Head of the Chiefs Plays Second Fiddle Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers pays a visit to troops in Iraq, but model Leeann Tweeden steals the show.


Colombia Rebels May Explore Peace Talks The smaller of Colombia's two leftist rebel groups offered Tuesday to meet with a Mexican mediator to discuss possible peace talks with the government and reiterated its call for a bilateral cease-fire.


Google Bets Big on Bringing Libraries to Web  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc. said on Tuesday it  would digitize some of the world's most important libraries in  a bold effort that could profit the company by attracting more  viewers to its site -- and its ads.


Video Games Go Hollywood at Live Awards Show  SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Reuters) - The stars of the video  game industry came out in force on Tuesday night to honor their  peers for creative excellence -- taking a page from the  Hollywood playbook with red carpets, glittering gems and a live  nationwide broadcast.


RIM Patent Suit Partly Upheld  TORONTO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court upheld  a patent infringement finding against BlackBerry e-mail device  maker Research In Motion Ltd. RIM.TO on Tuesday, but said  part of the earlier court ruling was flawed and sent the case  back to a lower court.


China Plans Big Production of Small Satellites (Reuters) Reuters - China, which put its first man in orbit\last year, has built a national engineering and research center\for small satellites, paving the way for large-scale\production, state media said on Wednesday.


Oil Prices Climb Above \$42 a Barrel  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices climbed above \$42 a barrel  on Wednesday, rising for the third day in a row as the heavy  consuming U.S. Northeast feels the first chills of winter.


Fuel Didn #39;t Fire Up Rate Hikes The Federal Reserve #39;s policy year was fittingly capped on Dec. 14 with another quarter-point rate hike. This widely expected move by the Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed #39;s rate-setting arm, lifted the Fed funds rate to 2.25.


Oil Rises Nearly 2 Percent on Colder US Weather Oil prices jumped nearly 2 percent on Tuesday as colder weather in the United States, the world #39;s largest heating oil market, brought temperatures more in line with seasonal norms.


Merck Looks Ahead Despite Vioxx Suits Merck  amp; Co. officials said Tuesday they intend to defend aggressively their handling of the painkiller Vioxx against claims by patients who say they were harmed by the now-withdrawn drug.


Buffett #39;s Berkshire Names Microsoft #39;s Gates to Board (Update2) Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the investment company run by billionaire Warren Buffett, named another billionaire, Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates, as a director.


Blockbuster to drop late fees Blockbuster Inc., the nation #39;s biggest movie-rental company, said yesterday that it will eliminate late fees on games and movies as of Jan. 1 - but if you keep them too long, you buy them.


Irish disposals worth 967m to struggling NAB National Australia Bank, which owns the Clydesdale, has sold its two Irish banks to Denmark #39;s largest bank for 967m in cash, a move will give hope of fresh investment in the Australian group #39;s beleaguered Scottish operation.


Hollywood sues computer server operators in major anti-piracy move Major Hollywood studios on Tuesday announced scores of lawsuits against computer server operators worldwide, including eDonkey, BitTorrent and DirectConnect networks, for allowing trading of pirated movies.


RealNetworks says Apple blocks its music RealNetworks Inc., which sells songs over the Web, said Apple Computer Inc. has altered the software for some of its market-leading iPod digital music players so that songs purchased from RealNetworks won #39;t play.


Sharks respond to magnetic fields The discovery adds weight to the long-held theory that the fish possess an internal compass to guide them over long distances. The University of Hawaii biologists reported in Britain #39;s Royal Society journal


Go-ahead for new internet names The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) has approved two new internet address types: .mobi and .jobs. This is just a preliminary approval.


Dione and Titan: Zooming Into View The map of Saturn #39;s moon Dione, generated from Cassini images taken during the spacecraft #39;s first two orbits of Saturn, illustrates in the banner image, the imaging coverage planned during Cassini #39;s first Dione flyby on Dec. 14, 2004.


IDC: mobile phone market growth to slow down in 2005 The global mobile phone market is expected to see a slow down in market growth due to the lack of additional catalysts, US high tech market research firm IDC warned on Tuesday.


Being Dragan slayer would be an Auxsome return for me THE lonely walk to a seat in the Ibrox stand on big Euro nights served as a chilling reminder to Dragan Mladenovic of what was absent from his world.


Ballon d #39;Or - Le palmars des dix dernires annes 1995: 1. George Weah (LBR/Milan AC), 2. Jurgen Klinsmann (ALL/Bayern Munich), 3. Jari Litmanen (FIN/Ajax Amsterdam). 1996: 1. Matthias Sammer (ALL/Borussia Dortmund), 2. Ronaldo (BRE/FC Barcelone), 3. Alan Shearer (ENG/Newcastle).


Red Bull hoping they can give Coulthard wins David Coulthard is in pole position for a Formula One drive with Red Bull Racing in 2005. Team managing director David Pitchforth clearly backs Coulthard and hopes a deal might be concluded before the resumption of preseason testing next month.


Pedro set to join Mets today Tomorrow morning at a press conference in New York, Pedro Martinez is expected to don a Mets uniform for the first time, his seven-year Red Sox career over, his four-year stint with the Mets just beginning.


No. 7 Duke 88, Illinois-Chicago 55 For the second straight game, Duke overcame a slow start to win in a rout. Shelden Williams had 23 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks Tuesday night to lift the seventh-ranked Blue Devils past Illinois-Chicago 88-55.


Top-25 College Basketball Durham, NC (Sports Network) - Shelden Williams finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks to lead seventh-ranked Duke to an 88-55 win over Illinois-Chicago at Cameron Indoor Stadium.


Poe death prompts Arroyo attack THE death of Philippine movie star and defeated presidential candidate Fernando Poe has drawn some political backlash, with some people seeking to use his sudden demise as a platform to attack President Gloria Arroyo.


N. Korea threat over sanctions TOYKO, Japan -- North Korea has warned Japan that it would treat economic sanctions against the nation as a  quot;declaration of war quot; as a row brews over the remains of abductees.


Cuban President Fidel Castro Honors Hugo Chavez Havana, Dec 14 (AIN) Cuban President Fidel Castro awarded visiting Venezuelan Head of State Hugo Chavez with the Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Order at a rally marking the 10th anniversary of Chavez #39; first visit to Cuba.


Settlements Seen in U.S. Inquiries Into Time Warner Time Warner is expected to settle with the Justice Department in its investigation of advertising deals between America Online and smaller Internet companies.


For Sprint and Nextel, a Battle With Titans When Sprint and Nextel Communications merge, they will be competing against their much larger rivals, Cingular Wireless and Verizon Wireless.


Many companies say they will hire in 2005 Many of the nation #39;s employers expect to begin the new year by hiring, according to a study released yesterday. That positive outlook continues the swelling of payrolls that has characterized the last three financial quarters.


PeopleSoft Board Rejects Oracle #39;s Takeover Bid Despite <b>...</b> PeopleSoft Inc. #39;s board of directors unanimously rejected Oracle Corp. #39;s takeover offer Saturday, Nov. 20, only hours after PeopleSoft stockholders tendered a majority of their shares in favor of the deal.


New Rules for Auditors Proposed Regulators yesterday proposed new rules that would bar auditors from peddling questionable tax strategies and preparing tax returns for top executives whose companies #39; accounting they review


Google can now take you inside seven great libraries This is welcome news for researchers as their favorite web search engine Google will now scan the entire collections of seven prestigious libraries and make these pages available to Google users.


Site: SLC-17B, Cape Canaveral, Florida Follow the countdown and launch of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket with NASA #39;s Deep Impact comet spacecraft. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.


Entire Season Could Be Lost After Latest Stalemate NHL owners and players took turns rejecting each other #39;s proposals for a new collective bargaining agreement during a 3 1/2-hour meeting at league offices in Toronto yesterday, moving the league closer toward canceling the entire 2004-05 season.


Big Swing and a Miss for DC Baseball Efforts As 11 o #39;clock approached last night, I called Commissioner Bud Selig at home to find out whether he knew that DC Council chairwoman Linda Cropp had just blown to smithereens the deal that


Angels, Byrd Agree to 1-Year Deal The Angels agreed to a one-year, \$4.5 million contract with RHP Paul Byrd yesterday and traded RHP Ramon Ortiz to the Reds for a minor league pitcher.


UNDATED: the Hawks. Clifford Robinson scored a season-high 25 points, Jason Richardson had a key follow dunk in the final minute and Golden State snapped a 12-game losing streak in Dallas.


Oil Prices Climb Above  #36;42 a Barrel (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices climbed above  #36;42 a barrel\on Wednesday, rising for the third day in a row as the heavy\consuming U.S. Northeast feels the first chills of winter.


Crude futures rise on colder weather Oil prices rose 2 percent yesterday on the back of a rally in heating oil and natural gas futures that was supported by colder weather in the Western Hemisphere.


Sony and Samsung to Cross-License Patents Sony Corp. (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday they had agreed to share patents on basic technology to speed up


Satellite System Puts Doctors in Ambulance (AP) AP - For paramedics in rural areas, responding to frantic calls for help is at times akin to doing a high-wire act without a net. Mountains, valleys, bad weather and long distances between hospitals make communication with emergency room physicians spotty at best and nonexistent at worst.


Greek Bus With 27 People on Board Hijacked (AP) AP - A Greek public bus with about 27 people aboard was hijacked Wednesday and shots were fired at police who surrounded it on the outskirts of Athens, police and bus company officials said.


Guest editorial: Google changes the world Said one participant in the project,  quot;This is the day the world changes, quot; and you have to grant that he is on to something: Google #39;s plan to put the contents of five major libraries


Magnetic sharks add bite to compass theory Marine biologists say they have obtained the first proof that sharks can spot changes in magnetic fields, boosting evidence that the fish have an internal compass to guide them as well as a phenomenal sense of smell.


Four Police Dead in Peru Shootout; Rebel Defiant  LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Four Peruvian police died on Sunday  after security forces battled to retake parts of a southern  town seized by an armed group early on New Year's Day to demand  the resignation of President Alejandro Toledo.


SuperSonics Top Lakers 108-93 (AP) AP - Rashard Lewis scored a season-high 37 points, and the Seattle SuperSonics improved to 18-4 with a 108-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night.


Shevchenko eases Ukraine pain AC MILAN striker Andriy Shevchenko gave his strife-torn country Ukraine some reason for celebration when he was named European footballer of the year for 2004 yesterday.


Jamaica's Police Commissioner Resigns (AP) AP - Jamaica's embattled police commissioner resigned following last year's record number of homicides in the Caribbean country, authorities said.


50 dead as trains collide in India MANSAR, Dec 14: Two trains collided head-on in northern India on Tuesday, killing 50 people and injuring around 150, Punjab #39;s chief minister said, as rescue workers scrambled to free trapped passengers.


