Interview with Chris Schlaeger from Novell/SUSE At aKademy I had the chance to talk to Chris Schlaeger about SUSE, its relationship with the KDE community, his view of the Linux enterprise desktop and the speed of development of several key features in KDE (a Dutch translation can be found at Bart amp;David


#39;Dragon #39; Tyrannosaurus found in China PARIS: A team led by the world #39;s most successful fossil hunter said that they have found the remains of a feathery dragon-like forerunner of the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex at a dinosaur graveyard in northeastern China.


Red-hot Oswalt gets nod in Game 2 How many teams can save a 20-game winner for Game 2 of a playoff series? One. And with Roy Oswalt set for a postseason start four years in the making, the Houston Astros are feeling pretty good.


RUSSIAN WOE IN FILDERSTADT Fifth seed Elena Dementieva and seventh seed Nadia Petrova were both beaten in the first round at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Wednesday.


Cardinals activate defensive tackle from suspended list The move followed a four-game suspension of Bryant for violating the NFL #39;s substance abuse policy. He was arrested on a drunken-driving charge in Madison, Wis.


Bryant #39;s Accuser Must Be Identified DENVER - A federal judge in Colorado has rejected a request from the woman accusing NBA star Kobe Bryant of rape to remain anonymous in her civil lawsuit.


Jimmie Johnson cries foul In the high-pressure atmosphere of the Chase for the Championship, any issue that arises will get more than its share of scrutiny from drivers, fans and media.


Two die in bid to assassinate Karzai's running mate in Afghan polls (AFP) AFP - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running mate survived an assassination attempt when a bomb killed two people in a convoy carrying him to an election rally, a government official said.


Unruly Guinea-Bissau troops return to barracks, two officers <b>...</b> BISSAU : Heavily-armed Guinea Bissau troops took to the streets of the capital of the former Portuguese colony, killing two officers, in a protest to demand payment for their tours of duty as UN peacekeepers.


Asem forum to promote co-operation between continents HANOI: Eight years after its inception, the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) is moving towards becoming a strong platform for promoting more tangible co-operation between the two continents.


Monday Rewind: What we learned in Week 13 Well, somebody didn #39;t show up. I couldn #39;t believe it. The Packers weren #39;t ready to play the Eagles. How did that happen?


Amnesty urges Aceh inquiry Amnesty calls on Indonesia's president-elect Yudhoyono to investigate human rights abuses in Aceh province.


Australia parties hunt green vote Australian Prime Minister John Howard has promised to preserve Tasmania's forests while keeping loggers in work.


Great Observatories May Unravel 400-Year-Old Supernova Mystery Four hundred years ago, sky watchers, including the famous astronomer Johannes Kepler, best known as the discoverer of the laws of planetary motion, were startled by the sudden appearance of a "new star" in the western sky, rivaling the brilliance of the nearby planets.


NASA Approves Mission to Seek Nearest Stars, Brightest Galaxies Jet Propulsion Lab -- A new NASA mission will scan the entire sky in infrared light in search of nearby cool stars, planetary construction zones and the brightest galaxies in the universe.     Called the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, the mission has been approved to proceed into the preliminary design phase as the next in NASA's Medium-class Explorer program of lower cost, highly focused, rapid-development scientific spacecraft...


Drugs Other Than Vioxx May Raise Heart Risks Scientists in the United States and regulatory agencies in Europe on Wednesdsay questioned whether Celebrex and other pain relievers might raise the same risk of heart problems as those blamed on the arthritis medicine Vioxx.


Airbus hits back after US files complaint over European subsidies Airbus reacted forcefully Wednesday to a US complaint filed with the World Trade Organisation about European state aid for the European aircraft manufacturer, saying Washington #39;s move underscored rival Boeing #39;s dependence on  quot;WTO-incompatible subsidies quot;.


AstraZeneca in drive to slash costs Hostile environment prompts root and branch review. Exanta unlikely to win US approval in near future. By Stephen Foley. AstraZeneca, the UK #39;s number two pharmaceuticals company, has launched a  quot;root and branch


Predicting a Volcanic Eruption Involves Guesswork Mount St. Helens' convulsions over the past week have demonstrated all too clearly that the inner workings of a seething volcano, hidden under miles of rock, remain one of nature's stubborn secrets.


Scientists Map the Cow Genome By H. JOSEF HEBERT    WASHINGTON (AP) -- For the first time, scientists have created a genetic map of a cow, providing researchers a new tool to reduce animal disease and improve the nutrition of beef and dairy products, the Agriculture Department announced Wednesday...


Modernization to Speed Check Clearing NEW YORK - High-tech changes in the banking industry will soon be affecting the most mundane of financial products, the checking account.    On Oct...


Clemens Perseveres, Astros Top Braves 9-3 (AP) AP - Roger Clemens and the powerful Houston lineup made sure the Astros got off to a good start in their quest to finally win a playoff series. While Clemens continually pitched out of trouble, Brad Ausmus, Lance Berkman, Carlos Beltran and Jason Lane homered for the Astros to lead a 9-3 rout of the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of their NL division series Wednesday.


Google Print to challenge Amazon Google will make the first major business move since its August flotation today when it launches a new search tool that will help publishers to sell books.


Patriots: How perfect are they? When an NFL team opens with a prolonged winning streak, former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula and his players from the 17-0 team of 1972 root unabashedly for the next opponent.


Kumble rules Oct. 6. - There are still 11 days left for Anil Kumbles 35th birthday, but the celebrations have already begun. A personal milestone is always important in cricket, but when you can do it at home, in


Kobe Bryant Accuser's Name to Be Disclosed -Judge (Reuters) Reuters - The young woman who accused basketball\star Kobe Bryant of rape must disclose her identity in her\civil case against him, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday.


Clemens Helps Astros Take 1-0 Series Lead Over Braves  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roger Clemens pitched seven innings  and Carlos Beltran homered, had three hits and scored three  runs to help the Houston Astros rout the Atlanta Braves 9-3 in  the opening game of their National League Divisional Series  Wednesday.


Rommedahl strike gives Charlton late 1-0 win Charlton beat London rival Crystal Palace 1-0 on Sunday with an injury time winner from substitute Dennis Rommedahl. The win was Charlton #39;s second away win of the season and lifted the club three places to 10th.


Different Team, Different Weaver In one year, Jeff Weaver has gone from being unwanted by the Yankees to being desperately needed by the Los Angeles Dodgers.


CA expects loss on restructuring, settlement charges Computer Associates said Wednesday that it met its sales forecast in the quarter ended Sept. 30 but will post a loss for the quarter as it absorbs restructuring charges and the \$225 million it agreed to pay shareholders in compensation for its accounting violations.


ClearSpeed races ahead on processor cores ClearSpeed Technology has doubled the performance of its high-performance computing co-processor for scientific workstations and server clusters by incorporating 96 separate processing cores on a single chip, the company announced Wednesday at the Fall Processor Forum in San Jose, California.


On-Demand Internet Video Game Services Vary Internet downloads are nothing new when it comes to buying music and software online. So why does video game shopping still mostly involve either shlepping to a store or waiting for the delivery truck after you order online?


New Sony PC Boasts 1,000 GB of Data Storage TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's Sony Corp. (SNE) will begin selling a computer and home-server system in Japan with 1,000 gigabytes of hard-drive storage - enough to record six TV channels for a week straight - the company said...


Firm Invents All-Purpose Memory Cards By YURI KAGEYAMA    TOKYO (AP) -- A leading Japanese electronics company is developing memory cards that can be used to make cashless payments, open locks and read identification with a simple flick.    Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., which makes Panasonic-brand products, said sample shipments will begin in December, with commercial shipments to follow by late next year...


Google Launches New Book-Search Feature By MICHAEL LIEDTKE    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Online search leader Google Inc. (GOOG) is becoming more bookish...


Dick Cheney Slip Sends Surfers to Wrong Site By EMILY FREDRIX    WASHINGTON (AP) -- All he wanted were the facts. But Dick Cheney ended up generating confusion- and lots of it...


Internet Satire Sequel Parodies U.S. Newsmakers By ANICK JESDANUN    NEW YORK (AP) -- From the creators of the political satire sensation "This Land" comes a sequel set to the tune of "Dixie."    The online animation "Good To Be in DC!" features the presidential and vice presidential candidates along with Attorney General John Ashcroft, CBS News anchor Dan Rather, filmmaker Michael Moore, talk show host Rush Limbaugh and Jane Fonda.    "In 'This Land,' you had basically (President) Bush and (John) Kerry," said Evan Spiridellis, who co-produced the cartoons with his brother, Gregg...


China Aviation Oil Says Still in Business The main supplier of jet fuel to China is continuing to do business despite a criminal investigation of its US\$550 million (euro414 million) in losses on derivative trading, the company said.


The dollar #39;s decline is not yet cause for alarm James K. Galbraith is a professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a senior scholar at the Levy Economics Institute in New York.


Goldcorp to buy Wheaton River Canada #39;s Goldcorp said Sunday it has reached an agreement in principal to buy Wheaton River Minerals in an all-stock deal valued at about \$2 billion.


Bells Still Ring For Red Kettles Of Kindness You can learn a lot about people in two hours. And you don #39;t have to take a course in social behavior or even watch Dr. Phil on TV.


PeopleSoft holds out for the money Spooked by souring market sentiment and months of internecine verbal jousting, PeopleSoft has adopted a conciliatory line to shareholders that it will not sell them short and is willing to wait until Oracle Corporation #39;s unsolicited offer hits the right


Delta Hires International Marketing Firm Delta Air Lines Inc., struggling to avoid bankruptcy, has hired an international marketing firm to help reshape its image. Terms of the deal between Atlanta-based Delta and New York-based Ogilvy


Researchers find new dinosaur with feathers The ancient family tree where all the world #39;s birds perch is getting bigger, odder and older, scientists announced Wednesday. In a report in Thursday #39;s issue of the journal Nature, paleontologists


Editorial: Cooper got America going in space L. Gordon Cooper was the real deal. He and his six colleagues - known as the Mercury Seven - inaugurated an age and captivated a generation of Americans.


Idealab chief stakes out new direction in search Bill Gross, the driving force behind commercial search pioneer Overture Services, is once again swinging for the fences in Web search.


Rumours surround Google browser The net is buzzing with rumours that Google is working on a web browser. Online journals, or weblogs, have put together a series of developments which suggest that the search engine is developing new web tools.


Singh plans new regime to stay on top While Tiger Woods was getting married beside the waters of the Caribbean, beside the slightly chillier waters of the North Sea here the two best golfers in the world will be contesting the Dunhill Links Championship.


Swimming: Olympic star Phelps rocks swimming like  quot;Aqua Beatles quot; INDIANAPOLIS, United States : Michael Phelps has changed the sport of swimming with his stunning effort at the Athens Olympics. Now Phelps must learn how much fame has changed him as his journey begins to the 2008 Beijing Games.


