Ready to Get Started Cavaliers coach Pete Gillen believes his team is better than last season, but the improvement may not be enough to help Virginia contend in the Atlantic Coast Conference.


Passing Marks in Peril Peyton Manning is on pace to shatter Dan Marino's single-season touchdown record and a second quarterback, Daunte Culpepper, is within striking distance of the mark.


Memphis Stops St. Mary's Rodney Carney scores a career-high 33 points and Memphis ends the surprising tournament run of Saint Mary's with an 81-66 victory.


Gilchrist Keeps Working The 15th-ranked Terps will look to John Gilchrist to take a central leadership role as they open the season against Jackson State.


Dollar Sticks Near Lows  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar stayed in sight of historic  lows against the euro on Friday as traders braced for a meeting  of G20 finance ministers that is not expected to act against  the dollar's weakness.


For Merck Chief, Credibility at the Capitol Something finally went right yesterday for Raymond V. Gilmartin, the embattled chairman and chief executive of Merck  amp; Company.


Less Power, More Money for Sears Boss Alan J. Lacy will not be the top man at Sears, Roebuck  amp; Company any longer if the announced merger with Kmart is completed. But he will receive a raise and could take out more than \$20 million by cashing out his existing options on Sears stock.


Sirius Names Mel Karmazin as Its CEO In the latest coup for the fledgling satellite radio industry, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. on Thursday named former Viacom Inc. President Mel Karmazin as its chief executive officer.


UnumProvident Accepts Penalty The UnumProvident Corporation agreed to pay \$15 million in fines and reassess 200,000 denied claims to end investigations by attorneys general of several states


PeopleSoft Chief Threatens to Sue Over Oracle Statements With Oracle #39;s \$9.2 billion tender offer for PeopleSoft set to expire Friday, David A. Duffield, PeopleSoft #39;s chief executive, accused Oracle on Thursday of spreading


SABMiller #39;s profits soar 81 SABMiller, the worlds third biggest brewer, poured out a strong interim trading performance yesterday - as it also said it had a potential warchest of up to \$2 billion (1.08bn) if a major acquisition opportunity occurred.


French Growth Halted in Third Quarter (AP) AP - France's economic growth ground to a halt in the third quarter of 2004, the official statistics agency Insee said Tuesday, reducing its earlier estimate of a 0.1 percent expansion.


Rayovac to Buy United Industries (Reuters) Reuters - Battery maker Rayovac Corp.  on\Tuesday said it would buy United Industries Corp., a maker of\lawn and garden products, for about  #36;476 million in cash and\stock in a bid to diversify its product mix.


Microsoft warns Asian governments of Linux suits NOVEMBER 18, 2004 (REUTERS) - Microsoft Corp. warned Asian governments today that they could face patent lawsuits for using the Linux operating system instead of its Windows software.


U2 iPod on sale in Europe  #39;Saturday #39; Apple today confirmed that the new special edition U2 iPod will go on sale in the UK on November 20. Launching Apple #39;s new London store, senior vice president of retail Ron Johnson, said:  quot;The


lab fires analyst over falsified tests Orchid Cellmark, a Montgomery County-based laboratory that has analyzed DNA for such high-profile cases as the OJ Simpson trial and the JonBenet Ramsey murder, has fired an analyst for allegedly


Spotted Owl to Stay on Threatened List The northern spotted owl, the bird at the center of the Pacific Northwest logging wars, will stay on the threatened species list, the government said Thursday.


Big Jake makes his mark he #39;s the tallest, most solidly-built player in international cricket at the moment. The next thing that gets your attention


Legacy key element of bid paper A massive injection of cash for grassroots sport and a new national stadium for athletics are included in a multi-million pound legacy promised by London #39;s bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.


NBA Game Summary - Cleveland At Charlotte Charlotte, NC -- LeBron James poured in a game-high 19 points and Jeff McInnis scored 18 as the Cleveland Cavaliers routed the Charlotte Bobcats, 106-89, at the Charlotte Coliseum.


Cordiale Welcome for Chirac French president Jacques Chirac enjoyed a day of lavish hospitality as he visited Britain to celebrate the centenary of the Entente Cordiale.


Russia Formally Commits to Climate Pact Russia is expected to formally agree to the Kyoto Protocol on global warming today, following its signing into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month.


Thousands to be freed from Myanmar jails The military leaders in Myanmar have decided to release about 4,000 prisoners the leaders admit were wrongly imprisoned. The media in the repressive state, formerly called


GOP Governors Cheer Election Wins (AP) AP - Buoyed by President Bush's re-election and a political map with coast-to-coast Republican leaders, GOP governors gathered Thursday to cheer their electoral fortunes and discuss solving familiar fiscal problems at home.


House Ethics Panel Rebukes DeLay Accuser (AP) AP - The House ethics committee Thursday night turned the tables on Majority Leader Tom DeLay's accuser, rebuking Rep. Chris Bell for exaggerating misconduct allegations against the GOP leader.


F.D.A. Failing in Drug Safety, Official Asserts Federal drug regulators are "virtually incapable of protecting America" from unsafe drugs, a federal drug safety reviewer told a Congressional panel.


Former Viacom Chief Named to Lead Sirius Mel Karmazin, who quit as president of Viacom after a power struggle with his boss, has resurfaced as the new chief executive of Sirius Satellite Radio.


IRS Audits More of the Wealthy and Fewer Small Companies The Internal Revenue Service, in the midst of a crackdown on aggressive tax shelters, is auditing significantly more wealthy individuals and large companies, but is increasingly shying away from scrutinizing smaller businesses.


ExpressJet Pilots Ratify Labor Agreement HOUSTON, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. today announced that its pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) ratified a new labor agreement.


U2 sees iPod TV spots as synergy, not sellout Uno, dos, tres, CATORCE! The TV quakes as a euphoric punk holler, stabbing guitar and muscle-bound rhythms roar over convulsive images of rock stars in silhouette.


Federer beats Moya in Masters Top-seeded Roger Federer overcame a second-set lapse and remained unbeaten in the ATP Masters Cup Championships with a victory Thursday night over Carlos Moya.


US downs Spain to face Australia in quarterfinals of women #39;s U-19 <b>...</b> The United States beat European champion Spain 1-0 on Thursday to set up to a quarterfinal showdown against Australia at the Women #39;s Under-19 World Championship.


Favre's Mother Falls Ill on Book Tour (AP) AP - Brett Favre's mother was hospitalized Thursday with stomach pains, interrupting her book tour.


Venus Williams Beats Serena in Exhibition (AP) AP - Venus Williams defeated injured sister Serena 6-4, 7-5 in an exhibition match Thursday night.


Colonial Tensions Reemerge in Ivory Coast Young Ivorians embrace anti-French sentiment and struggle to break ties with the colonial master.


Pavano Meets With Red Sox, and Schilling Makes a Pitch The free agent right-hander Carl Pavano, who will meet with the Yankees soon, spent two hours at Curt Schilling's home in Medfield, Mass., on Thursday.


Holtz Is Retiring, and Spurrier Will Take Over Job South Carolina Coach Lou Holtz will retire at the end of the football season, opening the way for Steve Spurrier, the former Florida coach, to take the job.


Lehigh and Lafayette Are Still Playing After All Those Years Lehigh and Lafayette on Saturday will meet for the 140th time, but for the first time with an automatic postseason bid on the line.


APEC Nations Work on Stronger Security Resolutions

 By Fiona Ortiz

 SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - Pacific Rim trading nationsagreed they should work harder to control the production andtrade of shoulder-launched missiles to keep them out of thewrong hands, foreign and trade ministers meeting in Chile saidin a resolution on Thursday.


Japan, China Leaders Agree to Meeting The leaders of Japan and China agreed to a one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of a summit, overcoming a diplomatic impasse between the Asian powers that have been increasingly at odds. The breakthrough came as ministers for 21 Pacific Rim economics pledged Thursday work hard for the passage of a global trade treaty.


Henman Crushes Coria to Keep Masters Hopes Alive

 By Steve Keating

 HOUSTON (Reuters) - Britain's Tim Henman pounded ArgentineGuillermo Coria 6-2, 6-2 Thursday to keep alive his hopes ofreaching the Masters Cup semi-finals.


Brown Steps Forwrad Kwame Brown completes his first full practice since having foot surgery and gets rave reviews from coach Eddie Jordan. Brown is still expected out until December.


FDA Prompts Pfizer To Yank Viagra Ads The FDA thinks those  quot;wild thing quot; ads for Viagra need to be domesticated. The ads feature a balding middle-age man with a beautiful blond woman and a voice-over asking,  quot;Remember that guy who used to be called  #39;Wild Thing #39;?


Parreira plays down Brazil #39;s defeat Brazilian head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira played down sentiment about the world champion #39;s 1-0 defeat by minnow Ecuador in the South American zone World Cup qualifier.


Wall Street Set to Open Firmer (Reuters) Reuters - Wall Street was set to start higher on\Tuesday to recoup some of the prior session's losses, though\high-profile retailer Amazon.com  may come under\pressure after a broker downgrade.


#39;Next Sunday #39; keeps Parcells motivated By lunchtime Thursday, Bill Parcells already had five voice mails from friends, all with pretty much the same message.  quot;They #39;re saying, Hang in there.


Sharon Sets Peace  #39;Test #39; for Palestinians Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, setting a test for a new Palestinian leadership, said it could show its desire for peace by ending incitement against Israel even before any crackdown on militants.


Cavs Dunk Bobcats LeBron James slams down a windmill dunk late in the second quarter and Cleveland never looks back in a 106-89 victory over Charlotte on Thursday night.


Founder of Nike to Hand Off Job to a New Chief Philip H. Knight, the brash founder of Nike who became as synonymous with the sneaker brand as its swoosh logo, resigned yesterday as chief executive after more than 32 years at the helm.


Former Viacom Chief Named to Lead Sirius Mel Karmazin, who abruptly quit as president and chief operating officer of Viacom earlier this year after a lengthy power struggle with his boss, resurfaced yesterday as the new chief executive of Sirius Satellite Radio.


Age of green cars arrives as Canadians cut emissions Cars that are environmentally friendly may be coming to drivers in North America faster than anyone expected after the Canadian government pledged this week to a dramatic 25 per


Roddick earns Masters semifinal berth HOUSTON (Ticker) - Andy Roddick #39;s superior play in tiebreakers earned him a semifinal berth at the year-end \$3.7 million Tennis Masters Cup.


Athletics: Greek pair charged over drug tests The Greek sprinters Kostadinos Kederis and Ekaterina Thanou face possible jail sentences after being charged with avoiding a drug test on the eve of this summer #39;s Olympics and faking a motorcycle accident several hours later.


Slain aid worker mourned The suspected murder of British aid worker Margaret Hassan in Iraq was widely condemned here as a wave of unrest across Sunni Muslim hotspots killed more than 20 people, many of them women and children.


Clarke criticises princes views on education CHARLES Clarke, the education secretary, broke with government protocol yesterday to condemn the Prince of Wales for claiming that modern education wrongly encouraged people to think they could rise above their station.


