We will meet India half way, vibes not encouraging: Musharraf Lahore, Nov 21 (UNI) Dismayed by India #39;s outright rejection of his recent dramatic proposals, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said vibes coming from the neighbouring country are not encouraging but expressed Islamabad #39;s readiness to leave its


Sears-Kmart Deal Highlights Future Retail Trend The planned acquisition of Sears, Roebuck and Co. by Kmart Holding Corp. highlights a changing retail environment that could soon eliminate the department store as we know it, analysts and consultants said on Friday.


US Pledges to Cut Deficit as G-20 Sees Growth Risks (Update1) Treasury Secretary John Snow pledged to reduce the US budget deficit, blamed by Europeans for the euro #39;s gains against the dollar and cited as a risk to global growth by ministers from 20 industrial and emerging economies.


Bears Will Try to Disrupt Colts' Offense (AP) AP - As the new man in the middle of the Chicago Bears' defense, Hunter Hillenmeyer will be calling the signals, trying to disrupt the NFL's most potent offense while matching football wits with Peyton Manning.


Malice at the Palace - the last thing the NBA needed for their <b>...</b> Take your pick of culprits in the stunning melee Friday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills, in a heated game between Central Division rivals: the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers.


Centurion Hall puts South Africa in driver #39;s seat: Sports India, Cricket: Kanpur, Nov 21 : Stopgap opener Andrew Hall scored his maiden Test century and debutant Zander de Bruyn made 83 Sunday to give South Africa a vice-like grip on the second day of the first Test against India at the Green Park


Study: Humans Were Born to Run More than by brain size or tool-making ability, the human species was set apart from its ancestors by the ability to jog mile after lung-stabbing mile with greater endurance than any other primate, according to research published today in the journal


It #39;s been emotional says proud coach GRAHAM HENRY admitted he was mentally shattered after coming through an emotional return to Cardiff with his pride intact - but only just.


World Briefs Column A family tug-of-war over whether to reveal Yasser Arafat #39;s cause of death bubbled over in public yesterday, with a brother of the late leader insisting the Palestinian people are entitled to know.


British Labor government to step up anti-terror laws if wins next British Home Secretary David Blunkett on Sunday unveiled proposals for more far-reaching laws to tackle terrorism if the Labor government wins the next election widely expected in May next year.


Iraq Delays Elections to Jan. 30 Iraqi officials say Jan. 30 has been set as the new date for the war-torn country #39;s first national elections since a US-led military coalition toppled Saddam Hussein #39;s regime.


Three More Bodies Found in Iraq #39;s Restive Mosul The bodies of three men killed by insurgents were found on a street in the Iraqi city of Mosul on Sunday, a day after US troops in the city discovered the bodies of nine Iraqi soldiers who had been shot in the head.


Ambanis seek to resolve ownership issue A family meeting of Ambanis to resolve differences over the ownership issue in India #39;s largest corporate house - Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is likely to take place tomorrow in Mumbai.


SEC revises standards for securities brokers The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is giving securities brokers up to November 2005 to shift to the use of risk-based capital adequacy standards from the current net capital standards.


Power restored to portions of Bay Area Power is returning to many residents in the Bay Area this morning with all outages expected to end by 1 pm today, a Pacific Gas and Electric Co.


Artest To Get 30-Day Suspension For Brawl, Station Reports The National Basketball Association suspended four players involved in Friday night #39;s fight at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The NBA is expected to formally announce the suspensions as early as today for their


Alabama Notebook TUSCALOOSA - Alabama head coach Mike Shula received a heavy dose of criticism earlier this season for choosing to punt on fourth-and-short in a loss to Arkansas.


US birdie assault seizes UBS Cup lead The United States team wasn #39;t able to stop the juggernaut that is the partnership of Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer, but little else slowed it down in a record-setting


Dollar Forecast Most Bearish in 18 Months, Trader Survey Says Currency traders, investors and strategists are more bearish on the dollar than at any time in the past 18 months, a Bloomberg News survey indicates.


Iraq Sets Election Date But Unrest Threatens Poll Iraq chose Jan. 30 for its first democratic election in decades on Sunday, but violence in Sunni Muslim areas underlined the challenge of holding polls on time.


U.S. Urges Israel to Smooth Way for Palestinian Vote  RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - A U.S. envoy said before a  visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday that Israel  should take steps to smooth the way for a Palestinian  presidential election scheduled for January.


Blair Puts Security at Heart of Pre-Election Plans  LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Tony Blair will spell out this  week his legislative plans for the next session of parliament  -- tantamount to an election manifesto, with the prime minister  expected to go to the polls in May next year.


Blunkett moots 'proof-lite' Internet and banking banning orders Curfews for those thought to be thinking about terror


Snow: U.S. Deficits to Fall  BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said  on Sunday he assured members of the Group of 20 nations that  Washington will slash deficits they blame for a falling dollar  and repeated his call for stronger European growth.


Senate Confirms Treasury's Bitsberger (Reuters) Reuters - The U.S. Senate on Sunday confirmed\Timothy Bitsberger as assistant secretary for financial\markets, the key debt market post in the Treasury Department.


San Francisco hotel lockout ends; talks to continue SAN FRANCISCO - Employers agreed to end their lockout of workers at 14 San Francisco hotels and resume negotiations with UNITE HERE!


SEC inks deal for online posting of financial statements THE SECURITIES Exchange Commission (SEC) has signed a 128-million-peso contract with several information technology firms to help develop the agency #39;s online reporting system for Philippine companies.


Yuan peg to ease  #39;in stability #39; CHINESE President Hu Jintao told his US counterpart George W. Bush that Beijing planned to loosen the yuan #39;s decade-old peg to the dollar, but only under stable economic conditions, an official said.


Mine fire kills 33 in north China province Thirty-three are dead and 61 missing after a mine fire in north China #39;s Hebei Province, Sunday. The fire began at 10:30 am Saturday in the Baita Township of Shahe, trapping 106 miners underground.


Peoplesoft rejects new Oracle bid Peoplesoft rejects a takeover bid from rival Oracle for the sixth time in the last 18 months calling the offer "inadequate".


Peoplesoft rejects new Oracle bid Software company Peoplesoft has formally rejected a takeover bid from rival Oracle for a sixth time. The rejection came after about 61 of shareholders in the California-based business software firm backed Oracle #39;s \$9.2bn (4.9bn) approach.


Kmart #39;s man of mystery Eddie Lampert, engineer of the Kmart-Sears merger, is as secretive as he is successful. Even Aylwin Lewis, the executive hired by Lampert last month to run Kmart, had no idea that his new


NZ  #39;friends #39; to push for free trade with US New Zealand #39;s  quot;friends quot; in Washington will soon make another push to have the administration consider a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and NZ, Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday.


Roubles on the trade agenda New Zealand and Russia are on the verge of forming a stronger trading relationship, but moves are likely to stop short of a full free trade deal until Russia becomes a member of the World Trade Organisation.


Nintendo DS goes on sale in America Nintendo starts its campaign to stop Sony taking over the handheld gaming market with the launch of its new handheld console the Nintendo DS today in the US.


Google introduces new research tool (AP) - Online search engine leader Google is setting out make better sense of all the scholarly work stored on the Web. The company #39;s new service, unveiled late Wednesday at scholar


Casey shines in England golf win Paul Casey, with another inspired putting display, and Luke Donald have earned England a one-shot victory over home favourites Spain in the WGC-World Cup of Golf.


Boxing: Ronald Wright retains titles Ronald Wright used an effective right jab to retain his World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council junior middleweight titles when posting a majority decision over former champion Shane Mosley in Las Vegas yesterday.


NZ withstands Welsh passion The All Blacks coach was also correct when he said Wales were a team worthy of respect. Whether he showed enough with his team selection is debatable but what is beyond dispute is that


55 killed in China plane crash: World News: Hohhot (China), Nov 21 : A total of 55 people, including two men on the ground, were killed when a commuter plane crashed into a frozen lake in China soon after take-off in Inner Mongolia Sunday, Xinhua reports.


India pulls 3000 troops from Kashmir India had pulled about 3000 troops out of Kashmir in a planned withdrawal, officials said yesterday, as the peace process between New Delhi and Islamabad came under strain.


Swapo party wins Namibia elections Namibian President Sam Nujoma #39;s chosen successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba, has won a landslide victory with 75 of the vote in the country #39;s third elections since independence, according to official results.


BLUSHES IN BLUE FLOWING football it was not. Neither did the expected goal glut at Stamford Bridge materialise. Instead, Chelsea came crashing down to earth on home ground, of all places, as Bolton caused one of the biggest surprises of the season so far.


Five killed in Brazil land clash Five rural workers are shot dead in the most violent incident in Brazil's land row since the president took power.


Sinn Fein leader 'regrets' bombs Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams says he "regrets" the Birmingham pub bombings on the 30th anniversary of the attacks.


Moscow sets date to auction Yukos unit The Russian government plans to sell a majority stake in the main production unit of oil giant OAO Yukos at an auction on December 19.


Big 6 banks poised for profit slowdown, but still expect double <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - Canada #39;s big banks, reporting year-end results over the next two weeks, will show a definite deceleration in growth, but analysts say they are still poised to ring up double-digit profit increases.


Google #39;s Caution Google #39;s (Nasdaq: GOOG) shares slid 3 Thursday as investors worried that the search-engine outfit may not be invincible after all.


#39;Electronic eye #39; helps blind cross the road An electronic  quot;artificial eye quot;, developed for people with impaired vision, has been shown to reliably identify pedestrian crossings, determine when it is safe to walk across and even measure the width of a road.


Beer-swilling idiots should bear most of the blame There #39;s a common misconception in the world of sports often voiced by beer-toting fans as if it were defensible in a court of law.


Boy becomes a Manning ANOTHER LOSS meant another sleepless night for New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin. It was 3 am Monday morning, less than 12 hours after his team had lost to the Arizona Cardinals


Britain to Tighten Anti-Terror Laws LONDON, November 21 (IslamOnline.net  amp; News Agencies) - Britain will adopt a set of tightened anti-terror laws in case Prime Minister Tony Blair #39;s Labor Party wins the general elections, due next year, the home secretary said on Sunday, November 21.


India PM courts north-east rebels India #39;s prime minister has urged militant separatists in the north-east to join negotiations with the federal government and end decades of strife.


Bofra exploit hits our ad serving supplier Important notice Some Reg readers may be infected


Stelco #39;s bankruptcy restructuring looks more like an auction 10 <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - The steel market has been hotter than a blast furnace lately. So, too, are critics of Stelco Inc., who question whether the company should have been declared insolvent ahead of such strong market conditions.


McNair In, Brown Out at QB for Titans (AP) AP - Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair returned to the starting lineup Sunday, but running back Chris Brown was inactive against the Jacksonville Jaguars.