Caborn in new talks to save grand prix The gloom over the threatened British grand prix started to lift yesterday when Sir Jackie Stewart confirmed that the minister for sport, Richard Caborn, is working with local authorities on ways of closing the gap between the fee demanded by Bernie


England to lose Hill until Six Nations Richard Hill had an exploratory operation on his left knee last night amid fears that he may miss not just England #39;s friendly internationals next month but also the start of the Six Nations Championship.


Sailor dies after sub rescue One of three sailors injured in a fire that disabled a Canadian submarine off the coast of Ireland has died, Prime Minister Paul Martin said Wednesday.


News Analysis: But there #39;s still a long way to go BRUSSELS Turkey won a victory in Brussels on Wednesday, but it was only a victory of sorts. By recommending that negotiations could begin, the European Union lifted the gates to the vast, poor Muslim nation of 71 million people.


CHRONOLOGY-Key events in Afghanistan in recent years Afghanistan holds a presidential election on Saturday, the first time in its history that Afghans will directly choose a leader. Here is a chronology of the main events in Afghanistan


US and Brazil Share Uneasy Relationship Description: Secretary of State Colin Powell tried to mend fences with Latin America #39;s biggest country at a time when Brazilian popular opinion is adamantly hostile to the United States on issues of trade and foreign policy.


Clorox Swaps \$2.1 Bln, Two Brands to Get Henkel Stake (Correct) Clorox Co., the largest US household- bleach maker, agreed to swap \$2.1 billion in cash, the Soft Scrub and Combat brands and a stake in a joint venture to buy back 61.


MLB: Houston 9, Atlanta 3 Lance Berkman and Carlos Beltran hit two-run homers Wednesday to propel Houston to a 9-3 win over Atlanta in the opener of their NL Division Series.


Utah expansion team selects under-17 coach Ellinger Utah #39;s Major League Soccer team hired former US Under-17 coach John Ellinger to coach the new team when it begins play next spring.


Canadian crewman dies after airlift from stranded submarine OTTAWA - An injured crewman who was airlifted from a stranded Canadian submarine off the Irish coast has died, Prime Minister Paul Martin told Parliament.


Bank customers #39; valuables thrown out Hong Kong #39;s reputation for financial security was dented yesterday after one of its banks accidentally put out clients #39; deposit boxes with the rubbish.


Security concerns put MSN Messenger beta on hold Microsoft has suspended the beta testing of the next version of its MSN Messenger client because of a potential security problem, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday.


Cisco CEO calls for education reform, broadband push The U.S. Congress needs to invest more in the U.S. education system and do more to encourage broadband adoption, the chief executive of Cisco said Wednesday.
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SBC Case Study: Crate   Barrel
What sold them on improving their network? A system that could cut management costs from the get-go. Find out more.


Google opens a new chapter Google, the increasingly powerful internet search engine, could overhaul the way books are sold with a planned service that allows users to search full texts and buy titles online.


IBM Beefs Up WebSphere App Server Platform IBM Corp. Wednesday announced a new version of its WebSphere application server platform, citing enhancements such as high-availability, new capabilities for building service oriented architectures (SOA), and


Flighty Side of T. Rex, a New Link To the growing evidence that some dinosaurs had feathers, add the family of tyrannosaurs, mighty predators in the age of reptiles.


NASA inspector indicted A former NASA quality inspector tasked with checking maintenance work on parts for the space shuttle Discovery will be arraigned Friday on federal charges that he failed to conduct 83  quot;critical quot; inspections in late 2002 and 2003, federal


Fujitsu Siemens profit rose 60 in first half BERLIN Fujitsu Siemens Computers, the No.3 seller of PCs in Europe, said Wednesday that revenue and profit surged in the six months through September as sales to small businesses increased amid a revival in corporate technology spending.


PalmOne packs the most standard storage into latest Tungsten PalmOne will be adding a high-end handheld to its Tungsten line-up that will fashion a sleeker longer look, while offering double the storage maximum of current devices.


Andreessen: Microsoft to make IE more competitive The success of alternative browsers such as Mozilla Foundation #39;s Firefox may ultimately have an unexpected side effect, causing Microsoft to be more aggressive in leveraging its dominance of Internet client software, said Marc Andreessen, one of the


Form, fitness and missing Savage bite make it tough for Wales CARDIFF: Form, fitness and Robbie Savage #39;s short fuse have all conspired against Wales in the build-up to their World Cup qualifier against England at Old Trafford on Saturday.


Kewell and Aloisi ruled out of opener Harry Kewell and fellow striker John Aloisi were ruled out of the Socceroos team for Saturday #39;s Confederations Cup qualifier against the Solomon Islands with leg injuries.


Improper words? Yet another obscenity controversy. After winning for the fifth time at Talladega, Ala., Sunday, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. said in an interview that his victory  quot;don #39;t mean s- right now.


Borgetti scores four as Mexico routs St. Vincent 7-0 in qualifying Jared Borgetti scored four goals and Jaime Lozano added two more Wednesday as Mexico dominated St. Vincent and the Grenadines 7-0 in the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.


Boeing battle is Mandelson #39;s first test Peter Mandelson, the incoming EU trade commissioner, yesterday found himself at the centre of a transatlantic trade war over multi-billion dollar subsidies to Airbus and Boeing, the civil aircraft manufacturers.


Fannie Mae head defends its accounting to House panel The chairman of Fannie Mae, the government-backed mortgage lender, on Wednesday described accusations of accounting misdeeds at his company as without merit.


Update 5: Tokyo Stocks Open Higher, Dollar Up Tokyo stocks opened higher Thursday as investors welcomed Wall Street #39;s gains. The dollar was up against the Japanese yen. The Nikkei Stock Average of 225 issues was up 14.


Diabetes delay adds to AstraZeneca #39;s ills The UK #39;s second largest pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, yesterday admitted another setback in the development of some of its drugs, as it delayed the expected launch of diabetes treatment Galida for a year.


Row erupts as top Sharon aide says there will be no Palestinian <b>...</b> Ariel Sharon #39;s chief aide caused a political storm yesterday by claiming that the real purpose of the Israeli prime minister #39;s  quot;disengagement plan quot; was to freeze the peace process and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, all with the blessing


Dahlan: Gaza offensive won #39;t bring security to Israel Israel #39;s current offensive in the Gaza Strip will not bring it security but is part of an Israeli plan to destroy Gaza, former Palestinian security affairs minister Mohamed Dahlan said Wednesday.


Iran rejects IAEA nuclear demands, says ready for confrontation or <b>...</b> TEHRAN (AFP) - Iranian officials said they will not bow to international demands for Tehran to suspend its controversial uranium enrichment activities, saying they were ready for confrontation or negotiation.


Blair: Iraq Report Shows Sanction Problems LONDON Oct. 6, 2004 - British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday that a US arms inspector #39;s report on Iraq shows that Saddam Hussein was  quot;doing his best quot; to get around United Nations #39; sanctions.


Woods #39; lavish 1.5m wedding to model HE HAS always put his career first, listening to his fathers advice not to marry because a wife would only get in the way of his golf.


Iran prepares uranium for enrichment Iran has confirmed that it has begun processing uranium to prepare it for enrichment, reports Voice of America adding that it is  quot;a process that can be used to make nuclear weapons.


Microsoft Fixes Vexing XP SP2 Incompatibility Numerous applications, including some of Microsoft #39;s own, have encountered compatibility problems with Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2).


Former team-mates predict mixed fortunes for Gascoigne PAUL Gascoigne, who won 57 England caps, finds himself at yet another career crossroads following his resignation yesterday as player/coach of Boston United.


Proof that size isnt everything A quick glance down the list of clubs Paul Dickov has played for inexorably leads to one conclusion: the man is football #39;s eternal optimist.


8 more killed as US vetoes UN resolution against Gaza operation UNITED NATIONS: The United States on Tuesday vetoed the draft of an Arab-backed resolution at the UN Security Council, which would have called on Israel to end its military operation in the Gaza Strip.


Israelis, American Win Nobel for Chemistry (AP) AP - Two Israelis and an American won the Nobel Prize in chemistry Wednesday for showing how cells can give a "kiss of death" to destroy unwanted proteins, a finding that could help scientists find new medicines for cancer and other diseases. The award marks the first time an Israeli has won a Nobel science prize.


Jailed Ex-Enron Exec: Merrill Deal Bogus (Reuters) Reuters - A former Enron executive currently\serving a prison term testified in the first Enron criminal\trial on Wednesday that he worked on a secret deal with Merrill\Lynch to fraudulently boost the disgraced energy giant's\profits.


Japan Stocks Dip Down, Oil Concerns Weigh  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese shares inched down by late  morning trade on Thursday as concerns about the impact of high  oil prices on the global economy dragged down a number of  manufacturers, including Canon Inc.


United Looks to Overseas Service for Profit United said on Wednesday that it would cut 68 airplanes from its fleet, increase the use of its regional carrier and expand its international flights.


Study finds IT worker confidence slipping Survey shows workers less optimistic about job market, with fewer saying personal finances are getting better.


Boutique mutual fund settles timing case for \$30 million ALBANY, NY RS Investment Management agreed to pay 30 (m) million dollars to settle allegations it allowed  quot;excessive quot; market timing in its mutual funds.


Henkel exchanges its Clorox stake against Clorox consumer <b>...</b> On October 6, 2004 Henkel KGaA, Dsseldorf and The Clorox Company, Oakland, California, USA, have signed an agreement pursuant to which Henkel will exchange its entire 28.


Honeywell Sues Apple, Others Over LCD Patent Honeywell announced late Wednesday it has filed a lawsuit against Apple, and 33 other electronics companies claiming claiming infringement of a liquid crystal display (LCD) patent.


Santander chairman to stand trial for tax fraud EMILIO Botin, chairman of would-be Abbey National owner Santander, and Spain #39;s highest-profile businessman, was yesterday ordered to stand trial on allegations that he helped clients evade taxes in the 1980s.


United to cut US flights, focus on international UAL Corp., the bankrupt parent of United Airlines, Wednesday said it would cut back on US flights and increase its capacity on more lucrative international routes.


How the ferocious T rex revealed its fluffy side The image of the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex may never be the same again after a study published today suggests that it was probably fluffy, being covered with a downy covering


UK file sharers warned  litigation could be the only way The UK Music Industry is sitting on  quot;a broadband timebomb quot; and the only way to stop illegal file sharers could be via the courts, a senior industry source warned today.


Blair presses Sudan over Darfur KHARTOUM: Britains Prime Minister Tony Blair pressed Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir on Wednesday to end violence in Darfur on the highest-level visit from a Western government official since the crisis erupted.