U.S. May Have Found Fallujah Militant Base (AP) AP - U.S. troops sweeping through Fallujah on Thursday found what appeared to be a command center used by followers of Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and a U.S. general expressed confidence the battle for the city has "broken the back of the insurgency."


No. 10 Arizona Outguns Wright St. 83-66 (AP) AP - Salim Stoudamire scored 24 points, including 6-of-9 3-pointers, and 10th-ranked Arizona beat Wright State 83-66 Thursday night in the second round of the Preseason NIT.


Global Fund to Fight Deadly Diseases (AP) AP - A fund set up to help combat three of the world's most widespread diseases will support another round of projects, organizers said Thursday, after the United States dropped its objections to financing provisions.


Fossil May Show Ape-Man Ancestor Scientists have discovered the remains of a tree-climbing creature that lived 13 million years ago in what is now northeastern Spain and may be the last common ancestor of modern great apes


APEC leaders pledge to boost free trade SANTIAGO, Chile - Economic leaders present at the 16th Ministerial Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on Thursday (Friday in Manila) agreed to strengthen efforts in trade liberalization and free trade.


Hokies Blast Terps Virginia Tech scores 24 points off four first-half turnovers in a 55-6 wipeout of Maryland on Thursday to remain alone atop the ACC.


Spurs Hold Off Sixers Tim Duncan scores a season-high 34 points and grabs 13 rebounds to lead the Spurs to their fifth straight victory, 88-80, over the 76ers.


Merck #39;s Vioxx Withdrawal Illustrates Power of Regulation by Trial <b>...</b> Merck  amp; Co. withdrew the popular drug Vioxx from the market in September, after data from a clinical trial supported claims the medication was associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.


Eisner Continues Defense of Hiring, Firing When Walt Disney Co. chief executive Michael D. Eisner and Disney President Michael S. Ovitz appeared on  quot;Larry King Live quot; on Sept.


Stocks lack direction NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Stocks seesawed in afternoon trade Thursday, with blue chips struggling to maintain their gains while techs edged lower following warnings from Google.


Father of Nike, Marketing Guru Gives Up Post Philip H. Knight resigned yesterday as head of the Oregon sneaker company that he built into Nike Inc., a global sportswear powerhouse that made everyone want to soar in Air Jordans, Wear


American Fare Cuts Presage Price War American Airlines slashed its fares to Miami yesterday by as much as 85 percent from several cities including Washington #39;s Reagan National Airport, possibly setting off a winter fare war on routes to Florida.


Oracle #39;s PeopleSoft Bid Deadline Nears Oracle Corp. #39;s \$24-a-share hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft Inc. heated up anew yesterday as tonight #39;s deadline for stockholders to offer their shares for sale approached.


IRS Chief Pleads for Bigger Budget Internal Revenue Commissioner Mark W. Everson called on Congress yesterday to boost the agency #39;s funding by the full \$500 million requested by President Bush, calling it a way to help shave the record federal budget deficit.


South Korea Says It May Not Meet 5 GDP Growth Target (Update3) South Korea #39;s economy may miss its 5 percent growth target for 2004 after expanding at its slowest pace in a year in the third quarter, the finance minister said.


PRA Raises \$68.4 Million In Its IPO PRA International Inc., a McLean company that manages clinical trials for drug companies worldwide, said it raised \$68.4 million yesterday in its initial public offering.


Oracle moves to quarterly patch release schedule NOVEMBER 18, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - Oracle Corp. today announced that it is moving to a quarterly patch release schedule in response to user demands for a more predictable process for applying needed security fixes to the company #39;s software.


Syracuse Tops Mississippi St. 71-58 (AP) AP - Syracuse and Mississippi State both struggled in the first half. Hakim Warrick made sure Syracuse had a much better final 20 minutes. Warrick scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half and the fifth-ranked Orange beat No. 12 Mississippi State 71-58 Thursday night in the semifinals of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.


No. 15 Va. Tech Demolishes Maryland 55-6 Bryan Randall Throws Two TD Passes, Runs for Third As No. 15 Virginia Tech Crushes Maryland 55-6. Virginia Tech quarterback Bryan Randall (3) twarts the tackle of Maryland #39;s Dominique Foxworth (6) during first


No. 2 Wake Forest 81, Virginia Commonwealth 67 For the second straight game, Wake Forest had to fight off its own inconsistency and an opponent that refused to quit. Chris Paul scored 16 points despite taking just three shots from the field Thursday night to help the No.


Motorola to Build Cell Phones Into Ski Jackets  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Motorola Inc. MOT.N said it will  unveil plans this week for a line of outerwear that uses  interactive cell phone and portable music technology in  snowboarding jackets, in a bid to win over twentysomethings.


UN: Sudan parties pledge peace Parties in conflict-torn Sudan made pledges for peace before the UN Security Council, which held extraordinary sessions in Nairobi, Kenya.


My views coming back into fashion - Prince THE Prince of Wales has defended his  quot;old-fashioned views quot; after Education Secretary Charles Clarke angrily accused the heir to the throne of being out of touch.


Pakistan plays down Indian comments on Kashmir solution ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan says it would not accept the existing military line dividing Kashmir as an international border, and is playing down concern that India is irreconcilibly opposed to adjusting that frontier.


Unbeaten Federer Marches Into Masters Semi-Finals  HOUSTON (Reuters) - World number one Roger Federer downed  Carlos Moya, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, Thursday to complete a dazzling  unbeaten run through the round-robin stages into the  semi-finals of the Masters Cup.


Cap Gemini Said to Weigh Selling Unit in America Cap Gemini, the Paris-based technology consulting and outsourcing giant, is considering a sale of its struggling business in North America.


Year-end target for Darfur troops The African Union mission chief to Sudan says he hopes  all troops will be deployed by the end of the year.


Ape adds new limb to tree of human evolution The latest probable common ancestor to humans and great apes had a body like an ape, fingers like a chimp and the upright posture of humans, according to researchers who unearthed a fossil of the animal in Spain.


Oracle moves to quarterly security patch cycle Software maker Oracle will soon start issuing security patches quarterly. This new patch schedule comes only months after the company said it would issue such security updates every month.


Sun-isms Debunked Newman writes  quot;We #39;re all aware of the hole-ridden arguments that Sun executives Scott McNealy and Jonathan Schwartz use to attack Linux.


Greek Sprinters Indicted on 8 Counts Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou face misdemeanor charges for allegedly skipping drug tests on the eve of the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, faking a motorcycle accident to cover up their absences and lying to investigators, the public


Report: Holtz to quit; Spurrier to take over Stephen Orr Spurrier may become the new ball coach at South Carolina, a Southeastern Conference rival that immediately would leapfrog the Seminoles and Bulldogs as the opponent to bookmark on future schedules.


Matured Busch a title favorite, not fan favorite NASCAR #39;s new playoff-style championship format has delivered nearly everything its proponents promised: more intense racing, higher television ratings and a tight title race heading into Sunday #39;s season finale.


In the Second Half, an Orange Burst and Victory After a miserable offensive first half during which two of Syracuse #39;s best players seemed to be missing in action, an explosion seemed inevitable.


REVIEW: Nintendo DS a Sleek Powerhouse (AP) AP - The last time Nintendo Co. tried two screens, the result was a head-splitting virtual reality goggle called Virtual Boy that quickly flopped in the mid-1990s.


French leader touts cooperation French Leader Emphasizes <b>...</b> French President Jacques Chirac toned down his criticism of Britain #39;s role in the Iraq war as he arrived yesterday on a two-day visit celebrating the Entente


Leaders overlook Palestinian sentiment American policymakers and statesmen believe the Middle East is better off without Yasser Arafat. Madeline Albright said Arafat  quot;was viewed as an obstacle to peace, both by the Israelis and


REVIEW: Windows Cell Phone Sleek, Stacked (AP) AP - With all the grumbling over Windows and its many shortcomings, why would anyone want Microsoft's computer operating system to run their cell phone?


SBC, Yahoo! Extend Pact to Offer Service (AP) AP - SBC Communications Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. are expanding their partnership in high-speed Internet access to make news, entertainment and other services available not just on computers but also on cell phones, televisions and other devices.


Taipei to Cloak City in World's Largest Wi-Fi Grid (Reuters) Reuters - Dennis Tseng is an avid Web surfer who\loves to hang out in Taipei's upmarket Hsinyi district, where\wireless Internet access is freely available to all.


Radio Veteran To Head Sirius (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Mel Karmazin, the hard-charging broadcasting executive who left Viacom Inc. after clashing with chairman and chief executive Sumner M. Redstone, is taking command at Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., which will reunite him with longtime ally Howard Stern.


After False Starts, 3G Mobile Service Set for Take-Off (Reuters) Reuters - With most technical issues resolved\and giants like Vodafone Plc signing up customers, 2005 could\be the year when third-generation (3G) mobile services finally\gain a global audience.


Novell Posts Profit (Reuters) Reuters - Novell Inc.  on Thursday posted\a quarterly net profit, compared with a year-earlier loss, on\stronger sales of Linux operating software and a boost to\earnings from a weaker dollar.


Sybari offers security for IM, SharePoint (InfoWorld) InfoWorld - Sybari Software today added Antigen 8.0 for Microsoft SharePoint and Antigen 8.0 for Instant Messaging, two antivirus, antispam, and content-filtering security software products for enterprise environments.


Oracle's PeopleSoft Bid Deadline Nears (washingtonpost.com) washingtonpost.com - Oracle Corp.'s  #36;24-a-share hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft Inc. heated up anew yesterday as tonight's deadline for stockholders to offer their shares for sale approached.


Disney Toys with Jobs' Baby (The Motley Fool) The Motley Fool - The head of Steve Jobs probably did a 360 -- a la Regan in The Exorcist -- when he heard the news, reported in a recent issue of Hollywood Reporter, that Disney (NYSE: DIS - News) will make Toy Story 3.


China, 15 Other Countries Consider NASA Exploration (Reuters) Reuters - China and 15 other countries joined


San Francisco Mulls Ban of Beloved Zoo Elephants (Reuters) Reuters - San Francisco officials pondered\on Thursday whether to stop keeping elephants in the city's zoo\as activists pushed for a ban amid concerns about their\conditions in captivity.


As Ice Thaws, Arctic Peoples at Loss for Words (Reuters) Reuters - What are the words used by indigenous\peoples in the Arctic for "hornet," "robin," "elk," "barn owl"\or "salmon?"


UN Short-Circuits U.S.-Led Drive to Ban Cloning (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. efforts to secure a global\treaty banning the cloning of human embryos, including for stem\cell research, were dealt a major setback on Thursday when U.N.\diplomats agreed to work for a political declaration on the\issue instead.


Electronic Eye Devised to Help Blind Cross Roads (Reuters) Reuters - An "electronic eye" that can be fitted\to a pair of glasses could help the blind cross roads more\safely, scientists said on Friday.


