Bad Weather, Tight Security Slow Heavy Holiday Travel Travelers headed home for Thanksgiving were greeted Wednesday with snow-covered highways in the Midwest, heavy rain and tornadoes in parts of the South, and long security lines at some of the nation #39;s airports.


Mercury Tries Online Campaign to Create a Cooler Image A prominent lineup of advertising talent is working to produce an online campaign aimed at cultivating a cooler image for the Mercury car brand.


Pathway to Glory Ships November 24, 2004 - Nokia announced today that WWII strategy title Pathway to Glory is now shipping for the Nokia N-Gage game deck.


Celtic Get Surprise Point In Barcelona Celtic shook off the hangover from their disastrous Old Firm encounter to earn a remarkable Champions League draw at Camp Nou against runaway Liga leaders Barcelona.


Jason Kendall (left) has made the All-Star team three times. (Pat <b>...</b> PITTSBURGH -- According to published reports, the Pirates and A #39;s are close to completing a deal which would send catcher Jason Kendall to Oakland for left-handed pitchers Mark Redman and Arthur Rhodes.


Hunt for Balkan war criminals  #39;likely to fail #39; British defence officials conceded yesterday that military action to bring Serb and Croat war crimes suspects to trial would probably fail because of the sophisticated support network surrounding them.


Click, and the Deals Arrive at the Doorstep Now that all the holiday presents have been opened, it is time to do some real shopping  for the home, from the home.


A Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq (AP) AP - As of Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, at least 1,230 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 961 died as a result of hostile action, the Defense Department said. The figures include three military civilians.


MTFG profit drops as bad loans rise TOKYO: Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group (MTFG), Japan #39;s second biggest bank, said yesterday its first-half profit dropped by 43 as bad loans increased.


Wind turbines coming to Ontario; province inks 10 renewable energy <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - More towering wind turbines will be sprouting up across Ontario after the government signed deals for five private wind-energy projects as part of a bid to make renewable energy a reality in the province.


AIG settles charges, to pay \$126 million NEW YORK - American International Group Inc. said Wednesday that it has agreed to pay \$126 million to settle federal allegations that the insurance giant helped two customer companies commit accounting fraud.


Nissan to Halt Output at 3 Plants for Lack of Steel (Update1) Nissan Motor Co., Japan #39;s second- largest carmaker, said it will suspend production at three factories for five days over the next two weeks because the company has difficulty obtaining steel.


Group Passes on Addressing Global Warming Although faced with fresh evidence of global warming, the United States and other members the Arctic Council on Wednesday failed to make any recommendations


Dolphins reactions mixed to possible Ricky return SAN FRANCISCO - Just when the Miami Dolphins thought they were done talking about Ricky Williams, news of the wayward running backs imminent return to the NFL put him back in his former teammates thoughts Wednesday.


EU judge considers impact of Microsoft dropouts A European Union judge has summoned all sides for a closed meeting today to consider how to handle the decision by two major opponents of Microsoft to drop out of an antitrust case against the company.


Aging population to slow down Australian economy: report A sharp increase in the number of aged people in the coming decades will enormously slow down Australia #39;s economic growth and increase health spending, an official report released on Thursday said.


HK PRESS: Air China Shifts IPO Date To Avoid REIT Clash HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--Air China, the mainland #39;s biggest carrier, will bring forward its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to avoid clashing with the listing of the Housing Authority #39;s Real Estate Investment Trust, or REIT, reports the South China


Film Studios Win  #36;24 Million Against Web Site (Reuters) Reuters - Hollywood's major movie studios\said they won a  #36;23.8 million judgment against a California\company and its Malaysian owner for operating a Web site that\charged customers to download illegally copied movies.


Mobile Phone Makers Hoping To Get Boost From 3G Rollout (Investor's Business Daily) Investor's Business Daily - Europe's largest wireless carrier, Vodafone Group, this month said it's expanded its 3G high-speed wireless service to more markets -- and cell phone makers cheered.


UPDATE 1-Mickelson storms to victory after shooting 59 US Masters champion Phil Mickelson tapped in a birdie on the final hole to become the fifth player in history to shoot 59 as he charged to victory in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf event in Kauai, Hawaii on Wednesday.


Real face penalty after racist chants UEFA yesterday warned Real Madrid that they could be handed stiff punishment for the racist chanting of their supporters which marred Tuesday nights Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen at the Bernabeu.


ECB set to call off tour to Zimbabwe over media ban England #39;s controversial cricket tour of Zimbabwe looks set to be cancelled after Michael Vaughan #39;s squad were last night instructed not to travel to Harare.


Jones turns tables with renewed attack on England tactics The more things change, the more Eddie Jones stays the same. Two years ago, Australia #39;s super-smart coach countered accusations about the Wallabies #39; illegal dummy running by deflecting attention towards English skulduggery at the line-out.


UN to assess Iran nuclear freeze The UN nuclear agency is set to meet in Vienna on Thursday to review Iran #39;s controversial nuclear programme. The board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will learn if Iran is abiding by an agreement


Thatcher stunned as court orders he face coup questions SIR Mark Thatcher has lost his fight to avoid being questioned about his alleged involvement in a foiled coup to topple the president of Equatorial Guinea.


Lawmakers Argue Over Tax-Return Snooping (AP) AP - A skeleton crew of lawmakers voted Wednesday to keep the government from shutting down as House Democrats lambasted Republicans over a provision passed last week that both parties agreed was a turkey.


US 'alienating' world's Muslims The US is losing "the war of ideas" in the Islamic world and must alter its approach, a Pentagon panel says.


Ontario Approves 10 Power Projects Worth C\$700 Mln (Update1) The Ontario government approved 10 electricity-generating projects that will power about 100,000 homes and generate C\$700 million (\$593 million) in new investment in the province.


AIG pledges to return \$46m in fees AIG will return \$46m in fees it earned on three off-balance-sheet vehicles set up for PNC Financial as part of a settlement with regulators announced this week.


PGA TOUR #39;s 59 Club Phil Mickelson #39;s 59 Wednesday at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf may not have come in an official 72-hole event, but it certainly put him in some elite company.


A New Script for Searching Texts Written by Hand Search technology for images may lead to a way to search handwritten manuscripts.


It #39;s like a bad soap HARRY REDKNAPP ended his two-and-a-half year roller-coaster ride on the south coast, insisting the situation was in danger of becoming a soap opera.


Live: Champions League 1738: Stand-in Porto goalkeeper Nuno makes a superb reflex save from Yuri Zhirkov to stop Moscow going ahead. 1730: The first of Wednesday #39;s eight Champions League games kicks off with CSKA hosting current


Three arraigned in \$3 million extortion scheme involving NBA star <b>...</b> A lawyer and two ex-convicts remained in jail Wednesday after being arraigned on charges of trying to use a videotape of a fistfight to blackmail Denver Nuggets basketball star Carmelo Anthony for \$3 million.


Some tolling thoughts You don #39;t really believe Pedro Martinez is going to pitch for the Yankees, do you? Don #39;t forget about Pedro #39;s working hours on his non-pitching days.


Aussies says Indon #39;s delay in revealing embassy bombing arrests <b>...</b> Australia accepted that Indonesian police delayed for almost three weeks revealing they had captured four suspects in the Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta in September because they hoped to catch more, Foreign Minister


Quake rattles northern Italy A strong earthquake measuring about 5.2 on the Richter scale rocked northern Italy from the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic seas on early on Thursday, causing panic and some damage.


Chirac woos Libyans for oil French President Jacques Chirac lead a delegation of business leaders on a trip to oil-rich Libya Wednesday hoping to expand trade ties.


Freed UN hostages meet Afghan leader ahead of return home A group of three United Nations workers, freed after almost four weeks captivity in Afghanistan, have met President Hamid Karzai, in Kabul.


Argentina to Delay \$103B Debt Swap Offer The Argentine government said late Wednesday it has postponed a global plan to restructure the bulk of US\$103 billion (euro78.35 billion) in default debt until mid-January, moving back a debt swap that was expected next week.


Safe Mode in Windows Helps Fix What Ails It Booting up in safe mode; how to record vinyl records onto a PC; external floppy drives.


Dollar Edges Up Vs Euro, Lows in Sight (Reuters) Reuters - The dollar inched up but stayed in sight\of record lows against the euro on Thursday, as investors took\a break from pummeling the dollar after showing little interest\in a mixed bag of U.S. economic data.


AIP FYI #150: NASA Gets Funding Increase for Space Exploration <b>...</b> Under the omnibus bill funding the remaining FY 2005 appropriations (HR 4818), the House and Senate conferees gave NASA a substantial downpayment on the President #39;s Space Exploration Initiative.


3 Arrested for Trying to Extort NBA Player Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony looks on during his team #39;s 90-88 victory over the New Jersey Nets in Denver on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004.


Giants Autofocus for Eagles and Owens This is the week of the season when every Giants defensive back needs to have shoulders as sturdy as snowplow blades. But safety Gibril Wilson reported Wednesday that he still had only one good shoulder.


Presidents Call on U.S. to Help Tsunami Survivors (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. presidents past and present\appealed to Americans on Monday to help victims of the Asian\tsunami as one of the biggest aid efforts in history struggled\to bring food and water to millions of desperate survivors.


U.S., U.N. Blame Rebels for Sudan Strife (AP) AP - U.N. and U.S. officials accused rebels Wednesday of sparking the latest violence in Sudan's troubled Darfur region, actions that violated a cease-fire deal and prevented aid from reaching thousands of refugees.


Five-year football ban for Yorke racist FOOTBALL chiefs last night welcomed the five-year ban handed to the Blackburn fan who racially abused Dwight Yorke. Jason Perryman, 22, was caught on television hurling monkey chants and gesturing towards


O #39;Neill hails heroes as Celtic earn vital point PERHAPS the most trying few days of his Celtic career so far would deepen the satisfaction Martin ONeill took from his teams extraordinary 1-1 Champions League draw with Barcelona at the renowned Nou Camp stadium last night.


Valencia Victory Sets Up Frantic Werder Face-Off Valencia secured an unconvincing win over Anderlecht in Brussels to set up a pressure-cooker match that will be the final nail in the CL coffin for the Champions of Spain or Germany.


U.N.: Rwanda Warns of Attacking Rebels (AP) AP - Rwanda has warned it will launch an attack "very soon" on Rwandan Hutu rebels sheltering in eastern Congo, the U.N. mission said Wednesday, relaying a threat that raised fears of renewal of one of Africa's most devastating conflicts.


No. 20 Boston College Squashes Quinnipiac (AP) AP - Jessalyn Deveny scored 16 of her 22 points in the opening 9 1/2 minutes Wednesday, helping 20th-ranked Boston College to a 74-43 win over Quinnipiac.


