions in exchange for dropping legal action against the carrier. If the hiring of Bridge Associates LLC is formally approved in bankruptcy court, the move will end a two-month


The Conference Board #39;s Index of Leading Economic Indicators <b>...</b> RISMedia, Oct. 22, 2004The Conference Board reports today that the Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators declined 0.1 in September, following a 0.3 decline in August, and a 0.3 decline in July.


Gold Fields challenges ruling that let Harmony bid HARMONY Gold Minings \$8.1 billion (4.5 billion) hostile takeover offer for Gold Fields took an acrimonious turn last night when the much-larger target company appealed against a regulatory


Yahoo Acquires E-mail Software Firm its second purchase this year of an e-mail startup. Stata Labs #39; Bloomba, which has earned high marks for performance, will bolster Yahoo #39;s competitiveness with Google and Microsoft, the companies say.


Bird fossil may show dinosaur link before it hatched and which could shed light on the relationship between dinosaurs and birds. behaviour like caring for helpless young first began to evolve.


TI announces plans for cell phone TVs DALLAS, Oct 21, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Texas Instruments unveiled plans Thursday for the industry #39;s first cell phone capable of receiving high definition TV broadcast signals.


Synchrotron puts city into national spotlight With a flick of a giant switch, Canada #39;s biggest and most advanced scientific research laboratory will be officially launched later today in Saskatoon.


Cardinals finish off Astros; Red Sox up next Jim Edmonds made a circus catch. Jeff Suppan outpitched the Rocket. And Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen came through, yet again. Surrounded by a rollicking sea of red, clearly these St.


Agassi moves into semis at Madrid Andre Agassi responded to a warm greeting by Spanish fans by eliminating the last local hopeful, Tommy Robredo, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-2 Friday night, and advancing to the semifinals of the Madrid Masters.


Nuggets Anthony denies marijuana was his LOS ANGELES: Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, who charged with marijuana possession last week, said Thursday at a pre-season National Basketball Association game that the drugs were not his.


Jayasuriya hits form in Faisalabad Sanath Jayasuriya #39;s century put Sri Lanka in a strong position after the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Faisalabad.


Dell updates low-end server line The company plans to announce two servers, the PowerEdge SC420 and the SC1420, for small customers Monday.


BRAWL-OUT WAR ... the 1990 clash But the scoreline and Anders Limpars winner were forgotten when the dust settled on what came to be known as The Brawl at Old Trafford.


Photo: PalmOne's Treo 650 PalmOne's Treo 650 sports a sharper screen, faster memory and an improved camera.


Briefly: Dell updates low-end server line roundup Plus: SAS Institute lures former Red Hat CFO...McAfee CFO joins Cray board...Unisys boosts COO to CEO...Turn your fingerprints into passwords.


SAS Institute lures former Red Hat CFO Private data-mining software maker scoops up Kevin Thomson, who resigned from Linux maker in July.


Kyoto Protocol Clears Key Hurdle in Russia (AP) AP - Russia's lower house of parliament ratified the Kyoto Protocol on cutting greenhouse gases Friday, all but ensuring the sweeping environmental pact will go into effect after years of delays.


Software giant Microsoft rings up multibillion dollar profit gain (AFP) AFP - The world's biggest software company, Microsoft Corp, said that its first quarter profits swelled to 2.9 billion dollars as consumers and businesses pumped up demand for new computers.


200 litres of fuel spilt in Coral Harbour, Nunavut, during resupply operation (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - CORAL HARBOUR, Nunavut (CP) - An estimated 200 litres of fuel spilled near the northern coastal community of Coral Harbour during a resupply operation Friday, Nunavut officials said.


Kite Maintains One-Stroke Lead at Schwab (AP) AP - While Tom Kite did more with less raw talent than just about anybody during his PGA Tour days, Morris Hatalsky acknowledges he probably could have done more with his natural gifts.


Calif. Nixes Tiger Salamander Protections (AP) AP - A split state wildlife commission rejected extra protections for the California tiger salamander for the second time Friday.


Bells Look to Fiber After Regulatory Wins (AP) AP - For at least a decade, phone companies have been promising to rewire America with fiber-optic cables. Now, with a romp of regulatory victories in hand, the regional Bells say they're free to make good on that ambitious plan to bring lightning-fast Web and TV services to all the nation's homes.


Spitzer #39;s beady eye of the law spooks insurers Insurance salesmen are used to having a reputation for probity and trustworthiness roughly on a par with second-hand car dealers. That #39;s beginning to look like the good old days, since America #39;s leading brokers


Kidde shares up 38 since offer Fire-extinguisher maker Kidde yesterday poured more water on wannabe bidder United Technology Corporation when its chairman said Kidde #39;s shareholders had backed the board #39;s rejection of the 1.


Icelandair in swoop on easyJet Britain #39;s largest low-cost airline, easyJet, was at the centre of frenzied speculation over a Nordic takeover last night after Icelandair revealed it had snapped up an 8.4 stake.


It will take more than a win to convince me everything is fine <b>...</b> What a mouth-watering prospect Manchester United v Arsenal is. Giants versus giants. Or are we all getting carried away? Whatever the result, could it be that Old Trafford #39;s


Man U fan turns to Nomura in effort to block US tycoon Keith Harris, the City banker and ardent Manchester United supporter, is pursuing a plan to prevent Malcolm Glazer taking over the club by asking Japanese bank Nomura to help give the fans a greater say in any takeover battle.


Baird moves out in front at Disney Lake Buena Vista, FL (Sports Network) - Briny Baird fired a six-under 66 Friday to move to the top of the leaderboard after two rounds of the FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney Resort.


U.N. Won't Train Judges for Iraq Tribunal (AP) AP - The United Nations won't train judges or prosecutors for the Iraqi tribunal that will try members of Saddam Hussein's regime because it has no mandate and doesn't work with courts that can impose the death penalty, a U.N. associate spokesman said Friday.


Northern Uganda  #39;world #39;s biggest neglected crisis #39; Northern Uganda, where around 20,000 children have been kidnapped and many forced to serve as combatants, is the world #39;s biggest neglected humanitarian crisis, the head of UN humanitarian affairs said yesterday.


Rates have peaked, says City A sharp and surprising downturn in Britain #39;s economy made the City predict yesterday that interest rates have peaked, and signs emerged that the higher cost of borrowing is putting the brakes on the housing market and the manufacturing sector.


Schwarzenegger Opens Stop on  #39;Hydrogen Highway #39; California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger dedicated a pioneering hydrogen fueling station on Friday, calling it the first stop in a  quot;hydrogen highway quot; that would someday stretch across


Put up or push off, City patrician tells  #39;Bid  #39;em up Bruce #39; Eight months of simmering tension at investment bank Lazard erupted this week as its patrician chairman told the Wall Street legend he hired to run the bank to take it public by next June or quit.


San Francisco aims to bridge digital divide SAN FRANCISCO Bridging the digital divide that separates the technology literate from people who don #39;t have access to computers is high on San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom #39;s list of priorities.


Stradivarius Cards still playing second fiddle BOSTON -- You expected to see Bill Murray and Larraine Newman disembarking from the St. Louis team bus as it rolled up to Fenway Park here late Friday afternoon.


Harry says sorry to family for embarrassment Prince Harry has spoken at length to the Prince of Wales and Prince William after being involved in an early morning scuffle with a photographer outside a nightclub.


North Korea Sets Conditions for Joining Six-Party Nuclear Talks North Korea set conditions for resuming the six-nation talks on its nuclear program, including the US dropping its hostile policy #39; #39; toward the communist nation, the official Korean Central News Agency said.


City Lawyer Reviewing Anthony Drug Case (AP) AP - The city's attorney said Friday he hasn't decided whether to drop a marijuana possession charge against Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, even though a friend of the player's said the drugs found in Anthony's backpack belonged to him.


LPGA Tour Rookie Beisiegel Ends With 79 (AP) AP - LPGA Tour rookie Isabelle Beisiegel shot her best round of the week Friday, but it wasn't enough to end her attempt to become the first woman to qualify for the men's PGA Tour.


Easyjet soars as Icelandic airline buys 33m stake Easyjet #39;s shares yesterday soared 21pc after Icelandair bought an 8.4pc stake worth 33.5m in the budget airline. It follows weeks of market speculation about a possible


Google Results Evoke 'Dot-Com' Fervor (Reuters) Reuters - Shares of Google Inc. gained more\than 15 percent on Friday, to trade at more than twice the\level of its cut-price IPO, after the Web search leader\delivered strong quarterly results in its first reported\quarter as a public company.


Marsh Stock Jumps on Talk of CEO Change (Reuters) Reuters - Shares of Marsh   McLennan Cos. were\whipsawed on Friday amid conflicting reports that a change in\the insurance broker's top management was imminent.


Microsoft Desktop Search Beta Coming Soon News.com reports in the article: Microsoft fixes date for desktop search tool, that the company will offer up a beta release of a desktop search by the end of this year.