Ground 'Moves' as Cane Toads Invade Australia Park (Reuters) Reuters - Hundreds of thousands of poisonous baby\cane toads invaded an Australian national park on Friday,\hopping around in such numbers that the ground seemed to move,\an ecologist said.


Ancient Animal Could Be Human-Ape Ancestor (AP) AP - A nearly 13 million-year-old ape discovered in Spain is the last probable common ancestor to all living humans and great apes, a research team says in Friday's issue of Science magazine.


U.N. Abandons Idea of Anti-Cloning Treaty (AP) AP - In a victory for advocates of stem cell research, U.N. diplomats on Thursday gave up trying to craft a treaty to outlaw human cloning, and will probably settle for a less powerful document that won't seek a worldwide ban, officials said.


Scientists in 17 Nations to Study Fish (AP) AP - Scientists in 17 countries will scout waterways to locate and study the world's largest freshwater fish species, many of which are declining in numbers, hoping to learn how to better protect them, researchers announced Thursday.


Study: Learning to Run Propelled Evolution (AP) AP - New research suggests that developing the ability to run  #151; long thought to be a byproduct of walking for early man  #151; was actually an instrumental step in the evolution of people from ape-like creatures into what we know today as humans.


N.Korea Says Kim Portrait Reports a 'U.S. Plot' (Reuters) Reuters - Reports that portraits of North Korean\leader Kim Jong-il had been removed were a U.S. plot to\overthrow the government and a "groundless fabrication," Xinhua\news agency quoted a North Korean official on Friday as saying.


Prosecutor Feared Dead in Venezuela Blast (AP) AP - A bomb exploded early Friday in a pickup truck owned by a prosecutor who is pressing charges against supporters of the failed 2002 coup against President Hugo Chavez, and a charred body inside appears to be that of the prosecutor, the government said.


N.Korea Says Kim Portrait Reports a 'U.S. Plot'  BEIJING (Reuters) - Reports that portraits of North Korean  leader Kim Jong-il had been removed were a U.S. plot to  overthrow the government and a "groundless fabrication," Xinhua  news agency quoted a North Korean official on Friday as saying.


Suicide Bombers Kill 14 in Iraq  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A double suicide car bomb attack  devastated a police station just outside Baghdad's fortified  Green Zone on Saturday, killing seven people and wounding 57 in  the latest strike against Iraq's beleaguered security forces.


Johnson boss to fill big shoes at Nike William Perez, president and chief executive officer of Racine-based SC Johnson  amp; Son Inc., is taking the reins of Nike Inc., the world #39;s dominant marketer of athletic shoes.


Boeing ex-officer pleads guilty in Air Force hiring case: World News: Washington, Nov 17 : A Former Boeing Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has pleaded guilty to illegally negotiating an executive job for an Air Force #39;s acquistion official while she still had authority over billions of dollars in Boeing contract


Knicks Nudge Rockets 93-92 at Buzzer (AP) AP - Jamal Crawford banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the New York Knicks to their first road win of the season, 93-92 over the reeling Houston Rockets on Thursday night.


NBA Wrap: Duncan Notches Season-High as Spurs Win (Reuters) Reuters - Tim Duncan poured in a season-high 34\points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs won\their fifth straight game, 88-80 over the 76ers in Philadelphia\Thursday.


Legal challenge to ban on hunting The Countryside Alliance prepares a legal challenge to the Parliament Act - used to force the hunt ban into law.


Veteran Mel Karmazin To Head Sirius Radio The hard-charging broadcasting executive, formerly of Viacom Inc., is taking the command post at Sirius and reuniting with longtime ally Howard Stern. -The Washington Post


Tensions Rise as Friday Bid Deadline Nears Amid a new war of words, Calpers tendered 1.5 million shares Thursday in support of Oracle Corp.'s \$24-a-share hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft Inc. -The Washington Post


PRA Raises \$68.4 Million In Its IPO PRA International Inc., a McLean company that manages clinical trials for drug companies, plans to use some of the funds to hire staff as it expands its worldwide operations. -The Washington Post


Rancor deepens over PeopleSoft deal A majority of PeopleSoft (PSFT) shareholders are expected to support Oracle #39;s (ORCL) takeover bid when they tender shares Friday night.


Pentagon Updates Rules On Post-Government Work The Pentagon has added new procedures to ensure that senior officials seeking employment in industry abide by the rules governing post-government work.


For Fallujah Family, a Daring Escape After hiding for days, 10 relatives flee U.S. assault across Euphrates River.


Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese frenzy may spur owner meltdown I have come like a pilgrim to this modest Fort Lauderdale neighborhood, nestled conveniently between the flight path of a major airport and an Indian gaming casino, to witness a miracle - in marketing, if nothing else.


Sun plans patent protection for open-source Solaris SAN JOSE, Calif.--When Sun Microsystems releases Solaris as open-source software, it plans to provide legal protection from patent-infringement suits to outsiders using or developing the operating system--one of several ways Sun hopes to make Solaris more


Top-seeded Roger Federer beats Carlos Moya to remain undefeated Top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland overcame a second-set lapse and defeated Carlos Moya of Spain 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Thursday night to remain undefeated in the ATP Masters Cup Championships.


Knicks Nudge Rockets 93-92 at Buzzer New York Knicks #39; Jamal Crawford (11) goes up to shoot the game-winning three-point shot as Houston Rockets #39; Jim Jackson (21) defends during the fourth quarter Thursday, Nov. 18, 2004 in Houston.


Webb won #39;t let game become all-consuming WEST PALM BEACH - She didn #39;t mean it in the literal sense, but the words nonetheless were startling even under camouflage of a dismissive laugh.


FedEx, New York Life Press Bush on Trade as China #39;s Power Grows US companies such as FedEx Corp. and New York Life Insurance Co. are pleading with President George W. Bush to start discussions on a Pacific Rim free-trade bloc as he heads to this weekend #39;s regional economic summit.


Fed Likely To Say No To Riggs  Payments The Federal Reserve probably will not approve a \$10 million payment due later this year on Riggs's trust-preferred securities as the agency is cautious about preserving Riggs's cash, sources say.


Upside of a Down Dollar U.S. manufacturers benefit greatly from a cheaper dollar, one major reason why the Bush administration has taken a relaxed attitude toward the slide in the U.S. currency.


WTO Blesses American 'Champagne' GENEVA, Nov. 18 -- The United States and Australia prevailed in an interim ruling by the World Trade Organization in a dispute over protection given by the European Union to its regional goods such as Champagne wine and Feta cheese, trade officials said Thursday.


Report: Florida data suggests e-voting problems An analysis by four university researchers contends a link between electronic voting machines and a pro-Bush skew in Florida.


Oracle moves to quarterly patch release schedule Oracle today announced that it is moving to a quarterly patch release schedule, even as the company faces criticism from analyst firm Gartner Inc. for its handling of a recent critical security fix.


Search Engine Forums Spotlight Links to this week's topics from search engine forums across the web: Google Launches Search for Scholars - Adwords to Ban Affiliates? - MSN's 'Near Me' Search Button - The Difference In Traffic for #1 and #10? - Robots.txt   Security Issues - One year anniversary of the 'Florida' Update - What is the Future of the 'Niche Directory'


System gremlins resolved at HSBC Computer glitches which led to chaos for HSBC customers on Monday are fixed, the High Street bank confirms.


Directors also delay decision on first-quarter dividend SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Marsh  amp; McLennan said late Thursday that five directors, who are also executives at the insurance broker, have stepped down from the board.


Blog reading explodes in America About 32 million people in the US read a blog in 2004 but less than half of Americans know what a blog is, says a survey.


MSN Extends Overture Paid-Search Deal Microsoft Corp. #39;s MSN division has extended its sponsored-links contract with Overture Services Inc. for another year. ADVERTISEMENT.


IBM Says It Swamps Rivals in Key UNIX Computer Test IBM (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday its workhorse commercial computers have smashed the industry #39;s most demanding tests, which analysts said creates


Radio Takes The Big Leap Forward (CBS) Finally I have a TiVo for my radio. Well, not quite but it #39;s close enough. Just as TiVo does for TV, RadioShark from Griffin Technology (griffintechnology.


Greek duo face criminal charges Greek sprint stars Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou are charged for skipping drug test prior to the Athens Games. They are also charged for faking a motorcycle accident, China Radio International reported Friday.


Spurs past Sixers 88-80 The San Antonio Spurs snatched their fifth straight victory in an away game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Tim Duncan led the Spurs with a season-high 34 points and 13 rebounds, China Radio International reported Friday.


No. 24 Memphis 81, Saint Mary #39;s 66  quot;Coach called me over the summer and asked me if I was working hard, quot; Carney said.  quot;I guess I showed him what I did all through the summer tonight.


Favre #39;s mother falls ill while on book promotion tour Bonita Favre was taken to the emergency room after waking up with  quot;a horrible stomach bug, quot; said Zo Je Feigenbaum, the publicist for the book entitled  quot;FAVRE.


Ivory Coast Rebel Chief Brands Gbagbo War Criminal Ivory Coast #39;s rebel chief said on Thursday he wanted President Laurent Gbagbo charged with war crimes as the West African country #39;s leader called on thousands of foreigners who fled mob violence to return.


NBA Wrap: Duncan Notches Season-High as Spurs Win  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tim Duncan poured in a season-high 34  points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs won  their fifth straight game, 88-80 over the 76ers in Philadelphia  Thursday.


Virginia Tech Blasts Maryland, 55-6  BLACKSBURG, Va. (Sports Network) - Mike Imoh ran for two  first-quarter touchdowns and 15th-ranked Virginia Tech routed  Maryland 55-6 at Lane Stadium.


At least five drugs deserve a safety review, official tells Senate <b>...</b> Consumers looking for alternatives to Vioxx have other painkillers to choose from, ranging from similar prescription drugs such as Celebrex to that old medicine-chest standby, aspirin.


Microsoft Extends Overture Deal to 2006 Microsoft and Yahoo agreed to a one-year extension of MSN #39;s deal to show Overture Services #39; paid listings on its Web sites.


Blowout crushes Terps #39; bowl bid Maryland #39;s long-shot hopes for a bowl bid and winning season ended with the worst loss in coach Ralph Friedgen #39;s four seasons.


Sorenstam takes early lead Swedish star Annika Sorenstam shot a six-under-par 66 in Thursday #39;s first round at the season-ending \$1-million ADT Championship.


KYOTO PROTOCOL GETS GREEN LIGHT The Kyoto Protocol has finally been given the green light and will become a binding treaty on February the 16th. The finalisation of the United Nations #39; environmental accord, which is designed to combat global


Prosecution demands death for SA  #39;mercenary #39; MALABO - The prosecution demanded death sentences and jail terms exceeding a century in a trial of alleged putschists accused of plotting against Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.


Lessons From The Vioxx Fiasco What a mess. Weeks after Merck  amp; Co. (MRK ) yanked its blockbuster painkiller Vioxx off the market, the furor is still raging.


