Iran agrees to suspend all uranium enrichment activities TEHRAN - Iran promised Sunday to suspend all uranium enrichment activities in an agreement concluded Sunday with Britain, France and Germany, officials said.


Palestinians set date for elections Palestinian officials scheduled presidential elections for Jan. 9, pushing forward Sunday with steps to a secure a new leader after the death of Yasser Arafat.


Algae Threatens Croatian Adriatic (Reuters) Reuters - Stari Grad bay on the\island of Hvar is one of the most charming resorts in Croatia.\But beneath the quiet surface of the southern Adriatic an\aggressive tropical algae is threatening the sea's eco-system.


A recollection of time spent with Arafat Landrum Bolling was the US 'back channel' to the Palestine Liberation Organization for years.


As fasting ends, the lessons of Ramadan linger A Muslim reporter considers a Saudi newspaper article's checklist for a successful Ramadan.


Oil prices skid, US stocks of crude seen growing NEW YORK : World oil prices fell, capping a drop of more than 14 percent in a two-and-a-half-week slide triggered by a perception of growing US crude oil inventories.


Wall Street still digesting Google NEW YORK: The seldom used auction system that Web search giant Google Inc. used in its initial public offering was expected by some to change the way Wall Street does business, but almost three months later, there has not yet been another deal like it.


Internet #39;s .Net Goes Out For Bid With management responsibilities of the .net domain soon to be up for grabs, several groups are positioning themselves to snatch the domain from its current steward, VeriSign Inc.


Stunning Real dazzle with 6-1 win Real Madrid have made a sparkling return to their top form with a rousing 6-1 Primera Liga victory over an out-classed Albacete. Ronaldo, Zidane and Raul found the net on Sunday in a dramatic


Loeb cruises to victory in Australia PERTH, Australia -- World champion Sebastien Loeb (Citroen) cruised through the final day to clinch his record-equalling sixth win of the season.


Chiefs lose without their Priest on Sunday New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes missed Sunday #39;s 27-20 loss to New Orleans with a knee injury.


Houston vs. Indianapolis INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- David Carr would like to finally get a win against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts Sunday when the AFC South teams meet for the first time this season.


Ganguly to appeal against ICC googly The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday suspended Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly from two Test matches for his teams slow over-rate against Pakistan in the Platinum Jubilee One-Day International match held on Saturday putting him out of action


McNair active, but Volek starts in Titans loss Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was active for Sunday #39;s overtime loss to Chicago, but missed his second straight game because of a bruised sternum.


SAINTS SUCCESS The Saints forced four turnovers and came up with a pair of late stops to preserve a 27-20 victory over the struggling Kansas City Chiefs.


US stocks: Wall St outlook: bull market with legs? NEW YORK - Stock investors this week should get more clues on whether the bull market has long enough legs to drive gains to year end, as many market pros now expect.


Rumsfeld Tours Panama Canal, Praises Security (Reuters) Reuters - Defense Secretary Donald\Rumsfeld lowered a freighter into the Pacific Ocean from the\Panama Canal on Sunday and praised Panamanian steps to protect\the vital waterway from terrorist attack.


Video-Game Sequels Will Be on Wish Lists (AP) AP - Video game companies always release their marquee titles just as the holiday shopping frenzy starts humming. It's nothing personal, just business: analysts say December alone accounts for more than 50 percent of the industry's annual revenue.


Auburn, Okla. Tied for No. 2 in AP Poll (AP) AP - Auburn caught Oklahoma in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday, creating a tie for second place behind No. 1 Southern California. It's the just the second tie for No. 2 in the history of the AP media poll. The other was Nov. 3, 1991, when Miami and Washington were tied behind No. 1 Florida State.


Federer #39;s fresh start WORLD No. 1 Roger Federer sees his title defence at the ATP Masters Cup in Houston as the start of his 2005 campaign rather than the end of a season that saw him capture three Grand Slam crowns.


GANO MANCHESTER UTD. CON DOS GOLES DE ROONEY LONDRES, 14 (ANSA) - Dos goles del juvenil Wayne Rooney y uno del holands Ruud Van Nilsterooy permitieron a Manchester United ganar 3-1 en campo de Newcastle y subir al sexto lugar de la Premier League, pero a nueve puntos del lder Chelsea, al


Roethlisberger Helps Steelers Win Seven in a Row Ben Roethlisberger became the first rookie quarterback in 34 years to start a season with seven straight wins and Jerome Bettis got two touchdowns as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 24-10 Sunday.


ICC crack down on Ganguly India captain Sourav Ganguly will be unable to play in the forthcoming Test series against Sout Africa, because of a ban imposed by the International Cricket Council.


US Says 38 Soldiers Killed in Iraqi Offensive (Reuters) Reuters - The U.S. military said on Sunday 38\U.S. soldiers had died in the week-long offensive to recapture\the Iraqi city of Falluja from rebels and 275 had been wounded.


Shortstop Omar Vizquel to Play for Giants (AP) AP - Free agent shortstop Omar Vizquel has agreed to terms with the San Francisco Giants, the team announced Sunday.


17 people killed in car bombing in Baghdad A total of 17 people were killed when a car bomb detonated in a crowded street in central Baghdad on Thursday, the police said. A thick column of black smoke rose into the sky


US Researcher Says Finds Atlantis Off Cyprus A US researcher on Sunday claimed he had found the lost civilization of Atlantis in the watery deep off Cyprus -- adding his theory to a mystery which has baffled explorers for centuries.


Rams Win 23-12, Top NFC West With Seattle (AP) AP - Marc Bulger got off to a red-hot start and a beleaguered defense held Seattle to three field goals in five trips inside the 20 in a 23-12 victory that earned the St. Louis Rams a first-place tie with the Seahawks in the NFC West on Sunday.


Manning, Colts Embarrass Texans 49-14 (AP) AP - Peyton Manning completed 18 of 27 passes for 320 yards and threw five touchdowns for the third time this season as the Indianapolis Colts made the Houston Texans pay for their sloppiness with a 49-14 rout.


How Will Owens, Eagles Respond to Loss? (AP) AP - When things were going well for the Dallas Cowboys early last season, Bill Parcells was asked about the great attitudes seen from several players who were not usually described that way. His response sounded more like a warning.


Asian firms bridging the tech divide in Spain (AFP) AFP - Where the frenetic pace of technological change is concerned Asia's general dominance in the race to provide the next must-have gadget seems only too apparent to many a European.


Mother-In-Law of Slain Teamster Arrested (AP) AP - Salvadoran police have arrested the mother-in-law of a U.S. Teamster gunned down in El Salvador last month, along with five other suspects, describing the slaying as a contract killing that was the result of a family dispute.


No. 24 Ariz. Beats Rice in Preseason WNIT (AP) AP - Shawntinice Polk had 18 points and 16 rebounds to lead No. 24 Arizona past Rice 68-43 Sunday in the preseason WNIT, the Wildcats' 29th straight win at home.


Retail Reports on Wall Street's Plate (AP) AP - It always seems a little premature to talk about the holiday season while the Thanksgiving menu is still in the planning stages, but there'll be plenty of discussion on Wall Street about December and shopping this week as top retailers report their earnings.


N.J. to Swear in Governor Replacement (AP) AP - The swearing-in of New Jersey's next governor caps a tumultuous transition period that began with Gov. James E. McGreevey's stunning disclosure that he would resign because of a gay sex scandal.


N.M. Still Counting Provisional Ballots (AP) AP - Nearly two weeks after John Kerry conceded the election and President Bush laid out his agenda, New Mexico is among several states that have yet to determine the winner's margin of victory.


Top US senator slams 'dysfunctional' CIA (AFP) AFP - Influential US Republican Senator John McCain blasted the Central Intelligence Agency as a  quot;dysfunctional quot; and  quot;rogue quot; organization that needs to be reformed.


Sen. McCain Threatens Baseball Over Steroids (Reuters) Reuters - Senate Commerce Committee Chairman\John McCain on Saturday threatened to introduce legislation\requiring more stringent drug testing if Major League Baseball\does not impose tougher rules on steroid use by January.


Atkins Sees Diet Pickup After New Year (Reuters) Reuters - The company behind the Atkins Diet\on Friday shrugged off a recent decline in interest in low-carb\diets as a seasonal blip, and its marketing chief said\consumers would cut out starchy foods again after picking up\pounds over the holidays.


Small-Caps Still Outperform Large-Caps (Reuters) Reuters - The Davids of the stock market are\beating the Goliaths again.


Getting and spending: Russia grapples with excess oil billions (AFP) AFP - What do you do when you've got billions of dollars lying around and don't know how to spend them?


D.C. United Wins Fourth MLS Cup (AP) AP - D.C. United won an unprecedented fourth MLS Cup on Sunday, beating Kansas City 3-2.


Bobcats Defeat Knicks, 107-101 (AP) AP - Steve Smith scored 20 points and hit two clutch shots in the final three minutes as the Charlotte Bobcats overcame a 41-point performance from Jamal Crawford and defeated the New York Knicks 107-101 Saturday night.


Inflamed brain link to autism Scientists have produced compelling evidence that autism may in some cases be linked to inflammation of the brain.


Soft Drink Company Takes The Cooking Out Of Thanksgiving If you want the taste of Thanksgiving without the cooking and without the calories, a Seattle soft drink maker may have the answer.


Briefs: Hilton Group to sell UK hotels Hilton Group, the operator of Hilton hotels outside the United States, is selling about a dozen of its British hotels as it focuses on the country #39;s main cities.


Down exports up as industry shakes bird flu A jump in third quarter exports shows China #39;s feather and down industry has recovered from the impact of bird flu, or avian influenza, industry insiders report.


BHP #39;s Shenzi-3 Well Finds Oil in US Gulf of Mexico (Update1) BHP Billiton, Australia #39;s biggest oil and gas producer, said a second appraisal well at its Shenzi discovery in the Gulf of Mexico found oil, increasing the likelihood the field can be commercially developed.


Eurostar turns 10 years old LONDON, England -- Eurostar, the high-speed passenger services, is celebrating 10 years of service between Britain, France and Belgium.


China Southern Airlines board approves taking over two airlines <b>...</b> China Southern Airlines Co. said its board of directors has approved plans to take over China Northern Airlines and Xinjiang Airlines from its parent company.


Apple #39;s nifty  and expensive  iPod Photo isn #39;t for everyone That #39;s the big question regarding Apple #39;s new iPod Photo, and my answer is yes to both. Yes, icing on the cake, because the iPod Photo takes what is the best portable digital music player


European probe to enter lunar orbit LONDON - A spacecraft the size of a washing machine and driven by a revolutionary ion motor will begin a braking sequence on Monday that should make it the first European mission to enter lunar orbit.