SF mayor: A chicken in every port San Francisco #39;s mayor set a goal on Thursday of providing free wireless Internet connection citywide.  quot;We will not stop until every San Franciscan has access to free wireless Internet service, quot; Gavin Newsom


Kite clings to lead at Schwab Cup Championship Sonoma, CA (Sports Network) - Tom Kite carded a two-under 70 Friday to remain atop the leaderboard through two rounds of the Champions Tour #39;s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.


Abducted Aid Worker in Iraq Begs for Life (AP) AP - Trembling, haggard and weeping into a tissue, Margaret Hassan, the kidnapped British aid worker who has spent nearly half her life delivering food and medicine in Iraq, begged Britain on Friday to help save her by withdrawing its troops, saying these "might be my last hours."


SORRY DAD, SAYS HARRY PRINCE Harry has said sorry to Prince Charles over his nightclub clash with a photographer. The 20-year-old apologised after explaining why he lunged at Chris Uncle.


Bush Declares Kerry Can't Keep U.S. Safe (AP) AP - President Bush said Friday that the choice facing voters amounts to who can keep Americans safer from terrorists and that John Kerry does not measure up. Kerry's campaign accused the president of resorting to fearmongering out of desperation as the rivals exchanged accusations across battleground states.


Actor Reeve Shown in Calif. Stem Cell Campaign Ad (Reuters) Reuters - Less than two weeks after his\sudden death, actor Christopher Reeve on Friday began appearing\in a taped appeal to Californians to vote for a controversial\ballot measure that would fund a decade of stem cell research,


Momentum Builds for U.S. Role in Paying Highest Health Costs Politicians are pushing an idea to fight high health costs by shielding employers from the most expensive medical cases.


In Character, a Quick Exit Is Required For Simon, a sidewalk mime from Trinidad who does his statue act in various Midtown locations, the difficulty isn't standing for ten hours at a time. It's getting off the stage.


No Patriots Letup After Pennington's Long Day On the worst day of Chad Pennington's career, he threw five interceptions in a loss to the Patriots last year. The Jets face the Patriots again on Sunday.


PeopleSoft's Prevarication Stock options and a sales gimmick go unnoticed as the software maker reports impressive results.


Common Sense Investing If the Sun Belt is where the growth is, then Southern Company is a place to be.


Six Tips for a Clean Credit Record Don't bother with the small stuff. Here's what really matters to your lender.


Nextel's Walkie-Talkie Grows Up The wireless phone provider's focus on business spills over into the consumer market.


Justice at last in sight over Air India terror bombings (AFP) AFP - Nearly 20 years after their loved ones died in the worst terror strike prior to the September 11 attacks, relatives of 329 people killed in an Air India jet bombing are at last in sight of justice.


The New Republic Endorses Kerry! \\"There was a time, in the aftermath of September 11, when this magazine liked\what it heard from George W. Bush. He said America was at war - not merely\with an organization, but with a totalitarian ideology. And he pledged to\defeat Islamist totalitarianism the same way we defeated European\totalitarianism, by spreading democracy. For a publication that has long\believed in the marriage of liberalism and American power, this was the right\analysis. And its correctness mattered more than the limitations of the man\from which it came."\\"Three years later, it has become tragically clear that the two cannot be\separated. The president's war on terrorism, which initially offered a\striking cont ...\\


Yahoo! enhances its arsenal to take on Google Stata Labs is the latest weapon in Yahoos arsenal to take on Googles domination in the Search Engine market. Yahoo! bought this software company, which specializes in technology that enables users to


800M PLEDGED FOR VIRGIN BOSS #39;S SPACE TRIPS MORE than 800million has been pledged to Sir Richard Branson #39;s space travel adventure - - years before the ship has even been built.


Grand Theft Auto San Andreas leaked First it was Halo 2, now GTA. The new iteration of the popular Grand Theft Auto franchise was supposed to hit retails shelves by the end of October however pirated


Cassini-Huygens Set for Closest-Ever Flight Past Titan It #39;s an encounter that everyone has been waiting for: on Tuesday, October 26, Cassini-Huygens will streak past Titan in the mission #39;s first close encounter with Saturn #39;s largest moon.


City lawyer still reviewing facts of Anthony drug case The city #39;s attorney said Friday he hasn #39;t decided whether to drop a marijuana possession charge against Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, even though a friend of the player #39;s said the drugs found in Anthony #39;s backpack belonged to him.


Timeline: Margaret Hassan Margaret Hassan, who works for charity Care International, was taken hostage while on her way to work in Baghdad. Here are the main events since her kidnapping.


880 Pounds of Cocaine Seized Off Colombia (AP) AP - A joint French, American and British anti-narcotics operation intercepted four smugglers with 880 pounds of cocaine off the coast of Colombia this week, France's Defense Ministry said Friday.


Hostage Begs the British to Remove Troops in Iraq Margaret Hassan begged Prime Minister Tony Blair to save her life by withdrawing troops from Iraq.


Officials Fear Iraq's Lure for Muslims in Europe Intelligence officials fear that for a new generation of disaffected European Muslims, Iraq has become a new holy war.


Microsoft fixes date for desktop search tool Microsoft has set a firmer date for the release of its desktop search software, after Google launched a test version of its rival program for scouring a PC #39;s hard drive.


Arsenal boss: Vieira 50-50 for Man Utd Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says captain Patrick Vieira is  quot;50-50 quot; to be fit for tomorrow #39;s blockbuster against Manchester United.


Sharapova beats Venus Williams for Zurich tennis semis Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia beat former world number one Venus Williams of the United States 6-3, 6-4 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Zurich Challenge WTA tennis tournament.


No Patriots Letup After Pennington #39;s Long Day The numbers were as stark as the divergent directions of the two teams. On the worst day of Chad Pennington #39;s career, he threw five interceptions in a loss to the Patriots last December.


Kite maintains lead in Sonoma Hatalsky #39;s 5-under 67 was the best round among the leaders, but Kite stayed in front at 10-under 134 with an afternoon of saves and clutch putting -- though he didn #39;t know it at the time.


A Coach Is Forced to Tackle the Lawyers #39; Game Plans When Tennessee plays Alabama on Saturday afternoon, Neyland Stadium will be packed with the customarily passionate orange-clad throng.


Louis Hillary Park: Elections, World Series make for a fun days <b>...</b> well, sort of very own -t. Louis Cardinals are in the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. (How did that happen?). Having been a Cardinals


Asian countries pledge closer cooperation in fighting against <b>...</b> Senior diplomats of 17 Asian governments Friday adopted a Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures, declaring their intention to promote closer cooperation in the fight against international terrorism.


Nuggets Overpower Warriors for 105-86 Win (AP) AP - Earl Boykins scored 19 points and the Denver Nuggets forced the Golden State Warriors into 26 turnovers en route to an easy 105-86 victory Friday night in the opener of an NBA preseason doubleheader at Staples Center.


Biotech Bug Busters Try to Save Venezuela Art Works (Reuters) Reuters - Biotechnology is meeting art\in Venezuela as scientists try to save the country's art\treasures from being ruined by its tropical insects, fungi and\humidity.


Fall in football hooligan arrests Arrests at football games are down by 10 as more fans are subjected to banning orders, the Home Office says.


Caesars agrees to sell Bally #39;s New Orleans in \$24 million deal LAS VEGAS Caesars Entertainment Incorporated announced today that it has agreed to sell its Bally #39;s Casino New Orleans for about 24 (m) million dollars.


Ukrainian cops search homes of opposition activists in runup to election (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Ukrainian police and state security agents searched the apartments of two opposition activists Friday, just over a week before the country's hotly contested presidential election, a news report and an opposition group said.


#39;Aussie Kim #39; calls time on Hewitt love match Kim Clijsters has stunned the tennis world by announcing her break up with Lleyton Hewitt just four months before their scheduled wedding.


Lackluster effort leaves Gordon behind Newmans record run Ryan Newmans record run snatched the pole while Jeff Gordon picked the worst time for a lackluster qualifying effort Friday at Martinsville Speedway.


U.N. Panel: Cambodia Could Be Terror Haven (AP) AP - Cambodia needs urgent help if it is to avoid becoming a "breeding ground for terrorism," the chairman of the Security Council's committee on al-Qaida said Friday.


Pressure Said to Be Building for Ouster of Marsh's Chief Under pressure from regulators, the directors of Marsh   McLennan Companies, the big insurance broker, are moving to force the resignation of Jeffrey W. Greenberg.


Mobile Operators Seek Higher Sound Quality (Reuters) Reuters - Ring tones on mobile phones were once\considered cool if they simply sounded musical. Then phones\starting ringing to the tune of a pop song, giving way to "ring\songs."


Rah-Rah, Sis-Boom-Bah for Google! Or Not The cheerleading for Google from the analysts at leading brokerage firms is starting to sound a lot like the days of the dot-com bubble.