Disney quarterly profit up 24, beating expectations LOS ANGELES - Walt Disney (DIS) quarterly profit rose 24 as cable TV results and a tax benefit more than offset a drought at its movie studio.


Index points to steadily slowing economy The economy could be headed for slower growth in the next several months, according to a report released Thursday by a private research group.


Deal with ULR targets MetLife, Prudential, Unum, Cigna SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi sued four leading group benefits insurers and broker Universal Life Resources, for allegedly taking part in secret kickback schemes that raised the cost of coverage for millions of


Gates loaded ... with e-mail spam If you don #39;t think anybody else could possibly get any more spam than you, think of Bill Gates. The Microsoft Corp. chairman receives about 4 million pieces of e-mail per day, most of it junk, says Steve Ballmer, the company #39;s chief executive.


Will Solaris 10 Make Sun Shine Again? When Sun Microsystems Inc. (SUNW ) Chairman and CEO Scott G. McNealy took the stage at a shindig in San Jose #39;s Tech Museum of Innovation on Nov. 15, he unveiled the most important product to come out of his company in nearly a decade.


Nintendo bets on new hand-held machine Video game pioneer Nintendo Co. is no stranger to success, boasting a string of classics ranging from  quot;Donkey Kong quot; and  quot;Super Mario Bros.


Spurrier to take over Gamecocks COLUMBIA, SC -- Lou Holtz told his South Carolina staff and players Thursday that he is retiring after this season, clearing the way for Steve Spurrier to take over as the Gamecocks #39; head coach and complete the handoff between two of college football #39;s


Memphis gets a battle from Gaels New York -- Midway through the second half Thursday night against St. Mary #39;s, John Calipari, the coach of 24th-ranked Memphis, turned to an assistant and said,  quot;These guys won #39;t go away.


Revved-Up Reality TV Is Aiming To Boost Ratings And Racing BRANDON - When NASCAR announced it would experiment with a new points formula to decide the championship this year, it sounded promising, maybe even bold.


Iran #39;s Nukes: The Crisis Is Far From Over For weeks the rhetoric mounted as diplomats shuttled between Tehran and Vienna, seeking a solution to the impasse over Iran #39;s nuclear program.


MEPs have voted to approve the new European Commission team MEPs have voted to approve the new European Commission team. The result was 449 votes in favour to 149 votes against with 82 abstentions.


French to release Arafat #39;s records French authorities said they will release medical information on the cause of Yasser Arafat #39;s death to his diplomat nephew today in an effort to quash speculation about a conspiracy to kill the Palestinian leader.


Pakistan credited in Kashmir overture Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh #39;s recent moves to restore peace in Kashmir were encouraged by successful elections in the state in 2002 and positive steps by archrival Pakistan, Indian Ambassador to Washington Ronen Sen said yesterday.


E Guinea: death sentences demanded The prosecution in Malabo demanded death sentences and jail terms exceeding a century on Thursday for alleged putschists accused of plotting against President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.


Samsung Q30 ultra-portable notebook Review Very thin, very light - but totally desirable?


Alarm was sounded seven years ago on dig #39;s leak problems A group of state, federal, and Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff engineers issued a confidential report in 1997 which concluded that miles of Big Dig tunnel walls were waterproofed with products


Hewitt Rusty but Wins Adelaide Opener (AP) AP - Top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt opened his 2005 singles season with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over French qualifier Arnaud Clement in a first-round match Tuesday at the Australian men's hardcourt tennis championships.


KIWIS QUICKLY DISMISSED Australia reached 84 for one at tea, after bowling the New Zealanders out for 353 just three balls into the second session, on the second day of the First Test in Brisbane.


U.S. Trade Exec Urges Mercosur Flexibility In extremely blunt terms, the top U.S. trade official said Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay must be more flexible in negotiations aimed at creating a 34-nation free trade agreement spanning the Americas.


Heating fuel supply seen ample; oil futures fall under \$46 SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Natural gas futures closed under \$7 for the first time in over seven weeks, with the first decline in US inventories since late March not influential enough to spark concerns over winter heating-fuel supplies.


2d section of Artery tunnel found to have serious flaw Specialists hired by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority have discovered a second section of the Big Dig #39;s Interstate 93 tunnel with a defect similar to


Continental seeking \$500 million in cuts Continental Airlines said Thursday it is seeking \$500 million more in cuts in wages and benefit reductions. The company said the move is necessary - on top of more than \$1.1 billion in


Beijing takes part in a workshop with 30 other countries Long shunned as a player in US-led international space ventures, China has been admitted to talks with NASA about helping to accomplish President Bush #39;s goals for exploring the moon and Mars.


Woods leads by 3 on a soggy course MIYAZAKI, Japan -- Tiger Woods overcame soggy conditions to shoot a 5-under-par 65 for a three-stroke lead Thursday at the Dunlop Phoenix.


Kiwis ruffle Aussie feathers? They may be relatively small and endearing to the rest of the world, but the Kiwis have an amazing ability to irritate Australians.


Crawford #39;s Bank Shot at Buzzer Saves Knicks A team in desperate need of a victory and a new star found them at the last second Thursday night. Jamal Crawford, the Knicks #39; main acquisition last summer, banked in a 26


A cold blast from the past Packer fans are known for being fanatics, and River Oaks resident Doug Erwin is adding to their lore by recreating the 1967 Ice Bowl.


Before UN, Sudanese pledge peace A Dec. 31 deadline is set for an accord to end the region #39;s 21-year civil war. By EVELYN LEOPOLD. NAIROBI, KENYA - Staking its prestige on Sudan #39;s troubled peace process, the UN Security Council met away from


Myanmar orders mass release of nearly 4,000 prisoners YANGON : Myanmar #39;s mass release of nearly 4,000 prisoners has sparked faint hopes for political detainees including pro-democracy figures, but one observer it was aimed at easing international criticism over last month #39;s power struggle.


Brown: Ask and you will receive He has always done whatever they've wanted. Troy Brown has run back kickoffs, returned punts, caught passes. He has been the primary receiver, a decoy, a spot rusher. He has been asked to be a team leader, then asked to take a step back and be a team player.


NFL's strong-arm tactics smack of censorship Over the years, there have been many jokes about NFL standing for No Fun League, demanding uniformity and squelching individuality.


Smith probable for Eagles' season opener Injured junior forward Craig Smith appears probable, while the status of suspended senior guard Jermaine Watson remains uncertain for Boston College's basketball season opener against the University of Maine tonight at 7:30 at Conte Forum, according to a school official.


Key games in New England UNH (8-2) vs. MAINE (5-5) When, where: Tomorrow, 1 p.m., at Orono, Maine. TV, radio: None. Last season: UNH won, 47-27. Comments: UNH will be looking for a repeat of last week's 62-24 victory over Towson, which enabled the Wildcats to take over first place in the Atlantic 10 North and earned earn them a No. 5 ranking in Division ...


BC's Lee was a little late getting started College football is big business, but there is still room for players such as Boston College fullback Everett Lee.


Babson seeks repeat Last year, Babson captured the New England Women and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament championship in dramatic fashion.


This BCS business is getting out of hand Enough of the Bowl Championship Series. Enough of coaches sounding like Oliver Stone scripting his latest movie project.


College games on TV WISCONSIN (9-1) vs. IOWA (8-2) When, where: Tomorrow, 3:30 p.m., at Iowa City. TV: ESPN. Last season: Iowa won, 27-21. Comments: No. 9 Wisconsin is looking to bounce back after losing for the first time this season, 49-14, at Michigan State. DB Jim Leonhard has 19 career interceptions, two shy of the school record. QB John Stocco, who is averaging ...


December date for Yukos sell-off Russia sets a date and price for the auction of embattled Russian oil giant Yukos' main unit, as it seeks payment of a massive tax bill.


US sale boosts Waterford's profit Irish china and glassmaker Waterford Wedgwood announces a half-year profit thanks to the sale of a former US cookware division.


Kettle campaign to ring in With Christmas slightly more than a month away, Salvation Army bell ringers will begin the organization #39;s kettle campaign today at locations across Topeka.


Chanting throng tunes in to Stern #39;s Sirius giveaway Manhattan #39;s Union Square has been the site of anti-war demonstrations over the years, but midday Thursday it became the newest battleground in the satellite radio war.


5  #39;inside #39; directors quit Marsh board Embattled insurance broker Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. said yesterday that five members of its board of directors -- all of them executives of the company -- are leaving the board.


Bill Gates world #39;s most  quot;spammed quot; person When you get frustrated with an avalanche of spams sent to your email box, spare a thought for Bill Gates. The Microsoft Corp. chairman is the world #39;s most spammed person with


Music industry sues 20 at Mass. colleges Twenty people at Massachusetts colleges are among 761 being sued by the recording industry in its latest attack on illegal file-swappers.


Canada insistent on goal to slice vehicle emissions OTTAWA - Two top Canadian ministers announced this week that they had resolved to cut global-warming emissions of cars and trucks sold in Canada by 25 percent by the end of the decade.


NFL #39;s strong-arm tactics smack of censorship Over the years, there have been many jokes about NFL standing for No Fun League, demanding uniformity and squelching individuality.


Jamal Crawford hits buzzer-beater as New York beats the Rockets 93 <b>...</b> Jamal Crawford had been practising crazy shots over and over again recently, preparing himself for the opportunity to make a game-winning basket.


Carney leads No. 24 Tigers into final Rodney Carney scored a career-high 33 points as No. 24 Memphis ended the surprising tournament run of St. Mary #39;s with an 81-66 victory in the semifinals of the Coaches vs.


UPDATE 3-Australia trail New Zealand by 156 at stumps Australia were 197 for four in their first innings in reply to New Zealand #39;s 353 when play ended on the second day of their first test at the Gabba on Friday.


Sorenstam still not satisfied with her swing She has won seven times, claimed another major and went over the \$2 million mark for the fourth consecutive season. But that doesn #39;t mean she came to the ADT Championship to relax.


IRAN NUKES  #39;CLOSER #39; THAN THOUGHT November 19, 2004 -- WASHINGTON - Some disturbing revelations that Iran is trying to adapt its advanced ballistic missiles to carry nuclear warheads could mean that the fanatical Islamic nation is far closer to becoming a nuclear power than had been


3 Egyptian soldiers killed in Israeli error Israeli troops mistook three Egyptian police officers for Palestinian militants and shot them dead yesterday along the Gaza Strip #39;s border


Last Australian aid group in Iraq leaves after latest deaths Get INQ7 breaking news on your Smart mobile phone in the Philippines. Send INQ7 BREAKING to 386. SYDNEY, Australia -- The last remaining Australian aid agency in Iraq announced Friday it is pulling out following


N.Korea denies Kim Jong Il is losing power North Korea Friday denied reports that pictures of leader Kim Jong-il had been removed from public buildings in Pyongyang and that Kim was losing influence.


Study: Harvard bolsters Boston  Harvard University boosts the local economy by \$3.4 billion a year, and is directly or indirectly responsible for providing the Boston area with more than 48,000 jobs, according to a study commissioned by the university.


