Finance Leaders Can't Resolve Debt Relief WASHINGTON - Finance officials failed to resolve their differences over debt relief for the world's poorest countries and Iraq while expressing concern about the impact high oil prices would have on a strengthening global economy.    The ministers and central bank governors attended weekend steering committee meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank before heading into a session involving all 184 member nations of the two lending organizations on Sunday, the final day of talks...


Cendant to pay \$1.25 billion for Orbitz HACKENSACK, NJ - With one deal, Cendant Corp. is moving from an also-ran to one of the top players in the booming online travel business.


Q amp;A: Red Hat #39;s CEO on his company #39;s latest acquisition OCTOBER 01, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - After his company announced that it #39;s acquiring security and authentication tools from Netscape Security Solutions to bolster its software arsenal (see story), Red Hat Inc.


Kenya #39;s Kirui wins World half-marathon NEW DELHI -- Kenya #39;s Paul Kirui won the World half-marathon Sunday and China #39;s Sun Ying Jie took the women #39;s race. The 24-year-old Kirui finished in 1 hour, 2 minutes, 15 seconds, beating Tanzania #39;s Fabiano Joseph by 16 seconds.


Growing up with Little E #39; TALLADEGA -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. begins his last week at age 29 today, and  quot;Little E quot; is laying plans for the future. The most immediate include a strategy for today #39;s EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway


Auburn helps freshman QBs act their age Auburn #39;s bludgeoning of the Vols was a painful reminder that growing pains are part of the SEC schedule. As talented as Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer may be, neither was prepared for the kind of reality check that Auburn cashed last night.


More bombs in India, 53 now dead A string of bomb and gun attacks in northeastern India continued for a second day Sunday as blasts in a crowded market, a tea plantation and elsewhere killed three people and wounded another 18.


Calm returns to Haitian Port-Au-Prince - Calm settled over the Haitian capital early on Sunday after two days of political unrest left 10 dead, as aid continued to arrive in flood-ravaged areas in the north.


Head of UN nuclear watchdog arrives in South Korea SEOUL, South Korea The head of the UN nuclear watchdog says although the nuclear experiments South Korea performed years ago were small, his agency needs to make sure they don #39;t happen again.


Tired Pope Beatifies Mel Gibon #39;s  #39;Muse #39; Pope John Paul, looking tired and speaking with difficulty, put five Catholics on the road to sainthood Sunday, including the 19th century German mystic nun who inspired Mel Gibson #39;s film on Christ #39;s passion.


Conference seeks to combat illegal sales of wildlife Wildlife conservationists are expected to push for new trade restrictions to protect fast-disappearing animals and plants, while lobbyists try to free up commerce in some species at international talks starting yesterday in Bangkok.


Canas Thrashes Burgsmuller to Win Shanghai Open  SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Argentine Guillermo Canas crushed  Germany's Lars Burgsmuller 6-1 6-0 to win the Shanghai Open on  Sunday.


IPO Outlook Muted  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. IPO market's first-half  revival from last year's moribund levels turned into a summer  of discontent for many eager companies trying to tap the public  markets.


Clijsters setback FORMER World No. 1 Kim Clijsters is unlikely to play again this year after aggravating a wrist injury in the semi-finals of the WTA tournament today.


Volunter running game goes gamey again Tennessee tailback Cedric Houston needed only 61 yards against Auburn to reach the 2,000 yard mark, but he came up six yards short.


A Seismic Shift Under the House of Fannie Mae FROM a compulsively neat desk inside a company that routinely jousts with powerful critics from the White House, Congress, the Federal Reserve and Wall Street, J. Timothy Howard has been the financial architect of one of the world #39;s most formidable and


Sit back and watch the Earth die Richard Branson plans to fly the first commercial passengers into space. Let #39;s hope we experience delays. This week Sir Richard Branson announced his plans to fly the first commercial passengers into space.


Sven: Rio captaincy material Following the end of his eight-month ban for missing a drugs test, the defender is set to return to the England squad on Sunday night ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Azerbaijan.


Astros control destiny as season winds down HOUSTON - The Houston Astros are one win from completing an amazing late-season playoff push. Roy Oswalt became the NL #39;s first 20-game winner, and Jeff Kent and Craig Biggio each homered twice, giving the


Notre Dame Notebook In a game with 1,048 yards of total offense, it #39;s hard to believe either Notre Dame or Purdue would come up short in any department.


18 ETA suspects held in raids A vast police operation in France and Spain netted at least 18 suspected members of the armed Basque separatist group ETA and large stocks of weapons, authorities said.


At least 14 killed in Thailand blast Bangkok: Fourteen people were killed and five injured Sunday in an explosion at a fireworks factory in Thailand #39;s ancient capital Ayuthaya, officials and witnesses said.


Blair recovering after heart treatment Tony Blair is recovering at Chequers after undergoing hospital treatment for his recurring heart  quot;flutter quot;. Dressed casually in jeans, blue open-necked shirt and blazer, the Prime Minister grinned broadly and waved at waiting reporters and photographers.


UN nuclear watchdog chief wants SKorea to come clean (AFP) AFP - UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei said he wants South Korea to come clean about past unauthorized nuclear experiments and not to repeat its mistake.


U.S.-Led Forces Claim Victory in Samarra  SAMARRA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi forces on Sunday  declared victory in Samarra, the first step of a drive to take  back all of Iraq's rebel-held areas before elections due in  January.


New Bomb Blast Wounds 15 in India GAUHATI, India - Suspected separatists bombed a power line, a gas pipeline, a tea plantation and a crowded marketplace in northeastern India on Sunday, intensifying a campaign of violence that has killed more than 50 people and wounded at least 100 over the last two days.    The violence, affecting the states of Nagaland and Assam, was among the deadliest to hit the region, where more than three dozen insurgent groups have been active...


IMF failing to agree on debt plan The world #39;s leading finance officials and ministers appear to be failing to reach agreement on debt relief for the poorest nations.


Lazard Asks Partners to Take Pay Cut, People Say (Update2) Bruce Wasserstein, head of Lazard LLC, is asking partners to take a one-third pay cut as he readies the world #39;s largest closely held investment bank for a share sale, people familiar with the situation said.


Vivisimo Offers Consumers a New Search Engine Format Vivisimo #39;s co-founder and chief executive, Raul Valdes-Perez, was a protege of Herbert Simon, a Nobel laureate who was a pioneer in artificial intelligence research.


Shutting up the echoes It was evident in the Purdue players postgame celebration following the 41-16 victory, the way Uche Nwaneri did his best impression of Touchdown Jesus, arms raised to the heavens.


Howard finds his own pot of old gold By MARK METHERELL, MATT WADE, TOM ALLARD and COSIMA MARRINER. Australia #39;s prime minister John Howard has proffered \$A1 billion in new handouts to older Australians two days after Labor #39;s \$A2.


Dutch rally against benefit cuts More than 150,000 people took to the streets to protest planned cuts to social benefits in what police described as the largest anti-government demonstrations in the Netherlands in 20 years.


Slovenia leader in key poll test The people of Slovenia are voting in the first parliamentary elections since the country joined the European Union and Nato earlier this year.


Lazard chief could opt for sale over IPO-report Bruce Wasserstein, head of Lazard, could sell the investment bank rather than float it on the stock market, the Observer newspaper has reported.


Bulldogs lie in wait for 10 months, then chew up Tigers from <b>...</b> The Georgia Bulldogs insisted all week that they didn #39;t circle this game on their calendars after losing twice to LSU last season.


Judge Ready to Start Parmalat Hearings  MILAN (Reuters) - Ten months after the Parmalat scandal  rocked the global finance industry, a judge next week begins  deciding whether to put on trial executives, bankers and  auditors of the dairy group plus three financial institutions.


How mutual funds can be like marriage Within the past two weeks, we also celebrated our 10th anniversary and 15th anniversary of holding two of our favorite investments.


Trinidad #39;s successful r Puerto Rican middleweight Felix Trinidad has returned to the ring in spectacular fashion beating Ricardo Mayorga in his comeback fight at Madison Square Garden.


Racing: Brazil #39;s Kanaan set to clinch Indy-car crown FONTANA, United States : Brazil #39;s Tony Kanaan can clinch the Indy Racing League season championship by finishing in the top four at the Toyota Indy 400 here Sunday.


Sharapova easily wins Korea Open Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova won the Korea Open on Sunday with an easy 6-1, 6-1 victory over Poland #39;s Marta Domachowska.


Federer beats Roddick again For the third time this year, Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick to win a tournament - the top seed easily winning 6-4, 6-0 to pick up the \$550,000 Thailand Open.


Gadaffi family vow to help UK hostage The brother of British hostage Ken Bigley says he has received a pledge from the Gadaffi family that they would help to secure his release.


Blast at fireworks factory A MASSIVE explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand today killed 14 people, including a 4-year-old boy, and injured two others, a police official said.


Glazer 'eyeing Man Utd bid' American tycoon Malcolm Glazer is reportedly poised to launch a takeover bid for Manchester United.


Dog with bird flu sparks new fears An eight-year-old Thai girl and a dog were confirmed to have been infected with Asia #39;s deadly bird flu on Sunday as the country battled a second major outbreak of the virus this year, authorities said.


UPDATE 1-Leading results in Rally of Italy Leading results in the Rally of Italy on Sunday: 1. Petter Solberg (Norway) Subaru 4:43:47.9 2. Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen 2:07.


Brother may  #39;buy #39; Bigley THE brother of Iraq hostage Ken Bigley was yesterday investigating whether it might be possible to buy his sibling #39;s life. Paul Bigley was looking into reports in a Kuwaiti newspaper that a Iraqi militant


14 killed in explosion at fireworks factory A massive explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand today killed 14 people, including a four-year-old boy, and injured two others, a police official said.


Sermon urges unity for island  quot;BE not dismayed, quot; sang the Pitcairn Islanders, all wearing their best clothes, in a white, wooden church high above Bounty Bay.


US Stocks Rise in Week; S amp;P 500 Gains for 7th Week in Eight US stocks rose this week after reports showed the economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter and manufacturing expanded in September for a 16th straight month.


Trinidad rocks Mayorga It seemed like a difficult assignment. Felix Trinidad returned to the ring last night after more than two years of inactivity to fight Ricardo Mayorga, a sturdy former champion who is capable of scoring a knockout with either hand.


UN nuclear watchdog chief wants SKorea to come clean SEOUL : UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei said he wants South Korea to come clean about past unauthorized nuclear experiments and not to repeat its mistake.


Factory explosion kills 14 people in Thailand About 14 people were killed and two others were injured Sunday in an explosion at a fireworks factory in Thailand #39;s central Ayuthaya province, said a local official.


Slovenia, Serbia and Abkhazia Hold Elections Sunday Voters in Slovenia, Serbia and Georgia #39;s breakaway republic of Abkhazia cast ballots Sunday in elections for lawmakers and government leaders.