Greek passengers in armed hijack At least one gunman has taken about two dozen passengers hostage on a bus in the Greek capital Athens, police say. Armed officers have surrounded the vehicle in the suburb of Marathon.


Philippines mourn downfallen movie star and former president <b>...</b> Thousands of families, friends, fans and politicians paid non-stop visits to a church in Metro Manila, where the remains of the lost presidential candidate but evergreen action star, Fernando Poe Jr.


Arafat heir calls time on armed struggle Mahmoud Abbas, the acting Palestinian leader, called on his people to drop their weapons in the struggle for a state. His stance marks a clear change of strategy for peace with Israel after the death of Yasser Arafat last month.


Now, read books on Google! Google, the world #39;s top search engine, is all set to offer books from five famous libraries online, unlocking a fabulous treasure of information.


#39;Magnetic #39; sharks add bite to compass theory Paris - Marine biologists say they have obtained the first proof that sharks can spot changes in magnetic fields, boosting evidence that the creatures have an internal compass to guide them as well as a phenomenal sense of smell.


Mexican Lawmakers Approve Controversial GM Law (Reuters) Reuters - Mexican lawmakers approved a new\law on Tuesday to regulate genetically modified crops, but\opponents said it catered more to the interests of big business\than to the protection of centuries-old biodiversity.


Greek passengers in armed hijack Police surround a bus in Athens on which about two dozen people are being held by at least one gunman.


Stronger hiring seen NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - If finding a new job is one of your New Year #39;s resolutions, you #39;ll be happy to know the hiring prospects for the first-quarter are much brighter than a year earlier, according to a Manpower survey released Tuesday.


Roethlisberger Benched for Season Finale (AP) AP - With little to play for Sunday, the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers benched quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and two other injured starters  #151; running back Jerome Bettis and receiver Plaxico Burress  #151; for their regular-season finale against Buffalo.


Expos #39; move to Washington could be in jeopardy Baseball #39;s plan to move the Expos to Washington might come apart after the District of Columbia Council voted Tuesday night to require private financing for at least half the cost of a new ballpark.


Prem Preview : Fulham-Man United Following the Arsenal-Chelsea draw, Manchester United could really blow the title race open with a win at Fulham. Sir Alex Ferguson never gave up on the title.


Blue Devils Douse Flames, 88-55 Heading down the stretch in the first half, it seemed as though the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames were poised to take a second ACC team to the wire.


Concorde: judges call in US airline French prosecutors investigating the manslaughter of the 113 people killed in the Air France Concorde crash four years ago are to summon senior executives of the US airline Continental.


Greek Police Surround Hijacked Bus Near Athens Greek police surrounded a bus filled with passengers that had been seized by gunmen in the Athens suburb of Marathon early Wednesday, Greek police said.


North Korea says Japanese sanctions would be declaration of war <b>...</b> SEOUL - North Korea warned on Wednesday that it would regard any sanctions imposed on it by Japan as a declaration of war and would hit back with an effective physical response.


Assam on high alert after serial blasts (Reuters) Reuters - Soldiers patrolled the largest city in India's volatile northeast and frisked bus passengers on Wednesday after a series of grenade attacks blamed on a powerful underground group killed a man and wounded 50.


Cisco sells file-sharing, backup appliance Cisco Systems debuted the File Engine, a file-based data-sharing appliance that offers companies the ability to consolidate management of distributed file and print services within branch offices.


Microsoft issues five bulletins on Windows flaws Microsoft today released five Security Bulletins warning of several vulnerabilities that put computers running Windows at risk of attack. None are rated "critical," Microsoft's highest severity rating.


State of the Search Marketing Industry 2004 Jupiter Research and SEMPO (the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization) have released results of separate surveys providing one of the most detailed looks yet at current practices and advertiser spending in the search marketing industry.


New ballpark for Nationals approved, but with a hitch Washington, DC (Sports Network) - The District of Columbia Council approved legislation to finance construction of a new ballpark for the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, but the team might have to come up with some money to build it.


S. Mississippi Tops North Texas 31-10 (AP) AP - Michael Boley was supposed to blitz, but pulled up in a timely moment of recognition, poised to jump for the screen pass he suspected was coming his way.


31 die as trains collide in India Welders cut through metal and soldiers pulled bodies from the crushed cars of two trains that collided head-on Tuesday in northern India, killing 31 people.


Gunmen hijack Athens bus, hold passengers ATHENS : Armed men hijacked a bus in an Athens suburb early Wednesday, taking some 20 passengers aboard hostage, a police source said.


Broken Wrist Sidelines Ravens' Ray Lewis Ray Lewis was inactive for the Ravens' regular-season finale game against Miami on Sunday because of a broken right wrist.


Report: Majerus to USC Rick Majerus will come out of retirement to coach Southern California at the end of the season, according to a report.


Samsung Electronics Agrees With Sony To Share Most Patent <b>...</b> Samsung Electronics sealed a comprehensive cross license contract with Sony of Japan to share most of their patent technologies. Samsung Electronics and Sony announced on December 14 in Seoul


Redskins Lead, 7-0 The Redskins capitalize on a 66-yard kickoff return and lead the Vikings, 7-0, in the first quarter at FedEx.


Oxford, Harvard... libraries online on Google: World News: London, Dec 15 : Rare and contemporary works from the libraries of five of the world #39;s most important academic institutions are to be digitised by Google and made available online.


Hollywood sues BitTorrent web site owners Hollywood movie studios, through the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), have today sued scores of operators of computer servers that help relay digitised movie files across online file-sharing networks.


NBA Game Summary - Golden State at Dallas The Golden State Warriors started a four-game road trip...This was the second meeting of the season between the two clubs. On November 8th, Dallas knocked off the Warriors, 101-98, in overtime in front of


SuperSonics 108, Lakers 93 Rashard Lewis scored a season-high 37 points, and the Seattle SuperSonics improved to 18-4 with a 108-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night.


Blockbuster sacrifices late fees to lure renters Fort Worth, Texas - Blockbuster is tired of being the butt of jokes on Leno and Letterman. And, even closer to home, it wants to eliminate what the company #39;s president calls  quot;those unpleasant conversations at the register.


Google Strikes Deals for Library Content Google reached agreements with several major research libraries to digitize the content of thousands of books in their archives, adding momentum to the search giant #39;s effort to catalog vast amounts of offline information in addition to Web pages, the


SuperSonics 108 Lakers 93 SEATTLE Rashard Lewis scored a season-high 37 points and Ray Allen added 26 as Seattle whipped the Los Angeles Lakers 108-to-93. Lewis scored 17 points in the first quarter and had 22 by the break to help


Gunmen seize bus in Athens ATHENS, Greece -- Gunmen have seized a public bus near the Greek capital of Athens and are holding about 25 passengers hostage. Authorities have surrounded the Athens-Marathon bus that was seized early Wednesday morning, Greek police told news agencies.


Southern Miss. Beats N. Texas in New Orleans Bowl  NEW ORLEANS (Sports Network) - Dustin Almond passed for 299  yards with a touchdown and rushed for another score to lead the  Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles to a 31-10 victory over the  North Texas Mean Green in the New Orleans Bowl at the  Superdome.


Iraq to Try Saddam Aides in Election Run-Up  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will put some of Saddam Hussein's  top lieutenants on trial next week, a month before a national  election many hope will lay the ghosts of his rule, interim  Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said Tuesday.


Brazil Laundering Probe Stings Bankers, Politicians  BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - A Brazilian congressional  probe accused 91 people, including a former central bank chief  and an ex-mayor of Sao Paulo, on Tuesday of involvement in  suspected laundering of money from drug trafficking, smuggling  and other crimes.


Mexican Lawmakers Approve Controversial GM Law  MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican lawmakers approved a new  law on Tuesday to regulate genetically modified crops, but  opponents said it catered more to the interests of big business  than to the protection of centuries-old biodiversity.


Ask Jeeves Joins Battle for Desktop Ask Jeeves today becomes the latest search engine to join the battle to organize the disparate information spread across users #39; computers.


Washington Council Approves Stadium, With Conditions The City Council narrowly approved a taxpayer-financed plan late Tuesday night to build a new riverfront baseball stadium. But it was not clear whether the amended measure


Pacers must work OT to end losing streak Jamaal Tinsley put up the biggest numbers, but he reserved his biggest praise for the old newcomer. Asked about Michael Curry #39;s contributions to the Indiana Pacers #39; 108-97 overtime


Bush Allies May Defect Over Fiscal Proposals As the White House opens a two-day conference to promote its second-term fiscal priorities, powerful interest groups that once supported Bush are either working to undercut him or are wary of his proposals.


Federal Reserve Raises Benchmark A 5th Time Federal Reserve officials raised a key short-term interest rate Tuesday for the fifth time this year, and indicated they will gradually move rates higher next year to keep inflation under control as the economy expands.


Directors Approve Sprint-Nextel Merger The deal would create a new wireless telecommunications giant with 39 million customers.-The Washington Post


Nextel Merger Puts It at Crossroads Daniel F. Akerson says the decisions he made as chief executive of Nextel Communications Inc. were all about survival.


Shrinking Coverage  Employer-paid health care for retired workers has been growing sharply more expensive, and the number of companies willing to provide it continues to shrink.


Kuwait Will Meet Its OPEC Cut  DUBAI (Reuters) - Core Gulf producer Kuwait will meet its  OPEC cut by lowering oil product sales by 190,000 barrels per  day (bpd) during first-quarter refinery maintenance, a Kuwaiti  oil official said on Wednesday.


Heating-oil, natural-gas futures rise amid Northeast chill SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Strength in heating-oil and natural-gas futures led an overall climb among energy prices for a second session Tuesday, as cold US weather sparked concerns over heating-fuel supplies for the winter season.


Shiite Leaders Seek to Quell Fears as Rebels Kill 18 Iraqi Soldiers Leaders of the United Iraqi Alliance urged disaffected Sunnis to join in the elections for a national assembly.


At Merck, There Are No Easy Answers Investors hoping for reassurance from Merck (MRK ) execs in light of recent problems got little besides generalities at the Dec. 14 meeting at the company #39;s Whitehouse Station, NJ, headquarters.


United Reaches Tentative Deal With Pilots United Airlines, struggling to reorganize after two years in bankruptcy protection, reached a tentative agreement with its pilots #39; union on additional wage and benefit concessions, the union said yesterday.


Stadium 'to stage tsunami gig' The Millennium Stadium is trying to stage a 'Live Aid' style concert to raise more than 1m for the Tsunami disaster appeal.


