Redskins 17 - Lions 10: Post-Game Quotes The Detroit Lions dropped a second consecutive game on Sunday, falling 17-10 to the Washington Redskins -- and to .500 for the first time this season at 4-4.


Seahawks lose CB Lucas in win San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Seattle Seahawks cornerback Ken Lucas will spend the night in a San Francisco hospital after suffering a chest contusion in Sunday #39;s 42-27 victory over the 49ers.


Between chaos and progress The epic script of the Middle East conflict could have had Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, kaffiyeh-clad and armed, emerge from his junkyard compound as a born-again peacemaker or guns blazing in martyrdom.


21 shot dead in Iraq police station massacre, two US soldiers <b>...</b> RAMADI, Iraq, Nov 7 (AFP) - Gunmen rounded up and killed 21 policemen and two US soldiers died in separate attacks in Iraq Sunday, one day after car bombs and clashes killed 36 people in the restive Sunni heartland.


Ivorian Leader Urges End to Anti-French Violence (Reuters) Reuters - President Laurent Gbagbo appealed for\an end to anti-French crowd violence which erupted after France\destroyed most of Ivory Coast's small air force in retaliation\for the killing of nine French peacekeepers.


Nikkei Dips Down, Yen Weighs on Exporters (Reuters) Reuters - Japan's Nikkei share average edged down\by midsession on Monday after erasing opening gains as investor\caution over the yen's rise offset optimism about the\post-election outlook for Wall Street.


On-Demand Apps Break Enterprise Barriers (TechWeb) TechWeb - Now with easy customization and process integration, will utility apps dominate?


Microsoft Seeks Change Before Dividend (AP) AP - For Microsoft Corp. shareholders, the holidays will likely come early this year in the form of a one-time  #36;3 dividend that's part of the company's plan to return some of its  #36;64.4 billion cash horde back to shareholders. But Microsoft won't hand out the cash unless shareholders allow the company to alter its stock compensation plans, so employees who hold stock options and stock awards aren't hurt by the dividend payout.


Eye on Open Source (TechWeb) TechWeb - More Choices for BI on Linux; MySQL Might Have Jumped the Gun


Lucent, Unions Delay Contract Deadline (AP) AP - Lucent Technologies Inc. and two labor unions agreed Sunday to give themselves one more day to avoid a possible strike.


Macedonians Vote on Ethnic Albanian Rule (AP) AP - Macedonia's national referendum Sunday on abolishing local autonomy for the country's ethnic Albanian minority failed, authorities said.


Philippine Envoy Pleads for Captive (AP) AP - The Philippines' top envoy on Sunday appealed to Iraqi militants for the release of a Filipino accountant kidnapped earlier this month in Baghdad.


17 Iraqis Working for Coalition Killed (AP) AP - Gunmen firing from two cars killed 17 Iraqis as they were heading to work Sunday at a U.S. military facility in the northern city of Tikrit while separate attacks killed four Iraqi security personnel in nearby towns.


Ed Hardin: Must-see TV: UNC is for real CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina made its national debut Saturday afternoon in a long-running reality series starring the ACC. Carolina #39;s 91-78 win over No.


U.S. Marine Tanks Prepare for Falluja Offensive  NEAR FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - Gunfire crackled from a  nearby junkyard used by insurgents on Monday when a U.S. Marine  tank company and infantry units began moving into a desert  staging position for an expected offensive on Falluja.


Undefeated Tigers outscore Vols, unlikely to get shot at national <b>...</b> Auburn gave the Bowl Championship Series suits what they were looking for Saturday night. Auburn #39;s Cole Bennett (87) recovers a fumble in the end zone to score the Tigers #39; first


Shopping With My Friendsters Social networking features are popping up on auction and shopping sites, allowing visitors to compare notes and turn e-commerce into a social experience.


Iran Jails More Journalists and Blocks Web Sites Iran has moved against pro-democracy Web sites, blocking hundreds of sites in recent months and making several arrests.


One Internet, Many Copyright Laws A battle over copyright infringement on the Internet heats up. No, not over music. Over the classic 'Gone With the Wind.'


CU drops Big 12 title to Sooners Buffalo football fans who were parked on barstools nonchalantly shrugged off Saturday night #39;s Big 12 big blowout. The second-ranked Oklahoma Sooners pounded the University


Marketing for the Third Screen Marketers are about to aim at the third screen: the one on the cellphone in your pocket.


When Etiquette Isn't Enough, a Cellphone Cone of Silence The deliberate private creation of cellphone dead zones is an act bound to infuriate phone users and the cellphone industry alike.


Nikkei Down at Midsession  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average was lower at  midsession on Monday as caution over the yen's rise offset  optimism about the post-election outlook for Wall Street.


Pittsburgh: Where the Unbeaten Go to Die Instead of a letdown after stopping the New England Patriots' winning streak at 21 games last Sunday, Pittsburgh pounded Philadelphia, which started the day 7-0.


Bruins manifest spirit A three-touchdown point spread and a recent history of late-season collapses had many thinking the UCLA football team would provide little opposition to rival USC #39;s march to the BCS-championship game at the Orange Bowl.


Giants Slip and Vanish in a Torrent of Turnovers The Giants coughed up three straight second-quarter turnovers and dissolved in a torrent of penalties in a baffling loss at Giants Stadium.


Goosen Does Unthinkable and Gets Woods Thinking When Tiger Woods and Jay Haas faltered, Retief Goosen knew how to finish, with a brilliant six-under-par 64 and a victory at the Tour Championship.


American men picking up speed Beaver Creek - In a quiet moment the day before the first World Cup race this season, US Ski Team men #39;s coach Phil McNichol scoffed at those who were predicting a duel for supremacy between the mighty Austrians and the upstart Americans.


Cropp Lacks Votes D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp said Sunday that she appears short on votes to support her alternative proposal to construct a major league ballpark adjacent to RFK Stadium.


Roundup: Win keeps US alive in Davis Cup final Twins Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States stopped Spain #39;s momentum in the Davis Cup final. The Bryans defeated Tommy Robredo and Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 on


Palestinian Delegation Hoping to See Arafat Senior Palestinian officials said they planned to travel to Paris on Monday to assess the health of the Palestinian leader and meet with doctors and French authorities.


Dollar Hits Record Euro Low (Reuters) Reuters - The dollar slipped to a record low\against the euro on Monday on concerns about bloated U.S.\budget and current account deficits, weighing on Asian\exporters' stocks and sending gold to 16-year highs.


SuperSonics Beat Spurs, 113-94 (AP) AP - Rashard Lewis scored 27 points and Ray Allen added 24, leading the Seattle SuperSonics to a 113-94 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.


UK Plc under pressure to move jobs offshore British business is facing increasing pressure to move jobs abroad to cut costs and there is no sign that this global trend is set to reverse, an industry survey shows.


#39;No need #39; for Australian rate rise Australia #39;s central bank says there is no pressing need for higher interest rates just now, although it still expects to tighten policy again at some stage in the current expansion amid  quot;favorable quot; economic circumstances.


Update 2: Tokyo Stocks Move Lower; Dollar Falls Tokyo stocks dipped Monday morning as investors took profits from recent gains. The US dollar was down against the Japanese yen. The Nikkei Stock Average of 225 issues fell 24.


Eight eBay sellers ordered to pay nearly \$90,000 in restitution <b>...</b> Eight eBay sellers were ordered to pay nearly \$90,000 (euro 70,000) in restitution and fines after admitting they bid up products online to inflate the prices.


China lets in a little more light China, having surprised the world 10 days ago with its first interest rate rise in nine years, took another unusual step last week by publishing for the first time the annual report on its economy by the International Monetary Fund.


Crude price falls further CRUDE futures continued to fall today furthering a 10-per-cent decline in the past two weeks on the belief that rising US crude supplies will meet demand for the northern winter.


Westpac Reports 16.3 Percent Profit Boost Australia #39;s fourth largest bank, Westpac Banking Corp., announced Monday a 16.3 percent rise in net profit in fiscal 2004 and said it was confident of strong performance next year despite intensifying competition.


Estimating credit score is easy Research shows consumers know very little about their credit score, yet that tally goes a long way to determining credit eligibility, the rate someone gets on loans and much more.


South Korean oil company chairman faces legal action A Monaco-based fund which holds a stake in SK Corp threatened yesterday to take legal action against a corruption-tainted chief executive at the company, South Korea #39;s largest oil refiner.


China Netcom to fund expansion with IPO proceeds China Netcom Group Corp. (Hong Kong) Ltd., China #39;s second-biggest fixed line phone company, plans to spend half of the net proceeds from its HK\$9.


Anti-Nuclear Protester Killed in France (AP) AP - A French anti-nuclear protester was killed Sunday in eastern France when his leg was severed by a train carrying radioactive waste to Germany, officials said.


NBA Wrap: Toronto Beats Portland, 101-97 (Reuters) Reuters - Vince Carter drilled a\tiebreaking three- pointer with 4.8 seconds remaining to lift\the Toronto Raptors to a 101-97 victory over the Portland Trail\Blazers at Air Canada Center.


German FM meets with Palestinian leadership ahead of talks in Israel (AFP) AFP - German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer arrived in the West Bank for talks with the new Palestinian leadership ahead of a meeting later in the day with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.


Tesco launches music download business Leading supermarket chain Tesco has launched a music download service, entering a market dominated by Apple Computer #39;s iTunes.


Xbox builds on  #39;Halo #39; effect Millions of video-game enthusiasts will soon see if Master Chief can successfully defend Earth from an invasion of Covenant forces.


Hobbits #39; boost tourism figures The discovery of remains of a tiny human closely related to man on the remote Indonesian island of Flores and tales of Hobbit-like creatures who still roam its jungles have triggered an influx of visitors in search of a fabled lost world.


Hatton to pursue champion Tszyu British light welterweight Ricky Hatton has pledged to sacrifice home advantage for a crack at IBF king Kostya Tszyu. Hatton, who was on hand to watch Tszyu impressively dismantle Sharmba Mitchell in Phoenix


Marat Safin to face Radek Stepanek in Paris Masters final Sixth-seeded Marat Safin of Russia overcame a twisted ankle Saturday to reach the final at the Paris Masters for the fourth time in six years and will meet qualifier Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic for the championship.


Bills #39; McGahee Hits Pause and Then Runs Fast Forward With winds gusting to 30 miles an hour at Ralph Wilson Stadium and with the Buffalo Bills 12 yards from the Jets #39; end zone on Sunday, Willis McGahee took the handoff, cradled the ball and paused.


Warner #39;s Mistakes Costly for Giants Giants quarterback Kurt Warner walked off the field looking a bit like a chastened child, eyes cast down, licking his lips. He did not yet know that Coach Tom


Busch stays on top as the Chase turns at Phoenix Points leader Kurt Busch spun out and ran out of fuel, and his misfortune was one of the reasons crew chief Jimmy Fennig elected not to pit with 20 laps to go.