Industrial Park Hostage to U.S.-N.Korea Ties (Reuters) Reuters - An industrial park\offering cheap labor, handy transport links and next door to\major Asian markets should be a powerful lure for manufacturers\looking for a competitive edge.


UFJ Forecasts Loss; Mitsubishi Tokyo Profit Declines (Update1) UFJ Holdings Inc. widened its loss forecast to 750 billion yen (\$7.3 billion) as it bids to clear bad loans before merging with Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc.


Crude futures slip after energy report CRUDE oil futures fell yesterday after the American government reported a slight increase in the US inventory of crude. The supply of distillate fuel, which includes heating oil, also increased, following


Sony Pictures sets up operation in China Sony Pictures has set up a joint venture television and film co-production unit in China, taking advantage of a loosening of restrictions on the tightly controlled industry.


Argentina to postpone debt restructure date The decision is an about-turn for President Nestor Kirchner #39;s administration. As late as Wednesday afternoon, Mr Kirchner appeared determined to go ahead with the government #39;s


Gadhafi Claims Miniscule Reward for Giving up Pursuit of WMD Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi says the international community should have offered Tripoli a better payback for renouncing its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction.


UN probes reports of Rwanda attacks United Nations officials are investigating reports that Hutu extremists have attacked Rwandan villages from bases in eastern Congo.


Biogen Idec gains MS drug approval The US government approved a drug Tuesday to treat multiple sclerosis, an incurable disease of the central nervous system that affects 350,000 Americans.


Mainland consumers optimistic about economic outlook: survey Consumers on the Chinese mainland are most optimistic about the economic outlook of the next 12 months, according to a survey released here Wednesday by AC Nielsen.


Microsoft Says 2 Former Foes Don #39;t Have to Retract Evidence Microsoft will not demand the withdrawal of evidence submitted against it in a European antitrust case by two parties that have since dropped their support for the case, a spokesman said Wednesday.


Nissan suspends plants due to steel shortage Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Japans second-biggest auto maker, said on Thursday it would suspend operations at three of its four domestic plants for five days each this month and next due to a shortage of steel.


US objections at WTO delay inevitable tariffs A legalistic squabble yesterday delayed World Trade Organisation authorisation for sanctions against US goods, initially worth up to \$150ma year, by the European Union and six


Toy safety warnings issued for holiday shoppers Megan Blanck-Weiss of the Washington Public Interest Research Group demonstrates in Seattle on Tuesday how the yo-yo water ball toy - a water-filled ball on an elastic-like cord


FDA Whistleblower Seeks Legal Help From Public-Interest Group Dr. David J. Graham, the FDA drug safety reviewer who sounded warnings over five drugs he felt could become the next Vioxx has turned to a Whistleblower protection group for legal help.


Sony enters Chinese digital market Sony Pictures has quietly set up a joint venture with state-controlled China Film Group that will make digital television programmes and feature films.


Strike call fuels Ukraine tension Ukraine's opposition steps up its campaign to overturn the disputed presidential vote by launching a general strike.


Magnets make sure pigeons fly home Homing pigeons carry out their long-range navigational feat thanks to tiny magnetic particles in their upper beaks, scientists confirm.


Building a better turkey through biotech SAN FRANCISCO Selectively breeding turkeys for their white meat over so many generations has led to some health care problems for America #39;s favorite holiday meal.


Technogadgets for the Holidays Talk about an overachiever! HP #39;s iPAQ 6315 smart phone is a sleek PocketPC and wireless phone combo that #39;s about as good as it gets.


Dell sharpens its blade offering DELL Inc launched its new compact PowerEdge 1855 blade server, 10 of which can fit into a 7U chassis to provide 43 more performance per sq foot and up to 62 more servers than Dell 1U servers in a 42U rack.


EU-Russia set for strained talks Russian President Vladimir Putin is to attend an EU summit despite diplomatic sniping over the  Ukraine crisis.


PSV draws with Arsenal, advances to final 16 PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 with nine-man Arsenal, advancing to the second round of the European Champions League on Wednesday. PSV remained atop Group E with 10 points, three ahead of Arsenal in second.


BAR prevent Davidson #39;s test switch Williams and BAR-Honda were at each others #39; throats yesterday over the services of Anthony Davidson barely two months after their row over Jenson Button was resolved in BAR #39;s favour by the FIA contracts #39; recognition board.


NBA Game Summary - Dallas at San Antonio The Mavericks are 4-3 on the road this season...The Spurs have won 18 straight regular-season home games dating back to last year...Dallas had a season-low eight assists. San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - Tim


LeBron, Cavs downs Pistons without a fight Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - LeBron James poured in a career-high 43 points to lead Cleveland to an easy 92-76 win over Detroit at Gund Arena.


Report: ICC demands explanation from Zimbabwe govt The International Cricket Council (ICC) is demanding to know from the Zimbabwe government why a number of British journalists have been refused entry to cover England #39;s one-day series.


NCAA Game Summary - Wake Forest vs. Providence Wake improved to 6-1 in the Preseason NIT...The Demon Deacons beat George Washington on Monday in its first game as the No. 1 team...This was the first- ever meeting between the two schools. New York, NY (Sports


First to Futile in 24 Hours as Knicks Waste the Day First place, and the warm, fuzzy feelings that came with it, felt great for about 23 hours. By the 24th hour, the Knicks looked and played more like a team destined to wander the depths of the Atlantic Division.


No. 18 Arizona 61, Michigan 60, OT Lute Olson paced in front of his bench all night, obviously frustrated with his team. In the end, though, his Madison Square Garden streak remained intact.


UTEP headed to Houston Bowl El Paso, TX (Sports Network) - Texas-El Paso accepted an invitation to play in the Houston Bowl at Reliant Stadium on December 29.


Pirates ready to deal Kendall to A #39;s Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have reportedly ironed out a trade to send veteran catcher Jason Kendall to the Oakland Athletics for pitchers Mark Redman and Arthur Rhodes.


Four held over Jakarta attack Indonesian police investigating September #39;s suicide attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta said yesterday they had arrested four suspects but that a top bombmaker might have eluded arrest


Chirac seeking to rebuild Libya ties TRIPOLI: President Jacques Chirac, who arrived in Libya yesterday on the first visit by a French head of state, expressed the desire for a  quot;true partnership quot; with Tripoli after years of  quot;heavy turbulence quot;.


UN says N. Korea wants urgent atom talks North Korea wants urgently to restart six-party talks on its nuclear programmes, but is still demanding certain conditions be met, a top UN official has told South Korea #39;s Yonhap news agency.


Fresh Ulster bid by Blair-Ahern LONDON: The British and Irish prime ministers, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, made a new push yesterday to secure a power-sharing deal between the two largest and most hard-line parties in Northern Ireland.


Bill to get tough on drug dealers People who sell drugs near schools or use children to aid them could get tougher  sentences under a new law.


Wake Forest and Arizona Reach Final Providence played with sporadic consistency in a 79-67 loss to Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons will play Arizona, which beat Michigan in overtime, 61-60, in Thursday's final.


League Ponders Letting Williams Return Faster As the N.F.L. and a lawyer for the Ricky Williams close in on an agreement to allow Williams to be reinstated, the question remains whether he is interested in returning.


Like Nets, Kittles Waits for Success to Return Kerry Kittles hyperextended his right knee in practice Tuesday - the same knee that was operated on for the fifth time last off-season.


Thanksgiving Thank-You Notes Despite a Tumultuous Year Try to forget the basketball brawl and this year's other disturbing moments in sports. It's time to say thanks to some of the people who have made sports a better place.


Home, Probably, for the Holidays As millions around the country headed into a busy weekend for air travel, overcast skies and snow flurries complicated the traditional Thanksgiving airport rush.


A.I.G. Agrees to Big Payment in U.S. Cases The company tentatively agreed to pay \$126 million and accept an independent monitor to settle investigations into the sale of insurance.


Improved Numbers Shelter CBS From the Fallout The CBS news division still anticipates serious fallout. Still, it is hard to wipe the grins off the faces of CBS's top executives.


Judge Threatens to Punish MCI Over Fees It Has Paid The judge who presided over the Securities and Exchange Commissions fraud suit against MCI threatened to punish the company for not receiving approval from a monitor before paying fees to lawyers, accountants and other professionals.


Judge Defers Decision in Oracle Takeover Bid The dispute between Oracle and PeopleSoft will return to the courtroom next month, when the presiding judge will hear more testimony.


Oracle names candidates for PeopleSoft board Oracle has opened a new front in its 17-month battle to take over PeopleSoft, announcing a slate of nominees to challenge the rival software companys existing board of directors at its annual meeting next year.


A job well done _ Hartson JOHN HARTSON admitted Celtic had gone out to frustrate Barcelona in last night #39;s Champions League clash at the Nou Camp. The Parkhead side earned a 1-1 draw with a backs-to-the-wall performance which keeps


NBA Wrap: James Leads Cavaliers Past Pistons LeBron James scored a career-high 43 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their seventh win in eight games, a 92-76 home victory over the stuttering Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.


English cricket players cancel flight to Harare England #39;s cricket players have cancelled their flight to Harare after the Zimbabwean government barred several British journalists from covering the team #39;s tour.


UTEP accepts invite to Houston Bowl EL PASO, Texas Texas-El Paso announced today it will play in the EV-One-dot-net Houston Bowl on December 29th. The Miners will face an as yet unnamed Big 12 opponent.


Judge calls proposed shareholder settlement unfair LOS ANGELES (CBS.MW) -- A Delaware judge rejected the proposed settlement of a lawsuit brought against PeopleSoft Inc. by shareholders over the company #39;s resistance to Oracle Corp.


Crude oil futures rise ahead of long layoff Crude oil futures rose yesterday ahead of an extended weekend for traders, even though weekly government data showed rising domestic inventories of crude and distillate fuel, which includes heating oil.


Dollar falls as central banks consider selling LONDON: The dollar trawled record depths against the euro yesterday, hit by signs that central banks in Russia and elsewhere could step up sales of the ailing US currency to buy euros.


AIG settles fraud claims for \$126m American International Group, the world #39;s largest insurance firm, yesterday agreed to pay \$126m (67m) to settle allegations that the company helped clients to commit accounting fraud.


Strachan early favourite for Portsmouth job Redknapp and his No2 Jim Smith resigned from Portsmouth yesterday, leaving controversial new director Velimir Zajec in temporary control.


Miners Head To Houston Wednesday, November 24, 2004 -- UTEP is going bowling and won #39;t even have to leave the state. The Miners will accept an invitation to play in the 1.1 million dollar EV1.


Knicks: Carter puts on a show for Raptors If Vince Carter really wants to be traded, then he must slip a few bucks to the Toronto Raptors #39; video coordinator and ask him to burn a few copies of the DVD from last night #39;s game against the Knicks at Air Canada Centre.