Gush of criticism  A fountain that's planned as a centerpiece for a key stretch of the Rose Kennedy Greenway is drawing objections from Boston residents and a design review panel -- just one month before bidding on construction work is supposed to begin.


Red hot Google shares cooling  Google Inc. may be subject to the law of gravity, after all. Its shares, which more than doubled in the two months after the company's Aug. 19 initial public offering and traded as high as \$201.60 on Nov. 3, have slipped about 17 percent over the past two weeks. They closed at \$167.54 yesterday, down 2.88 percent for the day, ...


Prospective WBIX buyer pulls out  Accused embezzler Bradford C. Bleidt checked himself into the psychiatric unit at Massachusetts General Hospital this week, said investigators involved in the case, and they expect him to come forward in the next several days to face the civil charges against him.


Hindu seer sent to police custody A Hindu cleric facing murder charges in southern India is sent to police custody for questioning.


FDA officer warns on 5 drugs, offers harsh critique of agency WASHINGTON -- A veteran Food and Drug Administration safety officer yesterday told a Senate hearing inquiring into the abrupt recall of the arthritis drug Vioxx that five other widely used drugs should be either withdrawn or sharply restricted because they have dangerous side effects.


No. 9 North Carolina 91, No. 8 Kentucky 78 North Carolina finally beat Kentucky again, thanks to Rashad McCants and Sean May. Jawad Williams helped a bunch, too. McCants scored 28 points, May had 14 points and 19 rebounds and Williams tipped in a miss


An 'electronic eye' for the blind Japanese scientists have built an electronic eye they say could help blind people get around safely.


5 'inside' directors quit Marsh board NEW YORK -- Embattled insurance broker Marsh  amp; McLennan Cos. said yesterday that five members of its board of directors -- all of them executives of the company -- are leaving the board.


Ex-Viacom president gets hired by Sirius NEW YORK -- Mel Karmazin, former president of media conglomerate Viacom Inc. , is joining Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. as chief executive, replacing Joseph Clayton, who is staying on as chairman, the company said yesterday.


Music industry sues 20 at Mass. colleges THE REGION Twenty people at Massachusetts colleges are among 761 being sued by the recording industry in its latest attack on illegal file-swappers. Since last year, the Recording Industry Association of America has filed thousands of lawsuits against individuals for trading music recordings over the Internet without making payments to recording companies. The latest round of suits includes people connected ...


Oracle advances in PeopleSoft takeover fight  REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Oracle Corp. moved closer to victory in its \$8.8 billion hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft Inc.


Calif. sues 4 major insurers  SAN DIEGO -- Four major insurance companies paid a broker tens of millions of dollars in hidden kickbacks in exchange for winning contracts with some of the largest US companies, California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi charged yesterday.


Blair, Chirac seek common ground  LONDON -- Marking the 100th anniversary of the diplomatic agreement that ended centuries of war and conflict between France and Britain, President Jacques Chirac of France yesterday began a two-day visit with Prime Minister Tony Blair by citing the issues that bind the two countries as well as those that divide them.


Dollar Steadies, More Weakness Expected  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar paused near recent  lows Friday but dealers expected selling to resume after a  weekend meeting of G20 finance ministers, while stock investors  sought cover in companies immune to currency risks.


Palestinians seek monitors for election JERUSALEM -- Palestinian officials appealed yesterday for international monitors to help with their presidential elections and urged Israel's unilateral plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip be folded into a stalled international peace plan.


Troops in Fallujah find terror group's command center BAGHDAD -- US troops sweeping through Fallujah yesterday found what appeared to be a command center used by followers of Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and a US general expressed confidence the battle for the city has  quot;broken the back of the insurgency. quot;


Bin Laden said to be cut off, compromised WASHINGTON -- Pakistan's military has been so effective in pressuring Al Qaeda leaders hiding in the tribal region of western Pakistan that Osama bin Laden and his top deputies no longer are able to direct terrorist operations, a senior American commander said yesterday.


Heroin production surges in Afghanistan  BRUSSELS -- Heroin production is booming in Afghanistan, undermining democracy and putting money in the coffers of terrorists, according to a UN report yesterday that called on US and NATO-led forces to get more involved in fighting traffickers.


Prince's views on education rebuked LONDON -- Prince Charles' tirade against people who aspire to lofty goals beyond their natural talent earned him a rare public rebuke from a senior government minister yesterday -- and gasps of disbelief from the British media.


FDA whistle-blower singles out 5 drugs A Food and Drug Administration official warned Congress yesterday that the FDA would be unable to prevent another episode like the Vioxx case, in which the popular arthritis


Dollar hits new low against euro The dollar sank to a record low against the euro and a 7-month low against the yen Thursday, pressured by expectations that nothing will be done at an upcoming G20 meeting to arrest its fall.


Salvation Army hopes to avoid blue Christmas On a near balmy day, the red-and-green confetti and Christmas carols seemed out of place, but Salvation Army officials hoped their plea Thursday for \$2.1 million in financial assistance rang true.


30-year mortgage rates show slight decline for week Rates on 30-year and 15-year mortgages dipped this week. Rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.74 percent, mortgage giant Freddie Mac said in its weekly survey released Thursday.


California sets tougher fuel standards Entering an area of pollution regulation that had been solely the federal government #39;s job, California regulators Thursday set fuel standards for watercraft and locomotives


ELI EASES INTO ROLE AS SAVIOR November 19, 2004 -- ELI MANNING is The Prince summoned to make the Giants kings of the NFL again, and New York hasn #39;t hyperventilated over a quarterback like this since Joe Namath rode into town on his white horse and white shoes 40 years ago.


Karzai: Don #39;t Spray Our Poppies A UN survey released this week showed Afghanistan this year supplied 87 percent of the world #39;s opium - the raw material for heroin - following record-high cultivation that has skyrocketed since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.


Kyoto treaty to come into effect on February 16, 2005 The United Nations started the countdown yesterday: in 89 days time the 128 states who are members of the Kyoto Protocol will be under a legal obligation.


Quiet first half hits EMI profits Music giant EMI sees profits fall in the first half of the year after opting to delay its major releases.


Report: Yukos unit to be auctioned The Russian government plans to sell a majority stake in the main production unit of the embattled Yukos oil company at an auction scheduled for December 19, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.


IRS increases audits, wants more enforcement Audits and lawsuits by the Internal Revenue Service raked in a record \$43.1 billion in taxes last year -- about four times the agency #39;s budget -- as the IRS audited more wealthy individuals


Rayovac to Buy United Industries  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Battery maker Rayovac Corp. ROV.N on  Tuesday said it would buy United Industries Corp., a maker of  lawn and garden products, for about \$476 million in cash and  stock in a bid to diversify its product mix.


Recording Companies Sue 761 More Computer Users LOS ANGELES -- The recording industry filed copyright infringement lawsuits against 761 computer users in the latest round of litigation in the record companies #39; effort to stamp out unauthorized trading of music online.


Long-awaited Halo 2 for Xbox runs rings around the competition They say the best things come to those who wait.  quot;Halo 2 quot; lives up to the billing, but it sure took long enough. The release date was changed, and changed some more, but Bungie met the expectations.


FIFA act on race hate row FIFA today launched an inquiry into the disgraceful scenes of racist chanting which marred last night #39;s clash between England and Spain in Madrid.


Two Japanese Men Sentenced for Data Theft (AP) AP - Two men were given suspended jail sentences Friday for stealing personal data on subscribers to Japanese broadband services provider Softbank Corp. in an effort to extort money from the company.


Westwood grabs lead in Nedbank Golf Challenge SUN CITY, South Africa (AFP) - Lee Westwood recovered from three bogeys in the first four holes to post a one-under-par 71 and take the lead after the third round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge.


Bush to Take Security Agenda to APEC Meet (AP) AP - President Bush, meeting with Asian-Pacific leaders, is seeking more international backing to both persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions and to take concrete steps to cripple terrorist networks around the world.


Home Ownership Tops Bush Housing Agenda (AP) AP - Boosting homeownership tops President Bush's housing agenda, but the biggest battle facing his administration during the second term is how to overhaul a program that helps 2 million poor families pay their rent.


Boxer Becomes Third Biggest Vote Getter (AP) AP - Little noticed in this month's election was that the nation's third biggest vote getter, behind only President Bush and John Kerry, was Sen. Barbara Boxer, a fiery California Democrat who proudly wears her liberalism on her sleeve.


Santorum Keeps Low Profile With Specter (AP) AP - Ordinarily, Sen. Rick Santorum might figure to be Sen. Arlen Specter's most public of allies in a fierce and ultimately successful battle for the chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee, one Pennsylvania Republican aiding another in a classic Capitol power struggle.


Prince of Persia: Warri Ubisoft today announced that Prince of Persia: Warrior Within has been shipped to stores nationwide for the Playstation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC.


Sudan Govt., South Rebels Pledge Peace by Dec. 31  NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters) - The Sudanese government and its  southern rebel opponents signed a pledge Friday to complete an  agreement to end a 21-year-old civil war by December 31.


Venezuela Govt. Believes Car Blast Kills Prosecutor  CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Two blasts destroyed a car  in a Caracas suburb on Thursday and killed its driver, who  Venezuelan authorities believed was a key state prosecutor  leading a probe into opponents of President Hugo Chavez.


The naked truth about pro sports, television The term throwing in the towel takes on new meaning this week, thanks again to televisions continuing creative contribution to sport.


Dollar Steadies, More Weakness Expected (Reuters) Reuters - The U.S. dollar paused near recent\lows Friday but dealers expected selling to resume after a\weekend meeting of G20 finance ministers, while stock investors\sought cover in companies immune to currency risks.


Weak exports, consumption take toll on South Korea's economy (AFP) AFP - South Korea's economy achieved lower-than-expected growth in the three months to September as domestic demand failed to pick up the slack from weakening exports.


Yukos Main Subsidiary to Be Sold on December 19 The Russian Federal Property Fund announced on Friday, November 19, that the auction to sell the shares of Yuganskneftegaz, the main production subsidiary of embattled Yukos Oil Company will take place on December 19.


Dollar Holds on to Gain From Record Low; G-20 May Voice Concern The dollar in London held yesterday #39;s gain from a record low on speculation the Group of 20 largest economies will this weekend voice concern at the currency #39;s drop.


Kmart-Sears merger about price, quality Average customers know the same thing that ministers of high finance understand: It #39;s all about the price. Shoppers Thursday at the Billings Sears store were eager to find out what a proposed


Radio veteran Karmazin joins Sirius Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. named former Viacom Inc. president Mel Karmazin chief executive Thursday, a month after signing talk-show host Howard Stern to lure listeners.