Bodies of Man and Woman Found Near Iraqi Capital Hospital officials in Iraq say police have found the bodies of a man and a woman south of Baghdad. Both appeared to be Westerners, but neither had identification.


Senior journalist killed in northern Bangladesh A senior journalist was killed in northern Sherpur town of Bogra district early Sunday by unknown assailants. Dipamkar Chakraborty, the executive editor of a newspaper The Durjoy


SanDisk flashes new memory cards SanDisk this week announced a series of CF (CompactFlash) cards that double the read and write speeds of its fastest flash cards available today, as well as an 8GB version of its Ultra II CF Type 1 flash memory card.


Geoffrey Rush #39;s doubts about Sellers AUSTRALIA As the Oct. 9 election nears, polls show the rivals - the coalition led by Prime Minister John Howard, and Mark Latham #39;s Labor party -eck-and-neck.


IAEA Chief in Seoul for Nuclear Talks The head of the United Nations nuclear agency is in Seoul, South Korea, to discuss the country #39;s past unauthorized nuclear experiments.


Nationalists Strong in Bosnia Poll Count Bosnia #39;s main Muslim, Serb and Croat nationalist parties were ahead in local polls, partial results showed on Sunday, but voter turnout fell below 50 percent for the first time.


Billy Joel Marries 23-Year-Old Fiancee (AP) AP - Singer-songwriter Billy Joel married his fiancee, 23-year-old Kate Lee, in a ceremony Saturday at his Long Island mansion, his record label said. Joel, 55, wed Lee in a sunset wedding at his waterfront home, Newsday reported in its online editions. Columbia Records, Joel's label, announced the marriage Saturday night. A spokeswoman for Joel could not immediately be reached for comment.


-Posted by dan.farber  10:15 am (PDT) News.com #39;s John Borland lays out the issues with shelving Microsoft #39;s insecure Internet Explorer with a non-MS brower, such as Firefox... The problem is that many Web developers create their sites so they


US space agency shooting for out-of-this-world ideas ATLANTA - Nasa #39;s Atlanta-based Institute for Advanced Concepts has a new field of futuristic dreams to nurture - from engineering organisms that could live on Mars to swarms of microscopic satellites to map the Earth.


Pope to beatify controversial nun Pope John Paul II will declare two controversial Roman Catholic figures blessed at a Vatican ceremony on Sunday. Beatification is the last step on the road to sainthood.


French police arrest 17, find heavy weapons in anti-ETA swoop PARIS (AFP) - French police arrested 17 people and discovered a cache of heavy weapons during raids in southwestern France that targeted suspected members of Spain #39;s armed Basque separatist group ETA, officials said.


Girl and dog in Thailand have bird flu BANGKOK - Thailand is battling a second major outbreak of the deadly avian influenza, or bird flu, as a nine-year-old girl and a dog have both tested positive for the virus.


Security tight for Afghan inauguration Afghan and international forces laid a security ring around Kabul on Monday in preparation for the inauguration of Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan #39;s first popularly elected


Turkey Says EU 'Homework Done,' Green Light Ahead (Reuters) Reuters - Turkey declared that it had fulfilled\all the political criteria for membership talks with the\European Union on Sunday, three days before a recommendation\from the EU's executive that will give Ankara a green light.


Pope Beatifies Emperor, Nun, Three Others (AP) AP - Pope John Paul II on Sunday moved five Catholics closer to sainthood, including Austria's last reigning emperor and a German nun whose graphic visions of Christ's suffering helped inspire the blockbuster movie "The Passion of the Christ."


Report: Kerry Cured of Prostate Cancer (AP) AP - Sen. John Kerry's doctors have told him he is cured of the prostate cancer that sidelined him almost two years ago and that there is a slim chance it could recur in the next decade, The New York Times said Sunday in a report based on interviews with the Democratic presidential nominee and several of his physicians.


Serbia Prodded to Face War Crimes Issues (AP) AP - Chief U.N. war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, international law experts and human rights activists gathered in Belgrade on Friday to review Serbia's shortcomings in dealing with war crimes committed during the 1990s Balkan conflicts.


U.S.-Led Forces Tighten Grip, Draw Complaints  SAMARRA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces tightened their  grip on a rebel-held city on Sunday in the first step of a  campaign to take back all of Iraq but drew complaints about the  cost in lives and suffering.


Sharon Vows to Expand Gaza Raid, Toll Tops 50  GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli leader Ariel Sharon vowed on  Sunday to widen an offensive into Gaza which has killed over 50  Palestinians until militants stop firing rockets that have  fueled criticism of his plan to quit the occupied strip.


Turkey Says EU 'Homework Done,' Green Light Ahead  BERLIN (Reuters) - Turkey declared that it had fulfilled  all the political criteria for membership talks with the  European Union on Sunday, three days before a recommendation  from the EU's executive that will give Ankara a green light.


India Vows to Flush Out Northeast Rebels  GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - Indian troops prepared to flush  out guerrillas from thick jungles of Assam on Sunday after a  fresh wave of bombs ripped through streets and marketplaces  killing four people and wounding 40, officials said.


Nationalists Strong in Bosnia Poll Count  SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnia's main Muslim, Serb and Croat  nationalist parties were ahead in local polls, partial results  showed on Sunday, but voter turnout fell below 50 percent for  the first time.


Martin #39;s legs carry Jets They #39;ll remember Chad Pennington for that renegade scramble into harm #39;s way, risking that suspect shoulder on a torrid third-down tear deep into Texans #39; territory.


Blast hits Thai fireworks factory An explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand kills at least 14 people and injures several others.


2000 troops amass to stop Gaza rockets A view shows Gaza from an Israeli guard tower at the border area of the Gaza strip and the Jewish settelment of Nissanit. Photo: AFP.


Berdych Wins First ATP Title in Sicily (AP) AP - Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic captured his first ATP title, defeating Filippo Volandri of Italy 6-3, 6-3 Sunday at the Campionati Internazionali di Sicilia.


Billy Joel Marries 23-Year-Old Fiancee CENTRE ISLAND, N.Y. - Singer-songwriter Billy Joel married his fiancee, 23-year-old Kate Lee, in a ceremony Saturday at his Long Island mansion, his record label said...


New Separatist Violence Strikes India GAUHATI, India - Suspected separatists bombed a power line, a gas pipeline, a tea plantation and a crowded marketplace in northeastern India on Sunday, intensifying a campaign of violence that has killed more than 50 people and wounded at least 100 over the last two days.    The violence, affecting the states of Nagaland and Assam, was among the deadliest to hit the region, where more than three dozen insurgent groups have been active...


Prosecutors Ready to Wrap Up Peterson Case REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - As they prepare to wrap up their murder case against Scott Peterson in the death of his pregnant wife Laci, even prosecutors have acknowledged their case has at times left jurors scratching their heads...


Wrapping Up the Genesis Crash Site Genesis engineers and scientists have wrapped the crash site of the solar-wind collecting probe, with hopes of recovering mission objectives. A few disk fragments have been sent to California researchers, but NASA scientists are still working in Utah to preserve the bulk of the cargo.


Oil, Profit Reports to Weigh on Stocks  NEW YORK (Reuters) - A new reporting period for company  earnings kicks into gear this week, giving investors a bit of  hard data to chew on, and markets could be volatile if the  price of crude oil stays north of \$50 a barrel.


China in G7 talks CHINA sat down with the world #39;s top financial powers for the first time at the weekend as officials grappled for ways to keep global economic momentum on track in the face of ominously rising oil prices.


Multiplex weighs bid in billions CONSTRUCTION giant Multiplex was assessing at the weekend whether to top Westfield #39;s 585 million (\$1.5 billion) bid for the British property group Chelsfield.


US OKs Emergency Oil Loan to 4th Refinery WASHINGTON - The Energy Department said last week it has approved another emergency oil loan to a refining company to make up for crude supplies disrupted by Hurricane Ivan.


Why put this drug on the market? Merck Labs has pulled Vioxx, their arthritis drug, off the market after discovering during trials the possibility of a link to stroke or heart attack.


Dementieva hits back to win Elena Dementieva fought back from an atrocious start against fellow Russian Elena Bovina to win the Gaz de France Stars tournament in Belgium.


Sven: Beckham stays in charge London - David Beckham will remain as England skipper despite his poor recent form, national coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said on Sunday.


No words can explain outcome Purdue receiver Taylor Stubblefield found inspiration in some comments he read from Notre Dame cornerback Dwight Ellick before Saturday #39;s football game.


Angels shine under huge spotlight The Oakland A #39;s have been problematic for the Anaheim Angels for so many years (think the early  #39;70s, late  #39;80s, and the last few seasons) that you #39;d have thought this was a bigger deal than it was.


Navy officers on porn counts Two Sydney-based Royal Australian Navy officers have been charged by police with possession of child pornography allegedly downloaded from the internet on to a computer on board their ship.


Yahoo #39;s Home Page Gets Functional Facelift Yahoo #39;s Spartan home page will look even less flashy soon, thanks to an upcoming makeover. The Web media giant offered a preview of its redesigned front page Tuesday (www.


Vivisimo Search Engine Clusty Offers More Targeted Search Vivisimo this week unveiled Clusty.com, the first full-service search engine site powered completely by Vivismios breakthrough clustering technology.


Watch this space What are the qualities required of an astronaut? In his marvellous book about the space pioneers, The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe makes it clear that high on the list are a certain doggedness, combined with a complete lack of imagination.


Hot Gunners shoot clear ENGLISH Premier League champion Arsenal opened a five-point lead at the top of the table after a 4-0 thrashing of Charlton Athletic at Highbury yesterday.


Fahrenhorst elbow an accident, insists Ballack Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack has apologised to Werder Bremen defender Frank Fahrenhorst for breaking his nose with a stray elbow in Bayern #39;s 2-1 win on Saturday, but stressed there was no intent.


Solberg maintains late title rally Petter Solberg of Norway drove his Subaru to victory in the Rally of Italy in Sardinia on Sunday to keep alive his slim chances of retaining the world title.


Toseland Wins WSB Crown Fila Ducatis James Toseland won the 2004 World Superbike Championship by finishing second, one place ahead of teammate Regis Laconi in the final round at Magny-Cours.


Violence sweeps northeastern India GUWAHATI, India: At least 46 people died and 118 were wounded in India #39;s northeast in one of the deadliest waves of violence in the insurgency-infested region in years.


Afghan forces arrest 15 Taliban fighters Afghan security forces backed by US helicopter gunships stormed a Taliban safe house, killing one man and capturing 15 others, in an attempt to curb attacks ahead of this weeks presidential election, officials said on Sunday.


ETA Suspects Held in France, Spain Police detained 21 suspects, including an ETA leader, and seized a large arms cache on Sunday in a sweep against the Basque guerrilla group in France and Spain, officials said.


