Texans Top Titans, Break Losing Streak (AP) AP - David Carr put together a huge comeback of his own after Brett Favre showed him how to do it last week. Carr threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns and Domanick Davis rushed for a season-high 129 yards and a score to help the Houston Texans rally from an 18-point deficit in a 31-21 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.


Patriots Set NFL Record for Scoring First (AP) AP - Adam Vinatieri's 28-yard field goal early in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens put New England up 3-0 and gave them an NFL record with 16 consecutive regular-season games in which they've scored first.


Greek PM meets Mubarak (AFP) AFP - Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, the first Greek premier to visit Egypt in 12 years, held talks in Cairo with President Hosni Mubarak.


Taiwan Celluar chief voices 3G doubts (FT.com) FT.com - Taiwan's telecommunications industry will need another two years before third-generation mobile services generate substantial revenue, according to Harvey Chang, president and CEO of Taiwan Cellular, the island's second-largest mobile phone operator.


Pakistan's Musharraf starts Brazil visit (AFP) AFP - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf travels to the Brazilian capital for talks with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as he seeks to strengthen his country's international ties and open new markets.


No. 1 Tennessee Edges Temple, 52-48 (AP) AP - Shanna Zolman scored five of her 10 points in the final minutes and Shyra Ely made two free throws with 11.9 seconds left, helping top-ranked Tennessee beat Temple 52-48 Sunday.


Eagles Clinch N.F.C. East Title Brian Westbrook scored two touchdowns and the Eagles' defense made life miserable for Eli Manning and frustrating for Barrett Green.


Bid builds to delay Iraq vote Violence and a lack of preparedness spur calls to postpone the Jan. 30 election.


US smooths way in Fallujah for Muslim relief agency The fluid security environment has convinced the Red Crescent that it must coordinate its relief efforts with US forces.


Religious Leaders Clash on 'Meet the Press' Four religious leaders illustrated in a TV appearance today just how passionate and difficult such dialogues can be.


Anti-terrorism, security issues likely to be key agenda items in Bush visit (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - For George W. Bush, who has defined his presidency in terms of fighting terror, national security is a must which trumps almost all other issues.


Juventus denied by Inter fightback Juventus blew a two goal lead in the second half to be held to a 2-2 draw Inter Milan in the San Siro on Sunday. Ironically, Inter #39;s heroics helped arch-rivals and Serie A champions AC


Liga Wrap: Barca Storm Nine Points Clear Barcelona opened up a nine-point lead at the top of La Liga on Saturday night with a 2-1 win at Getafe. Rafael Marquez and Deco scored early on to give the Catalan giants a two-goal lead after just 22 minutes.


Efforts to remove fear of China among Asean Even as smaller countries of the 10-member Asean grouping have expressed reservations about the proposed Free Trade Area (FTA) with China as it will put them at a great disadvantage, efforts are on to remove their misgivings.


Swiss Voters Endorse Limits on Stem Cell Research Swiss voters endorsed restrictive legislation on stem cell research Sunday that forbids the cloning of human embryos and put Switzerland on a par with some other continental European countries.


Earthquake hits Japan northern island A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 has hit a wide area of Japan #39;s northern most main island of Hokkaido. Public broadcaster NHK says several people, including an elderly woman and a 13


Bengals Top Browns in Near-Record Shootout (AP) AP - Kelly Holcomb threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns  #151; and lost. Cincinnati and Cleveland played the most remarkable game in their intrastate rivalry Sunday, a wacky 58-48 Bengals victory that turned into the second-highest scoring game in NFL history.


ASEAN links push free trade VIENTIANE, Laos: China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to make substantial progress in advancing the free trade area (FTA) at their summit to be held here today.


Jordans King strips his half-brother of royal title King Abdullah of Jordan has stripped his half-brother and heir apparent of his title as crown prince on Sunday. King Abdullah announced at the state television on Sunday that the move was aimed at allowing


Syracuse Slams the Door on B.C.'s Big East Finale The floundering Orange were supposed to roll over Saturday, allowing Boston College to earn its first spot in a B.C.S. game.


Iowa State Misses a Chance To Play for the Big 12 Title Gerald Riggs ran 12 yards for a touchdown with 38 seconds remaining and No. 15 Tennessee defeated Kentucky, 37-31, Saturday.


Ebersol Survives Crash NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol survives a plane crash in southwestern Colorado on Sunday.


New Pokemon For Cube November 26, 2004 - Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon Channel may already be making many a GameCube-owning Poke-fan happy, but Pokemon isn #39;t done with GameCube yet.


American wins super-G AMERICAN Bode Miller won a men #39;s World Cup super-G here today, capturing his second race in as many days and his third in three starts so far this season.


NFL: Philadelphia 27, NY Giants 6 The Philadelphia Eagles clinched their fourth straight NFL East title Sunday with a 27-6 win over the New York Giants. Donovan McNabb passed for 244 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score for Philadelphia, 10-1.


Swiss voters approve stem cell research using human embryos GENEVA (AFP) - Two-thirds of Swiss voters approved a new law that allows medical research on stem cells taken from human embryos but bars cloning, official results from a referendum showed.


Sarkozy charts course as new party leader PARIS In a move that could change the face of French politics, Nicolas Sarkozy, the popular finance minister whose personal and ideological differences with President Jacques Chirac are well known, took over the helm of the governing center-right party on


Briefs: Dexia drops Sanpaolo talks Dexia said Sunday that it had decided to formally terminate its plans to form an alliance with the Italian bank Sanpaolo IMI. The board of the French-Belgian bank  quot;has noted unanimously that the conditions


Clippers Defeat Warriors, 103-91 (AP) AP - Elton Brand scored six of his 25 points in the final four minutes and finished with 13 rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 103-91 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.


Summary Box: Iran Vows to Stop Enrichment (AP) AP - THE NEWS: Iran agreed Sunday not to test any centrifuges as part of a total suspension of nuclear activities that can yield uranium for atomic weapons.


No. 23 La. Tech Defeats Ark. St., 67-50 (AP) AP - Shan Moore had 14 points and eight rebounds to help No. 23 Louisiana Tech beat Arkansas State 67-50 on Sunday.


Pakistan's Musharraf takes in Rio's sites in historic trip (AFP) AFP - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf visited tourist spots here before heading to the capital Brasilia for talks with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the first trip to Latin America by a Pakistani leader.


Carsley rescues point for Everton against Newcastle Lee Carsley #39;s curling free-kick earned high-flying Everton a point in manager David Moyes #39; 100th Premiership game. Craig Bellamy burst through to make it 1-0 before Jermaine Jenas #39; volley hit the bar and Alan


Real Madrid Wins in Spain; Juventus Draws in Italy (Update1) Brazilian striker Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid, winless in its previous two games, beat Levante 5-0 in Spain. AC Milan gained ground in Italy after leader Juventus blew a late


USC routs Notre Dame; BC and Iowa State blow chances Saturday BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) - Two years ago, Carson Palmer won the Heisman Trophy after a fantastic outing against Notre Dame. Matt Leinart may have earned himself the same piece of hardware after his performance Saturday.


Spain: Real Madrid crush Levante Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid ended a two-game winless slide with a 5-0 Spanish league victory over seventh-placed Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.


Swiss approve stem-cell research law GENEVA Swiss voters have backed a law allowing stem-cell research in the first national referendum on an issue that has divided both the European Union and the United States.


Magnitude 4.6 Quake Jolts Japan #39;s Northern Island of Hokkaido An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7 hit Japan #39;s northern island of Hokkaido early this morning, causing injuries and triggering a tsunami warning.


Kazaa offers unlimited free Internet calls Sharman Networks Ltd., distributor of the Kazaa file-sharing software, has launched its latest version which enables users to make free online calls anywhere in the world.


Bus reaches century mark again in Staley #39;s absence Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley missed his fourth straight game Sunday with a bruised hamstring, but Jerome  quot;The Bus quot; Bettis ran for 100 yards and a score in Pittsburgh #39;s 16-7 victory over Washington.


Economical Agenda Boastful Brown may yet come unstuck WHEN Gordon Brown gets to his feet in the Commons this Thursday to deliver his Pre-Budget Report, the nation can look forward to a stream of boasting over Britains economic performance.


Mellor the hero for Liverpool THERE WERE THREE WONDERFUL goals at Anfield yesterday, but only one was a winner. Few were predicting that it would come from Liverpool and no one but his closest relatives (and even they


Everton spirit earns a point A CENTURY REACHED IN THE style of Michael Atherton; cussed, scruffy, with a minimum of graceful shots, blessed by good fortune, bloody-minded and bloody impressive.


Ronaldo leads Real in rout Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Real Madrid #39;s  #39;galacticos #39; dominated Sunday at the Bernabeu in a 5-0 demolition of Levante.


Shorthanded Clippers fight off Warriors LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Even without leading scorer Corey Maggette, the Los Angeles Clippers were able to complete a sweep. Elton Brand scored 25 points and Bobby Simmons added 22 to lift the Clippers to a


Hughes brews a little magic against Raptors CBC SPORTS ONLINE - No matter how hard the Toronto Raptors fought or well they shot, the Washington Wizards always found a way to rally back.


GOLDBERG ON FOOTBALL: Are the Eagles good, or is everyone else bad <b>...</b> The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East again. Big deal. They did that before the season started. The Eagles have played four games in the division and have outscored the Redskins, Cowboys and Giants by a combined 135-50.


ARCHBISHOPS CALL TO END GAY SLURS The Archbishop of Canterbury has written to conservatives in the Anglican Communion, asking them to refrain from using hostile words about homosexuals.


Eagles Continue to Dominate NFC East (AP) AP - The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East again. Big deal  #151; they did that before the season started.


On a Day of Relative Calm in Iraq, Debate on Election Delay Continues Iraqi political figures continued on Sunday to react to a movement by Sunni Arabs to delay elections by six months.


Plane Carrying NBC President Ebersol Crashes in Colorado N.B.C. Sports Chairman and President Dick Ebersol survived a charter plane crash that killed at least two people, NBC said in a statement.


Insurance chief says she #39;s heard no complaints in wake of scandal HARTFORD, Conn. -- Despite charges of bid-rigging and conflicts of interest against the insurance industry, Connecticut insurance Commissioner Susan F. Cogswell said she has not found corruption in Connecticut.


American Miller wins men #39;s World Cup giant-slalom ski competition LAKE LOUISE, Alta. (CP) - American Bode Miller won his first World Cup super-giant slalom race Sunday, giving him his third consecutive victory of the season and moving him into an exclusive club.


James Becomes Youngest to Score 2,000 LeBron James scored 26 points to become the youngest player in NBA history to reach 2,000 in a career, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 96-74 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.


Capello scolds Juve, Mancini takes hope Juventus coach Fabio Capello scolded his side for easing off and allowing rivals Inter Milan two late goals which gave them a 2-2 draw at the San Siro on Sunday.