Thatcher to face questions over Equatorial Guinea coup Mark Thatcher is likely to face questions in a South African court over allegations he funded an aborted military coup in Equatorial Guinea.


What Are Good Friends for? Perhaps for Recommending DVD's A new Netflix feature, Netflix Friends, lets you know what others are watching (and vice-versa).


Trial of alleged terror chief Bashir to continue: judge? (Updated <b>...</b> An Indonesian court Thursday dismissed defense arguments that the trial of alleged Southeast Asian terror chief Abu Bakar Bashir was illegal, and ordered that proceedings against him should continue.


Arctic nations agree to  #39;modest #39; response to climate change REYKJAVIK, ICELAND - Arctic nations said changes in the world #39;s polar regions are a concern but they fell short of committing to specific actions to slow down or adapt to warming.


Kevin McCarra at the Philips Stadium The survival instinct mattered more than Arsenal #39;s intuitive flair and it has kept them alive in the Champions League. Arsne Wenger #39;s side will join PSV Eindhoven in the knockout phase so long as they beat Rosenborg at Highbury next month.


Nissan runs out of steel Nissan said today it would halt operations at some of its car plants in Japan for five days starting late this month because of a shortage of steel sheet.


Sony TV, China Film unveil JV The television unit of Japan #39;s Sony Corp. and a division of China Film Group on Wednesday unveiled a joint venture to make Chinese-language TV shows under a new Chinese law that allows such co-ventures.


Scanning In Your Memories? Go to the Source Scanners can convert slides and negatives to digital files which can then be cropped, color-corrected and e-mailed to friends. Which model is right for you?


IBM wins developer support to build Workplace momentum Hoping to add some momentum to its Workplace platform strategy IBM has launched an online developer resource center that gives software developers ready access to tools to help create products and services that will exploit the platform.


Mickelson finally makes it to Grand Slam POIPU BEACH, Hawaii - When Phil Mickelson visited Kauai about eight months ago on a family vacation, he was determined to return. But with his 0-46 record in major championships as a pro and amateur, qualifying


BAR stops Davidson #39;s Williams test Motorsport.com. BAR test driver Anthony Davidson was due to try out for Williams at the beginning of December but BAR has put a stop to it.


Windies players rule themselves out for Australia tournament BRIDGETOWN (Barbados): A number of top West Indies players have ruled themselves out of consideration for Januarys one-day cricket series against Australia and Pakistan because of an ongoing contract dispute, cricket officials said on Wednesday.


We Aren #39;tA Racist Club-Real Madrid Real Madrid have made an official apology to Bayer Leverkusens Roque Junior for the racist taunts a small portion of the Bernabeu crowd dedicated to the Brazlian defender last night.


Celts face huge task Celtics fifth match in this seasons Champions League group stages sees the Hoops facing one of the favourites for the competition, Barcelona at the Nou Camp.


Spurs defeat Mavericks 94-80 Tim Duncan scored 27 points and the San Antonio Spurs held Dallas to 3-for-17 shooting in the fourth quarter of a 94-80 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday night.


Colts carry hot streak into Detroit The Indianapolis Colts have been on the fast track since October gave way to November. Thursday in Detroit #39;s Ford Field, they #39;ll share the traditional Thanksgiving Day


Rwanda Threatens to Attack Congo-based Rebels The UN says Rwanda is threatening to attack Hutu rebels based in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. Meanwhile, Kigali says the rebels are advancing toward Rwanda #39;s border.


Modern mice use optical sensors, go wireless Buying a new mouse is kind of like buying a new toothbrush: you don #39;t realize you needed a new one until you actually make the switch and realize how bad the old one really was.


Jakarta Court Says Cleric Bashir Trial Can Proceed (Reuters) Reuters - The trial on terrorism charges of\Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, accused of leading a\regional network linked to al Qaeda, can go ahead, a Jakarta\court ruled Thursday.


Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck Improving (AP) AP - Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's injured right thigh is improving, thanks partly to acupuncture treatments, and he could be ready to play Sunday against Buffalo.


Venezuelan Congress Passes TV, Radio Bill (AP) AP - Congress passed a bill that lays down strict guidelines for sex and violence in broadcast programming and threatens multimillion dollar fines or even closure for media outlets that disobey.


Oracle Takes Over Rival PeopleSoft The Oracle Corporation has taken control of PeopleSoft, making Oracle the world's second-largest maker of business-management software.


College Recruiters Lure Students With New Online Tools Frustrated by the failure of e-mail solicitations, admission directors are looking for new ways to incorporate the Internet into their marketing plans.


CIA says Khan's network aided Iran with nuclear program (AFP) AFP - Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan's network has helped Iran with its nuclear program, providing not only expertise but also components, according to a CIA report to Congress.


Ceiling Collapse Evacuates Ill. Capitol (AP) AP - At least four people were injured Wednesday when netting across the open atrium of a six-story government building collapsed and tore down stones that crashed through the ceiling of a room below.


EU chief holds secret Hamas talks EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana tells the BBC he met Hamas, a Palestinian militant group on the EU's terror list.


China lauds Wal-Mart #39;s union decision China #39;s leading trade union group says it will help multinationals in China including Wal-Mart to set up their own trade unions as soon as possible.


Citrix Acquires Net6 For \$50m Citrix Systems, Inc. a global leader in access infrastructure solutions has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Net6 Inc.


Around the NBA: The Amico Report 25, 2004. Reader Wayne Sweeney blamed both the players and fans for their roles in last weekends Pistons-Pacers melee. If someone threw a drink at me, Id charge them too, Sweeney


Raptors answer coach #39;s rip, pound Knicks TORONTO (CP) _ A night after being called out by their coach, the Toronto Raptors were at their best.  quot;I think for ourselves we wanted to turn it around and play better, quot; Raptors star Vince Carter said Wednesday


Blazers win 11th straight over Magic Playing their second game in as many nights in the opposite corner of the country, the Portland Trail Blazers fell behind early and then rallied to complete a Florida sweep.


Iran wavers on deal to freeze all uranium enrichment Iran sought yesterday to partially roll back its commitment to freeze all uranium enrichment programs, demanding the right to run some equipment that can be used to produce nuclear arms.


4 arrested over embassy bombing Indonesian Detective Police Chief, Suyitno Landung, holds pictures of arrested terror suspects in Jakarta, November 24. Indonesian police said they had arrested four Muslim militants over a suicide bomb attack


UN, US condemn rebels #39; violation of cease-fire in Darfur The United Nations andthe United States on Wednesday strongly condemned the recent violation of a cease-fire by the rebels in Sudan #39;s troubled region of Darfur.


US-led forces zero in on death triangle #39; Shopkeeper explains how to fill in voter registration forms to his customers in Baghdad, November 23. Iraq #39;s Electoral Commission on Sunday set national elections for January 30, 2005.


Northern Italy Struck By 5.3 Magnitude Earthquake (Update3) A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck Northern Italy at about midnight, the US Geological Survey said. There were no reports of injuries though there was some structural damage.


India's "suicide tree" is also a tool for murder (AFP) AFP - An Indian tree with poisonous fruit is used by more people to commit suicide than any other plant in the world and has a barely-investigated role in murder, French and Indian scientists say.


Australian police to trial stun guns for air marshals (AFP) AFP - Australian police say they may soon follow the United States' lead and issue air marshals with electric stun guns after a trial of the weapons by an elite security unit.


Japan trade surplus keeps rising Figures show Japan's trade surplus grew again in October but analysts warned of a tougher environment ahead.


Mark Thatcher court plea expected Sir Mark Thatcher will go before a South African court on Thursday on charges that he helped finance a foiled coup attempt.


Anger at Hardie as fund folds MORE than 700 asbestos disease victims face reduced payouts in the immediate future after James Hardie #39;s compensation fund today applied for provisional liquidation.


8 nations to fight Arctic ice melting Eight nations with Arctic territory agreed Wednesday to fight glacial melting and other effects of climate change in the region, though they declined to endorse any new steps


Scientists study genes for tastier turkeys Most of the turkeys gracing the nation #39;s dinner tables today have been selectively bred for their white meat for so many generations that simply walking can be a problem for many of the big-breasted birds and sex is no longer


New Nokia Trojan Locks Down Phones A new mobile trojan is doing the rounds, reportedly disabling Nokia 7610 handsets. The trojan may affect some other phones using the Series 60 User Interface of the Symbian OS.


Dell blade server technology helps Isotrak create infrastructure <b>...</b> Johannesburg, 22 November 2004 - Isotrak, a leading UK end-to-end logistics solutions provider (2), today announced the successful implementation of Dell PowerEdge blade server technology.


Mr. 59: Mickelson gets milestone in Slam win The Masters champion shot a 13-under-par 59 on Wednesday and won the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, a two-day competition for the year #39;s four major winners.


UM falls short in OT loss to Arizona The challenge for the Wolverines entering Wednesday night #39;s game against Arizona was to see whether they could hang with the nation #39;s best.


Cavaliers beat defending champions Pistons LeBron James scored his career-high 43 points to pace the Cleveland Cavaliers for their seventh victory in eight games, a 92-76 home win over defending champions Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.


Give thanks for chance to watch Manning If you are a football fan, and you are watching the Colts play the traditional Thanksgiving game at Detroit today, pay close attention to quarterback Peyton Manning.


Kittles Joins Kidd, Mourning in Feeling High And Dry LOS ANGELES - Jason Kidd and Alonzo Mourning are disgusted and desperately want out of New Jersey, but nobody is hurt more by the Nets #39; sorry situation than Kerry Kittles.


Vigilante killings stun Mexicans Viewers watched the live television broadcast in horror: Plainclothes policemen begged for their lives before a mob accusing them of being child kidnappers burned two of them to death in front of cameras.


James Hardie #39;s Australian asbestos fund files for liquidation SYDNEY : A compensation fund for Australian asbestos victims of embattled James Hardie Industries NV said it was filing for liquidation, rejecting a last-minute multi-million dollar cash injection.


Sirius Shares Slip on JPMorgan Downgrade Shares of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., whose shares have doubled over the past month, on Wednesday fell 8 percent after a JPMorgan analyst said that a further rally would make the stock expensive relative to its growth potential.


Philippines Deploys Trucks as Transport Strike Cripples Country The Philippine government deployed trucks and vans to carry thousands of stranded commuters to work as bus and jeepney drivers went on strike to protest rising fuel prices, crippling Manila and other parts of the country.


Idea of Drug Safety Office Is Already Hitting Snags Despite calls from medical experts and a prominent Republican senator for an independent office to monitor drug safety, the idea, prompted by the Food and Drug


Police patrols at St. Cloud airport to end after funds cut St. Cloud Regional Airport no longer will have regular police presence during its departures and arrivals, airport and police officials said.