Bahrain Activist Pardoned by King Bahrain #39;s king pardoned a human rights activist who convicted of inciting hatred of the government and sentenced to one year in prison Sunday in a case linked to criticism of the prime minister.


Report Says Congress Must Fix Amtrak (AP) AP - Though Congress approved a  #36;1.2 billion subsidy for Amtrak, the money-losing passenger railroad still is careening toward a major disruption in service.


China Builds Trade Ties With South America BUENOS AIRES -- Chinese President Hu Jintao ended a two-day visit to Argentina with the prize he had sought -- the coveted status of  quot;market economy quot; -- and pledges of investment and trade, in a regional tour that highlights China #39;s new outward-looking


Debt relief for Iraq Paris - The Paris Club of creditor nations, with the exception of Russia, has reached an agreement in principle to slash debts Iraq owes to the group by up to 80, a well-placed official said on Sunday.


ANALYSIS: Dollar Fall Will Come at a Price for All  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is set to turn a  blind eye to the sliding dollar and a deaf ear to protests  about its fall, but experts smell trouble for all in what looks  like an effective devaluation of the world's reserve currency.


Three ministers face the boot amid fears of a Zanu PF rift As the Zanu PF story takes new twists and political intrigue continues, three Cabinet ministers and a provincial governor face the sack for their role in the much-publicised Tsholotsho Declaration.


Amtrak in Another Hole with \$1.3 Bln Loss  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amtrak is in another financial hole  after posting a \$1.3 billion operating loss last fiscal year  and again receiving far less than it requested in federal  subsidies, an influential transportation watchdog said on  Sunday.


The fizz could go out of Sears merger euphoria New York -- Few things stir the heart of stock investors like a huge merger deal. And last week #39;s shotgun wedding between Kmart and Sears, two limping retailers, was no exception.


G-20 skirts sliding dollar Finance ministers from the Group of 20 rich or emerging countries have wrapped up a two-day summit in Berlin without making explicit reference to the sagging value of the US dollar against the euro.


Investors may see more put on trial GREENVILLE, SC - After nearly two years and two trials, Attorney General Henry McMaster said the investigation is continuing into the collapse of Carolina Investors Inc.


Community Tries to Revive Cuba's Chinatown (AP) AP - At first glance, Havana's Chinatown seems a misnomer. Restaurants serve pizza, and actual Chinese are vastly outnumbered by tourists and Hispanics.


Space-flight pioneer predicts 3,000  quot;astronauts quot; in 5 years Burt Rutan, a maverick aviator with Elvis-like sideburns, spread his futuristic vision last week of space travel no longer dominated by the government but by daring engineers such as himself.


Virus protection for cell phones on the way Anti-virus protection will ship later this month with some new phones in Japan, a harbinger of cellular threats to come. Security products are already available for handheld


Consumers could be the losers in battle for next-generation DVD standard (AFP) AFP - As videocassettes fade into history, a full-fledged battle is on to establish the next standard of DVDs which could open up a new realm of possibilities in interactive home entertainment.


TOP UK MINISTER GOES... NUTS OVER HER BORN blind, Mr David Blunkett had to work harder than most to become Home Secretary, which makes him one of the most powerful men in Britain.


NBA smackdown The NBA suspended four players indefinitely yesterday for their involvement in one of the worst fights in professional sports history Friday, in which players stormed into the stands and exchanged blows with fans.


Wales finish by making right sort of splash WELSHMEN Phillip Price and Bradley Dredge had to birdie the final three holes to remain in contention at the World Cup in Spain. The Wales duo had slipped way off the hot foursomes pace being set by England #39;s


Nou or never for samba stars STRIKERS Ronaldinho and Ronaldo face each other for the first time in tonight #39;s eagerly anticipated league clash of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.


McNair to start; Titans without Brown against Jags Jacksonville, FL (Sports Network) - The Tennessee Titans will have Steve McNair back at quarterback for Sunday #39;s game against Jacksonville, but running back Chris Brown was inactive because of a turf toe injury.


Iran to go ahead with nuke act suspension Iran said yesterday it was still committed to suspending its sensitive uranium enrichment activities as of today and that alarm over its nuclear activities was merely  quot;propaganda quot;.


Thirty-three dead, 61 missing after fire in five Chinese mines BEIJING : Thirty-three miners were confirmed dead and 61 others were missing after a fire at five iron ore mines in northern China.


Israel Hit by Worst Locust Plague Since 1950s (Reuters) Reuters - Millions of locusts swarmed through\Israel's Red Sea resort town of Eilat on Sunday, devouring\crops and flowers in the country's south.


Bush Has a Plan to Create Jobs (AP) AP - Hiring is picking up and President Bush is on track to preside over job growth in his second term, shedding the Herbert Hoover label of being the first president since the Great Depression to lose jobs under his watch.


Rehnquist's Status Still a Mystery (AP) AP - Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist's health is shrouded in mystery, the extent of his thyroid cancer a closely guarded secret. Several coming events could give the public an idea about the seriousness of his condition.


Lawmaker: White House Key to U.S. Intelligence Reform (Reuters) Reuters - The Republican chairman of the\Senate Intelligence Committee on Sunday blamed the White House\and Pentagon for resisting intelligence reform and gave the\U.S. Congress a failing grade for not passing legislation.


U.S. Urges Israel to Smooth Way for Palestinian Vote  RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - A U.S. envoy said before a  visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday that Israel  should take steps to smooth the way for a Palestinian  presidential election set for Jan. 9.


Ukrainians Vote for New President in Landmark Poll  KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainians voted for a new president on  Sunday, choosing between their Russian-backed prime minister  and a West-leaning liberal in a tight contest many fear could  degenerate into turmoil.


Bush Pledges Immigration Reform at Asia-Pacific Summit  SANTIAGO (Reuters) - President Bush reached out to Latin  America on Sunday with a pledge to pursue immigration reform  but a security scuffle that he inserted himself into created a  lasting image for this year's summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.


Iran Bars National Geographic Over Map Dispute  TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran banned National Geographic  reporters and sales of the magazine until it corrects an atlas  it published using a disputed name for waters off the Islamic  Republic's south coast.


New clashes erupt in west Nepal At least 10 Nepalese troops are killed in  clashes with rebels who lost 16 of their men, the army says.


Plane Crash in China Kills All 53 People Aboard A passenger plane crashed in an ice-covered lake in northern China seconds after takeoff Sunday, killing all 53 people aboard and one person on the ground after an apparent midair explosion, the government said.


Bush to Renew Intelligence Reform Pressure on Congress

 By David Morgan

 SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - President Bush will renewpressure on Congress to reach agreement on intelligence reformsthis year, after a weekend deal collapsed in the face ofRepublican opposition, the White House said on Sunday.


Some 20,000 protest in Cologne against violence in the name of Islam (AFP) AFP - Some 20,000 people took to the streets in the western German city of Cologne, waving German and Turkish flags, to protest against the use of violence in the name of Islam.


Paris Club Agrees on Iraq Debt Reduction (AP) AP - A French Finance ministry spokesman said the Paris Club of creditor nations had reached deal Sunday to write off 80 percent of the debts Iraq owes them.


Congress Passes Satellite Transmission Measure  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Satellite companies would be able to  retransmit broadcasters' television signals for another five  years but would have to offer those signals on a single dish,  under legislation approved by Congress on Saturday.


PeopleSoft's Board Rejects Oracle Bid PeopleSoft Inc.'s board of directors said it rejected Oracle Corp.'s \$9.2 billion takeover bid Saturday, continuing its staunch resistance a day after the company's own shareholders tendered more than 60 percent of stock to Oracle.


US, Europe play blame game over sliding dollar Europe and the United States kept up a war of words over the sliding US dollar at a G20 meeting of rich and developing nations, blaming each other for the currency #39;s fall and avoiding new steps or rhetoric to halt it.


England wins World Cup with final-round 64 Seville, Spain (Sports Network) - Paul Casey and Luke Donald of England fired an eight-under 64 in the alternate-shot format Sunday to win the World Golf Championships - World Cup.


New clashes erupt in west Nepal Fresh clashes in western Nepal have left at least 10 government soldiers and 16 rebels dead, the army says. There is no word so far from the rebels on the fighting that started late Saturday in Pandaun, Kailali district.


EU needs rebalance of power to be fully democratic body Europe #39;s integration project is historically unprecedented. For the past millennium, Europe has lived in an uneasy equilibrium, giving birth to every great empire that dominated and pacified the world in the last 500 years.


BCS Bound; Utah Remains Undefeated  SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Sports Network) - Steve Savoy scored  three times and Alex Smith accounted for two more touchdowns as  No. 5 Utah did its best toward becoming the first non-BCS  program to claim a spot in a BCS bowl game by pounding Mountain  West rival Brigham Young, 52-21, at Rice-Eccles Stadium.


Casey Shines as England Wins World Cup in Seville  SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) - Paul Casey, with another  inspired putting display, and Luke Donald earned England a  one-shot victory over home favorites Spain in the WGC-World Cup  of Golf on Sunday.


Shaky Gunners blow it ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger launched a scathing attack on his team after the English champions threw away the chance to leapfrog Chelsea at the top of the table with a haphazard display against West Bromwich Albion yesterday.


United May Offer Malcolm Glazer Seat on Board, Observer Says Manchester United Plc may offer US billionaire Malcolm Glazer a seat on its board if he agrees to drop a takeover bid for a year, the Observer said, citing an unidentified person in the soccer industry.


Stage set for Ambani family meeting Mumbai/New Delhi: Four days after Reliance Group Chairman Mukesh Ambani went public about differences with his younger brother Anil over the company ownership issue, a meeting of the family is likely here on Monday to sort out the problem.


NBA Melee Another Black Eye for Detroit (AP) AP - The sight of Detroit fans scuffling with NBA stars at the end of a game and showering players with beer, ice and popcorn gives the city another black eye as it struggles to overcome a well-worn reputation for violence and unrest.


Michigan Headed to Rose Bowl Despite Loss (AP) AP - With former high school teammates Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. leading the way, Ohio State pushed its troubles into the background for at least a day with a stunning 37-21 upset of No. 7 Michigan on Saturday. But the Wolverines are still headed to the Rose Bowl, thanks to Iowa's 30-7 win over Wisconsin.


Time to defund NASA? The most important news story of this fall, ultimately more important than the re-election of the president, was the awarding of the X Prize to Burt Rutan for his SpaceShipOne flights.


Casey and Donald seal World Cup win Casey sank the winning putt to beat Spain #39;s Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez by one stroke as England finished with a 31-under-par total of 257.


Hall and de Bruyn grind down India KANPUR, India -- Opener Andrew Hall and debutant Zander de Bruyn defied India #39;s spin attack on Sunday to put South Africa in command of the first Test match in Kanpur.