NBA Wrap: Lewis Guides SuperSonics Past Lakers (Reuters) Reuters - Rashard Lewis notched a personal\season-high of 37 points, including seven three-pointers, as\the Seattle SuperSonics swept aside the Los Angeles Lakers\108-93 Tuesday to collect their 18th win of the season.


Hockey players reject NHL counteroffer BEIJING, Dec. 15 -- The National Hockey League has slipped closer towards losing - for the first time - a season to a labor dispute.


DC throws a curve WASHINGTON--Cynics might say Major League Baseball used competition from Northern Virginia to pry the District of Columbia #39;s pocketbook wide open for a new ballpark for the relocated Montreal Expos.


Bobcats clip New Orleans in overtime CHARLOTTE - The storyline couldnt had been written any better for the Charlotte Bobcats Tuesday night in their first meeting with the New Orleans Hornets.


McDyess plans to face the Knicks Despite spending more than a year-and-a-half as a Knick, McDyess managed played only 18 games last season after sitting out the entire 2002-03 season with knee injuries.


Greek Police Surround Hijacked Bus Near Athens  ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek police surrounded a bus carrying  26 passengers that was seized by two armed hijackers along a  highway from an Athens suburb on Wednesday, police said.


Fed nudges up interest rates As expected, the Federal Reserve raised a key interest rate one-quarter point in continuing efforts to stave off inflation while holding rates at near record lows to help fuel economic expansion.


To better compete with Netflix, Blockbuster is dropping its late <b>...</b> The movie-rental company said Tuesday it will drop late fees for games and movies starting Jan. 1 - a positive move as seen by customers at the Blockbuster on Westheimer in Montrose.


Southwest changing ways under new chief executive When Gary Kelly, the new chief executive of Southwest Airlines, dressed up as the Kiss frontman for Halloween, we should have known it was more than a prank.


Continental details pay, benefit cutbacks Continental Airlines said Tuesday it will cut pay and benefits for managers and clerical workers by \$48 million. The announcement marks the first specifics outlined by Houston-based Continental


NK Subramanium, Special Correspondent The core business of Internet search engines is being threatened by the evolution of new generation of content providers. The search engines like Google or Yahoo make money by indexing the web sites all over


Martinez is eager to repay the Mets The once-fanciful concept of Pedro Martinez as a Met moved closer to reality yesterday, as the free-agent right-hander confirmed that he would be leaving the Boston Red Sox to sign with the Mets.


Charlotte NBA fans move on to Bobcats as Hornets stumble Sometimes it takes looking into the casket and viewing the body to get closure. Sometimes it takes seeing the cadaver to accept finality.


Slump baffles guard Harris Guard Dion Harris can #39;t explain it, but he #39;s in a major shooting slump. In the last five games, he has shot 17-for-66 from the field (25.8 percent), including 7-for-35 from three-point range.


Suicide Bombers, Gunmen Kill 32 in Iraq  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Suicide car bombers hit a bus packed  with Iraqi National Guards on Sunday, killing 26 people in the  deadliest attack of its kind in four months on Iraqis  cooperating with U.S. forces to secure a Jan. 30 election.


Bus hijacked on outskirts of Athens A bus was hijacked today and shots were fired at police who surrounded it on the outskirts of Athens. Police did not know how many passengers were aboard the bus.


NBA Wrap: Lewis Guides SuperSonics Past Lakers  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rashard Lewis notched a personal  season-high of 37 points, including seven three-pointers, as  the Seattle SuperSonics swept aside the Los Angeles Lakers  108-93 Tuesday to collect their 18th win of the season.


Continental announces wage, benefit cuts HOUSTON Continental Airlines has finalized wage and benefit cuts and changed some work rules -- to save money. The action comes as Houston-based Continental seeks to achieve 48 (M) million dollars of 500 (M) million dollars in labor cost cuts.


Kuwait Will Meet Its OPEC Cut (Reuters) Reuters - Core Gulf producer Kuwait will meet its\OPEC cut by lowering oil product sales by 190,000 barrels per\day (bpd) during first-quarter refinery maintenance, a Kuwaiti\oil official said on Wednesday.


Fed Raises Interest Rate to 2.25 Percent (Reuters) Reuters - The Federal Reserve pushed U.S.\interest rates up by a modest quarter-percentage point on\Tuesday and expressed confidence that inflation could be kept\at bay by slowly lifting credit costs from rock-bottom levels.


Majerus accepts offer to be USC #39;s basketball coach next season BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) - Rick Majerus #39; stint as a college basketball analyst for ESPN apparently has been short-lived. According to an ESPN.


Angels agree to deal with Byrd LOS ANGELES - The Anaheim Angels added a starting pitcher Tuesday, agreeing to a \$5 million, one-year contract with right-hander Paul Byrd.


Knicks get defensive Someone asked Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury after his team #39;s 87-79 victory over the rival Nets at Continental Airlines Arena last night whether a message had sent to the three-time


No. 1 LSU too much for Minnesota MINNEAPOLIS - Top-ranked teams aren #39;t solo shows, and star Seimone Augustus sure has plenty of help around her with the LSU Lady Tigers.


Saddam #39;s aides face trial Some of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein #39;s aides will go on trial next week, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said Tuesday.


British National Party Leader Arrested On Suspicion Of Racial <b>...</b> HBN, LONDON, England, Weds. Dec. 15: Nick Griffin, the leader of the British National Party, joined 11 other party members yesterday to be arrested on suspicion of incitement to commit racial hatred.


Hezbollah TV Network Ends Broadcasts To France Dec 14, 2004 (AXcess News) Paris - A French satellite television provider says a channel operated by Lebanon #39;s Hezbollah militant group has ended its broadcasts to France.


Dollar Slips Against Yen  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar slipped against the yen on  Wednesday after a Bank of Japan survey suggested the  deterioration in Japanese business sentiment was not as bad as  some had feared.


Airlines may return to profit in  #39;05 Airlines worldwide may make a combined profit of \$1.2 billion next year, their first since 2000, as fuel prices fall from record highs and passenger traffic increases, the International Air Transport Association said.


United says it has landed tentative pact with pilots United Airlines on Tuesday announced it has secured a tentative contract agreement with its pilots. The agreement makes the pilots the first of United #39;s four big unions to come to initial terms.


Wireless patent suit still murky Research In Motion (RIMM), maker of the popular BlackBerry wireless e-mail device, got mixed news in court Tuesday - and a worst-case scenario that would stop BlackBerry sales in the USA.


Gifford retiring early at Bank of America Chad Gifford, one of Boston #39;s most visible business leaders, said yesterday he would retire as chairman of Bank of America Corp.


Salvation Army faces risk of barer kettles The Salvation Army may be forced to scale back its help for those in need if Londoners don #39;t start tossing more toonies into its kettles.


Fiat, GM to Start Mediation Over Option  MILAN (Reuters) - Fiat and General Motors Corp plan to  start one-on-one mediation to settle a dispute over whether the  Italian industrial group can sell its loss-mired car unit to GM  from Jan. 24.


MPAA SUES SERVERS THAT DOWNLOAD FILMS The major Hollywood movie studios, as part of the industry #39;s latest legal action to battle piracy, sued the operators of server computers they say help people find and download millions of illegally copied movies.


NASA chief O #39;Keefe resigns NASA administrator Sean O #39;Keefe on Monday resigned after three years in charge of the US space agency which included the Columbia shuttle disaster, a NASA spokesman said.


Toshibas latest 80GB drive Toshiba Corporation, the leading manufacturer of electrical and electronic goods, said on Tuesday that it has produced an 80-Gbyte version of its 1.8-inch hard drive which will be used in a next-generation Apple iPod.


You #39;re Infected. Merry Christmas! A variant of the Zafi worm, Zafi.d, is doing the rounds disguised as a Christmas message. This worm arrives via email and through peer-to-peer networks bearing the message  quot;Happy Hollydays quot; and the subject


Good bio sensor news for diabetics New Delhi: American nanotechnology researchers at the University of Illinois have demonstrated a tiny, implantable detector that could one day allow diabetics to monitor their glucose levels continuously without ever having to draw a blood sample.


Technology worker opens shop for digital photos only PLANO, Texas - All Jeff Goulston wanted was a little job security. Having watched thousands of jobs get shipped overseas, the technology consultant saw his long-term prospects drying up.


War funding request may hit \$100 billion WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration plans to ask for between \$80 billion and \$100 billion to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan next year, rather than the \$70 billion to \$75 billion the White House privately told members of Congress before the election, according to Pentagon and White House officials.


Iran to Comply with OPEC Output Quotas  NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Iran, OPEC's second-biggest producer,  will comply with the cartel's decision to curb excess output  and pump crude oil at its official quota, an official said on  Wednesday.


FA to check Cech comments The Football Association is to look into comments Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is alleged to have made about Graham Poll, and his decision to allow Arsenal #39;s controversial second goal at the weekend.


Sonics #39; Lewis steals spotlight from anticipated Kobe-Allen matchup This was supposed to be a battle between Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant, meeting on the court for the first time since trading preseason barbs in the press.


NO cries foul following loss PJ Brown sat slumped in his chair Tuesday night, still convinced he had knocked the ball away from Emeka Okafor. Yet with 5.7 seconds remaining in overtime and the Hornets holding


Clayton, Counsell now on board The Diamondbacks introduced shortstop Royce Clayton as their newest member Tuesday after free-agent pitcher Matt Clement visited Bank One Ballpark.


Bennett is catcher on the deep, deep fly When it became clear earlier this season that the Tennessee Titans wouldn #39;t be returning to the playoffs, the list of shortcomings included the complaint that Drew Bennett couldn #39;t catch the long ball.


Emissions must be cut, says chief UN scientist BUENOS AIRES -- The world's chief climate scientist yesterday disputed the US government's contention that cutbacks in carbon dioxide emissions are not yet warranted to slow the pace of global warming.


Abbas opposes use of arms RAMALLAH - New PLO chairman Mahmud Abbas called for an end to the armed uprising, as Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza yesterday in the aftermath of the most lethal Palestinian attack since Yasser Arafat #39;s death.


Afghans arrest 2 Taliban commanders KABUL, Afghanistan -- Information from a man caught in a vehicle loaded with explosives led to the arrests of two senior Taliban military commanders, including a former security chief of the hard-line regime's leader, Mullah Omar, an official said yesterday.


Documents detail abuse of detainees WASHINGTON -- US Marines fired a pistol in a mock execution involving four young Iraqi looters and shocked another Iraqi detainee with an electric transformer until he ''danced, quot; a document made public yesterday showed.


Doctor who coauthored memoir of UN peacekeepers is let go UNITED NATIONS -- UN officials have decided not to renew the contract of a doctor who coauthored a controversial memoir about life on the front lines of UN peacekeeping in the 1990s.