In Swing States, Growth of Jobs Has Faltered As job growth has picked up in many areas of the country, employment has continued to falter in some crucial battleground states.


Forecast for Chip Industry Sees a New Order of Business When Morris Chang, the founder of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, speaks of the future of the chip business, he sounds somber.


Memos Warned of Billing Fraud by Firm in Iraq The memorandums charge that Custer Battles repeatedly billed occupation authorities for nonexistent services.


A Look at Lawsuits Ahead of Election (AP) AP - Many states are facing legal challenges over possible voting problems Nov. 2. A look at some of the developments Friday:


Japan Finds Another Suspected Mad Cow Case (AP) AP - A Holstein in western Japan tested positive for mad cow disease in a preliminary test conducted Saturday, an official said.


Cheney Derides Kerry Over War on Terror (Reuters) Reuters - Vice President Dick Cheney\said on Friday he had no confidence in Democratic challenger\John Kerry's ability to fight the war on terror.


Delta Air Lines Prepares Chapter 11 Filing Delta Air Lines Inc. could file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as soon as next week, a source familiar with the matter said.


Oil Price Tops \$55; Heating Supply Low Oil closed above \$55 a barrel Friday for the first time as traders worried about low stockpiles of heating oil and strong economic growth in China.


U.S. Limits Chinese Sock Imports U.S. imports of socks from China will be strictly limited next year, the Bush administration announced yesterday -- a decision that could herald similar action against other types of Chinese-made clothing that have the potential to dominate world markets.


Marsh Talks to Spitzer About Settling Independent directors of Marsh   McLennan Cos. approached New York state Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer this week about settling the corruption charges Spitzer has brought against the giant insurance broker and financial services firm, according to sources close to the investigation.


Fannie's Issues: Simple or Not? Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman William H. Donaldson said in an interview this week that the accounting issues the SEC must address in its investigation of mortgage funding giant Fannie Mae are "not black and white."


TSA Tightens Rules For Flight Training The Transportation Security Administration said yesterday that it expanded a program to conduct security checks that could affect more than 100,000 foreign students seeking flight training in the United States and U.S. certified pilots who are noncitizens.


Sox Are Up? Sell! Think you've got a bead on who will win the World Series that begins tonight between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals? Prepared to put your money where your mouth is?\
-The Washington Post


Schwarzenegger unveils hydrogen Hummer, but not how he planned But it #39;s not exactly the hydrogen-powered car he promised voters he would build when he campaigned for office. Criticized by environmentalists for owning a gas-guzzler, Schwarzenegger said during last year #39;s


NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 22 October 2004 All ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. Day 7 of joint Exp.9/Exp.10 operations and last full day before 8S undocking.


Safin salvages victory FLAMBOYANT Russian Marat Safin lived dangerously tonight, salvaging three break points to hang on for a 6-4 6-4 win over Peru #39;s Luis Horna at the 2.425 million euro (\$4.


Castro Says He Stayed in Charge After Fall Taking pains to demonstrate that he retains firm control over Cuba after fracturing his knee and arm in a fall at a public event, President Fidel Castro says


Cambodia seen as potential terror haven Cambodia needs international help in erecting defences against terrorism or it could become a safe haven for al Qaeda and similar groups, Chile #39;s UN ambassador has warned.


Karzai Rivals Whittle Away at Afghan Vote Lead Hamid Karzai remained on course on Friday to win Afghanistan #39;s first direct presidential election, but with a quarter of the vote still to be counted, rivals were whittling


Searching for Offense Coach Ralph Friedgen, long deemed an offensive guru, is still searching for a way to shake Maryland out of its scoring funk.


A Special Free Agent SFX, one of the top sports representation firms, is in danger of losing agent Arn Tellem and potentially a star-studded NBA and Major League Baseball client list.


Newman Grabs Pole Ryan Newman takes the pole Friday for the Subway 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.


The Rundown 4 Miami at N.C. State 7:45 p.m., ESPN
Think the Wolfpack is kicking itself for that loss two weeks ago at North Carolina? You bet. Had N.C. State (4-2, 3-1 ACC) won that one, this would be for sole possession of first place in the ACC. As it is, this is a chance for the Wolfpack to show it belongs in the upper echelon of the restructured league -- which, for now, is Miami, Florida State, and a cesspool of also-rans. The Wolfpack's defense is the best in the nation against the pass (97.5 yards per game) and overall (203.7). It will have to shut down a rejuvenated Brock Berlin, who threw for 308 yards last week against Louisville, his most in 13 games. Key for N.C. State: Will perpetually banged-up tailback T.A. McLendon -- a game-time decision because of a bad hamstring -- be able to run effectively?


Monsters, Inc. The Red Sox in the World Series will face a Cardinals lineup that features a balanced offense loaded with speed, power and depth.


Kidnapped Aid Official Begs Blair To Save Her Pleading for her life between terrified sobs, kidnapped aid official Margaret Hassan appeared on a videotape Friday urging the British prime minister to abandon Iraq.


Egypt Inquiry Slowed by Lack of Evidence Two weeks after coordinated bombings at several Red Sea resorts in Egypt, investigators have yet to assemble a clear picture of how the attacks occurred or identify the people or group behind them.


Italy Asks a Banner Question: Whodunit? Some art experts believe intricate letters painted on a saint's cloak are artist Raphael's monogram.


880 Pounds of Cocaine Seized Off Colombia A joint French, American and British anti-narcotics operation intercepted four smugglers with 880 pounds of cocaine off the coast of Colombia this week, France's Defense Ministry said Friday.


Motor Racing: Toyota May Supply Engines to Another Team

 By Alan Baldwin

 SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Toyota could throw a lifeline tostruggling Jordan after saying they would be prepared to supplya second team with engines next season.


Kirilenko May Be Near Contract Extension (AP) AP - Andrei Kirilenko feels he is close to a contract extension with the Utah Jazz and hopes to have it finalized within the next few days.


US Airways pilots vote for pay cuts of \$300m Pilots at US Airways have voted in favour of giving \$300 million in annual wage and benefit concessions to the struggling airline, becoming the first major labor group to accept permanent cuts, the union representing pilots said.


Quebec provincial police secretly installed camera in Kanesatake territory (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - KANESATAKE, Que. (CP) - Quebec provincial police denied Friday they were spying on the Mohawk territory of Kanesatake by hiding a surveillance camera on top of a school opposite the police station.


American judge rejected from FIG technical committee American judge George Beckstead was rejected in his bid for re-election to the men #39;s technical committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) in Antalya, Turkey on Friday.


Aussie drought to break at Classic? No Australian has ever won the Funai Classic at Disney World, but there were signs here today of an impending break in the drought.


Kidnapped Aid Official Begs Blair To Save Her Pleading for her life between terrified sobs, kidnapped aid official Margaret Hassan appeared on a videotape Friday urging British Prime Minister Tony Blair to abandon Iraq


Nextel Profit Up Nextel Communications Inc. Friday reported improved profit and revenue during its third quarter as it boosted its subscriber base to 14.5 million, an increase of 550,000.
-The Washington Post


SEC Asks Appeals Court To Reinstate AOL Lawsuit America Online should be subject to lawsuits by Homestore.com shareholders who are seeking to prove that AOL engaged in sham deals that helped Homestore improperly report higher revenue, lawyers at the Securities and Exchange Commission argued.


U.S. Sends 3 Planes to Aid Darfur Peace Force  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force on Friday sent  three cargo planes to carry Rwandan forces and equipment to  Darfur to assist an African Union peacekeeping effort in the  violent region of western Sudan.


Web Desktop Moves Raise Security Alerts A pair of phishing vulnerabilities this week targeted at Google Inc. point to the kind of new threat Web companies can face as they expand their services into desktop applications, security experts say.


A slugger #39;s paradise The offenses of the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox will no doubt keep scoreboard operators busy at Fenway Park for the first two games of the World Series.


Ljubicic beats Henman while Agassi advances Top-seeded Tim Henman was ousted by Croatian nemesis Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the third round of the Madrid Masters on Thursday.


Bourdais eyes Champ title The result was that Sebastien Bourdais of France edged closer to clinching his first Champ Car title by guaranteeing himself a front-row spot tomorrow #39;s Lexmark Indy 300 after leading Friday #39;s opening qualifying session.


Clarett #39;s Bid to Have Court Reconsider Lawsuit Is Rejected A federal appeals court has rejected running back Maurice Clarett #39;s long shot bid to get the court to reconsider his lawsuit challenging the NFL #39;s eligibility rule for the draft.


Japan Finds Another Suspected Mad Cow Case TOKYO Oct 22, 2004 - A Holstein in western Japan tested positive for mad cow disease in a preliminary test conducted Saturday, an official said.