IRA Would Disarm if N.Irish Deal Is Struck - Adams Gerry Adams, leader of the Irish Republican Army #39;s (IRA) political ally Sinn Fein, signaled on Sunday that the guerrilla group was ready to give up its arms, but only if a new Northern Ireland peace deal can be struck.


Arthritis sufferers at a loss Arthritis sufferers across South Africa have been inundating call centres and pharmacists in the wake of the shock withdrawal of their medication by the manufacturers of the most widely used drug treating the disease.


Ex-Air Force buyer sentenced in scam Darleen Druyun, who was leaving to join Boeing, gets nine months for sweetening tanker deal. ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Reuters) - The former No.


IRA Would Disarm if N.Irish Deal Is Struck - Adams (Reuters) Reuters - Gerry Adams, leader of the Irish\Republican Army's (IRA) political ally Sinn Fein, signaled on\Sunday that the guerrilla group was ready to give up its arms,\but only if a new Northern Ireland peace deal can be struck.


US Court to Decide Sentencing, Death Penalty Cases (Reuters) Reuters - The U.S. Supreme Court begins a new\term on Monday that will decide important cases on federal\sentencing rules, the death penalty for juveniles and the\medical use of marijuana.


Israel to expand deadly offensive PRIME Minister Ariel Sharon said yesterday Israel would expand its deadliest Gaza offensive in four years, keeping troops in the area indefinitely.


Pope declares controversial figures blessed Pope John Paul has declared two controversial figures blessed - the last stage of beatification before sainthood. One of them is Emperor Karl of Austria, a devout Catholic, who has been criticised for authorising


US Firms Look Ahead To Emissions Cuts Overseas On Thursday, as news was leaking out that Russia was likely to ratify the Kyoto global warming treaty, a group of US business executives was discussing climate policy as they lunched on chicken and avocado sandwiches in Washington #39;s St.


IRA Would Disarm if N.Irish Deal Is Struck - Adams  BELFAST (Reuters) - Gerry Adams, leader of the Irish  Republican Army's (IRA) political ally Sinn Fein, signaled on  Sunday that the guerrilla group was ready to give up its arms,  but only if a new Northern Ireland peace deal can be struck.


Cal angry, frustrated after Texas takes Rose Bowl spot BERKELEY, Calif. California refused to run up the score or beg for poll votes. Maybe the Bears should have. Cal was left out of the Bowl Championship Series.


Iran to attend Iraq poll meeting Iran says it will take part in a US-sponsored conference on election plans for Iraq due to be held in Cairo next month.


Pope Beatifies Emperor, Nun, Three Others VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II on Sunday moved five Catholics closer to sainthood, including Austria's last reigning emperor and a German nun whose graphic visions of Christ's suffering helped inspire the blockbuster movie "The Passion of the Christ."   Cheers went up in St. Peter's Square from a crowd of about 30,000 people when the pontiff finished reading the Latin words with which he beatified the five candidates, and banners with their images were unfurled on the facade of St...


In Sadr City, Stalking the Enemy Lair American soldiers venture out of their bases into dangerous streets, confronting myriad of  unseen risks.


SpaceShipOne Set for Historic 2nd Flight Monday LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- The world's first private manned spacecraft will make its second space flight in five days Monday in the final stage of its attempt to win a 10 million USD prize, organisers said.       SpaceShipOne is scheduled to take off at around 7:00 am (1400 GMT) and blast out of the earth's atmosphere just over an hour later in its quest for the Ansari X Prize purse, aimed at spurring a new era of commercial space travel...


Fresh Blasts Rock Northeast India Suspected separatists bombed a crowded market, a tea plantation and other sites Sunday, killing seven people in a second day of explosions and gun attacks that have left at least 57 dead and more than 100 wounded in northeast India.


After Long Hiatus, Iraqi Airways Back in Skies The Boeing 737 banked sharply to the left as it roared into the sky from Baghdad International Airport. The pilot, Adel Aldoori, cupped his hand to block the sun and scanned the ground from the tiny cockpit window.


Oil Prices Generate Winners and Losers With crude oil prices pushing to above \$50 per barrel, the world is dividing into camps of winners and losers.


Fujimori Accounts Hold Millions of Dollars -- Peru

 LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Former Peruvian President AlbertoFujimori's bank accounts contain millions of dollars, much morethan he could earn and potential proof that he stole large sumsof state money during his 10-year rule, a Supreme Court judgesaid on Saturday.


Vioxx Withdrawal Raises Concern About FDA By DIEDTRA HENDERSON     WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans should feel reasonably safe taking government-approved prescription drugs - with a few caveats - even after a popular arthritis medication was pulled from the market, medical experts say. But the problems with Vioxx raise questions about the Food and Drug Administration's safety review process and the length of time it took Merck to pull the drug, observers say...


Some Scientists are Looking to Fat for Stem Cells Fat is a little-discussed source of stem cells, those versatile biological building blocks that can morph into a variety of tissues. However, fat-derived stem cells, researchers say, might someday provide replacement tissue for treating such conditions as Parkinson's disease, heart attacks, heart failure and bone defects.


Els Sweats Out American Express Victory (AP) AP - The majors over, Ernie Els got a consolation prize Sunday by capturing his first World Golf Championship. Els outlasted Thomas Bjorn in a brilliantly played duel at Mount Juliet, making a 6-foot birdie on the 17th hole for a cushion he desperately needed and closing with a 3-under 69 to win the American Express Championship by one shot.


Dementieva Beats Bovina in France (AP) AP - Top-seeded Elena Dementieva won the last five games to come back and beat Elena Bovina 0-6, 6-0, 6-4 Sunday in the WTA Tour's latest all-Russian final to win the Gaz de France Stars tournament.


Kovalainen surprises at Race of Champions In the off season, it is for most F1 and racing fans, a long time with no racing action. The Race of Champions gives the fans a little breath.


IMF, World Bank Warn of Imbalances Although the economy as a whole is in its best shape in three decades, improved growth is threatened by disparities between wealthy nations and the developing world as well as rising oil prices.


Bjorn challenges but falls shorts THOMASTOWN, Ireland -- Ernie Els held off a strong challenge from playing partner Thomas Bjorn to win the American Express Championship by one shot Sunday.


Blast hits Thai fireworks factory An explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand has killed at least 14 people and injured several others. It completely destroyed the factory in the city of Ayutthaya, about 70km (44 miles) north of Bangkok, and damaged nearby houses.


Two bodies found in Iraq THE unidentified bodies of a decapitated man and a woman who died of bullet wounds have been found south of the Iraqi capital, hospital officials said today.


Snow: U.S. Backs Sweeping Debt Relief  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow  repeated on Sunday the Bush administration would support  complete debt relief for the poorest countries and said details  of how to implement a plan could be worked out.


Vivisimo Search Engine Clusty Offers More Targeted Search Vivisimo Search Engine Clusty Offers More Targeted Search\\Vivisimo this week unveiled Clusty.com, the first full-service search engine site powered completely by Vivismio's breakthrough clustering technology. Instead of simply presenting long lists of results, Clusty.com groups search results into folder topics, giving users a quick overview of the main themes in ...


Cisco Names CRS-1 Users SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO - News), today announced that several global carriers and research networks are now deploying and trialing the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System as a key


ArtinSoft tackles database migration Application migration specialist ArtinSoft is planning tools to smooth customers #39; transition from Oracle to Microsoft Corp #39;s SQL Server.


IBM Says Blue Gene Breaks Speed Record IBM Corp. claimed unofficial bragging rights Tuesday as owner of the world #39;s fastest supercomputer. For three years running, the fastest supercomputer has been NEC #39;s Earth Simulator in Japan.


Arsenal expose England #39;s soft underbelly ARE Arsenal truly the Invincibles or are we merely witnessing the breakdown of what is laughably called the best football league in Europe?


Latham behind on security but making up ground WHEN it comes to national security as an election issue, John Howard still leads Mark Latham by a wide margin as preferred prime minister.


14 dead in Thailand fireworks fire A massive explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand has killed 14 people, including a 4-year-old boy, and injured two others, a police official said.


Tourists Await Mount St. Helens Eruption (AP) AP - Thousands of tourists spent hours gazing at Mount St. Helens, packing buildings, crowding parking lots and watching from roadsides to see what the rumbling mountain would do next.


Electronic Data Reaches Pact With Navy Information technology company Electronic Data Systems Corp. on Friday said it reached a modified agreement for a Navy Marine Corps intranet contract, effective immediately.


Israeli airstrike kills militant in Jabalya A Palestinian militant was killed Sunday afternoon by an Israeli army missile in eastern Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza, Palestinian medics and witnesses reported.


Al-Baradai in S Korea The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has said he is aware nuclear experiments South Korea has conducted were small, but noted his agency needs to make sure they will not be repeated.


Ahold Sells Spanish Business to Permira for 685 Million Euros Royal Ahold NV, the food retailer that owns the US Giant chain, agreed to sell its Spanish business to Permira funds for 685 million euros (\$851 million).


Manhunt game banned THE federal Office of Film and Literature Classification has refused to classify controversial game Manhunt, banning it from sale in Australia.


Valencia Held But Stay on Top Valencia maintained their place at the top of the Primera Liga as they had to settle for a share of the spoils against Real Betis but by the end of the weekend they may be toppled from the summit.


UEFA threatens Austria-Switzerland over Euro 2008 European soccer #39;s governing body threatened to remove the 2008 European Championships from hosts Austria and Switzerland, citing the Swiss for failing to build a new stadium in Zurich.


18 Terror Suspects Nabbed in France Sting Two of Spain #39;s most wanted alleged terrorists and at least 16 other suspected members of the armed Basque separatist group ETA were captured Sunday in a vast French-Spanish police operation, authorities said.


9.3 economic growth for China in 2004 expected A World Bank expert said the year 2004 is going to be a good year for China as the country #39;s economy will grow rapidly with higher-than


Kerry, Bush move focus to economy, jobs, taxes As the presidential campaign enters its final month, Sen. John Kerry and President Bush on Saturday offered starkly different views of the economy in a deliberate shift from Iraq.


Parents should censor games - expert Otago University computer science lecturer and games expert Simon McCallum is urging parents to pay more attention to the ratings classifications on computer games, many of which, he says, are aimed at adults.


Enter the ultimate ego trip BACK in 1959, the seven men chosen to be the first Americans in space were trained on what Nasa called airborne microgravity missions.


Embassy bombing girl to go home to Italy A 5-year-old girl who was taken to Singapore for treatment after being critically wounded in the Australian Embassy bombing in Indonesia will be flown home to Italy.


CANAS TRIUMPHS IN SHANGHAI Argentina #39;s Guillermo Canas had an easy time winning the final of the Heineken Open in Shanghai. Canas, the No. 3 seed, rolled to his third ATP tournament win this season with a 6-1 6-0 straight-sets victory over Lars Burgsmuller of Germany.