Concorde crash laid to debris, flaw CERGY-PONTOISE, France -- A metal strip that fell off a Continental Airlines jet and a fuel tank design fault led to the deaths of 113 people in the Concorde air disaster near Paris in 2000, an official report said on yesterday.


Restaurant guide critic loses whistleblower suit PARIS -- The  quot;storm in a saucepan quot; intensified yesterday for a former top restaurant inspector who has become the enfant terrible of French gastronomy.


Business confidence dips in Japan Japan industrialists are gloomier about the economic outlook for the first time since March 2003,  the central bank's quarterly Tankan survey finds.


Coming and going A shade more than 14 months ago, David Wells appeared at a news conference in Fenway Park, not far away from the room where he greeted reporters yesterday. Back then, Wells was a card-carrying member of the Evil Empire, a true believer in the Curse of the Bambino, on the verge of pitching Game 3 of the Red Sox-Yankees AL ...


Martinez showed his true colors So how are you enjoying your offseason so far? Anyway, I'll bet you didn't sign a \$54 million contract. I know I didn't.


NHL is on thin ice There was plenty of rejection to go around yesterday. First, the National Hockey League owners -- via commissioner Gary Bettman -- voted a unanimous thumbs down on the Players Association's extensive proposal put forth last Thursday. Then, the NHLPA said thanks but no thanks to the league's counterproposal, which predictably included what the union said it would never ...


Brown has it double covered FOXBOROUGH -- Troy Brown has tried not to be torn by his loyalties to his Patriot teammates. But they have made the versatile 12-year veteran a prized possession in a playful tug-of-war between the offense and defense.


Senate Panel to Set Hearings on Insurgency, Shortages The Armed Services Committee's hearings will include an examination of criticism that the Defense Department failed to prepare for the insurgency and went into action with a shortage of armor for trucks and Humvees.


Brockton mayor questions MIAA Brockton city officials, irritated by the logistical nightmare that plagued fans at both Super Bowl venues and questioning gate receipt totals for the six games, has taken aim at the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.


Blockbuster to end late fees Jan. 1 Desperately trying to mollify its restive customers, Blockbuster Inc. said yesterday that it plans to effectively eliminate late fees on game and movie rentals, starting Jan. 1.


Retirees' health costs jump for third year Retirees for a third straight year are paying double-digit increases for healthcare coverage through their former employers, which are shifting a greater share of the cost to new retirees, according to a study released yesterday.


Dollar rises narrowly against euro The US dollar rose slightly against the euro yesterday as the Federal Reserve raised a key interest rate by a quarter-point and the US trade deficit was larger than expected.


US trade deficit hits record high America's trade deficit swelled to a record high of \$55.5 billion in October as imports -- including those from China -- surged to the loftiest levels ever. Skyrocketing crude oil prices also contributed to the yawning trade gap.


Stocks post gains after Fed raises rates US stocks gained yesterday, after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected, while it reassured investors that inflation was in check and indicated the economy was growing at a moderate pace.


United, pilots tentatively agree on additional cuts United Airlines, seeking cost cuts to help it get out of bankruptcy, has reached a tentative agreement with its pilots union, the first labor accord on additional concessions the carrier proposed last month.


Fewer teen techies find jobs waiting in the field Caleb Sima still marvels at how angry the people around him got when he fled high school for a computer job during the high-tech boom, thumbing his nose at the traditional career path.


Turkish Engineer, 2 Aides Missing in Afghanistan   KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 14 -- A Turkish engineer and two Afghans were apparently kidnapped Tuesday in an area of eastern Afghanistan where bandits and insurgents from the Taliban and other Islamic extremist groups operate, officials said.


Air Force awards \$240.5m contract Raytheon Co. , the fifth-largest US defense company, got a \$240.5 million award from the US Air Force to produce training aircraft, extending the company's largest contract for military aircraft. The award covers production of 50 of the T-6A training aircraft for use by the Air Force and Navy under the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program, Raytheon spokeswoman Jackie ...


A Plea for Support of Innovation  America risks losing its leadership of the global economy if government and industry fail to make changes that encourage innovation, a panel of leading executives and university presidents say in a study to be released today.


Nonprofit launches plan to reduce medical errors The Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Boston, run by Harvard physician Dr. Donald Berwick, will try to save 100,000 patients from fatal medical errors and poor care in the next 18 months by persuading hospitals to improve in six areas.


Lucchino thinks it was a bad move The president and chief executive officer of the Red Sox thinks Pedro Martinez made the wrong decision. But Larry Lucchino nonetheless had nothing but praise for


Lewis (37) is superman for Sonics Rashard Lewis scored a season-high 37 points, and SuperSonics improved to 18-4 with a 108-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers last night in Seattle.


No. 13 Louisville 85, N. Carolina A amp;T 51 Larry O #39;Bannon scored a season-high 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead No. 13 Louisville to an 85-51 victory over North Carolina A amp;T on Tuesday night.


Bus with 26 passengers hijacked in Greece A hijacked bus is seen on a street some 30 kilometres north of Athens December 15, 2004. Greek police forces surrounded the bus after two armed men hijacked it early Wednesday morning with 26 passengers


Abbas says intifada was mistake Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader campaigning to succeed Yasser Arafat in elections next month, said the four-year-old armed uprising against Israel was a mistake and must end.


Martin meets with cabinet ministers, diplomats over tsunami aid (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin met with key cabinet ministers and diplomats Sunday to talk about Ottawa's response to the tsunami crisis that has devastated south Asia.


Verizon unlikely to bid for Sprint update Verizon Communications has no imminent plans to bid for Sprint, people familiar with the situation said Tuesday, toppling a potential obstacle to Sprint #39;s \$37.8 billion bid for Nextel Communications.


United, pilots tentatively agree on additional cuts United Airlines, seeking cost cuts to help it get out of bankruptcy, has reached a tentative agreement with its pilots union, the first labor accord on additional


Demtchenko of Russia Wins Men's Luge (AP) AP - Albert Demtchenko of Russia won the men's singles Sunday to break up a sweep by the powerful German team of all five races at a Luge World Cup event.


WHAT THE PAPERS SAY THE SUN: Robbie Savage has been branded a coward for a vicious eye-gouging attack on Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg. Former top ref Jeff Winter raged:  quot;It was sly and not the act of a man.


Other Voices: Red Sox, not Pedro, lacking loyalty It is much too easy to call Pedro Martinez the selfish one, to say he is walking out on the Red Sox, his baseball family, for the extra year of the Mets #39; crazy money.


Schu doesn #39;t score World champion Michael Schumacher failed to score a goal at Madrid #39;s Santiago Bernabeu (Spain) soccer stadium - recently evacuated after a bomb scare - on Tuesday night.


Trading in old loyalties generates buzz CHARLOTTE, NC -- The Hornets left this basketball-crazy city two years ago in a dispute over a new stadium, leaving behind angry fans and leaders disappointed with losing the first big-time pro sports team ever based in North Carolina.


For Second Day, Bomb Explodes Near Green Zone Description: For the second consecutive day, a suicide bomb explodes near the entrance of Baghdad #39;s heavily fortified Green Zone.


Tokyo Edge: More Mobile Music Sony embraces MP3, while new Blu-ray and speaker technology reaches the living room.


Eskimos Seek to Recast Global Warming as a Rights Issue Experts say the move could lead to suits against the U.S. or private companies.


Water Contract Renewals Stir Debate Between Environmentalists and Farmers in California The farms served by the Central Valley Project, the country's largest irrigation system, get about 20 percent of California's water supply.


Feds raise key rate again Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan and his central bankers gave the national economy a vote of confidence yesterday and raised the key federal funds interest rate by a quarter-point.


Reaction To The PeopleSoft/Oracle Merger When Internet-based companies, especially ones the size of Oracle and PeopleSoft, announce fundamental changes, responses are usually swift.


Inflation hike sends sterling higher Rising energy and transport costs helped push inflation higher last month, raising the prospect that interest rates may increase next year.


Pilots reach agreement United Airlines, seeking to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, yesterday said it has reached a tentative agreement with its pilots - the first of four major unions to settle with the nation #39;s second-largest carrier.


Target #39;s giving in the millionsWednesday, December 15, 2004 In response to the letter  quot;Glad some still let bells ring quot; (People #39;s Forum, Dec. 8), it is true that Target is no longer letting Salvation Army bell ringers stand at the front of their stores.


Iraq Downgrades Representation at Meeting (AP) AP - Iran said Sunday it was downgrading its representation at a ministerial meeting of Iraq's neighbors in Jordan this week, apparently to protest accusations by Jordan's monarch that Iran was trying to influence the upcoming Iraqi elections.


Croats Vote in Presidential Election (AP) AP - Croats voted Sunday whether to give President Stipe Mesic a second term in an election that was not monitored by international observers, an indication of the former Yugoslav country's democratic progress since it gained independence in a bloody 1992 war with a rebel Serb minority.


Kidnapped Turk Killed in Afghanistan -- Witness (Reuters) Reuters - A Turkish engineer abducted by a militant\gang in eastern Afghanistan was found dead on Wednesday, a\witness who saw the body being carried down from a mountainside\told Reuters.


Study: Airborne soot on the decline Levels of potentially dangerous airborne soot declined nationwide between 1999 and 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency reported Tuesday, and may be nearly a third lower than concentrations 25 years ago.


Microsoft warns of new vulnerabilities, five bulletins issued Considered important vulnerabilities that leave users open to attack in Microsoft #39;s (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows for desktop and server installations, the Redmond


Yahoo Announces Mobile Deal with Nextel Yahoo Inc. (YHOO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday it will provide mobile Internet services to Nextel Communications Inc.


Implanted Nanotubes Track Blood Sugar An implanted nanotube sensor has been developed that can track blood sugar, promising pain-free continues glucose monitoring for diabetics and future devices that can check other biological changes.


Players reject latest deal Toronto - It #39;s getting so late in the game, so to speak, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has offered federal mediation as a last-ditch possibility.


Match for Roddick? No contract has been signed and no announcement is expected for at least a week, but Dean Goldfine appears to be tennis star Andy Roddick #39;s first choice to replace Brad Gilbert as his coach.


Martinez may be just start Pedro Martinez confirmed on Dominican television yesterday that he has reached an agreement with the Mets, representing perhaps the flashiest signing in team history.


From blowout win to defeat Philadelphia - Something happened - something few probably thought would make a difference - on the way to the Nuggets #39; blowout of Philadelphia that wasn #39;t.


Uefa Cup Preview: Rangers-Auxerre AZ are through but the fate of Rangers, Auxerre and Grazer AK will be decided tonight. It seems simple: avoid defeat and youre through.


Mobile firms sign 'Super 3G' deal NTT DoCoMo, Vodafone and 24 other mobile phone firms and manufacturers join forces to develop the next generation of high-speed handsets.