Another quake hits northern Japan A magnitude 5.8 earthquake has rocked northern Japan near the area where the country #39;s deadliest earthquake in years struck in October.


Castro Shown on Cuban TV in a Wheel-Chair Cubans saw President Fidel Castro in a wheel-chair on Sunday in television images that showed the Cuban leader looking rested after shattering his left knee and fracturing his right arm in a fall on Oct. 20.


Nintendo sells 500,000 DS handhelds in first week Nintendo sold 500,000 Nintendo DS video game devices during the first week of sales in US stores for the new handheld featuring two screens for game playing, the Japanese game maker said Wednesday.


Cognos brings software to Linux on Power Firm's ReportNet product now is available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux running on IBM's pSeries servers.


President Feels Emboldened, Not Accidental, After Victory President Bush is reveling in winning the popular vote and feels he can no longer be considered a one-term accident of history.


Guantnamo Prisoners Getting Their Day, but Hardly in Court Each day, detainees in Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, argue before anonymous military officers that they should not be there. The hearings have come under heavy criticism.


More French Troops Are Sent to Ivory Coast as Violence Flares France sent 600 more troops to Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abijan, as mobs rampaged against French expatriates.


Early Target of Offensive Is a Hospital American Special Forces and Iraqi troops seized a hospital considered a refuge for insurgents and a center of propaganda.


Taiwan to Rule on Chip Packagers' China Plans -Paper  TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan has agreed in principle to allow  microchip packaging firms to set up units in China, but final  approval will have to wait until local elections are completed  next month, a newspaper said on Monday.


Job ads on the rise Job advertising in Australia #39;s major newspapers has recorded a significant jump, pointing to a rebound in employment growth in the lead-up to Christmas.


Study ties molecule, nicotine addiction A single molecule may be partly to blame for nicotine #39;s addictive allure, a finding that researchers say could lead to potential therapies to help millions of smokers quit a life-threatening habit.


Radcliffe wins New York marathon World record holder Paula Radcliffe rebounded from her Athens Olympics traumas on Sunday with a dramatic victory in the closest finish yet to the women #39;s New York City marathon.


Bears 28 Giants 21 EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ Anthony Thomas ran for two touchdowns and the Chicago Bears forced five turnovers in a 28-to-21 win over the New York Giants.


Preview: Spurs vs. SuperSonics It hasn #39;t taken long for Brent Barry to see why he joined the San Antonio Spurs. Barry returns to the city where he spent his previous five NBA seasons as the Spurs, coming off two wins over perennial title contenders, visit the Seattle SuperSonics.


Iraq Rebels Strike Before US Attack on Falluja Rebels shot dead 21 Iraqi policemen in cold blood on Sunday, a day after killing 34 people in attacks on security forces, in a clear show of force ahead of an


Broncos Pummel Texans, 31-13 Denver Broncos wide receiver Ashley Lelie reaches to catch a 40-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Houston Texans in Denver, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004.


Six people killed in high-speed train crash in England Six people were killed and 11 seriously hurt Saturday when a high-speed train derailed after colliding with a car at a rural crossing in southern England.


ANZ Australia Newspaper Job Ads 5.0 In Oct Vs Sep SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--The number of job advertisements in Australian newspapers rose 5.0 in October from September, and climbed 5.2 from a year earlier, Australia  amp; New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.


Honda Expanding Production in China Japanese automaker Honda says it plans to meet growing demand in China by boosting production at one of its two car-assembly plants there.


US Gasoline Prices Fall to \$2.01/gallon The average US retail price of gasoline fell 2.67 cents in the past two weeks, its first decline since early September due to increased crude oil production, a leading industry analyst said on Sunday.


Allawi declares emergenct rule IRAQ declared a state of emergency in much of the country yesterday, based on the national safety law which was passed in July soon after the US-led coalition formally handed over power.


Warning of terrorists #39; threat to businesses BRITISH business is open to the threat of terror attack unless it works more closely with the Government to assess and counter active security risks, a former intelligence chief will tell the CBI today.


Lend Lease, Stockland, GPT under trade halts Some of Australia #39;s biggest property interests have placed their shares under a trading halt amid speculation of further major consolidation in the sector.


Plummer thrives in conservative attack Novembers are defining months in the Mile High City. It #39;s around the time of year when Super Bowl teams gather confidence for the stretch run.


Hamas agrees to avoid infighting Ahmed Qureia, the Palestinian prime minister, has appealed to all political and military factions to avoid violence while Yasser Arafat lies critically ill in a French military hospital - and after he dies.


Karzai #39;s amnesty offer to Taliban All facts,challenges and problems considered, and there are many (from the security issue to the mobilization of a brand new free nations with very little if at all infrastructure and functioning civil society to ethnic, economical and political factor


Bus Carrying Egyptian Workers Crashes (AP) AP - A passenger bus returning to Egypt from Saudi Arabia collided with a truck Sunday, killing 33 people, police said.


Airlines Only to Profit if Oil Drops-IATA  HONG KONG (Reuters) - Air passenger numbers will grow again  in 2005 but the global airline industry will only post its  first profit in five years if oil prices drop by some \$15 a  barrel, an industry expert said on Monday.


Nuclear summit opens in Australia Asia-Pacific leaders meet in Australia to discuss how to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of extremists.


Region's Affluence Yields Stable Returns Washington area's job growth and well-educated consumers attract plenty of nationally-known retailers willing to compete for space, driving up rent prices.


Australia May Boost Interest Rates Australia #39;s central bank said Monday that an expected increase in inflation next year could force it to raise interest rates. The government has pledged to keep interest rates low, but prices have been rising


Mitsubishi Motors hit by first half loss Scandal-hit Mitsubishi Motors of Japan has reported a group net loss of \$A1.824 billion in the first half of the 2004 business year, compared with a loss of \$A1 billion a year earlier.


China to cut public spending in 2005 The Chinese Government will trim spending next year in an effort to slow economic growth to a more sustainable pace. Vice Finance Minister Lou Jiwei says China will reduce the


Big Tax Plans, Big Tax Risks Hardly anybody likes the current tax system. But as President Bush undertakes the potentially historic task of coming up with something better, he is confronting


Infy approves Sponsored ADS Infosys Technologies on Monday announced that its Board of Directors approved Sponsoring a Secondary ADS Offering ( quot;the Offering quot;), against equity shares held by its existing shareholders in India.


Pfizer faces black boxes New York - Pfizer, the world #39;s largest drug maker, is discussing with US regulators whether to add a stronger warning to its Bextra painkiller about rare, serious skin reactions.


Microsoft to change share plans FOR Microsoft shareholders, Christmas may come early this year in the form of a one-off \$US2.35 (\$3) dividend that #39;s part of the company #39;s plan to return some of its \$US50.


Xbox uses Halo 2 to herd players online Halo 2, the stunning Xbox video game nearly three years in the making, goes on sale at midnight tonight, with Microsoft pulling out the stops to herald its launch as a pop culture event.


IBM #39;s Blue Gene/L goes on sale The machine began life as a research project in 2000, is presently the world #39;s fastest supercomputer, and has only four publicly announced customers.


Novell rejoins desktop fight, with Linux as ally Looking to tap into discontent with Microsoft, Novell is set to deliver this week a package of Linux-based software for the PC that includes Office-like productivity applications, along with e-mail and Web browsing programs.


P2P Use Increases as Students Return to Campus America #39;s students are back to school, but it seems they have yet to learn their lesson about file sharing. Despite the efforts of digital music services, record


Goosen Overtakes Woods at the End A clutch shot and flawless performance by US Open champion Retief Goosen. A rare collapse by Tiger Woods. In a fitting end to the PGA Tour season, the unflappable Goosen closed with a 6-under-par 64 to win


Federer still the man to beat, says born-again Safin Reborn Russian star Marat Safin basked in the glory of clinching his third Paris Masters title but insisted that world number one Roger Federer is still in a league of his own and is on his way to becoming one of the greatest players of all time.


NFL ROUNDUP: Steelers ground Eagles  The Pittsburgh Steelers are doing things never seen before in the NFL, largely because of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.


Malaga keeper Calatayud aware of Real Madrid, Liverpool interest Malaga goalkeeper Juan Calatayud has played down talk of a summer switch to Real Madrid. The 25 year-old is expected to move to Real at season #39;s end after signing a new contract extension with a revised buyout clause of a knockdown 5 million.


Coughlin should give Manning the ball EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - Eli Manning could have flopped this Sunday, could #39;ve watched that wretched Bears offense rip off four straight touchdowns, and the Giants could have scored a few points in the process.


Road finally gets easier for Raiders Streak ends at Carolina, but <b>...</b> Charlotte , NC -- The strange sensation of accomplishment, coupled with an odd bit of euphoria and a good measure of relief, was all so new to Tyler Brayton, the Raiders #39; second-year defensive end wasn #39;t sure how to act.


Snooker: Eddie Charlton dies Australian snooker star Eddie Charlton dies in New Zealand following an operation.


House price growth 'still strong' House price growth remains strong despite concerns about interest rate rises, Land Registry figures indicate.


UPDATE: Stockland To Unveil A\$7.5B Bid For GPT - Sources SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Australian diversified property group Stockland (SGP.AU) is set to launch a share-based bid for General Property Trust (GPT.


French troops sent to quell Ivory Coast unrest ELEANOR HALL: Hundreds of French reinforcements have been sent to stop escalating violence in Ivory Coast. On the weekend, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the commercial capital Abidjan to


County in New Train Death A person has died after being hit by a train in Berkshire, a day after the Ufton Nervet carnage. A British Transport Police spokesman said a train hit someone standing on the tracks at


Africa ; Majority backs Macedonia #39;s multi-ethnic future The Socialist-led coalition government is committed to achieving membership of NATO and the EU, which has sent a questionnaire containing 3,000 questions that Macedonia must answer before talks about membership of the bloc can start.


Iraq declares martial law, US bombs Falluja US warplanes pounded Falluja on Monday as ground forces battled guerrillas on the outskirts of the rebel-held city that American and Iraqi forces were poised to storm.


Men arrested as Dutch religious tensions increase Police in the Netherlands have arrested two men who allegedly called for the beheading of a Dutch politician in the name of Islam.


#39;Pakistan impeding Kashmir talks #39; India has accused Pakistan of trying to derail its plan to begin talks with Kashmiri separatists. The accusation was made by Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil who is visiting the Indian-administered Kashmir.


Four Palestinian millitants killed in Jenin JENIN: Four Palestinian militants were shot dead in their car on Sunday by undercover Israeli forces here, Palestinian medical and security sources said.