NO END TO THE AGONY BAGHDAD: A suicide car bomber killed 16 people at a National Guard centre in western Iraq yesterday.An Interior Ministry official said the bomber targeted recruits for the paramilitary force in the town of Anah, 260km northwest of Baghdad, near the Syrian


Karzai hopeful unhurt by blast TALIBAN attackers set off a roadside bomb near a convoy carrying the Afghan president #39;s running mate and other dignitaries in north-eastern Afghanistan yesterday, killing one man and injuring five.


Twelve UN Agencies Warn of Deep Crisis in Gaza Twelve United Nations agencies working in Gaza today stated that the ongoing violence on top of the sharply deteriorating humanitarian situation this year is pushing the Palestinian population into a deep crisis.


Free Bigley calls Gadaffi TRIPOLI: Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi yesterday appealed to kidnappers in Iraq holding British hostage Kenneth Bigley to release him, Libya #39;s official Jana news agency said.


Live, from outer space: Howard Stern American shock-jock Howard Stern has been in the gunsights of the federal airwaves regulator for months but looks to have found the freedom to say what he wants, the way he wants to say it, by escaping to outer space.


Exchanges businesses, cash for 61.4 million shares LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) -- Clorox Corp. said late Wednesday it will buy back Henkel KGaA #39;s 29 percent stake in the company in exchange for several businesses and \$2.


Corporate governance changed to mollify shareholders SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corp., in an attempt to mollify Australian investors who had expressed concerns about its proposed reincorporation in the United States, late Wednesday said its board of directors has outlined a series of


Maurice Wilkins Maurice Wilkins, the molecular biologist who died on Tuesday aged 87, was the third and least well-known of the three scientists who in 1962 won the Nobel Prize for medicine for determining the structure of DNA, the molecule which carries the genetic code


Bpi to Target Internet File-Sharers The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) will announce it is taking legal action against illegal internet file-sharers for the first time today.


Pros and cons of Turkey joining the EU ANKARA: The European Commission is widely expected to give Turkey the green light to start EU entry talks in a progress report due to be published on Wednesday.


Conway Admits 'Vilifying' Oracle Bid, CEO (AP) AP - Fresh off his abrupt firing as PeopleSoft Inc.'s chief executive, an uncharacteristically subdued Craig Conway came to court Wednesday to defend his caustic counterattacks against Oracle Corp.'s  #36;7.7 billion takeover bid.


At least 33 killed, 70 wounded in Pakistan bombings (AFP) AFP - At least 33 people were killed and dozens others wounded when two bombs ripped through a congregation of Sunni Muslims in Pakistan's central city of Multan, police said.


Sailor dies after airlift from Canadian submarine off coast of Ireland (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - HALIFAX (CP) - At first, the military said it was just a minor fire.


Michael Moore Responds to Michigan GOP (AP) AP - Michael Moore shot back at Republicans on Wednesday after they requested that the filmmaker be prosecuted for offering underwear and food to college students in exchange for their promise to vote.


Ethics Panel Rebukes DeLay Twice in a Week (AP) AP - The House ethics committee unanimously concluded Wednesday that Majority Leader Tom DeLay appeared to link political donations to a legislative favor and improperly persuaded U.S. aviation authorities to intervene in a Texas political dispute.


Commemorative Ronald Reagan Stamp Planned (AP) AP - Ronald Reagan's image will appear on a commemorative postage stamp to be issued early next year, Postal Service officials announced Wednesday.


Chile to overhaul constitution Chilean senators agree to scrap provisions in the constitution widely viewed as undemocratic.


Not at His Best, Clemens Wins a Game 1 The Houston Astros battered the Atlanta Braves, 9-3, in Game 1 of their N.L. division series even without the best from their starting pitcher, Roger Clemens.


Ethics Panel Rebukes DeLay Twice in a Week WASHINGTON - The House ethics committee Wednesday criticized House Majority Leader Tom DeLay for conduct that appeared to link political donations to legislation and for improperly contacting U.S. aviation authorities for political purposes, House sources said Wednesday...


Start-up targets e-commerce on demand Demandware service designed to help midsize firms open shop online as fast as with a hosted service, but with more customization.


Can Howard Stern take Sirius into orbit? Will radio star Howard Stern do for satellite radio what The Sopranos did for cable? Mr. Stern, host of the raunchy, top-rated drive-time radio show, signed a \$500-million, five-year contract with satellite


Clorox will give up Soft Scrub, Combat in deal with largest <b>...</b> Clorox Co. said late Wednesday that it will exchange shares in a subsidiary for Henkel KGaA #39;s 29 percent stake in the Oakland consumer products giant.


Robertson Stevens settles timing case for \$30 million The Robertson Stevens Investments firm agreed to pay \$30 million to settled allegations it allowed  quot;excessive quot; market timing in its mutual funds, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said Wednesday.


Tokyo stocks rise on optimism over Japan #39;s economy; US dollar up <b>...</b> Tokyo stocks rose on Wednesday for the fifth consecutive session, as investors bet on optimistic forecasts for steel and shipping issues and hopes for a more robust economic recovery in Japan.


Murdoch #39;s remarks on buyouts, clients boost BSkyB Shares in UK pay-TV company BSkyB (BSY.L: Quote, Profile, Research) rose on hopes of a buyout on Wednesday after media mogul Rupert Murdoch spoke of buying out minorities in his News Corp.


Raiders RB Wheatley May Miss 2-4 Weeks (AP) AP - Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley expects to miss 2-to-4 weeks with a shoulder injury.


Vijay #39;s has swing solution for Tiger New world No.1 Vijay Singh has blamed Tiger Woods #39;s form slide on his failure to adjust his golf swing. According to Singh, who has won eight times on the US PGA Tour this year including five of his past six


Davenport destroys Molik in Germany American tennis player Lindsay Davenport has knocked Australia #39;s Alicia Molik out of the WTA event in Filderstadt, Germany. Davenport became the first player to book her place in the quarter-finals of the


Hawking is a teen role model Author and academic Professor Stephen Hawking is more of a role model to teenage boys than England football captain David Beckham, says a Good Housekeeping magazine survey.


Colon Chooses Jose Molina As Catcher (AP) AP - Bartolo Colon turned around his first season with the Anaheim Angels when Jose Molina was behind the plate.


French NGO slams Israel over access to Gaza wounded JERUSALEM, Oct 4 (AFP) - A French humanitarian group said Monday the Israeli army #39;s huge ongoing offensive in northern Gaza was hampering access to wounded Palestinians and that basic supplies were running out.


Kadhafi appeals for release of Bigley Libyan leader asks kidnappers to make contact with him in bid to help release British hostage in Iraq. TRIPOLI - Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi appealed Wednesday for the liberation of Kenneth Bigley, the British


Building Blocks in Place It would be foolish to get too excited about the Wizards after years of disappointment but this team will bear watching this season.


Cavs Face First Test The University of Virginia Cavaliers are 4-0, ranked tenth, and mostly invisible on the national title picture. A win Thursday against Clemson could start opening eyes.


Weighing Options Ricky Williams's representatives are considering having him file for bankruptcy in an attempt to void the remainder of his contract with the Miami Dolphins.


Going With the Flow Forward Antawn Jamison is expected to be the team's No. 1 offensive threat while working within the framework of the offense.


Brown Absorbs Shots Texas Head Coach Mack Brown has been the focus of most Longhorn fans' bashes. And Brown, rightly or wrongly, is the first one to say that it is he, not the players, who should shoulder the blame.


Salt Lake Taps Ellinger Laurel native and Freddy Adu mentor John Ellinger  becomes the first coach of the MLS expansion team in Salt Lake City.


Ciresa Itches for Purse Marty Ciresa and his horse Presidentialaffair came close last year at the Maryland Million Classic at Pimlico, getting nosed out at the finish. This time, Ciresa wants the win.


Conferees Agree on Corporate Tax Bill House and Senate negotiators agreed Wednesday on an ambitious corporate tax bill that would shower billions of dollars in tax breaks on beneficiaries from old-line manufacturers to Alaskan whalers -- and includes a controversial \$10 billion buyout of the nation's tobacco farmers.


Secret Rule Requiring ID for Flights at Center of Court Battle John Gilmore, a tech-industry millionaire and privacy advocate, set out two years ago to challenge a basic element of airline security.


US Airways to Request Court-Ordered Pay Cuts Attorneys for US Airways hope to convince a bankruptcy court judge in Alexandria today that without substantial pay cuts, the airline will go out of business.


EADS May Sue Over Pricing Data EADS NV, Europe's largest aerospace and defense firm, is considering legal action after a former Air Force procurement official admitted sharing the company's pricing data on an Air Force program with rival Boeing Co.


Citgo Reaches \$323 Million Emissions  Settlement Citgo Petroleum Corp. will install \$320 million in pollution controls in six refineries and pay \$3.6 million to settle a federal lawsuit charging the company with violating the Clean Air Act, the Justice Department announced yesterday.


US Files Grievance Over Airbus With WTO The Bush administration dramatically escalated a dispute with the European Union yesterday by filing one of the biggest complaints in World Trade Organization history, accusing European governments


Australia Unemployment Dips for 2nd Month Australia #39;s unemployment rate dropped for the second straight month to 5.6 percent in September, the government said Thursday.


Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Lower at Late Morning Tokyo stocks slipped Thursday morning as investors took profits from recent gains. The US dollar was up against the Japanese yen. The Nikkei Stock Average of 225 issues was down 36.


Clorox Swaps \$2.1 Bln, Two Brands to Get Henkel Stake (Update3) Clorox Co., the largest US household- bleach maker, agreed to swap \$2.1 billion in cash, the Soft Scrub and Combat brands and its share in a joint venture to buy back Henkel KgaA #39;s 29 percent stake.


Tribute to pioneer scientist Maurice Wilkins Scientist Professor David Parry has paid tribute to Nobel Prize winner and New Zealand born scientist Maurice Wilkins who has died at the age of 88.


Coughlin  amp; Parcells: Two of a kind It was only a three-year, mid-life fling during the course of two long, varied coaching careers. But from 1988-90, Tom Coughlin and Bill Parcells found professional soul mates in one another.


Blair, in Sudan, Urges a Broad Peace Agreement Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain warned Sudan on Wednesday that the international community would not rest until violence was ended in Western Darfur and a comprehensive


Iranian Missiles Could Target US, Israel, And Europe A senior Iranian official announced that his country has missiles capable of striking American troops, Israel and parts of Europe, Reuters reported.


Accountant Says Fannie Mae Pressured Him According to Roger Barnes, Fannie Mae, the giant mortgage finance company where he worked as an accountant for more than a decade, used "threats, intimidation and reprisal" against him and others who raised concerns about the company's accounting.


Fannie Mae chief defends accounting WASHINGTON - Fannie Mae chief Franklin Raines told Congress on Wednesday that the huge mortgage company did not intentionally manipulate earnings to boost executives #39; bonuses.


BASEBALL ROUNDUP Frank Thomas Has Ankle Surgery and Prepares for a <b>...</b> By The Associated Press. Frank Thomas, who played in only 74 games with the Chicago White Sox this season, had surgery yesterday on his left ankle and might not be ready for spring training.