Regulators Let Cingular Buy AT #38;T Wireless (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - The  #36;41 billion merger between Cingular Wireless LLC and AT T Wireless Services Inc. won approval from the Federal Communications Commission yesterday, according to federal sources close to the agency, paving the way for major changes in the lucrative wireless-phone market.


U.S. Aims to Revive 6-Way N. Korea Talks (AP) AP - On a trip to East Asia, Secretary of State Colin Powell intends to work out a strategy with Japan, China and South Korea on how to convince North Korea it is not under threat of attack.


A New Judgment Day For Decalogue Displays (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Sometime in late winter, advocates for and opponents of public displays of the Ten Commandments will argue the issue before the U.S. Supreme Court for the first time in 25 years.


It's All in the Name The family of the late Mickey Mantle is angry about a decision to temporarily rename the Yankees slugger's eponymous restaurant.


Lehman Lurks in Fla. Tom Lehman is just one shot back at the Funai Classic at the Disney Magnolia course. Lehman has not won in nearly five years.


Fuzzy Math Ohio State's national championship win over Miami in 2002 is the only time in recent memory that the college football season has ended absolutely free of controversy.


Fallujah Insurgents Fight US Marines for Second Day (Update1) US Marines engaged rebels on the outskirts of the Iraqi insurgent stronghold of Fallujah for a second day, the US military said in an e-mailed statement.


Japan May Have 15th Case of Mad Cow Disease, Kyodo Says Japan may say it found its 15th case of mad cow disease in an animal found in Mie prefecture, Kyodo News said, citing the local government.


U.N. Won't Help Iraqis With War Crimes Trials The United Nations has refused a U.S. request to assist Iraqi judges and prosecutors seeking to try former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and his top lieutenants for war crimes, saying that a new Iraqi special tribunal  includes a death penalty provision opposed by the United Nations and fails to meet the minimum standards of justice.


Bloodied Harpring Leads Jazz Over Kings (AP) AP - Matt Harpring had 10 points and nine rebounds despite missing much of the first half with a bloody nose, and rookie Kris Humphries scored 13 in the Utah Jazz's 101-88 preseason victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.


This Date in Baseball for Oct. 23 (AP) AP - 1910  #151; Philadelphia's Jack Coombs won his third game of the World Series, beating the Chicago Cubs 7-2 as the Athletics took the championship in five games. Eddie Collins had three hits, including two doubles, to lead the A's attack.


S.E.C. Warns It May Act On Ex-Officer Of Citigroup Citigroup said regulators warned the bank that an investigation of its asset management unit could result in an enforcement action against the executive who ran the division.


Family of Israeli-Arab Released Cheers (AP) AP - Azzam Azzam's family erupted in cheers, applause and tears on learning Sunday that the Arab-Israeli businessman had been freed after eight years in an Egyptian jail.


Crude oil prices rise to above US\$55 a barrel World oil prices rose to a new record high above 55 US dollars a barrel Friday, stirring fears of 60-dollar-a-barrel New York crude, as concerns about the global supply of heating


A New Order of Business for Chip Industry When Morris Chang, the founder of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, speaks of the future of the chip business, he sounds somber.


France #39;s Joubert wins Skate America men #39;s title France #39;s Brian Joubert was ready for a win after a second-place finish earlier this year at the World Championships. Despite trouble landing several jumps, Joubert got his victory in the men #39;s free skate Friday


Hamas vows to avenge leader #39;s death GAZA CITY, Oct 22: Israel #39;s killing of a top Hamas fighter in Gaza prompted calls for vengeance by the radical Islamic group on Friday, days ahead of a critical parliament vote on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s plan to evacuate the territory.


Dell gets Philips order Philips might have started selling PCs again, but they are still outsourcing their internal PC needs. And Dell is the lucky one to get the deal worth around USD 700 millions!


Officials Fear Iraq's Lure for Muslims in Europe Officials fear that for a new generation of disaffected European Muslims, Iraq has become the crux of a new holy war.


Agency: Calif. Water Shift Won't Hurt Fish (AP) AP - A federal agency ruled Friday that shifting more Northern California water to Southern California will not jeopardize five threatened or endangered species of fish.


Peguero's Goal Gives Colorado Playoff Win (AP) AP - Jean Philippe Peguero scored in the 31st minute to lead the Colorado Rapids to a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in an MLS Western Conference semifinal playoff game Friday night.


Crude oil futures rise for third straight day WASHINGTON - Oil prices cruised above \$55-a-barrel yesterday as concerns about the global supply of winter fuels persist ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter.


Schwarzenegger unveils hydrogen Hummer, but not how he planned Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced an environmentally friendly Hummer on Friday -ut not exactly the hydrogen-powered car he promised voters he would build when he campaigned for office.


No. 15 Louisville Blows Out South Florida Stefan LeFors completed his first 13 passes, threw for one touchdown and ran for another in Louisville #39;s 41-9 victory over South Florida on Friday night.


Cardinals Trounce Bulls Stefan LeFors completes his first 13 passes, throws for one touchdown and runs for another in No. 15 Louisville's 41-9 victory over South Florida on Friday night.


Colorado State 'Boots' Wyoming 30-7 (AP) AP - Jimmy Green helped Colorado State win back the coveted Bronze Boot, running for 124 yards and a touchdown Friday night in a 30-7 victory over archrival Wyoming.


Caesars OKs Sale of Bally #39;s New Orleans Caesars Entertainment Inc. has agreed to sell its Bally #39;s Casino New Orleans for about \$24 million, company officials said Friday.


Web watch: Google desktop Google #39;s Desktop Search application, released as a preview this month for Windows XP and 2000 PCs, searches the hard drive of your PC using the same algorithms that have made its Internet search engine fast, accurate and popular.


TODAY #39;S MATCHUP: MIAMI AT NC STATE * PULLING RANKS: NC State is 8-47-1 against opponents ranked in the top 10, including a 1-5 record under Chuck Amato. The Pack has twice beaten a team ranked as high as No.


Newman wins pole in Martinsville MARTINSVILLE, Virginia (Ticker) - Ryan Newman is probably too far back in the  quot;Chase for the Championship quot; to seriously contend for the title.


Web Desktop Moves Raise Security Alerts (Ziff Davis) Ziff Davis - Google's phishing vulnerabilities could foretell new security threats for major Internet companies cozying up to the desktop.


Motorsports: Ferrari dominate second practice at Interlagos Ferrari dominated the second practice session ahead of Sunday #39;s Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo on Friday, Rubens Barrichello proving the quickest in front of team mate Michael Schumacher.


Berlin brings calm to  #39;Canes Brock Berlin #39;s relationship with University of Miami football fans has been uneasy at best. He has tried to appease them as best he could -- by winning games, particularly in the fourth quarter.


It #39;s Decision Time for Nets #39; Collins Jason Collins has until Oct. 31 to sign a contract extension with the Nets. If Collins, a 7-foot center, cannot come to an agreement with the team by then, he cannot negotiate


Al Jazeera airs video of Margaret Hassan pleading for her life HAMISH ROBERTSON: But first this morning to that video footage of the kidnapped aid worker, Margaret Hassan, which has been broadcast on the Arabic language television channel, Al Jazeera.


Tendulkar set to play in third test v Australia (Reuters) Reuters - Sachin Tendulkar is set to return for next week's third test against Australia in Nagpur after coming through a fitness check on Saturday.


Ex-CIA Chief Gates Warns on Cyberterror (AP) AP - Cyberterrorism could be the most devastating weapon of mass destruction yet and could cripple the U.S. economy, former CIA Director Robert Gates said at a terrorism conference Saturday.


Crude Oil Closes Above \$55; Tight Winter Supply Is Seen Oil prices climbed again yesterday, closing above \$55 a barrel for the first time, on concerns that supplies will be stretched thin this winter while demand from China remains solid.


President OKs overhaul of corporate tax law President Bush yesterday signed into law the most sweeping changes to the corporate tax code in nearly two decades. The bill creates roughly \$140 billion in tax cuts for businesses and


Soyuz set to return tonight Mike Fincke #39;s new baby is on the astronaut #39;s mind as he returns to Earth today, though she might not know it.  quot;I #39;m very concerned she doesn #39;t know who her father is, quot; Fincke told reporters


Google #39;s First Report Is a Goodie With its profits and stock surging, the search giant is winning over skeptics. Still, long-term growth challenges remain. With Google #39;s shares climbing 75, to \$150 since its August initial public offering, a


Ericsson Returns to Profit but Lowers 2005 Outlook Ericsson, the world #39;s largest maker of mobile phone networks, posted a quarterly profit on Friday, but reported disappointing new orders and offered a subdued outlook for 2005.


Tripath Tech sees Q3 loss widening SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Tripath Technology plunged as much as 57 percent in late trading Friday after the company said its third-quarter loss would widen, revenue would come in well below its previous outlook and that it would take a charge


Cassini probe to return to Saturn moon US space probe Cassini will near Titan, one of Saturn #39;s moons, on October 26 to take pictures with the aid of radar, NASA said.