UPDATE 2-Real crush Levante with second half goal salvo Real Madrid gave a stunning exhibition of finishing power to crush Levante 5-0 at the Bernabeu in the Primera Liga on Sunday. The home side had struggled to impose


Barca on Cloud Nine Barcelona powered nine points clear at the top of the Primera Liga with a 2-1 win at Getafe. The damage was done early on with Rafael Marquez and Deco firing home goals in quick succession to give Barca a 2-0 lead by the 22nd minute.


Clippers 103 Warriors 91 LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles Clippers are assured of finishing November with a winning record for the first time since 1992. They #39;re 8-and-6 with one game left this month after beating Golden State 103-to-91.


Wade Boggs Leads Hall of Fame Candidates (AP) AP - Wade Boggs might have to get used to a new routine Tuesday: life as a Hall of Famer. The five-time AL batting champion, known for his array of pre- and postgame rituals, is the top newcomer on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot, joining holdovers Ryne Sandberg and Bruce Sutter.


US, European Officials Await Decision on Iranian Nuclear Program The International Atomic Energy Agency could act to resolve a dispute over Iran #39;s nuclear program Monday. European negotiators and Tehran have been working behind closed doors to strike a deal.


Minn. to Play in Music City Bowl in Tenn. (AP) AP - Minnesota will play in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31, the Golden Gophers' third straight postseason appearance.


Clippers Climb in West Elton Brand scores 25 points to lift the Clippers over the Warriors, 103-91, and can finish November with a winning record for just the second time in 30 years.


Weak dollar leaves central banks in a bind The story of the last week has been the fall and fall of the dollar with the currency touching daily record lows against the euro.


No travel problems reported during Turnpike strike PHILADELPHIA - Pennsylvania Turnpike officials reported no significant backups at toll plazas on Sunday, one of the busiest travel days of the year, despite the absence of hundreds of unionized toll collectors who have been on strike since Wednesday.


Overseas Investors May Purchase \$15 Billion of China #39;s Bad Debt International investors may buy as much as \$15 billion in bad loans in China in the next three years, said PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the world #39;s third-biggest accounting firm.


Canada Post says possible strike won #39;t stop holiday mail OTTAWA - Canada Post is promising that holiday mail will move as usual whether or not their is a mail strike. The post office is reassuring Canadians their Christmas mail won #39;t be affected if administrative, clerical and technical workers go on strike.


New Airbus craft to heat up rivalry The announcement of its new mid-sized plane will heat up rivalry between Airbus and Boeing. The board of EADS, parent company of Airbus, is on Monday expected to approve plans for the long-awaited, \$4bn-launch of a new mid-sized aircraft, the A350.


Notre Dame Accepts Insight Bowl Invite Notre Dame Accepts Invitation to Play in Insight Bowl in Arizona Against Pac-10 Team on Dec. 28. Notre Dame #39;s quarterback Brady Quinn gets a pass off under pressure from Southern California #39;s Mike Patterson


Brees, big-play Chargers too much for Chiefs Strip away the great plays and the wild action and San Diego #39;s 34-31 victory over Kansas City is reduced to a simple fact: big plays.


Randle El, Bettis, lead Steelers to 16-7 win over struggling <b>...</b> The Washington Redskins only wish they were getting as much offence from their starters as the streaking Pittsburgh Steelers are from their backups.


Panthers beat Buccaneers Martin Gramatica lined up for the go-ahead field goal and the Carolina Panthers assumed they would have to come from behind to beat Tampa Bay.


Cards vs. Jets quarter-by-quarter Carter returned, but it was running back Curtis Martin and the offensive line that put the Jets ahead. Martin rushed for all but 10 yards of a 45-yard drive that stalled at the Cardinals 10.


Governing party leads in Romania Romania #39;s former communists looked likely to retain power last night when exit polls put them comfortably ahead in elections for both parliament and president.


King Hussein #39;s favoured son loses claim to Jordan #39;s throne The King of Jordan announced an abrupt change to his succession plans yesterday, stripping his half-brother, Hamza bin Hussein, of the title crown prince.


Ono eyes Iraq exit in December 2005 Defense Agency chief Yoshinori Ono raised the possibility Sunday that the Self-Defense Forces #39; mission in Iraq will end in late 2005.


Broncos Face Tough Rematch With Colts (AP) AP - The point spread  #151; "Indianapolis -10"  #151; pretty much says it all.


Flying right The Boeing Co. will face competition to supply tankers to the Air Force, which could be good for the company. Most certainly, US taxpayers should win from having a deal decided competitively rather than through


China ZTE Expects Sales Abroad To Bring 40 Rev In 2006 HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--China #39;s No. 2 telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp. (0763.HK) said Sunday it expects overseas sales to rise to contribute around 40 of its total revenue in 2006, compared with 13.4 posted in the first half of 2004.


Fratello: No Deal Yet to Coach Grizzlies (AP) AP - Mike Fratello had "a nice conversation" with the Memphis Grizzlies about the team's vacant coaching position, but said no deal was in place for him to take over the club Sunday.


Kazaa file-swapping trial begins Lawyers for Australia #39;s recording industry were launching a trial Monday against the owners of the popular file-swapping network Kazaa -- in the latest battle between copyright holders and computer users accused of music piracy.


Moon gas could power your home: scientists The same gas used to blow up balloons could be mined from the Moon #39;s surface and transported to Earth to meet future energy demands, say US scientists.


Liga Sunday Wrap: Madrid Answer The Critics Real Madrid ended talk of a crisis at the club as they thumped Levante 5-0 in the Bernabeu and Valencia moved back into the Champions League places with a 2-0 win over Mallorca.


Carsley equaliser frustrates Newcastle NEWCASTLE (AFP) - Everton underlined their re-emergence as an English Premiership force after Lee Carsley struck a stunning equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United.


Insight Bowl hoping for Notre Dame LOS ANGELES - Notre Dame #39;s 41-10 loss to Southern California Saturday night all but clinched an Insight Bowl berth for the Fighting Irish.


Eagles win 4th straight NFC East title EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Brian Westbrook and the Philadelphia Eagles had no problem running to another division title.


Calls for Iraq Poll Delay Fuel Tension Iraq #39;s main Shi #39;ite parties insisted on Saturday that elections should go ahead on Jan. 30 as planned, rejecting mounting calls from Sunni and secular politicians


Rescuers try to save whales after 80 die in mass stranding off <b>...</b> SYDNEY : Rescue teams struggled Monday to prevent a pod of about 20 whales beaching in an area off Australia #39;s south coast where 80 whales and dolphins died after stranding themselves at the weekend.


Freed UN workers head home Two UN workers who spent nearly a month in the hands of Afghan kidnappers left Kabul on Sunday as relatives and friends awaited their arrivals in Northern Ireland and Kosovo.


Eighty Whales, Dolphins Die on Australian Island (Reuters) Reuters - At least 80 whales and dolphins have\died after beaching themselves on a remote island between the\Australian mainland and the country's island state of Tasmania.


Strong Quake Hits Japan's Hokkaido, 11 Hurt (Reuters) Reuters - A strong earthquake with a preliminary\magnitude of 7.1 hit a wide area of Japan's northernmost main\island of Hokkaido early on Monday, the Japan Meteorological\Agency said.


Romanian Ruling Party's Hold on Power Dented (Reuters) Reuters - Romania's ruling Social Democrats\(PSD) face a struggle to cobble together a majority coalition\to push through reforms for EU entry after their hold on power\was dented in general elections.


Jordan's King Strips Half Brother's Title (AP) AP - King Abdullah II stripped his half brother and heir apparent of his title as crown prince in an abrupt shake-up Sunday aimed at redeeming the full power the king inherited from his late father.


Land Mines Remain a Danger to Ethiopians (AP) AP - Aberhet Amha was an aspiring runner, winning medals for her school and dreaming of adding her name to the long list of great Ethiopian Olympic athletes. But just before her 12th birthday, Aberhet stepped on a land mine.


Dexia Ends Talks With Sanpaolo IMI on Partnership (Update2) Dexia SA, Belgium #39;s second-largest financial-services company, terminated talks with Italy #39;s Sanpaolo IMI SpA on a possible partnership, saying the conditions are no longer right.


Minnesota will play Music City Bowl Minnesota will play in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31, the Golden Gophers #39; third straight postseason appearance. Minnesota will play a Southeastern Conference opponent still to be determined in Nashville, Tenn.


Iran agrees to full uranium enrichment freeze, diplomats say Just a day before an international deadline, Iran agreed Sunday not to test any centrifuges as part of a total suspension of nuclear activities that can yield uranium for atomic weapons.


Injured Carter Leads Jets to Victory Quincy Carter left with a head injury after the third play of the game, but returned to deliver the knockout blow, a 69-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss.


Southern Cal Stumps Hard for Heisman and Ranking If Matt Leinart and undefeated U.S.C. it can defeat U.C.L.A. on Saturday, it will play in the Orange Bowl for the Bowl Championship Series title.


Selig Approves Johnson Trade to Yankees (AP) AP - Randy Johnson moved a step closer to joining the Yankees when commissioner Bud Selig approved a proposed trade between Arizona and New York, The Associated Press learned Monday.


Nun likes eating with Stewart ALDERSON, W.VA. - The food at the Federal Correctons Camp is nothing to write home about - unless one is eating it with Martha Stewart.


NFL Wrap: McNabb Leads Eagles to 4th Straight East Title (Reuters) Reuters - Donovan McNabb passed for one\touchdown and rushed for another as the Philadelphia Eagles won\their fourth straight division title with a 27-6 win over the


Poutiainen wins again in Aspen Finland #39;s Tanja Poutiainen won for the second time in three races at Aspen Mountain, beating Italy #39;s Manuela Moelgg by more than a second in a World Cup slalom on Sunday.


Lonard wins with a birdie barrage So it is no more than apt that Peter Lonard should yesterday add to the tradition in the 100th staging of Australia #39;s oldest and greatest golf championship.


Sunday #39;s NFL Capsules Philadelphia won a fourth consecutive NFC East title as Brian Westbrook scored two touchdowns Sunday and the Eagles #39; defense made life miserable for Eli Manning in a 27-6 victory over New York.


Mosul #39;s militants fight mostly from shadows These days, the violence in Iraq #39;s third-largest city is more like The Sopranos than Black Hawk Down. By Jim Macmillan, AP. About 40 dead bodies turned up across Mosul last week.


Jordan #39;s king strips half brother #39;s title King Abdullah II stripped his half brother and heir apparent of his title as crown prince in an abrupt shake-up Sunday aimed at redeeming the full power the king inherited from his late father.


Iran Says It Will Stop Uranium Enrichment (AP) AP - Just a day before an international deadline, Iran agreed Sunday not to test any centrifuges as part of a total suspension of nuclear activities that can yield uranium for atomic weapons. Diplomats described the about-face as an effort to avoid possible U.N. sanctions.