Science mourns DNA pioneer Wilkins Nobel Laureate Wilkins, 87, played an important role in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA, the molecule that carries our  quot;life code quot;, Kazinform refers to BBC News.


New Dinosaur Discovered: T. Rex Cousin Had Feathers  quot;It #39;s the kind of thing we expected, but we thought we might never find a fossil that would justifiably show it, quot; said Mark Norell, who co-authored a paper that describes the new species.


Novell spiffs up its desktop Linux software This fourth priority #39;s main focus has been improving or obtaining CRM and ERP software for the past year and a half. Novell plans to release in early November a new version of its open-source operating system for desktops.


Weapons Ban Eased At Airports People soon will be able to carry guns and other dangerous weapons onto the grounds and parking lots of Reagan National and Dulles International airports, after officials


Chief Says Fannie Mae Did Nothing Wrong Franklin D. Raines, the head of Fannie Mae, took issue with every major damaging conclusion of the mortgage giant's regulator on Wednesday.


Attacks against civilians in Darfur Omar Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan, Christian Aid is calling for radical new measures to end the crisis in Sudan. Christian Aid is calling for a change in the mandate of the African Union monitors in Darfur.


Iraq, Sadr Militia Begin Peace Talks Description: Efforts are under way to arrange a ceasefire in the Baghdad slum of Sadr City, where militiamen loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have been battling US forces.


A Biotech Company's Aggressive Move Backfires The suspension of Chiron's flu vaccine has not only cost it three-quarters in expected profits, but also some credibility.


Kurzweil's Quest for Eternal Youth  Sets Buzz Inventor Ray Kurzweil takes 250 nutritional supplements a day in his quest to live long enough to reap the benefits he expects from biotechnology. He says he's trying to reprogram his body, like he would his computer.
-The Washington Post


Just Another Day in the Pit as Oil Tops \$52 While consumers, presidential candidates and the stock and bond markets are focused on oil prices, the oil traders themselves are more concerned about volatility.


Small Firms  Vie for Slice Of Security Pie Small technology businesses in the Washington area have learned that breaking into the homeland security business is a lot harder than they'd expected. Just getting a call returned or a proposal considered is a victory. -The Washington Post


Pennington #39;s return energizes Jets EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- Chad Pennington returned for New York and the franchise quarterback showed why the Jets need him down the stretch drive.


New Cool, Quiet Laptop Hard Drives (PC World) PC World - Western Digital's Scorpio drives promise stinging performance.


Annan Urged to Pull U.N. Staff From Iraq (AP) AP - Two organizations representing more than 60,000 United Nations staff members urged Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday to pull all U.N. staff out of Iraq because of the "unprecedented" risk to their safety and security.


MLB Not Likely to Punish Steroid Users (AP) AP - Don't expect major league baseball to discipline Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield over reported admissions of steroid use.


Suicide Car Bomb Kills 37 at Pakistan Religious Rally  MULTAN, Pakistan (Reuters) - A suicide car bomb exploded in  central Pakistan, killing at least 37 people and wounding more  than 50 at a rally for an assassinated militant religious  leader early on Thursday, police said.


Haitian Police, UN Troops Raid Aristide Stronghold  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Haitian police backed by  U.N. peacekeepers raided a slum stronghold of supporters of  ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Wednesday and  arrested 75 people accused of violent attacks in the Haitian  capital, a police spokeswoman said.


Northeast Indian State Votes Amid Tight Security  GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - People braved a steady drizzle  to come out to vote in a remote northeast Indian state on  Thursday, as troops guarded polling stations in an election  being held under the shadow of violence.


The Unraveling of a Terror Case Spun From Thinnest Threads The wreckage of a Detroit case about a "sleeper operational combat cell" reveals that it was built on evidence that has since been undermined.


Ethics Panel Rebukes DeLay Twice in a Week WASHINGTON - The House ethics committee unanimously concluded Wednesday that Majority Leader Tom DeLay appeared to link political donations to a legislative favor and improperly persuaded U.S. aviation authorities to intervene in a Texas political dispute...


Twins and Yankees Tied 5-5 After 11 NEW YORK - Mariano Rivera failed to hold a two-run lead in the eighth, and the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees were tied at 5 after 11 innings Wednesday night in Game 2 of their best-of-five series in the AL playoffs.    Derek Jeter, Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez homered to back Jon Lieber, but Minnesota rallied from a 5-3 deficit, ending Rivera's 12-for-12 mark in postseason save chances at Yankee Stadium...


Turkey a Step Closer to Joining E.U. Turkey took a significant step Wednesday toward its long-cherished goal of joining the European Union when the E.U.'s executive branch proposed opening formal negotiations over membership for the predominately Muslim nation.


U.S. Set to Aid Brazil Drug Shootdown Plan-Officials

 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington is likely to help Brazilin its plan to shoot down planes suspected of smuggling drugsafter determining it has enough safeguards to preventaccidental killings, senior U.S. officials said on Wednesday.


Brazil's Vasp Airline to Face Bankruptcy Two Brazilian subsidiaries of General Electric Co. that provide maintenance services to financially troubled airline Vasp are calling for the bankruptcy of Brazil's fourth-largest airline.


Taking Their Game to the Next Level Professional video-game players are converging on San Francisco for a world championship event, and while none of their faces have yet wound up on a Wheaties box, some make tens of thousands of dollars a year in winnings.


PeopleSoft's Ex-Chief Says He Misspoke to Analysts Craig A. Conway said that he did not lie in 2003 but had simply not been clear when he suggested that all pending software orders had been completed.


Who's There? How Parents Can Be IM Watchdogs Instant messaging and online chat are well on their way to ubiquity -- especially among the young. How can parents ensure messaging is safe?


Connecting Paper and Online Worlds by Cellphone Camera Printed symbols called SpotCodes can help cellphones with cameras find their way around cyberspace.


CA to buy Netegrity for US\$430 million Computer Associates International announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to acquire Netegrity, a maker of network identity and access software, for about US\$430 million.


Magic Center DeClercq May Miss 3-4 Weeks (AP) AP - Orlando Magic center Andrew DeClercq will likely miss 3-to-4 weeks while he recovers from his second knee surgery of the year.


Crew Extend Unbeaten Streak to 16 Games (AP) AP - The Columbus Crew won their first Eastern Conference title and extended their unbeaten streak to an MLS-record 16 games with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday.


Karzai Rival Lacks Charisma, but Mujahedeen Back Him He is short, bespectacled and lacks charisma, yet Yunus Qanooni, 47, until July the education minister, is the most formidable rival to President Hamid Karzai


Torre Chooses Brown in Game 3 Yankees Manager Joe Torre bypassed Javier Vazquez in favor of Kevin Brown, the 39-year-old right-hander who has pitched in two World Series.


Clorox Buys Back Henkel's Stake in Deal (Reuters) Reuters - Clorox Co. agreed on Wednesday to\buy back a 29 percent stake in itself from Germany's Henkel\KGaA for  #36;2.84 billion of cash and assets, helping Persil-maker\Henkel finance its acquisition of Dial Corp.


Record High Oil Prices Hit Asian Markets  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Most Asian stock markets fell after  oil prices hit a record high on Thursday, reigniting worries  that high energy costs will dent household incomes, raise  companies' expenses and hurt global economic growth.


Deal for Cigna Bond Unit Bear Stearns  amp; Companies said Tuesday that its asset management arm had agreed to acquire the TimesSquare Capital Management bond business of the Cigna Corporationin New York.


Twins Lead the Yankees 6-5 in 12th NEW YORK Oct. 6, 2004 - Torri Hunter hit a long home run off Tanyon Sturtze in the 12th inning as the Minnesota Twins took a 6-5 lead over the New York Yankees on Wednesday in their best-of-five series in the AL playoffs.


Bankruptcy Proceedings Could Free Williams From Contract As tailback Ricky Williams contemplates a return to the NFL, his representatives are considering having him file for bankruptcy in an attempt to void the remainder of his contract with the Miami


Two blasts kill 33 in central Pakistan Two bombs exploded at a gathering of Sunni radicals early Thursday in Multan in central Pakistan, killing at least 33 people and injuring dozens of others, said a police officer.


Wall Street stocks enjoy late-day rally despite high oil price Wall Street stocks ended higher Wednesday, boosted by a late-day rally despite the record crude oil price of more than 52 US dollars per barrel.


for the Gilt-Edged Gadget Groover Each January, the world #39;s gizmo freaks, gadget heads, and general arbiters of cool descend on Las Vegas for CES -- the Consumer Electronics Show -- a four-day look at what electronics makers worldwide are planning to wow consumers with and thus fatten


HICKMAN EYES RECORD WIN James Hickman is looking to secure an unprecedented fifth consecutive global title as he spearheads a small British team in the World Short-Course Championships starting in Indianapolis today.


Twins would be better off with best-of-one If every postseason game were an opener, the Metrodome would be filled with World Series banners. Eight times in a row, Minnesota has won the first game of a playoff.


2004 WNBA Finals Matchups Analysis Meyers, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003, broadcasts WNBA and women #39;s NCAA games for ABC and ESPN. She has also been a regular Blog Squad contributor to WNBA.


IBM to Widen Use of Mainframes in China, Elsewhere (Reuters) Reuters - Buoyed by brisk sales of its\mainframe computers in recent quarters, IBM is aiming to\broaden the use of the powerful machines, particularly in\China, the world's fastest growing large economy.


Suicide Car Bomb Kills 39 at Pakistan Religious Rally At least 39 people were killed and more than 80 wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded at a rally for an assassinated militant religious leader in central Pakistan early Thursday, police said.


IBM to Widen Use of Mainframes in China, Elsewhere  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Buoyed by brisk sales of its  mainframe computers in recent quarters, IBM is aiming to  broaden the use of the powerful machines, particularly in  China, the world's fastest growing large economy.


Concerns About Winter Push Oil to Record  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The price of crude oil broke into new  record territory above \$52 Thursday on heightened concerns that  supplies of heating fuels will prove inadequate during the  northern hemisphere winter.


Yanks See the Brink, Then Bounce Back Alex Rodriguez's ground-rule double tied the game and Hideki Matsui's line-drive sacrifice fly scored the winning run in a rollicking, 7-6, 12-inning victory over the Twins.


Bryant Accuser Cannot Remain Nameless A federal judge rejected a request from the woman who accused the basketball star Kobe Bryant of rape to remain anonymous in her civil lawsuit.


Finally, a Boeing-Airbus Showdown The European jetmaker has long skirted subsidy rules. Now Washington #39;s WTO complaint will drag that abuse into the light of day.


Veto This Bill IN JUNE, the House and Senate each passed corporate tax bills. As we wrote at the time, both threatened to inflict further complications on the tax code, widen the budget deficit and affirm the belief of corporations


Netegrity is bought, will fire A Waltham maker of security software is being acquired by software behemoth Computer Associates in a cash deal worth almost a half-billion dollars, the companies announced yesterday.