Kirui, Sun win world half-marathon titles Kenya #39;s Paul Kirui won the world half-marathon title Sunday, capping a year in which he also captured 13.1-mile races in Rome and Berlin.


Smith saves United blushes Alan Smith netted his sixth goal of the season to earn Manchester United a precious point against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford. Boro looked certain to record a Premiership win against the Red Devils for the


Kerry sharpens economic rhetoric Buoyed by postdebate polls <b>...</b> ORLANDO, Fla. - Bolstered by evidence the presidential race is turning his way, John Kerry yesterday outlined a new campaign phase - casting President Bush as a pal of the rich, himself as the friend of the middle class.


Eriksson tips Ferdinand as potential captain England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson tipped Rio Ferdinand as a future captain on Saturday ahead of the Manchester United defender #39;s return to the national squad.


Blair  #39;feeling fine #39; as he goes for heart op Tony Blair was today admitted to Hammersmith Hospital for treatment on a recurring heart condition. The Prime Minister said he felt  quot;fine quot; as he left Downing Street for the London hospital.


Gaddafi asked to help save hostage THE family of British engineer Kenneth Bigley, held hostage in Iraq for more than two weeks, has asked Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi to help secure his release, they said today.


Jakarta blast: Manny #39;s amazing recovery THREE weeks ago, photographs of an unconscious Elisabeth Musu bleeding from her wounds were flashed around the world. Yesterday afternoon, the survivor of last month #39;s Jakarta bomb blast smiled for the camera


Cal takes no prisoners, wins 49-7 Saturdays 49-7 loss to No. 10 California evoked memories of an era that Beavers fans would like to forget - a 28-year span of futility from 1971-98 when OSU failed to have a winning season.


Smiths in talks to buy US medical device co Medex for nearly \$1B LONDON (AFX) - Smiths Group PLC, the UK aerospace-to-medical-products maker, is in advanced talks to buy US healthcare group Medex for close to 1 bln usd (517 mln stg) the Sunday Telegraph reported without citing its source.


Stocks Seen Flat at Open; Oil Edging Up US stocks look to open flat on Monday as investors pause after a busy week on Wall Street, with oil prices ticking higher and the dollar still hovering near record lows.


Nigerian rebel leader reaches out to rival in troubled oil region (AFP) AFP - Nigerian rebel leader Mujahid Dokubo Asari assured his arch rival in the battle for the control of oil resources in the Niger Delta, Ateke Tom that he was ready to make peace.


Nuclear sanctions jar improving U.S.-India ties (Reuters) Reuters - A decision by the Bush administration to sanction two top Indian scientists for nuclear cooperation with Iran highlighted the risks of improving U.S. relations with the South Asian power.


Drought Aid Colors S.D. Senate Race (AP) AP - How political can it be for Congress to help farmers and ranchers suffering from a drought? Judge by the television viewing habits of Sen. George Allen of Virginia, who heads the Senate's Republican campaign operation.


UN transfers war crimes case to Serbian court: Del Ponte (AFP) AFP - Chief UN war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte said that the UN court investigating atrocities in the former Yugoslavia had transferred a case to Serbian prosecutors for the first time.


Iraqis Flee Fighting in Samarra by River Boats  SAMARRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Waving white flags, Iraqis fled  the city of Samarra on river boats on Sunday as U.S. forces  claimed victory over insurgents in the first step of an  offensive aimed at taking control of rebel-held cities.


Sharon Vows to Expand Gaza Raid, Toll Hits 55  GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli leader Ariel Sharon vowed on  Sunday to widen an offensive into Gaza which has killed 55  Palestinians until militants stop firing rockets that have  fueled criticism of his plan to quit the occupied strip.


At HSBC, Eldon plans departure HSBC Holdings, Europe #39;s biggest bank by market value, said Monday that David Eldon would retire as chairman of Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp.


UK Terror Suspects Were Building Dirty Bomb - Time  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - British terror suspects arrested in  August were trying to construct a dirty bomb and planned to  attack targets in London, including the Heathrow Express  airport rail line, Time magazine reported.


Rebels Launch New Attacks in India's Northeast  GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - Suspected separatist rebels set  off a string of fresh bomb blasts in northeastern India on  Sunday, bringing the death toll in a weekend of violence to 56.


Brazil Ruling Party Seeks Stronger Hand from Poll  SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazil's ruling Worker's  Party (PT) was looking to strengthen its hand in its fight to  transform this huge Latin American country with a good  performance in nationwide municipal elections on Sunday.


Iran's parliament sacks minister Iran's conservative-dominated parliament votes to sack Transport Minister Ahmad Khorram.


U.S. and Iraqi Forces Scour Samarra for Holdouts U.S. and Iraqi forces scoured Samarra for holdouts today after reclaiming control of the city from Sunni militants in fierce fighting that won praise for Iraqi troops.


Els Sweats Out American Express Victory THOMASTOWN, Ireland - The majors over, Ernie Els got a consolation prize Sunday by capturing his first World Golf Championship. Els outlasted Thomas Bjorn in a brilliantly played duel at Mount Juliet, making a 6-foot birdie on the 17th hole for a cushion he desperately needed and closing with a 3-under 69 to win the American Express Championship by one shot...


Karzai Accepts Award Ahead of Election KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan President Hamid Karzai left for Germany Sunday to receive an award, his office said, just six days before his war-plagued nation will hold its first-ever direct presidential election.    The one-day trip had been previously announced, but the timing couldn't help but raise eyebrows as thousands of Afghan and international workers feverishly struggle to prepare for the Oct...


Sharon: Israel Will Expand Gaza Offensive JEBALIYA REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed Sunday to expand Israel's deadliest offensive in Gaza in four years and to stay as long as needed to stop Palestinian rocket fire as renewed attacks from the air and on the ground killed seven more Palestinians.    The latest killings brought the Palestinian death toll to 59 since Thursday...


Rice Defends Characterization of Saddam WASHINGTON - National security adviser Condoleezza Rice on Sunday defended her characterization of Saddam Hussein's nuclear capabilities in the months before the Iraq invasion, even as a published report said government experts had cast doubt at the time.    In the run-up to the March 2003 war, Rice said in a television interview in 2002 that the Iraqi president was trying to obtain high-strength aluminum tubes to rebuild his nuclear weapons program...


Brazil Ruling Party Seeks Stronger Hand from Poll

 By Angus MacSwan

 SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazil's ruling Worker'sParty (PT) was looking to strengthen its hand in its fight totransform this huge Latin American country with a goodperformance in nationwide municipal elections on Sunday.


Women #39;s Tennis: Dementieva Defeats Bovina at Gaz de France Stars <b>...</b> Top-seeded Elena Dementieva rallied from 4-1 down in the third set to defeat number-three Elena Bovina 0-6, 6-0, 6-4 in an all-Russian final at the Gaz de France Stars tennis tournament in Hasselt, Belgium.


Swiss Chided for Lack of Euro 2008 Stadium (AP) AP - European soccer's governing body threatened to remove the 2008 European Championships from hosts Austria and Switzerland, citing the Swiss for failing to build a new stadium in Zurich.


Verplank Will Play in World Cup (AP) AP - Scott Verplank had to wait six years, but he finally gets to play in the World Cup. At No. 21 in the world, Verplank is the highest-ranked American who accepted a chance to represent the United States in the two-man team competition involving 24 countries. Nine other players, from Tiger Woods to Todd Hamilton, declined to play.


Els Enjoys New Lease of Life with Mount Juliet Win  THOMASTOWN, Ireland (Reuters) - A maiden World Golf  Championship victory at the WGC-American Express Championship  on Sunday proved to Ernie Els that he is firmly on track after  a disappointing year.


Frustrated Woods Leaves Ireland as World No. 3  THOMASTOWN, Ireland (Reuters) - Tiger Woods ended a  frustrating week at the WGC-American Express Championship on  Sunday without a strokeplay title to defend for the first time  since turning professional in 1996.


Redskins Tied, 3-3 The Redskins and Browns have traded field goals and are tied, 3-3, in the first quarter in Cleveland.


Nationalists Leading Bosnian Elections 3 October 2004 -- Election officials in Bosnia say the country #39;s main Muslim, Serb, and Croat nationalist parties were leading as results for yesterday #39;s local elections came in.


Fund looks at debt relief plan The International Monetary Fund agreed to keep studying the possibility of revaluing its gold reserves as a way to raise money for debt-relief programs, Britain #39;s Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, said.


Vivisimo Launches Clusty to Provide Efficient Search Services to <b>...</b> No doubt, Google and Yahoo! are great search engines. Google is great in speed and straightforward search results, while Yahoo! excels in integration of services.


Solar dust salvaged from fallen capsule The United States space agency Nasa has salvaged precious solar dust from the \$260-million Genesis capsule that crashed to Earth three weeks ago.


Soccer: Saviour Smith upstages Rooney MANCHESTER, England : Alan Smith climbed off the bench to upstage Wayne Rooney and snatch another late goal to spare the blushes of Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.


Racing: Bago nails the Arc PARIS : Bago handed the Niarchos Family their first ever Prix de l #39;Arc de Triomphe here at Longchamp racecourse in stunning style.


France #39;s Trezeguet may need shoulder operation Juventus striker David Trezeguet may have to undergo an operation on a troublesome shoulder injury and could face a four month layoff, his coach Fabio Capello said on Sunday.


Pope Beatifies Emperor, Nun, Three Others VATICAN CITY Oct. 3, 2004 - Pope John Paul II on Sunday honored two figures linked to controversy, beatifying a German mystic whose violent visions of Christ #39;s suffering helped inspire Mel Gibson #39;s  quot;The


Iran Rejects Kerry #39;s Nuclear Proposal Iran has dismissed a proposal by US presidential candidate John Kerry, that Tehran be provided nuclear fuel if it agrees to give up its fuel-making capabilities.


Iraq Parties Join Forces to Avert Defeat (AP) AP - In the months before the invasion of Iraq, the United States groomed exiled opposition groups as the nucleus of a future government to replace Saddam Hussein. Now with elections approaching, the parties still enjoy little support among ordinary Iraqis who view them as corrupt puppets of Washington.


Bigley: Gaddafi to help London - Members of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi #39;s family have pledged to support efforts to free British hostage Kenneth Bigley, his brother claims.


Missile defence, just a hiccup in U.S., takes on political life in Canada (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Ballistic missile defence, a mere political hiccup south of the border even in an American presidential year, is showing surprising strength as a topic of public debate in Canada.


Bush, Kerry on Issue of Minimum Wage (AP) AP - Three times a week, The Associated Press picks an issue and asks President Bush and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry a question about it. Today's question and responses:


Turkey Says EU 'Homework Done,' Green Light Ahead  BERLIN (Reuters) - Turkey declared it had fulfilled all the  political criteria for membership talks with the European Union  on Sunday, three days before a recommendation from the EU's  executive that will give Ankara a green light.