Moscow Marks Anniversary of Communist Revolution Russians celebrated their Revolution Day holiday Sunday with marches and rallies in Moscow and many other cities. In contrast to monolithic displays of devotion to the Soviet state, a feature of that marked


Buddhist plea for help in Thailand BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhists in Thailand have implored Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to end violence targeting them on an almost daily basis in the south of the country.


Match-fixers targeted NZ captain New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was offered 200,000 to join a match-fixing syndicate in 1999.


Steelers earn their way into NFL elite Another dominating triumph against another unbeaten team raises the stakes: These Steelers just might be the class of the NFL. By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.


Supersonics sink Spurs Rashard Lewis scored 27 points and Ray Allen 24 to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a shock 113-94 victory Sunday over the San Antonio Spurs.


Crash probe focuses on car driver Police say they are not assuming that a car driver committing suicide caused Saturday's rail crash.


Italy's green primary school A village in the Ligurian hills is home to one of Italy's first envrionmentally friendly schools.


Guantnamo Prisoners Getting Their Day, but Hardly in Court Each day, detainees in Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, argue before anonymous military officers that they should not be in custody. The hearings have brought heavy criticism.


Strong Quake Jolts Northern Japan  TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of  5.9 jolted northern Japan Monday in the latest aftershock to  hit a region struck by a deadly tremor last month.


Mitsubishi First-Half Earnings Decline Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Monday that its losses jumped for the first half of the fiscal year as the Japanese automaker struggled to recover from an auto-defect scandal that has sent sales plunging.


Treasuries Decline on Concern Fed to Lift Rates Amid Debt Sales US 10-year notes fell in Asia as traders prepared to bid for \$51 billion of debt being sold this week and on expectations the Federal Reserve will raise its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point in two days.


Gas prices drop as crude oil supply increases CAMARILLO, Calif. An increase in the worldwide supply of crude oil contributed to dip in US prices at the gas pump over the last two weeks.


China to cut deficit, curb government investment in 2005: official BEIJING : The Chinese government will try to cut its huge deficit next year and curb investment financed from public coffers, state media said, quoting Vice Finance Minister Lou Jiwei.


Stockland Bids A\$7.5 Bln for General Property Trust (Update1) Stockland, Australia #39;s fourth-biggest property trust, offered to buy General Property Trust for A\$7.5 billion (\$5.7 billion) in stock in an attempt to foil a rival bid by Lend Lease Corp.


Tesco aims to take a bite out of Apple #39;s iTunes Supermarket group Tesco is launching itself into the world of digital music with an online download service designed to take on the might of Apple #39;s iTunes.


Microsoft Seeks Video Game Winner With Halo 2 mostly men in their late teens and 20 #39;s - will line up near Union Square in New York, eagerly awaiting their first glimpse of the sequel to a science-fiction blockbuster.


Smooth criminal When it was revealed that developer Rockstar Games #39; Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas would be three times larger than their previous epic,Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, I almost cringed.


Mauresmo makes waves at Advanta VILLANOVA - The difference between Amelie Mauresmo and Vera Zvonareva in the WTA rankings is less than 10 places. The difference between Mauresmo and Zvonareva on the court is considerably wider.


Safin hammers Hewitt in Paris Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt has been knocked out of the Paris Masters by Russian sixth seed Marat Safin. Safin put down the battling challenge of the Australian second seed to reach the semi-finals


Time running out for class of 1996 Some things never change. Manchester City are still looking for their first win at Old Trafford in three decades. Kevin Keegan is still moved to tears whenever he encounters Sir Alex Ferguson and Alan Smith


Scoring Summary: Bears 28-Giants 21 The defense setup the offense all day, but a 41-yard touchdown run by Anthony Thomas in the fourth quarter helped seal the upset victory over the Giants.


English Premier League match reports The Manchester derby ended goalless despite faltering United having several good chances, possibly the best of which came in the 63rd minute when Alan Smith #39;s acrobatic effort was cleared off the line by City #39;s Steve McManaman.


Iraq declares martial law, US bombs Falluja US warplanes pounded Falluja early today as ground forces battled insurgents on the outskirts of the rebel-held city that American and Iraqi forces were poised to storm.


21 Iraqi policemen shot dead west of Baghdad At least 21 Iraqi policemen were killed by an armed group that stormed a police station Sunday in a small town located 200 kilometres west of Baghdad, a police officer said.


Families of dead British soldiers lash out at Blair Relatives of the three soldiers of the British Black Watch regiment killed in Iraq have lashed out at the UK government #39;s decision to send them into a more dangerous zone.


US Forces Set for Imminent Assault on Falluja Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (L) shakes hands with British Prime Minister Tony Blair (R) after talks in Brussels November 5, 2004 ahead of the second day of a EU summit.


Gunmen kill 22 police in attacks in western Iraq Gunmen stormed police stations in western Iraq on Sunday and shot dead up to 22 Iraqi policemen in cold blood, a day after attacks on security forces killed 35 people, police and witnesses said.


RUSSIA * LEFTISTS * RALLY MOSCOW, November 7 (RIA Novosti) - Communists and other Left-wing opposition forces rallied on Theater Square, in Moscow #39;s center, on the 87th Bolshevik Revolution anniversary.


Nuclear terrorism threat real--UN nuclear watchdog chief Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. SYDNEY, Australia -- Nuclear terrorism is a real threat which the world must take immediate action against in


Va. Tech, Research Group to Team Up University and the Institute for Genomic Research agree to jointly pursue experiments and federal funding in genomics, human health, agriculture, veterinary medicine and biodefense. -The Washington Post


Interest rates unlikely to rise before Christmas ELEANOR HALL: During the Federal election campaign the Howard Government stressed that interest rates were more likely to rise under a Labor government than under the Coalition.


Gas Prices Drop As Crude Oil Supply Rises An increase in the worldwide supply of crude oil contributed to a dip in US prices at the gas pump over the last two weeks, an industry analyst said Sunday.


Sunday #39;s NFL Roundup The Pittsburgh Steelers are accomplishing feats never seen in the NFL, largely because of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers combined their new quarterback with a touch of the old - Jerome


Jones back on offense MIAMI - Just when it appeared Eddie Jones was becoming a has-been offensively, the 33-year-old reached back in time Saturday against Washington and had one of the best rapid-fire showings of his five-year Heat career.


Novell rejoins desktop fight, with Linux as ally Firm set to release its first Linux desktop package since acquiring SuSE Linux and Ximian. Will it unseat Microsoft Office?


Lakers Defeat Hawks, 106-90 (AP) AP - Kobe Bryant scored 24 points, Caron Butler added 22, and the Los Angeles Lakers handed Atlanta its third straight lopsided loss, beating the winless Hawks 106-90 Sunday night.


Matrix's 3D memory chips target game devices Mattel and a Japanese manufacturer have adopted these high-rise chips. Will Nintendo be next?<br /> Photos: Matrix's high-rise chips


Ravens Pummel Browns, 27-13 (AP) AP - Burned for a touchdown on the game's first play, it was hard to imagine the Baltimore Ravens would win on the strength of their special teams. A spirited defensive stand, capped by an NFL-record 106-yard interception return by Ed Reed, didn't hurt, either.


New clusters emerge at supercomputing show At SC2004 show, Dell and HP plan to unveil servers that can be networked into a single high-performance technical computer.


Guerrillas Kill Two U.S. Soldiers in Iraq's Mosul (Reuters) Reuters - Guerrillas attacked a U.S. patrol in\Mosul on Saturday, killing two American soldiers and wounding\four, the U.S. military said on Sunday.


Restitution Is Ordered in eBay Sales (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - ALBANY, N.Y. -- Eight eBay sellers were ordered to pay nearly  #36;90,000 in restitution and fines after admitting they bid up products online to inflate the prices.


NFL Wrap: Buffalo Bills Defeat New York Jets (Reuters) Reuters - Willis McGahee ran\for 132 yards and a touchdown to lead the Buffalo Bills to a\22-17 victory over the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium.


IBM's Blue Gene/L goes on sale World's fastest supercomputer can now be yours for only \$1.5 million. Machine combines exotic and mainstream technology.


News Corp. Acts to Block Bids (Reuters) Reuters - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd. moved\on Monday to prevent a hostile bid from U.S. cable company\Liberty Media Corp., launching a plan to issue stock options\that would dilute the stake of any predator.


No need for rate rise yet as Australian economy bounds along: central bank (AFP) AFP - Australia's central bank has eased fears of a pre-Christmas interest rate rise, saying it sees no need yet for an increase in a buoyant economy firmly underpinned by global recovery and strong commodity prices.


Emerging India set for special EU partnership BRUSSELS - Once written off as the poor cousin of Asian powerhouse China, India is to open talks today to forge a strategic partnership with the European Union, a status so far restricted to just five big countries.


US Treasuries flat in Asia, market eyes rate rise 0530 GMT - US Treasury prices little changed in Asia as market shifted focus to a policy-setting meeting of US Federal Reserve later in the week, which market expects to raise interest rates by 25 basis points.


China Said to Cut Spending, Trim Deficit China will selectively reduce spending to help trim its ballooning fiscal deficit, state media reported Monday, citing top economic officials.


South Koreans Widen Microsoft Probe South Korean regulators have widened a probe into Microsoft #39;s local subsidiary over allegations the US software giant violated trade rules by tying its Media Player program to its Windows operating system, the regulators said Monday.


UN nuclear watchdog chief calls for rethink on nuclear terrorism (AFP) AFP - Nuclear terrorism is a real threat which the world must take immediate action against in order to prevent a nuclear September 11-style outrage, according to the head of the UN's atomic energy agency.


21 Iraqi guardsmen were kille Around 200 fighters stormed a police station in Haditha, west of Baghdad, and another smaller station in the nearby village of Haqlaniya.


Two Black Watch soliders fighting for their lives in Iraq United States troops have stormed key areas of Fallujah just hours after two soldiers of the Black Watch battle group were seriously injured in an attack by a suicide bomber.


Gutierrez brought new flavor to cereal company Carlos Gutierrez #39;s life story is the kind that President Bush admires: The son of a Cuban political refugee, he worked his way from delivering Frosted Flakes in the toughest


Crucial TV test for Microsoft Comcast trials will provide a big clue about the software giant's prospects for cable success.


Mozilla Firefox: The Searcher's Browser Looking for an alternative to Internet Explorer that addresses IE's notorious security flaws and has killer search capabilities to boot?  Look no farther: Firefox is truly a searcher's browser.


No going back on reforms: PM THE HAGUE (THE NETHERLANDS): Assuring foreign investors of continuity in policies and that India will never become an  quot;international liability, quot; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there was no question of going back on the economic reforms initiated 13


Gas drops to lowest price in 2 months SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - The average price of gasoline fell nearly 3 cents per gallon for the first time in two months, according to a national survey released Sunday.