Leftwich Expected to Return for Jaguars (Reuters) Reuters - Jacksonville Jaguars\quarterback Byron Leftwich participated in practice Wednesday\and is expected to start this week against the Minnesota\Vikings.


Arctic nations agree to fight glacial melting Eight nations with Arctic territory agreed yesterday to fight glacial melting and other effects of climate change in the region, though


Eng players not keen on Zim tour England #39;s cricket players, who had canceled their flight to Harare on Tuesday after British journalists were refused entry to Zimbabwe, were hoping that ICC would decided to call off the tour, South Africa #39;s national broadcaster SABC reported on Thursday


Parties huddle in final push to strike deal A final decision on whether the Rev. Ian Paisley #39;s DUP and Sinn Fein can reach a deal this year to restore devolution and implement the Good Friday agreement should be known next week.


Motions against Sudan, Zimbabwe fail in UN committee (AFP) AFP - Two proposed resolutions condemning widespread rights abuses in Sudan and Zimbabwe failed to pass a UN committee, mired in debate between African and western nations.


James Hardie's Australian asbestos fund files for liquidation (AFP) AFP - A compensation fund for Australian asbestos victims of embattled James Hardie Industries NV said it was filing for liquidation, rejecting a last-minute multi-million dollar cash injection.


Hip-Hop Alters NBA There's a growing disconnect between basketball's paying public and the NBA players that began when the NBA decided to dovetail its product with hip-hop.


Snowstorm in Midwest delays holiday travelers A fierce snowstorm pummeled the Midwest on one of the busiest travel days of the year yesterday, snarling roads and causing long delays at airports as millions


Steel shortage hits Nissan plants Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it will halt operations at three of its plants in Japan for five days starting later this month due to a steel sheet shortage.


Bad Fit? Bad Color? Good Riddance If you can bring yourself to just do it, returning things bought! on the Web is getting easier.


Hobbyists Fill Out the Weather Map Thousands of armchair sky watchers are pairing computers and consumer-grade meteorological equipment to share their observations of local conditions online.


Coming in '05: AT T Mobile (via Sprint) AT T is expected to announce as soon as next week details about how it plans to offer mobile phone service using Sprint's cellular network.


Lara won #39;t be coming CAPTAIN Brian Lara and other top West Indies players have ruled themselves out of January #39;s triangular one-day series in Australia because of a contract dispute.


Levy is the glue that holds Wake together We can talk all you want about Chris Paul, Justin Gray and Eric Williams. We know how talented the three are at their respective positions.


Terminating Spyware With Extreme Prejudice Have adware and spyware commandeered your computer? An extreme solution: erasing your hard drive and starting over.


Chirac Makes Rare Trip To Libya Tripoli, Nov. 25 (NNN) : In a historic development, President Jacques Chirac of France has made the first visit to Libya by a French leader since 1951.


S. Korea warms to China as alternative to the US Ask university students about the practical way to get a job these days, and the answer comes back quickly: Study Chinese.  quot;A few years ago, the most popular major was English language and literature.


Customer Service: The Hunt for a Human In the Internet age, making telephone contact with a human for customer service is a daunting task. But some consumers have found ways around the blockade.


FleetCenter renaming talks stall Bank of America Corp. has told executives at the FleetCenter that it is no longer interested in putting its own name on the building, and even raised the possibility of renaming the arena as the Boston Garden as a gift to the city.


Employers try shifting health costs Michael Koonce, who heads the legal department at Boston mutual fund manager Evergreen Investments, doesn't have a clue how much is deducted from his hefty paychecks for his family's health plan. And when the deductions go up, he said, it's  quot;not going to break the bank for me. quot;


Retailers ask: Why wait? It's only Thanksgiving, but Sara Taggart already feels behind on her Christmas shopping.


Ship owners float a vacation home idea Four years after buying the Nantucket Lightship on eBay , Bill and Kristen Golden want to sell vacationers an interest in a onetime rust bucket that has been transformed into a floating pleasure palace.


October economic data mixed Orders for long-lasting US goods slipped unexpectedly in October, but new home sales rose, consumer sentiment brightened a bit this month and claims for jobless aid fell, a mixed bag of reports showed yesterday.


Oil, gas prices climb Crude oil futures rose yesterday ahead of an extended weekend for traders, even though weekly government data showed rising domestic inventories of crude and distillate fuel, which includes heating oil.


Whistleblower fears reprisal WASHINGTON -- David Graham says he was surprised by the hugs and slaps on the back he got at his own Food and Drug Administration office after telling Congress the government had let unsafe drugs remain on the market.


Companies to settle patent lawsuits 3Com Corp. , a maker of switches for corporate data networks, and PC-Tel Inc. agreed to end patent-infringement lawsuits. Each agreed to license the other's modem-related patents that were part of the litigation, which began in March 2003. PC-Tel also will supply wireless software and antennas to 3Com. PC-Tel will record as revenue during this quarter \$3.2 million it had ...


Dollar hits new low against euro The US dollar slid to a new low yesterday against the euro, which rose to an all-time high of \$1.3179 in late New York trading, breaking a day-old record as jittery markets kept up pressure on the US currency.


AIG will pay \$126m to settle federal investigations American International Group Inc. said yesterday it has agreed to pay \$126 million to settle federal allegations the insurance giant helped two customer companies commit accounting fraud.


With cash inflow, flute maker feels the wind at his back Flute maker David C. Williams is known among the world's finest musicians for his artistry. But for 15 long years, he found it difficult to balance the expense of buying the materials he needs to craft his instruments against the unpredictability in orders for his handiwork.


FDA approves drug for multiple sclerosis WASHINGTON -- The government has approved a drug that tries a new method of attacking multiple sclerosis, an incurable disease of the central nervous system that affects 350,000 Americans.


Hellicar dismisses foundation liquidation as  #39;stunt #39; The chairwoman of James Hardie has dismissed today #39;s announcement of the provisional liquidation of an asbestos compensation foundation as a stunt.


CHUCK IN ORBIT Despite a chorus of Wall Street naysayers, Chuck Dolan continues to gamble big on his startup satellite-television venture. Voom - the offshoot of Dolan #39;s Cablevision


PRODUCT REVIEW: MSN's WebTV Grows Up (AP) AP - During the dot-com boom, people who didn't want to miss out on the Web and e-mail craze but didn't want to buy a real computer could get WebTV, which delivered the Internet through the warm, friendly glow of their TV sets.


PRODUCT REVIEW: a 'Cold' Soldering Iron (AP) AP - If you're looking for a good holiday gift for a tinkerer you can hardly give away anything more inventive than the Cold Heat soldering iron. It redesigns something that's been virtually unchanged for decades and does so by combining high-school level science and cheap materials.


Romania Party Transcripts Cause Outrage (AP) AP - Documents purported to be transcripts of top-level ruling party meetings with ministers discussing intimidating opposition leaders and rigging votes in the Senate have surfaced ahead of Romania's Sunday elections.


IAEA Meets to Discuss Iran Nuke Program (AP) AP - Whether Iran is fulfilling its commitment to freeze all aspects of a process that can be used to make atomic arms  #151; and what to do if it isn't  #151; is expected to top the agenda of a key meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog.


Hip-Hop Culture Contributes to NBA #39;s Bad Rap Not everything that ails the NBA is solved by the rest-of-the-season suspension of the Indiana Pacers #39; Ron Artest. It would be irresponsible to suggest anybody should have foreseen a brawl coming.


Bucs on verge of finally dealing Kendall After trying for three years to escape catcher Jason Kendall #39;s contract, the Pirates finally have succeeded. The passing of physicals is all that stands in the way of the Pirates sending Kendall to the Oakland


Nintendo Operating Profit Up 39 Percent (Reuters) Reuters - Japanese video game maker Nintendo Co.\Ltd. reported a 39.1 percent rise in operating profit for the\first half on Thursday and raised its sales target for a new,\keenly awaited portable game player.


Iran  amp; enriching: What the controversy is about LONDON, Nov 25 (IranMania) - Enrichment, at the heart of the storm surrounding Iran #39;s nuclear programme, takes low-grade uranium and refines it, turning it into a material that can power civilian reactors -- or an atomic explosion.


Thatcher trial postponed until April A South African court has postponed the trial of Mark Thatcher on charges he helped finance a coup in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea until next April.


Asean meets in Laos Laos on Thursday opened its first-ever major conference, drawing together Asian nations in their aspirations for economic integration while addressing terrorism and other regional threats.


Al-Zarqawi attacks the  #39;silent #39; scholars THE insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has attacked Muslim clerics for failing to support attacks on United States-led forces in Iraq.


Team Uses Biotech to Build a Better Turkey (AP) AP - Most of the turkeys gracing the nation's dinner tables Thursday have been selectively bred for their white meat for so many generations that simply walking can be a problem for many of the big-breasted birds and sex is no longer possible.


USU Lands NASA Contract for Telescope (AP) AP - Utah State University has secured a  #36;40 million contract with NASA to build an orbiting telescope that will examine galaxies and try to find new stars.


Celtics cooked again In a season filled with uncertainty and unpredictable play, the only dependable part of the Celtics' game-night drama has been the raised voice of coach Doc Rivers. With a rant that rivaled Rick Pitino in duration and decibel levels, Rivers scolded Boston for failing to play together last night at the Wachovia Center. In many ways, the Celtics' ...


It's not easy to swallow Brawled-out yet? I guess we all are. We've all seen Ron Artest bolt off that table even more than we've seen Flutie roll to his right. But the fallout from L'Affaire Auburn Hills is enormous, and I don't just mean the South Carolina-Clemson dust-up that has resulted in each institution punishing itself by eschewing bowl bids.


Is it all on the table for Red Sox, Martinez? While the Red Sox celebrate their first Thanksgiving as world champions since 1918, general manager Theo Epstein can reflect fondly on the most productive turkey dinner in franchise history last year even as he considers a full plate of challenges before him, including the latest rumblings out of New York about the Yankees pursuing Pedro Martinez.


James's 43 lead Cleveland LeBron James scored a career-high 43 points last night to lead the Cavaliers to a 92-76 win over the Detroit Pistons at Cleveland. Jeff McInnis added 16 points as the Cavaliers won for the seventh time in eight games.


Deveny plays the lead in BC's show of force Kneeling in front of her courtside seat, Jessalyn Deveny looked just like a tension-racked bench player watching and hoping for a last-second miracle. Any concerns, however, were sorely misplaced at the end of last night's drubbing of Quinnipiac at Conte Forum.


Early lead allows BU to hold off Fordham Chaz Carr scored 19 points and Matt Wolff added 17 as Boston University beat Fordham, 66-51, yesterday.