Tracy wins pole at Surfers Paradise Canada #39;s Paul Tracy overcame a damaged nosecone in practice to claim the pole position for the Lexmark Indy 300 on Friday, breaking up a battle between teammates Sebastien Bourdais and Bruno Junqueira.


Japan discovers another suspected mad cow case Japanese and US officials wrapped up three days of talks Saturday to lift Tokyo #39;s 10-month-old ban on imports of American beef, reportedly narrowing differences over testing standards for mad cow disease but failing to strike a deal.


Baseball and its fans recover from 1994 strike Ten years after the World Series was canceled and fans left in droves, Major League Baseball will tell you it has never been healthier.


Despite his fall, experts say Cuban ruler has no plan to give up <b>...</b> President Fidel Castro will likely be off his feet for several weeks recovering from a fractured knee and arm, but experts said Friday they don #39;t expect the 78-year-old Cuban


Chase for the cup dividing fan camps There has been much talk lately about the chase for the championship and whether or not NASCAR has met its objectives by changing the points system.


Baird Leading Mickey Mouse Club LAKE BUENA VISTA - It #39;s true. Nothing puts more smiles on more faces than a trip to Disney World. If there was any doubt, just take a look at this week #39;s Funai Classic leader board.


Nets Get 23 From Jefferson, Beat Celtics Boston Celtics #39; Gary Payton scrambles over New Jersey Nets #39; Eric Williams after a loose ball during the first quarter Friday, Oct. 22, 2004, in Boston.


Two guards appear in court martial hearings BAGHDAD: Preliminary court martial proceedings were held on Friday for two US jail guards accused of abuse of Iraqi detainees in Baghdads Abu Ghraib prison.


Nextel's Profit Rose by 69 in 3rd Quarter Nextel Communications said earnings and subscriber growth for the full year would exceed initial estimates.


A deal would officially end billing disputes The Pentagon has all but abandoned hope that Halliburton Co. will be able to fully account for all expenses associated with supporting US troops in Iraq and is considering an accounting armistice.


SHATNER ANTES UP TO BEAM UP William  quot;Captain Kirk quot; Shatner is forking over \$200,000 to boldly go where he #39;s never really been before. The  quot;Star Trek quot; thespian is one of 7,000 stargazers who have pledged


Bryant carries Lakers past Clippers Playing another aggressive game, Bryant scored 25 points as the Los Angeles Lakers posted a 113-102 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.


Hostage Margaret:  #39;I don #39;t want to die like Bigley #39; Hostage Margaret Hassan has made an emotional appeal for UK forces to withdraw from Iraq, in a video shown on al-Jazeera. She was shown pleading:  quot;Please help me, please help me.


Middle East ; Iran nuclear deal  #39;tied to US election #39;  quot;This is the beginning of the endgame, not the endgame, quot; Samore said. The meeting was to give Iran a last chance to come clean before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) decides on 25 November whether Iran is cooperating or not.


US Planes Hit Iraq's Falluja, Zarqawi Man Seized  FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. warplanes bombed targets in  Iraq's rebel-held city of Falluja overnight, killing two people  and wounding three, and the U.S. military said it had captured  a wanted militant on Saturday.


Google #39;s share price surprises Shares of Google Inc., the Internet search engine that first sold stock to the public in August, surged 15 percent after profit more than doubled, and the company said online advertising sales show no signs of slowing.


Settlement Offered in Drug Patent Case The attorney general of Oregon, Hardy Myers, has proposed a \$36 million nationwide settlement among the pharmaceutical manufacturer Organon USA, consumers and states over the antidepressant drug Remeron.


Video-game market is hot Elf ingenuity aside, if Santa wants to make sure he has enough of the holiday seasons video game must-haves, he had better start pre-ordering now.


His father made him a Cardinals fan forever All these years I have been around sports, and I still don #39;t really understand how a person becomes a fan. And I #39;ma fan -- of the St.


Latest kidnapping angers many Iraqis Kidnapped aid worker Margaret Hassan pleaded for her life in a tearful videotape Friday, saying she feared facing the same fate as British hostage Kenneth


Death toll in China mine blast reaches 77; search for survivors continues (AFP) AFP - The death toll from a devastating coal mine gas explosion in central China's Henan province rose to 77 as rescuers continued to search for any survivors, state media reported.


Toshiba readies HD DVD laptop Toshiba announced this week that it is aiming to sell laptop computers loaded with its next generation DVD drive by next year. Toshiba #39;s next generation standard, called HD DVD, is in competition with the


Red-hot World Series: Red Sox, Redbirds BOSTON - The World Series logo was back on the field at Fenway Park, just like last year. That #39;s right, the 100th World Series opens tonight in the city where the Fall Classic began in 1903 with Cy Young


Newman shatters track record en route to Subway 500 pole Ryan Newman shattered the track recorded at Martinsville Speedway Friday afternoon, capturing the pole for Sunday #39;s SUBWAY 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race.


Aid worker pleads for her life Margaret Hassan, the kidnapped Iraq director of the aid group CARE International, pleaded for her life in a video that played on the Al-Jazeera Arabic news network Friday


Explosion of Postwar Humor Helps Iraqis (AP) AP - In debt, jobless and fed up with power outages, Abu Qadouri and his wife have themselves frozen to be revived when life is better. Ten years later, they are thawed out.


Summary: Momentum Key in 2004 Election (AP) AP - THE ISSUE: While the race for the presidency is now a virtual dead-heat between President Bush and Democrat John Kerry, on Election Day it could turn into a landslide.


Crocodile Husbandry Is Really Hard, China Finds China hoped to become a highly competitive producer of crocodile meat, hides and shoes, but that dream has been difficult to realize.


Russia's Lower House Approves Kyoto Treaty on Emissions The vote set the stage for enactment of the international treaty aimed at reducing emissions blamed for global warming.


A Quiet Struggle for the Conservationist Vote The fight for the support of conservationists, hunters and anglers is being waged from the pages of Field and Stream magazine to the strategy sessions of the Sierra Club.


Once Red, 'Mr. Green' Is a Hero Anywhere but at Home Mikhail S. Gorbachev has decided to devote his post-presidential years to campaigning for the protection of the environment.


Defense Lawyers in Disney Trial Try to Discredit a Witness Defense lawyers in the Walt Disney trial on Friday tried to undermine the credibility of a witness who testified that company directors neglected their oversight


Relativity prediction is correct A key prediction of Albert Einstein #39;s general theory of relativity has been confirmed by an experiment showing that the Earth #39;s rotation drags the surrounding fabric of space-time along with it.


French Joubert wins men #39;s figure skating title Brian Joubert of France won the men #39;s figure skating title Friday at Skate America, finishing with an overall score of 193.46 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


Change-up: Tigers sign top draft pick Verlander After saying earlier this month they had withdrawn their offer to top draft choice Justin Verlander, the Tigers announced Friday they had signed the Old Dominion right-hander to a five-year contract.


Low-Key Suppan Plays Big Role for Cards (AP) AP - Somewhat lost in the St. Louis Cardinals' Game 7 victory over a future Hall of Fame pitcher was the role their little-known starter played in getting them to their first World Series in 17 years.


Briny Baird Seeking Elusive PGA Tour Win (AP) AP - Briny Baird has played 153 times on the PGA Tour without winning, and he gets another chance this weekend in the Funai Classic at Disney.


Karzai maintains clear majority as Afghan vote count passes 75 percent (AFP) AFP - Hamid Karzai maintained his clear majority in the Afghan presidential elections as the vote count passed 75 percent, according to the official poll website.


Falcons Coordinator Donatell Bounces Back (AP) AP - After taking the fall in Green Bay, Ed Donatell has gotten right back up with the Atlanta Falcons.


Music Player/Storage Device Holds 100Gb of Data (TechWeb) TechWeb - Digital Mind Corp.'s DMC Xclef 500 player offers voice recording, FM radio, PC and Mac compatibility, and support for six music file formats in USB mass storage device.


Oil futures pass \$55 US for first time WASHINGTON -- Oil futures prices surged to new heights above \$55 US a barrel yesterday as concerns about the global supply of heating oil persist ahead of winter.


Schwarzenegger unveils hydrogen-powered Hummer but not exact d when he campaigned for office. Criticized by environmentalists for owning a gas-guzzler, Schwarzenegger


States hurricane losses includes 9,500 lost jobs The toll from Hurricanes Charley and Frances widened Friday as Florida reported it lost 9,500 jobs, the first drop in employment in two years.


Synchrotron to shed lot of light SASKATOON -- The switch was officially flipped on one of the largest science projects in Canadian history yesterday, igniting the passions of researchers who aim to do everything from creating smaller radios to curing the common cold.


Big leagues THE nation is deeply divided. The voters are intolerant of opposing views. Yet there has been much joy in Houston, a city whose baseball team finally advanced in the playoffs and came within one game of being in the World Series.