The Webmail Wars Gmail is all cool and slick, but there is no reason why Gmail #39;s competition can #39;t match its functionality. Since the release of Gmail #39;s beta in April, Yahoo has bought two email companies to bolster Yahoo


New Nintendo game system may attract wider audience Nintendo Co. is set to launch Nintendo DS, the latest of its wallet-sized game systems. The company will have its \$150 Nintendo DS in United States stores Nov. 21 -- hoping to take advantage of post-Thanksgiving shopping.


Barcelona loses, Real beats Albacete Brazilian forwards Edu Schmidt and Ricardo Oliveira scored as Real Betis ended Barcelona #39;s unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win Sunday.


Daly-Donofrio wins Tournament of Champions Heather Daly-Donofrio has fired a 2-under par 70 to win the \$US800,000 LPGA Tournament of Champions by four strokes over fellow American Laura Diaz in Alabama.


Prso the Rangers saviour RANGERS SURVIVED AN intense inspection of their title credentials at Easter Road yesterday before emerging with the points thanks to a second-half penalty from Dado Prso.


Del Piero and Juventus edge Lecce Lecce, Italy (Sports Network) - Alessandro Del Piero led Juventus to a 1-0 victory in the rain over Lecce Sunday. The win allowed Juve to maintain a six point cushion on top of the table.


Johnson wins Southern 500, closes in on Busch Darlington, SC (Sports Network) - Jimmie Johnson captured the 55th and final running of the Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway.


Clarke tops Westwood in Taiheiyo Masters for his first win of 2004 SHIZUOKA, Japan (PA) -- Darren Clarke cruised to his first victory of the year Sunday in the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters, a high-profile event on the Japan Tour.


Canada beats US for gold, Sweden captures bronze in Four Nations <b>...</b> Dana Antal took a pass from Danielle Goyette and scored the third-period winner as Canada defeated the United States 2-1 for the gold medal in the Four Nations Cup international women #39;s hockey tournament Sunday.


Browns, Steelers fight before game Talking trash wasn #39;t enough. The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers decided to trade punches. Less than an hour before Sunday #39;s game, Browns running back William Green and Steelers linebacker Joey Porter


Rose Bowl At Stake In Michigan/OSU Game When the Wolverines play at Ohio State on Saturday, they will be playing for more than just a share off the Big Ten championship. Michigan could get a Rose Bowl bid with a victory over the Buckeyes.


Girl who carries Britain #39;s hopes for Games On a normal school day, Amber Charles carries her books, a bag, perhaps a spot of lunch. Today she carries the hopes of the nation.


Vick pass to Crumpler for 49-yard TD lifts Falcons past Buccaneers <b>...</b> Chris Draft scooped up the ball, fell down, got back up and didn #39;t stop running until he reached the end zone with teammate DeAngelo Hall draped over his back.


Abbas Caught in Gaza Gunfight GAZA CITY, 15 November 2004 - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was at the center of a shootout in Gaza yesterday hours after he emerged as Fatahs candidate in the presidential election scheduled for Jan. 9.


Africans Endorse Ivory Coast Sanctions African leaders backed an arms embargo and other immediate UN sanctions against Ivory Coast on Sunday, isolating President Laurent Gbagbo #39;s hard-line government


Oven yields record haul of ecstasy Australian police and customs officials have seized 820kg (1,800lb) of ecstasy tablets and powder stashed inside a bakery oven in the country #39;s biggest ever haul of the drug, police said yesterday.


Martin says violence preventing democracy from taking hold in <b>...</b> PORT-AU-PRINCE - Prime Minister Paul Martin #39;s one-day visit to Haiti has not produced any new foreign aid commitments, but it did prompt Martin to warn his hosts that democracy will never flourish in an atmosphere where  quot;people are afraid for their lives


Blair to Urge End to Trans-Atlantic Rift British Prime Minister Tony Blair will stress the need for Europe and the United States to put differences over Iraq behind them and work together to tackle issues such as Middle East peace in a speech on Monday.


Williams Downs Mauresmo to Reach WTA Tour Final  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Serena Williams ended Amelie  Mauresmo's hopes of grabbing the year-end number one ranking by  beating the Frenchwoman 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the semi-finals of the  WTA Tour Championships Sunday.


Banned Basque party calls for peace talks unveiled a plan to end the long-running conflict in the region, saying it wants peace talks. demilitarising the 36-year-old conflict and a referendum in the Basque country on its future.


Codey Takes Oath for New Jersey Governor's Post At a private ceremony, Richard J. Codey, the president of the State Senate, was sworn in as acting governor of New Jersey.


Tokyo Stocks Open Up on Banks, Exporters  TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average opened up 0.54  percent on Monday with banks and exporters leading the way as a  stronger finish on Wall Street and declining oil prices soothed  worries over the global economic outlook.


Poll: Arafat lost real power years ago A Palestinian pollster says Yasser Arafat #39;s death will not leave a political vacuum because others effectively replaced him years ago.


Harvard Earns Share of Ivy Title PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 13 - It started poorly for Harvard, even before the game. When its marching musicians were introduced by the public address announcer -


Blair to Urge End to Trans-Atlantic Rift (Reuters) Reuters - British Prime Minister Tony Blair will\stress the need for Europe and the United States to put\differences over Iraq behind them and work together to tackle\issues such as Middle East peace in a speech on Monday.


Tokyo Stocks Open Up on Banks, Exporters (Reuters) Reuters - Tokyo's Nikkei average opened up 0.54\percent on Monday with banks and exporters leading the way as a\stronger finish on Wall Street and declining oil prices soothed\worries over the global economic outlook.


Visitors told to stay away as chocolate festival proves too popular (AFP) AFP - Sunny weather and the promise of free samples caused crowds to swarm into a small Portuguese town on the closing day of an annual chocolate festival, leading organisers to appeal for visitors to stay away.


US Airways accord may set the tone for others A concessionary agreement struck late Thursday with a union representing nearly 6,000 US Airways customer service workers appears far less onerous than what the airline


Cardinals Defeat Giants, 17-14 (AP) AP - Just like the old days in Dallas, Emmitt Smith made life miserable for the New York Giants on Sunday.


Kuehne, Sluman Win Shootout Title Again (AP) AP - Hank Kuehne and Jeff Sluman birdied four of the last five holes and beat Justin Leonard and Steve Flesch by two strokes at the Franklin Templeton Shootout on Sunday.


Intel Agencies Blamed As 9/11 Bill Stalls (AP) AP - Intelligence agencies came under sharp attack Sunday from lawmakers, as did Congress, where a bill to put in place recommendations from the Sept. 11 commission has stalled heading into this week's postelection session.


Daly-Donofrio wins LPGA champions tournament by 4 strokes Heather Daly-Donofrio holed out her second shot for eagle on the third hole and cruised to a four-stroke victory Sunday in the LPGA Tournament of Champions.


Kuehne, Sluman win second straight Franklin Templeton Shootout <b>...</b> Hank Kuehne and Jeff Sluman birdied four of the last five holes and beat Justin Leonard and Steve Flesch by two strokes at the Franklin Templeton Shootout on Sunday.


Rams make statement they #39;re team to beat in NFC West ST. LOUIS -- When St. Louis coach Mike Martz last week publicly chastised his team, he admonished players to make something happen and to do it immediately.


X-Ray of King Tut Mummy May Reveal Clues (AP) AP - The mummy of King Tutankhamun is to be X-rayed in an attempt to solve the mystery of how the teenage Pharaoh died at age 17, Egypt's chief archaeologist said Sunday.


Iran agrees to stop uranium enrichment Iran has accepted a full suspension of uranium enrichment and linked activities, diplomats said Sunday. The diplomats said the Iranians apparently dropped demands to modify a tentative deal worked out last


President calls truce with northern rebels KAMPALA, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda announced on Sunday a unilateral one-week halt in military operations against northern rebels of the Lord #39;s Resistance Army, one of Africa #39;s most brutal and forgotten conflicts.


Titanic Finder Laments Damage by Visitors (AP) AP - The man who found the remains of the ocean liner Titanic nearly two decades ago has returned to the site and is lamenting the damage done by visitors and souvenir hunters.


BHP to sell interests in Laminaria and Corallina oil fields BHP Billiton Limited (BHP) today announced it has agreed to sell its interests in the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields to Paladin Oil  amp; Gas (Australia) Pty Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Paladin Resources plc, an independent oil and gas company


Williams reaches final at WTA Championships Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Serena Williams rallied for a three-set victory over Amelie Mauresmo to reach the final of the WTA Championships at the Staples Center.


Rooney double helps Man Utd stay alive Wayne Rooney scored twice to keep alive Manchester United #39;s fading hopes of winning the Premiership. Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert went close for Newcastle before Rooney volleyed home Darren Fletcher #39;s cross.


Rested Federer ready to put icing on cake Perfection is a hard act to follow and, after the most remarkable 11 months of his life, Roger Federer has much to live up to here this week.


Clarke romps home in Taiheiyo Masters GOTEMBA, Shizuoka Pref. (Kyodo) European Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke shot a solid 4-under-par 68 to capture his first victory of the season at the Mitsui-Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters on Sunday.


NFL Game Summary - Cincinnati at Washington Landover, MD (Sports Network) - Rudi Johnson rushed for 102 yards and a score, Carson Palmer threw a touchdown pass and the Cincinnati Bengals became the fourth straight team to win in Washington, beating the Redskins 17-10 at FedEx Field.


It may all come down to the computers Auburn #39;s domination of Georgia on the heels of two narrow escapes by Oklahoma (vs. Oklahoma State and Texas A amp;M) has apparently prompted a significant number of voters to change their minds about which team should be ranked No.


Palestinians Say the Future Rests on Vote, Israeli Action Palestinians must act quickly to hold elections for a leader to replace Yasser Arafat if they are to peacefully transform their political system after more than


Work cut out for Australia and Indonesia John Howard ensured his control over Australian politics for the next four years on Oct. 9 when he swept to an impressive fourth term as prime minister and his Liberal Party


Historic Cuban Church Begins Construction (AP) AP - Following a procession through the streets of the city's historic district, religious figures and Cuban government officials on Sunday laid down the first stone of what will become the island's first-ever Russian Orthodox church.


Funds: What's Ahead for Fund Investors? (Reuters) Reuters - This decade has been a tough\one for fund investors. The average stock fund has lost almost\6 percent annually since the beginning of 2000, a return that\encompasses huge losses from 2000 through 2002 and big gains in\2003.


Funds: What's Ahead for Fund Investors?  PORTLAND, Maine (Reuters) - This decade has been a tough  one for fund investors. The average stock fund has lost almost  6 percent annually since the beginning of 2000, a return that  encompasses huge losses from 2000 through 2002 and big gains in  2003.


Cuba dollar tax comes into force A retaliatory 10 tax on exchange operations involving US dollars comes into force in Cuba on Monday.


New claim on location of Atlantis US researchers claim to have found evidence locating the lost kingdom of Atlantis off the coast of Cyprus.


U.S. Forces Turn to Iraqi Cities Beyond Fallujah As fighting winds down in a Fallujah returned by overwhelming force to the sovereignty of the new Iraq, U.S. forces are turning to the many other cities besieged by a fresh wave of insurgent attacks.