Honda to invest US\$340 million to boost auto output in China TOKYO : Japanese automaker Honda is to spend 340 million dollars to quadruple capacity at its joint plant with Dongfeng Motor in Wuhan, China, to 120,000 units by 2006.


Stockland Makes Scrip Bid For GPT -2- SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Stockland Group (SGP.AU) said Monday it has made an all-scrip bid for Generap Property Trust (GPT.AU), valuing the company at A\$3.


Trade regulator to probe unfair trade allegations -report TOKYO (CBS.MW) - South Korea #39;s anti-monopoly watchdog said Monday it has expanded investigations into Microsoft Corp. after RealNetworks Inc.


Australian Shares Midday:No Buyers To Support S amp;P/ASX 200 SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Consideration is being given to the effects of the high Australian dollar against the US dollar, with  quot;buyers being held back while the currency remains at 76 cents, quot; says Peter Morgan, of Tolhurst Noall in Sydney.


Decision time: Last chance for 2004 tax strategies Year-end tax planning involves making moves before Dec. 31 that will save on this year #39;s taxes. The tactic involves the timing and the method by which your income is reported and your deductions and tax credits are claimed.


Oil Heads Down, Holds Above \$49  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped on Monday but held  above \$49 a barrel as easing concerns about a winter supply  crunch pulled the market further away from record highs set two  weeks ago.


News Corp. Tries to Fend Off Liberty  SYDNEY (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd. moved  to ward off any hostile bid from U.S. cable company Liberty  Media Corp. with a plan to issue stock options to dilute the  stake of any predator.


Thai PM under pressure on South Thai academics say policies in the country's south are not working, and call on Thaksin Shinawatra to apologise.


'Biological' kidney implant hope The first human trial of an artificial 'bio' kidney offers \hope of a working implant for patients, say experts.


Foolproof performance ST. LOUIS -- Over the last three years, the New England Patriots have defined the word  quot;team. quot; Yesterday they redefined it and along the way embarrassed an ill-prepared team that couldn't execute, the St. Louis Rams, 40-22, at the Edward Jones Dome.


Jitters before assault wearing on soldiers NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq -- The hulks of the 69-ton M1A1 Abrams tanks were barely visible on the dark desert plain, but the rumble of their engines filled the night.


There's no faking a team effort like this ST. LOUIS -- Look for the drop-kick next week. And while they're at it, don't forget the Statue of Liberty play, the fumblerooskie, and the time-tested  quot;everybody go long quot; that's worked so well in schoolyard playgrounds during recess through the years.


As Ivorian crisis deepens, so do concerns for region NIAMEY, Niger -- French troop reinforcements flew to the coastal city of Abidjan in riot-torn Ivory Coast yesterday amid rising concerns that the conflict between government and rebel forces was on the verge of spiraling out of control and could dramatically hurt its West African neighbors.


Train surprises, kills antinuclear protester in France NANCY -- A French antinuclear protester was killed yesterday in eastern France when his leg was severed by a train carrying radioactive waste to Germany, officials said. Paramedics quickly cared for protester Sebastien Briat, 21, after the accident near the town of Avricourt, but he died on the way to a hospital, officials said. He had been surprised by the ...


Ramirez cuts short Japan tour TOKYO -- Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez cut short his tour of Japan today (Japan time), electing to fly back to the United States. Ramirez, who participated in a home run derby yesterday and played five innings last night, getting two hits, told team officials that his left hamstring was bothering him. Officials decided that if Ramirez was unavailable to ...


Arafat's wife says leaders aim to 'bury him alive' PARIS -- Yasser Arafat's wife accused Palestinian leaders hoping to travel to France today to visit her critically ill husband of plotting to ''bury him alive. quot;


Brown pulls double duty for defense ST. LOUIS -- It was bad enough that Bill Belichick had to design a defensive game plan with Asante Samuel and Randall Gay at cornerback. But four minutes into the game, the Patriots coach watched in dismay as Samuel went off with a shoulder injury that sent him to the locker room.


Low turnout sinks Macedonia referendum SKOPJE, Macedonia -- A referendum bid to block a law that gives Macedonia's Albanian minority more rights failed yesterday, upholding the Western-brokered peace plan that ended ethnic fighting in 2001.


Preliminary nuclear pact OK'd, Iran says TEHRAN -- Hoping to avoid a UN showdown, Iran and the European Union's three big powers reached a preliminary agreement over Tehran's nuclear program, Iran's chief negotiator said yesterday.


St. Louis defenders didn't know what hit them ST. LOUIS -- It seems most everyone on the St. Louis sideline figured out the Patriots were up to something when they lined up for a field goal midway through the third quarter. The problem was they couldn't get the message to the 11 Rams on the field at the time.


Envoys dispatched to explain emergency BAGHDAD -- Iraq's interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, is dispatching envoys to neighboring Arab states to win support for his handling of the insurgency in his homeland, a government spokesman said yesterday.


Jets can't weather McGahee, Bills ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The wind and Willis McGahee are providing the Buffalo Bills a formidable 1-2 punch.


On the road to . . . mediocrity? The Arizona Cardinals have taken to losing like a beatnik to Berkeley. Consider this contrast: the man brought in to reverse the desert doldrums, Dennis Green, was gunning for his 100th regular-season coaching victory yesterday at Pro Player Stadium in Miami; you have to go back to 1986 to account for the last 100 Cardinals wins, when the franchise was ...


Messing with perfection PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers made certain there's nobody unbeaten now in the NFL, except for Ben Roethlisberger.


Giants turnovers the turning point for Bears EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Chicago Bears stole the New York Giants' early-season formula for success -- again and again and again.


After that trip, no going back TORONTO -- When the Bruins embarked on their annual February trip in 2000, prospects for a successful season were grim. They were racked with injuries, and the losing was weighing on everyone. Ray Bourque, who began playing in Boston in 1979, always thought he would finish his career in the black and gold, but he started rethinking that as the ...


Off ice, his shifts are semi-regular TORONTO -- Precious few professional athletes leave their sport on their terms. Even fewer depart having won a championship in their final game. Injuries, diminished skills, and burnout can cut short careers.


Playing with poise With the exception of some late-game trash-talking between the Boston bench and some boisterous New York fans at Madison Square Garden, the Celtics handled their first win of the season with considerable restraint. There were high-fives and hugs, but nothing over the top despite a 34-point rout of the Knicks Saturday night.


Maine shuts out Wildcats Junior Jimmy Howard and freshman Matt Lundin combined to make 24 saves yesterday as Maine blanked New Hampshire, 3-0, in a Hockey East game before a sellout crowd of 5,641 at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine.


BC has mountain to climb A year ago, Boston College coach Tom O'Brien described his team's 35-25 victory at Rutgers as  quot;the greatest gut-check I've ever been around, quot; after the Eagles rallied from a 22-13 halftime deficit to earn their all-important sixth win of the season, making them bowl eligible.


Power play showdown The people have been calling for it, two (or three) communities have been looking forward to it for weeks, and yesterday, it finally happened: a battle of two of the top teams in the state, a game that pitted two undefeated squads, a game so important it had to be held at the neutral site of Chelmsford High.


Window of opportunity  CAMBRIDGE -- Three-year-old Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc. already has seen its share of milestones. Its scientists cloned the first Heparin sugar-degrading enzyme, a breakthrough in understanding the role of complex sugars as a conduit for viruses and diseases. Its executives recruited medical luminaries like M. Judah Folkman and Eugene Braunwald to the company's scientific advisory board.


Microsoft dividend depends on stock-plan change SEATTLE -- For Microsoft Corp. shareholders, the holidays will likely come early this year in the form of a one-time \$3 dividend that's part of the company's plan to return some of its \$64.4 billion cash hoard to shareholders.


Don't let your blog get lost in the fog It's official. Weblogs matter. A few of them anyway. In the election cycle just ended, the blogs made a serious presidential candidate of former Vermont Governor Howard Dean.


Lucent, unions delay pact deadline TRENTON, N.J. -- Lucent Technologies Inc. and two labor unions agreed yesterday to give themselves one more day to avoid a possible strike.


Delta details its plans to cut 7,000 jobs NEW YORK -- Delta Air Lines Inc. , the number three US carrier, said yesterday it will cut 2,000 aircraft-maintenance jobs, up to 3,100 customer-service jobs, and between 1,600 and 1,800 supervisory and administrative personnel as part of a previously announced plan to cut total staffing by 7,000.


Netherlands brings me luck: Manmohan Singh: World News: The Hague, Nov 8 : Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says a visit to the Netherlands brought him luck. It was on his return from a visit to this country in 1991 that he was called upon to


Eight eBay sellers admit phony bids EBAY VENDORS were ordered to pay nearly \$90,000 in restitution and fines after admitting they bid up products online to inflate the prices.


Tokyo stocks finish lower, US dollar slides against euro, yen? <b>...</b> Tokyo stocks finished lower Monday as investors took profits from recent gains. The US dollar fell to an all-time low against the euro and a seven-month low against the Japanese yen amid worries about the US current account and budget deficits.


More British jobs set to go abroad A British industry survey has shown that business is facing increasing pressure to move jobs abroad to cut costs, with no sign that this global trend is set to reverse.


Lucent, unions delay pact deadline Lucent Technologies Inc. and two labor unions agreed yesterday to give themselves one more day to avoid a possible strike. Both sides faced a midnight


Labor groups upset over likely Wal-Mart A proposal to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Laveen, the area #39;s first south of the Rio Salado, has drawn the ire of labor groups, but local leaders call the project needed and the cornerstone to good growth in the area.


\$10 Million Payday: SpaceShipOne Gets Prize ST. LOUIS -- It #39;s a big day for a big check in St. Louis where the team behind a rocket plane called SpaceShipOne has accepted a \$10 million prize for advancements in private space travel and tourism.


Industry, regulators ramp up anti-piracy fight Industry and regulators continue to intensify the fight against intellectual piracy, with the movie industry the latest to crack the whip.


RSA predicts looming identity crisis A DIRECTOR of technology for security outfit RSA Security has warned online customers are not  quot;authenticated enough quot; and there needs to be moves towards toward a mandated identity policy.


Public buildings may go wireless Wireless Internet access, already pervasive in other cities, could debut at top Indianapolis locations such as the airport and the Convention Center as early as next year.


Goosen puts a fitting end to the year Tiger Woods tried to get a read on Retief Goosen when they faced each other in the Presidents Cup.  quot;I mean, I played him in two matches and he didn #39;t say one single word, quot; Woods said, smiling at the memory.


Earnhardt remains in control He follows team orders, stays clean late in race to win, steps up in chase for title. By Mike Harris. AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.