Villanova Defeats Texas Arlington, 59-53 (AP) AP - Jackie Adamshick scored a game-high 25 points to lead No. 24 Villanova past Texas-Arlington 59-53 Sunday in the consolation game of the Lady Rebel Shootout.


Notre Dame Accepts Insight Bowl Invite Notre Dame accepted an invitation Sunday to play in the Insight Bowl in Phoenix against a Pac-10 team on Dec. 28.


McGahee Scores Four Willis McGahee runs for 116 yards and four touchdowns as the Bills hand Seattle's Mike Holmgren his worst defeat with the Seahawks, 38-9.


Vick Rallies Falcons Michael Vick throws a 27-yard scoring pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:22 remaining to finish Atlanta's rally with a 24-21 triumph over the Saints.


Fratello: No Deal Yet to Coach Grizzlies Mike Fratello had "a nice conversation" with the Memphis Grizzlies about the team's vacant coaching position, but said no deal was in place for him to take over the club Sunday.


Liverpool kid Mellor stuns Arsenal Neil Mellor lived up to his burgeoning reputation with the winner for Liverpool in last night #39;s dramatic 2-1 win over Arsenal.


NFL Wrap: McNabb Leads Eagles to 4th Straight East Title Donovan McNabb passed for one touchdown and rushed for another as the Philadelphia Eagles won their fourth straight division title with a 27-6 win over the New York Giants in the NFL on Sunday.


Bills 38 Seahawks 9 SEATTLE Willis McGahee had 116 yards rushing and four touchdowns as Buffalo skipped past Seattle 38-to-9. Drew Bledsoe offset his three interceptions by completing two-thirds of his passes for 275 yards and a touchdown.


Abbas Wins Backing of Brigades GAZA CITY, 29 November 2004 - Palestine Liberation Organization chief Mahmoud Abbas won the endorsement of one of the main Palestinian armed factions yesterday before pledging to stop anyone but the official security forces from carrying weapons.


Bush urges Sinn Fein leader to help move peace process ahead in <b>...</b> WHITE HOUSE President Bush is urging Sinn Fein (shin fayn) leader Gerry Adams to help speed up the peace process in Northern Ireland.


Up to 80 whales, dolphins die on Australia #39;s southeast coast Up to 80 pilot whales and bottle nose dolphins died after a mass stranding on King Island off Tasmania, Australia. The number of dead mammals is lower than that in earlier


Mandelson denies discussing coup plot Peter Mandelson yesterday denied being involved in discussions over the alleged coup plot in Equatorial Guinea as the Conservatives began to put pressure on the government over what it knew and when.


Magnitude 7.1 quake hits Hokkaido, some injuries reported A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 hit eastern Hokkaido early Monday, injuring several people. Ten people were reported to be injured in the quake, according to local authorities.


'New Beginning' Needed The Maryland football coaching staff enters the offseason ready to reexamine everything from practice philosophy to its own performance.


Shopping With Spree Here's a reader-friendly, quickie version of today's column -- for those of you who can't spare the full 2 1/2 minutes it takes to wander through the entire, labored effort -- about all things NBA other than L'affaire du Artest et Les Spectateurs:


UAE Hopes to Cash in on Outsourcing Rush (Reuters) Reuters - After years of paying the price of petty\corruption, unreliable infrastructure and laws that allow for\high staff turnover, outsourcing firm Netlink is planning to\buck a trend by moving from India to the United Arab Emirates.


Financial World Focuses on Next Fed Chief (AP) AP - While President Bush is busy putting together his Cabinet for a second term, the financial world's attention is on a job vacancy 14 months away: Who will succeed Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan?


Where Was Portis? Let #39;s see the Fantasy League expert who had Clinton Portis being relegated to an afterthought while foreseeing Jerome Bettis carrying the Steelers to the team #39;s longest winning streak since 1976.


Sox named Sportsmen of Year by SI com. After vanquishing a so-called curse to win the World Series, the Red Sox don #39;t figure to have any problems with the fabled Sports Illustrated cover jinx.


Archbishop #39;s bid to heal rift Traditionalists and gay Christians are cautious over a call for unity by the Archbishop of Canterbury amid the row about homosexual clergy.


Powerful quake rocks northern Japan, injuring 13 TOKYO (AFP) - A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale rocked the northern Japanese island of Hokkaid, injuring 13 people, the Meteorological Agency and police said.


UCLA Rallies to Beat No. 4 Texas, 63-60 (AP) AP - Noelle Quinn scored the go-ahead basket with 16.7 seconds remaining and finished with 27 points, helping UCLA rally from an early 17-point deficit and beat fourth-ranked Texas 63-60 on Sunday.


China mine blast rescue stalled Carbon monoxide prevents rescuers from reaching 141 men trapped after a deadly mine blast in central China.


Australian teenage drinking scare A national survey in Australia shows worrying levels of alcohol consumption among the country's teenagers.


Distributed XPCOM - A Mozilla Remote Scripting Framework?  \\A little history here.  Microsoft first invented COM  as a cross-language\object model.  This was a precursor in some ways to .NET and still has a great\deal of valuable functionality.\\Its pretty simple.  You just define an IDL (interface definition language) and\then if you have a runtime or compiler that supports COM you can call functions\on an object (component) written in another language.\\Mozilla XPCOM (Cross Platform COM) is similar in goals. You can write a\component in C and then call its functions from Javascript.  It also works the\other way around but isn't used as much.\\This makes Mozilla a very powerful platform.  You can write a XUL extension and\then use the internal com ...\\


Philippines willing to negotiate with kidnappers in Iraq (AFP) AFP - The Philippine government is willing to negotiate with the kidnappers of a Filipino accountant being held captive in Iraq.


Brown to abandon fuel duty increase Gordon Brown will scrap this year #39;s planned increase in fuel duties this week as part of a heavily political package of measures designed to win back Labour #39;s lost supporters in middle Britain.


IT Vendors Release Royalty-Free Software For Messaging Fujitsu Limited and NEC Corporation has jointly developed a messaging software that implements the Web Services Reliability (WS-Reliability) standard and will be releasing it as an open source.


Lakers' Buss Wants to Make Up With O'Neal (AP) AP - Hey, Shaq, Jerry Buss wants to be buddies again.


Red Sox Grab SI's Sportsman of the Year Honor (Reuters) Reuters - The Boston Red Sox, who ended\an 86-year-old "curse" by winning the World Series in a\four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, have been named\Sports Illustrated's 2004 Sportsmen of the Year.


Strong quake hits north Japan, injuring 13 A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 rocked eastern areas of Hokkaido, Japan #39;s northernmost main island, early Monday, injuring at least 13 people.


Iraqis want elections delayed BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Seventeen Iraqi political parties demanded postponement of the Jan. 30 elections for at least six months until the government is capable of securing polling places.


Laos hosts annual Asean meeting The heads of state of 10 South East Asian countries are meeting in Laos #39; capital Vientiane for the annual summit of regional grouping Asean.


Britain  #39;did not disclose warning of coup plot #39; The British Government was told of an alleged plot to overthrow Equatorial Guinea #39;s government months in advance, it was reported yesterday.


Memphis to Accept GMAC Bowl Invitation (AP) AP - Memphis will accept an invitation to play in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Dec. 22.


A Flagship Adrift in the Airwaves In its 35th season, ABC's "Monday Night Football" is still trying to regain some of its old uniqueness.


NASA sending hammer to space You can learn something about a rock by looking at it. But what most geologists really want is to smack it with a hammer. And that #39;s just what planetary scientists will do July 4 when NASA #39;s Deep Impact mission


Sony, Nintendo go head to head with Christmas games The holiday shopping season is set to be a shoot- #39;em-up round in the video game industry, as its top players Nintendo and Sony go head to head by launching new and advanced hand held machines.


Couples tops \$3 million mark at Skins Game With his birdie on the 10th hole to begin day two of the Merrill Lynch Skins Game, Fred Couples earned eight skins and \$300,000 to move over the \$3-million mark in career earnings at the tournament.


Young gun shoots down Arsenal It was a shot that rang out around the Premiership, delighting Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United, and darkening the gloomy mood of the champions, Arsenal.


Lonard is the Australian Open champion again The relentless Peter Lonard today outlasted a battle weary field at the 2004 Hillross Australian Open, to win his second consecutive Australian Open Championship.


Chiefs Lose Again 34-31 to Chargers You have to give the fans who attended the Chiefs game Sunday afternoon a lot of credit. Despite a less than full house of about 60,000 die-hard fans, they watched San Diego waltz into Arrowhead and pull out a 34-31 victory.


Southern Cal Embraces Boy Battling Cancer (AP) AP - Win or lose in the Orange Bowl, Southern California will always be No. 1 to Ryan Davidson.


Sharon, Abbas say they are willing to meet Ahead of an expected meeting between both sides #39; foreign ministers in The Hague, Sharon told Newsweek magazine that he was ready to meet with the post-Yasser Arafat leadership whenever they wanted.


Poll predictions have ruling party ahead in Romania BUCHAREST: Romania #39;s ruling Social Democrats have emerged ahead in a general election but may be deprived of a clear majority needed to keep the Balkan country on track towards the European Union, exit polls showed.


Swiss Voters Accept Stem Cell Research Law GENEVA - Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a law allowing stem cell research Sunday, rejecting a hard-line campaign that compared researchers to the Nazis #39;  quot;angel of death, quot; Dr.


Political split over date threatens Iraq elections An escalating political rift among Iraq #39;s main religious groups and continued violence throughout the country are threatening parliamentary elections set for January.


When to meddle Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand #39;s temperamental prime minister, is so annoyed by criticism of the violence in southern Thailand that he threatened last week to walk out of today #39;s south-east Asian summit if the subject was even raised.


Iraq vote date maintained despite deadly violence BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq #39;s landmark January polls looked set to take place as planned although the violence that prompted delay calls remained rife, as an anti-rebel sweep south of Baghdad claimed its first victims and five US troops died in western Iraq.


Olympic prize in bid battle for WMC As Swiss-based miner Xstrata pushes ahead with its A\$7.4bn (US\$5.8bn) hostile takeover bid for WMC Resources, debate over the deal has narrowed to one key issue - the potential of the Australian miner #39;s giant Olympic Dam project.


NASA To Slam  #39;Hammer #39; into Comet Tempel 1 The high-speed impact will wallop the pickle-shaped comet Tempel 1 with energy equivalent to 4.8 tons of TNT, said Michael A #39;Hearn, another university astronomer and principal investigator on the \$311 million mission.


Novo #39;s double takes Rangers top of the tree A hugely entertaining game between Scotland #39;s two victorious UEFA Cup sides saw Rangers edge ahead in the Scottish Premier League title race for the first time since October 2003, in a match


Iran abandons centrifuge demands Iran has abandoned its demand to be allowed to continue some of its controversial nuclear activities, the BBC reported Sunday. UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy


About 100 beached whales and dolphins have died on Australian <b>...</b> HOBART, Australia Wildlife officers are trying to save about 50 whales and dolphins near the coast of a southern Australian island.