Steve Martin wins career honour  Comic and Hollywood star Steve Martin wins the American Cinematheque career achievement honour.


Dollar Down Vs Yen  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar fell to a seven-month low  against the yen and was within sight of a record low versus the  euro on Monday due in part to market views that Washington is  happy to see it weaken.


BHP coffers grow amid sales, discoveries The company has announced the sale of its part share in the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields to the British-owned Paladin Oil  amp; Gas.


Times, PI staff vote to keep ties with two-paper-town group In a divided vote, members of the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild have voted to maintain financial and legal support for a group intervening in the legal dispute between Seattle #39;s daily newspapers.


Brazil Gives China Early X-Mas Present... When President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited China in May of 2004, he was like an innocent abroad. He naively thought the Chinese would welcome his attempts to form a strategic partnership between two of the worlds largest developing countries.


China exports record no of mobile phones from Jan to Sep 2004 Beijing, Nov 14. (PTI):Chinese mobile phones are becoming more popular the world over as mobiles made in the Communist nation registered a record growth in exports.


NASA experimental  #39;scramjet #39; prepares for Mach 10 attempt The future of hypersonic flight is uncertain, but next week a tiny unmanned NASA jet will try to hurtle into that unknown on a one-way trip at 10 times the speed of sound.


Mars Rovers Still at Work Description: The two Mars Rovers, Opportunity and Sprit, are showing signs of wear... not surprising, since their mission was expected to end in April.


China and Linux: Microsoft, Beware! While open-source software is new to the Middle Kingdom, Beijing is looking to change that. Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik explains why.


Glazer will be main topic at Man United shareholders #39; meeting There #39;s no doubt about the main topic at Friday #39;s annual meeting of Manchester United shareholders: Malcolm Glazer. Though Manchester United PLC has 39,000


Rocastle admits Novo dismissal was  #39;harsh #39; DESPITE a generous offer from the Hibs midfielder, Craig Rocastle, Rangers are unlikely to appeal against the ordering-off of striker Nacho Novo in debatable circumstances in the Ibrox sides 1-0 victory at Easter Road yesterday.


Johnson sweeps Darlington Jimmie Johnson has fought through mistakes, mechanical failures and the despair of losing friends in a plane crash to charge back into NASCAR #39;s closest championship battle ever.


Seattle #39;s Fortson suspended over foul Seattle forward Danny Fortson was suspended for one game without pay after a foul in Friday #39;s game against Toronto was upgraded to a flagrant.


Weekend in Review: Sooners, Tigers battle for position This is how crazy it has become in the race for the BCS title game: Oklahoma might not go to Orange Bowl because of, well, oranges.


College Hockey: Former Cornell Player Dana Antal Scores Game <b>...</b> Injuries kept former Cornell athlete Dana Antal out of the spotlight of the Canadian national team for the better part of five


Even Drummond #39;s 2 return TDs don #39;t add up to enough The cycle is now complete: The Lions are back to playing as poorly on the road as they have been at home. The only thing that saved them from total annihilation Sunday


Panthers 37 49ers 27 SAN FRANCISCO Carolina scored 17 points in the final eight minutes to jump past San Francisco 37-to-27. The Panthers had trailed early 17-to-3 before coming back for the win.


Manning gives Houston problems in rout Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Peyton Manning continued his MVP-type season by throwing for 320 yards and five touchdowns, as the Indianapolis Colts rolled to a 49-14 rout of the Houston Texans at the RCA Dome.


Mutilated body of  #39;Western woman #39; found The mutilated body of a Western woman was found by American forces in Fallujah yesterday, lying on the street covered with a blood-soaked cloth.


Japanese princess to marry the best friend of her brother Japan #39;s imperial family finally had good news yesterday when it announced that the emperor #39;s only daughter is to marry. The news was greeted with joy in Japan, where many had worried


Basque separatists signal end to 35 years of conflict Spain #39;s banned Batasuna party, widely considered the political mouthpiece of the armed Basque separatist group Eta, offered last night to open a process of negotiations and dialogue to achieve peace in the Basque country.


Russia makes overture on Kurils Russia has signalled readiness for compromise in a long-standing territorial dispute with Japan over four islands in the Kuril chain.


Two shot dead in Yala as Ramadan ends Militants shot dead a former policeman and a Burmese migrant worker in the southernmost province of Yala Sunday just as Muslims marked the end of Ramadan.


Panthers Defeat 49ers 37-27 (AP) AP - With their punter kicking field goals and their defense kicking Tim Rattay all over the field, the Carolina Panthers doubled their win total.


Russo: Who's No. 2? Auburn or Oklahoma (AP) AP - Auburn made its case on the field  #151; and off  #151; and enough voters were swayed.


Hu tours Rio hot spots, to meet with ethnic Chinese, on Brazil <b>...</b> RIO DE JANEIRO : Chinese President Hu Jintao toured some of Rio de Janeiro #39;s fabled sights Sunday ahead of a meeting with Brazil #39;s Chinese community on a busy Latin American tour.


China exports 4 million home brand mobile phones in first nine <b>...</b> Latest statistics from the Ministry of Information Industry show that China exported more than four million Chinese-brand mobile phones from January to September, far exceeding last year #39;s total of 2.06 million.


DVD Sales Will Drive Pixar #39;s Earnings Credit Suisse First Boston maintained an  quot;outperform quot; rating for Pixar Animation Studios (nasdaq: PIXR - news - people ) after the animated film company reported robust earnings for the third quarter.


Why MSN Search is good for the consumer? Microsoft launched the second beta release of MSN Search with little fanfare. There is no doubt it is good, but few consider it as a threat to Google for sometime to come.


No evidence of escorts hired to lure recruits found BOULDER, Colo. -- An audit launched in the wake of the sex-and-booze football recruiting scandal at the University of Colorado found no evidence that escorts or strippers were hired to lure recruits.


SEA CITY IS FOUND AN expedition to find the lost city of Atlantis claim they have discovered evidence of man-made structures submerged in the sea between Cyprus and Syria.


Thai PM weighs call for conciliatory body The Thai government will consider a proposal for a  quot;national conciliation committee quot; to find alternative ways of restoring peace in the south,.


Top-Ranked USC Beats UCLA to Finished Season Undefeated LOS ANGELES (Sports Network) - Reggie Bush ran for 204 yards and a pair of long touchdowns as No. 1 Southern California edged UCLA, 29-24, in a regular season-ending Pac-10 showdown between cross-town rivals at the Rose Bowl.


Groups Want Pensions to Divest From Sudan (AP) AP - Black activists and religious groups are pressing public pension funds to divest a purported  #36;91 billion in holdings of companies operating in oil-rich Sudan.


Textile town Tirupur brims with optimism as quotas end (Reuters) Reuters - Murthy, a 35-year-old tailor, watches eagerly as construction workers put the finishing touches to a big apparel park that opens for business at the end of the year.


Serie A Wrap: Wins For The Milan Giants Internazionale hit five against Messina and AC Milan came from behind to win at Parma on a good night for the Milanese in Serie A. On-fire Brazilian Adriano netted his first Serie A hat-trick and debutant


Australian cabinet gets down to business with abortion high on agenda (AFP) AFP - Australian premier John Howard's cabinet met for the first time since his reelection, with abortion expected to be high on the agenda although not among the laws due to be introduced this session.


Clinton Library Features Impeachment Area (AP) AP - As Bill Clinton's library is unveiled at a gala opening this week, one thing is certain: His messy legacy will be on full display.


Election Losses Further Erode Once Mighty Democratic Base In the new Congress, only 4 of the 22 senators from the 11 states of the old Confederacy will be Democrats.


Fighting in Fallujah Nears End U.S. and Iraqi security forces scoured Fallujah for remaining insurgent fighters and pounded the city's southernmost neighborhoods  with heavy artillery and bombs late Sunday night, as military commanders declared victory seven days after launching their largest  operation since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.


Ammo Outpost Assumes Key Role Because of the large scale of the offensive operation in Fallujah, the ammo guys have been working nearly nonstop, trying to fill orders for U.S. and Iraqi security forces who continued Sunday to battle the last holdouts of insurgents and foreign fighters.


For an Iraqi Soldier, the Battle in Fallujah Is Personal For a lieutenant who gave his last name as Mustafa, one of 2,000 Iraqi soldiers fighting alongside U.S. troops for control of this  insurgent-occupied city, the battle for Fallujah was personal.


Pilotless Jet Will Attempt Speed Record NASA plans to try to set a world speed record for jets on Monday with the flight of a pilotless vehicle that culminates a decades-long research program into hypersonic flight.


AP chief says Internet represents the future of news President and CEO Tom Curley told the Online News Association conference in Hollywood today it #39;s time for traditional media outlets to tailor their products for consumers who demand instant, personalized information.


Canadian women #39;s hockey team edges US 2-1 to win Four Nations Cup LAKE PLACID, NY (CP) - The Canadian women #39;s hockey team drew inspiration from its gold-medal performance at the Olympics to beat the US 2-1 and win the Four Nations Cup on Sunday.


Iran Gives Pledge on Uranium, but Europeans Are Cautious The governments of France, Germany and Britain are studying a letter delivered Sunday by Iran in which it pledged to suspend uranium enrichment activities temporarily in


Heavy storms pound Italy; two killed when landslide sweeps house Two Italians were killed in a landslide this weekend as fierce storms pounded the country, causing floods that slowed trains, cut off traffic and forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes.


Soccer: D.C. United Take MLS Title Over Kansas City  CARSON, Calif. - (Sports Network) - D.C. United completed  its return to glory Sunday, winning its fourth Major League  Soccer championship in nine seasons with a wildly entertaining  3-2 victory against the Kansas City Wizards at the Home Depot  Center in Carson, Calif. United's triumph in MLS Cup 2004  before 25,797 at the Home Depot Center was its first since  1999, when it capped a run of appearances in the first four MLS  title games with a then-third championship.


Report: No Evidence in CU Recruit Scandal An audit of the University of Colorado #39;s football program begun in the wake of a sex-and-alcohol recruiting scandal found no evidence that escorts or strippers were hired to attract athletes.


Israeli army to reinstate ban on armed Palestinian security forces (Jerusalem-AP) Nov. 14, 2004 - Palestinian security forces in the West Bank will no longer be allowed to carry weapons in public. That #39;s what Israel #39;s army chief has told the Israeli Cabinet.


William at Cenotaph for first time PRINCE William took part in his first official Remembrance Sunday engagement yesterday as the nation paid its respects to Britains war dead.


Stelco board approves C\$900 mln in financing Stelco Inc. (STEa.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) , Canada #39;s largest steel company and a takeover target of Russia #39;s OAO Severstal (CHMF.


Tower to Get A\$130 Mln From Australian Wealth Units (Update2) Tower Ltd., New Zealand #39;s third- biggest asset manager for individual investors, will receive A\$130 million (\$100 million) from the spinoff of its Australian wealth management units, Bridges and Tower Trust.