Shean a standout in field hockey as NU goes deep in NCAA tourney Whitney Shean, a Globe All-Scholastic for field hockey while at Medfield High School and the Tri-Valley League MVP for that sport in 2001 and 2002, is now a sophomore at Northeastern University, where she played a key role in the field hockey team's advance to the NCAA Division 1 Tournament this fall.


Regional meeting opens in Laos The Asean forum opens in Laos, with a free-trade accord and anti-terrorism moves on the agenda.


CM spoils Cotter's finale Rashad Jordan moved over from his position in Catholic Memorial's Cover-2 zone defense and welcomed Jim Cotter into retirement.


MIAA unveils matchups, sites for semifinals The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association football committee yesterday announced the sites and matchups for Tuesday's semifinal playoff round. Games will be at college and high school sites, with one thing in common: an artificial playing surface.


300m to halt sex disease crisis The UK's growing sexual health crisis is to be tackled with a 300m investment for clinics and advertising.


Iran asks to soften uranium stance VIENNA -- Iran sought yesterday to partially roll back its commitment to freeze all uranium enrichment programs, demanding the right to run some equipment that can be used to produce nuclear arms.


Blair accused of embracing politics of fear in reelection bid LONDON -- Prime Minister Tony Blair's government was accused yesterday of playing politics with fear and using the threat of terrorism to boost its chances of reelection.


Blast near Afghan town kills 2 US troops KABUL, Afghanistan -- A bomb ripped through a US patrol in southern Afghanistan yesterday, killing two American soldiers and wounding another, a reminder of the country's insecurity after a newly resolved hostage drama.


Citing threat, UN bolsters unit in Congo KINSHASA, Congo -- United Nations peacekeepers deployed an additional brigade in eastern Congo amid reports that Rwanda was threatening to attack Rwandan rebels based in its huge neighbor, UN officials said yesterday.


US diplomat fatally shot near Green Zone; bomb kills 3 BAGHDAD -- An American diplomat was killed yesterday in an attack near the heavily fortified sector of central Baghdad known as the Green Zone, US officials said.


In Mosul, insurgent campaign escalates against Iraqi forces MOSUL, Iraq -- The bodies of five more slain Iraqis were found on the outskirts of Mosul yesterday morning, bringing to 20 the number of soldiers murdered over the last week as part of a campaign against the Iraqi forces who joined American soldiers in suppressing a revolt in this northern city.


Is Brazil quietly building up? While North Korea and Iraq are the hotspots in the media today, regarding WMD, Brazil has quietly launched a rocket from Alcntara to space and has built an uranium enrichment facility in Rezende. Does it mean an ICBM is on the way?


Cost Cap Proposed D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp attempts to put a high-water mark on the price of a stadium that would force a relocation if the price is too high.


Another Pacer Involved Police have determined that a fourth member of the Pacers, reserve center David Harrison, was involved in the brawl at last Friday night's Indiana-Detroit game.


U.S. Says Iraqi Police Need Bolstering With officers intimidated by killings and threats, some have begun questioning the notion of trying to establish a system of local policing at this time.


Oil extends advances Gold broke the \$450 a troy ounce level on Thursday for the first time since June 1988 as the dollar fell to a record low against the euro.


FDA approves drug that fights MS The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for multiple sclerosis that in clinical trials got better results than existing drugs in protecting against relapses.


Tesco sales exceed expectations Tesco today impressed the City with a surge in third-quarter sales as it boosted market share in clothing and electrical goods. Despite a tougher environment on the high street, Britain #39;s leading retailer


Bad Weather Disrupts Holiday Travel Travelers didn #39;t plan on starting their long Thanksgiving weekend stuck in airports or driving on slippery roads, but then again they hadn #39;t figured on snow - and a lot of it.


YUKOS managers flee Russia All top managers of embattled oil major YUKOS have fled Russia fearing that state prosecutors may order their arrest, a YUKOS source says.


Probe Urged Of Allegations Against FDA The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee yesterday called on the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate alleged attempts to discredit a Food and Drug Administration whistle-blower.


United Seeks Court #39;s Aid in Getting Labor Concessions UAL Corp., parent of United Airlines, asked a bankruptcy court Wednesday to terminate its union contracts if the carrier can #39;t get an additional \$725 million in cost savings from employees by mid-January.


Judge Says MCI Broke Pay Rule A federal judge yesterday threatened sanctions against MCI Inc. for apparently violating a court order requiring approval of expenditures for lawyers and consultants while it was in bankruptcy protection.


German business gloom increases pressure on ECB German business confidence is tumbling amid mounting fears about the impact of the euro #39;s rise against the dollar, according to the closely-watched Ifo economic institute survey.


Moncks Corner facility has new owner MONCKS CORNER - Integral Systems of Lanham, Md., said Wednesday it had agreed to sell assets of its antenna systems division in Moncks Corner to LJT  amp; Associates of Montgomery, Ala.


Angling for Sales, Retailers Set Their Bait To lure shoppers into their stores, the nation #39;s retailers will again offer LOW LOW LOW prices on a number of gifts and gadgets, as stores throw open their doors at Oh-Dark-Hundred tomorrow and kick off the holiday shopping season.


Brazil Documents Detail Nazi Mengele's Last Years

 SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Josef Mengele, the infamousNazi doctor known as the Angel of Death, died in Brazil 25years ago lonely and cash-strapped but apparently unrepentant,according to documents published this week.


Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council in Reykjavik on 24 <b>...</b> Foreign Minister Jan Petersen is attending the Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council in Iceland on 24 November. The most important item on the agenda is a discussion of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment.


#39;Building #39; a better turkey San Francisco - Researchers are using the latest in biotechnology to chart the genetic map of turkeys, which have been selectively bred for their white meat for so many generations in the United States that the big-breasted birds sometimes have trouble


Firefox browser helps you make the most of your time online Question: In a recent column you said that 95 percent of all viruses and spyware are aimed at Internet Explorer, so I decided to do away with IE.


JPL team visits NASA shuttle program When Congress passed the \$388 billion spending bill last weekend, it allotted \$16.2 billion for NASA, including nearly full funding of projects related to the president #39;s Vision for Space Exploration.


Images capture 2 Saturnian moons Scientists from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory have pieced together the most detailed images of two Saturnian moons from pictures the Cassini orbiter captured at the end of October.


CIA funds chatroom surveillance The CIA is quietly funding federal research into surveillance of Internet chatrooms as part of an effort to identify possible terrorists, newly released documents reveal.


Q3 integrated graphics chip shipments soar Despite the big overall increase, shipments of standalone chips for desktop graphics cards grew just 2.3 per cent, JPR said. Shipments of integrated desktop graphics chips were up 25.1 per cent, while their


Vast water supplies hidden under N. China desert A desert in China #39;s Inner Mongolia that has the highest sand dunes in the world holds a vast store of underground water which, if used wisely, could ease the chronic water shortage afflicting the north of the country, a study says.


Mickelson: Magic round was a fluke Phil Mickelson tapped in a birdie on the final hole at Kauai to become only the fifth player in golf history to go round in a 59 as he charged to victory at the PGA Grand Slam in Hawaii.


Premiership: Harry Redknapp quits Portsmouth Nobody really expected Harry Redknapp to stay at Portsmouth Football Club for very much longer, but the announcement of his decision to resign today (November 24) is perhaps still a little surprising.


Bhoys make their point in Barca After four days during which the back page headlines have been dominated by everything but football, Celtic let their feet - and hearts -o the talking again tonight by storming the Nou Camp to claim one of the clubs greatest ever results.


Gray, Wake save face Wake Forest, which is ranked No. 1 for the first time in the 99-year history of its program, could have picked up a nose bleed from the altitude, but 6-2 junior guard Justin Gray, a first-team


Report has Kendall going to A #39;s for Redman, Rhodes Three-time All-Star catcher Jason Kendall is about to be traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Oakland Athletics for two pitchers, a baseball official told The Associated Press yesterday.


Injuries do not fully excuse the present decline RAFAEL BENITEZ cannot afford to feel too down-hearted this morning. Not with spirits to raise before Sunday #39;s daunting encounter with champions Arsenal.


Pakistani PM calls talks  #39;cordial #39; Pakistan #39;s prime minister called this week #39;s discussions about Kashmir with his Indian counterpart  quot;friendly and cordial.


Black Watch raid on Saddam Millionaire #39;s Row The Black Watch has taken part in its biggest offensive since being re-deployed near Baghdad, raiding homes of suspected Saddam Hussein loyalists.


Police Raid Mexico City Neighborhood Nearly 1,000 police and federal agents tore through a town outside Mexico City, smashing gates and breaking down doors in a hunt for the leaders of a vigilante mob that burned two federal agents to death.


Thatcher #39;s Cape Town trial postponed The trial of Sir Mark Thatcher in South Africa on charges that he helped finance a failed coup in Equatorial Guinea has been postponed until 8 April next year.


Indonesian court orders trial of hardline cleric Ba #39;asyir to go <b>...</b> JAKARTA (AFP): Indonesian judges Thursday rejected a plea to drop terrorism charges against hardline Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba #39;asyir and ordered him to stand trial for his alleged involvement in attacks including the Bali bombings.


5.2-magnitude quake shakes northern Italy An earthquake rattled northern Italy yesterday, sending residents into the streets and damaging buildings, news reports said. No injuries were reported.


Hostages Honored by Afghans as UN Urges Full Probe Afghanistan #39;s former king honored Thursday UN workers held hostage for nearly a month after helping run the country #39;s first free elections, while the United Nations urged a full investigation of the kidnapping.


Israeli president urges Syria dialogue Israeli President Moshe Katsav has urged the government to respond positively to a Syrian offer to resume peace negotiations. Although Katsav #39;s role is largely ceremonial, his comments on Thursday were in


DUP and SF to get clarification on proposals The British and Irish governments are due to present the DUP and Sinn Fin with further clarification today of their proposals for a deal on the North #39;s political future.


Ethiopia Accepts Eritrea Border Ruling in Principle Ethiopia said Thursday it accepted  quot;in principle quot; an independent commission #39;s ruling on its border with former foe Eritrea, possibly signaling an end to a dispute that has simmered since their 1998-2000 war.


Internet Use Said to Cut Into TV Viewing and Socializing The average Internet user in the U.S. spends three hours a day online, with much of that time devoted to work and more than half of it to communications.


U.S. Food Imports Climb Appetite for foreign foods and beverages is among the reasons the nation is expected to pay as much for imported products in 2005 as it earns by selling products abroad.


Halliburton Payments May Be Withheld Inspector general for Iraqi reconstruction says the company's record-keeping was so poor that auditors could not determine whether the firm had fulfilled its obligations to the U.S. government.