Corning to take nearly \$3 billion in charges, cites gloomy telecom <b>...</b> CORNING, NY -- Corning Inc. will take non-cash charges of as much as \$2.9 billion against third-quarter results as the company #39;s telecommunications unit continues to struggle with industry sluggishness.


Maurice Wilkins, DNA Pioneer, Dies at 88 Maurice Wilkins, 88, a Nobel Prize winner whose role in discovering the double helix structure of DNA has been overshadowed by more-celebrated colleagues for the past half-century, died Oct. 5 in a London hospital.


Google feature offers pages of books online Internet search giant Google, quiet since going public in August, introduced a feature Wednesday that lets users search through pages of books online.


Astronaut Gordon Cooper Dies On Monday, astronaut Gordon Cooper Jr., 77, died at his home in Ventura, Calif. He was one of the original seven Mercury astronauts.


Yankees Take Dramatic 12-Inning Victory Over Twins Hideki Matsui hit a sacrifice fly to score Derek Jeter in the bottom of the 12th inning, giving the New York Yankees a dramatic 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the American League Divisional Series Wednesday.


After Games pressure, world short course presents different <b>...</b> (CP) - After the pressure of the Olympic Games, training for the world short course swim championships was a challenge for Victoria #39;s Rick Say.


Hewitt advances to third round Top seeded Lleyton Hewitt rallied to a 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 win over Japan #39;s Gouichi Motomura yesterday in the second round of the Japan Open.


Braves and Astros open second day of playoffs Wednesday BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) - The Houston Astros hope their miraculous run towards the postseason spills over into their National League Division Series with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.


Favre #39;s brother-in-law killed in ATV accident The brother-in-law of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre died Wednesday evening after crashing an all-terrain vehicle on the player #39;s property.


WORLD IN BRIEF VIENNA -- Brazil has tentatively agreed to let the UN atomic agency view parts of its equipment used to enrich uranium -- a deal that would end squabbling over access to technology that can be used to build nuclear weapons, diplomats said Wednesday.


Bush Attacks Kerry; Edwards Says Bush 'In Denial' (Reuters) Reuters - President Bush, going on the attack\after a slip in the polls, said on Wednesday Democratic rival\John Kerry's "mind-set of September 10th" would paralyze the\United States and weaken its ability to respond to threats.


Help for Home Team Mayor Anthony Williams is exploring ways to raise money to invest in neighborhoods and schools and allay critics of the mayor's plan to pay for a stadium.


Cambodian King Delays Return, Wants to Abdicate  BANGKOK (Reuters) - Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, now  83, sick and dismayed at political infighting in his  impoverished country as it tries to recover from the "Killing  Fields" era, wants to give up his throne.


Cambodia's king 'has abdicated' Cambodia's King Sihanouk has announced his abdication, his son tells the country's National Assembly.


Yankees Rally to Win Game 2 Over Twins NEW YORK - Alex Rodriguez hit a tying double in the 12th inning, then Derek Jeter dashed home on Hideki Matsui's sacrifice fly and the Yankees bailed out Mariano Rivera with another improbable postseason comeback, beating Minnesota 7-6 Wednesday night to even their series at a game apiece.    The Yankees responded with a championship-caliber rally after falling behind in the 12th on Torii Hunter's home run...


U.S. 'Almost All Wrong' on Weapons The 1991 Persian Gulf War and subsequent U.N. inspections destroyed Iraq's illicit weapons capability and, for the most part, Saddam Hussein did not try to rebuild it, according to an extensive report by the chief U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq.


Flower Dealer Gets 17 Months for Smuggling An orchid dealer was sentenced Wednesday to a year and five months in federal prison for scheming to smuggle prized tropical lady slipper orchids into the United States.


Fed: Economic Growth on Track  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic expansion remains on  track and inflation under control, top Federal Reserve  officials said Wednesday in comments likely to reinforce views  the Fed will hike rates again this year.


Ex-PeopleSoft CEO testifies WILMINGTON, Del. - Former PeopleSoft Chief Executive Officer Craig Conway testified Wednesday that he may have overreacted to Oracle Corp.


Congress drops tobacco curbs in tax bill Smoking foes, led by Ohio Republican Sen. Mike DeWine, yesterday vowed to continue their fight for government regulation of tobacco products, shortly


AUTO INDUSTRY REPORT: Ford CEO has new goal Ford Motor Co. CEO Bill Ford Jr. plans to revive his push to make the automaker more environmentally friendly now that he no longer has to deal with a financial crisis, Newsweek reported.


Trade war erupts over aero subsidies WASHINGTON - A decades-long struggle between the world #39;s two largest aircraftmakers escalated into a new trade war between the United States and Europe.


TI Declares Qualcomm Court Victory Texas Instruments Inc. said Wednesday that a Delaware court ruled a second time that the company did not materially breach an agreement with cell phone chipmaker Qualcomm Inc.


Favre feeling better; Pederson could be done GREEN BAY, Wis. (Oct. 6, 2004) -- Brett Favre skipped practice, still feeling the effects of a concussion to go along with a softball-sized bruise on his left leg and a loose left shoulder.


Wheatley expects to miss 2-to-4 weeks with shoulder injury Oakland Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley expects to miss 2-to-4 weeks with a shoulder injury.  quot;I #39;ve seen better days, quot; Wheatley told Sacramento radio station KHTK on Wednesday.


Concerns About Winter Push Oil to Record (Reuters) Reuters - The price of crude oil broke into new\record territory above  #36;52 Thursday on heightened concerns that\supplies of heating fuels will prove inadequate during the\northern hemisphere winter.


Fed: Economic Growth on Track (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. economic expansion remains on\track and inflation under control, top Federal Reserve\officials said Wednesday in comments likely to reinforce views\the Fed will hike rates again this year.


Salesforce.com reports subscriber surge The subscription software company adds 85,000 individual subscribers to its online customer information system.


Briefly: Salesforce.com reports subscriber surge roundup Plus: RealNetworks signs up Red Flag Linux...Microsoft ships Virtual PC 7...SGI warns of lower revenue, deeper loss.


Skype readies business telephone offering New service will feature SkypePlus voicemail and expanded conference calling, as well as let users get calls from the traditional phone network.


Indonesia supports OPEC leaving quotas unchanged : Indonesia will support the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) if it decides at its Dec. 10 meeting to leave its output quota unchanged, Iin Arifin Takhyan, Director General of Oil and Gas said.


Blu-ray camcorders next year: report Sony, Matsushita and other firms are planning to launch camcorders using next-generation, smaller DVDs in the Blu-ray format as early as 2005 to win a lead over a rival offering, a report said today.


First Thoughts - PalmOne TungstenT5 I #39;ve had my review unit of the PalmOne TungstenT5 for about 8 hours now, and I #39;m ready to make a first pass at PalmOne #39;s newest high-end model.


Hamas fires more rockets at Israel Minister Ariel Sharon ordered his army to press on with a week-old offensive that has killed 75 Palestinians. briefed him on Israel #39;s biggest and bloodiest military campaign in the Gaza Strip in four years of open conflict.


Israeli offensive hits children in Gaza An Israeli missile hit the house of a Palestinian family of 10, killing two and badly injuring some of the eight children in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza.


Contextual Ads: Vital to a Search Marketing Campaign? Are you bidding on keywords through Overture's Precision Match, Google's AdWords or another pay-for-placement service? If so, you're eligible to participate in their contextual advertising programs.


Samsung plans to invest \$24bn in chips by 2010 Samsung Electronics, the worlds second largest chipmaker, said on Monday it would invest Won25,000bn (\$24bn) in new chip production lines by 2010 to generate accumulative sales of Won200,000bn.


Thai policeman suspected of shooting Britons surrenders: police (AFP) AFP - A Thai policeman suspected of shooting dead two British tourists last month gave himself up, police said.


#36;71M Judgment Vs. Zimbabwe Party Tossed (AP) AP - A federal appeals court has tossed out a lawsuit that resulted in a  #36;71 million penalty against Zimbabwe's ruling party for allegedly torturing and killing political opponents.


Yankees Rally to Win Game 2 Over Twins NEW YORK - Alex Rodriguez hit a tying double in the 12th inning, then Derek Jeter dashed home on Hideki Matsui's sacrifice fly and the Yankees bailed out Mariano Rivera with another improbable postseason comeback, beating Minnesota 7-6 Wednesday night to even their series at a game apiece.   "Alex had a little trouble settling in here, but when you do this at Yankee Stadium in a postseason game, especially coming from behind, God only knows what it's going to do for him," New York manager Joe Torre said...


US, EU take Boeing, Airbus dispute to WTO WASHINGTON -- Intensifying a high-altitude trade war, the United States and the European Union filed dueling legal complaints at the World Trade Organization yesterday, charging each other with showering illegal subsidies on The Boeing Co.


Oil sets fresh record, closing above \$52 a barrel NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- US stocks staged a late-day rally to end higher Wednesday, with the Nasdaq climbing for the seventh straight session, as investor appetite for attractively valued shares trumped concern over a spate of profit warnings and a new high


Cingular #39;s CEO says  #39;poaching #39; to cost it customers Customer losses at Cingular Wireless, which is set to buy Redmond #39;s AT amp;T Wireless for \$41 billion, may rise after that purchase, said Ed Whitacre, chief executive of Cingular parent SBC Communications Inc.


Varitek's Homer Helps Red Sox Tie Angels (AP) AP - Jason Varitek hit a two-run homer off Bartolo Colon in the sixth inning to bring Boston from behind, and the Red Sox and Anaheim Angels were tied 3-3 after six innings Wednesday night.


Twins Exhaust Nathan With 49 Pitches (AP) AP - Forty-nine pitches. Joe Nathan hadn't thrown that many in more than four years.


US asks Israel to clarify disengagement plan Jerusalem, Oct 07 - The United States has asked Israel to clarify a statement made by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s senior advisor Dov Weisglass, which said Tel Aviv #39;s disengagement plan meant a  quot;freezing of the peace process, quot; media reported here.


Cambodian King Delays Return, Wants to Abdicate Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, now 83, sick and dismayed at political infighting in his impoverished country as it tries to recover from the  quot;Killing Fields quot; era, wants to give up his throne.


Yankees Take Dramatic 12-Inning Victory Over Twins  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hideki Matsui hit a sacrifice fly to  score Derek Jeter in the bottom of the 12th inning, giving the  New York Yankees a dramatic 7-6 victory over the Minnesota  Twins in the American League Divisional Series Wednesday.


Judge: Kobe Bryant Accuser's Name to Be Disclosed  DENVER (Reuters) - The young woman who accused basketball  star Kobe Bryant of rape must disclose her identity in her  civil case against him, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday.