COMUNICADO DE ROCHE Roche, OSI Pharmaceuticals and Genentech announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved, after priority review, Tarceva(TM) (erlotinib) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung


Universal Life Resources sued by Calif. California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi filed a lawsuit Thursday against brokerage Universal Life Resources and a number of major insurance companies as part of an effort  quot;to break up a national industry-wide pattern of kickbacks and hidden fees


Ancient ape #39;s bones unearthed in Spain Spanish researchers say they have found the remains of an extinct species of great ape that may have been the last ancestor humans shared with gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans.


Mac Expo: Andy Ihnatko, live and loud Macworld columnist and author, Andy Ihnatko, will speak at the opening of the London Apple Store on Regent Street on November 22. Ihnatko will speak at 7.00pm at Apple #39;s new flagship London store.


Sorenstam #39;s lead follows birdies Annika Sorenstam birdied four of the last five holes Thursday, twice with a 7-iron into greens surrounded by trouble, giving her a 6-under-par 66 and a one-shot lead after the first round


Hokies crush Terps, maintain ACC lead BLACKSBURG, Va.  Virginia Tech scored 24 points off four first-half turnovers and coasted to a 55-6 wipeout of Maryland on Thursday.


Cricket: Ton of class from Oram as NZ keep hopes alive Century-maker Jacob Oram respected, frustrated and then bludgeoned an all-conquering bowling attack before his own  quot;popgun quot; bowling sent tremors through Australia #39;s top order in the first cricket test today.


Knicks notebook: Wilkens is still having doubts about Thomas Lenny Wilkens gave a hint of his plans for puzzling forward Tim Thomas before the game, when he talked about how he had tried to get the 6-10 forward going, but he added,  quot;You know, I can only wait so long with him.


WSU notebook: Coach Doba worried about UW trick plays PULLMAN - The fact that Washington coaches have nothing to lose worries Cougars coach Bill Doba, who has his team on alert for trick plays.


Sudanese government and rebels agree to end southern conflict by <b>...</b> Sudanese government and rebel officials signed an agreement Friday promising to end the 21-year civil war in Sudan by the end of the year in front of the UN Security Council holding a special meeting in Africa.


UKIP #39;s attacks embarrass newly elected Barroso Commission Approved by two thirds of the MEPs, the Barroso II Commission is due to take office on 22 November. Eurosceptic MEP Nigel Farage took the shine off the subsequent celebrations by attacking French Transport


Myanmar frees 4,000 wrongly imprisoned from jail Our gratitude goes to you for the interest and enthusiasm you have shown in visiting the AsiaNews.it website. AsiaNews is also a monthly magazine (only in Italian).


Chappelle DVD Set for June Release Via Sony (Reuters) Reuters - The reigning king of the\television DVD is ready to re-enter the market.


Militants Try to Stir Arab-Kurd Violence (AP) AP - Insurgents battling U.S. and Iraqi forces in the northern city of Mosul have been trying to drag the Kurdish minority into their fight and set off a sectarian war, Kurdish and Arab officials say.


Manufacturer Gets Help Managing Product Information (TechWeb) TechWeb - Brady Corp. turns to product-information-management software from FullTilt Solutions so it can more easily handle information on thousands of products. The software also helps Brady manage its online catalog.


Greek sprinters charged Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou and their coach were charged yesterday with avoiding a drug test on the eve of the Athens Olympics and faking a motorcycle accident hours later.


This week's picks Canterbury over Kent -- You can't pick against a school that taught JFK how to play flag football.


This weekend on TV, radio TODAY AUTO RACING 1:30 p.m. -- NASCAR Nextel Cup Ford 400 qualifying at Homestead, Fla., Speed Channel 3 p.m. -- NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Ford 200 at Homestead, Fla., Speed Channel COLLEGE BASKETBALL/MEN 5 p.m. -- Marist Classic at Poughkeepsie, N.Y.: Northeastern vs. Birmingham Southern, WRBB-FM (104.9) 7 p.m. -- Coaches vs. Cancer Classic third-place game at New York, ESPN2 7:30 ...


Preps step into spotlight Catching Brian Morrissey is akin to catching a BB with your teeth: It's virtually impossible. But that's the task Brunswick faces tomorrow in a showdown with Governor Dummer for the NEPSAC Congleton-Stokinger title.


But seriously folks By now, it's clear that the parity in the NFL this season doesn't mean there are a lot of good teams, but rather a lot of bad ones. More teams have losing records, in fact, than winning ones. There are 14 teams at either 4-5 or 3-6, all of whom will tell you they are still in the playoff hunt.


From the frying pan to the kitchen After further review, the ABC promotion for last week's Eagles-Cowboys  quot;Monday Night Football quot; was over the top.


Belichick's appraisal? Praise Bill Belichick yesterday was so effusive in his praise of the Chiefs, who will oppose his Patriots Monday night, that a passerby at his morning news conference might have believed the Kansas City record to be 30-6 instead of 3-6.


Now, Owens a little skittish While Terrell Owens would never say he's sorry for his flashy touchdown celebrations, he did apologize yesterday to anyone offended by his role in a steamy segment with actress Nicollette Sheridan for the intro to  quot;Monday Night Football. quot;


Stoneham takes next step Despite being the Globe's top-ranked boys' soccer team the entire season, Stoneham has had one goal: winning an elusive outright state championship.


Providence writes off Penn Dwight Brewington went 5 for 5 from 3-point range and scored a career-high 21 points last night, leading host Providence to an 89-52 win over Pennsylvania in the second round of the Preseason NIT.


Win assures B-R spot in the playoffs During pregame warmups for yesterday's matchup with Taunton to decide the Old Colony League title, Bridgewater-Raynham senior Tony Murdoch sprinted to the corner of the end zone and pulled down a pass with a teammate draped on his back.


Case closes out Melrose in five Up two games to none and holding a 15-11 lead over Melrose in Game 3, Case seemed assured of making another trip to the Division 2 state volleyball finals.


How to make a gigapixel picture A Dutch team has created the world's biggest digital picture, assembled from 600 individual snaps.


Radio Free Europe Woos Russian Listeners (AP) AP - Ronald Reagan used it to reach out to the Soviets during the Cold War. Lech Walesa, the leader of Poland's Solidarity movement, likened it to the sun lighting the Earth. Rock band R.E.M. immortalized it in a cynical hit song.


IBM Says It Swamps Rivals in Key UNIX Computer Test  NEW YORK (Reuters) - IBM IBM.N said on Thursday its  workhorse commercial computers have smashed the industry's most  demanding tests, which analysts said creates a performance gap  that could put further pressure on Hewlett-Packard HPQ.N or  Sun Microsystems SUNW.O to recalibrate their strategies.


After False Starts, 3G Mobile Service Set for Take-Off  HONG KONG (Reuters) - With most technical issues resolved  and giants like Vodafone Plc signing up customers, 2005 could  be the year when third-generation (3G) mobile services finally  gain a global audience.


Intel Says Shifting Focus of Itanium to Higher-End  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - An effort by Intel Corp. INTC.O  to sell its Itanium 2 chip into high-volume, lower-end computer  servers has not worked, the president of the world's largest  chip maker said in an interview published on Thursday.


Electronic Eye Devised to Help Blind Cross Roads  LONDON (Reuters) - An "electronic eye" that can be fitted  to a pair of glasses could help the blind cross roads more  safely, scientists said on Friday.


Russia pays \$63m in debts to IMF RBC, 19.11.2004, Moscow 10:54:13.The Russian Finance Ministry has paid \$63.2m in debts to the International Monetary Fund today, the Finance Ministry reported to RBC.


Anticipated  #39;Halo 2 #39; Leaves Gamers Panting  quot;Halo 2 quot; continues the story of Master Chief, a genetically enhanced soldier who is the only human ever to successfully defy the Covenant-a coalition of alien races on a murderous march toward Earth.


Spain in another racist football row London - British ministers have condemned the  quot;disgraceful quot; racial abuse of England #39;s black players during Wednesday #39;s international friendly against Spain in Madrid and demanded that soccer authorities take action.


ROY LANG III: America thanks you, Paul Casey The bad blood returns! And it may be exactly what the United States needed to turn the tide in the Ryder Cup. Thanks to Englishman -- by birth, really -- Paul Casey, the hugs and kisses the Americans and Europeans


Knicks beat Rockets 93-92 Rockets with buzzer 3-pointer Jamal Crawford of the New York Knicks hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to hand the Houston Rockets their sixth loss this season at 93-92 on November 18.


Chase for Cup coming to wild finish Jimmie Johnson went from top contender to also-ran to unbeatable, and now he has all the momentum heading into the last race of the Nextel Cup season.


Ukraine Election Commission Pores Over Last Results  KIEV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine's central election  commission meets Tuesday to sign off on the final paperwork  from last month's presidential election, which could see winner  Viktor Yushchenko's victory formally declared at last.


Powell accuses Iranians of developing nuclear weapons AMERICA accused Iran yesterday of trying to adapt its latest ballistic missile to carry nuclear warheads capable of hitting targets as far away as Israel and Cyprus.


Arafat #39;s death may bring peace to Mid East The devil dancing in the Middle East is dead. After Arafat used his life to deny Palestinians a national state, Palestinians will now have the chance to use Arafat #39;s death to usher in a new era of compromise.


Mac Skeptic: Apple's ISight, a Webcam and More Software developers have made the ISight good for much more than just video chat.


Discount Desktops: How Low Can You Go? Here's what you need to know to get the most desktop for your dollar at any price.


Photos from MacExpo 2004 With over 100 exhibitors  #151; including Apple, Adobe, Bose, Epson, HP, Microsoft, Quark and Sony  #151; and more than 20,000 visitors expected during the three-day event  #151; this year #146;s London MacExpo is shaping up as the biggest and best ever staged. Nov 18


Mac OS X Tip of the Week: Tell-Tale Icons Learn how to tell whether you #146;ve turned on Snap to Grid or Keep Arranged by Name for a particular window. It #146;s the latest Mac OS X killer tip at the Apple Pro/ site. Nov 10


FCC Crackdown Could Spread With more conservatives in power, the Federal Communications Commission may become more forceful about indecency fines. The agency may even try to expand its jurisdiction into cable TV, satellite radio and the internet. By Randy Dotinga.


Wheels of Progress Turn Slowly Despite burgeoning demand for hybrids, carmakers remain conservative about manufacturing them. So, if you want one, be prepared to wait. By John Gartner.


Web Media Buyouts Coming? Kinda MarketWatch is sold for \$500 million and Slate is next. Will there be a spate of other sites on the block? Probably, but the most fevered M   #038;A activity will be among blogs. Commentary by Adam L. Penenberg.


Jak of All Trades, Master of Fun The latest installment in this PlayStation 2 action series tries to be all games to all players. To its credit, Jak 3 largely succeeds. By Chris Kohler.


Advertisers Muscle Into RSS There's no escaping advertising. Show even a modicum of success, and marketers start looking for a way in. Really Simple Syndication feeds are the latest target. By Daniel Terdiman.


Stem Cells Feed Brain Tumors Researchers discover stem cells that initiate and maintain the growth of brain cancer tumors. The study could lead to new treatments for many types of cancer. By Kristen Philipkoski.


