Federer to clash with Hewitt Organisers of the 4.5-million-US-dollar Tennis Masters Cup have announced the round robin draw for the event. World number one and defending champion Roger Federer is to group


Krenzel gets in full practice, ready to go Craig Krenzel practiced Thursday and is set to play Sunday against Tennessee despite bruised ribs.  quot;As I said yesterday, I felt like he would be OK, quot; Bears coach Lovie Smith said.


LPGA statistics Scoring: 1, Annika Sorenstam, 68.90. 2, Lorena Ochoa, 69.84. 3, Grace Park, 69.88. 4, Cristie Kerr, 70.43. 5, Mi Hyun Kim, 70.51. 6, Karen Stupples, 70.


Mavs place Finley on injured list Dallas Mavericks guard Michael Finley was placed on the injured list Thursday with a sprained right ankle. The two-time All-Star was injured in the third quarter of the 94-84 loss at Orlando on Tuesday.


Good friends outside the ring, Byrd and McCline meet for <b>...</b> Chris Byrd and Jameel McCline are good friends who both happen to make a living hitting people in the ring. They go to dinner together and hang out at each other #39;s houses.


AOL Tells Customers to Find New Carrier (AP) AP - America Online, which earlier this year stopped signing up new broadband customers, is telling existing broadband subscribers in nine Southern states that they must find a new broadband carrier by Jan. 17.


Dell CEO Says Considering AMD Chips for Servers (Reuters) Reuters - Dell Inc. , the No. 1 personal\computer maker and the best customer of leading computer chip\maker Intel , is mulling using rival chips from AMD\, its chief executive said on Thursday.


Pentium M Draws More Buyers (PC World) PC World - Sales of laptops using Intel's mobile processor are picking up.


Motivated Seller (Forbes.com) Forbes.com - Sun Microsystems has a new business model. Over the past year the intermittently profitable Santa Clara, Calif. computer maker has moved from quoting traditional pricing--per processor for hardware, per user for software--toward a surfeit of new choices. One package of software for all sorts of Internet chores comes with one free server for a flat  #36;100 per employee per year, unless the buyer has fewer than 100 employees, in which case the software is free (but the server is paid for). Or customers can buy computing power like electricity, at a rate of  #36;1 per processor per hour.


Google Search Index Booms to 8 Billion Google Search Index Booms to 8 Billion\\Google had something up their sleeve. It seems that whenever a competitor does something big, such as MSN announcing the beta launch of their new search engine, Google has to "one up" them somehow. Just as the news wires started flaming with MSN Beta ...


EU approves a small rival for BSkyB BRUSSELS The European Commission on Thursday approved a joint venture involving Disney, Columbia Pictures and a British-Irish video-on-demand company called ON Demand Group, arguing that the new entity would spur competition in a market dominated by


Right now, it #39;s not good to be the Kings The names and the faces are pretty much the same. They look like the Sacramento Kings, wear the same uniforms, and Rick Adelman is still their coach.


Fisheries link to bushmeat trade Scientists show how European fishing policies are driving some of the bushmeat trade in west Africa.


Intel's President Is Promoted to C.E.O. The promotion will mark a subtle shift at the top of Intel - Paul Otellini promises to be a kinder, more gentle leader than his last two predecessors.


Component prices play key role in Dell earnings r Dell rode a wave of falling computer component prices to higher profits during its third quarter. The Round Rock, Texas, PC maker on Thursday posted double-digit third-quarter revenue and profit increases


SBC lowers projected cost of fiber buildout NEW YORK SBC Communications is lowering the projected cost of its program to bring fiber-optic cables to the edge of most neighborhoods.


Japanese Stocks Gain, Led by Advantest on Oil; Aeon Declines Japanese stocks rose, led by exporters such as Advantest Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., after a slide in oil prices in New York trading eased concern that global economic growth will slow.


Moody #39;s Upgrades Credit Rating for South Australia State to Aaa South Australia state #39;s low debt levels and robust fiscal performance #39; #39; are the key factors in upgrading its credit rating to Aaa from Aa1, Moody #39;s Investors Service said in a statement.


Big Dig leaks water and cash Massachusetts no longer has to worry about the Curse of the Bambino plaguing the Red Sox, but the Curse of the Big Dig, that never-ending Boston highway project, is still much alive.


Fossil indicates ancient brown bears migrated south before Ice Age CALGARY, Alberta -- A fossilized jaw found in an Alberta gravel pit may have cleared up a mystery for researchers wondering how brown bears originally made it across North America.


Arctic warming is good news for oil companies, but not for <b>...</b> Scientists have worries about the Arctic warming as they have determined that the ice in Greenland and the Arctic is melting too rapidly .


Clubhouse Is Opened to Sifford HE #39;S considered to be golf #39;s Jackie Robinson, but between puffs on a cigar, Charlie Sifford preferred to compare his struggle to that of another black man in another nation.


5 confirmed dead in train mishap in northern Philippines At least five people were killed and 48 others injured when a passenger train bound for Manila derailed and fell into a ravine in the northern Philippine province of Quezon early Friday, a local television reported.


Lawmakers question delayed response to sub Ruling bloc and opposition lawmakers Thursday criticized the government #39;s slow response to a mystery submarine that intruded into Japan #39;s territorial waters the previous day.


Dollar Inches Up Vs Yen  TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar edged up against the yen on  Friday after disappointing growth data for Japan and was  supported against the euro by ongoing verbal intervention from  European central bankers.


Nikkei Average Rises One Percent  TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average rose one percent in  early Friday trade after Japanese GDP data, although weak,  confounded some players' fears of a contraction and drew buyers  back to brokers and tech shares.


Santana Wins A.L. Cy Young Minnesota's Johan Alexander Santana was unanimously chosen by baseball writers as the 2004 A.L. Cy Young award winner.


Don #39;t let children buy Bonds #39; pitch The sound you just heard was the other shoe dropping. The noise you detected was that of hearts of the hopeful breaking. Who wants to believe that a massive doping scandal has taken place in several sports?


Paterno Rumor Goes Into Denial Penn State University, responding to a rumor started by a Pittsburgh radio station that Coach Joe Paterno had resigned, issued a statement yesterday denying the report.


African leaders launch peace talks as Ivory Coast evacuation <b>...</b> Staring with tears in their eyes, Ivory Coast #39;s people emerged from their homes Thursday to survey the wreckage of five days of violent upheaval and stock up on food.


Over 100 injured US soldiers flown to Germany BERLIN - More than 100 American soldiers, seriously wounded during the Falluja offensive in Iraq, arrived at the United States #39; main European military hospital in Germany on Thursday, a hospital spokeswoman said.


Moss officially out for Green Bay EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. The Minnesota Vikings officially downgraded All-Pro receiver Randy Moss from doubtful to out for Sunday #39;s game at Green Bay.


REVIEW: the  #36;70 Portable Video Player (AP) AP - Most American kids get enough television, but just in case yours don't here's a good way to keep them pacified while away from the real thing: a new portable video player from Mattel.


Microsoft Launches Web Search Technology (AP) AP - Microsoft Corp. finally debuted its own Web search technology on Thursday, hoping to challenge Google Inc.'s long dominance of the field with results tailored to a user's location and answers from its Encarta encyclopedia.


Bush, Blair to Discuss Life After Arafat (Reuters) Reuters - President Bush is expected to give\an outline of his vision for a Middle East without Yasser\Arafat on Friday, with his most loyal ally Tony Blair by his\side.


Microsoft Search Encounters Glitches on First Day (Reuters) Reuters - Microsoft Corp.'s  widely\anticipated search engine, which launched in test mode on\Thursday, encountered some glitches on its first day, the\world's largest software maker said.


Microsoft Extends Custom Support For NT Server Through 2006 com. With Windows NT 4.0 Server support due to end on December 31, Microsoft is prodding customers to migrate as soon as possible, but also extending its custom support plan for another year to get them through the move.


Analysis / Public praise, political power It will be a long time before a new Palestinian leader commands the public admiration and political power that Yasser Arafat did. This power enabled him to make concessions that no previous Palestinian leader would have considered.


Lycos screen saver attacks spammers At the risk of breaching Internet civility, Lycos Europe is offering computer-users a weapon against spam-spewing servers: a screen-saver program that automatically hits the offenders with data to slow them down.


Microsoft Search Encounters Glitches on First Day  SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp.'s MSFT.O widely  anticipated search engine, which launched in test mode on  Thursday, encountered some glitches on its first day, the  world's largest software maker said.


Fossil Indicates Brown Bears Went South (AP) AP - A fossilized jaw found in an Alberta gravel pit may have cleared up a mystery for researchers wondering how brown bears originally made it across North America.


Ancient Elephant Fossil Found in China (AP) AP - Construction crews working at Beijing's main airport unearthed a fossilized thigh bone of an elephant that lived 30,000 years ago, a news report said Thursday.


Rumsfeld: El Salvador Can Be Iraq Model (AP) AP - Iraq can learn from the recent history of El Salvador, a country wrecked by civil war that has developed into stable democracy and close U.S. ally, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Thursday.


Frist Urges Democrats to Stop Filibusters (AP) AP - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Thursday urged Democrats to stop blocking President Bush's federal court nominees and hinted that he may try to change Senate rules to thwart their delaying tactics.


Test could spot Alzheimer's early A  test capable of diagnosing the early signs of Alzheimer's disease has been developed in the US using nanotechnology.


Wall Street takes heart from Fed #39;s upbeat economic outlook US STOCKS rose yesterday as investors were perked up by the Federal Reserves upbeat assessment of the economy and a continued drop in crude oil futures.


Asian Stocks: Japan Gains, Led by Advantest; South Korea Rises Japanese stocks rose, led by exporters such as Advantest Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., after a slide in oil prices in New York trading eased concern that global economic growth will slow.


Coca Cola launches bid for SPC Coca-Cola Amatil is offering cash or shares in a scheme of arrangement that values the ordinary equity of SPC Ardmona at just over \$480 million.


MyDoom mutation draws on IE flaw  quot;We have only received one submission from the field, but the technical aspects of this are concerning. It has all the components there to become a significant


Seeds suffer as French Open champion Gaudio exits at Paris Masters PARIS (CP) - American Andy Roddick surged into the third round of the Paris Masters with a 6-2, 6-2 rout of Armenia #39;s Sargis Sargsian on Wednesday while Daniel Nestor of Toronto and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas were defeated in doubles action.


Soccer: Honduran midfielder named MLS Most Valuable Player CARSON, United States : MetroStars midfielder Amado Guevara was named Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player, the seventh player from outside the United States to win the US league #39;s top solo honor.