New Zealand forestry firms unite to target China market About 20 forestry and wood processing companies in New Zealand have reached an agreement on planning to work together to take on the highly lucrative Chinese market.


Opportunity Rover to Pack Up and Leave Crater NASA (news - web sites) #39;s Mars rover Opportunity will back its way out of a crater it has spent four months exploring after reaching terrain that appears too treacherous to tread.


Halo 2 Exceeds Expectations Since its debut in 2001 as an XBox launch title, Halo has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. In doing so, it has received critical acclaim from reviewers and avid gamers alike.


Ruiz, Byrd, Rahman and Donald All Score Wins New York, NY: It was to be expected; the four main events of Don Kings pay per view telecast on HBO were, shall I say, dreadful.


Canada beats US for gold, Sweden captures bronze in Four Nations <b>...</b> Dana Antal scored a tiebreaking goal early in the third period and Canada held on for a 2-1 victory over the United State in the championship game of the Four Nations Cup international women #39;s hockey tournament.


Can Arafat #39;s death lead to peace? Is there hope in the Middle East in the aftermath of Yasser Arafat #39;s death, or will the optimistic noises now being made fizzle out into the usual confrontation?


Wreaths laid in tribute to the fallen Political leaders paid their respects to Britain #39;s war dead in the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph yesterday. The leaders of the government and opposition parties were joined


UPDATE: NZ Tower Spin-Off Could Pave Way For New Opers WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--Insurer Tower Group Ltd. (TWR.NZ) said Monday it will go ahead with the spin-off of its Australian wealth management businesses and use the cash proceeds to grow and develop new businesses.


Two-newspaper group retains union backing Union members from Seattle #39;s two feuding daily newspapers voted yesterday to retain their local #39;s association with a citizens #39; group that is seeking to thwart moves by The Seattle Times that could lead to a shutdown of its rival, the Seattle Post


Chirac optimistic despite depressing economic data PARIS: French President Jacques Chirac said yesterday he remained optimistic on the outlook for the economy despite data last week showing growth at just 0.1 per cent in the third quarter this year.


Federer Fit, Rested and Ready to Defend Crown  HOUSTON (Reuters) - World number one Roger Federer  pronounced himself fit, rested and ready to end his season in  style with a successful defense of this Masters Cup title.


Red Bull Boss Confirms Jaguar F1 Takeover - Report  VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian energy drink firm Red Bull has  taken over the Jaguar Formula One team from Ford, Red Bull's  owner told a newspaper Sunday.


Williams to Meet Sharapova in WTA Champs Final  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Serena Williams ended Amelie  Mauresmo's hopes of grabbing the year-end number one ranking by  beating the Frenchwoman 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the semi-finals of the  WTA Tour Championships Sunday.


Four goals. But can Chelsea really win all four trophies? Now that Chelsea have added Newcastle United to the list of clubs that they have given what for lately, what price Jose Mourinho covering the Russian-funded aristocrats of west London in glittering glory to the tune of four trophies?


Prescription For Trouble (CBS) When the pharmaceutical giant Merck pulled its blockbuster pain medication Vioxx off the market in late September, it became the largest prescription drug recall in history.


China Southern buys assets to restructure China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd., the countrys largest airline, said over the weekend it would buy assets worth US\$2 billion from its State parent as part of a restructuring of the fragmented industry.


Dollar Hits 7-Month Low Vs Yen  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar fell to a seven-month low  against the yen and was within sight of a record low versus the  euro on Monday, due in part to market views that Washington is  happy to see it weaken to help narrow the U.S. trade deficit.


New US Study Faults Automakers for Whiplash Automakers are failing to equip most car models sold in the United States with seats and head restraints that provide good protection against neck injuries in rear-end crashes, according to a new insurance industry study.


Vaccine makes war on sperm-making protein A contraceptive vaccine for men that temporarily blocks male fertility has come a step closer with a study showing it is possible to inoculate monkeys against their own sperm.


Serena Ends Mauresmo #39;s Year-End No. 1 Bid Serena Williams Ends Mauresmo #39;s Bid for Year-End No. 1 Ranking, Will Face Sharapova in WTA Final. Serena Williams waves to the crowd after beating Amelie Mauresmo of France 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 in their semifinal


Henman has to stay cool in warm-up for Roddick It was overcast and chilly at the Westside Tennis Club here yesterday morning when Tim Henman went out to practice for the Masters Cup.


Rangers dig in for a capital victory ALEX McLeish, the Rangers manager, will ponder long and hard the importance of this match and how significant the three points secured at Easter Road could turn out to be.


Western Michigan fired Darnell  quot;For the benefit of our student-athletes and fans, we simply cannot afford another year of decline and now is the time for new leadership to be brought in, quot; Kathy Beauregard, the school #39;s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said in a statement.


With One Race Left, Cup Chase Tightens Jimmie Johnson was supposed to be finished a month ago in the Nascar Nextel Cup playoff for the season points title. He was down by 247 points with too few races left to make up the difference.


Charline Labonte rises to challenge Charline Labonte has served notice she wants to become the next starting goaltender of the Canadian women #39;s hockey team. The 22-year-old from Boisbriand, Que.


Lions return star nearly steals Garrard #39;s turn in spotlight JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars did everything you should do to protect an inexperienced quarterback. They ran the ball well, limiting his chances for mistakes.


Martz #39; unorthodox style works wonders for Rams against Seahawks ST. LOUIS -- Fed up with his underachieving Rams team, Mike Martz last week did something that was both uncharacteristic for him, and by today #39;s NFL head-coaching standards, rather unconventional.


Scoring Summary: Bears 19, Titans 17 The Bears offense continues to be more offensive than anything else, but the defense and special teams each chipped to lead the Bears for their third straight win.


Vizquel Signs with San Francisco  SAN FRANCISCO (Sports Network) - Free-agent shortstop Omar  Vizquel signed a three-year contract with the San Francisco  Giants on Sunday. Per team policy, financial terms were not  disclosed.


Palestinians hold security meet Palestinians held an emergency security meeting in Gaza on Sunday night after the shooting incident in a mourning tent for Yasser Arafat in Gaza.


Murphy to explain UDA decision Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy is to explain to the Commons his decision to recognise the loyalist Ulster Defence Association #39;s ceasefire.


Princess to wed Tokyo civil servant There was a rare piece of good news for the Japanese royal family yesterday when it was reported that the emperor and empress #39;s only daughter is to marry a commoner.


Dutch PM Visits Mosque, Urges Dialogue Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has visited a mosque following a wave of attacks on Muslim and Christian sites in the Netherlands.


Truce hopes fade as Basque peace plan falls short Hopes that the armed Basque separatist group Eta might lay down its arms and talk were dashed last night after its main political ally came forward with peace proposals that fell short of the demands of mainstream Spanish politicians.


Straw faces pressure over African coup plot The government will come under increasing pressure this week to explain what action it took to protect British citizens in the West African state of Equatorial Guinea - after Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, admitted that he knew about the attempted


Reasons for U.S.C.'s No. 1 Ranking Run Deep With the race for the No. 2 slot in the B.C.S. standing intensifying between Oklahoma and Auburn, U.S.C. has solidified its status as the nation's top team.


Last Stand by the Jets' Defense Comes Way Too Early EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Nov. 14 - This late in the year, the direct sunlight leaves the field early at Giants Stadium, even on the brightest days.


Carter's Subtle Mistake Costs the Jets a Game A mistake surfaced at the worst possible time during Quincy Carter's debut as the starter in place of the injured Chad Pennington.


China Sets Condition for Resuming Talks with Taiwan  BEIJING (Reuters) - Talks between diplomatic rivals Taiwan  and China could resume if the island sticks to a 1992  interpretation of the "one China" principle, Chinese newspapers  on Monday quoted a top negotiator with Taiwan as saying.


Dow Jones Is Said to Agree to a Deal to Buy MarketWatch Dow Jones is set to announce that it will pay about \$486 million for the parent company of CBS MarketWatch, a business news site.


A High-Wire Act at Warner Bros. More than any other studio, Warner Bros. makes big bets on star vehicles and event films that spare no expense. This holiday season is no exception.


2 Marines From Woodbridge, Baltimore Area Killed in Iraq  Two Marines with ties to the Washington region were killed last week in Iraq, the Pentagon said.


Iran Vows To Freeze Nuclear Programs Iran agreed Sunday to immediately suspend its nuclear programs in exchange for European guarantees that it will not face the prospect of U.N. Security Council sanctions as long as their agreement holds.


Sacked Boris 'will bounce back' Tory MP Boris Johnson's political career is not over despite his sacking, say his friends and father.


Five Drivers Will Race... For The Nextel Cup At Homestead When Tony Stewart struggled to a 20th place finish in the Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington on Sunday, it eliminated any chance that he would have the opportunity to race for the Nextel


Report: Iran vows to halt uranium enrichment Iran has given the United Nations a written promise to fully suspend uranium enrichment, diplomats said today, in an apparent bid to dispel suspicions that Tehran wants to build a nuclear bomb.


Honour memory of Rabin, Arafat - Mbeki The leaders and people of Israel and Palestine should honour the memories of Yasser Arafat and slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by acting practically to achieve the  quot;peace of the brave quot;, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday.


Elpida Advances as Shares Start Trading in Tokyo (Update2) Shares of Elpida Memory Inc., Japan #39;s sole large-scale producer of memory chips, rose on their first day of trading in Tokyo on investors #39; expectations a focus on consumer electronics


A contraceptive for men on the anvil: Health India: London, Nov 14: In a new study, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill rendered monkeys infertile by a vaccine aimed at their sperm.


European Spacecraft Prepares To Orbit Moon  #39;Europes first lunar spacecraft is set to go into orbit around the Moon on Monday. SMART-1 has already reached the gateway to the Moon, the region where its gravity starts to dominate that of the Earth.


We can catch Chelsea: Rooney MANCHESTER United striker Wayne Rooney insisted his club can catch Premier League pacesetters Chelsea after scoring twice at St James #39; Park today.


Preparation underway for marriage of Japanese Princess Preparation for the marriage of Japanese Princess Sayako, the 35-year-old daughter of Emperor Akihito, and Yoshiki Kuroda, a Tokyo metropolitan government employee, started in


Indian PM Singh: Peace Talks With Pakistan Making Progress Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says his nation is working toward a  quot;mutually acceptable solution quot; to all outstanding issues with Pakistan, including disputed Kashmir.


Canada PM Says Haiti Election Must Include Lavalas Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin told Haitian leaders on Sunday that deposed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide #39;s political party must take part in new elections.


Google Investors Await the Dropping of 39 Million Shoes Google investors may find out this week whether there really can be too much of a good thing.


Sun to Introduce Newest Version of Solaris Today Sun Microsystems plans to unveil the latest version of its flagship Solaris operating system and offer a free version of the program to make it more attractive to corporate and academic computer users.