Egypt Charts New Course for Mideast Peace (AP) AP - Egypt is generating new hope for Mideast peace after four bleak years, transforming Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from pariah to peacemaker and seeking to draw Arab leaders and a wary public into its efforts.


Stationmasters Face Charges in India Crash Railway officials say a train collision in northern India that killed at least 37 people apparently was caused by a communications lapse between stations, and that the two stationmasters face criminal charges in the disaster.


Interim Palestinian leader decries armed struggle Mahmoud Abbas, the interim Palestinian leader, said in an interview published Tuesday that the armed struggle against Israel was a mistake and should end.


Gunmen Attempt to Take Mosul Police Posts, Repelled  MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - Insurgents attempted to overrun two  police stations in the northern city of Mosul but were repelled  by Iraqi police and National Guards, the U.S. military said  Wednesday.


Pretenders to Europe Crown About to Learn Their Fate  LONDON (Reuters) - The 50th season of European club  competition reaches a defining moment this Friday when the draw  for the first knockout stage of the Champions League takes  place at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.


Kidnapped Turk Killed in Afghanistan -- Witness  KABUL (Reuters) - A Turkish engineer abducted by a militant  gang in eastern Afghanistan was found dead on Wednesday, a  witness who saw the body being carried down from a mountainside  told Reuters.


China Colliery Accidents Kill 5,286 Miners This Year  BEIJING (Reuters) - Colliery accidents in China killed  5,286 miners in the first 11 months of the year, but the  government cast the figure in a positive light, saying it was  at an all-time low relative to production.


Australia lifts maritime security Australia announces plans to create a security zone around its coastline, five times larger than its territorial waters.


Turk 'found dead' in Afghanistan A Turkish engineer kidnapped in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday has been killed officials say.


Vodafone denies backing Verizon-Sprint merger Verizon Communications Inc. #39;s wireless partner on Tuesday distanced itself from discussions of a potential bid for Sprint Corp.


Fiat seeks pact in row with GM Fiat and General Motors (GM) have agreed to begin a period of mediation to resolve the future of the Italian conglomerate #39;s loss-making auto group.


NASDAQ TO OFFER \$100M IN SHARES The Nasdaq is jumping into the gold rush to sell shares of itself to the public, getting a head start over its rival, the New York Stock Exchange.


Christmas email carries virus say Symantec Symantec, the world #39;s leading information security provider, today warned of a new worm threatening computer users in the approach to the Christmas season.


Colts' Freeney Rushes to Get Most Sacks (AP) AP - Dwight Freeney always has gotten the attention of offenses.


Benitez frustrated by Pompey draw The Anfield manager saw Portsmouth snatch an injury-time leveller last night to scupper hopes of a victory which was in demand after Saturday #39;s derby slip-up.


Even Knicks get their 15 minutes It was the kind of defense these Knicks are not known for. The kind they often pay lip service to. The kind that leads to ugly basketball, long stretches without points and NBA victories.


Fans rushing onto the court or field will be costly to SEC schools Southeastern Conference schools must prevent fans from rushing onto the basketball court and football field or face fines that could reach \$50,000.


Clippers miss shot Coming off a double-overtime loss to Boston and not arriving in Salt Lake City until 3:30 am, the Clippers surprisingly showed no signs of fatigue against the Utah Jazz -- until perhaps the final minutes.


Passenger bus seizure in Greese Greek police surrounded a bus full of passengers seized by armed hijackers along a highway from an Athens suburb Wednesday, police said.


UN Mission Sends Military Team to Investigate Fighting in Eastern <b>...</b> Following reports of fighting between different factions of former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and weapons distribution to civilians in North Kivu province, the United Nations mission today said it sent a


European Shares Up on Fed Relief  LONDON (Reuters) - European shares tracked Wall Street's  gains after the Federal Reserve stuck to its "measured"  rate-tightening pace, reassured on inflation and indicated that  the U.S. economy was growing at a moderate pace.


Decatur job outlook is weak The Decatur area employment outlook is one of the weakest in the nation, according to results from the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.


United reaches tentative pact with pilots on givebacks An expert says the agreement probably will make it easier to reach cost-cutting deals with the ailing carriers other unions. United Airlines is making headway in its efforts to trim labor costs by \$725


Almost nobody has a dog in this fight You expect fans to lose interest whenever billionaires battle millionaires for a larger slice of the economic pie, but not to the extent being seen in the dogfight between the NHL and its players over a new collective bargaining agreement.


Finnan recalled to Pool side Steve Finnans recall to the Liverpool starting line-up for Tuesday nights Premiership clash with Portsmouth at Anfield was one of six changes made by displeased manager Rafa Benitez, but the Reds were hit by an injury time equaliser from Pompey


No. 1 Tigers too much for Gophers Ina showdown between two of the top womens college basketball players in the nation, Minnesotas Janel McCarville shined, scoring a career-high 31 points and making a boisterous statement for her Wooden Award candidacy.


FCC Mulls Wireless Internet Access on Jets (AP) AP - When it comes to communication, commercial airline passengers go from the Internet Age to the Stone Age once a plane takes off.


Tokyo Edge: More Mobile Music (PC World) PC World - Sony embraces MP3, while new Blu-ray and speaker technology reaches the living room.


Europe #39;s highest bridge links art and engineering President Jacques Chirac inaugurated Europe #39;s highest bridge yesterday, a creation taller than the Eiffel Tower, longer than the Champs Elyses and designed to end a traffic bottleneck in southern France.


Filipinos mourn Poe #39;s death Elissa Claris, 55-year-old, a supporter of top movie star and defeated presidential candidate Fernando Poe, prays as fans and supporters gather in front of a funeral parlour where Poe #39;s wake is being held in Pasig, suburban Manila, December 14.


UN troops storm Haitian slum area PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Hundreds of UN troops stormed a stronghold of ousted Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide #39;s supporters yesterday.


India and Pakistan negotiating to prevent nuclear missile launch Pakistan and India started talks Tuesday to discuss the possible agreement on giving advance warning of ballistic missile tests that could help to prevent the possible accident connected with nuclear weapons.


Fighting resumes in DRC Kanyabayongo - Fighting between the regular army of the Democratic Republic of Congo and armed men resumed early on Wednesday near the eastern town of Kanyabayonga, an AFP journalist reported, while UN officials in the capital Kinshasa reported an


DEATH PROBE VICTORY THE family of an Iraqi man allegedly beaten to death by British troops in custody yesterday won a legal battle in their fight for a full inquiry into the scandal.


Rampaging Elephants a Headache in S.Africa (Reuters) Reuters - There are no\easy answers when it comes to keeping the world's largest land\mammal in check.


U.S. Missile Defense Test Fails (Reuters) Reuters - The first test in nearly two years\of a multibillion-dollar U.S. anti-missile shield failed on\Wednesday when the interceptor missile shut down as it prepared\to launch in the central Pacific, the Pentagon said.


Greece meets West at these Vermont diners There was steam on the windows. Outside, the town was in the grip of a freeze. It was time for a break, and this looked like a good place to thaw out. It was all red and chrome, a meatloaf-shaped building on a side street off Burlington's main drag. A neon sign said  quot;Oasis, quot; and that's exactly ...


On a mountainside, chef lets flavors shine Although the village has several dining opportunities, force yourself to drive the five minutes it takes to reach Auberge Sauvignon, a charming mountainside restaurant just outside the resort. Owner Francine Moreau sets a tone of unmatched hospitality in the front of the house, with chef Marc Bujold providing the culinary wizardry to make this steakhouse and cozy ...


Toney wants fighting chance James Toney has learned at least one thing from reading the Bible. He doesn't hide his light under a basket.


Renteria's decision expected today The Red Sox could have a new shortstop -- National League All-Star Edgar Renteria -- as soon as today. Renteria plans to decide today whether he will succeed his Colombian countryman, Orlando Cabrera, as Boston's everyday shortstop, according to a source familiar with Renteria's plans.


Lucchino thinks it was a bad move The president and chief executive officer of the Red Sox thinks Pedro Martinez made the wrong decision. But Larry Lucchino nonetheless had nothing but praise for the former Red Sox ace, who decided to take a more lucrative offer and join the New York Mets.


Achieving his goals Hugo Sanchez is nicknamed  quot;Hu-gol quot; and  quot;Pentapichichi, quot; referring to his five successive scoring titles in Spain's Primera Liga while playing for Real Madrid. Now Sanchez, who also performed for the San Diego Sockers in the North American Soccer League and Dallas Burn in Major League Soccer, is having similar success as a coach.


Celtics enjoy fruits of labor As the end of regulation neared Monday night at Staples Center, a visiting scout watched coach Doc Rivers go through a series of fiery paroxysms and asked,  quot;Is Doc always this emotional? quot; Yes, but as Rivers watched the Celtics rally from a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit, his display was clearly different.


Ice hockey: Season may be lost The entire ice hockey season could be lost to the dispute over salary capping.


Missile defence shield test fails A test of the planned US anti-missile defence shield fails in the first mission in almost two years.


An Effort at a Union Comes Up a Loser at the Track A former exercise rider at Santa Anita stables in California had hoped to organize a strike by the stable hands just before the racing season resumed the morning after Christmas.


Film renters applaud change Customers at the Blockbuster at Grant Street and East Sixth Avenue in Denver welcomed the company #39;s announcement to abandon late fees.


NHL, union deadlocked: Owners, players reject latest labor <b>...</b> It may be several more weeks before the 2004-05 NHL season officially dies. But barring an utter collapse in the resolve of locked-out players, any real hope the league will play this season disappeared yesterday.


Notebook: GM Sund a lame duck, too As general manager, Rick Sund is chiefly responsible for the plan to play the season with seven pending free agents, and he has no qualms that the team decided to forgo a contract for him until after the season.


Rangers urged on to Euro glory run Rangers manager Alex McLeish has challenged his players to embark on a Uefa Cup run which would put Scottish football back on the European map.


Gunmen seize bus in Athens suburb ATHENS, Greece - A Greek bus with 26 people aboard was hijacked Wednesday by two armed men who demanded to be taken to Athens airport and flown to Russia, police and government officials said.


Stationmasters Face Charges in India Crash Railway officials say a train collision in northern India that killed at least 37 people apparently was caused by a communications lapse between stations, and that the


PC World's Holiday Wish List From big-screen TVs to big-time DVD players, here's what we'd like to receive this year.


The Dollar Dips Against the Euro  LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar dipped against the euro on  Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve proved less hawkish on  interest rates than some investors had expected, while the yen  rallied on a key Japanese business survey.


Blockbuster axing dreaded late fees Blockbuster is doing away with the most dreaded part of renting movies and games: the late fee. The move comes as Blockbuster battles lackluster demand.