Markdowns, and Shoppers, Are Out Early This Season The National Retail Federation, a trade group in Washington, estimated that the Thanksgiving weekend accounted for \$22.8 billion in sales.


Drug Testing Doesn't Always Tell the Whole Story Academic institutions and researchers are widely viewed as impartial actors in drug trials. But that independence often comes with strings attached.


Australia music industry decries Kazaa Lawyers for Australia #39;s recording industry branded the popular Kazaa file-swapping network  quot;an engine of copyright piracy to a degree of magnitude never before seen quot; as


No. 11 N.C. Trounces Southern Cal, 97-65 (AP) AP - Playing their fifth game in eight days, 11th-ranked North Carolina got 23 points from Jawad Williams and another 17 from Sean May to beat Southern California 97-65 Sunday night.


Australia Music Industry Decries Kazaa (AP) AP - Lawyers for Australia's recording industry branded the popular Kazaa file-swapping network "an engine of copyright piracy to a degree of magnitude never before seen" as they launched a court battle to shut down Kazaa's illegal activities.


Kazaa accused of creating global music piracy system The producers of a popular file sharing program have created the biggest system of Internet music piracy ever seen, the Federal Court in Sydney has been told.


U.S. Opposes Passport Privacy Protections (AP) AP - The Bush administration opposed security measures for new microchip-equipped passports that privacy advocates contended were needed to prevent identity theft, government snooping or a terror attack, according to State Department documents released Friday.


Celtics fall to Heat on Pierce #39;s late miss MIAMI (Ticker) -- Paul Pierce #39;s first miss from the line came at the wrong time for the Boston Celtics. Pierce, who had made his first eight free throws, split a pair of attempts with a chance to tie the game


Two Metre Gash Found on Tanker in Delaware River US Coast Guard Divers have found a two-metre gash on the tanker in the Delaware River. The spill leaked over 100-thousand litres of crude oil and has created a 32-kilometre long slick.


No. 4 Texas Defeated by UCLA Noelle Quinn scored the go-ahead basket with 16.7 seconds remaining and finished with 27 points yesterday, helping host UCLA rally from an early 17-point deficit and beat fourth-ranked Texas, 63-60.


Anglican Leader Warns Churches on Gay Hate Message (Reuters) Reuters - Anglican Church head Rowan Williams has\warned church leaders that criticism of gay people could make\them vulnerable to persecution or suicide.


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


Sharon says he is ready to work with Arafat #39;s successor Ariel Sharon said yesterday that he would end his boycott of the Palestinian leadership and begin a new era of working with Yasser Arafat #39;s successors.


Paisley  #39;on verge of pact with Sinn Fein #39; Ian Paisley is almost certain to sign a historic agreement that would see his Democratic Unionists sharing power in Ulster with Sinn Fein.


Jordan #39;s crown prince is dismissed Jordan #39;s Hashemite royal family was thrown into turmoil last night when King Abdullah abruptly dismissed his half-brother, Prince Hamzeh, as Crown Prince and heir apparent.


Williams calls for healing in gay rift The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, yesterday pleaded with both sides in the war over homosexuality to repent for bringing the worldwide Church to the brink of schism.


Soldier Kills 7 Colleagues in Kashmir SRINAGAR, 29 November 2004 - In the worst incident of its kind in 15 years, an angry Indian paramilitary soldier gunned down seven of his colleagues and injured two others critically in north Kashmirs Baramulla town, 54 km from here, around midnight.


AFP Interview: Pakistan's Bhutto to end exile, win next election: Zardari (AFP) AFP - Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto will end her exile and lead her party to victory in the next election, her husband Asif Ali Zardari said following his release from jail.


More whales dead and stranded off Australia's south coast (AFP) AFP - A second pod of 17 whales has died in a mysterious mass beaching on King Island in the Bass Strait off Australia's south coast following the fatal stranding of 80 whales and dolphins at the weekend.


Largest Quake in Weeks Hits Mt. St. Helens (AP) AP - A 3.1-magnitude earthquake shook the crater at Mount St. Helens on Saturday, the strongest quake at the volcano since mid-October.


Vikings Deny Jaguars For a change, the Vikings' defense produces a long touchdown as tackle Kevin Williams rumbles for a 77-yard touchdown after a fumble to beat the Jaguars, 27-16.


UCLA Rallies to Beat No. 4 Texas, 63-60 Noelle Quinn scored the go-ahead basket with 16.7 seconds remaining and finished with 27 points, helping UCLA rally from an early 17-point deficit and beat fourth-ranked Texas 63-60 on Sunday.


India plans major sale of oil exploration rights THE Indian government is to offer 20 oil and gas blocks for exploration to foreign and domestic firms from January. Oil minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said he was seeking bids  quot;with a view to bringing more areas


Diouf fined for spitting at opponent London, England (Sports Network) - Bolton #39;s El-Hadji Diouf was fined the maximum of two weeks worth of wages for spitting on Portsmouth #39;s Arjan de Zeeuw during a Premier League match on Saturday.


Kallis defies India Jacques Kallis hit his first Test century against India as South Africa reached 227 for five on the first day of the second and final Test yesterday.


Coal mine explosion in central China kills 25, leaves 141 trapped? <b>...</b> Rescuers were searching for 141 miners trapped in a coal mine in central China after a massive explosion tore through the shaft killing at least 25 others.


Sarkozy #39;s party In typical fashion, Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday organised a big welcome for himself as he was elected president of France #39;s ruling UMP party.


Pulling out - in Jerusalem, too On the Friday when the late Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat was buried in the courtyard of the Muqata, the media reported that because of the fear of riots, the Israeli government had decided to close the Temple Mount mosques to residents of


Wal-Mart warning overshadows holiday sales figures United States shoppers have spent more on the first day of holiday shopping than they did a year ago but retailers #39; hopes for the key season were curbed as titan Wal-Mart cut its November sales forecast.


Late Inter strikes deny Juve Late goals from Christian Vieri and Adriano brought Inter from two down to grab a point with a 2-2 draw against leaders Juventus on Sunday.


Ellis says contract extension very, very close #39; #39; Defensive end Shaun Ellis and the New York Jets are  quot;real, real close quot; to an agreement on a contract extension. Ellis said Sunday that as far as he knew, there was no final agreement.


6-foot gash found in tanker that spilled oil into Delaware River Divers found a 6-foot-long gash in a Greek tanker that spilled 30,000 gallons of syrupy crude oil into the Delaware River three days ago, Coast Guard officials said Sunday.


Wall of Thick Smoke Slows Chinese Mine Rescue Rescuers battled thick smoke on Monday to free 141 Chinese miners trapped after a gas explosion in a coal mine in northern China that killed at least 25, state media reported.


SE Asian Leaders Meet on China Trade, Myanmar Southeast Asian leaders met on Monday to agree a landmark tariff-cutting deal with China, the first flesh on the bones of what will be the world #39;s largest free trade deal within a decade.


Sinn Fein Breaks New Ground over Power Sharing Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness will today talk face-to-face for the first time with a Northern Ireland Chief Constable.


Chiefs of states, premiers coming to Vientiane for ASEAN summit HANOI, November 28 (Itar-Tass) -- Chiefs of state and prime ministers are coming to Vientiane, Laos, for the tenth ASEAN summit due on November 29-30.


Landmine Conference opens in Kenya Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki opened an international landmine conference in Nairobi with a plea for countries to sign a treaty banning the bombs.


The Disco Ball of Failed Hopes and Other Tales From Inside Intel The legendary chipmaker has cancelled a succession of high-profile projects, replaced managers and fallen behind a key competitor.


Internet Access, Delivered From Above New systems deliver broadband Internet connections through fixed antennas without digging up streets to install cables.


A Sure-to-Be-Controversial Game Fulfills That Expectation Fully A video game, released last week with the 41st anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, invites competitors to get behind Lee Harvey Oswald's sniper rifle and recreate the event.


The Internets Retail Appeal With more people having high-speed connections at home, there will be less holiday shopping at work.


Mobile Carriers Move to Put Their Names on More Phones United States cellphone operators are flirting with selling handsets that feature their names exclusively.


Brown to Drive Home Economic Message Chancellor Gordon Brown was today preparing for this weeks vital Pre-Budget Report against a backdrop of dire warnings from business groups and economists


Starting Wednesday, Hawaii by getting free copies of their. By Dave Segal. When it comes to credit reports, Wendy Burkholder has seen it all from customers who visit her at Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Hawaii.


McGahee #39;s four TDs lead Bills #39; rout of Seattle From the opening kickoff, it seemed all coach Mike Mularkey needed was to wind up the Buffalo Bills and watch them go. Actually, he encouraged them to wind down in Seattle.


More whales dead and stranded off Australia #39;s south coast HOBART : A second pod of 17 whales has died in a mysterious mass beaching on King Island in the Bass Strait off Australia #39;s south coast following the fatal stranding of 80 whales and dolphins at the weekend.


Anglican Leader Warns Churches on Gay Hate Message Anglican Church head Rowan Williams has warned church leaders that criticism of gay people could make them vulnerable to persecution or suicide.


A Toll on Palestinians, Israeli Army Encounters at manned military checkpoints exact a heavy toll on the neighboring societies, as evinced by accounts of guards working under dehumanizing conditions, and by reports of abuses committed against Palestinian civilians.


Old Divisions Resurface The Ukrainian presidential election and its aftermath have been marked by propaganda that is exposing old fractures in the former Soviet republic. Differences that are broadly defined by an east-west divide are bursting to the surface.


Colombian Rebels Sought Bush Assassination Colombia's main rebel group asked followers to mount an assassination attempt against President Bush during his visit to Colombia last week, Defense Minister Jorge Uribe said. There was no evidence Saturday that rebels even tried to organize such an attack.


Investors in Treasuries Grow More Bearish Before Jobs Report US Treasury note investors became more bearish last week on speculation a government report will show November employment improved enough to keep the Federal Reserve from slowing the pace of interest rate increases.


Rescuers Try to Save Oil-Soaked Birds After Tanker Spill in <b>...</b> Ducks and geese coated in crude oil were carried to a national wildlife refuge yesterday by volunteers trying to save them from the largest oil spill on the Delaware River in nearly a decade.


Jet Carrying NBC Official Crashes in Colorado A charter jet carrying Dick Ebersol, the chairman of NBC Universal Sports, and five other people crashed, killing the pilot and co-pilot.


Update 1: Tokyo Stocks Rise; Dollar Up Vs. Yen, Euro Tokyo stocks advanced Monday morning as the US dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen and the Europe #39;s single currency. The Nikkei Stock Average of 225 issues gained 153.96 points, or 1.42 percent, to end morning trading at 10,987.71.


Oil Eases After Holiday, Wary of Winter (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. oil prices were slightly softer\on Monday after a four-day break, but the threat of a cold\winter stretching persistently low global heating oil\inventories kept the market within sight of  #36;50 a barrel.