Yukos executives 'flee' Russia All the top executives at Russian oil giant Yukos have fled the country in fear of arrest as the government seeks to sell off its main asset.


Sharp fall in mortgage approvals The number of mortgages approved by banks fall for the fifth month in a row in October, figures show.


The Sites Before Christmas Internet retailers are figuring out what online shoppers really want and adding features to help, such as top-10 lists of hot sellers, gift picks by category and product ratings and reviews.


Video Game Makers Rush to Cash In The 2004 shopping season is turning out to be the year of the blockbuster for video game companies as they race to score one more big hit before the current generation of Xboxes and PlayStation 2s makes way for new machines.


Microsoft Foe Wins in Settlement Head of a technology industry trade group that encouraged aggressive legal action against Microsoft for antitrust violations for years received nearly \$10M as part of a settlement with the software giant.


Canon Problems Ease Fears of LCD Glut (Reuters) Reuters - Japan's Canon Inc. said on Thursday\it had found problems with equipment for making liquid crystal\displays (LCDs), boosting shares in LG.Philips and other LCD\makers as fears of a supply glut eased.


Oracle Fires Top PeopleSoft Executives The Oracle Corporation fired PeopleSoft's co-president and chief financial officer, Kevin Parker, and three other top executives.


Cash Flow in '04 Found Its Way Into Dividends American companies stepped up their dividend increases in 2004, buoyed by strong cash flows and by a changed tax law.


I.B.M. Division Headed to China Has Made No Profit in 3 1/2 Years I.B.M. said that the personal computer business it was selling to the Lenovo Group of China had not made a profit for three and a half years.


Stranded travelers hope for better weather Thanksgiving Day CHICAGO Many holiday travelers say Thanksgiving didn #39;t start out as planned after fierce storms dumped snow in the Midwest. But they hope to rebound this morning, as normal flight schedules resume at Chicago #39;s


Mickelson wins PGA Grand Slam of Golf Masters champion Phil Mickelson shot 13-under 59 to win the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Masters champion Phil Mickelson tapped in a birdie on the final hole to become the fifth


UNC wins Maui Invitational The junior point guard ran the offense as he always does, defended the opponent #39;s best backcourt player as he always does and even threw in a couple of highlight-tape moves in the 11th-ranked Tar Heels #39; 106-92 victory over Iowa on Wednesday night.


Cagers fighting history in New York The Michigan mens basketball team has a chance to carve out its own little piece of history, beginning tonight in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT in New York.


Iran #39;s president slams nuke plan IRANIAN President Mohammad Khatami has criticised an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution on its nuclear activities drawn up by Britain, France and Germany.


Mexican police move against mob Hundreds of police and federal agents raided a Mexico City suburb on Wednesday night after two officers were killed by an angry crowd.


PAISLEY #39;S PLAN FOR IRA NORTHERN Ireland could return to self-government next spring, the Rev Ian Paisley #39;s Democratic Unionist Party said last night.


Judge Wants PeopleSoft To Explain Why It Turned Oracle Down During a scheduling hearing Wednesday, the judge overseeing Oracle #39;s attempt to overturn PeopleSoft #39;s takeover defenses said he wants to know exactly why PeopleSoft has turned down Oracle #39;s offer again.


New CA CEO gets \$12.8-mn package NEW YORK: Computer Associates International Inc said on Wednesday it has awarded its new chief executive John Swainson a pay package totaling \$12.8 million (approx Rs 54 crore), in signing bonus, salary, stocks and options.


Top News ; Rain, snow snarls US holiday travel Top News News, Dallas,Snow and rain snarled the holiday plans of millions of Thanksgiving travellers across the US as they battled flight delays and hazardous driving, reports UPI.


Iran, EU Clash Over Terms of Nuclear Freeze (Reuters) Reuters - Iran is seeking exemptions from a deal\to suspend sensitive nuclear activities just three days after\it came into force, the head of the U.N. atomic watchdog said\Thursday.


LeBron James Beats His Olympic Coach (AP) AP - If LeBron James was sending a post-Olympics message to Larry Brown, he wouldn't admit it. Perhaps trying to prove Brown was wrong to bench him in Greece, James scored a career-high 43 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 92-76 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.


UNC Win the Maui Invitational Title (AP) AP - Raymond Felton hardly looked like he was playing with a bad wrist.


Bledsoe, Tobeck Are Old College Pals (AP) AP - Seattle center Robbie Tobeck once took a swing at Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Not on the field, of course. They were college roommates at Washington State, where Tobeck snapped the ball to Bledsoe.


Times Company Buys a Stake in Boston Metro, a Free Paper The New York Times Company said that it had agreed to buy 49 percent of Metro Boston, a free newspaper aimed primarily at commuters in their 20's and 30's.


How Scientists and Victims Watched Helplessly The magnitude of the tsunami that remade the coasts of the Asian subcontinent was slowly gauged across the world.


Deal to Acquire Pacific Exchange Is Expected Archipelago Holdings, the owner of ArcaEx, the largest electronic stock market, is expected to buy the Pacific Exchange for about \$50 million.


Police continue probe as another Indy-Detroit battle looms (AFP) AFP - Police viewed videotapes from last week's basketball brawl between Indiana Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans seeking evidence on the eve of another Indiana-Detroit sports showdown.


A Catastrophe Strikes, and the Cyberworld Responds Much of the initial information about what had happened in Asia came from the Web.


Iran #39;s Suspension of Uranium Enrichment Not Complete (Update2) The United Nations nuclear watchdog said Iran #39;s suspension of its uranium enrichment program isn #39;t yet complete and that it hoped to resolve Iran #39;s request regarding 20 centrifuges in the next day.


The Art of the Fan A new fan Web site is unusual for the subject it obsesses over - the Conceptual Art star Matthew Barney - but otherwise it hews to the norm.


Ethiopia Accepts Eritrea Border Ruling in Principle (Reuters) Reuters - Ethiopia said Thursday it\accepted "in principle" an independent commission's ruling on\its border with former foe Eritrea, possibly signaling an end\to a dispute that has simmered since their 1998-2000 war.


No. 19 Alabama Tops Alaska-Anchorage 90-55 (AP) AP - Jermareo Davidson scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half, leading No. 19 Alabama to a 90-55 rout of Division II Alaska-Anchorage in the first round of the Great Alaska Shootout on Wednesday night.


AMD Releases New Mobile Sempron Advanced Micro Devices #39; new Mobile Sempron processor gives the company a fresh chip for the holiday season, but it probably won #39;t help it overcome the solid advantage that rival Intel holds in the notebook market.


It #39;s unfortunate: Waugh on Lara being dropped Tiruchirappalli: Former Australian captain Steve Waugh today described as unfortunate Brian Lara and other top West Indies players being ruled ineligible for a One-day cricket tournament in Australia in January after refusing to a sign a contract over


Sports in brief Three-time All-Star catcher Jason Kendall was close to being traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Oakland Athletics for a pair of pitchers, a baseball official told the Associated Press on Wednesday.


Examining the Swainson Move - Is IBM Planning to Buy Out CA? Computer Associates getting IBM veteran John Swainson as CEO - a move generally considered nothing less than brilliant - makes other ex-IBMers wonder how John managed to dodge the IBM border patrol and escape outside of a body bag.


Nissan Halts Production at Japan Plants Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it will halt operations at three of its plants in Japan for five days starting later this month due to a steel sheet shortage.


Remember When You Wanted Your Own Ms. Pac-Man? When arcade games are in the recreation room, no coins are necessary.


Euro, oil saps German confidence Economists had forecast a drop to 94.8. The November business assessment index fell to 93.8 from 94.7 in October, while the business expectation index fell to 94.3 from 95.9 last month, Ifo said.


Ethiopia backs down over border Ethiopia's government reverses its opposition to an international ruling on its border with Eritrea.


Concern over Venezuela media law Venezuela passes a strict media law condemned by the opposition and human rights groups.


Aziz briefs Pakistani officials Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is briefing top Pakistani officials of his talks with India #39;s premier on Kashmir. A meeting of the country #39;s national security council, comprising military and political leaders, is under way in the capital Islamabad.


#39;6-Way Talks Prerequisite to Inter-Korean Summit #39; Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Thursday stressed that the stalled six-way talks over Pyongyangs nuclear weapons programs need to be resumed first in order for the much-anticipated second inter-Korean summit to occur.


Steel shortage hits Nissan plants Nissan is to stop production at some of its domestic car plants for five days due to a steel shortage. Japan #39;s second-biggest car maker will suspend operations at three of its four domestic plants on 29 and 30 November.


Bomb blast kills one, injures 15 in southwestern Pakistan At least one person was killed and 15 bystanders were injured in a bomb blast in a busy market in Pakistan #39;s southwestern Balochistan province on Thursday, a local official said.


Golf: Mickelson hits magic 59 Phil Mickelson scorches round in  59 shots to win the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Hawaii.


Portugal child sex trial to begin The trial of seven people accused of forming a child sex ring in Portuguese care homes is set to begin.


Transactions BASEBALL Arizona (NL): Named Bob Gebhard assistant general manager, Mike Aldrete hitting coach, Carlos Tosca third base coach, and Brett Butler first base coach. Chicago (AL): Signed P Kevin Walker. Cleveland (AL): Signed P Bob Wickman. Los Angeles (NL): Signed manager Jim Tracy to a two-year contract extension. Minnesota (AL): Signed C Mike Redmond to a two-year contract. Pittsburgh (NL): ...


Bomb kills soldier in Pakistan A bomb in south-western Pakistan kills a soldier and injures 14, the latest in a series of attacks.


Hunt for George Michael intruder Police look for a woman who broke into pop star George Michael's north London home earlier this month.


News: Hacking tool reportedly draws FBI subpoenas  Law enforcement has sought to identify some users of the Nmap freeware port scanner, the author says.


New Year, New Scraps for Sun's Feisty Chief Despite a recent antitrust settlement, Scott McNealy says Sun Microsystems shaking hands with Microsoft is like two boxers tapping gloves.


Barclay #39;s statement worries market Barclays, Britain #39;s third-biggest bank, said annual profit for the year would be in line with expectations at 4.5 billion but its shares fell more than two per cent amid concern


Safety critic says he faces FDA transfer in  quot;reprisal quot; Dr. David Graham, the Food and Drug Administration scientist who publicly criticized the agency #39;s approach to drug safety during a congressional hearing last week, said


WINDIES SPONSORSHIP ROW West Indies may send a weakened squad to Australia for the forthcoming one-day series after most of their 25-man squad missed a deadline to make themselves available amid a dispute over sponsorship.


Five-year ban for Blackburn fan One of the two Blackburn Rovers Football Club fans charged with public disorder for racially abusing Dwight Yorke has been handed a five-year ban.