Cricket-Queensland fight back in Sheffield Shield cricket  Cricket-Ponting hails mighty Aussie turnaround for huge win over Kiwis 11-21-2004, 08:14 BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) - Ricky Ponting hailed two outstanding days of pressure cricket for delivering one of Australia #39;s biggest Test victories over New


England produce new star England have a huge problem: what on Earth are they going to do with Jonny Wilkinson? Their injured World Cup golden boy is expected to return for the Six Nations #39; Championship


Powell Arrives for Middle East Talks Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived on Sunday for his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories in 18 months, signaling a new push for Middle East peace following the death of Yasser Arafat.


US forces find two more bodies near Mosul; militant group claims <b>...</b> BAGHDAD, Iraq US soldiers have found two more bodies in the Iraqi city of Mosul. The military says at least one of the bodies is that of an Iraqi Army soldier.


Iraq sets election day  quot;The Electoral Commission set the date of January 30 as the date of the election, quot; spokesman Farid Ayar told Reuters on Sunday.


Changing Tenors of Govt. Regulation Description: Senior news analyst NPR #39;s Daniel Schorr contrasts the regulation-happy Federal Communications Commission with the less-active Food and Drug Administration.


#39;Scramjet #39; Hits Almost Mach 10 A tiny unmanned NASA  quot;scramjet quot; soared above the Pacific Ocean Tuesday at nearly 10 times the speed of sound, or almost 7,000 mph, in a record-breaking demonstration of a radical new engine technology.


Cardinals Start Shaun King, Bench McCown (AP) AP - The Arizona Cardinals benched quarterback Josh McCown and started Shaun King against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.


Iran insists N-deal still on IRAN said today it was still committed to suspending parts of its sensitive nuclear program and alarm over its last-minute uranium conversion activities was merely US  quot;propaganda quot;.


Manmohan hopeful of resolving issues with Pak through negotiations Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said that he was hoping to resolve all outstanding issues with Pakistan through negotiations.


U.S. Forces Find Houses Where Hostages Kept The U.S. military has found nearly 20 houses where intelligence officers believe hostages were tortured or killed in this city, including the house with the cage that held a British contractor who was beheaded last month.


Russia okays forced sale of Yukos arm Govt sets minimum price at \$8.6 bn, against Dresdner Kleinwort Wassersteins lowest fair value of \$15.7 bn. The Russian government on Friday approved the forced sale of the main subsidiary of Yukos, the


Disney trial often gets personal as Ovitz, Eisner testify LOS ANGELES - The lawsuit shareholders have brought against Disney has come to resemble a Hollywood potboiler of betrayed friendships, secret meetings and wounded egos.


Jets' Martin Ties Sanders' NFL Mark (AP) AP - New York Jets running back Curtis Martin on Sunday became the second player in NFL history to begin his career with 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons.


Forest Service learns to enjoy its trees The US Forest Service, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, is shifting its focus from timber-cutting to recreation and ecological restoration


Nintendo DS Launches in the US 300-plus people lineup at the EB Games in Universal City. And then the PictoChatting begins. November 21, 2004 - Who says Nintendo doesn #39;t know how to throw a party?


Brawlers suspended THE National Basketball Association suspended four players yesterday in the wake of one of the worst brawls in North American pro sports history.


Jets #39; Martin ties NFL rushing mark New York Jets running back Curtis Martin on Sunday became the second player in NFL history to begin his career with 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons.


Bush Spends Last Day At Pacific Rim Summit In Chile President Bush was holding one-on-one talks Sunday with leaders of Chile and Mexico. He leaves Santiago Monday to return to Central Texas, where he will spend the remainder of the week.


Iraqi PM #39;s cousin released by kidnappers: TV Kidnappers have released Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi #39;s cousin after taking him hostage for 12days, the Arabic-language al-Arabiya TV channel reported Sunday.


British govt cash called for to bolster peace The British government is facing demands to pump funds into Northern Ireland in a bid to bolster a talks deal if it is struck, Sinn Fin leader Gerry Adams said tonight.


UN envoy says peace in south Sudan inevitable Sudan #39;s government and southern rebels have crossed the last bridge in efforts to end 21 years of war and peace is now inevitable, UN envoy for Sudan Jan Pronk said on Sunday.


UN to deploy thousands of troops in south Sudan after peace deal (AFP) AFP - The United Nations will deploy thousands of troops in southern Sudan after an expected signing of a final peace accord by the Khartoum government and the southern rebel movement, a UN official said.


Federal Liberals were ahead in recent national poll with 40 per cent support (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - MONTREAL (CP) - The governing federal Liberals recently had the support of 40 per cent of Canadians, a shade above the popular vote they scored in last June's election, suggests a recent opinion poll.


McCain Not Ruling Out Run for President (AP) AP - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Sunday he is not ruling out a run for the 2008 presidential nomination, but that he is not a candidate now.


Iran Using Lasers to Enrich Uranium - Exile Group (Reuters) Reuters - An Iranian exile group accused Tehran on\Friday of using advanced laser technology to secretly enrich\uranium and of lying to the United Nations nuclear watchdog\body about the covert program.


Exit Poll Shows Liberal Winner in Ukraine Election  KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainians voted for a new president on  Sunday and an exit poll issued after polls closed said a  West-leaning liberal had beaten the ex-Soviet state's  Russian-backed prime minister.


A year later, Tuberville all smiles ATLANTA - Who could have imagined Tommy Tuberville in this position? Yet there he was Friday, standing alongside the SEC championship trophy, posing for pictures and undoubtedly chuckling a bit on the inside.


Chiefs agree on oil prices THE Group of 20 finance chiefs agreed yesterday that  quot;abrupt changes quot; in foreign exchange rates and oil prices were unwelcome but showed no appetite for intervention to strengthen the US currency.


Winky Wright Now Looking to Cash In (AP) AP - Shane Mosley gave Winky Wright his big chance. After beating Mosley a second time, Wright is now ready to cash in on it. Wright pronounced himself one of boxing's elite contenders Saturday night after beating Mosley in a rematch and holding onto his 154-pound titles. It was a narrow win not decided until the final round, but Wright immediately began campaigning for even bigger fights.


Ravens' Lewis, Smith Injured Vs. Cowboys (AP) AP - Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis hurt his left ankle in the first quarter Sunday, and backup Musa Smith broke his leg later in the period.


Report: Artest suspended for 30 games Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - According to a broadcast report, the NBA has suspended Indiana #39;s Ron Artest for 30 games and teammates Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O #39;Neal 20 games apiece for their part in a brawl between the Pacers and the Pistons on


Leader of IRA #39;s political wing  quot;regrets quot; 1974 pub bombings Leader of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), said Sunday he  quot;regrets quot; the Birmingham pub bombings which killed 21 people 30 years ago.


England: Chelsea shock Newcastle, French forces inspire Arsenal LONDON, Dec 4 (SW) - While Chelsea crushed Newcastle United to maintain their first position, Arsenal, Everton and Manchester United made no mistakes, leaving the top four in England unchanced.


Google Muscles Into Microsoft's Turf (AP) AP - Not too long ago, Google Inc. seemed little more than a pesky insect to Microsoft Corp.'s 800-pound gorilla. No more. As Google rapidly rolls out new products, the company best known for its wildly popular search engine is muscling into the software giant's turf, including its stronghold: the computer desktop.


Retail predictions for 2004 shopping season n Overall fourth-quarter retail sales this year are expected to be 6.5 percent higher than last year #39;s -- the biggest increase since 1999.


Electronic Passports Might Not Measure Up (AP) AP - The United States hasn't issued any microchip-equipped passports yet, but as the Department of State tests different prototypes, the international standards for the passports are under fire from privacy advocates who worry the technology won't protect travelers from identity thieves.


Swift Probe Successfully Launched Image: NASA #39;s Swift spacecraft lifts off from Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in sunny Florida, on Nov. 20 at 12:16:00.611 pm EST aboard a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle.


Raid on Mosque Sparks Battles in Baghdad (AP) AP - A U.S.-Iraqi raid on the Abu Hanifa mosque  #151; one of the most revered sites for Sunni Muslims  #151; spawned a weekend of street battles, assassinations and a rash of bombings that changed Baghdad. The capital, for months a city of unrelenting but sporadic violence, has taken on the look of a battlefield.


New Video Game Recreates Kennedy Assassination (Reuters) Reuters - A new video game to be released on\Monday allows players to simulate the assassination of U.S.\President John F. Kennedy.


Pacers Hang Tough Minus Suspended Players (AP) AP - Using a makeshift roster a night after brawling with fans, the Indiana Pacers pressed the Orlando Magic until the very end. Limited to just six players because of suspensions and injuries, the Pacers stayed close before dropping an 86-83 decision to Orlando on Saturday night.


Powell begins visit to Mideast The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has arrived in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv as part of an attempt to revive the Middle East peace process.


PeopleSoft spurns latest Oracle offer, says shareholders unmoved (AFP) AFP - Senior executives at business software group PeopleSoft have once again spurned a takeover bid from Oracle Corp, even after the latter announced it had control of more than 60 percent of PeopleSoft's shares.


Lee Westwood leads Nedbank Challenge Englishman Lee Westwood is leading after the third round of the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City. Westwood holds a slender one shot lead over South African Retief Goosen after shooting one under par 71 for a three round total of 5 under par.


IAAF to Consider Investigating Sprinter Jones Responding to new allegations of drug use by sprint star Marion Jones, the world governing body of track and field (IAAF) will consider today whether to conduct a formal investigation of Jones, an IAAF official said yesterday.


#39;Falling dollar to hit Germany, Japan most #39; BERLIN: A communique from the G20 group of rich and developing countries made no explicit reference to currency swings on Sunday, despite mounting concern in Europe and Japan over a slide in the US dollar to multi-year lows.


Poverty Still Mars Chile #39;s Success Story Chile is using a Pacific Rim summit to showcase itself as a Latin American model for free trade, democracy and modernity. But grinding poverty just outside the convention


Kiwis Aussiehilated BRISBANE, November 21: Australia crushed New Zealand by an innings and 156 runs in the first Test at the Gabba on Sunday to retain the Trans-Tasman Trophy.


Nascar to Crown a Champion GENTLEMEN, LOAD your weapons. It is being billed as the shootout at the Homestead-Miami corral today as the five top NASCAR drivers load up every bit of horsepower they can handle


With Illini #39;s season over, attention turns to Turner #39;s future Illinois coach Ron Turner said repeatedly he hopes to stay. His players all want him to come back. Now it #39;s Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther #39;s turn to have his say.


US PUSHES FORWARD ON PALESTINIAN VOTE US Secretary of State Colin Powell has arrived in Israel determined to press both Israeli and Palestinian leaders for a process to enable Palestinians to elect a successor to Yasser Arafat.


Google Treads on Microsoft's Turf Best known for its popular search engine, Google is rapidly rolling out new products and muscling into Microsoft's stronghold: the computer desktop. The competition means consumers get more choices and better products.