Frenchman wins Champ-car title He won the season-ending Champ-car Mexican Grand Prix, leading wire-to-wire to take his seventh victory of the 14-race season. Pole-sitter Bourdais began the race with a 22-point lead over front-row neighbour Bruno Junqueira.


Pittman gets upper hand on Kansas City #39;s Holmes At the start of their work day on Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes was the man with the reputation and big-time stats.


Supersonics surprise Spurs Seattle SuperSonics, who lost their opener by 30 points to the Clippers, took a second straight victory at home Sunday night after downing the San Antonio Spurs 113-94.


SMITH BREAKS RECORD IN DENVER WIN Plummer threw four touchdowns and Smith became the Denver Broncos #39; all-time leading receiver in a 31-13 victory over the Houston Texans.


Iran reaches preliminary nuke deal with EU Asked to freeze enrichment, Iran says its atomic plants geared solely to electricity generation, but it will never give up its right to develop such technology entirely.


Earthquake rocks Northern Japan again Tokyo- An earthquake of 5.8 magnitude at Ritcher Scale rocked the Northern Japan on Monday. It is an earthquake prone area where country #39;s deadliest earthquake in years struck last month.


Killing of Filmmaker Yields Indictments in Netherlands Description: Dutch authorities have indicted seven people in murder of a provocative filmmaker. Theo Van Gogh made films critical of Islamic violence against women and insulted Christians, Jews and others.


Afghan militants demand 26 pisoners Militants holding three foreign UN workers Sunday gave Afghan officials a list of 26 prisoners whom they want released, with Tuesday the new deadline.


Tesco challenges iTunes #39; domination Supermarket giant Tesco launches a new digital download store today, becoming the latest entrant in the music downloading market - a 25m a year business dominated by Apple #39;s iTunes.


Schalke  amp; Stuttgart Close In On Wolves Schalke 04 and VfB Stuttgart moved closer to to the Bundesliga summit with impressive wins in Sunday #39;s league programme. Ralf Rangnick #39;s Schalke made it six wins out of six in beating Thomas Doll #39;s Hamburger SV 2-1 at the AOL Arena.


Arizona trips inept, 1-8 Miami  quot;You go four years and win over 10 games a year, and it #39;s taken for granted, quot; he said.  quot;We did not play any harder when we were winning 10 and 11 a year, I promise you that.


Patriots Rebound By Being Ram Tough ST. LOUIS -- How do you beat the Greatest Show On Turf with two rookie cornerbacks, one of whom just arrived from the practice squad?


Consecutive turnovers destroy Giants It was three plays that stood out like Howard Stern in a crowd of pre-schoolers. Three plays that made your eyes bulge and mouth flap in disbelief.


Annika achieves historic four-peat OTSU (Japan): World number-one Annika Sorenstam shot into the history books with a solid nine-stroke victory in the Mizuno Classic yesterday, becoming only the second player to win an LPGA event four years in a row.


Rocky Mountain low clouds postseason hopes If you allowed yourself to think the unthinkable and harbor dreams of a Texans playoff berth in 2004, this was your  quot;Stagger Lee.


Explosion damages Muslim school in southern Netherlands town An explosion blew the door off a Muslim school in a southern Dutch town and shattered windows across the street Monday, Dutch television reported.


Bush faces foreign challenges The international problems facing President Bush look no less daunting in the rosy dawn of a new term. But if Iraq stabilizes enough to give the president breathing room, the


Strong Earthquake Jolts Northern Japan  TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of  5.9 jolted northern Japan on Monday in the latest aftershock to  hit a region struck by a deadly tremor last month.


Runaway Annika equals record ANNIKA SORENSTAM matched Laura Davies #39; LPGA Tour record for consecutive victories in a tournament today, closing with a seven-under 65 for her fourth straight Mizuno Classic title in Otsu, Japan.


Computers snared by spyware EDITOR #39;S NOTE: This is the first of a two-part series on the spyware epidemic. NEW YORK - David Eckstein turned on his computer one day and launched his Web browser, just as he had every day.


La Liga Preview: GetafeValencia The Che are gasping for air in the turbulent waters of La Liga. Now they must fight to ensure their next breath is not their last in the quest to retain the Championship when they travel to new boys Getafe.


Sorenstam Wins Mizuno to Match Record Swedish Annika Sorenstam is all smiles as she holds winner #39;s trophy following her victory on the final round of the US \$ 1million (euro 780,000) LPGA Mizuno classic at Seta golf course in Otsu western Japan, Sunday, Nov 7, 2004.


Plummer steps up, Smith sets record as Broncos win big BRONCOS 31, TEXANS 13: At Denver - Rod Smith set records he could savor, the good Jake Plummer showed up again and Denver won a game it simply had to have.


Reed #39;s record interception saves Ravens With the Cleveland Browns on the verge of forcing overtime, Ravens Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed entered the NFL record book with the longest interception in league history.


Tesco starts music download service GIANT SUPERMARKET chain Tesco has decided to launch a music download service of its very own. According to a SpokesGrocer, songs will be available at www.


Attack on spyware should go further If you use a computer, you should be thankful that Congress is aiming to outlaw the scourge known as spyware. But if you think making spyware illegal will end the pop-up ads, hijacked browsers and gridlocked


Group warns of threat to UK birds More than 200 European bird species, including 70 in the UK, are under threat, a study warns.


Oil Heads Down, Holds Above \$49 Oil prices slipped on Monday but held above \$49 a barrel as easing concerns about a winter supply crunch pulled the market further away from record highs set two weeks ago.


Nicaraguans Vote in Municipal Elections (AP) AP - Nicaragua's leftist Sandinista Front sought to capitalize on the recent fracturing of a rival party during municipal elections Sunday amid ongoing attempts to remove the country's president from office.


Fleming 'alarmed' by Aussies' thorough planning (AFP) AFP - New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said he was alarmed at the scale of planning Australia had put in to conquer their final cricket frontier in India.


Fast Arctic Thaw Threatens People, Polar Bears (Reuters) Reuters - Global warming is heating the Arctic\almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet in a thaw that\threatens the livelihoods of millions of people and could wipe\out polar bears by 2100, an eight-nation report said on Monday.


Struggling Mitsubishi Motors slips deeper into loss TOKYO : Scandal-hit Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors interim net loss nearly doubled to 146.16 billion yen (1.38 billion dollars) and is to downgrade its full-year earnings forecast.


FDA TO CONDUCT IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF ITS DRUG SAFETY PROCEDURES The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday its intentions to conduct a major evaluation of its approach in dealing with safety concerns involving drugs, primarily those that are already marketed.


RSA CEO: Beefed Up Security Needed for E-Commerce to Succeed Better IT security and identity management is necessary if online commerce and e-government services are to succeed, RSA Security chief executive Arthur Coviello said.


Quiet Goosen roars to victory Commotion simply isn #39;t part of his makeup, the level of Retief Goosen #39;s stoic personality fast approaching legendary proportions on the PGA Tour.


The Premiership: Robben #39;s rhapsody in blue Jose Mourinho sounded his most magnanimous as Chelsea opened a two-point lead at the top of the Premiership.  quot;I don #39;t want the credit when I don #39;t deserve it, quot; the west London club #39;s Portuguese


Palestinian deputy en route to Paris Senior deputies to the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, who is critically ill in France, are due to fly to Paris today to get first-hand information on his condition.


Sharon #39;s Reason To Mourn For the Israelis who hated and feared him, the Palestinians who chafed at his corruption, or the Western and Arab diplomats who despaired at his mendacity and unwillingness to settle the conflict


Bears nab giant surprise Somewhere in the recesses of first-year coach Lovie Smith #39;s wish list for his Chicago Bears (3-5), he had Sunday #39;s 28-21 win over the New York Giants in mind.


Macedonia #39;s referendum fails to give Albanians more autonomy A referendum on territorial law that intends to give Macedonia #39;s Albanian minority greater autonomy failed to pass the turnout minimum, the Macedonian State Election Commission (SEC) announced Monday.


BT, Weaker Dollar Weigh on Euro Shares (Reuters) Reuters - European shares eased on Monday despite\lower oil prices as the euro at a new record high against the\dollar hurt exporters, and BT weighed after the telecoms\operator made an acquisition of nearly  #36;1 billion.


China and Asia should brace themselves for US trade friction: economist (AFP) AFP - China and other Asian economies should brace themselves for possible severe trade friction with the United States due to large American trade deficits, a top US economist says.


US forces in Afghanistan "hopeful" on release of UN hostages (AFP) AFP - The US-led military in Afghanistan expressed hope that three foreign UN employees being held hostage by suspected Taliban remnants would be freed soon.


Zimbabwe ruling party elects country #39;s first woman vice-president HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe #39;s ruling party elected longtime cabinet minister Joyce Mujuru as the country #39;s first woman vice-president at the end of a party congress.


Mitsubishi crashes into the red Japanese car maker Mitsubishi, hit by a defect cover-up scandal earlier this year, posts heavy losses as sales plunge.


BA sees profits more than double Airline British Airways reveals pre-tax profits more than doubled to 220m in the July to September period.


GE sells India outsourcing unit US giant General Electric sells a majority stake in its Indian outsourcing arm for \$500m to two private equity firms.


UK firms to look abroad, CBI says CBI director general Digby Jones says shifting jobs abroad will help UK firms  survive globalisation and raise staff skill levels.


Radcliffe, Ramaala prove themselves NEW YORK -- This was all about Athens, about redemption for one and validation for the other. Britain's Paula Radcliffe, the fastest female marathoner in history, failed to finish either of her Olympic races last summer. South Africa's Hendrik Ramaala was a five-ringed dropout, too, reinforcing his reputation as a man who could go only half the distance.


Islamic School in Netherlands Damaged in Blast  AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - An explosion damaged an Islamic  school in the southern Dutch town of Eindhoven Monday, police  said, the latest attack on a Muslim institution following the  murder of a filmmaker critical of Islam last week.


Mounting concern Blunkett used tabloids to wreck lover #39;s marriage DAVID Blunketts pregnant former lover and her family believe he colluded with Britains most salacious tabloid newspaper in a desperate attempt to break up her marriage.


Two Issues Could Hinder Deal to Freeze Iran's Nuclear Program A European deal to freeze Iran's nuclear program, provide the Islamic republic with lucrative trade incentives and keep it out of the U.N. Security Council could be signed by midweek if two critical issues can be quickly resolved, U.S., European and Iranian officials said in interviews Sunday.


Ivory Coast to Pull Troops Back Ivory Coast forces will immediately pull back from front lines, the presidential spokesman said Sunday, after a day of clashes with French peacekeepers that left the West African nation's air force in shreds.


Ghana 'coup plotters' await fate Ghana's authorities are to decide whether to press charges against seven people held over a coup attempt.