Boeing Converts 737 Into Bomber The squat little mainstay of the airline industry will become a fierce weapon for the Navy. The plane's new mission: to patrol the seas for submarines, then blow them to smithereens with bombs and missiles. Chris Genna reports from Seattle.


The Dream Factory Any product, any shape, any size -- manufactured on your desktop! The future is the fabricator. By Bruce Sterling from Wired magazine.


P2P Tilts Toward Legitimacy A peer-to-peer company signs a deal with three major record labels to provide content on its Peer Impact service, but it might not offer much for music fans. By Katie Dean.


GAO to Probe Vote Counting Urged on by Democratic lawmakers, the Government Accountability Office plans to investigate the way votes were counted in the presidential election. The office cautions, however, that it is powerless to act if irregularities are found.


Arctic Countries Agree on Perils of Climate Change but Not Solution The United States and the seven other countries jointly expressed concern about changes in the Arctic climate, but they did not agree on a strategy to deal with them.


Girl Is First to Survive Rabies Without a Shot A critically ill Wisconsin teenager who was bitten by a bat recovered after being put into a drug-induced coma and being given antiviral drugs.


Donald Puddy, 67, Space Flight Director, Dies Donald R. Puddy, a longtime NASA flight director, supervised Apollo, Skylab and early space shuttle missions from Mission Control.


Intel Helping Asia to Use Linux sameerdesai writes  quot;Seattletimes is carying this story on Intel helping major countries like China and India to help build Linux machines as an alternative to Microsoft Windows.


Thatcher case postponed The case against Mark Thatcher, a British businessman who is being charged for allegedly bankrolling an alleged coup plot in Equatorial Guinea, has been postponed in the Wynberg Magistrate #39;s Court.


Rwanda threatens to attack rebels in Congo A senior Rwandan government official signaled Wednesday Rwandan troops will attack the Congo-based rebels by saying that Rwanda will do all possible to defend her nationals if attacked by the militia.


No End in Sight to Supply of Cheap TV's Industry experts say that the financial trouble of one of the biggest Chinese makers of television sets will not affect the market much.


Web Sites Stirring Up Criticism of Coaches, Even the Unbeaten Ones Web sites have converted the mischievous idea of a few alumni into an odd form of futures market for betting on a college football coach's career.


3 Music Companies Will Use Online File-Sharing Service Three major recording companies have agreed to make their music available to be shared and sold over a new online file-swapping service.


Japan stocks close higher TOKYO: Japan #39;s Nikkei average inched higher on Thursday, helped by gains in steel producers like JFE Holdings after Nissan Motor said it was suffering from a shortage of steel.


Microsoft paid CCIA \$19.75 million to settle The Financial Times reported yesterday that Microsoft paid the Computer and Communications Industry Association \$19.75 million earlier this month to settle an antitrust suit, and that the association #39;s top official received \$9.75 million of that amount.


Update 2: Yukos CFO Delays Return to Moscow Chief financial officer for Russia #39;s embattled oil giant Yukos said Thursday he delayed his return to Moscow indefinitely after Russian prosecutors had summoned him for questioning.


EU sanctions request on US exports The European Union and seven other countries #39; sanctions request on United States exports have been postponed to be considered by the World Trade Organization at a meeting.


Update 1: German Business Sentiment Drops in Nov. Worries about the strengthening euro and concerns over persistently high oil prices helped push German business confidence down in November, a closely watched survey showed Thursday.


Myths Run Wild in Blog Tsunami Debate As people gathered online to discuss the horror of the South Asian tsunami on sites known as Web logs, some bloggers said it had to be the government's fault.


Davidson test cancelled Davidson was due to test with Williams in Spain next week as the team evaluates candidates for a race drive next season, but while BAR were seemingly prepared to offer Davidson to Williams for one year, the Grove-based team are said to have refused.


Redknapp: I went of my own accord Under his two-and-a-half year tenure, the south coast club were transformed from First Division also-rans into an established side in the Barclays Premiership.


Dechy takes France into final UNDER-STRENGTH France reached their third Fed Cup final when they took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in their semi-final against Spain today.


No. 1 Deacons Take On Providence Wednesday Night Television: ESPN2. Dave O #39;Brien (play-by-play), Len Elmore (color analysis) and Stacey Dales-Schuman (sidelines) call the action.


Shopping Spree That Wasn't as Markdowns Hurt Retailers This year was the season of the last-minute markdown as merchants, led by Wal-Mart Stores, scrambled to cut prices, choosing sales gains over higher profits.


PeopleSoft case will be renewed A Delaware court has told the two sides in the trial over Oracle Corp. #39;s bid to overturn PeopleSoft Inc. #39;s antitakeover measure that they must return for more testimony next month, delaying a crucial ruling in the Redwood City giant #39;s plan to take over


Microsoft Foe Wins in Settlement The head of a technology industry trade group that for years encouraged aggressive legal action against Microsoft Corp. for antitrust violations personally received nearly \$10 million as part


UPDATE 1-Zimbabwe rescinds England media ban Zimbabwe have rescinded a ban on British journalists wanting to cover a five-match cricket tour by England, a senior official at the department of information and publicity said on Thursday.


One good plus, two good minuses for A #39;s Well, let this be a lesson to us all. There really is no egregious mistake in the world of professional flesh peddling that cannot be undone.


Reinventing the Wheel (and the Tire, Too) Michelin engineers are developing the "Tweel," a combined tire and wheel that could never go flat because it contains no air.


US and British forces sweep through Iraq #39;s  #39;death triangle #39; LATIFIYAH, Iraq (AFP) - American, British and Iraqi forces continued a major sweep through Iraq #39;s  quot;triangle of death quot; to try to smash rebel enclaves before landmark elections in January.


UK minister visits Arafat grave UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has laid a wreath at the grave of former Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat. Mr Straw is meeting Palestinian leaders at their headquarters in the occupied West Bank, following talks in Israel.


Ukraine Opposition to Launch Strike in Vote Dispute (Reuters) Reuters - Ukraine's opposition takes its\campaign to overturn a presidential election result they say\was rigged to the factories and railways Thursday by trying to\organize a country-wide strike.


Israel May End Construction of Barrier (AP) AP - Israel should stop building its West Bank separation barrier if Palestinian militants halt attacks, Israel's president was quoted as saying Thursday, in the most high-profile criticism yet of the contentious project.


German business outlook drops Business confidence in Germany, Europe's largest economy, falls to its lowest level in more than a year.


Ban hits Half-Life 2 pirates hard About 20,000 pirate players of Half-Life 2 have been banned from the game.


The Ambanis: brothers at arm #39;s length? MUMBAI / NEW DELHI: On the face of it, the Ambani brothers, scions of the founding family of the countrys largest private-sector conglomerate, Reliance, are as different as the various businesses that make up the group.


Update 4: Microsoft Judge Calls Surprise Meeting A European Union judge said Thursday he will continue to take into account testimony from the EU #39;s biggest former allies in its antitrust case against Microsoft, an indication their desertion would not affect the case.


GE agrees to pay \$1.1b for Ionics Ionics Inc., a Watertown water treatment company with global operations, agreed to be purchased yesterday by General Electric Co. for \$1.1 billion in cash.


US ; CIA funds chatroom surveillance US News, A university in New York has been funded to keep tabs on IRC conversations with money channelled through the National Science Foundation by the CIA, documents have revealed The CIA is quietly funding federal research into surveillance of Internet


Ban hits Half-Life 2 pirates hard Game maker Valve shut down the online accounts of the players because it had evidence that their copy of the game had been obtained illegally.


UPDATE 1-Barnes leads Australian Open after first round Former national amateur champion Kurt Barnes shot a brilliant 65 on Thursday to emerge as the unlikely first round leader of the centenary Australian Open.


NHLPA set to pay its players NHL players are about to receive their first lockout stipends, amounts which will work out to roughly 3.6 per cent of the average NHL salary, according to the Canadian Press.


Straw lays wreath at Arafat #39;s grave Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has laid a wreath at Yasser Arafat #39;s grave during a West Bank visit for talks on how to revive peacemaking with Israel after the Palestinian leader #39;s death.


RAIDERS NOTEBOOK Williams to take Grant #39;s LB slot again DeLawrence Grant, the one-time defensive end who started the first nine games at linebacker before being benched against the Chargers on Sunday, is likely to be inactive again this weekend against the Broncos.


ADV: Instantly Lower All Your Monthly Bills Get a low refinance or home equity rate, including \$150,000 mortgage for under \$690/mo. Also save on your cell phone bill, long distance calls, credit card payments, auto insurance and more.


German business confidence drops Business confidence in Germany, Europe #39;s largest economy, has fallen to its lowest level in more than a year, over concerns at a strengthening euro.


US Food Imports Increase, May Match Exports This Year When Aroon Roy Padharia gathers today with family and friends for Thanksgiving dinner, the cuisine will be authentically Indian, with the same preparation methods and recipes that he loves from his native land.


MS offers real Windows XP to users of counterfeit software A Microsoft UK replacement scheme for pirate copies of Windows XP suggests the company is testing the waters to see how feasible it is to convert sections of its unlicensed user base to legitimate users.


EU's Solana denies having secret meeting with Hamas (AFP) AFP - The European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana denied a BBC report that he had met secretly with the Palestinian group Hamas, which is on an EU list of banned militant outfits.


Yushchenko Appeals to Ukraine High Court (AP) AP - Ukraine's opposition leader raised the stakes in his standoff with the Kremlin-backed prime minister on Thursday, asking the Supreme Court to declare presidential election results invalid and threatening to have his supporters block key highways.


Haley Shines Bright Linebacker Dennis Haley is perhaps the Cavaliers' most unsung hero on a defense that is in the nation's top 10 in points allowed.


Hundreds Mourn Marine From Md.  Tracy Miller thinks about her son's touch and his voice, trying to grasp that she will never experience either again.


Syria ready for talks with Israel without conditions ISN SECURITY WATCH (25/11/04) - Syrian President Bashar Assad told a top UN envoy on Wednesday he was ready to resume peace talks with Israel  quot;without conditions quot;.


OIL FUTURES:IPE Brent Likely To Head Higher In Thin Trade SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Oil futures traded on London #39;s International Petroleum Exchange are largely expected to head higher Thursday, given the continued worries over a shortage in US heating oil inventories.


New Computer Associates CEO will be paid \$8.6 million Computer Associates International Inc., a business software company, has agreed to give its new CEO, 50-year-old John Swainson, a pay package amounting to more than \$8.6 million in salary, signing bonuses and stock.


Novell, CCIA evidence may be tossed out in MS EC case A European judge is to hold a closed-door meeting today to discuss the lifting of sanctions by the EU in its anti-trust ruling against Microsoft.