For BizRate, a New Identity and a New Site, Shopzilla.com BizRate, one of the most popular comparison shopping Web sites, will introduce a new service today, called Shopzilla.com, to compete with a host of rivals like Shopping.com.


Ad Network Monitors Web Habits Tacoda, an online marketing company, plans to announce the creation of a network of 60 Web sites that will display ads based on how people surf through the network.


In the Battle of the Browsers '04, Firefox Aims at Microsoft Microsoft's browser dominates the Web, but it is facing new competition from Firefox, an open-source project by a new generation of software developers.


Hey, Cool Music. And There's a Video Game, Too? The rapper Snoop Dogg's version of the 1971 song "Riders on the Storm" will make its debut on Need For Speed Underground 2, a video game from Electronic Arts.


U.S. Plans Assault On Afghan Heroin Worried about a vast and still growing heroin industry in Afghanistan, the Bush administration has devised a more aggressive counternarcotics strategy aimed at greater eradication of poppy fields, promotion of alternative crops and prosecution of traffickers.


Adobe to update PDF tools Expanded editing features will be included in new versions of Acrobat and Reader, which are due for release by year's end.


Oil Slips, Heads Toward 7-Week Low  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices fell Monday, nearing a  7-week low just under \$47 a barrel, as growing fuel stocks in  the United States eased fears of a winter supply crunch despite  a cold snap in North America at the weekend.


Sun aims at Red Hat with new Solaris pricing Anyone who registers with Sun will be able to use Solaris for free on servers with x86 processors.


10.45am Market Update European stock markets mostly rose in early dealing this morning, buoyed by a strong overnight rally by Wall Street. US stocks rebounded, winning support from a sharp drop in crude oil prices and positive broker comments regarding the technology sector.


Audit Compliance Deadline Proves Costly to Companies Some of the nation #39;s biggest companies face a deadline today for completing reviews of their internal financial controls, a labor-intensive, costly effort that has created intense friction between corporate managers and auditors.


After  #39;The Incredibles, #39; Pixar Can Afford to Play Hard-to-Get With Pixar Animation Studios #39; joint venture with the Walt Disney Company set to expire next year, executives in Hollywood have been speculating for months about when


Verizon ads aim at new merger -- just-merged Cingular/AT amp;T <b>...</b> The purchase of AT amp;T Wireless of Redmond by Cingular Wireless is just a few weeks old, but already the merged company is under attack from its biggest rival, Verizon Wireless, which is trying


Fannie Mae Faces Deadline on 3Q Results As it struggles with an accounting crisis, Fannie Mae faces a Monday deadline to file its third-quarter financial results - and investors are eager to learn whether the mortgage giant will be forced to restate earnings.


City taken off Moody #39;s watch list Macon has been taken off the Moody #39;s Investors Service  quot;watch list quot; and the city #39;s rating will stay the same for now.


Witness: Ovitz, Eisner Were Clashing The longtime relationship between Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Michael Eisner and ex-Disney President Michael Ovitz underwent a  quot;slow deterioration quot; beginning in early 1996 that eventually lead to Ovitz #39;s


Retail Reports on Wall Street #39;s Plate It always seems a little premature to talk about the holiday season while the Thanksgiving menu is still in the planning stages, but there #39;ll be plenty of discussion on Wall Street about December and shopping this week as top retailers report their


Firefox Could Give IE A Run For The Money By the day of its release last week, Mozilla Foundation #39;s Firefox 1.0 had already garnered 3 of the Web-browser market. Not bad for a new product competing directly with Microsoft #39;s widely entrenched Internet Explorer.


Google opens new office in Kirkland Microsoft is aggressively moving into Google #39;s traditional turf, making its own search engine to challenge the Internet search king.


More Than  #39;Symbolic #39; The Kyoto Protocol is by no means a  quot;mostly symbolic treaty, quot; as a Nov. 6 editorial called it. If all countries -- including the United States -- lived up to the clean-air commitments negotiated in Kyoto, their


Slowly but Cheaply, a New Way to the Moon Time was you could get to the moon in a few days, and you can still do it if you have a really big rocket. But SMART-1, a washing machine-size spacecraft carrying an experimental engine, has taken the long way around.


#39;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas #39; is violent, exhilarating game The game isn #39;t for everyone because of its graphic violence and coarse language, but mature fans of this 32 million-unit-selling franchise who want to know if this sequel lives up to its hype, the answer is a resounding yes.


Tennis: WTA C #39;ships: Serena beats Mauresmo Serena Williams faced Amelie Mauresmo in the first semi-final of the WTA Championship on Sunday. Victory in the tournament for Mauresmo would ensure her the season-ending number one spot in the women #39;s rankings.


McLeish considering appeal Rangers manager Alex McLeish has revealed he will consult with his own bosses before deciding whether to fight Nacho Novo #39;s Old Firm suspension.


NFL Game Summary - Buffalo At New England Foxboro, MA -- Tom Brady threw a pair of touchdown passes and Adam Vinatieri tied a career high with five field goals, leading New England to a 29-6 rout of Buffalo at Gillette Stadium.


Wins over division rivals force The last may not be first in the NFL, but the seconds became first in several league cities by the end of the day Sunday. Both the Green Bay Packers and St.


Iran bows to demands for nuclear suspension Tehran: Iran agreed on Sunday to suspend  #39;nearly all #39; of its uranium enrichment-related activities as part of a deal with Britain, France and Germany in a step that eases the threat of possible UN sanctions over its controversial nuclear programme.


Arafat #39;s potential replacement caught in gunfire The leading contender to replace Yasser Arafat was caught in a chaotic gun battle in the Gaza Strip yesterday, foreshadowing the dangers ahead as Palestinian officials urgently


Arafat #39;s Legacy The outpouring of tributes to Yasser Arafat is marked by two themes: (1) his greatness as creator, sustainer and leader of the Palestinian cause, and (2) the abrupt opening of an opportunity for its success now that he is gone.


Canada Presses Haiti on Role for Aristide Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada urged Haitian leaders on Sunday to allow the political party of the deposed president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to take part in new elections.


Mixed reaction over Manmohanss statement on troops reduction in <b>...</b> ISLAMABAD : Kashmiri political leaders as well as militant commanders are expressing mix reaction over the Indian Prime Minister Manmohans Singh statement regarding reduction in troops in Indian administrated Kashmir.


S.Korea Civil Servants Strike Over Right to Strike  SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean public sector workers  launched an unprecedented strike Monday, setting them on a  collision course with the government of President Roh Moo-hyun,  which has vowed a tough line on what it labels an illegal  action.


Brothers Team Up to Rule Commercial Sales Paul and Bill Collins, one of the few sibling pairs in the real estate industry, rank among the top 10 sales brokers in the D.C. region for at least the last four years.


Sun Microsystems Rolls Out Much-Awaited Solaris 10  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sun Microsystems Inc. SUNW.O on  Sunday introduced the long-awaited next version of its  operating system, Solaris 10, which the network computer maker  is betting on to help bring itself back to sustained  profitability.


Art Fuses With Urbanity in a Redesign of the Modern The expanded Museum of Modern Art is a serene composition that weaves art, architecture and the city into a transcendent aesthetic experience.


Telecom Shows Sparkles of Life After four years of painful decline, the area's telecommunications business is starting to come back.  Most new entries are getting by without the dollars that used to flow from venture capital funds or from going public.-The Washington Post


Nowitzki, Stackhouse Spark Mavericks to Another Win  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dirk Nowitzki had 32 points and 13  rebounds while Jerry Stackhouse scored 28 points against his  former team as the Dallas Mavericks eased to a 122-113 road win  over the Washington Wizards Sunday.


New Parks Offer Lessons Seattle and Denver have built baseball stadia that exemplify the vastly different results that come with new entertainment center construction.


Falcons Stay On Top The Atlanta Falcons (7-2) maintain a three-game lead in the NFC South by stuffing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-14, on Sunday.


Sixers Have Answer Allen Iverson scores 29 points and dishes out 12 assists as Philadelphia beats Orlando, 96-87, for its third straight home victory.


Johnson Creeps Closer Jimmie Johnson wins for the second time at Darlington this year and moves to within 18 points of Nextel Cup leader Kurt Busch with one race left in the chase for the title.


Tigers Tame Bears Seimone Augustus scores a career-high 33 points for No. 3 LSU as it escapes with a 71-70 victory over No. 8 Baylor in the Tip-Off Classic Sunday in Austin.


Dow Jones to buy MarketWatch for \$520 million MarketWatch, which owns the financial news site CBS MarketWatch.com Web site, has agreed to be bought by Dow Jones  amp; Co. for \$520 million, MarketWatch announced Sunday.


NZ PRESS:Forestry Companies Work Together To Target China WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--About 20 New Zealand forestry and wood-processing firms are planning to work together to target the Chinese markets, the Dominion Post newspaper reported Monday.


Elpida makes solid market debut TOKYO (Reuters) - Nov 15, 2004 Japanese chip maker Elpida Memory Inc. made a solid market debut on Monday, with its shares trading at a 3.4 percent premium over their offer price in the morning session, despite a slowdown in chip demand.


JP Morgan has a conflict of interest in saga The score is now two out of two for Harmony Gold in its hostile bid for Gold Fields after the Securities Regulation Panel and the Johannesburg high court last week handed down judgments favourable


Adobe to update PDF tools Put away the red pen, because publishing software giant Adobe Systems plans to change the way businesses share comments on documents.


5 TDs keep Manning on pace for NFL record A dominant defensive performance and a 21-point lead left the Indianapolis Colts with precious little to fret about at halftime Sunday at the RCA Dome, save the inconsequential.


It's Football, Not 'Footloose' In the NFL, it used to be the object of the game was to get into the end zone. Now, the object of the game is to get into the end zone and act like a fool.


Another Cool Firefox Search Tool In my Firefox series last week, I overlooked one of the browser's most powerful search functions: An 'always on' find as you type feature.


Second win of year at Darlington comes in the last Southern 500 For the majority of his victory in yesterday #39;s Southern 500, Jimmie Johnson was driving blind. With each trip through a treacherous Turn 3 drenched in unusually blazing sunlight, Johnson #39;s No.


DC United Wins Major League Soccer Championship DC United has captured its fourth Major League Soccer championship, with a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Wizards. United allowed the Wizards an early goal, before scoring three times in


Google and Mozilla Firefox Working Together Google have hosted a customized Internet Explorer search page for many years now specially designed to act as sidebar search. And with the launch of the first final release of the very popular Mozilla Firefox


Give E. J #39;lem Arabs the vote The Palestinian public and its leadership in the territories are united in their intention to hold elections for the leadership of the Palestinian Authority in two months #39; time.


Dow Jones Is Said to Agree to a Deal to Buy MarketWatch Dow Jones  amp; Company, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, agreed yesterday to buy MarketWatch, the parent company of the financial news Web site CBS MarketWatch, for about \$486 million, executives close to the negotiations said.