Passenger Leaves Hijacked Greek Bus (Reuters) Reuters - A passenger was seen leaving a hijacked\Greek bus Wednesday five hours after two foreign gunmen seized\the vehicle carrying 26 passenger in an Athens suburb, a\Reuters correspondent at the scene said.


Australia and Pakistan set to wage speed war Australia and Pakistan have both delayed naming their teams for the first test starting in Perth on Thursday as they consider adding extra pacemen to their bowling stocks in anticipation of a speed war.


Body of Turk Engineer Found in Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan - The body of a kidnapped Turkish engineer was found in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, a day after he was snatched with his driver and interpreter by a band of armed men, officials said.


Passenger Leaves Hijacked Greek Bus  ATHENS (Reuters) - A passenger was seen leaving a hijacked  Greek bus Wednesday five hours after two foreign gunmen seized  the vehicle carrying 26 passenger in an Athens suburb, a  Reuters correspondent at the scene said.


Oil prices rise above US\$42 as winter tipped to turn colder SINGAPORE: Crude oil prices rose above 42 dollars a barrel in Asian trade on northern winter concerns as OPEC indicated its longer-term price target was around 30 dollars a barrel, dealers said.


Positive Wales in jobs lead THE hiring intentions of Welsh employers for the first quarter of 2005 are more positive than the UK average, research from Manpower showed yesterday.


Survey deals blow to corporate Japan The Bank of Japan #39;s latest Tankan quarterly survey of business conditions showed sentiment among large manufacturers falling for the first time in seven quarters, reflecting the downturn in corporate sector activity in Japan.


Eichel says German payments to the EU should be considered in <b>...</b>  quot;In the meantime, it has been accepted in the EU that the German reunification has caused high burdens for us and therefore is a special problem.


Let light shine on Bombardier dealings Laurent Beaudoin has done us all a favour. Monday #39;s boardroom upheaval at Bombardier Inc. brings a natural opportunity to reassess the taxpayers #39; role in this prestigious company.


House prices and the Fed As the Federal Reserve moves to raise short-term interest rates once again, flags are being raised about the impact on housing prices.


RIM infringed NTP patents, appeal court rules The US Court of Appeals has ruled that Lawsuits in Motion - aka Research in Motion - did indeed violate patents owned by intellectual property holding company NTP.


Oil Prices Climb Above \$42 a Barrel  LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices climbed above \$42 a barrel on  Wednesday, rising for the third day in a row as cold weather  gripped the U.S. Northeast, the world's biggest heating fuel  market.


It came from the vaults! Google seeks to open the library In what could be a historic move in the history of the internet, Google has announced arrangements with Harvard University, and a handful of public libraries, to digitize parts of their valuable collections and make them available over the public web.


MSN Desktop Search Beta tested WITH GOOGLE nipping at its heels, Microsoft has just released a beta edition of its new MSN Desktop Search application. Like Google #39;s very similar product, Desktop Search builds an index of documents and e


Samsung, Sony in cross-license deal Two of the world #39;s consumer electronics giants, Samsung Electronics and Sony, have signed a cross-license agreement detailing mutual usage of patents across major product lines owned by the two companies.


Internet worm disguises itself as electronic Xmas card Making use of the current trend to send festive greetings via email, a new virus is making the rounds. A variant of the ZAFI worm, the WORM_Zafi.


NASA Cassini Image: Titan #39;s Dark Terrain This view from Cassini #39;s second close flyby of Titan on Dec. 13, 2004 shows bright material within the large dark region west of Xanadu.


Nasa plan comet mission Nasa has announced that the launch of a pioneering mission to further understanding of the make-up of comets will take place in January next year.


Siemens and Ningbo Bird Deny They #39;re in Talks Over Mobile Unit Siemens AG, Germany #39;s biggest engineering company, denied it is in talks with potential venture partners for its troubled mobile-phone business, which sustained losses in the quarter through June.


LuaLua hijacks Gerrard #39;s magic moment As Superman and Batman would no doubt reflect during their cigarette breaks, the really draining thing about being a hero was that you have to keep riding to the rescue.


Crowd salutes changing of the garb Jason Williams strolled through the turnstile at Charlotte Coliseum on Tuesday night wearing a purple Hornets T-shirt from the teams 1999 opener against the Orlando Magic and


Hijackers seize Athens bus Two armed hijackers are holding 26 people hostage on board a Greek bus after seizing it near the capital Athens. Police are surrounding the bus stopped between Marathon and the capital.


Negligence blamed for train crash in India Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. MUKHERIYAN, India -- Railway authorities blamed negligence for the head-on collision of two packed trains that


Middle East ; Abbas calls on Palestinians to end armed struggle Middle East News, GAZA, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has called for his people to pursue negotiations instead of violence in the struggle for a state, marking out a change of strategy for peace with Israel after Yasser Arafat #39;s death.


Australia alert on Indonesia attack The Australian government has warned that terrorists could be preparing to carry out an attack in Indonesia, possibly targeting a Hilton hotel.


South Korea cautions Japan against sanctions on North Korea SEOUL: South Korea cautioned Japan against imposing sanctions on North Korea saying the step could complicate efforts to end the impasse over the communist country #39;s nuclear weapons drive.


Body of Kidnapped Turk Found in Afghanistan The body of a kidnapped Turkish engineer was found in eastern Afghanistan today, less than 24 hours after he was snatched with his driver and interpreter by a band of armed men.


Pakistan and India discuss missiles, hotlines Pakistan and India held a second day of talks on Wednesday to agree on steps to avert misunderstandings over their nuclear arsenals, a Pakistani official said.


Fiat, GM to Start Mediation Over Option  MILAN (Reuters) - The heads of Fiat SpA and General Motors  Corp. will meet face to face in a last-ditch attempt to avoid  litigation over whether the Italian group still has the right  to sell its loss-mired carmaking arm to GM.


Yukos seeks US bankruptcy refuge Russian oil giant Yukos files for bankruptcy protection in the US in a last ditch effort to stop the Kremlin auctioning its main production unit.


Jobless level continues to fall The number of people out of work in the UK fell by 29,000 between August and October to 1.39 million, the latest official figures have shown.


Yukos Files in US for Bankruptcy Under Chapter 11 (Update1) OAO Yukos Oil Co., Russia #39;s second- largest oil producer, said it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US and asked for an emergency court hearing to stop the sale of its main unit in four days.


Hong Kong Shares Rise Slightly Hong Kong shares rose slightly on Wednesday, tracking gains on Wall Street as the US Federal Reserve announced a rate hike. The blue-chip Hang Seng Index climbed 35.02 points, or 0.25 percent, to 14,078.54.


Cassini gets altitude adjustment The Cassini-Huygens mission #39;s second (comparatively) close encounter Monday with Saturn #39;s moon Titan generated more atmospheric drag on the spacecraft than expected, NASA mission controllers say.


EPA targets fine particle pollutants Fine particle pollution has been significantly reduced in recent years, but millions of people live in areas where concentrations remain high - and their health remains at risk, the


NHL needs to think small Well, I still think he was a small-minded, wishy-washy puppet, but maybe, it turns out, he was right. Maybe he was right to treat the NHL as a mom-and-pop league, way down the ladder in


Mets see only the headlines FPTOZDUMB This is an eye chart, reprinted as a public service to the New York Mets so they may see from what they suffer: myopia. Has ever a baseball franchise been so shortsighted for so long?


North Korea Warns Japan Against Imposing Sanctions (Update7) North Korea would consider any decision by Japan to impose economic sanctions as a declaration of war, #39; #39; the communist nation #39;s Foreign Ministry said.


Four killed as violence flares after UN troops storm Haitian <b>...</b> PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti At least four people have been killed in shootouts in a slum near Haiti #39;s capital following a show of force by UN troops.


Fed hikes interest rates (12/15/04)-- Investors are not necessarily eager for higher interest rates, but at least the Federal Reserve #39;s quarter-percent boost brought no surprises.


Blockbuster ending late fees at company-owned stores Blockbuster Inc., the largest US video-store chain, will stop charging late fees at its company-owned stores to try to stem three consecutive quarters of declining sales and fend off a challenge for customers from Netflix Inc.


ATA Midway gates at center of battle The bidding war between AirTran Airways and Southwest Airlines over bankrupt ATA #39;s Midway business continued Tuesday, revealing a new, competitive world for low-cost carriers.


Arsenal need  quot;silly money quot; to land Man City #39;s SWP Manchester City chairman John Wardle says they will only sell winger Shaun Wright-Phillips for  quot;silly money quot;. He said:  quot;I have no intention of selling Shaun Wright-Phillips.


So What Happened in That Election, Anyhow? No consensus exists among Democrats about why John Kerry was defeated, and the party is locked in a battle of interpretation over just what went wrong.


Cricket: S Africa make solid start Jacques Kallis hits 81 not out as South Africa reach 247-4 after day one of the third Test against England.


YUKOS Files for U.S. Bankruptcy  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian oil major YUKOS said on  Wednesday it had filed for bankruptcy protection in a U.S.  court and would seek an order from the court to halt the Dec.  19 sale by the Russian state of its main oil unit.


Fed raises again Central bank boosts fed funds rate to 2.25 but after 5 hikes in this year what #39;s in store for  #39;05? NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The Federal Reserve raised a critical short-term interest rate by a quarter of a percentage


Larson voices his opposition to OPECs decision On the same day the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed to cut its daily oil output to 27 million barrels, US Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, sent


IBM #39;s PC deal seen as strategic withdrawal IBM #39;s decision this past week to sell a majority stake in its personal computer business to Lenovo Group, a vendor based in China, for \$1.75 billion in cash, stock, and debt assumption, is


Particle pollution falls 10 in 4 years The average level of a deadly form of air pollution dropped in the USA from 1999 to 2003 as new pollution controls made strides in battling the nation #39;s air quality


Shevchenko voted Europe #39;s finest AC Milan and Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko has been named European Footballer of the Year. Barcelona #39;s Deco and Ronaldinho were second and third with Arsenal striker Thierry Henry fourth.


FA TO CECH ON REF RANT CLAIM THE FA last night launched an inquiry over Chelsea keeper Petr Cech #39;s alleged criticism of referee Graham Poll for allowing Thierry Henry #39;s free-kick in Sunday #39;s 2-2 draw at Highbury.


City making plans for Keegan #39;s departure Manchester City are actively seeking a replacement for manager Kevin Keegan who is leaving at the end of next season when his contract expires after five years at the Premier League club.


Anger Rises as Does Toll in Remote Indian Islands  PORT BLAIR, India (Reuters) - Tempers flared over the  sluggish pace of aid efforts in India's remote and restricted  Andamans and Nicobars on Sunday as hundreds of bodies lay  scattered around the islands a week after the tsunami struck.