Sex case island picks woman mayor Pitcairn Island selects its first woman mayor in its 214-year history after its former mayor - a convicted rapist - was sacked last week.


Incredibles tops Nemo film record Animated film The Incredibles beats Disney/Pixar's previous US box office record for Finding Nemo.


GE to sell 60 stake in outsourcing unit for \$500 mln LONDON (CBS.MW) -- General Electric Co. (GE) said it will sell a majority interest in its India-based global business-processing operation GE Capital International Services for \$500 million in cash to private


UK #39;s BT Group says committed to dividend policy BT Group Plc (BT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) is committed to its existing dividend policy, Britain #39;s dominant fixed-line telecoms operator said on Monday, seeking to allay concerns its latest US purchase may come at the expense


Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Fall After Three-Day Rise Tokyo stocks sank on Monday as the dollar #39;s fall against the Japanese yen and euro and the benchmark stock index #39;s three-day rally prompted investors to lock in profits on blue chip exporters.


Mitsubishi Reports First Half Earnings Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Monday that its losses grew in the first half of the fiscal year as the Japanese automaker struggled to recover from an auto-defect scandal that has sent sales plunging.


DHL buys control of Blue Dart MUMBAI: DHL has agreed to pay \$125 million for a majority stake in Indian courier firm Blue Dart Express, sparking a rally in its rivals on hopes of consolidation in India #39;s fragmented courier industry.


EBay bid-riggers hit with big fines Eight EBay sellers were ordered to pay nearly \$90,000 US in restitution and fines after admitting they bid up products online to inflate the prices.


Western tops Maclean #39;s rankings The University of Western Ontario is ranked third among Canada #39;s biggest universities in the annual Maclean #39;s magazine ratings that hit newsstands today.


CBI backs British jobs going abroad INDUSTRY is gearing up for a push to reform the European Union #39;s sluggish markets and to boost the skills of Britain #39;s workforce as hundreds of thousands of jobs are sucked away to Asia or Eastern Europe.


Tesco launches into online music TESCO will go head-to-head with Apple #39;s iTunes as the supermarket giant launches its own music download service today. Already a top three UK music retailer from CD albums sold in its stores, Tesco is the


Fast Arctic Thaw Threatens People, Polar Bears Global warming (news - web sites) is heating the Arctic almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet in a thaw that threatens the livelihoods


Protecting your Windows PC, Part 1 Protecting your computer doesn #39;t have to be a life-changing experience. But you do need to be more careful now than ever before.


Browne gets to end but he #39;s not finished You see all the bodies, all the numbers, all the safety pins, you might think the New York City Marathon is about nothing more than filling every available inch on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.


Mauresmo struggles but wins 2nd straight Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France shook off a slow start yesterday to beat Russian Vera Zvonareva 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to successfully defend her Advanta Championship title for her fifth tournament victory of the season.


United boss blames strikers for loss of form Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has laid the blame for his side #39;s recent lack of form at the feet of his expensively assembled strikeforce.


Safin out to catch Federer express Marat Safin, back to his best with a record-equalling third Paris Masters title, hopes to be a match for world No1 Roger Federer next year.


Bears leap on Giants #39; errors EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ  The Chicago Bears forced five turnovers Sunday, three of them in a 20-point explosion late in the half, in beating the New York Giants 28-21.


Redskins top Lions (11/08/04) The Washington Redskins grabbed a 17-to-10 win over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Clinton Portis ran for 147 yards on 34 carries and threw a tiebreaking touchdown pass.


Earnhardt reminded to keep it clean Tony Eury Sr. oversees Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the racetrack, but Sunday he extended his domain to Victory Lane. Earnhardt was unbuckling to crawl out of the No.


Smith stays in hot pursuit of turnover Displaying incredible hustle, Dwight Smith chased Eddie Kennison 59 yards and forced him to fumble into the end zone. By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer.


Strong Earthquake Strikes Northern Japan A magnitude-5.9 earthquake rocked northern Japan this morning near the area where the countrys deadliest earthquake in a decade struck last month.


Hizbollah UAV infiltrates Israeli air space Hizbollah yesterday announced that a  quot;Mirsad 1 quot; unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carried out its maiden mission over Israel.


Car-train crash in England kills six Police were trying to determine yesterday whether a suicide was the cause of a train-car collision that killed six people and seriously injured 11 Saturday evening after a car stopped on the tracks as the high-speed train approached.


British Airways Profits Rise British Airways PLC said Monday that net profit rose by 25.5 percent over the latest quarter and that passenger numbers also rose.


Nearly half European birds species at risk threatened that they may disappear soon due to intensive agriculture and climate change, scientists say.  quot;The number of bird species in trouble across Europe is rising, quot; said BirdLife, a British-based conservation group.


Lots of Points for Top-Tier NFL Teams (AP) AP - Points were in abundance for some of the NFL's top teams, even in road games.


NBA Today (AP) AP - Detroit at Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 p.m. EST). The defending NBA champs visit Elton Brand and the Clippers.


Golfer Goosen Wins the Tour Championship (AP) AP - In a fitting end to the PGA Tour season, U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen closed with a 6-under 64 to win the Tour Championship on Sunday by four shots and become only the third player to overtake Tiger Woods in the final round.


Tokyo stocks end down 0.70 percent on uncertain economic outlook TOKYO : Japanese share prices closed 0.70 percent lower Monday amid uncertainty over the direction of global oil prices and after leading index figures suggested the domestic economy could be slowing, dealers said.


News Corp. sets up  #39;poison pill defence #39; to protect Murdoch family <b>...</b> Global media group News Corp. has launched a shareholders #39; rights plan to protect shareholders #39; interests if any attempt is made to wrest control from executive chairman Rupert Murdoch and his family.


Promoters, Newfields sell 98.2 in Blue Dart to DHL Blue Dart Express Ltd. said on Monday that the Indian promoters and Newfields Holdings Ltd. have decided to sell their shares, collectively constituting 68.


Taipei goes Wi-Fi The network will reach almost 90 per cent of the capital #39;s population of three million and aims to make accessing the internet as easy as using mobile phones, a project coordinator said on Friday.


Flying taxis to hit cities  #39;within five years #39; The makers of a British designed  quot;Jetpod quot; taxi, which they hope to introduce to British cities within five years, insist they will definitely take you to your destination by the shortest route - at 350 mph.


Endangered polar bears on thin ice Unless urgent action is taken to slow down global warming polar bears will be extinct by the end of the century. The stark warning is contained in an authoritative report compiled by more than 250 scientists on the effects of climate change in the Arctic.


Novell extols desktop Linux Novell is this week expected to spruce up a version of its Linux desktop aimed squarely at enterprise users. Built on the same core code base as Suse Linux Enterprise Server 9, Linux Desktop 9 is best suited


Radcliffe wins New York marathon; makes up for Olympic dropout? New York, Nov 8 - Paula Radcliffe has won the New York Marathon in a triumph of the human spirit to come back 11 weeks after crashing out of the Olympic marathon in Athens as well as the 10,000 metres finals.


#39;Suicide #39; theory over train crash LONDON, England -- Police investigating a train crash in southern England in which seven people died are focusing on a theory that a driver parked a car on the rails in an attempt to commit suicide.


Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle News Services TOKYO - A magnitude 5.9 earthquake rocked northern Japan today injuring at least eight people, near the area where the country #39;s deadliest earthquake in years struck last month.


No pressure from Pak, say Kashmiri separatists: India News: New Delhi, Nov.8 : Kashmiri separatist leaders have said that they are not under any pressure from Pakistan to be included as a third party in talks with the Centre.


America begins Fallujah assault American forces have stormed key areas of Fallujah early in the day, in what appears to be the first stage of the long-expected assault on the city.


Koizumi insists Samawah  quot;noncombat quot; zone Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday he still considers Iraq #39;s southern city of Samawah as a  quot;noncombat quot; region despite the Iraqi government had announced a state


Mitsubishi Motors reports large half-year loss Hard-pressed Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp. posted a big half-year loss on Monday and widened its full-year net loss projection even as it aims to tame a domestic sales plunge with its newly launched compact car.


Stuck in a jam? Fly your way to work in a jetpod!: World News: London, Nov 8 : If your city #39;s increasing traffic leaves you with nothing but a headache, here is a godsend that promises to make life easier.


Single molecule may lead to nicotine addiction A single molecule may be partly to blame for nicotine #39;s addictive allure, a finding that researchers say could lead to potential therapies to help millions of smokers quit.


Arafat #39;s Wife Accuses Deputies of Wanting Him Dead Yasser Arafat #39;s wife accused senior Palestinian officials on Monday of plotting to  quot;bury him alive quot; and forced them to put off a planned trip to France to visit her critically ill husband.


Two hurt in suicide attack on Black Watch force TWO British soldiers were fighting for their lives last night after being wounded in a suicide car bomb attack as a state of emergency was declared in Iraq.


UPDATE 1-GE sells India back office unit stake for \$500 mln General Electric Co. (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it had sold a 60 percent stake in its pioneering Indian business process outsourcing unit for \$500 million, making


Arafat Shrine Grows Outside French Hospital (AP) AP - Well-wishers have created a makeshift shrine of flowers, candles and messages of support outside the hospital where Yasser Arafat is being treated.


Ferguson blasts player after poor derby show MANCHESTER, Nov 8 (SW) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has admitted his players were not good enough to win the Premiership title, following his sides goalless draw against local rivals Manchester City last night.


Chelsea takes lead in Premier league Chelsea became the new Premier League leader Saturday when it beat Everton 1-0 while Arsenal was held to a 1-1 tie at Crystal Palace.


Mitsubishi Reports First Half Earnings (AP) AP - Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Monday that its losses grew in the first half of the fiscal year as the Japanese automaker struggled to recover from an auto-defect scandal that has sent sales plunging.


Palestinian Leaders Going Ahead with Arafat Visit  RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian leaders were  going ahead with a visit to France to see critically ill  Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, a senior Palestinian  official told Reuters on Monday.


Lucent, Unions Extend Talks to Monday Lucent Technologies Inc. (LU.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and unions representing roughly 10 percent of the telecommunications equipment maker #39;s work force on Sunday agreed to extend talks, their second extension in 10 days.


Shellshocked? Not these Bears The Bears were losing 14-0 against the New York Giants after just 12 minutes Sunday, and a great many people in Giants Stadium had to believe the game was over at that point.


Trojans weather the storm If top-ranked Southern California looked like it was playing in a fog during much of its 28-13 victory over Oregon State late Saturday night in Corvallis, no one could blame the Trojans.


BA earnings up British Airways, Europe #39;s second-biggest airline, says second-quarter operating profit rose 23 percent on tighter costs and higher passenger numbers.