It #39;s not party time yet, Boston BOSTON - If this World Series comes down to a battle of sentiment and pathos, it ain #39;t even going to be close. The Red Sox, one senses, have became the people #39;s choice, the exceptions being jealous Cubs


World Series preview - NL  The Cardinals won a major league best 105 games, andfinished 13 games ahead of second-place Houston in the National League Central.


POLICE TO WARN ARSENAL  amp; MAN U PLAYERS POLICE will visit the dressing-rooms of Manchester United and Arsenal to lay down the law before their grudge match tomorrow. Both teams will be warned  quot;in no uncertain terms


Tracy claims Indy pole Champ Car World Champion Paul Tracy has shaken off a terrible practice session to qualify fastest for the Gold Coast Indy. Tracy hit a tire barrier towards the end of the opening 15-minute practice session, damaging his nosecone.


Tendulkar cleared for Test return Indian batting star Sachin Tendulkar has been passed fit for the third Test against Australia, which starts in Nagpur on Tuesday. The 31-year-old has recovered from tennis elbow, which has kept him out of action since the middle of August.


Hurricanes take on nation #39;s No. 1 defense The Miami Hurricanes (5-0, 2-0 ACC) have yet to lose this season. But they haven #39;t gained much respect. After falling this week in the Associated Press poll from No.


Germany to continue Iran talks before Nov.25 LONDON, Oct 23 (IranMania) - The German government on Friday called for continued political talks on Irans nuclear programme ahead of the November 25 meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agencys (IAEA) Board of Governors, Iran #39;s State news Agency


Karzai maintains clear majority HAMID Karzai maintained his clear majority in the Afghan presidential elections as the vote count passed 75 per cent today, according to the official poll website.


Belichick is in rare form Friday mornings with Bill Belichick are probably the most personal and informative of the week. After his team has had a good week of practice, he's engaging and talks pure football.


Red Sox Nation set for Game 1  Game on. Go time. The World Series returns to ancient Fenway Park tonight for the first time since 1986 when the Red Sox host the St. Louis Cardinals. With the region still hung over from the Sox' epic comeback against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series, Boston will be attempting to win the fall classic for the first ...


Too close for comfort Winning is neither everything nor the only thing in soccer. Teams often play for a certain result. During the regular season, a tie away from home can be rewarding. In Major League Soccer's playoffs, goal differential will likely determine who advances in two-game series.


He's safe: Steinbrenner keeps Cashman Brian Cashman didn't lose his job because the Yankees lost control of the American League Championship Series. Owner George Steinbrenner has told the team's general manager that he will not be fired before next season. Cashman, who expected to be summoned to Tampa for meetings soon, believes he knows what he needs to look for in the offseason.  quot;It'll be ...


Sox don't underestimate challenge An emotional letdown? For the first World Series in Boston in 18 years? Ask the Red Sox if they might take the Cardinals lightly tonight in Game 1 of the 100th World Series, and they look at you like they did when they first laid eyes on Pedro Martinez's 29-inch-tall actor pal, Nelson de la Rosa.


Still a mystery to most There was a serious chill in the air, the weather more suited for downhill skiing than baseball, but being the Fall Classic and all, preparations were being made to the diamond at Fenway Park yesterday. Bases were 90 feet apart and the mound 60 feet 6 inches from home plate -- surely the recipe for a conformity to make it ...


Pressed into service The game-by-game story of how this Red Sox-Cardinals World Series matchup plays itself out is going to add a new chapter to Sox history. However, we'll also be keeping an eye on one of the lesser stories that will reflect the big news from the Series.


Rolen finds sweet spot at just the right time The day after Scott Rolen slugged a two-run home run to help St. Louis beat the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, he was asked to reflect on his first trip to the World Series. But like many Cardinals, the question prompted him to look back. Way back.


Thanks to Snowe, Maine a clear winner With the help of Republican Senator Olympia Snowe, Maine emerged a clear winner in the corporate tax relief bill signed by President Bush yesterday.


Wakefield is prepared to take charge Call it destiny, serendipity, karmic justice, whatever you will. But the planet has come around full circle since last October, when Tim Wakefield was sobbing in the Bronx amid the sad wreckage of yet another autumnal fantasy.


Lexington software firm shuts down DeNovis Inc. of Lexington shut its doors yesterday, sending all 110 employees home and washing away \$125 million in venture capital and years of effort to overhaul the way medical claims are paid, executives involved in the shutdown said.


Pesky happy to be back Only yesterday, Johnny Pesky was eating breakfast at his regular spot on the North Shore when someone else reminded him of a moment that has stayed with him for 58 years. The 85-year-old Pesky was getting ready to ride to Fenway Park, where the Red Sox held their final workout before they open the 100th World Series tonight against the ...


Banks plan Series events New England banks are racing to make the most of their World Series tickets and marketing opportunities during the games. Citizens Financial Group distributed Red Sox tickets to about two dozen employees through a random drawing, while Bank of America Corp. is encouraging its Boston employees to wear Red Sox hats or shirts to work. An internal note asked employees, ...


For Google investors, a taste of '90s For investors in Google Inc., it's the roaring '90s redux. Shares of the Web search giant leapt 15.43 percent yesterday, on the heels of a 6.33 percent spurt the previous day, even as the broader financial markets continued to retreat. By the time they closed at \$172.43 yesterday, Google shares had more than doubled in value since the company went ...


Bush signs \$136b tax relief bill President George W. Bush signed a \$136 billion corporate tax relief bill yesterday that could provide substantial savings for some of Massachusetts' biggest manufacturers, life sciences companies, and even some fishermen.


Custom-made-- in China Custom-designed imported furniture was once an exclusive realm. Now, it's the economical alternative for commercial developers and designers needing everything from seats to beds to desks for their projects.


Harvard facing challenging test Undefeated Harvard at Princeton, defending Ivy League champion Penn at Yale, and Atlantic 10 North Division leader Northeastern at Maine highlight today's Division 1-AA New England football schedule.


Irish have too much fight SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Boston College's top-ranked hockey team arrived at Notre Dame intent on keeping its perfect record intact, maintaining its top ranking in the polls, and delivering coach Jerry York his 700th career victory.


Gilmore fuels the Jets In East Boston, there are a few important games, but none can compare to town bragging rights that the East Boston-Savio Prep game brings. Kevin Gilmore, an Eastie native, will be getting more than his fair share of praise at Santarpio's Pizza, after scoring four touchdowns yesterday in the Jets' 48-20 victory over Savio Prep (2-5) in nonleague action.


Cheney in fine form for Foxboro Foxboro junior Tim Cheney opened last night's Hockomock League heavyweight matchup against North Attleboro at his 2-yard line with a bobble and a stumble. He was fleet-footed the rest of the way, regaining control to take the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and lead Foxboro to a 32-7 romp of the Red Rocketeers.


Studley is too much for Cambridge Down by 2 points, 77 yards from the end zone, and with only 14 seconds remaining, there was little Cambridge quarterback Matt O'Brien could do to change an inevitable outcome. The Falcons' quarterback managed to complete a pair of deep heaves, but when Peter Manns was tackled at the 12 with zeroes on the clock, the scoreboard read ...


Holliston is pushed by Rogers Coming into last night's showdown with undefeated Tri-Valley League rival Holliston, the Medfield Warriors had reason to be confident. They had been averaging more than 30 points per game, and they had the league's leading scorer in halfback Bryan Lee.


For Google investors, a taste of  #39;90s Shares of the Web search giant leapt 15.43 percent yesterday, on the heels of a 6.33 percent spurt the previous day, even as the broader financial markets continued to retreat.


Harmony, South African Gold Producers Hurt by Rand Strength Harmony Gold Mining Co., the biggest miner of South African gold, may report a fifth consecutive quarterly loss while Gold Fields Ltd.


Indian team arrives at Nagpur Nagpur: The Indian cricket team barring skipper Saurav Ganguly and batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar arrived in Nagpur on Saturday for the third cricket Test against Australia to be played at VCA stadium from October 26.


China coal mine toll rises to 66 The death toll in Wednesday #39;s gas explosion at Daping coal mine in China #39;s Henan province has risen to 66. A 1,000-member rescue force is still searching for 84 missing miners.


Roadside bomb injures six GIs in Iraq BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A roadside bomb exploded near an American military patrol in Baghdad Saturday, injuring six soldiers, the US command said.


Aid worker held in Iraq pleads for her life  BAGHDAD -- Trembling, haggard, and weeping into a tissue, Margaret Hassan, the kidnapped British aid worker who has spent nearly half her life delivering food and medicine in Iraq, begged Britain yesterday to help save her by withdrawing its troops, saying these  quot;might be my last hours. quot;


Haiti violence is seen as worsening  WASHINGTON -- Human rights violations and outright atrocities are growing more rampant by the day in Haiti as police, former soldiers, and rebel groups wreak havoc in a violent struggle that local authorities and United Nations peacekeepers appear unable to control, according to US officials, foreign diplomats, and local human rights monitors.