Houllier pulls out as Welsh name manager WALES are expected to announce their new manager today, with John Toshack favoured to get the job for a second time. The Football Association of Wales has called a news conference for today after interviewing


Venezuelans celebrate Johan Santana #39;s triumph as AL Cy Young Award <b>...</b> Baseball-crazed Venezuelans celebrated pitcher Johan Santana #39;s award as the American League Cy Young winner on Thursday. Honking car horns as they heard the news on the radio and glued to television


Spain names its Davis Cup team BARCELONA, Spain A pair of players at one time ranked number one in the world will play for Spain in the Davis Cup final next month.


Major-league reshuffling TAMPA - United Soccer Leagues announced that the organization and its professional teams have restructured the two pro leagues, the A-League and Pro Soccer League, under the USL umbrella to form a new two-tiered division.


Train derailment in Philippines kills 6 A passenger train derailed and plunged into a ravine in the northern Philippines early Friday, killing at least six people and injuring 50 others, police said.


Microsoft registers trademark--19 years late Does Microsoft's official trademark application for Excel signal an infringement crackdown?


No fun for game developers An anonymous essay criticizing video game publisher Electronic Arts is unleashing a torrent of complaints about work practices in the game world. Missing Links


Component prices play key role in Dell earnings Falling cost of PC parts gives computer maker's third quarter a boost.


AOL, Valista team up for micropayments Internet service provider's subscribers will be able to buy its premium services individually through Valista's technology.


Ironman Winner Admits Using Banned Drug FRANKFURT, Germany Nov 11, 2004 - Nina Kraft admitted taking the performance-enhancing drug EPO in the weeks leading up to her victory in the Hawaii Ironman competition, and faces a two-year ban.


Four share Champions lead SOUTH Korea #39;s Grace Park finished with a birdie today to join Americans Laura Diaz, Juli Inkster and Christina Kim in the first round Tournament of Champions lead.


Oracle #39;s  #39;best and final #39; offer rejected PeopleSoft #39;s (PSFT) board Wednesday rejected Oracle #39;s (ORCL)  quot;best and final quot; hostile takeover bid worth about \$8.


Stock markets rally on Fed statement, lower oil prices By George Chamberlin , Daily Transcript Financial Correspondent. Stock prices rallied on Friday as oil prices continued to seesaw.


SPC soars on Coke takeover SHARES in canned fruit and vegetable producer SPC Ardmona Ltd soared more than 20 per cent today after the group announced it had agreed to a takeover offer from Coca Cola Amatil Ltd.


It #39;s The Business Model That #39;s To Blame, Not The File Sharing <b>...</b> Good grief, the entertainment industry #39;s content cartel just won #39;t give up. Copyright owners, recording artists, publishing houses, attorneys--you name  #39;em, they #39;re lining up to file amicus briefs supporting


Tokyo Stocks Open Lower in Early Trading TOKYO - Tokyo stocks opened lower Tuesday after profit-taking weighed on Wall Street shares. The dollar rose against the Japanese yen.


McGrady Sits Out With Groin, Hip Strains (AP) AP - Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady sat out Thursday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves because of nagging hip and groin strains.


Fossil Indicates Brown Bears Went South CALGARY, Alberta - A fossilized jaw found in an Alberta gravel pit may have cleared up a mystery for researchers wondering how brown bears originally made it across North America.


Cell Phone Call Quality Ranked In Central Florida ORLANDO, Fla. -- Cell phone calls made in Central Florida using T-Mobile have the fewest dropped calls and the clearest calls, according to the latest JD Power ratings.


Hollywood cant stop the BitTorrent Movie and record industry executives want Americas highest court to review a ruling legitimizing peer-to-peer software, but file-sharing networks wont give up the fight.


Egypt Prepares for Arafat's Funeral (AP) AP - Egypt prepared Thursday for a strictly controlled military funeral for Yasser Arafat where dignitaries from around the world will pay their respects, but where the people  #151; among whom Arafat was by far more popular  #151; will be mostly shut out.


Arab world mourns a defender of right HERO or villain, statesman or terrorist - Yasser Arafat proved as divisive in death as he was in life. Leaders around the world yesterday saluted his devotion to the Palestinian cause, but George Bush said


Bush #39;s Re-election Is Likely to Foster US-China Ties PACIFIC NEWS SERVICE EDITOR #39;S NOTE: The economies of the US and China are simply too intertwined for the United States to support Taiwanese calls for independence, writes PNS contributor George Koo, an international business consultant and frequent


Rookies Range From Wait and See, to Watch Them Go At the halfway point of the N.F.L. season, the adjustments - personal and professional - are still being made by the rookie class.


A New Prospect at UConn, 5,000 Miles From Home Rashidat Sadiq, who grew up playing basketball with older boys in her Lagos, Nigeria, neighborhood, looks like she belonged on the court at Gampel Pavilion.


No. 6 Syracuse Crushes N. Colo. 104-54 (AP) AP - Hakim Warrick had 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead No. 6 Syracuse to a 104-54 victory over Northern Colorado on Thursday night in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.


Canada-U.S. Tie 1-1 Tie in Four Nations (AP) AP - Katie King's second period goal lifted the United States into a 1-1 tie with Canada on Thursday night in the Four Nations Cup international women's hockey tournament.


Coca-Cola reduces profit targets Coca-Cola yesterday sharply reduced its long-term profit and sales targets, reflecting the entrenched slump that the world #39;s largest soft drinks firm has found itself in.


PeopleSoft shareholders seen waiting on Oracle bid The success of Oracle Corp #39;s (ORCL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) \$8.8 billion hostile takeover bid for rival software maker PeopleSoft Inc.


Study May ID Source of Vioxx Problem Nov. 11, 2004 -- A private research team claims to have identified a unique action of the painkiller Vioxx, which is independent of its anti-inflammatory action, that might explain why it #39;s linked to heart


EC backs movies-on-demand Sony and Walt Disney yesterday received regulatory approval from Brussels for a video-on-demand service that will compete with BSkyB #39;s film channels.


Coca-Cola Amatil Bids A\$500 Mln to Buy SPC Ardmona (Update4) Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd., Australia #39;s biggest soft-drink maker, offered A\$500 million (\$382 million) in cash and stock for fruit canner SPC Ardmona Ltd.


Jack Schofield The preview of MSN Search had a difficult first day, with the site going down in the morning when the hordes went to play with it, and it may be unfair to judge it on its patchy start.


India announces troop reductions in Kashmir India #39;s prime minister ordered a reduction in the number of troops in the disputed Muslim-majority state of Kashmir last night, breathing new life into a peace process with Pakistan.


Liberal culture under threat in Dutch religious and ethnic crisis The Dutch government yesterday moved to reverse a long tradition as Europe #39;s most liberal haven for immigrants by signalling tougher treatment of foreigners and Muslims and greater powers for the security services, in response to the Netherlands #39; worst


Tamil Tigers still enlisting thousands of child soldiers Thousands of child soldiers have been forcibly recruited by Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka despite a ceasefire called in 2002 between the government and the separatists, Human Rights Watch said yesterday.


Indonesia earthquake kills 1, injures 20 JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A strong earthquake rocked parts of eastern Indonesia early Friday, killing one person, injuring 20 and damaging hundreds of buildings, the state-run news agency Antara and witnesses said.


Iraq Leader Defends Assault in Fallujah (AP) AP - Iraq's interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi defended the Fallujah assault, saying in a British tabloid newspaper Friday that the offensive has the support of most Iraqi people and is necessary to enable elections in January.


Japanese Stocks Higher Despite GDP Data  TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo's Nikkei average was 0.79 percent  higher at midsession on Friday, recovering from an early fall  on weak Japanese GDP data as some operators were relieved the  figure wasn't negative and others said it merely confirmed  their views on the economy.


MLS's Comeback Kid Jaime Moreno has come back from career-threatening back surgery a year ago to lead United in points, lead the league in assists, and score three points in three playoff matches.


Wizards Start Slow The Wizards are making up for slow starts in the first half with better play and increased scoring in the second half of games.


Terps Take Stock Maryland still has a chance, although improbable, to claim a bowl berth. To do so, the Terps need to beat Virginia Tech and win their season finale against Wake Forest.


Yen Rises Against Dollar  TOKYO (Reuters) - The yen rose against the dollar on Friday  despite data showing Japanese growth came to a virtual  standstill in the third quarter, while the dollar was supported  versus the euro by verbal intervention from Europe.


Fight Night at the Hilton At the Washington Hilton and Towers, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton and other members of boxing's royalty attended Fight for Children's 15th annual Fight Night.


Giants Hold On to Warner The Giants on Thursday tried to fan away every possible wisp of a quarterback crisis. Even rookie Eli Manning tried to do his part.


World #39;s first  #39;3D #39; cell display developed Samsung, the world #39;s leading display maker, said on Wednesday that it has developed the first all-angle three-dimensional (3D) display panels for cellphones.


New Trojan Sends Spam An ingenious new Trojan is circulating that hijacks PCs and uses them to send SMS-based spam to mobile phones. After a PC has been infected, the Delf-HA Trojan contacts a Web site for details on which spam


News: Defendant: Microsoft source code 'sale' was a setup A Connecticut man facing economic espionage charges says he wasn't serious about selling already-leaked Microsoft source code, but an undercover investigator for the software giant was determined to pay him something.\


Palestinians prepare to bury Arafat Palestinians are preparing to bury leader Yasser Arafat in the spruced up grounds of his battered West Bank headquarters on the soil of his beloved Jerusalem.


Minister urges hunting compromise Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael urges peers to accept a compromise on hunting and says time is running out.


Palestinians Grieve Over Arafat's Death (AP) AP - Palestinians at home and abroad wept, waved flags and burned tires Thursday in an eruption of grief at the death of Yasser Arafat, the man they consider the father of their nation. The quick appointment of successors did little to dispel the huge question marks now hanging over Mideast peace efforts.


Philippine Rail Cars Crash Into Ravine, 100 Trapped (Reuters) Reuters - Rescuers in the\Philippines smashed train windows Friday to reach 100\passengers trapped when a carriage derailed and dragged other\cars into a steep ravine, killing at least 10 people.


Choice of Gonzales May Blaze a Trail for the High Court The choice of Alberto R. Gonzales as attorney general may be part of a strategy to bolster his credentials with conservatives.


Iranians, Europeans Meet on Nuclear Deal After five days of intense internal deliberations, Iranian officials met with European envoys here Thursday to seek "clarifications" on a proposed deal that would require Tehran to indefinitely suspend a pivotal aspect of its nuclear energy program that could be converted to military use, Western diplomatic sources here said.


35 U.S. Students Hurt in Chile Bus Crash Thirty-five American and two Chilean college students were injured Thursday when their bus overturned during a field trip, police and school officials said.


Safety Isn't Optional According to auto industry regulators and executives worldwide, new criteria for vehicle performance must include a car's or truck's ability to protect its occupants in a crash.