Elpida Advances as Shares Start Trading in Tokyo (Update1) Shares of Elpida Memory Inc., Japan #39;s sole large-scale producer of memory chips, rose on their first day of trading in Tokyo on investors #39; expectations a focus on consumer electronics


LIQUID DIET After the startling success of its turkey and gravy-flavoured soda during last year #39;s US holiday season, a Seattle soda company will be serving up green beans and casserole, mashed potatoes and butter, fruitcake and cranberry flavours.


Experiment confirms existence of new electronic state in <b>...</b> The existence of a new electronic state in superconductors, materials that can carry an electric current without resistance, has been confirmed experimentally according to research to be published in the 12 November 2004 issue of the journal Science by a


MOE WILLIAMS 17 YD PASS FROM DAUNTE CULPEPPER (MORTEN ANDERSEN <b>...</b> Shootouts usually come down to who has the ball at the end. This one came down to who had it at the bottom. Minnesota #39;s Derek Ross and Green Bay #39;s Ben Steele, who had been cut by the


Patriots notebook: Vrabel in starting lineup The  quot;lower leg quot; injury that knocked Mike Vrabel out of practice Friday wasn #39;t serious enough to take the outside linebacker out of the starting lineup against Buffalo at Gillette Stadium last night.


Rams tie for division lead as Hawks can #39;t find end zone ST. LOUIS -- On Seattle #39;s first offensive play of the game, Matt Hasselbeck knocked knees with running back Shaun Alexander, leaving the Seahawks #39; quarterback with a bruised muscle in his right thigh and the passing game without a healthy leg to stand on.


USC Holds Off UCLA Reggie Bush has two long touchdown runs and No. 1 USC holds off the Bruins, 29-24, to virtually lock up a trip to the Orange Bowl for the BCS title game.


Kosovan war crimes trial begins Three Kosovo Albanians are going on trial at the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague.


U.S. Still In Contention Bob and Mike Bryan defeat Tommy Robredo and Juan Carlos Ferrero, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2, leaving the Americans down 2-1 entering Sunday's singles.


Patriots Handle Bills Adam Vinatieri kicks five field goals, Corey Dillon rushes for 151 yards and the Patriots intercept four passes Drew Bledsoe passes to dump the Bills, 29-6.


Dollar Slips to 7-Month Low Vs Yen  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Persistent concern about the U.S.  trade deficit pushed the dollar to a 7-month low against the  yen and a 7-year low against the South Korean won on Monday,  while strength on Wall Street drove Asian shares higher.


Sun Rolls Out Much-Awaited Solaris 10  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sun Microsystems Inc. SUNW.O on  Sunday introduced the long-awaited next version of its  operating system, Solaris 10, which the network computer maker  is betting on to help bring itself back to sustained  profitability.


Big media getting bigger reporter #39;s notebook HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--The nation #39;s leading Internet journalists wrapped up an annual meeting here on Sunday, confident that the World Wide Web is creating a new world order in a business that is dominated by a handful of large corporations


Perrigo to Buy Agis, a Maker of Generic Prescription Drugs The Perrigo Company, the world #39;s largest maker of store-branded over-the-counter drugs, plans to announce today that it has reached an agreement to buy Agis Industries, a developer and


Big firms must prove Sarbanes-Oxley compliance WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - Arriving today, about a year later than originally planned, new rules for corporate reporting will likely show a weakness of internal controls at financial services firms.


Telstra Pays Lowest Price in A\$750 Mln Stock Buyback (Update4) Telstra Corp., Australia #39;s biggest phone company, agreed to buyback A\$750 million (\$576 million) of its own stock at the lowest price in a range offered to shareholders.


Airline cuts bring longer layovers The scramble by big traditional US airlines to become profitable again is leaving many travelers with longer airport layovers. The typical American Airlines passenger connecting


Dow Jones set to buy Marketwatch  Dow Jones   Co., publisher of the Wall Street Journal, agrees to buy internet news site Marketwatch for \$519m.


Cars rated on whiplash impact Most cars do a poor or marginal job protecting passengers from whiplash injuries in a rear-end crash, according to crash tests of several models.


NASA aims for fastest flight In what promises to be a second record-breaking flight in less than eight months, NASA aims to make aviation history today by flying an airplane powered by a scramjet engine at 10 times the speed of sound.


Sun to Introduce Newest Version of Solaris Today Sun Microsystems plans to unveil on Monday the latest version of its flagship Solaris operating system. It also intends to offer a free version of the program to


Breathing problems from smoke or toxic fumes As NASA lays the groundwork for a return to the moon and unprecedented trips to Mars, experts must confront a new concern: What if an astronaut gets really sick 35 million miles from home?


4-stroke win in LPGA finale earns 3-year exemption MOBILE, ALA. - Heather Daly-Donofrio took advantage of the ultimate mulligan Sunday in the LPGA Tournament of Champions. She wasn #39;t supposed to be in the select field, but got in when tournament officials


Colts crush Texans behind Manning; Pats throttle Bills Manning completed 18 of 27 passes for 320 yards Sunday and threw five touchdown passes for the third time this season as the Colts (6-3) made the Texans (4-5) pay for their sloppiness.


Scandals Sink Sports The past weeks of steroids, on-field brawls and questionable of NFL marketing have led some to ask: what are sports degenerating into?


Iranian freeze on enrichment will continue Iran notified the UN nuclear watchdog in writing yesterday that it would suspend uranium enrichment and related activities to dispel suspicions that it was trying to build nuclear arms.


Gunfire disrupts Arafat mourning ceremony Gunmen stormed into a mourning tent for Yasser Arafat in Gaza City Sunday night shortly after the arrival of the new leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization


Namibians to choose new leader Namibians began voting on Monday for a successor to founding President Sam Nujoma, who stands down in March after 15 years in charge.


Chen vows to press for UN bid under title of  quot;Taiwan quot; TAIPEI : Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has pledged to push for the island #39;s inclusion in the United Nations under the name of  quot;Taiwan, quot; in a move certain to anger rival China, it was reported on Monday.


Perrigo to Buy Agis, a Maker of Generic Prescription Drugs The Perrigo Company, the world's largest maker of store-branded over-the-counter drugs, reached an agreement to buy Agis Industries, a developer and manufacturer of prescription generic drugs.


Favre Leads Packers Past Vikings, 34-31 Ryan Longwell's 33-yard field goal as time expired gave the Green Bay Packers a 34-31 victory over their archrivals on Sunday after the Minnesota Vikings had rallied to tie it with two touchdowns in the final 2:53.


Garrard Subs Nicely David Garrard, in for injured quarterback Byron Leftwich, keeps the Jaguars steady improvement going with a 23-17 overtime win over the Lions on Sunday.


Firefox browser outshines Explorer Q: In a recent column you said that 95 percent of all viruses and spyware are aimed at Internet Explorer, so I decided to do away with IE.


Immune system could play role in male contraception, researchers <b>...</b> Washington - The world of male contraception has been limited to condoms and vasectomies. But researchers now point to a new method that shows promise - a shot that prompts an immune reaction to a protein produced in the male reproductive system.


Dow Jones  amp; Co. to buy MarketWatch Inc. NEW YORK -- Dow Jones  amp; Co., the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, will buy MarketWatch Inc. for about \$519 million in a deal that would end a monthlong bidding war for the online financial news and information provider.


AMR Research Estimates Sarbanes-Oxley Spending Will Reach \$5.8 <b>...</b> AMR Research estimates that companies will spend \$5.8 billion on meeting Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) requirements in 2005. Despite initial thoughts that Sarbanes-Oxley spending would be a one-time expenditure


US Treasuries Fall as Manufacturing Likely Gained This Month US 10-year Treasury notes fell in Asia as an index of manufacturing probably rose from last month, giving further evidence the economy is expanding.


Crunch day for Gold Fields Gold Fields may find itself without a board, a chairman, or the approval of its shareholders for its financial statements after a crucial shareholders meeting tomorrow.


Dollar Down Vs Yen The dollar fell to a seven-month low against the yen and was within sight of a record low versus the euro on Monday due in part to market views that Washington is happy to see it weaken.


Sun Microsystems Rolls Out Much-Awaited Solaris 10 Sun Microsystems Inc. (SUNW.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Sunday introduced the long-awaited next version of its operating system, Solaris 10, which the network


There #39;s Google. Then There #39;s Google Desktop The logic behind Google (GOOG ) Desktop Search is simple enough: Why shouldn #39;t the best tool for finding things on the Web do equally well at helping people search their own computers?


Scramjet tries to break speed record An innovative engine that compresses air by its shape alone to reach hypersonic speeds will attempt to break its own record this week with a test flight over the Pacific Ocean.


Kyoto pressures Korea for action Russia #39;s approval of the Kyoto Protocol this month released the brakes for an agreement that has been under international negotiations since 1997.


Moon trip needs new Saturn V V, a Boeing official told a group of National Space Society members Friday in Huntsville. More than 300 people were at the event at the Sheraton hotel to discuss exploring space and the possibility of developing private space business.


Patriots trounce Bills Troy Brown has had to make a lot of adjustments while playing both sides of the football.  quot;You always want to score when you get the ball -- offense or defense


Beckham #39;s back as Real thrash Albacete Real Madrid #39;s David Beckham played his first game in six weeks, after recovering from his two broken ribs, as the Spanish giants romped to a 6-1 win over struggling Albacete.


Spartans dispatch N. Michigan with 28-0 run Drew Naymick and Drew Neitzel didn #39;t score a point Sunday, but Michigan State #39;s players, coaches and fans appreciated their work in a 42-point win.


Martz gets mad and Rams get even ST. LOUIS -- Mike Martz #39;s week of anger was no empty display. He saw the season slipping away for the defending NFC West champions and thought taking potshots at his players might be his best shot at turning things around.


Palmer passes Bengals to win over Redskins LANDOVER, Md. -- By the time Joe Gibbs finally lost his patience with Mark Brunell, Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati Bengals were already in control of the game.


Chirac says French troops will stay in Ivory Coast Jacques Chirac has ruled out any withdrawal of French troops from Ivory Coast, despite unrest and anti-French attacks, which have forced the evacuation of thousands of Westerners.


Mutilated body of woman found FALLUJAH: US Marines yesterday found the mutilated body of what they believe was a Western woman during a sweep of a street in central Fallujah.


Life after Yasser Arafat uncertain For all the questions raised by last weeks death of Yasser Arafat, one thing is certain: The debate over his legacy is likely to be as polarizing as the conflict that consumed his life.


Atmosphere conducive for talks with Pak: Natwar The atmosphere is conducive for talks between India and Pakistan and New Delhi is giving it the  quot;best shot quot; but a  quot;miracle quot; should not be expected during the coming visit of Pakistan


Shooting At Arafat Mourning Tent Gunfire erupted Sunday at the tent set up for mourners to gather in memory of Yasser Arafat, witnesses said, just after Arafat #39;s successor, Mahmoud Abbas, arrived at the site.