Darfur peacekeeping to get \$125m from EU BELGIUM BRUSSELS -- Officials said the European Union will provide up to \$125 million to back African peacekeepers in Darfur, as the United Nations warned yesterday that crucial relief convoys are in danger. Gunmen in Darfur are attacking relief convoys, civilians, and African villagers, the UN's World Food Program said in a statement yesterday. ''The security situation in all three ...


Vote in Russia pushes greenhouse gas pact toward ratification MOSCOW -- Russia's lower house of parliament ratified the Kyoto Protocol on cutting greenhouse gases yesterday, all but assuring that the sweeping environmental pact will take effect after years of delays.


North Korea sets conditions on talks  SEOUL -- North Korea set three conditions yesterday to be met before it would consider returning to six-party talks on its nuclear programs.


Rape Acquittal Criticized in Venezuela (AP) AP - Prosecutors, lawmakers and rights activists criticized Venezuela's judicial system for the acquittal of a man who had been accused of torturing and repeatedly raping a woman.


US Forces Bomb Iraq's Falluja, Seize Zarqawi Aide  FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. planes bombed targets in  Iraq's rebel-held city of Falluja, killing two people, and the  U.S. military said it had captured a lieutenant of its  deadliest Islamist enemy in Iraq in a raid early on Saturday.


N.Korea Vows to Double Deterrent if No U.S. Change  SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea threatened on Saturday to  double the size of its nuclear deterrent if the United States  did not drop what Pyongyang sees as a confrontational policy  aimed at unseating the communist leadership there.


Are You Ready for Election Day? The Internet's chock-full of information and persuasion to help you solidify your vote.  Here's a quick guide.


FOCUS: AXA #39;s Asia Buyout Failure Won #39;t Change Strategy PARIS (Dow Jones)--French insurance company AXA SA (AXA) said Monday the collapse of plans to buy out minority shareholders in its Australian business, AXA Asia Pacific


Bush signs \$136b tax relief bill President George W. Bush signed a \$136 billion corporate tax relief bill yesterday that could provide substantial savings for some of Massachusetts #39; biggest


Japanese bank to control future ticket sales and media rights (OfficialWire) -- 10/23/04 -- So incensed are fans of Manchester United football club over the prospect of American Malcolm Glazer buying control of  #39;their club #39; that


Hoosiers have opportunity to prolong Buckeyes #39; woes On Sunday, the day after Ohio State dropped to 0-3 in the Big Ten with a 33-7 loss at Iowa, the Columbus Dispatch ran a single word above its game story on the Buckeyes:  quot;Embarrassing.


Japan, U.S. Agree Resumption of Some Beef Imports (Reuters) Reuters - Japan and the United States agreed on\Saturday to resume imports of American beef from animals with\birth records up to 20 months, Japan's Foreign Ministry said in\a statement.


Calif. Salutes Global Warming Fighters (AP) AP - California has become the first state to reward landowners for leaving forests standing to help control global warming, under a program adopted this week by the California Climate Action Registry.


Japan, U.S. Agree Resumption of Some Beef Imports  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and the United States agreed on  Saturday to resume imports of American beef from animals with  birth records up to 20 months, Japan's Foreign Ministry said in  a statement.


Japan, U.S. to Resume Some Beef Imports  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and the United States agreed on  Saturday to resume imports of American beef from animals with  birth records up to 20 months, Japan's Foreign Ministry said in  a statement.


Game appeal for Uruguay's voters A leftist party in Uruguay is hoping an online game will help it attract young voters.


Passing thoughts on Yankees-Red Sox series The Red Sox beat the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in a season-deciding game. The Red Sox beat the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in a season-deciding game and it wasn #39;t even close.


Moss possible for Sunday Randy Moss tested his strained right hamstring on a treadmill Friday and will be on the practice field for a more extensive workout today, but the Vikings #39; all-pro wide receiver remains a game-time decision for Sunday.


BASEBALL: JETS ARE FLYING THIS weekend sees the  quot;other quot; showdown between New York and New England as the Jets and Patriots clash in a battle of the unbeaten teams.


Coca-cola earnings lose their fizz COCA-COLA has reported a 24 per cent plunge in third-quarter net income due to weak sales of its soft drinks, juices and bottled waters in Germany, North America and other key markets.


Molik, Sharapova through to Zurich last four Resurgent Australian Alicia Molik went through to the semi-finals of the Zurich Challenge in Switzerland overnight after a straight sets win against Russia #39;s Nadia Petrova.


Els still has major ambitions after l million pound payday in <b>...</b> Ernie Els has another 1 million pounds and a World Match Play record all to himself. But he wants more. And top of the South African #39;s agenda for 2005 is to try to win the Masters and US PGA titles.


Head of charity urges release of Iraqi director Hours after a kidnapped humanitarian aid worker tearfully pleaded for her life in a video released Friday by her captors, the head of CARE International urged the kidnappers to release Margaret Hassan unharmed.


Myanmar Says Constitution Talks to Restart Soon  YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's military junta has confirmed a  constitution-forming National Convention will restart at the  end of the rainy season in November, despite political turmoil  sparked by the purge of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt.


Signal back at Suffolk Belmont Park's simulcast signal, absent since Sept. 15, returned to Suffolk Downs Thursday after the track's management, caught in the middle of a dispute between the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative and the New York Racing Association, signed a separate agreement with NYRA.


Marsh CEO on hot seat Marsh  amp; McLennan CEO Jeff Greenberg may soon be on his way out the door as head of the world #39;s biggest - and most troubled - insurance broker.


Consultant to review United plan; unions drop lawsuit United Airlines agreed Friday to hire a consulting firm to review its pending business plan, a step sought by two unions in exchange for dropping legal action against the carrier.


Sharapova eclipses Venus Maria Sharapova posted a convincing 6-3 6-4 victory over seventh seed Venus Williams in their first-ever meeting at the Swisscom Challenge indoor tournament in Zurich.


Arsenal tempers on high after blast from Man Utd boss Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will attempt to keep tempers in check ahead of Sunday #39;s clash with Manchester United. Gunners players are fuming after United boss Sir Alex Ferguson #39;s angry broadside yesterday, claiming


Who were Veerappan #39;s political patrons?: India News: In normal circumstances, no news media, no matter how low-browed and given to dressing up the most mundane of events with a dash of masala to cater to the vicarious instincts of the public, would have lavished so much coverage on the gory


Why the Democrats are sucking I just read an article on the Village Voice website that summed up one of the complaints I have had for some time about the Democratic Party: They won't fight.  At the same time, they are trying to convince conservative voters to vote for them instead of the Republicans and are losing votes on the liberal side as a result.   For both of these problems, I blame the Democratic Leadership Council.


Pound Has Weekly Gain; September Retail Sales Unexpectedly Rose The pound rose for its second week against the dollar on speculation that the currency reflects too much pessimism about the outlook for the economy.


Ferriss has been waiting for this moment Call it wishful thinking, call it whatever you want, but this is going to be the year the Boston Red Sox win the World Series. And if you are from Mississippi and have any historical bones in your body, you


Playing out the big game Alabama and Tennessee coaches and players won #39;t be distracted by pesky depositions or sparring attorneys this afternoon, but their nationally televised game will serve as a courtroom of sorts and initiate a discovery process.


Myanmar Says Constitution Talks to Restart Soon Myanmar #39;s military junta has confirmed a constitution-forming National Convention will restart at the end of the rainy season in November, despite political turmoil sparked by the purge of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt.


Vindication will rest in election In the 18 months since America declared victory in the war against Iraq, the contrast in military styles of the two pillars of the coalition could not be starker.


Earthquake of Magnitude 6.8 Jolts Tokyo (Reuters) Reuters - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of\6.8 jolted Tokyo and surrounding areas on Saturday, but\officials said there were no immediate reports of damage or\injuries and no tsunami warning was issued.


Loonie vaults over 81 cents to 12-year high on US\$ weakness, high <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - The Canadian dollar topped 81 cents US Friday for the first time since the autumn of 1992 as the price of oil hit new records and the American dollar weakened.


Summary: Argentina Fire Kills 174 People CLUB INFERNO: A fire sweeps through a popular nightclub in Argentina's capital while the rock band Los Callejeros is playing, killing 174 concert-goers and injuring about 410.


HEWITT IS DUMPED BY PHONE The Belgian tennis ace, 21, called Hewitt to end their relationship without giving a reason - then posted a statement on her website.


Formula One legislates changes to make racing more competitive Formula One #39;s governing body imposed sweeping technical changes Friday designed to slash costs and improve the qualify of racing starting next year.