Martha Stewart Living Replaces Chief Executive With Martha Stewart in prison, her company #39;s board announced yesterday that it was replacing the president and chief executive, Sharon L. Patrick, with a television and publishing veteran who joined the board just five months ago.


Anti-rollover devices to hit 2005 SUVs Electronic anti-rollover systems will become standard equipment on 1.8 million sport utility vehicles from GM and Ford in 2005, the automakers announced today.


EPA Plans to Make Airline Water Safer Description: The Environmental Protection Agency is taking its work to the friendly skies. After random testing found contaminants, the agency decided to start regulating the water aboard airplanes.


Microsoft search: Not yet ready for prime time Microsoft #39;s latest step into the enormously profitable search sector is unlikely to win any first-stop commitments from users, but the signs are promising.


Explore your browser options FEW global companies have managed to make themselves as unpopular as Microsoft. Its defence consists of variations on:  quot;The reason nobody loves us is because were so successful.


Canada, US tie 1-1 at Four Nations Cup international women #39;s <b>...</b> BURLINGTON, Vt. (CP) - Goaltender Charline Labonte was looking for her first victory against the United States, but she had to be happy with her 33-save performance in a 1-1 tie at the Four Nations Cup women #39;s hockey tournament Thursday.


Japan Buddhists pull sponsorship of Myanmar summit after regime shake-up (AFP) AFP - A Japanese group has withdrawn sponsorship of a Buddhist summit in Myanmar next month over concerns about the junta's hardline shake-up, but Yangon says it will go ahead with the event on its own.


Next Session Last for Two Vets in Congress (AP) AP - For two of Congress' old bulls, the lame duck session that begins next week will be the last roundup. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, 80, and his 73-year-old House counterpart, Rep. Bill Young, must surrender their posts by party rule when the new Congress starts in January.


S.E.C. Warns Amex Leaders It May File Civil Charges The S.E.C. notified the top three executives of the American Stock Exchange that they may face civil charges of failing to properly enforce the exchange's rules.


Weakness in Demand Shrivels Japan's Output Japan's economy grew at a worse-than-expected annual pace of 0.3 percent in the third quarter as exports and capital expenditures weakened.


Oil Prices Edge Up Toward \$48 a Barrel  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up toward \$48 a  barrel early on Friday as worries that an early or severe  winter could stress low winter fuel stocks helped staunch the  market's \$8 tumble from record highs.


Schwarzenegger tells Japanese investors they #39;ll  #39;be back #39; to <b>...</b> TOKYO : California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger tried to work his film celebrity on Japanese investors, using a trademark line from  quot;Terminator quot; to pump up the benefits of his state.


EPA Backs Nanomaterial Safety Research The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded \$4 million in grants to study the health and environmental risks posed by manufactured nanomaterials -- the new and invisibly tiny materials that


Trojan horse spies on Web banking Security experts say they have discovered a Trojan horse that records e-banking user details and Web surfing habits. Antivirus company Sophos is warning that the Banker-AJ Trojan is targeting online customers


Patriots Open Season With Lopsided Win Lamar Butler scored 16 points to lead five George Mason players in double figures last night as the Patriots defeated Indianapolis-Purdue Fort Wayne 69-51 in the opening round of the Coaches vs.


Expos Look to Fill Several Positions At some point, one would think Washington #39;s new Major League Baseball franchise -- assuming it does, at some point, play in Washington -- would want to plaster


Jets Defense Bracing for Encounter With  #39;Nightmare Train #39; As an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens, Donnie Henderson watched running back Jamal Lewis use his speed to devour chunks of yardage and his size to overpower tacklers.


No. 3 LSU Outguns Maine 81-50 in Opener (AP) AP - Seimone Augustus scored 17 points and third-ranked LSU opened the season with an 81-50 victory over Maine in the Women's Sports Foundation Classic on Thursday.


Bush May Call for Major European Role in Post-Arafat Peace Effort President Bush is expected to call on Europe to assume a key role in helping the new Palestinian leadership build and support institutions and prepare for negotiations


Iranians, Europeans Meet on Nuclear Deal After five days of intense internal deliberations, Iranian officials met with European envoys here Thursday to seek  quot;clarifications quot; on a proposed deal that would require


Tech Stocks at 7-Month High as Oil Drops The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite stock index rose to a 7-month high on Thursday as crude oil prices tumbled, alleviating worry that high energy costs will erode corporate profits.


Scientists Raise Concerns about Arthritis Drug Bextra Description: Scientists say the arthritis drug Bextra may pose increased risk of cardiovascular troubles. Bextra is related to Vioxx, which was pulled off the market in September for the same reason.


Japanese Stocks Rise, Paced by Canon, Nissan as Oil Price Falls Japanese stocks rose, led by exporters such as Canon Inc. and Nissan Motor Co., after a slide in oil prices in New York trading eased concern that global economic growth will slow.


NJ Transit riders warned to expect fare hikes in July NJ Transit #39;s executive director on Thursday said the agency #39;s 400,000 daily riders should expect fare hikes of up to 15 percent starting in July to offset a projected \$50 million


Microsoft heats up search engine war The launch of Microsoft #39;s new search engine has ignited a new war for control of the Internet, according to analysts. A global beta, or test version of MSN Search, was launched on Thursday in 26 markets and


Governor makes novel pitch in Japan Bee Capitol Bureau. TOKYO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who made millions during the 1990s with wacky Japanese television commercials for noodles and energy drinks, declared here Wednesday


Defendant: Microsoft source code  #39;sale #39; was a setup A twenty-three year old Connecticut man facing felony economic espionage charges for allegedly selling a copy of Microsoft #39;s leaked source code for \$20 says he #39;s being singled out only because the software giant and law enforcement officials can #39;t find


Toshack tipped to be Wales manager Former Liverpool star John Toshack is tipped to become the new Wales coach when the Football Association of Wales makes the announcement on Friday.


Pak hold edge for ODI According to former Pakistan captain, Imran Khan, India have a better team than Pakistan in the platinum jubilee one day international between the two countries.


Posada OK with signing Pedro While the Red Sox celebrated their first World Series title in 86 years, Jorge Posada was on the beach in Puerto Rico, staying away from the television.


No. 6 Syracuse 104, N. Colorado 54 Syracuse had lost its last two season openers. The Orange weren #39;t about to make it three in a row. Led by Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara, No.


Third-ranked Lady Tigers will face Arizona State No. 3 LSU will take on Arizona State in the championship of the Women #39;s Sports Foundation Classic Friday after the Lady Tigers beat Maine 81-50 on Thursday night to give LSU head coach Pokey Chapman her first career victory.


Police attack Darfur refugee camp Police drove through a Darfur camp for displaced people on Wednesday, smashing makeshift homes with their trucks, a UN spokesman and Amnesty International said.


President #39;s plane not intercepted: MND The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday denied a report in the local media, which claimed that President Chen Shui-bian #39;s (  ) presidential flight had been intercepted by


Japan presses Pyongyang on six-party nuclear talks Japan urged North Korea on yesterday to return to six-way talks on the North #39;s nuclear weapons program in a third day of meetings focusing on the fate of missing Japanese citizens kidnapped by Northern spies, Japanese officials said.


Larkin interested in Expos com. Shortstop Barry Larkin has expressed interest in playing for the Washington-bound Expos and being reunited with interim general manager Jim Bowden.


Using a New Language in Africa to Save Dying Ones Linguists see the computer as one important way of saving hundreds of languages in Africa, some spoken only be a few dozen elders.


Verizon Wireless Makes an Appeal to Rival's Subscribers Cingular Wireless is under attack from its biggest rival, Verizon Wireless, which is trying to recapture the top spot in the cellphone industry.


Dell Profit Rises 25 as Sales Beat Growth Rate for Industry Dell Inc. said that its quarterly profit climbed 25 percent, propelled by an increase in technology spending by American businesses and a surge in sales abroad.


Companies Struggling to Meet Deadline on Financial Controls By Bloomberg News. PricewaterhouseCoopers, the third-largest accounting firm in the United States, said yesterday that 80 percent of the clients it surveyed were either struggling to meet


Security Vendor Reports XP SP2 Holes; Microsoft Disputes Claims Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) has 10 unpatched vulnerabilities, a US security firm says. Microsoft, however, ardently disputed the claims, calling them  quot;potentially misleading and possibly erroneous.


A Legal Gun in the Open-Source Corral Who says litigation is always bad for business? SCO Group #39;s (SCOX ) litigation against sellers or users of the Linux open-source software operating system created a market opportunity for venture capitalist Daniel Egger.


Mauresmo Wins Easily in WTA Championships (AP) AP - Amelie Mauresmo routed Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 6-0 in 54 minutes at the WTA Championships on Thursday night, extending her winning streak to nine matches as the Frenchwoman tries to overtake Lindsay Davenport for the year-end No. 1 ranking.


No. 3 LSU 81, Maine 50 Seimone Augustus scored 17 points and third-ranked LSU opened the season with an 81-50 victory over Maine in the Women #39;s Sports Foundation Classic on Thursday.


Islamabad welcomes move ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday welcomed the statement by his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh about troop reduction in the Indian-held Kashmir.


LIDAR Laser Radar Finding More Uses (AP) AP - If you've ever been pulled over for speeding, you may already know something about LIDAR. A laser-based radar system, LIDAR can tell if you're speeding by bouncing a light beam off your car and seeing how quickly it returns. From an airplane or a satellite, LIDAR can calculate the distance to the ground, and by repeating the process millions of times as it flies over, map the lay of the land.


Penn St. Denies Paterno Rumor Penn State University, responding to a rumor started by a Pittsburgh radio station that Coach Joe Paterno had resigned, issued a statement yesterday denying the report.


Caution in Court for Gay Rights Groups Gay rights groups plan to limit challenges to constitutional amendments banning gay marriage that 11 states passed last week.


In A Rush To Return RALEIGH, NC - For the past two weeks, Florida State tailback Leon Washington has been torn between a feeling of helplessness and something that almost made him feel guilty.


NBA Game Summary - Dallas at Miami All four of the Heat #39;s wins have come against Eastern Conference opponents...Miami falls to 2-1 at home...Dallas improves to 2-1 on the road...The Mavs won in Miami for only the fourth time in 15 outings...Rasual Butler had 11 points for the Heat...Jerry


Seminoles Rally Florida State rallies past North Carolina State, 17-10, on Thursday night in a game that featured 22 punts, four turnovers and less than 250 yards of combined offense.


Nortel delays filing results -- again Nortel, which had set mid-November as the target date for releasing restated and current results, said it's near the end of the restatement process.


Search Engine Forums Spotlight Links to this week's topics from search engine forums across the web: New MSN Search Goes LIVE in Beta - Microsoft To Launch New Search Engine - Google Launches 'Google Advertising Professionals' - Organic vs Paid Traffic ROI? - Making Money With AdWords? - Link Building 101


GM, Ford to Increase SUV Stability Systems General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. said yesterday they are rushing to embrace a new safety technology called electronic stability control, and together they will make such systems standard


Union Sees Progress In Talks, Hotels Don #39;t Officials representing 14 major Washington hotels and Unite Here Local 25 yesterday gave mixed reports of progress in negotiations for a new contract for 3,800 hotel workers.