Firefox surfers ignore ads Users of the Internet Explorer click on ad banners four to five times as often as Firefox surfers, Adtech AG, a service provider for Internet ads, has determined (PDF).


Ambani sisters in Mumbai for family meeting MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: The stage is set for a family meeting of the Ambanis in Mumbai on Monday on the ownership issue in the Rs 80,000 crore Reliance group as Mukesh Ambani has returned from the US while Anil is understood to have authorised his mother to


Sudanese cabinet welcomes UN resolution on Sudan The Sudanese government welcomed Sunday the UN Security Council #39;s resolution on Sudan. Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail said the Sudanese cabinet  quot;considered the resolution


Report: Artest Suspended for 30 Games (Reuters) Reuters - According to a broadcast\report, the NBA has suspended Indiana's Ron Artest for 30 games\and teammates Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal 20 games\apiece for their part in a brawl between the Pacers and the\Pistons on Friday night.


Yemen president starts Europe tour (AFP) AFP - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh left for visits to Germany and Italy, two of the impoverished country's key development donors, the official SABA news agency reported.


Beasley Leads PSV to Another Shutout Win (AP) AP - U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley scored a goal Sunday to help lead PSV Eindhoven past Vitesse Arnhem 2-0 in the Dutch league  #151; the 10th straight shutout for unbeaten PSV.


African leaders gather Tuesday to assess NEPAD development program (AFP) AFP - African leaders are to gather in Algiers to review the progress of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), a wide-ranging strategy for ensuring good governance and building the economies of the world's poorest continent.


Windows NT 4 support to come at price in  #39;05 com December 3, 2004, 4:08 PM PT. This priority jumped up two spots into second place as CRM returns into the spotlight among top software initiatives alongside directory services and open source.


Pacers-Pistons melee another black eye for Detroit #39;s image The sight of Detroit fans scuffling with NBA stars and showering them with beer, ice and popcorn gives the city another black eye as it struggles to improve its image and overcome a well-worn reputation for violence and urban unrest.


England clinches World Cup England has held out Spain by one stroke for only its second World Cup victory thanks to magnificent putting from Paul Casey. Casey and partner Luke Donald survived a challenge from Spanish duo Sergio Garcia


Wolfsburg falls out of Bundesliga lead despite early goal Wolfsburg fell out of the Bundesliga lead for the first time in a month Sunday, losing 3-1 to Hamburg SV despite a goal by Thomas Brdaric after only 19 seconds - the fastest goal this season.


I-AA Playoff Bracket Announced  INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Sports Network) - The NCAA announced  the field of 16 teams competing for the 2004 Division I-AA  Football Championship on Sunday.


Meshiai in Tie for the Lead at Q-School  ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Sports Network) - Hajime Meshiai, who  held the lead the previous two rounds, shot a three-under 69 on  Sunday to share first with Don Reese after five rounds of the  Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament.


Gas Prices Dip to Average  #36;1.96 a Gallon (Reuters) Reuters - The price of a gallon of gasoline in\the United States fell over the last two weeks during a\seasonally slow consumption period, according to an industry\analyst.


Google creators in share sell-off Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin stand to pocket over \$1bn each by selling shares in their web search firm.


Gas Prices Dip to Average \$1.96 a Gallon The price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States fell over the last two weeks during a seasonally slow consumption period, according to an industry analyst.


ACCESS Announces NetFront Mobile Content Viewer Previewing and <b>...</b> /PRNewswire/ -- ACCESS Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 4813), a global provider of mobile content delivery and Internet access technologies announced the release of NetFront(R) Mobile Content Viewer a comprehensive


Tigers trail Sooners by just four points McLEAN, Va. -- Auburn picked up two more first-place votes but remained third in the latest ESPN/USA Today coaches #39; poll, released Sunday.


Reese, Meshiai Lead Champions Tour Quals ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Hajime Meshiai, an 11-time winner on the Japanese PGA Tour, shot 69 Sunday to retain a share of the lead after five rounds of the Champions Tour national qualifying tournament.


British sec. to reveal terror proposals British Home Secretary David Blunkett was expected Sunday to reveal proposals for strict anti-terror measures, the BBC reported. The proposals were said to include anti-terror


Bahrain activist freed Bahrain #39;s King Hamad has pardoned an activist sentenced to one year in jail for inciting hatred against the government, the BBC reported Sunday.


Ravens Slug Cowboys Kyle Boller throws two touchdown passes in the third quarter to lead the Ravens past the sliding Cowboys, 30-10, on Sunday.


Merck steps up PR campagin after recall Merck  amp; Co. #39;s campaign to defend itself in the wake of the recall of the pain reliever Vioxx intensified as it placed a package of three full-page ads in seven prominent newspapers beginning last Friday.


Inflation fears, oil swings to keep sentiment low MUMBAI: The market is expected to remain volatile ahead of the expiry of futures contract on Thursday. The mood will remain subdued amid worries over a fresh rise in global crude oil prices and inflation in the country, say brokers.


DoCoMo 3G phones add wireless VoIP JAPAN #39;S top mobile carrier has begun marketing a mobile phone for corporate customers that works over both the local wireless and cellular networks.


Reese, Meshiai share Champions Tour qualifying lead Hajime Meshiai, an 11-time winner on the Japanese PGA Tour, shot 69 Sunday to retain a share of the lead after five rounds of the Champions Tour national qualifying tournament.


The Politics of Time and Dispossession Make a commitment to subscribe, donate and/or place all of your book and other product orders from Amazon.com and others through MMN Shopping web-site by clicking here.


54 dead as plane falls into lake BEIJING - Fifty-four people were killed yesterday when a plane crashed into a lake shortly after take-off, apparently after a blast, in Chinas deadliest aviation disaster in two years, witnesses and state media said.


Tide Staff Shifts Modes With the end to a grueling regular season in Saturday nights 21-13 loss to Auburn, there is finally some time for Alabamas players to rest and recover, but that time has not yet begun for the Tide coaching staff.


Gas Prices Dip to Average \$1.96 a Gallon  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The price of a gallon of gasoline in  the United States fell over the last two weeks during a  seasonally slow consumption period, according to an industry  analyst.


Apec pushes for free trade boost Leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific states pledge to bolster anti-terrorism measures and efforts to lower trade barriers.


A Stock Party, Then a Retail Hangover FEW things stir the heart of stock investors like a huge merger deal. And last week #39;s shotgun wedding between Kmart and Sears, two limping retailers, was no exception.


PSU telescopes rocket into orbit There were cheers, applause and even a bottle or two of champagne at Penn State #39;s Mission Operations Center on Saturday. A group of university engineers and scientists


NTT DoCoMo - the biggest Japanese cell phone operator says BIG NO <b>...</b> NTT DoCoMo says:  quot;Symbian - yes, mobile Linux - yes, Microsoft - BIG NO quot;. Well, previously NTT DoCoMo was very promoting wireless Java in its handsets and J2EE Java in its servers (to power i-mode services


Company Launches JFK Assassination Game (AP) AP - A British company said Sunday it was releasing a video game recreating the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy.


Manning punishes Bears with 4 TD #39;s CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Peyton Manning against Craig Krenzel turned out to be the mismatch that it was expected to be. Manning continued his record pace, passing for four touchdowns as the Colts rolled to 41-10


Reese, Meshiai Lead Champions Tour Quals Hajime Meshiai, an 11-time winner on the Japanese PGA Tour, shot 69 Sunday to retain a share of the lead after five rounds of the Champions Tour national qualifying tournament.


NFL Game Summary - Dallas at Baltimore Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Kyle Boller completed 23-of-34 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns to lead Baltimore over Dallas, 30-10, at M amp;amp;T Bank Stadium.


Jets Bounce Back From Loss to Ravens (AP) AP - Quincy Carter threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Justin McCareins with 5:32 remaining as the New York Jets bounced back from an embarrassing loss with an ugly 10-7 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.


Vikings Make Rally Count Against Lions (AP) AP - The Minnesota Vikings shut out Detroit in the second half and overcame a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the sliding Lions 22-19 Sunday, ending their three-game losing streak.


Arafat widow contests right of nephew to receive medical file (AFP) AFP - The widow of Yasser Arafat has questioned the right of his nephew to receive a copy of the medical file of the late Palestinian leader, Suha Arafat's lawyers said in a statement.


Raptors Rally From 20 Down to Beat Spurs (AP) AP - Lamond Murray scored all 13 of his points in the fourth quarter, helping the Toronto Raptors overcome a 20-point deficit in the second half to beat the San Antonio Spurs 96-91 Sunday.


McEnroe to Captain Davis Cup Through 2006 (AP) AP - Patrick McEnroe will remain the U.S. Davis Cup captain through 2006.


Former Groupaction executive arrested for allegedly breaking bail conditions (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - MONTREAL (CP) - Alain Richard, a former vice-president of a controversial Quebec ad agency implicated in the sponsorship scandal, has been arrested for breaking his bail conditions, city police said.


Senate Confirms Adelstein for FCC Term (AP) AP - Jonathan Adelstein, a former staffer for outgoing Senate minority leader Tom Daschle, was approved for a full term on the Federal Communications Commission in a Senate vote early Sunday.


New Video Game Recreates Kennedy Assassination  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A new video game to be released on  Monday allows players to simulate the assassination of U.S.  President John F. Kennedy.


What a Week: Greenspan Trips Dollar  quot;Seems like that guy singing this song has been doing it for a long time -- is there anything he knows that he ain #39;t said?


HAMMER OF THE SPAMMERS He has a department at the company devoted to ensuring the four million-plus emails sent to him each day don #39;t make it to his personal inbox.


Artest gets 30-game suspension, Wallace five The NBA reportedly has come down hard on the Indiana Pacers for their involvement in a brawl that broke out in the final minute of Friday #39;s win at Detroit.


Martin joins Sanders, hurts knee Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - New York Jets running back Curtis Martin became the second player in NFL history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in his first 10 seasons before bruising his right knee in the second quarter.


Major points of Iraqi debt reduction plan The deal will reduce Iraq #39;s debt owed to the 19 Paris Club creditor nations by 80 percent, from a current \$38.9 billion to \$7.8 billion in 2008.


Slovene Center Is Feeling Like a Rookie Again In his fourth N.B.A. season, 7-foot-1 center Primoz Brezec is getting a fresh start and a chance to start in Charlotte.


Spam  #39;under control #39; in two years: Gates SPAM could become a thing of the past in around two years #39; time, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said on a visit to Madrid.  quot;Spam is a major security problem, quot; Mr Gates said, noting that progress had been made in the fight against unsolicited mail.


England: Balckburn still in last Blackburn recovered from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Birmingham in the English Premier League on Sunday, but stayed bottom of the standings.