Anwar #39;s return in Malaysian politics His release, when it came, stopped a nation. The stock market soared, pigtails left untended in protest for six years were cut, websites crashed and long queues formed on highways as ecstatic


Nation pays silent tribute to war dead The Queen has led senior Royals and political leaders in laying poppy wreaths at the Cenotaph to mark Remembrance Sunday. Two minutes silence was held at 11 o #39;clock to remember all Britain #39;s war dead, including


Packers 34, Vikings 31 GREEN BAY, Wis. - Ben Steele repaid both the team that believed in him and the one that gave up on him. The tight end, snatched up by the Green Bay when he was cut by Minnesota in training camp, recovered


Red Bull 'poised to buy Jaguar' Energy drink company Red Bull is set to take over the Jaguar Formula One team, a report says.


Verdict due on Iran nuclear plans The UN nuclear watchdog is to release a report into Iran's nuclear plans, as Tehran says it will halt uranium enrichment.


At the Mall, Mixing Popcorn and Religion  "On the third floor?" asks a woman in stonewashed jeans with an off-white hajib on her head, holding her daughter's arm. She's standing on the first floor of  Ballston Common Mall in Arlington, in view of a towering Christmas tree.


Blocked on China's Paths to Justice Chinese who have grievances against local officials often take a course that is an age-old tradition in China: They shangfang, or travel to the capital for an audience with higher authorities.


Row brewing over peer-to-peer ads Well-known brands advertising on eDonkey raises questions about the popularity of free downloads.


Bidders to snap up mobile photos Tracey Emin, Damon Albarn and Jack Vettriano have taken mobile phone photos for an exhibition in London.


AT amp;T Wireless ends storefront presence The merger between AT amp;T Wireless and Cingular Wireless will become more visible today as the Atlanta-based carrier rolls out a holiday ad campaign and transforms AT amp;T Wireless retail stores to the Cingular brand.


Layovers getting longer as US airlines struggle The scramble by big traditional US airlines to become profitable again is leaving many travelers with longer airport layovers. The typical American Airlines passenger connecting through Dallas/Fort Worth now


Snow Supports Strong Dollar, #39; Says Markets Should Set Value The US supports a strong dollar, #39; #39; Treasury Secretary John Snow said, making his first remarks on the currency since George W. Bush was re-elected on Nov. 2. We support a strong


Eurostar moves base to St Pancras Eurostar services to London will stop at St Pancras, instead of Waterloo, when the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is finished in 2007, it has been revealed.


Ottawa #39;s unhealthy budget game Welcome to Canada #39;s least funny parlour game, launched by Paul Martin in his years as finance minister and carried on with great doggedness by the current minister, Ralph Goodale.


Microsoft to hire hundreds more in India Microsoft will hire several hundred new staff at its new Indian campus in the next year, its chief executive says -- a move aimed at strengthening its presence in Asia #39;s fourth-biggest economy.


Small plane crashes in Texas, killing all five aboard Five people were killed yesterday when a small airplane crashed in bad weather near an apartment complex for seniors, authorities said.


NASA Experimental Jet Prepares for Flight In March, NASA (news - web sites) launched an experimental jet that reached a record-setting speed of about 5,000 mph. Now researchers want to leave that milestone in the dust.


Tired of spyware? Try another browser During a recent six-week period, I conducted a small spyware experiment on my Windows computer. I kept track of days I opened Microsoft Internet Explorer.


Searching for root of two evils As of Friday, an MSN search (beta.search.msn.com) for the phrase  quot;more evil than Satan quot; returned the Google home page as the first result.


Adobe improves collaboration and security features in Acrobat 7 Adobe Acrobat 7 will be available in December. It will support 3D images and complex electronic forms through an additional product called Adobe Livecycle Designer 7. Mark Wheeler, senior enterprise marketing


Serious Flaws in Windows XP SP2 A leading provider of secure content management solutions, Finjan Software, has reported 10 serious security vulnerabilities in Windows XP Service Pace 2. According to the company, the attacker can remotely take control over a machine running Windows XP


News Bits: AMD, Dell Record Sales, nVidia 6800, Samsung Q30, Half <b>...</b> AMD is looking to take market share in the server, corporate desktop and notebook space using its x86 architecture.  quot;We #39;re talking x86 chips down to a buck, quot; said AMD CEO Hector Ruiz at a conference on Friday.


Briton arrested in counterfeiting crackdown Greek and British police in a joint operation cracked an illegal software sales ring, arresting two people and seizing thousands of pirated software programs, Greek police said on Friday.


Dutch boys collared for hack attacks COPPERS IN the Netherlands have arrested two teens, from Breda, who they reckon attempted to bring down government Web sites. The teens were arrested following a raid on their houses in which their computers were confiscated.


Idera Announces Emea Launch of Enterprise-Scale Backup and <b>...</b> of management and administration solutions for Microsoft SQL Server, announced the general availability of Version 1.2 of its SQLsafe product for EMEA.


Cryptic To Marvel Comic: Gold Digger #39;s Claims Without Merit November 15, 2004 - Cryptic Studios responded on its company website to threats that Marvel Comics would be suing them on likeness rights regarding its on-going massively multiplayer super hero themed role playing game - City of Heroes: As reported by The


Mauresmo shows grace on court, and in defeat Forget what the billboards say. Madison Avenue has it all wrong. With apologies to cover girl Maria Sharapova, the prettiest thing on the WTA Tour may be Amelie Mauresmo #39;s backhand.


Hotshot Rooney still has his sights on league title MANCHESTER UNITED striker Wayne Rooney still believes his side will win the Premiership this season. The 19-year-old scored twice against Newcastle yesterday as United won 3-1 at St James #39; Park.


DC United captures record 4th MLS Cup In the final moments of DC United #39;s 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Wizards in yesterday #39;s MLS Cup, coach Peter Nowak paced the sideline


Notebook: Auburn shares 2nd in AP poll Auburn caught Oklahoma in The Associated Press Top 25 yesterday, creating a tie for second place behind No. 1 USC. It is the second tie for No.


Jordan announces Toyota deal Jordan Grand Prix has concluded an agreement with Toyota Motorsport GmbH for a supply of engines in the 2005 Formula 1 World Championship season.


Soccer: Ancelotti applauds formidable Shevchenko ROME : AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti believes there is much more to Andriy Shevchenko than just finding the net after the Ukrainian striker scored his 100th Serie A goal.


Notebook: Vizquel, Giants agree to terms Shortstop Omar Vizquel, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, has agreed to terms with the San Francisco Giants. Vizquel has a \$12.25 million, three


Chaos continues in Gaza City Gunfire erupts near a potential Palestinian leader, though most doubt it was an assassination attempt. JERUSALEM - Gunmen in the Gaza Strip unleashed bursts of automatic-weapons fire Sunday near Yasser Arafat #39;s


SUMMIT ON IVORY COAST CRISIS November 15, 2004 -- ABUJA, Nigeria - West African leaders held a crisis summit yesterday over unrest in Ivory Coast, as the beleaguered country #39;s president took a tough stance, sacking his army chief and installing a more hard-line officer in his place


UDA  #39;ceasefire #39; begins today The British governments recognition of the Ulster Defence Associations ceasefire officially came into effect today. It came hours after the UDA, Northern Irelands largest loyalist paramilitary group


India-Pakistan working for  #39;acceptable #39; solution of Kashmir NEW DELHI (India): Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Sunday said India and Pakistan were working towards achieving  quot;credible and mutually acceptable quot; solution of all outstanding problems including Kashmir issue.


South Korea #39;s police round up striking civil servants SEOUL: South Korea #39;s police detained more than 140 public sector workers for their involvement in an unprecedented illegal strike against a controversial government labor reform bill, officials said.


More held over Australia drug haul Two men have been arrested in Belgium in connection with Australia #39;s biggest seizure of the drug ecstasy. Australia #39;s police commissioner said a major European syndicate was behind the shipment, and more arrests were likely.


NEWSMAKER-Namibia #39;s Nujoma to stand down but stay in saddle Namibia #39;s founding President Sam Nujoma is to stand down in March after this week #39;s elections, but will remain a lynchpin of his country #39;s politics as president of the ruling SWAPO party.


World ; Mexico Opposition Has Early Lead in State Voting Victories would put the PRI on track to win back the presidency after losing it in 2000 to President Vicente Fox #39;s center-right National Action Party (PAN) after 71 years of uninterrupted rule.


Tung rules out HKSAR  quot;referendum quot; Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said Monday that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will not consider any suggestion on constitutional


China says conflict with Taiwan may be unavoidable One of China #39;s top Taiwan policymakers said on Monday armed conflict will be unavoidable if the island keeps provoking and pushing for independence, but held out hope for the rivals reopening long-stalled dialogue.


Status Report: Wormwood to Screwtape It is with the greatest pleasure that I write to you today. Our successes of late have been many and profound, and your advice has helped further our cause immensely. As Our Father Below requested, I have compiled a list of our recent successes and victories. It is difficult to express in words how excited I am at our prospects.


Toyota Prius Voted European Car of Year  TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid has  been voted 2005 European Car of the Year, Japan's top auto  maker said Monday, after the fuel-sipping sedan picked up the  corresponding title in North America in January.


Oil Slips Below \$47/bbl to 7-Week Low  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Monday to a 7-week  low under \$47 a barrel, as growing fuel stocks in the United  States eased fears of a winter supply crunch despite a cold  snap in North America at the weekend.


U.S. Needs to Offer More to N.Korea-Security Report  SEOUL (Reuters) - Divisions in President Bush's first  administration gave North Korea valuable time to develop  weapons and he needs to put far more on the table to get it to  end its nuclear plans, a security group said on Monday.


Falluja Fighting Persists; Aid Convoy Rejected  FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. warplanes, artillery and  mortars struck areas across Falluja on Monday as groups of  diehard insurgents held out to the last in the week-long  battle.


Iran Stresses Nuclear Freeze Is Voluntary, Brief  TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran stressed on Monday its decision to  freeze sensitive nuclear work was a voluntary move to dispel  concerns it was secretly building atomic arms and would last  only for a short time.


Afghans Repeat Hostage Threat But Show Flexibility  KABUL (Reuters) - An Afghan militant group repeated a  threat to kill three foreign U.N. workers held hostage since  late last month unless Taliban prisoners were freed, but said  it was willing to be flexible on other demands.


Red Bull snaps up Jaguar F1 team Energy drink company Red Bull has bought the Jaguar Formula One team.


Namibia votes to elect new leader Voting starts in Namibia's presidential poll, which will elect a successor to veteran leader Sam Nujoma.


End of the line for Waterloo #39;s Eurostars which cost 130million and opened only 10 years ago - is to close. The fleet of Eurostar trains, which connect London with Paris


Business Digest Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer will be in India next week, the latest in a series of periodic visits to the country.