Right man, right time and only choice WE #39;VE had Robbie Savage #39;s rant and talk of a players #39; mutiny over John Toshack. We #39;ve heard about a north-south split on the FAW.


Timberwolves 96, Rockets 91 Kevin Garnett hit a jumper with 8.3 seconds left and finished one assist shy of a triple double, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 96-91 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.


. . . and Lost Chances  quot;No one can control or change this revolution. No one can control or change me. quot;. Yasser Arafat spoke those words before a boisterous crowd in a dusty refugee camp called Nahr Bared in northern Lebanon more than two decades ago.


Singh announces troop reduction in held Kashmir NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced on Thursday a troop reduction in Kashmir this winter, a move welcomed by Pakistan as a boost to peace efforts.


Dutch lawmakers say terror threat underestimated THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Dutch lawmakers accused the government yesterday of underestimating the threat from Islamic terrorists and failing to protect a filmmaker whose slaying is blamed on a suspected Muslim radical.


Hewlett-Packard takes another stab at software Company extends partnership with open-source Java software company in effort to compete with IBM.


Vote Fraud Theories, Spread by Blogs, Are Quickly Buried Some web logs were swift to provide dark theories about the presidential election, but others were just as quick to debunk them.


Wanted by the Police: A Good Interface How the flawed interface design of a police dispatch system became a municipal issue in San Jose, Calif.


Skating Champion Hamilton Has Benign Brain Tumor World and Olympic figure skating champion Scott Hamilton, 46, underwent a biopsy at The Cleveland Clinic, and doctors expected to release him from the hospital by Friday.


Garnett Sinks Rockets Kevin Garnett jumper with 8.3 seconds remaining lifts the Timberwolves to a 96-91 win over the Rockets on Thursday.  Garnett finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists.


Philippine Rail Cars Crash Into Ravine, 10 Dead  PADRE BURGOS, Philippines (Reuters) - Rescuers in the  Philippines freed more than 100 train passengers trapped on  Friday when a crowded economy carriage derailed and dragged  other cars into a steep ravine, killing at least 10 people.


COO Otellini To Take Helm at Intel Otellini is buttoned-down and urban. He has handled much of Intel #39;s communication with Wall Street analysts and he peppers his interviews with friendly comments and jokes.


Coke CEO reduces earnings forecasts NEW YORK - In a nod to Wall Streets frustrations with his companys repeated failure to meet earnings expectations, Coca-Cola CEO Neville Isdell on Thursday cut Cokes long-term forecasts while announcing a big boost in annual marketing dollars.


Pilots OK cuts to rescue Delta Delta Air Lines pilots ratified \$1 billion a year in pay cuts and other concessions that have become the linchpin of the company #39;s efforts to keep from spiraling into bankruptcy.


Blockbuster offers to buy Hollywood Entertainment Blockbuster Inc. has decided that bigger is better in the battle to succeed against new technologies and a growing list of competitors.


S amp;P-500 Reaches Post-9/11 High Point Stock market investors celebrated another drop in oil prices on Thursday, driving the broad Standard  amp; Poor #39;s 500-stock index to its highest point since the Sept.


Martha Stewart Living names ex-ABC official as CEO Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., still reeling from the legal woes of its founder, has named Susan Lyne, a board member and former ABC entertainment president, as its new chief executive and president, replacing Sharon Patrick, a chief architect of


Microsoft search encounters glitches on first day Microsoft #39;s widely anticipated search engine, which launched in test mode yesterday, encountered some glitches on its first day.


Voyager Capital Becomes the First Venture Firm to Join the Open <b>...</b> Voyager Capital, a leading Pacific Northwest information technology venture firm, has announced it is the first venture firm to join the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), an Oregon-based organization dedicated to accelerating the growth and adoption of


Boeing, Northrop Grumman to team up on spaceship Two US aerospace giants, Boeing and Northrop Grumman, say they will form a partnership to compete for the contract to build NASA  #39;s next manned spaceship, China Radio International reported Thursday.


Spotlight #39;s on  #39;Halo 2 #39; jhu: red by joan:  In  quot;Halo 2, quot; you blow the heads off hundreds of space aliens with shotguns, rocket launchers and rifles.


Canada-US Tie 1-1 in Four Nations Cup Team USA goaltender Chanda Gunn makes the save off Team Canada Colleen Sostorics as USA #39;s Katie King looks on during first period Four Nations Tournament action Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004 in Burlington, Vt.


FRIDAY #39;S EDITORIAL Yasser Arafat was as unpredictable in death as he was in life. The longtime leader of the Palestinians lingered for days, with the world unsure of the severity of his medical condition.


Israeli nuclear spy seized in church ARMED police commandos stormed a Jerusalem church compound yesterday and arrested Mordechai Vanunu, the nuclear whistle blower, drawing condemnation from the Anglican Church for violating the holy site.


Pessimism over latest attempts to restart peace talks in Sri Lanka A high-level Norwegian delegation led by Foreign Minister Jan Petersen arrived in Sri Lanka this week as part of international efforts to save the countrys tottering peace process.


Bulgaria #39;s VP Attends Arafat #39;s Funeral Bulgaria #39;s Vice President Anguel Marin will attend the funeral of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died at 3:30 am Paris time on Thursday.


No. 12 Mississippi State Tops Fairfield (AP) AP - Ontario Harper scored a career-high 17 points and No. 12 Mississippi State, playing without preseason All-America Lawrence Roberts, beat Fairfield 53-49 Thursday night in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.


Delta pilots approve \$1 billion in concessions Delta Air Lines pilots, who resisted pay cuts for three years as their employer flew ever closer to bankruptcy, have voted to slash their own compensation to save the airline.


Dell Profit Rises 25 as Sales Beat Growth Rate for Industry Dell Inc. said yesterday that its quarterly profit climbed 25 percent, propelled by a steady increase in technology spending by American businesses and a surge in sales abroad.


Diddy #39;s New Digs In 2004, Kemal Uzan and his two sons, Cem and Hakan, made the Forbes list of the World #39;s Richest People with an estimated net worth of \$1.


Microsoft #39;s SP2: A fix that derails some computers There #39;s only one problem with Microsoft #39;s Service Pack 2, a key upgrade to the popular Windows XP operating system: It turns some computers into large, expensive doorstops.


Venture Capital: Investors see open-source software potential By its very nature, open-source software would appear to run counter to the goals of venture capitalists. Not only is it distributed and developed for free by a loose-knit group of techies from around the


Afridi: No clear favourites Calcutta: Shahid Afridi felt that the Saturday one-dayer between the arch-rivals will be a close one with no clear favourites. Any team can win on the day, the Pakistani allrounder said at a city hotel on Thursday.


NBA Game Recap Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Kevin Garnett registered 20 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Houston Rockets, 96-91, at the Toyota Center.


He Goes From Afterthought to Game-Breaker It was just another one of those quickly forgotten preseason transactions that appear in small type in the back of the newspaper. March 2004: DC United reacquires the rights to forward Jaime


China's Key Inflation Index Slows (AP) AP - Growth in China's main indicator for inflation slowed to 4.3 percent in October, significantly lower than the 5.2 percent annual increase the month before, the government reported Friday.


S P-500 Reaches Post-9/11 High Point Stock market investors celebrated another drop in oil prices on Thursday, driving the broad Standard   Poor's 500-stock index to its highest point since Sept. 11, 2001, and pushing the blue chip Dow Jones industrial average back into positive territory for the year.


A Blockbuster Bid  The nation's two largest video store chains, Blockbuster Inc. and Hollywood Entertainment Corp., have faced some of the same struggles in recent years as new options for watching movies have steadily eroded the traditional rental business.


Circulation Fraud Contained, Audit Group Says  TORONTO, Nov. 11 -- The chairman of the newspaper industry's circulation-auditing body said Thursday that the organization would work to repair its image, tarnished by circulation scandals over the past year at four large U.S. newspapers.


Drug Firm Shares in Slump  NEW YORK, Nov. 11 -- The 40 percent share price slide in Merck  #38; Co. in the five weeks after it pulled the painkiller Vioxx off the market highlighted larger problems in the pharmaceutical industry that may depress performance for years, according to academics and stock analysts who follow the sector.


A Profession Thrown Into a Tailspin  In the days when United Airlines was flying high, Patrick Downey exulted in being paid to live his passion. When the former Navy pilot went to work for United in 1999, he felt he landed his dream job, one that would provide a comfortable salary to make a happy life in McLean with his wife and two daughters.


Laptops drive Dell profits boost Computer giant Dell sees profits rise 25despite slowing momentum in the PC market, as laptop sales soar.


Intel changes put state to test I #39;m paranoid that much of Arizona remains clueless about the competitive race of the 21st century, a race we #39;re in whether we want to be or not.


Coke bottler targets canned fruit Australian soft drink bottler Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd. has launched a friendly Aust. \$500 million (\$382 million) bid for SPC Ardmona Ltd.


Browser war flares again WASHINGTON: A new front has been opened in the long-dormant browser war, with an open-source program called Firefox aiming to challenge Microsoft #39;s dominant Internet Explorer.


North American cash registers ring up \$125 million US in sales of <b>...</b> TORONTO (CP) - North American sales of Halo 2 reached \$125 million US in the first 24 hours of the video game #39;s release, according to Xbox parent company Microsoft.


No. 12 Mississippi St. 53, Fairfield 49 Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury wouldn #39;t use the absence of Lawrence Roberts as an excuse for the 12th-ranked Bulldogs #39; close call against Fairfield on Thursday night in the opening round of the Coaches vs.


No. 24 Memphis 102, Savannah St. 40 Memphis didn #39;t let its season get off to a slow start. The 24th-ranked Tigers built an early lead, continued to put on the pressure and coasted to a 102-40 victory over Savannah State on


Small market reality arrives Washington is the nation #39;s eighth largest media market, but for baseball #39;s purposes in 2005, it is Kansas City, Milwaukee or even Montreal.


Iraqi PM Allawi defends Falluja assault Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has defended the attack on the rebel stronghold Falluja saying it would improve security across Iraq and pave the way for planned January elections.


Whistleblower  #39;under house arrest #39; FORMER Israeli nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu had been placed under house arrest after being detained on suspicion of giving secret information to foreigners, a judicial source said today.


Norway Fails to Break Deadlock to Revive Sri Lanka Peace Talks Norway, which brokered a cease-fire between the Sri Lanka government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, failed to break the deadlock to revive peace talks key to the South Asian island #39;s economic growth.