Don #39;t let life fade to black The movie version of the popular children #39;s book, The Polar Express, steamed into theaters earlier this month, and kids are once again becoming entranced by the magic of the Arctic.


GOLF ROUNDUP: Sorenstam, Woods, Couples go for skins Fred Couples returns as defending champion and the most successful player in Skins Game history. Tiger Woods comes in as the most popular player in golf, and Adam Scott is the third man in the field because he won The Players Championship in March.


Strong Quake Hits Japan #39;s Hokkaido, 14 Hurt A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 hit a sparsely populated area of Japan #39;s northernmost main island of Hokkaido early on Monday, injuring at least 14 people.


Ukraine's Unity Is Under Threat by Vote Impasse As many as 3,500 officials voted to seek autonomy if the opposition continues to seek the presidency for Viktor A. Yushchenko.


From Turf to Team, Boise State Takes Unconventional Approach As Boise State has proved in finishing its regular season 11-0, its program has transcended a quirky marketing gimmick: the installation of its blue turf.


Wrecked Roads Blocking Aid Distribution U.N. relief officials warned Monday that people affected by the south Asia earthquake and tsunami may be dying of hunger and disease because wrecked roads and bad communications are blocking the distribution of supplies.


Group releases open-source Web services messaging app Three of Japan #39;s largest IT companies have developed an open-source implementation of a standard from OASIS to ensure reliable messaging between Web services applications.


Australia Sets New Zealand #39;s Cricketers 464 to Win Second Test Australia set New Zealand a victory target of 464 runs in the second and final cricket Test in Adelaide, declaring at 139-2 after lunch on the fourth day.


Steelers are built to win the hard way PITTSBURGH They have a rookie at quarterback and a 32-year-old plowhorse at running back, but the numbers insist we ought to be taking the Pittsburgh Steelers seriously as potential Super Bowl champions.


Fonterra says no need to raise National Foods bid SYDNEY, NOV 28: New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra said on Sunday it would only raise its A\$1.6 billion (\$1.3 billion) bid for Australias top milk producer, National Foods Ltd, in the unlikely event that a rival suitor emerged.


Oil Eases After Holiday, Wary of Winter US oil prices were slightly softer on Monday after a four-day break, but the threat of a cold winter stretching persistently low global heating oil inventories kept the market within sight of \$50 a barrel.


Report: Vegas Sands Names Macau Arm Chief US-based Las Vegas Sands Inc. has chosen the head of another casino company to oversee its operations in Macau, a Chinese gambling enclave that recently ended its casino monopoly, a newspaper reported Monday.


Wall of Smoke Stalls Chinese Rescue, Hope Fades (Reuters) Reuters - A wall of thick smoke blocked rescuers\on Monday from 141 Chinese miners trapped after a gas explosion\in a coal mine in northern China that killed at least 25, and\officials saw scant hope of finding more survivors.


Chile May Compensate Pinochet Victims (AP) AP - President Ricardo Lagos on Sunday said he planned to compensate thousands of people who were imprisoned and tortured under the regime of Gen. Augusto Pinochet.


Iraqi Leaders Warn Against Poll Postponement Baghdad, Nov. 29 (NNN) : Iraqs interim deputy prime minister has said that postponing the forthcoming Iraqi elections would be giving in to terrorism.


Bowl Schedule Confused U-Va.'s decision to decline any postseason bowl invitations that conflict with final exams is causing a headache for the ACC.


Shoppers arrive at stores before dawn to get jump on holiday gift <b>...</b> When the doors finally swung open at 6 am Friday, a cold Eric Tardy of Grand Rapids charged into the Wal-Mart store with a cheer. More than three hours of waiting in the


Christmas Tree Farms in Fairfield County - Choose or Cut Your Own! The use of evergreens as a symbol and celebration of life during Winter Solstice celebrations started in ancient Roman and Egyptian times.


Hong Kong steps up war on crime Hong Kong will work closely with overseas jurisdictions to fight transnational organized crime, the China Daily reported Monday. Hong Kong #39;s Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung


Atlanta comes back to beat NO ATLANTA - Say all you want about the Atlanta Falcons #39; tendency to take an offensive vacation in the third quarter and give opponents hope.


China to Control Power Plant Investments China will step up controls on investment in power plants, despite electricity shortages, to help ease pressure on coal supplies, state media reported Monday.


Dexia board rejects plan for Italian merger THE board of Dexia, the Franco-Belgian bank, yesterday unanimously rejected a proposed 37 billion (26 billion) merger with Italys Sanpaolo, bringing an end to what would have been Europes biggest cross-border bank deal.


US oil eases after holiday, wary of winter US oil prices were slightly softer on Monday after a four-day break, but the threat of a cold winter stretching persistently low global heating oil inventories kept the market within sight of \$50 a barrel.


China Internet Firms Seek New Sources of Revenue (Reuters) Reuters - China Internet media firms, which\struck gold with mobile phone messaging services last year, are\scrambling to diversify after a government clampdown on\sex-related material and a billing overhaul.


Australia Music Industry Decries Kazaa Lawyers for Australia #39;s recording industry branded the popular Kazaa file-swapping network  quot;an engine of copyright piracy to a degree of magnitude never before seen quot; as they launched a court battle to shut down Kazaa #39;s illegal


Coal #39;s global goal THE DIRTY big secret about US energy production is that coal is about to play an even larger role. Already more than 50 percent of US electricity comes from plants burning coal, the fossil fuel that emits


Go Ahead, Toss Out Your VCR Don #39;t you think it #39;s time to retire that VCR? You probably have a DVD player or two, so you already know videocassettes are fast becoming obsolete.


Soccer: Carsley equaliser frustrates Newcastle NEWCASTLE : Everton underlined their re-emergence as an English Premiership force after Lee Carsley struck a stunning equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United.


Five-star Madrid back up to second Real Madrid moved back up to second in the Primera Liga with a 5-0 rout of Levante at the Bernabeu on Sunday. Although Madrid struggled to get going, a 12-minute spell either side of half-time saw the hosts race into a four-goal lead.


Droschak: Tar Heels Steamroll to Victory The stat line in the first half was about as remarkable as it gets. But then again, North Carolina is getting used to big leads at the break.


In case you were worried FOXBORO, Mass. -- In a game only a mudder could love, leave it to Corey Dillon to be the workhorse the Patriots needed on a down and dirty type of afternoon in rainy New England.


O #39;Neal Wants More From Team MIAMI -- Shaquille O #39;Neal thinks Miami #39;s opponents are rising to the challenge of playing against him and Dwyane Wade. And right now, the Heat aren #39;t responding the way their center would prefer.


Swiss voters back stem cell law Voters in Switzerland have backed a new law permitting research on stem cells from human embryos. The Catholic Church and the influential Green Party had opposed the legislation, saying it involved taking human lives.


Chirac rival takes helm of president #39;s party Nicolas Sarkozy, one of France #39;s most ambitious and visible politicians - and an in-house rival of President Jacques Chirac - moved to the helm of the president #39;s party yesterday, a perfect podium for him to bid for the


At XM, Boldly Going The leading satellite radio service, with more than 500 employees and 2.5 million subscribers, has now come into its own and competition is sizzling.-The Washington Post


Contracts Keep Drug Research Out of Reach Academic institutions and researchers are widely viewed as impartial actors in drug trials. But that independence often comes with strings attached.


High Hopes for a Ho Ho Ho Rally The holidays are here, and investors are wondering: Will Santa put some jingle in their pockets this year? So far, so good. Since President George W. Bush #39;s Nov. 2 reelection, the stock market has roared, sending


#39;Merry Chrismukkah! #39; cards proclaim KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Every December, Zack and Hilary Rudman used to send out nonsectarian cards with winter scenes and generic holiday greetings.


Scientists watch man-made flood of Grand Canyon More than 135 years after explorer John Wesley Powell first surveyed this ancient canyon, his writings seemed to echo last week as water roared down the Colorado River.


Online insecurity Despite new federal and state laws aimed at spamming, theft or fraud while using computers, hackers continue to prowl the Internet perpetrating scams and outright theft.


Martyn having time of his life Last week Nigel Martyn made his 800th senior appearance in a 17-year career spanning four clubs. In the 1-0 win over Fulham, Everton #39;s goalkeeper had little to do.


Bengals Beat Browns in Second Highest Scoring Game in NFL History The Cincinnati Bengals pulled out a 58-48 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the most remarkable game of their intrastate rivalry.


Irish will seek to break 6-bowl skid in Phoenix Notre Dame accepted an invitation Sunday to play in the Insight Bowl in Phoenix against a Pac-10 team on Dec. 28. The Irish (6-5) accepted the bid a day after losing to Southern California


Smoke slows Chinese mine rescue explosion, which could be the worst disaster to hit the world #39;s most dangerous mining industry in four years. the mine, which it said was known for a high concentration of gas.


Kazakh Party Offices Hit Two months after elections that were criticized as falling short of international standards, two explosions shook the offices of President


Criminals Prey on Tsunami Victims Across the World  STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Thieves, rapists, kidnappers and  hoaxers are preying on tsunami survivors and families of  victims in Asian refugee camps, hospitals and in the home  countries of European tourists hit by the wave.


Companies unveil details on getting free credit reports The nation #39;s three biggest credit reporting companies have announced details about how consumers can receive copies of their credit reports for free once a year


Steelers just good enough Dirty, weary and quietly pleased, the Steelers trudged into their locker room Sunday after the 16-7 victory against the Washington Redskins.


Chirac congratulates Finance Minister on winning UMP presidency French President Jacques Chirac has congratulated Nicolas Sarkozy on his nomination as president of his ruling party, Union for a Popular Movement (UMP).


Blunkett investigator to be named An independent investigator who will study claims that Home Secretary David Blunkett abused his position is to be named.


Justices to Hear Arguments on Interstate Wine Sales The Supreme Court will soon hear arguments in a legal case that may decide whether wineries can sell directly to out-of-state consumers.


Raiders Ice Broncos The Raiders block a final-minute field-goal attempt by the Broncos' Jason Hanson to preserve a 25-24 win in snow-covered Denver on Sunday night.


O'Neal Wants More Shaquille O'Neal feels the Heat needs to acquire a killer instinct after just edging out the Celtics, 106-104, on Sunday evening.


Tree Farmers Lose Business Now that the Thanksgiving feast is over, many people are getting ready to deck the halls and put up their Christmas tree. Some Christmas tree farmers are working even harder to compete with artificial trees.


Digital music a long way from displacing CDs It #39;s going to be a long time before digital music downloads challenge CD sales, even in the online world. That #39;s the conclusion of a report by market watcher Informa Media Group (IMG), published this week.


Couples wins Skins Game with \$640,000 Fred Couples continued his amazing run in the Skins Game, prevailing in four playoff holes against Woods to get the final three skins and \$340,000, and win his record fifth Skins Game with a total of \$640,000.


Miller makes history with another win LAKE LOUISE, Alberta - World Cup leader Bode Miller barreled his way into skiing history Sunday, collecting his third consecutive win.