Tennis: Spain grinds US into the clay SEVILLE, Spain It was not quite what Carlos Moy missed the first time. The setting was not his former home city of Barcelona but the capital of the Spanish region of Andalusia.


U.S. and Iraqi Forces Complete Takeover of Samarra U.S. forces said they are beginning the second phase of the operation, turning the city over to Iraqi police and military forces.


Clemens to Miss Start With Virus HOUSTON - Roger Clemens was scratched from Houston's critical regular-season finale against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday after coming down with a stomach virus, missing a chance to help the Astros clinch the NL's wild-card spot.    With a victory over the Rockies or a San Francisco loss at Los Angeles, Houston would clinch the final playoff spot...


Southwest Considers DFW Move Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines on Friday said it was examining a move into Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, the main base for American Airlines, which would be dealt a blow if the move happened.


Penalties unlikely to rein in Microsoft Penalties imposed on Microsoft by the European Union are unlikely to rein in the software giant and could result in higher costs for other software developers, regulators said on Friday.


Clemens to Miss Start With Virus (AP) AP - Roger Clemens was scratched from Houston's critical regular-season finale against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday after coming down with a stomach virus, missing a chance to help the Astros clinch the NL's wild-card spot.


Trinidad Is Back, and Looking for Hopkins (AP) AP - Felix Trinidad doesn't believe in tuneup fights. His comeback after more than two years of retirement was a doozy, and now he wants the biggest name out there, Bernard Hopkins. After Trinidad knocked out Ricardo Mayorga in the eighth round Saturday night, completing a scintillating performance before a raucous crowd, he turned his attention to the only man who has beaten him.


Season over for Clijsters Belgian Kim Clijsters will spend the rest of the season on the sidelines because of a new injury to her wrist. The 21-year-old injured her left wrist at the Belgian Open but doctors said it is not as serious


Maria Zambrano top Canadian at half-marathon worlds CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Calgary #39;s Maria Zambrano posted the best Canadian result at the 2004 world half-marathon championships Sunday in New Dehli with a 40th-place showing.


Schwarzer heroics could spark Old Trafford move Australian international goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer increased his chances of a move to Manchester United with an inspired display to earn Middlesbrough a deserved 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.


Clijsters Sidelined Until 2005  BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Kim Clijsters will be out of action  for the rest of the season but does not need more surgery on  her wrist after suffering an injury in the Belgian Open.


Clemens to Miss Start With Virus Roger Clemens was scratched from Houston's critical regular-season finale against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday after coming down with a stomach virus, missing a chance to help the Astros clinch the NL's wild-card spot.


Westfield battles for control property giant The battle for the British-based Chelsfield plc hotted up at the weekend, with reports from London that the property giant #39;s management was working on its own bid to thwart the 585 million (\$A1.


IMF Group Fails to Reach Concensus on Debt Relief Program The 24 member policy making group of the International Monetary Fund met Saturday in Washington and failed to reach consensus on implementing a more generous debt relief program for the world #39;s poorest countries.


Coming to a PC Near You I love movies, but I #39;d rather eat stale popcorn than wait in line at Blockbuster. So I joined Movielink and Starz Ticket on Real Movies.


Funk seizes lead in Mississippi Fred Funk shot an eight-under par 64 to seize a one-stroke lead after the third round of the US PGA Tour Southern Farm Bureau Classic in Madison, Mississippi.


BAGO BLASTS BACK FOR ARC GLORY Bago restored the lustre to his reputation with a sensational return to form in the Prix de l #39;Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere at Longchamp today.


Canas wins Shanghai title Argentina #39;s Guillermo Canas won his third title of the year Sunday with a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Germany #39;s Lars Burgsmuller at the Shanghai Open.


Europe should understand the mood in Iran: FM spokesman TEHRAN (MNA) -- The Europeans should understand the mood in Iran and move in the direction of recognizing Irans legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy through mutual respect and understanding, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi


Nigeria: Rebel talks continue Lagos - Nigeria #39;s President Olusegun Obasanjo will continue talks with rebels of the oil-rich Niger Delta in order to restore peace in the region, the presidential office said Sunday.


Rights groups protest terror detentions Hundreds of human rights campaigners have held a vigil outside a prison to protest against Britain #39;s detention without trial of 11 foreign terror suspects.


Search Engine News This Week - Clusty, Yahoo, and MSN Search Engine News Weekly Report - Clusty, Yahoo, and MSN\\The end of September and beginning of October has seen some changes in search engine news and the addition of a new search engine into the second tier search mix - Clusty. Additionally, MSN is planning on including search in their ...


Space Station Oxygen Supply Fails The main oxygen generator for the international space station has failed, and the two astronauts on board may have to tap into an attached cargo ship #39;s air supply next week, NASA said Thursday.


Tennis: Dementieva clinches first title of season HASSELT, Belgium : Russian top seed Elena Dementieva won her first title of 2004 with a 0-6, 6-0, 6-4 victory against compatriot Elena Bovina in the final of the 170,000-dollar tournament.


Solberg wins first WRC event in Sardinia. Subaru team leader Petter Solberg has won the Rally Italia Sardinia today Sunday, dominating the event from the outset, and eventually taking the honours by 2 minutes 7.9 seconds.


Sharon says troops will stay in Gaza until rocket attacks on <b>...</b> Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pledged Sunday to escalate a broad Israeli offensive into northern Gaza, saying troops will remain in the area until Palestinian rocket attacks are halted.


Microsoft Entering the Anti-Spyware Market Microsoft Entering the Anti-Spyware Market\\Microsoft decided to enter the Anti-Virus market sometime back when they bought Romanian antivirus firm GeCad in 2003. And they have been testing the application privately since sometime. No details are out on when and how they will release it. And now, they are contemplating entering ...


Kerry rolls out tax-cut plan for middle class After two weeks of focusing on Iraq, Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry turned his emphasis to the economy Saturday, delivering what he called a plan for  quot;middle-class families.


NASA delays shuttle #39;s spring 2005 launch date HOUSTON NASA has put off the first shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster because hurricanes postponed work on new safety measures.


Observing the Moon in Shadow On the evening of Oct. 27, North America will enjoy a total lunar eclipse, according to Fred Espenak, an astronomer at NASA #39;s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt.


Twins win suspended game quickly com. Michael Cuddyer #39;s RBI double in the bottom of the 12th scored Jason Bartlett to give Minnesota a 6-5 victory Sunday over the Indians during the completion of Saturday #39;s suspended game.


UPDATE 2-Ferdinand, Rooney and Campbell back for England Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Sol Campbell returned to the England fold as coach Sven-Goran Eriksson named his squad on Sunday for World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Azerbaijan.


Northwestern ends 33 years of frustration with victory over <b>...</b> It was bad enough when Northwestern receiver Mark Philmore said Ohio State was no better than the Wildcats, conveniently overlooking all that tradition and those four national titles.


Qualcomm Buys Spike To help meet demand for 3G CDMA devices, Qualcomm has snapped up Spike Technologies, a chip design company. Qualcomm will pay \$19 million in cash for the entity and its affiliated companies.


Livewire: Craigslist Thrives on Service, Profits (Reuters) Reuters - It began about a decade ago as an\e-mail newsletter from Craig telling friends about upcoming\events in San Francisco, and grew so popular it is now a\full-fledged online community with information on jobs,\apartments, even dating.


PluggedIn: DVD Lagging TV in Recorders Race (Reuters) Reuters - DVD recorders are getting cheaper and\easier to use, but that may not be enough to spark demand for\the sluggish selling devices.


Petter Solberg Claims Victory at Rally of Italy Petter Solberg of Norway won his third straight rally as he drove his Subaru to victory at the Rally of Italy in Sardinia. The win kept alive his fading chances of retaining the world title.


PluggedIn: DVD Lagging TV in Recorders Race  NEW YORK (Reuters) - DVD recorders are getting cheaper and  easier to use, but that may not be enough to spark demand for  the sluggish selling devices.


IPO Outlook Muted (Reuters) Reuters - The U.S. IPO market's first-half\revival from last year's moribund levels turned into a summer\of discontent for many eager companies trying to tap the public\markets.


Snow: U.S. Backs Sweeping Debt Relief (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow\repeated on Sunday the Bush administration would support\complete debt relief for the poorest countries and said details\of how to implement a plan could be worked out.


PeopleSoft cans CEO Conway, appoints founder Duffield On Friday, PeopleSoft announced the Board of Directors #39; decision to terminate Craig Conway as President and CEO of the Company, effective immediately.


More petrol price rises feared Another round of petrol price rises could be looming after crude oil prices hit the \$US50 a barrel mark over the weekend. Oil prices are at their highest in more than 20 years due to supply concerns in Nigeria


New EU Research Chief Open to Stem Cell Research (Reuters) Reuters - The harvesting of stem cells from\human embryos will continue to be funded by the EU, the\incoming European Union research chief said on Friday, vowing\to keep an open mind while taking ethical views into account.


Sudan ready to sign peace deal with south: Beshir (AFP) AFP - Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir said he was ready to sign a peace deal with southern rebels and that he did not want to govern the country alone.


Federal briefing note says Ottawa, not Winnipeg, best place for health agency (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's new public health agency should have been headquartered in Ottawa to avoid the problems the United States experienced when it located its own agency away from Washington, D.C., says a Health Canada briefing note.


Bush campaign on defensive amid new questions on prewar Iraq intelligence (AFP) AFP - Already scrambling to make up ground lost after last week's debate, US President George W. Bush's campaign was forced further on the defensive by a report that the White House knew before invading Iraq that key intelligence on the country's alleged nuclear weapons program was questionable.


Italy deports island immigrants Italy begins deporting immigrants directly from the island of Lampedusa, the first port of call for boats from North Africa.


Afghanistan Death Toll in 2004 Up to 957 KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The killing in Afghanistan spirals onward, undermining U.S. claims of success in pacifying the country with less than a week to go before an historic experiment with democracy - direct presidential elections...


'Shark Tale' Hooks Movie-Goers With \$49.1M LOS ANGELES - The animated fish story "Shark Tale" swamped the competition, opening as the top weekend movie with \$49.1 million and potentially breaking the record for best October debut. John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix's firefighting adventure "Ladder 49" premiered in second place with \$22.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday...


Sun Edge Liberty to Reach WNBA Finals UNCASVILLE, Conn. - The Connecticut Sun reached the WNBA Finals for the first time by beating the New York Liberty 60-57 Sunday behind Taj McWilliams-Franklin's 18 points to complete a two-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals...


Militant Attacks in India Claim 57 Lives GAUHATI, India - Militants bombed utilities, a tea plantation and a crowded marketplace in northeastern India on Sunday, intensifying violence that has killed 57 people in two days and snarling efforts to bring cease-fires in a region where dozens of ethnic rebel groups are fighting for separate homelands.    At least 17 bombings and shootings were carried out over the weekend in Nagaland and Assam states...