Jets 10, Browns 7 Quincy Carter threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Justin McCareins with 5:32 remaining as the Jets bounced back from an embarrassing loss with an ugly 10-7 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.


Alternative bonfire takes a while to light COLLEGE STATION -- For the third year in a row, a group of current and former students continued the suspended Texas A amp;M University bonfire tradition off-campus.


Powell attempts to revive Mideast peace process JERUSALEM - US Secretary of State Colin Powell embarked Sunday on a mission to revive the Middle East peace process after Yasser Arafat #39;s death.


Prince to defend himself in speech Prince Charles is expected to publicly deny that he believes Britain #39;s  quot;learning culture quot; gives people false hope of success, the BBC reported Sunday.


US Average Gasoline Pump Price Falls to \$1.96, Lundberg Says US gasoline pump prices fell about five cents in the past two weeks to an average of \$1.96 a gallon, Trilby Lundberg said, citing a survey of about 7,000 filling stations by her Camarillo, California, research firm.


Cracks in the first family of business That there are problems between the Ambani brothers is not news, but Mukesh Ambanis admission that there could be a change in the equity pattern of the Reliance group caused the share prices of Reliance companies to drift downwards.


Gold Fields plans \$3.5 bn asset sale Gold Fields will be expected to sell its international assets valued at up to \$3.5 billion and return the cash to shareholders as part of its defence against a hostile all-share bid from rival gold producer Harmony.


Online bidding firms seek bounce from insurance industry scandal Customers in search of a cheap airfare, antiques or a stock trade can scan the Web for good deals. But when it comes time for companies to buy group insurance policies, they #39;ve largely


Pacers Scared, Shocked by Detroit Fans (AP) AP - The Indiana Pacers were frightened when spectators began hurling chairs, drinks, and ice at them in one of the most violent exchanges between players and fans in U.S. sports history.


RIAA sues more music downloaders THE US recording industry has filed copyright infringement lawsuits against 761 computer users in the latest round of its effort to stamp out unauthorised trading of music online.


#39;Mr. Bill Gates, you #39;re no Google #39; Microsoft Corp. isnt often an underdog in anything, so when the software powerhouse released its new search engine, I was anxious to give it a whirl.


Scientists Create Electronic Eye for the Blind Japanese scientists say they have created an electronic eye that would help blind people cross the street safely. The device, a tiny camera mounted to a pair of eyeglasses, can detect the existence and location


Droughns Helps Broncos Stay Atop AFC West (AP) AP - Reuben Droughns had another 100-yard game to help the Denver Broncos stay atop the AFC West for another week.


Rovers, Blues draw Blackburn has come back from two goals down to draw with Birmingham in a 3-3 thriller. With first-half goals to Darren Anderton, Robbie Savage and David Dunn, Birmingham had forgotten Matt Jansens early


Resistance Support from Arab World It has been reported that in American military operations against insurgents in Mosul in the north of Iraq this week four decapitated corpses were found.


APEC Leaders Want to Revive World Trade Talks  SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - Asia-Pacific leaders promised  on Sunday to try to revive world trade talks and fight  terrorism after a summit marred at the end by spats over the  security of President Bush.


Hamas signals it wants a role in Palestinian vote The militant group is poised to sponsor candidates in legislative and municipal elections expected later next year.


Bush Seeks to Mend Ties With Latin America President Bush tried to mend relations in Latin America with fresh promises of immigration reform Sunday while a new security spat surfaced with Chile after an embarrassing fracas in which Bush intervened.


Peru Wants Intl Court to Take on Fujimori Case

 LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Peru should call in theInternational Court of Justice to rule on its request for theextradition of former President Alberto Fujimori from Japan,state attorney Nelly Calderon said on Sunday, expressingfrustration at Japan's failure to act so far.


Oracle wins PeopleSoft shareholder vote Oracle chalked up a key victory Friday in its battle to acquire PeopleSoft, with investors agreeing to sell the suitor 60 percent of PeopleSoft #39;s outstanding shares.


Barcelona beats Real Madrid in Spanish league Barcelona moved further ahead in the Spanish league by beating rival Real Madrid 3-0 Saturday in the country #39;s biggest match. Samuel Eto #39;o and Giovanni van Bronckhorst scored in the first half and Ronaldinho


Asia-Pacific summit ends with anti-terror pledge SANTIAGO (AFP) - Asia-Pacific leaders, overpowered by the US-led  quot;war on terror quot; agenda, closed an annual summit vowing to shore up anti-terrorist defenses and target weapons of mass destruction.


Iraqi PM #39;s Cousin Freed Kidnappers have released Sunday the cousin of Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, Sky News reported. Ghazi Allawi, 75, was seized by gunmen from his Baghdad home on November 9, along with his wife and his pregnant daughter-in-law.


Palestinian struggle for statehood He might have been able to throw dust in the eye of Mossad, out to cut short his life, and survived fairly long but being mortal Arafat had to finally embrace death.


Manmohan arrives in Manipur Imphal: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today arrived in Manipur on a two-day visit to the state. Singh #39;s special Indian Air Force helicopter from Silchar in Assam landed at Jiribam, a border town, at 10.25 am.


Manning Tames Bears Peyton Manning tosses four touchdown passes and Edgerrin James punishes the Bears' defense with 204 yards as the Colts roll to a 41-10 victory Sunday.


Oracle poised to pounce on PeopleSoft BOLSTERED by investors, Oracle appears set to complete its long-sought takeover of PeopleSoft, unless its rival proves it is worth more than the \$US9.2 billion (\$11.7 billion) bid currently on the table.


Fund chief busted for embezzlement The former head of a Chicago non-profit that delivered holiday meals to senior citizens and the disabled has been charged with embezzlement.


SpaceShipOne named Time #39;s  quot;Invention of the Year quot; The first privately financed manned rocket to fly into space has been named Time magazine #39;s  quot;Invention of the Year. quot;.


Let human diversity color the cosmos ROBERT ZUBRIN: First for the science, second for the challenge, and third for the future. First, for science. Mars is the key to letting us know if life is a general phenomenon in the universe.


Reid striker not enough as Rovers stay rooted Ireland International Steven Reid scored for Blackburn Rovers on Sunday afternoon in their 3-3 draw with Birmingham at Ewood Park, although his side remain in serious trouble and they remain rooted to the foot of the Premiership table.


Psv Power on at Summit PSV Eindhoven re-established their five-point lead at the top of the Dutch Eredivisie today with a 2-0 win at Vitesse Arnhem. Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Gerald Sibon put PSV ahead in the 56th minute


Buffs still cling to North title hopes Another piece fell in place Saturday for the Colorado football team in what began weeks ago as a complicated and unlikely route to the Big 12 Conference North Division title.


Bush encourages more debt reduction for Iraq US President George W. Bush on Sunday hailed an agreement by the Paris Club of creditor nations to cancel 80 percent of Iraq #39;s debt and called on other nations to join in as well.


APEC Seeks Palestinian Solution, Wider Coalition in Terror War SANTIAGO, 21 November 2004 - The US-led war on terror must include a resolution to the Palestinian question and involve a broader coalition, Washingtons Asia-Pacific partners warned yesterday as leaders of 21 Pacific Rim economies opened a two


Iraqi PM Allawi #39;s cousin freed CAIRO - Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi #39;s cousin, Ghazi Allawi, has been released by his kidnappers, Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite television reported Sunday.


Palestinians wants US to ensure smooth polls : Palestinian leaders on Sunday outlined plans to persuade visiting American envoys to pressure Israel into removing troops from urban areas to ensure smooth elections to replace Yasser Arafat.


Backdoor Help for Darfur The UN Security Council took an unusual step last week to end the longest conflict in Africa: For only the fourth time in UN history, the Council left New York, going to Africa to meet with two sides in Sudan #39;s 21-year civil war.


In Imphal, PM makes it a point to meet women who stripped to send <b>...</b> IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 21: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may not have been able to honour all requests from Manipuri groups keen to meet him but he did manage time from his busy schedule to spend time with some of the Meirapaibies (torch bearers), the women who


'We want regime change', Zimbabwe opposition leader tells Britain (AFP) AFP - Zimbabwe's main opposition leader took his campaign against President Robert Mugabe to Britain, rallying expatriates and declaring their destitute southern African country ready for "regime change".


Quebec should boost hydro capacity to enhance exports, says Charest (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - MONTREAL (CP) - Quebec should use its plentiful hydroelectric capacity as an economic development tool, just as Alberta has done with oil, Premier Jean Charest said Sunday.


Sahara tourists face theft charge Five Germans thought to be missing in the Sahara are safe but face charges for the alleged theft of artefacts.


Kurt Busch Takes Nextel Cup Title (AP) AP - Kurt Busch overcame a broken wheel early in Sunday's race and came back to win the closest championship in NASCAR history.


Kurt Busch Takes Nextel Cup Title Crew members of Kurt Busch work on the car during a pit stop during the NASCAR Ford 400 at the Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla.


Peyton Manning Has 4 TD Passes as Colts Beat Bears: NFL Week 11 Peyton Manning threw for 211 yards and four touchdowns to help the Indianapolis Colts win their third straight game, a 41-10 victory over the Chicago Bears.


Bettis Runs Over Bengals, Steelers Win 8th Straight Jerome Bettis ran for 129 yards and the Pittsburgh Steelers used a stifling defense to edge the Cincinnati Bengals 19-14 for their eighth straight win in National Football League play Sunday in Cincinnati.


San Antonio Spurs TORONTO (Ticker) -- The San Antonio Spurs have gotten into a habit of winning games in the fourth quarter. That was where they lost Sunday #39;s game.


Purdue Routs Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne (AP) AP - Natasha Bogdanova scored 23 points to lead No. 16 Purdue to a 107-39 rout over Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne in the Boilermakers season opener Sunday at Mackey Arena.


Plane crash in China kills more than 50 people The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is sending a team to China, where a Canadian-built commuter plane crashed in an ice-covered lake in northern China on Sunday.


Bettis Runs Over Bengals, Steelers Win 8th Straight  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jerome Bettis ran for 129 yards and  the Pittsburgh Steelers used a stifling defense to edge the  Cincinnati Bengals 19-14 for their eighth straight win in  National Football League play Sunday in Cincinnati.


Busch Wins Nextel Cup Kurt Busch uses a late caution flag that produces four extra laps to hold on to a fifth-place finish at the Ford 400, wrapping up the Nextel Cup.


PeopleSoft board rejects bid PLEASANTON, California The board of directors of PeopleSoft has rejected Oracle #39;s \$9.2 billion takeover bid, continuing its resistance a day after the company #39;s own shareholders tendered more than 60 percent of stock to Oracle.


Two-For-One Sale Shoppers Venturing into the new supersize Sears Grand concept store in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., off the old Route 66, can be forgiven for double-checking the name on the faade.