Thanksgiving travelers hope for better weather Thanksgiving didn #39;t start out as planned for many holiday travelers who began the long weekend stuck in airports or creeping along highways after fierce storms dumped snow in the Midwest.


Lastminute.com Loss Doubles on Costs; Shares Slump (Update4) Lastminute.com Plc, the UK #39;s largest Internet travel company, said its fourth-quarter loss more than doubled as costs for closing offices and cutting jobs exceeded forecasts.


Halliburton pay should be docked: auditor A US government auditor says the US Army should withhold 15 per cent of future payments to Halliburton for work in Iraq due to billing disputes - in a move that could cost the contractor tens of millions of dollars.


Turnpike runs free on 1st day of strike The first strike in the 64-year history of the Pennsylvania Turnpike meant free rides for about 650,000 vehicles yesterday, the first travel day of the Thanksgiving weekend.


Carlyle in talks with Hanjin Carlyle Group, the US private equity fund, is in talks with the Hanjin Group over the purchase of some of the South Korean conglomerate #39;s transport and logistics


Why The Dollar Is Giving Way What #39;s going on with the dollar? After falling steadily for the better part of two years, the greenback showed signs of stabilizing in the spring and summer.


Champions League: Real Madrid draws 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen in <b>...</b> Raul Gonzalez scored a 70th-minute equalizer Tuesday to earn Real Madrid a 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen and keep alive its hopes of reaching the second round of the European Champions League.


Finding the Right Balance Between Power and Weight Electronics manufacturers are designing products that are smaller and lighter, yet offering more and more gadgets that travelers feel compelled to take with them.


Pirates may trade Kendall to Oakland The former Torrance High star #39;s salary is a burden for tight-fisted Pittsburgh, which would get pitching help in return. By Alan Robinson.


Win bolsters Wildcats #39; confidence But there are only a handful of programs that consider themselves to be on the same level as Arizona, an elite basketball power that expects to be in contention for the Final Four every season.


Tar Heels Breeze Past Hawkeyes for Maui Title The junior point guard ran the offense as he always does, defended the opponent #39;s best backcourt player as he always does and even threw in a couple of highlight-tape moves in the 11th-ranked Tar Heels #39; 106-92 victory over Iowa last night in Lahaina


Brown pushes tsunami debt relief The chancellor presses the G8 to freeze all debts owed by countries hit by the Asian tsunami disaster, the BBC learns.


Local Chain Rolling Out D.C. Tabloid Journal Newspapers Inc. plans to begin distributing a free daily newspaper in the District on Feb. 1, according to one of its major advertisers and a source close to the company.


Troops close in on  #39;death triangle #39; BAGHDAD: US-led forces swept hotspots in the  quot;triangle of death quot; yesterday in a push to reclaim rebel enclaves ahead of January polls.


Russian soldiers kill two, take hostages Two Russian soldiers armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles shot and killed two police officers Wednesday night and have taken two hostages near Moscow.


Sudan Rebels Stand by Cease-Fire Despite Violations A rebel group in Sudan #39;s western Darfur region says the government is responsible for an upsurge in fighting there in violation of a ceasefire.


EU foreign policy chief holds contacts with Hamas The European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, has recently held a secret meeting with representatives of Palestinian movement, Hamas, it was revealed on Thursday.


Earthquake Jolts Northern Italy, Injuring 9 An earthquake measuring about 5.2 on the Richter scale shook northern Italy from the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic seas in the night to Thursday, causing panic and injuring at least nine people.


Israel, wary of dual peace process, slaps down Syrian overtures JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel slapped down peace overtures from Syria with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reluctant to become diverted in a parallel peace track with Damascus while concentrating on his planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.


Manganese Bronze rings up  #163;1 for Zingo (FT.com) FT.com - Manganese Bronze is to sell for just  pound;1 some of the rights to Zingo, the mobile phone cab ordering service that last year kept the maker of London taxis well in the red.


Dollar Lower, Tokyo Stocks Edge Higher (AP) AP - Continued concerns about a huge U.S. current account deficit weakened the U.S. dollar to a four-year, 10 month low against the Japanese yen Thursday. Tokyo stocks ended higher.


Computer Associates' Next CEO Gets To Work (TechWeb) TechWeb - Hired from IBM, CEO-elect John Swainson plans to move fast, without mimicking the software or services strategy of his former employer.


Oracle-PeopleSoft to return (TheDeal.com) TheDeal.com - Vice Chancellor Leo Strine Jr. continues the case to hear additional testimony on PeopleSoft's poison pill.


Naming Mount St. Helens New Dome Confusing (AP) AP - That whaddyacallit that's growing on Mount St. Helens  #151; what DO you call it? Even Shakespeare himself might have trouble figuring out what's in a name.


Reliance Stock Drops as Resignations Stoke Concern on Ownership Shares at Reliance Industries Ltd. fell for a third day after six directors quit at a subsidiary, stoking concern a dispute between the Ambani brothers, who manage India #39;s biggest private company, may disrupt the business.


Shortage of steel forces halt at Nissan TOKYO Nissan Motor said on Thursday that a shortage of steel would force it to halt production temporarily at three of its four auto factories in Japan, a highly unusual step the company said was made necessary in part by a surge in demand for steel from


Yukos CFO delays return to Russia MOSCOW The chief financial officer of Yukos, Russia #39;s embattled oil company, said Thursday that he had delayed his return to Moscow indefinitely after Russian prosecutors had summoned him for questioning.


Shares in Lastminute.com Sink 13 Percent Shares in European online travel retailer lastminute.com PLC sank by 13 percent Thursday after the company reported losses well below its own predictions and market expectations.


Canada #39;s Bonds Rise After Dodge Says Dollar Gain May Cut Growth Canada #39;s bonds rose after Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge said the Canadian dollar #39;s rise to a 12-year high may curb economic growth, indicating the bank may not raise interest rates next month.


Thanksgiving Afternoon Is Expected To Be Dry The rains forecast for Polk County today should be gone by the time you sit down for your Thanksgiving Day feast. According to the National Weather Service in Ruskin, a line of thunderstorms


Row blamed as Danon quits BT Pierre Danon is quitting as head of BT Retail to become the chief operating officer at French computer consultants Cap Gemini, furthering suggestions of a split in the telecoms giant boardroom.


NTT DoCoMo, mmO2 to  #39;partner #39; on UK i-mode British mobile phone network O2 will launch an i-mode service next year after licensing the technology from Japanese telco NTT DoCoMo, newspaper reports have claimed.


The Taste Of Home (CBS) In a major culinary operation that took weeks of planning, military chefs will serve up traditional Thanksgiving meals to the 140,000 or so servicemen and women stationed throughout Iraq, reports CBS News Correspondent Charles D #39;Agata.


Arctic People Seek Tropical Team on Global Warming Arctic peoples aim to team up with tropical islanders in a campaign against global warming, arguing that polar bears and palm-fringed beaches stand to suffer most.


Stores to stock 1m Band Aid CDs One million copies of the new Band Aid single will be sent to record shops in time for its UK release on Monday. Robbie Williams and Dido are among the stars on a new version of charity song Do They Know It #39;s Christmas?


Students Auction University on eBay As part of a protest against proposed course cuts, students at Exeter University in England have put their University up for sale on eBay.


Infogrames sells Civilisation franchise for \$22.3m French publisher Infogrames has announced its results for the first half of FY 2005, revealing in the process that the firm has sold off the lucrative Civilisation franchise to an as-yet unknown purchaser.


Phishing spreads net wider Online phishing schemes more than doubled last month, leaving financial institutions struggling to rebuff attempts to steal private account information from customers, according to the Anti-Phishing Working Group.


Williams deny BAR claims over Davidson. The BMW Williams team has denied claims that it  #39;insisted upon unconditional arrangements #39; that have seen Anthony Davidson #39;s hopes of racing for the team in 2005 come to an end.


England Tour to Proceed After Zimbabwe Ends Media Ban (Update3) England #39;s cricket tour of Zimbabwe will go ahead after Robert Mugabe #39;s government lifted a ban preventing 13 British journalists from covering the five one-day internationals.


Champions League: Group H - Chelsea clam up again and round up Jose Mourinho made several changes to his Chelsea side for the visit of Paris St.Germain, resulting in a rustrating but not entirely relevant 0-0 draw.


Champions League: Group F - Celtic make great point and round up From a British perspective the big story from Group F is that Celtic bow out of the Champions League after a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the Nou Camp.


Harry hard to follow The flamboyant former West Ham boss stepped down after two-and-a-half years at Fratton Park yesterday, claiming the time was right for him to go and he needed a break.


Monkey chant fan to apologise to Yorke A football fan yesterday admitted racially abusing Birmingham City footballer Dwight Yorke - and vowed to apologise personally to the striker.


8 million callers have kept cell numbers Nearly 8 million mobile-phone users have switched carriers and kept their cell numbers since a new rule allowing that flexibility took effect one year ago, the Federal Communications Commission said Wednesday, the one-year anniversary of the agencys


Figueroa gets chance in La Liga The Argentine made just one appearance for the Blues after his 2.5m transfer from Rosario Central in 2003. Figueroa, 23, blossomed after being off-loaded to Mexican club Cruz Azul and earned a call-up to Argentina #39;s Copa America squad.


African final delayed because of Ghana poll The final of the African Confederation Cup between Ghanaian clubs Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko has been postponed to avoid a clash with the country #39;s presidential elections.


Wolfensohn Confirms World Bank Departure Bank president told Treasury Secretary John W. Snow that he will step down after a decade at the helm when his term expires in June.


Lynching of agents puts Mexico focus on vigilante justice -- The images are chilling: A young man, his face bloody and swollen, struggles to tell a television reporter that he is an undercover federal agent, then a mob burns him and another officer alive on camera.


Gadhafi praises Chirac #39;s visit Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi Thursday praised French President Jacques Chirac #39;s visit to Libya, which he said boosted relations between their countries.


Thatcher vows to appeal court order Lawyers representing Mark Thatcher will appeal a court ruling ordering the son of the former British prime minister to answer questions from Equatorial Guinea on an alleged coup plot, one of his lawyers said on Thursday.


Sudan rebel leader vows to respect truce A rebel leader in Sudan #39;s Darfur region has said his group will fully respect a truce with Khartoum, countering earlier statements by a spokesman declaring the agreement null and void.


Bomb Kills Two US Soldiers, Injures One in Afghanistan Two US soldiers were killed and a third was wounded Wednesday when a bomb exploded as they drove through an area of central Afghanistan where Taliban fighters are said


Hamas denies direct contacts with Solana Hamas Thursday denied European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana had direct contact with the Palestinian militant group. Solana had told the BBC he had contacts with Hamas