Fastow may appear in barge trial HOUSTON Former Enron finance chief Andrew Fastow isn #39;ta defendant or a prosecution witness in the first criminal trial to emerge from the energy company #39;s crash -- but he could be called to testify.


Next hit: double-digit insurance hikes As owner of a beachfront home in Hernando County, Cheryl Labbe has gotten used to rising rates for her homeowners #39; insurance. During Florida #39;s four-hurricane barrage, letters


Big Upsets Shake Up AP Football Poll (AP) AP - For the first time this season, The Associated Press poll received a serious shake-up  #151; just not at the top. Big wins by Auburn, Georgia, California and Purdue, combined with surprising losses by West Virginia, Ohio State and Fresno State helped to overhaul the media poll released Sunday.


Livewire: Craigslist Thrives on Service, Profits It began about a decade ago as an e-mail newsletter from Craig telling friends about upcoming events in San Francisco, and grew so popular it is now a full-fledged


Total Lunar Eclipse on October 27 October #39;s lunar eclipse is well-placed for North and South America as well as western Europe and Africa. From the United States, the eastern two-thirds of the country will see the entire eclipse (weather permitting).


IBMs Blue Gene/L: Current world topper among computers NEW YORK, OCT 3: Computer major IBM claims it has developed the Blue Gene/L to be the worlds most powerful computer, pushing the current ranker Japans Earth Simulator to the second slot.


Eagles Easily Best Struggling Bears (AP) AP - It's going to take a really good team to stop the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles. Right now, mediocre is a reach for the Chicago Bears.


More Glory for Russia #39;s Tennis Queens Maria Sharapova and Yelena Dementyeva both lifted titles Sunday to underline Russia #39;s domination of the women #39;s game. In Seoul, South Korea, Wimbledon champion Sharapova trounced Marta Domachowska 6-1, 6-1 to win the Korea Open.


Federer thumps Roddick in Thailand Open final CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Swiss star Roger Federer captured his 10th tennis title of the year by defeating Andy Roddick in the Thailand Open final Sunday in Bangkok.


Angels Win 1st Division Title in 18 Years (AP) AP - Sometime during the last several weeks, pitcher Jarrod Washburn began to sense a change in the mood surrounding the Anaheim Angels. Losing was no longer an option.


Oz election: Howards expensive battlers John Howards official election campaign launch in Brisbane - after heavily campaigning for the previous month and arguably all year -as a monstrous bonanza for Howards battlers.


Late Goal Salvages Tie for Man United (AP) AP - Manchester United salvaged a 1-1 tie with Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Sunday on an 81st-minute goal by substitute Alan Smith.


Federer Ties Mark for Consecutive Finals (AP) AP - Top-ranked Roger Federer routed an injured Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-0 Sunday to capture the Thailand Open, joining John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg as the only players to win 12 straight ATP Tour finals in the last 25 years.


Sun Edge Liberty to Reach WNBA Finals The Connecticut Sun reached the WNBA Finals for the first time by beating the New York Liberty 60-57 Sunday behind Taj McWilliams-Franklin's 18 points to complete a two-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals. McWilliams-Franklin went 1-of-2 at the line with 48 seconds left to give the Sun a 55-54 edge and help deny New York a fifth trip to the championship series.


Devil Rays Top Wins Mark in Beating Tigers The Tampa Bay Devil Rays set a franchise record with their 70th victory, beating the Detroit Tigers 7-4 Sunday behind Matt Diaz and John Halama.


Els Sweats Out American Express Victory Emotionally spent from a Grand Slam season of heartache, Ernie Els reasserted himself as a major force Sunday by outlasting Thomas Bjorn in a brilliantly played duel in the cold rain in the American Express Championship. He closed with a 3-under 69 for a one-shot victory and his first World Golf Championship.


Spain's Freire Wins World Cycling Title Spain's Oscar Freire won the road race at the cycling world championships for the third time Sunday in a sprint finish. He joined Belgium's Eddy Merckx and Rik Van Steenbergen and Italy's Alfredo Binda as the only three-time winners.


Tigers Bringing Back Trammell, Staff Alan Trammell will manage the Detroit Tigers next season. Along with Trammell, the Tigers said Sunday they retained Kirk Gibson (bench), Bob Cluck (pitching), Bruce Fields (hitting), Lance Parrish (bullpen), Juan Samuel (third base) and Mick Kelleher (first base).


No Time Frame for Yuan Move -China  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There is no time frame for a shift  away from Beijing's tight currency peg and the United States is  mistaken if it thinks it will reap big benefits from a move, a  top Chinese central bank official said on Sunday.


Update 3: Enron Barge Dealmaker Regrets Deal A former in-house Enron Corp. accountant said he was convinced that the energy giant #39;s unofficial promise to buy back several barges sold to Merrill Lynch  amp; Co.


Nomar will consider returning to Cubs Nomar Garciaparra can become a free agent after the World Series and will consider returning to the Chicago Cubs, his team for the final two months this season.


Vatican Set to Beatify Gibson #39;s Passionate Muse Pope John Paul II on Sunday will beatify Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich, a sickly 19th century nun who claimed to have visions that gave her courtside seats at Jesus #39; execution.


Blow to poor states as donors defer debt plan Finance officials failed to resolve their differences over debt relief for the worlds poorest countries and Iraq while expressing concern about the impact high oil prices would have on a strengthening global economy.


Lukoil deal flies in the face of Russia #39;s lost opportunities for <b>...</b> A successful bid by ConocoPhillips of the US for 7.96 per cent in Lukoil this week belies a broader sense of disappointment at the size of Russia-bound foreign direct investment (FDI).


SpaceShipOne Bid Seen Opening Space for Business A private space plane is set to shoot beyond Earth #39;s atmosphere for the second time in a week on Monday in a pioneering bid to win a \$10 million prize and prove that space is open for business.


NFL: Philadelphia 19, Chicago 9 Donovan McNabb passed for 237 yards and a touchdown Sunday as the Philadelphia Eagles posted a 19-9 victory over the Chicago Bears.


Seven Killed in New Blasts Suspected separatists bombed a crowded market, a tea plantation and other sites today, killing seven people in a second day of explosions and gun attacks that have left at least 57 dead and more than 100 wounded in northeast India.


Turkish, German leaders confident of EU green light for Ankara Turkey #39;s prime minister expressed confidence that the European Union #39;s executive will recommend opening talks for his Muslim-majority country #39;s membership this week, saying Sunday that admitting Turkey to the union would contribute to  quot;reconciliation


France, Spain swoop on ETA suspects, arrest separatist group <b>...</b> BORDEAUX, France : Anti-terrorist police arrested the political leader of Spain #39;s armed Basque separatist group ETA in raids in France and Spain that resulted in arms caches and other suspected members being seized, officials said.


Mount St. Helens Dates Back 40,000 Years (AP) AP - There has been a volcano on this site for 40,000 years  #151; the youngest and most active peak in a 1,000-mile Cascade Range chain that extends from Mount Garibaldi in Canada to Mount Lassen in Northern California.


Rebel Region Votes in Defiance of Georgia (Reuters) Reuters - The breakaway Georgian region\of Abkhazia defiantly voted for a new president on Sunday,\injecting further tension into relations between Georgia and\its former colonial master Russia.


Els maintains two-shot lead at WGC-American Express Ernie Els was up to the challenge against one European Ryder Cup hero Saturday but will have to fend off three more of them in the final round of the WGC-American Express Championship.


Eriksson recalls Red Devils trio Sven-Goran Eriksson tonight handed Phil Neville an England lifeline as the Manchester United defender joined club team-mates Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney in returning to the England squad.


Blue Jays announcer Cerutti found dead in hotel room John Cerutti, a former Toronto pitcher and current Blue Jays television announcer, was found dead in his hotel room Sunday morning, the team said.


Barber, Shockey score TDs to lead Giants past Packers 14-7 Tiki Barber ran for a 52-yard touchdown and Kurt Warner threw a touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey to lead the New York Giants past the Green Bay Packers 14-7 on Sunday.


Rice Defends Comments on Iraq Nuke Threat (AP) AP - National security adviser Condoleezza Rice on Sunday defended her characterization of Saddam Hussein's nuclear capabilities in the months before the Iraq invasion, even as a published report said government experts had cast doubt at the time.


Fox New Channel admits reporter posted fake story about Kerry (AFP) AFP - An official at Fox News Channel said that one of its political reporters has been disciplined for posting a fake news item on its website about Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.


Gaza clash tests withdrawal plan Responding to rocket fire, Israel has escalated strikes on Gaza, killing at least 50 Palestinians.


After squeezing rebels, India's northeast ignites Over the weekend, a series of attacks killed more than 50 people in the states of Nagaland and Assam.


US volcano eruption 'imminent' A tremor at Mount St Helens volcano in the US state of Washington prompts fresh warnings of an eruption.


Manning Leads Colts Past Jaguars, 24-17 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Peyton Manning was 13-for-13 for 162 yards on three touchdown drives to lead the Indianapolis Colts to a 24-17 victory Sunday against the previously unbeaten Jacksonville Jaguars...


Astros Top Rockies to Claim NL Wild Card (AP) AP - The Houston Astros charged into the playoffs with their 18th consecutive home victory, capping an incredible turnaround by beating Colorado 5-3 Sunday to win the NL wild card.


Patriots Down Bills for 18th Win in Row (AP) AP - With Tom Brady as their quarterback and a stingy, opportunistic defense, it's difficult to imagine when the New England Patriots might lose again. Brady and defensive end Richard Seymour combined to secure the Patriots' record-tying 18th straight victory, 31-17 over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.


Panthers' Smart Injured on Kickoff Return (AP) AP - Carolina kickoff returner Rod Smart, aka "He Hate Me," injured his left knee on a kickoff return in the second quarter of the Panthers' game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.


Expos Fans Say Farewell at Shea Stadium (AP) AP - Joe Palau had an advantage over most Montreal Expos fans who wanted to say goodbye at the team's last game.


Astros Beat Rockies to Win NL Playoff Spot  HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Houston Astros capped a remarkable  late-season turnaround by capturing the National League wild  card playoff berth on Sunday with a 5-3 win over the Colorado  Rockies.


Houston Earns N.L. Wild-Card Spot The Astros charged into the playoffs with their 18th consecutive home victory, capping an incredible turnaround by beating Colorado on Sunday.


Finance Leaders Tackle Terror Financing  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World finance ministers gathered  under heavy guard on Sunday to discuss efforts to fight terror  financing while warning the world must stay focused on the  economic recovery and fight against poverty.


IMF projects 3.6, 3.5 growth in 2004 and 2005 The International Monetary Fund expects Israel #39;s economy to grow 3.6 percent by the end of this year, and 3.5 in 2005, according to the World Economic Outlook review released last week during Succoth.