Rangers boss McLeish keeps lid on expectations Rangers boss Alex McLeish has attempted to quickly keep expectations low-key after going top yesterday. A 3-2 win over Hearts at Ibrox moved McLeish #39;s men a point clear of Celtic - the first time they #39;ve looked


Russians finish dominant  #39;04 with Federation Cup victory Russia won its first Fed Cup title yesterday by edging defending champion France 3-2 when Anastasia Myskina and Vera Zvonareva beat Marion Bartoli and Emilie Loit 7-6 (5), 7-5 in the deciding doubles match.


After adjusting, Pats get busy After a 3-3 slugfest of a first half, the New England Patriots (10-1) made enough alterations at the intermission to open the game up in the second half en route to a 24-3 win over Baltimore (7-4) yesterday.


Leinart #39;s big game bolsters Heisman chances  quot;Heisman Trophy? Definitely. He #39;s going to get it, quot; Trojans guard Fred Matua said after Leinart threw for a career-high 400 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-10 win over Notre Dame on Saturday night.


Steelers defense lives up to ranking The Washington Redskins thought they had hit rock bottom with their offensive struggles when they gained just 213 net yards in their 28-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last week.


China Mine Blast Kills 25, Traps 144 in 3rd Mishap in Six Weeks Twenty-five Chinese coal miners were killed and 141 remained trapped underground a day after China #39;s third major mining accident in less than six weeks.


Pakistan Tests Short-Range Nuclear-Capable Missile, Army Says Pakistan successfully test fired a short-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, as part of series of planned tests, the army said.


How the toy industry is being outplayed by video games this <b>...</b> Left unfettered, Anthony Konieczka, 9, would happily thumb away at his Game Boy Advance or PlayStation2 from the minute he gets up to the moment he crawls into bed, 14 bleary-eyed hours later.


Gasoline Pump Price Falls for 9th Week  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail gasoline prices declined  for the ninth week in a row and truckers are enjoying the  cheapest diesel fuel in almost four months, the Energy  Department said on Monday.


Patriots 24, Ravens 3 The New England Patriots showed the stingiest team in the NFL that they also can dominate on defense. They shut down Baltimore 24-3 Sunday, scoring on a fumble recovery and holding the Ravens to 124 yards.


EAST CHAMP EAGLES EYEING SUPER PRIZE Philadelphia is a city filled with landmarks, and the Eagles #39; 27-6 rout of the Giants had plenty of them. The Eagles sealed their fourth straight NFC East title, and joined the 1985 Bears and


Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable missile (AFP) AFP - Pakistan has test-fired a short-range nuclear capable missile, its fifth missile test this year.


ASEAN 10 - a peak of cooperation and consensus construction Ha Noi (VNA) - The 10th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN 10) - an important event marking one year of operation of the regional grouping - kicked off in Vientiane , Laos , on Monday.


First five-year review of international treaty to ban land mines <b>...</b> NAIROBI, Kenya - The first five-year review of the international treaty to ban land mines begins considering governments compliance with the pact on Monday, and starts work on a five-year action plan.


Haiti's Wounds Overwhelm a Suffering Public Hospital Haiti's largest public hospital is barely functioning despite foreign governments' pledging \$1.4 billion toward Haiti's long-term development.


6 Civilians, 17 Insurgents Killed in Iraq Violence A car bomb killed six civilians in Samarra, north of Baghdad, on Sunday when it exploded as a U.S. convoy was passing, police said. South of the capital, U.S. and Iraqi forces killed 17 suspected insurgents in raids.


Strong Quake Hits in Japan A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 hit a wide area of Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido early Monday, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.


Chile to Pay Torture Victims  SANTIAGO, Chile, Nov. 28 -- President Ricardo Lagos of Chile on Sunday proposed special pensions and other reparations for more than 28,000 Chileans who were tortured by government agents during the country's 1973-1990 military dictatorship.


Asian Stocks Edge Up as Dollar Steadies (Reuters) Reuters - The dollar strengthened above last\week's record low against the euro on Monday, allowing shares\in shippers and steelmakers to take Asian equity markets up,\but nerves about the dollar's direction capped stock gains.


Raiders Edge Broncos 25-24 (AP) AP - The Silver and Black looked right at home in the white stuff. Kerry Collins threw for 339 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Oakland Raiders to an upset in the snow Sunday night, 25-24 over the Denver Broncos.


Lakers Defeat Hornets 89-76 (AP) AP - Kobe Bryant had 20 points, six rebounds and seven assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers struggled to an 89-76 victory over the injury-depleted New Orleans Hornets on Sunday night.


SuperSonics 103, Pacers 95 In a matchup of conference leaders, the Seattle SuperSonics thought the Indiana Pacers would run out of steam when it counted most.


Blazers Bring Out The Worst In the Nets The NBA introduced the 24-second shot clock in 1954 to increase scoring. For the second time this month, the Nets and the Portland Trail Blazers set back offensive basketball 50 years.


Hurricane season 2004: The year Florida #39;s luck ran out After dodging hurricanes for a generation, Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast got what no soothsayer would have dared predict: two storms striking almost the same spot three weeks apart.


To Stretch City's Budget for the Arts, Chicago Turns to EBay Chicago will hold the first charitable eBay auction to be sponsored by an American city, to benefit the city's cultural programs.


Fratello waiting to hear back from Memphis Grizzlies MIAMI Mike Fratello says he had  quot;a nice conversation quot; with the Memphis Grizzlies about the team #39;s vacant coaching position.


Bettis helps Pittsburgh #39;s streak hit 9 Antwaan Randle El, making his second NFL start at receiver, took care of the big plays and Jerome Bettis (Detroit Mackenzie) handled the short yardage in his fourth consecutive 100-yard game to lead the Steelers past Washington, 16-7, Sunday.


India says Kashmir incursions down The number of Muslim guerrillas infiltrating Indian Kashmir from Pakistan has plunged 60 percent since construction of a border fence and a tighter vigil by frontier troops, India #39;s home minister has said in a report.


Wal-Mart casts pall over holiday sales Anecdotal evidence of crowded stores at the start of the holiday shopping season wasn #39;t backed up with promising retail numbers, as Wal-Mart Stores Inc.


Leading IT Vendors Release Messaging Software Fujitsu Limited, Hitachi, Ltd., and NEC Corporation have released their jointly developed messaging software as open source. This software implements the Web Services Reliability (WS-Reliability) standard, a


Divers find gash in hull of oil tanker A 6-foot gash has been discovered in the hull of a tanker that leaked 30,000 gallons of crude oil into the Delaware River Friday night, officials said yesterday.


Southern California steps it up No. 1-ranked Southern California can #39;t claim perfection yet, needing to win two more games to finish 13-0 and as national champion.


Texas Christian Beats No. 13 MSU 80-75 (AP) AP - Sandora Irvin had 23 points and 17 rebounds and Texas Christian upset a ranked team for the second night in a row, beating No. 13 Michigan State 80-75 Sunday in the championship game of the Rainbow Wahine Classic.


Spain's ex-PM faces bombs inquiry Former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar is to answer questions about the 11 March Madrid bombings.


INTERVIEW: Australia #39;s Foster #39;s Taps Russian Beer Market MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--Aiming to make Foster #39;s Lager the world #39;s third best-selling international beer by 2009, Australian drinks company Foster #39;s Group Ltd.


Christmas tree farmers hope for as good of year as last year MADISON, Wis. -  #39;Tis the season to buy real trees to decorate the home and Wisconsin Christmas tree farmers hope they can repeat last year #39;s success.


Strike doesn #39;t paralyze turnpike Pennsylvania Turnpike managers and temporary workers held out their hands again yesterday to collect tolls from shoppers, football fans and end-of-Thankgiving weekend


Yellen focuses on employment SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Matching job growth and economic growth are key to the Fed #39;s pace of raising short-term interest rates, Janet Yellen, president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, said in an interview published Sunday.


Couples wins for record fifth time LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Fred Couples continued his amazing run in the Skins Game on Sunday, prevailing in four playoff holes over Tiger Woods to win the event for a record fifth time.


Texas Christian 80, No. 13 Michigan St. 75 Sandora Irvin had 23 points and 17 rebounds and Texas Christian upset a ranked team for the second night in a row, beating No. 13 Michigan State 80-75 Sunday in the championship game of the Rainbow Wahine Classic.


China blast traps miners in toxic shafts A gas explosion that tore through a coal mine in central China trapped 166 workers in underground shafts filled with noxious smoke in the latest and apparently the deadliest of a


Abbas reaffirms 2005 statehood goal Mahmoud Abbas, the leading candidate for the Palestinian Authority presidency, said yesterday that Palestinians wanted to begin negotiating final statehood terms


Carter Lifts Himself Off Deck; Defense Is Steady at Helm After suffering a head injury on the third play, Quincy Carter returned to what ended up being his most effective game since taking over as the Jets' starter.


Eagles' Biggest Hurdle Lies Ahead EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Nov. 28 - Even the flamboyant Terrell Owens was subdued after Philadelphia's 27-6 victory over the Giants on Sunday. The Eagles had just dominated a rival and clinched the division, but it is a little hard to get excited about accomplishments that were never seriously in doubt.


Chinese auto firm looks overseas Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, China's largest carmaker, is consolidating its assets into a new company as it considers listing its shares abroad.


US Retailers #39; Holiday Sales Rise; Wal-Mart Lags Behind US retailers #39; credit card sales rose more than 6 percent during the first weekend of the holiday shopping season. Same-store sales at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.


Business leaders forecast tax rises A Government of any party will be forced to cut spending or raise taxes by 7 billion a year after the election if it is to meet Chancellor Gordon Brown #39;s economic rules, business leaders have warned.


Bush reform may have blue states seeing red President Bush #39;s  quot;revenue-neutral quot; tax reform needs losers to balance its winners, and people claiming the federal deduction for state and local taxes may be in administration planners #39; sights, news reports say.


SARS Outbreak May Hit Asia This Winter, WHO Says (Update1) An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, may hit Asia this winter, the World Health Organization said today in an e-mailed statement.


Bush urges N. Ireland leaders to accept Anglo-Irish proposal (AFP) AFP - US President George W. Bush has urged Northern Ireland's leaders to accept an Anglo-Irish proposal aimed at ending political deadlock between Protestants and Roman Catholics, the White House said.


UPDATE 2-Australia heading for victory as Kiwis collapse Australia ripped through the top of the New Zealand order to leave the tourist #39;s struggling on 36 for four at tea on the fourth day of the second test


If there was doubt, 49ers are worst Offense can #39;t reward defense <b>...</b> The 49ers #39; defense caused fumbles, sacked the quarterback, knocked down passes and even scored a touchdown. The defense played well enough for any team to win.


Owen Still Hoping for Starting Role England striker Michael Owen has vowed to keep fighting for a place in the Real Madrid starting line-up after another substitute appearance led to his now almost customary goal.