Grove exits as Silicon Valley legend SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- More than anything else, Intel Chairman Andrew Grove was a pioneer. Free! Sign up here to receive our Internet Daily e-Newsletter!


Oracle #39;s Fight to the Finish Sure, the PeopleSoft board told shareholders to just say no. This battle will go down to the wire, and even afterward Ellison could prevail.


Dell Q3 profit rises 25 percent SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Dell Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter profit rose 25 percent from a year earlier as the No. 1 personal-computer maker boosted sales of its PCs, laptops and other gear by 18 percent.


AOL plans to launch travel site America Online said Thursday it will launch a free online service to search the Web for the best travel deals, highlighting the online giant #39;s ambitions to boost it free Web-based businesses.


UPDATE: Wary Of Watchdog, Coke #39;s Amatil Turns to Fruit SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Prevented by regulators from getting too big in the juice market, Asia Pacific #39;s largest softdrinks bottler Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd.


New brands boost Kohl #39;s bottom line CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Kohl #39;s Corp. posted a 19 percent jump in quarterly profits, powered by sales of new lines of merchandise. Free!


Microsoft Debuts Search Engine, But Skeptics Remain After 14 months of work and a \$100 million investment, Microsoft rolled out a test version of its new search engine late Wednesday night.


European craft to probe  #39;moon colonies #39; A tiny craft powered by Star Trek #39; technology is standing at the  quot;gateway quot; to the moon - and a landmark date in the history of European space exploration.


Mauresmo crushes Zvonareva World No. two, Amelie Mauresmo of France, had an easy win over Russian Vera Zvonareva at the three-million-US-dollar WTA Tour Championships.


Artist formerly known as Artest The basketball player formerly known as Ron Artest apparently is a Renaissance man to a fault. At least his last name is convenient, as either Artest or Artist, a straight-up, vowel-centered exchange


Giants: Warner set in his ways At the end of training camp, when Giants coach Tom Coughlin named Kurt Warner the starting quarterback, he credited the open competition at the position for helping the progress of Warner and No.


Elbow bend common in Test cricket: Murali Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan says he is not the only bowler with a suspect action playing under the current International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations.


JETS STARRING IN  #39;SURVIVOR #39; With Quincy Carter filling in for the injured Chad Pennington, the Jets #39; season is far from over. Just listen to the TV football experts.


Train falls into ravine in Quezon province; 10 dead (6TH UPDATE) At least ten people were killed and 115 wounded after a Manila-bound train from the Bicol region slipped of its


Quake claims 6 lives in Indonesia A major earthquake early Friday shook eastern Indonesia #39;s Alor Island, killing at least six people and injuring 21 others, a spokesman with Indonesia #39;s Meteorological and Geophysical Agency said.


Violence Erupts Across Iraq at Sites Far From Fallujah Armed insurgents rampaged Thursday through Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, detonated a massive car bomb in the capital and apparently seized control of two smaller urban centers. This violence took place as U.S. forces continued their major offensive in Fallujah.


Baghdad Blast Kills 17 U.S. troops hunted rebels in the battered Iraqi city of Fallujah on Thursday, but rebels hit back with an armed rampage in Mosul and a powerful car bomb that killed 17 people in a crowded Baghdad street.


Area's Palestinians Mourn Loss of a Symbol Despite Arafat's flaws, area residents say the leader represented struggle of the state.


Belgium Assaults Democracy and Self-Determination "What happened in Brussels today is unique in the   Western world: never has a so-called democratic regime outlawed the country's   largest political party."  The party outlawed is for Flemish self-determination.  When Belgium's largest political party (despite being a minority, which even the largest parties usually are in parliamentary politics) cannot even seek self-determination via democratic means, aren't international organizations obligated to ask what "self-determination" really means in a "liberal democracy"?


World Stock Index at 3-Year High  SINGAPORE (Reuters) - MSCI's world stock market index hit  its highest level in over three years on Friday as weaker oil  prices eased pressure on the global economy, while the yen  shrugged off soft Japanese GDP data to gain on the dollar.


Microsoft overhauls its engine Microsoft #39;s new search engine includes a  quot;near me quot; button that helps users find sites for a given location and a feature that answers questions such as  quot;What is the capital of Turkey?


Trojan Horse Targets Mobile Phones A new Trojan horse sends unauthorized spam to mobile phones via SMS. Called Troj/Delf-HA by security firm Sophos, the malware has only infected a few users of a Russian wireless network, but


Trojan spammers take aim at mobile phones A Trojan horse computer program that uses infected computers to churn out mobile phone spam messages is causing concern among antivirus firms.


Browns Honor Ex-Player Killed in Vietnam (AP) AP - The Browns will pay tribute Sunday to a former player who died in the Vietnam War and has gone unrecognized by the NFL for decades.


NO QUIT IN HOLYFIELD Why is he still doing this? Why would a man who has millions in the bank, who has won the undisputed world heavyweight title four times, climb back into the ring at the age of 42?


Euopean press review The death and legacy of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat dominate today #39;s European papers. Some hold out the hope that his passing will provide a new impetus for peace in the Middle East, while others are


Yasser Arafat, dead at 75. HIS MISSION in life was embodied in a slogan: Death to Israel. Now death has claimed Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian National Authority, founder of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Nobel


Local thoughts on Arafat UMW professor says people should not expect quick, dramatic change in dynamics following death of longtime leader. As Palestinians mourn the death of their leader, Yasser Arafat, attention is shifting to who


Too early to expect S. Korea #39;s referral to UN Security Council Astana - Seoul, November. 12 KAZINFORM -- A ranking South Korean official on Friday argued it was too early to assume the country will be referred to the UN Security Council for its past nuclear experiments.


Thailand Drops Millions of Paper Doves on Muslim Provinces Thai military and civilian aircraft rained 120 million paper doves down on Muslim southern provinces in a goodwill gesture, as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra tries to ease violence that has killed 400 people.


Bosnia's NATO, EU ambitions at risk over warcrimes suspects, Ashdown warns (AFP) AFP - The failure of Bosnian Serbs to hand over warcrimes suspects could ruin Bosnia's hopes of joining NATO and the European Union, top international envoy Paddy Ashdown said here.


Indian peace move brightens hope for Kashmir peace (Reuters) Reuters - Kashmiris weary of years of violence welcomed on Friday the governments surprising offer to reduce the number of its troops in the Himalayan territory, a move that could prompt old foe Pakistan to respond similarly.


Quarterly profit climbs for Dell Dell, the world #39;s largest personal computer maker, posted a higher quarterly profit Thursday, helped by market share gains and lower component costs despite slowing demand for corporate PCs.


Soybean farmers face a winter of decision US soybean farmers bringing in a record harvest face a new risk: an aggressive form of fungus that could severely damage their crops next year and beyond.


Trojans begin spam assault on cellphones KUALA LUMPUR: British security software specialist Sophos Plc said it has identified a new trojan which attempts to send spam messages to mobile phone users.


Seminoles rally past struggling Wolfpack On a night dominated by the defenses, 11th-ranked Florida State rallied with three second-half scores to pull out a 17-10 victory before a national-television audience and a sellout crowd of 56,800.


Back to basics for Giants offense  quot;Mulling quot; is not the word Tom Coughlin uses to describe the attention he has given to changing his quarterback. He hasn #39;t given a lot of thought to the Kurt Warner-Eli Manning


Garnett Delivers For Timberwolves HOUSTON, Nov. 11 (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves took advantage of Tracy McGrady #39;s absence to record a road win. Kevin Garnett scored 20 points and Sam Cassell added 18 and both made some big shots


Japanese growth grinds to a halt Japan's economy grows just 0.1 in the third quarter, hit by faltering exports and a slowdown in corporate investment.


Japan to Protest to China Over Intruder Submarine (Reuters) Reuters - A submarine that intruded into waters off\Japan earlier this week has been identified as Chinese, Japan's\top government spokesman Hiroyuki Hosoda said on Friday, adding\that Tokyo would protest to Beijing.


China mine blast toll rises to 33 as inspection drive announced (AFP) AFP - The death toll from an explosion at a coal mine in central China has risen to 33 with six injured, as authorities announced plans for an inspection drive in a bid to improve shockingly low safety standards in the nation's mines.


Harvard vs. Kmart Harvard University, unsuccessful in its efforts to buy Kmart out of a Brighton lease as it expands its campus in the area, is using hardball tactics to try to evict the discount store.


Dueling airlines cut fares  Several airlines are aggressively cutting fares in hopes of beating back tough competition for holiday passengers.


Boston condo sales hot; suburb housing cooling While the suburban housing market has been showing some signs of softness, sales for condominiums in central Boston, especially luxury condos, continue to be strong, according to an analysis of third-quarter sales by the Listing Information Network, or LINK, which tracks the downtown condo market.


Both legislators, firms split on stem-cell incentives  Beacon Hill's new enthusiasm for embryonic stem-cell research would seem to be good news for the biotechnology industry.


It's time to talk We have just come through a long and bitter election campaign in which healthcare, a fairly important matter to most of us, got almost no air time at all. Now our president is clearing the decks for his final run at history, and the priorities are remaking the tax codes and Social Security and continuing the war on terror. Healthcare ...


Delta pilots OK 32.5 pay cut ATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines pilots handed the struggling airline a huge victory yesterday in its effort to avoid bankruptcy, agreeing to slash their salaries by more than \$1 billion annually and forgo pay raises through 2009.


Blockbuster offers \$700m for rival  DALLAS -- Blockbuster Inc. , facing new attacks from big retailers and online operators, has offered \$700 million for rival Hollywood Entertainment Corp. in a bid to combine the two biggest players in the movie-rental industry.


Seeking to refocus, Intel names nonengineer CEO SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Despite a recent series of product missteps, Intel Corp.'s board yesterday selected the semiconductor giant's day-to-day operations chief to replace chief executive Craig Barrett, who is stepping aside to become chairman in May.


Coke says earnings, sales growth to slow  ATLANTA -- Coca-Cola Co. warned investors to expect slower earnings and sales growth from the world's biggest soft drink company. But it said it is beefing up spending on marketing its core brands and on innovation as it tries to catch up with consumer's growing thirst for alternatives to soda.


America Online buys into rival of travel websites  Aiming to put itself in the vanguard of the Internet travel business, America Online will invest an undisclosed amount in an upstart that threatens to lure customers away from Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity.


Providence, Warburg near Telcordia deal  PHILADELPHIA -- Buyout firms Warburg Pincus and Providence Equity Partners are close to a deal to buy telecommunications software company Telcordia Technologies Inc. for about \$1.3 billion, sources familiar with the situation said yesterday.


Gay happy to get his chance Patriots right cornerback Randall Gay realizes he has been the opposition's No. 1 target, and will remain so in Sunday night's game against Buffalo.