Briefly: Sarkozy focuses on aircraft aid Economic recovery in the euro zone is firmly established and inflation poses no threat, Otmar Issing, a European Central Bank executive board member, said Sunday.


Mutual Funds Quarterly Everywhere they look, uncertainty looms - from the Iraq war to the choice of president to the nation #39;s slow-motion recovery. The cautious outlook has led to cautious action, which could be seen in the fairly


A break for investors: lower fees on index offerings By Thomas Watterson  Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor. Today #39;s sideways stock market is hard on mutual-fund companies.


Wall Street Not Troubled by Oil Rise--Yet This oil thing is just temporary, Wall Street has been figuring, and figuring and figuring. The surge in prices is a temporary phenomenon that #39;s lasted for two years now.


Private spaceship is set to take a second trip LOS ANGELES A private spaceship is to blast off for the second time in a week on Monday in the final stage of an attempt to win a \$10 million prize.


Microsoft patent is rejected, but company vows to fight back The US Patent and Trademark Office has preliminarily rejected a Microsoft patent on a system for recognizing computer files, a victory for  quot;open source quot; advocates


Baseball: Dodgers and Angels have California dreaming The Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers both beat rivals from Northern California to capture division titles, making this the first time the two Southern California rivals will be in the postseason playoffs in the same year.


US need not fear India and China: Bill Gates BERKELEY: The US has nothing to fear from rapidly growing technology markets in India and China, Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft said.


Westfield battles for control of property giant The battle for the United Kingdom developer Chelsfield intensified over the weekend, with reports from London that executives of the property giant are considering a management buyout to


Genesis samples  #39;looking very, very good #39; The Genesis team is preparing to ship its samples of the Sun from the mission #39;s temporary cleanroom at the US Army Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah, to NASA #39;s Johnson Space Center, Houston.


Els fends off rejuvenated Bjorn to shoot down Tiger Having missed out at all four of the majors this season, Ernie Els rewarded himself with the next best thing by winning a World Championship.


Patriots 31 Bills 17 ORCHARD Park, NY The New England Patriots posted their record-tying 18th consecutive victory by scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a 31-to-17 win at Buffalo.


Astros Beat Rockies to Win NL Playoff Spot The Houston Astros capped a remarkable late-season turnaround by capturing the National League wild card playoff berth on Sunday with a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies.


West Virginia out of national title race His team #39;s national title hopes dashed, West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez searched for a positive to take out of the Mountaineers #39; loss to middling Virginia Tech.


Sharon vows to expand offensive Jerusalem, Oct. 4. (PTI): At least nine Palestinians were killed Sunday by Israeli forces as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas and vowed to  quot;expand quot; the military offensive in


Pak. scribes on visit to J amp;K Wagah (Amritsar), Oct. 4. (PTI): A 15-member delegation of Pakistani journalists on Sunday crossed over to India on their way to perhaps a first ever visit to Jammu and Kashmir by a team of scribes from that country.


Mount St. Helens Packs Natural Arsenal (AP) AP - The boiling magma rumbling and rising within Mount St. Helens isn't the only thing scientists fear. When large volcanoes erupt they can unleash an awesome arsenal of natural weapons, devastating communities and landscapes even hundreds of miles from the blast.


Nobel Prize Winners Set to Be Announced (AP) AP - In a tradition that has become as venerable as the 103-year-old Nobel Prizes themselves, the guessing game over who will take home the world's most coveted awards this week has entered full swing.


Oil Price Spike Had Chilling Effect -Fed (Reuters) Reuters - The recent spike in oil prices has had\some negative impact on the U.S. economy, but the futures\markets suggest that this will be a temporary phenomenon, a top\Fed official said on Sunday.


Finance Leaders Tackle Terror Financing (Reuters) Reuters - World finance ministers gathered\under heavy guard on Sunday to discuss efforts to fight terror\financing while warning the world must stay focused on the\economic recovery and fight against poverty.


IMF head sees no consensus on demand by poor countries for a greater voice (AFP) AFP - Developing countries are agitating for greater decision-making power in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, but the head of the IMF acknowledged that political consensus on the question was lacking.


China: Efforts to Cool Economy Working  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of China's central bank  said on Sunday Beijing's efforts to curb excessive credit  growth were bearing fruit, increasing chances the country's  booming economy would achieve a "soft landing."


PeopleSoft Fires CEO Attempts by PeopleSoft to fend off a hostile takeover by Oracle took a surprising turn Friday. PeopleSoft #39;s board of directors fired Chief Executive Officer Craig Conway.


Klitschko-Williamson: A Well-Educated Battle precious  quot;few quot; brain cells - Wladimir Klitschko and DaVarryl Williamson have so much cerebral firepower between the two of them that some casual observers of the sport may ask themselves,  quot;Why are they doing this quot; for a living?


Federer thumps Roddick for Bangkok title World number one Roger Federer thumped Andy Roddick 6-4 6-0 for his tenth title of the season at the Thailand Open in Bangkok on Sunday.


SportsNetwork Game Preview (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians will close out the regular season with a doubleheader of sorts, as the teams battle at the Metrodome today.


Clashes in Haitian capital kill at least 14 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Three politicians allied with former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide were led away in handcuffs after a six-hour standoff at a radio station, and gunfire erupted today in Haiti #39;s capital where political clashes have left 14 dead


Iran may halt snap nuclear inspection if parliament approves <b>...</b> Iran said on Sunday that it might halt snap UN inspections on its nuclear sites if its parliament approved it, the official IRNA news agency reported.


Chip sales slow in August Global semiconductor sales growth slowed to 1 percent in August as electronics makers reacted to growing inventories in Asia by limiting orders of chips, an industry trade group said on Thursday.


Wladimir wins comeback bout Las Vegas: Wladimir Klitschko was knocked down and ended up bleeding on his stool, but scorecards said he beat Davarryl Williamson after the heavyweight fight was stopped at the end of the fifth round because of a head butt.


Iran refuses to surrender nuclear fuel technology Iran said Sunday it has already acquired the sensitive technology to produce its own nuclear fuel and that it would be  quot;irrational quot; to agree to surrender such a capability in exchange for supplies from overseas.


At IMF, US bows to pressure to forgive debt WASHINGTON With public pledges and in private conversations, Britain managed to smoke out the United States and win its commitment to the full forgiveness of the debts of the poorest countries during the annual meetings of the World Bank and the


BlackBerry, Bluetooth Miss a Shot to Move Into More Hands these two uses of wireless technology have remained stubbornly irrelevant to many mainstream users, despite the benefits they might offer and the hype they often get in the press.


RIAA sues 762 users over file sharing The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed 762 lawsuits against users who were using file trading programs to download music over the internet.


IAEA head in Seoul to discuss nuclear activities SEOUL - The head of the United Nations #39; nuclear watchdog, Mr Mohamed El-Baradei, arrived in Seoul yesterday to discuss South Korea #39;s nuclear experiments.


Blast at Thai fireworks factory kills 14 BANGKOK - Fourteen people were killed and five injured yesterday in an explosion at a fireworks factory in Thailand #39;s ancient capital Ayuthya, officials and witnesses said.


Sept. Sales Boost GM, DC, Toyota Fears of a broad retreat in car sales eased during September as key manufacturers such as General Motors Corp., DaimlerChrysler and Toyota and Nissan all posted double-digit sales increases.


Nigeria centre stage as oil traders eye new highs High-flying oil prices could set new records this week if rebels disrupt the flow of crude from Nigeria, and are unlikely to fall far even if tensions there ease given global supply strains, according to analysts.


Programs: 'Evil Genius' Brings Out Your Inner Villain (Reuters) Reuters - (Gene Emery is a columnist who covers science and\technology. His Internet address is GEmery(at)Cox.net. Any\opinions in the column are his alone.)


I Rushed The Irish After 30 years of coming up short in Notre Dame Stadium, the Boilermakers took the fight out of the Irish early to remain unbeaten (4-0), winning 41-16.


Sports: Blue Jays announcer found dead in hotel room TORONTO Former Toronto pitcher John Cerutti (seh-ROO #39;-tee) was found dead in his hotel room today, according to the team. He was 44.


Juve Go Clear Marcelo Zalayeta came off the bench to fire Juventus to a 1-0 victory at Udinese and extend the Bianconeris lead at the top of Serie A to two points.


Separatist attacks kill 57 in north-east India Separatists are suspected of bombing a crowded market, a tea plantation and other sites yesterday, killing seven people in a second day of explosions and gun attacks that have


Tired pope beatifies Mel Gibon #39;s  quot;muse quot; road to sainthood, including the 19th century German mystic nun who inspired Mel Gibson #39;s film on Christ #39;s passion. At the same ceremony in St Peter #39;s Square on Sunday, he beatified Austria #39;s last emperor, Karl I. Some of.


Russia reports fair weather Moscows approval of the Kyoto Protocol is a major step in bringing the treaty into effect. Fifty-five countries (that emit 55 per cent of the worlds total CO2 emissions) must endorse the Kyoto pact before it can become binding.


Ireland tries to get UK hostage #39;s release The Irish government has stepped up its efforts to free the British hostage in Iraq, Ken Bigley, whose mother is from Ireland, by talking to diplomats from Iran and Jordan.


Programs: 'Evil Genius' Brings Out Your Inner Villain   (Gene Emery is a columnist who covers science and  technology. His Internet address is GEmery(at)Cox.net. Any  opinions in the column are his alone.)


Linux, AOL tie up for security solutions Leading distributor of Linux open source solutions to the enterprise Red Hat, Inc has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with America Online, Inc to acquire certain assets of Netscape Security Solutions.


Angels, Dodgers sew up titles The Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers showed the baseball world how the Wests were won Saturday afternoon. After chasing Oakland and Texas for most of the season, the Angels scored three times in the


Injury adds to Owen #39;s woes Michael Owen has emerged as an injury concern for England #39;s World Cup clash with Wales after it was revealed his substitution during Real Madrid #39;s defeat was prompted by a  quot;slight muscle problem.


Favre suffers concussion, throws TD anyway Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre sustained a concussion in the third quarter of the Packers #39; 14-7 loss to the New York Giants when defensive lineman William Joseph knocked him to the ground.


Germany supports EU negotiating with Turkey on membership issue German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Sunday that there was  quot;no problem quot; with Germany #39;s support to the start of negotiations on Turkey #39;s entrance into EU.


Police raid alleged by Bigley brother Paul Bigley, brother of the hostage Ken Bigley, said yesterday that a third visit had been made to his home in Amsterdam by a Metropolitan police officer and Dutch anti-terrorist police.


Favre flattened, Packers humbled vs. Giants The New York Giants left Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers wobbly. Tiki Barber rushed for 182 yards and scored on a 52-yard touchdown run, and Kurt Warner threw a touchdown pass


West Bank Family Pleads for Release of Iraq Hostage (Reuters) Reuters - The Palestinian family of\a Jordanian hostage threatened with death in Iraq appealed on\Sunday for his release, saying he was a father of seven who did\not collaborate with Iraq's "occupier."


Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq (AP) AP - As of Friday, Oct. 1, 2004, 1,055 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. Of those, 801 died as a result of hostile action and 254 died of non-hostile causes. The figures include three military civilians.


Iranian president calls for dialogue between Muslim world and the West (AFP) AFP - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called on the Muslim world and the West to stop blaming each other and start a dialogue between their two different cultures.


Thailand Fireworks Plant Blast Kills 14 (AP) AP - A massive explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand on Sunday killed 14 people, including a 4-year-old boy, and injured two others, a police official said.


West Bank Family Pleads for Release of Iraq Hostage  BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - The Palestinian family of  a Jordanian hostage threatened with death in Iraq appealed on  Sunday for his release, saying he was a father of seven who did  not collaborate with Iraq's "occupier."


Shia militias clash in Lebanon Two rival Shia militia groups clash in a town in southern Lebanon and army forces are called in to calm the situation.


Rice Defends Comments on Iraq Nuke Threat WASHINGTON - National security adviser Condoleezza Rice on Sunday defended her characterization of Saddam Hussein's nuclear capabilities in the months before the Iraq invasion, even as a published report said government experts had cast doubt at the time.    In the run-up to the March 2003 war, Rice said in a television interview in 2002 that the Iraqi president was trying to obtain high-strength aluminum tubes to rebuild his nuclear weapons program...


Samarra Victory Encourages Iraqi Forces SAMARRA, Iraq - Bloodied by weeks of suicide bombings and assassinations, Iraqi security forces emerged Sunday to patrol Samarra after a morale-boosting victory in this Sunni Triangle city, and U.S. commanders praised their performance...


Astros Top Rockies to Claim NL Wild Card HOUSTON - The Houston Astros charged into the playoffs with their 18th consecutive home victory, capping an incredible turnaround by beating Colorado 5-3 Sunday to win the NL wild card.    Brandon Backe filled in admirably for an ailing Roger Clemens, pitching five strong innings and driving in two runs...


Nader to Hit Swing States; Kerry Improves BOSTON - With polls showing a narrowing gap between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry, independent candidate Ralph Nader said Sunday that he planned to continue campaigning in key battleground states in the final month of the presidential election...


United lose ground on Chelsea MANCHESTER - After the joy of a midweek win in Europe and the exciting debut of Wayne Rooney, Manchester United had to depend on a goal from Alan Smith to salvage a point against Middlesbrough last night.


Dementieva wins title in Belgium Top-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva rallied Sunday to take a three-set win over Russian Elena Bovina in the final at the inaugural Gaz de France Stars.


Pats Tie Streak - Title Would Be Better (AP) AP - Bill Belichick points out that streaks mean nothing without titles.


Diamondbacks End Worst Year With Win (AP) AP - The Arizona Diamondbacks finished their worst year on a winning streak.


La. Tech Wrecks Fresno State's BCS Dreams (AP) AP - Fresno State is out of the BCS mix  #151; again.


Levi Wins Constellation Energy Classic (AP) AP - Wayne Levi won his second Champions Tour event Sunday, shooting a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory at the Constellation Energy Classic.


NFL Wrap: Barber Runs Over Packers as Giants Win  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tiki Barber rushed for 182 yards and  ran 52 yards for a touchdown as the New York Giants used a  stifling defense to upset the Green Bay Packers 14-7 in Green  Bay on Sunday.


AL Wrap: Indians, Twins Split Doubleheader to End Season  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ben Broussard belted a two-run homer  in the third inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 5-2 win  over the Minnesota Twins to salvage a split of a unique  doubleheader on the final day of the American League regular  season.


Loss Sends Minnesota to the Bronx Ben Broussard hit a two-run homer to lift the Cleveland Indians, who sent the A.L. Central champion Twins to Yankee Stadium for the start of the playoffs.


Sun Sweeps Out Liberty to Reach W.N.B.A. Finals Connecticut reached the W.N.B.A. Finals for the first time by beating the Liberty on Sunday behind Taj McWilliams-Franklin's 18 points.


Astros Grab Wild Card The Astros charge into the playoffs with their 18th consecutive home victory, capping an incredible turnaround by beating Colorado 5-3 Sunday to win the NL wild card.


Rookie Rallies Steelers Ben Roethlisberger hits 17 of 25 passes for 174 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions and Duce Staley runs for 123 yards in a 28-17 victory Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals.


Eagles Easily Best Struggling Bears It's going to take a really good team to stop the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles. Right now, mediocre is a reach for the Chicago Bears.


What's That? Baseball's Back? I hadn't paid much attention to baseball lately -- what with the scintillating presidential campaign, the scintillating fall television season and Britney Spears's scintillating, latest marriage -- so imagine my surprise when I woke up the other afternoon to the latest developments:


Update 2: Finance Chiefs Cite Debt Relief Progress The world #39;s economic powers, which ended three days of meetings Sunday, insisted they are moving closer to a deal on debt relief for Iraq and other poor nations even though an agreement has proved elusive.


Lazard IPO filing imminent? Bruce Wasserstein, head of Lazard, hopes to gain board approval for his IPO plan for the bank on Tuesday and register the offering with the US regulator as soon as Wednesday, the Financial Times reported Sunday.


Investor Profile: Asensio Ponders Long Bet As a dedicated short-seller for nearly eight years, Manuel Asensio became known as one of the most ruthless investors in the business.


China Pledges to Push Ahead #39; to Flexible Yuan Rate (Update6) China pledged to push ahead firmly and steadily #39; #39; toward a more flexible exchange rate without providing a timetable for the shift from a currency peg that is criticized by the Group of Seven industrial nations.


SpaceShipOne just one flight away from X Prize MOJAVE, Calif. The SpaceShipOne aircraft is one flight away from clinching the Ansari X Prize, a 10-(m)million-dollar award for the first privately developed manned rocket to reach space twice within 14 days.


Mariners #39; Suzuki Gets Two Hits to End Season With Record 262 Ichiro Suzuki singled twice for the Seattle Mariners in a 3-0 loss to the Texas Rangers, extending his Major League Baseball season record for hits to 262 on the campaign #39;s final day.


Giants 10, Dodgers 0 In a regular-season finale that resembled an exhibition game and was about as meaningful, Jason Schmidt pitched six dominant innings, Ray Durham and Pedro Feliz hit first-inning homers and the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-0 on


Aristide Backers Riot for 3rd Day in Haiti; Death Toll Rises to 7 Supporters of Haiti #39;s ousted president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, threw stones and fired guns on streets littered with debris and overturned cars on


ALP throws away script PATIENTS would pay less for prescription medicine in a surprise move by Labor leader Mark Latham. Labor is also proposing to double the maternity immunisation allowance to \$427 as an extra incentive for parents to vaccinate their children.


Nikkei Opens Higher  TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average rose 1.37 percent at  the opening on Monday as a recovery in U.S. stocks encouraged  investors to seek bargains among lagging issues, including  Canon Inc. and other high-tech issues.


Dollar stands firm against rivals in cautious market The dollar was little changed against major currencies on Friday after key US ISM data on manufacturing was in line with expectations, as the market remained cautious on the prospects for the US economy.


Sports: Funk wins SFC Classic MADISON, Miss. Fred Funk birdied the final hole to win the Southern Farm Bureau Classic by one shot over Ryan Palmer. Funk shot a 6-under-par 66 today to wind up 22-under for the tournament.


Doug Fischer I had to bust this Wednesday Mail Bag out. We #39;ve got great matchups coming our way this weekend with Trinidad-Mayorga and Phillips-Ouma but the Monday Mail Bag was understandably dominated by Roy Jones emails.


Klitschko beats Williamson on points as head butt stops fight LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) -- Wladimir Klitschko survived a fourth round knockdown to beat DaVarryl Williamson on points after the heavyweight fight was stopped prematurely by an accidental head butt.


Federer beats Roddick to win Thailand Open Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick 6-4 6-0 to win the Thailand Open on Sunday, and joined Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe as the only players to win 12 consecutive finals.


#39;Passion #39; Source Named New Roman Catholic Saint Description: NPR #39;s John Ydstie talks with John Allen, Vatican correspondent for The National Catholic Reporter, about Sunday #39;s beatification ceremony for five new Catholic saints.


No relief as IMF and World Bank talks on poor end in failure THE worlds leading finance officials and ministers yesterday failed to reach agreement on debt relief for the poorest nations. Wrapping up a weekend of IMF and World Bank talks in Washington, no agreement appeared to have been secured.


NZ PRESS: Telecom Denies AAPT Consumer Unit Is For Sale WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--Telecom Corp. (TEL.NZ), New Zealand #39;s biggest fixed line phone company, has denied its AAPT consumer business in Australia is on the market, the New Zealand Press Association reported.


O #39;Leary charms Boeing workers Michael O #39;Leary, the irrepressible chief executive of Ryanair, may have his detractors in Britain for the ruthless way he drives down costs at the budget airline.


Funk ends title drought AMERICAN Fred Funk shot a six-under 66 to beat Ryan Palmer by one shot and claim his first PGA title in six years today. Funk, 48, captured the Southern Fram Bureau Classic with a birdie on the par-five final hole.


NFL Game Summary - NY Jets At Miami Miami, FL -- Donnie Abraham returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown to help the New York Jets to a 17-9 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Pro Player Stadium.


Disabled Are Pleased With E-Voting (AP) AP - This November, Eileen Rivera Ley, 41, will vote by herself for the first time. Blind voters in Maryland and several other states will use electronic voting machines equipped with technology that allows the disabled to vote independently.


Internet health advice can bring on 'cyberchondria', study shows (AFP) AFP - Browsing medical sites on the Internet can bring on a condition dubbed  quot;cyberchondria quot;, in which patients diagnose themselves incorrectly and seek treatment they do not need, a British study said.


SpaceShipOne a Flight Away From  #36;10M Prize (AP) AP - SpaceShipOne is one flight away from clinching the Ansari X Prize, a  #36;10 million award for the first privately developed manned rocket to reach space twice within 14 days.


Deformed Fish Found Near Treatment Plants (AP) AP - Fish with both male and female sex tissue have been discovered near Colorado wastewater treatment plants on the South Platte River and Boulder Creek.


Paris exhibit looks at history of bags, from functional to fashionable (AFP) AFP - Style mavens will be scanning the catwalks in Paris this week for next spring's must-have handbag, as a sweeping exhibition at the French capital's fashion and textile museum reveals the bag in all its forms.


Rice Defends Iraq Weapons Characterization (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - National security adviser Condoleezza Rice said yesterday it is still unclear whether Iraq attempted to procure tens of thousands of aluminum tubes for a nuclear-weapons program or a conventional rocket program, despite conclusions by the Senate Intelligence Committee and U.N. investigators that the tubes could not be used in any nuclear program.