Stern #39;s broadcast, salary go sky-high Shock jock Howard Stern, a lightning rod for furors over broadcast standards, won #39;t have to take network heat much longer. The trash-mouthed provocateur is ditching over-the-air radio to claim his future in orbit: via satellite radio.


Fed #39;s Poole calls for end to rate hints WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- The Federal Open Market Committee should end its practice of hinting at the likely course of future policy actions, said William Poole, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St.


False gas data at El Paso Corp. led to charges Four former El Paso Corp. employees have agreed to plead guilty to reporting false natural gas trades and will help prosecutors in ongoing investigations.


Audit finds auditors lacking An inspection of Canada #39;s big four audit firms has found no material problems with the work the Bay Street firms conduct, but did find three cases out of 46 examined that did not meet generally accepted auditing standards.


Novell updates SuSE Linux desktop Novell has officially announced the early November availability of SuSE Professional 9.2, adding mobility features to the distribution including support for Bluetooth and wireless LANs.


Tiger Woods ties the knot in style Rumor became reality Tuesday night as golf star Tiger Woods, 28, wed his girlfriend, Elin Nordegren, 24, at an exclusive Barbados resort, according to the Associated Press.


Nathan left in a few pitches too long Forty-nine pitches. Joe Nathan hadn #39;t thrown that many in more than four years. It didn #39;t matter that Torii Hunter hit a go-ahead home run in the 12th inning, Nathan couldn #39;t hold the lead.


Arsenal lost 23M in Emirates deal The Gunners are delighted with their 100 million deal with the Dubai-based airline this week. But The Sun says Arsenal could have banked a total of 123m by separating the naming rights and shirt deal.


Angels and Red Sox tied after six innings Jason Varitek hit a two-run homer off Bartolo Colon in the sixth inning to bring Boston from behind, and the Red Sox and Anaheim Angels were tied 3-3 after six innings Wednesday night.


An arms-hungry Saddam feared Iran, says report Saddam Hussein was obsessed with his status in the Arab world, dreaming of weapons of mass destruction to pump up his prestige. And even as the United States fixated on him, he was fixated on his neighboring enemy, Iran.


Shock jock defecting to satellite radio Deal gives big boost to <b>...</b> Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed  quot;king of all media, quot; rocked the industry Wednesday by announcing plans to abandon traditional airwaves for the relatively untried frequencies of satellite radio in January 2006 in order to escape the tightening grip of


Savings back in vogue as rates climb Latest figures from Principality Building Society show that net savings have increased by almost 50 since the base rate rise in August.


Google Launches Google Print Rescate writes  quot;As reported by Reuters,Google is launching Google Print, which will show book excerpts next to regular Google search results.


NASCAR glance 1. KURT BUSCH. He has scored nine consecutive top-15 finishes, including his second fifth-place effort in a row in the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.


Blair faces final judgement on WMD The Government is facing up to confirmation Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction. The group hunting for Saddam #39;s arsenal said it had found no evidence he had chemical, biological or nuclear weapons at the time of the US-led invasion.


Bomb-grade plutonium driven across France Wednesday after a more than two-week journey from Charleston in the United States. They fear it is vulnerable to. plutonium will be recycled into nuclear fuel.


Australia #39;s Labor Party faces uphill battle in election campaign Campaigning was never going to be easy for opposition Labor Party leader Mark Latham: an Australian economy into its 13th year of expansion, interest rates at their lowest in 30 years, inflation in check an close race likely to be decided in just a


Asia, Europe seek closer and smoother economic relations More than 300 business delegates from Asia and Europe gathered in Hanoi Thursday to seek more opportunities to promote free flows of trade and investment between the two continents in the coming years.


Gadhafi Appeals for Freedom of British Hostage in Iraq Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi has appealed for the release of British engineer Kenneth Bigley, who was taken hostage in Iraq three weeks ago.


UN staff in Iraq; The nuclear imbalance; Policing the world The United Nations Staff Union, in response to David Malone #39;s  quot;Nobody said it would be safe, quot; (Views, Oct. 1), would like to point out that around 30 UN staff members have already been deployed to Iraq - a


US Congress agrees huge tax bill The US Congress has agreed in principle a huge corporate tax bill providing tax breaks for manufacturers in return for repealing export subsidies.


Cambodian king abdicates The announcement was made in a letter read to the National Assembly on Thursday by Prince Norodom Ranariddh, the king #39;s son and chairman of the assembly.


Nine killed in US air raids on Fallujah: hospital Nine people were killed in two pre-dawn raids by US planes on suspected reel targets in Fallujah, west of Baghdad today, according to a local hospital.


Annan Urged to Pull All UN Staff Out of Iraq Organizations representing 60,000 United Nations employees are urging Secretary-General Kofi Annan to pull all UN staff out of Iraq.


Australian PM gets election boost with surprise drop in <b>...</b> SYDNEY : Prime Minister John Howard #39;s election campaign received a last-minute boost as new unemployment figures showed a larger than expected fall in the number of jobless, two days before an election he has fought on his economic record.


Car Bombing Kills 39 at Pakistan Religious Rally  MULTAN, Pakistan (Reuters) - At least 39 people were killed  and more than 80 wounded when a car bomb exploded at a rally to  commemorate an assassinated militant religious leader in  central Pakistan early Thursday, police said.


Iraq war debate fuelled by report A key US report saying Saddam Hussein had no WMD intensifies debate on the justification for war with Iraq.


War's Rationales Are Undermined Again The release of the account on Iraq's weapons is only the latest in a series of damaging blows to the White House's strategy of portraying the war as being on the cusp of success.


FINDINGS   Illegal Trade in Skins Of Big Cats Grows <br>The illicit trade in tiger and leopard skins is growing sharply in India, Nepal and China and posing a serious threat to the survival of the big cats, a conservation group said yesterday.


British Citizen Indicted on U.S. Terrorism Charges   A man arrested in Britain in August for allegedly soliciting money and recruiting jihadist fighters using Internet servers in the United States also purchased bombmaking materials and camouflage suits, according to court papers filed by the U.S. attorney in Connecticut yesterday.


Astros appear ready to shake postseason blues While 11,000 tickets went begging in Game 1 of this playoff series, the Houston hitters did not. The Astros #39; heat wave that produced a 36-10 record in the last six weeks of the season descended on Atlanta.


Fed: Economic Growth on Track US economic expansion remains on track and inflation under control, top Federal Reserve officials said Wednesday in comments likely to reinforce views the Fed will hike rates again this year.


LDS Church now a major player among Nebraska landowners The LDS Church has bought a large part of a western Nebraska ranch, becoming one of the state #39;s largest landowners. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently paid \$17.


Google looks at the books GOOGLE INGENUES Sergey Brin and Larry Page, have been visiting the Frankfurt Book Fair this week peddling a new service to publishers for the search engine outfit.


Thailand declines to back shark proposal at CITES meeting Thailand has refused to support a proposal at the ongoing CITES meeting to strict the trade in greatwhite sharks due to concern over the possible adverse effect on its shark


U. scientists create  #39;Louse Buster #39; In about a year, a teacher who finds head lice on a child may be able to send her to the school clinic for a 30-second treatment of hair heating and drying - safely blowing those lice right out of her hair.


Sports: Red Sox 8 Angels 3 (Red Sox lead series 2-0) ANAHEIM, Calif. Manny Ramirez collected two RBI #39;s and sparked a four-run ninth as the Boston Red Sox beat Anaheim 5-to-3 to take a two-games-to-none lead in the AL Division Series.


Thursday #39;s previews Points: With no hurricanes approaching Hattiesburg, Southern Miss finally gets to play at home. Traveling, however, hasn #39;t bothered the Golden Eagles, who lead the nation in turnover margin (3.


Car bombing kills 39 in Pakistan At least 39 people have been killed and more than 80 wounded after a car bomb exploded at a rally to commemorate an assassinated militant religious leader in central Pakistan, police say.


Sharon aide tells of pullback motive A top aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was quoted as saying yesterday that Israel #39;s planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is intended to block Palestinian statehood indefinitely and that the policy had US backing.


Aid Afghan democrats Afghan President Hamid Karzai dodged death three weeks ago when Taliban fighters fired a rocket at him in Gardez. Yesterday, his running mate in Saturday #39;s national election, Ahmad Zia Masood, barely survived a Taliban bomb in Faizabad.


Suicide car bomber kills 16 A SUICIDE car bomber ploughed into an Iraqi military checkpoint north-west of Baghdad, killing 16 Iraqis and wounding about 30, as United States and Iraqi forces sealed off roads south of the capital to curb insurgency.


Cambodia #39;s King Sihanouk abdicates the throne TOKYO, October 7 (Itar-Tass) - King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia has abdicated the throne, his son Prince Norodom Ranariddh, leader of the royalist party FUNCINPEC and Chairman of the National Assembly, has announced, according to reports reaching here.


News Corp soothes investors over US shift Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corp says it has approved stricter corporate governance provisions, soothing critics of a plan to shift its legal base to the United States from Australia.


Fannie Mae CEO Raines defends leadership Fannie Mae (FNM) CEO Franklin Raines defended his stewardship of the housing finance giant Wednesday, as a former employee said Raines ignored warnings of accounting problems.


SuSE 9.2 arrives on time NOVELL SAID that a new version of its Linux package SuSE professional will be available in November as it planned. The company plans to have regular six month upgrades for SuSE, which is currently siting on version 9.1.


Half Life 2 wait starts stopping to be a wait THIS MORNING, OR late this evening as we call it here in Britain,the long Half-Life 2 wait will start to be over. You get the multiplayer version, Counter-Strike: Source, the full enchilada at that moment.


Israeli tank fires shells at group in northern Gaza An Israeli tank fired two shells Thursday morning at a group of Palestinians in the town of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, killing two people, hospital officials said.


Record Oil Prices Weigh on Asian Shares  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices hit record highs on  Thursday, fueling gains in some energy stocks, but fears that  high power costs will dent household incomes, raise firms'  expenses and hurt global growth weighed on Asian share markets.


US and EU face off over aerospace subsidies The United States and the European Union have taken their fight over billions of dollars in subsidies for Airbus and Boeing to the World Trade Organisation.


Oil price exceeds record mark OIL #39;S RECORD-breaking rally took US crude over US\$52 a barrel yesterday fuelled by the impact of Hurricane Ivan on US winter inventories.


Business Glance ALBANY, NY - The Robertson Stevens Investments firm agreed to pay \$30 million to settled allegations it allowed  #39; #39;excessive #39; #39; market timing in its mutual funds, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said Wednesday.


US CEOs see economic growth slowing Top US executives are pessimistic about next year #39;s economy, citing high oil prices, geopolitical threats and stuttering consumer confidence, according to a survey.


VW recruits former Daimler cost-cutter Volkswagen has recruited Wolfgang Bernhard, who as DaimlerChrysler #39;s former star manager built a reputation as an aggressive cost-cutter, to join its board.