Study Finds Fault With Many Cars #39; Head Restraints A new study of automobile head restraints found that most do not do a good job of protecting passengers from whiplash in low-speed collisions.


At Mach 10, around the world in 5 hrs WASHINGTON: Nasa will conduct the final and fastest test flight of its pilotless X-43A hypersonic research aircraft, aiming to send it zooming across the Pacific Ocean at about 10 times the speed of sound - 3.2 km per second.


Jordan has Toyota power for 2005 In September Jordan, Jaguar and Minardi were not sure whether they would be on the grid in 2005 after Ford decided to withdraw from the sport.


Red Bull buys Jaguar Austrian energy drink makers Red Bull said on Monday they had bought the Jaguar Formula 1 motor racing team from Ford who withdrew the team after this year #39;s world championship.


Abbas Escapes Gaza Shooting Unharmed Bodyguards take away Mahmoud Abbas, former Palestinian Prime Minister and the successor of Yasser Arafat as PLO chief, after gunfire erupted at the tent set up for mourners to gather in memory of Arafat in Gaza city Sunday Nov. 14, 2004.


Israel split over E Jerusalem residents participation in polls : Jerusalem, Nov 14 : Israel is divided over a US proposition to allow East Jerusalem residents to participate in elections for a new Palestinian Authority chairman, to lend it greater credibility.


Arafat: A leader without a conscience I will not shed a tear for the passing of Yasser Arafat, a man who invented modern terrorism. He was a leader who taught generations of Palestinians how to hate and how to kill.


Sun to unveil much-awaited version of Solaris Sun Microsystems is going to unveil its newest version of Solaris operating system. In. Sun Microsystems is going to unveil its newest version of Solaris operating system.


Nelson downplays his first trip back to Philly Is it the one who was quoted on the Orlando Magic Web site saying he still  #39; #39;has a chip #39; #39; on his shoulder after the collegiate Player of the Year was taken 20th in last summer #39;s NBA draft, behind


#39;The Incredibles #39; keeps passion for Pixar alive The Incredibles has justified Wall Street #39;s passion for Pixar (PIXR), attracting \$51 million in ticket sales over the weekend -ore than double its nearest competitor


MS to hire hundreds more in India HYDERABAD: Microsoft will hire several hundred new staff at its new campus here in the next year, its chief executive said on Monday -- a move aimed at strengthening its presence in the country.


UPDATE 1-Jordan offered Toyota engines for 2005 Toyota have cleared the way for Jordan to compete in Formula One next season by agreeing to supply the troubled team with engines at  quot;an affordable price quot;.


Mystery of woman #39;s body in Fallujah Officials were today still trying to identify the body of a western woman found in Fallujah as US marines continued attacking insurgents in the city.


GeekTech: Here Comes BTX New industry standard should offer cooler, quieter systems--so why isn't anybody rushing to embrace it?


Pilotless Jet Will Attempt Speed Record NASA plans to try to set a world speed record for jets with the flight of a pilotless vehicle that culminates a decades-long research program into hypersonic flight.


Arthur H. Robinson, 89, Dies; Reinterpreted World Map Dr. Robinson worked to find the best possible solution to cartography's frustrating "Greenland problem."


Update 4: Tokyo Stocks Rally Nearly 1.9 Percent The benchmark for Tokyo stocks rallied nearly 1.9 percent Monday following last week #39;s gains on Wall Street and an upgrade of major Japanese banks by an international credit ratings agency.


Stelco gets \$900M bid from bank Stelco Inc. unveiled a \$900-million bid by Deutsche Bank yesterday to recapitalize the insolvent steelmaker and help pull it out of court-supervised bankruptcy protection.


Nothing artistic about MSG canvas Surrounded by what remained of his entourage, a victorious John Ruiz was walking through the tunnel toward his dressing room Saturday night when a spectator leaned over


Given punished as Newcastle fall to fourth straight defeat Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given was adjudged to have fouled Manchester Uniteds Paul Scholes inside the area at a crucial juncture of Sundays big Premiership encounter at St Jamess Park.


United takes title: Eskandarian scores two goals for DC DC United was Major League Soccer #39;s first powerhouse, winning three titles in four years. United surged to the top again yesterday with a 3-2 MLS Cup victory over the Kansas


Santini: Unhappy families just a game Jacques Santini will fight Tottenham for compensation in the wake of his shock departure nine days ago. The 52-year-old is staying in England until the issue is resolved


Can #39;t Hackett After one of the worst losses the Jets have had in a long time, a Same Old Jets loss, LaMont Jordan stood there at the podium and tried to take the fall for everybody.


Giants #39; only hope is the future As darkness descended in the Valley of the Sun, the Giants flickering playoff hopes may have been all but extinguished in the cool desert air.


Palestinian elections crucial: Erakat JERUSALEM : Holding Palestinian leadership elections is crucial, negotiations minister Saeb Erakat said, one day after gunmen opened fire in the presence of PLO chief Mahmud Abbas, killing two policemen.


Israel  #39;Willing to Co-Ordinate Gaza Withdrawal #39; Israel, in a policy change, would be willing to co-ordinate a planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip if Palestinian authorities cracked down on militant groups, an Israeli official said today.


Utah #39;s Meyer Confirms He #39;s Headed To Florida SALT LAKE CITY -- Urban Meyer said Saturday that it #39;s official: he #39;s leaving Utah for Florida to coach the Gators #39; football team.


DJ to acquire MarketWatch Dow Jones  amp; Co., publisher of the Wall Street Journal, says it has agreed to buy online news site MarketWatch Inc. in a \$519 million deal that widens its Internet audience.


Snow set to feel heat in Europe US Treasury Secretary John Snow is this week set to defend the America #39;s mixed economic record on what could be a heated tour of European capitals, including a keynote address in London on Wednesday.


Profits at steelmaker Arcelor soar sixfold PARIS, Nov 15 (AFP) - European steelmaker Arcelor said Monday that net profit in the third quarter surged by more than sixfold and forecast a strong fourth quarter amid  #39;healthy #39; growth in the global steel market, driven by Chinese demand.


GenCorp rejects Steel Partners offer GenCorp (GY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , an aerospace and real estate company, on Monday said its board has rejected a \$17 per share offer from US investment fund Steel Partners II, saying the price was  quot;inadequate.


Asian Stock Markets Close Mostly Higher Asian stock markets closed mostly higher Monday, with the key index rising sharply in Tokyo and hitting a record high in Australia.


WR Grace files bankruptcy reorganization plan Bankrupt chemical company WR Grace  amp; Co. (GRA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Saturday that it has filed a reorganization plan in US bankruptcy court without having reached


Ebookers job cuts reduce losses Internet-based holiday company Ebookers says cutting 360 jobs during the year has helped reduce its losses by 39.


Seats can fail in rear crashes That meathead tailgating you might pose more of a hazard that you think. Crash tests by insurance researchers have found that most cars don #39;t protect motorists very well against whiplash neck injuries in rear collisions.


NASA Set to Launch 7,000 Mph Jet Nasa is due to launch an experimental jet over the Pacific today in a bid to reach a record 7,000 mph. The first X-43A flight failed in June 2001 when the booster rocket used to accelerate it to flight speed veered off course and had to be destroyed.


The Internet Column Thats the simple message being spread across the internet by a fast-growing clique of people who have seen the light, and switched to a different browser.


Marvel sues NCsoft over City of Heroes Comic book giant Marvel has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Korean publisher NCsoft, alleging that players in the firm #39;s MMORPG City of Heroes are creating characters in the likeness of Marvel heroes.


Windows CE Surpassed Palm OS Shipments Microsofts Windows CE surpassed Palm OS shipments in worldwide PDA operating systems market in 3Q. Worldwide personal digital assistant (PDA) shipments exceeded 2.8 million units, as Microsoft Windows CE


Dutch teens arrested over cyber crime Dutch authorities have charged two teenagers with cyber crimes on suspicion of bringing down government Web sites last month by flooding them with traffic.


Climate change already affecting global environment, reports say NEW YORK - Global warming has had little noticeable impact in Washington, DC. Politicians in the US capital have been reluctant to set limits on the carbon dioxide pollution that is expected to warm the planet


GM, DuPont Adapt to Kyoto Environmental Standards Bush Rejected US companies including General Motors Corp., DuPont Co. and Xerox Corp. are cutting carbon dioxide emissions to remain competitive in European countries that have adopted Kyoto Protocol limits rejected by President George W. Bush.


UK iPod users delight - Apple socks ship  quot;soon quot; Apple UK has confirmed the company will be selling its most unusual recent product - iPod Socks - in the UK. The socks will be available  quot;anytime now quot; through the UK Apple Store.


Patriots: Four downs Willis McGahee hasn #39;t set the world on fire, as is the perception in some circles. He #39;s averaging just 3.7 yards per carry.


Vizquel rejects Sox, signs with Giants Two days into the free-agent signing season and the White Sox have come up losers. Switch-hitting shortstop Omar Vizquel rejected a two-year offer from the White Sox and agreed to a three-year, \$12.


Jordan confirm Toyota deal The Silverstone-based team were left without an engine supplier when Ford put Cosworth up for sale earlier this year and needed frantic discussions in Brazil, at the final grand prix of the season, to secure their future.


Gbagbo says France backs Ivory Coast rebels Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo accused France on Monday of backing his rebel opponents and compared its military behaviour in his country to the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.


Don #39;t expect miracles: Natwar Singh: India News: New Delhi, Nov 15 : India will give its  quot;best shot quot; in the upcoming talks with Pakistan, but the country should not expect miracles, External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh said Monday.


Just stop fighting! PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Prime Minister Paul Martin yesterday urged rival groups to disarm and political factions to settle differences so the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere can make use of international aid.


Namibia Votes for New President The southern African nation of Namibia voted on Monday for a successor to the only leader the country has ever known, and election officials said the first of two days of voting started smoothly.


Australian drug smugglers go on trial Two Australians who attempted to import \$200 million worth of the drug ecstasy will go on trial in Sydney #39;s Central Criminal Court Monday.


South Korean leader visits Argentina South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun is in Argentina for three days of trade talks with his Argentine counterpart, La Nacion reported Monday.


Profiting From Nonproductiveness The tireless urban worker doesn't get a lot of opportunities to take a relaxing break, but MetroNaps is trying to change that, at \$14 a pop. Rachel Metz reports from New York.


Sun to Roll Out Free Solaris OS Hoping to attract developers and customers, Sun Microsystems will announce its next-generating operating system will be offered for free. The company spent roughly \$500 million and years of development time on the software.


Ford confirm sale of Jaguar F1 team, Cosworth Ford confirmed on Monday that Red Bull had bought their Formula One team and that their engine manufacturer Cosworth had been sold to the owners of the Champ Car series.


Hewitt prepared for Moya challenge World number three Lleyton Hewitt says he is expecting a tough exchange with Spain #39;s Carlos Moya, in their opening match of the ATP Masters Cup in Houston tomorrow morning (AEDT).