Wisconsin to Invest in Stem Cells California's not the only state willing to throw money at the controversial research. Wisconsin's governor plans to spend \$750 million building two research centers and supporting scientists studying cardiovascular illnesses and other diseases.


Fossils Found in Spain Seen as Last Link to Great Apes Fossils of an ape species from about 13 million years ago may have been the last common ancestor of great apes, including humans.


Running Extra Mile Sets Humans Apart in Primates' World The ability of early human ancestors to run long distances may have influenced the transition to today's body form, researchers report.


Harris, Miami Upend No. 19 Florida 72-65 (AP) AP - Anthony Harris scored 18 of his career-high 23 points in the second half to help Miami upset No. 19 Florida 72-65 Saturday and give first-year coach Frank Haith his biggest victory.


Evidence Hints at Earlier Humans in Americas Archaeologists in South Carolina announced radiocarbon dates suggesting that people made tools near the Savannah River about 50,000 years ago.


Joseph Weiss, 80, Originator of Theory on Facing Trauma, Dies Dr. Joseph Weiss was a psychoanalyst and researcher who helped develop an influential theory involving ways that patients confront psychological trauma.


Aishwarya Rai to star in Hollywood blockbuster "Taj Mahal" (AFP) AFP - Bollywood's Aishwarya Rai is set to star in a Hollywood blockbuster called "Taj Mahal", the famous monument to love built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.


Bridging the Gadget Gift Gap The generational divide becomes apparent as families start to think about gift-giving holidays. Advice for shoppers of all ages.


Stocks overcome some gloomy news Stocks rose modestly yesterday as investors looked past a mix of economic data and falling profit forecasts from Google and Applied Materials.


EMI sales slip on weak release schedule EMI has blamed a weak release schedule for a failure to exploit an improvement in the music sector, with sales falling by more than four times the industry average.


IRS on search for Nebraska residents Actually, Haskins isn #39;t alone. The Internal Revenue Service says it is looking for 329 Nebraskans who have more than \$174,000 in unclaimed federal tax refunds coming their way.


Tim Duncan Leads Spurs Past 76ers 88-80 (AP) AP - The Philadelphia 76ers got a firsthand demonstration of why Tim Duncan might be the toughest player in the NBA to defend. Duncan scored a season-high 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Spurs to their fifth straight victory, 88-80 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.


Sorenstam Leads ADT Championship by One (AP) AP - Annika Sorenstam has nothing left to prove this year. She has won seven times, claimed another major and went over the  #36;2 million mark for the fourth consecutive season. But that doesn't mean she came to the ADT Championship to relax.


Gates and Ballmer the most spammed in the world THE KING of Microsoft his Excellency Williams Gates and his silent voodoo doll Steve Ballmer are claiming to be the world #39;s most spammed men.


MIKE #39;S MAILBAG I #39;ve received lots of e-mail from readers who disagreed with my dissing of the combination laptop and Tablet PC I reviewed Tuesday (catch up online at www.


Alexander Credits Line for His Success (AP) AP - Shaun Alexander has always had a knack for getting into the end zone. Lately, Seattle's offensive line has been making it easy for the Seahawks running back to find the open lanes and open field, too.


Henman can #39;t wait for Safin Tim Henman is relishing his Masters Cup eliminator against Russian Marat Safin in Houston tonight. The British No1, who lost to Andy Roddick in his opening match at the \$4.45million end-of-season tournament


No. 5 Syracuse 71, No. 12 Mississippi St. 58 Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is known for his cutting wit, and even his star players can wind up on the receiving end. Preseason All-America Hakim Warrick scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half to lead


AUTO RACING: I hope to help Busch Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth, the defending NASCAR champion, will race Sunday in the Ford 400 at Homestead, Fla., the final event in the Nextel Cup series.


Martyn back on an even keel Damien Martyn steadied the ship for Australia with an undefeated half-century after they lost three quick wickets in the post-tea session on the second day of the First Test in Brisbane.


Motorola to Build Cell Phones Into Ski Jackets (Reuters) Reuters - Motorola Inc.  said it will\unveil plans this week for a line of outerwear that uses\interactive cell phone and portable music technology in\snowboarding jackets, in a bid to win over twentysomethings.


Myanmar frees some political prisoners Myanmar #39;s military government has begun to release nearly 4,000 prisoners, including some political detainees, arrested  quot;inappropriately quot; by the dissolved National Intelligence Bureau led by purged prime minister Khin Nyunt.


Update 9: Russia Advances Plans to Break Up Yukos Russia moved ahead Friday with plans to break up the country #39;s largest oil producer, announcing it would auction off a majority stake in the main production unit of oil giant OAO Yukos next month.


Eisner admitted lying on Kings show about Ovitz Yesterday Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisner was speaking about his interview with Larry King in September 1996, during which he denied any tensions in Disney boardroom giving praises to Disneys President Michael Ovitz, while in fact persuading other


Oracle to Issue Tender Results Saturday Oracle Corp. (ORCL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said it would report preliminary results of its \$8.8 billion hostile tender offer for PeopleSoft (PSFT.


EMI sees profits fall but upbeat on outlook LONDON : British music group EMI reported a fall in interim profits as sales dropped by 11.4 percent, reflecting a release schedule skewed towards the second half and the strength of sterling.


Cancer Drug Tarceva Approved NEW YORK - Last night, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Tarceva, a pill that extends survival in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients for whom chemotherapy has failed.


Profits Are Up 24 at Disney and So, It Says, Is Teamwork Buoyed by the strong performance of ESPN and its other cable channels, the Walt Disney Company said yesterday that its profit rose 24 percent in its fiscal fourth quarter.


Intel looks to log result boost in 2005 INTEL, the worlds largest company making computer microchips, said it expected a much better performance in the first half of next year.


For the Salvation Army, there #39;s little holiday cheer at this <b>...</b> Target #39;s decision to ban Salvation Army bell ringers from its 1,313 locations nationwide has hit Allentown this holiday season.


Sharper Image says campaign hurt 3Q Sharper Image Corp., a retailer of personal and home electronics, posted a third-quarter loss Thursday, saying same-store sales slipped and that the presidential election campaign hurt business.


Trade Negotiators Get Technical at WTO Negotiators gathered Friday at the World Trade Organization for formal farm talks, capping a weeklong series of informal discussions on ways to reach a wider-ranging liberalization accord by the end of 2005.


Ballmer #39;s Asian IP warning set to backfire When Steve Ballmer wants to make a stir he makes sure that he makes a big one. At the same venue where he spoke of Bill Gates receiving 4 million emails a day he also chose the meeting of Asian Government


Fossil of last great ape ancestor found Paleontologiosts from the Miguel Crusafont Institute of Paleontology and the Diputacisn de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain have found a fossil of a new ape species called Pierolapithecus catalaunicus, or its close relative that might have been the last


Recording Companies Sue ISU Students The industry filed copyright infringement lawsuits against 761 computer users in the latest round of litigation in the record companies #39; effort to stamp out unauthorized trading of music online.


MSN Re-Ups With Overture Through June 2006 MSN Thursday extended for one year its partnership with sponsored-search listings provider Overture Services, a Yahoo! subsidiary.


Apple begins European adventure As Apple puts the finishing touches to its new London store for Saturday #39;s grand opening, it appears that punters eager to lay their hands on the firm #39;s iconic iPod music player when the doors open could be disappointed.


Microsoft Launches Regional Versions of Hotmail Microsoft Corp., the world #39;s largest software maker, has expanded its flagship MSN Hotmail internet email service to include European and Japanese domain names, it said on Friday.


Gamers Rewarded With Another Life There #39;s a scene close to the beginning of Half-Life 2 of an urban vista in which a flock of birds flies toward a pale ecru sky against the backdrop of a very tall, black, ominous building.


Nintendo set to introduce new handheld gaming system While the first of the new-generation handheld gaming systems hits Canadian stores Sunday, consumers will have to wait a while before they see all of the Nintendo DS #39;s bells and whistles.


Search engines get more specifics It #39;s no secret that savvy online travelers in search of the best deal on an airline ticket, hotel room or car rental have long followed Smokey Robinson #39;s admonishment: You #39;d better shop around.


Ease of Purchase Makes iTunes Popular ITunes has been a success for a number of reasons. Backed by a respected name (Apple), it offers a massive, ever-expanding library of songs at appealing prices.


Sun posts Java source code to developers Sun Microsystems has posted the next version of its Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) to the developer community for early review and feedback.


NBA Today (AP) AP - Seattle at Toronto (7 p.m. EST). The SuperSonics, winners of eight straight, face Vince Carter and the Raptors.


Safin stands in path of Henman Tim Henman faces a must-win clash against Russian Marat Safin on Saturday as he bids to reach the semi-finals of the Masters Cup in Houston.


CRUEL MADRID WHEN Patrick Vieira got back to Arsenal #39;s training ground yesterday, he will not have been shocked to encounter England left back Ashley Cole still shaking with rage.


London unveils plans for Olympic Games London has unveiled its detailed plans to stage the 2012 Olympics, promising a Games of excellence without extravagance. Bid chief Sebastian Coe said on Friday the city would


Ecuador stun Brazil; Argentina up Reuters Rio de Janeiro Nov 18: World champions Brazil crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat in Ecuador yesterday while home wins for Peru, Colombia and Uruguay kept the South American World Cup qualifying group wide open.


Dutch driver Albers to test for Jordan Dutch driver Christian Albers is to test drive for Jordan at Jerez in Spain on December 1, the Formula One team said on Friday. Albers, 25, was set to test for Jordan, who have a


NASCAR gets its drama, but cost might be high Its been a dozen years since the final race of the NASCAR season could promise this kind of suspense. When the checkered flag drops Sunday with the Nextel Cup Chase championship on the line, three of the


Primera Liga matches, November 20-21 Locked in combat at the top of the Primera Liga, Barcelona and Real Madrid renew their rivalry at the Nou Camp on Saturday (kickoff 2100 GMT) in the most keenly awaited Spanish derby for years.


Honda buys 45 pct stake in BAR team from BAT Honda has agreed to buy a 45 percent holding in the BAR Formula One team, the revelations of the 2004 season. Honda, the team #39;s engine maker, agreed to buy the majority


Manning in eye of the storm After several days of debate about whether the Giants made the right decision in turning their playoff hopes over to the No. 1 pick in this year #39;s draft, the anticipation of what will take


Power in final, but at huge cost If it #39;s the final of the PACE Canadian Squash Classic, then Jonathon Power must be involved. But it was only with a hard victory that took 91 minutes last night that Power, who beat Anthony Ricketts, will


Speculation about Tedford dominates Big Game buildup It #39;s Big Game week in the Bay Area, and Jeff Tedford has dominated the headlines. The California coach preaches a team-first dogma, so he probably wasn #39;t happy that speculation about his future swamped the pregame coverage.


Boise St. Seeks Third Straight WAC Title (AP) AP - The accolades flow when Louisiana Tech coach Jack Bicknell talks about the Boise State football team.