Arafat's Wife Lashes Out at Officials (AP) AP - Yasser Arafat's wife accused his top lieutenants of seeking to grab power from her ailing husband, prompting three top Palestinian officials to abruptly cancel a visit to Paris  #151; at least for a day  #151; the first sign of an open power struggle while Arafat clings to life.


Strong Earthquake Jolts Northern Japan  TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of  5.9 jolted northern Japan on Monday in the latest aftershock to  hit a region struck by a deadly tremor last month, scaring  thousands still seeking refuge in makeshift shelters.


US Forces Pound Falluja Before Offensive  NEAR FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. troops unleashed a  fierce barrage of shelling on Monday on Iraq's rebel-held town  of Falluja, where U.S. troops are poised for a major offensive,  a Reuters witness said.


Budget carrier AirAsia plans to order 40 A320 #39;s -report Airbus has beat rival Boeing Co. with an order from Malaysia #39;s budget-airline market, Air-Asia for as much as \$5.2 billion of A320 jetliners, according to a published report.


Early Christmas present on rates THE Reserve Bank has given homeowners an early Christmas present by effectively putting off an interest rate rise until well into next year.


Microsoft downplays Real #39;s complaint Microsoft Corp said on Monday a complaint filed in South Korea by RealNetworks Inc, alleging that its Media Player software breached antitrust laws, was  quot;without merit quot;.


quot;Halo 2 quot; ready for blastoff While the rest of the Puget Sound area relished a gorgeous summer, Microsoft #39;s Bungie Studios team spent nearly every waking hour putting the finishing touches on the video game  quot;Halo 2. quot;.


Another Linux Desktop Hits Market Shelves Till now the adoption of Linux has been largely restricted to the server - thanks to disinterested ISVs and strong reluctance by Windows-only users.


Hollywood to sue internet file sharers Hollywood #39;s biggest movie studios are to sue people who share films through internet file-sharing networks. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) announced on Thursday that it will sue unnamed individuals


Mozilla Firefox: The Searcher #39;s Browser Firefox has emerged as the first browser in years to seriously challenge Internet Explorerwith good reason. Firefox has superior security and anti-scumware features, it works on Windows, Linux, MacOS X and other operating systems, and it #39;s free.


Sonics surprise Spurs Hold onto your hats, Seattle SuperSonics fans. The 2004-05 NBA season is bound to be a roller-coaster ride. That #39;s our guess, anyway, following the team #39;s wacky first week.


India-EU partnership talks begin BRUSSELS India is to open talks Monday to forge a strategic partnership with the European Union, a status so far restricted to just five big countries.


US Treasuries Decline on Concern Fed to Lift Rates (Correct) US 10-year Treasury notes fell in London before the government #39;s sale of \$51 billion of bonds and a Federal Reserve meeting at which policy makers probably will raise their benchmark interest rate.


Noble Group Ltd. Reports Rise in 3Q Profit Commodities trader Noble Group Ltd. on Monday reported a more than six-fold rise in third-quarter net profit due to strong demand from China.


Asian Stock Markets Close Mostly Lower Asian stock markets closed mostly lower Monday, with prices falling in Tokyo on profit-taking. Tokyo #39;s Nikkei Stock Average of 225 issues shed 77.


Bush turns eye to tax-law overhaul Buoyed by a clear-cut election victory, President George W. Bush pledges to make permanent the sweeping tax cuts of his first term and to simplify the nation #39;s tax laws.


Munich Re Lowers Earnings Target on Hurricane Claims (Update4) Munich Re, the world #39;s largest reinsurer, lowered its target for 2004 earnings after the worst storm season in more than a century led to 550 million euros (\$714 million) of damage claims.


China central bank to take  quot;gradual and safe quot; approach on currency <b>...</b> BEIJING : China #39;s central bank said it would take a  quot;gradual and safe quot; approach to loosening the yuan-dollar peg, following International Monetary Fund (IMF) calls to let the currency float in a wider margin.


Honda to quadruple capacity in China Tokyo - Japanese car manufacturer Honda said Monday it would spend \$340 million to quadruple capacity at its joint plant with Dongfeng Motor in Wuhan, China, to 120 000 units by 2006.


When jammers meet the jetpods LONDON: If your city #39;s increasing traffic leaves you with nothing but a headache, here is a  #39;godsend vehicle #39; that promises to make life easier.


IBM #39;s new supercomputer breaks the world #39;s fastest computer #39;s <b>...</b> Technology India: London, Nov 8 : A new supercomputer being constructed by IBM has broken all supercomputing records after demonstrating double the power of the long-reigning supercomputing champion, NEC #39;s Earth Simulator, based at Yokohama, Japan.


Arctic Melting Threatens to Disrupt Oil Pipelines (Update1) Atmospheric warming threatens to disrupt Arctic oil pipelines in the US and Russia as melting ice caps turn the permafrost into a sea of mud, #39; #39; an international scientific report said.


Europe #39;s most powerful supercomputer unveiled IBM and the Spanish government have introduced a new supercomputer they hope will be the most powerful in Europe, and one of the 10 most powerful in the world.


Lamp makers: Tight supply of projector and RPTV lamps to persist <b>...</b> A tight supply of lamps for front projectors and rear-projection TVs (RPTVs) is likely to persist through 2005 as Taiwan-based projector makers are increasing their shipments of RPTV optical engines, said lamp makers Ushio, Royal Philips Electronics and


Nokia sues over patent and registered designs Nokia, the world #39;s largest mobile phone maker, took legal action earlier this week against two European manufacturers for allegedly infringing on technology patents and registered designs.


Can Firefox Browser Derail Microsoft? Much like Linux, the Firefox browser has become an open-source phenomenon. More than five million people have downloaded the preview version of the free product -- developed by the non-profit


Krill in decline, report says Krill, the heart of the rich Antarctic food chain that nourishes whales, seals and penguins, have declined by more than 80 percent in the past 25 years in key ocean regions, according to a new study that links the loss to warming temperatures.


Shock as  #39;basic #39; security flaw allows hackers into Cahoot Cyber crime experts yesterday expressed their shock at a  quot;basic quot; security flaw at internet bank Cahoot that could allow hackers to view private account details.


Bayern, Schalke Increase Pressure as Wolves Slip It #39;s getting very tight at the top of the Bundesliga with wins for Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 cutting Wolfsburg #39;s lead to just one point.


Are Eagles all that they #39;re cracked up to be? PITTSBURGH  If you #39;re a glass-half-full kind of person, you #39;re saying that the Eagles have lost badly at other points during the Andy Reid Era, and have almost always bounced back.


Quick Hits column RAVENS 27 BROWNS 13 Burned for a touchdown on the game #39;s first play, it was hard to imagine the Baltimore Ravens would win on the strength of their special teams.


Carter, Raptors perfect 3-0 No one expected the Toronto Raptors to be 3-0. Not Vince Carter and not their fans. Carter scored 25 points, including a tiebreaking three-pointer with 4.8 seconds left, to help the Raptors get off to their


Boller prevails, but Garcia wins on style points Except to say, they are the team now enjoying Chris Gardocki #39;s work as a punter, no? Until this special-teams game of seesaw between division pretenders teetered Baltimore #39;s way on a downed punt at the Browns


Ivory Coast protesters face French troops urged protesters to form a  quot;human shield quot; to protect the house of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo. the unrest in Ivory Coast, the world #39;s largest cocoa grower.


Palestinian Leadership to Confront Arafat #39;s Angry Wife The caretaker Palestinian leadership decided today to travel to Yasser Arafats bedside, reversing a decision to call off the trip after being lambasted by the ailing 75-year-old leaders wife.


China jails officials for spying Two senior Chinese officials in Hong Kong are given long jail terms after being convicted of spying for the UK.


UPDATE 2-GE sells India back office unit stake for \$500 mln General Electric Co. (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world #39;s top conglomerate, said on Monday it had sold a majority of its pioneering Indian back


BT in \$965m US network buy BT Group will buy California-based Infonet Services Corp for \$965 million in cash to expand in the United States and Asia, the UK #39;s dominant fixed-line company said on Monday.


Murdoch #39;s plan to block News stalker NEWS Corp, the media company controlled by Rupert Murdoch, launched a shareholder rights plan today that appeared designed to fend off the possibility of a hostile bid.


CBI issues skills warning The CBI has warned that there will be no jobs for unskilled workers in Britain within 10 years. Speaking on the opening day of the business organisation #39;s annual conference in Birmingham, director general


Struggling Mitsubishi Motors #39; interim net loss widens Tokyo - Scandal-hit Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors said Monday its interim net loss nearly doubled to 146.16 billion and announced it was downgrading its full-year earnings forecast.


IMF warns of Chinese hard landing The Chinese economy risks a hard landing, according to an International Monetary Fund report on China #39;s economy published today.


Arafat Wife Deputies Plotting to 'Bury Him Alive'  PARIS (Reuters) - Yasser Arafat's wife accused Palestinian  leaders on Monday of plotting to "bury him alive," but they  decided to go ahead with a visit to the critically ill  Palestinian president at a French military hospital.


SpaceShipOne takes X-Prize spoils TheSpaceShipOne team is handed the \$10m cheque and trophy it won for claiming the Ansari X-Prize.


Taipei plans city-wide Wi-Fi network Taiwan capital says network will reach 90 of population of 3M, will charge users for access. TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taipei plans to make wireless Internet access available across the Taiwan capital by the end


Meyer brings his expectations and resume of success to Gainesville Urban Meyer considers himself accountable to the nth degree, so don #39;t expect Florida #39;s new head football coach to arrive in Gainesville next week leaning on that popular crutch of a five-year plan.


Fast Arctic Thaw Threatens People, Polar Bears Global warming is heating the Arctic almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet in a thaw that threatens millions of livelihoods and could wipe


Reaction from Tottenham Hotspur Football Club A number of former players and staff linked with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club have voiced their opinion on the sensational exit of manager Jacques Santini.


O-line wearing down opposition In football, as in virtually every other sport at all levels, it is pretty much the ultimate representation of pending submission.


Weekend in Review: Spurs know how, why they were built SEATTLE -- For years, it has been all about Tim Duncan and the revolving door of the San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio #39;s depth now allows them to win, even when up-and-comer Tony Parker can #39;t get the job done.


Rollin #39; rollin #39; rollin #39; Vince Carter paused and thought. The last time he made a winning shot? He shakes his head and remembers, when Muggsy Bogues was still a little Raptor and Dell Curry was arching gorgeous jumpers from the perimeter.


NFL Game Summary - Kansas City at Tampa Bay Warrick Dunn previously held the Tampa Bay record with a 76-yard run against Chicago on December 21, 1997...Green tied Bill Kenney #39;s club record with his 15th 300-yard outing in a Chiefs uniform...Kansas City has scored 132 points over its last three


Macedonian govt wins multi-ethnic victory ISN SECURITY WATCH (08/11/04) - A Sunday referendum in Macedonia against a government law granting the countrys ethnic Albanian minority more political rights and powers has failed due to insufficient voter turnout.