Kidnapped Turkish engineer killed in Afghanistan Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. KABUL, Afghanistan -- A Turkish engineer taken hostage in Afghanistan was killed by kidnappers who had been


BNP LEADER BAILED ON RACE HATE RAP BNP leader Nick Griffin was bailed last night by police questioning him over race-hate offences. Griffin, 45, had been arrested at his home in Wales in the wake of a BBC documentary showing him condemning Islam as  #39;a vicious, wicked faith #39;.


Asia to fuel air travel growth Global air travel is set to be boosted by an increase in travel between Europe and Asia, thanks to growth in both China and India.


Yukos files for bankruptcy Embattled Russian oil giant Yukos has launched bankruptcy proceedings in a Houston, Texas court, the company has said. Claire Davidson, a spokeswoman for the company in London, did


Trade Deficit Hits Record in October; November Output Up The trade deficit in October grew larger than analysts had expected despite the recent decline of the dollar against major currencies.


Former England star Gazza hit by pneumonia (AFP) AFP - Former England star Paul Gascoigne is recovering in hospital from pneumonia but his agent denied the 37-year-old was seriously ill.


Pilots reach agreement with airline United Airlines has secured a tentative contract agreement with its pilots, clearing a critical early hurdle in its effort to make another round of painful


No End in Sight: There is no sliver of hope for season That #39;s what you can be assured of now following the NHL #39;s unflinching rejection of the NHLPA #39;s recent offer to end the current lockout and the union #39;s subsequent rejection Tuesday of a league counter-proposal.


A deadly reversal I hope that newspapers do not represent public opinion. If they do, it means that we consider the Home Secretary #39;s love affair more important than the resumption of the most deadly conflict since the second world war.


Australia to Boost Security Net Around Coastline (Reuters) Reuters - Australia plans to strengthen its\coastal security with a controversial surveillance footprint\that stretches south of New Zealand to north of Indonesia.


India stocks hits new record highs; index above 6,400 points (AFP) AFP - Indian shares rose 1.21 percent to close at a new record high after aggressive foreign fund buying on prospects of strong economic growth and amid regional gains, dealers said.


Australia Warns of Possible Indonesia Hotel Attack (Reuters) Reuters - Australia said on Wednesday a\terrorist attack could be carried out soon in Indonesia,\possibly targeting Western establishments such as a Hilton\hotel in the world's most populous Muslim nation.


Australia alert on Indonesia attack Australia warns that terrorists could be preparing an attack in Indonesia, possibly targeting a Hilton hotel.


China to lead recovey in air travel industry Geneva - China is expected to be the world #39;s fastest-growing market for air travel as the world #39;s airlines look for global growth in passenger traffic of 6 percent annually over the next four years, the top industry body said on Wednesday.


RIM loses patent case A federal appeals court affirmed that Research In Motion, which makes the popular Blackberry, has infringed on holding company NTP #39;s patents but can continue selling its products in the United States pending a district court #39;s decision.


Fathers of grid computing form start-up The researchers who spawned the idea of grid computing will launch a company Monday to commercialize what so far has been a very academic software project for sharing computing resources.


ICANN enters negotiations on .mobi, .jobs domains DECEMBER 14, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Two new top-level domain names moved closer to approval this week, as the body charged with overseeing the Internet #39;s technical matters moved into negotiations with the companies applying to set up and run the  quot;.


Mesic Seen Retaining Presidency as Croats Vote  ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatians voted in a presidential  election on Sunday, and liberal incumbent Stjepan Mesic was  expected to win a second term and help take the former Yugoslav  republic into the European Union in 2009.


City Put 25m Price Tag On SWeeP Manchester City are reported to have hung a 25 million price tag on Shaun Wright-Phillips. It seems that City, whose debts have grown to 62 million, are willing to part company with their star player, but


British death toll in tsunami disaster rises to 40 (AFP) AFP - At least 40 British nationals are now confirmed as having been killed in the Asian tsunami disaster, according to latest figures released by the Foreign Office.


Greek Bus With 26 on Board Hijacked Police take cover as they surround a bus in eastern Athens early Wednesday Dec. 15, 2004. A Greek public bus with about 27 people aboard was hijacked and shots were fired at police.


India ; Train services resume after accident site cleared of <b>...</b>  quot;There was a collision between a train coming from Ahmedabad and a local train. Both trains were going at great speed, quot; said Kewal Krishna Sharma, one of the injured.


ABBAS PEACE BID JERUSALEM - In a stunning declaration, the Palestinian leader virtually certain to succeed Yasser Arafat said yesterday that the 4-year-old armed uprising against Israel was a mistake and must end.


Bush Called  #39;Immoral #39; for Stance on Global Warming Treaty An environmental activist group has declared President George Bush  quot;immoral quot; for his failure to support the Kyoto Protocol.


NBA Today (AP) AP - Utah at Phoenix (10:30 p.m. EST). The Suns (18-3) have the NBA's best record and have won nine of their last 10 games.


YUKOS Files for US Bankruptcy Russian oil major YUKOS said on Wednesday it had filed for bankruptcy protection in a US court and would seek an order from the court to halt the Dec. 19 sale by the Russian state of its main oil unit.


Asia to fuel air travel growth Global air traffic is set to be boosted in the next three years by a rise in travel between Europe and Asia, thanks to growth in both China and India.


Late fees end for some movie rentals Dallas-based Blockbuster Inc. announced Tuesday that its doing away with late fees starting Jan. 1. Watching a movie may now become the relaxed activity


World #39;s top libraries sign up with Google Google has announced a long-term project to put 15 million books from seven of the world #39;s top libraries online. The libraries of Harvard, Stanford, the University of Michigan, the New York Public Library


Turkish hostage killed in Afghanistan Wednesday. He had been abducted by a militant gang on Tuesday on the road between the city of Jalalabad and Kunar province. Khan, told Reuters.


Vodafone denies backing Verizon #39;s bid for Sprint NEW YORK, December 15 (newratings.com) - The worlds leading mobile-phone operator, Vodafone Group Plc, denied yesterday that it had approved a bid by its partner, Verizon Communications Inc, for Sprint (FON.


Yukos files for bankruptcy in US A representative of embattled Russian oil company Yukos said Wednesday the company has launched bankruptcy proceedings under US law in a Houston court.


ERIC J. SINROD The FCC) has just declared that DigitalVoice, an Internet telephony service provided by Vonage, is not subject to the patchwork of state regulations that govern telephone companies.


BAR put up for sale. The BAR Formula One team has officially been put up for sale by administrators Simon Morris and Andrew Hosking - but only to aid the restructuring of the team that will see Honda take a 45 stake in the Brackley based outfit.


Italy to Quit Kyoto Pact After 2012 -- Newspapers (Reuters) Reuters - Italy is likely to withdraw from the Kyoto\Protocol on climate change at the end of the treaty's initial\period in 2012, Italy's environment minister was reported as\saying by Italian newspapers on Wednesday.


Majerus Expected to Be Named Head Coach at USC  LOS ANGELES (Sports Network) - Rick Majerus has reportedly  accepted an offer to be the new head basketball coach at  Southern California.


Greek Bus Hijackers Want to Go to Russia -- Hostage  ATHENS (Reuters) - A hostage on a hijacked Greek bus said  in a mobile phone call from the vehicle Wednesday that her  captors wanted to fly to Russia and were armed with guns and  explosives.


Three Polish Soldiers Die in Iraq Helicopter Crash  WARSAW (Reuters) - Three Polish soldiers were killed in a  helicopter crash in Iraq, where the country runs a  multi-national division, the army said Wednesday.


Australia Warns of Possible Indonesia Hotel Attack  SYDNEY/JAKARTA (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday a  terrorist attack could be carried out soon in Indonesia,  possibly targeting Western establishments such as a Hilton  hotel in the world's most populous Muslim nation.


Chemical Ali  'first to be tried' The man known as "Chemical Ali"  will be the first Saddam aide to go on trial, Iraq's defence minister says.


Basilea in Talks with J J Over Antibiotic  ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland's Basilea is in talks with a  subsidiary of healthcare and consumer products maker Johnson    Johnson over a licensing agreement for the Swiss biotech firm's  BAL5788 antibiotic.


Five important fixes in MS December patch batch Microsoft #39;s regular monthly patch delivery slipped into port yesterday carrying five new patches, each described by Redmond as  quot;important quot;.


Fujitsu, Cisco form strategic alliance Johannesburg, 15 December 2004 - Fujitsu and Cisco Systems have reached a fundamental agreement to enter into a strategic alliance focusing on routers and switches that will enable service providers and enterprises to build advanced Internet Protocol (IP


Game over: NHL, its players have accomplished nothing EDMONTON - This NHL season died from neglect ages ago and on Tuesday it became obvious. Two wrongs make for last rites. The NHL and its players have accomplished nothing through 90 days of this lockout other


No place for the faint-hearted Assuming Australia bat first at the Waca ground against Pakistan, you can be sure the blood will be pumping through my heart and veins faster than on most occasions that I face the first ball in a Test match.


Reds #39; first move of winter produces starting pitcher Since the day after the Reds fired Jim Bowden and Bob Boone nearly 17 months ago, virtually all of the club #39;s transactions have been geared toward raking in prospects and getting younger, especially on the pitcher #39;s mound.


Thousands missing from Thai town In one tsunami-hit Thai town, more than half of the 5,000-strong population are missing, police say.


Pyongyang Says Japanese Sanctions Would Amount to  #39;War #39; North Korea has warned Japan that any sanctions against the communist state would be regarded as a declaration of war. Opinion polls show about two-thirds of the Japanese public supporting


YUKOS Files for U.S. Bankruptcy (Reuters) Reuters - Russian oil major YUKOS said on\Wednesday it had filed for bankruptcy protection in a U.S.\court and would seek an order from the court to halt the Dec.\19 sale by the Russian state of its main oil unit.


Brazil corruption charges urged More than 90 people in Brazil face possible charges after a two-year inquiry into money laundering.


J amp;J-Guidant could help Boston Scientific The anticipated merger of Guidant Corp. and Johnson  amp; Johnson could give an unintended boost to Boston Scientific Corp. if Guidant's drug-coated stent launch is delayed, said analysts looking at the implications of a potential deal.


Wall Street Set to Start Little Changed (Reuters) Reuters - Wall Street was set to start little\changed on Wednesday, a day after the Federal Reserve raised\rates by 25 basis points as widely expected, while Lehman\Brothers  will be in focus ahead of its results.