Woods Critical of PGA on Ryder Captain (AP) AP - Tiger Woods reiterated his criticism of the PGA of America on Friday for its decision to pass over close friend Mark O'Meara as captain of the 2006 Ryder Cup team.


Powell Remarks on Iran Create Stir in Washington A statement by US Secretary of State Colin Powell revealing information about Iranian efforts to obtain nuclear weapons has created a stir in Washington.


Chirac Hails Anglo-French  #39;Harmony #39; French President Jacques Chirac today spoke of the true friendship between his country and Britain but again stressed his opposition to the kind of military intervention which started the war in Iraq.


Activists ready to frustrate Chile #39;s APEC Summit George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin, and leaders from other 19 Asian - Pacific nations including China #39;s Hu Jintao and Japan #39;s Junichiro Koizumi are beggining to arrive in Santiago to attend to Chile #39;s APEC summit on Saturday.


Pakistan Adopts Wait And See Approach to Kashmir Peace Process Pakistan #39;s president says he is not happy with all of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh #39;s comments this week about the disputed territory of Kashmir.


Sharon  #39;is going soft #39; Jerusalem - Members of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon #39;s right-wing Likud party expressed concern on Friday that the hawkish premier had gone soft on the Palestinians since Yasser Arafat died last week.


Prince Charles: Man of the People or Royal Snob? Britain #39;s Prince Charles always prides himself on being a man of the people. But with one gruff memo about not all men being equal, the heir to the throne has tarnished his populist credentials.


US firms prove green credentials Many US businesses are already introducing greenhouse gas reduction programs despite their government #39;s failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.


Troops ready for Mosul after Fallujah US-backed Iraqi commandos were poised Friday to storm rebel strongholds in the northern city of Mosul, as US military commanders said they had  quot;broken the back quot; of the insurgency with their assault on the former rebel bastion of Fallujah.


Summit day important in African history: AU official The African Union on Friday hailed the convening of the inaugural summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region as an important event in history.


Dollar Back Toward Record Lows Vs. Euro (Reuters) Reuters - The dollar dropped to within half a cent\of this week's record low against the euro and hit 7-1/2-month\lows on the yen on Friday as traders took the view that world\finance chiefs would not try to slow the dollar's slide.


Oracle to Issue Tender Results Saturday (Reuters) Reuters - Oracle Corp.  said it would\report preliminary results of its  #36;8.8 billion hostile tender\offer for PeopleSoft  as soon as practicable after 1\a.m. EST Saturday.


Oil Prices Up Ahead of Northern Winter (Reuters) Reuters - Oil prices rose on Friday as tight\supplies of distillate fuel, including heating oil, ahead of\the northern hemisphere winter spurred buying.


G20 meets amid record-high euro and weak dollar (AFP) AFP - Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the world's 20 most powerful nations were gathering for a weekend G20 summit in which exchange rates are expected to figure prominently.


Drug firms hit by safety scares An FDA official named and shamed several drugs offered by major drugs companies, causing their shares to fall sharply in early trading.


World Bank pledges Kashmir help The World Bank says it is ready to offer economic assistance to Kashmir to help promote the peace process in the region.


Greenspan: U.S. Needs to Cut Budget Gap (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan\Greenspan said on Friday the United States should cut its\budget gap to foster a more balanced pattern of global trade\and avoid painful economic consequences.


Greenspan Warns About Trade Deficit Impact (AP) AP - The persistence of bloated U.S. trade deficits over time can pose a risk to the U.S. economy, which thus far has proven resilient, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan warned Friday. Policy-makers must not get lulled into a sense of complacency, he said.


Greenspan Urges Budget Gap Reduction U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Friday the United States should cut its\budget gap to foster a more balanced pattern of global trade and avoid painful economic consequences.


A slip to end stock week? Futures point to lower open for US markets as investors look to catch their breath. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Stocks looked to open lower Friday as investors appeared ready to consolidate the gains of the past three weeks.


Giants join 3G forces OPTUS and Vodafone yesterday formalised an alliance in which they will together spend \$1 billion on third-generation mobile phone networks.


Delta Extends Note Exchange Offer Delta Air Lines Inc. said Friday it is extending the offer to exchange up to \$680 million in three series of newly issued senior secured notes to the holders of \$2.6 billion of outstanding unsecured debt securities and enhanced pass through certificates.


High-Tech City to Go Up in Southern India (AP) AP - Southern India's Kerala state plans to create a 1,000-acre (400-hectare) zone called "Smart City," where technology companies from around the world will be invited to set up operations, an official said Friday.


No. 5 Syracuse to Play No. 24 Memphis (AP) AP - Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is known for his cutting wit, and even his star players can wind up on the receiving end. Preseason All-America Hakim Warrick scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half to lead the fifth-ranked Orange to a 71-58 victory over No. 12 Mississippi State on Thursday night in the semifinals of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.


Amazon CEO Bezos Sells 450,000 Shares for  #36;18.2 Mln (Reuters) Reuters - Amazon.com Inc.  Chairman and\Chief Executive Jeff Bezos sold a total of 450,000 shares in\the online retailer this week, for a total of  #36;18.2 million,\according to regulatory filings.


Microsoft Launches Regional Versions of Hotmail (Reuters) Reuters - Microsoft Corp., the world's largest\software maker, has expanded its flagship MSN Hotmail internet\email service to include European and Japanese domain names, it\said on Friday.


Music company EMI reports loss for first half but says sales on way back up (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - LONDON (AP) - EMI Group PLC, one of the world's Big Three music companies, reported a fall in sales and a net loss for the first half of its fiscal year Friday but said it expected an improvement in the second half when its album release schedule kicks in.


Mac Skeptic: Apple's ISight, a Webcam and More (PC World) PC World - Software developers have made the ISight good for much more than just video chat.


Suicide Bomber Crashes Into Iraqi Police (AP) AP - A suicide car bomber rammed into a police patrol in Baghdad on Friday, killing one policeman, police and hospital officials said.


Spammed inbox for Bill Gates Bill Gates is claiming the most spammed person in the world. Microsoft Corp. Chairman receives 4 million spam messages in his email every day, according to his silent voodoo doll Steve Ballmer.


No half measures with Half-Life 2 Could Half-Life 2 possibly live up to the hype? After almost two years of tantalising previews and infuriating delays it #39;s safe to say that this is the most highly-anticipated computer game of all time.


More Security Holes Found In Internet Explorer 6.0 Three more vulnerabilities in Microsoft #39;s Internet Explorer 6.0 browser were disclosed by Danish security vendor Secunia. By Gregg Keizer, TechWeb News.


Power Surfing When Che Carsner wanted to find discount airline tickets for his parents from the Miami area to New York, he knew where to look. Carsner, a Manhattan real-estate agent logged onto Kayak.


U2 sees iPod TV spots as synergy, not sellout (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - Uno, dos, tres, CATORCE! The TV quakes as a euphoric punk holler, stabbing guitar and muscle-bound rhythms roar over convulsive images of rock stars in silhouette. The iPod ad touting U2's Vertigo  isn't your father's Oldsmobile commercial, but it is a commercial, and that's stirring debate among rock 'n' roll old-schoolers and within the band's vigilant following.


Honda Takes 45 Stake in British American #39;s F-1 Team (Update1) Honda Motor Co., Japan #39;s third- largest carmaker, said it will take 45 percent stake in British American Tobacco Plc #39;s Formula One team, owning part of a team for the first time in 36 years.


Liga Weekend Preview: El Clasico Dominates There is a strange La Liga round of fixtures in store, mainly because its difficult to tell if more than one game is taking place.


Spurrier reportedly to lead USC after Holtz #39;s retirement (Columbia-AP) Nov. 19, 2004 - Following news Lou Holtz announced his pending retirement to his Gamecock players before practice Thursday, the attention of South Carolina fans turns to the man who will reportedly replace him, Steve Spurrier.


A really Big Game IN MOST years, the Big Game has been so in tradition only, with die- hard alums from Stanford and Cal seeing the contest as a chance to salvage so- so seasons.


Kazakh government seeks to buy British Gas stake in huge oil project (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) - Kazakhstan's oil minister said Friday the government wants to buy British Gas's entire stake in a project to develop a giant oil field in the Caspian Sea, according to a news report.


Sudanese sign pledge to end long civil war NAIROBI Sudan #39;s government and insurgents in the south signed a pledge Friday to end Africa #39;s longest running civil war by Dec. 31.


Dollar Back Toward Record Lows Vs. Euro The dollar dropped to within half a cent of this week #39;s record low against the euro and hit 7-1/2-month lows on the yen on Friday as traders took the view that world finance


Asian CEOs Warned of Threat from Climate Change (Reuters) Reuters - More severe tropical cyclones,\heatwaves and a dramatic shift in rainfall patterns could\batter Asia by the end of the century as its factories boom, a\leading climate expert told Asian chief executives on Friday.


Scientists See Hope Amid Coral Doom and Gloom (Reuters) Reuters - Even though nearly two thirds of coral\reefs are now officially endangered, some are bouncing back\despite warmer oceans and pollution, giving hope the marine\marvels are not completely doomed, scientists said on Friday.


New Study to Compare Genetic Make-Up of Asians (Reuters) Reuters - Just how similar are the Japanese and\Indonesians, apart from being Asians?


Sudan Foes Sign Peace Pledge at Security Council  NAIROBI (Reuters) - Sudan's government and southern rebels  vowed on Friday to end Africa's longest civil war by Dec. 31,  signing a pledge in front of 15 U.N. Security Council envoys  who flew in from New York to demand the fighting stop.


Summary: U.N Draft Ban on Human Cloning (AP) AP - CLONING DECLARATION: U.N. diplomats are poised to approve a draft declaration to outlaw human cloning, a non-binding agreement that would not outlaw research cloning.


Palestinians Reject Sharon's Peace 'Test'  RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - The Palestinian Authority  on Friday rejected Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new  and seemingly softer terms for restarting peace talks, saying  he should drop all conditions for dialogue.


Site: Zarqawi Group Beheads Two Iraqi Soldiers  DUBAI (Reuters) - The group led by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab  al-Zarqawi said it beheaded two Iraqi soldiers in broad  daylight in Mosul, a statement found on an Islamist Web site on  Friday said.


Myanmar Frees Prominent Political Prisoners  YANGON, Myanmar (Reuters) - Myanmar's junta freed at least  two dozen members of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's  political party Friday during a mass release of 4,000 people  detained "inappropriately" by the intelligence machine purged  last month.


S.Korean Farmers Clash with Police on Rice Imports  SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean police used water cannon in  central Seoul Friday to disperse at least 15,000 farmers  protesting against a government plan to further ease  restrictions on rice imports.


Gunman kills Sri Lankan judge A Sri Lankan high court judge and his bodyguard are shot dead in the capital, Colombo, police say.


Cheap HIV treatment hailed Giving HIV-positive children a common antibiotic could nearly halve the death rate, the UN says.