Strong earthquake strikes northern Japan : A magnitude 5.8 earthquake rocked northern Japan today near the area where the country #39;s deadliest earthquake in years struck last month.


Oil Down as Supply Fears Ease, Funds Exit  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell further from record  highs on Monday as easing concern about winter supplies  prompted big-money hedge funds to switch money away from oil  and into other financial markets.


Earthquake Strikes Japan; Eight Injured TOKYO Nov 7, 2004 - A magnitude 5.9 earthquake rocked northern Japan on Monday, injuring at least eight people, near the area where the country #39;s deadliest earthquake in years struck last month.


US Barrage Hits Iraq's Falluja Before Offensive  NEAR FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. planes and artillery  fiercely bombarded Falluja and troops probed rebel defenses on  Monday in a prelude to a full-scale ground offensive on Iraq's  toughest insurgent bastion.


Entrepreneurship emerges as the new song of India  In early October, two dozen Boston-area venture capitalists paid \$3,500 each to take a weeklong excursion to India. They saw three cities in seven days, met with entrepreneurs and chief executives, and had a private sitting with the president of India.


One standard, one Microsoft - how the NHS sold its choice Analysis Uk.gov locks itself in for a generation


British Airways profits soar British Airways today reported further progress in its recovery as it made a half-year pre-tax profit of 335m, but said higher fuel costs remained a concern.


Murdoch acts to block rival #39;s takeover bid Rupert Murdoch #39;s News Corporation today took steps to head off a potential takeover by rival mogul John Malone with a  quot;poison pill quot; plan to dilute the shareholdings of would-be predators.


Long return lifts Ravens Jamal Lewis scored the decisive touchdown with 7:03 left following a 7-yard punt, and Ed Reed sealed the victory with an NFL-record 106-yard interception return in the waning seconds as the Baltimore Ravens beat the Cleveland Browns, 27-13, Sunday.


Westwood carries narrow lead Englishman Lee Westwood will take a one-shot lead over a tightly bunched group of players into Sunday #39;s final round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge played at the par-72, 7162m, Gary Player Country Club layout.


Struggling Mitsubishi Motors slips deeper into loss Scandal-hit Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors said its interim net loss nearly doubled to a record 146.16 billion yen (1.38 billion dollars), downgrading its full-year earnings forecast.


October jobs boom may keep US rates rising to the end of 2004 WASHINGTON, Nov 7 (AFP) - The discovery of life in the American jobs market may keep the Federal Reserve raising interest rates until the end of 2004, analysts said.


Media Center Gets a Makeover Microsoft makes a more concerted move into the living room with a freshened version of its entertainment-oriented operating system.


The talk always comes back to sex Things start out simply enough for the award-winning geneticist and researcher. But then, after only a minute or two on some ordinary small-talk topic, like, say, the rate of molecular evolution of the seminal


IBM aims for top 10 with new Spanish supercomputer NOVEMBER 05, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - IBM and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science introduced a supercomputer today that they hope will be the most powerful in Europe, and among the 10 most powerful in the world.


Suicide theory over crash Police today told of their shock at the  quot;utter devastation quot; of the Berkshire rail crash. The car driver, who was among the dead, had parked across the track at the crossing in an apparent suicide.


Report finds European bird species face extinction A new report has found that more than 40 per cent of all European bird species are threatened and may disappear soon due to intensive agriculture and climate change.


Clone Ban Unlikely to Pass Senate Six Republican additions to the Senate will bring Congress closer to passing a cloning ban in the United States, but probably not close enough. By Kristen Philipkoski.


Got Anti-Nuke Pills? Probably Not Potassium iodide pills could ward off cancer in the event of a nuclear accident, but many states have refused to take freebies from the feds. By Randy Dotinga.


Taming the Wild River Attempts to keep the Mississippi contained have often had the opposite effect, but now the Army is counting on huge mats of concrete to do the job. Michelle Delio reports from Natchez, Mississippi.


Living Free and Easy Kiss those utility bills goodbye. Well, maybe. If you live in a sunny -- but not humid -- area, you may be able to live in a zero-energy home. By John Gartner.


Meet the People Who Made America Americans aren't more inventive than other people, but they innovate. A PBS documentary airing this week details how Americans create new industries with their inventions -- an additional step that makes all the difference. By Jason Silverman.


The Real da Vinci Code Is his mysterious three-wheeled cart a proto automobile? A remote-controlled robot? A rolling Renaissance computer? Follow the quest to rebuild Leonardo's 'impossible machine.' By Tom Vanderbilt from Wired magazine.


Save Soldiers by Remote Control Unmanned aerial vehicles and other remote-controlled weapons are part of a high-tech arsenal the U.S. military is developing to help minimize casualties in battles with insurgents.


BT secures \$965m US telecoms deal BT boosts its presence in the US by buying IT market leader Infonet, whose clients include the US government and 1,800 multinational companies.


Laundering suit for spirits firms Colombia accuses Diageo, Pernod Ricard and other spirits firms of selling to drug networks and thus helping them launder money.


BT set to re-enter US market with \$1bn purchase BT Group is poised for a surprise return to the US market with a planned \$1bn acquisition of Infonet Services, a California-based telecoms service provider.


Soaring Euro Offsets Economic Hopes  LONDON (Reuters) - European stock markets failed on Monday  to build on six-month highs as the euro probed record levels  against the dollar, offsetting the positive effects of lower  oil prices and a seemingly revitalized U.S. jobs market.


Sperm #39;s solution to promiscuity Nature is fighting back in response to female promiscuity by producing a biological  #39;sperm #39; chastity belt, say US scientists.


Pats bounce back behind Vinatieri #39;s TD pass ST. LOUIS -- New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri beat the St. Louis Rams with his leg in Super Bowl XXXVI. This time, he used his leg and his arm.


Arafat Wife Deputies Plotting to  #39;Bury Him Alive #39; Yasser Arafat #39;s wife accused Palestinian leaders on Monday of plotting to  quot;bury him alive, quot; but they decided to go ahead with a visit to the critically ill Palestinian president at a French military hospital.


Ivory Army Stops Its Attacks To The North The National Army of the Ivory Coast withdrew from their offensive against rebel-controlled villages after French forces destroyed the small Ivorian air force.


French hostages  #39;still alive #39; The two French journalists being held hostage in Iraq were still alive a few days ago and are likely to be freed, France #39;s foreign minister said last night.


Tigers Take SEC Title and Wait Auburn #39;s last chance to get into the Orange Bowl and play for the national championship was to score an overwhelming victory over Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference championship


ADV: Auto Insurance - Cut Your Costs Save money on your auto insurance with InsWeb.com. Get free quotes from several of the nation #39;s leading auto insurance companies. Start saving on your auto insurance at Insweb.com.


Football Manager scores big time Football Manager 2005 is the most realistic and satisfying football management game to ever grace the Earth.


Microsoft--license to deal You back my patent, I'll back yours. That could be the software giant's motto in its quest for intellectual property.


NFL Wrap: Buffalo Bills Defeat New York Jets  ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (Sports Network) - Willis McGahee ran  for 132 yards and a touchdown to lead the Buffalo Bills to a  22-17 victory over the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium.  McGahee now has reached the 100-yard mark in all three of his  starts, all won by the Bills (3-5).


French Surround Ivory Coast President's Home French tanks took up positions outside the home of Ivory Coast's president Monday, his spokesman said, raising fears of an attempt to oust him as French forces clamped down on an explosion of violence in its former West African colony.


Stocks Look to Open Lower After Rally  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a  slightly lower market open on Monday as investors pause after  last weeks rally and mull an expected interest rate hike and a  weakening dollar.


Marion #39;s highs and blows The fastest knee in the world has jerked, and given a reaction. In a predictable retort to BALCO, steroid distributor Victor Contes statement that Marion Jones used dope even before the Sydney Olympics


ManTech to Support Army Medical Center ManTech International Corp. of Fairfax won a \$19.3 million contract to provide engineering and technical services to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.


Iraq's Allawi Imposes Falluja Curfew  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad  Allawi said on Monday he had given U.S. and Iraqi forces the  go-ahead to clear the rebel-held city of Falluja of  "terrorists."


Remote Control Could Save Soldiers' Lives Unmanned aerial vehicles and other so-called "stand-off" weapons, whether currently used or in secret testing, belong to a developing high-tech arsenal that the U.S. military says will help minimize casualties as it battles insurgents.


Palestinians to See Arafat Despite Wife's Fury  PARIS (Reuters) - Palestinian leaders headed for Paris on  Monday to see critically ill President Yasser Arafat at a  French military hospital despite a scathing attack by his wife  who accused them of plotting to "bury him alive."


Keeping Internet Phone Service Simple Two former MCI executives, Joyce Dorris and Paul Erickson, want to bring Internet phone service to mainstream America. "We're in the beginning of a wholesale transformation to have communications run over Internet technology," said Erickson, chief executive of SunRocket, a start-up in Vienna. "If you have broadband, you'd be silly not to put your phone service on the Internet."


Some Retailers Offering Online Rebates The rebate check is no longer a reward reserved for penny-pinchers with an abundance of paperwork skills and patience. Paperless, online rebates are finally gaining momentum in retail, an industry that has long offered customers electronic options for virtually every other type of transaction, from simple purchases to coupons.


French Troops Fire to Disperse Ivory Coast Protesters  ABIDJAN (Reuters) - French troops in Ivory Coast's main  city of Abidjan fired into the air on Monday to disperse  thousands of demonstrators massing to support the West African  country's President Laurent Gbagbo.


Carlyle Increases Its Interest in Debt Deals Carlyle Group , among the biggest buyers of private companies, is busily expanding its corporate loan operation.


Kazaa Faces Allegations in Copyright Trial Kazaa users can freely exchange songs, movies and television programs without paying royalties to copyright owners. Record company lawyers are attempting to have Sharman Networks, Kazaa #39;s parent company, declared


Gas Prices Drop As Crude Oil Supply Rises An increase in the worldwide supply of crude oil contributed to a dip in U.S. prices at the gas pump over the last two weeks, an industry analyst said Sunday.


BT to Buy Infonet in Deal Worth About \$1B BT Group PLC said Monday it is buying U.S.-based Infonet Services Corp., in a deal that values the company at \$965 million.


Mitsubishi Reports Lower 1st Half Earning Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Monday that its losses grew in the first half of the fiscal year as the Japanese automaker struggled to recover from an auto-defect scandal that has sent sales plunging. The company lowered its sales expectations for the year and said it expected a larger full-year loss than previously forecast.