INDUSTRY REPORT: Apparel -- Wolverine improves Wolverine World Wide Inc., maker of Hush Puppies shoes and Merrell boots, reported third-quarter revenue of \$260.89 million, a 13.


SEC Charges Ex-Peregrine Execs with Fraud The US Securities and Exchange Commission filed civil suits on Wednesday charging that six former top executives at the technology company Peregrine Systems committed massive accounting fraud.


Update 2: Tokyo Stocks End Lower on Profit Taking Tokyo stocks fell Thursday as investors took profits after five straight sessions of gains. The dollar was down against the Japanese yen.


Employer insurance rates #39; rise to ease up Costs of employer-sponsored health plans are expected to climb an average of 8 percent in 2005, the first time in five years increases have been in single digits.


MGM plans to keep its casino LAS VEGAS -- Terry Lanni, head of the MGM Mirage casino group, Wednesday said MotorCity Casino in Detroit would be sold and not the MGM Grand Detroit if the Federal Trade Commission approves the merger between MGM Mirage and Mandalay Resort Group.


ElBaradei Urges Iran to Suspend Enrichment Activities  TOKYO (Reuters) - The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog,  Mohamed ElBaradei, said Thursday he hoped Iran would fully  suspend its uranium enrichment-related activities and that his  agency was working with it to do so.


Skype readies business telephone offering Skype plans to offer a business telephone service for  quot;individuals and workgroups, not CIOs quot; that the free Internet phone service provider believes will shake-up another major telephone market.


Corporations too trusting of Indian security ERNST AND YOUNG #39;S the Global Information Security Survey is just the latest to survey senior management #39;s cluelessness when it comes to IT and are far too trusting when it comes to Indian outsourcing, it alleges.


FRANCIS CRICK: THE PIONEER OF DNA Dr. Francis Crick, a renowned radicular Biologist, died of cancer on July 29, 2004. Prof. D. Wilson Devaprasad, an ardent reader of SOM had the opportunity of listening to his talk on  #39;DNA Helix #39; at Hyderabad in 1981.


Martinez Ends Losing Steak as Red Sox Beat Angels Pedro Martinez pitched seven strong innings to end his losing streak and lead the Boston Red Sox to an 8-3 victory over the Anaheim Angels in the second game of an American League Division series on Wednesday.


I #39;m telling ya, couch potato-ing the Division series gets no <b>...</b> ST. LOUIS -- So I have this idea for a new reality TV show. Kind of a Survivor/Apprentice/Benefactor/Wife Swap thing, except without the competition part.


CRICKET: KUMBLE JOINS THE 400 CLUB ANIL KUMBLE claimed his 400th Test victim yesterday - but could not stop Australia gaining the upper hand in Bangalore. The wrist spinner bowled Simon Katich for 81 in the 79th over to reach the milestone


England #39;s Owen on the mend England striker Michael Owen, who is nursing a back injury, should complete a full training session on Thursday before the World Cup qualifier against Wales on Saturday.


Cavaliers wary of struggling Tigers The numbers suggest a mismatch: Virginia is 4-0 and ranked No. 10. Clemson has lost three straight. But records only tell part of the story, at least where the Tigers are concerned.


Thai PM Takes Over Battle to End Muslim Unrest  BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra  said Thursday he would take charge of efforts to end violence  in the largely Muslim south, where nearly 360 people have been  killed since violence erupted in January.


AL playoffs: Rodriguez-led NY finds a way The Yankees needed someone to save Mariano Rivera. Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter sparked a championship-caliber rally just in time.


Tiger #39;s swing the problem - Vijay World number one Vijay Singh, who leads the star parade at the dunhill links championship at St. Andrews this week, believes Tiger Woods is paying a heavy price for tampering with his swing.


Dreams hinge on Okla.-Texas outcome AUSTIN - Jason White, the heady Oklahoma quarterback with the two surgically repaired knees, already has ensured his legacy in the Red River Shootout, no matter the outcome of Saturday #39;s game.


Europe cheers EU recommendation of Turkey Supporters found plenty of reasons to cheer the EU #39;s recommendation Wednesday that talks begin on making Muslim-majority Turkey a member.


40 Sunnis Killed In Twin Pak Bomb Blast Islamabad, Oct. 7 (NNN): At least 40 people were killed and over 100 injured when twin bomb blasts went off in a Sunni Muslim gathering in Pakistans Multan city on early Thursday morning.


Politics: Both sides eye climbing world oil prices nervously The news that the National party is to hold back on key policy announcements until closer to the election has had a mixed reception.


Asia, Europe Seek Better Business Ties Asian and European business leaders at a joint forum pushed for greater trade between their regions Thursday, with Asians calling for more transfer of technology to their countries and Europeans demanding greater Asian investment.


Pro-Aristide protesters make threats to foreigners PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Enraged supporters of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide armed themselves and roamed a downtown slum, threatening to behead foreigners after UN peacekeepers and Haitian police arrested dozens of people yesterday.


Edmonds back in the swing The last two weeks of the regular season were agonizing for Jim Edmonds, robbed of enthusiasm once the St. Louis Cardinals clinched the NL Central.


Varitek stays one step ahead The first two at-bats were the kind of moments he'd like to forget. Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek looked, for lack of a better word, wobbly in his initial appearances against Anaheim fireballer Bartolo Colon.


Astros discover killer instinct The Killer B's didn't have to go it alone. Roger Clemens and the powerful Houston lineup made sure the Astros got off to a good start in their quest to finally win a playoff series.


This season, they've been fish out of water The perfect place for the Dolphins' pregame meal Sunday is in Boston's theater district. When things have been going like they have for Miami, what better place to dine than Rock Bottom?


Special attention is paid to teams All signs point to plenty of emphasis on special teams this week in Patriotland after a shoddy performance against the Bills last Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y. Safety Shawn Mayer , who missed a tackle on Buffalo's Terrence McGee on a 98-yard kickoff return, was released Tuesday. The Patriots brought back Je'Rod Cherry yesterday in the hopes of ...


Light decides to stay awhile Matt Light was a good old country boy. Now he's a rich, good old country boy.


Simms picked to start Chris Simms will make his first pro start at quarterback for the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, replacing Brad Johnson .


Cassell returns to the fold Sam Cassell and the Minnesota Timberwolves apparently are back on good terms. The veteran guard reported for yesterday afternoon's practice after skipping the team's media day and first day of workouts earlier in the week. Cassell, 34, was unhappy about not getting a contract extension.


Holliston grad off to a fast start in college Lindsay Bove, a graduate of Holliston High School, has made an immediate and positive impact on the women's soccer team at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y.


US 'deserter' gets trial date Ex-US soldier Charles Jenkins, accused of defecting to North  Korea, will face a court martial on 3 November.


On world stage, no one else compares to Els It was two years ago when Ernie Els explained how it was possible that Tiger Woods could be overtaken in the world rankings. Of course, at the time the South African sat third in the order with a point value of 7.80, slightly behind Phil Mickelson and miles shy of Woods's whopping 17.54, so you can understand if there were ...


Nepal troops face 'abuse' charge The US-based Human Rights Watch says both Nepalese troops and Maoist rebels are responsible for civilian killings and abductions.


More turbulence ahead Kim and Brian Ursino haven't yet earned enough seniority at US Airways Group to get some major holidays off, forcing an unusual tradition on their family: the three-hour Christmas.


Radio's Stern reality I'll be back with the news about Howard Stern's planned departure to satellite radio. But first, this endless block of commercials and station promotions.


Beleaguered Merck looks to future A week after saying it was withdrawing its \$2.5 billion arthritis drug Vioxx from the market and losing a quarter of its stock market value as a result, Merck  amp; Co. will try to dodge the storm clouds and turn its attention tomorrow to a brighter subject with the official opening of its Boston research lab.


Ex-head of oil-for-food program accused of accepting bribes NEW YORK -- The top US arms inspector accused the former head of the \$60 billion UN oil-for-food program of accepting bribes in the form of vouchers for Iraqi oil sales from Saddam Hussein's government while running the program, according to a report released yesterday.


Spending slow on Iraq rebuilding, report says WASHINGTON -- Less than 7 percent of the \$18.4 billion that Congress approved last year to rebuild Iraq has been spent, the Bush administration said yesterday in its latest report on progress there.


Medium seeks wide impact If satellite radio's proponents are right, the new medium could be the next cable television, only bigger. Currently available through two companies, the XM and Sirius satellite radio networks, satellite radio requires that users pay a monthly fee and buy a special receiver to translate the signal. Both networks offer a wide range of programming on more than 120 stations, ...


Conferees back bill to resolve trade row WASHINGTON -- A major rewrite of corporate tax law that would end a trade dispute with Europe won congressional negotiators' backing yesterday after House Republicans beat back efforts to increase tobacco regulation. The measure would repeal a tax break for thousands of US exporters that the World Trade Organization ruled illegal. As a replacement, it offers more than \$140 billion ...


Cambodian king says he's abdicating throne BANGKOK -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, now 83, sick, and dismayed at political infighting in his impoverished country as it tries to recover from the Khmer Rouge era of mass killings, wants to give up his throne. Sihanouk had delayed his scheduled return from China, where he has been undergoing medical treatment for several months, and announced his desire to ...


Crude passes \$52 a barrel Crude futures surged above \$52 a barrel yesterday as a possible strike by Nigerian oil workers loomed and petroleum output in the Gulf of Mexico continued to suffer more than two weeks after Hurricane Ivan whipped through the region.


Iran says it has produced gas for nuclear enrichment TEHRAN -- Iran said yesterday it has processed several tons of raw  quot;yellowcake quot; uranium to prepare it for enrichment -- a key step in developing atomic weapons -- in defiance of the UN nuclear watchdog agency.


United eliminating some US routes, expanding overseas to increase profits United Airlines, increasingly squeezed by discount carriers in the US market, is cutting back its domestic flight schedule and expanding its international presence in the push to become profitable again.


Two bombs kill at least 36 at Sunni gathering in Pakistan MULTAN, Pakistan -- Two bombs exploded at a gathering of Sunni Muslim radicals in the central Pakistan city of Multan before dawn today, killing at least 36 people and wounding about 100, according to police, who suspect a sectarian attack.


Worcester Centrum to be renamed Digital Federal Credit Union, a fast-growing alternative to traditional banks, said it is buying the naming rights to Worcester's Centrum Centre. The \$5.2 million, 10-year deal renames the building to DCU Center. The signs are expected to be changed by the end of the year. DCU, based in Marlborough, has been aggressively raising its profile with television, radio, and print ...


Chemistry Nobel to 2 Israelis, American STOCKHOLM -- Israelis Aaron Ciechanover and Avram Hershko and American Irwin Rose were awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize in chemistry yesterday for discovering a key way cells destroy unwanted proteins -- starting with a chemical ''kiss of death. quot;


N.Y. woman doubts getting early release from Peruvian prison CAJAMARCA, Peru -- Lori Berenson, the 34-year-old New Yorker jailed in Peru for collaboration with Marxist guerrillas, holds little hope that an expected international court ruling in her favor will get her out of prison before she turns 45.