The rap on Artest: He is off-key My daughter called yesterday morning. Said she wouldn't be making it for her usual dinner at Mom and Dad's house the next couple of Wednesdays.


Optimistic signs ahead? At the stroke of midnight last night, the Red Sox reached a milestone as one of their best pitchers since Cy Young and their best catcher since Carlton Fisk led 14 teammates into full-blown free agency.


NFL games on TV BALTIMORE (5-3) vs. NY JETS (6-2) When, where: Sunday, 1 p.m., at East Rutherford, N.J. TV: Ch. 4. Last meeting: Ravens won, 34-20, in 2002. Comments: Jets quarterback Chad Pennington is out 2-4 weeks with a strained right rotator cuff, leaving Quincy Carter under center against the man-eating Ravens (fifth in total defense, allowing 281 yards per game). Pennington was ...


Coach's position is clear, isn't it? Of course, he conceded that it was his fault, but Bill Belichick couldn't get much work done the other day. Not with the line he had outside his office. Practice was over, the guys were free to go where they wanted, but many of them remained at Gillette Stadium. They wanted a word with Belichick, whose coaching decisions in last ...


But seriously, folks We have reached a most glorious part of the season. The final week of open dates.


Keeping frustrations in reserve Jiri Welsch may vent his frustrations in Czech on the court, but his body language during games and unusually short answers to questions after practice yesterday need no translation. Although a team player, Welsch has been frustrated with his second-unit duties. In a system suited to his abilities and basketball intelligence, Welsch has struggled to make meaningful contributions, ...


Finley shelved by ankle Dallas Mavericks guard Michael Finley was placed on the injured list yesterday with a sprained right ankle, and team officials believe the two-time All-Star will need at least two weeks before returning. Finley, who was injured in the third quarter of Tuesday night's loss at Orlando, must sit out at least five games. Finley averaged 17 points in Dallas's first ...


US stocks hit highest levels for months Stocks rallied strongly in the US last night, with both the Dow and the Nasdaq at their highest for months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above its end 2003 level for the first time in more than four months.


Jones Apparel Group will acquire luxury retailer Barneys New York In its first foray into the luxury market, the shoe and clothing marketer Jones Apparel Group Inc. said Thursday it is buying upscale clothier Barneys New York Inc.


Business briefs, November 12 The three top executives at the American Stock Exchange received Wells notices from the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of an investigation into options trading and


Nikkei closes up 1.6 Tokyo #39;s Nikkei average jumped 1.6 percent by the close on Friday as a rally on Wall Street and lower oil prices ignited broad-based buying, with weak Japanese GDP data causing only a brief stutter at the start.


#39;Future of Ice #39; is a poetic and urgent frontline report This Tuesday came another report by scientists who stress that global warming is advancing with dire consequences in the Arctic regions and beyond, while the Bush administration continues to insist that such reports contain  quot;nothing new quot; to cause it to


Telstra launches international Wi-fi roaming Telstra has launched Wi-fi roaming with five international wireless broadband operators giving Telstra customers travelling abroad access to WiFi hotspots in the UK (BT Group), USA (T-Mobile USA), Japan (NTT DoCoMo), Singapore (StarHub) and Malaysia (Maxis


Bientt de l #39;AMD chez Dell? Dell, premier constructeur de PC au monde, s #39;est toujours refus  quiper ses machines avec autre chose que des processeurs Intel.


Death toll rises to 10 in Quezon train mishap (10:50 am) PADRE BURGOS -- A speeding passenger train derailed and fell into a ravine in Quezon province, overturning several times and killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 118 others, officials said.


Indian peace move brightens hope for Kashmir peace Kashmiris weary of years of violence welcomed on Friday India #39;s surprising offer to reduce the number of its troops in the Himalayan territory, a move that could prompt old foe Pakistan to respond similarly.


Quake shakes Indonesia Atleast six people were killed and over six injured in an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale shook an island in eastern Indonesia today.


Bush, Blair discuss peace prospects Prime Minister Tony Blair sought consensus with President Bush on Thursday to make peace in the Middle East an urgent priority, exploring whether the death of Yasser Arafat offers


China and Taiwan Vie for Vanuatu Ties China said on Thursday that the coalition government of Vanuatu had withdrawn an agreement by its prime minister to switch diplomatic relations to Beijing #39;s rival, Taiwan.


Two US soldiers killed, four wounded during attack in Mosul Two US soldiers were killed and four wounded when their patrol came under attack in the northwestern city of Mosul, the military said Sunday.


Blair, Bush Meet to Discuss Mideast Peace (AP) AP - Convinced that the road to Jerusalem doesn't run through Baghdad, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is trying to turn President Bush's attention from Iraq to the stalled Mideast peace process.


U.S. Forces Say Rebels Trapped in Southern Falluja  FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces have trapped  insurgents in southern Falluja, Marines said on Friday, the  fourth day of an assault that has killed "hundreds" of rebels.  Eighteen American and five Iraqi troops have also died.


College games on TV PITTSBURGH (5-3) vs. NOTRE DAME (6-3) When, where: Tomorrow, 2:30 p.m., at South Bend, Ind. TV: Ch. 7. Ranking: Notre Dame is No. 24. Last season: Notre Dame won, 20-14, at Pittsburgh. Comments: The Fighting Irish put up their dukes last Saturday, knocking off ninth-ranked Tennessee in Knoxville, 17-13. Notre Dame, playing its final home game of the season, has ...


Local entries facing tall tasks March Madness is four months away, but November Numbness is upon us as the NCAA kicks off tournaments in field hockey and women's soccer, with the New England area a prominent host.


This time, Bentley gives advance notice for playoffs Bentley coach Peter Yetten knows that increased success breeds increased expectations. Yetten's Falcons are returning to the NCAA Division 2 tournament one year after their first-round loss to eventual repeat national champion Grand Valley State. It being the program's first foray into postseason play, just being there was accomplishment enough.


Clarett is charged up but can't dent Ohio St. The story du jour in college football is former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett publicly unloading a truckload of charges against the Buckeyes, including cash payments, summer jobs for which he and other football players were paid without showing up, fiddling with grades, gut courses that ensured his continued eligibility, and free loaner cars arranged by the coaching staff.


No stopping Whelan, Weymouth Piling up seven goals and two assists in three games is an incredible feat. Doing it while playing on a severely sprained ankle is all the more impressive. Weymouth's Catie Whelan has done exactly that this postseason.


Japan says mystery sub was Chinese Japan is to formally protest to China after saying a submarine found in its waters on Wednesday was Chinese.


Q  amp; A Julius Williams No matter the time, place, or situation, East Boston's Julius Williams never seems to run out of gas. The No. 2 scorer in Division 3A (18 touchdowns, seven 2-point conversions), Williams is coming off a 230-yard, four-touchdown performance against Boston English. Williams, a senior, explains why he is the city's best running back in this week's Q  amp; A.


This week's schedule Durfee over Acton-Boxboro -- This Fall River Dream will be a nightmare for the Colonials.


BSE 'link to different CJD types' Eating BSE-infected meat could lead to people developing different types of CJD, research suggests.


Hundreds expected at Peel funeral Music fans from across the world are expected to attend the funeral of legendary DJ John Peel.


With eye toward future, Palestinians mourn Arafat  RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinians yesterday mourned the death of Yasser Arafat, quickly installed new officials in the top positions that he held, and vowed to create the first true democracy in the Arab world.


A sense of loss, but dream of statehood endures NEW YORK -- Wearing the traditional black-and-white checked headdress that Yasser Arafat had made his personal trademark, Linda Sarasour, a Palestinian-American who works in a part of Brooklyn with many Arab residents, yesterday described the controversial leader as ''our Martin Luther King. quot;


America increases pressure on Annan over UN scandals There is growing fear among United Nations officials that Secretary-General Kofi Annan may have lost the confidence of the organisation #39;s most powerful constituent, the United States.


Summary: Coke Scales Back Growth Goals REVIEW RESULTS: Coca-Cola Co. lowered its targets for earnings and sales volume growth amid continuing weakness in key markets including North America.


Consumer relief as oil prices fall Heating bills will still be higher this winter, but costs appear to have peaked last month. By Ron Scherer  Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.


Tech strength, drop in oil prices spark Wall Street rally NEW YORK : US stocks resumed their rally on Thursday, getting a lift from a sharp drop in crude oil prices and bullish broker comments on the tech sector.


GM, Ford target SUV rollovers General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., responding to growing concerns about the safety and stability of sport utility vehicles, said Thursday


Rockets 77, 76ers 76 Tracy McGrady had 17 points, including the winning basket with 25 seconds to play, as the Houston Rockets ended a five-game losing streak with a 77-76 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.


Japan says submarine that intruded into its waters was Chinese (Canadian Press) Canadian Press - TOKYO (AP) - Japan has determined a submarine that briefly intruded into Japanese territorial waters earlier this week without identifying itself came from China, an official said Friday.


Novell foray into Linux market targets large enterprise customers Strong words  the likes of which the industry has heard before  accompanied Novell Inc. #39;s release of its next-generation Linux desktop for enterprise customers, Novell Linux Desktop 9, powered by SUSE Linux.


Nuggets knock Pistons Helping the poor-shooting Nuggets get well with bad defense, the Pistons fell to 1-1 on their western trip, losing, 117-109, Thursday night at the Pepsi Center.


Talkin Boxin - November 11th Edition  quot;Holy Moley Captain Foley quot;. The headline in a British newspaper blared,  quot;How could 59 million Yanks be so Stupid ? quot; That of course was a reference to the recent re-election of President George W. Bush.


AL Cy goes to Santana He battled back from a debilitating injury to reach the pinnacle of his profession. But even on the most rewarding day of Johan Santana #39;s


Syracuse rolls after fast start NO. 6 SYRACUSE 104, N. COLORADO 54: At Syracuse, NY - Syracuse had lost its last two season openers. The Orange weren #39;t about to make it three in a row.


Arafat #39;s funeral today, world leaders arrive in Cairo to pay last <b>...</b> Leaders from various parts of the world have started arriving in the Egyptian capital Cairo to pay their last respects to the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died on Thursday morning.


Japan to protest to China over intruder submarine A submarine that intruded into waters off Japan earlier this week has been identified as Chinese, Japan #39;s top government spokesman Hiroyuki Hosoda said on Friday, adding that Tokyo would protest to Beijing.


7,000 Delta pilots OK cut in pay Fliers also forgo raises through 2009 in move that saves firm \$1 billion yearly and increases stock prices. By Doug Gross / Associated Press.


Stocks rise as Dow erases loss for 2004 US stocks rose, sending the Standard  amp; Poor #39;s 500 Index to its highest close in more than three years and erasing the Dow Jones industrial average #39;s loss for 2004.


Circulation Fraud Contained, Audit Group Says The chairman of the newspaper industry #39;s circulation-auditing body said Thursday that the organization would work to repair its image, tarnished by circulation scandals over the past year at four large US newspapers.