3 Independent Yukos Directors Resign Over Pressure From Russian <b>...</b> Three independent directors of the Yukos Oil Company have resigned from their posts claiming they cannot work while the Russian authorities are pushing for the companys collapse, Yukos major shareholder Group Menatep said in a press release Wednesday


Toshiba Unveils 80 GB Hard Drive Toshiba has unveiled the world #39;s first hard disk drive (HDD) based on perpendicular recording, setting new benchmarks for data density by boosting the capacity of a single 1.8-inch hard-disk platter to 40 gigabytes.


-- Innovative Launch Gets Major Music Label Support from Warner <b>...</b> Telefonica Moviles Espana, the leading operator in the Spanish market, today announced that it has licensed and launched a mobile music solution from Melodeo, a Seattle-based company, that allows Telefonica Moviles Espana to provide secure digital music


UPDATED: iPod firmware update breaks Real  #39;hack Apple #39;s most recent firmware update for the iPod, released last month, breaks Real Network #39;s Harmony technology, which enable songs bought from Real #39;s online store to be played on the device.


Nokia to put holograms on batteries AP - Nokia, the world #39;s largest handset maker plans to mark its original batteries with a hologram as part of the fight against unsafe, counterfeit mobile phone batteries - some of which have exploded in users #39; hands.


Pedro agrees to join the Mets Speaking to a Dominican Republic television station, Martinez said he and the Mets are  quot;happy with everything. quot;. The deal for the pitcher who helped Boston win the World Series will be worth more than \$50 million.


Bobcats Beat The Hornets CHARLOTTE, NC -- The Charlotte Bobcats won their first meeting with the New Orleans Hornets last night! It was the Hornets first trip back to Charlotte since their bitter departure after the 2001-2002 season.


Hamas Cancels Anniversary Rally (AP) AP - Hamas on Wednesday canceled its 17th anniversary rally over concerns that Israel could target leaders of the Islamic militant group in retaliation for a deadly attack on an army outpost in Gaza.


Sprint Agrees to Buy Nextel for \$38 Bln  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sprint Corp. on Wednesday agreed to  buy wireless telephone company Nextel Communications Inc. in a  cash and stock deal worth as much as \$38.45 billion to gain  more business customers and more wireless airwaves to transmit  calls.


YUKOS Seeks U.S. Bankruptcy  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian oil major YUKOS has filed for  bankruptcy protection in a U.S. court and will seek an  injunction to stop Russia from auctioning off its main  production unit on Dec. 19, it said on Wednesday.


Sprint, Nextel to merge NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Sprint and Nextel announced plans to merge Wednesday, creating a new wireless phone power with about 35 million customers, enough to make it No.


Air passenger traffic set to record strongest growth since 1992 <b>...</b> GENEVA : International air passenger traffic should record its strongest growth in 12 years in 2004, climbing by 11 percent for the year as a whole, the International Air Transport Association said Tuesday.


Microsoft monthly bulletin includes five new warnings Microsoft released five security bulletins on Tuesday as part of its monthly update cycle, warning of vulnerabilities that put computers running Windows at risk of attack.


Particle pollution falls 10 in 4 years WASHINGTON -- The average level of a deadly form of air pollution dropped in the United States from 1999 to 2003 as new pollution controls made strides in battling the nation #39;s air quality problem, the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday.


Majesco picks up Phantom Dust for US release Xbox-exclusive title Phantom Dust has been acquired for US release by publisher Majesco, after developer Microsoft Game Studios declined to launch the title outside Japan earlier this year.


More meetings would keep this Atlantic rivalry afloat The Knicks lost last night to the Nets #39; A Team, the one with Jason Kidd in the lineup for 21 minutes, 40-32. They beat the B Team, the one without Kidd, for 27 minutes, 55-39.


Caesarean 'low birth risk link' Women opting for a Caesarean should be warned there is a small chance that it will jeopardise later natural births, say experts.


Rate hike #39;s effects The Federal Reserve #39;s new wave of interest-rate increases is spilling into consumers #39; and investors #39; lives in good and bad ways.


YUKOS Seeks US Bankruptcy Russian oil major YUKOS has filed for bankruptcy protection in a US court and will seek an injunction to stop Russia from auctioning off its main production unit on Dec. 19, it said on Wednesday.


80 million more PCs in India by 2010! The personal computer market in India will see a massive boom by 2010, according to a new report by Forrester Research. India, says the report, will add 80 million (8 crore) new PC users by 2010.


Oracle Buys PeopleSoft for \$10.3 Billion PeopleSoft Inc. on Monday agreed to a sweetened \$10.3 billion buyout by rival software maker Oracle Corp., relenting after a 18-month takeover saga that included the ouster of PeopleSoft #39;s chief executive.


Stability Pact: France and Germany off the hook for now The Commission has lifted the excessive deficit procedure, first launched in 2003, against France and Germany. But already there are doubts about Germany respecting the rules in 2005.


Google offers five libraries funding to digitize materials But university officials would be open to the possibility -- especially if someone else foots the bill. Google Inc., the popular online search engine, said Tuesday it would pay for the New York Public Library


Studios launch campaign against BitTorrent Hollywood stepped up its battle against internet pirates yesterday when the Motion Picture Association of America launched a legal battle against the filesharing networks BitTorrent and eDonkey.


Zafi worm purports to be Christmas greeting A new variant of the so-called Zafi worm surfaced Tuesday, disguised to appear as a Christmas greeting. Multiple antivirus researchers reported the emergence of the latest iteration of Zafi, classified as


Brand name isn #39;t always better _ at least when it comes to <b>...</b> Chances are, if your employees are using Microsoft Corp. #39;s Internet Explorer to surf the Web or Outlook to check e-mail, your company is more exposed to viruses and spyware, some security experts say.


Pompey frustrate Liverpool boss Benitez The Spaniard saw Portsmouth snatch an injury-time equaliser on Tuesday night to frustrate Liverpool who had been hoping for a win after Saturday #39;s derby defeat to Everton.


BSkyB wins rights to cover home England tests England #39;s home test matches will disappear from terrestial television after BSkyB won exclusive rights to cover live matches from 2006 to 2009, officials said on Wednesday.


Mortgage Applications Fell Last Week--MBA (Reuters) Reuters - Applications for U.S. home mortgages\declined last week as refinancing activity fell and mortgage\rates were little changed, an industry group said on Wednesday.


Mortgage Applications Fell Last Week--MBA  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Applications for U.S. home mortgages  declined last week as refinancing activity fell and mortgage  rates were little changed, an industry group said on Wednesday.


Sprint, Nextel Announce Merger Plans Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc. announced this morning that they will merge the companies in a deal that would create a new wireless telecommunications giant.
-The Washington Post


Yukos Files for Bankruptcy in U.S. The Yukos oil company has filed for bankruptcy in the United States and appealed for a temporary restraining order against the auction of its main production unit that is scheduled for Sunday - dramatically challenging the Russian government to enter arbitration proceedings.


Oil Futures Rise on Signs of Cold Winter Crude oil futures moved upward Wednesday, as the northeastern United States - a heavy consumer of heating oil - felt the first signs of what could likely be a colder-than-expected winter.


EADS superjumbo runs over budget European aerospace giant EADS warns  that the A380 superjumbo project is running heavily over budget.


Scots employers aim to go hire EMPLOYER hiring confidence in Scotland is robust for the first quarter of 2005, notably above the national average, according to research released today.


Roddick in talks over new coach Andy Roddick is reportedly close to confirming US Davis Cup assistant Dean Goldfine as his new coach. Roddick ended his 18-month partnership with Brad Gilbert on Monday, and Goldfine admits talks have taken place.


Private sector asked to help pay for Expos #39; new home The district council Tuesday night narrowly approved a motion to finance construction of a new baseball stadium in the city. However, the motion only passed after an amendment was added that forces the private


Graduate Student Presumed Dead In Haiti A graduate student at the University of Notre Dame was missing and presumed dead after he was shot by an armed gang in Haiti, a school official said.


A380 super-jumbo to cost 1.45 bln euros more than planned: EADS (AFP) AFP - The research and development costs of Airbus's new A380 super-jumbo will be 1.45 billion euros (1.9 billion dollars) more than planned, the co-chairman of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, Rainer Hertrich, revealed.


Football: Spain chief in race probe Spain's Football Federation launches an investigation into racist comments made by national coach Luis Aragones.


Shares in Air China jump on debut Shares in China's biggest airline Air China close up 8 after making their debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.


Update 8: Yukos Files for Bankruptcy in US In an eleventh-hour move, the Yukos oil company has filed for bankruptcy in a United States Court and is demanding the cancellation of an auction of its main production unit slated for Sunday.


Court Lifts BlackBerry Maker #39;s Injunction A US appeals court issued a mixed ruling this week in a patent dispute between Research in Motion (RIM), maker of the popular BlackBerry devices, and NTP.


China #39;s needs could rescue European industry Good news has been in short supply for Europe #39;s traditional industrial economies like Germany and France. Growth remains weak, unemployment high, labor markets are still rigid and the euro is soaring, pricing their exports out of the market.


Job outlook moderately optimistic for 2005, survey finds ITHACA -- During the next four months, job seekers looking for work in durable goods manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and education may have the best luck, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.


Japan #39;s manufacturers less confident Bank of Japan  #39;tankan survey #39; also shows strong capital spending, boosting stocks and the yen. TOKYO (Reuters) - Confidence among Japan #39;s big manufacturers waned for the first time in seven quarters, the Bank


FRANCE: Gucci Reveals Strategy Plans For Its Brands Fashion house Gucci Group doesnt expect its Yves Saint Laurent label to break even in the next three years, but said it is keeping to its promise not to axe any of its smaller brands.


University of Michigan The participating libraries include those at the University of Michigan, Google co-founder Larry Page #39;s alma mater; Stanford University, where Page and Google co-founder Sergey Brin met as doctoral students and dreamed up the idea of the search engine


MPAA Expected to Target BitTorrent Trackers In order to thwart the growth of this network, the MPAA will be pursuing BitTorrent indexing servers known as trackers. While trackers function somewhat differently than traditional indexing servers found


#39;Apple copies Windows #39; claim launches desktop wars Desktop search means a new battle for dominance between a wide field of competitors, and the warfare has begin. The technology promises users an incredibly fast way to search for data on their drives.


New Toshiba hard drive uses perpendicular technology Tokyo - Toshiba Corp. has developed a 1.8-inch hard disk drive that achieves a 40 Gbyte capacity by employing a perpendicular recording technology for the first time.


Zafi worm will deliver an unhappy Christmas A new version of the Zafi e-mail worm is spreading seasonal greetings along with its malicious code, according to antivirus software companies.


Microsoft ends year with critical security alert Microsoft has released its last regular security update of the year which includes five new patches, all rated  #39;important #39;, and the reissue of a  #39;critical #39; patch after extensive revisions.