On The Move: Airlines going the extra mile for luxury NEW YORK Willing to pay more than 20 times the cheapest fare on your next plane trip for a seat that reclines into a flat bed? Or how about a bed for two - but no privacy - on your next flight between London and New York?


India debates space flight as lunar project proceeds BANGALORE, India India #39;s space agency is ready to send a man into space within seven years if the government gives the nod, while preparations have already begun for the launching of an unmanned lunar mission, a top official said Sunday.


Bill Gates gives SPAM 2 more years Perhaps the most spammed man on planet earth, Bill Gates told media that SPAM could be history within two more years. He was in Madrid on a visit and told this to a forum organized by Spanish daily El Mundo.


Safin could yet be force on grass IN THEIR minds eyes, Tim Henman, Andy Roddick and, perhaps, Marat Safin have seen themselves cradling the most famous cup in tennis.


Proteas thwart India spin attack, are at 459 for 7: Sports India, Cricket: Kanpur, Nov 21 : Andrew Hall #39;s career best 163 enabled South Africa to remain in a commanding position at the end of Day 2 of the first Test match against India held in Kanpur.


Barcelona reigns supreme over Real #39;s fading stars Catalonia is not Spain quot; read the banner in the Nou Camp Stadium where, in front of 95,000 Catalans and on television screens in 86 countries, FC Barcelona decisively and beautifully deflowered Real Madrid as the kings of Spanish soccer.


UPDATE 1-Inter make hard work of Cup win over Bologna Inter Milan came from behind to beat Bologna 3-1 in an Italian Cup third round, first leg match at the San Siro stadium on Sunday.


Meet Glenn McGrath, Australias new batting star GLENN McGrath wont have to worry about the total number of his Test wickets exceeding his run tally at least for a while. Australian team-mates had teased him that his total wickets up to the first Test against


Top official of Pakistan making first visit to India NEW DELHI The prime minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz, will make his first visit to India this week for talks with his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, amid renewed rancor over Kashmir.


Artest Out for Season The NBA comes down hard on the Pacers, suspending Ron Artest for the rest of the season, Stephen Jackson for 30 games and Jermaine O'Neal for 25.


Dollar Near Record Lows, No G20 Support  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar was near record lows against  the euro and its lowest level since March 2000 versus the yen  on Monday after a meeting of the Group of 20 rich and  developing nations suggested no effort to stem the dollar's  decline.


Experts See Demand for Web Insurance Bids (AP) AP - Customers in search of cheap airfare, antiques or a stock trade can scan the Web for good deals. But when it comes time for companies to buy group insurance policies, they've largely been beholden to brokers using fax, e-mail and the telephone to track down the best bargain. Some industry analysts say an ongoing insurance bid-rigging scandal  #151; combined with rising health care costs  #151; will build demand for online bidding on insurance policies.


Manning and James Lead Colts to Another Rout (Reuters) Reuters - Peyton Manning threw four\touchdown passes and Edgerrin James ran for 204 yards with a\score, as the Indianapolis Colts rolled to a 41-10 victory over\the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.


Microsoft lands US Air Force The US Air Force has awarded a multiyear contract that calls for Microsoft to consolidate 38 various software license agreements and tighten security features.


NBA Commissioner Statement on Suspensions (AP) AP - NBA Commissioner David Stern's statement accompanying the announcement of suspensions for Friday night's Pacers-Pistons brawl:


Suns 122, Clippers 111 Amare Stoudemire overcame early foul trouble to score 33 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 122-111 for their fourth straight victory on Sunday.


British company launches  #39;docu-game #39; recreating JFK assassination GLASGOW, Scotland A British company says it #39;s releasing a video game recreating the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy. The Scottish-based firm Traffic says  quot;JFK Reloaded quot; is an educational  quot;docu-game


No. 7 Stanford Shuts Down Pacific 82-26 (AP) AP - Stanford allowed its third-lowest points total ever and Candace Wiggins scored 15 points in the Cardinal's 82-26 victory over Pacific on Sunday.


ABC Drops College Bowl Series  NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - ABC has pulled out of  negotiations to continue airing college football's Bowl  Championship Series (BCS).


Manning and James Lead Colts to Another Rout  CHICAGO (Sports Network) - Peyton Manning threw four  touchdown passes and Edgerrin James ran for 204 yards with a  score, as the Indianapolis Colts rolled to a 41-10 victory over  the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.


Clarke's x-ray specs - police swoops, detectors for schools Another ministerial preemptive strike...


McCain to consider possible 2008 presidential run (AFP) AFP - Maverick US Republican Senator John McCain, who ran against President George W. Bush four years ago, indicated he might be considering another presidential bid in 2008, despite the fact he will be 72 when the next election rolls around.


Turmoil Grips Elite School Over Money and Leaders A debate is festering among graduates and parents at St. Paul's, an elite school in New Hampshire, with critics accusing trustees and the rector of mismanagement.


When a Video Game Stops Being Fun For players with ambitions to develop games, Electronic Arts must appear to be the best place in the world, but there is unhappiness among those living that dream.


Online firm in the frame for takeover THESTREET.COM, the financial news and commentary internet site, has emerged as a takeover target. TheStreet.coms shares, after enduring three tepid years on Americas tech-laden Nasdaq


Auburn Slips Back to No. 3 Behind Sooners (AP) AP - Oklahoma is the only No. 2. After a week of sharing the No. 2 ranking with Auburn, Oklahoma edged ahead of the Tigers in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday.


McAfee Provides Industry-First Mobile Virus Protection For NTT <b>...</b> McAfee is offering subscribers of Japan #39;s mobile carrier, NTT DoCoMo a mobile content scanning technology designed to provide protection against future mobile threats.


Stoudemire Scores 33 As Suns Top Clippers LOS ANGELES - Amare Stoudemire overcame early foul trouble to score 33 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 122-111 for their fourth straight victory on Sunday.


SEC, ACC to review tapes of Clemson-South Carolina fight before <b>...</b> The Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference will review tapes of the fight that broke out in the fourth quarter of the Clemson-South Carolina game before deciding on penalties.


Dave Dickenson gets the start at quarterback for the BC Lions OTTAWA (CP) - The CFL #39;s most outstanding player started the 92nd Grey Cup on the bench. BC Lions coach Wally Buono went with experience over youth Sunday, starting veteran Dave Dickenson in the Grey Cup against


OSU Eyes Alamo Bowl After beating Michigan , Ohio State is looking forward to ending their season with a bowl game. And it looks like the Buckeyes will be spending the holidays in the state of Texas .


Locusts sighted in Jerusalem, TA First reports of locust sightings in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv were reported late Sunday night, Army Radio reported. A cloud of locusts smothered the city of Eilat on Sunday as millions of the ravenous plant-eating


NBA Suspends Artest for Remainder of Season  NEW YORK (Sports Network) - The NBA showed no mercy on  Sunday, suspending Indiana's Ron Artest for the remainder of  the season for his part in a brawl between the Pacers and the  Detroit Pistons on Friday night.


Behind the K-Mart-Sears Deal Description: NPR #39;s Liane Hansen speaks with retail analyst Lois Huff about last week #39;s announcement of warehouse giant K-Mart #39;s intent to purchase the aging department store Sears.


Broader impact from airline pension woes feared With three major airlines now in a fiscal tailspin, concern is growing not only that this industry may be facing a large-scale pension funding crisis, but also that all defined benefit plan sponsors could wind up paying for these companies #39; failures.


Pakistan Invites Proposals For Pakistan Telecom Sale KARACHI (Dow Jones)--The Privatization Commission on Saturday invited proposals from potential investors for the sale of a 26 government stake in the country #39;s biggest telecommunications firm, Pakistan Telecommunication Co.


SIPTU opposed to Aer Lingus privatisation SIPTU has said it is strongly opposed to any privatisation of Aer Lingus as pressure mounts on the Government to make a decision on the future funding of the airline.


Google puts new slant on scholarship Google has already transformed the way the web is used. Now the company behind the internet #39;s leading search engine aims to change the academic world too, with a new search tool putting a treasure trove of


England: Blackburn fight back to draw with Birmingham BLACKBURN, Nov 21 (SW) - After an atrocious defensive display in the first half, Blackburn Rovers came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Birmingham City at Ewood Park on Sunday.


Old rivals hit a new low THE SIGHT OF Martin ONeill parading Neil Lennon in front of the Celtic end at Ibrox, like some sort of prizefighter, sealed the verdict.


England wins second World Cup title The World Cup of Golf has been won by England, who won the title for just the second time in the event #39;s 50 year history and their first under the revised format introduced in 2000.


Lions take early lead after first quarter of Grey Cup CBC SPORTS ONLINE - BC Lions coach Wally Buono #39;s decision to name Dave Dickenson as his starting quarterback may have been a surprising, but so far it looks like the right one.


GAME DAY RECAP Sunday, November 21 WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (Ticker) -- Reserve Natasha Bogdanova had 23 points in 19 minutes and Erin Lawless made 10-of-13 shots en route to 23 points as No.


Iraq Sets Election Despite Fresh Violence (AP) AP - Iraqi authorities set Jan. 30 as the date for the nation's first election since the collapse of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship and pledged that voting would take place throughout the country despite rising violence and calls by Sunni clerics for a boycott.


Bush Tries to Mend Ties With Latin America (AP) AP - President Bush, trying to mend relations with Latin America, pledged Sunday to make a fresh push for stalled immigration reforms and defended the U.S. invasion of Iraq, saying that "history will prove it right."


Bush applauds Iraq debt cuts US President George Bush today applauded the decision by the so-called Paris Club of creditor nations to slash 80 per cent of the money Iraq owed them and urged non-member countries to do the same.


Israel abuzz as locusts swarm in A PLAGUE of locusts has swarmed into Israel across the border from Egypt, threatening to devastate fields of crops in the countrys agricultural heartland.


Survivors Mark 30th Anniversary of Birmingham Bombs Survivors of the Birmingham pub bombings joined more than 200 people at a special service to mark the 30th anniversary of one of mainland Britains worst terrorist atrocities today.


Russia, Japan fail to make progress in peace talks (AFP) AFP - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi failed to make progress in a testy territorial dispute, only confirming their duty to solve the decades-long row.


PeopleSoft defies \$9.2bn Oracle bid American software giant PeopleSoft remained defiant against Oracle #39;s hostile \$9.2billion (5billion) bid yesterday despite PeopleSoft shareholders backing the offer over the weekend.


#39;Deficit as far as eye can see #39; to be cut Berlin - The United States (US) Treasury Secretary John Snow has flown into Berlin at the weekend on a budget flight - and pledged to cut the US deficit in half.


Harmony dismisses Gold Fields #39; defence South African gold miner Harmony yesterday sought to rubbish a secret plot by rival and bid target Gold Fields to scupper its \$8.1billion (4.35billion) hostile offer.