Visteon offers worker buyouts Blaming shrinking sales to key automotive customers, Visteon Corp. told its 8,300 white-collar workers Thursday that it plans to offer buyouts to a  quot;significant quot; number of employees by the end of the year.


BBC reporters' log BBC correspondents record events in the Middle East and their thoughts as the funeral of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat takes place.


Vera Drake up for European prize Vera Drake and Bad Education are among the nominees for the European Film Academy Awards.


Microsoft to back customers in infringement cases Borrowing a line from Allstate Insurance, Microsoft says it wants customers to know they are in good hands when they choose its software.


Chance seen to pursue peace He stood only 5 feet 2 inches but Yasser Arafat cast a long shadow on the world stage, and many leaders, diplomats, and analysts saw in his passing


Cairo hosting Arafat funeral A military funeral for the Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, will be held in the Egyptian capital, Cairo this morning. After the funeral President Arafat #39;s coffin will be flown by helicopter to Ramallah for burial.


Clash of civilizations has landed in Holland Those who want proof the United States #39; efforts in Iraq have plunged the world into danger need only look at the usual suspects: Iran, Israel, Syria.


Criminals 'joining finance firms' Members of organised crime are joining financial firms to commit fraud, a new report by the industry watchdog reveals.


Manufacturers 'could cut 22,000' The CBI says thousands of manufacturing jobs could be lost in the next three months with exports falling and confidence low in many regions of the UK.


Tiger stripes The Auburn Tigers did everything to make themselves at home against Tennessee in the SEC Championship Saturday. They exceeded the 32.9 points per game they put up in Jordan-Hare


From start to finish, it was always USC You often see thoroughbred horses do it. Baseball teams have jumped out ahead in the standings and stayed there all the way through to a World Series victory.


Invasion of the Video Game Ads Ad networks target online gamers as next big audience for product placements.


Coke Warns of Slack Sales for a Year or So Coca-Cola, suffering from weak sales in North America and other important markets, said yesterday that it would sharply scale back its projections for the amount of beverages it expects to


Option to bump up CD rate helps those afraid to lock in The low interest rates of the past few years have been particularly frustrating for retirees and others who favor conservative certificates of deposit for income.


Blockbuster deal? With the over-the-counter movie rental business on the decline, Blockbuster Inc. said Thursday that it wants to buy rival Hollywood Video in a \$1 billion transaction that would include \$700


Pixar may shift release of films Despite a strong November opening for  quot;The Incredibles, quot; Pixar Animation Studios Inc. is considering shifting its feature film release dates to the spring to maximize box office potential


Yen Rises Vs Dollar Despite Japan Data The yen advanced against the dollar on Friday, shrugging off weak third-quarter growth figures for Japan as market worries persisted about the huge US deficits.


CORRECTED - UPDATE 2-Franklin likely to settle brokerage charges <b>...</b> In SAN FRANCISCO/BOSTON story headlined  quot;UPDATE 2-Franklin likely to settle brokerage charges soon quot; please read in 9th paragraph ... In September, an adviser for Newport Beach, California-based Pacific Investment


PeopleSoft rejects takeover bid again WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - PeopleSoft Inc. rebuffed Oracle Corp. #39;s latest hostile takeover bid, vowing to fight the \$9.2 billion offer even if a majority of shareholders supported it.


quot;SMART-1 quot; at  quot;gateway quot; to the moon After a 13-month journey, a tiny spacecraft the size of a washing machine, driven by  quot;Star Trek quot; technology, will begin to orbit the moon on Monday night.


1Gbit NAND flash prices to drop 50 by 2Q 2005 Prices of 1Gbit NAND flash chips may drop about 50 to US\$3-4 per chip by the end of the second quarter of 2005, as supply increases and players continue to push higher-density products into the market, according to sources with IC distributors in Taiwan.


Rain moves northern Ariz. down drought scale Northern Arizona #39;s spate of fall storms could mean healthier winter vegetation, better stream flow and more moisture - at least in the short term, experts say.


NASA Scramjet Aims for Speed Record NASA #39;s unmanned X-43A plane is the latest product of its research program into flight at more than five times the speed of sound.


EC vows to pursue Microsoft for abusing its position The European Commission (EC), which fined Microsoft a record 497 million euros (US\$625.50 million) this year for abusing its dominant position, on Monday vowed to continue pursuing the US software group through the courts for anti-competitive behavior.


Twins left-hander had 13-0 record after all-star break An opponent could have a bat in his hands, and Johan Santana would nevertheless overpower him. Opponents could be fellow pitchers bringing impressive statistics to an award election, and Santana would whip them, too.


Paterno rumors dispelled by coach Penn State #39;s fourth losing season in five years has fueled much speculation about Joe Paterno #39;s future - specifically, how much longer he will remain as the team #39;s head coach.


Boosting MNF by game swaps For an NFL devotee reading or hearing about a flexible Monday Night Football schedule, an option contained in the six-year, \$8-billion contracts awarded to CBS and Fox on Tuesday, the concept appears quite intriguing.


Four tied for 1st after opening round of LPGA Tournament of <b>...</b> Park, Inkster, Diaz, Kim tied: Grace Park birdied the last three holes in a 6-under 66 yesterday that left her in a four-way tie after the first round of the LPGA Tournament of Champions in Mobile, Ala.


Silvertips edge Brandon, 2-1 BRANDON, Manitoba - Torrie Wheat scored twice as the Everett Silvertips beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 2-1 yesterday in Western Hockey League action before 4,046 fans at the Keystone Centre.


Lunar Spacecraft SMART-1 ready to orbit around the Moon London - Europe s first lunar spacecraft SMART-1 is set to move into orbit around the Moon on Monday the 15 November 2004 . The craft has already reached the gateway of the Moon, the area where from its gravity dominates the Earth.


Micron overtakes Hynix in chip sales Micron Technology Inc. of the United States probably overtook Koreas Hynix Semiconductor Inc. as the worlds second-largest computer memory chipmaker during the third quarter, market researcher IDC said.


Rainfall moves northern Arizona down drought scale Northern Arizona #39;s downgrade on a federal drought map from an  quot;extreme quot; designation to  quot;severe quot; could mean healthier winter vegetation, better stream flow and more moisture - at least in the short term, experts say.


Cellphones get debugging tool For the millions of mobile-phone users buying fancier and more complicated phones these days - particularly in Asia, where the most cutting-edge phones often are introduced -he old model of cellphone service is getting a reboot.


FIGURE SKATING Hamilton, 46, had a biopsy at the Cleveland Clinic, and doctors expected to release him from the hospital today, publicist Michael Sterling said Thursday.


Arafat led Palestinians but failed peace quest The Palestinian president symbolized his people #39;s desire for a homeland, but his corrupt rule and limited vision frustrated their drive for statehood.


Relief, disbelief in Kashmir as India announces troop reduction SRINAGAR, India : The announcement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of a troop reduction in Indian Kashmir this winter has evoked reactions ranging from relief to disbelief in the insurgency-hit region.


Dutch investigate Muslim militants THE Dutch Government said last night that it was investigating a radical Muslim group with suspected links to the man accused of killing the film-maker Theo van Gogh and to bombings in Casablanca last year.


Harmony shareholder vote on bid looms The vote by the shareholders of world number four gold miner Harmony on the group #39;s bid for rival Gold Fields on late Friday morning is crucial to the continuation of Harmony #39;s daring bid.


New IE Bugs Open Up XP SP2 To Attack (TechWeb) TechWeb - Two new vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer 6.0 -- unveiled by a security firm Wednesday -- could be exploited by hackers to bypass security features in Microsoft's Windows XP SP2.


Invasion of the Video Game Ads (PC World) PC World - Ad networks target online gamers as next big audience for product placements.


Earlier Editions Of Firefox Flawed (TechWeb) TechWeb - Just days after the Mozilla Foundation released the final version of its standalone Firefox browser, a security firm Thursday said that earlier editions should be replaced.


Virginia Tech and Miami challenge for a bowl berth In their first year in the ACC, No. 10 Virginia Tech at No. 9 Miami (8-2) will be playing for at least a share of the conference title and the BCS berth that goes along with it.


Mauresmo Makes Crushing Start, Williams Posts Second Win  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Amelie Mauresmo made a powerful  start in her bid to end the year as world number one with a 6-1  6-0 rout of Vera Zvonareva at the WTA Championships Thursday.


Jakarta activist feared poisoned An autopsy on a prominent Indonesian activist shows he died with high levels of arsenic in his body.


Amid Absences, Rutgers Freshmen Make Presence Felt Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer had some problems. Cappie Pondexter, her leading scorer, was set to miss the first semester because of personal problems. Last season's leading rebounder, Shalicia Hurns, was forced to leave after off-court problems.


Big spenders are making waves in Cup A modest proposal: We reorganize baseball with a \$50 million salary cap and pool all players into positions for a blind draw among the 30 teams.


This week's schedule TODAY'S GAMES Division 1 CATHOLIC -- St. John's Prep at BC High, 7; Xaverian at Catholic Memorial, 7.


Today's schedule Pro basketball: Charlotte vs. Celtics at the FleetCenter, 7:30 p.m. College hockey: Men -- UMass at BC, 7 p.m.; Merrimack at BU, 7 p.m.; Maine at Northeastern, 7 p.m.; Colgate at UMass-Lowell, 7 p.m.; Princeton at Brown, 7 p.m.; Providence at UNH, 7 p.m.; Yale at Harvard, 8 p.m.; UBS tournament at Worcester: Worcester St. at Fitchburg St., 5:30 p.m.; ...


This weekend's sports on TV, radio TODAY AUTO RACING 1:30 p.m. -- NASCAR Busch Series BI-LO qualifying at Darlington, S.C., Speed Channel 3 p.m. -- NASCAR Nextel Cup Mountain Dew 500 qualifying at Darlington, S.C., Speed Channel 8 p.m. -- NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Darlington 200 at Darlington, S.C., Speed Channel PRO BASKETBALL 7:30 p.m. -- Celtics vs. Charlotte at the FleetCenter, FSN, WWZN (1510) 8 p.m. ...


Video phones act as dating tools 3G video mobiles could be the perfect match for lonely-hearts looking for love.


BSkyB subscribers beats forecasts BSkyB sees its share price rise after it reports better-than-expected new subscriber numbers.


Laptops drive Dell profits boost Computer giant Dell sees profits rise 25 despite slowing momentum in the PC market, as laptop sales soar.


COKE #39;S AD POP: \$400M Coca-Cola Co. is aiming to put the fizz back into its marketing as a key part of its turnaround strategy. Coke will boost its annual spending on marketing and developing new products by \$350 million to \$400 million beginning next year.