Computer Associates to buy Netegrity Corporate computing software giant Computer Associates International Inc. said yesterday it will pay \$430 million in cash to acquire Waltham data security firm Netegrity Inc. The deal marks a major expansion of Computer Associates' security business. It also comes as the company tries to move on from a major financial scandal that forced the resignation of its chief executive.


UN troops and police in Haiti try to curb pro-Aristide violence PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Enraged supporters of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide armed themselves with machetes, guns, rocks, and bottles and roamed a downtown slum, threatening to behead foreigners after UN peacekeepers and Haitian police arrested dozens yesterday.


Study: J amp;J neck stent is as effective as surgery Johnson  amp; Johnson's neck stent is as effective as surgery in clearing blocked blood vessels to the brain that can cause strokes and death, according to a company-funded study in tomorrow's New England Journal of Medicine.


Rising fuel costs worsen outlook, airline says US Airways Group Inc. said yesterday that sharply rising fuel costs in recent weeks have made the bankrupt airline's already dismal financial outlook even more acute.


Health insurer to halt payments MINNEAPOLIS -- A Minnesota health insurer says it won't pay the bill when doctors make serious mistakes -- apparently the first time an insurer has taken such a hard-line stand against medical errors.


Winter heating costs expected to top \$1,000 on average Residential heating costs are projected to soar this winter to more than \$1,000 on average because of higher fuel prices and colder weather, the government said yesterday.


Summit attracts top tech leaders A host of high-tech big wheels, from information technology leaders to inventors and visionaries from across the region, are slated to converge for a summit in Portsmouth on Oct. 14 and 15.


Aircraft subsidies trigger trans-Atlantic trade fight Washington state #39;s \$3.2 billion package of tax incentives for Boeing #39;s 7E7 project has become a focal point of the quickly worsening trade dispute between the US and Europe over government support for airplane makers.


Oracle/PeopleSoft: merger signs and portents October 6, 2004 6:43 PM GMT (Datamonitor) - It is looking increasingly likely that Oracle could be victorious in its lengthy takeover battle with PeopleSoft.


Conferees back bill to resolve trade row A major rewrite of corporate tax law that would end a trade dispute with Europe won congressional negotiators #39; backing yesterday after House Republicans beat back efforts to increase tobacco regulation.


Henkel says will not issue bond to finance Dial buy Henkel KGaA (HNKG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it would not need to issue a bond to finance its acquisition of US-based Dial Corp.


DNA pioneer, Nobel winner transformed medical field Maurice Wilkins, 88, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1962 along with the two scientists credited for describing the structure of DNA, Francis Crick and James Watson, died Tuesday at a London hospital.


On world stage, no one else compares to Els It was two years ago when Ernie Els explained how it was possible that Tiger Woods could be overtaken in the world rankings. Of course, at the time the South African


England striker Owen believes he can make it in Madrid side MANCHESTER: Michael Owen insists he has been unaffected by the fierce criticism that has dogged his short career at Real Madrid and is desperate to use England #39;s World Cup qualifier against Wales to restore his flagging reputation.


Virginia opens ACC vs. nemesis Clemson After bolting to a 4-0 record and its highest ranking in five years against opponents with a collective 7-13 record, Virginia begins its football season


Against OU, Texas hopes to finally hold  #39;em Blame him, Mack Brown says. Texas hasn #39;t beaten Oklahoma in four years, hasn #39;t made the Sooners so much as sweat in a couple of those games.


Sosa #39;s costly departure Various media outlets, including mlb.com and ESPN Radio 1000, are reporting the Cubs have docked their superstar a day #39;s pay for leaving last Sunday #39;s Cubs-Braves game well before it ended.


Ex-teammates sour on Williams The latest news in the Ricky Williams saga - that he has instructed agent Leigh Steinberg to explore avenues for a return -as all the impact of a wet diaper with his ex-Miami Dolphins teammates.


Bradley caught way off base The good news for the Dodgers this time is Milton Bradley did not completely lose his cool. Did not scream, take off half his uniform in public or berate the fans in a profanity-filled tirade.


Pakistan: at least 36 people died in suicide car bomb attack Car detonated at a rally in the city of Multan when people had gathered to commemorate first anniversary of the assassination of extremist Sunni religious leader Azam Tariq.


Karzai: Vote without fear Afghan President Hamid Karzai has told his supporters to vote without fear at a rally in a Kabul stadium the Taliban once used for beheadings.


What happened? OTTAWACanada #39;s military is facing tough questions today after a submarine fire billed as minor and  quot;non-life-threatening quot; claimed the life of a crewman.


Blair pushes Darfur accord KHARTOUMSudan has agreed to a joint withdrawal of government and rebel forces from Darfur and to boost the number of international ceasefire monitors in the province, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday.


Target practice Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ordered the Israeli Defense Forces to stop the barrage of missiles from the Gaza Strip. Thus, the Israeli Army and Air Force are engaged in a major confrontation with the terrorists in Gaza.


UK music to 'sue online pirates' The UK music industry is set to launch legal action against people who download music from the net.


EU panel urges talks with Turkey about membership BRUSSELS, Belgium -- In a move that could extend Europe #39;s borders to the edge of the Middle East, the European Union on Wednesday recommended starting negotiations with Turkey on full membership.


Iraq cleric agrees to ceasefire... sort of However, key members of the cleric #39;s movement insisted terms of the deal had not been finalised. The claims and counterclaims followed an announcement Tuesday by prime minister Ayad Allawi that the basis of


Backgrounder: Leading candidates in Afghan election Following are brief profiles of the leading candidates in Afghanistan #39;s first direct presidential election to be held on Saturday.


Blair in Ethiopia to outine vision for Africa ADDIS ABABA : British Prime Minister Tony Blair was due to outline his personal vision for the future of Africa at a meeting of the organisation he set up to spur development efforts in the region.


AP: Iran Converts Uranium Into Gas TEHRAN, Iran Oct. 6, 2004 - Iran has converted a few tons of raw uranium into hexafluoride gas needed for enrichment, a necessary step toward producing nuclear fuel or nuclear weapons, a top nuclear official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.


Customer views from PeopleSoft Connect At PeopleSofts European conference this week, the vendors senior executives were keen to point out the progress that the firm has made in the past year, including new services to make updates easier for customers.


News Corp soothes US move critics Australia #39;s News Corp has adopted corporate reforms aimed at soothing critics of its planned move to the US. The media giant, owner of Fox TV in the US, and the Times and Sun newspapers in the UK, promised not to issue new shares with extra voting rights.


German Stocks Gain, Led by Henkel, Utilities; Comdirect Slides German stocks advanced. Henkel KgaA, the maker of Persil detergent and Dial soap, gained after saying it will trade its 29 percent stake in Clorox Co.


Coors Light in the balance MONTREAL -- A seven-year-old marketing agreement between Molson and US-based Adolph Coors Co. was not amended for the merger proposal between the two companies.


Corning sees Q3 charges of \$2.9B SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Corning said late Wednesday it will take \$2.8 billion to \$2.9 billion in third-quarter charges because of reductions in projected future global demand for its fiber-optic products used in telecommunications networks.


Noranda defends China sale TORONTO and OTTAWA - Senior executives from Noranda Inc. are adamantly defending controversial talks to sell the company to China #39;s communist government, despite suggestions from MPs that Parliament may block the proposed sale.


Stocks shake off oil-cost worries to rally Stocks enjoyed a late-day rally yesterday, finishing higher despite a new record price for oil and gloomy third-quarter outlooks from several companies.


Japan Officials Check on Auction of New Banknote (Reuters) Reuters - Japanese officials were trying to confirm\Thursday whether a 1,000 yen ( #36;9) bill that was being auctioned\on an Internet site was really a prototype of a new high-tech\banknote that slipped through their fingers.


The browser wars are back, according to Netscape #39;s founder This time, it #39;s not Andreessen #39;s former company Netscape Communications that #39;s taking on Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer; it #39;s the emerging popularity of smaller products such as Apple Computer #39;s Safari and open-source browser Firefox, Andreessen said.


Yankees short hops com. Are you really surprised that the Yankees came back to win Game 2 over the Twins, avoiding an 0-2 deficit heading back to Minneapolis on Friday?


FOSTER WANTS SWEETENHAM TO MODERATE APPROACH Mark Foster has called on national performance director Bill Sweetenham to moderate his approach after returning to the British team following his Olympic exile.


Sven #39;s three-striker plan Sven-Goran Eriksson is considering playing Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney AND Jermain Defoe as part of a three-pronged attack for Saturday #39;s vital World Cup qualifer against Wales.


UPDATE 1-Clarke makes 151 on debut to lift Australia Debutant Michael Clarke made a sparkling 151 and captain Adam Gilchrist 104 to lift Australia to 474 all out on the second day of the first test against India on Thursday.


Dodgers Notebook: Bradley engages in heated confrontation with <b>...</b> Just over a week after vowing to get anger management help, he lashes out in interview, calling writer  #39;an Uncle Tom. #39;. By Bill Cizek.


Turkish press jubilant over green light for EU accession talks Adorned with Turkish and EU flags, Turkey #39;s newspapers hailed Thursday an official EU report recommending the country start talks to join the bloc, while largely ignoring the stringent conditions attached to the announcement.


YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS A car bomb exploded early Thursday during a celebration of Islamic militants in the central Pakistan city of Multan, killing at least 35 people and wounding dozens more, police and hospital sources said.


Afghan government says drug smugglers were behind political attack <b>...</b> KABUL, Afghanistan The Afghan government is blaming drug smugglers for yesterday #39;s attack on the leading vice presidential candidate .


ASEF Dedicated to Closer Asia, Europe Despite getting less attention than the summit talks at the ongoing Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) here, officials of the Asia Europe Fund (ASEF) are busy carrying out their duties behind the scenes.


Profile: King Norodom Sihanouk King Norodom Sihanouk #39;s abdication announcement is not the first time the mercurial and enigmatic Cambodian has caught his nation by surprise.


Space Tourism Faces Safety Regulations (AP) AP - Thrill seekers are plunking down six figures to ride rockets that haven't even been built yet, and a new airline called Virgin Galactic promises to be up and soaring in the next three years. Still, the budding space tourism faces a myriad of safety concerns  #151; in the sky and on the ground  #151; that must be resolved before any paying passenger takes off.


Early T-Rex Relative Had Feathers -- Study (Reuters) Reuters - The earliest known relative of the\mighty Tyrannosaurus rex had primitive feathers, probably to\help it keep warm.


Alert Level Dropped at Mount St. Helens (AP) AP - Geologist David Johnston wouldn't have died on Mount St. Helens today.