Britain has signaled its opposition to EADS-Thales merger The British government has signaled its opposition to the creation of a European defence industry giant by the merger of the European aerospace group EADS and the French-British defence electronics group Thales, the Observer reported Sunday.


Blackburn give Hughes heart AN ADVERTISEMENT ON THE giant screen at Ewood Park declared that Blackburn Rovers are giving generously this season and, while it purported to refer to a sale at the club shop, no one could deny that their charity extends to the pitch.


No. 21 Oklahoma 76, Texas St. 57 _ No. 21 Oklahoma had its good moments against Texas State, but coach Sherri Coale wants there to be a lot more. Erin Higgins scored 12 points and Chelsi Welch and Casey Walker added 10


Plenty of brawl blame to spread around, say NBA rivals (AFP) AFP - Rival National Basketball Association players and coaches have found plenty of blame to spread around regarding Friday's brawl between Detroit spectators and Indiana Pacers players.


US persuades Paris Club to write off 23bn of Iraqi debt A deal to forgive a large chunk of Iraq #39;s external debt could finally be announced this week after key creditor nations came to an agreement at the weekend ending months of stalemate.


IRA fails to say sorry for Birmingham pub bombs Hundreds gathered in Birmingham yesterday to mark the 30th anniversary of one of Britain #39;s most gruesome terrorist attacks, the bombing of two city centre pubs which killed 21 and seriously injured 160.


King Hamad Pardons Jailed Activist MANAMA, 22 November 2004 - Bahrains King Hamad yesterday ordered the release of a human rights activist who was sentenced to one year in prison earlier in the day for inciting political dissent.


Virginia Upsets No. 10 Arizona 78-60 (AP) AP - Highly touted freshman Sean Singletary scored 15 points and made several other huge plays Sunday night, leading Virginia to a 78-60 victory against No. 10 Arizona.


N.B.A. Suspends Artest for the Rest of the Season Ron Artest of the Indiana Pacers has been suspended in connection with a brawl Friday night that injured nine fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan.


Southern Miss Golden Eagles HATTIESBURG, Mississippi (Ticker) -- What was to be an early-season non-conference matchup has become a huge battle with Bowl Championship Series implications when No.


Dollar Near Record Lows, No G20 Support The dollar was near record lows against the euro and its lowest level since March 2000 versus the yen on Monday after a meeting of the Group of 20 rich and developing nations suggested no effort to stem the dollar #39;s decline.


Longbridge land sold in 15m deal By Christopher Hope, Business Correspondent, and Harry Wallop (Filed: 22/11/2004). Phoenix Venture Holdings, the owner of loss-making MG Rover, has sold off the last remaining major piece of land at its Longbridge


NBA Suspends Artest for Rest of Season (AP) AP - Ron Artest was suspended for the rest of the season Sunday and two of his Indiana Pacers teammates must miss a total of 55 games for fighting with fans in a melee that broke out at the end of a game against the Detroit Pistons.


McNabb Leads Eagles Past Redskins 28-6 (AP) AP - Donovan McNabb tied a career high with four touchdown passes, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a 28-6 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday.


Injuries Deplete Rams Defensive Secondary (AP) AP - The St. Louis Rams' defensive backfield was depleted by injuries in a loss to Buffalo on Sunday, with the most serious to backup cornerback DeJuan Groce, who hurt his left knee.


USC aims to end  #39;04 with poll position  quot;We control our destiny, unlike last year where we didn #39;t know, quot; USC defensive tackle Shaun Cody said this week.  quot;We were hoping on a prayer things would fall into place.


Microsoft opens war for Internet dominance Microsofts new search engine launched opens a new front for the worlds biggest software company in a new war - for control of the Internet, analysts said.


Hewitt clash cut short HEAVY rain has delayed the start of the ATP Masters Cup final in Houston, Texas, and forced organisers to trim the title match from a best-of-five sets to a best-of-three format.


No. 21 Oklahoma 76, Texas St. 57 Erin Higgins scored 12 points and Chelsi Welch and Casey Walker added 10 each as No. 21 Oklahoma beat Texas State 76-57 Sunday. Higgins was 4-for-7 from 3-point range, but the Sooners (2-0) got most of their scoring inside against the smaller Wildcats.


Flexibility does not come with stray words: Singh GUWAHATI: Flexibility does not come with stray words, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Sunday, in response to remarks from President General Pervez Musharraf last week that he was disheartened by New Delhis rigidity on the Kashmir


Powell Arrives in Israel in Latest Push for Peace Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, arriving in Israel for his first visit in a year and a half, said he would work with Palestinian leaders to come up with an American


Wanted: a more realistic Myanmar policy It is now more than obvious that developments in Myanmar have taken a sad turn. The harden- ing of the junta #39;s position does not augur well for future United Nations involvement.


Artest Banned for Rest of Season After Ugly Brawl  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National Basketball Association  suspended All-Star Ron Artest for the rest of the season and  Indiana Pacers team mates Stephen Jackson for 30 games and  Jermaine O'Neal for 25 following Friday's ugly brawl.


Bush Job Plan Features Tax Cuts, Drilling (AP) AP - Hiring is picking up and President Bush is on track to preside over job growth in his second term, shedding the Herbert Hoover label of being the first president since the Great Depression to lose jobs under his watch. But don't expect a revival of the booming 1990s.


AOL to Adapt WebEx Services for AIM Consumers America Online and WebEx Communications are evaluating ways to adapt some of the online meeting services they currently offer to business users of AOL #39;s AIM instant messaging network to make these services appealing to other AIM consumers.


Colombia Deploys 15,000 Troops for Bush (AP) AP - The Spanish colonialists who fortified this Colombian seaport 400 years ago to guard against pirates and rival imperial powers could only have dreamed of the security being implemented for President Bush's visit here Monday.


China Iron Mine Fire Death Toll Rises to 33  BEIJING (Reuters) - Rescue workers have recovered the  bodies of 33 Chinese miners killed when fire swept through a  group of iron mines in the northern region of Inner Mongolia,  state media said on Monday.


U-Va. Upsets Arizona Highly touted freshman Sean Singletary scores 15 points, leading Virginia to a 78-60 victory against No. 10 Arizona.


Chargers Top Raiders Antonio Gates keeps his standout season going with 101 yards and a touchdown as the Chargers drop the Raiders, 23-17, on Sunday.


Liberals Celebrate as Ukraine Waits Poll Result (Reuters) Reuters - Thousands of supporters of Ukraine's\opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, celebrated on the streets\in the early hours on Monday after an exit poll showed him\winner of a bitterly fought presidential election.


Falcons Spoil Manning's Debut With Giants (AP) AP - Michael Vick ran for 104 yards and threw two first-half touchdown passes to Alge Crumpler to lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 14-10 win over the New York Giants on Sunday, spoiling Manning's first start.


Kennedys Condemn  #39;Despicable #39; JFK Assassination Game A controversial new British-made computer docu-game recreating John F Kennedys assassination has been branded despicable by aides to the late presidents brother.


No. 24 Maryland Beats Siena 73-52 (AP) AP - Shay Doron scored 21 points to lead No. 24 Maryland past Siena 73-52 on Sunday.


Manning Falls Short in Debut for Giants Michael Vick ran for 104 yards and threw two first-half touchdown passes to Alge Crumpler, spoiling Eli Manning's first start.


Exit Poll: Challenger Leads in Ukraine (AP) AP - An exit poll and initial early returns from abroad Sunday showed opposition challenger Viktor Yushchenko heading to a commanding victory in Ukraine's presidential run-off, which pitted the Western-leaning reformer against the Kremlin-praised prime minister in a vote many feared would turn violent.


U.S. Forces Kill Four in Afghanistan (AP) AP - U.S.-led troops mounted overnight raids on suspected al-Qaida compounds in eastern Afghanistan, killing four people and detaining several others, officials said Sunday. The U.S. military said "several Arab fighters" were among the suspects killed or detained in the operation in Nangarhar province, although a local official said only Afghans survived.


Dollar Near Record Lows, No G20 Support  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar was near record lows against  the euro and a multi-year low versus the yen on Monday after a  meeting of the Group of 20 rich and developing nations produced  no coordinated stance to stem the dollar's decline.


Greenspan Saps Stocks, Dlr Teeters  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The dollar sagged early on Monday,  helping to send Asian exporters' shares sharply lower, after a  meeting of the Group of 20 rich and developing nations said  nothing to arrest its fall.


MG Rover to slash directors #39; pension payments by 90 MG ROVERS controversial directors pension trust is to be substantially scaled back as the company nears the final stages of a vital partnership that will give


Japan #39;s Nikkei 225, Topix Decline; Kyocera Corp., Canon Drop Japanese stock benchmarks fell. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 126.43, or 1.1 percent, to 10,956.41 at 9:02 am in Tokyo. The broader Topix index dropped 11.04, or 1 percent, to 1098.73.


NFL's Jamal Lewis Leaves Ravens' Victory (Reuters) Reuters - Baltimore Ravens running back\Jamal Lewis left in the first quarter of a 30-10 victory over\Dallas on Sunday due to a left ankle injury.


Spinning space probe to record the  #39;birth cries #39; of black holes A new space observatory was rocketing into orbit yesterday preparing to scan the universe for the most violent celestial explosions since the Big Bang.


Software now available for the new gaming season Christmas is just around the corner and major computer games software publishers are readying their wares for the festive season. But these latest games are not your typical children #39;s programs.


NBA suspends nine players, Artest for rest of season NBA on Sunday suspended nine players for involving in a melee during Friday #39;s game between Detorit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, with Ron Artest suspended for the rest of the season, 73 games.


Sorenstam signs off in triumph Annika Sorenstam and American Cristie Kerr went head to head in the final round of the ADT Tour Championship yesterday, and it took the first hole of a sudden


Wright defends title by beating Mosely in rematch LAS VEGAS: Ronald Winky Wright used an effective right jab to retain his WBA and WBC junior middleweight titles, posting a majority decision over former champion Shane Mosley on Saturday.


GOLF: TIGER WIN ENDS NIGHTMARE RUN TIGER WOODS lifted his first strokeplay trophy in 13 months yesterday with an eight-shot victory in the Dunlop Phoenix tournament.


Ronaldinho #39;s genius signals a power shift Ronaldinho was so in the groove before kick-off that he actually danced in the tunnel. Barcelona #39;s catalyst did not just flick out a leg, so loosening limbs for imminent exertion against Real Madrid.


Seahawks 24, Dolphins 17 Boulware intercepted a pass by AJ Feeley and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown with 56 seconds remaining, lifting the Seahawks to a 24-17 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.


NFL Game Summary - Washington at Philadelphia Owens didn #39;t catch a pass in the first half, the first time all season he has gone without a reception in any half. His 13 touchdowns tied a club record accomplished three other times, most recently by Mike


Steelers defeat Bengals Bettis ran for 129 yards and the Steelers #39; blitzing defence created havoc Sunday, setting up a 19-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals that kept the NFL #39;s longest winning streak growing.