CEOs resignation a surprise Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia made an unexpected change at the top yesterday, saying that Sharon Patrick, the company #39;s president and chief executive and a close friend of Stewart #39;s, has resigned


Jones to buy Barneys Jones, owner of the Jones New York, Anne Klein and Nine West brands, yesterday said it is buying luxury retailer Barneys New York for approximately \$400 million.


New releases from Google, Firefox Now that almost everyone has bartered for his or her invitation to Google #39;s GMail (gmail.google.com) service, everyone is waiting to see what new features Google will introduce to outpace the competition.


Microsoft Pays \$536 Million in Antitrust Complaints Novell agrees to pull out of a European Union lawsuit but says it will press for another settlement for damage to its WordPerfect software business.


South Korea #39;s LG to file suit to nullify Matsushita PDP patents in <b>...</b> SEOUL : South Korea #39;s LG Electronics will take action in a Japanese court to nullify patents on display panel technology held by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.


China Mobile to set up experimental 3G network in Beijing China Mobile Communications, currently the largest operator of mobile communication services in China, will establish a 3G (third-generation) experimental network in Beijing at the beginning of next year, according to the China-based Xinhua Online.


Football Broadcasters Make Real Thing Look More Like Video Games CHICAGO - That UFO you might see whizzing over Thursday night #39;s Florida State-North Carolina State football game is not just a camera - it #39;s the link between televised football and the video games they seek to mimic.


McEnroe backs Henman John McEnroe believes Tim Henman can pick up the 1million winner #39;s cheque at the Tennis Master Cup in Houston next week. McEnroe, who will be at the Albert Hall for the Masters


Huskies face history against Cal, Tedford The Husky football team can accomplish something Saturday that only two other squads in the school #39;s 115-year football history has done -- lose nine games.


False alarm triggers response from PSU A false alarm on a Pittsburgh sports-talk show Thursday morning ignited a nationwide firestorm of speculation about the job status of Penn State coach Joe Paterno.


Tributes for Arafat continue to pour in at UN NEW YORK: Tributes were continuing to pour in at the United Nations for the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Mr Arafat, who passed away in a Paris hospital


French women raped in I Coast violence ABIDJAN, Nov 12 (AFP) - The top French soldier in Ivory Coast has confirmed that women were raped in anti-French violence that has erupted in the volatile west African nation over the last week.


US hits Mosul The US military attacked rebel targets in Mosul with air and ground fire yesterday after an upsurge in violence in the northern Iraqi city.


Govt for early resumption of talks - President President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga received Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen at the President #39;s House yesterday on his return from Kilinochchi.


Accord Set on Efficiency for Cooling The combatants in a fight over how much electricity an air-conditioner should use have reached a truce that could eventually lead to savings for building owners.


No One's Looking Sideways at Georgia Tech Anymore Four games into Georgia Tech's season, it is hard to find a trace of the cowboy bravado usually associated with a program suddenly on the rise.


Progress on Japanese abductees  \Japanese officials meet the alleged husband of a woman kidnapped by Pyongyang, as talks are extended.


E-tail Fraud Remains a Threat Online merchants in the United States have become better at weeding out fraudulent credit card orders, a new survey indicates. But shipping overseas remains a risky venture. By Joanna Glasner.


Indian parties to defy strike ban Political parties in India's West Bengal state call for fresh strikes in defiance of a court order declaring them illegal.


Top-Ranked U.S.C. Barely Keeps Grip Reggie Bush had 335 total yards as the Trojans survived with a victory, a 12-0 record and a good chance to play in the B.C.S. title game.


The great blue vs. red state debate Letters Caution: rude words enclosed


Air travelers to US face longer wait  US-bound air passengers may have to board their planes an hour before takeoff to allow for more rigorous security checks, according to proposals outlined yesterday by a senior US official.


Intel Chief Barrett Laments Timing Sucks #39; for His Departure Intel Corp. Chief Executive Officer Craig Barrett wanted to go out in glory like his old boss, Andy Grove. Instead, he #39;ll retire to slumping sales growth, restless investors and repeated product delays.


Struggles Continue for Coke Coca-Cola is trying to explain why the worlds biggest soft-drink company is struggling. The company says Coke was slow to push water, juice and other non-carbonated drinks as consumers became more health-conscious.


New boss for Martha Susan Lyne, once a hot-shot magazine editor and later president of ABC Entertainment, was tapped yesterday to head troubled Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.


Pixar looks to boost film revenues PIXAR Animation Studios, the group behind the cartoon movie Finding Nemo and a slew of other hits, says it might reap millions more in profits by switching the release date for its films to the summer.


Insurer Allianz Beats Expectations Third-quarter net profit at insurance and banking group Allianz AG dipped to euro539 million (US\$669 million), the company said Friday, but the result included an improved performance by the Dresdner Bank subsidiary and exceeded analysts #39; expectations.


Struggling auto parts maker offering buyouts to salaried employees Struggling automotive supplier Visteon Corp. told its 8,300 white-collar workers that it plans to offer buyouts to a  quot;significant quot; number of employees by year #39;s end.


New Microsoft search engine opens war for Internet dominance WASHINGTON (US): Microsoft #39;s new search engine launched Thursday opens a new front for the world #39;s biggest software company in a new war -- for control of the Internet, analysts said.


Dell may sell AMD based servers - Dell CEO Dell may begin to use AMD chips in some of its servers according to the company #39;s Chief Executive Kevin Rollins. The revelation was made in conference call to analysts to discuss the company #39;s Q3 earnings.


Technology ; Four Charged In Microsoft Thefts The software the four are accused of stealing included the SQL Server 2000, which normally sells for \$15,000, and the SQL Enterprise Server 7.0, which sells for \$29,000.


#39;Halo 2 #39; clears \$125 million in first day Microsoft beat even its own heady expectations for the hotly anticipated Xbox game  quot;Halo 2, quot; selling more than \$125 million of the product its first day in stores.


Micron Strikes Deal With US in Price Fixing Probe (Update2) Micron Technology Inc., the world #39;s No. 2 maker of computer-memory chips, struck a deal with the US Justice Department to shield it from sanctions after a probe found some employees engaged in price fixing.


UPDATE 1-Mauresmo starts strongly, Williams wins again Amelie Mauresmo made a powerful start in her bid to end the year as world number one with a 6-1 6-0 rout of Vera Zvonareva at the WTA Championships on Thursday.


Don #39;t walk out on Wales this time MICKEY THOMAS has hit out at incoming Wales manager John Toshack, claiming the former Real Madrid boss is lucky to be given a second chance to lead his country.


Santana aces Cy vote: Unanimous AL pick gives Schilling due Johan Santana may have been the unanimous selection for the American League Cy Young Award, but the Minnesota Twins left-hander said second-place finisher Curt Schilling stats, news still


Pistons defense falters Detroit gives up more than 100 points for second time this season, turns ball over 23 times. By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News. DENVER -- The Pistons were the perfect guests here Thursday, providing the struggling


Canada, US skate to 1-1 draw at Four Nations Cup When it comes to international womens hockey, Canada and the United States are about as even as two teams can get. Why should the Four Nations Cup be any different?


NFL #39;s TV windfall shows no signs of slowing It #39;s big news whenever the television networks throw \$8 billion on the table, and even moreso when it #39;s being thrown at the NFL, the Halliburton of sports.


Arafat #39;s young daughter sees plane off CAIRO, Egypt -- Viewers watching Yasser Arafat #39;s funeral Friday got a rare glimpse of his 9-year-old daughter Zahwa, standing next to her mother and weeping as his coffin was placed on a plane.


A hero, a monster, a Mideast icon As peace between Israel and the Palestinians waxed and waned over the decades, there was one constant amid the tumult: Yasser Arafat was at its centre.


Troop withdrawal in Kashmir may begin within a week: India News: New Delhi, Nov 12 : Indian troops deployed in parts of Jammu and Kashmir are expected to begin pulling out within a week, in line with a major decision taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ahead of his visit to the troubled state.


UN Says There #39;s No Evidence S. Korea Tried to Make Nuclear Arms There #39;s no evidence South Korea was trying to make nuclear weapons when 14 of its scientists secretly produced enriched uranium and plutonium without government approval, the United Nations nuclear watchdog said.


BearingPoint May Strive for Adaptability Company's interim leader acknowledges criticism by investors and analysts that the company has been slow to adapt to changes in the market in recent years.
-Ellen McCarthy


EPA Backs Nanomaterial Safety Research Agency awarded \$4M in grants to study the health, environmental risks posed by manufactured nanomaterials -- invisibly tiny materials revolutionizing many industries but its effects on living things remain unknown.
-The Washington Post


Oracle-PeopleSoft end nears (TheDeal.com) TheDeal.com - The software maker has indicated it could abandon the hunt for PeopleSoft if it does not win support for a tender offer.


Iraqi Security Forces Fight Rebels in Baghdad  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Machinegun fire and grenade blasts  echoed across northern Baghdad on Friday as insurgents clashed  with Iraqi national guards, witnesses said.


Dutch Raid Kurdish Training Camps, Arrest 29  AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch authorities have raided a  suspected training camp of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)  guerrilla group in the southern Netherlands and arrested 29  people, prosecutors said on Friday.


Falluja Battle Erupts, Clashes in Baghdad  FALLUJA (Reuters) - A battle erupted near a mosque in  northwest Falluja on Friday just hours after U.S. Marines said  insurgents were now trapped in the south of the city.


A Profession Thrown Into a Tailspin In the days when United Airlines was flying high, Patrick Downey exulted in being paid to live his passion. When the former Navy pilot went to work for United in 1999, he felt he landed his dream


Microsoft release new search engine preview Microsoft have let the public use a beta of their tool for some months while testing continues. The last few days have seen a new release of the beta which seems to be getting closer to bringing back consistently sensible results.


Wales expected to appoint Toshack today The Welsh FA are expected to name John Toshack as the new manager of their national team today, after holding interviews with all the main candidates yesterday.


Davis finds it #39;s tough to replace Rivers Former Clearwater Central Catholic star quarterback Jay Davis hasn #39;t had the smoothest of transitions taking over for Philip Rivers at North Carolina State.


Meehan up from Down Under If there is a poster boy for promoter Don King #39;s heavyweight carnival at Madison Square Garden tomorrow night, it is Kali Meehan.


People here hope for peace, unity in Middle East (November 12, 2004) - In the hours since Yasser Arafat #39;s death, it seems one question has been on the world #39;s mind: What will it mean?


Russian hits McDonald's with coffee burn lawsuit (Reuters) Reuters - Almost 15 years after McDonald's brought a taste of America to impoverished\Russians, a 37-year-old Muscovite has hit the firm with a U.S.-style lawsuit over a spilled cup of\coffee, Russian media has reported.


Otellini #39;s rise moves Barrett and Grove Intel #39;s board sounded the changing of the guard yesterday, with Paul Otellini being confirmed as the next CEO of the chip giant.