Long-driving Kuehne finally breaks out of 2004 slump Hank Kuehne knows he is something of a curiosity, a golfer with enormous gifts who can hit the ball jaw-dropping lengths. All of that is fine, and Kuehne


Nintendo apes around  Nintendo makes some noise with two new titles in the run-up to Christmas, says the BBC's Daniel Etherington.


Race on to rush relief to Philippine flood victims GENERAL NAKAR - Philippine soldiers yesterday rushed food, drinking water and other supplies by foot and helicopter to provinces cut off by four storms in two weeks which have left more than 1300 people dead or missing.


Cricket: Tendulkar fit for Test Indian batting star Sachin Tendulkar is passed fit for the third Test against Australia in Nagpur.


No Harry apology to photographer Prince Charles' spokesman says Prince Harry will not apologise to a photographer he scuffled with.


Is That a Pilot in Your Pocket? Researchers coax cells in a petri dish into learning to guide a plane. The project should lead to a better understanding of how the brain works. By Lakshmi Sandhana.


November Harvest for CherryOS The CherryOS Mac emulator will be released late next month, the developer promises. And the pre-release version in circulation? It's not the real thing, he says. By Leander Kahney.


UK ; Ex-lover seeks input into Blunkett visa abuse probe: report UK News, LONDON - The former lover of British interior minister David Blunkett wants to testify before an inquiry into allegations he fast-tracked a visa application for her Filipina nanny, a London newspaper reported Sunday.


Robots Generate Some Buzz Swarm robots, car robots, team robots -- you name it, you can find it at the RoboNexus convention. Daniel Terdiman reports from Santa Clara, California.


U.N. Clone Treaty Still on Ice Despite a U.S. push to put in place a worldwide ban on human embryo cloning, the proposed pact remains in limbo after three years. The sticking point? Therapeutic cloning.


Boxer charged with killing sportswriter A boxer who fights under the nickname  quot;The Harlem Hammer quot; pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges that he used a hammer to murder a freelance sportswriter and then torched his Hollywood apartment.


Iraq bomb blast kills nine Nine people have been killed in a car bomb blast at a US-Iraqi base in western Iraq, hospital officials in the nearby city of Haditha say.


N.Korea Vows to Double Deterrent if U.S. Won't Change  SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea threatened on Saturday to  double the size of its nuclear deterrent if the United States  did not drop what Pyongyang sees as a confrontational policy  aimed at unseating the communist leadership.


Earthquake of Magnitude 6.8 Jolts Tokyo  TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of  6.8 jolted Tokyo and surrounding areas on Saturday, but there  were no immediate reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami  warning was issued.


Myers Denies Doubts on Afghan War Plans Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers objected Friday to a characterization that he second-guessed or doubted war plans drawn up by Gen. Tommy R. Franks, then chief of the U.S. Central Command, six days before the United States launched the war in Afghanistan against al Qaeda and the Taliban.


Rape Acquittal Criticized in Venezuela Prosecutors, lawmakers and rights activists criticized Venezuela's judicial system for the acquittal of a man who had been accused of torturing and repeatedly raping a woman.


Stadiums go high tech Here #39;s another baseball stat to go with your morning coffee and news that the St. Louis Cardinals have defeated the Houston Astros to advance to the World Series: In October, 613 fans logged onto the Astros


Vulnerability hits Java for cell phones com October 22, 2004, 5:05 PM PT. Cyber threats, chiefly viruses like NetSky and Sasser, make security an ongoing concern as it holds steady over software infrastructure as the third top priority.


Pujols makes Cards a major threat It was not a pitch Roger Clemens regretted. Inner half of the plate, a little up and 94 mph. The Rocket is going to Cooperstown on such pitches.


Ferguson confident Utd can keep their cool Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says he is confident his players have enough self-control to avoid any trouble in Sunday #39;s showdown at Old Trafford against Arsenal.


Strong earthquake jolts Tokyo A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 has jolted Tokyo and surrounding areas, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami warning was issued.


Strong Quake, Aftershocks Hit Northern Japan  TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary  magnitude of 6.8 and two big aftershocks hit northern Japan on  Saturday, derailing a train, triggering at least one landslide  and causing widespread power outages, media reported.


Icelandair buys small part of easyJet Icelandair has bought a small stake of 8.4 in easyJet. Hannes Smarason, chairman of Icelandair announced last week that his company would expand.


Executives of US-based miner Newmont to be freed in Indonesia <b>...</b> JAKARTA : Five executives of US-based mining firm Newmont who have been detained for a month as suspects in a pollution case will be released from custody, their lawyer said.


Gov't shells out billions on outside consultants (AFP) AFP - The government spent 1.75 billion pounds last year to hire outside consultants, some of who were paid roughly 10 times that of a civil servant doing same job.


Lanka set Pak historic target of 418 to win Faisalabad: Pakistan needs to equal a world record chase of 418 to beat Sri Lanka after the tourists made 438 in their second innings on the fourth day of the first cricket Test at Iqbal stadium on Saturday.


Ross out, and strip club manager says tailback passed stolen bills Ohio State senior tailback Lydell Ross will not play for the Buckeyes today in their homecoming game versus Indiana. Coach Jim Tressel would not comment Friday on Ross #39; suspension.


Palestinian  #39;collaborator #39; killed: Hamas A Palestinian accused of collaborating with Israel over the assassination of Hamas #39; spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in March was killed today, the armed wing of the militant Islamist group said.


Death toll in China mine blast reaches 77 The death toll from a devastating coal mine gas explosion in central China #39;s Henan province has risen to 77. Efforts are continuing to recover 71 others still listed as officially missing, although officials


Hamas Gunmen Kill Alleged Collaborator in Gaza  GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas gunmen on Saturday killed a young  Palestinian they accused of helping Israel assassinate Hamas  leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and other militants, calling it a  warning to others not to collaborate with Israel.


Leaders #39; reactions mixed on possible Legoland sale City officials and business leaders reacted differently yesterday to news of a possible sale of Legoland California, this community #39;s largest tourist draw.


Ferguson and Wenger  #39;are friends #39; Chelsea #39;s Jose Mourinho insists rival managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are good friends despite their bitter Premiership rivalry.


S Korean gymnast accepts ruling South Korea #39;s Yang Tae-young accepted an international sport court #39;s ruling on Thursday that rejected his appeal for a gymnastics gold medal at the Athens Olympics.


Mid-East  #39;drifting towards chaos #39; A senior UN official has warned that no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be found without international involvement.


No apology from Prince Harry PRINCE Harry will not apologise to a paparazzi photographer with whom he scuffled outside a London nightclub, a royal spokesman said today.


EU #39;s Barroso not to reshuffle team Incoming EU Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso says he will not replace EU nominee Rocco Buttiglione as justice chief in a controversy over his views on homosexuality and marriage, an EU lawmaker says.


Commonwealth chief says parliament, courts should solve Musharraf <b>...</b> ISLAMABAD : Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon emerged from a meeting with Pervez Musharraf saying Pakistan #39;s parliament and judiciary should solve a row over the president #39;s efforts to remain army chief.


Hamas Gunmen Kill Alleged Collaborator in Gaza (Reuters) Reuters - Hamas gunmen on Saturday killed a young\Palestinian they accused of helping Israel assassinate Hamas\leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and other militants, calling it a\warning to others not to collaborate with Israel.


PG amp;E ready to pay More than three years after PG amp;E Corp. stopped paying dividends during California #39;s electricity crisis, company executives said Friday that they plan to give stockholders quarterly payments of 30 cents per share next spring.


Flautre: Referendum Proposal is a Shame Helene Flautre, a French citizen and Chairwoman of the European Parliament (EP) #39;s Subcommittee on Human Rights said that France #39;s proposed referendum on Turkey #39;s membership to the European Union (EU) is a shame.


Captain Kirk signs up for real life space travel He thrilled us with his on screen adventures as the Captain of the space ship USS Enterprise for decades, and now William Shatner has signed up for real life space travel, he has committed a whopping 200,000 dollars to business tycoon Richard Branson, to


Pole could boost Newman #39;s Chase chances With only three of the Chase for the Championship contenders among the top 10 starters for Subway 500, Ryan Newman figures Sunday #39;s race at the Martinsville Speedway may be his last chance to make a run at the title.


Smart Ones Smart America: Frenchman wins despite errors That would imply that any of the men in the Smart Ones Smart America competition last night were left standing, and they were not.


Middle East Conflict Killed 219 last Month The United Nations #39; Undersecretary for political affairs, Kiernan Prendergast, said that within the last month, operations by the Israeli army and attacks by Palestinians resulted in the deaths of 219 people.


Strong quake rocks Tokyo and surrounding areas (AFP) AFP - A strong earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale and a series of aftershocks hit Japan's capital Tokyo and its surrounding areas, the Meteorological Agency said.


Kite goes everywhere, but stays at the top Friday #39;s lesson of the day at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship: When in doubt, fight back. If still in doubt, fight back some more.