Israel to give Powell pledge on West Bank troop cuts Israel is expected to promise Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, today that it will take steps to facilitate Palestinian elections planned for January, including a cutback of its military presence in the West Bank.


Jet crashes into frozen lake in China, killing 54 A commuter jet bound for Shanghai crashed into a frozen lake in a park just seconds after take-off from Baotou City Airport in Inner Mongolia yesterday, killing all 53 people on board and one on the ground.


Iran stands by nuclear pledge TEHRAN: Iran pledged yesterday it was still committed to suspending parts of its sensitive nuclear activities as of today and that alarm over its last minute uranium conversion activities was merely US  quot;propaganda quot;.


Clarke ends feud with Charles over  #39;social utopianism #39; Prince Charles will today make the highly unusual move of publicly addressing the furore unleashed by his leaked memo to say the it is a  quot;travesty of the truth quot; to suggest he said people should know their place.


New clashes in Nepal claim 34 KATHMANDU: Nepali troops killed at least 21 Maoist rebels and lost 13 soldiers in gunbattles across the Himalayan kingdom, officials said yesterday.


A plague of locusts CAIRO: Swarms of locusts are causing a panic among farmers and children who wonder when the next biblical plague would strike. The pests have worked their way north into Israel since crossing the Egyptian


Vick Runs Past Giants Michael Vick runs for 104 yards and threw two first-half touchdown passes to Alge Crumpler to lead the Falcons to a 14-10 triumph over the Giants on Sunday.


PeopleSoft shareholders back Oracle bid Oracle Corp CEO Larry Ellison won the backing of PeopleSoft Inc shareholders for his US\$8.8 billion hostile takeover bid, taking him a step closer to clinching the deal after a 17-month fight.


Some Executives Can #39;t Take a Hint CQ quot; gt; Walt Disney Company shareholders might have done a double take when their chief executive, Michael D. Eisner, testified in court last week about the brief tenure of his friend, Michael S. Ovitz, as company president.


Juicy matchup is one to savor This is a matchup that makes you think all's right with the sports world after all. The 2005 Orange Bowl is the comfort food of athletic events.


Hughes cheered by remarkable comeback Booed off at the interval by their lowest Premiership crowd of the season, Blackburn Rovers earned a rousing send-off an hour later for salvaging an unlikely point at the expense of a bemused Birmingham.


FOX NFL SUNDAY SHOWCASE: Week 11 Jimmy Johnson evaluates the untraditional, yet often spectacular play of Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick:  quot;Although Vick has good pocket presence, he is not and will never be a traditional drop-back quarterback.


Weak finish wastes Lions #39; roaring start For a good part of the afternoon Sunday, the Lions played like a team on a mission. They got a quick lead on Eddie Drummond #39;s 92-yard kickoff return touchdown.


SINN FEIN LEADER REGRETS BOMBS The political arm of the Irish Republican Army #39;s says it regrets the series of pub bombings that killed 21 people in 1974. Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the killings, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams


Harriet Rubin How much of the antagonism between Disney CEO Michael Eisner and former No. 2 Michael Ovitz is really over money? Both have testified about their rocky relationship during a trial in which stockholders are


Nikkei follows dollar down Japan #39;s Nikkei 225 average is down more than two percent by mid-morning Monday after the dollar #39;s tumble against the yen hit tech firms and exporters.


Fed audit rules cost firms cash and time Champion Enterprises Inc. produces and sells manufactured homes across the nation. It is no Enron Corp. But because of the infamous energy company and other corporate wrongdoers that spawned the Sarbanes-Oxley


Gates Believes Spam Will Be Eliminated Within Two Years Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates believes spam will be a thing of the past within two years. He did not elaborate on his definition of spam.


FIFA investigates racist heckling at soccer games TONY EASTLEY: There #39;s a debate raging within the world of international soccer following last week #39;s racist heckling by Spanish fans of black players in the English team.


Phantoms extend win streak to 14 games with 4-3 overtime win PROVIDENCE, RI (CP) - Jon Sim scored in overtime for the second night in a row as the Philadelphia Phantoms won their 14th straight AHL game, 4-3 over the Providence Bruins in front of 5,812 spectators Sunday.


Celtics Snap Sonics' 9-Game Win Streak (AP) AP - Ricky Davis scored 25 points and Paul Pierce added 17 points and 10 rebounds on Sunday to lead the Boston Celtics to a 102-83 victory over Seattle and snap the SuperSonics' nine-game winning streak.


Adams stops short of apology As survivors of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings joined hundreds of others at a service in the city yesterday to mark the 30th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, the Sinn Fein president, Gerry


NFL Wrap: Bettis Sinks Bengals in Steelers Win  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jerome Bettis ran for 129 yards and  the Pittsburgh Steelers used a stifling defense to edge the  host Cincinnati Bengals 19-14 for their eighth straight win  Sunday.


Rwanda snubs UN forces in DR Congo Rwanda tells the UN Security Council its plans to disarm rebels across the border in DR Congo will not work.


Parents back anti-bully campaign Parents say school bullying is a major concern for them and that more should be done to tackle the problem.


James Hardie Earnings to Miss Estimates on Boycott (Update2) James Hardie Industries NV, Australia #39;s fourth-biggest building materials maker, said full-year profit will miss analysts #39; estimates because of boycotts by unions protesting the handling of asbestos compensation.


Seahawks reclaim first place in NFC West Rookie Michael Boulware saved the game for the Seattle Seahawks. Maybe the season, too. Boulware intercepted a pass by AJ Feeley and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown with 56 seconds remaining


Grin and Bear it: Manning and James lead Colts to another rout Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Peyton Manning threw four touchdown passes and Edgerrin James ran for 204 yards with a score, as the Indianapolis Colts rolled to a 41-10 victory over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.


Raps use miracle comeback to edge Spurs TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto Raptors produced their biggest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history on Sunday - and Vince Carter wasn #39;t part of it.


Heat Top 76ers, Stay Unbeaten in East (AP) AP - Dwyane Wade scored 25 points and the Miami Heat remained unbeaten against Eastern Conference opponents by beating the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers 93-83 Sunday night.


Powell Wants Mideast Foes to Smooth Way to Election Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday will invest US prestige in a new Middle East peace drive, pressing Israeli and Palestinian leaders alike for steps to help Palestinians elect a new president.


International Creditors to Cancel Most Iraqi Debt The Paris Club of international creditors has agreed to cancel 80 percent of the debt Iraq owes member countries. Officials say the deal, brokered in Berlin, is worth about \$33 billion.


Orange Guard Edelin Returns to Practice (AP) AP - Syracuse point guard Billy Edelin returned to the team on Sunday for the first time in nine months.


Gutsy victory is sum of Titans #39; spare parts JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Andre Dyson was it. Of the Tennessee Titans #39; starting secondary to open the season -- including the nickel and dime players -- Dyson was the last one standing in the fourth quarter of Sunday #39;s game with the Jacksonville Jaguars.


Chavez names oil chief as FM Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez named Ali Rodriguez, chief of the state-run oil company PDVSA, as the country #39;s new foreign minister, local media quoted government sources as saying on Sunday.


APEC #39;s importance never greater The theme of the 12th Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) leaders #39; meeting -  quot;One Community, Our Future quot; - is a reflection of the members #39; strong will to promote regional economic dynamism and a sense of unity.


Three on Pats Buses Injured in Accident (AP) AP - Three people traveling with the New England Patriots received minor injuries Sunday when two of their buses collided as they made their way to the team's hotel.


Sorenstam trumps Kerr IT TOOK an extra hole for Annika Sorenstam to shake off American Cristie Kerr in the ADT Tour Championship at Trump International in West Palm Beach, Florida, yesterday, but a victory worth \$215,000 (120,000) was a fitting end to another season that has


Colts outclass Bears in one-sided track meet Chicago - The Bears needed a perfect performance to beat the Colts and came away with a 41-10 defeat in their poorest showing under Lovie Smith.


Strong Earthquake Kills One in Caribbean (AP) AP - A strong earthquake rocked the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Guadeloupe early Sunday, killing a child, destroying numerous homes and knocking out power to thousands of people.


Powell to Seek US Aid for Palestinians Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, arriving in Israel for his first visit in a year and a half, said Sunday that he would work with Palestinian leaders to come up


Gaza out of control We are entering a very dangerous time. Everyone has their own gun and there is no one person in control.. BY ANDREW METZ. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- The young men wore hostile expressions and carried guns


Hopes fade for 58 missing after Philippines storm toll rises to eight (AFP) AFP - Hopes are fading for 58 fishermen missing at sea after a powerful storm that slammed into the Philippines, left eight people dead and tens of thousands homeless.


Online Insurance Bids May Rise Some industry analysts say an ongoing insurance bid-rigging scandal -- combined with rising health-care costs -- will build demand for online bidding on insurance policies.


Japan #39;s Nikkei 225, Topix Set for Biggest Drops in Six Months Japanese stocks dropped, with benchmarks poised for their biggest slides in six months. Exporters such as Toyota Motor Corp. led decline after the dollar plunged to its lowest against


HK PRESS: Hutchison Chmn Eyes Good  #39;05, Promises Pay Rise HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. (0013.HK) Chairman Li Ka-shing said the company #39;s overall financial outlook for 2005 is good and employees could look forward to a pay rise for next year, the South China Morning Post reports.


GOLDBERG: Manning Improves During Game (AP) AP - One play demonstrated the star Eli Manning can become. Another play, a few minutes later, showed that he's still a rookie.


Dell, Gateway Settle into the Living Room  quot;If you are talking about the media center PC in the family room, it #39;s going to be a disappointing experience, quot; Gartner research vice president Martin Reynolds told TechNewsWorld.


Powell #39;s Middle East mission COLIN Powell arrived in Israel last night for his first visit in 18 months, signalling a new push for Middle East peace following the death of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.


Bilateral flexibility urged for solution: Musharraf says Pakistan <b>...</b> LAHORE, Nov 20: President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday ruled out any unilateral stepping back by Pakistan from its historical stand over Kashmir and asked India to show courage


WADA Sanctions \$1.47 Million Rise in Expenditure  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)  has approved a \$1.47 million increase in its expenditure budget  for next year.


For Artest, Today's Troubles Took Root Years Ago It often seems Ron Artest cannot help being at the center of a storm.


Bush stands up for strong dollar President George W Bush reaffirms his commitment to a strong US dollar and pledges to halve the budget deficit.


Survey: Gas prices drop as consumption goes down CAMARILLO, Calif. Gas prices at the pump declined over the past two weeks. An industry analyst says a seasonal drop in consumption and lower crude oil prices contributed to the drop.


US Treasuries steady after fall on Greenspan 0133 GMT - US Treasuries steady in early Asia after falling in previous US session on Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan #39;s comments that interest rates were headed higher.