Sinn Fein seeks faster N Ireland pullout An Irish political party leader is to urge British Prime Minister Tony Blair to accelerate the withdrawal of troops from republican areas of Northern Ireland.


Williams #39; call for Anglican unity falls on deaf ears The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, issued a stern warning to Anglican primates across the world yesterday to avoid the language of hatred for homosexuals and to seek together to heal the divisions within the 77 million-strong communion caused


Pakistan tests mid-range missile Pakistan test-fires a medium-range missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads.


Lehmann and Richardson contest foot-race for charity New Delhi, Nov. 29 (UNI): Darren Lehmann will take on New Zealand #39;s opening batsman Mark Richardson, in a foot race following the end of play in the second 3 mobile Test match at the Adelaide Oval.


S.Korean industrial output growth slides to nine-month low South Korea #39;s industrial output growth plunged to a nine-month low with 5.7 percent growth rate in October due to cooling exports and protracted weak consumer spending, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said Monday.


Music industry tries to shut Kazaa down LAWYERS FROM the Music industry are on the attack down under as they try to close the popular P2P software network Kazaa. An Australian federal court was told that the developers of file-swapping technology


Iraqi Election Creates Unusual Alliances (AP) AP - Doubts about holding Iraqi national elections on Jan. 30 produced an alliance few believed possible  #151; Sunni Arabs and Sunni Kurds united in calling for a delay. Less than 24 hours later, the alliance collapsed after Shiite Arabs made clear they would not accept any postponement.


French Relations in Africa Faces Threat (AP) AP - For more than 100 years, French families have made their homes in this tropical country, rich in coffee and cocoa. Its main city, with its towering skyscrapers, crisp croissants and fine wines, became known as the Paris of West Africa.


Price reigns in shoppers #39; priorities Ask holiday shoppers what drives their choice of stores and you #39;ll hear a variety of answers. But the subject of money is never far away.


UPDATE 1-Warburg Pincus to buy 2.75 of Kotak Mahindra Bank The board of India #39;s Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (KTKM.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) has approved an issue of shares representing a 2.75 percent stake to Warburg Pincus International LLC.


India dampen South Africa advance South Africa added just 62 runs for the loss of three wickets as India pegged them back on day two of the second Test in Calcutta.


Special teams can #39;t handle Randle El The Pittsburgh Steelers #39; Antwaan Randle El posted back-to-back returns of 60 and 43 yards in the first half at Heinz Field. Those big plays set up 10 points


25 miners killed in China blast BEIJING, China (AFP) - Rescuers said at least 25 miners were killed yesterday in a major gas explosion at a coal mine in north China #39;s Shaanxi province, the official Xinhua news agency reported.


Boston's technology takes corporate, not consumer, tilt If you want to know what it feels like to be a salmon struggling upstream, or a migratory bird flapping south in the face of a stiff headwind, just try starting a consumer technology business in Boston.


For planners, procrastinators alike There are those who finish their holiday shopping by Thanksgiving. Then there are the rest of us. Here's a holiday gift guide for both planners and procrastinators.


Marketers drawing on anthropology NEW YORK -- Eight O'Clock Coffee Co. wanted its ads to hit people right where they live -- in their own homes, just waking up in the morning, craving that first cup of coffee.


Retailers see tepid start to holiday season NEW YORK -- The start of the holiday season was respectable but unimpressive for many of the nation's retailers, with consumers jamming stores and malls on Friday and pulling back as the weekend wore on.


Kotak Mahindra Bank to sell 2.7 stake to Warburg Pincus The board of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd has approved an issue of shares representing a 2.75 per cent stake to Warburg Pincus International LLC.


Holidays Push Back Da Vinci Tests Well, when you #39;re running a space program with mostly volunteers, you have to expect some hiccups. The da Vinci Project, a Canadian effort to launch a civilian space flight, has pushed back test flights because of the looming holiday season.


Microsoft #39;s Piracy Replacement Offer: Trick Or Treat? Microsoft UK is offering FREE licensed copies of Windows XP to anyone who is willing to give up their counterfeit copies in exchange.


NOVO VOWS TO REMAIN FOCUSED Rangers striker Nacho Novo insists he will not let his impending showdown with the Scottish Football Association distract him from the task of keeping the club at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.


Wade enjoying sidekick #39; role Dwyane Wade calls himself a  quot;sidekick, quot; gladly accepting the role Kobe Bryant never wanted in Los Angeles. And not only does second-year Heat point


Eagles clinch NFC East, aim higher There was no champagne celebration by the players, no Gatorade bath for the coach. Maybe another team would be impressed with itself after clinching


Taiwan telcos need at least two years for 3G services to take off (AFP) AFP - Taiwan's telecommunications industry will need at least another two years before third-generation (3G) mobile phone services generate meaningful revenues, an industry chief executive was quoted in the Financial Times as saying.


Japan's Supreme Court refuses compensation to South Korean war slaves (AFP) AFP - Japan's top court has a damages suit brought by South Koreans forced to work as sex slaves or soldiers by the Japanese Imperial Army, saying their suffering in World War II cannot be compensated under the post-war constitution.


High Court to Hear Medical Marijuana Issue (AP) AP - Angel Raich tried dozens of prescription medicines to ease the pain of a brain tumor and other illnesses before she took up another drug: pot.


High-water mark FOXBOROUGH -- By the end of a 24-3 Patriots win over the Baltimore Ravens yesterday, the Patriots didn't know whether to sack Kyle Boller or to hug him.


Miserable conditions, another happy ending FOXBOROUGH -- Does everyone in these here parts truly appreciate what's going on here? I mean, if football is your game, do you understand that you have hit the lottery? Stop worrying about whether the Patriots will win a third Super Bowl on the evening of Feb. 6, 2005. There are too many variables involved to start worrying about that. ...


Patchwork secondary was in prime position FOXBOROUGH -- It is logical, if you coach offensive football for a living, to look at the Patriots secondary as presently constituted and see opportunity.


Celtics getting warmer, but they still fall to Heat MIAMI -- Progress takes many forms. Last night at American Airlines Arena, it was a last-second 17-footer by Ricky Davis that skipped across the rim. Without the buzzer-beater, Boston failed to force overtime and came up short in its fourth-quarter comeback attempt against Miami, losing, 106-104.


Chargers don't drop the ball KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Strip away the great plays and the wild action and San Diego's 34-31 victory over Kansas City is reduced to a simple story: big plays. The revitalized Chargers (8-3) showed why they keep winning and the distraught Chiefs (3-8) showed why they continue to lose. San Diego made the big plays yesterday, got expert quarterbacking from ...


Steelers have plenty in reserve PITTSBURGH -- The Washington Redskins only wish they were getting as much offense from their starters as the streaking Pittsburgh Steelers are from their backups.


Eagles roll past Giants by smothering Manning EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Philadelphia Eagles wrapped up a fourth consecutive NFC East title the same way they won the first three -- with an awesome defense that made Eli Manning look like a rookie.


Texans sweep past Titans HOUSTON -- David Carr threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns and Domanick Davis rushed for a season-high 129 yards and a score to help the Houston Texans rally from an 18-point deficit yesterday in a 31-21 win over the Tennessee Titans.


Niners hand it to Dolphins SAN FRANCISCO -- Randy McMichael caught a 15-yard touchdown pass with 10:35 to play, and the 49ers fumbled five times in the fourth quarter of the Miami Dolphins' 24-17 victory yesterday, leaving San Francisco as the league's only one-win team.


Hamstrung no longer MINNEAPOLIS -- Randy Moss caught a go-ahead touchdown pass in the third quarter, Kevin Williams returned Byron Leftwich's fumble 77 yards for the clinching score, and the Vikings beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-16, yesterday. Trailing, 20-16, just before the 2-minute warning, with third and 6 at the Minnesota 19, Leftwich had Jacksonville in position to take the lead. But rookie ...


A backfield in motion FOXBOROUGH -- He needed a long hit of mouthwash when the festivities at Gillette Stadium were over yesterday.


Latest event far out FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots might have underestimated Adam Vinatieri's scoring range yesterday. During pregame planning, the Patriots decided not to attempt field goals if the line of scrimmage was outside the 30-yard line. But Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal in the third quarter of the Patriots' 24-3 victory over Baltimore cleared the crossbar by several yards, leaving the impression the Patriots ...


Colvin likes getting in on action FOXBOROUGH -- It all feels different to Rosevelt Colvin. A 10-1 season feels different than the 13-3 season he experienced with the Chicago Bears under Dick Jauron in 2000.


Bengals outscore Browns CINCINNATI -- Kelly Holcomb threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns -- and lost. Strange? Not as strange as those other numbers glowing on the scoreboard as Holcomb trudged off the field with his head down and more misery ahead.


Hughes is huge in Wizards' win The Minnesota Timberwolves didn't stop when the clock did. Kevin Garnett and Sam Cassell combined for 11 straight points after the game clock malfunctioned, and the Timberwolves went on to a 121-110 victory over the host Sacramento Kings last night.


No. 1 Tennessee holds off Owls Shanna Zolman scored 5 of her 10 points in the closing minutes and Shyra Ely made two free throws with 11.9 seconds left, helping top-ranked Tennessee avoid an upset at the hands of Temple by pulling out a 52-48 decision in Knoxville, Tenn.


Indiana kicks aside Eagles BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Josh Tudela headed in a corner kick from Brian Plotkin in the 41st minute, lifting defending national champion Indiana to a 1-0 NCAA Division 1 soccer tournament win over Boston College yesterday.


BC's bowl picture out of focus Where to now? That was the question everyone at Boston College was asking yesterday after the 17th-ranked Eagles laid a colossal egg in Saturday's devastating 43-17 loss against Syracuse. It cost BC the Big East title outright, a berth in the Bowl Championship Series, and a likely New Year's Day bid to the Fiesta Bowl.


Something was on the blink The problem with being in the spotlight dance is a basic one. You had better know how to dance.


Heralded Herra has had helpers When Hingham meets Wilmington tomorrow in the Division 2A playoffs, the Harbormen will be face with a player the likes of which they have never seen, said Wildcats coach Bob Almeida. Wilmington quarterback Joe Herra, a four-year starter who ranks fourth in Eastern Mass. with 18 touchdown passes, will attempt to lift the Wildcats into the Super Bowl when Wilmington ...


There's nothing to fear but Feehan itself The Bourne football team has compiled five shutouts and played to a 10-1 record this season behind the mantra:  quot;Respect everybody, fear nobody. quot; That formula becomes harder to live by tomorrow when the Canalmen take on Eastern Athletic Conference champion Bishop Feehan in the Division 2A playoffs at 4 p.m. at Greater New Bedford Vocational High School.


166 miners trapped in China blast BEIJING -- An explosion tore through a coal mine in central China yesterday, sending smoke billowing from air vents and trapping at least 166 miners in tunnels and shafts below without a method of communication, the government said.


Israel eyes coordination of pullout JERUSALEM -- Israel is prepared to coordinate its pullout from Gaza with a new Palestinian government, officials said yesterday, a shift from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's concept of  quot;unilateral disengagement quot; and a sign that cooperation may be restored in the post-Arafat era.


THANKSGIVING WEEKEND SHOPPING: Consumers get the job done: They <b>...</b> The Thanksgiving weekend is over, and the typical consumer has completed 37 percent of his or her holiday shopping, according to a National Retail Federation survey released Sunday.


PEPPER-SPRAY TOYS  #39;R #39; US  #39;DESERTED #39; Customers of the Times Square Toys  #39;R #39; Us yesterday said the flagship store lacked its normal Christmas bustle, one day after pepper spray forced the evacuation of some 3,000 customers.


Crude futures ease despite lingering fears over heating oil <b>...</b> Crude oil futures eased slightly Monday but remained close to the US\$50 barrel level amid lingering concerns about shortages of heating oil at the start of the Northern Hemisphere winter, market-watchers said.


China, ASEAN to sign deals moving towards world #39;s biggest free <b>...</b> VIENTIANE: China and Southeast Asian countries were Monday to sign historic trade pacts paving the way for the world #39;s biggest free-trade zone, which could eventually include the rest of Northeast Asia and India.


The Best Toys Don #39;t Come In A Big Box Marchets Toys  amp; Hobbies, a small shop tucked in the corner of Southgate Shopping Center, is a reminder of life before the big-box stores.


Delaware River Oil Spill Leaves Wildlife Imperiled Birds coated in oil were carried to a wildlife refuge by volunteers trying to save them from the largest oil spill on the Delaware River in nearly a decade.


Couples Bests Woods to Continue Mastery of Skins Game Fred Couples continued his amazing run in the Skins Game in La Quinta, Calif., prevailing in four playoff holes over Tiger Woods to claim the final three skins and \$340,000, and win his record fifth Skins Game with a total of \$640,000.


Aussies set huge total NEW Zealand trailed by 314 to be 5-149 in its second innings at stumps on day four of the second Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval today.


Koznick lands spot on Aspen podium ASPEN - After two days of disappointment, an American ski racer finally landed on a podium in front of an enthusiastic, partisan and snow-covered crowd Sunday.


UPDATE 1-Everton draw at Newcastle, Spurs end losing run Everton ground out a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur ended a run of six Premier League defeats with a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over 10-man Middlesbrough on Sunday.


McNair #39;s future is uncertain, will  #39;evaluate #39; after season In the Astrodome as a Houston Oiler he began laying the foundation for a successful career that includes a Super Bowl appearance, last season #39;s Co-MVP award and recognition as one of the league #39;s toughest and most versatile quarterbacks.


US general warns over Iraq poll Violence in Mosul is damaging efforts to hold elections in the city, the US commander in north Iraq tells the BBC.


Killer fingertips can stop E.coli Scientists discover how the skin of the fingertips protects itself against a common bug that causes diarrhoea.


Online commons to spark debate eBay could be a good model for \government-backed online communities,  says a UK think-tank.


UPDATE: Australian Growth Likely Slowed Sharply In 3Q SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Australia #39;s economic growth likely slowed sharply in the third quarter, economists said Monday, with data showing a record current account deficit and foreign debt.


Telekom Austria Acquires Major Bulgarian Mobile Operator Telekom Austria AG, Austria #39;s biggest phone operator won the right to buy Bulgaria #39;s largest mobile phone company, MobilTel EAD.


Martha #39;s meals not up to Living standards unless one is eating it with Martha Stewart! Carol Gilbert, 57, a Catholic nun serving time with the domestic diva at the Federal


Step change as Ofgem agrees price rise Electricity distribution companies in Great Britain will be allowed to raise their prices by an average of 1.3 per cent after inflation in 2005-2005, industry regulator Ofgem said on Monday.


Mitsubishi, Merrill Lynch in Joint Venture Money-losing Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Monday that it is setting up a joint venture with Merrill Lynch to offer auto-sales financing services in the United States.


Kazaa #39;s parent takes another legal beating  quot;The Kazaa system is an engine of copyright piracy to a degree of magnitude never before seen, quot; declared the counsel for the music industry, Tony Bannon, during today #39;s commencement of the civil trial against peer-to-peer (P2P) software distributor


Crew to re-dock spaceship at international space station The two-man crew is scheduled to re-dock a spaceship at a new port this morning. Mission Control says it #39;s to prepare for two spacewalks early next year.


Microsoft offers XP counterfeit  #39;amnesty #39; in hopes of chasing down <b>...</b> Microsoft has announced a one month  quot;amnesty quot; of sorts for possessors of possible counterfeit copies of the Windows XP operating system.


Now, a cellphone that can advice you! Two Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists are developing a cellphone that is so smart it can tell what you think and even predict your next move.


Cash crunch no game for Infinium Labs The financial picture is not pretty at Infinium Labs, a Sarasota, Fla., video-game company that lured former Microsoft employees to work at its main development office in Seattle.


A universally good year for the Geminids meteor shower SATURN makes its reappearance on our star maps this month but is only the appetiser for a feast of planetary interest later in the night.


Violent videos and the holidays They were lined up at dawn Friday. They fidgeted with nervous energy. They could barely wait to get into those stores and start spending.


Beckham to Arsenal? Beckham might return to England with Arsenal: David Beckham is being rumored to return to England with Arsenal in a deal that may see midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg join Real Madrid, the Daily Star Sunday said.


Diouf spit leaves a sour taste for Bolton Senegal striker El-Hadji Diouf has been hit with a fine of two weeks #39; wages after he spat in the face of Portsmouth #39;s Arjan de Zeeuw during Saturday #39;s Premiership match.


Russia power to maiden title Moscow: Moscow-born Tatiana Golovin kept alive Frances hopes of retaining the Fed Cup title by crushing US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-1 in the second reverse singles on Sunday.


Eagles soar to NFC East division title EAST RUTHERFORD, United States (AFP) - The Philadelphia Eagles clinched their fourth straight division title, and with plenty of time to spare in the National Football League season.


Top 25 women: Top-ranked Tennessee survives Temple scare A poor shooting game will likely knock Tennessee out of the No. 1 ranking. A second bad showing almost cost the Volunteers more. Shanna Zolman scored five of her


French relay team set to get late gold American Calvin Harrison #39;s failure to appeal against a doping ban means the French men #39;s 4x400 meters relay team will get a late gold.


Just how super are the Sonics? They sport the best record in the NBA and have beaten several top-tier teams (like Minnesota, Sacramento, San Antonio and Denver).


Iran agrees to a freeze on nuke programs Dropping a last-minute demand to keep using centrifuges, Iran agreed yesterday to suspend its nuclear programs and won some additional concessions from Europe for a resolution


FDA Warns Cyberonics on Manufacturing  CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. regulators warned Cyberonics Inc.  of manufacturing deficiencies at the Houston plant that makes  its sole product, an implantable device to treat epilepsy, the  company said on Monday.


Philippine GDP rises 6.3 percent in third quarter The Philippine economy rose 6.3 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, higher than the market expectations, the government said Monday.


Warburg to buy Kotak bank pie Foreign Institutional Investor Warburg Pincus International will pick up 2.75 per cent stake in Kotak Mahindra Bank for Rs 75.9 crore (Rs 759 million), subject to shareholders #39; approval.


SuperGen Withdraws Drug Application  NEW YORK (Reuters) - SuperGen Inc. SUPG.O on Monday said  it has withdrawn an application to market its pancreatic cancer  drug in the United States, casting a cloud on the drug's future  in the world's biggest market and sending the company's shares  down as much as 16 percent.


BECKS TO HIS BEST FOR REAL DAVID BECKHAM and Michael Owen were on target as Real Madrid went goal crazy in the Bernabeu last night. Beckham marked his return to form in style with his first goal in two months.


Telekom Austria Wins Mobiltel Bid Option for \$2.1 Bln (Update2) Telekom Austria AG, the country #39;s biggest phone operator, won the right to buy Bulgaria #39;s largest mobile phone company, MobilTel EAD, for 1.6 billion euros (\$2.1 billion), an acquisition that would add 3 million subscribers.


Regulator agrees power price rise Power network distribution charges are to rise by an average 1 next year, regulator Ofgem has announced. The electricity charges will then be capped at the rate of inflation for the next four years, Ofgem said.


Stocks Start 2005 on Weak Note  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Monday -- the first  trading day of 2005 -- after disappointing U.S. employment and  construction spending data triggered concern about economic  growth and lower crude oil prices pulled down energy shares.


Australian wildlife authorities fight to save stranded whales Wildlilfe authorities in Australia are concerned by the beaching of dozens of whales in two separate incidents in waters off the state of Tasmania.


WORLD IN BRIEF RIO DE JANEIRO -- Gang members shot and wounded dozens of people at a Rio de Janeiro disco Sunday after party organizers refused to stop the music to honor a suspected drug kingpin killed earlier by police.


The Cost of Virus Protection Rises Symantec, McAfee hope raising virus-definition fees will move users to suites.


Google Stumbles With New Desktop Tool Beta search app creates vulnerabilities that may threaten your data's security.


Vietnam to create more favorable conditions for foreign investors Vietnam is endeavoring to improve its business environment in such fields as procedures, taxes, land and labor, in a move to lure US\$18 billion worth of foreign direct investment in the 2006-2010 period.


Couples hits the jackpot at Skins Game Fred Couples made two big putts - worth at least \$300,000 apiece - to again emerge the big winner at the Skins Game, which also featured Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam and Adam Scott.


Rangers 3, Hearts 2 Rangers manager Alex McLeish paid tribute to his battle-weary players after they defeated Hearts and reached the Bank of Scotland Premier League summit for the first time in more than a year.


Philly clinches NFC East title EAGLES 27, GIANTS 6: The Eagles, in the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, are the third team since 1978 to win its division in Game 11.


PITTSBURGH WINS 9TH IN A ROW WITH 207 YARDS Antwaan Randle El and Jerome Bettis gave the host Pittsburgh Steelers just enough offense for a 16-7 win at home against the Washington Redskins yesterday, and to keep their longest winning streak in 28 years going.


Abbas seeks international support for Palestinian elections Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Jordan on Sunday in an attempt to seek international support for January #39;s landmark elections.


Aid Group Threatens Afghanistan Pullout An aid group in Afghanistan said it was considering pulling out of part of the country after Taliban militants attacked its compound in a southern town yesterday, killing three people and engaging authorities in a gun battle.


Severn Trent lifts dividend as US business suffers Severn Trent, the UK environmental services group, said it intended to raise its interim dividend by 2.5 per cent to 18.21p despite a 10 per cent fall in pre-tax profits to 126.2m (\$239m) for the six months to 30 September.


IBM to introduce chip for consumer products New York, November 29: International Business Machines Corp is set to introduce a new chip to be used in consumer products that it has developed with Sony Corp and Toshiba Corp, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.